古希腊和罗马的宗教已经灭绝。 所谓的奥林匹斯神明在活人中没有一个崇拜者。 他们现在不属于神学系，而是属于文学和趣味系。 他们仍然保持着自己的地位，并将继续保持下去，因为它们与古代和现代的诗歌和艺术的最优秀作品密切相关，以至于无法被遗忘。

我们建议讲述与它们有关的故事，这些故事从古代传到我们这里，并被现代诗人、散文家和演说家所提及。 因此，我们的读者同时可能会被幻想所创造的最迷人的小说所吸引，并掌握对每一个愿意聪明地阅读他那个时代的优雅文学的人来说必不可少的信息。

为了理解这些故事，我们有必要熟悉在希腊人中盛行的宇宙结构观念——罗马人和其他国家通过他们接受了科学和宗教。

希腊人相信地球是平的和圆形的，他们自己的国家占据地球的中心，中心点要么是众神的居所奥林匹斯山，要么是以其神谕而闻名的德尔斐。

地球的圆盘从西到东穿过，被大海分成两个相等的部分，他们称之为地中海，它的延续是他们所熟悉的唯一的海洋。

大洋河环绕地球流动，其流向在地球的西侧由南向北，在地球的东侧则相反。 它以稳定、均衡的水流流动，不受风暴或暴风雨的困扰。 大海和地上所有的河流，都从那里得水。

地球的北部据说居住着一个名叫海珀波利亚人的幸福种族，他们居住在崇高山脉之外的永恒幸福和春天之中，山脉的洞穴应该会吹出刺骨的北风，使希腊人民感到寒冷。 （希腊）。他们的国家无法通过陆地或海上到达。他们过着没有疾病、年老、劳苦和战争的生活。摩尔给我们带来了《海珀之歌》，开始

“我来自阳光明媚的深处的土地，
金色花园闪耀的地方，
北风在睡梦中平静，
他们的海螺壳永远不会吹起来。”

在地球的南边，靠近海洋的地方，居住着一个幸福而善良的民族，就像海珀波利亚人一样。他们被称为埃塞俄比亚人。众神如此宠爱他们，以至于他们有时会离开奥林匹亚的住所，去参加他们的祭祀和宴会。

在大地的西缘，海洋之滨，有一个幸福的地方，名叫极乐平原，受到诸神的眷顾的凡人被运送到那里，不尝死亡的滋味，享受不朽的幸福。这个幸福的地区也被称为“幸运田地”和“幸福群岛”。

由此可见，早期的希腊人除了本国东部和南部或地中海沿岸的居民外，对任何真实的民族知之甚少。与此同时，他们的想象中，这片海域的西部充满了巨人、怪物和女巫。他们在地球周围放置了一些国家，这些国家在他们看来可能并不宽广，受到众神的特殊青睐，并受到幸福和长寿的祝福。

黎明、太阳和月亮应该从东边的海洋中升起，穿过天空，为众神和人类带来光明。除了那些形成“Wain”或“Bear”的星星以及它们附近的其他星星之外，其他星星也从海洋的溪流中升起并沉入其中。在那里，太阳神登上了一艘有翼的小船，载着他绕过地球的北部，回到他在东方升起的地方。弥尔顿在他的《Comus》中提到了这一点：

“现在的镀金汽车
他的金轴缓解了
在陡峭的大西洋溪流中，
斜坡上的阳光是他向上的光束
对着昏暗的柱子射击，
迈向另一个目标
他在东边的房间”

众神的居所位于色萨利的奥林匹斯山顶。一扇由名为季节的女神守护的云门打开，允许天神们进入地球，并在他们返回时迎接他们。诸神有各自的居所。但是，当被召唤时，所有的人都会回到朱庇特的宫殿，就像那些通常居住在地球、水中或地狱的神灵一样。也是在奥林匹斯国王宫殿的大厅里，众神每天享用美味佳肴和花蜜，以及他们的食物和饮料，后者由可爱的女神赫柏传递。他们在此谈论天地之事；当他们畅饮花蜜时，音乐之神阿波罗用他的七弦琴的音调使他们高兴，缪斯们则以回应的曲调歌唱。太阳落山后，诸神便各自回到各自的住所睡觉。

《奥德赛》中的以下几行将展示荷马如何构想奥林匹斯山：

“如此说，密涅瓦，蔚蓝眼睛的女神，
登上奥林匹斯山，著名的席位
众神永恒，永不暴风雨
扰乱，雨淋，雪侵袭，却风平浪静
广阔无云的天空闪耀着最纯净的白天。
那里的居民神圣地欢欣鼓舞
永远”——考珀。

女神们的长袍和裙子的其他部分是由密涅瓦和美惠们编织的，所有更坚固的东西都是由各种金属制成的。伏尔甘是奥林匹斯山上的建筑师、铁匠、军械师、战车制造者和艺术家。他用黄铜建造众神的殿堂；他为他们制作了金色的鞋子，让他们可以在空中或水中行走，并以风的速度甚至思想的速度从一个地方移动到另一个地方。他还用黄铜打造天马，使众神的战车在空中或海面旋转。他能够赋予他的工艺自动能力，使鼎（桌椅）能够自行进出天堂。他甚至赋予侍奉自己的黄金侍女以智慧。

木星，或朱庇特（宙斯[2]括号中的名称是希腊名称，其他名称是罗马或拉丁名称 ）虽然被称为众神之父和人类之父，但他自己也有一个开始。土星（克洛诺斯）是他的父亲，瑞亚（奥普斯）是他的母亲。土星和瑞亚属于泰坦种族，他们是大地和天堂的孩子，起源于混沌，我们将在下一章进一步介绍。

还有另一种宇宙起源论或创造论，根据该理论，地球、埃里伯斯和爱是最早的存在。爱（Eros）是从漂浮在混沌上的夜之卵中发出的。他用箭和火炬刺穿万物，使万物生机勃勃，产生生命和欢乐。

土星和瑞亚并不是唯一的泰坦。还有其他人，他们的名字是俄刻阿诺斯（Oceanus）、亥伯龙（Hyperion）、土卫八（Iapetus）和俄菲翁（Ophion），都是男性。还有忒弥斯（Themis）、摩涅莫绪涅（Mnemosyne）、欧律诺墨（Eurynome），女性。他们被称为长老神，其统治权后来被转移给其他人。土星屈服于木星，海阿诺斯屈服于海王星，亥伯龙屈服于阿波罗。海伯利安是太阳、月亮和黎明的父亲。因此，他是最初的太阳神，并被描绘成后来赋予阿波罗的辉煌和美丽。

“海伯利安的卷发，朱庇特本人的正面”

——莎士比亚。

俄菲翁（Ophion）和欧律诺墨（Eurynome）统治奥林匹斯山，直到被土星（Saturn）和瑞亚（Rhea）废黜。弥尔顿在《失乐园》中提到了他们。他说异教徒似乎对人类的诱惑和堕落有一些了解。

“并传说他们称之为蛇如何
俄菲翁（Ophion），与欧律诺墨（Eurynome），（宽
也许是侵占夏娃，）首先有规则
奥林匹斯山的高处，由土星驱动。”

对土星的描述并不太一致；因为一方面，据说他的统治是天真和纯洁的黄金时代，另一方面，他又被描述为一个吞噬他孩子的怪物。[3]这种不一致源于将罗马人的土星与希腊神克洛诺斯（时间）视为同一神，因为它给所有有开始的事物带来了终结，可以说它吞噬了自己的后代 然而，朱庇特逃脱了这一命运，长大后与梅蒂斯（普鲁登斯饰）结婚，梅蒂斯对土星进行了一次草案，导致他吐出了自己的孩子。朱庇特和他的兄弟姐妹们现在反抗他们的父亲土星和他的兄弟泰坦们。征服了他们，并将其中一些人囚禁在塔尔塔罗斯，并对其他人施加了其他惩罚。阿特拉斯被判将天空扛在肩上。

在土星被废黜后，木星与他的兄弟海王星（波塞冬）和冥王星（迪斯）瓜分了他的领土。木星的部分是天空，海王星的部分是海洋，冥王星的部分是死者的领域。地球和奥林匹斯山是共同财产。朱庇特是众神和人类之王。雷霆是他的武器，他带着瓦肯人为他打造的名为宙斯盾的盾牌。老鹰是他最喜欢的鸟，并承载着他的雷电。

朱诺（赫拉）是朱庇特的妻子，众神女王。彩虹女神艾里斯是她的侍从和使者。孔雀是她最喜欢的鸟。

伏尔甘（赫菲斯托斯），天体艺术家，是朱庇特和朱诺的儿子。他生来就是瘸子，他的母亲一看到他就很不高兴，把他赶出了天堂。其他说法称，朱庇特因为他参与了与他母亲之间发生的争吵而将他踢了出去。据此记载，伏尔甘的跛行是他摔倒的结果。他花了一整天的时间，最后降落在利姆诺斯岛，从此这座岛对他来说是神圣的。弥尔顿在《失乐园》第一卷中提到了这个故事：

“……从早上开始
到中午他就倒下了，从中午到露水的傍晚，
一个夏日；和夕阳
像一颗流星一样从天顶坠落，
在爱琴海的利姆诺斯岛。”

战神玛尔斯（阿瑞斯）是朱庇特和朱诺的儿子。

福波斯·阿波罗（Phoebus Apollo），射箭、预言和音乐之神，是朱庇特和拉托纳的儿子，也是戴安娜（阿尔忒弥斯）的兄弟。他是太阳神，而他的妹妹戴安娜则是月亮女神。

维纳斯（阿佛洛狄忒）是爱与美的女神，是朱庇特和狄俄涅的女儿。还有人说，金星是从大海的泡沫中诞生的。和风带着她沿着海浪飘到塞浦路斯岛，在那里她受到季节的接待和盛装，然后被带到众神的集会。所有人都被她的美貌迷住了，每个人都要求她成为自己的妻子。朱庇特将她送给了伏尔甘，以感谢他在锻造雷电方面所做出的贡献。于是，最美丽的女神成了最不受宠的众神的妻子。维纳斯拥有一条名为Cestus的绣花腰带，具有激发爱情的力量。她最喜欢的鸟是天鹅和鸽子，她最神圣的植物是玫瑰和香桃木。

丘比特（Eros），爱神，维纳斯的儿子。他是她永远的伴侣；他手持弓箭，将欲望的飞镖射入众神和人类的怀抱。有一位名叫安特罗斯的神，有时被描绘成被轻视的爱情的复仇者，有时被描绘成相互感情的象征。关于他有以下传说：

维纳斯向忒弥斯抱怨她的儿子厄洛斯始终是个孩子，她告诉忒弥斯，这是因为他很孤独，如果他有一个兄弟，他会成长得很快。不久之后安特洛斯诞生了，人们立即看到厄洛斯的体型和力量迅速增加。

密涅瓦（Pallas，雅典娜），智慧女神，是朱庇特的后代，没有母亲。她从他的脑袋里跳出来，全副武装。她最喜欢的鸟是猫头鹰，她最喜欢的神圣植物是橄榄。

拜伦在《哈罗德伯爵》中这样提到密涅瓦的诞生：

“难道暴君只能被暴君征服吗？
自由找不到冠军，也没有孩子，
就像哥伦比亚看到的那样，当她
出现了一个全副武装且未受玷污的智神？
或者这样的心灵必须在野外得到滋养，
在未修剪的森林深处，在咆哮声中
白内障，护理大自然微笑
婴儿华盛顿？地球已经不存在了吗
她胸中有这样的种子，还是欧洲没有这样的海岸？”

墨丘利（赫尔墨斯）是朱庇特和迈亚的儿子。他主持商业、摔跤和其他体操活动，甚至主持偷窃，总之，他主持一切需要技巧和灵巧的事情。他是朱庇特的使者，戴着带翅膀的帽子和带翅膀的鞋子。他手里拿着一根缠绕着两条蛇的棍子，称为杖。

据说水星发明了七弦琴。有一天，他发现了一只乌龟，拿起它的壳，在它的相对边缘打孔，然后用亚麻绳穿过它们，仪器就完成了。绳索有九根，以纪念九位缪斯女神。墨丘利将竖琴送给了阿波罗，并从他那里得到了杖作为交换。[4]从这种乐器的起源来看，“贝壳”一词经常被用作“竖琴”的同义词，并比喻音乐和诗歌。因此，格雷在他关于“诗歌的进步”的颂歌中说道：

“自愿灵魂的主宰啊，
甜美而庄严的气息的父母，
迷人的贝壳！闷闷不乐的关怀
疯狂的激情听到你温柔的控制。”

谷神星（得墨忒耳）是萨图恩和瑞亚的女儿。她有一个女儿，名叫普罗瑟芬妮（Persephone），后来成为冥王普路托的妻子和亡灵王国的女王。谷神星掌管农业。

酒神巴克斯（狄俄尼索斯）是朱庇特和塞墨勒的儿子。他不仅代表了葡萄酒的醉人力量，还代表了葡萄酒的社会和有益影响，因此他被视为文明的推动者、立法者和和平爱好者。

缪斯女神是朱庇特和摩涅莫绪涅（记忆）的女儿。他们主持歌曲，提示记忆。他们一共有九个人，每个人都被指派担任某个特定的文学、艺术或科学系的系主任。卡利俄珀是史诗的缪斯，克利奥是历史的缪斯，尤特佩是抒情诗的缪斯，墨尔波墨涅是悲剧的缪斯，特西科雷是合唱舞蹈和歌曲的缪斯，埃拉托是爱情诗的缪斯，波利海姆尼亚是圣诗的缪斯，乌拉尼亚是天文学的缪斯，塔利亚是喜剧的缪斯。

美惠女神是主持宴会、舞蹈以及所有社交享受和优雅艺术的女神。他们一共三人。他们的名字是欧弗洛绪涅、阿格莱娅和塔莉亚。

斯宾塞这样描述美惠女神的职责：

“这三样都是赐予男人的恩赐
装饰身体或装饰心灵，
使它们成为可爱或受人喜爱的表演；
身姿优美，娱乐亲切，
甜美的外表，友好的办公室，有约束力，
以及一切礼貌的补充；
他们教我们如何达到各个程度和种类
我们应该贬低自己，贬低，贬低，贬低，
对朋友，对敌人；人们称之为文明的技能。”

命运女神也是三位——克洛托、拉克西斯和阿特罗波斯。他们的职责是纺织人类的命运之线，他们手持剪刀，随心所欲地用剪刀剪断它。她们是忒弥斯（法律）的女儿，忒弥斯坐在朱庇特的宝座上为他提供建议。

厄林尼斯（Erinnyes）或复仇女神（Furies）是三位女神，她们用秘密的毒刺惩罚那些逃脱或藐视公共正义的人的罪行。复仇女神们的头上都缠绕着蛇，整个面貌恐怖而骇人。他们的名字是阿莱克托（Alecto）、蒂斯福涅（Tisiphone）和墨加拉（Megaera）。他们也被称为Eumenides。

涅墨西斯也是一位复仇女神。她代表众神的正义愤怒，特别是对骄傲和傲慢的人。

潘是羊群和牧羊人之神。他最喜欢的住所是阿卡迪亚。

萨特是森林和田野的神。他们被认为浑身长着刚毛，头上装饰着短而发芽的角，脚像山羊的脚。

莫姆斯是笑神，普鲁托斯是财富之神。

罗马神灵

前面的神灵是希腊神灵，尽管也被希腊人接受
罗马书。以下内容是罗马神话特有的：

土星是古代意大利的神。人们试图将他与希腊神克洛诺斯联系起来，并传说在他被朱庇特废黜后，他逃到了意大利，在那里他统治了所谓的黄金时代。为了纪念他仁慈的统治，每年冬季都会举行农神节。然后所有公共事务都暂停了，宣战和刑事处决被推迟，朋友们互相赠送礼物，奴隶们得到了极大的自由。他们为他们举办了一场盛宴，他们坐在餐桌旁，而他们的主人则为他们服务，以表明在土星的统治下，人性平等，万物平等地属于所有人。

法努斯,[5]还有一位女神，名叫福娜（Fauna）或博娜·迪娅（Bona Dea）。 土星的孙子，被崇拜为田野之神和牧羊人之神，也被视为预言之神。他的名字的复数形式是农牧神（Fauns），表达了一群爱玩的神灵，就像希腊人的萨特一样。

奎里努斯（Quirinus）是一位战神，据说正是罗马的创始人罗慕路斯（Romulus），他死后被尊崇为诸神之一。

贝罗娜，战争女神。

终点站，地标之神。他的雕像是一块粗糙的石头或柱子，立在地上以标记田野的边界。

帕莱斯（Pales），掌管牛群和牧场的女神。

波莫纳主持果树。

弗洛拉，花之女神。

露西娜（Lucina），生育女神。

维斯塔（希腊人的赫斯提亚）是掌管公共和私人壁炉的神。在六位称为维斯塔斯的处女女祭司的照管下，她的神庙里燃起了圣火。由于城市的安全与它的保护息息相关，处女们的疏忽如果让其熄灭，就会受到严厉的惩罚，火会从太阳的光芒中重新点燃。

Liber是巴克斯的拉丁名；和瓦肯人的马尔西伯。

雅努斯是天堂的看门人。他开启了这一年，第一个月就以他的名字命名。他是大门的守护神，因此他通常有两个头，因为每扇门都有两个方向。他在罗马的神庙数量众多。在战争时期，主楼的大门总是敞开的。和平时期，他们都关门了；但它们只在努马统治时期和奥古斯都统治时期关闭过一次。

佩那特斯是负责照顾家庭幸福和繁荣的神。他们的名字来源于Penus，即食品储藏室，对他们来说是神圣的。每个家庭的主人都是他自己家族的神职人员的牧师。

拉瑞斯（Lares）或拉斯（Lars）也是家庭神，但与佩纳特斯（Penates）不同，他们被视为凡人的神灵。拉斯家族被认为是祖先的灵魂，守护着并保护着他们的后代。狐猴和幼虫这两个词更接近于我们的“幽灵”这个词。

罗马人相信每个男人都有他的天才，每个女人都有她的朱诺：即赋予他们存在的精神，并被视为他们一生的保护者。在他们的生日那天，男人们向他们的天才献祭，女人向他们的朱诺献祭。

一位现代诗人因此提到了一些罗马神：

“波莫纳热爱果园，
利伯热爱葡萄树，
帕莱斯喜欢稻草搭建的棚子
带着牛的气息温暖；
维纳斯喜欢低语
陷入困境的青年和女仆，
四月象牙色的月光下，
在栗色树荫下。”

——麦考利，《卡皮斯的预言》。

注意——要注意的是，在专有名词中，末尾的 e 和 es 应该发音。因此，Cybele 和 Penates 是三音节词。但普罗瑟平（Proserpine）和底比斯（Thebes）是例外，它们的发音都是英语单词。在卷尾的索引中，我们将在所有需要重音的单词中标记重音音节。

世界的创造是一个自然而然能够激发人类及其居民最强烈兴趣的问题。古代异教徒没有我们从圣经中获得的关于这个主题的信息，他们有自己的讲述故事的方式，如下：

在大地、海洋和天堂被创造之前，所有事物都有一个方面，我们将其命名为“混沌”——一团混乱且无形的物质，除了沉重的重量之外什么也没有，然而，事物的种子却沉睡在其中。地球、海洋、空气全部混合在一起；所以地球不是固体，海洋不是流动的，空气不是透明的。上帝和大自然最终介入，结束了这种不和谐，将地球与海洋、天堂与两者分开。火的部分最轻，突然升起，形成了天空。空气的重量和位置次之。地球变得更重，沉到了下面。水占据了最低的地方，使地面浮了起来。

在这里，有一位神——不知道是哪一位——在安排和处置地球方面发挥了他的斡旋作用。他指定了河流和海湾，抬高了山脉，挖出了山谷，分布了树林、喷泉、肥沃的田野和多石的平原。空气变得清新，星星开始出现，鱼占据了海洋，鸟占据了空中，四足兽占据了陆地。

但人们需要一种更高贵的动物，于是人类就被创造出来了。不知道造物主是否用神圣的材料创造了他，或者在与天堂分离不久的地球上是否还潜伏着一些天堂的种子。普罗米修斯取了一些地球，用水揉捏，按照众神的形象创造了人类。他给了他一个直立的身躯，所以当所有其他动物都把脸低下，看着大地时，他却将脸仰向天空，凝视着星星。

普罗米修斯是泰坦巨人之一，这是一个巨大的种族，在人类被创造之前就居住在地球上。他和他的兄弟埃庇米修斯肩负着创造人类的职责，并为人类和所有其他动物提供了生存所必需的能力。埃庇米修斯承诺要做这件事，而普罗米修斯则在他的工作完成后忽略他的工作。因此，埃庇米修斯开始赋予不同的动物勇气、力量、敏捷、智慧等不同的天赋。一个是翅膀，另一个是爪子，第三个是壳状覆盖物，等等。但是，当人类比所有其他动物都要优越时，埃庇米修斯就如此挥霍他的资源，以至于他没有什么可以留给他的。赐予他。困惑之余，他求助于弟弟普罗米修斯，普罗米修斯在密涅瓦的帮助下升入天堂，在太阳战车上点燃了火把，给人类带来了火种。凭借这种天赋，人类比所有其他动物都更胜一筹。它使他能够制造武器来制服他们；耕种土地的工具；为住所取暖，使其相对不受气候影响；最后是引入艺术和铸造货币、贸易和商业手段。女人还没有被创造出来。这个故事（太荒谬了！）是朱庇特创造了她，并将她送到普罗米修斯和他的兄弟那里，惩罚他们偷窃天火的狂妄行为；和男人，接受这份礼物。第一个女人名叫潘多拉。她是上天创造的，每一位神都贡献了自己的力量来完善她。金星赋予了她美丽、水星说服力、阿波罗音乐等。如此装备后，她被传送到地球，并呈现给埃庇米修斯，埃庇米修斯很高兴地接受了她，尽管他的兄弟警告他要提防木星和他的礼物。埃庇米修斯在他的房子里有一个罐子，里面装着某些有毒的物品，但他在为人们安置新居所时却没有必要使用这些物品。潘多拉充满了强烈的好奇心，想知道这个罐子里装的是什么。有一天，她掀开被子往里看。 不幸的男人身上立即逃出了一大堆瘟疫——比如身体上的痛风、风湿病和绞痛，心灵上的嫉妒、怨恨和报复——散落一地。他们自己远方。潘多拉赶紧把盖子盖上！可惜！罐子里的所有东西都逃走了，只有一件东西例外，它躺在底部，那就是希望。所以我们今天看到，无论国外有什么邪恶，希望永远不会完全离开我们；尽管我们有这样的情况，但再多的其他弊病也不能让我们完全陷入困境。

另一个故事是，潘多拉是由朱庇特真诚地派遣来祝福人类的。她得到了一个盒子，里面装着她的结婚礼物，每个神都在里面加了一些祝福。她不小心打开了盒子，祝福全都溜走了，只有希望除外。这个故事似乎比前一个更有可能。因为希望，如此珍贵的宝石，怎么可能像前面的陈述一样被保存在一个充满各种邪恶的罐子里呢？

世界因此有了居民，第一个时代是一个纯真和幸福的时代，称为黄金时代。真理和正义占了上风，尽管没有法律强制执行，也没有任何地方法官进行威胁或惩罚。森林里的树木还没有被砍伐来为船只提供木材，人们也没有在城镇周围建造防御工事。没有剑、矛或头盔之类的东西。大地为人类提供了一切必需品，无需人类耕耘或播种。永恒的春天统治着，鲜花在没有种子的情况下绽放，河流流淌着牛奶和葡萄酒，以及从橡树中蒸馏出的黄色蜂蜜。

随后进入了白银时代，虽然不如黄金时代，但比黄铜时代更好。木星缩短了春天，并将一年分为季节。然后，首先，人类必须忍受酷暑和严寒，房子就变得必要了。洞穴是最早的住所、茂密的树林和用树枝编织的小屋。如果不播种，农作物将不再生长。农民负责播种，牛负责拉犁。

接下来是黄铜时代，脾气更加野蛮，更容易发生武装冲突，但并不完全邪恶。最艰难、最糟糕的是铁器时代。犯罪像洪水一样爆发；谦虚、真理和荣誉都消失了。取而代之的是欺诈、狡诈、暴力和邪恶的贪财之心。然后，水手们迎风扬帆，把山上的树木砍下来，作为船只的龙骨，扰乱了大海的面貌。迄今为止一直被共同耕种的土地开始被划分为财产。人们并不满足于地表产出的东西，而必须挖掘其内部，并从中提取金属矿石。顽皮的铁和更顽皮的金被生产出来。战争爆发了，两者都被用作武器。客人在他朋友家里不安全；女婿、岳父、兄弟姐妹、丈夫、妻子，彼此不能信任。儿子们希望他们的父亲死去，这样他们就可以继承遗产。亲情俯伏。大地被杀戮浸湿，众神一一抛弃了它，直到只剩下阿莎蕊雅，最后她也离开了。[6]纯真和纯洁的女神。离开地球后，她被安置在群星之中，成为处女座——处女座。忒弥斯（正义）是阿斯特莱亚的母亲。她被描绘成高举着一副天平，在其中衡量反对派的主张。

古代诗人最喜欢的想法是，这些女神有一天会回来，带回黄金时代。即使在一首基督教赞美诗中，教皇的“弥赛亚”，也出现了这个想法：

“一切罪行都将停止，古老的欺诈将失败，
正义归来举起她的天秤，
她伸出橄榄枝，为世界带来和平，
还有白袍天真从天而降。”

另请参阅弥尔顿的《耶稣诞生赞美诗》第十四节。和十五。

朱庇特见此情景，勃然大怒。他召集诸神开会。他们听从号召，踏上了通往天宫的道路。这条路在晴朗的夜晚任何人都可以看到，它横跨天空，被称为银河系。路边矗立着显赫诸神的宫殿；天上的百姓，分居两岸。朱庇特在大会上发表讲话。他阐述了地球上事物的可怕状况，最后宣布他打算消灭地球上的全部居民，并创造一个与第一个不同的新种族，他们将更值得生存，并且是更好的崇拜者。神。说着，他便带着一道雷电，准备向这个世界发射，将其烧毁；但想到这样一场大火可能会点燃天堂本身的危险，他改变了计划，决定将其淹没。吹散云彩的北风被拴住了；南方被派出去了，很快整个天空就被一片漆黑的斗篷覆盖了。云朵被驱赶在一起，发出撞击声；倾盆大雨倾盆而下；庄稼被埋没了；农夫一年的劳作在一小时内就消灭了。朱庇特对自己的水域不满意，请求他的兄弟海王星帮助他处理自己的水域。他释放河流，将它们倾注在大地上。与此同时，他用地震使大地隆起，并带来海岸上的海水回流。羊群、牛群、人和房屋被冲走，寺庙及其神圣的围墙被亵渎。如果有任何建筑物仍然矗立，它就会被淹没，它的塔楼隐藏在波浪之下。现在一切都是大海，没有海岸的大海。到处都有一个人留在突出的山顶上，还有一些人在船上，在他们最近犁过犁的地方拉桨。鱼儿在树梢间游来游去；锚被放下到花园里。优雅的羔羊嬉戏的地方，现在却是笨重的海牛在嬉戏。狼在羊群中游动，黄狮和老虎在水中挣扎。野猪的力量对他不起作用，雄鹿的敏捷也对他不起作用。鸟儿找不到休息的地方，疲惫的翅膀落入水中。那些幸免于水的生物都陷入了饥饿。

在所有的山脉中，只有帕纳塞斯山高过海浪。丢卡利翁和他普罗米修斯后裔的妻子皮拉在那里找到了庇护所——他是一个正义的人，而她是众神的忠实崇拜者。朱庇特看到除了这对夫妇外，已无一人幸存，并想起他们无害的生命和虔诚的举止，他命令北风驱散云彩，让天空向大地开放，又向大地开放。海王星还指示特里顿吹响他的外壳，并发出撤退到水域的声音。众水听从了命令，大海回到了海岸，江河回到了河道。然后丢卡利翁这样对皮拉说道：“哦，妻子，唯一幸存的女人，首先通过血缘和婚姻的纽带与我结合，现在又通过共同的危险，希望我们拥有我们祖先普罗米修斯的力量，并且能够像他一开始就成功了！但既然我们不能，那就让我们去寻找那边的神庙，并向众神询问我们还要做些什么。”他们走进神殿，神殿变得像被粘液弄得变形了一样，来到祭坛前，那里没有火在燃烧。他们跪倒在地，祈求女神告诉他们如何才能挽回他们的悲惨遭遇。神谕回答说：“蒙着头，解开衣服，离开圣殿，把你母亲的骸骨抛在身后。”他们听了这句话，都惊愕不已。皮拉首先打破沉默：“我们不能服从；我们不能服从。”我们不敢亵渎父母的遗骸。”他们寻找最浓重的木材色调，并在脑海中盘旋神谕。最后丢卡利翁说道：“要么是我的睿智欺骗了我，要么是我们可以不敬虔地服从这个命令。大地是万物之母；石头是她的骨头；我们可以把这些抛在身后；我想这就是神谕的意思。至少，尝试一下不会有什么坏处。”他们蒙着脸，解开衣服，捡起石头，扔在身后。石头（非常棒）开始变软，并呈现出形状。渐渐地，它们与人类的形态有了粗鲁的相似之处，就像雕塑家手中的半成品一样。他们周围的湿气和粘液变成了肉；石头部分变成了骨头；静脉仍然是静脉，保留了它们的名称，只是改变了它们的用途。被男人手扔的就变成了男人，被女人手扔的就变成了女人。这是一场艰苦的比赛，非常适合劳动，正如我们今天发现的那样，清楚地表明了我们的起源。

夏娃与潘多拉的对比太明显了，让人无法逃脱
弥尔顿在第四卷中介绍了它。 《失乐园》的剧情简介：

“比众神潘多拉更可爱
拥有他们所有的天赋；和O，也很像
遇到悲伤的事情，什么时候给不明智的儿子
她陷入了赫耳墨斯带来的雅菲特的陷阱
人类以她美丽的外表，来报仇
是他偷走了朱庇特的真火。”

普罗米修斯和埃庇米修斯是伊阿佩托斯的儿子，弥尔顿将其改为雅弗。

普罗米修斯一直是诗人最喜欢的主题。他被描述为人类的朋友，当朱庇特对他们感到愤怒时，他代表人类介入，并教导他们文明和艺术。但由于他这样做违背了朱庇特的意志，他招致了众神和人类统治者的愤怒。朱庇特将他锁在高加索山的一块岩石上，在那里，一只秃鹰捕食了他的肝脏，肝脏被吞噬的速度很快又恢复了。如果普罗米修斯愿意屈服于他的压迫者的话，这种折磨状态可能随时都会结束。因为他掌握着一个涉及朱庇特王位稳定性的秘密，如果他愿意透露这个秘密，他可能会立即受到青睐。但他不屑这样做。因此，他成为对不应受的苦难的宽容忍耐和反抗压迫的意志力量的象征。

拜伦和雪莱都曾探讨过这个主题。以下是
拜伦的台词：

“泰坦！在谁不朽的眼睛里
生死之苦，
从他们悲惨的现实来看，
不为诸神所鄙视；
你的怜悯得到了什么回报？
一种无声的痛苦，而又强烈；
岩石、秃鹰和锁链；
骄傲的人所能感受到的一切都是痛苦；
他们没有表现出痛苦；
令人窒息的悲痛感。

“你的神圣罪行就是仁慈；
少用你的戒律来回报
人类不幸的总和，
并用自己的思想来强化人。
而且，尽管你来自高处，却感到困惑，
尽管如此，在你耐心的精力下
在忍耐与排斥中
你坚不可摧的精神，
天地皆不能震动，
我们继承了一个重要的教训。”

拜伦在他的著作中也使用了同样的典故
《拿破仑·波拿巴颂》：

“或者，就像天上盗火的贼一样，
你能承受住冲击吗？
并与他分享——未被宽恕的——
他的秃鹰和他的岩石？”

洪水覆盖的大地产生了过多的肥力，催生了各种生产，无论是好的还是坏的。其中，蟒蛇，一种令人们恐惧的巨蛇，潜伏在帕纳苏斯山的山洞里。阿波罗用箭射杀了他——他以前从未用过这种武器，除了对付软弱的动物、野兔、野山羊和类似的猎物。为了纪念这一辉煌的征服，他创立了皮提亚竞技会，在比赛中，力量、脚步敏捷或战车竞赛的胜利者会被戴上山毛榉叶制成的花环。因为月桂树还没有被阿波罗收为自己的树。

著名的阿波罗雕像称为贝尔维代尔，代表着战胜巨蟒之后的神。拜伦在他的“Childe Harold”，iv.，161 中提到了这一点：

“……无误弓之主，
生命之神、诗歌之神、光明之神，
太阳，在人类的四肢排列和眉毛上
一切都因他在战斗中的胜利而容光焕发
轴刚刚被射击；箭头明亮
带着不朽的复仇；在他眼中
还有鼻孔，美丽的蔑视，和力量
威严的闪电闪过，
在那一瞥中就显现出神性。”

阿波罗和达芙妮

达芙妮是阿波罗的初恋情人。这不是偶然造成的，而是丘比特的恶意造成的。阿波罗看到男孩正在玩弓箭。他自己对最近战胜蟒蛇感到高兴，对他说：“你这个顽皮的孩子，与战争武器有什么关系？把它们留给值得拥有的人。看吧，我通过他们战胜了那条将其有毒的身体伸展到数英亩平原上的巨蛇！满足于你的火炬，孩子，点燃你的火焰，正如你所说的那样，无论你在哪里，但不要擅自干涉我的武器。”维纳斯的儿子听到这些话，回答说：“阿波罗，你的箭可以射中一切，但我的箭会射中你。”说着，他站在帕纳塞斯山的一块岩石上，从箭袋里抽出两支不同工艺的箭，一支用来激发爱情，一支用来击退爱情。前者是金质的，尖头的，后者是钝的，尖端是铅的。他用铅箭击中了河神佩纽斯的女儿达芙妮，并用金箭击穿了阿波罗的心脏。神立刻对少女产生了爱意，而她厌恶爱的想法。她的乐趣在于林地运动和追逐的战利品。许多情人都在寻求她，但她都拒绝了他们，在树林里徘徊，没有想到丘比特和海门。她的父亲常常对她说：“女儿，你欠我一个女婿，你欠我一个女婿，你欠我一个女婿。”你欠我孙子。”她憎恶婚姻是一种犯罪，美丽的脸庞泛着红晕，她用双臂搂住父亲的脖子，说道：“亲爱的父亲，请赐予我这个恩惠，让我可以像戴安娜一样永远不婚。 ”他同意了，但同时又说道：“你的脸会禁止的。”

阿波罗爱她，渴望得到她。而向全世界提供神谕的人却没有足够的智慧来审视自己的命运。他看到她的头发披散在肩上，道：“如果乱了还这么迷人，如果整理一下会怎样？”他看见她的眼睛明亮如星辰；他看到了她的嘴唇，但并不满足于仅仅看到它们。他欣赏她的手和手臂，赤裸到肩膀，而他认为隐藏在视线之外的东西更美丽。他跟着她；她逃得比风还快，在他的恳求下一刻也没有耽搁。 “留下来，”他说，“佩纽斯的女儿；我不是敌人。不要像羔羊飞翔狼，或鸽子飞鹰那样飞翔我。我是为了爱才追求你的。你让我很痛苦，因为我担心你会在这些石头上摔倒受伤，而我就是原因。祈祷跑得慢一点，我就会跟着慢一点。我不是小丑，也不是粗鲁的农民。朱庇特是我的父亲，我是德尔福斯和特内多斯的统治者，我知道一切，无论是现在还是未来。我是歌神和竖琴之神。我的箭正中目标；可惜！比我更致命的箭射穿了我的心脏！我是药神，知道所有治疗植物的功效。唉!我得了一种药膏无法治愈的病！”

仙女继续她的飞行，并没有说出他的恳求。即使她逃跑了，她还是迷住了他。风吹动了她的衣服，她散开的头发披散在身后。神发现自己的求爱被抛弃，变得不耐烦，并在丘比特的加速下，在比赛中追上了她。就像一只猎犬追赶一只野兔，张开嘴巴准备抓住，而那只虚弱的动物则向前猛冲，从手中溜走。上帝和处女就这样飞翔——他乘着爱的翅膀，而她乘着恐惧的翅膀。然而，追赶者的速度更快，追上了她，他喘息的气息吹在她的头发上。她的力量开始衰退，准备沉没时，她向她的父亲河神呼唤：“帮助我，佩涅斯！打开大地将我包围，或者改变我的形态，才让我陷入了这样的危险！”她刚说话，四肢就僵硬了。她的胸膛开始被柔软的树皮包围。她的头发变成了树叶；她的手臂变成了树枝；她的脚牢牢地扎在地上，像根一样。她的脸，变成了树顶，除了美丽，什么也没有保留。阿波罗惊讶地站着。他摸了摸树干，感觉到新树皮下的肉在颤抖。他拥抱树枝，在木头上慷慨地亲吻。树枝从他的嘴唇上收缩了。 “既然你不能成为我的妻子，”他说，“你就一定是我的树。我将戴上你作为我的王冠；我将用你来装饰我的竖琴和箭袋；当伟大的罗马征服者将胜利的盛况带到国会大厦时，你将被编织成花环，戴在他们的额头上。而且，正如我的永恒青春一样，你也将永远青翠，你的叶子永不凋零。”仙女现在变成了一棵月桂树，感激地低下了头。

阿波罗既是音乐之神，又是诗歌之神，这并不奇怪，但医学也应该属于他的管辖范围，可能会这样。诗人阿姆斯特朗本人也是一名医生，他是这样解释的：

“音乐提升每一种欢乐，减轻每一种悲伤，
驱除疾病，减轻一切疼痛；
因此古代的智者都崇拜
物理、旋律和歌曲的一种力量。”

阿波罗和达芙妮的故事经常被诗人提及。沃勒将其应用于一位诗人的例子，他的情人诗句虽然没有软化他情妇的心，却为诗人赢得了广泛的声誉：

“然而他以不朽的风格所唱的，
虽然没有成功，但也没有白唱。
除了宁芙之外，所有人都应该纠正他的错误，
关注他的热情并认可他的歌曲。
就像菲比斯一样，获得了不请自来的赞扬，
他抓住了爱情，并用月桂充满了他的怀抱。”

雪莱的《Adonais》中的以下一节暗示了拜伦早期与评论家的争吵：

“群狼，只敢追；
淫秽的乌鸦，在死者身上喧闹；
秃鹰，忠实于征服者的旗帜，
谁在荒凉首先滋养的地方进食，
他们的翅膀带来了传染病：他们如何逃跑，
当像阿波罗一样，用他的金弓，
一箭时代的皮提亚人
并微笑了！剧透不会引起第二次打击；
他们阿谀奉承那些骄傲的脚，而这些脚却在他们走的时候抛弃了他们。”

金字塔和Thisbe

在塞米拉米斯统治的巴比伦尼亚，皮拉摩斯是最英俊的青年，提斯柏是最美丽的少女。他们的父母住在相邻的房子里；邻里让年轻人走到了一起，熟识发展成了爱情。他们很乐意结婚，但他们的父母禁止。然而，有一件事是他们无法禁止的——爱情应该在双方的心中燃烧出同样的热情。他们通过手势和眼神交谈，火因被掩盖而越烧越旺。分隔两栋房屋的墙壁上出现了一条裂缝，这是由于结构上的某些缺陷造成的。以前没有人注意到这一点，但是这对恋人发现了它。爱会发现什么！它为声音提供了通道；温柔的信息过去常常通过缝隙来回传递。当他们站着时，皮拉摩斯在这边，提斯柏在那边，他们的呼吸混合在一起。 “残酷的墙，”他们说，“为什么要把两个相爱的人分开？但我们不会忘恩负义。我们承认，我们欠你将爱的话语传达给愿意的耳朵的特权。”他们在墙的不同侧面都说出了这样的话；当夜幕降临，他们必须告别时，他们把嘴唇贴在墙上，她在她身边，他在他身边，因为他们无法再靠近了。

第二天早上，当奥罗拉熄灭了星星，太阳融化了草地上的霜时，他们在惯常的地点见面。然后，在感叹自己的悲惨命运之后，他们同意，第二天晚上，当一切都安静下来时，他们就从监视的目光中溜走，离开住所，走到田野里；为了确保会面，修复了一座位于城市边界之外的著名建筑，称为尼努斯之墓，并且第一个到达的人应该在一棵树下等待另一个人。那是一棵白色的桑树，矗立在清凉的泉水旁。一切都达成了一致，他们焦急地等待着太阳落入水下，夜幕从水面升起。然后提斯柏小心翼翼地偷偷溜出去，不让家人发现，头上蒙着面纱，走到纪念碑前，坐在树下。当她独自坐在傍晚的昏暗灯光下时，她看到一头母狮，它的下巴散发着刚刚被杀戮的臭味，正在靠近喷泉解渴。提斯贝见状逃跑，躲进岩石洞里。当她逃跑时，她摘下了面纱。母狮喝完泉水，转身退入树林，看到地上的面纱，用血淋淋的嘴把它撕碎了。

皮拉摩斯被耽搁了，现在已经接近集合地点了。他在沙子里看到了狮子的脚印，看到这一幕，他的脸色顿时变色。不久，他发现面纱已经裂开，血迹斑斑。 “哦，不幸的女孩，”他说，“我就是你的死因！你，比我更值得活下去，却成了第一个受害者。我将按照。我是有罪的原因，引诱你到如此危险的地方，而不是亲自在现场保护你。你们这些狮子，从岩石中出来，用你们的牙齿撕碎这个有罪的身体。”他拿起面纱，带到指定的树前，用亲吻和泪水盖住它。 “我的血也会玷污你的纹理，”他说着，抽出剑插入了他的心脏。鲜血从伤口处喷涌而出，将树上白色的桑葚染红了。并沉入土壤到达根部，因此红色通过树干上升到果实。

这时，提斯柏仍然害怕得浑身发抖，但又不想让爱人失望，她小心翼翼地走上前去，焦急地寻找着年轻人，渴望告诉他自己逃离的危险。当她来到现场时，看到桑葚颜色发生了变化，她怀疑这是不是同一个地方。正当她犹豫的时候，她看到了一个在死亡的痛苦中挣扎的身影。她猛地向后退了一步，浑身一阵颤抖，就像一阵微风突然吹过平静的水面，泛起了涟漪。但当她认出自己的爱人时，她尖叫着，捶打着自己的胸口，拥抱着毫无生气的尸体，将泪水倒入它的伤口，在冰冷的嘴唇上印下吻痕。 “噢，皮拉摩斯，”她喊道，“这是怎么回事？回答我，皮拉摩斯；说话的是你自己的提斯贝。听我说，亲爱的，抬起那低垂的头！”听到提斯贝的名字，皮拉摩斯睁开了眼睛，然后又闭上了。她看到她的面纱沾满了血，剑鞘里空无一物。 “你亲手杀了你，也是为了我，”她说。 “我也能勇敢一次，我的爱和你的一样强烈。我将追随你的死亡，因为我就是原因；唯有死亡才能将我们分开，但这并不能阻止我与你相聚。你们，我们俩不幸的父母，没有拒绝我们共同的请求。当爱与死亡将我们结合在一起时，就让一座坟墓容纳我们吧。而你，树，保留着屠杀的痕迹。让你的浆果仍然作为我们鲜血的纪念。”说着，她将剑插进了自己的胸口。她的父母批准了她的愿望，诸神也批准了她的愿望。这两具尸体被埋在一座坟墓里，从此这棵树结出了紫色的浆果，直到今天。

摩尔在《精灵舞会》中谈到戴维的安全灯时，想起了分隔提斯贝和她情人的那堵墙：

“哦，那盏灯的金属网，
那一道保护铁丝的帘子，
戴维精心绘制的
周围非法、危险的火灾！

他在火焰和空气之间设置的墙，
（就像阻止年轻提斯柏幸福的事情一样，）
这对危险的搭档穿过谁的小洞
可以见面，但不能接吻。”

米克尔翻译的《卢西亚德》中提到了皮拉摩斯和提斯柏的故事以及桑葚的变形。诗人这样描述爱情岛：

“……这里是波莫纳亲手赐予的每一份礼物
在有文化的花园里，无文化的自由流动，
味道更甜，色泽更白
比 e'er 是由照顾之手培育出来的。
这里的樱花闪耀着深红色的光芒，
沾满恋人的鲜血，垂垂成行，
桑树压垮了弯曲的树枝。”

如果我们的任何一位年轻读者能够如此铁石心肠地以可怜的皮拉摩斯和提斯柏为代价来享受笑声，他们可能会通过转向莎士比亚的戏剧“仲夏夜之梦”来找到一个机会，其中有最滑稽的滑稽表演。 。

Cephalus 和 Procris

克法拉斯是一位美丽的青年，喜欢男子气概的运动。他会在黎明前起床去追捕。奥罗拉（Aurora）第一次见到他，就爱上了他，并把他偷走了。但克法勒斯刚刚娶了一位他深爱的迷人妻子。她的名字叫普罗克里斯。她是狩猎女神戴安娜的最爱，戴安娜给了她一只跑得比任何对手都快的狗，以及一把永远不会失败的标枪。普罗克里斯把这些礼物送给了她的丈夫。克法勒斯对他的妻子非常满意，拒绝了奥罗拉的所有恳求，而奥罗拉最终不高兴地驳回了他，说道：“走吧，忘恩负义的凡人，留下你的妻子吧，如果我没有记错的话，有一天你会成为她的妻子。”非常抱歉你再次见到了。”

塞法勒斯回来了，他对妻子和林地运动一如既往地感到高兴。现在，某个愤怒的神灵派出了一只贪婪的狐狸来骚扰这个国家。猎人出动了强大的力量来捕获它。他们的努力全都白费了；没有狗能把它撞倒；最后，他们来到克法勒斯借了他那只著名的狗，它的名字叫莱拉普斯。狗一被放开，他就飞奔而去，速度快得人们的眼睛都追不上他。如果他们没有看到他在沙子上的脚印，他们会以为他飞了。克法勒斯和其他人站在山上观看了比赛。狐狸尝试了所有的方法；他绕了一圈跑，然后又回到原来的轨道上，那条狗靠近他，张开嘴巴，咬住他的脚后跟，但只咬住了空气。克法勒斯正要使用标枪，突然他看到狗和猎物都立刻停止了。赋予两者的天权并不愿意任何一方获胜。他们的生活态度和行动都变成了石头。它们看起来如此栩栩如生、自然，当你看着它们时，你会以为其中一个会吠叫，另一个会向前跳跃。

克法勒斯虽然失去了他的狗，但仍然继续享受追逐的乐趣。他会在清晨出去，在无人陪伴的树林和山丘中穿行，不需要任何帮助，因为他的标枪在任何情况下都是可靠的武器。打猎劳累了，太阳高高的时候，他就找个阴凉的角落，有清凉的溪水流过，躺在草地上，把衣服扔到一边，享受微风。有时他会大声说：“来吧，甜蜜的微风，来扇动我的胸膛，来减轻我的灼烧感。”有一天，有人路过，听见他对着空气这样说话，就愚蠢地以为他是在跟一位少女说话，就去把这个秘密告诉了克法洛斯的妻子普罗克里斯。爱情是轻信的。普罗克里斯突然受到惊吓，晕了过去。不久她就康复了，她说：“这不可能是真的；这不可能是真的。”除非我亲眼目睹，否则我不会相信。”于是她焦急地等待着，直到第二天早上，克法勒斯像往常一样去打猎。然后她偷偷地追了出去，躲到了告密者指示的地方。克法洛斯像往常一样，运动累了，就来了，躺在绿色的河岸上，说道：“来吧，甜蜜的微风，来给我扇风吧；你知道我有多爱你！你让树林和我孤独的漫步变得愉快。”他正这样跑着，突然听到，或者说他以为听到了，灌木丛中传来一阵抽泣的声音。他以为是野兽，就将标枪扔向现场。他心爱的普罗克里斯的一声叫喊告诉他，这把武器确实达到了目标。他冲到了那个地方，发现她流着血，他用尽全力从伤口中拔出标枪，这是她自己的礼物。克法洛斯把她从地上抱起来，努力止住血，并叫她复活，不要让他痛苦，不要用她的死来责备自己。她睁开无力的眼睛，强迫自己说出这几句话：“我恳求你，如果你曾经爱过我，如果我值得你对我仁慈，我的丈夫，请答应我最后的请求；别嫁给那个可恶的微风！”这揭开了整个谜团：但是唉！有什么好处现在就公开吧！她死了;但她的脸上却带着平静的表情，当她的丈夫让她明白真相时，她用怜悯和宽容的目光看着他。

摩尔在他的《传奇歌谣》中，有一首关于塞法洛斯和普罗克里斯的歌谣，开头是这样的：

“一个猎人曾经在树林里斜倚，
为了避开正午明亮的眼睛，
他时常向流浪的风求爱
用叹息冷却他的额头
当野蜂的嗡嗡声也寂静无声时，
呼吸也无法搅动白杨的毛发，
他的歌依然是“甜蜜的空气，哦来吧！”
当艾科回答时，“来吧，甜蜜的空气！”

有一天，朱诺察觉天色突然变暗，立即怀疑她的丈夫升起了一片云彩，以掩盖他一些不经意的行为。她拨开云朵，看到她的丈夫站在一条清澈的河岸上，一头美丽的小母牛站在他旁边。朱诺怀疑小母牛的外表下隐藏着某种凡间的美丽仙女——事实确实如此。因为那是河神伊那科斯的女儿艾欧，朱庇特一直在与她调情，当他意识到他的妻子靠近时，她就变成了那个样子。

朱诺加入了她的丈夫，注意到小母牛称赞它的美丽，并询问它是谁的，属于哪个牛群。朱庇特为了阻止提问，回答说这是地球上的新鲜创造物。朱诺要求将其作为礼物。木星能做什么呢？他不愿意把他的情妇让给他的妻子；然而，如何拒绝像一头普通小母牛这样微不足道的礼物呢？他做不到，这会引起人们的怀疑。所以他同意了。女神还没有解除她的怀疑。于是她把小母牛送到了阿古斯，受到严格看管。

现在阿古斯的脑袋里有一百只眼睛，而且每次睡觉时从来不只看两只以上的眼睛，因此他时刻监视着艾欧。他白天让她吃饭，晚上又用一条肮脏的绳子把她绑在脖子上。她本想伸出双臂祈求阿古斯的自由，但她没有双臂可以伸出，她的声音是连她自己都害怕的咆哮。她看到了她的父亲和姐妹们，走近他们，让他们拍拍她的背，听他们欣赏她的美丽。她的父亲给了她一丛草，她舔了舔伸出的手。她渴望让他知道自己，并且愿意说出她的愿望。可惜！缺乏言语。最后，她想到了写作，并用蹄子在沙子上写下了她的名字——名字很短。伊纳科斯认出了这一点，发现他苦苦寻找多年的女儿就藏在这层伪装之下，他为她哀悼，抱住她白皙的脖子，惊呼道：“唉！我的女儿，如果完全失去你的话，悲伤会少一些！”就在他哀叹的时候，阿古斯见状，过来把她赶走，坐在高高的岸边，从那里他可以看到四周的一切。

朱庇特看到情妇的痛苦感到不安，打电话给墨丘利，让他去派遣阿古斯。墨丘利赶紧把带翅膀的拖鞋穿在脚上，戴上帽子，拿起催眠魔杖，从天塔上跳到了地上。在那里，他放下了翅膀，只保留了魔杖，用它呈现出自己是一个牧羊人驱赶羊群的样子。他边走边吹着烟斗。这些就是所谓的 Syrinx 或 Pandean 管。阿古斯听得很高兴，因为他以前从未见过这种乐器。 “年轻人，”他说，“过来，坐在我旁边的这块石头上。没有比这里更适合羊群吃草的地方了，这里有牧羊人喜爱的宜人树荫。”墨丘利坐下来，说话，讲故事，直到天色渐晚，并用笛子吹奏他最舒缓的曲调，希望能让警惕的眼睛入睡，但一切都是徒劳。因为阿古斯仍然设法睁开一些眼睛，尽管他闭上了其余的眼睛。

除其他故事外，墨丘利还告诉他他演奏的乐器是如何发明的。 “有一位仙女，名叫西林克斯，深受森林之神和精灵的喜爱；但她什么都不想，而是戴安娜的忠实崇拜者，并追随了她的脚步。如果你看到她穿着狩猎服，你会以为这是戴安娜本人，只是她的弓是角的，而戴安娜的弓是银的。有一天，当她从追捕中回来时，潘遇见了她，告诉了她这一点，并补充了更多类似的内容。她没有停下来听他的赞美，就逃跑了，他一直追到她来到河边，追上了她，她只来得及向她的朋友水仙女求救。他们听了，也同意了。潘伸出双臂拥抱他本应是仙女的形状，却发现他拥抱的只是一簇芦苇！当他叹息一声时，空气透过芦苇，奏出哀怨的旋律。神被这新奇的音乐和甜美的音乐迷住了，说道：“那么，至少，你将是我的了。”他拿了一些芦苇，把它们并排放置在一起，长度不等，制成了一种乐器，他称之为西林克斯，以纪念宁芙。”墨丘利还没讲完他的故事，他就看到阿古斯的眼睛已经睡着了。当他的头向前靠在胸前时，墨丘利一击割断了他的脖子，把他的头从岩石上滚了下来。哦，不幸的阿古斯！你百只眼睛的光芒一下子就熄灭了！朱诺把它们拿来作为装饰品挂在她的孔雀尾巴上，直到今天它们还留在那里。

但朱诺的复仇还没有结束。她派出一只牛虻去折磨艾欧，艾欧为了躲避它的追捕而逃亡到全世界。她游过爱奥尼亚海（爱奥尼亚海的名字来源于她），然后漫步在伊利里亚平原上，登上海穆斯山，穿过色雷斯海峡，因此得名博斯普鲁斯海峡（牛滩），漫步穿过锡徐亚和这个国家。西梅里安人，最后到达尼罗河岸边。最后，朱庇特为她求情，并承诺不再关心她，朱诺同意让她恢复原状。看到她逐渐恢复原来的样子，真是令人好奇。她身上的粗毛脱落了，角缩小了，眼睛变窄了，嘴巴变短了；手和手指代替了蹄子来到了她的前脚上。总而言之，除了美丽之外，小母牛什么也没有剩下了。起初她不敢说话，生怕自己低声下气，但渐渐地她又恢复了自信，重新回到了父亲和姐妹身边。

在济慈献给利·亨特的一首诗中，出现了以下对潘和西林克斯故事的暗示：

“他是否感觉到是谁把树枝拉到一边，
我们可以眺望广阔的森林，

告诉我们颤抖的西林克斯是如何逃跑的
阿卡迪亚潘，带着如此可怕的恐惧。
可怜的仙女——可怜的潘——他是如何哭泣着寻找的
除了风的可爱叹息之外什么也没有
沿着芦苇丛生的小溪；半听到的张力。
充满了甜蜜的荒凉，温暖的痛苦。”

木卫四

卡利斯托是另一位引起朱诺嫉妒的少女，女神把她变成了一只熊。 “我要夺走，”她说，“你让我丈夫着迷的美丽。”卡利斯托倒在地上，双手双膝着地。她试图伸出双臂恳求——它们已经开始长满黑毛了。她的手变圆了，长出了弯曲的爪子，为脚服务。她的嘴，朱庇特曾称赞其美丽，现在却变成了一双可怕的下巴。她的声音如果不变的话会让人心生怜悯，现在变成了咆哮，更适合激发恐惧。但她仍保持着原来的性情，不断地呻吟着，哀叹自己的命运，并尽力站直，举起爪子求饶，觉得朱庇特不仁慈，虽然她不能告诉他。啊，有多少次，她害怕独自在树林里待一整夜，在她以前经常出没的地方附近徘徊；有多少次，她，刚刚成为一名女猎人，被狗吓坏了，惊恐地从猎人身边飞走！她常常逃离野兽，忘记了自己现在也是野兽。尽管她是熊，但她却害怕熊。

有一天，一个年轻人在打猎时发现了她。她看到他并认出他是她自己的儿子，现在已经长成了一个年轻人。她停下来，想拥抱他。当她即将走近时，他惊慌失措，举起了猎枪，正要刺穿她，这时朱庇特看到了，逮捕了这起罪行，并把他们俩抓走了，把他们安置在天上，作为伟大和伟大的上帝。小熊。

朱诺看到她的对手如此受人尊敬，勃然大怒，急忙赶到古老的特提斯和俄刻阿诺斯，海洋的力量，并在回答他们的询问时说出了她来的原因：“你问我为什么吗？众神，已经离开天国平原，探寻你的深处了吗？知道我在天堂被取代了——我的位置被另一个人取代了。你很难相信我；但是当夜幕笼罩世界时，你会看到我有充分理由抱怨的两个人被提升到了天堂，在圆圈最小的地方，在极点附近。既然这样的奖励是我不高兴的结果，为什么以后有人会因为冒犯朱诺而颤抖呢？看看我能达到什么效果！我禁止她穿上人形——她被置于星辰之中！我的惩罚也是如此——这就是我的力量！最好让她恢复原来的形状，就像我允许艾欧做的那样。也许他是想娶她，然后把我赶走！但是你们，我的养父母，如果你们同情我，并且不满地看到我受到这种不值得的对待，请表现出来，我恳求你们，禁止这对有罪的夫妇进入你们的水域。”海洋的力量同意了，因此大熊座和小熊座这两个星座在天上转了一圈又一圈，但从未像其他星星那样沉入海底。

弥尔顿提到熊星座永远不会落下的事实，他说：

“让我的灯在午夜时分
在某个高高的孤独塔楼上可以看到，
我可能经常比熊更警惕”，等等。

普罗米修斯在 JR 洛厄尔的诗中说道：

“一颗接着一颗的星星升起又落下，
在我的锁链的白霜上闪闪发光；
整夜在羊圈里徘徊的熊
北极星已缩入他的巢穴，
被黎明快乐的脚步吓坏了。”

小熊尾巴上的最后一颗星星是北极星，也称为指腹星。米尔顿 说：

“我的眼睛发现了新的乐趣
当它周围的风景测量时。

它看到的塔楼和城垛
胸怀高高在丛生的树木中，
也许有一些美丽之处
邻近眼睛的 Cynosure”

这里提到的北极星既是水手的指南，又是北极的磁力吸引力。他称其为“阿卡迪之星”，因为卡利斯托的儿子名叫阿卡斯，他们住在阿卡迪亚。在《Comus》中，兄弟在树林里陷入黑暗，说道：

“……一些温和的锥度！
虽然是一根灯芯草蜡烛，来自柳条洞
一些粘土居住地，请访问我们
用你流光的长长的规则，
你将成为我们阿卡迪的明星，
或者泰瑞安·赛诺苏。”

戴安娜和阿克泰翁

因此，在两个例子中我们看到了朱诺对她的对手的严厉。现在让我们来看看一位处女女神是如何惩罚侵犯她隐私的人的。

当时是正午，太阳与两个目标的距离相等，这时卡德摩斯国王的儿子年轻的阿克泰翁对和他一起在山里猎鹿的年轻人这样说道：

“朋友们，我们的网和武器沾满了受害者的鲜血；我们已经运动了一天了，明天我们就可以继续我们的劳动了。现在，当菲比斯烤干大地时，让我们放下工具，好好休息吧。”

有一个山谷，周围长满了柏树和松树，是女猎人女王戴安娜的圣地。山谷的尽头有一个洞穴，没有用艺术装饰，但大自然在它的建造中伪造了艺术，因为她用石头转动了屋顶的拱形，就像人手一样精致地安装。喷泉从一侧喷涌而出，开放的盆地周围长满了青草。森林女神狩猎疲倦时就会来到这里，将她处女的四肢浸泡在波光粼粼的水中。

有一天，她和她的仙女们一起修复了那里，她把标枪、箭袋和弓交给了一个人，把长袍交给了另一个人，而第三个则解开了她脚上的凉鞋。 然后，他们中最熟练的克罗卡尔整理了她的头发，涅斐勒、海尔和其他人则用宽敞的水缸打水。 当女神正忙着上厕所的时候，阿克泰翁离开了同伴，漫无目的地闲逛，来到了这个地方，被他的命运带到了那里。 当他出现在洞口时，仙女们看到了一个男人，尖叫着冲向女神，用身体将她隐藏起来。 但她比其他人都高，比他们高出一个头。 戴安娜的脸上呈现出一种如同日落或黎明时云彩般的色彩，让她大吃一惊。 尽管她被她的仙女们包围着，但她还是转过身去，突然冲动地寻找她的箭。 由于他们不在身边，她把水泼到了入侵者的脸上，并补充道：“如果可以的话，现在去告诉你，你看到了戴安娜的裸体。”立刻，他的头上长出一对分叉的鹿角，脖子变长，耳朵变尖，手变成脚，胳膊长腿，身上覆盖着毛茸茸的斑点皮。 恐惧取代了他以前的勇敢，英雄逃跑了。 他不得不佩服自己的速度。但当他看到自己的角在水中时，“啊，我真可怜！”他本想这么说，但努力之后却没有发出任何声音。 他呻吟着，泪水顺着他原本的脸流下来。 但他的意识依然存在。 他该怎么办？——回家寻找宫殿，还是躲在树林里？ 后者他害怕，前者​​他感到羞耻。 当他犹豫的时候，狗看到了他。 首先，斯巴达狗梅兰帕斯用吠声发出了信号，然后潘法格斯、多尔宙斯、勒拉普斯、塞隆、内佩、底格里斯以及其他所有的狗，比风还快地跟在他后面。 越过岩石和悬崖，穿过看似不可能的山峡，他逃走了，他们也跟着。 以前他经常追逐雄鹿并为他的狼群欢呼，现在他的狼群追赶他，并为他的猎人欢呼。 他渴望喊叫：“我是阿克泰翁；认你师父！”但这句话并非出于他的意愿。 空气中回荡着狗吠声。 不久，一个人固定在他的背上，另一个人抓住了他的肩膀。 当它们抓住主人时，其余的狼群也纷纷上前，把牙齿埋进了主人的肉里。 他呻吟着——不是人类的声音，但肯定不是鹿的声音——然后跪下，抬起眼睛，如果他有的话，他会举起双臂恳求。 他的朋友和猎人同伴为这些狗欢呼，并到处寻找阿克泰翁，呼吁他加入这项运动。 听到他的名字，他转过头，听到他们为他离开而感到遗憾。 他真心希望自己是这样。 他会很高兴看到他的狗的功绩，但亲眼目睹它们却太过分了。

雪莱的诗《Adonais》中暗指了阿克泰翁的故事：

“‘在其他不那么引人注目的人中出现了一种脆弱的形式，
男人中的幽灵：无伴
作为即将结束的风暴的最后一片云，
谁的雷鸣就是它的丧钟；他，正如我猜测的那样，
凝视过大自然赤裸裸的美丽，
像阿克泰翁一样，现在他误入歧途
迈着微弱的脚步踏遍世界的荒野；
还有他自己的思念，沿着那条崎岖的路，
像狂暴的猎犬一样追赶他们的父亲和猎物。”

第 31 节。

这个典故很可能是针对雪莱本人的。

拉托纳和乡村

有些人认为女神在这件事上过于严厉，而另一些人则称赞她的行为完全符合她处女的尊严。和往常一样，最近的事件让我想起了年长的人，其中一位旁观者讲述了这个故事：“利西亚的一些同胞曾经侮辱女神拉托娜，但并没有逃脱惩罚。当我年轻的时候，我的父亲已经太老了，不能从事积极的劳动，他派我去利西亚赶一些精选的牛，在那里我看到了奇迹发生的池塘和沼泽。附近矗立着一座古老的祭坛，祭坛烟雾缭绕，几乎被埋在芦苇丛中。我询问这可能是谁的祭坛，是法努斯的还是水仙女的，还是邻近山上的某个神，一位乡下人回答说：“没有山神或河神拥有这座祭坛，但她是朱诺王因嫉妒而驱赶的。”从一个陆地到另一个陆地，不让她有任何地方可以养育她的双胞胎。拉托娜怀里抱着婴儿神灵，到达了这片土地，她因负担而疲惫不堪，口干舌燥。一次偶然的机会，她看到谷底有一汪清澈的水塘，乡下人正在那里采柳垂柳。女神走近了，她跪在岸边，想在清凉的溪水中解渴，但乡下人却不允许她这样做。 “你为什么不让我喝水？”她说； “水对所有人都是免费的。大自然不允许任何人将阳光、空气或水视为财产。我来是为了分享我的共同祝福。但我还是请你帮个忙。我无意在里面洗我的四肢，尽管它们很累，但只是为了解渴。我的嘴太干了，几乎说不出话来。一杯水对我来说就是甘露；它会让我复活，我会承认自己一生都亏欠你。让这些婴儿动动你的怜悯之心吧，他们伸出他们的小手臂，仿佛在为我求情。”碰巧，孩子们也张开了双臂。

“女神这番温柔的话语，谁能不心动呢？但这些小丑仍坚持他们的粗鲁行为。如果她不离开这个地方，他们甚至还对她进行嘲笑和暴力威胁。这还不是全部。他们涉入池塘，用脚搅动泥土，使水变得不能饮用。拉托娜非常生气，不再关心自己的口渴。她不再向小丑们祈求，而是举起双手向天喊道：“愿他们永远不要离开那个池子，而在那里度过一生！”事情也随之发生了。它们现在生活在水中，有时完全淹没在水中，然后将头露出水面或在水面上游泳。有时它们会出现在岸上，但很快又跳回水中。他们仍然用卑鄙的声音来栏杆，尽管他们拥有水源，但并不羞于在水中发出嘎嘎叫声。他们的声音刺耳，喉咙肿胀，嘴被不断的栏杆拉长，脖子缩小并消失，头与身体连在一起。它们的背是绿色的，它们不成比例的腹部是白色的，总之它们现在是青蛙，住在粘稠的池子里。”

这个故事解释了弥尔顿的一首十四行诗中的典故：“论他写某些论文后的注意力分散”。

“我确实这么做了，只是促使这个年龄段的人戒掉他们的木鞋
根据已知的古代自由法则，
当野蛮的噪音直接包围我
猫头鹰、杜鹃、驴、猿和狗。
就像那些变成青蛙的母鹿一样
指责拉托纳的双胞胎后代，
此后，太阳和月亮就被收取了。”

故事中提到了拉托娜受到朱诺的迫害。传统上，阿波罗和戴安娜的未来母亲逃离了朱诺的愤怒，恳求爱琴海的所有岛屿为她提供休息的地方，但所有人都太担心强大的天后无法帮助她的对手。只有提洛岛同意成为未来诸神的诞生地。提洛岛当时是一座浮岛。但当拉托纳到达那里时，朱庇特用金刚链将其固定在海底，以便它成为他所爱的人的安全安息之地。拜伦在他的《唐璜》中提到了提洛岛：

“希腊诸岛！希腊诸岛！
燃烧的萨福爱唱的地方，
战争与和平艺术生长的地方，
提洛岛升起、福波斯诞生的地方！”

菲同是阿波罗和仙女克吕墨涅的儿子。有一天，一位同学嘲笑他是神的儿子，辉同感到愤怒和羞愧，并向他的母亲报告了这件事。 “如果，”他说，“我确实是天上出生的，请给我一些证据，母亲，并证实我对这一荣誉的要求。”克莱梅涅向天空伸出双手，说道：“我请俯视着我们的太阳来见证，我告诉了你真相。如果我说假话，那就让这是我最后一次看到他的光芒。但你自己去探求并不需要太多的劳力；太阳升起的土地就在我们的旁边。去问问他愿不愿意认你为儿子。”辉腾听了很高兴。他去了印度，那里正好位于日出地区；他满怀希望和自豪地接近了他父母开始他的旅程的目标。

太阳宫殿高高矗立在柱子上，黄金和宝石闪闪发光，天花板是抛光的象牙，门是银色的。做工超越材质；[7]参见谚语表达。 因为城墙上的伏尔甘代表了大地、海洋和天空以及它们的居民。海里有仙女们，有的在海浪中嬉戏，有的骑在鱼背上，还有的坐在岩石上，吹干海绿色的头发。她们的脸并不相似，也并不不同——但就像姐妹们应该有的那样。[7]参见谚语表达。 地球上有城镇、森林、河流和乡村神灵。一切之上都雕刻着光荣的天堂的图案；银色的门上刻着黄道十二宫，每面六个。

克莱梅涅的儿子登上陡峭的山坡，进入了他备受争议的父亲的大厅。 他走近了父亲的存在，但又停在了远处，因为光线超出了他的承受能力。 菲比斯身着紫色外衣，坐在宝座上，宝座上闪烁着钻石般的光芒。 在他的右手和左手上分别刻着日、月、年，并且每隔一段时间就刻有时辰。 春天站着，头戴鲜花；夏天，脱下衣服，戴着成熟谷物长矛制成的花环；秋天，脚上沾满了葡萄汁；冰冷的冬天，头发被霜冻僵硬。 。 在这些随从的簇拥下，太阳以洞察一切的眼光，看到年轻人被眼前的新奇和华丽弄得眼花缭乱，询问他此行的目的。 年轻人回答道：“无边世界的光啊，菲比斯，我的父亲，如果您允许我使用这个名字，请给我一些证据，我恳求您，通过它我可以被称为您的。”他停了下来；他的父亲放下了他头上闪闪发亮的横梁，请他走近，拥抱他说：“我的孩子，你不应该被抛弃，我证实你母亲告诉你的话。 为了消除你的疑虑，无论你想做什么，礼物都会是你的。 我召唤来见证那个可怕的湖，我从未见过它，但我们诸神在我们最庄严的订婚中向它发誓。”辉腾立即请求允许有一天驾驶太阳战车。 父亲后悔了他的诺言；他三四次摇晃着容光焕发的头，以示警告。 “我说话很鲁莽，”他说。 “这是我唯一愿意拒绝的请求。 我求你撤回它。 这不是一个安全的恩惠，也不是一个适合你年轻和力量的恩惠，我的辉腾。 你的命运是凡人，你问什么是凡人能力之外的。 由于你的无知，你渴望做连神自己都做不到的事情。 除了我自己，没有人可以驾驶当今燃烧的汽车。 甚至木星也不能，它可怕的右臂会投掷雷电。 前一段路很陡，如清晨的马匹很难爬上去；中间是高高的天空，从那里我自己几乎无法不惊慌地俯视我下方的大地和海洋。 道路的最后一段下坡速度很快，需要非常小心驾驶。 等待着我的特提斯时常为我颤抖，生怕我一头栽倒。 除此之外，天空一直在旋转，并带着星星。 我必须时刻保持警惕，以免那席卷一切的运动也将我赶走。 假设我把战车借给你，你会怎么做？ 当球体在你身下旋转时，你能保持航向吗？ 也许你认为路上有森林、有城市、有神的居所、有宫殿、有寺庙。 相反，这条路却穿过可怕的怪物。 你经过公牛的角、弓箭手的前面、狮子的下巴附近，蝎子向一个方向伸展手臂，而螃蟹则向另一个方向伸展手臂。 你也不会发现引导这些马是件容易的事，因为它们的胸口充满了从嘴和鼻孔中喷出的火焰。 当他们不守规矩、抗拒缰绳时，我自己几乎无法治理他们。 小心点，我的孩子，免得我成为一份致命礼物的捐赠者；趁你还可以的时候回忆一下你的请求。 你向我要证据证明你是从我的血液中诞生的吗？ 我为你提供了我对你的恐惧的证据。 看看我的脸——我希望你能看看我的胸部，你会在那里看到父亲的所有焦虑。 最后，”他继续说道，“环顾世界，选择地球或海洋中最珍贵的东西——提出要求，不要害怕拒绝。 我只是祈求你不要催促这一点。 你追求的不是荣誉，而是毁灭。 为什么你还挂着我的脖子，哀求我？

他结束了；但年轻人不顾一切劝告，坚持他的要求。于是，菲比斯尽了最大的努力，终于带路来到了那辆高高的战车所在的地方。

它是金质的，是瓦肯人的礼物；轴是金的，杆和轮是金的，辐条是银的。座位上有一排排贵橄榄石和钻石，反射着太阳的光芒。当勇敢的年轻人投以钦佩的目光时，黎明的曙光打开了东方的紫色大门，展现了铺满玫瑰的小路。星星们在晨星的带领下退出了，而晨星也是最后一个退休的。当父亲看到大地开始发光、月亮准备隐去时，他命令时辰们套上马匹。他们服从了，把喂饱了甘露的马从高高的马厩里牵出来，拴上缰绳。然后，父亲用强力药膏给儿子洗脸，让他能够忍受火焰的亮度。他把光线放在头上，不祥地叹了口气，说道：“我的孩子，如果你在这件事上至少听从我的建议，就不要再用鞭子，抓紧缰绳了。他们自己走得够快；你不能直接走五个圆圈之间的直路，而是向左转。保持在中间地带的范围内，避开南北。你会看到轮子的痕迹，它们会引导你。而且，为了让天空和大地各自获得应有的热量，不要走得太高，否则你会烧毁天上的住所，也不要走得太低，否则你会点燃大地；中间路线是最安全、最好的。[9]参见谚语表达 现在我让你自己把握机会，我希望这会为你制定比你为自己做的更好的计划。夜幕已从西门外过去，我们不能再耽搁了。掌握主动权；但如果你最终心力交瘁，而你将从我的建议中受益，那就安全地待在原地，让我照亮和温暖地球。”敏捷的年轻人跳上战车，站直身子，高兴地握住缰绳，向不情愿的父母倾诉着感谢。

与此同时，马匹的鼻息和炽热的呼吸充满了空气，不耐烦地跺着地面。现在，栅栏已经放下，宇宙无边无际的平原展现在他们面前。他们向前猛冲，劈开对面的云层，跑得比从同一个东方目标吹来的晨风还要快。马匹很快就发现它们所承受的负载比平时轻了；就像一艘没有压舱物的船在海上颠簸一样，战车失去了通常的重量，就像空的一样被冲来冲去。他们一头冲去，离开了走过的路。他很惊慌，不知道如何引导他们；即使他知道，他也没有权力。然后，大熊和小熊第一次被热气烤焦了，如果可能的话，他们很想跳进水里。盘绕在北极周围的蛇，麻木无害，变得温暖起来，随着温暖，它的愤怒又复活了。他们说，布茨逃走了，尽管他拖着犁，而且不习惯快速移动。

当倒霉的辉同俯视大地时，他的脸色变得苍白，双膝因恐惧而颤抖。尽管周围的光彩夺目，但他的目光却变得暗淡起来。他希望自己从未碰过他父亲的马，从未得知他的出身，从未满足他的要求。他就像一艘在暴风雨前飞行的船只，当飞行员无能为力时，他就开始祈祷。他该怎么办？天路的大部分已被抛在身后，但更多的仍留在前方。他把目光从一个方向转向另一个方向；现在他正走向他开始旅程的目标，现在他正走向他注定无法到达的日落王国。他失去了自制力，不知道该做什么——是勒紧缰绳还是松开缰绳；他忘记了马的名字。他惊恐地看到散布在天空表面的怪物。蝎子在这里伸出了两条巨大的手臂，尾巴和弯曲的爪子伸向了两个黄道十二宫。当男孩看到他浑身散发着毒气并用尖牙威胁时，他的勇气丧失了，缰绳从他手中滑落。马匹一感觉到背上松了，便一头冲去，不受约束地奔向天空中未知的地方，在群星之中，把战车抛过无路可走的地方，时而在高天上，时而几乎落到地上。 。月亮惊讶地看到她哥哥的战车在她自己的战车下面行驶。云开始冒烟，山顶着火；田野被炎热烤焦，植物枯萎，树木茂密的枝条被烧毁，庄稼在燃烧！但这些都是小事。大城市及其城墙和塔楼都被毁灭了；整个国家和他们的人民都化为灰烬！森林覆盖的山脉被烧毁，阿索斯、金牛座、特莫洛斯和厄特；艾达，曾经因喷泉而闻名，但现在已经干涸了；缪斯女神的山Helicon和Haemus；内里外外都着火的埃特纳山，有两座山峰的帕纳索斯山，还有罗多彼，最终被迫放弃了他的雪冠。她寒冷的气候对斯基泰没有任何保护，高加索地区被烧毁，奥萨和品都斯，以及比两者更伟大的奥林匹斯山；阿尔卑斯山高耸入云，亚平宁山脉云雾缭绕。

然后辉腾看到世界着火了，感到热得难以忍受。他呼吸的空气就像熔炉里的空气，充满了燃烧的灰烬，烟雾是漆黑的。他向前冲去，却不知道要去哪里。据信，随后，埃塞俄比亚人民因血液突然流到地表而变黑，而利比亚沙漠则干涸，直至今日。喷泉中的仙女们头发蓬乱，哀悼着她们的水，河岸下的河流也并不安全：塔奈斯冒着烟，凯库斯、克桑苏斯和米安德；巴比伦的幼发拉底河和恒河、拥有金色沙滩的塔古斯河以及天鹅度假胜地的凯斯特。尼罗逃走了，把头藏在沙漠里，至今仍藏在那里。他曾经通过七个口将水排入大海的地方，只剩下七个干涸的渠道。大地裂开，光线透过裂缝射入塔耳塔洛斯，吓坏了暗影之王和他的王后。海面缩小了。原来有水的地方，变成了干燥的平原；波涛之下的山脉抬起头，变成了岛屿。鱼类寻找最低的深度，海豚也不再像往常一样冒险在水面上嬉戏。就连海神涅柔斯和他的妻子多丽丝，以及她们的女儿涅瑞伊得斯，也寻找最深的洞穴来避难。海王星三次试图将头伸出水面，三次又被热量驱退。大地被水包围，却光着头和肩膀，用手遮住脸，仰望天空，用沙哑的声音呼唤着木星：

“诸神之主啊，如果我罪有应得，而你的旨意是让我被火灭亡，为什么要扣留你的雷电呢？至少让我倒在你的手上吧。这是我的生育能力和我的服从服务的回报吗？我为牲畜提供​​草料，为人类提供水果，为你们的祭坛提供乳香，难道就是为了这个吗？但如果我不值得尊重的话，我的海洋兄弟做了什么，要遭受这样的命运呢？如果我们都不能激起你的怜悯，我请求你想想你自己的天堂，看看支撑你宫殿的两根柱子正在冒烟，如果它们被摧毁，宫殿就一定会倒塌。阿特拉斯晕倒了，几乎无力支撑他的重担。如果海、地、天都灭亡，我们就会陷入远古的混沌。从吞噬火焰中拯救我们所剩下的一切。啊，在这可怕的时刻，想想我们的拯救吧！”

地球如此说道，但由于炎热和干渴，再也无法再说下去了。然后，无所不能的朱庇特召唤所有诸神作证，包括借出战车的他，并向他们表明，如果不采取迅速补救措施，一切都会失败，他登上了高塔，从那里他将云彩散布在大地上，并投掷了叉状闪电。但那时，没有一片云可以作为地球的屏障，也没有一场未完待续的阵雨。他怒吼一声，右手挥出一道闪电，向战车御者射去，将他从座位上击落，从存在中击落！头发着火的法厄同一头栽倒，就像一颗流星，在落下时以其明亮的光芒标记着天空，波江河接纳了他，冷却了他燃烧的身体。意大利水神为他修建了一座坟墓，并在石头上刻下了这样的文字：

“菲比斯战车辉腾的车夫，
被朱庇特的雷霆击中，长眠于这块石头之下。
他无法统治他父亲的火车，
然而，这个愿望是如此崇高吗？”[10]参见谚语表达

他的姐妹赫利亚德斯在哀叹他的命运时，变成了河岸上的白杨树，而她们不断流淌的眼泪，落入溪流中时变成了琥珀色。

米尔曼在他的诗《Samor》中提到了以下内容：
辉腾的故事：

“当麻痹的宇宙惊愕时
静静地躺着，
当开车时，诗人如此歌唱，太阳诞生的青年
狡猾地穿过天堂的恐惧迹象，他的父亲
不当的战车。雷霆投掷的他
从天上直奔海湾
半干的波江座，在那里哭泣
即使现在，姐妹们仍流着琥珀色的眼泪
欧辉腾英年早逝”

在沃尔特·萨维奇·兰多 (Walter Savage Landor) 的优美线条中，描述了
海贝，暗指太阳的宫殿和战车。
水仙女说道：

“我有珍珠色的蜿蜒贝壳
内在，以及吸收了光泽的事物
在太阳的宫殿门廊里，当摆脱枷锁时
他的战车车轮停在波浪的中间。
摇一摇，它就会苏醒；然后申请
它光滑的嘴唇贴近你细心的耳朵，
它记得它庄严的居所，
那里就像大海一样低语。”

——吉比尔，第一册。

有一次，巴克斯发现他的老校长兼养父西勒诺斯失踪了。老人喝了酒，在这种情况下走开了，被一些农民发现，他们把他带到了他们的国王迈达斯那里。迈达斯认出了他，盛情款待了他，招待了他十天十夜，欢乐不断。第十一天，他带回了西勒诺斯，并把他安全地交给了他的学生。于是巴克斯向迈达斯提供了他选择的奖励，无论他想要什么。他要求将他接触到的任何东西都变成金子。巴克斯同意了，但很遗憾自己没有做出更好的选择。迈达斯继续他的道路，对他新获得的力量感到高兴，并赶紧对其进行测试。当他从树枝上拔下一根橡树枝时，他简直不敢相信自己的眼睛，这根树枝在他手中变成了金子。他拿起一块石头；它变成了金色。他触碰了一块草皮；它也做了同样的事。他从树上摘下一个苹果；你可能会认为他抢劫了赫斯珀里得斯的花园。他心里高兴极了，一回到家，就吩咐仆人在桌子上摆上丰盛的饭菜。然后他沮丧地发现，无论他是否碰触面包，面包都会在他手中变硬；或者把一小块食物放到嘴边，他的牙齿都无法忍受。他接过一杯酒，酒却像融化的金子一样顺着喉咙流了下来。

他对前所未有的苦难感到惊愕，努力剥夺自己的权力。他讨厌这份他最近梦寐以求的礼物。但一切都是徒劳；饥饿似乎正在等待着他。他举起双臂，双臂闪闪发光，向巴克斯祈祷，请求将他从闪闪发光的毁灭中解救出来。仁慈的酒神巴克斯听到并同意了。 “去吧，”他说，“到帕克托罗斯河去，顺流而下，直到源头，把你的头和身体浸入水中，洗去你的过错和惩罚。”他这样做了，他刚接触到河水，创造黄金的力量就传进了河里，河沙变成了黄金，直到今天。

从此，迈达斯厌恶富贵荣华，隐居乡村，崇拜田野之神潘。有一次，潘鲁莽地将自己的音乐与阿波罗的音乐进行比较，并向竖琴之神挑战技巧。挑战被接受，山神特莫洛斯被选为裁判。学长坐下来，移开耳边的树木来听。接到指定的信号后，潘就吹响了他的笛子，他质朴的旋律给他自己和他忠实的追随者迈达斯（当时他恰好在场）带来了极大的满足。然后特莫洛斯将头转向太阳神，他所有的树木也随之转向。阿波罗站了起来，他的额头上戴着帕纳索斯月桂树，他的提尔紫色长袍扫过地面。他左手拿着竖琴，右手拨动琴弦。特莫洛斯对这种和谐感到着迷，立即将胜利授予了竖琴之神，除了迈达斯之外，所有人都默许了这一判决。他对此表示异议，并质疑该裁决的公正性。阿波罗不会再容忍这样一对堕落的耳朵披上人的形状，而是让它们变长，内外都长出毛茸茸的，根部可以活动。简而言之，就是要符合驴子的完美模式。

迈达斯国王对这次不幸事件感到非常羞愧。但他安慰自己，认为可以通过宽大的头巾或头饰来掩盖他的不幸。但他的理发师当然知道这个秘密。他被指控不许提及此事，并威胁说，如果他不服从的话，将受到严厉的惩罚。但他发现保守这样的秘密对他的判断力来说太过分了。于是他走到草地上，在地上挖了一个洞，弯下腰，低声讲述了这个故事，然后把它盖上。不久，草地上长出了一片厚厚的芦苇丛，芦苇一长大，就开始低声诉说着这个故事，从那天到今天，每次微风吹过这个地方，它就开始低声诉说着这个故事。

其他人讲述的迈达斯国王的故事有一些不同。德莱顿在《巴斯的妻子的故事》中将迈达斯的女王视为秘密的背叛者：

“这个迈达斯知道，并且不敢沟通
除了他的妻子之外，没有人知道他的国家耳朵。”

迈达斯是弗里吉亚国王。他是戈迪乌斯的儿子，一个贫穷的乡下人，他听从神谕的命令，被人民拥立为国王，神谕说他们未来的国王应该乘坐马车到来。正当人们商议的时候，戈迪乌斯带着妻子和儿子驾着马车来到了广场上。

戈迪乌斯被拥立为国王，他将他的马车献给了神谕之神，并用一个牢固的结将其绑在原处。这就是著名的戈尔迪结，后世有人说，谁解开这个结，谁就成为全亚洲的主宰。许多人试图解开它，但没有人成功，直到亚历山大大帝在他的征服生涯中来到弗里吉亚。他尝试了自己的技巧，但和其他人一样不成功，直到他变得不耐烦，拔出了剑，割断了结。当他后来成功地征服了整个亚洲时，人们开始认为他已经按照神谕的真实含义遵守了神谕的条款。

鲍西斯和菲利蒙

在弗里吉亚的一座小山上，矗立着一棵椴树和一棵橡树，周围环绕着矮墙。离这个地方不远是一片沼泽，以前是适宜居住的土地，但现在布满了水坑，是沼泽鸟和鸬鹚的栖息地。从前，朱庇特以人形来到了这个国家，他的儿子墨丘利（他的手杖）也与他一起来到了这个国家，但他没有翅膀。他们像疲惫的旅行者一样出现在许多门口，寻求休息和庇护，但发现所有的门都关着，因为时间已经很晚了，而那些不友善的居民也不会起床来接待他们。最后，一座简陋的宅邸接待了他们，一座小茅草屋，虔诚的老太太鲍西斯和她的丈夫菲利蒙年轻时在一起，一起变老。他们并不以自己的贫穷为耻，而是通过适度的欲望和善良的性情使自己能够忍受贫穷。人们不必在那里寻找主人或仆人；他们两个就是整个家庭，无论是主人还是仆人。当两位天宾跨过简陋的门槛，低头从矮门下走过时，老人就摆了一个座位，鲍西斯忙忙碌碌地在上面铺了一块布，请他们坐下。然后她从灰烬中耙出煤炭，点燃火，用树叶和干树皮喂它，然后用她微弱的呼吸把它吹成火焰。她从角落里拿出劈好的木棍和干树枝，将它们折断，放在小水壶下面。她的丈夫在花园里采了一些盆栽香草，她把它们从茎上切碎，准备盆栽。他用叉子伸手把挂在烟囱里的一块培根切下来，切下一小块，放进锅里和药材一起煮，剩下的留着下次再吃。一个山毛榉木碗里装满了温水，供客人清洗。当一切都在忙着的时候，他们就用谈话来打发时间。

为客人设计的长凳上，放着塞满海藻的垫子；上面铺着一块只在重大场合才制作的布料，但又古老又粗糙。老太太系着围裙，用颤抖的手摆好桌子。一条腿比其他腿短，但下面垫了一块石板恢复了水平。修好后，她用一些芳香的香草擦拭桌子。她在上面放了一些纯洁的密涅瓦橄榄、一些用醋腌制的山茱萸浆果，并添加了萝卜和奶酪，以及在灰烬中轻轻煮熟的鸡蛋。所有食物都盛在陶盘中，旁边放着一个陶罐和木杯。一切准备就绪后，冒着热气的炖菜就端上桌了。添加了一些酒，但不是最古老的酒。甜点是苹果和野蜂蜜；最重要的是，友善的面孔和简单而热情的欢迎。

现在，当用餐进行时，老人们惊讶地发现，酒一倒出来，酒就在罐子里自动更新了。鲍西斯和菲利蒙惊恐万状，认出了他们的天上客人，跪下，双手合十，恳求原谅他们糟糕的招待。他们养了一只老鹅，看守着他们简陋的小屋。他们认为这是为了招待客人而做出的牺牲。但对于老人来说，这只鹅太灵活了，借助脚和翅膀，躲过了他们的追捕，最后躲到了众神之间。他们禁止宰杀它；并说了这样的话：“我们是神。这个不友善的村庄将因其不敬而受到惩罚；只有你才能摆脱惩罚。离开你的房子，和我们一起去那边的山顶。”他们连忙服从，手里拿着工作人员，费力地爬上陡峭的山坡。他们已经到达了离山顶一箭之遥的地方，当他们向下方望去时，他们看到整个国家都沉入了湖​​中，只剩下他们自己的房子矗立着。正当他们惊叹不已、感叹邻居的命运时，他们的那座老房子却变成了一座寺庙。柱子取代了角柱，茅草变黄，出现了镀金的屋顶，地板变成了大理石，门上装饰着金雕和装饰品。然后朱庇特用和善的口音说道：“优秀的老人，配得上这样一位丈夫的女人，请说吧，告诉我们你的愿望；你有什么需要我们帮忙的吗？”菲利蒙与鲍西斯商议了一会儿。然后向众神宣布他们共同的愿望。 “我们请求成为你们这座神庙的祭司和守护者；既然我们在这里相爱与和谐地度过了一生，我们希望在同一时刻能够让我们双双离开生命，这样我就不会活着看到她的坟墓，也不会被她安葬在我自己的坟墓里。”他们的祈祷得到了应允。他们一生中都是圣殿的守护者。当他们变得很老的时候，有一天，当他们站在神圣大厦的台阶前，讲述这个地方的故事时，鲍西斯看到腓利门开始长出叶子，老菲利门也看到鲍西斯也发生了同样的变化。现在，一顶绿叶树冠长在他们的头顶上，只要他们还能说话，他们就可以交换临别赠言。 “再见，亲爱的配偶。”他们一起说道，同时，树皮合上了他们的嘴。泰亚尼亚牧羊人仍然展示了两棵并排站立的树，是由两个善良的老人制成的。

鲍西斯和腓利门的故事被斯威夫特以滑稽的风格模仿，其中的演员是两位流浪的圣徒，房子被改造成教堂，腓利门成为教堂的牧师。以下可作为样本：

“他们几乎没有说话，当时，美丽而温柔，
屋顶开始升起。
每根横梁和椽子都高高耸立；
厚重的墙壁随后缓缓攀爬。
烟囱变宽变高，
变成了一座有尖顶的尖塔。
水壶被吊到了顶部。
那里固定在托梁上，
但颠倒过来，以显示
其倾向如下；
徒劳地，为了更强大的力量，
应用到底部，停止其进程；
注定永远停留在悬念之中，
现在不再是水壶，而是一个铃铛。
一个木千斤顶，几乎已经
因废弃烘焙艺术而失传，
突然的转变感觉
增加新肠轮；
而且，还有什么更能提升奇迹。
数字使运动变慢；
飞行者虽然没有铅脚，
转身之快你几乎看不到；
但被某种秘密力量所削弱，
现在每小时几乎移动一英寸。
杰克和烟囱，近邻，
从未离开过彼此的身边：
烟囱长到尖塔上，
杰克不会被留下独自一人。
但面对耸立的尖塔，
变成了钟表，依然坚守；
仍然热爱家庭护理
正午时分，有一个尖锐的声音宣布：
警告厨娘不要烫伤
那些它无法转动的烤肉；
呻吟着的椅子开始爬行，
像一只巨大的蜗牛，沿着墙壁；
高高地矗立在公众视野中，
经过小小的改变，讲坛就出现了。
古董方式的床架，
木材紧凑，负载多，
就像我们的祖先曾经使用的那样，
变成了长椅，
他们古老的本性仍然保留着
通过为人们提供住宿来睡觉。”

当朱庇特和他的兄弟们击败泰坦并将他们驱逐到塔尔塔罗斯时，一个新的敌人崛起反对众神。他们是巨人提丰（Typhon）、布里亚柔斯（Briareus）、恩克拉多斯（Enceladus）等。他们中的一些人有一百只手臂，另一些人则喷出火焰。他们最终被制服并活埋在埃特纳火山下，有时仍会挣扎着挣脱，并用地震震动整个岛屿。他们的呼吸从山中升上来，就是人们所说的火山喷发。

这些怪物的陨落震动了大地，让冥王大为震惊，生怕自己的王国会暴露在光天化日之下。怀着这种忧虑，他登上了黑马拉的战车，巡视了一圈，以确定损坏的程度。当他订婚的时候，坐在埃里克斯山上和她的儿子丘比特玩耍的维纳斯发现了他，并对他说：“我的孩子，拿起你的飞镖，你可以用它征服一切，甚至是朱庇特本人，把一根飞镖射进宙斯的胸膛。”那边的黑暗君主，统治着塔尔塔罗斯的王国。为什么要他一个人逃走？抓住机会扩展你我的帝国。难道你没有看到，即使在天上，也有人鄙视我们的力量吗？智者密涅瓦和女猎人戴安娜反抗我们；还有谷神星的女儿，她威胁要效仿他们的榜样。现在，如果你对你自己的利益或我的利益有任何顾虑，请将两者结合为一。”男孩解开了箭袋，选择了他最锋利、最真实的箭；然后，他把弓拉到膝盖上，系上弦，做好准备，用带刺的箭尖直接射入普路托的心脏。

恩纳河谷有一座湖泊，树木掩映，遮蔽了炽热的阳光，潮湿的地面上开满了鲜花，春天永远统治着这里。普洛瑟芬正在和她的同伴们玩耍，采集百合花和紫罗兰，并把它们装满她的篮子和围裙，这时普鲁托看到了她，爱上了她，并把她带走了。她尖叫着向母亲和同伴求救。当她受到惊吓时，她放下围裙的一角，让花朵落下，她像个孩子般地感到失去它们，这让她更加悲伤。掠夺者催促他的战马，叫出它们的名字，并把铁色的缰绳套在它们的头上和脖子上。当他到达氰河时，河水阻碍了他的通过，他用三叉戟击打河岸，大地裂开了，给了他一条通往塔尔塔罗斯的通道。

塞瑞斯在世界各地寻找她的女儿。亮发的奥罗拉早上出来的时候，赫斯珀洛斯晚上引出星星的时候，发现她还在忙着寻找。但这一切都无济于事。最后，她疲惫而悲伤地坐在一块石头上，在阳光、月光和倾盆大雨的露天下，继续坐了九天九夜。这里就是现在埃琉西斯城的所在地，当时是一位名叫塞琉斯的老人的家。他在田野里采集橡子、黑莓和生火用的木棍。他的小女儿正赶着他们的两只山羊回家，当她经过以老妇人的形象出现的女神时，她对她说：“母亲，”——这个名字对谷神星来说很甜蜜，——“你为什么独自坐在岩石上？”老人也停下来，尽管他的担子很重，并恳求她进入他的小屋，就这样吧。她拒绝了，他催促她。 “安心地走吧，”她回答道，“为你的女儿感到高兴；我已经失去了我的。”当她说话时，眼泪——或者类似眼泪的东西，因为诸神从不哭泣——从她的脸颊滑落到胸前。慈悲的老人和他的孩子和她一起哭泣。然后他说：“跟我们走吧，不要轻视我们简陋的屋顶；愿你的女儿平安回到你身边。” “请继续，”她说，“我无法抗拒这个呼吁！”于是她从石头上站起来，和他们一起走了。当他们走路时，他告诉她，他唯一的儿子，一个小男孩，病得很重，发烧，而且失眠。她弯下腰，采了一些罂粟花。当他们进入小屋时，他们发现所有人都非常痛苦，因为男孩似乎没有康复的希望。他的母亲梅塔尼拉亲切地接待了她，女神弯下腰亲吻了患病孩子的嘴唇。刹那间，他的脸色褪去苍白，身体恢复了健康的活力。全家人都很高兴——父亲、母亲和小女孩，因为他们都很高兴。他们没有仆人。他们铺好桌子，在上面放上凝乳、奶油、苹果和蜂巢里的蜂蜜。当他们吃饭时，塞瑞斯将罂粟汁混入男孩的牛奶中。当夜幕降临，万籁俱寂时，她起身，抱起熟睡的男孩，用手塑造他的四肢，对着他念了三遍庄严的咒语，然后走过去把他埋进了灰烬里。他的母亲一直在注视着客人的一举一动，她大叫一声，跳上前去，把孩子从火里救了出来。随后谷神星显现出自己的形态，周围闪耀着神圣的光辉。当他们惊讶不已时，她说道：“母亲，您对儿子的喜爱太残忍了。我本想让他永垂不朽，但你却挫败了我的尝试。尽管如此，他将是伟大而有用的。他将教人们如何使用犁，以及劳动可以从耕种的土地中获得的回报。”说着，她裹上云彩，上车而去。

刻瑞斯继续寻找她的女儿，从一个陆地到另一个陆地，跨越海洋和河流，直到最后她回到了她最初出发的西西里岛，站在了氰河岸边，冥王星在那里成为了自己的化身。带着他的战利品前往他自己的领土。 河中仙女本想告诉女神她所目睹的一切，但她不敢，因为害怕冥王星。于是，她只敢捡起普罗瑟芬在逃亡时掉下的腰带，飘到母亲的脚边。 塞瑞斯见状，不再怀疑自己的损失，但她还不知道原因，将责任归咎于无辜的土地。 “这片忘恩负义的土地，”她说，“我赋予了它肥沃的土地，长满了牧草和滋养的谷物，你再也不能享受我的恩惠了。”然后牛死了，犁在犁沟里坏掉了，种子也长不出来；阳光太多，雨水太多；鸟儿偷走了种子——蓟和荆棘是唯一的生长物。 看到这一幕，阿瑞图萨喷泉为这片土地求情。 “女神，”她说，“不要责怪这片土地；它不情愿地打开，给你女儿让出了一条通道。 我可以告诉你她的命运，因为我见过她。 这不是我的祖国；我是从伊利斯来到这里的。 我是一位林地仙女，并以追逐为乐。 他们称赞我的美貌，但我对此毫不在意，反而夸耀我的狩猎功绩。 有一天，我从树林里回来，浑身热气腾腾，来到一条小溪边，溪水静静流淌，清澈得可以数清溪底的鹅卵石。 柳树遮荫，绿草如茵的河岸倾斜到水边。 我走近了，我的脚接触到了水。 我踏入齐膝深的地方，还不满足，把衣服铺在柳树上，走了进去。 当我在水中嬉戏时，我听到溪流深处传来隐隐约约的咕噜声：我赶紧逃到最近的岸边。 那声音说道：“阿瑞莎，你为什么要飞？” 我是阿尔菲斯，这条溪流之神。我跑，他追；他并不比我快，但他更强壮，当我的力气减弱时，他就追上了我。 最后，我筋疲力尽，向戴安娜呼救。 ‘救救我吧，女神！ 帮助你的选民！女神闻言，顿时将我包裹在厚厚的云层之中。 河神东看看西看看，两次靠近我，都找不到我。 阿瑞图萨！ 阿瑞瑟莎！他哭了。 哦，我多么颤抖，就像一只羔羊听到羊圈外的狼嚎一样。 我浑身冒冷汗，头发顺流而下；我的脚所站的地方有一个水池。 简而言之，在比告诉它所需的时间更短的时间内，我变成了喷泉。 但以这种形式，阿尔菲斯认识了我，并试图将他的溪流与我的溪流混合在一起。 戴安娜劈开了地面，而我则试图逃离他，跳进洞穴，穿过地底来到了西西里岛。 当我穿过地球的下部时，我看到了你的普罗瑟派娜。 她虽然悲伤，但脸上却不再露出惊慌之色。

瑟瑞斯听到这话，愣愣地站了一会儿。然后她的战车转向天国，急忙来到朱庇特的宝座前。她讲述了她的丧亲之痛，并恳求朱庇特介入，以求归还她的女儿。朱庇特同意了，但有一个条件，即普罗瑟芬在下界逗留期间不得吃任何食物；否则，命运女神将禁止释放她。因此，水星在春天的陪伴下被派去索取普鲁托的普罗瑟平娜。狡猾的君主同意了。可惜！少女拿走了普鲁托送给她的一个石榴，并从一些种子中吸出了甜甜的果肉。这足以阻止她彻底获释；但她还是做出了妥协，一半的时间和她的母亲在一起，剩下的时间和她的丈夫普鲁托一起度过。

谷神星让自己因这种安排而平静下来，并恢复了地球对她的青睐。现在她想起了塞琉斯和他的家人，以及她对他的儿子特里普托勒摩斯的承诺。当男孩长大后，她教他如何使用犁，以及如何播种。她带着他乘坐由有翼龙牵引的战车，穿越地球上的各个国家，向人类传授宝贵的谷物和农业知识。返回后，特里普托勒摩斯在埃琉西斯建造了一座宏伟的谷神星神庙，并以埃琉西斯神秘仪式的名义建立了对女神的崇拜，其仪式的辉煌和庄严超过了希腊人中所有其他宗教庆祝活动。

毫无疑问，谷神星和普罗瑟芬娜的故事是一个寓言。普罗瑟平娜象征着一粒玉米种子，当它被抛入地里时，它就隐藏在那里——也就是说，她被冥界之神带走了。它再次出现——也就是说，普罗瑟芬回到了她母亲身边。春天带领她重见光明。

弥尔顿在《失乐园》一书中提到了普罗瑟芬的故事
四：

”。 。 。不是那个公平的领域
普罗瑟芬娜采花的恩纳，
她自己是一朵更美丽的花，作者：gloomy Dis
被聚集，这让谷神星付出了所有的痛苦
为了满世界寻找她——
……可能会在这个天堂里
伊甸园的奋斗。”

胡德在他的《忧郁颂》中非常漂亮地使用了同样的典故：

“请原谅，如果有一天我忘记了，
祸患来临，当下的幸福；
受惊的普罗瑟芬跌倒了
她一看到迪斯就开花。”

事实上，阿尔菲斯河确实在其部分河道中消失在地下，通过地下渠道找到了出路，直到再次出现在地表上。据说西西里岛的Arethusa喷泉就是同一条溪流，经过海底后又在西西里岛出现。于是就有了这样的故事：一个被扔进阿尔菲斯的杯子又出现在阿瑞图萨身上。柯勒律治在他的诗《忽必烈汗》中提到的正是阿尔菲斯地下通道的寓言：

“忽必烈汗在世外桃源
一项庄严的欢乐圆顶法令，
圣河阿尔夫流淌的地方
穿过人类无法估量的洞穴，
沉入没有阳光的大海。”

在摩尔的一首少年诗中，他因此提到了同一个故事，以及向他的溪流投掷花环或其他轻质物体的做法，让溪流带下来，然后在溪流出现时再现：

“噢，我的爱人，多么神圣的甜蜜
是志同道合的人相遇时的纯粹快乐！
就像河神一样，水流淌，
爱是他们唯一的光芒，穿过下面的洞穴，
胜利地飘扬着所有花辫子
还有节日戒指，奥运女仆用它
装饰了他的电流，作为祭品聚会
躺在阿瑞图莎闪亮的脚下。
想一想，当他终于遇见他的喷泉新娘时，
多么完美的爱情一定会激起交融的浪潮！
每一个都迷失在每一个之中，直到融合为一，
无论是阴影还是阳光，他们的命运都是一样的，
一种真爱，深入骨髓。”

以下摘录自摩尔的《路上的韵律》，讲述了阿尔巴诺在米兰拍摄的一幅著名画作《爱之舞》：

“这是为了从地球上偷走恩娜的花
这些顽童庆祝他们的欢乐舞蹈，
围绕着绿树，就像荒原上的小精灵；——
那些最近的按明亮顺序相连，
脸颊又脸颊，像花环里的玫瑰花蕾；
以及那些从下方更远的显示
其他人的翅膀是发光的小眼睛。
一边看！云端之中，他们的大哥，
但刚刚飞起来，带着幸福的微笑诉说，
普鲁托对他那迷人的母亲的恶作剧，
谁转过身来用一个吻来迎接这个消息。”

格劳克斯和斯库拉

格劳克斯是一名渔夫。有一天，他把网拉到陆地上，捕到了许多不同种类的鱼。于是他清空了网，开始对草地上的鱼进行分类。他所站的地方是河中一座美丽的岛屿，一个偏僻的地方，无人居住，也没有用来放牛，除了他自己之外，也没有人来过。突然，原本躺在草地上的鱼儿苏醒了，鱼鳍一动，就像在水里一样；当他惊讶地看着时，他们全都走到了水里，跳进水里，然后游走了。他不知道这是怎么回事，到底是某个神灵干的，还是草丛中的某种秘密力量干的。 “什么药草有这么大的力量？”他惊呼道；他收集了一些，尝了尝。植物的汁液刚到达他的味蕾，他就发现自己因为对水的渴望而焦躁不安。他再也无法克制自己，告别了大地，一头扎进了溪水中。水神们仁慈地接待了他，并接纳他为水神们的荣耀。他们得到了海洋之主俄刻阿诺斯和特提斯的同意，将他身上所有的凡人都洗掉了。一百条河流把水浇在他身上。然后他失去了他以前的本性和所有意识。当他康复后，他发现自己的形态和思想都发生了变化。他的头发是海绿色的，拖在身后的水面上。他的肩膀变宽了，大腿和小腿变成了鱼尾巴的形状。海神们称赞他容貌的变化，他自认为是一个相当英俊的人物。

有一天，格劳克斯看到美丽的少女斯库拉（Scylla），水仙女最喜欢的人，在岸边闲逛，当她找到一个隐蔽的角落时，她在清澈的水中沐浴着她的四肢。他爱上了她，并在表面上表现出自己，对她说话，说一些他认为最有可能赢得她留下来的话；因为她一看到他就立刻转身跑，一直跑到一处俯瞰大海的悬崖上。说到这里，她停下来，转过身去看看那是神还是海兽，并惊奇地观察着他的形状和颜色。格劳克斯部分地从水中浮出，靠在一块岩石上，说道：“少女，我不是怪物，也不是海洋动物，而是神；普罗透斯和特里同的地位都不比我高。我曾经是凡人，以大海为生。但现在我完全属于它了。”然后他讲述了自己的蜕变故事，以及如何晋升到现在的尊严，并补充道：“但如果不能打动你的心，这一切又有什么用呢？”他正以这种紧张的心情继续说下去，但斯库拉却转身匆匆走开。

格劳克斯陷入绝望，但他想到去请教女巫喀耳刻。因此，他回到了她的岛屿——也就是后来尤利西斯登陆的地方，正如我们将在后来的故事之一中看到的那样。互相行礼后，他说道：“女神啊，我恳请您怜悯，请您原谅。”只有你才能减轻我所承受的痛苦。我和任何一种草药一样了解草药的力量，因为我的形态变化归功于它们。我爱斯库拉。我羞于告诉你我如何起诉和向她承诺，以及她如何蔑视我。我恳求你使用你的咒语或有效的草药，如果它们更有效的话，不要治愈我的爱，因为我不希望那样，而是让她分享它并给我带来同样的回报。喀耳刻回答说，她对海绿色神灵的吸引力并非无动于衷，“你最好追求一个心甘情愿的目标；你值得被寻找，而不是徒劳地寻找。不要胆怯，知道自己的价值。我向你抗议，即使是我，尽管我是女神，并且学习了植物和咒语的美德，也不应该知道如何拒绝你。如果她蔑视你，你也蔑视她；遇到一个愿意与你相向而行的人，这样就可以同时得到应有的回报。”对于这些话，格劳克斯回答道：“只要树木在海底生长，海草在山顶生长，我就会不再爱斯库拉，而且只爱她一个人。”

女神很愤怒，但她不能惩罚他，也不愿意惩罚他，因为她太喜欢他了；于是她把所有的愤怒都转向了她的对手，可怜的斯库拉。她将有毒的植物混合在一起，用咒语和咒语将它们混合在一起。然后她穿过一群嬉戏的野兽，这些野兽是她艺术的牺牲品，前往西西里海岸，斯库拉居住的地方。海岸上有一个小海湾，在炎热的天气里，斯库拉常常去那里呼吸大海的空气，在海水中沐浴。女神将她的有毒混合物倒在这里，并在上面低声念出强大力量的咒语。斯库拉像往常一样来了，一头扎进齐腰的水里。当她发现周围有一群蛇和狂吠的怪物时，她感到多么恐惧！起初她无法想象它们是她自己的一部分，并试图逃离它们，并将它们赶走；但当她奔跑时，她随身携带着它们，当她试图触摸自己的四肢时，她发现她的手只能触摸到怪物打哈欠的下巴。斯库拉仍然原地不动。她的脾气变得和她的身材一样丑陋，她以吞噬她手中的不幸水手为乐。因此，她消灭了尤利西斯的六名同伴，并试图破坏埃涅阿斯的船只，直到最后她变成了一块岩石，因此仍然对水手们来说是一种恐惧。

济慈在他的《恩底弥翁》中对《格劳克斯与斯库拉》的结局给出了新版本。格劳克斯同意了喀耳刻的甜言蜜语，直到他偶然目睹了她与野兽的交易。他对她的背叛和残忍感到厌恶，试图逃离她，但被抓了回来，她责备他放逐了他，判处他在衰老和痛苦中度过一千年。他回到大海，在那里发现了斯库拉的尸体，女神并没有改变他，而是淹死了他。格劳克斯得知，他的命运是，如果他用一千年的时间收集所有溺水恋人的尸体，一位众神所爱的年轻人就会出现并帮助他。恩底弥翁实现了这个预言，并帮助格劳克斯恢复青春，让斯库拉和所有溺水恋人复活。

以下是格劳克斯对他的“巨变”后的感受的描述：

“我生死攸关。互相编织
一个人的感官与如此浓密的呼吸物质
可能看起来是一项痛苦的工作；所以还不够
我能否欣赏它的水晶般光滑的感觉，
我的四肢充满活力。起初我住
整天都处于完全的惊讶之中；
完全忘记了自己的意图，
移动但伴随着巨大的潮起潮落。
然后就像一只刚羽翼未丰的鸟儿第一次出现
他展开羽毛迎接明天的寒冷，
我怀着恐惧尝试着控制自己的意志。
这就是自由！我立即访问了
这片海底的无尽奇观，”等等。

——济慈。

皮格马利翁看到女人身上有太多的过错，他最终厌恶了性，并决定不结婚。他是一位雕塑家，以精湛的技艺制作了一尊象牙雕像，它如此美丽，以至于在世的女人都无法接近它。这确实是一个完美的少女形象，仿佛还活着，只是谦虚地阻止了她的动作。他的艺术如此完美，以至于隐藏了自己，其作品看起来就像大自然的鬼斧神工。皮格马利翁欣赏自己的作品，并最终爱上了赝品。他常常把手放在上面，仿佛要确定它是不是活的，但他甚至不敢相信这只是象牙。他抚摸着它，给了它年轻女孩们喜爱的礼物——明亮的贝壳和抛光的石头，小鸟和各种颜色的花朵，珠子和琥珀。他给它的四肢穿上衣服，给它的手指戴上珠宝，在它的脖子上戴上项链。他的耳朵上挂着耳环，胸前挂着珍珠串。她的衣服很适合她，看起来并不比没穿衣服时那么迷人。他把她放在一张铺着泰尔染料布料的沙发上，称她为自己的妻子，把她的头放在最柔软的羽毛枕头上，仿佛她可以享受它们的柔软。

维纳斯节即将来临——塞浦路斯举行盛大的庆祝活动。受害者被献上，祭坛冒烟，空气中弥漫着焚香的气味。当皮格马利翁在庄严的仪式中履行完他的职责后，他站在祭坛前，胆怯地说：“诸神啊，万事皆可，请赐予我，我的妻子”——他不敢说“我的象牙处女， ”而是说——“像我的象牙处女一样。出席节日的维纳斯听到了他的声音，知道他会说出什么想法。作为对她有利的预兆，祭坛上的火焰在空中三次上升。回到家后，他去看了他的雕像，靠在沙发上，在他的嘴上吻了一下。看起来很温暖。他再次压住它的嘴唇，把手放在它的四肢上；象牙触感柔软，像希米特斯的蜡一样在他的手指上屈服。当他惊讶而高兴地站着时，尽管他有所怀疑，并担心自己可能会弄错，但他一次又一次地以情人的热情触摸到了他所希望的对象。它确实还活着！当按压时，静脉屈服于手指并再次恢复圆形。最后，维纳斯的信徒找到了感谢女神的话语，并像他自己的嘴唇一样真实地吻着嘴唇。处女感受到了亲吻，脸红了，她对着光睁开胆怯的眼睛，同时将它们固定在她的爱人身上。维纳斯祝福了她所举办的婚礼，帕福斯由此诞生，这座维纳斯神圣的城市也因此得名。

席勒在他的诗《理想》中，将皮格马利翁的故事运用到了年轻人心中对自然的热爱。以下是朋友提供的翻译：

“正如曾经的激情流淌般的祈祷，
皮格马利翁拥抱了石头，
直到冰冻的大理石发光，
感觉之光在他身上闪耀，
我也以年轻的忠诚紧握着
明亮的自然给诗人的心灵；
直到呼吸、温暖和重要的运动
似乎是透过雕像形态来飞镖。

“然后，在我所有的热情分享中，
发现无声的形式表达；
回报我青春勇敢的吻，
也听懂了我心跳加速的声音。
然后为我活出光明的创造，
银色的小溪里充满了歌声；
树木、玫瑰共同感受，
这是我无限生命的回声。”

——s。国标

干胶

德律俄普和伊奥莱是姐妹。前者是安德雷蒙的妻子，深受丈夫的爱戴，并为第一个孩子的出生感到高兴。有一天，姐妹俩漫步到一条小溪岸边，小溪逐渐倾斜到水边，高地长满了桃金娘。他们打算采集鲜花，为仙女的祭坛制作花环，德律俄普将她的孩子抱在怀里，这是宝贵的负担，边走边喂他。水边长着一株莲花，开满了紫色的花朵。德律俄普收集了一些并把它们送给了婴儿，伊奥尔正要这样做，这时她发现血从她姐姐把它们从茎上折断的地方滴下来。这株植物正是仙女洛蒂斯，她在躲避卑鄙的追击者时，变成了这个形态。这是他们从乡下人那里学到的，但为时已晚。

当德律俄普意识到自己所做的事情时，她大吃一惊，她很想赶紧离开现场，但发现她的脚像扎根在地上一样。她试图把它们拉开，但除了上肢什么也没动。木质感向上蔓延，逐渐覆盖她的身体。痛苦中，她试图撕扯自己的头发，却发现双手沾满了树叶。婴儿感觉到母亲的胸部开始变硬，乳汁停止流出。伊奥尔眼睁睁地看着妹妹悲惨的命运，却无法提供任何帮助。她拥抱着正在生长的树干，仿佛她会阻止前进的木头，并很高兴被包裹在同样的树皮中。这时，德律俄普的丈夫安德烈蒙和她的父亲走了过来。当他们询问德律俄普时，伊奥尔向他们指出了新形成的莲花。他们拥抱那棵温暖的树干，亲吻它的叶子。

现在，德律俄普除了她的脸，什么也没有了。她的泪水仍在流淌，落在叶子上，尽管她还能说话，但她还是说话了。 “我没有罪。我不该承受这样的命运。我没有伤害任何人。如果我说假话，愿我的树叶因干旱而枯死，愿我的树干被砍伐和焚烧。把这个婴儿交给护士。让它经常被带到我的树枝下，在我的树荫下玩耍；当他长大到能说话的时候，让他学会叫我妈妈，并悲伤地说：“我的母亲藏在这树皮下。”但请他小心河岸，小心他采花的方式，记住他看到的每一丛灌木都可能是伪装的女神。别了，亲爱的丈夫、妹妹和父亲。如果你对我还有一点爱，就不要让斧头砍伤我，也不要让羊群咬扯我的树枝。既然我不能向你弯腰，那就爬到这里来吻我吧；当我的嘴唇继续有感觉时，抱起我的孩子，以便我可以亲吻他。我不能再说话了，因为树皮已经伸到了我的脖子上，很快就会淹没我。你不需要闭上我的眼睛，不需要你的帮助，树皮就会闭上眼睛。”然后嘴唇停止活动，生命就消失了；但树枝保留生命热量的时间更长。

济慈在《恩底弥翁》中这样提到德律俄普：

“她拿起一把鲁特琴，从中传来脉动
热闹的前奏，塑造道路
她的声音应该在其中徘徊。那是个外行人
节奏更加微妙，更加森林狂野
比德律俄普独自安抚她的孩子还要多；” ETC。

金星和阿多尼斯

有一天，维纳斯和她的儿子丘比特玩耍时，他的一支箭射伤了她的胸部。她推开他，但伤口比她想象的还要深。在痊愈之前，她看到了阿多尼斯，并被他迷住了。她不再对她最喜欢的度假胜地——帕福斯、克尼多斯和阿马索斯，这些富含金属的地方感兴趣。她甚至离开了天堂，因为阿多尼斯对她来说比天堂还珍贵。她跟随他并陪伴他。以前喜欢躺在树荫下，一心一意地培养自己的魅力的她，现在穿得像女猎人戴安娜一样，在树林里、翻山越岭漫步；她会叫她的狗，追赶野兔和雄鹿，或者其他可以安全狩猎的猎物，但要远离狼和熊，这些狼和熊散发着屠宰牛群的臭气。她也嘱咐阿多尼斯要提防这些危险的动物。 “对胆怯的人要勇敢，”她说。 “用勇气对抗勇敢的人是不安全的。当心你如何将自己置于危险之中，并将我的幸福置于危险之中。不要攻击大自然用武器武装的野兽。我并不看重你的荣耀，以至于同意通过这样的曝光来购买它。你的青春，还有维纳斯的美丽，不会触动狮子和野猪的心。想想它们可怕的爪子和惊人的力量！我讨厌他们整个种族。你问我为什么？”然后她给他讲了阿塔兰忒和希波墨涅斯的故事，他们因为对她忘恩负义而变成了狮子。

警告完之后，她就登上天鹅拉着的战车，在空中疾驰而去。但阿多尼斯太高贵了，不会听从这样的劝告。狗把一头野猪从巢穴中惊醒，年轻人扔出长矛，侧身击伤了野猪。野兽用嘴拔出武器，追赶阿多尼斯，阿多尼斯转身就跑。但野猪追上了他，把他的獠牙埋在他的身边，把他放在平原上，垂死了。

维纳斯驾着她的天鹅战车，还没有到达塞浦路斯，就听到半空中传来她心爱之人的呻吟声，于是她把她的白翼骏马赶回了地面。当她走近时，从高处看到他毫无生气的尸体沐浴在鲜血中，她跳了下来，弯下腰，捶打着自己的胸部，撕扯着自己的头发。她责备命运女神说：“然而，他们的胜利只是部分胜利；我的悲伤的纪念将持久，我的阿多尼斯，你的死亡景象和我的哀悼将每年更新。你的血将会变成一朵花；这种安慰无人能羡慕我。”说着，她将甘露洒在血上；当它们混合在一起时，气泡升起，就像雨滴落在水池里一样，一个小时后，就长出了一朵血色的花朵，就像石榴一样。但这是短暂的。据说风把花朵吹开，然后又把花瓣吹走；因此，它被称为银莲花或风之花，因为其产生和腐烂的原因相同。

弥尔顿在他的《Comus》中提到了维纳斯和阿多尼斯的故事：

“风信子和玫瑰的花坛
年轻的阿多尼斯经常休息的地方，
为他深深的伤口打蜡
柔软地睡着，躺在地上
亚述王后悲伤地坐着；” ETC。

阿波罗和风信子

阿波罗非常喜欢一个名叫海辛托斯的年轻人。他陪伴他进行运动，在他钓鱼时携带渔网，在他打猎时牵着狗，跟随他去山里旅行，并忽略了他的七弦琴和箭。有一天，他们一起玩了一场绕圈游戏，阿波罗用力量和技巧将铁饼高高举起，把铁饼抛得又高又远。风信子看着它飞翔，兴奋地跑上前去抓住它，迫不及待地想把它扔出去，这时环圈从地上弹了起来，击中了他的前额。他晕倒了。神像他自己一样苍白，把他扶了起来，并尝试了所有的方法来止住伤口并保留转瞬即逝的生命，但一切都是徒劳的。这种伤害已经超出了药物的治疗能力。就像当人们折断花园里的百合花茎时，百合花就会低下头，把花朵转向泥土，垂死男孩的头似乎对他的脖子来说太重了，落在了他的肩膀上。 “你死了，风信子，”菲比斯说道，“你的青春被我夺走了。你的痛苦是我的，我的罪行是我的。但愿我能为你而死！但既然事实并非如此，你就应该和我一起生活在记忆和歌声中。我的竖琴将颂扬你，我的歌声将讲述你的命运，你将成为一朵铭刻着我遗憾的花朵。”当阿波罗说话的时候，看哪，流在地上、沾染了青草的血不再是血了；但一朵比泰尔花更美丽的花却长出来了，要不是这个是紫色的，那个是银白色的，就像百合花一样。[11]这里描述的显然不是我们现代的风信子。它可能是某种鸢尾花，也可能是飞燕草或三色堇。 这对菲比斯来说还不够。但为了授予更大的荣誉，他在花瓣上刻上了悲伤的字样，并刻下“啊！啊！”正如我们今天所看到的那样。这种花的名字叫风信子，每到春天的回归，人们就会想起他的命运。

据说，Zephyrus（西风）也喜欢风信子，并嫉妒他对阿波罗的偏爱，于是将绕圈吹离了原来的方向，使其击中了风信子。济慈在他的《恩底弥翁》中提到了这一点，他在其中描述了围棋游戏中的旁观者：

“或者他们可能会观看圈圈投手，专注地
两边都在哀悼悲伤的死亡
风信子，当残酷的气息
西风杀了他；和风忏悔，
谁现在在菲比斯登上苍穹之前，
在哭泣的雨中抚摸这朵花。”

米尔顿的作品中也提到了风信子
《利西达斯》：

“就像那朵刻有悲伤的乐观花朵。”

塞克斯是色萨利国王，他在那里和平统治，没有暴力或错误。他是晨星赫斯珀洛斯的儿子，他美丽的光芒让人想起他的父亲。哈尔西俄涅（Halcyone），风神埃俄罗斯的女儿，是他的妻子，对他一往情深。现在，塞克斯因失去兄弟而陷入深深的痛苦之中，而他兄弟死后出现的可怕的神童让他觉得众神对他怀有敌意。因此，他认为最好的办法是前往爱奥尼亚的卡洛斯，咨询阿波罗的神谕。但当他向妻子哈尔西奥妮透露自己的意图时，她全身一阵颤抖，脸色变得死一般苍白。 “我最亲爱的丈夫，我犯了什么错，让你对我失去了感情？你心中曾经最重要的对我的爱在哪里？您是否学会在没有 Halcyone 的情况下感到轻松？你宁愿让我走吗？”她还试图通过描述风的猛烈来劝阻他，当她住在她父亲的家里时，她就熟悉了风的力量，风神是风神，并且有尽一切努力来抑制风。 。 “他们冲在一起，”她说，“他们的愤怒如此之大，以至于冲突中火光四射。但如果你必须走，”她补充道，“亲爱的丈夫，让我和你一起走，否则我不仅会遭受你必须遇到的真正的邪恶，而且还会遭受我的恐惧所暗示的邪恶。”

这句话深深地印在了塞克斯国王的心头，带她一起走既是他自己的愿望，也是她的愿望，但他不忍心让她暴露在海上的危险之中。因此，他尽可能地安慰她，最后说道：“我以我父亲日星的光芒发誓，如果命运允许，我将在月亮绕其轨道两次之前回来。” ”。说完，他下令把船从船库里拉出来，把桨和帆装上船。当哈尔西妮看到这些准备工作时，她浑身颤抖，仿佛有一种邪恶的预感。她含着泪水抽泣着告别，然后倒在地上失去知觉。

塞克斯本来还会逗留，但现在年轻人抓住了桨，用力地划过波浪，划得很长，很有节奏。哈尔西奥妮抬起流着泪的眼睛，看到她的丈夫站在甲板上，向她挥手。她回应了他的信号，直到船只远去，以至于她无法再将他的身影与其他人区分开来。当船本身看不见时，她睁大眼睛去捕捉船帆的最后一丝光芒，直到那一丝光芒也消失了。然后，她回到自己的房间，倒在她那张孤独的沙发上。

与此同时，他们滑出港口，微风吹过绳索。水手们划起桨，扬起风帆。航程已过一半左右，夜幕降临，海面开始泛白，波涛汹涌，东风刮起大风。主人下令收帆，但暴风雨却禁止服从，因为风浪如此咆哮，他的命令无人听见。船员们自觉地忙着固定桨、加固船、收帆。尽管他们都做了各自认为最好的事情，但风暴却愈演愈烈。人们的叫喊声、裹尸布的嘎嘎声、海浪的拍打声，与雷霆的轰鸣声交织在一起。汹涌的大海似乎升到了天空，泡沫散布在云层中；然后沉入海底，呈现出浅滩的颜色——冥河般的黑色。

该船分享了所有这些变化。仿佛一头猛兽，在猎人的长矛上冲来。雨倾盆而下，仿佛天空与大海融为一体。当闪电暂时停止时，夜晚似乎给暴风雨增添了自己的黑暗。然后一道闪光袭来，撕裂了黑暗，耀眼的光芒照亮了一切。技巧失败，勇气消沉，死亡似乎一波接一波地袭来。男人们都惊呆了。他们的脑海中浮现出父母、亲人以及留在家里的誓言。塞克斯想起了 Halcyone。除了她的名字，他没有说出任何名字，虽然他渴望她，但他仍然为她的缺席而感到高兴。不久，桅杆被一道闪电击碎，船舵折断，胜利的浪潮翻滚俯视着残骸，然后落下，将其压成碎片。一些海员因中风而昏迷不醒，沉入水中，再也没有起来。其他人则紧紧抓住沉船的碎片。塞克斯用那只曾经握住权杖的手紧紧抓住一块木板，向他的父亲和岳父呼救——唉，徒劳无功。但他最常挂在嘴边的是Halcyone的名字。他的思绪紧紧地依附在她身上。他祈祷海浪能把他的尸体带到她面前，并埋葬在她手中。最后，海水淹没了他，他沉没了。那天晚上，晨星显得黯淡无光。因为它无法离开天空，所以它用云遮住了它的脸。

