希臘神話集

『希臘神話【21】Lotus Eaters 吃忘憂樹的人』
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．
吃忘憂樹的人
離開特洛伊城的第10天，奧德修斯和他的隨從來到了一個島上。島上的居民只以忘憂樹的果實和花為食物。這種神奇的植物，魔力極大，誰只要吃了它，就會忘記往事，而陷入恍恍惚惚的昏睡狀態。當奧德修斯的隨從到達時，島上居民友好地邀請他們吃這種甜美的食物。花果的魔力立即在他們身上起作用，使他們陷入了深沉的昏睡狀態。他們失去了對未來的希望。海和船在他們看來無聊而可惡。他們也不再急於見到妻兒和王國。奧德修斯見不到隨從返回的跡象，就頓生疑心。他和一些全副武裝的隨從出發了。他們要去查出事情的真相。不久，他就發現了那種食物神奇的魔力。他不許隨從碰這種植物，併發出命令：把那些懶倦的夥伴拖回船上；並把他們捆在凳子上。直到他們睡夠了，才解除了忘憂樹有害的魔力。他們毫不猶豫地揚帆起程，離開因吃忘憂樹上花果而昏睡的島上居民向前駛去。

『希臘神話【22】丹芙妮 Daphne』
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  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 ．
丹芙妮
丹芙妮是位嫵媚動人的仙女。有一天當她興高采烈地在林中遊玩時，她發現太陽神阿波羅用異常驚奇與羨慕的目光盯著自己。光芒四射的太陽使她害怕得飛跑起來。熱切的太陽神緊隨其後，竭力叫喊讓她止步。她的美麗與優雅觸發了他的激情。他惟恐這將是他們的最後一面。快步如飛的仙女拚命地奔跑，但情緒激昂的阿波羅緊追不放。她越過曠野，穿過人跡罕至的樹林，但追趕的腳步聲愈加逼近。他一邊追趕，一邊懇求心愛的仙女放慢腳步。他害怕仙女在石道上跌倒會擦破她那閃耀的皮膚。但奔逃的仙女根本不顧及這些。她甚至沒朝身後瞥了一眼，最終她氣喘吁吁地向她的父親（河神）求救。她的懇求馬上得到了回答。她很快發現自己如膠似漆地緊附地面。接著，妖嫩的皮膚上長出一層鬆軟的樹皮，她變成了一棵月桂樹。太陽神唉聲嘆氣地擁抱著樹榦，樹榦縮細了。為了表示他對仙女未泯的愛情，他將月桂樹作為他最喜愛的樹種，並決定將它作為一種對榮譽與威望的獎勵，把它授予那些永恆的詩人和流芳百世的詩。因此最傑出的詩人總希望獲得桂冠詩人的尊號。

『希臘神話【23】那西塞斯Narcissus』
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．
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．
那西塞斯
那西塞斯有個他至愛的孿生妹妹。這個非常美麗的妹妹死去的時候年紀還很小。那西塞斯非常思念她，甚至想跟她一起死去。
一天，他坐在溪旁毫無心思看著流水想念他失去的妹妹時，他看到一張像她的面孔正在注視著他。那種情形就像她妹妹成了河神而且就在河裡，可是她沒有說話。
那張那西塞斯看到的面孔實際上就是他自己的面孔在水裡的倒影，可是他不知道。那時還沒有像我們現在明亮的鏡子，一個人可以在比如說一面發光銅製盾狀的東西上看到自己容貌的這種觀念尚不很明確。那西塞斯就靠在水旁看著那像他妹妹美麗的面孔，猜疑到底她是誰？也不知道他是否能再見到他妹妹。
以後他天天都到溪旁註視他看到的面孔，一面又哀悼他妹妹，最後眾神為他感到很難過就把他變成了一朵花。
這朵花就是第一朵水仙花，所有這類花生長在池塘或溪旁時，仍然低下它們美麗的頭看著水裡自己的影子。

『希臘神話【24】伊克西翁Ixion』
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．
伊克西翁
以前有個叫伊克西翁的國王居住在色薩利。他既英俊瀟灑又力大無窮。他向美麗的姑娘黛求婚。黛和他一見傾心，但是她的父親卻極不情願離開他的孩子。最後只有當伊克西翁發誓讓黛的父親得到王室的金庫時，這位父親才答應把黛嫁給了國王。伊克西翁把黛領回家。但他卻絲毫沒有履行諾言的意思。很長時間過去了，老人沒有得到半厘錢。於是老人迫不及待地去找伊克西翁，絮絮叨叨攪得他不得安寧。終於伊克西翁決定索性徹底除掉老頭。他打開了金庫，一把將老人推了進去，然後將他活活燒死。
宙斯為此勃然大怒。驚恐的伊克西翁跑到天堂，苦苦哀求眾神和眾人之父寬恕他的不誠實。他的請求得到了准許，於是他興高采烈地在這輝煌璀璨的神的殿堂里呆了一會兒。他那雙好色的眼睛盯上了赫拉，她那光彩照人的美麗使他神魂顛倒。他忘記了家裡的黛。他盤算著要讓赫位與他一道私奔。看到這些，宙斯把一朵赫拉形狀的雲送到了伊克西翁跟前。這位不虔誠的國王和這朵雲做愛，並使她生下了半人半馬的怪物。怒不可遏的宙斯把伊克西翁打下了地獄，將他綁在一個不停旋轉的火輪上，這急速旋轉的火輪永遠折磨、撕扯著他的軀體。

