【11】The Flood 洪水
内容：
The Flood  


Towards the end of the Age of Bronze the human world became very cruel．


Men grew hungry，impolite and ungodly． Neither rightn or law was respected any longer， and the rule of hospitality was forgotten．Dressed up in human form， Zeus visited Arcadia andThessaly，and disliked the deadly wrongs of men ． He decidedto clear the earth of them all． Without hesitation he released therainy south wind and called upon the heartless Poseidon to help． Soon the whole world sank in a vast ocean，  and the entire humanrace disappeared in the unheard of flood， all but two poor Thessalians ．


These were an old childless couple， kind and faithful and contented with life． The man was called Deucalion and his wife Pyrrha．Son of Prometheus， Deucalion had been warned beforehand by his father of the coming flood  and made himself a hugechest． When the roaring flood came the couple hid themselves init and floated for nine days until it touched land again on Mt Parnassus．


The once active world presented a frightening sight． It was all death and ruin．Feeling lonely and unsafe， the old coupleprayed to the gods for help． A sage instructed them to cast the bones of their mother about ． The son of the wise Titan，  havingguessed the true meaning of the mysterious command，  started throwing stones behind him． A miracle occurred．  The stonesthat the man cast became men； the stones that the woman threwturned into women．Since then， people appeared on the land again．The Heroic Age had begun．


洪水


到了青铜期末代，人类世界变得非常残忍，人类也变得贪婪、粗鲁且不虔诚。公理与法律不再受到尊重。殷勤好客的风俗被遗忘。宙斯装扮成凡人的样子查看了阿卡迪亚和色萨利两地。他不喜欢凡人极度的罪恶，决心将他们从地球上铲除。他毫不犹豫地释放了夹雨的南风，并召来冷酷无情的波塞冬协助他。很快整个人类世界被淹没在一片汪洋之中。除了两名恭顺的色萨利人幸免于难外，人类被史无前例的洪水吞噬。


这对老夫妻没有孩子。他们善良、虔诚、对生活心满意足。丈夫是普罗米修斯的儿子，名叫丢卡利翁，妻子名为皮拉。丢卡利翁的父亲事先就警告他会爆发洪水，因此，他制了个巨大的箱子。当咆哮的洪水涌来时，夫妻俩就躲藏在箱中，这样漂泊了九天，最终漂到了帕那萨斯山。


曾经生机勃勃的大地呈现出恐怖的景象。死亡与毁灭四处可见。老夫妻深感孤独和危险。他们就向上帝祈祷，乞求帮助。一位圣人指示他们把母亲的遗骨掷向四周。这位聪明的泰坦的后代，马上悟出了这个神秘指示所隐含的意义。他们开始将石头抛向身后。奇迹出现了。男人抛出的石头变成了男人，女人抛的则变成了女人。从此人类再次在陆地上出现，英雄时代来临。

【12】Ajax（the Great）埃杰克斯（巨人）
内容：
Ajax（the Great）  


Ajax was a man of giant stature，daring but slow． When the Trojan War was about to break out he led his forces from Salamis to join the Greek army at Aulis． As one of the trustiest champions of the Greek cause， he was given thejob of guarding one end of the Greek camp near Troy． He was noted in the battlefield for his bravery and courage． After Achilles' death he became one of the two hot contestants for the dead hero's shield and armour， the other being Odysseus． When the weapons were finally judged to his rival， Ajax went mad for grief．Unable to get over the hardships， he took his own life．When，in order to seek the advice of， Odysseus came to visit the lower world， the shade of Ajax frowned uponhim． In the lower world Ajax chose to be a lion， guided clearly by the bitter recollection of his former life．


