the odyssey(奥德赛)-第2章

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disgust　any　respectable　person　who　comes　near　them。〃
　　〃Sir；〃　said　Telemachus；　〃as　regards　your　question；　so　long　as　my
father　was　here　it　was　well　with　us　and　with　the　house；　but　the　gods
in　their　displeasure　have　willed　it　otherwise；　and　have　hidden　him
away　more　closely　than　mortal　man　was　ever　yet　hidden。　I　could　have
borne　it　better　even　though　he　were　dead；　if　he　had　fallen　with　his
men　before　Troy；　or　had　died　with　friends　around　him　when　the　days
of　his　fighting　were　done；　for　then　the　Achaeans　would　have　built　a
mound　over　his　ashes；　and　I　should　myself　have　been　heir　to　his
renown；　but　now　the　storm…winds　have　spirited　him　away　we　know　not
wither；　he　is　gone　without　leaving　so　much　as　a　trace　behind　him；
and　I　inherit　nothing　but　dismay。　Nor　does　the　matter　end　simply
with　grief　for　the　loss　of　my　father；　heaven　has　laid　sorrows　upon
me　of　yet　another　kind；　for　the　chiefs　from　all　our　islands；
Dulichium；　Same；　and　the　woodland　island　of　Zacynthus；　as　also　all　the
principal　men　of　Ithaca　itself；　are　eating　up　my　house　under　the
pretext　of　paying　their　court　to　my　mother；　who　will　neither　point
blank　say　that　she　will　not　marry；　nor　yet　bring　matters　to　an　end；　so
they　are　making　havoc　of　my　estate；　and　before　long　will　do　so　also
with　myself。〃
　　〃Is　that　so？〃　exclaimed　Minerva；　〃then　you　do　indeed　want　Ulysses
home　again。　Give　him　his　helmet；　shield；　and　a　couple　lances；　and　if
he　is　the　man　he　was　when　I　first　knew　him　in　our　house；　drinking
and　making　merry；　he　would　soon　lay　his　hands　about　these　rascally
suitors；　were　he　to　stand　once　more　upon　his　own　threshold。　He　was
then　coming　from　Ephyra；　where　he　had　been　to　beg　poison　for　his
arrows　from　Ilus；　son　of　Mermerus。　Ilus　feared　the　ever…living　gods
and　would　not　give　him　any；　but　my　father　let　him　have　some；　for　he
was　very　fond　of　him。　If　Ulysses　is　the　man　he　then　was　these
suitors　will　have　a　short　shrift　and　a　sorry　wedding。
　　〃But　there！　It　rests　with　heaven　to　determine　whether　he　is　to
return；　and　take　his　revenge　in　his　own　house　or　no；　I　would；　however；
urge　you　to　set　about　trying　to　get　rid　of　these　suitors　at　once。　Take
my　advice；　call　the　Achaean　heroes　in　assembly　to…morrow　…lay　your
case　before　them；　and　call　heaven　to　bear　you　witness。　Bid　the　suitors
take　themselves　off；　each　to　his　own　place；　and　if　your　mother's
mind　is　set　on　marrying　again；　let　her　go　back　to　her　father；　who　will
find　her　a　husband　and　provide　her　with　all　the　marriage　gifts　that　so
dear　a　daughter　may　expect。　As　for　yourself；　let　me　prevail　upon　you
to　take　the　best　ship　you　can　get；　with　a　crew　of　twenty　men；　and　go
in　quest　of　your　father　who　has　so　long　been　missing。　Some　one　may
tell　you　something；　or　（and　people　often　hear　things　in　this　way）　some
heaven…sent　message　may　direct　you。　First　go　to　Pylos　and　ask
Nestor；　thence　go　on　to　Sparta　and　visit　Menelaus；　for　he　got　home
last　of　all　the　Achaeans；　if　you　hear　that　your　father　is　alive　and　on
his　way　home；　you　can　put　up　with　the　waste　these　suitors　will　make
for　yet　another　twelve　months。　If　on　the　other　hand　you　hear　of　his
death；　come　home　at　once；　celebrate　his　funeral　rites　with　all　due
pomp；　build　a　barrow　to　his　memory；　and　make　your　mother　marry
again。　Then；　having　done　all　this；　think　it　well　over　in　your　mind
how；　by　fair　means　or　foul；　you　may　kill　these　suitors　in　your　own
house。　You　are　too　old　to　plead　infancy　any　longer；　have　you　not　heard
how　people　are　singing　Orestes'　praises　for　having　killed　his　father's
murderer　Aegisthus？　You　are　a　fine；　smart　looking　fellow；　show　your
mettle；　then；　and　make　yourself　a　name　in　story。　Now；　however；　I
must　go　back　to　my　ship　and　to　my　crew；　who　will　be　impatient　if　I