『希臘神話【25】奧利安Orion』
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．
奧利安
奧利安是位身材高大的獵手。他是海神波塞冬漂亮的兒子。一天，他在森林中打獵，看到了阿爾特彌斯的仙女們――七顆明星。他如此愛慕她們的美麗，便追趕她們。困境中，美貌的仙女們向阿爾特彌斯求救。結果女神將她們都送入天空充當星座。後來奧利安愛上了另一少女墨洛珀。他魯莽急躁地施暴於她。這激怒了少女的父親俄諾皮耳國王。國王把他灌醉后，挖出了他的眼睛。隨著「獨眼巨人」大鎚的敲響，他來到火神赫斐斯托斯跟前。火神派嚮導帶他去太陽升起的東方。將眼球暴露於陽光后，他就恢復了視力，成了女神阿爾特彌斯永久的伴侶，並帶著他的獵狗天狼跟隨女神打獵。阿波羅並不贊成他們之間這種戀情。一天，阿波羅慫恿阿爾特彌斯向海中一移動的黑點射箭。她根本沒想到自己是將箭瞄準奧利安。當看清黑點竟是在游泳的戀人奧利安的頭時，阿爾特彌斯悲痛萬分。因她無力使他起死回生，只好將他送入天空作一星座。他的獵狗天狼（即天狼星座）則蹲在他的身旁。

『希臘神話【26】坦塔羅斯Tantalus』
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  ．
坦塔羅斯
坦塔羅斯是羅底亞富有而又強大的國王。他是宙斯和一位仙女的兒子，深受眾神喜愛。眾神請他參加宴會，與他們共享美酒與美食，並且還讓他了解他們的秘密。然而樂極生悲。或許是他偷了美酒、或者泄露了宙斯的秘密、或許是他太驕傲以至於獻上自己兒子珀羅普斯的肉來檢驗神的智慧，他招致了宙斯的憤怒，被打入了永遠黑暗的地獄中。在那裡他被迫站定於一小湖中，水沒至下頜，無數甜美的水果懸於頭頂和四周。他從不間歇地努力喝水，但水總是從嘴邊流走；他試圖抓住那些美味的水果，但總是被陣陣來風吹離，使他無法得到。因而他註定要在陰間遭受炙渴和難以忍受的飢餓。「tantalizing」一詞即由此而來，意思是在眼前卻無法得到的某個東西。

『希臘神話【27】阿卡同Actaeon』
Actaeon  
When she was tired with hunting Artemis used to take abath in a little mountain spring．One hot summer afternoon she was playing in the cool，quiet water with hermaidens when she heard a rustle behind the  bushes ．She feltquite angry to find that a young hunter was peeping admiringlyat her naked  body ．Her maidens gave a sharp cry and crowded around the goddess．But young Actaeon had seen the huntress．
Actaeon loved the hunting．He had been searching the woods every day．On this particular afternoon he felt so tired with running about that he，by accident，came over to the springin search of water．He was thus surprised to find Artemisba thing．The angry goddess was not to be calmed．She splashed water in the hunter's face．As soon as the water drops fell on Actaeon，he was changed into a  stag ．Just at that moment he heard the barking of his team of fifty hunting dogs．They were coming up to him．He was suddenly seized with  fear ，and presently ran away．The dogs，all driven mad by the goddess，ran after him closely．Running as fast as his legs could carry him，Actaeon was soon out of  breath ．Feeling certain that he 1was to die，he dropped to the ground and made no further attempt to get up．The dogs came nearer to their former masterand tore him to pleces．
阿卡同
當厭倦狩獵時，阿爾特彌斯常常在小山泉中淋浴。一個盛夏的下午，她和仙女們正在涼爽平靜的山泉中戲水時，突然聽到灌木叢中沙沙作響。她非常惱怒地發現一個青年獵人用愛慕的眼光偷看自己的裸體。仙女們發出刺耳的尖叫，簇擁在她身旁。但獵手阿卡同還是看見了女獵手阿爾特彌斯。
阿卡同酷愛打獵。他每日都穿越森林，搜尋獵物。而就在這個下午，他四處奔波頗感疲勞，因尋找水而偶然來到這片泉水旁。這樣，他就驚奇地發現水中沐浴的阿爾特彌斯。惱火的女神無法息怒。她將泉水濺到獵手的臉上。水落在他身上后，阿卡同轉眼就變成了一隻牡鹿。恰在這時，阿卡同聽到了獵狗的嚎叫，獵狗們向他撲來，他突然驚慌失措，拔腿逃跑。而那群被女神逼瘋了的獵狗們則在後面窮追不捨。阿卡同拚命狂奔，很快就上氣不接下氣。感覺自己肯定會死去，他就一下躺在地上，不想再起來了。獵狗趕上了從前的主人，將他撕成了碎塊。

