the odyssey(奥德赛)-第55章

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come　back　again；　you　must　give　me　such　manifest　proof　of　your　identity
as　shall　convince　me。〃
　　〃First　observe　this　scar；〃　answered　Ulysses；　〃which　I　got　from　a
boar's　tusk　when　I　was　hunting　on　Mount　Parnassus。　You　and　my　mother
had　sent　me　to　Autolycus；　my　mother's　father；　to　receive　the
presents　which　when　he　was　over　here　he　had　promised　to　give　me。
Furthermore　I　will　point　out　to　you　the　trees　in　the　vineyard　which
you　gave　me；　and　I　asked　you　all　about　them　as　I　followed　you　round
the　garden。　We　went　over　them　all；　and　you　told　me　their　names　and
what　they　all　were。　You　gave　me　thirteen　pear　trees；　ten　apple
trees；　and　forty　fig　trees；　you　also　said　you　would　give　me　fifty　rows
of　vines；　there　was　corn　planted　between　each　row；　and　they　yield
grapes　of　every　kind　when　the　heat　of　heaven　has　been　laid　heavy
upon　them。〃
　　Laertes'　strength　failed　him　when　he　heard　the　convincing　proofs
which　his　son　had　given　him。　He　threw　his　arms　about　him；　and
Ulysses　had　to　support　him；　or　he　would　have　gone　off　into　a　swoon；
but　as　soon　as　he　came　to；　and　was　beginning　to　recover　his　senses；　he
said；　〃O　father　Jove；　then　you　gods　are　still　in　Olympus　after　all；　if
the　suitors　have　really　been　punished　for　their　insolence　and　folly。
Nevertheless；　I　am　much　afraid　that　I　shall　have　all　the　townspeople
of　Ithaca　up　here　directly；　and　they　will　be　sending　messengers
everywhere　throughout　the　cities　of　the　Cephallenians。〃
　　Ulysses　answered；　〃Take　heart　and　do　not　trouble　yourself　about
that；　but　let　us　go　into　the　house　hard　by　your　garden。　I　have　already
told　Telemachus；　Philoetius；　and　Eumaeus　to　go　on　there　and　get　dinner
ready　as　soon　as　possible。〃
　　Thus　conversing　the　two　made　their　way　towards　the　house。　When
they　got　there　they　found　Telemachus　with　the　stockman　and　the
swineherd　cutting　up　meat　and　mixing　wine　with　water。　Then　the　old
Sicel　woman　took　Laertes　inside　and　washed　him　and　anointed　him　with
oil。　She　put　him　on　a　good　cloak；　and　Minerva　came　up　to　him　and
gave　him　a　more　imposing　presence；　making　him　taller　and　stouter
than　before。　When　he　came　back　his　son　was　surprised　to　see　him
looking　so　like　an　immortal；　and　said　to　him；　〃My　dear　father；　some
one　of　the　gods　has　been　making　you　much　taller　and　better…looking。〃
　　Laertes　answered；　〃Would；　by　Father　Jove；　Minerva；　and　Apollo；
that　I　were　the　man　I　was　when　I　ruled　among　the　Cephallenians；　and
took　Nericum；　that　strong　fortress　on　the　foreland。　If　I　were　still
what　I　then　was　and　had　been　in　our　house　yesterday　with　my　armour　on；
I　should　have　been　able　to　stand　by　you　and　help　you　against　the
suitors。　I　should　have　killed　a　great　many　of　them；　and　you　would　have
rejoiced　to　see　it。〃
　　Thus　did　they　converse；　but　the　others；　when　they　had　finished　their
work　and　the　feast　was　ready；　left　off　working；　and　took　each　his
proper　place　on　the　benches　and　seats。　Then　they　began　eating；　by
and　by　old　Dolius　and　his　sons　left　their　work　and　came　up；　for
their　mother；　the　Sicel　woman　who　looked　after　Laertes　now　that　he　was
growing　old；　had　been　to　fetch　them。　When　they　saw　Ulysses　and　were
certain　it　was　he；　they　stood　there　lost　in　astonishment；　but
Ulysses　scolded　them　good…naturedly　and　said；　〃Sit　down　to　your
dinner；　old　man；　and　never　mind　about　your　surprise；　we　have　been
wanting　to　begin　for　some　time　and　have　been　waiting　for　you。〃
　　Then　Dolius　put　out　both　his　hands　and　went　up　to　Ulysses。　〃Sir；〃
said　he；　seizing　his　master's　hand　and　kissing　it　at　the　wrist；　〃we
have　long　been　wishing　you　home：　and　now　heaven　has　restored　you　to　us
after　we　had　given　up　hoping。　All　hail；　therefore；　and　may　the　gods
