He cuba's life was one of grief and sorrow．She saw withher own eyes her eldest born Hector killed and insulted by Achilles．She saw her son Polites slain in front of her by Pyrrhus．And she saw her husband，the aged Priam，dragged towards the household altar and ruthlessly butchered there．After the fall of Troy she was carried into slavery ．Shehad the misfortune to witness her daughter Polyxena，her soleconsolation in bondage ，sacrificed at the tomb of Achilles．She had the sad fate to see washed ashore the corpse of her young estson Polydorus，who had been entrusted to the Thracian king for safekeeping．With her fifty children all dead she became thequeen of sorrows from whom no other woman could obtain the crown ．Yet in her distress and despair，she plucked up hercourage to avenge herself upon the Thracian king，who had murdered her son in order to get her son's gold．Later，as Dionysushad prophesied ，she was transformed into a dog with bloodshoteyes and，unable to endure the new misery，she leapt into thesea and thus ended her unfortunate life．
赫克犹巴的一生充满了痛苦与悲哀。她亲眼目睹了长子海克特被阿基里斯侮辱，尔后被杀害；儿子波利斯被皮洛士杀死在自己面前；年迈的丈夫皮安姆被拖到家庭祭坛残酷地处死。特洛伊沦陷后，她成了一名奴隶。她又不幸地看到了自己在奴役中的惟一安慰——女儿波里丝娜被血祭于阿基里斯的墓前。为了使最小的儿子波里德诺斯能得到妥善的照顾，她把他委托给了塞希国王。可是，不幸的命运又使她看到了被冲到海边的儿子的尸体。她的50个孩子都死了，赫克犹巴因此成为悲哀女王，而别的女人都无法得到这顶王冠。然而，即使处于痛苦与绝望之中，她仍旧鼓足勇气向塞希国王复仇，因为塞希国王为了得到她儿子的黄金而杀死了他。后来，正如狄俄尼索斯所预言，她被变成了一条狗，眼带血丝。她不堪忍受这种新的痛苦，就跳进海里，结束了自己不幸的一生。
There had been four ages since the human world first cameinto being ．They are the Golden Age，the Silver Age，the Age of Bronze and the Age of Iron．The Golden Agewas the best of all．It was an age when Kronus sat on thethrone．Generous nature met all the needs of men ．There wereno extremes of cold and heat．And the evils of the human worldwere still kept in the cask．Epimetheus guarded the cask and Pandora was not yet made to open．Men lived a happy life．They were forever young．They were always eating richly and knew neither hard labour nor sorrow．When death came it came like apeaceful sleep．And they became good spirits in heaven ．
The Silver Age was one in which the human race was somewhat less valuable in body and mind．The period was of helpless be ginning．It lasted a hundred years．And it was the time of manhood，short and troubled．Men spent in ignorance and evil．They no longer admired the gods and offered no sacrifices．However，as the race of the Silver Age was not entirely lack of goodness，they had some honour and lived on as spirits under the earth．
During the age of Bronze men became further degenerated ．Dressed in bronze and armed with weapons of bronze，they live din the houses of bronze．Cruel and heartless，they delighted inwar and died in endless struggle．When they passed away，they came into the darkness of the lower world．
The last age，that of Iron，was one of continual care and grief．There was no family love，no sense of respectful duty，no friend ship and hospitality．Nor was there any faith，truth and justice．Evil was widespread，might was right，and the flames of war burnt the surface of the earth．It was a race of men given up by gods ．
