2014年5月9日 星期五

Odyssey Book 17

Odyssey: Book 17

  日期: 2014年5月 5日
Odyssey 17. 1-83
打開第十七卷,又是新的開始,第一行: As soon as rose-fingered early Dawn appeared, ἦμος δ᾽ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς, 同一句話,出現在《奧德賽》二十次,這是吟唱詩人的基本公式,也標誌每一日故事的開始。然而,這一天是那麼不同,因為父子要開始展開行動。不過,此刻Telemachus口中稱的老爹(father,ἄττα),還是老管家Eumaeus, 一方面說明他要親自去見母親,一方面請他帶老乞丐Odysseus進城。Odysseus還解釋他要進城,因為已年老,無法作田裡粗活,而他也需要一件厚一點的衣物。
  Telemachus稱呼眼前的Odysseus為不幸的異鄉客(unfortunate stranger,τὸν ξεῖνον δύστηνον) (Odyssey 17. 10),而Odysseus直接了當用「乞丐」(beggar,πτωχός)一詞描述自己的現況,兩個人的說法都暗示,城裡的乞討比較有效,也可以推論,古希臘城市存在類似的乞丐,依據Hesiod寫的《工作與時日》,遠古希臘的乞丐也算是一種職業,身分和吟唱詩人類似。《新約》中也有乞丐的描述,中古世紀還有乞缽憎,但不知道古希臘或西方明中有沒有向中國武俠小說中「丐幫」組織? 這是一個有趣的文化研究題目!

A beggar, or ptóchos (πτωχός), was both a welcomed and a loathed sight at the gates of ancient Greek cities. According to some sources, most notable Hesiod's Works and Days, being a beggar is a profession, equated with potters and minstrels. They performed a public function simply by being who they were and doing what they did. But what did they do?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Begging 西方世界乞丐的文化
Ancient Greeks distinguished between the ptochos (Greek: πτωχός, "passive poor" or "beggars") and the penes (Greek: ποινής, "active poor"), with the latter being accorded a higher social status. The New Testament contains several references to Jesus' status as the savior of the ptochos, usually translated as "the poor", considered the most wretched portion of society

第22-44行紀錄Telemachus走到門口,第一個出來迎接他的是奶媽Eurycleia,這也是史詩中最傳神的女性人物之一,之後也是她在幫Odysseus洗腳時,認出這位主人。緊接著出場的是Penelope,這兒史詩形容這位奇女子既像純潔女神Artemis,又是愛神Aphrodite的化身(Odyssey 17. 36-40)。
  Telemachus勸母親不要憂傷,快潔身,換清潔的衣服,準備百牲祭,祈求宙斯處罰那些追求者的惡行。之後,Telemachus走進大廳,手持武器,兩隻狗跟著,雅典娜相助,所以Telemachus看起來風度翩翩,那些追求者群聚,表面上對他畢恭畢敬,心裡卻圖謀不軌。和 《伊里亞特》的直來直往不一樣,《奧德賽》很多處強調人的心口不一。


ἔγχος ἔχων: ἅμα τῷ γε δύω κύνες ἀργοὶ ἕποντο.
θεσπεσίην δ᾽ ἄρα τῷ γε χάριν κατέχευεν Ἀθήνη:
τὸν δ᾽ ἄρα πάντες λαοὶ ἐπερχόμενον θηεῦντο.
ἀμφὶ δέ μιν μνηστῆρες ἀγήνορες ἠγερέθοντο
ἔσθλ᾽ ἀγορεύοντες, κακὰ δὲ φρεσὶ βυσσοδόμευον. (Odyssey 17.61-66)

Telemachus walked through the hall, gripping his spear. 
Two swift dogs went with him. Athena poured on him
such marvelous grace that, as he moved along,
all people gazed at him. The arrogant suitors
thronged around him, making gentle conversation,
but deep in their hearts they were planning trouble. (Odyssey 17.61-66)

   今天閱讀這一段,特別學習一個英文字: throng

noun
1. a multitude of people crowded or assembled together; crowd.
2. a great number of things crowded or considered together: a throng of memories.
verb (used without object)
1. to assemble, collect, or go in large numbers; crowd.
verb (used with object)
2. to fill or occupy with or as with a crowd: He thronged the picture with stars.
3. to fill by crowding or pressing into: They thronged the small room. 
4. Tourists thronged the bars and restaurants.
5. The streets were thronged with Christmas shoppers.  
6. Fans thronged the field to celebrate the win

