the argonautica(阿尔戈)-第24章
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she wept。 And she drenched her bosom with ceaseless tears； which
flowed in torrents as she sat； bitterly bewailing her own fate。 And she
longed to choose a murderous drug to taste it； and now she was loosening
the bands of the casket eager to take it forth； unhappy maid！ But
suddenly a deadly fear of hateful Hades came upon her heart。 And long
she held back in speechless horror； and all around her thronged visions of
the pleasing cares of life。 She thought of all the delightful things that are
among the living； she thought of her joyous playmates； as a maiden will；
and the sun grew sweeter than ever to behold； seeing that in truth her soul
yearned for all。 And she put the casket again from off her knees； all
changed by the prompting of Hera； and no more did she waver in purpose；
but longed for the rising dawn to appear quickly； that she might give him
the charms to work the spell as she had promised； and meet him face to
face。 And often did she loosen the bolts of her door； to watch for the faint
gleam： and welcome to her did the dayspring shed its light； and folk began
to stir throughout the city。
（ll。 825…827） Then Argus bade his brothers remain there to learn the
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maiden's mind and plans； but himself turned back and went to the ship。
（ll。 828…890） Now soon as ever the maiden saw the light of dawn；
with her hands she gathered up her golden tresses which were floating
round her shoulders in careless disarray； and bathed her tear…stained
cheeks； and made her skin shine with ointment sweet as nectar； and she
donned a beautiful robe； fitted with well…bent clasps； and above on her
head； divinely fair； she threw a veil gleaming like silver。 And there；
moving to and fro in the palace； she trod the ground forgetful of the
heaven…sent woes thronging round her and of others that were destined to
follow。 And she called to her maids。 Twelve they were； who lay during
the night in the vestibule of her fragrant chamber； young as herself； not yet
sharing the bridal couch； and she bade them hastily yoke the mules to the
chariot to bear her to the beauteous shrine of Hecate。 Thereupon the
handmaids were making ready the chariot； and Medea meanwhile took
from the hollow casket a charm which men say is called the charm of
Prometheus。 If a man should anoint his body therewithal； having first
appeased the Maiden； the only…begotten； with sacrifice by night； surely
that man could not be wounded by the stroke of bronze nor would he
flinch from blazing fire； but for that day he would prove superior both in
prowess and in might。 It shot up first… born when the ravening eagle on
the rugged flanks of Caucasus let drip to the earth the blood…like ichor of
tortured Prometheus。 And its flower appeared a cubit above ground in
colour like the Corycian crocus； rising on twin stalks； but in the earth the
root was like newly…cut flesh。 The dark juice of it； like the sap of a
mountain…oak； she had gathered in a Caspian shell to make the charm
withal； when she had first bathed in seven ever…flowing streams； and had
called seven times on Brimo； nurse of youth； night…wandering Brimo； of
the underworld； queen among the dead； in the gloom of night； clad in
dusky garments。 And beneath； the dark earth shook and bellowed when
the Titanian root was cut； and the son of Iapetus himself groaned； his soul
distraught with pain。 And she brought the charm forth and placed it in
the fragrant band which engirdled her； just beneath her bosom； divinely
fair。 And going forth she mounted the swift chariot； and with her went
two handmaidens on each side。 And she herself took the reins and in her
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right hand the well…fashioned whip； and drove through the city； and the
rest； the handmaids； laid their hands on the chariot behind and ran along
the broad highway； and they kilted up their light robes above their white
knees。 And even as by the mild waters of Parthenius； or after bathing in
the river Amnisus； Leto's daughter stands upon her golden chariot and
courses over the hills with her swift…footed roes； to greet from afar some
richly…steaming hecatomb； and with her come the nymphs in attendance；
gathering； some at the spring of Amnisus itself； others by the glens and
many…fountained peaks； and round her whine and fawn the beasts
cowering as she moves along： thus they sped through the city； and on both
sides the people gave way； shunning the eyes of the royal maiden。 But
when she had left the city's well paved streets； and was approaching the
shrine as she drove over the plains； then she alighted eagerly from the
