古希腊罗马神话(转载)

古希腊罗马神话

　　Prometheus and Man

　　In the conflict between Cronus and Jupiter, Prometheus had adopted the cause of the Olympian deities. To him and his brother Epimetheus was now committed the office of making man and providing him and all other animals with the faculties necessary for their preservation. Epimetheus proceeded to bestow upon the different animals the various gifts of courage, strength, swiftness, and sagacity. Taking some earth and kneading it with water. Prometheus made man in the image of the gods. He gave him an upright stature. Then since Epimetheus had been so prodigal of his gifts to other animals that no blessing was left worth conferring upon the noblest of creatures, Prometheus ascended to heaven, lighted his torch at the chariot of the sun, and brought down fire. But it was only rather grudgingly that Jupiter granted mortals the use of fire.

　　Then there came the occasion that when gods and men were in dispute at Sicyon concerning the prerogatives of each, Prometheus, by an ingenious trick, attempted to settle the question in favor of man. Dividing into two portions a sacrificial bull, he wrapped all the eatable parts in the skin, cunningly surmounted with uninviting entrails; but the bones he garnished with a plausible mass of fat. He then offered Jupiter his choice. The king of Heaven, although he perceived the intended fraud, took the heap of bones and fat, and forthwith availing himself of this insult as an excuse for punishing mankind, deprived the race of fire. But Prometheus regained the treasure, stealing it from heaven in a hollow tube.

　　By Jove’s order Prometheus was chained to a rock on Mount Caucasus, and subjected to the attack of an eagle which, for ages, preyed upon his liver, yet succeeded not in consuming it.

　　In his steadfastness to withstand the torment the Titan was supported by the knowledge that in the thirteenth generation there should arrive a hero, - sprung from Jove himself, - to release him. And in fullness of time the hero did arrive: none other than the mighty Hercules. No higher service, thinks this radiant and masterful personage, remains to be performed than to free the champion of mankind. Hercules utters these words to the Titan --

　　The soul of man can never be enslaved

　　Save by its own infirmities, nor freed

　　Save by its very strength and own resolve

　　And constant vision and supreme endeavor!

　　You will be free? Then, courage, O my brother!

　　O let the soul stand in the open door

　　Of life and death and knowledge and desire

　　And see the peaks of thought kindle with sunrise!

　　Then shall the soul return to rest no more,

　　Nor harvest dreams in the dark field of sleep -

　　Rather the soul shall go with great resolve

　　To dwell at last upon the shining mountains

　　In liberal converse with the eternal stars.

　　Thereupon he kills the eagle; and sets Jove’s victim free.

　　普罗米修斯与人类

　　　　在克洛诺斯反对朱庇特的斗争中，普罗米修斯站到了奥林波斯山诸神的一边。后来塑造人和赋予人和其他所有动物以生存本领的任务就交给了他和他的弟弟厄庇墨透斯。厄庇墨透斯将勇敢、力气、快速、伶俐等天赋分别赐予各种动物。普罗米修斯则用土和水揉成了泥，照着神的模样捏出了人；他使人呈站立的姿势。厄庇墨透斯把各种天资都慷慨地赠予了其他动物，竟没有剩下什么象样的天赋能赐给最崇高的被造物了。于是普罗米修斯升到天上，在太阳马车那里点燃了一只火把，将火送到地上来。可是，朱庇特却是不大乐意允准人们用火的。有一次，神和人在西锡安对各自的权限争执不休，普罗米修斯耍了一个聪明的计谋，企图使问题的解决对人类有利。他把一头献祭用的牛分为两份，把所有可食用的部分包在牛皮里，并狡滑地在上面摆满不招人喜欢的内脏；把骨头用一层肥脂裹起来，看上去象是好肉。然后他让朱庇特挑选。天国之王看穿了他的阴谋诡计，但还是挑了那堆骨头和肥膘，从而利用这一侮辱为借口剥夺人类使用火的权利。但是普罗米修斯用一根空心管子从天府偷盗火种，再次取得了宝贵的天火。

　　　　为此，朱庇特命令将普罗米修斯锁在高加索山上的一块绝岩峭壁上，成年累月地受着一头老鹰的折磨，它天天啄食他的肝脏却总不能把它吃光。这位提坦巨人坚忍不拔地忍受着煎熬，因为他知道在第十三代时就会有一个英雄－－－朱庇特的亲儿子－－－来解救他。果然不爽，时候一到英雄真的来了。他不是别人，就是那个力大无穷的海格立斯。这个奋焕英伟的人物认为他需要作的最大贡献莫过于解救这个人类的卫士。海格立斯向提坦巨人说：

　　人的灵魂永远不能被征服－－－

　　除非自身变得脆弱；也永远不能得解放－－－

　　除非自身充满决心和力量，以及

　　不稍亏的目光和无以复加的努力！

　　想自由吗？那就鼓起勇气，我的兄弟！

　　啊！让灵魂站在生与死，知与欲

　　敞开的门扉前，

　　见到旭日点燃思想的顶峰！

　　那时灵魂再不会依然故态，

　　或在黑色的睡乡中收获梦幻－－－

　　灵魂将迈着坚定的步伐

　　直上光芒万丈的山巅

　　和不落的群星自由交谈。

　　然后他杀死了老鹰解放了朱庇特的囚徒。

　　The Different Ages of Man

　　In the Age of Gold, the world was first furnished with inhabitants. This was an age of innocence and happiness. Truth and right prevailed, thought not enforced by law, no was there any in authority to threaten or to punish. The earth brought forth all things necessary for man, without his labor in plowing or sowing. perpetual spring reigned, flowers sprang up without seed, the rivers flowed with milk and wine, and yellow honey distilled from the oaks.

　　The Silver Age came next, inferior to the golden. Jupiter shortened the spring, and divided the year into seasons. Then, first, men suffered the extremes of heat and cold, and houses became necessary. Crops would no longer grow without planting. This was a race of manly men, but insolent and impious.

　　Next to the Age of Silver came that of brass, more savage of temper and readier for the strife of arms, yet not altogether wicked.

　　last came the hardest age and worst, - of iron. Crime burst in like a flood; modesty, truth, and honor fled. The gifts of the earth were put only to nefarious uses. Fraud, violence, war at home and abroad were rife.

　　Jupiter, observing the condition of things, burned with anger, He summoned the gods to council. Jupiter set forth to the assembly the frightful condition of the earth, and announced his intention of destroying its inhabitants, and providing a new race, unlike the present, which should be worthier of life and more reverent toward the gods. Fearing lest a conflagration might set Heaven itself on fire, he proceeded to drown the world. Speedily the race of mean and their possessions, were swept away by the deluge.

　　Parnassus alone, of the mountains, overtopped the waves, and there Deucalion, son the Prometheus, and his wife Pyrrha, daughter of Epimetheus, found refuge - he a just man and she a faithful worshiper of the gods. Jupiter, remembering the harmless lives and pious demeanor of this pair, caused the waters to recede. Then Deucalion and Pyrrha, entering a temple defaced with slime, approached the enkindled altar and, falling prostrate, prayed for guidance and aid. The oracle answered, “Depart from the temple with head veiled and garments unbound, and cast behind you the bones of your mother. “ They heard the words with astonishment. Pyrrha first broke silence:“We cannot obey; we dare not profane the remains of our parents.“ They sought the woods. and revolved the oracle in their minds. At last Deucalion spoke:“ Either my wit fails me or the command is one we may obey without impiety. The earth is the great parent of all; the stones are her bones; these we may cast behind us; this, I think, the oracle means. They veiled their faces, unbound their garments, and , picking up stones, cast them behind them. The stones began to grow soft and to assume shape. By degrees they put on a rude resemblance to the human form . Those thrown by Deucalion became men; those by Pyrrha, women.

