the odyssey(奥德赛)-第3章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


　　Aegyptius；　a　man　bent　double　with　age；　and　of　infinite　experience；
the　first　to　speak　His　son　Antiphus　had　gone　with　Ulysses　to　Ilius；
land　of　noble　steeds；　but　the　savage　Cyclops　had　killed　him　when
they　were　all　shut　up　in　the　cave；　and　had　cooked　his　last　dinner
for　him；　He　had　three　sons　left；　of　whom　two　still　worked　on　their
father's　land；　while　the　third；　Eurynomus；　was　one　of　the　suitors；
nevertheless　their　father　could　not　get　over　the　loss　of　Antiphus；　and
was　still　weeping　for　him　when　he　began　his　speech。
　　〃Men　of　Ithaca；〃　he　said；　〃hear　my　words。　From　the　day　Ulysses
left　us　there　has　been　no　meeting　of　our　councillors　until　now；　who
then　can　it　be；　whether　old　or　young；　that　finds　it　so　necessary　to
convene　us？　Has　he　got　wind　of　some　host　approaching；　and　does　he　wish
to　warn　us；　or　would　he　speak　upon　some　other　matter　of　public　moment？
I　am　sure　he　is　an　excellent　person；　and　I　hope　Jove　will　grant　him
his　heart's　desire。〃
　　Telemachus　took　this　speech　as　of　good　omen　and　rose　at　once；　for　he
was　bursting　with　what　he　had　to　say。　He　stood　in　the　middle　of　the
assembly　and　the　good　herald　Pisenor　brought　him　his　staff。　Then；
turning　to　Aegyptius；　〃Sir；〃　said　he；　〃it　is　I；　as　you　will　shortly
learn；　who　have　convened　you；　for　it　is　I　who　am　the　most　aggrieved。　I
have　not　got　wind　of　any　host　approaching　about　which　I　would　warn
you；　nor　is　there　any　matter　of　public　moment　on　which　I　would
speak。　My　grieveance　is　purely　personal；　and　turns　on　two　great
misfortunes　which　have　fallen　upon　my　house。　The　first　of　these　is　the
loss　of　my　excellent　father；　who　was　chief　among　all　you　here　present；
and　was　like　a　father　to　every　one　of　you；　the　second　is　much　more
serious；　and　ere　long　will　be　the　utter　ruin　of　my　estate。　The　sons　of
all　the　chief　men　among　you　are　pestering　my　mother　to　marry　them
against　her　will。　They　are　afraid　to　go　to　her　father　Icarius；
asking　him　to　choose　the　one　he　likes　best；　and　to　provide　marriage
gifts　for　his　daughter；　but　day　by　day　they　keep　hanging　about　my
father's　house；　sacrificing　our　oxen；　sheep；　and　fat　goats　for　their
banquets；　and　never　giving　so　much　as　a　thought　to　the　quantity　of
wine　they　drink。　No　estate　can　stand　such　recklessness；　we　have　now　no
Ulysses　to　ward　off　harm　from　our　doors；　and　I　cannot　hold　my　own
against　them。　I　shall　never　all　my　days　be　as　good　a　man　as　he　was；
still　I　would　indeed　defend　myself　if　I　had　power　to　do　so；　for　I
cannot　stand　such　treatment　any　longer；　my　house　is　being　disgraced
and　ruined。　Have　respect；　therefore；　to　your　own　consciences　and　to
public　opinion。　Fear；　too；　the　wrath　of　heaven；　lest　the　gods　should
be　displeased　and　turn　upon　you。　I　pray　you　by　Jove　and　Themis；　who　is
the　beginning　and　the　end　of　councils；　＇do　not＇　hold　back；　my　friends；
and　leave　me　singlehanded…　unless　it　be　that　my　brave　father　Ulysses
did　some　wrong　to　the　Achaeans　which　you　would　now　avenge　on　me；　by
aiding　and　abetting　these　suitors。　Moreover；　if　I　am　to　be　eaten　out
of　house　and　home　at　all；　I　had　rather　you　did　the　eating
yourselves；　for　I　could　then　take　action　against　you　to　some
purpose；　and　serve　you　with　notices　from　house　to　house　till　I　got
paid　in　full；　whereas　now　I　have　no　remedy。〃
　　With　this　Telemachus　dashed　his　staff　to　the　ground　and　burst　into
tears。　Every　one　was　very　sorry　for　him；　but　they　all　sat　still　and　no
one　ventured　to　make　him　an　angry　answer；　save　only　Antinous；　who
spoke　thus：
　　〃Telemachus；　insolent　braggart　that　you　are；　how　dare　you　try　to
throw　the　blame　upon　us　suitors？　It　is　your　mother's　fault　not　ours；
for　she　is　a　very　artful　woman。　This　three　years　past；　and　close　on
