๑۩۞۩๑童话集(中英版)๑۩۞۩๑

rosyhorse

[希腊神话46]潘

Pan

Pan'sParentage was a problem Of Iong argument.BUtmost writers of Greekmythology agree that he was theson of Hermes by the lovely fairy maidenPenelope．Hewas a cold，hairy country monster， with the upper part of a manand the body and legs of a goat．Wandering about in the mountains and woods with other wood gods and cheerful fairy maidens. Pan led a perfectly carefree life．He was admired as the godof woods and pastures ， with prophetic powers．He represented nature and country Iife．In old times he Was honoured as a godwho was good，just and holy．
Pan had a strong desire for women．At one time he loved acharming maiden，Syrinx，but to his disappointment his love was not returned．One day Syrinx left Pan with a fearful step ，which lighted Pan's love all the more．He ran after her and was almost overtaking her when she was turned，at her own request，into a clump of reeds by Mother Earth ．Pan wept bitterly at the change．Sadly he picked some pieces of the reeds and fashtoned apipe ．He played so sweetly on it that Apollo was helpless before him．
At the time of the battle of Marathon Pan met the Athenian messenger to Sparta ．He asked the man to say to the Athenians that，although they did not like him，he still felt kindlytowards them and would aid them in their difficulties．When fighting against enemies went on near Marathon，theAthenians were surprised to see that the Persian soldiers were suddenlyseized with a mysterious fear and ran away from the field in disorder．The great Pan had struck into the hearts of the Persians a kind of fear．The fear has been ever since known as panic ．After the war the Athenians gratefully dedicated a temple to Pan ．The sacrifices and games were held in his honour．
潘的父母是谁一直是一个有争议的问题。但是大多数希腊神话作者都认为他是海尔墨斯与可爱的仙子珀湟罗珀之子。潘是一头冷酷、浑身长满毛的乡间野兽，上半身为人，下半身为山羊。他和其它的森林之神及仙女在山林之间闲游，过着完全无拘无束的生活。潘被尊为山林和田园之神，具有预言的能力。他代表着自然和乡村生活，以前他被奉为一位善良、正直神圣的神。
潘对女人有一种强烈的欲望。一次他爱上了一位迷人少女，西瑞克斯。然而令他失望的是，他的爱情没有得到回报。一天西瑞克斯恐惧地逃离潘，结果却使潘的爱情之火更为炽热。潘追逐着西瑞克斯，他几乎赶上了她。这时在西瑞克斯的请求下，大地之母把她变成了一丛芦苇。面对此变，潘放声恸哭。悲哀之中，潘采折了一丛芦苇，制成一支风笛。他吹得如此悦耳，就连阿波罗也无法比得上。
在马拉松战争时期，潘遇见了前往斯巴达的信使。他请求信使转告雅典人：尽管雅典人并不喜欢他，他仍旧愿意友好地对待他们，愿意在他们的困难时期给予帮助。雅典人在马拉松附近与敌人作战时，惊奇地发现波斯士兵突然被一种莫名的恐惧所笼罩，他们混乱地逃离战地。原来伟大的潘给波斯士兵的内心注入了一种恐惧。自此之后，这种恐惧周知为恐慌。战后雅典人满怀感激之情建了一座神庙献给潘，将祭品和猎物敬献给他以示尊敬。

rosyhorse

[希腊神话47]泰索尼斯

Tithonus

Every day，when Helios drove his wonderful horses and his fiery carriage across the sky，it was Aurora who opened the gates of pearl and drew back the dark curtains of the night；for Aurora was the goddess of the dawn .She was so beautiful that the whole sky became pink with pleasure  when she appeared in the east．
On the earth lived a man called Tithonus，who loved Aurora so well that he never failed to leave his bed while it was still dark，to watch for her coming．Aurora loved Tithonus too，and one day she flew to the king of the gods，and begged of him that Tithonus might be given a cup of magic liquid ，and so become living forever．
Zeus allowed this request， and Aurora took Tithonus up to Mount Olympus to live in her golden house.
The goddess had forgotten to ask that Tithonus might never grow old．Therefore，the time came when gray hairs could be seen among his golden curls . Aurora was kind to him in spite of this，and continued to give him beautiful clothes，and to feed him on the food of the gods．Still， Tithonus grew older and older，and in time，after several hundred years，he was so old that he could not move at all．Little was left of him but his voice ，and even that had grown high and thin． Then he was so weak that he had to be shut up in a room，for safekeeping．Aurora felt so sorry to see him become weaker and weaker in this way that she changed him into a little insect，and sent him down to the earth again，where men called him the grasshopper．
Very glad to be free and active once more，Tithonus jumped about in the fields all day，chirping happily to Aurora.
每天赫利阿斯驾着他的神马和红马车走过天空时，也就是欧洛拉撩起夜晚的黑幕打开珍珠般雪白大门的时间，欧洛拉是晨曦女神。她很美丽，所以她在东方出现时，整个天空都发出可爱的粉红色的光芒。
地球上有个叫泰索尼斯的凡人，他很爱欧洛拉，所以天还没有亮时他就起床，以免错过看她的来临。欧洛拉也爱泰索尼斯，所以一天她去见众神之王要求赐给泰索尼斯一杯神祗的甘液让他能永远活着。
宙斯答应了她的要求，欧洛拉就带泰索尼斯到奥林波斯山上她的金屋生活。
这位女神忘记要求让泰索尼斯永远年轻。所以时间到了，他金黄的卷发中可以看到白头发了。虽然这样，欧洛拉还是对他很好，给他穿漂亮的衣服，吃神祗的食物。可是泰索尼斯还是一直老下去，几百年以后他已经老得无法行动了。甚至他仅剩的声音也变得又高又尖。他身体很虚弱，以致为了安全必须把他锁在房间内。欧洛拉着他身体那样虚弱很难过，就把他变成一只小虫送到地球上，人类叫他蚱蜢。
泰索尼斯很高兴能再自由行动，就整天在田野里乱跳，同时很愉快地对欧洛拉叫着。

rosyhorse

[希腊神话48]雅典娜

Athena

On one occasion Zeus suffered a bad headache．All the gods，including Apollo，the god of medicine  ，had tried uselessly to offer an effective treatment  ．Then the father of gods and men asked Hephaestus to open his head．This the god of the fire did．To the wonder of all the Olympians，a goddess，well-grown and full-armed，came out of Zeus' head．The goddess was giving off light and splendor. She was Athena，goddess of wisdom and knowledge and patroness of Athens  ．
The story of Athena becoming patron goddess of Athens concerns the struggle between the goddess and Poseidon．When the city of Athens was first built by a Phoenician  ，both Poseidon and Athena competed for the honour of naming it．It was then agreed that whoever offered the most useful object for men would become the patron of the city．Poseidon struck the ground with his trident and produced a horse，whereas Athena had an olive tree  to present，a symbol of peace and plenty．As the horse was regarded as struggle and sorrow， Athens was named after the goddess，who soon took the city under her protection．
Athena was the goddess of arts and crafts  and woman' s handiwork．She was so skilled with her hands that she tolerated no challenge to her skill in this respect ． A Lydian maid，Arachne by name，did not seem to think much of Athena's skill，for she frequently talked big  that she could beat the goddess if she had the chance to do so．The goddess was quite angry．
Dressed up as an old woman，she went to advise Arachne to be modest．But the ignorant crafts woman  bravely asked the goddess herself to come down and compete with her．Atthis the goddess took off her disguise and accepted the competition.The two women immediately set about making different designs．
While the goddess worked on the story of her rivalry with Poseidon，Arachne began to make a delicate web．When both pieces were finished，Arachne saw，to her surprise，that she had been beaten，for the goddess' design was infinitely better．She felt so shamed that she tied a piece of silk to hang herself．But Just before she breathed her last breath the goddess changed her into a spider and let her weave forever．
有一次，宙斯得了严重的头痛症。包括药神阿波罗在内的所有山神都试图对他实施一种有效的治疗，但结果都是徒劳的。众神与人类之父宙斯只好要求火神赫斐斯托斯打开他的头颅。火神那样做了。令奥林波斯山诸神惊讶的是：一位体态婀娜、披坚执锐的女神从裂开的头颅中走了出来，光彩照人，仪态万方。她就是智慧与知识女神雅典娜，也是雅典的守护神。
雅典娜成为雅典的守护神的传说和女神与波塞冬之间的争斗有关。当雅典首次由一个腓尼基人建成时，波塞冬与雅典娜争夺为之命名的荣耀。最后达成协议；能为人类提供最有用东西的人将成为该城的守护神。波塞冬用他的三叉戟敲打地面变出了一匹战马。而雅典娜则变出了一棵橄榄树——和平与富裕的象征。因战马被认为是代表战争与悲伤，因此雅典就以女神的名字命名。女神很快将该城纳入她的保护之中。
雅典娜是艺术、工艺和妇女手工之神，双手灵巧，无法忍受别人的挑战。一位名叫阿瑞克妮的莉迪亚族少女，似乎瞧不起雅典娜的本领，并常吹嘘如有机会定能击败女神雅典娜。一气之下，女神装扮成一位老妇，劝告阿瑞克妮应谦虚一些。但那位愚昧无知的女手艺人，竟勇敢地向她发出挑战。女神卸去伪装，接受了挑战。两位妇女立刻着手创作各自的作品。女神设计的图案叙述了她与波塞冬争斗的故事，而阿瑞克妮则编织了一张精细的网。之后，阿瑞克妮吃惊地发现自己输了，因女神的作品要好得多。她感到非常羞耻，便用一根丝线自缢。但在咽气之前，女神将她变成了一只蜘蛛，让她永远地编织。
                                               

