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！
was neither shield nor spear； and they rebuked Ulysses very angrily。
〃Stranger；〃 said they； 〃you shall pay for shooting people in this way：
om yi you shall see no other contest； you are a doomed man； he whom
you have slain was the foremost youth in Ithaca； and the vultures
shall devour you for having killed him。〃
Thus they spoke； for they thought that he had killed Antinous by
mistake； and did not perceive that death was hanging over the head
of every one of them。 But Ulysses glared at them and said：
〃Dogs； did you think that I should not come back from Troy？ You have
wasted my substance； have forced my women servants to lie with you；
and have wooed my wife while I was still living。 You have feared
neither Cod nor man； and now you shall die。〃
They turned pale with fear as he spoke； and every man looked round
about to see whither he might fly for safety； but Eurymachus alone
spoke。
〃If you are Ulysses；〃 said he； 〃then what you have said is just。
We have done much wrong on your lands and in your house。 But
Antinous who was the head and front of the offending lies low already。
It was all his doing。 It was not that he wanted to marry Penelope；
he did not so much care about that； what he wanted was something quite
different； and Jove has not vouchsafed it to him； he wanted to kill
your son and to be chief man in Ithaca。 Now； therefore； that he has
met the death which was his due； spare the lives of your people。 We
will make everything good among ourselves； and pay you in full for all
that we have eaten and drunk。 Each one of us shall pay you a fine
worth twenty oxen； and we will keep on giving you gold and bronze till
your heart is softened。 Until we have done this no one can complain of
your being enraged against us。〃
Ulysses again glared at him and said； 〃Though you should give me all
that you have in the world both now and all that you ever shall
have； I will not stay my hand till I have paid all of you in full。 You
must fight； or fly for your lives； and fly； not a man of you shall。〃
Their hearts sank as they heard him； but Eurymachus again spoke
saying：
〃My friends； this man will give us no quarter。 He will stand where
he is and shoot us down till he has killed every man among us。 Let
us then show fight； draw your swords； and hold up the tables to shield
you from his arrows。 Let us have at him with a rush； to drive him from
the pavement and doorway： we can then get through into the town； and
raise such an alarm as shall soon stay his shooting。〃
As he spoke he drew his keen blade of bronze； sharpened on both
sides； and with a loud cry sprang towards Ulysses； but Ulysses
instantly shot an arrow into his breast that caught him by the
nipple and fixed itself in his liver。 He dropped his sword and fell
doubled up over his table。 The cup and all the meats went over on to
the ground as he smote the earth with his forehead in the agonies of
death； and he kicked the stool with his feet until his eyes were
closed in darkness。
Then Amphinomus drew his sword and made straight at Ulysses to try
and get him away from the door； but Telemachus was too quick for
him； and struck him from behind； the spear caught him between the
shoulders and went right through his chest； so that he fell heavily to
the ground and struck the earth with his forehead。 Then Telemachus
sprang away from him； leaving his spear still in the body； for he
feared that if he stayed to draw it out； some one of the Achaeans
might come up and hack at him with his sword； or knock him down； so he
set off at a run； and immediately was at his father's side。 Then he
said：
〃Father； let me bring you a shield； two spears； and a brass helmet
for your temples。 I will arm myself as well； and will bring other
armour for the swineherd and the stockman； for we had better be
armed。〃
〃Run and fetch them；〃 answered Ulysses； 〃while my arrows hold out；
or when I am alone they may get me away from the door。〃
Telemachus did as his father said； and went off to the store room
where the armour was kept。 He chose four shields； eight spears； and
four brass helmets with horse…hair plumes。 He brought them with all
speed to his father； and armed himself first； while the stockman and
the swineherd also put on their armour； and took their places near
Ulysses。 Meanwhile Ulysses； as long as his arrows lasted； had been
shooting the suitors one by one； and they fell thick on one another：
when his arrows gave out； he set the bow to stand against the end wall
of the house by the door post； and hung a shield four hides thick
about his shoulders； on his comely head he set his helmet； well
wrought with a crest of horse…hair that nodded menacingly above it；
and he grasped two redoubtable bronze…shod spears。
Now there was a trap door on the wall； while at one end of the
pavement there was an exit leading to a narrow passage； and this
exit was closed by a well…made door。 Ulysses told Philoetius to
stand by this door and guard it； for only one person could attack it
at a time。 But Agelaus shouted out； 〃Cannot some one go up to the trap
door and tell the people what is going on？ Help would come at once；
and we should soon make an end of this man and his shooting。〃
〃This may not be； Agelaus；〃 answered Melanthius； 〃the mouth of the
narrow passage is dangerously near the entrance to the outer court。
One brave man could prevent any number from getting in。 But I know
what I will do； I will bring you arms from the store room； for I am
sure it is there that Ulysses and his son have put them。〃
On this the goatherd Melanthius went by back passages to the store
room of Ulysses； house。 There he chose twelve shields； with as many
helmets and spears； and brought them back as fast as he could to
give them to the suitors。 Ulysses' heart began to fail him when he saw
the suitors putting on their armour and brandishing their spears。 He
saw the greatness of the danger； and said to Telemachus； 〃Some one
of the women inside is helping the suitors against us； or it may be
Melanthius。〃
Telemachus answered； 〃The fault； father； is mine； and mine only； I
left the store room door open； and they have kept a sharper look out
than I have。 Go； Eumaeus； put the door to； and see whether it is one
of the women who is doing this； or whether； as I suspect； it is
Melanthius the son of Dolius。〃
Thus did they converse。 Meanwhile Melanthius was again going to
the store room to fetch more armour； but the swineherd saw him and
said to Ulysses who was beside him； 〃Ulysses； noble son of Laertes； it
is that scoundrel Melanthius； just as we suspected； who is going to
the store room。 Say； shall I kill him； if I can get the better of him；
or shall I bring him here that you may take your own revenge for all
the many wrongs that he has done in your house？〃
Ulysses answered； 〃Telemachus and I will hold these suitors in
check； no matter what they do； go back both of you and bind
Melanthius' hands and feet behind him。 Throw him into the store room
and make the door fast behind you； then fasten a noose about his body；
and string him close up to the rafters from a high bearing…post；
that he may linger on in an agony。〃
Thus did he speak； and they did even as he had said； they went to
the store room； which they entered before Melanthius saw them； for
he was busy searching for arms in the innermost part of the room； so
the two took their stand on either side of the door and waited。 By and
by Melanthius came out with a helmet in one hand； and an old
dry…rotted shield in the other； which had been borne by Laertes when
he was young； but which had been long since thrown aside； and the
straps had become unsewn； on this the two seized him； dragged him back
by the hair； and threw him struggling to the ground。 They bent his
hands and feet well behind his back； and bound them tight with a
painful bond as Ulysses had told them； then they fastened a noose
about his body and strung him up from a high pillar till he was
close up to the rafters； and over him did you then vaunt； O
swineherd Eumaeus； saying； 〃Melanthius； you will pass the night on a
soft bed as you deserve。 You will know very well when morning comes
from the streams of O