　　人类的各个时代

　　　　黄金时代，地球上最初有了居民。这是一个天真无邪和幸福的时代。真理和正义主宰一切，但不是靠法律的约束，也没有什么权贵的恫吓和惩处。人们不用耕种，一切生活必需全可仰给于大地。春天永在，不用种子，地里也长出鲜花来；河里流的是奶和酒，以及从橡树蒸馏而来的黄澄澄的蜜糖。

　　　　接下来的是逊于黄金时代的白银时代。朱庇特缩短春天，把一年分为四季。于是人们首先尝到了酷暑严寒之苦，不得不找一个蔽身之所。要吃谷物就得耕作。这时的人类雄伟刚毅，但却骄横不虔。

　　　　白银时代之后就是青铜时代。人们的禀性更加粗野，动辄就要大兴干戈，但是还没有达到十恶不赦的地步。

　　　　最后到了最棘手和最糟糕的时代－－－黑铁时代。罪恶象洪水一样泛滥成灾，谦虚、真理和尊严逃得无影无踪。大地的赐予全被用去造孽。欺诈、暴力、对内对外的战争四处猖獗。

　　　　朱庇特见到这种情况怒不可遏。他召集众神商讨对策。在神祗大会上，朱庇特陈述了地球上不堪容忍的情况，并宣布了他要毁灭地上现在居民的意向，表示要另置新人。这种新人不同于现有的人，他们将更有生存的价值，对神祗也更加敬重。朱庇特唯恐用火烧会危及天宫本身，就决定用洪水淹没地球，转瞬间洪水就把地球上的人和他们的财物席卷而去。

　　　　在所有的山峰中唯有帕尔纳索斯没有被洪水的浪滔所淹没，普罗米修斯的独生子丢卡利翁和他的妻子皮拉－－－厄庇墨透斯的女儿－－－就躲到这个山峰上去。丢卡利翁为人正直，他的妻子则虔诚敬神。朱庇特怜惜他们夫妻一生清白，品行端正，就斥令洪水退去。这时丢卡利翁和皮拉走进了一个溅满了泥浆的神庙里，在香火未燃的祭坛前，他俩俯身在地祈求神祗的指引和帮助。神谕指出说：“裹起头，松开衣带，出庙去，一路走一路将你们母亲的尸骨丢在身后。”这话使他们惊愕不已。皮拉首先打破了沉寂：“我们不能照着这个神谕办事；我们不敢亵渎父母的尸骨。”他们躲进树林，苦苦思索着神谕的含义。最后丢卡利翁说：“要不就是我发了昏，要不就是我们不犯逆忤罪也能执行神谕。大地是万物之母，石头就是她的尸骨。我们可以往身后扔石头，我想神谕说的就是这个意思。”他俩蒙住颜面，松开衣带，捡起石头朝身后扔去。这些石头开始变软，呈现形状，渐渐地带上了略似于人的状貌。丢卡利翁扔的石头变成了男人，皮拉扔的则成了女人。

　　The First Woman

　　The story (absurd enough!) is that Jupiter made the first woman and sent her to Prometheus and his brother, to punish them for their presumption in stealing fire from heaven; and man, for accepting the gift. This first human of the fair sex was named Pandora. She was made in heaven, every god contributing something to perfect her. Venus gave her beauty, Mercury persuasion, Apollo music, etc. thus equipped, she was conveyed to earth and presented to Epimetheus, who gladly accepted her, though cautioned by his brother to beware of Jupiter and his gift. Epimetheus had in his house a jar, in which were kept certain noxious articles, for which, in fitting man for his new abode, he had had no occasion. Pandora was seized with an eager curiosity to know what this jar contained; and one day she slipped off the cover and looked in. Forthwith there escaped a multitude of plagues for hapless man - such as gout, rheumatism, and colic for his body, and envy, spite, and revenge for his mind - and scattered themselves for and wide. Pandora hastened to replace the lid; but, alas! the whole contents of the jar had escaped, one thing only excepted, which lay at the bottom, and that was hop. So we see at this day, whatever evils are abroad, hope never entirely leaves us; and while we have that, no amount of other ills can make us completely wretched.

　　Another story is the Pandora was sent in good faith, by Jupiter, to bless man; that she was furnished with a box, containing her marriage blessing. She opened the box incautiously, and the blessings all escaped, hope only excepted. This story seems more probable than the former; for how could hop, so precious a jewel as it is, have been kept in a jar full of all manner of evils, as in the former statement?

　　第一个女人

　　　　传说（虽然相当荒唐）朱庇特造了第一个女人并把她送给了普罗米修斯兄弟二人，以惩罚他们偷盗天火的狂妄行为，也惩罚人类，因为他们接受了天火。这人类中的第一位女性名叫潘多拉。她是在天上创造的，每个神祗都对她有所赋予以使她臻于完美。维纳斯送给她美貌，墨丘利送给她利嘴灵舌，阿波罗送给她音乐的天赋，还有其他种种。接受了这些禀赋后她被送到地上交给了厄庇墨透斯。厄庇墨透斯的哥哥虽然早就嘱咐过弟弟要提防朱庇特和他的馈赠，但他弟弟还是欣然接纳了潘多拉。厄庇墨透斯的家里放着一个瓮，里面装着一些害人精。他因为一直忙着打点人类在新住地安身，还没有顾得上处理它们。潘多拉对这瓮产生了强烈的好奇心，非常想知道里面装着什么东西。有一天，她推开了瓮盖，想看个究竟。立刻从里面冲出一大群使人遭受不幸的灾难－－如折磨人肉体的痛风、风湿、腹痛；折磨人心灵的忌妒、怨恨、复仇－－－向四方飞散。潘多拉赶快捂上盖子，但是，天哪，瓮里关着的东西都已跑掉，只剩下压在瓮底的一件，那就是希望。所以我们至今仍然可见，不论邪恶多么猖狂，总会有一线希望。只要有希望，任凭什么样的厄运也不能摧垮我们。

　　　　另一种说法是潘多拉是朱庇特诚心实意地派遣到人间来为人类造福的。她接过了一个盒子，里面装着她的嫁妆。可是她竟不慎打开了盒盖，所有的恩赐都跑掉了，只剩下了希望。这个故事比刚才讲的那个听起来更可信。因为象希望这样的珍宝怎么能如第一个故事所讲的，和形形色色的邪恶装在同一个容器里呢！

　　Zeus(Jupiter)and His Wife

　　Hera(Juno),Known to us chiefly as the wife of Zeus, was a daughter of Cronus and Rhea. Born on the islands of Samos or, Some say, at Argos, she was brought up in Arcadia by Temenus, son of Pelasgus. The Seasons were her nurses. After banishing their father Cronus, Hera`s twin-brother Zeus sought her out at Gnossus in Crete or, some say, on Mount Thornax (now called Cuckoo Mountain) in Argolis, where he courted her, at first unsuccessfully. She took pity on him only when he adopted the disguise of a bedraggled cuckoo, and tenderly warmed him in her bosom. There he at once resumed his true shape and ravished her, so that she was shamed into marrying him.

　　Hera and Zeus spent their wedding night on Samos, and it lasted three hundred years. Hera bathes regularly in the spring of Canathus, near Argos, and thus renews her virginity.

　　Zeus and Hera bickered constantly. Vexed by his infidelities, she often humiliated him by her scheming ways. Zeus never fully trusted Hera, and she knew that if offended beyond a certain point he would flog or even hurl a thunderbolt at her. She therefore resorted to ruthless intrigue, as in the matter of Heracles`s birth; and sometimes borrowed Aphrodite`s girdle, to excite his passion and thus weaken his will.

