the odyssey(奥德赛)-第16节

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washing　day；　and　start　at　daybreak。　I　will　come　and　help　you　so　that
you　may　have　everything　ready　as　soon　as　possible；　for　all　the　best
young　men　among　your　own　people　are　courting　you；　and　you　are　not
going　to　remain　a　maid　much　longer。　Ask　your　father；　therefore；　to
have　a　waggon　and　mules　ready　for　us　at　daybreak；　to　take　the　rugs；
robes；　and　girdles；　and　you　can　ride；　too；　which　will　be　much
pleasanter　for　you　than　walking；　for　the　washing…cisterns　are　some　way
from　the　town。〃
　　When　she　had　said　this　Minerva　went　away　to　Olympus；　which　they
say　is　the　everlasting　home　of　the　gods。　Here　no　wind　beats　roughly；
and　neither　rain　nor　snow　can　fall；　but　it　abides　in　everlasting
sunshine　and　in　a　great　peacefulness　of　light；　wherein　the　blessed
gods　are　illumined　for　ever　and　ever。　This　was　the　place　to　which
the　goddess　went　when　she　had　given　instructions　to　the　girl。
　　By　and　by　morning　came　and　woke　Nausicaa；　who　began　wondering
about　her　dream；　she　therefore　went　to　the　other　end　of　the　house　to
tell　her　father　and　mother　all　about　it；　and　found　them　in　their　own
room。　Her　mother　was　sitting　by　the　fireside　spinning　her　purple
yarn　with　her　maids　around　her；　and　she　happened　to　catch　her　father
just　as　he　was　going　out　to　attend　a　meeting　of　the　town　council；
which　the　Phaeacian　aldermen　had　convened。　She　stopped　him　and　said：
　　〃Papa　dear；　could　you　manage　to　let　me　have　a　good　big　waggon？　I
want　to　take　all　our　dirty　clothes　to　the　river　and　wash　them。　You　are
the　chief　man　here；　so　it　is　only　right　that　you　should　have　a　clean
shirt　when　you　attend　meetings　of　the　council。　Moreover；　you　have　five
sons　at　home；　two　of　them　married；　while　the　other　three　are
good…looking　bachelors；　you　know　they　always　like　to　have　clean
linen　when　they　go　to　a　dance；　and　I　have　been　thinking　about　all
this。〃
　　She　did　not　say　a　word　about　her　own　wedding；　for　she　did　not　like
to；　but　her　father　knew　and　said；　〃You　shall　have　the　mules；　my
love；　and　whatever　else　you　have　a　mind　for。　Be　off　with　you；　and
the　men　shall　get　you　a　good　strong　waggon　with　a　body　to　it　that　will
hold　all　your　clothes。〃
　　On　this　he　gave　his　orders　to　the　servants；　who　got　the　waggon
out；　harnessed　the　mules；　and　put　them　to；　while　the　girl　brought
the　clothes　down　from　the　linen　room　and　placed　them　on　the　waggon。
Her　mother　prepared　her　a　basket　of　provisions　with　all　sorts　of
good　things；　and　a　goat　skin　full　of　wine；　the　girl　now　got　into　the
waggon；　and　her　mother　gave　her　also　a　golden　cruse　of　oil；　that　she
and　her　women　might　anoint　themselves。　Then　she　took　the　whip　and
reins　and　lashed　the　mules　on；　whereon　they　set　off；　and　their　hoofs
clattered　on　the　road。　They　pulled　without　flagging；　and　carried　not
only　Nausicaa　and　her　wash　of　clothes；　but　the　maids　also　who　were
with　her。
　　When　they　reached　the　water　side　they　went　to　the
washing…cisterns；　through　which　there　ran　at　all　times　enough　pure
water　to　wash　any　quantity　of　linen；　no　matter　how　dirty。　Here　they
