level 8
His son,Orpheus,took over such skill from the father that his lyre moved man and animals alike.
Apollo stood for youthful and manly beauty.His goldenhair,stately manner and air all combined to make him the admiration of the world.A beautiful girl,by the name of Clytle,was so fond of his beauty and glory that from dawn to dusk she knelt on the ground,her hands outstretched towards the sungod,and her eyes looked at his golden wheeled carriage racing across the blue sky.Though her love was not returned,she had never changed her mind about Apollo.The gods were moved at the sad sight,and changed her into a sunflower.
3 阿波罗
在众多的奥林波斯山神中,主神宙斯和雷托之子阿波罗最受推崇。据希腊神话记载,雷托被天后赫拉驱赶得四处流浪。最终是海神波塞冬怜悯她并从海中捞起提落岛让她居住。在岛上,她生了孪生儿子阿波罗和阿尔特弥斯。
阿波罗是太阳神。清晨他身着紫色袍,坐在那明亮的东方宫殿,准备开始每日穿越天空的旅行。白天,他驾着用金子和象牙制成的战车,给广阔无垠的大地带来光明、生命和仁爱。黄昏时分,他在遥远的西海结束了旅行,然后就乘上金船返回东方的家中。
阿波罗是音乐神和诗神。他可唤起人们倾注于圣歌中的各种情感。在奥林波斯山上,他手拿金质里拉,用悦耳的音调指挥缪斯的合唱。当他帮助波塞冬建造特洛伊城墙时,里拉奏出的音乐如此动听,以致石头有节奏地、自动地各就其位。有一次他接受凡人音乐家马斯亚斯的挑战参加一次竞赛。战胜对方后,他将对手剥皮致死以惩罚他的狂妄自大。在另外一次音乐比赛中,因输给了潘神,他就将裁判迈尔斯国王的耳朵变成了驴耳朵。
阿波罗的儿子俄耳甫斯继承了父亲这方面的才能。他的竖琴使人与动物皆受感动。
阿波罗象征着青春和男子汉的美。金色的头发、庄重的举止、容光焕发的神态,这些足以使他受到世人的青睐。一位名叫克里提的美丽少女迷恋于他的英俊潇洒,跪在地上,从黎明到黄昏,双手伸向太阳神。她凝视着那辆金质马车在蔚蓝的天空驰骋。虽然她的爱并未得到回报,但她对阿波罗的痴情却从未改变。目睹这悲哀的场面,众神深受感动,将她变成了一株向日葵。
4 Prometheus
Prometheus was a Titan .In the war between Zeus the giants he had stood on the side of the new Olympiangods.Out of the clay he made the first man,to whom Athena gave soul and holy breath.Prometheus spent a lot of time and energy in creating the gift of fire.And fire raised man above all animals .Later,there held a joint meeting of gods and men.The meeting was to decide what part of burnt animals should begiven to gods and what to men.Prometheus cut up an ox and divided it into two parts:under the skin he placed the fresh,and under the fat he put the bones,for he knew the selfish Zeus loved fat. Zeus saw through the trick and felt displeased at the Prometheus' favor towards men.So in a masterful way he took away the gift of fire from mankind.However,Prometheus managed to steal fire from heaven and secretly brought it down tomen.Flying into an anger at this unjustified act of rebellion,Zeus let the other gods chain Prometheus to a rock on Mountain Caucasus,where a hungry eagle ever tore at his liver which ever grew again.His period of pain was to be thirty-thousand years.Prometheus faced his bitter fate firmly and never lost courage before Zeus.At last Heracles made Prometheus and Zeus restore to friend ship,when Heracles came over in search of the golden apple and killed the eagle and set the friend of mankind free.
2012年09月22日 09点09分
5
level 8
4 普罗米修斯
普罗米修斯是泰坦巨人之一。在宙斯与巨人的战争中,他站在新的奥林波斯山神一边。他用粘土造出了第一个男人。雅典娜赋予了这个男人灵魂和神圣的生命。普罗米修斯还花费了很多时间和精力创造了火,并将之赠予人类。火使人成为万物之灵。在这之后,举行了第一次神与人的联席会议。这个会议将决定烧烤过的动物的哪一部分该分给神,哪一部分该给人类。普罗米修斯切开一头牛,把它分成两部分:他把肉放在皮下,将骨头放在肥肉下。因为他知道自私的宙斯爱吃肥肉。宙斯看穿了他的把戏。普罗米修斯偏袒人类,这使宙斯感到不快。因此,他专横地把火从人类手中夺走。然而,普罗米修斯设法窃走了天火,偷偷地把它带给人类。宙斯对他这种肆无忌惮的违抗行为大发雷霆。他令其他的山神把普罗米修斯用锁链缚在高加索山脉的一块岩石上。一只饥饿的老鹰天天来啄食他的肝脏,而他的肝脏又总是重新长出来。他的痛苦要持续三万年。而他坚定地面对苦难,从来不在宙斯面前丧失勇气。最后,海格立斯使普罗米修斯与宙斯恢复了他们的友谊,找到了金苹果,杀死了老鹰,因而解救了人类的老朋友。
5 Nereus and Proteus
Of all the small sea divinities Nereus and Proteus stood out as Peculiar sea-gods.Nereus,known as“the Old Man of the sea”,represented the pleasant aspect of ocean waters.He lived beneath the sea with his fifty lovely daughters,of whom the most famous were Amphritrite,Thetis,Galate a and Panope.It was Nereus who advised Heracles to seek Prometheus in the hero's search of the golden apples.