与此同时，哈尔西奥妮对所有这些恐怖一无所知，她数着日子，直到她丈夫承诺的回来。现在她准备好他要穿的衣服，以及他到达时她要穿的衣服。她经常向所有的神祇焚香，但对朱诺的焚香尤其重要。她为已不在人世的丈夫不断祈祷：愿他平安；愿他平安；愿他平安。以便他能回家；以免在他不在的时候，他再也看不到比她更爱的人了。但在所有这些祈祷中，最后一个是唯一注定会被实现的。女神终于无法再忍受为一个已经死去的人祈求，也无法再忍受有人向她的祭坛举起双手，而她的祭坛本应举行葬礼。于是，她打电话给艾里斯，说道：“艾里斯，我忠实的使者，去索姆努斯昏昏欲睡的住所，告诉他以塞克斯的形式向哈尔西涅发送幻象，让她知道这件事。”

艾丽丝穿上多彩的长袍，用弓照亮天空，寻找睡眠之王的宫殿。在西梅里亚国家附近，一个山洞是愚钝之神索姆努斯的住所。福波斯不敢来这里，无论是正午起床，还是日落。云影从地面呼出，光芒隐隐闪烁。长着冠头的黎明之鸟，从来不会大声呼唤奥罗拉，警戒的狗，更聪明的鹅，也不会扰乱这片寂静。没有野兽，没有牲畜，没有随风摇动的树枝，也没有人类的谈话声打破这寂静。那里一片寂静；但忘川河从岩石底部流淌，河水的潺潺声让人入睡。洞门前长满了罂粟花和其他草药，夜晚从它们的汁液中收集睡眠，并将其撒在黑暗的大地上。宅邸没有大门，铰链会吱吱作响，也没有看守人。但中间有一张黑檀木长沙发，装饰着黑色羽毛和黑色窗帘。神躺在那里，他的四肢因睡眠而放松。他的周围有梦，形形色色，有庄稼的茎，有林叶，有海边的沙粒。

女神一进来，一扫盘旋在她周围的梦境，她的光芒照亮了整个洞穴。神几乎没有睁开眼睛，时不时地把胡子落在胸前，最后终于摆脱了自己，靠在他的手臂上，询问她的使命，因为他知道她是谁。她回答说：“索姆努斯，众神中最温柔的人，心灵的镇静剂，忧愁心灵的安抚者，朱诺向你发出命令，要求你将一个梦境发送给特拉钦城的哈尔西奥妮，代表她失去的丈夫和所有发生的事件。沉船。”

传达完消息后，艾丽丝匆忙离开，因为她再也无法忍受停滞的空气，当她感到睡意袭来时，她逃脱了，并用弓按着来时的路返回。然后，索姆努斯称他的众多儿子之一——莫菲斯——是最擅长模仿造型、模仿每个人最有特色的步态、表情、说话方式，甚至是服装和态度的专家。但他只模仿人，而让别人来扮演飞禽走兽、蛇。他们称他为伊塞洛斯（Icelos）；潘塔索斯是第三个，他把自己变成了岩石、水、树林和其他没有生命的东西。它们在睡觉时伺候国王和伟人，而另一些则在平民百姓中活动。索姆努斯从所有兄弟中选择了墨菲斯来执行艾里斯的命令。然后他把头靠在枕头上，心怀感激地休息了。

墨菲斯飞行时，翅膀没有发出任何声音，很快就来到了海蒙尼亚城，他放下翅膀，化身为塞克斯的形态。在那副模样下，他赤身裸体地站在可怜妻子的沙发前，脸色苍白得像个死人。他的胡须似乎被水浸湿了，水从他淹死的头发中淌下来。他靠在床上，泪水夺眶而出，说道：“你认得你的塞克斯吗，不幸的妻子，还是死亡太大地改变了我的面貌？看我，认识我，你丈夫的影子，而不是他自己。哈尔西涅，你的祈祷对我毫无帮助。我死了。别再用我回来的徒劳希望来欺骗自己了。狂风使我的船在爱琴海沉没，海浪填满我的嘴，大声呼唤着你。没有不确定的使者告诉你这一点，也没有模糊的谣言传入你的耳朵。我亲自来，一个遭遇海难的人，来告诉你我的命运。出现！给我眼泪，给我哀歌，让我不要不哭而下地狱。”墨菲斯在这句话中加上了声音，那声音似乎是她丈夫的。他似乎流下了真诚的泪水；他的双手有着塞克斯的手势。

哈尔西妮哭泣着，呻吟着，在睡梦中伸出双臂，试图拥抱他的身体，但只抓住了空气。 “停留！”她哭了; “你飞到哪里去？我们一起走吧。”她自己的声音唤醒了她。她惊醒了，急切地环顾四周，想看看他是否还在场，因为仆人们被她的叫声吓到了，已经拿来了灯。当她找不到他时，她就捶胸顿足，撕破衣服。她不想解开头发，而是疯狂地撕扯着。她的护士问她悲伤的原因是什么。 “Halcyone 已经不复存在了，”她回答道，“她和她的 Ceyx 一起消失了。没有任何安慰的话，他就遭遇海难而死了。我见过他，我认出了他。我伸出双手，想要抓住他，把他扣留起来。他的影子消失了，但那是我丈夫的真实影子。他的容貌没有任何常见的特征，也没有他的美貌，但他脸色苍白，赤身裸体，头发被海水浸湿，看起来让我很可怜。就在这里，就在这个地方，悲伤的景象矗立着。”——她寻找着他的足迹。 “当我恳求他不要离开我，相信海浪的时候，我的预感就是这样的。哦，我多么希望，既然你要走，你就带着我一起走吧！情况会好得多。那么我就没有余生可以度过没有你的日子，也没有单独的死亡可以去死。如果我能够忍受生活，挣扎着忍受，我对自己应该比大海对我更残酷。但我不会挣扎，我不会与你分离，不幸的丈夫。至少这一次，我会陪着你。在死亡中，如果一座坟墓不能包括我们，那么一篇墓志铭可以；如果我不把我的骨灰和你的骨灰放在一起，至少我的名字不会被分离。”她的悲痛让她无法再说更多的话，她的言语被泪水和抽泣所打破。

现在是早上。她去了海边，寻找他离开时最后一次见到他的地方。 “当他在这里徘徊并放弃铲球时，他给了我最后一个吻。”当她审视每一个物体，努力回忆每一个事件时，眺望大海，她看到了一个漂浮在水中的模糊物体。起初她还不确定那是什么，但渐渐地，海浪把它拉近了，这显然是一具男人的尸体。虽然不知道是谁，但就像遇难的人一样，她深受感动，流下了眼泪，说道：“唉！不幸的人，不幸的人，如果有的话，你的妻子！”在海浪的推动下，它越来越近了。随着距离越来越近，她的颤抖也越来越厉害。现在，现在已经接近海岸了。现在她认识的标记出现了。是她的丈夫！她向它伸出颤抖的双手，惊呼道：“亲爱的丈夫啊，你就这样回到我身边了吗？”

海岸上建起了一座防波堤，旨在抵御海水的侵袭，阻止海水的猛烈入侵。她跳过了这个屏障，（她能做到这一点真是太棒了）她飞了起来，用瞬间长出的翅膀击打空气，沿着水面掠过，就像一只不快乐的鸟。她飞翔的过程中，喉咙里发出充满悲痛的声音，像是在哀叹。当她触摸到那具无声无息的尸体时，她用新形成的翅膀包住了它心爱的四肢，并试图用角质喙亲吻它。旁观者怀疑是塞克斯感觉到了，还是只是海浪的作用，但身体似乎抬起了头。但他确实感觉到了，怜悯的诸神把他们都变成了鸟。它们交配并生下幼崽。在冬天的七个平静的日子里，翡翠鸟在她漂浮在海上的巢穴上沉思。那么这条路对海员来说就是安全的。风神守护着风，不让风扰乱深渊。大海暂时让给了他的孙子们。

拜伦的《阿拜多斯的新娘》中的以下几行似乎是从这段描述的结尾部分借用的，如果没有说明作者是通过观察漂浮尸体的运动得出这一建议的：

“当他在不安的枕头上摇晃时，
他的头随着汹涌的巨浪而起伏，
那只手，其动作不是生命，
然而似乎微弱地威胁着冲突，
被汹涌的潮水冲上高处，
然后就被波浪夷为平地……”

弥尔顿在他的《圣诞颂歌》中这样提到了翡翠的寓言：

“但是夜晚很平静
其中光之王子
他对大地的和平统治开始了；
风与奇迹惠斯特
水流顺利地流淌
向温和的海洋低声诉说新的欢乐，
谁现在已经忘记了狂欢
而平静的鸟儿则坐在迷人的波浪上沉思。”

济慈在《恩底弥翁》中也说：

“哦，神奇的睡眠！舒适的鸟啊
那最深思熟虑的烦恼之海
直到它变得安静而光滑。”

Hamadryads 是森林仙女。波莫娜属于这一类，在对花园和水果文化的热爱方面没有人比她更胜一筹。她不关心森林和河流，但热爱耕种的土地和结出美味苹果的树木。她右手拿着的武器不是标枪，而是一把修枝刀。有了这个武装，她一度忙于抑制过于茂盛的生长，并修剪那些散乱的树枝；另一种是将树枝劈开，在其中插入嫁接物，使树枝接受一个不是自己的幼苗。她还小心翼翼地保护自己喜爱的植物免遭干旱，并在它们身边引出溪流，让干渴的树根可以喝水。这个职业是她的追求，她的激情；她摆脱了维纳斯所激发的一切。她并非不惧怕乡下人，把果园锁起来，不许男人进入。牧神和萨特会不惜一切代价来赢得她，老西尔瓦努斯（看起来比实际年龄还年轻）和潘（头上戴着松叶花环）也会这么做。但维图努斯最爱她。但他的速度并不比其他人快。哦，有多少次，他伪装成收割者，把玉米装在篮子里给她带来，而且看起来就像是收割者的形象！他身上绑着一根干草带，让人以为他刚翻完草。有时他手里拿着一根牛棒，你会说他刚刚卸下了疲倦的牛。现在他拿着一个修剪钩，扮演一个葡萄树修剪者。他肩上扛着梯子，再次表现出要去摘苹果的样子。有时，他像退伍军人一样艰难地前行，又带着一根钓鱼竿，好像要去钓鱼。就这样，他一次又一次地向她敞开心扉，一见到她就激起他的激情。

有一天，他伪装成一位老妇人，灰白的头发上戴着一顶帽子，手里拿着一根手杖。她走进花园，欣赏着果实。 “这是你的功劳，亲爱的，”她说，然后吻了她，但并不完全是老妇人的吻。她坐在岸边，抬头看着挂满果实的树枝。对面是一棵榆树，上面缠绕着一棵藤蔓，藤蔓上挂满了膨胀的葡萄。她同样赞扬了这棵树及其相关的藤蔓。 “但是，”她说，“如果这棵树孤零零地矗立着，没有藤蔓附着在上面，那么除了无用的叶子之外，它就没有任何东西可以吸引或提供给我们。同样，藤蔓如果不缠绕在榆树上，就会倒在地上。你为什么不从树和藤上吸取教训，并同意与某人联合呢？我希望你能。海伦本人并没有更多的追求者，精明的尤利西斯的妻子佩内洛普也没有更多的追求者。即使你拒绝他们，他们也会向你示好——乡村神灵和其他经常出入这些山区的神灵。但如果你很谨慎，想要建立一个良好的联盟，并且愿意让一位老妇人为你提供建议——她比你想象的更爱你——那么就根据我的推荐，放弃所有其他人并接受维图努斯。我了解他就像他了解他自己一样。他不是游神，而是属于这些山脉的。他也不像当今太多的恋人，他们爱他们碰巧见到的任何一个人。他爱你，而且只爱你。除此之外，他年轻又英俊，并且有随心所欲的艺术，可以让自己成为你所命令的样子。此外，他和你一样喜欢做同样的事情，喜欢园艺，并钦佩地处理你的苹果。但现在他不关心水果、鲜花或其他任何东西，只关心你自己。怜悯他，想象他现在用我的嘴说话。请记住，众神惩罚残忍，维纳斯讨厌铁石心肠，迟早会惩罚这种罪行。为了证明这一点，让我告诉你一个故事，这是塞浦路斯众所周知的事实；我希望它能起到让你更加仁慈的作用。

“伊菲斯是一位出身卑微的年轻人，他看到并爱上了古老透克家族的一位贵族女士阿纳萨雷特。他与自己的激情斗争了很长时间，但当他发现自己无法抑制时，他来到了她的宅邸恳求。首先，他向她的护士讲述了自己的热情，并恳求她因为她爱她的养子而支持他的诉讼。然后他试图把她的家眷争取到他一边。有时，他将自己的誓言写在石碑上，并经常在她的门上挂上他用泪水沾湿的花环。他在她的门槛上伸了个懒腰，对着残酷的门闩和铁栏抱怨着。她的声音比十一月大风中的浪涛还要聋。比德国锻造的钢铁或仍然附着在原生悬崖上的岩石还要坚硬。她对他冷嘲热讽，在不温柔的对待中还夹杂着残酷的言语，不给他一丝希望。

“伊菲斯再也无法忍受无望的爱情的折磨，站在她的门前，他说了最后一句话：‘阿纳克萨雷特，你已经征服了，不再需要忍受我的苦苦哀求。享受你的胜利吧！唱起欢乐的歌，用月桂树包住你的额头——你胜利了！我死;铁石心肠，欢欣鼓舞！至少我能做到这一点，让你满意，迫使你夸奖我；这样我就能证明你的爱已经离开了我，只剩下生命了。我也不会让谣言告诉你我的死讯。我会亲自来，你会看到我死去，并大饱眼福。然而，瞧不起凡人苦难的诸神啊，请观察我的命运！我只要求这样：让我在未来的岁月中被人们记住，并在那些年里为我的名声增添光彩，而这些岁月是你们从我的生活中夺走的。他一边说着，一边将苍白的脸庞和泪汪汪的眼睛转向她的宅邸，把一根绳子系在他经常挂花环的门柱上，然后把头伸进绞索，低声说道：“这花环至少会拜托你了，残忍的女孩！”摔倒后脖子被折断。当他跌倒时，他撞到了门上，发出的声音就像呻吟的声音。仆人们打开门，发现他已经死了，便怜悯地叫喊着把他扶起来，带回家给他母亲，因为他的父亲已经不在人世了。她接过儿子的尸体，将冰冷的尸体抱在怀里，一边倾诉着失去亲人的母亲们的悲伤话语。悲痛的葬礼穿过小镇，苍白的尸体被抬上棺材送到葬礼堆的地方。碰巧，阿那克萨雷特的家就在游行队伍经过的街道上，哀悼者的哀歌传入了她的耳中，复仇之神已经标记了她的惩罚。

“‘让我们看看这个悲伤的游行队伍，’她说着，登上了一座塔楼，透过一扇开着的窗户，她观看了葬礼。她的目光刚落在棺材上的伊菲斯身上，就开始僵硬，体内温热的血液也变冷了。她想后退一步，却发现自己的脚动不了了。她试图把脸转开，但没有成功。渐渐地，她的四肢变得像她的心一样坚硬。你可能不会怀疑这个事实，这座雕像仍然存在，矗立在萨拉米斯的维纳斯神庙中，与这位女士的形象一模一样。现在想想这些事情，亲爱的，放下你的蔑视和拖延，接受一个爱人。愿春霜不摧残你的幼果，不让狂风吹散你的花朵！”

维尔图努斯说完这句话，就卸下了老太婆的伪装，以一个俊美的青年的身份站在了她的面前。在她看来，这就像阳光冲破云层。他本想再次恳求，但没有必要。他的论点和他真实形态的景象占了上风，仙女不再抵抗，而是拥有了共同的火焰。

波莫娜是苹果园的特别守护神，因此菲利普斯（菲利普斯）以无诗体写了一首关于苹果酒的诗，援引了她的名字。汤姆森在《四季》中提到过他：

“菲利普斯，波莫纳的吟游诗人，第二个你
他们高尚地敢于用无韵律的诗句，
带着英国的自由，唱英国的歌。”

但波莫纳也被认为是其他水果的主宰，因此汤姆森援引了这一点：

“波莫纳，​​带我去你的柚子林，
到柠檬和酸橙的地方，
深橙色，透过绿色闪闪发光，
他们的光辉融合在一起。让我斜躺着
在摇曳的罗望子树下，
被微风吹拂，它的果实降温。”

某位国王和王后有三个女儿。两位长辈的魅力已非同寻常，而老三的美貌却是太美妙了，贫乏的语言无法表达应有的赞美。她的美貌名声大噪，邻国的陌生人纷纷前来观赏，惊叹不已，向她致以唯有维纳斯本人的敬意。事实上，维纳斯发现她的祭坛被遗弃了，而男人们却把他们的忠诚转向了这位年轻的处女。当她走过时，人们歌颂她，并向她献上念珠和鲜花。

这种仅仅因为不朽的力量而对凡人的崇高的敬意的曲解，极大地冒犯了真正的维纳斯。她愤怒地摇晃着美丽的头发，大声说道：“难道我的荣誉会被一个凡人女孩黯然失色吗？那个皇家牧羊人的判断得到了朱庇特本人的认可，他徒劳地把美丽的手掌交给了我杰出的竞争对手帕拉斯和朱诺。但她不会这么悄悄地篡夺我的荣誉。我会给她一个理由，让她对如此不法的美人感到悔恨。”

于是，她把她长着翅膀的儿子称为丘比特，他的本性就够调皮的，她的抱怨更加激怒了他。她指着普赛克对他说：“我亲爱的儿子，惩罚那个傲慢的美人吧！给你的母亲报仇，就像她所受的伤害一样甜蜜；向那个傲慢的女孩的心中注入对某个卑鄙、卑鄙、不值得的人的热情，这样她就可以获得与她目前的狂喜和胜利一样大的屈辱。”

丘比特准备听从母亲的命令。维纳斯的花园里有两处喷泉，一处是甜水，另一处是苦水。丘比特装满了两个琥珀花瓶，每个喷泉各一个，然后把它们挂在箭袋的顶部，急忙赶到普赛克的房间，他发现普赛克睡着了。他从苦涩的喷泉里滴了几滴到她的嘴唇上，尽管看到她几乎让他产生了怜悯；然后用他的箭尖碰触她的身边。她一触即醒，睁开眼睛看到了丘比特（他本人是隐形的），这让他大吃一惊，以至于在混乱中他用自己的箭射伤了自己。不顾自己的伤口，他现在的全部心思就是修复他所造成的恶作剧，他把温暖的喜悦滴在她所有的丝绸卷发上。

普赛克从此受到维纳斯的皱眉，她的魅力并没有给她带来任何好处。确实，所有的目光都热切地投向她，每个人的嘴都在赞美她。但国王、皇室青年和平民都没有亲自向她求婚。她的两个姐姐，风度翩翩，早已嫁给了两位王子。但普赛克在她孤独的公寓里，对她的孤独感到悲哀，厌倦了这种美丽，虽然它能带来大量的奉承，但却无法唤醒爱情。

她的父母担心自己无意中触怒了众神，于是向阿波罗神谕求助，得到的答案是：“处女注定是没有凡人情人的新娘。她未来的丈夫在山顶等待着她。他是神与人都无法抗拒的怪物。”

这可怕的神谕让所有人都惊愕不已，她的父母也陷入了悲痛之中。但普赛克说：“为什么，我亲爱的父母，你们现在为我哀伤吗？当人们给予我不应有的荣誉并异口同声地称我为维纳斯时，你应该感到悲伤。我现在意识到我是这个名字的受害者。我提交。带我到那块岩石，我的不幸命运注定了我。”于是，一切准备就绪，宫女就在游行队伍中就位，这更像是一场葬礼，而不是一场婚礼的盛况，她和她的父母在人们的哀悼声中登上了山，在山顶上离开了她独自一人，怀着悲伤的心情回到了家。

当普赛克站在山脊上，因恐惧而气喘吁吁，眼里充满泪水时，温柔的西风将她从地上举起，轻松地将她带入鲜花盛开的山谷。渐渐地，她的心情变得平静了，她躺在草地上睡着了。当她从睡梦中醒来时，神清气爽，她环顾四周，发现附近有一片宜人的高大树木树林。她走进去，发现中间有一座喷泉，喷出清澈见底的水，很快，一座宏伟的宫殿就过去了，它庄严的外观让观者印象深刻，这不是凡人之手的作品，而是某个神的快乐隐居。出于钦佩和惊奇，她走近这座建筑并冒险进入。她遇到的每一个物体都让她感到高兴和惊奇。金色的柱子支撑着拱形的屋顶，墙壁上布满了代表狩猎野兽和乡村场景的雕刻和绘画，以取悦观看者的眼睛。继续往前走，她发现除了国家公寓之外，还有其他地方充满了各种各样的珍宝，以及美丽而珍贵的自然和艺术作品。

就在她目不转睛的时候，一个声音在她看不见的情况下对她说道：“女王陛下，您看到的一切都是您的。您听到的声音的我们是您的仆人，我们将极其谨慎和勤奋地遵守您的所有命令。因此，请回到您的房间并在羽绒床上休息，并在您认为合适时修复浴缸。如果您愿意的话，晚餐就在毗邻的凹室里等着您。”

普赛克听从了她声音侍从的劝告，在休息和洗完澡后，在壁龛里坐下来，那里立即出现了一张桌子，没有任何侍者或仆人的明显帮助，上面摆满了最美味的佳肴。食物和最甜美的葡萄酒。她的耳朵也享受着隐形表演者的音乐盛宴。其中一个人唱歌，另一个人弹琵琶，所有的人都在和谐的合唱中结束。

她还没有见到她命中注定的丈夫。他只在天黑的时候到来，黎明前就逃走了，但他的口音充满了爱，激发了她同样的激情。她经常恳求他留下来让她看看他，但他不同意。相反，他嘱咐她不要试图见他，因为他很高兴，出于最好的理由，保持隐蔽。 “你为什么要见我？”他说; “你对我的爱还有疑问吗？你还有什么愿望没有实现吗？如果你看到我，也许你会害怕我，也许会崇拜我，但我所要求的只是爱我。我宁愿你像平等一样爱我，而不是像神一样崇拜我。”

这个推理让普赛克暂时安静下来，在新鲜感持续的同时，她感到很高兴。但最终，她的父母对她的命运一无所知，而她的姐妹们则无法与她分享她处境中的快乐，这一切都折磨着她的心灵，让她开始觉得她的宫殿只不过是一座华丽的监狱。一天晚上，当她丈夫来的时候，她向他诉说了自己的苦恼，最后他勉强同意带她的姐妹们来看她。

于是，她打电话给西风，告诉他她丈夫的命令，他很快就服从了，很快就带他们翻过山，来到了他们姐妹的山谷。他们拥抱了她，她也回报了他们的爱抚。 “来吧，”普赛克说，“跟我一起进入我的房子，用你姐姐提供的任何东西来恢复活力。”然后，她牵着他们的手，带领他们进入她的金色宫殿，并把他们交给她众多的侍从照顾，让他们在她的浴室和餐桌上恢复活力，并向他们展示她所有的宝藏。看到这些天堂般的喜悦，他们嫉妒不已，因为他们的妹妹拥有如此的地位和辉煌，远远超过了他们自己。

他们问了她无数的问题，其中包括她丈夫是一个什么样的人。普赛克回答说，他是一位美丽的青年，一般白天都在山上打猎。姐妹们对这个答复不满意，很快就让她承认她从未见过他。然后他们开始让她心中充满阴暗的怀疑。 “回想一下，”他们说，“皮提亚神谕宣布你注定要嫁给一个可怕而巨大的怪物。这个山谷的居民说，你的丈夫是一条可怕的巨蛇，他用美味佳肴滋养你一段时间，然后慢慢地吞噬你。听取我们的建议。为自己准备一盏灯和一把锋利的刀；把它们藏起来，以免你的丈夫发现它们，等他睡熟了，就从床上爬起来，拿出你的灯，亲眼看看他们说的是真是假。如果是的话，就毫不犹豫地砍下怪物的头，从而恢复你的自由。”

普赛克尽其所能地抵制这些劝说，但它们并没有对她的思想产生影响，当她的姐妹们离开后，她们的话语和她自己的好奇心对她来说太强烈了，无法抗拒。于是她准备了灯和一把锋利的刀，把它们藏起来，藏在丈夫看不见的地方。当他第一次入睡时，她默默地起身，揭开灯笼，看到的不是一个丑陋的怪物，而是最美丽迷人的众神，金色的卷发飘过雪白的脖颈和绯红的脸颊，翅膀上长着两只露水的翅膀。他的肩膀比雪还白，羽毛闪闪发光，像春天娇嫩的花朵。当她把灯倾斜过来，想更仔细地观察他的脸时，一滴燃烧的油滴在神的肩膀上，他吃了一惊，睁开了眼睛，定定地看着她。然后，他二话不说，张开白色的翅膀，飞出了窗外。普赛克试图追随他，但徒劳无功，从窗户掉到了地上。丘比特看到她倒在尘土里，顿时停下了脚步，说道：“愚蠢的普赛克啊，你就这样报答我的爱吗？违背我母亲的命令，娶你为妻，你会认为我是怪物，砍下我的头吗？但是去吧；回到你的姐妹们那里，你似乎认为她们的建议比我的更好。除了永远离开你之外，我不会对你施加任何其他惩罚。爱不能与怀疑共存。”说完，他就逃走了，留下可怜的普赛克跪倒在地，满地都是悲痛的哀号。

当她恢复了一定程度的镇静后，她环顾四周，但宫殿和花园都消失了，她发现自己身处距离她姐妹居住的城市不远的空旷的田野上。她回到那里，向他们讲述了她的不幸经历，那些恶毒的生物假装悲伤，内心却感到高兴。 “现在，”他们说，“他也许会选择我们中的一个。”有了这个想法，没有说出她的意图，第二天一早，他们每个人都起身登上了山，到达山顶后，请求西风接待她并将她带到他的主人那里；然后跳了起来，但没有被西风支撑，掉下悬崖，摔得粉身碎骨。

与此同时，普赛克日夜徘徊，没有食物，没有休息，寻找她的丈夫。她望着一座高山，山头上有一座宏伟的寺庙，她叹了口气，自言自语道：“也许我的爱人，大人就住在那里。”然后迈着脚步向那里走去。

她一进去就看到成堆的玉米，有的玉米穗松散，有的成捆，还混杂着大麦穗。镰刀、耙子以及所有收割的工具散落一地，没有秩序，仿佛在一天中闷热的时刻，被不经意地从疲惫的收割者手中扔了出来。

虔诚的普赛克结束了这种不合时宜的混乱，她将一切事物分开并分类到适当的位置和种类，她相信她不应该忽视任何一位神，而是努力以她的虔诚让他们都为她服务。神圣的谷神星，其神庙，发现她如此虔诚地工作，于是对她说道：“普赛克啊，确实值得我们怜悯，虽然我不能保护你免受维纳斯的皱眉，但我可以教你如何最好地缓解她的不悦。那么，去吧，自愿臣服于你的夫人和君主，并尝试以谦虚和顺服赢得她的原谅，也许她的恩惠会让你找回你失去的丈夫。”

普赛克听从了谷神星的命令，前往维纳斯神庙，努力强化自己的思想，思考自己应该说些什么，以及如何最好地安抚愤怒的女神，她觉得这个问题是可疑的，也许是致命的。

维纳斯一脸愤怒地接待了她。 “最不尽职、最不忠诚的仆人，”她说，“你终于记得你真的有一个情妇了吗？或者你更愿意来看望你生病的丈夫，他的伤口还没有被他深爱的妻子所伤？你是如此的不受欢迎和令人讨厌，以至于你唯一能配得上你的爱人的方法就是勤奋和勤奋。我要考验你的家庭主妇能力。”然后她命令普赛克被带到她神庙的仓库，那里存放着大量的小麦、大麦、小米、野豌豆、豆类和扁豆，为她的鸽子准备食物，她说：“把所有这些都拿走并分开。”谷物，把所有同类的都单独装在一个包裹里，确保晚上之前完成。”然后维纳斯离开了，把她的任务留给了她。

但普赛克对这巨大的工程感到惊愕，呆呆地坐着，一言不发，一根手指也没有动过那堆无法摆脱的东西。

当她绝望地坐着时，丘比特激起了田野里土生土长的小蚂蚁来同情她。蚁丘的首领，在他的一大群六足臣民的跟随下，走近了那堆蚂蚁，他们以最大的勤奋，一粒一粒地把蚂蚁堆分开，把每一类都分门别类。当这一切完成后，他们立刻就消失在视线之外了。

黄昏时分，维纳斯从众神的宴会中归来，呼吸着芬芳，戴着玫瑰花冠。看到任务完成后，她惊呼道：“这不是你这个恶人的工作，而是他的工作，你引诱他走向你自己和他的不幸。”说着，扔给她一块黑面包当晚饭，就走了。

第二天早上，维纳斯命人叫来普赛克，对她说：“看那边，那片树林沿着水边延伸。在那里，您会看到绵羊在没有牧羊人的情况下进食，它们背上的羊毛闪闪发光。去，给我取一份从他们每一块羊毛中采集来的珍贵羊毛的样品。”

普赛克乖乖地走到河边，准备全力执行命令。但河神用和谐的低语激励芦苇，这似乎在说：“姑娘啊，经过严格的考验，不要引诱危险的洪水，也不要冒险进入对岸可怕的公羊，因为只要它们受到洪水的影响，当太阳升起时，它们会燃烧着残酷的愤怒，用锋利的角或粗鲁的牙齿毁灭凡人。但当正午的太阳把牛群赶到阴凉处，平静的洪水使它们平静下来休息时，你就可以安全地过去了，你会发现金色的羊毛粘在灌木丛和树干上。 ”。

因此，慈悲的河神给普赛克指示了如何完成她的任务，按照他的指示，她很快就带着满怀金羊毛回到了维纳斯。但她并没有得到她那无情的女主人的认可，女主人说：“我很清楚，你完成这项任务并不是靠你自己的努力，而且我还不满意你有能力让自己变得有用。” 。但我还有另一项任务要交给你。在这里，拿着这个盒子，走向地狱般的阴影，把这个盒子交给普罗瑟平娜，说：“我的情妇维纳斯希望你送她一点你的美丽，因为在照顾她生病的儿子时，她失去了一些她的美丽。”自己的。'你的差事不要太久，因为今晚我必须用它来画自己，才能出现在众神们的圈子里。”

普赛克现在对自己的毁灭即将到来感到满意，她不得不亲自前往埃里伯斯。所以，为了不耽误那些不能避免的事情，她就爬上一座高塔的顶部，一头扎进去，以最短的方式下降到下面的树荫下。但塔楼里传来一个声音对她说：“为什么，可怜的不幸的女孩，你打算以如此可怕的方式结束你的生命吗？什么样的怯懦让你在这最后的危险中沉沦，而你在过去的一切中都得到了如此奇迹般的支持？然后那个声音告诉她如何通过某个洞穴到达冥王星的国度，以及如何避开路上的所有危险，经过三头狗刻耳柏洛斯，并说服摆渡人卡戎，夺取冥王星的王国。她渡过黑河，再把她带回来。但那声音补充道：“当普罗瑟芬给了你这个装满她美丽的盒子时，你首先要注意的是，你永远不要打开或看盒子，也不要让你的好奇心去窥探盒子里的宝藏。”女神们的美丽。”

普赛克受到这个建议的鼓舞，在一切事情上都服从了它，并且注意自己的道路，安全地到达了冥王星王国。她被允许进入普罗瑟平宫，没有接受为她提供的精致座位或美味宴会，而是满足于粗面包作为食物，她传递了来自维纳斯的信息。不久，盒子又归还给她，关上，里面装满了珍贵的商品。然后她又原路返回，很高兴再次出现在阳光下。

但在成功完成了这项危险的任务后，她突然产生了一种渴望检查盒子里的东西的欲望。 “什么，”她说，“我作为这种神圣美丽的载体，难道不应该在我的脸颊上涂上一点点，以便在我心爱的丈夫眼中显得更有利吗？”于是她小心翼翼地打开盒子，却发现里面没有任何美丽的东西，只有一种地狱般的、真正的斯泰吉亚式的睡眠，这种睡眠就这样从监狱中释放出来，占据了她，她倒在了路中间，一具昏昏欲睡的尸体，没有知觉或动作。

丘比特的伤已经痊愈，再也无法忍受心爱的普赛克的缺席，他从房间窗户的最小缝隙中溜了进去，飞到普赛克躺着的地方，收起身体的睡意，将其重新关进盒子里，并用一支箭轻轻一碰唤醒了普赛克。 “你又因为同样的好奇心差点丧命了吗？”他说道。不过现在你就好好完成我母亲交给你的任务吧，剩下的事情我来处理。”

然后，丘比特像闪电一样迅速地穿透天空，来到了朱庇特面前，表达了他的恳求。朱庇特侧耳倾听，并真诚地向维纳斯恳求这对恋人的理由，赢得了她的同意。为此，他派墨丘利把普赛克带到天上，当她到达时，他递给她一杯圣水，说道：“普赛克，喝了这个，你就会永生；因为，普赛克，喝了这个，你就会永生。”丘比特也永远不会挣脱他所系的结，但这些婚礼将是永恒的。”

就这样，普赛克最终与丘比特结合在一起，并在适当的时候生下了一个女儿，名叫快乐。

丘比特和普赛克的寓言通常被认为是寓言。蝴蝶的希腊语名字是“Psyche”，同一个词的意思是“灵魂”。没有任何例子能像蝴蝶那样引人注目和美丽地说明灵魂的不朽，在经历了沉闷、卑躬屈膝的毛毛虫生活之后，蝴蝶从它所在的坟墓中绽放出灿烂的翅膀，在白昼的火焰中振翅飞翔，以食物为食。春天最芬芳、最精致的产物。那么，心灵就是人类的灵魂，它经过痛苦和不幸而得到净化，从而为享受真正和纯粹的幸福做好了准备。

在艺术作品中，普赛克被描绘成一个长着蝴蝶翅膀的少女，与丘比特一起，在寓言中描述的不同情况下。

弥尔顿在他的《Comus》的结论中提到了丘比特和普赛克的故事：

“天上的丘比特，她著名的儿子，前进了，
让他亲爱的普赛克心醉神迷，
经过她漫长的流浪劳作之后，
直到众神自由同意
让她成为他永远的新娘；
从她美丽无暇的一面
两对幸福的双胞胎即将诞生，
青春与欢乐；朱庇特已发誓。”

TK Harvey 优美的诗句很好地诠释了丘比特和普赛克的故事寓言：

“他们在过去编织了明亮的寓言，
当理性借用幻想的彩绘翅膀；
当真理清澈的河流流过金沙时，
并用歌曲讲述了它崇高而神秘的事情！
她的故事就是这样甜蜜而庄严
朝圣者的心，被赋予了梦想，
这引导她走遍世界，——爱的崇拜者，——
在地上寻找他的家是天堂！

“在整个城市里，——在闹鬼的喷泉边——
透过昏暗的石窟的圆石图案，——
“松庙之中，月光山上，
静静地坐在那儿聆听星星的声音；
在栖息着孵卵的鸽子的深处林间空地，
色彩缤纷的山谷，芬芳的空气，
她听到远处传来爱的声音的回声，
到处都发现了他的足迹。

“但由于怀疑和恐惧，他们再也没有见面，
那些出没于大地并毁坏大地的幻影，
她是罪孽与泪水的孩子，
还有那不朽诞生的光明精神；
直到她憔悴的灵魂和哭泣的双眼
学会了只在天空中寻找他；
直到给疲惫的心插上翅膀，
她成了爱的天堂天使新娘！”

丘比特和普赛克的故事最早出现在
阿普列乌斯，我们这个时代第二世纪的作家。这是
因此，它的年代比大多数传说要近得多
寓言时代。济慈在他的《颂歌》中提到的正是这一点。
精神”：

“哦，最新诞生和最可爱的愿景
奥林巴斯褪色的等级制度！
比菲比的蓝宝石区域星还要美丽
或者是晚霞，天空中多情的萤火虫；
比这些更美丽，尽管你没有寺庙，
祭坛上也没有堆满鲜花；
也不是处女合唱团发出美味的呻吟
午夜时分；
没有声音，没有琵琶，没有管子，没有香甜，
来自挤满链条的审查员；
没有神殿，没有树林，没有神谕，没有暖气
口白先知的梦想。”

在摩尔的《夏日盛宴》中，描述了一场奇特的舞会，其中扮演的角色之一是普赛克——

“……今晚没有黑暗伪装
我们年轻的女主人公是否遮住了她的光芒；——
看吧，她行走在爱的大地上。
他的新娘，以最神圣的誓言
在奥林匹斯山许下誓言并广为人知
对于现在的凡人来说
挂在她雪白的额头上。
那只蝴蝶，神秘的小饰品，
这意味着灵魂，（尽管很少有人会这么认为，）
眉毛如此洁白，闪闪发光
告诉我们普赛克今晚就在这里。”

朱庇特化身公牛，掳走了腓尼基国王阿革诺耳的女儿欧罗巴。阿革诺尔命令他的儿子卡德摩斯去寻找他的妹妹，并且不要在没有她的情况下返回。卡德摩斯走了很远的路，寻找他的妹妹，却找不到她，不敢无功而返，于是向阿波罗的神谕询问他应该在哪个国家定居。神谕告诉他，他应该在天上找到一头牛。无论她走到哪里，都应该跟随她，在她停下来的地方，应该建造一座城市，称之为底比斯。卡德摩斯刚离开传达神谕的卡斯塔利亚洞穴，就看到一头小母牛在他面前缓缓走来。他紧跟着她，同时向菲比斯祈祷。母牛继续前行，直到穿过了塞菲索斯的浅水道，来到了帕诺普平原。她一动不动地站在那里，将宽阔的前额举向天空，空气中充满了她的低低叫声。卡德摩斯道了谢，弯下腰亲吻了异国的土地，然后抬起眼睛，向周围的群山致意。他想向朱庇特献祭，就派他的仆人去寻找纯净的水来奠酒。附近有一片古老的树林，从未被斧头亵渎过，树林中间有一个洞穴，长满了茂密的灌木丛，屋顶形成一个低矮的拱形，从下面喷出一股纯净的泉水。 。山洞里潜藏着一条可怕的巨蛇，它的头长着凤头，鳞片闪闪发光，像金子一样。他的双眼闪烁着火光，身体因毒液而肿胀，颤动着三重舌头，露出三排牙齿。提尔人刚把水罐浸入喷泉里，涌出的水发出声音，那条闪闪发光的巨蛇就从洞里抬起头，发出可怕的嘶嘶声。血管从他们的手上掉落，血色从他们的脸颊上流走，他们的四肢都在颤抖。这条蛇将自己鳞状的身体扭成一个巨大的线圈，抬起头，以便越过最高的树，而泰尔人因恐惧而既不能战斗也不能飞行，但用它的尖牙杀死了一些人，用它的褶皱杀死了一些人，用它的爪子杀死了其他人。有毒的气息。

卡德摩斯一直等到他的部下回来，直到中午才出去寻找他们。他的外衣是狮子皮，除了标枪之外，他手里还拿着一根长矛，胸中还有一颗勇敢的心，比任何一个人都更可靠。当他进入树林，看到他的部下毫无生气的尸体，以及张着血盆大口的怪物时，他惊呼道：“忠实的朋友们，我将为你们报仇，或者与你们同归于尽。”说着，他举起一块大石头，用尽全身力气，向那条蛇扔去。这样的阻挡足以撼动堡垒的城墙，但对怪物却没有任何影响。卡德摩斯接下来扔出了他的标枪，这次标枪取得了更大的成功，因为它刺穿了蛇的鳞片，并刺穿了他的内脏。怪物疼痛难忍，回头查看伤口，试图用嘴拔出武器，但把它折断了，留下铁尖在他的肉里发痛。他的脖子因愤怒而肿胀，血沫覆盖了他的下巴，他鼻孔的呼吸毒害了周围的空气。现在他把自己扭成一个圈，然后像一棵倒下的树干一样伸展在地上。当他继续前进时，卡德摩斯在他面前后退，拿着长矛对着怪物张开的下巴。蛇猛地咬住武器并试图咬住它的铁尖。最后，卡德摩斯抓住了机会，在动物向后仰的头撞到树干的瞬间，将长矛刺了过去，成功地将他钉在了树干上。当他在死亡的痛苦中挣扎时，他的体重压弯了树。

当卡德摩斯站在他被征服的敌人旁边，凝视着它巨大的体型时，听到了一个声音（他不知道从哪里来，但他清楚地听到了）命令他取出龙牙并将它们播种在地上。他服从了。他在地上挖了一道沟，种下了牙齿，注定会产生一批人类。他刚这么做，土块就开始移动，长矛的尖端出现在地表之上。接下来是带有点头羽毛的头盔，接下来是拿着武器的男人的肩膀、胸部和四肢，最后是武装战士的收获。卡德摩斯惊慌失措，准备遭遇新的敌人，但其中一个敌人对他说：“不要插手我们的内战。”说完这句话，他用剑击中了他在地球上出生的一位兄弟，而他自己也被另一个人的箭射穿了。后者成为第四个的受害者，整个人群以同样的方式互相对付，直到所有人都倒下，互相受伤，除了五个幸存者。其中一个扔掉了武器，说道：“兄弟们，让我们和平相处吧！”这五个人与卡德摩斯一起建造了他的城市，并将其命名为底比斯。

卡德摩斯娶了维纳斯的女儿哈摩尼亚为妻。诸神离开奥林匹斯山来纪念这一时刻，伏尔甘向新娘赠送了一条他亲手制作的极其闪亮的项链。但由于卡德摩斯杀死了火星上的圣蛇，他的家人面临着灭顶之灾。他的女儿塞墨勒和伊诺，以及他的孙子阿克泰翁和彭修斯，都不幸死去，而卡德摩斯和哈摩尼亚则离开了现在令他们厌恶的底比斯，移居到恩基利安人的国家，安基利安人以荣誉接待了他们，并让卡德摩斯成为他们的祖国。国王。但孩子们的不幸仍然困扰着他们。有一天，卡德摩斯惊呼道：“如果众神如此珍惜一条蛇的生命，我宁愿自己就是一条蛇。”话音刚落，他的身形就开始变化。哈摩尼亚看到了这一幕，并向众神祈祷让她分享他的命运。两人都变成了蛇。它们生活在树林里，但牢记自己的起源，既不回避人类的存在，也不伤害任何人。

有一个传统，卡德摩斯将腓尼基人发明的字母引入希腊。拜伦在对现代希腊人讲话时提到了这一点：

“你有卡德摩斯给你的信，
你认为他是为了让他们成为奴隶吗？”

弥尔顿在描述引诱夏娃的蛇时，想起了古典故事中的蛇，他说道：

……“——他的身材令人赏心悦目，
从此蛇类就不再可爱
更可爱；不是伊利里亚改变的那些
赫敏和卡德摩斯，也不是神
在埃皮达鲁斯”

有关最后一个典故的解释，请参阅 Oracle of
埃斯库拉皮乌斯，p。 298.

米尔米顿人

Myrmidons 是特洛伊战争中阿喀琉斯的士兵。直到今天，他们中所有政治领袖的热心而肆无忌惮的追随者都被称为这个名字。但米尔米顿人的起源并不会给人一种凶猛、血腥的种族的印象，而是一种勤劳而和平的种族。

雅典国王克法罗斯来到埃伊纳岛，寻求老朋友兼盟友埃阿科斯国王的帮助，以对抗克里特岛国王米诺斯。 克法洛斯受到了最热情的接待，并欣然答应了所需的援助。 “我有足够的人手，”埃科斯说，“可以保护我自己，也可以为你提供所需的力量。” “我很高兴看到这一点，”克法勒斯回答道，“我承认，我很惊讶地发现我周围有这么多年轻人，而且年龄都差不多。 然而，有很多我以前认识的人，现在却徒劳无功。 他们怎么样了？埃科斯呻吟着，用悲伤的声音回答道：“我一直想告诉你，现在我会毫不拖延地告诉你，让你看看如何从最悲伤的开始走向幸福的结果。 那些你曾经认识的人，如今都已化为尘土！ 愤怒的朱诺带来的瘟疫摧毁了这片土地。 她讨厌它，因为它上面有她丈夫最喜欢的一位女性的名字。 虽然这种疾病似乎是由自然原因引起的，但我们尽最大努力通过自然疗法抵抗了它。但很快就发现瘟疫对我们的努力来说太强大了，我们屈服了。 一开始，天空似乎降临在大地上，厚厚的云层封闭在炎热的空气中。 致命的南风持续了四个月。 这场混乱影响了水井和泉水；数以千计的蛇在这片土地上爬行，并在喷泉中释放毒液。 疾病的力量首先作用于低等动物——狗、牛、羊和鸟。不幸的农夫惊奇地看到他的牛在工作中倒下，无助地躺在未完成的犁沟里。 羊毛从咩咩叫的羊身上掉下来，它们的身体也日渐消瘦。 这匹曾经在比赛中名列前茅的马不再争夺棕榈树，而是在马厩里呻吟着，不光彩地死去。 野猪忘记了他的愤怒，雄鹿忘记了他的敏捷，熊不再攻击牛群。 一切都黯然失色；道路、田野和树林里都躺着尸体。空气被它们毒害了，我告诉你这几乎不可信，但狗、鸟和饥饿的狼都不会碰它们。 它们的腐烂传播了感染。 接下来，疾病袭击了乡村居民，然后是城市居民。 起初脸颊通红，呼吸困难。 舌头变得粗糙肿胀，口干舌燥，血管张开，喘息着。 男人们无法忍受衣服或床铺的炎热，而宁愿躺在光秃秃的地面上。地面并没有给他们降温，相反，他们躺着的地方却变热了。 医生也无法提供帮助，因为疾病也袭击了他们，而病人的接触又使他们受到感染，因此最忠实的人成为第一批受害者。 最后，所有解脱的希望都消失了，人们学会了将死亡视为摆脱疾病的唯一拯救者。 然后他们就随心所欲，不问什么是有利的，因为没有什么是有利的。 他们抛开了所有的束缚，聚集在水井和喷泉周围，喝到死，却没有解渴。 许多人没有力气离开水，就死在溪水里，而其他人却喝了水。 他们对病床感到如此厌倦，以至于有些人会爬出来，如果没有足够的力量站立，就会死在地上。 他们似乎憎恨他们的朋友，离家出走，仿佛不知道自己的病因，而把病归咎于他们的住处。

“在这一切过程中，我还剩下什么心，或者我应该拥有什么，除了憎恨生活并希望与我死去的臣民在一起？我的人民四散分布在四面八方，就像树下熟透的苹果，或者暴风雨摇晃的橡树下的橡子。你看到那边高处有一座寺庙。它对木星来说是神圣的。哦，有多少人在那里献上祈祷，丈夫为妻子，父亲为儿子，却在祈求的过程中死去！有多少次，当牧师准备献祭时，受害者还没等受到打击就倒下了，被疾病击倒了！最终，对神圣事物的所有敬畏都消失了。尸体未经掩埋就被扔掉，葬礼堆上缺乏木材，人们为了争夺它们而互相争斗。最后，没有人再哀悼了；儿子和丈夫，老人和青年，都毫无悲痛地死去。

“站在祭坛前，我举目望天。 “朱庇特啊，”我说，“如果你确实是我的父亲，并且不为你的后代感到羞耻，请将我的人民归还给我，或者把我也带走！”此言一出，顿时炸雷响起。 “我接受这个预兆，”我喊道。 “哦，但愿这是对我有利的表现！”偶然间，我站的地方长出了一棵枝条宽阔的橡树，它是朱庇特的圣物。我观察到一群蚂蚁正忙着干活，它们嘴里叼着细小的谷物，在树干上排成一排。我钦佩地观察着他们的人数，说道：“父亲啊，请给我这么多的公民，来补充我空荡荡的城市。”树摇晃起来，树枝发出沙沙的声音，但没有风吹动它们。我的四肢都在颤抖，但我仍亲吻着大地和树木。我不会向自己承认我希望，但我确实希望。夜幕降临，睡意占据了我因忧虑而压抑的身体。在我的梦中，那棵树矗立在我的面前，无数的树枝上爬满了活生生的活物。它似乎摇动着四肢，把一大群勤劳的采粮动物扔到了地上，它们的体型似乎越来越大，越来越大，渐渐地站直了，把多余的腿和它们的腿放在一边。黑色，最后呈现出人形。然后我醒了，我的第一个冲动就是责骂众神，他们夺走了我的美好愿景，也没有给我现实。还在寺庙里的时候，我的注意力就被外面的许多声音吸引了。我的耳朵里有一种近来不寻常的声音。当我开始以为自己还在做梦时，我的儿子特拉蒙打开了寺庙的大门，大声喊道：“父亲，走近吧，看看事情超出了您的希望！”我走了出去；我看到一大群人，就像我在梦中看到的那样，他们以同样的方式列队经过。当我惊奇而高兴地注视着他们时，他们走近并跪下，欢呼我为他们的国王。我向朱庇特许下誓言，然后将空置的城市分配给新生的种族，并在他们中间分配土地，我称他们为Myrmidons，来自他们的起源蚂蚁（myrmex）。你见过这些人；他们的性格与以前的性格相似。他们是一个勤奋、勤奋的种族，渴望获得利益，并且对自己的收获有着顽强的毅力。您可以在其中招募您的部队。他们将跟随你奔赴战场，虽然年纪轻轻，但内心勇敢。”奥维德对这场瘟疫的描述是从希腊历史学家修昔底德对雅典瘟疫的描述中抄袭而来的。历史学家取材于生活，自他那个时代以来所有的诗人和小说家，当他们有机会描述类似的场景时，都借用了他的细节。

尼苏斯和斯库拉

克里特岛国王米诺斯向麦加拉发动战争。尼苏斯是麦加拉国王，斯库拉是他的女儿。围困现在已经持续了六个月，而这座城市仍然坚守着，因为命运注定，只要尼苏斯国王头上有一缕在头发中闪闪发光的紫色发绺，围困就不会被攻克。城墙上有一座塔楼，俯瞰着米诺斯和他的军队扎营的平原。斯库拉曾经在这座塔楼上修理过，并眺望敌军的帐篷。围困持续了太久，她已经学会了辨别领导人的身份。尤其是米诺斯，更令她钦佩。戴着他的头盔，拿着他的盾牌，她欣赏他优雅的举止。如果他投掷标枪，他的技巧似乎与发射时的力量结合在一起；如果阿波罗亲自拉弓，那也是再优雅不过了。但当他放下头盔，穿着紫色长袍骑在他那匹穿着华丽服饰的白马上，勒住它冒着白沫的嘴时，尼苏斯的女儿就很难成为自己的情妇了；她钦佩得近乎疯狂。她羡慕他握着的武器，握着的缰绳。她觉得如果可能的话，她似乎可以穿过敌对的队伍去找他；她有一种冲动，想从塔上跳下来，跳到他的营地中间，或者为他打开大门，或者做任何其他事情，这样才能让米诺斯满意。当她坐在城楼上时，她自言自语道：“对于这场悲伤的战争，我不知道该庆幸还是悲伤。我为米诺斯是我们的敌人而感到悲伤；但我对任何让他出现在我面前的原因感到高兴。也许他愿意给予我们和平，并接受我作为人质。如果可以的话，我会飞下来，降落在他的营地，告诉他我们屈服于他的仁慈。但后来却背叛了我的父亲！不！我宁愿再也见不到米诺斯了。但毫无疑问，对于一座城市来说，有时被征服是最好的事情，如果征服者是宽容而慷慨的。米诺斯当然有权利站在他一边。我想我们会被征服；如果这一定是事情的结局，为什么爱不应该为他打开大门，而不是让战争来完成呢？如果可以的话，最好不要拖延和屠杀。噢，如果有人伤害或杀死米诺斯！肯定没有人愿意这么做；然而，人们可能会无知地、不认识他。我会，我会以我的国家作为嫁妆，向他投降，从而结束战争。但如何呢？大门有人把守，钥匙由我父亲保管；他只是挡我的路。哦，但愿众神能把他带走！但为什么要请大神这么做呢？另一位像我一样充满爱心的女人会用自己的双手清除任何阻碍她爱的东西。还有其他女人能比我更敢吗？为了达到目的，我会遭遇火与剑；但这里不需要火与剑。我只需要我父亲的紫色锁。对我来说比金子还珍贵，它会给我我想要的一切。”

正当她这样推理的时候，夜幕降临了，很快整个宫殿就陷入了沉睡之中。她进入父亲的卧室，剪掉了致命的锁。然后出城，进入敌营。她要求被带到国王面前，并对他说道：“我是斯库拉，尼苏斯的女儿。我把我的国家和我父亲的房子交给你。我不求回报，只求你自己；为了爱你我已经这么做了。看到这里紫色的锁！我以此将我的父亲和他的王国交给你。”她伸出手，手里拿着致命的战利品。米诺斯退缩了，拒绝碰触它。 “众神毁灭你，臭名昭著的女人，”他喊道。 “我们这个时代的耻辱！愿大地和海洋都不给你安息之所！当然，我的克里特岛，朱庇特本人的摇篮，不会被这样的怪物污染！”他如此说道，并下令对被征服的城市给予公平的待遇，并要求舰队立即离开该岛。

斯库拉抓狂了。 “忘恩负义的人，”她喊道，“你就这样离开了我吗？——我给了你胜利，——我为你的父母和国家做出了牺牲！我有罪，我承认，我该死，但不是死在你手上。”当船只离开海岸时，她跳入水中，抓住了载着米诺斯的那艘船的舵，她被带到了他们的航程中一个不受欢迎的同伴。一只海鹰在高空飞翔——那是她的父亲变成了那个样子——看到了她，猛地扑向她，用喙和爪子攻击她。她惊恐地松开了船，差点掉进水里，但怜悯的神灵把她变成了一只鸟。海鹰仍怀有旧日的仇恨；每当他在高空飞行中看到她时，你都会看到他用喙和爪子冲向她，为古老的罪行报仇。

回声与水仙

艾科是一位美丽的仙女，喜欢树林和山丘，她致力于林地运动。她是戴安娜王妃的最爱，并参与了她的追逐。但艾科有一个缺点：她很爱说话，无论是聊天还是争论，她都有最后的发言权。有一天，朱诺正在寻找她的丈夫，她有理由担心他正在仙女中取乐。回声用她的谈话设法拘留了女神，直到仙女们逃走。当朱诺发现这一点时，她对艾科下了这样的判决：“你将失去欺骗我的舌头的使用权，除非你如此喜欢的一个目的——答复。你仍有最后的发言权，但无权先发言。”

当这位仙女在山上追逐时，看到了美丽的青年纳西索斯。她爱他，也追随他的脚步。哦，她多么渴望用最柔和的口音跟他说话，赢得他的交谈！但这不在她的权力范围内。她不耐烦地等着他先开口，并准备好答案。有一天，少年与同伴走散，大声喊道：“谁在这里？” Echo回答说：“这里。”纳西瑟斯环顾四周，却没有人喊道：“来吧。”艾可回答说：“来吧。”没人来，那喀索斯又喊道：“你为什么躲着我？” Echo也问了同样的问题。 “我们一起吧。”年轻人说道。女仆全心全意地回答了同样的话，然后赶紧赶到现场，准备伸手搂住他的脖子。他向后退了一步，大喊道：“放手！我宁愿死也不让你拥有我！” “有我吧，”她说。但这一切都是徒劳的。他离开了她，她则躲进树林深处，掩饰自己的脸红。从那时起，她就住在山洞和山崖之中。她的形体因悲伤而消逝，最后她的肉体都萎缩了。她的骨头变成了岩石，除了她的声音之外什么也没有留下。话虽如此，她仍然准备好回复任何给她打电话的人，并保持她说了算的老习惯。

纳西瑟斯的残忍行为并不是唯一的例子。他避开了所有其他的仙女，就像他避开可怜的艾科一样。有一天，一位想吸引他却没有成功的少女向他祈祷，希望他有一天能体会到什么是爱却得不到回报。复仇女神听到并应允了这个祈祷。

那里有一口清澈的泉水，泉水如银，牧羊人从来没有把羊群赶到那里，山羊也没有到那里去，森林里的任何野兽也没有到那里去。它也没有被落叶或树枝损坏；但它周围的草长得很新鲜，岩石也为它遮蔽了阳光。有一天，年轻人来到这里，打猎疲惫不堪，又热又渴。他弯下腰​​去喝水，看见水中有自己的影子。他认为喷泉里住着一些美丽的水精灵。他站在那里，钦佩地凝视着那双明亮的眼睛，那些像酒神或阿波罗一样卷曲的头发，圆润的脸颊，象牙色的脖子，张开的嘴唇，以及浑身散发出的健康和锻炼的光芒。他爱上了自己。他凑近嘴唇想要吻一下；他伸出双臂拥抱心爱的物体。它一碰就逃走了，但过了一会儿又回来了，并重新焕发了魅力。他无法把自己挣脱；当他盘旋在喷泉边凝视着自己的影像时，他完全忘记了食物或休息。他与所谓的灵魂交谈：“为什么，美丽的存在，你回避我吗？我的脸肯定不会令你厌恶。仙女们爱我，而你自己对我也并非漠不关心。当我伸出双臂时，你也这样做；你对我微笑，并用类似的方式回应我的召唤。”他的泪水落入水中，扰乱了形象。当他看到它离开时，他喊道：“留下来，我求你了！如果我不能碰你，至少让我看着你。”有了这个，以及更多类似的事情，他珍惜吞噬他的火焰，因此他逐渐失去了他的色彩，他的活力，以及以前让仙女艾科如此着迷的美丽。然而，她一直靠近他，当他惊呼：“唉！唉！”她也用同样的话回答了他。他日渐憔悴而死。当他的影子经过斯泰吉亚河时，它靠在船上，在水中看了看自己。仙女们为他哀悼，尤其是水仙女们。当他们击打自己的乳房时，艾科也击打了她的乳房。他们准备了一个葬礼堆，本来想把尸体烧掉，但却无处可寻。但取而代之的是一朵花，里面是紫色的，周围是白色的叶子，它带有纳西索斯的名字并保存着对纳西索斯的记忆。

弥尔顿在《Comus》中的女士之歌中提到了艾科和纳西索斯的故事。她在森林里寻找她的兄弟，并唱歌来吸引他们的注意：

“甜蜜的回声，最甜蜜的仙女，那是看不见的生命
在你的空壳里
沿着缓慢蜿蜒的碧绿，
在紫罗兰色的山谷里，
失恋的夜莺在那里
每晚，她悲伤的歌声都为你哀悼；
难道你不能告诉我一对温柔的人吗
那最像你的水仙吗？
哦，如果你有
把它们藏在某个开满鲜花的洞穴里，
告诉我但在哪里，
甜蜜的议会女王，球体的女儿，
所以愿你被转移到天空，
并为天堂的一切和谐带来响亮的恩典。”

弥尔顿在描述夏娃第一次看到喷泉中倒映的自己时，模仿了纳西索斯的故事：

“那天我常常记得当我从睡梦中
我第一次醒来，发现自己已经休息了
花荫下，寻思何处
我是什么，从哪里带来的，以及如何带来的。
不远处传来一阵呢喃的声音
水从洞穴中流出并蔓延
进入一片液态平原，然后一动不动地站着
清净如天；我去了那里
带着不成熟的想法，让我躺下
在绿色的岸边，眺望清澈的
平静的湖水对我来说就像是另一片天空。
当我弯下腰看去时，就在对面
水光之中出现了一个形状，
弯腰看着我。我开始往回走；
它又开始了；但很高兴我很快就回来了，
很高兴它很快就带着回应的表情回来了
出于同情和爱。我已经修好了
我的眼睛至今仍渴望着虚无的欲望，
难道没有一个声音这样警告我：“你所看到的，
你所看到的，美丽的生物，就是你自己；’”等等。

——《失乐园》，第四册。

没有哪一个古代寓言比纳西索斯的寓言更常被诗人提及。这里有两句警句，它们以不同的方式处理它。第一个是戈德史密斯的：

《论美丽的青春，被闪电击瞎》

“当然是普罗维登斯设计的，
与其说是恨，不如说是怜悯
他应该像丘比特一样失明，
把他从纳西索斯的命运中拯救出来。”

另一个是考珀的：

“关于一个丑陋的家伙

“小心，我的朋友，水晶溪
或者喷泉，以免那个可怕的钩子，
你的鼻子，你有机会看到；
那喀索斯的命运就属于你了，
你会因为自我厌恶而感到松懈，
就如他那样自恋。”

克莱蒂

克莱蒂是一位水仙女，她爱上了阿波罗，但阿波罗却让她一去不复返。于是她日渐憔悴，整天坐在冰冷的地上，散开的长发披在肩上。她坐了九天，既没有吃东西，也没有喝水，她自己的眼泪和冰冷的露水是她唯一的食物。当太阳升起时，她注视着太阳，当他走过每日的路线直至落下时；她注视着太阳。她没有看到其他物体，她的脸不断地转向他。他们说，最后，她的四肢扎根于大地，她的脸变成了一朵花[12]向日葵。 它转动其茎，以便在其日常行程中始终面向太阳；因为它在某种程度上保留了它所起源的若虫的感觉。

胡德在他的《鲜花》中这样提到了克莱蒂：

“我不会有疯狂的克莱蒂，
谁的头被太阳转动；
郁金香是宫廷女王，
因此我会避开他；
黄花九轮草是一个乡下姑娘，
紫罗兰是一位修女；——
但我会追求娇嫩的玫瑰，
每个人中的女王。”

向日葵是人们最喜爱的坚贞象征。因此摩尔使用它：

“真正爱过的心永远不会忘记，
但真正爱到最后；
当向日葵落下时，向日葵转向她的神
当他站起来时，她的表情也一样。”

英雄与利安德

利安德是阿比多斯的年轻人，阿比多斯是亚洲和欧洲海峡亚洲一侧的一个小镇。在对岸的塞斯托斯镇，住着少女英雄，维纳斯的女祭司。利安德爱她，每晚都会在情妇的陪伴下游过海峡，并在情妇为此目的在塔上举起的火炬的引导下。但有一天晚上，一场暴风雨袭来，海面波涛汹涌。他的力气耗尽了，他被淹死了。海浪将他的尸体带到了欧洲海岸，希罗在那里意识到自己的死亡，在绝望中从塔上跳入大海而死。

以下十四行诗是济慈的：

“关于利安德的照片

“所有可爱的少女清醒地来到这里，
低头看着，带着柔和的光芒
藏在你白色的眼睑边缘，
温顺地让你白皙的双手合在一起
仿佛温柔到你看不见，
未受影响，你明亮美丽的受害者，
沉入他年轻灵魂的夜晚，
在沉闷的大海中迷惑地沉没。
年轻的利安德正在辛苦劳作直至死去
他几乎要昏厥了，他撅起疲惫的嘴唇
为了英雄的脸颊，为了她的微笑而微笑
哦，可怕的梦！看看他的身体如何下降
死重；手臂和肩膀闪闪发光；
他走了;充满了他所有的风情气息！”

利安德畅游赫勒斯滂海峡的故事被认为是神话般的，而这一壮举被认为是不可能的，直到拜伦勋爵亲自表演证明了它的可能性。在《阿比多斯的新娘》中他说：

“这些肢体是由浮力波浪所承载的。”

最窄处的距离几乎有一英里，有一股恒定的水流从马尔马拉海流入群岛。自拜伦时代以来，这一壮举已经被其他人实现了。但它仍然是对游泳艺术力量和技巧的考验，足以让我们的任何一位敢于尝试并成功实现这一目标的读者获得广泛而持久的声誉。

在同一首诗的第二章的开头，拜伦这样暗示了这个故事：

“海勒的波浪上风很大，
就像在那个风雨交加的夜晚，
当送来的爱忘记保存
年轻、美丽、勇敢，
塞斯托斯女儿孤独的希望。

哦，当独自一人在天空中时
炮塔火炬高高燃烧，
尽管狂风高涨，泡沫破灭，
尖叫的海鸟警告他回家；
天上有云，下有潮汐，
随着禁止通行的标志和声音，
他看不见，他也听不见
或者声音或景象预示着恐惧。
他的眼睛却看到了那爱的光芒，
它是头顶上唯一的一颗星星；
他的耳边却响起英雄的歌声，
“叶浪，情人不散。”
这个故事很老了，但爱又重新来了
可能会激励年轻的心去证明这是真的。”

密涅瓦

密涅瓦（Minerva）是智慧女神，是朱庇特的女儿。据说她从他的大脑中跳了出来，成熟且穿着全套盔甲。她主持实用和装饰艺术，包括男性的农业和航海艺术，以及女性的纺纱、编织和针线活。她也是一位好战的神灵。但她只支持防御性战争，对马尔斯对暴力和流血的野蛮热爱毫无同情心。雅典是她选择的所在地，她自己的城市，作为与海王星竞赛的奖品，海王星也渴望得到它。传说在雅典第一位国王刻克洛普斯统治时期，两位神祇争夺这座城市的所有权。众神颁布法令，将其奖励给那些为凡人提供最有用的礼物的人。海王星赐予了马；密涅瓦出产橄榄。众神判定橄榄树是两者中更有用的一个，并将这座城市授予了女神。它以她的名字命名，雅典，她的希腊名字是雅典娜。

还有一场比赛，有一个凡人敢于与密涅瓦竞争。这个凡人就是阿拉克涅（Arachne），一位少女，她在编织和刺绣艺术方面拥有如此高超的技艺，以至于仙女们都会离开她们的树林和喷泉来观看她的作品。它不仅在完成时很美丽，而且在做的过程中也很美丽。看着她，她把未经加工的羊毛卷成卷，或者用手指将其分开，梳理直到它看起来像云一样轻柔，或者熟练地转动纺锤，或者编织出网，或者在织成之后，用她的针装饰它，人们会说密涅瓦亲自教了她。但她否认了这一点，并且无法忍受被视为女神的学生。 “让米勒娃跟我试试她的技巧吧，”她说。 “如果被殴打，我将支付罚款。”米勒娃听了这话，很不高兴。她变成了一位老妇人的样子，去给阿拉克尼一些友好的建议。 “我有很多经验，”她说，“我希望你不要轻视我的建议。随心所欲地挑战你的凡人同胞，但不要与女神竞争。相反，我建议你请求她原谅你所说的话，因为她是仁慈的，也许她会原谅你。”阿拉克妮停止了旋转，满脸愤怒地看着老妇人。 “请为你的女儿或女仆保留你的忠告，”她说。就我而言，我知道我所说的话，并且我会坚持下去。我不怕女神；如果她敢冒险，就让她试试她的技巧。” “她来了，”米勒娃说。并卸下了伪装，坦白了。仙女们弯下腰致敬，所有的旁观者也都顶礼膜拜。只有阿拉克尼并不害怕。她确实脸红了。突然，她的脸颊染上了一层颜色，然后她的脸色变得苍白。但她坚持自己的决心，并以自己愚蠢的自负冲向了自己的命运。米勒娃不再克制，也不再提出任何进一步的建议。他们继续参加比赛。每个人都站在自己的位置上，将网固定在横梁上。然后细长的梭子在纱线之间穿进穿出。芦苇以其细齿将纬纱敲入其位置并压实网。两者都工作速度很快；他们灵巧的双手动作迅速，比赛的刺激使劳动变得轻松起来。泰尔染料羊毛与其他颜色的羊毛形成鲜明对比，彼此之间的阴影如此巧妙，以至于连接欺骗了眼睛。就像弓，其长长的拱门由阵雨反射的阳光形成，给天空染上了色彩，[13]对彩虹的正确描述是从奥维德逐字翻译的。 其中，颜色相遇的地方看起来是一个，但在距离接触点稍远的地方却完全不同。

密涅瓦在她的网上描绘了她与海王星较量的场景。图中代表了十二种天体力量，木星以庄严的重力坐在中间。海洋的统治者海王星手持三叉戟，似乎刚刚击中了大地，一匹骏马从大地中跃出。米勒娃描绘自己戴着头盔，她的神盾覆盖着她的胸部。这就是中心圆。四个角落所描绘的事件表明诸神对敢于与他们抗衡的自以为是的凡人感到不满。这些都是为了警告她的对手在为时已晚之前放弃比赛。

阿拉克涅在她的网络中充满了精心挑选的主题，以展示众神的失败和错误。其中一个场景描绘了勒达爱抚天鹅，朱庇特以这种形式伪装自己；还有一个，达那厄，在她父亲囚禁她的黄铜塔里，但神却以金色雨的形式进入了那里。还有一幅描绘了欧罗巴在公牛的伪装下被木星欺骗了。受到动物欧罗巴驯服的鼓励，木星冒险骑上自己的背，随后朱庇特进入大海，与她一起游到了克里特岛。你可能会认为这是一头真正的公牛，它是那么自然，它游泳的水也是那么自然。她似乎用渴望的目光回头望着她即将离开的海岸，并向她的同伴呼救。看到汹涌的海浪，她似乎吓得浑身发抖，把脚从水里缩了回来。

阿拉克尼在她的画布上充满了类似的主题，做得非常好，但强烈地标志着她的傲慢和不敬。米勒娃忍不住赞叹，却又对这种侮辱感到愤慨。她用梭子击打蜘蛛网，将其撕成碎片，然后触摸阿拉克尼的额头，让她感到内疚和羞耻。她实在无法忍受，就上吊自杀了。米勒娃看到她被绳子吊着，很同情她。 “活着，”她说，“有罪的女人！为了让你和你的子孙永远记住这一教训，你和你的后代将继续被吊死。”她给她洒了乌头汁，她的头发立刻就脱落了，鼻子和耳朵也一样。她的身形缩小了，头也变小了；她的手指劈在身体两侧，用作腿。她的其余部分都是身体，她用身体纺线，经常悬挂在上面，就像密涅瓦触摸她并将她变成蜘蛛时一样。

斯宾塞在他的《Muiopotmos》中讲述了阿拉克尼的故事，非常接近他的老师奥维德，但在故事的结局中对他进行了改进。接下来的两节讲述了女神描绘了她创造橄榄树后所做的事情：

“在这些叶子中她创造了一只蝴蝶，
凭借精良的装置和奇妙的轻微，
肆意地在橄榄树间飞舞，
那似乎是活生生的，就在眼前；
他翅膀上的天鹅绒绒毛，
丝绸羽绒使他的背部挺直，
他宽阔的角，他毛茸茸的大腿，
他的色彩绚丽，他的眼睛闪闪发光。”

“当阿拉克尼看到，覆盖
并以如此罕见的工艺掌握，
她惊讶地站了很久，无可否认；
并用快速固定的眼睛盯着她，
她的沉默显示出一种沮丧，
这场胜利确实让她成为了自己的一份。
然而她却内心焦躁不安，
她所有的血液都变成了有毒的怨恨。”[14]詹姆斯·麦金托什爵士谈到这一点时说：“你认为即使是中国人也能比下面的诗句：‘天鹅绒小睡’等更无声地精确地描绘出蝴蝶的绚丽色彩吗？”——《生活》，第 246 卷。二、XNUMX。

因此，这种变形是由阿拉克涅自己的屈辱和烦恼造成的，而不是由女神的任何直接行为造成的。

以下是加里克的老式英勇典范：

“在一位女士的刺绣上

“正如诗人所说，阿拉克涅曾经，
一位女神对她的艺术进行了蔑视，
很快，勇敢的凡人就倒下了
她的骄傲的不幸受害者。

“哦，那么要当心阿拉克涅的命运；
谨慎点，克洛伊，服从，
因为你肯定会遇到她的仇恨，
谁能与她的艺术和智慧相媲美。”

丁尼生在他的《艺术宫殿》中描述了装饰宫殿的艺术品，从而暗指欧罗巴：

“……甜蜜的欧罗巴的斗篷被吹散了
从她的肩膀上向后倾斜，
一只手垂下一朵番红花，一只手握住
温和公牛的金角。”

在他的《公主》中，有这样一个暗指达娜厄的故事：

“现在地球上所有的达娜厄都躺在星星上，
你所有的心都向我敞开。”

奈奥比

阿拉克尼的命运传遍了全国，警告所有自以为是的凡人不要将自己与神灵相比较。但有一个人，而且她也是一名主妇，未能学到谦逊的教训。那是底比斯女王尼俄柏。她确实有很多值得骄傲的地方。但让她高兴的并不是她丈夫的名声，也不是她自己的美貌，也不是他们伟大的血统，也不是他们王国的权力。这是她的孩子们；如果尼俄柏没有自称的话，她确实是最幸福的母亲了。正是在一年一度纪念拉托娜和她的后代阿波罗和戴安娜的庆祝活动之际，底比斯人民聚集在一起，他们的眉毛上戴着月桂树，向祭坛献上乳香，并履行了他们的誓言，尼俄柏出现在他们中间人群。她的衣着华丽，镶嵌着黄金和宝石，她的容貌美丽得就像一个愤怒的女人的脸。她站起来，目光傲慢地打量着众人。 “多么愚蠢啊，”她说，“这真是太愚蠢了！——比起那些站在你眼前的人，你更喜欢那些你从未见过的人！为什么拉托纳应该受到崇拜，而我却没有得到任何报酬？我的父亲是坦塔罗斯，他在众神的餐桌上被当作客人接待。我的母亲是一位女神。我的丈夫建造并统治了底比斯这座城市，弗里吉亚是我父亲的遗产。无论我把目光转向何处，我都会审视我的力量元素；我的身材和存在也配不上女神。除此之外，我还要补充一点，我有七个儿子和七个女儿，并且正在寻找值得我结盟的女婿和儿媳。难道我没有理由骄傲吗？你会更喜欢我这位泰坦之女拉托娜和她的两个孩子吗？我有七倍。我确实很幸运，而且幸运的是我会留下来！会有人否认这一点吗？我的丰富就是我的安全感。我觉得自己太强大了，《财富》无法屈服。她可以从我这里得到很多；我还剩下很多。如果我失去了一些孩子，我也不会像拉托娜一样贫穷，只剩下两个孩子。离开这些庄严的仪式吧——摘下你额头上的月桂树——结束这种崇拜吧！”人们服从了，并没有完成神圣的仪式。

女神很愤怒。在她居住的辛西安山顶上，她这样对她的儿子和女儿说道：“我的孩子们，我一直为你们俩感到骄傲，并且习惯于把自己视为除了朱诺以外没有任何一位女神可以比拟的，现在开始怀疑自己是不是真的女神。除非你保护我，否则我将完全无法崇拜。”她正这样说着，但阿波罗打断了她。 “别再说了，”他说。 “言论只会推迟惩罚。”戴安娜也这么说。他们在云层中疾驰而过，降落在城市的塔楼上。城门前是一片广阔的平原，城里的年轻人在这里进行着军事运动。尼俄伯的儿子们和其他人都在那里，有些人骑着盛装打扮的精神饱满的马，有些人驾驶着华丽的战车。长子伊斯墨诺斯（Ismenos）引导着他那匹冒着白沫的战马，被一支箭从上方射中，他喊道：“啊我！”缰绳松开，倒地无生。另一个人听到船头的声音，就像一个船夫看到暴风雨聚集，让所有的船都驶向港口，把缰绳交给他的马，试图逃跑。当他逃跑时，不可避免的箭射中了他。另外两个年纪较小的男孩，刚刚完成任务，去操场玩摔跤游戏。当他们胸前站着时，一支箭射穿了他们俩。他们一起发出了一声呼喊，一起向四周看了一眼，一起咽下了最后一口气。哥哥阿尔菲诺（Alphenor）看到他们倒下，赶紧赶到现场施以援手，并因履行兄弟义务而倒下。只剩下一个了，伊利俄纽斯。他向天举起双臂，尝试祈祷是否有用。 “诸神啊，饶了我吧！”他向所有人喊道，因为他不知道所有人都不需要他的调解。阿波罗本来会饶过他的，但箭已经离弦了，为时已晚。

人们的恐惧和侍从的悲伤很快使尼俄柏知道了发生的事情。她简直不敢相信这是可能的。她对诸神敢于这样做感到愤怒，又对他们能够做到这一点感到惊讶。她的丈夫安菲翁（Amphion）不堪重负，自杀身亡。唉!这个尼俄柏与她有多么不同，她最近把人们从神圣的仪式中赶走，并在城市中庄严地行进，她的朋友们羡慕不已，现在甚至让她的敌人怜悯！她跪在毫无生气的尸体上，时而亲吻她死去的儿子中的一个，一会儿又亲吻另一个。她将苍白的手臂举向天空，“残酷的拉托纳，”她说，“用我的痛苦来填满你的愤怒！满足你的铁石心肠，而我将跟随我的七个儿子走向坟墓。然而你的胜利在哪里？尽管我失去了亲人，但我仍然比你，我的征服者更富有。”她话音刚落，弓箭便响起，除尼俄柏一人外，所有人的心中都充满了恐惧。她因过度悲伤而变得勇敢。姐妹俩穿着哀悼服，站在死去兄弟的灵柩旁。其中一个倒下，被箭射中，死在她正在哭泣的尸体上。另一个人试图安慰她的母亲，却突然不再说话，倒在了地上，毫无生气。第三个人试图逃跑，第四个人试图隐藏，另一个人浑身发抖，不知道该采取什么行动。六个人已经死了，只剩下一个，母亲将他紧紧地抱在怀里，几乎用她的整个身体遮住了他。 “给我留一个，那个最小的！啊，饶了我这么多人中的一个吧！”她哭了;当她说话的时候，那个人就死了。她孤零零地坐在儿子、女儿和丈夫中间，他们都死了，看上去因悲伤而麻木不仁。微风没有吹动她的头发，她的脸颊没有血色，她的眼睛呆滞地凝视着，一动不动，她身上没有任何生命的迹象。她的舌头粘在上颚上，她的血管停止了生命的流动。她的脖子没有弯曲，她的手臂没有做出任何动作，她的脚也没有迈出一步。她的内在和外在都变成了石头。但泪水还是止不住地流；她被一阵旋风吹回了家乡的山上，如今仍是一块岩石，从岩石中流淌出一条潺潺的溪流，这是她永无休止的悲伤的贡品。

尼俄伯的故事为拜伦提供了现代罗马衰落状况的精彩例证：

“万国之尼俄柏！她站在那里，
在她无声的悲痛中，没有孩子，没有王冠；
她干枯的手中空空的瓮，
其圣尘早已散落；
西庇阿的坟墓现在没有骨灰：
连坟墓都无人居住
他们的英雄居民；你流淌吗，
老台伯河！穿过大理石荒野？
用你的黄色波浪升起，并覆盖她的痛苦。”

柴尔德·哈罗德，四世。 79.

这个感人的故事已成为佛罗伦萨皇家画廊中一座著名雕像的主题。它是最初被安排在寺庙山形墙上的一组人物的主要人物。母亲紧握着受惊的孩子的手臂，这是古代雕像中最受赞赏的雕像之一。它与拉奥孔和阿波罗并列为艺术杰作。以下是与这座雕像相关的希腊警句的翻译：

“用石头砸死众神改变了她，但徒劳；
雕塑家的艺术让她重新呼吸了。”

尽管尼俄伯的故事很悲惨，但我们忍不住对摩尔在《路上的韵律》中对它的使用感到微笑：

“在他的马车里，崇高的
理查德·布莱克莫尔爵士曾经押韵，
而且，如果他的智慧没有做错的话，
“死亡和史诗流逝了他的时代，
整天乱写乱画、杀戮；
就像菲比斯在他的车里悠闲自在一样，
此刻正吟唱着一首高亢的歌，
现在正在谋杀年轻的尼俄伯斯。”

理查德·布莱克莫尔爵士是一位医生，同时也是一位多产但非常无品位的诗人，他的作品现在已被遗忘，除非被像摩尔这样的智者出于笑话而回忆起来。

格莱埃族和戈尔贡族

格雷埃一家是三姐妹，她们一出生就头发花白，她们的名字也由此而来。蛇发女妖是一种怪物般的女性，有着猪一样的巨大牙齿、黄铜利爪和蛇形头发。除了蛇发女妖美杜莎之外，这些生物在神话中都没有多大的形象，我们接下来会讲到她的故事。我们提到它们主要是为了介绍一些现代作家的巧妙理论，即戈更工和格瑞伊只是大海中恐怖的化身，前者指的是开阔的干流中的汹涌巨浪，后者指的是白色冠的海鸥。海浪拍打着海岸的岩石。他们的希腊名字代表上述绰号。

珀尔修斯和美杜莎

珀尔修斯是朱庇特和达那厄的儿子。他的祖父阿克里西乌斯（Acrisius）听到神谕告诉他，他女儿的孩子将成为他的死亡工具，这让他感到震惊，他把这对母子关在箱子里，然后在海上漂流。箱子漂向塞里弗斯，在那里被一位渔夫发现，并将母婴转交给该国国王波吕得克忒斯，并受到国王的仁慈对待。当珀尔修斯长大后，波吕得克忒斯派他去尝试征服美杜莎，这是一个蹂躏了这个国家的可怕怪物。她曾经是一位美丽的少女，头发是她的主要荣耀，但当她敢于与密涅瓦争夺美丽时，女神剥夺了她的魅力，并将她美丽的卷发变成了嘶嘶作响的蛇。她变成了一个残忍的怪物，外表如此可怕，以至于任何生物看到她都会变成石头。在她居住的洞穴周围，可以看到人和动物的石像，他们偶然瞥见了她，并被这一景象吓呆了。珀尔修斯受到密涅瓦和墨丘利的青睐，前者借给他盾牌，后者借给他带翼的鞋子，趁美杜莎熟睡时走近她，小心翼翼地不直视她，而是以明亮盾牌上反射的她的形象为引导。他生下了她，砍下了她的头，把它交给了密涅瓦，密涅瓦把它固定在她的神盾中间。

弥尔顿在他的《Comus》中这样提到了宙斯盾：

“那个蛇头蛇发女妖盾牌是什么？
智慧的密涅瓦所佩戴的，不可征服的处女，
她用她的力量将敌人冻成凝结的石头，
但外表朴素、朴素，
高贵的优雅冲破了残酷的暴力
带着突然的崇拜和空白的敬畏！”

“养生艺术”的诗人阿姆斯特朗这样描述了霜冻对水面的影响：

“现在刮起了阴郁的北方，整个地方都变得寒冷起来
僵硬的区域，同时具有更强的魅力
比喀耳刻 e'er 或美狄亚酿造的堕落，
每一条习惯于流淌到岸边的小溪
遍布在两岸之间，
枯萎的芦苇也不敢动……
猛烈的东北风引来汹涌的海浪，
他们愤怒的脑袋因烦躁的脾气而摇晃，
E'en 在他们所有疯狂的泡沫中袭来
到巨大的冰。

这样的执行，
如此严厉，如此突然，造成了可怕的面貌
可怕的美杜莎，
当她在树林里漫步时，她转向了石头
他们的野蛮房客；就像那头冒着泡沫的狮子
对他的猎物发起狂怒，她的速度更快
超越他的匆忙，
他以那种凶猛的态度站着
就像大理石中的愤怒一样！”

——莎士比亚的模仿。

珀尔修斯和阿特拉斯

杀死美杜莎后，珀尔修斯带着蛇发女妖的头颅，飞越了陆地和海洋。夜幕降临，他到达了地球的西边，太阳在那里落下。他很乐意在这里休息到早上。这是阿特拉斯国王的王国，他的体型超过了所有其他人。他拥有丰富的牛羊，没有邻居或对手来质疑他的国家。但他最引以为豪的是他的花园，花园里的果实是金色的，挂在金色的树枝上，一半隐藏在金色的叶子中。珀尔修斯对他说：“我是作为客人来的。如果你尊敬显赫的血统，我就宣称朱庇特是我的父亲；如果有伟大的事迹，我恳求征服戈尔贡。我寻求休息和食物。”但阿特拉斯记得，一个古老的预言警告过他，有一天，朱庇特的儿子会夺走他的金苹果。于是他回答说：“走吧！否则你虚假的荣耀和出身都无法保护你；”他试图把他推出去。珀尔修斯发现巨人对他来说太强大了，他说：“既然你这么不重视我的友谊，那就屈尊接受一份礼物吧；”他转过脸去，举起了蛇发女妖的头。阿特拉斯连同他的全部身躯都变成了石头。他的胡须和头发变成了森林，他的手臂和肩膀变成了悬崖，他的头变成了山顶，他的骨头变成了岩石。每个部分的体积都在增加，直到他变成一座山，（这是众神的喜悦）天堂和所有的星星都落在他的肩膀上。

海怪

珀尔修斯继续飞行，到达了埃塞俄比亚人的国家，克菲斯是该国的国王。他的王后卡西奥佩娅以自己的美丽为傲，竟敢将自己与海仙女相提并论，这激起了他们的愤慨，以至于他们派出了一个巨大的海怪来蹂躏海岸。为了安抚众神，仙王座受神谕指示，揭露他的女儿安德洛墨达被怪物吞噬。当珀尔修斯从空中俯视时，他看到圣母被锁在一块岩石上，等待着蛇的到来。她脸色苍白，一动不动，若不是她流着泪水，头发随风飘动，他简直以为她是一尊大理石雕像。他被眼前的景象吓得差点忘了挥动翅膀。当他盘旋在她身上时，他说：“处女啊，你不值得这些锁链，但更值得将深情的恋人束缚在一起，请告诉我，我恳求你，你的名字，你的国家的名字，以及为什么你如此束缚”。起初，她出于谦虚而保持沉默，如果可以的话，她会用手遮住脸。但当他重复他的问题时，因为担心她可能会被认为犯了一些她不敢说出来的过错，她透露了她的名字和她的国家的名字，以及她母亲对美丽的骄傲。她话音未落，水面上传来一声响动，海怪出现了，它的头露出水面，用宽阔的胸膛劈开波浪。处女尖叫起来，此时赶到现场的父亲和母亲都把他们都弄惨了，但更公正的是，母亲站在一旁，无法提供保护，只能倾诉哀痛并拥抱受害者。然后珀尔修斯说道：“有足够的时间流泪；这一小时就是我们所能进行的救援了。我作为朱庇特之子的地位和我作为戈尔贡杀手的名声可能会让我成为一个可以接受的追求者；但如果诸神眷顾的话，我会尽力通过提供的服务来赢得她。如果我的英勇救了她，我要求她作为我的奖赏。”父母同意了（他们怎么能犹豫呢？）并承诺为她提供皇室嫁妆。

现在，怪物已经进入了熟练投石手扔出的石头的射程之内，年轻人突然一跳，飞到了空中。少年如鹰，在高空飞翔，看见一条晒太阳的蛇，猛扑过来，掐住他的脖子，不让他回过头来用尖牙，于是少年飞奔到了蛇的背上。怪物并将剑插入它的肩膀。怪物受到伤口的刺激，将自己升到了空中，然后又陷入了深处。然后，他就像一头被一群狂吠的狗包围的野猪一样，迅速左右转身，而青年则用翅膀躲避了它的攻击。只要他能在鳞片之间找到剑的通道，他就会制造一道伤口，时而刺穿侧面，时而刺穿侧翼，因为它向尾巴倾斜。这个野蛮人从他的鼻孔中喷出混有血液的水。英雄的翅膀被它沾湿了，他不敢再相信他们了。他落在一块高出海浪的岩石上，抓住一块突出的碎片，当怪物漂浮在附近时，他给了他致命一击。聚集在岸边的人们大声喊叫，声音响彻群山。父母欣喜若狂，拥抱了他们未来的女婿，称他为他们的拯救者和全家的救世主，而作为这场比赛的原因和奖励的处女则从岩石上下来。

卡西奥佩娅是埃塞俄比亚人，因此，尽管她自诩美丽，但她却是黑人。至少弥尔顿似乎是这么认为的，他在他的《Penseroso》中提到了这个故事，他在其中将忧郁称为

“……。女神、圣人和圣洁，
谁的圣容太灿烂
为了冲击人类的视觉感官，
因此，对于我们较弱的观点来说
黑色，稳重的智慧色调。
黑色，但如尊崇
门农王子的妹妹可能会认为，
或者是埃塞奥普女王努力奋斗的主角
把对她美貌的赞美放在首位
海仙女和她们的力量被冒犯了。”

仙后座被称为“星光埃塞奥普女王”，因为她死后被放置在群星之中，形成了这个名字的星座。虽然她获得了这一荣誉，但她的宿敌海仙女却占了上风，以至于将她安置在靠近极地的天堂部分，每天晚上她有一半的时间低着头，给她一个谦卑的教训。

门农是一位埃塞俄比亚王子，我们将在以后的章节中讲述他。

婚礼盛宴

高兴的父母带着珀尔修斯和安德洛墨达来到宫殿，为他们举办了宴会，一切都是欢乐和喜庆的。但突然间，传来一阵好战的喧闹声，处女的未婚夫菲纽斯带着一帮追随者闯了进来，要求将少女据为己有。仙王座的抗议是徒劳的——“当她被束缚在岩石上时，你应该认领她，她是怪物的受害者。诸神对她的判决注定了她的命运，解除了所有的约定，就像死亡本身一样。”菲纽斯没有回答，只是向珀尔修斯投掷标枪，但标枪没有击中目标，没有造成任何伤害。珀尔修斯本想反过来扔掉他的，但胆怯的袭击者跑到祭坛后面避难。但他的行为是他的乐队向仙王座客人发起进攻的信号。他们自卫，一场全面的冲突随之而来，老国王在无果的劝告后退出了现场，并呼吁众神见证他对这种侵犯招待权的行为是无罪的。

珀尔修斯和他的朋友们将这种不平等的竞争维持了一段时间。但攻击者的数量对他们来说太大了，毁灭似乎是不可避免的，这时珀尔修斯突然想到：“我会让我的敌人来保卫我。”然后他大声喊道：“如果我这里有任何朋友，请让他移开眼睛！”并高高举起蛇发女妖的头。 “别用你的杂耍来吓唬我们，”塞斯勒斯说，举起标枪，做出投掷的动作，但他的态度却变成了石头。安皮克斯正要将剑刺入倒地敌人的身体，但他的手臂僵硬了，既无法前进，也无法抽身。另一个人在大声挑战时停了下来，张着嘴，但没有发出声音。珀尔修斯的一位朋友阿康提斯看到了蛇发女妖，他像其他人一样僵住了。阿斯泰亚格斯用剑击中了他，但剑不但没有受伤，反而发出一声清脆的响声。

菲纽斯看到自己不公正的侵略所带来的可怕后果，感到困惑不已。他大声呼唤他的朋友，但没有得到回应。他摸了摸它们，发现它们是石头。他跪倒在地，向珀尔修斯伸出双手，但转过头来乞求宽恕。 “拿走一切，”他说，“只给我一条命。” “卑鄙的胆小鬼，”珀尔修斯说道，“我就答应你了；任何武器都不能伤害你；而且，你将被保存在我的家里，作为这些事件的纪念。”说着，他把蛇发女妖的头放在菲纽斯注视的一侧，就像他跪下时那样，双手伸开，脸偏向一边，他变得一动不动，像一块石头！

以下对珀尔修斯的暗示来自米尔曼的《Samor》：

“传说中的利比亚新娘站在中间
珀尔修斯在愤怒中保持着严厉的平静，
一半站立，一半漂浮在脚踝羽毛上
肿胀，而盾牌上那张明亮的脸
凝视石头中激烈的争斗；所以玫瑰，
但没有魔臂，单独佩戴
他坚定的神情令人震惊和控制，
英国萨莫尔；对他日益增长的敬畏
出国了，喧堂一片寂静。”

在神话语言中，怪物是一种具有不自然比例或部分的生物，通常被人们所恐惧，因为它们拥有巨大的力量和凶猛，它们用来伤害和骚扰人类。其中一些被认为是将不同动物的成员结合在一起；例如斯芬克斯和奇美拉；野兽的所有可怕品质以及人类的智慧和能力都归因于这些。其他人，如巨人，与人类的不同主要在于体型。在这一点上，我们必须认识到它们之间的广泛区别。人类巨人，如果可以这样称呼的话，比如独眼巨人、安泰、猎户座等，一定不能被认为与人类完全不成比例，因为他们与人类交织在一起，相爱相争。但与众神交战的超人巨人的体型要大得多。据我们所知，提图斯在平原上伸展时占地九英亩，恩克拉多斯要求将整个埃特纳山压在他身上以压倒他。

我们已经谈到了巨人对众神的战争及其结果。当这场战争持续时，巨人被证明是一个可怕的敌人。他们中的一些人，比如布里亚留斯，有一百只手臂；其他人，比如提丰，会喷出火焰。有一段时间，他们让众神如此恐惧，以至于他们逃到埃及并以各种形式隐藏自己。朱庇特化身为一只公羊，后来他在埃及被崇拜为长有弯曲角的阿蒙神。阿波罗变成乌鸦，巴克斯变成山羊，戴安娜变成猫，朱诺变成牛，维纳斯变成鱼，水星变成鸟。还有一次，巨人试图爬上天堂，为此目的，他们登上了奥萨山，并将其堆在皮立翁山上。[15]参见谚语表达。 他们最终被密涅瓦发明的雷电制服，并教火神和他的独眼巨人如何前往木星。

狮身人面像

底比斯国王拉伊俄斯收到神谕警告，如果他刚出生的儿子长大，他的王位和生命都会受到威胁。因此，他将孩子交给一名牧民照顾，并下令将他杀死。牧人心生怜悯，又不敢完全违抗，把孩子的脚绑了起来，挂在树枝上。在这种情况下，一个农民发现了这个婴儿，把他带到了他的主人和情妇那里，他被收养并被称为俄狄浦斯，即肿脚。

许多年后，拉伊俄斯在前往德尔斐的途中，只有一名侍从陪同，在一条狭窄的道路上遇到了一位也驾驶战车的年轻人。由于他拒绝按照他们的命令离开道路，侍从杀死了他的一匹马，而陌生人则充满了愤怒，杀死了拉伊俄斯和他的侍从。这个年轻人就是俄狄浦斯，他因此不知不觉地成为了自己父亲的刽子手。

此事件发生后不久，底比斯城就遭受了一种在高速公路上出没的怪物的困扰。它被称为狮身人面像。它有狮子的身体和女人的上半身。它蹲伏在岩石顶上，逮捕所有前来向他们提出谜语的旅行者，条件是能解出谜语的人可以安全通过，而不能解开谜语的人则被杀死。还没有人成功解决这个问题，所有人都被杀了。俄狄浦斯并没有被这些令人震惊的叙述吓倒，而是大胆地进行了审判。狮身人面像问他：“早上用四足行走、中午用两足行走、晚上用三足行走的动物是什么？”俄狄浦斯回答说：“人，童年时用手和膝盖爬行，成年时直立行走，老年时则借助拐杖。”狮身人面像解开谜语后感到非常羞愧，从岩石上跳下身亡。

人民对他们的拯救深表感激，于是拥立俄狄浦斯为王，并娶了他为王后伊俄卡斯塔。俄狄浦斯不知道自己的出身，已经杀死了他的父亲。与女王结婚后，他成为了母亲的丈夫。这些恐怖的事情一直未被发现，直到底比斯最终遭受饥荒和瘟疫之苦，人们向神谕询问，俄狄浦斯的双重罪行才得以曝光。伊俄卡斯塔结束了自己的生命，而俄狄浦斯陷入疯狂，挖出了自己的眼睛，离开了底比斯，除了忠实地追随他的女儿们之外，所有人都害怕和抛弃了他，直到经过一段乏味的悲惨流浪之后，他才被所有人所畏惧和抛弃。结束了他悲惨的一生。

飞马座和奇美拉

当珀尔修斯砍下美杜莎的头时，血液沉入大地，产生了飞马珀伽索斯。密涅瓦抓住了他并驯服了他，并将他呈现给缪斯女神。缪斯女神赫利孔山上的希波克林喷泉被他的蹄子踢开了。

奇美拉是一种可怕的怪物，会喷火。它的身体前半部分是狮子和山羊的组合体，后半部分是龙的身体。它在利西亚造成了巨大的破坏，因此国王伊俄巴特斯寻找英雄来摧毁它。当时，一位英勇的年轻战士来到了他的宫廷，他的名字叫柏勒罗丰。他带来了约奥巴特斯的女婿普罗图斯的信，用最热情的措辞推荐柏勒罗丰为不可战胜的英雄，但在最后又请求他的岳父处死他。原因是普罗图斯嫉妒他，怀​​疑他的妻子安蒂亚对这位年轻的战士过于崇拜。从柏勒罗丰无意识地持有自己的死刑令的这个例子中，“柏勒罗丰信件”一词出现了，用来描述一个人所持有的任何包含对他自己不利的内容的交流方式。

约奥巴特仔细阅读了这些信件后，不知道该怎么办，他不愿意违背热情好客的要求，但又希望满足他女婿的要求。他想到了一个幸运的想法，派柏勒罗丰去与奇美拉作战。柏勒罗丰接受了这一建议，但在开始战斗之前咨询了占卜师波利多斯，后者建议他尽可能购买飞马座以应对冲突。为此，他指示他在密涅瓦神庙过夜。他这样做了，当他睡着的时候，密涅瓦来到他身边，给了他一个金色的缰绳。当他醒来时，缰绳还留在他手里。密涅瓦还向他展示了珀伽索斯在皮勒涅井边喝酒的情景，这匹长着翅膀的战马一看到缰绳，就心甘情愿地过来，任由自己被抓住。柏勒洛丰骑上他，和他一起升到空中，很快就找到了奇美拉，并轻松战胜了这个怪物。

征服奇美拉·柏勒罗丰后，他的不友好的东道主又经受了进一步的考验和劳作，但在珀伽索斯的帮助下，他在所有这些考验中都取得了胜利，直到最后伊俄巴特斯看到这位英雄是众神的特别喜爱的人，给了他他的女儿嫁给了他，并让他成为了王位继承人。最后，柏勒洛丰的骄傲和狂妄招致了众神的愤怒。据说他甚至试图骑着他的有翼战马飞上天堂，但朱庇特派来一只牛虻蜇了飞马座，迫使他扔掉了他的骑手，结果导致他跛脚又瞎了。此后，柏勒罗丰在阿莱安原野中孤独地徘徊，避开人类的道路，并悲惨地死去。

弥尔顿在《失乐园》第七本书的开头提到了柏勒罗丰：

“从天堂降临，乌拉尼亚，以这个名字
如果你被正确地召唤，你的声音神圣
我跟随奥林匹亚山上空翱翔，
飞马翼的飞行上方
由你提升，
我猜想进入天堂中的天堂，
尘世之客，汲取天国之气
（你的磨炼）；类似安全引导向下
让我回归本源；
以免这匹飞马失去缰绳（正如曾经
柏勒罗丰，虽然来自较低的球体），
我在阿莱安田野上下马摔倒，
在那里徘徊和孤独是错误的。”

杨在他的《夜间思考》中谈到怀疑论者时说：

“那些盲目思考未来的人，
失去知觉的熊，柏勒罗丰，就像你一样
他对自己的控诉，对自己的谴责。
谁读了他的胸怀，谁就读到了不朽的生命，
或者那里的自然，强加给她的儿子们，
写过寓言；人是被造出来的谎言。”

第二卷，第 12 页

飞马座作为缪斯女神的坐骑，一直为诗人服务。席勒讲述了一个美丽的故事，他被一位贫穷的诗人卖掉，并被扔进了车和犁。他不适合做这样的服务，他的小丑主人也看不上他，但是一个年轻人走上前来，请准许尝试一下他。 ——破碎，升腾，王者，神灵，展开羽翼辉煌，飞向苍穹。我们自己的诗人朗费罗也在他的《磅的飞马座》中记录了这匹著名骏马的冒险经历。

莎士比亚在《亨利四世》中提到了飞马座，弗农在其中描述了亨利王子：

“我看到年轻的哈利，戴着海狸帽，
他的菜肴放在大腿上，全副武装，
像长着羽毛的水星一样从地面升起，
然后轻松地跳进座位，
仿佛天使从天而降，
转动并缠绕火热的飞马座，
以高贵的马术征服世界”

半人马

这些怪物从头到腰都是人，而身体的其余部分则是马。古人太喜欢马了，以至于不认为马的本性与人类的结合形成了一种非常退化的复合体，因此半人马是古代想象中的怪物中唯一被赋予任何良好特征的动物。半人马被允许与人类为伴，在皮里托斯与希波达米亚的婚礼上，他们也是宾客之一。在宴会上，欧律提翁（Eurytion）中的一位半人马喝醉了酒，试图对新娘施暴。其他半人马也效仿他的做法，一场可怕的冲突爆发了，其中有几人被杀。这是拉皮泰人和半人马的著名战斗，这是古代雕塑家和诗人最喜欢的主题。

但并非所有半人马都像皮里托斯的粗鲁客人。凯龙星受到阿波罗和戴安娜的指导，以狩猎、医学、音乐和预言艺术而闻名。希腊故事中最杰出的英雄是他的学生。其中，婴儿埃斯库拉庇俄斯 (Aesculapius) 被他的父亲阿波罗 (Apollo) 托付给他照顾。当圣人带着婴儿回到家中时，他的女儿奥西罗出来迎接他，一看到孩子就爆发出一种预言般的张力（因为她是一位女先知），预言他将获得埃斯库拉皮乌斯的荣耀。长大后成为一位著名的医生，甚至曾成功起死回生。普鲁托对此感到不满，朱庇特应他的要求，用闪电击中了这位勇敢的医生，并杀死了他，但在他死后将他纳入众神的名单中。

凯龙星是所有半人马中最聪明、最公正的，在他死后，木星将他置于众星之中，称为人马座。

俾格米人

俾格米人是一个侏儒民族，这个词源自希腊语，意思是肘或大约十三英寸的尺寸，据说这就是这些人的身高。他们住在尼罗河源头附近，或者根据其他人的说法，住在印度。荷马告诉我们，鹤过去每年冬天都会迁徙到俾格米人的国家，它们的出现对弱小的居民来说是血腥战争的信号，他们不得不拿起武器保卫自己的玉米地，抵御贪婪的陌生人。俾格米人和他们的敌人鹤构成了许多艺术作品的主题。

后来的作家讲述了一支俾格米人的军队发现赫拉克勒斯睡着了，准备攻击他，就像他们要攻击一座城市一样。但是，醒来的英雄嘲笑了这些小战士，并用狮子皮包裹了其中一些，并将他们带到了欧律斯透斯那里。

弥尔顿在《失乐园》第一卷中用俾格米人打了一个比喻：

“……就像俾格迈人种族
超越印第安坐骑，或精灵
其午夜在森林边狂欢，
或者喷泉，一些迟来的农民看到
（或者他看到的梦），在月亮上方
坐拥仲裁者，更贴近地球
转动着她苍白的航线；他们欢笑跳舞
用心，用欢快的音乐迷住他的耳朵。
他的心立即充满喜悦和恐惧。”

狮鹫或狮鹫

狮鹫是一种有着狮子身体、鹰头和翅膀、背部长满羽毛的怪物。它像鸟一样筑巢，在其中产下的不是鸡蛋，而是一颗玛瑙。它有长长的爪子和爪子，该国的人们把它们做成了酒杯。印度被指定为狮鹫的祖国。它们在山里发现了黄金，并用它筑巢，因此它们的巢穴对猎人来说非常具有诱惑力，迫使他们警惕地看守着它们。他们的本能引导他们知道埋藏的宝藏在哪里，并且他们尽力与掠夺者保持距离。阿里马斯人是斯基泰的独眼民族，狮鹫在其中繁衍生息。

米尔顿借用了格里芬家族的一个比喻，《失乐园》一书
二、：

“就像一只狮鹫穿越荒野时，
带着翅膀的路线，越过山丘和穆里谷，
暗中追踪阿里马斯皮亚人
从他清醒的监护下被盗
他守护的黄金，”等等。

金羊毛

在远古时代，色萨利住着一位国王和王后，名叫阿塔玛斯和涅斐勒。他们有两个孩子，一个男孩和一个女孩。过了一段时间，阿塔玛斯对他的妻子变得冷漠了，把她休了，又娶了另一个。涅斐勒怀疑继母的影响对她的孩子们构成危险，并采取措施将他们送到远离她的地方。水星帮助了她，给了她一只带有金羊毛的公羊，她把两个孩子放在上面，相信公羊会把他们带到安全的地方。公羊背着孩子们一跃而起，向东方飞去，直到穿越欧洲和亚洲的海峡时，名叫赫勒的女孩从他的背上掉进了海里，被称为赫勒斯滂海峡，即现在的达达尼尔海峡。公羊继续他的职业生涯，直到到达黑海东岸的科尔基斯王国，在那里他安全地着陆了男孩弗里克索斯，他受到了该国国王埃厄忒斯的热情接待。弗里克索斯将公羊献给了朱庇特，并将金羊毛交给了埃厄忒斯，埃厄忒斯将金羊毛放在一个神圣的树林中，由一条不眠之龙看管。

色萨利还有一个与阿塔玛斯的王国相近的王国，由他的一个亲戚统治。埃森国王厌倦了政府的事务，将王位交给了他的兄弟珀利阿斯，条件是他只能在埃森的儿子伊阿宋未成年期间持有王位。当伊阿宋长大后，向叔叔索取王冠时，珀利阿斯假装愿意让出它，但同时又向年轻人建议去寻找金羊毛，这是很好的冒险。众所周知，这是在科尔基斯王国，正如珀利阿斯所声称的那样，这是他们家族的合法财产。杰森对这个想法很满意，立即为这次探险做好了准备。当时，希腊人所知的唯一航海方式是从树干上挖空的小船或独木舟，因此，当伊阿宋雇用阿古斯为他建造一艘能够容纳五十人的船只时，这被认为是一项艰巨的任务。然而，它还是完成了，这艘船以建造者的名字命名为“阿尔戈”。伊阿宋向希腊所有富有冒险精神的年轻人发出了邀请，很快他就发现自己成为了一群大胆青年的领袖，其中许多人后来成为希腊英雄和半神中的知名人物。赫拉克勒斯、忒修斯、俄耳甫斯和涅斯特就是其中之一。他们被称为阿尔戈英雄（Argonauts），源自他们的船只的名称。

“阿尔戈”号和她的英雄船员们离开色萨利海岸，抵达利姆诺斯岛，从那里穿越到密西亚，然后到达色雷斯。在这里，他们找到了圣人菲纽斯，并从他那里得到了关于他们未来路线的指示。黑海的入口似乎被两个小岩石岛屿挡住了，它们漂浮在水面上，在它们的翻腾和起伏中偶尔会聚集在一起，将任何可能夹在它们之间的物体压碎和磨成原子。它们被称为“Symplegades”或“冲突群岛”。菲纽斯指导阿尔戈英雄们如何通过这个危险的海峡。当他们到达岛屿时，他们放走了一只鸽子，鸽子在岩石之间飞翔，安全地通过了，只是失去了一些尾巴上的羽毛。杰森和他的手下抓住反弹的有利时机，用力划桨，安全通过，尽管岛屿在他们身后关闭，实际上擦伤了他们的船尾。他们沿着海岸划行，一直到大海的东端，在科尔基斯王国登陆。

伊阿宋向科尔基亚国王埃厄忒斯传达了他的信息，埃厄忒斯同意放弃金羊毛，前提是伊阿宋将两只铜脚喷火的公牛拴在犁上，并播下卡德摩斯杀死的龙的牙齿，并从众所周知，将会出现一批武装分子，他们会用武器攻击他们的生产者。杰森接受了条件，并确定了进行实验的时间。然而，在此之前，他找到了向国王的女儿美狄亚辩护的方法。他向她许诺结婚，当他们站在赫卡忒祭坛前时，请女神来见证他的誓言。美狄亚屈服了，在她的帮助下，因为她是一位强大的女术士，他被赋予了一种魅力，通过这种魅力，他可以安全地遇到喷火公牛的气息和武装人员的武器。

到了指定的时间，人们聚集在战神小树林里，国王就座，而人群则覆盖了山坡。铜足公牛冲了进来，鼻孔喷出火焰，烧毁了路过的草丛。声音就像炉子的轰鸣，烟雾就像生石灰上的水一样。杰森大胆地迎上前去迎接他们。他的朋友们，希腊选出的英雄，看到他都颤抖不已。他不顾呼吸的灼热，用声音安抚了他们的愤怒，用无所畏惧的手拍着他们的脖子，熟练地给他们套上轭，强迫他们拖犁。科尔基人很惊讶。希腊人欢呼雀跃。接下来，杰森开始播种龙的牙齿，并将它们犁进去。很快，这群武装人员就出现了，这真是太棒了！他们一到达地面，就开始挥舞着武器，向杰森冲去。希腊人为他们的英雄而颤抖，就连为他提供安全之道并教他如何使用它的她，美狄亚本人，也吓得脸色苍白。伊阿宋一度用剑和盾牌挡住了攻击者，直到发现他们的人数势不可挡，他才使用美狄亚教给他的咒语，抓起一块石头扔到敌人中间。他们立刻互相交手，很快，龙族就没有一个活着了。希腊人拥抱了他们的英雄，而美狄亚，如果她敢的话，也会拥抱他。

为了让守卫羊毛的龙入睡，需要在他身上撒上几滴美狄亚提供的制剂。闻到气味，他放下了怒火，一动不动地站了一会儿，然后闭上了那双以前从未见过的圆圆的大眼睛，翻了个身，睡着了。伊阿宋抓住了羊毛，在他的朋友和美狄亚的陪同下，在国王埃厄忒斯阻止他们离开之前赶到了他们的船上，并尽最大努力返回色萨利，在那里他们安全抵达，伊阿宋将羊毛交给了珀利阿斯。将“阿尔戈”号献给海王星。我们不知道后来羊毛的去向，但也许它毕竟像许多其他金奖一样，不值得为获得它而付出代价。

一位已故作家说，这是神话故事之一，尽管被大量虚构故事所覆盖，但有理由相信其中存在真实的基础。这可能是第一次重要的海上探险，正如我们从历史中所知，就像所有国家的第一次尝试一样，它可能具有半海盗性质。如果结果是丰富的战利品，那就足以产生金羊毛的想法。

博学的神话学家布莱恩特的另一个建议是，这是诺亚方舟故事的腐败传统。 “阿尔戈”这个名字似乎也印证了这一点，而鸽子事件则再次印证了这一点。

教皇在他的《圣塞西莉亚日颂歌》中庆祝了“阿尔戈”号船的下水，以及他称之为色雷斯人的俄耳甫斯音乐的力量：

“因此，当第一艘勇敢的船只敢于出海时，
色雷斯人在船尾高高地拉起他的张力，
当阿尔戈看到她的同类树时
从皮立翁山下降到主干道。
被运送的半神站在周围，
人们因声音而成长为英雄。”

戴尔的《羊毛》诗中对“阿尔戈”号船及其船员的描述，很好地描绘了这场原始的海上冒险：

“来自爱琴海海岸的每个地区
勇敢者聚集；那些杰出的双胞胎
卡斯托尔和波勒克斯；奥菲斯，优美的吟游诗人；
泽特斯和加来，如风的速度；
大力神大力士和许多首领都享有盛名。
他们聚集在伊奥尔科斯深处的沙滩上，
盔甲闪闪发光，战功热忱；
很快，月桂绳和巨石
升到甲板上，解开树皮；
其龙骨长度惊人，巧手
为骄傲的尝试而打造的阿古斯；
延伸的龙骨里有一根高高的桅杆
扬起，帆满帆；给酋长们
不寻常的物体。首先，现在他们学会了
他们在海浪上更大胆地驾驶，
由金色星星引领，正如凯龙星的艺术
已标记天球”等。

赫拉克勒斯离开了密西亚的探险队，因为他心爱的青年海拉斯去取水，被泉水的仙女们抓住并保存着，她们被他的美貌迷住了。赫拉克勒斯去寻找这个小伙子，趁他不在的时候，“阿尔戈”号出海离开了他。摩尔在他的一首歌曲中对这一事件做出了美丽的暗示：

“当海拉斯带着他的瓮被送到喷泉边时，
穿过充满光明的田野，带着充满游戏的心，
光带着男孩漫步在草地和山上，
并忽略了路上鲜花的任务。

“许多像我这样的人，在年轻时就应该尝过
哲学之泉旁的喷泉，
他们与边缘花朵相处的时间已经浪费了，
他们的灯缸和我的一样都是空的。”

美狄亚与伊颂

在夺回金羊毛的欢呼声中，杰森感到缺少一件事，那就是他的父亲伊森在场，他因年事已高而体弱多病，无法参加这次活动。伊阿宋对美狄亚说：“我的妻子，你的技艺对我的帮助如此之大，希望你的技艺能够为我提供进一步的帮助，让我的生命少一些岁月，并把它们添加到我父亲的生命中。”美狄亚回答说：“虽然不会付出这样的代价，但如果我的技艺对我有用，他的生命就会延长，而你的生命却不会缩短。”下一个满月，当所有生灵都在沉睡时，她独自升起。树叶没有一丝动静，万籁俱寂。她对着星星念出咒语，对着月亮念出咒语；赫卡忒，[16]赫卡忒是一位神秘的神，有时与戴安娜有关，有时与普罗瑟平娜有关。正如黛安娜代表了夜晚的月光辉煌，赫卡忒也代表了夜晚的黑暗和恐怖。她是巫术和巫术的女神，人们相信她会在夜间沿着大地徘徊，只有狗才能看到她，狗的叫声告诉她她正在接近。 冥界女神，以及大地女神特勒斯，她能产生强大的魔法力量。她召唤了森林和洞穴、山脉和山谷、湖泊和河流、风和蒸汽的神灵。当她说话的时候，星星变得更加明亮，不久，一辆由飞蛇牵引的战车从空中下降。她登上了它，并在高处前往遥远的地区，那里生长着强大的植物，她知道如何为自己的目的选择这些植物。她花了九个晚上进行搜寻，在此期间，她没有进入她的宫殿大门，也没有在任何屋顶下，并避免与凡人有任何交往。

接下来，她搭建了两座祭坛，一座供奉赫卡忒，另一座供奉青春女神赫柏，并祭祀一只黑羊，并浇上牛奶和酒。她恳求普鲁托和他被偷走的新娘不要急于结束老人的生命。然后她吩咐把艾森带出去，用咒语让他陷入沉睡，把他放在香草床上，就像死人一样。杰森和其他所有人都被禁止接近这个地方，以免任何亵渎的眼睛看到她的秘密。然后，她头发飘逸，在祭坛周围走动三次，将燃烧的树枝浸入血液中，然后将它们放在上面燃烧。与此同时，大锅里的东西也准备好了。她在里面放了神奇的草药，其中有种子和辛辣汁液的花朵，来自遥远东方的石头，以及来自周围海洋海岸的沙子；月光下凝结的白霜、尖角鸮的头和翅膀，以及狼的内脏。她添加了乌龟的甲壳碎片、鹿的肝脏（生命力顽强的动物）以及乌鸦的头和喙，乌鸦的寿命比人类长了九代。为了她的目的，她将这些与许多其他“无名”的东西一起煮沸，并用干橄榄枝搅拌它们；看啊！树枝一抽出来，立刻就变绿了，不久就长满了叶子，长出了茂盛的橄榄树。当酒液沸腾、冒泡、有时溢出时，所洒之处的青草都绽放出春天般的翠绿。

看到一切都准备好了，美狄亚割断了老人的喉咙，放出了他所有的血，并将锅里的汁液倒入他的嘴里和伤口里。一旦他完全吸收了它们，他的头发和胡须就被它们的白色覆盖，呈现出年轻时的黑色。他的苍白和憔悴消失了。他的血管充满了血液，他的四肢充满了活力和强健。艾森对自己感到惊讶，并记得四十年前，他年轻时的样子。

美狄亚在这里使用她的艺术是为了好的目的，但在另一个例子中却并非如此，她把它们变成了复仇的工具。我们的读者会记得，珀利阿斯是伊阿宋篡位的叔叔，并把他赶出了他的王国。但他一定有一些好的品质，因为他的女儿们都很爱他，当她们看到美狄亚为伊森所做的一切时，她们希望她也为他们的父亲做同样的事情。美狄亚假装同意，像以前一样准备好大锅。应她的要求，人们带来了一只老羊，并把它扔进了大锅里。很快，水壶里就传来咩咩的叫声，当盖子被揭开时，一只小羊跳了出来，蹦蹦跳跳地跑进了草地。珀利阿斯的女儿们高兴地看到了这个实验，并指定了一个时间让她们的父亲接受同样的手术。但美狄亚以一种截然不同的方式为他准备了大锅。她只放了水和一些简单的草药。晚上，她和姐妹们进入了老国王的卧室，而他和他的卫兵则在美狄亚施下的咒语的影响下睡得很香。女儿们拔出武器站在床边，但犹豫是否要出击，直到美狄亚斥责她们的优柔寡断。然后他们转过脸去，胡乱地用武器打他。他从睡梦中醒来，大声喊道：“我的女儿们，你们在做什么？你会杀掉你的父亲吗？”他们心灰意冷，武器从手中掉落，但美狄亚给了他致命一击，阻止了他再说下去。

然后他们把他放进大锅里，美狄亚在他们发现她的背叛之前赶紧驾着蛇拉的战车离开，否则他们的复仇将会是可怕的。然而，她逃脱了，但并没有享受到犯罪的果实。她为伊阿宋付出了如此多的努力，想要娶科林斯公主克雷乌萨为妻，却抛弃了美狄亚。她愤怒于他的忘恩负义，向诸神报仇，送了一件毒袍作为礼物送给新娘，然后杀死了自己的孩子，放火烧毁了宫殿，登上蛇车逃往雅典。在那里她嫁给了忒修斯的父亲埃勾斯国王，当我们讲述这位英雄的冒险经历时，我们会再次见到她。

美狄亚的咒语会让读者想起《麦克白》中女巫的咒语。以下几行似乎最令人回想起古代模型：

“绕着大锅走；
将有毒的内脏扔进去。

芬尼蛇的鱼片
在大锅中煮沸并烘烤；
蝾螈的眼睛和青蛙的脚趾，
蝙蝠的毛和狗的舌头，
蝰蛇的叉子和盲虫的刺，
蜥蜴的腿和嚎叫的翅膀：

贪婪的盐海鲨鱼的胃，
黑暗中挖出的铁杉根”等

——麦克白，第四幕，场景 1

然后再次：

麦克白——你不做什么？
女巫——无名之举。

还有另一个关于美狄亚的故事，即使是关于女巫的故事，也几乎令人反感，古代和现代诗人都习惯于将各种程度的暴行归因于这一类人。在逃离科尔基斯时，她带着弟弟阿布瑟图斯。当埃厄忒斯的追击船只逼近阿尔戈英雄时，她杀死了这个小伙子，并将他的四肢撒在了大海上。埃厄忒斯到达那里后，发现了他被谋杀的儿子的这些悲伤的痕迹。但当他拖延收集散落的碎片并为它们举行体面的安葬时，阿尔戈英雄们却逃脱了。

在坎贝尔的诗歌中，可以找到悲剧《美狄亚》其中一首合唱曲的译文，诗人欧里庇得斯借此机会向他的故乡雅典致以热烈的敬意。它是这样开始的：

“哦，憔悴的女王！你带你去雅典吗
你那发光的战车，浸满了同类的血迹；
或者试图隐藏你该死的弑父行为
哪里有和平与正义永远存在？”

阿尔戈探险队的英雄之一是梅勒阿格（Meleager），他是俄涅斯（Oeneus）和阿尔西娅（Althea）的儿子，卡吕冬（Calydon）的国王和王后。当她的儿子出生时，阿尔西娅看到了三个命运，当他们纺出致命的线时，他们预言孩子的生命不会比炉边燃烧的一根火柴更长久。 Althea 抓住并消灭了这个品牌，并小心翼翼地保存了它很多年，而 Meleager 则成长为少年、青年和男子汉。碰巧的是，俄涅斯在向众神献祭时，没有向戴安娜表示应有的敬意。她对这种疏忽感到愤怒，派出了一只巨大的野猪去蹂躏卡利登的田野。它的眼睛闪烁着血与火的光芒，它的鬃毛像威胁的长矛一样直立，它的獠牙就像印度大象的獠牙。正在生长的玉米被践踏，葡萄树和橄榄树被夷为平地，羊群和牛群被敌人的屠杀所驱赶，陷入混乱。所有普通的援助似乎都是徒劳的；但梅勒阿格号召希腊的英雄们一起勇敢地追捕这只贪婪的怪物。忒修斯和他的朋友皮里托斯、伊阿宋、珀琉斯（后来是阿喀琉斯的父亲）、特拉蒙（特拉蒙）是埃阿斯的父亲、当时还是个年轻人的内斯托尔，但在他这个年纪，他在特洛伊战争中与阿喀琉斯和埃阿斯一起作战，——这些人和更多的人加入了在企业中。与他们同行的还有阿卡迪亚国王伊修斯的女儿阿塔兰塔。她的背心上系着一个抛光的金扣，左肩上挂着一个象牙箭袋，左手拿着弓。她的脸庞融合了女性的美丽和武侠青年的优雅。梅莱格看到并喜欢。

但现在他们已经接近怪物的巢穴了。他们把坚固的网从一棵树拉到另一棵树；他们把狗解开，试图在草地上寻找猎物的脚印。从树林下来，是一片沼泽地。野猪躺在芦苇丛中，听到了追赶者的叫喊声，便向他们冲去。一个又一个被摔倒并被杀死。杰森投掷长矛，向戴安娜祈祷成功。偏爱的女神允许武器接触，但不造成伤害，从而在飞行过程中去除长矛的钢尖。内斯特受到袭击，在树枝上寻找安全的地方。特拉蒙向前冲去，但被一根突出的树根绊倒，摔倒了。但来自亚特兰大的一支箭终于第一次尝到了怪物的血液。这是一个轻微的伤口，但梅勒阿格看到了并高兴地宣布了它。安修斯因对女性的赞美而感到嫉妒，大声宣扬自己的英勇，并蔑视野猪和派遣它的女神。但当他冲过去时，愤怒的野兽把他打倒在地，造成致命伤。忒修斯投掷长矛，但被一根突出的树枝挡到了一边。杰森的飞镖没有击中目标，反而杀死了他们自己的一只狗。但梅勒阿格在一次失败的攻击后，将长矛刺入了怪物的侧面，然后冲上前，反复击打他。

然后周围的人就发出了一阵叫喊声；他们向征服者表示祝贺，纷纷伸出手来抚摸他的手。他把脚踩在被杀的野猪的头上，转向阿塔兰忒，把头和粗糙的兽皮送给了她，这是他成功的战利品。但此时，嫉妒激起了其他人的纷争。梅勒阿格母亲的兄弟普莱西普斯和托克修斯极力反对这份礼物，并从少女手中抢走了她收到的奖杯。梅莱阿格对自己所受的冤屈，尤其是对他所爱的女人所受到的侮辱感到愤怒，他忘记了亲属的要求，并将剑插入了冒犯者的心脏。

当阿尔泰娅为她儿子的胜利向神殿献上感谢礼物时，她被谋杀的兄弟的尸体出现在她的眼前。她尖叫着，捶着胸脯，赶紧把喜服换成了哀服。但当知道了凶手的身份后，悲伤就被为儿子报仇的强烈愿望所取代。一旦她从火焰中救出致命的烙印，命运与梅勒阿格的生命联系在一起的烙印，她就会拿出来，并命令准备火。然后她四次尝试将品牌放在一堆上；四次退缩，一想到会给她的儿子带来毁灭，她就不寒而栗。母亲和妹妹的感情在她内心斗争。现在，她一想到拟议中的行为，脸色就变得苍白，现在又因为儿子的行为而愤怒地脸红了。就像一艘船，被风朝一个方向行驶，又被潮汐朝相反方向行驶，阿尔西娅的思想悬在不确定之中。但现在姐姐战胜了母亲，她拿着致命的木头开始说道：“旋转吧，复仇女神们，惩罚女神们！转身看看我带来的牺牲！犯罪必须以犯罪来赎罪。当忒斯提乌斯的家一片荒凉时，俄涅乌斯会为他胜利的儿子感到高兴吗？可惜！我要做什么事？兄弟原谅母亲的软弱！我的手失败了。他该死，但我不该毁掉他。但是，当你们，我的兄弟们，在阴影中徘徊而未报仇时，他会活着，凯旋并统治卡利登吗？不！你靠着我的恩赐而活；现在，为你自己的罪行去死吧。归还我两次给予你的生命，第一次是在你出生时，第二次是我从火焰中夺回这个品牌时。哦，但愿你当时就死了！唉!邪恶是征服；但是，兄弟们，你们已经胜利了。”然后，她转过脸去，把那致命的木头扔到了燃烧的柴堆上。

它发出，或者似乎发出，致命的呻吟。墨勒阿格心不在焉，也不知道原因，突然感到一阵剧痛。他燃烧着，只有勇敢的骄傲才能战胜摧毁他的痛苦。他唯一哀悼的是他死于不流血且不光荣的死亡。他用最后一口气呼唤着年迈的父亲、兄弟和挚爱的姐妹，呼唤着他心爱的阿塔兰忒，呼唤着他的母亲，呼唤着他命运的未知原因。火焰愈演愈烈，英雄的痛苦也随之增加。现在两者都消退了；现在两者都被淬灭了。品牌已成灰烬，Meleager 的生命也随着飘零的风而散去。