__________________________________________________________________________
日期: 2014年5月 6日
Odyssey 17. 84-165
這趟旅遊Telemachus結識不少朋友,還帶回一位長期流亡的旅人(ξεῖνον ταλαπείριον) Theoclemeus回家,安排吃住,這裡還特別描述洗澡、抹油、更衣,飯前洗手,然後招待麵包與餐飲,這一些都是古希臘大城邦的待客之道。這裡特別提到澡盆 (ἀσάμινθος bathing-tub),S. Reece寫一專書討論史詩時代的澡盆: The Homeric And Mycenaean Bath Ἀσάμινθοσ / Νασάμινθοσ (E-ISBN: 9789047427872)。另外,身上抹的是橄欖油: ἔλαιον olive-oil。古希臘人認為洗澡抹橄欖油,可以去除疲勞,放鬆,清潔等功效。
   因為家裡被一群追求者包圍,母子的關係其實有點緊張,Penelope原先想先回臥室,因為猜測Telemachus不會再眾人面前說Odysseus的消息。但是,Telemachus故意大聲說這次旅行紀實,在Nestor和Menelaus的宮中,都得到很好的招待,但是都查不出Odysseus的最新消息。然後,報導 Menelaus的一段話, 顯然嘲笑這群追求者不自量力,像是在兇猛獅子居住的叢林中的兩隻初生的小鹿。在引用Menelaus的話中,還提到Odysseus當年勇,在繁榮Lesbos島上,和當時的國王Philomeleides摔交,大勝,全希臘人都為Odysseus歡呼。Menelaus期待Odysseus再出現,和當年一樣英勇,擊敗這些追求者。另外,傳說中Odysseus現在被仙女Calypso 藏著。 關於Odysseus和Philomeleides比摔交,荷馬史詩也再次出現兩次。只是Lesbos,就是今日女同志lesbian一詞的字源,女詩人Sappho 的故鄉。

Sappho listens as the poet Alcaeus plays a "kithara". The Walters Art Museum.
出處: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesbos

   Theoclemeus重複與強調他所見,預言Odysseus必定回來,必定戰勝這群惡劣的追求者。

ὣς εἰπὼν ξεῖνον ταλαπείριον ἦγεν ἐς οἶκον.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥ᾽ ἵκοντο δόμους εὖ ναιετάοντας,
χλαίνας μὲν κατέθεντο κατὰ κλισμούς τε θρόνους τε,
ἐς δ᾽ ἀσαμίνθους βάντες ἐϋξέστας λούσαντο.
τοὺς δ᾽ ἐπεὶ οὖν δμῳαὶ λοῦσαν καὶ χρῖσαν ἐλαίῳ,
ἀμφὶ δ᾽ ἄρα χλαίνας οὔλας βάλον ἠδὲ χιτῶνας,
ἔκ ῥ᾽ ἀσαμίνθων βάντες ἐπὶ κλισμοῖσι καθῖζον.
(Odyssey 17.84-90)

As he said this, he led the long-suffering stranger
towards the house. When they reached the stately palace,
they put their cloaks down on the seats and armchairs, 
then went into the polished tubs to have a bath.
After the attending women had washed both men,
rubbed them down with oil, and wrapped around them
woolen cloaks and tunics, they came out from the bath 
and sat down on the chairs.
(Odyssey 17.84-90)

日期: 2014年5月 9日
Odyssey 17. 166-246
史詩一在提醒我們: 驕必敗。這一些段中,看見那群無知狂妄的追求者,自以為是,沾沾自喜,每天狂歡,大吃但喝,而且日復一日,想來如此,因為內心傲慢,死期已近,渾然不知。(Odyssey 17. 166-191)
  Odysseus的宮廷被霸佔良久,家裡的奴僕也有不少人靠攏追求者,巴結奉承他們,而且態度傲慢,對忠貞的豬倌,更是刁難與嘲諷。這時,拿著簡單的木棍,穿著破舊衣服,拿破包的老乞丐Odysseus正在走進成,在Ithaca的聖泉,遇見兩位叛徒Melanthius和Dolius,正在幫那群飽食終日,無所事事的追求者籌備上等的晚餐,狹路相逢,開始冷嘲熱諷,用盡尖酸刻薄的話語,

ὣς φάτο, καὶ παριὼν λὰξ ἔνθορεν ἀφραδίῃσιν
ἰσχίῳ: οὐδέ μιν ἐκτὸς ἀταρπιτοῦ ἐστυφέλιξεν,
ἀλλ᾽ ἔμεν᾽ ἀσφαλέως: ὁ δὲ μερμήριξεν Ὀδυσσεὺς
ἠὲ μεταΐξας ῥοπάλῳ ἐκ θυμὸν ἕλοιτο,
ἦ πρὸς γῆν ἐλάσειε κάρη ἀμφουδὶς ἀείρας.
ἀλλ᾽ ἐπετόλμησε, φρεσὶ δ᾽ ἔσχετο:
(Odyssey 17. 233-238)

Melanthius finished, and as he moved on past them,
in his stupidity he kicked Odysseus on the hip.
But that didn’t push Odysseus off the pathway.
He stood there without budging. He was wondering
whether he should charge and kill him with his staff,
or grab him by the waist, lift him up, and smash his head
down on the ground. But he hung on, controlling
what was in his heart.