埃杰克斯（巨人）


埃杰克斯是位身材魁梧、骁勇善战、但头脑迟钝的人。当特洛伊战争即将爆发时，他率领军队从萨拉米斯到达奥尔墨斯加入了希腊军队。作为一名为希腊事业奋斗的最可信赖的斗士，他被派去保卫靠近特洛伊的希腊军营边界。战场上，他因作战勇猛而出名。阿基里斯死后，他成为两个最有可能获得阿基里斯的盾甲的有力竞争对手之一。另一名对手是奥德修斯。最后，他的对手胜利了，并得到了盾甲。埃杰克斯悲伤至极，无法自拔，最终结束了自己的生命。奥德修斯为了得到盲人底比斯的忠告而来到阴间；埃杰克斯的幽灵冲着他直皱眉头。在阴间，由于受到前世痛苦记忆的折磨，埃杰克斯选择了做一头狮子。

【13】Jason 杰森
内容：
Jason  


Among the pupils of the wise and just Centaur， there wasa boy named Jason．He was by birth a prince． His father Aeson was once king of Iolcus， but was overthrown by his own half brother Pelias． So he sent his baby son Jason to the Centaur for safekeeping． As a boy Jason took part in the boarhunt． When he grew up into a strong youth he was told of the secret of his birth． So he went to avenge his father's  wrongs ．


On his way back to his native city he met a weak old woman waiting to be helped across a mountain stream． Kind and polite， Jason carried the old lady on his back and walked across the stream． Little had he thought that the old woman was just Hera herself ． Thus he got the help and protection of a power fulfriend at the beginning of his life． As he lost one shoe in the stream he had to enter Pelias' palace in only one shoe．  Pelias was quite scared to see such a stranger because he had been warned by a prophet to be careful of a man wearing only one shoe． He was not surprised when Jason told him who he was and what his business was about． The artful Pelias welcomed hisnephew with false pride and  joy ； he promised to give up the kingdom to one who had proved himself worthy of it． And heurged the youth to bring the golden fleece back from Colchis． He felt quite certain that his nephew would never come back alivefrom the hopeless task． Pelias' prediction was quite right． Jasondied a poor death in the kingdom of Colchis．


杰森


半人半马的怪物（Centaur）既英明又公正。他的学生中有个名叫杰森的男孩。杰森是位王子，他的父亲埃宋曾是伊俄卡斯的国王，但后来王位却被他同父异母兄弟珀利阿斯夺去了。因此他把还在襁褓中的儿子送给Centaur照料。还是个孩子时，杰森就参加过捕猎野猪。当他长成一位强壮的小伙，知道自己身世的秘密后，他决定要为父亲所受的不公报仇雪恨。


在返回祖国的路上，他遇到一位老婆婆。她希望能有人帮她渡过山里的一条小溪。出于善良的天性和谦恭有礼的本能，杰森背起老人，淌过了小溪。他并未想到这位老婆婆竟是赫拉本人。因此他在生活的起点便得到了一位神通广大的朋友的帮助和保护。由于他在过河时遗失了一只鞋子，他不得不赤着一只脚走进了珀利阿斯的宫殿。当珀利阿斯看到这个陌生人时，他惊恐异常，因为一位预言家提醒他提防一个只穿了一只鞋的男人。当杰森告诉他自己是谁以及自己此行的目的时，他并没有感到奇怪。狡诈的珀利阿斯带着假惺惺的自豪和喜悦迎接了这位侄子。他发誓说，他愿意放弃王位，但接替他继承王位的人必须能够用事实证明自己确配接受王冠。于是，他怂恿年轻人去科尔切斯取回金羊毛。他断定他的侄子再不会活着回到他面前，因为这根本就是个不可能完成的使命。珀利阿斯的预言千真万确。杰森悲惨地死在科尔切斯王国。

【14】Io 伊俄
内容：
Io  


Io was the daughter of a rivergod．She was loved， run after and won by Zeus． Hera became so greeneyed that she flew down from Olympus one day to pay her rival  back ． Zeus，however， had foreseen her arrival and changed Io into abeautiful white little cow． Seeing through the trick， Hera asked for the cow as a present and Zeus had to give in to her  wish ． Then she left the cow to the care of a hundredeyed monster，Argus． Argus' eyes were ever open and no escape was possible． Unable to bear to see her so unhappy， Zeus sent Hermes down todestroy the monster．Dressed up as a shepherd， Hermes lulled Argus to sleep with his sweet songs and long stories， then killed him and set Io free． But Hera's anger was not to be calmed downyet． She sent a gadfly to attack the cow and drive her from land to land． In her misery the cow passed over the strait which divides Europe and Asia． In this way the strip of water got itsname  Bosporus ， the way of the cow．She wandered over thesea， which by chance got from her its name the Ionian  Sea ． In the end she arrived in Egypt where she was turned back into hernatural  form ． She settled down and gave birth to a son， Some of her children remained in Egypt and ruled as kings for a longtime．