『希臘神話【29】點金術The Golden Touch』
The Golden Touch  
Midas，son of the Great Goddess of Ida，by a hero whosename is not remembered ，was a pleasureloving King of Macedonian Bromium，where he ruled over the Brigians and planted his famous rose gardens．
One day，the old hero Silenus，Dionysus' former teacher，happened to straggle from the main body of the Dionysian army as it marched out of Thrace into Boeotia，and was found sleeping and drunken in the rose gardens．The gardeners tied him and ledhim before Midas，to whom he told wonderful tales of a big continent lying beyond the Ocean's stream ――altogether separatefrom the united mass of Europe，Asia，or Africa――where gigantic，happy，and longlived people lived in splendid cities，enjoying a wonderful law system．Midas，delighted with Silenus' fictions，entertained him for five days and nights，and then ordered a guide to lead him to Dionysus' headquarters．
Dionysus，who had been worrying about Silenus，sent toask how Midas wished to be rewarded．He replied without hesitation：『Please turn all I touch into gold．' However，not onlystones，flowers，and the furnishings of his house turned to gold but，when he sat down to table，so did the food he ate and the water he drank ．Midas soon begged to be freed from his wish，because he was fast dying of hunger and thirst．Highlyamused ，Dionysus told him to visit the source of the river Pactolus and there wash himself．He obeyed，and was at oncefreed from the golden touch，but the sands of the river Pactolusare bright with gold to this day。
點金術
彌達斯是伊達山大女神和一位姓名不詳的英雄的兒子。他是馬其頓勃洛彌恩的好尋歡作樂的國王。他統治勃里癸亞人民，種植聞名遐邇的玫瑰花。
一天，狄俄尼索斯酒神和追隨者從色雷斯出發去維奧蒂亞。狄俄尼索斯以前的老師森林之神老西勒諾斯不巧跟隊伍走散了。他喝得醉醺醺的，躺在彌達斯的花園裡酣然大睡。園丁發現了他，把他捆起來領去見彌達斯。他給彌達斯講述有關大洋河彼岸的、與連成一片的歐羅巴、亞細亞或阿非利加完全脫離的一個大洲的奇妙的故事。大洲上座落著神奇的城市，居住著身材高大、幸福而長壽的人民，擁有值得讚頌的法律制度。西勒諾斯的故事使彌達斯聽得欣喜若狂。他盛情款待老山神五天五夜，然後派嚮導護送他回到狄俄尼索斯的大本營。
狄俄尼索斯一直在為西勒諾斯擔心。現在，他派人問彌達斯有什麼要求，他應該怎樣報答他。彌達斯毫不遲疑地回答說，「請恩准使我摸到的一切都變成金子。」然而，變成金子的不僅僅是石塊、花朵和屋內的陳設。他坐下吃飯時，他吃的食物和喝的水也都變成金子。過了不久，彌達斯懇求狄俄尼索斯使他從他那願望中解脫開來，因為他饑渴交加，快死了。狄俄尼索斯逗弄彌達斯，開心得很。他叫彌達斯前往帕克托羅斯河的源頭，在河裡洗個澡。彌達斯依法行事，立即解除了點金術，但帕克托羅斯河的沙子至今因含金而閃閃發光。

『希臘神話【30】拉俄達彌亞Laodamia』
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．
拉俄達彌亞
當戰爭爆發時，段臘般抵達特洛伊地區。一位預言家宣稱，第一個踏上敵人土地的希臘人註定會死。一位名叫普洛忒西拉斯的希臘酋長看著同伴躊躇不前，就從船上跳入水中，一瞬時他就倒下了，被海克特的長矛穿透了胸膛。他的妻子拉俄達彌亞聽到這個消息，悲痛之心無法得以慰藉。她獻給眾神豐厚的祭品，哀求宙斯把被殺的丈夫還給她。她的忠貞感動了宙斯。宙斯派海默斯護送普洛忒西拉斯的幽魂回到陽間與他的妻子共度三個小時。她再次擁抱被殺的丈夫。她的喜悅無邊無際。普洛忒西拉斯給她講述了他自我獻身的故事。拉俄達彌亞很高興再做一次新娘。然而，當海默斯預定的時間到來時，普洛忒西拉斯將被帶回陰間，她痛苦地叫了一聲。對於第二次分別她如此悲痛不堪，以致於不久之後就在痛苦之中死去。他們在冥府之中再次團圓。

