the odyssey(奥德赛)-第34部分

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being　shall　know　you；　I　will　cover　your　body　with　wrinkles；　you
shall　lose　all　your　yellow　hair；　I　will　clothe　you　in　a　garment　that
shall　fill　all　who　see　it　with　loathing；　I　will　blear　your　fine　eyes
for　you；　and　make　you　an　unseemly　object　in　the　sight　of　the
suitors；　of　your　wife；　and　of　the　son　whom　you　left　behind　you。　Then
go　at　once　to　the　swineherd　who　is　in　charge　of　your　pigs；　he　has　been
always　well　affected　towards　you；　and　is　devoted　to　Penelope　and
your　son；　you　will　find　him　feeding　his　pigs　near　the　rock　that　is
called　Raven　by　the　fountain　Arethusa；　where　they　are　fattening　on
beechmast　and　spring　water　after　their　manner。　Stay　with　him　and
find　out　how　things　are　going；　while　I　proceed　to　Sparta　and　see
your　son；　who　is　with　Menelaus　at　Lacedaemon；　where　he　has　gone　to　try
and　find　out　whether　you　are　still　alive。〃
　　〃But　why；〃　said　Ulysses；　〃did　you　not　tell　him；　for　you　knew　all
about　it？　Did　you　want　him　too　to　go　sailing　about　amid　all　kinds　of
hardship　while　others　are　eating　up　his　estate？〃
　　Minerva　answered；　〃Never　mind　about　him；　I　sent　him　that　he　might　be
well　spoken　of　for　having　gone。　He　is　in　no　sort　of　difficulty；　but　is
staying　quite　comfortably　with　Menelaus；　and　is　surrounded　with
abundance　of　every　kind。　The　suitors　have　put　out　to　sea　and　are　lying
in　wait　for　him；　for　they　mean　to　kill　him　before　he　can　get　home。　I
do　not　much　think　they　will　succeed；　but　rather　that　some　of　those　who
are　now　eating　up　your　estate　will　first　find　a　grave　themselves。〃
　　As　she　spoke　Minerva　touched　him　with　her　wand　and　covered　him
with　wrinkles；　took　away　all　his　yellow　hair；　and　withered　the　flesh
over　his　whole　body；　she　bleared　his　eyes；　which　were　naturally　very
fine　ones；　she　changed　his　clothes　and　threw　an　old　rag　of　a　wrap
about　him；　and　a　tunic；　tattered；　filthy；　and　begrimed　with　smoke；　she
also　gave　him　an　undressed　deer　skin　as　an　outer　garment；　and
furnished　him　with　a　staff　and　a　wallet　all　in　holes；　with　a　twisted
thong　for　him　to　sling　it　over　his　shoulder。
　　When　the　pair　had　thus　laid　their　plans　they　parted；　and　the　goddess
went　straight　to　Lacedaemon　to　fetch　Telemachus。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　BOOK　XIV。
　　ULYSSES　now　left　the　haven；　and　took　the　rough　track　up　through
the　wooded　country　and　over　the　crest　of　the　mountain　till　he
reached　the　place　where　Minerva　had　said　that　he　would　find　the
swineherd；　who　was　the　most　thrifty　servant　he　had。　He　found　him
sitting　in　front　of　his　hut；　which　was　by　the　yards　that　he　had
built　on　a　site　which　could　be　seen　from　far。　He　had　made　them
spacious　and　fair　to　see；　with　a　free　ran　for　the　pigs　all　round　them；
he　had　built　them　during　his　master's　absence；　of　stones　which　he
had　gathered　out　of　the　ground；　without　saying　anything　to　Penelope　or
Laertes；　and　he　had　fenced　them　on　top　with　thorn　bushes。　Outside
the　yard　he　had　run　a　strong　fence　of　oaken　posts；　split；　and　set
pretty　close　together；　while　inside　lie　had　built　twelve　sties　near
one　another　for　the　sows　to　lie　in。　There　were　fifty　pigs　wallowing　in
each　sty；　all　of　them　breeding　sows；　but　the　boars　slept　outside　and
were　much　fewer　in　number；　for　the　suitors　kept　on　eating　them；　and
die　swineherd　had　to　send　them　the　best　he　had　continually。　There　were
three　hundred　and　sixty　boar　pigs；　and　the　herdsman's　four　hounds；