Proteus was Poseidon's herdsman. He was well known for two qualities:the gift of prophecy and the power to take various forms.At one time he was a lion with a curly wavy hairs;at another he appeared in the shape of a wild boar;and still another he stood a stately tree covered with rich leaves.When,after all these and many other changes,he failed to get rid of his questioner, the god offered detailed answers.
5 纳鲁斯和普鲁吐斯
在所有的小海神中,纳鲁斯和普鲁吐斯异常独特。纳鲁斯是人们熟知的“海中的老人”。他代表了海水友善的一面。他和50个可爱的女儿一起生活在海中。她们当中最著名的有;安菲瑞垂托、塞提丝、盖拉蒂和潘诺珀。在勇敢地寻觅金苹果的时候,纳鲁斯建议赫格立斯寻找普罗米修斯。
普鲁吐斯是波塞冬的牧羊人。他有两种非凡的能力:他能预言,他还能够变成不同的动物。有时他是一头狮子,有着波浪般的卷发。有时他是一头凶猛的野猪。而有时他又是一棵枝叶繁茂、外表威严的大树。经过这些变化之后,当他无法摆脱询问者时,神就替他作出详尽的回答。
2012年09月25日 04点09分
9
level 8
一个皓月当空的夜晚,当阿尔特弥斯驾着马车穿越天空时,无意中看到一位漂亮青年正在下面静谧的山谷中睡觉。她芳心荡漾,对他充满爱慕之情。她从月亮马车中滑翔而下,匆忙而深情地偷吻了一下他的脸,甚至当熟睡中的恩底弥翁睁开双眼看到仙女时,也有点神魂颠倒。但眼前的一切很快消失,以致他误认为这是一场梦幻。每天夜间,阿尔特弥斯都从空中飘下偷吻熟睡中的牧羊人。然而女神偶尔一次的失职引起了主神宙斯的注意。众神与人类之父决定永远清除人间对女神的诱惑。他将恩底弥翁召到身边令他作出选择:任何形式的死亡;或者在永远的梦幻中青春永在。牧羊人选择了后者。他仍睡在拉塔莫斯山上。每晚月亮女神怀着悲哀的心情看望他,吻他。
21 Lotus Eaters
On the tenth day after leaving Troy,Odysseus and his men came to an island,where the people only took lotus fruit and flowers as their food.This plant had such a magic effect on its eaters that it could make them forget their past and produce a dreamy laziness over them.When Odysseus' men arrived,they were kindly invited by the people on the is land to eat the sweet food.Its magic power began to work on the mimmediately.They fell into a deep daydream.They lost all wishes for future,To them the sea and ship appeared dull and hateful.And they were not eager to see wife,child and kingdom.When he saw no trace of his men coming back,Odysseus became suspicious.He set out with some well armed men to find out the truth.It did not take him long to find out the magic effect of the food.Not allowing his followers to touch the plant,he ordered them to drag their lazy friends back to their ship.There he had them tied to the benches until they slept off the harmful effect of the lotus .Without hesitation they set sail,leaving the dreamy lotuseaters behind.
21 吃忘忧树的人
离开特洛伊城的第10天,奥德修斯和他的随从来到了一个岛上。岛上的居民只以忘忧树的果实和花为食物。这种神奇的植物,魔力极大,谁只要吃了它,就会忘记往事,而陷入恍恍惚惚的昏睡状态。当奥德修斯的随从到达时,岛上居民友好地邀请他们吃这种甜美的食物。花果的魔力立即在他们身上起作用,使他们陷入了深沉的昏睡状态。他们失去了对未来的希望。海和船在他们看来无聊而可恶。他们也不再急于见到妻儿和王国。奥德修斯见不到随从返回的迹象,就顿生疑心。他和一些全副武装的随从出发了。他们要去查出事情的真相。不久,他就发现了那种食物神奇的魔力。他不许随从碰这种植物,并发出命令:把那些懒倦的伙伴拖回船上;并把他们捆在凳子上。直到他们睡够了,才解除了忘忧树有害的魔力。他们毫不犹豫地扬帆起程,离开因吃忘忧树上花果而昏睡的岛上居民向前驶去。
2012年09月25日 06点09分
18
level 8
22 Daphne
Daphne was a lovely blooming fairy maiden.As she was playing merrily in the woods one day she saw Apollo the sun-god staring at her with more than amazement and ad miration in his eyes.The beaming face of the sun put her to flight.The eager Apollo followed her closely behind,calling out to her to stop.His passion had been lighted by her beauty and grace.He was afraid that this might be the last time he saw her.The quick footed maiden made the best of her legs ,but the passionate Apollo pressed hard upon her .Through rough fields and pathless woods she ran,but the sound of his pursuing feet ever grew nearer.As he ran he begged his beloved maiden to slow down,for he feared that she might fall and hurt her sparkling skin on the rocky roads.But the escaping maiden never cared so much about that.She even threw one glance back wards .At last she was quite breathless and cried to her father,a rivergod,for help.No sooner had her prayer been uttered than answered ,for she had instantly found herself glued to the ground and a layer of soft bark growing over her fair skin .She had been turned into a laurel tree.Sighing,Apollo put his arms around the tree trunk.The trunk responded by turning thinner.To show his undying love for the maiden,he decided that the laurel would be his favorite tree and should be the prize of honour and fame for deathless poets and poetry .Thus the most outstanding poet always desires to be made a poet laureate .
