The regulations to be observed by the poor I have sent expressly to them in another scroll1, and am well assured that they will abide2 by the same, failing which, they will be obnoxious3 to the heavy penalties enacted4 against the disobedient. And you, ye rich, see to it that ye transgress5 not nor disregard the instructions following. Be it known to him that shall so do, that he scorneth not me the lawgiver, but Cronus’ self, who hath appeared, in no dream, but these two days gone to my waking senses, and appointed me to give holiday laws. No bondsman was he, nor foul6 to look upon, as painters have limned7 him after poets’ foolish tales. His sickle8 was indeed full sharp; but he was cheerful of countenance9, strong of limb, and royally arrayed. Such was his semblance10; and his words, wherein too was divinity, it is fitting you hear.
He beheld11 me pacing downcast, meditative12, and straightway knew — as how should a God not know? — the cause of my sorrow, and how I was ill content with poverty and with the unseasonable thinness of my raiment. For there was frost and north wind and ice and snow, and I but ill fenced against them. The feast was moreover at hand, and I might see others making ready for sacrifice and good cheer, but for me things looked not that way. He came upon me from behind and touched and thrilled my ear, as is the manner of his approach, and spake: ‘O Cronosolon, wherefore this troubled mien13?’ ‘Is there not a cause, lord,’ I said, ‘when I look on pestilent loathly fellows passing rich, engrossing14 all luxury, but I and many another skilled in liberal arts have want and trouble to our bed-fellows? And thou, even thou, lord, wilt15 not say it shall not he, nor order things anew and make us equal.’ ‘In common life,’ then said he, ‘’tis no light matter to change the lots that Clotho and her sister Fates have laid upon you; but as touching16 the feast, I will set right your poverty; and let the settling be after this manner. Go, O Cronosolon, indite17 me certain laws for observance in the feast days, that the rich feast not by themselves, but impart of their good things to you.’ Then said I, ‘I know not how.’
‘But I,’ quoth he, ‘will teach you.’ And therewith he began and taught me. And when I was perfect, ‘And certify18 them,’ he said, ‘that if they do not hereafter, this sharp sickle that I bear is no toy; ’twere odd if I could maim19 therewith Uranus20 my father, but not do as much for the rich that transgress my laws; they shall be fitted to serve the Mother of the Gods with alms-box and pipe and timbrel.’ Thus he threatened; wherefore ye will do well to observe his decrees.
FIRST TABLE OF THE LAWS
All business, be it public or private, is forbidden during the feast days, save such as tends to sport and solace21 and delight. Let none follow their avocations22 saving cooks and bakers23.
All men shall be equal, slave and free, rich and poor, one with another.
Anger, resentment24, threats, are contrary to law.
During the feast days, no man shall be called to account of his stewardship25.
No man shall in these days count his money nor inspect his wardrobe, nor make an inventory26.
Athletic27 training shall cease.
No discourse28 shall be either composed or delivered, except it be witty29 and lusty, conducing to mirth and jollity.
SECOND TABLE OF THE LAWS
In good time against the feast every rich man shall inscribe30 in a table-book the names of his several friends, and shall provide money to a tithe31 of his yearly incomings, together with the superfluity of his raiment, and such ware32 as is too coarse for his own service, and a goodly quantity of silver vessels33. These shall be all in readiness.
On the eve of the feast the rich shall hold a purification, and drive forth34 from their houses parsimony35 and avarice36 and covetousness37 and all other such leanings that dwell with the most of them. And their houses being purged38 they shall make offering to Zeus the Enricher, and to Hermes the Giver, and to Apollo the Generous. And at afternoon the table-book of their friends shall be read to them.
Then shall they with their own hands allot39 to each friend his fitting share, and send it before set of sun.
And the carriers shall be not more than three or four, the trustiest of a man’s servants, and well on in years. And let him write in a letter what is the gift, and its amount, that the carriers be not suspect to giver or receiver. And the said servants shall drink one cup each man, and depart, and ask no more.
To such as have culture let all be sent in double measure; it is fitting that they have two portions.
The message that goeth with a gift shall be modest and brief; let no man humble40 his friend, nor commend his own gift.
Rich shall not send gifts to rich, nor entertain his peer at the feast.
Of the things made ready for sending, none shall be reserved; let no man give and un-give.
He that by absence missed his share of yester-year shall now receive that too.
Let the rich discharge debts for their friends that are poor, and their rent if they owe and cannot pay it.
Let it be their care above all to know in time the needs of every man.
The receiver for his part should be not over-curious, but account great whatsoever41 is sent him. Yet are a flask42 of wine, a hare, or a fat fowl43, not to be held sufficient gifts; rather they bring the feast into mockery. For the poor man’s return gift, if he have learning, let it be an ancient book, but of good omen44 and festive45 humour, or a writing of his own after his ability; and the rich man shall receive the same with a glad countenance, and take and read it forthwith; if he reject or fling it aside, be it known to him that he hath incurred46 that penalty of the sickle, though he himself hath sent all he should. For the unlearned, let him send a garland or grains of frankincense.
