泰西50轶事(三十)达蒙克利斯之剑 江铭辉五梦网
泰西50轶事(Fifty Famous Stories Retold)，是永恒的短篇故事，它收集的故事：包括浩瀚历史的著名英雄和他们的罗曼史，故事内容有勇气、毅力和情感。故事人物包括拿破仑、罗宾汉，乔治华盛顿、成吉思汗等人。这些故事都是老少咸宜的故事，我将它逐篇翻译，并配合图画，供大家欣赏。
泰西50轶事(三十)达蒙克利斯之剑
原文及翻译如下：
The Sword of Damocles
达摩克利斯
THERE was once a king whose name was Dionysius. He was so unjust and cruel that he won for himself the name of tyrant. He knew that almost everybody hated him, and so he was always in dread lest some one should take his life.
从前，有个国王叫狄奥尼修斯，他是如此残忍和不公正，以至获得了暴君的称号。他知道几乎人人都恨他，所以总是处于极端恐惧之中，害怕有人来取他的性命。
But he was very rich, and he lived in a fine palace where there were many beautiful and costly things, and he was waited upon by a host o f
servants who were always ready to do his bidding.
他非常富有，住在一座豪的宫殿里，那儿有许多美丽和昂贵的东西，还有一大群仆人在身旁等候他的命令。
One day a friend of his whose name was Damocles, said to him, —
“How happy you must be! You have here everything that any man could wish.”
“Perhaps you would like to change places with me,”said the tyrant.
一天，他的一个叫做达蒙克利斯(图1)的朋友对他说：
“你一定非常快活吧！你拥有每个人都想要的东西。”
“也许你想和我交换一下地位，”这位暴君说。
图1：达蒙克利斯
“No, not that, O king! ”said Damocles; “but I think, that, if I could only have your riches and your pleasures for one day, I should not want any greater happiness.”
“不，不是那个意思，国王陛下啊！”达蒙克利斯说，“但是我想，如果我真能拥有你的财富和欢乐，哪怕只有一天，我再也不想其他更大的快乐。”
“Very well,”said the tyrant.“You shall have them.”
And so, the next day, Damocles was led into the palace, and all the servants were bidden to treat him as their master. He sat down at a table in the banquet hall, and rich foods were placed before him. Nothing was wanting that could give him pleasure. There were costly wines, and beautiful flowers, and rare perfumes and delightful music. He rested himself among soft cushions, and felt that he was the happiest man in all the world.
“好吧！”暴君说，“你将可拥有它们。”
于是，第二天，达蒙克利斯被带到了宫里，所有的仆人都被吩咐要像自己的主人那样服侍他。他坐在宴会大厅的一张餐桌旁，面前摆放着丰富的食物。使他快乐的东西一样都不缺少，名贵的美酒、美丽的鲜花、稀有的香水，还有悦耳的音乐。他靠在柔软的垫子上，觉得自己是世界上最快乐的人。
Then he chanced to raise his eyes towards the ceiling.
What was it that was dangling above him, with its point almost touching his head? It was a sharp sword, and it was hung by only a single horsehair. What if the hair should break?There was danger every moment that it would do so.
忽然，他无意中把目光朝天花板上望了一下。
是什么东西在他的上面晃来晃去，它的尖端已几乎碰到了他的头。那是一把锐利的剑，仅靠一根马鬃悬吊着。如果那马鬃断了将会怎样？它随时都有可能发生断裂掉下来的危险。(图2)
图2：达蒙克利斯无意中把目光朝天花板上望了一下，发现他的头。有一把锐利的剑，随时会掉下来。
The smile faded from the lips of Damocles. His face became ashy pale.
His hands trembled. He wanted no more food; he could drink no more wine; he took no more delight in the music. He longed to be out of the palace,and away, he cared not where.
微笑从达蒙克利斯的唇边消失了。他的脸变得苍白，双手开始颤抖。他不再想再要食物，也不再想要喝酒，不再欣赏音乐。
他一心一意想离开这个宫殿，跑得远远的，不管到哪个地方。
“What is the matter?”said the tyrant.