22 丹芙妮
丹芙妮是位妩媚动人的仙女。有一天当她兴高采烈地在林中游玩时,她发现太阳神阿波罗用异常惊奇与羡慕的目光盯着自己。光芒四射的太阳使她害怕得飞跑起来。热切的太阳神紧随其后,竭力叫喊让她止步。她的美丽与优雅触发了他的激情。他惟恐这将是他们的最后一面。快步如飞的仙女拚命地奔跑,但情绪激昂的阿波罗紧追不放。她越过旷野,穿过人迹罕至的树林,但追赶的脚步声愈加逼近。他一边追赶,一边恳求心爱的仙女放慢脚步。他害怕仙女在石道上跌倒会擦破她那闪耀的皮肤。但奔逃的仙女根本不顾及这些。她甚至没朝身后瞥了一眼,最终她气喘吁吁地向她的父亲(河神)求救。她的恳求马上得到了回答。她很快发现自己如胶似漆地紧附地面。接着,妖嫩的皮肤上长出一层松软的树皮,她变成了一棵月桂树。太阳神唉声叹气地拥抱着树干,树干缩细了。为了表示他对仙女未泯的爱情,他将月桂树作为他最喜爱的树种,并决定将它作为一种对荣誉与威望的奖励,把它授予那些永恒的诗人和流芳百世的诗。因此最杰出的诗人总希望获得桂冠诗人的尊号。
23 Narcissus
Narcissus had a twin sister whom he loved better than anyone else in the world.This sister died when she was young and very beautiful.Narcissus missed her so very much that he wished he might die too.
One day,as he sat on the ground by a spring,looking absently into the water and thinking of his lost sister,he saw a face like hers,looking up at him.It seemed as if his sister had become a water nymph and were actually there in the spring,but she would not speak to him.
Of course the face Narcissus saw was really the reflection of his own face in the water,but he did not know that.In those days there were no clear mirrors like ours;and the idea of one's appearance that could be got from a polished brass shield,for instance,was a very dim one.So Narcissus leaned over the water and looked at the beautiful face so like his sister's,and wondered what it was and whether he should ever see his sister again.
2012年09月25日 06点09分
19
level 8
After this,he came back to the spring day after day and looked at the face he saw there,and mourned for his sister until,at last,the gods felt sorry for him and changed him into a flower.
This flower was the first narcissus .All the flowers of thisfamily,when they grow by the side of a pond or a stream,still bend their beautiful heads and look at the reflection of their owfaces in the water.
23 那西塞斯
那西塞斯有个他至爱的孪生妹妹。这个非常美丽的妹妹死去的时候年纪还很小。那西塞斯非常思念她,甚至想跟她一起死去。
一天,他坐在溪旁毫无心思看着流水想念他失去的妹妹时,他看到一张像她的面孔正在注视着他。那种情形就像她妹妹成了河神而且就在河里,可是她没有说话。
那张那西塞斯看到的面孔实际上就是他自己的面孔在水里的倒影,可是他不知道。那时还没有像我们现在明亮的镜子,一个人可以在比如说一面发光铜制盾状的东西上看到自己容貌的这种观念尚不很明确。那西塞斯就靠在水旁看着那像他妹妹美丽的面孔,猜疑到底她是谁?也不知道他是否能再见到他妹妹。
以后他天天都到溪旁注视他看到的面孔,一面又哀悼他妹妹,最后众神为他感到很难过就把他变成了一朵花。
这朵花就是第一朵水仙花,所有这类花生长在池塘或溪旁时,仍然低下它们美丽的头看着水里自己的影子。
24 Ixion
In Thessaly there once lived a king by the name of Ixion.He was both handsome and mighty.He went to woo the beautiful maiden Dia and won her love,but her old father was most reluctant to part with his child.only when Ixionswore to let him have his royal treasure house did the father agree to give the king the hand of Dia in marriage .Ixion took Dia home with him.But he was in no mood to keep his promise,for a long time passed and no treasure ever came to the old man.Impatient to have his promised wealth,the old father went to seeIxion and gave him no peace,until at last Ixion decided to get ridof him once and for all .Opening the door of his treasurehouse,he pushed the old man in and there burnt him to death.
Zeus was furious over the terrible deed.The frightened Ixion went up to heaven and asked the father of gods and men torid him of his dishonesty .His prayers were granted,and hestayed happily for a while in the glorious home of the gods,There his lecherous eyes fell on Hera,whose radiant beautyfascinated his heart.Forgetting Dia at home,he planned for Hera to elope with him.Seeing all this,Zeus sent a cloud in the form of Hera to Ixion.The impious king made love to the shade and made it the mother of the centaurs .The infuriated Zeuscast Ixion down to Hades and had him bound to a wheel of fire,which,forever revolving,racked and tore his body in its unbroken swift revolutions.
