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As the sun was rising from the fair sea, Telemachus and his crew arrived at the Pylos city of Neuleus .
Athena led the way and Telemachus followed her. Presently she said, “Telemachus, you must not be in the least shy or nervous; you have taken this voyage to try and find out where your father is buried and how he came by his end; so go straight up to Nestor in order that we may see what he has got to tell us.Beg of him to speak the truth, and he will tell no lies, for he is an excellent person.”
“But how, Mentor,” replied Telemachus,“dare I go up to Nestor, and how am I to address him? I have never yet been used to holding long conversations with people, and am ashamed to begin questioning one who is so much older than myself.”
“Some things, Telemachus,” answered Athena, “will be suggested to you by your own instinct, and heaven will prompt you further; for I am assured that the gods have been with you from the time of your birth until now.”
She then went quickly on, and Telemachus followed in her steps till they reached the place where the guilds of the Pylian people were assembled. There they found Nestor sitting with his sons, while his company round him were busy getting dinner ready. When they saw the strangers they crowded round them, took them by the hand and bade them take their places.Nestor’s son Pisistratus gave them their portions of the inward meats and poured wine for them into a golden cup, handing it to Athena first, and saluting her at the same time.
“Offer a prayer, sir,” said he, “to King Poseidon, for it is his feast that you are joining; when you have properly prayed and made your drink-offering, pass the cup to your friend so that he may do so also. ”
As he spoke he handed her the cup. Athena thought it very right and proper of him to have given it to herself first, she accordingly began praying heartily to Poseidon. When she had thus made an end of praying, she handed the cup to Telemachus and he prayed likewise. By and by, when the outer meats were roasted and had been taken off the spits, the carvers gave every man his portion and they all made an excellent dinner. As soon as they had had enough to eat and drink, Nestor, knight of Gerene , began to speak.
“Now,” said he, “that our guests have done their dinner, it will be best to ask them who they are. Who, then, sir strangers,are you, and from what port have you sailed?”
Telemachus answered boldly, for Athena had given him courage to ask about his father and get himself a good name.
“Nestor,” said he, “son of Neleus, honor to the Achaean name, we come from Ithaca which is below Neritum , and the matter about which I would speak is of private not public import. I seek news of my unhappy father Odysseus, who is said to have sacked the town of Troy in company with yourself. We know what fate came to each one of the other heroes who fought at Troy, but as regards Odysseus heaven has hidden from us the knowledge even that he is dead at all, for no one can certify us in what place he perished, nor say whether he fell in battle on the mainland, or was lost at sea amid the waves of Amphitrite .Therefore I am begging at your knees, if you may be pleased to tell me of his melancholy end, whether you saw it with your own eyes, or heard it from some other traveler, for he was a man born to trouble. Do not soften things out of any pity for me, but tell me in all plainness exactly what you saw. If my brave father Odysseus ever did you loyal service, either by word or deed,when you Achaeans were harassed among the Trojans , bear it in mind now as in my favor and tell me truly all.”
“My friend,” answered Nestor, “you recall a time of much sorrow to my mind, for the brave Achaeans suffered much both at sea, while fighting under Achilles , and when fighting before the great city of king Priam . Nine long years did we try every kind of trick, but the hand of heaven was against us; during all this time there was no one who could compare with your father in subtlety — if indeed you are his son — I can hardly believe my eyes — and you talk just like him too — no one would imagine that people of such different ages could speak so much alike. He and I never had any kind of difference from first to last neither in camp nor council， and in singleness of heart and purpose we advised the Argives how all might be ordered for the best. When however, we had sacked the city of Priam, and were setting sail in our ships as heaven had dispersed us, then Zeus saw fit to anger the Argives on their homeward voyage; for they had not all been either wise or understanding, and hence many came to a bad end through the displeasure of Zeus’s daughter Athena, who brought about a quarrel between the two sons of Atreus .”
“That night we rested and nursed our anger, for Zeus was hatching mischief against us. But in the morning some of us drew our ships into the water and put our goods with our women on board, while the rest, about half in number, stayed behind with Agamemnon . We — the other half — embarked and sailed; and the ships went well, for heaven had smoothed the sea. When we reached Tenedos we offered sacrifices to the gods, for we were longing to get home; cruel Zeus, however, did not yet mean that we should do so, and raised a second quarrel in the course of which some among us turned their ships back again, and sailed away under Odysseus to make their peace with Agamemnon; but I, and all the ships that were with me pressed forward, for I saw that mischief was brewing. Therefore, my dear young friend, I returned without hearing anything about the others. I know neither who got home safely nor who were lost but, as in duty bound, I will give you without reserve the reports that have reached me since I have been here in my own house.”
