the odyssey(奥德赛)-第7章

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they　had　tasted　the　inward　meats；　they　cut　the　rest　of　the　meat　up
small；　put　the　pieces　on　the　spits　and　toasted　them　over　the　fire。
　　Meanwhile　lovely　Polycaste；　Nestor's　youngest　daughter；　washed
Telemachus。　When　she　had　washed　him　and　anointed　him　with　oil；　she
brought　him　a　fair　mantle　and　shirt；　and　he　looked　like　a　god　as　he
came　from　the　bath　and　took　his　seat　by　the　side　of　Nestor。　When　the
outer　meats　were　done　they　drew　them　off　the　spits　and　sat　down　to
dinner　where　they　were　waited　upon　by　some　worthy　henchmen；　who　kept
pouring　them　out　their　wine　in　cups　of　gold。　As　soon　as　they　had　had
had　enough　to　eat　and　drink　Nestor　said；　〃Sons；　put　Telemachus's
horses　to　the　chariot　that　he　may　start　at　once。〃
　　Thus　did　he　speak；　and　they　did　even　as　he　had　said；　and　yoked　the
fleet　horses　to　the　chariot。　The　housekeeper　packed　them　up　a
provision　of　bread；　wine；　and　sweetmeats　fit　for　the　sons　of
princes。　Then　Telemachus　got　into　the　chariot；　while　Pisistratus
gathered　up　the　reins　and　took　his　seat　beside　him。　He　lashed　the
horses　on　and　they　flew　forward　nothing　loth　into　the　open　country；
leaving　the　high　citadel　of　Pylos　behind　them。　All　that　day　did　they
travel；　swaying　the　yoke　upon　their　necks　till　the　sun　went　down　and
darkness　was　over　all　the　land。　Then　they　reached　Pherae　where　Diocles
lived；　who　was　son　to　Ortilochus　and　grandson　to　Alpheus。　Here　they
passed　the　night　and　Diocles　entertained　them　hospitably。　When　the
child　of　morning；　rosy…fingered　Dawn；　appeared；　they　again　yoked　their
horses　and　drove　out　through　the　gateway　under　the　echoing
gatehouse。　Pisistratus　lashed　the　horses　on　and　they　flew　forward
nothing　loth；　presently　they　came　to　the　corn　lands　Of　the　open
country；　and　in　the　course　of　time　completed　their　journey；　so　well
did　their　steeds　take　them。
　　Now　when　the　sun　had　set　and　darkness　was　over　the　land。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　BOOK　IV。
　　THEY　reached　the　low　lying　city　of　Lacedaemon　them　where　they
drove　straight　to　the　of　abode　Menelaus　＇and　found　him　in　his　own
house；　feasting　with　his　many　clansmen　in　honour　of　the　wedding　of　his
son；　and　also　of　his　daughter；　whom　he　was　marrying　to　the　son　of　that
valiant　warrior　Achilles。　He　had　given　his　consent　and　promised　her　to
him　while　he　was　still　at　Troy；　and　now　the　gods　were　bringing　the
marriage　about；　so　he　was　sending　her　with　chariots　and　horses　to
the　city　of　the　Myrmidons　over　whom　Achilles'　son　was　reigning。　For
his　only　son　he　had　found　a　bride　from　Sparta；　daughter　of　Alector。
This　son；　Megapenthes；　was　born　to　him　of　a　bondwoman；　for　heaven
vouchsafed　Helen　no　more　children　after　she　had　borne　Hermione；　who
was　fair　as　golden　Venus　herself。
　　So　the　neighbours　and　kinsmen　of　Menelaus　were　feasting　and　making
merry　in　his　house。　There　was　a　bard　also　to　sing　to　them　and　play　his
lyre；　while　two　tumblers　went　about　performing　in　the　midst　of　them
when　the　man　struck　up　with　his　tune。＇
　　Telemachus　and　the　son　of　Nestor　stayed　their　horses　at　the　gate；
whereon　Eteoneus　servant　to　Menelaus　came　out；　and　as　soon　as　he　saw
them　ran　hurrying　back　into　the　house　to　tell　his　Master。　He　went
close　up　to　him　and　said；　〃Menelaus；　there　are　some　strangers　come
here；　two　men；　who　look　like　sons　of　Jove。　What　are　we　to　do？　Shall　we
take　their　horses　out；　or　tell　them　to　find　friends　elsewhere　as
they　best　can？〃
　　Menelaus　was　very　angry　and　said；　〃Eteoneus；　son　of　Boethous；　you
never　used　to　be　a　fool；　but　now　you　talk　like　a　simpleton。　Take　their
horses　out；　of　course；　and　show　the　strangers　in　that　they　may　have
