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！
absence。'
〃Meanwhile Lampetie went straight off to the sun and told him we had
been killing his cows； whereon he flew into a great rage； and said
to the immortals； 'Father Jove； and all you other gods who live in
everlasting bliss； I must have vengeance on the crew of Ulysses' ship：
they have had the insolence to kill my cows； which were the one
thing I loved to look upon； whether I was going up heaven or down
again。 If they do not square accounts with me about my cows； I will go
down to Hades and shine there among the dead。'
〃'Sun；' said Jove； 'go on shining upon us gods and upon mankind over
the fruitful earth。 I will shiver their ship into little pieces with a
bolt of white lightning as soon as they get out to sea。'
〃I was told all this by Calypso； who said she had heard it from
the mouth of Mercury。
〃As soon as I got down to my ship and to the sea shore I rebuked
each one of the men separately； but we could see no way out of it； for
the cows were dead already。 And indeed the gods began at once to
show signs and wonders among us； for the hides of the cattle crawled
about； and the joints upon the spits began to low like cows； and the
meat； whether cooked or raw； kept on making a noise just as cows do。
〃For six days my men kept driving in the best cows and feasting upon
them； but when Jove the son of Saturn had added a seventh day； the
fury of the gale abated； we therefore went on board； raised our masts；
spread sail； and put out to sea。 As soon as we were well away from the
island； and could see nothing but sky and sea； the son of Saturn
raised a black cloud over our ship； and the sea grew dark beneath
it。 We not get on much further； for in another moment we were caught
by a terrific squall from the West that snapped the forestays of the
mast so that it fell aft； while all the ship's gear tumbled about at
the bottom of the vessel。 The mast fell upon the head of the
helmsman in the ship's stern； so that the bones of his head were
crushed to pieces； and he fell overboard as though he were diving；
with no more life left in him。
〃Then Jove let fly with his thunderbolts； and the ship went round
and round； and was filled with fire and brimstone as the lightning
struck it。 The men all fell into the sea； they were carried about in
the water round the ship； looking like so many sea…gulls； but the
god presently deprived them of all chance of getting home again。
〃I stuck to the ship till the sea knocked her sides from her keel
（which drifted about by itself） and struck the mast out of her in
the direction of the keel； but there was a backstay of stout
ox…thong still hanging about it； and with this I lashed the mast and
keel together； and getting astride of them was carried wherever the
winds chose to take me。
〃＇The gale from the West had now spent its force； and the wind got
into the South again； which frightened me lest I should be taken
back to the terrible whirlpool of Charybdis。 This indeed was what
actually happened； for I was borne along by the waves all night； and
by sunrise had reacfied the rock of Scylla； and the whirlpool。 She was
then sucking down the salt sea water； but I was carried aloft toward
the fig tree； which I caught hold of and clung on to like a bat。 I
could not plant my feet anywhere so as to stand securely； for the
roots were a long way off and the boughs that overshadowed the whole
pool were too high； too vast； and too far apart for me to reach
them； so I hung patiently on； waiting till the pool should discharge
my mast and raft again… and a very long while it seemed。 A juryman
is not more glad to get home to supper； after having been long
detained in court by troublesome cases； than I was to see my raft
beginning to work its way out of the whirlpool again。 At last I let go
with my hands and feet； and fell heavily into the sea； bard by my raft
on to which I then got； and began to row with my hands。 As for Scylla；
the father of gods and men would not let her get further sight of
me… otherwise I should have certainly been lost。＇
〃Hence I was carried along for nine days till on the tenth night the
gods stranded me on the Ogygian island； where dwells the great and
powerful goddess Calypso。 She took me in and was kind to me； but I
need say no more about this； for I told you and your noble wife all
about it yesterday； and I hate saying the same thing over and over
again。〃
BOOK XIII。
THUS did he speak； and they all held their peace throughout the
covered cloister； enthralled by the charm of his story； till presently
Alcinous began to speak。
