the odyssey(奥德赛)-第48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！


before　the　suitors；　and　Eumaeus　wept　as　he　took　them　to　do　as　she
had　bidden　him。　Hard　by；　the　stockman　wept　also　when　he　saw　his
master's　bow；　but　Antinous　scolded　them。　〃You　country　louts；〃　said　he；
〃silly　simpletons；　why　should　you　add　to　the　sorrows　of　your
mistress　by　crying　in　this　way？　She　has　enough　to　grieve　her　in　the
loss　of　her　husband；　sit　still；　therefore；　and　eat　your　dinners　in
silence；　or　go　outside　if　you　want　to　cry；　and　leave　the　bow　behind
you。　We　suitors　shall　have　to　contend　for　it　with　might　and　main；
for　we　shall　find　it　no　light　matter　to　string　such　a　bow　as　this
is。　There　is　not　a　man　of　us　all　who　is　such　another　as　Ulysses；　for　I
have　seen　him　and　remember　him；　though　I　was　then　only　a　child。〃
　　This　was　what　he　said；　but　all　the　time　he　was　expecting　to　be
able　to　string　the　bow　and　shoot　through　the　iron；　whereas　in　fact
he　was　to　be　the　first　that　should　taste　of　the　arrows　from　the
hands　of　Ulysses；　whom　he　was　dishonouring　in　his　own　house…　egging
the　others　on　to　do　so　also。
　　Then　Telemachus　spoke。　〃Great　heavens！〃　he　exclaimed；　〃Jove　must
have　robbed　me　of　my　senses。　Here　is　my　dear　and　excellent　mother
saying　she　will　quit　this　house　and　marry　again；　yet　I　am　laughing　and
enjoying　myself　as　though　there　were　nothing　happening。　But；
suitors；　as　the　contest　has　been　agreed　upon；　let　it　go　forward。　It　is
for　a　woman　whose　peer　is　not　to　be　found　in　Pylos；　Argos；　or
Mycene；　nor　yet　in　Ithaca　nor　on　the　mainland。　You　know　this　as　well
as　I　do；　what　need　have　I　to　speak　in　praise　of　my　mother？　Come　on；
then；　make　no　excuses　for　delay；　but　let　us　see　whether　you　can　string
the　bow　or　no。　I　too　will　make　trial　of　it；　for　if　I　can　string　it　and
shoot　through　the　iron；　I　shall　not　suffer　my　mother　to　quit　this
house　with　a　stranger；　not　if　I　can　win　the　prizes　which　my　father　won
before　me。〃
　　As　he　spoke　he　sprang　from　his　seat；　threw　his　crimson　cloak　from
him；　and　took　his　sword　from　his　shoulder。　First　he　set　the　axes　in
a　row；　in　a　long　groove　which　he　had　dug　for　them；　and　had　Wade
straight　by　line。　Then　he　stamped　the　earth　tight　round　them；　and
everyone　was　surprised　when　they　saw　him　set　up　so　orderly；　though
he　had　never　seen　anything　of　the　kind　before。　This　done；　he　went　on
to　the　pavement　to　make　trial　of　the　bow；　thrice　did　he　tug　at　it；
trying　with　all　his　might　to　draw　the　string；　and　thrice　he　had　to
leave　off；　though　he　had　hoped　to　string　the　bow　and　shoot　through　the
iron。　He　was　trying　for　the　fourth　time；　and　would　have　strung　it
had　not　Ulysses　made　a　sign　to　check　him　in　spite　of　all　his
eagerness。　So　he　said：
　　〃Alas！　I　shall　either　be　always　feeble　and　of　no　prowess；　or　I　am
too　young；　and　have　not　yet　reached　my　full　strength　so　as　to　be
able　to　hold　my　own　if　any　one　attacks　me。　You　others；　therefore；
who　are　stronger　than　I；　make　trial　of　the　bow　and　get　this　contest
settled。〃
　　On　this　he　put　the　bow　down；　letting　it　lean　against　the　door
＇that　led　into　the　house＇　with　the　arrow　standing　against　the　top　of
the　bow。　Then　he　sat　down　on　the　seat　from　which　he　had　risen；　and
Antinous　said：
　　〃Come　on　each　of　you　in　his　turn；　going　towards　the　right　from　the
place　at　which　the。　cupbearer　begins　when　he　is　handing　round　the
wine。〃
　　The　rest　agreed；　and　Leiodes　son　of　OEnops　was　the　first　to　rise。　He
was　sacrificial　priest　to　the　suitors；　and　sat　in　the　corner　near
the　mixing…bowl。　He　was　the　only　man　who　hated　their　evil　deeds　and
was　indignant　with　the　others。　He　was　now　the　first　to　take　the　bow
and　arrow；　so　he　went　on　to　the　pavement　to　make　his　trial；　but　he
could　not　string　the　bow；　for　his　hands　were　weak　and　unused　to　hard
