the odyssey(奥德赛)-第6章

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more　than　any　one　else　does。　They　say　he　has　reigned　for　three
generations　so　that　it　is　like　talking　to　an　immortal。　Tell　me；
therefore；　Nestor；　and　tell　me　true；　how　did　Agamemnon　come　to　die
in　that　way？　What　was　Menelaus　doing？　And　how　came　false　Aegisthus
to　kill　so　far　better　a　man　than　himself？　Was　Menelaus　away　from
Achaean　Argos；　voyaging　elsewhither　among　mankind；　that　Aegisthus　took
heart　and　killed　Agamemnon？〃
　　〃I　will　tell　you　truly；〃　answered　Nestor；　〃and　indeed　you　have
yourself　divined　how　it　all　happened。　If　Menelaus　when　he　got　back
from　Troy　had　found　Aegisthus　still　alive　in　his　house；　there　would
have　been　no　barrow　heaped　up　for　him；　not　even　when　he　was　dead；
but　he　would　have　been　thrown　outside　the　city　to　dogs　and　vultures；
and　not　a　woman　would　have　mourned　him；　for　he　had　done　a　deed　of
great　wickedness；　but　we　were　over　there；　fighting　hard　at　Troy；　and
Aegisthus　who　was　taking　his　ease　quietly　in　the　heart　of　Argos；
cajoled　Agamemnon's　wife　Clytemnestra　with　incessant　flattery。
　　〃At　first　she　would　have　nothing　to　do　with　his　wicked　scheme；　for
she　was　of　a　good　natural　disposition；　moreover　there　was　a　bard
with　her；　to　whom　Agamemnon　had　given　strict　orders　on　setting　out　for
Troy；　that　he　was　to　keep　guard　over　his　wife；　but　when　heaven　had
counselled　her　destruction；　Aegisthus　thus　this　bard　off　to　a　desert
island　and　left　him　there　for　crows　and　seagulls　to　batten　upon…　after
which　she　went　willingly　enough　to　the　house　of　Aegisthus。　Then　he
offered　many　burnt　sacrifices　to　the　gods；　and　decorated　many
temples　with　tapestries　and　gilding；　for　he　had　succeeded　far　beyond
his　expectations。
　　〃Meanwhile　Menelaus　and　I　were　on　our　way　home　from　Troy；　on　good
terms　with　one　another。　When　we　got　to　Sunium；　which　is　the　point　of
Athens；　Apollo　with　his　painless　shafts　killed　Phrontis　the
steersman　of　Menelaus'　ship　（and　never　man　knew　better　how　to　handle　a
vessel　in　rough　weather）　so　that　he　died　then　and　there　with　the
helm　in　his　hand；　and　Menelaus；　though　very　anxious　to　press
forward；　had　to　wait　in　order　to　bury　his　comrade　and　give　him　his　due
funeral　rites。　Presently；　when　he　too　could　put　to　sea　again；　and
had　sailed　on　as　far　as　the　Malean　heads；　Jove　counselled　evil　against
him　and　made　it　it　blow　hard　till　the　waves　ran　mountains　high。　Here
he　divided　his　fleet　and　took　the　one　half　towards　Crete　where　the
Cydonians　dwell　round　about　the　waters　of　the　river　Iardanus。　There　is
a　high　headland　hereabouts　stretching　out　into　the　sea　from　a　place
called　Gortyn；　and　all　along　this　part　of　the　coast　as　far　as　Phaestus
the　sea　runs　high　when　there　is　a　south　wind　blowing；　but　arter
Phaestus　the　coast　is　more　protected；　for　a　small　headland　can　make
a　great　shelter。　Here　this　part　of　the　fleet　was　driven　on　to　the
rocks　and　wrecked；　but　the　crews　just　managed　to　save　themselves。　As
for　the　other　five　ships；　they　were　taken　by　winds　and　seas　to
Egypt；　where　Menelaus　gathered　much　gold　and　substance　among　people　of
an　alien　speech。　Meanwhile　Aegisthus　here　at　home　plotted　his　evil
deed。　For　seven　years　after　he　had　killed　Agamemnon　he　ruled　in
Mycene；　and　the　people　were　obedient　under　him；　but　in　the　eighth　year
Orestes　came　back　from　Athens　to　be　his　bane；　and　killed　the
murderer　of　his　father。　Then　he　celebrated　the　funeral　rites　of　his
mother　and　of　false　Aegisthus　by　a　banquet　to　the　people　of　Argos；　and
on　that　very　day　Menelaus　came　home；　with　as　much　treasure　as　his
ships　could　carry。
　　〃Take　my　advice　then；　and　do　not　go　travelling　about　for　long　so　far
from　home；　nor　leave　your　property　with　such　dangerous　people　in