　　A time came when Zeus`s pride and petulance became so intolerable that Hera, Poseidon, Apollo, and all the other Olympians, except Hestia, surrounded him suddenly as he lay asleep on his couch and bound him with rawhide thongs, knotted into a hundred knots, so that he could not move. He threatened them with instant death, but they had placed his thunderbolt out of reach and laughed insultingly at him. While they were celebrating their victory, and jealously discussing who was to be his successor, Thetis the Nereid, foreseeing a civil war on Olympus, hurried in search of the hundred-handed Briareus, who swiftly untied the thongs, using every hand at once, and released his master. Because it was Hera who had led the conspiracy against him, Zeus hung her up from the sky with a gold bracelet about either wrist and an anvil fastened to either ankle. The other deities were vexed beyond words, but dared attempt no rescue for all her piteous cries. In the end Zeus undertook to free her if they swore never more to rebel against him; and this each in turn grudgingly did. Zeus punished Poseidon and Apollo by sending them as bond-servants to King Laomedon, for whom they built the city of Troy; but he pardoned the others as having acted under duress.

　　宙斯（朱庇特）和他的妻子

　　　　提到赫拉（朱诺），我们大抵都知道她是宙斯的妻子；她原来是克洛诺斯和瑞亚的女儿。她出生于萨摩斯群岛，也有人说是在阿尔戈斯，但她是由珀拉斯戈斯的儿子特米诺斯在阿卡迪亚抚养长大的。季节女神是她的保姆。赫拉的孪生兄弟宙斯在驱逐了父亲克洛诺斯以后到克里特的诺塞斯（一说是阿尔戈利斯的索那克斯山，现称杜鹃山）找到了她，并向她求爱，但最初并未成功。后来宙斯隐身为一只羽毛披乱的杜鹃鸟，赫拉这才可怜他，温柔疼护地把他放在怀里取暖。宙斯立刻现出真形并强奸了她。她在羞惭无奈下便嫁给了他。

　　　　赫拉和宙斯的新婚之夜是在萨摩斯度过的，这一夜就是人间的三百年。赫拉定期在阿尔戈斯附近的卡那萨斯泉沐浴从而重获贞洁。

　　　　宙斯和赫拉总是免不了吵架。赫拉对宙斯沾花惹草的行为十分恼火，常常千方百计地设下圈套羞辱他。宙斯从没有真心实意地信任赫拉。而赫拉也知道，如果她冒犯他过了一定的限度，他会打她的，甚至用霹雳击她的。因此，她采取冷酷的计谋，例如在生赫拉克勒斯的事情上；有时，她借用阿佛洛狄特的腰带来勾起他的情欲，从而削弱他的意态。

　　　　有一次，宙斯的傲气和喜怒无常的脾气实在太叫人难以忍受。于是赫拉、波塞冬、阿波罗和除了赫斯提外所有的奥林波斯神祗乘宙斯躺在床上熟睡之际一拥而上，用生牛皮绳把他捆绑起来并打上一百个绳结，使他动弹不得。他威胁说要把他们立即处死，但他们早把霹雳放在他伸手莫及的地方，因而对他的威胁报以满带嘲弄的大笑。当他们欢庆胜利并且怀着猜疑妒忌之心讨论继承宙斯王位的人选时，海上女神特提斯看到奥林波斯山将爆发一场内战，便急匆匆把百臂巨人布里亚柔斯找来。这位巨人把一百只手都同时用上了，迅速解开绳结给主神以自由。因为是赫拉领导了这场阴谋活动，宙斯便用金手镯铐住她的手腕，把她吊在空中，脚踝上还绑上铁钻。别的神祗气恼万分，但不敢拯救赫拉，尽管她哭喊得十分凄惨。后来宙斯答应释放她，条件是大家要起誓永不再造反。诸神们虽然满心的不情愿，但还是个个作了保证。宙斯罚波塞冬和阿波罗去给拉俄墨冬国王当奴隶，他们为国王建造了特洛伊城。但宙斯宽恕了其余的神祗，因为他们只不过是胁从。

　　Io, a Mistress of Jupiter`s

　　Io was of divine ancestry. Her father was the river-god Inachus, son of Oceanus. It is said that Juno one day, perceiving the skies suddenly overcast, surmised that her husband had raised a cloud to hide some escapade. She brushed away the darkness and saw him on the banks of a glassy river with a beautiful heifer standing near. Juno suspected, with reason, that the heifer`s form concealed some fair nymph of mortal mold. It was Io, whom Jupiter, when he became aware of the approach of his wife, had changed into that form.

　　The ox-eyed goddess joined her husband, noticed the heifer, praised its beauty, and asked whose it was and of what herd. Jupiter, to stop questions, replied that it was a fresh creation from the earth. Juno begged it as a gift. What could the king of gods and men do? He was loath to surrender his sweetheart to his wife; yet how refuse so trifling a present as a heifer? He could not, without exciting suspicion, and he therefore consented. The goddess delivered the heifer to Argus, to be strictly watched.

　　Now Argus had a hundred eyes in his head, and never went to sleep with more than two at a time, so that he kept watch of Io constantly. He suffered her to graze through the day and at night tied a rope round her neck. She would have stretched out her arms to implore freedom of Argus, but that she had no arms to stretch out and her voice was a bellow. She yearned in vain to make herself known to her father. At length she bethought herself of writing, and inscribed her name-it was a short one-with her hoof on the sand. Inachus recognized it, and, discovering that his daughter whom he had long sought in vain was hidden under this disguise, mourned over her. While he thus lamented, Argus, observing, drove her away and took his seat on a bank from whence he could see in every direction.

　　Jupiter, grieved by the sufferings of his mistress, sent Mercury to dispatch Argus. Mercury took his sleep-producing wand and presented himself on earth as a shepherd driving his flock. As he strolled, he blew upon his syrinx or Pandean pipes. Argus listened with delight. “Young man,“ said he, “com and take a seat by me on this stone. There is no better place for your flock to graze in than hereabouts, and here is a pleasant shade such as shepherds love.“ Mercury sat down, talked, told stories till it grew late, and played upon his pipes his most soothing strains, hoping to lull the watchful eyes to sleep, but in vain; for Argus still contrived to keep some of his eyes open, though he shut the rest.

　　But among other stories, Mercury told him how the instrument on which he played was invented.

　　Before Mercury had finished this deeply soothing story he saw the eyes of Argus all asleep. At once he slew him and set Io free. The eyes of Argus Juno took and scattered as ornaments on the tail of her peacock, where they remain to this day.

　　But the vengeance of Juno was not yet satiated. She sent a gadfly to torment Io, who, in her flight, swam through the sea, named after her, Ionian. Afterward, roaming over many lands, she reached at last the banks of the Nile. Then Jupiter interceded for her; and upon his engaging not to pay her any further attention, Juno consented to restore her to her form..

　　伊俄－－朱庇特的情人

　　　　伊俄出身于神祗世家，父亲是俄刻阿诺斯的儿子，河神伊那科斯。据说有一天朱诺看到天空突然乌云密布，就料想这一定是她丈夫兴起一团云来遮盖自己的放荡勾当。她拨开云层见到他正呆在一条明镜般的小河岸上，身旁有一头美丽的小母牛。朱诺怀疑这母牛的形体里隐藏着一个人间美女的身躯，她的猜测确乎合理。这个美女正是伊俄。朱庇特觉察到自己的夫人正接近这个地方，便把她变成了牛的模样。

　　　　大眼女神走到丈夫身边，注目于那头小母牛，夸奖它的俊美，又问主人是谁，属于哪个牛群。朱庇特唯恐她再追问下去就答说这是大地的新造物。朱诺请求朱庇特把牛送给她做礼物，众神和人类之王有什么办法可想呢？他实在不想将情人交给自己的老婆；但是他又怎好拒绝象一头母牛这样的区区小意思呢？要是他不肯赠送的话，她准会引起怀疑，因此他只好答应了。那女神就把这头小母牛交给阿尔戈斯严加看管。