日期: 2014年5月 10日
Odyssey 17. 247-335
聽完Eumaeus禱告,這位牧羊大哥好像還是不知自省,還破口大罵,把這忠貞的老官家比喻成狗,他誠心的禱告也被比喻成狗叫。還不知廉恥,直接把心裡的歪主意說出,打算販賣人口,把老管家賣了,從中牟取暴利。(Odyssey 17.247-253)
   終於走到Odysseus的府邸,房屋鱗次櫛比,庭園有衛牆和遮簷,還有雙扇院門。這裡我學了兩個古希臘建築的詞彙:
τοῖχος wall of a house
θριγκός topmost course of stones in a wall, cornice, coping


Coping (architecture): 遮簷;牆頂
Coping (from cope, Latin capa), consists of the capping or covering of a wall. A splayed or wedge coping slopes in a single direction; a saddle coping slopes to either side of a central high point. A coping may consist of stone (capstone), brick, tile, slate, metal, wood or thatch. In all cases it should be weathered to throw off the water. Various types of copings exist.
  屋內則是歌聲繞樑,酒肉穿梭,吟唱詩人是Phemius,他的名字意思是fame-giver,或許意味歌功頌德的人,第一卷就有提到這問吟唱詩人。


http://www.maicar.com/GML/000PhotoArchive/ScenesOdyssey/slides/od023flax.html

前面提提到忠狗,是個比喻,接下來出現的是真正的忠狗, Argus (或Argos,希臘文Ἄργος),這二十年,主人 Odysseus不在家,他無人照顧,遍體生滿蟲蝨,躺在穢土之中,一看到老乞丐,就認出這是牠的主人Odysseus,擺動尾巴,垂下耳朵,Odysseus看了好心寒,傳身拭去眼淚,當著Eumaeus面前誇讚這狗,應該是很罕見的狗。老管家也提到Argus 當年的英武。只是,Argus看見主人回來,最後一聲嘆息,似乎完成守護家園的職守,就被死神帶走。
   這狗,應該是戰爭前,Odysseus眷養的獵犬,是當時有錢人當成財富的一部分。狗的情境,正反映出這二十年一家土地肥有領主,一個家沒有主人的慘淡景況。

ὣς οἱ μὲν τοιαῦτα πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον:
ἂν δὲ κύων κεφαλήν τε καὶ οὔατα κείμενος ἔσχεν,
Ἄργος, Ὀδυσσῆος ταλασίφρονος, ὅν ῥά ποτ᾽ αὐτὸς
θρέψε μέν, οὐδ᾽ ἀπόνητο, πάρος δ᾽ εἰς Ἴλιον ἱρὴν
ᾤχετο. τὸν δὲ πάροιθεν ἀγίνεσκον νέοι ἄνδρες
αἶγας ἐπ᾽ ἀγροτέρας ἠδὲ πρόκας ἠδὲ λαγωούς:
δὴ τότε κεῖτ᾽ ἀπόθεστος ἀποιχομένοιο ἄνακτος,
ἐν πολλῇ κόπρῳ, ἥ οἱ προπάροιθε θυράων
ἡμιόνων τε βοῶν τε ἅλις κέχυτ᾽, ὄφρ᾽ ἂν ἄγοιεν
δμῶες Ὀδυσσῆος τέμενος μέγα κοπρήσοντες:
ἔνθα κύων κεῖτ᾽ Ἄργος, ἐνίπλειος κυνοραιστέων.
δὴ τότε γ᾽, ὡς ἐνόησεν Ὀδυσσέα ἐγγὺς ἐόντα,
οὐρῇ μέν ῥ᾽ ὅ γ᾽ ἔσηνε καὶ οὔατα κάββαλεν ἄμφω,
ἆσσον δ᾽ οὐκέτ᾽ ἔπειτα δυνήσατο οἷο ἄνακτος
ἐλθέμεν: αὐτὰρ ὁ νόσφιν ἰδὼν ἀπομόρξατο δάκρυ,
ῥεῖα λαθὼν Εὔμαιον, ἄφαρ δ᾽ ἐρεείνετο μύθῳ:

