中学・高校生のみんな、大型連休はどうだった？思いっきりはじけたキミも、ただ何となく終わっちゃったアナタも、そろそろ1学期中間テストの準備を始めているころかな。
さて、「王さまの耳はロバの耳」っていう話は知っているよね。王様の耳がロバの耳のように長いという秘密を知ってしまった男が、それを誰にも言うことができないものだから地面に穴を掘ってしゃべったわけ。そしたら、その地に育った葦（あし）が風に吹かれながら「王様の耳はロバの耳、王様の耳は・・・」とささやいて秘密が秘密でなくなったという話。
実はこれ、ギリシャ神話なんだよね。
でもこの話の前に、なぜ王様の耳がロバの耳になったのかというエピソードがあるんだけど知ってた？
今回は、そのギリシャ神話の世界をちょっとのぞいてみようと思う。
本文中に、大切な連語なんかも含まれているから気をつけて読んで欲しい。力試し問題もやってみてね。 〜Long, long ago in Greece 〜
Midas was a king of Phrygia.
As he was interested in natural things, he loved to live in the country,
and worshiped Pan, who was the god of the field. Pan was famous for
his pipe, and was proud ( ) ? his skill. So he
tried to compete with Apollo in music.
Apollo was not only the god of the sun but also the god of lyre.?
Pan’s challenge was accepted. And the judge was Tmolus, the mountain
god.
When he ordered Pan to play, Pan blew on his pipe very slowly.
His melody gave pleasant feeling to the listeners. It reminded them
of the country life. Of course, King Midas made no doubt of his victory.
After Pan’s plays, Tmolus turned his head to the sun god. Everyone
became silent and gazed at him. Apollo began to play his lyre.
Splendid melody flew out around them. They were fascinated with it
so much that there was no sound except the melody of his lyre.
At once, Tmolus awarded to Apollo. The listeners consented to his judgment.
But only
King Midas insisted on Pan’s victory? and complained of the
judge.
Apollo couldn’t stand? such a foolish insult, then he decided to punish
the king and exclaimed, “King Midas, I don’t think you can make use
of your ears enough. You are not able to understand the difference
between Pan’s plays and mine. Maybe, you don’t have to have them?,
and I’ll give you another pair of ears which are more suitable for
you.”
As soon as Apollo said, the King Midas’s ears became long rapidly.
In addition, they grew hairy and he could move them at their roots.
In short, they looked like ears of an ass.
注）pipe : フルートのような単管楽器 lyre : 竪琴 ass : ロバ |