『希臘神話【31】阿瑞塞莎Arethusa』
Arethusa  
Arethusa was once a fairy maiden huntress．She carriedbow and arrows for Artemis in her hunting．She was sodevoted to her work that she cared for neither admirationnor love．One sunny summer day，she felt hot and found a coolstream quite attractive．She jumped into the delightful streamand happily started swimming．Presently she heard a bubbling in the stream and was surprised to find it was the thunderingvoice of the rivergod Alpheus．The maiden made for the shore and，fully naked，started running away．Taking a human form，the river-god followed closely in pursuit ．Onward they spedover hill and valley，across dark heights and over broad plains，until the waters of the western sea lay stretched out right before them ．Helplessly the exhausted Arethusa cried to her patronessfor help．Artemis instantly cast a cloud over her body，but the pigheaded Alpheus was not to be tricked．Then a cold sweatbroke from the maiden's arms and legs．The drops of water fellfrom all over her body．She had been turned into a spring！Alpheus recognized her new form and presently took his formershape to join with Arethusa and enjoy her company．Artemisthen broke the ground and Arethusa sank down and flowed all the way through the under world from Southern Greece to Sicily ．She rose up again at Syracuse，only to find that therivergod had endured the darkness of the lower world andturned up as a stream as well．Mixing his waves with hers，hegained her love in the end．
阿瑞塞莎
阿瑞塞莎是位迷人的仙女獵人。每逢阿耳特彌斯打獵時，她負責攜帶弓箭。她對工作專心致志，既不考慮讚美也不顧及愛情。一個炎熱的夏日，她感到很熱，便找到一條涼爽的溪流，深感愜意。她跳入令人愉快的溪水中，興緻勃勃地暢遊。不一會兒，聽到水泡聲，她大吃一驚地發現：那是河神（阿耳法斯）發出的悶雷聲。仙女向岸邊游去，赤身裸體地跑開了。河神便裝成凡人的樣子在後緊緊地追趕著。他們一直向前飛奔，越過小山，跨過峽谷，翻越大山，掠過廣闊的平原，直到西海的水域展現在他們的眼前。絕望中精疲力竭的阿瑞塞莎哭叫著向她的保護神求救。阿耳特彌斯迅速將一層雲霧披在仙女的身上。但頑固不化的阿耳法斯並未上當受騙。接著一股冷汗從仙女的肢體上溢出，並且渾身上下淌著水珠，她被變成一眼泉水了。河神認出了泉水就是仙女，他自已馬上也變回了原來的模樣，以便與仙女同流，享受她的陪伴。阿耳特彌斯只好劈開地面，仙女阿瑞塞莎便一直沉陷下去，穿過陰間，從希臘漂流到西西里島。最後在錫拉庫扎露面，結果發現河神忍受了陰間的黑暗，也變成了一條溪流出現在她面前。他們交匯在一起，他終於得到了她的愛。

希臘神話【28】阿特拉斯和珀爾修斯Atlas and Perseus』
Atlas and Perseus  
After the killing of Medusa，Perseus，carrying her head with him，flew far and wide，over land and sea．As night came on，he reached the western limit of the earth ，where the sun goes down．Here he would gladly have rested till morning．It was the kingdom of King Atlas，who was bigger than all other men．He was rich in flocks and herds and had no neighbor or rival to invade his country．But his chiefpride was in his gardens，whose fruit was of gold，hanging fromg olden branches，half hid with golden leaves．Perseus said tohim，「I come as a guest．I claim Zeus for my father and I killedMedusa．I seek rest and food．」But Atlas remembered that anancient prophecy had warned him that a son of Zeus should one day rob him of his golden  apples ．So he answered，「Go away！Or neither your false claims of glory or parentage shall protect you」 ；and he attempted to drive him out．Perseus，finding thegiant too strong for him，said，「Since you value my friendship solittle，please accept a gift」；and turning his face away，he heldup Medusa's head．Atlas was changed into stone．His beard and hair became forests，his arms and shoulders cliffs，his head asummit，and his bones rocks．Each part increased till he becamea mountain，and（such was the pleasure of the gods）heaven with all its stars rests upon his shoulders．
阿特拉斯和珀爾修斯
珀爾修斯殺死墨杜薩之後，提著她的腦袋翻山越海四處飛行。夜晚降臨時，他來到日落之處，地球的最西端。他很想在這裡休息過夜。這是阿特拉斯國王的王國。阿特拉斯長得五大三粗，天下無雙。他擁有成群的牛羊，沒有來自鄰幫或敵人的侵犯。不過，他最引以自豪的是他的果園。那兒在金葉的虛掩下，金樹枝上掛滿了金蘋果。珀爾修斯對阿特拉斯說，「我是來作客的。我的父親是宙斯，我殺死了墨杜薩。我來是想找個休息的地方和充饑的食物」。然而，阿特拉斯想起古時候的預言說過，有一天，宙斯的一個兒子將奪走他的金蘋果。於是，他回答道：「走開！你自吹自擂的光榮業績和高貴血統一類謊話都救不了你的命」。說著，阿特拉斯便動手想把珀爾修斯趕出去。珀爾修斯發現巨人力大無比，他對付不了，便說：「既然你看不起我對你的友誼，那就請你勉為其難，接受我的禮物吧」。他轉過臉去，高舉起墨杜薩的腦袋。阿特拉斯頃刻間化成了石頭。他的鬍鬚和頭髮變成樹林；雙臂和肩膀變成了峭壁；頭成了山頂；骨頭成了岩石。他身體的每個部分都不斷膨脹，終於成了一座大山。根據神祗的心愿，天體及其群星落在他肩頭，由他來背負。

