The Five Ages
五个时代
Greek Legend
希腊神话
何勇刚 译
文字难度：3
在希腊神话中，人类产生以来经历了五个时代：黄金时代、白银时代、青Í­时代、英雄时代和铁器时代，它们各有不同的特点。而黄金时代最为美好，所以我们常用黄金时代形容最美好的时光。
There are several conflicting versions about the creation of mortals. According to the myth of the ages of humankind, men and women are the creation of the gods or Zeus himself. The following is a summary of 1)Hesiod's account. 2)Ovid describes only four ages, omitting the Age of Heroes. This tale of human degeneration 3)mingles fact and fancy in an astonishing manner, for ages of bronze and of iron are historically very real indeed.
The Age of Gold. In the time when 4)Cronus (Saturn) was king in heaven, the Olympian gods made a golden race of mortals, who lived as though in a paradise, without 5)toil, trouble or cares. All good things were theirs in abundance, and the fertile earth brought forth fruit of its own accord. They lived in peace and harmony, never grew old, and died as though overcome by sleep. The earth covered over this race, but they still exist as holy spirits who wander over the earth.
The Age of Silver. The Olympian gods made a second race of silver, far less favored than the one of gold. Their childhood lasted a hundred years and when they grew up their lives were short and 6)distressful. For they were arrogant against one another and refused to worship the gods or offer them sacrifice. Zeus in his anger at their senselessness hid them under the earth where they still dwell.
The Age of Bronze. Zeus made a third race of mortals, a terrible and mighty one of bronze. Their 7)implements and weapons were of bronze, and they relentlessly pursued the painful and violent deeds of war. They destroyed themselves by their own hands and went down to the 8)realm of 9)Hades without leaving a name.
The Age of Heroes. Zeus made still another race, also 10)valiant in war but more just and more civilized. This was the race of the heroes, also called 11)demigods, who were involved in the legendary events of Greek 12)saga. They fought, for example, at 13)Thebes and in the Trojan War. When they died, Zeus sent some of these heroes to inhabit 14)the Islands of the Blessed, a paradise at the far ends of the earth, ruled over by Cronus (Saturn), who had been deposed and freed by Zeus.
The Age of Iron. Zeus made still another race, that of iron, troubled by toil and misery, although good is intermingled with their evils. It is in this age that the poet Hesiod lived, and he exclaims in woe, "Would that I were not a man of the fifth generation but had either died before or had been born later." He predicts further moral and physical 15)disintegration and 16)annihilation through war, until Zeus will finally destroy human beings when it comes to pass that they are born with gray hair on their temples. More and more will this become an age of wickedness, strife, and disrespect for the gods, until shame itself and righteous retribution will abandon mortals to their evil folly and doom.
关于人类的创造有若干互相矛盾的说法。根据人类时代的神话，是众神或宙斯自己创造了男人和女人。以下内容是赫西奥德描述的简要介绍。奥维德的描述只有四个时代，漏掉了英雄时代。人类堕落的传说搀杂着令人震惊的事实和想象，因为青铜时代和铁器时代历史上真正地存在过。
黄金时代。在黄金时代，克洛诺斯（即萨图恩）是天国的国王，奥林匹亚的众神创造了一种黄金人类，他们住在一个仿佛天堂的地方，无需劳作，没有烦恼或忧虑。一切好东西都数不胜数，富饶的土地自然而然地提供了充足的果实。他们生活安宁和睦，永不衰老，即使是过世也好像只是睡着了。地球覆灭了这种人类，但他们仍是地球上空游荡的圣灵。
白银时代。奥林匹亚众神创造了第二种人类，白银人类，他们远逊于黄金人类。他们的童年能持续一百年，等他们长大了，他们的寿命就变得短暂，生活痛苦不堪。因为他们妄自尊大，拒绝膜拜众神，还不给他们祭奠贡品。宙斯对他们的无知很生气，一怒之下将他们埋在地下，他们至今仍住在那里。