    And so these two men   
talked to each other about these things. Then a dog
lying there raised its head and pricked up its ears.
It was Argus, brave Odysseus’ hunting dog,
whom he himself had brought up many years ago.
But before he could enjoy being with his dog,
he left for sacred Troy. In earlier days, young men
would take the dog to hunt wild goats, deer, and rabbits,
 but now, with his master gone, he lay neglected
in the piles of dung left there by mules and cattle,
heaped up before the doors until Odysseus’ servants
took it as manure for some large field. Argus lay there,
covered in fleas. Then, when he saw Odysseus,
who was coming closer, Argus wagged his tail
and dropped his ears. But he no longer had the strength
to approach his master. Odysseus looked away
and brushed aside a tear—he did so casually
to hide it from Eumaeus. Then he questioned him:












http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Mythology/Argos.html



2014年5月3日 星期六

Odyssey 16. 351-433 女主角登場


藉由傳達Telemachus平安抵達的消息,史詩的場景轉到宮殿裡,我們看見一群追求者中幾個最特殊的人,然後慢慢地鏡頭拉到女主角Penelope,戲劇的張力一點一滴累積。

Amphinomus眼力最好,看見遠方的船,大笑 (ἐκγελάω laugh out, laugh loud),一派輕鬆,就告訴這群追求者,不用再傳消息給佈局埋伏的人,已經太遲了。

Antinous,是那種貪財、好色、急躁、沒大腦型的。他表達出驚訝,沒想到原先的設計,沒有逮到Telemachus,而且他平安抵達,毫髮無傷。他開始擔心王子回來,一定會展開行動復仇,所以,他們要先發制人,免得Telemachus召集同夥攻打他們。然後他提議,這裡每個人都返回家中,準備厚禮提婚,Penelope可以嫁給饋裡最豐厚的那人。真是一廂情願的想法,不過,從今天的現實的觀點,他們在這吃喝多年,應該支付吃住等費用。

Amphinomus再次發言,不過發言前,史詩再穿插一小段介紹他的身世背景,他是來自產小麥的Dulichium ,父親是Nisus國王 Areteias,顯然他的家世顯赫,這群追求者當中,Penelope最中意的一位吧? 因為他的言行舉止都表現出體貼善解人意,他說明他不贊成殺人,不要殺Telemachus。可惜他雖然反對Antinous,最終還是死於Telemachus之手 (Odyssey 22.98-101)。

得知兒子有生命危險,Penelope開始計畫下一步棋,也現身在這群亂民前面,注意他的裝扮,繫著光亮的頭巾(κρήδεμνον woman's head-dress),罩住自己的雙頰,一開口就大罵Antinous,給他一個下馬威。果真是一家人,Penelope口才極好,先指出Antinous人格的缺點,狂妄,惡毒。再說他的腦筋差,是個瘋子。第三,點出以前Odysseus曾經幫助他的父親,還保住Antinous現在的家產。而目前Antinous恩將仇報,實在不應該。

女主角登場,驚艷動人,語不驚人不出,果真是奇女子!



http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0135%3Abook%3D16%3Acard%3D393
ἡ δ᾽ αὖτ᾽ ἄλλ᾽ ἐνόησε περίφρων Πηνελόπεια,
μνηστήρεσσι φανῆναι ὑπέρβιον ὕβριν ἔχουσι.
πεύθετο γὰρ οὗ παιδὸς ἐνὶ μεγάροισιν ὄλεθρον:
κῆρυξ γὰρ οἱ ἔειπε Μέδων, ὃς ἐπεύθετο βουλάς.
βῆ δ᾽ ἰέναι μέγαρόνδε σὺν ἀμφιπόλοισι γυναιξίν.
ἀλλ᾽ ὅτε δὴ μνηστῆρας ἀφίκετο δῖα γυναικῶν,
στῆ ῥα παρὰ σταθμὸν τέγεος πύκα ποιητοῖο,
ἄντα παρειάων σχομένη λιπαρὰ κρήδεμνα,
Ἀντίνοον δ᾽ ἐνένιπεν ἔπος τ᾽ ἔφατ᾽ ἔκ τ᾽ ὀνόμαζεν:
(Odyssey 16. 409-417)




http://records.viu.ca/~johnstoi/homer/odyssey16.htm
By that point, wise Penelope had thought of something else—
to put in an appearance before the suitors,
despite their arrogance, because she’d heard about
the destruction of her son there in the hall.
The herald Medon, who’d heard their plans, had told her.
So she set off on her way toward the hall,
accompanied by her attendant women.
As soon as the noble lady reached the suitors,
she stood beside the door post of the well-built room
and, holding a bright veil across her countenance,
addressed Antinous, reprimanding him:
(Odyssey 16. 409-417)

http://www.maicar.com/GML/000PhotoArchive/ScenesOdyssey/slides/od027flax.html


2014年4月20日 星期日

Odyssey 15. 182-225

有必要這麼趕嗎?急躁不是現代文明病,古希臘很多英雄豪傑都是急驚風,Achilles, Heracles, Oedipus...等等,都是行動派,但也因為操之過急,造成不少無法挽回的錯誤。

