the odyssey(奥德赛)-第5部分

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heaven's　sanction；　but　swear　that　you　will　say　nothing　about　all
this　to　my　mother；　till　I　have　been　away　some　ten　or　twelve　days；
unless　she　hears　of　my　having　gone；　and　asks　you；　for　I　do　not　want
her　to　spoil　her　beauty　by　crying。〃
　　The　old　woman　swore　most　solemnly　that　she　would　not；　and　when　she
had　completed　her　oath；　she　began　drawing　off　the　wine　into　jars；
and　getting　the　barley　meal　into　the　bags；　while　Telemachus　went
back　to　the　suitors。
　　Then　Minerva　bethought　her　of　another　matter。　She　took　his　shape；
and　went　round　the　town　to　each　one　of　the　crew；　telling　them　to
meet　at　the　ship　by　sundown。　She　went　also　to　Noemon　son　of
Phronius；　and　asked　him　to　let　her　have　a　ship…　which　he　was　very
ready　to　do。　When　the　sun　had　set　and　darkness　was　over　all　the
land；　she　got　the　ship　into　the　water；　put　all　the　tackle　on　board　her
that　ships　generally　carry；　and　stationed　her　at　the　end　of　the
harbour。　Presently　the　crew　came　up；　and　the　goddess　spoke
encouragingly　to　each　of　them。
　　Furthermore　she　went　to　the　house　of　Ulysses；　and　threw　the
suitors　into　a　deep　slumber。　She　caused　their　drink　to　fuddle　them；
and　made　them　drop　their　cups　from　their　hands；　so　that　instead　of
sitting　over　their　wine；　they　went　back　into　the　town　to　sleep；　with
their　eyes　heavy　and　full　of　drowsiness。　Then　she　took　the　form　and
voice　of　Mentor；　and　called　Telemachus　to　come　outside。
　　〃Telemachus；〃　said　she；　〃the　men　are　on　board　and　at　their　oars；
waiting　for　you　to　give　your　orders；　so　make　haste　and　let　us　be　off。〃
　　On　this　she　led　the　way；　while　Telemachus　followed　in　her　steps。
When　they　got　to　the　ship　they　found　the　crew　waiting　by　the　water
side；　and　Telemachus　said；　〃Now　my　men；　help　me　to　get　the　stores　on
board；　they　are　all　put　together　in　the　cloister；　and　my　mother　does
not　know　anything　about　it；　nor　any　of　the　maid　servants　except　one。〃
　　With　these　words　he　led　the　way　and　the　others　followed　after。
When　they　had　brought　the　things　as　he　told　them；　Telemachus　went　on
board；　Minerva　going　before　him　and　taking　her　seat　in　the　stern　of
the　vessel；　while　Telemachus　sat　beside　her。　Then　the　men　loosed　the
hawsers　and　took　their　places　on　the　benches。　Minerva　sent　them　a　fair
wind　from　the　West；　that　whistled　over　the　deep　blue　waves　whereon
Telemachus　told　them　to　catch　hold　of　the　ropes　and　hoist　sail；　and
they　did　as　he　told　them。　They　set　the　mast　in　its　socket　in　the　cross
plank；　raised　it；　and　made　it　fast　with　the　forestays；　then　they
hoisted　their　white　sails　aloft　with　ropes　of　twisted　ox　hide。　As
the　sail　bellied　out　with　the　wind；　the　ship　flew　through　the　deep
blue　water；　and　the　foam　hissed　against　her　bows　as　she　sped　onward。
Then　they　made　all　fast　throughout　the　ship；　filled　the　mixing…bowls
to　the　brim；　and　made　drink　offerings　to　the　immortal　gods　that　are
from　everlasting；　but　more　particularly　to　the　grey…eyed　daughter　of
Jove。
　　Thus；　then；　the　ship　sped　on　her　way　through　the　watches　of　the
night　from　dark　till　dawn。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　BOOK　III。
　　BUT　as　the　sun　was　rising　from　the　fair　sea　into　the　firmament　of
heaven　to　shed　Blight　on　mortals　and　immortals；　they　reached　Pylos　the
city　of　Neleus。　Now　the　people　of　Pylos　were　gathered　on　the　sea　shore
to　offer　sacrifice　of　black　bulls　to　Neptune　lord　of　the　Earthquake。
