[希臘神話]四個時代

The Four Ages

There had been four ages since the human world first cameinto being ．They are the Golden Age，the Silver Age，the Age of Bronze and the Age of Iron．The Golden Agewas the best of all．It was an age when Kronus sat on thethrone．Generous nature met all the needs of men ．There wereno extremes of cold and heat．And the evils of the human worldwere still kept in the cask．Epimetheus guarded the cask and Pandora was not yet made to open．Men lived a happy life．They were forever young．They were always eating richly and knew neither hard labour nor sorrow．When death came it came like apeaceful sleep．And they became good spirits in heaven ．

The Silver Age was one in which the human race was somewhat less valuable in body and mind．The period was of helpless be ginning．It lasted a hundred years．And it was the time of manhood，short and troubled．Men spent in ignorance and evil．They no longer admired the gods and offered no sacrifices．However，as the race of the Silver Age was not entirely lack of goodness，they had some honour and lived on as spirits under the earth．

During the age of Bronze men became further degenerated ．Dressed in bronze and armed with weapons of bronze，they live din the houses of bronze．Cruel and heartless，they delighted inwar and died in endless struggle．When they passed away，they came into the darkness of the lower world．

The last age，that of Iron，was one of continual care and grief．There was no family love，no sense of respectful duty，no friend ship and hospitality．Nor was there any faith，truth and justice．Evil was widespread，might was right，and the flames of war burnt the surface of the earth．It was a race of men given up by gods ．

人類產生以來經歷了四個時代：黃金時代、白銀時代、青銅時代、鐵器時代。黃金時代最爲美好。克魯娜斯坐在御座上。慷慨的大自然滿足了人類的一切要求。沒有嚴寒酷暑。人間的不幸被拘禁在桶中。這隻桶由厄庇墨透斯保管，而潘多拉還沒有出世來打開桶蓋。人們生活美滿，青春永存。他們常常舉行盛宴，大吃大喝，而對艱辛與悲哀一概不知。死亡的來臨猶如酣睡，死後他們變成精靈升入天堂。

在白銀時代，人類在體力與智力方面感覺欠佳。這種孤弱的開端延續百年。人類在愚昧與不幸中度過了這一短暫而焦慮的成年期。他們不再崇拜天神，也不再獻祭。好在白銀時代的人類並非一點美德也不具備。他們有廉恥之心，他們死後作爲神靈繼續在陰間生活。

在青銅時代，人類更加墮落。身着青銅盔甲，手握青銅兵器，住在青銅鑄造的房中。他們殘忍無情，尚武好戰，最終在無止盡的戰爭中消亡。死時，他們降臨陰間。

最後一個時代——鐵器時代，這是一個持續煩惱與悲傷的時代。沒有親人的愛，沒有孝順長輩的責任感，沒有友誼，沒有禮儀，更沒有信仰、真理與正義。罪惡四處蔓延，強權即公理。戰火燒焦了地球的表面。天神摒棄了人類。