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第10节

hesiod, the homeric hymns, and homerica-第10节

小说: hesiod, the homeric hymns, and homerica 字数: 每页4000字

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 walls; or else makes an end of their ships on the sea。

(ll。 248…264) You princes; mark well this punishment you also; for the deathless gods are near among men and mark all those who oppress their fellows with crooked judgements; and reck not the anger of the gods。  For upon the bounteous earth Zeus has thrice ten thousand spirits; watchers of mortal men; and these keep watch on judgements and deeds of wrong as they roam; clothed in mist; all over the earth。  And there is virgin Justice; the daughter of Zeus; who is honoured and reverenced among the gods who dwell on Olympus; and whenever anyone hurts her with lying slander; she sits beside her father; Zeus the son of Cronos; and tells him of men's wicked heart; until the people pay for the mad folly of their princes who; evilly minded; pervert judgement and give sentence crookedly。  Keep watch against this; you princes; and make straight your judgements; you who devour bribes; put crooked judgements altogether from your thoughts。

(ll。 265…266) He does mischief to himself who does mischief to another; and evil planned harms the plotter most。

(ll。 267…273) The eye of Zeus; seeing all and understanding all; beholds these things too; if so he will; and fails not to mark what sort of justice is this that the city keeps within it。  Now; therefore; may neither I myself be righteous among men; nor my son  for then it is a bad thing to be righteous  if indeed the unrighteous shall have the greater right。  But I think that all…wise Zeus will not yet bring that to pass。

(ll。 274…285) But you; Perses; lay up these things within you heart and listen now to right; ceasing altogether to think of violence。  For the son of Cronos has ordained this law for men; that fishes and beasts and winged fowls should devour one another; for right is not in them; but to mankind he gave right which proves far the best。  For whoever knows the right and is ready to speak it; far…seeing Zeus gives him prosperity; but whoever deliberately lies in his witness and forswears himself; and so hurts Justice and sins beyond repair; that man's generation is left obscure thereafter。  But the generation of the man who swears truly is better thenceforward。

(ll。 286…292) To you; foolish Perses; I will speak good sense。  Badness can be got easily and in shoals: the road to her is smooth; and she lives very near us。  But between us and Goodness the gods have placed the sweat of our brows: long and steep is the path that leads to her; and it is rough at the first; but when a man has reached the top; then is she easy to reach; though before that she was hard。

(ll。 293…319) That man is altogether best who considers all things himself and marks what will be better afterwards and at the end; and he; again; is good who listens to a good adviser; but whoever neither thinks for himself nor keeps in mind what another tells him; he is an unprofitable man。  But do you at any rate; always remembering my charge; work; high…born Perses; that Hunger may hate you; and venerable Demeter richly crowned may love you and fill your barn with food; for Hunger is altogether a meet comrade for the sluggard。  Both gods and men are angry with a man who lives idle; for in nature he is like the stingless drones who waste the labour of the bees; eating without working; but let it be your care to order your work properly; that in the right season your barns may be full of victual。  Through work men grow rich in flocks and substance; and working they are much better loved by the immortals (8)。  Work is no disgrace: it is idleness which is a disgrace。  But if you work; the idle will soon envy you as you grow rich; for fame and renown attend on wealth。  And whatever be your lot; work is best for you; if you turn your misguided mind away from other men's property to your work and attend to your livelihood as I bid you。  An evil shame is the needy man's companion; shame which both greatly harms and prospers men: shame is with poverty; but confidence with wealth。

