the heroes-第12章

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And　they　went　up　from　the　shore　toward　the　city；　through　　forests　white　with　snow；　and　Phineus　came　out　to　meet　them　　with　a　lean　and　woful　face；　and　said；　'Welcome；　gallant　　heroes；　to　the　land　of　bitter　blasts；　the　land　of　cold　and　　misery；　yet　I　will　feast　you　as　best　I　can。'　　And　he　led　them　　in；　and　set　meat　before　them；　but　before　they　could　put　their　　hands　to　their　mouths；　down　came　two　fearful　monsters；　the　　like　of　whom　man　never　saw；　for　they　had　the　faces　and　the　　hair　of　fair　maidens；　but　the　wings　and　claws　of　hawks；　and　　they　snatched　the　meat　from　off　the　table；　and　flew　shrieking　　out　above　the　roofs。

Then　Phineus　beat　his　breast　and　cried；　'These　are　the　　Harpies；　whose　names　are　the　Whirlwind　and　the　Swift；　the　　daughters　of　Wonder　and　of　the　Amber…nymph；　and　they　rob　us　　night　and　day。　　They　carried　off　the　daughters　of　Pandareus；　　whom　all　the　Gods　had　blest；　for　Aphrodite　fed　them　on　　Olympus　with　honey　and　milk　and　wine；　and　Hera　gave　them　　beauty　and　wisdom；　and　Athene　skill　in　all　the　arts；　but　when　　they　came　to　their　wedding；　the　Harpies　snatched　them　both　　away；　and　gave　them　to　be　slaves　to　the　Erinnues；　and　live　in　　horror　all　their　days。　　And　now　they　haunt　me；　and　my　people；　　and　the　Bosphorus；　with　fearful　storms；　and　sweep　away　our　　food　from　off　our　tables；　so　that　we　starve　in　spite　of　all　　our　wealth。'

Then　up　rose　Zetes　and　Calais；　the　winged　sons　of　the　North…　wind；　and　said；　'Do　you　not　know　us；　Phineus；　and　these　wings　　which　grow　upon　our　backs？'　　And　Phineus　hid　his　face　in　　terror；　but　he　answered　not　a　word。

'Because　you　have　been　a　traitor；　Phineus；　the　Harpies　haunt　　you　night　and　day。　　Where　is　Cleopatra　our　sister；　your　wife；　　whom　you　keep　in　prison？　and　where　are　her　two　children；　whom　　you　blinded　in　your　rage；　at　the　bidding　of　an　evil　woman；　　and　cast　them　out　upon　the　rocks？　　Swear　to　us　that　you　will　　right　our　sister；　and　cast　out　that　wicked　woman；　and　then　we　　will　free　you　from　your　plague；　and　drive　the　whirlwind　　maidens　to　the　south；　but　if　not；　we　will　put　out　your　eyes；　　as　you　put　out　the　eyes　of　your　own　sons。'

Then　Phineus　swore　an　oath　to　them；　and　drove　out　the　wicked　　woman；　and　Jason　took　those　two　poor　children；　and　cured　　their　eyes　with　magic　herbs。

But　Zetes　and　Calais　rose　up　sadly　and　said；　'Farewell　now；　　heroes　all；　farewell；　our　dear　companions；　with　whom　we　　played　on　Pelion　in　old　times；　for　a　fate　is　laid　upon　us；　　and　our　day　is　come　at　last；　in　which　we　must　hunt　the　　whirlwinds　over　land　and　sea　for　ever；　and　if　we　catch　them　　they　die；　and　if　not；　we　die　ourselves。'

At　that　all　the　heroes　wept；　but　the　two　young　men　sprang　up；　　and　aloft　into　the　air　after　the　Harpies；　and　the　battle　of　　the　winds　began。

The　heroes　trembled　in　silence　as　they　heard　the　shrieking　of　　the　blasts；　while　the　palace　rocked　and　all　the　city；　and　　great　stones　were　torn　from　the　crags；　and　the　forest　pines　　were　hurled　earthward；　north　and　south　and　east　and　west；　and　　the　Bosphorus　boiled　white　with　foam；　and　the　clouds　were　　dashed　against　the　cliffs。

But　at　last　the　battle　ended；　and　the　Harpies　fled　screaming　　toward　the　south；　and　the　sons　of　the　North…wind　rushed　after　　them；　and　brought　clear　sunshine　where　they　passed。　　For　many　　a　league　they　followed　them；　over　all　the　isles　of　the　　Cyclades；　and　away　to　the　south…west　across　Hellas；　till　they　　came　to　the　Ionian　Sea；　and　there　they　fell　upon　the　　Echinades；　at　the　mouth　of　the　Achelous；　and　those　isles　were　　called　the　Whirlwind　Isles　for　many　a　hundred　years。　　But　　what　became　of　Zetes　and　Calais　I　know　not；　for　the　heroes　　never　saw　them　again：　　and　some　say　that　Heracles　met　them；　　and　quarrelled　with　them；　and　slew　them　with　his　arrows；　and　　some　say　that　they　fell　down　from　weariness　and　the　heat　of　　the　summer　sun；　and　that　the　Sun…god　buried　them　among　the　　Cyclades；　in　the　pleasant　Isle　of　Tenos；　and　for　many　hundred　　years　their　grave　was　shown　there；　and　over　it　a　pillar；　　which　turned　to　every　wind。　　But　those　dark　storms　and　　whirlwinds　haunt　the　Bosphorus　until　this　day。

