the argonautica(阿尔戈)-第20章
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it is he alone that bereaves this band of its home…return。 Do ye others rest
here in the ship quietly with your arms； but I will go to the palace of
Aeetes； taking with me the sons of Phrixus and two comrades as well。
And when I meet him I will first make trial with words to see if he will be
willing to give up the golden fleece for friendship's sake or not； but
trusting to his might will set at nought our quest。 For so； learning his
frowardness first from himself； we will consider whether we shall meet
him in battle； or some other plan shall avail us； if we refrain from the war…
cry。 And let us not merely by force； before putting words to the test；
deprive him of his own possession。 But first it is better to go to him and
win his favour by speech。 Oftentimes； I ween； does speech accomplish at
need what prowess could hardly catty through； smoothing the path in
manner befitting。 And he once welcomed noble Phrixus； a fugitive from
his stepmother's wiles and the sacrifice prepared by his father。 For all
men everywhere； even the most shameless； reverence the ordinance of
Zeus； god of strangers； and regard it。〃
（ll。 194…209） Thus he spake； and the youths approved the words of
Aeson's son with one accord； nor was there one to counsel otherwise。
And then he summoned to go with him the sons of Phrixus； and Telamon
and Augeias； and himself took Hermes' wand； and at once they passed
forth from the ship beyond the reeds and the water to dry land； towards the
rising ground of the plain。 The plain； I wis； is called Circe's； and here in
line grow many willows and osiers； on whose topmost branches hang
corpses bound with cords。 For even now it is an abomination with the
Colchians to burn dead men with fire； nor is it lawful to place them in the
earth and raise a mound above； but to wrap them in untanned oxhides and
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suspend them from trees far from the city。 And so earth has an equal
portion with air； seeing that they bury the women； for that is the custom of
their land。
（ll。 210…259） And as they went Hera with friendly thought spread a
thick mist through the city； that they might fare to the palace of Aeetes
unseen by the countless hosts of the Colchians。 But soon when from the
plain they came to the city and Aeetes' palace； then again Hera dispersed
the mist。 And they stood at the entrance； marvelling at the king's courts
and the wide gates and columns which rose in ordered lines round the
walls； and high up on the palace a coping of stone rested on brazen
triglyphs。 And silently they crossed the threshold。 And close by garden
vines covered with green foliage were in full bloom； lifted high in air。
And beneath them ran four fountains； ever…flowing； which Hephaestus had
delved out。 One was gushing with milk； one with wine； while the third
flowed with fragrant oil； and the fourth ran with water； which grew warm
at the setting of the Pleiads； and in turn at their rising bubbled forth from
the hollow rock； cold as crystal。 Such then were the wondrous works
that the craftsman…god Hephaestus had fashioned in the palace of Cytaean
Aeetes。 And he wrought for him bulls with feet of bronze； and their
mouths were of bronze； and from them they breathed out a terrible flame
of fire； moreover he forged a plough of unbending adamant； all in one
piece； in payment of thanks to Helios； who had taken the god up in his
chariot when faint from the Phlegraean fight。 （1） And here an inner…court
was built； and round it were many well…fitted doors and chambers here and
there； and all along on each side was a richly…wrought gallery。 And on
both sides loftier buildings stood obliquely。 In one； which was the
loftiest； lordly Aeetes dwelt with his queen； and in another dwelt Apsyrtus；
son of Aeetes； whom a Caucasian nymph； Asterodeia； bare before he made
Eidyia his wedded wife； the youngest daughter of Tethys and Oceanus。
And the sons of the Colchians called him by the new name of Phaethon； （2）
because he outshone all the youths。 The other buildings the handmaidens
had； and the two daughters of Aeetes； Chalciope and Medea。 Medea then
＇they found＇ going from chamber to chamber in search of her sister； for
Hera detained her within that day； but beforetime she was not wont to
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haunt the palace； but all day long was busied in Hecate's temple； since she
herself was the priestess of the goddess。 And when she saw them she
cried aloud； and quickly Chalciope caught the sound； and her maids；