　　　　且说，阿尔戈斯头上长了一百只眼睛，每逢睡觉时，只闭上一、两只眼睛就够了。因此伊俄无时无刻不在他的监视之中。白天他赶她去放牧，晚上用绳子拴住她的脖颈。她多么想伸出双臂乞求阿尔戈斯放了她啊。可是她却没有可伸出的双臂，发出的声音也只是牛的吼叫。她绞尽了脑汁想不出办法能使她的父亲认出她来；最后她终于想到了写字，用一只蹄子把她的名字－－很短的一个名字－－划在沙地上。伊那刻斯辩认出这个名字，发现他寻找多日而未得见的女儿原来竟被伪装失去了原形，他不禁悲恸起来。正在这时，阿尔戈斯发现了他们，他赶开了伊俄，自己坐在河堤上，监视着四周的一切动静。

　　　　朱庇特见到情人受苦，很是伤心，打发墨丘利去除掉阿尔戈斯。墨丘利拿着他那根睡杖下降到人间，装扮成一个牧羊人。他一路赶着牲口一路吹着他的绪任克斯笛（或称做潘箫）。阿尔戈斯听得心旷神怡。“小伙子，”他说：“过来，跟我一起坐在这块石头上。在这附近放牧是再合适不过的了；这里有块宜人的树荫，牧羊人没有不喜欢的。”墨丘利在岩石上坐下来，谈个不停，大说故事，直到天色渐渐地暗了下来；这时他又吹起了箫，奏着最能安神的乐曲，企图催那些警觉的眼睛进入梦乡，但没有奏效；因为阿尔戈斯虽然闭上了其中一些眼睛，但总有别一些还是睁着的。

　　　　然而墨丘利在众多故事之中又讲了一个关于他吹奏的这根箫的来历的。这个深深温抚人心的故事还没有讲完，墨丘利就看到阿尔戈斯的眼睛一只只地昏昏睡去。他立刻杀死了阿尔戈斯，放掉了伊俄。朱诺取下阿尔戈斯的眼睛，撒在她的孔雀的尾巴上作为装饰，直到今天这些眼睛还呆在老地方。

　　　　但是朱诺报复之心不死。她派遣了一只牛虻去折磨伊俄。伊俄四处躲藏，游过了大海，这海从些就以她命名叫伊奥尼亚海。后来她又到过许多国家，最后来到了尼罗河畔。这时候朱庇特出面替她求情，答应和她从此一刀两断。朱诺这才同意恢复伊俄的原来面目。

　　Jupiter`s Love Europa

　　Europa was the daughter of Agenor, king of Phoenicia, son of the god Neptune. A sweet dream was once sent to Europa by Cypris. In the dream Europa beheld two continents at strife for her sake, Asia and the further shore, both in the shape of women. Of these one had the guise of a stranger, the other of a lady of that land, and closer still she clung about her maiden, and kept saying how she was her mother, and herself had nursed Europa. But that other with mighty hands, and forcefully, kept haling the maiden, nothing loth; declaring that, by the will of aegis-bearing Jupiter, Europa was destined to be her prize.

　　Europa arose, and began to seek the dear maidens of her company. And the girls, so soon as they were come to the flowering meadows, took great delight in various sorts of flowers.

　　Europa, however, was not for long to set her heart`s delight upon the flowers. There in the meadow, Jupiter beheld her, and was troubled. Both to avoid the wrath of jealous Juno, and being eager to beguile the maiden`s tender heart, he concealed his godhead, and changed his shape, and became a bull.

　　The bull stood before the feet of fair Europa, and kept licking her neck, and cast his spell over the maiden. And she still caressed him, and gently with her hands she wiped away the deep foam from his lips, and kissed the bull. Then he bowed himself before her feet, and bending back his neck, he gazed on Europa, and showed her his broad back. Then she spake among her deeptressed maidens, saying,--

　　“Come, dear playmates, maidens of like age with me, let us mount the bull here and take our pastime, for, truly, he will bear us on his back, and carry all of us! And how mild he is, and dear, and gentle to behold, and no whit like other bulls! A mind as honest as a man`s possesses him, and he lacks nothing but speech. “

　　So she spake, and smiling, she sat down on the back of the bull, and the others were about to follow her. But the bull leaped up immediately, now he had gotten her that he desired, and swiftly he sped to the deep. The maiden turned, and called again and again to her dear playmates, stretching out her hands, but they could not reach her. The strand he gained, and forward he sped like a dolphin, faring with unwetted hooves over the wide waves. Timidly Europa looked around, and uttered her voice, saying,--

　　“Whither bearest thou me, bull god? What art thou? How dost thou fare on thy feet through the path of the sea beasts, nor fearest the sea? The sea is a path meet for swift ships that traverse the brine, but bulls dread the salt sea ways. What drink is sweet to thee, what food shalt thou find from the deep? Nay, art thou then some god, for god-like are these deeds of thine.“

　　So spake she, and the horned bull made answer to her again: “Take courage, maiden, and dread not the swell of the deep. Behold, I am Jupiter, even I, though, closely beheld, I wear the form of a bull, for I can put on the semblance of what thing I will. But `t is love of thee that has compelled me to measure out so great a space of the salt sea, in a bull`s shape. So Crete shall presently receive thee, Crete that was mine own foster-mother, where thy bridal chamber shall be.“

　　According to tradition, from this princess the continent of Europe acquired its name. Her three sons are famous in Greek myth: Minos, who became king of Crete, and after his death a judge in the lower word; Rhadamanthus, who also was regarded as king and judge in the world of ghosts; and Sarpedon, who was ancestor of the Lycians.

　　朱庇特对欧罗巴的爱慕

　　　　欧罗巴是阿革诺耳的女儿，阿革诺耳是尼普顿的儿子，腓尼基的国王。有一次赛甫里斯给欧罗巴托了一个美梦。梦里欧罗巴看见两个大陆为了争夺她而相斗，一个是亚细亚，另一个是远方的那片海岸，双方都呈现出女人的形象。一个是外乡人打扮；另一个是当地妇人的装束。这一个紧紧地抱着欧罗巴，一再诉说是她生养并哺育了欧罗巴；而那一个用一双强有力的手使劲地把欧罗巴往她那边拽，而欧罗巴竟也有些不能自持，那女人还说欧罗巴命里注定是她的战利品，这是身穿胸铠的朱庇特的意旨。

　　　　欧罗巴起床来，去找那一群跟她一同游乐的姑娘。这些少女来到了鲜花盛开的草地上，眼前的万千花朵立刻使得她们个个心花怒放。可是，欧罗巴并没有从容的时间去观赏吐艳的鲜花。就在那草地上，朱庇特见到了她。为她神魂颠倒。朱庇特于是隐去了自己的神祗头面，变形成一头牡牛，这样既可以避过多疑善妒的朱诺的震怒，又易于骗取这位少女的柔情。

　　　　牡牛停在娇美的欧罗巴脚前，一下一下地舔着她的脖颈，对她施着魔法。她也抚爱着它，用手轻轻抹去它唇旁嘘着厚厚一层的泡沫，然后吻了它一下。这时它在欧罗巴脚下卧了下去，昴起头，望着她，向她展示自己阔大的脊背。于是她向那些长着满头鬈发的女伴们说：

　　　　“来啊，亲爱的伙伴们，和我同庚的少女们，咱们坐到这头牛背上玩吧，说真的，它能把咱们承在背上，咱们大家都能坐得下！它多么驯服、可爱，看上去是那么温顺，和别的牡牛完全不同！它有一颗象人一样的老实的心，其实它和人一样，只是不会说话罢了。”

　　　　说着她笑眯眯地坐到了牛背上，别的女孩子也跟着要往牛背上爬。可是当这头牛得到了它的意中物，就立即跃身向大海奔去。那少女回过头来，再三向着伙伴们呼唤，向她们伸出双手，但她们已够不着她了。牡牛奔到海岸上，跳进了海里，四蹄不沾水，象只海豚似地乘风破浪疾驰而前。怯生生地，欧罗巴望着四周的环境，说出了下面的话：