伊俄


伊俄是河神的女儿，宙斯爱她、追求她、并得到了她。赫拉对此嫉妒不已。一天她飞下奥林波斯山向情敌施加报复。然而宙斯早已预见到她的光临，就将伊俄变成了一头美丽的小白牛犊，赫拉看穿了其中的诡计，非要一头牛犊作为礼物。宙斯无奈，只得让她如愿以偿。赫拉便将牛犊托付给百眼魔鬼阿刚斯看管。阿刚斯的眼睛永远睁着，要想逃脱是不可能的。看到伊俄如此忧郁，宙斯简直无法忍受，便令赫耳墨斯将魔鬼铲除。赫耳墨斯乔装成牧羊人给阿刚斯唱悦耳动听的歌，讲冗长乏味的故事以哄他入睡。之后便寻机杀死魔鬼，释放了伊俄。但赫拉的狂怒并未消除。她派了一只牛虻去攻击牛犊，使她颠沛流离。在十分悲痛之中，牛犊穿越了分隔欧亚大陆的海峡。从此这片狭长的水域被称作博斯普鲁斯海峡，意为牛犊之路。她接着漫游过海，这片大海也就在偶然中有了名称——伊奥尼亚海，最后她到了埃及，并恢复了她本来的体态和容貌。她在那里落户并生了个儿子。她的一些子孙就呆在了埃及，当了很长时间的国王。

【15】The Sirens 海妖塞壬
内容：
The Sirens  


Far out in the sea there was an island， on the rocky edge of which lived three Sirens， the three sisters of magic song．Half human and half bird， the Siren sisters sat in a field of flowers， singing in voices that excited the hearts of men． The attractive songs were so sweet that ships were attracted to the island and struck to pieces on the rocks． No sailor nor ship had ever been known to pass the Island of the Sirens without being attracted to  disaster ．


Acting on the advice of Circe， Odysseus took careful preparation against the Sirens． Before their ships came to where they could hear the song， Odysseus had himself tied to the  mast ， stopped the ears of his men with wax and ordered them to ignore his orders and gestures when they were passing the fatal island ．


Soon they came in sight of the rocky island， and the attractive song reached the ears of Odysseus． It moved him so much that he struggled in  despair  to free himself and shouted for his men to turn towards the rich and flowery grass land of the singing sisters． But no one paid any attention to him． The sailors kept straight on until they were completely out of hearing． Then his friends freed him and took the wax out of their ears． For once the Sirens had sung with no effects．The eldest of the sisters， Partherope， loved Odysseus so much that she threw herself into the sea after his ships had passed．


海妖塞壬


遥远的海面上有一岛屿，石崖边居住着唱魔歌的海妖塞壬三姐妹。半人半岛的塞壬姐妹们坐在一片花丛里，唱着盎惑人心的歌，甜美的歌声把过往的船只引向该岛，然后撞上礁石船毁人亡。过往的海员和船只都受到迷惑走向毁灭，无一幸免。


奥德修斯遵循女神喀耳斯的忠告。为了对付塞壬姐妹，他采取了谨慎的防备措施。船只还没驶到能听到歌声的地方，奥德修斯就令人把他拴在桅杆上，并吩咐手下用蜡把他们的耳朵塞住。他还告诫他们通过死亡岛时不要理会他的命令和手势。


