the odyssey(奥德赛)-第12部分

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hope　they　will　be　all　henceforth　cruel　and　unjust；　for　there　is　not
one　of　his　subjects　but　has　forgotten　Ulysses；　who　ruled　them　as
though　he　were　their　father。　There　he　is；　lying　in　great　pain　in　an
island　where　dwells　the　nymph　Calypso；　who　will　not　let　him　go；　and　he
cannot　get　back　to　his　own　country；　for　he　can　find　neither　ships
nor　sailors　to　take　him　over　the　sea。　Furthermore；　wicked　people　are
now　trying　to　murder　his　only　son　Telemachus；　who　is　coming　home
from　Pylos　and　Lacedaemon；　where　he　has　been　to　see　if　he　can　get　news
of　his　father。〃
　　〃What；　my　dear；　are　you　talking　about？〃　replied　her　father；　〃did　you
not　send　him　there　yourself；　because　you　thought　it　would　help　Ulysses
to　get　home　and　punish　the　suitors？　Besides；　you　are　perfectly　able　to
protect　Telemachus；　and　to　see　him　safely　home　again；　while　the
suitors　have　to　come　hurry…skurrying　back　without　having　killed　him。〃
　　When　he　had　thus　spoken；　he　said　to　his　son　Mercury；　〃Mercury；　you
are　our　messenger；　go　therefore　and　tell　Calypso　we　have　decreed
that　poor　Ulysses　is　to　return　home。　He　is　to　be　convoyed　neither　by
gods　nor　men；　but　after　a　perilous　voyage　of　twenty　days　upon　a　raft
he　is　to　reach　fertile　Scheria；　the　land　of　the　Phaeacians；　who　are
near　of　kin　to　the　gods；　and　will　honour　him　as　though　he　were　one
of　ourselves。　They　will　send　him　in　a　ship　to　his　own　country；　and
will　give　him　more　bronze　and　gold　and　raiment　than　he　would　have
brought　back　from　Troy；　if　he　had　had　had　all　his　prize　money　and
had　got　home　without　disaster。　This　is　how　we　have　settled　that　he
shall　return　to　his　country　and　his　friends。〃
　　Thus　he　spoke；　and　Mercury；　guide　and　guardian；　slayer　of　Argus；　did
as　he　was　told。　Forthwith　he　bound　on　his　glittering　golden　sandals
with　which　he　could　fly　like　the　wind　over　land　and　sea。　He　took　the
wand　with　which　he　seals　men's　eyes　in　sleep　or　wakes　them　just　as
he　pleases；　and　flew　holding　it　in　his　hand　over　Pieria；　then　he
swooped　down　through　the　firmament　till　he　reached　the　level　of　the
sea；　whose　waves　he　skimmed　like　a　cormorant　that　flies　fishing
every　hole　and　corner　of　the　ocean；　and　drenching　its　thick　plumage　in
the　spray。　He　flew　and　flew　over　many　a　weary　wave；　but　when　at　last
he　got　to　the　island　which　was　his　journey's　end；　he　left　the　sea
and　went　on　by　land　till　he　came　to　the　cave　where　the　nymph　Calypso
lived。
　　He　found　her　at　home。　There　was　a　large　fire　burning　on　the
hearth；　and　one　could　smell　from　far　the　fragrant　reek　of　burning
cedar　and　sandal　wood。　As　for　herself；　she　was　busy　at　her　loom；
shooting　her　golden　shuttle　through　the　warp　and　singing
beautifully。　Round　her　cave　there　was　a　thick　wood　of　alder；　poplar；
and　sweet　smelling　cypress　trees；　wherein　all　kinds　of　great　birds　had
built　their　nests…　owls；　hawks；　and　chattering　sea…crows　that　occupy
their　business　in　the　waters。　A　vine　loaded　with　grapes　was　trained
and　grew　luxuriantly　about　the　mouth　of　the　cave；　there　were　also　four
running　rills　of　water　in　channels　cut　pretty　close　together；　and
turned　hither　and　thither　so　as　to　irrigate　the　beds　of　violets　and
luscious　herbage　over　which　they　flowed。　Even　a　god　could　not　help
being　charmed　with　such　a　lovely　spot；　so　Mercury　stood　still　and
looked　at　it；　but　when　he　had　admired　it　sufficiently　he　went　inside
the　cave。
