在希腊神话中，许多故事中都涉及到了“预言”，故事的主人公常常受尽其折磨，而且最后这些预言往往都应验了。本文也是一篇有关“预言”的神话。讲述了国王Acrisius为了规避预言而监禁了自己的女儿Danae，但最后还是没有改变自己的命运。读到这里，我不禁想：难道预言真的那么灵验吗？如果当初Zeus的父亲不吞掉他的儿女（Zeus的父亲因听预言说将来会有一个儿子夺他的权力而吞掉了所有的孩子，Zeus长大后，向其复仇，夺取了他的权力），从而激起他们的报复心；如果Acrisius不迫害自己的女儿；“预言”未必会应验。说到底“预言”的应验都是当事人自己造成的。

In Greek mythology, Danae was the daughter of Acrisius (Acrisius was the king of Argos). As Danae and Acrisius were members of a royal family, it is not surprising that there should be prophecies associated with the future - and indeed, there was a threatening message for this house. According to the prophecy, the son, Danae was destined to bear, would be instrumental in the death of his grandfather, Acrisius.

* prophecy：“预言”、“预见能力”等。古代宫廷里一般都有预言家，他们所做出的prophecy往往会决定皇帝的政策，具有非常大的影响力。看过小说“武则天”的人一定知道那个“唐三代亡，女王昌”的预言。

* destined：“命中注定的”、“意图的”的意思。

* instrumental：“有影响的”、“有作用的”等意思。Danae是国王的女儿，当时有预言说她未来的儿子会伤及父亲的性命。

In order to prevent this event from taking place, King Acrisius locked his daughter in an inaccessible tower, thereby removing her from contact with any potential suitors. Or so he thought...

* inaccessible：“达不到的”的意思。

* suitor：“求婚者”的意思。听到预言后，Acrisius为防止预言应验，就把女儿Danae关进一个无人可及的塔里。以防她和任何potential suitors（不为国王所知的求婚者）接触。

The god Zeus, who always had an eye for female charms, was struck by the beauty of Danae, and desired her. Zeus therefore transformed himself into a shower of gold, and in this form impregnated Danae. The result of this union of human and divine was the great Greek hero Perseus.

* have a eye：“对……有判断力”。这里指Zeus常常注意有魅力的女人。

* shower：“阵雨”的意思。

* impregnate：“使怀孕”的意思。Zeus为了接近Danae，把自己变成了金雨，并以金雨的形式使Danae怀了孕。 　　

But, of course, the birth of Perseus does not signal the end of this story. In ancient Greece, fate was difficult to elude. However, that did not stop Acrisius from trying anyway, for he sent Danae and the infant Perseus off in an attempt to rid himself of the child who would be the cause of his death. Naturally, both mother and son survived, and Perseus went on to achieve fame as a hero. Eventually, unwittingly he fulfilled the prophecy told before his birth.

* elude：“规避”、“逃避”。

* unwittingly：“无心的”、“不经意的”等意思。在古希腊，命运是不可规避的。尽管无心，Perseus（Danae的儿子）还是使那个预言应验了。