24 伊克西翁
以前有个叫伊克西翁的国王居住在色萨利。他既英俊潇洒又力大无穷。他向美丽的姑娘黛求婚。黛和他一见倾心,但是她的父亲却极不情愿离开他的孩子。最后只有当伊克西翁发誓让黛的父亲得到王室的金库时,这位父亲才答应把黛嫁给了国王。伊克西翁把黛领回家。但他却丝毫没有履行诺言的意思。很长时间过去了,老人没有得到半厘钱。于是老人迫不及待地去找伊克西翁,絮絮叨叨搅得他不得安宁。终于伊克西翁决定索性彻底除掉老头。他打开了金库,一把将老人推了进去,然后将他活活烧死。
宙斯为此勃然大怒。惊恐的伊克西翁跑到天堂,苦苦哀求众神和众人之父宽恕他的不诚实。他的请求得到了准许,于是他兴高采烈地在这辉煌璀璨的神的殿堂里呆了一会儿。他那双好色的眼睛盯上了赫拉,她那光彩照人的美丽使他神魂颠倒。他忘记了家里的黛。他盘算着要让赫位与他一道私奔。看到这些,宙斯把一朵赫拉形状的云送到了伊克西翁跟前。这位不虔诚的国王和这朵云**,并使她生下了半人半马的怪物。怒不可遏的宙斯把伊克西翁打下了地狱,将他绑在一个不停旋转的火轮上,这急速旋转的火轮永远折磨、撕扯着他的躯体。
2012年09月25日 06点09分
20
level 8
25 Orion
Orion was a giant hunter.He was the beautiful son of Poseidon.One day,when hunting in the forest,he caughtsight of Artemis' fair maidens,the seven Pleiades .Hewas so attracted by their beauty that he started chasing them.Indespair the charming maidens prayed to Artemis for help and were sent up by the goddess to the heavens as a constellation .Later he fell in love with another maiden,Merope by name,butrash and impatient,he took the maiden by force and enraged her father,King Oenopion of Chios.The king made him drunk and put out his eyes .Following the sound of the Cyclopes' hammer,he went to Hephaestus,who sent a guide to travel with him to the east,where the sun rose.Exposing his eyeballs to the rays of the sun,he was restored to his eyesight.He became aconstant companion of Artemis and followed the goddess in the chase with his dog Sirius.Apollo did not approve of this love,however.One day he dared his sister to shoot at a dark spot moving in the sea.Little did she suspect that she was aiming herarrow at Orion,for the dark spot turned out to be the head of Orion swimming in the ocean.Artemis was extremely sad.As she could not pull him back from the grasp of Death she sent him up to the sky as a constellation,with his hunting dog Sirius be sidehim.
25 奥利安
奥利安是位身材高大的猎手。他是海神波塞冬漂亮的儿子。一天,他在森林中打猎,看到了阿尔特弥斯的仙女们——七颗明星。他如此爱慕她们的美丽,便追赶她们。困境中,美貌的仙女们向阿尔特弥斯求救。结果女神将她们都送入天空充当星座。后来奥利安爱上了另一少女墨洛珀。他鲁莽急躁地施暴于她。这激怒了少女的父亲俄诺皮耳国王。国王把他灌醉后,挖出了他的眼睛。随着“独眼巨人”大锤的敲响,他来到火神赫斐斯托斯跟前。火神派向导带他去太阳升起的东方。将眼球暴露于阳光后,他就恢复了视力,成了女神阿尔特弥斯永久的伴侣,并带着他的猎狗天狼跟随女神打猎。阿波罗并不赞成他们之间这种恋情。一天,阿波罗怂恿阿尔特弥斯向海中一移动的黑点射箭。她根本没想到自己是将箭瞄准奥利安。当看清黑点竟是在游泳的恋人奥利安的头时,阿尔特弥斯悲痛万分。因她无力使他起死回生,只好将他送入天空作一星座。他的猎狗天狼(即天狼星座)则蹲在他的身旁。
26 Tantalus
Tantalus was the rich and mighty king of Lydia.Son ofZeus by a fairy maiden,he was greatly favored by the gods.He was invited to share wine and food with them at their banquets,and he was let into their secrets .But ever the latter end of joy is woe .Either because he had stolen wine orgave away the secrets of Zeus,or because he had become so proud as to test the gods by serving up the flesh of his son Pelopsto them,he incurred the wrath of Zeus and was hurled down to the everlasting darkness of Tartarus .There he was made tostand up to his chin in a little lake,with clusters of luscious fruits hanging over and around his head.He strove eternally to drink the ever-evading water and to clutch at the delicious fruits which were ever tossed out of his reach by blasts of wind.Thus he was doomed to endure endless burning thirst and bitter hunger in the world of the shades.The whole occurrence has given rise to the expression“tantalizing”,meaning somethng inplain view but unattainable .
