the odyssey(奥德赛)-第53章

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tell　me　about　the　task　that　lies　before　you。　I　shall　have　to　hear
about　it　later；　so　it　is　better　that　I　should　be　told　at　once。〃
　　〃My　dear；〃　answered　Ulysses；　〃why　should　you　press　me　to　tell　you？
Still；　I　will　not　conceal　it　from　you；　though　you　will　not　like　BOOK
it。　I　do　not　like　it　myself；　for　Teiresias　bade　me　travel　far　and
wide；　carrying　an　oar；　till　I　came　to　a　country　where　the　people
have　never　heard　of　the　sea；　and　do　not　even　mix　salt　with　their　food。
They　know　nothing　about　ships；　nor　oars　that　are　as　the　wings　of　a
ship。　He　gave　me　this　certain　token　which　I　will　not　hide　from　you。　He
said　that　a　wayfarer　should　meet　me　and　ask　me　whether　it　was　a
winnowing　shovel　that　I　had　on　my　shoulder。　On　this；　I　was　to　fix　my
oar　in　the　ground　and　sacrifice　a　ram；　a　bull；　and　a　boar　to
Neptune；　after　which　I　was　to　go　home　and　offer　hecatombs　to　all　the
gods　in　heaven；　one　after　the　other。　As　for　myself；　he　said　that　death
should　come　to　me　from　the　sea；　and　that　my　life　should　ebb　away
very　gently　when　I　was　full　of　years　and　peace　of　mind；　and　my
people　should　bless　me。　All　this；　he　said；　should　surely　come　to
pass。〃
　　And　Penelope　said；　〃If　the　gods　are　going　to　vouchsafe　you　a　happier
time　in　your　old　age；　you　may　hope　then　to　have　some　respite　from
misfortune。〃
　　Thus　did　they　converse。　Meanwhile　Eurynome　and　the　nurse　took
torches　and　made　the　bed　ready　with　soft　coverlets；　as　soon　as　they
had　laid　them；　the　nurse　went　back　into　the　house　to　go　to　her　rest；
leaving　the　bed　chamber　woman　Eurynome　to　show　Ulysses　and　Penelope　to
bed　by　torch　light。　When　she　had　conducted　them　to　their　room　she　went
back；　and　they　then　came　joyfully　to　the　rites　of　their　own　old　bed。
Telemachus；　Philoetius；　and　the　swineherd　now　left　off　dancing；　and
made　the　women　leave　off　also。　They　then　laid　themselves　down　to　sleep
in　the　cloisters。
　　When　Ulysses　and　Penelope　had　had　their　fill　of　love　they　fell
talking　with　one　another。　She　told　him　how　much　she　had　had　to　bear　in
seeing　the　house　filled　with　a　crowd　of　wicked　suitors　who　had
killed　so　many　sheep　and　oxen　on　her　account；　and　had　drunk　so　many
casks　of　wine。　Ulysses　in　his　turn　told　her　what　he　had　suffered；
and　how　much　trouble　he　had　himself　given　to　other　people。　He　told　her
everything；　and　she　was　so　delighted　to　listen　that　she　never　went
to　sleep　till　he　had　ended　his　whole　story。
　　He　began　with　his　victory　over　the　Cicons；　and　how　he　thence　reached
the　fertile　land　of　the　Lotus…eaters。　He　told　her　all　about　the
Cyclops　and　how　he　had　punished　him　for　having　so　ruthlessly　eaten　his
brave　comrades；　how　he　then　went　on　to　Aeolus；　who　received　him
hospitably　and　furthered　him　on　his　way；　but　even　so　he　was　not　to
reach　home；　for　to　his　great　grief　a　hurricane　carried　him　out　to
sea　again；　how　he　went　on　to　the　Laestrygonian　city　Telepylos；　where
the　people　destroyed　all　his　ships　with　their　crews；　save　himself
and　his　own　ship　only。　Then　he　told　of　cunning　Circe　and　her　craft；
and　how　he　sailed　to　the　chill　house　of　Hades；　to　consult　the　ghost　of
the　Theban　prophet　Teiresias；　and　how　he　saw　his　old　comrades　in　arms；
and　his　mother　who　bore　him　and　brought　him　up　when　he　was　a　child；
how　he　then　heard　the　wondrous　singing　of　the　Sirens；　and　went　on　to
the　wandering　rocks　and　terrible　Charybdis　and　to　Scylla；　whom　no
man　had　ever　yet　passed　in　safety；　how　his　men　then　ate　the　cattle
of　the　sun…god；　and　how　Jove　therefore　struck　the　ship　with　his
thunderbolts；　so　that　all　his　men　perished　together；　himself　alone
being　left　alive；　how　at　last　he　reached　the　Ogygian　island　and　the
nymph　Calypso；　who　kept　him　there　in　a　cave；　and　fed　him；　and　wanted