事情完成后，阿尔西娅对自己施以暴力。梅勒阿格的姐妹们怀着无法抑制的悲痛哀悼她们的兄弟。直到戴安娜同情曾经激起她愤怒的房子里的悲伤，把它们变成了鸟。

亚特兰大

造成如此多悲伤的无辜原因是一位少女，你可以说她的脸对于女孩来说确实是孩子气的，但对于男孩来说又太少女了。她的命运已被告知，大意是这样的：“亚特兰大，不要结婚；婚姻将毁掉你。”她被这个神谕吓坏了，逃离了男人的社会，全身心投入到狩猎运动中。她对所有追求者（因为她有很多人）提出了一个条件，这个条件通常对解除她的迫害很有效：但死亡必定是所有尝试但失败的人的惩罚。”尽管条件如此艰苦，有些人还是会尝试。希波墨涅斯将担任比赛的裁判。 “难道有人会如此鲁莽，为了一个妻子冒如此大的风险吗？”他说。但当他看到她放下长袍参加比赛时，他改变了主意，说道：“对不起，年轻人，我不知道你们要角逐的奖项。”当他打量着他们时，他希望他们都被打败，并对任何一个看起来有可能获胜的人都充满了嫉妒。正当他这么想的时候，处女却向前冲了过去。当她奔跑时，她看起来比以前更加美丽。微风似乎给她的脚插上了翅膀；她的头发披散在肩上，衣服上华丽的流苏在身后飘扬。她白皙的皮肤染上了红润的色调，就像大理石墙上挂着深红色的窗帘。她的所有竞争对手都被疏远，并被毫不留情地处死。希波墨涅斯并没有被这个结果吓倒，他的眼睛盯着处女，说道：“为什么要夸耀击败那些落后者呢？我愿意参加比赛。”阿塔兰忒一脸怜悯地看着他，不知道自己是否愿意征服他。 “哪个神能诱惑如此年轻英俊的人投河自尽？我可怜他，不是因为他的美貌（但他很美），而是因为他的青春。我希望他放弃比赛，或者如果他这么生气，我希望他能跑过我。”当她犹豫不决、盘旋这些想法时，观众对比赛变得不耐烦，她的父亲提示她做好准备。然后希波墨涅斯向维纳斯祈祷：“帮助我，维纳斯，因为你引领了我。”维纳斯听到了，很幸运。

在她自己的塞浦路斯岛上，她寺庙的花园里有一棵树，叶子黄色，树枝黄色，果实金色。于是，她收集了三个金苹果，在别人看不见的情况下，把它们交给了希波墨涅斯，并告诉他如何使用它们。给出信号；每个人都从球门出发，掠过沙子。它们的脚步如此轻盈，你几乎会以为它们可以跑过河面或飘过的谷物而不会下沉。观众的呼喊声让希波墨涅斯欢呼雀跃：“现在，现在，尽力吧！快点，快点！你对她有好处！放松不！再努力一次！”不知道是青年还是少女听到这些叫声更高兴。但他开始呼吸困难，喉咙干燥，目标还很遥远。就在这时，他扔下了一颗金苹果。处女全都惊呆了。她停下来捡起它。希波墨涅斯冲在前面。尖叫声从四面八方响起。她加倍努力，很快就追上了他。他又扔了一个苹果。她又停了下来，但又追上了他。目标已经很近了；只剩下一次机会了。 “现在，女神，”他说，“祝你的礼物繁荣昌盛！”然后把最后一个苹果扔到一边。她看着它，犹豫了一下；金星迫使她为此而侧身。她这样做了，结果被打败了。年轻人夺走了他的奖品。

但这对恋人沉浸在自己的幸福之中，忘记了向维纳斯表达应有的敬意。女神被他们的忘恩负义激怒了。她让他们冒犯了西布莉。这位强大的女神是不能被侮辱而不受惩罚的。她把他们的人形变成了与自己相似的动物：女猎人女主人公，用她情人的鲜血取得了胜利，她创造了一头母狮，她的主人和主人变成了一头狮子，并把他们束缚在了一起。她的车里，在女神西布莉的所有雕像或绘画中仍然可以看到它们。

Cybele 是希腊人瑞亚（Rhea）和奥普斯（Ops）称呼的女神的拉丁名字。她是克洛诺斯的妻子，宙斯的母亲。在艺术作品中，她展现出朱诺和谷神星特有的主妇气质。有时她戴着面纱，坐在狮子在身边的宝座上，有时则乘坐狮子拉的战车。她头戴壁画王冠，即边缘刻有塔楼和城垛形状的王冠。她的祭司被称为科里班特斯 (Corybantes)。

拜伦在描述建在亚得里亚海一座低岛上的威尼斯城时，借用了西布莉的一个例子：

“她看起来像刚从海洋里出来的海-西布莉，
带着她骄傲的塔冠崛起
在空中的距离，以雄伟的动作，
水域及其力量的统治者。”

——柴尔德·哈罗德，四世。

在摩尔的《路上的韵律》中，诗人在谈到阿尔卑斯山的风景时，提到了亚特兰大和希波梅尼斯的故事：

“即使在这里，在这个充满奇迹的地方，我发现
那轻快的幻想把真理远远抛在了后面，
或者至少，像希波墨涅斯一样，让她误入歧途
他用金色的幻象挡住了她的路。”

大力神

赫拉克勒斯是朱庇特和阿尔克墨娜的儿子。由于朱诺一直对她丈夫与凡间母亲所生的后代怀有敌意，因此她从赫拉克勒斯一出生就向他宣战。当他躺在摇篮里时，她派了两条蛇来消灭他，但早熟的婴儿亲手勒死了他们。然而，通过朱诺的手段，他屈服于欧律斯透斯并被迫执行他的所有命令。欧律斯透斯嘱咐他进行一系列绝望的冒险，这被称为“赫拉克勒斯的十二项努力”。首先是与尼米亚狮子的战斗。尼米亚山谷里有一只可怕的狮子出没。欧律斯透斯命令赫拉克勒斯给他带来这个怪物的皮肤。赫拉克勒斯用棍棒和箭徒劳地攻击狮子，然后用手勒死了狮子。他肩上扛着死去的狮子回来了。但欧律斯透斯看到这个英雄的惊人力量，感到非常害怕，于是命令他将来在城外讲述他的功绩。

他的下一个任务是屠杀九头蛇。这个怪物蹂躏了阿尔戈斯国家，并居住在艾米莫恩井附近的沼泽中。这口井是艾米蒙在国家遭受干旱时发现的，故事是爱她的海王星允许她用三叉戟触碰岩石，三泉泉水喷涌而出。九头蛇在这里占据了他的位置，赫拉克勒斯被派去消灭他。九头蛇有九个头，其中中间的一个是不朽的。赫拉克勒斯用棍棒打掉了它的头，但每次被打掉的地方都会长出两个新的头。最后，在他忠实的仆人伊劳斯的帮助下，他烧毁了九头蛇的头颅，并将第九个或不朽的头颅埋在一块巨大的岩石下。

另一项工作是清理奥吉安马厩。伊利斯国王奥吉阿斯有三千头牛，牛栏已经三十年没有清理过了。赫拉克勒斯引来阿尔菲斯河和佩纽斯河穿过它们，并在一天之内彻底净化了它们。

他的下一个工作是更加微妙的。欧律斯透斯的女儿阿德梅塔渴望得到亚马逊女王的腰带，欧律斯透斯命令赫拉克勒斯前去取。亚马逊人是一个妇女的民族。他们非常好战，占领了几座繁华的城市。他们的习俗是只抚养女儿。这些男孩要么被送到邻国，要么被处死。赫拉克勒斯在许多志愿者的陪同下，历尽千辛万苦，终于到达了亚马逊人的国度。王后希波吕忒热情地接待了他，并同意将她的腰带交给他，但朱诺化身为亚马逊人，去说服其他人，陌生人正在夺走他们的王后。他们立即武装起来，大批地来到船上。赫拉克勒斯认为希波吕忒奸诈，杀死了她，并拿走了她的腰带，扬帆回家。

他的另一项任务是把革律翁的牛带到欧律斯透斯那里，这是一种具有三个身体的怪物，居住在埃里忒亚岛（红色），之所以如此称呼，是因为它位于西方，在夕阳的光芒下。这种描述被认为适用于杰里翁（Geryon）担任国王的西班牙。在穿越了各个国家之后，赫拉克勒斯最终到达了利比亚和欧洲的边境，在那里他建造了卡尔佩和阿比拉两座山，作为他进步的纪念碑，或者根据另一种说法，他将一座山分成两半，每座山留下一半两侧形成直布罗陀海峡，这两座山被称为大力士之柱。这些牛由巨人欧律提翁和他的双头狗看守，但赫拉克勒斯杀死了巨人和他的狗，并将牛安全地带到了欧律斯透斯那里。

其中最困难的工作是获得赫斯珀里得斯的金苹果，因为赫拉克勒斯不知道在哪里可以找到它们。这些苹果是朱诺在婚礼上从大地女神那里收到的，她将这些苹果托付给赫斯珀洛斯的女儿们保管，并由一条警惕的龙协助。经过各种冒险，赫拉克勒斯到达了非洲的阿特拉斯山。阿特拉斯是与众神交战的泰坦之一，在被征服后，阿特拉斯注定要肩负诸天的重担。他是赫斯珀里得斯（Hesperides）的父亲，赫拉克勒斯认为，如果有人可以的话，他可以找到苹果并将它们带给他。但如何让阿特拉斯离开他的岗位，或者在他离开时支撑起天空呢？赫拉克勒斯把重担扛在了自己的肩上，并派阿特拉斯去寻找苹果。他带着苹果回来了，尽管有些不情愿，但他还是把重担重新扛在了肩上，让赫拉克勒斯带着苹果回到了欧律斯透斯那里。

弥尔顿在他的《Comus》中将赫斯珀里得斯描述为
赫斯珀洛斯和阿特拉斯的侄女：

“……在花园集市中
赫斯珀洛斯和他的三个女儿，
唱的是关于金树的歌。”

诗人们以日落时西方天空的美丽景色为比喻，将西方视为光明和荣耀的地区。因此，他们把祝福岛、红色的埃里西亚岛（岛上放牧着明亮的革律翁牛）和赫斯珀里得斯岛划入其中。有些人认为这些苹果是西班牙的橙子，希腊人听说过一些晦涩的说法。

赫拉克勒斯的一项著名功绩是他战胜了安泰俄斯。安泰是地球泰拉的儿子，是一位强大的巨人和摔跤手，只要他与地球母亲保持联系，他的力量就不可战胜。他强迫所有来到他国家的陌生人与他摔跤，条件是如果被征服（就像他们所有人一样），他们就应该被处死。赫拉克勒斯遇到了他，发现扔他是没有用的，因为他每次跌倒后都会重新恢复力量，于是把他从地上举起来，在空中勒死了。

卡库斯是一个巨大的巨人，他居住在阿文廷山的一个山洞里，并掠夺周围的国家。当赫拉克勒斯赶着革律翁的牛回家时，卡库斯趁赫拉克勒斯睡觉时偷走了部分牛。为了不让他们的脚印表明他们被赶到了哪里，他拉着他们的尾巴把他们拖回自己的洞穴里。所以他们的足迹似乎都表明他们是往相反的方向走的。赫拉克勒斯被这个计谋欺骗了，要不是在赶着剩下的牛群经过藏有偷来的牛的洞穴时，里面的牛开始低声叫喊，从而被发现，他就找不到他的牛了。卡库斯被赫拉克勒斯杀死。

我们要记录的最后一次功绩是将塞伯鲁斯从地底世界带回来。大力士赫拉克勒斯在墨丘利和密涅瓦的陪伴下下降到冥府。他获得了冥王星的许可，可以将塞伯鲁斯带到高空，前提是他可以在不使用武器的情况下做到这一点；尽管怪物奋力挣扎，他还是抓住了他，紧紧地抱住了他，把他带到了欧律斯透斯那里，然后又把他带了回来。当他在哈迪斯时，他获得了忒修斯的自由，忒修斯是他的崇拜者和模仿者，他因试图夺走普罗瑟平娜但未成功而被关押在那里。

赫拉克勒斯在一次疯狂中杀死了他的朋友伊菲托斯，并因此被判处成为翁法勒女王三年的奴隶。在服役期间，英雄的本性似乎发生了变化。他过着女性化的生活，有时穿着女人的衣服，和翁法勒的女仆一起纺羊毛，而王后却穿着他的狮子皮。仪式结束后，他与德贾尼拉结婚，并与她和平相处了三年。有一次，当他和妻子一起旅行时，他们来到一条河边，半人马涅索斯载着旅客过河，并收取一定的费用。赫拉克勒斯亲自渡河，但将德佳尼拉交给涅索斯，让他渡河。涅索斯试图带着她逃跑，但赫拉克勒斯听到了她的哭声，并把一支箭射进了涅索斯的心脏。垂死的半人马告诉德贾尼拉取一部分他的血并保留下来，因为它可以用来作为保持她丈夫的爱的咒语。

德贾尼拉这样做了，不久之后她就觉得自己有机会使用它。赫拉克勒斯在一次征服中俘虏了一位名叫伊奥莱的美丽少女，他似乎比德贾尼拉所认可的更喜欢她。当赫拉克勒斯准备向众神献祭以庆祝他的胜利时，他派人给他的妻子买了一件白袍以供此时使用。德贾尼拉认为这是尝试她的爱情咒语的好机会，于是将衣服浸入了涅索斯的血液中。我们假设她小心翼翼地洗掉了它的所有痕迹，但魔力仍然存在，当衣服在赫拉克勒斯身上变热时，毒液就渗透到他的所有四肢，给他带来了最强烈的痛苦。在疯狂中，他抓住了给他带来致命长袍的里查斯，并将他扔进了海里。他一把扯下衣服，但衣服却粘在了他的肉上，他的身体也随之被撕成了碎片。在这种情况下，他登上了一艘船并被送回家。德贾尼拉看到自己无意中所做的事情后，上吊自杀了。做好了赴死准备的赫拉克勒斯登上了奥埃塔山，在那里用树木搭建了一个葬礼堆，将弓箭交给了菲罗克忒忒斯，然后躺在堆上，头枕在棍棒上，狮皮铺在身上。他的表情平静得就像在节日的董事会上就座一样，他命令菲罗克忒忒斯点燃火把。火焰迅速蔓延，很快就烧毁了整个人群。

弥尔顿因此暗示了赫拉克勒斯的疯狂：

“就像来自奥卡利亚的阿尔西德斯加冕时一样
带着征服感，感受到那件有毒的长袍，然后撕破，
穿过痛苦，连根拔起色萨利松
Lichas 从 Oeta 山顶投掷
进入优布海。”[17]阿尔西德斯，赫拉克勒斯的名字。

众神看到这位大地冠军的结局也感到不安。但朱庇特却以愉快的表情对他们说道：“我很高兴看到你们的关心，我的王子们，我很高兴看到我是一个忠诚人民的统治者，我的儿子得到你们的青睐。因为虽然你对他的兴趣源于他的高尚行为，但这并不妨碍我感到高兴。但现在我对你说，不要害怕。征服了一切的人不会被奥塔山上熊熊燃烧的火焰所征服。只有他母亲对他的贡献才能消失；他从我身上得到的东西是不朽的。我将带他，死在地上，到天堂的海岸，我要求你们所有人善意地接待他。如果你们中有人对他获得这一荣誉感到难过，但没有人可以否认他应得的。”众神都同意了；朱诺只听到最后一句话，心里有些不悦，觉得自己竟然受到如此特别的指责，但还不足以让她后悔丈夫的决定。因此，当火焰吞噬了赫拉克勒斯母亲的部分时，占卜者的部分不但没有因此受到伤害，反而似乎以新的活力重新开始，呈现出更加崇高的姿态和更加可怕的尊严。朱庇特将他笼罩在云彩中，并用四马战车载着他居住在群星之中。当阿特拉斯在天堂占据一席之地时，他感到了额外的重量。

朱诺现在与他和解了，并将她的女儿赫贝嫁给了他。

诗人席勒在他的一首名为《理想与生活》的作品中，在一些美丽的诗节中阐释了实际与想象之间的对比，其中最后两节可以这样翻译：

“深深沦为懦夫的奴隶，
无休止的竞赛让阿尔西德斯变得勇敢，
走过充满荆棘的苦难之路；
杀死了九头蛇，粉碎了狮子的力量，
为了揭露他的朋友，他投身自尽，
活着，在载着死者的小船上。
地球上所有的折磨、所有的辛劳
朱诺对他的仇恨可能会强加，
好吧，从他命中注定的诞生起，他就怀揣着它们
生命的盛大悲伤结束了。

“直到神，尘世的部分被抛弃，
从那个在火焰中分崩离析的人身上，
喝下天上以太纯净的气息。
享受新的不寻常的轻松，
他飞升到天空的光辉，
地球的黑暗重担在死亡中消失了。
奥林匹斯高地给予和谐的问候
前往他的陛下所崇拜的统治大厅；
青春明媚的女神，见面就脸红，
将花蜜献给她的主人。”

——s。国标

赫柏和伽倪墨得斯

赫柏（Hebe），朱诺的女儿，青春女神，众神的侍酒者。通常的故事是，她在成为赫拉克勒斯的妻子后辞去职务。但我们的同胞、雕塑家克劳福德在他现在收藏于雅典娜神庙画廊的《赫柏和伽尼米德》小组中采用了另一种说法。据此，赫柏因有一天在参拜诸神时摔倒而被免职。她的继任者是特洛伊男孩伽倪墨得斯，朱庇特化身为鹰，将他从伊达山上的玩伴中抓走，带上天堂，安置在空地上。

丁尼生在他的《艺术宫殿》中，在墙上的装饰中描述了一幅代表这个传说的图画：

“那里，也有红润的伽尼米德，他红润的大腿
一半埋在鹰的绒毛里，
鞋底如同一颗飞星划过天际
在有柱子的城镇之上。”

在雪莱的《普罗米修斯》中，朱庇特这样呼唤他的侍酒者：

“倾倒天堂之酒，伊代安·伽尼米德，
让它像火一样充满 Daedal 杯子。”

“赫拉克勒斯的选择”的美丽传说可以在《闲谈者》第97期中找到。

忒修斯

忒修斯是雅典国王埃勾斯和特罗曾国王的女儿埃特拉的儿子。他在特罗岑长大，成年后将前往雅典向父亲展示自己。埃勾斯在儿子出生前与埃特拉告别时，将他的剑和鞋子放在一块大石头下，并指示她将他的儿子送到他身边，当他变得足够强大时，可以滚开石头并将它们从石头下取出。当她认为时间到了时，他的母亲把忒修斯带到了石头旁，他轻松地把石头移开，拿走了剑和鞋子。由于道路上盗贼横行，他的祖父恳切地敦促他采取更短、更安全的方式前往他父亲的国家——走海路；但是年轻人，在自己身上感受到了英雄的精神和灵魂，渴望像赫拉克勒斯那样展现自己，赫拉克勒斯的名声响彻整个希腊，消灭了压迫国家的恶人和怪物，决心采取更危险的行动。以及陆路冒险之旅。

第一天的旅程将他带到了埃皮达鲁斯，那里住着一个名叫佩里菲特斯的人，他是伏尔甘的儿子。这个凶猛的野蛮人总是手持铁棍，所有的旅行者都对他的暴力感到恐惧。当他看到忒修斯走近时，他向他发起了攻击，但很快就在这位年轻英雄的攻击下倒下了，这位年轻英雄夺走了他的棍棒，并从此带着它作为他第一次胜利的纪念。

随后，与这个国家的小暴君和掠夺者进行了几次类似的竞赛，忒修斯在所有这些竞赛中都取得了胜利。这些作恶者之一被称为普罗克拉斯特斯（Procrustes），或担架者。他有一个铁床架，他把所有落入他手中的旅行者都绑在上面。如果他们比床短，他就会伸展他们的四肢，让他们适合床；如果它们比床长，他就砍掉一部分。忒修斯为他服务，就像他为别人服务一样。

克服了路上的所有危险后，忒修斯终于到达了雅典，新的危险在那里等待着他。女术士美狄亚与伊阿宋分离后逃离科林斯，成为忒修斯父亲埃勾斯的妻子。她通过自己的手段知道了他的身份，并担心如果忒修斯被承认为他的儿子，她对丈夫的影响力就会丧失，她让埃勾斯的心中充满了对这个年轻陌生人的怀疑，并诱使他递给他一杯毒药。 ;但就在忒修斯上前接剑的那一刻，他的父亲看到了他所佩戴的剑，发现了他的身份，并阻止了致命的危险。美狄亚的技艺被发现，再次逃离应有的惩罚，到达亚洲，后来被称为米底亚的国家就以她的名字命名，忒修斯得到了他父亲的承认，并宣布他的继承人。

当时，雅典人因被迫向克里特岛国王米诺斯纳贡而深感痛苦。这支贡品由七名青年和七名少女组成，每年都会被送去被牛头人身的怪物米诺陶吞噬。它极其强大和凶猛，被关在代达罗斯建造的迷宫中，迷宫设计得如此巧妙，无论被困在里面的人在没有帮助的情况下都无法找到出路。牛头怪在这里漫游，并以人类受害者为食。

忒修斯决心把他的同胞从这场灾难中解救出来，否则就死在这场尝试中。因此，当送贡品的时间到了，按照习俗，通过抽签抽出青年和少女送去时，他不顾父亲的苦苦哀求，自告奋勇成为受害者之一。船像往常一样挂着黑帆出发，忒修斯答应他的父亲，如果他胜利归来，就把黑帆换成白帆。当他们到达克里特岛时，青年和少女被展示在米诺斯面前。国王的女儿阿里阿德涅在场，深深地爱上了忒修斯，而忒修斯也很快地回报了她的爱。她给了他一把剑，用来对抗牛头怪，并给了他一缕线，让他可以找到走出迷宫的路。他成功了，杀死了牛头怪，逃出了迷宫，并带着阿里阿德涅作为一路的同伴，带着被救的同伴航向雅典。在途中，他们在纳克索斯岛停留，忒修斯在那里抛弃了阿里阿德涅，让她睡着了。[18]意大利最精美的雕塑之一，梵蒂冈的阿里阿德涅卧像，就代表了这一事件。波士顿雅典娜博物馆拥有一份副本，并存放在美术博物馆。 他对他的恩人如此忘恩负义的对待的借口是密涅瓦在梦中出现在他面前并命令他这样做。

在接近阿提卡海岸时，忒修斯忘记了父亲指定的信号，也忘记了升起白帆，老国王以为儿子已经死了，结束了自己的生命。忒修斯就这样成为了雅典国王。

忒修斯最著名的冒险之一是他对亚马逊人的远征。在他们从赫拉克勒斯的攻击中恢复过来之前，他袭击了他们，并带走了他们的王后安提俄普。亚马逊人又入侵了雅典，并深入到了这座城市。忒修斯战胜他们的最后一场战斗是在城中心进行的。这场战斗是古代雕塑家最喜欢的主题之一，并在现存的几件艺术作品中得到了纪念。

忒修斯和皮里托斯之间的友谊是最亲密的，但却起源于战争。皮里托斯闯入马拉松平原，抢走了雅典国王的牲畜。忒修斯前去击退掠夺者。皮里托斯一看到他，就产生了钦佩之情。他伸出手表示和平，喊道：“你自己判断吧——你需要什么满足？” “你们的友谊。”雅典人回答道，然后他们发誓忠诚不可侵犯。他们的行为与职业相符，他们始终是真正的战友。他们每个人都渴望娶朱庇特的女儿为妻。忒修斯选择了海伦，当时她还只是个孩子，后来被誉为特洛伊战争的起因，他在朋友的帮助下把她带走了。皮里托斯渴望成为埃里巴斯君主的妻子。忒修斯虽然意识到了危险，但还是陪伴着这位野心勃勃的情人坠入了地狱。但普路托抓住了它们，并将它们放在宫殿门口的一块施了魔法的岩石上，它们一直留在那里，直到赫拉克勒斯到达并解放了忒修斯，让皮里托斯听天由命。

安提俄珀死后，忒修斯与克里特岛国王米诺斯的女儿菲德拉结婚。菲德拉在忒修斯的儿子希波吕托斯身上看到了一个年轻人，他拥有他父亲的所有优雅和美德，而且年龄与她的年龄相当。她爱他，但他拒绝了她的求爱，她的爱变成了恨。她利用自己对痴情丈夫的影响力，使他嫉妒他的儿子，而他则诅咒海王星对他进行报复。一天，当希波吕托斯驾着他的战车沿着海岸行驶时，一只海怪从水面升起，吓坏了马匹，使它们逃跑，并将战车撞成碎片。希波吕托斯被杀，但在戴安娜的帮助下，埃斯库拉庇俄斯使他复活。戴安娜将希波吕托斯从他被欺骗的父亲和假继母的权力中夺走了，并将他安置在意大利，置于仙女埃杰里亚的保护之下。

忒修斯最终失去了人民的青睐，退居到斯基罗斯国王吕科梅德斯的宫廷中，吕科梅德斯起初友善地接待了他，但后来却阴险地杀死了他。后来，雅典将军西蒙发现了他的遗骸安放的地方，并将其运回雅典，存放在一座名为特苏姆的神庙中，这座神庙是为了纪念这位英雄而建的。

忒修斯所娶的亚马逊女王被一些人称为
希波吕忒。这是她在莎士比亚的《仲夏夜》中的名字
夜之梦”——其主题是参加的庆祝活动
忒修斯和希波吕忒的婚礼。

赫曼斯夫人有一首关于古希腊传统的诗，即“忒修斯的阴影”在马拉松战役中出现，增强了他的同胞的力量。

忒修斯是一位半历史人物。据记载，他将当时拥有阿提卡领土的几个部落统一为一个国家，以雅典为首都。为了纪念这一重要事件，他设立了泛雅典娜节，以纪念雅典的守护神密涅瓦。这个节日与其他希腊运动会主要有两个不同之处。这是雅典人所特有的，其主要特征是庄严的游行，其中佩普拉斯（Peplus）或密涅瓦的神圣长袍被带到帕特农神庙，悬挂在女神雕像前。 Peplus 上布满了刺绣，由雅典贵族家庭精选的处女制作。游行队伍由各个年龄段和男女组成。老人们手里拿着橄榄枝，年轻人则手持武器。年轻的妇女们头上顶着篮子，里面装着圣器、糕点和祭祀所需的一切物品。游行队伍构成了帕台农神庙外部浅浮雕的主题。这些雕塑中有相当一部分现在存放在大英博物馆，其中包括被称为“埃尔金大理石”的雕塑。

奥运会及其他运动会

在这里提及希腊其他著名的民族运动会似乎并无不妥。第一个也是最杰出的是奥林匹克运动会，据说是由朱庇特本人创立的。他们在伊利斯的奥林匹亚举行了庆祝活动。大量观众从希腊各地、亚洲、非洲和西西里岛涌向他们。每五年在仲夏重复一次，持续五天。它们催生了奥林匹克竞赛计算时间和确定赛事日期的习俗。第一届奥林匹克运动会通常被认为与公元前 776 年相对应。皮提亚运动会在德尔斐附近、科林斯地峡上的地峡、阿尔戈利斯市尼米亚的尼米亚举行。

这些游戏的练习有五种：跑、跳、摔跤、投掷环、投标枪或拳击。除了体力和敏捷性的锻炼之外，还有音乐、诗歌、口才等方面的比赛。因此，这些游戏为诗人、音乐家和作家提供了向公众展示他们作品的最佳机会，胜利者的名声也广为传播。

代达罗斯

忒修斯借助阿里阿德涅的线索逃出的迷宫是由一位技艺高超的工匠代达罗斯建造的。这是一座大厦，有无数蜿蜒的通道和转弯，彼此相连，似乎没有起点也没有终点，就像迈安德河一样，它自行返回，时而向前，时而向后，最终流入大海。代达罗斯为米诺斯王建造了迷宫，但后来失去了国王的青睐，被关在塔楼里。他设法越狱，但无法从海路离开该岛，因为国王严格监视所有船只，未经仔细搜查，不允许任何船只航行。 “米诺斯可以控制陆地和海洋，”代达罗斯说，“但不能控制天空。我会尝试这样的方式。”于是他开始为自己和他的小儿子伊卡洛斯制作翅膀。他将羽毛拼凑在一起，从最小的羽毛开始，逐渐增加较大的羽毛，从而形成不断增大的表面。他用线固定较大的，用蜡固定较小的，并赋予整体柔和的弧度，就像鸟的翅膀一样。伊卡洛斯，男孩，站着看着，有时跑去收集被风吹走的羽毛，然后拿起蜡，用手指擦拭，他的玩耍妨碍了父亲的工作。当作品最终完成时，艺术家挥舞着翅膀，发现自己被浮起，悬挂在空中，在空气中保持平衡。接下来，他以同样的方式装备了他的儿子，并教他如何飞翔，就像一只小鸟将她的幼鸟从高高的巢中引诱到空中一样。当一切准备就绪后，他说：“伊卡洛斯，我的儿子，我嘱咐你保持适当的高度，因为如果你飞得太低，湿气会堵塞你的翅膀，如果太高，热量会融化它们。靠近我，你就会安全。”当他给他这些指示并将翅膀装在他的肩膀上时，父亲的脸上泪流满面，双手颤抖。他吻了男孩，却不知道这是最后一次。然后，他用翅膀升起，飞走了，鼓励他跟随，并从自己的飞行中回头看他的儿子如何管理他的翅膀。当他们飞翔时，农夫停下了手中的工作，凝视着他们，牧羊人则拄着拐杖看着他们，惊讶地发现他们是能劈开空气的神。

他们经过了左边的萨摩斯岛和提洛岛，右边经过了莱宾索斯岛，此时男孩正为自己的事业而欢欣鼓舞，开始离开同伴的指引，向上翱翔，仿佛要到达天堂。烈日的临近使将羽毛粘在一起的蜡变软，然后它们就脱落了。他挥动双臂，但没有羽毛支撑空气。当他的嘴向父亲发出呼喊时，他的嘴就被淹没在蓝色的海水中，从此以后，大海就以他的名字命名。他的父亲喊道：“伊卡洛斯，伊卡洛斯，你在哪里？”最后，他看到羽毛漂浮在水面上，痛苦地感叹自己的艺术，他埋葬了尸体，并将这片土地称为伊卡里亚，以纪念他的孩子。代达罗斯安全抵达西西里岛，在那里为阿波罗建造了一座神庙，并挂起自己的翅膀，作为献给神的祭品。

代达罗斯对自己的成就感到非常自豪，以至于他无法忍受竞争对手的想法。他的姐姐将她的儿子佩尔迪克斯交给他负责，让他学习机械艺术。他是一位聪明的学者，并表现出惊人的独创性。在海边散步时，他捡到了一条鱼的脊骨。他模仿了这一做法，拿了一块铁，在边缘刻了一个缺口，从而发明了埋弧焊。他把两块铁放在一起，用铆钉将它们的一端连接起来，然后磨尖另一端，制成了一对圆规。代达罗斯非常羡慕他的侄子的表现，有一天他们一起在一座高塔顶上时，他抓住了一个机会把他推开了。但崇尚聪明才智的密涅瓦看到了他的坠落，并把他变成了一只以他的名字命名的鸟——鹧鸪，从而阻止了他的命运。这种鸟不在树上筑巢，也不在高处飞翔，而是栖息在篱笆上，留意自己的跌落，避开高处。

达尔文是这样描述伊卡洛斯之死的：

“……蜡融化，琴弦松动
沉没在不忠实的翅膀上的倒霉的伊卡洛斯；
他一头冲过惊恐的空气，
四肢扭曲，头发蓬乱；
他散乱的羽毛在波浪上舞动，
悲伤的涅瑞伊得斯装饰着他水汪汪的坟墓；
在他苍白的胸前，珍珠般的海花绽放，
他的大理石床铺满了深红色的苔藓；
在他们的珊瑚塔中敲响了过去的钟声，
广阔的海洋中响起了他回响的丧钟。”

Castor和Pollux

卡斯托尔（Castor）和波勒克斯（Pollux）是勒达（Leda）和天鹅的后代，朱庇特（Jupiter）将自己隐藏在天鹅的伪装之下。勒达生下了一颗卵，并从卵中生下了双胞胎。海伦是他们的妹妹，后来因特洛伊战争的起因而闻名。

当忒修斯和他的朋友皮里托斯从斯巴达带走海伦时，年轻的英雄卡斯托耳和波吕克斯带着他们的追随者赶忙去营救她。忒修斯不在阿提卡，兄弟俩成功地救回了他们的妹妹。

卡斯托尔以驯服和管理马匹而闻名，波勒克斯则以拳击技巧而闻名。他们因最热烈的感情而团结在一起，在各自的事业中密不可分。他们陪同阿尔戈探险队。航行期间，暴风雨袭来，俄耳甫斯向萨莫色雷斯众神祈祷，并弹奏竖琴，风暴停止，星星出现在兄弟俩的头上。从这次事件中，卡斯托尔和波勒克斯后来被认为是海员和航海者的守护神，在某些大气状态下，船只的帆和桅杆周围的柔和火焰也以他们的名字命名。

阿尔戈探险队结束后，我们发现卡斯托尔和波勒克斯正在与伊达斯和林克斯进行战争。卡斯托尔被杀，波勒克斯因失去兄弟而悲痛欲绝，请求朱庇特允许他献出自己的生命作为他的赎金。朱庇特至此同意了，让两兄弟轮流享受生命的恩惠，一日在地下，另一日在天上。根据故事的另一种形式，木星奖励了兄弟俩的依恋，将他们安置在星星中，称为双胞胎双子座。

他们以迪奥斯库里（朱庇特之子）的名义获得了神圣的荣誉。据信，他们在后来的时代偶尔会出现，与一方或另一方一起参加激烈的战斗，据说在这种场合，他们会骑上华丽的白马上。因此，在罗马的早期历史中，据说他们在雷吉鲁斯湖之战中协助了罗马人，胜利后，人们在他们出现的地方为他们建立了一座神庙。

麦考利在他的《古罗马之歌》中这样提到了这个传说：

“就像他们一样，没有凡人
其他人可能知道吗？
他们的盔甲洁白如雪，
他们的马匹洁白如雪。
从未在地球的铁砧上
如此罕见的铠甲是否闪闪发光，
从来没有如此英勇的骏马
喝地上的溪流。

“酋长凯旋归来
谁在战斗时刻
见过伟大的双胞胎兄弟
在他右侧的安全带中。
船安全抵达避风港，
穿过巨浪，穿过狂风。
如果曾经是伟大的双胞胎兄弟
坐在帆上闪闪发光。”

巴克斯

巴克斯是朱庇特和塞墨勒的儿子。朱诺为了满足她对塞墨勒的怨恨，设计了一个毁灭她的计划。她化身为她年迈的护士贝罗埃，暗示她怀疑朱庇特本人是否真的以情人的身份来到这里。她叹了口气，说道：“我希望结果是这样，但我还是忍不住害怕。人们并不总是像他们假装的那样。如果他确实是朱庇特，请让他提供一些证据。请他穿着他所有的辉煌来参加，就像他在天堂时所穿的那样。这将使事情变得毫无疑问。”塞墨勒被说服尝试这个实验。她请求帮忙，但没有透露具体是什么。朱庇特给出了他的承诺，并以不可撤销的誓言证实了这一点，证明了冥河对众神来说是可怕的。然后她说出了她的要求。当她说话时，上帝会阻止她，但她对他来说太快了。这句话脱口而出，他既无法撤销自己的诺言，也无法撤销她的要求。他在极度痛苦中离开了她，回到了上层地区。在那里，他穿上了他的辉煌，并没有像他推翻巨人时那样表现出所有的恐惧，而是众神中所熟知的他的较少的盔甲。他穿上这身衣服，走进了塞墨勒的房间。她的凡人身躯无法承受仙光的绚丽。她被烧成了灰烬。

朱庇特把尚在襁褓中的酒神巴克斯带走，交给尼萨仙女们照顾，她们养育了他的婴儿期和童年，由于她们的照顾，朱庇特将他安置在群星之中，作为毕星团的奖励。当巴克斯长大后，他发现了葡萄树的文化和提取其珍贵汁液的方式；但朱诺却用疯狂袭击了他，驱使他流浪到世界各地。在弗里吉亚，女神瑞亚治愈了他并教给他她的宗教仪式，他开始穿越亚洲，教人们种植葡萄树。他的漂泊中最著名的部分是他对印度的探险，据说持续了数年。他凯旋归来后，着手将他的崇拜引入希腊，但遭到了一些王子的反对，他们担心它的引入会带来混乱和疯狂。

当他接近他的家乡底比斯时，国王彭透斯不尊重新的崇拜，禁止举行这种仪式。但是，当人们知道巴克斯正在前进时，男人和女人，但主要是后者，无论年轻还是年老，都蜂拥而至，加入他的凯旋行军。

朗费罗先生在他的《饮酒之歌》中这样描述了
巴克斯：

“牧神带着年轻的巴克斯跟随；
眉毛上长满常春藤，超凡脱俗
正如阿波罗的额头，
并拥有永恒的青春。

“在他周围，美丽的酒神，
承载铙钹、长笛和神祇，
产自赞特岛纳克斯丛林的野生植物
葡萄园，唱着疯狂的诗句，”

彭透斯的劝告、命令和威胁都是徒劳的。 “去吧，”他对侍从们说道，“抓住这个溃败的流浪汉，把他带到我这里来。我很快就会让他承认他的天国出身的虚假主张，并放弃他的虚假崇拜。”他最亲密的朋友和最明智的顾问都徒劳地劝告并恳求他不要反对神。他们的抗议只会让他更加暴力。

但现在，他派去抓捕巴克斯的随从们又回来了。他们被酒神们赶走了，但成功俘虏了其中一名囚犯，并将他双手反绑在身后，带到了国王面前。彭透斯愤怒地看着他，说道：“伙计！你们将被迅速处死，以便你们的命运可以警告其他人；虽然我对延迟对你的惩罚感到不满，但请说吧，告诉我们你是谁，以及你打算庆祝的新仪式是什么。”

囚犯并不害怕，回答道：“我的名字叫阿塞特斯；我的国家是梅奥尼亚；我的父母都是穷人，他们没有田地或羊群可以留给我，但他们把鱼竿、渔网和渔民的生意留给了我。我遵循这一点一段时间，直到厌倦了留在一个地方，我学会了飞行员的艺术以及如何通过星星引导我的航线。这件事发生在我航行前往提洛岛的途中，我们在迪亚岛接触并上岸。第二天早上，我派人去取淡水，我自己则爬上山观察风向。当我的人回来时，他们认为带来了一个战利品，一个外表精致的男孩，他们发现他睡着了。他们判断他是一位贵族青年，也许是国王的儿子，他们可能会为他得到慷慨的赎金。我观察他的穿着、他的步态、他的脸。我确信他们身上有某种超越凡人的东西。我对我的部下说：‘我不知道以这种形式隐藏着什么神，但肯定有一位神存在。请原谅我们，温柔的神明，我们对您的暴力行为，祝我们的事业成功。”迪克蒂斯是我爬上桅杆、从绳索上下来的最佳帮手之一，我的舵手梅兰瑟斯和水手呼喊的领头人埃波佩斯全都喊道：“请为我们祈祷吧。”利益欲是如此盲目！当他们准备把他送上船时，我拒绝了他们。 “这艘船不应该被这种不敬的行为所亵渎，”我说，“我对她的感情比你们任何人都多。”但莱卡巴斯是个脾气暴躁的人，他掐住我的喉咙，试图把我扔到海里，我紧紧抓住绳子，差点就救了自己。其余人批准了这项行动。

“然后巴克斯（确实是他）仿佛摆脱了睡意，大声喊道：‘你对我做什么？这是在打什么仗呢？谁带我来这里的？你要带我去哪里？其中一个回答说：“不要害怕；告诉我们你想去哪里，我们会带你去那里。 “纳克索斯是我的家，”巴克斯说。 “带我去那里，你会得到丰厚的回报。”他们答应了，并告诉我驾驶这艘船前往纳克索斯岛。纳克索斯岛位于右侧，我正在调整船帆以将我们带到那里，这时一些人通过手势和其他人通过低声向我表示他们的意愿，即我应该朝相反的方向航行，并将男孩带到埃及，以一个价格卖掉他。奴隶。我很困惑，说：“让别人来驾驶这艘船吧；”我不再参与他们的邪恶行为。他们咒骂我，其中一个咒骂道：“别自以为我们的安全依赖于你；”担任飞行员的任何地方，并远离纳克索斯岛。

“然后，神假装刚刚意识到他们的背叛，望着大海，用哭泣的声音说道：‘水手们，这不是你们答应带我去的海岸；那边的岛不是我的家。我到底做了什么，你要这样对待我？欺骗一个可怜的孩子，你所获得的荣耀是微不足道的。”听到他的声音我哭了，但船员们嘲笑我们俩，然后船在海上快速行驶。突然——虽然看起来很奇怪，但确实如此——船停在了海中央，速度快得就像固定在地面上一样。船员们大吃一惊，拉动桨，张开更多的帆，试图借助双方的帮助取得进展，但一切都是徒劳。常春藤缠绕在桨上，阻碍了它们的运动，并附着在帆上，结满了沉重的浆果。一棵挂满葡萄的藤蔓爬上桅杆，沿着船的两侧延伸。笛声响起，酒香四溢。神本人有一顶藤叶花环，手里拿着一根缠绕着常春藤的长矛。老虎蹲在他的脚下，山猫和斑豹在他周围嬉戏。人们要么感到恐惧，要么感到疯狂。有些人跳下船；有些人则跳下船。其他准备做同样事情的人看到他们的同伴在水中发生了变化，他们的身体变得扁平，最后形成了一条弯曲的尾巴。有人惊呼：“这是什么奇迹！”当他说话时，他的嘴张得更大，鼻孔张大，鳞片覆盖了他的全身。另一个人正想拉桨，却感觉自己的手缩小了，很快就不再是手，而是鱼鳍了。另一个人试图将手臂举到绳子上，却发现自己没有手臂，于是弯曲着残缺不全的身体，跳进了海里。原本的双腿变成了新月形尾巴的两端。全体船员都变成了海豚，在船上游来游去，时而在水面上，时而在船底下，散开水花，从宽大的鼻孔中喷出水花。二十个人中只剩下我一个人了。上帝让我因恐惧而颤抖。 “别害怕，”他说。 “驶向纳克索斯岛。”我服从了，当我们到达那里时，我点燃了祭坛并庆祝了巴克斯的神圣仪式。”

彭透斯大声说道：“我们在这个愚蠢的故事上已经浪费了足够多的时间了。把他带走，立即处决。”阿塞特斯被随从带走，关进监狱。但当他们准备好刑具时，监狱的门自动打开了，锁链从他的四肢上掉了下来，当他们寻找他时却找不到他。

彭透斯没有接受任何警告，而是决定亲自前往庄严的现场，而不是派其他人。西瑟隆山上到处都是信徒，酒神的叫喊声在四面八方回响。这声音激起了彭透斯的愤怒，就像喇叭声激怒了战马一样。他穿过树林，到达了一片空地，看到了狂欢的主要场景。与此同时，女人们也看到了他。其中第一个是他自己的母亲阿盖夫，她被神明弄瞎了眼睛，大声喊道：“看那头野猪，在这片树林里徘徊的最大的怪物！加油，姐妹们！我将第一个击杀野猪。”整群人冲向他，虽然他现在说话不那么傲慢了，现在为自己辩解，现在承认了自己的罪行并恳求宽恕，但他们却向他施压并打伤了他。他徒劳地向阿姨们哭诉，希望他们能保护他免受母亲的伤害。奥托诺埃抓住一只手臂，伊野抓住另一只手臂，他在他们之间被撕成碎片，而他的母亲大喊：“胜利！胜利！我们已经做到了；荣耀是我们的！”

于是希腊就确立了对酒神巴克斯的崇拜。

《酒神巴克斯》中提到了酒神巴克斯和水手们的故事。
弥尔顿的《Comus》第 46 行，喀耳刻的故事可以在

“酒神巴克斯，首先从紫葡萄中取出
粉碎滥用酒的甜毒，
托斯卡纳风俗习惯发生转变后，
顺风而行，沿着第勒尼海岸行驶
在喀耳刻的岛上坠落（谁不知道喀耳刻，
太阳的女儿？谁的迷人杯子
谁尝了就失去了正气，
然后向下跌落成一头卑躬屈膝的猪）。

阿里阿德涅

我们在忒修斯的故事中看到，米诺斯国王的女儿阿里阿德涅帮助忒修斯逃出迷宫后，被他带到了纳克索斯岛并在那里沉睡，而忘恩负义的忒修斯则不顾一切地踏上回家的路。她。阿里阿德涅醒来后发现自己被遗弃了，陷入了悲伤之中。但维纳斯怜悯她，安慰她并承诺她应该拥有一位不朽的情人，而不是她失去的凡人情人。

阿里阿德涅留下的岛屿是巴克斯最喜欢的岛屿，当第勒尼安水手们如此奸诈地试图夺取他时，他希望他们把他带到那个岛。当阿里阿德涅坐着哀叹自己的命运时，巴克斯找到了她，安慰了她，并娶了她为妻。作为结婚礼物，他送给她一顶镶嵌着宝石的金王冠，当她死后，他把她的王冠摘下并扔向天空。当它升起时，宝石变得越来越亮，变成了星星，阿里阿德涅的王冠保持了它的形状，仍然像一个星座一样固定在天空中，位于跪着的赫拉克勒斯和握着蛇的人之间。

斯宾塞提到了阿里阿德涅的王冠，尽管他在神话中犯了一些错误。半人马和拉皮泰是在皮里托斯（Pirithous）的婚礼上发生争吵的，而不是忒修斯（Theseus）。

“看看阿里阿德涅戴的王冠怎么样
当天在她象牙色的额头上
忒修斯为他的新娘生下了她，
然后勇敢的半人马发动了血腥的战斗
凶猛的拉皮特人令他们惊慌失措；
现在被放置在苍穹之中，
她的光芒穿过明亮的天堂，
也是星星的装饰品，
哪一轮她的动作都非常好。”

乡村神祇

潘神是森林和田野、羊群和牧羊人的神，居住在石窟中，徘徊在高山和山谷中，以追逐或带领仙女们跳舞为乐。他热爱音乐，正如我们所见，他是鸣笛（即牧羊笛）的发明者，他自己也演奏得非常出色。潘像其他居住在森林中的神一样，对那些因职业而需要在夜间穿过树林的人感到恐惧，因为这种场景的阴暗和孤独使人产生迷信的恐惧。因此，没有任何明显原因的突然恐惧被归咎于潘，并被称为恐慌。

由于神的名字意味着“一切”，潘被认为是宇宙的象征和自然的化身。后来仍然被视为所有神灵和异教本身的代表。

西尔瓦努斯（Sylvanus）和法乌努斯（Faunus）是拉丁神灵，他们的特征与潘神几乎相同，因此我们可以放心地认为他们是不同名字下的同一人物。

潘的舞蹈伙伴木仙女只是仙女中的一类。除了她们之外，还有掌管溪流和喷泉的水仙女、高山和洞穴的仙女欧瑞德，以及海洋仙女海神涅瑞德。最后提到的三个是不朽的，但被称为树妖或哈玛德莉的木仙女被认为会与她们居住的树木一起灭亡。因此，肆意毁坏一棵树是一种不敬虔的行为，在一些严重的情况下会受到严厉的惩罚，就像我们即将记录的埃里西通的例子一样。

弥尔顿在他对早期创造的热情描述中，暗示潘是自然的化身：

“……通用锅，
在舞蹈中与美惠和时光编织，
引领永恒的春天。”

并描述夏娃的住所：

“……在阴凉的凉亭里，
更神圣或更隐秘，尽管是假装的，
潘或西尔瓦努斯从不睡觉，仙女也不睡觉
法乌努斯也没有闹鬼。”

——《失乐园》，B. IV。

古老的异教有一个令人愉快的特征，那就是它喜欢在自然的每一个运作中追踪神的代理。希腊人的想象力使地球和海洋的所有区域都充满了神灵，我们的哲学将这些现象归因于自然法则的运作。有时，在我们诗意的心情中，我们倾向于对这种变化感到遗憾，并认为心灵因替代而失去的和头脑所获得的一样多。诗人华兹华斯强烈地表达了这样的情感：

“……伟大的上帝，我宁愿
一个异教徒，沉浸在过时的信条中，
我也可以，站在这宜人的草地上，
瞥见会让我不那么孤独；
看到普罗透斯从海中升起，
听听老特里顿吹响他的花环号角。”

席勒在他的诗《死去的格里兴兰》中表达了他对推翻古代美丽神话的遗憾，这一点引起了基督教诗人E·巴雷特·勃朗宁夫人的回答，她在她的诗中写道：死潘。”以下两节经文是一个样本：

“通过你的美丽承认
一些首席美女征服了你，
以我们伟大的英雄猜测
通过你对真理的谎言，
我们不会哭泣！地球会滚动
每个神的光环的继承人，
潘死了。

“地球的发展超出了神话的想象
青春时在她身边歌唱；
还有那些温文尔雅的浪漫
听起来很平淡，但与事实相比却很乏味。
菲比斯的战车路线开始了！
诗人们，抬头仰望太阳吧！
潘，潘死了。”

这些诗句是建立在早期基督教传统之上的，即当天军告诉伯利恒的牧羊人基督的诞生时，希腊所有岛屿都能听到一声深沉的呻吟，告诉人们伟大的潘已经死了，所有的皇室成员都死了。奥林匹斯山的神被废黜，几位神祇被送入寒冷和黑暗之中。因此弥尔顿在他的《圣诞颂歌》中写道：

“孤独的山峦，
还有那波涛汹涌的海岸，
传来哭泣声和大声哀叹；
从闹鬼的春天和山谷，
镶有白杨木边，
离别天才带着叹息送；
花朵编织的长发被撕裂，
暮色中的仙女们在纠结的灌木丛中哀悼。”

埃里西鱼

埃里西克通是一个亵渎神明的人，也是一个蔑视诸神的人。有一次，他擅自用斧头侵犯了谷神星神圣的树林。树林里矗立着一棵古老的橡树，它巨大得就像是一棵木头，古老的树干高高耸立，上面经常挂着许愿花环，刻着铭文，表达祈求者对树上仙女的感激之情。树精们常常手拉手围着它跳舞。它的树干周长十五肘，高过其他树，就像它们高过灌木丛一样。但尽管如此，埃里西通认为没有理由饶恕它，他命令他的仆人把它砍掉。当他看到他们犹豫不决时，他从其中夺走了一把斧头，不敬地说道：如果是女神本人的话，如果它挡住了我的路，它就应该下来。”说着，他举起了斧子，橡树似乎颤抖着，发出了呻吟声。当第一击击中躯干时，鲜血从伤口中流出来。围观的人全都惊恐万分，其中一个人壮着胆子上前劝阻，将那致命的斧头收住了。埃里西顿带着轻蔑的目光对他说：“接受你的虔诚的奖赏吧！”并用他从树上拿起的武器来攻击他，在他的身上划出了许多伤口，并砍下了他的头。然后，从橡树中间传来了一个声音：“住在这棵树上的我是谷神星所钟爱的仙女，我死在你手里，预先警告你，惩罚正在等待着你。”他并没有停止犯罪，最后，那棵树在反复的打击下被打断，被绳子拉着，轰然倒下，倒塌了树林的很大一部分。

树精们因失去同伴而感到沮丧，并看到森林的骄傲被摧毁，他们全都穿着哀悼的衣服，来到了谷神星，并对埃里西克通进行了惩罚。她点头表示同意，当她低下头时，田野里成熟的谷物也低下了头。她计划了一种严厉的惩罚，如果像他这样的罪魁祸首能够得到怜悯的话，人们会怜悯他——把他送进饥荒。由于塞瑞斯本人无法接近饥荒，因为命运注定这两位女神永远不会走到一起，她从山上召唤出一个奥瑞德，对她说了这样的话：“在冰雪覆盖的最远的地方有一个地方。斯基泰，一个悲伤而贫瘠的地区，没有树木，没有庄稼。那里居住着寒冷、恐惧、战栗和饥荒。去告诉最后一个占领埃里西克通的内脏。不要让富裕征服她，也不要让我天赋的力量将她赶走。不要因为距离而惊慌”（因为饥荒离谷神星很远），“但是乘坐我的战车。龙的速度很快，听从缰绳，很快就会带你飞到空中。”于是她把缰绳交给了她，她开车离开，很快就到达了斯基泰。到达高加索山后，她阻止了龙，并在一片石地里发现了饥荒，它正在用牙齿和爪子拔除稀少的牧草。她的头发蓬乱，双目凹陷，脸色苍白，嘴唇惨白，下巴沾满灰尘，皮肤紧绷，骨头都露出来了。当奥瑞德远远地看到她时（因为她不敢靠近），她传达了谷神星的命令；尽管她停下来的时间尽可能短，并尽可能保持距离，但她还是开始感到饥饿，于是调转龙头，驱车返回色萨利。

饥荒听从了刻瑞斯的命令，飞快地从空中飞到了埃里西克通的住所，进入了罪人的卧室，发现他睡着了。她用翅膀将他包裹起来，将自己的气息吸入他体内，将毒液注入他的血管中。完成任务后，她赶紧离开鱼米之乡，回到她惯常出没的地方。埃里西克顿还在睡觉，在梦中他渴望食物，并像在吃东西一样移动他的下巴。当他醒来时，他的饥饿感非常强烈。没有片刻的耽搁，他就会把食物摆在他面前，无论是地球、海洋还是空气中产生的任何食物；甚至在吃饭时也抱怨饥饿。对于一个城市或一个国家来说已经足够的东西，对他来说还不够。他吃得越多，就越想吃。他的饥饿如大海，纳百川而永不填满；或者像火一样，它会燃烧掉堆在其上的所有燃料，但仍然贪婪地想要更多。

他的财产在他不断的胃口需求下迅速减少，但他的饥饿却丝毫未减。最后他花光了一切，只剩下了他的女儿，一个值得更好的父母的女儿。她也被他卖掉了。她蔑视成为购买者的奴隶，站在海边举起双手向海王星祈祷。他听到了她的祈祷，虽然她的新主人就在不远的地方，并且不久前还注视过她，但海王星改变了她的形态，让她呈现出一个忙碌于自己职业的渔夫的样子。师父寻她，见她变了样，便对她说道：“良善的渔夫，我刚才所见的那女子，头发蓬乱，衣着简朴，站在你所在的地方，到哪里去了？真实地告诉我；祝你好运，不要有鱼咬住你的鱼钩而逃走。”她意识到她的祈祷得到了回应，并在听到自己被问及自己的情况时内心感到高兴。她回答说：“请原谅，陌生人，但我一直专注于我的线路，所以没有看到其他东西；但如果我相信除了我自己之外还有任何女人或其他人在这附近呆过一段时间，我希望我永远不会钓到另一条鱼。”他被骗了，以为他的奴隶逃跑了，就走了。然后她又恢复了原来的样子。她父亲很高兴发现她还和他在一起，而且他还通过卖掉她得到了钱。于是他又把她卖了。但她每次被卖时，都会因海王星的恩惠而改变，时而变成一匹马，时而变成一只鸟，时而变成一头牛，时而变成一头雄鹿——逃离她的买家并回家。饥饿的父亲就是用这种卑鄙的方法获取食物的。但还不足以满足他的需要，最后饥饿迫使他吞掉自己的四肢，他努力通过吃自己的身体来滋养自己的身体，直到死亡使他摆脱了谷神星的复仇。

罗克斯

Hamadryads 可以欣赏服务并惩罚伤害。罗克斯的故事证明了这一点。罗克斯碰巧看到一棵橡树即将倒下，便命令他的仆人把它撑起来。快要和树一起灭亡的仙女来了，向他表示感谢，感谢他救了她的命，并嘱咐他要什么报酬。罗克斯大胆地向她求爱，仙女满足了他的愿望。同时，她嘱咐他要始终如一，并告诉他，一只蜜蜂应该成为她的使者，让他知道她何时愿意与他交往。有一次，罗克斯正在打草稿时，一只蜜蜂来到了他身边，他不小心把它赶走了。这激怒了仙女，她剥夺了他的视力。

我们的同胞，JR 洛厄尔，以这个故事为主题写了一首较短的诗。他是这样介绍的：

“现在听听这个古希腊的童话传说，
依然充满自由、青春和美丽，
正如那恩典的不朽的新鲜感
阁楼饰带上雕刻有适合所有年龄段的图案。”

水神

俄刻阿诺斯（Oceanus）和特提斯（Tethys）是统治水元素的泰坦神。当朱庇特和他的兄弟们推翻了泰坦并夺取了他们的权力后，海王星和安菲特里忒取代了俄刻阿诺斯和特提斯，继承了水域的统治权。

海王星

海王星是水神的首领。他权力的象征是三叉戟，即三尖矛，他用它来粉碎岩石、召唤或抑制风暴、震动海岸等。他创造了马，并且是赛马活动的赞助人。他自己的马有黄铜蹄和金色鬃毛。他们拉着他的战车驶过大海，大海在他面前变得平坦，而深海的怪物则在他的道路上嬉戏。

安菲特里特

安菲特里忒是尼普顿的妻子。她是涅柔斯和多丽丝的女儿，也是特里同的母亲。海王星为了向安菲特里忒献殷勤，骑着海豚而来。赢得她之后，他奖励了海豚，将他安置在星星之中。

海神涅柔斯和多丽丝

海神涅柔斯（Nereus）和多丽丝（Doris）是海神涅瑞伊得斯（Nereids）的父母，其中最著名的是安菲特里忒（Amphitrite）、阿喀琉斯（Achilles）的母亲忒提斯（Thetis）和独眼巨人波吕斐摩斯（Cyclops Polyphemus）所爱的加拉泰亚（Galatea）。涅柔斯因其知识和对真理与正义的热爱而闻名，因此他被称为长老。预言的恩赐也被赋予了他。

海卫一和普罗透斯

特里同是尼普顿和安菲特里忒的儿子，诗人们把他当作父亲的号手。普罗透斯也是海王星的儿子。他和涅柔斯一样，因其智慧和对未来事件的了解而被称为海中长老。他的特殊能力是可以随意改变自己的形状。

忒提斯

忒提斯是海神涅柔斯和多丽丝的女儿，她非常美丽，以至于朱庇特亲自向她求婚。但当朱庇特从泰坦神普罗米修斯那里得知忒提斯将生下一个比他父亲更伟大的儿子后，他停止了诉讼，并下令忒提斯应成为凡人的妻子。在半人马喀戎的帮助下，珀琉斯成功为他的新娘赢得了女神的芳心，他们的儿子就是著名的阿喀琉斯。在我们关于特洛伊战争的章节中，忒提斯似乎是他忠实的母亲，在所有困难中帮助他，并自始至终照顾他的利益。

白藻和长臂虾

卡德摩斯的女儿、阿塔玛斯的妻子伊诺，抱着小儿子梅利塞特斯，从疯狂的丈夫身边飞奔而出，从悬崖跳入大海。诸神出于怜悯，封她为海洋女神，名为Leucothea，也封他为神，名为Palaemon。两者都具有拯救海难的强大力量，并被水手们援引。长须虾通常被描绘成骑在海豚上。地峡运动会是为了纪念他而举行的。他被罗马人称为波图努斯（Portunus），据信拥有港口和海岸的管辖权。

弥尔顿在《Comus》结尾处的歌曲中提到了所有这些神灵：

“……萨布丽娜公平，
聆听并向我们显现，
以伟大的俄刻阿诺斯之名；
借助惊天动地的海王星权杖，
还有特提斯庄重、雄伟的步伐，
从苍老的海神涅柔斯满是皱纹的表情来看，
还有喀尔巴阡巫师的钩子，[19]变形虫
借着海卫一的鳞片蜿蜒的贝壳，
还有格劳克斯古老的占卜咒语，
通过Leucothea可爱的双手，
还有她的儿子，他是统治者。
在忒提斯穿着金属丝拖鞋的脚旁，
塞壬的歌声甜美；” ETC。

“养生艺术”诗人阿姆斯特朗在健康女神海吉亚的启发下，歌颂了水仙女。佩翁 (Paeon) 是阿波罗 (Apollo) 和埃斯库拉庇俄斯 (Aesculapius) 的名字。

“来吧，你们这些水仙们！通往喷泉！
吉祥的女仆们！任务仍然是唱歌
你的礼物（所以Paeon，所以健康的力量
Command），来赞扬你的水晶元素。
啊，舒适的溪流！热切的嘴唇
颤抖的双手无力地渴饮
你的新生命；他们的血管里充满了新鲜的活力。
农村时代没有更温暖的杯子，
没有人比人类的祖先更热情；
平和的日子过得幸福快乐
没有感受到交替出现的狂热的欢笑
还有病态的沮丧；依然平静而快乐，
拥有神圣的免疫力，远离疾病，
他们生活了漫长的世纪；他们唯一的命运
已经年老了，宁愿睡觉也不愿死亡。”

卡梅奈

拉丁人用这个名字指定缪斯，但也包括其他一些神灵，主要是喷泉仙女。 Egeria就是其中之一，其喷泉和石窟至今仍可见。据说，罗马第二任国王努玛受到这位仙女的青睐，通过秘密会面，她向他传授了智慧和法律的教训，并将这些教训体现在他崛起的国家的机构中。努玛死后，仙女变得憔悴，变成了喷泉。

拜伦在“Childe Harold”第四章中提到了 Egeria 和她的石窟：

“你住在这里，在这迷人的掩护下，
伊吉利亚！你天上的胸膛都在跳动
为了你凡人爱人的远方足迹；
紫色的午夜笼罩着那神秘的相遇
拥有她最繁星璀璨的天篷；” ETC。

丁尼生也在他的《艺术宫殿》中让我们一睹这位等待采访的皇室情人：

“一只手捂着耳朵，
列出他看到之前的脚步声
森林仙女，托斯卡纳国王留下来聆听
智慧和法律。”

风

当如此多不那么活跃的机构被人格化时，我们不能认为风没有如此。他们是波瑞阿斯（Boreas）或阿奎罗（Aquilo），北风； Zephyrus 或 Favonius，西边；诺图斯或奥斯特，南方；和Eurus，东方。诗人主要颂扬前两者，前者是粗鲁的类型，后者是温柔的类型。波瑞阿斯爱上了仙女奥瑞提亚，并试图扮演情人的角色，但收效甚微。他呼吸困难，更不可能叹息。最终，他厌倦了徒劳的努力，他表现出了自己的本性，抓住了少女并把她带走了。他们的孩子是泽特斯（Zetes）和加莱（Calais），他们是有翅膀的战士，伴随着阿尔戈远征队，在与鹰身女妖的遭遇战中立下了汗马功劳。

Zephyrus 是弗洛拉的情人。弥尔顿在书中提到了他们
《失乐园》中，他描述了亚当醒来并沉思的情景
伊芙还在睡觉。

“……他这边
半仰着身子，脸上带着亲切的爱意，
迷恋地悬在她身上，看到
美，无论醒着还是睡着，
散发出独特的优雅；然后用声音，
温和如弗洛拉上的西风呼吸时，
她的手轻柔地抚摸着，低声说道：“醒醒！”
我最美丽的，我的未婚夫，我最新的发现，
天堂最后的、最好的礼物，我永远新的喜悦。”

《夜思》的诗人杨博士在谈到闲散和奢侈时说道：

“你们好娇气啊！没有什么可以支持的人
（你自己最受不了）为了谁
冬天的玫瑰必须绽放，……
……如丝般柔软
法沃纽斯呼吸再轻一点，不然就被责备了！”

阿克洛斯和赫拉克勒斯

河神阿克洛斯向忒修斯和他的同伴讲述了埃里西克通的故事，他在热情好客的船上款待了他们，而他们的行程却因河水泛滥而耽搁了。故事讲完后，他补充道：“但是，当我自己就是拥有这种力量的例子时，我为什么要讲述别人的转变呢？有时我变成一条蛇，有时我变成头有角的公牛。或者我应该说我曾经可以这样做；但现在我失去了一只角，只剩下一只角了。”说到这里，他呻吟了一声，然后沉默了。

忒修斯问他悲伤的原因，以及他是如何失去角的。对于这个问题，河神回答如下：“谁喜欢讲述自己的失败呢？然而我会毫不犹豫地讲述我的故事，用我的征服者的伟大来安慰自己，因为那是赫拉克勒斯。也许你听说过德贾尼拉（Dejanira）的名声，她是最美丽的少女，众多追求者都在努力争取她。赫拉克勒斯和我也在其中，剩下的就交给我们两个了。他代表他极力主张他是朱庇特的后裔，他的劳动超出了他继母朱诺的苛求。另一方面，我对少女的父亲说：‘看我，流经你土地的水之王。我并不陌生，来自异国他乡，但我属于这个国家，属于你的王国。不要妨碍我，皇家朱诺不欠我任何敌意，也不用繁重的任务惩罚我。至于这个自称是朱庇特之子的人，这要么是一个虚假的借口，要么是对他来说是可耻的，因为除非他母亲感到羞耻，否则这不可能是真的。当我说话的时候，赫拉克勒斯对我怒目而视，很难抑制住他的愤怒。 “我的手会比我的舌头更好地回答，”他说。 “我在言语上让你取得胜利，但将我的事业托付给行动的斗争。”说完，他向我走来，听完我的话，我羞于屈服。我脱掉绿色外衣，投入斗争。他试图扔我，一会儿攻击我的头，一会儿攻击我的身体。我的块头就是我的保护，他徒劳地攻击我。我们停顿了一段时间，然后又回到了冲突。我们每个人都保持着自己的立场，坚决不让步，我弯下腰，握紧他的手，我的额头几乎碰到他的。赫拉克勒斯三次试图把我推开，第四次他成功了，把我推倒在地，他自己也骑在我的背上。说实话，我就像一座大山倒塌了一样。我努力挣脱双臂，气喘吁吁，汗流浃背。他不给我回过神来的机会，却掐住了我的喉咙。我的膝盖在地上，我的嘴在灰尘中。

“我发现自己的武功根本不是他的对手，便求助于其他人，化作一条蛇，滑行而去。我把身体卷成一圈，用分叉的舌头对他发出嘶嘶声。他对此轻蔑地笑了笑，说道：“征服蛇是我幼年的劳动。”说着，他双手掐住了我的脖子。我几乎被噎住了，挣扎着想把自己的脖子从他的手中挣脱出来。在这种形态下被击败后，我尝试了仅剩的一切，并呈现出公牛的形态。他用手臂掐住我的脖子，把我的头拖到地上，把我推倒在沙地上。这还不够。他无情的手从我头上撕下了我的角。水神们接过它，圣化了它，并在里面装满了芬芳的花朵。很多人都采用了我的号角并将其变成了自己的，并称之为“聚宝盆”。”

古人喜欢在神话故事中寻找隐藏的意义。他们解释阿克洛斯与赫拉克勒斯的这场战斗时说，阿克洛斯是一条在雨季会溢出河岸的河流。当寓言中说阿克洛斯爱德佳尼拉并寻求与她结合时，其含义是蜿蜒的河流流经德佳尼拉王国的一部分。据说它的形状是蛇，因为它蜿蜒曲折，而它的形状是公牛，因为它在行进过程中发出争吵或咆哮。当河水上涨时，它又形成了另一条河道。因此它的头是有角的。赫拉克勒斯通过堤坝和运河阻止了这些周期性溢出的再次发生。因此据说他打败了河神并砍下了他的角。最后，以前泛滥的土地现在得到了救赎，变得非常肥沃，这就是丰饶之角的意思。

关于聚宝盆的起源还有另一种说法。朱庇特一出生就被他的母亲瑞亚托付给克里特岛国王梅利修斯的女儿们照顾。他们用阿玛尔忒亚山羊的奶喂养婴儿神。朱庇特折下了山羊的一只角，把它交给了他的保姆，并赋予它神奇的力量，可以充满拥有者想要的任何东西。

阿玛尔忒亚 (Amalthea) 的名字也被一些作家赋予巴克斯 (Bacchus) 的母亲。因此，弥尔顿在《失乐园》第四卷中使用了它：

“……那个尼西安岛，
环绕着特里同河，老占姆在那里，
外邦人称呼他为阿蒙人，称呼他为利比亚人朱庇特，
隐藏了阿玛尔忒亚和她华丽的儿子，
年轻的巴克斯，来自他的继母瑞亚的眼睛。”

阿德墨托斯与阿尔刻提斯

埃斯库拉庇俄斯（Aesculapius）是阿波罗的儿子，他的父亲赋予他高超的医术，甚至可以使死人复活。冥王星对此感到震惊，并说服木星向埃斯库拉皮乌斯发射雷霆。阿波罗对儿子的惨死感到愤慨，并向制造雷电的无辜工人进行了报复。这些人就是独眼巨人，他们的作坊位于埃特纳山下，他们的熔炉不断冒出烟雾和火焰。阿波罗向独眼巨人射箭，这激怒了朱庇特，他谴责独眼巨人成为凡人的仆人一年。因此，阿波罗开始为色萨利国王阿德墨托斯服务，并在安弗律索斯河青翠的河岸上为他放牧羊群。

阿德墨托斯和其他人一起向珀利阿斯的女儿阿尔刻提斯求婚，阿尔刻提斯将她许诺给阿德墨托斯，让他乘坐狮子和野猪拉的战车来接她。阿德墨托斯在他的神圣牧人的协助下完成了这项任务，并因拥有阿尔刻提斯而感到高兴。但阿德墨托斯病倒了，生命垂危，阿波罗说服命运女神饶了他，条件是有人同意代替他去死。阿德墨托斯对这次缓刑感到高兴，并没有想到赎金，也许还记得他经常从朝臣和属下那里听到的依恋声明，认为很容易找到替代品。但事实并非如此。勇敢的战士们愿意为他们的王子冒着生命危险，但在病床上为他而死的想法却退缩了。那些从小就经历过他和他家的恩惠的老仆人们，不愿意放下自己仅存的一点点岁月来表达他们的感激之情。男人问：“为什么他的父母之一不这样做呢？他们自然不可能活得更久，谁能像他们一样感受到拯救他们所给予的生命免遭过早终结的召唤呢？”但父母虽然一想到要失去他而感到痛苦，却不敢接到电话。然后，阿尔刻提斯出于慷慨的自我奉献，提出自己作为替代者。阿德墨托斯虽然热爱生命，却不会付出如此大的代价来接受它。但没有补救办法。命运女神施加的条件已经满足，法令是不可撤销的。当阿德墨图斯苏醒时，阿尔刻提斯病倒了，她很快就沉入了坟墓。

就在这个时候，赫拉克勒斯到达了阿德墨托斯的宫殿，发现所有的囚犯都因即将失去忠诚的妻子和心爱的情妇而陷入极大的悲痛。对赫拉克勒斯来说，没有什么工作是太辛苦的，他决定尝试营救她。他去埋伏在垂死的王后的房间门口，当死神来抓他的猎物时，他抓住了他，强迫他放弃他的猎物。阿尔刻斯蒂斯康复了，并回到了她丈夫身边。

弥尔顿在他的十四行诗“关于他已故的妻子”中提到了阿尔刻提斯的故事：

“我以为我看到了我已故的未婚圣人
像阿尔刻提斯一样从坟墓中被带到我身边，
朱庇特伟大的儿子给了她快乐的丈夫，
虽然面色苍白、虚弱，但还是被强行从死亡线上救了出来。”

JR 洛厄尔选择了“阿德梅图斯国王的牧羊人”作为一首短诗的主题。他使那次事件成为人类第一次接触诗歌。

“人们称他为无能的青年，
他们在他身上看不到任何好处，
然而事实上，不知不觉中，
他们把他的漫不经心的话当作了法律。

“一天天变得更加神圣
他走过的每一个地方，
直到后来的诗人才知道
他们的长子兄弟是一位神。”

安提戈涅

希腊传奇人物和崇高行为的很大一部分属于女性。安提戈涅是孝顺和姐妹忠诚的典范，就像阿尔刻提斯是夫妻忠诚的典范一样。她是俄狄浦斯和伊俄卡斯塔的女儿，他们及其所有的后代都是无情命运的受害者，注定要毁灭。俄狄浦斯在疯狂中挖出了他的眼睛，并被逐出他的王国底比斯，被所有人恐惧和抛弃，作为神圣复仇的对象。他的女儿安提戈涅独自一人与他一起流浪，一直陪伴着他直到他去世，然后返回底比斯。

她的兄弟埃忒奥克勒斯和波吕尼刻斯同意共同分享王国，并逐年轮流统治。第一年落在埃忒奥克勒斯的身上，他在任期届满时拒绝将王国交给他的兄弟。波吕尼刻斯逃到了阿尔戈斯国王阿德拉斯托斯那里，后者将自己的女儿嫁给了他，并用一支军队帮助他巩固对王国的主权。这导致了著名的“七人对底比斯”的远征，为希腊的史诗和悲剧诗人提供了充足的素材。

阿德拉斯托斯的妹夫安菲阿劳斯反对这项计划，因为他是一位占卜师，并且通过他的技艺知道，除了阿德拉斯托斯之外，没有任何一位领导人能够活着回来。但安菲阿劳斯在与国王的妹妹埃里菲勒结婚时同意，每当他和阿德拉斯托斯意见有分歧时，决定权都应由埃里菲勒做出。波吕尼刻斯知道这一点后，将哈摩尼亚的项圈交给埃里菲勒，从而引起了他的兴趣。这条项圈或项链是伏尔甘在哈摩尼亚与卡德摩斯结婚时送给她的礼物，波吕尼刻斯在从底比斯逃亡时随身携带了它。埃里菲勒无法抗拒如此诱人的贿赂，根据她的决定，战争结束了，安菲阿劳斯也走向了他注定的命运。他在比赛中勇敢地承担了自己的责任，但却无法改变自己的命运。在敌人的追击下，他沿河逃跑，朱庇特发射的雷电劈开了大地，他、他的战车和战车御者都被吞没了。

这里不适合详细描述这场比赛中所有的英雄主义或暴行；但我们不能忽略记录伊瓦德妮的忠诚，以弥补埃里菲勒的弱点。伊瓦德涅的丈夫卡帕纽斯在战斗的激烈声中宣布，他将不顾朱庇特本人强行进入这座城市。他把梯子靠在墙上，登上去了，但是朱庇特因为他不敬虔的语言而生气，用雷电击中了他。当他举行葬礼时，伊瓦德妮跳到他的葬礼堆上身亡。

在比赛初期，埃忒奥克勒斯就这个问题咨询了占卜师泰瑞西亚斯。提瑞西亚斯年轻时曾偶然看到密涅瓦沐浴。愤怒的女神剥夺了他的视力，但后来她的心软了，让他知道了未来的事件作为补偿。当埃忒奥克勒斯请教时，他宣称，如果克瑞翁之子墨诺刻俄斯自愿献出自己的牺牲品，那么底比斯就会获得胜利。这位英勇的青年得知了答案，在第一次遭遇中就丢掉了自己的生命。

围攻持续了很长时间，并取得了不同程度的成功。最后，双方同意兄弟俩以一场决斗来解决他们的争吵。他们战斗并倒在对方的手上。随后，军队重新开始战斗，最后入侵者被迫投降并逃跑，死者无人掩埋。已故王子的叔叔克瑞翁现已成为国王，他以尊贵的荣誉埋葬了厄忒俄克勒斯，但允许波吕尼刻斯的尸体躺在倒下的地方，禁止任何人埋葬，否则将处死。

波吕尼刻斯的妹妹安提戈涅愤怒地听到了令人反感的法令，该法令将她哥哥的尸体交给狗和秃鹰，剥夺了其举行被认为对死者安息至关重要的仪式的权利。她对一位深情而胆怯的姐姐的劝阻不为所动，又无法获得帮助，她决定勇敢地亲手埋葬尸体。她的行为被发现了，克瑞翁下令将她活埋，因为她故意破坏了这座城市的庄严法令。她的情人，克瑞翁之子海蒙，无法扭转她的命运，无法幸免于难，最终死于自己之手。

安提戈涅是希腊诗人索福克勒斯两部悲剧的主题。詹姆森夫人在她的《女性特质》中将自己的性格与莎士比亚的《李尔王》中的科迪莉亚进行了比较。细读她的言论，我们的读者一定会感到满意。

以下是当死亡最终使俄狄浦斯摆脱痛苦时，安提戈涅对俄狄浦斯的哀悼：

“唉！我只希望我能死掉
和我可怜的父亲；我为什么要问
为了更长的寿命？
哦，我喜欢和他一起受苦；
最不可爱的东西变成了可爱的东西
当他和我在一起的时候。哦，我最亲爱的父亲，
现在隐藏在地下深处的黑暗中，
尽管你随着年龄的增长而疲惫不堪，但对我来说你仍然
曾经亲爱的，并且将永远如此。”

——富兰克林的索福克勒斯。

佩内洛普

佩内洛普是另一位神话女英雄，她的美更多在于性格和行为而不是人本身。她是斯巴达王子伊卡里乌斯的女儿。伊萨卡国王尤利西斯向她求婚，并在所有竞争者中赢得了她的芳心。当新娘离开她父亲的房子的时候，伊卡里乌斯无法忍受与女儿分离的想法，试图说服她留在他身边，不要陪她的丈夫去伊萨卡。尤利西斯给了佩内洛普她的选择，是留下还是跟他走。佩内洛普没有回答，只是把面纱遮住了脸。伊卡留斯不再催促她，但当她离开后，他们在分开的地方竖起了莫黛丝蒂的雕像。

尤利西斯和佩内洛普的结合还不到一年多，就因尤利西斯参加特洛伊战争的事件而中断。在他长期离开期间，当人们怀疑他是否还活着，而且他回来的可能性极小时，佩内洛普受到了众多追求者的纠缠，除了选择其中一位作为她的丈夫之外，他们似乎没有任何避难所。然而，佩内洛普用尽一切办法来争取时间，仍然希望尤利西斯能回来。她拖延的艺术之一是为她丈夫的父亲莱尔提斯的葬礼准备一件长袍。她发誓，当长袍完成后，她会在追求者中做出选择。白天她在长袍上工作，但晚上她又把白天的工作解开。这就是著名的佩内洛普之网，它被用作谚语来形容任何永远在做但从未完成的事情。当我们讲述她丈夫的冒险经历时，我们就会讲述佩内洛普的其余历史。

奥菲斯与欧拉迪斯

俄耳甫斯是阿波罗和缪斯卡利俄珀的儿子。他的父亲送给他一把七弦琴，并教他弹奏，他演奏得如此完美，以至于没有什么能抵挡他音乐的魅力。不仅他的同胞，连野兽都因他的压力而软化，并因凶猛而聚集在他周围，并为他的叫声而着迷。不，连树木和岩石都感受到了这种魅力。前者围在他身边，后者则因他的音符而放松了一些。

海门 (Hymen) 奉命出席，为俄耳甫斯 (Orpheus) 与欧律狄刻 (Eurydice) 的婚礼祝福。尽管他出席了，但并没有带来任何好兆头。他的火炬冒着烟，让他们热泪盈眶。与这样的预言相吻合，欧律狄刻结婚后不久，在与她的同伴仙女们一起漫步时，牧羊人阿里斯塔俄斯看到了她的美丽，并向她求爱。她逃跑时，在草丛中踩到一条蛇，脚被咬伤而死。俄耳甫斯向所有呼吸高空的人，无论是神还是人，唱出了他的悲伤，并发现这一切都无济于事，决定去死者的地方寻找他的妻子。他从位于泰纳罗斯海角一侧的一个洞穴下降，到达了斯泰吉亚王国。他穿过了鬼魂群，来到了普路托和普罗瑟芬的王座前。他用竖琴伴奏，唱道：“地狱的诸神啊，我们所有活着的人都必须来到他们面前，听听我的话，因为它们是真实的。我来不是为了窥探塔耳塔洛斯的秘密，也不是为了与守卫入口的蛇毛三头狗较量。我来寻找我的妻子，她的幼年已被毒蛇的毒牙提前结束。爱把我带到了这里，爱，一位与我们居住在地球上的人同在的全能神，而且，如果古老的传统说的是真的，那么在这里也同样如此。我恳求你通过这些充满恐怖的住所、这些寂静的领域和非创造的事物，再次将尤丽狄斯的生命线索连接起来。我们都注定要属于你，迟早必须传递到你的领域。当她寿终正寝时，她也将完全属于你。但在那之前，我恳求你把她交给我。如果你拒绝我，我就无法独自返回；你将在我们俩的死亡中取得胜利。”

当他唱出这些温柔的旋律时，连鬼魂都流下了眼泪。坦塔罗斯尽管口渴，却暂时停止了取水的动作；伊克西翁的轮子静止不动；秃鹰不再撕扯巨人的肝脏；达瑙斯的女儿们停止了用筛子打水的任务；西西弗斯坐在上面。他的摇滚听。据说，这是第一次，复仇女神的脸颊被泪水打湿。普罗瑟芬娜无法反抗，普鲁托本人也屈服了。尤丽狄克被称为。她从新来的鬼魂中走出来，受伤的脚一瘸一拐。奥菲斯被允许带她一起离开，但有一个条件：在他们到达高空之前，他不应该转身看她。在这种情况下，他们继续上路，他在前面，她在后面，在一片寂静中穿过黑暗而陡峭的通道，直到他们快要到达通往快乐的上层世界的出口时，奥菲斯在一个健忘的时刻，向自己保证发现她还在后面，朝他身后看了一眼，立刻就被带走了。伸出双臂拥抱，却只抓住了空气！现在第二次死去，她却不能责怪她的丈夫，因为她怎么能责怪他不耐烦地看着她呢？ “永别了，”她说，“最后的永别。”然后她就匆匆离去，快得声音几乎传不到他的耳朵。

俄耳甫斯竭力追随她，并请求允许她返回并再次尝试释放她。但严厉的摆渡人拒绝了他并拒绝通过。他在悬崖边徘徊了七天，不食不眠。然后，他严厉地指责埃里伯斯力量的残忍，他向岩石和山脉歌唱，融化了老虎的心，让橡树离开了它们的栖息地。他对女人保持着疏远的态度，不断地回忆起他的不幸遭遇。色雷斯少女竭尽全力想要吸引他，但他拒绝了她们的追求。他们尽可能地忍受他。但有一天，他们发现他昏迷不醒，对酒神巴克斯的仪式感到兴奋，其中一个人喊道：“看那边我们的蔑视者！”并向他扔了标枪。当武器到达他的七弦琴声音范围内时，它就落在了他的脚下，没有造成任何伤害。他们向他扔的石头也是如此。但女人们发出一声尖叫，淹没了音乐的声音，然后导弹飞到了他身上，很快就沾满了他的血。疯子们把他撕成碎片，把他的头和竖琴扔进赫布鲁斯河里，他们顺流而下，低声吟唱悲伤的音乐，岸边回应着一首哀伤的交响乐。缪斯们收集了他的尸体碎片，并将其埋葬在利贝特拉，据说夜莺在他的坟墓上唱歌比在希腊任何其他地方都更加甜美。他的竖琴被朱庇特放置在群星之中。他的影子第二次来到了塔耳塔洛斯，在那里他找到了他的尤丽狄刻，并用热切的双臂拥抱了她。他们现在一起在快乐的田野里漫步，有时是他领路，有时是她；俄耳甫斯随心所欲地凝视着她，不再因为不经意的一瞥而受到惩罚。

奥尔菲斯的故事为教皇在他的《圣塞西莉亚日颂歌》中展示了音乐的力量。以下一节讲述了故事的结论：

“但是很快，很快，情人就转过眼睛；
她又跌倒了，她又死了，她死了！
致命的姐妹们现在要如何行动？
你没有犯罪，如果没有，爱也没有犯罪。
如今悬山之下，
除了喷泉瀑布之外，
或者赫布鲁斯徘徊的地方，
蜿蜒曲折地滚动，
独自一人，
他发出呻吟声，
并称她为鬼魂，
永远，永远，永远失去！
现在，在愤怒的包围下，
绝望、迷茫、
他颤抖，他发光，
在罗多彼的雪中
看，他飞过沙漠，像风一样狂野；
听着！哈穆斯（Haemus）中回响着酒神的叫喊声；
啊，看，他死了！
然而即使在尤律狄刻死后他仍唱道，
欧律狄刻的舌头仍然在颤抖：
尤丽狄克的树林
尤丽狄刻洪水
欧律狄刻，岩石和空心山脉响起”

夜莺的歌声在坟墓上奏出优美的旋律
骚塞在他的《塔拉巴》中提到了奥菲斯：

“然后在他耳边响起什么声音
和谐出现了”
遥远的音乐和远方柔和的歌曲
从欢乐的凉亭里，
瀑布遥遥，
绿叶树林的低语声；
单身夜莺
栖息在玫瑰色的旁，色调如此丰富，
那从来不是来自那只最悦耳的鸟
为他沉思的伴侣唱一首情歌，
色雷斯人在坟墓旁牧羊吗
听到俄耳甫斯更甜美的旋律，
虽然坟墓里有灵魂
他所有的力量都注入、膨胀
他喜欢的香”

阿里斯塔乌斯，养蜂人

人类利用低等动物的本能来为自己谋取利益。由此兴起了养蜂艺术。蜂蜜首先必须被认为是一种野生产品，蜜蜂在空心树或岩石洞或任何偶然提供的类似空洞中建造它们的结构。因此，偶尔，蜜蜂会出于此目的占据死动物的尸体。毫无疑问，由于一些此类事件，人们产生了一种迷信，认为蜜蜂是由动物腐烂的肉产生的。维吉尔在下面的故事中展示了当蜂群因疾病或事故而消失时，如何利用这个假设的事实来解释蜂群的更新：

阿里斯塔俄斯是水仙昔兰尼的儿子，他是第一个教授蜜蜂管理的人。他的蜜蜂死了，他向母亲求助。他站在河边，对她说道：“母亲啊，我一生的骄傲被夺走了！我失去了我珍贵的蜜蜂。我的细心和技巧对我毫无帮助，而你，我的母亲，也没有为我挡住不幸的打击。”当他的母亲坐在河底的宫殿里时，她听到了这些抱怨，身边还有随从的仙女。她们从事纺织等女性职业，其中一人会讲故事来逗其他人开心。阿里斯塔乌斯悲伤的声音打断了他们的工作，其中一个人把头伸出水面，看到他，返回并向他的母亲通报了情况，母亲命令把他带到她面前。河水在她的指挥下自动打开，让他进去，而河水像一座山一样蜿蜒地矗立在两岸。他下降到了大河的源泉所在的地区。他看到了巨大的水容器，当他观察着它们向各个方向急匆匆地奔向地球表面时，他几乎被轰鸣声震聋了。到达他母亲的公寓后，他受到了昔兰尼和她的仙女们的热情接待，她们在餐桌上摆上了最丰盛的美食。他们首先向尼普顿敬酒，然后大饱口福，之后古利奈斯对他说道：“有一位古老的先知，名叫普罗透斯，住在海里，是尼普顿的最爱，他的海牛群他放牧。我们仙女非常尊敬他，因为他是一位博学的圣人，知道过去、现在和未来的一切。我的孩子，他可以告诉你蜜蜂死亡的原因，以及如何补救。但无论你如何恳求他，他都不会自愿这样做。你必须用武力强迫他。如果你抓住他并锁住他，他会回答你的问题以便被释放，因为如果你紧紧抓住锁链，他无论如何也无法逃脱。我会带你去他的洞穴，他中午会来这里休息。那么你就可以轻松地保护他了。但当他发现自己被俘时，他求助于自己拥有的将自己变成各种形态的力量。他将成为野猪或猛虎，成为鳞甲龙或黄鬃狮子。或者，当他逃跑时，他会发出火焰噼啪声或水流声等声音，以引诱你松开锁链。但你只要将他牢牢束缚住，最后当他发现所有的手段都无效时，他就会恢复原来的样子，听从你的命令。”说着，她给儿子洒上了芬芳的甘露，这是诸神的饮料，他的身体立刻充满了一种不同寻常的活力，勇气也增强了，他的周围弥漫着香水味。

仙女带着她的儿子来到先知的洞穴，把他藏在岩石的深处，而她自己则躲在云层后面。当正午来临，人们和牛群从刺眼的阳光下退下来进入安静的睡眠时，普罗透斯从水中出现，后面跟着他的海牛群，它们沿着海岸散布开来。他坐在岩石上数着他的牛群。然后躺在山洞的地板上睡着了。阿里斯塔乌斯几乎不让他睡着，就给他戴上了脚镣，大声喊道。普罗透斯醒来后，发现自己被俘虏了，立即施展魔法，先是变成了火焰，然后是洪水，然后是可怕的野兽，接连不断。但发现一切都无济于事，他终于恢复了原来的样子，用愤怒的口音对年轻人说道：“大胆的年轻人，你是谁，竟然闯入我的住所，想要我做什么？”阿里斯塔俄斯回答说：“普罗透斯，你已经知道了，因为没有必要任何人试图欺骗你。你也停止逃避我吧？我在神的帮助下来到这里，想从你那里知道我不幸的原因以及如何补救。”听到这些话，先知用一双锐利的目光盯着他，说道：“你收到了你的行为所应得的奖赏，欧律狄刻因此而死，因为她在从你身边飞走时踩到了一条蛇，这条蛇的蛇被蛇咬死了。”咬她死了。为了给她的死报仇，仙女们，她的同伴，把这种毁灭送给了你们的蜜蜂。你必须平息他们的愤怒，因此必须这样做：选择四头形状和大小完美的公牛，以及四头同样美丽的母牛，为仙女建造四个祭坛，并牺牲动物，将它们的尸体留在茂密的树林中。您应向俄耳甫斯和尤丽狄克举行葬礼，以减轻他们的怨恨。九天后回来，查看被杀牛的尸体，看看会发生什么。”阿里斯塔乌斯忠实地遵守了这些指示。他宰杀了牲畜，把它们的尸体留在树林里，为俄耳甫斯和欧律狄刻的阴魂举行了葬礼。然后在第九天返回时，他检查了动物的尸体，并且，讲述起来真是太棒了！一群蜜蜂占据了其中一具尸体，并在那里像在蜂巢中一样进行着它们的劳动。

在《任务》中，考珀在谈到俄罗斯安妮皇后建造的冰宫时，提到了阿里斯塔俄斯的故事。他一直在描述冰与瀑布等相关的奇妙形式：

“虽然更值得钦佩，但不太值得掌声
因为新奇的事物，人类的作品，
毛皮罗斯的帝国情妇，
你最伟大、最强大的怪物，
北方奇观。没有森林倒塌
当你建造时，没有采石场送来它的物资
T'丰富你的墙壁；但你确实砍伐了洪水
并用玻璃波制作你的大理石。
阿里斯塔俄斯在这样一座宫殿中发现
昔兰尼，当他讲述悲伤的故事时
他迷失的蜜蜂传到了她母亲的耳朵里。”

当弥尔顿在《科穆斯》中的守护神之歌中向我们描述塞文河仙女萨布丽娜时，他的脑海中似乎也浮现出昔兰尼和她的家庭场景：

“萨布丽娜公平！
听你坐在哪里
在玻璃般、凉爽、半透明的波浪下
在百合编织的扭曲辫子中
你琥珀色的长发松散的裙摆；
为了亲爱的荣誉而听，
银湖女神！
听并保存。”

以下是其他著名的神话诗人和音乐家，其中一些人的地位几乎不逊色于俄耳甫斯本人：

安菲翁

安菲翁是朱庇特和底比斯女王安提俄珀的儿子。他和他的双胞胎兄弟泽图斯出生时就被暴露在西塞隆山，他们在那里的牧羊人中长大，但不知道自己的出身。墨丘利给了安菲翁一把竖琴并教他弹奏，他的兄弟则忙于打猎和放牧羊群。与此同时，他们的母亲安提俄普（Antiope）受到了底比斯国王吕库斯（Lycus）和他的妻子迪尔斯（Dirce）的残酷对待，她找到了方法告诉她的孩子们他们的权利，并号召他们来帮助她。他们带着一群牧民同伴袭击并杀死了吕克斯，并用迪尔克的头发将她绑在一头公牛上，让他拖着她直到她死。安菲翁成为底比斯国王后，用城墙加固了这座城市。据说，当他弹奏七弦琴时，石头会自行移动并在墙上找到合适的位置。

请参阅丁尼生的诗《安菲翁》，了解对这个故事的有趣运用。

莱纳斯

莱纳斯是赫拉克勒斯的音乐老师，但有一天，他严厉地责备了他的学生，激起了赫拉克勒斯的愤怒，赫拉克勒斯用竖琴击打了他，并杀死了他。

塔米里斯

一位古老的色雷斯吟游诗人，在他的假设中向缪斯挑战技巧，并在比赛中被击败，被缪斯剥夺了他的视力。弥尔顿在谈到自己的失明时，将他与其他盲人吟游诗人一起提及，《失乐园》，第三卷，35。

马西亚斯

密涅瓦发明了长笛，并用它演奏，让所有天上的听众都高兴不已。但淘气的顽童丘比特居然敢嘲笑女神演奏时做出的怪异表情，密涅瓦愤怒地把乐器扔掉，乐器掉到了地上，被玛尔绪阿斯发现了。他向它吹气，从中发出如此迷人的声音，以至于他很想向阿波罗本人挑战一场音乐比赛。神当然胜利了，并活剥了马尔西亚斯的皮来惩罚他。

梅兰普斯

梅兰波斯是第一个被赋予预言能力的凡人。他家门前有一棵橡树，树上有一个蛇巢。老蛇被仆人杀死了，但梅兰波斯照顾年轻的蛇并精心喂养它们。有一天，当他在橡树下睡觉时，蛇用舌头舔了他的耳朵。醒来后，他惊讶地发现自己现在能听懂鸟类和爬行动物的语言了。这些知识使他能够预测未来的事件，并成为一位著名的占卜师。有一次，他的敌人俘虏了他，并将他严加监禁。马兰波斯在寂静的夜里听到树林里的蛀虫在一起说话，从它们的说法中得知，木材几乎被吃掉了，屋顶很快就要塌陷了。他告诉了抓捕他的人，要求放人，并发出警告。他们也。他们接受了他的警告，从而逃脱了毁灭，并奖励了梅兰波斯并给予他崇高的荣誉。

穆萨乌斯 (Museus) 一位半神话人物，在传统中被描述为俄耳甫斯 (Orpheus) 的儿子。据说他写过神圣的诗歌和神谕。弥尔顿在他的《Il Penseroso》中将他的名字与奥菲斯的名字结合在一起：

“但是哦，悲伤的处女，你的力量
可能会从他的凉亭里唤醒穆萨乌斯，
或者让俄耳甫斯的灵魂歌唱
这些音符在弦上颤动，
从普路托的脸颊上划下铁泪，
并让地狱给予爱所寻求的。”

构成本章的冒险经历的诗人都是真实存在的人，他们的一些作品至今仍然存在，他们对继任者诗人的影响比他们的诗歌遗存更重要。以下故事中记录的他们的冒险经历与“寓言时代”的其他叙述（即讲述这些故事的诗人的叙述）具有相同的权威。目前的形式，前两个是从德文翻译而来的，Arion 是从施莱格尔翻译的，Ibycus 是从席勒翻译的。

阿里昂

阿里昂是一位著名的音乐家，居住在科林斯国王佩里安德的宫廷中，深受佩里安德的喜爱。西西里岛将举行一场音乐比赛，阿里昂渴望争夺奖项。他把自己的愿望告诉了佩里安德，佩里安德像兄弟一样恳求他放弃这个想法。 “请留在我身边，”他说，“并感到满足。努力获胜的人可能会失败。”阿里昂回答说：“流浪的生活最适合诗人自由的心。上帝赐予我的才华，我很乐意成为别人快乐的源泉。如果我获奖了，当我意识到我广为人知的名气时，我会更加高兴！”他去了，赢得了奖品，并带着他的财富登上了一艘科林斯船回家。起航后的第二天早上，海风徐徐。 “噢，佩里安德，”他喊道，“消除你的恐惧吧！很快你就会在我的怀抱中忘记他们。我们将用多么丰盛的供品来表达对诸神的感激之情，我们在节日的餐桌上将多么快乐！”风和海继续有利。天空没有一丝云彩。他并不太信任海洋——但他必须信任人类。他无意中听到水手们互相交换暗示，发现他们正在密谋夺取他的宝藏。不久，他们大声喧哗地包围了他，并说道：“阿里昂，你必须死！如果你想在岸上有一个坟墓，那就让自己死在这个地方；否则的话，就跳海吧。” “除了我的生活，没有什么能让你满意吗？”他说。 “拿着我的金子，欢迎。我愿意以这个价格买下我的生命。” “不，不;我们不能放过你。你的生命对我们来说太危险了。如果佩里安德知道你被我们抢劫了，我们该去哪里逃脱呢？你的金子对我们来说没什么用处，如果回家后我们就再也没有恐惧了。” “那么，”他说，“最后一个请求，因为没有什么能拯救我的生命，所以我可以死，就像我活着的时候一样，就像一个吟游诗人一样。当我唱完我的死亡之歌，我的琴弦不再振动时，我就告别了生命，无怨无悔地屈服于我的命运。”这个祈祷，像其他祈祷一样，可能会被忽视——他们只想到自己的战利品——但是听到如此著名的音乐家的演奏，却感动了他们粗鲁的心。 “让我来安排我的衣服，”他补充道。除非我穿上吟游诗人的服装，否则阿波罗不会眷顾我。”

他匀称的四肢穿着金色和紫色的衣服，看起来很漂亮，他的束腰外衣有优雅的褶皱，他的手臂上戴着珠宝，他的额头上戴着金色的花环，脖子和肩膀上飘扬着散发着香味的头发。 。他的左手握着七弦琴，右手握着象牙魔杖，用它来拨动琴弦。就像一个受到启发的人一样，他似乎喝着早晨的空气，在早晨的阳光下闪闪发光。海员们纷纷投以钦佩的目光。他大步走到船舷边，俯视着深蓝色的大海。他对着竖琴唱道：“我的声音的伴侣，跟我一起到阴影的国度吧。尽管塞伯鲁斯可能会咆哮，但我们知道歌曲的力量可以平息他的愤怒。你们是极乐世界的英雄，你们已经渡过了黑暗的洪水——你们这些快乐的灵魂，我很快就会加入你们的队伍。但你能减轻我的悲伤吗？唉，我把我的朋友抛在了身后。你，找到了你的尤丽狄克，却一找到就又失去了她；当她像梦一样消失时，你是多么讨厌这欢快的光芒！我必须离开，但我不会害怕。众神都看不起我们。你们那些无罪地杀了我的人，当我不再存在时，你们颤抖的时刻就会到来。你们涅瑞伊德斯，请接待您的客人，他将投身于您的仁慈之中！”说着，他便纵身跃入了深海之中。海浪淹没了他，海员们继续前行，幻想着自己不会受到任何被发现的危险。

但他的音乐旋律吸引了深海里的居民来聆听，海豚们就像被咒语束缚一样跟随着船。当他在海浪中挣扎时，一只海豚为他提供了背，并把他安全地带到了岸边。在他登陆的地方，后来在岩石海岸上竖起了一座黄铜纪念碑，以保存对这一事件的记忆。

当阿里昂和海豚各自分开时，阿里昂表达了他的谢意：“永别了，你忠实、友好的鱼！但愿我能奖励你；但你不能和我一起走，我也不能和你一起走。我们可能没有陪伴。愿深渊女王加拉蒂亚赐予你恩宠，而你则以自己的重担为荣，将她的战车拉过深渊光滑的镜子。”

阿里昂急忙离开海岸，很快就看到了科林斯的塔楼。他手里拿着竖琴，边走边唱，充满了爱和幸福，忘记了他的损失，只关心剩下的，他的朋友和他的竖琴。他走进热情好客的大厅，很快就被佩里安德拥抱在怀里。 “我回到你身边，我的朋友，”他说。 “神所赐予的才华使万千人欢喜，但虚伪的无赖却夺走了我应得的财富；但我仍然保留着广为人知的名声的意识。”然后他把发生在他身上的所有奇妙的事情告诉了佩里安德，佩里安德听了很惊讶。 “这样的邪恶会得逞吗？”他说。 “那么，我手中的权力就毫无意义了。为了让我们发现罪犯，你必须隐藏在这里，这样他们就不会受到怀疑。”当船抵达港口时，他召集了面前的水手。 “你听说过阿里昂的事吗？”他问道。 “我焦急地等待着他的归来。”他们回答说：“我们把他留在了塔兰图姆，让他过得很好。”说完这句话，阿里昂走上前来，面对着他们。他匀称的四肢被金色和紫色的颜色所装饰，看起来很漂亮，他的束腰外衣以优雅的褶皱垂落在他身上，他的手臂上戴着珠宝，他的额头上戴着金色的花环，脖子和肩膀上飘扬着散发着香味的头发。 ;他的左手握着七弦琴，右手握着象牙魔杖，用它来拨动琴弦。他们跪倒在他的脚下，仿佛一道闪电击中了他们。 “我们本想谋杀他，但他却成了神。地球啊，请打开并接纳我们！”然后佩里安德说话了。 “他活着，世俗的主人！仁慈的上天保护诗人的生命。至于你，我唤起的不是复仇精神；阿里昂不希望有你的血。你们这些贪婪的奴隶，走吧！寻找一些野蛮的土地，永远不会有任何美丽的东西让你的灵魂高兴！”

斯宾塞代表阿里昂骑在他的海豚上，陪伴着海王星和安菲特里忒：

“然后就听到了最神圣的声音
接下来是优美的音乐，
并且，在漂浮的水面上，就像加冕一样，
阿里昂用他的竖琴向他拉奏
所有优秀船员的耳朵和心灵；
即使他所怀的海豚还没有
从海盗的角度穿过爱琴海，
静静地站在他身边，对他的知识感到惊讶，
所有汹涌的海洋都因喜悦而忘记了咆哮。”

拜伦在他的《哈罗德之子》第二章中，提到了阿里昂的故事，在描述他的航行时，他代表了一位海员，他创作音乐来娱乐其他人：

“月亮升起来了；天啊，一个可爱的夜晚！
长长的光流在舞动的波浪上扩展；
现在，岸上的小伙子们可能会叹息，女人们会相信；
当我们回到陆地时，这就是我们的命运！
与此同时，一些粗鲁的阿里昂不安的手
唤醒水手们喜爱的轻快和谐；
那里站着一圈快乐的听众，
或者以某种众所周知的措施巧妙地移动
他们漫不经心，仿佛在岸上仍然可以自由地漫游。”

伊比库斯

为了理解接下来的伊比库斯的故事，有必要记住，首先，古代的剧院是巨大的建筑，能够容纳十到三万名观众，因为它们只在节日场合使用，而且入场费是免费的。免费向所有人开放，但通常都已满员。它们没有屋顶，向天空开放，表演是在白天进行的。其次，故事中复仇女神的骇人听闻的表现并没有被夸大。据记载，悲剧诗人埃斯库罗斯有一次在由五十名表演者组成的合唱团中代表复仇女神，观众们惊恐万状，许多人晕倒并抽搐，地方官员禁止今后再进行类似的表演。 。

虔诚的诗人伊比库斯正在前往科林斯地峡参加战车比赛和音乐比赛的路上，这些比赛吸引了所有希腊血统。阿波罗赐予他歌唱的天赋，诗人甜蜜的嘴唇，他迈着轻盈的步伐，充满神性地追寻着自己的道路。科林斯高耸的塔楼已经出现在视野中，他带着虔诚的敬畏进入了海王星的神圣树林。视野中没有任何生物，只有一群鹤从头顶飞过，它们的航线和他一样，迁徙到南方的气候。 “祝你们好运，你们这些友好的中队，”他喊道，“我来自大洋彼岸的同伴们。我认为你的陪伴是一个好兆头。我们从远方飞来，寻求热情款待。愿我们都能受到善意的接待，保护陌生人免受伤害！”

他快步前行，很快就到了树林中央。突然，在一个狭窄的山口处，两个强盗走了出来，挡住了他的去路。他必须屈服或战斗。但他的手，习惯了竖琴，而不是武器的冲突，无力地沉了下去。他向人类和诸神求助，但他的呼声却没有传到防御者的耳朵里。 “那么我就必须死在这里，”他说，“在一个陌生的土地上，无人哀悼，被不法分子之手切断，也看不到任何人为我报仇。”他受了重伤，倒在了地上，头顶上的起重机发出嘶哑的尖叫声。 “你们这些鹤，请支持我的事业，”他说，“因为除了你们之外，没有人能回应我的呼喊。”说着，他闭上了眼睛，死了。

这具被掠夺和毁坏的尸体被发现了，尽管伤痕累累，但科林斯的一位朋友认出了他，他原以为他是客人。 “我就这样发现你又回到了我身边吗？”他惊呼道。 “我希望在歌声的纷争中将胜利的花环缠绕在你们的神庙上！”

聚集在节日的宾客们听到这个消息都感到沮丧。全希腊都感受到了创伤，每颗心都承受着损失。他们聚集在裁判官的法庭周围，要求为凶手报仇，以血赎罪。

但是，在被盛宴的辉煌所吸引的广大群众中，有什么痕迹或标记可以指出肇事者呢？他是死于强盗之手，还是被私人敌人杀害了？只有洞察一切的太阳才能看出这一点，因为没有其他眼睛看到过它。然而凶手很可能现在就走在人群中间，享受着他的犯罪成果，而对他的复仇却徒劳无功。也许在他们自己神庙的围场里，他蔑视众神，他们自由地混入现在涌入圆形剧场的人群中。

现在拥挤在一起，一排又一排，人群挤满了座位，直到看起来好像连布料都要塌陷了。低低的声音如同大海的咆哮，而上升的圆圈层层上升，仿佛直达天际。

现在，庞大的人群聆听着代表复仇女神的合唱团可怕的声音，合唱团以庄严的姿态迈着整齐的步伐，绕着剧院走一圈。构成这个可怕群体的她们会是凡间的女性吗？那巨大的沉默形式的汇合会是活人吗？

唱诗班的唱诗班成员身穿黑衣，无肉的手中拿着燃烧着黑色火焰的火把。他们的脸颊没有血色，头发在扭动，眉毛上盘绕着肿胀的蛇。这些可怕的生物围成一个圆圈，唱着他们的赞美诗，撕碎有罪者的心，束缚他们所有的官能。它升起、膨胀，压倒了乐器的声音，窃取了判断力，麻痹了心脏，凝固了血液。

“保持内心纯洁，远离内疚和犯罪的人是有福的！我们复仇者不碰他；他走的是远离我们的生命之路。但祸哉！祸哉！对犯下秘密谋杀罪的人来说。我们这个可怕的黑夜家族将自己紧紧地依附于他的整个存在。你以为他是想乘飞机逃离我们吗？我们追赶时飞得更快，用蛇缠住他的脚，把他拖到地上。我们孜孜不倦地追求；没有怜悯检查我们的路线；一直如此，直到生命的尽头，我们都没有给他安宁，也没有休息。”欧迈尼德斯就这样唱着歌，并以庄严的节奏移动，整个会场笼罩在一片死寂般的寂静之中，仿佛面对的是超人一般。然后，在庄严的进行曲中，他们绕完剧院一圈，在舞台后面昏倒了。

每颗心都在幻象与现实之间颤动，每颗胸膛都因无法定义的恐惧而喘息，在监视着秘密犯罪和看不见的命运之绞的可怕力量面前瑟瑟发抖。就在这时，最上面的一张长凳上突然传来一声叫喊——“看！看！同志，那边是伊比库斯的鹤！”突然，天空中出现了一个黑色的物体，仔细一看，原来是一群鹤，正飞过剧院的上空。 “伊比库斯！他说了吗？这个可爱的名字唤起了每个人心中的悲伤。正如海面上一波又一波的浪潮一样，人们口中流传着这样的话：“伊比库斯！我们都为他哀悼，被某个凶手放倒了！鹤和他有什么关系？”声音越来越大，同时这个想法像闪电一样掠过每个人的心：“观察Eumenides的力量！虔诚的诗人必遭报仇！凶手已经告发了自己的罪行。抓住发出那声喊叫的人和他说话的那个人！”

罪魁祸首很想回忆起他的话，但为时已晚。凶手们的脸色因恐惧而苍白，暴露了他们的罪行。人民把他们带到法官面前，他们承认了自己的罪行，并受到了应有的惩罚。

西蒙尼德斯

西蒙尼德斯是希腊早期最多产的诗人之一，但他的作品中只有少数片段流传到我们手中。他写了赞美诗、凯旋颂和挽歌。在最后一种作曲中，他尤其擅长。他的天才往往是可怜的，没有人能更真实地触动人类的同情心。 《达娜厄哀歌》是他的诗歌中最重要的片段，它基于这样的传统：达娜厄和她尚在襁褓中的儿子按照她父亲阿克里修斯的命令被限制在一个箱子里，并在海上漂流。箱子漂向塞里弗斯岛，在那里，两人被渔夫迪克提斯救起，并带到该国国王波吕得克忒斯那里，后者接待并保护了他们。孩童珀尔修斯长大后成为著名的英雄，他的冒险经历已在前一章中记录。

西蒙尼德一生的大部分时间都在王子的宫廷中度过，他经常在颂词和节日颂歌中发挥自己的才能，从那些他所歌颂的功绩的人的慷慨中获得回报。这种使用并不是贬义的，而是与最早的吟游诗人的使用非常相似，例如荷马描述的德摩多克斯，或者传统记载的荷马本人。

有一次，当王子住在色萨利国王斯科帕斯的宫廷时，希望他写一首诗来庆祝他的功绩，并在宴会上朗诵。为了丰富他的主题，以虔诚而闻名的西蒙尼德斯在他的诗中引入了卡斯托尔和波勒克斯的功绩。在类似的场合，诗人这样的离题并不罕见，人们可能会认为，一个普通的凡人可能会满足于分享勒达儿子们的赞美。但虚荣心是苛刻的；当斯科帕斯坐在他的朝臣和谄媚者中间的节日董事会上时，他对每一首没有排练他自己赞美的诗句都感到不满。当西蒙尼德斯走近领取承诺的报酬时，斯科帕斯只给出了预期金额的一半，说道：“这是我对你的表演的部分的报酬；卡斯托尔和波勒克斯无疑会补偿你与他们有关的一切。”在这位伟人的笑话之后，在一片笑声中，这位困惑的诗人回到了自己的座位上。不一会儿，他就收到消息，说有两个骑在马背上的年轻人正在外面等候，急切地想见他。西蒙尼德斯急忙走到门口，却找不到来访者。然而，他刚离开宴会厅，屋顶就轰然倒塌，将斯科帕斯和他所有的客人埋在废墟下。在询问了派人来找他的年轻人的长相后，西蒙尼德斯确信他们不是别人，正是卡斯托耳和波吕克斯本人。

萨福

萨福是一位在希腊文学的早期就蓬勃发展的女诗人。她的作品所剩无几，但足以证明她是一位杰出的诗歌天才。人们普遍提到的萨福的故事是，她热烈地爱上了一位名叫法翁的美丽青年，但没有得到爱情的回报，她从莱乌卡迪亚的海角跳入大海，因为迷信认为那些应该接受的人“情人之跃”即使不被摧毁，也会治愈他们的爱情。

拜伦在《哈罗德之子》中提到了萨福的故事，坎托
二：

“哈罗德公子航行并经过了这片荒芜的地方
悲伤的佩内洛普俯瞰着海浪，
继续观看山峰，尚未忘记，
情人的避难所和女同性恋者的坟墓。
黑暗萨福！无法诗文不朽拯救
那胸膛充满了不朽之火？

“那是在希腊秋天温柔的前夕
哈罗德公子远远地向卢卡迪亚的海角欢呼； ETC。

那些希望更多地了解萨福和她的“跳跃”的人可以参阅《旁观者》第 223 和 229 期。另请参阅摩尔的《希腊之夜》。

戴安娜（Diana）和恩迪米恩（Endymion）

恩底弥翁是一位美丽的青年，他在拉特莫斯山上喂养他的羊群。一个平静、晴朗的夜晚，月亮戴安娜俯视着他，看到他正在睡觉。处女女神冰冷的心被他无与伦比的美貌所温暖，她来到他身边，亲吻他，并在他熟睡时守护着他。

另一个故事是，朱庇特赐予他永恒的青春和永恒的睡眠的礼物。对于一位如此有天赋的人，我们只能记录很少的冒险经历。据说，戴安娜照顾他的命运不应该因为他无所事事的生活而受到影响，因为她让他的羊群增加，并保护他的羊和羔羊免受野兽的侵害。

恩底弥翁的故事具有一种奇特的魅力，它隐含着人类的意义。我们在恩底弥翁身上看到了这位年轻诗人，他的幻想和他的心灵徒劳地寻求着能够满足他们的东西，在安静的月光下找到了他最喜欢的时刻，并在明亮和沉默的光束下护理着见证了他的忧郁和热情。消耗他。这个故事暗示了一种充满抱负和诗意的爱情，一种在梦想中度过的生活，而不是在现实中度过的生活，以及早逝而受欢迎的死亡。——SGB

济慈的《恩底弥翁》是一首狂野而奇特的诗，其中包含一些优美的诗句，比如这首献给月亮的诗：

“……沉睡的牛
坐在你神圣田野的光辉梦想中。
无数的山峰拔地而起，
雄心勃勃地要使你的眼睛神圣，
然而你的祝福却未曾过去
一个不起眼的藏身之处，一个小地方
快乐可以被送到的地方；嵌套的鹪鹩
你那美丽的脸庞就在它宁静的视野里；”等等等等

杨博士在《夜思》中这样提到恩底弥翁：

“……夜晚啊，这些想法是你的；
它们来自你，就像恋人秘密的叹息，
当其他人睡觉时。所以辛西娅，诗人假装，
在笼罩着的、柔和的、从她的球体中滑落的阴影中，
她的牧羊人为她不再迷恋而欢呼
比我对你来说。”

弗莱彻在《忠实的牧羊女》中写道：

“苍白的菲比在树林里打猎，
第一次见到男孩恩底弥翁，从他的眼睛里
她接受了不灭的永恒之火；
她如何在睡梦中轻轻地抚摸着他，
他的太阳穴上长满了罂粟花，直达陡峭的山坡
老拉特莫斯的头，她每晚都会弯腰，
用她哥哥的光芒给山镀金，
给她最甜蜜的吻。”

猎户座

猎户座是海王星的儿子。他是一个英俊的巨人，也是一个强大的猎人。他的父亲赋予了他在大海深处涉水的能力，或者正如其他人所说，在海面行走的能力。

俄里翁爱上了希俄斯国王俄诺皮翁的女儿梅洛普，并向她求婚。他清除了岛上的野兽，并将狩猎的战利品作为礼物送给了他心爱的人。但由于俄诺皮翁不断推迟他的同意，俄里翁试图通过暴力获得少女的占有。她的父亲对这种行为感到愤怒，将猎户座灌醉，剥夺了他的视力，并将他扔到了海边。这位失明的英雄跟随独眼巨人之锤的声音，直到到达利姆诺斯岛，并来到了伏尔甘的熔炉，伏尔甘怜悯他，将他的部下之一凯达利恩交给了他，引导他前往太阳的居所。 。猎户座将凯达利安扛在肩上，向东方行进，在那里遇见了太阳神，并在他的光芒下恢复了视野。

此后，他与戴安娜一起以猎人的身份生活，他是戴安娜的最爱，甚至据说她即将嫁给他。她的哥哥非常不高兴，经常责备她，但没有任何效果。有一天，阿波罗看到猎户座涉水而过，头刚好露出水面，便向他的妹妹指出这一点，并坚称她不能击中海面上那个黑色的东西。弓箭女神射出了致命的箭。海浪将猎户座的尸体卷到了陆地上，黛安娜流着泪水哀悼她致命的错误，将他安置在群星之中，在那里他以一个巨人的形象出现，身披腰带、剑、狮皮和棍棒。他的狗天狼星跟随他，昴宿星团在他前面飞翔。

昴宿星团是阿特拉斯的女儿，也是戴安娜火车的仙女。有一天，猎户座看到了他们，一见钟情并开始追求他们。他们在痛苦中向众神祈祷改变自己的形态，宙斯怜悯地把他们变成了鸽子，然后让他们成为天上的星座。虽然他们的数量是七颗，但只能看到六颗星星，其中之一的厄勒克特拉据说离开了她的位置，以免她看到特洛伊的废墟，因为这座城市是由她的儿子达尔达努斯建立的。这一幕对她的姐妹们产生了很大的影响，从那以后她们的脸色就变得苍白了。

朗费罗先生有一首关于“猎户座掩星”的诗。以下几行是他提到神话故事的内容。我们必须假设，在天球仪上，猎户座被描绘成身穿狮皮长袍、挥舞着棍棒。诗人告诉我们，此刻星座中的星星一颗颗都被月光熄灭了

“狮子的红皮掉了下来
流入他脚下的河里。
他强大的棍棒不再击败
公牛的前额；但是他
一如既往地在海边摇曳，
当被欧诺皮恩致盲时
他到铁匠铺寻找铁匠，
爬上狭窄的峡谷，
他空洞的双眼注视着太阳。”

丁尼生对昴宿星团有不同的理论：

“很多个夜晚，我都看到昴宿星团，从柔和的天空中升起
阴影，
就像一群萤火虫缠绕在银色辫子上一样闪闪发光。”

——洛克斯利大厅。

拜伦提到了失落的昴宿星团：

“就像下面再也看不见的失落的昴宿星团一样。”

另请参阅赫曼斯夫人关于同一主题的诗句。

极光和提托诺斯

黎明女神和她的妹妹月亮一样，有时也会受到凡人之爱的启发。她最喜欢的是特洛伊国王拉俄墨冬的儿子提托努斯。她把他偷走了，并说服朱庇特赐予他永生。但是，过了一段时间，她忘记了年轻人也加入了这份礼物，令她感到非常羞愧的是，他开始变老了。当他的头发花白时，她离开了他的社会；但他仍然拥有她宫殿的范围，吃着美味的食物，穿着仙衣。最后他失去了使用四肢的能力，然后她把他关在自己的房间里，从那里有时可以听到他微弱的声音。最后她把他变成了一只蚱蜢。

门农（Memnon）是奥罗拉（Aurora）和提托诺斯（Tithonus）的儿子。他是埃塞俄比亚人的国王，居住在最东边的大洋彼岸。在特洛伊战争中，他与他的战士们一起前来协助他父亲的亲属。普里阿摩斯国王非常荣幸地接待了他，并钦佩地聆听他讲述海岸奇观。

抵达后的第二天，门农就迫不及待地率领部队奔赴战场。涅斯托耳勇敢的儿子安提洛科斯倒在了他的手下，希腊人四散奔逃，这时阿喀琉斯出现并恢复了战斗。他和奥罗拉的儿子之间展开了一场漫长而充满争议的较量。最终，阿喀琉斯宣告胜利，门农陷落，特洛伊人惊慌失措地逃跑。

奥罗拉（Aurora）在天空中忧心忡忡地看到了儿子的危险，当她看到儿子坠落时，她指示他的兄弟风神将他的尸体运送到帕夫拉戈尼亚（Paphlagonia）的埃塞普斯河（Esepus）河畔。晚上，奥罗拉在时辰和昴宿星的陪伴下到来，为她的儿子哭泣和哀叹。夜晚，同情她的悲伤，用云铺满了天空；所有的大自然都在为黎明的后代哀悼。埃塞俄比亚人将他的坟墓建在宁芙树林里的溪边，朱庇特将他的葬礼堆上的火花和煤渣变成了鸟儿，它们分成两群，为争夺那堆东西而争斗，直到掉进坟墓里。火焰。每年在他去世的周年纪念日，他们都会回来并以类似的方式庆祝他的葬礼。奥罗拉（Aurora）对于失去儿子仍然悲痛欲绝。她的泪水仍在流淌，清晨时分，我们可以看到她的泪水以露珠的形式落在草地上。

与古代神话中的大多数奇迹不同，仍然存在一些对此的纪念。在埃及的尼罗河畔，有两座巨大的雕像，其中一尊据说是门农的雕像。古代作家记载，当初升的太阳的第一缕阳光落在这座雕像上时，人们会听到从雕像中发出声音，他们将其比作竖琴弦的声音。现有的雕像与古人描述的雕像的鉴定存在一些疑问，而神秘的声音则更令人怀疑。然而，人们并不想要一些现代的证据来证明它们仍然可以听到。有人认为，密闭空气从岩石缝隙或洞穴中逸出时产生的声音可能为这个故事提供了一些依据。加德纳·威尔金森爵士（Sir Gardner Wilkinson）是一位已故旅行家，具有最高权威，他检查了雕像本身，发现它是空心的，而且“雕像的腿上有一块石头，受到撞击时会发出金属声，可能仍然被用来欺骗倾向于相信其力量的访客。”

门农的声音雕像是诗人最喜欢提及的主题。达尔文在他的《植物园》中说：

“所以，向门农神殿中的神圣太阳致敬
自发的和声合唱了晨曲。
被他的东方光束感应环所感动
活生生的竖琴，所有的琴弦都在颤动；
和谐的过道温柔的音调延长，
神圣的回声使这首可爱的歌声响起。”

第一卷，第 1 卷，182。

Acis 和 Galatea

斯库拉（Scylla）是西西里岛美丽的处女，深受海仙们的喜爱。她有很多追求者，但都拒绝了他们，并前往加拉泰亚石窟，告诉她她是如何受到迫害的。有一天，女神一边听着斯库拉的头发，一边听着这个故事，然后回答道：“然而，少女，你的迫害者是一群并不冷酷无情的人类，如果你愿意，你可以击退他们；但我，海神涅柔斯的女儿，在这样一群姐妹的保护下，除了在大海深处之外，没有办法逃脱独眼巨人的激情。”眼泪止住了她的言语，当怜悯的少女用她纤细的手指擦去泪水，安慰女神时，“告诉我，最亲爱的，”她说，“你悲伤的原因。”加拉泰亚接着说道：“阿西斯是福努斯和水神娜伊阿德的儿子。他的父母深爱他，但他们的爱不如我的爱。因为这个美丽的青年只依恋着我，而他才十六岁，脸颊上的绒毛刚刚开始变黑。正如我寻求他的交往一样，独眼巨人也同样寻求我的交往。如果你问我对阿西斯的爱和对波吕斐摩斯的仇恨哪个更强烈，我无法告诉你。他们的地位是平等的。维纳斯啊，你的力量多么伟大！这个凶猛的巨人，森林中的恐怖，没有一个不幸的陌生人能毫发无伤地逃脱，他甚至蔑视朱庇特本人，学会了感受爱是什么，并且被对我的热情所感动，忘记了他的羊群和他储藏丰富的洞穴。然后他第一次开始注意自己的外表，并努力让自己变得和蔼可亲。他用梳子梳理粗糙的头发，用镰刀修剪胡须，看着水中他那张粗糙的脸，让自己的表情平静下来。他对杀戮的热爱、他的凶猛和对鲜血的渴求不再占上风，到达他的岛屿的船只都安全地离开了。他在海岸上来回踱步，沉重的脚步留下巨大的脚印，疲倦时，他就安静地躺在洞穴里。

“有一座悬崖伸入大海，海水冲刷两侧。有一天，巨大的独眼巨人登上了那里，坐下来，而他的羊群则分散开来。他放下了用来支撑船帆的桅杆，拿起由无数管子组成的乐器，让山峦和水域回响着他的歌声。我躲在我心爱的阿西斯身边的一块岩石下，聆听着远处的音乐。里面充满了对我的美丽的过分赞美，也夹杂着对我的冷酷和残忍的激烈责备。

“说完后，他站了起来，像一头无法站立的愤怒的公牛一样，走进了树林。阿西斯和我不再想他，直到突然他来到一个可以看到我们坐下的地方。 “我看到你了，”他喊道，“我会让这成为你们最后一次爱情会面。”他的声音是只有愤怒的独眼巨人才能发出的咆哮声。安泰娜听到这个声音浑身颤抖。我惊恐万分，跳进水里。阿西斯转身逃跑，哭喊着：“救救我，加拉泰亚，救救我，我的父母！”独眼巨人追赶他，并从山边撕下一块岩石扔向他。虽然只有一角触到了他，但却让他不知所措。

“我为 Acis 所做的一切都是命运留给我的。我赋予他祖父河神的荣誉。紫色的血液从岩石下流了出来，但渐渐变得苍白，看起来就像是被雨淋得浑浊的小河，过了一会儿就变得清澈了。岩石裂开，水从裂缝中喷涌而出，发出令人愉悦的潺潺声。”

于是阿西斯就变成了一条河，这条河就保留了阿西斯的名字。

德莱顿在他的《赛蒙与伊菲革涅亚》中讲述了一个小丑通过爱的力量变成绅士的故事，其方式与加拉泰亚和独眼巨人的古老故事有相似之处。

“不是父亲的关怀，不是老师的艺术，又算得了什么？
可以带着痛苦在他未雕琢的心中种植，
最好的导师，爱，立刻受到启发，
如同点燃了贫瘠的土地，使之硕果累累。
爱教会了他羞耻，并在冲突中因爱而羞耻
很快就教会了生活中的甜蜜礼貌。”

密涅瓦是智慧女神，但有一次她做了一件非常愚蠢的事；她与朱诺和维纳斯争夺美丽奖。事情是这样发生的：在珀琉斯和忒提斯的婚礼上，除了厄里斯或无序之外，所有的神都被邀请了。女神对自己被排除在外感到愤怒，她向客人们扔了一个金苹果，上面刻着“献给最美丽的人”。于是朱诺、维纳斯和密涅瓦各自夺走了苹果。朱庇特不愿意在如此微妙的问题上做出决定，于是派女神们到艾达山，美丽的牧羊人帕里斯正在那里放牧他的羊群，并把决定权交给了他。女神们也随之出现在他的面前。朱诺许诺给他权力和财富，密涅瓦许诺给他战争中的荣耀和声誉，维纳斯许诺给他的妻子最美丽的女人，每个人都试图让他的决定偏向于她自己。帕里斯决定支持维纳斯，并给了她金苹果，从而使另外两位女神成为了他的敌人。在维纳斯的保护下，帕里斯航行到希腊，受到斯巴达国王墨涅拉俄斯的热情接待。海伦，墨涅拉俄斯的妻子，正是维纳斯为巴黎指定的女人，她是所有性别中最美丽的女人。许多追求者都向她求婚，在她的决定公布之前，他们都在尤利西斯（他们中的一员）的建议下，发誓他们将保护她免受一切伤害，并在必要时为她报仇。 。她选择了墨涅拉俄斯，当帕里斯成为他们的客人时，她和他幸福地生活在一起。帕里斯在维纳斯的帮助下说服她与他私奔，并将她带到特洛伊，著名的特洛伊战争由此爆发，这是古代最伟大的诗歌荷马和维吉尔的主题。

