the argonautica-第13章

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　flourishes　with　its　green　leaves　a　little　below　the　Acherusian　headland。　　And　if　at　the　bidding　of　the　Muses　I　must　tell　this　tale　outright；　Phoebus　strictly　commanded　the　Boeotians　and　Nisaeans　to　worship　him　as　guardian　of　their　city；　and　to　build　their　city　round　the　trunk　of　the　ancient　wild　olive；　but　they；　instead　of　the　god…fearing　Aeolid　Idmon；　at　this　day　honour　Agamestor。

（ll。　851…868）　　Who　was　the　next　that　died？　　For　then　a　second　time　the　heroes　heaped　up　a　barrow　for　a　comrade　dead。　　For　still　are　to　be　seen　two　monuments　of　those　heroes。　　The　tale　goes　that　Tiphys　son　of　Hagnias　died；　nor　was　it　his　destiny　thereafter　to　sail　any　further。　　But　him　there　on　the　spot　a　short　sickness　laid　to　rest　far　from　his　native　land；　when　the　company　had　paid　due　honours　to　the　dead　son　of　Abas。　　And　at　the　cruel　woe　they　were　seized　with　unbearable　grief。　　For　when　with　due　honours　they　had　buried　him　also　hard　by　the　seer；　they　cast　themselves　down　in　helplessness　on　the　sea…shore　silently；　closely　wrapped　up；　and　took　no　thought　for　meat　or　drink；　and　their　spirit　drooped　in　grief；　for　all　hope　of　return　was　gone。　　And　in　their　sorrow　they　would　have　stayed　from　going　further　had　not　Hera　kindled　exceeding　courage　in　Ancaeus；　whom　near　the　waters　of　Imbrasus　Astypalaea　bore　to　Poseidon；　for　especially　was　he　skilled　in　steering　and　eagerly　did　he　address　Peleus：

（ll。　869…877）　　〃Son　of　Aeacus；　is　it　well　for　us　to　give　up　our　toils　and　linger　on　in　a　strange　land？　　Not　so　much　for　my　prowess　in　war　did　Jason　take　me　with　him　in　quest　of　the　fleece；　far　from　Parthenia；　as　for　my　knowledge　of　ships。　　Wherefore；　I　pray；　let　there　be　no　fear　for　the　ship。　　And　so　there　are　here　other　men　of　skill；　of　whom　none　will　harm　our　voyaging；　whomsoever　we　set　at　the　helm。　　But　quickly　tell　forth　all　this　and　boldly　urge　them　to　call　to　mind　their　task。〃

（ll。　878…884）　　Thus　he　spake；　and　Peleus'　soul　was　stirred　with　gladness；　and　straightway　he　spake　in　the　midst　of　all：　〃My　friends；　why　do　we　thus　cherish　a　bootless　grief　like　this？　　For　those　two　have　perished　by　the　fate　they　have　met　with；　but　among　our　host　are　steersmen　yet；　and　many　a　one。　　Wherefore　let　us　not　delay　our　attempt；　but　rouse　yourselves　to　the　work　and　cast　away　your　griefs。〃

（ll。　885…893）　　And　him　in　reply　Aeson's　son　addressed　with　helpless　words：　〃Son　of　Aeacus；　where　are　these　steersmen　of　thine？　　For　those　whom　we　once　deemed　to　be　men　of　skill；　they　even　more　than　I　are　bowed　with　vexation　of　heart。　　Wherefore　I　forebode　an　evil　doom　for　us　even　as　for　the　dead；　if　it　shall　be　our　lot　neither　to　reach　the　city　of　fell　Aeetes；　nor　ever　again　to　pass　beyond　the　rocks　to　the　land　of　Hellas；　but　a　wretched　fate　will　enshroud　us　here　ingloriously　till　we　grow　old　for　naught。〃

（ll。　894…898）　　Thus　he　spake；　but　Ancaeus　quickly　undertook　to　guide　the　swift　ship；　for　he　was　stirred　by　the　impulse　of　the　goddess。　　And　after　him　Erginus　and　Nauplius　and　Euphemus　started　up；　eager　to　steer。　　But　the　others　held　them　back；　and　many　of　his　comrades　granted　it　to　Ancaeus。

（ll。　899…910）　　So　on　the　twelfth　day　they　went　aboard　at　dawn；　for　a　strong　breeze　of　westerly　wind　was　blowing。　　And　quickly　with　the　oars　they　passed　out　through　the　river　Acheron　and；　trusting　to　the　wind；　shook　out　their　sails；　and　with　canvas　spread　far　and　wide　they　were　cleaving　their　passage　through　the　waves　in　fair　weather。　　And　soon　they　passed　the　outfall　of　the　river　Callichorus；　where；　as　the　tale　goes；　the　Nysean　son　of　Zeus；　when　he　had　left　the　tribes　of　the　Indians　and　came　to　dwell　at　Thebes；　held　revels　and　arrayed　dances　in　front　of　a　cave；　wherein　he　passed　unsmiling　sacred　nights；　from　which　time　the　neighbours　call　the　river　by　the　name　of　Callichorus　（4）　and　the　cave　Aulion。（5）