聽了雅典娜的規勸,Telemachus迫不及待地想衝回家,本來還計畫走夜路,還好被Nestor的兒子阻止。我常想,我們日常生活中是不是也常常為了省一點時間,而不守一些基本的禮儀與規則,例如,路邊亂停車,超車,闖紅燈.....,太多類似的例子了。

心急的Telemachus,總算離開斯巴達,出發,整天趕路,到了Pherae,天色已暗, 他們再次投宿一晚,照規矩,國王款待早餐後,他們出發繼續趕行程。

到了Pylos,就是已經看到Nestor的高坡上宮殿,也就是同行夥伴Peisistratus的家。只是,Telemachus很想省一晚,快點回家。委婉請求Peisistratus,讓他的船繞過,不要轉進他家。Telemachus真的歸心似箭,只是,這樣做對嗎? 是不是辜負Nestor對他的照顧?還有,他的父親Odysseus的冷靜應變,Telemachus似乎沒遺傳到這種個性。

荷馬史詩把Pylos視作邁錫尼半島最重要的城鎮,第三卷已談過。Peisistratus也有大家之風,當然體會Telemachus的心情,所以就配合他的要求。
    
Νεστορίδη, πῶς κέν μοι ὑποσχόμενος τελέσειας
μῦθον ἐμόν; ξεῖνοι δὲ διαμπερὲς εὐχόμεθ᾽ εἶναι
ἐκ πατέρων φιλότητος, ἀτὰρ καὶ ὁμήλικές εἰμεν:
ἥδε δ᾽ ὁδὸς καὶ μᾶλλον ὁμοφροσύνῃσιν ἐνήσει.
μή με παρὲξ ἄγε νῆα, διοτρεφές, ἀλλὰ λίπ᾽ αὐτοῦ,
μή μ᾽ ὁ γέρων ἀέκοντα κατάσχῃ ᾧ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ
ἱέμενος φιλέειν: ἐμὲ δὲ χρεὼ θᾶσσον ἱκέσθαι.  (Odyssey 15.195-201)


"Peisistratus,
will you promise to do something for me,
and see it through just as I tell you?
We can claim that we've always been friends,
because our fathers were good friends, as well,
and we are the same age.  This trip of ours
will make our hearts united even more.
So, child of Zeus, don't take me past my ship
but leave me there, in case old man Nestor
keeps me in his house against my will,
wishing to show me hospitality,
when I must now get home with all due speed." (Odyssey 15.195-201)

雖然Telemachus很急,但說故事的詩人可不能馬虎,一點也不急,還要加入一橋段。正當Telemachus懇求雅典娜協助早日返鄉,有一人突然竄出,詩人,就開始介紹這人的故事 (Odyssey 15. 222-255)。

 http://www.planetware.com/pylos/epano-englianos-palace-of-nestor-gr-pel-nestor.htm



The Hyperian Fountain at Pherae, Edward Dodwell.
Pherae (Greek: Φεραί) was an ancient Greek town in southeastern Thessaly. It bordered Lake Boebeïs. In mythology, it was the home of King Admetus, whose wife, Alcestis, Heracles went into Hades to rescue. In history, it was more famous as the home of the fourth-century B.C. tyrants Jason and Alexander of Pherae, who took control of much of Thessaly before their defeat by the Thebans. Also the home of Diocles, where Telemachus, son of Odysseus, and Peisistratus, son of Nestor, rested on their way from Pylos to visit king Menelaus in Lacedaemon. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pherae

@ET Bear 南天竹花語: 
慢點,太快,就錯過細節。



















2014年4月17日 星期四

Odyssey 15.56-119

天一亮,Telemachus馬上向Menelaus請辭。一見面,就表達急著回家的心願,而且毫不隱藏,說出因為怕家業被奪,所以得趕快回家(Odyssey 15.64-66; Odyssey 15. 86-91)。

接下來,Menelaus氣定神閒,先說明凡事不可太過,不能因為討厭的人,就只招待幾天;也不可以因為投緣,就留客人太久。既然,Telemachus想回家,吃完早餐再出發,他也要準備厚禮贈送,讓這位嘉賓名利雙收 (Odyssey 15.86-91)。

在準備一份貴重的「伴手禮」之前,詩人不厭其煩敘述Menelaus和Helen身神仙眷屬,豐衣足食,這些已在第四卷都詳細介紹過。

「伴手禮」揭曉: 製作精美的酒甕,出自天神之子Hephastus之手,當初是 Sidon國王Phaedimus送給Menelaus,現在他在送給Telemachus。這段文字,浪漫美麗,似乎遙遙緬懷以前的文物,又夾雜著當時的社會情境。這禮物,非常貴重,富有很多象徵意義。此外,Menelaus真的很仁慈大方,「白白得來,白白捨去」。我常以為,上天給每人不同的禮物(才華,能力,口才,文筆等等),不是要我們收藏或擁有,是要贈送他人: gifts to give!


