The 1)Odyssey of 2)Homer

For ten long years the Greeks had battled against the 3)Trojans. For ten long years the soaring towers of 4)Troy had 5)withstood their attacks. Then suddenly in a flash of flame and a splash of blood, the Trojan city had fallen to them at last. The Trojans had no warning of the attack. No time to gather together their soldiers. Greek warriors 2 appeared out of the night like ghosts.

    The next day, only the very old, the wounded and the women remained alive in the cruel dawn. To these lonely survivors 3, it seemed impossible that only the night before they had believed the Trojan army had been granted victory. But there in the great square where they had celebrated 4, the wooden horse still stood, huge and hollow.

     Now as smoke from the burning city rises into the morning air announcing their triumph to the world, one thing occupies the Greek soldiers gathering 5 on the bay shore -- the thought of home. An end at last to their far away exile!

     The black-6)hulled ships that had carried them to Troy are quickly prepared for the return journey. Trojan treasure with wine and stores 7)looted from the city fill the hulls 7 until they 8)groan 8 with the burden. Victory 9)ribbons flutter from the masts. Fine Trojan 10)armor lies 11)heaped in the bows. For the last time they bend to work together 12)heaving ships off the sand and 13)gravel 9 into the surf. Twelve ships 14)anchored just off the beach run out their 15)oars 10 with a 16)rumble 11. The early morning sun casts shadow oars that 17)ripple 12 across the sandy sea bottom beneath their 18)keels. A shouted order floats over the water. The sailors are quiet, looking expectantly towards one ship.

     It edges clear of the others. In the stern is a 19)stocky man dressed in a simple white 20)tunic 13. A thin gold band rests lightly on his dark curly hair. The man is Odysseus, King of Ithaca, lord of Zanthe, hero of Troy. Eyes bright with cunning sweep over his little fleet. He nods in satisfaction. Everything is ready. The signal is given.

     Twelve broad sails 21)unfurl and 22)belly 14 in the breeze. Twelve 23)cockerels painted on the sails puff 15 in the wind and crow proudly. Slowly at first but picking up speed, the ships head seaward. Shouts of farewell from the shore are soon replaced by the 24)rigging, creaking in the wind. The rhythm of the oars and the rush of white water curling past the bows. After one last look, the stocky figure with the circuit of gold turns his back on the ruined city and its 25)plume 16 of smoke to face the sea.CE

希腊人与特洛伊人的战争打了漫漫十年。漫漫十年来，特洛伊城高高耸立的城堡经受住了希腊人的袭击。然而转瞬火光血影间，特洛伊城还是落入了希腊人手中。特洛伊人事先没有收到任何袭击警报号，他们还没来得及召集士兵，希腊士兵就已如天兵般出现在夜色里。

第二天，在残酷的黎明中余生的仅剩下些年迈老者、伤员和妇女。这些寂寞的生还者觉得如此不可思议，因为仅在前天晚上，他们还相信特洛伊军队已经大获全胜。而如今在他们曾举行过庆祝的广场上，巨大的、空心的木马依然站立在那里。

烟雾从燃烧的城市上升，溶入早晨的空气，向全世界宣布着胜利的骄傲，与此同时战士们聚集在海滩上，满是归心似箭。离乡背井的日子终于结束了！

曾经搭载他们到特洛伊城去的黑船很快准备好了返程。从特洛伊城掠夺来的财宝和酒装满了船身，船儿在重压下呻吟着。胜利的彩旗在桅杆上飘扬，船头堆满了精良的特洛伊装甲。他们最后一次弯腰，齐心协力地把船从沙砾上拉到海中。随着隆隆声，停泊海滩上的十二艘大船齐桨而出。清晨的阳光洒出桨橹之影，船桨在船只龙骨底的海沙上划出旋涡。命令的吆喝声从水面上飘出去。水手们静静地心怀期待地朝一艘船张望。

那艘船与其它的船只分得很开。船尾上站着一名健壮的身着朴素白衫的男子。一条细箍金带轻轻地系在他卷曲的黑发上。这人正是奥德赛——以撒卡的国王、赞西的君主、特洛伊的英雄。他那双精明的锐眼扫视着小舰队。他满意地点了点头。一切准备就绪，信号发出了。

十二只船帆鼓起来，迎风招展。船帆上绘着的十二只小公鸡迎着风雄赳赳气昂昂，引颈高歌。刚开始船速缓慢，接着慢慢加速航向海洋。岸上道别的喊声很快代之以风中传来的帆缆声和吱嘎声。船桨的节奏声和白水急流旋绕过船头。头戴金圈的结实男子朝特洛伊再投以最后一眼，然后背过身来，后面的废城朝向海洋飘起一缕轻烟。CE

1) Odyssey 17 [5Cdisi:] n.《奥德赛》荷马所作

2) Homer [5hEumEr] n. 古希腊作者，著有《奥德赛》

3) Trojan [5trEudVEn] n. 特洛伊人

4) Troy [trCi] n. 特洛伊（小亚细亚的古城）

5) withstand [wiT5stAnd] v. 抵挡，反抗；顶得住，经受住

6) hull 6 [hQl] n. [海]壳；船壳，船体

7) loot [lu:t] v. 抢劫，掠夺

8) groan [grEun] v. 呻吟

9) ribbon [5ribEn] n. 缎，带

10)armor [5a:mEr] n.装甲，装甲兵

11) heap[hi:p] v. 堆积

12) heave [hi:v] n. [海]使（船）开动

13) gravel [5grAvEl] v. 使（船）搁浅在沙滩上

14) anchor [5ANkEr] v. 抛锚，锚定

15) oar 1 [C:r] n. 桨，橹

16) rumble [5rQmbl] n. 隆隆声

17) ripple [5ripl] v. 起波纹

18) keel [ki:l] n. 船的龙骨

19) stocky [5stCki] a. 健壮结实的

20) tunic [5tju:nik] n. 紧身短上衣

21) unfurl [Qn5fE:l] v. 使旗招展

22) belly [5beli] v. 涨满

23) cockerel [5kCkErEl] n. 小公鸡

24) rigging[5rigiN] n. 索具，装备

25) plume [plu:m] n. 羽状物