the odyssey(奥德赛)-第32章

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out　and　gambol　round　their　mothers；　when　they　see　them　coming　home
to　be　milked　after　they　have　been　feeding　all　day；　and　the　homestead
resounds　with　their　lowing。　They　seemed　as　glad　to　see　me　as　though
they　had　got　back　to　their　own　rugged　Ithaca；　where　they　had　been　born
and　bred。　'Sir；'　said　the　affectionate　creatures；　'we　are　as　glad　to
see　you　back　as　though　we　had　got　safe　home　to　Ithaca；　but　tell　us　all
about　the　fate　of　our　comrades。'
　　〃I　spoke　comfortingly　to　them　and　said；　'We　must　draw　our　ship　on　to
the　land；　and　hide　the　ship's　gear　with　all　our　property　in　some　cave；
then　come　with　me　all　of　you　as　fast　as　you　can　to　Circe's　house；
where　you　will　find　your　comrades　eating　and　drinking　in　the　midst
of　great　abundance。'
　　〃On　this　the　men　would　have　come　with　me　at　once；　but　Eurylochus
tried　to　hold　them　back　and　said；　'Alas；　poor　wretches　that　we　are；
what　will　become　of　us？　Rush　not　on　your　ruin　by　going　to　the　house　of
Circe；　who　will　turn　us　all　into　pigs　or　wolves　or　lions；　and　we　shall
have　to　keep　guard　over　her　house。　Remember　how　the　Cyclops　treated　us
when　our　comrades　went　inside　his　cave；　and　Ulysses　with　them。　It
was　all　through　his　sheer　folly　that　those　men　lost　their　lives。'
　　〃When　I　heard　him　I　was　in　two　minds　whether　or　no　to　draw　the
keen　blade　that　hung　by　my　sturdy　thigh　and　cut　his　head　off　in
spite　of　his　being　a　near　relation　of　my　own；　but　the　men　interceded
for　him　and　said；　'Sir；　if　it　may　so　be；　let　this　fellow　stay　here　and
mind　the　ship；　but　take　the　rest　of　us　with　you　to　Circe's　house。'
　　〃On　this　we　all　went　inland；　and　Eurylochus　was　not　left　behind
after　all；　but　came　on　too；　for　he　was　frightened　by　the　severe
reprimand　that　I　had　given　him。
　　〃Meanwhile　Circe　had　been　seeing　that　the　men　who　had　been　left
behind　were　washed　and　anointed　with　olive　oil；　she　had　also　given
them　woollen　cloaks　and　shirts；　and　when　we　came　we　found　them　all
comfortably　at　dinner　in　her　house。　As　soon　as　the　men　saw　each
other　face　to　face　and　knew　one　another；　they　wept　for　joy　and　cried
aloud　till　the　whole　palace　rang　again。　Thereon　Circe　came　up　to　me
and　said；　'Ulysses；　noble　son　of　Laertes；　tell　your　men　to　leave　off
crying；　I　know　how　much　you　have　all　of　you　suffered　at　sea；　and　how
ill　you　have　fared　among　cruel　savages　on　the　mainland；　but　that　is
over　now；　so　stay　here；　and　eat　and　drink　till　you　are　once　more　as
strong　and　hearty　as　you　were　when　you　left　Ithaca；　for　at　present　you
are　weakened　both　in　body　and　mind；　you　keep　all　the　time　thinking
of　the　hardships…　you　have　suffered　during　your　travels；　so　that　you
have　no　more　cheerfulness　left　in　you。'
　　〃Thus　did　she　speak　and　we　assented。　We　stayed　with　Circe　for　a
whole　twelvemonth　feasting　upon　an　untold　quantity　both　of　meat　and
wine。　But　when　the　year　had　passed　in　the　waning　of　moons　and　the　long
days　had　come　round；　my　men　called　me　apart　and　said；　'Sir；　it　is　time
you　began　to　think　about　going　home；　if　so　be　you　are　to　be　spared
to　see　your　house　and　native　country　at　all。'
　　〃Thus　did　they　speak　and　I　assented。　Thereon　through　the　livelong
day　to　the　going　down　of　the　sun　we　feasted　our　fill　on　meat　and　wine；
but　when　the　sun　went　down　and　it　came　on　dark　the　men　laid　themselves
down　to　sleep　in　the　covered　cloisters。　I；　however；　after　I　had　got
into　bed　with　Circe；　besought　her　by　her　knees；　and　the　goddess
listened　to　what　I　had　got　to　say。　'Circe；'　said　I；　'please　to　keep
the　promise　you　made　me　about　furthering　me　on　my　homeward　voyage。　I
want　to　get　back　and　so　do　my　men；　they　are　always　pestering　me　with
their　complaints　as　soon　as　ever　your　back　is　turned。'
　　〃And　the　goddess　answered；　'Ulysses；　noble　son　of　Laertes；　you　shall
none　of　you　stay　here　any　longer　if　you　do　not　want　to；　but　there　is
another　journey　which　you　have　got　to　take　before　you　can　sail
homewards。　You　must　go　to　the　house　of　Hades　and　of　dread　Proserpine
to　consult　the　ghost　of　the　blind　Theban　prophet　Teiresias　whose
reason　is　still　unshaken。　To　him　alone　has　Proserpine　left　his
