20170216—respite from pain

http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/text?doc=Perseus%3Atext%3A1999.01.0135%3Abook%3D4%3Acard%3D1              

ἦ μὲν δὴ νῶι ξεινήια πολλὰ φαγόντε

ἄλλων ἀνθρώπων δεῦρ᾽ ἱκόμεθ᾽, αἴ κέ ποθι Ζεὺς

ἐξοπίσω περ παύσῃ ὀιζύος. ἀλλὰ λύ᾽ ἵππους

ξείνων, ἐς δ᾽ αὐτοὺς προτέρω ἄγε θοινηθῆναι. (Od. 4.33-36)

Surely we two many times ate the hospitable cheer of other men on our way her, hoping that Zeus would someday grant us respite from pain. No, unyoke the strangers’ horses, and bring the men in, that they may feast.

ξεινήιον a host’s gift

ὀιζύς woe, misery, distress, hardship, suffering

Menelaus 為兒子女兒辦婚宴，場面十分壯觀，此時，Telemachus和Pisistratus正好抵達。僕人還傻傻地問Menelaus要不要讓這兩位陌生人一起參加宴會。

Menelaus的回應很窩心，他說過去他們夫婦也是在地中海各地漂流多年，也是受到很多人的禮遇 (ξεινήιον a host’s gift, the hospitable cheer)， 所以可以寬解旅途中的疲憊與苦難。正因如此，今日遇到相同的出外人，他必盡地主之誼，招待他們。命令僕人幫忙解馬鞍，帶客人一起進來享受盛宴。

Menelaus and the beautiful Helen

1901 by Jan Styka