the argonautica-第12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！
Hades； no more shall I let fear seize upon me； since ye are steadfast amid cruel terrors。 But now that we have sailed out from the striking rocks； I trow that never hereafter will there be another such fearful thing； if indeed we go on our way following the counsel of Phineus。〃
（ll。 648…668） Thus he spake； and straightway they ceased from such words and gave unwearying labour to the oar； and quickly they passed by the swiftly flowing river Rhebas and the peak of Colone； and soon thereafter the black headland； and near it the mouth of the river Phyllis； where aforetime Dipsaeus received in his home the son of Athamas； when with his ram he was flying from the city of Orchomenus； and Dipsacus was the son of a meadow… nymph； nor was insolence his delight； but contented by his father's stream he dwelt with his mother； pasturing his flocks by the shore。 And quickly they sighted and sailed past his shrine and the broad banks of the river and the plain； and deep…flowing Calpe； and all the windless night and the day they bent to their tireless oars。 And even as ploughing oxen toil as they cleave the moist earth； and sweat streams in abundance from flank and neck； and from beneath the yoke their eyes roll askance； while the breath ever rushes from their mouths in hot gasps； and all day long they toil； planting their hoofs deep in the ground； like them the heroes kept dragging their oars through the sea。
（ll。 669…685） Now when divine light has not yet come nor is it utter darkness； but a faint glimmer has spread over the night； the time when men wake and call it twilight； at that hour they ran into the harbour of the desert island Thynias and； spent by weary toil； mounted the shore。 And to them the son of Leto； as he passed from Lycia far away to the countless folk of the Hyperboreans； appeared； and about his cheeks on both sides his golden locks flowed in clusters as he moved； in his left hand he held a silver bow； and on his back was slung a quiver hanging from his shoulders； and beneath his feet all the island quaked； and the waves surged high on the beach。 Helpless amazement seized them as they looked； and no one dared to gaze face to face into the fair eyes of the god。 And they stood with heads bowed to the ground； but he； far off； passed on to the sea through the air； and at length Orpheus spake as follows； addressing the chiefs：
（ll。 686…693） 〃Come； let us call this island the sacred isle of Apollo of the Dawn since he has appeared to all； passing by at dawn； and we will offer such sacrifices as we can； building an altar on the shore； and if hereafter he shall grant us a safe return to the Haemonian land； then will we lay on his altar the thighs of horned goats。 And now I bid you propitiate him with the steam of sacrifice and libations。 Be gracious； O king； be gracious in thy appearing。〃
（ll。 694…713） Thus he spake； and they straightway built up an altar with shingle； and over the island they wandered； seeking if haply they could get a glimpse of a fawn or a wild goat； that often seek their pasture in the deep wood。 And for them Leto's son provided a quarry； and with pious rites they wrapped in fat the thigh bones of them all and burnt them on the sacred altar； celebrating Apollo； Lord of Dawn。 And round the burning sacrifice they set up a broad dancing…ring； singing； 〃All hail fair god of healing； Phoebus； all hail；〃 and with them Oeagrus' goodly son began a clear lay on his Bistonian lyre； how once beneath the rocky ridge of Parnassus he slew with his bow the monster Delphyne； he； still young and beardless； still rejoicing in his long tresses。 Mayst thou be gracious！ Ever； O king； be thy locks unshorn； ever unravaged； for so is it right。 And none but Leto； daughter of Coeus； strokes them with her dear hands。 And often the Corycian nymphs； daughters of Pleistus； took up the cheering strain crying 〃Healer〃； hence arose this lovely refrain of the hymn to Phoebus。
（ll。 714…719） Now when they had celebrated him with dance and song they took an oath with holy libations； that they would ever help each other with concord of heart； touching the sacrifice as they swore； and even now there stands there a temple to gracious Concord； which the heroes themselves reared； paying honour at that time to the glorious goddess。
（ll。 720…751） Now when the third morning came； with a fresh west wind they left the lofty island。 Next； on the opposite side they saw and passed the mouth of the river Sangarius and the fertile land of the Mariandyni； and the stream of Lycus and the Anthemoeisian lake； and beneath the breeze the ropes and all the tackling quivered as they sped onward。 During the night the wind ceased and at dawn they gladly reached the haven of the Acherusian headland。 It rises aloft with steep cliffs； looking towards the Bithynian sea； and beneath it smooth rocks； ever washed by the sea； stand rooted firm； and round them the wave rolls and thunders loud； but above； wide…spreading plane trees grow on the topmost point。 And from it towards the land a hollow glen slopes gradually away； where there is a cave of Hades overarched by wood and rocks。 From here an icy breath； unceasingly issuing from the chill recess； ever forms a glistening rime which melts again beneath the midday sun。 And never does silence hold that grim headland； but there is a continual murmur from the sounding sea and the leaves that quiver in the winds from the cave。 And here is the outfall of the river Acheron which bursts its way through the headland and falls into the Eastern sea； and a hollow ravine brings it down from above。 In after times the Nisaean Megarians named it Soonautes （2） when they were about to settle in the land of the Mariandyni。 For indeed the river saved them with their ships when they were caught in a violent tempest。 By this way the heroes took the ship through （3） the Acherusian headland and came to land over against it as the wind had just ceased。
