the odyssey(奥德赛)-第51节

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her　couch　and　her　limbs　became　heavy　with　sleep。　Then　the　goddess　shed
grace　and　beauty　over　her　that　all　the　Achaeans　might　admire　her。
She　washed　her　face　with　the　ambrosial　loveliness　that　Venus　wears
when　she　goes　dancing　with　the　Graces；　she　made　her　taller　and　of　a
more　commanding　figure；　while　as　for　her　complexion　it　was　whiter　than
sawn　ivory。　When　Minerva　had　done　all　this　she　went　away；　whereon
the　maids　came　in　from　the　women's　room　and　woke　Penelope　with　the
sound　of　their　talking。
　　〃What　an　exquisitely　delicious　sleep　I　have　been　having；〃　said
she；　as　she　passed　her　hands　over　her　face；　〃in　spite　of　all　my
misery。　I　wish　Diana　would　let　me　die　so　sweetly　now　at　this　very
moment；　that　I　might　no　longer　waste　in　despair　for　the　loss　of　my
dear　husband；　who　possessed　every　kind　of　good　quality　and　was　the
most　distinguished　man　among　the　Achaeans。〃
　　With　these　words　she　came　down　from　her　upper　room；　not　alone　but
attended　by　two　of　her　maidens；　and　when　she　reached　the　suitors　she
stood　by　one　of　the　bearing…posts　supporting　the　roof　of　the　cloister；
holding　a　veil　before　her　face；　and　with　a　staid　maid　servant　on
either　side　of　her。　As　they　beheld　her　the　suitors　were　so　overpowered
and　became　so　desperately　enamoured　of　her；　that　each　one　prayed　he
might　win　her　for　his　own　bed　fellow。
　　〃Telemachus；〃　said　she；　addressing　her　son；　〃I　fear　you　are　no
longer　so　discreet　and　well　conducted　as　you　used　to　be。　When　you　were
younger　you　had　a　greater　sense　of　propriety；　now；　however；　that　you
are　grown　up；　though　a　stranger　to　look　at　you　would　take　you　for
the　son　of　a　well…to…do　father　as　far　as　size　and　good　looks　go；
your　conduct　is　by　no　means　what　it　should　be。　What　is　all　this
disturbance　that　has　been　going　on；　and　how　came　you　to　allow　a
stranger　to　be　so　disgracefully　ill…treated？　What　would　have
happened　if　he　had　suffered　serious　injury　while　a　suppliant　in　our
house？　Surely　this　would　have　been　very　discreditable　to　you。〃
　　〃I　am　not　surprised；　my　dear　mother；　at　your　displeasure；〃　replied
Telemachus；　〃I　understand　all　about　it　and　know　when　things　are　not　as
they　should　be；　which　I　could　not　do　when　I　was　younger；　I　cannot；
however；　behave　with　perfect　propriety　at　all　times。　First　one　and
then　another　of　these　wicked　people　here　keeps　driving　me　out　of　my
mind；　and　I　have　no　one　to　stand　by　me。　After　all；　however；　this　fight
between　Irus　and　the　stranger　did　not　turn　out　as　the　suitors　meant　it
to　do；　for　the　stranger　got　the　best　of　it。　I　wish　Father　Jove；
Minerva；　and　Apollo　would　break　the　neck　of　every　one　of　these
wooers　of　yours；　some　inside　the　house　and　some　out；　and　I　wish　they
might　all　be　as　limp　as　Irus　is　over　yonder　in　the　gate　of　the　outer
court。　See　how　he　nods　his　head　like　a　drunken　man；　he　has　had　such
a　thrashing　that　he　cannot　stand　on　his　feet　nor　get　back　to　his　home；
wherever　that　may　be；　for　has　no　strength　left　in　him。〃
　　Thus　did　they　converse。　Eurymachus　then　came　up　and　said；　〃Queen
