the odyssey(奥德赛)-第34章

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more　proper　and　cheaper　for　you　to　get　your　dinner　before　setting
out　on　such　a　long　journey。　If；　moreover；　you　have　a　fancy　for
making　a　tour　in　Hellas　or　in　the　Peloponnese；　I　will　yoke　my
horses；　and　will　conduct　you　myself　through　all　our　principal
cities。　No　one　will　send　us　away　empty　handed；　every　one　will　give
us　something…　a　bronze　tripod；　a　couple　of　mules；　or　a　gold　cup。〃
　　〃Menelaus；〃　replied　Telemachus；　〃I　want　to　go　home　at　once；　for　when
I　came　away　I　left　my　property　without　protection；　and　fear　that　while
looking　for　my　father　I　shall　come　to　ruin　myself；　or　find　that
something　valuable　has　been　stolen　during　my　absence。〃
　　When　Menelaus　heard　this　he　immediately　told　his　wife　and　servants
to　prepare　a　sufficient　dinner　from　what　there　might　be　in　the
house。　At　this　moment　Eteoneus　joined　him；　for　he　lived　close　by　and
had　just　got　up；　so　Menelaus　told　him　to　light　the　fire　and　cook
some　meat；　which　he　at　once　did。　Then　Menelaus　went　down　into　his
fragrant　store　room；　not　alone；　but　Helen　went　too；　with
Megapenthes。　When　he　reached　the　place　where　the　treasures　of　his
house　were　kept；　he　selected　a　double　cup；　and　told　his　son
Megapenthes　to　bring　also　a　silver　mixing…bowl。　Meanwhile　Helen　went
to　the　chest　where　she　kept　the　lovely　dresses　which　she　had　made　with
her　own　hands；　and　took　out　one　that　was　largest　and　most
beautifully　enriched　with　embroidery；　it　glittered　like　a　star；　and
lay　at　the　very　bottom　of　the　chest。　Then　they　all　came　back　through
the　house　again　till　they　got　to　Telemachus；　and　Menelaus　said；
〃Telemachus；　may　Jove；　the　mighty　husband　of　Juno；　bring　you　safely
home　according　to　your　desire。　I　will　now　present　you　with　the
finest　and　most　precious　piece　of　plate　in　all　my　house。　It　is　a
mixing…bowl　of　pure　silver；　except　the　rim；　which　is　inlaid　with　gold；
and　it　is　the　work　of　Vulcan。　Phaedimus　king　of　the　Sidonians　made
me　a　present　of　it　in　the　course　of　a　visit　that　I　paid　him　while　I
was　on　my　return　home。　I　should　like　to　give　it　to　you。〃
　　With　these　words　he　placed　the　double　cup　in　the　hands　of
Telemachus；　while　Megapenthes　brought　the　beautiful　mixing…bowl　and
set　it　before　him。　Hard　by　stood　lovely　Helen　with　the　robe　ready　in
her　hand。
　　〃I　too；　my　son；〃　said　she；　〃have　something　for　you　as　a　keepsake
from　the　hand　of　Helen；　it　is　for　your　bride　to　wear　upon　her
wedding　day。　Till　then；　get　your　dear　mother　to　keep　it　for　you；
thus　may　you　go　back　rejoicing　to　your　own　country　and　to　your　home。〃
　　So　saying　she　gave　the　robe　over　to　him　and　he　received　it　gladly。
Then　Pisistratus　put　the　presents　into　the　chariot；　and　admired　them
all　as　he　did　so。　Presently　Menelaus　took　Telemachus　and　Pisistratus
into　the　house；　and　they　both　of　them　sat　down　to　table。　A　maid
servant　brought　them　water　in　a　beautiful　golden　ewer；　and　poured　it
into　a　silver　basin　for　them　to　wash　their　hands；　and　she　drew　a　clean
table　beside　them；　an　upper　servant　brought　them　bread　and　offered
them　many　good　things　of　what　there　was　in　the　house。　Eteoneus
carved　the　meat　and　gave　them　each　their　portions；　while　Megapenthes
poured　out　the　wine。　Then　they　laid　their　hands　upon　the　good　things
that　were　before　them；　but　as　soon　as　they　had　had　had　enough　to　eat
and　drink　Telemachus　and　Pisistratus　yoked　the　horses；　and　took
their　places　in　the　chariot。　They　drove　out　through　the　inner
gateway　and　under　the　echoing　gatehouse　of　the　outer　court；　and
Menelaus　came　after　them　with　a　golden　goblet　of　wine　in　his　right
hand　that　they　might　make　a　drink…offering　before　they　set　out。　He
stood　in　front　of　the　horses　and　pledged　them；　saying；　〃Farewell　to
both　of　you；　see　that　you　tell　Nestor　how　I　have　treated　you；　for　he