There　were　nine　guilds　with　five　hundred　men　in　each；　and　there　were
nine　bulls　to　each　guild。　As　they　were　eating　the　inward　meats　and
burning　the　thigh　bones　＇on　the　embers＇　in　the　name　of　Neptune；
Telemachus　and　his　crew　arrived；　furled　their　sails；　brought　their
ship　to　anchor；　and　went　ashore。
　　Minerva　led　the　way　and　Telemachus　followed　her。　Presently　she　said；
〃Telemachus；　you　must　not　be　in　the　least　shy　or　nervous；　you　have
taken　this　voyage　to　try　and　find　out　where　your　father　is　buried
and　how　he　came　by　his　end；　so　go　straight　up　to　Nestor　that　we　may
see　what　he　has　got　to　tell　us。　Beg　of　him　to　speak　the　truth；　and
he　will　tell　no　lies；　for　he　is　an　excellent　person。〃
　　〃But　how；　Mentor；〃　replied　Telemachus；　〃dare　I　go　up　to　Nestor；
and　how　am　I　to　address　him？　I　have　never　yet　been　used　to　holding
long　conversations　with　people；　and　am　ashamed　to　begin　questioning
one　who　is　so　much　older　than　myself。〃
　　〃Some　things；　Telemachus；〃　answered　Minerva；　〃will　be　suggested　to
you　by　your　own　instinct；　and　heaven　will　prompt　you　further；　for　I　am
assured　that　the　gods　have　been　with　you　from　the　time　of　your　birth
until　now。〃
　　She　then　went　quickly　on；　and　Telemachus　followed　in　her　steps
till　they　reached　the　place　where　the　guilds　of　the　Pylian　people　were
assembled。　There　they　found　Nestor　sitting　with　his　sons；　while　his
company　round　him　were　busy　getting　dinner　ready；　and　putting　pieces
of　meat　on　to　the　spits　while　other　pieces　were　cooking。　When　they　saw
the　strangers　they　crowded　round　them；　took　them　by　the　hand　and
bade　them　take　their　places。　Nestor's　son　Pisistratus　at　once
offered　his　hand　to　each　of　them；　and　seated　them　on　some　soft
sheepskins　that　were　lying　on　the　sands　near　his　father　and　his
brother　Thrasymedes。　Then　he　gave　them　their　portions　of　the　inward
meats　and　poured　wine　for　them　into　a　golden　cup；　handing　it　to
Minerva　first；　and　saluting　her　at　the　same　time。
　　〃Offer　a　prayer；　sir；〃　said　he；　〃to　King　Neptune；　for　it　is　his
feast　that　you　are　joining；　when　you　have　duly　prayed　and　made　your
drink…offering；　pass　the　cup　to　your　friend　that　he　may　do　so　also。
I　doubt　not　that　he　too　lifts　his　hands　in　prayer；　for　man　cannot　live
without　God　in　the　world。　Still　he　is　younger　than　you　are；　and　is
much　of　an　age　with　myself；　so　I　he　handed　I　will　give　you　the
precedence。〃
　　As　he　spoke　he　handed　her　the　cup。　Minerva　thought　it　very　right　and
proper　of　him　to　have　given　it　to　herself　first；　she　accordingly　began
praying　heartily　to　Neptune。　〃O　thou；〃　she　cried；　〃that　encirclest　the
earth；　vouchsafe　to　grant　the　prayers　of　thy　servants　that　call　upon
thee。　More　especially　we　pray　thee　send　down　thy　grace　on　Nestor　and
on　his　sons；　thereafter　also　make　the　rest　of　the　Pylian　people　some
handsome　return　for　the　goodly　hecatomb　they　are　offering　you。　Lastly；
grant　Telemachus　and　myself　a　happy　issue；　in　respect　of　the　matter
that　has　brought　us　in　our　to　Pylos。〃
　　When　she　had　thus　made　an　end　of　praying；　she　handed　the　cup　to
Telemachus　and　he　prayed　likewise。　By　and　by；　when　the　outer　meats
were　roasted　and　had　been　taken　off　the　spits；　the　carvers　gave
every　man　his　portion　and　they　all　made　an　excellent　dinner。　As　soon
as　they　had　had　enough　to　eat　and　drink；　Nestor；　knight　of　Gerene；
began　to　speak。
　　〃Now；〃　said　he；　〃that　our　guests　have　done　their　dinner；　it　will
be　best　to　ask　them　who　they　are。　Who；　then；　sir　strangers；　are　you；
