the argonautica(阿尔戈)-第37章
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and in time he reached the land of the Chalybes； who dwell near the sea；
there it was that his fate subdued him。 And to him a monument stands
under a tall poplar； just facing the sea。 But that day Lynceus thought he
saw Heracles all alone； far off； over measureless land； as a man at the
month's beginning sees； or thinks he sees； the moon through a bank of
cloud。 And he returned and told his comrades that no other searcher
would find Heracles on his way； and they also came back； and swift…footed
Euphemus and the twin sons of Thracian Boreas； after a vain toil。
（ll。 1485…1501） But thee； Canthus； the fates of death seized in Libya。
On pasturing flocks didst thou light； and there followed a shepherd who；
in defence of his own sheep； while thou weft leading them off （11） to thy
comrades in their need； slew thee by the cast of a stone； for he was no
weakling； Caphaurus； the grandson of Lycoreian Phoebus and the chaste
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maiden Acacallis； whom once Minos drove from home to dwell in Libya；
his own daughter； when she was bearing the gods' heavy load； and she
bare to Phoebus a glorious son； whom they call Amphithemis and
Garamas。 And Amphithemis wedded a Tritonian nymph； and she bare to
him Nasamon and strong Caphaurus； who on that day in defending his
sheep slew Canthus。 But he escaped not the chieftains' avenging hands；
when they learned the deed he had done。 And the Minyae； when they
knew it； afterwards took up the corpse and buried it in the earth； mourning；
and the sheep they took with them。
（ll。 1502…1536） Thereupon on the same day a pitiless fate seized
Mopsus too； son of Ampycus； and he escaped not a bitter doom by his
prophesying； for there is no averting of death。 Now there lay in the sand；
avoiding the midday heat； a dread serpent； too sluggish of his own will to
strike at an unwilling foe； nor yet would he dart full face at one that would
shrink back。 But into whatever of all living beings that life…giving earth
sustains that serpent once injects his black venom； his path to Hades
becomes not so much as a cubit's length； not even if Paeeon； if it is right
for me to say this openly； should tend him； when its teeth have only grazed
the skin。 For when over Libya flew godlike Perseus Eurymedon for
by that name his mother called himbearing to the king the Gorgon's head
newly severed； all the drops of dark blood that fell to the earth； produced a
brood of those serpents。 Now Mopsus stepped on the end of its spine；
setting thereon the sole of his left foot； and it writhed round in pain and bit
and tore the flesh between the shin and the muscles。 And Medea and her
handmaids fled in terror； but Canthus bravely felt the bleeding wound； for
no excessive pain harassed him。 Poor wretch！ Already a numbness that
loosed his limbs was stealing beneath his skin； and a thick mist was
spreading over his eyes。 Straightway his heavy limbs sank helplessly to
the ground and he grew cold； and his comrades and the hero； Aeson's son；
gathered round； marvelling at the close…coming doom。 Nor yet though
dead might he lie beneath the sun even for a little space。 For at once the
poison began to rot his flesh within； and the hair decayed and fell from the
skin。 And quickly and in haste they dug a deep grave with mattocks of
bronze； and they tore their hair； the heroes and the maidens； bewailing the
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dead man's piteous suffering； and when he had received due burial rites；
thrice they marched round the tomb in full armour； and heaped above him
a mound of earth。 （ll。 1537…1553） But when they had gone aboard； as
the south wind blew over the sea； and they were searching for a passage to
go forth from the Tritonian lake； for long they had no device； but all the
day were borne on aimlessly。 And as a serpent goes writhing along his
crooked path when the sun's fiercest rays scorch him； and with a hiss he
turns his head to this side and that； and in his fury his eyes glow like
sparks of fire； until he creeps to his lair through a cleft in the rock； so Argo
seeking an outlet from the lake； a fairway for ships； wandered for a long
time。 Then straightway Orpheus bade them bring forth from the ship
Apollo's massy tripod and offer it to the gods of the land as propitiation for
their return。 So they went forth and set Apollo's gift on the shore； then
before them stood； in the form of a youth； farswaying Triton； and he lifted
a clod from the earth and offered it as a stranger's gift； and thus spake：
