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！
the score of the accomplishments Minerva has taught her； and because
she is so clever。 We never yet heard of such a woman； we know all
about Tyro； Alcmena； Mycene； and the famous women of old； but they
were nothing to your mother； any one of them。 It was not fair of her
to treat us in that way； and as long as she continues in the mind with
which heaven has now endowed her； so long shall we go on eating up
your estate； and I do not see why she should change； for she gets
all the honour and glory； and it is you who pay for it； not she。
Understand； then； that we will not go back to our lands； neither
here nor elsewhere； till she has made her choice and married some
one or other of us。〃
Telemachus answered； 〃Antinous； how can I drive the mother who
bore me from my father's house？ My father is abroad and we do not know
whether he is alive or dead。 It will be hard on me if I have to pay
Icarius the large sum which I must give him if I insist on sending his
daughter back to him。 Not only will he deal rigorously with me； but
heaven will also punish me； for my mother when she leaves the house
will calf on the Erinyes to avenge her； besides； it would not be a
creditable thing to do； and I will have nothing to say to it。 If you
choose to take offence at this； leave the house and feast elsewhere at
one another's houses at your own cost turn and turn about。 If； on
the other hand； you elect to persist in spunging upon one man；
heaven help me； but Jove shall reckon with you in full； and when you
fall in my father's house there shall be no man to avenge you。〃
As he spoke Jove sent two eagles from the top of the mountain； and
they flew on and on with the wind； sailing side by side in their own
lordly flight。 When they were right over the middle of the assembly
they wheeled and circled about； beating the air with their wings and
glaring death into the eyes of them that were below； then； fighting
fiercely and tearing at one another； they flew off towards the right
over the town。 The people wondered as they saw them； and asked each
other what an this might be； whereon Halitherses； who was the best
prophet and reader of omens among them； spoke to them plainly and in
all honesty； saying：
〃Hear me； men of Ithaca； and I speak more particularly to the
suitors； for I see mischief brewing for them。 Ulysses is not going
to be away much longer； indeed he is close at hand to deal out death
and destruction； not on them alone； but on many another of us who live
in Ithaca。 Let us then be wise in time； and put a stop to this
wickedness before he comes。 Let the suitors do so of their own accord；
it will be better for them； for I am not prophesying without due
knowledge； everything has happened to Ulysses as I foretold when the
Argives set out for Troy； and he with them。 I said that after going
through much hardship and losing all his men he should come home again
in the twentieth year and that no one would know him； and now all this
is coming true。〃
Eurymachus son of Polybus then said； 〃Go home； old man； and prophesy
to your own children； or it may be worse for them。 I can read these
omens myself much better than you can； birds are always flying about
in the sunshine somewhere or other； but they seldom mean anything。
Ulysses has died in a far country； and it is a pity you are not dead
along with him； instead of prating here about omens and adding fuel to
the anger of Telemachus which is fierce enough as it is。 I suppose you
think he will give you something for your family； but I tell you…
and it shall surely be… when an old man like you； who should know
better； talks a young one over till he becomes troublesome； in the
first place his young friend will only fare so much the worse… he will
take nothing by it； for the suitors will prevent this… and in the
next； we will lay a heavier fine； sir； upon yourself than you will
at all like paying； for it will bear hardly upon you。 As for
Telemachus； I warn him in the presence of you all to send his mother
back to her father； who will find her a husband and provide her with
all the marriage gifts so dear a daughter may expect。 Till we shall go
on harassing him with our suit； for we fear no man； and care neither
for him； with all his fine speeches； nor for any fortune…telling of
yours。 You may preach as much as you please； but we shall only hate
you the more。 We shall go back and continue to eat up Telemachus's
estate without paying him； till such time as his mother leaves off
tormenting us by keeping us day after day on the tiptoe of
expectation； each vying with the other in his suit for a prize of such
rare perfection。 Besides we cannot go after the other women whom we
should marry in due course； but for the way in which she treats us。〃
Then Telemachus said； 〃Eurymachus； and you other suitors； I shall
say no more； and entreat you no further； for the gods and the people
of Ithaca now know my story。 Give me； then； a ship and a crew of
twenty men to take me hither and thither； and I will go to Sparta
and to Pylos in quest of my father who has so long been missing。
Some one may tell me something； or （and people often hear things in
this way） some heaven…sent message may direct me。 If I can hear of him
as alive and on his way home I will put up with the waste you
suitors will make for yet another twelve months。 If on the other
hand I hear of his death； I will return at once； celebrate his funeral
rites with all due pomp； build a barrow to his memory； and make my
mother marry again。〃
With these words he sat down； and Mentor who had been a friend of
Ulysses； and had been left in charge of everything with full authority
over the servants； rose to speak。 He； then； plainly and in all honesty
addressed them thus：
〃Hear me； men of Ithaca； I hope that you may never have a kind and
well…disposed ruler any more； nor one who will govern you equitably； I
hope that all your chiefs henceforward may be cruel and unjust； for
there is not one of you but has forgotten Ulysses； who ruled you as
though he were your father。 I am not half so angry with the suitors；
for if they choose to do violence in the naughtiness of their
hearts； and wager their heads that Ulysses will not return； they can
take the high hand and eat up his estate； but as for you others I am
shocked at the way in which you all sit still without even trying to
stop such scandalous goings on…which you could do if you chose； for
you are many and they are few。〃
Leiocritus； son of Evenor； answered him saying； 〃Mentor； what
folly is all this； that you should set the people to stay us？ It is
a hard thing for one man to fight with many about his victuals。 Even
though Ulysses himself were to set upon us while we are feasting in
his house； and do his best to oust us； his wife； who wants him back so
very badly； would have small cause for rejoicing； and his blood
would be upon his own head if he fought against such great odds。 There
is no sense in what you have been saying。 Now； therefore； do you
people go about your business； and let his father's old friends；
Mentor and Halitherses； speed this boy on his journey； if he goes at
all… which I do not think he will； for he is more likely to stay where
he is till some one comes and tells him something。〃
On this he broke up the assembly； and every man went back to his own
abode； while the suitors returned to the house of Ulysses。
Then Telemachus went all alone by the sea side； washed his hands
in the grey waves； and prayed to Minerva。
〃Hear me；〃 he cried； 〃you god who visited me yesterday； and bade
me sail the seas in search of my father who has so long been
missing。 I would obey you； but the Achaeans； and more particularly the
wicked suitors； are hindering me that I cannot do so。〃
As he thus prayed； Minerva came close up to him in the likeness
and with the voice of Mentor。 〃Telemachus；〃 said she； 〃if you are made
of the same stuff as your father you will be neither fool nor coward
henceforward； for Ulysses never broke his word nor left his work
half done。 If； then； you take after him； your voyage will not be
fruitless； but unless you have the blood of Ulysses and of Penelope in
your veins I see no likelihood of your succeeding。 Sons are seldom
as good men as their fathers； they are generally worse； not better；
still； as you are not going to be either fool or coward
henceforward； and are not entirely without some share of your father's
wise discernment； I look with hope upon your undertaking。 But mind you
never make common cause with any of those foolish suitors； for they
have neither sense nor virtue； and give no thought to death and to the
doom that will shortly fall on one and all of them； so that they shall
perish on the same day。 As for your voyage； it shall not be long
delayed； your father was such an old friend of mine that I will find
you a ship； and will come with you myself。 Now； however； return
home； and go about among the suitors； begin getting provisions ready
for your voyage； see everything well stowed； the wine in jars； and the
barley meal； which is the staff of life； in leathern bags； while I
go round the town and beat up volunteers at once。 There are many ships
in Ithaca both ol