the odyssey(奥德赛)-第9章

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Telemachus's　ship；　and　invite　all　the　crew；　leaving　two　men　only　in
charge　of　the　vessel。　Some　one　else　will　run　and　fetch　Laerceus　the
goldsmith　to　gild　the　horns　of　the　heifer。　The　rest；　stay　all　of　you
where　you　are；　tell　the　maids　in　the　house　to　prepare　an　excellent
dinner；　and　to　fetch　seats；　and　logs　of　wood　for　a　burnt　offering。
Tell　them　also…　to　bring　me　some　clear　spring　water。〃
　　On　this　they　hurried　off　on　their　several　errands。　The　heifer　was
brought　in　from　the　plain；　and　Telemachus's　crew　came　from　the　ship；
the　goldsmith　brought　the　anvil；　hammer；　and　tongs；　with　which　he
worked　his　gold；　and　Minerva　herself　came　to　the　sacrifice。　Nestor
gave　out　the　gold；　and　the　smith　gilded　the　horns　of　the　heifer　that
the　goddess　might　have　pleasure　in　their　beauty。　Then　Stratius　and
Echephron　brought　her　in　by　the　horns；　Aretus　fetched　water　from　the
house　in　a　ewer　that　had　a　flower　pattern　on　it；　and　in　his　other　hand
he　held　a　basket　of　barley　meal；　sturdy　Thrasymedes　stood　by　with　a
sharp　axe；　ready　to　strike　the　heifer；　while　Perseus　held　a　bucket。
Then　Nestor　began　with　washing　his　hands　and　sprinkling　the　barley
meal；　and　he　offered　many　a　prayer　to　Minerva　as　he　threw　a　lock
from　the　heifer's　head　upon　the　fire。
　　When　they　had　done　praying　and　sprinkling　the　barley　meal
Thrasymedes　dealt　his　blow；　and　brought　the　heifer　down　with　a
stroke　that　cut　through　the　tendons　at　the　base　of　her　neck；　whereon
the　daughters　and　daughters…in…law　of　Nestor；　and　his　venerable　wife
Eurydice　（she　was　eldest　daughter　to　Clymenus）　screamed　with
delight。　Then　they　lifted　the　heifer's　head　from　off　the　ground；　and
Pisistratus　cut　her　throat。　When　she　had　done　bleeding　and　was　quite
dead；　they　cut　her　up。　They　cut　out　the　thigh　bones　all　in　due　course；
wrapped　them　round　in　two　layers　of　fat；　and　set　some　pieces　of　raw
meat　on　the　top　of　them；　then　Nestor　laid　them　upon　the　wood　fire
and　poured　wine　over　them；　while　the　young　men　stood　near　him　with
five…pronged　spits　in　their　hands。　When　the　thighs　were　burned　and
they　had　tasted　the　inward　meats；　they　cut　the　rest　of　the　meat　up
small；　put　the　pieces　on　the　spits　and　toasted　them　over　the　fire。
　　Meanwhile　lovely　Polycaste；　Nestor's　youngest　daughter；　washed
Telemachus。　When　she　had　washed　him　and　anointed　him　with　oil；　she
brought　him　a　fair　mantle　and　shirt；　and　he　looked　like　a　god　as　he
came　from　the　bath　and　took　his　seat　by　the　side　of　Nestor。　When　the
outer　meats　were　done　they　drew　them　off　the　spits　and　sat　down　to
dinner　where　they　were　waited　upon　by　some　worthy　henchmen；　who　kept
pouring　them　out　their　wine　in　cups　of　gold。　As　soon　as　they　had　had
had　enough　to　eat　and　drink　Nestor　said；　〃Sons；　put　Telemachus's
horses　to　the　chariot　that　he　may　start　at　once。〃
　　Thus　did　he　speak；　and　they　did　even　as　he　had　said；　and　yoked　the
fleet　horses　to　the　chariot。　The　housekeeper　packed　them　up　a
provision　of　bread；　wine；　and　sweetmeats　fit　for　the　sons　of
princes。　Then　Telemachus　got　into　the　chariot；　while　Pisistratus
gathered　up　the　reins　and　took　his　seat　beside　him。　He　lashed　the
horses　on　and　they　flew　forward　nothing　loth　into　the　open　country；
leaving　the　high　citadel　of　Pylos　behind　them。　All　that　day　did　they
travel；　swaying　the　yoke　upon　their　necks　till　the　sun　went　down　and
darkness　was　over　all　the　land。　Then　they　reached　Pherae　where　Diocles
lived；　who　was　son　to　Ortilochus　and　grandson　to　Alpheus。　Here　they
passed　the　night　and　Diocles　entertained　them　hospitably。　When　the
child　of　morning；　rosy…fingered　Dawn；　appeared；　they　again　yoked　their
horses　and　drove　out　through　the　gateway　under　the　echoing
gatehouse。　Pisistratus　lashed　the　horses　on　and　they　flew　forward
nothing　loth；　presently　they　came　to　the　corn　lands　Of　the　open
country；　and　in　the　course　of　time　completed　their　journey；　so　well
did　their　steeds　take　them。
　　Now　when　the　sun　had　set　and　darkness　was　over　the　land。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　BOOK　IV。
　　THEY　reached　the　low　lying　city　of　Lacedaemon　them　where　they
