"Men think that they gain wisdom by drinking from that spring," said he to the priest; "but I think that they gain it in quite another way. They drink of its waters every day; but while they drink, they listen to the wonderful words which fall from your lips, and they become wise by hearing, and not by drinking."
The old priest smiled at the shrewdness of the boy. "Let them think as they please," said he. "In any case, their wisdom would come hard, and be of little use, if it were not for the silver-bowed Apollo."
"Tell me about Apollo," said Odysseus.
The priest could not have been better pleased. He moved his seat, so that he could look the boy full in the face, and at the same time have the temple before him, and then he began:--
"A very long time ago, Apollo was born in distant Delos. And when the glad news of his birth was told, Earth smiled, and decked herself with flowers; the nymphs of Delos sang songs of joy that were heard to the utmost bounds of Hellas; and choirs2 of white swans flew seven times around the island, piping notes of praise to the pure being who had come to dwell among men. Then Zeus looked down from high Olympus, and crowned the babe with a golden head-band, and put into his hands a silver bow and a sweet-toned lyre such as no man had ever seen; and he gave him a team of white swans to drive, and bade him go forth4 to teach men the things which are right and good, and to make light that which is hidden and in darkness.
"And so Apollo arose, beautiful as the morning sun, and journeyed through many lands, seeking a dwelling5-place. He stopped for a time at the foot of Mount Olympus, and played so sweetly upon his lyre that Zeus and all his court were entranced. Then he went into Pieria and Iolcos, and he wandered up and down through the whole length of the Thessalian land; but nowhere could he find a spot in which he was willing to dwell. Then he climbed into his car, and bade his swan-team fly with him to the country of the Hyperboreans beyond the far-off northern mountains. Forthwith they obeyed; and through the pure regions of the upper air they bore him, winging their way ever northward6. They carried him over the desert flats where the shepherd folk of Scythia dwell in houses of wicker-work perched on well-wheeled wagons7, and daily drive their flocks and herds8 to fresher pastures. They carried him over that unknown land where the Arimaspian host of one-eyed horsemen dwell beside a river running bright with gold; and on the seventh day they came to the great Rhip?an Mountains where the griffins, with lion bodies and eagle wings, guard the golden treasures of the North. In these mountains, the North Wind has his home; and from his deep caves he now and then comes forth, chilling with his cold and angry breath the orchards10 and the fair fields of Hellas, and bringing death and dire11 disasters in his train. But northward this blustering12 Boreas cannot blow, for the heaven-towering mountains stand like a wall against him, and drive him back; and hence it is that beyond these mountains the storms of winter never come, but one happy springtime runs through all the year. There the flowers bloom, and the grain ripens13, and the fruits drop mellowing14 to the earth, and the red wine is pressed from the luscious15 grape, every day the same. And the Hyperboreans who dwell in that favored land know neither pain nor sickness, nor wearying labor16 nor eating care; but their youth is as unfading as the springtime, and old age with its wrinkles and its sorrows is evermore a stranger to them. For the spirit of evil, which leads all men to err18, has never found entrance among them, and they are free from vile19 passions and unworthy thoughts; and among them there is neither war, nor wicked deeds, nor fear of the avenging20 Furies, for their hearts are pure and clean, and never burdened with the love of self.
"When the swan-team of silver-bowed Apollo had carried him over the Rhip?an Mountains, they alighted in the Hyperborean land. And the people welcomed Apollo with shouts of joy and songs of triumph, as one for whom they had long been waiting. And he took up his abode21 there, and dwelt with them one whole year, delighting them with his presence, and ruling over them as their king. But when twelve moons had passed, he bethought him that the toiling22, suffering men of Hellas needed most his aid and care. Therefore he bade the Hyperboreans farewell, and again went up into his sun-bright car; and his winged team carried him back to the land of his birth.