Penelope；　daughter　of　Icarius；　if　all　the　Achaeans　in　Iasian　Argos
could　see　you　at　this　moment；　you　would　have　still　more　suitors　in
your　house　by　tomorrow　morning；　for　you　are　the　most　admirable　woman
in　the　whole　world　both　as　regards　personal　beauty　and　strength　of
understanding。〃
　　To　this　Penelope　replied；　〃Eurymachus；　heaven　robbed　me　of　all　my
beauty　whether　of　face　or　figure　when　the　Argives　set　sail　for　Troy
and　my　dear　husband　with　them。　If　he　were　to　return　and　look　after
my　affairs；　I　should　both　be　more　respected　and　show　a　better　presence
to　the　world。　As　it　is；　I　am　oppressed　with　care；　and　with　the
afflictions　which　heaven　has　seen　fit　to　heap　upon　me。　My　husband
foresaw　it　all；　and　when　he　was　leaving　home　he　took　my　right　wrist　in
his　hand…　'Wife；　'he　said；　'we　shall　not　all　of　us　come　safe　home
from　Troy；　for　the　Trojans　fight　well　both　with　bow　and　spear。　They
are　excellent　also　at　fighting　from　chariots；　and　nothing　decides
the　issue　of　a　fight　sooner　than　this。　I　know　not；　therefore；
whether　heaven　will　send　me　back　to　you；　or　whether　I　may　not　fall
over　there　at　Troy。　In　the　meantime　do　you　look　after　things　here。
Take　care　of　my　father　and　mother　as　at　present；　and　even　more　so
during　my　absence；　but　when　you　see　our　son　growing　a　beard；　then
marry　whom　you　will；　and　leave　this　your　present　home。　This　is　what　he
said　and　now　it　is　all　coming　true。　A　night　will　come　when　I　shall
have　to　yield　myself　to　a　marriage　which　I　detest；　for　Jove　has
taken　from　me　all　hope　of　happiness。　This　further　grief；　moreover；
cuts　me　to　the　very　heart。　You　suitors　are　not　wooing　me　after　the
custom　of　my　country。　When　men　are　courting　a　woman　who　they　think
will　be　a　good　wife　to　them　and　who　is　of　noble　birth；　and　when　they
are　each　trying　to　win　her　for　himself；　they　usually　bring　oxen　and
sheep　to　feast　the　friends　of　the　lady；　and　they　make　her
magnificent　presents；　instead　of　eating　up　other　people's　property
without　paying　for　it。〃
　　This　was　what　she　said；　and　Ulysses　was　glad　when　he　heard　her
trying　to　get　presents　out　of　the　suitors；　and　flattering　them　with
fair　words　which　he　knew　she　did　not　mean。
　　Then　Antinous　said；　〃Queen　Penelope；　daughter　of　Icarius；　take　as
many　presents　as　you　please　from　any　one　who　will　give　them　to　you；　it
is　not　well　to　refuse　a　present；　but　we　will　not　go　about　our　business
nor　stir　from　where　we　are；　till　you　have　married　the　best　man　among
us　whoever　he　may　be。〃
　　The　others　applauded　what　Antinous　had　said；　and　each　one　sent　his
servant　to　bring　his　present。　Antinous's　man　returned　with　a　large　and
lovely　dress　most　exquisitely　embroidered。　It　had　twelve　beautifully
made　brooch　pins　of　pure　gold　with　which　to　fasten　it。　Eurymachus
immediately　brought　her　a　magnificent　chain　of　gold　and　amber　beads
that　gleamed　like　sunlight。　Eurydamas's　two　men　returned　with　some
earrings　fashioned　into　three　brilliant　pendants　which　glistened
most　beautifully；　while　king　Pisander　son　of　Polyctor　gave　her　a
necklace　of　the　rarest　workmanship；　and　every　one　else　brought　her　a
beautiful　present　of　some　kind。