which　were　as　fierce　as　wolves；　slept　always　with　them。　The
swineherd　was　at　that　moment　cutting　out　a　pair　of　sandals　from　a　good
stout　ox　hide。　Three　of　his　men　were　out　herding　the　pigs　in　one　place
or　another；　and　he　had　sent　the　fourth　to　town　with　a　boar　that　he　had
been　forced　to　send　the　suitors　that　they　might　sacrifice　it　and
have　their　fill　of　meat。
　　When　the　hounds　saw　Ulysses　they　set　up　a　furious　barking　and　flew
at　him；　but　Ulysses　was　cunning　enough　to　sit　down　and　loose　his
hold　of　the　stick　that　he　had　in　his　hand：　still；　he　would　have　been
torn　by　them　in　his　own　homestead　had　not　the　swineherd　dropped　his　ox
hide；　rushed　full　speed　through　the　gate　of　the　yard　and　driven　the
dogs　off　by　shouting　and　throwing　stones　at　them。　Then　he　said　to
Ulysses；　〃Old　man；　the　dogs　were　likely　to　have　made　short　work　of
you；　and　then　you　would　have　got　me　into　trouble。　The　gods　have
given　me　quite　enough　worries　without　that；　for　I　have　lost　the　best
of　masters；　and　am　in　continual　grief　on　his　account。　I　have　to　attend
swine　for　other　people　to　eat；　while　he；　if　he　yet　lives　to　see　the
light　of　day；　is　starving　in　some　distant　land。　But　come　inside；　and
when　you　have　had　your　fill　of　bread　and　wine；　tell　me　where　you
come　from；　and　all　about　your　misfortunes。〃
　　On　this　the　swineherd　led　the　way　into　the　hut　and　bade　him　sit
down。　He　strewed　a　good　thick　bed　of　rushes　upon　the　floor；　and　on　the
top　of　this　he　threw　the　shaggy　chamois　skin…　a　great　thick　one…　on
which　he　used　to　sleep　by　night。　Ulysses　was　pleased　at　being　made
thus　welcome；　and　said　〃May　Jove；　sir；　and　the　rest　of　the　gods
grant　you　your　heart's　desire　in　return　for　the　kind　way　in　which
you　have　received　me。〃
　　To　this　you　answered；　O　swineherd　Eumaeus；　〃Stranger；　though　a　still
poorer　man　should　come　here；　it　would　not　be　right　for　me　to　insult
him；　for　all　strangers　and　beggars　are　from　Jove。　You　must　take　what
you　can　get　and　be　thankful；　for　servants　live　in　fear　when　they
have　young　lords　for　their　masters；　and　this　is　my　misfortune　now；　for
heaven　has　hindered　the　return　of　him　who　would　have　been　always
good　to　me　and　given　me　something　of　my　own…　a　house；　a　piece　of　land；
a　good　looking　wife；　and　all　else　that　a　liberal　master　allows　a
servant　who　has　worked　hard　for　him；　and　whose　labour　the　gods　have
prospered　as　they　have　mine　in　the　situation　which　I　hold。　If　my
master　had　grown　old　here　he　would　have　done　great　things　by　me；　but
he　is　gone；　and　I　wish　that　Helen's　whole　race　were　utterly　destroyed；
for　she　has　been　the　death　of　many　a　good　man。　It　was　this　matter　that
took　my　master　to　Ilius；　the　land　of　noble　steeds；　to　fight　the
Trojans　in　the　cause　of　kin　Agamemnon。〃
　　As　he　spoke　he　bound　his　girdle　round　him　and　went　to　the　sties
where　the　young　sucking　pigs　were　penned。　He　picked　out　two　which　he
brought　back　with　him　and　sacrificed。　He　singed　them；　cut　them　up；　and
spitted　on　them；　when　the　meat　was　cooked　he　brought　it　all　in　and　set
it　before　Ulysses；　hot　and　still　on　the　spit；　whereon　Ulysses
sprinkled　it　over　with　white　barley　meal。　The　swineherd　then　mixed
wine　in　a　bowl　of　ivy…wood；　and　taking　a　seat　opposite　Ulysses　told
him　to　begin。
　　〃Fall　to；　stranger；〃　said　he；　〃on　a　dish　of　servant's　pork。　The
fat　pigs　have　to　go　to　the　suitors；　who　eat　them　up　without　shame　or
scruple；　but　the　blessed　gods　love　not　such　shameful　doings；　and
respect　those　who　do　what　is　lawful　and　right。　Even　the　fierce