　　　　“神牛啊，你要把我带到什么地方？你是哪位神明？你怎么能用脚走在海兽的航道上，对大海毫不惧怕？大海是来往于咸水之中的快艇的运动场，不是牡牛行走的地方。在海上有什么饮品于你是甘甜的？从深海里你能找到什么充饥？你一定是某位神明，因为你行的事只有神明才能做到。”

　　　　她说完这些话，那长了角的牡牛回答道：“鼓起勇气，姑娘，不要害怕大海的波滔。看哪，我是朱庇特，虽然我现在是头牡牛的形状，但只要你仔细看就能认出我来。我是可以随心所欲变化形体的。出于对你的爱，我才变成了牛身，在咸海中这样奔波着。不久克里特将接纳收容你，那是养育了我的地方，我们的新房也将安的那里。”

　　　　按照传统说法，欧洲大陆就是因欧罗巴公主而得名的。欧罗巴的三个独生子都是希腊神话中赫赫有名的人物。弥诺斯做了克里特的国王，死后成为阴曹的法官；拉达曼提斯也被认为幽冥间的国王和法官；而萨耳珀冬则是吕西亚人的祖先。

　　Jupiter`s Fondness for Semele

　　Not only with immortals but with mortals were Jupiter`s relations sometimes of a dubious character His devotion to the beautiful daughters of men involved him in frequent altercations with his justly jealous spouse. Love passages concerning Io and Europa have been narrated. Here is a story about his fondness for Semele.

　　Semele was the daughter of Cadmus, founder of Thebes. She was descended, through both parents, from the gods; for her mother Harmonia was daughter to Mars and the laughter-loving Venus. To Semele Jupiter had appeared, and had paid court in unostentatious manner and simple guise. But Juno, to gratify her resentment against this new rival for her lord`s affections, contrived a plan for her destruction. Assuming the form of Beroe, the aged nurse of Semele, she insinuated doubts whether it was indeed Jove himself who came as a lover. Heaving a sigh, she said, “I hope it will turn out so, but I can`t help being afraid. People are not always what they pretend to be. If he is indeed Jove, make him give some proof of it. Ask him to come arrayed in all his splendors, such as he wears in Heaven. That will put the matter beyond a doubt.“ Semele was persuaded to try the experiment. She asks a favor, without naming what it is. Jove gives his promise, and confirms it with the irrevocable oath, attesting the river Styx, terrible to the gods themselves. Then she made known her request. The god would have stopped her as she spake, but she was too quick for him. The words escaped, and he could neither unsay his promise nor her request. In deep distress he returned to the upper regions. There he clothed himself in his splendors, not putting on all his terrors, as when he overthrew the giants, but what is known among the gods as his lesser panoply. With thunders and lightnings he entered the chamber of Semele. Her mortal frame could not endure the splendors of the immortal radiance. She was consumed to ashes. Her son was the god Bacchus.

　　朱庇特钟情于塞墨勒

　　　　朱庇特不仅跟神祗有私情，和凡人也常常关系暧昧。他倾心爱慕过一些凡人的才貌出众的女儿，这理所当然地引起夫人的妒忌，两人经常为此争吵。前文已经谈到他与伊俄和欧罗巴的恋爱经过。这里讲一段关于朱庇特钟情于塞墨勒的故事。

　　　　塞墨勒是底比斯的缔造者卡德摩斯的女儿。不论是从父系或是从母系来说她都是神的后裔；她的母亲哈耳摩尼亚是马尔斯和性格开朗的维纳斯的女儿。朱庇特现身于塞墨勒面前以至他向她求爱时，都是打扮朴素，举止谨敛的。朱诺对夺走丈夫的恩爱的新情敌恨之入骨，想出一个计谋，打算置塞墨勒于死地。朱诺变形成塞墨勒的老奶奶波罗厄，暗示间挑引起塞墨勒对情郎的身分产生怀疑。她长叹一声道：“我真希望他就是朱庇特，可是我心里总有些嘀咕。人总不能说没有乔装冒认的。他要真是朱庇特的话，就该拿出点证据来。叫他来的时候穿上天宫里的全套华美礼服。这就能使我们确信不疑了。”塞墨勒被说得动了心，决心要作这样的一个试探。她要求朱庇特答应为她做件事，但并不把这件事说明。朱庇特应允了，还发誓绝不食言，且指定冥河斯提克斯－－－众神听了都要发抖的名字－－－做他的监誓人。于是，塞墨勒说明她的要求的具体内容。主神恨不得马上堵住她的嘴，但没有来得及，她已经说完了。现在话已出口，朱庇特既不能算她没提要求，又不能收回自己的誓言。他在深感懊恼下回到上界。在天宫里他穿上璀璨的衣装，这所穿的还不是他战垮巨人时的那副英气逼人的全套披挂，而是众神认作为他的轻型铠甲那一款。他一阵闪电雷鸣冲进了塞墨勒的闺房。她那世人的肉身禁不住炽烈的神光，顿时焚成一堆灰烬。她留下一个儿子，就是巴克斯神。

　　Callisto, Yet Another Sweetheart of Jupiter`s

　　Callisto was another maiden who excited the jealousy of Juno, and the goddess changed her into a bear. “I will take away, “ said she, “that beauty with which you have captivated my husband,“ Down fell Callisto on her hands and knees; she tried to stretch out her arms in supplication-they were already beginning to be covered with black hair. Her hands grew rounded, became armed with crooked claws, and served for feet; her mouth, which Jove used to praise for its beauty, became a horrid pair of jaws; her voice, which if unchanged would have moved the heart to pity, became a growl, more fit to inspire terror. Yet her former disposition remained, and with continual groaning, she bemoaned her fate, and stood upright as well as she could, lifting up her paws to beg for mercy; and felt that Jove was unkind, though she could not tell him so. Ah, how often, afraid to stay n the woods all night alone, she wandered about the neighborhood of her former haunts; how often, frightened by the dogs, did she, so lately a huntress, fly in terror from the hunters! Often she fled from the wild beasts, forgetting that she was now a wild beast herself; and, bear as she was, was afraid of the bears.

　　One day a youth espied her as he was hunting. She saw him and recognized him as her own son, mow grown a young man. She stopped and felt inclined to embrace him. As she was about to approach, he, alarmed, raised his hunting spear, and was on the point of transfixing her, when Jupiter, beholding, arrested the crime, and snatching away both of them, placed them in the heavens as the Great and Little Bear.

　　Juno was in a rage to see her rival so set in honor, and hastened to ancient Tethys and Oceanus, the powers of ocean, and in answer to their inquiries, thus told the cause of her coming. “Do you ask why I, the queen of the gods, have left the heavenly plains and sought your depths. Learn that I am supplanted in heaven-my place is given to another. You will hardly believe me; but look when night darkens the world, and you shall see the two of whom I have so much reason to complain exalted to the heavens, in that part where the circle is the smallest, in the neighborhood of the pole. Why should anyone hereafter tremble at the thought of offending Juno, when such rewards are the consequence of my displeasure! See what I have been able to effect! I forbade her to wear the human form-she is placed among the stars! So do my punishments result-such is the extent of my power! Better that she should have resumed her former shape, as I permitted Io to do. Perhaps he means to marry her, and put me away! But you, my foster-parents, if you feel for me, and see with displeasure this unworthy treatment of me, show it, I beseech you, by forbidding this guilty couple from coming into your waters.“ The powers of the ocean assented, and consequently the two constellations of the Great and Little Bear move round and round in heaven, but never sink, as the other stars do, beneath the ocean..

