2. Hera and Zeus's Concubines Summary 古希腊诗人极富想象力,常常让读者难以揣摩。对神祗的描述中,更是一波 三折,一方面即对神祗顶礼膜拜、尊崇有加,同时又竭尽所能搜集神祗的“八卦” 和“花边”,对宙斯的描写便是典型的实例。宙斯作为第三代天王,往往被描绘 的坐在精致的宝座上,肃穆的头部表现出驾御风暴的力量,同时也显示控制星空 的魅力,作为丈夫、父亲呈现的是威风严厉的一面,但其生活中却风流成性。于 是有了丈夫偷偷摸摸、妻子河东狮吼、“正太斗小三”等有趣的故事。 Selected reading Hera Hera, daughter of Cronus and rhea, was born on the island of Samos or Argos and was brought up in Arcadia by te of pelas gus were her nurses. After banishing their father Cronus Hera s twin-brother zeus sought her out at cnossus in Crete on mount the alled cucko Mountain) in Argolis, where he courted her, at first fully. She took him only when he souls f a bedraggled tenderly warmed him in her bosom There he at once resumed his true shape and ravished her, so that she was shamed into marrying h All the gods brought gifts to the wedding: notably Mother Earth gave Hera a tree with golden apples, which was later guarded by the Hesperides' in Heras orchard on Mount Atlas. She and Zeus spent their wedding night on Samos, and it lasted three hundred years. Hera bathed regularly in the spring of Canathus, near Argos, and thus renewed her virginity To Hera and zeus were born the deities ares Hephaestus, and Hebe, though some say that Ares and his twin-sister Eris were conceived when Hera touched a certain flower and Hebe when she touched a lettuce. and that hephaestus also was her parthenogenetic child---a wonder which he would not believe until he imprisoned her in a mechanical chair with arms that folded about the sitter. thus forcing her to swear by the River Styx that she did ver since his marriage to Hera, Zeus began his long series of amorous adventures. As mentioned previously, he fathered the seasons and the three fates on Themis, the Charities on Eurynome, the Three Muses on Mnemosyne; some da Persephone, the Queen of the Underworld on the nymph Styx. So many infidelities
7 2. Hera and Zeus’s Concubines1 Summary 古希腊诗人极富想象力，常常让读者难以揣摩。对神祗的描述中，更是一波 三折，一方面即对神祗顶礼膜拜、尊崇有加，同时又竭尽所能搜集神祗的“八卦” 和“花边”，对宙斯的描写便是典型的实例。宙斯作为第三代天王，往往被描绘 的坐在精致的宝座上，肃穆的头部表现出驾御风暴的力量，同时也显示控制星空 的魅力，作为丈夫、父亲呈现的是威风严厉的一面，但其生活中却风流成性。于 是有了丈夫偷偷摸摸、妻子河东狮吼、“正太斗小三”等有趣的故事。 Selected Reading Hera Hera, daughter of Cronus and Rhea, was born on the island of Samos or Argos and was brought up in Arcadia by Temenus, son of Pelasgus. The Seasons were her nurses. After banishing2 their father Cronus, Hera’s twin-brother Zeus sought her out at Cnossus in Crete or on Mount Thornax (now called Cuckoo Mountain) in Argolis, where he courted3 her, at first unsuccessfully. She took pity on him only when he adopted the disguise of a bedraggled4 cuckoo, and tenderly warmed him in her bosom. There he at once resumed5 his true shape and ravished6 her, so that she was shamed into marrying him. All the gods brought gifts to the wedding: notably Mother Earth gave Hera a tree with golden apples, which was later guarded by the Hesperides7 in Hera’s orchard on Mount Atlas. She and Zeus spent their wedding night on Samos, and it lasted three hundred years. Hera bathed regularly in the spring of Canathus, near Argos, and thus renewed her virginity. To Hera and Zeus were born the deities Ares, Hephaestus, and Hebe, though some say that Ares and his twin-sister Eris were conceived when Hera touched a certain flower, and Hebe when she touched a lettuce, and that Hephaestus also was her parthenogenetic8 child---a wonder which he would not believe until he imprisoned her in a mechanical chair with arms that folded about the sitter, thus forcing her to swear by the River Styx9 that she did not lie. Ever since his marriage to Hera, Zeus began his long series of amorous10 adventures. As mentioned previously, he fathered the Seasons and the Three Fates on Themis; the Charities on Eurynome; the Three Muses on Mnemosyne; some day, Persephone, the Queen of the Underworld on the nymph Styx. So many infidelities11