rosyhorse

[希腊神话49]玛彭莎

Marpessa

Marpessa was the only daughter of King Evenus．She was noble and graceful．From her childhood she was trained by her father like a young hero and was not allowed to have any thought of love and marriage．To deal with the crowd of men who now rushed into his palace，the king proposed that a man have to beat him in a carriage race to win his daughter. Death would be the penalty for the loser ． The king was sure of his victory，for his horses came from Ares' stables ． Many young princes lost their lives．
Last came Idas，prince of Messenia. He was not discouraged by the fate of those men，because he had Poseidon on his side．Granting his prayers，the sea god had given him two fleet horses  and advised him to take his reward as soon as he won the race and flee from the king's attack . He did as he had been told，and King Evenus，lost his own daughter，his only hope in life，drowned himself in a river．
Idas and Marpessa presently arrived at a riverside，where Idas put down his beloved to enjoy a bit of rest and food and drink．They spent the night in a temple nearby．When morning came，Idas found that Marpessa had been stolen by Apollo．He ran after the immortal god—Apollo，feeling quite ready to fight and die for his love．Apollo held his unescapable arrows ．Idas went forward with his sword．The duel was about to start when suddenly they heard a thunder bolt round about，and Zeus himself arrived to stop the unequal contest．Hegave the maiden the choice between immorality and eternal glory on oneside and on the other a mortal life of faithful love mixed with endlesscares and griefs ．Fearing infidelity on part of a god ，Marpessa turned down the sweet promises of Apollo and chose for her companion in life one capable of a like fate．Apollo left in bad spirits; Idas felt on top of the world ．
玛彭莎是国王伊万诺斯的独生女，她高贵优雅。从童年起，父亲就想将她培养成一位富有青春活力的英雄，不允许她产生一点爱情与婚姻的杂念。为了对付涌入宫殿的求婚男子，国王提出：哪位男人如想得到玛彭莎，必须在战车较量中战胜他。死亡将作为对失败者的惩罚。国王确信自己能够胜利，因为他的马来自阿瑞斯的马厩。许多年轻的王子就这样丧了命。
莫塞尼亚的王子伊达斯最后出场。那些王子们的命运并未使他气馁，因为他有海神波塞冬的支持。海神同意了他的恳求，赐他两匹快马，并劝告他一旦赢得竞赛，就应夺过战利品并策马躲避国王的进攻。他按海神的话做了。结果国王伊万诺斯失去了女儿——生活中惟一的希望，因而投江自尽。
不久伊达斯和玛彭莎来到江边。伊达斯放下情人歇息以恢复精力。他们在附近一寺庙中过夜。早晨醒来，伊达斯发现阿波罗将玛彭莎偷走了。他追赶那长生不老的太阳神，准备与他的战斗，为爱情而献身。阿波罗握着百发百中的箭，而伊达斯手持短剑迎面而上。决斗即将开始。突然，他们周围响起了雷电声。原来是宙斯赶来制止这场不公平的决斗。宙斯让玛彭莎作出选择：要么长生不老，享受永久的荣耀；要么对爱情忠贞不渝，而过一种充满忧虑和悲伤的凡人的生活。由于怕神对爱情不忠，玛彭莎谢绝了阿波罗甜蜜的许诺。她选择了能同甘共苦的人作伴侣。阿波罗垂头丧气地走了。伊达斯则感到万分喜悦。
                                               

rosyhorse

[希腊神话50]尼俄伯

Niobe

Niobe，the queen of Thebes，had indeed good reason to be proud of her herself ．Both her father and mother were gods．Her husband was a capable and outstanding musician．And she was both wealthy and powerful．But what made her the happiest lady in the world was her fourteen children，seven manly sons and seven beautiful daughters．They were allso strong and fair that the whole world looked upon them with admiration．
It happened at the timethat every spring the Theban women gathered at the temple of Leto tooffer flowers at the altars of the great mother．She had given birth to two grand children，Apollo and Artemis．Her women showed a great deal of loyalty and respect to her．This made Niobe jealous and angry．When the nuns of Leto called the women again to the sacred place of the mistress of Zeus one spring，Niobe decided to put an end to the foolish act forever．In her pretty flowing robe she came to the women and blamed the crowd for their mad faith in a goddess．They had never seen this goddess．Niobe declared herself nobler and greater，and  demanded to be admired in place of Leto，who，she said，was no more than a poor mother of two children．The frightened women were loyal to the queen，and left the sacred place in silence．Leto was neglected．
Standing on top of a hill overlooking Thebes ，Leto saw all this and was ready to pay back．She found out Apollo and Artemis and told them the story．Before long，the impatient Apollo arrived outside Thebes in hidden clouds．The seven sons of Niobe were playing on the ground，two riding horses and two wrestling while the other princes happily stood by．Appllo held out his bow．One by one the princes fell under his accurate shooting．Even the youngest，who prayed for mercy，was not spared．
Niobe was greatly changed．She was all sorrow and grief，but her rude spirit was not put down．She came to the dead bodies of her sons with her daughters and let out a torrent of impolite words at Leto and her children．This time it was Artemls' turn to draw her bowstring ．Almost in a twinkling of an eye all the seven lively daughters fell，turning in their blood，and soon stopped to breathe．Niobe became numb of feeling ．She sat among the fourteen dead bodies，motionless，her eyes blank，her tears rolling down her cold face．Her bitter anger had turned her into a stone！Later，a gust of wind swept her to her homeland in Asia，where she could still be seen sitting on top of a hill，tears of bitterness streaming out of her strong eyes．
底比斯王后尼俄伯的确该为自己感到骄傲。她的双亲都是神，她的丈夫是位无所不能出类拨萃的音乐家。她自己也是既有钱又有势。但真正使她成为世界上最幸福的女人的却是她那14个孩子，七位是拥有男子汉气概的小王子，七位是俏丽貌美的小公主。他们都是既强壮又俊俏，全世界都对他们赞不绝口。
故事是这样发生的。每年春天底比斯城的妇女都要聚集在雷托的庙宇，向这位伟大母亲的祭坛奉献鲜花。她哺育了两位高贵的儿女，阿波罗和阿耳特弥斯。妇女们都对她异常地忠诚和尊敬。这使尼俄伯妒忌不已，颇感愤怒。这年春天，当雷托庙里的尼姑再次召集妇女们前往这位宙斯夫人所居住过的圣地时，尼俄伯决定永远终止这种愚蠢的行径。她披着那件柔软耀眼的长袍，走向人群，责备他们对女神的狂妄崇拜。她们还从未见过这位女神呢。尼俄伯声称她自己比雷托更高贵更伟大；她命令人们应当尊敬她，而不是雷托。她说雷托不过是两个孩子的穷母亲而已。惊恐的人们出于对王后忠诚，都默默地离开了。雷托被撂到了一边。
雷托此时正站在山顶上俯视底比斯城，当她看到这一幕，她决心要“以牙还牙”。她找到阿波罗和阿耳特弥斯，将事情一五一十地告诉了他们。很快，性急的阿波罗借着云彩的掩护来到了底比斯城外。尼俄伯的七个小王子正在玩耍，两个在骑马，两个在摔跤，其余的笑嘻嘻地围在边上看。阿波罗抽出了弓箭。七位王子一个个地倒在他那百发百中的箭下，即使那位最小的王子，虽然他请求宽恕，也没能幸免。
尼俄伯变了许多。她万分的悲哀和伤心，但是她粗鲁的本性并没有消失。她带着七位公主来到王子们的尸体旁，滔滔不绝地痛骂着雷托和她的孩子。这次轮到了阿耳特弥斯特抽出了弓箭，一眨眼工夫，七个活泼可爱的公主都倒下了，在血泊中挣扎，很快就停止了呼吸。尼俄伯呆了。她一动不动地坐在14具尸体中间，目光漠然，泪水顺着她冰凉的脸庞往下流。她那悲痛欲绝的愤怒竟将她化作一块石头！后来，一阵风将她送回到她的家乡亚洲。至今人们仍能见到她坐在山顶上，凄凉的眼中流淌出痛苦的泪水。

