the odyssey(奥德赛)-第60部分

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and　proclaim　you　of　noble　birth。　I　should　have　said　that　you　were
one　of　those　who　should　wash　well；　eat　well；　and　lie　soft　at　night
as　old　men　have　a　right　to　do；　but　tell　me；　and　tell　me　true；　whose
bondman　are　you；　and　in　whose　garden　are　you　working？　Tell　me　also
about　another　matter。　Is　this　place　that　I　have　come　to　really　Ithaca？
I　met　a　man　just　now　who　said　so；　but　he　was　a　dull　fellow；　and　had
not　the　patience　to　hear　my　story　out　when　I　was　asking　him　about　an
old　friend　of　mine；　whether　he　was　still　living；　or　was　already　dead
and　in　the　house　of　Hades。　Believe　me　when　I　tell　you　that　this　man
came　to　my　house　once　when　I　was　in　my　own　country　and　never　yet　did
any　stranger　come　to　me　whom　I　liked　better。　He　said　that　his　family
came　from　Ithaca　and　that　his　father　was　Laertes；　son　of　Arceisius。
I　received　him　hospitably；　making　him　welcome　to　all　the　abundance
of　my　house；　and　when　he　went　away　I　gave　him　all　customary
presents。　I　gave　him　seven　talents　of　fine　gold；　and　a　cup　of　solid
silver　with　flowers　chased　upon　it。　I　gave　him　twelve　light　cloaks；
and　as　many　pieces　of　tapestry；　I　also　gave　him　twelve　cloaks　of
single　fold；　twelve　rugs；　twelve　fair　mantles；　and　an　equal　number
of　shirts。　To　all　this　I　added　four　good　looking　women　skilled　in
all　useful　arts；　and　I　let　him　take　his　choice。〃
　　His　father　shed　tears　and　answered；　〃Sir；　you　have　indeed　come　to
the　country　that　you　have　named；　but　it　is　fallen　into　the　hands　of
wicked　people。　All　this　wealth　of　presents　has　been　given　to　no
purpose。　If　you　could　have　found　your　friend　here　alive　in　Ithaca；
he　would　have　entertained　you　hospitably　and　would　have　required
your　presents　amply　when　you　left　him…　as　would　have　been　only　right
considering　what　you　have　already　given　him。　But　tell　me；　and　tell
me　true；　how　many　years　is　it　since　you　entertained　this　guest…　my
unhappy　son；　as　ever　was？　Alas！　He　has　perished　far　from　his　own
country；　the　fishes　of　the　sea　have　eaten　him；　or　he　has　fallen　a　prey
to　the　birds　and　wild　beasts　of　some　continent。　Neither　his　mother；
nor　I　his　father；　who　were　his　parents；　could　throw　our　arms　about　him
and　wrap　him　in　his　shroud；　nor　could　his　excellent　and　richly　dowered
wife　Penelope　bewail　her　husband　as　was　natural　upon　his　death　bed；
and　close　his　eyes　according　to　the　offices　due　to　the　departed。　But
now；　tell　me　truly　for　I　want　to　know。　Who　and　whence　are　you…　tell　me
of　your　town　and　parents？　Where　is　the　ship　lying　that　has　brought　you
and　your　men　to　Ithaca？　Or　were　you　a　passenger　on　some　other　man's
ship；　and　those　who　brought　you　here　have　gone　on　their　way　and　left
you？〃
　　〃I　will　tell　you　everything；〃　answered　Ulysses；　〃quite　truly。　I　come
from　Alybas；　where　I　have　a　fine　house。　I　am　son　of　king　Apheidas；　who
is　the　son　of　Polypemon。　My　own　name　is　Eperitus；　heaven　drove　me
off　my　course　as　I　was　leaving　Sicania；　and　I　have　been　carried　here
against　my　will。　As　for　my　ship　it　is　lying　over　yonder；　off　the
open　country　outside　the　town；　and　this　is　the　fifth　year　since
Ulysses　left　my　country。　Poor　fellow；　yet　the　omens　were　good　for
him　when　he　left　me。　The　birds　all　flew　on　our　right　hands；　and　both
he　and　I　rejoiced　to　see　them　as　we　parted；　for　we　had　every　hope　that
we　should　have　another　friendly　meeting　and　exchange　presents。〃
