护树神女所施的惩罚
The Dryads assumed at times the forms of peasant girls，she her desses，or follower of the hunt．But they were believed to perish with certain trees which had been their abode abode n.住所，住处and with which they had come into existence．Wantonly to destroy a tree was therefore an impious act，sometimes severely punished，as in the case of Erysichthon．
护树神女们有时以农家少女、牧羊女或猎人随从的面目出现。但通常人们相信，她们栖身于某些树木，并与树木同生死，共存亡。因此，随意砍伐树木是不敬神的表现，会遭到严厉的惩罚。厄律西克同的故事便是例证。
Erysichthon，a despiser of the gods，presumed to violate( violate vt.违犯，亵渎（圣物），冒犯，干扰，违反)with the ax a grove sacred Ceres．A venerable oak，whereon votive tablets had often been hung inscribed with the gratitude of mortals to the nymph of the tree—an oak round which the Dryads hand in hand had often danced—he ordered his servants to fell．When he saw them hesitate (hesitate v.犹豫，踌躇，不愿)，he snatched an ax from one，and boasting that he cared not whether it were a tree beloved of the goddess or not，addressed himself to the task．The oak seemed to shudder (shudder n.vi.战栗，发抖)and utter a groan．When the first blow fell upon the trunk，blood flowed from the wound．Warned by a bystander to desist (desist v.终止)，Erysichthon slew him，warned by a voice from the nymph of the tree，he redoubled his blows and brought down the oak．The Dryads invoked punishment upon Erysichthon．
厄律西克同是个渎神者。他胆大包天，居然用斧子砍伐谷物女神刻瑞斯的神圣丛林。丛林中有一棵备受尊敬的老橡树，世人常在树上挂感恩碑，碑上面刻着铭谢护树神女的碑文。女神们常常手拉手围着老橡树跳舞。然而，厄律西克同却命令手下人砍倒这棵大树。仆人们迟迟疑疑不敢下手，他便夺过一把斧子，亲自砍伐起来，同时还口口声声说，他才不在乎这是一棵女神喜爱的树木。橡树仿佛哆嗦了一下，发出一声呻吟。他一斧头砍进树身时，鲜血涌出伤口，有位旁观者劝他赶快住手，厄律西克同却把他杀了。守护老橡树的女神向他发出警告，他反而加紧砍伐，终于砍倒橡树。女神们祈求神祗惩罚他。
The goddess Ceres，whom they had supplicated，nodded her assent．She dispatched an Oread to iceclad Scythia，where Cold abides，and Fear and Shuddering and Famine．At Mount Caucasus，the Oread stayed the dragons of Ceres that drew her chariot，for afar off she beheld Famine，forespent with hunger，pulling up with teeth and claws the scanty scanty adj.缺乏的，不足的，稀疏的，俭省的，不充足的herbage from a stony field．
刻瑞斯女神听到他们的呼吁，答应她们的祈求。她派一名山岳神女前往冰雪覆盖的、居住着寒冷、恐惧、颤抖和饥荒四位神祗的斯库提亚。在高加索的山顶上，山岳女神停下刻瑞斯的神龙所拉的车子。她远远地看到饿急了的饥荒之神正用牙和爪又啃又挖石头地里稀少的草木。
To her the nymph delivered the commands of Ceres，then returned in haste to Thessaly，for she herself began to be an hungered．
山岳女神向她传达了刻瑞斯的命令，并且连忙返身赶回色萨利，因为她也开始感到饥饿难挨了。
The orders of Ceres were executed by Famine，who，speeding through the air，entered the dwelling of Erysichthon and，as he slept，enfolded him with her wings and breathed herself into him．In his dreams the caitiff craved food，and when he awoke，his hunger raged．The more he ate，the more he craved，till，in default of money，he sold his daughter into slavery for edibles．Neptune，however，rescued the girl by changing her into a fisherman，and in that form she assured the slaveowner that she had seen no woman or other person，except herself，thereabouts(thereabouts adv.在那附近，大约)．Then，resuming her own appearance，she was again and again sold by her father.While by Neptune‘s favor she became on each occasion a different animal，and so regained her home．Finally，increasing demands of hunger compelled the father to devour his own limbs，and in due time he finished himself off．
饥饿之神前去执行刻瑞斯的命令。她飞速划过长空，进入厄律西克同的房内，乘厄律西克同熟睡之际，她用双翼抱住他，向他口中送气。于是，这个混蛋梦见自己想吃东西。醒来时，他更饿得慌，他越吃越想吃。钱财花光了，他就卖女为奴，换取食品。幸好海神尼普顿拯救了他女儿，把她变成渔人。她以渔人身份对奴隶主说，她没看见任何女人或男人，附近只有她一个人。她恢复本来面目以后又一而再、再而三地被她父亲卖掉。不过，根据海神的意愿，她每次都变成一种动物，重新回到自己的家里。后来，那位父亲饿得难熬，开始吃起自己的手脚，不久就把自己吃完了。