was　as　kind　to　me　as　any　father　could　be　while　we　Achaeans　were
fighting　before　Troy。〃
　　〃We　will　be　sure；　sir；〃　answered　Telemachus；　〃to　tell　him　everything
as　soon　as　we　see　him。　I　wish　I　were　as　certain　of　finding　Ulysses
returned　when　I　get　back　to　Ithaca；　that　I　might　tell　him　of　the
very　great　kindness　you　have　shown　me　and　of　the　many　beautiful
presents　I　am　taking　with　me。〃
　　As　he　was　thus　speaking　a　bird　flew　on　his　right　hand…　an　eagle　with
a　great　white　goose　in　its　talons　which　it　had　carried　off　from　the
farm　yard…　and　all　the　men　and　women　were　running　after　it　and
shouting。　It　came　quite　close　up　to　them　and　flew　away　on　their
right　hands　in　front　of　the　horses。　When　they　saw　it　they　were　glad；
and　their　hearts　took　comfort　within　them；　whereon　Pisistratus　said；
〃Tell　me；　Menelaus；　has　heaven　sent　this　omen　for　us　or　for　you？〃
　　Menelaus　was　thinking　what　would　be　the　most　proper　answer　for　him
to　make；　but　Helen　was　too　quick　for　him　and　said；　〃I　will　read　this
matter　as　heaven　has　put　it　in　my　heart；　and　as　I　doubt　not　that　it
will　come　to　pass。　The　eagle　came　from　the　mountain　where　it　was
bred　and　has　its　nest；　and　in　like　manner　Ulysses；　after　having
travelled　far　and　suffered　much；　will　return　to　take　his　revenge…　if
indeed　he　is　not　back　already　and　hatching　mischief　for　the　suitors。〃
　　〃May　Jove　so　grant　it；〃　replied　Telemachus；　〃if　it　should　prove　to
be　so；　I　will　make　vows　to　you　as　though　you　were　a　god；　even　when　I
am　at　home。〃
　　As　he　spoke　he　lashed　his　horses　and　they　started　off　at　full
speed　through　the　town　towards　the　open　country。　They　swayed　the
yoke　upon　their　necks　and　travelled　the　whole　day　long　till　the　sun
set　and　darkness　was　over　all　the　land。　Then　they　reached　Pherae；
where　Diocles　lived　who　was　son　of　Ortilochus；　the　son　of　Alpheus。
There　they　passed　the　night　and　were　treated　hospitably。　When　the
child　of　morning；　rosy…fingered　Dawn；　appeared；　they　again　yoked　their
horses　and　their　places　in　the　chariot。　They　drove　out　through　the
inner　gateway　and　under　the　echoing　gatehouse　of　the　outer　court。　Then
Pisistratus　lashed　his　horses　on　and　they　flew　forward　nothing
loath；　ere　long　they　came　to　Pylos；　and　then　Telemachus　said：
　　〃Pisistratus；　I　hope　you　will　promise　to　do　what　I　am　going　to　ask
you。　You　know　our　fathers　were　old　friends　before　us；　moreover；　we　are
both　of　an　age；　and　this　journey　has　brought　us　together　still　more
closely；　do　not；　therefore；　take　me　past　my　ship；　but　leave　me
there；　for　if　I　go　to　your　father's　house　he　will　try　to　keep　me　in
the　warmth　of　his　good　will　towards　me；　and　I　must　go　home　at　once。〃
　　Pisistratus　thought　how　he　should　do　as　he　was　asked；　and　in　the　end
he　deemed　it　best　to　turn　his　horses　towards　the　ship；　and　put
Menelaus's　beautiful　presents　of　gold　and　raiment　in　the　stern　of
the　vessel。　Then　he　said；　〃Go　on　board　at　once　and　tell　your　men　to　do
so　also　before　I　can　reach　home　to　tell　my　father。　I　know　how
obstinate　he　is；　and　am　sure　he　will　not　let　you　go；　he　will　come　down
here　to　fetch　you；　and　he　will　not　go　back　without　you。　But　he　will　be
very　angry。〃
　　With　this　he　drove　his　goodly　steeds　back　to　the　city　of　the　Pylians
and　soon　reached　his　home；　but　Telemachus　called　the　men　together
and　gave　his　orders。　〃Now；　my　men；〃　said　he；　〃get　everything　in
order　on　board　the　ship；　and　let　us　set　out　home。〃
　　Thus　did　he　speak；　and　they　went　on　board　even　as　he　had　said。　But
as　Telemachus　was　thus　busied；　praying　also　and　sacrificing　to　Minerva
in　the　ship's　stern；　there　came　to　him　a　man　from　a　distant　country；　a
seer；　who　was　flying　from　Argos　because　he　had　killed　a　man。　He　was
descended　from　Melampus；　who　used　to　live　in　Pylos；　the　land　of　sheep；