『希臘神話【32】阿爾特彌斯Artemis』
Artemis  
Apollo drove his golden carriage across the heavens during the day，admired as the sun-god．Artemis also raced across the sky in solemn  at night，respected as the moon-goddess．Sitting in an airy carriage drawn by milk white horses，「the queen of wide air」  gave off silver light all over the sleeping world below．Though she remained single all her life，the maiden heart of the goddess was at least for once excited as she saw the beautiful youth Endymion sleeping．
She was pure and fair and calm．She was the example of maiden modesty and grace．Just as Apollo represents manly beauty，so Artemis stands for feminine purity and virginity ．As their patron goddess she took it as her duty to protect marrying girls and young women in trouble．It was her altar that those maidens turned for love and happiness．
The twin sister of Apollo was also the goddess of hunting and wild life ．Dressed in a short hunting-suit coming up to the knee and followed by a team of noisy lovely fairy maidens，Artemis had always her bow of pearl  and shining arrow with her and travelled in the woods in search of wild animals．When she felt hot and tired she would retire to a spring to take a bath．It was here that young Actaeon accidentally came and suffered cruel treatment at the hands of the goddess．Indeed，the goddesscould be thoroughly heartless and stopped to be lovely as soon as the bad side of her nature got the upper hand in her．The sadthing of Niobe was just a case in point．
阿爾特彌斯
白天阿波羅駕駛著金色戰車穿越天空，被仰慕為太陽神。晚上，阿爾特彌斯以莊重的姿態飛越夜空，被敬仰為月亮女神。坐在乳白色戰馬驅動的空中馬車中，這位「廣闊天空的王后」向沉睡的大地散發出銀色的光芒。她終身未嫁，但至少有一次當她看到英俊的恩底彌翁酣睡時，女神萌發了愛慕之情。
阿爾特彌斯心靈純潔，容貌娟秀安祥。她是少女端莊嫻雅的楷模。如果說阿波羅代表了男性美，那麼她則象徵著女性美――貞潔。作為守護神，她把保護困境之中的待嫁女子當作自己義不容辭的責任。少女們都來到她的聖壇前祈求愛情與幸福。
作為阿波羅的孿生妹妹，她也是狩獵女神。她身穿及膝的短獵裝，有喧鬧可愛的仙女尾隨身後。阿爾特彌斯總是手持珍珠色的弓和發亮的箭，在林中漫遊，尋找獵物。當她又累又熱時，就來到泉水旁沐浴。而當阿卡同無意間來到這裡時，卻遭到了女神的虐待。事實上，當兇殘的一面佔了上風時，女神就會變得殘酷無情。阿卡同的遭遇正說明了這一點。

『希臘神話【33】海爾墨斯Hermes』
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 ．
海爾墨斯
海爾墨斯一生下來就被任命為奧林波斯山的賊神。他出生後幾個小時的時候就做了賊。黃昏時分，他感到飢餓，於是還是嬰孩的海爾墨斯離開了他的搖籃去找食物吃。他碰巧看見阿波羅的牛在草地里吃草，於是他偷走了許多牛，並將樹枝綁在牛腳上，讓腳印變得模糊不清。他殺了其中兩頭牛，美餐了一頓。然後悄然地回到他媽媽的房裡，爬上床。當阿波羅發現牛少了，來質問他時，海爾墨斯佯作不知。憤怒不已的太陽神把他拖到奧林波斯山上，告他偷竊並責令將牛如數還給主人。為了平息這件事，小海爾墨斯將他用烏龜殼做的琴送給阿波羅。阿波羅得到這件禮物非常高興，並送給他的小兄弟一支魔棍，這支魔棍可以化解敵對力量。
到了一定的時候，海爾墨斯被指定為宙斯和眾神的傳令官。眾神賜他一雙帶翅膀的草鞋和一頂帶翅膀的帽子，讓他可以行動神速。海爾墨斯成了宙斯和凡世之間傳遞消息的人。
海爾墨斯是行人的保護神。十字路口或街角都有他的半身像和雕像。並作為獨特的標記，看護著每一個過往的人。這些雕像也用海爾墨斯的名字命名，並被視為神聖不可侵犯的。任何毀壞雕像的行為都被認為是褻瀆神靈，要被處以極刑。一次在雅典城，海爾墨斯的像遭到大量破壞。這一搗毀神像的行為在國民中引起了強烈的反響。毫不誇張地說，它改變了雅典歷史發展的全部進程。