supper；　you　and　I　have　stayed　often　enough　at　other　people's　houses
before　we　got　back　here；　where　heaven　grant　that　we　may　rest　in
peace　henceforward。〃
　　So　Eteoneus　bustled　back　and　bade　other　servants　come　with　him。　They
took　their　sweating　hands　from　under　the　yoke；　made　them　fast　to　the
mangers；　and　gave　them　a　feed　of　oats　and　barley　mixed。　Then　they
leaned　the　chariot　against　the　end　wall　of　the　courtyard；　and　led
the　way　into　the　house。　Telemachus　and　Pisistratus　were　astonished
when　they　saw　it；　for　its　splendour　was　as　that　of　the　sun　and　moon；
then；　when　they　had　admired　everything　to　their　heart's　content；
they　went　into　the　bath　room　and　washed　themselves。
　　When　the　servants　had　washed　them　and　anointed　them　with　oil；　they
brought　them　woollen　cloaks　and　shirts；　and　the　two　took　their　seats
by　the　side　of　Menelaus。　A　maidservant　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；　while　the　carver　fetched　them　plates　of
all　manner　of　meats　and　set　cups　of　gold　by　their　side。
　　Menelaus　then　greeted　them　saying；　〃Fall　to；　and　welcome；　when　you
have　done　supper　I　shall　ask　who　you　are；　for　the　lineage　of　such
men　as　you　cannot　have　been　lost。　You　must　be　descended　from　a　line　of
sceptre…bearing　kings；　for　poor　people　do　not　have　such　sons　as　you
are。〃
　　On　this　he　handed　them　a　piece　of　fat　roast　loin；　which　had　been　set
near　him　as　being　a　prime　part；　and　they　laid　their　hands　on　the
good　things　that　were　before　them；　as　soon　as　they　had　had　enough　to
eat　and　drink；　Telemachus　said　to　the　son　of　Nestor；　with　his　head
so　close　that　no　one　might　hear；　〃Look；　Pisistratus；　man　after　my
own　heart；　see　the　gleam　of　bronze　and　gold…　of　amber；　ivory；　and
silver。　Everything　is　so　splendid　that　it　is　like　seeing　the　palace　of
Olympian　Jove。　I　am　lost　in　admiration。〃
　　Menelaus　overheard　him　and　said；　〃No　one；　my　sons；　can　hold　his
own　with　Jove；　for　his　house　and　everything　about　him　is　immortal；　but
among　mortal　men…　well；　there　may　be　another　who　has　as　much　wealth　as
I　have；　or　there　may　not；　but　at　all　events　I　have　travelled　much
and　have　undergone　much　hardship；　for　it　was　nearly　eight　years　before
I　could　get　home　with　my　fleet。　I　went　to　Cyprus；　Phoenicia　and　the
Egyptians；　I　went　also　to　the　Ethiopians；　the　Sidonians；　and　the
Erembians；　and　to　Libya　where　the　lambs　have　horns　as　soon　as　they　are
born；　and　the　sheep　lamb　down　three　times　a　year。　Every　one　in　that
country；　whether　master　or　man；　has　plenty　of　cheese；　meat；　and　good
milk；　for　the　ewes　yield　all　the　year　round。　But　while　I　was
travelling　and　getting　great　riches　among　these　people；　my　brother　was
secretly　and　shockingly　murdered　through　the　perfidy　of　his　wicked
wife；　so　that　I　have　no　pleasure　in　being　lord　of　all　this　wealth。
Whoever　your　parents　may　be　they　must　have　told　you　about　all　this；
and　of　my　heavy　loss　in　the　ruin　of　a　stately　mansion　fully　and
magnificently　furnished。　Would　that　I　had　only　a　third　of　what　I　now
have　so　that　I　had　stayed　at　home；　and　all　those　were　living　who
perished　on　the　plain　of　Troy；　far　from　Argos。　I　of　grieve；　as　I　sit
here　in　my　house；　for　one　and　all　of　them。　At　times　I　cry　aloud　for
sorrow；　but　presently　I　leave　off　again；　for　crying　is　cold　comfort
and　one　soon　tires　of　it。　Yet　grieve　for　these　as　I　may；　I　do　so　for
one　man　more　than　for　them　all。　I　cannot　even　think　of　him　without
loathing　both　food　and　sleep；　so　miserable　does　he　make　me；　for　no　one
of　all　the　Achaeans　worked　so　hard　or　risked　so　much　as　he　did。　He
took　nothing　by　it；　and　has　left　a　legacy　of　sorrow　to　myself；　for
he　has　been　gone　a　long　time；　and　we　know　not　whether　he　is　alive　or
dead。　His　old　father；　his　long…suffering　wife　Penelope；　and　his　son