him　to　marry　her；　in　which　case　she　intended　making　him　immortal　so
that　he　should　never　grow　old；　but　she　could　not　persuade　him　to　let
her　do　so；　and　how　after　much　suffering　he　had　found　his　way　to　the
Phaeacians；　who　had　treated　him　as　though　he　had　been　a　god；　and
sent　him　back　in　a　ship　to　his　own　country　after　having　given　him
gold；　bronze；　and　raiment　in　great　abundance。　This　was　the　last
thing　about　which　he　told　her；　for　here　a　deep　sleep　took　hold　upon
him　and　eased　the　burden　of　his　sorrows。
　　Then　Minerva　bethought　her　of　another　matter。　When　she　deemed　that
Ulysses　had　had　both　of　his　wife　and　of　repose；　she　bade
gold…enthroned　Dawn　rise　out　of　Oceanus　that　she　might　shed　light　upon
mankind。　On　this；　Ulysses　rose　from　his　comfortable　bed　and　said　to
Penelope；　〃Wife；　we　have　both　of　us　had　our　full　share　of　troubles；
you；　here；　in　lamenting　my　absence；　and　I　in　being　prevented　from
getting　home　though　I　was　longing　all　the　time　to　do　so。　Now；　however；
that　we　have　at　last　come　together；　take　care　of　the　property　that
is　in　the　house。　As　for　the　sheep　and　goats　which　the　wicked　suitors
have　eaten；　I　will　take　many　myself　by　force　from　other　people；　and
will　compel　the　Achaeans　to　make　good　the　rest　till　they　shall　have
filled　all　my　yards。　I　am　now　going　to　the　wooded　lands　out　in　the
country　to　see　my　father　who　has　so　long　been　grieved　on　my　account；
and　to　yourself　I　will　give　these　instructions；　though　you　have　little
need　of　them。　At　sunrise　it　will　at　once　get　abroad　that　I　have　been
killing　the　suitors；　go　upstairs；　therefore；　and　stay　there　with
your　women。　See　nobody　and　ask　no　questions。〃
　　As　he　spoke　he　girded　on　his　armour。　Then　he　roused　Telemachus；
Philoetius；　and　Eumaeus；　and　told　them　all　to　put　on　their　armour
also。　This　they　did；　and　armed　themselves。　When　they　had　done　so；　they
opened　the　gates　and　sallied　forth；　Ulysses　leading　the　way。　It　was
now　daylight；　but　Minerva　nevertheless　concealed　them　in　darkness
and　led　them　quickly　out　of　the　town。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　BOOK　XXIV。
　　THEN　Mercury　of　Cyllene　summoned　the　ghosts　of　the　suitors；　and　in
his　hand　he　held　the　fair　golden　wand　with　which　he　seals　men's　eyes
in　sleep　or　wakes　them　just　as　he　pleases；　with　this　he　roused　the
ghosts　and　led　them；　while　they　followed　whining　and　gibbering
behind　him。　As　bats　fly　squealing　in　the　hollow　of　some　great　cave；
when　one　of　them　has　fallen　out　of　the　cluster　in　which　they　hang；
even　so　did　the　ghosts　whine　and　squeal　as　Mercury　the　healer　of
sorrow　led　them　down　into　the　dark　abode　of　death。　When　they　had
passed　the　waters　of　Oceanus　and　the　rock　Leucas；　they　came　to　the
gates　of　the　sun　and　the　land　of　dreams；　whereon　they　reached　the
meadow　of　asphodel　where　dwell　the　souls　and　shadows　of　them　that
can　labour　no　more。
　　Here　they　found　the　ghost　of　Achilles　son　of　Peleus；　with　those　of
Patroclus；　Antilochus；　and　Ajax；　who　was　the　finest　and　handsomest　man
of　all　the　Danaans　after　the　son　of　Peleus　himself。
　　They　gathered　round　the　ghost　of　the　son　of　Peleus；　and　the　ghost　of
Agamemnon　joined　them；　sorrowing　bitterly。　Round　him　were　gathered
also　the　ghosts　of　those　who　had　perished　with　him　in　the　house　of
Aeisthus；　and　the　ghost　of　Achilles　spoke　first。
　　〃Son　of　Atreus；〃　it　said；　〃we　used　to　say　that　Jove　had　loved　you
better　from　first　to　last　than　any　other　hero；　for　you　were　captain
over　many　and　brave　men；　when　we　were　all　fighting　together　before
Troy；　yet　the　hand　of　death；　which　no　mortal　can　escape；　was　laid　upon
you　all　too　early。　Better　for　you　had　you　fallen　at　Troy　in　the
hey…day　of　your　renown；　for　the　Achaeans　would　have　built　a　mound　over
your　ashes；　and　your　son　would　have　been　heir　to　your　good　name；
whereas　it　has　now　been　your　lot　to　come　to　a　most　miserable　end。〃