“That sword! That sword! ”cried Damocles. He was so badly frightened that he dared not move.
“什么事情阿？”暴君问。
“那把剑！那把剑！”达蒙克利斯大叫。他是如此的惧怕，以至于动都不敢动了。
“Yes,”said Dionysius, “I know there is a sword above your head, and that it may fall at any moment. But why should that trouble you? I have a sword over my head all the time. I am every moment in dread lest something may cause me to lose my life.”
“是啊！”狄奥尼修斯说，“我知道你头上有一把剑，它可能随时都会掉下来。但你为何如此烦恼不安呢？我的头上任何时候都有一把剑。我每时每刻都害怕担心有什么东西会使我丢掉性命呢。”
“Let me go,”said Damocles.“I now see that I was mistaken, and that the rich and powerful are not so happy as they seem. Let me go back to my old home in the poor little cottage among the mountains.”
And so long as he lived, he never again wanted to be rich, or to change places, even for a moment, with the king.
“让我走吧！”达蒙克利斯说，“现在我知道我错了，有权有钱的人并不像看见的那样快活。我还是回到我那山中破旧的小木屋去吧。”
在他有生之年，他再也不想变成富翁或是和国王交换地位了，哪怕是一分一秒。
达蒙克利的剑的简介
达蒙克利的剑特点是在一个道德轶闻，暗指当权者面临逼近眼前和无时不在的危险。这是晚期增加的古典希腊文化，正确的说法是属传说，而不是希腊神话。
它显然是历史学家塔洛尼(Tauromenium)的蒂迈欧斯(Timaeus)（公元前356年-260年）杜撰的西西里岛失去的历史轶事。罗马雄辩家西塞罗(Cicero)有可能读过它。并使用它。因此使这个传闻进入欧洲的主流文化。
轶事的达蒙克利斯是一个谄媚的大臣，故事发生在公元前第4纪，西西里岛锡拉库斯 (Syracuse)的暴君狄奥尼修斯二世的宫廷。为迎合他的国王，达蒙克利斯(Damocles)高呼狄奥尼修斯是非常的幸运，因为他是一个伟大的人物，拥有至高的权力和财富。
狄奥尼修斯然后与达摩克利斯互换地位，让达蒙克利斯也可以亲自品尝这非常幸运的滋味。达蒙克利斯迅速，热切地接受了国王的提议。达蒙克利斯坐在国王的宝座享受每一种豪华的待遇，但迪奥尼修斯布置了一只巨大的剑，吊在宝座的上面，剑的头部，只用马尾巴的一根鬃毛绑着。
达蒙克利斯最后恳求暴君让他离开，因为他不敢再享受这么幸运的生活，虽然有巨大的财富和权力，但也带来极大的危险和恐惧。
狄奥尼修斯成功地传达了伟大的人经常生活在恐惧感之中。西塞罗最后把这个故事作一系列鲜明的对比，达成一个结论，他一直朝着一个争论，这个争论的主题是美德是足够过着幸福快乐的生活，西塞罗问：狄奥尼修斯不是似乎已经足够明确证明了吗？
达蒙克利斯之剑这个故事经常暗指，是对当权者即将或无时不在危险的缩影。更一般地，它是用来表示不确定因素造成的预感，特别是悲剧的发生仅仅是由一个微妙的触发，或偶然的机会。莎士比亚的亨利四世扩展了这一论题：他说：“头上戴着皇冠，内心忐忑不安”。
罗马公元前1世纪的诗人贺拉斯(Horace)也在第三本书的29篇提到了达蒙克利斯，他赞扬过着简单，质朴的生活，可以克服高权力带来无数危机和焦虑的人。
达蒙克利斯之剑经常出现在大众的文化里，包括小说，电影，电视剧，计算机游戏，和音乐，它叙述，世界上不可能再有朦胧的危险更可怕的事情了？