"Long time Apollo sought a place where he might build a temple to which men might come to learn of him and to seek his help in time of need. At length he came to the plain of fair Tilphussa, by the shore of Lake Copais; and there he began to build a house, for the land was a pleasant one, well-watered, and rich in grain and fruit. But the nymph Tilphussa liked not to have Apollo dwell so near her, lest men seeing and loving him should forget to honor her; and one day garmented with mosses23 and crowned with lilies, she came and stood before him in the sunlight.
"'Apollo of the silver bow,' said she, 'have you not made a mistake in choosing this place for a dwelling? These rich plains around us will not always be as peaceful as now; for their very richness will tempt24 the spoiler, and the song of the cicada will then give place to the din17 of battle. Even in times of peace, you would hardly have a quiet hour here: for great herds of cattle come crowding down every day to my lake for water; and the noisy ploughman, driving his team afield, disturbs the morning hour with his boorish25 shouts; and boys and dogs keep up a constant din, and make life in this place a burden.'
"'Fair Tilphussa,' said Apollo, 'I had hoped to dwell here in thy happy vale, a neighbor and friend to thee. Yet, since this place is not what it seems to be, whither shall I go, and where shall I build my house?"
"'Go to the cleft26 in Parnassus where the swift eagles of Zeus met above the earth's centre,' answered the nymph. 'There thou canst dwell in peace, and men will come from all parts of the world to do thee honor.'
"And so Apollo came down towards Crissa, and here in the cleft of the mountain he laid the foundations of his shrine27. Then he called the master-architects of the world, Trophonius and Agamedes, and gave to them the building of the high walls and the massive roof. And when they had finished their work, he said, 'Say now what reward you most desire for your labor, and I will give it you.'
"'Give us,' said the brothers, 'that which is the best for men.'
"'It is well,' answered Apollo. 'When the full moon is seen above the mountain-tops, you shall have your wish."
"But when the moon rose full and clear above the heights, the two brothers were dead.
APOLLO SLAYING28 THE PYTHON.
APOLLO SLAYING THE PYTHON.
"And Apollo was pleased with the place which he had chosen for a home; for here were peace and quiet, and neither the hum of labor nor the din of battle would be likely ever to enter. Yet there was one thing to be done before he could have perfect rest. There lived near the foot of the mountain a huge serpent called Python, which was the terror of all the land. Oftentimes, coming out of his den3, this monster attacked the flocks and herds, and sometimes even their keepers; and he had been known to carry little children and helpless women to his den, and there devour29 them.
"The men of Delphi came one day to Apollo, and prayed him to drive out or destroy their terrible enemy. So, taking in hand his silver bow, he sallied out at break of day to meet the monster when he should issue from his slimy cave. The vile creature shrank back when he saw the radiant god before him, and would fain have hidden himself in the deep gorges30 of the mountain. But Apollo quickly launched a swift arrow at him, crying, 'Thou bane of man, lie thou upon the earth, and enrich it with thy dead body!' And the never-erring arrow sped to the mark; and the great beast died, wallowing in his gore31. And the people in their joy came out to meet the archer32, singing p?ans in his praise; and they crowned him with wild flowers and wreaths of olives, and hailed him as the Pythian king; and the nightingales sang to him in the groves33, and the swallows and cicadas twittered and tuned34 their melodies in harmony with his lyre.[1]
[1] See Note 2 at the end of this volume.
"But as yet there were no priests in Apollo's temple; and he pondered, long doubting, as to whom he should choose. One day he stood upon the mountain's top-most peak, whence he could see all Hellas and the seas around it. Far away in the south, he spied a little ship sailing from Crete to sandy Pylos; and the men who were on board were Cretan merchants.
"'These men shall serve in my temple!' he cried.
