【The Story of Zeus】

 

【The Story of Zeus】

Zeus was the foremost god in heaven, the god of thunder and lightning, and the god of happiness, who brought blessings to the human world.

 

Sometimes, to observe the mortal world, Zeus would take his son, Hermes,

 

disguise himself as poor travelers, dress casually, and stay in village homes.

 

Once, Zeus came to the mortal world and sought shelter in a village.

 

Unexpectedly, the villagers were so unsympathetic that no one would accept him.

 

Finally, Zeus arrived at a small hut. Inside was an elderly couple.

 

"Knock! knock!" Zeus knocked on the door, asking through the crack, "Is anyone home?"

 

The old woman opened the door and asked, "What's going on so late?" Zeus replied, "My son and I have wandered here and are tired and hungry.

 

Could you please give us a place to stay?"

 

The old man immediately welcomed him, saying, "It's cold outside.

 

Come in!" The old woman replied, "We have some cheese and bread in the house.

 

I'll get them for you. Come on in!"

 

Zeus and Hermes entered the house. The old couple were truly poor, but they offered Zeus and his son their best hospitality.

 

They boiled hot water for them to wash, provided them with clean bedding, and chatted with them.

 

Zeus and his son sat at the table, which was rough but well-polished.

 

While they ate, the old woman even brought out a jug of wine and poured it into the glasses.

 

To their surprise, the jug, which had just been emptied, was instantly refilled.

 

At that moment, the old couple suddenly realized that the two impoverished wanderers were actually gods.

 

The couple immediately knelt in worship.

 

The old woman was about to kill their only goose to add to the meal.

 

Zeus said, "Don't kill the goose. Your kindness truly touches me.

 

Everyone else in this village is so cruel, but you two are the kindest. Now, please come with me to the top of the opposite hill.

 

I will punish the others in the village." Zeus led the old couple to the summit.

 

When they looked back, they saw that their small village had become a vast ocean.

 

After the flood receded, the old couple returned to their little cottage.

 

They could hardly believe their eyes. Their little cottage had become a magnificent temple, with marble floors and golden reliefs decorating the doors, windows, and walls.

 

At this point, Zeus asked the old couple, "Dear old man, old woman, do you have any last wishes? Feel free to tell me!"

 

After whispering for a moment, the old couple humbly said, "Please, God, appoint us priests of this temple and let us die on the same day, month, and year!"

 

 Of course, Zeus agreed. From then on, the old couple served as priests of this temple until their death.

 

At the end of their lives, they said to each other, "Take care, and goodbye!"

 

As soon as they finished speaking, they transformed into two trees.

宙斯的故事

 

　　宙斯是天界第一主神，雷霆神，也是造福人間的幸福之神。宙私有時為了考察凡間的情形，就會帶著他的兒子荷米斯，化妝成貧窮的行人，穿著很隨便，投宿村莊的民家。

 

　　有一次，宙斯到凡間來，想要在一個村子裡住一宿。沒想到那個村子裡的人都很不通人情，竟然沒有一家肯留他。最後宙斯來到了一間小茅屋。屋裡有一對老夫婦。

 

　　「砰!砰!」宙斯一邊敲門，一邊對著門縫問：「有人在家嗎?」老先生出來開門，問：「這麼晚了，有什麼事嗎?」宙斯說：「我和我兒子流浪到這裡，走累了，肚子也餓了。你能不能留我們住一宿?」老先生立刻表示歡迎，說：「外面很冷，快進屋裡來吧!」老太太也說：「我們屋裡還有些乳酪和麵包，我去拿來給你們充飢。快進來吧!」

 

　　宙斯和荷米斯都走進了屋子。老夫婦家真的很窮，可是他們卻拿出最好的東西來款待宙斯父子倆，燒熱水讓他們洗臉，拿出乾淨的舖蓋讓他們用，然後陪他們談天。宙斯和他兒子坐在飯桌前，飯桌很粗，可是擦得很乾淨。在吃飯的時候，老太太還特別把一壺酒拿出來，倒進杯子裡。沒想到，剛剛才倒光的酒壺，一會兒酒又裝滿了。這時候，老夫婦才恍然大悟，原來這兩個貧窮的流浪漢竟然是神仙。

 

　　於是老夫婦立刻雙膝跪地膜拜。老太太並且要把家裡僅有的一隻鵝殺了添菜。宙斯說：「不必殺鵝了。你們的好意真令我感動。這個村子裡的其他人都太冷酷無情，唯獨你們兩位心腸最好。現在請你們和我到對面的山頂上去，我要懲罰催子裡其他的人。」宙斯帶著老夫婦走到山頂上，當老夫婦回頭一看，自己所住的小村莊已經變成一片汪洋了。

 

 　　大水退了之後，老夫婦回到自己住的小屋，他們簡直不敢相信自己的眼睛。那間小茅屋竟然變成富麗堂皇的神殿，下面是大理石地板，所有的門窗和牆壁都用黃金的浮雕做裝飾。這時候，宙斯又問老夫婦說：「慈祥的老先生，老太太，你們還有什麼願望嗎?不必客氣，儘管告訴我!」

 

　　老夫婦小聲商量片刻之後，很謙虛的說：「請天神任命我們老夫妻擔任這座神殿的祭司，並且讓我們同年同月同日死!」宙斯當然答應了。從此，老夫婦就擔任這座神殿的祭司，直到生命快結束的時候，他們彼此說：「多多保重，再見!」老夫婦話剛說完，就變成兩棵樹。