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！
bring them to a bad end before they do us a mischief。〃
〃Very well；〃 replied Telemachus； 〃go home when you have had your
dinner； and in the morning come here with the victims we are to
sacrifice for the day。 Leave the rest to heaven and me。〃
On this Eumaeus took his seat again； and when he had finished his
dinner he left the courts and the cloister with the men at table；
and went back to his pigs。 As for the suitors； they presently began to
amuse themselves with singing and dancing； for it was now getting on
towards evening。
BOOK XVIII。
NOW there came a certain common tramp who used to go begging all
over the city of Ithaca； and was notorious as an incorrigible
glutton and drunkard。 This man had no strength nor stay in him； but he
was a great hulking fellow to look at； his real name； the one his
mother gave him； was Arnaeus； but the young men of the place called
him Irus； because he used to run errands for any one who would send
him。 As soon as he came he began to insult Ulysses； and to try and
drive him out of his own house。
〃Be off； old man；〃 he cried； 〃from the doorway； or you shall be
dragged out neck and heels。 Do you not see that they are all giving me
the wink； and wanting me to turn you out by force； only I do not
like to do so？ Get up then； and go of yourself； or we shall come to
blows。〃
Ulysses frowned on him and said； 〃My friend； I do you no manner of
harm； people give you a great deal； but I am not jealous。 There is
room enough in this doorway for the pair of us； and you need not
grudge me things that are not yours to give。 You seem to be just
such another tramp as myself； but perhaps the gods will give us better
luck by and by。 Do not； however； talk too much about fighting or you
will incense me； and old though I am； I shall cover your mouth and
chest with blood。 I shall have more peace to…morrow if I do； for you
will not come to the house of Ulysses any more。〃
Irus was very angry and answered； 〃You filthy glutton； you run on
trippingly like an old fish…fag。 I have a good mind to lay both
hands about you； and knock your teeth out of your head like so many
boar's tusks。 Get ready； therefore； and let these people here stand by
and look on。 You will never be able to fight one who is so much
younger than yourself。〃
Thus roundly did they rate one another on the smooth pavement in
front of the doorway； and when Antinous saw what was going on he
laughed heartily and said to the others； 〃This is the finest sport
that you ever saw； heaven never yet sent anything like it into this
house。 The stranger and Irus have quarreled and are going to fight；
let us set them on to do so at once。〃
The suitors all came up laughing； and gathered round the two
ragged tramps。 〃Listen to me；〃 said Antinous； 〃there are some goats'
paunches down at the fire； which we have filled with blood and fat；
and set aside for supper； he who is victorious and proves himself to
be the better man shall have his pick of the lot； he shall be free
of our table and we will not allow any other beggar about the house at
all。〃
The others all agreed； but Ulysses； to throw them off the scent；
said； 〃Sirs； an old man like myself； worn out with suffering； cannot
hold his own against a young one； but my irrepressible belly urges
me on； though I know it can only end in my getting a drubbing。 You
must swear； however that none of you will give me a foul blow to
favour Irus and secure him the victory。〃
They swore as he told them； and when they had completed their oath
Telemachus put in a word and said； 〃Stranger； if you have a mind to
settle with this fellow； you need not be afraid of any one here。
Whoever strikes you will have to fight more than one。 I am host； and
the other chiefs； Antinous and Eurymachus； both of them men of
understanding； are of the same mind as I am。〃
Every one assented； and Ulysses girded his old rags about his loins；
thus baring his stalwart thighs； his broad chest and shoulders； and
his mighty arms； but Minerva came up to him and made his limbs even
stronger still。 The suitors were beyond measure astonished； and one
would turn towards his neighbour saying； 〃The stranger has brought
such a thigh out of his old rags that there will soon be nothing
left of Irus。〃
Irus began to be very uneasy as he heard them； but the servants
girded him by force； and brought him ＇into the open part of the court＇
in such a fright that his limbs were all of a tremble。 Antinous
scolded him and said； 〃You swaggering bully； you ought never to have
been born at all if you are afraid of such an old broken…down creature
as this tramp is。 I say； therefore… and it shall surely be… if he
beats you and proves himself the better man； I shall pack you off on
board ship to the mainland and send you to king Echetus； who kills
every one that comes near him。 He will cut off your nose and ears； and
draw out your entrails for the dogs to eat。〃
This frightened Irus still more； but they brought him into the
middle of the court； and the two men raised their hands to fight。 Then
Ulysses considered whether he should let drive so hard at him as to
make an end of him then and there； or whether he should give him a
lighter blow that should only knock him down； in the end he deemed
it best to give the lighter blow for fear the Achaeans should begin to
suspect who he was。 Then they began to fight； and Irus hit Ulysses
on the right shoulder； but Ulysses gave Irus a blow on the neck
under the ear that broke in the bones of his skull； and the blood came
gushing out of his mouth； he fell groaning in the dust； gnashing his
teeth and kicking on the ground； but the suitors threw up their
hands and nearly died of laughter； as Ulysses caught hold of him by
the foot and dragged him into the outer court as far as the
gate…house。 There he propped him up against the wall and put his staff
in his hands。 〃Sit here；〃 said he； 〃and keep the dogs and pigs off；
you are a pitiful creature； and if you try to make yourself king of
the beggars any more you shall fare still worse。〃
Then he threw his dirty old wallet； all tattered and torn； over
his shoulder with the cord by which it hung； and went back to sit down
upon the threshold； but the suitors went within the cloisters；
laughing and saluting him； 〃May Jove； and all the other gods；〃 said
they； 'grant you whatever you want for having put an end to the
importunity of this insatiable tramp。 We will take him over to the
mainland presently； to king Echetus； who kills every one that comes
near him。〃
Ulysses hailed this as of good omen； and Antinous set a great goat's
paunch before him filled with blood and fat。 Amphinomus took two
loaves out of the bread…basket and brought them to him； pledging him
as he did so in a golden goblet of wine。 〃Good luck to you；〃 he
said； 〃father stranger； you are very badly off at present； but I
hope you will have better times by and by。〃
To this Ulysses answered； 〃Amphinomus； you seem to be a man of
good understanding； as indeed you may well be； seeing whose son you
are。 I have heard your father well spoken of； he is Nisus of
Dulichium； a man both brave and wealthy。 They tell me you are his son；
and you appear to be a considerable person； listen； therefore； and
take heed to what I am saying。 Man is the vainest of all creatures
that have their being upon earth。 As long as heaven vouchsafes him
health and strength； he thinks that he shall come to no harm
hereafter； and even when the blessed gods bring sorrow upon him； he
bears it as he needs must； and makes the best of it； for God
Almighty gives men their daily minds day by day。 I know all about
it； for I was a rich man once； and did much wrong in the
stubbornness of my pride； and in the confidence that my father and
my brothers would support me； therefore let a man fear God in all
things always； and take the good that heaven may see fit to send him
without vainglory。 Consider the infamy of what these suitors are
doing； see how they are wasting the estate； and doing dishonour to the
wife； of one who is certain to return some day； and that； too； not
long hence。 Nay； he will be here soon； may heaven send you home
quietly