“Nestor, son of Neleus,” answered Telemachus, “honor to the Achaean name, the Achaeans applaud Orestes and his name will live through all time — for he has avenged his father nobly.Would that heaven might grant me to do like vengeance on the rudeness of the wicked men who want to marry my mother,who are ill treating me and plotting my ruin; but the gods have no such happiness in store for me and for my father, so we must bear it as best we may.”
“My friend,” said Nestor, “now that you remind me, I remember to have heard that your mother has many pursuers,who are ill disposed towards you and are making havoc of your estate. Do you submit to this tamely, or are public feeling and the voice of heaven against you? Who knows but Odysseus may come back after all, and pay these evil men in full, either singlehanded or with a force of Achaeans behind him? If Athena were to take as great a liking to you as she did to Odysseus when we were fighting before Troy(for I never yet saw the gods so openly fond of anyone as Athena then was of your father), if she would take as good care of you as she did of him, some of these men would soon, forget your mother.”
Telemachus answered, “I can expect nothing of the kind;it would be far too much to hope for. I dare not let myself think of it. Even though the gods themselves willed it, no such good fortune could come to me.”
On this Athena said,“Telemachus, what are you talking about? Heaven has a long arm if it is minded to save a man;and if it were me, I should not care how much I suffered before getting home, provided I could be safe when I was once there.Still, death is certain, and when a man’s has come, not even the gods can save him, no matter how fond they are of him.”
“Mentor,” answered Telemachus, “let us not talk about it anymore. There is no chance of my father’s ever coming back;the gods have long since counseled his destruction.”
“Take my advice then, and do not go traveling about for long so far from home, nor leave your property with such dangerous people in your house; they will eat up everything you have among them, and you will have been on a fool’s errand .Still, I should advise you by all means to go and visit Menelaus,who has lately come off a voyage among such distant peoples as no man could ever hope to get back from, when the winds had once carried him so far out of his reckoning; even birds cannot fly the distance in a year, so vast and terrible are the seas that they must cross. Go to him, therefore, by sea, and take your own men with you; or if you would rather travel by land, you can have a carriage, you can have horses, and here are my sons who can escort you to Lacedaemon where Menelaus lives. Beg of him to speak the truth, and he will tell you no lies, for he is an excellent person.”
As he spoke the sun set and it came on dark, and Athena said, “Sir, all that you have said is well; now, however, order the tongues of the victims to be cut, and mix wine that we may make drink-offerings to Poseidon, and the other immortals , and then go to bed, for it is bedtime. People should go away early and not keep late hours at a religious festival.”
Thus spoke the daughter of Zeus, and they obeyed her saying. When they had made their offerings and had drunk each as much as he was minded, Athena and Telemachus left to go on board their ship, but Nestor caught them up at once and stopped them.
“Heaven and the immortal gods,” he exclaimed, “forbid that you should leave my house to go on board of a ship. Do you think I am so poor and short of clothes, or that I have so few cloaks as to be unable to find comfortable beds both for myself and for my guests? Let me tell you I have store both of rugs and cloaks, and shall not permit the son of my old friend Odysseus to camp down on the deck of a ship — not while I live — nor yet will my sons after me, but they will keep open house as I have done.”
Then Athena answered, “Sir, you have spoken well, and it will be much better that Telemachus should do as you have said;he, therefore, shall return with you and sleep at your house,but I must go back to give orders to my crew, and keep them in good heart. Moreover, tomorrow I must go to the Cauconians where I have a large sum of money long owing to me. As for Telemachus, now that he is your guest, send him to Lacedaemon in a carriage, and let one of your sons go with him. Be pleased also to provide him with your best and fastest horses.”
When she had thus spoken, she flew away in the form of an eagle, and all marveled as they saw it. Nestor was astonished,and took Telemachus by the hand. “My friend,” said he, “I see that you are going to be a great hero some day, since the gods wait upon you thus while you are still so young. Holy queen,” he continued, “promise to send down your grace upon myself, my good wife, and my children.”
Thus did he pray, and Athena heard his prayer. He then led the way to his own house, followed by his sons and sons-inlaw. Then, when they had made their drink-offerings and had drunk each as much as he was minded, the others went home to bed each in his own house; but Nestor put Telemachus to sleep in the room that was over the gateway along with Pisistratus,who was the only unmarried son now left him. As for himself, he slept in an inner room of the house, with the queen his wife by his side.
