the argonautica(阿尔戈)-第23章
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entrance of her chamber； held back by shame； and she turned back once
more； and again she came forth from within； and again stole back； and idly
did her feet bear her this way and that； yea； as oft as she went straight on；
shame held her within the chamber； and though held back by shame； bold
desire kept urging her on。 Thrice she made the attempt and thrice she
checked herself； the fourth time she fell on her bed face downward；
writhing in pain。 And as when a bride in her chamber bewails her
youthful husband； to whom her brothers and parents have given her； nor
yet does she hold converse with all her attendants for shame and for
thinking of him； but she sits apart in her grief； and some doom has
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destroyed him； before they have had pleasure of each other's charms； and
she with heart on fire silently weeps； beholding her widowed couch； in
fear lest the women should mock and revile her； like to her did Medea
lament。 And suddenly as she was in the midst of her tears； one of the
handmaids came forth and noticed her； one who was her youthful
attendant； and straightway she told Chalciope； who sat in the midst of her
sons devising how to win over her sister。 And when Chalciope heard the
strange tale from the handmaid； not even so did she disregard it。 And she
rushed in dismay from her chamber right on to the chamber where the
maiden lay in her anguish； having torn her cheeks on each side； and when
Chalciope saw her eyes all dimmed with tears； she thus addressed her：
（ll。 674…680） 〃Ah me； Medea； why dost thou weep so？ What hath
befallen thee？ What terrible grief has entered thy heart？ Has some
heaven…sent disease enwrapt thy frame； or hast thou heard from our father
some deadly threat concerning me and my sons？ Would that I did not
behold this home of my parents； or the city； but dwelt at the ends of the
earth； where not even the name of Colchians is known！〃
（ll。 681…687） Thus she spake； and her sister's cheeks flushed； and
though she was eager to reply； long did maiden shame restrain her。 At
one moment the word rose on the end of her tongue； at another it fluttered
back deep within her breast。 And often through her lovely lips it strove
for utterance； but no sound came forth； till at last she spoke with guileful
words； for the bold Loves were pressing her hard：
（ll。 688…692） 〃Chalciope； my heart is all trembling for thy sons； lest
my father forthwith destroy them together with the strangers。
Slumbering just now in a short…lived sleep such a ghastly dream did I see
may some god forbid its fulfilment and never mayst thou win for thyself
bitter care on thy sons' account。〃
（ll。 693…704） She spake； making trial of her sister to see if she first
would entreat help for her sons。 And utterly unbearable grief surged over
Chalciope's soul for fear at what she heard； and then she replied： 〃Yea； I
myself too have come to thee in eager furtherance of this purpose； if thou
wouldst haply devise with me and prepare some help。 But swear by
Earth and Heaven that thou wilt keep secret in thy heart what I shall tell
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thee； and be fellow…worker with me。 I implore thee by the blessed gods；
by thyself and by thy parents； not to see them destroyed by an evil doom
piteously； or else may I die with my dear sons and come back hereafter
from Hades an avenging Fury to haunt thee。〃
（ll。 705…710） Thus she spake； and straightway a torrent of tears
gushed forth and low down she clasped her sister's knees with both hands
and let her head sink on to her breast。 Then they both made piteous
lamentation over each other； and through the halls rose the faint sound of
women weeping in anguish。 Medea； sore troubled； first addressed her
sister：
（ll。 711…717） 〃God help thee； what healing can I bring thee for what
thou speakest of； horrible curses and Furies？ Would that it were firmly in
my power to save thy sons！ Be witness that mighty oath of the Colchians
by which thou urgest me to swear； the great Heaven； and Earth beneath；
mother of the gods； that as far as strength lies in me； never shalt thou fail
of help； if only thy prayers can be accomplished。〃
（ll。 718…723） She spake； and Chalciope thus replied： 〃Couldst thou
not then； for the strangerwho himself craves thy aid devise some trick
or some wise thought to win the contest； for the sake of my sons？ And
from him has come Argus urging me to try to win thy help； I left him in
the palace meantime while I came hither。〃
（ll。 724…739） Thus she spake； and Medea's heart bounded with joy
