the odyssey(奥德赛)-第17节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


and　live　apart　on　a　land's　end　that　juts　into　the　sounding　sea；　and
have　nothing　to　do　with　any　other　people。　This　is　only　some　poor　man
who　has　lost　his　way；　and　we　must　be　kind　to　him；　for　strangers　and
foreigners　in　distress　are　under　Jove's　protection；　and　will　take　what
they　can　get　and　be　thankful；　so；　girls；　give　the　poor　fellow
something　to　eat　and　drink；　and　wash　him　in　the　stream　at　some　place
that　is　sheltered　from　the　wind。〃
　　On　this　the　maids　left　off　running　away　and　began　calling　one
another　back。　They　made　Ulysses　sit　down　in　the　shelter　as　Nausicaa
had　told　them；　and　brought　him　a　shirt　and　cloak。　They　also　brought
him　the　little　golden　cruse　of　oil；　and　told　him　to　go　wash　in　the
stream。　But　Ulysses　said；　〃Young　women；　please　to　stand　a　little　on
one　side　that　I　may　wash　the　brine　from　my　shoulders　and　anoint　myself
with　oil；　for　it　is　long　enough　since　my　skin　has　had　a　drop　of　oil
upon　it。　I　cannot　wash　as　long　as　you　all　keep　standing　there。　I　am
ashamed　to　strip　before　a　number　of　good…looking　young　women。〃
　　Then　they　stood　on　one　side　and　went　to　tell　the　girl；　while　Ulysses
washed　himself　in　the　stream　and　scrubbed　the　brine　from　his　back
and　from　his　broad　shoulders。　When　he　had　thoroughly　washed　himself；
and　had　got　the　brine　out　of　his　hair；　he　anointed　himself　with　oil；
and　put　on　the　clothes　which　the　girl　had　given　him；　Minerva　then　made
him　look　taller　and　stronger　than　before；　she　also　made　the　hair
grow　thick　on　the　top　of　his　head；　and　flow　down　in　curls　like
hyacinth　blossoms；　she　glorified　him　about　the　head　and　shoulders　as　a
skilful　workman　who　has　studied　art　of　all　kinds　under　Vulcan　and
Minerva　enriches　a　piece　of　silver　plate　by　gilding　it…　and　his　work
is　full　of　beauty。　Then　he　went　and　sat　down　a　little　way　off　upon　the
beach；　looking　quite　young　and　handsome；　and　the　girl　gazed　on　him
with　admiration；　then　she　said　to　her　maids：
　　〃Hush；　my　dears；　for　I　want　to　say　something。　I　believe　the　gods　who
live　in　heaven　have　sent　this　man　to　the　Phaeacians。　When　I　first
saw　him　I　thought　him　plain；　but　now　his　appearance　is　like　that　of
the　gods　who　dwell　in　heaven。　I　should　like　my　future　husband　to　be
just　such　another　as　he　is；　if　he　would　only　stay　here　and　not　want　to
go　away。　However；　give　him　something　to　eat　and　drink。〃
　　They　did　as　they　were　told；　and　set　food　before　Ulysses；　who　ate　and
drank　ravenously；　for　it　was　long　since　he　had　had　food　of　any　kind。
Meanwhile；　Nausicaa　bethought　her　of　another　matter。　She　got　the　linen
folded　and　placed　in　the　waggon；　she　then　yoked　the　mules；　and；　as　she
took　her　seat；　she　called　Ulysses：
　　〃Stranger；〃　said　she；　〃rise　and　let　us　be　going　back　to　the　town；
I　will　introduce　you　at　the　house　of　my　excellent　father；　where　I
can　tell　you　that　you　will　meet　all　the　best　people　among　the
Phaecians。　But　be　sure　and　do　as　I　bid　you；　for　you　seem　to　be　a
sensible　person。　As　long　as　we　are　going　past　the　fields…　and　farm
lands；　follow　briskly　behind　the　waggon　along　with　the　maids　and　I
