hesiod, the homeric hymns, and homerica-第11章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页,按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页,按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部!
————未阅读完?加入书签已便下次继续阅读!
never decrees cruel war against them。 Neither famine nor disaster ever haunt men who do true justice; but light…heartedly they tend the fields which are all their care。 The earth bears them victual in plenty; and on the mountains the oak bears acorns upon the top and bees in the midst。 Their woolly sheep are laden with fleeces; their women bear children like their parents。 They flourish continually with good things; and do not travel on ships; for the grain…giving earth bears them fruit。
(ll。 238…247) But for those who practise violence and cruel deeds far…seeing Zeus; the son of Cronos; ordains a punishment。 Often even a whole city suffers for a bad man who sins and devises presumptuous deeds; and the son of Cronos lays great trouble upon the people; famine and plague together; so that the men perish away; and their women do not bear children; and their houses become few; through the contriving of Olympian Zeus。 And again; at another time; the son of Cronos either destroys their wide army; or their walls; or else makes an end of their ships on the sea。
(ll。 248…264) You princes; mark well this punishment you also; for the deathless gods are near among men and mark all those who oppress their fellows with crooked judgements; and reck not the anger of the gods。 For upon the bounteous earth Zeus has thrice ten thousand spirits; watchers of mortal men; and these keep watch on judgements and deeds of wrong as they roam; clothed in mist; all over the earth。 And there is virgin Justice; the daughter of Zeus; who is honoured and reverenced among the gods who dwell on Olympus; and whenever anyone hurts her with lying slander; she sits beside her father; Zeus the son of Cronos; and tells him of men's wicked heart; until the people pay for the mad folly of their princes who; evilly minded; pervert judgement and give sentence crookedly。 Keep watch against this; you princes; and make straight your judgements; you who devour bribes; put crooked judgements altogether from your thoughts。
(ll。 265…266) He does mischief to himself who does mischief to another; and evil planned harms the plotter most。
(ll。 267…273) The eye of Zeus; seeing all and understanding all; beholds these things too; if so he will; and fails not to mark what sort of justice is this that the city keeps within it。 Now; therefore; may neither I myself be righteous among men; nor my son for then it is a bad thing to be righteous if indeed the unrighteous shall have the greater right。 But I think that all…wise Zeus will not yet bring that to pass。
(ll。 274…285) But you; Perses; lay up these things within you heart and listen now to right; ceasing altogether to think of violence。 For the son of Cronos has ordained this law for men; that fishes and beasts and winged fowls should devour one another; for right is not in them; but to mankind he gave right which proves far the best。 For whoever knows the right and is ready to speak it; far…seeing Zeus gives him prosperity; but whoever deliberately lies in his witness and forswears himself; and so hurts Justice and sins beyond repair; that man's generation is left obscure thereafter。 But the generation of the man who swears truly is better thenceforward。
(ll。 286…292) To you; foolish Perses; I will speak good sense。 Badness can be got easily and in shoals: the road to her is smooth; and she lives very near us。 But between us and Goodness the gods have placed the sweat of our brows: long and steep is the path that leads to her; and it is rough at the first; but when a man has reached the top; then is she easy to reach; though before that she was hard。
(ll。 293…319) That man is altogether best who considers all things himself and marks what will be better afterwards and at the end; and he; again; is good who listens to a good adviser; but whoever neither thinks for himself nor keeps in mind what another tells him; he is an unprofitable man。 But do you at any rate; always remembering my charge; work; high…born Perses; that Hunger may hate you; and venerable Demeter richly crowned may love you and fill your barn with food; for Hunger is altogether a meet comrade for the sluggard。 Both gods and men are angry with a man who lives idle; for in nature he is like the stingless drones who waste the labour of the bees; eating without working; but let it be your care to order your work properly; that in the right season your barns may be full of victual。 Through work men grow rich in flocks and substance; and working they are much better loved by the immortals (8)。 Work is no disgrace: it is idleness which is a disgrace。 But if you work; the idle will soon envy you as you grow rich; for fame and renown attend on wealth。 And whatever be your lot; work is best for you; if you turn your misguided mind away from other men's property to your work and attend to your livelihood as I bid you。 An evil shame is the needy man's companion; shame which both greatly harms and prospers men: shame is with poverty; but confidence with wealth。
(ll。 320…341) Wealth should not be seized: god…given wealth is much better; for it a man take great wealth violently and perforce; or if he steal it through his tongue; as often happens when gain deceives men's sense and dishonour tramples down honour; the gods soon blot him out and make that man's house low; and wealth attends him only for a little time。 Alike with him who does wrong to a suppliant or a guest; or who goes up to his brother's bed and commits unnatural sin in lying with his wife; or who infatuately offends against fatherless children; or who abuses his old father at the cheerless threshold of old age and attacks him with harsh words; truly Zeus himself is angry; and at the last lays on him a heavy requittal for his evil doing。 But do you turn your foolish heart altogether away from these things; and; as far as you are able; sacrifice to the deathless gods purely and cleanly; and burn rich meats also; and at other times propitiate them with libations and incense; both when you go to bed and when the holy light has come back; that they may be gracious to you in heart and spirit; and so you may buy another's holding and not another yours。
(ll。 342…351) Call your friend to a feast; but leave your enemy alone; and especially call him who lives near you: for if any mischief happen in the place; neighbours come ungirt; but kinsmen stay to gird themselves (9)。 A bad neighbour is as great a plague as a good one is a great blessing; he who enjoys a good neighbour has a precious possession。 Not even an ox would die but for a bad neighbour。 Take fair measure from your neighbour and pay him back fairly with the same measure; or better; if you can; so that if you are in need afterwards; you may find him sure。
(ll。 352…369) Do not get base gain: base gain is as bad as ruin。 Be friends with the friendly; and visit him who visits you。 Give to one who gives; but do not give to one who does not give。 A man gives to the free…handed; but no one gives to the close… fisted。 Give is a good girl; but Take is bad and she brings death。 For the man who gives willingly; even though he gives a great thing; rejoices in his gift and is glad in heart; but whoever gives way to shamelessness and takes something himself; even though it be a small thing; it freezes his heart。 He who adds to what he has; will keep off bright…eyed hunger; for it you add only a little to a little and do this often; soon that little will become great。 What a man has by him at home does not trouble him: it is better to have your stuff at home; for whatever is abroad may mean loss。 It is a good thing to draw on what you have; but it grieves your heart to need something and not to have it; and I bid you mark this。 Take your fill when the cask is first opened and when it is nearly spent; but midways be sparing: it is poor saving when you come to the lees。
(ll。 370…372) Let the wage promised to a friend be fixed; even with your brother smile and get a witness; for trust and mistrust; alike ruin men。
(ll。 373…375) Do not let a flaunting woman coax and cozen and deceive you: she is after your barn。 The man who trusts womankind trust deceivers。
(ll。 376…380) There should be an only son; to feed his f