第 44 节
作者:精灵王      更新:2021-02-18 23:56      字数:9322
  as a gift。  And at the command of Zeus; the Guide; the slayer of Argus; told him all; and how his son would be deathless and unageing; even as the gods。  So when Tros heard these tidings from Zeus; he no longer kept mourning but rejoiced in his heart and rode joyfully with his storm…footed horses。
  (ll。 218…238) ‘So also golden…throned Eos rapt away Tithonus who was of your race and like the deathless gods。  And she went to ask the dark…clouded Son of Cronos that he should be deathless and live eternally; and Zeus bowed his head to her prayer and fulfilled her desire。  Too simply was queenly Eos: she thought not in her heart to ask youth for him and to strip him of the slough of deadly age。  So while he enjoyed the sweet flower of life he lived rapturously with golden…throned Eos; the early… born; by the streams of Ocean; at the ends of the earth; but when the first grey hairs began to ripple from his comely head and noble chin; queenly Eos kept away from his bed; though she cherished him in her house and nourished him with food and ambrosia and gave him rich clothing。  But when loathsome old age pressed full upon him; and he could not move nor lift his limbs; this seemed to her in her heart the best counsel: she laid him in a room and put to the shining doors。  There he babbles endlessly; and no more has strength at all; such as once he had in his supple limbs。
  (ll。 239…246) ‘I would not have you be deathless among the deathless gods and live continually after such sort。  Yet if you could live on such as now you are in look and in form; and be called my husband; sorrow would not then enfold my careful heart。
  But; as it is; harsh (29) old age will soon enshroud you  ruthless age which stands someday at the side of every man; deadly; wearying; dreaded even by the gods。
  (ll。 247…290) ‘And now because of you I shall have great shame among the deathless gods henceforth; continually。  For until now they feared my jibes and the wiles by which; or soon or late; I mated all the immortals with mortal women; making them all subject to my will。  But now my mouth shall no more have this power among the gods; for very great has been my madness; my miserable and dreadful madness; and I went astray out of my mind who have gotten a child beneath my girdle; mating with a mortal man。  As for the child; as soon as he sees the light of the sun; the deep…breasted mountain Nymphs who inhabit this great and holy mountain shall bring him up。  They rank neither with mortals nor with immortals: long indeed do they live; eating heavenly food and treading the lovely dance among the immortals; and with them the Sileni and the sharp…eyed Slayer of Argus mate in the depths of pleasant caves; but at their birth pines or high…topped oaks spring up with them upon the fruitful earth; beautiful; flourishing trees; towering high upon the lofty mountains (and men call them holy places of the immortals; and never mortal lops them with the axe); but when the fate of death is near at hand; first those lovely trees wither where they stand; and the bark shrivels away about them; and the twigs fall down; and at last the life of the Nymph and of the tree leave the light of the sun together。  These Nymphs shall keep my son with them and rear him; and as soon as he is come to lovely boyhood; the goddesses will bring him here to you and show you your child。  But; that I may tell you all that I have in mind; I will come here again towards the fifth year and bring you my son。  So soon as ever you have seen him  a scion to delight the eyes  you will rejoice in beholding him; for he shall be most godlike: then bring him at once to windy Ilion。  And if any mortal man ask you who got your dear son beneath her girdle; remember to tell him as I bid you: say he is the offspring of one of the flower…like Nymphs who inhabit this forest…clad hill。  But if you tell all and foolishly boast that you lay with rich…crowned Aphrodite; Zeus will smite you in his anger with a smoking thunderbolt。  Now I have told you all。  Take heed: refrain and name me not; but have regard to the anger of the gods。'
  (l。 291) When the goddess had so spoken; she soared up to windy heaven。
  (ll。 292…293) Hail; goddess; queen of well…builded Cyprus!  With you have I begun; now I will turn me to another hymn。
  VI。 TO APHRODITE (21 lines)