will　lead　the　way　myself。　Presently；　however；　we　shall　come　to　the
town；　where　you　will　find　a　high　wall　running　all　round　it；　and　a　good
harbour　on　either　side　with　a　narrow　entrance　into　the　city；　and　the
ships　will　be　drawn　up　by　the　road　side；　for　every　one　has　a　place
where　his　own　ship　can　lie。　You　will　see　the　market　place　with　a
temple　of　Neptune　in　the　middle　of　it；　and　paved　with　large　stones
bedded　in　the　earth。　Here　people　deal　in　ship's　gear　of　all　kinds；
such　as　cables　and　sails；　and　here；　too；　are　the　places　where　oars　are
made；　for　the　Phaeacians　are　not　a　nation　of　archers；　they　know
nothing　about　bows　and　arrows；　but　are　a　sea…faring　folk；　and　pride
themselves　on　their　masts；　oars；　and　ships；　with　which　they　travel　far
over　the　sea。
　　〃I　am　afraid　of　the　gossip　and　scandal　that　may　be　set　on　foot
against　me　later　on；　for　the　people　here　are　very　ill…natured；　and
some　low　fellow；　if　he　met　us；　might　say；　'Who　is　this　fine…looking
stranger　that　is　going　about　with　Nausicaa？　Where　did　she　End　him？　I
suppose　she　is　going　to　marry　him。　Perhaps　he　is　a　vagabond　sailor
whom　she　has　taken　from　some　foreign　vessel；　for　we　have　no
neighbours；　or　some　god　has　at　last　come　down　from　heaven　in　answer　to
her　prayers；　and　she　is　going　to　live　with　him　all　the　rest　of　her
life。　It　would　be　a　good　thing　if　she　would　take　herself　of　I　for　sh
and　find　a　husband　somewhere　else；　for　she　will　not　look　at　one　of　the
many　excellent　young　Phaeacians　who　are　in　with　her。'　This　is　the　kind
of　disparaging　remark　that　would　be　made　about　me；　and　I　could　not
complain；　for　I　should　myself　be　scandalized　at　seeing　any　other
girl　do　the　like；　and　go　about　with　men　in　spite　of　everybody；　while
her　father　and　mother　were　still　alive；　and　without　having　been
married　in　the　face　of　all　the　world。
　　〃If；　therefore；　you　want　my　father　to　give　you　an　escort　and　to　help
you　home；　do　as　I　bid　you；　you　will　see　a　beautiful　grove　of　poplars
by　the　road　side　dedicated　to　Minerva；　it　has　a　well　in　it　and　a
meadow　all　round　it。　Here　my　father　has　a　field　of　rich　garden　ground；
about　as　far　from　the　town　as　a　man'　voice　will　carry。　Sit　down
there　and　wait　for　a　while　till　the　rest　of　us　can　get　into　the　town
and　reach　my　father's　house。　Then；　when　you　think　we　must　have　done
this；　come　into　the　town　and　ask　the　way　to　the　house　of　my　father
Alcinous。　You　will　have　no　difficulty　in　finding　it；　any　child　will
point　it　out　to　you；　for　no　one　else　in　the　whole　town　has　anything
like　such　a　fine　house　as　he　has。　When　you　have　got　past　the　gates　and
through　the　outer　court；　go　right　across　the　inner　court　till　you　come
to　my　mother。　You　will　find　her　sitting　by　the　fire　and　spinning　her
purple　wool　by　firelight。　It　is　a　fine　sight　to　see　her　as　she　leans
back　against　one　of　the　bearing…posts　with　her　maids　all　ranged　behind
her。　Close　to　her　seat　stands　that　of　my　father；　on　which　he　sits
and　topes　like　an　immortal　god。　Never　mind　him；　but　go　up　to　my
mother；　and　lay　your　hands　upon　her　knees　if　you　would　get　home
quickly。　If　you　can　gain　her　over；　you　may　hope　to　see　your　own