rosyhorse

[希腊神话51]海伦

Helen

Helen was the most beautiful woman of the world．She was an infamous lady．She lighted the flames of the Trojan war and brought extreme destruction on the city of Troy．Helen was the daughter of Zeus．Helen's matchless beauty and charms drew towards her many heroes from all parts of Greece.
When still small she was carried off by Theseus，who wished to have a divine wife ．But she was rescued later by her brother Castor，and brought back to her native land．Her stepfather married her to Menelaus，king of Sparta．
Nothing of importance had happened to her married life until Paris came to visit Sparta．Helen was attracted by Paris' lovely face．They stole one another's love in the absence of Menelausand then eloped on board a ship to Troy．Helen left her young daughter behind．To get Helen back，the Greek army sailed across and laid a long siege to the city of Troy ．
Helen was quietlyweaving her story into a web of golden carpet one day when she wascalled up the city walls of Troy to look at the fighting betweenMenelaus and Paris．Menelaus was determined to kill Paris in the battle．Sitting by the side of King Priam，she told the chiefs of the Greek side to him．Tears of love filled up her eyes when she saw her first husband down below．After Paris fled the field she had the feelings of love and scorn．Sheencouraged Hector and Paris to take the field again and sincerelymourned the death of the true hero Hector. But when Odysseus andDiomedes came in disguise to steal the Palladium，she helped them to do so as much as she could．After Paris died in battle she became the wife of another son of Priam．
In the meantime Menelaus was anxiously searching for Helen in the ruined palaces of Troy．Aphrodite had made Helen more beautiful，so that，when he finally found her trembling in a corner，Menelaus was most unwilling to bring his sword down on her charming face．Menelaus felt secretly overjoyed to have his wife back again．Following Menelaus through the ruins of the city，Helen felt ashamed of her impure behaviour．And she was truly scared at the terrible fate she was to have in the Greek Camp．
Once more her beauty saved her．No one could bring him self to thrust his sword into such a charming and graceful lady．In the tent of Menelaus she threw herself at the feet of the Spartan king，asking for forgiveness ．Moved by the scene，Menelaus helped her up and let her forget the past．He held her in his arms while she had tears of grief and happiness．The pair loved each other like before and vanished in the far west．
海伦是世上最美丽的女人。她也是一位臭名昭著的女人。她点燃了特洛伊的战火，并给特洛伊城造成了巨大的破坏。海伦是宙斯的女儿。她无可匹敌的美丽和魁力使希腊各地的英雄们都迷恋于她。她小的时候被提修斯掠走。提修斯想有一个神性的妻子。但后来海伦被其兄卡斯特救出，带回到了故土。海伦的继父将她嫁给了斯巴达的国王墨涅劳斯。
在帕利斯来访斯巴达之前，海伦的婚姻生活比较平静。海伦被帕利斯可爱的面容迷住。当墨涅劳斯国王不在时，他们就相互偷情，之后一起乘船私奔到了特洛伊城。海伦将幼小的女儿留在了斯巴达。为了夺回海伦，希腊军队越过海峡，将特洛伊城紧紧包围。
一天正当海伦静静地将自己的经历编织成一块金色的 毯时，有人叫她在特洛伊城上观看墨涅劳斯和帕利斯的决斗。墨涅劳斯决心杀死帕利斯。坐在皮安姆国王旁边，她将希腊一方的首领告诉了国王。当她看到城墙下前夫的身影时，爱的热泪流满了眼帘。帕利斯战败逃离战场后，她的感觉是既爱又卑视。她鼓励海格特和帕利斯再次走上战场，并真诚地为真正的英雄海格特的死而哀痛。但当奥德修斯和狄俄墨德斯化装后来偷窃雅典娜神像时，她竭尽全力帮助了她们。帕利斯战死后，她成了皮安姆国王另一个儿子的妻子。
与此同时墨涅劳斯焦急地在毁坏的特洛伊宫中寻找海伦。爱神阿芙罗狄蒂使海伦变得更美丽了。结果当墨涅劳斯终于发现躲在角落中发抖的海伦时，极不情愿将利剑刺向她那迷人的面孔。而他内心正为夺回海伦暗自高兴，海伦跟随墨涅劳斯穿过特洛伊城的废墟，她深为自己的不洁行为感到耻辱。一想到自己将在希腊军营中遭受的命运，她就心惊胆颤。
她的美丽再次拯救了她。没有人能忍心将剑刺向令人销魂，妩媚动人的女子之身。在墨涅劳斯的帐篷中，海伦跪在斯巴达国王的脚下，乞求饶恕。看到眼前的情形，墨涅劳斯深受感动，他扶起海伦，让她忘掉过去的一切。墨涅劳斯将她抱起来时，海伦的两眼流出幸福与悲伤的泪水。他们俩像以前那样相爱，一同消失在遥远的西方。
                                               

