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第3章

the cyclops-第3章

小说: the cyclops 字数: 每页4000字

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wave; the rape of Helen; worst of women?
  ODYSSEUS
    We are; that was the fearful labour we endured。
  CYCLOPS
    A sorry expedition yours; to have sailed to the land of Phrygia
for the sake of one woman
  ODYSSEUS
    It was a god's doing; blame not any son of man。 But thee do we
implore; most noble son of Ocean's god; speaking as free…born men;
be not so cruel as to slay thy friends on their coming to thy cave;
nor regard us as food for thy jaws; an impious meal; for we
preserved thy sire; O king; in possession of his temple…seats deep
in the nooks of Hellas; and the sacred port of Taenarus and Malea's
furthest coves remain unharmed; and Sunium's rock; the
silver…veined; sacred to Zeus…born Athena; still is safe; and
Geraestus; the harbour of refuge; and we did not permit Phrygians to
put such an intolerable reproach on Hellas。 Now in these things thou
too hast a share; for thou dwellest in a corner of the land of
Hellas beneath Aetna's fire…streaming rock; and although thou turn
from arguments; still it is a custom amongst mortal men to receive
shipwrecked sailors as their suppliants and show them hospitality
and help them with raiment; not that these should fill thy jaws and
belly; their limbs transfixed with spits for piercing ox…flesh。 The
land of Priam hath emptied Hellas quite enough; drinking the blood
of many whom the spear laid low; with the ruin it has brought on
widowed wives; on aged childless dames; and hoary…headed sires; and if
thou roast and consume the remnant;…a meal thou wilt rue;…why; where
shall one turn? Nay; be persuaded by me; Cyclops; forego thy
ravenous greed and choose piety rather than wickedness; for on many
a man ere now unrighteous gains have brought down retribution。
  SILENUS
    I will give thee a word of advice! as for his flesh; leave not a
morsel of it; and if thou eat his tongue; Cyclops; thou wilt become
a monstrous clever talker。
  CYCLOPS
    Wealth; manikin; is the god for the wise; all else is mere
vaunting and fine words。 Plague take the headlands by the sea; on
which my father seats himself! Why hast thou put forward these
arguments? I shudder not at Zeus's thunder; nor know I wherein Zeus is
a mightier god than I; stranger; what is more; I reck not of him; my
reasons hear。 When he pours down the rain from above; here in this
rock in quarters snug; feasting on roast calf's flesh or some wild
game and moistening well my up…turned paunch with deep draughts from a
tub of milk; I rival the thunder…claps of Zeus with my artillery;
and when the north wind blows from Thrace and sheddeth snow; I wrap my
carcase in the hides of beasts and light a fire; and what care I for
snow? The earth perforce; whether she like it or not; produces grass
and fattens my flocks; which I sacrifice to no one save myself and
this belly; the greatest of deities; but to the gods; not I! For
surely to eat and drink one's fill from day to day and give oneself no
grief at all; this is the king of gods for your wise man; but
lawgivers go hang; chequering; as they do; the life of man! And so I
will not cease from indulging myself by devouring thee; and thou shalt
receive this stranger's gift; that I may be free of blame;…fire and my
father's element yonder; and a cauldron to hold thy flesh and boil
it nicely in collops。 So in with you; that ye may feast me well;
standing round the altar to honour the cavern's god。

    (The CYCLOPS goes into his cave; driving ODYSSEUS' men before
him。)

  ODYSSEUS
    Alas! escaped from the troubles of Troy and the sea; my barque now
strands upon the whim and forbidding heart of this savage。 O Pallas;
mistress mine; goddess…daughter of Zeus; help me; help me now; for I
am come to toils and depths of peril worse than all at Ilium; and
thou; O Zeus; the stranger's god; who hast thy dwelling 'mid the
radiant stars; behold these things; for; if thou regard them not; in
vain art thou esteemed the great god Zeus; though but a thing of
naught。

    (He follows the CYCLOPS reluctantly。 SILENUS also goes in。)

