12 Phaeton and Apollo

CHAPTER 12 Phaeton and Apollo The palace of Apollo, the sun god, was radiant. It shone with gold, gleamed with ivory, and sparkled with jewels. Everything in it flashed, glowed, and glittered. It was always high noon. Darkness and night were unknown there. Very few gods and mortals could bear the brightness. Most mortals had never been there. One day, a young boy named Phaeton dared to approach Apollo's palace. The boy had a very important question to ask the sun

第十二章法厄同与阿波罗太阳神阿波罗的宫殿里光芒四射。 它闪耀着黄金，闪耀着象牙，闪耀着珠宝。 里面的一切都在闪烁，发光，闪闪发光。 总是正午时分。那里没有黑暗和黑夜。 很少有神和凡人能忍受这种光明。 大多数凡人从未到过那里。 一天，一个名叫法厄同的小男孩敢于接近阿波罗的宫殿。 男孩有一个非常重要的问题要问太阳

god. On his way, Phaeton had to stop many times to cover his eyes. But he had decided that he must come face-to-face with Apollo. Phaeton finally arrived at Apollo's palace. He burst through the heavy doors into the throne room. There sat Apollo the sun god. The god was surrounded by a blazing light. Phaeton was forced to stop. The light was blinding. "Why are you here, my boy?" Apollo asked kindly. "I have come to ask you a very important question." Phaeton took a small step forward. "Are you my true father?" he asked. "My mother said that you were. But the other boys at school laugh at me when I say that I am your son. They will not believe me. When I told that to my mother, she told me to go ask you!" Smiling, Apollo took off his crown of

神。在路上，法厄同不得不多次停下来遮住眼睛。 但他已经决定，他必须与阿波罗面对面。 法厄同终于来到了阿波罗的宫殿。 他冲进沉重的门，进入正殿。 那里坐着太阳神阿波罗。 神被一束炽热的光包围着。 法厄同被迫停下来。 光线刺眼。“你为什么在这里，我的孩子？”阿波罗和蔼地问。 “我来问你一个非常重要的问题。” 法厄同向前走了一小步。 “你是我的生父吗？”他问。 “我妈妈说是的。 但是当我说我是你儿子时，学校里的其他男孩都嘲笑我。 他们不会相信我的。当我把这件事告诉我妈妈时，她让我去问你！”阿波罗微笑着摘下他的王冠

burning light. He wanted Phaeton to be able to look at him directly. "Come here, Phaeton," Apollo called. "You are my son. Your mother told you the truth. I will give you proof. Ask anything you want from me and you shall have it, I promise. And gods must always keep their promises," Apollo told him. Phaeton had often watched the sun god throughout the day. Apollo rode through the sky on his fiery chariot. This excited and amazed Phaeton. He always wondered what it would be like to drive that chariot. What was it like to guide the noble horses? What would it be like to bring light to the world? "Father!" he cried. "I choose to drive your chariot. Just for one day. Let me have your chariot," Phaeton begged. At once, Apollo realized he had made a big mistake.

燃烧的光。他希望法厄同能够直视他。 “过来，法厄同。”阿波罗喊道。 “你是我的儿子。你妈妈告诉你真相了。 我会给你证据。你向我要什么，我就给你什么，我保证。 神必须永远遵守他们的诺言。”阿波罗告诉他。 法厄同常常整天注视着太阳神。 阿波罗骑着他那火红的战车穿越天空。 这使法厄同既兴奋又惊奇。 他总是想知道驾驶那辆战车会是什么样子。 引导这些高贵的马是什么感觉？ 给世界带来光明会是什么样子？ “爸爸！”“我选择驾驶你的战车。 就一天。把你的车给我。”法厄同恳求道。 阿波罗立刻意识到他犯了一个大错误。

"My dear boy—" Apollo began, shaking his head. "It is the only thing I want, Father," Phaeton interrupted. "And this is the only thing I would refuse you," Apollo answered. "You promised," Phaeton reminded him. "Listen to me, Phaeton," Apollo said. "It is too dangerous. You are half mortal. No mortal can drive my chariot. No god can drive it, either, except for me. Even Zeus, the ruler of the gods, cannot drive my chariot." "But, Father—" Phaeton started to say. "Consider the road, my son. It rises up from the sea so steeply. Even the horses can hardly climb it. In the middle of the sky, the road is so high. Even I do not like to look toward the ground. Worst of all is the way back down. It is so dangerous that Poseidon