work；　they　therefore　soon　grew　tired；　and　he　said　to　the　suitors；
〃My　friends；　I　cannot　string　it；　let　another　have　it；　this　bow　shall
take　the　life　and　soul　out　of　many　a　chief　among　us；　for　it　is
better　to　die　than　to　live　after　having　missed　the　prize　that　we
have　so　long　striven　for；　and　which　has　brought　us　so　long　together。
Some　one　of　us　is　even　now　hoping　and　praying　that　he　may　marry
Penelope；　but　when　he　has　seen　this　bow　and　tried　it；　let　him　woo
and　make　bridal　offerings　to　some　other　woman；　and　let　Penelope
marry　whoever　makes　her　the　best　offer　and　whose　lot　it　is　to　win
her。〃
　　On　this　he　put　the　bow　down；　letting　it　lean　against　the　door；
with　the　arrow　standing　against　the　tip　of　the　bow。　Then　he　took　his
seat　again　on　the　seat　from　which　he　had　risen；　and　Antinous　rebuked
him　saying：
　　〃Leiodes；　what　are　you　talking　about？　Your　words　are　monstrous　and
intolerable；　it　makes　me　angry　to　listen　to　you。　Shall；　then；　this　bow
take　the　life　of　many　a　chief　among　us；　merely　because　you　cannot　bend
it　yourself？　True；　you　were　not　born　to　be　an　archer；　but　there　are
others　who　will　soon　string　it。〃
　　Then　he　said　to　Melanthius　the　goatherd；　〃Look　sharp；　light　a　fire
in　the　court；　and　set　a　seat　hard　by　with　a　sheep　skin　on　it；　bring　us
also　a　large　ball　of　lard；　from　what　they　have　in　the　house。　Let　us
warm　the　bow　and　grease　it　we　will　then　make　trial　of　it　again；　and
bring　the　contest　to　an　end。〃
　　Melanthius　lit　the　fire；　and　set　a　seat　covered　with　sheep　skins
beside　it。　He　also　brought　a　great　ball　of　lard　from　what　they　had
in　the　house；　and　the　suitors　warmed　the　bow　and　again　made　trial　of
it；　but　they　were　none　of　them　nearly　strong　enough　to　string　it。
Nevertheless　there　still　remained　Antinous　and　Eurymachus；　who　were
the　ringleaders　among　the　suitors　and　much　the　foremost　among　them
all。
　　Then　the　swineherd　and　the　stockman　left　the　cloisters　together；　and
Ulysses　followed　them。　When　they　had　got　outside　the　gates　and　the
outer　yard；　Ulysses　said　to　them　quietly：
　　〃Stockman；　and　you　swineherd；　I　have　something　in　my　mind　which　I　am
in　doubt　whether　to　say　or　no；　but　I　think　I　will　say　it。　What
manner　of　men　would　you　be　to　stand　by　Ulysses；　if　some　god　should
bring　him　back　here　all　of　a　sudden？　Say　which　you　are　disposed　to　do…
to　side　with　the　suitors；　or　with　Ulysses？〃
　　〃Father　Jove；〃　answered　the　stockman；　〃would　indeed　that　you　might
so　ordain　it。　If　some　god　were　but　to　bring　Ulysses　back；　you　should
see　with　what　might　and　main　I　would　fight　for　him。〃
　　In　like　words　Eumaeus　prayed　to　all　the　gods　that　Ulysses　might
return；　when；　therefore；　he　saw　for　certain　what　mind　they　were　of；
Ulysses　said；　〃It　is　I；　Ulysses；　who　am　here。　I　have　suffered　much；
but　at　last；　in　the　twentieth　year；　I　am　come　back　to　my　own
country。　I　find　that　you　two　alone　of　all　my　servants　are　glad　that
I　should　do　so；　for　I　have　not　heard　any　of　the　others　praying　for
my　return。　To　you　two；　therefore；　will　I　unfold　the　truth　as　it
shall　be。　If　heaven　shall　deliver　the　suitors　into　my　hands；　I　will
find　wives　for　both　of　you；　will　give　you　house　and　holding　close　to
my　own；　and　you　shall　be　to　me　as　though　you　were　brothers　and　friends
of　Telemachus。　I　will　now　give　you　convincing　proofs　that　you　may　know
me　and　be　assured。　See；　here　is　the　scar　from　the　boar's　tooth　that
ripped　me　when　I　was　out　hunting　on　Mount　Parnassus　with　the　sons　of
Autolycus。〃
　　As　he　spoke　he　drew　his　rags　aside　from　the　great　scar；　and　when
they　had　examined　it　thoroughly；　they　both　of　them　wept　about　Ulysses；
threw　their　arms　round　him　and　kissed　his　head　and　shoulders；　while
Ulysses　kissed　their　hands　and　faces　in　return。　The　sun　would　have
gone　down　upon　their　mourning　if　Ulysses　had　not　checked　them　and
said：