　　A　dark　cloud　of　sorrow　fell　upon　Laertes　as　he　listened。　He　filled
both　hands　with　the　dust　from　off　the　ground　and　poured　it　over　his
grey　head；　groaning　heavily　as　he　did　so。　The　heart　of　Ulysses　was
touched；　and　his　nostrils　quivered　as　he　looked　upon　his　father；
then　he　sprang　towards　him；　flung　his　arms　about　him　and　kissed　him；
saying；　〃I　am　he；　father；　about　whom　you　are　asking…　I　have　returned
after　having　been　away　for　twenty　years。　But　cease　your　sighing　and
lamentation…　we　have　no　time　to　lose；　for　I　should　tell　you　that　I
have　been　killing　the　suitors　in　my　house；　to　punish　them　for　their
insolence　and　crimes。〃
　　〃If　you　really　are　my　son　Ulysses；〃　replied　Laertes；　〃and　have
come　back　again；　you　must　give　me　such　manifest　proof　of　your　identity
as　shall　convince　me。〃
　　〃First　observe　this　scar；〃　answered　Ulysses；　〃which　I　got　from　a
boar's　tusk　when　I　was　hunting　on　Mount　Parnassus。　You　and　my　mother
had　sent　me　to　Autolycus；　my　mother's　father；　to　receive　the
presents　which　when　he　was　over　here　he　had　promised　to　give　me。
Furthermore　I　will　point　out　to　you　the　trees　in　the　vineyard　which
you　gave　me；　and　I　asked　you　all　about　them　as　I　followed　you　round
the　garden。　We　went　over　them　all；　and　you　told　me　their　names　and
what　they　all　were。　You　gave　me　thirteen　pear　trees；　ten　apple
trees；　and　forty　fig　trees；　you　also　said　you　would　give　me　fifty　rows
of　vines；　there　was　corn　planted　between　each　row；　and　they　yield
grapes　of　every　kind　when　the　heat　of　heaven　has　been　laid　heavy
upon　them。〃
　　Laertes'　strength　failed　him　when　he　heard　the　convincing　proofs
which　his　son　had　given　him。　He　threw　his　arms　about　him；　and
Ulysses　had　to　support　him；　or　he　would　have　gone　off　into　a　swoon；
but　as　soon　as　he　came　to；　and　was　beginning　to　recover　his　senses；　he
said；　〃O　father　Jove；　then　you　gods　are　still　in　Olympus　after　all；　if
the　suitors　have　really　been　punished　for　their　insolence　and　folly。
Nevertheless；　I　am　much　afraid　that　I　shall　have　all　the　townspeople
of　Ithaca　up　here　directly；　and　they　will　be　sending　messengers
everywhere　throughout　the　cities　of　the　Cephallenians。〃
　　Ulysses　answered；　〃Take　heart　and　do　not　trouble　yourself　about
that；　but　let　us　go　into　the　house　hard　by　your　garden。　I　have　already
told　Telemachus；　Philoetius；　and　Eumaeus　to　go　on　there　and　get　dinner
ready　as　soon　as　possible。〃
　　Thus　conversing　the　two　made　their　way　towards　the　house。　When
they　got　there　they　found　Telemachus　with　the　stockman　and　the
swineherd　cutting　up　meat　and　mixing　wine　with　water。　Then　the　old
Sicel　woman　took　Laertes　inside　and　washed　him　and　anointed　him　with
oil。　She　put　him　on　a　good　cloak；　and　Minerva　came　up　to　him　and
gave　him　a　more　imposing　presence；　making　him　taller　and　stouter
than　before。　When　he　came　back　his　son　was　surprised　to　see　him
looking　so　like　an　immortal；　and　said　to　him；　〃My　dear　father；　some
one　of　the　gods　has　been　making　you　much　taller　and　better…looking。〃
　　Laertes　answered；　〃Would；　by　Father　Jove；　Minerva；　and　Apollo；
that　I　were　the　man　I　was　when　I　ruled　among　the　Cephallenians；　and
took　Nericum；　that　strong　fortress　on　the　foreland。　If　I　were　still
what　I　then　was　and　had　been　in　our　house　yesterday　with　my　armour　on；
I　should　have　been　able　to　stand　by　you　and　help　you　against　the
suitors。　I　should　have　killed　a　great　many　of　them；　and　you　would　have
rejoiced　to　see　it。〃
　　Thus　did　they　converse；　but　the　others；　when　they　had　finished　their