"Upward he sprang, and high he soared above the sea; then swiftly descending35 like a fiery36 star, he plunged37 into the waves. There he changed himself into the form of a dolphin, and swam with speed to overtake the vessel38. Long before the ship had reached Pylos, the mighty39 fish came up with it, and struck its stern. The crew were dumb with terror, and sat still in their places; their oars40 were motionless; the sail hung limp and useless from the mast. Yet the vessel sped through the waves with the speed of the wind, for the dolphin was driving it forward by the force of his fins9. Past many a headland, past Pylos and many pleasant harbors, they hastened. Vainly did the pilot try to land at Cyparissa and at Cyllene: the ship would not obey her helm. They rounded the headland of Araxus, and came into the long bay of Crissa; and there the dolphin left off guiding the vessel, and swam playfully around it, while a brisk west wind filled the sail, and bore the voyagers safely into port.
"Then the dolphin changed into the form of a glowing star, which, shooting high into the heavens, lit up the whole world with its glory; and as the awe-stricken crew stood gazing at the wonder, it fell with the quickness of light upon Parnassus. Into his temple Apollo hastened, and there he kindled41 an undying fire. Then, in the form of a handsome youth, with golden hair falling in waves upon his shoulders, he hastened to the beach to welcome the Cretan strangers.
"'Hail, seamen42!' he cried. 'Who are you, and from whence do you come? Shall I greet you as friends and guests, or shall I know you as robbers bringing death and distress43 to many a fair home?'
"Then answered the Cretan captain, 'Fair stranger, the gods have brought us hither; for by no wish of our own have we come. We are Cretan merchants, and we were on our way to sandy Pylos with stores of merchandise, to barter44 with the tradesmen of that city. But some unknown being, whose might is greater than the might of men, has carried us far beyond our wished-for port, even to this unknown shore. Tell us now, we pray thee, what land is this? And who art thou who lookest so like a god?'
"'Friends and guests, for such indeed you must be,' answered the radiant youth, 'think never again of sailing upon the wine-faced sea, but draw now your vessel high up on the beach. And when you have brought out all your goods, and built an altar upon the shore, take of your white barley45 which you have with you, and offer it reverently46 to Ph?bus Apollo. For I am he; and it was I who brought you hither, so that you might keep my temple, and make known my wishes unto men. And since it was in the form of a dolphin that you first saw me, let the town which stands around my temple be known as Delphi, and let men worship me there as Apollo Delphinius.'
"Then the Cretans did as he had bidden them: they drew their vessel high up on the white beach, and when they had unladen it of their goods, they built an altar on the shore, and offered white barley to Ph?bus Apollo, and gave thanks to the ever-living powers who had saved them from the terrors of the deep. And after they had feasted, and rested from their long voyage, they turned their faces toward Parnassus; and Apollo, playing sweeter music than men had ever heard, led the way; and the folk of Delphi, with choirs of boys and maidens47, came to meet them, and they sang a p?an and songs of victory as they helped the Cretans up the steep pathway to the cleft of Parnassus.
"'I leave you now to have sole care of my temple,' said Apollo. 'I charge you to keep it well; deal righteously with all men; let no unclean thing pass your lips; forget self; guard well your thoughts, and keep your hearts free from guile48. If you do these things, you shall be blessed with length of days and all that makes life glad. But if you forget my words, and deal treacherously49 with men, and cause any to wander from the path of right, then shall you be driven forth homeless and accursed, and others shall take your places in the service of my house.'
"And then the bright youth left them and hastened away into Thessaly and to Mount Olympus. But every year he comes again, and looks into his house, and speaks words of warning and of hope to his servants; and often men have seen him on Parnassus, playing his lyre to the listening Muses50, or with his sister, arrow-loving Artemis, chasing the mountain deer."
Such was the story which the old priest related to Odysseus, sitting in the shadow of the mountain; and the boy listened with eyes wide open and full of wonder, half expecting to see the golden-haired Apollo standing51 by his side.
