the argonautica-第11章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ch　as　if　I　were　on　my　homeward　way。〃

（ll。　443…447）　　Thus　he　spake；　but　Phineus　replied　to　him　with　downcast　look：　〃Son　of　Aeson；　that　is　past　recall；　nor　is　there　any　remedy　hereafter；　for　blasted　are　my　sightless　eyes。　　But　instead　of　that；　may　the　god　grant　me　death　at　once；　and　after　death　I　shall　take　my　share　in　perfect　bliss。〃

（ll。　448…467）　　Then　they　two　returned　answering　speech；　each　to　other；　and　soon　in　the　midst　of　their　converse　early　dawn　appeared；　and　round　Phineus　were　gathered　the　neighbours　who　used　to　come　thither　aforetime　day　by　day　and　constantly　bring　a　portion　of　their　food。　　To　all　alike；　however　poor　he　was　that　came；　the　aged　man　gave　his　oracles　with　good　will；　and　freed　many　from　their　woes　by　his　prophetic　art；　wherefore　they　visited　and　tended　him。　　And　with　them　came　Paraebius；　who　was　dearest　to　him；　and　gladly　did　he　perceive　these　strangers　in　the　house。　　For　long　ere　now　the　seer　himself　had　said　that　a　band　of　chieftains；　faring　from　Hellas　to　the　city　of　Aceres；　would　make　fast　their　hawsers　to　the　Thynian　land；　and　by　Zeus'　will　would　check　tho　approach　of　the　Harpies。　　The　rest　the　old　man　pleased　with　words　of　wisdom　and　let　them　go；　Paraebius　only　he　bade　remain　there　with　the　chiefs；　and　straightway　he　sent　him　and　bade　him　bring　back　the　choicest　of　his　sheep。　　And　when　he　had　left　the　hall　Phineus　spake　gently　amid　the　throng　of　oarsmen：

（ll。　468…489）　　〃O　my　friends；　not　all　men　are　arrogant；　it　seems；　nor　unmindful　of　benefits。　　Even　as　this　man；　loyal　as　he　is；　came　hither　to　learn　his　fate。　　For　when　he　laboured　the　most　and　toiled　the　most；　then　the　needs　of　life；　ever　growing　more　and　more；　would　waste　him；　and　day　after　day　ever　dawned　more　wretched；　nor　was　there　any　respite　to　his　toil。　　But　he　was　paying　the　sad　penalty　of　his　father's　sin。　　For　he　when　alone　on　the　mountains；　felling　trees；　once　slighted　the　prayers　of　a　Hamadryad；　who　wept　and　sought　to　soften　him　with　plaintive　words；　not　to　cut　down　the　stump　of　an　oak　tree　coeval　with　herself；　wherein　for　a　long　time　she　had　lived　continually；　but　he　in　the　arrogance　of　youth　recklessly　cut　it　down。　　So　to　him　the　nymph　thereafter　made　her　death　a　curse；　to　him　and　to　his　children。　　I　indeed　knew　of　the　sin　when　he　came；　and　I　bid　him　build　an　altar　to　the　Thynian　nymph；　and　offer　on　it　an　atoning　sacrifice；　with　prayer　to　escape　his　father's　fate。　　Here；　ever　since　he　escaped　the　god…sent　doom；　never　has　he　forgotten　or　neglected　me；　but　sorely　and　against　his　will　do　I　send　him　from　my　doors；　so　eager　is　he　to　remain　with　me　in　my　affliction。〃

（ll。　490…499）　　Thus　spake　Agenor's　son；　and　his　friend　straightway　came　near　leading　two　sheep　from　the　flock。　　And　up　rose　Jason　and　up　rose　the　sons　of　Boreas　at　the　bidding　of　the　aged　sire　。　And　quickly　they　called　upon　Apollo；　lord　of　prophecy；　and　offered　sacrifice　upon　the　health　as　the　day　was　just　sinking。　　And　the　younger　comrades　made　ready　a　feast　to　their　hearts'　desire。　　Thereupon　having　well　feasted　they　turned　themselves　to　rest；　some　near　the　ship's　hawsers；　others　in　groups　throughout　the　mansion。　　And　at　dawn　the　Etesian　winds　blew　strongly；　which　by　the　command　of　Zeus　blow　over　every　land　equally。

