the odyssey(奥德赛)-第32部分

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　　〃Hence　I　was　carried　along　for　nine　days　till　on　the　tenth　night　the
gods　stranded　me　on　the　Ogygian　island；　where　dwells　the　great　and
powerful　goddess　Calypso。　She　took　me　in　and　was　kind　to　me；　but　I
need　say　no　more　about　this；　for　I　told　you　and　your　noble　wife　all
about　it　yesterday；　and　I　hate　saying　the　same　thing　over　and　over
again。〃

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　BOOK　XIII。
　　THUS　did　he　speak；　and　they　all　held　their　peace　throughout　the
covered　cloister；　enthralled　by　the　charm　of　his　story；　till　presently
Alcinous　began　to　speak。
　　〃Ulysses；〃　said　he；　〃now　that　you　have　reached　my　house　I　doubt
not　you　will　get　home　without　further　misadventure　no　matter　how
much　you　have　suffered　in　the　past。　To　you　others；　however；　who　come
here　night　after　night　to　drink　my　choicest　wine　and　listen　to　my
bard；　I　would　insist　as　follows。　Our　guest　has　already　packed　up　the
clothes；　wrought　gold；　and　other　valuables　which　you　have　brought
for　his　acceptance；　let　us　now；　therefore；　present　him　further；　each
one　of　us；　with　a　large　tripod　and　a　cauldron。　We　will　recoup
ourselves　by　the　levy　of　a　general　rate；　for　private　individuals
cannot　be　expected　to　bear　the　burden　of　such　a　handsome　present。〃
　　Every　one　approved　of　this；　and　then　they　went　home　to　bed　each　in
his　own　abode。　When　the　child　of　morning；　rosy…fingered　Dawn；
appeared；　they　hurried　down　to　the　ship　and　brought　their　cauldrons
with　them。　Alcinous　went　on　board　and　saw　everything　so　securely
stowed　under　the　ship's　benches　that　nothing　could　break　adrift　and
injure　the　rowers。　Then　they　went　to　the　house　of　Alcinous　to　get
dinner；　and　he　sacrificed　a　bull　for　them　in　honour　of　Jove　who　is　the
lord　of　all。　They　set　the　steaks　to　grill　and　made　an　excellent
dinner；　after　which　the　inspired　bard；　Demodocus；　who　was　a
favourite　with　every　one；　sang　to　them；　but　Ulysses　kept　on　turning
his　eyes　towards　the　sun；　as　though　to　hasten　his　setting；　for　he
was　longing　to　be　on　his　way。　As　one　who　has　been　all　day　ploughing
a　fallow　field　with　a　couple　of　oxen　keeps　thinking　about　his　supper
and　is　glad　when　night　comes　that　he　may　go　and　get　it；　for　it　is
all　his　legs　can　do　to　carry　him；　even　so　did　Ulysses　rejoice　when　the
sun　went　down；　and　he　at　once　said　to　the　Phaecians；　addressing
himself　more　particularly　to　King　Alcinous：
　　〃Sir；　and　all　of　you；　farewell。　Make　your　drink…offerings　and　send
me　on　my　way　rejoicing；　for　you　have　fulfilled　my　heart's　desire　by
giving　me　an　escort；　and　making　me　presents；　which　heaven　grant　that　I
may　turn　to　good　account；　may　I　find　my　admirable　wife　living　in　peace
among　friends；　and　may　you　whom　I　leave　behind　me　give　satisfaction　to
your　wives　and　children；　may　heaven　vouchsafe　you　every　good　grace；
and　may　no　evil　thing　come　among　your　people。〃
　　Thus　did　he　speak。　His　hearers　all　of　them　approved　his　saying　and
agreed　that　he　should　have　his　escort　inasmuch　as　he　had　spoken
reasonably。　Alcinous　therefore　said　to　his　servant；　〃Pontonous；　mix
some　wine　and　hand　it　round　to　everybody；　that　we　may　offer　a　prayer
to　father　Jove；　and　speed　our　guest　upon　his　way。〃
　　Pontonous　mixed　the　wine　and　handed　it　to　every　one　in　turn；　the
others　each　from　his　own　seat　made　a　drink…offering　to　the　blessed
gods　that　live　in　heaven；　but　Ulysses　rose　and　placed　the　double　cup