Now when the child of morning, rosy-fingered Dawn,appeared, Nestor left his couch and took his seat on the benches of white and polished marble that stood in front of his house. His sons as they left their rooms gathered round him, Echephron , Stratius , Perseus , Aretus , and Thrasymedes ; the sixth son was Pisistratus, and when Telemachus joined them they made him sit with them. Nestor then addressed them.
“My sons,” said he, “make haste to do as I shall bid you. I wish first to honor the great goddess Athena, who manifested herself visibly to me during yesterday’s festivities . Go, then, one or other of you to Telemachus’s ship, and invite all the crew,leaving two men only in charge of the vessel. The rest, stay all of you where you are; tell the maids in the house to prepare an excellent dinner, and to fetch seats, and logs of wood for a burnt offering. Tell them also to bring me some clear spring water.”
On this they hurried off on their several errands.Telemachus’s crew came from the ship; and Athena herself came to the sacrifice.
Meanwhile lovely Polycaste , Nestor’s youngest daughter,washed Telemachus.
When she had washed him and massaged him with olive oil, she brought him a fair cloak and shirt, and he looked like a god as he came from the bath and took his seat by the side of Nestor. As soon as they had had enough to eat and drink Nestor said, “Sons, put Telemachus’s horses to the carriage so that he may start at once.”
Thus did he speak, and they did even as he had said, and yoked the fleet horses to the carriage. The housekeeper packed them up a provision of bread, wine, and meats fit for the sons of princes. Then Telemachus got into the carriage, while Pisistratus gathered up the reins and took his seat beside him.He lashed the horses on and they flew forward into the open country, leaving the high castle of Pylos behind them.
Neuleus 涅琉斯，涅斯托尔的父亲
guild /ɡɪld/ n. 行业协会
Pylian 皮洛斯人
Pisistratus 佩西斯特拉托斯，涅斯托尔的儿子
heartily / ˈhɑ:tɪlɪ/ adv . 认真地；衷心地
knight /naɪt/ n . 武士
Gerene 革瑞尼亚，皮洛斯的城市，涅斯托尔的辖地
Neritum 涅里同，伊塔卡山脉
certify / ˈsɜ:tɪfaɪ/ vt. 证明，保证
Amphitrite 安菲特里泰，波塞冬的妻子
melancholy / ˈmelənkəlɪ/ adj. 悲惨的，令人伤感的
Trojan / ˈtrəʊdʒən/ n . 特洛伊人
Achilles 阿基琉斯，希腊远征特洛伊军队中最强大的英雄
Priam 普里阿摩斯，特洛伊的国王
Argive 阿尔戈斯人，古希腊居民
disperse /dɪˈspɜ:s/ vt . 打散
Atreus 阿特柔斯，阿伽门农和墨涅拉奥斯的父亲
Agamemnon 阿伽门农，希腊联军统帅
Tenedos 特涅多斯，特洛伊附近的海岛
Orestes 奥瑞斯特斯，阿伽门农的儿子
vengeance / ˈvendʒəns/ n . 报仇
counsel / ˈkaʊnsəl/ vt . 谋划，定下
errand / ˈerənd/ n . 差使，差事；
a fool’s errand 徒劳的或无效的任务或使命； be on a fool’s errand 白白地奔走一趟
escort /ɪsˈkɔ:t/ vt . 护送
Lacedaemon 拉克得蒙
immortal /ɪˈmɔ:təl/ n. 古希腊或罗马的诸神
cloak /kləʊk/ n. 褥垫
Cauconians 考科涅斯人
Echephron 埃克弗戎，涅斯托尔的儿子
Stratius 斯特拉提奥斯，涅斯托尔的儿子
Perseus 佩尔修斯，涅斯托尔的儿子
Aretus 阿瑞拖斯，涅斯托尔的儿子
Thrasymedes 特拉叙墨得斯，涅斯托尔的儿子
manifest / ˈmænɪfest/ vt . 出现，显露
festivity /fesˈtɪvətɪ/ n. 庆祝活动，庆祝
Polycaste 波吕卡斯特，涅斯托尔的女儿
massage / ˈmæsɑ:ʒ/ vt. 给某人按摩；用……揉擦
cloak /kləʊk/ n. 大氅
yoke /jəʊk/ vt. 给……上轭，把牛、马套到（犁等）上
housekeeper / ˈhaʊsˌki:pə/ n. 女管家
rein /reɪn/ n. 缰绳
lash /læʃ/ vt . 鞭打