‘Τηλέμαχ᾽, ἦ τοι νόστον, ὅπως φρεσὶ σῇσι μενοινᾷς,
ὥς τοι Ζεὺς τελέσειεν, ἐρίγδουπος πόσις Ἥρης.
δώρων δ᾽, ὅσσ᾽ ἐν ἐμῷ οἴκῳ κειμήλια κεῖται,
δώσω ὃ κάλλιστον καὶ τιμηέστατόν ἐστι.
δώσω τοι κρητῆρα τετυγμένον: ἀργύρεος δὲ
ἐστὶν ἅπας, χρυσῷ δ᾽ ἐπὶ χείλεα κεκράανται,
ἔργον δ᾽ Ἡφαίστοιο: πόρεν δέ ἑ Φαίδιμος ἥρως,
Σιδονίων βασιλεύς, ὅθ᾽ ἑὸς δόμος ἀμφεκάλυψε
κεῖσέ με νοστήσαντα: τεῒν δ᾽ ἐθέλω τόδ᾽ ὀπάσσαι.

Telemachus,
may Zeus, Hera's loud-thundering husband,
accomplish your return, as your heart desires.
Of all the treasured gifts stored in my home,
I'll give you the one with highest value
and the loveliest—I'll present to you
this finely crafted mixing bowl.  It's made
entirely of silver and its rims
are plated gold.  Hephaestus crafted it.
Warrior Phaedimus, the Sidonian king,
presented it to me on my way home,
when his house gave me shelter.  Now I'd like

to send it back with you.



Odyssey 15.1-55

第十五卷,一開始既要連續上一卷的發展,又要帶到Telemachus回家和Odysseus相遇,巧妙接縫是由女神雅典娜出面。雅典娜親自出馬,到斯巴達通知Telemachus該回家了。 從第四卷末Telemachus就沒出現,推敲他已在斯巴達停留一個月左右。
     雅典娜一到,發現Nestor的兒子 Pesistratus睡得香甜,而Telemachus因為擔憂父親的生死未譜,失眠。 εὕδοντ᾽ (εὕδω) 一字通常翻譯成睡覺,但是也可能只是躺著,延伸的象徵意義指死亡。睡眠問題(sleep disorder)?原來不是現代疾病,自古就有! 荷馬史詩中也多次提到眾英雄的過度興奮、煩惱與憂愁,導致失眠的問題! 這兒用ἀμβροσίην (ἀμβρόσιος, immortal, divine) 形容夜晚,點出漫漫長夜的苦悶。古希臘人似乎早已察覺神的不死 (ἀμβρόσιος immortal)並不是完美的,並不是永遠是美好的。
ἡ δ᾽ εἰς εὐρύχορον Λακεδαίμονα Παλλὰς Ἀθήνη
ᾤχετ᾽, Ὀδυσσῆος μεγαθύμου φαίδιμον υἱὸν
νόστου ὑπομνήσουσα καὶ ὀτρυνέουσα νέεσθαι.
εὗρε δὲ Τηλέμαχον καὶ Νέστορος ἀγλαὸν υἱὸν
εὕδοντ᾽ ἐν προδόμῳ Μενελάου κυδαλίμοιο,
ἦ τοι Νεστορίδην μαλακῷ δεδμημένον ὕπνῳ:
Τηλέμαχον δ᾽ οὐχ ὕπνος ἔχε γλυκύς, ἀλλ᾽ ἐνὶ θυμῷ
νύκτα δι᾽ ἀμβροσίην μελεδήματα πατρὸς ἔγειρεν. (Odyssey 15.1-8)

Then Pallas Athena went to spacious Lacedaemon,
to remind the noble son of glorious Odysseus
about going home and to urge him to return.
She found Telemachus and Nestor's noble son
lying on the portico, resting in their beds,
inside the palace of splendid Menelaus.
Gentle sleep had overpowered Nestor's son,
but for Telemachus no sweet sleep had come—
because in his heart all through that immortal night
anxious thoughts about his father kept him awake.  (Odyssey 15.1-8)