墨涅拉俄斯呼吁他的希腊酋长兄弟履行诺言，与他一起努力找回他的妻子。他们通常都会挺身而出，但尤利西斯已经与佩内洛普结婚，并且对他的妻子和孩子感到非常幸福，因此无意卷入如此麻烦的事情。因此他犹豫不决，帕拉梅德斯被派去催促他。当帕拉梅德斯抵达伊萨卡岛时，尤利西斯假装生气。他把一头驴和一头牛拴在犁上，开始撒盐。帕拉梅德斯为了考验他，把婴儿特勒马科斯放在犁前，父亲把犁转到一边，清楚地表明他不是疯子，从此再也不能拒绝履行他的诺言。现在，他自己也因这项事业而获得了利益，因此他伸出援助之手，引进了其他不情愿的酋长，尤其是阿喀琉斯。这位英雄是忒提斯的儿子，在他的婚礼上，不和谐的苹果被扔到了女神们中间。忒提斯本人就是神仙之一，一位海洋仙女，她知道如果她的儿子继续远征，她注定会在特洛伊之前灭亡，所以她竭力阻止他去。她把他送到利科梅德斯国王的宫廷，并诱使他乔装成少女，隐藏在国王的女儿们中间。尤利西斯听说他在那里，便乔装成商人来到宫殿，出售女性装饰品，其中还放了一些武器。当国王的女儿们全神贯注于商人包裹中的其他内容时，阿喀琉斯处理了这些武器，从而向尤利西斯的敏锐目光暴露了自己，尤利西斯毫不费力地说服他不顾母亲的谨慎劝告，加入他的同胞的行列。战争。

普里阿摩斯是特洛伊国王，海伦的牧羊人和诱惑者帕里斯是他的儿子。巴黎是在默默无闻中长大的，因为从他婴儿时期起，就有某种不祥的预感与他联系在一起，认为他将毁掉国家。这些不祥之兆似乎最终可能成为现实，因为现在正在准备的希腊军备是有史以来最强大的。迈锡尼国王、受伤的墨涅拉俄斯的兄弟阿伽门农被选为总司令。阿喀琉斯是他们最杰出的战士。在他之后的是埃阿斯，体型巨大，勇气十足，但智力迟钝。狄俄墨德，在所有英雄品质中仅次于阿喀琉斯；尤利西斯，以他的睿智而闻名；内斯特是希腊最古老的酋长，他们都向他寻求建议。但特洛伊并不是弱小的敌人。国王普里阿摩斯现在已经老了，但他曾是一位明智的王子，并通过国内的良好政府和与邻国的众多联盟加强了他的国家。但他王位的主要支柱和支持者是他的儿子赫克托耳，他是古代异教所描绘的最高贵的人物之一。他从一开始就预感祖国将陷落，但仍坚持英勇抵抗，但绝不为给她带来这种危险的错误行为辩护。他与安德洛玛克联姻，作为丈夫和父亲，他的品格并不逊色于作为战士的品格。除了赫克托耳之外，特洛伊一方的主要领导人还有埃涅阿斯、戴伊福布斯、格劳克斯和萨尔珀冬。

经过两年的准备，希腊舰队和军队在维奥蒂亚的奥利斯港集结。在这里，阿伽门农在狩猎中杀死了戴安娜神圣的雄鹿，女神作为回报，用瘟疫拜访了军队，并带来了平静，阻止了船只离开港口。占卜师卡尔卡斯随即宣布，只有在祭坛上献祭处女才能平息处女女神的愤怒，除了罪犯的女儿之外，其他人都不会被接受。阿伽门农尽管不情愿，但还是同意了，少女伊菲革涅亚被派去，假装她要嫁给阿喀琉斯。当她即将被献祭时，女神心软了，把她抓走了，留下一头母鹿代替她，伊菲革涅亚被云包裹着，被带到了陶里斯，戴安娜在那里任命她为神庙的女祭司。

丁尼生在他的《窈窕女子之梦》中，让伊菲革涅亚这样描述她在牺牲那一刻的感受：

“在那个悲伤的地方我失去了希望，
我的灵魂对此感到厌恶和恐惧；
我父亲把手放在脸上；
我，被泪水蒙蔽了双眼，

“仍然努力说话；我的声音充满了叹息，
就像在梦里一样。我隐约可以看到
严厉的黑胡子国王，有着狼一般的眼睛，
等着看我死。

“高大的桅杆在漂浮时颤抖着，
寺庙、人民和海岸；
有人用一把锋利的刀刺穿我脆弱的喉咙
慢慢地——然后——仅此而已。”

现在风向良好，舰队起航并将部队带到特洛伊海岸。特洛伊人前来阻止他们登陆，普罗特西劳斯一开始就败在了赫克托耳的手下。普罗特西劳斯把他的妻子劳达米亚留在家里，她对他非常依恋。当她得知他去世的消息时，她恳求诸神只允许与他交谈三个小时。该请求被批准。墨丘利带领普罗特西劳斯回到了上层世界，当他第二次死去时，劳达米亚也随之死去。有一个故事说，仙女们在他的坟墓周围种了榆树，榆树长得很好，高到可以俯瞰特洛伊，然后就枯萎了，而根部却长出了新鲜的树枝。

华兹华斯以普罗特西劳斯和劳达米亚的故事为一首诗的主题。看来神谕已经宣告，胜利应该属于战争中第一个受害者的一方。诗人在普罗特西劳斯短暂返回地球时描述了他与劳达米亚有关的命运故事：

“‘所盼望的风已赐下；然后我旋转
神谕，在寂静的海上；
如果没有更有价值的人带路，解决
一千艘我的船只应该是
最前面的船头给海岸留下了深刻的印象，——
开采第一滴染红特洛伊沙子的血液。

“‘然而，痛苦是痛苦的，常常是痛苦的
当我想到失去你时，我心爱的妻子！
我的记忆也深情地挂在你身上，
以及我们在凡人生活中分享的欢乐，
我们走过的小路——这些喷泉、鲜花；
我新规划的城市和未完工的塔楼。

“‘但是如果悬念让敌人哭泣，
“看哪，他们都在颤抖！傲慢的他们的阵列，
他们这么多人，却没有人敢死？”
我在心灵上扫除了侮辱：
旧的弱点再次出现：但崇高的思想
在行动中体现了我的拯救。

“……在旁边
赫勒斯滂海峡（这种信仰被接受了）
一棵多年生的尖塔树结
从她为之而死的他的坟墓中出来；
每当他们获得如此地位时
他们可以看到伊利乌姆的城墙，
高大的树顶一见枯萎，
生长与枯萎的不断交替！”

《伊利亚特》

战争持续了九年，没有取得决定性的结果。然后发生了一件对希腊人的事业来说似乎是致命的事件，那就是阿喀琉斯和阿伽门农之间的争吵。荷马的伟大诗篇《伊利亚特》正是从这里开始。希腊人虽然没有成功攻克特洛伊，但却占领了邻近的盟国城市，在瓜分战利品时，阿波罗祭司克律西斯的女儿克律塞伊斯（Chryseis）这个女俘虏落入了阿伽门农的手中。克里斯带着他职务的神圣标志前来，请求释放他的女儿。阿伽门农拒绝了。于是克律西斯恳求阿波罗折磨希腊人，直到他们被迫交出猎物。阿波罗答应了他祭司的祈祷，并将瘟疫带入了希腊营地。然后召开了一个会议，商讨如何平息众神的愤怒并避免瘟疫。阿喀琉斯大胆地将他们的不幸归咎于阿伽门农因扣留克律塞伊斯而造成的不幸。阿伽门农勃然大怒，同意交出俘虏，但要求阿喀琉斯将布里塞伊斯（Briseis）交给他来代替，布里塞伊斯是阿喀琉斯在瓜分战利品时分得的少女。阿喀琉斯屈服了，但立即宣布他将不再参加战争。他从总营撤军，并公开表示要返回希腊。

众神和女神对这场著名的战争和各方本身一样感兴趣。他们清楚地知道，命运已经注定，如果特洛伊的敌人坚持不懈，不自愿放弃这项事业，特洛伊最终就会陷落。然而，还有足够的空间让双方的上层势力轮流激起希望和恐惧。朱诺和密涅瓦因受到帕里斯的轻视而对特洛伊人怀有敌意。金星出于相反的原因青睐他们。金星与她的崇拜者火星站在同一边，但海王星却偏向希腊人。阿波罗是中立的，有时站在一边，有时站在另一边，而朱庇特本人，尽管他爱善良的普里阿摩斯国王，但也表现出一定程度的公正性。然而，并非没有例外。

阿喀琉斯的母亲忒提斯对儿子受到的伤害感到非常不满。她立即​​前往朱庇特的宫殿，恳求他让特洛伊军队取得成功，让希腊人悔改对阿喀琉斯的不公正行为。朱庇特同意了，特洛伊人在随后的战斗中取得了彻底的胜利。希腊人被赶出战场，躲进船上。

然后阿伽门农召集了他最聪明和最勇敢的酋长组成的会议。内斯特建议派使者前往阿喀琉斯，劝说他重返战场。阿伽门农应该向这位引起争端的少女交出充足的礼物，以弥补他所犯下的错误。阿伽门农同意了，尤利西斯、埃阿斯和菲尼克斯被派去向阿喀琉斯传达悔罪的信息。他们履行了这一职责，但阿喀琉斯对他们的恳求充耳不闻。他断然拒绝重返战场，并坚持自己的决心，毫不拖延地启程前往希腊。

希腊人在他们的船只周围建造了城墙，现在他们不再围攻特洛伊，而是将自己围困在城墙内。使团前往阿喀琉斯失败后的第二天，一场战斗爆发了，特洛伊人在朱庇特的青睐下取得了胜利，成功地强行穿过希腊城墙，并准备放火烧毁船只。海王星看到希腊人陷入困境，前来救援。他以先知卡尔卡斯的形象出现，用呼喊鼓励战士们，并向每个人发出呼吁，直到他将他们的热情提高到迫使特洛伊人屈服的程度。埃阿斯表现出了非凡的勇气，最终遇到了赫克托耳。埃阿斯高喊着反抗，赫克托耳回应道，并将长矛投向了这位巨大的战士。它瞄准得很准，击中了埃阿斯，他的剑和盾牌的腰带在胸前交叉。双重防护阻止了它的穿透，使它变得无害。然后埃阿斯抓住了一块巨大的石头，其中一块用来支撑船只的石头，把它扔向赫克托耳。它击中了他的脖子，把他拉倒在平原上。他的追随者立刻抓住了他，把他抬了出去，他们被打晕了，还受伤了。

当海王星帮助希腊人并击退特洛伊人时，朱庇特却没有看到正在发生的事情，因为他的注意力已经被朱诺的诡计从战场上吸引了。这位女神展现出了她所有的魅力，最重要的是，她从维纳斯那里借来了她的腰带，称为“Cestus”，它具有将佩戴者的魅力提升到难以抗拒的程度的效果。做好准备后，朱诺去找她的丈夫，她的丈夫坐在奥林匹斯山上观看战斗。当他看到她时，她显得那么迷人，他对早年爱情的喜爱又回来了，他忘记了相互争斗的军队和所有其他国家事务，只想着她，让战斗顺其自然地进行。

但这种专注并没有持续多久，当他向下看去时，他看到赫克托尔躺在平原上，几乎因疼痛和瘀伤而毫无生气，他愤怒地打发了朱诺，命令她把艾里斯和阿波罗送到他那里。当艾里斯到来时，他向海王星传达了一条严厉的信息，命令他立即退出战场。阿波罗被派去治愈赫克托耳的伤并激励他的心。这些命令得到了如此迅速的遵守，以至于在战斗仍在激烈的时候，赫克托返回了战场，海王星也开始了自己的统治。

帕里斯的弓箭射伤了埃斯库拉皮乌斯的儿子马卡翁，他继承了父亲的治疗艺术，因此对于希腊人来说，除了是最勇敢的战士之一之外，作为外科医生也具有巨大的价值。内斯特用他的战车载着马卡翁，把他从战场上运了出来。当他们经过阿喀琉斯的战船时，这位英雄眺望战场，看到了内斯特的战车，认出了这位老酋长，但无法辨认出受伤的酋长是谁。于是他打电话给他的同伴和最亲密的朋友帕特罗克洛斯，派他到内斯特的帐篷去询问。

帕特罗克洛斯到达内斯特的帐篷时，看到马卡翁受伤了，告诉他来的原因后，他本想赶紧离开，但内斯特扣留了他，告诉他希腊灾难的严重程度。他还提醒他，在前往特洛伊的时候，阿喀琉斯和他自己分别被各自的父亲提出了不同的建议：阿喀琉斯要追求最高的荣耀，帕特罗克洛斯作为长者，要守护他的朋友，并指导他的经验不足。 “现在，”内斯特说，“是发挥这种影响力的时候了。如果众神愿意的话，你可以把他赢回共同事业；但如果不让他至少派他的士兵到战场上，你来吧，帕特罗克洛斯，穿着他的盔甲，也许一看到它就可以击退特洛伊人。

帕特罗克洛斯被这个演讲深深地感动了，他赶紧回到阿喀琉斯身边，脑子里回想着他所看到和听到的一切。他向王子讲述了他们已故伙伴的营地中的悲惨状况：狄俄墨德、尤利西斯、阿伽门农、马卡翁，都受伤了，壁垒被破坏，敌人在船只中准备烧毁它们，从而切断所有途径返回希腊。当他们说话时，其中一艘船突然冒出火焰。阿喀琉斯见状，态度软化了，同意了帕特罗克洛斯的请求，率领米尔米东人（因为阿喀琉斯的士兵就是这样称呼的）前往战场，并借给他盔甲，这样他就可以给人们带来更多的恐惧。特洛伊木马。士兵们立刻整装完毕，帕特罗克洛斯穿上光辉的铠甲，登上阿喀琉斯的战车，率领热衷于战斗的士兵们出发。但在他出发之前，阿喀琉斯严格地嘱咐他，他应该满足于击退敌人。“不要寻求，”他说，“不要在没有我的情况下压制特洛伊人，以免你给我的耻辱雪上加霜。”然后他劝告部队要尽最大努力，让他们满怀战斗热情解散。

帕特罗克洛斯和他的侍从立即投入了最激烈的竞争。看到这一幕，希腊人欢呼雀跃，船只也发出欢呼声。特洛伊人一看到这副著名的铠甲，顿时惊恐万分，四处寻找避难所。首先，那些占领了这艘船并放火焚烧它的人离开了，让希腊人重新夺回了它并扑灭了火焰。随后，其余的特洛伊人狼狈而逃。埃阿斯、墨涅拉俄斯和内斯特的两个儿子都表现出了英勇的神童。赫克托尔被迫掉转马头，退出围场，留下他的部下被困在壕沟里，想尽办法逃跑。帕特洛克罗斯将他们赶到了面前，杀死了许多人，没有人敢反抗他。

最后，朱庇特之子萨耳珀冬冒险与帕特罗克洛斯作战。朱庇特瞧不起他，想把他从等待着他的命运中拯救出来，但朱诺暗示，如果他这样做，就会促使天上所有其他居民在他们的后代遇到危险时以同样的方式介入；为此，朱庇特屈服了。萨耳珀东投出了他的长矛，但没有击中帕特罗克洛斯，但帕特罗克洛斯投出了他的长矛，并取得了更大的成功。它刺穿了萨耳珀冬的胸部，他跌倒了，并呼唤他的朋友从敌人手中拯救他的身体，然后就断气了。随后，为了争夺尸体的所有权，发生了一场激烈的争夺。希腊人成功了，并剥夺了萨珀冬的盔甲。但朱庇特不允许他儿子的遗体受到羞辱，阿波罗按照他的命令，从战斗中夺走了萨尔珀冬的尸体，并将其交给双胞胎兄弟死亡和睡眠，由他们运送到利西亚，萨耳珀冬的故乡，在那里它接受了应有的葬礼。

到目前为止，帕特罗克洛斯已经实现了他最大的愿望，击退了特洛伊人，解救了他的同胞，但现在命运发生了变化。赫克托尔坐在战车上与他对峙。帕特罗克洛斯向赫克托投掷了一块巨大的石头，但石头没有击中目标，但却击中了战车御者塞布里奥内斯，并将他从车上撞了下来。赫克托尔从战车上跳下营救了他的朋友，帕特罗克洛斯也下来完成了他的胜利。就这样，两位英雄面对面了。在这个决定性的时刻，诗人似乎不愿意把荣耀归给赫克托耳，记录了菲比斯参加了对抗帕特罗克洛斯的行动。他击落了头上的头盔，击落了手中的长矛。与此同时，一个不起眼的特洛伊人打伤了他的背部，赫克托尔向前冲去，用长矛刺穿了他。他倒地受了致命伤。

随后，帕特罗克洛斯的身体发生了巨大的冲突，但他的盔甲立即被赫克托耳占据，赫克托尔退了一小段距离，脱下了自己的盔甲，穿上了阿喀琉斯的盔甲，然后返回战斗。埃阿斯和墨涅拉俄斯保卫着尸体，赫克托耳和他最勇敢的战士们奋力夺取它。当朱庇特用乌云笼罩整个天空时，战斗以同样的命运激烈进行。闪电闪烁，雷声轰鸣，埃阿斯环顾四周，寻找可以派给阿喀琉斯的人，告诉他他朋友的死讯，以及他的遗体落入敌人手中的迫在眉睫的危险。没有看到合适的使者。就在那时，他用那些经常被引用的名言惊呼道：

“天地之父啊！拯救你
来自黑暗的亚该亚大军；晴朗的天空；
给天；而且，既然你的主权意志是这样的，
用它来毁灭；但是，哦，给我们一天吧。”

——考珀。

或者，正如教皇所言，

“……大地与空气之主！
国王啊！父亲啊！垂听我谦卑的祈祷！
驱散这乌云，天国之光恢复；
让我看看，阿贾克斯就不再要求了；
如果希腊必须灭亡，我们就服从你的意志，
但让我们在白天面前灭亡吧。”

朱庇特听到了祈祷，驱散了云彩。然后埃阿斯派安提洛科斯去见阿喀琉斯，报告帕特罗克洛斯的死以及争夺他遗体的激烈冲突的情报。希腊人最终成功地将尸体运到船上，赫克托耳、埃涅阿斯和其他特洛伊人紧追不舍。

阿喀琉斯听到他朋友的命运如此痛苦，以至于安提洛科斯一度担心他会毁了自己。他的呻吟声传到了远在深海中的母亲忒提斯的耳中，她赶紧向他询问原因。她发现他陷入了自责之中，因为他迄今为止一直沉溺于自己的怨恨之中，并让他的朋友成为了受害者。但他唯一的安慰就是复仇的希望。他会立即飞去寻找赫克托。但他的母亲提醒他，他现在没有盔甲，并答应他，如果他愿意等到明天，她会从瓦肯人那里为他采购一套盔甲，数量超过他失去的盔甲。他同意了，忒提斯立即前往伏尔甘的宫殿。她发现他正忙着在他的锻造厂里制作自用的三脚架，这些三脚架的构造非常巧妙，需要的时候它们会自行前进，被解雇的时候又会退休。听到忒提斯的请求，火神立刻放下手中的工作，赶忙遵照她的意愿。他为阿喀琉斯制作了一套华丽的盔甲，首先是装饰有精致装置的盾牌，然后是镶有黄金的头盔，然后是坚不可摧的胸甲和护胫，所有这些都完全适合他的体形，而且工艺精湛。这一切在一夜之间就完成了，忒提斯收到了它，带着它下降到了地上，并在黎明时分把它放在了阿喀琉斯的脚下。

自从帕特罗克洛斯死后，阿喀琉斯第一次感受到的喜悦是在看到这件华丽的盔甲时。现在，他穿上衣服，走进营地，召集所有的酋长参加会议。当他们都聚集在一起时，他向他们讲话。他放弃了对阿伽门农的不满，并对由此造成的痛苦深感悲痛，并呼吁他们立即前往战场。阿伽门农做出了恰当的答复，将所有责任归咎于不和女神阿特。于是英雄们之间就彻底和解了。

然后，阿基里斯带着愤怒和复仇的渴望出发了，这使他无法抗拒。最勇敢的战士要么在他面前逃跑，要么倒在他的长矛之下。赫克托耳受到阿波罗的警告，保持冷漠。但这位神化身为普里阿摩斯的儿子吕卡翁，敦促埃涅阿斯去遭遇这位可怕的战士。埃涅阿斯虽然觉得自己不平等，但并没有拒绝战斗。他用尽全力将长矛投向瓦肯人制作的盾牌。它由五块金属板组成；两个是黄铜的，两个是锡的，一个是金的。长矛刺穿了两层厚度，但在第三层时就被挡住了。阿喀琉斯的投掷取得了更大的成功。它刺穿了埃涅阿斯的盾牌，但扫过他的肩膀附近，没有造成任何伤害。埃涅阿斯抓起一块像现代两个人都难以举起的石头，正要扔出去，阿喀琉斯拔出剑，正要向他冲去，这时，注视着这场比赛的尼普顿移动了。怜悯埃涅阿斯，他看到如果不迅速获救，他肯定会成为牺牲品，在战斗人员之间散布一朵云，并将埃涅阿斯从地面上举起，把他带到战士和战马的头顶上，带到战斗的后方。当迷雾散去后，阿喀琉斯徒劳地环顾四周寻找他的对手，并承认了这位神童，转而反对其他冠军。但没有人敢站在他面前，普里阿摩斯从城墙上往下看，看到他的整个军队正向城市奔去。他下令敞开城门接纳逃亡者，并在特洛伊人通过后立即关闭城门，以免敌人也进入。但阿喀琉斯的追击距离如此之近，要不是阿波罗以普里阿摩斯之子阿革诺尔的形态与阿喀琉斯相遇了一会，然后转身飞走，离开了城市，那是不可能的。阿喀琉斯追赶他的受害者，将他的受害者追到远离城墙的地方，这时阿波罗暴露了自己，阿喀琉斯意识到自己被欺骗了，放弃了追逐。

但当其他人逃进城里时，赫克托却站在那里，没有决心等待战斗。他的老父亲在墙上呼唤他，恳求他退下，不要引诱这次遭遇。他的母亲赫卡芭也向他恳求同样的事情，但一切都是徒劳。 “我怎么能，”他自言自语道，“按照谁的命令，人民参加了今天的比赛，在这场比赛中，有这么多人倒下，我怎么能在对抗一个敌人时为自己寻求安全呢？但如果我让他交出海伦和她所有的财宝，还有我们自己的财宝呢？啊，不！已经太晚了。他甚至不肯听我说完，而是在我说话的时候杀了我。”正当他如此沉思的时候。阿喀琉斯逼近了，他的铠甲像火星一样可怕，移动时他的盔甲闪烁着闪电。赫克托看到这一幕，心头一颤，逃走了。阿喀琉斯连忙追击。他们继续奔跑，仍然靠近城墙，直到三次包围了这座城市。每当赫克托尔接近城墙时，阿喀琉斯就会拦截他，迫使他绕成一个更大的圈子。但阿波罗支撑着赫克托耳的力量，不让他陷入疲倦。然后，帕拉斯化身为赫克托最勇敢的兄弟戴福波斯，突然出现在他身边。赫克托尔看到他很高兴，于是他停下了逃跑，转身迎向阿喀琉斯。赫克托尔投出长矛，击中了阿喀琉斯的盾牌并弹了回来。他转身从戴福布斯手中接过另一枚，但戴福布斯已经不见了。赫克托耳明白了自己的厄运，说道：“唉！很明显，这是我的死期了！我以为戴福波斯就在眼前，但帕拉斯欺骗了我，他还在特洛伊。但我不会落入不光彩的境地。”说着，他从身旁拔出弯刀，立即冲去战斗。阿喀琉斯躲在盾牌后面，等待着赫克托耳的到来。当他到达长矛附近时，阿喀琉斯用眼睛选择了盔甲未覆盖颈部的脆弱部位，将长矛瞄准了该部位，赫克托重伤倒地，有气无力地说：“饶了我的身体！让我的父母赎回它，让我接受特洛伊儿女的葬礼。”阿喀琉斯回答道：“狗啊，不要向我提出赎金或怜悯，你给我带来了如此可怕的痛苦。不！相信我，没有什么能从狗的手中拯救你的尸体。尽管提出了二十赎金和与你等重的黄金，我还是会拒绝。”

说着，他剥去了尸体的铠甲，用绳子将脚绑在战车后面，让尸体沿着地面拖行。然后上了战车，鞭打战马，拖着尸体在城前来回走动。普里阿摩斯国王和赫卡芭王后看到这一幕的悲痛之情是用什么言语来形容的呢！他的人民几乎无法阻止老国王冲上前去。他跪倒在地，点名请求他们给他让路。赫卡芭的痛苦也同样剧烈。市民们站在他们周围哭泣。哀悼的声音传到了赫克托耳的妻子安德洛玛克的耳朵里，当时她正坐在她的侍女们中间干活，她预感到灾难会临到墙边。当她看到那里的景象时，她差点就从墙上跳下去，结果昏了过去，倒在了侍女们的怀里。康复后，她为自己的命运而哀叹，想象着她的国家被毁了，她自己成了俘虏，她的儿子依靠陌生人的施舍维持生计。

当阿喀琉斯和希腊人向杀害帕特罗克洛斯的凶手报仇后，他们忙着为他们的朋友举行应有的葬礼。人们竖起了一堆堆，并以应有的庄严方式焚烧了尸体。接下来是力量和技巧的比赛、战车比赛、摔跤、拳击和射箭。随后，酋长们坐下来举行葬礼，然后就各自休息了。但阿喀琉斯既没有参加宴会，也没有睡觉。对失去的朋友的回忆让他保持清醒，记得他们在辛劳和危险中、在战斗中或在危险的深渊中的陪伴。天刚亮之前，他就离开了帐篷，把快马连上战车，把赫克托的尸体拴在后面。他两次拖着他绕过帕特罗克洛斯的坟墓，最后让他躺在尘土里。但阿波罗不允许身体因所有这些虐待而被撕裂或毁容，而是保持其免受任何污染或玷污。

当阿喀琉斯沉溺于羞辱勇敢的赫克托尔时，朱庇特出于怜悯而召唤了忒提斯到他面前。他告诉她去找她的儿子并说服他将赫克托的尸体归还给他的朋友们。然后朱庇特派艾里斯去见普里阿摩斯国王，鼓励他去见阿喀琉斯，乞求他儿子的尸体。艾丽丝传达了她的信息，普里阿摩斯立即准备服从。他打开宝库，拿出了丰富的衣服和衣服，还有十他连得的金子，两个华丽的鼎和一个精工无比的金杯。然后他叫来他的儿子们，命令他们把他的担架拿出来，把用来赎回阿喀琉斯的各种物品放进去。当一切准备就绪后，老国王带着一位与他年龄相仿的同伴，传令官伊代俄斯，从城门出发，与赫卡芭、他的王后以及他所有的朋友们告别，他们为他必死无疑而悲痛不已。

但朱庇特同情这位可敬的国王，派墨丘利成为他的向导和保护者。墨丘利化身为一位年轻武士，出现在这对年迈的夫妇面前，当他们一看到他，犹豫着是飞还是屈服时，神走近了，握住普里阿摩斯的手，提出要引导他们前往阿喀琉斯的帐篷。普里阿摩斯很高兴地接受了他的服务，他登上马车，接管了缰绳，很快就把他们带到了阿喀琉斯的帐篷。墨丘利的魔杖让所有守卫都睡着了，他毫无阻碍地把普里阿摩斯带进阿喀琉斯坐的帐篷里，旁边还有他的两名战士。老国王扑倒在阿喀琉斯的脚下，亲吻了那双可怕的手，正是这双手杀死了他的许多儿子。 “阿喀琉斯啊，想想你的父亲吧，他和我一样充满了日子，在生命的阴暗边缘颤抖着。也许即使现在，一些邻居的首领仍在压迫他，而在他的困境中却没有人可以帮助他。但毫无疑问，知道阿喀琉斯还活着，他仍然很高兴，希望有一天他能再次见到你的脸。但我并没有感到一丝安慰，因为我最勇敢的儿子们，伊利乌姆之花，已然全部陨落。然而我却拥有一位，比我这个年纪的其他人都多的一位力量，他为他的国家而战，却被你杀死了。我来赎回他的身体，带来了不可估量的赎金。阿喀琉斯！敬畏诸神！回想你的父亲！为了他的缘故，怜悯我吧！”这些话感动了阿喀琉斯，他哭了。轮流想起他不在的父亲和他失去的朋友。他对普里阿摩斯的银发和胡须感到怜悯，把他从地上扶起来，说道：“普里阿摩斯，我知道你已经到达这个地方，是由某位神引导的，因为如果没有神的帮助，凡人即使在青春年少时也无法到达这个地方。”敢于尝试。我同意你的请求，受到朱庇特明显意志的推动。”说着，他起身，和他的两个朋友一起出去，把担子卸下来，留下两件斗篷和一件长袍来遮盖尸体，他们把它们放在担架上，然后把衣服铺在上面，以免揭开面纱后，应该将其带回特洛伊。然后阿喀琉斯遣散了老国王和他的侍从，他首先保证自己会在葬礼上休战十二天。

当垃圾接近城市并从城墙上被描述出来时，人们纷纷涌出，再次凝视他们英雄的脸。最重要的是，赫克托的母亲和妻子也来了，看到尸体，他们再次悲痛不已。人们都和他们一起哭泣，直到太阳落山，他们的悲伤也没有停止或减轻。

第二天，葬礼的准备工作就完成了。人们花了九天的时间搬来木头，堆起木桩，第十天，他们把尸体放在山顶上，点燃了火把。而所有的特洛伊人都蜂拥而至，包围了这堆东西。当它完全燃烧时，他们用酒熄灭煤渣，收集骨头并将它们放入金瓮中，然后埋在土里，并在现场堆起一堆石头。

“伊利乌姆给予她的英雄如此的荣誉，
强大的赫克托的阴影安静地睡着了。”

-教皇。

特洛伊的陷落

《伊利亚特》的故事以赫克托耳的死而结束，我们从《奥德赛》和后来的诗歌中了解到其他英雄的命运。赫克托死后，特洛伊并没有立即陷落，但在新盟友的援助下仍然继续抵抗。这些盟友之一是埃塞俄比亚王子门农，我们已经讲过他的故事。另一位是亚马逊女王彭忒西勒亚，她带着一群女战士前来。所有当局都证明了他们的勇气和他们的战争呐喊的可怕影响。彭忒西勒亚杀死了许多最勇敢的战士，但最后被阿喀琉斯杀死。但当英雄俯身于倒下的敌人，凝视她的美丽、青春和英勇时，他为自己的胜利感到痛苦。忒耳西忒斯是一位无礼的斗殴者和煽动者，他嘲笑他的悲伤，结果被英雄杀死。

阿喀琉斯偶然见到了普里阿摩斯国王的女儿波吕克塞娜，也许是在特洛伊人安葬赫克托耳的休战之际。他被她的魅力迷住了，为了赢得她的芳心，他同意利用自己对希腊人的影响力为特洛伊带来和平。在阿波罗神庙谈判婚姻时，帕里斯向他射出一支毒箭，在阿波罗的引导下，阿喀琉斯的脚后跟受伤了，这是他唯一脆弱的部位。对于忒提斯来说，当他还是个婴儿时，他的母亲就将他浸入了冥河，这使得他的每一部分都刀枪不入，除了她握住他的脚后跟。[20a]阿喀琉斯刀枪不入的故事在荷马中没有找到，并且与他的叙述不一致。如果阿喀琉斯刀枪不入，怎么可能需要天甲的帮助呢？

阿喀琉斯惨遭杀害的尸体被埃阿斯和尤利西斯救起。忒提斯指示希腊人将她儿子的盔甲授予这位英雄，在所有幸存者中，他应该被认为是最值得拥有它的人。埃阿斯和尤利西斯是唯一的索赔人。指定一些其他酋长来颁奖。它被授予尤利西斯，从而将智慧置于勇气之前。于是埃阿斯自杀了。在他的血沉入大地的地方，长出了一朵花，名叫风信子，叶子上有埃阿斯名字的前两个字母，Ai，希腊语中的“祸”的意思。因此，埃阿斯（Ajax）是男孩风信子（Hyacinthus）的索取者，以享有生下这朵花的荣誉。有一种飞燕草代表了诗人保存这一事件记忆的风信子，即飞燕草——阿贾克斯飞燕草。

现在人们发现，如果没有赫拉克勒斯之箭的帮助，就无法攻克特洛伊。他们拥有菲罗克忒忒斯，他是最后与赫拉克勒斯在一起并点燃了他的火葬柴堆的朋友。菲罗克忒忒斯参加了希腊人对特洛伊的远征，但不小心被一支毒箭射伤了脚，伤口散发出的气味非常难闻，以至于他的同伴把他带到了利姆诺斯岛并把他留在那里。戴奥梅德现在被派去劝说他重新加入军队。他成功了。菲罗克忒忒斯的伤口被玛卡翁治愈，帕里斯成为致命箭的第一个受害者。在他的痛苦中，巴黎想起了一个在他的繁荣时期被他遗忘的人。这就是仙女厄诺内，他年轻时就娶了她，后来为了致命的美人海伦而抛弃了她。厄诺内想起了自己所受的委屈，拒绝治愈伤口，帕里斯回到特洛伊后死去。厄诺内很快悔悟了，并赶忙带着补救措施追赶他，但为时已晚，她在悲痛中上吊自杀了。[20b]丁尼生选择 OEnone 作为一首短诗的主题；但他省略了故事中最富有诗意的部分，即帕里斯受伤归来、她的残忍以及随后的悔悟。

特洛伊有一座著名的密涅瓦雕像，称为“守护神”。据说它是从天上掉下来的，人们相信，只要这座雕像还留在城内，这座城市就无法被占领。尤利西斯和迪奥梅德乔装进入这座城市，并成功获得了钯金，并将其带到了希腊营地。

但特洛伊仍然顽强抵抗，希腊人开始对用武力征服它感到绝望，并在尤利西斯的建议下决定诉诸策略。他们假装准备放弃围困，部分船只被撤回并隐藏在邻近岛屿后面。希腊人随后建造了一匹巨大的木马，他们将其作为祭品赠送给密涅瓦，但实际上里面装满了武装人员。剩下的希腊人随后上船扬帆离去，仿佛要最后一次启程。特洛伊人看到营地被破坏，舰队消失，断定敌人已经放弃了围攻。大门打开了，全体居民都为长期被禁止的自由通过后来的营地而感到高兴。那匹伟大的马是人们好奇的主要对象。所有人都想知道它的用途。一些人建议将其作为战利品带进城；另一些人则建议将其作为战利品带进城里。其他人对此感到害怕。

当他们犹豫不决时，海王星祭司拉奥孔惊呼道：“公民们，这是什么疯狂行为？您对希腊欺诈的了解还不够多，不足以提高警惕吗？就我而言，即使希腊人提​​供礼物，我也害怕他们。”[20]参见谚语表达。 说着，他把长矛扔到了马侧。它击中了，空洞的声音像呻吟一样回荡。那么，也许人们会采纳他的建议，毁掉那匹致命的马和里面的所有东西。但就在这时，一群人出现了，拖着一个看上去像是囚犯的希腊人。他被吓得目瞪口呆，被带到酋长面前，酋长向他保证，如果他对所提出的问题做出真实的回答，就可以饶他一命。他告诉他们，他是希腊人，名叫西农，由于尤利西斯的恶意，他在同胞们离开时被抛在了后面。至于木马，他告诉他们，这是献给密涅瓦的赎罪祭品，制作得如此之大，其明确目的是为了防止它被运进城内。因为先知卡尔卡斯告诉他们，如果特洛伊人占领了它，他们一定会战胜希腊人。这种语言扭转了人们的情绪，他们开始思考如何最好地保护这匹巨马以及与之相关的有利预兆，突然出现了一个毫无疑问的神童。出现了两条巨蛇，正在海上前进。他们来到了陆地上，人群向四面八方逃散。巨蛇直奔拉奥孔和他两个儿子站着的地方。他们首先袭击了孩子们，缠绕在他们的身上，向他们的脸上呼吸着瘟疫的气息。父亲试图营救他们，随后被抓住并卷入蛇的盘绕中。他奋力将它们撕开，但它们压倒了他所有的努力，将他和孩子们勒死在有毒的褶皱中。这一事件被认为清楚地表明了众神对拉奥孔对木马的不敬态度的不满，他们不再犹豫将木马视为神圣之物，并准备以应有的庄严方式将木马引入城市。这是在歌声和胜利的欢呼声中完成的，这一天在节日中结束。夜间，被叛徒诗乃放出的马身中的武装人员，向趁夜色掩护返回的朋友们打开了城门。这座城市被纵火焚烧；人们饱受宴席和睡眠的折磨，被杀了，特洛伊彻底被征服了。

现存最著名的一组雕像是拉奥孔和他的孩子们拥抱蛇的雕像。该剧的演员阵容归波士顿雅典娜博物馆所有。原件在罗马梵蒂冈。以下诗句出自拜伦的《哈罗德之子》：

“现在转向梵蒂冈去看看
拉奥孔的酷刑使人痛苦不堪；
父爱与凡人的痛苦
与仙人的耐心交融；——徒然
奋斗！徒劳地对抗卷曲应变
以及龙的抓握的牢骚和加深
老人的紧握；长毒链
铆接活动链节；巨大的asp
强加猛击，压制喘息。”

喜剧诗人偶尔也会借用古典典故。以下摘自斯威夫特的《城市阵雨的描述》：

“情郎不耐烦地坐在椅子上，
当水嘴不时地在屋顶上哗哗作响时，
时不时伴随着可怕的喧嚣
皮革发出声音；他发自内心地颤抖。
所以当特洛伊主席们骑着木马时
怀着迫不及待想要获得自由的希腊人，
（那些恶霸希腊人，就像现代人一样，
不用付钱给主席，而是让他们通过）；
拉奥孔用长矛刺向外侧，
每个被囚禁的冠军都因恐惧而颤抖。”

普里阿摩斯国王活着目睹了他的王国的衰落，并最终在希腊人占领这座城市的那个致命的夜晚被杀。他已经武装好自己，正要混入战斗人员中，但被他年老的王后赫卡柏说服，带着自己和他的女儿们到朱庇特祭坛上祈求避难。在那里，他的小儿子波利特斯被阿喀琉斯的儿子皮洛士追赶，受伤冲了过来，死在了他父亲的脚下。普里阿摩斯勃然大怒，用无力的手将矛投向皮洛士， [20 C]皮洛士的感叹“时间不需要这样的援助，也不需要这样的防御者”，这已成为众所周知的事。参见谚语表达。 并立即被他杀死。

赫卡芭女王和她的女儿卡桑德拉被俘虏到希腊。卡珊德拉曾被阿波罗所爱，并赐予她预言的天赋。但后来他冒犯了她，并下令永远不要相信她的预言，从而使这份礼物无效。阿喀琉斯的另一个女儿波吕克塞娜（Polyxena）曾被阿喀琉斯所爱，但被阿喀琉斯的鬼魂索要，并被希腊人牺牲在他的坟墓上。

墨涅拉俄斯和海伦

我们的读者会急切地想知道海伦的命运，这是一场公平但有罪的屠杀事件。特洛伊陷落后，墨涅拉俄斯重新占有了他的妻子，她并没有停止爱他，尽管她屈服于维纳斯的力量，抛弃了他而投奔了另一个人。帕里斯死后，她多次秘密援助希腊人，特别是当尤利西斯和迪奥梅德乔装进入这座城市夺取守护神时。她看到并认出了尤利西斯，但保守了秘密，甚至协助他们获得了图像。因此，她与丈夫和解了，他们是第一批离开特洛伊海岸返回祖国的人。但由于招致了众神的不满，他们被风暴驱赶着从地中海的一个海岸到另一个海岸，访问了塞浦路斯、腓尼基和埃及。在埃及，他们受到了友善的对待，并得到了丰富的礼物，其中海伦的一份是一根金纺锤和一个带轮子的篮子。篮子是用来盛放女王工作用的羊毛和线轴的。

戴尔在他的《羊毛》诗中这样提到了这一事件：

“……许多人仍然坚持
对于古老的棍棒，固定在怀里，
他们边走边铸造旋转的纺锤。

这是古老的，在不光彩的日子里，
埃及王子时的纺纱方式
一根金色的棍子给了那个美丽的仙女，
海伦太漂亮了；没有不礼貌的礼物。”

弥尔顿还提到了一种著名的提神饮料配方，名为猪笼草，是埃及女王送给海伦的：

“不是托恩妻子的那个猪笼草
在埃及赐予了朱庇特出生的海伦娜，
具有这样的力量，能够激起欢乐，
生活如此友好或如此凉爽至渴。”

——科姆斯。

墨涅拉俄斯和海伦最终安全抵达斯巴达，恢复了王室尊严，过上了辉煌的生活和统治。当尤利西斯的儿子忒勒马科斯前往斯巴达寻找父亲时，他发现墨涅拉俄斯和海伦正在庆祝他们的女儿赫敏与阿喀琉斯的儿子涅奥普托勒摩斯的婚礼。

阿伽门农、俄瑞斯忒斯和厄勒克特拉

阿伽门农是希腊人的统帅，也是墨涅拉俄斯的兄弟，他卷入这场争吵是为了为兄弟报仇，而不是为自己报仇，但他在这个问题上就没那么幸运了。在他缺席期间，他的妻子克吕泰涅斯特拉对他不忠，当他即将回来时，她与她的情人埃吉斯托斯制定了毁灭他的计划，并在庆祝他回归的宴会上谋杀了他。

密谋者还打算杀死他的儿子俄瑞斯忒斯，这个小伙子还没有到成为逮捕对象的年龄，但如果让他长大，可能会有危险。俄瑞斯忒斯的妹妹厄勒克特拉（Electra）救了她哥哥的命，将他秘密送往他的叔叔福西斯国王斯特罗菲乌斯（Stroius）那里。奥瑞斯特斯在斯特罗菲乌斯的宫殿中与国王的儿子皮拉德斯一起长大，并与他建立了众所周知的热忱友谊。厄勒克特拉经常通过使者提醒她的兄弟，为父亲报仇的责任，长大后他查阅了德尔斐的神谕，这证实了他的计划。于是，他乔装前往阿尔戈斯，假装是前来通报俄瑞斯忒斯死讯的斯特罗菲乌斯的使者，并把死者的骨灰装在一个骨灰盒里。在参观了他父亲的坟墓并按照古人的仪式进行了牺牲之后，他向他的妹妹厄勒克特拉透露了自己的身份，不久之后就杀死了埃吉斯托斯和克吕泰涅斯特拉。

这种令人反感的行为，即母亲被儿子屠杀，虽然因受害者的罪孽和众神的明确命令而得到缓解，但它并没有在古人的心中激起与我们同样的憎恶。复仇之神欧美尼得斯抓住了奥瑞斯忒斯，把他从一个地方赶到另一个地方。皮拉德斯陪伴他四处游荡并注视着他。最后，为了回应第二次向神谕的请求，他被指示前往西徐亚的陶里斯，并从那里带来一尊据信从天上掉下来的戴安娜雕像。因此，奥瑞斯忒斯和皮拉德斯前往陶里斯，那里的野蛮人习惯于将落入他们手中的所有陌生人献祭给女神。这两个朋友被抓住并绑到寺庙里成为受害者。但戴安娜的女祭司不是别人，正是俄瑞斯忒斯的妹妹伊菲革涅亚，读者们应该记得，她在即将被献祭的时刻被戴安娜抢走了。伊菲革涅亚从囚犯那里查明了他们的身份，向他们透露了自己的身份，三人带着女神的雕像逃了出来，回到了迈锡尼。

但俄瑞斯忒斯还没有从厄里涅斯的复仇中解脱出来。最后他到雅典投靠密涅瓦。女神保护了他，并任命亚略巴古宫廷来决定他的命运。厄里涅斯提出了指控，俄瑞斯忒斯以德尔斐神谕的命令为借口。当法庭投票，声音平分秋色时，俄瑞斯忒斯在密涅瓦的命令下被无罪释放。

拜伦在《Childe Harold》第四章中提到了
俄瑞斯忒斯：

“哦，你还没有犯过人类的错误
离开了不平衡的天平，伟大的复仇女神！
你从深渊中召唤了复仇女神，
俄瑞斯忒斯命令他们嚎叫和发出嘶嘶声，
为了那不自然的报应，——只是，
如果它不是出自不那么近的手——在这一点上，
你的昔日境界，我从尘埃中呼唤你！”

这部古代戏剧中最可悲的场景之一是索福克勒斯描绘了奥瑞斯忒斯和厄勒克特拉从福西斯回来后的相遇。俄瑞斯忒斯误认为厄勒克特拉是一名仆人，并希望在复仇时刻到来之前保守他的到来秘密，于是拿出了一个原本应该安放他骨灰的瓮。厄勒克特拉相信他真的死了，接过骨灰盒，拥抱它，用充满温柔和绝望的语言倾诉她的悲伤。

弥尔顿在他的一首十四行诗中说道：

“……反复的空气
悲伤的厄勒克特拉的诗人有力量
为了拯救雅典城墙免遭废墟。”

这暗指这样一个故事：有一次，雅典城受到斯巴达敌人的摆布，有人提议摧毁它，但这个想法因某人无意中引用了一首合唱曲而被拒绝。欧里庇得斯。

特洛伊

有关特洛伊城的事实至今仍不为历史所知。古文物学家长期以来一直在寻找这座真正的城市及其统治者的一些记录。最有趣的探索是德国学者亨利·施利曼 (Henry Schliemann) 于 1890 年左右进行的探索，他相信他在特洛伊的传统遗址希沙里克 (Hissarlik) 土丘上发现了古都。施利曼在三四个定居点的废墟下面进行了挖掘，每个定居点都揭示了更早的文明，最后发现了一些皇家珠宝和其他文物，据说是“普里阿摩斯的宝藏”。学者们对于这些发现的历史价值并没有达成一致意见。

尤利西斯归来

《奥德赛》这首浪漫的诗现在引起了我们的注意。它讲述了尤利西斯（希腊语中的奥德修斯）从特洛伊返回自己的王国伊萨卡时的流浪经历。

从特洛伊出发，船只首先在西科尼亚人的城市伊斯马鲁斯登陆，在那里，在与居民的一场小冲突中，尤利西斯每艘船上损失了六人。他们从那里航行，遭遇暴风雨，沿着大海漂流了九天，才到达食莲国。在这里，浇水后，尤利西斯派了三名手下去查明居民是谁。这些人来到食莲者之中，受到食莲者的盛情款待，并得到了一些他们自己的食物——莲花——吃。这种食物的效果是如此之大，以至于那些吃了它的人失去了对家乡的所有思念，并希望留在那个国家。尤利西斯用主要力量将这些人拖走，甚至不得不将他们绑在船上的长凳下。[21]丁尼生在《食莲人》中，迷人地表达了莲食所产生的梦幻、慵懒的感觉。

“听到下流的声音，多甜蜜啊
半闭着眼睛似乎
在半梦半醒中睡着了！
梦想又梦想，就像那边琥珀色的光
这不会让没药灌木丛留在高处；
听到彼此低声说话；
日复一日地吃着Lotos，
观看海滩上脆脆的涟漪，
以及奶油喷雾的柔嫩曲线：
完全借出我们的心和精神
受到温和忧郁的影响；
沉思、沉思并再次生活在记忆中，
那些我们婴儿期的老面孔
堆满了草堆，
两把白色的灰尘，关在一个黄铜瓮里。”

接下来他们到达了独眼巨人的国家。 独眼巨人是巨人，他们居住在一座岛屿上，而他们是这座岛屿的唯一拥有者。 这个名字的意思是“圆眼睛”，这些巨人之所以如此称呼，是因为他们只有一只眼睛，而且位于前额的中间。 他们住在山洞里，以岛上的野生物和羊群的产出为食，因为他们是牧羊人。 尤利西斯将他的船只主体抛锚，并带着一艘船前往独眼巨人的岛屿寻找补给品。 他和同伴们一起着陆，随身携带了一坛酒作为礼物，来到一个大山洞前，他们进入了山洞，发现里面没有人检查里面的东西。 他们发现里面存放着最富有的羊群、大量的奶酪、一桶一碗的牛奶、羊圈里的羔羊和小孩子，一切都井井有条。 不久，洞主波吕斐摩斯来到了，他带着一大捆木柴，把它扔在洞口前。 然后，他把绵羊和山羊赶进洞里挤奶，进去后，把一块二十头牛拉不动的大石头滚到洞口。 接下来，他坐下来给母羊挤奶，准备一部分做奶酪，剩下的放在一边作为他惯常的饮料。 然后，他转动大眼睛，认出了陌生人，并向他们咆哮，询问他们是谁，来自哪里。 尤利西斯非常谦虚地回答说，他们是希腊人，来自最近在征服特洛伊中赢得了如此多荣耀的伟大远征队。他们现在正在回家的路上，最后以众神的名义恳求他的款待。 波吕斐摩斯没有做出任何回答，但他伸出手抓住了两个希腊人，将他们扔到了山洞的一侧，并把他们的脑浆砸了出来。 他津津有味地狼吞虎咽，吃完一顿丰盛的饭后，就躺在地板上睡觉了。 尤利西斯很想抓住这个机会，趁他​​熟睡时将剑刺向他，但他想起这只会让他们所有人都遭受一定的毁灭，因为巨人用来关门的岩石远远超出了他们的能力，因此，他们将陷入无望的监禁。 第二天早上，巨人又抓住了两个希腊人，并以与他们的同伴相同的方式处决了他们，并享用了他们的肉，直到不留下任何碎片。 然后他把门上的石头移开，驱赶羊群，然后出去，小心翼翼地把后面的栅栏放回原位。 当他离开后，尤利西斯计划如何为他被谋杀的朋友报仇，并与幸存的同伴一起逃跑。 他让他的手下准备一根由独眼巨人砍伐的巨大木头作为手杖，这是他们在山洞中发现的。 他们削尖了它的末端，在火中调味，然后把它藏在洞穴地板上的稻草下面。 然后，四位最勇敢的人被选中，尤利西斯也加入其中，成为第五名。 独眼巨人晚上回到家，像往常一样滚开石头，驱赶羊群。 像以前一样给它们挤奶并做好安排后，他又抓住了尤利西斯的两个同伴，把他们的大脑砸了出来，像对待其他人一样给他们做了晚餐。 吃完晚饭后，尤利西斯走近他，递给他一碗酒，说道：“独眼巨人，这是酒；吃完人类的肉后，尝尝喝吧。”他接过喝了，非常高兴，还想要更多。 尤利西斯再次向他提供了食物，这让巨人非常高兴，他答应他作为一个恩惠，让他成为最后一个被吞噬的人。

晚餐后，巨人躺下休息，很快就睡着了。然后尤利西斯和他的四个精选朋友将木桩的一端插入火中，直到它变成一团燃烧的煤炭，然后将其恰好放在巨人唯一的眼睛上方，他们将它深深地埋入插座中，像木匠那样旋转它。螺旋钻。怪物的嚎叫声充满了整个山洞，尤利西斯在他的帮助下敏捷地闪开，躲进了山洞里。他咆哮着，大声呼叫居住在他周围洞穴中远近的所有独眼巨人。他们听到他的叫声，纷纷聚集在巢穴周围，询问是什么严重的伤害导致他发出如此警报并打破了他们的睡眠。他回答说：“朋友们，我死了，诺曼给了我一击。”他们回答说：“如果没有人伤害你，那就是朱庇特的打击，你必须承受它。”这么说，他们留下他呻吟。

第二天早上，独眼巨人滚开了石头，让他的羊群出去吃草，但他却站在洞门口，在他们出去的时候感觉到一切，尤利西斯和他的部下不会和他们一起逃跑。但尤利西斯让他的手下用在洞底发现的柳条，将羊群中的公羊三并排套上。其中一名希腊人悬在三只公羊中间，受到两侧外部公羊的保护。当他们经过时，巨人摸到了动物的背部和侧面，却没有想到它们的腹部；因此，所有人都安全通过了，尤利西斯本人是最后一个通过的人。当他们离开洞穴几步远时，尤利西斯和他的朋友们从公羊身上解脱出来，把大部分羊群赶到岸边，到他们的船上。他们急忙把他们送上船，然后从岸边推开，当尤利西斯在安全距离外时大声喊道：“独眼巨人，众神已经为你的残暴行为报应了你。要知道，你可耻的失明都是尤利西斯造成的。”独眼巨人闻言，抓起一块从山侧突出的岩石，将其从山床上撕下，高高举起，然后用尽全身力气，向声音传来的方向扔去。那团东西落了下来，刚刚清理了船尾。大海在巨石冲下时，将船推向陆地，险些被海浪淹没。当他们艰难地离开岸边时，尤利西斯正要再次向巨人欢呼，但他的朋友们恳求他不要这样做。然而，他无法克制，让巨人知道他们已经逃脱了他的导弹，但他等到他们到达了比以前更安全的距离。巨人用咒骂来回应他们，但尤利西斯和他的朋友们用力划桨，很快就重新找回了他们的同伴。

尤利西斯接下来到达了风神岛。朱庇特将风的统治权托付给了这位君主，可以按照他的意愿将风送出或保留。他热情地对待尤利西斯，在他离开时，他用银绳绑在一个皮袋里，给他带来了可能有害和危险的风，命令顺风将树皮吹向他们的国家。他们顺风航行了九天，而尤利西斯一直站在舵手上，没有睡觉。最后他精疲力竭地躺下睡觉。当他睡觉时，船员们一起讨论了这个神秘的袋子，并得出结论，里面一定装有好客的埃俄罗斯国王送给他们指挥官的宝藏。他们想为自己争取一些份额，于是松开了绳子，这时狂风立即吹来。船只被驶离航线很远，又回到了他们刚刚离开的岛屿。埃俄罗斯对他们的愚蠢行为非常愤怒，拒绝进一步帮助他们，他们只得再次用桨辛苦地航行。

拉斯特里戈尼亚人

他们的下一次冒险是与野蛮的拉斯特里戈尼亚人部落一起进行。被完全内陆的海湾安全的外观所吸引，所有的船只都驶入了港口。只有尤利西斯把他的船停泊在外面。一旦拉斯特里戈尼亚人发现这些船只完全在他们的控制之下，他们就攻击它们，举起巨大的石头，将它们打碎并翻倒，并用他们的长矛消灭了在水中挣扎的海员。除了尤利西斯自己的船外，所有的船只和船员都被摧毁了，尤利西斯的船留在外面，除了飞行之外没有其他安全，他劝说他的手下用力划桨，他们逃了出来。

他们带着对被杀同伴的悲伤和对自己逃脱的喜悦，继续前行，直到到达了太阳之女喀耳刻居住的爱琴海岛。尤利西斯在这里登陆后，爬上了一座小山，环顾四周，除了岛中心的一个地方之外，没有看到有人居住的迹象，在那里他看到了一座树木丛生的宫殿。他派出一半的船员，在欧律洛科斯的指挥下，去看看他们可能会受到什么样的款待。当他们接近宫殿时，他们发现自己被狮子、老虎和狼包围，这些狮子、老虎和狼并不凶猛，但被喀耳刻的魔法驯服了，因为她是一位强大的魔法师。所有这些动物都曾经是人类，但都被喀耳刻的魔法变成了野兽的形态。里面传来轻柔的音乐声，还有甜美的女声在唱歌。欧律洛科斯大声呼喊，女神便出来邀请他们进来。除了欧律洛科斯怀疑有危险之外，他们都高兴地进来了。女神引导客人入座，并为他们提供酒和其他美食。当它们饱餐一顿后，她用魔杖一一触碰它们，它们立刻就变成了猪，“头、身体、声音和鬃毛”，但智力却和以前一样。她把它们关在猪圈里，给它们提供橡子和猪爱之类的东西。

欧律洛科斯赶紧回到船上，讲述了这个故事。尤利西斯于是决定亲自前往，并尝试以任何方式拯救他的同伴。当他独自大步前行时，他遇到了一个青年，他对他很熟悉，似乎很熟悉他的冒险经历。他宣称自己是墨丘利，并向尤利西斯讲述了喀耳刻的艺术，以及接近她的危险。由于尤利西斯没有放弃他的尝试，墨丘利给了他一根莫利植物的小枝，这种植物具有抵抗巫术的神奇力量，并指导他如何行动。尤利西斯继续前行，到达宫殿时受到了喀耳刻的礼貌接待，她像招待他的同伴一样招待他，在他吃饱喝足后，用魔杖碰触他，说：“因此，去找猪圈，和你的朋友们一起打滚吧。” ”。但他并没有听从，而是拔出剑，一脸愤怒地冲向她。她跪下求饶。他口述庄严誓言，她将释放他的同伴，不再对他或他们造成进一步的伤害；她又重复了一遍，同时承诺在热情款待他们之后，会安全地遣散他们。她言出必行。人们恢复原状，其余的船员被从岸上召唤出来，整个人日复一日地享受着盛大的娱乐，直到尤利西斯似乎忘记了他的祖国，并甘于安逸和快乐的不光彩的生活。

最后，他的同伴们提醒他要有更高尚的情操，他感激地接受了他们的劝告。喀耳刻帮助他们出发，并指导他们如何安全地通过海妖海岸。塞壬是海中仙女，她们的歌声具有迷惑所有听到她们的人的力量，因此不幸的水手们无法抗拒地被迫投海自尽。喀耳刻指示尤利西斯用蜡填满海员的耳朵，这样他们就不会听到声音。并把他自己绑在桅杆上，并严格命令他的人民，无论他说什么或做什么，在他们通过塞壬岛之前决不释放他。尤利西斯遵守了这些指示。他用蜡填满了人民的耳朵，并让他们用绳子将他牢牢地绑在桅杆上。当他们接近塞壬岛时，大海风平浪静，水面上传来迷人的音乐声，尤利西斯奋力挣脱，并通过呼喊和手势向他的人民请求释放；但他们听从了他先前的命令，跳上前，将他绑得更快。他们继续前进，音乐越来越弱，直到听不见，这时尤利西斯高兴地向他的同伴发出信号，打开他们的耳朵，他们把他从束缚中解开。

现代诗人济慈的想象力为我们揭示了喀耳刻受害者转变后大脑中的想法。在他的《恩底弥翁》中，他代表了其中一位，一位以大象为幌子的君主，用人类语言向女巫讲话，因此：

“我不再为我的幸福王冠而起诉；
我不为平原上的方阵而诉苦；
我不为我孤独、寡居的妻子提起诉讼；
我不为我红润的生命点滴而诉苦，
我的孩子们，我可爱的女孩和男孩；
我会忘记他​​们；我将传递这些快乐，
不求如此向天；太高了；太高了；
我只有祈祷，作为最公平的恩惠，死去；
为了摆脱这笨重的肉体，
从这个粗鄙、可憎、肮脏的网中，
并只是忍受寒冷、荒凉的空气。
怜悯吧，女神！喀耳刻，感受我的祈祷吧！”

希拉（Sylla）和莎莉（Charybdis）

喀耳刻警告尤利西斯注意两个怪物斯库拉和卡律布狄斯。我们已经在格劳克斯的故事中见过斯库拉，还记得她曾经是一位美丽的少女，后来被喀耳刻变成了一条蛇怪。她住在悬崖高处的一个洞穴里，从那里她习惯于伸出长长的脖子（因为她有六个头），并用每张嘴抓住每艘经过的船只的船员。另一个恐怖之处是卡律布狄斯（Charybdis），它是一个几乎与水面齐平的海湾。水每天三次涌入可怕的深渊，三次被吐出来。任何船只在涨潮时靠近漩涡，都不可避免地被卷入。海王星本人无法拯救它。

在接近可怕怪物的出没地时，尤利西斯严密监视以发现它们。当卡律布狄斯吞没他们时，海水的咆哮声在远处发出了警告，但无处可辨斯库拉。当尤利西斯和他的部下焦急地注视着可怕的漩涡时，他们并没有同等程度地警惕斯库拉的攻击，这个怪物伸出她蛇形的头，抓住了他的六名部下，并把他们带走了，尖叫着，她的巢穴这是尤利西斯见过的最悲伤的景象。看到他的朋友们如此牺牲，听到他们的哭声，却无法向他们提供任何帮助。

喀耳刻警告他还有另一种危险。经过斯库拉（Scylla）和卡律布狄斯（Charybdis）之后，他将前往的下一个陆地是斯里纳基亚（Thrinakia），这座岛屿上放牧着太阳神海伯利安（Hyperion）的牲畜，由他的女儿兰佩提亚（Lampetia）和法苏萨（Phaethusa）照料。无论航海者有什么需要，这些羊群都不能受到侵犯。如果违反这一禁令，破坏者肯定会遭受毁灭。

尤利西斯很愿意不停歇地经过太阳岛，但他的同伴们迫切地恳求他们在岸上抛锚过夜并休息一下，以供休息和休息，尤利西斯屈服了。然而，他对他们发誓，他们不会碰触神圣的羊群和牛群中的任何一种动物，而是满足于他们所剩下的喀耳刻放在船上的补给。只要这种供应持续，人们就会遵守誓言，但逆风使他们在岛上滞留了一个月，在耗尽了所有储备的粮食后，他们被迫依靠他们能捕获的鸟类和鱼类。饥荒逼迫他们，最终有一天，在尤利西斯不在的情况下，他们宰杀了一些牛，徒劳地试图通过向被冒犯的力量提供一部分来弥补这一行为。尤利西斯回到岸边后，看到他们的所作所为，大吃一惊，而随后出现的不祥征兆更是让他惊恐不已。皮在地上爬行，肉节在烤肉叉上发出低沉的声音。

风势转好，他们从岛上启航。他们还没走多远，天色就变了，狂风暴雨电闪雷鸣。一道闪电击碎了他们的桅杆，桅杆落下导致飞行员身亡。最后，船只本身散架了。龙骨和桅杆并排漂浮，尤利西斯用它们组成了一个木筏，他紧紧抓住木筏，随着风向的变化，海浪把他带到了卡吕普索的岛上。其余船员全部遇难。

以下对我们刚刚考虑的主题的暗示来自 Milton 的“Comus”第 252 行：

“……我经常听到
我的母亲喀耳刻和塞壬三人，
在衣着华丽的奈阿德斯之中，
剔除他们的强效草药和有害药物，
正如他们所唱的那样，谁会带走被囚禁的灵魂
并将其包裹在极乐世界中。锡拉哭了，
并斥责她的吠叫引起注意，
卡律布狄斯低声低声鼓掌。

Scylla 和 Charybdis 已成为谚语，表示困扰某人的相反危险。参见谚语表达。

卡吕普索

卡吕普索（Calypso）是一位海仙女，这个名字代表了众多等级较低的女性神灵，但也具有众神的许多属性。卡吕普索热情接待了尤利西斯，盛情款待了他，对他产生了迷恋，并希望永远保留他，并赋予他永生。但他坚持要回到自己的祖国和妻子儿子身边。卡吕普索终于接到了朱庇特的命令，要解雇他。水星给她带来了信息，并在她的洞穴中找到了她，荷马如此描述：

“花园里的藤蔓，四面繁茂，
覆盖着宽敞的洞穴，簇拥着
丰富；四个宁静的淋巴泉，
他们并肩追寻蜿蜒的道路，
四处流浪，到处出现
草甸最柔软的翠绿，紫色的水
与紫罗兰；这是一个需要填补的场景
来自天堂的神，带着惊奇和喜悦。”

卡里普索非常不情愿地继续服从朱庇特的命令。她为尤利西斯提供了建造木筏的方法，为他提供了充足的食物，并为他带来了有利的大风。他在航线上顺利地航行了许多天，直到最后，当看到陆地时，一场风暴袭来，折断了他的桅杆，并威胁要撕裂木筏。在这场危机中，一位富有同情心的海仙女看到了他，化身为一只鸬鹚，落在木筏上，递给他一条腰带，指示他将其系在胸下，如果他被迫相信自己的话，海浪会让他浮起来，使他能够游到陆地上。

芬内隆在他的浪漫小说《特勒马科斯》中为我们讲述了尤利西斯之子寻找父亲的冒险经历。他跟随父亲的脚步到达的其他地方之一是卡吕普索岛，就像前一个例子一样，女神想尽一切办法让他留在身边，并提出与他分享她的不朽。但密涅瓦化身为导师陪伴着他，掌管着他的一举一动，让他抵制住了她的诱惑，在找不到其他逃生途径的情况下，两个朋友从悬崖上跳进了海里，游到了一艘船上。它在岸边平静地躺着。拜伦在下面的诗节中提到了特勒马科斯和导师的这一飞跃：

“但经过卡吕普索的岛屿时并不是寂静无声，
中层的姐妹房客；
对于疲惫的人来说，那里仍然是微笑的避风港，
尽管美丽的女神早已不再哭泣，
在她的悬崖上进行徒劳的监视
对于那些敢于选择凡人新娘的人来说。
他的儿子也在这里尝试了可怕的跳跃，
严厉的导师催促着从高潮到彼岸；
就这样，两人都失去了，仙女女王双双叹了口气。

腓亚基人

尤利西斯紧紧抓住木筏，而木筏的任何一根木头都粘在一起，当木筏不再给他提供支撑时，他就用腰带绑在他身上，开始游泳。密涅瓦抚平了他面前的巨浪，并为他送来一阵风，将海浪卷向海岸。海浪拍打着岩石，似乎让人无法接近。但最后，他在一条温和的小溪的河口找到了平静的水面，他登陆了，劳累过度，气喘吁吁，说不出话来，几乎死了。过了一段时间，他苏醒了，他亲吻着泥土，欣喜若狂，却不知该何去何从。在不远的地方，他看到了一片树林，于是转身向那片树林走去。在那里，他找到了一个被杂乱的树枝遮蔽的隐蔽处，可以遮挡阳光和雨水，他收集了一堆树叶，铺了一张床，躺在上面，把树叶堆在身上，睡着了。

他被扔到的地方是谢里亚（Scheria），费埃克斯人的国家。这些人最初居住在独眼巨人附近。但由于受到野蛮种族的压迫，他们在国王瑙西索斯的带领下迁移到谢里亚岛。诗人告诉我们，他们是一个类似于诸神的民族，当他们献祭时，他们会明显地出现并在他们中间享受盛宴，当他们遇到孤独的行人时，他们也不会隐藏自己。他们拥有丰富的财富，享受着财富，不受战争警报的干扰，因为他们远离贪图利益的人，没有敌人接近他们的海岸，他们甚至不需要使用弓箭和箭袋。他们的主要工作是导航。他们的船只以鸟类的速度航行，并且具有智慧。他们熟悉每个港口，不需要领航员。瑙西索斯的儿子阿尔西诺斯现在是他们的国王，一位明智而公正的君主，深受人民爱戴。

就在尤利西斯被抛到菲亚西亚岛上的那天晚上，当他躺在树叶床上睡觉时，国王的女儿娜乌西卡做了一个密涅瓦送来的梦，提醒她她的婚礼——那一天已经不远了，为全家人洗一次衣服只是为这一事件做的谨慎准备。这可不是一件小事，因为喷泉距离很远，衣服必须搬到那里。醒来后，公主赶紧去找父母，告诉他们自己的想法。并不是指她的婚礼，而是寻找其他同样好的理由。她的父亲欣然同意，并命令马夫为此提供一辆马车。衣服放在里面，太后在车里也放了充足的酒菜。公主坐下来，开始鞭打，她的侍女们步行跟在她后面。到了河边，他们赶出骡子去吃草，卸下马车，把衣服搬到河边，兴致勃勃地干活，很快就结束了劳作。然后，他们把衣服铺在岸上晾干，洗了澡，坐下来吃饭。然后他们起身玩球游戏，公主一边玩一边给他们唱歌。但当他们重新叠好衣服准备继续进城时，米勒娃把公主扔的球掉进了水里，大家尖叫起来，尤利西斯被声音吵醒了。

现在我们必须想象一下尤利西斯，一个遭遇海难的水手，但在逃离海浪几个小时后，完全赤身裸体，醒来后发现他和一群年轻少女之间只有几棵灌木丛。从她们的举止和衣着来看，他发现她们不仅仅是农家姑娘，而是上流社会的姑娘。可悲的是，他需要帮助，尽管他赤身裸体，他怎么能冒险去发现自己并让别人知道他的需求呢？这当然是一个值得他的守护神密涅瓦介入的案件，她在危机中从未让他失望过。他从树上折下一根枝繁叶茂的树枝，将其举在身前，从灌木丛中走了出来。处女们一看到他就四散奔逃，只有娜乌西卡除外，因为她的密涅瓦给予了她勇气和洞察力的帮助。尤利西斯恭敬地站在一边，讲述了他的悲惨遭遇，并恳求那位美丽的对象（他自称不知道是女王还是女神）提供食物和衣服。公主礼貌地回答，并承诺当父亲了解事实后，她会立即得到救济，并会热情款待他。她把四散的少女们叫了回来，斥责她们的惊慌，并提醒她们菲阿克人没有敌人可畏。她告诉他们，这个人是一个不幸的流浪者，珍惜他是一种责任，因为穷人和陌生人来自朱庇特。她吩咐他们带上食物和衣服，因为马车里有她哥哥的一些衣服。当这一切完成后，尤利西斯退到了一个避风的地方，洗掉了身上的海沫，穿上衣服并用食物恢复了精神，帕拉斯舒展了他的体形，在他宽阔的胸膛和男子气概的眉毛上散布着优雅。

公主见到他，心中赞叹不已，毫不犹豫地对姑娘们说，希望上天赐予她这样一个丈夫。她向尤利西斯建议他应该跟随自己前往城市，一直训练到穿过田野的路为止。但当他们接近这座城市时，她希望不再有人看到他在她的陪伴下，因为她担心粗鲁和粗俗的人看到她和这样一个勇敢的陌生人一起回来时可能会发表评论。为了避免这种情况，她指示他在城市附近的一片小树林前停下来，那里有属于国王的农场和花园。在给公主和她的同伴留出时间到达城市后，他将继续前往那里，并且很容易在他可能遇到的任何人的引导下到达皇家住所。

尤利西斯听从了指示，在适当的时候前往城市，在接近城市时，他遇到了一位年轻女子，她拿着一个水罐去打水。呈现出这种形态的正是米勒娃。尤利西斯向她搭话，并希望被带到阿尔西诺斯国王的宫殿。少女恭敬地回答，愿意为他引路。她告诉他，因为这座宫殿位于她父亲的住所附近。在女神的指引下，借助她笼罩在云层中的力量，尤利西斯在忙碌的人群中穿行，惊奇地观察着他们的港口、船只、广场（英雄的胜地）和城垛。直到他们来到宫殿，女神首先告诉了他一些他将要见到的国家、国王和人民的信息，然后就离开了他。尤利西斯在进入宫殿的庭院之前，站着观察了这一场景。它的辉煌让他惊叹不已。铜墙从入口一直延伸到内屋，门是金的，门柱是银的，门楣是银的，饰有金。两边都有金银制成的獒犬雕像，它们排成一排，好像在守卫通道。沿着墙壁铺满了座椅，座椅上铺着质地最精美的斗篷，是菲亚西亚少女的作品。王子们坐在这些座位上享用宴会，而金色的优雅少年雕像手中则点燃了火把，将整个场景照得光彩夺目。足有五十名女仆在家庭办公室里服务，一些人负责磨玉米，另一些人负责卷绕紫色羊毛或织布机。对于菲亚西亚妇女来说，在家庭艺术方面远远超过了所有其他妇女，就像该国的水手在船舶管理方面远远超过了其他人类一样。没有庭院，有一个宽阔的花园，占地四英亩。里面长着许多参天大树，有石榴、梨、苹果、无花果和橄榄。冬天的寒冷和夏天的干旱都没有阻止它们的生长，但它们不断地繁衍生息，有的正在萌芽，有的正在成熟。葡萄园同样多产。在一个季度中，您可能会看到葡萄藤，有些正在开花，有些已经结满了成熟的葡萄，而在另一个季度中，您可以看到酿酒师踩着压榨机。花园的边缘，一年四季都盛开着各种颜色的花朵，布置得非常精美。中间有两个喷泉，其中一个通过人工渠道流过整个花园，另一个则流经宫殿的庭院，每个公民都可以从那里汲取自己的补给。

尤利西斯站在那儿，满怀钦佩地凝视着自己，但密涅瓦在他周围散布的云彩仍然保护着他。最后，在充分观察了现场之后，他快步走进了酋长和元老们聚集的大厅，向墨丘利敬酒，晚餐后崇拜墨丘利。就在这时，密涅瓦溶解了云层，并将他透露给了聚集在一起的酋长们。他走到女王坐的地方，跪在她的脚下，恳求她的恩惠和帮助，让他能够回到自己的祖国。然后他退了出去，以恳求者的方式坐在壁炉边。

一时间没人说话。最后，一位年长的政治家对国王说：“一个陌生人向我们请求款待，让他以恳求的姿态等待，没有人欢迎他，这是不合适的。因此，请把他带到我们中间的座位上，并为他提供食物和酒。”国王听了这句话，起身向尤利西斯伸出手，把他带到座位上，取代了自己的儿子，为陌生人腾出了位置。食物和酒摆在他面前，他一边吃一边恢复精神。

然后国王遣散了他的客人，并通知他们第二天他将召集他们参加会议，考虑如何为陌生人做最好的事情。

当客人离开后，尤利西斯独自一人与国王和王后在一起，王后问他是谁，从哪里来，以及（认出他穿的衣服是她的侍女和她自己做的）他从谁那里得到的那些衣服。他告诉他们他在卡吕普索岛上的住处以及他从那里离开的情况。他的木筏失事，他游泳逃生，以及公主所提供的解脱。父母听到后表示赞同，国王答应提供一艘船，让他的客人可以返回自己的土地。

第二天，聚集的酋长们证实了国王的诺言。一艘船已经准备好了，一群粗壮的桨手也被挑选出来，所有人都前往宫殿，那里提供了丰盛的饭菜。宴会结束后，国王建议年轻人向客人展示男子气概的体育运动，然后大家都到竞技场上进行跑步、摔跤和其他运动。所有人都尽了最大努力后，尤利西斯被要求展示自己的能力，一开始他拒绝了，但遭到其中一个年轻人的嘲笑，他抓起一圈比任何一个菲亚克斯人投掷的重物都重得多的东西，并把它扔到了比任何一个菲亚克斯人扔得更远的地方。他们的最大投掷。所有人都惊讶不已，对他们的客人更加尊敬了。

比赛结束后，他们回到大厅，在传令官的带领下
狄摩多科斯，盲人吟游诗人——

“......亲爱的缪斯女神，
谁还指定他为好或坏，
夺走了他的视线，但却给了他神圣的力量。”

他以“木马”为主题，希腊人通过木马进入特洛伊。阿波罗激励了他，他如此深情地唱出了那个多事之秋的恐怖和功绩，所有人都高兴不已，但尤利西斯却感动得流下了眼泪。阿尔西诺斯看到这一点，当歌曲结束时，他问他为什么一提到特洛伊他的悲伤就醒了。他在那里失去了父亲、兄弟或任何亲爱的朋友吗？尤利西斯回答说，他说出了自己的真名，并应他们的要求，讲述了自从他离开特洛伊以来发生在他身上的冒险经历。这种叙述将菲亚克斯人对他们的客人的同情和钦佩提升到了最高点。国王提议所有酋长都向他赠送礼物，他自己也做出了榜样。他们服从了，并竞相给这位显赫的陌生人送上昂贵的礼物。

第二天，尤利西斯乘坐菲亚西亚船起航，很快就安全抵达了他自己的岛屿伊萨卡。当船只接触到绳子时，他已经睡着了。水手们没有叫醒他，就把他抬上岸，并把他装着礼物的箱子运上岸，然后就扬帆离开了。

海王星对费埃克斯人从他手中救出尤利西斯的行为非常不满，以至于在船只返回港口时，他把它变成了一块岩石，就在港口的入口对面。

荷马对菲亚克人船只的描述被认为看起来像是对现代蒸汽航海奇迹的期待。阿尔西诺斯对尤利西斯说：

“说来自哪个城市、哪个地区的人，
这些地区有哪些居民？
所以你要尽快到达指定的境界，
在奇妙的船上，自我感动，本能与心灵；
没有掌舵者保证航向，没有飞行员指引；
他们像聪明人一样犁过潮汐，
意识到每一个海岸和每一个海湾
它位于太阳全视光线之下。”

——《奥德赛》，第八册。

卡莱尔勋爵在他的《土耳其和希腊水域日记》中这样谈到科孚岛，他认为科孚岛是古老的菲亚克群岛：

“这些网站解释了‘奥德赛’。”海神的神庙坐落在最有弹性的草皮平台上，位于俯瞰港口、海峡和海洋的峭壁顶端，再合适不过了。在内港的入口处有一块风景如画的岩石，上面栖息着一座小修道院，据传说，这是尤利西斯变形的顶峰。

“几乎岛上唯一的一条河流距离国王的城市和宫殿的可能地点只有适当的距离，这证明了娜乌西卡公主在与宫廷少女一起出行时使用她的战车和午餐是合理的去洗他们的衣服。”

追求者的命运

尤利西斯此时已经离开伊萨卡二十年了，当他醒来时，他已经认不出自己的祖国了。密涅瓦以年轻牧羊人的形象出现在他面前，告诉他他在哪里，并告诉他宫殿里的情况。伊萨卡和邻近岛屿的一百多名贵族多年来一直在起诉他的妻子佩内洛普，想象他死了，并在他的宫殿和人民上发号施令，就好像他们是两者的所有者一样。为了让他能够向他们报仇，重要的是他不应该被认出。密涅瓦因此把他变成了一个难看的乞丐，因此他受到了他家忠实仆人、猪群尤迈乌斯的热情接待。

他的儿子忒勒马科斯因寻找父亲而缺席。他去了其他国王的宫廷，这些国王刚刚从特洛伊远征中回来。在寻找过程中，米勒娃建议他回家。他到达并在出现在求婚者之中之前找到尤迈厄斯，了解一些宫殿的情况。他发现尤迈乌斯身边有一个陌生人，尽管他穿着乞丐的衣服，但他还是礼貌地对待他，并答应帮助他。尤迈乌斯被派到宫殿私下通知佩内洛普她儿子的到来，因为对求婚者必须小心谨慎，据特勒马科斯所知，他们正密谋拦截并杀死他。当尤迈厄斯离开后，密涅瓦向尤利西斯显现，并指示他向儿子透露自己的情况。与此同时，她触碰了他，立刻去掉了他衰老和贫穷的外表，给了他属于他的充满活力的男子气概。特勒马科斯惊讶地看着他，起初认为他一定不仅仅是凡人。但尤利西斯宣布自己是他的父亲，并解释说这是密涅瓦造成的。

“......然后扔了特勒马科斯
他搂着父亲的脖子，哭了起来。
强烈的哀叹的欲望被抓住
双方;发出轻柔的呢喃声，每个人都沉迷其中
他的悲伤。”

父子俩商量如何战胜求婚者并惩罚他们的暴行。特勒马科斯被安排前往宫殿，像以前一样与求婚者交往。尤利西斯也应该以乞丐的身份离开，这个角色在粗鲁的旧时代享有与我们现在所承认的不同的特权。作为旅行者和讲故事的人，乞丐被允许进入酋长的大厅，并经常受到像客人一样的待遇。尽管有时，毫无疑问，也带有侮辱性。尤利西斯嘱咐他的儿子不要对他表现出任何不寻常的兴趣，表明他知道他并不像他看上去的那样，而且即使他看到他受到侮辱或殴打，也不要以他可能对任何陌生人做的方式进行干预。 。在宫殿里，他们看到了平常的宴会和骚乱的景象。求婚者假装高兴地迎接特勒马科斯的归来，但暗地里却因他们谋害他的阴谋失败而感到羞愧。老乞丐被允许进去，并从桌子上拿了一份。当尤利西斯进入宫殿的庭院时，发生了一件感人的事。院子里躺着一条老狗，老得快死了，看见陌生人进来，就抬起头，竖起耳朵。这是尤利西斯自己的狗阿格斯，他以前经常带它去追逐。

“……很快他就察觉到了
久违的尤利西斯近在眼前，他的耳朵垂了下来
他拍了拍手，用尾巴做出了高兴的手势
庆幸之余无力起身，
并像以前一样接近他的主人。
尤利西斯注意到他，擦掉眼泪
未标记。
……然后他的命运被释放了
老阿古斯，当他活着看到
《尤利西斯》二十年恢复。

当尤利西斯坐在大厅里吃他的那一份时，求婚者开始向他表现出他们的无礼。当他温和地抗议时，其中一个人举起一张凳子，用棍子打了他一拳。看到父亲在自己的大厅里受到如此对待，特勒马科斯努力克制住自己的愤怒，但他想起了父亲的禁令，只说了自己作为这座房子的主人（尽管还年轻）和客人的保护者的话。

佩内洛普对她的两个追求者做出的决定拖延了很长时间，以至于似乎没有再拖延的借口了。丈夫的持续缺席似乎证明他的回归已不再是指望之事。与此同时，她的儿子已经长大了，能够处理自己的事情了。因此，她同意将她选择的问题提交给求婚者进行技能考验。选择的测试是用弓射击。十二个圆环排成一排，箭射穿整个十二个圆环的人将获得王后作为奖品。他的一位英雄兄弟从前送给尤利西斯的一张弓被从军械库带来，箭袋里装满了箭，放在大厅里。特勒马科斯小心翼翼地把所有其他武器都拆除了，借口是在激烈的竞争中，在某些鲁莽的时刻，存在将它们不当使用的危险。

一切准备就绪，首先要做的就是弯弓接弦。忒勒马科斯竭尽全力做到这一点，但发现他的所有努力都没有结果。他谦虚地承认自己尝试了一项超出自己能力范围的任务，然后向另一个人鞠躬。他尝试过，但没有取得更好的成功，于是在同伴的笑声和嘲笑声中放弃了。另一个人尝试了，另一个人尝试了；他们用牛脂擦拭弓，但毫无效果。它不会弯曲。然后尤利西斯开口了，谦虚地建议他应该被允许尝试一下。因为，他说，“虽然我是个乞丐，但我曾经是一名士兵，我的这些老四肢仍然有一些力量。”追求者们发出嘲笑声，并命令将他赶出大厅，因为他的无礼。但特勒马科斯为他说话，并且只是为了让老人满意，请他尝试一下。尤利西斯接过弓，并以大师的手操作它。他轻松地将绳子调整到槽口，然后将一支箭安装到弓上，拉动绳子，使箭准确无误地穿过环。

不等他们有时间表达惊讶，他就说道：“现在再打一分！”并且针对的是最无礼的追求者之一。箭穿过他的喉咙，他倒地身亡。特勒马科斯、尤迈厄斯和另一位全副武装的忠实追随者现在跳到了尤利西斯一边。求婚者们惊讶地环顾四周寻找武器，但没有找到，也没有任何逃生的办法，因为尤迈乌斯已经把门锁好了。 《尤利西斯》很快就让他们陷入了不确定之中。他宣称自己是失踪已久的酋长，他们入侵了他的房屋，挥霍了他的财产，他们迫害了他的妻子和儿子长达十年之久。并告诉他们他打算报仇。所有人都被杀了，尤利西斯成为了他宫殿的主人、他的王国和他的妻子的拥有者。

丁尼生的《尤利西斯》诗代表了这位老英雄，在经历了危险之后，除了呆在家里快乐之外一无所有，厌倦了无所作为，并决心再次出发，寻求新的冒险。

“……来吧，我的朋友们，
``寻找一个新世界还为时不晚。
推开，并坐好以减轻体重
发声的犁沟； 为了我的目的
驶过日落和浴场
在所有西方明星中，直到我死。
也许深渊会把我们冲垮；
也许我们会碰到快乐小岛，
看看我们认识的伟大的阿喀琉斯；” ETC。

埃涅阿斯历险记

我们追随了希腊英雄之一尤利西斯从特洛伊归来的旅程，现在我们提议分享被征服的残余人民的命运，在他们的酋长埃涅阿斯的带领下，寻找新的家园，在他们的故乡城市被毁之后。在那个致命的夜晚，木马吐出了里面的武装人员，导致城市被占领并被烧毁，埃涅阿斯带着他的父亲、妻子和年幼的儿子逃离了毁灭现场。父亲安喀塞斯年事已高，无法以所需的速度行走，埃涅阿斯将他扛在肩上。就这样，他带着儿子、妻子跟在后面，艰难地走出了这座燃烧的城市。但在混乱中，他的妻子被卷走并迷失了方向。

到达会合地点后，发现了许多男女逃亡者，他们接受了埃涅阿斯的引导。经过几个月的准备，他们终于出发了。他们首先在色雷斯附近的海岸登陆，并准备建造一座城市，但埃涅阿斯被一位神童阻止了。准备献祭时，他从一棵灌木丛中扯下一些树枝。令他沮丧的是，受伤部位流血了。当他重复这个动作时，地面上有一个声音向他喊道：“饶了我吧，埃涅阿斯；我是你的亲戚，波利多尔，在这里被许多箭射杀，而我的鲜血滋养着这里长出了一丛灌木。”这些话让埃涅阿斯想起波利多尔是特洛伊的一位年轻王子，他的父亲将他带着充足的财宝送到邻近的色雷斯，在那里长大，远离战争的恐怖。他被派去见的国王谋杀了他并夺取了他的财宝。埃涅阿斯和他的同伴们想到这片土地已经被这样的罪行玷污了，他们赶紧离开了。

接下来，他们登陆了提洛岛，该岛曾经是一座浮岛，直到木星用金刚链将其固定在海底。阿波罗和戴安娜出生于此，该岛对阿波罗来说是神圣的。埃涅阿斯在这里咨询了阿波罗的神谕，并得到了一个像往常一样模棱两可的答案：“寻找你古老的母亲；寻找你古老的母亲；寻找你古老的母亲。”埃涅阿斯的种族将居住在那里，并使所有其他国家屈服于他们的统治。”特洛伊人听了大喜，立即互相询问：“神谕所指的地点在哪里？”安喀塞斯记得，有一个传统，他们的祖先来自克里特岛，他们决心前往那里。他们到达克里特岛并开始建造他们的城市，但他们中间爆发了疾病，他们所种植的田地没有收成。在这令人沮丧的事情中，埃涅阿斯在梦中被警告要离开这个国家，寻找一个名为赫斯皮里亚的西方土地，特洛伊种族真正的创始人达尔达努斯最初迁徙到了那里。因此，他们前往赫斯皮里亚（现在称为意大利），指明了未来的航向，直到经历了多次冒险和足够携带现代航海者环球航行数次的时间后，他们才到达那里。

他们的第一次登陆是在鹰身女妖岛。这些是令人作呕的鸟，长着少女的头，长着长爪，脸色因饥饿而苍白。他们是众神派来折磨菲纽斯的，朱庇特为了惩罚他的残忍行为，剥夺了他的视力。每当食物摆在他面前时，鹰身女妖都会从空中飞下来，把食物带走。他们被阿尔戈探险队的英雄们从菲纽斯身边赶走，并在埃涅阿斯现在发现他们的岛上避难。

当特洛伊人进入港口时，他们看到平原上有成群的牛群。他们想杀多少就杀多少，并准备一场盛宴。但他们刚坐到餐桌旁，空中就传来一阵可怕的喧闹声，一群可恶的鹰身女妖向他们扑来，用爪子抓住盘子里的肉，带着它飞走了。埃涅阿斯和他的伙伴们拔出剑，对着怪物们猛烈地攻击，但没有任何效果，因为它们是如此敏捷，几乎不可能击中它们，而它们的羽毛就像坚不可摧的钢铁盔甲。其中一个栖息在附近的悬崖上，尖叫道：“特洛伊人，你们是这样对待我们无辜的小鸟，先宰杀我们的牛，然后对我们自己发动战争吗？”她预言他们今后的道路将遭受极大的苦难，发泄完怒火便飞走了。特洛伊人急忙离开这个国家，然后发现自己沿着伊庇鲁斯海岸航行。他们在这里登陆，令他们惊讶的是，一些被当作囚犯带到那里的特洛伊流亡者已经成为了这个国家的统治者。安德洛玛克是赫克托耳的遗孀，成为一位胜利的希腊酋长的妻子，并为他生了一个儿子。她的丈夫去世了，她作为儿子的监护人成为了这个国家的摄政王，并嫁给了特洛伊皇家种族的俘虏海勒诺斯。赫勒努斯和安德洛玛克以最热情的款待对待流亡者，并给他们送来了满载礼物的礼物。

埃涅阿斯从此沿着西西里岛海岸航行，经过了独眼巨人的国家。在这里，他们被一个可怜的物体从岸上招呼，从他的衣服破烂不堪，他们看出这是一个希腊人。他告诉他们，他是尤利西斯的同伴之一，是那位酋长在匆忙离开时留下的。他向波吕斐摩斯讲述了尤利西斯的冒险故事，并恳求他们把他带走，因为他除了野生浆果和树根之外无法维持自己的生存，而且一直生活在对独眼巨人的恐惧之中。正当他说话的时候，波吕斐摩斯出现了。一个可怕的怪物，无形，巨大，唯一的一只眼睛被挖掉了。[22]参见谚语表达。 他拄着拐杖，小心翼翼地走到海边，在海浪中清洗他的眼窝。当他到达水边时，他向他们涉水而去，他巨大的身高使他能够深入海中很远，因此特洛伊人惊恐地划起桨来让开。听到桨声，波吕斐摩斯在他们身后大声喊叫，海岸上响起了回响，其他独眼巨人听到声音从他们的洞穴和树林中走出来，排列在海岸上，就像一排高耸的松树。特洛伊人划动桨，很快就消失在人们的视线中。

赫勒诺斯警告埃涅阿斯要避开由怪物斯库拉和卡律布狄斯守卫的海峡。读者会记得，尤利西斯在那里失去了六名部下，他们被斯库拉抓住，而航海家们则全神贯注于避开卡律布狄斯。埃涅阿斯听从了赫勒诺斯的建议，避开了危险的通道，沿着西西里岛沿海航行。

朱诺看到特洛伊人兴旺地驶向他们预定的海岸，她对他们的宿怨又重燃了，因为她无法忘记帕里斯将美丽奖颁给另一个人时对她的轻蔑。天上的人心里可能有这样的怨恨。[22]参见谚语表达。 因此，她赶紧去找风的统治者埃俄罗斯——正是他为尤利西斯提供了有利的大风，并把相反的大风绑在袋子里给了他。风神听从了女神的命令，派出他的儿子波瑞阿斯、提丰和其他风来搅动海洋。一场可怕的风暴随之而来，特洛伊船只偏离了航线，驶向非洲海岸。他们面临着失事的迫在眉睫的危险，并且被分开了，因此埃涅阿斯认为除了他自己之外，一切都失去了。

危难之际，海王星听到了风暴的肆虐，知道自己没有下达任何命令，于是他抬起头，看到了埃涅阿斯的舰队在狂风中行驶。知道朱诺的敌意，他毫不犹豫地解释了这一点，但他的愤怒并没有因为这种对他省份的干涉而减少。他用严厉的斥责来驱散他们。然后他平息了海浪，拂去了太阳面前的云层。他用自己的三叉戟撬开了一些触礁的船只，而特里顿和一位海仙女则将他们的肩膀放在其他船只的肩膀上，让它们重新浮在水面上。当海面平静后，特洛伊人寻找最近的海岸，那就是迦太基海岸，埃涅阿斯很高兴地发现，尽管受到严重摇晃，船只却一艘又一艘安全抵达。

沃勒在他的《保护者勋爵》（克伦威尔）中提到了海王星对风暴的平息：

“在海浪之上，当海王星露出他的脸时，
为了斥责风并拯救特洛伊人，
尊贵的殿下也是如此，
野心的风暴使我们受到压抑。”

恶作剧

流放者现在到达的迦太基是西西里岛对面的非洲海岸上的一个地方，当时在他们的女王狄多（Dido）领导下的提尔殖民地正在为一个注定在以后的时代成为罗马竞争对手的国家奠定基础。本身。狄多（Dido）是提尔国王贝鲁斯（Belus）的女儿，也是继承其父亲王位的皮格马利翁（Pygmalion）的妹妹。她的丈夫是西凯乌斯（Sichaeus），一个拥有巨大财富的人，但皮格马利翁（Pygmalion）觊觎他的财宝，导致他被处死。狄多带着众多的朋友和追随者，无论男女，成功地乘坐几艘船只逃离了提尔，并携带了西凯乌斯的宝藏。当他们到达他们选择作为未来家园的地点时，他们向当地人索要的土地仅限于他们可以用一张牛皮围起来的土地。当这一点得到批准后，她将兽皮切成条，并用它们围出了一个地方，并在上面建造了一座城堡，并将其称为“Byrsa”（兽皮）。迦太基城围绕着这座堡垒崛起，并很快成为一个强大而繁荣的地方。

当埃涅阿斯带着他的特洛伊人到达那里时，情况就是如此。狄多热情好客地接待了杰出的流放者。 “我并不陌生苦难，”她说，“我已经学会了救助不幸的人。”[22]参见谚语表达。 女王的热情好客在庆祝活动中得到了体现，庆祝活动中展示了力量和技巧的比赛。陌生人与自己的臣民在平等的条件下争夺掌权，女王宣称无论胜利者是特洛伊人还是泰尔人，对她来说都没有区别。 [22a]参见谚语表达。 在比赛结束后的宴会上，埃涅阿斯应她的要求，讲述了特洛伊历史的最后事件以及他自己在该城陷落后的冒险经历。迪多被他的演讲迷住了，并对他的功绩充满了钦佩。她对他产生了热烈的热情，而他似乎很乐意接受这个幸运的机会，这似乎立即为他提供了一个幸福的结束他的流浪生活，一个家，一个王国和一个新娘。在愉快的交往中，几个月过去了，意大利和注定要在其海岸上建立的帝国似乎都被遗忘了。看到这一情况，朱庇特派遣墨丘利向埃涅阿斯传达一条信息，提醒他意识到自己的崇高命运，并命令他继续航行。

埃涅阿斯与狄多分手了，尽管她用尽各种诱惑和劝说来留住他。对她的感情和自尊心的打击太大了，她无法忍受，当她发现他走了之后，她登上了她让人竖立的葬礼堆，刺伤了自己，并与堆一起吞噬了。离开的特洛伊人看到了城市上空升起的火焰，尽管原因不明，但埃涅阿斯对这起致命事件有所了解。

我们在《优雅摘录》中发现了以下警句：

来自拉丁语

“不快乐，迪多，是你的命运
在第一和第二次结婚状态！
一位丈夫因死亡而导致你的逃亡，
你的死亡是由飞行造成的”

帕利努鲁斯

到达西西里岛后，特洛伊人王子阿塞斯特斯热情接待了他们，特洛伊人重新登船，继续前往意大利。现在，维纳斯向海王星求情，让她的儿子最终实现了他所希望的目标，并结束了他在深海中的危险。海王星同意了，并规定只用一条生命作为其余生命的赎金。受害者是飞行员帕利努鲁斯。当他手握舵手坐着观星时，海王星派来的索姆努斯化身为佛巴斯，走近说道：“帕利努鲁斯，微风徐徐，水面平静，船在航线上平稳航行。躺一会儿并进行必要的休息。我会代替你掌舵。”帕利努鲁斯回答说：“不要告诉我什么是风平浪静或顺风顺水——我已经目睹了他们如此多的背叛。我应该相信埃涅阿斯对天气和风向的把握吗？他继续握着舵，眼睛盯着星星。但索姆纳斯向他挥舞着一根沾有雷萨露水的树枝，尽管他竭尽全力，他还是闭上了眼睛。然后索姆努斯把他推下船，他摔倒了。但他继续握着舵，它就跟着他走了。海王星牢记着他的诺言，在没有舵手或驾驶员的情况下让船保持在正确的轨道上，直到埃涅阿斯发现了他的损失，并为他忠实的舵手深感悲痛，亲自掌管了这艘船。

斯科特的《Marmion》《第一章序言》中有一个关于帕利努鲁斯故事的美丽典故，诗人在谈到威廉·皮特最近去世时说道：

“哦，想一想，到了他最后的一天，
当死亡盘旋夺取他的猎物时，
凭借帕利努尔不变的心情，
他坚守在危险的岗位上；
每次需要休息的呼声都被拒绝，
用垂死的手握住舵，
直到他坠落，带着命运的影响，
王国的掌舵权让位了。”

船只终于到达了意大利海岸，冒险家们高兴地跳上陆地。当他的人民忙于扎营时，埃涅阿斯寻找西比尔的住所。这是一个与寺庙和树林相连的洞穴，供奉阿波罗和戴安娜。当埃涅阿斯凝视着这个场景时，西比尔向他搭话。她似乎知道他的使命，并在当地神的影响下，爆发出一种预言般的张力，给出了他注定要走上最终成功之路的艰辛和危险的黑暗暗示。她以一句广为人知的鼓励的话作为结束语：“不要向灾难屈服，而是更加勇敢地前进。”[22]参见谚语表达。 埃涅阿斯回答说，他已经为等待他的一切做好了准备。他只有一个要求。他在梦中被指示去寻找死者的住所，以便与他的父亲安喀塞斯商量，从他那里得到关于他和他的种族未来命运的启示，他请求她的帮助，使他能够完成这项任务。女预言家回答说：“下降到阿弗纳斯很容易：冥王星的大门日夜敞开；但要折返，回到高空，这就是劳苦，这就是困难。”[26]参见谚语表达。 她指示他在森林里寻找一棵长有金色树枝的树。这根树枝将被拔下并作为礼物送给普罗瑟平娜，如果命运幸运的话，它会屈服于手并离开它的母树干，但否则没有任何力量可以将它撕掉。如果被撕掉，另一个就会成功。[26]参见谚语表达。

埃涅阿斯遵循西比尔的指示。他的母亲维纳斯派了两只鸽子飞到他面前为他指路，在它们的帮助下，他找到了那棵树，拔下了树枝，带着它匆匆回到了西比尔身边。

地狱区域

正如在我们系列的开始时，我们已经给出了异教对世界创造的描述一样，当我们接近结论时，我们呈现了对死亡地区的看法，由他们最开明的诗人之一描绘，他提出了他的学说来自他们最尊敬的哲学家。 维吉尔位于这个住所入口处的区域可能是最引人注目的，适合激发人们对地球表面上任何事物的可怕和超自然的想法。 这里是维苏威火山附近的火山区，整个国家布满裂缝，硫磺火焰从裂缝中升起，地面因压抑的蒸气而摇晃，神秘的声音从大地深处发出。 阿弗纳斯湖应该填满一座死火山的火山口。 它是圆形的，半英里宽，很深，周围是高高的河岸，在维吉尔时代，河岸上覆盖着阴暗的森林。 毒气从水域中升起，因此河岸上找不到生命，也没有鸟儿飞过。 根据诗人的说法，这里是通往地狱之地的洞穴，埃涅阿斯在这里向地狱诸神普罗瑟芬、赫卡忒和复仇女神献祭。 随即，大地传来一声怒吼，山顶的树林震动，犬吠声宣告神灵降临。 “现在，”女预言家说，“鼓起你的勇气，因为你需要它。”她走进洞穴，埃涅阿斯紧随其后。 在地狱的门槛前，他们经过了一群众生，这些众生被列举为悲伤和复仇的忧虑、苍白的疾病和忧郁的年龄、引诱犯罪的恐惧和饥饿、辛劳、贫穷和死亡，这些都令人毛骨悚然。 复仇女神们把他们的沙发铺在那里，还有无序，他的头发是毒蛇的，用一条血淋淋的鱼片绑着。 这里还有怪物，长着一百只手臂的布里亚柔斯，嘶嘶作响的九头蛇，以及喷火的奇美拉。 埃涅阿斯看到这一幕，浑身发抖，拔出剑想要出击，但西比尔制止了他。 随后，他们来到了黑色的科塞特斯河，在那里，他们找到了摆渡人卡戎，他虽然年老肮脏，但却精力充沛，正在接待各种各样的乘客上船，慷慨的英雄，男孩和未婚的女孩，像树叶一样多。秋天的秋天，或者冬天来临的时候南飞的羊群。 他们站在那里，急切地寻找一条通道，渴望到达对岸。 但这位严厉的摆渡人只接受他选择的人，将其余的人赶了回来。 埃涅阿斯对此感到惊讶，他问西比尔：“为什么要这样歧视？”她回答说：“那些被带上船的人是那些接受过适当葬礼的人的灵魂；其余未埋葬的大军，不准渡过洪水，而要徘徊一百年，在岸边来回飞翔，直到最后被淹没。”埃涅阿斯回忆起自己在风暴中丧生的一些同伴，感到悲痛不已。 就在那时，他看到了他的飞行员帕利努鲁斯，他落水淹死了。 他向他讲话并询问他不幸的原因。 帕利努鲁斯回答说，舵被卷走了，而他紧紧抓住舵，也被卷走了。 他最迫切地恳求埃涅阿斯向他伸出援手，带他一起到对岸。 但西比尔斥责他这样做是为了违反冥王星的法则。但安慰他的是，告诉他，他的尸体被海浪冲走的那片海岸的人们应该被神童煽动起来，给他应有的埋葬，而且这个海角应该以帕利努鲁斯角的名字命名，这是为了这个目的。天。 帕利努鲁斯听完这些话后，他们便走近了船。 卡戎的目光严厉地注视着前进的战士，要求他带着活着和武装的权利接近那片海岸。 西比尔回答说，他们不会采取暴力行动，埃涅阿斯唯一的目的是见到他的父亲，最后展示了金枝，卡戎一看到金枝，怒火就平息了，他赶紧把船转向岸边，接待他们上船。 这艘只适合轻载无体灵魂的船在英雄的重压下发出呻吟。 他们很快就被送到了对岸。 在那里，他们遇到了脖子上爬满了蛇的三头狗刻耳柏洛斯。 他用三个喉咙狂吠，直到女巫扔给他一块药饼，他急切地吃掉，然后躺在自己的巢穴里睡着了。 埃涅阿斯和西比尔跳到了陆地上。 传入他们耳中的第一个声音是那些在生命的门槛上死去的孩子们的哭声，而离他们不远的还有那些被莫须有的罪名杀害的人。 米诺斯作为法官主持他们，审查每个人的行为。 下一类是那些亲手死去的人，他们憎恨生命，寻求死亡的庇护。 哦，如果他们能够复活的话，他们现在多么愿意忍受贫穷、劳作和任何其他的痛苦啊！ 接下来是悲伤的区域，分成几条隐秘的小路，穿过桃金娘树林。 这里徘徊着那些沦为单恋受害者的人，即使死亡本身也无法摆脱痛苦。 在这些人中，埃涅阿斯认为他描述了狄多的形体，她身上还受过新伤。 昏暗的灯光下，他一时有些不确定，但走近一看，发现那确实是她自己。 泪水从他的眼中滑落，他用充满爱意的语气对她说话。 “不高兴的狄多！ 那么关于你已经死亡的传闻是真的吗？ 我也是，唉！ 原因是什么？ 我请众神见证，我离开你是不情愿的，也是服从朱庇特的命令的；我也不相信我的缺席会让你付出如此高昂的代价。 停下来，我恳求你，不要拒绝我最后的告别。”她站了一会儿，转过脸去，眼睛盯着地面，然后默默地走过去，像一块石头一样对他的恳求无动于衷。

接下来，他们进入了战场上阵亡的英雄们漫步的田野。在这里他们看到了希腊和特洛伊战士的许多影子。特洛伊人蜂拥而至，对这一景象不满意。他们询问他来的原因，并问了他无数的问题。但希腊人一看到他的盔甲在黑暗的气氛中闪闪发光，就认出了这位英雄，并充满恐惧地转身逃跑，就像他们在特洛伊平原上所做的那样。

埃涅阿斯本想和他的特洛伊朋友们一起逗留很长时间，但女巫催促他离开。接下来，他们来到了道路分岔的地方，一条通向极乐世界，另一条通向死者之地。埃涅阿斯在一侧看到了一座强大城市的城墙，弗莱格顿的周围滚滚着炽热的海水。他的面前，是神与人都无法突破的金刚之门。大门旁矗立着一座铁塔，复仇之怒的提西丰在上面守卫着。城里传来呻吟声、鞭子的声音、铁的嘎吱声、铁链的叮当声。埃涅阿斯惊恐万状，询问他的向导，那些受到惩罚并发出他听到的声音的人到底犯了什么罪？女预言家回答道：“这里是拉达曼苏斯的审判厅，它揭露生活中犯下的罪行，而犯罪者却徒劳地认为这些罪行隐藏得很深。蒂西丰使用她的蝎子鞭，将罪犯交给她的妹妹复仇女神。”就在这时，伴随着可怕的叮当声，黄铜大门打开了，埃涅阿斯看到里面有一个有五十个头的九头蛇守卫着入口。女预言家告诉他，塔尔塔罗斯的海湾很深，深渊在他们的脚下，就像天堂在他们的头顶一样高。在这个深坑的底部，躺着与众神交战的泰坦族；萨尔莫纽斯也想与朱庇特竞争，建造了一座黄铜桥，他驾驶战车在桥上行驶，声音听起来像雷声，向他的人民发射模仿闪电的火焰，直到朱庇特用真正的雷电击中他，并教他凡兵器与神兵器的区别。这里还有提提乌斯，巨人，他的体形如此巨大，当他躺着时，他的身体伸展超过九英亩，而一只秃鹰正在捕食他的肝脏，肝脏被吞噬后又会很快重新生长，因此他的惩罚不会受到任何惩罚。结尾。

埃涅阿斯看到一群人坐在摆满美食的桌子旁，而附近站着一个愤怒的人，当他们准备品尝时，他迅速从他们嘴里抢走了食物。其他人则看到头顶上悬挂着巨大的岩石，随时有坠落的危险，让他们时刻保持警惕。这些人要么憎恨自己的兄弟，要么殴打父母，要么欺骗信任他们的朋友，或者发了财却把钱据为己有，不与他人分享；最后一类是人数最多的一类。这里还包括那些违反婚姻誓言、或为不良事业而奋斗、或不忠于雇主的人。这个人为了黄金而出卖了自己的国家，另一个人却歪曲了法律，让他们今天说一套，明天又说一套。

伊克西翁就在那里，被固定在一个不断旋转的轮子的圆周上；西西弗斯的任务是把一块巨石滚到山顶，但当陡峭的山坡快要爬上时，巨石突然被某种力量击退，又一头冲下平原。他再次努力，汗水浸湿了他疲惫的四肢，但毫无效果。坦塔罗斯站在水池里，下巴与水齐平，但他口干舌燥，找不到任何东西可以缓解。因为当他低下白发的头，急于痛饮时，水就流走了，脚下的地面全都干了。高大的树木结满了果实，向他低下头，有梨、石榴、苹果和甘美的无花果。但当他突然想抓住它们时，风把它们吹到了他够不到的地方。

西比尔现在警告埃涅阿斯，是时候离开这些忧郁的地区，去寻找受祝福的城市了。他们穿过中间的一片黑暗，来到了极乐世界，快乐的人居住的小树林。他们呼吸着更加自由的空气，看到一切物体都披着紫色的光芒。该地区有自己的太阳和星星。居民们以各种方式享受乐趣，有的在草地上进行运​​动，有的进行力量或技巧比赛。其他人跳舞或唱歌。俄耳甫斯弹奏竖琴的和弦，发出迷人的声音。埃涅阿斯在这里看到了特洛伊国家的创建者，他们是生活在幸福时代的宽宏英雄。他满怀钦佩地注视着那些现已闲置的战车和闪闪发光的武器。长矛固定在地上，马匹没有挽具，在平原上漫步。老英雄们在生活中对华丽的盔甲和慷慨的战马感到同样的自豪感，也伴随着他们来到这里。他看到另一群人正在享受盛宴，聆听着音乐。他们在一片月桂树林里，伟大的波河就发源于此，流向人类。这里居住着那些为祖国的事业负伤而倒下的人，还有神圣的牧师和诗人，他们表达了堪比阿波罗的思想，还有其他一些人，他们通过在有用的艺术中的发现，为欢乐和装饰生活做出了贡献，并留下了他们的记忆。因为人类服务而受到祝福。他们的眉毛上戴着雪白的鱼片。女巫向一群人讲话，并询问在哪里可以找到安喀塞斯。他们被指示去哪里寻找他，很快就在一个青翠的山谷里找到了他，他正在那里思考他的子孙后代的地位、他们的命运以及未来要实现的有价值的事迹。当他看到埃涅阿斯走近时，他向他伸出双手，泪水夺眶而出。 “你终于来了，”他说道，“期待已久，在经历了如此多的危险之后，我还能见到你吗？噢，我的儿子，当我看到你的职业生涯时，我多么为你颤抖！”埃涅阿斯回答道：“父亲啊！你的形象一直在我面前指引着我、守护着我。”然后他努力将父亲搂在怀里，但他的怀里只抱住了一个虚幻的形象。

埃涅阿斯面前是一片宽阔的山谷，树木随风轻轻摇曳，风景宁静，忘川河从中流过。沿着小溪的两岸，有无数的人在徘徊，就像夏天空气中的昆虫一样多。埃涅阿斯惊讶地询问他们是谁。安喀塞斯回答说：“他们是灵魂，将在适当的时候给予他们身体。与此同时，他们住在忘川河岸上，喝着遗忘前世的酒。” “父亲啊！”埃涅阿斯说：“有没有可能有人如此热爱生活，愿意离开这些宁静的座位去上层世界呢？”安喀塞斯回答道，解释了创造计划。他告诉他，造物主最初创造了由火、空气、土和水这四种元素组成灵魂的材料，所有这些元素结合在一起就形成了最优秀的部分——火，并成为火焰。这些材料像种子一样散布在天体、太阳、月亮和星星中。低等神用这种种子创造了人类和所有其他动物，将其与不同比例的泥土混合，从而使其纯度被合金化并降低。因此，土元素在成分中占主导地位越多，个人的纯洁性就越低。我们看到，男人和女人在他们成熟的身体上已经没有了童年的纯洁。因此，灵性部分所染上的不洁程度与身体和灵魂结合持续的时间成正比。死后必须清除这种杂质，方法是将灵魂置于风中，或将其融入水中，或用火烧掉其杂质。其中少数人，安喀塞斯暗示他就是其中之一，立即被接纳进入极乐世界，并留在那里。但其余的人，在地球上的杂质被清除之后，就会被赋予新的身体并复活，他们前世的记忆被忘川之水有效地冲走了。但还有一些，败坏得很彻底，不适合寄托在人体上，就做成了畜生，狮子、老虎、猫、狗、猴等等。这就是古人所说的。轮回，或灵魂的轮回；印度当地人仍然坚持这一教义，他们甚至不惜毁灭最微不足道的动物的生命，他们不知道这可能是他们的亲戚之一，但形式有所改变。

安喀塞斯解释了这么多，接着向埃涅阿斯指出了他的种族中即将出生的人，并向他讲述了他们应该在世界上做出的功绩。此后，他回到了现实，并告诉他的儿子，在他自己和他的追随者在意大利完全站稳脚跟之前，他还有待完成的事情。战争将要爆发，战斗将要进行，新娘将被赢得，结果是特洛伊国家建立，罗马势力从中崛起，最终成为世界的主权。

埃涅阿斯和西比尔随后告别了安喀塞斯，并通过某种诗人没有解释的捷径回到了上层世界。

极乐世界

我们已经看到，维吉尔将他的极乐世界置于地下，并将其指定为受祝福者的灵魂的居所。但在荷马史诗中，极乐世界并不属于死者的国度。他把它放在地球的西部，靠近海洋，并把它描述为一个幸福的土地，那里没有雪，没有寒冷，也没有雨，总是被西风岛宜人的微风所扇动。受宠的英雄们没有死去，在拉达曼苏斯的统治下幸福地生活着。赫西奥德和品达的极乐世界位于西大洋的幸福群岛或幸运群岛。由此诞生了幸福岛亚特兰蒂斯的传说。这个幸福的地区可能完全是想象出来的，但也可能源于一些被风暴袭击的水手的报告，他们瞥见了美国海岸。

JR 洛厄尔在他的一首较短的诗中声称，当今时代享有那个幸福王国的一些特权。谈到过去，他说：

“无论你内心有什么真实的生活，
在我们这个时代的血管中跳跃。

在这里，在我们的冲突和关怀的凄凉浪潮中，
漂浮在绿色的“幸运岛”上，
你所有英雄精神居住和分享的地方
我们的殉难和辛劳。
目前参加的活动
带着所有的勇敢、优秀和公平
这让旧时光变得美好。”

弥尔顿在《失乐园》一书中也提到了同样的寓言
三、1。568：

“就像那些古老而闻名的西方花园一样，
幸运的田野、树林和鲜花盛开的山谷，
三次快乐的岛屿。”

在第二册中。他根据希腊语名称的含义来描述埃里伯斯河流的特征：

“令人憎恶的冥河，致命仇恨的洪水，
悲哀的黄泉，悲伤又黑又深；
科塞特斯以大声哀叹命名
在悲伤的溪流中听到；凶猛的弗莱格顿
其汹涌的火浪燃烧着愤怒。
远离这些的地方有一条缓慢而安静的溪流，
忘川，遗忘之河，滚滚而过
她的水迷宫，谁喝其中
他以前的状态和存在立刻被遗忘，
忘记快乐和悲伤，快乐和痛苦。”

西比尔

当埃涅阿斯和西比尔追寻返回地球的道路时，他对她说：“无论你是女神还是众神所爱的凡人，我都将永远尊敬你。当我到达高空时，我会为您建造一座寺庙，并亲自带来供品。” “我不是女神，”女预言家说。 “我没有权利去牺牲或奉献。我终有一死；但如果我能接受阿波罗的爱，我可能就会永生不朽。他答应我，如果我同意成为他的人，他就会满足我的愿望。我抓起一把沙子，举起来说道：“我手里有多少沙粒，就让我看多少个生日。”可惜我忘了祈求青春常驻。如果我接受他的爱，他也会同意这一点，但他因我的拒绝而生气，让我变老。我的青春和青春的力量早已消失。我活了七百年，还得看三百泉、三百收，相当于沙粒的数量。我的身体随着岁月的流逝而缩小，随着时间的推移，我将消失在视线中，但我的声音将永存，后世将尊重我的言论。”

西比尔的这些结束语暗示了她的预言能力。在她的洞穴里，她习惯于在从树上采集的叶子上刻下个人的名字和命运。如此刻下的叶子在洞穴内按顺序排列，可供她的信徒查阅。但如果门一打开，风突然吹进来，吹散了树叶，女预言家就不会再帮助它们恢复原样，神谕就无法挽回地丢失了。

以下关于女巫的传说是在后来确定的。在塔奎因家族统治时期，一位妇女出现在国王面前，向他出售九本书。国王拒绝购买这些书，于是这位妇女离开并烧毁了其中三本书，并返回以与她购买九本书相同的价格提供了其余的书。国王再次拒绝了他们。但是，当那个女人又烧了三本书之后，又回来了，并以她之前要的九本书的价格要求剩下的三本书时，他的好奇心被激发了，他买下了这些书。人们发现它们蕴藏着罗马国家的命运。它们被保存在朱庇特卡皮托利努斯神庙的一个石箱里，只有被任命执行这项职责的特别官员才能检查，这些官员在重大场合会咨询它们并向人民解释它们的神谕。

有各种各样的女预言家。但奥维德和维吉尔笔下的库迈西比尔是其中最著名的。奥维德将她的一生的故事延续了一千年，可能是为了将各个女预言家描绘成只是同一个人的再现。

杨在《夜思》中提到了女预言家。说起
世俗智慧，他说：

“如果她计划的未来命运全都在树叶中，
像西比尔一样，虚无缥缈、转瞬即逝的幸福；
第一次爆炸时，它就消失在空气中。

正如世俗的计划就像西比尔的叶子，
好人的日子与西比尔的书相比，
由于数量较少，价格仍在上涨。”

埃涅阿斯与西比尔号告别并重新加入了他的舰队，沿着意大利海岸航行，并在台伯河河口抛锚。诗人把他的英雄带到了这个他的流浪注定结束的地方，召唤他的缪斯告诉他那个多事的时刻的情况。拉丁努斯是土星的第三个后裔，统治着这个国家。他现在已经年事已高，没有男性后裔，但有一个迷人的女儿拉维尼娅，许多邻近的酋长都向她求婚，其中一位鲁图利亚人的国王图尔努斯受到了父母的青睐。但拉维尼娅的父亲福努斯在梦中警告拉维尼娅，拉维尼娅命中注定的丈夫应该来自异国他乡。从这个联盟中应该会产生一场注定要征服世界的种族。

我们的读者会记得，在与鹰身女妖的冲突中，其中一只半人鸟曾威胁特洛伊人带来可怕的痛苦。她特别预言，在他们停止流浪之前，他们应该会因为饥饿而吃光他们的桌子。这个预兆现在成真了。因为当他们坐在草地上吃着稀少的饭菜时，人们把硬饼干放在腿上，然后把他们在树林里捡到的任何东西放在上面。送完后者后，他们吃完了面包皮。男孩尤鲁斯见状，俏皮地说：​​“看，我们正在吃桌子。”埃涅阿斯听懂了这句话并接受了这个预兆。 “万岁，应许之地！”他惊呼：“这是我们的家，这是我们的国家。”然后他采取措施查明这片土地上目前的居民是谁，以及他们的统治者是谁。一百名被选中的人被派往拉丁努斯村，带着礼物并请求建立友谊和联盟。他们去了并受到好评。拉丁努斯立即断定，特洛伊英雄正是神谕所宣布的女婿。他高兴地同意结盟，并从他的马厩里派出了骑着骏马的信使，带着礼物和友好的信息。

朱诺看到特洛伊人的事态发展如此顺利，感到她旧日的仇恨又重新燃起，从埃里伯斯召唤了阿莱克托，派她去煽动不和。愤怒首先占据了女王阿玛塔，并煽动她以各种方式反对新联盟。阿莱克托随后迅速赶往图尔努斯城，化身为一位年老女祭司的模样，告诉他外国人的到来以及他们的王子企图抢走他的新娘。接下来她把注意力转向了特洛伊人的营地。在那里，她看到男孩尤鲁斯和他的同伴正在打猎取乐。她增强了狗的气味，引导它们从灌木丛中唤醒一头驯服的雄鹿，这是国王牧人提勒乌斯的女儿西尔维娅的最爱。尤鲁斯手中的标枪打伤了这只动物，他只剩下一点力气跑回家，最后死在了情妇的脚下。她的哭声和泪水惊动了她的兄弟和牧民，他们拿起手中的武器，疯狂地攻击狩猎队。这些人得到了朋友的保护，牧民最终因失去两名牧民而被赶回。

这些事情足以激起战争风暴，王后、图尔努斯和农民都敦促老国王将异乡人赶出国门。他尽其所能地抵抗，但发现他的反对无济于事，最终屈服并退休了。

打开雅努斯之门

这是该国的惯例，当战争即将爆发时，首席法官会穿着官袍，庄严地打开雅努斯神庙的大门，而在和平时期，大门一直关闭。他的人民现在敦促老国王履行这一庄严的职责，但他拒绝这样做。当他们争论的时候，朱诺本人从天而降，以不可抗拒的力量击打着门，然后把门撞开了。顿时整个国家都陷入了一片火海之中。人们从四面八方涌来，除了战争，什么也没有。

图尔努斯被所有人公认为领导者；其他人加入为盟友，其中首领是梅曾提乌斯，他是一位勇敢而能干的士兵，但残忍程度令人憎恶。他曾是邻近城市之一的酋长，但他的人民把他赶了出去。和他在一起的还有他的儿子劳苏斯，一个慷慨的年轻人，值得成为一个更好的父亲。

卡米拉

卡米拉是戴安娜的最爱，她是一位女猎人和战士，遵循亚马逊人的时尚，带着她的骑马追随者队伍，其中包括一些精选的同性，站在图努斯一边。这位少女的手指从未习惯于操纵杆子或织布机，但却学会了忍受战争的辛劳，并学会了超越风的速度。似乎她可以跑过竖立的玉米而不会压碎它，或者跑过水面而不会将脚浸入水中。卡米拉的经历从一开始就很独特。她的父亲梅塔布斯因内乱而被驱逐出自己的城市，在逃亡时带着他尚在襁褓中的女儿。当他穿过树林逃跑时，敌人紧追不舍，他到达了阿马泽努斯河岸边，河水因雨水而涨水，似乎阻碍了通道。他停顿了一会儿，然后决定做什么。他用树皮包裹物将婴儿绑在长矛上，举起手中的武器，这样对戴安娜说道：“森林女神！我将这个侍女奉献给你；”然后把武器连同它的负担扔到对岸。长矛飞过咆哮的水面。追赶他的人已经追到了他，但他跳进河里游了过去，找到了长矛，而婴儿则安全地在河对岸。此后，他与牧羊人一起生活，并在林地艺术中抚养他的女儿。当她还是个孩子的时候，她就被教导使用弓箭和投掷标枪。用她的投石索，她可以把鹤或野天鹅打下来。她的衣服是虎皮的。许多母亲都给她找儿媳妇，但她仍然忠于戴安娜，并排斥结婚的念头。

霍利

这些就是对抗埃涅阿斯的强大盟友。夜已深，他躺在露天的河岸上睡着了。溪流之神台伯神父似乎将头抬起到了柳树之上，说道：“哦，女神诞生，拉丁王国注定的拥有者，这是应许之地，这里将是你的家，这里将终结天堂力量的敌意，只要你忠实地坚持下去。不远处还有朋友。备好船只，划过我的溪流；我将带你去见阿卡迪亚酋长埃万德，他长期以来与图努斯和鲁图利亚人发生冲突，并准备成为你的盟友。上升！向朱诺许下你的誓言，并反对她的愤怒。当你取得胜利之后，再想想我。”埃涅阿斯醒了，立即服从了友好的愿景。他向朱诺献祭，并祈求河神和他所有的支流喷泉提供帮助。然后，第一次有一艘满载武装战士的船只漂浮在台伯河上。河水抚平了波涛，让水流缓缓流过，而船只则在桨手们有力的划动的推动下，迅速地逆流而上。

中午时分，他们看到了这座新生城镇的零散建筑，后来，这座令人骄傲的罗马城就在那里成长起来，其荣耀直达天际。碰巧的是，老国王伊万德那天正在庆祝一年一度的纪念赫拉克勒斯和众神的庄严仪式。帕拉斯、他的儿子以及这个小共和国的所有首领都站在一旁。当他们看到那艘高船在树林附近滑行时，他们被这一景象吓了一跳，从桌子上站了起来。但帕拉斯不准打扰这庄严的仪式，他抓起武器，走到河边。他大声喊道，询问他们是谁，他们的目的是什么。埃涅阿斯举起橄榄枝回答道：“我们是特洛伊人，是你们的朋友，也是鲁图利亚人的敌人。我们正在寻找伊万德，并愿意与你并肩作战。”帕拉斯对如此伟大的名字感到惊讶，邀请他们登陆，当埃涅阿斯靠岸时，他抓住了他的手，友好地握着它。他们穿过树林，加入了国王及其一行人的行列，受到了最热烈的欢迎。餐桌上为他们安排了座位，然后就餐开始了。

婴儿罗马

仪式结束后，大家都向城里走去。国王年事已高，弯着腰，走在儿子和埃涅阿斯之间，挽着他们中的一个或另一个的手臂，用各种令人愉快的谈话缩短了路。埃涅阿斯高兴地观看和聆听，观察了场景中的所有美景，并了解了许多古代英雄的故事。埃万德说：“这些广阔的树林曾经居住着农牧神和仙女，以及从树上长出来的粗鲁人类，他们既没有法律，也没有社会文化。他们不知道如何给牲畜套轭，也不知道如何丰收，也不知道如何用当前的丰富来满足未来的需要。但它们却像野兽一样在枝繁叶茂的树枝上啃食，或者贪婪地捕食猎物。当萨图恩被他的儿子们逐出奥林匹斯山时，他们来到了他们中间，将凶猛的野蛮人聚集在一起，将他们组织成社会，并赋予他们法律。随之而来的是如此和平和富足，人们从此将他的统治称为黄金时代。但渐渐地，其他时代成功了，对黄金的渴望和对鲜血的渴望占了上风。这片土地曾是历代暴君的猎物，直到命运和不可抗拒的命运将我从我的祖国阿卡迪亚流放到这里。”

说完，他向他展示了塔皮亚岩石，以及当时长满灌木丛的粗糙地方，后来国会大厦矗立在那里，变得非常宏伟。接下来，他指着一些被拆除的墙壁，说道：“这里是雅努斯建造的贾尼古鲁姆，那里是萨图恩尼亚，土星之城。”这样的谈话把他们带到了可怜的埃万德的小屋，从那里他们看到低声的牛群在平原上漫步，现在骄傲而庄严的广场矗立在那里。他们进去后，为埃涅阿斯铺好了一张沙发，里面塞满了树叶，上面覆盖着利比亚熊的皮。

第二天早上，老伊万德被黎明的曙光和低矮宅邸屋檐下鸟儿的尖锐歌声吵醒，站了起来。他穿着一件外衣，肩上披着一张豹皮，脚上穿着凉鞋，腰间系着一把好剑，出去寻找他的客人。两只獒犬跟在他身后，还有他的所有随从和侍卫。他发现英雄身边有他忠实的阿卡特斯，帕拉斯很快也加入了他们，老国王这样说道：

“杰出的特洛伊人，对于如此伟大的事业，我们能做的却微乎其微。我们的国家很虚弱，一侧被河流包围，另一侧被鲁图利亚人包围。但我建议你与人数众多、富有的人民结盟，命运在吉祥的时刻把你带到了他们身边。伊特鲁里亚人控制着河对岸的国家。梅曾提乌斯是他们的国王，一个残忍的怪物，他发明了闻所未闻的折磨来满足他的复仇。他会将死者与生者紧紧相连，手拉手、面对面，让可怜的受害者死在那个可怕的拥抱中。最后，人们把他、他和他的家人都赶了出来。他们烧毁了他的宫殿并杀害了他的朋友。他逃脱并投靠图努斯，图努斯用武器保护他。伊特鲁里亚人要求他受到应有的惩罚，并且现在会试图执行他们的要求。但他们的祭司阻止他们，告诉他们，天意不允许这片土地上的任何人引导他们取得胜利，而他们注定的领袖必须来自大洋彼岸。他们把王位让给了我，但我已经太老了，无法承担如此大的事情，而我的儿子是土生土长的人，这使他无法选择。诸神指出，你的出生、年龄和武功上的名声都一样，但你似乎立刻就被尊为他们的领袖了。我将和你一起加入帕拉斯，我的儿子，我唯一的希望和安慰。他将在您的领导下学习战争艺术，并努力效仿您的丰功伟绩。”