four；　she　has　been　driving　us　out　of　our　minds；　by　encouraging　each
one　of　us；　and　sending　him　messages　without　meaning　one　word　of　what
she　says。　And　then　there　was　that　other　trick　she　played　us。　She　set
up　a　great　tambour　frame　in　her　room；　and　began　to　work　on　an　enormous
piece　of　fine　needlework。　'Sweet　hearts；'　said　she；　'Ulysses　is　indeed
dead；　still　do　not　press　me　to　marry　again　immediately；　wait…　for　I
would　not　have　skill　in　needlework　perish　unrecorded…　till　I　have
completed　a　pall　for　the　hero　Laertes；　to　be　in　readiness　against
the　time　when　death　shall　take　him。　He　is　very　rich；　and　the　women
of　the　place　will　talk　if　he　is　laid　out　without　a　pall。'
　　〃This　was　what　she　said；　and　we　assented；　whereon　we　could　see　her
working　on　her　great　web　all　day　long；　but　at　night　she　would　unpick
the　stitches　again　by　torchlight。　She　fooled　us　in　this　way　for
three　years　and　we　never　found　her　out；　but　as　time　wore　on　and　she
was　now　in　her　fourth　year；　one　of　her　maids　who　knew　what　she　was
doing　told　us；　and　we　caught　her　in　the　act　of　undoing　her　work；　so
she　had　to　finish　it　whether　she　would　or　no。　The　suitors；
therefore；　make　you　this　answer；　that　both　you　and　the　Achaeans　may
understand…'Send　your　mother　away；　and　bid　her　marry　the　man　of　her
own　and　of　her　father's　choice'；　for　I　do　not　know　what　will　happen　if
she　goes　on　plaguing　us　much　longer　with　the　airs　she　gives　herself　on
the　score　of　the　accomplishments　Minerva　has　taught　her；　and　because
she　is　so　clever。　We　never　yet　heard　of　such　a　woman；　we　know　all
about　Tyro；　Alcmena；　Mycene；　and　the　famous　women　of　old；　but　they
were　nothing　to　your　mother；　any　one　of　them。　It　was　not　fair　of　her
to　treat　us　in　that　way；　and　as　long　as　she　continues　in　the　mind　with
which　heaven　has　now　endowed　her；　so　long　shall　we　go　on　eating　up
your　estate；　and　I　do　not　see　why　she　should　change；　for　she　gets
all　the　honour　and　glory；　and　it　is　you　who　pay　for　it；　not　she。
Understand；　then；　that　we　will　not　go　back　to　our　lands；　neither
here　nor　elsewhere；　till　she　has　made　her　choice　and　married　some
one　or　other　of　us。〃
　　Telemachus　answered；　〃Antinous；　how　can　I　drive　the　mother　who
bore　me　from　my　father's　house？　My　father　is　abroad　and　we　do　not　know
whether　he　is　alive　or　dead。　It　will　be　hard　on　me　if　I　have　to　pay
Icarius　the　large　sum　which　I　must　give　him　if　I　insist　on　sending　his
daughter　back　to　him。　Not　only　will　he　deal　rigorously　with　me；　but
heaven　will　also　punish　me；　for　my　mother　when　she　leaves　the　house
will　calf　on　the　Erinyes　to　avenge　her；　besides；　it　would　not　be　a
creditable　thing　to　do；　and　I　will　have　nothing　to　say　to　it。　If　you
choose　to　take　offence　at　this；　leave　the　house　and　feast　elsewhere　at
one　another's　houses　at　your　own　cost　turn　and　turn　about。　If；　on
the　other　hand；　you　elect　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。〃
　　As　he　spoke　Jove　sent　two　eagles　from　the　top　of　the　mountain；　and
they　flew　on　and　on　with　the　wind；　sailing　side　by　side　in　their　own
lordly　flight。　When　they　were　right　over　the　middle　of　the　assembly
they　wheeled　and　circled　about；　beating　the　air　with　their　wings　and
glaring　death　into　the　eyes　of　them　that　were　below；　then；　fighting
fiercely　and　tearing　at　one　another；　they　flew　off　towards　the　right
over　the　town。　The　people　wondered　as　they　saw　them；　and　asked　each
other　what　an　this　might　be；　whereon　Halitherses；　who　was　the　best
prophet　and　reader　of　omens　among　them；　spoke　to　them　plainly　and　in
all　honesty；　saying：
　　〃Hear　me；　men　of　Ithaca；　and　I　speak　more　particularly　to　the
suitors；　for　I　see　mischief　brewing　for　them。　Ulysses　is　not　going
to　be　away　much　longer；　indeed　he　is　close　at　hand　to　deal　out　death