人类产生以来经历了四个时代：黄金时代、白银时代、青铜时代、铁器时代。黄金时代最为美好。克鲁娜斯坐在御座上。慷慨的大自然满足了人类的一切要求。没有严寒酷暑。人间的不幸被拘禁在桶中。这只桶由厄庇墨透斯保管，而潘多拉还没有出世来打开桶盖。人们生活美满，青春永存。他们常常举行盛宴，大吃大喝，而对艰辛与悲哀一概不知。死亡的来临犹如酣睡，死后他们变成精灵升入天堂。
在白银时代，人类在体力与智力方面感觉欠佳。这种孤弱的开端延续百年。人类在愚昧与不幸中度过了这一短暂而焦虑的成年期。他们不再崇拜天神，也不再献祭。好在白银时代的人类并非一点美德也不具备。他们有廉耻之心，他们死后作为神灵继续在阴间生活。
在青铜时代，人类更加堕落。身着青铜盔甲，手握青铜兵器，住在青铜铸造的房中。他们残忍无情，尚武好战，最终在无止尽的战争中消亡。死时，他们降临阴间。
最后一个时代——铁器时代，这是一个持续烦恼与悲伤的时代。没有亲人的爱，没有孝顺长辈的责任感，没有友谊，没有礼仪，更没有信仰、真理与正义。罪恶四处蔓延，强权即公理。战火烧焦了地球的表面。天神摒弃了人类。
King Athamus of northern Greece had two children， Phrixus and Helle．After he left his first wife and mar ried Ino，a wicked woman，the two children received all the cruel treatment that a stepmother could devise ，At one timethe kingdom was ruined by a famine．Ino persuaded her credulous husband into believing that his son，Phrixus，was the actual cause of the disaster，and should be sacrificed to Zeus to endit．The poor boy was then placed on the altar and was about tobe knifed when a ram with golden fleece was sent down by thegods and carried off the two children on its back．As they flew over the strait that divides Asia from Europe，Helle，faint at the vast expanse of water below ，fell into the sea and was drowned．Thus the sea of Helle，Hellespont，became the ancient name of the strip of water．Her brother kept on and arrived in Colchis on the eastern shore of the Black Sea．There he sacrificed the ram to Zeus and gave its golden fleece to King Aeetes，who nailed it on a sacred tree and put a sleepless dragon in charge ．
希腊北部国王阿塔玛斯有两个孩子，法瑞克斯和赫勒。当国王离开第一个妻子和一个名叫伊诺的坏女人结婚后，两个孩子受到后母残忍虐待，整个王国也受到毁灭性瘟疫的侵袭。伊诺在爱轻信的丈夫耳边进谗言，终于使国王相信：他的儿子法瑞克斯是这次灾害的罪魁祸首，并要将他献给宙斯以结束瘟疫。可怜的孩子被推上了祭坛，将要被处死。正在此时，上帝派了一只浑身上下长着金色羊毛的公羊来将两个孩子驮在背上带走了。当他们飞过隔开欧洲和亚洲的海峡时，赫勒由于看到浩瀚的海洋而头晕目眩，最终掉进大海淹死了。这片海洋古时候的名称叫赫勒之海，赫勒拉旁海峡便由此而来。金色公羊驮着法瑞克斯继续向前飞去，来到了黑海东岸的科尔契斯。在那里，法瑞克斯将公羊献给了宙斯；而将金羊毛送给了埃厄忒斯国王。国王将羊毛钉在一棵圣树上，并派了一条不睡觉的龙负责看护。
Pygmalion，King of Cyprus，was a famous sculptor．He made an ivory image of a woman so lovely that he fell in love with it．Every day he tried to make Galatea up in gold and purple，for that was the name he had given to this mistress of his heart．He embraced and kissed it，but it remaineda statue．In despair he went to Aphrodite's shrine for help．Offering rich sacrifice and sending up a passionate prayer，he begged the goddess to give him a wife as graceful as Galatea．Back home，he went straight up to the statue．Even as he gazedat it a change came over it．A faint colour appeared on its cheeks，a gleam shone from its eyes and its lips opened into as weet smile．Pygmalion stood speechless when Ualatea began to move towards him．She was simple and sweet and alive！Soon the room was ringing with her sliver voice．The work of his own hands became his wife．
塞浦路斯的国王皮格马利翁是一位有名的雕塑家。他塑造了一位异常可爱的象牙少女雕像以致于爱上了它。每天他都给盖拉蒂穿上金、紫色相间的长袍。盖拉蒂是他给心上人所起的名字。他拥抱它、亲吻它，但是它始终是一尊雕像。绝望中，他来到阿芙罗狄蒂的神殿寻求帮助。他献上丰盛的祭祀品，并且深情地祷告，祈求这位女神赐给他一位如同盖拉蒂一样举止优雅的妻子。回家后，他径直来到雕像旁。就在他凝视它的时候，雕像开始有了变化。它的脸颊开始呈现出微弱的血色，它的眼睛释放出光芒，它的唇轻轻开启，现出甜蜜的微笑。盖拉蒂走向他的时候，皮格马利翁站在那儿，说不出话来。她单纯、温柔、充满活力！不久屋子里响起她银铃般悦耳的声音。他的雕塑成了他的妻子。