『希臘神話【34】維納斯和阿多尼斯Venus and Adonis』
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．
One day，after warning him thus，she left for Olympus inher carriage．Quite by chance Adonis' hunting dogs found aboar，which roused Adonis to enthusiasm．He hit the beast with an arrow，but the boar，turning on him，buried its white tusk deep into his tender side and trampled him to death．When Aphrodite came back to find her lover cold in death，she burst into a passion of tears ．Unable to take him back from the lower world，she sprinkled wine on Adonls' blood  and turned it into anemone，a delicate purple flower．
Aphrodite was not calmed down yet．In grief and despair she flew to Zeus and begged Zeus' sympathy．Hades was by no means prepared to meet her request．After much dispute anagreement was worked out under which Adonis was to spend half the year above ground with Aphrodite，but the remaining six months in the Elysian Fields．Therefore，in spring time Adonis came back to the loving embrace of Aphrodite ，but when winter came he had to return most reluctantly to Hades．
維納斯和阿多尼斯
阿芙羅狄蒂愛阿多尼斯勝過愛別的任何人，因為他是一個精神抖擻、生氣勃勃的少年獵手。她離開了奧林波斯山的住所來到林中。她裝扮成一個女獵手，讓這個年輕人整日陪伴左右，並與他一起游遍了山林、河谷。她跟著獵狗，歡呼雀躍，追趕著無害的動物。他們一起渡過了一段美好時光。雖然她奉勸了他許多次不要捕殺像獅子和狼這樣的野獸，但年輕人只是嘲笑她的想法。
有一天，當她如此奉勸他之後，她坐上馬車去奧林波斯山。非常湊巧，阿多尼斯的獵狗發現了一頭野豬，使阿多尼斯熱血沸騰，躍躍欲試。他一箭射中了這頭野豬，但是野豬沒死，掉過頭向他衝擊，長牙深深地扎進阿多尼斯的要害部位，將他抵死。當阿芙羅狄蒂回來之後，發現她的戀人屍骨已寒，她大哭起來。但無法將他從地府再拉回陽間，她便在阿多尼斯的血上灑上葡萄酒，將它變作秋牡丹，一種紫色的小花。
阿芙羅狄蒂的心並沒有因此平靜下來，在憂傷和絕望心情的籠罩下，她飛到宙斯處，乞求他的憐憫。哈得斯一點也不打算答應她的要求。經過一番口舌之爭，他們達成協議：阿多尼斯每年可以到陽間和阿美羅狄蒂相聚半年，但剩下的六個月得到天堂渡過。由此每當春天的時候，阿多尼斯就轉世回到阿芙羅狄蒂身邊享受她愛的擁抱，但到了冬天他就得不情願地回到哈得斯那兒。