of her husband made Hera a highly jealous queen. But daunted by Zeus's fatal thunderbolt, Hera could only resort to ruthless intrigue and revenge on the objects of her husband s passion. The following though not an exhaustive list of all stories of that nature makes interesting evidence Hera(Juno )one day perceived it suddenly grew dark, and immediately suspected that her husband had raised a cloud to hide some of his doings that would not bear the light. She brushed away the cloud, and saw her husband on the banks of a glassy river with a beautiful heifer standing near him. Juno suspected the heifer's form concealed some fair mortal nymph---as was, indeed, the case; for it was Io, the daughter of the river god Inachus, whom Zeus (Jupiter) had been flirting with, and, when he became aware of the approach of his wife had changed into that form Juno joined her husband, and noticing the heifer, praised its beauty, and asked whose it was, and of what herd Jupiter, to stop questions, replied that it was a fresh creation from the earth. Juno asked to have it as a gift. What could Jupiter do? He was loath to give his mistress to his wife; yet how could he refuse so trifling a present as a simple heifer? Without exciting suspicion, he consented. The goddess was not yet relieved of her suspicion, so she delivered the heifer to Argus, to be strictly Now Argus had a hundred eyes in his head, and never went to sleep with more than two closed at a time, he kept watch of Io constantly. He suffered her to feed through the day, and at night tied her up with a vile rope round her neck. She would have stretched out her arms to implore freedom of Argus but she had no arms to stretch out and her voice was a bellow that frightened even herself. She saw her father and her sisters went near them. and suffered them to pat her back, and heard them admire her beauty. Her father reached her a tuft of grass, and she licked the out-stretched hand. She longed to make herself known to him and would have uttered her wish but. alas! words were wanting. At length she bethought herself of writing, and inscribed her name---it was a short one---with her hoof on the sand. Inachus recognized it. and discovering that his daughter, whom he had long sought in vain, was hidden under this disguise, mourned over her, and, embracing her white neck, exclaimed, "Alas! my daughter, it would have been a less grief to have lost you altogether! "While he thus lamented, Argus erving came and drove her away, and took his seat on a high bank, from whence"7 he could see all round in every direction Jupiter was troubled at beholding the sufferings of his mistress, and calling Hermes(Mercury)told him to go and dispatch Argus. Mercury made haste, put his winged slippers on his feet, and cap on his head, took his sleep-producing wand, and leaped down from the heavenly towers to the earth. There he laid aside his wings, and kept only his wand, with which he presented
8 of her husband made Hera a highly jealous queen. But daunted12 by Zeus’s fatal thunderbolt, Hera could only resort to ruthless intrigue13 and revenge on the objects of her husband’s passion. The following though not an exhaustive list of all stories of that nature makes interesting evidence. Io Hera (Juno) one day perceived it suddenly grew dark, and immediately suspected that her husband had raised a cloud to hide some of his doings that would not bear the light. She brushed away the cloud, and saw her husband on the banks of a glassy river, with a beautiful heifer standing near him. Juno suspected the heifer’s form concealed some fair mortal nymph---as was, indeed, the case; for it was Io, the daughter of the river god Inachus, whom Zeus (Jupiter) had been flirting with14, and, when he became aware of the approach of his wife, had changed into that form. Juno joined her husband, and noticing the heifer, praised its beauty, and asked whose it was, and of what herd. Jupiter, to stop questions, replied that it was a fresh creation