End ymion was a handsome young shepherd who kept his flocks of sheep on Mt Latmos，Asia Minor ．Living in aquiet，lovely valley，he lived a perfectly peaceful life．Sometimes when his sheep grazed happily on some rich grass around，he would lie down on the meadow and sleep soundly，completely free from worldly griefs and cares．
One clear，bright night，as Artemis drove her carriageacross the heavens，her eyes chanced upon a beautiful youth sleeping in the peaceful valley below．Her heart beat with love and admiration．She came down from her moon carriage and gave a quick but passionate kiss on his face．Even the sleepy End ymion was fascinated at the sight of the fair maiden as heopened his eyes．But the vision disappeared so soon that he regarded the whole scene as a dream．Every night Artemis floated down to steal a kiss from the lips of the sleeping shepherd untilher occasional carelessness of duty caused the suspicion of Zeus．The father of gods and men decided to remove the earthlytemptation to the goddess forever．He called for Endymion on to him and ordered him to choose between death in any form and everlasting youth in perpetual dreamy sleep ．The shepherdchose the latter，and he still slept on Mt Latmos，with the moon goddess sadly visiting and kissing him every night．
恩底弥翁是位风度翩翩的青年牧羊人，他在小亚细亚的拉塔莫斯山牧羊。他住在一幽静明媚的山谷中，过着无忧无虑的日子。有时，当羊群在四周茂盛的草地上逍遥自在地吃草时，他就在草地上沉睡，丝毫不受人世间悲伤与忧虑的侵扰。
一个皓月当空的夜晚，当阿尔特弥斯驾着马车穿越天空时，无意中看到一位漂亮青年正在下面静谧的山谷中睡觉。她芳心荡漾，对他充满爱慕之情。她从月亮马车中滑翔而下，匆忙而深情地偷吻了一下他的脸，甚至当熟睡中的恩底弥翁睁开双眼看到仙女时，也有点神魂颠倒。但眼前的一切很快消失，以致他误认为这是一场梦幻。每天夜间，阿尔特弥斯都从空中飘下偷吻熟睡中的牧羊人。然而女神偶尔一次的失职引起了主神宙斯的注意。众神与人类之父决定永远清除人间对女神的诱惑。他将恩底弥翁召到身边令他作出选择：任何形式的死亡；或者在永远的梦幻中青春永在。牧羊人选择了后者。他仍睡在拉塔莫斯山上。每晚月亮女神怀着悲哀的心情看望他，吻他。
On the tenth day after leaving Troy，Odysseus and his men came to an island，where the people only took lotus fruit and flowers as their food．This plant had such a magic effect on its eaters that it could make them forget their past and produce a dreamy laziness over them．When Odysseus' men arrived，they were kindly invited by the people on the is land to eat the sweet food．Its magic power began to work on the mimmediately．They fell into a deep daydream．They lost all wishes for future，To them the sea and ship appeared dull and hateful．And they were not eager to see wife，child and kingdom．When he saw no trace of his men coming back，Odysseus became suspicious．He set out with some well armed men to find out the truth．It did not take him long to find out the magic effect of the food．Not allowing his followers to touch the plant，he ordered them to drag their lazy friends back to their ship．There he had them tied to the benches until they slept off the harmful effect of the lotus ．Without hesitation they set sail，leaving the dreamy lotuseaters behind．
离开特洛伊城的第10天，奥德修斯和他的随从来到了一个岛上。岛上的居民只以忘忧树的果实和花为食物。这种神奇的植物，魔力极大，谁只要吃了它，就会忘记往事，而陷入恍恍惚惚的昏睡状态。当奥德修斯的随从到达时，岛上居民友好地邀请他们吃这种甜美的食物。花果的魔力立即在他们身上起作用，使他们陷入了深沉的昏睡状态。他们失去了对未来的希望。海和船在他们看来无聊而可恶。他们也不再急于见到妻儿和王国。奥德修斯见不到随从返回的迹象，就顿生疑心。他和一些全副武装的随从出发了。他们要去查出事情的真相。不久，他就发现了那种食物神奇的魔力。他不许随从碰这种植物，并发出命令：把那些懒倦的伙伴拖回船上；并把他们捆在凳子上。直到他们睡够了，才解除了忘忧树有害的魔力。他们毫不犹豫地扬帆起程，离开因吃忘忧树上花果而昏睡的岛上居民向前驶去。
