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Telemachus, Friend《刎颈之交》 O. Henry 《刎颈之交》,写真诚纯净的友谊在两个男子共追一个姑娘的过程中可敬、可笑又可爱的表现,稍含调侃地歌颂了小人物的善良品质,歌颂感人至深的真挚友谊和善良人性。 Telemachos (or Latin Telemachus) is a person in Greek mythology. He is the son of Odysseus of Ithaca and Penelope. While Odysseus was trying return home, many believed him to be dead. Suitors surrounded his home, trying to claim Penelope as their wife. Athena came to Telemachus in diguise and gave him advice. She told him to search for evidence that his father was still alive. If he was alive he could force the suitors away. However, if he believed his father to be dead, he would let one of the suitors claim her. He gathered a search party and set out to question many of the people Odysseus served with in the war. He decided that his father was dead. Telemachos held a competition for the suitors to claim Penelope. Odysseus showed up in secret, won the competition and rejoined his family. Returning from a hunting trip, I waited at the little town of Los Pinos, in New Mexico, for the south-bound train, which was one hour late. I sat on the porch（门廊） of the Summit House and discussed the functions of life with Telemachus Hicks, the hotel proprietor（经营者）. Perceiving(认识到) that personalities were not out of order, I asked him what species of beast had long ago twisted and mutilated（切断） his left ear. Being a hunter, I was concerned in the evils that may befall（降临，发生） one in the pursuit of game. That ear, says Hicks, is the relic（纪念） of true friendship. An accident? I persisted. No friendship is an accident, said Telemachus; and I was silent. The only perfect case of true friendship I ever knew, went on my host, was a cordial（诚恳的） intent between a Connecticut（美国康涅狄格州）man and a monkey. The monkey climbed palms（椰子树） in Barranquilla（巴兰基利亚，哥伦比亚西北部港市） and threw down cocoanuts（椰子） to the man. The man sawed （锯）them in two and made dippers（长柄的）, which he sold for two reales each and bought rum（朗姆酒）. The monkey drank the milk of the