from the earth. Juno asked to have it as a gift. What could Jupiter do? He was loath to give his mistress15 to his wife; yet how could he refuse so trifling a present as a simple heifer? Without exciting suspicion, he consented. The goddess was not yet relieved of her suspicion, so she delivered the heifer to Argus, to be strictly watched. Now Argus had a hundred eyes in his head, and never went to sleep with more than two closed at a time, he kept watch of Io constantly. He suffered her to feed through the day, and at night tied her up with a vile rope round her neck. She would have stretched out her arms to implore freedom of Argus, but she had no arms to stretch out, and her voice was a bellow that frightened even herself. She saw her father and her sisters, went near them, and suffered them to pat her back, and heard them admire her beauty. Her father reached her a tuft of grass, and she licked the out-stretched hand. She longed to make herself known to him and would have uttered her wish; but, alas! words were wanting. At length she bethought16 herself of writing, and inscribed her name---it was a short one---with her hoof on the sand. Inachus recognized it, and discovering that his daughter, whom he had long sought in vain, was hidden under this disguise, mourned over her, and, embracing her white neck, exclaimed, “Alas! my daughter, it would have been a less grief to have lost you altogether!” While he thus lamented, Argus, observing, came and drove her away, and took his seat on a high bank, from whence17 he could see all round in every direction. Jupiter was troubled at beholding the sufferings of his mistress, and calling Hermes (Mercury) told him to go and dispatch18 Argus. Mercury made haste, put his winged slippers on his feet, and cap on his head, took his sleep-producing wand, and leaped down from the heavenly towers to the earth. There he laid aside his wings, and kept only his wand, with which he presented
himself as a shepherd driving his flock. As he strolled on, he blew upon his pipes These were what are called the Syrinx, also known as Pandean pipes or panpipes Argus listened with delight. for he had never seen the instrument before. " Youn man,"said he, "come and take a seat by me on this stone. There is no better place for your flocks to graze in than hereabouts, and here is a pleasant shade such as shepherds love. Mercury sat down, talked, and told stories till it grew late, and played upon his pipes his most soothing strains, hoping to lull the watchful eyes to sleep, but all in vain, for Argus still contrived to keep some of his eyes open though he shut the rest Among other stories, Mercury told him how the instrument on which he played was invented. "There was a certain nymph, whose name was Syrinx, who was much beloved by the satyrs and spirits of the wood: but she would have none of them but was faithful worshipper of Artemis(Diana), and followed the chase. You would have thought it was diana herself, had you seen her in her hunting dress, only a that her bow was of horn and Diana's of silver.One day, as she was returning from the chase, Pan met her. told her just this, and added more of the same sort. She ran away, without stopping to hear his compliments, and he pursued till she came to the bank of the river, where he overtook her, and she had only time to call for help on her friends the water nymphs They heard and consented. Pan threw his arms around what he supposed to be the form of the nymph and found he embraced only a tuft of reeds! As he breathed a sigh the air sounded through the reeds, and produced a plaintive melody The god, charmed with the novelty and with the sweetness of the music, said,"Thus, then, at least, you shall be mine. And he took some of the reeds. and placing them together of unequal lengths, side by side, made an instrument which he called Syrinx, in honor of the nymph. Before Mercury finished his story