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！
y soon； not even she should be innocent of a mortal's love； lest laughter…loving Aphrodite should one day softly smile and say mockingly among all the gods that she had joined the gods in love with mortal women who bare sons of death to the deathless gods； and had mated the goddesses with mortal men。
（ll。 53…74） And so he put in her heart sweet desire for Anchises who was tending cattle at that time among the steep hills of many…fountained Ida； and in shape was like the immortal gods。 Therefore； when laughter…loving Aphrodite saw him； she loved him； and terribly desire seized her in her heart。 She went to Cyprus； to Paphos； where her precinct is and fragrant altar； and passed into her sweet…smelling temple。 There she went in and put to the glittering doors； and there the Graces bathed her with heavenly oil such as blooms upon the bodies of the eternal gods oil divinely sweet； which she had by her； filled with fragrance。 And laughter…loving Aphrodite put on all her rich clothes； and when she had decked herself with gold； she left sweet…smelling Cyprus and went in haste towards Troy； swiftly travelling high up among the clouds。 So she came to many…fountained Ida； the mother of wild creatures and went straight to the homestead across the mountains。 After her came grey wolves； fawning on her； and grim… eyed lions； and bears； and fleet leopards； ravenous for deer： and she was glad in heart to see them； and put desire in their breasts； so that they all mated； two together； about the shadowy coombes。
（ll。 75…88） （25） But she herself came to the neat…built shelters； and him she found left quite alone in the homestead the hero Anchises who was comely as the gods。 All the others were following the herds over the grassy pastures； and he； left quite alone in the homestead； was roaming hither and thither and playing thrillingly upon the lyre。 And Aphrodite； the daughter of Zeus stood before him； being like a pure maiden in height and mien； that he should not be frightened when he took heed of her with his eyes。 Now when Anchises saw her； he marked her well and wondered at her mien and height and shining garments。 For she was clad in a robe out…shining the brightness of fire； a splendid robe of gold； enriched with all manner of needlework； which shimmered like the moon over her tender breasts； a marvel to see。
Also she wore twisted brooches and shining earrings in the form of flowers； and round her soft throat were lovely necklaces。
（ll。 91…105） And Anchises was seized with love； and said to her： ‘Hail； lady； whoever of the blessed ones you are that are come to this house； whether Artemis； or Leto； or golden Aphrodite； or high…born Themis； or bright…eyed Athene。 Or； maybe； you are one of the Graces come hither； who bear the gods company and are called immortal； or else one of those who inhabit this lovely mountain and the springs of rivers and grassy meads。 I will make you an altar upon a high peak in a far seen place； and will sacrifice rich offerings to you at all seasons。 And do you feel kindly towards me and grant that I may become a man very eminent among the Trojans； and give me strong offspring for the time to come。 As for my own self； let me live long and happily； seeing the light of the sun； and come to the threshold of old age； a man prosperous among the people。'
（ll。 106…142） Thereupon Aphrodite the daughter of Zeus answered him： ‘Anchises； most glorious of all men born on earth； know that I am no goddess： why do you liken me to the deathless ones？ Nay； I am but a mortal； and a woman was the mother that bare me。 Otreus of famous name is my father； if so be you have heard of him； and he reigns over all Phrygia rich in fortresses。 But I know your speech well beside my own； for a Trojan nurse brought me up at home： she took me from my dear mother and reared me thenceforth when I was a little child。 So comes it； then； that I well know you tongue also。 And now the Slayer of Argus with the golden wand has caught me up from the dance of huntress Artemis； her with the golden arrows。 For there were many of us； nymphs and marriageable （26） maidens； playing together； and an innumerable company encircled us： from these the Slayer of Argus with the golden wand rapt me away。 He carried me over many fields of mortal men and over much land untilled and unpossessed； where savage wild…beasts roam through shady coombes； until I thought never again to touch the life…giving earth with my feet。 And he said that I should be called the wedded wife of Anchises； and should bear you goodly children。 