in　the　hands　of　queen　Arete。
　　〃Farewell；　queen；〃　said　he；　〃henceforward　and　for　ever；　till　age　and
death；　the　common　lot　of　mankind；　lay　their　hands　upon　you。　I　now　take
my　leave；　be　happy　in　this　house　with　your　children；　your　people；
and　with　king　Alcinous。〃
　　As　he　spoke　he　crossed　the　threshold；　and　Alcinous　sent　a　man　to
conduct　him　to　his　ship　and　to　the　sea　shore。　Arete　also　sent　some
maid　servants　with　him…　one　with　a　clean　shirt　and　cloak；　another　to
carry　his　strong…box；　and　a　third　with　corn　and　wine。　When　they　got　to
the　water　side　the　crew　took　these　things　and　put　them　on　board；
with　all　the　meat　and　drink；　but　for　Ulysses　they　spread　a　rug　and　a
linen　sheet　on　deck　that　he　might　sleep　soundly　in　the　stern　of　the
ship。　Then　he　too　went　on　board　and　lay　down　without　a　word；　but　the
crew　took　every　man　his　place　and　loosed　the　hawser　from　the　pierced
stone　to　which　it　had　been　bound。　Thereon；　when　they　began　rowing
out　to　sea；　Ulysses　fell　into　a　deep；　sweet；　and　almost　deathlike
slumber。
　　The　ship　bounded　forward　on　her　way　as　a　four　in　hand　chariot
flies　over　the　course　when　the　horses　feel　the　whip。　Her　prow　curveted
as　it　were　the　neck　of　a　stallion；　and　a　great　wave　of　dark　blue　water
seethed　in　her　wake。　She　held　steadily　on　her　course；　and　even　a
falcon；　swiftest　of　all　birds；　could　not　have　kept　pace　with　her。
Thus；　then；　she　cut　her　way　through　the　water。　carrying　one　who　was　as
cunning　as　the　gods；　but　who　was　now　sleeping　peacefully；　forgetful　of
all　that　he　had　suffered　both　on　the　field　of　battle　and　by　the
waves　of　the　weary　sea。
　　When　the　bright　star　that　heralds　the　approach　of　dawn　began　to
show。　the　ship　drew　near　to　land。　Now　there　is　in　Ithaca　a　haven　of
the　old　merman　Phorcys；　which　lies　between　two　points　that　break　the
line　of　the　sea　and　shut　the　harbour　in。　These　shelter　it　from　the
storms　of　wind　and　sea　that　rage　outside；　so　that；　when　once　within
it；　a　ship　may　lie　without　being　even　moored。　At　the　head　of　this
harbour　there　is　a　large　olive　tree；　and　at　no　distance　a　fine
overarching　cavern　sacred　to　the　nymphs　who　are　called　Naiads。　There
are　mixing…bowls　within　it　and　wine…jars　of　stone；　and　the　bees　hive
there。　Moreover；　there　are　great　looms　of　stone　on　which　the　nymphs
weave　their　robes　of　sea　purple…　very　curious　to　see…　and　at　all　times
there　is　water　within　it。　It　has　two　entrances；　one　facing　North　by
which　mortals　can　go　down　into　the　cave；　while　the　other　comes　from
the　South　and　is　more　mysterious；　mortals　cannot　possibly　get　in　by
it；　it　is　the　way　taken　by　the　gods。
　　Into　this　harbour；　then；　they　took　their　ship；　for　they　knew　the
place；　She　had　so　much　way　upon　her　that　she　ran　half　her　own　length
on　to　the　shore；　when；　however；　they　had　landed；　the　first　thing
they　did　was　to　lift　Ulysses　with　his　rug　and　linen　sheet　out　of　the
ship；　and　lay　him　down　upon　the　sand　still　fast　asleep。　Then　they　took
out　the　presents　which　Minerva　had　persuaded　the　Phaeacians　to　give
him　when　he　was　setting　out　on　his　voyage　homewards。　They　put　these
all　together　by　the　root　of　the　olive　tree；　away　from　the　road；　for
fear　some　passer　by　might　come　and　steal　them　before　Ulysses　awoke；
and　then　they　made　the　best　of　their　way　home　again。
　　But　Neptune　did　not　forget　the　threats　with　which　he　had　already
threatened　Ulysses；　so　he　took　counsel　with　Jove。　〃Father　Jove；〃
said　he；　〃I　shall　no　longer　be　held　in　any　sort　of　respect　among　you