he saw Argus's eyes all asleep. As his head nodded forward on his breast, Mercury with one stroke cut his neck through and tumbled- his head down the rocks O hapless Argus! The light of your hundred eyes is quenched at once! Juno took them and put them as ornaments on the tail of her peacock, where they remain to this day But the vengeance of Juno was not yet satiated". She sent a gadfly to torment lo, who fled over the whole world from its pursuit. She swam through the Ionian sea which derived its name from her, then roamed over the plains of Illyria, ascended Mount Haemus, and crossed the Thracian Strait, thence named the bosphorus (cowford)rambled on through Scythia, and the country of the Cimmerians, and arrived at last on the banks of the nile. at length Jupiter interceded for her, and upon his promising not to pay her any more attentions Juno consented to restore her to her form. It was curious to see her gradually recover her former self. The coarse hairs
9 himself as a shepherd driving his flock. As he strolled on, he blew upon his pipes. These were what are called the Syrinx, also known as Pandean pipes or panpipes. Argus listened with delight, for he had never seen the instrument before. “Young man,” said he, “come and take a seat by me on this stone. There is no better place for your flocks to graze in than hereabouts, and here is a pleasant shade such as shepherds love.” Mercury sat down, talked, and told stories till it grew late, and played upon his pipes his most soothing strains, hoping to lull the watchful eyes to sleep, but all in vain; for Argus still contrived to keep some of his eyes open though he shut the rest. Among other stories, Mercury told him how the instrument on which he played was invented. “There was a certain nymph, whose name was Syrinx, who was much beloved by the satyrs19 and spirits of the wood; but she would have none of them, but was a faithful worshipper of Artemis (Diana), and followed the chase. You would have thought it was Diana herself, had you seen her in her hunting dress, only that her bow was of horn and Diana’s of silver. One day, as she was returning from the chase, Pan met her, told her just this, and added more of the same sort. She ran away, without stopping to hear his compliments, and he pursued till she came to the bank of the river, where he overtook her, and she had only time to call for help on her friends the water nymphs. They heard and consented. Pan threw his arms around what he supposed to be the form of the nymph and found he embraced only a tuft of reeds! As he breathed a sigh, the air sounded through the reeds, and produced a plaintive melody. The god, charmed with the novelty and with the sweetness of the music, said, ‘Thus, then, at least, you shall be mine.’ And he took some of the reeds, and placing them together of unequal lengths, side by side, made an instrument which he called Syrinx, in honor of the nymph.” Before Mercury finished his story he saw Argus’s eyes all asleep. As his head nodded forward on his breast, Mercury with one stroke cut his neck through, and tumbled20 his head down the rocks. O hapless Argus! The light of your hundred eyes is quenched21 at once! Juno took them and put them as ornaments on the tail of her peacock, where they remain to this day. But the vengeance of Juno was not yet satiated22. She sent a gadfly to torment Io, who fled over the whole world from its pursuit. She swam through the Ionian sea, which derived its name from her, then roamed over the plains of Illyria, ascended Mount Haemus, and crossed the Thracian Strait, thence named the Bosphorus (cowford) rambled on through Scythia, and the country of the Cimmerians, and arrived at last on the banks of the Nile. At length Jupiter interceded23 for her, and upon his promising not to pay her any more attentions Juno consented to restore her to her form. It was curious to see her gradually recover her former self. The coarse hairs