your　house；　they　will　eat　up　everything　you　have　among　them；　and　you
will　have　been　on　a　fool's　errand。　Still；　I　should　advise　you　by　all
means　to　go　and　visit　Menelaus；　who　has　lately　come　off　a　voyage　among
such　distant　peoples　as　no　man　could　ever　hope　to　get　back　from；
when　the　winds　had　once　carried　him　so　far　out　of　his　reckoning；
even　birds　cannot　fly　the　distance　in　a　twelvemonth；　so　vast　and
terrible　are　the　seas　that　they　must　cross。　Go　to　him；　therefore；　by
sea；　and　take　your　own　men　with　you；　or　if　you　would　rather　travel
by　land　you　can　have　a　chariot；　you　can　have　horses；　and　here　are　my
sons　who　can　escort　you　to　Lacedaemon　where　Menelaus　lives。　Beg　of　him
to　speak　the　truth；　and　he　will　tell　you　no　lies；　for　he　is　an
excellent　person。〃
　　As　he　spoke　the　sun　set　and　it　came　on　dark；　whereon　Minerva　said；
〃Sir；　all　that　you　have　said　is　well；　now；　however；　order　the
tongues　of　the　victims　to　be　cut；　and　mix　wine　that　we　may　make
drink…offerings　to　Neptune；　and　the　other　immortals；　and　then　go　to
bed；　for　it　is　bed　time。　People　should　go　away　early　and　not　keep　late
hours　at　a　religious　festival。〃
　　Thus　spoke　the　daughter　of　Jove；　and　they　obeyed　her　saying。　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　they　threw　the　tongues　of　the
victims　into　the　fire；　and　stood　up　to　make　their　drink…offerings。
When　they　had　made　their　offerings　and　had　drunk　each　as　much　as　he
was　minded；　Minerva　and　Telemachus　were　forgoing　on　board　their
ship；　but　Nestor　caught　them　up　at　once　and　stayed　them。
　　〃Heaven　and　the　immortal　gods；〃　he　exclaimed；　〃forbid　that　you
should　leave　my　house　to　go　on　board　of　a　ship。　Do　you　think　I　am　so
poor　and　short　of　clothes；　or　that　I　have　so　few　cloaks　and　as　to　be
unable　to　find　comfortable　beds　both　for　myself　and　for　my　guests？　Let
me　tell　you　I　have　store　both　of　rugs　and　cloaks；　and　shall　not　permit
the　son　of　my　old　friend　Ulysses　to　camp　down　on　the　deck　of　a　ship…
not　while　I　live…　nor　yet　will　my　sons　after　me；　but　they　will　keep
open　house　as　have　done。〃
　　Then　Minerva　answered；　〃Sir；　you　have　spoken　well；　and　it　will　be
much　better　that　Telemachus　should　do　as　you　have　said；　he；　therefore；
shall　return　with　you　and　sleep　at　your　house；　but　I　must　go　back　to
give　orders　to　my　crew；　and　keep　them　in　good　heart。　I　am　the　only
older　person　among　them；　the　rest　are　all　young　men　of　Telemachus'　own
age；　who　have　taken　this　voyage　out　of　friendship；　so　I　must　return　to
the　ship　and　sleep　there。　Moreover　to…morrow　I　must　go　to　the
Cauconians　where　I　have　a　large　sum　of　money　long　owing　to　me。　As
for　Telemachus；　now　that　he　is　your　guest；　send　him　to　Lacedaemon　in　a
chariot；　and　let　one　of　your　sons　go　with　him。　Be　pleased　also　to
provide　him　with　your　best　and　fleetest　horses。〃
　　When　she　had　thus　spoken；　she　flew　away　in　the　form　of　an　eagle；　and
all　marvelled　as　they　beheld　it。　Nestor　was　astonished；　and　took
Telemachus　by　the　hand。　〃My　friend；〃　said　he；　〃I　see　that　you　are
going　to　be　a　great　hero　some　day；　since　the　gods　wait　upon　you　thus
while　you　are　still　so　young。　This　can　have　been　none　other　of　those
who　dwell　in　heaven　than　Jove's　redoubtable　daughter；　the
Trito…born；　who　showed　such　favour　towards　your　brave　father　among　the
Argives。〃　〃Holy　queen；〃　he　continued；　〃vouchsafe　to　send　down　thy
grace　upon　myself；　my　good　wife；　and　my　children。　In　return；　I　will
offer　you　in　sacrifice　a　broad…browed　heifer　of　a　year　old；
unbroken；　and　never　yet　brought　by　man　under　the　yoke。　I　will　gild　her
horns；　and　will　offer　her　up　to　you　in　sacrifice。〃
　　Thus　did　he　pray；　and　Minerva　heard　his　prayer。　He　then　led　the
way　to　his　own　house；　followed　by　his　sons　and　sons…in…law。　When
they　had　got　there　and　had　taken　their　places　on　the　benches　and