Daphne was a lovely blooming fairy maiden．Asshe was playing merrily in the woods one day she saw Apollo the sun-godstaring at her with more than amazement and ad miration in his eyes．The beaming face of the sun put her to flight．The eager Apollo followed her closely behind，calling out to her to stop．His passion had been lighted by her beauty and grace．He was afraid that this might be the last time he saw her．The quick footed maiden made the best of her legs ，but the passionate Apollo pressed hard upon her ．Through rough fields and pathless woods she ran，but the sound of his pursuing feet ever grew nearer．As he ran he begged his beloved maiden to slow down，for he feared that she might fall and hurt her sparkling skin on the rocky roads．But the escaping maiden never cared so much about that．She even threw one glance back wards ．At last she was quite breathless and cried to her father，a rivergod，for help．No sooner had her prayer been uttered than answered ，for she had instantly found herself glued to the ground and a layer of soft bark growing over her fair skin ．She had been turned into a laurel tree．Sighing，Apollo put his arms around the tree trunk．The trunk responded by turning thinner．To show his undying love for the maiden，he decided that the laurel would be his favorite tree and should be the prize of honour and fame for deathless poets and poetry ．Thus the most outstanding poet always desires to be made a poet laureate ．
丹芙妮是位妩媚动人的仙女。有一天当她兴高采烈地在林中游玩时，她发现太阳神阿波罗用异常惊奇与羡慕的目光盯着自己。光芒四射的太阳使她害怕得飞跑起来。热切的太阳神紧随其后，竭力叫喊让她止步。她的美丽与优雅触发了他的激情。他惟恐这将是他们的最后一面。快步如飞的仙女拚命地奔跑，但情绪激昂的阿波罗紧追不放。她越过旷野，穿过人迹罕至的树林，但追赶的脚步声愈加逼近。他一边追赶，一边恳求心爱的仙女放慢脚步。他害怕仙女在石道上跌倒会擦破她那闪耀的皮肤。但奔逃的仙女根本不顾及这些。她甚至没朝身后瞥了一眼，最终她气喘吁吁地向她的父亲（河神）求救。她的恳求马上得到了回答。她很快发现自己如胶似漆地紧附地面。接着，妖嫩的皮肤上长出一层松软的树皮，她变成了一棵月桂树。太阳神唉声叹气地拥抱着树干，树干缩细了。为了表示他对仙女未泯的爱情，他将月桂树作为他最喜爱的树种，并决定将它作为一种对荣誉与威望的奖励，把它授予那些永恒的诗人和流芳百世的诗。因此最杰出的诗人总希望获得桂冠诗人的尊号。
Narcissus had a twin sister whom he loved better than anyone else in the world．This sister died when she was young and very beautiful．Narcissus missed her so very much that he wished he might die too．
One day，as he sat on the ground by a spring，looking absently into the water and thinking of his lost sister，he saw a face like hers，looking up at him．It seemed as if his sister had become a water nymph and were actually there in the spring，but she would not speak to him．
Of course the face Narcissus saw was really the reflection of his own face in the water，but he did not know that．In those days there were no clear mirrors like ours；and the idea of one's appearance that could be got from a polished brass shield，for instance，was a very dim one．So Narcissus leaned over the water and looked at the beautiful face so like his sister's，and wondered what it was and whether he should ever see his sister again．
After this，he came back to the spring day after day and looked at the face he saw there，and mourned for his sister until，at last，the gods felt sorry for him and changed him into a flower．