rosyhorse

[希腊神话52]特修斯

Theseus

Just as Heracles was the chief hero of Peloponnesus，so Theseus was the most famous half god of Attlca．His father was king Aegeus of Athens and his mother a princess of Troezen．When he was still an infant his father left him in the care of his mother  and went back to his own kingdom．Before he left，Aegeus buried his sword and sandals under a huge stone，andtold his mother to direct him to Athens as soon as he was big enough tolift the rock and take the hidden gifts with him. At the age of sixteenhe became a strong young man，intelligent and with lots of nerve．Taking the sword from under the rock，he joyfully set out to look for his father．It was a journey of adventures．But he cleared the roads of various monsters he met and appeared harmless in his father's palace at Athens．Little did he suspect that here would be an attempt on his life there．
King Aegeus had recently married Medea，a bad woman．She was anxious to have the Athenian throne  for her own child. She had persuaded the king to poison the newcomer at a feast．As the feast was in progress，King Aegeus saw Theseus' sword and recognized his son in the young man ． Quickly pushing the poisoned cup aside，he took his son in his arms and declared him his successor．Thus troubled by her own evil designs，Mede fled in her dragon drawn carriage，never to return．for a time Theseus stayed with his father at Athens．Whenthe Cretan bull escaped into the area of Marathon he set out alone tofight with the beast and offered it up as a sacrifice to the gods．
At this time the city of Athens was bothered by the respect it had promised to pay to King Minos of Crete ． The Cretans had come to attack Athens，andthe gods had ordered that the Athenians would have to meet the demandof the Cretan king that seven boys and seven girls be sent to Creteevery year to feed the half man，half bull Minotaur．Determined to kill the Minotaur and save his people from further grief，Theseus decided to go as one of the fourteen chosen victims．Beforehe left he promised his father that if he succeeded in his work hewould change the black sails of his ships to white ones．He went，and with the help of princess Ariadne of Crete，he killed the Minotaur and carried the Princess with him on his way back．At Naxos he left the girl in her own care．For when he neared Athens he forgot to put up the promised white sails，and his anxious father，standing on a hill-top，saw the black sails，threw himself down into the sea in despair．So stricken with grief was Theseus that he never recovered from regret．He succeeded his father as king，and introduced many good measures to improve the life of his people．To rid his kingdom of the threat by the Amazons，he led an expedition into the woman country and took its queen prisoner．The queen，Antiope by name，ws in fact so passionately in love with him that she agreed to marry him．At a later date the Amazons came to lay attack on Athens on the excuse of recovering their queen．In the battle that followed，the queen was wounded by a chance arrow and died，leaving Theseus a sad widower．
Theseus' friendship with Pirithous，king of the Lapithae，grew from a dramatic beginning．Pirithous was invading Attica and Theseus was marching his men out to meet him．In the first personal encounter between the two heroes each was sofilled with admiration for the other that they both laid down theirweapons and became faithful friends．
At the wedding of Pirithous，to which Theseus and Heracleswere invited，a number of horsemen present were angry with the shining beauty of the bride，so that they attempted to take her by force．Both Theseus and Heracles were enraged at their wild behaviour ．In what was known as the coldblooded fight between the horsemen and the Lapithae they beat the horsemen and saved the bride．But she did not have long to live．
Both Theseus and Pirithous were full of the ambition of marrying a lady of holy birth．At one time they got Helen by force，she was the beautiful daughter of Zeus，but as she was not yet of marriageable age，Theseus left her with his mother．Later she was rescued by her brothers，Castor and Pollux．So proud were the two friends that they were now planning to invade the lower world and carry Persephone up by force，for Pirithous was eager for her beauty．They went，but they found it impossible to get out again． One of them，Pirithous，was bound to a turning wheel while Theseus himself was chained to a rock．If it had not been for Heracles，who came in for Cerberus，Theseus would never have been able to return to the upper air again．
When he returned to Athens he was quite old and unhappy with life．As king he acted like a tyrant  and went successfully away from his people． He was sent away to the island of Scyros，where he fell into sea from a cliff． Nothing more was heard of him until the battle of Marathon centuries later．When the Athenians saw a mighty soldier leading them in their ruthless attack against the invading Persians，they recognized him as Theseus and after the war they devoted a grand temple to his memory and offered sacrifice at his altar．
正如海格立斯是珀罗普妮萨斯的大英雄，特修斯当之无愧地成了安提卡闻名遐尔的人神。他的父亲是雅典国王埃尔忒斯，而他的母亲是特隆泽的一位公主。当他还在襁褓中时，他父亲就把他交给了母亲，返回自己的王国去了。临行前，埃尔忒斯将剑和凉鞋埋在一块巨石之下；并告诉他母亲说：一旦特修斯长大了能搬起了石头，就拿出埋藏的礼物，然后指点他到雅典来。特修斯16岁时就长成了身强体壮的年轻人，他智慧超群但却性情急燥。当他从巨石下拿出宝剑时，就激动地起程去寻找他的父亲。旅途惊险至极，他清除了路上所遇的各种怪物猛兽，最终安然无恙地来到父亲在雅典的王宫里。他丝毫没有预料到王宫里竟隐藏着杀害他的阴谋。
国王埃尔忒斯新近娶了梅底。梅底是个心地歹毒的女人。她一心想让自己的孩子继承雅典王国的王位。她已说服国王让他毒死宴会上的这个陌生人。宴会上，埃尔忒斯国王看见了特修斯的剑，立刻认出原来这个年轻人是自己的儿子。他迅速推开那杯毒酒，拥抱他，并宣布他为自己的王位继承人。梅底为自己的歹毒计划扰得心神不安，于是驾上龙车逃掉了，从此再没有回来。特修斯在雅典与父亲住了一段时间。当克里坦的公牛跑到马拉松地区时，特修斯单枪匹马前去向那只猛兽挑战，最终将它作为祭品献给了众神。
那段时间，雅典城一直为自己曾许诺向克里特国王米诺斯进贡一事而困扰不安。克里特人曾进攻雅典，众神命令雅典人满足克里坦所提的条件。也就是每年须向克里特王国进贡七对童男童女来喂养半人半牛的怪物。为了杀死怪物，使同胞们免遭更大的悲痛，特修斯决定作为被选送牺牲品的一员前往克里特。临行前，他向父亲保证，一旦成功，他将把船上的黑帆换成白帆。他走了，在克里特公主阿瑞安得妮的帮助下，他杀死了半人半牛的怪物并带着公主一同返回。他把姑娘留在了纳克松斯，让她自己照顾自己。但是当他的船驶近雅典时，他忘记换上约定好的白帆。他焦虑的父亲站在山顶上看到远处的黑帆时，就绝望地跳海自尽了。特修斯懊悔万分，再也没能从自责中缓过来。
他接替父亲当了国王。他引进了许多好方法来改善人民的生活。为了使国家不再受亚马孙族女战士的威胁，他带队远征这个女人国，并俘虏了它的王后。王后名叫安提诺波。事实上，她狂热地爱上了特修斯并答应嫁给他。后来，亚马孙族人借口要夺回王后派兵攻打雅典。在接着的战斗中，王后被一只乱箭射中，不幸丧命，留下特修斯一人独自悲伤。
特修斯与拉皮塞国王皮瑞塞斯的友谊有着戏剧般的开端。皮瑞塞斯入侵安提卡。特修斯带兵出城迎战。在两人正面交锋的第一个回合中，两人相互之间钦佩不已，以致最后都放下武器成了忠实的朋友。
皮瑞塞斯结婚时，特修斯和海格拉斯都受到了邀请。在场的许多骑兵被新娘那闪光夺目的美丽所激怒。他们决定用武力把她抢过来。特修斯和海格拉斯对他们的野蛮行径怒不可遏。在这场众所周知的冷血战争中，他们痛击了骑兵并夺回了新娘。可惜她很快就离开人世了。
特修斯和皮瑞塞斯都雄心勃勃想娶一位出身圣洁的淑女。他们一度夺来了海伦。她是宙斯美丽的女儿，但她未到婚嫁年龄，于是特修斯让母亲照看她。后来，海伦的兄弟卡斯特和波鲁克斯救出了她。两位朋友如此骄傲便决定去进攻人间，把珀耳塞福涅抢来。因为皮瑞塞斯喜爱她的美貌。他们出发了，但他们却发现自己已无法逃脱，皮瑞塞斯被绑到了一个旋转的车轮上了，而特修斯则被拴在了石头上。要不是海格立斯，特修斯肯定就不能再回到天上了。
当特修斯回到雅典时，他老态龙钟，生活也不如意。作为一个国王他独断专横，结果被人民赶下了台。他被流放到塞库鲁斯岛。在那儿，他失足从悬崖上栽到了海里。从那以后，他杳无音信。几百年后特洛伊战争爆发。雅典人看到一个身材高大的士兵带领他们勇敢无情地攻击着入侵的波斯人，他们认出他就是特修斯。战争结束后，雅典人为纪念他建造了一座大寺庙，并给他的祭坛贡奉祭品。
                                               

rosyhorse

[希腊神话53]海尔墨斯与阿刚斯

Hermes And Argus

Argus was a watchman with a hundred eyes，set in a circle all around his head．When he slept，he closed only two eyes at a time；the other ninety-eight were always wideopen．So it could not have been easy to steal away anything that Argus was watching．
Now it happened that Hera，the wife of Zeus，was very jealous of a beautiful river nymph，called Io．Zeus，in order to save Io from the jealous anger of Hera，changed her into a white heifer ．Hera，suspecting that the white heifer was really Io，set Argus with his hundred eyes to watch her．
Poor Io was very unhappy．Her father， the river god，did not know her，neither did her sister nymphs；but they used to pat the white heifer and give it grass from their hands． At last Io wrote her name with her hoof in the sands of the river bank，and then her father and sisters knew that the pretty white heifer was their own Io．
She had no soonerrevealed herself to her family in this way than Argus drove her away toa field that lay far back from the river ，where the river god and the nymphs could not come，and then set himself down on the top of a high hill，meaning to watch her more closely than ever．
Zeus felt sorry for Io，still he did not dare to change her back into her natural form  while Argus was watching her． But remembering how Hermes，when he was less than a day old，had stolen away the cattle of Apollo，he now set this prince of thieves， this mischief flowing Hermes ，to steal Io away from Argus．
Hermes thought there could be no better fun． He laid aside his winged cap and his winged shoes ，and dressed like the shepherds in that country，He carried his golden stick in his hand，and as he walked along，played carelessly on a shepherd's pipe；then，finding a few goats feeding at the side of the road，he drove them slowly before him．
Argus found his watch rather dull，and was glad enough to talk to any one who happened to pass by． He was very glad when he saw Hermes coming with the goats，and he invited the pretended shepherd to come and sit by him，under the trees in the shade，and play on his pipe and tell stories．
Hermes sat down on a stone by the side of Argus，and began to play very softly，so softly that the music was like the sighing of the wind  through the branches of the trees． The day was warm， and it was quiet．Two of Argus's eyes soon closed．The others might have remained open if there had not been a sleepy magic in Hermes'  piping．The soft notes came gently，slower and slower， and one after another Argus'  other eyes began to close， till only two remained open．These two eyes were very bright；they fairly twinkled，and they kept their watch on Io through all Hermes' playing．Then Hermes began to tell stories，and at last the two twinkling eyes closed，like the others．Argus， with all his hundred eyes closed， was fast asleep．To make him sleep more heavily，Hermes just touched him lightly with the dream-giving stick，and then he successfully led Io away．
Hera was very angry when she found that her wonderful watch man had slept at his post，slept with all his eyes at once．She said he did not deserve to have so many eyes，if he could not keep some of them open．So she took all of his hundred eyes away from him，and set them in the tail of her pet peacock ，who was very proud to wear them．Ever since that day all peacocks have had eyes in their tails．
阿刚斯是个有100只眼睛的看守，他能看到头顶上一圈的任何东西。他睡觉时，一次只合上两只眼睛，其他98只眼睛总是睁着。所以要把阿刚斯看守的东西偷走是不容易的。
事情的发生是宙斯的妻子赫拉非常嫉妒一位漂亮、名叫伊娥的女河神。宙斯为了要救伊娥免遭赫拉的陷害，就把她变为一只白母牛。赫拉怀疑这只白母牛就是伊娥，就命令长着一百只眼睛的阿刚斯看守她。
可怜的伊娥非常苦闷，她父亲海神和姐妹们都不知道她的遭遇；不过他们还是轻抚这只白母牛并且拿草给它吃。伊娥最后用蹄把名字写在沙滩上。她父亲和姐妹们才知道这只可爱的白母牛就是伊娥。
没多久她就不能这样跟人交谈了，因为阿刚斯把她带到远离河水、河神和女河神无法到达的一处平原，他自己则坐在山顶上，这样他随时都能清楚地看到每一动静。
宙斯为伊娥感到很难过，可是在阿刚斯的看守下他还不敢把她变回原来的样子。不过他想起海尔墨斯在很小的时候就偷走阿波罗的牛群，他就叫这个小偷王、爱胡闹的海尔墨斯去把伊娥从阿刚斯那里偷走。
在海尔墨斯看来没有比这种事更好玩了。他脱掉带翼的羽毛帽子和鞋子，换上那个国家牧羊人的衣服。他手持金杖，一边走一边随心所欲的吹着牧羊笛。他发现路边有几只野山羊在吃草，就慢慢地把它们赶到他前面。
阿刚斯有点厌烦这种无聊的看守，因此很高兴跟路过的人谈谈天。他看到海尔墨斯赶羊路过时很高兴，就请这个假牧羊人到树荫下坐坐，吹吹笛子或讲故事。
海尔墨斯坐在阿刚斯身边的一块石头上，就开始吹一曲像微风吹拂树枝发出的飕飕声那样柔和的音乐，那天天气很暖和，也很安静。阿刚斯的两只双很快闭上了。假如不是海尔墨斯的笛声中有催眠的魔力的话，其他98只眼睛可能仍然会张开着。柔和的调子轻飘过来。阿刚斯的眼睛就一只一只慢慢地闭上，直到只有两只眼睛仍睁着。这两只眼睛很明亮，它们在海尔墨斯音乐的催眠下还可以明亮的眨着看守伊娥。海尔墨斯就开始讲故事，最后这两只闪烁的眼睛也像其他的眼睛闭上了。阿刚斯的100只眼睛都睡着了。为了让他睡得更沉，海尔墨斯轻轻地用那支赐梦的魔杖碰了他一下，然后胜利地把伊娥带走。
赫拉发现她最好的看守在工作时100只眼睛都睡着时很愤怒。她说如果他不能让一些眼睛张开着就不应该有这么多的眼睛。于是把他的100只眼睛全部拿走，放在她的宠物孔雀的尾巴上，孔雀很骄傲的戴着。从此以后，所有孔雀的尾巴上都有100只眼睛。