（ll。　500…527）　　Cyrene；　the　tale　goes；　once　tended　sheep　along　the　marsh…meadow　of　Peneus　among　men　of　old　time；　for　dear　to　her　were　maidenhood　and　a　couch　unstained。　　But；　as　she　guarded　her　flock　by　the　river；　Apollo　carried　her　off　far　from　Haemonia　and　placed　her　among　the　nymphs　of　the　land；　who　dwelt　in　Libya　near　the　Myrtosian　height。　　And　here　to　Phoebus　she　bore　Aristaeus　whom　the　Haemonians；　rich　in　corn…land；　call　〃Hunter〃　and　〃Shepherd〃。　　Her；　of　his　love；　the　god　made　a　nymph　there；　of　long　life　and　a　huntress；　and　his　son　he　brought　while　still　an　infant　to　be　nurtured　in　the　cave　of　Cheiron。　　And　to　him　when　he　grew　to　manhood　the　Muses　gave　a　bride；　and　taught　him　the　arts　of　healing　and　of　prophecy；　and　they　made　him　the　keeper　of　their　sheep；　of　all　that　grazed　on　the　Athamantian　plain　of　Phthia　and　round　steep　Othrys　and　the　sacred　stream　of　the　river　Apidanus。　But　when　from　heaven　Sirius　scorched　the　Minoan　Isles；　and　for　long　there　was　no　respite　for　the　inhabitants；　then　by　the　injunction　of　the　Far…Darter　they　summoned　Aristaeus　to　ward　off　the　pestilence。　　And　by　his　father's　command　he　left　Phthia　and　made　his　home　in　Ceos；　and　gathered　together　the　Parrhasian　people　who　are　of　the　lineage　of　Lycaon；　and　he　built　a　great　altar　to　Zeus　Icmaeus；　and　duly　offered　sacrifices　upon　the　mountains　to　that　star　Sirius；　and　to　Zeus　son　of　Cronos　himself。　And　on　this　account　it　is　that　Etesian　winds　from　Zeus　cool　the　land　for　forty　days；　and　in　Ceos　even　now　the　priests　offer　sacrifices　before　the　rising　of　the　Dog…star。

（ll。　528…536）　　So　the　tale　is　told；　but　the　chieftains　stayed　there　by　constraint；　and　every　day　the　Thynians；　doing　pleasure　to　Phineus；　sent　them　gifts　beyond　measure。　　And　afterwards　they　raised　an　altar　to　the　blessed　twelve　on　the　sea…beach　opposite　and　laid　offerings　thereon　and　then　entered　their　swift　ship　to　row；　nor　did　they　forget　to　bear　with　them　a　trembling　dove；　but　Euphemus　seized　her　and　brought　her　all　quivering　with　fear；　and　they　loosed　the　twin　hawsers　from　the　land。

（ll。　537…548）　　Nor　did　they　start　unmarked　by　Athena；　but　straightway　swiftly　she　set　her　feel　on　a　light　cloud；　which　would　waft　her　on；　mighty　though　she　was；　and　she　swept　on　to　the　sea　with　friendly　thoughts　to　the　oarsmen。　　And　as　when　one　roveth　far　from　his　native　land；　as　we　men　often　wander　with　enduring　heart；　nor　is　any　land　too　distant　but　all　ways　are　clear　to　his　view；　and　he　sees　in　mind　his　own　home；　and　at　once　the　way　over　sea　and　land　seems　slain；　and　swiftly　thinking；　now　this　way；　now　that；　he　strains　with　eager　eyes；　so　swiftly　the　daughter　of　Zeus　darted　down　and　set　her　foot　on　the　cheerless　shore　of　Thynia。

（ll。　549…567）　　Now　when　they　reached　the　narrow　strait　of　the　winding　passage；　hemmed　in　on　both　sides　by　rugged　cliffs；　while　an　eddying　current　from　below　was　washing　against　the　ship　as　she　moved　on；　they　went　forward　sorely　in　dread；　and　now　the　thud　of　the　crashing　rocks　ceaselessly　struck　their　ears；　and　the　sea…washed　shores　resounded；　and　then　Euphemus　grasped　the　dove　in　his　hand　and　started　to　mount　the　prow；　and　they；　at　the　bidding　of　Tiphys；　son　of　Hagnias；　rowed　with　good　will　to　drive　Argo　between　the　rocks；　trusting　to　their　strength。　　And　as　they　rounded　a　bend　they　saw　the　rocks　opening　for　the　last　time　of　all。　　Their　spirit　melted　within　them；　and　Euphemus　sent　forth　the　dove　to　dart　forward　in　flight；　and　they　all　together　raised　their　heads　to　look；　but　she　flew　between　them；　and　the　rocks　again　rushed　together　and　crashed　as　they　met　face　to　face。　　And　the　foam　leapt　up　in　a　mass　like　a　cloud；　awful　was　the　thunder　of　the　sea；　and　all　round　them　the　mighty　welkin　roared。

