杀死战神圣蛇的报应
Toward mortals Mars could show himself，on occasion，as vindictive(vindictive adj.报复性的)as his fair foe，Minerva，the unwearied daughter of Jove.This fact not only Cadmus，who slew a serpent sacred to Mars，but all the family of Cadmus found out to their cost.
对于凡人，马尔斯有时表现得就跟他那美貌的对手、朱庇特的那永不怠倦的女儿密涅瓦一样的复仇心切。不仅杀死马尔斯圣蛇的卡德摩斯领教了这一点，他的家族也在深受其苦下对此有所领略。
We have seen how Jupiter，under the disguise of a bull，had carried away Europa，the daughter of Agenor，King of Phoenicia.Agenor，greatly distressed by the loss of his beloved daughter，commanded his son Cadmus to go in search of his sister，and not to return without her.Cadmus went and sought long and far for his sister，but could not find her，and not daring to return unsuccessful，consulted the oracle(oracle n.[宗］（古希腊）神谕，预言，神谕处，神使，哲人，圣贤)informed him that he should find a cow in the field，and should follow her wherever she might wander，and where she stopped，should build a city and call it Thebes.Cadmus had hardly left the Castalian cave，from which the oracle was delivered，when he saw a young cow slowly walking before him.He followed her close，offering at the same time his prayers to Phoebus.The cow went on till she passed the shallow channel of Cephisus and came out into the plain of Panope.There she stood still，and raising her broad forehead to the sky，filled the air with her owings.Cadmus gave thanks and，stooping down，kissed the foreign soil，then lifting his eyes，greeted the surrounding mountains.
我们看过朱庇特怎样化成一头公牛驮走了腓尼基国王阿革诺耳的女儿欧罗巴。阿革诺耳因失去了爱女而大为苦恼，责令儿子卡德摩斯去把妹妹寻回来，若不能完成任务就不准他再进家门。卡德摩斯走遍四面八方，找了很久也找不到妹妹的踪迹。他不敢空着手回家，就到阿波罗庙中乞求神谕指示他到哪里安身，神谕说他将在田野里见到一头母牛，牛往哪里走，他就要跟到那里，就在母牛停步的地方建造一座城池，取名底比斯。卡德摩斯刚一走出给予他神谕的卡斯塔利亚山洞就看到前面有条小母牛在不紧不慢地走着。他赶快跟上，一路上向福波斯祷告。那头牛涉过了刻非瑟斯浅峡，来到了帕诺蒲平原。它在这里停住脚步，仰起宽阔的额面，朝天一声声地哞叫着。卡德摩斯谢过神明，躬身亲吻这片异乡的土地，然后举目眺望四周的群山。
Wishing to offer a sacrifice(sacrifice n.牺牲，献身，祭品，供奉v.牺牲，献出，献祭，供奉)to Jupiter，Cadmus sent his servants to seek pure water for a libation.Near by there stood an ancient grove which had never been profaned by the axe(axe n.斧，（经费的）大削减)，in the midst of which was a cave，thick covered with the growth of bushes，its roof forming a low arch，from beneath which burst forth a fountain of purest water.In the cave lurked a horrid serpent(serpent n.大毒蛇，阴险的人)with a crested head and scales glittering like gold.His eyes shone like fire，his body was swollen with venom，he vibrated a triple tongue，and showed a triple row of teeth.No sooner had the Tyrians dipped their pitchers in the fountain，and the ingushing waters made a sound，than the glittering serpent raised his head out of the cave and uttered a fearful hiss.The vessels fell from their hands，the blood left their cheeks，they trembled in every limb(limb n.肢，翼，分支).The serpent，twisting his scaly body in a huge coil，raised his head so as to overtop the tallest trees，and while the Tyrians from terror could neither fight nor fly，slew some with his fangs，others in his folds，and others with his poisonous breath.
他决定祭祀朱庇特，便打发随从去寻找净水做祭奠。附近有一片老林，还从未遭受过斧头的破坏。林子深处有一个岩洞，完全被茂密的树丛遮挡住。洞顶微呈拱形，洞的下处涌出一道无比清澈的泉水。洞穴里盘踞着一条凶恶毒蛇，它的头冠和身上的鳞片像金子熠熠发光。它的双眼如火焰一般的闪耀，浑身上下毒液欲滴。那蛇摇动着分成了三叉的舌头，龇出三排牙齿。当太尔人把水罐浸到泉水中，水流入罐咕嘟嘟地响起来的时候，那闪着青光的蛇立即从穴中探出头来，发出嘶嘶的可怖的鸣声。他们吓得扔了水罐，一个个面如死灰，浑身发抖。那头蛇盘起长满鳞片的身躯，把头举过了至高的树，那些太尔人被吓得瘫软了，既不能战，又不能逃。有些人被咬死，有些人被勒死，其余的则被蛇的毒气熏死了。