书城教材教辅新课标英语学习资源库-奥林匹斯山众神
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第21章 Apollo:theMusician(I)

音乐家阿波罗(一)

ApollotheMusicianoncekilledasatyr.Thiswashowitcameabout.Oneday,Athenemadeadoubleflutefromstagsbones,andplayedonitatabanquetbanquetn.宴会ofthegods.Shecouldnotunderstand,atfirst,whyHeraandAphroditewerelaughingsilentlybehindtheirhands,althoughhermusicseemedtodelighttheotherdeities.shethereforewentawaybyherselfintoaphrygianwood,tookuptheflutefluten.长笛,笛状物,凹槽againbesideastream,andwatchedherimageinthewater,assheplayed.Realizingatoncehowludicrousthatbluishbluishadj.带蓝色的faceandthoseswollencheeksmadeherlook,shethrewdowntheflute,andlaidacurseonanyonewhopickeditup.音乐家阿波罗有一次杀死了一个林神。那事情是这样的:一天,雅典娜用鹿骨做了一支双管长笛并在众神宴会上吹奏。她起初弄不明白为什么别的神祗都很喜欢她的音乐而赫拉和阿芙罗狄蒂却用手捂着嘴暗暗偷笑。于是,她独自一人走进弗里吉亚的一座森林,在河边吹奏笛子,边吹边观察自己在水里的倒影。她马上发现她吹笛子时脸色发青,双颊肿胀,显得滑稽可笑。她扔掉笛子,并且诅咒把笛子捡起的人。

ThesatyrMarsyas,afollowerofthegoddessCybele,wastheinnocentvictimofthiscurse.Hestumbledupontheflute,whichhehadnosoonerputtohislipsthanitplayedofitself,inspiredbythememoryofAthenesmusic,andhewentaboutPhrygiainCybelestrain,delightingtheignorantpeasants.TheycriedoutthatApollohimselfcouldnothavemadebettermusic,evenonhislyre,andMarsyaswasfoolishenoughnottocontradictthem.林神玛息阿——女神库柏勒的随从——便是这咒语的无辜牺牲者。他无意中捡起笛子,刚放到唇边,笛子由于还在雅典娜音乐的影响下便自动演奏起来。他追随库柏勒走遍弗里吉亚,用笛声打动了无知的乡野村民。他们胡乱说阿波罗未必能用里拉琴演奏出更为动听的音乐,玛息阿实在糊涂,居然想不到去纠正这种说法。

This,ofcourse,provokedtheangerofApollo,whoinvitedhimtoacontest,thewinnerofwhichshouldinflictinflictv.造成whateverpunishmenthepleasedontheloser.Marsyasconsented,andApolloimpanelledtheMusesbeingcharmedbybothinstruments,untillApollocriedouttoMarsyas:“IchallengeyoutodowithyourinstrumentasmuchasIcandowithmine.Turnitupsidedown,andbothplayandsingatthesametime.”

这事当然惹得阿波罗火冒三丈,他邀请玛息阿和他进行比赛,规定胜者可以用任何方式惩罚输者。玛息阿欣然同意,阿波罗组织缪斯当评委团。一直比赛下来,双方始终打成平局,缪斯们对两种乐器都十分欣赏。后来,阿波罗向玛息阿厉声喝道:“你能不能像我一样演奏你的乐器?把它倒过来拿,而且还要边演奏边唱。”

This,withaflute,wasmanifestlymanifestlyadv.明白地impossible,andMarsyasfailedtomeetthechallenge.ButApolloreversedhislyre,andsangsuchdelightfulhymnsinhonouroftheOlympiangodsthattheMusescouldnotdolessthangivetheverdictinhisfavour.Then,forallhispretendedsweetness,ApollotookamostcruelrevengeonMarsyas:flayinghimaliveandnailinghisskintoapine(or,somesay,toaplanetree),nearthesourceoftheriverwhichnowbearshisname.很明显,笛子不能倒过来吹,更不能边吹边唱,玛息阿没法接受这一挑战。但是阿波罗倒着拿起里拉琴,边奏边唱赞美奥林匹斯山诸神的歌曲,歌声悦耳动听,缪斯们不得不判他为胜方。接着,尽管阿波罗表面装得温文尔雅,但暗地里却对玛息阿作出了十分残酷的报复:他生剥玛息阿的皮,把他的皮钉在以他命名的河的发源处的一棵松树上(一说是棵梧桐树)。