tales of troy(特罗伊的传说)-第1节
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Tales of Troy
Tales of Troy
by Andrew Lang
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Tales of Troy
THE BOYHOOD AND PARENTS
OF ULYSSES
Long ago； in a little island called Ithaca； on the west coast of Greece；
there lived a king named Laertes。 His kingdom was small and
mountainous。 People used to say that Ithaca 〃lay like a shield upon the
sea；〃 which sounds as if it were a flat country。 But in those times shields
were very large； and rose at the middle into two peaks with a hollow
between them； so that Ithaca； seen far off in the sea； with her two chief
mountain peaks； and a cloven valley between them； looked exactly like a
shield。 The country was so rough that men kept no horses； for； at that
time； people drove； standing up in little light chariots with two horses；
they never rode； and there was no cavalry in battle： men fought from
chariots。 When Ulysses； the son of Laertes； King of Ithaca grew up； he
never fought from a chariot； for he had none； but always on foot。
If there were no horses in Ithaca； there was plenty of cattle。 The
father of Ulysses had flocks of sheep； and herds of swine； and wild goats；
deer； and hares lived in the hills and in the plains。 The sea was full of
fish of many sorts； which men caught with nets； and with rod and line and
hook。
Thus Ithaca was a good island to live in。 The summer was long； and
there was hardly any winter； only a few cold weeks； and then the swallows
came back； and the plains were like a garden； all covered with wild
flowersviolets； lilies； narcissus； and roses。 With the blue sky and the
blue sea； the island was beautiful。 White temples stood on the shores；
and the Nymphs； a sort of fairies； had their little shrines built of stone；
with wild rose…bushes hanging over them。
Other islands lay within sight； crowned with mountains； stretching
away； one behind the other； into the sunset。 Ulysses in the course of his
life saw many rich countries； and great cities of men； but； wherever he was；
his heart was always in the little isle of Ithaca； where he had learned how
to row； and how to sail a boat； and how to shoot with bow and arrow； and
to hunt boars and stags； and manage his hounds。
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Tales of Troy
The mother of Ulysses was called Anticleia： she was the daughter of
King Autolycus； who lived near Parnassus； a mountain on the mainland。
This King Autolycus was the most cunning of men。 He was a Master
Thief； and could steal a man's pillow from under his head； but he does not
seem to have been thought worse of for this。 The Greeks had a God of
Thieves； named Hermes； whom Autolycus worshipped； and people
thought more good of his cunning tricks than harm of his dishonesty。
Perhaps these tricks of his were only practised for amusement； however
that may be； Ulysses became as artful as his grandfather； he was both the
bravest and the most cunning of men； but Ulysses never stole things；
except once； as we shall hear； from the enemy in time of war。 He showed
his cunning in stratagems of war； and in many strange escapes from giants
and man…eaters。
Soon after Ulysses was born； his grandfather came to see his mother
and father in Ithaca。 He was sitting at supper when the nurse of Ulysses；
whose name was Eurycleia； brought in the baby； and set him on the knees
of Autolycus； saying； 〃Find a name for your grandson； for he is a child of
many prayers。〃
〃I am very angry with many men and women in the world；〃 said
Autolycus； 〃so let the child's name be A MAN OF WRATH；〃 which； in
Greek； was Odysseus。 So the child was called Odysseus by his own
people； but the name was changed into Ulysses； and we shall call him
Ulysses。
We do not know much about Ulysses when he was a little boy； except
that he used to run about the garden with his father； asking questions； and
begging that he might have fruit trees 〃for his very own。〃 He was a great
pet； for his parents had no other son； so his father gave him thirteen pear
trees； and forty fig trees； and promised him fifty rows of vines； all covered
with grapes； which he could eat when he liked； without asking leave of the
gardener。 So he was not tempted to steal fruit； like his grandfather。
When Autolycus gave Ulysses his name； he said that he must come to
stay with him； when he was a big boy； and he would get splendid presents。
Ulysses was told about this； so； when he was a tall lad； he crossed the sea
and drove in his chariot to the old man's house on Mount Parnassus。
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Tales of Troy
Everybody welcomed him； and next day his uncles and cousins and he
went out to hunt a fierce wild boar； early in the morning。 Probably
Ulysses took his own dog； named Argos； the best of hounds； of which we
shall hear again； long afterwards； for the dog lived to be very old。 Soon
the hounds came on the scent of a wild boar； and after them the men went；
with spears in their hands； and Ulysses ran foremost； for he was already
the swiftest runner in Greece。
He came on a great boar lying in a tangled thicket of boughs and
bracken； a dark place where the sun never shone； nor could the rain pierce
through。 Then the noise of the men's shouts and the barking of the dogs
awakened the boar； and up he sprang； bristling all over his back； and with
fire shining from his eyes。 In rushed Ulysses first of all； with his spear
raised to strike； but the boar was too quick for him； and ran in； and drove
his sharp tusk sideways； ripping up the thigh of Ulysses。 But the boar's
tusk missed the bone； and Ulysses sent his sharp spear into the beast's
right shoulder； and the spear went clean through； and the boar fell dead；
with a loud cry。 The uncles of Ulysses bound up his wound carefully；
and sang a magical song over it； as the French soldiers wanted to do to
Joan of Arc when the arrow pierced her shoulder at the siege of Orleans。
Then the blood ceased to flow； and soon Ulysses was quite healed of his
wound。 They thought that he would be a good warrior； and gave him
splendid presents； and when he went home again he told all that had
happened to his father and mother； and his nurse； Eurycleia。 But there
was always a long white mark or scar above his left knee； and about that
scar we shall hear again； many years afterwards。
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Tales of Troy
HOW PEOPLE LIVED IN THE
TIME OF ULYSSES
When Ulysses was a young man he wished to marry a princess of his
own rank。 Now there were at that time many kings in Greece； and you
must be told how they lived。 Each king had his own little kingdom； with
his chief town； walled with huge walls of enormous stone。 Many of
these walls are still standing； though the grass has grown over the ruins of
most of them； and in later years； men believed that those walls must have
been built by giants； the stones are so enormous。 Each king had nobles
under him； rich men； and all had their palaces； each with its courtyard； and
its long hall； where the fire burned in the midst； and the King and Queen
sat beside it on high thrones； between the four chief carved pillars that
held up the roof。 The thrones were made of cedar wood and ivory； inlaid
with gold； and there were many other chairs and small tables for guests；
and the walls and doors were covered with bronze plates； and gold and
silver； and sheets of blue glass。 Sometimes they were painted with pictures
of bull hunts； and a few of these pictures may still be seen。 At night
torch