drove　straight　to　the　of　abode　Menelaus　＇and　found　him　in　his　own
house；　feasting　with　his　many　clansmen　in　honour　of　the　wedding　of　his
son；　and　also　of　his　daughter；　whom　he　was　marrying　to　the　son　of　that
valiant　warrior　Achilles。　He　had　given　his　consent　and　promised　her　to
him　while　he　was　still　at　Troy；　and　now　the　gods　were　bringing　the
marriage　about；　so　he　was　sending　her　with　chariots　and　horses　to
the　city　of　the　Myrmidons　over　whom　Achilles'　son　was　reigning。　For
his　only　son　he　had　found　a　bride　from　Sparta；　daughter　of　Alector。
This　son；　Megapenthes；　was　born　to　him　of　a　bondwoman；　for　heaven
vouchsafed　Helen　no　more　children　after　she　had　borne　Hermione；　who
was　fair　as　golden　Venus　herself。
　　So　the　neighbours　and　kinsmen　of　Menelaus　were　feasting　and　making
merry　in　his　house。　There　was　a　bard　also　to　sing　to　them　and　play　his
lyre；　while　two　tumblers　went　about　performing　in　the　midst　of　them
when　the　man　struck　up　with　his　tune。＇
　　Telemachus　and　the　son　of　Nestor　stayed　their　horses　at　the　gate；
whereon　Eteoneus　servant　to　Menelaus　came　out；　and　as　soon　as　he　saw
them　ran　hurrying　back　into　the　house　to　tell　his　Master。　He　went
close　up　to　him　and　said；　〃Menelaus；　there　are　some　strangers　come
here；　two　men；　who　look　like　sons　of　Jove。　What　are　we　to　do？　Shall　we
take　their　horses　out；　or　tell　them　to　find　friends　elsewhere　as
they　best　can？〃
　　Menelaus　was　very　angry　and　said；　〃Eteoneus；　son　of　Boethous；　you
never　used　to　be　a　fool；　but　now　you　talk　like　a　simpleton。　Take　their
horses　out；　of　course；　and　show　the　strangers　in　that　they　may　have
supper；　you　and　I　have　stayed　often　enough　at　other　people's　houses
before　we　got　back　here；　where　heaven　grant　that　we　may　rest　in
peace　henceforward。〃
　　So　Eteoneus　bustled　back　and　bade　other　servants　come　with　him。　They
took　their　sweating　hands　from　under　the　yoke；　made　them　fast　to　the
mangers；　and　gave　them　a　feed　of　oats　and　barley　mixed。　Then　they
leaned　the　chariot　against　the　end　wall　of　the　courtyard；　and　led
the　way　into　the　house。　Telemachus　and　Pisistratus　were　astonished
when　they　saw　it；　for　its　splendour　was　as　that　of　the　sun　and　moon；
then；　when　they　had　admired　everything　to　their　heart's　content；
they　went　into　the　bath　room　and　washed　themselves。
　　When　the　servants　had　washed　them　and　anointed　them　with　oil；　they
brought　them　woollen　cloaks　and　shirts；　and　the　two　took　their　seats
by　the　side　of　Menelaus。　A　maidservant　brought　them　water　in　a
beautiful　golden　ewer；　and　poured　it　into　a　silver　basin　for　them　to
wash　their　hands；　and　she　drew　a　clean　table　beside　them。　An　upper
servant　brought　them　bread；　and　offered　them　many　good　things　of
what　there　was　in　the　house；　while　the　carver　fetched　them　plates　of
all　manner　of　meats　and　set　cups　of　gold　by　their　side。
　　Menelaus　then　greeted　them　saying；　〃Fall　to；　and　welcome；　when　you
have　done　supper　I　shall　ask　who　you　are；　for　the　lineage　of　such
men　as　you　cannot　have　been　lost。　You　must　be　descended　from　a　line　of
sceptre…bearing　kings；　for　poor　people　do　not　have　such　sons　as　you
are。〃
　　On　this　he　handed　them　a　piece　of　fat　roast　loin；　which　had　been　set
near　him　as　being　a　prime　part；　and　they　laid　their　hands　on　the
good　things　that　were　before　them；　as　soon　as　they　had　had　enough　to
eat　and　drink；　Telemachus　said　to　the　son　of　Nestor；　with　his　head
so　close　that　no　one　might　hear；　〃Look；　Pisistratus；　man　after　my
own　heart；　see　the　gleam　of　bronze　and　gold…　of　amber；　ivory；　and
silver。　Everything　is　so　splendid　that　it　is　like　seeing　the　palace　of
Olympian　Jove。　I　am　lost　in　admiration。〃
　　Menelaus　overheard　him　and　said；　〃No　one；　my　sons；　can　hold　his
own　with　Jove；　for　his　house　and　everything　about　him　is　immortal；　but
among　mortal　men…　well；　there　may　be　another　who　has　as　much　wealth　as
I　have；　or　there　may　not；　but　at　all　events　I　have　travelled　much
and　have　undergone　much　hardship；　for　it　was　nearly　eight　years　before
I　could　get　home　with　my　fleet。　I　went　to　Cyprus；　Phoenicia　and　the
Egyptians；　I　went　also　to　the　Ethiopians；　the　Sidonians；　and　the
Erembians；　and　to　Libya　where　the　lambs　have　horns　as　soon　as　they　are
born；　an