不久石岛就进入了他们的视线。奥德修斯听到了迷人的歌声。歌声如此令人神往，他绝望地挣扎着要解除束缚，并向随从叫喊着要他们驶向正在繁花茂盛的草地上唱歌的海妖姐妹，但没人理他。海员们驾驶船只一直向前，直到最后再也听不到歌声。这时他们才给奥德修斯松绑，取出他们耳朵中的蜡。这次塞壬海妖们算是白唱了歌。三姐妹中的老大帕耳塞洛珀深深地爱慕着奥德修斯。当他的船只走过后，她就投海自尽了。

【16】Hecuba 赫克犹巴
内容：
Hecuba  


He cuba's life was one of grief and sorrow． She saw withher own eyes her eldest born Hector killed and insulted by Achilles． She saw her son Polites  slain  in front of her by Pyrrhus． And she saw her husband，the aged Priam， dragged towards the household altar and ruthlessly  butchered there． After the fall of Troy she was carried into  slavery ． Shehad the misfortune to witness her daughter Polyxena， her soleconsolation in  bondage ，sacrificed at the tomb of Achilles． She had the sad fate to see washed ashore the corpse of her young estson Polydorus， who had been entrusted to the Thracian  king for safekeeping． With her fifty children all dead she became thequeen of sorrows from whom no other woman could obtain the crown ． Yet in her distress and despair， she plucked up hercourage to avenge herself upon the Thracian king， who had murdered her son in order to get her son's gold．Later， as Dionysushad  prophesied ， she was transformed into a dog with bloodshoteyes and， unable to endure the new misery， she leapt into thesea and thus ended her unfortunate life．


赫克犹巴


赫克犹巴的一生充满了痛苦与悲哀。她亲眼目睹了长子海克特被阿基里斯侮辱，尔后被杀害；儿子波利斯被皮洛士杀死在自己面前；年迈的丈夫皮安姆被拖到家庭祭坛残酷地处死。特洛伊沦陷后，她成了一名奴隶。她又不幸地看到了自己在奴役中的惟一安慰——女儿波里丝娜被血祭于阿基里斯的墓前。为了使最小的儿子波里德诺斯能得到妥善的照顾，她把他委托给了塞希国王。可是，不幸的命运又使她看到了被冲到海边的儿子的尸体。她的50个孩子都死了，赫克犹巴因此成为悲哀女王，而别的女人都无法得到这顶王冠。然而，即使处于痛苦与绝望之中，她仍旧鼓足勇气向塞希国王复仇，因为塞希国王为了得到她儿子的黄金而杀死了他。后来，正如狄俄尼索斯所预言，她被变成了一条狗，眼带血丝。她不堪忍受这种新的痛苦，就跳进海里，结束了自己不幸的一生。

【17】The Four Ages 四个时代
内容：
The Four Ages  


There had been four ages since the human world first cameinto  being ． They are the Golden Age，the Silver Age， the Age of Bronze and the Age of Iron．The Golden Agewas the best of all． It was an age when Kronus sat on thethrone． Generous nature met all the needs of  men ． There wereno extremes of cold and heat． And the evils of the human worldwere still kept in the cask． Epimetheus guarded the cask and Pandora was not yet made to open． Men lived a happy life．They were forever young． They were always eating richly and knew neither hard labour nor sorrow． When death came it came like apeaceful sleep． And they became good spirits in  heaven ．


The Silver Age was one in which the human race was somewhat less valuable in body and mind． The period was of helpless be ginning．It lasted a hundred years． And it was the time of manhood，short and troubled． Men spent in ignorance and evil． They no longer admired the gods and offered no sacrifices．However， as the race of the Silver Age was not entirely lack of goodness， they had some honour and lived on as spirits under the earth．


During the age of Bronze men became further  degenerated ． Dressed in bronze and armed with weapons of bronze， they live din the houses of bronze．Cruel and heartless， they delighted inwar and died in endless struggle．When they passed away， they came into the darkness of the lower world．


The last age，that of Iron，was one of continual care and grief． There was no family love，no sense of respectful duty， no friend ship and hospitality．Nor was there any faith， truth and justice．Evil was widespread，might was right， and the flames of war burnt the surface of the earth． It was a race of men given up by gods ．