“我亲爱的孩子——”阿波罗摇着头说。 “这是我唯一想要的东西，爸爸。”法厄同打断了他的话。 阿波罗回答说：“这是我唯一会拒绝你的东西。” “你答应过的。”法厄同提醒他。 “听我说，法厄同，”阿波罗说。 “这太危险了。你是半个凡人。 没有人能驾驶我的战车。 除了我，也没有哪个神能驾驶它。 甚至众神之王宙斯也不能驾驶我的战车。” “可是，爸爸——”法厄同刚想说。 “想想这条路，我的孩子。 它从海上陡然升起。 即使是马也很难爬上去。 在天空的中央，路是那么的高。 就连我也不喜欢看地面。 最糟糕的是回去的路。 太危险了，波塞冬

wonders how I do not fall out of my chariot and into the waters," Apollo explained. "I don't care," Phaeton pouted. "I want to drive the chariot. It's all I want." "Guiding the horses is almost impossible," Apollo added. "Their fiery spirits grow hotter as they climb. I can barely control them myself. Be reasonable, Phaeton. How could you drive the chariot when I can hardly do it? Please do not ask me to grant this wish. "Do you think there are wonders and beautiful things at the end of the sun's road? Is that why you want to drive the chariot?" Apollo wanted to know. "There aren't. You have to pass fierce, dangerous beasts. The Bull, the Lion, the Scorpion, the great Crab —each one of them will try to harm you. "My son, I would give you anything else in the world. Choose anything else and I will make it yours," Apollo said.

他很奇怪我怎么没有从战车上掉下来掉进水里。”阿波罗解释道。 “我不在乎。”法厄同噘嘴说。 “我想驾驶战车。 这就是我想要的。”阿波罗补充说：“引导马匹几乎是不可能的。” 他们火热的精神越往上爬越炽热。 我自己几乎控制不了他们。 理智点，法厄同。我都不会，你怎么能开车？ 请不要让我满足你的愿望。 “你认为在太阳之路的尽头会有奇迹和美丽的东西吗？” 这就是你要赶车的原因吗？”阿波罗想知道。 “没有。你必须经过凶猛危险的野兽。 公牛、狮子、蝎子、巨蟹——他们每一个人都会试图伤害你。 “我的儿子，我愿意给你世界上的任何东西。 选择其他的东西，我就把它变成你的。”阿波罗说。

Apollo's words were not heard. Phaeton saw himself proudly standing in that chariot. He saw himself guiding those fiery horses that even Zeus could not control. He didn't care about the dangers his father had described. He was not afraid. "You promised," Phaeton said. Apollo grew silent. It was hopeless. Phaeton would not change his mind. "If you will not change your mind, we must hurry," Apollo said. "It is almost time." The gates of the East glowed purple. Dawn had appeared, full of rosy light. The stars were just leaving the sky. The morning star was growing dim. The Seasons stood at the gates, waiting to open them. Apollo's horses had already been tied to the chariot. They were waiting for their driver. And they were not patient. With pride and joy, Phaeton climbed into

阿波罗的话没有人听到。 法厄同看见自己骄傲地站在那辆马车里。 他看见自己在引导那些连宙斯都无法控制的烈马。 他不关心他父亲所描述的危险。 他并不害怕。“你答应过的，”法厄同说。 阿波罗沉默了。这是没有希望的。 法厄同不肯改变主意。 “如果你不改变主意，我们必须抓紧时间。”阿波罗说。 “时间差不多了。”东方的大门发出紫色的光芒。 黎明已经出现，充满了玫瑰色的阳光。 星星正离开天空。 晨星渐渐暗淡了。 四季站在门口，等着打开大门。 阿波罗的马已经拴在车上了。 他们在等司机。 他们没有耐心。 带着骄傲和喜悦，法厄同爬了进去