第9-42行,雅典娜使出渾身解數,就是要說服Telemachus快回家,她用兩個論點: 第一,因為Telemachus這趟出國尋父,徒勞無功,還是趕快回家守住家業與財富。這一招是誘之以利。第二,他的母親快改嫁了!Penelope的父親Icarius和她的兄弟打算把她嫁給種追求者中最好的一位: Eurymachus,至於他為什麼最好?因為送的禮物最多,可見古代結婚的利益交換現象。這一招是激將法。雅典娜果真是智慧女神,連口才也是一流,當然,未達目的,雅典娜也會扭曲報導;此外,雅典娜似乎比較喜歡帥哥,保護男性。之後,雅典娜給Telemachus建議,那些追求者已布下陷阱,捕殺Telemachus,安全起見,最好先前往老管家那兒。這也是很好的佈局,之後父子可以在老管家那兒碰面。
      雅典娜的說帖馬上見效,Telemachus立即叫醒Pesistratus,希望馬上出發回家。但是,Pesistratus提到兩個重點,第一,天黑,趕夜路太危險。黑(δνοφερός)修飾夜晚的另一個形容詞。 第二,禮貌上應該像招待他們的主人Menelaus告辭後再出發。因為別人對我們好,一輩子都應該牢記:

τοῦ γάρ τε ξεῖνος μιμνήσκεται ἤματα πάντα
ἀνδρὸς ξεινοδόκου, ὅς κεν φιλότητα παράσχῃ.

A guest remembers all his life the man
who gave him hospitality and kindness. (Odyssey 15.54-55)








 ‧中文名稱: 台灣梭羅木
‧英文名稱: Taiwan Reevesia
‧學 名: Reevesia formosana Sprague
Reevesia formosana Hayata
Reevesia taiwanensis Chun & Hsue
‧科 名: 梧桐科(Sterculiaceae)梭羅木屬(Reevesia)
‧別 稱: 臺灣梭羅木、臺灣梭羅樹、白樹、梭羅樹、朝鮮桐、銃床楠
‧原產地: 臺灣特有樹種

2014年4月13日 星期日

Odyssey 14.390-445

兩人都說一段自己的故事,雖然真真假假。回到眼前烤肉的場景,乞丐老頭Odysseus和老管家打賭,對著奧林匹斯山眾神發誓,他說主人Odysseus一定會回來,如果主人回來,請這位管家幫他換上華美衣服;如果主人沒回來,可以叫奴隸把他丟下懸崖,殺雞儆猴,免得以後還有乞丐會說謊(Odyssey 14. 390-400)。不過眼前這位乞丐才說了的大謊啊! 此外,Odysseus 用立約一字:
ῥήτρα 
verbal agreement, bargain, covenant

雖然Odysseus很會掰故事,但他對此事認真與嚴肅。

老管家一口答應,因為不論Odysseus有沒有回來,他似乎都沒損失,在老乞丐的提案中,兩方面老官家都可博得美名。老管家也準備上等的酒與肉招待眼前的客人。

老管家切一塊上等的豬後背肉(the long chine of the white-tusked boar)給眼前這位老乞丐,表示尊敬Odysseus講一句我很感動,他深深祝福這位老管家,因為他很感謝,在落難像乞丐時,老管家還是尊敬與款待他。這就是平等的美學: 不輕視任何人。

老管家的人生哲學也值得欣賞。他是敬虔,敬畏宙斯,在他心中,神是萬能的(δύναται γὰρ ἅπαντα ),這和舊約的思維接近。我更喜歡他說的,「神可以給我們一切,也可以奪走一切。」我們生命與生活中,白白得來,也白白捨去。提醒我們,有能力、有才華、有權、有勢的人,擁有得越多,也將失去越多。

http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0135%3Abook%3D14%3Acard%3D401

αἴθ᾽ οὕτως, Εὔμαιε, φίλος Διὶ πατρὶ γένοιο
ὡς ἐμοί, ὅττι τε τοῖον ἐόντ᾽ ἀγαθοῖσι γεραίρεις.’
τὸν δ᾽ ἀπαμειβόμενος προσέφης, Εὔμαιε συβῶτα:
‘ἔσθιε, δαιμόνιε ξείνων, καὶ τέρπεο τοῖσδε,
οἷα πάρεστι: θεὸς δὲ τὸ μὲν δώσει, τὸ δ᾽ ἐάσει,
445ὅττι κεν ᾧ θυμῷ ἐθέλῃ: δύναται γὰρ ἅπαντα.
 (Odyssey 14.440-445)

英文翻譯出處: http://records.viu.ca/~johnstoi/homer/odyssey14.htm
"Eumaeus, may father Zeus treat you as well  
as you are treating me with this boar's chine,
the very finest cut of meat, even though
I'm just a beggar."
                                       Then, swineherd Eumaeus,
you replied by saying:
                              "Eat up, god-guided stranger,
and enjoy the kind of food we offer.
A god gives some things and holds others back,
as his heart prompts, for he can do all things."