　　〃Happy　son　of　Peleus；〃　answered　the　ghost　of　Agamemnon；　〃for
having　died　at　Troy　far　from　Argos；　while　the　bravest　of　the　Trojans
and　the　Achaeans　fell　round　you　fighting　for　your　body。　There　you
lay　in　the　whirling　clouds　of　dust；　all　huge　and　hugely；　heedless
now　of　your　chivalry。　We　fought　the　whole　of　the　livelong　day；　nor
should　we　ever　have　left　off　if　Jove　had　not　sent　a　hurricane　to
stay　us。　Then；　when　we　had　borne　you　to　the　ships　out　of　the　fray；
we　laid　you　on　your　bed　and　cleansed　your　fair　skin　with　warm　water
and　with　ointments。　The　Danaans　tore　their　hair　and　wept　bitterly
round　about　you。　Your　mother；　when　she　heard；　came　with　her　immortal
nymphs　from　out　of　the　sea；　and　the　sound　of　a　great　wailing　went
forth　over　the　waters　so　that　the　Achaeans　quaked　for　fear。　They　would
have　fled　panic…stricken　to　their　ships　had　not　wise　old　Nestor
whose　counsel　was　ever　truest　checked　them　saying；　'Hold；　Argives；　fly
not　sons　of　the　Achaeans；　this　is　his　mother　coming　from　the　sea
with　her　immortal　nymphs　to　view　the　body　of　her　son。'
　　〃Thus　he　spoke；　and　the　Achaeans　feared　no　more。　The　daughters　of
the　old　man　of　the　sea　stood　round　you　weeping　bitterly；　and　clothed
you　in　immortal　raiment。　The　nine　muses　also　came　and　lifted　up
their　sweet　voices　in　lament…　calling　and　answering　one　another；　there
was　not　an　Argive　but　wept　for　pity　of　the　dirge　they　chaunted。　Days
and　nights　seven　and　ten　we　mourned　you；　mortals　and　immortals；　but　on
the　eighteenth　day　we　gave　you　to　the　flames；　and　many　a　fat　sheep
with　many　an　ox　did　we　slay　in　sacrifice　around　you。　You　were　burnt　in
raiment　of　the　gods；　with　rich　resins　and　with　honey；　while　heroes；
horse　and　foot；　clashed　their　armour　round　the　pile　as　you　were
burning；　with　the　tramp　as　of　a　great　multitude。　But　when　the　flames
of　heaven　had　done　their　work；　we　gathered　your　white　bones　at
daybreak　and　laid　them　in　ointments　and　in　pure　wine。　Your　mother
brought　us　a　golden　vase　to　hold　them…　gift　of　Bacchus；　and　work　of
Vulcan　himself；　in　this　we　mingled　your　bleached　bones　with　those　of
Patroclus　who　had　gone　before　you；　and　separate　we　enclosed　also　those
of　Antilochus；　who　had　been　closer　to　you　than　any　other　of　your
comrades　now　that　Patroclus　was　no　more。
　　〃Over　these　the　host　of　the　Argives　built　a　noble　tomb；　on　a　point
jutting　out　over　the　open　Hellespont；　that　it　might　be　seen　from　far
out　upon　the　sea　by　those　now　living　and　by　them　that　shall　be　born
hereafter。　Your　mother　begged　prizes　from　the　gods；　and　offered　them
to　be　contended　for　by　the　noblest　of　the　Achaeans。　You　must　have　been
present　at　the　funeral　of　many　a　hero；　when　the　young　men　gird
themselves　and　make　ready　to　contend　for　prizes　on　the　death　of　some
great　chieftain；　but　you　never　saw　such　prizes　as　silver…footed　Thetis
offered　in　your　honour；　for　the　gods　loved　you　well。　Thus　even　in
death　your　fame；　Achilles；　has　not　been　lost；　and　your　name　lives
evermore　among　all　mankind。　But　as　for　me；　what　solace　had　I　when
the　days　of　my　fighting　were　done？　For　Jove　willed　my　destruction　on
my　return；　by　the　hands　of　Aegisthus　and　those　of　my　wicked　wife。〃
　　Thus　did　they　converse；　and　presently　Mercury　came　up　to　them　with
the　ghosts　of　the　suitors　who　had　been　killed　by　Ulysses。　The　ghosts
of　Agamemnon　and　Achilles　were　astonished　at　seeing　them；　and　went
up　to　them　at　once。　The　ghost　of　Agamemnon　recognized　Amphimedon　son
of　Melaneus；　who　lived　in　Ithaca　and　had　been　his　host；　so　it　began　to
talk　to　him。
　　〃Amphimedon；〃　it　said；　〃what　has　happened　to　all　you　fine　young　men…
all　of　an　age　too…　that　you　are　come　down　here　under　the　ground？　One
could　pick　no　finer　body　of　men　from　any　city。　Did　Neptune　raise　his
winds　and　waves　against　you　when　you　wer