This flower was the first narcissus ．All the flowers of thisfamily，when they grow by the side of a pond or a stream，still bend their beautiful heads and look at the reflection of their owfaces in the water．
那西塞斯有个他至爱的孪生妹妹。这个非常美丽的妹妹死去的时候年纪还很小。那西塞斯非常思念她，甚至想跟她一起死去。
一天，他坐在溪旁毫无心思看着流水想念他失去的妹妹时，他看到一张像她的面孔正在注视着他。那种情形就像她妹妹成了河神而且就在河里，可是她没有说话。
那张那西塞斯看到的面孔实际上就是他自己的面孔在水里的倒影，可是他不知道。那时还没有像我们现在明亮的镜子，一个人可以在比如说一面发光铜制盾状的东西上看到自己容貌的这种观念尚不很明确。那西塞斯就靠在水旁看着那像他妹妹美丽的面孔，猜疑到底她是谁？也不知道他是否能再见到他妹妹。
以后他天天都到溪旁注视他看到的面孔，一面又哀悼他妹妹，最后众神为他感到很难过就把他变成了一朵花。
这朵花就是第一朵水仙花，所有这类花生长在池塘或溪旁时，仍然低下它们美丽的头看着水里自己的影子。
In Thessaly there once lived a king by the name of Ixion．He was both handsome and mighty．He went to woo the beautiful maiden Dia and won her love，but her old father was most reluctant to part with his child．only when Ixionswore to let him have his royal treasure house did the father agree to give the king the hand of Dia in marriage ．Ixion took Dia home with him．But he was in no mood to keep his promise，for a long time passed and no treasure ever came to the old man．Impatient to have his promised wealth，the old father went to seeIxion and gave him no peace，until at last Ixion decided to get ridof him once and for all ．Opening the door of his treasurehouse，he pushed the old man in and there burnt him to death．
Zeus was furious over the terrible deed．The frightened Ixion went up to heaven and asked the father of gods and men torid him of his dishonesty ．His prayers were granted，and hestayed happily for a while in the glorious home of the gods，There his lecherous eyes fell on Hera，whose radiant beautyfascinated his heart．Forgetting Dia at home，he planned for Hera to elope with him．Seeing all this，Zeus sent a cloud in the form of Hera to Ixion．The impious king made love to the shade and made it the mother of the centaurs ．The infuriated Zeuscast Ixion down to Hades and had him bound to a wheel of fire，which，forever revolving，racked and tore his body in its unbroken swift revolutions．
以前有个叫伊克西翁的国王居住在色萨利。他既英俊潇洒又力大无穷。他向美丽的姑娘黛求婚。黛和他一见倾心，但是她的父亲却极不情愿离开他的孩子。最后只有当伊克西翁发誓让黛的父亲得到王室的金库时，这位父亲才答应把黛嫁给了国王。伊克西翁把黛领回家。但他却丝毫没有履行诺言的意思。很长时间过去了，老人没有得到半厘钱。于是老人迫不及待地去找伊克西翁，絮絮叨叨搅得他不得安宁。终于伊克西翁决定索性彻底除掉老头。他打开了金库，一把将老人推了进去，然后将他活活烧死。
宙斯为此勃然大怒。惊恐的伊克西翁跑到天堂，苦苦哀求众神和众人之父宽恕他的不诚实。他的请求得到了准许，于是他兴高采烈地在这辉煌璀璨的神的殿堂里呆了一会儿。他那双好色的眼睛盯上了赫拉，她那光彩照人的美丽使他神魂颠倒。他忘记了家里的黛。他盘算着要让赫位与他一道私奔。看到这些，宙斯把一朵赫拉形状的云送到了伊克西翁跟前。这位不虔诚的国王和这朵云做爱，并使她生下了半人半马的怪物。怒不可遏的宙斯把伊克西翁打下了地狱，将他绑在一个不停旋转的火轮上，这急速旋转的火轮永远折磨、撕扯着他的躯体。
Orion was a giant hunter．He was the beautiful son of Poseidon．One day，when hunting in the forest，he caughtsight of Artemis' fair maidens，the seven Pleiades ．Hewas so attracted by their beauty that he started chasing them．Indespair the charming maidens prayed to Artemis for help and were sent up by the goddess to the heavens as a constellation ．Later he fell in love with another maiden，Merope by name，butrash and impatient，he took the maiden by force and enraged her father，King Oenopion of Chios．The king made him drunk and put out his eyes ．