  (ll。 1…18) I will sing of stately Aphrodite; gold…crowned and beautiful; whose dominion is the walled cities of all sea…set Cyprus。  There the moist breath of the western wind wafted her over the waves of the loud…moaning sea in soft foam; and there the gold…filleted Hours welcomed her joyously。  They clothed her with heavenly garments: on her head they put a fine; well…wrought crown of gold; and in her pierced ears they hung ornaments of orichalc and precious gold; and adorned her with golden necklaces over her soft neck and snow…white breasts; jewels which the gold… filleted Hours wear themselves whenever they go to their father's house to join the lovely dances of the gods。  And when they had fully decked her; they brought her to the gods; who welcomed her when they saw her; giving her their hands。  Each one of them prayed that he might lead her home to be his wedded wife; so greatly were they amazed at the beauty of violet…crowned Cytherea。
  (ll。 19…21) Hail; sweetly…winning; coy…eyed goddess!  Grant that I may gain the victory in this contest; and order you my song。  And now I will remember you and another song also。
  VII。 TO DIONYSUS (59 lines)
  (ll。 1…16) I will tell of Dionysus; the son of glorious Semele; how he appeared on a jutting headland by the shore of the fruitless sea; seeming like a stripling in the first flush of manhood: his rich; dark hair was waving about him; and on his strong shoulders he wore a purple robe。  Presently there came swiftly over the sparkling sea Tyrsenian (30) pirates on a well… decked ship  a miserable doom led them on。  When they saw him they made signs to one another and sprang out quickly; and seizing him straightway; put him on board their ship exultingly; for they thought him the son of heaven…nurtured kings。  They sought to bind him with rude bonds; but the bonds would not hold him; and the withes fell far away from his hands and feet: and he sat with a smile in his dark eyes。  Then the helmsman understood all and cried out at once to his fellows and said:
  (ll。 17…24) ‘Madmen!  What god is this whom you have taken and bind; strong that he is?  Not even the well…built ship can carry him。  Surely this is either Zeus or Apollo who has the silver bow; or Poseidon; for he looks not like mortal men but like the gods who dwell on Olympus。  Come; then; let us set him free upon the dark shore at once: do not lay hands on him; lest he grow angry and stir up dangerous winds and heavy squalls。'
  (ll。 25…31) So said he: but the master chid him with taunting words: ‘Madman; mark the wind and help hoist sail on the ship: catch all the sheets。  As for this fellow we men will see to him: I reckon he is bound for Egypt or for Cyprus or to the Hyperboreans or further still。  But in the end he will speak out and tell us his friends and all his wealth and his brothers; now that providence has thrown him in our way。'
  (ll。 32…54) When he had said this; he had mast and sail hoisted on the ship; and the wind filled the sail and the crew hauled taut the sheets on either side。  But soon strange things were seen among them。  First of all sweet; fragrant wine ran streaming throughout all the black ship and a heavenly smell arose; so that all the seamen were seized with amazement when they saw it。  And all at once a vine spread out both ways along the top of the sail with many clusters hanging down from it; and a dark ivy…plant twined about the mast; blossoming with flowers; and with rich berries growing on it; and all the thole…pins were covered with garlands。  When the pirates saw all this; then at last they bade the helmsman to put the ship to land。  But the god changed into a dreadful lion there on the ship; in the bows; and roared loudly: amidships also he showed his wonders and created a shaggy bear which stood up ravening; while on the forepeak was the lion glaring fiercely with scowling brows。  And so the sailors fled into the stern and crowded bemused about the right…minded helmsman; until suddenly the lion sprang upon the master and seized him; and when the sailors saw it they leapt out overboard one and all into the bright sea; escaping from a miserable fate; and were changed into dolphins。  But on the helmsman Dionysus had mercy and held him back and made him altogether happy; saying to him:
  (ll。 55…57) ‘Take courage; good。。。; you have found favour with my heart。  I am loud…crying Dionysus whom Cadmus' daughter Semele bare of union with Zeus。'
  (ll。 58…59) Hail; child of fair…faced Semele!  He who forgets you can in no wise order sweet song。
  VIII。 TO ARES (17 lines)
  (ll。 1…17) Ares; exceeding in strength; chariot…rider; golden… helmed; doughty in heart; shield…bearer; Saviour of cities; harnessed in bronze; strong of arm; unwearying; mighty with the spear; O defence of Olympus; father of warlike Victory; ally of Themis; stern governor of the rebellious; leader of righteous men; sceptred King of manliness; who whir