country　again；　no　matter　how　distant　it　may　be。〃
　　So　saying　she　lashed　the　mules　with　her　whip　and　they　left　the
river。　The　mules　drew　well　and　their　hoofs　went　up　and　down　upon　the
road。　She　was　careful　not　to　go　too　fast　for　Ulysses　and　the　maids　who
were　following　on　foot　along　with　the　waggon；　so　she　plied　her　whip
with　judgement。　As　the　sun　was　going　down　they　came　to　the　sacred
grove　of　Minerva；　and　there　Ulysses　sat　down　and　prayed　to　the
mighty　daughter　of　Jove。
　　〃Hear　me；〃　he　cried；　〃daughter　of　Aegis…bearing　Jove；　unweariable；
hear　me　now；　for　you　gave　no　heed　to　my　prayers　when　Neptune　was
wrecking　me。　Now；　therefore；　have　pity　upon　me　and　grant　that　I　may
find　friends　and　be　hospitably　received　by　the　Phaecians。〃
　　Thus　did　he　pray；　and　Minerva　heard　his　prayer；　but　she　would　not
show　herself　to　him　openly；　for　she　was　afraid　of　her　uncle　Neptune；
who　was　still　furious　in　his　endeavors　to　prevent　Ulysses　from　getting
home。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　BOOK　VII。
　　THUS；　then；　did　Ulysses　wait　and　pray；　but　the　girl　drove　on　to
the　town。　When　she　reached　her　father's　house　she　drew　up　at　the
gateway；　and　her　brothers…　comely　as　the　gods…　gathered　round　her；
took　the　mules　out　of　the　waggon；　and　carried　the　clothes　into　the
house；　while　she　went　to　her　own　room；　where　an　old　servant；
Eurymedusa　of　Apeira；　lit　the　fire　for　her。　This　old　woman　had　been
brought　by　sea　from　Apeira；　and　had　been　chosen　as　a　prize　for
Alcinous　because　he　was　king　over　the　Phaecians；　and　the　people　obeyed
him　as　though　he　were　a　god。　She　had　been　nurse　to　Nausicaa；　and　had
now　lit　the　fire　for　her；　and　brought　her　supper　for　her　into　her
own　room。
　　Presently　Ulysses　got　up　to　go　towards　the　town；　and　Minerva　shed
a　thick　mist　all　round　him　to　hide　him　in　case　any　of　the　proud
Phaecians　who　met　him　should　be　rude　to　him；　or　ask　him　who　he　was。
Then；　as　he　was　just　entering　the　town；　she　came　towards　him　in　the
likeness　of　a　little　girl　carrying　a　pitcher。　She　stood　right　in　front
of　him；　and　Ulysses　said：
　　〃My　dear；　will　you　be　so　kind　as　to　show　me　the　house　of　king
Alcinous？　I　am　an　unfortunate　foreigner　in　distress；　and　do　not　know
one　in　your　town　and　country。〃
　　Then　Minerva　said；　〃Yes；　father　stranger；　I　will　show　you　the
house　you　want；　for　Alcinous　lives　quite　close　to　my　own　father。　I
will　go　before　you　and　show　the　way；　but　say　not　a　word　as　you　go；　and
do　not　look　at　any　man；　nor　ask　him　questions；　for　the　people　here
cannot　abide　strangers；　and　do　not　like　men　who　come　from　some　other
place。　They　are　a　sea…faring　folk；　and　sail　the　seas　by　the　grace　of
Neptune　in　ships　that　glide　along　like　thought；　or　as　a　bird　in　the
air。〃
　　On　this　she　led　the　way；　and　Ulysses　followed　in　her　steps；　but
not　one　of　the　Phaecians　could　see　him　as　he　passed　through　the　city
in　the　midst　of　them；　for　the　great　goddess　Minerva　in　her　good　will
towards　him　had　hidden　him　in　a　thick　cloud　of　darkness。　He　admired
their　harbours；　ships；　places　of　assembly；　and　the　lofty　walls　of
the　city；　which；　with　the　palisade　on　top　of　t