Following the sound of the Cyclopes' hammer，he went to Hephaestus，who sent a guide to travel with him to the east，where the sun rose．Exposing his eyeballs to the rays of the sun，he was restored to his eyesight．He became aconstant companion of Artemis and followed the goddess in the chase with his dog Sirius．Apollo did not approve of this love，however．One day he dared his sister to shoot at a dark spot moving in the sea．Little did she suspect that she was aiming herarrow at Orion，for the dark spot turned out to be the head of Orion swimming in the ocean．Artemis was extremely sad．As she could not pull him back from the grasp of Death she sent him up to the sky as a constellation，with his hunting dog Sirius be sidehim．
奥利安是位身材高大的猎手。他是海神波塞冬漂亮的儿子。一天，他在森林中打猎，看到了阿尔特弥斯的仙女们——七颗明星。他如此爱慕她们的美丽，便追赶她们。困境中，美貌的仙女们向阿尔特弥斯求救。结果女神将她们都送入天空充当星座。后来奥利安爱上了另一少女墨洛珀。他鲁莽急躁地施暴于她。这激怒了少女的父亲俄诺皮耳国王。国王把他灌醉后，挖出了他的眼睛。随着“独眼巨人”大锤的敲响，他来到火神赫斐斯托斯跟前。火神派向导带他去太阳升起的东方。将眼球暴露于阳光后，他就恢复了视力，成了女神阿尔特弥斯永久的伴侣，并带着他的猎狗天狼跟随女神打猎。阿波罗并不赞成他们之间这种恋情。一天，阿波罗怂恿阿尔特弥斯向海中一移动的黑点射箭。她根本没想到自己是将箭瞄准奥利安。当看清黑点竟是在游泳的恋人奥利安的头时，阿尔特弥斯悲痛万分。因她无力使他起死回生，只好将他送入天空作一星座。他的猎狗天狼（即天狼星座）则蹲在他的身旁。
Tantalus was the rich and mighty king of Lydia．Son ofZeus by a fairy maiden，he was greatly favored by the gods．He was invited to share wine and food with them at their banquets，and he was let into their secrets ．But ever the latter end of joy is woe ．Either because he had stolen wine orgave away the secrets of Zeus，or because he had become so proud as to test the gods by serving up the flesh of his son Pelopsto them，he incurred the wrath of Zeus and was hurled down to the everlasting darkness of Tartarus ．There he was made tostand up to his chin in a little lake，with clusters of luscious fruits hanging over and around his head．He strove eternally to drink the ever-evading water and to clutch at the delicious fruits which were ever tossed out of his reach by blasts of wind．Thus he was doomed to endure endless burning thirst and bitter hunger in the world of the shades．The whole occurrence has given rise to the expression“tantalizing”，meaning somethng inplain view but unattainable ．
坦塔罗斯是罗底亚富有而又强大的国王。他是宙斯和一位仙女的儿子，深受众神喜爱。众神请他参加宴会，与他们共享美酒与美食，并且还让他了解他们的秘密。然而乐极生悲。或许是他偷了美酒、或者泄露了宙斯的秘密、或许是他太骄傲以至于献上自己儿子珀罗普斯的肉来检验神的智慧，他招致了宙斯的愤怒，被打入了永远黑暗的地狱中。在那里他被迫站定于一小湖中，水没至下颌，无数甜美的水果悬于头顶和四周。他从不间歇地努力喝水，但水总是从嘴边流走；他试图抓住那些美味的水果，但总是被阵阵来风吹离，使他无法得到。因而他注定要在阴间遭受炙渴和难以忍受的饥饿。“tantalizing”一词即由此而来，意思是在眼前却无法得到的某个东西。
When she was tired with hunting Artemis used to take abath in a little mountain spring．One hot summer afternoon she was playing in the cool，quiet water with hermaidens when she heard a rustle behind the bushes ．She feltquite angry to find that a young hunter was peeping admiringlyat her naked body ．Her maidens gave a sharp cry and crowded around the goddess．But young Actaeon had seen the huntress．
