《奥德赛·卷17》第13节
So she spake, and the swineherd departed when he heard that saying, and stood by the stranger and spake winged words: “Father and stranger, wise Penelope, the mother of Telemachus, is calling for thee, and her mind bids her inquire as touching her lord, albeit she has sorrowed much already. And if she shall find that thou dost speak nought but truth, she will clothe thee in a mantle and a doublet, whereof thou standest most in need. Moreover thou shalt beg thy bread through the land and shalt fill thy belly, and whosoever will, shall give to thee.” Then the steadfast goodly Odysseus answered him, saying: “Eumaeus, soon would I tell all the truth to the daughter of Icarius, wise Penelope, for well I know his story, and we have borne our travail together. But I tremble before the throng of the froward wooers, whose outrage and violence reach even to the iron heaven. For even now, as I was going through the house, when this man struck and pained me sore, and that for no ill deed, neither Telemachus nor any other kept off the blow. Wherefore now, bid Penelope tarry in the chambers, for all her eagerness, till the going down of the sun, and then let her ask me concerning her lord, as touching the day of his returning, and let her give me a seat yet nearer to the fire, for behold, I have sorry raiment, and thou knowest it thyself, since I made my supplication first to thee.” Even so he spake, and the swineherd departed when he heard that saying. And as he crossed the threshold Penelope spake to him: “Thou bringest him not, Eumaeus: what means the wanderer hereby? Can it be that he fears some one out of measure, or is he even ashamed of tarrying in the house? A shamefaced man makes a bad beggar.” Then didst thou make answer, swineherd Eumaeus: “He speaks aright, and but as another would deem, in that he shuns the outrage of overweening men. Rather would he have thee wait till the going down of the sun. Yea, and it is far meeter for thyself, O queen, to utter thy word to the stranger alone, and to listen to his speech.” Then the wise Penelope answered: “Not witless is the stranger; even as he deems, so it well may be. For there are no mortal men, methinks, so wanton as these, and none that devise such infatuate deeds.” So she spake, and the goodly swineherd departed into the throng of the wooers, when he had showed her all his message. And straightway he spake to Telemachus winged words, holding his head close to him, that the others might not hear:
注释摘要
这一段是全卷情节推进的一个关键节点：佩涅洛佩听闻厅堂里的陌生乞丐被打，又听欧迈俄斯说他自称有奥德修斯的消息，便急于召他前来当面询问。她的急切与奥德修斯（此时仍扮作乞丐）的谨慎之间形成了一次精巧的对话延宕。 佩涅洛佩派欧迈俄斯去请那陌生人。欧迈俄斯来到乞丐面前，称他为"父亲兼客人"——"父亲"在此是长者尊称，表明欧迈俄斯虽不知此人真实身份，却已对他生出亲近与…