（ll。 1554…1561） 〃Take it； friends； for no stranger's gift of great worth
have I here by me now to place in the hands of those who beseech me。
But if ye are searching for a passage through this sea； as often is the need
of men passing through a strange land； I will declare it。 For my sire
Poseidon has made me to be well versed in this sea。 And I rule the shore
if haply in your distant land you have ever heard of Eurypylus； born in
Libya； the home of wild beasts。〃
（ll。 1562…1563） Thus he spake； and readily Euphemus held out his
hands towards the clod； and thus addressed him in reply：
（ll。 1564…1570） 〃If haply； hero； thou knowest aught of Apis （12） and
the sea of Minos； tell us truly； who ask it of you。 For not of our will have
we come hither； but by the stress of heavy storms have we touched the
borders of this land； and have borne our ship aloft on our shoulders to the
waters of this lake over the mainland； grievously burdened； and we know
not where a passage shows itself for our course to the land of Pelops。〃
（ll。 1571…1585） So he spake； and Triton stretched out his hand and
showed afar the sea and the lake's deep mouth； and then addressed them：
〃That is the outlet to the sea； where the deep water lies unmoved and dark；
on each side roll white breakers with shining crests； and the way between
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for your passage out is narrow。 And that sea stretches away in mist to the
divine land of Pelops beyond Crete； but hold to the right； when ye have
entered the swell of the sea from the lake； and steer your course hugging
the land； as long as it trends to the north； but when the coast bends； falling
away in the other direction； then your course is safely laid for you if ye go
straight forward from the projecting cape。 But go in joy； and as for
labour let there be no grieving that limbs in youthful vigour should still
toil。〃
（ll。 1586…1596） He spake with kindly counsel； and they at once went
aboard； intent to come forth from the lake by the use of oars。 And
eagerly they sped on； meanwhile Triton took up the mighty tripod； and
they saw him enter the lake； but thereafter did no one mark how he
vanished so near them along with the tripod。 But their hearts were
cheered； for that one of the blessed had met them in friendly guise。 And
they bade Aeson's son offer to him the choicest of the sheep and when he
had slain it chant the hymn of praise。 And straightway he chose in haste
and raising the victim slew it over the stern； and prayed with these words：
（ll。 1597…1600） 〃Thou god； who hast manifested thyself on the
borders of this land； whether the daughters born of the sea call thee Triton；
the great sea…marvel； or Phoreys； or Nereus； be gracious； and grant the
return home dear to our hearts。〃
（ll。 1601…1637） He spake； and cut the victim's throat over the water
and cast it from the stern。 And the god rose up from the depths in form
such as he really was。 And as when a man trains a swift steed for the
broad race…course； and runs along； grasping the bushy mane； while the
steed follows obeying his master； and rears his neck aloft in his pride； and
the gleaming bit rings loud as he champs it in his jaws from side to side；
so the god； seizing hollow Argo's keel； guided her onward to the sea。
And his body； from the crown of his head； round his back and waist as far
as the belly； was wondrously like that of the blessed ones in form； but
below his sides the tail of a sea monster lengthened far； forking to this side
and that； and he smote the surface of the waves with the spines； which
below parted into curving fins； like the horns of the new moon。 And he
guided Argo on until he sped her into the sea on her course； and quickly he
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plunged into the vast abyss； and the heroes shouted when they gazed with
their eyes on that dread portent。 There is the harbour of Argo and there
are the signs of her stay； and altars to Poseidon and Triton； for during that
day they tarried。 But at dawn with sails outspread they sped on before
the breath of the west wind； keeping the desert land on their right。 And
on the next morn they saw the headland and the recess of the sea； bending
inward beyond the jutting headland。 And straightway the west wind
ceased； and there came the breeze of the clear south wind； and their hearts
rejoiced at the sound it made。 But when the sun sank and the star
returned that bids the shepherd fold； which brings rest to wearied
ploughmen； at that time the wind died down in the dark night； so they
furled the sails and lowered the tall mast and vigorously plied t