Actaeon loved the hunting．He had been searching the woods every day．On this particular afternoon he felt so tired with running about that he，by accident，came over to the springin search of water．He was thus surprised to find Artemisba thing．The angry goddess was not to be calmed．She splashed water in the hunter's face．As soon as the water drops fell on Actaeon，he was changed into a stag ．Just at that moment he heard the barking of his team of fifty hunting dogs．They were coming up to him．He was suddenly seized with fear ，and presently ran away．The dogs，all driven mad by the goddess，ran after him closely．Running as fast as his legs could carry him，Actaeon was soon out of breath ．Feeling certain that he 1was to die，he dropped to the ground and made no further attempt to get up．The dogs came nearer to their former masterand tore him to pleces．
当厌倦狩猎时，阿尔特弥斯常常在小山泉中淋浴。一个盛夏的下午，她和仙女们正在凉爽平静的山泉中戏水时，突然听到灌木丛中沙沙作响。她非常恼怒地发现一个青年猎人用爱慕的眼光偷看自己的裸体。仙女们发出刺耳的尖叫，簇拥在她身旁。但猎手阿卡同还是看见了女猎手阿尔特弥斯。
阿卡同酷爱打猎。他每日都穿越森林，搜寻猎物。而就在这个下午，他四处奔波颇感疲劳，因寻找水而偶然来到这片泉水旁。这样，他就惊奇地发现水中沐浴的阿尔特弥斯。恼火的女神无法息怒。她将泉水溅到猎手的脸上。水落在他身上后，阿卡同转眼就变成了一只牡鹿。恰在这时，阿卡同听到了猎狗的嚎叫，猎狗们向他扑来，他突然惊慌失措，拔腿逃跑。而那群被女神逼疯了的猎狗们则在后面穷追不舍。阿卡同拼命狂奔，很快就上气不接下气。感觉自己肯定会死去，他就一下躺在地上，不想再起来了。猎狗赶上了从前的主人，将他撕成了碎块。
After the killing of Medusa，Perseus，carrying her head with him，flew far and wide，over land and sea．As night came on，he reached the western limit of the earth ，where the sun goes down．Here he would gladly have rested till morning．It was the kingdom of King Atlas，who was bigger than all other men．He was rich in flocks and herds and had no neighbor or rival to invade his country．But his chiefpride was in his gardens，whose fruit was of gold，hanging fromg olden branches，half hid with golden leaves．Perseus said tohim，“I come as a guest．I claim Zeus for my father and I killedMedusa．I seek rest and food．”But Atlas remembered that anancient prophecy had warned him that a son of Zeus should one day rob him of his golden apples ．So he answered，“Go away！Or neither your false claims of glory or parentage shall protect you” ；and he attempted to drive him out．Perseus，finding thegiant too strong for him，said，“Since you value my friendship solittle，please accept a gift”；and turning his face away，he heldup Medusa's head．Atlas was changed into stone．His beard and hair became forests，his arms and shoulders cliffs，his head asummit，and his bones rocks．Each part increased till he becamea mountain，and（such was the pleasure of the gods）heaven with all its stars rests upon his shoulders．
珀尔修斯杀死墨杜萨之后，提着她的脑袋翻山越海四处飞行。夜晚降临时，他来到日落之处，地球的最西端。他很想在这里休息过夜。这是阿特拉斯国王的王国。阿特拉斯长得五大三粗，天下无双。他拥有成群的牛羊，没有来自邻帮或敌人的侵犯。不过，他最引以自豪的是他的果园。那儿在金叶的虚掩下，金树枝上挂满了金苹果。珀尔修斯对阿特拉斯说，“我是来作客的。我的父亲是宙斯，我杀死了墨杜萨。我来是想找个休息的地方和充饥的食物”。然而，阿特拉斯想起古时候的预言说过，有一天，宙斯的一个儿子将夺走他的金苹果。于是，他回答道：“走开！你自吹自擂的光荣业绩和高贵血统一类谎话都救不了你的命”。说着，阿特拉斯便动手想把珀尔修斯赶出去。珀尔修斯发现巨人力大无比，他对付不了，便说：“既然你看不起我对你的友谊，那就请你勉为其难，接受我的礼物吧”。他转过脸去，高举起墨杜萨的脑袋。阿特拉斯顷刻间化成了石头。他的胡须和头发变成树林；双臂和肩膀变成了峭壁；头成了山顶；骨头成了岩石。他身体的每个部分都不断膨胀，终于成了一座大山。根据神祗的心愿，天体及其群星落在他肩头，由他来背负。
Midas，son of the Great Goddess of Ida，by a hero whosename is not remembered ，was a pleasureloving King of Macedonian Bromium，where he ruled over the Brigians and planted his famous rose gardens．