〃Ulysses；〃 said he； 〃now that you have reached my house I doubt
not you will get home without further misadventure no matter how
much you have suffered in the past。 To you others； however； who come
here night after night to drink my choicest wine and listen to my
bard； I would insist as follows。 Our guest has already packed up the
clothes； wrought gold； and other valuables which you have brought
for his acceptance； let us now； therefore； present him further； each
one of us； with a large tripod and a cauldron。 We will recoup
ourselves by the levy of a general rate； for private individuals
cannot be expected to bear the burden of such a handsome present。〃
Every one approved of this； and then they went home to bed each in
his own abode。 When the child of morning； rosy…fingered Dawn；
appeared； they hurried down to the ship and brought their cauldrons
with them。 Alcinous went on board and saw everything so securely
stowed under the ship's benches that nothing could break adrift and
injure the rowers。 Then they went to the house of Alcinous to get
dinner； and he sacrificed a bull for them in honour of Jove who is the
lord of all。 They set the steaks to grill and made an excellent
dinner； after which the inspired bard； Demodocus； who was a
favourite with every one； sang to them； but Ulysses kept on turning
his eyes towards the sun； as though to hasten his setting； for he
was longing to be on his way。 As one who has been all day ploughing
a fallow field with a couple of oxen keeps thinking about his supper
and is glad when night comes that he may go and get it； for it is
all his legs can do to carry him； even so did Ulysses rejoice when the
sun went down； and he at once said to the Phaecians； addressing
himself more particularly to King Alcinous：
〃Sir； and all of you； farewell。 Make your drink…offerings and send
me on my way rejoicing； for you have fulfilled my heart's desire by
giving me an escort； and making me presents； which heaven grant that I
may turn to good account； may I find my admirable wife living in peace
among friends； and may you whom I leave behind me give satisfaction to
your wives and children； may heaven vouchsafe you every good grace；
and may no evil thing come among your people。〃
Thus did he speak。 His hearers all of them approved his saying and
agreed that he should have his escort inasmuch as he had spoken
reasonably。 Alcinous therefore said to his servant； 〃Pontonous； mix
some wine and hand it round to everybody； that we may offer a prayer
to father Jove； and speed our guest upon his way。〃
Pontonous mixed the wine and handed it to every one in turn； the
others each from his own seat made a drink…offering to the blessed
gods that live in heaven； but Ulysses rose and placed the double cup
in the hands of queen Arete。
〃Farewell； queen；〃 said he； 〃henceforward and for ever； till age and
death； the common lot of mankind； lay their hands upon you。 I now take
my leave； be happy in this house with your children； your people；
and with king Alcinous。〃
As he spoke he crossed the threshold； and Alcinous sent a man to
conduct him to his ship and to the sea shore。 Arete also sent some
maid servants with him… one with a clean shirt and cloak； another to
carry his strong…box； and a third with corn and wine。 When they got to
the water side the crew took these things and put them on board；
with all the meat and drink； but for Ulysses they spread a rug and a
linen sheet on deck that he might sleep soundly in the stern of the
ship。 Then he too went on board and lay down without a word； but the
crew took every man his place and loosed the hawser from the pierced
stone to which it had been bound。 Thereon； when they began rowing
out to sea； Ulysses fell into a deep； sweet； and almost deathlike
slumber。
The ship bounded forward on her way as a four in hand chariot
flies over the course when the horses feel the whip。 Her prow curveted
as it were the neck of a stallion； and a great wave of dark blue water
seethed in her wake。 She held steadily on her course； and even a
falcon； swiftest of all birds； could not have kept pace with her。
Thus； then； she cut her way through the water。 carrying one who was as
cunning as the gods； but who was now sleeping peacefully； forgetful of
all that he had suffered both on the field of battle and by the
waves of the weary sea。
When the bright star that heralds the approach of dawn began to
show。 the ship drew near to land。 Now there is in Ithaca a haven of
the old merman Phorcys； which lies between two points that break the
line of the sea and shut the harbour in。 The