Pan潘

　　 Pan's parentage was a problem of long argument. But most writers of Greek mythology agree that he was the son of Hermes by the lovely fairy maiden Penelope. He was a cold, hairy country monster, with the upper part of a man and the body and legs of a goat. Wandering about in the mountains and woods with other wood gods and cheerful fairy maidens. Pan led a perfectly carefree life. He was admired as the god of woods and pastures, with prophetic powers. He represented nature and country life. In old times he was honored as a god who was good, just and holy.

* parentage：我们都知道parent是“父母”的意思，由此，parentage表示“出身”、“父母的身份”等意思。Pan 的父母是谁，一直以来都是一个有争议的问题。
* carefree：“快乐的”、“无忧无虑的”的意思。
* pasture：“草地”、“牧场”的意思。作为森林之神，整天在广阔的大草场上游逛，Pan当然是过着一种carefree的生活了。
* prophetic：prophet是“先知”的意思。Prophetic就表示“正确预言的”，Pan具有预言的能力。

　　 Pan had a strong desire for women. At one time he loved a charming maiden, Syrinx, but to his disappointment his love was not returned. One day Syrinx left Pan with a fearful step, which lighted Pan's love all the more. He ran after her and was almost overtaking her when she was turned, at her own request, into a clump of reeds by Mother Earth. Pan wept bitterly at the change. Sadly he picked some pieces of the reeds and fashioned a pipe. He played so sweetly on it that Apollo was helpless before him.

* overtake：“追上”、“赶上”甚至“超过”的意思。overtake当“超过”讲时，常用被动语态。如：We were overtaken by him（我们被他超过了）。
* clump：“草丛”、“树丛”的意思。为了逃避Pan，Syrinx请求“大地母亲”把她变成一丛芦苇。也难怪，象Pan这样一个人头兽身的怪物，谁都会害怕。但这只是表面现象，Pan可是一个非常善良和正直的神啊。
* fashion：fashion当名词讲时是“时髦”、“风尚”等意思，这是人人都知道的。当动词讲时则是一个完全不同的意思，表示“把……作成”，大家可以根据上下文推出来。看到Syrinx被变成一丛芦苇，Pan非常伤心，就取了其中的一些，作成了笛子。
* He played so sweetly on it that Apollo was helpless before him是说Pan演奏笛子的技艺非常之高，连Apollo都会自叹不如。我们知道，Apollo是不仅仅是“太阳神”，也是“音乐之神”。

　　 At the time of the battle of Marathon Pan met the Athenian messenger to Sparta. He asked the man to say to the Athenians that, although they did not like him, he still felt kindly towards them and would aid them in their difficulties. When fighting against enemies went on near Marathon, the Athenians were surprised to see that the Persian soldiers were suddenly seized with a mysterious fear and ran away from the field in disorder. The great Pan had struck into the hearts of the Persians a kind of fear. The fear has been ever since known as panic. After the war the Athenians gratefully dedicated a temple to Pan. The sacrifices and games were held in his honor.

* panic：“惊惶”，“恐慌”的意思，比fear表示的程度要大得多。难怪波斯人会四散逃窜呢！
* dedicate：“供奉”、“奉献”的意思。Pan帮助雅典人赢得了战争，为了感谢他，人们为他立了庙。将sacrifices（祭品）和game（猎物）供奉给他。

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