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第16章

the heroes-第16章

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After that they rowed on steadily for many a weary day; till  they saw a long high island; and beyond it a mountain land。   And they searched till they found a harbour; and there rowed  boldly in。  But after awhile they stopped; and wondered; for  there stood a great city on the shore; and temples and walls  and gardens; and castles high in air upon the cliffs。  And on  either side they saw a harbour; with a narrow mouth; but wide  within; and black ships without number; high and dry upon the  shore。

Then Ancaios; the wise helmsman; spoke; 'What new wonder is  this?  I know all isles; and harbours; and the windings of  all seas; and this should be Corcyra; where a few wild goat… herds dwell。  But whence come these new harbours and vast  works of polished stone?'

But Jason said; 'They can be no savage people。  We will go in  and take our chance。'

So they rowed into the harbour; among a thousand black…beaked  ships; each larger far than ARGO; toward a quay of polished  stone。  And they wondered at that mighty city; with its roofs  of burnished brass; and long and lofty walls of marble; with  strong palisades above。  And the quays were full of people;  merchants; and mariners; and slaves; going to and fro with  merchandise among the crowd of ships。  And the heroes' hearts  were humbled; and they looked at each other and said; 'We  thought ourselves a gallant crew when we sailed from Iolcos  by the sea; but how small we look before this city; like an  ant before a hive of bees。'

Then the sailors hailed them roughly from the quay; 'What men  are you? … we want no strangers here; nor pirates。  We keep  our business to ourselves。'

But Jason answered gently; with many a flattering word; and  praised their city and their harbour; and their fleet of  gallant ships。  'Surely you are the children of Poseidon; and  the masters of the sea; and we are but poor wandering  mariners; worn out with thirst and toil。  Give us but food  and water; and we will go on our voyage in peace。'

Then the sailors laughed; and answered; 'Stranger; you are no  fool; you talk like an honest man; and you shall find us  honest too。  We are the children of Poseidon; and the masters  of the sea; but come ashore to us; and you shall have the  best that we can give。'

So they limped ashore; all stiff and weary; with long ragged  beards and sunburnt cheeks; and garments torn and weather… stained; and weapons rusted with the spray; while the sailors  laughed at them (for they were rough…tongued; though their  hearts were frank and kind)。  And one said; 'These fellows  are but raw sailors; they look as if they had been sea…sick  all the day。'  And another; 'Their legs have grown crooked  with much rowing; till they waddle in their walk like ducks。'

At that Idas the rash would have struck them; but Jason held  him back; till one of the merchant kings spoke to them; a  tall and stately man。

'Do not be angry; strangers; the sailor boys must have their  jest。  But we will treat you justly and kindly; for strangers  and poor men come from God; and you seem no common sailors by  your strength; and height; and weapons。  Come up with me to  the palace of Alcinous; the rich sea…going king; and we will  feast you well and heartily; and after that you shall tell us  your name。'

But Medeia hung back; and trembled; and whispered in Jason's  ear; 'We are betrayed; and are going to our ruin; for I see  my countrymen among the crowd; dark…eyed Colchi in steel  mail…shirts; such as they wear in my father's land。'

'It is too late to turn;' said Jason。  And he spoke to the  merchant king; 'What country is this; good sir; and what is  this new…built town?'

'This is the land of the Phaeaces; beloved by all the  Immortals; for they come hither and feast like friends with  us; and sit by our side in the hall。  Hither we came from  Liburnia to escape the unrighteous Cyclopes; for they robbed  us; peaceful merchants; of our hard…earned wares and wealth。   So Nausithous; the son of Poseidon; brought us hither; and  died in peace; and now his son Alcinous rules us; and Arete  the wisest of queens。'

So they went up across the square; and wondered still more as  they went; for along the quays lay in order great cables; and  yards; and masts; before the fair temple of Poseidon; the  blue…haired king of the seas。  And round the square worked  the ship…wrights; as many in number as ants; twining ropes;  and hewing timber; and smoothing long yards and oars。  And  the Minuai went on in silence through clean white marble  streets; till they came to the hall of Alcinous; and they  wondered then still more。  For the lofty palace shone aloft  in the sun; with walls of plated brass; from the threshold to  the innermost chamber; and the doors were of silver and gold。   And on each side of the doorway sat living dogs of gold; who  never grew old or died; so well Hephaistos had made them in  his forges in smoking Lemnos; and gave them to Alcinous to  guard his gates by night。  And within; against the walls;  stood thrones on either side; down the whole length of the  hall; strewn with rich glossy shawls; and on them the  merchant kings of those crafty sea…roving Phaeaces sat eating  and drinking in pride; and feasting there all the year round。   And boys of molten gold stood each on a polished altar; and  held torches in their hands; to give light all night to the  guests。  And round the house sat fifty maid…servants; some  grinding the meal in the mill; some turning the spindle; some  weaving at the loom; while their hands twinkled as they  passed the shuttle; like quivering aspen leaves。