2012年09月25日 06点09分
21
level 8
28 阿特拉斯和珀尔修斯
珀尔修斯杀死墨杜萨之后,提着她的脑袋翻山越海四处飞行。夜晚降临时,他来到日落之处,地球的最西端。他很想在这里休息过夜。这是阿特拉斯国王的王国。阿特拉斯长得五大三粗,天下无双。他拥有成群的牛羊,没有来自邻帮或敌人的侵犯。不过,他最引以自豪的是他的果园。那儿在金叶的虚掩下,金树枝上挂满了金苹果。珀尔修斯对阿特拉斯说,“我是来作客的。我的父亲是宙斯,我杀死了墨杜萨。我来是想找个休息的地方和充饥的食物”。然而,阿特拉斯想起古时候的预言说过,有一天,宙斯的一个儿子将夺走他的金苹果。于是,他回答道:“走开!你自吹自擂的光荣业绩和高贵血统一类谎话都救不了你的命”。说着,阿特拉斯便动手想把珀尔修斯赶出去。珀尔修斯发现巨人力大无比,他对付不了,便说:“既然你看不起我对你的友谊,那就请你勉为其难,接受我的礼物吧”。他转过脸去,高举起墨杜萨的脑袋。阿特拉斯顷刻间化成了石头。他的胡须和头发变成树林;双臂和肩膀变成了峭壁;头成了山顶;骨头成了岩石。他身体的每个部分都不断膨胀,终于成了一座大山。根据神祗的心愿,天体及其群星落在他肩头,由他来背负。
2012年09月25日 06点09分
23
level 8
33 Hermes
Immediately after he was born,Hermes was appointed godof thieves at Olympus.And a thief he became when he was barely a few hours old.Feeling hungry,the infant left his cradle after nightfall to hunt for food.He chanced uponApollo's oxen grazing on a meadow and drove a number ofthese animals away,tying tree branches around the feet of thecattle to make their footsteps dim.He killed two of these oxenand had a magnificent dinner.Then he slipped back into his littlebed in his mother's house.When Apollo came to question himHermes pretended to be innocent.The angry sungod draggedhim up to Olympus,where he was accused of the stealing andmade to return the cattle to their master.In reconciliation little Hermes gave Apollo the lyre he had made out of a tortoise shell,and Apollo was so pleased with the gift that he presented his little brother with a magic stick.The stick could pacify hostileforces.
In due time Hermes was appointed messenger of Zeus andthe gods.The gods equipped him with a pair of winged sandalsand winged cap to enable him to travel swifter than sight.It was Hermes who took the messages of Zeus to the world below.
Hermes was a patron of travellers.His busts and statueswere set up as dividing marks at crossroads or street corners toguide passersby.The Hermes,as these statues were called,were regarded as sacred,and their mutilation was sacrilegiousand punishable by death.The destruction of the numerous Hermes within the city of Athens caused a terrible excitement amongits citizens that it might be no exaggeration to state that itchanged the whole course of historic development of Athens .
33 海尔墨斯
海尔墨斯一生下来就被任命为奥林波斯山的贼神。他出生后几个小时的时候就做了贼。黄昏时分,他感到饥饿,于是还是婴孩的海尔墨斯离开了他的摇篮去找食物吃。他碰巧看见阿波罗的牛在草地里吃草,于是他偷走了许多牛,并将树枝绑在牛脚上,让脚印变得模糊不清。他杀了其中两头牛,美餐了一顿。然后悄然地回到他妈妈的房里,爬上床。当阿波罗发现牛少了,来质问他时,海尔墨斯佯作不知。愤怒不已的太阳神把他拖到奥林波斯山上,告他偷窃并责令将牛如数还给主人。为了平息这件事,小海尔墨斯将他用乌龟壳做的琴送给阿波罗。阿波罗得到这件礼物非常高兴,并送给他的小兄弟一支魔棍,这支魔棍可以化解敌对力量。
到了一定的时候,海尔墨斯被指定为宙斯和众神的传令官。众神赐他一双带翅膀的草鞋和一顶带翅膀的帽子,让他可以行动神速。海尔墨斯成了宙斯和凡世之间传递消息的人。
海尔墨斯是行人的保护神。十字路口或街角都有他的半身像和雕像。并作为独特的标记,看护着每一个过往的人。这些雕像也用海尔墨斯的名字命名,并被视为神圣不可侵犯的。任何毁坏雕像的行为都被认为是亵渎神灵,要被处以极刑。一次在雅典城,海尔墨斯的像遭到大量破坏。这一捣毁神像的行为在国民中引起了强烈的反响。毫不夸张地说,它改变了雅典历史发展的全部进程。
34 Venus and Adonis
Aphrodite loved Adonis more than she did anybody else,for he was a brisk,lovely young hunter.She gave up herhome at Olympus and took to the woods.In the woods she dressed herself up like a huntress and kept the youth company all day long.With him she wandered through grounds andgroves and over hills and valleys.She cheered hunting dogs andpursued animals of a harmless sort.They had a great time together.However,she warned him many times not to chase wild beasts like lions and wolves,but the young man just laughed at the idea.
