the argonautica-第17章
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re gathered from Hellas； they call Jason； son of Aeson； whom Cretheus begat。 And if in truth he is of the stock of Cretheus himself； thus he would be our kinsman on the father's side。 For Cretheus and Athamas were both sons of Aeolus； and Phrixus was the son of Athamas； son of Aeolus。 And here； if thou hast heard at all of the seed of Helios； thou dost behold Augeias； and this is Telamon sprung from famous Aeacus； and Zeus himself begat Aeacus。 And so all the rest； all the comrades that follow him； are the sons or grandsons of the immortals。〃
（ll。 367…371） Such was the tale of Argus； but the king at his words was filled with rage as he heard； and his heart was lifted high in wrath。 And he spake in heavy displeasure； and was angered most of all with the son of Chalciope； for he deemed that on their account the strangers had come； and in his fury his eyes flashed forth beneath his brows：
（ll。 372…381） 〃Begone from my sight； felons； straightway； ye and your tricks； from the land； ere someone see a fleece and a Phrixus to his sorrow。 Banded together with your friends from Hellas； not for the fleece； but to seize my sceptre and royal power have ye come hither。 Had ye not first tasted of my table； surely would I have cut out your tongues and hewn off both hands and sent you forth with your feet alone； so that ye might be stayed from starting hereafter。 And what lies have ye uttered against the blessed gods！〃
（ll。 382…385） Thus he spake in his wrath； and mightily from its depths swelled the heart of Aeacus' son； and his soul within longed to speak a deadly word in defiance； but Aeson's son checked him； for he himself first made gentle answer：
（ll。 386…395） 〃Aeetes； bear with this armed band； I pray。 For not in the way thou deemest have we come to thy city and palace； no； nor yet with such desires。 For who would of his own will dare to cross so wide a sea for the goods of a stranger？ But fate and the ruthless command of a presumptuous king urged me。 Grant a favour to thy suppliants； and to all Hellas will I publish a glorious fame of thee； yea； we are ready now to pay thee a swift recompense in war； whether it be the Sauromatae or some other people that thou art eager to subdue to thy sway。〃
（ll。 396…400） He spake； flattering him with gentle utterance； but the king's soul brooded a twofold purpose within him； whether he should attack and slay them on the spot or should make trial of their might。 And this； as he pondered； seemed the better way； and he addressed Jason in answer：
（ll。 401…421） 〃Stranger； why needest thou go through thy tale to the end？ For if ye are in truth of heavenly race； or have come in no wise inferior to me； to win the goods of strangers； I will give thee the fleece to bear away； if thou dost wish； when I have tried thee。 For against brave men I bear no grudge； such as ye yourselves tell me of him who bears sway in Hellas。 And the trial of your courage and might shall be a contest which I myself can compass with my hands； deadly though it be。 Two bulls with feet of bronze I have that pasture on the plain of Ares； breathing forth flame from their jaws； them do I yoke and drive over the stubborn field of Ares； four plough…gates； and quickly cleaving it with the share up to the headland； I cast into the furrows the seed； not the corn of Demeter； but the teeth of a dread serpent that grow up into the fashion of armed men； them I slay at once； cutting them down beneath my spear as they rise against me on all sides。 In the morning do I yoke the oxen； and at eventide I cease from the harvesting。 And thou； if thou wilt accomplish such deeds as these； on that very day shalt carry off the fleece to the king's palace； ere that time comes I will not give it； expect it not。 For indeed it is unseemly that a brave man should yield to a coward。〃
（ll。 422…426） Thus he spake； and Jason； fixing his eyes on the ground； sat just as he was； speechless； helpless in his evil plight。 For a long time he turned the matter this way and that； and could in no way take on him the task with courage； for a mighty task it seemed； and at last he made reply with crafty words：
（ll。 427…431） 〃With thy plea of right； Aeetes； thou dost shut me in overmuch。 Wherefore also I will dare that contest； monstrous as it is； though it be my doom to die。 For nothing will fall upon men more dread than dire necessity； which indeed constrained me to come hither at a king's command。〃
（ll。 432…438） Thus he spake； smitten by his helpless plight； and the king with grim words addressed him； sore troubled as he was： 〃Go forth now to the gathering； since thou art eager for the toil； but if thou shouldst fear to lift the yoke upon the oxen or shrink from the deadly harvesting； then all this shall be my care； so that another too may shudder to come to a man that is better than he。〃
（ll。 439…463） He spake outright； and Jason rose from his seat； and Augeias and Telamon at once； and Argus followed alone； for he signed to his brothers to stay there on the spot meantime； and so they went forth from the hall。 And wonderfully among them all shone the son of Aeson for beauty and grace； and the maiden looked at him with stealthy glance； holding her bright veil aside； her heart smouldering with pain； and her soul creeping like a dream flitted in his track as he went。 So they passed forth from the palace sorely troubled。 And Chalciope； shielding herself from the wrath of Aeetes； had gone quickly to her chamber with her sons。 And Medea likewise followed； and much she brooded in her soul all the cares that the Loves awaken。 And before her eyes the vision still appearedhimself what like he was； with what vesture he was clad； what things he spake； how he sat on his seat； how he moved forth to the doorand as she pondered she deemed there never was such another man； and ever in her ears rung his voice and the honey…sweet words which he uttered。 And she feared for him； lest the oxen or Aeetes with his own hand should slay him； and she mourned him as though already slain outright； and in her affliction a round tear through very grievous pity coursed down her cheek； and gently weeping she lifted up her voice aloud：
