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第33章

hesiod, the homeric hymns, and homerica-第33章

小说: hesiod, the homeric hymns, and homerica 字数: 每页3500字

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(ll。 162…181) Then Hermes answered her with crafty words: ‘Mother; why do you seek to frighten me like a feeble child whose heart knows few words of blame; a fearful babe that fears its mother's scolding?  Nay; but I will try whatever plan is best; and so feed myself and you continually。  We will not be content to remain here; as you bid; alone of all the gods unfee'd with offerings and prayers。  Better to live in fellowship with the deathless gods continually; rich; wealthy; and enjoying stories of grain; than to sit always in a gloomy cave: and; as regards honour; I too will enter upon the rite that Apollo has。  If my father will not give it to me; I will seek  and I am able  to be a prince of robbers。  And if Leto's most glorious son shall seek me out; I think another and a greater loss will befall him。  For I will go to Pytho to break into his great house; and will plunder therefrom splendid tripods; and cauldrons; and gold; and plenty of bright iron; and much apparel; and you shall see it if you will。'

(ll。 182…189) With such words they spoke together; the son of Zeus who holds the aegis; and the lady Maia。  Now Eros the early born was rising from deep…flowing Ocean; bringing light to men; when Apollo; as he went; came to Onchestus; the lovely grove and sacred place of the loud…roaring Holder of the Earth。  There he found an old man grazing his beast along the pathway from his court…yard fence; and the all…glorious Son of Leto began and said to him。

(ll。 190…200) ‘Old man; weeder (20) of grassy Onchestus; I am come here from Pieria seeking cattle; cows all of them; all with curving horns; from my herd。  The black bull was grazing alone away from the rest; but fierce…eyed hounds followed the cows; four of them; all of one mind; like men。  These were left behind; the dogs and the bull  which is great marvel; but the cows strayed out of the soft meadow; away from the pasture when the sun was just going down。  Now tell me this; old man born long ago: have you seen one passing along behind those cows?'

(ll。 201…211) Then the old man answered him and said: ‘My son; it is hard to tell all that one's eyes see; for many wayfarers pass to and fro this way; some bent on much evil; and some on good: it is difficult to know each one。  However; I was digging about my plot of vineyard all day long until the sun went down; and I thought; good sir; but I do not know for certain; that I marked a child; whoever the child was; that followed long…horned cattle  an infant who had a staff and kept walking from side to side: he was driving them backwards way; with their heads toward him。'

(ll。 212…218) So said the old man。  And when Apollo heard this report; he went yet more quickly on his way; and presently; seeing a long…winged bird; he knew at once by that omen that thief was the child of Zeus the son of Cronos。  So the lord Apollo; son of Zeus; hurried on to goodly Pylos seeking his shambling oxen; and he had his broad shoulders covered with a dark cloud。  But when the Far…Shooter perceived the tracks; he cried:

(ll。 219…226) ‘Oh; oh!  Truly this is a great marvel that my eyes behold!  These are indeed the tracks of straight…horned oxen; but they are turned backwards towards the flowery meadow。  But these others are not the footprints of man or woman or grey wolves or bears or lions; nor do I think they are the tracks of a rough… maned Centaur  whoever it be that with swift feet makes such monstrous footprints; wonderful are the tracks on this side of the way; but yet more wonderfully are those on that。'

(ll。 227…234) When he had so said; the lord Apollo; the Son of Zeus hastened on and came to the forest…clad mountain of Cyllene and the deep…shadowed cave in the rock where the divine nymph brought forth the child of Zeus who is the son of Cronos。  A sweet odour spread over the lovely hill; and many thin…shanked sheep were grazing on the grass。  Then far…shooting Apollo himself stepped down in haste over the stone threshold into the dusky cave。

(ll。 235…253) Now when the Son of Zeus and Maia saw Apollo in a rage about his cattle; he snuggled down in his fragrant swaddling…clothes; and as wood…ash covers over the deep embers of tree…stumps; so Hermes cuddled himself up when he saw the Far… Shooter。  He squeezed head and hands and feet together in a small space; like a new born child seeking sweet sleep; though in truth he was wide awake; and he kept his lyre under his armpit。  But the Son of Leto was aware and failed not to perceive the beautiful mountain…nymph and her dear son; albeit a little child and swathed so craftily。  He peered in ever corner of the great dwelling and; taking a bright key; he opened three closets full of nectar and lovely ambrosia。  And much gold and silver was stored in them; and many garments of the nymph; some purple and some silvery white; such as are kept in the sacred houses of the blessed gods。  Then; after the Son of Leto had searched out the recesses of the great house; he spake to glorious Hermes:

(ll。 254…259) ‘Child; lying in the cradle; make haste and tell me of my cattle; or we two will soon fall out angrily。  For I will take and cast you into dusty Tartarus and awful hopeless darkness; and neither your mother nor your father shall free you or bring you up again to the light; but you will wander under the earth and be the leader amongst little folk。' (21)