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1
cascades
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| 倾泻( cascade的名词复数 )； 小瀑布（尤指一连串瀑布中的一支）； 瀑布状物； 倾泻（或涌出）的东西 | |
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2
choirs
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| n.教堂的唱诗班( choir的名词复数 )；唱诗队；公开表演的合唱团；（教堂）唱经楼 | |
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3
den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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4
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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5
dwelling
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| n.住宅，住所，寓所 | |
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northward
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| adv.向北；n.北方的地区 | |
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7
wagons
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| n.四轮的运货马车( wagon的名词复数 )；铁路货车；小手推车 | |
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8
herds
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| 兽群( herd的名词复数 )； 牧群； 人群； 群众 | |
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fins
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| [医]散热片；鱼鳍；飞边；鸭掌 | |
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orchards
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| （通常指围起来的）果园( orchard的名词复数 ) | |
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11
dire
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| adj.可怕的，悲惨的，阴惨的，极端的 | |
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12
blustering
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| adj.狂风大作的，狂暴的v.外强中干的威吓( bluster的现在分词 )；咆哮；（风）呼啸；狂吹 | |
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13
ripens
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| v.成熟，使熟( ripen的第三人称单数 ) | |
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14
mellowing
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| 软化，醇化 | |
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luscious
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| adj.美味的；芬芳的；肉感的，引与性欲的 | |
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16
labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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17
din
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| n.喧闹声，嘈杂声 | |
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18
err
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| vi.犯错误，出差错 | |
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vile
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| adj.卑鄙的，可耻的，邪恶的；坏透的 | |
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20
avenging
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| adj.报仇的，复仇的v.为…复仇，报…之仇( avenge的现在分词 )；为…报复 | |
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21
abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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22
toiling
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| 长时间或辛苦地工作( toil的现在分词 )； 艰难缓慢地移动，跋涉 | |
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23
mosses
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| n. 藓类, 苔藓植物 名词moss的复数形式 | |
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24
tempt
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| vt.引诱，勾引，吸引，引起…的兴趣 | |
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25
boorish
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| adj.粗野的，乡巴佬的 | |
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26
cleft
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| n.裂缝；adj.裂开的 | |
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27
shrine
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| n.圣地，神龛，庙；v.将...置于神龛内，把...奉为神圣 | |
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28
slaying
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| 杀戮。 | |
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29
devour
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| v.吞没；贪婪地注视或谛听，贪读；使着迷 | |
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30
gorges
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| n.山峡，峡谷( gorge的名词复数 )；咽喉v.（用食物把自己）塞饱，填饱( gorge的第三人称单数 )；作呕 | |
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31
gore
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| n.凝血，血污；v.（动物）用角撞伤，用牙刺破；缝以补裆；顶 | |
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32
archer
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| n.射手，弓箭手 | |
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33
groves
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| 树丛，小树林( grove的名词复数 ) | |
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34
tuned
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| adj.调谐的，已调谐的v.调音( tune的过去式和过去分词 )；调整；（给收音机、电视等）调谐；使协调 | |
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35
descending
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| n. 下行 adj. 下降的 | |
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36
fiery
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| adj.燃烧着的，火红的；暴躁的；激烈的 | |
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37
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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38
vessel
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| n.船舶；容器，器皿；管，导管，血管 | |
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39
mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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40
oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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41
kindled
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| （使某物）燃烧，着火( kindle的过去式和过去分词 )； 激起（感情等）； 发亮，放光 | |
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42
seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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43
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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44
barter
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| n.物物交换，以货易货，实物交易 | |
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45
barley
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| n.大麦，大麦粒 | |
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46
reverently
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| adv.虔诚地 | |
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47
maidens
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| 处女( maiden的名词复数 )； 少女； 未婚女子； （板球运动）未得分的一轮投球 | |
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48
guile
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| n.诈术 | |
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49
treacherously
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| 背信弃义地； 背叛地； 靠不住地； 危险地 | |
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50
muses
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| v.沉思，冥想( muse的第三人称单数 )；沉思自语说（某事） | |
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51
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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