（ll。　911…929）　　Next　they　beheld　the　barrow　of　Sthenelus；　Actor's　son；　who　on　his　way　back　from　the　valorous　war　against　the　Amazonsfor　he　had　been　the　comrade　of　Heracleswas　struck　by　an　arrow　and　died　there　upon　the　sea…beach。　　And　for　a　time　they　went　no　further；　for　Persephone　herself　sent　forth　the　spirit　of　Actor's　son　which　craved　with　many　tears　to　behold　men　like　himself；　even　for　a　moment。　　And　mounting　on　the　edge　of　the　barrow　he　gazed　upon　the　ship；　such　as　he　was　when　he　went　to　war；　and　round　his　head　a　fair　helm　with　four　peaks　gleamed　with　its　blood…red　crest。　　And　again　he　entered　the　vast　gloom；　and　they　looked　and　marvelled；　and　Mopsus；　son　of　Ampycus；　with　word　of　prophecy　urged　them　to　land　and　propitiate　him　with　libations。　Quickly　they　drew　in　sail　and　threw　out　hawsers；　and　on　the　strand　paid　honour　to　the　tomb　of　Sthenelus；　and　poured　out　drink　offerings　to　him　and　sacrificed　sheep　as　victims。　　And　besides　the　drink　offerings　they　built　an　altar　to　Apollo；　saviour　of　ships；　and　burnt　thigh　bones；　and　Orpheus　dedicated　his　lyre；　whence　the　place　has　the　name　of　Lyra。

（ll。　930…945）　　And　straightway　they　went　aboard　as　the　wind　blew　strong；　and　they　drew　the　sail　down；　and　made　it　taut　to　both　sheets；　then　Argo　was　borne　over　the　sea　swiftly；　even　as　a　hawk　soaring　high　through　the　air　commits　to　the　breeze　its　outspread　wings　and　is　borne　on　swiftly；　nor　swerves　in　its　flight；　poising　in　the　clear　sky　with　quiet　pinions。　　And　lo；　they　passed　by　the　stream　of　Parthenius　as　it　flows　into　the　sea；　a　most　gentle　river；　where　the　maid；　daughter　of　Leto；　when　she　mounts　to　heaven　after　the　chase；　cools　her　limbs　in　its　much…desired　waters。　　Then　they　sped　onward　in　the　night　without　ceasing；　and　passed　Sesamus　and　lofty　Erythini；　Crobialus；　Cromna　and　woody　Cytorus。　　Next　they　swept　round　Carambis　at　the　rising　of　the　sun；　and　plied　the　oars　past　long　Aegialus；　all　day　and　on　through　the　night。

（ll。　946…965）　　And　straightway　they　landed　on　the　Assyrian　shore　where　Zeus　himself　gave　a　home　to　Sinope；　daughter　of　Asopus；　and　granted　her　virginity；　beguiled　by　his　own　promises。　　For　he　longed　for　her　love；　and　he　promised　to　grant　her　whatever　her　hearts　desire　might　be。　　And　she　in　her　craftiness　asked　of　him　virginity。　　And　in　like　manner　she　deceived　Apollo　too　who　longed　to　wed　her；　and　besides　them　the　river　Halys；　and　no　man　ever　subdued　her　in　love's　embrace。　　And　there　the　sons　of　noble　Deimachus　of　Tricca　were　still　dwelling；　Deileon；　Autolycus　and　Phlogius；　since　the　day　when　they　wandered　far　away　from　Heracles；　and　they；　when　they　marked　the　array　of　chieftains；　went　to　meet　them　and　declared　in　truth　who　they　were；　and　they　wished　to　remain　there　no　longer；　but　as　soon　as　Argestes　（6）　blew　went　on　ship…board。　　And　so　with　them；　borne　along　by　the　swift　breeze；　the　heroes　left　behind　the　river　Halys；　and　left　behind　his　that　flows　hard　by；　and　the　delta…land　of　Assyria；　and　on　the　same　day　they　rounded　the　distant　headland　of　the　Amazons　that　guards　their　harbour。