work　and　the　feast　was　ready；　left　off　working；　and　took　each　his
proper　place　on　the　benches　and　seats。　Then　they　began　eating；　by
and　by　old　Dolius　and　his　sons　left　their　work　and　came　up；　for
their　mother；　the　Sicel　woman　who　looked　after　Laertes　now　that　he　was
growing　old；　had　been　to　fetch　them。　When　they　saw　Ulysses　and　were
certain　it　was　he；　they　stood　there　lost　in　astonishment；　but
Ulysses　scolded　them　good…naturedly　and　said；　〃Sit　down　to　your
dinner；　old　man；　and　never　mind　about　your　surprise；　we　have　been
wanting　to　begin　for　some　time　and　have　been　waiting　for　you。〃
　　Then　Dolius　put　out　both　his　hands　and　went　up　to　Ulysses。　〃Sir；〃
said　he；　seizing　his　master's　hand　and　kissing　it　at　the　wrist；　〃we
have　long　been　wishing　you　home：　and　now　heaven　has　restored　you　to　us
after　we　had　given　up　hoping。　All　hail；　therefore；　and　may　the　gods
prosper　you。　But　tell　me；　does　Penelope　already　know　of　your　return；
or　shall　we　send　some　one　to　tell　her？〃
　　〃Old　man；〃　answered　Ulysses；　〃she　knows　already；　so　you　need　not
trouble　about　that。〃　On　this　he　took　his　seat；　and　the　sons　of
Dolius　gathered　round　Ulysses　to　give　him　greeting　and　embrace　him　one
after　the　other；　then　they　took　their　seats　in　due　order　near　Dolius
their　father。
　　While　they　were　thus　busy　getting　their　dinner　ready；　Rumour　went
round　the　town；　and　noised　abroad　the　terrible　fate　that　had
befallen　the　suitors；　as　soon；　therefore；　as　the　people　heard　of　it
they　gathered　from　every　quarter；　groaning　and　hooting　before　the
house　of　Ulysses。　They　took　the　dead　away；　buried　every　man　his　own；
and　put　the　bodies　of　those　who　came　from　elsewhere　on　board　the
fishing　vessels；　for　the　fishermen　to　take　each　of　them　to　his　own
place。　They　then　met　angrily　in　the　place　of　assembly；　and　when　they
were　got　together　Eupeithes　rose　to　speak。　He　was　overwhelmed　with
grief　for　the　death　of　his　son　Antinous；　who　had　been　the　first　man
killed　by　Ulysses；　so　he　said；　weeping　bitterly；　〃My　friend；　this
man　has　done　the　Achaeans　great　wrong。　He　took　many　of　our　best　men
away　with　him　in　his　fleet；　and　he　has　lost　both　ships　and　men；　now；
moreover；　on　his　return　he　has　been　killing　all　the　foremost　men　among
the　Cephallenians。　Let　us　be　up　and　doing　before　he　can　get　away　to
Pylos　or　to　Elis　where　the　Epeans　rule；　or　we　shall　be　ashamed　of
ourselves　for　ever　afterwards。　It　will　be　an　everlasting　disgrace　to
us　if　we　do　not　avenge　the　murder　of　our　sons　and　brothers。　For　my　own
part　I　should　have　no　mote　pleasure　in　life；　but　had　rather　die　at
once。　Let　us　be　up；　then；　and　after　them；　before　they　can　cross　over
to　the　mainland。〃
　　He　wept　as　he　spoke　and　every　one　pitied　him。　But　Medon　and　the　bard
Phemius　had　now　woke　up；　and　came　to　them　from　the　house　of　Ulysses。
Every　one　was　astonished　at　seeing　them；　but　they　stood　in　the
middle　of　the　assembly；　and　Medon　said；　〃Hear　me；　men　of　Ithaca。
Ulysses　did　not　do　these　things　against　the　will　of　heaven。　I　myself
saw　an　immortal　god　take　the　form　of　Mentor　and　stand　beside　him。　This
god　appeared；　now　in　front　of　him　encouraging　him；　and　now　going
furiously　about　the　court　and　attacking　the　suitors　whereon　they
fell　thick　on　one　another。〃
　　On　this　pale　fear　laid　hold　of　them；　and　old　Halitherses；　son　of
Mastor；　rose　to　speak；　for　he　was　the　only　man　among　them　who　knew
both　past　and　future；　so　he　spoke　to　them　plainly　and　in　all
honesty；　saying；
　　〃Me