the history-第43章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
companions； I command thee to begone from my land within the space of three days… and I warn you； that otherwise at the end of that time you will be treated as enemies。〃 Such was the tale told me by the priests concerning the arrival of Helen at the court of Proteus。 It seems to me that Homer was acquainted with this story； and while discarding it； because he thought it less adapted for epic poetry than the version which he followed； showed that it was not unknown to him。 This is evident from the travels which he assigns to Alexander in the Iliad… and let it be borne in mind that he has nowhere else contradicted himself… making him be carried out of his course on his return with Helen； and after divers wanderings come at last to Sidon in Phoenicia。 The passage is in the Bravery of Diomed； and the words are as follows：…
There were the robes； many…coloured； the work of Sidonian women： They from Sidon had come； what time god…shaped Alexander Over the broad sea brought； that way； the high…born Helen。
In the Odyssey also the same fact is alluded to； in these words：…
Such； so wisely prepared； were the drugs that her stores afforded； Excellent； gift which once Polydamna； partner of Thonis； Gave her in Egypt； where many the simples that grow in the meadows； Potent to cure in part； in part as potent to injure。
Menelaus too； in the same poem； thus addresses Telemachus：…
Much did I long to return； but the Gods still kept me in Egypt… Angry because I had failed to pay them their hecatombs duly。
In these places Homer shows himself acquainted with the voyage of Alexander to Egypt； for Syria borders on Egypt； and the Phoenicians； to whom Sidon belongs； dwell in Syria。 From these various passages； and from that about Sidon especially； it is clear that Homer did not write the Cypria。 For there it is said that Alexander arrived at Ilium with Helen on the third day after he left Sparta； the wind having been favourable； and the sea smooth； whereas in the Iliad； the poet makes him wander before he brings her home。 Enough； however； for the present of Homer and the Cypria。 I made inquiry of the priests whether the story which the Greeks tell about Ilium is a fable； or no。 In reply they related the following particulars； of which they declared that Menelaus had himself informed them。 After the rape of Helen； a vast army of Greeks； wishing to render help to Menelaus； set sail for the Teucrian territory； on their arrival they disembarked； and formed their camp； after which they sent ambassadors to Ilium； of whom Menelaus was one。 The embassy was received within the walls； and demanded the restoration of Helen with the treasures which Alexander had carried off； and likewise required satisfaction for the wrong done。 The Teucrians gave at once the answer in which they persisted ever afterwards； backing their assertions sometimes even with oaths； to wit； that neither Helen； nor the treasures claimed； were in their possession；… both the one and the other had remained； they said； in Egypt； and it was not just to come upon them for what Proteus； king of Egypt； was detaining。 The Greeks； imagining that the Teucrians were merely laughing at them； laid siege to the town； and never rested until they finally took it。 As； however； no Helen was found； and they were still told the same story； they at length believed in its truth； and despatched Menelaus to the court of Proteus。 So Menelaus travelled to Egypt； and on his arrival sailed up the river as far as Memphis； and related all that had happened。 He met with the utmost hospitality； received Helen back unharmed； and recovered all his treasures。 After this friendly treatment Menelaus； they said； behaved most unjustly towards the Egyptians； for as it happened that at the time when he wanted to take his departure； he was detained by the wind being contrary； and as he found this obstruction continue； he had recourse to a most wicked expedient。 He seized； they said； two children of the people of the country； and offered them up in sacrifice。 When this became known； the indignation of the people was stirred； and they went in pursuit of Menelaus； who； however； escaped with his ships to Libya； after which the Egyptians could not say whither he went。 The rest they knew full well； partly by the inquiries which they had made； and partly from the circumstances having taken place in their own land； and therefore not admitting of doubt。 Such is the account given by the Egyptian priests； and I am myself inclined to regard as true all that they say of Helen from the following considerations：… If Helen had been at Troy； the inhabitants would； I think； have given her up to the Greeks； whether Alexander consented to it or no。 For surely neither Priam； nor his family； could have been so infatuated as to endanger their own persons； their children； and their city； merely that Alexander might possess Helen。 At any rate； if they determined to refuse at first； yet afterwards when so many of the Trojans fell on every encounter with the Greeks； and Priam too in each battle lost a son； or sometimes two； or three； or even more； if we may credit the epic poets； I do not believe that even if Priam himself had been married to her he would have declined to deliver her up； with the view of bringing the series of calamities to a close。 Nor was it as if Alexander had been heir to the crown； in which case he might have had the chief management of affairs； since Priam was already old。 Hector； who was his elder brother； and a far braver man； stood before him； and was the heir to the kingdom on the death of their father Priam。 And it could not be Hector's interest to uphold his brother in his wrong； when it brought such dire calamities upon himself and the other Trojans。 But the fact was that they had no Helen to deliver； and so they told the Greeks； but the Greeks would not believe what they said… Divine Providence； as I think； so willing； that by their utter destruction it might be made evident to all men that when great wrongs are done； the gods will surely visit them with great punishments。 Such； at least； is my view of the matter。 （1。） When Proteus died； Rhampsinitus； the priests informed me； succeeded to the throne。 His monuments were the western gateway of the temple of Vulcan； and the two statues which stand in front of this gateway； called by the Egyptians； the one Summer； the other Winter； each twenty…five cubits in height。 The statue of Summer； which is the northernmost of the two； is worshipped by the natives； and has offerings made to it； that of Winter； which stands towards the south； is treated in exactly the contrary way。 King Rhampsinitus was possessed； they said； of great riches in silver… indeed to such an amount； that none of the princes； his successors； surpassed or even equalled his wealth。 For the better custody of this money； he proposed to build a vast chamber of hewn stone； one side of which was to form a part of the outer wall of his palace。 The builder； therefore； having designs upon the treasures； contrived； as he was making the building； to insert in this wall a stone； which could easily be removed from its place by two men； or even by one。 So the chamber was finished； and the king's money stored away in it。 Time passed； and the builder fell sick； when finding his end approaching； he called for his two sons； and related to them the contrivance he had made in the king's treasure…chamber； telling them it was for their sakes he had done it； that so they might always live in affluence。 Then he gave them clear directions concerning the mode of removing the stone； and communicated the measurements； bidding them carefully keep the secret； whereby they would be Comptrollers of the Royal Exchequer so long as they lived。 Then the father died； and the sons were not slow in setting to work： they went by night to the palace； found the stone in the wall of the building； and having removed it with ease； plundered the treasury of a round sum。 （2。） When the king next paid a visit to the apartment； he was astonished to see that the money was sunk in some of the vessels wherein it was stored away。 Whom to accuse； however； he knew not； as the sea