understanding　even　in　death；　but　the　other　ghosts　flit　about
aimlessly。'
　　〃I　was　dismayed　when　I　heard　this。　I　sat　up　in　bed　and　wept；　and
would　gladly　have　lived　no　longer　to　see　the　light　of　the　sun；　but
presently　when　I　was　tired　of　weeping　and　tossing　myself　about；　I
said；　'And　who　shall　guide　me　upon　this　voyage…　for　the　house　of　Hades
is　a　port　that　no　ship　can　reach。'
　　〃'You　will　want　no　guide；'　she　answered；　'raise　you　mast；　set　your
white　sails；　sit　quite　still；　and　the　North　Wind　will　blow　you　there
of　itself。　When　your　ship　has　traversed　the　waters　of　Oceanus；　you
will　reach　the　fertile　shore　of　Proserpine's　country　with　its　groves
of　tall　poplars　and　willows　that　shed　their　fruit　untimely；　here　beach
your　ship　upon　the　shore　of　Oceanus；　and　go　straight　on　to　the　dark
abode　of　Hades。　You　will　find　it　near　the　place　where　the　rivers
Pyriphlegethon　and　Cocytus　（which　is　a　branch　of　the　river　Styx）
flow　into　Acheron；　and　you　will　see　a　rock　near　it；　just　where　the　two
roaring　rivers　run　into　one　another。
　　〃'When　you　have　reached　this　spot；　as　I　now　tell　you；　dig　a　trench　a
cubit　or　so　in　length；　breadth；　and　depth；　and　pour　into　it　as　a
drink…offering　to　all　the　dead；　first；　honey　mixed　with　milk；　then
wine；　and　in　the　third　place　water…sprinkling　white　barley　meal　over
the　whole。　Moreover　you　must　offer　many　prayers　to　the　poor　feeble
ghosts；　and　promise　them　that　when　you　get　back　to　Ithaca　you　will
sacrifice　a　barren　heifer　to　them；　the　best　you　have；　and　will　load
the　pyre　with　good　things。　More　particularly　you　must　promise　that
Teiresias　shall　have　a　black　sheep　all　to　himself；　the　finest　in　all
your　flocks。
　　〃'When　you　shall　have　thus　besought　the　ghosts　with　your　prayers；
offer　them　a　ram　and　a　black　ewe；　bending　their　heads　towards
Erebus；　but　yourself　turn　away　from　them　as　though　you　would　make
towards　the　river。　On　this；　many　dead　men's　ghosts　will　come　to　you；
and　you　must　tell　your　men　to　skin　the　two　sheep　that　you　have　just
killed；　and　offer　them　as　a　burnt　sacrifice　with　prayers　to　Hades
and　to　Proserpine。　Then　draw　your　sword　and　sit　there；　so　as　to
prevent　any　other　poor　ghost　from　coming　near　the　split　blood　before
Teiresias　shall　have　answered　your　questions。　The　seer　will
presently　come　to　you；　and　will　tell　you　about　your　voyage…　what
stages　you　are　to　make；　and　how　you　are　to　sail　the　see　so　as　to　reach
your　home。'
　　〃It　was　day…break　by　the　time　she　had　done　speaking；　so　she
dressed　me　in　my　shirt　and　cloak。　As　for　herself　she　threw　a　beautiful
light　gossamer　fabric　over　her　shoulders；　fastening　it　with　a　golden
girdle　round　her　waist；　and　she　covered　her　head　with　a　mantle。　Then　I
went　about　among　the　men　everywhere　all　over　the　house；　and　spoke
kindly　to　each　of　them　man　by　man：　'You　must　not　lie　sleeping　here　any
longer；'　said　I　to　them；　'we　must　be　going；　for　Circe　has　told　me
all　about　it。'　And　this　they　did　as　I　bade　them。
　　〃Even　so；　however；　I　did　not　get　them　away　without　misadventure。
We　had　with　us　a　certain　youth　named　Elpenor；　not　very　remarkable
for　sense　or　courage；　who　had　got　drunk　and　was　lying　on　the　house…top
away　from　the　rest　of　the　men；　to　sleep　off　his　liquor　in　the　cool。
When　he　heard　the　noise　of　the　men　bustling　about；　he　jumped　up　on　a
sudden　and　forgot　all　about　coming　down　by　the　main　staircase；　so　he
tumbled　right　off　the　roof　and　broke　his　neck；　and　his　soul　went
down　to　the　house　of　Hades。
　　〃When　I　had　got　the　men　together　I　said　to　them；　'You　think　you
are　about　to　start　home　again；　but　Circe　has　explained　to　me　that
instead　of　this；　we　have　got　to　go　to　the　house　of　Hades　and
Proserpine　to　consult　the　ghost　of　the　Theban　prophet　Teiresias。'
　　〃The　men　were　broken…hearted　as　they　heard　me；　and　threw
themselves　on　the　ground　groaning　and　tearing　their　hair；　but　they　did
not　mend　matters　by　crying。　When　we　reached　the　sea　shore；　weeping　and
lamenting　our　fate；　Circe　brought　the　ram　and　the　ewe；　and　we　made
them　fast　hard　by　the　ship。　She　passed　through　the　midst　of　us　without
our　knowing　it；　for　who　can　see　the　comings　and　goings　of　a　god；　if
the　god　does　not　wish　to　be　seen？