2012年09月25日 06点09分
27
level 8
36 泰瑞西斯
泰瑞西斯是位只能看见黑暗的底比斯先知。由于他年轻时不小心窥见了女神雅典娜,他的双目失明。一天,他在森林里漫步时,意外地看见一位全身裸露的仙女正在平静的湖水中沐浴。他不知道他已经冒犯了这位贞洁的女神。因莫名其妙地被人看了个一清二楚,女神勃然大怒。她诅咒道:谁胆敢偷看她的玉体,谁就必将永远变瞎。但当后来她得知泰瑞西斯并非有意冒犯她时,再想收回她的咒语已经不可能了。出于怜悯,她从宙斯那里替这位贫穷的,丧失了视力的年轻人争取到了长寿;又从阿波罗那里要来了神圣的预言本领;并且,她赋予他神奇敏锐的双耳,这样他就可以明白各种鸟语。此外,雅典娜给了他魔术般的本领,使他既知过去,也能预测未来。总而言之,她使他拥有了她自身智慧中的很大一部分。在底比斯,是泰瑞西斯第一个认出了宴会神、也是酒神的狄俄尼索斯,并向他表示欢迎。当海格克斯还是个婴儿,用手抓起赫拉的两条毒蛇时,也正是泰瑞西斯卜算出了这个孩子的未来并预示出他的出身及其命运。当奥狄浦斯指责泰瑞西斯参与谋杀了拉伊俄斯时,泰瑞西斯勇敢地讲出了事实真相:奥狄浦斯才是凶手。即使到了地狱,他依然预测未来。在那儿,当奥德修斯前去征求他的意见时,泰瑞西斯帮助了他。活着的时候,他受到人们的普遍敬重;死后,在不莱斯特这块土地上,他享受着无比清新的空气和玫瑰般绚丽多彩的阳光。
2012年09月25日 06点09分
30
level 8
37 Phaeton
Phaeton was the son of Apollo by Clymene.The mother had filled the lad's head with so many stories of his father's glory that the youth was quite proud.Wher ever he went he told those stories again and again until everybody was tired of him.On one occasion,when one of his playmates asked him to show his skill of coming down from sky,he felt quite hard to do it.He came back to his mother and told the unhappy event in tears.Unable to do anything for him,she sent her soneast wards to pray to Apollo for help.
The sungod graciously received his son and heard the story with interest.Then he took an oath by the Styx ,ready to give help according to the boy's request.But he was surprised to hear that the boy's hope was to drive his fiery carriage.He told his son of the dangers on the way,but failed to stop him fromthe try.As the god had sworn by the Styx there was no going back on his word.In his desperate effort to avoid disaster,Apollo warned his son to keep to the middle course and stop the horses in time.
Phaeton joyfully jumped on the carriage and set off.Very soon he lost his way.he grew pale at the great height and the vast sky in front of him and behind.The horses ran wild.Unable to hold them,Phaeton dropped them in fear.Straight downto the earth the carriage dashed.Rivers were dried up.Cropshung down and withered .Men's cries of suffering rose up from the burnt earth.The enraged Zeus soon found the cause of the trouble,and without hesitation gave one of his most powerful thunderbolts at the proud and careless boy.Phaeton droppedstraight down into a river.Both parents were sad over the loss of their son.And his sisters,who were so unhappy with his untimely death,were changed into poplars and their tearsambers .
37 法厄同
法厄同是阿波罗与克里敏尼生的儿子。母亲给法厄同灌输了许多父亲可歌可泣的故事,以致于法厄同变得十分得意忘形。无论走到何处,他总是反复给人们讲述那些故事,最后大家都厌烦了。有一次一位伙伴要他显露一下从天而降的本领,他颇感棘手,就痛哭流涕地将这一不快之事回家告诉了母亲,母亲无能为力只好将他派到东方向父亲阿波罗求援。
阿波罗宽厚地接待了儿子,绕有兴趣地听了事情的原委,然后阿波罗站在斯蒂克斯河边发誓:按儿子的请求予以帮助。然而令他惊讶的是:儿子原来是想驾驶他那带有火焰的战车。他警告儿子,路上会有危险。但无济于事。因太阳神已在河边发过誓,一言既出、驷马难追。为避免灾难,阿波罗绝望地做最后的努力,他警告儿子要在道路中间行驶,遇事要及时勒马。
法厄同怀着喜悦的心情跳上战车出发了。很快他就迷失了方向。看到前后令人头晕目眩的高度和浩瀚的天空,他变得脸色苍白。战马狂奔了,简直无法驾驶。恐惧之下,他把缰绳松了。战车向地面猛栽下去。河流干涸了,作物枯萎凋谢了。从烧焦的土地上传来了人类受难的恸哭。暴跳如雷的宙斯很快找到了这场乱子的原因。他毫不犹豫地朝高傲自大、粗心大意的法厄同施放了雷电中最猛烈的一击。法厄同径直地掉入江中。父母为失去儿子而哀痛。法厄同的姐妹们也为他的夭折而悲伤。她们都变成了白杨树,而她们的泪水则变成了琥珀。
38 The Apple of Discord
The wedding of Peleus and the sea-goddess Thetis wereheld and all gods were invited.But the absence of one goddess was clearly noticeable.It was Erls,the goddess of discord.As she planted seeds of discord wherever she went,it was natural that her presence at the ceremony was not desirable.She had good reason to feel angry.So she decided to make fun ofthe group at the party.Eris slipped into the hall after the couple left and rolled on the floor a golden apple ,having the words,“For the fairest”.It caused a violent quarrel among the three goddesses,Hera,Athena and Aphrodite.Zeus found it advisable to send them before a shepherd boy on Mt Ida,Paris by name,for judge ment.Hermes,the messenger,took the apple in his hand and led the goddesses away.