青铜时代。宙斯又创造第三种人类，一种可怕的、孔武有力的青铜人类。 他们的工具和武器全是青铜打造，无情地发动充满痛苦和暴力的战争。他们用自己的双手毁灭自己，堕入地狱连个名字都没有留下。
英雄时代。宙斯还创造了另一种人类，他们作战很勇敢，但更正义，也更文明。 这就是英雄人类，也称半神半人，他们参与了希腊传说中的众多传奇事件。譬如，他们曾经­在底比斯作战，还参加了特洛伊战争。他们死后，宙斯将这些英雄中的一些人送到了极乐岛居住，那是一个在地球另一端，很远的天堂，原­来由克洛诺斯（萨图恩）统治，宙斯已经­将他废黜，后来释放了他。
铁器时代。宙斯还创造另一种人类，铁器人类，他们饱受劳苦和苦难，尽管他们邪恶的本质里夹杂着善良。这是诗人赫西奥德曾经生活的时代，他悲痛地呼喊："如果我不是人类的第五代，在这之前死去或者晚点出生的话，那该多好啊。" 他预言了人类的道德和身体在战争中会进一步瓦解和毁灭，之后到了人类一生下来就双鬓斑白的时候，宙斯就会最终毁灭人类。这个时代会变得越来越邪恶、冲突越来越多、对神的不敬越来越严重，最后，由于羞愧难当与因果报应，人类把自己抛入邪恶和毁灭的深渊。
1) Hesiod 赫西奥德，希腊最早的史诗诗人之一，创作期在公元前八世纪，出身于牧民，后来才成为诗人和歌手。他的名著有《劳动与时日》和《神谱》等。
2) Ovid 奥维德，古罗马最伟大的诗人之一。长诗《变形记》是他的代表作，全诗15卷，取材于古希腊罗马神话、英雄传说和部分历史史实。
3) mingle v. （使）混合
4) Cronus 克洛诺斯，是神王宙斯的父亲，掌管农业之神。土星（Saturn）是希腊神克洛诺斯。
5) toil n. 辛苦，苦工
6) distressful adj. 苦难重重的，不幸的
7) implement n. 工具，器具
8) realm n. 领域
9) Hades 哈得斯，是宙斯的哥哥，负责掌管下界冥土，成为冥王。他是地狱和死人的统治者，审判死人给予惩罚。他的罗马名字是普路同（Pluto），曾是九大行星中最小最外的冥王星。
10) valiant n. 勇敢的人
11) demigod n. 半神半人
12) saga n. 传奇
13) Thebes [史]底比斯，古希腊比奥夏（Boeotia）的主要城邦
14) the Islands of the Blessed [希神]极乐岛，福人岛（神话中位于世界西方的一个岛，是英雄或好人死后的归宿地）。
15) disintegration n. 瓦解
16) annihilation n. 歼灭，灭绝
关键字:双语阅读
生词表:
五个时代
Greek Legend
希腊神话
何勇刚 译
文字难度：3
在希腊神话中，人类产生以来经历了五个时代：黄金时代、白银时代、青Í­时代、英雄时代和铁器时代，它们各有不同的特点。而黄金时代最为美好，所以我们常用黄金时代形容最美好的时光。
There are several conflicting versions about the creation of mortals. According to the myth of the ages of humankind, men and women are the creation of the gods or Zeus himself. The following is a summary of 1)Hesiod's account. 2)Ovid describes only four ages, omitting the Age of Heroes. This tale of human degeneration 3)mingles fact and fancy in an astonishing manner, for ages of bronze and of iron are historically very real indeed.
The Age of Gold. In the time when 4)Cronus (Saturn) was king in heaven, the Olympian gods made a golden race of mortals, who lived as though in a paradise, without 5)toil, trouble or cares. All good things were theirs in abundance, and the fertile earth brought forth fruit of its own accord. They lived in peace and harmony, never grew old, and died as though overcome by sleep. The earth covered over this race, but they still exist as holy spirits who wander over the earth.
The Age of Silver. The Olympian gods made a second race of silver, far less favored than the one of gold. Their childhood lasted a hundred years and when they grew up their lives were short and 6)distressful. For they were arrogant against one another and refused to worship the gods or offer them sacrifice. Zeus in his anger at their senselessness hid them under the earth where they still dwell.
The Age of Bronze. Zeus made a third race of mortals, a terrible and mighty one of bronze. Their 7)implements and weapons were of bronze, and they relentlessly pursued the painful and violent deeds of war. They destroyed themselves by their own hands and went down to the 8)realm of 9)Hades without leaving a name.
The Age of Heroes. Zeus made still another race, also 10)valiant in war but more just and more civilized. This was the race of the heroes, also called 11)demigods, who were involved in the legendary events of Greek 12)saga. They fought, for example, at 13)Thebes and in the Trojan War. When they died, Zeus sent some of these heroes to inhabit 14)the Islands of the Blessed, a paradise at the far ends of the earth, ruled over by Cronus (Saturn), who had been deposed and freed by Zeus.