（ll。　966…1001）　　Here　once　when　Melanippe；　daughter　of　Ares；　had；　gone　forth；　the　hero　Heracles　caught　her　by　ambuscade　and　Hippolyte　gave　him　her　glistening　girdle　as　her　sister's　ransom；　and　he　sent　away　his　captive　unharmed。　　In　the　bay　of　this　headland；　at　the　outfall　of　Thermodon；　they　ran　ashore；　for　the　sea　was　rough　for　their　voyage。　　No　river　is　like　this；　and　none　sends　forth　from　itself　such　mighty　streams　over　the　land。　　If　a　man　should　count　every　one　he　would　lack　but　four　of　a　hundred；　but　the　real　spring　is　only　one。　　This　flows　down　to　the　plain　from　lofty　mountains；　which；　men　say；　are　called　the　Amazonian　mountains。　　Thence　it　spreads　inland　over　a　hilly　country　straight　forward；　wherefrom　its　streams　go　winding　on；　and　they　roll　on；　this　way　and　that　ever　more；　wherever　best　they　can　reach　the　lower　ground；　one　at　a　distance　and　another　near　at　hand；　and　many　streams　are　swallowed　up　in　the　sand　and　are　without　a　name；　but；　mingled　with　a　few；　the　main　stream　openly　bursts　with　its　arching　crest　of　foam　into　the　inhospitable　Pontus。　　And　they　would　have　tarried　there　and　have　closed　in　battle　with　the　Amazons；　and　would　have　fought　not　without　bloodshed　for　the　Amazons　were　not　gentle　foes　and　regarded　not　justice；　those　dwellers　on　the　Doeantian　plain；　but　grievous　insolence　and　the　works　of　Ares　were　all　their　care；　for　by　race　they　were　the　daughters　of　Ares　and　the　nymph　Harmonia；　who　bare　to　Ares　war…loving　maids；　wedded　to　him　in　the　glens　of　the　Acmonian　wood　had　not　the　breezes　of　Argestes　come　again　from　Zeus；　and　with　the　wind　they　left　the　rounded　beach；　where　the　Themiscyreian　Amazons　were　arming　for　war。　　For　they　dwelt　not　gathered　together　in　one　city；　but　scattered　over　the　land；　parted　into　three　tribes。　　In　one　part　dwelt　the　Themiscyreians；　over　whom　at　that　time　Hippolyte　reigned；　in　another　the　Lycastians；　and　in　another　the　dart…throwing　Chadesians。　　And　the　next　day　they　sped　on　and　at　nightfall　they　reached　the　land　of　the　Chalybes。

（ll。　1002…1008）　　That　folk　have　no　care　for　ploughing　with　oxen　or　for　any　planting　of　honey…sweet　fruit；　nor　yet　do　they　pasture　flocks　in　the　dewy　meadow。　　But　they　cleave　the　hard　iron…bearing　land　and　exchange　their　wages　for　daily　sustenance；　never　does　the　morn　rise　for　them　without　toil；　but　amid　bleak　sooty　flames　and　smoke　they　endure　heavy　labour。

（ll。　1009…1014）　　And　straightway　thereafter　they　rounded　the　headland　of　Genetaean　Zeus　and　sped　safely　past　the　land　of　the　Tibareni。　　Here　when　wives　bring　forth　children　to　their　husbands；　the　men　lie　in　bed　and　groan　with　their　heads　close　bound；　but　the　women　tend　them　with　food；　and　prepare　child…birth　baths　for　them。

（ll。　1015…1029）　　Next　they　reached　the　sacred　mount　and　the　land　where　the　Mossynoeci　dwell　amid　high　mountains　in　wooden　huts；　（7）　from　which　that　people　take　their　name。　　And　strange　are　their　customs　and　laws。　　Whatever　it　is　right　to　do　openly　before　the　people　or　in　the　market　place；　all　this　they　do　in　their　homes；　but　whatever　acts　we　perform　at　home；　these　they　perform　out　of　doors　in　the　midst　of　the　streets；　without　blame。　　And　among　them　is　no　reverence　for　the　marriage…bed；　but；　like　swine　that　feed　in　herds；　no　whit　abashed　in　others'　presence；　on　the　earth　they　lie　with　the　women。　　Their　king　sits　in　the　loftiest　hut　and　dispenses　upright　judgments　to　the　multitude；　poor　wretch！　　For　if　haply　he　err　at　all　in　his　decrees；　for　that　day　they　keep　him　shut　up　in　starvation。

（ll。　1030…1046）　　They　passed　them　by　and　cleft　their　way　with　oars　over　against　the　island　of　Ares　all　day　long；　for　at　dusk　the　light　breeze　left　them。　　At　last　they　spied　above　them；　hurtling　through　the　air；　one　of　the　birds　of　Ares　which　haunt　that　isle。　　It　shook　its　wings　down　over　the　ship　as　she　sped　on　and　sent　against　her　a　keen　feather；　and　it　fell　on　the　left　shoulder　of　goodly　Oileus；　and　he　dropped　his　oar　from　his　hands　at　the　sudden　blow；　and　his　comrades　marvelled　at　the　sight　of　the　winged　bolt。　　And　Eribotes　from　his　seat　hard　by　drew　out　the　feather；　and　bound　up　the　wound　when　he　had　loosed　the　strap　hanging　from　his　own　sword…sheath；　and　besides　the　first；　another　bird　appeared　swooping　down；　but　the　hero　Clytius；　son　of　Eurytus　　for　he　bent　his　curved　bow；　and　sped　a　swift　arrow　against　the　birdstruck　it；　and　it　whirled　round　and　fell　close　to　the　ship。　　And　to　them　spake　Amphidamas；　son　of　Aleus：

（ll。　1047…1067）　　〃The　island　of　Ares　is　near　us；　you　k