(ll。 320…341) Wealth should not be seized: god…given wealth is much better; for it a man take great wealth violently and perforce; or if he steal it through his tongue; as often happens when gain deceives men's sense and dishonour tramples down honour; the gods soon blot him out and make that man's house low; and wealth attends him only for a little time。  Alike with him who does wrong to a suppliant or a guest; or who goes up to his brother's bed and commits unnatural sin in lying with his wife; or who infatuately offends against fatherless children; or who abuses his old father at the cheerless threshold of old age and attacks him with harsh words; truly Zeus himself is angry; and at the last lays on him a heavy requittal for his evil doing。  But do you turn your foolish heart altogether away from these things; and; as far as you are able; sacrifice to the deathless gods purely and cleanly; and burn rich meats also; and at other times propitiate them with libations and incense; both when you go to bed and when the holy light has come back; that they may be gracious to you in heart and spirit; and so you may buy another's holding and not another yours。

(ll。 342…351) Call your friend to a feast; but leave your enemy alone; and especially call him who lives near you: for if any mischief happen in the place; neighbours come ungirt; but kinsmen stay to gird themselves (9)。  A bad neighbour is as great a plague as a good one is a great blessing; he who enjoys a good neighbour has a precious possession。  Not even an ox would die but for a bad neighbour。  Take fair measure from your neighbour and pay him back fairly with the same measure; or better; if you can; so that if you are in need afterwards; you may find him sure。

(ll。 352…369) Do not get base gain: base gain is as bad as ruin。  Be friends with the friendly; and visit him who visits you。  Give to one who gives; but do not give to one who does not give。  A man gives to the free…handed; but no one gives to the close… fisted。  Give is a good girl; but Take is bad and she brings death。  For the man who gives willingly; even though he gives a great thing; rejoices in his gift and is glad in heart; but whoever gives way to shamelessness and takes something himself; even though it be a small thing; it freezes his heart。  He who adds to what he has; will keep off bright…eyed hunger; for it you add only a little to a little and do this often; soon that little will become great。  What a man has by him at home does not trouble him: it is better to have your stuff at home; for whatever is abroad may mean loss。  It is a good thing to draw on what you have; but it grieves your heart to need something and not to have it; and I bid you mark this。  Take your fill when the cask is first opened and when it is nearly spent; but midways be sparing: it is poor saving when you come to the lees。

(ll。 370…372) Let the wage promised to a friend be fixed; even with your brother smile  and get a witness; for trust and mistrust; alike ruin men。

(ll。 373…375) Do not let a flaunting woman coax and cozen and deceive you: she is after your barn。  The man who trusts womankind trust deceivers。

(ll。 376…380) There should be an only son; to feed his father's house; for so wealth will increase in the home; but if you leave a second son you should die old。  Yet Zeus can easily give great wealth to a greater number。  More hands mean more work and more increase。

(ll。 381…382) If your heart within you desires wealth; do these things and work with work upon work。

(ll。 383…404) When the Pleiades; daughters of Atlas; are rising (10); begin your harvest; and your ploughing when they are going to set (11)。  Forty nights and days they are hidden and appear again as the year moves round; when first you sharpen your sickle。  This is the law of the plains; and of those who live near the sea; and who inhabit rich country; the glens and dingles far from the tossing sea;  strip to sow and strip to plough and strip to reap; if you wish to get in all Demeter's fruits in due season; and that each kind may grow in its season。  Else; afterwards; you may chance to be in want; and go begging to other men's houses; but without avail; as you have already come to me。  But I will give you no more nor give you further measure。  Foolish Perses!  Work the work which the gods ordained for men; lest in bitter anguish of spirit you with your wife and children seek your livelihood amongst your neighbours; and they do not heed you。  Two or three times; may be; you will succeed; but if you trouble them further; it will not avail you; and all your talk will be in vain; and your word…play unprofitable。  Nay; I bid you find a way to pay your debts and avoid hunger。

(ll。 405…413) First of all; get a house; and a woman and an ox for the plough  a slave woman and not a wife; to follow the oxen as well  and make everything ready at home; so that you may not have to ask of another; and he refuses you; and so; because you are in lack; the season pass by and your work come to nothing。  Do not put your work off till to…morrow and the day after; for a sluggish worker does not fill his barn; nor one who puts off his work: industry makes work go well; but a man who putts off work is always at hand…gr

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