And outside before the palace a great garden was walled  round; filled full of stately fruit…trees; gray olives and  sweet figs; and pomegranates; pears; and apples; which bore  the whole year round。  For the rich south…west wind fed them;  till pear grew ripe on pear; fig on fig; and grape on grape;  all the winter and the spring。  And at the farther end gay  flower…beds bloomed through all seasons of the year; and two  fair fountains rose; and ran; one through the garden grounds;  and one beneath the palace gate; to water all the town。  Such  noble gifts the heavens had given to Alcinous the wise。

So they went in; and saw him sitting; like Poseidon; on his  throne; with his golden sceptre by him; in garments stiff  with gold; and in his hand a sculptured goblet; as he pledged  the merchant kings; and beside him stood Arete; his wise and  lovely queen; and leaned against a pillar as she spun her  golden threads。

Then Alcinous rose; and welcomed them; and bade them sit and  eat; and the servants brought them tables; and bread; and  meat; and wine。

But Medeia went on trembling toward Arete the fair queen; and  fell at her knees; and clasped them; and cried; weeping; as  she knelt …

'I am your guest; fair queen; and I entreat you by Zeus; from  whom prayers come。  Do not send me back to my father to die  some dreadful death; but let me go my way; and bear my  burden。  Have I not had enough of punishment and shame?'

'Who are you; strange maiden? and what is the meaning of your  prayer?'

'I am Medeia; daughter of Aietes; and I saw my countrymen  here to…day; and I know that they are come to find me; and  take me home to die some dreadful death。'

Then Arete frowned; and said; 'Lead this girl in; my maidens;  and let the kings decide; not I。'

And Alcinous leapt up from his throne; and cried; 'Speak;  strangers; who are you?  And who is this maiden?'

'We are the heroes of the Minuai;' said Jason; 'and this  maiden has spoken truth。  We are the men who took the golden  fleece; the men whose fame has run round every shore。  We  came hither out of the ocean; after sorrows such as man never  saw before。  We went out many; and come back few; for many a  noble comrade have we lost。  So let us go; as you should let  your guests go; in peace; that the world may say; 〃Alcinous  is a just king。〃'

But Alcinous frowned; and stood deep in thought; and at last  he spoke …

'Had not the deed been done which is done; I should have said  this day to myself; 〃It is an honour to Alcinous; and to his  children after him; that the far…famed Argonauts are his  guests。〃  But these Colchi are my guests; as you are; and for  this month they have waited here with all their fleet; for  they have hunted all the seas of Hellas; and could not find  you; and dared neither go farther; nor go home。'

'Let them choose out their champions; and we will fight them;  man for man。'

'No guests of ours shall fight upon our island; and if you go  outside they will outnumber you。  I will do justice between  you; for I know and do what is right。'

Then he turned to his kings; and said; 'This may stand over  till to…morrow。  To…night we will feast our guests; and hear  the story of all their wanderings; and how they came hither  out of the ocean。'

So Alcinous bade the servants take the heroes in; and bathe  them; and give them clothes。  And they were glad when they  saw the warm water; for it was long since they had bathed。   And they washed off the sea…salt from their limbs; and  anointed themselves from head to foot with oil; and combed  out their golden hair。  Then they came back again into the  hall; while the merchant kings rose up to do them honour。   And each man said to his neighbour; 'No wonder that these men  won fame。  How they stand now like Giants; or Titans; or  Immortals come down from Olympus; though many a winter has  worn them; and many a fearful storm。  What must they have  been when they sailed from Iolcos; in the bloom of their  youth; long ago?'

Then they went out to the garden; and the merchant princes  said; 'Heroes; run races with us。  Let us see whose feet are  nimblest。'

'We cannot race against you; for our limbs are stiff from  sea; and we have lost our two swift comrades; the sons of the  north wind。  But do not think us cowards:  if you wish to try  our strength; we will shoot; and box; and wrestle; against  any men on earth。'

And Alcinous smiled; and answered; 'I believe you; gallant  guests; with your long limbs and broad shoulders; we could  never match you here。  For we care nothing here for boxing;  or for shooting with the bow; but for feasts; and songs; and  harping; and dancing; and running races; to stretch our limbs  on shore。'

So they danced there and ran races; the jolly merchant kings;  till the night fell; and all went in。

And then they ate and drank; and comforted their weary souls;  till Alcinous called a herald; and bade him go and fetch the  harper。

The herald went out; and fetched the harper; and led him in  by the hand; and Alcinous cut him a piece of meat; from the  fattest of the haunch; and sent it to him; and said; 'Sing to  us; noble harper; and rejoice the heroes' hearts。'

So the harper played and sang; while the dancers danced  strange figures; and after that the tumblers showed their  tricks; till the heroes laughed again。

Then; 'Tell me; heroes;' asked Alcinous; 'you who have sailed  the ocean round; and seen the manners of all nations; have  you seen such dancers as ours here; or heard such music and  such singing?  We hold ours to be the best on earth。'

'Such dancing we have never seen;' said Orpheus; 'and your  singer is a ha

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