　　卡利斯忒 －－朱庇特的又一位情人

　　　　卡利斯忒是另一个引得朱诺妒火中烧的少女，朱诺把她变作一头熊“我要叫你丧失掉，”她说，“你那诱惑了我的丈夫的美貌。”一下子卡利斯特的腰身就屈了下去；她想伸臂恳求一番，但那双臂眼看着就要长满了黑毛。她的手变得圆敦敦的，长出了钩状的利爪，只配用来做脚掌了；她的美丽的小嘴，宙斯以前是赞不绝口的，现在变成了一对骇人的下巴；她的声音本来是能唤起人们的恻隐之心的，现在却成了嗥叫，令人毛骨悚然。但是她并没有丧失固有的气质。她不停地呻吟着，哀叹红颜薄命，挣扎着想站直身子，伸爪乞怜；她觉得朱庇特也太薄情，然而她无法说给他听。啊，有多少个夜晚她徘徊在以前住过的地方，因为她不敢独自在林中过夜；有多少次她这个不久前的猎手被猎犬吓得四处逃窜，怕被猎人捉住。她不敢与野兽为伍，忘记了自己是兽国中的一员；自身为熊，她却对熊望而生畏。

　　　　一日，她被一个正在行猎的小伙子看见了，她认出来这个猎手原来是自己的儿子，现在已长成为一个翩翩的少年。她不再逃跑。想走过去把他抱在怀里。但当她刚朝他迈步时，他马上警觉起来，举起猎矛，就要投射。这时朱庇特发现了并及时制止了这种忤逆行为，把母子二人从地上带走，放置在天上，成为大熊星和小熊星。

　　　　朱诺见到自己的情敌如此尊荣，大为恼火，急忙去找海洋神老特堤斯和俄刻阿诺斯。他们问她来访的目的，她向他们阐明了来意：“你们问我这个众神之后为什么要从天上的平原下到深海中来。告诉你们吧，天上没有我呆的地方了－－－我的位置让别人给占据了。你们大概不信我的话，可是等到夜幕笼罩大地时你们自己看吧，就在极圈附近，圈子绕得最小的那片天上，你们会看到升到天上的那两个家伙，对于他们我是满有理由表示不满的。今后谁还担心会冒犯朱诺－－－倘若我的不悦竟致使他们得到了这样的报偿？你们看到我力之所及了吧！我不许她再有人形－－－可她竟被安置到了星宿中来了。这就是我惩罚的结果，我的权限就只有这么一点大！还不如当初我也叫她象伊俄一样重新恢复了人形呢！说不定他是想娶她为妻，把我遗弃！可是你们，我的养父养母，要是你们还体恤我，要是你们看不惯我受不平对待的话，我请示你们给她点颜色看看，不许这一对罪人进入你们的海里。”海洋之神答应了。结果大熊星座和小熊星座只能在天上绕来绕去，永远不能象其它的星星一样落到海中去。

　　A Contest between a Mortal and the Goddess of Wisdom

　　There was a contest in which a mortal dared to come in competition with Minerva, the goddess of wisdom. That mortal was Arachne, a maiden who had attained such skill in the arts of weaving and embroidery that the nymphs themselves would leave their groves and fountains to come and gaze upon her work. One would have said that Minerva herself had taught her. But this she denied, and could not bear to be thought a pupil even of a goddess. “Let Minerva try her skill with mine,“ said she; “if beaten, I will pay the penalty.“ Minerva heard this and was displeased. She assumed the form of an old woman and went and gave Arachne some friendly advice. “I have had much experience,“ said she, “and I hope you will not despise my counsel. Challenge your fellow-mortals as you will, but do not compete with a goddess.“ Arachne stopped her spinning and looked at the old dame with anger in her countenance. “Keep your counsel,“ said she , “for your daughters or handmaids! I am not a afraid of the goddess; let her try her skill, if she dare venture.“ “She comes, “ said Minerva; and dropping her disguise, stood confessed. Arachne was unterrified. She stood to her resolve, and with a foolish conceit of her own skill rushed on her fate. Minerva forbore no longer, nor interposed any further advice. They proceed to the contest. Each takes her station and attaches the web to the beam. Both work with speed; their skilful hands move rapidly, and the excitement of the contest makes the labor light.

　　Minerva wrought on her web the scene of her contest with Neptune. Twelve of the heavenly powers are represented. Jupiter, with august gravity, sitting in the midst. Neptune, the ruler of the sea, holds his trident, and appears to have just smitten the earth, from which a horse has leaped forth. Minerva depicted herself with helmed head, her Aegis covering her breast. Such was the central circle; and in the four corners were represented incidents illustrating the displeasure of the gods at such presumptuous mortals as had dared to contend with them. These were meant as warnings to her rival to give up the contest before it was too late.

　　Arachne filled her web with subjects designedly chosen to exhibit the failings and errors of the gods. Once scene represented Leda caressing the swan, under which for Jupiter had disguised herself; and another, Danae, in the brazen tower in which her father had imprisoned her, but where the god effected his entrance in the form of a golden shower. Still another depicted Europa deceived by Jupiter under the disguise of a bull.

　　Arachne filled her canvas with similar subjects, wonderfully well done, but strongly marking her presumption and impiety. Minerva could not forbear to admire, yet felt indignant at the insult. She struck the web with her shuttle and rent it in pieces; she them touched the forehead of Arachne and made her feel her guilt and shame. She could not endure it, and went and hanged herself. Minerva pitied her as she saw her suspended by a rope. “Live,“ she said, “guilty woman - and that you may preserve the memory of this lesson continue to hang, both you and your descendants, to all future times.“ She sprinkled her with the juices of aconite, and immediately her hair came off, and her nose and ears likewise. Her form shrank up, and her head grew smaller yet; her fingers cleaved to her side and served for legs. All the rest of her is body, out of which she spins her thread, often hanging suspended by it, in the same attitude as when Minerva touched her and transformed her into a spider.

　　凡人与智慧女神的竞赛

　　　　从前发生过一场竞赛，一个凡人竟敢与智慧女神密涅瓦比试。这个凡人叫阿拉喀涅，她有一手非凡的纺织和刺绣本领，每当这位少女干活儿时就连林中和喷泉中的神女们也都拥来观看。人们会说，她是密涅瓦亲手教的。可是关于这一点阿拉喀涅予以否认，就是把她说成是女神的学生她都觉得不能忍受。“让密涅瓦来与我比试一下吧，”她说道，“如果我输了，甘愿受罚。”密涅瓦听到这个消息后很不高兴。她变成了一个老婆婆来到阿拉喀涅那儿并向她提出友好的忠告：“我有许多经验，”她说，“我希望你不要轻视我的劝告。你要是喜欢、就和你的人类同胞去比试，却千万不要和女神争高低。”阿拉喀涅停下了纺织，怒视着老婆婆。“收起你的忠告吧，”她说，“留给你的女儿或女仆们听吧。我不怕那位女神，如果她敢的话，就让她显示一下她的本领吧。”“她来了，”密涅瓦说完就丢下伪装，站在那里证实自己的身分。阿拉喀涅不感到害怕。她毫不动摇，一种对自己技艺的盲目自信驱使她选择了自己的命运。密涅瓦再也不能容忍了，她也不再提出进一步的忠告。她们开始了比赛，两人各就其位并把织物接到了桁架上。两人都干得很快，她们的巧手飞速地运动着，由于比赛带来的兴奋使她们不感到活儿很累。

　　　　密涅瓦在她的织物上织出了她与海神竞赛的场面。画面上有十二位天神出场。朱庇特威风凛凛地坐在当中。海的统治者尼普顿手执他那把三叉戟，好象刚刚撞击过地球，一匹马正从地面跃了出来。密涅瓦把自己描绘成带着头盔，用盾牌护住自己的胸部。这是图案的中心圈。图案的四角是一些神祗们由于一些狂妄自大的凡人竟敢与他们竞争而生气的情景；这是用来警告她的对手，劝她及时放弃这场比赛。

　　　　阿拉喀涅则故意地在自己的图案中织出了显示神祗们的缺点和错误的主题。一个场面是描述勒达轻抚着一只天鹅，那天鹅实际上是朱庇特的化身；另一幅描述了达那厄被她父亲关在一座铜塔里，而主神朱庇特却变成一阵金雨浇进了铜塔。再一幅是描写欧罗巴尼如何被化身成公牛的朱庇特所欺骗。