The Age of Iron. Zeus made still another race, that of iron, troubled by toil and misery, although good is intermingled with their evils. It is in this age that the poet Hesiod lived, and he exclaims in woe, "Would that I were not a man of the fifth generation but had either died before or had been born later." He predicts further moral and physical 15)disintegration and 16)annihilation through war, until Zeus will finally destroy human beings when it comes to pass that they are born with gray hair on their temples. More and more will this become an age of wickedness, strife, and disrespect for the gods, until shame itself and righteous retribution will abandon mortals to their evil folly and doom.
关于人类的创造有若干互相矛盾的说法。根据人类时代的神话，是众神或宙斯自己创造了男人和女人。以下内容是赫西奥德描述的简要介绍。奥维德的描述只有四个时代，漏掉了英雄时代。人类堕落的传说搀杂着令人震惊的事实和想象，因为青铜时代和铁器时代历史上真正地存在过。
黄金时代。在黄金时代，克洛诺斯（即萨图恩）是天国的国王，奥林匹亚的众神创造了一种黄金人类，他们住在一个仿佛天堂的地方，无需劳作，没有烦恼或忧虑。一切好东西都数不胜数，富饶的土地自然而然地提供了充足的果实。他们生活安宁和睦，永不衰老，即使是过世也好像只是睡着了。地球覆灭了这种人类，但他们仍是地球上空游荡的圣灵。
白银时代。奥林匹亚众神创造了第二种人类，白银人类，他们远逊于黄金人类。他们的童年能持续一百年，等他们长大了，他们的寿命就变得短暂，生活痛苦不堪。因为他们妄自尊大，拒绝膜拜众神，还不给他们祭奠贡品。宙斯对他们的无知很生气，一怒之下将他们埋在地下，他们至今仍住在那里。
青铜时代。宙斯又创造第三种人类，一种可怕的、孔武有力的青铜人类。 他们的工具和武器全是青铜打造，无情地发动充满痛苦和暴力的战争。他们用自己的双手毁灭自己，堕入地狱连个名字都没有留下。
英雄时代。宙斯还创造了另一种人类，他们作战很勇敢，但更正义，也更文明。 这就是英雄人类，也称半神半人，他们参与了希腊传说中的众多传奇事件。譬如，他们曾经­在底比斯作战，还参加了特洛伊战争。他们死后，宙斯将这些英雄中的一些人送到了极乐岛居住，那是一个在地球另一端，很远的天堂，原­来由克洛诺斯（萨图恩）统治，宙斯已经­将他废黜，后来释放了他。
铁器时代。宙斯还创造另一种人类，铁器人类，他们饱受劳苦和苦难，尽管他们邪恶的本质里夹杂着善良。这是诗人赫西奥德曾经生活的时代，他悲痛地呼喊："如果我不是人类的第五代，在这之前死去或者晚点出生的话，那该多好啊。" 他预言了人类的道德和身体在战争中会进一步瓦解和毁灭，之后到了人类一生下来就双鬓斑白的时候，宙斯就会最终毁灭人类。这个时代会变得越来越邪恶、冲突越来越多、对神的不敬越来越严重，最后，由于羞愧难当与因果报应，人类把自己抛入邪恶和毁灭的深渊。
1) Hesiod 赫西奥德，希腊最早的史诗诗人之一，创作期在公元前八世纪，出身于牧民，后来才成为诗人和歌手。他的名著有《劳动与时日》和《神谱》等。
2) Ovid 奥维德，古罗马最伟大的诗人之一。长诗《变形记》是他的代表作，全诗15卷，取材于古希腊罗马神话、英雄传说和部分历史史实。
3) mingle v. （使）混合
4) Cronus 克洛诺斯，是神王宙斯的父亲，掌管农业之神。土星（Saturn）是希腊神克洛诺斯。
5) toil n. 辛苦，苦工
6) distressful adj. 苦难重重的，不幸的
7) implement n. 工具，器具
8) realm n. 领域
9) Hades 哈得斯，是宙斯的哥哥，负责掌管下界冥土，成为冥王。他是地狱和死人的统治者，审判死人给予惩罚。他的罗马名字是普路同（Pluto），曾是九大行星中最小最外的冥王星。
10) valiant n. 勇敢的人
11) demigod n. 半神半人
12) saga n. 传奇
13) Thebes [史]底比斯，古希腊比奥夏（Boeotia）的主要城邦
14) the Islands of the Blessed [希神]极乐岛，福人岛（神话中位于世界西方的一个岛，是英雄或好人死后的归宿地）。
15) disintegration n. 瓦解
16) annihilation n. 歼灭，灭绝
关键字:双语阅读
生词表:
文章标签:五个
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