rosyhorse

[希腊神话54]特洛伊战争

The Trojan War

At a wedding party Eris， the goddess of discord， threw a golden apple bearing the words“For the fairest！” Hera，Athena and Aphrodite，each wanting to get it for herself，were sent to Paris for judgement． A shepherd on Mt Ida，Paris gave the apple to Aphrodite because she had promised to obtain for him the love of the most beautiful woman in the world．
Paris was the son of Priam，the king of Troy．At his birth his mother Queen Hecuba dreamed of holding a piece of burning wood．So he was regarded as likely to bring destruction on the city，and was by chance exposed to the sun，wind and rain on MtIda． He was finally saved and brought up by the herdsmen there．Now acting on the instruction of Aphrodite，he went down the mountain to take part in the game held in Troy，and there so famous did he become that King Priam and Queen Hecuba received him joyfully back into the royal palace．
Soon he was sent to Greece at the head of a great team of boats．he went to Sparta，where，as Aphrodite had told him，the most beautiful woman of the time，Helen，lived．King Menelaus，Helen's husband，generously received him but Paris returned his host's kindness with no thanks．In the king's absence he persuaded Helen to elope with him to Troy．To payback，Greek took up arms．The Trojan war broke out．
As the Greek ships gathered at the port of Aulis，no favouring wind blew up ． A prophet told the comander of the expedition， Agamemnon，that he had to offer his daughter Iphigenia as a sacrifice to Artemis．Iphigenia was placed before the goddess' altar but Artemis took her away at the last minute，putting a red deer(赤鹿) in her place．Agamemnon' s wife Clytemnestra was greatly enraged at her husband' s cruelty．
The war lasted ten years，during which both sides suffered the misfortunes of war． Agamemnon fought with Achilles over a captive princess， and in anger，Achilles refused to fight．His friend， Patroclus，borrowed his armour and went out to change the situation of war，but was killed by Hector，the eldest son of Priam．Bent on revenge ， Achilles no longer fought with Agamemnon，and putting on his new armour made by Hephaestus，went out to avenge his friend．He killed Hector and dragged his dead body three times around the walls of Troy． But soon after，Achilles was wounded in the heel by Paris and died in battle． Paris had not long to live either，for he was killed by a friend of Achilles' ． As Achilles left his armour to the bravest of the Greeks，a bitter struggle happened between its two worthy contestants；and when the weapons were given to Odysseus by judge， Ajax took his own life for grief and shame．
At the end of nine years a prophet predicted that Troy would not fall as long as the Palladium stayed within its walls．Odysseus and Diomedes went into the city in disguise and stole it out of the temple of the city． Then the Greeks designed a great wooden horse，in which some Greek soldiers hid themselves，and made believe to withdraw． Taken in by rumour that the horse had been sent by Athena， the overjoyed Trojans hauled it into their capital． At night the hidden Greeks crawled out and threwthe whole city into confusion ． Tory was robbed． King Priam was killed．Queen Hecuba，her daughter Cassandra and her daughter in law Andromache were all carried into slavery． Helen and Menelaus were on good terms again and disappeared in the west． Agamemnon went back to Mycenae， only to be murdered by his own wife． His son Orestes killed his mother and was pursued by the Furies． Odysseus went through untold hardships，struggling with wind and wave，before he reached his home island Ithaca to reunite with  his faithful wife Penelope．Aeneas，one of the Trojan princes，after narrowly escaping death at Troy，wandered from land to land for a long time and became，in the end，the founder of the Roman race．
在新婚宴会上，不和女神厄里斯抛出一只写有“献给最美丽的人”字样的金苹果。赫拉、阿芙罗狄蒂和雅典娜都希望得到这只金苹果。她们被送到帕里斯那里以做出裁决。帕里斯是爱达山上的一个牧羊人，他把金苹果判给了阿芙罗狄蒂，因为她答应帮他得到世上最美丽女子的爱。
帕里斯是特洛伊国王皮安姆的儿子。他出生时，他的母亲赫尔犹巴王后梦到自己手握一根燃木；因此，人们认为帕里斯很可能会给城市带来毁灭。一个很偶然的机会，他被遗弃在爱达山上，在那经受了风吹、雨淋和日晒。后来，他被那里的牧民救了下来并抚养成人。这次，在阿芙罗狄蒂的授意下，他下山参加在特洛伊城举办的集会。在那里，他是如此的出众，国王皮安姆和王后赫尔犹巴兴高采烈地接纳了他，他重新成为王室家族的一员。
不久，他被任命为船队首领，并被派往希腊。他来到斯巴达，因为阿芙罗狄蒂曾经告诉他，当时最美的女子——海伦就住在那儿。海伦的丈夫，墨涅劳斯国王热情地款待了帕里斯，但他却恩将仇报。趁着国王不在，帕里斯说服海伦与他一起私奔到特洛伊城。为了报仇雪恨，希腊人民拿起了武器，特洛伊战争爆发了。
当希腊舰队停驻在奥利斯海港时，风向一直不顺。一位先知告诉远征军的统帅阿伽门农，让他牺牲自己的女儿伊菲革涅亚，把她献给阿耳特弥斯。伊菲革涅亚被摆到了女神祭坛上。但是阿耳特弥斯在最后关头将她带走了，并将一只鹿放到她的位置上。阿伽门农的妻子克吕泰涅斯特拉对丈夫的残忍深感愤怒。
战争持续了十年。在这段时间里，双方损失惨重。阿伽门农与阿基里斯争夺一位俘获的公主。暴怒之下，阿基里斯拒绝继续参战。阿基里斯的朋友，普特洛克勒斯借走了他的盔甲以扭转战局。很不幸，他死在了皮安姆的大儿子海克特的手下。阿基里斯一心一意要为朋友报仇，他不再与阿伽门农斗气。披上赫斐斯塔司为他赶制的新盔甲，他出征了。他杀死了海克特，拖着尸体绕特洛伊城跑了三圈。但很快，阿基里斯又被帕里斯射中了脚跟，死在战场上。帕里斯也没活多久，他又被阿基里斯的朋友杀死了。由于阿基里斯遗言要把他的盔甲送给希腊最勇敢的战士，在两位得此称号的勇士间展开了激烈的争夺。当盔甲最后判定应奖给奥德修斯时，另一位勇士埃杰克斯郁郁寡欢，羞愧万分地结束了他的生命。
当仗打到第九年年底的时候，一位先知预言，只要城里的雅典娜神像在，特洛伊城就永远不会被攻陷。于是，奥德修斯就和狄俄墨得斯伪装入城，偷偷地将神像盗了出来。随后，希腊人精心制作了一匹庞大的木马，一些希腊士兵藏进了马腹。与此同时，希腊军队假装撤兵，并散布谣言：这匹马是雅典娜送来的。信以为真的特洛伊人欢天喜地地将马拖进城里。夜幕降临，隐藏的希腊士兵们蹑手蹑脚地从马肚里钻出来，使整个城市陷入一片混乱之中。特洛伊城被洗劫一空。国王皮安姆被杀，赫克犹巴王后，她的女儿卡珊德拉及儿媳安德洛玛切都被充作了奴隶。海伦和墨涅劳斯重归于好，到西方隐居了起来。阿伽门农返回锡尼，却不幸遭到自己妻子的谋杀。他的儿子杀死了自己的母亲，又被愤怒女神追捕。奥德修斯历尽艰难险阻，与大风大浪搏击着，直到他最终到达伊塞沙，与忠实的妻子珀涅罗珀团聚在一起。特洛伊城的一位王子埃厄安斯幸免于难。很长一段时间，他从一个国家流浪到另一个国家。最后，他创建了罗马民族。