Telemachus；　whom　he　left　behind　him　an　infant　in　arms；　are　plunged
in　grief　on　his　account。〃
　　Thus　spoke　Menelaus；　and　the　heart　of　Telemachus　yearned　as　he
bethought　him　of　his　father。　Tears　fell　from　his　eyes　as　he　heard
him　thus　mentioned；　so　that　he　held　his　cloak　before　his　face　with
both　hands。　When　Menelaus　saw　this　he　doubted　whether　to　let　him
choose　his　own　time　for　speaking；　or　to　ask　him　at　once　and　find
what　it　was　all　about。
　　While　he　was　thus　in　two　minds　Helen　came　down　from　her　high　vaulted
and　perfumed　room；　looking　as　lovely　as　Diana　herself。　Adraste　brought
her　a　seat；　Alcippe　a　soft　woollen　rug　while　Phylo　fetched　her　the
silver　work…box　which　Alcandra　wife　of　Polybus　had　given　her。
Polybus　lived　in　Egyptian　Thebes；　which　is　the　richest　city　in　the
whole　world；　he　gave　Menelaus　two　baths；　both　of　pure　silver；　two
tripods；　and　ten　talents　of　gold；　besides　all　this；　his　wife　gave
Helen　some　beautiful　presents；　to　wit；　a　golden　distaff；　and　a
silver　work…box　that　ran　on　wheels；　with　a　gold　band　round　the　top
of　it。　Phylo　now　placed　this　by　her　side；　full　of　fine　spun　yarn；
and　a　distaff　charged　with　violet　coloured　wool　was　laid　upon　the
top　of　it。　Then　Helen　took　her　seat；　put　her　feet　upon　the
footstool；　and　began　to　question　her　husband。
　　〃Do　we　know；　Menelaus；〃　said　she；　〃the　names　of　these　strangers
who　have　come　to　visit　us？　Shall　I　guess　right　or　wrong？…but　I
cannot　help　saying　what　I　think。　Never　yet　have　I　seen　either　man　or
woman　so　like　somebody　else　（indeed　when　I　look　at　him　I　hardly　know
what　to　think）　as　this　young　man　is　like　Telemachus；　whom　Ulysses　left
as　a　baby　behind　him；　when　you　Achaeans　went　to　Troy　with　battle　in
your　hearts；　on　account　of　my　most　shameless　self。〃
　　〃My　dear　wife；〃　replied　Menelaus；　〃I　see　the　likeness　just　as　you
do。　His　hands　and　feet　are　just　like　Ulysses'；　so　is　his　hair；　with
the　shape　of　his　head　and　the　expression　of　his　eyes。　Moreover；　when　I
was　talking　about　Ulysses；　and　saying　how　much　he　had　suffered　on　my
account；　tears　fell　from　his　eyes；　and　he　hid　his　face　in　his　mantle。〃
　　Then　Pisistratus　said；　〃Menelaus；　son　of　Atreus；　you　are　right　in
thinking　that　this　young　man　is　Telemachus；　but　he　is　very　modest；　and
is　ashamed　to　come　here　and　begin　opening　up　discourse　with　one
whose　conversation　is　so　divinely　interesting　as　your　own。　My
father；　Nestor；　sent　me　to　escort　him　hither；　for　he　wanted　to　know
whether　you　could　give　him　any　counsel　or　suggestion。　A　son　has　always
trouble　at　home　when　his　father　has　gone　away　leaving　him　without
supporters；　and　this　is　how　Telemachus　is　now　placed；　for　his　father
is　absent；　and　there　is　no　one　among　his　own　people　to　stand　by　him。〃
　　〃Bless　my　heart；〃　replied　Menelaus；　〃then　I　am　receiving　a　visit
from　the　son　of　a　very　dear　friend；　who　suffered　much　hardship　for
my　sake。　I　had　always　hoped　to　entertain　him　with　most　marked
distinction　when　heaven　had　granted　us　a　safe　return　from　beyond　the
seas。　I　should　have　founded　a　city　for　him　in　Argos；　and　built　him　a
house。　I　should　have　made　him　leave　Ithaca　with　his　goods；　his　son；
and　all　his　people；　and　should　have　sacked　for　them　some　one　of　the
neighbouring　cities　that　are　subject　to　me。　We　should　thus　have　seen
one　another　continually；　and　nothing　but　death　could　have
interrupted　so　close　and　happy　an　intercourse。　I　suppose；　however；
that　heaven　grudged　us　such　great　good　fortune；　for　it　has　prevented
the　poor　fellow　from　ever　getting　home　at　all。〃
　　Thus　did　he　speak；　and　his　words　set　them　all　a　weeping。　Helen　wept；
Telemachus　wept；　and　so　did　Menelaus；　nor　could　Pisistratus　keep　his
eyes　from　filling；　when　he　remembered　his　dear　brother　Antilochus　whom
the　son　of　bright　Dawn　had　killed。　Ther