然后国王下令为特洛伊首领提供马匹，埃涅阿斯带着选定的追随者队伍和帕拉斯的陪同，骑马前往伊特鲁里亚城市。[28]诗人在这里插入了一句著名的诗句，人们认为这句诗句的声音模仿了马匹的奔腾。它可以这样翻译——“然后用四足践踏将马蹄敲在地上。”——见谚语表达。 把他的队伍的其他人都送回了船上。埃涅阿斯和他的队伍安全抵达伊特鲁里亚营地，并受到塔尔雄和他的同胞张开双臂的欢迎。

尼苏斯和欧律阿罗斯

与此同时，图尔努斯已经集结了他的队伍，为战争做好了一切必要的准备。朱诺派艾里斯给他一条信息，煽动他利用埃涅阿斯不在的机会袭击特洛伊阵营。因此，特洛伊人做出了尝试，但发现特洛伊人处于戒备状态，并收到了埃涅阿斯的严格命令，在他不在的情况下不得作战，他们一动不动地躺在自己的战壕里，抵抗了鲁图利亚人将他们拉入战场的所有努力。 。夜幕降临，图尔努斯的军队因自以为优越而兴高采烈，大吃大喝，最后在战场上舒舒服服地睡了一觉。

在特洛伊人的营地里，情况却截然不同。人们对埃涅阿斯的归来充满了警惕、焦虑和不耐烦。尼苏斯在营地入口处站岗，与他在一起的还有欧律阿鲁斯（Euryalus），一位在军队中因风度和优良品质而出名的年轻人。这两个人是朋友，也是战友。尼苏斯对他的朋友说：“你看出敌人表现出怎样的自信和粗心了吗？他们的灯光微弱而昏暗，男人们似乎都因酒或睡眠而感到压抑。你知道我们的首领多么急切地希望派人去见埃涅阿斯，并从他那里得到情报。现在，我怀着强烈的感动，冲破敌人的营地，去寻找我们的首领。如果我成功了，这件事的荣耀对我来说就足够了，如果他们认为我的服务值得更多，就让他们付给你吧。”

尤里亚罗斯充满了对冒险的热爱，他回答道：“那么，尼苏斯，你会拒绝与我分享你的事业吗？难道我会让你一个人陷入这样的危险吗？我勇敢的父亲把我养大，当我加入埃涅阿斯的旗帜时，我也没有这样计划，并决心与荣誉相比，不惜牺牲自己的生命。”尼苏斯回答说：“我不怀疑，我的朋友；但你知道这项任务的不确定性，无论我发生什么，我都希望你安全。你比我年轻，对生活有更多的憧憬。我也不能让你的母亲如此悲伤，她选择和你一起呆在营地里，而不是留在阿塞斯特斯城里与其他主妇和平相处。”欧律雅鲁斯回答说：“不用再说了。你徒劳地寻找论据来劝阻我。我已经下定决心要和你一起去。让我们抓紧时间。”他们叫来卫兵，并委托他们看守，寻找将军的帐篷。他们找到大副们商议，商议如何向埃涅阿斯通报他们的情况。两位朋友的提议被欣然接受，他们自己也赞不绝口，并承诺如果成功，将给予最丰厚的奖励。尤鲁斯特别向欧律亚鲁斯讲话，向他保证了他的持久友谊。欧律雅鲁斯回答说：“我只有一​​件事要祈求。我年迈的母亲和我一起在营地里。为了我，她离开了特洛伊的土地，也不愿意和阿塞斯特斯城的其他主妇一起留下来。我现在就走了，没有向她告别。我无法忍受她的眼泪，也无法拒绝她的恳求。但我恳求你安慰她的痛苦。答应我，我会更加勇敢地去面对可能出现的任何危险。”尤鲁斯和其他酋长感动得热泪盈眶，答应满足他的一切要求。 “你的母亲将是我的，”尤鲁斯说，“如果你不回来接受的话，我对你的承诺都会兑现给她。”

两个朋友离开了营地，立刻投入到了敌人的中间。他们没有发现岗哨，也没有哨兵，但到处都是熟睡的士兵，他们散落在草地上和马车中间。早期的战争法并没有禁止勇敢的人杀死沉睡的敌人，两个特洛伊人在他们经过的时候，尽可能地杀死敌人，而不会引起惊慌。在一个帐篷里，欧律亚罗斯获得了一顶镶有金色羽毛的闪亮头盔。他们穿过敌人的队列而没有被发现，但现在突然在他们的正前方出现了一支部队，在他们的领导沃尔森斯的带领下，他们正在接近营地。欧里亚罗斯闪闪发光的头盔引起了他们的注意，沃尔森斯向两人打招呼，并询问他们是谁、从哪里来。他们没有回答，而是一头扎进了树林里。骑兵分散到四面八方拦截他们的逃跑。尼苏斯躲过了追捕，脱离了危险，但欧里亚罗斯失踪了，他转身去找他。他再次进入树林，很快就听到了说话声。透过灌木丛，他看到整群人围着欧里亚罗斯，大声质问。他应该怎么做？怎样才能解救这个年轻人呢，还是和他一起死比较好。

他抬起眼睛，望向明亮的月亮，说道：“女神！赞成我的努力！”他用标枪瞄准了队伍中的一名首领，击中了他的背部，并把他打倒在平原上，给了他致命一击。就在他们惊讶之际，另一把武器飞来，另一人倒地身亡。首领沃尔森斯不知道飞镖是从哪里来的，他手持剑向欧里亚罗斯冲去。 “你们要为双方付出代价，”他说，正要把剑刺进怀里，这时尼苏斯从隐蔽处看到了他朋友的危险，冲上前喊道：“是我，是我；我是我，是我。”鲁图利亚人，把你们的剑转向我吧，我做到了；他只是以朋友的身份关注我。”当他说话的时候，剑落下，刺穿了欧里亚罗斯美丽的胸膛。他的头倒在肩膀上，就像一朵被犁割下的花朵。尼苏斯冲向沃森斯，将剑刺入他的身体，自己立刻被无数的打击杀死。

梅曾蒂乌斯

埃涅阿斯和他的伊特鲁里亚盟友及时赶到了行动现场，拯救了被围困的营地。现在两军实力几乎相当，战争正式开始了。我们无法为所有细节找到空间，而必须简单地记录我们向读者介绍的主要人物的命运。暴君梅曾提乌斯发现自己正在与叛逆的臣民交战，他像野兽一样狂怒。他杀掉了所有敢于反抗他的人，无论他出现在哪里，都会让群众四散奔逃。最后他遇到了埃涅阿斯，军队静观其变。梅曾提乌斯投出了长矛，击中了埃涅阿斯的盾牌，矛一闪而过，击中了安托尔。他出生于希腊，离开故乡阿尔戈斯，跟随埃万德进入意大利。诗人用简单的悲伤来描述他，这使得这句话成为了众所周知的：“他因他人的伤口而不幸倒下，抬头仰望天空，临终时想起了甜蜜的阿尔戈斯。”[29]参见谚语表达。 埃涅阿斯现在又投出了他的长矛。它刺穿了梅曾提乌斯的盾牌，并击伤了他的大腿。他的儿子劳苏斯无法忍受这一景象，冲上前去阻止，而追随者则围住了梅赞提乌斯，把他带走了。埃涅阿斯将剑悬在劳苏斯上方，延迟出击，但愤怒的年轻人继续逼近，他被迫给予致命一击。劳苏斯倒下了，埃涅阿斯怜悯地俯身向他。 “不幸的年轻人，”他说，“我能为你做些什么值得你称赞呢？保留那些让你荣耀的武器，不要担心，你的身体将归还给你的朋友，并得到应有的葬礼荣誉。”说着，他叫来了胆怯的追随者，将尸体送到了他们的手中。

与此同时，梅曾提乌斯被抬到河边清洗伤口。很快，劳苏斯去世的消息传到了他的耳中，愤怒和绝望取代了力量。他骑上马，冲进战斗最激烈的地方，寻找埃涅阿斯。找到他后，[29]参见谚语表达。 他骑着马绕着他转了一圈，不断地投掷标枪，而埃涅阿斯则用盾牌围住，转身迎接他们。最后，在梅曾提乌斯绕了三圈后，埃涅阿斯将长矛直接扔向马头。它刺穿了他的太阳穴，他倒下了，两军的呐喊声撕裂了天空。梅曾提乌斯不求怜悯，只求他的遗体免受叛乱臣民的侮辱，并与他的儿子埋在同一个坟墓里。他毫无准备地遭受了致命的中风，并一起倾注了自己的生命和鲜血。

帕拉斯、卡米拉、图尔努斯

当这些事情在场地的一个地方进行时，图努斯在另一个地方遇到了年轻的帕拉斯。实力悬殊的冠军之间的较量不容置疑。帕拉斯勇敢地挺身而出，但被图努斯的长矛击倒。当胜利者看到勇敢的年轻人死在他脚下时，他几乎心软了，并没有利用征服者的特权夺走他的武器。他只拿起那条饰有饰钉和金雕的腰带，紧紧地缠在自己的身上。其余的钱他都汇给了被杀者的朋友。

战斗结束后，双方军队停火了几天，以便埋葬死者。在此期间，埃涅阿斯向图尔努斯提出单挑胜负的挑战，但图尔努斯回避了挑战。随后又发生了一场战斗，其中，处女战士卡米拉最为引人注目。她的英勇事迹超越了最勇敢的战士，许多特洛伊人和伊特鲁里亚人被她的飞镖刺穿或被她的战斧击倒。最后，一个名叫阿伦斯的伊特鲁里亚人长时间注视着她，寻求一些优势，发现她正在追击一个飞行的敌人，而敌人的华丽盔甲提供了诱人的战利品。她全神贯注地追逐，没有注意到自己的危险，阿伦斯的标枪击中了她，造成了致命伤。她倒在了侍女们的怀里，咽下了最后一口气。但目睹了自己命运的戴安娜并没有让自己的屠杀得不到报应。阿伦斯偷偷溜走时，既高兴又害怕，被戴安娜随行的一位仙女射出的秘密箭射中，不光彩地死去，无人知晓。

最终，最后的冲突发生在埃涅阿斯和图努斯之间。图尔努斯尽可能地避免了这场比赛，但最后，在他的武器的失败和追随者的抱怨声的推动下，他准备好迎接这场冲突。这是毫无疑问的。站在埃涅阿斯一边的是明确的命运法令，在每一次紧急情况下他的女神母亲的帮助，以及伏尔甘应她的要求为她的儿子制造的坚不可摧的盔甲。另一方面，图努斯被他的天体盟友抛弃了，朱诺被木星明确禁止再帮助他。图尔努斯投出了长矛，但它从埃涅阿斯的盾牌中弹了回来，没有造成任何伤害。特洛伊英雄随后投掷了他的箭，刺穿了图尔努斯的盾牌，刺穿了他的大腿。然后图努斯的毅力消失了，他乞求怜悯。埃涅阿斯本想献出他的生命，但就在那一刻，他的目光落在了帕拉斯的腰带上，这是图尔努斯从被屠杀的年轻人手中夺走的。他立刻怒火中烧，大喊道：“帕拉斯这一击将你献祭。”他用剑刺穿了他。

《埃涅阿斯纪》这首诗到这里就结束了，我们只能推断埃涅阿斯战胜了他的敌人，获得了拉维尼娅作为他的新娘。据传说，他建立了自己的城市，并以她的名字命名为拉维尼姆 (Lavinium)。他的儿子尤卢斯（Iulus）创立了阿尔巴隆加（Alba Longa），这里是罗穆卢斯和雷穆斯的出生地，也是罗马本身的摇篮。

教皇的那些著名诗句中暗指了卡米拉，其中阐明了“声音应该是对感觉的回声”的规则，他说：

“当阿贾克斯努力扔出一块巨大的石头时，
线路太费劲，字也移动得很慢。
当卡米拉敏捷地搜寻平原时，情况并非如此，
飞过不弯曲的玉米或沿着主干道掠过。”

——批评论文。

毕达哥拉斯

安喀西斯对埃涅阿斯的教义尊重人类灵魂的本质，这与毕达哥拉斯学派的学说是一致的。毕达哥拉斯（生于公元前五百四十年）是萨摩斯岛人，但在意大利的克罗托纳度过了他一生的大部分时光。因此，他有时被称为“萨米安人”，有时被称为“克罗托纳哲学家”。年轻时，他游历各地，据说访问过埃及，在那里他接受了祭司们的所有学问，后来又前往东方，拜访了波斯和迦勒底的东方贤士以及印度的婆罗门。

在克罗托纳，他最终站稳了脚跟，他非凡的品质在他周围聚集了大批弟子。居民们因奢侈和放荡而臭名昭著，但他的影响力的良好效果很快就显现出来。清醒和节制成功了。六百名居民成为了他的弟子，并加入了一个社团，在追求智慧的过程中互相帮助，为了整体的利益将他们的财产统一为一个共同的股份。他们被要求实践最纯洁和最简单的举止。他们学到的第一课是沉默；有一段时间，他们只能充当听众。他们认为“他（毕达哥拉斯）是这么说的”（伊普塞·迪克西特），无需任何证据即可认为是充分的。只有经过多年耐心服从的高级学生才被允许提出问题和提出反对意见。

毕达哥拉斯认为数是万物的本质和原则，并赋予它们真实而独特的存在。因此，在他看来，它们是构成宇宙的元素。他如何构思这个过程从未得到令人满意的解释。他把世界的各种形式和现象都归结为数作为其基础和本质。他认为“单子”或单位是所有数字的来源。数字二是不完美的，也是增加和分裂的原因。三被称为整体的数字，因为它有开始、中间和结束。四，代表正方形，是最完美的；十，因为它包含四个素数之和，包含所有音乐和算术比例，并表示世界体系。

由于数字源于单子，因此他将神的纯粹而简单的本质视为自然一切形式的源泉。诸神、恶魔和英雄都是至尊者的化身，还有第四种化身，即人类灵魂。这是不朽的，当摆脱身体的束缚时，它会进入死者的住所，在那里它会一直呆到返回世界，居住在其他人类或动物的身体中，最后，当充分净化时，它返回到其进行的源头。这种灵魂轮回的学说（轮回）起源于埃及，与人类行为的奖惩学说有关，是毕达哥拉斯学派不杀动物的主要原因。奥维德代表毕达哥拉斯对他的弟子们说的话：“灵魂永远不会死，但总是离开一个居所到另一个居所。我自己记得，在特洛伊战争期间，我是潘托斯的儿子欧福尔玻斯，死于墨涅拉俄斯的长矛之下。最近在阿尔戈斯的朱诺神庙，我认出了我的盾牌挂在战利品中间。一切都会改变，没有什么会消失。灵魂到处游走，时而占据这个身体，时而占据那个身体，从野兽的身体进入人的身体，然后又进入野兽的身体。正如蜡被印上某些图形，然后熔化，然后重新印上其他图形，但始终是同一蜡，因此，灵魂始终是相同的，但在不同的时间具有不同的形式。因此，如果你心中对亲人的爱还没有消失，我恳求你，不要侵犯那些可能是你自己的亲戚的人的生命。”

莎士比亚在《威尼斯商人》中让格拉蒂亚诺提到了轮回，他对夏洛克说：

“你几乎让我的信仰动摇了，
与毕达哥拉斯持有意见，
动物的灵魂注入自己
进入男人的后备箱；你那俗气的精神
统治着一只狼；谁因屠杀人类而被绞死
将他的灵魂注入你体内；为了你的愿望
狼性十足、血腥、饥饿且贪婪。”

音阶音符与数字的关系，即和谐来自于相同时间的振动，不和谐则来自于相反的振动，这使得毕达哥拉斯将“和谐”一词应用于可见的创造物，意味着各部分的正确适应彼此。这就是德莱顿在他的《圣塞西莉亚日之歌》的开头所表达的想法：

“来自和谐，来自天堂的和谐
这个永恒的框架开始了；
从和谐到和谐
穿过它所记录的所有音符，
音叉在《Man》中完全结束。”

在宇宙的中心（他教导）有一个中心火，生命的原理。中心火被地球、月亮、太阳和五颗行星包围。各个天体之间的距离被认为与音阶的比例相对应。天体和居住在其中的众神应该围绕中央的火进行合唱舞蹈，“不是没有歌声”。莎士比亚让洛伦佐以这种方式向杰西卡教授天文学时，暗示的正是这一学说：

“看，杰西卡，看看天堂的地板如何
厚厚地镶嵌着亮金色的铜锈！
没有你所看到的最小的球体
但在他的动作中，就像天使在歌唱，
仍在询问年轻眼睛的基路伯；
这样的和谐存在于不朽的灵魂之中！
但尽管这件腐烂的泥泞外衣
把它关得严严实实我们听不到。”

——威尼斯商人。

这些球体被认为是水晶或玻璃织物，相互排列，就像一窝颠倒的碗一样。在每个球体的实质中，一个或多个天体应该是固定的，以便随之移动。由于球体是透明的，我们透过它们可以看到它们所包含并随身携带的天体。但由于这些球体无法在没有摩擦的情况下相互移动，因此产生了一种极其和谐的声音，这种声音对于凡人的耳朵来说是无法识别的。弥尔顿在他的《圣诞颂歌》中这样提到了天体的音乐：

“响吧，水晶球！
曾经保佑我们人类的耳朵
（如果你们有能力如此吸引我们的感官）；
让你的银铃响起
徜徉在悠扬的时光里，
并让天堂深处的机关的底部吹响；
和你的九重和谐
用天使般的交响乐组成完整的音乐会。”

据说毕达哥拉斯发明了七弦琴。我们自己的诗人
朗费罗在《给孩子的诗》中这样讲述了这个故事：

“作为昔日伟大的毕达哥拉斯，
站在铁匠铺的门边，
听到锤子敲击的声音
铁砧有不同的音符，
从悬挂的不同色调中偷窃
每条铁舌都充满活力，
探空线的秘密，
并形成了七弦竖琴。”

另见同一诗人的《猎户座的占领》——

“萨米安伟大的伊奥利亚竖琴。”

锡巴里斯和克罗托纳

克罗托纳 (Crotona) 的邻城锡巴里斯 (Sybaris) 因奢华和女性化而闻名，而克罗托纳 (Crotona) 则相反。这个名字已经成为家喻户晓的名字。 JR 洛厄尔（JR Lowell）在他迷人的小诗《致蒲公英》中就用了这个词：

“不是在六月中旬，金胸甲蜂
感觉更像夏天，温暖的迷恋
在白百合微风徐徐的帐篷里
（他征服了锡巴里斯）比我第一次
你的黄色圆圈从深绿色中爆发出来。”

两个城市之间爆发了战争，西巴里斯被征服并被摧毁。著名运动员米洛领导着克罗托纳军队。许多故事都讲述了米洛的巨大力量，比如他把一头四岁的小母牛扛在肩上，然后一天之内就把它吃掉了。他的死亡方式是这样的：当他穿过森林时，他看到一棵树的树干被伐木工劈开了一部分，并试图将其进一步撕裂；然而，他的死亡方式却是这样的：但木头紧紧地抓住了他的双手，把他牢牢地固定住，在这种状态下，他遭到了狼的攻击和吞噬。

拜伦在他的《拿破仑·波拿巴颂》中提到了一个故事：
米洛：

“从前那个会撕裂橡树的人
视为不反弹；
被他徒劳地打断的箱子拴着，
独自一人，他看起来怎么样！

埃及神祇

埃及人承认阿蒙为最高神，后来称为宙斯或朱庇特阿蒙。阿蒙在他的话语或意志中显现了自己，创造了不同性别的克奈夫和阿托尔。克奈夫和阿托尔之后是奥西里斯和伊希斯。奥西里斯被崇拜为太阳神、温暖、生命和丰收的源泉，此外他也被视为尼罗河之神，每年都会通过神灵拜访他的妻子伊西斯（大地）。洪水泛滥。塞拉皮斯或赫耳墨斯有时被描述为与奥西里斯相同，有时则被描述为不同的神祇，即塔尔塔罗斯的统治者和医药之神。阿努比斯是守护神，以狗头为代表，象征着他忠诚和警惕的性格。荷鲁斯或哈波克拉底是奥西里斯的儿子。他被描绘成坐在莲花上，手指放在嘴唇上，作为沉默之神。

摩尔的一首《爱尔兰旋律》中暗指哈波克拉底：

“你自己将在玫瑰色的凉亭下，
静静地坐着，把手指放在嘴唇上；
就像他一样，这个男孩出生在
尼罗河上绽放的花朵，
就这样坐着——他唯一的歌
对地球和天堂，‘安静，安静！’”

奥西里斯和伊希斯的神话

奥西里斯和伊希斯曾一度被诱导降临到地球上，向地球上的居民赠送礼物和祝福。 伊西斯首先向他们展示了小麦和大麦的用途，奥西里斯制造了农业工具并教人们如何使用它们，以及如何将牛套在犁上。 然后，他为人类制定了法律、婚姻制度、民间组织，并教导他们如何崇拜诸神。 在他使尼罗河谷成为一个幸福的国家之后，他召集了一支大军，带着他们去向世界其他地方赐福。 他征服了世界各地的国家，但不是用武器，而是用音乐和雄辩。 他的弟弟提丰看到了这一点，充满了嫉妒和恶意，在他缺席期间试图篡夺他的王位。 但掌控政府的伊斯兰国却挫败了他的计划。 更加愤怒的是，他现在决定杀死他的兄弟。 他是这样做的：他组织了一个由七十二名成员组成的阴谋，与他们一起参加了庆祝国王归来的盛宴。 然后，他让人把一个盒子或箱子搬了进来，这个盒子或箱子是按照奥西里斯的大小制作的，并宣布他会把那个装着珍贵木材的箱子送给任何能进入它的人。 其余的人都徒劳无功，但奥西里斯一进去，提丰和他的同伴就关上盖子，把箱子扔进尼罗河。 当伊西斯听说这起残酷的谋杀案时，她哭泣哀悼，然后剪掉头发，穿上黑衣，捶胸顿足，努力寻找丈夫的尸体。 在这次搜寻中，她得到了奥西里斯和奈芙蒂斯之子阿努比斯的大力协助。 他们寻找了一段时间，却没有结果；因为当箱子被海浪带到比布鲁斯海岸时，它被水边生长的芦苇缠住，奥西里斯体内的神圣力量赋予了灌木如此强大的力量，使它长成了一棵参天大树，树干里装着神的棺材。 这棵树及其神圣的沉积物不久后就被砍倒，并在腓尼基国王的宫殿中竖立为一根柱子。 但最终在阿努比斯和圣鸟的帮助下，伊希斯查清了这些事实，然后前往了王城。 在那里，她以仆人的身份来到宫殿，被接纳后，她脱去了伪装，以女神的身份出现，周围笼罩着雷电。 她用魔杖敲击柱子，使其裂开并放弃神圣的棺材。 她抓住了它并带了回来，并将其藏在森林深处，但提丰发现了它，并将尸体切成十四块，散落各处。 经过繁琐的搜寻，伊希斯发现了十三块，其中另一块被尼罗河的鱼类吃掉了。 她用仿梧桐木代替了它，并将尸体埋在菲莱，菲莱从此成为这个国家的伟大埋葬地，也是全国各地朝圣的地方。 为了纪念这位神，人们还在那里建立了一座极其宏伟的寺庙，在每一个发现他的四肢的地方都建造了小型寺庙和坟墓来纪念这一事件。 此后奥西里斯成为埃及人的保护神。

阿皮斯（Apis），即孟菲斯的公牛，受到埃及人最崇敬的崇拜。被认为是蜜蜂的个体动物可以通过某些迹象来识别。前提条件是他的皮肤必须很黑，额头上有一个白色的方形印记，背上还有一个鹰形状的印记，舌头下面有一个有点像金龟子或甲虫形状的肿块。一旦被派去寻找的人发现一头带有这种标记的公牛，他就会被安置在朝东的一座建筑物里，并被喂了四个月的牛奶。任期届满后，祭司们在新月时，以盛大的仪式回到他的住处，并向他致敬。他被安置在一艘装饰华丽的船只中，沿着尼罗河运送到孟菲斯，在那里为他分配了一座寺庙，里面有两个小教堂和一个供锻炼的庭院。人们对他进行祭祀，每年一次，大约在尼罗河开始上涨的时候，人们将金杯投入河中，并举行盛大的节日来庆祝他的生日。人们相信，在这个节日期间，鳄鱼会忘记其本性的凶猛，变得无害。然而，他的幸福命运有一个缺点：他不被允许活超过一定期限，如果当他年满二十五岁时，他仍然活着，祭司们就会把他淹死在神圣的蓄水池里。然后把他埋葬在塞拉皮斯神庙里。当这头公牛死后，无论是自然死亡还是暴力死亡，整个国家都充满了悲伤和哀悼，一直持续到他的继任者被发现为止。

我们在当天的一份报纸上发现了以下内容：

“阿皮斯之墓。——在孟菲斯进行的挖掘工作使这座被掩埋的城市变得像庞贝古城一样有趣。在几个世纪以来不为人知的阿皮斯怪物坟墓现在已经开放。”

弥尔顿在他的《耶稣诞生赞美诗》中提到埃及诸神不是想象中的存在，而是真正的恶魔，因基督的到来而被驱赶。

“尼罗河的野蛮之神同样快，
伊希斯和荷鲁斯以及狗阿努比斯匆忙。
也没有看到奥西里斯
在孟菲斯小树林或绿色
大声地践踏未曾沐浴过的草地；
他也不能安息
在他神圣的胸膛里；
他的裹尸布只能是最深的地狱。
徒劳地伴着黑暗的鼓乐赞歌
那些偷了黑貂皮的巫师们抬着他所崇拜的方舟。”[31]埃及不下雨，草也“没有被淋湿”，这个国家的肥沃依赖于尼罗河的泛滥。最后一行提到的约柜在埃及神庙的墙壁上仍然保留着图画，这些图画是祭司在宗教游行中抬着的。它可能代表奥西里斯所在的箱子。

伊希斯在雕像中被再现，头戴面纱，象征着神秘。丁尼生在《莫德》IV., 8 中提到的正是这一点：

“因为造物主的漂流是黑暗的，伊希斯隐藏在面纱后面，”等等。

甲骨文（ORACLES） 甲骨文这个名字用来表示任何神灵都应该向那些向他们询问未来的人提供答案的地方。这个词也被用来表示所给出的回应。

最古老的希腊神谕是朱庇特在多多纳的神谕。根据一种说法，它是通过以下方式建立的：两只黑鸽子从埃及的底比斯起飞。一架飞往伊庇鲁斯的多多纳，降落在一片橡树林中，它用人类语言向该地区的居民宣布，他们必须在那里建立朱庇特的神谕。另一只鸽子飞到了利比亚绿洲的朱庇特·阿蒙神殿，并在那里发出了类似的命令。另一种说法是，它们不是鸽子，而是女祭司，她们被腓尼基人从埃及的底比斯带走，并在绿洲和多多纳设立了神谕。神谕的回应是由树木、树枝在风中沙沙作响而发出的，这些声音由祭司们解读。

但最著名的希腊神谕是德尔斐的阿波罗神谕，德尔斐是一座建在福西斯帕纳塞斯山坡上的城市。

人们在很早的时候就观察到，以帕纳塞斯山为食的山羊在接近山坡上某个又长又深的裂缝时会发生抽搐。这是由于洞穴中冒出一种特殊的蒸汽，其中一名牧羊人被引诱去尝试它对自己的影响。吸入令人陶醉的空气后，他受到了与牛一样的影响，而周围乡村的居民无法解释当时的情况，将他在呼气的力量下发出的抽搐的胡言乱语归咎于一种疾病。神圣的灵感。这件事很快就广为流传，并在现场建立了一座寺庙。预言的影响力起初被认为是大地女神、海王星、忒弥斯等女神的影响，但最终被认为是阿波罗的影响，而且是他一个人的影响。任命了一位女祭司，其职责是吸入神圣的空气，她被命名为皮提亚（Pythia）。她之前在卡斯塔利亚喷泉洗礼，为履行这一职责做好了准备，戴上桂冠后，她坐在一个同样装饰的三脚架上，该三脚架被放置在神圣灵感发生的裂缝上方。祭司们在这样的情况下解释了她受启发的话语。

特罗弗尼乌斯的神谕

除了多多纳和德尔斐的朱庇特和阿波罗的神谕之外，维奥蒂亚的特罗弗尼乌斯的神谕也受到高度评价。特罗弗尼乌斯和阿伽美德是兄弟。他们是杰出的建筑师，在德尔斐建造了阿波罗神庙，并为海里厄斯国王修建了金库。他们在金库的墙上放了一块石头，以便可以将其取出。并通过这种方式，时不时地窃取宝藏。这让海里乌斯感到惊讶，因为他的锁和封印都没有动过，但他的财富却不断减少。最后，他为小偷设置了陷阱，阿伽梅德被抓住了。特罗弗尼亚斯无法解救他，并且担心被发现后他会受到酷刑而被迫发现他的同谋，于是砍下了他的头。据说特罗弗尼乌斯本人不久后就被大地吞没了。

特罗弗尼乌斯的神谕位于维奥蒂亚的莱巴迪亚。据说，在一场大旱期间，维奥蒂亚人在德尔斐神灵的指引下前往莱巴迪亚寻求特罗弗尼乌斯的帮助。他们来到了那里，但找不到可行的办法。然而，其中一个人碰巧看到了一群蜜蜂，就跟着他们来到了地球上的一个裂缝，事实证明那里就是他们要寻找的地方。

前来求问神谕的人要举行特殊的仪式。做完这些准备工作后，他便从一条狭窄的通道下入了山洞。这个地方只有晚上才能进入。那人从山洞里回来，也是沿着同样狭窄的通道，倒着走。他显得忧郁、叛逃。因此，有句谚语被用来形容一个情绪低落、阴郁的人：“他一直在咨询特罗弗尼乌斯的神谕。”

埃斯库拉皮乌斯神谕

埃斯库拉皮乌斯的神谕有很多，但最著名的是埃皮达鲁斯的神谕。在这里，病人通过在寺庙里睡觉来寻求回应和恢复健康。根据流传下来的记载推断，对病人的治疗类似于现在所谓的动物磁力术或催眠术。

蛇对于埃斯库拉皮乌斯来说是神圣的，可能是因为人们迷信这些动物具有通过改变皮肤来恢复青春的能力。对埃斯库拉皮乌斯的崇拜是在罗马大病时期传入罗马的，罗马还派出使者前往埃皮达鲁斯神庙恳求埃斯库拉皮乌斯神的帮助。埃斯库拉庇俄斯很幸运，当船返回时，他以一条蛇的形式伴随着它。到达台伯河后，这条蛇从船上滑下来，占领了河中的一座岛屿，并在那里为它建造了一座神庙。

阿皮斯神谕者

在孟菲斯，神圣的公牛阿皮斯以他接受或拒绝向他提供的东西的方式来回答那些向他咨询的人。如果公牛拒绝询问者手中的食物，则被认为是不利的信号，而当公牛接受询问时则相反。

神谕反应是否应该归因于纯粹的人类发明或邪灵的作用，一直是一个问题。后一种观点在过去的时代中最为普遍。自从催眠现象引起人们的注意以来，第三种理论被提出，即在Pythoness中引发了类似于催眠恍惚的东西，并且千里眼的能力真正发挥了作用。

另一个问题是异教神谕何时停止做出回应。古代基督教作家声称，他们在基督诞生时就变得沉默，在那之后就再也没有人听到他们的声音。弥尔顿在他的《圣诞赞美诗》中采用了这一观点，并以庄严而优美的诗句描绘了异教偶像在救世主降临时的惊愕：

“神谕是愚蠢的；
没有声音或可怕的嗡嗡声
拱形屋顶上回响着“欺骗”的话语。
阿波罗从他的神殿
不能再神圣了，
随着空洞的尖叫声，德尔福斯的陡峭起伏。
没有夜间的恍惚或呼吸咒语
激励来自预言室的苍白眼睛的牧师”

考珀的《亚德利橡树》诗中有一些美丽的神话典故。以下两个故事中的前者是卡斯托尔和波勒克斯的寓言；后者更适合我们当前的主题。他对橡子说：

“你成熟了；在肥沃的土块中，
因植物人的本能而膨胀，
你的灵魂是否破裂了，就像他们传说中的双胞胎一样
现在是星星；两个裂片突出，精确配对；
一片叶子继任者和另一片叶子，
并且，所有元素都是你微不足道的成长
养吉祥，你成为一根树枝。
当你这样的时候，谁还活着？你能说吗，
就像在多多纳曾经你的同类树一样
神谕，我不会好奇地问
未来，最好的未知，但就在你的嘴里
好奇，不那么模糊的过去。”

丁尼生在他的《会说话的橡树》中这样提到了多多纳的橡树：

我将从事散文和押韵工作，
并在这两方面更加赞美你
比吟游诗人更尊敬山毛榉或石灰，
或者色萨利的增长
黑斑鸠坐在其中
神秘的句子说出了； ETC。

拜伦提到了德尔菲的神谕，在谈到卢梭时，他认为卢梭的著作对法国大革命起了很大作用，他说：

“因为，他受到了启发，并从他那里得到了，
就像来自昔日皮提亚人的神秘洞穴一样，
那些使世界陷入火焰的神谕，
燃烧也不会停止，直到王国不复存在。”

神话的起源

我们的异教神话系列故事已经结束，探究自然而然地浮现出来。 “这些故事是从哪里来的？它们有事实依据还是只是想象中的梦想？”哲学家们就这个问题提出了各种理论。 1. 圣经理论；根据该理论，所有神话传说均源自《圣经》的叙述，尽管真实的事实已被掩盖和改变。因此，丢卡利翁只是诺亚的别称，大力士是参孙的别称，阿里翁是约拿的别称，等等。沃尔特·罗利爵士在他的《世界史》中说，“朱八、土八和土八-该隐是水星、瓦肯和阿波罗” ，畜牧业、锻造业和音乐的发明者。保存金苹果的龙就是引诱夏娃的蛇。宁录的塔是巨人对抗天堂的企图。”毫无疑问，诸如此类的奇特巧合还有很多，但是，将这一理论推得如此之远，以至于解释了这些故事的大部分内容，就显得有些夸张了。

2.历史理论；据此，神话中提到的所有人物都曾经是真实的人类，与他们有关的传说和传说只是后来的补充和修饰。因此，风王和风神埃俄罗斯的故事应该源于这样一个事实：埃俄罗斯是第勒尼安海一些岛屿的统治者，他在那里作为一位正义而虔诚的国王进行统治，并向当地人传授知识。船舶帆的使用，以及如何根据大气迹象判断天气和风的变化。传说中，卡德摩斯用龙牙播种大地，并从中诞生了一批武装人员，他实际上是腓尼基的移民，并将字母表的字母知识带到了希腊，并传授了这些知识给当地人。从这些学习的基础中产生了文明，诗人总是倾向于将其描述为人类第一财产的恶化，即纯真和简单的黄金时代。

3.寓言理论认为，古人的所有神话都是寓言和象征性的，并以寓言的形式包含了一些道德、宗教或哲学真理或历史事实，但随着时间的推移才被字面理解。因此，吞噬自己孩子的土星与希腊人称之为克洛诺斯（时间）的力量是一样的，可以说它确实摧毁了它所创造的一切。艾欧的故事也以类似的方式解释。艾欧（Io）是月亮，阿古斯（Argus）是星空，仿佛在不眠不休地守护着她。木卫一的奇妙漫游代表了月球不断的公转，这也向弥尔顿提出了同样的想法。

“看那流浪的月亮
骑在接近她最高的正午时，
就像一个被引入歧途的人
天道宽阔，无路可走。”

——伊尔·彭塞罗索。

4. 物理理论；根据该理论，空气、火和水元素最初是宗教崇拜的对象，而主要神灵是自然力量的化身。从元素的拟人化到超自然生物主持和统治自然不同物体的概念的转变很容易。想象力丰富的希腊人让自然界充​​满了看不见的生物，并认为每一个物体，从太阳和海洋到最小的喷泉和小溪，都受到某种特定神灵的照顾。华兹华斯在他的《游览》中完美地发展了希腊神话的这种观点：

“在那美丽的气候里，孤独的牧民，
柔软的草地上度过了半个夏日，
音乐使他慵懒的睡眠平静下来；
而且，在某种疲倦的时候，如果他，
当他自己的呼吸寂静无声时，偶然听到
远方的曲调比声音更甜美
他的技术很差，但他的想象力却很丰富
即使来自太阳的炽热战车
触动金琴的无须少年，
照亮的小树林充满了迷醉。
强大的猎人，抬起眼睛
向着新月，怀着感恩的心
召唤可爱的流浪者赐予
那适时的光芒分享他的欢乐运动；
因此就有了一位带着她的仙女的灿烂女神
穿过草坪，穿过黑暗的小树林
（不乏优美的音符伴奏
通过岩石或洞穴的回声相乘）
席卷追逐的风暴，如同月亮和星星
沿着乌云密布的天空快速扫视
当风刮得很大时。旅行者已熟透
他的口渴来自小溪或喷涌的泉水，并感谢
奈阿德。阳光洒在远处的山丘上
他们的列车带着阴影快速滑行，
可能在幻想的小帮助下，会被改变
进入舰队 Oreads 明显地运动。
和风在飞过时扇动着翅膀，
缺少的不是爱情，而是他们所追求的美好对象
伴随着温柔的呢喃。枯枝奇形怪状，
树叶和树枝因苍白的年龄而被剥去，
从毛茸茸的隐蔽深处向外窥视
在低谷，或在陡峭的山坡上；
有时还与搅拌角混合在一起
活鹿或山羊的胡须；
这些是潜伏的萨特，野性的后代
贪玩的神灵；或者潘本人，
那个单纯的牧羊人令人敬畏的神。”

所有提到的理论在一定程度上都是正确的。因此，更正确的说法是，一个国家的神话是从所有这些来源中产生的，而不是从任何一个特定的来源中产生的。我们还可以补充一点，有许多神话是由于人类想要解释那些他无法理解的自然现象而产生的。不少人都是出于类似的愿望而兴起的，即为地名和人名给出理由。

众神的雕像

要以不同的神灵名称向人们的眼睛充分地表达思想，这是一项需要运用天才和艺术的最高能力的任务。在众多的尝试中，有四次最为著名，前两次我们仅通过古人的描述而得知，其他的仍然存在，并且是公认的雕塑家艺术杰作。

奥林匹亚木星

菲迪亚斯的奥林匹亚朱庇特雕像被认为是希腊艺术这一领域的最高成就。它尺寸巨大，古人称之为“chryselephantine”；即由象牙和黄金组成；代表肉体的部分是象牙制成的，放在木头或石头的核心上，而窗帘和其他装饰品是金子的。该雕像高四十英尺，基座高十二英尺。神坐在他的宝座上。他的眉毛上戴着橄榄色的花环，右手拿着权杖，左手拿着胜利雕像。宝座是用雪松制成的，上面装饰着黄金和宝石。

艺术家试图体现的理念是希腊（希腊）民族的至高神，作为征服者加冕为王，处于完美的威严和安宁中，并以点头的方式统治着主体世界。菲迪亚斯宣称，他的想法来自于荷马在《伊利亚特》第一本书中所给出的表述，在教皇翻译的段落中：

“他说话时，黑貂色的眉毛可怕地弯了起来，
摇晃他迷人的卷发并点点头，
命运的印记和神的制裁。
高高的天堂带着敬畏发出了可怕的信号，
整个奥林匹斯山到中心都震动了。”[32]考珀的版本不太优雅，但更真实：

“他停了下来，黑眉毛下点了点头
得到确认。在周围
君主永恒的头和他的卷发
安布罗西尔摇晃起来，巨山摇晃起来。”

我们的读者可能有兴趣看看这段话是如何出现在另一个著名的版本中的，该版本以蒂克尔的名义与波普的版本同时发行，许多人认为该版本是艾迪生的，导致了艾迪生和波普之间随之而来的争吵。 :

”说到这里，陛下王者般的眉头微微一皱；
黑色的大卷发从后面垂下来，很可怕，
浓浓的阴影笼罩着神明严肃的额头；
奥林匹斯山因全能的点头而颤抖。”

帕特农神庙的密涅瓦

这也是菲迪亚斯的作品。它矗立在雅典的帕特农神庙或密涅瓦神庙中。女神是站着的。她一手拿着长矛，另一只手拿着胜利雕像。她的头盔装饰华丽，顶部有狮身人面像。这座雕像高四十英尺，与木星一样，由象牙和黄金制成。眼睛是大理石制成的，可能被画成代表虹膜和瞳孔。这座雕像所在的帕台农神庙也是在菲迪亚斯的指导和监督下建造的。它的外部充满了雕塑，其中许多都出自菲迪亚斯之手。现藏于大英博物馆的埃尔金大理石就是其中的一部分。

菲迪亚斯的朱庇特和密涅瓦都已失传，但有充分的理由相信，在一些现存的雕像和半身像中，我们有艺术家对两者面容的想象。它们的特点是庄重而端庄的美，没有任何短暂的表达，用艺术的语言来说，这就是静止。

美第奇的维纳斯

美第奇家族的维纳斯之所以如此命名，是因为它在大约两百年前首次引起人们的注意时，一直为罗马同名王子所拥有。底座上的铭文记载它是公元前 200 年雅典雕塑家克莱奥梅尼斯 (Cleomenes) 的作品，但铭文的真实性值得怀疑。有一个故事说，这位艺术家受公共当局雇用，制作一尊展示女性美的完美雕像，并为帮助他完成任务，为他提供了这座城市所能提供的最完美的模型。汤姆森在他的《夏天》中提到的正是这一点：

“那座让世界着迷的雕像就这样矗立着；
所以弯曲试图掩盖无与伦比的夸耀，
欢欣鼓舞的希腊的混合之美。”

拜伦也提到了这座雕像。说起佛罗伦萨
博物馆，他说：

“在那里，女神也爱着石头，并充满了
周围的空气充满了美丽；” ETC。

在下一节中，

“血液、脉搏和乳房证实了达丹牧羊人的战利品。”

请参阅第二十七章中解释的最后一个典故。

阿波罗丽城酒店

所有古代雕塑遗迹中最受尊敬的是阿波罗雕像，称为“丽城”，源自它所在的罗马教皇宫殿公寓的名称。艺术家身份不明。它应该是我们这个时代大约一世纪的罗马艺术作品。这是一个站立的大理石雕像，高七英尺多，除了系在脖子上并挂在伸出的左臂上的斗篷外，全身赤裸。它应该代表神射箭消灭巨蟒的那一刻。 （见第三章。） 胜利的神正在向前迈进。似乎握着弓的左臂伸出，头也转向同一个方向。在态度和比例上，人物的优雅威严是无与伦比的。这种效果由面容完成，在青春神般美丽的完美之上，存在着胜利力量的意识。

戴安娜·拉·比什

卢浮宫宫殿中的雌鹿戴安娜可以被认为是阿波罗丽城的对应物。其姿态与阿波罗非常相似，尺寸一致，执行风格也一致。这是最高级别的作品，但绝不等同于阿波罗。那态度是匆忙而急切的动作，面容就像一位正在兴奋的追逐中的女猎人。左手伸过雌鹿的前额，雌鹿在她身边奔跑，右臂向后伸过肩膀，从箭袋中抽出一支箭。

神话诗人

我们从荷马的《伊利亚特》和《奥德赛》的诗歌中选取了有关特洛伊战争和希腊人回归的章节的主要部分，他几乎和他歌颂的英雄一样具有神话色彩。传统的故事是，他是一位流浪的吟游诗人，又瞎又老，在王子的宫廷或农民的小屋里，随着竖琴的音乐唱着他的歌曲，从一个地方到另一个地方，依赖他的自愿奉献。听众的支持。拜伦称他为“西奥岩石岛上的盲人老人”，还有一句著名的警句，暗指他出生地这一事实的不确定性，说道：

“七个富裕的城镇争夺荷马的死，
活着的荷马就是通过它乞求面包的。”

这七个国家是士麦那、希奥、罗德岛、科洛丰、萨拉米斯、阿尔戈斯和雅典。

现代学者怀疑荷马史诗是否是某个人的作品。这是因为很难相信如此长度的诗歌可以在通常指定的这么早的年龄写成，这个年龄早于任何剩余的铭文或硬币的日期，并且没有能够包含这些内容的材料。如此长的作品尚未投入使用。另一方面，有人问，如此长度的诗歌如何能够仅通过记忆而代代相传。对此的回答是，有一个专业团体，称为狂想曲家，他们背诵他人的诗歌，其职责是记忆和排练民族和爱国的传奇故事。

此时，学者们的普遍观点似乎是，诗歌的框架和大部分结构属于荷马，但有许多其他人的修改和补充。

根据希罗多德的权威，荷马所定的日期是 850 年
公元前

维吉尔

维吉尔（Virgil），也被称为马罗（Maro），我们从他的诗《埃涅阿斯纪》中汲取了埃涅阿斯的故事，他是一位伟大的诗人，他使罗马皇帝奥古斯都的统治受到如此庆祝，被称为“奥古斯都”。年龄。维吉尔于公元前70年出生于曼图亚，他的伟大诗歌在诗歌创作的最高境界——史诗中仅次于荷马。维吉尔在独创性和发明性上远不如荷马，但在正确性和优雅性上却优于荷马。对于英国血统的批评家来说，只有弥尔顿这一现代诗人才值得与这些杰出的古代诗人相提并论。我们借用了他的诗《失乐园》中的许多插图，它在许多方面与古代的任何一部伟大作品不相上下，甚至在某些方面更胜一筹。德莱顿的以下警句描述了三位诗人的特征，与在此类尖锐的批评中常见的一样真实：

“关于米尔顿

“三个不同时代诞生的三位诗人，
希腊、意大利和英国确实装饰过
灵魂崇高超越第一，
下者为威严，两者皆为最后者。
自然之力无法再进一步；
为了获得第三个，她加入了另外两个。”

来自考珀的“餐桌谈话”：

“在荷马之灯出现之前，已经过去了很多年，
很久以前，曼图安天鹅的歌声就被听到了。
承载未知的自然长度，
为了生下弥尔顿，需要更长时间。
因此，天才在规定的时间升起和落下，
并把黎明射入遥远的气候，
使他选择的每一个地区变得高贵；
他在希腊沉没，在意大利升起，
而且，哥特式黑暗的乏味岁月过去了，
我们的岛上终于出现了所有的辉煌。
因此，可爱的翡翠鸟潜入主体，
然后再次远远地展示它们闪亮的羽毛。”

奥维

奥维德（Ovid），经常在诗歌中被提及，他的另一个名字是纳索（Naso），出生于公元前 43 年。他接受过公共生活教育，并担任过一些相当有尊严的职务，但诗歌是他的乐趣，他很早就决心投身于诗歌。因此，他寻求与当代诗人的交往，结识了贺拉斯并见到了维吉尔，尽管后者去世时奥维德还太年轻，还不够出名，无法结识他。奥维德在罗马过着安逸的生活，享受着可观的收入。他与皇帝奥古斯都的家人关系密切，据推测，该家庭的某些成员受到了一些严重的冒犯，从而导致了一场事件的发生，该事件扭转了诗人的幸福境遇，并给他的后半生蒙上了阴影。五十岁时，他被逐出罗马，并被命令投奔黑海边境的托米。在这里，在野蛮的人民和恶劣的气候下，这位已经习惯了奢华首都的所有乐趣和同时代最杰出的社会的诗人，在悲伤和疲惫中度过了他生命的最后十年。焦虑。他在流亡期间唯一的安慰就是给妻子和缺席的朋友写信，他的信充满诗意。尽管这些诗（《特里斯塔》和《蓬图斯来信》）除了诗人的悲伤之外没有其他主题，但他精湛的品味和卓有成效的发明使它们摆脱了乏味的指责，读起来很愉快，甚至带有同情心。 。

奥维德的两部伟大作品是他的《变形记》和他的《法斯蒂》。它们都是神话诗，我们大部分的希腊和罗马神话故事都取材于前者。一位已故作家这样描述这些诗：

“希腊丰富的神话为奥维德提供了创作艺术的素材，就像它仍然为诗人、画家和雕塑家提供的一样。他以精湛的品味、朴素和悲情讲述了早期的神话般的传统，并赋予它们只有大师才能赋予的现实外观。他对自然的描绘引人注目且真实。他谨慎地选择合适的；他拒绝多余的东西；当他完成他的工作时，它既不是缺陷，也不是多余的。 《变形记》被年轻人愉快地阅读，而在年老的时候，人们又以更大的乐趣重读《变形记》。这位诗人大胆地预言，他的诗将在他去世后继续存在，并且在任何知道罗马名字的地方都会被人读到。”

上面提到的预言包含在《变形记》的最后几行中，我们将其逐字翻译如下：

“现在我结束了我的工作，这不是愤怒
朱庇特，也不是时间之牙，也不是剑，也不是火
必化为乌有。到那一天就来吧
支配的是身体，而不是头脑，
并夺走我仅存的生命，
我更好的部分将翱翔在群星之上，
我的名声永远长存。
罗马的武器和艺术将传播到哪里
人们将在那里阅读我的书；
而且，如果诗人的愿景属实的话，
我的名字和名誉永垂不朽。”

现代怪物

有一组想象中的生物，似乎是古老迷信中的“蛇发女妖、九头蛇和可怕的喀迈拉”的继承者，并且与异教的假神没有任何联系，继续享受着存在于其中的存在。异教被基督教取代后的流行信仰。古典作家也许会提到它们，但它们的主要流行和流行似乎是在现代。我们对它们的描述与其说是在古人的诗歌中，不如说是在古老的自然历史书籍和旅行者的叙述中。我们即将提供的叙述主要取自便士百科全书。

凤凰

奥维德这样讲述凤凰的故事：“大多数生物都是从其他个体中产生的；但有一种可以自我复制。亚述人称其为凤凰。它不靠水果或花朵生存，而是靠乳香和有气味的树胶生存。当它活了五百年时，它会在橡树的树枝上或棕榈树的顶部筑巢。它在其中收集肉桂、甘松和没药，并用这些材料堆积成一堆，将自己沉积在上面，垂死时，在气味中呼出最后一口气。从母鸟的身体里，诞生了一只年轻的凤凰，注定会和它的前身一样长寿。当它长大并获得足够的力量时，它会从树上（它自己的摇篮和父母的坟墓）上抬起它的巢，并将其带到埃及的赫利奥波利斯市，并将其存放在太阳神庙中。

这是一位诗人的叙述。现在让我们看看一位哲学史家的看法。塔西佗说：“在保卢斯·法比尤斯 (Paulus Fabius，公元 34 年) 担任执政官期间，这只被世人称为凤凰的神奇鸟在消失了数个世纪之后，重新来到了埃及。在它飞翔的过程中，有一群各种各样的鸟儿陪伴着它，它们都被新奇的事物所吸引，惊奇地注视着如此美丽的外表。”然后，他对这只鸟进行了描述，与前面的描述没有实质上的不同，但添加了一些细节。 “幼鸟一旦羽翼丰满，能够信赖自己的翅膀，首先要做的就是为父亲举行葬礼。但这项职责并不是贸然承担的。他收集了大量的没药，并经常背负重物外出旅行，以测试自己的力量。当他对自己的活力有了足够的信心时，他就会拿起父亲的身体，飞向太阳的祭坛，在那里他将其留在芬芳的火焰中被吞噬。”其他作者添加了一些细节。没药被压缩成鸡蛋的形状，里面装着死去的凤凰。死鸟腐烂的肉中会长出一条虫子，当这条虫子长大后，就会变成一只鸟。希罗多德描述了这只鸟，尽管他说：“我自己没有见过它，除了在照片上。他的羽毛一部分是金色，一部分是深红色；他的轮廓和体积在很大程度上非常像一只鹰。”

第一个否认凤凰存在的作家是托马斯·布朗爵士 (Sir Thomas Browne)，他在 1646 年出版的《庸俗错误》(Vulgar Errors) 中发表了这一观点。几年后，亚历山大·罗斯 (Alexander Ross) 回复了他，他说，作为对凤凰很少露面，“他的本能告诉他要远离造物暴君，人类，因为如果他被抓住，一些富有的贪食者肯定会吞噬他，尽管没有更多的东西了。”在世界上。”

德莱顿在他的一首早期诗中提到了凤凰：

“所以当新生的凤凰第一次被看到时，
她的羽毛臣民都崇拜他们的女王，
当她在东方取得进展时，
从每一个小树林里，她都增加了无数的火车；
每一位空中诗人都在歌唱她的荣耀，
在他周围，高兴的观众拍打着翅膀。”

弥尔顿在《失乐园》第五卷中，将降临人间的天使拉斐尔比作凤凰：

“……在那儿，俯卧飞行
他加速，穿过广阔空灵的天空
航行于世界与世界之间，稳健的翅膀，
现在是极地风，然后是快速风扇
拂去丰沛的空气；直到飞翔之内
对所有的飞禽来说，他都是高耸的雄鹰
一只凤凰，万众瞩目；作为那唯一的鸟
何时，将他的遗物供奉在阳光下
明亮的神庙，他飞向埃及的底比斯。”

鸡蛇或蛇怪

这种动物被称为蛇中之王。据说，为了确认他的王权，他头上戴着顶冠或梳子，构成一顶王冠。他应该是由蟾蜍或蛇孵化的公鸡蛋产生的。这种动物有好几种。其中一个物种会烧毁它们所接近的一切；第二个是一种游走的美杜莎的头颅，它们的样子立刻引起了恐惧，紧接着就是死亡。在莎士比亚的戏剧《理查三世》中，安妮夫人在回答理查对她眼睛的赞美时说：“如果它们是蛇怪的，那就打死你吧！”

蛇怪被称为蛇王，因为所有其他蛇类都表现得像善良的臣民，明智地不希望被烧死或被打死，当它们听到远处蛇王的嘶嘶声时，它们就逃跑了，尽管它们可能已经吃饱了吃到最美味的猎物，把宴会的唯一享受留给了皇家怪物。

罗马博物学家普林尼这样描述他：“他不像其他蛇那样通过多重弯曲来推动自己的身体，而是高高挺拔地前进。他不仅通过接触杀死灌木，还通过对它们呼吸，并劈开岩石，他身上有这样的邪恶力量。”以前人们认为，如果在马背上被长矛杀死，通过武器传播的毒药的力量不仅会杀死骑手，还会杀死马。卢坎在以下几行中提到了这一点：

“尽管蛇怪已经杀死了摩尔人，
把他钉在沙质平原上，毫无生气，
微妙的毒液透过长矛向上飞翔，
手吸了它，胜利者就死了。”

这样的天才，在圣人的传说中，是不可能被忽视的。据此，我们发现有记载说，一位圣人前往沙漠中的一个喷泉时，突然看到了一只蛇怪。他立即举目望天，虔诚地向神灵祈求，将怪物置于他的脚下。

蛇怪的这些奇妙力量得到了许多学者的证明，例如盖伦、阿维森纳、斯卡利格等。有时，有人会对故事的某些部分提出异议，而他则承认其余部分。琼斯顿是一位博学的医生，他睿智地说：“我几乎不相信它的外表会杀人，因为谁能亲眼目睹它并活着讲述这个故事呢？”这位可敬的圣人并不知道，那些去猎杀这种蛇怪的人随身携带了一面镜子，镜子将致命的光芒反射回镜子的作者身上，并以一种诗意的正义用自己的武器杀死了蛇怪。

但用什么来攻击这个可怕且难以接近的怪物呢？有句老话说：“万物皆有敌人”——鸡蛇在黄鼠狼面前畏缩。蛇怪看起来可能很危险，但黄鼠狼并不在意，而是勇敢地冲向冲突。被咬后，黄鼠狼退缩了一会儿，吃了一些芸香，这是蛇怪唯一不会枯萎的植物，然后带着新的力量和健康返回冲锋，一直没有离开敌人，直到他躺在平原上死去。这个怪物似乎也意识到自己来到这个世界上的不规则方式，应该对公鸡有极大的反感。他也许会这么做，因为他一听到公鸡叫，就断气了。

蛇怪死后还是有一定用处的。因此我们读到，它的尸体被悬挂在阿波罗神庙和私人住宅中，作为对抗蜘蛛的至高无上的补救措施，它也被悬挂在戴安娜神庙中，因此没有燕子敢进入这个神圣的地方。

我们担心，读者此时已经受够了荒谬，但我们仍然可以想象他对知道鸡蛇是什么样子的焦虑。以下内容出自十六世纪著名博物学家阿尔德罗万杜斯之口，他的博物学著作共十三对开卷，其中包含了大量的寓言和无用之处，其中颇有价值。特别是，他对公鸡和公牛的主题是如此丰富，以至于从他的实践来看，所有可信度值得怀疑的漫无边际、八卦的故事都被称为公鸡和公牛的故事。然而，阿尔德罗万杜斯作为植物园的创始人，以及目前流行的为调查和研究目的而进行科学收藏的先驱，值得我们尊重和尊重。

雪莱在他的《那不勒斯颂》中，充满了 1820 年在那不勒斯宣布成立宪政政府的智慧所激发的热情，因此引用了蛇怪：

“尽管西梅里安无政府主义者敢亵渎
自由和你呢？一个新的阿克泰翁错误
难道他们的狗会——被他们自己的猎犬吞掉吗？
你就像帝国蛇怪一样，
用不明显的伤口杀死你的敌人！
凝视压迫，直到面对那可怕的风险，
她惊愕地从地球圆盘上走过。
不要害怕，而要凝视——因为自由民会更加强大，
奴隶更加虚弱，凝视着他们的敌人。”

独角兽

罗马博物学家普林尼（Pliny）对独角兽的描述和描绘了大多数现代独角兽，他将其记录为“一种非常凶猛的野兽，身体的其他部分类似于马，有鹿的头”大象的脚，野猪的尾巴，低沉的吼叫声，还有一根长两肘的黑角，突出在它的前额中间。”他补充说，“它不能被活捉；”在那些日子里，如果没有在圆形剧场的竞技场上制作活体动物，可能需要一些这样的借口。

对于猎人来说，独角兽似乎是一个悲伤的谜题，他们几乎不知道如何获得如此有价值的猎物。有人形容这种角可以根据动物的意愿移动，简而言之，是一种小剑，任何在栅栏上不太狡猾的猎人都没有机会使用它。另一些人则认为，这种动物的全部力量都集中在它的角上，当受到追击时，它会从最高的岩石尖顶上跳下来，角最前面，然后扑向它，然后静静地走开，离地面不远。其跌落情况更糟。

但看来他们终于找到了如何绕过可怜的独角兽。他们发现这是一个纯洁和天真的伟大情人，所以他们带着一个年轻的处女进入了这个领域，她被放置在毫无戒心的崇拜者的方式上。当独角兽发现她时，他满怀敬意地走近，坐在她旁边，把头靠在她的腿上睡着了。奸诈的处女发出信号后，猎人便闯入并捕获了这只简单的野兽。

现代动物学家可能对此类寓言感到厌恶，但普遍不相信独角兽的存在。然而，有些动物的头上长着一个或多或少像角的骨突起，这可能就是这个故事的来源。犀牛角，顾名思义，就是这样的一个突起，虽然高度不超过几英寸，与独角兽角的描述相差甚远。最接近额头中间的角的是长颈鹿额头上的骨隆起；但这也是短而钝的，并且不是该动物唯一的角，而是第三个角，位于另外两个角的前面。总而言之，虽然否认除犀牛之外还有独角四足动物的存在是自以为是，但可以肯定地说，在马或鹿的活前额上插入了一根长而坚固的角。动物几乎是不可能的。

蝾

以下内容摘自意大利十六世纪艺术家本韦努托·切利尼的一生：“当我大约五岁的时候，我的父亲碰巧在一个小房间里，他们正在洗衣服。 ，在那里有一堆橡木燃烧着，向火焰中望去，看到了一种类似蜥蜴的小动物，它可以生活在该元素最热的部分。他立刻意识到那是什么，就叫来了我和妹妹，在他向我们展示了这个生物之后，他在我的耳朵上打了一记耳光。我哭了，而他用爱抚抚慰我，说了这些话：“我亲爱的孩子，我不会因为你犯下的任何过错而对你进行打击，而是让你记住，你在世界上看到的那个小生物。火是蝾螈；据我所知，这是以前从未见过的。他说他拥抱了我，还给了我一些钱。”

怀疑切利尼先生亲眼目睹的故事似乎是没有道理的。此外，以亚里士多德和普林尼为首的众多圣哲哲学家的权威也肯定了蝾螈的这种力量。据他们说，这种动物不仅能抵抗火，还能扑灭火，当他看到火焰时，它会像敌人一样攻击它，他知道如何消灭它。

可以抵抗火的动物的皮肤应该被认为是抵抗这种元素的证据，这并不奇怪。因此，我们发现用蝾螈的皮制成的布（因为确实有这样一种动物，一种蜥蜴）是不燃的，并且对于包裹那些太贵重而不能托付给任何其他信封的物品非常有价值。这些防火布实际上是由蝾螈的毛制成的，尽管知情者发现它们的组成物质是石棉，一种矿物质，呈细丝状，可以编织成柔韧的布。

上述寓言的基础应该是这样一个事实：蝾螈确实会从其身体的毛孔中分泌出一种乳汁，当它受到刺激时，会产生大量的乳汁，并且毫无疑问会在一段时间内保护它。身体脱离火。然后，它就成为一种冬眠动物，在冬天隐退到一些空心树或其他洞穴中，在那里它把自己卷起来并保持麻木的状态，直到春天再次召唤它。因此，有时它可能会被带入火中，醒来的时间足以发挥其所有的防御能力。它的粘稠汁液会起到很好的作用，所有自称见过它的人都承认，它以最快的速度从火中逃脱。确实，速度太快了，他们根本无法抓住一只动物，除了一次，在那一次，动物的脚和身体的某些部位被严重烧伤。

杨博士在《夜思》中，用一种古怪而不是高雅的语气，将那些在对星空的沉思中保持不动的怀疑论者比作火中未受温暖的蝾螈：

“一个不虔诚的天文学家是疯了！

“哦，多么天才才能告诉天空啊！
是洛伦佐的蝾螈之心
在这些神圣的火焰中冰冷且未受触动？”

琐罗亚斯德

我们对古代波斯人宗教的了解主要来自《Zendavesta》，即该民族的圣书。琐罗亚斯德是他们宗教的创始人，或者更确切地说是在他之前的宗教的改革者。他生活的年代令人怀疑，但可以肯定的是，从居鲁士时代（公元前550年）到亚历山大大帝征服波斯，他的体系成为西亚的主导宗教。在马其顿君主制下，琐罗亚斯德的教义似乎因外国观点的引入而受到相当大的破坏，但后来又恢复了优势。

琐罗亚斯德教导了至高无上的存在的存在，他创造了另外两个强大的存在，并将他自己认为好的本性尽可能多地传授给他们。其中，奥尔穆兹德（希腊人称之为奥罗马斯德斯）仍然忠于他的创造者，并被视为一切善良的源泉，而阿里曼（阿里马内斯）则反叛，成为地球上所有邪恶的根源。奥尔穆兹德创造了人类，并为他提供了所有幸福的物质；但阿里曼将邪恶引入世界，创造了野蛮的野兽和有毒的爬行动物和植物，从而破坏了这种幸福。结果，邪恶与善良现在在世界各地交织在一起，善与恶的追随者——奥尔穆兹德和阿里曼的追随者——进行着不断的战争。但这种状态不会永远持续下去。总有一天，奥尔穆兹德的追随者将在各地取得胜利，而阿里曼和他的追随者将永远陷入黑暗。

古代波斯人的宗教仪式极其简单。他们不使用寺庙、祭坛，也不使用雕像，而是在山顶上进行祭祀。他们崇拜火、光和太阳，将其视为一切光明和纯洁之源奥尔穆兹德的象征，但并不将它们视为独立的神。宗教仪式和典礼由被称为“贤士”的祭司负责管理。东方贤士的学习与占星术和魔法有关，他们在其中非常受人尊敬，以至于他们的名字适用于所有魔法师和魔法师。

华兹华斯因此暗示了波斯人的崇拜：

“……波斯人——热衷于拒绝
祭坛和圣像，以及包容性的墙壁
还有人手建造的寺庙屋顶——
最崇高的高度从他们的顶峰上升，
额头上戴着桃金娘花冠，
向月亮和星星献祭，
还有风和元素之母，
还有整个天界，为了他
一个敏感的存在和一个上帝。”

——短途旅行，第四册。

在《哈罗德大公》中，拜伦这样谈到波斯崇拜：

“早期波斯人并非徒劳地创造了
他的祭坛是丘坛和山顶
眺望大地的山脉，从而采取
一座完好且没​​有围墙的寺庙，在那里寻找
圣神在其荣誉上是软弱的，
举起人类的双手。过来比较一下
哥特式或希腊式的圆柱和偶像住宅，
在大自然的崇拜领域、大地和空气中，
也不要固定在舒适的居所来限制你的祈祷。”

三、91。

即使在基督教传入之后，琐罗亚斯德宗教仍然继续蓬勃发展，并在三世纪成为东方的主要信仰，直到七世纪伊斯兰教势力的崛起和阿拉伯人征服波斯，迫使波斯人皈依伊斯兰教。更多的波斯人放弃了他们古老的信仰。那些拒绝放弃祖先宗教的人逃到了克尔曼沙漠和印度斯坦，在那里他们仍然以帕西人的名字存在，这个名字源自波斯的古名帕尔斯。阿拉伯人称他们为“Guebers”，源自阿拉伯语，意为“不信者”。如今，在孟买，帕西人是一个非常活跃、聪明且富有的阶层。由于生活的纯洁、诚实和和解的举止，他们受到了良好的区分。他们有许多火神庙，他们崇拜火作为神的象征。

波斯宗教是摩尔的《拉拉·鲁克》（Lalla Rookh）中最精彩的故事的主题，即“火崇拜者”。格伯酋长说，

“是的！我属于那个不虔诚的种族，
那些火的奴隶，那天早上甚至
欢呼他们的创造者的居所
在天堂的活光之中；
是的！我是那个被遗弃的船员中的一员
为了伊朗，为了复仇，
谁诅咒你的阿拉伯人来的时间
亵渎我们的火焰圣殿，
在上帝灼热的眼睛前发誓，
要么打破我们国家的锁链，要么死亡。”

印度神话

印度教徒的宗教据称是建立在吠陀经的基础上的。他们对这些经典书籍赋予了最高的神圣性，并声称它们是梵天本人在创作时创作的。但目前吠陀经的编排归功于大约五千年前的圣人维亚萨。

吠陀经无疑教导了一位至高无上的神的信仰。这位神的名字是梵天。他的属性由创造、保存和毁灭这三种人格化的力量来代表，这三种力量分别以梵天、毗湿奴和湿婆的名字组成了印度教主要神的三位一体。次等神中最重要的是： 1. 因陀罗，天上的神，掌管雷、闪电、风暴和降雨； 2.阿格尼，火神； 3. 阎罗王，地狱之神； 4.苏里亚，太阳神。

梵天是宇宙的创造者，是所有个体神灵的源头，并且最终将被吸收其中。 “正如牛奶变成凝乳，水变成冰一样，梵天也在没有任何外部手段的帮助下发生了各种变化和多样化。”根据吠陀经，人类灵魂是最高统治者的一部分，就像火花是火一样。

毗湿奴

毗湿奴在印度教三合会中占据第二位，是保存原则的化身。为了在不同的危险时期保护世界，毗湿奴以不同的化身或身体形态降临到地球，这种降临被称为“阿凡达”。它们数量众多，但有十种更为具体。第一个化身是鱼马齐亚 (Matsya)，毗湿奴 (Vishnu) 在大洪水期间保护了人类的祖先马努 (Manu)。第二个化身以乌龟的形式出现，当众神搅拌大海以获取不朽饮料甘露时，他以乌龟的形式支撑着大地。

我们可以忽略其他化身，它们具有相同的一般特征，即保护权利或惩罚坏人的干预措施，而来到第九个，这是毗湿奴的化身中最著名的，在其中他奎师那以人形出现，他是一位无敌的战士，他通过自己的功绩将地球从压迫它的暴君手中解放出来。

佛陀被婆罗门教的追随者视为毗湿奴的虚幻化身，他化身是为了诱使诸神的反对者阿修罗放弃吠陀经的神圣教条，从而失去力量和至高无上的地位。 。

Kalki是第十个阿凡达的名字，其中毗湿奴将在当今世界末日出现，摧毁一切邪恶，使人类恢复美德和纯洁。

湿婆

湿婆是印度教三合会的第三人。他是毁灭原则的化身。虽然他是第三个名字，但就其崇拜者的数量和崇拜的范围而言，他领先于其他两个名字。在《往世书》（现代印度教的经典）中，没有提及这位神作为毁灭者的原始力量；这种力量要等到一千二百万年结束之后，或者宇宙即将终结时才能被运用； Mahadeva（湿婆的别称）则代表重生而非毁灭。

毗湿奴和湿婆的崇拜者形成了两个教派，每个教派都宣扬自己所喜爱的神灵的优越性，否认对方的主张，而造物主梵天在完成了他的工作后，似乎被认为不再活跃了，并且现在印度只有一座寺庙，而摩诃提婆和毗湿奴有很多座寺庙。毗湿奴的崇拜者通常以对生命更加温柔和随之而来的动物性食物的禁欲而著称，并且崇拜不像湿婆的追随者那么残酷。

剑圣

无论主宰者的崇拜者是毗湿奴还是湿婆的追随者，我们的权威不同。该寺庙位于加尔各答西南约三百英里的海岸附近。神像是一块木雕，有着一张丑陋的脸，漆成黑色，嘴巴张得血红。在节日期间，圣像的宝座被放置在六十英尺高的塔上，用轮子移动。塔上系着六根长绳，人们用它来拉塔。祭司和侍从们站在塔上的宝座周围，时不时地向信徒们唱着歌，做着手势。当塔楼移动时，许多虔诚的崇拜者扑倒在地，以便被车轮压碎，群众高喊着对这一行为的认可，作为对偶像的令人愉快的牺牲。每年，尤其是三月和七月的两个重大节日，朝圣者蜂拥而至寺庙。据说，在这些场合，所有种姓都在一起吃饭时，不少于七万或八万人会参观这个地方。

种姓

印度教徒自古以来就存在阶级或种姓的划分，并有固定的职业。有人认为它是在征服的基础上建立起来的，前三个种姓是由外来种族组成的，他们征服了这个国家的当地人，将他们降为低等种姓。另一些人则将其追溯到对通过父子相传而使某些职位或职业永久化的喜爱。

印度教传统对不同种姓的起源有如下描述： 在创世之初，梵天决定给予地球上的居民，他们应该是他自己身体的直接放射体。因此，从他口中诞生了长子布茹阿玛（祭司），他向他传授了四部吠陀经。从他的右臂发出的是沙特里亚（Shatriya）（战士），从左臂发出的是战士的妻子。他的大腿产生了吠舍，男性和女性（农夫和商人），最后从他的脚产生了首陀罗（机械师和工人）。

梵天的四个儿子，如此重要地来到这个世界，成为人类的祖先，以及各自种姓的首领。他们被命令将四部吠陀视为包含他们信仰的所有规则，以及指导他们宗教仪式所需的一切。他们还被命令按照出生顺序排列等级，婆罗门最高，因为他们是从婆罗门的头上产生的。

前三个种姓和首陀罗之间有着明显的分界线。前者可以接受吠陀经的指示，而首陀罗则不允许接受指示。婆罗门拥有传授吠陀经的特权，并且在过去独占所有知识。虽然国家的君主是从沙特里亚阶级（也称为拉其普特人）中选出的，但婆罗门拥有真正的权力，是国家的皇家顾问、法官和地方行政长官。他们的人身和财产不受侵犯；尽管他们犯下了最严重的罪行，但他们只能被逐出王国。他们受到主权者最大的尊重，因为“婆罗门，无论有学问还是无知，都是强大的神灵。”

当婆罗门成熟时，结婚就成为他的责任。他应该靠富人的贡献来维持生计，而不是被迫通过任何劳动或生产性职业来维持生计。但由于社会的工人阶级无法维持所有婆罗门，因此有必要允许他们从事生产性就业。

我们无需多说两个中级阶级，他们的等级和特权可以很容易地从他们的职业中推断出来。首陀罗或第四阶级必然会在较高阶级中奴役，尤其是婆罗门，但他们可能会从事机械职业和实用艺术，如绘画和写作，或者成为商人或农夫。因此，婆罗门有时会变得富有，有时也会发生婆罗门变得贫穷。这一事实产生了通常的结果，富有的首陀罗有时会雇用贫穷的婆罗门从事卑贱的工作。

还有一个阶级甚至比首陀罗还要低，因为它不是原始的纯粹阶级之一，而是由不同种姓的个人未经授权的结合而产生的。这些人是贱民，他们受雇于最低级的服务部门，并受到最严厉的对待。他们被迫做别人在没有污染的情况下做不到的事情。他们不仅自己被认为是不洁净的，而且还使他们接触到的一切都变得不洁净。他们被剥夺了所有公民权利，并受到规范其生活方式、房屋和家具的特定法律的侮辱。他们不被允许参观其他种姓的佛塔或寺庙，但有自己的佛塔和宗教活动。他们不被允许进入其他种姓的房屋；如果不小心或出于必要，必须通过宗教仪式来净化该地方。他们不得出现在公共市场，并且仅限于使用特定的井，他们必须用动物的骨头包围这些井，以警告其他人不要使用它们。他们居住在简陋的茅屋里，远离城市和乡村，在食物方面不受任何限制，这不是一种特权，而是一种耻辱的标志，就好像他们被贬低到没有任何东西可以污染他们一样。三个较高种姓完全禁止使用肉。第四种允许使用除牛肉以外的所有种类，但只有最低种姓才允许使用每种食物，不受限制。

佛

佛陀，吠陀经将其描述为虚幻的化身
毗湿奴（Vishnu），据他的追随者说，他是一位凡间的圣人，
名字叫乔达摩，也被称为“乔达摩”
释迦辛哈，狮子，佛陀，圣人。

通过比较他出生的各个时代，可以推断他生活在基督之前大约一千年。

他是国王的儿子；据说，当他出生几天后，根据该国的习俗，他被放在神坛前时，该图像倾斜了头，预示着这位新生先知未来的伟大。 。这个孩子很快就发展出了一流的才能，并以其非凡的美丽而闻名。他刚成年，就开始深刻反思人类的堕落和苦难，萌生了退出社会、潜心冥想的念头。他的父亲徒劳地反对这个设计。佛陀逃脱了守卫的警惕，找到了安全的避难所，在虔诚的沉思中不受干扰地生活了六年。这段时期结束后，他以宗教导师的身份来到贝拿勒斯。起初，一些听他讲话的人怀疑他的思想是否健全。但他的教义很快就获得了人们的认可，并且传播得如此之快，以至于佛陀本人在世时亲眼目睹了这些教义传遍了整个印度。他去世时享年八十岁。

佛教徒完全拒绝吠陀经的权威，以及其中规定并由印度教徒遵守的宗教仪式。他们还拒绝种姓区别，禁止一切血腥祭祀，并允许动物食品。他们的祭司是从各个阶级中选出的；人们期望他们通过巡游和乞讨来维持生计，除其他外，他们的职责是努力将别人丢弃的无用的东西转变成有用的东西，并发现植物的药用功效。但在锡兰，祭司的三个等级得到承认：最高等级的人通常是出身高贵、学识渊博的人，并在主要寺庙中得到支持，其中大多数寺庙都得到了该国前任君主的慷慨捐赠。

佛陀出现后的几个世纪里，他的教派似乎一直受到婆罗门的容忍，佛教似乎已经向印度斯坦半岛的各个方向渗透，并被带到了锡兰和东部半岛。但后来它在印度却遭受了长期持续的迫害，最终在其起源国彻底废除了它，而广泛分散到邻近国家。佛教似乎是在我们这个时代的 65 年左右传入中国的。随后从中国扩展到韩国、日本和爪哇。

大喇嘛

婆罗门印度教徒和佛教教派都有同样的教义，即人类灵魂（神圣精神的散发）被限制在人体中，是一种痛苦的状态，是过去时期所犯下的脆弱和罪恶的后果。存在。但他们认为，地球上时不时地出现了一些个体，并不是出于地球存在的需要，而是自愿降临到地球上，以促进人类的福祉。这些人逐渐呈现出佛陀本人再现的特征，这种传承一直延续到今天，在西藏、中国和其他佛教盛行国家的几位喇嘛身上。由于成吉思汗及其继承者的胜利，居住在西藏的喇嘛被提升为该教派的首席教皇。一个单独的省份被分配给他作为他自己的领土，除了他的精神尊严之外，他在一定程度上成为了一个世俗君主。他被称为达赖喇嘛。

第一批前往西藏的基督教传教士惊讶地发现，在亚洲的中心地带有一个宗座法庭和其他几个类似于罗马天主教会的教会机构。他们为牧师和修女建立了修道院；还有盛况空前的游行和宗教崇拜活动；许多人被这些相似之处所吸引，认为喇嘛教是一种堕落的基督教。喇嘛们并非不可能从景教基督徒那里继承一些这些习俗，当佛教传入西藏时，景教基督徒就定居在鞑靼。

普雷斯特·约翰

早期关于鞑靼人喇嘛或精神领袖的记载，可能是通过旅行商人传播的，似乎在欧洲引起了一位长老或牧师约翰的报道，他是一位居住在上亚洲的基督教教皇。教皇派出使团寻找他，路易九世也派出使团寻找他。几年后，他又来到法国，但这两次传教活动都没有成功，尽管他们确实发现了聂斯脱里派基督徒的小团体，这让欧洲人相信这样的人物确实存在于东方的某个地方。最后到了十五世纪，一位葡萄牙旅行家佩德罗·科维汉偶然听说在距离红海不远的阿贝西尼亚（Abyssinia）国家有一位基督教王子，他断定这一定是真正的祭司长约翰。于是他去了那里，并深入到了国王的宫廷，他称国王为尼格斯。弥尔顿在第十一卷的《失乐园》中提到了他，其中描述了亚当对分散在地球表面各个国家和城市的后裔的愿景，他说：

“……他的眼睛也没有注意到
尼格斯的帝国，一直到他的最大港口，
埃尔科科和其他航海王，
蒙巴扎、基洛亚和梅林德。”

北方神话

迄今为止引起我们关注的故事都与南方地区的神话有关。但古代迷信的另一个分支也不应该被完全忽视，特别是因为它属于我们通过英国祖先起源的国家。这是被称为斯堪的纳维亚人的北方民族的民族，他们居住在现在的瑞典、丹麦、挪威和冰岛等国家。这些神话记录包含在两本名为《埃达》的诗集中，其中最古老的是诗歌集，可以追溯到 1056 年，而更现代或散文的《埃达》则可以追溯到 1640 年。

根据埃达人的说法，曾经没有上天，下地，只有无底深渊和一个泉水在其中流动的雾世界。十二条河流从这泉源发出，当它们流离源头很远时，它们就结成了冰，一层一层地堆积起来，巨大的深渊被填满了。

雾世界的南边就是光的世界。一股暖风吹过冰面，将冰融化了。蒸气在空气中升起，形成云，从中诞生了冰霜巨人尤弥尔和他的后代，以及为巨人提供营养和食物的牛奥德姆布拉。牛通过舔冰上的白霜和盐来获取营养。当她有一天舔盐石时，首先出现了一个男人的头发，第二天出现了整个头部，第三天出现了整个形状，赋予了美丽、敏捷和力量。这个新的存在是一位神，他和他的妻子（巨人族的女儿）诞生了奥丁、维利和维三兄弟。他们杀死了巨人尤弥尔，用他的身体形成了大地，用他的血形成了海洋，用他的骨头形成了山脉，用他的头发形成了树木，用他的头骨形成了天空，用他的大脑形成了充满冰雹和雪的云彩。 。诸神从尤弥尔的眉毛中形成了米德加德（中土），注定将成为人类的居所。

然后，奥丁通过将太阳和月亮放置在天空中并指定它们各自的轨迹来调节昼夜和季节。太阳一开始把阳光照射到大地上，植物世界就开始发芽、发芽。诸神创造世界后不久，他们漫步在海边，对他们的新作品感到满意，但发现它仍然不完整，因为它没有人类。因此，他们用一棵白蜡树造了一个男人，又用一棵接骨木造了一个女人，并把男人称为阿斯克，女人称为恩布拉。奥丁赋予了他们生命和灵魂，维利赋予了他们理性和运动，维则赋予了他们感官、表现力和言语。米德加德被赐予他们作为居住地，他们成为了人类的祖先。

强大的白蜡树 Ygdrasil 应该支撑整个宇宙。它从尤弥尔的身体中诞生，拥有三根巨大的根，一根延伸到阿斯加德（众神的居所），另一根延伸到尤顿海姆（巨人的居所），第三根延伸到尼夫勒海姆（黑暗和寒冷的地区） ）。每个根的旁边都有一个泉水，从那里浇水。延伸到阿斯加德的树根由三位诺恩女神精心照料，她们被视为命运的施予者。他们是Urdur（过去）、Verdandi（现在）、Skuld（未来）。尤顿海姆一侧的泉水是尤弥尔之井，其中隐藏着智慧和才智，而​​尼弗尔海姆的泉水却喂养着毒蛇尼德霍格（Nidhogge），它永远啃噬着树根。四只雄鹿跑过树枝，咬住花蕾；它们代表四风。树下躺着尤弥尔，当他试图摆脱树的重量时，大地震动了。

阿斯加德 (Asgard) 是众神的住所，只有穿过 Bifrost 桥（彩虹）才能进入。阿斯加德由金色和银色的宫殿组成，是众神的住所，但其中最美丽的是奥丁的住所瓦尔哈拉。当他坐在宝座上时，他俯瞰着整个天地。他肩上扛着乌鸦胡金和穆宁，它们每天飞越整个世界，回来后向他报告它们所看到和听到的一切。在他的脚下躺着两只狼，格里和弗雷基，奥丁把摆在他面前的所有肉都给了它们，因为他自己不需要食物。蜂蜜酒对他来说既是食物又是饮料。他发明了符文字符，诺恩人的职责是将命运符文刻在金属盾牌上。奥丁（Odin）的名字（有时拼写为Woden）来自星期三（Wednesday），这是一周的第四天的名称。

奥丁经常被称为 Alfadur（众神之父），但这个名字有时的使用方式表明斯堪的纳维亚人有一个高于奥丁的神，非受造的和永恒的。

瓦尔哈拉的欢乐

瓦尔哈拉（Valhalla）是奥丁的大厅，他在这里与他所选择的英雄一起盛宴，所有那些在战斗中英勇牺牲的人都被排除在外，因为所有安详死去的人都被排除在外。施里姆尼尔野猪的肉供应给他们，对所有人来说都是丰富的。因为虽然这头野猪每天早上都会被煮熟，但每天晚上他都会再次变得完整。英雄们的饮料是来自母山羊海德鲁姆的充足蜂蜜酒。英雄们不宴饮的时候，就以打斗为乐。他们每天骑马到法庭或田野里打斗，直到把对方撕成碎片。这是他们的消遣；但当用餐时间到来时，他们会从伤口中恢复过来并返回瓦尔哈拉享用盛宴。

女武神

女武神是好战的处女，骑在马上，手持头盔和长矛。奥丁渴望在瓦尔哈拉集结大量英雄，以便能够在最终决战到来的那一天与巨人会面，他派人前往各个战场，选择将被杀死的人。瓦尔基里是他的使者，他们名字的意思是“被杀者的选择者”。当他们骑马外出执行任务时，他们的盔甲会发出奇怪的闪烁光芒，在北方的天空中闪烁，形成人们所说的“北极光”或“北极光”。[33]格雷的颂歌《致命姐妹》就是建立在这种迷信的基础上的。

托尔与其他诸神

雷神索尔，奥丁的长子，是神与人中最强的，拥有三件非常珍贵的东西。第一个是锤子，当冰霜巨人和山岭巨人看到这把锤子被扔到空中时，他们都知道这将付出巨大的代价，因为它劈开了许多他们的父亲和亲属的头骨。当扔出去时，它会自动返回到他的手上。他拥有的第二件稀有物品叫做力量腰带。当他将它束在身上时，他的神力就会加倍。第三个，也非常珍贵，是他的铁手套，每当他有效地使用他的木槌时，他都会戴上它。从托尔的名字衍生出我们的单词“星期四”。

弗雷是最著名的众神之一。他掌管雨水、阳光和大地的一切果实。他的妹妹芙蕾雅是众女神中最吉祥的。她热爱音乐、春天和花朵，尤其喜欢精灵（精灵）。她非常喜欢爱情小调，所有有情人都应该引用她的歌。

布拉吉是诗神，他的歌记录了战士的事迹。他的妻子伊杜娜（Iduna）在一个盒子里放了一些苹果，当诸神感到年老时，只需品尝这些苹果就能再次年轻。

海姆达尔是众神的守望者，因此被放置在天堂的边缘，以防止巨人强行越过比弗罗斯特桥（彩虹）。他需要的睡眠比鸟少，无论白天还是黑夜，他都能看清周围一百英里的范围。他的耳朵如此敏锐，以至于听不见任何声音，因为他甚至能听到青草生长的声音和羊背上羊毛的声音。

洛基和他的后代

还有另一位神，被描述为众神的诽谤者和所有欺诈和恶作剧的策划者。他的名字叫洛基。他相貌英俊，身材魁梧，但脾气却非常善变，性情极其邪恶。他是巨人族的一员，但却强迫自己与众神为伍，并且似乎很乐意用自己的狡猾、机智和技巧将众神带入困境，并从危险中解救出来。洛基有三个孩子。第一个是狼芬里斯，第二个是米德加德巨蛇，第三个是海拉（死亡），众神并没有不知道这些怪物正在成长，有一天它们会给众神和人类带来许多邪恶。因此奥丁认为最好派人把它们带给他。当他们来的时候，他把蛇扔进了地球周围的深海里。但这个怪物已经长得如此巨大，以至于他用嘴叼着尾巴环绕了整个地球。他把海拉扔进了尼弗海姆，并赋予她统治九个世界或地区的权力，她将那些被派往她那里的人分配到这些世界或地区。也就是说，所有因病或年老而死亡的人。她的大厅叫做Elvidner。饥饿是她的桌子，饥饿是她的刀，拖延她的男人，缓慢是她的女仆，悬崖是她的门槛，照顾她的床，燃烧的痛苦构成了公寓的帷幔。她很容易被认出来，因为她的身体一半是肉色，一半是蓝色，而且她的面容极其严肃和令人生畏。狼芬里斯给众神带来了很大的麻烦，才成功地锁住了它。他打破了最坚固的枷锁，就像它们是用蜘蛛网制成的一样。最后众神派了一位使者去见山神，山神为他们制作了一条名为格莱普尼尔的锁链。它由六种东西构成，即猫的脚步声、女人的胡须、石头的根、鱼的呼吸、熊的神经（感觉）和鸟的唾沫。完成后，它像丝线一样光滑柔软。但当诸神要求狼用这条看似细小的丝带束缚自己时，他怀疑了他们的设计，担心它是由魔法制成的。因此，他只同意受束缚，条件是其中一位神将他的手放入他（芬里斯）的嘴中，以保证再次将束缚移除。只有提尔（战神）有足够的勇气做到这一点。但当狼发现自己无法挣脱脚镣，众神也不会释放他时，他咬掉了提尔的手，从此他就一直是一只手。托尔如何向山巨人支付他的工资

很久以前，当诸神正在建造他们的居所并且已经完成了米德加德和瓦尔哈拉时，一位技师来了，提议为他们建造一座坚固的居所，这样他们就可以完全安全地免受冰霜巨人和巨人的入侵。山的。但他要求奖励女神芙蕾雅以及太阳和月亮。众神屈服于他的条件，条件是他能在没有任何人帮助的情况下，在一个冬天的时间内独自完成整个工作。但如果在夏季的第一天还有什么事情没有完成，他就应该放弃约定的报酬。在得知这些条款后，技师规定他应该被允许使用他的马斯瓦迪尔法里，而根据洛基的建议，他获得了这一许可。于是，他在冬天的第一天开始工作，晚上让他的马为建筑取石。巨大的石头让诸神感到惊讶，他们清楚地看到，这匹马比他的主人多做了二分之一的辛苦工作。然而，他们的交易已经达成，并通过庄严的誓言得到确认，因为如果没有这些预防措施，巨人就不会认为自己在诸神之中是安全的，尤其是当托尔从他当时对邪恶恶魔进行的远征中归来时。

随着冬天的临近，这座建筑已经非常先进，舷墙足够高、足够大，使得这个地方坚不可摧。简而言之，距离夏天只剩三天了，唯一剩下的部分就是大门了。然后，众神坐在正义之位上，开始商议，互相询问谁可以建议把芙蕾雅送走，或者让巨人夺走太阳和月亮，让天空陷入黑暗。

他们一致认为，除了洛基这个众多邪恶行为的始作俑者之外，没有人能够提出如此糟糕的建议，如果他不设法阻止这位技师完成他的任务，他就应该被残忍地处死。获得规定的报酬。他们开始对洛基下手，洛基在惊恐中发誓，无论他付出什么代价，他都会如此处理事情，让这个人失去他的奖赏。那天晚上，当这个男人和斯瓦迪尔法里一起去砌石时，一匹母马突然从森林里跑出来，开始嘶鸣。那匹马挣脱了束缚，追着母马跑进了森林，这迫使那人也追着他的马，就这样一夜之间就过去了，所以到了黎明时分，工作并没有取得正常的进展。那人见自己无法完成任务，又恢复了自己的庞大身躯，众神此时清楚地看出，来到他们之中的，竟然是一位山岳巨人。他们感到不再受誓言的约束，于是向托尔求救，托尔立即跑去帮助他们，举起木槌，给工人发工资，不是用太阳和月亮，甚至没有把他送回约顿海姆，因为第一击就将巨人的头骨打碎，并将他一头扔进尼夫海姆。

锤子的恢复

很久以前，托尔的锤子落入了巨人Thrym的手中，他把它埋在约顿海姆的岩石下八英寻深的地方。托尔派洛基与索里姆谈判，但他只能取得巨人的承诺，如果芙蕾雅同意成为他的新娘，他就会恢复武器。洛基回来报告了他的任务结果，但爱神对将她的魅力赋予冰霜巨人之王的想法感到非常震惊。在这种紧急情况下，洛基说服托尔穿上芙蕾雅的衣服，陪他前往尤顿海姆。瑟里姆以应有的礼节接待了他蒙着面纱的新娘，但他非常惊讶地看到她的晚餐除了其他美味佳肴外，还吃了八条鲑鱼和一头成年牛，还喝了三吨蜂蜜酒。然而洛基向他保证，她已经八个漫长的夜晚没有尝过任何东西了，她非常渴望见到她的爱人，著名的尤顿海姆统治者。瑟里姆终于产生了好奇心，想要窥探新娘的面纱下面，但他惊恐地向后退了一步，质问为什么芙蕾雅的眼珠子会闪闪发光。洛基重复了同样的借口，巨人很满意。他命令把锤子拿来放在少女的腿上。于是，托尔脱掉了伪装，拿起了他那件令人生畏的武器，屠杀了索里姆和他所有的追随者。

弗雷还拥有一件奇妙的武器，这把剑，只要主人愿意，它本身就会在战场上造成屠杀。弗雷与这把剑分开了，但没有托尔那么幸运，再也没有找回它。事情是这样的：弗雷曾经登上奥丁的王座，从那里可以俯瞰整个宇宙，他环顾四周，看到远处在巨人的王国里有一位美丽的少女，他一看到她，突然感到悲伤，以至于从那一刻起，他无法入睡，无法喝水，也无法说话。最后，他的使者斯基尼尔从他那里得知了他的秘密，并承诺如果他愿意将剑作为奖励，就为他找到一位少女作为他的新娘。弗雷同意了，并把剑给了他，斯基尼尔踏上了旅程，并得到了少女的承诺，她将在九晚之内来到某个地方，并在那里与弗雷结婚。斯基尼尔报告了他的任务成功后，弗雷惊呼道：

“一夜漫长，
漫长的两个夜晚，
但我该如何坚持三个呢？
似乎更短
一个月对我来说经常
比这渴望时间的一半还要多。”

于是弗雷得到了所有女人中最美丽的格尔达为妻，但他失去了他的剑。

这个题为“斯基尼尔”的故事和紧邻它的前一个故事“斯里姆的奎达”将在朗费罗的《欧洲诗人与诗歌》中以诗意的方式讲述。

托尔造访巨人之国约顿海姆

有一天，托尔神带着他的仆人蒂阿尔菲，在洛基的陪伴下，踏上了前往巨人国度的旅程。蒂阿尔菲是所有人中脚步最快的。他拿着托尔的钱包，里面装着他们的食物。夜幕降临，他们发现自己置身于一片广阔的森林之中，他们四处寻找可以过夜的地方，最后来到了一个非常大的大厅，入口占据了整个森林一端的宽度。建筑。他们在这里躺下睡觉，但到了午夜时分，一场震动了整栋大楼的地震惊动了他们。托尔站了起来，呼吁他的同伴和他一起寻找安全的地方。在右边，他们发现了一个毗邻的房间，其他人进入了其中，但托尔仍然站在门口，手里拿着木槌，准备保护自己，无论发生什么。夜里传来可怕的呻吟声，黎明时托尔出去，发现他身边躺着一个巨大的巨人，他睡着了，打鼾的方式让他们惊慌失措。据说，托尔第一次不敢使用他的木槌，当巨人很快醒来时，托尔只问了他的名字就满足了。

“我的名字是斯克里米尔，”巨人说道，“但我不需要问你的名字，因为我知道你是托尔神。但我的手套怎么样了？”托尔随后意识到，他们一夜之间拿走的大厅是巨人的手套，而他的两个同伴避难的房间是拇指。斯克里米尔随后提议他们结伴出行，托尔同意了，他们坐下来吃早餐，吃完后，斯克里米尔把所有的食物都装进一个钱包里，扔在肩上，大步走在他们前面，带着步伐如此巨大，以至于他们很难跟上他。他们就这样走了一整天，黄昏时斯克里米尔为他们选了一处地方，在一棵大橡树下过夜。斯克里米尔然后告诉他们他会躺下睡觉。 “但是，请带上钱包，”他补充道，“准备你的晚餐。”

斯克里米尔很快就睡着了，并开始打鼾。但当托尔试图打开钱包时，他发现巨人把它绑得太紧了，连一个结都解不开。最后托尔勃然大怒，双手握住木槌，猛烈地敲击巨人的头部。斯克里米尔醒了，只是问是否有一片树叶落在他的头上，以及他们是否已经吃过晚饭并准备睡觉了。托尔回答说他们只是去睡觉，然后就走去躺在另一棵树下。但托尔那天晚上并没有睡着，当斯克里米尔再次打鼾时，声音如此之大，以至于森林里都回荡着噪音，他站了起来，抓住他的木槌，用力向巨人的头骨发射，在头骨上留下了深深的凹痕。斯克里米尔醒来，大喊道：“怎么了？这棵树上栖息着什么鸟吗？我感觉到树枝上的一些苔藓落在我的头上。托尔，你怎么样？”但托尔却匆匆离去，说自己刚刚醒来，现在才半夜，还有时间睡觉。然而，他决定，如果有机会进行第三次打击，他们之间的一切问题就应该解决了。天亮前不久，他发现斯克里米尔又睡着了，他再次抓起木槌，用力猛击，木槌强行进入巨人的头骨，一直到手柄。但斯克里米尔坐了起来，抚摸着脸颊说道：“一颗橡子掉到了我的头上。什么！托尔，你醒了吗？我想我们该起床穿衣服了；但现在距离你到达那个叫乌特加德的城市已经不远了。我听到你们互相窃窃私语，说我不是一个小人物；但如果你来到乌特加德，你会看到很多比我高得多的人。因此，我建议你，当你来到那里时，不要太过自负，因为乌特加德的追随者——洛基不会容忍这样的吹嘘。像你们这样的小家伙。你必须走向东的路，我的路向北，所以我们必须在这里分手。”

于是，他把钱包扔在肩上，转身离开他们，走进了森林，托尔不想阻止他，也不想再要求他的陪伴。

托尔和他的同伴继续赶路，中午时分，他们看到平原中央矗立着一座城市。它是如此之高，以至于他们不得不将脖子向后弯曲到肩膀上才能看到它的顶部。他们到了城里，看见一座大宫殿，大门敞开，就进去，见殿里的长凳上坐着许多身材魁梧的人。再往前走，他们来到国王乌特加德·洛基面前，向他致以崇高的敬意。国王轻蔑地微笑着看着他们，说道：“如果我没有猜错的话，那边那个小伙子一定是托尔神。”然后他对托尔说道：“也许你可能比你看上去的更强大。你和你的同伴认为自己擅长什么功绩，因为没有人在某些功绩或其他功绩上不胜过其他人，就不允许留在这里？”

“我所知道的壮举，”洛基说，“就是比其他人吃得更快，在这一点上，我已经准备好向这里任何可能选择与我竞争的人提供证据。”

“那确实是一项壮举，”乌特加德·洛基说道，“如果你履行了你的承诺，那么它就会立即得到检验。”

然后，他命令坐在长凳另一端的一名手下，名叫洛吉（Logi）的人上前，与洛基一试身手。大厅的地板上摆了一个装满肉的食槽，洛基站在一端，洛吉站在另一端，他们​​每个人都开始尽可能快地吃东西，直到他们在食槽中间相遇。但人们发现洛基只吃了肉，而他的对手则把肉和骨头都吃掉了，连水槽也吃掉了。因此，全公司都判定洛基已被击败。

乌特加德-洛基随后询问陪伴托尔的年轻人能做出什么壮举。蒂阿尔菲回答说，他将与任何可能与他匹敌的人进行一场比赛。国王认为，奔跑的技巧是值得夸耀的，但如果年轻人想赢得比赛，他必须表现出极大的敏捷性。然后他起身，和在场的所有人一起来到一片平原，那里有很好的跑步场地，他叫来了一个名叫胡吉的年轻人，吩咐他和蒂阿尔菲进行一场比赛。在第一场比赛中，Hugi 远远超过了他的竞争对手，以至于他转身在离出发点不远的地方遇见了他。随后他们又跑了第二次、第三次，但蒂亚菲也没有取得更好的成绩。

乌特加德-洛基随后问托尔他会选择哪些功绩来证明他如此出名的能力。托尔回答说他愿意与任何人进行一场饮酒比赛。乌特加德-洛基命令他的侍酒者带来大号角，当他的追随者以任何方式违反节日法规时，他们必须将其倒空。酒政将酒递给托尔后，乌特加德·洛基说道：“无论谁是一个善于饮酒的人，他都会一口气喝完那只牛角，虽然大多数人会喝两杯，但最微不足道的饮酒者也能喝三杯。”

托尔看着那只角，虽然有些长，但看起来尺寸并不特别大。然而，由于他非常口渴，他把它放在嘴唇上，屏住呼吸，尽可能地拉得尽可能长、尽可能深，这样他就不必再喝第二次了。但当他放下喇叭往里看时，他几乎感觉不到酒已经变少了。

托尔吸了一口气后，再次用尽全力去喝，但是当他从嘴里取出号角时，他觉得自己喝的水比以前少了很多，尽管现在可以拿着号角而不会洒出来。

“现在怎么样，托尔？”乌特加德·洛基说道； “你一定不能吝惜自己；如果你想在第三次吃水时将喇叭排干，你必须深深拉动；我必须说，如果你在其他方面没有表现出比我认为在这方面更伟大的能力，你在这里就不会被称为像在家里那样强大的人。

索尔充满了愤怒，再次将号角放在唇边，并尽力将其倒空。但一看，酒量只低了一点，于是他决定不再尝试，而是把号角还给了侍酒人。

“我现在清楚地看到，”乌特加德-洛基说道，“你并不像我们想象的那么坚强：但是你愿意尝试任何其他的壮举吗，尽管我认为你不太可能因此获得任何奖品。”

“你有什么新的提议？”托尔说。

“我们这里有一个非常琐碎的游戏，”乌特加德-洛基回答说，“我们除了孩子之外什么也不锻炼。它只是把我的猫从地上举起来；如果我没有观察到你绝不是我们所认为的那样，我也不敢向伟大的托尔提及这样的壮举。”

他话音刚落，一只灰色的大猫就跳到了大厅的地板上。托尔把手放在猫的肚子下，竭尽全力想把他从地板上抬起来，但猫弯着背，尽管托尔竭尽全力，但只有一只脚抬起来，看到托尔没有再做进一步的尝试。

“这次试验的结果，”乌特加德-洛基说，“正如我想象的那样。猫很大，但托尔与我们的人相比却很小。”

“不管你们怎么称呼我，”托尔回答道，“让我看看你们当中谁会来到这里，现在我正处于愤怒之中并与我摔跤。”

“我在这里没有看到任何人，”乌特加德-洛基看着坐在长凳上的人说道，“谁会认为与你们摔跤有失身份；不过，请有人把那个老太婆，我的护士艾丽叫到这里来，如果托尔愿意的话，就让托尔和她摔跤吧。她已经把许多不弱于这个托尔的人推倒在地。”

随后，一位没有牙齿的老妇人走进了大厅，乌特加德·洛基让她抓住托尔。故事很快就讲完了。托尔把老太婆抱得越紧，她就站得越稳。最后，经过一番激烈的挣扎，托尔开始失去平衡，最终被单膝跪倒。乌特加德-洛基随后告诉他们停止，并补充说托尔现在没有机会要求大厅里的任何人与他摔跤，而且时间也已经很晚了；于是他带托尔和他的同伴们到了座位上，他们兴高采烈地在那里度过了夜晚。

第二天一早，天一亮，托尔和他的同伴就穿好衣服，准备出发。乌特加德-洛基命人为他们准备了一张桌子，上面不乏食物和饮料。晚餐后，乌特加德·洛基带领他们来到城门口，临别时问托尔他的旅程结果如何，以及他是否遇到过比自己更强大的人。托尔告诉他，他无法否认，但他给自己带来了巨大的耻辱。 “最让我伤心的是，”他补充道，“你们会称我为无价值之人。”

“不，”乌特加德-洛基说，“我应该告诉你真相，现在你已经离开了这座城市，只要我还活着，并且按我的方式行事，你就永远不会再进入这座城市。而且，我实话实说，如果我事先知道你有如此大的力量，并且会让我如此接近一场巨大的灾难，我就不会允许你进入这个时候。那么你就知道我一直以来都被我的幻想欺骗了；首先是在森林里，我用铁丝把钱包绑起来，这样你就无法解开它。此后你用你的木槌打了我三下；第一个，虽然是最小的，如果它落在我身上，我的日子就会结束，但我溜到一边，你的打击落在山上，在那里你会发现三个峡谷，其中一个非常深。这些是你的木槌造成的痕迹。我在你与我的追随者的竞赛中使用了类似的幻象。在第一个例子中，洛基就像饥饿本身一样，吞噬了摆在他面前的所有东西，但洛基实际上只不过是火，因此他不仅吃肉，还吃肉食槽。与蒂亚菲竞争的胡吉是思想，蒂亚菲不可能跟上。当你轮到你试图清空号角时，我发誓，你确实做了一件如此奇妙的事，如果不是我亲眼所见，我永远不会相信它。因为那角的一端伸到了大海，你没有意识到这一点，但当你来到岸边时，你会意识到大海因你的吃水而下沉了多少。你确实完成了一项同样精彩的壮举，把猫举了起来，说实话，当我们看到他的一只爪子离开地板时，我们都惊恐万状，因为你把猫当成了一只猫。它实际上是环绕大地的米德加德巨蛇，他被你拉得如此之长，以至于他的长度不足以将它围在他的头和尾之间。你与埃利的摔跤也是一项最惊人的壮举，因为从来没有人，也永远不会有一个人，老年，因为事实上就是埃利，迟早不会屈服。但现在，当我们要分别时，让我告诉你，如果你不再靠近我，对我们双方都更好，因为如果你这样做，我将再次用其他幻象来保护自己，这样你就不会再靠近我了。与我较量，只会失去你的劳动，也得不到任何名誉。”

听到这些话，托尔愤怒地抓住了他的木槌，想向他发射，但乌特加德·洛基已经消失了，当托尔想返回城市摧毁它时，他发现周围除了一片青翠的平原什么也没有。 。

博德尔之死

善良的博德尔饱受可怕梦境的折磨，这些梦表明他的生命处于危险之中，他将这些梦境告诉了众神，众神决定召唤万事万物来避免他面临的危险。然后，奥丁的妻子弗丽嘉（Frigga）从火和水、铁和所有其他金属、石头、树木、疾病、野兽、鸟类、毒药和爬行动物中发誓，其中任何一个都不会伤害博德尔。奥丁对这一切并不满意，并对儿子的命运感到担忧，决定向女巨人先知安格博德咨询，她是芬里斯、海拉和米德加德巨蛇的母亲。她死了，奥丁被迫到海拉的领地寻找她。 《奥丁的降临》构成了格雷优美颂歌开头的主题——

“迅速崛起人类之王
并直接给他的煤黑色骏马装上了鞍”

但其他诸神觉得弗丽嘉所做的已经足够了，便以巴德尔为标记自娱自乐，有的向他投掷飞镖，有的用石头砸向他​​，还有的则用剑和战斧砍向他。因为无论他们做什么，他们都无法伤害他。这成为他们最喜欢的消遣，并被视为对博德尔的荣誉。但当洛基看到这一幕时，他为巴尔德没有受伤而感到非常恼火。因此，他化身为女性，前往弗丽嘉的宅邸芬萨里尔。那个女神看到那个假装的女人，就问她是否知道诸神在聚会上做什么。她回答说，他们向博德尔投掷飞镖和石头，却无法伤害他。 “是的，”弗丽嘉说，“无论是石头、棍棒还是其他任何东西都不能伤害巴德尔，因为我已经要求他们所有人发誓。” “什么，”女人惊呼道，“万物都发誓要饶恕博德尔吗？” “万物皆有，”弗丽嘉回答道，“除了生长在瓦尔哈拉殿堂东侧的一种小灌木，名叫槲寄生，我认为它还太年轻、太弱，不足以让它发誓。”

洛基一听，转身离开，恢复了本来的样子，砍掉了槲寄生，回到了众神聚集的地方。在那里，他发现霍杜尔站在一边，由于失明，没有参加体育运动，他走到他面前说：“你为什么不也向巴尔杜尔扔一些东西呢？”

“因为我是瞎子，”霍杜尔回答道，“看不到巴尔杜尔在哪里，而且也没有什么可扔的。”

“那么，来吧，”洛基说，“像其他人一样，把这根树枝扔向博德尔，向他表示敬意，我会把你的手臂伸向他站立的地方。”

霍杜尔接过槲寄生，在洛基的指引下，向博杜尔投去，博杜尔被刺穿了，倒地不起。无论是在诸神还是人类中，肯定没有见过比这更残暴的行为了。当博德尔倒下时，众神吓得说不出话来，然后他们面面相觑，都想对那位做出这件事的人下手，但出于对神的尊重，他们不得不推迟复仇。他们聚集的圣地。他们通过大声哀悼来发泄他们的悲伤。当诸神苏醒过来时，弗丽嘉询问诸神中谁希望获得她所有的爱和善意。 “为此，”她说道，“如果她愿意让博德尔返回阿斯加德，他是否应该骑马前往赫尔并向海拉提供赎金。”于是，奥丁之子、姓尼布尔的赫尔莫德提出愿意承担这次旅行。随后，奥丁的战马斯莱普尼尔（Sleipnir）有八条腿，能跑得比风还快，赫尔莫德骑上它，疾驰而去，执行他的任务。在九天和许多个夜晚的时间里，他骑马穿过漆黑的深谷，什么也看不见，直到到达吉约尔河，并在一座覆盖着闪闪发光的金子的桥上越过这条河。守桥的少女询问他的名字和血统，并告诉他前一天有五组死人骑过桥，并且没有他一个人那么摇晃桥。 “但是，”她补充道，“你身上并没有死亡的色彩；那么你为什么骑着马去赫尔呢？

“我骑马去赫尔，”赫尔莫德回答，“去寻找博德尔。你或许见过他从这条路经过吗？

她回答说：“博德尔已经骑过乔尔的桥，那边就是他通往死亡之所的路”

赫尔莫德继续他的旅程，直到他来到了赫尔的紧闭大门。他在这里下车，把马鞍勒紧，重新上马，马刺一下马刺，马就以一个巨大的跳跃跨过了大门，但没有碰到它。赫尔莫德随后骑马前往宫殿，发现他的兄弟博德尔坐在大厅里最尊贵的座位上，并在他的陪伴下过夜。第二天早上，他恳求海拉让博德尔和他一起骑马回家，并向她保证众神之间只会听到哀号。海拉回答说，现在应该检验博德尔是否像传说中那样受人爱戴。 “因此，”她补充道，“如果世间万物，无论是有生命的还是无生命的，都为他哭泣，那么他就会复活；但如果有任何事情反对他或拒绝哭泣，他将被关在地狱里。”

赫尔莫德随后骑马返回阿斯加德，讲述了他所听到和目睹的一切。

诸神为此派遣使者到世界各地乞求一切哭泣，以便将博德尔从地狱中解救出来。所有的东西都非常乐意地遵守这个要求，包括人类和其他生物，还有地球、石头、树木和金属，正如我们都看到这些东西在从寒冷的地方被带到寒冷的地方时哭泣一样。热的一个。当信使返回时，他们发现一个名叫索克特的老女巫坐在一个山洞里，并恳求她把博德尔从赫尔城里哭出来。但她回答说，

“索克特会哭泣
带着干涸的泪水
博德的捆火。
让海拉自己留着吧。”

人们强烈怀疑这个女巫就是洛基本人，他从未停止在神和人类之间作恶。因此，博德尔被阻止返回阿斯加德。[34]在朗费罗的诗中可以找到一首诗，题为
“泰格纳的德拉帕”，以巴尔德之死为主题。

诸神拾起了尸体，并将其带到了海边，停泊着博德的船“Hringham”，这艘船被认为是世界上最大的船。巴德尔的尸体被放在船上的葬礼堆上，他的妻子南娜见状悲痛欲绝，心碎不已，她的尸体与丈夫的尸体在同一堆上被烧毁。博德尔的葬礼上聚集了各种各样的人。首先到来的是奥丁，伴随着弗丽嘉、女武神和他的乌鸦。然后弗雷坐在野猪 Gullinbursti 拉的车里。海姆达尔骑着他的马古尔托普，芙蕾雅驾驶着她的猫拉的战车。在场的还有大量的冰霜巨人和山岭巨人。博德尔的马被带到堆里，并与他的主人一起被烧死在同样的火焰中。

但洛基并没有逃脱应有的惩罚。当他看到众神如此愤怒时，他逃到山上，为自己建造了一座有四扇门的小屋，这样他就可以看到每一个正在逼近的危险。他发明了一种捕鱼网，从他那个时代起，渔民就一直在使用这种网。但奥丁发现了他的藏身之处，众神聚集起来抓捕他。他见状，化作一条鲑鱼，藏在溪石之中。但众神收起了他的网，拖着小溪，洛基发现自己一定会被抓住，于是试图跳过网；但洛基却被困住了。但托尔抓住了他的尾巴并将其压缩，因此从那时起，鲑鱼的那部分就变得非常细而薄。他们用铁链把他绑起来，并把一条蛇悬在他的头上，蛇的毒液一滴一滴地落在他的脸上。他的妻子西古娜坐在他身边，用杯子接住掉落的水滴。但当她把它拿走倒空时，毒液落在洛基身上，这让他恐惧地嚎叫，并剧烈地扭曲他的身体，以至于整个大地都在震动，这产生了人们所说的地震。

精灵

《埃达》提到了另一类生物，其地位低于众神，但仍然拥有强大的力量。这些人被称为精灵。白精灵，也就是光之精灵，皮肤极其白皙，比太阳还要灿烂，穿着质地细腻透明的衣服。他们热爱光明，对人类友善，一般都是白皙可爱的孩子。他们的国家被称为阿尔夫海姆，是太阳神弗雷的领地，他们总是在太阳神弗雷的光芒下嬉戏。

黑色或暗夜精灵是一种不同的生物。丑陋的长鼻子矮人，呈肮脏的棕色，只在夜间出现，因为它们避开阳光，因为阳光是它们最致命的敌人，因为每当阳光照射到它们上时，它们就会立即变成石头。他们的语言是孤独的回声，他们的住所是地下洞穴和裂缝。他们被认为是由尤弥尔身体腐烂的肉产生的蛆虫而存在，后来被诸神赋予了人类的形态和伟大的理解力。他们因对自然神秘力量的了解以及他们雕刻和解释的符文而特别出名。他们是所有受造物中最熟练的工匠，擅长金属和木材的制作。他们最著名的作品包括托尔之锤，以及他们送给弗雷的船“Skidbladnir”，这艘船是如此之大，以至于可以容纳所有神灵及其战争和家庭用具，但它的制作工艺如此巧妙，以至于当折叠时它可以一起放入侧袋中。

诸神黄昏、众神的黄昏

北方诸国坚信，总有一天，所有可见的造物、瓦尔哈拉神殿和尼弗勒海姆的众神、尤顿海姆、阿尔夫海姆和米德加德的居民以及他们的住所都将被毁灭。然而，可怕的毁灭之日不会没有它的先行者。先是三冬，四角降雪，霜甚重，风凛冽，风雨交加，阳光不爽。三个这样的冬天将过去，而不会受到一个夏天的缓和。随后还会出现另外三个类似的冬天，在此期间，战争和不和将在宇宙中蔓延。大地本身将受到惊吓并开始颤抖，大海离开盆地，天空撕裂，大量人类死亡，空中的雄鹰将捕食他们仍在颤抖的身体。狼芬里斯现在将挣脱束缚，米德加德巨蛇将从海中的床上爬起来，而洛基则从束缚中解脱出来，加入众神的敌人行列。在普遍的破坏中，穆斯贝尔海姆的儿子们将在他们的领袖苏尔特尔的带领下冲锋陷阵，他们的前后都是火焰和熊熊的烈火。他们继续前行，越过 Bifrost 彩虹桥，桥在马蹄下断裂。但他们不顾它的陷落，直接前往名为维格丽德的战场。那里还修复了狼芬里斯、米德加德巨蛇、洛基和海拉的所有追随者以及冰霜巨人。

海姆达尔现在站起来，吹响吉亚拉号角，召集众神和英雄参加比赛。诸神在奥丁的带领下前进，奥丁与狼芬里斯交战，但成为怪物的受害者，而芬里斯又被奥丁的儿子维达尔杀死。托尔因杀死米德加德巨蛇而名声大噪，但他却因垂死的怪物向他吐出的毒液而后退并倒地身亡。洛基和海姆达尔相遇并战斗，直至双双被杀。众神和他们的敌人在战斗中倒下，苏尔特尔杀死了弗雷，向世界投掷火焰，整个宇宙被烧毁。太阳变得黯淡，大地沉入海洋，星星从天上坠落，时间不复存在。

此后，阿尔法杜尔（全能者）将使新天新地从海中升起。充满丰富供给的新地球将自然而然地结出果实，无需劳作或照顾。邪恶和苦难将不再为人所知，但神与人将幸福地生活在一起。

符文字母

在丹麦、挪威或瑞典旅行很远的地方，你不可能不遇到形状各异的巨石，这些巨石上刻有被称为符文的字符，乍一看与我们所知道的非常不同。这些字母几乎总是由直线组成，呈小棍状，无论是单独的还是组合在一起的。早期北方国家使用这种棍子来确定未来的事件。棍子被摇动，从它们形成的图形中得出一种占卜。

符文字符种类繁多。它们主要用于魔法目的。有毒的符文，或者他们所说的苦涩符文，被用来给敌人带来各种邪恶。有利避免了不幸。有些是药用的，有些是用来赢得爱情的，等等。后来，它们经常被用来铭文，目前已发现的有一千多处。该语言是哥特语的一种方言，称为挪威语，至今仍在冰岛使用。因此，这些铭文可以肯定地被阅读，但迄今为止，发现的铭文很少对历史有任何帮助。它们大多是墓碑上的墓志铭。

格雷关于“奥丁的后裔”的颂歌包含了使用符文字母进行咒语的暗示：

“面对北方的气候，
他三次追踪符文韵律；
三次发音，口音令人恐惧，
唤醒死者的惊心动魄的诗句，
直到从空旷的地面出来
缓缓地发出阴沉的声音。”

吟游诗人

诗人是这个国家的吟游诗人和诗人，是文明早期阶段所有社区中非常重要的一个阶层。他们是任何历史传说的保存者，他们的职责是通过排练，在他们的技能所能承受的诗歌和音乐的伴奏下，将一些智力上的满足与武士的粗俗盛宴混合在一起，以表现他们的功绩。活着或死去的英雄。诗人的作品被称为传奇，其中许多作品流传至今，包含有价值的历史材料，以及它们所涉及的当时社会状况的忠实描述。

冰岛

《埃达》和《传奇》是从冰岛传到我们这里的。以下摘录自卡莱尔关于“英雄与英雄崇拜”的讲座，生动地描述了我们所读到的奇怪故事的起源地区。让读者将其与古典神话之父希腊进行一下对比：

“在冰岛那个奇怪的岛屿上，地质学家说，被来自海底的火焰爆发，变成了一片贫瘠和熔岩的荒野，每年有好几个月的时间都被黑色风暴吞噬，但却带着一种狂野、闪闪发光的美丽。夏季，北大洋巍然耸立，冰雪覆盖，咆哮的间歇泉，硫磺池，可怕的火山裂缝，就像冰霜与火焰的荒芜、混乱的战场——在所有地方中，我们最少寻找文献或书面纪念物——这些事情的记录都被写下来了。在这片荒野的海岸边，有一片草地，牛群可以在那里生存，人类可以靠它们和海洋出产的食物为生。他们似乎都是富有诗意的人，内心深处有深刻的思想，并以音乐的方式表达了他们的思想。如果冰岛没有从海里冲出来，没有被北方人发现，那么我们将会失去很多东西！”

条顿人神话

在德国本土的神话中，奥丁的名字是沃坦（Wotan）；芙蕾雅和弗丽嘉被认为是同一个神，而且这些神通常在性格上不像斯堪的纳维亚神话中的神那样好战。然而，总体而言，条顿​​神话与北方民族的神话几乎相同。最显着的差异是由于气候条件的差异而对图例进行了修改。德国人更先进的社会状况在他们的神话中也很明显。

尼伯龙根的谎言

条顿族最古老的神话之一出现在伟大的民族史诗《尼伯龙根之歌》中，该史诗可以追溯到史前时代，当时沃坦、弗丽嘉、托尔、洛基和其他神灵在德国森林中受到崇拜。这部史诗分为两部分，第一部分讲述了荷兰最年轻的国王齐格弗里德如何前往沃尔姆斯，向勃艮第国王冈瑟的妹妹克里姆希尔德求婚。在与冈瑟在一起期间，齐格弗里德帮助勃艮第国王娶了岛屿女王布伦希尔德为妻。后者公开宣称，只有投矛、投石、跳跃能胜过她的，他才是她的丈夫。拥有隐形斗篷的齐格弗里德在这三场比赛中为冈瑟提供了帮助，布伦希尔德成为了他的妻子。作为对这些服务的回报，冈瑟将他的妹妹克里姆希尔德嫁给了齐格弗里德。

一段时间后，齐格弗里德和克里姆希尔德去看望冈瑟，此时两个女人就丈夫的相对优点发生了争执。克里姆希尔德为了颂扬齐格弗里德，吹嘘说冈瑟的胜利和他的妻子都是齐格弗里德的功劳。勃然大怒的布伦希尔德雇佣冈瑟的臣民哈根谋杀了齐格弗里德。哈根在史诗中是这样描述的：

“那位令人生畏的客人长得很好，身材也很结实；他的腿又长又强，胸膛又深又宽。他的头发曾经是黑褐色的，现在已经变成了灰色。最可怕的是他的面容，而他的步态却威风凛凛。”

——《尼伯龙根之歌》，第 1789 节。

德国浪漫主义的致命弱点刺伤了齐格弗里德的肩膀，当时不幸的荷兰国王在一次狩猎探险中弯腰喝小溪里的水。

史诗的第二部分讲述了十三年后克里姆希尔德如何与匈奴国王埃策尔结婚。一段时间后，她邀请勃艮第国王以及哈根和其他许多人来到她丈夫的宫廷。宴会厅里爆发了一场可怕的争吵，最终导致除了冈瑟和哈根之外的所有勃艮第人被屠杀。这两个人被俘虏并交给克里姆希尔德，克里姆希尔德亲手砍下了两人的头。由于这一血腥的复仇行为，克里姆希尔德本人被希尔德布兰德杀死，希尔德布兰德是一位魔术师和冠军，他在德国神话中的地位与希腊神话中的内斯特的地位相当。

尼伯龙根宝藏

这是齐格弗里德从尼伯龙根人那里获得的大量黄金和宝石的神话，尼伯龙根人是他征服的北方人民，他的国家被他自己的尼德兰王国纳贡。结婚后，齐格弗里德将宝藏送给了克里姆希尔德作为她的结婚礼物。齐格弗里德被谋杀后，哈根抓住了它，并将其秘密埋藏在莱茵河下游的洛赫姆，打算在未来的某个时期将其收回。当哈根被克里姆希尔德杀死后，这些宝藏就永远消失了。诗中这样描述了它的奇妙之处：

“四天四夜的时间里，有十二辆大货车
可以从山上运到盐海湾；
虽然每辆马车每天往返三次。

“它只是由宝石和黄金制成；
全世界都是从它那里买来的，并降低了价值，
我想，留下的痕迹不会比以前少。”

——《尼伯龙根之歌》，XIX。

拥有尼伯龙根宝藏的人被称为尼伯龙根人。
因此，挪威的某些人曾一度被称为“挪威人”。什么时候
齐格弗里德持有他获得“世界之王”称号的宝藏
尼伯龙根。”

瓦格纳的尼伯龙根戒指

理查德·瓦格纳的音乐剧《尼伯龙根指环》与德国古代史诗有一些相似之处，但它是一部完全独立的作品，源自各种古老的歌曲和传奇故事，剧作家将它们编织成一个伟大的和谐故事。主要来源是《沃尔松加传奇》，少量部分取自《老埃达》和《新埃达》，其他部分则取自《尼伯龙根之歌》、《埃克伦之歌》和其他条顿民间传说。

剧中一开始只有四个不同的种族：众神、巨人、矮人和仙女。后来，经过特殊的创造，出现了武神和英雄。众神是最高贵、最高等的种族，首先居住在山地草甸，后来居住在高处的瓦尔哈拉宫殿。巨人是一个伟大而强大的种族，但缺乏智慧；他们憎恶高贵的事物，与诸神的敌人；他们居住在靠近地球表面的洞穴中。矮人，或者说尼伯龙根，是粗鲁的黑色侏儒，他们憎恨善良，憎恨众神。他们狡猾狡猾，住在地底深处。仙女是纯洁无邪的水中生物。女武神是诸神的女儿，但又混杂着凡人的血统。他们从战场上收集死去的英雄，并将他们带到瓦尔哈拉。英雄们是众神的孩子，但也混杂着凡人的血统。他们注定最终会成为最高级的种族，并继承众神统治世界。

主要神是沃坦、洛基、唐纳和弗罗。主要巨人是法夫纳和法索尔特兄弟。主要的矮人是阿尔贝里奇和米姆兄弟，后来是阿尔贝里奇的儿子哈根。主要的仙女是莱茵河女儿、弗洛希尔达、沃格林达和韦尔贡达。女武神共有九人，其中以布伦希尔德为首。

瓦格纳的《指环王》故事可以概括如下：

莱茵河深处存在着一批黄金，由无辜的莱茵少女守护着。矮人阿尔贝里希发誓放弃获得这些黄金的愿望。他把它变成了一个魔法戒指。它给了他所有的力量，并通过它收集了大量的宝藏。

与此同时，众神之首沃坦（Wotan）委托巨人为他建造一座高贵的城堡瓦尔哈拉（Valhalla），从那里统治世界，并承诺支付青春与爱情女神芙蕾雅（Freya）的报酬。但众神发现他们无法饶恕芙蕾雅，因为他们的不朽青春依赖于她。洛基被要求提供替代品，并讲述了阿尔贝里奇的魔法戒指和其他宝藏。沃坦和洛基一起去了，他们从阿尔贝里奇那里偷走了戒指和黄金宝库，阿尔贝里奇诅咒了这枚戒指，并将诅咒降临到所有从此拥有它的人身上。诸神将戒指和宝藏送给了巨人，作为芙蕾雅的替代品。诅咒立刻开始。巨人法夫纳（Fafner）杀死了他的兄弟以获得一切，并化身为一条龙来守护他的财富。众神通过彩虹桥进入瓦尔哈拉殿堂。戏剧的第一部分“莱茵金”就此结束。

第二部分《瓦尔基里》讲述了沃坦仍然觊觎这枚戒指的故事。他自己无法接受，因为他已经向巨人做出了承诺。他言出必行。于是他想出了一个诡计来得到戒指。他将让一个英雄种族为他工作并收回戒指和宝藏。齐格蒙德和齐格林达是这个新种族的双胞胎孩子。西格林达小时候被带走，被迫与洪丁结婚。齐格蒙德来了，无意中违反了婚姻法，但却赢得了大剑Nothung和新娘。在婚姻女神弗里卡的要求下，女武神首领布伦希尔德受沃坦委托，要为他的罪孽而杀死他。她不服从并试图拯救他，但亨丁在沃坦的帮助下杀死了他。然而，即将生下自由英雄齐格弗里德的齐格琳达被布伦希尔德救下，并藏在森林里。布伦希尔德本人也受到了惩罚，被变成了凡人女人。她睡在山上，周围有一堵只有英雄才能穿透的火墙。

该剧继续讲述齐格弗里德的故事，以侏儒哑剧和齐格弗里德在铁匠铺里的场景开始。哑剧正在焊接一把剑，齐格弗里德鄙视他。哑剧向他讲述了他母亲西格琳达的一些事情，并向他展示了他父亲剑的碎片。沃坦来告诉米姆，只有无所畏惧的人才能重制这把剑。现在齐格弗里德无所畏惧，并很快重制了诺腾剑。沃坦和阿尔贝里奇来到龙法夫纳看守擂台的地方。两人都渴望，但谁也承受不了。不久，米姆来了，给齐格弗里德带来了那把强大的剑。法夫纳出来了，但齐格弗里德杀死了他。碰巧他的嘴唇接触到了龙血，他就听懂了鸟儿的语言。他们告诉他戒指的事。他去拿它。齐格弗里德现在拥有了这枚戒指，但它并没有给他带来任何快乐，只有邪恶。就是诅咒爱情，最终带来死亡。鸟儿还告诉他哑剧的背叛。他杀死了米梅。他渴望有一个人去爱。鸟儿告诉他有关沉睡的布伦希尔达的事，他找到了她并与她结婚。

《诸神的黄昏》在开头描绘了三个诺恩或命运编织和衡量命运之线的故事。这是结束的开始。齐格弗里德和布伦希尔德这对完美的搭档展现了他们一生的辉煌，以及男性和女性的辉煌理想。但齐格弗里德走向世界是为了取得英勇的业绩。他给了她尼伯龙根戒指作为他的爱的承诺直到他回来。与此同时，阿尔贝里希还生了一个儿子哈根，以实现对戒指的占有。他是吉比琼族的一部分，通过冈瑟和古特鲁恩工作，他们是他同父异母的兄弟和同父异母的姐妹。他们欺骗了齐格弗里德，给了他一份神奇的药水，让他忘记了布伦希尔德并爱上了古特鲁恩。在同样的咒语下，他提出将布伦希尔德娶为冈瑟的妻子。现在瓦尔哈拉充满了悲伤和绝望。众神害怕结局。沃坦低声说道：“但愿她能把戒指还给莱茵河。”但布伦希尔德不会放弃——现在这是她的爱的誓言。齐格弗里德来了，拿走了戒指，布伦希尔德现在被带到吉比琼斯的莱茵河城堡，但受咒语影响的齐格弗里德并不爱她。她将与冈瑟结婚。她愤怒地站起来谴责齐格弗里德。但在一次狩猎宴会上，齐格弗里德又喝了一口魔法，记起了一切，并在爱中呼唤布伦希尔德的名字时被哈根从背后一击杀死。然后就是结局了。齐格弗里德的尸体被烧在火葬堆上，响起了隆重的葬礼进行曲，布伦希尔德骑进火焰，为爱牺牲了自己；这枚戒指归莱茵河女儿们所有；旧世界——瓦尔哈拉诸神的激情和罪恶——被火焰烧毁，因为诸神违反了道德法则，觊觎权力而不是爱，贪图黄金而不是真理，因此必须灭亡。他们过去了，一个新的时代，爱与真理的统治已经开始。

那些希望研究《尼伯龙根之歌》和《尼伯龙根指环》传说之间的差异，以及瓦格纳如何使用他的古代材料的人，可以参考 WC Sawyer 教授的书《尼伯龙根之歌和尼伯龙根指环中的日耳曼传说》， ”，对此事进行了详细的处理。对于瓦格纳对《指环》进行非常彻底和清晰的分析，以及对音乐主题的研究，对于普通读者来说，可能没有什么比弗雷达·温沃斯的《声音史诗》更好的了。拉维尼亚克教授更具学术性的著作对于学习瓦格纳戏剧的学生来说是不可或缺的。 JL 韦斯顿的《瓦格纳戏剧传奇》中对来源和材料有很多富有启发性的评论。

德鲁伊

德鲁伊是高卢、英国和德国古代凯尔特民族中的牧师或宗教牧师。我们关于它们的信息是从希腊和罗马作家的注释中借来的，与仍然存在的威尔士和盖尔诗歌的遗迹相比。

德鲁伊结合了祭司、行政长官、学者和医生的职能。他们与凯尔特部落人民的关系，与印度的婆罗门、波斯的贤士和埃及的祭司分别与他们所尊敬的人民的关系非常相似。

德鲁伊教教导独一神的存在，他们给他起了个名字“Be'al”，凯尔特古物告诉我们，这个名字的意思是“万物的生命”或“万物之源”，这似乎与万物有密切的关系。腓尼基人的巴尔。使这种亲和力更加引人注目的是，德鲁伊和腓尼基人将太阳视为他们的至高神。火被视为神的象征。拉丁作家断言德鲁伊教也崇拜许多低等神。

他们不使用图像来代表他们崇拜的对象，也不在寺庙或任何类型的建筑物中举行神圣仪式。一圈石头（每块石头一般都很大），包围着直径二十英尺到三十码的区域，构成了他们的圣地。其中最著名的现存巨石阵是位于英格兰索尔兹伯里平原的巨石阵。

这些神圣的圆圈通常位于溪流附近，或者在小树林或广泛分布的橡树的阴影下。圆圈的中心矗立着克罗姆莱赫（Cromlech）或祭坛，这是一块大石头，以桌子的方式放置在其他石头上。德鲁伊也有他们的高地，这些高地是山顶上的大石头或石头堆。这些被称为凯恩斯，用于崇拜太阳象征下的神灵。

毫无疑问，德鲁伊向他们的神献祭。但他们提供的东西存在一些不确定性，而与他们的宗教仪式相关的仪式我们几乎一无所知。古典（罗马）作家肯定他们在重大场合献上活人祭品。至于在战争中取得成功或摆脱危险疾病的影响。凯撒详细描述了这样做的方式。 “它们的图像尺寸巨大，四肢由扭曲的树枝构成，里面充满了活生生的人。这些被点燃，里面的人被火焰包围。”凯尔特作家曾多次尝试动摇罗马历史学家对这一事实的证词，但都没有成功。

德鲁伊教每年庆祝两个节日。前者发生在五月初，被称为“贝尔塔尼”或“上帝之火”。这次，人们在某个高处点燃了一场大火，以纪念太阳，他们因此在冬季的阴郁和荒凉之后欢迎太阳的回归。直到今天，苏格兰部分地区圣灵降临节的名称中仍然保留着这种习俗的踪迹。沃尔特·斯科特爵士在《湖中女士》中使用了《船歌》中的这个词：

“我们的不是树苗，偶然在喷泉边播种，在
冬天贝尔坦会褪色；” ETC。

德鲁伊教的另一个盛大节日被称为“Samh'in”，即“和平之火”，在万圣节（11 月 1 日）举行，苏格兰高地至今仍保留这一名称。这次，德鲁伊在该地区最中心的地方举行了庄严的秘密会议，以履行其教团的司法职能。所有问题，无论是公共的还是私人的，所有针对人身或财产的犯罪行为，此时都提交给他们裁决。这些司法行为与某些迷信用法相结合，特别是点燃圣火，可以重新点燃该地区事先被小心翼翼扑灭的所有火灾。在基督教建立很久之后，这种在万圣节前夕点燃火的做法在英国岛屿上仍然存在。

除了这两个一年一度的重大节日外，德鲁伊还有观察满月的习惯，尤其是初六。他们在后者上寻找槲寄生，这种槲寄生生长在他们最喜欢的橡树上，他们赋予槲寄生以及橡树本身一种特殊的美德和神圣性。它的发现是一个欢乐和庄严崇拜的时刻。普林尼说：“他们用他们语言中的一个词来称呼它，意思是‘治愈一切’，在树下为盛宴和献祭做好了庄严的准备，他们把两只乳白色的公牛赶到那里，它们的角是然后是第一次绑定。然后，穿着白袍的牧师登上树，用金色镰刀砍下槲寄生。它被裹在白色的斗篷里，然后他们开始屠杀受害者，同时祈祷上帝能让他的礼物繁荣昌盛地赐给那些他所赐予的人。”他们喝了注入水的水，并认为它可以治疗所有疾病。槲寄生是一种寄生植物，并不总是也不经常在橡树上发现，因此，当发现它时，它就更加珍贵。

德鲁伊是道德和宗教的导师。他们的道德教义在威尔士吟游诗人三合会中保存了一个有价值的样本，从中我们可以看出，他们的道德正直观点总体上是公正的，他们持有并灌输了许多非常崇高和有价值的行为原则。他们也是他们那个时代和人民的科学和学问之人。他们是否熟悉字母一直存在争议，尽管在某种程度上他们熟悉字母的可能性很大。但可以肯定的是，他们没有将自己的教义、历史或诗歌写入文字。他们的教学是口头的，他们的文学（如果在这种情况下可以使用这个词的话）仅通过传统保存下来。但罗马作家承认，“他们非常关注自然的秩序和法则，研究并向他们所负责的年轻人传授许多关于星星及其运动、世界和土地的大小以及关于地球的知识。”不朽诸神的力量和力量。”

他们的历史由传统故事组成，歌颂他们祖先的英雄事迹。这些显然是诗歌，因此构成了诗歌以及德鲁伊历史的一部分。在奥西安的诗歌中，即使不是德鲁伊时代的实际作品，我们也可以认为是吟游诗人歌曲的忠实再现。

吟游诗人是德鲁伊等级制度的重要组成部分。一位作家彭南特说：“吟游诗人应该被赋予与灵感同等的力量。他们是所有过去公共和私人交易的口述历史学家。他们也是有成就的家谱学家，”等等。

彭南特详细描述了吟游诗人和吟游诗人的 Eisteddfods 会议，这些会议在威尔士举行了许多世纪，而在其他部门的德鲁伊教祭司已经灭绝很久之后。在这些会议上，只有有才华的吟游诗人才能排练他们的作品，只有技艺高超的吟游诗人才能表演。任命法官来决定他们各自的能力，并授予适当的学位。早期，法官由威尔士王子任命，征服威尔士后，则由英格兰国王任命。然而传统上，爱德华一世为了报复吟游诗人煽动人民反抗他的统治的影响，对他们进行了极其残酷的迫害。这一传统为诗人格雷提供了他著名颂歌《吟游诗人》的主题。

威尔士诗歌和音乐爱好者仍然偶尔以古老的名称举行聚会。赫曼斯夫人的诗中有一首是为 22 年 1822 月 XNUMX 日在伦敦举行的威尔士吟游诗人会议而写的。诗开头描述了这次古老的会议，其中包括以下几行诗：

“……永恒的悬崖之中，其力量无法抗拒
罗马人在他骄傲的时刻；
德鲁伊古老的克罗姆雷奇皱起眉头的地方，
橡树周围散发着神秘的低语，
那里聚集了昔日的灵感！在平面或高度上，
在太阳的脸上，在光的眼睛下，
向天堂展示每一个高贵的头颅，
站在圈子里，其他人都不敢踏足的地方。”

在尤利乌斯·凯撒统治下的罗马入侵时期，德鲁伊体系达到了顶峰。这些世界征服者对德鲁伊作为他们的主要敌人，表现出毫不留情的愤怒。德鲁伊在大陆各地都受到骚扰，撤退到安格尔西和爱奥那，在那里他们找到了一个季节的庇护所，并继续他们现在不光彩的仪式。

德鲁伊教在爱奥那岛以及邻近岛屿和大陆上保持着统治地位，直到高地使徒圣科伦巴 (St. Columba) 的到来取代了德鲁伊教，并推翻了他们的迷信，他首先带领该地区的居民皈依了基督教。

艾奥娜

爱奥那岛是不列颠群岛中最小的岛屿之一，靠近崎岖而贫瘠的海岸，周围环绕着危险的海洋，没有任何内部财富来源，在历史上，爱奥那岛作为文明和宗教的所在地，获得了不朽的地位。异教的黑暗笼罩着几乎整个北欧。洛纳或伊科姆基尔位于马尔岛的尽头，与马尔岛相隔半英里宽的海峡，距苏格兰大陆三十六英里。

科伦巴是爱尔兰人，与这片土地上的王子有着血缘关系。当时的爱尔兰是一片福音之光的土地，而苏格兰的西部和北部地区还沉浸在异教的黑暗之中。公元 563 年，哥伦巴与十二位朋友乘坐一艘覆盖着兽皮的柳条船，登上了洛纳岛。占领该岛的德鲁伊人极力阻止他定居，而邻近海岸的野蛮民族则以敌意骚扰他，并多次威胁他的生命。然而，凭借他的毅力和热情，他克服了一切反对，从国王那里获得了该岛的礼物，并在那里建立了一座修道院，并由他担任住持。他不知疲倦地致力于在苏格兰高地和岛屿上传播圣经知识，人们对他表示崇敬，尽管他不是主教，而只是长老和修道士，但整个省及其主教都受到服从。他和他的继任者。皮克特君主对他的智慧和价值印象深刻，给予他最高的荣誉，邻近的酋长和王子也寻求他的建议，并利用他的判断来解决他们的争端。

当哥伦巴登陆洛纳时，有十二名追随者陪伴着他，他将这些追随者组成了一个宗教团体，并以他为首。除此之外，根据情况需要，还会不时添加其他内容，以便始终保持原来的数量。他们的机构被称为寺院，上级被称为方丈，但这种制度与后来的寺院机构几乎没有共同之处。那些服从统治的人被称为“Culdees”，可能源自拉丁语“cultores Dei”——上帝的崇拜者。他们是一个由宗教人士组成的团体，其目的是在传播福音和教导青少年的共同工作中互相帮助，并通过联合崇拜活动保持自己的奉献热情。加入僧团时，成员们要宣誓，但这些誓言并不是修道院僧团通常强加的誓言，因为僧团中的三个誓言是：独身、贫穷和服从。第三。他们并不把自己束缚在贫穷之中；相反，他们似乎辛勤工作，为自己和依赖他们的人谋取舒适的生活。他们也允许结婚，而且他们中的大多数人似乎都进入了这种状态。诚然，他们的妻子不被允许与他们一起住在该机构，但他们在邻近的地方分配了一套住所。洛纳附近有一座岛屿，至今仍被称为“Eilen nam ban”，即妇女之岛，她们的丈夫似乎曾与她们住在一起，除非因职责需要她们到学校或避难所。

坎贝尔在他的诗《Reullura》中提到了爱奥那岛的已婚僧侣：

“……纯粹的库尔德人
阿尔宾最早的上帝祭司，
还没有成为她海洋中的一座岛屿
撒克逊僧侣的脚被践踏，
很久以前她的教士就因偏执而
被禁止打神圣婚姻的领带。
就在那时，远近闻名的奥德，
在洛纳以力量宣讲道，
还有美丽之星雷鲁拉（Reullura），
是他凉亭的伙伴。”

摩尔在他的一首《爱尔兰旋律》中讲述了圣塞纳努斯和一位在岛上寻求庇护但遭到拒绝的女士的传说：

“噢，赶快离开这座神圣的岛屿，
邪恶的吠叫，清晨的微笑；
因为在你的甲板上，尽管黑暗，
我看到了一个女性的身影；
我已经向这神圣的草皮发誓
决不能被女人踩到。”

在这些方面和其他方面，库尔德人背离了罗马教会的既定规则，因此被视为异端。结果是，随着后者力量的增强，库迪人的力量被削弱了。然而，直到十三世纪，库尔德人的社区才被镇压，成员也被驱散。他们仍然继续作为个人劳动，尽最大努力抵抗教皇篡权的入侵，直到宗教改革的曙光照耀世界。

爱奥那岛位于西部海域，容易受到挪威和丹麦漫游者的袭击，这些漫游者在这些海域出没，它被反复掠夺，其住宅被烧毁，和平的居民被杀害。这些不利的环境导致其逐渐衰落，而苏格兰各地库迪人的颠覆又加速了这一衰落。在波佩里的统治下，该岛成为一座女修道院的所在地，其废墟至今仍可见。在宗教改革时期，修道院被拆除后，修女们被允许留下来，住在社区里。

爱奥那岛现在是旅行者的主要目的地，因为那里发现了大量的教会和坟墓遗迹。其中最主要的是大教堂或修道院教堂和修道院教堂。除了这些古代教会的遗迹外，还有一些更早的遗迹，表明岛上存在着与基督教不同的崇拜和信仰形式。这些是在不同地区发现的圆形石碑，似乎起源于德鲁伊教。正是在提到所有这些古代宗教的遗迹时，约翰逊感叹道：“如果一个人的爱国主义不会在马拉松平原上获得力量，或者他的虔诚不会在洛纳的废墟中变得更加温暖，那么这个人是不值得羡慕的。”

在《群岛之王》中，斯科特将洛纳岛上的教堂与对面的斯塔法洞穴进行了美丽的对比：

“大自然本身似乎会提高
一位牧师对她的造物主的赞美！
不适合用于更卑鄙的用途上升
她的柱子，或者她的拱门弯曲；
也没有一个不那么庄严的主题讲述
那汹涌澎湃的潮起潮落，
仍然在每一次可怕的停顿之间，
从高高的穹顶得出答案，
以不同的音调，拉长而高亢，
那是在嘲笑管风琴的旋律；
Nor doth its entrance front in vain
To old Iona’s holy fane,
That Nature’s voice might seem to say,
Well hast thou done, frail child of clay!
Thy humble powers that stately shrine
Tasked high and hard—but witness mine!”