四个时代


人类产生以来经历了四个时代：黄金时代、白银时代、青铜时代、铁器时代。黄金时代最为美好。克鲁娜斯坐在御座上。慷慨的大自然满足了人类的一切要求。没有严寒酷暑。人间的不幸被拘禁在桶中。这只桶由厄庇墨透斯保管，而潘多拉还没有出世来打开桶盖。人们生活美满，青春永存。他们常常举行盛宴，大吃大喝，而对艰辛与悲哀一概不知。死亡的来临犹如酣睡，死后他们变成精灵升入天堂。


在白银时代，人类在体力与智力方面感觉欠佳。这种孤弱的开端延续百年。人类在愚昧与不幸中度过了这一短暂而焦虑的成年期。他们不再崇拜天神，也不再献祭。好在白银时代的人类并非一点美德也不具备。他们有廉耻之心，他们死后作为神灵继续在阴间生活。


在青铜时代，人类更加堕落。身着青铜盔甲，手握青铜兵器，住在青铜铸造的房中。他们残忍无情，尚武好战，最终在无止尽的战争中消亡。死时，他们降临阴间。


最后一个时代——铁器时代，这是一个持续烦恼与悲伤的时代。没有亲人的爱，没有孝顺长辈的责任感，没有友谊，没有礼仪，更没有信仰、真理与正义。罪恶四处蔓延，强权即公理。战火烧焦了地球的表面。天神摒弃了人类。

【18】The Golden Fleece 金色的羊毛
内容：
The Golden Fleece  


King Athamus of northern Greece had two children， Phrixus and Helle． After he left his first wife and mar ried Ino，a wicked woman， the two children received all the cruel treatment that a stepmother could  devise ， At one timethe kingdom was ruined by a famine． Ino persuaded her credulous husband into  believing  that his son， Phrixus，was the actual cause of the disaster， and should be sacrificed to Zeus to endit． The poor boy was then placed on the altar and was about tobe knifed when a ram with golden  fleece  was sent down by thegods and carried off the two children on its back． As they flew over the strait that divides Asia from Europe，Helle， faint at the vast expanse of water  below ， fell into the sea and was drowned．Thus the sea of Helle，Hellespont， became the ancient name of the strip of water． Her brother kept on and arrived in Colchis on the eastern shore of the Black Sea． There he sacrificed the ram to Zeus and gave its golden fleece to King Aeetes， who nailed it on a sacred tree and put a sleepless dragon in  charge ．


金色的羊毛


希腊北部国王阿塔玛斯有两个孩子，法瑞克斯和赫勒。当国王离开第一个妻子和一个名叫伊诺的坏女人结婚后，两个孩子受到后母残忍虐待，整个王国也受到毁灭性瘟疫的侵袭。伊诺在爱轻信的丈夫耳边进谗言，终于使国王相信：他的儿子法瑞克斯是这次灾害的罪魁祸首，并要将他献给宙斯以结束瘟疫。可怜的孩子被推上了祭坛，将要被处死。正在此时，上帝派了一只浑身上下长着金色羊毛的公羊来将两个孩子驮在背上带走了。当他们飞过隔开欧洲和亚洲的海峡时，赫勒由于看到浩瀚的海洋而头晕目眩，最终掉进大海淹死了。这片海洋古时候的名称叫赫勒之海，赫勒拉旁海峡便由此而来。金色公羊驮着法瑞克斯继续向前飞去，来到了黑海东岸的科尔契斯。在那里，法瑞克斯将公羊献给了宙斯；而将金羊毛送给了埃厄忒斯国王。国王将羊毛钉在一棵圣树上，并派了一条不睡觉的龙负责看护。