But　the　Argonauts　went　eastward；　and　out　into　the　open　sea；　　which　we　now　call　the　Black　Sea；　but　it　was　called　the　Euxine　　then。　　No　Hellen　had　ever　crossed　it；　and　all　feared　that　　dreadful　sea；　and　its　rocks；　and　shoals；　and　fogs；　and　bitter　　freezing　storms；　and　they　told　strange　stories　of　it；　some　　false　and　some　half…true；　how　it　stretched　northward　to　the　　ends　of　the　earth；　and　the　sluggish　Putrid　Sea；　and　the　　everlasting　night；　and　the　regions　of　the　dead。　　So　the　　heroes　trembled；　for　all　their　courage；　as　they　came　into　　that　wild　Black　Sea；　and　saw　it　stretching　out　before　them；　　without　a　shore；　as　far　as　eye　could　see。

And　first　Orpheus　spoke；　and　warned　them；　'We　shall　come　now　　to　the　wandering　blue　rocks；　my　mother　warned　me　of　them；　　Calliope；　the　immortal　muse。'

And　soon　they　saw　the　blue　rocks　shining　like　spires　and　　castles　of　gray　glass；　while　an　ice…cold　wind　blew　from　them　　and　chilled　all　the　heroes'　hearts。　　And　as　they　neared　they　　could　see　them　heaving；　as　they　rolled　upon　the　long　sea…　waves；　crashing　and　grinding　together；　till　the　roar　went　up　　to　heaven。　　The　sea　sprang　up　in　spouts　between　them；　and　　swept　round　them　in　white　sheets　of　foam；　but　their　heads　　swung　nodding　high　in　air；　while　the　wind　whistled　shrill　　among　the　crags。

The　heroes'　hearts　sank　within　them；　and　they　lay　upon　their　　oars　in　fear；　but　Orpheus　called　to　Tiphys　the　helmsman；　　'Between　them　we　must　pass；　so　look　ahead　for　an　opening；　and　　be　brave；　for　Hera　is　with　us。'　　But　Tiphys　the　cunning　　helmsman　stood　silent；　clenching　his　teeth；　till　he　saw　a　　heron　come　flying　mast…high　toward　the　rocks；　and　hover　　awhile　before　them；　as　if　looking　for　a　passage　through。　　　Then　he　cried；　'Hera　has　sent　us　a　pilot；　let　us　follow　the　　cunning　bird。'

Then　the　heron　flapped　to　and　fro　a　moment；　till　he　saw　a　　hidden　gap；　and　into　it　he　rushed　like　an　arrow；　while　the　　heroes　watched　what　would　befall。

And　the　blue　rocks　clashed　together　as　the　bird　fled　swiftly　　through；　but　they　struck　but　a　feather　from　his　tail；　and　　then　rebounded　apart　at　the　shock。

Then　Tiphys　cheered　the　heroes；　and　they　shouted；　and　the　　oars　bent　like　withes　beneath　their　strokes　as　they　rushed　　between　those　toppling　ice…crags　and　the　cold　blue　lips　of　　death。　　And　ere　the　rocks　could　meet　again　they　had　passed　　them；　and　were　safe　out　in　the　open　sea。

And　after　that　they　sailed　on　wearily　along　the　Asian　coast；　　by　the　Black　Cape　and　Thyneis；　where　the　hot　stream　of　　Thymbris　falls　into　the　sea；　and　Sangarius；　whose　waters　　float　on　the　Euxine；　till　they　came　to　Wolf　the　river；　and　to　　Wolf　the　kindly　king。　　And　there　died　two　brave　heroes；　Idmon　　and　Tiphys　the　wise　helmsman：　　one　died　of　an　evil　sickness；　　and　one　a　wild　boar　slew。　　So　the　heroes　heaped　a　mound　above　　them；　and　set　upon　it　an　oar　on　high；　and　left　them　there　to　　sleep　together；　on　the　far…off　Lycian　shore。　　But　Idas　killed　　the　boar；　and　avenged　Tiphys；　and　Ancaios　took　the　rudder　and　　was　helmsman；　and　steered　them　on　toward　the　east。

And　they　went　on　past　Sinope；　and　many　a　mighty　river's　　mouth；　and　past　many　a　barbarous　tribe；　and　the　cities　of　the　　Amazons；　the　warlike　women　of　the　East；　till　all　night　they　　heard　the　clank　of　anvils　and　the　roar　of　furnace…blasts；　and　　the　forge…fires　shone　like　sparks　through　the　darkness　in　the　　mountain　glens　aloft；　for　they　were　come　to　the　shores　of　the　　Chalybes；　the　smiths　who　never　tire；　but　serve　Ares　the　cruel　　War…god；　forging　weapons　day　and　night。