unharnessed　the　mules　and　turned　them　out　to　feed　on　the　sweet　juicy
herbage　that　grew　by　the　water　side。　They　took　the　clothes　out　of
the　waggon；　put　them　in　the　water；　and　vied　with　one　another　in
treading　them　in　the　pits　to　get　the　dirt　out。　After　they　had　washed
them　and　got　them　quite　clean；　they　laid　them　out　by　the　sea　side；
where　the　waves　had　raised　a　high　beach　of　shingle；　and　set　about
washing　themselves　and　anointing　themselves　with　olive　oil。　Then
they　got　their　dinner　by　the　side　of　the　stream；　and　waited　for　the
sun　to　finish　drying　the　clothes。　When　they　had　done　dinner　they　threw
off　the　veils　that　covered　their　heads　and　began　to　play　at　ball；
while　Nausicaa　sang　for　them。　As　the　huntress　Diana　goes　forth　upon
the　mountains　of　Taygetus　or　Erymanthus　to　hunt　wild　boars　or　deer；
and　the　wood…nymphs；　daughters　of　Aegis…bearing　Jove；　take　their　sport
along　with　her　（then　is　Leto　proud　at　seeing　her　daughter　stand　a　full
head　taller　than　the　others；　and　eclipse　the　loveliest　amid　a　whole
bevy　of　beauties）；　even　so　did　the　girl　outshine　her　handmaids。
　　When　it　was　time　for　them　to　start　home；　and　they　were　folding　the
clothes　and　putting　them　into　the　waggon；　Minerva　began　to　consider
how　Ulysses　should　wake　up　and　see　the　handsome　girl　who　was　to
conduct　him　to　the　city　of　the　Phaeacians。　The　girl；　therefore；
threw　a　ball　at　one　of　the　maids；　which　missed　her　and　fell　into
deep　water。　On　this　they　all　shouted；　and　the　noise　they　made　woke
Ulysses；　who　sat　up　in　his　bed　of　leaves　and　began　to　wonder　what　it
might　all　be。
　　〃Alas；〃　said　he　to　himself；　〃what　kind　of　people　have　I　come
amongst？　Are　they　cruel；　savage；　and　uncivilized；　or　hospitable　and
humane？　I　seem　to　hear　the　voices　of　young　women；　and　they　sound
like　those　of　the　nymphs　that　haunt　mountain　tops；　or　springs　of
rivers　and　meadows　of　green　grass。　At　any　rate　I　am　among　a　race　of
men　and　women。　Let　me　try　if　I　cannot　manage　to　get　a　look　at　them。〃
　　As　he　said　this　he　crept　from　under　his　bush；　and　broke　off　a
bough　covered　with　thick　leaves　to　hide　his　nakedness。　He　looked
like　some　lion　of　the　wilderness　that　stalks　about　exulting　in　his
strength　and　defying　both　wind　and　rain；　his　eyes　glare　as　he　prowls
in　quest　of　oxen；　sheep；　or　deer；　for　he　is　famished；　and　will　dare
break　even　into　a　well…fenced　homestead；　trying　to　get　at　the　sheep…
even　such　did　Ulysses　seem　to　the　young　women；　as　he　drew　near　to　them
all　naked　as　he　was；　for　he　was　in　great　want。　On　seeing　one　so
unkempt　and　so　begrimed　with　salt　water；　the　others　scampered　off
along　the　spits　that　jutted　out　into　the　sea；　but　the　daughter　of
Alcinous　stood　firm；　for　Minerva　put　courage　into　her　heart　and　took
away　all　fear　from　her。　She　stood　right　in　front　of　Ulysses；　and　he
doubted　whether　he　should　go　up　to　her；　throw　himself　at　her　feet；　and
embrace　her　knees　as　a　suppliant；　or　stay　where　he　was　and　entreat　her
to　give　him　some　clothes　and　show　him　the　way　to　the　town。　In　the
end　he　deemed　it　best　to　entreat　her　from　a　distance　in　case　the
girl　should　take　offence　at　his　coming　near　enough　to　clasp　her　knees；
