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第40章

hesiod, the homeric hymns, and homerica-第40章

小说: hesiod, the homeric hymns, and homerica 字数: 每页4000字

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(ll。 470…482) So spake Rhea。  And rich…crowned Demeter did not refuse but straightway made fruit to spring up from the rich lands; so that the whole wide earth was laden with leaves and flowers。  Then she went; and to the kings who deal justice; Triptolemus and Diocles; the horse…driver; and to doughty Eumolpus and Celeus; leader of the people; she showed the conduct of her rites and taught them all her mysteries; to Triptolemus and Polyxeinus and Diocles also;  awful mysteries which no one may in any way transgress or pry into or utter; for deep awe of the gods checks the voice。  Happy is he among men upon earth who has seen these mysteries; but he who is uninitiate and who has no part in them; never has lot of like good things once he is dead; down in the darkness and gloom。

(ll。 483…489) But when the bright goddess had taught them all; they went to Olympus to the gathering of the other gods。  And

there they dwell beside Zeus who delights in thunder; awful and reverend goddesses。  Right blessed is he among men on earth whom they freely love: soon they do send Plutus as guest to his great house; Plutus who gives wealth to mortal men。

(ll。 490…495) And now; queen of the land of sweet Eleusis and sea…girt Paros and rocky Antron; lady; giver of good gifts; bringer of seasons; queen Deo; be gracious; you and your daughter all beauteous Persephone; and for my song grant me heart…cheering substance。  And now I will remember you and another song also。


III。 TO APOLLO (546 lines)

TO DELIAN APOLLO 

(ll。 1…18) I will remember and not be unmindful of Apollo who shoots afar。  As he goes through the house of Zeus; the gods tremble before him and all spring up from their seats when he draws near; as he bends his bright bow。  But Leto alone stays by the side of Zeus who delights in thunder; and then she unstrings his bow; and closes his quiver; and takes his archery from his strong shoulders in her hands and hangs them on a golden peg against a pillar of his father's house。  Then she leads him to a seat and makes him sit: and the Father gives him nectar in a golden cup welcoming his dear son; while the other gods make him sit down there; and queenly Leto rejoices because she bare a mighty son and an archer。  Rejoice; blessed Leto; for you bare glorious children; the lord Apollo and Artemis who delights in arrows; her in Ortygia; and him in rocky Delos; as you rested against the great mass of the Cynthian hill hard by a palm…tree by the streams of Inopus。

(ll。 19…29) How; then; shall I sing of you who in all ways are a worthy theme of song?  For everywhere; O Phoebus; the whole range of song is fallen to you; both over the mainland that rears heifers and over the isles。  All mountain…peaks and high headlands of lofty hills and rivers flowing out to the deep and beaches sloping seawards and havens of the sea are your delight。  Shall I sing how at the first Leto bare you to be the joy of men; as she rested against Mount Cynthus in that rocky isle; in sea… girt Delos  while on either hand a dark wave rolled on landwards driven by shrill winds  whence arising you rule over all mortal men?

(ll。 30…50) Among those who are in Crete; and in the township of Athens; and in the isle of Aegina and Euboea; famous for ships; in Aegae and Eiresiae and Peparethus near the sea; in Thracian Athos and Pelion's towering heights and Thracian Samos and the shady hills of Ida; in Scyros and Phocaea and the high hill of Autocane and fair…lying Imbros and smouldering Lemnos and rich Lesbos; home of Macar; the son of Aeolus; and Chios; brightest of all the isles that lie in the sea; and craggy Mimas and the heights of Corycus and gleaming Claros and the sheer hill of Aesagea and watered Samos and the steep heights of Mycale; in Miletus and Cos; the city of Meropian men; and steep Cnidos and windy Carpathos; in Naxos and Paros and rocky Rhenaea  so far roamed Leto in travail with the god who shoots afar; to see if any land would be willing to make a dwelling for her son。  But they greatly trembled and feared; and none; not even the richest of them; dared receive Phoebus; until queenly Leto set foot on Delos and uttered winged words and asked her:

(ll。 51…61) ‘Delos; if you would be willing to be the abode of my son 〃Phoebus Apollo and make him a rich temple ; for no other will touch you; as you will find: and I think you will never be rich in oxen and sheep; nor bear vintage nor yet produce plants abundantly。  But if you have the temple of far…shooting Apollo; all men will bring you hecatombs and gather here; and incessant savour of rich sacrifice will always arise; and you will feed those who dwell in you from the hand of strangers; for truly your own soil is not rich。'

(ll。 62…82) So spake Leto。  And Delos rejoiced and answered and said:  ‘Leto; most glorious daughter of great Coeus; joyfully would I receive your child the far…shooting lord; for it is all too true that I am ill…spoken of among men; whereas thus I should become very greatly honoured。  But this saying I fear; and I will not hide it from you; Leto。  They say that Apollo will be one that is very haughty and will greatly lord it among gods and men all over the fruitful earth。  Therefore; I greatly fear in heart and spirit that as soon as he sets the light of the sun; he will scorn this island  for truly I have but a hard; rocky soil  and overturn me and thrust me down with his feet in the depths of the sea; then will the great ocean wash deep above my head for ever; and he will go to another land such as will please him; there to make his temple and wooded groves。  So; many…footed creatures of the sea will make their lairs in me and black seals their dwellings undisturbed; because I lack people。  Yet if you will but dare to sware a great oath; goddess; that here first he will build a glorious temple to be an oracle for men; then let him afterwards make temples and wooded groves amongst all men; for surely he will be greatly renowned。

(ll。 83…88) So said Delos。  And Leto sware the great oath of the gods: ‘Now hear this; Earth and wide Heaven above; and dropping water of Styx (this is the strongest and most awful oath for the blessed gods); surely Phoebus shall have here his fragrant altar and precinct; and you he shall honour above all。'

(ll。 89…101) Now when Leto had sworn and ended her oath; Delos was very glad at the birth of the far…shooting lord。  But Leto was racked nine days and nine nights with pangs beyond wont。  And there were with her all the chiefest of the goddesses; Dione and Rhea and Ichnaea and Themis and loud…moaning Amphitrite and the other deathless goddesses save white…armed Hera; who sat in the halls of cloud…gathering Zeus。  Only Eilithyia; goddess of sore travail; had not heard of Leto's trouble; for she sat on the top of Olympus beneath golden clouds by white…armed Hera's contriving; who kept her close through envy; because Leto with the lovely tresses was soon to bear a son faultless and strong。

(ll。 102…114) But the goddesses sent out Iris from the well…set isle to bring Eilithyia; promising her a great necklace strung with golden threads; nine cubits long。  And they bade Iris call her aside from white…armed Hera; lest she might afterwards turn her from coming with her words。  When swift Iris; fleet of foot as the wind; had heard all this; she set to run; and quickly finishing all the distance she came to the home of the gods; sheer Olympus; and forthwith called Eilithyia out from the hall to the door and spoke winged words to her; telling her all as the goddesses who dwell on Olympus had bidden her。  So she moved the heart of Eilithyia in her dear breast; and they went their way; like shy wild…doves in their going。

(ll。 115…122) And as soon as Eilithyia the goddess of sore travail set foot on Delos; the pains of birth seized Leto; and she longed to bring forth; so she cast her arms about a palm tree and kneeled on the soft meadow while the earth laughed for joy beneath。  Then the child leaped forth to the light; and all the goddesses washed you purely and cleanly with sweet water; and swathed you in a white garment of fine texture; new…woven; and fastened a golden band about you。

(ll。 123…130) Now Leto did not give Apollo; bearer of the go

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