『希臘神話【35】回聲和那西塞斯Echo and Narcissus』
Echo and Narcissus  
Narcissus was a handsome youth．His lovely face and graceful form were the admiration of all who looked upon him．And he knew it．He was proud that he thought no one buthimself was worthy to see his youthful beauty．Thus given up tosweet thoughts of self，Narcissus avoided all company．Heroamed the wooded little valleys every day，madly in love withhimself．
When he was delightfully wandering through the woods oneday，a wood fairy maiden，Echo by name，caught sight of him．She was excited at once．Joyfully coming down towards Narcissus，she stretched out her loving arms．To her dismay，however，the young man roughly brushed her aside and went by without so much as a glance at her．The poor fairy maiden's face turned red and quickly withdrew to a shady spot ，following the object of her love with her longing eyes．
Presently Narcissus stopped to drink from a little stream．Kneeling down on the bank，he saw a lovely face in the clear water．His heart gave a beat．He smiled and was smiled back to．Thinking that it must be a maiden in love with him，he bent down to kiss her．And her lips also drew near his．But as soon a she touched the clear surface the lovely face disappeared．The angry youth was now desperate．Never had he been looked downupon like that before．Day and night，he stayed at the stream without drinking and eating．Before long he died，never suspecting that his maiden was just his own image in the stream．The gods took pity on the fair dead body and turned it into a flower bearing his name．
The intoxicated  Echo saw all this．Slowly she became weak for despised love，until at last nothing remained of her except her voice．
回聲和那西塞斯
那西塞斯是一位英俊的青年，面容可愛，體形優美。他深信，他的容貌會使每個見到他的人羨慕不已。他很驕傲，認為除了自己之外，別人都不配欣賞他那充滿青春氣息的面龐。因而，他沉溺於甜美的自我欣賞之中，遠離所有的人，在蒼翠蓊鬱的小山谷中終日閑逛，他成了一位自戀狂。
一天，那西塞斯在樹林中愉快地遊盪。一位名叫回聲的仙女一看見他就興奮起來；她伸出愛的雙臂，高興地走向那西塞斯。然而，令她驚愕的是，這位青年粗暴地將她推開，連看都不看她一眼就走開了。這位可憐的仙女羞紅了臉，迅速退到遮陰處，含情脈脈地凝望著心上人。
不久，那西塞斯來到一條小溪邊飲水。當他跪在岸邊時，他發現清澈的溪水中有一張非常可愛的面龐。他非常激動，並對著水中的人微笑，水中人也給了他一個微笑。他認為，一定是一位仙女愛上了他。於是，他就蹲下去吻她，她的嘴唇也向他靠攏。但是，當他的嘴唇一接觸清澈的溪水，水中那張可愛的臉就消失了。這位惱怒的青年人此時變得絕望了，他從未被人如此鄙視過。他日夜呆在溪邊，不吃不喝，不久就死了。他從未懷疑過水中的女子只是自己的影子罷了。眾神非常憐憫他那優美的軀體，把他變成了一朵同名的花。
那位陶醉於愛河的回聲親眼目睹了這一切變化。慢慢地，她由於單相思而日漸憔悴；最後，除了聲音之外，她已經一無所有。

『希臘神話【36】泰瑞西斯Tiresias』
Tiresias  
Tiresias was a blind，darkseeing prophet of Thebes．Hewas struck with blindness  in his youth，because he had spied unwittingly on the goddess Athena．He was wandering in the woods one day when quite unexpectedly he saw anaked maiden bathing in a placid lake ．Little did he know that he had offended the virgin goddess．Taken unaware and scarlet with wrath，the goddess exclaimed that whoever had the boldness to steal a glance at her naked body was doomed to perpetual blindness．But when she learned later that the offence was unintentional ，it was too late for her to take back what she had said．Taking pity on the poor youth for the loss of his sight，she obtained from Zeus an exceptional long life for him，and from Apollo a divine power of prophecy．Besides，she provided him with a marvellous sharpness of ear，so that he could under stand the voices of all birds．And she filled his mind with mystic knowledge of things past and of things to come．In short shegave him quite an amount of her own wisdom．He was the firstto recognise and welcome Dionysus，god of feast and wine，on the The ban land．When the infant Heracles caught Hera's two serpents in its hands，it was Tiresias who cast the child's fortune and revealed the divine origin and destiny of the boy ．When Oedipus abused Tiresias as having had a hand in themurder of Laius，Tiresias had the fearless courage to tell thetruth that Oedipus was the murderer．Even in the lower world he continued to prophesy．There he helped Odysseus when the hero came to him for advice．Alive，he was highly respected byall；dead，he enjoyed the generous air and rosy light in the land of the Blest．
泰瑞西斯
泰瑞西斯是位只能看見黑暗的底比斯先知。由於他年輕時不小心窺見了女神雅典娜，他的雙目失明。一天，他在森林裡漫步時，意外地看見一位全身裸露的仙女正在平靜的湖水中沐浴。他不知道他已經冒犯了這位貞潔的女神。因莫名其妙地被人看了個一清二楚，女神勃然大怒。她詛咒道：誰膽敢偷看她的玉體，誰就必將永遠變瞎。但當後來她得知泰瑞西斯並非有意冒犯她時，再想收回她的咒語已經不可能了。出於憐憫，她從宙斯那裡替這位貧窮的，喪失了視力的年輕人爭取到了長壽；又從阿波羅那裡要來了神聖的預言本領；並且，她賦予他神奇敏銳的雙耳，這樣他就可以明白各種鳥語。此外，雅典娜給了他魔術般的本領，使他既知過去，也能預測未來。總而言之，她使他擁有了她自身智慧中的很大一部分。在底比斯，是泰瑞西斯第一個認出了宴會神、也是酒神的狄俄尼索斯，並向他表示歡迎。當海格克斯還是個嬰兒，用手抓起赫拉的兩條毒蛇時，也正是泰瑞西斯卜算出了這個孩子的未來並預示出他的出身及其命運。當奧狄浦斯指責泰瑞西斯參與謀殺了拉伊俄斯時，泰瑞西斯勇敢地講出了事實真相：奧狄浦斯才是兇手。即使到了地獄，他依然預測未來。在那兒，當奧德修斯前去徵求他的意見時，泰瑞西斯幫助了他。活著的時候，他受到人們的普遍敬重；死後，在不萊斯特這塊土地上，他享受著無比清新的空氣和玫瑰般絢麗多彩的陽光。