smooth… running chariot and spake as follows among her maidens：
（ll。 891…911） 〃Friends； verily have I sinned greatly and took no heed
not to go among the stranger…folk 1 who roam over our land。 The whole
city is smitten with dismay； wherefore no one of the women who formerly
gathered here day by day has now come hither。 But since we have come
and no one else draws near； come； let us satisfy our souls without stint
with soothing song； and when we have plucked the fair flowers amid the
tender grass； that very hour will we return。 And with many a gift shall ye
reach home this very day； if ye will gladden me with this desire of mine。
For Argus pleads with me； also Chalciope herself； but this that ye hear
from me keep silently in your hearts； lest the tale reach my father's ears。
As for yon stranger who took on him the task with the oxen； they bid me
receive his gifts and rescue him from the deadly contest。 And I approved
their counsel； and I have summoned him to come to my presence apart
from his comrades； so that we may divide the gifts among ourselves if he
bring them in his hands； and in return may give him a baleful charm。 But
when he comes； do ye stand aloof。〃
（ll。 912…918） So she spake； and the crafty counsel pleased them all。
And straightway Argus drew Aeson's son apart from his comrades as soon
as he heard from his brothers that Medea had gone at daybreak to the holy
shrine of Hecate； and led him over the plain； and with them went Mopsus；
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son of Ampycus； skilled to utter oracles from the appearance of birds； and
skilled to give good counsel to those who set out on a journey。
（ll。 919…926） Never yet had there been such a man in the days of old；
neither of all the heroes of the lineage of Zeus himself； nor of those who
sprung from the blood of the other gods； as on that day the bride of Zeus
made Jason； both to look upon and to hold converse with。 Even his
comrades wondered as they gazed upon him； radiant with manifold graces；
and the son of Ampycus rejoiced in their journey； already foreboding how
all would end。
（ll。 927…931） Now by the path along the plain there stands near the
shrine a poplar with its crown of countless leaves； whereon often
chattering crows would roost。 One of them meantime as she clapped her
wings aloft in the branches uttered the counsels of Hera：
（ll。 932…937） 〃What a pitiful seer is this； that has not the wit to
conceive even what children know； how that no maiden will say a word of
sweetness or love to a youth when strangers be near。 Begone； sorry
prophet； witless one； on thee neither Cypris nor the gentle Loves breathe
in their kindness。〃
（ll。 938…946） She spake chiding； and Mopsus smiled to hear the god…
sent voice of the bird； and thus addressed them： 〃Do thou； son of Aeson；
pass on to the temple； where thou wilt find the maiden； and very kind will
her greeting be to thee through the prompting of Cypris； who will be thy
helpmate in the contest； even as Phineus； Agenor's son； foretold。 But we
two； Argus and I； will await thy return； apart in this very spot； do thou all
alone be a suppliant and win her over with prudent words。〃
（ll。 947…974） He spake wisely； and both at once gave approval。 Nor
was Medea's heart turned to other thoughts； for all her singing； and never a
song that she essayed pleased her long in her sport。 But in confusion she
ever faltered； nor did she keep her eyes resting quietly upon the throng of
her handmaids； but to the paths far off she strained her gaze； turning her
face aside。 Oft did her heart sink fainting within her bosom whenever she
fancied she heard passing by the sound of a footfall or of the wind。 But
soon he appeared to her longing eyes； striding along loftily； like Sirius
coming from ocean； which rises fair and clear to see； but brings
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unspeakable mischief to flocks； thus then did Aeson's son come to her； fair
to see； but the sight of him brought love…sick care。 Her heart fell from
out her bosom； and a dark mist came over her eyes； and a hot blush
covered her cheeks。 And she had no strength to lift her knees backwards
or forwards； but her feet beneath were rooted to the ground； and meantime
all her handmaidens had drawn aside。 So they two stood face to face
without a word； without a sound； like oaks or lofty pines； which stand
quietly side by side on the mountains when the wind is still； then again；
when stirred by the breath of the wind； they murmur ceaselessly； so they
two were destined to tell out all their tale； stirred by the breath of Love。
And Aeson's son saw that she had fallen into some heaven…sent cala
