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！
fight。 For Jove went yesterday to Oceanus； to a feast among the
Ethiopians； and the other gods went with him。 He will return to
Olympus twelve days hence； I will then go to his mansion paved with
bronze and will beseech him； nor do I doubt that I shall be able to
persuade him。〃
On this she left him； still furious at the loss of her that had been
taken from him。 Meanwhile Ulysses reached Chryse with the hecatomb。
When they had come inside the harbour they furled the sails and laid
them in the ship's hold； they slackened the forestays； lowered the
mast into its place； and rowed the ship to the place where they
would have her lie； there they cast out their mooring…stones and
made fast the hawsers。 They then got out upon the sea…shore and landed
the hecatomb for Apollo； Chryseis also left the ship； and Ulysses
led her to the altar to deliver her into the hands of her father。
〃Chryses；〃 said he； 〃King Agamemnon has sent me to bring you back your
child； and to offer sacrifice to Apollo on behalf of the Danaans； that
we may propitiate the god； who has now brought sorrow upon the
Argives。〃
So saying he gave the girl over to her father； who received her
gladly； and they ranged the holy hecatomb all orderly round the
altar of the god。 They washed their hands and took up the
barley…meal to sprinkle over the victims； while Chryses lifted up
his hands and prayed aloud on their behalf。 〃Hear me；〃 he cried； 〃O
god of the silver bow； that protectest Chryse and holy Cilla； and
rulest Tenedos with thy might。 Even as thou didst hear me aforetime
when I prayed； and didst press hardly upon the Achaeans； so hear me
yet again； and stay this fearful pestilence from the Danaans。〃
Thus did he pray； and Apollo heard his prayer。 When they had done
praying and sprinkling the barley…meal； they drew back the heads of
the victims and killed and flayed them。 They cut out the
thigh…bones； wrapped them round in two layers of fat； set some
pieces of raw meat on the top of them； and then Chryses laid them on
the wood fire and poured wine over them； while the young men stood
near him with five…pronged spits in their hands。 When the
thigh…bones were burned and they had tasted the inward meats； they cut
the rest up small； put the pieces upon the spits； roasted them till
they were done； and drew them off： then； when they had finished
their work and the feast was ready； they ate it； and every man had his
full share； so that all were satisfied。 As soon as they had had enough
to eat and drink； pages filled the mixing…bowl with wine and water and
handed it round； after giving every man his drink…offering。
Thus all day long the young men worshipped the god with song；
hymning him and chaunting the joyous paean； and the god took
pleasure in their voices； but when the sun went down； and it came on
dark； they laid themselves down to sleep by the stern cables of the
ship； and when the child of morning； rosy…fingered Dawn； appeared they
again set sail for the host of the Achaeans。 Apollo sent them a fair
wind； so they raised their mast and hoisted their white sails aloft。
As the sail bellied with the wind the ship flew through the deep
blue water； and the foam hissed against her bows as she sped onward。
When they reached the wide…stretching host of the Achaeans； they
drew the vessel ashore； high and dry upon the sands； set her strong
props beneath her； and went their ways to their own tents and ships。
But Achilles abode at his ships and nursed his anger。 He went not to
the honourable assembly； and sallied not forth to fight； but gnawed at
his own heart； pining for battle and the war…cry。
Now after twelve days the immortal gods came back in a body to
Olympus； and Jove led the way。 Thetis was not unmindful of the
charge her son had laid upon her； so she rose from under the sea and
went through great heaven with early morning to Olympus； where she
found the mighty son of Saturn sitting all alone upon its topmost
ridges。 She sat herself down before him； and with her left hand seized
his knees； while with her right she caught him under the chin； and
besought him； saying…
〃Father Jove； if I ever did you service in word or deed among the
immortals； hear my prayer； and do honour to my son； whose life is to
be cut short so early。 King Agamemnon has dishonoured him by taking
his prize and keeping her。 Honour him then yourself； Olympian lord
of counsel； and grant victory to the Trojans； till the Achaeans give
my son his due and load him with riches in requital。〃
Jove sat for a while silent； and without a word； but Thetis still
kept firm hold of his knees； and besought him a second time。
〃Incline your head；〃 said she； 〃and promise me surely； or else deny
me… for you have nothing to fear… that I may learn how greatly you
disdain me。〃
At this Jove was much troubled and answered； 〃I shall have trouble
if you set me quarrelling with Juno； for she will provoke me with
her taunting speeches； even now she is always railing at me before the
other gods and accusing me of giving aid to the Trojans。 Go back
now； lest she should find out。 I will consider the matter； and will
bring it about as wish。 See； I incline my head that you believe me。
This is the most solemn that I can give to any god。 I never recall
my word； or deceive； or fail to do what I say； when I have nodded my
head。〃
As he spoke the son of Saturn bowed his dark brows； and the
ambrosial locks swayed on his immortal head； till vast Olympus reeled。
When the pair had thus laid their plans； they parted… Jove to his
house； while the goddess quitted the splendour of Olympus； and plunged
into the depths of the sea。 The gods rose from their seats； before the
coming of their sire。 Not one of them dared to remain sitting； but all
stood up as he came among them。 There； then； he took his seat。 But
Juno； when she saw him； knew that he and the old merman's daughter；
silver…footed Thetis； had been hatching mischief； so she at once began
to upbraid him。 〃Trickster；〃 she cried； 〃which of the gods have you
been taking into your counsels now？ You are always settling matters in
secret behind my back； and have never yet told me； if you could help
it； one word of your intentions。〃
〃Juno；〃 replied the sire of gods and men； 〃you must not expect to be
informed of all my counsels。 You are my wife； but you would find it
hard to understand them。 When it is proper for you to hear； there is
no one； god or man； who will be told sooner； but when I mean to keep a
matter to myself； you must not pry nor ask questions。〃
〃Dread son of Saturn；〃 answered Juno； 〃what are you talking about？
I？ Pry and ask questions？ Never。 I let you have your own way in
everything。 Still； I have a strong misgiving that the old merman's
daughter Thetis has been talking you over； for she was with you and
had hold of your knees this self…same morning。 I believe； therefore；
that you have been promising her to give glory to Achilles； and to
kill much people at the ships of the Achaeans。〃
〃Wife；〃 said Jove； 〃I can do nothing but you suspect me and find
it out。 You will take nothing by it； for I shall only dislike you
the more； and it will go harder with you。 Granted t