throwing down at their feet their yarn and their thread； rushed forth all in a
throng。 And she； beholding her sons among them； raised her hands aloft
through joy； and so they likewise greeted their mother； and when they saw
her embraced her in their gladness； and she with many sobs spoke thus：
（ll。 260…267） 〃After all then； ye were not destined to leave me in
your heedlessness and to wander far； but fate has turned you back。 Poor
wretch that I am！ What a yearning for Hellas from some woeful madness
seized you at the behest of your father Phrixus。 Bitter sorrows for my
heart did he ordain when dying。 And why should ye go to the city of
Orchomenus； whoever this Orchomenus is； for the sake of Athamas'
wealth； leaving your mother alone to bear her grief？〃
（ll。 268…274） Such were her words； and Aeetes came forth last of all
and Eidyia herself came； the queen of Aeetes； on hearing the voice of
Chalciope； and straightway all the court was filled with a throng。 Some
of the thralls were busied with a mighty bull； others with the axe were
cleaving dry billets； and others heating with fire water for the baths； nor
was there one who relaxed his toil； serving the king。
（ll。 275…298） Meantime Eros passed unseen through the grey mist；
causing confusion； as when against grazing heifers rises the gadfly； which
oxherds call the breese。 And quickly beneath the lintel in the porch he
strung his bow and took from the quiver an arrow unshot before；
messenger of pain。 And with swift feet unmarked he passed the
threshold and keenly glanced around； and gliding close by Aeson's son he
laid the arrow…notch on the cord in the centre； and drawing wide apart with
both hands he shot at Medea； and speechless amazement seized her soul。
But the god himself flashed back again from the high…roofed hall； laughing
loud； and the bolt burnt deep down in the maiden's heart like a flame； and
ever she kept darting bright glances straight up at Aeson's son； and within
her breast her heart panted fast through anguish； all remembrance left her；
and her soul melted with the sweet pain。 And as a poor woman heaps dry
twigs round a blazing branda daughter of toil； whose task is the spinning
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of wool； that she may kindle a blaze at night beneath her roof； when she
has waked very earlyand the flame waxing wondrous great from the
small brand consumes all the twigs together； so； coiling round her heart；
burnt secretly Love the destroyer； and the hue of her soft cheeks went and
came； now pale； now red； in her soul's distraction。
（ll。 299…303） Now when the thralls had laid a banquet ready before
them； and they had refreshed themselves with warm baths； gladly did they
please their souls with meat and drink。 And thereafter Aeetes questioned
the sons of his daughter； addressing them with these words：
（ll。 304…316） 〃Sons of my daughter and of Phrixus； whom beyond all
strangers I honoured in my halls； how have ye come returning back to Aea？
Did some calamity cut short your escape in the midst？ Ye did not listen
when I set before you the boundless length of the way。 For I marked it
once； whirled along in the chariot of my father Helios； when he was
bringing my sister Circe to the western land and we came to the shore of
the Tyrrhenian mainland； where even now she abides； exceeding far from
Colchis。 But what pleasure is there in words？ Do ye tell me plainly what
has been your fortune； and who these men are； your companions； and
where from your hollow ship ye came ashore。〃
（ll。 317…319） Such were his questions； and Argus； before all his
brethren； being fearful for the mission of Aeson's son； gently replied； for
he was the elder…born：
（ll。 320…366） 〃Aeetes； that ship forthwith stormy blasts tore asunder；
and ourselves； crouching on the beams； a wave drove on to the beach of
the isle of Enyalius （3） in the murky night； and some god preserved us。
For even the birds of Ares that haunted the desert isle beforetime； not even
them did we find。 But these men had driven them off； having landed
from their ship on the day before； and the will of Zeus taking pity on us； or
some fate； detained them there； since they straightway gave us both food
and clothing in abundance； when they heard the illustrious name of
Phrixus and thine own； for to thy city are they faring。 And if thou dost
wish to know their errand； I will not hide it from time。 A certain king；
vehemently longing to drive this man far from his fatherland and
possessions； because in might he outshone all the sons of Aeolus； sends
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