On the decline of the Roman power, about five centuries after Christ, the countries of Northern Europe were left almost destitute of a national government. Numerous chiefs, more or less powerful, held local sway, as far as each could enforce his dominion, and occasionally those chiefs would unite for a common object; but, in ordinary times, they were much more likely to be found in hostility to one another. In such a state of things the rights of the humbler classes of society were at the mercy of every assailant; and it is plain that, without some check upon the lawless power of the chiefs, society must have relapsed into barbarism. Such checks were found, first, in the rivalry of the chiefs themselves, whose mutual jealousy made them restraints upon one another; secondly, in the influence of the Church, which, by every motive, pure or selfish, was pledged to interpose for the protection of the weak; and lastly, in the generosity and sense of right which, however crushed under the weight of passion and selfishness, dwell naturally in the heart of man. From this last source sprang Chivalry, which framed an ideal of the heroic character, combining invincible strength and valor, justice, modesty, loyalty to superiors, courtesy to equals, compassion to weakness, and devotedness to the Church; an ideal which, if never met with in real life, was acknowledged by all as the highest model for emulation.

The word “Chivalry” is derived from the French “cheval,” a horse. The word “knight,” which originally meant boy or servant, was particularly applied to a young man after he was admitted to the privilege of bearing arms. This privilege was conferred on youths of family and fortune only, for the mass of the people were not furnished with arms. The knight then was a mounted warrior, a man of rank, or in the service and maintenance of some man of rank, generally possessing some independent means of support, but often relying mainly on the gratitude of those whom he served for the supply of his wants, and often, no doubt, resorting to the means which power confers on its possessor.

In time of war the knight was, with his followers, in the camp of his sovereign, or commanding in the field, or holding some castle for him. In time of peace he was often in attendance at his sovereign’s court, gracing with his presence the banquets and tournaments with which princes cheered their leisure. Or he was traversing the country in quest of adventure, professedly bent on redressing wrongs and enforcing rights, sometimes in fulfilment of some vow of religion or of love. These wandering knights were called knights-errant; they were welcome guests in the castles of the nobility, for their presence enlivened the dulness of those secluded abodes, and they were received with honor at the abbeys, which often owed the best part of their revenues to the patronage of the knights; but if no castle or abbey or hermitage were at hand their hardy habits made it not intolerable to them to lie down, supperless, at the foot of some wayside cross, and pass the night.

It is evident that the justice administered by such an instrumentality must have been of the rudest description. The force whose legitimate purpose was to redress wrongs might easily be perverted to inflict them Accordingly, we find in the romances, which, however fabulous in facts, are true as pictures of manners, that a knightly castle was often a terror to the surrounding country; that is, dungeons were full of oppressed knights and ladies, waiting for some champion to appear to set them free, or to be ransomed with money; that hosts of idle retainers were ever at hand to enforce their lord’s behests, regardless of law and justice; and that the rights of the unarmed multitude were of no account. This contrariety of fact and theory in regard to chivalry will account for the opposite impressions which exist in men’s minds respecting it. While it has been the theme of the most fervid eulogium on the one part, it has been as eagerly denounced on the other. On a cool estimate, we cannot but see reason to congratulate ourselves that it has given way in modern times to the reign of law, and that the civil magistrate, if less picturesque, has taken the place of the mailed champion.

The Training of a Knight

The preparatory education of candidates for knighthood was long and arduous. At seven years of age the noble children were usually removed from their father’s house to the court or castle of their future patron, and placed under the care of a governor, who taught them the first articles of religion, and respect and reverence for their lords and superiors, and initiated them in the ceremonies of a court. They were called pages, valets, or varlets, and their office was to carve, to wait at table, and to perform other menial services, which were not then considered humiliating. In their leisure hours they learned to dance and play on the harp, were instructed in the mysteries of woods and rivers, that is, in hunting, falconry, and fishing, and in wrestling, tilting with spears, and performing other military exercises on horseback. At fourteen the page became an esquire, and began a course of severer and more laborious exercises. To vault on a horse in heavy armor; to run, to scale walls, and spring over ditches, under the same encumbrance; to wrestle, to wield the battle-axe for a length of time, without raising the visor or taking breath; to perform with grace all the evolutions of horsemanship,—were necessary preliminaries to the reception of knighthood, which was usually conferred at twenty-one years of age, when the young man’s education was supposed to be completed. In the meantime, the esquires were no less assiduously engaged in acquiring all those refinements of civility which formed what was in that age called courtesy. The same castle in which they received their education was usually thronged with young persons of the other sex, and the page was encouraged, at a very early age, to select some lady of the court as the mistress of his heart, to whom he was taught to refer all his sentiments, words, and actions. The service of his mistress was the glory and occupation of a knight, and her smiles, bestowed at once by affection and gratitude, were held out as the recompense of his well-directed valor. Religion united its influence with those of loyalty and love, and the order of knighthood, endowed with all the sanctity and religious awe that attended the priesthood, became an object of ambition to the greatest sovereigns.

The ceremonies of initiation were peculiarly solemn. After undergoing a severe fast, and spending whole nights in prayer, the candidate confessed, and received the sacrament. He then clothed himself in snow-white garments, and repaired to the church, or the hall, where the ceremony was to take place, bearing a knightly sword suspended from his neck, which the officiating priest took and blessed, and then returned to him. The candidate then, with folded arms, knelt before the presiding knight, who, after some questions about his motives and purposes in requesting admission, administered to him the oaths, and granted his request. Some of the knights present, sometimes even ladies and damsels, handed to him in succession the spurs, the coat of mail, the hauberk, the armlet and gauntlet, and lastly he girded on the sword. He then knelt again before the president, who, rising from his seat, gave him the “accolade,” which consisted of three strokes, with the flat of a sword, on the shoulder or neck of the candidate, accompanied by the words: “In the name of God, of St. Michael, and St. George, I make thee a knight; be valiant, courteous, and loyal!” Then he received his helmet, his shield, and spear; and thus the investiture ended.

Freemen, Villains, Serfs, and Clerks

The other classes of which society was composed were, first, FREEMEN, owners of small portions of land independent, though they sometimes voluntarily became the vassals of their more opulent neighbors, whose power was necessary for their protection. The other two classes, which were much the most numerous, were either serfs or villains, both of which were slaves.

The SERFS were in the lowest state of slavery. All the fruits of their labor belonged to the master whose land they tilled, and by whom they were fed and clothed.

The VILLIANS were less degraded. Their situation seems to have resembled that of the Russian peasants at this day. Like the serfs, they were attached to the soil, and were transferred with it by purchase; but they paid only a fixed rent to the landlord, and had a right to dispose of any surplus that might arise from their industry.

The term “clerk” was of very extensive import. It comprehended, originally, such persons only as belonged to the clergy, or clerical order, among whom, however, might be found a multitude of married persons, artisans or others. But in process of time a much wider rule was established; every one that could read being accounted a clerk or clericus, and allowed the “benefit of clergy,” that is, exemption from capital and some other forms of punishment, in case of crime.

锦标赛

The splendid pageant of a tournament between knights, its gaudy accessories and trappings, and its chivalrous regulations, originated in France. Tournaments were repeatedly condemned by the Church, probably on account of the quarrels they led to, and the often fatal results. The “joust,” or “just,” was different from the tournament. In these, knights fought with their lances, and their object was to unhorse their antagonists; while the tournaments were intended for a display of skill and address in evolutions, and with various weapons, and greater courtesy was observed in the regulations. By these it was forbidden to wound the horse, or to use the point of the sword, or to strike a knight after he had raised his vizor, or unlaced his helmet. The ladies encouraged their knights in these exercises; they bestowed prizes, and the conqueror’s feats were the theme of romance and song. The stands overlooking the ground, of course, were varied in the shapes of towers, terraces, galleries, and pensile gardens, magnificently decorated with tapestry, pavilions, and banners. Every combatant proclaimed the name of the lady whose servant d’amour he was. He was wont to look up to the stand, and strengthen his courage by the sight of the bright eyes that were raining their influence on him from above. The knights also carried FAVORS, consisting of scarfs, veils, sleeves, bracelets, clasps,—in short, some piece of female habiliment,—attached to their helmets, shields, or armor. If, during the combat, any of these appendages were dropped or lost the fair donor would at times send her knight new ones, especially if pleased with his exertions.

锁甲

Mail armor, of which the hauberk is a species, and which derived its name from maille, a French word for MESH, was of two kinds, PLATE or SCALE mail, and CHAIN mail. It was originally used for the protection of the body only, reaching no lower than the knees. It was shaped like a carter’s frock, and bound round the waist by a girdle. Gloves and hose of mail were afterwards added, and a hood, which, when necessary, was drawn over the head, leaving the face alone uncovered. To protect the skin from the impression of the iron network of the chain mail, a quilted lining was employed, which, however, was insufficient, and the bath was used to efface the marks of the armor.

The hauberk was a complete covering of double chain mail. Some hauberks opened before, like a modern coat; others were closed like a shirt.

The chain mail of which they were composed was formed by a number of iron links, each link having others inserted into it, the whole exhibiting a kind of network, of which (in some instances at least) the meshes were circular, with each link separately riveted.

The hauberk was proof against the most violent blow of a sword; but the point of a lance might pass through the meshes, or drive the iron into the flesh. To guard against this, a thick and well- stuffed doublet was worn underneath, under which was commonly added an iron breastplate. Hence the expression “to pierce both plate and mail,” so common in the earlier poets.

Mail armor continued in general use till about the year 1300, when it was gradually supplanted by plate armor, or suits consisting of pieces or plates of solid iron, adapted to the different parts of the body.

Shields were generally made of wood, covered with leather, or some similar substance. To secure them, in some sort, from being cut through by the sword, they were surrounded with a hoop of metal.

头盔

The helmet was composed of two parts: the HEADPIECE, which was strengthened within by several circles of iron, and the VISOR, which, as the name implies, was a sort of grating to see through, so contrived as, by sliding in a groove, or turning on a pivot, to be raised or lowered at pleasure. Some helmets had a further improvement called a BEVER, from the Italian bevere, to drink. The VENTAYLE, or “air-passage,” is another name for this.

To secure the helmet from the possibility of falling, or of being struck off, it was tied by several laces to the meshes of the hauberk; consequently, when a knight was overthrown it was necessary to undo these laces before he could be put to death; though this was sometimes effected by lifting up the skirt of the hauberk, and stabbing him in the belly. The instrument of death was a small dagger, worn on the right side.

小说

In ages when there were no books, when noblemen and princes themselves could not read, history or tradition was monopolized by the story-tellers. They inherited, generation after generation, the wondrous tales of their predecessors, which they retailed to the public with such additions of their own as their acquired information supplied them with. Anachronisms became of course very common, and errors of geography, of locality, of manners, equally so. Spurious genealogies were invented, in which Arthur and his knights, and Charlemagne and his paladins, were made to derive their descent from Aeneas, Hector, or some other of the Trojan heroes.

With regard to the derivation of the word “Romance,” we trace it to the fact that the dialects which were formed in Western Europe, from the admixture of Latin with the native languages, took the name of Langue Romaine. The French language was divided into two dialects. The river Loire was their common boundary. In the provinces to the south of that river the affirmative, YES, was expressed by the word oc; in the north it was called oil (oui); and hence Dante has named the southern language langue d’oc, and the northern langue d’oil. The latter, which was carried into England by the Normans, and is the origin of the present French, may be called the French Romane; and the former the Provencal, or Provencial Romane, because it was spoken by the people of Provence and Languedoc, southern provinces of France.

These dialects were soon distinguished by very opposite characters. A soft and enervating climate, a spirit of commerce encouraged by an easy communication with other maritime nations, the influx of wealth, and a more settled government, may have tended to polish and soften the diction of the Provencials, whose poets, under the name of Troubadours, were the masters of the Italians, and particularly of Petrarch. Their favorite pieces were Sirventes (satirical pieces), love-songs, and Tensons, which last were a sort of dialogue in verse between two poets, who questioned each other on some refined points of loves’ casuistry. It seems the Provencials were so completely absorbed in these delicate questions as to neglect and despise the composition of fabulous histories of adventure and knighthood, which they left in a great measure to the poets of the northern part of the kingdom, called Trouveurs.

At a time when chivalry excited universal admiration, and when all the efforts of that chivalry were directed against the enemies of religion, it was natural that literature should receive the same impulse, and that history and fable should be ransacked to furnish examples of courage and piety that might excite increased emulation. Arthur and Charlemagne were the two heroes selected for this purpose. Arthur’s pretensions were that he was a brave, though not always a successful warrior; he had withstood with great resolution the arms of the infidels, that is to say of the Saxons, and his memory was held in the highest estimation by his countrymen, the Britons, who carried with them into Wales, and into the kindred country of Armorica, or Brittany, the memory of his exploits, which their national vanity insensibly exaggerated, till the little prince of the Silures (South Wales) was magnified into the conqueror of England, of Gaul, and of the greater part of Europe. His genealogy was gradually carried up to an imaginary Brutus, and to the period of the Trojan war, and a sort of chronicle was composed in the Welsh, or Armorican language, which, under the pompous title of the “History of the Kings of Britain,” was translated into Latin by Geoffrey of Monmouth, about the year 1150. The Welsh critics consider the material of the work to have been an older history, written by St. Talian, Bishop of St. Asaph, in the seventh century.

As to Charlemagne, though his real merits were sufficient to secure his immortality, it was impossible that his HOLY WARS against the Saracens should not become a favorite topic for fiction. Accordingly, the fabulous history of these wars was written, probably towards the close of the eleventh century, by a monk, who, thinking it would add dignity to his work to embellish it with a contemporary name, boldly ascribed it to Turpin, who was Archbishop of Rheims about the year 773.

These fabulous chronicles were for a while imprisoned in languages of local only or of professional access. Both Turpin and Geoffrey might indeed be read by ecclesiastics, the sole Latin scholars of those times, and Geoffrey’s British original would contribute to the gratification of Welshmen; but neither could become extensively popular till translated into some language of general and familiar use. The Anglo-Saxon was at that time used only by a conquered and enslaved nation; the Spanish and Italian languages were not yet formed; the Norman French alone was spoken and understood by the nobility in the greater part of Europe, and therefore was a proper vehicle for the new mode of composition.

That language was fashionable in England before the Conquest, and became, after that event, the only language used at the court of London. As the various conquests of the Normans, and the enthusiastic valor of that extraordinary people, had familiarized the minds of men with the most marvellous events, their poets eagerly seized the fabulous legends of Arthur and Charlemagne, translated them into the language of the day, and soon produced a variety of imitations. The adventures attributed to these monarchs, and to their distinguished warriors, together with those of many other traditionary or imaginary heroes, composed by degrees that formidable body of marvellous histories which, from the dialect in which the most ancient of them were written, were called “Romances.”

韵律浪漫曲

The earliest form in which romances appear is that of a rude kind of verse. In this form it is supposed they were sung or recited at the feasts of princes and knights in their baronial halls. The following specimen of the language and style of Robert de Beauvais, who flourished in 1257, is from Sir Walter Scott’s “Introduction to the Romance of Sir Tristrem”:

“Ne voil pas emmi dire,
Ici diverse la matyere,
Entre ceus qui solent cunter,
E de le cunte Tristran parler.”

“I will not say too much about it,
So diverse is the matter,
Among those who are in the habit of telling
And relating the story of Tristran.”

This is a specimen of the language which was in use among the nobility of England, in the ages immediately after the Norman conquest. The following is a specimen of the English that existed at the same time, among the common people. Robert de Brunne, speaking of his Latin and French authorities, says:

“Als thai haf wryten and sayd
Haf I alle in myn Inglis layd,
In symple speche as I couthe,
That is lightest in manne’s mouthe.
Alle for the luf of symple men,
That strange Inglis cannot ken.”

The “strange Inglis” being the language of the previous specimen.

It was not till toward the end of the thirteenth century that the PROSE romances began to appear. These works generally began with disowning and discrediting the sources from which in reality they drew their sole information. As every romance was supposed to be a real history, the compilers of those in prose would have forfeited all credit if they had announced themselves as mere copyists of the minstrels. On the contrary, they usually state that, as the popular poems upon the matter in question contain many “lesings,” they had been induced to translate the real and true history of such or such a knight from the original Latin or Greek, or from the ancient British or Armorican authorities, which authorities existed only in their own assertion.

A specimen of the style of the prose romances may be found in the following extract from one of the most celebrated and latest of them, the “Morte d’Arthur” of Sir Thomas Mallory, of the date of 1485. From this work much of the contents of this volume has been drawn, with as close an adherence to the original style as was thought consistent with our plan of adapting our narrative to the taste of modern readers.

“It is notoyrly knowen thorugh the vnyuersal world that there been ix worthy and the best that ever were. That is to wete thre paynyms, three Jewes, and three crysten men. As for the paynyms, they were tofore the Incarnacyon of Cryst whiche were named, the fyrst Hector of Troye; the second Alysaunder the grete, and the thyrd Julyus Cezar, Emperour of Rome, of whome thystoryes ben wel kno and had. And as for the thre Jewes whyche also were tofore thyncarnacyon of our Lord, of whome the fyrst was Duc Josue, whyche brought the chyldren of Israhel into the londe of beheste; the second Dauyd, kyng of Jherusalem, and the thyrd Judas Machabeus; of these thre the byble reherceth al theyr noble hystoryes and actes. And sythe the sayd Incarnacyon haue ben the noble crysten men stalled and admytted thorugh the vnyuersal world to the nombre of the ix beste and worthy, of whome was fyrst the noble Arthur, whose noble actes I purpose to wryte in this person book here folowyng. The second was Charlemayn, or Charles the grete, of whome thystorye is had in many places both in frensshe and englysshe, and the thyrd and last was Godefray of boloyn.”

The illustrious poet, Milton, in his “History of England,” is the author whom we chiefly follow in this chapter.

According to the earliest accounts, Albion, a giant, and son of
Neptune, a contemporary of Hercules, ruled over the island, to
which he gave his name. Presuming to oppose the progress of
Hercules in his western march, he was slain by him.

Another story is that Histion, the son of Japhet, the son of Noah, had four sons, Francus, Romanus, Alemannus, and Britto, from whom descended the French, Roman, German, and British people.

Rejecting these and other like stories, Milton gives more regard to the story of Brutus, the Trojan, which, he says, is supported by “descents of ancestry long continued, laws and exploits not plainly seeming to be borrowed or devised, which on the common belief have wrought no small impression; defended by many, denied utterly by few.” The principal authority is Geoffrey of Monmouth, whose history, written in the twelfth century, purports to be a translation of a history of Britain brought over from the opposite shore of France, which, under the name of Brittany, was chiefly peopled by natives of Britain who, from time to time, emigrated thither, driven from their own country by the inroads of the Picts and Scots. According to this authority, Brutus was the son of Silvius, and he of Ascanius, the son of Aeneas, whose flight from Troy and settlement in Italy are narrated in “Stories of Gods and Heroes.”

Brutus, at the age of fifteen, attending his father to the chase, unfortunately killed him with an arrow. Banished therefor by his kindred, he sought refuge in that part of Greece where Helenus, with a band of Trojan exiles, had become established. But Helenus was now dead and the descendants of the Trojans were oppressed by Pandrasus, the king of the country. Brutus, being kindly received among them, so throve in virtue and in arms as to win the regard of all the eminent of the land above all others of his age. In consequence of this the Trojans not only began to hope, but secretly to persuade him to lead them the way to liberty. To encourage them, they had the promise of help from Assaracus, a noble Greek youth, whose mother was a Trojan. He had suffered wrong at the hands of the king, and for that reason the more willingly cast in his lost with the Trojan exiles.

Choosing a fit opportunity, Brutus with his countrymen withdrew to the woods and hills, as the safest place from which to expostulate, and sent this message to Pandrasus: “That the Trojans, holding it unworthy of their ancestors to serve in a foreign land, had retreated to the woods, choosing rather a savage life than a slavish one. If that displeased him, then, with his leave, they would depart to some other country.” Pandrasus, not expecting so bold a message from the sons of captives, went in pursuit of them, with such forces as he could gather, and met them on the banks of the Achelous, where Brutus got the advantage, and took the king captive. The result was, that the terms demanded by the Trojans were granted; the king gave his daughter Imogen in marriage to Brutus, and furnished shipping, money, and fit provision for them all to depart from the land.

The marriage being solemnized, and shipping from all parts got together, the Trojans, in a fleet of no less than three hundred and twenty sail, betook themselves to the sea. On the third day they arrived at a certain island, which they found destitute of inhabitants, though there were appearances of former habitation, and among the ruins a temple of Diana. Brutus, here performing sacrifice at the shrine of the goddess, invoked an oracle for his guidance, in these lines:

“Goddess of shades, and huntress, who at will
Walk’st on the rolling sphere, and through the deep;
On thy third realm, the earth, look now, and tell
What land, what seat of rest, thou bidd’st me seek;
What certain seat where I may worship thee
For aye, with temples vowed and virgin choirs.”

To whom, sleeping before the altar, Diana in a vision thus answered:

“Brutus! far to the west, in the ocean wide,
Beyond the realm of Gaul, a land there lies,
Seagirt it lies, where giants dwelt of old;
Now, void, it fits thy people: thither bend
Thy course; there shalt thou find a lasting seat;
There to thy sons another Troy shall rise,
And kings be born of thee, whose dreaded might
Shall awe the world, and conquer nations bold”

Brutus, guided now, as he thought, by divine direction, sped his course towards the west, and, arriving at a place on the Tyrrhene sea, found there the descendants of certain Trojans who, with Antenor, came into Italy, of whom Corineus was the chief. These joined company, and the ships pursued their way till they arrived at the mouth of the river Loire, in France, where the expedition landed, with a view to a settlement, but were so rudely assaulted by the inhabitants that they put to sea again, and arrived at a part of the coast of Britain, now called Devonshire, where Brutus felt convinced that he had found the promised end of his voyage, landed his colony, and took possession.

The island, not yet Britain, but Albion, was in a manner desert and inhospitable, occupied only by a remnant of the giant race whose excessive force and tyranny had destroyed the others. The Trojans encountered these and extirpated them, Corineus, in particular, signalizing himself by his exploits against them; from whom Cornwall takes its name, for that region fell to his lot, and there the hugest giants dwelt, lurking in rocks and caves, till Corineus rid the land of them.

Brutus built his capital city, and called it Trojanova (New Troy), changed in time to Trinovantus, now London;[35]
“For noble Britons sprong from Trojans bold,
And Troynovant was built of old Troy’s ashes cold” SPENSER,

Book III, Canto IX., 38.

and, having governed the isle twenty-four years, died, leaving three sons, Locrine, Albanact and Camber. Locrine had the middle part, Camber the west, called Cambria from him, and Albanact Albania, now Scotland. Locrine was married to Guendolen, the daughter of Corineus, but having seen a fair maid named Estrildis, who had been brought captive from Germany, he became enamoured of her, and had by her a daughter, whose name was Sabra. This matter was kept secret while Corineus lived, but after his death Locrine divorced Guendolen, and made Estrildis his queen. Guendolen, all in rage, departed to Cornwall, where Madan, her son, lived, who had been brought up by Corineus, his grandfather. Gathering an army of her father’s friends and subjects, she gave battle to her husband’s forces and Locrine was slain. Guendolen caused her rival, Estrildis, with her daughter Sabra, to be thrown into the river, from which cause the river thenceforth bore the maiden’s name, which by length of time is now changed into Sabrina or Severn. Milton alludes to this in his address to the rivers,—

“Severn swift, guilty of maiden’s death”;—

and in his “Comus” tells the story with a slight variation, thus:

“There is a gentle nymph not far from hence,
That with moist curb sways the smooth Severn stream;
Sabrina is her name, a virgin pure:
虽然她是 Locrine 的女儿，
That had the sceptre from his father, Brute,
She, guiltless damsel, flying the mad pursuit
Of her enraged step-dame, Guendolen,
Commended her fair innocence to the flood,
That stayed her night with his cross-flowing course
The water-nymphs that in the bottom played,
Held up their pearled wrists and took her in,
Bearing her straight to aged Nereus’ hall,
Who, piteous of her woes, reared her lank head,
And gave her to his daughters to imbathe
In nectared lavers strewed with asphodel,
And through the porch and inlet of each sense
Dropped in ambrosial oils till she revived,
And underwent a quick, immortal change,
Made goddess of the river,” etc.

If our readers ask when all this took place, we must answer, in the first place, that mythology is not careful of dates; and next, that, as Brutus was the great-grandson of Aeneas, it must have been not far from a century subsequent to the Trojan war, or about eleven hundred years before the invasion of the island by Julius Caesar. This long interval is filled with the names of princes whose chief occupation was in warring with one another. Some few, whose names remain connected with places, or embalmed in literature, we will mention.

布拉德

Bladud built the city of Bath, and dedicated the medicinal waters to Minerva. He was a man of great invention, and practised the arts of magic, till, having made him wings to fly, he fell down upon the temple of Apollo, in Trinovant, and so died, after twenty years’ reign.

Leir

Leir, who next reigned, built Leicester, and called it after his name. He had no male issue, but only three daughters. When grown old he determined to divide his kingdom among his daughters, and bestow them in marriage. But first, to try which of them loved him best, he determined to ask them solemnly in order, and judge of the warmth of their affection by their answers. Goneril, the eldest, knowing well her father’s weakness, made answer that she loved him “above her soul.” “Since thou so honorest my declining age,” said the old man, “to thee and to thy husband I give the third part of my realm.” Such good success for a few words soon uttered was ample instruction to Regan, the second daughter, what to say. She therefore to the same question replied that “she loved him more than all the world beside;” and so received an equal reward with her sister. But Cordelia, the youngest, and hitherto the best beloved, though having before her eyes the reward of a little easy soothing, and the loss likely to attend plain- dealing, yet was not moved from the solid purpose of a sincere and virtuous answer, and replied: “Father, my love towards you is as my duty bids. They who pretend beyond this flatter.” When the old man, sorry to hear this, and wishing her to recall these words, persisted in asking, she still restrained her expressions so as to say rather less than more than the truth. Then Leir, all in a passion, burst forth: “Since thou hast not reverenced thy aged father like thy sisters, think not to have any part in my kingdom or what else I have;”—and without delay, giving in marriage his other daughters, Goneril to the Duke of Albany, and Regan to the Duke of Cornwall, he divides his kingdom between them, and goes to reside with his eldest daughter, attended only by a hundred knights. But in a short time his attendants, being complained of as too numerous and disorderly, are reduced to thirty. Resenting that affront, the old king betakes him to his second daughter; but she, instead of soothing his wounded pride, takes part with her sister, and refuses to admit a retinue of more than five. Then back he returns to the other, who now will not receive him with more than one attendant. Then the remembrance of Cordeilla comes to his thoughts, and he takes his journey into France to seek her, with little hope of kind consideration from one whom he had so injured, but to pay her the last recompense he can render,— confession of his injustice. When Cordeilla is informed of his approach, and of his sad condition, she pours forth true filial tears. And, not willing that her own or others’ eyes should see him in that forlorn condition, she sends one of her trusted servants to meet him, and convey him privately to some comfortable abode, and to furnish him with such state as befitted his dignity. After which Cordeilla, with the king her husband, went in state to meet him, and, after an honorable reception, the king permitted his wife, Cordeilla, to go with an army and set her father again upon his throne. They prospered, subdued the wicked sisters and their consorts, and Leir obtained the crown and held it three years.

Shakspeare has chosen this story as the subject of his tragedy of “King Lear,” varying its details in some respects. The madness of Leir, and the ill success of Cordeilla’s attempt to reinstate her father, are the principal variations, and those in the names will also be noticed. Our narrative is drawn from Milton’s “History;” and thus the reader will perceive that the story of Leir has had the distinguished honor of being told by the two acknowledged chiefs of British literature.

Ferrex和Porrex

Ferrex and Porrex were brothers, who held the kingdom after Leir. They quarrelled about the supremacy, and Porrex expelled his brother, who, obtaining aid from Suard, king of the Franks, returned and made war upon Porrex. Ferrex was slain in battle and his forces dispersed. When their mother came to hear of her son’s death, who was her favorite, she fell into a great rage, and conceived a mortal hatred against the survivor. She took, therefore, her opportunity when he was asleep, fell upon him, and, with the assistance of her women, tore him in pieces. This horrid story would not be worth relating, were it not for the fact that it has furnished the plot for the first tragedy which was written in the English language. It was entitled “Gorboduc,” but in the second edition “Ferrex and Porrex,” and was the production of Thomas Sackville, afterwards Earl of Dorset, and Thomas Norton, a barrister. Its date was 1561.

Dunwallo Molmutius

This is the next name of note. Molmutius established the Molmutine laws, which bestowed the privilege of sanctuary on temples, cities, and the roads leading to them, and gave the same protection to ploughs, extending a religious sanction to the labors of the field. Shakspeare alludes to him in “Cymbeline,” Act III., Scene 1:

“… Molmutius made our laws;
Who was the first of Britain which did put
His brows within a golden crown, and called
Himself a king.”

Brennus and Belinus,

The sons of Molmutius, succeeded him. They quarrelled, and Brennus was driven out of the island, and took refuge in Gaul, where he met with such favor from the king of the Allobroges that he gave him his daughter in marriage, and made him his partner on the throne. Brennus is the name which the Roman historians give to the famous leader of the Gauls who took Rome in the time of Camillus. Geoffrey of Monmouth claims the glory of the conquest for the British prince, after he had become king of the Allobroges.

Elidure

After Belinus and Brennus there reigned several kings of little note, and then came Elidure. Arthgallo, his brother, being king, gave great offence to his powerful nobles, who rose against him, deposed him, and advanced Elidure to the throne. Arthgallo fled, and endeavored to find assistance in the neighboring kingdoms to reinstate him, but found none. Elidure reigned prosperously and wisely. After five years’ possession of the kingdom, one day, when hunting, he met in the forest his brother, Arthgallo, who had been deposed. After long wandering, unable longer to bear the poverty to which he was reduced, he had returned to Britain, with only ten followers, designing to repair to those who had formerly been his friends. Elidure, at the sight of his brother in distress, forgetting all animosities, ran to him, and embraced him. He took Arthgallo home with him, and concealed him in the palace. After this he feigned himself sick, and, calling his nobles about him, induced them, partly by persuasion, partly by force, to consent to his abdicating the kingdom, and reinstating his brother on the throne. The agreement being ratified, Elidure took the crown from his own head, and put it on his brother’s head. Arthgallo after this reigned ten years, well and wisely, exercisng strict justice towards all men.

He died, and left the kingdom to his sons, who reigned with various fortunes, but were not long-lived, and left no offspring, so that Elidure was again advanced to the throne, and finished the course of his life in just and virtuous actions, receiving the name of THE PIOUS, from the love and admiration of his subjects.

Wordsworth has taken the story of Artegal and Elidure for the subject of a poem, which is No. 2 of “Poems founded on the Affections.”

鲁德

After Elidure, the Chronicle names many kings, but none of special note, till we come to Lud, who greatly enlarged Trinovant, his capital, and surrounded it with a wall. He changed its name, bestowing upon it his own, so that henceforth it was called Lud’s town, afterwards London. Lud was buried by the gate of the city called after him Ludgate. He had two sons, but they were not old enough at the time of their father’s death to sustain the cares of government, and therefore their uncle, Caswallaun, or Cassibellaunus, succeeded to the kingdom. He was a brave and magnificent prince, so that his fame reached to distant countries.

Cassibellaunus

About this time it happened (as is found in the Roman histories) that Julius Caesar, having subdued Gaul, came to the shore opposite Britain. And having resolved to add this island also to his conquests, he prepared ships and transported his army across the sea, to the mouth of the River Thames. Here he was met by Cassibellaun with all his forces, and a battle ensued, in which Nennius, the brother of Cassibellaun, engaged in single combat with Csesar. After several furious blows given and received, the sword of Caesar stuck so fast in the shield of Nennius that it could not be pulled out, and the combatants being separated by the intervention of the troops Nennius remained possessed of this trophy. At last, after the greater part of the day was spent, the Britons poured in so fast that Caesar was forced to retire to his camp and fleet. And finding it useless to continue the war any longer at that time, he returned to Gaul.

Shakspeare alludes to Cassibellaunus, in “Cymbeline”:

“The famed Cassibelan, who was once at point
(O giglot fortune!) to master Caesar’s sword,
Made Lud’s town with rejoicing fires bright,
And Britons strut with courage.”

Kymbelinus, Or Cymbeline

Caesar, on a second invasion of the island, was more fortunate, and compelled the Britons to pay tribute. Cymbeline, the nephew of the king, was delivered to the Romans as a hostage for the faithful fulfilment of the treaty, and, being carried to Rome by Caesar, he was there brought up in the Roman arts and accomplishments. Being afterwards restored to his country, and placed on the throne, he was attached to the Romans, and continued through all his reign at peace with them. His sons, Guiderius and Arviragus, who made their appearance in Shakspeare’s play of “Cymbeline,” succeeded their father, and, refusing to pay tribute to the Romans, brought on another invasion. Guiderius was slain, but Arviragus afterward made terms with the Romans, and reigned prosperously many years.

阿莫里卡

The next event of note is the conquest and colonization of Armorica, by Maximus, a Roman general, and Conan, lord of Miniadoc or Denbigh-land, in Wales. The name of the country was changed to Brittany, or Lesser Britain; and so completely was it possessed by the British colonists, that the language became assimilated to that spoken in Wales, and it is said that to this day the peasantry of the two countries can understand each other when speaking their native language.

The Romans eventually succeeded in establishing themselves in the island, and after the lapse of several generations they became blended with the natives so that no distinction existed between the two races. When at length the Roman armies were withdrawn from Britain, their departure was a matter of regret to the inhabitants, as it left them without protection against the barbarous tribes, Scots, Picts, and Norwegians, who harassed the country incessantly. This was the state of things when the era of King Arthur began.

The adventure of Albion, the giant, with Hercules is alluded to by
Spenser, “Faery Queene,” Book IV., Canto xi:

“For Albion the son of Neptune was;
Who for the proof of his great puissance,
Out of his Albion did on dry foot pass
Into old Gaul that now is cleped France,
To fight with Hercules, that did advance
To vanquish all the world with matchless might:
And there his mortal part by great mischance
Was slain.”

Merlin was the son of no mortal father, but of an Incubus, one of a class of beings not absolutely wicked, but far from good, who inhabit the regions of the air. Merlin’s mother was a virtuous young woman, who, on the birth of her son, intrusted him to a priest, who hurried him to the baptismal fount, and so saved him from sharing the lot of his father, though he retained many marks of his unearthly origin.

At this time Vortigern reigned in Britain. He was a usurper, who had caused the death of his sovereign, Moines, and driven the two brothers of the late king, whose names were Uther and Pendragon, into banishment. Vortigern, who lived in constant fear of the return of the rightful heirs of the kingdom, began to erect a strong tower for defence. The edifice, when brought by the workmen to a certain height, three times fell to the ground, without any apparent cause. The king consulted his astrologers on this wonderful event, and learned from them that it would be necessary to bathe the corner-stone of the foundation with the blood of a child born without a mortal father.

In search of such an infant, Vortigern sent his messengers all over the kingdom, and they by accident discovered Merlin, whose lineage seemed to point him out as the individual wanted. They took him to the king; but Merlin, young as he was, explained to the king the absurdity of attempting to rescue the fabric by such means, for he told him the true cause of the instability of the tower was its being placed over the den of two immense dragons, whose combats shook the earth above them. The king ordered his workmen to dig beneath the tower, and when they had done so they discovered two enormous serpents, the one white as milk the other red as fire. The multitude looked on with amazement, till the serpents, slowly rising from their den, and expanding their enormous folds, began the combat, when every one fled in terror, except Merlin, who stood by clapping his hands and cheering on the conflict. The red dragon was slain, and the white one, gliding through a cleft in the rock, disappeared.

These animals typified, as Merlin afterwards explained, the invasion of Uther and Pendragon, the rightful princes, who soon after landed with a great army. Vortigern was defeated, and afterwards burned alive in the castle he had taken such pains to construct. On the death of Vortigern, Pendragon ascended the throne. Merlin became his chief adviser, and often assisted the king by his magical arts.

“Merlin, who knew the range of all their arts,
Had built the King his havens, ships and halls.”

—Vivian.

Among other endowments, he had the power of transforming himself into any shape he pleased. At one time he appeared as a dwarf, at others as a damsel, a page, or even a greyhound or a stag. This faculty he often employed for the service of the king, and sometimes also for the diversion of the court and the sovereign.

Merlin continued to be a favorite counsellor through the reigns of Pendragon, Uther, and Arthur, and at last disappeared from view, and was no more found among men, through the treachery of his mistress, Viviane, the Fairy, which happened in this wise.

Merlin, having become enamoured of the fair Viviane, the Lady of the Lake, was weak enough to impart to her various important secrets of his art, being impelled by fatal destiny, of which he was at the same time fully aware. The lady, however, was not content with his devotion, unbounded as it seems to have been, but “cast about,” the Romance tells us, how she might “detain him for evermore,” and one day addressed him in these terms: “Sir, I would that we should make a fair place and a suitable, so contrived by art and by cunning that it might never be undone, and that you and I should be there in joy and solace.” “My lady,” said Merlin, “I will do all this.” “Sir,” said she, “I would not have you do it, but you shall teach me, and I will do it, and then it will be more to my mind.” “I grant you this,” said Merlin. Then he began to devise, and the damsel put it all in writing. And when he had devised the whole, then had the damsel full great joy, and showed him greater semblance of love than she had ever before made, and they sojourned together a long while. At length it fell out that, as they were going one day hand in hand through the forest of Breceliande, they found a bush of white-thorn, which was laden with flowers; and they seated themselves under the shade of this white-thorn, upon the green grass, and Merlin laid his head upon the damsel’s lap, and fell asleep. Then the damsel rose, and made a ring with her wimple round the bush, and round Merlin, and began her enchantments, such as he himself had taught her; and nine times she made the ring, and nine times she made the enchantment, and then she went and sat down by him, and placed his head again upon her lap.

“And a sleep
Fell upon Merlin more like death, so deep
Her finger on her lips; then Vivian rose,
And from her brown-locked head the wimple throws,
And takes it in her hand and waves it over
The blossomed thorn tree and her sleeping lover.
Nine times she waved the fluttering wimple round,
And made a little plot of magic ground.”

—Matthew Arnold.

And when he awoke, and looked round him, it seemed to him that he was enclosed in the strongest tower in the world, and laid upon a fair bed. Then said he to the dame: “My lady, you have deceived me, unless you abide with me, for no one hath power to unmake this tower but you alone.” She then promised she would be often there, and in this she held her covenant with him. And Merlin never went out of that tower where his Mistress Viviane had enclosed him; but she entered and went out again when she listed.

After this event Merlin was never more known to hold converse with any mortal but Viviane, except on one occasion. Arthur, having for some time missed him from his court, sent several of his knights in search of him, and, among the number, Sir Gawain, who met with a very unpleasant adventure while engaged in this quest. Happening to pass a damsel on his road, and neglecting to salute her, she revenged herself for his incivility by transforming him into a hideous dwarf. He was bewailing aloud his evil fortune as he went through the forest of Breceliande, when suddenly he heard the voice of one groaning on his right hand; and, looking that way, he could see nothing save a kind of smoke, which seemed like air, and through which he could not pass. Merlin then addressed him from out the smoke, and told him by what misadventure he was imprisoned there. “Ah, sir!” he added, “you will never see me more, and that grieves me, but I cannot remedy it; I shall never more speak to you, nor to any other person, save only my mistress. But do thou hasten to King Arthur, and charge him from me to undertake, without delay, the quest of the Sacred Graal. The knight is already born, and has received knighthood at his hands, who is destined to accomplish this quest.” And after this he comforted Gawain under his transformation, assuring him that he should speedily be disenchanted; and he predicted to him that he should find the king at Carduel, in Wales, on his return, and that all the other knights who had been on like quest would arrive there the same day as himself. And all this came to pass as Merlin had said.

Merlin is frequently introduced in the tales of chivalry, but it is chiefly on great occasions, and at a period subsequent to his death, or magical disappearance. In the romantic poems of Italy, and in Spenser, Merlin is chiefly represented as a magical artist. Spenser represents him as the artificer of the impenetrable shield and other armor of Prince Arthur (“Faery Queene,” Book I., Canto vii.), and of a mirror, in which a damsel viewed her lover’s shade. The Fountain of Love, in the “Orlando Innamorata,” is described as his work; and in the poem of “Ariosto” we are told of a hall adorned with prophetic paintings, which demons had executed in a single night, under the direction of Merlin.

The following legend is from Spenser’s “Faery Queene,” Book III.,
Canto iii.:

Caer-Merdin, Or Caermarthen (In Wales), Merlin’s Tower, and the Imprisoned Fiends.

“Forthwith themselves disguising both, in straunge
And base attire, that none might them bewray,
To Maridunum, that is now by chaunge
Of name Caer-Merdin called, they took their way:
There the wise Merlin whylome wont (they say)
To make his wonne, low underneath the ground
In a deep delve, far from the view of day,
That of no living wight he mote be found,
Whenso he counselled with his sprights encompassed round.

“And if thou ever happen that same way
To travel, go to see that dreadful place;
It is a hideous hollow cave (they say)
Under a rock that lies a little space
From the swift Barry, tombling down apace
Amongst the woody hills of Dynevor;
But dare not thou, I charge, in any case,
To enter into that same baleful bower,
For fear the cruel fiends should thee unwares devour.

“But standing high aloft, low lay thine ear,
And there such ghastly noise of iron chains
And brazen cauldrons thou shalt rumbling hear,
Which thousand sprites with long enduring pains
Do toss, that it will stun thy feeble brains;
And oftentimes great groans, and grievous stounds,
When too huge toil and labor them constrains;
And oftentimes loud strokes and ringing sounds
From under that deep rock most horribly rebounds.

“The cause some say is this. A little while
Before that Merlin died, he did intend
A brazen wall in compas to compile
About Caermerdin, and did it commend
Unto these sprites to bring to perfect end;
During which work the Lady of the Lake,
Whom long he loved, for him in haste did send;
Who, thereby forced his workmen to forsake,
Them bound till his return their labor not to slack.

“In the mean time, through that false lady’s train,
He was surprised, and buried under beare,
He ever to his work returned again;
Nathless those fiends may not their work forbear,
So greatly his commandement they fear;
But there do toil and travail day and night,
Until that brazen wall they up do rear.
For Merlin had in magic more insight
Than ever him before or after living wight.”[36]Buried under beare. Buried under something which enclosed him like a coffin or bier.

We shall begin our history of King Arthur by giving those particulars of his life which appear to rest on historical evidence; and then proceed to record those legends concerning him which form the earliest portion of British literature.

Arthur was a prince of the tribe of Britons called Silures, whose country was South Wales, the son of Uther, named Pendragon, a title given to an elective sovereign, paramount over the many kings of Britain. He appears to have commenced his martial career about the year 500, and was raised to the Pendragonship about ten years later. He is said to have gained twelve victories over the Saxons. The most important of them was that of Badon, by some supposed to be Bath, by others Berkshire. This was the last of his battles with the Saxons, and checked their progress so effectually, that Arthur experienced no more annoyance from them, and reigned in peace, until the revolt of his nephew Modred, twenty years later, which led to the fatal battle of Camlan, in Cornwall, in 542. Modred was slain, and Arthur, mortally wounded, was conveyed by sea to Glastonbury, where he died, and was buried. Tradition preserved the memory of the place of his interment within the abbey, as we are told by Giraldus Cambrensis, who was present when the grave was opened by command of Henry II. about 1150, and saw the bones and sword of the monarch, and a leaden cross let into his tombstone, with the inscription in rude Roman letters, “Here lies buried the famous King Arthur, in the island Avalonia.” This story has been elegantly versified by Warton. A popular traditional belief was long entertained among the Britons, that Arthur was not dead, but had been carried off to be healed of his wounds in Fairy-land, and that he would reappear to avenge his countrymen and reinstate them in the sovereignty of Britain. In Warton’s “Ode” a bard relates to King Henry the traditional story of Arthur’s death, and closes with these lines.

“Yet in vain a paynim foe
Armed with fate the mighty blow:
For when he fell, the Elfin queen,
All in secret and unseen,
O’er the fainting hero threw
Her mantle of ambrosial blue,
And bade her spirits bear him far,
In Merlin’s agate-axled car,
To her green isle’s enamelled steep,
Far in the navel of the deep.
O’er his wounds she sprinkled dew
From flowers that in Arabia grew.

There he reigns a mighty king,
Thence to Britain shall return,
If right prophetic rolls I learn,
Borne on victory’s spreading plume,
His ancient sceptre to resume,
His knightly table to restore,
And brave the tournaments of yore.”

After this narration another bard came forward who recited a different story:

“When Arthur bowed his haughty crest,
No princess veiled in azure vest
Snatched him, by Merlin’s powerful spell,
In groves of golden bliss to dwell;
But when he fell, with winged speed,
His champions, on a milk-white steed,
From the battle’s hurricane,
Bore him to Joseph’s towered fane,
In the fair vale of Avalon;
There, with chanted orison
And the long blaze of tapers clear,
The stoled fathers met the bier;
Through the dim aisles, in order dread
Of martial woe, the chief they led,
And deep entombed in holy ground,
Before the altar’s solemn bound.”[37]Glastonbury Abbey, said to be founded by Joseph of
Arimathea, in a spot anciently called the island or valley of
Avalonia.

Tennyson, in his “Palace of Art,” alludes to the legend of
Arthur’s rescue by the Faery queen, thus:

“Or mythic Uther’s deeply wounded son,
In some fair space of sloping greens,
Lay dozing in the vale of Avalon,
And watched by weeping queens.”

It must not be concealed that the very existence of Arthur has been denied by some. Milton says of him: “As to Arthur, more renowned in songs and romances than in true stories, who he was, and whether ever any such reigned in Britain, hath been doubted heretofore, and may again, with good reason.” Modern critics, however, admit that there was a prince of this name, and find proof of it in the frequent mention of him in the writings of the Welsh bards. But the Arthur of romance, according to Mr. Owen, a Welsh scholar and antiquarian, is a mythological person. “Arthur,” he says, “is the Great Bear, as the name literally implies (Arctos, Arcturus), and perhaps this constellation, being so near the pole, and visibly describing a circle in a small space, is the origin of the famous Round Table.”

亚瑟王

Constans, king of Britain, had three sons, Moines, Ambrosius, otherwise called Uther, and Pendragon. Moines, soon after his accession to the crown, was vanquished by the Saxons, in consequence of the treachery of his seneschal, Vortigern, and growing unpopular, through misfortune, he was killed by his subjects, and the traitor Vortigern chosen in his place.

Vortigern was soon after defeated in a great battle by Uther and Pendragon, the surviving brothers of Moines, and Pendragon ascended the throne.

This prince had great confidence in the wisdom of Merlin, and made him his chief adviser. About this time a dreadful war arose between the Saxons and Britons. Merlin obliged the royal brothers to swear fidelity to each other, but predicted that one of them must fall in the first battle. The Saxons were routed, and Pendragon, being slain, was succeeded by Uther, who now assumed in addition to his own name the appellation of Pendragon.

Merlin still continued a favorite counsellor. At the request of Uther he transported by magic art enormous stones from Ireland, to form the sepulchre of Pendragon. These stones constitute the monument now called Stonehenge, on Salisbury plain.

Merlin next proceeded to Carlisle to prepare the Round Table, at which he seated an assemblage of the great nobles of the country. The companions admitted to this high order were bound by oath to assist each other at the hazard of their own lives, to attempt singly the most perilous adventures, to lead, when necessary, a life of monastic solitude, to fly to arms at the first summons, and never to retire from battle till they had defeated the enemy, unless night intervened and separated the combatants.

Soon after this institution, the king invited all his barons to the celebration of a great festival, which he proposed holding annually at Carlisle.

As the knights had obtained the sovereign’s permission to bring their ladies along with them, the beautiful Igerne accompanied her husband, Gorlois, Duke of Tintadel, to one of these anniversaries. The king became deeply enamoured of the duchess, and disclosed his passion; but Igerne repelled his advances, and revealed his solicitations to her husband. On hearing this, the duke instantly removed from court with Igerne, and without taking leave of Uther. The king complained to his council of this want of duty, and they decided that the duke should be summoned to court, and, if refractory, should be treated as a rebel. As he refused to obey the citation, the king carried war into the estates of his vassal and besieged him in the strong castle of Tintadel. Merlin transformed the king into the likeness of Gorlois, and enabled him to have many stolen interviews with Igerne. At length the duke was killed in battle and the king espoused Igerne.

From this union sprang Arthur, who succeeded his father, Uther, upon the throne.

Arthur Chosen King

Arthur, though only fifteen years old at his father’s death, was elected king, at a general meeting of the nobles. It was not done without opposition, for there were many ambitious competitors.

“For while he linger’d there
A doubt that ever smoulder’d in the hearts
Of those great Lords and Barons of his realm
Flash’d forth and into war: for most of these
Made head against him, crying, ‘Who is he
That he should rule us? who hath proven him
King Uther’s son? for lo! we look at him,
And find nor face nor bearing, limbs nor voice,
Are like to those of Uther whom we knew.”

—Coming of Arthur.

But Bishop Brice, a person of great sanctity, on Christmas eve addressed the assembly, and represented that it would well become them, at that solemn season, to put up their prayers for some token which should manifest the intentions of Providence respecting their future sovereign. This was done, and with such success, that the service was scarcely ended when a miraculous stone was discovered before the church door, and in the stone was firmly fixed a sword, with the following words engraven on its hilt:

“I am hight Escalibore,
Unto a king fair tresore.”

Bishop Brice, after exhorting the assembly to offer up their thanksgiving for this signal miracle, proposed a law, that whoever should be able to draw out the sword from the stone, should be acknowledged as sovereign of the Britons; and his proposal was decreed by general acclamation. The tributary kings of Uther, and the most famous knights, successively put their strength to the proof, but the miraculous sword resisted all their efforts. It stood till Candlemas; it stood till Easter, and till Pentecost, when the best knights in the kingdom usually assembled for the annual tournament. Arthur, who was at that time serving in the capacity of squire to his foster-brother, Sir Kay, attended his master to the lists. Sir Kay fought with great valor and success, but had the misfortune to break his sword, and sent Arthur to his mother for a new one. Arthur hastened home, but did not find the lady; but having observed near the church a sword, sticking in a stone, he galloped to the place, drew out the sword with great ease, and delivered it to his master. Sir Kay would willingly have assumed to himself the distinction conferred by the possession of the sword, but when, to confirm the doubters, the sword was replaced in the stone he was utterly unable to withdraw it, and it would yield a second time to no hand but Arthur’s. Thus decisively pointed out by Heaven as their king, Arthur was by general consent proclaimed as such, and an early day appointed for his solemn coronation.

Immediately after his election to the crown, Arthur found himself opposed by eleven kings and one duke, who with a vast army were actually encamped in the forest of Rockingham. By Merlin’s advice Arthur sent an embassy to Brittany, to solicit the aid of King Ban and King Bohort, two of the best knights in the world. They accepted the call, and with a powerful army crossed the sea, landing at Portsmouth, where they were received with great rejoicing. The rebel kings were still superior in numbers; but Merlin, by a powerful enchantment, caused all their tents to fall down at once, and in the confusion Arthur with his allies fell upon them and totally routed them.

After defeating the rebels, Arthur took the field against the Saxons. As they were too strong for him unaided, he sent an embassy to Armorica, beseeching the assistance of Hoel, who soon after brought over an army to his aid. The two kings joined their forces, and sought the enemy, whom they met, and both sides prepared for a decisive engagement. “Arthur himself,” as Geoffrey of Monmouth relates, “dressed in a breastplate worthy of so great a king, places on his head a golden helmet engraved with the semblance of a dragon. Over his shoulders he throws his shield called Priwen, on which a picture of the Holy Virgin constantly recalled her to his memory. Girt with Caliburn, a most excellent sword, and fabricated in the isle of Avalon, he graces his right hand with the lance named Ron. This was a long and broad spear, well contrived for slaughter.” After a severe conflict, Arthur, calling on the name of the Virgin, rushes into the midst of his enemies, and destroys multitudes of them with the formidable Caliburn, and puts the rest to flight. Hoel, being detained by sickness, took no part in this battle.

This is called the victory of Mount Badon, and, however disguised by fable, it is regarded by historians as a real event.

The feats performed by Arthur at the battle of Badon Mount are thus celebrated in Drayton’s verse:

“They sung how he himself at Badon bore, that day,
When at the glorious goal his British sceptre lay;
Two daies together how the battel stronglie stood;
Pendragon’s worthie son, who waded there in blood,
Three hundred Saxons slew with his owne valiant hand.”

—Song IV.

Guenever

Merlin had planned for Arthur a marriage with the daughter of King Laodegan of Carmalide. By his advice Arthur paid a visit to the court of that sovereign, attended only by Merlin and by thirty- nine knights whom the magician had selected for that service. On their arrival they found Laodegan and his peers sitting in council, endeavoring, but with small prospect of success, to devise means of resisting the impending attack of Ryence, king of Ireland, who, with fifteen tributary kings and an almost innumerable army, had nearly surrounded the city. Merlin, who acted as leader of the band of British knights, announced them as strangers, who came to offer the king their services in his wars; but under the express condition that they should be at liberty to conceal their names and quality until they should think proper to divulge them. These terms were thought very strange, but were thankfully accepted, and the strangers, after taking the usual oath to the king, retired to the lodging which Merlin had prepared for them.

A few days after this, the enemy, regardless of a truce into which they had entered with King Laodegan, suddenly issued from their camp and made an attempt to surprise the city. Cleodalis, the king’s general, assembled the royal forces with all possible despatch. Arthur and his companions also flew to arms, and Merlin appeared at their head, bearing a standard on which was emblazoned a terrific dragon. Merlin advanced to the gate, and commanded the porter to open it, which the porter refused to do, without the king’s order. Merlin thereupon took up the gate, with all its appurtenances of locks, bars, bolts, etc., and directed his troops to pass through, after which he replaced it in perfect order. He then set spurs to his horse and dashed, at the head of his little troop, into a body of two thousand pagans. The disparity of numbers being so enormous, Merlin cast a spell upon the enemy, so as to prevent their seeing the small number of their assailants; notwithstanding which the British knights were hard pressed. But the people of the city, who saw from the walls this unequal contest, were ashamed of leaving the small body of strangers to their fate, so they opened the gate and sallied forth. The numbers were now more nearly equal, and Merlin revoked his spell, so that the two armies encountered on fair terms. Where Arthur, Ban, Bohort, and the rest fought the king’s army had the advantage; but in another part of the field the king himself was surrounded and carried off by the enemy. The sad sight was seen by Guenever, the fair daughter of the king, who stood on the city wall and looked at the battle. She was in dreadful distress, tore her hair, and swooned away.

But Merlin, aware of what passed in every part of the field, suddenly collected his knights, led them out of the battle, intercepted the passage of the party who were carrying away the king, charged them with irresistible impetuosity, cut in pieces or dispersed the whole escort, and rescued the king. In the fight Arthur encountered Caulang, a giant fifteen feet high, and the fair Guenever, who had already began to feel a strong interest in the handsome young stranger, trembled for the issue of the contest. But Arthur, dealing a dreadful blow on the shoulder of the monster, cut through his neck so that his head hung over on one side, and in this condition his horse carried him about the field, to the great horror and dismay of the Pagans. Guenever could not refrain from expressing aloud her wish that the gentle knight, who dealt with giants so dexterously, were destined to become her husband, and the wish was echoed by her attendants. The enemy soon turned their backs and fled with precipitation, closely pursued by Laodegan and his allies.

After the battle Arthur was disarmed and conducted to the bath by the princess Guenever, while his friends were attended by the other ladies of the court. After the bath the knights were conducted to a magnificent entertainment, at which they were diligently served by the same fair attendants. Laodegan, more and more anxious to know the name and quality of his generous deliverers, and occasionally forming a secret wish that the chief of his guests might be captivated by the charms of his daughter, appeared silent and pensive, and was scarcely roused from his reverie by the banters of his courtiers. Arthur, having had an opportunity of explaining to Guenever his great esteem for her merit, was in the joy of his heart, and was still further delighted by hearing from Merlin the late exploits of Gawain at London, by means of which his immediate return to his dominions was rendered unnecessary, and he was left at liberty to protract his stay at the court of Laodegan. Every day contributed to increase the admiration of the whole court for the gallant strangers, and the passion of Guenever for their chief; and when at last Merlin announced to the king that the object of the visit of the party was to procure a bride for their leader, Laodegan at once presented Guenever to Arthur, telling him that, whatever might be his rank, his merit was sufficient to entitle him to the possession of the heiress of Carmalide.

“And could he find a woman in her womanhood
As great as he was in his manhood—
The twain together might change the world.”

—Guinevere.

Arthur accepted the lady with the utmost gratitude, and Merlin then proceeded to satisfy the king of the rank of his son-in-law; upon which Laodegan, with all his barons, hastened to do homage to their lawful sovereign, the successor of Uther Pendragon. The fair Guenever was then solemnly betrothed to Arthur, and a magnificent festival was proclaimed, which lasted seven days. At the end of that time, the enemy appearing again with renewed force, it became necessary to resume military operations.[38]Guenever, the name of Arthur’s queen, also written Genievre and Geneura, is familiar to all who are conversant with chivalric lore. It is to her adventures, and those of her true knight, Sir Launcelot, that Dante alludes in the beautiful episode of Francesca di Rimini.

We must now relate what took place at and near London, while Arthur was absent from his capital. At this very time a band of young heroes were on their way to Arthur’s court, for the purpose of receiving knighthood from him. They were Gawain and his three brothers, nephews of Arthur, sons of King Lot, and Galachin, another nephew, son of King Nanters. King Lot had been one of the rebel chiefs whom Arthur had defeated, but he now hoped by means of the young men to be reconciled to his brother-in-law. He equipped his sons and his nephew with the utmost magnificence, giving them a splendid retinue of young men, sons of earls and barons, all mounted on the best horses, with complete suits of choice armor. They numbered in all seven hundred, but only nine had yet received the order of knighthood; the rest were candidates for that honor, and anxious to earn it by an early encounter with the enemy. Gawain, the leader, was a knight of wonderful strength; but what was most remarkable about him was that his strength was greater at certain hours of the day than at others. From nine o’clock till noon his strength was doubled, and so it was from three to evensong; for the rest of the time it was less remarkable, though at all times surpassing that of ordinary men.

After a march of three days they arrived in the vicinity of London, where they expected to find Arthur and his court, and very unexpectedly fell in with a large convoy belonging to the enemy, consisting of numerous carts and wagons, all loaded with provisions, and escorted by three thousand men, who had been collecting spoil from all the country round. A single charge from Gawain’s impetuous cavalry was sufficient to disperse the escort and recover the convoy, which was instantly despatched to London. But before long a body of seven thousand fresh soldiers advanced to the attack of the five princes and their little army. Gawain, singling out a chief named Choas, of gigantic size, began the battle by splitting him from the crown of the head to the breast. Galachin encountered King Sanagran, who was also very huge, and cut off his head. Agrivain and Gahariet also performed prodigies of valor. Thus they kept the great army of assailants at bay, though hard pressed, till of a sudden they perceived a strong body of the citizens advancing from London, where the convoy which had been recovered by Gawain had arrived, and informed the mayor and citizens of the danger of their deliverer. The arrival of the Londoners soon decided the contest. The enemy fled in all directions, and Gawain and his friends, escorted by the grateful citizens, entered London, and were received with acclamations.

ARTHUR (Continued)

After the great victory of Mount Badon, by which the Saxons were for the time effectually put down, Arthur turned his arms against the Scots and Picts, whom he routed at Lake Lomond, and compelled to sue for mercy. He then went to York to keep his Christmas, and employed himself in restoring the Christian churches which the Pagans had rifled and overthrown. The following summer he conquered Ireland, and then made a voyage with his fleet to Iceland, which he also subdued. The kings of Gothland and of the Orkneys came voluntarily and made their submission, promising to pay tribute. Then he returned to Britain, where, having established the kingdom, he dwelt twelve years in peace.

During this time he invited over to him all persons whatsoever that were famous for valor in foreign nations, and augmented the number of his domestics, and introduced such politeness into his court as people of the remotest countries thought worthy of their imitation. So that there was not a nobleman who thought himself of any consideration unless his clothes and arms were made in the same fashion as those of Arthur’s knights.

Finding himself so powerful at home, Arthur began to form designs for extending his power abroad. So, having prepared his fleet, he first attempted Norway, that he might procure the crown of it for Lot, his sister’s husband. Arthur landed in Norway, fought a great battle with the king of that country, defeated him, and pursued the victory till he had reduced the whole country under his dominion, and established Lot upon the throne. Then Arthur made a voyage to Gaul and laid siege to the city of Paris. Gaul was at that time a Roman province, and governed by Flollo, the Tribune. When the siege of Paris had continued a month, and the people began to suffer from famine, Flollo challenged Arthur to single combat, proposing to decide the conquest of the province in that way. Arthur gladly accepted the challenge, and slew his adversary in the contest, upon which the citizens surrendered the city to him. After the victory Arthur divided his army into two parts, one of which he committed to the conduct of Hoel, whom he ordered to march into Aquitaine, while he with the other part should endeavor to subdue the other provinces. At the end of nine years, in which time all the parts of Gaul were entirely reduced, Arthur returned to Paris, where he kept his court, and, calling an assembly of the clergy and people, established peace and the just administration of the laws in that kingdom. Then he bestowed Normandy upon Bedver, his butler, and the province of Andegavia upon Kay, his steward,[39]This name, in the French romances, is spelled Queux, which means head cook. This would seem to imply that it was a title, and not a name; yet the personage who bore it is never mentioned by any other. He is the chief, if not the only, comic character among the heroes of Arthur’s court. He is the Seneschal or Steward, his duties also embracing those of chief of the cooks. In the romances, his general character is a compound of valor and buffoonery, always ready to fight, and generally getting the worst of the battle. He is also sarcastic and abusive in his remarks, by which he often gets into trouble. Yet Arthur seems to have an attachment to him, and often takes his advice, which is generally wrong. and several other provinces upon his great men that attended him. And, having settled the peace of the cities and countries, he returned back in the beginning of spring to Britain.

Upon the approach of the feast of Pentecost, Arthur, the better to demonstrate his joy after such triumphant successes, and for the more solemn observation of that festival, and reconciling the minds of the princes that were now subject to him, resolved during that season to hold a magnificent court, to place the crown upon his head, and to invite all the kings and dukes under his subjection to the solemnity. And he pitched upon Caerleon, the City of Legions, as the proper place for his purpose. For, besides its great wealth above the other cities, its situation upon the river Usk, near the Severn sea, was most pleasant and fit for so great a solemnity. For on one side it was washed by that noble river, so that the kings and princes from the countries beyond the seas might have the convenience of sailing up to it. On the other side the beauty of the meadows and groves, and magnificence of the royal palaces, with lofty gilded roofs that adorned it, made it even rival the grandeur of Rome. It was also famous for two churches, whereof one was adorned with a choir of virgins, who devoted themselves wholly to the service of God, and the other maintained a convent of priests. Besides, there was a college of two hundred philosophers, who, being learned in astronomy and the other arts, were diligent in observing the courses of the stars, and gave Arthur true predictions of the events that would happen. In this place, therefore, which afforded such delights, were preparations made for the ensuing festival.[40]Several cities are allotted to King Arthur by the romance-writers. The principal are Caerleon, Camelot, and Carlisle.

Caerleon derives its name from its having been the station of one of the legions, during the dominion of the Romans. It is called by Latin writers Urbs Legionum, the City of Legions. The former word being rendered into Welsh by Caer, meaning city, and the latter contracted into lleon. The river Usk retains its name in modern geography, and there is a town or city of Caerleon upon it, though the city of Cardiff is thought to be the scene of Arthur’s court. Chester also bears in Welsh the name of Caerleon; for Chester, derived from castra, Latin for camp, is the designation of military headquarters.

Camelot is thought to be Winchester.

Shalott is Guilford.

Hamo’s Port is Southampton.

Carlisle is the city still retaining that name, near the Scottish border. But this name is also sometimes applied to other places, which were, like itself, military stations.

Ambassadors were then sent into several kingdoms, to invite to court the princes both of Gaul and of the adjacent islands. Accordingly there came Augusel, king of Albania, now Scotland, Cadwallo, king of Venedotia, now North Wales, Sater, king of Demetia, now South Wales; also the archbishops of the metropolitan sees, London and York, and Dubricius, bishop of Caerleon, the City of Legions. This prelate, who was primate of Britain, was so eminent for his piety that he could cure any sick person by his prayers. There were also the counts of the principal cities, and many other worthies of no less dignity.

From the adjacent islands came Guillamurius, king of Ireland, Gunfasius, king of the Orkneys, Malvasius, king of Iceland, Lot, king of Norway, Bedver, the butler, Duke of Normandy, Kay, the sewer, Duke of Andegavia; also the twelve peers of Gaul, and Hoel, Duke of the Armorican Britons, with his nobility, who came with such a train of mules, horses, and rich furniture as it is difficult to describe. Besides these there remained no prince of any consideration on this side of Spain who came not upon this invitation. And no wonder, when Arthur’s munificence, which was celebrated over the whole world, made him beloved by all people.

When all were assembled upon the day of the solemnity the archbishops were conducted to the palace, in order to place the crown upon the king’s head. Then Dubricius, inasmuch as the court was held in his diocese, made himself ready to celebrate the office. As soon as the king was invested with his royal habiliments he was conducted in great pomp to the metropolitan church, having four kings, viz., of Albania, Cornwall, Demetia, and Venedotia, bearing four golden swords before him. On another part was the queen, dressed out in her richest ornaments, conducted by the archbishops and bishops to the Church of Virgins; the four queens, also, of the kings last mentioned, bearing before her four white doves, according to ancient custom. When the whole procession was ended so transporting was the harmony of the musical instruments and voices, whereof there was a vast variety in both churches, that the knights who attended were in doubt which to prefer, and therefore crowded from the one to the other by turns, and were far from being tired of the solemnity, though the whole day had been spent in it. At last, when divine service was over at both churches, the king and queen put off their crowns, and, putting on their lighter ornaments, went to the banquet. When they had all taken their seats according to precedence, Kay, the sewer, in rich robes of ermine, with a thousand young noblemen all in like manner clothed in rich attire, served up the dishes. From another part Bedver, the butler, was followed by the same number of attendants, who waited with all kinds of cups and drinking-vessels. And there was food and drink in abundance, and everything was of the best kind, and served in the best manner. For at that time Britain had arrived at such a pitch of grandeur that in riches, luxury, and politeness it far surpassed all other kingdoms.

As soon as the banquets were over they went into the fields without the city to divert themselves with various sports, such as shooting with bows and arrows, tossing the pike, casting of heavy stones and rocks, playing at dice, and the like, and all these inoffensively, and without quarrelling. In this manner were three days spent, and after that they separated, and the kings and noblemen departed to their several homes.

After this Arthur reigned five years in peace. Then came ambassadors from Lucius Tiberius, Procurator under Leo, Emperor of Rome, demanding tribute. But Arthur refused to pay tribute, and prepared for war. As soon as the necessary dispositions were made he committed the government of his kingdom to his nephew Modred and to Queen Guenever, and marched with his army to Hamo’s Port, where the wind stood fair for him. The army crossed over in safety, and landed at the mouth of the river Barba. And there they pitched their tents to wait the arrival of the kings of the islands.

As soon as all the forces were arrived Arthur marched forward to Augustodunum, and encamped on the banks of the river Alba. Here repeated battles were fought, in all which the Britons, under their valiant leaders, Hoel, Duke of Armorica, and Gawain, nephew to Arthur, had the advantage. At length Lucius Tiberius determined to retreat, and wait for the Emperor Leo to join him with fresh troops. But Arthur, anticipating this event, took possession of a certain valley, and closed up the way of retreat to Lucius, compelling him to fight a decisive battle, in which Arthur lost some of the bravest of his knights and most faithful followers. But on the other hand Lucius Tiberius was slain, and his army totally defeated. The fugitives dispersed over the country, some to the by-ways and woods, some to cities and towns, and all other places where they could hope for safety.

Arthur stayed in those parts till the next winter was over, and employed his time in restoring order and settling the government. He then returned into England, and celebrated his victories with great splendor.

Then the king stablished all his knights, and to them that were not rich he gave lands, and charged them all never to do outrage nor murder, and always to flee treason; also, by no means to be cruel, but to give mercy unto him that asked mercy, upon pain of forfeiture of their worship and lordship; and always to do ladies, damosels, and gentlewomen service, upon pain of death. Also that no man take battle in a wrongful quarrel, for no law, nor for any world’s goods. Unto this were all the knights sworn of the Table Round, both old and young. And at every year were they sworn at the high feast of Pentecost.

King Arthur Slays the Giant of St. Michael’s Mount

While the army was encamped in Brittany, awaiting the arrival of the kings, there came a countryman to Arthur, and told him that a giant, whose cave was on a neighboring mountain, called St. Michael’s Mount, had for a long time been accustomed to carry off the children of the peasants to devour them. “And now he hath taken the Duchess of Brittany, as she rode with her attendants, and hath carried her away in spite of all they could do.” “Now, fellow,” said King Arthur, “canst thou bring me there where this giant haunteth?” “Yea, sure,” said the good man; “lo, yonder where thou seest two great fires, there shalt thou find him, and more treasure than I suppose is in all France beside.” Then the king called to him Sir Bedver and Sir Kay, and commanded them to make ready horse and harness for himself and them; for after evening he would ride on pilgrimage to St. Michael’s Mount.

So they three departed, and rode forth till they came to the foot of the mount. And there the king commanded them to tarry, for he would himself go up into that mount. So he ascended the hill till he came to a great fire, and there he found an aged woman sitting by a new-made grave, making great sorrow. Then King Arthur saluted her, and demanded of her wherefore she made such lamentation; to whom she answered: “Sir knight, speak low, for yonder is a devil, and if he hear thee speak, he will come and destroy thee. For ye cannot make resistance to him, he is so fierce and so strong. He hath murdered the Duchess, which here lieth, who was the fairest of all the world, wife to Sir Hoel, Duke of Brittany.” “Dame,” said the king, “I come from the noble conqueror, King Arthur, to treat with that tyrant.” “Fie on such treaties,” said she; “he setteth not by the king, nor by no man else.” “Well,” said Arthur, “I will accomplish my message for all your fearful words.” So he went forth by the crest of the hill, and saw where the giant sat at supper, gnawing on the limb of a man, and baking his broad limbs at the fire, and three fair damsels lying bound, whose lot it was to be devoured in their turn. When King Arthur beheld that, he had great compassion on them, so that his heart bled for sorrow. Then he hailed the giant, saying, “He that all the world ruleth give thee short life and shameful death. Why hast thou murdered this Duchess? Therefore come forth, for this day thou shalt die by my hand.” Then the giant started up, and took a great club, and smote at the king, and smote off his coronal; and then the king struck him in the belly with his sword, and made a fearful wound. Then the giant threw away his club, and caught the king in his arms, so that he crushed his ribs. Then the three maidens kneeled down and prayed for help and comfort for Arthur. And Arthur weltered and wrenched, so that he was one while under, and another time above. And so weltering and wallowing they rolled down the hill, and ever as they weltered Arthur smote him with his dagger; and it fortuned they came to the place where the two knights were. And when they saw the king fast in the giant’s arms they came and loosed him. Then the king commanded Sir Kay to smite off the giant’s head, and to set it on the truncheon of a spear, and fix it on the barbican, that all the people might see and behold it. This was done, and anon it was known through all the country, wherefor the people came and thanked the king. And he said, “Give your thanks to God; and take ye the giant’s spoil and divide it among you.” And King Arthur caused a church to be builded on that hill, in honor of St. Michael.

King Arthur Gets a Sword from the Lady of the Lake

One day King Arthur rode forth, and on a sudden he was ware of three churls chasing Merlin, to have slain him. And the king rode unto them and bade them, “Flee, churls!” Then were they afraid when they saw a knight, and fled. “O Merlin,” said Arthur, “here hadst thou been slain, for all thy crafts, had I not been by.” “Nay,” said Merlin, “not so, for I could save myself if I would; but thou art more near thy death than I am.” So, as they went thus talking, King Arthur perceived where sat a knight on horseback, as if to guard the pass. “Sir knight,” said Arthur, “for what cause abidest thou here?” Then the knight said, “There may no knight ride this way unless he just with me, for such is the custom of the pass.” “I will amend that custom,” said the king. Then they ran together, and they met so hard that their spears were shivered. Then they drew their swords and fought a strong battle, with many great strokes. But at length the sword of the knight smote King Arthur’s sword in two pieces. Then said the knight unto Arthur, “Thou art in my power, whether to save thee or slay thee, and unless thou yield thee as overcome and recreant, thou shalt die.” “As for death,” said King Arthur, “welcome be it when it cometh; but to yield me unto thee as recreant, I will not.” Then he leapt upon the knight, and took him by the middle and threw him down; but the knight was a passing strong man, and anon he brought Arthur under him, and would have razed off his helm to slay him. Then said Merlin, “Knight, hold thy hand, for this knight is a man of more worship than thou art aware of.” “Why, who is he?” said the knight. “It is King Arthur.” Then would he have slain him for dread of his wrath, and lifted up his sword to slay him; and therewith Merlin cast an enchantment on the knight, so that he fell to the earth in a great sleep. Then Merlin took up King Arthur, and set him on his horse. “Alas!” said Arthur, “what hast thou done, Merlin? hast thou slain this good knight by thy crafts?” “Care ye not,” said Merlin; “he is wholer than ye be. He is only asleep, and will wake in three hours.”

Then the king and he departed, and went till they came to a hermit, that was a good man and a great leech. So the hermit searched all his wounds, and applied good salves; and the king was there three days, and then were his wounds well amended, that he might ride and go. So they departed, and as they rode Arthur said, “I have no sword.” “No matter,” said Merlin; “hereby is a sword that shall be yours.” So they rode till they came to a lake, which was a fair water and broad. And in the midst of the lake Arthur was aware of an arm clothed in white samite,[41]Samite, a sort of silk stuff. that held a fair sword in the hand. “Lo!” said Merlin, “yonder is that sword that I spake of. It belongeth to the Lady of the Lake, and, if she will, thou mayest take it; but if she will not, it will not be in thy power to take it.”

So Sir Arthur and Merlin alighted from their horses, and went into a boat. And when they came to the sword that the hand held Sir Arthur took it by the handle and took it to him, and the arm and the hand went under the water.

Then they returned unto the land and rode forth. And Sir Arthur looked on the sword and liked it right well.

So they rode unto Caerleon, whereof his knights were passing glad. And when they heard of his adventures they marvelled that he would jeopard his person so alone. But all men of worship said it was a fine thing to be under such a chieftain as would put his person in adventure as other poor knights did.

Sir Gawain was nephew to King Arthur, by his sister Morgana, married to Lot, king of Orkney, who was by Arthur made king of Norway. Sir Gawain was one of the most famous knights of the Round Table, and is characterized by the romancers as the SAGE and COURTEOUS Gawain. To this Chaucer alludes in his “Squiere’s Tale,” where the strange knight “salueth” all the court

“With so high reverence and observance,
As well in speeche as in countenance,
That Gawain, with his olde curtesie,
Though he were come agen out of faerie,
Ne coude him not amenden with a word.”

Gawain’s brothers were Agrivain, Gahariet, and Gareth.

Sir Gawain’s Marriage

Once upon a time King Arthur held his court in merry Carlisle, when a damsel came before him and craved a boon. It was for vengeance upon a caitiff knight, who had made her lover captive and despoiled her of her lands. King Arthur commanded to bring him his sword, Excalibar, and to saddle his steed, and rode forth without delay to right the lady’s wrong. Ere long he reached the castle of the grim baron, and challenged him to the conflict. But the castle stood on magic ground, and the spell was such that no knight could tread thereon but straight his courage fell and his strength decayed. King Arthur felt the charm, and before a blow was struck, his sturdy limbs lost their strength, and his head grew faint. He was fain to yield himself prisoner to the churlish knight, who refused to release him except upon condition that he should return at the end of a year, and bring a true answer to the question, “What thing is it which women most desire?” or in default thereof surrender himself and his lands. King Arthur accepted the terms, and gave his oath to return at the time appointed. During the year the king rode east, and he rode west, and inquired of all whom he met what thing it is which all women most desire. Some told him riches; some, pomp and state; some, mirth; some, flattery; and some, a gallant knight. But in the diversity of answers he could find no sure dependence. The year was well-nigh spent, when one day, as he rode thoughtfully through a forest, he saw sitting beneath a tree a lady of such hideous aspect that he turned away his eyes, and when she greeted him in seemly sort, made no answer. “What wight art thou,” the lady said, “that will not speak to me? It may chance that I may resolve thy doubts, though I be not fair of aspect.” “If thou wilt do so,” said King Arthur, “choose what reward thou wilt, thou grim lady, and it shall be given thee.” “Swear me this upon thy faith,” she said, and Arthur swore it. Then the lady told him the secret, and demanded her reward, which was that the king should find some fair and courtly knight to be her husband.

King Arthur hastened to the grim baron’s castle and told him one by one all the answers which he had received from his various advisers, except the last, and not one was admitted as the true one. “Now yield thee, Arthur,” the giant said, “for thou hast not paid thy ransom, and thou and thy lands are forfeited to me.” Then King Arthur said:

“Yet hold thy hand, thou proud baron,
I pray thee hold thy hand,
And give me leave to speak once more,
In rescue of my land.
This morn as I came over a moor,
I saw a lady set,
Between an oak and a green holly,
All clad in red scarlett.
She says ALL WOMEN WOULD HAVE THEIR WILL,
This is their chief desire;
Now yield, as thou art a baron true,
That I have paid my hire.”

“It was my sister that told thee this,” the churlish baron exclaimed. “Vengeance light on her! I will some time or other do her as ill a turn.”

King Arthur rode homeward, but not light of heart, for he remembered the promise he was under to the loathly lady to—give her one of his young and gallant knights for a husband. He told his grief to Sir Gawain, his nephew, and he replied, “Be not sad, my lord, for I will marry the loathly lady.” King Arthur replied:

“Now nay, now nay, good Sir Gawaine,
My sister’s son ye be;
The loathly lady’s all too grim,
And all too foule for thee.”

But Gawain persisted, and the king at last, with sorrow of heart, consented that Gawain should be his ransom. So one day the king and his knights rode to the forest, met the loathly lady, and brought her to the court. Sir Gawain stood the scoffs and jeers of his companions as he best might, and the marriage was solemnized, but not with the usual festivities. Chaucer tells us:

“… There was no joye ne feste at alle;
There n’ as but hevinesse and mochel sorwe,
For prively he wed her on the morwe,
And all day after hid him as an owle,
So wo was him his wife loked so foule!”[42]N’AS is NOT WAS, contracted; in modern phrase, THERE
WAS NOT. MOCHEL SORWE is much sorrow; MORWE is MORROW.

When night came, and they were alone together, Sir Gawain could not conceal his aversion; and the lady asked him why he sighed so heavily, and turned away his face. He candidly confessed it was on account of three things, her age, her ugliness, and her low degree. The lady, not at all offended, replied with excellent arguments to all his objections. She showed him that with age is discretion, with ugliness security from rivals, and that all true gentility depends, not upon the accident of birth, but upon the character of the individual.

Sir Gawain made no reply; but, turning his eyes on his bride, what was his amazement to perceive that she wore no longer the unseemly aspect that had so distressed him. She then told him that the form she had worn was not her true form, but a disguise imposed upon her by a wicked enchanter, and that she was condemned to wear it until two things should happen: one, that she should obtain some young and gallant knight to be her husband. This having been done, one-half of the charm was removed. She was now at liberty to wear her true form for half the time, and she bade him choose whether he would have her fair by day, and ugly by night, or the reverse. Sir Gawain would fain have had her look her best by night, when he alone would see her, and show her repulsive visage, if at all, to others. But she reminded him how much more pleasant it would be to her to wear her best looks in the throng of knights and ladies by day. Sir Gawain yielded, and gave up his will to hers. This alone was wanting to dissolve the charm. The lovely lady now with joy assured him that she should change no more, but as she now was, so would she remain by night as well as by day.

“Sweet blushes stayned her rud-red cheek,
Her eyen were black as sloe,
The ripening cherrye swelled her lippe,
And all her neck was snow.
Sir Gawain kist that ladye faire
Lying upon the sheete,
And swore, as he was a true knight,
The spice was never so swete.”

The dissolution of the charm which had held the lady also released her brother, the “grim baron,” for he too had been implicated in it. He ceased to be a churlish oppressor, and became a gallant and generous knight as any at Arthur’s court.

Caradoc was the son of Ysenne, the beautiful niece of Arthur. He was ignorant who his father was, till it was discovered in the following manner: When the youth was of proper years to receive the honors of knighthood, King Arthur held a grand court for the purpose of knighting him. On this occasion a strange knight presented himself, and challenged the knights of Arthur’s court to exchange blow for blow with him. His proposal was this—to lay his neck on a block for any knight to strike, on condition that, if he survived the blow, the knight should submit in turn to the same experiment. Sir Kay, who was usually ready to accept all challenges, pronounced this wholly unreasonable, and declared that he would not accept it for all the wealth in the world. And when the knight offered his sword, with which the operation was to be performed, no person ventured to accept it, till Caradoc, growing angry at the disgrace which was thus incurred by the Round Table, threw aside his mantle and took it. “Do you do this as one of the best knights?” said the stranger. “No,” he replied, “but as one of the most foolish.” The stranger lays his head upon the block, receives a blow which sends it rolling from his shoulders, walks after it, picks it up, replaces it with great success, and says he will return when the court shall be assembled next year, and claim his turn. When the anniversary arrived, both parties were punctual to their engagement. Great entreaties were used by the king and queen, and the whole court, in behalf of Caradoc, but the stranger was inflexible. The young knight laid his head upon the block, and more than once desired him to make an end of the business, and not keep him longer in so disagreeable a state of expectation. At last the stranger strikes him gently with the side of the sword, bids him rise, and reveals to him the fact that he is his father, the enchanter Eliaures, and that he gladly owns him for a son, having proved his courage and fidelity to his word.

But the favor of enchanters is short-lived and uncertain. Eliaures fell under the influence of a wicked woman, who, to satisfy her pique against Caradoc, persuaded the enchanter to fasten on his arm a serpent, which remained there sucking at his flesh and blood, no human skill sufficing either to remove the reptile or alleviate the torments which Caradoc endured.

Caradoc was betrothed to Guimier, sister to his bosom friend, Cador, and daughter to the king of Cornwall. As soon as they were informed of his deplorable condition, they set out for Nantes, where Caradoc’s castle was, that Guimier might attend upon him. When Caradoc heard of their coming, his first emotion was that of joy and love. But soon he began to fear that the sight of his emaciated form, and of his sufferings, would disgust Guimier; and this apprehension became so strong, that he departed secretly from Nantes, and hid himself in a hermitage. He was sought far and near by the knights of Arthur’s court, and Cador made a vow never to desist from the quest till he should have found him. After long wandering, Cador discovered his friend in the hermitage, reduced almost to a skeleton, and apparently near his death. All other means of relief having already been tried in vain, Cador at last prevailed on the enchanter Eliaures to disclose the only method which could avail for his rescue. A maiden must be found, his equal in birth and beauty, and loving him better than herself, so that she would expose herself to the same torment to deliver him. Two vessels were then to be provided, the one filled with sour wine, and the other with milk. Caradoc must enter the first, so that the wine should reach his neck, and the maiden must get into the other, and, exposing her bosom upon the edge of the vessel, invite the serpent to forsake the withered flesh of his victim for this fresh and inviting food. The vessels were to be placed three feet apart, and as the serpent crossed from one to the other. a knight was to cut him in two. If he failed in his blow, Caradoc would indeed be delivered, but it would be only to see his fair champion suffering the same cruel and hopeless torment. The sequel may be easily foreseen. Guimier willingly exposed herself to the perilous adventure, and Cador, with a lucky blow, killed the serpent. The arm in which Caradoc had suffered so long recovered its strength, but not its shape, in consequence of which he was called Caradoc Briefbras, Caradoc of the Shrunken Arm.

Caradoc and Guimier are the hero and heroine of the ballad Of the
“Boy and the Mantle,” which follows:

“The Boy and the Mantle

“In Carlisle dwelt King Arthur,
A prince of passing might,
And there maintained his Table Round,
Beset with many a knight.

“And there he kept his Christmas,
With mirth and princely cheer,
When lo! a strange and cunning boy
Before him did appear.

“A kirtle and a mantle
This boy had him upon,
With brooches, rings, and ouches,
Full daintily bedone.

“He had a sash of silk
About his middle meet;
And thus with seemly curtesie
He did King Arthur greet:

“‘God speed thee, brave King Arthur.
Thus feasting in thy bower,
And Guenever, thy goodly queen,
That fair and peerless flower.

“‘Ye gallant lords and lordlings,
I wish you all take heed,
Lest what ye deem a blooming rose
Should prove a cankered weed.’

“Then straightway from his bosom
A little wand he drew;
And with it eke a mantle,
Of wondrous shape and hue.

“‘Now have thou here, King Arthur,
Have this here of me,
And give unto thy comely queen,
All shapen as you see.

“‘No wife it shall become,
That once hath been to blame.’
Then every knight in Arthur’s court
Sly glanced at his dame.

“And first came Lady Guenever,
The mantle she must try.
This dame she was new-fangled,[1]New-fangled—fond of novelty.
And of a roving eye.

“When she had taken the mantle,
And all with it was clad,
From top to toe it shivered down,
As though with shears beshred.

“One while it was too long,
Another while too short,
And wrinkled on her shoulders,
In most unseemly sort.

“Now green, now red it seemed,
Then all of sable hue;
‘Beshrew me,’ quoth King Arthur,
‘I think thou be’st not true!’

“Down she threw the mantle,
No longer would she stay;
But, storming like a fury,
To her chamber flung away.

“She cursed the rascal weaver,
That had the mantle wrought;
And doubly cursed the froward imp
Who thither had it brought.

I had rather live in deserts,
Beneath the greenwood tree,
Than here, base king, among thy grooms
The sport of them and thee.’

“Sir Kay called forth his lady,
And bade her to come near:
‘Yet dame, if thou be guilty,
I pray thee now forbear.’

“This lady, pertly giggling,
With forward step came on,
And boldly to the little boy
With fearless face is gone.

“When she had taken the mantle,
With purpose for to wear,
It shrunk up to her shoulder,
And left her back all bare.

“Then every merry knight,
That was in Arthur’s court,
Gibed and laughed and flouted,
To see that pleasant sport.

“Down she threw the mantle,
No longer bold or gay,
But, with a face all pale and wan
To her chamber slunk away.

“Then forth came an old knight
A pattering o’er his creed,
And proffered to the little boy
Five nobles to his meed:

“‘And all the time of Christmas
Plum-porridge shall be thine,
If thou wilt let my lady fair
Within the mantle shine.’

“A saint his lady seemed,
With step demure and slow,
And gravely to the mantle
With mincing face doth go.

“When she the same had taken
That was so fine and thin,
It shrivelled all about her,
And showed her dainty skin.

“Ah! little did her mincing,
Or his long prayers bestead;
She had no more hung on her
Than a tassel and a thread.

“Down she threw the mantle,
With terror and dismay,
And with a face of scarlet
To her chamber hied away.

“Sir Cradock called his lady,
And bade her to come near:
‘Come win this mantle, lady,
And do me credit here:

“‘Come win this mantle, lady,
For now it shall be thine,
If thou hast never done amiss,
Since first I made thee mine.’

“The lady, gently blushing,
With modest grace came on;
And now to try the wondrous charm
Courageously is gone.

“When she had ta’en the mantle,
And put it on her back,
About the hem it seemed
To wrinkle and to crack.

“‘Lie still,’ she cried, ‘O mantle!
And shame me not for naught;
I’ll freely own whate’er amiss
Or blameful I have wrought.

“‘Once I kissed Sir Cradock
Beneath the greenwood tree;
Once I kissed Sir Cradock’s mouth,
Before he married me.’

“When she had thus her shriven,
And her worst fault had told,
The mantle soon became her,
Right comely as it should.

“Most rich and fair of color,
Like gold it glittering shone,
And much the knights in Arthur’s court
Admired her every one.”

The ballad goes on to tell of two more trials of a similar kind, made by means of a boar’s head and a drinking horn, in both of which the result was equally favorable with the first to Sir Cradock and his lady. It then concludes as follows:

“Thus boar’s head, horn, and mantle
Were this fair couple’s meed;
And all such constant lovers,
God send them well to speed”

—Percy’s Reliques.

King Ban, of Brittany, the faithful ally of Arthur was attacked by his enemy Claudas, and after a long war saw himself reduced to the possession of a single fortress, where he was besieged by his enemy. In this extremity he determined to solicit the assistance of Arthur, and escaped in a dark night, with his wife Helen and his infant son Launcelot, leaving his castle in the hands of his seneschal, who immediately surrendered the place to Claudas. The flames of his burning citadel reached the eyes of the unfortunate monarch during his flight and he expired with grief. The wretched Helen, leaving her child on the brink of a lake, flew to receive the last sighs of her husband, and on returning perceived the little Launcelot in the arms of a nymph, who, on the approach of the queen, threw herself into the lake with the child. This nymph was Viviane, mistress of the enchanter Merlin, better known by the name of the Lady of the Lake. Launcelot received his appellation from having been educated at the court of this enchantress, whose palace was situated in the midst, not of a real, but, like the appearance which deceives the African traveller, of an imaginary lake, whose deluding resemblance served as a barrier to her residence. Here she dwelt not alone, but in the midst of a numerous retinue, and a splendid court of knights and damsels.

The queen, after her double loss, retired to a convent, where she was joined by the widow of Bohort, for this good king had died of grief on hearing of the death of his brother Ban. His two sons, Lionel and Bohort, were rescued by a faithful knight, and arrived in the shape of greyhounds at the palace of the lake, where, having resumed their natural form, they were educated along with their cousin Launcelot.

The fairy, when her pupil had attained the age of eighteen, conveyed him to the court of Arthur for the purpose of demanding his admission to the honor of knighthood; and at the first appearance of the youthful candidate the graces of his person, which were not inferior to his courage and skill in arms, made an instantaneous and indelible impression on the heart of Guenever, while her charms inspired him with an equally ardent and constant passion. The mutual attachment of these lovers exerted, from that time forth, an influence over the whole history of Arthur. For the sake of Guenever, Launcelot achieved the conquest of Northumberland, defeated Gallehaut, King of the Marches, who afterwards became his most faithful friend and ally, exposed himself in numberless encounters, and brought hosts of prisoners to the feet of his sovereign.

朗塞洛爵士

After King Arthur was come from Rome into England all the knights of the Table Round resorted unto him and made him many justs and tournaments. And in especial Sir Launcelot of the Lake in all tournaments and justs and deeds of arms, both for life and death, passed all other knights, and was never overcome, except it were by treason or enchantment; and he increased marvellously in worship, wherefore Queen Guenever had him in great favor, above all other knights. And for certain he loved the queen again above all other ladies; and for her he did many deeds of arms, and saved her from peril, through his noble chivalry. Thus Sir Launcelot rested him long with play and game, and then he thought to prove himself in strange adventures; so he bade his nephew, Sir Lionel, to make him ready,— “for we two will seek adventures.” So they mounted on their horses, armed at all sights, and rode into a forest, and so into a deep plain. And the weather was hot about noon, and Sir Launcelot had great desire to sleep. Then Sir Lionel espied a great apple-tree that stood by a hedge, and he said: “Brother, yonder is a fair shadow—there may we rest us and our horses.” “It is well said,” replied Sir Launcelot. So they there alighted, and Sir Launcelot laid him down, and his helm under his head, and soon was asleep passing fast. And Sir Lionel waked while he slept. And presently there came three knights riding as fast as ever they might ride, and there followed them but one knight. And Sir Lionel thought he never saw so great a knight before. So within a while this great knight overtook one of those knights, and smote him so that he fell to the earth. Then he rode to the second knight and smote him, and so he did to the third knight. Then he alighted down and bound all the three knights fast with their own bridles. When Sir Lionel saw him do thus, he thought to assay him, and made him ready silently, not to awake Sir Launcelot, and rode after the strong knight, and bade him turn. And the other smote Sir Lionel so hard that horse and man fell to the earth; and then he alighted down and bound Sir Lionel, and threw him across his own horse; and so he served them all four, and rode with them away to his own castle. And when he came there he put them in a deep prison, in which were many more knights in great distress.

Now while Sir Launcelot lay under the apple-tree sleeping, there came by him four queens of great estate. And that the heat should not grieve them, there rode four knights about them, and bare a cloth of green silk on four spears, betwixt them and the sun. And the queens rode on four white mules.

Thus as they rode they heard by them a great horse grimly neigh. Then they were aware of a sleeping knight, that lay all armed under an apple-tree; and as the queens looked on his face, they knew it was Sir Launcelot. Then they began to strive for that knight, and each one said she would have him for her love. “We will not strive,” said Morgane le Fay, that was King Arthur’s sister, “for I will put an enchantment upon him, that he shall not wake for six hours, and we will take him away to my castle; and then when he is surely within my hold, I will take the enchantment from him, and then let him choose which of us he will have for his love.” So the enchantment was cast upon Sir Launcelot. And then they laid him upon his shield, and bare him so on horseback between two knights, and brought him unto the castle and laid him in a chamber, and at night they sent him his supper. And on the morning came early those four queens, richly dight, and bade him good morning, and he them again. “Sir knight,” they said, “thou must understand thou art our prisoner; and we know thee well, that thou art Sir Launcelot of the Lake, King Ban’s son, and that thou art the noblest knight living. And we know well that there can no lady have thy love but one, and that is Queen Guenever; and now thou shalt lose her for ever, and she thee; and therefore it behooveth thee now to choose one of us. I am the Queen Morgane le Fay, and here is the Queen of North Wales, and the Queen of Eastland, and the Queen of the Isles. Now choose one of us which thou wilt have, for if thou choose not, in this prison thou shalt die.” “This is a hard case,” said Sir Launcelot, “that either I must die, or else choose one of you; yet had I liever to die in this prison with worship, than to have one of you for my paramour, for ye be false enchantresses.” “Well,” said the queens, “is this your answer, that ye will refuse us.” “Yea, on my life it is,” said Sir Launcelot. Then they departed, making great sorrow.

Then at noon came a damsel unto him with his dinner, and asked him, “What cheer?” “Truly, fair damsel,” said Sir Launcelot, “never so ill.” “Sir,” said she, “if you will be ruled by me, I will help you out of this distress. If ye will promise me to help my father on Tuesday next, who hath made a tournament betwixt him and the king of North Wales; for last Tuesday my father lost the field.” “Fair maiden,” said Sir Launcelot, “tell me what is your father’s name, and then will I give you an answer.” “Sir knight,” she said, “my father is King Bagdemagus.” “I know him well,” said Sir Launcelot, “for a noble king and a good knight; and, by the faith of my body, I will be ready to do your father and you service at that day.”

So she departed, and came on the next morning early and found him ready, and brought him out of twelve locks, and brought him to his own horse, and lightly he saddled him, and so rode forth.

And on the Tuesday next he came to a little wood where the tournament should be. And there were scaffolds and holds, that lords and ladies might look on, and give the prize. Then came into the field the king of North Wales, with eightscore helms, and King Badgemagus came with fourscore helms. And then they couched their spears, and came together with a great dash, and there were overthrown at the first encounter twelve of King Bagdemagus’s party and six of the king of North Wales’s party, and King Bagdemagus’s party had the worse.

With that came Sir Launcelot of the Lake, and thrust in with his spear in the thickest of the press; and he smote down five knights ere he held his hand; and he smote down the king of North Wales, and he brake his thigh in that fall. And then the knights of the king of North Wales would just no more; and so the gree was given to King Bagdemagus.

And Sir Launcelot rode forth with King Bagdemagus unto his castle; and there he had passing good cheer, both with the king and with his daughter. And on the morn he took his leave, and told the king he would go and seek his brother, Sir Lionel, that went from him when he slept. So he departed, and by adventure he came to the same forest where he was taken sleeping. And in the highway he met a damsel riding on a white palfrey, and they saluted each other. “Fair damsel,” said Sir Launcelot, “know ye in this country any adventures?” “Sir knight,” said the damsel, “here are adventures near at hand, if thou durst pursue them.” “Why should I not prove adventures?” said Sir Launcelot, “since for that cause came I hither.” “Sir,” said she, “hereby dwelleth a knight that will not be overmatched for any man I know, except thou overmatch him. His name is Sir Turquine, and, as I understand, he is a deadly enemy of King Arthur, and he has in his prison good knights of Arthur’s court, threescore and more, that he hath won with his own hands.” “Damsel,” said Launcelot, “I pray you bring me unto this knight.” So she told him, “Hereby, within this mile, is his castle, and by it on the left hand is a ford for horses to drink of, and over that ford there groweth a fair tree, and on that tree hang many shields that good knights wielded aforetime, that are now prisoners; and on the tree hangeth a basin of copper and latten, and if thou strike upon that basin thou shalt hear tidings.” And Sir Launcelot departed, and rode as the damsel had shown him, and shortly he came to the ford, and the tree where hung the shields and the basin. And among the shields he saw Sir Lionel’s and Sir Hector’s shields, besides many others of knights that he knew.

Then Sir Launcelot struck on the basin with the butt of his spear; and long he did so, but he saw no man. And at length he was ware of a great knight that drove a horse before him, and across the horse there lay an armed knight bounden. And as they came near, Sir Launcelot thought he should know the captive knight. Then Sir Launcelot saw that it was Sir Gaheris, Sir Gawain’s brother, a knight of the Table Round. “Now, fair knight,” said Sir Launcelot, “put that wounded knight off the horse, and let him rest awhile, and let us two prove our strength. For, as it is told me, thou hast done great despite and shame unto knights of the Round Table, therefore now defend thee.” “If thou be of the Table Round,” said Sir Turquine, “I defy thee and all thy fellowship.” “That is overmuch said,” said Sir Launcelot.

Then they put their spears in the rests, and came together with their horses as fast as they might run. And each smote the other in the middle of their shields, so that their horses fell under them, and the knights were both staggered; and as soon as they could clear their horses they drew out their swords and came together eagerly, and each gave the other many strong strokes, for neither shield nor harness might withstand their strokes. So within a while both had grimly wounds, and bled grievously. Then at the last they were breathless both, and stood leaning upon their swords. “Now, fellow,” said Sir Turquine, “thou art the stoutest man that ever I met with, and best breathed; and so be it thou be not the knight that I hate above all other knights, the knight that slew my brother, Sir Carados, I will gladly accord with thee; and for thy love I will deliver all the prisoners that I have.”

“What knight is he that thou hatest so above others?” “Truly,” said Sir Turquine, “his name is Sir Launcelot of the Lake.” “I am Sir Launcelot of the Lake, King Ban’s son of Benwick, and very knight of the Table Round; and now I defy thee do thy best.” “Ah!” said Sir Turquine, “Launcelot, thou art to me the most welcome that ever was knight; for we shall never part till the one of us be dead.” And then they hurtled together like two wild bulls, rashing and lashing with their swords and shields, so that sometimes they fell, as it were, headlong. Thus they fought two hours and more, till the ground where they fought was all bepurpled with blood.

Then at the last Sir Turquine waxed sore faint, and gave somewhat aback, and bare his shield full low for weariness. That spied Sir Launcelot, and leapt then upon him fiercely as a lion, and took him by the beaver of his helmet, and drew him down on his knees. And he raised off his helm, and smote his neck in sunder.

And Sir Gaheris, when he saw Sir Turquine slain, said, “Fair lord, I pray you tell me your name, for this day I say ye are the best knight in the world, for ye have slain this day in my sight the mightiest man and the best knight except you that ever I saw.” “Sir, my name is Sir Launcelot du Lac, that ought to help you of right for King Arthur’s sake, and in especial for Sir Gawain’s sake, your own dear brother. Now I pray you, that ye go into yonder castle, and set free all the prisoners ye find there, for I am sure ye shall find there many knights of the Table Round, and especially my brother Sir Lionel. I pray you greet them all from me, and tell them I bid them take there such stuff as they find; and tell my brother to go unto the court and abide me there, for by the feast of Pentecost I think to be there; but at this time I may not stop, for I have adventures on hand.” So he departed, and Sir Gaheris rode into the castle, and took the keys from the porter, and hastily opened the prison door and let out all the prisoners. There was Sir Kay, Sir Brandeles, and Sir Galynde, Sir Bryan, and Sir Alyduke, Sir Hector de Marys, and Sir Lionel, and many more. And when they saw Sir Gaheris they all thanked him, for they thought, because he was wounded, that he had slain Sir Turquine. “Not so,” said Sir Gaheris; “it was Sir Launcelot that slew him, right worshipfully; I saw it with mine eyes.”

Sir Launcelot rode till at nightfall he came to a fair castle, and therein he found an old gentlewoman, who lodged him with good- will, and there he had good cheer for him and his horse. And when time was, his host brought him to a fair chamber over the gate to his bed. Then Sir Launcelot unarmed him, and set his harness by him, and went to bed, and anon he fell asleep. And soon after, there came one on horseback and knocked at the gate in great haste; and when Sir Launcelot heard this, he arose and looked out of the window, and saw by the moonlight three knights riding after that one man, and all three lashed on him with their swords, and that one knight turned on them knightly again and defended himself. “Truly,” said Sir Launcelot, “yonder one knight will I help, for it is shame to see three knights on one.” Then he took his harness and went out at the window by a sheet down to the four knights; and he said aloud, “Turn you knights unto me, and leave your fighting with that knight.” Then the knights left Sir Kay, for it was he they were upon, and turned unto Sir Launcelot, and struck many great strokes at Sir Launcelot, and assailed him on every side. Then Sir Kay addressed him to help Sir Launcelot, but he said, “Nay, sir, I will none of your help; let me alone with them.” So Sir Kay suffered him to do his will, and stood one side. And within six strokes Sir Launcelot had stricken them down.

Then they all cried, “Sir knight, we yield us unto you.” “As to that,” said Sir Launcelot, “I will not take your yielding unto me. If so be ye will yield you unto Sir Kay the Seneschal, I will save your lives, but else not.” “Fair knight,” then they said, “we will do as thou commandest us.” “Then shall ye,” said Sir Launcelot, “on Whitsunday next, go unto the court of King Arthur, and there shall ye yield you unto Queen Guenever, and say that Sir Kay sent you thither to be her prisoners.” “Sir,” they said, “it shall be done, by the faith of our bodies;” and then they swore, every knight upon his sword. And so Sir Launcelot suffered them to depart.

On the morn Sir Launcelot rose early and left Sir Kay sleeping; and Sir Launcelot took Sir Kay’s armor, and his shield, and armed him, and went to the stable and took his horse, and so he departed. Then soon after arose Sir Kay, and missed Sir Launcelot. And then he espied that he had taken his armor and his horse. “Now, by my faith, I know well,” said Sir Kay, “that he will grieve some of King Arthur’s knights, for they will deem that it is I, and will be bold to meet him. But by cause of his armor I am sure I shall ride in peace.” Then Sir Kay thanked his host and departed.

Sir Launcelot rode in a deep forest, and there he saw four knights, under an oak, and they were of Arthur’s court. There was Sir Sagramour le Desirus, and Hector de Marys, and Sir Gawain, and Sir Uwaine. As they spied Sir Launcelot they judged by his arms it had been Sir Kay. “Now, by my faith,” said Sir Sagramour, “I will prove Sir Kay’s might;” and got his spear in his hand, and came towards Sir Launcelot. Therewith Sir Launcelot couched his spear against him, and smote Sir Sagramour so sore that horse and man fell both to the earth. Then said Sir Hector, “Now shall ye see what I may do with him.” But he fared worse than Sir Sagramour, for Sir Launcelot’s spear went through his shoulder and bare him from his horse to the ground. “By my faith,” said Sir Uwaine, “yonder is a strong knight, and I fear he hath slain Sir Kay, and taken his armor.” And therewith Sir Uwaine took his spear in hand, and rode toward Sir Launcelot; and Sir Launcelot met him on the plain and gave him such a buffet that he was staggered, and wist not where he was. “Now see I well,” said Sir Gawain, “that I must encounter with that knight.” Then he adjusted his shield, and took a good spear in his hand, and Sir Launcelot knew him well. Then they let run their horses with all their mights, and each knight smote the other in the middle of his shield. But Sir Gawain’s spear broke, and Sir Launcelot charged so sore upon him that his horse fell over backward. Then Sir Launcelot passed by smiling with himself, and he said, “Good luck be with him that made this spear, for never came a better into my hand.” Then the four knights went each to the other and comforted one another. “What say ye to this adventure,” said Sir Gawain, “that one spear hath felled us all four?” “I dare lay my head it is Sir Launcelot,” said Sir Hector; “I know it by his riding.”

And Sir Launcelot rode through many strange countries, till by fortune he came to a fair castle; and as he passed beyond the castle he thought he heard two bells ring. And then he perceived how a falcon came flying over his head, toward a high elm; and she had long lunys[43]LUNYS, the string with which the falcon is held. about her feet, and she flew unto the elm to take her perch, and the lunys got entangled in the bough; and when she would have taken her flight, she hung by the legs fast, and Sir Launcelot saw how she hung, and beheld the fair falcon entangled, and he was sorry for her. Then came a lady out of the castle and cried aloud, “O Launcelot, Launcelot, as thou art the flower of all knights, help me to get my hawk; for if my hawk be lost, my lord will slay me, he is so hasty.” “What is your lord’s name?” said Sir Launcelot. “His name is Sir Phelot, a knight that belongeth to the king of North Wales.” “Well, fair lady, since ye know my name, and require me of knighthood to help you, I will do what I may to get your hawk; and yet in truth I am an ill climber, and the tree is passing high, and few boughs to help me.” And therewith Sir Launcelot alighted and tied his horse to the tree, and prayed the lady to unarm him. And when he was unarmed, he put off his jerkin, and with might and force he clomb up to the falcon, and tied the lunys to a rotten bough, and threw the hawk down with it; and the lady got the hawk in her hand. Then suddenly there came out of the castle her husband, all armed, and with his naked sword in his hand, and said, “O Knight Launcelot, now have I got thee as I would,” and stood at the boll of the tree to slay him. “Ah, lady!” said Sir Launcelot, “why have ye betrayed me?” “She hath done,” said Sir Phelot, “but as I commanded her; and therefore there is none other way but thine hour is come, and thou must die.” “That were shame unto thee,” said Sir Launcelot; “thou an armed knight to slay a naked man by treason.” “Thou gettest none other grace,” said Sir Phelot, “and therefore help thyself if thou canst.” “Alas!” said Sir Launcelot, “that ever a knight should die weaponless!” And therewith he turned his eyes upward and downward; and over his head he saw a big bough leafless, and he brake it off from the trunk. And then he came lower, and watched how his own horse stood; and suddenly he leapt on the further side of his horse from the knight. Then Sir Phelot lashed at him eagerly, meaning to have slain him. But Sir Launcelot put away the stroke, with the big bough, and smote Sir Phelot therewith on the side of the head, so that he fell down in a swoon to the ground. Then Sir Launcelot took his sword out of his hand and struck his head from the body. Then said the lady, “Alas! why hast thou slain my husband?” “I am not the cause,” said Sir Launcelot, “for with falsehood ye would have slain me, and now it is fallen on yourselves.” Thereupon Sir Launcelot got all his armor, and put it upon him hastily, for fear of more resort, for the knight’s castle was so nigh. And as soon as he might, he took his horse and departed, and thanked God he had escaped that adventure.

And two days before the feast of Pentecost, Sir Launcelot came home; and the king and all the court were passing glad of his coming. And when Sir Gawain, Sir Uwaine, Sir Sagramour, and Sir Hector de Marys saw Sir Launcelot in Sir Kay’s armor then they wist well it was he that smote them down, all with one spear. Then there was laughing and merriment among them; and from time to time came all the knights that Sir Turquine had prisoners, and they all honored and worshipped Sir Launcelot. Then Sir Gaheris said, “I saw all the battle from the beginning to the end,” and he told King Arthur all how it was. Then Sir Kay told the king how Sir Launcelot had rescued him, and how he “made the knights yield to me, and not to him.” And there they were, all three, and confirmed it all “And, by my faith,” said Sir Kay, “because Sir Launcelot took my harness and left me his, I rode in peace, and no man would have to do with me.”

And so at that time Sir Launcelot had the greatest name of any knight of the world, and most was he honored of high and low.

It befell in the month of May, Queen Guenever called to her knights of the Table Round, and gave them warning that early upon the morrow she would ride a-maying into the woods and fields beside Westminster; “and I warn you that there be none of you but he be well horsed, and that ye all be clothed in green, either silk or cloth; and I shall bring with me ten ladies, and every knight shall have a lady behind him, and every knight shall have a squire and two yeoman, and all well horsed.”

“For thus it chanced one morn when all the court,
Green-suited, but with plumes that mock’d the May,
Had been, their wont, a-maying”

—Guinevere.