and　destruction；　not　on　them　alone；　but　on　many　another　of　us　who　live
in　Ithaca。　Let　us　then　be　wise　in　time；　and　put　a　stop　to　this
wickedness　before　he　comes。　Let　the　suitors　do　so　of　their　own　accord；
it　will　be　better　for　them；　for　I　am　not　prophesying　without　due
knowledge；　everything　has　happened　to　Ulysses　as　I　foretold　when　the
Argives　set　out　for　Troy；　and　he　with　them。　I　said　that　after　going
through　much　hardship　and　losing　all　his　men　he　should　come　home　again
in　the　twentieth　year　and　that　no　one　would　know　him；　and　now　all　this
is　coming　true。〃
　　Eurymachus　son　of　Polybus　then　said；　〃Go　home；　old　man；　and　prophesy
to　your　own　children；　or　it　may　be　worse　for　them。　I　can　read　these
omens　myself　much　better　than　you　can；　birds　are　always　flying　about
in　the　sunshine　somewhere　or　other；　but　they　seldom　mean　anything。
Ulysses　has　died　in　a　far　country；　and　it　is　a　pity　you　are　not　dead
along　with　him；　instead　of　prating　here　about　omens　and　adding　fuel　to
the　anger　of　Telemachus　which　is　fierce　enough　as　it　is。　I　suppose　you
think　he　will　give　you　something　for　your　family；　but　I　tell　you…
and　it　shall　surely　be…　when　an　old　man　like　you；　who　should　know
better；　talks　a　young　one　over　till　he　becomes　troublesome；　in　the
first　place　his　young　friend　will　only　fare　so　much　the　worse…　he　will
take　nothing　by　it；　for　the　suitors　will　prevent　this…　and　in　the
next；　we　will　lay　a　heavier　fine；　sir；　upon　yourself　than　you　will
at　all　like　paying；　for　it　will　bear　hardly　upon　you。　As　for
Telemachus；　I　warn　him　in　the　presence　of　you　all　to　send　his　mother
back　to　her　father；　who　will　find　her　a　husband　and　provide　her　with
all　the　marriage　gifts　so　dear　a　daughter　may　expect。　Till　we　shall　go
on　harassing　him　with　our　suit；　for　we　fear　no　man；　and　care　neither
for　him；　with　all　his　fine　speeches；　nor　for　any　fortune…telling　of
yours。　You　may　preach　as　much　as　you　please；　but　we　shall　only　hate
you　the　more。　We　shall　go　back　and　continue　to　eat　up　Telemachus's
estate　without　paying　him；　till　such　time　as　his　mother　leaves　off
tormenting　us　by　keeping　us　day　after　day　on　the　tiptoe　of
expectation；　each　vying　with　the　other　in　his　suit　for　a　prize　of　such
rare　perfection。　Besides　we　cannot　go　after　the　other　women　whom　we
should　marry　in　due　course；　but　for　the　way　in　which　she　treats　us。〃
　　Then　Telemachus　said；　〃Eurymachus；　and　you　other　suitors；　I　shall
say　no　more；　and　entreat　you　no　further；　for　the　gods　and　the　people
of　Ithaca　now　know　my　story。　Give　me；　then；　a　ship　and　a　crew　of
twenty　men　to　take　me　hither　and　thither；　and　I　will　go　to　Sparta
and　to　Pylos　in　quest　of　my　father　who　has　so　long　been　missing。
Some　one　may　tell　me　something；　or　（and　people　often　hear　things　in
this　way）　some　heaven…sent　message　may　direct　me。　If　I　can　hear　of　him
as　alive　and　on　his　way　home　I　will　put　up　with　the　waste　you
suitors　will　make　for　yet　another　twelve　months。　If　on　the　other
hand　I　hear　of　his　death；　I　will　return　at　once；　celebrate　his　funeral
rites　with　all　due　pomp；　build　a　barrow　to　his　memory；　and　make　my
mother　marry　again。〃
　　With　these　words　he　sat　down；　and　Mentor　who　had　been　a　friend　of
Ulysses；　and　had　been　left　in　charge　of　everything　with　full　authority
over　the　servants；　rose　to　speak。　He；　then；　plainly　and　in　all　honesty
addressed　them　thus：
　　〃Hear　me；　men　of　Ithaca；　I　hope　that　you　may　never　have　a　kind　and
well…disposed　ruler　any　more；　nor　one　who　will　govern　you　equitably；　I
hope　that　all　your　chiefs　henceforward　may　be　cruel　and　unjust；　for
there　is　not　one　of　you　but　has　forgotten　Ulysses；　who　ruled　you　as
though　he　were　your　father。　I　am　not　half　so　angry　with　the　suitors；
for　if　they　choose　to　do　violence　in　the　naughtiness　o