(ll。 260…277) Then Hermes answered him with crafty words: ‘Son of Leto; what harsh words are these you have spoken?  And is it cattle of the field you are come here to seek?  I have not seen them: I have not heard of them: no one has told me of them。  I cannot give news of them; nor win the reward for news。  Am I like a cattle…liter; a stalwart person?  This is no task for me: rather I care for other things: I care for sleep; and milk of my mother's breast; and wrappings round my shoulders; and warm baths。  Let no one hear the cause of this dispute; for this would be a great marvel indeed among the deathless gods; that a child newly born should pass in through the forepart of the house with cattle of the field: herein you speak extravagantly。  I was born yesterday; and my feet are soft and the ground beneath is rough; nevertheless; if you will have it so; I will swear a great oath by my father's head and vow that neither am I guilty myself; neither have I seen any other who stole your cows  whatever cows may be; for I know them only by hearsay。'

(ll。 278…280) So; then; said Hermes; shooting quick glances from his eyes: and he kept raising his brows and looking this way and that; whistling long and listening to Apollo's story as to an idle tale。

(ll。 281…292) But far…working Apollo laughed softly and said to him: ‘O rogue; deceiver; crafty in heart; you talk so innocently that I most surely believe that you have broken into many a well… built house and stripped more than one poor wretch bare this night (22); gathering his goods together all over the house without noise。  You will plague many a lonely herdsman in mountain glades; when you come on herds and thick…fleeced sheep; and have a hankering after flesh。  But come now; if you would not sleep your last and latest sleep; get out of your cradle; you comrade of dark night。  Surely hereafter this shall be your title amongst the deathless gods; to be called the prince of robbers continually。'

(ll。 293…300) So said Phoebus Apollo; and took the child and began to carry him。  But at that moment the strong Slayer of Argus had his plan; and; while Apollo held him in his hands; sent forth an omen; a hard…worked belly…serf; a rude messenger; and sneezed directly after。  And when Apollo heard it; he dropped glorious Hermes out of his hands on the ground: then sitting down before him; though he was eager to go on his way; he spoke mockingly to Hermes:

(ll。 301…303) ‘Fear not; little swaddling baby; son of Zeus and Maia。  I shall find the strong cattle presently by these omens; and you shall lead the way。'

(ll。 304…306) When Apollo had so said; Cyllenian Hermes sprang up quickly; starting in haste。  With both hands he pushed up to his ears the covering that he had wrapped about his shoulders; and said:

(ll。 307…312) ‘Where are you carrying me; Far…Worker; hastiest of all the gods?  Is it because of your cattle that you are so angry and harass me?  O dear; would that all the sort of oxen might perish; for it is not I who stole your cows; nor did I see another steal them  whatever cows may be; and of that I have only heard report。  Nay; give right and take it before Zeus; the Son of Cronos。'

(ll。 313…326) So Hermes the shepherd and Leto's glorious son kept stubbornly disputing each article of their quarrel: Apollo; speaking truly。。。。 ((LACUNA)) 。。。。not fairly sought to seize glorious Hermes because of the cows; but he; the Cyllenian; tried to deceive the God of the Silver Bow with tricks and cunning words。  But when; though he had many wiles; he found the other had as many shifts; he began to walk across the sand; himself in front; while the Son of Zeus and Leto came behind。  Soon they came; these lovely children of Zeus; to the top of fragrant Olympus; to their father; the Son of Cronos; for there were the scales of judgement set for them both。

There was an assembly on snowy Olympus; and the immortals who perish not were gathering after the hour of gold…throned Dawn。

(ll。 327…329) Then Hermes and Apollo of the Silver Bow stood at the knees of Zeus: and Zeus who thunders on high spoke to his glorious son and asked him:

(ll。 330…332) ‘Phoebus; whence come you driving this great spoil; a child new born that has the look of a herald?  This is a weighty matter that is come before the council of the gods。'

(ll。 333…364) Then the lord; far…working Apollo; answered him: ‘O my father; you shall soon hear no triffling tale though you reproach me that I alone am fond of spoil。  Here is a child; a burgling robber; whom I found after a long journey in the hills of Cyllene: for my part I have never seen one so pert either among the gods or all men that catch folk unawares throughout the world。  He strole away my cows from their meadow and drove them off in the evening along the shore of the loud…roaring sea; making straight for Pylos。  There were double tracks; and wonderful they were; such as one might marvel at; the doing of a clever sprite; for as for the cows; the dark dust kept and showed their footprints leading towards the flowery meadow; but he himself  bewildering creature  crossed the sandy ground outside the path; not on his feet nor yet on his hands; but; furnished with some other means he trudged his way  wonder of wonders!  as though one walked on slender oak…trees。  Now while he followed the cattle across sandy ground; all the tracks showed quite clearly in the dust; but when he had finished the long way across the sand; presently the cows' track and his own could not be traced over the hard ground。  But a mortal man noticed him as he drove the wide…browed kine straight towards Pylos。  And as soon as he had shut them up quietly; and had gone home by crafty turns and twists; he lay down in his cradle in the gloom of a dim cave; as still as dark night; so that not even an eagle keenly gazing would have spied him。  Much he rubbed his eyes with his hands as he prepared falsehoo

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