But when he had told and advised me； he； the strong Slayer of Argos； went back to the families of the deathless gods； while I am now come to you： for unbending necessity is upon me。 But I beseech you by Zeus and by your noble parents for no base folk could get such a son as you take me now； stainless and unproved in love； and show me to your father and careful mother and to your brothers sprung from the same stock。 I shall be no ill…liking daughter for them； but a likely。 Moreover； send a messenger quickly to the swift… horsed Phrygians； to tell my father and my sorrowing mother； and they will send you gold in plenty and woven stuffs； many splendid gifts； take these as bride…piece。 So do； and then prepare the sweet marriage that is honourable in the eyes of men and deathless gods。'
（ll。 143…144） When she had so spoken； the goddess put sweet desire in his heart。 And Anchises was seized with love； so that he opened his mouth and said：
（ll。 145…154） ‘If you are a mortal and a woman was the mother who bare you； and Otreus of famous name is your father as you say； and if you are come here by the will of Hermes the immortal Guide； and are to be called my wife always； then neither god nor mortal man shall here restrain me till I have lain with you in love right now； no； not even if far…shooting Apollo himself should launch grievous shafts from his silver bow。 Willingly would I go down into the house of Hades； O lady； beautiful as the goddesses； once I had gone up to your bed。'
（ll。 155…167） So speaking； he caught her by the hand。 And laughter…loving Aphrodite； with face turned away and lovely eyes downcast； crept to the well…spread couch which was already laid with soft coverings for the hero； and upon it lay skins of bears and deep…roaring lions which he himself had slain in the high mountains。 And when they had gone up upon the well…fitted bed； first Anchises took off her bright jewelry of pins and twisted brooches and earrings and necklaces； and loosed her girdle and stripped off her bright garments and laid them down upon a silver…studded seat。 Then by the will of the gods and destiny he lay with her； a mortal man with an immortal goddess； not clearly knowing what he did。
（ll。 168…176） But at the time when the herdsmen driver their oxen and hardy sheep back to the fold from the flowery pastures； even then Aphrodite poured soft sleep upon Anchises； but herself put on her rich raiment。 And when the bright goddess had fully clothed herself； she stood by the couch； and her head reached to the well…hewn roof…tree； from her cheeks shone unearthly beauty such as belongs to rich…crowned Cytherea。 Then she aroused him from sleep and opened her mouth and said：
（ll。 177…179） ‘Up； son of Dardanus！ why sleep you so heavily？ and consider whether I look as I did when first you saw me with your eyes。'
（ll。 180…184） So she spake。 And he awoke in a moment and obeyed her。 But when he saw the neck and lovely eyes of Aphrodite； he was afraid and turned his eyes aside another way； hiding his comely face with his cloak。 Then he uttered winged words and entreated her：
（ll。 185…190） ‘So soon as ever I saw you with my eyes； goddess； I knew that you were divine； but you did not tell me truly。 Yet by Zeus who holds the aegis I beseech you； leave me not to lead a palsied life among men； but have pity on me； for he who lies with a deathless goddess is no hale man afterwards。'
（ll。 191…201） Then Aphrodite the daughter of Zeus answered him： ‘Anchises； most glorious of mortal men； take courage and be not too fearful in your heart。 You need fear no harm from me nor from the other blessed ones； for you are dear to the gods： and you shall have a dear son who shall reign among the Trojans； and children's children after him； springing up continually。 His name shall be Aeneas （27）； because I felt awful grief in that I laid me in the bed of mortal man： yet are those of your race always the most like to gods of all mortal men in beauty and in stature （28）。
（ll。 202…217） ‘Verily wise Zeus carried off golden…haired Ganymedes because of his beauty； to be amongst the Deathless Ones and pour drink for the gods in the house of Zeus a wonder to see honoured by all the immortals as he draws the red nectar from the golden bowl。 But grief that could not be soothed filled the heart of Tros； for he knew not whither the heaven…sent whirlwind had caught up his dear son； so that he mourned him always； unceasingly； until Zeus pitied him and gave him high… stepping horses such as carry the immortals as recompense for his son。 These he gave him as a gift。 And at the command of Zeus； the Guide； the slayer of Argus； told him all； and how his so