the odyssey(奥德赛)-第76章

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both　past　and　future；　so　he　spoke　to　them　plainly　and　in　all
honesty；　saying；
　　〃Men　of　Ithaca；　it　is　all　your　own　fault　that　things　have　turned　out
as　they　have；　you　would　not　listen　to　me；　nor　yet　to　Mentor；　when　we
bade　you　check　the　folly　of　your　sons　who　were　doing　much　wrong　in　the
wantonness　of　their　hearts…　wasting　the　substance　and　dishonouring　the
wife　of　a　chieftain　who　they　thought　would　not　return。　Now；　however；
let　it　be　as　I　say；　and　do　as　I　tell　you。　Do　not　go　out　against
Ulysses；　or　you　may　find　that　you　have　been　drawing　down　evil　on
your　own　heads。〃
　　This　was　what　he　said；　and　more　than　half　raised　a　loud　shout；　and
at　once　left　the　assembly。　But　the　rest　stayed　where　they　were；　for
the　speech　of　Halitherses　displeased　them；　and　they　sided　with
Eupeithes；　they　therefore　hurried　off　for　their　armour；　and　when
they　had　armed　themselves；　they　met　together　in　front　of　the　city；　and
Eupeithes　led　them　on　in　their　folly。　He　thought　he　was　going　to
avenge　the　murder　of　his　son；　whereas　in　truth　he　was　never　to　return；
but　was　himself　to　perish　in　his　attempt。
　　Then　Minerva　said　to　Jove；　〃Father；　son　of　Saturn；　king　of　kings；
answer　me　this　question…　What　do　you　propose　to　do？　Will　you　set
them　fighting　still　further；　or　will　you　make　peace　between　them？〃
　　And　Jove　answered；　〃My　child；　why　should　you　ask　me？　Was　it　not　by
your　own　arrangement　that　Ulysses　came　home　and　took　his　revenge
upon　the　suitors？　Do　whatever　you　like；　but　I　will　tell　you　what　I
think　will　be　most　reasonable　arrangement。　Now　that　Ulysses　is
revenged；　let　them　swear　to　a　solemn　covenant；　in　virtue　of　which　he
shall　continue　to　rule；　while　we　cause　the　others　to　forgive　and
forget　the　massacre　of　their　sons　and　brothers。　Let　them　then　all
become　friends　as　heretofore；　and　let　peace　and　plenty　reign。〃
　　This　was　what　Minerva　was　already　eager　to　bring　about；　so　down
she　darted　from　off　the　topmost　summits　of　Olympus。
　　Now　when　Laertes　and　the　others　had　done　dinner；　Ulysses　began　by
saying；　〃Some　of　you　go　out　and　see　if　they　are　not　getting　close　up
to　us。〃　So　one　of　Dolius's　sons　went　as　he　was　bid。　Standing　on　the
threshold　he　could　see　them　all　quite　near；　and　said　to　Ulysses；　〃Here
they　are；　let　us　put　on　our　armour　at　once。〃
　　They　put　on　their　armour　as　fast　as　they　could…　that　is　to　say
Ulysses；　his　three　men；　and　the　six　sons　of　Dolius。　Laertes　also　and
Dolius　did　the　same…　warriors　by　necessity　in　spite　of　their　grey
hair。　When　they　had　all　put　on　their　armour；　they　opened　the　gate
and　sallied　forth；　Ulysses　leading　the　way。
　　Then　Jove's　daughter　Minerva　came　up　to　them；　having　assumed　the
form　and　voice　of　Mentor。　Ulysses　was　glad　when　he　saw　her；　and　said
to　his　son　Telemachus；　〃Telemachus；　now　that　are　about　to　fight　in
an　engagement；　which　will　show　every　man's　mettle；　be　sure　not　to
disgrace　your　ancestors；　who　were　eminent　for　their　strength　and
courage　all　the　world　over。〃
　　〃You　say　truly；　my　dear　father；〃　answered　Telemachus；　〃and　you　shall
see；　if　you　will；　that　I　am　in　no　mind　to　disgrace　your　family。〃
　　Laertes　was　delighted　when　he　heard　this。　〃Good　heavens；　he
exclaimed；　〃what　a　day　I　am　enjoying：　I　do　indeed　rejoice　at　it。　My
son　and　grandson　are　vying　with　one　another　in　the　matter　of　valour。〃
　　On　this　Minerva　came　close　up　to　him　and　said；　〃Son　of　Arceisius…
best　friend　I　have　in　the　world…　pray　to　the　blue…eyed　damsel；　and
to　Jove　her　father；　then　poise　your　spear　and　hurl　it。〃
　　As　she　spoke　she　infused　fresh　vigour　into　him；　and　when　he　had
prayed　to　her　he　poised　his　spear　and　hurled　it。　He　hit　Eupeithes'
helmet；　and　the　spear　went　right　through　it；　for　the　helmet　stayed
it　not；　and　his　armour　rang　rattling　round　him　as　he　fell　heavily　to
the　ground。　Meantime　Ulysses　and　his　son　fell　the　front　line　of　the
foe　and　smote　them　with　their　swords　and　spears；　indeed；　they　would
have　killed　every　one　of　them；　and　prevented　them　from　ever　getting
home　again；　only　Minerva　raised　her　voice　aloud；　and　made　every　one
pause。　〃Men　of　Ithaca；〃　she　cried；　cease　this　dreadful　war；　and　settle
the　matter　at　once　without　further　bloodshed。〃
　　On　this　pale　fear　seized　every　one；　they　were　so　frightened　that
their　arms　dropped　from　their　hands　and　fell　upon　the　ground　at　the
sound　of　the　goddess's　voice；　and　they　fled　back　to　the　city　for　their
lives。　But　Ulysses　gave　a　great　cry；　and　gathering　himself　together
swooped　down　like　a　soaring　eagle。　Then　the　son　of　Saturn　sent　a
thunderbolt　of　fire　that　fell　just　in　front　of　Minerva；　so　she　said　to
Ulysses；　〃Ulysses；　noble　son　of　Laertes；　stop　this　warful　strife；　or
Jove　will　be　angry　with　you。〃
　　Thus　spoke　Minerva；　and　Ulysses　obeyed　her　gladly。　Then　Minerva
assumed　the　form　and　voice　of　Mentor；　and　presently　made　a　covenant　of
peace　between　the　two　contending　parties。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　…THE　END…
XFIR驗MZ