seats；　he　mixed　them　a　bowl　of　sweet　wine　that　was　eleven　years　old
when　the　housekeeper　took　the　lid　off　the　jar　that　held　it。　As　he
mixed　the　wine；　he　prayed　much　and　made　drink…offerings　to　Minerva；
daughter　of　Aegis…bearing　Jove。　Then；　when　they　had　made　their
drink…offerings　and　had　drunk　each　as　much　as　he　was　minded；　the
others　went　home　to　bed　each　in　his　own　abode；　but　Nestor　put
Telemachus　to　sleep　in　the　room　that　was　over　the　gateway　along　with
Pisistratus；　who　was　the　only　unmarried　son　now　left　him。　As　for
himself；　he　slept　in　an　inner　room　of　the　house；　with　the　queen　his
wife　by　his　side。
　　Now　when　the　child　of　morning；　rosy…fingered　Dawn；　appeared；
Nestor　left　his　couch　and　took　his　seat　on　the　benches　of　white　and
polished　marble　that　stood　in　front　of　his　house。　Here　aforetime　sat
Neleus；　peer　of　gods　in　counsel；　but　he　was　now　dead；　and　had　gone
to　the　house　of　Hades；　so　Nestor　sat　in　his　seat；　sceptre　in　hand；
as　guardian　of　the　public　weal。　His　sons　as　they　left　their　rooms
gathered　round　him；　Echephron；　Stratius；　Perseus；　Aretus；　and
Thrasymedes；　the　sixth　son　was　Pisistratus；　and　when　Telemachus　joined
them　they　made　him　sit　with　them。　Nestor　then　addressed　them。
　　〃My　sons；〃　said　he；　〃make　haste　to　do　as　I　shall　bid　you。　I　wish
first　and　foremost　to　propitiate　the　great　goddess　Minerva；　who
manifested　herself　visibly　to　me　during　yesterday's　festivities。　Go；
then；　one　or　other　of　you　to　the　plain；　tell　the　stockman　to　look　me
out　a　heifer；　and　come　on　here　with　it　at　once。　Another　must　go　to
Telemachus's　ship；　and　invite　all　the　crew；　leaving　two　men　only　in
charge　of　the　vessel。　Some　one　else　will　run　and　fetch　Laerceus　the
goldsmith　to　gild　the　horns　of　the　heifer。　The　rest；　stay　all　of　you
where　you　are；　tell　the　maids　in　the　house　to　prepare　an　excellent
dinner；　and　to　fetch　seats；　and　logs　of　wood　for　a　burnt　offering。
Tell　them　also…　to　bring　me　some　clear　spring　water。〃
　　On　this　they　hurried　off　on　their　several　errands。　The　heifer　was
brought　in　from　the　plain；　and　Telemachus's　crew　came　from　the　ship；
the　goldsmith　brought　the　anvil；　hammer；　and　tongs；　with　which　he
worked　his　gold；　and　Minerva　herself　came　to　the　sacrifice。　Nestor
gave　out　the　gold；　and　the　smith　gilded　the　horns　of　the　heifer　that
the　goddess　might　have　pleasure　in　their　beauty。　Then　Stratius　and
Echephron　brought　her　in　by　the　horns；　Aretus　fetched　water　from　the
house　in　a　ewer　that　had　a　flower　pattern　on　it；　and　in　his　other　hand
he　held　a　basket　of　barley　meal；　sturdy　Thrasymedes　stood　by　with　a
sharp　axe；　ready　to　strike　the　heifer；　while　Perseus　held　a　bucket。
Then　Nestor　began　with　washing　his　hands　and　sprinkling　the　barley
meal；　and　he　offered　many　a　prayer　to　Minerva　as　he　threw　a　lock
from　the　heifer's　head　upon　the　fire。
　　When　they　had　done　praying　and　sprinkling　the　barley　meal
Thrasymedes　dealt　his　blow；　and　brought　the　heifer　down　with　a
stroke　that　cut　through　the　tendons　at　the　base　of　her　neck；　whereon
the　daughters　and　daughters…in…law　of　Nestor；　and　his　venerable　wife
Eurydice　（she　was　eldest　daughter　to　Clymenus）　screamed　with
delight。　Then　they　lifted　the　heifer's　head　from　off　the　ground；　and
Pisistratus　cut　her　throat。　When　she　had　done　bleeding　and　was　quite
dead；　they　cut　her　up。　They　cut　out　the　thigh　bones　all　in　due　course；
wrapped　them　round　in　two　layers　of　fat；　and　set　some　pieces　of　raw
meat　on　the　top　of　them；　then　Nestor　laid　them　upon　the　wood　fire
and　poured　wine　over　them；　while　the　young　men　stood　near　him　with
five…pronged　spits　in　their　hands。　When　the　thighs　were　burned　and
they　had　tasted　the　inward　meats；　they　cut　the　rest　of　the　meat　up
small；　put　the　pieces　on　the　spits　a