（ll。　568…592）　　The　hollow　caves　beneath　the　rugged　cliffs　rumbled　as　the　sea　came　surging　in；　and　the　white　foam　of　the　dashing　wave　spurted　high　above　the　cliff。　　Next　the　current　whirled　the　ship　round。　　And　the　rocks　shore　away　the　end　of　the　dove's　tail…　feathers；　but　away　she　flew　unscathed。　　And　the　rowers　gave　a　loud　cry；　and　Tiphys　himself　called　to　them　to　row　with　might　and　main。　　For　the　rocks　were　again　parting　asunder。　　But　as　they　rowed　they　trembled；　until　the　tide　returning　drove　them　back　within　the　rocks。　　Then　most　awful　fear　seized　upon　all；　for　over　their　head　was　destruction　without　escape。　　And　now　to　right　and　left　broad　Pontus　was　seen；　when　suddenly　a　huge　wave　rose　up　before　them；　arched；　like　a　steep　rock；　and　at　the　sight　they　bowed　with　bended　heads。　　For　it　seemed　about　to　leap　down　upon　the　ship's　whole　length　and　to　overwhelm　them。　　But　Tiphys　was　quick　to　ease　the　ship　as　she　laboured　with　the　oars；　and　in　all　its　mass　the　wave　rolled　away　beneath　the　keel；　and　at　the　stern　it　raised　Argo　herself　and　drew　her　far　away　from　the　rocks；　and　high　in　air　was　she　borne。　　But　Euphemus　strode　among　all　his　comrades　and　cried　to　them　to　bend　to　their　oars　with　all　their　might；　and　they　with　a　shout　smote　the　water。　　And　as　far　as　the　ship　yielded　to　the　rowers；　twice　as　far　did　she　leap　back；　and　the　oar；　were　bent　like　curved　bows　as　the　heroes　used　their　strength。

（ll。　593…610）　Then　a　vaulted　billow　rushed　upon　them；　and　the　ship　like　a　cylinder　ran　on　the　furious　wave　plunging　through　the　hollow　sea。　　And　the　eddying　current　held　her　between　the　clashing　rocks；　and　on　each　side　they　shook　and　thundered；　and　the　ship's　timbers　were　held　fast。　　Then　Athena　with　her　left　hand　thrust　back　one　mighty　rock　and　with　her　right　pushed　the　ship　through；　and　she；　like　a　winged　arrow；　sped　through　the　air。　Nevertheless　the　rocks；　ceaselessly　clashing；　shore　off　as　she　passed　the　extreme　end　of　the　stern…ornament。　　But　Athena　soared　up　to　Olympus；　when　they　had　escaped　unscathed。　　And　the　rocks　in　one　spot　at　that　moment　were　rooted　fast　for　ever　to　each　other；　which　thing　had　been　destined　by　the　blessed　gods；　when　a　man　in　his　ship　should　have　passed　between　them　alive。　　And　the　heroes　breathed　again　after　their　chilling　fear；　beholding　at　the　same　time　the　sky　and　the　expanse　of　sea　spreading　far　and　wide。　　For　they　deemed　that　they　were　saved　from　Hades；　and　Tiphys　first　of　all　began　to　speak：

（ll。　611…618）　〃It　is　my　hope　that　we　have　safely　escaped　this　perilwe；　and　the　ship；　and　none　other　is　the　cause　so　much　as　Athena；　who　breathed　into　Argo　divine　strength　when　Argus　knitted　her　together　with　bolts；　and　she　may　not　be　caught。　　Son　of　Aeson；　no　longer　fear　thou　so　much　the　hest　of　thy　king；　since　a　god　hath　granted　us　escape　between　the　rocks；　for　Phineus；　Agenor's　son；　said　that　our　toils　hereafter　would　be　lightly　accomplished。〃

（ll。　619…637）　　He　spake；　and　at　once　he　sped　the　ship　onward　through　the　midst　of　the　sea　past　the　Bithynian　coast。　　But　Jason　with　gentle　words　addressed　him　in　reply：　〃Tiphys；　why　dost　thou　comfort　thus　my　grieving　heart？　　I　have　erred　and　am　distraught　in　wretched　and　helpless　ruin。　　For　I　ought；　when　Pelias　gave　the　command；　to　have　straightway　refused　this　quest　to　his　face；　yea；　though　I　were　doomed　to　die　pitilessly；　torn　limb　from　limb；　but　now　I　am　wrapped　in　excessive　fear　and　cares　unbearable；　dreading　to　sail　through　the　chilling　paths　of　the　sea；　and　dreading　when　we　shall　set　foot　on　the　mainland。　　For　on　every　side　are　unkindly　men。　　And　ever　when　day　is　done　I　pass　a　night　of　groans　from　the　time　when　ye　first　gathered　together　for　my　sake；　while　I　take　thought　for　all　things；　but　thou　talkest　at　thine　ease；　eating　only　for　thine　own　life；　while　for　myself　I　am　dismayed　not　a　whit；　but　I　fear　for　this　man　and　for　that　equally；　and　for　thee；　and　for　my　other　comrades；　if　I　shall　not　bring　you　back　safe　to　the　land　of　Hellas。〃

（ll。　638…640）　　Thus　he　spake；　making　trial　of　the　chiefs；　but　they　shouted　loud　with　cheerful　words。　　And　his　heart　was　warmed　within　him　at　their　cry　and　again　he　spake　outright　among　them：

（ll。　641…647）　　〃My　friends；　in　your　valour　my　courage　is　quickened。　　Wherefore　now；　even　though　I　should　take　my　way　through　the　gulfs　of　Hades；　no　more　shall　I　let　fear　seize　upon　me；　since　ye　are　steadfast　amid　cruel　terrors。　　But　now　t