　　Then　the　queen　went　back　to　her　room　upstairs；　and　her　maids　brought
the　presents　after　her。　Meanwhile　the　suitors　took　to　singing　and
dancing；　and　stayed　till　evening　came。　They　danced　and　sang　till　it
grew　dark；　they　then　brought　in　three　braziers　to　give　light；　and
piled　them　up　with　chopped　firewood　very　and　dry；　and　they　lit　torches
from　them；　which　the　maids　held　up　turn　and　turn　about。　Then　Ulysses
said：
　　〃Maids；　servants　of　Ulysses　who　has　so　long　been　absent；　go　to　the
queen　inside　the　house；　sit　with　her　and　amuse　her；　or　spin；　and
pick　wool。　I　will　hold　the　light　for　all　these　people。　They　may　stay
till　morning；　but　shall　not　beat　me；　for　I　can　stand　a　great　deal。〃
　　The　maids　looked　at　one　another　and　laughed；　while　pretty　Melantho
began　to　gibe　at　him　contemptuously。　She　was　daughter　to　Dolius；　but
had　been　brought　up　by　Penelope；　who　used　to　give　her　toys　to　play
with；　and　looked　after　her　when　she　was　a　child；　but　in　spite　of　all
this　she　showed　no　consideration　for　the　sorrows　of　her　mistress；
and　used　to　misconduct　herself　with　Eurymachus；　with　whom　she　was　in
love。
　　〃Poor　wretch；〃　said　she；　〃are　you　gone　clean　out　of　your　mind？　Go
and　sleep　in　some　smithy；　or　place　of　public　gossips；　instead　of
chattering　here。　Are　you　not　ashamed　of　opening　your　mouth　before　your
betters…　so　many　of　them　too？　Has　the　wine　been　getting　into　your
head；　or　do　you　always　babble　in　this　way？　You　seem　to　have　lost
your　wits　because　you　beat　the　tramp　Irus；　take　care　that　a　better　man
than　he　does　not　come　and　cudgel　you　about　the　head　till　he　pack　you
bleeding　out　of　the　house。〃
　　〃Vixen；〃　replied　Ulysses；　scowling　at　her；　〃I　will　go　and　tell
Telemachus　what　you　have　been　saying；　and　he　will　have　you　torn　limb
from　limb。〃
　　With　these　words　he　scared　the　women；　and　they　went　off　into　the
body　of　the　house。　They　trembled　all　aver；　for　they　thought　he　would
do　as　he　said。　But　Ulysses　took　his　stand　near　the　burning　braziers；
holding　up　torches　and　looking　at　the　people…　brooding　the　while　on
things　that　should　surely　come　to　pass。
　　But　Minerva　would　not　let　the　suitors　for　one　moment　cease　their
insolence；　for　she　wanted　Ulysses　to　become　even　more　bitter　against
them；　she　therefore　set　Eurymachus　son　of　Polybus　on　to　gibe　at　him；
which　made　the　others　laugh。　〃Listen　to　me；〃　said　he；　〃you　suitors
of　Queen　Penelope；　that　I　may　speak　even　as　I　am　minded。　It　is　not　for
nothing　that　this　man　has　come　to　the　house　of　Ulysses；　I　believe
the　light　has　not　been　coming　from　the　torches；　but　from　his　own　head…
for　his　hair　is　all　gone；　every　bit　of　it。〃
　　Then　turning　to　Ulysses　he　said；　〃Stranger；　will　you　work　as　a
servant；　if　I　send　you　to　the　wolds　and　see　that　you　are　well　paid？
Can　you　build　a　stone　fence；　or　plant　trees？　I　will　have　you　fed　all
the　year　round；　and　will　find　you　in　shoes　and　clothing。　Will　you
go；　then？　Not　you；　for　you　have　got　into　bad　ways；　and　do　not　want
to　work；　you　had　rather　fill　your　belly　by　going　round　the　country
begging。〃
　　〃Eurymachus；〃　answered　Ulysses；　〃if　you　and　I　were　to　work　one
against　the　other　i