within her； and at once her fair cheeks flushed； and a mist swam before her
melting eyes； and she spake as follows： 〃Chalciope； as is dear and
delightful to thee and thy sons； even so will I do。 Never may the dawn
appear again to my eyes； never mayst thou see me living any longer； if I
should take thought for anything before thy life or thy sons' lives； for they
are my brothers； my dear kinsmen and youthful companions。 So do I
declare myself to be thy sister； and thy daughter too； for thou didst lift me
to thy breast when an infant equally with them； as I ever heard from my
mother in past days。 But go； bury my kindness in silence； so that I may
carry out my promise unknown to my parents； and at dawn I will bring to
Hecate's temple charms to cast a spell upon the bulls。〃 （ll。 740…743）
Thus Chalciope went back from the chamber； and made known to her sons
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the help given by her sister。 And again did shame and hateful fear seize
Medea thus left alone； that she should devise such deeds for a man in her
father's despite。
（ll。 744…771） Then did night draw darkness over the earth； and on the
sea sailors from their ships looked towards the Bear and the stars of Orion；
and now the wayfarer and the warder longed for sleep； and the pall of
slumber wrapped round the mother whose children were dead； nor was
there any more the barking of dogs through the city； nor sound of men's
voices； but silence held the blackening gloom。 But not indeed upon
Medea came sweet sleep。 For in her love for Aeson's son many cares kept
her wakeful； and she dreaded the mighty strength of the bulls； beneath
whose fury he was like to perish by an unseemly fate in the field of Ares。
And fast did her heart throb within her breast； as a sunbeam quivers upon
the walls of a house when flung up from water； which is just poured forth
in a caldron or a pail may be； and hither and thither on the swift eddy does
it dart and dance along； even so the maiden's heart quivered in her breast。
And the tear of pity flowed from her eyes； and ever within anguish
tortured her； a smouldering fire through her frame； and about her fine
nerves and deep down beneath the nape of the neck where the pain enters
keenest； whenever the unwearied Loves direct against the heart their shafts
of agony。 And she thought now that she would give him the charms to
cast a spell on the bulls； now that she would not； and that she herself
would perish； and again that she would not perish and would not give the
charms； but just as she was would endure her fate in silence。 Then sitting
down she wavered in mind and said：
（ll。 772…801） 〃Poor wretch； must I toss hither and thither in woe？
On every side my heart is in despair； nor is there any help for my pain； but
it burneth ever thus。 Would that I had been slain by the swift shafts of
Artemis before I had set eyes on him； before Chalciope's sons reached the
Achaean land。 Some god or some Fury brought them hither for our grief；
a cause of many tears。 Let him perish in the contest if it be his lot to die
in the field。 For how could I prepare the charms without my parents'
knowledge？ What story call I tell them？ What trick； what cunning
device for aid can I find？ If I see him alone； apart from his comrades；
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shall I greet him？ Ill…starred that I am！ I cannot hope that I should rest
from my sorrows even though he perished； then will evil come to me
when he is bereft of life。 Perish all shame； perish all glow； may he； saved
by my effort； go scatheless wherever his heart desires。 But as for me； on
the day when he bides the contest in triumph； may I die either straining my
neck in the noose from the roof…tree or tasting drugs destructive of life。
But even so； when I am dead； they will fling out taunts against me； and
every city far away will ring with my doom； and the Colchian women；
tossing my name on their lips hither and thither； will revile me with
unseemly mocking the maid who cared so much for a stranger that she
died； the maid who disgraced her home and her parents； yielding to a mad
passion。 And what disgrace will not be mine？ Alas for my infatuation！
Far better would it be for me to forsake life this very night in my chamber
by some mysterious fate； escaping all slanderous reproach； before I
complete such nameless dishonour。〃
（ll。 802…824） She spake； and brought a casket wherein lay many
drugs； some for healing； others for killing； and placing it upon her knees
she wept。 And she drenched her bosom with ceaseless tears； which
flowed in torrents as sh
