《奥德赛》--第15章--如何向陌生人寻求帮助（搭讪）？

在将近一章多的内容中，奥德修斯与猪倌Eumaeus互相倾吐心中的不快，而奥德修斯也趁机收集了足够的情报对自己家的情况有了足够的了解。接下来，奥德修斯终于找准机会开口，询问猪倌Eumaeus的身世。一个人如果愿意将自己的隐私告诉你，这也算是信任的一种表现吧。

endless night长夜无眠

而早在前一章，奥德修斯就将自己的身世和冒险经历算是事无巨细地告诉了Eumaeus。尽管故事是奥德修斯编造的，但这也能看作是一种基于人与人之间相互信任的交换。

此外，奥德修斯不同于以往上门索要物质奖励的流浪汉。不论是他想让Eumaeus相信自己的主人即将归来而立下的誓言，还是为了试探Eumaeus是否对他完全敞开心扉所说的不愿再叨扰的话，这些再加上奥德修斯现在伪装出来的年迈的乞讨者形象，都一点一点地让谨慎的Eumaeus褪去防备，愿意向他倾吐。

“Imagine that,” his canny master said,“you must have been just a little fellow, Eumaeus, when you were swept so far from home and parents. Come, tell me the whole story, truly too…”奥德修斯说道：“试想下，你远离家乡双亲时，还是个小家伙吧……给我讲下你的故事吧，也按原原本本的那样讲。”

“My friend,” the swineherd answered, foreman of men,“you really want my story? So many questions—well, listen in quiet, then, and take your ease, sit back and drink your wine. The nights are endless now. We’ve plenty of time to sleep or savor a long tale. No need, you know, to turn in before the hour. Even too much sleep can be a bore. But anyone else who feels the urge can go to bed and then, at the crack of dawn, break bread, turn out and tend our master’s pigs. We two will keep to the shelter here, eat and drink and take some joy in each other’s heartbreaking sorrows,sharing each other’s memories. Over the years, you know, a man finds solace even in old sorrows, true, a man who’s weathered many blows and wandered many miles. My own story? This will answer all your questions …”

Eumaeus答道，朋友你真的想听我的故事吗？那就请你坐好且听我慢慢讲来。长夜无限，不必太早入眠。我俩就在这一方屋檐下，饮酒畅谈，苦中作乐，分享点滴。一个人，经历风雨，百转千折，唯有回忆苦痛，聊以慰藉。诚然如此。

这样看来，Eumaeus虽然身为牧猪人，但他内心的想法与情感却不为凡事（睡觉、进食、照料猪群）所束缚。一个说的出此话的人，绝不平凡。这也非常符合他有着贵族血统的身份。除了find solace in old sorrows之外，最打动我的是weathered many blows and wandered many miles. 不仅押头韵，名词动词化的weather很贴合语境，表现行于海上，颠沛流离之苦。对于Eumaeus眼前这位朋友来说是十分贴切的了。