中文名稱:駁骨丹
‧英文名稱:Asiatic Butterfly-bush
‧學 名:Buddleia asiatica Lour.
Buddleia formosana Hatushima
‧科 名:馬錢科 (Loganiaceae)
揚波屬(Buddleja)
‧別 稱:揚波、白蒲姜、白埔姜、山埔姜、水埔姜、山揚波、海揚波、水楊柳、臺灣醉魚草(以上為台灣習用名稱);溪桃、野桃、白背楓、狹葉醉魚草、獨葉埔姜、白魚號、白花洋泡、蒲羗癀

2014年4月12日 星期六

Odyssey 14.321-389

《奧德賽》故事架構很複雜,古代人真的很會說故事,這裡像是奧德修斯千層派,故事一層一層著: 史詩中的男主角是奧德修斯 (第一層),他假扮老乞丐講故事(第二層),故事中提到他聽到一個關於奧德修斯的故事 (第三層)....,每一層都真真假假,故事嘛! 有趣的是故事之間又有互相影射與互相衝突之處,這就是大說謊家的功力!
      化裝成乞丐老頭的奧德修斯,除了編一套故事說明自己的身世坎坷,還要編一套故事證明他知道奧德修斯的下落,是幽默,也是反諷;是要說服眼前這位傻傻又悲觀的老僕人,但是又以為我們讀者或觀眾不知道他的把戲,想瞞天過海,欺騙大家。 化裝成乞丐老頭的奧德修斯說一個假奧德修斯的故事,因為乞丐老頭說他在傳說中Thesprotia這地方,聽到奧德修斯的下落,那兒的國王曾經接待奧德修斯,他還把自己掙來的銅,金與鐵等寶物存放在國王的宮裡,這些寶物的價值是越來越高喔! 和現代不一樣,史詩年代剛發現鐵可以製作武器,所以鐵的價值比黃金高。別忘了,奧德修斯真的有一堆寶,在雅典娜的幫忙,先藏在仙女那兒 (Odyssey 13. 456-64)。
     奧德修斯去哪? 原來去Dodona,大橡樹底下聆聽宙斯的啟示,求回家的路。最有趣的是,老乞丐還強調奧德修斯問宙斯,是要光明正大走進家門,還是偷偷摸摸比較好。

http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0135%3Abook%3D14%3Acard%3D321

τὸν δ᾽ ἐς Δωδώνην φάτο βήμεναι, ὄφρα θεοῖο
ἐκ δρυὸς ὑψικόμοιο Διὸς βουλὴν ἐπακούσαι,
ὅππως νοστήσει᾽ Ἰθάκης ἐς πίονα δῆμον
330ἤδη δὴν ἀπεών, ἢ ἀμφαδὸν ἦε κρυφηδόν.
ὤμοσε δὲ πρὸς ἔμ᾽ αὐτόν, ἀποσπένδων ἐνὶ οἴκῳ,
νῆα κατειρύσθαι καὶ ἐπαρτέας ἔμμεν ἑταίρους,
οἳ δή μιν πέμψουσι φίλην ἐς πατρίδα γαῖαν. (Odyssey 14.327-333)

英文翻譯出處: http://records.viu.ca/~johnstoi/homer/odyssey14.htm
Odysseus, he said, had gone to Dodona,
to hear from the massive towering oak tree,
sacred to the god, what Zeus had willed
about his own return to that rich land
of Ithaca, after being away so long—
whether he should do so openly or not.
As he poured libations in his house,
he swore to me a ship had been hauled down
and a crew prepared to take Odysseus
to his native land. (Odyssey 14.327-333)
維基百科資料:
多多納 (多立克希臘語 Δωδώνα, 愛奧尼亞希臘語: Δωδώνη,[1] Dòdònè)是位於希臘 西北部伊庇魯斯的一個神諭處。雖然多多納最早的銘文歷史只能追溯至約公元前550-560年,但當地延續逾一世紀的考古發掘則出土了早至邁錫尼時代的文物。這些文物部分被存放於雅典國家考古博物館,部分則存放於約阿尼納附近的考古博物館。
多多納的考古遺址亦發現了公元前7世紀伊利里亞人的奉獻和物品。直至約公元前650年,此處一直是北方部落的宗教和神諭中心。
多多納被用於奉獻給母神狄俄涅(在其他遺址稱為瑞亞或蓋亞),而在信史時期,此處亦用作奉獻給宙斯。宙斯在青銅器時期取代了母神的地位,並生下愛神阿佛洛狄忒。多多納的聖地被希羅多德認為是最古老的希臘神諭。直至羅馬帝國後期基督教崛起為止,多多納一直都是希臘一處重要的宗教聖殿。
公元391-392年,狄奧多西一世關閉了所有古希臘宗教建築物,禁制了所有古希臘的傳統宗教活動,並斬去了宙斯神廟的古橡樹,多多納自此成為了廢墟。