keep　them　waiting　longer；　think　the　matter　over　for　yourself；　and
remember　what　I　have　said　to　you。〃
　　〃Sir；〃　answered　Telemachus；　〃it　has　been　very　kind　of　you　to　talk　to
me　in　this　way；　as　though　I　were　your　own　son；　and　I　will　do　all　you
tell　me；　I　know　you　want　to　be　getting　on　with　your　voyage；　but　stay　a
little　longer　till　you　have　taken　a　bath　and　refreshed　yourself。　I
will　then　give　you　a　present；　and　you　shall　go　on　your　way
rejoicing；　I　will　give　you　one　of　great　beauty　and　value…　a　keepsake
such　as　only　dear　friends　give　to　one　another。〃
　　Minerva　answered；　〃Do　not　try　to　keep　me；　for　I　would　be　on　my　way
at　once。　As　for　any　present　you　may　be　disposed　to　make　me；　keep　it
till　I　come　again；　and　I　will　take　it　home　with　me。　You　shall　give
me　a　very　good　one；　and　I　will　give　you　one　of　no　less　value　in
return。〃
　　With　these　words　she　flew　away　like　a　bird　into　the　air；　but　she　had
given　Telemachus　courage；　and　had　made　him　think　more　than　ever
about　his　father。　He　felt　the　change；　wondered　at　it；　and　knew　that
the　stranger　had　been　a　god；　so　he　went　straight　to　where　the
suitors　were　sitting。
　　Phemius　was　still　singing；　and　his　hearers　sat　rapt　in　silence　as　he
told　the　sad　tale　of　the　return　from　Troy；　and　the　ills　Minerva　had
laid　upon　the　Achaeans。　Penelope；　daughter　of　Icarius；　heard　his
song　from　her　room　upstairs；　and　came　down　by　the　great　staircase；　not
alone；　but　attended　by　two　of　her　handmaids。　When　she　reached　the
suitors　she　stood　by　one　of　the　bearing　posts　that　supported　the
roof　of　the　cloisters　with　a　staid　maiden　on　either　side　of　her。　She
held　a　veil；　moreover；　before　her　face；　and　was　weeping　bitterly。
　　〃Phemius；〃　she　cried；　〃you　know　many　another　feat　of　gods　and
heroes；　such　as　poets　love　to　celebrate。　Sing　the　suitors　some　one
of　these；　and　let　them　drink　their　wine　in　silence；　but　cease　this　sad
tale；　for　it　breaks　my　sorrowful　heart；　and　reminds　me　of　my　lost
husband　whom　I　mourn　ever　without　ceasing；　and　whose　name　was　great
over　all　Hellas　and　middle　Argos。〃
　　〃Mother；〃　answered　Telemachus；　〃let　the　bard　sing　what　he　has　a　mind
to；　bards　do　not　make　the　ills　they　sing　of；　it　is　Jove；　not　they；　who
makes　them；　and　who　sends　weal　or　woe　upon　mankind　according　to　his
own　good　pleasure。　This　fellow　means　no　harm　by　singing　the
ill…fated　return　of　the　Danaans；　for　people　always　applaud　the
latest　songs　most　warmly。　Make　up　your　mind　to　it　and　bear　it；　Ulysses
is　not　the　only　man　who　never　came　back　from　Troy；　but　many　another
went　down　as　well　as　he。　Go；　then；　within　the　house　and　busy
yourself　with　your　daily　duties；　your　loom；　your　distaff；　and　the
ordering　of　your　servants；　for　speech　is　man's　matter；　and　mine
above　all　others…　for　it　is　I　who　am　master　here。〃
　　She　went　wondering　back　into　the　house；　and　laid　her　son's　saying　in
her　heart。　Then；　going　upstairs　with　her　handmaids　into　her　room；
she　mourned　her　dear　husband　till　Minerva　shed　sweet　sleep　over　her
eyes。　But　the　suitors　were　clamorous　throughout　the　covered　cloisters；
and　prayed　each　one　that　he　might　be　her　bed　fellow。
　　Then　Telemachus　spoke；　〃Shameless；〃　he　cried；　〃and　insolent　suitors；
let　us　feast　at　our　pleasure　now；　and　let　there　be　no　brawling；　for　it
is　a　rare　thing　to　hear　a　man　with　such　a　divine　voice　as　Phemius　has；
but　in　the　morning　meet　me　in　full　assembly　that　I　may　give　you　formal
notice　to　depart；　and　feast　at　one　another's　houses；　turn　and　turn
about；　at　your　own　cost。　If　on　the　other　hand　you　choose　to　persist　in
spunging　upon　one　man；　heaven　help　me；　but　Jove　shall　reckon　with
you　in　full；　and　when　you　fall　in　my　father's　house　there　shall　be
no　man　to　avenge　you。〃
　　The　suitors　bit　their　lips　as　they　heard　him；　and　marvelled　at　the
boldness　of　his　speech。　Then；　Antinous；　son　of　Eupeithes；　said；　〃The