fell from her body, her horns shrank up, her eyes grew narrower, her mouth shorter; hands and fingers came instead of hoofs to her forefeet in fine there was nothing left of the heifer, except her beauty. At first she was afraid to speak, for fear she should low, but gradually she recovered her confidence and was restored to her father sters eme Zeus, disguised as a mortal, had a secret love affair with Semele, daughter of King Cadmus of Thebes. Juno, to gratify her resentment against Semele, contrived plan for her destruction. Assuming the form of Beroe, Semele's aged nurse, she insinuated doubts whether it was indeed zeus himself who came as a lover Heaving a sigh, she said,"I hope it will turn out so, but I can't help being afraid People are not al ways what they pretend to be. If he is indeed Zeus, make him give some proof of it. Ask him to come arrayed in all his splendors, such as he wears in heaven. That will put the matter beyond a doubt. Semele was persuaded to try the experiment. She asked a favor, without naming what it was. Jove gave his promise, and confirmed it with the irrevocable" oath, attesting the river Styx, terrible to the gods themselves. Then she made known her request. The god would have stopped her she spoke, but she was too quick for him. The words escaped, and d and he could neither unsay his promise nor her request. In deep distress" he left her and returned to the upper regions. There he clothed himself in his splendors, not putting on all his terrors as when he overthrew the giants, but what was known among the gods as his lesser panoply. Arrayed in this, he entered the chamber of Semele. Her mortal frame could not endure the splendors of the immortal radiance. She was consumed to ashes. But Hermes saved her six-month son; sewed him up inside Zeus's thigh, to mature there for three months longer; and in due course of time, delivered him. The child was called Dionysus(Bacchus)(twice-born, or the child of the double door Zeus Divine unions Human unions Mother Offspring Mother Offspring Demeter Alcmene Heracles DIone Antiope Amphion, Zethus eurynome Three graces Callisto Hera Ares,Eileithyia,Hebe, Hephaestus DanaePerseus L Apollo, Artemis Aeacus Mala mes ElectraDardanus,Harmonia, Lasion thena Europa Minos, Rhadamanthus, Sarpedon Mnemosyne Muses Epaphus Themis Horae(Season)Morai(Fates) LaodamiaSarpedone Leda Castor, Pollux, Clytemnestra, Helen Tantalus SemeleDionysus TaygeteLacedaemon
10 fell from her body, her horns shrank up, her eyes grew narrower, her mouth shorter; hands and fingers came instead of hoofs to her forefeet; in fine there was nothing left of the heifer, except her beauty. At first she was afraid to speak, for fear she should low, but gradually she recovered her confidence, and was restored to her father and sisters24. Semele Zeus, disguised as a mortal, had a secret love affair with Semele, daughter of King Cadmus of Thebes. Juno, to gratify her resentment against Semele, contrived a plan for her destruction. Assuming25 the form of Beroe, Semele’s aged nurse, she insinuated26 doubts whether it was indeed Zeus himself who came as a lover. Heaving a sigh, she said, “I hope it will turn out so, but I can’t help being afraid. People are not always what they pretend to be. If he is indeed Zeus, make him give some proof of it. Ask him to come arrayed27 in all his splendors, such as he wears in heaven. That will put the matter beyond a doubt.” Semele was persuaded to try the experiment. She asked a favor, without naming what it was. Jove gave his promise, and confirmed it with the irrevocable28 oath, attesting the river Styx, terrible to the gods themselves. Then she made known her request. The god would have stopped her as she spoke, but she was too quick for him. The words escaped, and he could neither unsay his promise nor her request. In deep distress29 he left her and returned to the upper