37_Hera Makes a Toast

" This is great. ” Brody burped and reached for another roasted chicken leg. “ The banquet food is really good. ” Markos nodded, but he didn’t answer. His mouth was full of olives. The two of them had found a spot on one of the sofas. They were lounging on some comfortable pillows and tasting every type of food the servants brought them. “ Brody, Markos! ” a familiar voice called. Glancing up from his food, Brody saw Heracles coming toward them with a big smile on his face. Iphicles was right behind his brother, looking bored.

"这太棒了。”布罗迪打了个嗝，伸手去拿另一只烤鸡腿。“宴会食物真的很好。” 马科斯点了点头，但他没有回答。他的嘴里塞满了橄榄。 他们两人在其中一张沙发上找到了一个位置。 他们躺在舒适的枕头上，品尝着仆人带给他们的各种食物。 “布罗迪，马库斯！”一个熟悉的声音喊道。 布罗迪从食物中瞥了一眼，看见赫拉克勒斯朝他们走来，脸上带着灿烂的笑容。 伊菲克勒斯就在他哥哥身后，看起来很无聊。

“ Hi, ” Brody greeted them. He waved a hand at the sofa. “ Want to hang out with us?” “ Hang out?” Heracles looked confused, but he sat down with Brody and Markos. “ It’s nice to see some friendly faces here. ” He chuckled. “ Everyone else seems to view me as the enemy. ” “ I suppose that’s mostly Zeus’ fault, ” Iphicles said. He shot a look at Zeus, who was halfway across the room talking with some other gods. Just then Hera stepped to the center of the room and called for attention. “ I trust you’re all having a good time, ” she said.

“嗨，”布罗迪向他们打招呼。他向沙发挥手。“想和我们一起休息一下吗？” “休息一下？”赫拉克勒斯看起来很困惑，但他和布罗迪和马科斯坐在一起。 “很高兴在这里看到一些友好的面孔。”他咯咯地笑了起来。“其他人似乎都把我当作敌人。” “我想这多半是宙斯的错，”伊菲克勒斯说。 他瞥了一眼宙斯，他正在房间的另一边与其他一些神交谈。 就在这时，赫拉走到房间中央引人注意。“我相信你们都玩得很开心，”她说。

" Yeah! ” Brody yelled out. Dionysus raised his goblet and whooped loudly. A few of the other guests cheered. “ Good, good. ” Hera’s sharp eyes swept the room. “ I’d like to propose a toast. My servants will bring out fresh drinks for everyone, but don’t taste them yet. First, I wish to say a few words. ” “ A few?” Zeus called out. “ I’ve never known you to be brief, wife. ” Hera ignored him. “ I merely wish to say I look forward to the coming contest. " " It’s a chance for our mortal champions to take part in a glorious tradition, displaying both their skills and their good sportsmanship . . . ”

"是啊！”布罗迪喊道。狄俄尼索斯举起高脚杯，大声喊叫,其他几位客人欢呼起来。 “很好，很好。”赫拉锐利的眼睛扫过房间。 “我提议干杯，我的仆人会为每个人带来新鲜的饮料，但现在先不要品尝。首先，我想说几句话。” “几句话？”宙斯喊道。“我从来不知道你说话简短，妻子。” 赫拉没有理会他。“我只想说，我期待着即将到来的比赛。“ "这是我们的凡人参赛者参加光荣传统的机会，展示他们的技能和良好的体育精神……”

There was more after that, but Brody stopped paying attention. Instead he focused on choosing the ripest grapes and figs from the tray a servant had left for him and his companions. Most of the other party guests didn’t seem to be listening either. Markos was watching the servants distribute fresh goblets while Iphicles picked his teeth. Artemis was sitting on the next section of the sofa, stroking her dogs and crooning to them. Nearby, Dionysus was shoving bread and fruit into his mouth.

后面还说了很久，但布罗迪不再关注。 相反，他专注于从仆人留给他和同伴的托盘中挑选最成熟的葡萄和无花果。 大多数其他宾客的客人似乎也没在听。 马科斯看着仆人分发新鲜的高脚杯，而伊菲克勒斯则咬着牙。 阿尔忒弥斯坐在沙发的下一部分，抚摸着她的狗，对着它们低吟。旁边，狄俄尼索斯正在往嘴里塞面包和水果。

Zeus was lounging on a sofa across the room, his head resting on one hand. Brody wondered if the king of the gods was taking a nap while his wife spoke. However, Heracles seemed to be paying attention to what Hera was saying. So did Athena, who nodded and smiled every time Hera mentioned sportsmanship or fair play. “ Your drink, sir. ” A servant pressed a cup into Brody’s hand. " Thanks, dude. ” Brody was thirsty after all that food. He made a move to lift the cup to his lips, but the servant stopped him with a hand on the arm.

宙斯懒洋洋地躺在房间对面的沙发上，头枕在一只手上。 布罗迪想知道众神之王在妻子说话时是否正在打盹。 然而，赫拉克勒斯似乎在关注赫拉所说的话。 雅典娜也是如此，每当赫拉提到体育精神或公平竞赛时，她都会点头微笑。 “您的饮料，先生。”一个仆人把杯子压在布罗迪手里。 ”谢谢，伙计。”布罗迪吃了那么多食物后口渴了。 他做了一个动作，想把杯子举到嘴边，但仆人用一只手放在他的手臂上阻止了他。

“ Begging your pardon, sir, ” the servant murmured. “ The queen of the gods wishes for everyone to drink only when she gives the word. ” “ Oh, right. ” Brody had forgotten that Hera was making some kind of big toast. The servant handed another cup to Heracles, who nodded his thanks. “ Do you have a beverage for me?” Markos asked. “ Uh . . . ” The servant looked him over. “ I do not, but perhaps that servant does. ” He gestured to another man, who was also carrying a tray of drinks. “ That was kind of rude, ” Brody said after the first servant moved on. “ That guy had plenty of goblets left. I wonder why he wouldn’t give you one. ”

“请原谅，先生，”仆人喃喃地说。 “众神女王希望每个人只有在她发出命令时才能喝酒。” “哦，对了。”布罗迪忘了赫拉在做大演说。仆人又递给赫拉克勒斯一杯，赫拉克勒斯点了点头表示感谢。 “你有饮料给我吗？”马科斯问道。 “嗯……”仆人看了看他。“我不知道，但也许那个仆人知道。” 他向另一个男人做手势，他也拿着一盘饮料。 第一个仆人走后，布罗迪说：“这有点不礼貌。”。 “那家伙还有很多高脚杯。我想知道他为什么不给你一个。”