gods　seem　to　have　given　you　lessons　in　bluster　and　tall　talking；　may
Jove　never　grant　you　to　be　chief　in　Ithaca　as　your　father　was　before
you。〃
　　Telemachus　answered；　〃Antinous；　do　not　chide　with　me；　but；　god
willing；　I　will　be　chief　too　if　I　can。　Is　this　the　worst　fate　you
can　think　of　for　me？　It　is　no　bad　thing　to　be　a　chief；　for　it　brings
both　riches　and　honour。　Still；　now　that　Ulysses　is　dead　there　are　many
great　men　in　Ithaca　both　old　and　young；　and　some　other　may　take　the
lead　among　them；　nevertheless　I　will　be　chief　in　my　own　house；　and
will　rule　those　whom　Ulysses　has　won　for　me。〃
　　Then　Eurymachus；　son　of　Polybus；　answered；　〃It　rests　with　heaven
to　decide　who　shall　be　chief　among　us；　but　you　shall　be　master　in　your
own　house　and　over　your　own　possessions；　no　one　while　there　is　a　man
in　Ithaca　shall　do　you　violence　nor　rob　you。　And　now；　my　good
fellow；　I　want　to　know　about　this　stranger。　What　country　does　he
come　from？　Of　what　family　is　he；　and　where　is　his　estate？　Has　he
brought　you　news　about　the　return　of　your　father；　or　was　he　on
business　of　his　own？　He　seemed　a　well…to…do　man；　but　he　hurried　off　so
suddenly　that　he　was　gone　in　a　moment　before　we　could　get　to　know
him。〃
　　〃My　father　is　dead　and　gone；〃　answered　Telemachus；　〃and　even　if　some
rumour　reaches　me　I　put　no　more　faith　in　it　now。　My　mother　does　indeed
sometimes　send　for　a　soothsayer　and　question　him；　but　I　give　his
prophecyings　no　heed。　As　for　the　stranger；　he　was　Mentes；　son　of
Anchialus；　chief　of　the　Taphians；　an　old　friend　of　my　father's。〃　But
in　his　heart　he　knew　that　it　had　been　the　goddess。
　　The　suitors　then　returned　to　their　singing　and　dancing　until　the
evening；　but　when　night　fell　upon　their　pleasuring　they　went　home　to
bed　each　in　his　own　abode。　Telemachus's　room　was　high　up　in　a　tower
that　looked　on　to　the　outer　court；　hither；　then；　he　hied；　brooding　and
full　of　thought。　A　good　old　woman；　Euryclea；　daughter　of　Ops；　the
son　of　Pisenor；　went　before　him　with　a　couple　of　blazing　torches。
Laertes　had　bought　her　with　his　own　money　when　she　was　quite　young；　he
gave　the　worth　of　twenty　oxen　for　her；　and　shewed　as　much　respect　to
her　in　his　household　as　he　did　to　his　own　wedded　wife；　but　he　did
not　take　her　to　his　bed　for　he　feared　his　wife's　resentment。　She　it
was　who　now　lighted　Telemachus　to　his　room；　and　she　loved　him　better
than　any　of　the　other　women　in　the　house　did；　for　she　had　nursed　him
when　he　was　a　baby。　He　opened　the　door　of　his　bed　room　and　sat　down
upon　the　bed；　as　he　took　off　his　shirt　he　gave　it　to　the　good　old
woman；　who　folded　it　tidily　up；　and　hung　it　for　him　over　a　peg　by
his　bed　side；　after　which　she　went　out；　pulled　the　door　to　by　a　silver
catch；　and　drew　the　bolt　home　by　means　of　the　strap。　But　Telemachus　as
he　lay　covered　with　a　woollen　fleece　kept　thinking　all　night　through
of　his　intended　voyage　of　the　counsel　that　Minerva　had　given　him。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　BOOK　II。
　　NOW　when　the　child　of　morning；　rosy…fingered　Dawn；　appeared；
Telemachus　rose　and　dressed　himself。　He　bound　his　sandals　on　to　his
comely　feet；　girded　his　sword　about　his　shoulder；　and　left　his　room
looking　like　an　immortal　god。　He　at　once　sent　the　criers　round　to　call
the　people　in　assembly；　so　they　called　them　and　the　people　gathered
thereon；　then；　when　they　were　got　together；　he　went　to　the　place　of
assembly　spear　in　hand…　not　alone；　for　his　two　hounds　went　with　him。
Minerva　endowed　him　with　a　presence　of　such　divine　comeliness　that　all
marvelled　at　him　as　he　went　by；　and　when　he　took　his　place'　in　his
father's　seat　even　the　oldest　councillors　made　way　for　him。
　　Aegyptius；　a　man　bent　double　with　age；　and　of　infinite　experience；
the　first　to　speak　His　son　Antiphus　ha