　　Calypso　knew　him　at　once…　for　the　gods　all　know　each　other；　no
matter　how　far　they　live　from　one　another…　but　Ulysses　was　not　within；
he　was　on　the　sea…shore　as　usual；　looking　out　upon　the　barren　ocean
with　tears　in　his　eyes；　groaning　and　breaking　his　heart　for　sorrow。
Calypso　gave　Mercury　a　seat　and　said：　〃Why　have　you　come　to　see　me；
Mercury…　honoured；　and　ever　welcome…　for　you　do　not　visit　me　often？
Say　what　you　want；　I　will　do　it　for　be　you　at　once　if　I　can；　and　if　it
can　be　done　at　all；　but　come　inside；　and　let　me　set　refreshment　before
you。
　　As　she　spoke　she　drew　a　table　loaded　with　ambrosia　beside　him　and
mixed　him　some　red　nectar；　so　Mercury　ate　and　drank　till　he　had　had
enough；　and　then　said：
　　〃We　are　speaking　god　and　goddess　to　one　another；　one　another；　and
you　ask　me　why　I　have　come　here；　and　I　will　tell　you　truly　as　you
would　have　me　do。　Jove　sent　me；　it　was　no　doing　of　mine；　who　could
possibly　want　to　come　all　this　way　over　the　sea　where　there　are　no
cities　full　of　people　to　offer　me　sacrifices　or　choice　hecatombs？
Nevertheless　I　had　to　come；　for　none　of　us　other　gods　can　cross
Jove；　nor　transgress　his　orders。　He　says　that　you　have　here　the　most
ill…starred　of　alf　those　who　fought　nine　years　before　the　city　of　King
Priam　and　sailed　home　in　the　tenth　year　after　having　sacked　it。　On
their　way　home　they　sinned　against　Minerva；　who　raised　both　wind　and
waves　against　them；　so　that　all　his　brave　companions　perished；　and
he　alone　was　carried　hither　by　wind　and　tide。　Jove　says　that　you　are
to　let　this　by　man　go　at　once；　for　it　is　decreed　that　he　shall　not
perish　here；　far　from　his　own　people；　but　shall　return　to　his　house
and　country　and　see　his　friends　again。〃
　　Calypso　trembled　with　rage　when　she　heard　this；　〃You　gods；〃　she
exclaimed；　to　be　ashamed　of　yourselves。　You　are　always　jealous　and
hate　seeing　a　goddess　take　a　fancy　to　a　mortal　man；　and　live　with
him　in　open　matrimony。　So　when　rosy…fingered　Dawn　made　love　to
Orion；　you　precious　gods　were　all　of　you　furious　till　Diana　went　and
killed　him　in　Ortygia。　So　again　when　Ceres　fell　in　love　with　Iasion；
and　yielded　to　him　in　a　thrice　ploughed　fallow　field；　Jove　came　to
hear　of　it　before　so　long　and　killed　Iasion　with　his　thunder…bolts。
And　now　you　are　angry　with　me　too　because　I　have　a　man　here。　I　found
the　poor　creature　sitting　all　alone　astride　of　a　keel；　for　Jove　had
struck　his　ship　with　lightning　and　sunk　it　in　mid　ocean；　so　that　all
his　crew　were　drowned；　while　he　himself　was　driven　by　wind　and　waves
on　to　my　island。　I　got　fond　of　him　and　cherished　him；　and　had　set　my
heart　on　making　him　immortal；　so　that　he　should　never　grow　old　all　his
days；　still　I　cannot　cross　Jove；　nor　bring　his　counsels　to　nothing；
therefore；　if　he　insists　upon　it；　let　the　man　go　beyond　the　seas
again；　but　I　cannot　send　him　anywhere　myself　for　I　have　neither
ships　nor　men　who　can　take　him。　Nevertheless　I　will　readily　give　him
such　advice；　in　all　good　faith；　as　will　be　likely　to　bring　him
safely　to　his　own　country。〃
　　〃Then　send　him　away；〃　said　Mercury；　〃or　Jove　will　be　angry　with
you　and　punish　you〃'
　　On　this　he　took　his　leave；　and　Calypso　went　out　to　look　for　Ulysses；
for　she　had　heard　Jove's　message。　She　found　him　sitting　upon　the　beach
with　his　eyes　ever　filled　with　tears；　and　dying　of　sheer
home…sickness；　for　he　had　got　tired　of　Calypso；　and　though　he　was
forced　to　sleep　with　her　in　the　cave　by　night；　it　was　she；　not　he；