One day，the old hero Silenus，Dionysus' former teacher，happened to straggle from the main body of the Dionysian army as it marched out of Thrace into Boeotia，and was found sleeping and drunken in the rose gardens．The gardeners tied him and ledhim before Midas，to whom he told wonderful tales of a big continent lying beyond the Ocean's stream ——altogether separatefrom the united mass of Europe，Asia，or Africa——where gigantic，happy，and longlived people lived in splendid cities，enjoying a wonderful law system．Midas，delighted with Silenus' fictions，entertained him for five days and nights，and then ordered a guide to lead him to Dionysus' headquarters．
Dionysus，who had been worrying about Silenus，sent toask how Midas wished to be rewarded．He replied without hesitation：‘Please turn all I touch into gold．' However，not onlystones，flowers，and the furnishings of his house turned to gold but，when he sat down to table，so did the food he ate and the water he drank ．Midas soon begged to be freed from his wish，because he was fast dying of hunger and thirst．Highlyamused ，Dionysus told him to visit the source of the river Pactolus and there wash himself．He obeyed，and was at oncefreed from the golden touch，but the sands of the river Pactolusare bright with gold to this day．
弥达斯是伊达山大女神和一位姓名不详的英雄的儿子。他是马其顿勃洛弥恩的好寻欢作乐的国王。他统治勃里癸亚人民，种植闻名遐迩的玫瑰花。
一天，狄俄尼索斯酒神和追随者从色雷斯出发去维奥蒂亚。狄俄尼索斯以前的老师森林之神老西勒诺斯不巧跟队伍走散了。他喝得醉醺醺的，躺在弥达斯的花园里酣然大睡。园丁发现了他，把他捆起来领去见弥达斯。他给弥达斯讲述有关大洋河彼岸的、与连成一片的欧罗巴、亚细亚或阿非利加完全脱离的一个大洲的奇妙的故事。大洲上座落着神奇的城市，居住着身材高大、幸福而长寿的人民，拥有值得赞颂的法律制度。西勒诺斯的故事使弥达斯听得欣喜若狂。他盛情款待老山神五天五夜，然后派向导护送他回到狄俄尼索斯的大本营。
狄俄尼索斯一直在为西勒诺斯担心。现在，他派人问弥达斯有什么要求，他应该怎样报答他。弥达斯毫不迟疑地回答说，“请恩准使我摸到的一切都变成金子。”然而，变成金子的不仅仅是石块、花朵和屋内的陈设。他坐下吃饭时，他吃的食物和喝的水也都变成金子。过了不久，弥达斯恳求狄俄尼索斯使他从他那愿望中解脱开来，因为他饥渴交加，快死了。狄俄尼索斯逗弄弥达斯，开心得很。他叫弥达斯前往帕克托罗斯河的源头，在河里洗个澡。弥达斯依法行事，立即解除了点金术，但帕克托罗斯河的沙子至今因含金而闪闪发光。
When the Greek ships reached the Trojan land at the outbreak of the war，a prophet declared that the first Greek setting foot on the enemy soil was doomed to die ．Protesilaus，a Greek chief，seeing that there was a gooddeal of hesitation among his comrades，leapt overboard and fellinstantly，pierced through by Hector's spear ．When his wife Laodamia heard of this she was simply inconsolable ．She offered rich sacrifice to the gods and begged Zeus to restore herslaughtered lord to her．Moved by her fidelity ，Zeus sent Hermes to escort the shade of Protesilaus back to the upper air tostay with his wife for three hours．Laodamia's joy knew nobounds when she held her slain lord once more in her arms．Protesilaus told her the story of his selfsacrifice，and Laodamiawas happy to become a bride for a second time．However，shegave a sharp cry when she saw Hermes coming at the fixed hourto take Protesilaus back to the lower world．So sad was she at the second parting that she died of grief not long after．The pairwere reunited in Hades．
当战争爆发时，段腊般抵达特洛伊地区。一位预言家宣称，第一个踏上敌人土地的段腊人注定会死。一位名叫普洛忒西拉斯的希腊酋长看着同伴踌躇不前，就从船上跳入水中，一瞬时他就倒下了，被海克特的长矛穿透了胸膛。他的妻子拉俄达弥亚听到这个消息，悲痛之心无法得以慰藉。她献给众神丰厚的祭品，哀求宙斯把被杀的丈夫还给她。她的忠贞感动了宙斯。宙斯派海默斯护送普洛忒西拉斯的幽魂回到阳间与他的妻子共度三个小时。她再次拥抱被杀的丈夫。她的喜悦无边无际。普洛忒西拉斯给她讲述了他自我献身的故事。拉俄达弥亚很高兴再做一次新娘。然而，当海默斯预定的时间到来时，普洛忒西拉斯将被带回阴间，她痛苦地叫了一声。对于第二次分别她如此悲痛不堪，以致于不久之后就在痛苦之中死去。他们在冥府之中再次团圆。
楼主 
