资源描述:
《希腊神话与圣经故事》由会员上传分享,免费在线阅读,更多相关内容在应用文档-天天文库。
1、PartOne:MythsofGreeceI.TheStoryofPrometheus1.HowFireWasGiventoMenInthoseold,oldtimes,therelivedtwobrotherswhowerenotlikeothermen,noryetlikethoseMightyOneswholiveduponthemountaintop.TheywerethesonsofoneofthoseTitanswhohadfoughtagainstJupiterandbeensentinchainstothestro
2、ngprison-houseoftheLowerWorld.ThenameoftheelderofthesebrotherswasPrometheus,orForethought;forhewasalwaysthinkingofthefutureandmakingthingsreadyforwhatmighthappentomorrow,ornextweek,ornextyear,oritmaybeinahundredyearstocome.TheyoungerwascalledEpimetheus,orAfterthought;
3、forhewasalwayssobusythinkingofyesterday,orlastyear,orahundredyearsago,thathehadnocareatallforwhatmightcometopassafterawhile.ForsomecauseJupiterhadnotsentthesebrotherstoprisonwiththerestoftheTitans.Prometheusdidnotcaretoliveamidthecloudsonthemountaintop.Hewastoobusyfor
4、that.WhiletheMightyFolkwerespendingtheirtimeinidleness,drinkingnectarandeatingambrosia,hewasintentuponplansformakingtheworldwiserandbetterthanithadeverbeenbefore.Hewentoutamongstmentolivewiththemandhelpthem;forhisheartwasfilledwithsadnesswhenhefoundthattheywerenolonge
5、rhappyastheyhadbeenduringthegoldendayswhenSaturnwasking.Ah,howverypoorandwretchedtheywere!Hefoundthemlivingincavesandinholesoftheearth,shiveringwiththecoldbecausetherewasnofire,dyingofstarvation,huntedbywildbeastsandbyoneanother——themostmiserableofalllivingcreatures.“
6、Iftheyonlyhadfire,”saidPrometheustohimself,“theycouldatleastwarmthemselvesandcooktheirfood;andafterawhiletheycouldlearntomaketoolsandbuildthemselveshouses.Withoutfire,theyareworseoffthanthebeasts.”ThenhewentboldlytoJupiterandbeggedhimtogivefiretomen,thatsotheymighthav
7、ealittlecomfortthroughthelong,drearymonthsofwinter.“NotasparkwillIgive.”saidJupiter.“No,indeed!Why,ifmenhadfiretheymightbecomestrongandwiselikeourselves,andafterawhiletheywoulddriveusoutofourkingdom.Letthemshiverwithcold,andletthemlivelikethebeasts.Itisbestforthemtobe
8、poorandignorant,thatsoweMightyOnesmaythriveandbehappy.”Prometheusmadenoanswer;buthehadsethisheartonhelpingmankind,andhedidno