按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
you go inside first and join the suitors； leaving me here behind
you； or will you wait here and let me go in first？ But do not wait
long； or some one may you loitering about outside； and throw something
at you。 Consider this matter I pray you。〃
And Ulysses answered； 〃I understand and heed。 Go in first and
leave me here where I am。 I am quite used to being beaten and having
things thrown at me。 I have been so much buffeted about in war and
by sea that I am case…hardened； and this too may go with the rest。 But
a man cannot hide away the cravings of a hungry belly； this is an
enemy which gives much trouble to all men； it is because of this
that ships are fitted out to sail the seas； and to make war upon other
people。〃
As they were thus talking； a dog that had been lying asleep raised
his head and pricked up his ears。 This was Argos； whom Ulysses had
bred before setting out for Troy； but he had never had any work out of
him。 In the old days he used to be taken out by the young men when
they went hunting wild goats； or deer； or hares； but now that his
master was gone he was lying neglected on the heaps of mule and cow
dung that lay in front of the stable doors till the men should come
and draw it away to manure the great close； and he was full of
fleas。 As soon as he saw Ulysses standing there； he dropped his ears
and wagged his tail； but he could not get close up to his master。 When
Ulysses saw the dog on the other side of the yard； dashed a tear
from his eyes without Eumaeus seeing it； and said：
〃Eumaeus； what a noble hound that is over yonder on the manure heap：
his build is splendid； is he as fine a fellow as he looks； or is he
only one of those dogs that come begging about a table； and are kept
merely for show？〃
〃This hound；〃 answered Eumaeus； 〃belonged to him who has died in a
far country。 If he were what he was when Ulysses left for Troy； he
would soon show you what he could do。 There was not a wild beast in
the forest that could get away from him when he was once on its
tracks。 But now he has fallen on evil times； for his master is dead
and gone； and the women take no care of him。 Servants never do their
work when their master's hand is no longer over them； for Jove takes
half the goodness out of a man when he makes a slave of him。〃
As he spoke he went inside the buildings to the cloister where the
suitors were； but Argos died as soon as he had recognized his master。
Telemachus saw Eumaeus long before any one else did； and beckoned
him to come and sit beside him； so he looked about and saw a seat
lying near where the carver sat serving out their portions to the
suitors； he picked it up； brought it to Telemachus's table； and sat
down opposite him。 Then the servant brought him his portion； and
gave him bread from the bread…basket。
Immediately afterwards Ulysses came inside； looking like a poor
miserable old beggar； leaning on his staff and with his clothes all in
rags。 He sat down upon the threshold of ash…wood just inside the doors
leading from the outer to the inner court； and against a
bearing…post of cypress…wood which the carpenter had skillfully
planed； and had made to join truly with rule and line。 Telemachus took
a whole loaf from the bread…basket； with as much meat as he could hold
in his two hands； and said to Eumaeus； 〃Take this to the stranger； and
tell him to go the round of the suitors； and beg from them； a beggar
must not be shamefaced。〃
So Eumaeus went up to him and said； 〃Stranger； Telemachus sends
you this； and says you are to go the round of the suitors begging； for
beggars must not be shamefaced。〃
Ulysses answered； 〃May King Jove grant all happiness to
Telemachus； and fulfil the desire of his heart。〃
Then with both hands he took what Telemachus had sent him； and
laid it on the dirty old wallet at his feet。 He went on eating it
while the bard was singing； and had just finished his dinner as he
left off。 The suitors applauded the bard； whereon Minerva went up to
Ulysses and prompted him to beg pieces of bread from each one of the
suitors； that he might see what kind of people they were； and tell the
good from the bad； but come what might she was not going to save a
single one of them。 Ulysses； therefore； went on his round； going
from left to right； and stretched out his hands to beg as though he
were a real beggar。 Some of them pitied him； and were curious about
him； asking one another who he was and where he came from； whereon the
goatherd Melanthius said； 〃Suitors of my noble mistress； I can tell
you something about him； for I have seen him before。 The swineherd
brought him here； but I know nothing about the man himself； nor
where he comes from。〃
On this Antinous began to abuse the swineherd。 〃You precious idiot；〃
he cried； 〃what have you brought this man to town for？ Have we not
tramps and beggars enough already to pester us as we sit at meat？ Do
you think it a small thing that such people gather here to waste
your master's property and must you needs bring this man as well？〃
And Eumaeus answered； 〃Antinous； your birth is good but your words
evil。 It was no doing of mine that he came here。 Who is likely to
invite a stranger from a foreign country； unless it be one of those
who can do public service as a seer； a healer of hurts； a carpenter；
or a bard who can charm us with his Such men are welcome all the world
over； but no one is likely to ask a beggar who will only worry him。
You are always harder on Ulysses' servants than any of the other
suitors are； and above all on me； but I do not care so long as
Telemachus and Penelope are alive and here。〃
But Telemachus said； 〃Hush； do not answer him； Antinous has the
bitterest tongue of all the suitors； and he makes the others worse。〃
Then turning to Antinous he said； 〃Antinous； you take as much care
of my interests as though I were your son。 Why should you want to
see this stranger turned out of the house？ Heaven forbid； take'
something and give it him yourself； I do not grudge it； I bid you take
it。 Never mind my mother； nor any of the other servants in the
house； but I know you will not do what I say； for you are more fond of
eating things yourself than of giving them to other people。〃
〃What do you mean； Telemachus；〃 replied Antinous； 〃by this
swaggering talk？ If all the suitors were to give him as much as I
will； he would not come here again for another three months。〃
As he spoke he drew the stool on which he rested his dainty feet
from under the table； and made as though he would throw it at Ulysses；
but the other suitors all gave him something； and filled his wallet
with bread and meat； he was about； therefore； to go back to the
threshold and eat what the suitors had given him； but he first went up
to Antinous and said：
〃Sir； give me something； you are not； surely； the poorest man
here； you seem to be a chief； foremost among them all； therefore you
should be the better giver； and I will tell far and wide of your
bounty。 I too was a rich man once； and had a fine house of my own；
in those days I gave to many a tramp such as I now am； no matter who
he might be nor what he wanted。 I had any number of servants； and
all the other things which people have who live well and are accounted
wealthy； but it pleased Jove to take all away from me。 He sent me with
a band of roving robbers to Egypt； it was a long voyage and I was
undone by it。 I stationed my bade ships in the river Aegyptus； and
bade my men stay by them and keep guard over them； while sent out
scouts to reconnoitre from every point of vantage。
〃But the men disobeyed my orders； took to their own devices； and
ravaged the land of the Egyptians； killing the men； and taking their
wives and children captives。 The alarm was soon carried to the city；
and when they heard the war…cry； the people came out at daybreak
till the plain was filled with soldiers horse and foot； and with the
gleam of armour。 Then Jove spread panic among my men； and they would
no longer face the enemy； for they found themselves surrounded。 The
Egyptians killed many of us； and took the rest alive to do forced
labour for them； as for myself； they gave me to a friend who met them；
to take to