that　would　have　it　so。　As　for　the　day　time；　he　spent　it　on　the　rocks
and　on　the　sea…shore；　weeping；　crying　aloud　for　his　despair；　and
always　looking　out　upon　the　sea。　Calypso　then　went　close　up　to　him
said：
　　〃My　poor　fellow；　you　shall　not　stay　here　grieving　and　fretting
your　life　out　any　longer。　I　am　going　to　send　you　away　of　my　own　free
will；　so　go；　cut　some　beams　of　wood；　and　make　yourself　a　large　raft
with　an　upper　deck　that　it　may　carry　you　safely　over　the　sea。　I　will
put　bread；　wine；　and　water　on　board　to　save　you　from　starving。　I
will　also　give　you　clothes；　and　will　send　you　a　fair　wind　to　take
you　home；　if　the　gods　in　heaven　so　will　it…　for　they　know　more　about
these　things；　and　can　settle　them　better　than　I　can。〃
　　Ulysses　shuddered　as　he　heard　her。　〃Now　goddess；〃　he　answered；
〃there　is　something　behind　all　this；　you　cannot　be　really　meaning　to
help　me　home　when　you　bid　me　do　such　a　dreadful　thing　as　put　to　sea　on
a　raft。　Not　even　a　well…found　ship　with　a　fair　wind　could　venture　on
such　a　distant　voyage：　nothing　that　you　can　say　or　do　shall　mage　me　go
on　board　a　raft　unless　you　first　solemnly　swear　that　you　mean　me　no
mischief。〃
　　Calypso　smiled　at　this　and　caressed　him　with　her　hand：　〃You　know　a
great　deal；〃　said　she；　〃but　you　are　quite　wrong　here。　May　heaven　above
and　earth　below　be　my　witnesses；　with　the　waters　of　the　river　Styx…
and　this　is　the　most　solemn　oath　which　a　blessed　god　can　take…　that
I　mean　you　no　sort　of　harm；　and　am　only　advising　you　to　do　exactly
what　I　should　do　myself　in　your　place。　I　am　dealing　with　you　quite
straightforwardly；　my　heart　is　not　made　of　iron；　and　I　am　very　sorry
for　you。〃
　　When　she　had　thus　spoken　she　led　the　way　rapidly　before　him；　and
Ulysses　followed　in　her　steps；　so　the　pair；　goddess　and　man；　went　on
and　on　till　they　came　to　Calypso's　cave；　where　Ulysses　took　the　seat
that　Mercury　had　just　left。　Calypso　set　meat　and　drink　before　him　of
the　food　that　mortals　eat；　but　her　maids　brought　ambrosia　and　nectar
for　herself；　and　they　laid　their　hands　on　the　good　things　that　were
before　them。　When　they　had　satisfied　themselves　with　meat　and　drink；
Calypso　spoke；　saying：
　　〃Ulysses；　noble　son　of　Laertes；　so　you　would　start　home　to　your
own　land　at　once？　Good　luck　go　with　you；　but　if　you　could　only　know
how　much　suffering　is　in　store　for　you　before　you　get　back　to　your　own
country；　you　would　stay　where　you　are；　keep　house　along　with　me；　and
let　me　make　you　immortal；　no　matter　how　anxious　you　may　be　to　see　this
wife　of　yours；　of　whom　you　are　thinking　all　the　time　day　after　day；
yet　I　flatter　myself　that　at　am　no　whit　less　tall　or　well…looking　than
she　is；　for　it　is　not　to　be　expected　that　a　mortal　woman　should
compare　in　beauty　with　an　immortal。〃
　　〃Goddess；〃　replied　Ulysses；　〃do　not　be　angry　with　me　about　this。　I
am　quite　aware　that　my　wife　Penelope　is　nothing　like　so　tall　or　so
beautiful　as　yourself。　She　is　only　a　woman；　whereas　you　are　an
immortal。　Nevertheless；　I　want　to　get　home；　and　can　think　of　nothing
else。　If　some　god　wrecks　me　when　I　am　on　the　sea；　I　will　bear　it　and
make　the　best　of　it。　I　have　had　infinite　trouble　both　by　land　and
sea　already；　so　let　this　go　with　the　rest。〃
　　Presently　the　sun　set　and　it　became　dark；　whereon　the　pair　retired
into　the　inner　part　of　the　cave　and　went　to　bed。
　　When　the　child　of　morning；　rosy…fingered　Dawn；　appeared；　Ulysses　put
on　his　shirt　and　cloak；　while　the　goddess　wore　a　dress　of　a　lig