And　at　day…dawn　they　looked　eastward；　and　midway　between　the　　sea　and　the　sky　they　saw　white　snow…peaks　hanging；　glittering　　sharp　and　bright　above　the　clouds。　　And　they　knew　that　they　　were　come　to　Caucasus；　at　the　end　of　all　the　earth：　　Caucasus　　the　highest　of　all　mountains；　the　father　of　the　rivers　of　the　　East。　　On　his　peak　lies　chained　the　Titan；　while　a　vulture　　tears　his　heart；　and　at　his　feet　are　piled　dark　forests　round　　the　magic　Colchian　land。

And　they　rowed　three　days　to　the　eastward；　while　Caucasus　　rose　higher　hour　by　hour；　till　they　saw　the　dark　stream　of　　Phasis　rushing　headlong　to　the　sea；　and；　shining　above　the　　tree…tops；　the　golden　roofs　of　King　Aietes；　the　child　of　the　　Sun。

Then　out　spoke　Ancaios　the　helmsman；　'We　are　come　to　our　goal　　at　last；　for　there　are　the　roofs　of　Aietes；　and　the　woods　　where　all　poisons　grow；　but　who　can　tell　us　where　among　them　　is　hid　the　golden　fleece？　　Many　a　toil　must　we　bear　ere　we　　find　it；　and　bring　it　home　to　Greece。'

But　Jason　cheered　the　heroes；　for　his　heart　was　high　and　　bold；　and　he　said；　'I　will　go　alone　up　to　Aietes；　though　he　　be　the　child　of　the　Sun；　and　win　him　with　soft　words。　　Better　　so　than　to　go　altogether；　and　to　come　to　blows　at　once。'　　But　　the　Minuai　would　not　stay　behind；　so　they　rowed　boldly　up　the　　stream。

And　a　dream　came　to　Aietes；　and　filled　his　heart　with　fear。　　　He　thought　he　saw　a　shining　star；　which　fell　into　his　　daughter's　lap；　and　that　Medeia　his　daughter　took　it　gladly；　　and　carried　it　to　the　riverside；　and　cast　it　in；　and　there　　the　whirling　river　bore　it　down；　and　out　into　the　Euxine　Sea。

Then　he　leapt　up　in　fear；　and　bade　his　servants　bring　his　　chariot；　that　he　might　go　down　to　the　river…side　and　appease　　the　nymphs；　and　the　heroes　whose　spirits　haunt　the　bank。　　So　　he　went　down　in　his　golden　chariot；　and　his　daughters　by　his　　side；　Medeia　the　fair　witch…maiden；　and　Chalciope；　who　had　　been　Phrixus'　wife；　and　behind　him　a　crowd　of　servants　and　　soldiers；　for　he　was　a　rich　and　mighty　prince。

And　as　he　drove　down　by　the　reedy　river　he　saw　ARGO　sliding　　up　beneath　the　bank；　and　many　a　hero　in　her；　like　Immortals　　for　beauty　and　for　strength；　as　their　weapons　glittered　round　　them　in　the　level　morning　sunlight；　through　the　white　mist　of　　the　stream。　　But　Jason　was　the　noblest　of　all；　for　Hera；　who　　loved　him；　gave　him　beauty　and　tallness　and　terrible　manhood。

And　when　they　came　near　together　and　looked　into　each　other's　　eyes　the　heroes　were　awed　before　Aietes　as　he　shone　in　his　　chariot；　like　his　father　the　glorious　Sun；　for　his　robes　were　　of　rich　gold　tissue；　and　the　rays　of　his　diadem　flashed　fire；　　and　in　his　hand　he　bore　a　jewelled　sceptre；　which　glittered　　like　the　stars；　and　sternly　he　looked　at　them　under　his　　brows；　and　sternly　he　spoke　and　loud　…

'Who　are　you；　and　what　want　you　here；　that　you　come　to　the　　shore　of　Cutaia？　　Do　you　take　no　account　of　my　rule；　nor　of　　my　people　the　Colchians　who　serve　me；　who　never　tired　yet　in　　the　battle；　and　know　well　how　to　face　an　invader？'

And　the　heroes　sat　silent　awhile　before　the　face　of　that　　ancient　king。　　But　Hera　the　awful　goddess　put　courage　into　　Jason's　heart；　and　he　rose　and　shouted　loudly　in　answer；　'We　　are　no　pirates　nor　lawless　men。　　We　come　not　to　plunder　and　　to　ravage；　or　carry　away　slaves　from　your　land；　but　my　uncle；　　the　son　of　Poseidon；　Pelias　the　Minuan　king；　he　it　is　who　has　　set　me　on　a　quest　to　bring　home　the　golden　fleece。　　And　these　　too；　my　bold　comrades；　they　are　no　nameless　men；　for　some　are　　the　sons　of　Immortals；　and　some　of　heroes　far　renowned。　　And　　we　too　never　tire　in　battle；　and　know　well　how　to　give　blows　　and　to　take：　　yet　we　wish　to　be　guests　at