the odyssey(奥德赛)-第17章

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he　looked　eagerly　ahead；　and　could　see　land　quite　near。　Then；　as
children　rejoice　when　their　dear　father　begins　to　get　better　after
having　for　a　long　time　borne　sore　affliction　sent　him　by　some　angry
spirit；　but　the　gods　deliver　him　from　evil；　so　was　Ulysses　thankful
when　he　again　saw　land　and　trees；　and　swam　on　with　all　his　strength
that　he　might　once　more　set　foot　upon　dry　ground。　When；　however；　he
got　within　earshot；　he　began　to　hear　the　surf　thundering　up　against
the　rocks；　for　the　swell　still　broke　against　them　with　a　terrific
roar。　Everything　was　enveloped　in　spray；　there　were　no　harbours
where　a　ship　might　ride；　nor　shelter　of　any　kind；　but　only
headlands；　low…lying　rocks；　and　mountain　tops。
　　Ulysses'　heart　now　began　to　fail　him；　and　he　said　despairingly　to
himself；　〃Alas；　Jove　has　let　me　see　land　after　swimming　so　far　that
I　had　given　up　all　hope；　but　I　can　find　no　landing　place；　for　the
coast　is　rocky　and　surf…beaten；　the　rocks　are　smooth　and　rise　sheer
from　the　sea；　with　deep　water　close　under　them　so　that　I　cannot
climb　out　for　want　of　foothold。　I　am　afraid　some　great　wave　will
lift　me　off　my　legs　and　dash　me　against　the　rocks　as　I　leave　the
water…　which　would　give　me　a　sorry　landing。　If；　on　the　other　hand；　I
swim　further　in　search　of　some　shelving　beach　or　harbour；　a
hurricane　may　carry　me　out　to　sea　again　sorely　against　my　will；　or
heaven　may　send　some　great　monster　of　the　deep　to　attack　me；　for
Amphitrite　breeds　many　such；　and　I　know　that　Neptune　is　very　angry
with　me。〃
　　While　he　was　thus　in　two　minds　a　wave　caught　him　and　took　him　with
such　force　against　the　rocks　that　he　would　have　been　smashed　and
torn　to　pieces　if　Minerva　had　not　shown　him　what　to　do。　He　caught　hold
of　the　rock　with　both　hands　and　clung　to　it　groaning　with　pain　till
the　wave　retired；　so　he　was　saved　that　time；　but　presently　the　wave
came　on　again　and　carried　him　back　with　it　far　into　the　sea…tearing
his　hands　as　the　suckers　of　a　polypus　are　torn　when　some　one　plucks　it
from　its　bed；　and　the　stones　come　up　along　with　it　even　so　did　the
rocks　tear　the　skin　from　his　strong　hands；　and　then　the　wave　drew
him　deep　down　under　the　water。
　　Here　poor　Ulysses　would　have　certainly　perished　even　in　spite　of　his
own　destiny；　if　Minerva　had　not　helped　him　to　keep　his　wits　about　him。
He　swam　seaward　again；　beyond　reach　of　the　surf　that　was　beating
against　the　land；　and　at　the　same　time　he　kept　looking　towards　the
shore　to　see　if　he　could　find　some　haven；　or　a　spit　that　should　take
the　waves　aslant。　By　and　by；　as　he　swam　on；　he　came　to　the　mouth　of
a　river；　and　here　he　thought　would　be　the　best　place；　for　there　were
no　rocks；　and　it　afforded　shelter　from　the　wind。　He　felt　that　there
was　a　current；　so　he　prayed　inwardly　and　said：
　　〃Hear　me；　O　King；　whoever　you　may　be；　and　save　me　from　the　anger
of　the　sea…god　Neptune；　for　I　approach　you　prayerfully。　Any　one　who
has　lost　his　way　has　at　all　times　a　claim　even　upon　the　gods；
wherefore　in　my　distress　I　draw　near　to　your　stream；　and　cling　to
the　knees　of　your　riverhood。　Have　mercy　upon　me；　O　king；　for　I　declare
myself　your　suppliant。〃
　　Then　the　god　stayed　his　stream　and　stilled　the　waves；　making　all
calm　before　him；　and　bringing　him　safely　into　the　mouth　of　the
river。　Here　at　last　Ulysses'　knees　and　strong　hands　failed　him；　for
the　sea　had　completely　broken　him。　His　body　was　all　swollen；　and　his
mouth　and　nostrils　ran　down　like　a　river　with　sea…water；　so　that　he
could　neither　breathe　nor　speak；　and　lay　swooning　from　sheer
exhaustion；　presently；　when　he　had　got　his　breath　and　came　to
himself　again；　he　took　off　the　scarf　that　Ino　had　given　him　and
threw　it　back　into　the　salt　stream　of　the　river；　whereon　Ino
received　it　into　her　hands　from　the　wave　that　bore　it　towards　her。
Then　he　left　the　river；　laid　himself　down　among　the　rushes；　and　kissed
the　bounteous　earth。
　　〃Alas；〃　he　cried　to　himself　in　his　dismay；　〃what　ever　will　become　of
me；　and　how　is　it　all　to　end？　If　I　stay　here　upon　the　river　bed
through　the　long　watches　of　the　night；　I　am　so　exhausted　that　the