rosyhorse

[希腊神话55]阿克里西俄斯

Acrisius

Acrisius，king of Argos，was Hypermnestra' s grandson．He had one beautiful daughter， Danae by name． So much did he love her that he decided not to remarry after the death of his wife． But one day an oracle  from Delphi prophesied that he would be killed by the son of Danae．He felt so upset that his love suddenly changed to fear and hatred． To avoid the disaster he built a tall bronze tower，wherein he shut Danae up with her nurse．he kept the key of the tower himself，and left only the roof open for Danae to take an occasional look at the blue sky above． One bright sunny morning Danae felt a childish joy at the sight of the clear，blue sky and longed for freedom when a golden shower of sunlight shot through the open roof and spread all over her．A wave of happiness spread all over her，and Zeus himself stood before her in his splendour  and won her．
Some time later，a guard came rushing into King Acrisius' palace and told the astonished king that Danae had given birth to a son． The baby was called Perseus． Acrisius decided that both mother and son must die if he wanted to live himself． Very soon he had a great chest(箱子) built，where he put Danae and her son，and then set it adrift on the sea ． Answering the sad prayers of the poor mother，Zeus had the chest swept onto the land of the Seriphos． Polydectes，king of the country，treated them at first with kindness，but afterwards with cruelty． When Perseus was grown up，Polydectes sent him to kill Medusa．
Medusa had been a beautiful maiden，but as she once violated Athena's temple in Lybia  the goddess changed her beautiful hair into snakes and her body into that of a monster． So ugly and terrible was she that anyone looking on her face was immediately turned to stone． But Athena and other gods came to help Perseus． Athena lent him her brightly polished shield in which she warned him to look at the reflection of Medusa  only； Hades gave him his helmet which made its wearer invisible；and Hermes offered him his winged shoes so that he could travel fast over long distances． From the gods he also took a sword and a magic wallet．
Acting on the advice of Athena，Perseus travelled west and first sought out the three grey women，known as the Graeae who knew the whereabouts of Medusa． These women had one tooth and one eye between them，so Perseus grabbed the tooth and the eye from them and forced them to tell him the truth． This the grey women did，and one night while flying across the sky the young man found Medusa sleeping on a rock． Flying down，he struck off the head of Medusa and turned back to the land where he had left his mother．
阿尔戈斯国王阿克里西俄斯是许泊涅斯特拉的孙子。他的女儿达那厄非常美丽。他对女儿如此宠爱，因此在丧妻之后他决定不再另娶。但是一天来自特尔斐城的一个先知者预言他将死在达那厄儿子的手上。他感到很沮丧，突然之间爱转变成恐惧与仇恨。为了避免灾难的发生，他建造了一座高高的铜塔，把达那厄和她的佣人关在里面。只有他有塔的钥匙。塔顶留有开口，达那厄只能从这里偶尔看看蓝天。在一个阳光明媚的早晨，看到晴朗的蓝天。她感到孩子般的喜悦并渴望自由。金色的阳光透过敞开的塔顶倾泻下来将她笼罩。幸福的暖流传遍她的全身。站在她面前的是宇宙之王宙斯。他辉煌伟大，赢得了她的心。
过了一段时间，一名卫士急匆匆地来到国王阿克里西俄斯的王宫。惊讶的国王被告知达那厄生下了一个儿子，名叫柏修斯。阿克里西俄斯当即决定母子俩都得死，这样他才能保住性命。很快他就令人做了一只大箱子，把达那厄母子俩关在里面，并把他们扔到海里漂流。这位可怜的母亲的祈祷得到了宙斯的回应。宙斯让箱子漂到赛瑞费斯国。该国国王波吕得克忒斯先是友好地招待他们，后来却变得残忍无情。柏修斯长大成人后，波吕得克忒斯派他去杀墨杜萨。
墨杜萨曾是一位美丽少女。但是因她亵渎了雅典娜在利比尔的神殿，女神就把它的美发变成了蛇，她的身体也成了怪物的体态。她丑陋狰狞，任何人只要看到她的面孔就会立即变成石头。雅典娜和其他的神向柏修斯伸出了救援的手。雅典娜借给他闪亮的盾。她警告他只能看墨杜萨映在上面的像。哈得斯借给他隐身盔甲；海尔墨斯为他提供带翼鞋，穿上它就能快步如飞。从神那里还得到了剑和魔袋。
遵照雅典娜的忠告，柏修斯向西走，他首先找到了格赖埃三姐妹。她们知道墨杜萨的行踪。这三位妇人共用一颗牙，一只眼。于是，柏修斯抓着他们的牙和眼，强迫她们道出实情。一天晚上，年轻人飞越天空时，他发现了在岩石上睡觉的墨杜萨。他飞下去砍掉了墨杜萨的头。然后转身走向与母亲告别的地方。
                                               