If a poor man send, to one that is rich, raiment or silver or gold beyond his means, the gift shall be impounded and sold, and the price thereof cast into the treasury47 of Cronus; and on the morrow the poor man shall receive from the rich stripes upon his hands with a rod not less than twelve score and ten.
LAWS OF THE BOARD
The bath hour shall be noon, and before it nuts and draughts48.
Every man shall take place as chance may direct; dignities and birth and wealth shall give no precedence.
All shall he served with the same wine; the rich host shall not say, For my colic, or for my megrims, I must drink the better.
Every man’s portion of meat shall be alike. The attendants shall favour none, nor yet in their serving shall they be deaf to any, nor pass any by before his pleasure be known. They shall not set great portions before him, and small before him, nor give this one a dainty and that one refuse, but all shall be equal.
Let the butler have a quick eye and ear for all from his point of vantage, and heed49 his master least. And be the cups large or small at choice.
It shall be any man’s right to call a health; and let all drink to all if they will, when the host has set the wine a-going. But no man shall be bound to drink, if he be no strong toper.
It shall not be free to any who will to bring an unpractised dancer or musician to the dinner.
Let the limit to jesting be, that the feelings of none be wounded.
The stake at draughts shall be nuts alone; if any play for money, he shall fast on the morrow.
When the rich man shall feast his slaves, let his friends serve with him.
These laws every rich man shall engrave50 on a brazen51 pillar and set them in the centre of his hall and there read them. And be it known that, so long as that pillar stands, neither famine nor sickness nor fire nor any mischance shall come upon the house. But if it be removed — which God avert52! — then evil shall be that house’s doom53.
H.
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收听单词发音
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1
scroll
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| n.卷轴，纸卷；(石刻上的)漩涡 | |
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2
abide
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| vi.遵守；坚持；vt.忍受 | |
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3
obnoxious
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| adj.极恼人的，讨人厌的，可憎的 | |
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4
enacted
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| 制定（法律），通过（法案）( enact的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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transgress
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| vt.违反，逾越 | |
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6
foul
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| adj.污秽的；邪恶的；v.弄脏；妨害；犯规；n.犯规 | |
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7
limned
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| v.画( limn的过去式和过去分词 )；勾画；描写；描述 | |
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8
sickle
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| n.镰刀 | |
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9
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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10
semblance
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| n.外貌，外表 | |
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11
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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12
meditative
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| adj.沉思的，冥想的 | |
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13
mien
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| n.风采；态度 | |
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engrossing
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| adj.使人全神贯注的，引人入胜的v.使全神贯注( engross的现在分词 ) | |
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15
wilt
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| v.(使)植物凋谢或枯萎；(指人)疲倦，衰弱 | |
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touching
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| adj.动人的，使人感伤的 | |
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indite
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| v.写（文章，信等）创作 | |
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18
certify
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| vt.证明，证实；发证书(或执照)给 | |
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maim
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| v.使残废，使不能工作，使伤残 | |
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Uranus
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| n.天王星 | |
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solace
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| n.安慰；v.使快乐；vt.安慰(物)，缓和 | |
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avocations
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| n.业余爱好，嗜好( avocation的名词复数 )；职业 | |
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23
bakers
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| n.面包师( baker的名词复数 )；面包店；面包店店主；十三 | |
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resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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stewardship
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| n. n. 管理工作；管事人的职位及职责 | |
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inventory
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| n.详细目录，存货清单 | |
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athletic
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| adj.擅长运动的，强健的；活跃的，体格健壮的 | |
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discourse
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| n.论文，演说；谈话；话语；vi.讲述，著述 | |
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witty
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| adj.机智的，风趣的 | |
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inscribe
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| v.刻；雕；题写；牢记 | |
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31
tithe
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| n.十分之一税；v.课什一税，缴什一税 | |
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32
ware
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| n.(常用复数)商品，货物 | |
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33
vessels
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| n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人 | |
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34
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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parsimony
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| n.过度节俭，吝啬 | |
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avarice
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| n.贪婪；贪心 | |
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covetousness
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38
purged
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| 清除（政敌等）( purge的过去式和过去分词 )； 涤除（罪恶等）； 净化（心灵、风气等）； 消除（错事等）的不良影响 | |
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39
allot
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| v.分配；拨给；n.部分；小块菜地 | |
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40
humble
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| adj.谦卑的，恭顺的；地位低下的；v.降低，贬低 | |
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41
whatsoever
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| adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么 | |
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42
flask
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| n.瓶，火药筒，砂箱 | |
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43
fowl
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| n.家禽，鸡，禽肉 | |
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44
omen
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| n.征兆，预兆；vt.预示 | |
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45
festive
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| adj.欢宴的，节日的 | |
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46
incurred
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| [医]招致的，遭受的； incur的过去式 | |
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47
treasury
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| n.宝库；国库，金库；文库 | |
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48
draughts
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| n. <英>国际跳棋 | |
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49
heed
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| v.注意，留意；n.注意，留心 | |
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50
engrave
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| vt.（在...上）雕刻，使铭记，使牢记 | |
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51
brazen
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| adj.厚脸皮的，无耻的，坚硬的 | |
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52
avert
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| v.防止，避免；转移(目光、注意力等) | |
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53
doom
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| n.厄运，劫数；v.注定，命定 | |
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