Chapter 30

30  Laodamia

 

When the Greek ships reached the Trojan land at the outbreak of the war，a prophet declared that the first Greek setting foot on the enemy soil was doomed to die ．Protesilaus，a Greek chief，seeing that there was a gooddeal of hesitation among his comrades，leapt overboard  and fellinstantly，pierced through by Hector's spear ．When his wife Laodamia heard of this she was simply inconsolable ．She offered rich sacrifice to the gods and begged Zeus to restore herslaughtered lord to her．Moved by her fidelity ，Zeus sent Hermes to escort the shade of Protesilaus back to the upper air tostay with his wife for three hours．Laodamia's joy knew nobounds when she held her slain lord once more in her arms．Protesilaus told her the story of his selfsacrifice，and Laodamiawas happy to become a bride for a second time．However，shegave a sharp cry when she saw Hermes coming at the fixed hourto take Protesilaus back to the lower world．So sad was she at the second parting that she died of grief not long after．The pairwere reunited in Hades．

30 拉俄达弥亚

 

当战争爆发时，段腊般抵达特洛伊地区。一位预言家宣称，第一个踏上敌人土地的段腊人注定会死。一位名叫普洛忒西拉斯的希腊酋长看着同伴踌躇不前，就从船上跳入水中，一瞬时他就倒下了，被海克特的长矛穿透了胸膛。他的妻子拉俄达弥亚听到这个消息，悲痛之心无法得以慰藉。她献给众神丰厚的祭品，哀求宙斯把被杀的丈夫还给她。她的忠贞感动了宙斯。宙斯派海默斯护送普洛忒西拉斯的幽魂回到阳间与他的妻子共度三个小时。她再次拥抱被杀的丈夫。她的喜悦无边无际。普洛忒西拉斯给她讲述了他自我献身的故事。拉俄达弥亚很高兴再做一次新娘。然而，当海默斯预定的时间到来时，普洛忒西拉斯将被带回阴间，她痛苦地叫了一声。对于第二次分别她如此悲痛不堪，以致于不久之后就在痛苦之中死去。他们在冥府之中再次团圆。