So they made them ready; and these were the names of the knights: Sir Kay the Seneschal, Sir Agrivaine, Sir Brandiles, Sir Sagramour le Desirus, Sir Dodynas le Sauvage, Sir Ozanna, Sir Ladynas, Sir Persant of Inde, Sir Ironside, and Sir Pelleas; and these ten knights made them ready, in the freshest manner, to ride with the queen. So upon the morn they took their horses with the queen, and rode a-maying in woods and meadows, as it pleased them, in great joy and delight. Now there was a knight named Maleagans, son to King Brademagus, who loved Queen Guenever passing well, and so had he done long and many years. Now this knight, Sir Maleagans, learned the queen’s purpose, and that she had no men of arms with her but the ten noble knights all arrayed in green for maying; so he prepared him twenty men of arms, and a hundred archers, to take captive the queen and her knights.

“In the merry month of May,
In a morn at break of day,
With a troop of damsels playing,
The Queen, forsooth, went forth a-maying.”

-老歌。

So when the queen had mayed, and all were bedecked with herbs, mosses, and flowers in the best manner and freshest, right then came out of a wood Sir Maleagans with eightscore men well harnessed, and bade the queen and her knights yield them prisoners. “Traitor knight,” said Queen Guenever, “what wilt thou do? Wilt thou shame thyself? Bethink thee how thou art a king’s son, and a knight of the Table Round, and how thou art about to dishonor all knighthood and thyself?” “Be it as it may,” said Sir Maleagans, “know you well, madam, I have loved you many a year and never till now could I get you to such advantage as I do now; and therefore I will take you as I find you.” Then the ten knights of the Round Table drew their swords, and the other party run at them with their spears, and the ten knights manfully abode them, and smote away their spears. Then they lashed together with swords till several were smitten to the earth. So when the queen saw her knights thus dolefully oppressed, and needs must be slain at the last, then for pity and sorrow she cried, “Sir Maleagans, slay not my noble knights and I will go with you, upon this covenant, that they be led with me wheresoever thou leadest me.” “Madame,” said Maleagans, “for your sake they shall be led with you into my own castle, if that ye will be ruled, and ride with me.” Then Sir Maleagans charged them all that none should depart from the queen, for he dreaded lest Sir Launcelot should have knowledge of what had been done.

Then the queen privily called unto her a page of her chamber that was swiftly horsed, to whom she said, “Go thou when thou seest thy time, and bear this ring unto Sir Launcelot, and pray him as he loveth me, that he will see me and rescue me. And spare not thy horse,” said the queen, “neither for water nor for land.” So the child espied his time, and lightly he took his horse with the spurs and departed as fast as he might. And when Sir Maleagans saw him so flee, he understood that it was by the queen’s commandment for to warn Sir Launcelot. Then they that were best horsed chased him, and shot at him, but the child went from them all. Then Sir Maleagans said to the queen, “Madam, ye are about to betray me, but I shall arrange for Sir Launcelot that he shall not come lightly at you.” Then he rode with her and them all to his castle, in all the haste that they might. And by the way Sir Maleagans laid in ambush the best archers that he had to wait for Sir Launcelot. And the child came to Westminster and found Sir Launcelot and told his message and delivered him the queen’s ring. “Alas!” said Sir Launcelot, “now am I shamed for ever, unless I may rescue that noble lady.” Then eagerly he asked his armor and put it on him, and mounted his horse and rode as fast as he might; and men say he took the water at Westminster Bridge, and made his horse swim over Thames unto Lambeth. Then within a while he came to a wood where was a narrow way; and there the archers were laid in ambush. And they shot at him and smote his horse so that he fell. Then Sir Launcelot left his horse and went on foot, but there lay so many ditches and hedges betwixt the archers and him that he might not meddle with them. “Alas! for shame,” said Sir Launcelot, “that ever one knight should betray another! but it is an old saw, a good man is never in danger, but when he is in danger of a coward.” Then Sir Launcelot went awhile and he was exceedingly cumbered by his armor, his shield, and his spear, and all that belonged to him. Then by chance there came by him a cart that came thither to fetch wood.

Now at this time carts were little used except for carrying offal and for conveying criminals to execution. But Sir Launcelot took no thought of anything but the necessity of haste for the purpose of rescuing the queen; so he demanded of the carter that he should take him in and convey him as speedily as possible for a liberal reward. The carter consented, and Sir Launcelot placed himself in the cart and only lamented that with much jolting he made but little progress. Then it happened Sir Gawain passed by and seeing an armed knight travelling in that unusual way he drew near to see who it might be. Then Sir Launcelot told him how the queen had been carried off, and how, in hastening to her rescue, his horse had been disabled and he had been compelled to avail himself of the cart rather than give up his enterprise. Then Sir Gawain said, “Surely it is unworthy of a knight to travel in such sort;” but Sir Launcelot heeded him not.

At nightfall they arrived at a castle and the lady thereof came out at the head of her damsels to welcome Sir Gawain. But to admit his companion, whom she supposed to be a criminal, or at least a prisoner, it pleased her not; however, to oblige Sir Gawain, she consented. At supper Sir Launcelot came near being consigned to the kitchen and was only admitted to the lady’s table at the earnest solicitation of Sir Gawain. Neither would the damsels prepare a bed for him. He seized the first he found unoccupied and was left undisturbed.

Next morning he saw from the turrets of the castle a train accompanying a lady, whom he imagined to be the queen. Sir Gawain thought it might be so, and became equally eager to depart. The lady of the castle supplied Sir Launcelot with a horse and they traversed the plain at full speed. They learned from some travellers whom they met, that there were two roads which led to the castle of Sir Maleagans. Here therefore the friends separated. Sir Launcelot found his way beset with obstacles, which he encountered successfully, but not without much loss of time. As evening approached he was met by a young and sportive damsel, who gayly proposed to him a supper at her castle. The knight, who was hungry and weary, accepted the offer, though with no very good grace. He followed the lady to her castle and ate voraciously of her supper, but was quite impenetrable to all her amorous advances. Suddenly the scene changed and he was assailed by six furious ruffians, whom he dealt with so vigorously that most of them were speedily disabled, when again there was a change and he found himself alone with his fair hostess, who informed him that she was none other than his guardian fairy, who had but subjected him to tests of his courage and fidelity. The next day the fairy brought him on his road, and before parting gave him a ring, which she told him would by its changes of color disclose to him all enchantments, and enable him to subdue them.

Sir Launcelot pursued his journey, without being much incommoded except by the taunts of travellers, who all seemed to have learned, by some means, his disgraceful drive in the cart. One, more insolent than the rest, had the audacity to interrupt him during dinner, and even to risk a battle in support of his pleasantry. Launcelot, after an easy victory, only doomed him to be carted in his turn.

At night he was received at another castle, with great apparent hospitality, but found himself in the morning in a dungeon, and loaded with chains. Consulting his ring, and finding that this was an enchantment, he burst his chains, seized his armor in spite of the visionary monsters who attempted to defend it, broke open the gates of the tower, and continued his journey. At length his progress was checked by a wide and rapid torrent, which could only be passed on a narrow bridge, on which a false step would prove his destruction. Launcelot, leading his horse by the bridle, and making him swim by his side, passed over the bridge, and was attacked as soon as he reached the bank by a lion and a leopard, both of which he slew, and then, exhausted and bleeding, seated himself on the grass, and endeavored to bind up his wounds, when he was accosted by Brademagus, the father of Maleagans, whose castle was then in sight, and at no great distance. This king, no less courteous than his son was haughty and insolent, after complimenting Sir Launcelot on the valor and skill he had displayed in the perils of the bridge and the wild beasts, offered him his assistance, and informed him that the queen was safe in his castle, but could only be rescued by encountering Maleagans. Launcelot demanded the battle for the next day, and accordingly it took place, at the foot of the tower, and under the eyes of the fair captive. Launcelot was enfeebled by his wounds, and fought not with his usual spirit, and the contest for a time was doubtful; till Guenever exclaimed, “Ah, Launcelot! my knight, truly have I been told that thou art no longer worthy of me!” These words instantly revived the drooping knight; he resumed at once his usual superiority, and soon laid at his feet his haughty adversary.

He was on the point of sacrificing him to his resentment, when Guenever, moved by the entreaties of Brademagus, ordered him to withhold the blow, and he obeyed. The castle and its prisoners were now at his disposal. Launcelot hastened to the apartment of the queen, threw himself at her feet, and was about to kiss her hand, when she exclaimed, “Ah, Launcelot! why do I see thee again, yet feel thee to be no longer worthy of me, after having been disgracefully drawn about the country in a—” She had not time to finish the phrase, for her lover suddenly started from her, and, bitterly lamenting that he had incurred the displeasure of his sovereign lady, rushed out of the castle, threw his sword and his shield to the right and left, ran furiously into the woods, and disappeared.

It seems that the story of the abominable cart, which haunted Launcelot at every step, had reached the ears of Sir Kay, who had told it to the queen, as a proof that her knight must have been dishonored. But Guenever had full leisure to repent the haste with which she had given credit to the tale. Three days elapsed, during which Launcelot wandered without knowing where he went, till at last he began to reflect that his mistress had doubtless been deceived by misrepresentation, and that it was his duty to set her right. He therefore returned, compelled Maleagans to release his prisoners, and, taking the road by which they expected the arrival of Sir Gawain, had the satisfaction of meeting him the next day; after which the whole company proceeded gayly towards Camelot.

King Arthur proclaimed a solemn tournament to be held at Winchester. The king, not less impatient than his knights for this festival, set off some days before to superintend the preparations, leaving the queen with her court at Camelot. Sir Launcelot, under pretence of indisposition, remained behind also. His intention was to attend the tournament—in disguise; and having communicated his project to Guenever, he mounted his horse, set off without any attendant, and, counterfeiting the feebleness of age, took the most unfrequented road to Winchester, and passed unnoticed as an old knight who was going to be a spectator of the sports. Even Arthur and Gawain, who happened to behold him from the windows of a castle under which he passed, were the dupes of his disguise. But an accident betrayed him. His horse happened to stumble, and the hero, forgetting for a moment his assumed character, recovered the animal with a strength and agility so peculiar to himself, that they instantly recognized the inimitable Launcelot. They suffered him, however, to proceed on his journey without interruption, convinced that his extraordinary feats of arms must discover him at the approaching festival.

In the evening Launcelot was magnificently entertained as a stranger knight at the neighboring castle of Shalott. The lord of this castle had a daughter of exquisite beauty, and two sons lately received into the order of knighthood, one of whom was at that time ill in bed, and thereby prevented from attending the tournament, for which both brothers had long made preparation. Launcelot offered to attend the other, if he were permitted to borrow the armor of the invalid, and the lord of Shalott, without knowing the name of his guest, being satisfied from his appearance that his son could not have a better assistant in arms, most thankfully accepted the offer. In the meantime the young lady, who had been much struck by the first appearance of the stranger knight, continued to survey him with increased attention, and, before the conclusion of supper, became so deeply enamoured of him, that after frequent changes of color, and other symptoms which Sir Launcelot could not possibly mistake, she was obliged to retire to her chamber, and seek relief in tears. Sir Launcelot hastened to convey to her, by means of her brother, the information that his heart was already disposed of, but that it would be his pride and pleasure to act as her knight at the approaching tournament. The lady, obliged to be satisfied with that courtesy, presented him her scarf to be worn at the tournament.

Launcelot set off in the morning with the young knight, who, on their approaching Winchester, carried him to the castle of a lady, sister to the lord of Shalott, by whom they were hospitably entertained. The next day they put on their armor, which was perfectly plain and without any device, as was usual to youths during the first year of knighthood, their shields being only painted red, as some color was necessary to enable them to be recognized by their attendants. Launcelot wore on his crest the scarf of the maid of Shalott, and, thus equipped, proceeded to the tournament, where the knights were divided into two companies, the one commanded by Sir Galehaut, the other by King Arthur. Having surveyed the combat for a short time from without the lists, and observed that Sir Galehaut’s party began to give way, they joined the press and attacked the royal knights, the young man choosing such adversaries as were suited to his strength, while his companion selected the principal champions of the Round Table, and successively overthrew Gawain, Bohort, and Lionel. The astonishment of the spectators was extreme, for it was thought that no one but Launcelot could possess such invincible force; yet the favor on his crest seemed to preclude the possibility of his being thus disguised, for Launcelot had never been known to wear the badge of any but his sovereign lady. At length Sir Hector, Launcelot’s brother, engaged him, and, after a dreadful combat, wounded him dangerously in the head, but was himself completely stunned by a blow on the helmet, and felled to the ground; after which the conqueror rode off at full speed, attended by his companion.

They returned to the castle of Shalott, where Launcelot was attended with the greatest care by the good earl, by his two sons, and, above all, by his fair daughter, whose medical skill probably much hastened the period of his recovery. His health was almost completely restored, when Sir Hector, Sir Bohort, and Sir Lionel, who, after the return of the court to Camelot, had undertaken the quest of their relation, discovered him walking on the walls of the castle. Their meeting was very joyful; they passed three days in the castle amidst constant festivities, and bantered each other on the events of the tournament. Launcelot, though he began by vowing vengeance against the author of his wound, yet ended by declaring that he felt rewarded for the pain by the pride he took in witnessing his brother’s extraordinary prowess. He then dismissed them with a message to the queen, promising to follow immediately, it being necessary that he should first take a formal leave of his kind hosts, as well as of the fair maid of Shalott.

The young lady, after vainly attempting to detain him by her tears and solicitations, saw him depart without leaving her any ground for hope.

It was early summer when the tournament took place; but some months had passed since Launcelot’s departure, and winter was now near at hand. The health and strength of the Lady of Shalott had gradually sunk, and she felt that she could not live apart from the object of her affections. She left the castle, and descending to the river’s brink placed herself in a boat, which she loosed from its moorings, and suffered to bear her down the current toward Camelot.

One morning, as Arthur and Sir Lionel looked from the window of the tower, the walls of which were washed by a river, they descried a boat richly ornamented, and covered with an awning of cloth of gold, which appeared to be floating down the stream without any human guidance. It struck the shore while they watched it, and they hastened down to examine it. Beneath the awning they discovered the dead body of a beautiful woman, in whose features Sir Lionel easily recognized the lovely maid of Shalott. Pursuing their search, they discovered a purse richly embroidered with gold and jewels, and within the purse a letter, which Arthur opened, and found addressed to himself and all the knights of the Round Table, stating that Launcelot of the Lake, the most accomplished of knights and most beautiful of men, but at the same time the most cruel and inflexible, had by his rigor produced the death of the wretched maiden, whose love was no less invincible than his cruelty. The king immediately gave orders for the interment of the lady with all the honors suited to her rank, at the same time explaining to the knights the history of her affection for Launcelot, which moved the compassion and regret of all.

Tennyson has chosen the story of the “Lady of Shalott” for the subject of a poem. The catastrophe is told thus:

“Under tower and balcony,
By garden-wall and gallery,
A gleaming shape she floated by,
A corse between the houses high,
Silent into Camelot.
Out upon the wharfs they came,
Knight and burgher, lord and dame,
And round the prow they read her name,
‘The Lady of Shalott’

“Who is this? and what is here?
And in the lighted palace near
Died the sound of royal cheer;
And they crossed themselves for fear,

All the knights at Camelot.
But Launcelot mused a little space;
He said, ‘She has a lovely face;
上帝以他的仁慈赐予她恩典，
The Lady of Shalott.'”

It happened at this time that Queen Guenever was thrown into great peril of her life. A certain squire who was in her immediate service, having some cause of animosity to Sir Gawain, determined to destroy him by poison, at a public entertainment. For this purpose he concealed the poison in an apple of fine appearance, which he placed on the top of several others, and put the dish before the queen, hoping that, as Sir Gawain was the knight of greatest dignity, she would present the apple to him. But it happened that a Scottish knight of high distinction, who arrived on that day, was seated next to the queen, and to him as a stranger she presented the apple, which he had no sooner eaten than he was seized with dreadful pain, and fell senseless. The whole court was, of course, thrown into confusion; the knights rose from table, darting looks of indignation at the wretched queen, whose tears and protestations were unable to remove their suspicions. In spite of all that could be done the knight died, and nothing remained but to order a magnificent funeral and monument for him, which was done.

Some time after Sir Mador, brother of the murdered knight, arrived at Arthur’s court in quest of him. While hunting in the forest he by chance came to the spot where the monument was erected, read the inscription, and returned to court determined on immediate and signal vengeance. He rode into the hall, loudly accused the queen of treason, and insisted on her being given up for punishment, unless she should find by a certain day a knight hardy enough to risk his life in support of her innocence. Arthur, powerful as he was, did not dare to deny the appeal, but was compelled with a heavy heart to accept it, and Mador sternly took his departure, leaving the royal couple plunged in terror and anxiety.

During all this time Launcelot was absent, and no one knew where he was. He fled in anger from his fair mistress, upon being reproached by her with his passion for the Lady of Shalott, which she had hastily inferred from his wearing her scarf at the tournament. He took up his abode with a hermit in the forest, and resolved to think no more of the cruel beauty, whose conduct he thought must flow from a wish to get rid of him. Yet calm reflection had somewhat cooled his indignation, and he had begun to wish, though hardly able to hope, for a reconciliation when the news of Sir Mador’s challenge fortunately reached his ears. The intelligence revived his spirits, and he began to prepare with the utmost cheerfulness for a contest which, if successful, would insure him at once the affection of his mistress and the gratitude of his sovereign.

The sad fate of the Lady of Shalott had ere this completely acquitted Launcelot in the queen’s mind of all suspicion of his fidelity, and she lamented most grievously her foolish quarrel with him, which now, at her time of need, deprived her of her most efficient champion.

As the day appointed by Sir Mador was fast approaching, it became necessary that she should procure a champion for her defence; and she successively adjured Sir Hector, Sir Lionel, Sir Bohort, and Sir Gawain to undertake the battle. She fell on her knees before them, called heaven to witness her innocence of the crime alleged against her, but was sternly answered by all that they could not fight to maintain the innocence of one whose act, and the fatal consequence of it, they had seen with their own eyes. She retired, therefore, dejected and disconsolate; but the sight of the fatal pile on which, if guilty, she was doomed to be burned, exciting her to fresh effort, she again repaired to Sir Bohort, threw herself at his feet, and piteously calling on him for mercy, fell into a swoon. The brave knight was not proof against this. He raised her up, and hastily promised that he would undertake her cause, if no other or better champion should present himself. He then summoned his friends, and told them his resolution; and as a mortal combat with Sir Mador was a most fearful enterprise, they agreed to accompany him in the morning to the hermitage in the forest, where he proposed to receive absolution from the hermit, and to make his peace with Heaven before he entered the lists. As they approached the hermitage, they espied a knight riding in the forest, whom they at once recognized as Sir Launcelot. Overjoyed at the meeting, they quickly, in answer to his questions, confirmed the news of the queen’s imminent danger, and received his instructions to return to court, to comfort her as well as they could, but to say nothing of his intention of undertaking her defence, which he meant to do in tne character of an unknown adventurer.

On their return to the castle they found that mass was finished, and had scarcely time to speak to the queen before they were summoned into the hall to dinner. A general gloom was spread over the countenances of all the guests. Arthur himself was unable to conceal his dejection, and the wretched Guenever, motionless and bathed in tears, sat in trembling expectation of Sir Mador’s appearance. Nor was it long ere he stalked into the hall, and with a voice of thunder, rendered more impressive by the general silence, demanded instant justice on the guilty party. Arthur replied with dignity, that little of the day was yet spent, and that perhaps a champion might yet be found capable of satisfying his thirst for battle. Sir Bohort now rose from table, and shortly returning in complete armor, resumed his place, after receiving the embraces and thanks of the king, who now began to resume some degree of confidence. Sir Mador, growing impatient, again repeated his denunciations of vengeance, and insisted that the combat should no longer be postponed.

In the height of the debate there came riding into the hall a knight mounted on a black steed, and clad in black armor, with his visor down, and lance in hand. “Sir,” said the king, “is it your will to alight and partake of our cheer?” “Nay, sir,” he replied; “I come to save a lady’s life. The queen hath ill bestowed her favors, and honored many a knight, that in her hour of need she should have none to take her part. Thou that darest accuse her of treachery, stand forth, for to-day shalt thou need all thy might.”

Sir Mador, though surprised, was not appalled by the stern challenge and formidable appearance of his antagonist, but prepared for the encounter. At the first shock both were unhorsed. They then drew their swords, and commenced a combat which lasted from noon till evening, when Sir Mador, whose strength began to fail, was felled to the ground by Launcelot, and compelled to sue for mercy. The victor, whose arm was already raised to terminate the life of his opponent, instantly dropped his sword, courteously lifted up the fainting Sir Mador, frankly confessing that he had never before encountered so formidable an enemy. The other, with similar courtesy, solemnly renounced all further projects of vengeance for his brother’s death; and the two knights, now become fast friends, embraced each other with the greatest cordiality. In the meantime Arthur, having recognized Sir Launcelot, whose helmet was now unlaced, rushed down into the lists, followed by all his knights, to welcome and thank his deliverer. Guenever swooned with joy, and the place of combat suddenly exhibited a scene of the most tumultuous delight.

The general satisfaction was still further increased by the discovery of the real culprit. Having accidentally incurred some suspicion, he confessed his crime, and was publicly punished in the presence of Sir Mador.

The court now returned to the castle, which, with the title of “La Joyeuse Garde” bestowed upon it in memory of the happy event, was conferred on Sir Launcelot by Arthur, as a memorial of his gratitude.

Meliadus was king of Leonois, or Lionesse, a country famous in the annals of romance, which adjoined the kingdom of Cornwall, but has now disappeared from the map, having been, it is said, overwhelmed by the ocean. Meliadus was married to Isabella, sister of Mark, king of Cornwall. A fairy fell in love with him, and drew him away by enchantment while he was engaged in hunting. His queen set out in quest of him, but was taken ill on her journey, and died, leaving an infant son, whom, from the melancholy circumstances of his birth, she called Tristram.

Gouvernail, the queen’s squire, who had accompanied her, took charge of the child, and restored him to his father, who had at length burst the enchantments of the fairy, and returned home.

Meliadus after seven years married again, and the new queen, being jealous of the influence of Tristram with his father, laid plots for his life, which were discovered by Gouvernail, who in consequence fled with the boy to the court of the king of France, where Tristram was kindly received, and grew up improving in every gallant and knightly accomplishment, adding to his skill in arms the arts of music and of chess. In particular, he devoted himself to the chase and to all woodland sports, so that he became distinguished above all other chevaliers of the court for his knowledge of all that relates to hunting. No wonder that Belinda, the king’s daughter, fell in love with him; but as he did not return her passion, she, in a sudden impulse of anger, excited her father against him, and he was banished the kingdom. The princess soon repented of her act, and in despair destroyed herself, having first written a most tender letter to Tristram, sending him at the same time a beautiful and sagacious dog, of which she was very fond, desiring him to keep it as a memorial of her. Meliadus was now dead, and as his queen, Tristram’s stepmother, held the throne, Gouvernail was afraid to carry his pupil to his native country, and took him to Cornwall, to his uncle Mark, who gave him a kind reception.

King Mark resided at the castle of Tintadel, already mentioned in the history of Uther and Igerne. In this court Tristram became distinguished in all the exercises incumbent on a knight; nor was it long before he had an opportunity of practically employing his valor and skill. Moraunt, a celebrated champion, brother to the queen of Ireland, arrived at the court, to demand tribute of King Mark. The knights of Cornwall are in ill repute in romance for their cowardice, and they exhibited it on this occasion. King Mark could find no champion who dared to encounter the Irish knight, till his nephew Tristram, who had not yet received the honors of knighthood, craved to be admitted to the order, offering at the same time to fight the battle of Cornwall against the Irish champion. King Mark assented with reluctance; Tristram received the accolade, which conferred knighthood upon him, and the place and time were assigned for the encounter.

Without attempting to give the details of this famous combat, the first and one of the most glorious of Tristram’s exploits, we shall only say that the young knight, though severely wounded, cleft the head of Moraunt, leaving a portion of his sword in the wound. Moraunt, half dead with his wound and the disgrace of his defeat, hastened to hide himself in his ship, sailed away with all speed for Ireland, and died soon after arriving in his own country.

The kingdom of Cornwall was thus delivered from its tribute. Tristram, weakened by loss of blood, fell senseless. His friends flew to his assistance. They dressed his wounds, which in general healed readily; but the lance of Moraunt was poisoned, and one wound which it made yielded to no remedies, but grew worse day by day. The surgeons could do no more. Tristram asked permission of his uncle to depart, and seek for aid in the kingdom of Loegria (England). With his consent he embarked, and after tossing for many days on the sea, was driven by the winds to the coast of Ireland. He landed, full of joy and gratitude that he had escaped the peril of the sea; took his rote,[44]A musical instrument. and began to play. It was a summer evening, and the king of Ireland and his daughter, the beautiful Isoude, were at a window which overlooked the sea. The strange harper was sent for, and conveyed to the palace, where, finding that he was in Ireland, whose champion he had lately slain, he concealed his name, and called himself Tramtris. The queen undertook his cure, and by a medicated bath gradually restored him to health. His skill in music and in games occasioned his being frequently called to court, and he became the instructor of the princess Isoude in minstrelsy and poetry, who profited so well under his care, that she soon had no equal in the kingdom, except her instructor.

At this time a tournament was held, at which many knights of the Round Table, and others, were present. On the first day a Saracen prince, named Palamedes, obtained the advantage over all. They brought him to the court, and gave him a feast, at which Tristram, just recovering from his wound, was present. The fair Isoude appeared on this occasion in all her charms. Palamedes could not behold them without emotion, and made no effort to conceal his love. Tristram perceived it, and the pain he felt from jealousy taught him how dear the fair Isoude had already become to him.

Next day the tournament was renewed. Tristram, still feeble from his wound, rose during the night, took his arms, and concealed them in a forest near the place of the contest, and, after it had begun, mingled with the combatants. He overthrew all that encountered him, in particular Palamedes, whom he brought to the ground with a stroke of his lance, and then fought him hand to hand, bearing off the prize of the tourney. But his exertions caused his wound to reopen; he bled fast, and in this sad state, yet in triumph, they bore him to the palace. The fair Isoude devoted herself to his relief with an interest which grew more vivid day by day; and her skilful care soon restored him to health.

It happened one day that a damsel of the court, entering the closet where Tristram’s arms were deposited, perceived that a part of the sword had been broken off. It occurred to her that the missing portion was like that which was left in the skull of Moraunt, the Irish champion. She imparted her thought to the queen, who compared the fragment taken from her brother’s wound with the sword of Tristram, and was satisfied that it was part of the same, and that the weapon of Tristram was that which reft her brother’s life. She laid her griefs and resentment before the king, who satisfied himself with his own eyes of the truth of her suspicions. Tristram was cited before the whole court, and reproached with having dared to present himself before them after having slain their kinsman. He acknowledged that he had fought with Moraunt to settle the claim for tribute, and said that it was by force of winds and waves alone that he was thrown on their coast. The queen demanded vengeance for the death of her brother; the fair Isoude trembled and grew pale, but a murmur rose from all the assembly that the life of one so handsome and so brave should not be taken for such a cause, and generosity finally triumphed over resentment in the mind of the king. Tristram was dismissed in safety, but commanded to leave the kingdom without delay, and never to return thither under pain of death Tristram went back, with restored health, to Cornwall.

King Mark made his nephew give him a minute recital of his adventures. Tristram told him all minutely; but when he came to speak of the fair Isoude he described her charms with a warmth and energy such as none but a lover could display. King Mark was fascinated with the description, and, choosing a favorable time, demanded a boon[45]“Good faith was the very corner-stone of chivalry. Whenever a knight’s word was pledged (it mattered not how rashly) it was to be redeemed at any price. Hence the sacred obligation of the boon granted by a knight to his suppliant. Instances without number occur in romance, in which a knight, by rashly granting an indefinite boon, was obliged to do or suffer something extremely to his prejudice. But it is not in romance alone that we find such singular instances of adherence to an indefinite promise. The history of the times presents authentic transactions equally embarrassing and absurd”—SCOTT, note to Sir Tristram. of his nephew, who readily granted it. The king made him swear upon the holy reliques that he would fulfil his commands. Then Mark directed him to go to Ireland, and obtain for him the fair Isoude to be queen of Cornwall.

Tristram believed it was certain death for him to return to Ireland; and how could he act as ambassador for his uncle in such a cause? Yet, bound by his oath, he hesitated not for an instant. He only took the precaution to change his armor. He embarked for Ireland; but a tempest drove him to the coast of England, near Camelot, where King Arthur was holding his court, attended by the knights of the Round Table, and many others, the most illustrious in the world.

Tristram kept himself unknown. He took part in many justs; he fought many combats, in which he covered himself with glory. One day he saw among those recently arrived the king of Ireland, father of the fair Isoude. This prince, accused of treason against his liege sovereign, Arthur, came to Camelot to free himself from the charge. Blaanor, one of the most redoubtable warriors of the Round Table, was his accuser, and Argius, the king, had neither youthful vigor nor strength to encounter him. He must therefore seek a champion to sustain his innocence. But the knights of the Round Table were not at liberty to fight against one another, unless in a quarrel of their own. Argius heard of the great renown of the unknown knight; he also was witness of his exploits. He sought him, and conjured him to adopt his defence, and on his oath declared that he was innocent of the crime of which he was accused. Tristram readily consented, and made himself known to the king, who on his part promised to reward his exertions, if successful, with whatever gift he might ask.

Tristram fought with Blaanor, and overthrew him, and held his life in his power. The fallen warrior called on him to use his right of conquest, and strike the fatal blow. “God forbid,” said Tristram, “that I should take the life of so brave a knight!” He raised him up and restored him to his friends. The judges of the field decided that the king of Ireland was acquitted of the charge against him, and they led Tristram in triumph to his tent. King Argius, full of gratitude, conjured Tristram to accompany him to his kingdom. They departed together, and arrived in Ireland; and the queen, forgetting her resentment for her brother’s death, exhibited to the preserver of her husband’s life nothing but gratitude and good-will.

How happy a moment for Isoude, who knew that her father had promised his deliverer whatever boon he might ask! But the unhappy Tristram gazed on her with despair, at the thought of the cruel oath which bound him. His magnanimous soul subdued the force of his love. He revealed the oath which he had taken, and with trembling voice demanded the fair Isoude for his uncle.

Argius consented, and soon all was prepared for the departure of Isoude. Brengwain, her favorite maid of honor, was to accompany her. On the day of departure the queen took aside this devoted attendant, and told her that she had observed that her daughter and Tristram were attached to one another, and that to avert the bad effects of this inclination she had procured from a powerful fairy a potent philter (love-draught), which she directed Brengwain to administer to Isoude and to King Mark on the evening of their marriage.

Isoude and Tristram embarked together. A favorable wind filled the sails, and promised them a fortunate voyage. The lovers gazed upon one another, and could not repress their sighs. Love seemed to light up all his fires on their lips, as in their hearts. The day was warm; they suffered from thirst. Isoude first complained. Tristram descried the bottle containing the love-draught, which Brengwain had been so imprudent as to leave in sight. He took it, gave some of it to the charming Isoude, and drank the remainder himself. The dog Houdain licked the cup. The ship arrived in Cornwall, and Isoude was married to King Mark, The old monarch was delighted with his bride, and his gratitude to Tristram was unbounded. He loaded him with honors, and made him chamberlain of his palace, thus giving him access to the queen at all times.

In the midst of the festivities of the court which followed the royal marriage, an unknown minstrel one day presented himself, bearing a harp of peculiar construction. He excited the curiosity of King Mark by refusing to play upon it till he should grant him a boon. The king having promised to grant his request, the minstrel, who was none other than the Saracen knight, Sir Palamedes, the lover of the fair Isoude, sung to the harp a lay, in which he demanded Isoude as the promised gift. King Mark could not by the laws of knighthood withhold the boon. The lady was mounted on her horse, and led away by her triumphant lover. Tristram, it is needless to say, was absent at the time, and did not return until their departure. When he heard what had taken place he seized his rote, and hastened to the shore, where Isoude and her new master had already embarked. Tristram played upon his rote, and the sound reached the ears of Isoude, who became so deeply affected, that Sir Palamedes was induced to return with her to land, that they might see the unknown musician. Tristram watched his opportunity, seized the lady’s horse by the bridle, and plunged with her into the forest, tauntingly informing his rival that “what he had got by the harp he had lost by the rote.” Palamedes pursued, and a combat was about to commence, the result of which must have been fatal to one or other of these gallant knights; but Isoude stepped between them, and, addressing Palamedes, said, “You tell me that you love me; you will not then deny me the request I am about to make?” “Lady,” he replied, “I will perform your bidding.” “Leave, then,” said she, “this contest, and repair to King Arthur’s court, and salute Queen Guenever from me; tell her that there are in the world but two ladies, herself and I, and two lovers, hers and mine; and come thou not in future in any place where I am.” Palamedes burst into tears. “Ah, lady,” said he, “I will obey you; but I beseech you that you will not for ever steel your heart against me.” “Palamedes,” she replied, “may I never taste of joy again if I ever quit my first love.” Palamedes then went his way. The lovers remained a week in concealment, after which Tristram restored Isoude to her husband, advising him in future to reward minstrels in some other way.

The king showed much gratitude to Tristram, but in the bottom of his heart he cherished bitter jealousy of him. One day Tristram and Isoude were alone together in her private chamber. A base and cowardly knight of the court, named Andret, spied them through a keyhole. They sat at a table of chess, but were not attending to the game. Andret brought the king, having first raised his suspicions, and placed him so as to watch their motions. The king saw enough to confirm his suspicions, and he burst into the apartment with his sword drawn, and had nearly slain Tristram before he was put on his guard. But Tristram avoided the blow, drew his sword, and drove before him the cowardly monarch, chasing him through all the apartments of the palace, giving him frequent blows with the flat of his sword, while he cried in vain to his knights to save him. They were not inclined, or did not dare, to interpose in his behalf.

A proof of the great popularity of the tale of Sir Tristram is the fact that the Italian poets, Boiardo and Ariosto, have founded upon it the idea of the two enchanted fountains, which produced the opposite effects of love and hatred. Boiardo thus describes the fountain of hatred:

“Fair was that fountain, sculptured all of gold,
With alabaster sculptured, rich and rare;
And in its basin clear thou might’st behold
The flowery marge reflected fresh and fair.
Sage Merlin framed the font,—so legends bear,—
When on fair Isoude doated Tristram brave,
That the good errant knight, arriving there,
Might quaff oblivion in the enchanted wave,
And leave his luckless love, and ‘scape his timeless grave.

‘But ne’er the warrior’s evil fate allowed
His steps that fountain’s charmed verge to gain.
Though restless, roving on adventure proud,
He traversed oft the land and oft the main.”

TRISTRAM AND ISOUDE (Continued)

After this affair Tristram was banished from the kingdom, and Isoude shut up in a tower, which stood on the bank of a river. Tristram could not resolve to depart without some further communication with his beloved; so he concealed himself in the forest, till at last he contrived to attract her attention, by means of twigs which he curiously peeled, and sent down the stream under her window. By this means many secret interviews were obtained. Tristram dwelt in the forest, sustaining himself by game, which the dog Houdain ran down for him; for this faithful animal was unequalled in the chase, and knew so well his master’s wish for concealment, that, in the pursuit of his game, he never barked. At length Tristram departed, but left Houdain with Isoude, as a remembrancer of him.

Sir Tristram wandered through various countries, achieving the most perilous enterprises, and covering himself with glory, yet unhappy at the separation from his beloved Isoude. At length King Mark’s territory was invaded by a neighboring chieftain, and he was forced to summon his nephew to his aid. Tristram obeyed the call, put himself at the head of his uncle’s vassals, and drove the enemy out of the country. Mark was full of gratitude, and Tristram, restored to favor and to the society of his beloved Isoude, seemed at the summit of happiness. But a sad reverse was at hand.

Tristram had brought with him a friend named Pheredin, son of the king of Brittany. This young knight saw Queen Isoude, and could not resist her charms. Knowing the love of his friend for the queen, and that that love was returned, Pheredin concealed his own, until his health failed, and he feared he was drawing near his end. He then wrote to the beautiful queen that he was dying for love of her.

The gentle Isoude, in a moment of pity for the friend of Tristram, returned him an answer so kind and compassionate that it restored him to life. A few days afterwards Tristram found this letter. The most terrible jealousy took possession of his soul; he would have slain Pheredin, who with difficulty made his escape. Then Tristram mounted his horse, and rode to the forest, where for ten days he took no rest nor food. At length he was found by a damsel lying almost dead by the brink of a fountain. She recognized him, and tried in vain to rouse his attention. At last recollecting his love for music she went and got her harp, and played thereon. Tristram was roused from his reverie; tears flowed; he breathed more freely; he took the harp from the maiden, and sung this lay, with a voice broken with sobs:

“Sweet I sang in former days,
Kind love perfected my lays:
Now my art alone displays
The woe that on my being preys.

“Charming love, delicious power,
Worshipped from my earliest hour,
Thou who life on all dost shower,
Love! my life thou dost devour.

“In death’s hour I beg of thee,
Isoude, dearest enemy,
Thou who erst couldst kinder be,
When I’m gone, forget not me.

“On my gravestone passers-by
Oft will read, as low I lie,
‘Never wight in love could vie
With Tristram, yet she let him die.'”

Tristram, having finished his lay, wrote it off and gave it to the damsel, conjuring her to present it to the queen.

Meanwhile Queen Isoude was inconsolable at the absence of Tristram. She discovered that it was caused by the fatal letter which she had written to Pheredin. Innocent, but in despair at the sad effects of her letter, she wrote another to Pheredin, charging him never to see her again. The unhappy lover obeyed this cruel decree. He plunged into the forest, and died of grief and love in a hermit’s cell.

Isoude passed her days in lamenting the absence and unknown fate of Tristram. One day her jealous husband, having entered her chamber unperceived, overheard her singing the following lay:

“My voice to piteous wail is bent,
My harp to notes of languishment;
Ah, love! delightsome days be meant
For happier wights, with hearts content.

“Ah, Tristram’ far away from me,
Art thou from restless anguish free?
Ah! couldst thou so one moment be,
From her who so much loveth thee?”

The king hearing these words burst forth in a rage; but Isoude was too wretched to fear his violence. “You have heard me,” she said; “I confess it all. I love Tristram, and always shall love him. Without doubt he is dead, and died for me. I no longer wish to live. The blow that shall finish my misery will be most welcome.”

The king was moved at the distress of the fair Isoude, and perhaps the idea of Tristram’s death tended to allay his wrath. He left the queen in charge of her women, commanding them to take especial care lest her despair should lead her to do harm to herself.

Tristram meanwhile, distracted as he was, rendered a most important service to the shepherds by slaying a gigantic robber named Taullas, who was in the habit of plundering their flocks and rifling their cottages. The shepherds, in their gratitude to Tristram, bore him in triumph to King Mark to have him bestow on him a suitable reward. No wonder Mark failed to recognize in the half-clad, wild man, before him his nephew Tristram; but grateful for the service the unknown had rendered he ordered him to be well taken care of, and gave him in charge to the queen and her women. Under such care Tristram rapidly recovered his serenity and his health, so that the romancer tells us he became handsomer than ever. King Mark’s jealousy revived with Tristram’s health and good looks, and, in spite of his debt of gratitude so lately increased, he again banished him from the court.

Sir Tristram left Cornwall, and proceeded into the land of Loegria (England) in quest of adventures. One day he entered a wide forest. The sound of a little bell showed him that some inhabitant was near. He followed the sound, and found a hermit, who informed him that he was in the forest of Arnantes, belonging to the fairy Viviane, the Lady of the Lake, who, smitten with love for King Arthur, had found means to entice him to this forest, where by enchantments she held him a prisoner, having deprived him of all memory of who and what he was. The hermit informed him that all the knights of the Round Table were out in search of the king, and that he (Tristram) was now in the scene of the most grand and important adventures.

This was enough to animate Tristram in the search. He had not wandered far before he encountered a knight of Arthur’s court, who proved to be Sir Kay the Seneschal, who demanded of him whence he came. Tristram answering, “From Cornwall,” Sir Kay did not let slip the opportunity of a joke at the expense of the Cornish knight. Tristram chose to leave him in his error, and even confirmed him in it; for meeting some other knights Tristram declined to just with them. They spent the night together at an abbey, where Tristram submitted patiently to all their jokes. The Seneschal gave the word to his companions that they should set out early next day, and intercept the Cornish knight on his way, and enjoy the amusement of seeing his fright when they should insist on running a tilt with him. Tristram next morning found himself alone; he put on his armor, and set out to continue his quest. He soon saw before him the Seneschal and the three knights, who barred the way, and insisted on a just. Tristram excused himself a long time; at last he reluctantly took his stand. He encountered them, one after the other, and overthrew them all four, man and horse, and then rode off, bidding them not to forget their friend the knight of Cornwall.

Tristram had not ridden far when he met a damsel, who cried out, “Ah, my lord! hasten forward, and prevent a horrid treason!” Tristram flew to her assistance, and soon reached a spot where he beheld a knight, whom three others had borne to the ground, and were unlacing his helmet in order to cut off his head.

Tristram flew to the rescue, and slew with one stroke of his lance one of the assailants. The knight, recovering his feet, sacrificed another to his vengeance, and the third made his escape. The rescued knight then raised the visor of his helmet, and a long white beard fell down upon his breast. The majesty and venerable air of this knight made Tristram suspect that it was none other than Arthur himself, and the prince confirmed his conjecture. Tristram would have knelt before him, but Arthur received him in his arms, and inquired his name and country; but Tristram declined to disclose them, on the plea that he was now on a quest requiring secrecy. At this moment the damsel who had brought Tristram to the rescue darted forward, and, seizing the king’s hand, drew from his finger a ring, the gift of the fairy, and by that act dissolved the enchantment. Arthur, having recovered his reason and his memory, offered to Tristram to attach him to his court, and to confer honors and dignities upon him; but Tristram declined all, and only consented to accompany him till he should see him safe in the hands of his knights. Soon after, Hector de Marys rode up, and saluted the king, who on his part introduced him to Tristram as one of the bravest of his knights. Tristram took leave of the king and his faithful follower, and continued his quest.

We cannot follow Tristram through all the adventures which filled this epoch of his history. Suffice it to say, he fulfilled on all occasions the duty of a true knight, rescuing the oppressed, redressing wrongs, abolishing evil customs, and suppressing injustice, thus by constant action endeavoring to lighten the pains of absence from her he loved. In the meantime Isoude, separated from her dear Tristram, passed her days in languor and regret. At length she could no longer resist the desire to hear some news of her lover. She wrote a letter, and sent it by one of her damsels, niece of her faithful Brengwain. One day Tristram, weary with his exertions, had dismounted and laid himself down by the side of a fountain and fallen asleep. The damsel of Queen Isoude arrived at the same fountain, and recognized Passebreul, the horse of Tristram, and presently perceived his master asleep. He was thin and pale, showing evident marks of the pain he suffered in separation from his beloved. She awakened him, and gave him the letter which she bore, and Tristram enjoyed the pleasure, so sweet to a lover, of hearing from and talking about the object of his affections. He prayed the damsel to postpone her return till after the magnificent tournament which Arthur had proclaimed should have taken place, and conducted her to the castle of Persides, a brave and loyal knight, who received her with great consideration.

Tristram conducted the damsel of Queen Isoude to the tournament, and had her placed in the balcony among the ladies of the queen.

“He glanced and saw the stately galleries,
Dame, damsel, each through worship of their Queen
White-robed in honor of the stainless child,
And some with scatter’d jewels, like a bank
Of maiden snow mingled with sparks of fire.
He looked but once, and veiled his eyes again.”

—The Last Tournament.

He then joined the tourney. Nothing could exceed his strength and valor. Launcelot admired him, and by a secret presentiment declined to dispute the honor of the day with a knight so gallant and so skilful. Arthur descended from the balcony to greet the conqueror; but the modest and devoted Tristram, content with having borne off the prize in the sight of the messenger of Isoude, made his escape with her, and disappeared.

The next day the tourney recommenced. Tristram assumed different armor, that he might not be known; but he was soon detected by the terrible blows that he gave, Arthur and Guenever had no doubt that it was the same knight who had borne off the prize of the day before. Arthur’s gallant spirit was roused. After Launcelot of the Lake and Sir Gawain he was accounted the best knight of the Round Table. He went privately and armed himself, and came into the tourney in undistinguished armor. He ran a just with Tristram, whom he shook in his seat; but Tristram, who did not know him, threw him out of the saddle. Arthur recovered himself, and content with having made proof of the stranger knight bade Launcelot finish the adventure, and vindicate the honor of the Round Table. Sir Launcelot, at the bidding of the monarch, assailed Tristram, whose lance was already broken in former encounters. But the law of this sort of combat was that the knight after having broken his lance must fight with his sword, and must not refuse to meet with his shield the lance of his antagonist. Tristram met Launcelot’s charge upon his shield, which that terrible lance could not fail to pierce. It inflicted a wound upon Tristram’s side, and, breaking, left the iron in the wound. But Tristram also with his sword smote so vigorously on Launcelot’s casque that he cleft it, and wounded his head. The wound was not deep, but the blood flowed into his eyes, and blinded him for a moment, and Tristram, who thought himself mortally wounded, retired from the field. Launcelot declared to the king that he had never received such a blow in his life before.

Tristram hastened to Gouvernail, his squire, who drew forth the iron, bound up the wound, and gave him immediate ease. Tristram after the tournament kept retired in his tent, but Arthur, with the consent of all the knights of the Round Table, decreed him the honors of the second day. But it was no longer a secret that the victor of the two days was the same individual, and Gouvernail, being questioned, confirmed the suspicions of Launcelot and Arthur that it was no other than Sir Tristram of Leonais, the nephew of the king of Cornwall.

King Arthur, who desired to reward his distinguished valor, and knew that his Uncle Mark had ungratefully banished him, would have eagerly availed himself of the opportunity to attach Tristram to his court,—all the knights of the Round Table declaring with acclamation that it would be impossible to find a more worthy companion. But Tristram had already departed in search of adventures, and the damsel of Queen Isoude returned to her mistress.

Sir Tristram rode through a forest and saw ten men fighting, and one man did battle against nine. So he rode to the knights and cried to them, bidding them cease their battle, for they did themselves great shame, so many knights to fight against one. Then answered the master of the knights (his name was Sir Breuse sans Pitie, who was at that time the most villanous knight living): “Sir knight, what have ye to do to meddle with us? If ye be wise depart on your way as you came, for this knight shall not escape us.” “That were pity,” said Sir Tristram, “that so good a knight should be slain so cowardly; therefore I warn you I will succor him with all my puissance.”

Then Sir Tristram alighted off his horse, because they were on foot, that they should not slay his horse. And he smote on the right hand and on the left so vigorously that well-nigh at every stroke he struck down a knight. At last they fled, with Breuse sans Pitie, into the tower, and shut Sir Tristram without the gate. Then Sir Tristram returned back to the rescued knight, and found him sitting under a tree, sore wounded. “Fair knight,” said he, “how is it with you?” “Sir knight,” said Sir Palamedes, for he it was, “I thank you of your great goodness, for ye have rescued me from death.” “What is your name?” said Sir Tristram. He said, “My name is Sir Palamedes.” “Say ye so?” said Sir Tristram; “now know that thou art the man in the world that I most hate; therefore make thee ready, for I will do battle with thee.” “What is your name?” said Sir Palamedes. “My name is Sir Tristram, your mortal enemy.” “It may be so,” said Sir Palamedes; “but you have done overmuch for me this day, that I should fight with you. Moreover, it will be no honor for you to have to do with me, for you are fresh and I am wounded. Therefore, if you will needs have to do with me, assign me a day, and I shall meet you without fail.” “You say well, “said Sir Tristram; “now I assign you to meet me in the meadow by the river of Camelot, where Merlin set the monument.” So they were agreed. Then they departed and took their ways diverse. Sir Tristram passed through a great forest into a plain, till he came to a priory, and there he reposed him with a good man six days.

Then departed Sir Tristram, and rode straight into Camelot to the monument of Merlin, and there he looked about him for Sir Palamedes. And he perceived a seemly knight, who came riding against him all in white, with a covered shield. When he came nigh Sir Tristram said aloud, “Welcome, sir knight, and well and truly have you kept your promise.” Then they made ready their shields and spears, and came together with all the might of their horses, so fiercely, that both the horses and the knights fell to the earth. And as soon as they might they quitted their horses, and struck together with bright swords as men of might, and each wounded the other wonderfully sore, so that the blood ran out upon the grass. Thus they fought for the space of four hours and never one would speak to the other one word. Then at last spake the white knight, and said, “Sir, thou fightest wonderful well, as ever I saw knight; therefore, if it please you, tell me your name.” “Why dost thou ask my name?” said Sir Tristram; “art thou not Sir Palamedes?” “No, fair knight,” said he, “I am Sir Launcelot of the Lake.” “Alas!” said Sir Tristram, “what have I done? for you are the man of the world that I love best.” “Fair knight,” said Sir Launcelot, “tell me your name.” “Truly,” said he, “my name is Sir Tristram de Lionesse.” “Alas! alas!” said Sir Launcelot, “what adventure has befallen me!” And therewith Sir Launcelot kneeled down and yielded him up his sword; and Sir Tristram kneeled down and yielded him up his sword; and so either gave other the degree. And then they both went to the stone, and sat them down upon it and took off their helms and each kissed the other a hundred times. And then anon they rode toward Camelot, and on the way they met with Sir Gawain and Sir Gaheris, that had made promise to Arthur never to come again to the court till they had brought Sir Tristram with them.

“Return again,” said Sir Launcelot, “for your quest is done; for I have met with Sir Tristram. Lo, here he is in his own person.” Then was Sir Gawain glad, and said to Sir Tristram, “Ye are welcome.” With this came King Arthur, and when he wist there was Sir Tristram, he ran unto him, and took him by the hand, and said, “Sir Tristram, ye are as welcome as any knight that ever came to this court.” Then Sir Tristram told the king how he came thither for to have had to do with Sir Palamedes, and how he had rescued him from Sir Breuse sans Pitie and the nine knights. Then King Arthur took Sir Tristram by the hand, and went to the Table Round, and Queen Guenever came, and many ladies with her, and all the ladies said with one voice, “Welcome, Sir Tristram.” “Welcome,” said the knights. “Welcome,” said Arthur, “for one of the best of knights, and the gentlest of the world, and the man of most worship; for of all manner of hunting thou bearest the prize, and of all measures of blowing thou art the beginning, and of all the terms of hunting and hawking ye are the inventor, and of all instruments of music ye are the best skilled; therefore, gentle knight,” said Arthur, “ye are welcome to this court.” And then King Arthur made Sir Tristram knight of the Table Round with great nobley and feasting as can be thought.

Sir Tristram as a Sportsman

Tristram is often alluded to by the Romancers as the great
authority and model in all matters relating to the chase. In the
“Faery Queene,” Tristram, in answer to the inquiries of Sir
Calidore, informs him of his name and parentage, and concludes:

“All which my days I have not lewdly spent,
Nor spilt the blossom of my tender years
In idlesse; but, as was convenient,
Have trained been with many noble feres
In gentle thewes, and such like seemly leers;
‘Mongst which my most delight hath always been
To hunt the salvage chace, amongst my peers,
Of all that rangeth in the forest green,
Of which none is to me unknown that yet was seen.

“Ne is there hawk which mantleth on her perch,
Whether high towering or accosting low,
But I the measure of her flight do search,
And all her prey, and all her diet know.
Such be our joys, which in these forests grow.”[46]Feres, companions; thewes, labors; leers, learning.

The famous enchanter, Merlin, had exerted all his skill in fabricating the Round Table. Of the seats which surrounded it he had constructed thirteen, in memory of the thirteen Apostles. Twelve of these seats only could be occupied, and they only by knights of the highest fame; the thirteenth represented the seat of the traitor Judas. It remained always empty. It was called the PERILOUS SEAT, ever since a rash and haughty Saracen knight had dared to place himself in it, when the earth opened and swallowed him up.

“In our great hall there stood a vacant chair,
Fashion’d by Merlin ere he past away,
And carven with strange figures; and in and out
The figures, like a serpent, ran a scroll
Of letters in a tongue no man could read
And Merlin call’d it ‘The Siege perilous,’
Perilous for good and ill; ‘for there,’ he said,
‘No man could sit but he should lose himself.'”

—The Holy Grail.

A magic power wrote upon each seat the name of the knight who was entitled to sit in it. No one could succeed to a vacant seat unless he surpassed in valor and glorious deeds the knight who had occupied it before him; without this qualification he would be violently repelled by a hidden force. Thus proof was made of all those who presented themselves to replace any companions of the order who had fallen.

One of the principal seats, that of Moraunt of Ireland, had been vacant ten years, and his name still remained over it ever since the time when that distinguished champion fell beneath the sword of Sir Tristram. Arthur now took Tristram by the hand and led him to that seat. Immediately the most melodious sounds were heard, and exquisite perfumes filled the place; the name of Moraunt disappeared, and that of Tristram blazed forth in light. The rare modesty of Tristram had now to be subjected to a severe task; for the clerks charged with the duty of preserving the annals of the Round Table attended, and he was required by the law of his order to declare what feats of arms he had accomplished to entitle him to take that seat. This ceremony being ended, Tristram received the congratulations of all his companions. Sir Launcelot and Guenever took the occasion to speak to him of the fair Isoude, and to express their wish that some happy chance might bring her to the kingdom of Loegria.

While Tristram was thus honored and caressed at the court of King Arthur, the most gloomy and malignant jealousy harassed the soul of Mark. He could not look upon Isoude without remembering that she loved Tristram, and the good fortune of his nephew goaded him to thoughts of vengeance. He at last resolved to go disguised into the kingdom of Loegria, attack Tristram by stealth, and put him to death. He took with him two knights, brought up in his court, who he thought were devoted to him; and, not willing to leave Isoude behind, named two of her maidens to attend her, together with her faithful Brengwain, and made them accompany him.

Having arrived in the neighborhood of Camelot, Mark imparted his plan to his two knights, but they rejected it with horror; nay, more, they declared that they would no longer remain in his service; and left him, giving him reason to suppose that they should repair to the court to accuse him before Arthur. It was necessary for Mark to meet and rebut their accusation; so, leaving Isoude in an abbey, he pursued his way alone to Camelot.

Mark had not ridden far when he encountered a party of knights of Arthur’s court, and would have avoided them, for he knew their habit of challenging to a just every stranger knight whom they met. But it was too late. They had seen his armor, and recognized him as a Cornish knight, and at once resolved to have some sport with him. It happened they had with them Daguenet, King Arthur’s fool, who, though deformed and weak of body, was not wanting in courage. The knights as Mark approached laid their plan that Daguenet should personate Sir Launcelot of the Lake, and challenge the Cornish knight. They equipped him in armor belonging to one of their number who was ill, and sent him forward to the cross-road to defy the strange knight. Mark, who saw that his antagonist was by no means formidable in appearance, was not disinclined to the combat; but when the dwarf rode towards him, calling out that he was Sir Launcelot of the Lake, his fears prevailed, he put spurs to his horse, and rode away at full speed, pursued by the shouts and laughter of the party.

Meanwhile Isoude, remaining at the abbey with her faithful Brengwain, found her only amusement in walking occasionally in a forest adjoining the abbey. There, on the brink of a fountain girdled with trees, she thought of her love, and sometimes joined her voice and her harp in lays reviving the memory of its pains or pleasures. One day the caitiff knight, Breuse the Pitiless, heard her voice, concealed himself, and drew near. She sang:

“Sweet silence, shadowy bower, and verdant lair,
Ye court my troubled spirit to repose,
Whilst I, such dear remembrance rises there,
Awaken every echo with my woes

“Within these woods, by nature’s hand arrayed,
A fountain springs, and feeds a thousand flowers;
Ah! how my groans do all its murmurs aid!
How my sad eyes do swell it with their showers!

“What doth my knight the while? to him is given
A double meed; in love and arms’ emprise,
Him the Round Table elevates to heaven!
Tristram! ah me! he hears not Isoude’s cries.”

Breuse the Pitiless, who like most other caitiffs had felt the weight of Tristram’s arm, and hated him accordingly, at hearing his name breathed forth by the beautiful songstress, impelled by a double impulse, rushed forth from his concealment and laid hands on his victim. Isoude fainted, and Brengwain filled the air with her shrieks. Breuse carried Isoude to the place where he had left his horse; but the animal had got away from his bridle, and was at some distance. He was obliged to lay down his fair burden, and go in pursuit of his horse. Just then a knight came up, drawn by the cries of Brengwain, and demanded the cause of her distress. She could not speak, but pointed to her mistress lying insensible on the ground.

Breuse had by this time returned, and the cries of Brengwain, renewed at seeing him, sufficiently showed the stranger the cause of the distress. Tristram spurred his horse towards Breuse, who, not unprepared, ran to the encounter. Breuse was unhorsed, and lay motionless, pretending to be dead; but when the stranger knight left him to attend to the distressed damsels, he mounted his horse, and made his escape.

The knight now approached Isoude, gently raised her head, drew aside the golden hair which covered her countenance, gazed thereon for an instant, uttered a cry, and fell back insensible. Brengwain came; her cares soon restored her mistress to life, and they then turned their attention to the fallen warrior. They raised his visor, and discovered the countenance of Sir Tristram. Isoude threw herself on the body of her lover, and bedewed his face with her tears. Their warmth revived the knight, and Tristram on awaking found himself in the arms of his dear Isoude.

It was the law of the Round Table that each knight after his admission should pass the next ten days in quest of adventures, during which time his companions might meet him in disguised armor and try their strength with him. Tristram had now been out seven days, and in that time had encountered many of the best knights of the Round Table, and acquitted himself with honor. During the remaining three days, Isoude remained at the abbey, under his protection, and then set out with her maidens, escorted by Sir Tristram, to rejoin King Mark at the court of Camelot.

This happy journey was one of the brightest epochs in the lives of Tristram and Isoude. He celebrated it by a lay upon the harp in a peculiar measure, to which the French give the name of Triolet.

“With fair Isoude, and with love,
Ah! how sweet the life I lead!
How blest for ever thus to rove,
With fair Isoude, and with love!
As she wills, I live and move,
And cloudless days to days succeed:
With fair Isoude, and with love,
Ah! how sweet the life I lead!

“Journeying on from break of day,
Feel you not fatigued, my fair?
Yon green turf invites to play;
Journeying on from day to day,
Ah! let us to that shade away,
Were it but to slumber there!
Journeying on from break of day,
Feel you not fatigued, my fair?”

They arrived at Camelot, where Sir Launcelot received them most cordially. Isoude was introduced to King Arthur and Queen Guenever, who welcomed her as a sister. As King Mark was held in arrest under the accusation of the two Cornish knights, Queen Isoude could not rejoin her husband, and Sir Launcelot placed his castle of La Joyeuse Garde at the disposal of his friends, who there took up their abode.

King Mark, who found himself obliged to confess the truth of the charge against him, or to clear himself by combat with his accusers, preferred the former, and King Arthur, as his crime had not been perpetrated, remitted the penalty, only enjoining upon him, under pain of his signal displeasure, to lay aside all thoughts of vengeance against his nephew. In the presence of the king and his court all parties were formally reconciled; Mark and his queen departed for their home, and Tristram remained at Arthur’s court.

While Sir Tristram and the fair Isoude abode yet at La Joyeuse Garde, Sir Tristram rode forth one day, without armor, having no weapon but his spear and his sword. And as he rode he came to a place where he saw two knights in battle, and one of them had gotten the better and the other lay overthrown. The knight who had the better was Sir Palamedes. When Sir Palamedes knew Sir Tristram, he cried out, “Sir Tristram, now we be met, and ere we depart we will redress our old wrongs.” “As for that,” said Sir Tristram, “there never yet was Christian man that might make his boast that I ever fled from him, and thou that art a Saracen shalt never say that of me.” And therewith Sir Tristram made his horse to run, and with all his might came straight upon Sir Palamedes, and broke his spear upon him. Then he drew his sword and struck at Sir Palamedes six great strokes, upon his helm. Sir Palamedes saw that Sir Tristram had not his armor on, and he marvelled at his rashness and his great folly; and said to himself, “If I meet and slay him, I am shamed wheresoever I go.” Then Sir Tristram cried out and said, “Thou coward knight, why wilt thou not do battle with me? for have thou no doubt I shall endure all thy malice.” “Ah, Sir Tristram!” said Sir Palamedes, “thou knowest I may not fight with thee for shame; for thou art here naked, and I am armed; now I require that thou answer me a question that I shall ask you.” “Tell me what it is,” said Sir Tristram. “I put the case,” said Palamedes, “that you were well armed, and I naked as ye be; what would you do to me now, by your true knighthood?” “Ah!” said Sir Tristram, “now I understand thee well, Sir Palamedes; and, as God bless me, what I shall say shall not be said for fear that I have of thee. But if it were so, thou shouldest depart from me, for I would not have to do with thee.” “No more will I with thee,” said Sir Palamedes, “and therefore ride forth on thy way.” “As for that, I may choose,” said Sir Tristram, “either to ride or to abide. But, Sir Palamedes, I marvel at one thing,—that thou art so good a knight, yet that thou wilt not be christened.” “As for that,” said Sir Palamedes, “I may not yet be christened, for a vow which I made many years ago; yet in my heart I believe in our Saviour and his mild mother, Mary; but I have yet one battle to do, and when that is done I will be christened, with a good will.” “By my head,” said Sir Tristram, “as for that one battle, thou shalt seek it no longer; for yonder is a knight, whom you have smitten down. Now help me to be clothed in his armor, and I will soon fulfil thy vow.” “As ye will,” said Sir Palamedes, “so shall it be.” So they rode both unto that knight that sat on a bank; and Sir Tristram saluted him, and he full weary saluted him again. “Sir,” said Sir Tristram, “I pray you to lend me your whole armor; for I am unarmed, and I must do battle with this knight.” “Sir,” said the hurt knight, “you shall have it, with a right good will,” Then Sir Tristram unarmed Sir Galleron, for that was the name of the hurt knight, and he as well as he could helped to arm Sir Tristram. Then Sir Tristram mounted upon his own horse, and in his hand he took Sir Galleron’s spear. Thereupon Sir Palamedes was ready, and so they came hurling together, and each smote the other in the midst of their shields. Sir Palamedes’ spear broke, and Sir Tristram smote down the horse. Then Sir Palamedes leapt from his horse, and drew out his sword. That saw Sir Tristram, and therewith he alighted and tied his horse to a tree. Then they came together as two wild beasts, lashing the one on the other, and so fought more than two hours; and often Sir Tristram smote such strokes at Sir Palamedes that he made him to kneel, and Sir Palamedes broke away Sir Tristram’s shield, and wounded him. Then Sir Tristram was wroth out of measure, and he rushed to Sir Palamedes and wounded him passing sore through the shoulder, and by fortune smote Sir Palamedes’ sword out of his hand And if Sir Palamedes had stooped for his sword Sir Tristram had slain him. Then Sir Palamedes stood and beheld his sword with a full sorrowful heart. “Now,” said Sir Tristram, “I have thee at a vantage, as thou hadst me to-day; but it shall never be said, in court, or among good knights, that Sir Tristram did slay any knight that was weaponless; therefore take thou thy sword, and let us fight this battle to the end.” Then spoke Sir Palamedes to Sir Tristram: “I have no wish to fight this battle any more. The offence that I have done unto you is not so great but that, if it please you, we may be friends. All that I have offended is for the love of the queen, La Belle Isoude, and I dare maintain that she is peerless among ladies; and for that offence ye have given me many grievous and sad strokes, and some I have given you again. Wherefore I require you, my lord Sir Tristram, forgive me all that I have offended you, and this day have me unto the next church; and first I will be clean confessed, and after that see you that I be truly baptized, and then we will ride together unto the court of my lord, King Arthur, so that we may be there at the feast of Pentecost.” “Now take your horse,” said Sir Tristram, “and as you have said, so shall it be done.” So they took their horses, and Sir Galleron rode with them. When they came to the church of Carlisle, the bishop commanded to fill a great vessel with water; and when he had hallowed it, he then confessed Sir Palamedes clean, and christened him, and Sir Tristram and Sir Galleron were his godfathers. Then soon after they departed, and rode towards Camelot, where the noble King Arthur and Queen Guenever were keeping a court royal. And the king and all the court were glad that Sir Palamedes was christened.

Not long after these events Sir Gawain returned from Brittany, and related to King Arthur the adventure which befell him in the forest of Breciliande, how Merlin had there spoken to him, and enjoined him to charge the king to go without delay upon the quest of the Holy Greal. While King Arthur deliberated Tristram determined to enter upon the quest, and the more readily, as it was well known to him that this holy adventure would, if achieved, procure him the pardon of all his sins. He immediately departed for the kingdom of Brittany, hoping there to obtain from Merlin counsel as to the proper course to pursue to insure success.

On arriving in Brittany Tristram found King Hoel engaged in a war with a rebellious vassal, and hard pressed by his enemy. His best knights had fallen in a late battle, and he knew not where to turn for assistance. Tristram volunteered his aid. It was accepted; and the army of Hoel, led by Tristram, and inspired by his example, gained a complete victory. The king, penetrated by the most lively sentiments of gratitude, and having informed himself of Tristram’s birth, offered him his daughter in marriage. The princess was beautiful and accomplished, and bore the same name with the Queen of Cornwall; but this one is designated by the Romancers as Isoude of the White Hands, to distinguish her from Isoude the Fair.

How can we describe the conflict that agitated the heart of Tristram? He adored the first Isoude, but his love for her was hopeless, and not unaccompanied by remorse. Moreover, the sacred quest on which he had now entered demanded of him perfect purity of life. It seemed as if a happy destiny had provided for him in the charming princess Isoude of the White Hands the best security for all his good resolutions. This last reflection determined him. They were married, and passed some months in tranquil happiness at the court of King Hoel. The pleasure which Tristram felt in his wife’s society increased day by day. An inward grace seemed to stir within him from the moment when he took the oath to go on the quest of the Holy Greal; it seemed even to triumph over the power of the magic love-potion.

The war, which had been quelled for a time, now burst out anew. Tristram as usual was foremost in every danger. The enemy was worsted in successive conflicts, and at last shut himself up in his principal city. Tristram led on the attack of the city. As he mounted a ladder to scale the walls he was struck on the head by a fragment of rock, which the besieged threw down upon him. It bore him to the ground, where he lay insensible.

As soon as he recovered consciousness he demanded to be carried to his wife. The princess, skilled in the art of surgery, would not suffer any one but herself to touch her beloved husband. Her fair hands bound up his wounds; Tristram kissed them with gratitude, which began to grow into love. At first the devoted cares of Isoude seemed to meet with great success; but after a while these flattering appearances vanished, and, in spite of all her care, the malady grew more serious day by day.

In this perplexity, an old squire of Tristram’s reminded his master that the princess of Ireland, afterwards queen of Cornwall, had once cured him under circumstances quite as discouraging. He called Isoude of the White Hands to him, told her of his former cure, added that he believed that the Queen Isoude could heal him, and that he felt sure that she would come to his relief, if sent for.

Isoude of the White Hands consented that Gesnes, a trusty man and skilful navigator, should be sent to Cornwall. Tristram called him, and, giving him a ring, “Take this,” he said, “to the Queen of Cornwall. Tell her that Tristram, near to death, demands her aid. If you succeed in bringing her with you, place white sails to your vessel on your return, that we may know of your success when the vessel first heaves in sight. But if Queen Isoude refuses, put on black sails; they will be the presage of my impending death.”

Gesnes performed his mission successfully. King Mark happened to be absent from his capital, and the queen readily consented to return with the bark to Brittany. Gesnes clothed his vessel in the whitest of sails, and sped his way back to Brittany.

Meantime the wound of Tristram grew more desperate day by day. His strength, quite prostrated, no longer permitted him to be carried to the seaside daily, as had been his custom from the first moment when it was possible for the bark to be on the way homeward. He called a young damsel, and gave her in charge to keep watch in the direction of Cornwall, and to come and tell him the color of the sails of the first vessel she should see approaching.

When Isoude of the White Hands consented that the queen of Cornwall should be sent for, she had not known all the reasons which she had for fearing the influence which renewed intercourse with that princess might have on her own happiness. She had now learned more, and felt the danger more keenly. She thought, if she could only keep the knowledge of the queen’s arrival from her husband, she might employ in his service any resources which her skill could supply, and still avert the dangers which she apprehended. When the vessel was seen approaching, with its white sails sparkling in the sun, the damsel, by command of her mistress, carried word to Tristram that the sails were black.

Tristram, penetrated with inexpressible grief, breathed a profound sigh, turned away his face, and said, “Alas, my beloved! we shall never see one another again!” Then he commended himself to God, and breathed his last.

The death of Tristram was the first intelligence which the queen of Cornwall heard on landing. She was conducted almost senseless into the chamber of Tristram, and expired holding him in her arms.

Tristram, before his death, had requested that his body should be sent to Cornwall, and that his sword, with a letter he had written, should be delivered to King Mark. The remains of Tristram and Isoude were embarked in a vessel, along with the sword, which was presented to the king of Cornwall. He was melted with tenderness when he saw the weapon which slew Moraunt of Ireland,— which had so often saved his life, and redeemed the honor of his kingdom. In the letter Tristram begged pardon of his uncle, and related the story of the amorous draught.

Mark ordered the lovers to be buried in his own chapel. From the tomb of Tristram there sprung a vine, which went along the walls, and descended into the grave of the queen. It was cut down three times, but each time sprung up again more vigorous than before, and this wonderful plant has ever since shaded the tombs of Tristram and Isoude.

Spenser introduces Sir Tristram in his “Faery Queene.” In Book VI., Canto ii., Sir Calidore encounters in the forest a young hunter, whom he thus describes:

“Him steadfastly he marked, and saw to be
A goodly youth of amiable grace,
Yet but a slender slip, that scarce did see
Yet seventeen yeares; but tall and faire of face,
That sure he deemed him borne of noble race.
All in a woodman’s jacket he was clad
Of Lincoln greene, belayed with silver lace;
And on his head an hood with aglets sprad,
And by his side his hunter’s horne he hanging had.[47]Aglets, points or tags

“Buskins he wore of costliest cordawayne,
Pinckt upon gold, and paled part per part,
As then the guize was for each gentle swayne.
In his right hand he held a trembling dart,
Whose fellow he before had sent apart;
And in his left he held a sharp bore-speare,
With which he wont to launch the salvage heart
Of many a lyon, and of many a beare,
That first unto his hand in chase did happen neare.”[48]PINCKT UPON GOLD, ETC., adorned with golden points, or eyelets, and regularly intersected with stripes. PALED (in heraldry), striped

The father and two elder brothers of Perceval had fallen in battle or tournaments, and hence, as the last hope of his family, his mother retired with him into a solitary region, where he was brought up in total ignorance of arms and chivalry. He was allowed no weapon but “a lyttel Scots spere,” which was the only thing of all “her lordes faire gere” that his mother carried to the wood with her. In the use of this he became so skilful, that he could kill with it not only the animals of the chase for the table, but even birds on the wing. At length, however, Perceval was roused to a desire of military renown by seeing in the forest five knights who were in complete armor. He said to his mother, “Mother, what are those yonder?” “They are angels, my son,” said she. “By my faith, I will go and become an angel with them.” And Perceval went to the road and met them. “Tell me, good lad,” said one of them, “sawest thou a knight pass this way either today or yesterday?” “I know not,” said he, “what a knight is.” “Such an one as I am,” said the knight. “If thou wilt tell me what I ask thee, I will tell thee what thou askest me.” “Gladly will I do so,” said Sir Owain, for that was the knight’s name. “What is this?” demanded Perceval, touching the saddle. “It is a saddle,” said Owain. Then he asked about all the accoutrements which he saw upon the men and the horses, and about the arms, and what they were for, and how they were used. And Sir Owain showed him all those things fully. And Perceval in return gave him such information as he had

Then Perceval returned to his mother, and said to her, “Mother, those were not angels, but honorable knights.” Then his mother swooned away. And Perceval went to the place where they kept the horses that carried firewood and provisions for the castle, and he took a bony, piebald horse, which seemed to him the strongest of them. And he pressed a pack into the form of a saddle, and with twisted twigs he imitated the trappings which he had seen upon the horses. When he came again to his mother, the countess had recovered from her swoon. “My son,” said she, “desirest thou to ride forth?” “Yes, with thy leave,” said he. “Go forward, then,” she said, “to the court of Arthur, where there are the best and the noblest and the most bountiful of men, and tell him thou art Perceval, the son of Pelenore, and ask of him to bestow knighthood on thee. And whenever thou seest a church, repeat there thy pater- noster; and if thou see meat and drink, and hast need of them, thou mayest take them. If thou hear an outcry of one in distress, proceed toward it, especially if it be the cry of a woman, and render her what service thou canst. If thou see a fair jewel, win it, for thus shalt thou acquire fame; yet freely give it to another, for thus thou shalt obtain praise. If thou see a fair woman, pay court to her, for thus thou wilt obtain love.”

After this discourse Perceval mounted the horse and taking a number of sharp-pointed sticks in his hand he rode forth. And he rode far in the woody wilderness without food or drink. At last he came to an opening in the wood where he saw a tent, and as he thought it might be a church he said his pater-noster to it. And he went towards it; and the door of the tent was open. And Perceval dismounted and entered the tent. In the tent he found a maiden sitting, with a golden frontlet on her forehead and a gold ring on her hand. And Perceval said, “Maiden, I salute you, for my mother told me whenever I met a lady I must respectfully salute her.” Perceiving in one corner of the tent some food, two flasks full of wine, and some boar’s flesh roasted, he said, “My mother told me, whenever I saw meat and drink to take it.” And he ate greedily, for he was very hungry. The maiden said, “Sir, thou hadst best go quickly from here, for fear that my friends should come, and evil should befall you.” But Perceval said, “My mother told me wheresoever I saw a fair jewel to take it,” and he took the gold ring from her finger, and put it on his own; and he gave the maiden his own ring in exchange for hers; then he mounted his horse and rode away.

Perceval journeyed on till he arrived at Arthur’s court. And it so happened that just at that time an uncourteous knight had offered Queen Guenever a gross insult. For when her page was serving the queen with a golden goblet, this knight struck the arm of the page and dashed the wine in the queen’s face and over her stomacher. Then he said, “If any have boldness to avenge this insult to Guenever, let him follow me to the meadow.” So the knight took his horse and rode to the meadow, carrying away the golden goblet. And all the household hung down their heads and no one offered to follow the knight to take vengeance upon him. For it seemed to them that no one would have ventured on so daring an outrage unless he possessed such powers, through magic or charms, that none could be able to punish him. Just then, behold, Perceval entered the hall upon the bony, piebald horse, with his uncouth trappings. In the centre of the hall stood Kay the Seneschal. “Tell me, tall man,” said Perceval, “is that Arthur yonder?” “What wouldst thou with Arthur?” asked Kay. “My mother told me to go to Arthur and receive knighthood from him.” “By my faith,” said he, “thou art all too meanly equipped with horse and with arms.” Then all the household began to jeer and laugh at him. But there was a certain damsel who had been a whole year at Arthur’s court, and had never been known to smile. And the king’s fool[49]A fool was a common appendage of the courts of those days when this romance was written. A fool was the ornament held in next estimation to a dwarf. He wore a white dress with a yellow bonnet, and carried a bell or bawble in his hand. Though called a fool, his words were often weighed and remembered as if there were a sort of oracular meaning in them. had said that this damsel would not smile till she had seen him who would be the flower of chivalry. Now this damsel came up to Perceval and told him, smiling, that if he lived he would be one of the bravest and best of knights. “Truly,” said Kay, “thou art ill taught to remain a year at Arthur’s court, with choice of society, and smile on no one, and now before the face of Arthur and all his knights to call such a man as this the flower of knighthood;” and he gave her a box on the ear, that she fell senseless to the ground. Then said Kay to Perceval, “Go after the knight who went hence to the meadow, overthrow him and recover the golden goblet, and possess thyself of his horse and arms, and thou shalt have knighthood.” “I will do so, tall man,” said Perceval. So he turned his horse’s head toward the meadow. And when he came there, the knight was riding up and down, proud of his strength and valor and noble mien. “Tell me,” said the knight, “didst thou see any one coming after me from the court?” “The tall man that was there,” said Perceval, “told me to come and overthrow thee, and to take from thee the goblet and thy horse and armor for myself.” “Silence!” said the knight; “go back to the court, and tell Arthur either to come himself, or to send some other to fight with me; and unless he do so quickly, I will not wait for him.” “By my faith,” said Perceval, “choose thou whether it shall be willingly or unwillingly, for I will have the horse and the arms and the goblet.” Upon this the knight ran at him furiously, and struck him a violent blow with the shaft of his spear, between the neck and the shoulder. “Ha, ha, lad!” said Perceval, “my mother’s servants were not used to play with me in this wise; so thus will I play with thee.” And he threw at him one of his sharp-pointed sticks, and it struck him in the eye, and came out at the back of his head, so that he fell down lifeless.

“Verily,” said Sir Owain, the son of Urien, to Kay the Seneschal, “thou wast ill-advised to send that madman after the knight, for he must either be overthrown or flee, and either way it will be a disgrace to Arthur and his warriors; therefore will I go to see what has befallen him.” So Sir Owain went to the meadow, and he found Perceval trying in vain to get the dead knight’s armor off, in order to clothe himself with it. Sir Owain unfastened the armor, and helped Perceval to put it on, and taught him how to put his foot in the stirrup, and use the spur; for Perceval had never used stirrup nor spur, but rode without saddle, and urged on his horse with a stick. Then Owain would have had him return to the court to receive the praise that was his due; but Perceval said, “I will not come to the court till I have encountered the tall man that is there, to revenge the injury he did to the maiden. But take thou the goblet to Queen Guenever, and tell King Arthur that, wherever I am, I will be his vassal, and will do him what profit and service I can.” And Sir Owain went back to the court, and related all these things to Arthur and Guenever, and to all the household.

And Perceval rode forward. And he came to a lake on the side of which was a fair castle, and on the border of the lake he saw a hoary-headed man sitting upon a velvet cushion, and his attendants were fishing in the lake. When the hoary-headed man beheld Perceval approaching, he arose and went into the castle. Perceval rode to the castle, and the door was open, and he entered the hall. And the hoary-headed man received Perceval courteously, and asked him to sit by him on the cushion. When it was time the tables were set, and they went to meat. And when they had finished their meat the hoary-headed man asked Perceval if he knew how to fight with the sword “I know not,” said Perceval, “but were I to be taught, doubtless I should.” And the hoary-headed man said to him, “I am thy uncle, thy mother’s brother; I am called King Pecheur.[50]The word means both FISHER and SINNER. Thou shalt remain with me a space, in order to learn the manners and customs of different countries, and courtesy and noble bearing. And this do thou remember, if thou seest aught to cause thy wonder, ask not the meaning of it; if no one has the courtesy to inform thee, the reproach will not fall upon thee, but upon me that am thy teacher.” While Perceval and his uncle discoursed together, Perceval beheld two youths enter the hall bearing a golden cup and a spear of mighty size, with blood dropping from its point to the ground. And when all the company saw this they began to weep and lament. But for all that, the man did not break off his discourse with Perceval. And as he did not tell him the meaning of what he saw, he forebore to ask him concerning it. Now the cup that Perceval saw was the Sangreal, and the spear the sacred spear; and afterwards King Pecheur removed with those sacred relics into a far country.

One evening Perceval entered a valley, and came to a hermit’s cell; and the hermit welcomed him gladly, and there he spent the night. And in the morning he arose, and when he went forth, behold! a shower of snow had fallen in the night, and a hawk had killed a wild-fowl in front of the cell. And the noise of the horse had scared the hawk away, and a raven alighted on the bird. And Perceval stood and compared the blackness of the raven and the whiteness of the snow and the redness of the blood to the hair of the lady that best he loved, which was blacker than jet, and to her skin, which was whiter than the snow, and to the two red spots upon her cheeks, which were redder than the blood upon the snow.

Now Arthur and his household were in search of Perceval, and by chance they came that way. “Know ye,” said Arthur, “who is the knight with the long spear that stands by the brook up yonder?” “Lord,” said one of them, “I will go and learn who he is.” So the youth came to the place where Perceval was, and asked him what he did thus, and who he was. But Perceval was so intent upon his thought that he gave him no answer. Then the youth thrust at Perceval with his lance; and Perceval turned upon him, and struck him to the ground. And when the youth returned to the king, and told how rudely he had been treated, Sir Kay said, “I will go myself.” And when he greeted Perceval, and got no answer, he spoke to him rudely and angrily. And Perceval thrust at him with his lance, and cast him down so that he broke his arm and his shoulder-blade. And while he lay thus stunned his horse returned back at a wild and prancing pace.

Then said Sir Gawain, surnamed the Golden-Tongued, because he was the most courteous knight in Arthur’s court: “It is not fitting that any should disturb an honorable knight from his thought unadvisedly; for either he is pondering some damage that he has sustained, or he is thinking of the lady whom best he loves. If it seem well to thee, lord, I will go and see if this knight has changed from his thought, and if he has, I will ask him courteously to come and visit thee.”

And Perceval was resting on the shaft of his spear, pondering the same thought, and Sir Gawain came to him, and said: “If I thought it would be as agreeable to thee as it would be to me, I would converse with thee. I have also a message from Arthur unto thee, to pray thee to come and visit him. And two men have been before on this errand.” “That is true,” said Perceval; “and uncourteously they came. They attacked me, and I was annoyed thereat” Then he told him the thought that occupied his mind, and Gawain said, “This was not an ungentle thought, and I should marvel if it were pleasant for thee to be drawn from it.” Then said Perceval, “Tell me, is Sir Kay in Arthur’s court?” “He is,” said Gawain; “and truly he is the knight who fought with thee last.” “Verily,” said Perceval, “I am not sorry to have thus avenged the insult to the smiling maiden. “Then Perceval told him his name, and said, “Who art thou?” And he replied, “I am Gawain.” “I am right glad to meet thee,” said Perceval, “for I have everywhere heard of thy prowess and uprightness; and I solicit thy fellowship.” “Thou shalt have it, by my faith; and grant me thine,” said he. “Gladly will I do so,” answered Perceval.

So they went together to Arthur, and saluted him.

“Behold, lord,” said Gawain, “him whom thou hast sought so long.” “Welcome unto thee, chieftain,” said Arthur. And hereupon there came the queen and her handmaidens, and Perceval saluted them. And they were rejoiced to see him, and bade him welcome. And Arthur did him great honor and respect and they returned towards Caerleon.

The Sangreal was the cup from which our Saviour drank at his last supper. He was supposed to have given it to Joseph of Arimathea, who carried it to Europe, together with the spear with which the soldier pierced the Saviour’s side. From generation to generation, one of the descendants of Joseph of Arimathea had been devoted to the guardianship of these precious relics; but on the sole condition of leading a life of purity in thought, word, and deed. For a long time the Sangreal was visible to all pilgrims, and its presence conferred blessings upon the land in which it was preserved. But at length one of those holy men to whom its guardianship had descended so far forgot the obligation of his sacred office as to look with unhallowed eye upon a young female pilgrim whose robe was accidentally loosened as she knelt before him. The sacred lance instantly punished his frailty, spontaneously falling upon him, and inflicting a deep wound. The marvellous wound could by no means be healed, and the guardian of the Sangreal was ever after called “Le Roi Pescheur,”—The Sinner King. The Sangreal withdrew its visible presence from the crowds who came to worship, and an iron age succeeded to the happiness which its presence had diffused among the tribes of Britain.

“But then the times
Grew to such evil that the Holy cup
Was caught away to heaven and disappear’d.”
—The Holy Grail.

We have told in the history of Merlin how that great prophet and enchanter sent a message to King Arthur by Sir Gawain, directing him to undertake the recovery of the Sangreal, informing him at the same time that the knight who should accomplish that sacred quest was already born, and of a suitable age to enter upon it. Sir Gawain delivered his message, and the king was anxiously revolving in his mind how best to achieve the enterprise, when, at the vigil of Pentecost, all the fellowship of the Round Table being met together at Camelot, as they sat at meat, suddenly there was heard a clap of thunder, and then a bright light burst forth, and every knight, as he looked on his fellow, saw him, in seeming, fairer than ever before. All the hall was filled with sweet odors, and every knight had such meat and drink as he best loved. Then there entered into the hall the Holy Graal, covered with white samite, so that none could see it, and it passed through the hall suddenly, and disappeared. During this time no one spoke a word, but when they had recovered breath to speak King Arthur said, “Certainly we ought greatly to thank the Lord for what he hath showed us this day.” Then Sir Gawain rose up, and made a vow that for twelve months and a day he would seek the Sangreal, and not return till he had seen it, if so he might speed. When they of the Round Table heard Sir Gawain say so, they arose, the most part of them, and vowed the same. When King Arthur heard this, he was greatly displeased, for he knew well that they might not gainsay their vows. “Alas!” said he to Sir Gawain, “you have nigh slain me with the vow and promise that ye have made, for ye have bereft me of the fairest fellowship that ever were seen together in any realm of the world; for when they shall depart hence, I am sure that all shall never meet more in this world.”

加拉哈爵士

At that time there entered the hall a good old man, and with him he brought a young knight, and these words he said: “Peace be with you, fair lords.” Then the old man said unto King Arthur, “Sir, I bring you here a young knight that is of kings’ lineage, and of the kindred of Joseph of Arimathea, being the son of Dame Elaine, the daughter of King Pelles, king of the foreign country.” Now the name of the young knight was Sir Galahad, and he was the son of Sir Launcelot du Lac; but he had dwelt with his mother, at the court of King Pelles, his grandfather, till now he was old enough to bear arms, and his mother had sent him in the charge of a holy hermit to King Arthur’s court. Then Sir Launcelot beheld his son, and had great joy of him. And Sir Bohort told his fellows, “Upon my life, this young knight shall come to great worship.” The noise was great in all the court, so that it came to the queen. And she said, “I would fain see him, for he must needs be a noble knight, for so is his father.” And the queen and her ladies all said that he resembled much unto his father; and he was seemly and demure as a dove, with all manner of good features, that in the whole world men might not find his match. And King Arthur said, “God make him a good man, for beauty faileth him not, as any that liveth.”

Then the hermit led the young knight to the Siege Perilous; and he lifted up the cloth, and found there letters that said, “This is the seat of Sir Galahad, the good knight;” and he made him sit in that seat. And all the knights of the Round Table marvelled greatly at Sir Galahad, seeing him sit securely in that seat, and said, “This is he by whom the Sangreal shall be achieved, for there never sat one before in that seat without being mischieved.”

On the next day the king said, “Now, at this quest of the Sangreal shall all ye of the Round Table depart, and never shall I see you again altogether; therefore I will that ye all repair to the meadow of Camelot, for to just and tourney yet once more before ye depart.” But all the meaning of the king was to see Sir Galahad proved. So then were they all assembled in the meadow. Then Sir Galahad, by request of the king and queen, put on his harness and his helm, but shield would he take none for any prayer of the king. And the queen was in a tower, with all her ladies, to behold that tournament. Then Sir Galahad rode into the midst of the meadow; and there he began to break spears marvellously, so that all men had wonder of him, for he surmounted all knights that encountered with him, except two, Sir Launcelot and Sir Perceval.

“So many knights, that all the people cried,
And almost burst the barriers in their heat,
Shouting ‘Sir Galahad and Sir Perceval!'”

—Sir Galahad

Then the king, at the queen’s request, made him to alight, and presented him to the queen; and she said, “Never two men resembled one another more than he and Sir Launcelot, and therefore it is no marvel that he is like him in prowess.”

Then the king and the queen went to the minster, and the knights followed them. And after the service was done they put on their helms and departed, and there was great sorrow. They rode through the streets of Camelot, and there was weeping of the rich and poor; and the king turned away, and might not speak for weeping. And so they departed, and every knight took the way that him best liked.

Sir Galahad rode forth without shield, and rode four days, and found no adventure. And on the fourth day he came to a white abbey; and there he was received with great reverence, and led to a chamber. He met there two knights, King Bagdemagus and Sir Uwaine, and they made of him great solace. “Sirs,” said Sir Galahad, “what adventure brought you hither?” “Sir,” said they, “it is told us that within this place is a shield, which no man may bear unless he be worthy; and if one unworthy should attempt to bear it, it shall surely do him a mischief.” Then King Bagdemagus said, “I fear not to bear it, and that shall ye see to- morrow.”

So on the morrow they arose, and heard mass; then King Bagdemagus asked where the adventurous shield was. Anon a monk led him behind an altar, where the shield hung, as white as snow; but in the midst there was a red cross. Then King Bagdemagus took the shield, and bare it out of the minster; and he said to Sir Galahad, “If it please you, abide here till ye know how I shall speed.”

Then King Bagdemagus and his squire rode forth: and when they had ridden a mile or two, they saw a goodly knight come towards them, in white armor, horse and all; and he came as fast as his horse might run, with his spear in the rest; and King Bagdemagus directed his spear against him, and broke it upon the white knight, but the other struck him so hard that he broke the mails, and thrust him through the right shoulder, for the shield covered him not, and so he bare him from his horse. Then the white knight turned his horse and rode away.

Then the squire went to King Bagdemagus, and asked him whether he were sore wounded or not. “I am sore wounded,” said he, “and full hardly shall I escape death.” Then the squire set him on his horse, and brought him to an abbey; and there he was taken down softly, and unarmed, and laid in a bed, and his wound was looked to, for he lay there long, and hardly escaped with his life. And the squire brought the shield back to the abbey.

The next day Sir Galahad took the shield, and within a while he came to the hermitage, where he met the white knight, and each saluted the other courteously. “Sir,” said Sir Galahad, “can you tell me the marvel of the shield?” “Sir,” said the white knight, “that shield belonged of old to the gentle knight, Joseph of Arimathea; and when he came to die he said, ‘Never shall man bear this shield about his neck but he shall repent it, unto the time that Sir Galahad the good knight bear it, the last of my lineage, the which shall do many marvellous deeds.'” And then the white knight vanished away.

高文爵士

After Sir Gawain departed, he rode many days, both toward and forward, and at last he came to the abbey where Sir Galahad took the white shield. And they told Sir Gawain of the marvellous adventure that Sir Galahad had done. “Truly,” said Sir Gawain, “I am not happy that I took not the way that he went, for, if I may meet with him, I will not part from him lightly, that I may partake with him all the marvellous adventures which he shall achieve.” “Sir,” said one of the monks, “he will not be of your fellowship.” “Why?” said Sir Gawain. “Sir,” said he, “because ye be sinful, and he is blissful.” Then said the monk, “Sir Gawain, thou must do penance for thy sins.” “Sir, what penance shall I do?” “Such as I will show,” said the good man. “Nay,” said Sir Gawain, “I will do no penance, for we knights adventurous often suffer great woe and pain.” “Well,” said the good man; and he held his peace. And Sir Gawain departed.

Now it happened, not long after this, that Sir Gawain and Sir Hector rode together, and they came to a castle where was a great tournament. And Sir Gawain and Sir Hector joined themselves to the party that seemed the weaker, and they drove before them the other party. Then suddenly came into the lists a knight, bearing a white shield with a red cross, and by adventure he came by Sir Gawain, and he smote him so hard that he clave his helm and wounded his head, so that Sir Gawain fell to the earth. When Sir Hector saw that, he knew that the knight with the white shield was Sir Galahad, and he thought it no wisdom to abide him, and also for natural love, that he was his uncle. Then Sir Galahad retired privily, so that none knew where he had gone. And Sir Hector raised up Sir Gawain, and said, “Sir, me seemeth your quest is done.” “It is done,” said Sir Gawain; “I shall seek no further.” Then Gawain was borne into the castle, and unarmed, and laid in a rich bed, and a leech found to search his wound. And Sir Gawain and Sir Hector abode together, for Sir Hector would not away till Sir Gawain were whole.

THE SANGREAL (Continued)

朗塞洛爵士

Sir Launcelot rode overthwart and endlong in a wide forest, and held no path but as wild adventure lee him.

“My golden spurs now bring to me,
And bring to me my richest mail,
For to-morrow I go over land and sea
In search of the Holy, Holy Grail

Shall never a bed for me be spread,
Nor shall a pillow be under my head,
Till I begin my vow to keep.
Here on the rushes will I sleep,
And perchance there may come a vision true
Ere day create the world anew”

—Lowell’s Holy Grail.

And at last he came to a stone cross. Then Sir Launcelot looked round him, and saw an old chapel. So he tied his horse to a tree, and put off his shield, and hung it upon a tree; and then he went into the chapel, and looked through a place where the wall was broken. And within he saw a fair altar, full richly arrayed with cloth of silk; and there stood a fair candlestick, which bare six great candles, and the candlestick was of silver. When Sir Launcelot saw this sight, he had a great wish to enter the chapel, but he could find no place where he might enter. Then was he passing heavy and dismayed. And he returned and came again to his horse, and took off his saddle and his bridle, and let him pasture; and unlaced his helm, and ungirded his sword, and laid him down to sleep upon his shield before the cross.

And as he lay, half waking and half sleeping, he saw come by him two palfreys, both fair and white, which bare a litter, on which lay a sick knight. And when he was nigh the cross, he there abode still. And Sir Launcelot heard him say, “O sweet Lord, when shall this sorrow leave me, and when shall the holy vessel come by me whereby I shall be healed?” And thus a great while complained the knight, and Sir Launcelot heard it. Then Sir Launcelot saw the candlestick, with the lighted tapers, come before the cross, but he could see nobody that brought it. Also there came a salver of silver and the holy vessel of the Sangreal; and therewithal the sick knight sat him upright, and held up both his hands, and said, “Fair, sweet Lord, which is here within the holy vessel, take heed to me, that I may be whole of this great malady.” And therewith, upon his hands and upon his knees, he went so nigh that he touched the holy vessel and kissed it. And anon he was whole. Then the holy vessel went into the chapel again, with the candlestick and the light, so that Sir Launcelot wist not what became of it.

Then the sick knight rose up and kissed the cross; and anon his squire brought him his arms and asked his lord how he did. “I thank God right heartily,” said he, “for, through the holy vessel, I am healed. But I have great marvel of this sleeping knight, who hath had neither grace nor power to awake during the time that the holy vessel hath been here present.” “I dare it right well say,” said the squire, “that this same knight is stained with some manner of deadly sin, whereof he was never confessed.” So they departed.

Then anon Sir Launcelot waked, and set himself upright, and bethought him of what he had seen and whether it were dreams or not. And he was passing heavy, and wist not what to do. And he said: “My sin and my wretchedness hath brought me into great dishonor. For when I sought worldly adventures and worldly desires, I ever achieved them, and had the better in every place, and never was I discomfited in any quarrel, were it right or wrong. And now I take upon me the adventure of holy things, I see and understand that mine old sin hindereth me, so that I had no power to stir nor to speak when the holy blood appeared before me.” So thus he sorrowed till it was day, and heard the fowls of the air sing. Then was he somewhat comforted.

Then he departed from the cross into the forest. And there he found a hermitage, and a hermit therein, who was going to mass. So when mass was done Sir Launcelot called the hermit to him, and prayed him for charity to hear his confession. “With a good will,” said the good man. And then he told that good man all his life, and how he had loved a queen unmeasurably many years. “And all my great deeds of arms that I have done I did the most part for the queen’s sake, and for her sake would I do battle, were it right or wrong, and never did I battle all only for God’s sake, but for to win worship, and to cause me to be better beloved; and little or naught I thanked God for it. I pray you counsel me.”

“I will counsel you,” said the hermit, “if ye will insure me that ye will never come in that queen’s fellowship as much as ye may forbear.” And then Sir Launcelot promised the hermit, by his faith, that he would no more come in her company. “Look that your heart and your mouth accord,” said the good man, “and I shall insure you that ye shall have more worship than ever ye had.”

Then the good man enjoined Sir Launcelot such penance as he might do, and he assailed Sir Launcelot and made him abide with him all that day. And Sir Launcelot repented him greatly.

珀西瓦尔爵士

Sir Perceval departed and rode till the hour of noon; and he met in a valley about twenty men of arms. And when they saw Sir Perceval, they asked him whence he was; and he answered: “Of the court of King Arthur.” Then they cried all at once, “Slay him.” But Sir Perceval smote the first to the earth, and his horse upon him. Then seven of the knights smote upon his shield all at once, and the remnant slew his horse, so that he fell to the earth. So had they slain him or taken him, had not the good knight Sir Galahad, with the red cross, come there by adventure. And when he saw all the knights upon one, he cried out, “Save me that knight’s life.” Then he rode toward the twenty men of arms as fast as his horse might drive, with his spear in the rest, and smote the foremost horse and man to the earth. And when his spear was broken, he set his hand to his sword, and smote on the right hand and on the left, that it was marvel to see; and at every stroke he smote down one, or put him to rebuke, so that they would fight no more, but fled to a thick forest, and Sir Galahad followed them. And when Sir Perceval saw him chase them so, he made great sorrow that his horse was slain. And he wist well it was Sir Galahad. Then he cried aloud, “Ah, fair knight, abide, and suffer me to do thanks unto thee; for right well have ye done for me.” But Sir Galahad rode so fast that at last he passed out of his sight. When Sir Perceval saw that he would not turn, he said, “Now am I a very wretch, and most unhappy above all other knights.” So in his sorrow he abode all that day till it was night; and then he was faint, and laid him down and slept till midnight; and then he awaked and saw before him a woman, who said unto him, “Sir Perceval, what dost thou here?” He answered, “I do neither good, nor great ill.” “If thou wilt promise me,” said she, “that thou wilt fulfil my will when I summon thee, I will lend thee my own horse, which shall bear thee whither thou wilt.” Sir Perceval was glad of her proffer, and insured her to fulfil all her desire. “Then abide me here, and I will go fetch you a horse.” And so she soon came again, and brought a horse with her that was inky black. When Perceval beheld that horse he marvelled, it was so great and so well apparelled. And he leapt upon him and took no heed of himself. And he thrust him with his spurs, and within an hour and less he bare him four days’ journey thence, until he came to a rough water, which roared, and his horse would have borne him into it. And when Sir Perceval came nigh the brim and saw the water so boisterous he doubted to overpass it. And then he made the sign of the cross on his forehead. When the fiend felt him so charged, he shook off Sir Perceval, and went into the water crying and roaring; and it seemed unto him that the water burned. Then Sir Perceval perceived it was a fiend that would have brought him unto his perdition. Then he commended himself unto God, and prayed our Lord to keep him from all such temptations; and so he prayed all that night till it was day. Then he saw that he was in a wild place, that was closed with the sea nigh all about. And Sir Perceval looked forth over the sea, and saw a ship come sailing towards him; and it came and stood still under the rock.

And when she saw Sir Perceval, she saluted him, and Sir Perceval returned her salutation. Then he asked her of her country and her lineage. And she said, “I am a gentlewoman that am disinherited, and was once the richest woman of the world.” “Damsel,” said Sir Perceval, “who hath disinherited you? for I have great pity of you.” “Sir,” said she, “my enemy is a great and powerful lord, and aforetime he made much of me, so that of his favor and of my beauty I had a little pride more than I ought to have had. Also I said a word that pleased him not. So he drove me from his company and from mine heritage. Therefore I know no good knight nor good man, but I get him on my side if I may. And for that I know that thou art a good knight, I beseech thee to help me.”

Then Sir Perceval promised her all the help that he might, and she thanked him.

And at that time the weather was hot, and she called to her a gentlewoman, and bade her bring forth a pavilion. And she did so, and pitched it upon the gravel. “Sir,” said she, “now may ye rest you in this heat of the day.” Then he thanked her, and she put off his helm and his shield, and there he slept a great while. Then he awoke, and asked her if she had any meat, and she said yea, and so there was set upon the table all manner of meats that he could think on. Also he drank there the strongest wine that ever he drank, and therewith he was a little chafed more than he ought to be. With that he beheld the lady, and he thought she was the fairest creature that ever he saw. And then Sir Perceval proffered her love, and prayed her that she would be his. Then she refused him in a manner, for the cause he should be the more ardent on her, and ever he ceased not to pray her of love. And when she saw him well enchafed, then she said, “Sir Perceval, wit you well I shall not give ye my love, unless you swear from henceforth you will be my true servant, and do no thing but that I shall command you. Will you insure me this, as ye be a true knight?” “Yea,” said he, “fair lady, by the faith of my body.” And as he said this, by adventure and grace, he saw his sword lie on the ground naked, in whose pommel was a red cross, and the sign of the crucifix thereon. Then he made the sign of the cross on his forehead, and therewith the pavilion shrivelled up, and changed into a smoke and a black cloud. And the damsel cried aloud, and hasted into the ship, and so she went with the wind roaring and yelling that it seemed all the water burned after her. Then Sir Perceval made great sorrow, and called himself a wretch, saying, “How nigh was I lost!” Then he took his arms, and departed thence.

THE SANGREAL (Continued)

Sir Bohort

When Sir Boliort departed from Camelot he met with a religious man, riding upon an ass; and Sir Bohort saluted him. “What are ye?” said the good man. “Sir,” said Sir Bohort, “I am a knight that fain would be counselled in the quest of the Sangreal.” So rode they both together till they came to a hermitage; and there he prayed Sir Bohort to dwell that night with him. So he alighted, and put away his armor, and prayed him that he might be confessed. And they went both into the chapel, and there he was clean confessed. And they ate bread and drank water together. “Now,” said the good man, “I pray thee that thou eat none other till thou sit at the table where the Sangreal shall be.” “Sir,” said Sir Bohort, “but how know ye that I shall sit there?” “Yea,” said the good man, “that I know well; but there shall be few of your fellows with you.” Then said Sir Bohort, “I agree me thereto” And the good man when he had heard his confession found him in so pure a life and so stable that he marvelled thereof.

On the morrow, as soon as the day appeared, Sir Bohort departed thence, and rode into a forest unto the hour of midday. And there befell him a marvellous adventure. For he met, at the parting of two ways, two knights that led Sir Lionel, his brother, all naked, bound upon a strong hackney, and his hands bound before his breast; and each of them held in his hand thorns wherewith they went beating him, so that he was all bloody before and behind; but he said never a word, but, as he was great of heart, he suffered all that they did to him as though he had felt none anguish. Sir Bohort prepared to rescue his brother. But he looked on the other side of him, and saw a knight dragging along a fair gentlewoman, who cried out, “Saint Mary! succor your maid!” And when she saw Sir Bohort, she called to him, and said, “By the faith that ye owe to knighthood, help me!” When Sir Bohort heard her say thus he had such sorrow that he wist not what to do. “For if I let my brother be he must be slain, and that would I not for all the earth; and if I help not the maid I am shamed for ever.” Then lift he up his eyes and said, weeping, “Fair Lord, whose liegeman I am, keep Sir Lionel, my brother, that none of these knights slay him, and for pity of you, and our Lady’s sake, I shall succor this maid.”

Then he cried out to the knight, “Sir knight, lay your hand off that maid, or else ye be but dead.” Then the knight set down the maid, and took his shield, and drew out his sword. And Sir Bohort smote him so hard that it went through his shield and habergeon, on the left shoulder, and he fell down to the earth. Then came Sir Bohort to the maid, “Ye be delivered of this knight this time.” “Now,” said she, “I pray you lead me there where this knight took me.” “I shall gladly do it,” said Sir Bohort. So he took the horse of the wounded knight, and set the gentlewoman upon it, and brought her there where she desired to be. And there he found twelve knights seeking after her; and when she told them how Sir Bohort had delivered her, they made great joy, and besought him to come to her father, a great lord, and he should be right welcomed. “Truly,” said Sir Bohort, “that may not be; for I have a great adventure to do.” So he commended them to God and departed.

Then Sir Bohort rode after Sir Lionel, his brother, by the trace of their horses. Thus he rode seeking, a great while. Then he overtook a man clothed in a religious clothing, who said, “Sir Knight, what seek ye?” “Sir,” said Sir Bohort, “I seek my brother, that I saw within a little space beaten of two knights.” “Ah, Sir Bohort, tiouble not thyself to seek for him, for truly he is dead.” Then he showed him a new-slain body, lying in a thick bush; and it seemed him that it was the body of Sir Lionel. And then he made such sorrow that he fell to the ground in a swoon, and lay there long. And when he came to himself again, he said, “Fair brother, since the fellowship of you and me is sundered, shall I never have joy again; and now He that I have taken for my Master, He be my help!” And when he had said thus he took up the body in his arms, and put it upon the horse. And then he said to the man, “Canst thou tell me the way to some chapel, where I may bury this body?” “Come on,” said the man, “here is one fast by.” And so they rode till they saw a fair tower, and beside it a chapel. Then they alighted both, and put the body into a tomb of marble.

Then Sir Bohort commended the good man unto God, and departed. And he rode all that day, and harbored with an old lady. And on the morrow he rode unto the castle in a valley, and there he met with a yeoman. “Tell me,” said Sir Bohort, “knowest thou of any adventure?” “Sir,” said he, “here shall be, under this castle, a great and marvellous tournament.” Then Sir Bohort thought to be there, if he might meet with any of the fellowship that were in quest of the Sangreal; so he turned to a hermitage that was on the border of the forest. And when he was come hither, he found there Sir Lionel his brother, who sat all armed at the entry of the chapel door. And when Sir Bohort saw him, he had great joy, and he alighted off his horse, and said. “Fair brother, when came ye hither?” As soon as Sir Lionel saw him he said, “Ah, Sir Bohort, make ye no false show, for, as for you, I might have been slain, for ye left me in peril of death to go succor a gentlewoman; and for that misdeed I now assure you but death, for ye have right well deserved it.” When Sir Bohort perceived his brother’s wrath he kneeled down to the earth and cried him mercy, holding up both his hands, and prayed him to forgive him. “Nay,” said Sir Lionel, “thou shalt have but death for it, if I have the upper hand; therefore leap upon thy horse and keep thyself, and if thou do not I will run upon thee there as thou standest on foot, and so the shame shall be mine, and the harm thine, but of that I reck not.” When Sir Bohort saw that he must fight with his brother or else die, he wist not what to do. Then his heart counselled him not so to do, inasmuch as Sir Lionel was his elder brother, wherefore he ought to bear him reverence. Yet kneeled he down before Sir Lionel’s horse’s feet, and said, “Fair brother, have mercy upon me and slay me not.” But Sir Lionel cared not, for the fiend had brought him in such a will that he should slay him. When he saw that Sir Bohort would not rise to give him battle, he rushed over him, so that he smote him with his horse’s feet to the earth, and hurt him sore, that he swooned of distress. When Sir Lionel saw this he alighted from his horse for to have smitten off his head; and so he took him by the helm, and would have rent it from his head. But it happened that Sir Colgrevance, a knight of the Round Table, came at that time thither, as it was our Lord’s will; and then he beheld how Sir Lionel would have slain his brother, and he knew Sir Bohort, whom he loved right well.

Then leapt he down from his horse and took Sir Lionel by the shoulders, and drew him strongly back from Sir Bohort, and said, “Sir Lionel, will ye slay your brother?” “Why,” said Sir Lionel, “will ye stay me? If ye interfere in this I will slay you, and him after.” Then he ran upon Sir Bohort, and would have smitten him; but Sir Colgrevance ran between them, and said, “If ye persist to do so any more, we two shall meddle together.” Then Sir Lionel defied him, and gave him a great stroke through the helm. Then he drew his sword, for he was a passing good knight, and defended himself right manfully. So long endured the battle, that Sir Bohort rose up all anguishly, and beheld Sir Colgrevance, the good knight, fight with his brother for his quarrel. Then was he full sorry and heavy, and thought that if Sir Colgrevance slew him that was his brother he should never have joy, and if his brother slew Sir Colgrevance the shame should ever be his.

Then would he have risen for to have parted them, but he had not so much strength to stand on his feet; so he staid so long that Sir Colgrevance had the worse; for Sir Lionel was of great chivalry and right hardy. Then cried Sir Colgrevance, “Ah, Sir Bohort, why come ye not to bring me out of peril of death, wherein I have put me to succor you?” With that, Sir Lionel smote off his helm and bore him to the earth. And when he had slain Sir Colgrevance he ran upon his brother as a fiendly man, and gave him such a stroke that he made him stoop. And he that was full of humility prayed him, “for God’s sake leave this battle, for if it befell, fair brother, that I slew you, or ye me, we should be dead of that sin.” “Pray ye not me for mercy,” said Sir Lionel. Then Sir Bohort, all weeping, drew his sword, and said, “Now God have mercy upon me, though I defend my life against my brother.” With that Sir Bohort lifted up his sword, and would have smitten his brother. Then he heard a voice that said, “Flee, Sir Bohort, and touch him not.” Right so alighted a cloud between them, in the likeness of a fire and a marvellous flame, so that they both fell to the earth, and lay there a great while in a swoon. And when they came to themselves, Sir Bohort saw that his brother had no harm; and he was right glad, for he dread sore that God had taken vengeance upon him. Then Sir Lionel said to his brother, “Brother, forgive me, for God’s sake, all that I have trespassed against you.” And Sir Bohort answered, “God forgive it thee, and I do.”

With that Sir Bohort heard a voice say, “Sir Bohort, take thy way anon, right to the sea, for Sir Perceval abideth thee there.” So Sir Bohort departed, and rode the nearest way to the sea. And at last he came to an abbey that was nigh the sea. That night he rested him there, and in his sleep there came a voice unto him and bade him go to the sea-shore. He started up, and made a sign of the cross on his forehead, and armed himself, and made ready his horse and mounted him, and at a broken wall he rode out, and came to the sea-shore. And there he found a ship, covered all with white samite. And he entered into the ship; but it was anon so dark that he might see no man, and he laid him down and slept till it was day. Then he awaked, and saw in the middle of the ship a knight all armed, save his helm. And then he knew it was Sir Perceval de Galis, and each made of other right great joy. Then said Sir Perceval, “We lack nothing now but the good knight Sir Galahad.”

SIR LAUNCELOT (Resumed)

It befell upon a night Sir Launcelot arrived before a castle, which was rich and fair. And there was a postern that was opened toward the sea, and was open without any keeping, save two lions kept the entry; and the moon shined clear. Anon Sir Launcelot heard a voice that said, “Launcelot, enter into the castle, where thou shalt see a great part of thy desire.” So he went unto the gate, and saw the two lions; then he set hands to his sword, and drew it. Then there came suddenly as it were a stroke upon the arm, so sore that the sword fell out of his hand, and he heard a voice that said, “O man of evil faith, wherefore believest thou more in thy armor than in thy Maker?” Then said Sir Launcelot, “Fair Lord, I thank thee of thy great mercy, that thou reprovest me of my misdeed; now see I well that thou holdest me for thy servant.” Then he made a cross on his forehead, and came to the lions; and they made semblance to do him harm, but he passed them without hurt, and entered into the castle, and he found no gate nor door but it was open. But at the last he found a chamber whereof the door was shut; and he set his hand thereto, to have opened it, but he might not. Then he listened, and heard a voice which sung so sweetly that it seemed none earthly thing; and the voice said, “Joy and honor be to the Father of heaven.” Then Sir Launcelot kneeled down before the chamber, for well he wist that there was the Sangreal in that chamber. Then said he, “Fair, sweet Lord, if ever I did anything that pleased thee, for thy pity show me something of that which I seek.” And with that he saw the chamber door open, and there came out a great clearness, that the house was as bright as though all the torches of the world had been there. So he came to the chamber door, and would have entered; and anon a voice said unto him, “Stay, Sir Launcelot, and enter not.” And he withdrew him back, and was right heavy in his mind. Then looked he in the midst of the chamber, and saw a table of silver, and the holy vessel, covered with red samite, and many angels about it; whereof one held a candle of wax burning, and another held a cross, and the ornaments of the altar.

“O, yet methought I saw the Holy Grail,
All pall’d in crimson samite, and around
Great angels, awful shapes, and wings and eyes”

—The Holy Grail.

Then for very wonder and thankfulness Sir Launcelot forgot himself and he stepped forward and entered the chamber. And suddenly a breath that seemed intermixed with fire smote him so sore in the visage that therewith he fell to the ground, and had no power to rise. Then felt he many hands about him, which took him up and bare him out of the chamber, without any amending of his swoon, and left him there, seeming dead to all the people. So on the morrow, when it was fair daylight, and they within were arisen, they found Sir Launcelot lying before the chamber door. And they looked upon him and felt his pulse, to know if there were any life in him. And they found life in him, but he might neither stand nor stir any member that he had. So they took him and bare him into a chamber, and laid him upon a bed, far from all folk, and there he lay many days. Then the one said he was alive, and the others said nay. But said an old man, “He is as full of life as the mightiest of you all, and therefore I counsel you that he be well kept till God bring him back again.” And after twenty-four days he opened his eyes; and when he saw folk he made great sorrow, and said, “Why have ye wakened me? for I was better at ease than I am now.” “What have ye seen?” said they about him. “I have seen,” said he, “great marvels that no tongue can tell, and more than any heart can think.” Then they said, “Sir, the quest of the Sangreal is achieved right now in you, and never shall ye see more of it than ye have seen.” “I thank God,” said Sir Launcelot, “of his great mercy, for that I have seen, for it sufficeth me.” Then he rose up and clothed himself; and when he was so arrayed they marvelled all, for they knew it was Sir Launcelot the good knight. And after four days he took his leave of the lord of the castle, and of all the fellowship that were there, and thanked them for their great labor and care of him. Then he departed, and turned to Camelot, where he found King Arthur and Queen Guenever; but many of the knights of the Round Table were slain and destroyed, more than half. Then all the court was passing glad of Sir Launcelot; and he told the king all his adventures that had befallen him since he departed.

加拉哈爵士

Now, when Sir Galahad had rescued Perceval from the twenty knights, he rode into a vast forest, wherein he abode many days. Then he took his way to the sea, and it befell him that he was benighted in a hermitage. And the good man was glad when he saw he was a knight-errant. And when they were at rest, there came a gentlewoman knocking at the door; and the good man came to the door to wit what she would. Then she said, “I would speak with the knight which is with you.” Then Galahad went to her, and asked her what she would. “Sir Galahad,” said she, “I will that ye arm you, and mount upon your horse, and follow me; for I will show you the highest adventure that ever knight saw.” Then Galahad armed himself and commended himself to God, and bade the damsel go before, and he would follow where she led.

So she rode as fast as her palfrey might bear her, till she came to the sea; and there they found the ship where Sir Bohort and Sir Perceval were, who cried from the ship, “Sir Galahad, you are welcome; we have waited you long.” And when he heard them, he asked the damsel who they were. “Sir,” said she, “leave your horse here, and I shall leave mine, and we will join ourselves to their company.” So they entered into the ship, and the two knights received them both with great joy. For they knew the damsel, that she was Sir Perceval’s sister. Then the wind arose and drove them through the sea all that day and the next, till the ship arrived between two rocks, passing great and marvellous; but there they might not land, for there was a whirlpool; but there was another ship, and upon it they might go without danger. “Go we thither,” said the gentlewoman, “and there we shall see adventures, for such is our Lord’s will.” Then Sir Galahad blessed him, and entered therein, and then next the gentlewoman, and then Sir Bohort and Sir Perceval. And when they came on board they found there the table of silver, and the Sangreal, which was covered with red samite. And they made great reverence thereto, and Sir Galahad prayed a long time to our Lord, that at what time he should ask to pass out of this world he should do so; and a voice said to him, “Galahad, thou shalt have thy request; and when thou askest the death of thy body, thou shalt have it, and then shalt thou find the life of thy soul.”

And anon the wind drove them across the sea, till they came to the city of Sarras. Then took they out of the ship the table of silver, and Sir Perceval and Sir Bohort took it before, and Sir Galahad came behind, and right so they went to the city. And at the gate of the city they saw an old man, a cripple.

“And Sir Launfal said, ‘I behold in thee
An image of Him who died on the tree
Thou also hast had thy crown of thorns,
Thou also hast had the world’s buffets and scorns;
And to thy life were not denied
The wounds in thy hands and feet and side
Mild Mary’s son, acknowledge me;
Behold, through Him I give to thee!'”

—Lowell’s Holy Grail.

Then Galahad called him, and bade him help to bear this heavy thing. “Truly,” said the old man, “it is ten years since I could not go but with crutches.” “Care thou not,” said Sir Galahad, “but arise up, and show thy good will.” Then the old man rose up, and assayed, and found himself as whole as ever he was; and he ran to the table, and took one part with Sir Galahad.

When they came to the city it chanced that the king was just dead, and all the city was dismayed, and wist not who might be their king. Right so, as they were in counsel, there came a voice among them, and bade them choose the youngest knight of those three to be their king. So they made Sir Galahad king, by all the assent of the city. And when he was made king, he commanded to make a chest of gold and of precious stones to hold the holy vessel. And every day the three companions would come before it and make their prayers.

Now at the year’s end, and the same day of the year that Sir Galahad received the crown, he got up early, and, with his fellows, came to where the holy vessel was; and they saw one kneeling before it that had about him a great fellowship of angels; and he called Sir Galahad, and said, “Come, thou servant of the Lord, and thou shalt see what thou hast much desired to see.” And Sir Galahad’s mortal flesh trembled right hard when he began to behold the spiritual things. Then said the good man, “Now wottest thou who I am?” “Nay,” said Sir Galahad. “I am Joseph of Arimathea, whom our Lord hath sent here to thee, to bear thee fellowship.” Then Sir Galahad held up his hands toward heaven, and said, “Now, blessed Lord, would I not longer live, if it might please thee.” And when he had said these words, Sir Galahad went to Sir Perceval and to Sir Bohort and kissed them, and commended them to God. And then he kneeled down before the table, and made his prayers, and suddenly his soul departed, and a great multitude of angels bare his soul up to heaven, so as the two fellows could well behold it. Also they saw come from heaven a hand, but they saw not the body; and the hand came right to the vessel and bare it up to heaven. Since then was there never one so hardy as to say that he had seen the Sangreal on earth any more.

When Sir Perceval and Sir Bohort saw Sir Galahad dead they made as much sorrow as ever did two men. And if they had not been good men they might have fallen into despair. As soon as Sir Galahad was buried Sir Perceval retired to a hermitage out of the city, and took a religious clothing; and Sir Bohort was always with him, but did not change his secular clothing, because he purposed to return to the realm of Loegria. Thus a year and two months lived Sir Perceval in the hermitage a full holy life, and then passed out of this world, and Sir Bohort buried him by his sister and Sir Galahad. Then Sir Bohort armed himself and departed from Sarras, and entered into a ship, and sailed to the kingdom of Loegria, and in due time arrived safe at Camelot, where the king was. Then was there great joy made of him in the whole court, for they feared he had been dead. Then the king made great clerks to come before him, that they should chronicle of the high adventures of the good knights. And Sir Bohort told him of the adventures that had befallen him, and his two fellows, Sir Perceval and Sir Galahad. And Sir Launcelot told the adventures of the Sangreal that he had seen. All this was made in great books, and put up in the church at Salisbury.

So King Arthur and Queen Guenever made great joy of the remnant that were come home, and chiefly of Sir Launcelot and Sir Bohort. Then Sir Launcelot began to resort unto Queen Guenever again, and forgot the promise that he made in the quest: so that many in the court spoke of it, and in especial Sir Agrivain, Sir Gawain’s brother, for he was ever open-mouthed. So it happened Sir Gawain and all his brothers were in King Arthur’s chamber, and then Sir Agrivain said thus openly, “I marvel that we all are not ashamed to see and to know so noble a knight as King Arthur so to be shamed by the conduct of Sir Launcelot and the queen. “Then spoke Sir Gawain, and said, “Brother, Sir Agrivain, I pray you and charge you move not such matters any more before me, for be ye assured I will not be of your counsel.” “Neither will we,” said Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth. “Then will I,” said Sir Modred. “I doubt you not,” said Sir Gawain, “for to all mischief ever were ye prone; yet I would that ye left all this, for I know what will come of it.”

“Modred’s narrow foxy face,
Heart-hiding smile, and gray persistent eye:
Henceforward, too, the Powers that tend the soul
To help it from the death that cannot die,
And save it even in extremes, began
To vex and plague.”

—Guinevere.

“Fall of it what fall may,” said Sir Agrivain, “I will disclose it to the king.” With that came to them King Arthur. “Now, brothers, hold your peace,” said Sir Gawain. “We will not,” said Sir Agrivain. Then said Sir Gawain, “I will not hear your tales nor be of your counsel.” “No more will I,” said Sir Gareth and Sir Gaheris, and therewith they departed, making great sorrow.

Then Sir Agrivain told the king all that was said in the court of the conduct of Sir Launcelot and the queen, and it grieved the king very much. But he would not believe it to be true without proof. So Sir Agrivain laid a plot to entrap Sir Launcelot and the queen, intending to take them together unawares. Sir Agrivain and Sir Modred led a party for this purpose, but Sir Launcelot escaped from them, having slain Sir Agrivain and wounded Sir Modred. Then Sir Launcelot hastened to his friends, and told them what had happened, and withdrew with them to the forest; but he left spies to bring him tidings of whatever might be done.

So Sir Launcelot escaped, but the queen remained in the king’s power, and Arthur could no longer doubt of her guilt. And the law was such in those days that they who committed such crimes, of what estate or condition soever they were, must be burned to death, and so it was ordained for Queen Guenever. Then said King Arthur to Sir Gawain, “I pray you make you ready, in your best armor, with your brethren, Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth, to bring my queen to the fire, there to receive her death.” “Nay, my most noble lord,” said Sir Gawain, “that will I never do; for know thou well, my heart will never serve me to see her die, and it shall never be said that I was of your counsel in her death.” Then the king commanded Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth to be there, and they said, “We will be there, as ye command us, sire, but in peaceable wise, and bear no armor upon us.”

So the queen was led forth, and her ghostly father was brought to her to shrive her, and there was weeping and wailing of many lords and ladies. And one went and told Sir Launcelot that the queen was led forth to her death. Then Sir Launcelot and the knights that were with him fell upon the troop that guarded the queen, and dispersed them, and slew all who withstood them. And in the confusion Sir Gareth and Sir Gaheris were slain, for they were unarmed and defenceless. And Sir Launcelot carried away the queen to his castle of La Joyeuse Garde.

Then there came one to Sir Gawain and told him how that Sir Launcelot had slain the knights and carried away the queen. “O Lord, defend my brethren!” said Sir Gawain. “Truly,” said the man, “Sir Gareth and Sir Gaheris are slain.” “Alas!” said Sir Gawain, “now is my joy gone.” And then he fell down and swooned, and long he lay there as he had been dead.

When he arose out of his swoon Sir Gawain ran to the king, crying, “O King Arthur, mine uncle, my brothers are slain.” Then the king wept and he both. “My king, my lord, and mine uncle,” said Sir Gawain, “bear witness now that I make you a promise that I shall hold by my knighthood, and from this day I will never fail Sir Launcelot until the one of us have slain the other. I will seek Sir Launcelot throughout seven kings’ realms, but I shall slay him or he shall slay me.” “Ye shall not need to seek him,” said the king, “for as I hear, Sir Launcelot will abide me and you in the Joyeuse Garde; and much people draweth unto him, as I hear say.” “That may I believe,” said Sir Gawain; “but, my lord, summon your friends, and I will summon mine.” “It shall be done,” said the king. So then the king sent letters and writs throughout all England, both in the length and breadth, to summon all his knights. And unto Arthur drew many knights, dukes, and earls, so that he had a great host. Thereof heard Sir Launcelot, and collected all whom he could; and many good knights held with him, both for his sake and for the queen’s sake. But King Arthur’s host was too great for Sir Launcelot to abide him in the field; and he was full loath to do battle against the king. So Sir Launcelot drew him to his strong castle, with all manner of provisions. Then came King Arthur with Sir Gawain, and laid siege all about La Joyeuse Garde, both the town and the castle; but in no wise would Sir Launcelot ride out of his castle, neither suffer any of his knights to issue out, until many weeks were past.

Then it befell upon a day in harvest-time, Sir Launcelot looked over the wall, and spoke aloud to King Arthur and Sir Gawain, “My lords both, all is in vain that ye do at this siege, for here ye shall win no worship, but only dishonor; for if I list to come out, and my good knights, I shall soon make an end of this war.” “Come forth,” said Arthur, “if thou darest, and I promise thee I shall meet thee in the midst of the field.” “God forbid me,” said Sir Launcelot, “that I should encounter with the most noble king that made me knight.” “Fie upon thy fair language,” said the king, “for know thou well I am thy mortal foe, and ever will be to my dying day.” And Sir Gawain said, “What cause hadst thou to slay my brother, Sir Gaheris, who bore no arms against thee, and Sir Gareth, whom thou madest knight, and who loved thee more than all my kin? Therefore know thou well I shall make war to thee all the while that I may live.”

When Sir Bohort, and Sir Hector de Marys, and Sir Lionel heard this outcry, they called to them Sir Palamedes, and Sir Saffire his brother, and Sir Lawayn, with many more, and all went to Sir Launcelot. And they said, “My lord, Sir Launcelot, we pray you, if you will have our service keep us no longer within these walls, for know well all your fair speech and forbearance will not avail you.” “Alas!” said Sir Launcelot, “to ride forth and to do battle I am full loath.” Then he spake again unto the king and Sir Gawain, and willed them to keep out of the battle; but they despised his words. So then Sir Launcelot’s fellowship came out of the castle in full good array. And always Sir Launcelot charged all his knights, in any wise, to save King Arthur and Sir Gawain.

Then came forth Sir Gawain from the king’s host and offered combat, and Sir Lionel encountered with him, and there Sir Gawain smote Sir Lionel through the body, that he fell to the earth as if dead. Then there began a great conflict, and much people were slain; but ever Sir Launcelot did what he might to save the people on King Arthur’s party, and ever King Arthur followed Sir Launcelot to slay him; but Sir Launcelot suffered him, and would not strike again. Then Sir Bohort encountered with King Arthur, and smote him down; and he alighted and drew his sword, and said to Sir Launcelot, “Shall I make an end of this war?” for he meant to have slain King Arthur. “Not so,” said Sir Launcelot, “touch him no more, for I will never see that most noble king that made me knight either slain or shamed;” and therewith Sir Launcelot alighted off his horse, and took up the king, and horsed him again, and said thus: “My lord Arthur, for God’s love, cease this strife.” And King Arthur looked upon Sir Launcelot, and the tears burst from his eyes, thinking on the great courtesy that was in Sir Launcelot more than in any other man; and therewith the king rode his way. Then anon both parties withdrew to repose them, and buried the dead.