bitter　cold　and　damp　may　make　an　end　of　me…　for　towards　sunrise
there　will　be　a　keen　wind　blowing　from　off　the　river。　If；　on　the　other
hand；　I　climb　the　hill　side；　find　shelter　in　the　woods；　and　sleep　in
some　thicket；　I　may　escape　the　cold　and　have　a　good　night's　rest；
but　some　savage　beast　may　take　advantage　of　me　and　devour　me。〃
　　In　the　end　he　deemed　it　best　to　take　to　the　woods；　and　he　found
one　upon　some　high　ground　not　far　from　the　water。　There　he　crept
beneath　two　shoots　of　olive　that　grew　from　a　single　stock…　the　one
an　ungrafted　sucker；　while　the　other　had　been　grafted。　No　wind；
however　squally；　could　break　through　the　cover　they　afforded；　nor
could　the　sun's　rays　pierce　them；　nor　the　rain　get　through　them；　so
closely　did　they　grow　into　one　another。　Ulysses　crept　under　these
and　began　to　make　himself　a　bed　to　lie　on；　for　there　was　a　great
litter　of　dead　leaves　lying　about…　enough　to　make　a　covering　for　two
or　three　men　even　in　hard　winter　weather。　He　was　glad　enough　to　see
this；　so　he　laid　himself　down　and　heaped　the　leaves　all　round　him。
Then；　as　one　who　lives　alone　in　the　country；　far　from　any　neighbor；
hides　a　brand　as　fire…seed　in　the　ashes　to　save　himself　from　having　to
get　a　light　elsewhere；　even　so　did　Ulysses　cover　himself　up　with
leaves；　and　Minerva　shed　a　sweet　sleep　upon　his　eyes；　closed　his
eyelids；　and　made　him　lose　all　memories　of　his　sorrows。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　BOOK　VI。
　　SO　HERE　Ulysses　slept；　overcome　by　sleep　and　toil；　but　Minerva
went　off　to　the　country　and　city　of　the　Phaecians…　a　people　who　used
to　live　in　the　fair　town　of　Hypereia；　near　the　lawless　Cyclopes。　Now
the　Cyclopes　were　stronger　than　they　and　plundered　them；　so　their　king
Nausithous　moved　them　thence　and　settled　them　in　Scheria；　far　from　all
other　people。　He　surrounded　the　city　with　a　wall；　built　houses　and
temples；　and　divided　the　lands　among　his　people；　but　he　was　dead　and
gone　to　the　house　of　Hades；　and　King　Alcinous；　whose　counsels　were
inspired　of　heaven；　was　now　reigning。　To　his　house；　then；　did
Minerva　hie　in　furtherance　of　the　return　of　Ulysses。
　　She　went　straight　to　the　beautifully　decorated　bedroom　in　which
there　slept　a　girl　who　was　as　lovely　as　a　goddess；　Nausicaa；
daughter　to　King　Alcinous。　Two　maid　servants　were　sleeping　near　her；
both　very　pretty；　one　on　either　side　of　the　doorway；　which　was
closed　with　well…made　folding　doors。　Minerva　took　the　form　of　the
famous　sea　captain　Dymas's　daughter；　who　was　a　bosom　friend　of
Nausicaa　and　just　her　own　age；　then；　coming　up　to　the　girl's　bedside
like　a　breath　of　wind；　she　hovered　over　her　head　and　said：
　　〃Nausicaa；　what　can　your　mother　have　been　about；　to　have　such　a　lazy
daughter？　Here　are　your　clothes　all　lying　in　disorder；　yet　you　are
going　to　be　married　almost　immediately；　and　should　not　only　be　well
dressed　yourself；　but　should　find　good　clothes　for　those　who　attend
you。　This　is　the　way　to　get　yourself　a　good　name；　and　to　make　your
father　and　mother　proud　of　you。　Suppose；　then；　that　we　make　tomorrow　a
washing　day；　and　start　at　daybreak。　I　will　come　and　help　you　so　that
you　may　have　everything　ready　as　soon　as　possible；　for　all　the　best
young　men　among　your　own　people　are　courting　you；　and　you　are　not
going　to　remain　a　maid　much　longer。　Ask　your　father；　therefore；　to
have　a　waggon　and　mules　ready　for　us　at　daybreak；　to　take　the　rugs；
robes；　and　girdles；　and　you　can　ride；　too；　which　will　be　much
pleasanter　for　you　than　walking；　for　the　washing…cisterns　are　some　way
from　the　town。〃
　　When　she　had　said　this　Minerva　went　away　to　Olympus；　which　they
say　is　the　everlasting　home　of　the　gods。　Here　no　wind　beats　roughly；
and　neither　rain　nor　snow　can　fall；　but　it　abides　in　everlasting
sunshine　and　in　a　great　peacefulness　of　light；　wherein　the　blessed
gods　are　illumined　for　ever　and　ever。　This　was　the　place　to　which
the　goddess　went　when　she　had　given　instructions　to　the　girl。
　　By　and　by　morning　came　and　woke　Nausicaa；　who　began　wondering
about　her　dream；　she　therefore　went　to　the　other　end　of　the　house　to
tell　her　father　and　mother　all　about　it；　and　found　them　in　their　own
room。　Her　mother