【19】Pygmalion 皮格马利翁
内容：
Pygmalion  


Pygmalion，King of Cyprus，was a famous sculptor． He made an ivory image of a woman so lovely that he fell in love with it． Every day he tried to make Galatea up in gold and  purple， for that was the name he had given to this mistress of his heart． He embraced and kissed it，but it remaineda statue． In despair he went to Aphrodite's  shrine for help． Offering rich sacrifice and sending up a passionate prayer， he begged the goddess to give him a wife as graceful as Galatea． Back home，he went straight up to the statue． Even as he gazedat it a change came over it． A faint colour appeared on its cheeks， a gleam shone from its  eyes and its lips opened into as weet smile． Pygmalion stood speechless when Ualatea began to move towards him． She was simple and sweet and alive！ Soon the room was ringing with her sliver voice． The work of his own hands became his wife．


皮格马利翁  


塞浦路斯的国王皮格马利翁是一位有名的雕塑家。他塑造了一位异常可爱的象牙少女雕像以致于爱上了它。每天他都给盖拉蒂穿上金、紫色相间的长袍。盖拉蒂是他给心上人所起的名字。他拥抱它、亲吻它，但是它始终是一尊雕像。绝望中，他来到阿芙罗狄蒂的神殿寻求帮助。他献上丰盛的祭祀品，并且深情地祷告，祈求这位女神赐给他一位如同盖拉蒂一样举止优雅的妻子。回家后，他径直来到雕像旁。就在他凝视它的时候，雕像开始有了变化。它的脸颊开始呈现出微弱的血色，它的眼睛释放出光芒，它的唇轻轻开启，现出甜蜜的微笑。盖拉蒂走向他的时候，皮格马利翁站在那儿，说不出话来。她单纯、温柔、充满活力！不久屋子里响起她银铃般悦耳的声音。他的雕塑成了他的妻子。

【20】Endymion恩底弥翁
内容：
Endymion  


End ymion was a handsome young shepherd who kept his flocks of sheep on Mt Latmos， Asia  Minor ．Living in aquiet，lovely valley， he lived a perfectly peaceful life． Sometimes when his sheep grazed happily on some rich grass around， he would lie down on the meadow and sleep soundly， completely free from worldly griefs and cares．


One clear，bright night， as Artemis drove her carriageacross the heavens， her eyes chanced upon a beautiful  youth sleeping in the peaceful valley below． Her heart beat with love and admiration． She came down from her moon carriage and gave a quick but passionate kiss on his face． Even the sleepy End ymion was fascinated at the sight of the fair maiden as heopened his eyes． But the vision disappeared so soon that he regarded the whole scene as a dream． Every night Artemis floated down to steal a kiss from the lips of the sleeping shepherd untilher occasional carelessness of  duty  caused the suspicion of Zeus． The father of gods and men decided to remove the earthlytemptation to the goddess forever． He called for Endymion on to him and ordered him to choose between death in any form and everlasting youth in perpetual dreamy  sleep ． The shepherdchose the latter，and he still slept on Mt Latmos， with the moon goddess sadly visiting and kissing him every night．


恩底弥翁  


恩底弥翁是位风度翩翩的青年牧羊人，他在小亚细亚的拉塔莫斯山牧羊。他住在一幽静明媚的山谷中，过着无忧无虑的日子。有时，当羊群在四周茂盛的草地上逍遥自在地吃草时，他就在草地上沉睡，丝毫不受人世间悲伤与忧虑的侵扰。


一个皓月当空的夜晚，当阿尔特弥斯驾着马车穿越天空时，无意中看到一位漂亮青年正在下面静谧的山谷中睡觉。她芳心荡漾，对他充满爱慕之情。她从月亮马车中滑翔而下，匆忙而深情地偷吻了一下他的脸，甚至当熟睡中的恩底弥翁睁开双眼看到仙女时，也有点神魂颠倒。但眼前的一切很快消失，以致他误认为这是一场梦幻。每天夜间，阿尔特弥斯都从空中飘下偷吻熟睡中的牧羊人。然而女神偶尔一次的失职引起了主神宙斯的注意。众神与人类之父决定永远清除人间对女神的诱惑。他将恩底弥翁召到身边令他作出选择：任何形式的死亡；或者在永远的梦幻中青春永在。牧羊人选择了后者。他仍睡在拉塔莫斯山上。每晚月亮女神怀着悲哀的心情看望他，吻他。