But the war continued, and it was noised abroad through all Christendom, and at last it was told afore the pope; and he, considering the great goodness of King Arthur, and of Sir Launcelot, called unto him a noble clerk, which was the Bishop of Rochester, who was then in his dominions, and sent him to King Arthur, charging him that he take his queen, dame Guenever, unto him again, and make peace with Sir Launcelot.

So, by means of this bishop, peace was made for the space of one year; and King Arthur received back the queen, and Sir Launcelot departed from the kingdom with all his knights, and went to his own country. So they shipped at Cardiff, and sailed unto Benwick, which some men call Bayonne. And all the people of those lands came to Sir Launcelot, and received him home right joyfully. And Sir Launcelot stablished and garnished all his towns and castles, and he greatly advanced all his noble knights, Sir Lionel and Sir Bohort, and Sir Hector de Marys, Sir Blamor, Sir Lawayne, and many others, and made them lords of lands and castles; till he left himself no more than any one of them.

“Then Arthur made vast banquets, and strange knights
From the four winds came in: and each one sat,
Tho’ served with choice from air, land, stream and sea,
Oft in mid-banquet measuring with his eyes
His neighbor’s make and might.”

—Pelleas and Ettarre.

But when the year was passed, King Arthur and Sir Gawain came with a great host, and landed upon Sir Launcelot’s lands, and burned and wasted all that they might overrun. Then spake Sir Bohort and said, “My lord, Sir Launcelot, give us leave to meet them in the field, and we shall make them rue the time that ever they came to this country.” Then said Sir Launcelot, “I am full loath to ride out with my knights for shedding of Christian blood; so we will yet a while keep our walls, and I will send a messenger unto my lord Arthur, to propose a treaty; for better is peace than always war.” So Sir Launcelot sent forth a damsel, and a dwarf with her, requiring King Arthur to leave his warring upon his lands; and so she started on a palfrey, and the dwarf ran by her side. And when she came to the pavilion of King Arthur, she alighted, and there met her a gentle knight, Sir Lucan, the butler, and said, “Fair damsel, come ye from Sir Launcelot du Lac?” “Yea, sir,” she said, “I come hither to speak with the king.” “Alas!” said Sir Lucan, “my lord Arthur would be reconciled to Sir Launcelot, but Sir Gawain will not suffer him.” And with this Sir Lucan led the damsel to the king, where he sat with Sir Gawain, to hear what she would say. So when she had told her tale, the tears ran out of the king’s eyes; and all the lords were forward to advise the king to be accorded with Sir Launcelot, save only Sir Gawain; and he said, “My lord, mine uncle, what will ye do? Will you now turn back, now you are so far advanced upon your journey? If ye do all the world will speak shame of you.” “Nay,” said King Arthur, “I will do as ye advise me; but do thou give the damsel her answer, for I may not speak to her for pity.”

Then said Sir Gawain, “Damsel, say ye to Sir Launcelot, that it is waste labor to sue to mine uncle for peace, and say that I, Sir Gawain, send him word that I promise him, by the faith I owe unto God and to knighthood, I shall never leave him till he have slain me or I him.” So the damsel returned; and when Sir Launcelot had heard this answer the tears ran down his cheeks.

Then it befell on a day Sir Gawain came before the gates, armed at all points, and cried with a loud voice, “Where art thou now, thou false traitor, Sir Launcelot? Why hidest thou thyself within holes and walls like a coward? Look out now, thou traitor knight, and I will avenge upon thy body the death of my three brethren.” All this language heard Sir Launcelot, and the knights which were about him; and they said to him, “Sir Launcelot, now must ye defend you like a knight, or else be shamed for ever, for you have slept overlong and suffered overmuch.” Then Sir Launcelot spake on high unto King Arthur, and said, “My lord Arthur, now I have forborne long, and suffered you and Sir Gawain to do what ye would, and now must I needs defend myself, inasmuch as Sir Gawain hath appealed me of treason.” Then Sir Launcelot armed him and mounted upon his horse, and the noble knights came out of the city, and the host without stood all apart; and so the covenant was made that no man should come near the two knights, nor deal with them, till one were dead or yielded.

Then Sir Launcelot and Sir Gawain departed a great way asunder, and then they came together with all their horses’ might, and each smote the other in the middle of their shields, but neither of them was unhorsed, but their horses fell to the earth. And then they leapt from their horses, and drew their swords, and gave many sad strokes, so that the blood burst out in many places. Now Sir Gawain had this gift from a holy man, that every day in the year, from morning to noon, his strength was increased threefold, and then it fell again to its natural measure. Sir Launcelot was aware of this, and therefore, during the three hours that Sir Gawain’s strength was at the height, Sir Launcelot covered himself with his shield, and kept his might in reserve. And during that time Sir Gawain gave him many sad brunts, that all the knights that looked on marvelled how Sir Launcelot might endure them. Then, when it was past noon, Sir Gawain had only his own might; and when Sir Launcelot felt him so brought down he stretched himself up, and doubled his strokes, and gave Sir Gawain such a buffet that he fell down on his side; and Sir Launcelot drew back and would strike no more. “Why withdrawest thou, false traitor?” then said Sir Gawain; “now turn again and slay me, for if thou leave me thus when I am whole again, I shall do battle with thee again.” “I shall endure you, sir, by God’s grace,” said Sir Launcelot, “but know thou well Sir Gawain, I will never smite a felled knight.” And so Sir Launcelot went into the city, and Sir Gawain was borne into King Arthur’s pavilion, and his wounds were looked to.

Thus the siege endured, and Sir Gawain lay helpless near a month; and when he was near recovered came tidings unto King Arthur that made him return with all his host to England.

Sir Modred was left ruler of all England, and he caused letters to be written, as if from beyond sea, that King Arthur was slain in battle. So he called a Parliament, and made himself be crowned king; and he took the queen Guenever, and said plainly that he would wed her, but she escaped from him and took refuge in the Tower of London. And Sir Modred went and laid siege about the Tower of London, and made great assaults thereat, but all might not avail him. Then came word to Sir Modred that King Arthur had raised the siege of Sir Launcelot, and was coming home. Then Sir Modred summoned all the barony of the land; and much people drew unto Sir Modred, and said they would abide with him for better and for worse; and he drew a great host to Dover, for there he heard say that King Arthur would arrive.

“I hear the steps of Modred in the west,
And with him many of thy people, and knights
Once thine, whom thou hast loved, but grosser grown
Than heathen, spitting at their vows and thee”

—The Passing of Arthur.

And as Sir Modred was at Dover with his host, came King Arthur, with a great number of ships and galleys, and there was Sir Modred awaiting upon the landing. Then was there launching of great boats and small, full of noble men of arms, and there was much slaughter of gentle knights on both parts. But King Arthur was so courageous, there might no manner of knights prevent him to land, and his knights fiercely followed him; and so they landed, and put Sir Modred aback so that he fled, and all his people. And when the battle was done, King Arthur commanded to bury his people that were dead. And then was noble Sir Gawain found, in a great boat, lying more than half dead. And King Arthur went to him, and made sorrow out of measure. “Mine uncle,” said Sir Gawain, “know thou well my death-day is come, and all is through mine own hastiness and wilfulness, for I am smitten upon the old wound which Sir Launcelot gave me, of which I feel I must die. And had Sir Launcelot been with you as of old, this war had never begun, and of all this I am the cause.” Then Sir Gawain prayed the king to send for Sir Launcelot, and to cherish him above all other knights. And so at the hour of noon Sir Gawain yielded up his spirit, and then the king bade inter him in a chapel within Dover Castle; and there all men may see the skull of him, and the same wound is seen that Sir Launcelot gave him in battle.

Then was it told the king that Sir Modred had pitched his camp upon Barrendown; and the king rode thither, and there was a great battle betwixt them, and King Arthur’s party stood best, and Sir Modred and his party fled unto Canterbury.

And there was a day assigned betwixt King Arthur and Sir Modred that they should meet upon a down beside Salisbury, and not far from the sea-side, to do battle yet again. And at night, as the king slept, he dreamed a wonderful dream. It seemed him verily that there came Sir Gawain unto him, with a number of fair ladies with him. And when King Arthur saw him, he said, “Welcome, my sister’s son; I weened thou hadst been dead; and now I see thee alive great is my joy. But, O fair nephew, what be these ladies that hither be come with you?” “Sir,” said Sir Gawain, “all these be ladies for whom I have fought when I was a living man; and because I did battle for them in righteous quarrel they have given me grace to bring me hither unto you to warn you of your death, if ye fight to-morrow with Sir Modred. Therefore take ye treaty, and proffer you largely for a month’s delay; for within a month shall come Sir Launcelot and all his noble knights, and rescue you worshipfully, and slay Sir Modred and all that hold with him.” And then Sir Gawain and all the ladies vanished. And anon the king called to fetch his noble lords and wise bishops unto him. And when they were come, the king told them his vision, and what Sir Gawain had told him. Then the king sent Sir Lucan, the butler, and Sir Bedivere, with two bishops, and charged them in any wise to take a treaty for a month and a day with Sir Modred. So they departed, and came to Sir Modred; and so, at the last, Sir Modred was agreed to have Cornwall and Kent during Arthur’s life, and all England after his death.

“Sir Modred; he the nearest to the king,
His nephew, ever like a subtle beast
Lay couchant with his eyes upon the throne,
Ready to spring, waiting a chance.”

—Guinevere

Then was it agreed that King Arthur and Sir Modred should meet betwixt both their hosts, and each of them should bring fourteen persons, and then and there they should sign the treaty. And when King Arthur and his knights were prepared to go forth, he warned all his host, “If so be ye see any sword drawn, look ye come on fiercely, and slay whomsoever withstandeth, for I in no wise trust that traitor, Sir Modred.” In like wise Sir Modred warned his host. So they met, and were agreed and accorded thoroughly. And wine was brought, and they drank. Right then came an adder out of a little heath-bush, and stung a knight on the foot. And when the knight felt him sting, he looked down and saw the adder, and then he drew his sword to slay the adder, and thought of no other harm. And when the host on both sides saw that sword drawn, they blew trumpets and horns, and shouted greatly. And King Arthur took his horse, and rode to his party, saying, “Alas, this unhappy day!” And Sir Modred did in like wise. And never was there a more doleful battle in Christian land. And ever King Arthur rode throughout the battle, and did full nobly, as a worthy king should, and Sir Modred that day did his devoir, and put himself in great peril. And thus they fought all the long day, till the most of all the noble knights lay dead upon the ground. Then the king looked about him, and saw of all his host were left alive but two knights, Sir Lucan, the butler, and Sir Bedivere, his brother, and they were full sore wounded. Then King Arthur saw where Sir Modred leaned upon his sword among a great heap of dead men. “Now give me my spear,” said Arthur unto Sir Lucan; “for yonder I espy the traitor that hast wrought all this woe.” “Sir, let him be,” said Sir Lucan; “for if ye pass this unhappy day, ye shall be right well revenged upon him. Remember what the sprite of Sir Gawain told you, and leave off now, for ye have won the field; and if ye leave off now this evil day of destiny is past.” “Betide me life, betide me death,” said King Arthur, “he shall not now escape my hands.” Then the king took his spear in both hands, and ran toward Sir Modred, crying, “Traitor, now is thy death-day come.” And there King Arthur smote Sir Modred under the shield, with a thrust of his spear through the body. And when Sir Modred felt that he had his death-wound, with the might that he had he smote King Arthur, with his sword holden in both his hands, on the side of the head, that the sword pierced the helmet and the brain-pan; and then Sir Modred fell stark dead upon the earth. And the noble Arthur fell in a swoon to the earth. And Sir Lucan, the butler, and Sir Bedivere raised him up, and gently led him betwixt them both to a little chapel not far from the sea-side. And when the king was there he thought him well eased. Then heard they people cry in the field. And Sir Lucan went to see what that cry betokened; and he saw by the moonlight that pillers and robbers were come to rob the dead. And he returned, and said to the king, “By my rede, it is best that we bring you to some town.” “I would it were so,” said the king. And when the king tried to go he fainted. Then Sir Lucan took up the king on the one part, and Sir Bedivere on the other part; and in the lifting, Sir Lucan fell in a swoon to the earth, for he was grievously wounded. And then the noble knight’s heart burst. And when the king awoke he beheld Sir Lucan how he lay foaming at the mouth, and speechless. “Alas!” said the king, “this is to me a full heavy sight, to see this noble duke so die for my sake; for he would have holpen me that had more need of help than I, and he would not complain, his heart was so set to help me.” Then Sir Bedivere wept for his brother. “Leave this mourning and weeping,” said the king, “for wilt thou well, if I might live myself, the death of Sir Lucan would grieve me evermore; but my time hieth fast. Therefore,” said Arthur unto Sir Bedivere, “take thou Excalibar, my good sword, and go with it to yonder water-side; and when thou comest there I charge thee throw my sword in that water, and come again and tell me what thou there seest.” “My lord,” said Sir Bedivere, “your commandment shall be done.” So Sir Bedivere departed, and by the way he beheld that noble sword, that the pommel and the haft were all of precious stones; and then he said to himself, “If I throw this rich sword into the water no good shall come thereof, but only harm and loss.” And then Sir Bedivere hid Excalibar under a tree. And so, as soon as he might, he came again to the king. “What sawest thou there?” said the king. “Sir,” he said, “I saw nothing.” “Alas! thou hast deceived me,” said the king. “Go thou lightly again, and as thou love me, spare not to throw it in.” Then Sir Bedivere went again, and took the sword in his hand to throw it; but again it beseemed him but sin and shame to throw away that noble sword, and he hid it away again, and returned, and told the king he had done his commandment. “What sawest thou there?” said the king. “Sir,” he said, “I saw nothing but waters deep and waves wan.” “Ah, traitor untrue!” said King Arthur, “now hast thou betrayed me twice. And yet thou art named a noble knight, and hast been lief and dear to me. But now go again, and do as I bid thee, for thy long tarrying putteth me in jeopardy of my life.” Then Sir Bedivere went to the sword, and lightly took it up, and went to the water-side, and he bound the girdle about the hilt, and then he threw the sword as far into the water as he might.

Then Sir Bedivere came again to the king, and told him what he saw. “Help me hence,” said the king, “for I fear I have tarried too long.” Then Sir Bedivere took the king on his back, and so went with him to that water-side; and when they came there, even fast by the bank there rode a little barge with many fair ladies in it, and among them was a queen; and all had black hoods, and they wept and shrieked when they saw King Arthur.

“Now put me in the barge,” said the king. And there received him three queens with great mourning, and in one of their laps King Arthur laid his head. And the queen said, “Ah, dear brother, why have ye tarried so long? Alas! this wound on your head hath caught over-much cold.” And then they rowed from the land, and Sir Bedivere beheld them go from him. Then he cried: “Ah, my lord Arthur, will ye leave me here alone among mine enemies?” “Comfort thyself,” said the king, “for in me is no further help; for I will to the Isle of Avalon, to heal me of my grievous wound.” And as soon as Sir Bedivere had lost sight of the barge, he wept and wailed; then he took the forest, and went all that night, and in the morning he was ware of a chapel and a hermitage.

Then went Sir Bedivere thither; and when he came into the chapel, he saw where lay an hermit on the ground, near a tomb that was newly graven. “Sir,” said Sir Bedivere, “what man is there buried that ye pray so near unto?” “Fair son,” said the hermit, “I know not verily. But this night there came a number of ladies, and brought hither one dead, and prayed me to bury him.” “Alas!” said Sir Bedivere, “that was my lord, King Arthur.” Then Sir Bedivere swooned; and when he awoke he prayed the hermit he might abide with him, to live with fasting and prayers. “Ye are welcome,” said the hermit. So there bode Sir Bedivere with the hermit; and he put on poor clothes, and served the hermit full lowly in fasting and in prayers.

Thus of Arthur I find never more written in books that be authorized, nor more of the very certainty of his death; but thus was he led away in a ship, wherein were three queens; the one was King Arthur’s sister, Queen Morgane le Fay; the other was Viviane, the Lady of the Lake; and the third was the queen of North Galis. And this tale Sir Bedivere, knight of the Table Round, made to be written.

Yet some men say that King Arthur is not dead, but hid away into another place, and men say that he shall come again and reign over England. But many say that there is written on his tomb this verse:

“Hie facet Arthurus, Rex quondam, Rexque futurus.”
Here Arthur lies, King once and King to be.

And when Queen Guenever understood that King Arthur was slain, and all the noble knights with him, she stole away, and five ladies with her; and so she went to Almesbury, and made herself a nun, and ware white clothes and black, and took great penance as ever did sinful lady, and lived in fasting, prayers, and alms-deeds. And there she was abbess and ruler of the nuns.

“And when she came to Almesbury she spake
There to the nuns, and said, ‘Mine enemies
Pursue me, but, O peaceful Sisterhood,
Receive, and yield me sanctuary, nor ask
Her name to whom ye yield it, till her time
To tell you;’ and her beauty, grace and power
Wrought as a charm upon them, and they spared
To ask it.”

—Guinevere.

Now turn we from her, and speak of Sir Launcelot of the Lake.

When Sir Launcelot heard in his country that Sir Modred was crowned king of England, and made war against his own uncle, King Arthur, then was Sir Launcelot wroth out of measure, and said to his kinsmen: “Alas, that double traitor, Sir Modred! now it repenteth me that ever he escaped out of my hands.” Then Sir Launcelot and his fellows made ready in all haste, with ships and galleys, to pass into England; and so he passed over till he came to Dover, and there he landed with a great army. Then Sir Launcelot was told that King Arthur was slain. “Alas!” said Sir Launcelot, “this is the heaviest tidings that ever came to me.” Then he called the kings, dukes, barons, and knights, and said thus: “My fair lords, I thank you all for coming into this country with me, but we came too late, and that shall repent me while I live. But since it is so,” said Sir Launcelot, “I will myself ride and seek my lady, Queen Guenever, for I have heard say she hath fled into the west; therefore ye shall abide me here fifteen days, and if I come not within that time, then take your ships and your host, and depart into your country.”

So Sir Launcelot departed and rode westerly, and there he sought many days; and at last he came to a nunnery, and was seen of Queen Guenever as he walked in the cloister; and when she saw him she swooned away. And when she might speak she bade him to be called to her. And when Sir Launcelot was brought to her she said: “Sir Launcelot, I require thee and beseech thee, for all the love that ever was betwixt us, that thou never see me more, but return to thy kingdom and take thee a wife, and live with her with joy and bliss; and pray for me to my Lord, that I may get my soul’s health.” “Nay, madam,” said Sir Launcelot, “wit you well that I shall never do; but the same destiny that ye have taken you to will I take me unto, for to please and serve God.” And so they parted, with tears and much lamentation; and the ladies bare the queen to her chamber, and Sir Launcelot took his horse and rode away, weeping.

And at last Sir Launcelot was ware of a hermitage and a chapel, and then he heard a little bell ring to mass; and thither he rode and alighted, and tied his horse to the gate, and heard mass. And he that sang the mass was the hermit with whom Sir Bedivere had taken up his abode; and Sir Bedivere knew Sir Launcelot, and they spake together after mass. But when Sir Bedivere had told his tale, Sir Launcelot’s heart almost burst for sorrow. Then he kneeled down, and prayed the hermit to shrive him, and besought that he might be his brother. Then the hermit said, “I will gladly;” and then he put a habit upon Sir Launcelot, and there he served God day and night, with prayers and fastings.

And the great host abode at Dover till the end of the fifteen days set by Sir Launcelot, and then Sir Bohort made them to go home again to their own country; and Sir Bohort, Sir Hector de Marys, Sir Blamor, and many others, took on them to ride through all England to seek Sir Launcelot. So Sir Bohort by fortune rode until he came to the same chapel where Sir Launcelot was; and when he saw Sir Launcelot in that manner of clothing he, prayed the hermit that he might be in that same. And so there was an habit put upon him, and there he lived in prayers and fasting. And within half a year came others of the knights, their fellows, and took such a habit as Sir Launcelot and Sir Bohort had. Thus they endured in great penance six years.

And upon a night there came a vision to Sir Launcelot, and charged him to haste toward Almesbury, and “by the time thou come there, thou shalt find Queen Guenever dead.” Then Sir Launcelot rose up early and told the hermit thereof. Then said the hermit, “It were well that ye disobey not this vision.” And Sir Launcelot took his seven companions with him, and on foot they went from Glastonbury to Almesbury, which is more than thirty miles. And when they were come to Almesbury, they found that Queen Guenever died but half an hour before. Then Sir Launcelot saw her visage, but he wept not greatly, but sighed. And so he did all the observance of the service himself, both the “dirige” at night, and at morn he sang mass. And there was prepared an horse-bier, and Sir Launcelot and his fellows followed the bier on foot from Almesbury until they came to Glastonbury; and she was wrapped in cered clothes, and laid in a coffin of marble. And when she was put in the earth Sir Launcelot swooned, and lay long as one dead.

And Sir Launcelot never after ate but little meat, nor drank; but continually mourned. And within six weeks Sir Launcelot fell sick; and he sent for the hermit and all his true fellows, and said, “Sir hermit, I pray you give me all my rights that a Christian man ought to have.” “It shall not need,” said the hermit and all his fellows; “it is but heaviness of your blood, and to-morrow morn you shall be well” “My fair lords,” said Sir Launcelot, “my careful body will into the earth; I have warning more than now I will say; therefore give me my rights.” So when he was houseled and aneled, and had all that a Christian man ought to have, he prayed the hermit that his fellows might bear his body to Joyous Garde. (Some men say it was Alnwick, and some say it was Bamborough.) “It repenteth me sore,” said Sir Launcelot, “but I made a vow aforetime that in Joyous Garde I would be buried.” Then there was weeping and wringing of hands among his fellows. And that night Sir Launcelot died; and when Sir Bohort and his fellows came to his bedside the next morning they found him stark dead; and he lay as if he had smiled, and the sweetest savor all about him that ever they knew.

And they put Sir Launcelot into the same horse-bier that Queen Guenever was laid in, and the hermit and they altogether went with the body till they came to Joyous Garde. And there they laid his corpse in the body of the quire, and sang and read many psalms and prayers over him. And ever his visage was laid open and naked, that all folks might behold him. And right thus, as they were at their service, there came Sir Hector de Maris, that had seven years sought Sir Launcelot, his brother, through all England, Scotland and Wales. And when Sir Hector heard such sounds in the chapel of Joyous Garde he alighted and came into the quire. And all they knew Sir Hector. Then went Sir Bohort, and told him how there lay Sir Launcelot, his brother, dead. Then Sir Hector threw his shield, his sword, and helm from him. And when he beheld Sir Launcelot’s visage it were hard for any tongue to tell the doleful complaints he made for his brother. “Ah, Sir Launcelot!” he said, “there thou liest. And now I dare to say thou wert never matched of none earthly knight’s hand. And thou wert the courteousest knight that ever bare shield; and thou wert the truest friend to thy lover that ever bestrode horse; and thou wert the truest lover, of a sinful man, that ever loved woman; and thou wert the kindest man that ever struck with sword. And thou wert the goodliest person that ever came among press of knights. And thou wert the meekest man, and the gentlest, that ever ate in hall among ladies. And thou wert the sternest knight to thy mortal foe that ever put spear in the rest.” Then there was weeping and dolor out of measure. Thus they kept Sir Launcelot’s corpse fifteen days, and then they buried it with great devotion.

Then they went back with the hermit to his hermitage. And Sir Bedivere was there ever still hermit to his life’s end. And Sir Bohort, Sir Hector, Sir Blamor, and Sir Bleoberis went into the Holy Land. And these four knights did many battles upon the miscreants, the Turks; and there they died upon a Good Friday, as it pleased God.

Thus endeth this noble and joyous book, entitled “La Morte d’Arthur;” notwithstanding it treateth of the birth, life, and acts of the said King Arthur, and of his noble Knights of the Round Table, their marvellous enquests and adventures, the achieving of the Sangreal, and, in the end, le Morte d’Arthur, with the dolorous death and departing out of this world of them all. Which book was reduced into English by Sir Thomas Mallory, Knight, and divided into twenty-one books, chaptered and imprinted and finished in the Abbey Westmestre, the last day of July, the year of our Lord MCCCCLXXXV.

Caxton me fieri fecit.

The earliest inhabitants of Britain are supposed to have been a branch of that great family known in history by the designation of Celts. Cambria, which is a frequent name for Wales, is thought to be derived from Cymri, the name which the Welsh traditions apply to an immigrant people who entered the island from the adjacent continent. This name is thought to be identical with those of Cimmerians and Cimbri, under which the Greek and Roman historians describe a barbarous people, who spread themselves from the north of the Euxine over the whole of Northwestern Europe.

The origin of the names Wales and Welsh has been much canvassed. Some writers make them a derivation from Gael or Gaul, which names are said to signify “woodlanders;” others observe that Walsh, in the northern languages, signifies a stranger, and that the aboriginal Britons were so called by those who at a later era invaded the island and possessed the greater part of it, the Saxons and Angles.

The Romans held Britain from the invasion of Julius Caesar till their voluntary withdrawal from the island, A.D. 420,—that is, about five hundred years. In that time there must have been a wide diffusion of their arts and institutions among the natives. The remains of roads, cities, and fortifications show that they did much to develop and improve the country, while those of their villas and castles prove that many of the settlers possessed wealth and taste for the ornamental arts. Yet the Roman sway was sustained chiefly by force, and never extended over the entire island. The northern portion, now Scotland, remained independent, and the western portion, constituting Wales and Cornwall, was only nominally subjected.

Neither did the later invading hordes succeed in subduing the remoter sections of the island. For ages after the arrival of the Saxons under Hengist and Horsa, A.D. 449, the whole western coast of Britain was possessed by the aboriginal inhabitants, engaged in constant warfare with the invaders.

It has, therefore, been a favorite boast of the people of Wales and Cornwall that the original British stock flourishes in its unmixed purity only among them. We see this notion flashing out in poetry occasionally, as when Gray, in “The Bard,” prophetically describing Queen Elizabeth, who was of the Tudor, a Welsh race, says:

“Her eye proclaims her of the Briton line;”

and, contrasting the princes of the Tudor with those of the Norman race, he exclaims:

“All hail, ye genuine kings, Britannia’s issue, hail!”

The Welsh Language and Literature

The Welsh language is one of the oldest in Europe. It possesses poems the origin of which is referred with probability to the sixth century. The language of some of these is so antiquated that the best scholars differ about the interpretation of many passages; but, generally speaking, the body of poetry which the Welsh possess, from the year 1000 downwards, is intelligible to those who are acquainted with the modern language.

Till within the last half-century these compositions remained buried in the libraries of colleges or of individuals, and so difficult of access that no successful attempt was made to give them to the world. This reproach was removed after ineffectual appeals to the patriotism of the gentry of Wales, by Owen Jones, a furrier of London, who at his own expense collected and published the chief productions of Welsh literature, under the title of the Myvyrian Archaeology of Wales. In this task he was assisted by Dr. Owen and other Welsh scholars.

After the cessation of Jones’ exertions the old apathy returned, and continued till within a few years. Dr. Owen exerted himself to obtain support for the publication of the Mabinogeon or Prose Tales of the Welsh, but died without accomplishing his purpose, which has since been carried into execution by Lady Charlotte Guest. The legends which fill the remainder of this volume are taken from this work, of which we have already spoken more fully in the introductory chapter to the First Part.

威尔士吟游诗人

The authors to whom the oldest Welsh poems are attributed are Aneurin, who is supposed to have lived A.D. 500 to 550, and Taliesin, Llywarch Hen (Llywarch the Aged), and Myrddin or Merlin, who were a few years later. The authenticity of the poems which bear their names has been assailed, and it is still an open question how many and which of them are authentic, though it is hardly to be doubted that some are so. The poem of Aneurin entitled the “Gododin” bears very strong marks of authenticity. Aneurin was one of the Northern Britons of Strath-Clyde, who have left to that part of the district they inhabited the name of Cumberland, or Land of the Cymri. In this poem he laments the defeat of his countrymen by the Saxons at the battle of Cattraeth, in consequence of having partaken too freely of the mead before joining in combat. The bard himself and two of his fellow-warriors were all who escaped from the field. A portion of this poem has been translated by Gray, of which the following is an extract:

“To Cattraeth’s vale, in glittering row,
Twice two hundred warriors go;
Every warrior’s manly neck
Chains of regal honor deck,
Wreathed in many a golden link;
From the golden cup they drink
Nectar that the bees produce,
Or the grape’s exalted juice.
Flushed with mirth and hope they burn,
But none to Cattraeth’s vale return,
Save Aeron brave, and Conan strong,
Bursting through the bloody throng,
And I, the meanest of them all,
That live to weep, and sing their fall.”

The works of Taliesin are of much more questionable authenticity. There is a story of the adventures of Taliesin so strongly marked with mythical traits as to cast suspicion on the writings attributed to him. This story will be found in the subsequent pages.

三合会

The Triads are a peculiar species of poetical composition, of which the Welsh bards have left numerous examples. They are enumerations of a triad of persons, or events, or observations, strung together in one short sentence. This form of composition, originally invented, in all likelihood, to assist the memory, has been raised by the Welsh to a degree of elegance of which it hardly at first sight appears susceptible. The Triads are of all ages, some of them probably as old as anything in the language. Short as they are individually, the collection in the Myvyrian Archaeology occupies more than one hundred and seventy pages of double columns. We will give some specimens, beginning with personal triads, and giving the first place to one of King Arthur’s own composition:

“I have three heroes in battle:
Mael the tall, and Llyr, with his army,
And Caradoc, the pillar of Wales.”

“The three principal bards of the island of Britain:—
梅林·安布罗斯
Merlin the son of Mprfyn, called also Merlin the Wild,
And Taliesin, the chief of the bards.”

“The three golden-tongued knights of the court of Arthur:—
Gawain, son of Gwyar,
Drydvas, son of Tryphin,
And Ehwlod, son of Madag, ap Uther.”

“The three honorable feasts of the island of Britain:—
The feast of Caswallaun, after repelling Julius Caesar from this
isle;
The feast of Aurelius Ambrosius, after he had conquered the
Saxons;
And the feast of King Arthur, at Carleon upon Usk.”

“Guenever, the daughter of Laodegan the giant,
Bad when little, worse when great.”

Next follow some moral triads:

“Hast thou heard what Dremhidydd sung,
An ancient watchman on the castle walls?
A refusal is better than a promise unperformed.”

“Hast thou heard what Llenleawg sung,
The noble chief wearing the golden torques?
The grave is better than a life of want.”

“Hast thou heard what Garselit sung,
The Irishman whom it is safe to follow?
Sin is bad, if long pursued.”

“Hast thou heard what Avaon sung,
The son of Taliesin, of the recording verse?
The cheek will not conceal the anguish of the heart.”

“Didst thou hear what Llywarch sung,
The intrepid and brave old man?
Greet kindly, though there be no acquaintance.”

Kynon’s Adventure

King Arthur was at Caerleon upon Usk; and one day he sat in his chamber, and with him were Owain, the son of Urien, and Kynon, the son of Clydno, and Kay, the son of Kyner, and Guenever and her handmaidens at needlework by the window. In the centre of the chamher King Arthur sat, upon a seat of green rushes,[51]The use of green rushes in apartments was by no means peculiar to the court of Carleon upon Usk. Our ancestors had a great predilection for them, and they seem to have constituted an essential article, not only of comfort, but of luxury. The custom of strewing the floor with rushes is well known to have existed in England during the Middle Ages, and also in France. over which was spread a covering of flame-covered satin, and a cushion of red satin was under his elbow.

Then Arthur spoke. “If I thought you would not disparage me,” said he, “I would sleep while I wait for my repast; and you can entertain one another with relating tales, and can obtain a flagon of mead and some meat from Kay.” And the king went to sleep. And Kynon the son of Clydno asked Kay for that which Arthur had promised them. “I too will have the good tale which he promised me,” said Kay. “Nay,” answered Kynon; “fairer will it be for thee to fulfil Arthur’s behest in the first place, and then we will tell thee the best tale that we know.” So Kay went to the kitchen and to the mead-cellar, and returned, bearing a flagon of mead, and a golden goblet, and a handful of skewers, upon which were broiled collops of meat. Then they ate the collops, and began to drink the mead. “Now,” said Kay, “it is time for you to give me my story.” “Kynon,” said Owain, “do thou pay to Kay the tale that is his due.” “I will do so,” answered Kynon.

“I was the only son of my mother and father, and I was exceedingly aspiring, and my daring was very great. I thought there was no enterprise in the world too mighty for me: and after I had achieved all the adventures that were in my own country, I equipped myself, and set forth to journey through deserts and distant regions. And at length it chanced that I came to the fairest valley in the world, wherein were trees all of equal growth; and a river ran through the valley, and a path was by the side of the river. And I followed the path until midday, and continued my journey along the remainder of the valley until the evening; and at the extremity of the plain I came to a large and lustrous castle, at the foot of which was a torrent. And I approached the castle, and there I beheld two youths with yellow curling hair, each with a frontlet of gold upon his head, and clad in a garment of yellow satin; and they had gold clasps upon their insteps. In the hand of each of them was an ivory bow, strung with the sinews of the stag, and their arrows and their shafts were of the bone of the whale, and were winged with peacock’s feathers. The shafts also had golden heads. And they had daggers with blades of gold, and with hilts of the bone of the whale. And they were shooting at a mark.

“And a little away from them I saw a man in the prime of life, with his beard newly shorn, clad in a robe and mantle of yellow satin, and round the top of his mantle was a band of gold lace. On his feet were shoes of variegated leather,[52]Cordwal is the word in the original, and from the manner in which it is used it is evidently intended for the French Cordouan or Cordovan leather, which derived its name from Cordova, where it was manufactured. From this comes also our English word cordwainer. fastened by two bosses of gold. When I saw him I went towards him and saluted him; and such was his courtesy, that he no sooner received my greeting than he returned it. And he went with me towards the castle. Now there were no dwellers in the castle, except those who were in one hall. And there I saw four and twenty damsels, embroidering satin at a window. And this I tell thee, Kay, that the least fair of them was fairer than the fairest maid thou didst ever behold in the island of Britain; and the least lovely of them was more lovely than Guenever, the wife of Arthur, when she appeared loveliest, at the feast of Easter. They rose up at my coming, and six of them took my horse, and divested me of my armor, and six others took my arms and washed them in a vessel till they were perfectly bright. And the third six spread cloths upon the tables and prepared meat. And the fourth six took off my soiled garments and placed others upon me, namely, an under vest and a doublet of fine linen, and a robe and a surcoat, and a mantle of yellow satin, with a broad gold band upon the mantle. And they placed cushions both beneath and around me, with coverings of red linen, and I sat down. Now the six maidens who had taken my horse unharnessed him as well as if they had been the best squires in the island of Britain.

“Then behold they brought bowls of silver, wherein was water to wash and towels of linen, some green and some white; and I washed. And in a little while the man sat down at the table. And I sat next to him, and below me sat all the maidens, except those who waited on us. And the table was of silver, and the cloths upon the table were of linen. And no vessel was served upon the table that was not either of gold or of silver or of buffalo horn. And our meat was brought to us. And verily, Kay, I saw there every sort of meat, and every sort of liquor that I ever saw elsewhere; but the meat and the liquor were better served there than I ever saw them in any other place.

“Until the repast was half over, neither the man nor any one of the damsels spoke a single word to me; but when the man perceived that it would be more agreeable for me to converse than to eat any more, he began to inquire of me who I was. Then I told the man who I was and what was the cause of my journey, and said that I was seeking whether any one was superior to me, or whether I could gain mastery over all. The man looked upon me, and he smiled and said, ‘If I did not fear to do thee a mischief, I would show thee that which thou seekest.’ Then I desired him to speak freely. And he said: ‘Sleep here to-night, and in the morning arise early, and take the road upwards through the valley, until thou readiest the wood. A little way within the wood thou wilt come to a large sheltered glade, with a mound in the centre. And thou wilt see a black man of great stature on the top of the mound. He has but one foot, and one eye in the middle of his forehead. He is the wood- ward of that wood. And thou wilt see a thousand wild animals grazing around him. Inquire of him the way out of the glade, and he will reply to thee briefly, and will point out the road by which thou shalt find that which thou art in quest of.’

“And long seemed that night to me. And the next morning I arose and equipped myself, and mounted my horse, and proceeded straight through the valley to the wood, and at length I arrived at the glade. And the black man was there, sitting upon the top of the mound; and I was three times more astonished at the number of wild animals that I beheld than the man had said I should be. Then I inquired of him the way and he asked me roughly whither I would go. And when I had told him who I was and what I sought, ‘Take,’ said he, ‘that path that leads toward the head of the glade, and there thou wilt find an open space like to a large valley, and in the midst of it a tall tree. Under this tree is a fountain, and by the side of the fountain a marble slab, and on the marble slab a silver bowl, attached by a chain of silver, that it may not be carried away. Take, the bowl and throw a bowlful of water on the slab. And if thou dost not find trouble in that adventure, thou needest not seek it during the rest of thy life.’

“So I journeyed on until I reached the summit of the steep. And there I found everything as the black man had described it to me. And I went up to the tree, and beneath it I saw the fountain, and by its side the marble slab, and the silver bowl fastened by the chain. Then I took the bowl, and cast a bowlful of water upon the slab, and immediately I heard a mighty peal of thunder, so that heaven and earth seemed to tremble with its fury. And after the thunder came a, shower; and of a truth I tell thee, Kay, that it was such a shower as neither man nor beast could endure and live. I turned my horse’s flank toward the shower, and placed the beak of my shield over his head and neck, while I held the upper part of it over my own neck. And thus I withstood the shower. And presently the sky became clear, and with that, behold, the birds lighted upon the tree, and sang. And truly, Kay, I never heard any melody equal to that, either before or since. And when I was most charmed with listening to the birds, lo! a chiding voice was heard of one approaching me and saying: ‘O knight, what has brought thee hither? What evil have I done to thee that thou shouldst act towards me and my possessions as thou hast this day? Dost thou not know that the shower to-day has left in my dominions neither man nor beast alive that was exposed to it?’ And thereupon, behold, a knight on a black horse appeared, clothed in jet-black velvet, and with a tabard of black linen about him. And we charged each other, and, as the onset was furious, it was not long before I was overthrown. Then the knight passed the shaft of his lance through the bridle-rein of my horse, and rode off with the two horses, leaving me where I was. And he did not even bestow so much notice upon me as to imprison me, nor did he despoil me of my arms. So I returned along the road by which I had come. And when I reached the glade where the black man was, I confess to thee, Kay, it is a marvel that I did not melt down into a liquid pool, through the shame that I felt at the black man’s derision. And that night I came to the same castle where I had spent the night preceding. And I was more agreeably entertained that night than I had been the night before. And I conversed freely with the inmates of the castle; and none of them alluded to my expedition to the fountain, neither did I mention it to any. And I remained there that night. When I arose on the morrow I found ready saddled a dark bay palfrey, with nostrils as red as scarlet. And after putting on my armor, and leaving there my blessing, I returned to my own court. And that horse I still possess, and he is in the stable yonder. And I declare that I would not part with him for the best palfrey in the island of Britain.

“Now, of a truth, Kay, no man ever before confessed to an adventure so much to his own discredit; and verily it seems strange to me that neither before nor since have I heard of any person who knew of this adventure, and that the subject of it should exist within King Arthur’s dominions without any other person lighting upon it.”

THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN (Continued)

Owain’s Adventure

THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN (Continued)

Gawain’s Adventure

It befell that, as Gawain went forth one day with King Arthur, he perceived him to be very sad and sorrowful. And Gawain was much grieved to see Arthur in his state, and he questioned him, saying, “O my lord, what has befallen thee?” “In sooth, Gawain,” said Arthur, “I am grieved concerning Owain, whom I have lost these three years; and I shall certainly die if the fourth year pass without my seeing him. Now I am sure that it is through the tale which Kynon, the son of Clydno, related, that I have lost Owain.” “There is no need for thee,” said Gawain, “to summon to arms thy whole dominions on this account, for thou thyself, and the men of thy household, will be able to avenge Owain if he be slain or to set him free if he be in prison; and, if alive, to bring him back with thee.” And it was settled according to what Gawain had said.

Then Arthur and the men of his household prepared to go and seek Owain. And Kynon, the son of Clydno, acted as their guide. And Arthur came to the castle where Kynon had been before. And when he came there, the youths were shooting in the same place, and the yellow man was standing hard by. When the yellow man saw Arthur, he greeted him, and invited him to the castle. And Arthur accepted his invitation, and they entered the castle together. And great as was the number of his retinue, their presence was scarcely observed in the castle, so vast was its extent. And the maidens rose up to wait on them. And the service of the maidens appeared to them all to excel any attendance they had ever met with; and even the pages, who had charge of the horses, were no worse served that night than Arthur himself would have been in his own palace.

The next morning Arthur set out thence, with Kynon for his guide, and came to the place where the black man was. And the stature of the black man was more surprising to Arthur than it had been represented to him. And they came to the top of the wooded steep, and traversed the valley, till they reached the green tree, where they saw the fountain and the bowl and the slab. And upon that Kay came to Arthur, and spoke to him. “My lord,” said he, “I know the meaning of all this, and my request is that thou wilt permit me to throw the water on the slab, and to receive the first adventure that may befall.” And Arthur gave him leave.

Then Kay threw a bowlful of water upon the slab, and immediately there came the thunder, and after the thunder the shower. And such a thunder-storm they had never known before. After the shower had ceased, the sky became clear, and on looking at the tree, they beheld it completely leafless. Then the birds descended upon the tree. And the song of the birds was far sweeter than any strain they had ever heard before. Then they beheld a knight, on a coal- black horse, clothed in black satin, coming rapidly towards them. And Kay met him and encountered him, and it was not long before Kay was overthrown. And the knight withdrew. And Arthur and his host encamped for the night.

And when they arose in the morning, they perceived the signal of combat upon the lance of the knight. Then, one by one, all the household of Arthur went forth to combat the knight, until there was not one that was not overthrown by him, except Arthur and Gawain. And Arthur armed himself to encounter the knight. “O my lord,” said Gawain, “permit me to fight with him first.” And Arthur permitted him. And he went forth to meet the knight, having over himself and his horse a satin robe of honor, which had been sent him by the daughter of the Earl of Rhangyr, and in this dress he was not known by any of the host. And they charged each other, and fought all that day until the evening. And neither of them was able to unhorse the other. And so it was the next day; they broke their lances in the shock, but neither of them could obtain the mastery.

And the third day they fought with exceeding strong lances. And they were incensed with rage, and fought furiously, even until noon. And they gave each other such a shock that the girths of their horses were broken, so that they fell over their horses’ cruppers to the ground. And they rose up speedily and drew their swords, and resumed the combat. And all they that witnessed their encounter felt assured that they had never before seen two men so valiant or so powerful. And had it been midnight, it would have been light, from the fire that flashed from their weapons. And the knight gave Gawain a blow that turned his helmet from off his face, so that the knight saw that it was Gawain. Then Owain said, “My lord Gawain, I did not know thee for my cousin, owing to the robe of honor that enveloped thee; take my sword and my arms.” Said Gawain, “Thou, Owain, art the victor; take thou my sword.” And with that Arthur saw that they were conversing, and advanced toward them. “My lord Arthur,” said Gawam, “here is Owain who has vanquished me, and will not take my arms.” “My lord,” said Owain, “it is he that has vanquished me, and he will not take my sword.” “Give me your swords,” said Arthur, “and then neither of you has vanquished the other.” Then Owain put his arms around Arthur’s neck, and they embraced. And all the host hurried forward to see Owain, and to embrace him. And there was nigh being a loss of life, so great was the press.

And they retired that night, and the next day Arthur prepared to depart. “My lord,” said Owain, “this is not well of thee. For I have been absent from thee these three years, and during all that time, up to this very day, I have been preparing a banquet for thee, knowing that thou wouldst come to seek me. Tarry with me, therefore, until thou and thy attendants have recovered the fatigues of the journey, and have been anointed.”

And they all proceeded to the castle of the Countess of the Fountain, and the banquet which had been three years preparing was consumed in three months. Never had they a more delicious or agreeable banquet. And Arthur prepared to depart. Then he sent an embassy to the Countess to beseech her to permit Owain to go with him, for the space of three months, that he might show him to the nobles and the fair dames of the island of Britain. And the Countess gave her consent, although it was very painful to her. So Owain came with Arthur to the island of Britain. And when he was once more amongst his kindred and friends, he remained three years, instead of three months, with them.

The Adventure of the Lion

And as Owain one day sat at meat, in the city of Caerleon upon Usk, behold a damsel entered the hall, upon a bay horse, with a curling mane, and covered with foam; and the bridle, and as much as was seen of the saddle, were of gold. And the damsel was arrayed in a dress of yellow satin. And she came up to Owain, and took the ring from off his hand. “Thus,” said she, “shall be treated the deceiver, the traitor, the faithless, the disgraced, and the beardless.” And she turned her horse’s head and departed.[56]The custom of riding into a hall while the lord and his guests sat at meat might be illustrated by numerous passages of ancient romance and history. But a quotation from Chaucer’s beautiful and half-told tale of “Cambuscan” is sufficient:

“And so befell that after the thridde cours,
While that this king sat thus in his nobley,
Herking his minstralles thir thinges play,
Beforne him at his bord deliciously,
In at the halle door all sodenly
Ther came a knight upon a stede of bras,
And in his hond a brod mirrour of glas;
Upon his thombe he had of gold a ring,
And by his side a naked sword hanging;
And up he rideth to the highe bord.
In all the halle ne was ther spoke a word,
For meryaille of this knight; him to behold
Full besily they waiten, young and old.”

Then his adventure came to Owain’s remembrance, and he was sorrowful. And having finished eating, he went to his own abode, and made preparations that night. And the next day he arose, but did not go to the court, nor did he return to the Countess of the Fountain, but wandered to the distant parts of the earth and to uncultivated mountains. And he remained there until all his apparel was worn out, and his body was wasted away, and his hair was grown long. And he went about with the wild beasts, and fed with them, until they became familiar with him. But at length he became so weak that he could no longer bear them company. Then he descended from the mountains to the valley, and came to a park, that was the fairest in the world, and belonged to a charitable lady.

One day the lady and her attendants went forth to walk by a lake that was in the middle of the park. And they saw the form of a man, lying as if dead. And they were terrified. Nevertheless they went near him, and touched him, and they saw that there was life in him. And the lady returned to the castle, and took a flask full of precious ointment and gave it to one of her maidens. “Go with this,” said she, “and take with thee yonder horse, and clothing, and place them near the man we saw just now; and anoint him with this balsam near his heart; and if there is life in him, he will revive, through the efficiency of this balsam. Then watch what he will do.”

And the maiden departed from her, and went and poured of the balsam upon Owain, and left the horse and the garments hard by, and went a little way off and hid herself to watch him. In a short time, she saw him begin to move; and he rose up, and looked at his person, and became ashamed of the unseemliness of his appearance. Then he perceived the horse and the garments that were near him. And he clothed himself, and with difficulty mounted the horse. Then the damsel discovered herself to him, and saluted him. And he and the maiden proceeded to the castle, and the maiden conducted him to a pleasant chamber, and kindled a fire, and left him.

And he stayed at the castle three months, till he was restored to his former guise, and became even more comely than he had ever been before. And Owain rendered signal service to the lady, in a controversy with a powerful neighbor, so that he made ample requital to her for her hospitality; and he took his departure.

And as he journeyed he heard a loud yelling in a wood. And it was repeated a second and a third time. And Owain went towards the spot, and beheld a huge craggy mound, in the middle of the wood, on the side of which was a gray rock. And there was a cleft in the rock, and a serpent was within the cleft. And near the rock stood a black lion, and every time the lion sought to go thence the serpent darted towards him to attack him. And Owain unsheathed his sword, and drew near to the rock; and as the serpent sprung out he struck him with his sword and cut him in two. And he dried his sword, and went on his way as before. But behold the lion followed him, and played about him, as though it had been a greyhound that he had reared.

They proceeded thus throughout the day, until the evening. And when it was time for Owain to take his rest he dismounted, and turned his horse loose in a flat and wooded meadow. And he struck fire, and when the fire was kindled, the lion brought him fuel enough to last for three nights. And the lion disappeared. And presently the lion returned, bearing a fine large roebuck. And he threw it down before Owain, who went towards the fire with it.

And Owain took the roebuck, and skinned it, and placed collops of its flesh upon skewers round the fire. The rest of the buck he gave to the lion to devour. While he was so employed, he heard a deep groan near him, and a second, and a third. And the place whence the groans proceeded was a cave in the rock; and Owain went near, and called out to know who it was that groaned so piteously. And a voice answered, “I am Luned, the hand-maiden of the Countess of the Fountain.” “And what dost thou here?” said he. “I am imprisoned,” said she, “on account of the knight who came from Arthur’s court, and married the Countess. And he staid a short time with her, but he afterwards departed for the court of Arthur, and has not returned since. And two of the Countess’s pages traduced him, and called him a deceiver. And because I said I would vouch for it he would come before long and maintain his cause against both of them, they imprisoned me in this cave, and said that I should be put to death, unless he came to deliver me, by a certain day; and that is no further off than to-morrow, and I have no one to send to seek him for me. His name is Owain, the son of Urien.” “And art thou certain that if that knight knew all this, he would come to thy rescue?” “I am most certain of it,” said she.

When the collops were cooked, Owain divided them into two parts, between himself and the maiden, and then Owain laid himself down to sleep; and never did sentinel keep stricter watch over his lord than the lion that night over Owain.

And the next day there came the two pages with a great troop of attendants to take Luned from her cell, and put her to death. And Owain asked them what charge they had against her. And they told him of the compact that was between them; as the maiden had done the night before. “And,” said they, “Owain has failed her, therefore we are taking her to be burnt.” “Truly,” said Owain, “he is a good knight; and if he knew that the maiden was in such peril, I marvel that he came not to her rescue. But if you will accept me in his stead, I will do battle with you.” “We will,” said the youth.

And they attacked Owain, and he was hard beset by them. And with that, the lion came to Owain’s assistance, and they two got the better of the young men And they said to him, “Chieftain, it was not agreed that we should fight save with thyself alone, and it is harder for us to contend with yonder animal than with thee.” And Owain put the lion in the place where Luned had been imprisoned, and blocked up the door with stones. And he went to fight with the young men as before. But Owain had not his usual strength, and the two youths pressed hard upon him. And the lion roared incessantly at seeing Owain in trouble. And he brust through the wall, until he found a way out, and rushed upon the young men and instantly slew them. So Luned was saved from being burned.

Then Owain returned with Luned to the castle of the Lady of the Fountain. And when he went thence, he took the Countess with him to Arthur’s court, and she was his wife as long as she lived.

Arthur was accustomed to hold his court at Caerleon upon Usk. And there he held it seven Easters and five Christmases. And once upon a time he held his court there at Whitsuntide. For Caerleon was the place most easy of access in his dominions, both by sea and by land. And there were assembled nine crowned kings, who were his tributaries, and likewise earls and barons. For they were his invited guests at all the high festivals, unless they were prevented by any great hinderatice. And when he was at Caerleon holding his court, thirteen churches were set apart for mass. And thus they were appointed: one church for Arthur and his kings, and his guests; and the second for Guenever and her ladies; and the third for the steward of the household and the suitors; and the fourth for the Franks and the other officers; and the other nine churches were for the nine masters of the household, and chiefly for Gawain, for he, from the eminence of his warlike fame, and from the nobleness of his birth, was the most exalted of the nine. And there was no other arrangement respecting the churches than that which we have here mentioned.

And on Whit-Tuesday, as the king sat at the banquet, lo, there entered a tall, fair-headed youth, clad in a coat and surcoat of satin, and a golden-hilted sword about his neck, and low shoes of leather upon his feet. And he came and stood before Arthur. “Hail to thee, lord,” said he. “Heaven prosper thee,” he answered, “and be thou welcome. Dost thou bring any new tidings?” “I do, lord,” he said. “I am one of thy foresters, lord, in the forest of Dean, and my name is Madoc, son of Turgadarn. In the forest I saw a stag, the like of which beheld I never yet.” “What is there about him,” asked Arthur, “that thou never yet didst see his like?” “He is of pure white, lord, and he does not herd with any other animal, through stateliness and pride, so royal is his bearing. And I come to seek thy counsel, lord, and to know thy will concerning him.” “It seems best to me,” said Arthur, “to go and hunt him to-morrow at break of day, and to cause general notice thereof to be given to-night, in all quarters of the court.”

“For Arthur on the Whitsuntide before
Held court at old Caerleon upon Usk.
There on a day, he sitting high in hall,
Before him came a forester of Dean,
Wet from the woods, with notice of a hart

Taller than all his fellows, milky-white,
First seen that day: these things he told the king.
Then the good king gave order to let blow
His horns for hunting on the morrow morn.”

—Enid.

And Arryfuerys was Arthur’s chief huntsman, and Arelivri his chief page. And all received notice; and thus it was arranged.

Then Guenever said to Arthur, “Wilt thou permit me, lord, to go to-morrow to see and hear the hunt of the stag of which the young man spoke?” “I will gladly,” said Arthur. And Gawain said to Arthur, “Lord, if it seem well to thee, permit that into whose hunt soever the stag shall come, that one, be he a knight or one on foot, may cut off his head, and give it to whom he pleases, whether to his own lady-love, or to the lady of his friend.” “I grant it gladly,” said Arthur, “and let the steward of the household be chastised, if all things are not ready to-morrow for the chase.”

And they passed the night with songs, and diversions, and discourse, and ample entertainment. And when it was time for them all to go to sleep, they went. And when the next day came, they arose. And Arthur called the attendants who guarded his couch. And there were four pages whose names were Cadyrnerth, the son of Gandwy, and Ambreu, the son of Bedwor and Amhar, the son of Arthur and Goreu, the son of Custennin. And these men came to Arthur and saluted him, and arrayed him in his garments. And Arthur wondered that Guenever did not awake, and the attendants wished to awaken her. “Disturb her not,” said Arthur, “for she had rather sleep than go to see the hunting.”

Then Arthur went forth, and he heard two horns sounding, one from near the lodging of the chief huntsman, and the other from near that of the chief page. And the whole assembly of the multitudes came to Arthur, and they took the road to the forest.

And after Arthur had gone forth from the palace, Guenever awoke, and called to her maidens, and apparalled herself. “Maidens,” said she, “I had leave last night to go and see the hunt. Go one of you to the stable, and order hither a horse such as a woman may ride.” And one of them went, and she found but two horses in the stable; and Guenever and one of her maidens mounted them, and went through the Usk, and followed the track of the men and the horses. And as they rode thus, they heard a loud and rushing sound; and they looked behind them, and beheld a knight upon a hunter foal of mighty size. And the rider was a fairhaired youth, bare-legged, and of princely mien; and a golden-hilted sword was at his side, and a robe and a surcoat of satin were upon him, and two low shoes of leather upon his feet; and around him was a scarf of blue purple, at each corner of which was a golden apple.

“For Prince Geraint,
Late also, wearing neither hunting-dress
Nor weapon, save a golden-hilted brand,
Came quickly flashing through the shallow ford.”
—Enid.

And his horse stepped stately, and swift, and proud; and he overtook Guenever, and saluted her. “Heaven prosper thee, Geraint,” said she; “and why didst thou not go with thy lord to hunt?” “Because I knew not when he went,” said he. “I marvel too,” said she, “how he could go, unknown to me. But thou, O young man, art the most agreeable companion I could have in the whole kingdom; and it may be I shall be more amused with the hunting than they; for we shall hear the horns when they sound and we shall hear the dogs when they are let loose and begin to cry.”

So they went to the edge of the forest, and there they stood. “From this place,” said she, “we shall hear when the dogs are let loose.” And thereupon they heard a loud noise; and they looked towards the spot whence it came, and they beheld a dwarf riding upon a horse, stately and foaming and prancing and strong and spirited. And in the hand of the dwarf was a whip. And near the dwarf they saw a lady upon a beautiful white horse, of steady and stately pace; and she was clothed in a garment of gold brocade. And near her was a knight upon a war-horse of large size, with heavy and bright armor both upon himself and upon his horse. And truly they never before saw a knight, or a horse, or armor, of such remarkable size.

“Geraint,” said Guenever, “knowest thou the name of that tall knight yonder?” “I know him not,” said he, “and the strange armor that he wears prevents my either seeing his face or his features.” “Go, maiden,” said Guenever, “and ask the dwarf who that knight is.” Then the maiden went up to the dwarf; and she inquired of the dwarf who the knight was. “I will not tell thee,” he answered. “Since thou art so churlish,” said she, “I will ask him, himself.” “Thou shalt not ask him, by my faith,” said he. “Wherefore not?” said she. “Because thou art not of honor sufficient to befit thee to speak to my lord.” Then the maiden turned her horse’s head towards the knight, upon which the dwarf struck her with the whip that was in his hand across the face and the eyes, so that the blood flowed forth. And the maiden returned to Guenever, complaining of the hurt she had received. “Very rudely has the dwarf treated thee,” said Geraint, and he put his hand upon the hilt of his sword. But he took counsel with himself, and considered that it would be no vengeance for him to slay the dwarf, and to be attacked unarmed by the armed knight; so he refrained.

“Lady,” said he, “I will follow him, with thy permission, and at last he will come to some inhabited place, where I may have arms, either as a loan or for a pledge, so that I may encounter the knight.” “Go,” said she, “and do not attack him until thou hast good arms; and I shall be very anxious concerning thee, until I hear tidings of thee.” “If I am alive,” said he, “thou shalt hear tidings of me by to-morrow afternoon;” and with that he departed.

And the road they took was below the palace of Caerleon, and across the ford of the Usk; and they went along a fair and even and lofty ridge of ground, until they came to a town, and at the extremity of the town they saw a fortress and a castle. And as the knight passed through the town all the people arose and saluted him, and bade him welcome. And when Geraint came into the town, he looked at every house to see if he knew any of those whom he saw. But he knew none, and none knew him, to do him the kindness to let him have arms, either as a loan or for a pledge. And every house he saw was full of men, and arms, and horses. And they were polishing shields, and burnishing swords, and washing armor, and shoeing horses. And the knight and the lady and the dwarf rode up to the castle, that was in the town, and every one was glad in the castle. And from the battlements and the gates they risked their necks, through their eagerness to greet them, and to show their joy.

Geraint stood there to see whether the knight would remain in the castle; and when he was certain that he would do so, he looked around him. And at a little distance from the town he saw an old palace in ruins, wherein was a hall that was falling to decay.

“And high above a piece of turret-stair,
Worn by the feet that now were silent, wound
Bare to the sun”

—Enid.

And as he knew not any one in the town, he went towards the old palace. And when he came near to the palace, he saw a hoary-headed man, standing by it, in tattered garments. And Geraint gazed steadfastly upon him. Then the hoary-headed man said to him, “Young man, wherefore art thou thoughtful?” “I am thoughtful,” said he, “because I know not where to pass the night.” “Wilt thou come forward this way, chieftain,” said he, “and thou shalt have of the best that can be procured for thee.” So Geraint went forward. And the hoary-headed man led the way into the hall. And in the hall he dismounted, and he left there his horse. Then he went on to the upper chamber with the hoary-headed man. And in the chamber he beheld an old woman, sitting on a cushion, with old, worn-out garments upon her; yet it seemed to him that she must have been comely when in the bloom of youth. And beside her was a maiden, upon whom were a vest and a veil that were old and beginning to be worn out. And truly he never saw a maiden more full of comeliness and grace and beauty than she. And the hoary- headed man said to the maiden, “There is no attendant for the horse of this youth but thyself.” “I will render the best service I am able,” said she, “both to him and to his horse.” And the maiden disarrayed the youth, and then she furnished his horse with straw and corn; and then she returned to the chamber. And the hoary-headed man said to the maiden, “Go to the town and bring hither the best that thou canst find, both of food and of liquor.” “I will gladly, lord,” said she. And to the town went the maiden. And they conversed together while the maiden was at the town. And, behold, the maiden came back, and a youth with her, bearing on his back a costrel full of good purchased mead, and a quarter of a young bullock. And in the hands of the maiden was a quantity of white bread, and she had some manchet bread in her veil, and she came into the chamber. “I would not obtain better than this,” said she, “nor with better should I have been trusted.” “It is good enough,” said Geraint. And they caused the meat to be boiled; and when their food was ready, they sat down. And it was in this wise. Geraint sat between the hoary-headed man and his wife, and the maiden served them. And they ate and drank.

And when they had finished eating, Geraint talked with the hoary- headed man, and he asked him in the first place to whom belonged the palace that he was in. “Truly,” said he, “it was I that built it, and to me also belonged the city and the castle which thou sawest.” “Alas!” said Geraint, “how is it that thou hast lost them now?” “I lost a great earldom as well as these,” said he, “and this is how I lost them. I had a nephew, the son of my brother, and I took care of his possessions; but he was impatient to enter upon them, so he made war upon me, and wrested from me not only his own, but also my estates, except this castle.” “Good sir,” said Geraint, “wilt thou tell me wherefore came the knight and the lady and the dwarf just now into the town, and what is the preparation which I saw, and the putting of arms in order?” “I will do so,” said he. “The preparations are for the game that is to be held to-morrow by the young earl, which will be on this wise. In the midst of a meadow which is here, two forks will be set up, and upon the two forks a silver rod, and upon the silver rod a sparrow-hawk, and for the sparrow-hawk there will be a tournament. And to the tournament will go all the array thou didst see in the city, of men and of horses and of arms. And with each man will go the lady he loves best; and no man can joust for the sparrow-hawk, except the lady he loves best be with him. And the knight that thou sawest has gained the sparrow-hawk these two years; and if he gains it the third year, he will be called the Knight of the Sparrow-hawk from that time forth.” “Sir,” said Geraint, “what is thy counsel to me concerning this knight, on account of the insult which the maiden of Guenever received from the dwarf?” And Geraint told the hoary-headed man what the insult was that the maiden had received. “It is not easy to counsel thee, inasmuch as thou hast neither dame nor maiden belonging to thee, for whom thou canst joust. Yet I have arms here, which thou couldst have, and there is my horse also, if he seem to thee better than thine own.” “Ah, sir,” said he, “Heaven reward thee! But my own horse to which I am accustomed, together with thine arms, will suffice me. And if, when the appointed time shall come to-morrow thou wilt permit me, sir, to challenge for yonder maiden that is thy daughter, I will engage, if I escape from the tournament, to love the maiden as long as I live.” “Gladly will I permit thee,” said the hoary-headed man; “and since thou dost thus resolve, it is necessary that thy horse and arms should be ready to-morrow at break of day. For then the Knight of the Sparrow-hawk will make proclamation, and ask the lady he loves best to take the sparrow-hawk; and if any deny it to her, by force will he defend her claim. And therefore,” said the hoary-headed man, “it is needful for thee to be there at daybreak, and we three will be with thee.” And thus was it settled.

And at night they went to sleep. And before the dawn they arose and arrayed themselves; and by the time that it was day, they were all four in the meadow. And there was the Knight of the Sparrow- hawk making the proclamation, and asking his lady-love to take the sparrow-hawk. “Take it not,” said Geraint, “for here is a maiden who is fairer, and more noble, and more comely, and who has a better claim to it than thou.” Then said the knight, “If thou maintainest the sparrow-hawk to be due to her, come forward and do battle with me.” And Geraint went forward to the top of the meadow, having upon himself and upon his horse armor which was heavy and rusty, and of uncouth shape. Then they encountered each other, and they broke a set of lances; and they broke a second set, and a third. And when the earl and his company saw the Knight of the Sparrow-hawk gaining the mastery, there was shouting and joy and mirth amongst them; and the hoary-headed man and his wife and his daughter were sorrowful. And the hoary-headed man served Geraint with lances as often as he broke them, and the dwarf served the Knight of the Sparrow-hawk. Then the hoary-headed man said to Geraint, “O chieftain, since no other will hold with thee, behold, here is the lance which was in my hand on the day when I received the honor of knighthood, and from that time to this I never broke it, and it has an excellent point.” Then Geraint took the lance, thanking the hoary-headed man. And thereupon the dwarf also brought a lance to his lord. “Behold, here is a lance for thee, not less good than his,” said the dwarf. “And bethink thee that no knight ever withstood thee so long as this one has done.” “I declare to Heaven,” said Geraint, “that unless death takes me quickly hence, he shall fare never the better for thy service.” And Geraint pricked his horse towards him from afar, and, warning him, he rushed upon him, and gave him a blow so severe, and furious, and fierce, upon the face of his shield, that he cleft it in two, and broke his armor, and burst his girths, so that both he and his saddle were borne to the ground over the horse’s crupper. And Geraint dismounted quickly. And he was wroth, and he drew his sword, and rushed fiercely upon him. Then the knight also arose, and drew his sword against Geraint. And they fought on foot with their swords until their arms struck sparks of fire like stars from one another; and thus they continued fighting until the blood and sweat obscured the light from their eyes. At length Geraint called to him all his strength, and struck the knight upon the crown of his head, so that he broke all his head-armor, and cut through all the flesh and the skin, even to the skull, until he wounded the bone.

Then the knight fell upon his knees, and cast his sword from his hand, and besought mercy from Geraint. “Of a truth,” said he, “I relinquish my overdaring and my pride, and crave thy mercy; and unless I have time to commit myself to Heaven for my sins, and to talk with a priest, thy mercy will avail me little.” “I will grant thee grace upon this condition,” said Geraint, “that thou go to Guenever, the wife of Arthur, to do her satisfaction for the insult which her maiden received from thy dwarf. Dismount not from the time thou goest hence until thou comest into the presence of Guenever, to make her what atonement shall be adjudged at the court of Arthur.” “This will I do gladly; and who art thou?” “I am Geraint, the son of Erbin; and declare thou also who thou art.” “I am Edeym, the son of Nudd.” Then he threw himself upon his horse, and went forward to Arthur’s court; and the lady he loved best went before him, and the dwarf, with much lamentation.

Then came the young earl and his hosts to Geraint, and saluted him, and bade him to his castle. “I may not go,” said Geraint; “but where I was last night, there will I be to-night also.” “Since thou wilt none of my inviting, thou shalt have abundance of all that I can command for thee; and I will order ointment for thee, to recover thee from thy fatigues, and from the weariness that is upon thee.” “Heaven reward thee,” said Geraint, “and I will go to my lodging.” And thus went Geraint and Earl Ynywl, and his wife and his daughter. And when they reached the old mansion, the household servants and attendants of the young earl had arrived, and had arranged all the apartments, dressing them with straw and with fire; and in a short time the ointment was ready, and Geraint came there, and they washed his head. Then came the young earl, with forty honorable knights from among his attendants, and those who were bidden to the tournament. And Geraint came from the anointing. And the earl asked him to go to the hall to eat. “Where is the Earl Ynywl,” said Geraint, “and his wife and his daughter?” “They are in the chamber yonder,” said the earl’s chamberlain, “arraying themselves in garments which the earl has caused to be brought for them.” “Let not the damsel array herself,” said he, “except in her vest and her veil, until she come to the court of Arthur, to be clad by Guenever in such garments as she may choose.” So the maiden did not array herself.

Then they all entered the hall, and they washed, and sat down to meat. And thus were they seated. On one side of Geraint sat the young earl, and Earl Ynywl beyond him, and on the other side of Geraint was the maiden and her mother. And after these all sat according to their precedence in honor. And they ate. And they were served abundantly, and they received a profusion of divers kinds of gifts. Then they conversed together. And the young earl invited Geraint to visit him next day. “I will not, by Heaven,” said Geraint. “To the court of Arthur will I go with this maiden to-morrow. And it is enough for me, as long as Earl Ynywl is in poverty and trouble; and I go chiefly to seek to add to his maintenance.” “Ah, chieftain,” said the young earl, “it is not by my fault that Earl Ynywl is without his possessions.” “By my faith,” said Geraint, “he shall not remain without them, unless death quickly takes me hence.” “O chieftain,” said he, “with regard to the disagreement between me and Ynywl, I will gladly abide by thy counsel, and agree to what thou mayest judge right between us.” “I but ask thee,” said Geraint, “to restore to him what is his, and what he should have received from the time he lost his possessions even until this day.” “That will I do, gladly, for thee,” answered he. “Then,” said Geraint, “whosoever is here who owes homage to Ynywl, let him come forward, and perform it on the spot.” And all the men did so; and by that treaty they abided. And his castle and his town, and all his possessions, were restored to Ynywl. And he received back all that he had lost, even to the smallest jewel.

Then spoke Earl Ynywl to Geraint. “Chieftain,” said he, “behold the maiden for whom thou didst challenge at the tournament; I bestow her upon thee.” “She shall go with me,” said Geraint, “to the court of Arthur, and Arthur and Guenever, they shall dispose of her as they will.” And the next day they proceeded to Arthur’s court. So far concerning Geraint.

GERAINT, THE SON OF ERBIN (Continued)

Now this is how Arthur hunted the stag. The men and the dogs were divided into hunting-parties, and the dogs were let loose upon the stag. And the last dog that was let loose was the favorite dog of Arthur; Cavall was his name. And he left all the other dogs behind him and turned the stag. And at the second turn the stag came toward the hunting-party of Arthur. And Arthur set upon him; and before he could be slain by any other, Arthur cut off his head. Then they sounded the death-horn for slaying and they all gathered round.

They came Kadyriath to Arthur and spoke to him. “Lord,” said he, “behold, yonder is Guenever, and none with her save only one maiden.” “Command Gildas, the son of Caw, and all the scholars of the court,” said Arthur, “to attend Guenever to the palace.” And they did so.

Then they all set forth, holding converse together concerning the head of the stag, to whom it should be given. One wished that it should be given to the lady best beloved by him, and another to the lady whom he loved best. And so they came to the palace. And when Arthur and Guenever heard them disputing about the head of the stag, Guenever said to Arthur: “My lord, this is my counsel concerning the stag’s head; let it not be given away until Geraint, the son of Erbin, shall return from the errand he is upon.” And Guenever told Arthur what that errand was. “Right gladly shall it be so,” said Arthur. And Guenever caused a watch to be set upon the ramparts for Geraint’s coming. And after midday they beheld an unshapely little man upon a horse, and after him a dame or a damsel, also on horseback, and after her a knight of large stature, bowed down, and hanging his head low and sorrowfully, and clad in broken and worthless armor.

And before they came near to the gate one of the watch went to Guenever, and told her what kind of people they saw, and what aspect they bore. “I know not who they are,” said he, “But I know,” said Guenever; “this is the knight whom Geraint pursued, and methinks that he comes not here by his own free will. But Geraint has overtaken him, and avenged the insult to the maiden to the uttermost.” And thereupon, behold, a porter came to the spot where Guenever was. “Lady,” said he, “at the gate there is a knight, and I saw never a man of so pitiful an aspect to look upon as he. Miserable and broken is the armor that he wears, and the hue of blood is more conspicuous upon it than its own color.” “Knowest thou his name?” said she. “I do,” said he; “he tells me that he is Edeyrn, the son of Nudd.” Then she replied, “I know him not.”

So Guenever went to the gate to meet him and he entered. And Guenever was sorry when she saw the condition he was in, even though he was accompanied by the churlish dwarf. Then Edeyrn saluted Guenever. “Heaven protect thee,” said she. “Lady,” said he, “Geraint, the son of Erbin, thy best and most valiant servant, greets thee.” “Did he meet with thee?” she asked. “Yes,” said he, “and it was not to my advantage; and that was not his fault, but mine, lady. And Geraint greets thee well; and in greeting thee he compelled me to come hither to do thy pleasure for the insult which thy maiden received from the dwarf.” “Now where did he overtake thee?” “At the place where we were jousting and contending for the sparrow-hawk, in the town which is now called Cardiff. And it was for the avouchment of the love of the maiden, the daughter of Earl Ynywl, that Geraint jousted at the tournament. And thereupon we encountered each other, and he left me, lady, as thou seest.” “Sir,” said she, “when thinkest thou that Geraint will be here?” “To-morrow, lady, I think he will be here with the maiden.”

Then Arthur came to them. And he saluted Arthur, and Arthur gazed a long time upon him and was amazed to see him thus. And thinking that he knew him, he inquired of him, “Art thou Edeyrn, the son of Nudd?” “I am, lord,” said he, “and I have met with much trouble and received wounds unsupportable.” Then he told Arthur all his adventure. “Well,” said Arthur, “from what I hear it behooves Guenever to be merciful towards thee.” “The mercy which thou desirest, lord,” said she. “will I grant to him, since it is as insulting to thee that an insult should be offered to me as to thyself.” “Thus will it be best to do,” said Arthur; “let this man have medical care until it be known whether he may live. And if he live, he shall do such satisfaction as shall be judged best by the men of the court. And if he die, too much will be the death of such a youth as Edeyrn for an insult to a maiden.” “This pleases me,” said Guenever. And Arthur caused Morgan Tud to be called to him. He was the chief physician. “Take with thee Edeyrn, the son of Nudd, and cause a chamber to be prepared for him, and let him have the aid of medicine as thou wouldst do unto myself, if I were wounded, and let none into his chamber to molest him, but thyself and thy disciples, to administer to him remedies.” “I will do so, gladly, lord,” said Morgan Tud. Then said the steward of the household, “Whither is it right, lord, to order the maiden?” “To Guenever and her handmaidens,” said he. And the steward of the household so ordered her.

“And rising up, he rode to Arthur’s court,
And there the queen forgave him easily.
And being young, he changed himself, and grew
To hate the sin that seem’d so like his own
Of Modred, Arthur’s nephew, and fell at last
In the great battle fighting for the king.”

—Enid.

The next day came Geraint towards the court; and there was a watch set on the ramparts by Guenever, lest he should arrive unawares. And one of the watch came to Guenever. “Lady,” said he, “methinks that I see Geraint, and a maiden with him. He is on horseback, but he has his walking gear upon him, and the maiden appears to be in white, seeming to be clad in a garment of linen.” “Assemble all the women,” said Guenever, “and come to meet Geraint, to welcome him, and wish him joy.” And Guenever went to meet Geraint and the maiden. And when Geraint came to the place where Guenever was, he saluted her. “Heaven prosper thee,” said she, “and welcome to thee.” “Lady,” said he, “I earnestly desired to obtain thee satisfaction, according to thy will; and, behold, here is the maiden through whom thou hadst thy revenge.” “Verily,” said Guenever, “the welcome of Heaven be unto her; and it is fitting that we should receive her joyfully.” Then they went in and dismounted. And Geraint came to where Arthur was, and saluted him. “Heaven protect thee,” said Arthur, “and the welcome of Heaven be unto thee. And inasmuch as thou hast vanquished Edeyrn, the son of Nudd, thou hast had a prosperous career.” “Not upon me be the blame,” said Geraint; “it was through the arrogance of Edeyrn, the son of Nudd, himself, that we were not friends.” “Now,” said Arthur, “where is the maiden for whom I heard thou didst give challenge?” “She is gone with Guenever to her chamber.” Then went Arthur to see the maiden. And Arthur, and all his companions, and his whole court, were glad concerning the maiden. And certain were they all, that, had her array been suitable to her beauty, they had never seen a maid fairer than she. And Arthur gave away the maiden to Geraint. And the usual bond made between two persons was made between Geraint and the maiden, and the choicest of all Guenever’s apparel was given to the maiden; and thus arrayed, she appeared comely and graceful to all who beheld her. And that day and the night were spent in abundance of minstrelsy, and ample gifts of liquor, and a multiude of games. And when it was time for them to go to sleep they went. And in the chamber where the couch of Arthur and Guenever was, the couch of Geraint and Enid was prepared. And from that time she became his wife. And the next day Arthur satisfied all the claimants upon Geraint with bountiful gifts. And the maiden took up her abode in the palace, and she had many companions, both men and women, and there was no maiden more esteemed than she in the island of Britain.

Then spake Guenever. “Rightly did I judge,” said she, “concerning the head of the stag, that it should not be given to any until Geraint’s return; and behold, here is a fit occasion for bestowing it. Let it be given to Enid, the daughter of Ynywl, the most illustrious maiden. And I do not believe that any will begrudge it her, for between her and every one here there exists nothing but love and friendship.” Much applauded was this by them all, and by Arthur also. And the head of the stag was given to Enid. And thereupon her fame increased, and her friends became more in number than before. And Geraint from that time forth loved the hunt, and the tournament, and hard encounters; and he came victorious from them all. And a year, and a second, and a third, he proceeded thus, until his fame had flown over the face of the kingdom.

And, once upon a time, Arthur was holding his court at Caerleon upon Usk; and behold, there came to him ambassadors, wise and prudent, full of knowledge and eloquent of speech, and they saluted Arthur. “Heaven prosper you!” said Arthur; “and whence do you come?” “We come, lord,” said they, “from Cornwall; and we are ambassadors from Erbin, the son of Custennin, thy uncle, and our mission is unto thee. And he greets thee well, as an uncle should greet his nephew, and as a vassal should greet his lord. And he represents unto thee that he waxes heavy and feeble, and is advancing in years. And the neighboring chiefs, knowing this, grow insolent towards him, and covet his land and possessions. And he earnestly beseeches thee, lord, to permit Geraint, his son, to return to him, to protect his possessions, and to become acquainted with his boundaries. And unto him he represents that it were better for him to spend the flower of his youth and the prime of his age in preserving his own boundaries, than in tournaments which are productive of no profit, although he obtains glory in them.”

“Well,” said Arthur, “go and divest yourselves of your accoutrements, and take food, and refresh yourselves after your fatigues; and before you go from hence you shall have an answer.” And they went to eat. And Arthur considered that it would go hard with him to let Geraint depart from him, and from his court; neither did he think it fair that his cousin should be restrained from going to protect his dominions and his boundaries, seeing that his father was unable to do so. No less was the grief and regret of Guenever, and all her women, and all her damsels, through fear that the maiden would leave them. And that day and that night were spent in abundance of feasting. And Arthur told Geraint the cause of the mission, and of the coming of the ambassadors to him out of Cornwall. “Truly,” said Geraint, “be it to my advantage or disadvantage, lord, I will do according to thy will concerning this embassy.” “Behold,” said Arthur, “though it grieves me to part with thee, it is my counsel that thou go to dwell in thine own dominions, and to defend thy boundaries, and take with thee to accompany thee as many as thou wilt of those thou lovest best among my faithful ones, and among thy friends, and among thy companions in arms.” “Heaven reward thee! and this will I do,” said Geraint. “What discourse,” said Guenever, “do I hear between you? Is it of those who are to conduct Geraint to his country?” “It is,” said Arthur. “Then is it needful for me to consider,” said she, “concerning companions and a provision for the lady that is with me.” “Thou wilt do well,” said Arthur.

And that night they went to sleep. And the next day the ambassadors were permitted to depart, and they were told that Geraint should follow them. And on the third day Geraint set forth, and many went with him—Gawain, the son of Gwyar, and Riogoned, the son of the king of Ireland, and Ondyaw, the son of the Duke of Burgundy, Gwilim, the son of the ruler of the Franks, Howel, the son of the Earl of Brittany, Perceval, the son of Evrawk, Gwyr, a judge in the court of Arthur, Bedwyr, the son of Bedrawd, Kai, the son of Kyner, Odyar, the Frank, and Ederyn, the son of Nudd. Said Geraint, “I think I shall have enough of knighthood with me.” And they set forth. And never was there seen a fairer host journeying towards the Severn. And on the other side of the Severn were the nobles of Erbin, the son of Custennin, and his foster-father at their head, to welcome Geraint with gladness; and many of the women of the court, with his mother, came to receive Enid, the daughter of Ynywl, his wife. And there was great rejoicing and gladness throughout the whole court, and through all the country, concerning Geraint, because of the greatness of their love to him, and of the greatness of the fame which he had gained since he went from amongst them, and because he was come to take possession of his dominions, and to preserve his boundaries. And they came to the court. And in the court they had ample entertainment, and a multitude of gifts, and abundance of liquor, and a sufficiency of service, and a variety of games. And to do honor to Geraint, all the chief men of the country were invited that night to visit him. And they passed that day and that night in the utmost enjoyment. And at dawn next day Erbin arose and summoned to him Geraint, and the noble persons who had borne him company. And he said to Geraint: “I am a feeble and an aged man, and whilst I was able to maintain the dominion for thee and for myself, I did so. But thou art young, and in the flower of thy vigor and of thy youth. Henceforth do thou preserve thy possessions.” “Truly,” said Geraint, “with my consent thou shalt not give the power over thy dominions at this time into my hands, and thou shalt not take me from Arthur’s court.” “Into thy hands will I give them,” said Erbin, “and this day also shalt thou receive the homage of thy subjects.”

Then said Gawain, “It were better for thee to satisfy those who have boons to ask, to-day, and to-morrow thou canst receive the homage of thy dominions.” So all that had boons to ask were summoned into one place. And Kadyriath came to them to know what were their requests. And every one asked that which he desired. And the followers of Arthur began to make gifts, and immediately the men of Cornwall came, and gave also. And they were not long in giving, so eager was every one to bestow gifts, and of those who came to ask gifts, none departed unsatisfied. And that day and that night were spent in the utmost enjoyment.

And the next day at dawn, Erbin desired Geraint to send messengers to the men to ask them whether it was displeasing to them that he should come to receive their homage, and whether they had anything to object to him. Then Geraint sent ambassadors to the men of Cornwall to ask them this. And they all said that it would be the fulness of joy and honor to them for Geraint to come and receive their homage. So he received the homage of such as were there. And the day after the followers of Arthur intended to go away. “It is too soon for you to go away yet,” said he; “stay with me until I have finished receiving the homage of my chief men, who have agreed to come to me.” And they remained with him until he had done so. Then they set forth towards the court of Arthur. And Geraint went to bear them company, and Enid also, as far as Diganwy; there they parted. And Ondyaw, the son of the Duke of Burgundy, said to Geraint, “Go, now, and visit the uttermost parts of thy dominions, and see well to the boundaries of thy territories; and if thou hast any trouble respecting them, send unto thy companions.” “Heaven reward thee!” said Geraint; “and this will I do.” And Geraint journeyed to the uttermost parts of his dominions. And experienced guides, and the chief men of his country, went with him. And the furthermost point that they showed him he kept possession of.

GERAINT, THE SON OF ERBIN (Continued)

Geraint, as he had been used to do when he was at Arthur’s court, frequented tournaments. And he became acquainted with valiant and mighty men, until he had gained as much fame there as he had formerly done elsewhere. And he enriched his court, and his companions, and his nobles, with the best horses and the best arms, and with the best and most valuable jewels, and he ceased not until his fame had flown over the face of the whole kingdom.

“Before Geraint, the scourge of the enemy,
I saw steeds white with foam,
And after the shout of battle a fearful torrent.”

—Hen.

When he knew that it was thus, he began to love ease and pleasure, for there was no one who was worth his opposing. And he loved his wife, and liked to continue in the palace with minstrelsy and diversions. So he began to shut himself up in the chamber of his wife, and he took no delight in anything besides, insomuch that he gave up the friendship of his nobles, together with his hunting and his amusements, and lost the hearts of all the host in his court. And there was murmuring and scoffing concerning him among the inhabitants of the palace, on account of his relinquishing so completely their companionship for the love of his wife.

“他们
Began to scoff and jeer and babble of him
As of a prince whose manhood was all gone,
And molten down in mere uxoriousness.”

These tidings came to Erbin. And when Erbin had heard these things, he spoke unto Enid, and inquired of her whether it was she that had caused Geraint to act thus, and to forsake his people and his hosts. “Not I, by my confession unto Heaven,” said she; “there is nothing more hateful unto me than this.” And she knew not what she should do, for, although it was hard for her to own this to Geraint, yet was it not more easy for her to listen to what she heard, without warning Geraint concerning it. And she was very sorrowful.

One morning in the summer-time they were upon their couch, and Geraint lay upon the edge of it. And Enid was without sleep in the apartment, which had windows of glass;[57]The terms of admiration in which the older writers invariably speak of GLASS WINDOWS would be sufficient proof, if other evidence were wanting, how rare an article of luxury they were in the houses of our ancestors. They were first introduced in ecclesiastical architecture, to which they were for a long time confined. Glass is said not to have been employed in domestic architecture before the fourteenth century. and the sun shone upon the couch. And the clothes had slipped from off his arms and his breast, and he was asleep. Then she gazed upon the marvellous beauty of his appearance, and she said, “Alas! and am I the cause that these arms and this breast have lost their glory, and the warlike fame which they once so richly enjoyed!” As she said this the tears dropped from her eyes, and they fell upon his breast. And the tears she shed and the words she had spoken, awoke him. And another thing contributed to awaken him, and that was the idea that it was not in thinking of him that she spoke thus, but that it was because she loved some other man more than him, and that she wished for other society. Thereupon Geraint was troubled in his mind, and he called his squire; and when he came to him, “Go quickly,” said he, “and prepare my horse and my arms, and make them ready. And do thou rise,” said he to Enid, “and apparel thyself; and cause thy horse to be accoutred, and clothe thee in the worst riding-dress that thou hast in thy possession. And evil betide me,” said he, “if thou returnest here until thou knowest whether I have lost my strength so completely as thou didst say. And if it be so, it will then be easy for thee to seek the society thou didst wish for of him of whom thou wast thinking.” So she arose, and clothed herself in her meanest garments. “I know nothing, lord,” said she, “of thy meaning.” “Neither wilt thou know at this time,” said he.

Then Geraint went to see Erbin. “Sir,” said he, “I am going upon a quest, and I am not certain when I may come back. Take heed, therefore, unto thy possessions until my return.” “I will do so,” said he; “but it is strange to me that thou shouldst go so suddenly. And who will proceed with thee, since thou art not strong enough to traverse the land of Loegyr alone?” “But one person only will go with me.” “Heaven counsel thee, my son,” said Erbin, “and may many attach themselves to thee in Loegyr.” Then went Geraint to the place where his horse was, and it was equipped with foreign armor, heavy and shining. And he desired Enid to mount her horse, and to ride forward, and to keep a long way before him. “And whatever thou mayst see, and whatever thou mayst hear concerning me,” said he, “do thou not turn back. And unless I speak unto thee, say not thou one word, either.” So they set forward. And he did not choose the pleasantest and most frequented road, but that which was the wildest and most beset by thieves and robbers and venomous animals.

And they came to a high road, which they followed till they saw a vast forest; and they saw four armed horsemen come forth from the forest. When the armed men saw them, they said one to another. “Here is a good occasion for us to capture two horses and armor, and a lady likewise; for this we shall have no difficulty in doing against yonder single knight who hangs his head so pensively and heavily.” Enid heard this discourse, and she knew not what she should do through fear of Geraint, who had told her to be silent. “The vengeance of Heaven be upon me,” said she, “if I would not rather receive my death from his hand than from the hand of any other; and though he should slay me, yet will I speak to him, lest I should have the misery to witness his death.” So she waited for Geraint until he came near to her. “Lord,” said she, “didst thou hear the words of those men concerning thee?” Then he lifted up his eyes, and looked at her angrily. “Thou hadst only,” said he, “to hold thy peace as I bade thee. I wish but for silence, and not for warning. And though thou shouldst desire to see my defeat and my death by the hands of those men, yet do I feel no dread.” Then the foremost of them couched his lance, and rushed upon Geraint. And he received him, and that not feebly. But he let the thrust go by him, while he struck the horseman upon the centre of his shield, in such a manner that his shield was split, and his armor broken, so that a cubit’s length of the shaft of Geraint’s lance passed through his body, and sent him to the earth, the length of the lance over his horse’s crupper. Then the second horseman attacked him furiously, being wroth at the death of his companion. But with one thrust Geraint overthrew him also, and killed him as he had done the other. Then the third set upon him, and he killed him in like manner. And thus also he slew the fourth. Sad and sorrowful was the maiden as she saw all this. Geraint dismounted his horse, and took the arms of the men he had slain, and placed them upon their saddles, and tied together the reins of their horses; and he mounted his horse again. “Behold what thou must do,” said he; “take the four horses and drive them before thee, and proceed forward as I bade thee just now. And say not one word unto me, unless I speak first unto thee. And I declare unto Heaven,” said he, “if thou doest not thus, it will be to thy cost.” “I will do as far as I can, lord,” said she, “according to thy desire.”

So the maiden went forward, keeping in advance of Geraint, as he had desired her; and it grieved him as much as his wrath would permit, to see a maiden so illustrious as she having so much trouble with the care of the horses. Then they reached a wood, and it was both deep and vast, and in the wood night overtook them. “Ah, maiden,” said he, “it is vain to attempt proceeding forward.” “Well, lord,” said she, “whatever thou wishest, we will do.” “It will be best for us,” he answered, “to rest and wait for the day, in order to pursue our journey.” “That we will, gladly,” said she. And they did so. Having dismounted himself, he took her down from her horse. “I cannot by any means refrain from sleep, through weariness,” said he; “do thou therefore watch the horses, and sleep not.” “I will, lord,” said she. Then he went to sleep in his armor, and thus passed the night, which was not long at that season. And when she saw the dawn of day appear, she looked around her to see if he were waking, and thereupon he woke. Then he arose, and said unto her, “Take the horses and ride on, and keep straight on as thou didst yesterday.” And they left the wood, and they came to an open country, with meadows on one hand, and mowers mowing the meadows. And there was a river before them, and the horses bent down and drank of the water. And they went up out of the river by a lofty steep; and there they met a slender stripling with a satchel about his neck, and they saw that there was something in the satchel, but they knew not what it was. And he had a small blue pitcher in his hand, and a bowl on the mouth of the pitcher. And the youth saluted Geraint. “Heaven prosper thee!” said Geraint; “and whence dost thou come?” “I come,” said he, “from the city that lies before thee. My lord,” he added, “will it be displeasing to thee if I ask whence thou comest also?” “By no means; through yonder wood did I come.” “Thou camest not through the wood to-day.” “No,” he replied, “we were in the wood last night.” “I warrant,” said the youth, “that thy condition there last night was not the most pleasant, and that thou hadst neither meat nor drink.” “No, by my faith,” said he. “Wilt thou follow my counsel,” said the youth, “and take thy meal from me?” “What sort of meal?” he inquired. “The breakfast which is sent for yonder mowers, nothing less than bread and meat and wine, and if thou wilt, sir, they shall have none of it.” “I will,” said he, “and Heaven reward thee for it.”

So Geraint alighted, and the youth took the maiden from off her horse. Then they washed, and took their repast. And the youth cut the bread in slices, and gave them drink, and served them withal. And when they had finished, the youth arose and said to Geraint, “My lord, with thy permission, I will now go and fetch some food for the mowers.” “Go first to the town,” said Geraint, “and take a lodging for me in the best place that thou knowest, and the most commodious one for the horses; and take thou whichever horse and arms thou choosest, in payment for thy service and thy gift.” “Heaven reward thee, lord!” said the youth; “and this would be ample to repay services much greater than those I have rendered unto thee.” And to the town went the youth, and he took the best and the most pleasant lodgings that he knew; and after that he went to the palace, having the horse and armor with him, and proceeded to the place where the earl was, and told him all his adventure. “I go now, lord,” said he, “to meet the knight, and to conduct him to his lodging.” “Go, gladly,” said the earl; “and right joyfully shall he be received here, if he so come.” And the youth went to meet Geraint, and told him that he would be received gladly by the earl in his own palace; but he would go only to his lodgings. And he had a goodly chamber, in which was plenty of straw and drapery, and a spacious and commodious place he had for the horses; and the youth prepared for them plenty of provender. After they had disarrayed themselves, Geraint spoke thus to Enid: “Go,” said he, “to the other side of the chamber, and come not to this side of the house; and thou mayst call to thee the woman of the house, if thou wilt.” “I will do, lord,” said she, “as thou sayest.” Thereupon the man of the house came to Geraint and welcomed him. And after they had eaten and drank, Geraint went to sleep, and so did Enid also.

In the evening, behold, the earl came to visit Geraint, and his twelve honorable knights with him. And Geraint rose up and welcomed him. Then they all sat down according to their precedence in honor. And the earl conversed with Geraint, and inquired of him the object of his journey. “I have none,” he replied, “but to seek adventures and to follow mine own inclination.” Then the earl cast his eye upon Enid, and he looked at her steadfastly. And he thought he had never seen a maiden fairer or more comely than she. And he set all his thoughts and his affections upon her. Then he asked of Geraint, “Have I thy permission to go and converse with yonder maiden, for I see that she is apart from thee?” “Thou hast it gladly,” said he. So the earl went to the place where the maiden was, and spake with her. “Ah! maiden,” said he, “it cannot be pleasant to thee to journey with yonder man.” “It is not unpleasant to me,” said she. “Thou hast neither youths nor maidens to serve thee,” said he. “Truly,” she replied, “it is more pleasant for me to follow yonder man, than to be served by youths and maidens.” “I will give thee good counsel,” said he: “all my earldom will I place in thy possession, if thou wilt dwell with me.”

“Enid, the pilot star of my lone life,
Enid, my early and my only love.”

—Enid.

“That will I not, by Heaven,” she said; “yonder man was the first to whom my faith was ever pledged; and shall I prove inconstant to him?” “Thou art in the wrong,” said the earl; “if I slay the man yonder, I can keep thee with me as long as I choose; and when thou no longer pleasest me, I can turn thee away. But if thou goest with me by thy own good-will, I protest that our union shall continue as long as I remain alive.” Then she pondered those words of his, and she considered that it was advisable to encourage him in his request. “Behold then, chieftain, this is most expedient for thee to do to save me from all reproach; come here to-morrow and take me away as though I knew nothing thereof.” “I will do so,” said he. So he arose and took his leave, and went forth with his attendants. And she told not then to Geraint any of the conversation which she had had with the earl, lest it should rouse his anger, and cause him uneasiness and care.

And at the usual hour they went to sleep. And at the beginning of the night Enid slept a little; and at midnight she arose, and placed all Geraint’s armor together so that it might be ready to put on. And although fearful of her errand, she came to the side of Geraint’s bed; and she spoke to him softly and gently, saying, “My lord, arise, and clothe thyself, for these were the words of the earl to me and his intention concerning me.” So she told Geraint all that had passed. And although he was wroth with her, he took warning, and clothed himself. And she lighted a candle, that he might have light to do so. “Leave there the candle,” said he, “and desire the man of the house to come here.” Then she went, and the man of the house came to him. “Dost thou know how much I owe thee?” asked Geraint. “I think thou owest but little.” “Take the three horses and the three suits of armor.” “Heaven reward thee, lord,” said he, “but I spent not the value of one suit of armor upon thee.” “For that reason,” said he, “thou wilt be the richer. And now, wilt thou come to guide me out of the town?” “I will gladly,” said he; “and in which direction dost thou intend to go?” “I wish to leave the town by a different way from that by which I entered it.” So the man of the lodgings accompanied him as far as he desired. Then he bade the maiden to go on before him, and she did so, and went straight forward, and his host returned home.

And Geraint and the maiden went forward along the high-road. And as they journeyed thus, they heard an exceeding loud wailing near to them. “Stay thou here,” said he, “and I will go and see what is the cause of this wailing.” “I will,” said she. Then he went forward into an open glade that was near the road. And in the glade he saw two horses, one having a man’s saddle, and the other a woman’s saddle upon it. And behold there was a knight lying dead in his armor, and a young damsel in a riding-dress standing over him lamenting. “Ah, lady,” said Geraint, “what hath befallen thee?” “Behold,” she answered, “I journeyed here with my beloved husband, when lo! three giants came upon us, and without any cause in the world, they slew him.” “Which way went they hence?” said Geraint. “Yonder by the high-road,” she replied. So he returned to Enid. “Go,” said he, “to the lady that is below yonder, and await me there till I come.” She was sad when he ordered her to do thus, but nevertheless she went to the damsel, whom it was ruth to hear, and she felt certain that Geraint would never return.

Meanwhile Geraint followed the giants, and overtook them. And each of them was greater in stature than three other men, and a huge club was on the shoulder of each. Then he rushed upon one of them, and thrust his lance through his body. And having drawn it forth again, he pierced another of them through likewise. But the third turned upon him and struck him with his club so that he split his shield and crushed his shoulder. But Geraint drew his sword and gave the giant a blow on the crown of his head, so severe, and fierce, and violent, that his head and his neck were split down to his shoulders, and he fell dead. So Geraint left him thus and returned to Enid. And when he reached the place where she was he fell down lifeless from his horse. Piercing and loud and thrilling was the cry that Enid uttered. And she came and stood over him where he had fallen. And at the sound of her cries came the Earl of Limours, and they who journeyed with him, whom her lamentations brought out of their road. And the earl said to Enid, “Alas, lady, what hath befallen thee?” “Ah, good sir,” said she, “the only man I have loved, or ever shall love, is slain.” Then he said to the other, “And what is the cause of thy grief?” “They have slain my beloved husband also,” said she. “And who was it that slew them?” “Some giants,” she answered, “slew my best-beloved, and the other knight went in pursuit of them, and came back in the state thou seest.” The earl caused the knight that was dead to be buried, but he thought that there still remained some life in Geraint; and to see if he yet would live, he had him carried with him in the hollow of his shield, and upon a bier. And the two damsels went to the court; and when they arrived there, Geraint was placed upon a little couch in front of the table that was in the hall. Then they all took off their traveling-gear, and the earl besought Enid to do the same, and to clothe herself in other garments. “I will not, by Heaven,” said she. “Ah, lady,” said he, “be not so sorrowful for this matter.” “It were hard to persuade me to be otherwise,” said she. “I will act towards thee in such wise that thou needest not be sorrowful, whether yonder knight live or die. Behold, a good earldom, together with myself, will I bestow upon thee; be therefore happy and joyful.” “I declare to Heaven,” said she, “that henceforth I shall never be joyful while I live.” “Come,” said he, “and eat.” “No, by Heaven, I will not.” “But, by Heaven, thou shalt,” said he. So he took her with him to the table against her will, and many times desired her to eat. “I call Heaven to witness,” said she, “that I will not until the man that is upon yonder bier shall eat likewise.” “Thou canst not fulfil that,” said the earl, “yonder man is dead already.” “I will prove that I can,” said she. Then he offered her a goblet of liquor. “Drink this goblet,” he said, “and it will cause thee to change thy mind.” “Evil betide me,” she answered, “if I drink aught until he drink also.” “Truly,” said the earl, “it is of no more avail for me to be gentle with thee than ungentle.” And he gave her a box in the ear. Thereupon she raised a loud and piercing shriek, and her lamentations were much greater than they had been before; for she considered in her mind, that, had Geraint been alive, he durst not have struck her thus. But, behold, at the sound of her cry, Geraint revived from his swoon, and he sat upon the bier; and finding his sword in the hollow of his shield, he rushed to the place where the earl was, and struck him a fiercely-wounding, severely-venomous, and sternly-smiting blow upon the crown of his head, so that he clove him in twain, until his sword was staid by the table. Then all left the board and fled away. And this was not so much through fear of the living, as through the dread they felt at seeing the dead man rise up to slay them. And Geraint looked upon Enid, and he was grieved for two causes; one was to see that Enid had lost her color and her wonted aspect; and the other, to know that she was in the right. “Lady,” said he, “knowest thou where our horses are?” “I know, lord, where thy horse is,” she replied, “but I know not where is the other. Thy horse is in the house yonder.” So he went to the house, and brought forth his horse, and mounted him, and took up Enid, and placed her upon the horse with him. And he rode forward. And their road lay between two hedges; and the night was gaining on the day. 还有！ they saw behind them the shafts of spears betwixt them and the sky, and they heard the tramping of horses, and the noise of a host approaching. “I hear something following us,” said he, “and I will put thee on the other side of the hedge.” And thus he did. And thereupon, behold a knight pricked towards him, and couched his lance. When Enid saw this, she cried out, saying, “O chieftain, whoever thou art, what renown wilt thou gain by slaying a dead man?” “O Heaven!” said he, “is it Geraint?” “Yes, in truth,” said she; “and who art thou?” “I am Gwiffert Petit,” said he, “thy husband’s ally, coming to thy assistance, for I heard that thou wast in trouble. Come with me to the court of a son-in-law of my sister, which is near here, and thou shalt have the best medical assistance in the kingdom.” “I will do so gladly,” said Geraint. And Enid was placed upon the horse of one of Gwiffert’s squires, and they went forward to the baron’s palace. And they were received there with gladness, and they met with hospitality and attention. The next morning they went to seek physicians; and it was not long before they came, and they attended Geraint until he was perfectly well. And while Geraint was under medical care Gwiffert caused his armor to be repaired, until it was as good as it had ever been. And they remained there a month and a fortnight. [58]Throughout the broad and varied region of romance it would be difficult to find a character of greater simplicity and truth than that of Enid, the daughter of Earl Ynywl. Conspicuous for her beauty and noble bearing, we are at a loss whether more to admire the patience with which she bore all the hardships she was destined to undergo or the constancy and affection which finally achieved the truimph she so richly deserved.

The character of Enid is admirably sustained through the whole tale; and as it is more natural, because less overstrained, so perhaps it is even more touching than that of Griselda, over which, however, Chaucer has thrown a charm that leads us to forget the improbability of her story.

Once upon a time Pwyll was at Narberth, his chief palace, where a feast had been prepared for him, and with him was a great host of men. And after the first meal Pwyll arose to walk; and he went to the top of a mound that was above the palace, and was called Gorsedd Arberth. “Lord,” said one of the court, “it is peculiar to the mound that whosoever sits upon it cannot go thence without either receiving wounds or blows, or else seeing a wonder.” “I fear not to receive wounds or blows,” said Pwyll; “but as to the wonder, gladly would I see it. I will therefore go and sit upon the mound.”

And upon the mound he sat. And while he sat there, they saw a lady, on a pure white horse of large size, with a garment of shining gold around her, coming along the highway that led from the mound. “My men,” said Pwyll, “is there any among you who knows yonder lady?” “There is not, lord,” said they. “Go one of you and meet her, that we may know who she is.” And one of them arose, and as he came upon the road to meet her, she passed by; and he followed as fast as he could, being on foot, and the greater was his speed, the further was she from him. And when he saw that it profited him nothing to follow her, he returned to Pwyll, and said unto him, “Lord, it is idle for any one in the world to follow her on foot.” “Verily,” said Pwyll, “go unto the palace, and take the fleetest horse that thou seest, and go after her.”

And he took a horse and went forward. And he came to an open, level plain, and put spurs to his horse; and the more he urged his horse, the further was she from him. And he returned to the place where Pwyll was, and said, “Lord, it will avail nothing for any one to follow yonder lady. I know of no horse in these realms swifter than this, and it availed me not to pursue her.” “Of a truth,” said Pwyll, “there must be some illusion here; let us go towards the palace.” So to the palace they went, and spent the day.

And the next day they amused themselves until it was time to go to meat. And when meat was ended, Pwyll said, “Where are the hosts that went yesterday to the top of the mound?” “Behold, lord, we are here,” said they. “Let us go,” said he, “to the mound, and sit there. And do thou,” said he to the page who tended his horse, “saddle my horse well, and hasten with him to the road, and bring also my spurs with thee.” And the youth did thus. And they went and sat upon the mound; and ere they had been there but a short time, they beheld the lady coming by the same road, and in the same manner, and at the same pace. “Young man,” said Pwyll, “I see the lady coming; give me my horse.” And before he had mounted his horse she passed him. And he turned after her and followed her. And he let his horse go bounding playfully, and thought that he should soon come up with her. But he came no nearer to her than at first. Then he urged his horse to his utmost speed, yet he found that it availed not. Then said Pwyll, “O maiden, for the sake of him whom thou best lovest, stay for me.” “I will stay gladly,” said she; “and it were better for thy horse hadst thou asked it long since.” So the maiden stopped; and she threw back that part of her head-dress which covered her face. Then he thought that the beauty of all the maidens and all the ladies that he had ever seen was as nothing compared to her beauty. “Lady,” he said, “wilt thou tell me aught concerning thy purpose?” “I will tell thee,” said she; “my chief quest was to see thee.” “Truly,” said Pwyll, “this is to me the most pleasing quest on which thou couldst have come; and wilt thou tell me who thou art?” “I will tell thee, lord,” said she. “I am Rhiannon, the daughter of Heveydd, and they sought to give me a husband against my will. But no husband would I have, and that because of my love for thee; neither will I yet have one, unless thou reject me; and hither have I come to hear thy answer.” “By Heaven,” said Pwyll, “behold this is my answer. If I might choose among all the ladies and damsels in the world, thee would I choose.” “Verily,” said she, “if thou art thus minded, make a pledge to meet me ere I am given to another.” “The sooner I may do so, the more pleasing will it be to me,” said Pwyll; “and wheresoever thou wilt, there will I meet with thee.” “I will that thou meet me this day twelvemonth at the palace of Heveydd.” “Gladly,” said he, “will I keep this tryst.” So they parted, and he went back to his hosts, and to them of his household. And whatsoever questions they asked him respecting the damsel, he always turned the discourse upon other matters.

And when a year from that time was gone, he caused a hundred knights to equip themselves, and to go with him to the palace of Heveydd. And he came to the palace, and there was great joy concerning him, with much concourse of people, and great rejoicing, and vast preparations for his coming. And the whole court was placed under his orders.

And the hall was garnished, and they went to meat, and thus did they sit: Heveydd was on one side of Pwyll, and Rhiannon on the other; and all the rest according to their rank. And they ate and feasted, and talked one with another. And at the beginning of the carousal after the meat, there entered a tall, auburn-haired youth, of royal bearing, clothed in a garment of satin. And when he came into the hall, he saluted Pwyll and his companions. “The greeting of Heaven be unto thee,” said Pwyll; “come thou and sit down.” “Nay,” said he, “a suitor am I, and I will do my errand.” “Do so willingly,” said Pwyll. “Lord,” said he, “my errand is unto thee, and it is to crave a boon of thee that I come.” “What boon soever thou mayest ask of me, so far as I am able, thou shalt have.” “Ah!” said Rhiannon, “wherefore didst thou give that answer?” “Has he not given it before the presence of these nobles?” asked the youth. “My soul,” said Pwyll, “what is the boon thou askest?” “The lady whom best I love is to be thy bride this night; I come to ask her of thee, with the feast and the banquet that are in this place.” And Pwyll was silent, because of the promise which he had given. “Be silent as long as thou wilt,” said Rhiannon, “never did man make worse use of his wits than thou hast done.” “Lady,” said he, “I knew not who he was.” “Behold, this is the man to whom they would have given me against my will,” said she; “and he is Gawl, the son of Clud, a man of great power and wealth, and because of the word thou hast spoken, bestow me upon him, lest shame befall thee.” “Lady,” said he, “I understand not thy answer; never can I do as thou sayest.” “Bestow me upon him,” said she, “and I will cause that I shall never be his.” “By what means will that be?” asked Pwyll. Then she told him the thought that was in her mind. And they talked long together. Then Gawl said, “Lord, it is meet that I have an answer to my request.” “As much of that thou hast asked as it is in my power to give, thou shalt have,” replied Pwyll. “My soul,” said Rhiannon unto Gawl, “as for the feast and the banquet that are here, I have bestowed them upon the men of Dyved, and the household and the warriors that are with us. These can I not suffer to be given to any. In a year from to-night, a banquet shall be prepared for thee in this palace, that I may become thy bride.”

So Gawl went forth to his possessions, and Pwyll went also back to Dyved. And they both spent that year until it was the time for the feast at the palace of Heveydd. Then Gawl, the son of Clud, set out to the feast that was prepared for him; and he came to the palace, and was received there with rejoicing. Pwyll, also, the chief of Dyved, came to the orchard with a hundred knights, as Rhiannon had commanded him. And Pwyll was clad in coarse and ragged garments, and wore large, clumsy old shoes upon his feet. And when he knew that the carousal after the meat had begun, he went toward the hall; and when he came into the hall he saluted Gawl, the son of Clud, and his company, both men and women. “Heaven prosper thee,” said Gawl, “and friendly greeting be unto thee!” “Lord,” said he, “may Heaven reward thee! I have an errand unto thee.” “Welcome be thine errand, and if thou ask of me that which is right, thou shalt have it gladly.” “It is fitting,” answered he; “I crave but from want, and the boon I ask is to have this small bag that thou seest filled with meat.” “A request within reason is this,” said he, “and gladly shalt thou have it. Bring him food.” A great number of attendants arose and began to fill the bag; but for all they put into it, it was no fuller than at first. “My soul,” said Gawl, “will thy bag ever be full?” “It will not, I declare to Heaven,” said he, “for all that may be put into it, unless one possessed of lands, and domains, and treasure, shall arise and tread down with both his feet the food that is within the bag, and shall say, ‘Enough has been put therein.'” Then said Rhiannon unto Gawl, the son of Clud, “Rise up quickly.” “I will willingly arise,” said he. So he rose up, and put his two feet into the bag. And Pwyll turned up the sides of the bag, so that Gawl was over his head in it. And he shut it up quickly, and slipped a knot upon the thongs, and blew his horn. And thereupon, behold, his knights came down upon the palace. And they seized all the host that had come with Gawl, and cast them into his own prison. And Pwyll threw off his rags, and his old shoes, and his tattered array. And as they came in, every one of Pwyll’s knights struck a blow upon the bag, and asked, “What is here?” “A badger,” said they. And in this manner they played, each of them striking the bag, either with his foot or with a staff. And thus played they with the bag. And then was the game of Badger in the Bag first played.

“Lord,” said the man in the bag, “if thou wouldst but hear me, I merit not to be slain in a bag.” Said Heveydd, “Lord, he speaks truth; it were fitting that thou listen to him, for he deserves not this.” “Verily,” said Pwyll, “I will do thy counsel concerning him.” “Behold, this is my counsel then,” said Rhiannon. “Thou art now in a position in which it behooves thee to satisfy suitors and minstrels. Let him give unto them in thy stead, and take a pledge from him that he will never seek to revenge that which has been done to him. And this will be punishment enough.” “I will do this gladly,” said the man in the bag. “And gladly will I accept it,” said Pwyll, “since it is the counsel of Heveydd and Rhiannon. Seek thyself sureties.” “We will be for him,” said Heveydd, “until his men be free to answer for him.” And upon this he was let out of the bag, and his liegemen were liberated. “Verily, lord,” said Gawl, “I am greatly hurt, and I have many bruises. With thy leave, I will go forth. I will leave nobles in my stead to answer for me in all that thou shalt require.” “Willingly,” said Pwyll, “mayest thou do this.” So Gawl went to his own possessions.

And the hall was set in order for Pwyll and the men of his host, and for them also of the palace, and they went to the tables and sat down. And as they had sat that time twelvemonth, so sat they that night. And they ate and feasted, and spent the night in mirth and tranquility. And the time came that they should sleep, and Pwyll and Rhiannon went to their chamber.

And next morning at break of day, “My lord,” said Rhiannon, “arise and begin to give thy gifts unto the minstrels. Refuse no one to- day that may claim thy bounty.” “Thus shall it be gladly,” said Pwyll, “both to-day and every day while the feast shall last.” So Pwyll arose, and he caused silence to be proclaimed, and desired all the suitors and minstrels to show and to point out what gifts they desired. And this being done, the feast went on, and he denied no one while it lasted. And when the feast was ended, Pwyll said unto Heveydd, “My lord, with thy permission, I will set out for Dyved to-morrow.” “Certainly,” said Heveydd; “may Heaven prosper thee! Fix also a time when Rhiannon shall follow thee.” “By Heaven,” said Pwyll, “we will go hence together.” “Willest thou this, lord?” said Heveydd. “Yes, lord,” answered Pwyll.

And the next, day they set forward towards Dyved, and journeyed to the palace of Narberth, where a feast was made ready for them. And there came to them great numbers of the chief men and the most noble ladies of the land, and of these there were none to whom Rhiannon did not give some rich gift, either a bracelet, or a ring, or a precious stone. And they ruled the land prosperously that year and the next.

Bendigeid Vran, the son of Llyr, was the crowned king of this island, and he was exalted from the crown of London. And one afternoon he was at Harlech, in Ardudwy, at his court; and he sat upon the rock of Harlech, looking over the sea. And with him were his brother, Manawyddan, the son of Llyr, and his brothers by the mother’s side, Nissyen and Evnissyen, and many nobles likewise, as was fitting to see around a king. His two brothers by the mother’s side were the sons of Euroswydd, and one of these youths was a good youth, and of gentle nature, and would make peace between his kindred, and cause his family to be friends when their wrath was at the highest, and this one was Nissyen; but the other would cause strife between his two brothers when they were most at peace. And as they sat thus they beheld thirteen ships coming from the south of Ireland, and making towards them; and they came with a swift motion, the wind being behind them; and they neared them rapidly. “I see ships afar,” said the king, “coming swiftly towards the land. Command the men of the court that they equip themselves, and go and learn their intent.” So the men equipped themselves, and went down towards them. And when they saw the ships near, certain were they that they had never seen ships better furnished. Beautiful flags of satin were upon them. And, behold, one of the ships outstripped the others, and they saw a shield lifted up above the side of the ship, and the point of the shield was upwards, in token of peace. And the men drew near, that they might hold converse. Then they put out boats, and came toward the land. And they saluted the king. Now the king could hear them from the place where he was upon the rock above their heads. “Heaven prosper you.” said he, “and be ye welcome! To whom do these ships belong, and who is the chief amongst you?” “Lord,” said they, “Matholch, king of Ireland, is here, and these ships belong to him.” “Wherefore comes he?” asked the king, “and will he come to the land?” “He is a suitor unto thee, lord,” said they, “and he will not land unless he have his boon.” “And what may that be?” inquired the king. “He desires to ally himself, lord, with thee,” said they, “and he comes to ask Branwen, the daughter of Llyr, that, if it seem well to thee, the Island of the Mighty[59]The Island of the Mighty is one of the many names bestowed upon Britain by the Welsh. may be leagued with Ireland, and both become more powerful.” “Verily,” said he, “let him come to land, and we will take counsel thereupon.” And this answer was brought to Matholch. “I will go willingly,” said he. So he landed, and they received him joyfully; and great was the throng in the palace that night, between his hosts and those of the court; and next day they took counsel, and they resolved to bestow Branwen upon Matholch. Now she was one of the three chief ladies of this island, and she was the fairest damsel in the world.

And they fixed upon Aberfraw as the place where she should become his bride. And they went thence, and towards Aberfraw the hosts proceeded, Matholch and his host in their ships, Bendigeid Vran and his host by land, until they came to Aberfraw. And at Aberfraw they began the feast, and sat down. And thus sat they: the king of the Island of the Mighty and Manawyddan, the son of Llyr, on one side, and Matholch on the other side, and Branwen, the daughter of Llyr, beside him. And they were not within a house, but under tents. No house could ever contain Bendigeid Vran. And they began the banquet, and caroused and discoursed. And when it was more pleasing to them to sleep than to carouse, they went to rest, and Branwen became Matholch’s bride.

And next day they arose, and all they of the court, and the officers began to equip, and to range the horses and the attendants, and they ranged them in order as far as the sea.

And, behold, one day Evnissyen, the quarrelsome man, of whom it is spoken above, came by chance into the place where the horses of Matholch were, and asked whose horses they might be. “They are the horses of Matholch, king of Ireland, who is married to Branwen, thy sister; his horses are they.” “And is it thus they have done with a maiden such as she, and moreover my sister, bestowing her without my consent? They could have offered no greater insult to me than this,” said he. And thereupon he rushed under the horses, and cut off their lips at the teeth, and their ears close to their heads, and their tails close to their backs; and he disfigured the horses, and rendered them useless.

And they came with these tidings unto Matholch, saying that the horses were disfigured and injured, so that not one of them could ever be of any use again. “Verily, lord,” said one, “it was an insult unto thee, and as such was it meant.” “Of a truth, it is a marvel to me that, if they desire to insult me, they should have given me a maiden of such high rank, and so much beloved of her kindred, as they have done.” “Lord,” said another, “thou seest that thus it is, and there is nothing for thee to do but to go to thy ships.” And thereupon towards his ships he set out.

And tidings came to Bendigeid Vran that Matholch was quitting the court without asking leave, and messengers were sent to inquire of him wherefore he did so. And the messengers that went were Iddic, the son of Anarawd, and Heveyd Hir. And these overtook him, and asked of him what he designed to do, and wherefore he went forth. “Of a truth,” said he, “if I had known, I had not come hither. I have been altogether insulted; no one had ever worse treatment than I have had here.” “Truly, lord, it was not the will of any that are of the court,” said they, “nor of any that are of the council, that thou shouldst have received this insult; and as thou hast been insulted, the dishonor is greater unto Bendigeid Vran than unto thee.” “Verily,” said he, “I think so. Nevertheless, he cannot recall the insult.” These men returned with that answer to the place where Bendigeid Vran was, and they told him what reply Matholch had given them. “Truly,” said he, “there are no means by which we may prevent his going away at enmity with us that we will not take.” “Well, lord,” said they, “send after him another embassy.” “I will do so,” said he. “Arise, Manawyddan, son of Llyr, and Heveyd Hir, and go after him, and tell him that he shall have a sound horse for every one that has been injured. And beside that, as an atonement for the insult, he shall have a staff of silver as large and as tall as himself, and a plate of gold of the breadth of his face. And show unto him who it was that did this, and that it was done against my will; but that he who did it is my brother, and therefore it would be hard for me to put him to death. And let him come and meet me,” said he, “and we will make peace in any way he may desire.”

The embassy went after Matholch, and told him all these sayings in a friendly manner; and he listened thereunto. “Men,” said he, “I will take counsel.” So to the council he went. And in the council they considered that, if they should refuse this, they were likely to have more shame rather than to obtain so great an atonement. They resolved, therefore, to accept it, and they returned to the court in peace.

Then the pavilions and the tents were set in order, after the fashion of a hall; and they went to meat, and as they had sat at the beginning of the feast so sat they there. And Matholch and Bendigeid Vran began to discourse; and, behold, it seemed to Bendigeid Vran, while they talked, that Matholch was not so cheerful as he had been before. And he thought that the chieftain might be sad because of the smallness of the atonement which he had for the wrong that had been done him. “O man,” said Bendigeid Vran, “thou dost not discourse to-night so cheerfully as thou wast wont. And if it be because of the smallness of the atonement, thou shalt add thereunto whatsoever thou mayest choose, and to-morrow I will pay thee for the horses.” “Lord,” said he, “Heaven reward thee!” “And I will enhance the atonement,” said Bendigeid Vran, “for I will give unto thee a caldron, the property of which is, that if one of thy men be slain to-day, and be cast therein, to- morrow he will be as well as ever he was at the best, except that he will not regain his speech.” And thereupon he gave him great thanks, and very joyful was he for that cause.

That night they continued to discourse as much as they would, and had minstrelsy and carousing; and when it was more pleasant to them to sleep than to sit longer, they went to rest. And thus was the banquet carried on with joyousness; and when it was finished, Matholch journeyed towards Ireland, and Branwen with him; and they went from Aber Menei with thirteen ships, and came to Ireland. And in Ireland was there great joy because of their coming. And not one great man nor noble lady visited Branwen unto whom she gave not either a clasp or a ring, or a royal jewel to keep, such as it was honorable to be seen departing with. And in these things she spent that year in much renown, and she passed her time pleasantly, enjoying honor and friendship. And in due time a son was born unto her, and the name that they gave him was Gwern, the son of Matholch, and they put the boy out to be nursed in a place where were the best men of Ireland.

And, behold, in the second year a tumult arose in Ireland, on account of the insult which Matholch had received in Wales, and the payment made him for his horses. And his foster-brothers, and such as were nearest to him, blamed him openly for that matter. And he might have no peace by reason of the tumult, until they should revenge upon him this disgrace. And the vengeance which they took was to drive away Branwen from the same chamber with him, and to make her cook for the court; and they caused the butcher, after he had cut up the meat, to come to her and give her every day a blow on the ear; and such they made her punishment.

“Verily, lord,” said his men to Matholch, “forbid now the ships and the ferry-boats, and the coracles, that they go not into Wales, and such as come over from Wales hither, imprison them, that they go not back for this thing to be known there.” And he did so; and it was thus for no less than three years.

And Branwen reared a starling in the cover of the kneading-trough, and she taught it to speak, and she taught the bird what manner of man her brother was. And she wrote a letter of her woes, and the despite with which she was treated, and she bound the letter to the root of the bird’s wing, and sent it toward Wales. And the bird came to that island; and one day it found Bendigeid Vran at Caer Seiont in Arvon, conferring there, and it alighted upon his shoulder, and ruffled its feathers, so that the letter was seen, and they knew that the bird had been reared in a domestic manner.

Then Bendigeid Vran took the letter and looked upon it. And when he had read the letter, he grieved exceedingly at the tidings of Branwen’s woes. And immediately he began sending messengers to summon the island together. And he caused seven-score and four of his chief men to come unto him, and he complained to them of the grief that his sister endured. So they took counsel. And in the counsel they resolved to go to Ireland, and to leave seven men as princes at home, and Caradoc,[60]Caractacus. the son of Bran, as the chief of them.

Bendigeid Vran, with the host of which we spoke, sailed towards Ireland; and it was not far across the sea, and he came to shoal water. Now the swine-herds of Matholch were upon the sea-shore, and they came to Matholch. “Lord,” said they, “greeting be unto thee.” “Heaven protect you!” said he; “have you any news?” “Lord,” said they, “we have marvellous news. A wood have we seen upon the sea, in a place where we never yet saw a single tree.” “This is indeed a marvel,” said he; “saw you aught else?” “We saw, lord,” said they, “a vast mountain beside the wood, which moved, and there was a lofty ridge on the top of the mountain, and a lake on each side of the ridge. And the wood and the mountain, and all these things, moved.” “Verily,” said he, “there is none who can know aught concerning this unless it be Branwen.”

Messengers then went unto Branwen. “Lady,” said they, “what thinkest thou that this is?” “The men of the Island of the Mighty, who have come hither on hearing of my ill-treatment and of my woes.” “What is the forest that is seen upon the sea?” asked they. “The yards and the masts of ships,” she answered. “Alas!” said they; “what is the mountain that is seen by the side of the ships?” “Bendigeid Vran, my brother,” she replied, “coming to shoal water, and he is wading to the land.” “What is the lofty ridge, with the lake on each side thereof?” “On looking towards this island he is wroth, and his two eyes on each side of his nose are the two lakes on each side of the ridge.”

The warriors and chief men of Ireland were brought together in haste, and they took counsel. “Lord,” said the neighbors unto Matholch, “there is no other counsel than this alone. Thou shalt give the kingdom to Gwern, the son of Branwen his sister, as a compensation for the wrong and despite that have been done unto Branwen. And he will make peace with thee.” And in the council it was resolved that this message should be sent to Bendigeid Vran, lest the country should be destroyed. And this peace was made. And Matholch caused a great house to be built for Bendigeid Vran, and his host. Thereupon came the hosts into the house. The men of the island of Ireland entered the house on the one side, and the men of the Island of the Mighty on the other. And as soon as they had sat down, there was concord between them; and the sovereignty was conferred upon the boy. When the peace was concluded, Bendigeid Vran called the boy unto him, and from Bendigeid Vran the boy went unto Manawyddan; and he was beloved by all that beheld him. And from Manawyddan the boy was called by Nissyen, the son of Euroswydd, and the boy went unto him lovingly. “Wherefore,” said Evnissyen, “comes not my nephew, the son of my sister, unto me? Though he were not king of Ireland, yet willingly would I fondle the boy.” “Cheerfully let him go to thee,” said Bendigeid Vran; and the boy went unto him cheerfully. “By my confession to Heaven,” said Evnissyen in his heart, “unthought of is the slaughter that I will this instant commit.”

Then he arose and took up the boy, and before any one in the house could seize hold of him he thrust the boy headlong into the blazing fire. And when Branwen saw her son burning in the fire, she strove to leap into the fire also, from the place where she sat between her two brothers. But Bendigeid Vran grasped her with one hand, and his shield with the other. Then they all hurried about the house, and never was there made so great a tumult by any host in one house as was made by them, as each man armed himself. And while they all sought their arms Bendigeid Vran supported Branwen between his shield and his shoulder. And they fought.

Then the Irish kindled a fire under the caldron of renovation, and they cast the dead bodies into the caldron until it was full; and the next day they came forth fighting men, as good as before, except that they were not able to speak. Then when Evnissyen saw the dead bodies of the men of the Island of the Mighty nowhere resuscitated, he said in his heart, “Alas! woe is me, that I should have been the cause of bringing the men of the Island of the Mighty into so great a strait. Evil betide me if I find not a deliverance therefrom.” And he cast himself among the dead bodies of the Irish; and two unshod Irishmen came to him, and, taking him to be one of the Irish, flung him into the caldron. And he stretched himself out in the caldron, so that he rent the caldron into four pieces, and burst his own heart also.

In consequence of this, the men of the Island of the Mighty obtained such success as they had; but they were not victorious, for only seven men of them all escaped, and Bendigeid Vran himself was wounded in the foot with a poisoned dart. Now the men that escaped were Pryderi, Manawyddan, Taliesin, and four others.

And Bendigeid Vran commanded them that they should cut off his head. “And take you my head,” said he, “and bear it even unto the White Mount in London, and bury it there with the face towards France. And so long as it lies there, no enemy shall ever land on the island.” So they cut off his head, and these seven went forward therewith. And Branwen was the eighth with them. And they came to land on Aber Alaw, and they sat down to rest. And Branwen looked towards Ireland, and towards the Island of the Mighty, to see if she could descry them. “Alas!” said she, “woe is me that I was ever born; two islands have been destroyed because of me.” Then she uttered a groan, and there broke her heart. And they made her a four-sided grave, and buried her upon the banks of the Alaw.

Then the seven men journeyed forward, bearing the head with them; and as they went, behold there met them a multitude of men and women. “Have you any tidings?” said Manawyddan. “We have none,” said they, “save that Caswallawn,[61]Cassivellaunus. the son of Beli, has conquered the Island of the Mighty, and is crowned king in London.” “What has become,” said they, “of Caradoc, the son of Bran, and the seven men who were left with him in this island?” “Caswallawn came upon them, and slew six of the men, and Caradoc’s heart broke for grief thereof.” And the seven men journeyed on towards London, and they buried the head in the White Mount, as Bendigeid Vran had directed them.[62]There is a Triad upon the story of the head buried under the White Tower of London, as a charm against invasion. Arthur, it seems, proudly disinterred the head, preferring to hold the island by his own strength alone.