rosyhorse

[希腊神话56]俄狄浦斯

Oedipus

A prophet warned King Laius of Thebes that because he had married his cousin Jocasta，he would be killed by his son．To avoid the disaster，he ordered his loyal shepherd to kill his newborn baby son．The good hearted slave，however，could not bring himself to do the evil deed． He pierced the baby' s feet  and tied them with ropes． Then he turned the baby over to the care of a fellow shepherd who happened to be the servant of the king of Corinth． The child was given the name of Oedipus，He was brought up by the childless royal couple as their son and successor．The prince had never doubted that the king was not his real father until one day he heard others talking about his parentage． Deeply troubled，he went to Delphi to require about his birth．There he was warned by Apollo not to return to his native country，because，should he do so ， he would kill his father and marry his mother． The frightened young man turned his back on Corinth，determined not to return while his supposed parents lived．
Oedipus had not gone far on his way to Thebes when he saw a cart coming towards him． The man sitting in the cart，angry at the young man in the way，whipped him on the face with an oath ． Oedipus jumped onto the cart and killed him in his anger．of the five servants who followed their master on foot，only one escaped narrowly． Little did Oedipus think that the man sitting in the cart was King Laicus，his father． Presently the young manar rived in the kingdom of Thebes． Round about this time，the Thebans were troubled by a woman headed monster，called Sphinx， who produced a riddle to them． The crown and the hand of the widow queen were offered to anyone who could solve the riddle． Oedipus met Sphinx on a cliff． To the monster' s riddle，“What animal walks on four legs in the morning，on two at noon，and on three at night？”he offered the answer，“Man，Who creeps in infancy，walks upright in manhood，and supports his steps with a staff in old age．” Thus， Sphinx threw herself down into the valley． Oedipus became king of Thebes and husband of the queen，his mother．
For a long time after this event，Oedipus lived in honour and prosperity． Four unnatural children  came out of this odd marriage，two sons and two daughters． Then the sad thing came．A plague raged throughout the land ． Every family was affected，and not a day went by without new death．A prophet warned that the trouble would not be removed until themurderer of the former king Laius was driven out of the country． An old blind seer，Tiresias by name，was brought before the king and，outraged by the kings impolite language，declared that Oedipus himself was the hunted murderer． The king was shocked and annoyed． He called the Theban and Corinthian shepherds to prove the truth． As the two old shepherds had been concerned in his adoption as an infant，the truth finally became known． The queen hanged herself． Oedipus put out of his own eyes with a pin，so that he might not look on the sun again．he was driven out of the kingdom and wandered from one city to another，until he found protection in King Theseus'  Athens． There at the signal of Zeus' thunder，he mysteriously ended his poor earthly life．
有个预言家警告底比斯国王拉伊俄斯说：由于他和他的表妹结了婚，他可能会被他儿子杀了。为了避免杀身之祸，他命令忠实的牧羊人把刚出生的婴儿杀死。然而，这个好心的牧羊人下不了毒手。他刺穿婴儿的脚，并把双脚用绳子捆起来。然后把婴儿托给他的一个同伴照看，他的这个同伴恰好是科林斯国王的仆人。这个孩子就是俄狄浦斯。无儿无女的国王夫妇把他当作儿子和继承人抚养成人。王子从没有怀疑过国王是他亲生父亲直到有一天他听到别人在谈论他的身事。他听到这些大惑不解，便动身到特尔斐去询问他的身世。在那儿阿波罗警告他不要回他的故土，因为如果他要这样做，他就会杀了他的父亲并且和他母亲结婚。得到这个忠告，俄狄浦斯转向与科林斯相反的方向，并下定决心在他以为是生身父亲的科林斯国王在世时决不踏上故土，决心不再回到他的父母可能住的地方。
俄狄浦斯在通往底比斯的路上没走多远就看见一辆马车朝他驶来。坐在马车上的人对挡道的年轻人怒不可遏，一边咒骂一边用鞭子抽打着年轻人的脸。俄狄浦斯一气之下跳上马车杀了那人。徒步跟着他们的主人的五个随从中只有一个侥幸逃生。俄狄浦斯根本没想到坐在马车里的人就是国王拉伊俄斯，他的父亲。这个年轻人很快到达了底比斯王国。就在这个时候，底比斯人正被一个长着女人头的名叫斯芬克斯的怪兽困扰着，她给他们出了一个谜语，没人能破解得了。如果谁能解开这个谜，谁就能登上皇帝的宝座并娶皇后为妻。俄狄浦斯在悬崖上遇到了斯芬克斯。对于这个怪兽出的谜：“什么动物在早晨用四条腿走路，在中午用两条腿走路，在晚上用三条腿走路？”他回答到：“是人，在婴幼儿时期他爬行，长大后他直立行走，老年时他柱着拐棍。”就这样，斯芬克斯跳下了悬崖。俄狄浦斯成了底比斯的国王以及王后——他母亲的丈夫。
这件事之后很久，俄狄浦斯过着富有和受人尊重的生活。这个奇异的婚姻给他带来了四个奇异的孩子，两个儿子，两个女儿。接着悲惨的事情发生了。瘟疫席卷了整个国土。每个家庭都被传染上了这种可怕的病，每一天都要死很多人。一个预言家告诉世人说：只有将杀害前国王拉伊俄斯的凶手赶出这个国家，这场灾难才能结束。一个年老眼瞎名叫泰瑞西斯的预言家被带到国王面前。国王粗鲁的言语激怒了他，他宣称俄狄浦斯自己就是凶手。国王大吃一惊。他叫来底比斯的和科林斯族牧羊人来证明这个事实。当那两个牧羊人说到国王还是婴儿的时候就收养了他，真相终于搞清楚了。王后上吊自缢了。俄狄浦斯用针挖出了自己的双眼，使自己再也看不见明亮的阳光。他被赶出了王国。他从一个城市流浪到另一个城市，直到他在提修斯国王的雅典得到了保护，在宙斯的一次霹雷中，他神秘地结束了自己贫穷短暂的一生。

rosyhorse

[希腊神话57]阿基里斯

Achilles

Achilles felt proud of his parentage．His grandfather was noted for his justice and uprightness and became a judge in Hades after death． His father Peleus was a brave warrior and later married the beautiful sea goddess，Thetis． At the wedding of Peleus and the sea goddess，to which most of the gods were invited， the goddess of discord，Eris，feeling angry at not being invited， threw among the guests a golden apple bearing the words“For the fairest” and stirred up a bitter quarrel which led in the end to the Trojan war．
Thetis loved her son very much． When Achilles was still a baby， Thetis was shocked by a prophecy that her son would die in war． To save her son，the sea goddess dipped her baby in the waters of Styx  which could protect the human body from the fire and sword． But as the heel by which she held him was dry it became the one mortal spot  in the whole body of Achilles． Thus the expression“the heel of Achilles” has come to mean“a weak spot”． Achilles spent a great part of his boyhood in the woods with the wise old centaur， Chiron， who taught him the gentle arts as well as war affairs，and prepared him well for a short but brilliant career．
When fighters all over Greece flew to arms against Troy， a prophet foretold that Achilles was sure not to return from the war． Determined to keep her son from the disaster， Thetis sent young Achilles to the court of the king of Scyros， where he worked in disguise as one of the handmaids waiting on the princess of Scyros ． For a time trick worked． Messenger after messenger came，but all left without him． One day，a peddlar appeared in the palace，bringing with him a wide variety of womanish small things． There was，however，also a sword among such goods． Whereas most of the ladies stared at the silks and veils，one of them eagerly grabbed the sword and joyfully played with it． At this the peddlar threw off his disguise and came out with his true identity． The artful Odysseus had come to fetch the hero to Aulis，where Greek ships had been waiting for both a fair wind and Achilles． Odysseus had not laboured in vain ． During an attack on the walls of Troy， Achilles caught the sight of the beauty of Polyxena，daughter of Priam． He was so attracted by the grace of the princess that he asked Priam to give him the hand of Polyxena in marriage ． He worked hard for the peace between the two sides． When his efforts proved useless， he obtained a promise from Priam that the marriage would be held after the war． Just as Achilles turned to leave，the faithless Paris took out a poisoned arrow and shot at his heel from behind． Before Achilles breathed his last， he left his armour in his will  to the bravest of the Greek heroes． This gave rise to such a fierce contest between Ajax and Odysseus． As a result the armour was adjudged to Odysseus ． So sad and desperate was Polyxena at Achilles'  death she committed suicide  in front of his magnificent tomb．
阿基里斯为自己的出身门弟感到自豪。他的祖父以正直，擅主持正义而闻名，所以祖父死后在阴间做了一名法官。他的父亲珀琉斯是位勇敢的武士，后来与女海神忒提斯结婚。大多数神祗应邀参加了婚礼，只有不和女神厄里斯未在邀请之列。厄里斯颇感愤怒。她将一只刻有“献给最美的人”的金苹果掷向来宾，由此引起了激烈的争吵，最终引发了特洛伊战争。
忒提斯非常喜爱儿子。当阿基里斯还是个婴儿的时候，忒提斯听到一种预言：儿子会在战争中死去，她大为震惊。为拯救儿子女海神在冥河中为她的孩子施浸礼。河水可使人体免遭苦难和屠杀。但因阿基里斯被抓的脚后跟是干的，因此脚后跟就成了阿基里斯整个身体中最致命的一点。这样，表达法——“阿基里斯的脚后跟”——逐渐用来指“弱点”。阿基里斯在树林中渡过少年时期。他与聪慧的半人半马怪物契诺呆在一起。这个怪物给他教授文雅的艺术和战事，为他短暂辉煌的一生做好充分的准备。
当希腊的全体战士拿起武器进攻特洛伊城时，一位先知说：阿基里斯肯定不会从战争中生还。忒提斯决心使儿子免于遭难。她就派儿子去斯库诺斯国王的宫中。在那儿，阿基里斯装扮成一位女仆，伺候斯库诺斯的公主，在一段时间内，诡计并未被识破，前方的传令兵一个接一个地来到宫殿，但走时并未带上阿基里斯。有一天，一位小贩来到宫中，出售各种妇人用的小玩意儿。然而在所卖的东西中有一把利剑，大多数人的双眼都盯着丝绸和面纱，而其中一人却热切地抓起利剑，然后兴高采烈地摆弄起来。这时，小贩揭掉伪装，表明了自己的真实身份。狡猾的奥德修斯带走了阿基里斯。在奥里斯，希腊的战舰正在等待顺风和阿基里斯。奥德修斯的努力并未白费。
当攻占特洛伊城墙时，阿基里斯看到了皮安姆之女波利希娜的美貌。他深为公主的魅力所吸引，因而请求皮安姆将波利希娜许配给他。他致力于双方的和解。当他的努力被证明为毫无用处时，他得到皮安姆在战后举行婚礼的许诺。阿基里斯刚转身要走，不守信用的帕利斯拿出毒箭从后面射中了他的脚后跟。阿基里斯咽气之前，留下遗嘱：将他的铠甲留给希腊最勇敢的英雄，这在埃杰克斯和奥德修斯之间引发了一场激烈的争斗。最终铠甲被判给奥德修斯。波利希娜为阿基里斯之死而悲伤绝望。她自尽于他壮丽的墓碑前。
                                               