『希臘神話【37】法厄同Phaeton』
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 ．
法厄同
法厄同是阿波羅與克里敏尼生的兒子。母親給法厄同灌輸了許多父親可歌可泣的故事，以致於法厄同變得十分得意忘形。無論走到何處，他總是反覆給人們講述那些故事，最後大家都厭煩了。有一次一位夥伴要他顯露一下從天而降的本領，他頗感棘手，就痛哭流涕地將這一不快之事回家告訴了母親，母親無能為力只好將他派到東方向父親阿波羅求援。
阿波羅寬厚地接待了兒子，繞有興趣地聽了事情的原委，然後阿波羅站在斯蒂克斯河邊發誓：按兒子的請求予以幫助。然而令他驚訝的是：兒子原來是想駕駛他那帶有火焰的戰車。他警告兒子，路上會有危險。但無濟於事。因太陽神已在河邊發過誓，一言既出、駟馬難追。為避免災難，阿波羅絕望地做最後的努力，他警告兒子要在道路中間行駛，遇事要及時勒馬。
法厄同懷著喜悅的心情跳上戰車出發了。很快他就迷失了方向。看到前後令人頭暈目眩的高度和浩瀚的天空，他變得臉色蒼白。戰馬狂奔了，簡直無法駕駛。恐懼之下，他把韁繩鬆了。戰車向地面猛栽下去。河流乾涸了，作物枯萎凋謝了。從燒焦的土地上傳來了人類受難的慟哭。暴跳如雷的宙斯很快找到了這場亂子的原因。他毫不猶豫地朝高傲自大、粗心大意的法厄同施放了雷電中最猛烈的一擊。法厄同徑直地掉入江中。父母為失去兒子而哀痛。法厄同的姐妹們也為他的夭折而悲傷。她們都變成了白楊樹，而她們的淚水則變成了琥珀。

『希臘神話【38】不和果The Apple of Discord』
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．
Paris was son of Priam，king of Troy．As his mother dreamed at his birth that she was bearing a piece of burning wood，the babe was regarded as representing the destruction of the city itself．To save the kingdom from possible disaster，the parents had the helpless infant left on top of Mt Ida to die．However，he survived his ill fate ．Brought up by the herdsmen，he became a strong，handsome lad．He was secretly united with Oenone，a fair and faithful mountain fairy maiden．On this particular day，as he was taking care of his sheep on the mountainside，the youth was surprised to see four human beings standing before him．Hermes told him about his mission and left．The three holy beauties then competed with each other，showing themselves up before the shepherd．Hera promised to make himking of Asia．Athena undertook to help him get imperishablefame in war；whereas Aphrodite offered to secure for him the love of the most beautiful woman in the world．The primitive instinct of the boy thus moved，Aphrodite won the prize，and theother two goddesses left in anger and became deadly enemies ofTroy．
不和果
珀琉斯和海神忒提斯結婚時邀請了所有的神祗。但是，顯然有一位女神不在邀請之列，她就是厄里斯――不和女神。由於她在所到之處播撒不和之種，很自然，人們並不希望她出席婚宴。理所當然，厄里斯為此感到憤怒。她決定嘲弄宴會上的眾神。當新娘、新郎退場后，厄里斯偷偷溜進了大廳，向地上拋出了一個金蘋果，上書「獻給最美的人」。蘋果在赫拉，雅典娜和阿芙羅狄蒂三位女神間引起了激烈爭執。宙斯明智地決定將她們送到愛達山上一位名叫帕里斯的牧童那裡，讓他來判斷誰最美。海爾墨斯作為使者，手持金蘋果，領著三位女神出發了。
帕里斯是特洛伊國王皮安姆的兒子，由於他母親在他出生時夢到自己正手持一根燃燒的斷木，於是人們認為嬰兒會給城市帶來毀滅。為了挽救王朝，免受可能之災，國王及王后把孩子扔到了愛達山上。但是，孩子幸運地逃離了死亡。在牧人們的精心撫養下，孩子長得既強壯又英俊。他偷偷地與奧諾妮，一位漂亮忠誠的山神結了婚。那一天，帕里斯正在山腰照看他的羊群，他驚奇地發現四個人正在他面前。海爾墨斯給他布置了任務后離去了。三位美麗的女神立即互相爭吵起來，並且充分向牧童顯示自己的美貌。赫拉許諾要使他成為亞洲國王；雅典娜願意幫助他在戰爭中得到不朽的榮譽；而阿芙羅狄蒂則答應他得到世上最美麗女人的愛。男孩原始的本性被激發了出來，阿芙羅狄蒂得到了金蘋果，而另兩位女神則怒氣沖沖地離去了，並成了特洛伊城最可怕的敵人。