prosper　you。　But　tell　me；　does　Penelope　already　know　of　your　return；
or　shall　we　send　some　one　to　tell　her？〃
　　〃Old　man；〃　answered　Ulysses；　〃she　knows　already；　so　you　need　not
trouble　about　that。〃　On　this　he　took　his　seat；　and　the　sons　of
Dolius　gathered　round　Ulysses　to　give　him　greeting　and　embrace　him　one
after　the　other；　then　they　took　their　seats　in　due　order　near　Dolius
their　father。
　　While　they　were　thus　busy　getting　their　dinner　ready；　Rumour　went
round　the　town；　and　noised　abroad　the　terrible　fate　that　had
befallen　the　suitors；　as　soon；　therefore；　as　the　people　heard　of　it
they　gathered　from　every　quarter；　groaning　and　hooting　before　the
house　of　Ulysses。　They　took　the　dead　away；　buried　every　man　his　own；
and　put　the　bodies　of　those　who　came　from　elsewhere　on　board　the
fishing　vessels；　for　the　fishermen　to　take　each　of　them　to　his　own
place。　They　then　met　angrily　in　the　place　of　assembly；　and　when　they
were　got　together　Eupeithes　rose　to　speak。　He　was　overwhelmed　with
grief　for　the　death　of　his　son　Antinous；　who　had　been　the　first　man
killed　by　Ulysses；　so　he　said；　weeping　bitterly；　〃My　friend；　this
man　has　done　the　Achaeans　great　wrong。　He　took　many　of　our　best　men
away　with　him　in　his　fleet；　and　he　has　lost　both　ships　and　men；　now；
moreover；　on　his　return　he　has　been　killing　all　the　foremost　men　among
the　Cephallenians。　Let　us　be　up　and　doing　before　he　can　get　away　to
Pylos　or　to　Elis　where　the　Epeans　rule；　or　we　shall　be　ashamed　of
ourselves　for　ever　afterwards。　It　will　be　an　everlasting　disgrace　to
us　if　we　do　not　avenge　the　murder　of　our　sons　and　brothers。　For　my　own
part　I　should　have　no　mote　pleasure　in　life；　but　had　rather　die　at
once。　Let　us　be　up；　then；　and　after　them；　before　they　can　cross　over
to　the　mainland。〃
　　He　wept　as　he　spoke　and　every　one　pitied　him。　But　Medon　and　the　bard
Phemius　had　now　woke　up；　and　came　to　them　from　the　house　of　Ulysses。
Every　one　was　astonished　at　seeing　them；　but　they　stood　in　the
middle　of　the　assembly；　and　Medon　said；　〃Hear　me；　men　of　Ithaca。
Ulysses　did　not　do　these　things　against　the　will　of　heaven。　I　myself
saw　an　immortal　god　take　the　form　of　Mentor　and　stand　beside　him。　This
god　appeared；　now　in　front　of　him　encouraging　him；　and　now　going
furiously　about　the　court　and　attacking　the　suitors　whereon　they
fell　thick　on　one　another。〃
　　On　this　pale　fear　laid　hold　of　them；　and　old　Halitherses；　son　of
Mastor；　rose　to　speak；　for　he　was　the　only　man　among　them　who　knew
both　past　and　future；　so　he　spoke　to　them　plainly　and　in　all
honesty；　saying；
　　〃Men　of　Ithaca；　it　is　all　your　own　fault　that　things　have　turned　out
as　they　have；　you　would　not　listen　to　me；　nor　yet　to　Mentor；　when　we
bade　you　check　the　folly　of　your　sons　who　were　doing　much　wrong　in　the
wantonness　of　their　hearts…　wasting　the　substance　and　dishonouring　the
wife　of　a　chieftain　who　they　thought　would　not　return。　Now；　however；
let　it　be　as　I　say；　and　do　as　I　tell　you。　Do　not　go　out　against
Ulysses；　or　you　may　find　that　you　have　been　drawing　down　evil　on
your　own　heads。〃
　　This　was　what　he　said；　and　more　than　half　raised　a　loud　shout；　and
at　once　left　the　assembly。　But　the　rest　stayed　where　they　were；　for
the　speech　of　Halitherses　displeased　them；　and　they　sided　with
Eupeithes；　they　therefore　hurried　off　for　their　armour；　and　when
they　had　armed　themselves；　they　met　together　in　front　of　the　city；　and
Eupeithes　led　them　on　in　their　folly。　He　thought　he　was　going　to
avenge　the　murder　of　his　son；　whereas　in　truth　he　was　never　to　return；
but　was　himself　to　perish　in　his　attempt。
　　Then　Minerva　said　to　Jove；　〃Father；　son　of　Saturn；　king　of　kings；
answer　me　this　question…　What　do　you　propose　to　do？　Will　you　set