（ll。 752…773） Not long had they come unmarked by Lycus； the lord of that land； and the Mariandynithey； the slayers of Amycus； according to the report which the people heard before； but for that very deed they even made a league with the heroes。 And Polydeuces himself they welcomed as a god； flocking from every side； since for a long time had they been warring against the arrogant Bebrycians。 And so they went up all together into the city； and all that day with friendly feelings made ready a feast within the palace of Lycus and gladdened their souls with converse。 Aeson's son told him the lineage and name of each of his comrades and the behests of Pelias； and how they were welcomed by the Lemnian women； and all that they did at Dolionian Cyzieus； and how they reached the Mysian land and Cius； where； sore against their will； they left behind the hero Heracles； and he told the saying of Glaucus； and how they slew the Bebrycians and Amycus； and he told of the prophecies and affliction of Phineus； and how they escaped the Cyanean rocks； and how they met with Leto's son at the island。 And as he told all； Lycus was charmed in soul with listening； and he grieved for Heracles left behind； and spake as follows among them all：
（ll。 774…810） 〃O friends； what a man he was from whose help ye have fallen away； as ye cleave your long path to Aeetes； for well do I know that I saw him here in the halls of Dascylus my father； when he came hither on foot through the land of Asia bringing the girdle of warlike Hippolyte； and me he found with the down just growing on my cheeks。 And here； when my brother Priolas was slain by the Mysiansmy brother； whom ever since the people lament with most piteous dirgeshe entered the lists with Titias in boxing and slew him； mighty Titias； who surpassed all the youths in beauty and strength； and he dashed his teeth to the ground。 Together with the Mysians he subdued beneath my father's sway the Phrygians also； who inhabit the lands next to us； and he made his own the tribes of the Bithynians and their land； as far as the mouth of Rhebas and the peak of Colone； and besides them the Paphlagonians of Pelops yielded just as they were； even all those round whom the dark water of Billaeus breaks。 But now the Bebrycians and the insolence of Amycus have robbed me； since Heracles dwells far away； for they have long been cutting off huge pieces of my land until they have set their bounds at the meadows of deep…flowing Hypius。 Nevertheless； by your hands have they paid the penalty； and it was not without the will of heaven； I trow； that he brought war on the Bebrycians this dayhe； the son of Tyndareus； when he slew that champion。 Wherefore whatever requital I am now able to pay； gladly will I pay it； for that is the rule for weaker men when the stronger begin to help them。 So with you all； and in your company； I bid Dascylus my son follow； and if he goes； you will find all men friendly that ye meet on your way through the sea even to the mouth of the river Thermodon。 And besides that； to the sons of Tyndareus will I raise a lofty temple on the Acherusian height； which all sailors shall mark far across the sea and shall reverence； and hereafter for them will I set apart outside the city； as for gods； some fertile fields of the well…tilled plain。〃
（ll。 811…814） Thus all day long they revelled at the banquet。 But at dawn they hied down to the ship in haste； and with them went Lycus himself； when he had given them countless gifts to bear away； and with them he sent forth his son from his home。
（ll。 815…834） And here his destined fate smote Idmon； son of Abas； skilled in soothsaying； but not at all did his soothsaying save him； for necessity drew him on to death。 For in the mead of the reedy river there lay； cooling his flanks and huge belly in the mud； a white…tusked boar； a deadly monster； whom even the nymphs of the marsh dreaded； and no man knew it； but all alone he was feeding in the wide fell。 But the son of Abas was passing along the raised banks of the muddy river； and the boar from some unseen lair leapt out of the reed…bed； and charging gashed his thigh and severed in twain the sinews and the bone。 And with a sharp cry the hero fell to the ground； and as he was struck his comrades flocked together with answering cry。 And quickly Peleus with his hunting spear aimed at the murderous boar as he fled back into the fen； and again he turned and charged； but Idas wounded him； and with a roar he fell impaled upon the sharp spear。 And the boar they left on the ground just as he had fallen there； but Idmon； now at the last gasp； his comrades bore to the ship in sorrow of heart； and he died in his comrades' arms。
（ll。 835…850） And here they stayed from taking thought for their voyaging and abode in grief for the burial of their dead friend。 And for three whole days they lamented； and on the next they buried him with full honours； and the people and King Lycus himself took part in the funeral rites； and； as is the due of the departed； they slaughtered countless sheep at his tomb。 And so a barrow to this hero was raised in that land； and there stands a token for men of later days to see； the trunk of a wild olive tree； such as ships are built of； and it flourishes with its green leaves a little below the Acherusian headland。 And if at the bidding of