so　he　addressed　her　in　honeyed　and　persuasive　language。
　　〃O　queen；〃　he　said；　〃I　implore　your　aid…　but　tell　me；　are　you　a
goddess　or　are　you　a　mortal　woman？　If　you　are　a　goddess　and　dwell　in
heaven；　I　can　only　conjecture　that　you　are　Jove's　daughter　Diana；
for　your　face　and　figure　resemble　none　but　hers；　if　on　the　other
hand　you　are　a　mortal　and　live　on　earth；　thrice　happy　are　your
father　and　mother…　thrice　happy；　too；　are　your　brothers　and　sisters；
how　proud　and　delighted　they　must　feel　when　they　see　so　fair　a　scion
as　yourself　going　out　to　a　dance；　most　happy；　however；　of　all　will
he　be　whose　wedding　gifts　have　been　the　richest；　and　who　takes　you
to　his　own　home。　I　never　yet　saw　any　one　so　beautiful；　neither　man　nor
woman；　and　am　lost　in　admiration　as　I　behold　you。　I　can　only　compare
you　to　a　young　palm　tree　which　I　saw　when　I　was　at　Delos　growing
near　the　altar　of　Apollo…　for　I　was　there；　too；　with　much　people　after
me；　when　I　was　on　that　journey　which　has　been　the　source　of　all　my
troubles。　Never　yet　did　such　a　young　plant　shoot　out　of　the　ground
as　that　was；　and　I　admired　and　wondered　at　it　exactly　as　I　now
admire　and　wonder　at　yourself。　I　dare　not　clasp　your　knees；　but　I　am
in　great　distress；　yesterday　made　the　twentieth　day　that　I　had　been
tossing　about　upon　the　sea。　The　winds　and　waves　have　taken　me　all
the　way　from　the　Ogygian　island；　and　now　fate　has　flung　me　upon　this
coast　that　I　may　endure　still　further　suffering；　for　I　do　not　think
that　I　have　yet　come　to　the　end　of　it；　but　rather　that　heaven　has
still　much　evil　in　store　for　me。
　　〃And　now；　O　queen；　have　pity　upon　me；　for　you　are　the　first　person　I
have　met；　and　I　know　no　one　else　in　this　country。　Show　me　the　way　to
your　town；　and　let　me　have　anything　that　you　may　have　brought　hither
to　wrap　your　clothes　in。　May　heaven　grant　you　in　all　things　your
heart's　desire…　husband；　house；　and　a　happy；　peaceful　home；　for
there　is　nothing　better　in　this　world　than　that　man　and　wife　should　be
of　one　mind　in　a　house。　It　discomfits　their　enemies；　makes　the
hearts　of　their　friends　glad；　and　they　themselves　know　more　about　it
than　any　one。〃
　　To　this　Nausicaa　answered；　〃Stranger；　you　appear　to　be　a　sensible；
well…disposed　person。　There　is　no　accounting　for　luck；　Jove　gives
prosperity　to　rich　and　poor　just　as　he　chooses；　so　you　must　take
what　he　has　seen　fit　to　send　you；　and　make　the　best　of　it。　Now；
however；　that　you　have　come　to　this　our　country；　you　shall　not　want
for　clothes　nor　for　anything　else　that　a　foreigner　in　distress　may
reasonably　look　for。　I　will　show　you　the　way　to　the　town；　and　will
tell　you　the　name　of　our　people；　we　are　called　Phaeacians；　and　I　am
daughter　to　Alcinous；　in　whom　the　whole　power　of　the　state　is　vested。〃
　　Then　she　called　her　maids　and　said；　〃Stay　where　you　are；　you
girls。　Can　you　not　see　a　man　without　running　away　from　him？　Do　you
take　him　for　a　robber　or　a　murderer？　Neither　he　nor　any　one　else　can
come　here　to　do　us　Phaeacians　any　harm；　for　we　are　dear　to　the　gods；
and　live　apart　on　a　land's　end　that　juts　into　the　sounding　sea；　and
have　n