　　〃Cease　your　weeping；　lest　some　one　should　come　outside　and　see　us；
and　tell　those　who　a　are　within。　When　you　go　in；　do　so　separately；　not
both　together；　I　will　go　first；　and　do　you　follow　afterwards；　Let　this
moreover　be　the　token　between　us；　the　suitors　will　all　of　them　try
to　prevent　me　from　getting　hold　of　the　bow　and　quiver；　do　you；
therefore；　Eumaeus；　place　it　in　my　hands　when　you　are　carrying　it
about；　and　tell　the　women　to　close　the　doors　of　their　apartment。　If
they　hear　any　groaning　or　uproar　as　of　men　fighting　about　the　house；
they　must　not　come　out；　they　must　keep　quiet；　and　stay　where　they
are　at　their　work。　And　I　charge　you；　Philoetius；　to　make　fast　the
doors　of　the　outer　court；　and　to　bind　them　securely　at　once。〃
　　When　he　had　thus　spoken；　he　went　back　to　the　house　and　took　the　seat
that　he　had　left。　Presently；　his　two　servants　followed　him　inside。
　　At　this　moment　the　bow　was　in　the　hands　of　Eurymachus；　who　was
warming　it　by　the　fire；　but　even　so　he　could　not　string　it；　and　he　was
greatly　grieved。　He　heaved　a　deep　sigh　and　said；　〃I　grieve　for
myself　and　for　us　all；　I　grieve　that　I　shall　have　to　forgo　the
marriage；　but　I　do　not　care　nearly　so　much　about　this；　for　there　are
plenty　of　other　women　in　Ithaca　and　elsewhere；　what　I　feel　most　is　the
fact　of　our　being　so　inferior　to　Ulysses　in　strength　that　we　cannot
string　his　bow。　This　will　disgrace　us　in　the　eyes　of　those　who　are　yet
unborn。〃
　　〃It　shall　not　be　so；　Eurymachus；〃　said　Antinous；　〃and　you　know　it
yourself。　To…day　is　the　feast　of　Apollo　throughout　all　the　land；　who
can　string　a　bow　on　such　a　day　as　this？　Put　it　on　one　side…　as　for　the
axes　they　can　stay　where　they　are；　for　no　one　is　likely　to　come　to　the
house　and　take　them　away：　let　the　cupbearer　go　round　with　his　cups；
that　we　may　make　our　drink…offerings　and　drop　this　matter　of　the
bow；　we　will　tell　Melanthius　to　bring　us　in　some　goats　to…morrow…
the　best　he　has；　we　can　then　offer　thigh　bones　to　Apollo　the　mighty
archer；　and　again　make　trial　of　the　bow；　so　as　to　bring　the　contest　to
an　end。〃
　　The　rest　approved　his　words；　and　thereon　men　servants　poured　water
over　the　hands　of　the　guests；　while　pages　filled　the　mixing…bowls　with
wine　and　water　and　handed　it　round　after　giving　every　man　his
drink…offering。　Then；　when　they　had　made　their　offerings　and　had　drunk
each　as　much　as　he　desired；　Ulysses　craftily　said：
　　〃Suitors　of　the　illustrious　queen；　listen　that　I　may　speak　even　as　I
am　minded。　I　appeal　more　especially　to　Eurymachus；　and　to　Antinous　who
has　just　spoken　with　so　much　reason。　Cease　shooting　for　the　present
and　leave　the　matter　to　the　gods；　but　in　the　morning　let　heaven　give
victory　to　whom　it　will。　For　the　moment；　however；　give　me　the　bow　that
I　may　prove　the　power　of　my　hands　among　you　all；　and　see　whether　I
still　have　as　much　strength　as　I　used　to　have；　or　whether　travel　and
neglect　have　made　an　end　of　it。〃
　　This　made　them　all　very　angry；　for　they　feared　he　might　string　the
bow；　Antinous　therefore　rebuked　him　fiercely　saying；　〃Wretched
creature；　you　have　not　so　much　as　a　grain　of　sense　in　your　whole　body；
you　ought　to　think　yourself　lucky　in　being　allowed　to　dine　unharmed
among　your　betters；　without　having　any　smaller　portion　served　you　than
we　others　have　had；　and　in　being　allowed　to　hear　our　conversation。
No　other　beggar　or　stranger　has　been　allowed　to　hear　what　we　say　among
ourselves；　the　wine　must　have　been　doing　you　a　mischief；　as　it　does
with　all　those　drink　immoderately。　It　was　wine　that　inflamed　the
Centaur　Eurytion　when　he　was　staying　with　Peirithous　among　the
Lapithae。　When　the　wine　had　got　into　his　head　he　went　mad　and　did
ill　deeds　about　the　house　of　Peirithous；　this　angered　the　heroes　who
were　there　assembled；　so　they　rushed　at　him　and　cut　off　his　ears　a