2012年09月25日 06点09分
31
level 8
40 鲍西丝和费莱蒙
奥林波斯山上的神都喜欢乔装改扮到人间察看。有一天,宙斯和海尔墨斯乔装来到一个村子里。他们敲了许多人家的门,希望能歇歇脚,讨点食物,却一次又一次地被拒之门外。最后他们来到一间简陋的小茅屋前,这里住着鲍西丝和她的老伴费莱蒙,老俩口虽一贫如洗,却也乐天知足,与世无争。他们享尽了生活所赋予的一切,并对上天充满了感激之情。当二神来到他们家时,老俩口满怀喜悦,笑逐颜开。他们将二神视为稀客,并立刻开始为他们准备晚餐。他们点燃火,摘回一棵白菜,又切下一块贮存很久的咸肥肉,放在火上烤。正当他们宰杀仅剩的一只鹅时,客人婉言地阻止了他们。餐凳只是临时的代用品,陈旧不堪,到处是修补的痕迹,但对他们来说已是最好的了。桌子是用一块砖头撑着。饭菜非常普通,有鸡蛋、葡萄酒和土制奶酪,以及多种新鲜水果。二老笑容可掬、殷勤备至地服待天神用饭。两位天神深深地被他们的盛情款待所感动,说明了自己的真实身分。“我们是天神”宙斯说,“你们将脱离不幸,但你们的邻人们将因他们的邪恶受到惩罚。跟我们走吧!”当他们快到奥林波斯山顶时,鲍西丝和费莱蒙回头看见整个村庄淹没在一片沼泽之中;而他们的旧茅屋却始终完好无损,并且变成了一座金碧辉煌的神殿。出于二老的要求,他们被指派为宙斯所住宫殿的看护者。随着俩个凡人生活的结束,他们变成了白蜡树和菩提树,并肩站在神殿前。
2012年09月25日 06点09分
34
level 8
She was appointed goddess of Love and Marriage.Sitting inher carriage drawn by sparrows,doves or swans,she travelledfar and wide to inspire love in the hearts of all nature and move man and beast and animal and plant to reproduction. with the help of her little son,Eros,the god of love,she made many a tale of happiness and sadness in the life of gods and men.Being less serious,she introduced the idea of free love into marriedlife. She was never faithful to her husband Hephaestus. Herhusband on one occasion caught her in a net as she was lying with Mars. Then he held them both up to fun in front of the gods.She was kind and responsible and was ever ready to helpyoung lovers in trouble.She loved Adonis, breathed life into thestatue of Galatea and lent a helping hand to young Hippomennes in his race.
42 阿芙罗狄蒂(维纳斯)
阿芙罗狄蒂是“至美”女神,她的身世很神奇。在那段日子里,奥林波斯山神们已开始乐于追求宇宙间的权力。一天,海上漂动的浮泡散发出万道圣洁的金光。随着波浪的起伏,一位美丽可爱的少女升出海面,放射出温暖与魁力。她被海神带到了塞浦路斯,后来,塞浦路斯成了她的圣岛。她的美丽无法形容,于是,她被理所当然地称为“美人”。在她不朽的头颅上有个金皇冠,她的双目深沉柔和,双眉温暖祥和。她那瀑布般的长发撒在她优美的颈项以及白皙的胸脯上。此外,她纤巧的手指,玫瑰般白嫩的双足更为她的美增添了迷人的高贵和典雅。当她第一次出现在奥林波斯山上时,她纤细匀称的身段不仅赢得了众神狂热的崇拜,还招致了众女神发疯般的妒嫉。
她被选为爱和婚姻女神。为了激起宇宙间万物心中的爱,为了使人、兽以及动植物能够繁衍,她乘着由麻雀、鸽子或是天鹅驾驭的车子到处游逛。在她的小儿子爱神厄洛斯的帮助下,她在众神和人世间挑起了许多悲与欢的动人故事。由于一时疏忽,她给婚后生活注入了自由恋爱的观念。她对丈夫赫菲斯托斯一向不忠。有一次,当她与战神玛尔斯躺在一起时,她的丈夫用网捉住了她。随后,他恶作剧地把他们俩一同 在了众神面前。她心肠好又有责任心。她随时准备着去帮助那些遇到麻烦的情侣们。她爱阿多尼斯,又赋予石像盖拉蒂以生命。在竞赛中,她还帮了年轻的希波梅弥斯一把。
2012年09月27日 02点09分
36
level 8
43 Thisbe
thisbe was a Babylonian maid.From her childhood sheloved Pyramus who lived in the nearby house.But as thetwo families were not on good terms they were not al
lowed to meet one another.All they could do was to stand oneach side of the wall and hear one another's loving voice. Movedby the young lovers, Aphrodite decided to give them help. Oneday to the joyful surprise of the pair, there appeared in the partywall a tiny crack through which they could speak to each otherin a low voice and even exchange sweet kisses.As love's flameburnt ever hotter the lovers agreed to meet each other under awhite mulberry tree in the woods outside the city.Night came.Thisbe stole out and arrived first at the meeting-place.She was just looking around for her lover when a lioness appeared.The sight of the bloody jaws of the beast was enough to send the screaming girl running , leaving her veil behind. The lioness did not care to chase, but cut the veil and made it dirt with its jaws and claws.Hearing the wild roaring and a sharp cry, Pyramus rushed on to the meeting place,sword in hand, only to find that both lioness and the girl had gone. His eyes fell on the dirty veil and he instantly guessed what had happened to his beloved.In despair he kissed the veil,drew his sword and plunged it into his breast . The pouring blood turned the white mulberry tree intoa dark purple.When This be returned to join her boy-friend,she found him rolling in his death pain.She showered tears and kisses on his cold pale face, hoping to get him back to life.Heopened his eyes and tried to speak, but Death had come to lead him away. with a cry of anger,This be fell on Pyramus' swordand went to keep him company in the lower world.