gods；　if　mortals　like　the　Phaeacians；　who　are　my　own　flesh　and
blood；　show　such　small　regard　for　me。　I　said　I　would　Ulysses　get
home　when　he　had　suffered　sufficiently。　I　did　not　say　that　he　should
never　get　home　at　all；　for　I　knew　you　had　already　nodded　your　head
about　it；　and　promised　that　he　should　do　so；　but　now　they　have　brought
him　in　a　ship　fast　asleep　and　have　landed　him　in　Ithaca　after
loading　him　with　more　magnificent　presents　of　bronze；　gold；　and
raiment　than　he　would　ever　have　brought　back　from　Troy；　if　he　had
had　his　share　of　the　spoil　and　got　home　without　misadventure。〃
　　And　Jove　answered；　〃What；　O　Lord　of　the　Earthquake；　are　you
talking　about？　The　gods　are　by　no　means　wanting　in　respect　for　you。　It
would　be　monstrous　were　they　to　insult　one　so　old　and　honoured　as
you　are。　As　regards　mortals；　however；　if　any　of　them　is　indulging　in
insolence　and　treating　you　disrespectfully；　it　will　always　rest　with
yourself　to　deal　with　him　as　you　may　think　proper；　so　do　just　as　you
please。〃
　　〃I　should　have　done　so　at　once；〃　replied　Neptune；　〃if　I　were　not
anxious　to　avoid　anything　that　might　displease　you；　now；　therefore；
I　should　like　to　wreck　the　Phaecian　ship　as　it　is　returning　from　its
escort。　This　will　stop　them　from　escorting　people　in　future；　and　I
should　also　like　to　bury　their　city　under　a　huge　mountain。〃
　　〃My　good　friend；〃　answered　Jove；　〃I　should　recommend　you　at　the　very
moment　when　the　people　from　the　city　are　watching　the　ship　on　her　way；
to　turn　it　into　a　rock　near　the　land　and　looking　like　a　ship。　This
will　astonish　everybody；　and　you　can　then　bury　their　city　under　the
mountain。〃
　　When　earth…encircling　Neptune　heard　this　he　went　to　Scheria　where
the　Phaecians　live；　and　stayed　there　till　the　ship；　which　was　making
rapid　way；　had　got　close…in。　Then　he　went　up　to　it；　turned　it　into
stone；　and　drove　it　down　with　the　flat　of　his　hand　so　as　to　root　it　in
the　ground。　After　this　he　went　away。
　　The　Phaeacians　then　began　talking　among　themselves；　and　one　would
turn　towards　his　neighbour；　saying；　〃Bless　my　heart；　who　is　it　that
can　have　rooted　the　ship　in　the　sea　just　as　she　was　getting　into　port？
We　could　see　the　whole　of　her　only　moment　ago。〃
　　This　was　how　they　talked；　but　they　knew　nothing　about　it；　and
Alcinous　said；　〃I　remember　now　the　old　prophecy　of　my　father。　He
said　that　Neptune　would　be　angry　with　us　for　taking　every　one　so
safely　over　the　sea；　and　would　one　day　wreck　a　Phaeacian　ship　as　it
was　returning　from　an　escort；　and　bury　our　city　under　a　high　mountain。
This　was　what　my　old　father　used　to　say；　and　now　it　is　all　coming
true。　Now　therefore　let　us　all　do　as　I　say；　in　the　first　place　we　must
leave　off　giving　people　escorts　when　they　come　here；　and　in　the　next
let　us　sacrifice　twelve　picked　bulls　to　Neptune　that　he　may　have　mercy
upon　us；　and　not　bury　our　city　under　the　high　mountain。〃　When　the
people　heard　this　they　were　afraid　and　got　ready　the　bulls。
　　Thus　did　the　chiefs　and　rulers　of　the　Phaecians　to　king　Neptune；
standing　round　his　altar；　and　at　the　same　time　Ulysses　woke　up　once
more　upon　his　own　soil。　He　had　been　so　long　away　that　he　did　not
know　it　again；　moreover；　Jove's　daughter　Minerva　had　made　it　a　foggy
day；　so　that　people　might　not　know　of　his　having　come；　and　that　she
might　tell　him　everything　without　either　his　wife　or　his　fellow
citizens　and　friends　recognizing　him　until　he　had　taken　his　revenge
upon　the　wicked　suitors。　Everything；　ther