　　　　阿拉喀涅用类似的主题填满了她的画布，确乎精彩极了，但明显地表现出她的傲慢和对神的不敬。密涅瓦不得不佩服她的手艺，同时又对她的侮辱感到愤怒。她用梭子猛击织物，并把它弄得粉碎，之后她摸了一下阿拉喀涅的额头使她感到内疚和羞耻。阿拉喀涅忍受不了，就去上吊。密涅瓦看到她悬挂在绳子上，动了恻隐之心。“活下去吧，”她说道，“有罪的女人。为了使你永远记住这个教训，你和你的子孙后代将永远吊着。”她用附子汁向阿拉喀涅洒去，她的头发马上就脱光了，她的鼻子和耳朵也掉了。她的体形缩小了，她的头变得更小，手指紧贴身体两侧变成了脚。剩下的便是躯体，她从体内抽丝纺线，常常悬挂在那游丝上，跟当年密涅瓦触摸她把她变成蜘蛛时的情形完全一样。

　　Mars, the War-God

　　Mars (Ares) was the son of Jupiter and Juno. Homer in the Iliad, represents Ares as the insatiable warrior of the heroic age, who, impelled by rage and lust of violence, exults in the noise of battle, revels in the horror of carnage. Strife and slaughter are the condition of his existence. Where the fight is thickest, there he rushes in without hesitation, without question as to which side is right. In battle array he is resplendent, - on his head the gleaming helmet and floating plume, on his are the leather shield, in his had the redoubtable spear of bronze. Well-favored, stately, swift, unwearied, puissant, gigantic, he is still the foe of wisdom, the scourge of mortals. Usually he fights on foot, sometimes from a chariot drawn by four horses, -- the offspring of the North Wind and a Fury. In the fray his sons attend him, -- Terror, Trembling, Panic, and Fear, -- also his sister Eris, or Discord (the mother of Strife), his daughter Enyo, ruiner of cities, and a retinue of bloodthirsty demons. As typifying the chances of war, Mars is , of course, not always successful. In the battles. before Troy, Minerva and Juno bring him more than once to grief; and when he complains to Jupiter, he is snubbed as a renegade most hateful of all the gods. His loved one and mistress is the goddess of beauty herself. In her arms the warrior finds repose. Their daughter Harmonia is the ancestress of the unquiet dynasty of Thebes. The favorite land of Mars was, according to Home, the rough, northerly Thrace. His emblems are the spear and the burning torch; his chosen animals are haunters of the battle field, -- the vulture and the dog.

　　战神马尔斯

　　　　马尔斯（阿瑞斯）是朱庇特和朱诺的儿子。荷马在《伊利亚特》中把他说成是英雄时代的一名百战不厌的武士。他肝火旺盛，尚武好斗，一听到战鼓声就手舞足蹈，一闻到血腥气就心醉神迷。戕戮厮杀是他的家常便饭。哪里有鏖战，他就立即冲向那里，不问青红皂白就砍杀起来。他穿上战服时雄姿勃勃－－－头戴插翎的盔甲，臂上套着皮护袖，手持的铜矛咄咄逼人。他得天独厚，威严、敏捷、久战不倦、孔武有力、魁梧壮伟。至今，他还是智慧的大敌，人类的祸灾。他通常是徒步与对手交战，有时候也从一辆四马战车上挥戈－－－那四匹马是北风和一位复仇女神的后裔。随从他奔赴疆场的有他的儿子：恐怖、战栗，惊慌和畏惧，还有他的姐妹不和女神厄里斯（纷争的母亲）、女儿毁城女神厄倪俄和一群嗜血成性的魔鬼。胜败乃兵常事，马尔斯自然也有败北的时候。在攻打特洛伊城的战斗中，密涅瓦和朱诺就曾多次把他打得丢盔卸甲。他向朱庇特告状，反而被侮骂为逃兵，深为众神所不齿。他所宠爱的情妇竟偏巧是美神，在她的怀抱里，这位武士得到了安宁。他俩生的女儿叫哈耳摩尼业，日后成为战火连绵的底比斯王朝的开国女祖。据荷马说，底比斯最喜欢去的地方是北部的地势坎坷的色雷斯。他佩带的徽记是长矛和燃烧着的火炬；他的爱畜是兀鹰和猎犬－－－两种战场上的常客。

　　The Killing of Mars`s Sacred Serpent Avenged

　　Toward mortals Mars could show himself, on occasion, as vindictive as his fair foe, Minerva, the unwearied daughter of Jove. This fact not only Cadmus, who slew a serpent sacred to Mars, but all the family of Cadmus found out to their cost.

　　We have seen how Jupiter, under the disguise of a bull, had carried away Europa, the daughter of Agenor, King of Phoenicia. Agenor, greatly distressed by the loss of his beloved daughter, commanded his son Cadmus to go in search of his sister, and not to return without her. Cadmus went and sought long and far for his sister, but could not find her, and not daring to return unsuccessful, consulted the oracle informed him that he should find a cow in the field, and should follow her wherever she might wander, and where she stopped, should build a city and call it Thebes. Cadmus had hardly left the Castalian cave, from which the oracle was delivered, when he saw a young cow slowly walking before him. He followed her close, offering at the same time his prayers to Phoebus. The cow went on till she passed the shallow channel of Cephisus and came out into the plain of Panope. There she stood still, and raising her broad forehead to the sky, filled the air with her lowings. Cadmus gave thanks and, stooping down, kissed the foreign soil, then lifting his eyes, greeted the surrounding mountains.

　　Wishing to offer a sacrifice to Jupiter, Cadmus sent his servants to seek pure water for a libation. Near by there stood an ancient grove which had never been profaned by the axe, in the midst of which was a cave, thick covered with the growth of bushes, its roof forming a low arch, from beneath which burst forth a fountain of purest water. In the cave lurked a horrid serpent with a crested head and scales glittering like gold. His eyes shone like fire, his body was swollen with venom, he vibrated a triple tongue, and showed a triple row of teeth. No sooner had the Tyrians dipped their pitchers in the fountain, and the ingushing waters made a sound, than the glittering serpent raised his head out of the cave and uttered a fearful hiss. The vessels fell from their hands, the blood left their cheeks, they trembled in every limb. The serpent, twisting his scaly body in a huge coil, raised his head so as to overtop the tallest trees, and while the Tyrians from terror could neither fight nor fly, slew some with his fangs, others in his folds, and others with his poisonous breath.

　　Cadmus, having waited for the return of his men till midday, went in search of them. His covering was a lion’s hide, and besides his javelin he carried in his hand a lance, and in his breast a bold heart, a surer reliance than either. When he entered the wood, and saw the lifeless bodies of his men and the monster with his bloody jaws, he exclaimed, “Oh, faithful friends, I will avenge you, or share your death.“ So saying he lifted a huge stone and threw it with al his force at the serpent. Such a block would have shaken the wall of a fortress, but it made no impression on the monster. Cadmus next threw his javelin, which met with better success, for it penetrated the serpent’s scales and pierced through to his entrails. Fierce with pain the monster turned back his head to view the wound, and attempted to draw out the weapon with his mouth, and attempted to draw out the weapon with his mouth, but broke it off, leaving the iron point rankling in his flesh. His neck swelled with rage, bloody foam covered his jaws, and the breath of his nostrils poisoned the air around. Now he twisted himself into a circle, then stretched himself out on the ground like the trunk of a fallen tree. As he moved onward, Cadmus retreated before him holding his spear opposite to the monster’s opened jaws. The serpent snapped at the weapon and attempted to bite its iron point. At last Cadmus, watching his chance, thrust the spear at a moment when the animal’s head thrown back came against the trunk of a tree, and so succeeded in pinning him to its side. His weight bent the tree as he struggled in the agonies of death.