43 桑斯比
桑斯比是一位巴比伦少女。从儿时起,她就爱上了邻家的皮瑞摩斯。然而两家素不合睦,因而禁止两位恋人相见。他们只能隔墙倾听恋人动听的声音。为他们的爱情所感,阿芙罗狄蒂决定帮助他们。一天,这对恋人惊奇地发现墙上出现了一道裂缝,通过它,他们能够低声细语,倾诉爱情,甚至甜蜜地互相亲吻。由于爱情之火愈加炽烈,他们相约于城外林中一株白色桑树下会面。夜暮降临了,桑斯比偷偷溜出家门,先到了约会地点。在她环顾盼望恋人到来的时候,一只母狮子出现了。看到它的血盆大口,这位少女尖叫着逃离此地,面纱落地。母狮并无追赶之意,它用嘴和爪子撕破并且弄脏了那方面纱。听到野兽的嚎叫和少女的呼喊,皮瑞摩斯手持短剑直奔约会地点。但母狮和少女都已不见了,看见了被玷污的面纱,他立即猜到他的恋人出了什么意外。绝望中,他吻别面纱,抽出剑来,刺入自己的胸膛,急涌而出的鲜血把白色的桑树染成深紫色。当桑斯比返回和他会面的时候,她发现皮瑞摩斯在死亡的苦痛中挣扎着。桑斯比泪如泉涌,亲吻恋人苍白的脸庞,希望能用亲吻使他重生。皮瑞摩斯睁开眼睛,竭力想张开嘴巴说话,然而死神降临,带走了他。桑斯比愤怒地叫了一声,倒在皮瑞摩斯的剑上,伴他共赴黄泉。
44 Echo
Echo was a nymph who talked too much.She was very fond of having the last words.One day she sPoke rudely to the great Hera,who said that for this offence Echo should never use her voice again,unless to repeat what she hadjust heard,but since she was very fond of last words,she might repeat the last words of others.This was almost as bad as if Hera had changed her into a parrot.Echo was very much ashamed,and hid herself in the forest.
2012年09月27日 02点09分
37
level 8
47 Tithonus
Every day,when Helios drove his wonderful horses andhis fiery carriage across the sky,it was Aurora who opened the gates of pearl and drew back the dark curtains of the night;for Aurora was the goddess of the dawn .She was so beautiful that the whole sky became pink with pleasure when she appeared in the east.
On the earth lived a man called Tithonus,who loved Aurora so well that he never failed to leave his bed while it was still dark,to watch for her coming.Aurora loved Tithonus too,and one day she flew to the king of the gods,and begged of him that Tithonus might be given a cup of magic liquid ,and so becomeliving forever.
Zeus allowed this request, and Aurora took Tithonus up to Mount Olympus to live in her golden house.
The goddess had forgotten to ask that Tithonus might never grow old.Therefore,the time came when gray hairs could beseen among his golden curls . Aurora was kind to him in spite of this,and continued to give him beautiful clothes,and to feed him on the food of the gods.Still, Tithonus grew older and older,and in time,after several hundred years,he was so old thathe could not move at all.Little was left of him but his voice ,and even that had grown high and thin. Then he was so weakthat he had to be shut up in a room,for safekeeping.Aurorafelt so sorry to see him become weaker and weaker in this way that she changed him into a little insect,and sent him down to the earth again,where men called him the grasshopper.
Very glad to be free and active once more,Tithonus jumped about in the fields all day,chirping happily to Aurora.
47 泰索尼斯
每天赫利阿斯驾着他的神马和红马车走过天空时,也就是欧洛拉撩起夜晚的黑幕打开珍珠般雪白大门的时间,欧洛拉是晨曦女神。她很美丽,所以她在东方出现时,整个天空都发出可爱的粉红色的光芒。
地球上有个叫泰索尼斯的凡人,他很爱欧洛拉,所以天还没有亮时他就起床,以免错过看她的来临。欧洛拉也爱泰索尼斯,所以一天她去见众神之王要求赐给泰索尼斯一杯神祗的甘液让他能永远活着。
宙斯答应了她的要求,欧洛拉就带泰索尼斯到奥林波斯山上她的金屋生活。
这位女神忘记要求让泰索尼斯永远年轻。所以时间到了,他金黄的卷发中可以看到白头发了。虽然这样,欧洛拉还是对他很好,给他穿漂亮的衣服,吃神祗的食物。可是泰索尼斯还是一直老下去,几百年以后他已经老得无法行动了。甚至他仅剩的声音也变得又高又尖。他身体很虚弱,以致为了安全必须把他锁在房间内。欧洛拉着他身体那样虚弱很难过,就把他变成一只小虫送到地球上,人类叫他蚱蜢。
泰索尼斯很高兴能再自由行动,就整天在田野里乱跳,同时很愉快地对欧洛拉叫着。
48 Athena
On one occasion Zeus suffered a bad headache.All the gods,including Apollo,the god of medicine ,had trieduselessly to offer an effective treatment .Then the father of gods and men asked Hephaestus to open his head.This the god of the fire did.To the wonder of all the Olympians,agoddess,well-grown and full-armed,came out of Zeus' head.The goddess was giving off light and splendor. She was Athena,goddess of wisdom and knowledge and patroness of Athens .
2012年09月27日 02点09分
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