them　fighting　still　further；　or　will　you　make　peace　between　them？〃
　　And　Jove　answered；　〃My　child；　why　should　you　ask　me？　Was　it　not　by
your　own　arrangement　that　Ulysses　came　home　and　took　his　revenge
upon　the　suitors？　Do　whatever　you　like；　but　I　will　tell　you　what　I
think　will　be　most　reasonable　arrangement。　Now　that　Ulysses　is
revenged；　let　them　swear　to　a　solemn　covenant；　in　virtue　of　which　he
shall　continue　to　rule；　while　we　cause　the　others　to　forgive　and
forget　the　massacre　of　their　sons　and　brothers。　Let　them　then　all
become　friends　as　heretofore；　and　let　peace　and　plenty　reign。〃
　　This　was　what　Minerva　was　already　eager　to　bring　about；　so　down
she　darted　from　off　the　topmost　summits　of　Olympus。
　　Now　when　Laertes　and　the　others　had　done　dinner；　Ulysses　began　by
saying；　〃Some　of　you　go　out　and　see　if　they　are　not　getting　close　up
to　us。〃　So　one　of　Dolius's　sons　went　as　he　was　bid。　Standing　on　the
threshold　he　could　see　them　all　quite　near；　and　said　to　Ulysses；　〃Here
they　are；　let　us　put　on　our　armour　at　once。〃
　　They　put　on　their　armour　as　fast　as　they　could…　that　is　to　say
Ulysses；　his　three　men；　and　the　six　sons　of　Dolius。　Laertes　also　and
Dolius　did　the　same…　warriors　by　necessity　in　spite　of　their　grey
hair。　When　they　had　all　put　on　their　armour；　they　opened　the　gate
and　sallied　forth；　Ulysses　leading　the　way。
　　Then　Jove's　daughter　Minerva　came　up　to　them；　having　assumed　the
form　and　voice　of　Mentor。　Ulysses　was　glad　when　he　saw　her；　and　said
to　his　son　Telemachus；　〃Telemachus；　now　that　are　about　to　fight　in
an　engagement；　which　will　show　every　man's　mettle；　be　sure　not　to
disgrace　your　ancestors；　who　were　eminent　for　their　strength　and
courage　all　the　world　over。〃
　　〃You　say　truly；　my　dear　father；〃　answered　Telemachus；　〃and　you　shall
see；　if　you　will；　that　I　am　in　no　mind　to　disgrace　your　family。〃
　　Laertes　was　delighted　when　he　heard　this。　〃Good　heavens；　he
exclaimed；　〃what　a　day　I　am　enjoying：　I　do　indeed　rejoice　at　it。　My
son　and　grandson　are　vying　with　one　another　in　the　matter　of　valour。〃
　　On　this　Minerva　came　close　up　to　him　and　said；　〃Son　of　Arceisius…
best　friend　I　have　in　the　world…　pray　to　the　blue…eyed　damsel；　and
to　Jove　her　father；　then　poise　your　spear　and　hurl　it。〃
　　As　she　spoke　she　infused　fresh　vigour　into　him；　and　when　he　had
prayed　to　her　he　poised　his　spear　and　hurled　it。　He　hit　Eupeithes'
helmet；　and　the　spear　went　right　through　it；　for　the　helmet　stayed
it　not；　and　his　armour　rang　rattling　round　him　as　he　fell　heavily　to
the　ground。　Meantime　Ulysses　and　his　son　fell　the　front　line　of　the
foe　and　smote　them　with　their　swords　and　spears；　indeed；　they　would
have　killed　every　one　of　them；　and　prevented　them　from　ever　getting
home　again；　only　Minerva　raised　her　voice　aloud；　and　made　every　one
pause。　〃Men　of　Ithaca；〃　she　cried；　cease　this　dreadful　war；　and　settle
the　matter　at　once　without　further　bloodshed。〃
　　On　this　pale　fear　seized　every　one；　they　were　so　frightened　that
their　arms　dropped　from　their　hands　and　fell　upon　the　ground　at　the
sound　of　the　goddess's　voice；　and　they　fled　back　to　the　city　for　their
lives。　But　Ulysses　gave　a　great　cry；　and　gathering　himself　together
swooped　down　like　a　soaring　eagle。　Then　the　son　of　Saturn　sent　a
thunderbolt　of　fire　that　fell　just　in　front　of　Minerva；　so　she　said　to
Ulysses；　〃Ulysses；　noble　son　of　Laertes；　stop　this　warful　strife；　or
Jove　will　be　angry　with　you。〃
　　Thus　spoke　Minerva；　and　Ulysses　obeyed　her　gladly。　Then　Minerva
assumed　the　form　and　voice　of　Mentor；　and　presently　made　a　covenant　of
peace　between　the　two　contending　parties。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　…THE　END…
XFIR驗MZ