regions. There he clothed himself in his splendors, not putting on all his terrors, as when he overthrew the giants, but what was known among the gods as his lesser panoply30. Arrayed in this, he entered the chamber of Semele. Her mortal frame could not endure the splendors of the immortal radiance. She was consumed to ashes. But Hermes saved her six-month son; sewed him up inside Zeus’s thigh, to mature there for three months longer; and in due course of time31, delivered him. The child was called Dionysus (Bacchus) (“twice-born”, or “the child of the double door”). Zeus Divine Unions Human Unions Mother Offspring Mother Offspring Demeter Persephone Alcmene Heracles Dione Aphrodite Antiope Amphion, Zethus Eurynome Three Graces Callisto Arcas Hera Ares, Eileithyia, Hebe, Hephaestus Danae Perseus Leto Apollo, Artemis Aegina Aeacus Mala Hermes Electra Dardanus, Harmonia, Lasion Metis Athena Europa Minos, Rhadamanthus, Sarpedon Mnemosyne Muses Io Epaphus Themis Horae (Season) Morai (Fates) Laodamia Sarpedone Leda Castor, Pollux, Clytemnestra, Helen Niobe Argos, Pelasgus Pluto Tantalus Semele Dionysus Taygete Lacedaemon
NOTES 1.妾、姨太太、情妇、妃子等。趣味连接:《霸王别姬》= Farewell,! ly Concubine 2驱逐、流放 ban from a place of residence, as for punishment 3求爱 seek someone' s favor 4全身泥污的、满身湿透的 limp and soiled as if dragged in the mud 5变回 return to a previous location or condition 6.E*F force(someone) to have sex against their will 7守护金苹果树的仙女( Greek mythology) group of3to7 nymphs who guarded the golden apples that Gaea gave as a wedding gift to Hera 8单性繁殖( of reproduction) not involving the fusion of male and female gametes in reproduction 9.37( Greek mythology)a river in Hades across which Charon carried dead souls 0.多情的(滥情的) expressive of or exciting sexual love or romance 1不忠 the quality of being unfaithful 12使…胆怯 cause to lose courage 13.i a crafty and involved plot to achieve your ends 14.调情 15.(旧)多指情妇,(今)主妇、女主人 16.remeber 遣送、处死send kill 9.(复数)多指色情狂,希腊神话中的半人半兽 20.暴跌、跌倒 sudden drop 21熄灭 put out, as of fires, flames, or lights 22满足 satisfied 23.说解、说情 4最终,lo在阳光明媚的埃及国土上安了家。没多久,埃及国王就向她求婚,把她娶为皇 后。她在尼罗河边的大理石皇宫里,度过了长寿而快乐的一生。好几个世代以后,Io的曾 孙的曾孙的曾孙,打断了普罗米修斯的铁链,使人类的巨神朋友,重新获得了自由。这名英 雄就叫 Hercules 25假装 make a pretence of 26.暗示 give to understand 27打扮、盛装 28不能取消的、不能变更的 29.苦恼、痛苦 psychological suffering 30全副盔甲 31在适当的时候 Questions for review and discussion 1. What was Zeus usual way of hiding his scandals? 2. How did the musical instrument panpipe come into being? 3. How can you account for Zeus's promiscuity?
11 NOTES 1.妾、姨太太、情妇、妃子等。趣味连接：《霸王别姬》= Farewell, My Concubine 2.驱逐、流放 ban from a place of residence, as for punishment 3.求爱 seek someone’s favor 4.全身泥污的、满身湿透的 limp and soiled as if dragged in the mud 5.变回 return to a previous location or condition 6.强奸 force (someone) to have sex against their will 7.守护金苹果树的仙女 (Greek mythology) group of 3 to 7 nymphs who guarded the golden apples that Gaea gave as a wedding gift to Hera 8.单性繁殖(of reproduction) not involving the fusion of male and female gametes in reproduction 9.冥河 (Greek mythology) a river in Hades across which Charon carried dead souls 10.多情的（滥情的）expressive of or exciting sexual love or romance 11.不忠 the quality of being unfaithful 12.使…胆怯 cause to lose courage 13.阴谋 a crafty and involved plot to achieve your ends 14.调情 15.（旧）多指情妇，（今）主妇、女主人 16.remeber 17.there 18.遣送、处死 send away, kill 19.（复数）多指色情狂，希腊神话中的半人半兽 20.暴跌、跌倒 sudden drop 21.熄灭 put out, as of fires, flames, or lights 22.满足 satisfied 23.说解、说情 24.最终，Io 在阳光明媚的埃及国土上安了家。没多久，埃及国王就向她求婚，把她娶为皇 后。她在尼罗河边的大理石皇宫里，度过了长寿而快乐的一生。好几个世代以后，Io 的曾 孙的曾孙的曾孙，打断了普罗米修斯的铁链，使人类的巨神朋友，重新获得了自由。这名英 雄就叫 Hercules. 25.假装 make a pretence of 26.暗示 give to understand 27.打扮、盛装 28.不能取消的、不能变更的 29.苦恼、痛苦 psychological suffering 30.全副盔甲 31.在适当的时候 Questions for review and discussion 1. What was Zeus’ usual way of hiding his scandals? 2. How did the musical instrument “panpipe” come into being? 3. How can you account for Zeus’s promiscuity?