（ll。 464…470） Why does this grief come upon me； poor wretch？ Whether he be the best of heroes now about to perish； or the worst； let him go to his doom。 Yet I would that he had escaped unharmed； yea； may this be so； revered goddess； daughter of Perses； may he avoid death and return home； but if it be his lot to be o'ermastered by the oxen； may he first learn this； that I at least do not rejoice in his cruel calamity。〃
（ll。 471…474） Thus then was the maiden's heart racked by love… cares。 But when the others had gone forth from the people and the city； along the path by which at the first they had come from the plain； then Argus addressed Jason with these words：
（ll。 475…483） 〃Son of Aeson； thou wilt despise the counsel which I will tell thee； but； though in evil plight； it is not fitting to forbear from the trial。 Ere now thou hast heard me tell of a maiden that uses sorcery under the guidance of Hecate； Perses' daughter。 If we could win her aid there will be no dread； methinks； of thy defeat in the contest； but terribly do I fear that my mother will not take this task upon her。 Nevertheless I will go back again to entreat her； for a common destruction overhangs us all。〃
（ll。 383…491） He spake with goodwill； and Jason answered with these words： 〃Good friend； if this is good in thy sight； I say not nay。 Go and move thy mother； beseeching her aid with prudent words； pitiful indeed is our hope when we have put our return in the keeping of women。〃 So he spake； and quickly they reached the back…water。 And their comrades joyfully questioned them； when they saw them close at hand； and to them spoke Aeson's son grieved at heart：
（ll。 492…501） 〃My friends； the heart of ruthless Aeetes is utterly filled with wrath against us； for not at all can the goal be reached either by me or by you who question me。 He said that two bulls with feet of bronze pasture on the plain of Ares； breathing forth flame from their jaws。 And with these he bade me plough the field； four plough…gates； and said that he would give me from a serpent's jaws seed which will raise up earthborn men in armour of bronze； and on the same day I must slay them。 This taskfor there was nothing better to deviseI took on myself outright。〃
（ll。 502…514） Thus he spake； and to all the contest seemed one that none could accomplish； and long； quiet and silent； they looked at one another； bowed down with the calamity and their despair； but at last Peleus spake with courageous words among all the chiefs： 〃It is time to be counselling what we shall do。 Yet there is not so much profit； I trow； in counsel as in the might of our hands。 If thou then； hero son of Aeson； art minded to yoke Aeetes' oxen； and art eager for the toil； surely thou wilt keep thy promise and make thyself ready。 But if thy soul trusts not her prowess utterly； then neither bestir thyself nor sit still and look round for some one else of these men。 For it is not I who will flinch； since the bitterest pain will be but death。〃
（ll。 515…522） So spake the son of Aeacus； and Telamon's soul was stirred； and quickly he started up in eagerness； and Idas rose up the third in his pride； and the twin sons of Tyndareus； and with them Oeneus' son who was numbered among strong men； though even the soft down on his cheek showed not yet； with such courage was his soul uplifted。 But the others gave way to these in silence。 And straightway Argus spake these words to those that longed for the contest：
（ll。 523…539） 〃My friends； this indeed is left us at the last。 But I deem that there will come to you some timely aid from my mother。 Wherefore； eager though ye be； refrain and abide in your ship a little longer as before； for it is better to forbear than recklessly to choose an evil fate。 There is a maiden； nurtured in the halls of Aeetes； whom the goddess Hecate taught to handle magic herbs with exceeding skill all that the land and flowing waters produce。 With them is quenched the blast of unwearied flame； and at once she stays the course of rivers as they rush roaring on； and checks the stars and the paths of the sacred moon。 Of her we bethought us as we came hither along the path from the palace； if haply my mother； her own sister； might persuade her to aid us in the venture。 And if this is pleasing to you as well； surely on this very day will I return to the palace of Aeetes to make trial； and perchance with some god's help shall I make the trial。〃
（ll。 540…544） Thus he spake； and the gods in their goodwill gave them a sign。 A trembling dove in her flight from a mighty hawk fell from on high； terrified； into the lap of Aeson's son； and the hawk fell impaled on the stern…ornament。 And quickly Mopsus with prophetic words spake among them all：
（ll。 545…554） 〃For you； friends； this sign has been wrought by the will of heaven； in no other way is it possible to interpret its meaning better； than to seek out the maiden and entreat her with manifold skill。 And I think she will not reject our prayer； if in truth Phineus said that our return should be with the help of the Cyprian goddess。 It