and　from　what　port　have　you　sailed？　Are　you　traders？　or　do　you　sail
the　seas　as　rovers　with　your　hand　against　every　man；　and　every　man's
hand　against　you？〃
　　Telemachus　answered　boldly；　for　Minerva　had　given　him　courage　to　ask
about　his　father　and　get　himself　a　good　name。
　　〃Nestor；〃　said　he；　〃son　of　Neleus；　honour　to　the　Achaean　name；　you
ask　whence　we　come；　and　I　will　tell　you。　We　come　from　Ithaca　under
Neritum；　and　the　matter　about　which　I　would　speak　is　of　private　not
public　import。　I　seek　news　of　my　unhappy　father　Ulysses；　who　is　said
to　have　sacked　the　town　of　Troy　in　company　with　yourself。　We　know　what
fate　befell　each　one　of　the　other　heroes　who　fought　at　Troy；　but　as
regards　Ulysses　heaven　has　hidden　from　us　the　knowledge　even　that　he
is　dead　at　all；　for　no　one　can　certify　us　in　what　place　he　perished；
nor　say　whether　he　fell　in　battle　on　the　mainland；　or　was　lost　at
sea　amid　the　waves　of　Amphitrite。　Therefore　I　am　suppliant　at　your
knees；　if　haply　you　may　be　pleased　to　tell　me　of　his　melancholy　end；
whether　you　saw　it　with　your　own　eyes；　or　heard　it　from　some　other
traveller；　for　he　was　a　man　born　to　trouble。　Do　not　soften　things
out　of　any　pity　for　me；　but　tell　me　in　all　plainness　exactly　what
you　saw。　If　my　brave　father　Ulysses　ever　did　you　loyal　service；　either
by　word　or　deed；　when　you　Achaeans　were　harassed　among　the　Trojans；
bear　it　in　mind　now　as　in　my　favour　and　tell　me　truly　all。〃
　　〃My　friend；〃　answered　Nestor；　〃you　recall　a　time　of　much　sorrow　to
my　mind；　for　the　brave　Achaeans　suffered　much　both　at　sea；　while
privateering　under　Achilles；　and　when　fighting　before　the　great　city
of　king　Priam。　Our　best　men　all　of　them　fell　there…　Ajax；　Achilles；
Patroclus　peer　of　gods　in　counsel；　and　my　own　dear　son　Antilochus；　a
man　singularly　fleet　of　foot　and　in　fight　valiant。　But　we　suffered
much　more　than　this；　what　mortal　tongue　indeed　could　tell　the　whole
story？　Though　you　were　to　stay　here　and　question　me　for　five　years；　or
even　six；　I　could　not　tell　you　all　that　the　Achaeans　suffered；　and　you
would　turn　homeward　weary　of　my　tale　before　it　ended。　Nine　long
years　did　we　try　every　kind　of　stratagem；　but　the　hand　of　heaven　was
against　us；　during　all　this　time　there　was　no　one　who　could　compare
with　your　father　in　subtlety…　if　indeed　you　are　his　son…　I　can
hardly　believe　my　eyes…　and　you　talk　just　like　him　too…　no　one　would
say　that　people　of　such　different　ages　could　speak　so　much　alike。　He
and　I　never　had　any　kind　of　difference　from　first　to　last　neither　in
camp　nor　council；　but　in　singleness　of　heart　and　purpose　we　advised
the　Argives　how　all　might　be　ordered　for　the　best。
　　〃When　however；　we　had　sacked　the　city　of　Priam；　and　were　setting
sail　in　our　ships　as　heaven　had　dispersed　us；　then　Jove　saw　fit　to　vex
the　Argives　on　their　homeward　voyage；　for　they　had　Not　all　been　either
wise　or　understanding；　and　hence　many　came　to　a　bad　end　through　the
displeasure　of　Jove's　daughter　Minerva；　who　brought　about　a　quarrel
between　the　two　sons　of　Atreus。
　　〃The　sons　of　Atreus　called　a　meeting　which　was　not　as　it　should
be；　for　it　was　sunset　and　the　Achaeans　were　heavy　with　wine。　When　they
explained　why　they　had　called…　the　people　together；　it　seemed　that
Menelaus　was　for　sailing　homeward　at　once；　and　this　displeased
Agamemnon；　who　thought　that　we　should　wait　till　we　had　offered
hecatombs　to　appease　the　anger　of　Minerva。　Fool　that　he　was；　he
might　have　known　that　he　would　not　prev