he　was　rich　and　owned　a　great　house；　but　he　was　driven　into　exile　by
the　great　and　powerful　king　Neleus。　Neleus　seized　his　goods　and　held
them　for　a　whole　year；　during　which　he　was　a　close　prisoner　in　the
house　of　king　Phylacus；　and　in　much　distress　of　mind　both　on　account
of　the　daughter　of　Neleus　and　because　he　was　haunted　by　a　great　sorrow
that　dread　Erinyes　had　laid　upon　him。　In　the　end；　however；　he
escaped　with　his　life；　drove　the　cattle　from　Phylace　to　Pylos；　avenged
the　wrong　that　had　been　done　him；　and　gave　the　daughter　of　Neleus　to
his　brother。　Then　he　left　the　country　and　went　to　Argos；　where　it
was　ordained　that　he　should　reign　over　much　people。　There　he
married；　established　himself；　and　had　two　famous　sons　Antiphates　and
Mantius。　Antiphates　became　father　of　Oicleus；　and　Oicleus　of
Amphiaraus；　who　was　dearly　loved　both　by　Jove　and　by　Apollo；　but　he
did　not　live　to　old　age；　for　he　was　killed　in　Thebes　by　reason　of　a
woman's　gifts。　His　sons　were　Alcmaeon　and　Amphilochus。　Mantius；　the
other　son　of　Melampus；　was　father　to　Polypheides　and　Cleitus。
Aurora；　throned　in　gold；　carried　off　Cleitus　for　his　beauty's　sake；
that　he　might　dwell　among　the　immortals；　but　Apollo　made　Polypheides
the　greatest　seer　in　the　whole　world　now　that　Amphiaraus　was　dead。
He　quarrelled　with　his　father　and　went　to　live　in　Hyperesia；　where
he　remained　and　prophesied　for　all　men。
　　His　son；　Theoclymenus；　it　was　who　now　came　up　to　Telemachus　as　he
was　making　drink…offerings　and　praying　in　his　ship。　〃Friend'〃　said　he；
〃now　that　I　find　you　sacrificing　in　this　place；　I　beseech　you　by
your　sacrifices　themselves；　and　by　the　god　to　whom　you　make　them；　I
pray　you　also　by　your　own　head　and　by　those　of　your　followers；　tell　me
the　truth　and　nothing　but　the　truth。　Who　and　whence　are　you？　Tell　me
also　of　your　town　and　parents。〃
　　Telemachus　said；　〃I　will　answer　you　quite　truly。　I　am　from　Ithaca；
and　my　father　is　'Ulysses；　as　surely　as　that　he　ever　lived。　But　he　has
come　to　some　miserable　end。　Therefore　I　have　taken　this　ship　and　got
my　crew　together　to　see　if　I　can　hear　any　news　of　him；　for　he　has　been
away　a　long　time。〃
　　〃I　too；〃　answered　Theoclymenus；　am　an　exile；　for　I　have　killed　a　man
of　my　own　race。　He　has　many　brothers　and　kinsmen　in　Argos；　and　they
have　great　power　among　the　Argives。　I　am　flying　to　escape　death　at
their　hands；　and　am　thus　doomed　to　be　a　wanderer　on　the　face　of　the
earth。　I　am　your　suppliant；　take　me；　therefore；　on　board　your　ship
that　they　may　not　kill　me；　for　I　know　they　are　in　pursuit。〃
　　〃I　will　not　refuse　you；〃　replied　Telemachus；　〃if　you　wish　to　join
us。　Come；　therefore；　and　in　Ithaca　we　will　treat　you　hospitably
according　to　what　we　have。〃
　　On　this　he　received　Theoclymenus'　spear　and　laid　it　down　on　the　deck
of　the　ship。　He　went　on　board　and　sat　in　the　stern；　bidding
Theoclymenus　sit　beside　him；　then　the　men　let　go　the　hawsers。
Telemachus　told　them　to　catch　hold　of　the　ropes；　and　they　made　all
haste　to　do　so。　They　set　the　mast　in　its　socket　in　the　cross　plank；
raised　it　and　made　it　fast　with　the　forestays；　and　they　hoisted
their　white　sails　with　sheets　of　twisted　ox　hide。　Minerva　sent　them
a　fair　wind　that　blew　fresh　and　strong　to　take　the　ship　on　her
course　as　fast　as　possible。　Thus　then　they　passed　by　Crouni　and
Chalcis。
　　Presently　the　sun　set　and　darkness　was　over　all　the　land。　The　vessel
made　a　quick　pass　sage　to　Pheae　and　thence　on　to　Elis；　where　the
Epeans　rule。　Telemachus　then　headed　her　for　the　flying　islands；
wondering　within　himself　whether　he　should　escape　death　or　should　be
taken　prisoner。
　　Meanwhile　Ulysses　and　the　swineherd　were　eating　their　supper　in
the　hut；　and　the　men　supped　with　them。　As　soon　as　they　had　had　to
eat　and　drink；　Ulysses　began　trying　to　prove　the　swineherd　and　see
whether　he　would