free…booters　who　go　raiding　on　other　people's　land；　and　Jove　gives
them　their　spoil…　even　they；　when　they　have　filled　their　ships　and　got
home　again　live　conscience…stricken；　and　look　fearfully　for　judgement；
but　some　god　seems　to　have　told　these　people　that　Ulysses　is　dead
and　gone；　they　will　not；　therefore；　go　back　to　their　own　homes　and
make　their　offers　of　marriage　in　the　usual　way；　but　waste　his　estate
by　force；　without　fear　or　stint。　Not　a　day　or　night　comes　out　of
heaven；　but　they　sacrifice　not　one　victim　nor　two　only；　and　they
take　the　run　of　his　wine；　for　he　was　exceedingly　rich。　No　other
great　man　either　in　Ithaca　or　on　the　mainland　is　as　rich　as　he　was；　he
had　as　much　as　twenty　men　put　together。　I　will　tell　you　what　he　had。
There　are　twelve　herds　of　cattle　upon　the　mainland；　and　as　many　flocks
of　sheep；　there　are　also　twelve　droves　of　pigs；　while　his　own　men
and　hired　strangers　feed　him　twelve　widely　spreading　herds　of　goats。
Here　in　Ithaca　he　runs　even　large　flocks　of　goats　on　the　far　end　of
the　island；　and　they　are　in　the　charge　of　excellent　goatherds。　Each
one　of　these　sends　the　suitors　the　best　goat　in　the　flock　every　day。
As　for　myself；　I　am　in　charge　of　the　pigs　that　you　see　here；　and　I
have　to　keep　picking　out　the　best　I　have　and　sending　it　to　them。〃
　　This　was　his　story；　but　Ulysses　went　on　eating　and　drinking
ravenously　without　a　word；　brooding　his　revenge。　When　he　had　eaten
enough　and　was　satisfied；　the　swineherd　took　the　bowl　from　which　he
usually　drank；　filled　it　with　wine；　and　gave　it　to　Ulysses；　who　was
pleased；　and　said　as　he　took　it　in　his　hands；　〃My　friend；　who　was　this
master　of　yours　that　bought　you　and　paid　for　you；　so　rich　and　so
powerful　as　you　tell　me？　You　say　he　perished　in　the　cause　of　King
Agamemnon；　tell　me　who　he　was；　in　case　I　may　have　met　with　such　a
person。　Jove　and　the　other　gods　know；　but　I　may　be　able　to　give　you
news　of　him；　for　I　have　travelled　much。〃
　　Eumaeus　answered；　〃Old　man；　no　traveller　who　comes　here　with　news
will　get　Ulysses'　wife　and　son　to　believe　his　story。　Nevertheless；
tramps　in　want　of　a　lodging　keep　coming　with　their　mouths　full　of
lies；　and　not　a　word　of　truth；　every　one　who　finds　his　way　to　Ithaca
goes　to　my　mistress　and　tells　her　falsehoods；　whereon　she　takes　them
in；　makes　much　of　them；　and　asks　them　all　manner　of　questions；
crying　all　the　time　as　women　will　when　they　have　lost　their
husbands。　And　you　too；　old　man；　for　a　shirt　and　a　cloak　would
doubtless　make　up　a　very　pretty　story。　But　the　wolves　and　birds　of
prey　have　long　since　torn　Ulysses　to　pieces；　or　the　fishes　of　the
sea　have　eaten　him；　and　his　bones　are　lying　buried　deep　in　sand　upon
some　foreign　shore；　he　is　dead　and　gone；　and　a　bad　business　it　is
for　all　his　friends…　for　me　especially；　go　where　I　may　I　shall　never
find　so　good　a　master；　not　even　if　I　were　to　go　home　to　my　mother
and　father　where　I　was　bred　and　born。　I　do　not　so　much　care；
however；　about　my　parents　now；　though　I　should　dearly　like　to　see　them
again　in　my　own　country；　it　is　the　loss　of　Ulysses　that　grieves　me
most；　I　cannot　speak　of　him　without　reverence　though　he　is　here　no
longer；　for　he　was　very　fond　of　me；　and　took　such　care　of　me　that
whereever　he　may　be　I　shall　always　honour　his　memory。〃
　　〃My　friend；〃　replied　Ulysses；　〃you　are　very　positive；　and　very
hard　of　belief　about　your　master's　coming　home　again；　nevertheless　I
will　not　merely　say；　but