rosyhorse

  end of      "希腊神话"

rosyhorse

伊索寓言1

The Wolf and the Lamb 狼与小羊

WOLF, meeting with a Lamb astray from the fold, resolved not to layviolent hands on him, but to find some plea to justify to the Lamb theWolf's right to eat him. He thus addressed him:"Sirrah, last year yougrossly insulted me." "Indeed," bleated the Lamb in a mournful tone ofvoice, "I was not then born." Then said the Wolf , "You feed in mypasture." "No, good sir," replied the Lamb, "I have not yet tastedgrass." Again said the Wolf, "You drink of my well." "No," exclaimedthe Lamb, "I never yet drank water, for as yet my mother's milk is bothfood and drink to me." Upon which the Wolf seized him and ate him up,saying, "Well! I won't remain supperless, even though you refute everyone of my imputations."

The tyrant will always find a pretext for his tyranny.  

一只小羊在河边喝水，狼见到后，便想找一个名正言顺的借口吃掉他。于是他跑到上游，恶狠狠地说小羊把河水搅浑浊了，使他喝不到清水。小羊回答说，他仅仅站在河边喝水，并且又在下游，根本不可能把上游的水搅浑。狼见此计不成，又说道：“我父亲去年被你骂过。”小羊说，那时他还没有出生。狼对他说：“不管你怎样辩解，反正我不会放过 你。”

这说明，对恶人做任何正当的辩解也是无效的。

　 　
The Bat and the Weasels蝙蝠与黄鼠狼

A BAT who fell upon the ground and was caught by aWeasel pleaded to be spared his life. The Weasel refused, saying thathe was by nature the enemy of all birds. The Bat assured him that hewas not a bird, but a mouse, and thus was set free. Shortly afterwardsthe Bat again fell to the ground and was caught by another Weasel, whomhe likewise entreated not to eat him. The Weasel said that he had aspecial hostility to mice. The Bat assured him that he was not a mouse,but a bat, and thus a second time escaped.

It is wise to turn circumstances to good account.

蝙蝠掉落在地上，被黄鼠狼叼去，他请求饶命。黄鼠狼说绝不会放过他，自己生来痛恨鸟类。蝙蝠说他是老鼠，不是鸟，便被放了。后来蝙蝠又掉落了下来，被另一只黄鼠狼叼住，他再三请求不要吃他。这只黄鼠狼说他恨一切鼠类。蝙蝠改口说自己是鸟类，并非老 鼠，又被放了。这样，蝙蝠两次改变了自己的名字，终于死里逃生。

这故事说明，我们遇事要随机应变方能避免危险。 　

The Ass and the Grasshopper 驴子与蚱蜢  

AN ASS having heard some Grasshoppers chirping, was highly enchanted;and, desiring to possess the same charms of melody, demanded what sortof food they lived on to give them such beautiful voices. They replied,"The dew." The Ass resolved that he would live only upon dew, and in ashort time died of hunger.
驴子听见蚱蜢唱歌，被美妙动听的歌声所打动，自己也想能发出同样悦耳动听的声音，便 羡慕地问他们吃些什么，才能发出如此美妙的声音来。蚱蜢答道：“吃露水。”驴子便也只吃露水，没多久就饿死了。

这个故事告诉人们不要企望非份之物。

　
The Lion and the Mouse 狮子与报恩的老鼠

A LION was awakened from sleep by a Mouse running over his face. Risingup angrily, he caught him and was about to kill him, when the Mousepiteously entreated, saying: "If you would only spare my life, I wouldbe sure to repay your kindness." The Lion laughed and let him go. Ithappened shortly after this that the Lion was caught by some hunters,who bound him by strong ropes to the ground. The Mouse, recognizing hisroar, came and gnawed the rope with his teeth and set him free,exclaiming:  
"You ridiculed the idea of my ever being able to help you, expecting toreceive from me any repayment of your favor; now you know that it ispossible for even a Mouse to con benefits on a Lion."

狮子睡着了，有只老鼠跳到了他身上。狮子猛然站起来，把他抓住，准备吃掉。老鼠请求饶命，并说如果保住性命，必将报恩，狮子轻蔑地笑了笑，便把他放走了。不久，狮子真的被老鼠救了性命。原来狮子被一个猎人抓获，并用绳索把他捆在一棵树上。老鼠听到了他 的哀嚎，走过去咬断绳索，放走了狮子，并说：
“你当时嘲笑我，不相信能得到我的报答， 现在可清楚了，老鼠也能报恩。” 这故事说明，时运交替变更，强者也会有需要弱者的时候。  

rosyhorse

伊索寓言2

The Charcoal-Burner and the Fuller 烧炭人与漂布人

A CHARCOAL-BURNER carried on his trade in his own house.
One day he met a friend, a Fuller, and entreated him to come and
live with him, saying that they should be far better neighbors and
that their housekeeping expenses would be lessened. The Fuller
replied, "The arrangement is impossible as far as I am concerned,
for whatever I should whiten, you would immediately blacken again
with your charcoal."

Like will draw like.

烧炭人在一所房子里干活，看见有一个漂布人搬迁到他的旁边来住时，满怀高兴地走上 去劝他与自己同住，并解释说这样彼此更亲密，更方便，还更省钱。漂布人却回答说：“也 许你说的是真话，但完全不可能办到，因为凡我所漂白的，都将被你弄黑。”
这故事说明，不同类的人难相处。

The Father and His Sons 父亲与争吵的儿子们

A FATHER had a family of sons who were perpetually quarreling
among themselves. When he failed to heal their disputes by his
exhortations, he determined to give them a practical illustration
of the evils of disunion; and for this purpose he one day told
them to bring him a bundle of sticks. When they had done so, he
placed the faggot into the hands of each of them in succession,
and ordered them to break it in pieces. They tried with all their
strength, and were not able to do it. He next opened the faggot,
took the sticks separately, one by one, and again put them into his
sons' hands, upon which they broke them easily. He then addressed
them in these words: "My sons, if you are of one mind, and unite
to assist each other, you will be as this faggot, uninjured by all the
attempts of your enemies; but if you are divided among yourselves
, you will be broken as easily as these sticks."     

有个父亲的儿子们常常互相争斗不休。他多次语重心长地劝说他们，尽管他苦口婆心， 仍无济于事。他认为应该用事实来教育他们，便叫儿子们去拿一捆木棒来。木棒拿来后，他 先把整捆木棒交给他们，叫他们折断。儿子们一个个竭尽了全力都无法将它折断。随后他解 开了那捆木棒，给他们每人一根。他们都毫不费力地将木棒折为两段。这时，父亲说：“孩 子们，你们要像木棒一样，团结一致，齐心协力，就不会被敌人征服；可你们互相争斗不 休，便很容易被敌人打垮。”

这故事说明，团结就是不可征服的力量，而内讧却只能耗损自己。

The Boy Hunting Locusts捉蚱蜢的小男孩

A BOY was hunting for locusts. He had caught a goodly number,
when he saw a Scorpion, and mistaking him for a locust, reached
out his hand to take him. The Scorpion, showing his sting, said:
If you had but touched me, my friend, you would have lost me,
and all your locusts too!"     
有个小孩在城墙前捉蚱蜢，一会儿就捉了许多。忽然看见一只蝎子，他以为也是蚱蜢， 便着两手去捕捉他。蝎子举起他的毒刺，说道：“来吧，如果你真敢这样做，就连你捉的蚱蜢也会统统失掉。”

这故事告诫人们，要分辨清好人和坏人，区别对待他们。

The Cock and the Jewel公鸡和宝玉

A COCK, scratching for food for himself and his hens, found a
precious stone and exclaimed: "If your owner had found thee, and
not I, he would have taken thee up, and have set thee in thy first
estate; but I have found thee for no purpose. I would rather have
one barleycorn than all the jewels in the world."

一只公鸡在田野里为自己和母鸡们寻找食物。他发现了一块宝玉，便对宝玉说：“若不 是我，而是你的主人找到了你，他会非常珍惜地把你捡起来；但我发现了你却毫无用处。我 与其得到世界上一切宝玉，倒不如得到一颗麦子好。”

这是说自己需要的东西才是真正珍贵的。