　　While Cadmus stood over his conquered foe, contemplating its vast size, a voice was heard (from whence he knew not, but he heard it distinctly) commanding him to take the dragon’s teeth and sow them in the earth. He obeyed. He made a furrow in the ground, and planted the teeth, destined to produce a crop of men. Scarce had he done so when the clods began to move, and the points of spears to appear above the surface. Next helmets with their nodding plumes came up, and next the shoulders and breasts and limbs of men with weapons, and in time a harvest of armed warriors. Cadmus, alarmed, prepared to encounter a new enemy, but one of them said to him, “Meddle not with our civil war.“ With that he who had spoken smote one of his earthborn brothers with a sword, and he himself fell pierced with an arrow from another. The latter fell victim to a fourth, and in like manner the whole crowd dealt with each other till all fell slain with mutual wounds, except five survivors. One of these cast away his weapons and said, “Brothers, let us live in peace!“ These five joined with Cadmus in building his city, to which they gave the name of Thebes.

　　Cadmus obtained in marriage Harmonia, the daughter of VENUS. The gods left Olympus to honor the occasion with their presence, and Vulcan presented the bride with a necklace of surpassing brilliancy, his own workmanship. But a fatality hung over the family of Cadmus in consequence of his killing the serpent sacred to Mars. Semele and Ino, his daughters, and Actaeon and Pentheus, his grandchildren, all perished unhappily, and Cadmus and Harmonia quitted Thebes, now grown odious to them, and emigrated to the country of the Enchelians, who received them with honor and made Cadmus their king. But the misfortunes of their children still weighed upon their minds; and one day Cadmus exclaimed, “If a serpent’s life is so dear to the gods, I would I were myself a serpent.“ No sooner had he uttered the words than he began to change his form. Harmonia beheld it and prayed to the gods to let her share his fate. Both became serpents. They live in the woods, but mindful of their origin, they neither avoid the presence of man, nor do they ever injure any one.

　　杀死战神圣蛇的报应

　　　　对于凡人，马尔斯有时表现得就跟他那美貌的对手、朱庇特的那永不怠倦的女儿密涅瓦一样的复仇心切。不仅杀死马尔斯圣蛇的卡德摩斯领教了这一点，他的家族也在深受其苦下对此有所领略。

　　　　我们看过朱庇特怎样化成一头公牛驮走了腓尼基国王阿革诺耳的女儿欧罗巴。阿革诺耳因失去了爱女而大为苦恼，责令儿子卡德摩斯去把妹妹寻回来，若不能完成任务就不准他再进家门。卡德摩斯走遍四面八方，找了很久也找不到妹妹的踪迹。他不敢空着手回家，就到阿波罗庙中乞求神谕指示他到哪里安身，神谕说他将在田野里见到一头母牛，牛往哪里走，他就要跟到那里，就在母牛停步的地方建造一座城池，取名底比斯。卡德摩斯刚一走出给予他神谕的卡斯塔利亚山洞就看到前面有条小母牛在不紧不慢地走着。他赶快跟上，一路上向福波斯祷告。那条牛涉过了刻非瑟斯浅峡，来到了帕诺蒲平原。它在这里停住脚步，仰起宽阔的额面，朝天一声声地哞叫着。卡德摩斯谢过神明，躬身亲吻这片异乡的土地，然后举目眺望四周的群山。

　　　　他决定祭祀朱庇特，便打发随从去寻找净水做祭奠。附近有一片老林，还从未遭受过斧头的蹂躏。林子深处有一个岩洞，完全被茂密的树丛遮住。洞顶微呈拱形，洞的下处涌出一道清澈无比的泉水。洞穴里盘踞着一条恶蛇，它的头冠和身上的鳞片象金子似地熠熠发光。它的双眼象火焰似的闪耀，浑身上下毒液欲滴。那蛇摇动着分成了三叉的舌头，龇出三排牙齿。当太尔人把水罐浸到泉水中，水流入罐咕嘟嘟地响起来的时候，那闪着青光的蛇立即从穴中探出头来，发出嘶嘶的可怖的鸣声。他们吓得扔了水罐，一个个面如死灰，浑身发抖。那头蛇盘起长满鳞片的身躯，把头举过了至高的树，那些太尔人给吓得瘫软了，既不能战，又不能逃。有些人被咬死，有些人被勒死，其余的被蛇的毒气熏死了。

　　　　卡德摩斯等到中午过不见他的仆从的踪影，就去寻找他们。他身披狮皮，一手拿矛，一手持镖，但他胸中的那颗勇者之心是比这两件利器还要可靠的必胜的依据。他走进树林，发现了随丛们的尸体，见到那条恶蛇还在舐着嘴角上的血汁，他高呼道：“忠诚的朋友们，我抵死也要替你们报仇。”说着他举起一块巨石，用尽全身气力朝大蛇砸去。这一击也许能震撼城堡的围墙，但落到那蛇身上，却没有什么作用。卡德摩斯紧接着投出了长矛。这一手倒还奏效，长矛穿过鳞片刺入了蛇的内脏。疼痛使得那怪物暴躁不安，它扭过头来察看伤口，并用牙齿去拔那长矛，但只是把矛咬断了，铁矛尖扎在肉里更加疼痛难熬。它气得脖子发胀，嘴角冒着血沫，鼻中喷出一股股的毒气。它先把身子缩成一团，然后又申长，活象一截伐倒在地的树桩。它朝卡德摩斯一点点地逼过来，卡德摩斯边退却边用长矛在那怪物的大嘴前挑逗，卡德摩斯伺机行动，待到那蛇仰着的头移到一棵大树干旁时，他猛力一刺，将那蛇头横钉在树上，那蛇临死前痛苦地挣扎着，沉重的身躯把大树都压弯了。

　　　　正当卡德摩斯站到他已打倒的大敌前面，打量着这个硕大的尸体时，有个声音向他发话了（他说不上声音是从哪里发出来的，但却听得真真切切），命令他拔掉毒龙的牙齿，把它们播种在地里。他遵命行事，挖了一条垄，把龙牙洒在其中，天意决定了这些牙会滋生出一茬人。他刚刚填平了垄，土块就松动起来，许多长矛尖拱出了地面，接着就露出了头盔及其上插着的半折的羽饰，然后是手持武器的士兵的肩膀、胸膛、四肢，不一会儿功夫，一群全身披挂的武士长了出来。卡德摩斯惊恐万状，准备迎战这群敌人。但是其中的一个武士向他说：“不要插手我们的内战。”说毕就挥剑刺死一个同他一起从土中长出来的兄弟。但他却中了另一个武士射出的箭，倒地死去。射箭的那个又被另一个武士杀死，就这样，这一群人自相残杀着，最后只剩下了五个。其中的一个扔下了武器说：“弟兄们，我们讲和吧！”他们协助卡德摩斯建造了一座城，称之为底比斯。

　　　　卡德摩斯娶了维纳斯的女儿哈耳摩尼亚为妻。奥林波斯山上的众神都来庆贺他们的婚礼。伏尔甘送给了新娘一串他亲手制作的项链，精美绝伦。但因为卡德摩斯杀死的那条蛇是马尔斯的圣物，因此他的家族在劫难逃。他的女儿塞墨勒和伊诺，他的孙儿阿克特翁和彭透斯都死于非命。底比斯城如今只能勾起卡德摩斯和哈耳摩尼亚的无限伤感。他们弃城出走，投奔了安奇里亚人。那里的人们热情地接待了他们，并拥戴卡德摩斯为王。但儿孙们的厄运始终使他们忧郁寡欢。有一天卡德摩斯哀呼道：“既然众神对一条蛇的生命如此看重，我倒不如就是一条蛇吧。”话刚出口他就开始变形了。哈耳摩尼亚眼看事情如此，只好祈求众神赐给她同样的归宿。于是他们两人都变成了蛇，从此在森林中生活。他们铭记着自己的身世，所以从来不逃避人类，也从不伤害人类。

标签： 古希腊神话故事