  CHORUS (singing)
    Ope wide the portal of thy gaping throat; Cyclops; for
strangers' limbs; both boiled and grilled; are ready from off the
coals for the to gnaw and tear and mince up small; reclining in thy
shaggy goat…skin coat。
    Relinquish not thy meal for me; keep that boat for thyself
alone。 Avaunt this cave! avaunt the burnt…offerings; which the godless
Cyclops offers on Aetna's altars; exulting in meals on strangers'
flesh!
    Oh! the ruthless monster! to sacrifice his guests at his own
hearth; the suppliants of his halls; cleaving and tearing and
serving up to his loathsome teeth a feast of human flesh; hot from the
coals。
  ODYSSEUS (reappearing with a look of horror)
    O Zeus! what can I say after the hideous sights I have seen inside
the cave; things past belief; resembling more the tales men tell
than aught they do?
  LEADER OF THE CHORUS
    What news; Odysseus? has the Cyclops; most godless monster; been
feasting on thy dear comrades?
  ODYSSEUS
    Aye; he singled out a pair; on whom the flesh was fattest and in
best condition; and took them up in his hand to weigh。
  LEADER
    How went it with you then; poor wretch?
  ODYSSEUS
    When we had entered yonder rocky abode; he lighted first a fire;
throwing logs of towering oak upon his spacious hearth; enough for
three wagons to carry as their load; next; close by the blazing flame;
he placed his couch of pine…boughs laid upon the floor; and filled a
bowl of some ten firkins; pouring white milk thereinto; after he had
milked his kine; and by his side he put a can of ivy…wood; whose
breadth was three cubits and its depth four maybe; next he set his
brazen pot a…boiling on the fire; spits too he set beside him;
fashioned of the branches of thorn; their points hardened in the
fire and the rest of them trimmed with the hatchet; and the
blood…bowls of Aetna for the axe's edge。 Now when that hell…cook;
god…detested; had everything quite ready; he caught up a pair of my
companions and proceeded deliberately to cut the throat of one of them
over the yawning brazen pot; but the other he clutched by the tendon
of his heel; and; striking him against a sharp point of rocky stone;
dashed out his brains; then; after hacking the fleshy parts with
glutton cleaver; he set to grilling them; but the limbs he threw
into his cauldron to seethe。 And I; poor wretch; drew near with
streaming eyes and waited on the Cyclops; but the others kept cowering
like frightened birds in crannies of the rock; and the blood forsook
their skin。 Anon; when he had gorged himself upon my comrades' flesh
and had fallen on his back; breathing heavily; there came a sudden
inspiration to me。 I filled a cup of this Maronian wine and offered
him a draught; saying; 〃Cyclops; son of Ocean's god; see here what
heavenly drink the grapes of Hellas yield; glad gift of Dionysus。〃 He;
glutted with his shameless meal; took and drained it at one draught;
and; lifting up his hand; he thanked me thus 〃Dearest to me of all
my guests! fair the drink thou givest me to crown so fair a feast。〃
Now when I saw his delight; I gave him another cup; knowing the wine
would make him rue it; and he would soon be paying the penalty。 Then
he set to singing; but I kept filling bumper after bumper and
heating him with drink。 So there he is singing discordantly amid the
weeping of my fellow…sailors; and the cave re…echoes; but I have
made my way out quietly and would fain save thee and myself; if thou
wilt。 Tell me then; is it your wish; or is it not; to fly from this
unsocial wretch and take up your abode with Naiad nymphs in the
halls of the Bacchic god? Thy father within approves this scheme;
but there! he is powerless; getting all he can out of his liquor;
his wings are snared by the cup as if he had flown against
bird…lime; and he is fuddled; but thou art young and lusty; so save
thyself with my help and regain thy old friend Dionysus; so little
like the Cyclops。
  LEADER
    Best of friends; would we might see that day; escaping the godless
Cyclops!
  ODYSSEUS
    Hear then how I will requite this vile monster and rescue you from
thraldom。
 

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