the odyssey(奥德赛)-第13章
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was falling； and camped down upon the beach。 When the child of
morning； rosy…fingered Dawn appeared； we drew our ships into the
water； and put our masts and sails within them； then we went on
board ourselves； took our seats on the benches； and smote the grey sea
with our oars。 I again stationed my ships in the heaven…fed stream
of Egypt； and offered hecatombs that were full and sufficient。 When
I had thus appeased heaven's anger； I raised a barrow to the memory of
Agamemnon that his name might live for ever； after which I had a quick
passage home； for the gods sent me a fair wind。
〃And now for yourself… stay here some ten or twelve days longer； and
I will then speed you on your way。 I will make you a noble present
of a chariot and three horses。 I will also give you a beautiful
chalice that so long as you live you may think of me whenever you make
a drink…offering to the immortal gods。〃
〃Son of Atreus；〃 replied Telemachus； 〃do not press me to stay
longer； I should be contented to remain with you for another twelve
months； I find your conversation so delightful that I should never
once wish myself at home with my parents； but my crew whom I have left
at Pylos are already impatient； and you are detaining me from them。 As
for any present you may be disposed to make me； I had rather that it
should he a piece of plate。 I will take no horses back with me to
Ithaca； but will leave them to adorn your own stables； for you have
much flat ground in your kingdom where lotus thrives； as also
meadowsweet and wheat and barley； and oats with their white and
spreading ears； whereas in Ithaca we have neither open fields nor
racecourses； and the country is more fit for goats than horses； and
I like it the better for that。 None of our islands have much level
ground； suitable for horses； and Ithaca least of all。〃
Menelaus smiled and took Telemachus's hand within his own。 〃What you
say；〃 said he； 〃shows that you come of good family。 I both can； and
will； make this exchange for you； by giving you the finest and most
precious piece of plate in all my house。 It is a mixing…bowl by
Vulcan's own hand； of pure silver； except the rim； which is inlaid
with gold。 Phaedimus； king of the Sidonians； gave it me in the
course of a visit which I paid him when I returned thither on my
homeward journey。 I will make you a present of it。〃
Thus did they converse ＇and guests kept coming to the king's
house。 They brought sheep and wine； while their wives had put up bread
for them to take with them； so they were busy cooking their dinners in
the courts＇。
Meanwhile the suitors were throwing discs or aiming with spears at a
mark on the levelled ground in front of Ulysses' house； and were
behaving with all their old insolence。 Antinous and Eurymachus； who
were their ringleaders and much the foremost among them all； were
sitting together when Noemon son of Phronius came up and said to
Antinous；
〃Have we any idea； Antinous； on what day Telemachus returns from
Pylos？ He has a ship of mine； and I want it； to cross over to Elis：
I have twelve brood mares there with yearling mule foals by their side
not yet broken in； and I want to bring one of them over here and break
him。〃
They were astounded when they heard this； for they had made sure
that Telemachus had not gone to the city of Neleus。 They thought he
was only away somewhere on the farms； and was with the sheep； or
with the swineherd； so Antinous said； 〃When did he go？ Tell me
truly； and what young men did he take with him？ Were they freemen or
his own bondsmen… for he might manage that too？ Tell me also； did
you let him have the ship of your own free will because he asked
you； or did he take it without yourleave？〃
〃I lent it him；〃 answered Noemon； 〃what else could I do when a man
of his position said he was in a difficulty； and asked me to oblige
him？ I could not possibly refuse。 As for those who went with him
they were the best young men we have； and I saw Mentor go on board
as captain… or some god who was exactly like him。 I cannot
understand it； for I saw Mentor here myself yesterday morning； and yet
he was then setting out for Pylos。〃
Noemon then went back to his father's house； but Antinous and
Eurymachus were very angry。 They told the others to leave off playing；
and to come and sit down along with themselves。 When they came；
Antinous son of Eupeithes spoke in anger。 His heart was black with
rage； and his eyes flashed fire as he said：
〃Good heavens； this voyage of Telemachus is a very serious matter；
we had made sure that it would come to nothing； but the young fellow
has got away in spite of us； and with a picked crew too。 He will be
giving us trouble presently； may Jove take him before he is full
grown。 Find me a ship； therefore； with a crew of twenty men； and I
will lie in wait for him in the straits between Ithaca and Samos； he
will then rue the day that he set out to try and get news of his
father。〃
Thus did he speak； and the others applauded his saying； they then
all of them went inside the buildings。
It was not long ere Penelope came to know what the suitors were
plotting； for a man servant； Medon； overheard them from outside the
outer court as they were laying their schemes within； and went to tell
his mistress。 As he crossed the threshold of her room Penelope said：
〃Medon； what have the suitors sent you here for？ Is it to tell the
maids to leave their master's business and cook dinner for them？ I
wish they may neither woo nor dine henceforward； neither here nor
anywhere else； but let this be the very last time； for the waste you
all make of my son's estate。 Did not your fathers tell you when you
were children how good Ulysses had been to them… never doing
anything high…handed； nor speaking harshly to anybody？ Kings may say
things sometimes； and they may take a fancy to one man and dislike
another； but Ulysses never did an unjust thing by anybody… which shows
what bad hearts you have； and that there is no such thing as gratitude
left in this world。〃
Then Medon said； 〃I wish； Madam； that this were all； but they are
plotting something much more dreadful now… may heaven frustrate
their design。 They are going to try and murder Telemachus as he is
coming home from Pylos and Lacedaemon； where he has been to get news
of his father。〃
Then Penelope's heart sank within her； and for a long time she was
speechless； her eyes filled with tears； and she could find no
utterance。 At last； however； she said； 〃Why did my son leave me？
What business had he to go sailing off in ships that make long voyages
over the ocean like sea…horses？ Does he want to die without leaving
any one behind him to keep up his name？〃
〃I do not know；〃 answered Medon； 〃whether some god set him on to it；
or whether he went on his own impulse to see if he could find out if
his father was dead； or alive and on his way home。〃
Then he went downstairs again； leaving Penelope in an agony of
grief。 There were plenty of seats in the house； but she。 had no
heart for sitting on any one of them； she could only fling herself
on the floor of her own room and cry； whereon all the maids in the
house； both old and young； gathered round her and began to cry too；
till at last in a transport of sorrow she exclaimed；
〃My dears； heaven has been pleased to try me with more affliction
than any other woman of my age and country。 First I lost my brave
and lion…hearted husband； who had every good quality under heaven； and
whose name was great over all Hellas and middle Argos； and now my
darling son is at the mercy of the winds and waves； without my
having heard one word about his leaving home。 You hussies； there was
not one of you would so much as think of giving me a call out of my
bed； though you all of you very well knew when he was starting。 If I
had known he meant taking this voyage； he would have had to give it
up； no matter how much he was bent upon it； or leave me a corpse
behind him… one or other。 Now； however； go some of you and call old
Dolius； who was given me by my father on my marriage； and who is my
gardener。 Bid him go at once and tell everything to Laertes； who may
be able to hit on some plan for enlisting public
