the argonautica-第24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！
y won； whether they carried it off by craft or even openly in the king's despite； but as to Medeafor that was the cause of strifethat they should give her in ward to Leto's daughter apart from the throng； until some one of the kings that dispense justice should utter his doom； whether she must return to her father's home or follow the chieftains to the land of Hellas。
（ll。 350…354） Now when the maiden had mused upon all this； sharp anguish shook her heart unceasingly； and quickly she called forth Jason alone apart from his comrades； and led him aside until they were far away； and before his face uttered her speech all broken with sobs：
（ll。 355…390） 〃What is this purpose that ye are now devising about me； O son of Aeson？ Has thy triumph utterly cast forgetfulness upon thee； and reekest thou nothing of all that thou spakest when held fast by necessity？ Whither are fled the oaths by Zeus the suppliants' god； whither are fled thy honied promises？ For which in no seemly wise； with shameless will； I have left my country； the glories of my home and even my parents things that were dearest to me； and far away all alone I am borne over the sea with the plaintive kingfishers because of thy trouble； in order that I might save thy life in fulfilling the contests with the oxen and the earthborn men。 Last of all the fleecewhen the matter became known； it was by my folly thou didst win it； and a foul reproach have I poured on womankind。 Wherefore I say that as thy child； thy bride and thy sister； I follow thee to the land of Hellas。 Be ready to stand by me to the end； abandon me not left forlorn of thee when thou dost visit the kings。 But only save me； let justice and right； to which we have both agreed； stand firm； or else do thou at once shear through this neck with the sword； that I may gain the guerdon due to my mad passion。 Poor wretch！ if the king； to whom you both commit your cruel covenant； doom me to belong to my brother。 How shall I come to my father's sight？ Will it be with a good name？ What revenge； what heavy calamity shall I not endure in agony for the terrible deeds I have done？ And wilt thou win the return that thy heart desires？ Never may Zeus' bride； the queen of all； in whom thou dost glory； bring that to pass。 Mayst thou some time remember me when thou art racked with anguish； may the fleece like a dream vanish into the nether darkness on the wings of the wind！ And may my avenging Furies forthwith drive thee from thy country； for all that I have suffered through thy cruelty！ These curses will not be allowed to fall unaccomplished to the ground。 A mighty oath hast thou transgressed； ruthless one； but not long shalt thou and thy comrades sit at ease casting eyes of mockery upon me； for all your covenants。〃
（ll。 391…394） Thus she spake； seething with fierce wrath； and she longed to set fire to the ship and to hew it utterly in pieces； and herself to fall into the raging flame。 But Jason； half afraid； thus addressed her with gentle words：
（ll。 395…409） 〃Forbear； lady； me too this pleases not。 But we seek some respite from battle； for such a cloud of hostile men； like to a fire； surrounds us； on thy account。 For all that inhabit this land are eager to aid Apsyrtus； that they may lead thee back home to thy father； like some captured maid。 And all of us would perish in hateful destruction； if we closed with them in fight； and bitterer still will be the pain； if we are slain and leave thee to be their prey。 But this covenant will weave a web of guile to lead him to ruin。 Nor will the people of the land for thy sake oppose us； to favour the Colchians； when their prince is no longer with them； who is thy champion and thy brother； nor will I shrink from matching myself in fight with the Colchians； if they bar my way homeward。〃
（ll。 410…420） Thus he spake soothing her； and she uttered a deadly speech： 〃Take heed now。 For when sorry deeds are done we must needs devise sorry counsel； since at first I was distraught by my error； and by heaven's will it was I wrought the accomplishment of evil desires。 Do thou in the turmoil shield me from the Colchians' spears； and I will beguile Apsyrtus to come into thy handsdo thou greet him with splendid giftsif only I could persuade the heralds on their departure to bring him alone to hearken to my words。 Thereupon if this deed pleases thee； slay him and raise a conflict with the Colchians； I care not。
（ll。 421…422） So they two agreed and prepared a great web of guile for Apsyrtus； and provided many gifts such as are due to guests； and among them gave a sacred robe of Hypsipyle； of crimson hue。 The Graces with their own hands had wrought it for Dionysus in sea…girt Dia； and he gave it to his son Thoas thereafter； and Thoas left it to Hypsipyle； and she gave that fair…wrought guest…gift with many another marvel to Aeson's son to wear。 Never couldst thou satisfy thy sweet desire by touching it or gazing on it。 And from it a divine fragrance breathed from the time when the king of Nysa himself lay to rest thereon； flushed with wine and nectar as he clasped the beauteous breast of the maiden…daughter of Minos； whom once Theseus forsook in the island of Dia； when she had followed him from Cnossus。 And when she had worked upon the heralds to induce her brother to come； as soon as she reached the temple of the goddess； according to the agreement； and the darkness of night surrounded them； that so she might devise with him a cunning plan for her to take the mighty fleece of gold and return to the home of Aeetes； for； she said； the sons of Phrixus had given her by force to the strangers to carry off； with such beguiling words she scattered to the air and the breezes her witching charms； which even from afar would have drawn down the savage beast from the steep mountain…height。
（ll。 445…451） Ruthless Love； great bane； great curse to mankind； from thee come deadly strifes and lamentations and groans； and countless pains as well have their stormy birth from thee。 Arise； thou god； and arm thyself against the sons of our foes in such guise as when thou didst fill Medea's heart with accursed madness。 How then by evil doom did she slay Apsyrtus when he came to meet her？ For that must our song tell next。
（ll。 452…481） When the heroes had left the maiden on the island of Artemis； according to the covenant； both sides ran their ships to land separately。 And Jason went to the ambush to lie in wait for Apsyrtus and then for his comrades。 But he； beguiled by these dire promises； swiftly crossed the swell of the sea in his ship； and in dark night set foot on the sacred island； and faring all alone to meet her he made trial in speech of his sister； as a tender child tries a wintry torrent which not even strong men can pass through； to see if she would devise some guile against the strangers。 And so they two agreed together on everything； and straightway Aeson's son leapt forth from the thick ambush； lifting his bare sword in his hand； and quickly the maiden turned her eyes aside and covered them with her veil that she might not see the blood of her brother when he was smitten。 And Jason marked him and struck him down； as a butcher strikes down a mighty strong…horned bull； hard by the temple which the Brygi on the mainland opposite had once built for Artemis。 In its vestibule he fell on his knees； and at last the hero breathing out his life caught up in both hands the dark blood as it welled from the wound； and he dyed with red his sister's silvery veil and robe as she shrank away。 And with swift side…glance the irresistible pitiless Fury beheld the deadly deed they had done。 And the hero； Aeson's son； cut off the extremities of the dead man； and thrice licked up some blood and thrice spat the pollution from his teeth； as it is right for the slayer to do； to atone for a treacherous murder。 And the clammy corpse he hid in the ground where even now those bones lie among the Apsyrtians。
（ll。 481…494） Now as soon as the heroes saw the blaze of a torch； which the maiden raised for them as a sign to pursue； they laid their own ship near the Colchian ship； and they slaughtered the Colchian host； as kites slay the tribes of wood…pigeons； or as lions of the wold； when they have leapt amid the steading； drive a great flock of sheep huddled together。 Nor did one of them escape death； but the heroes rushed upon the whole crew； destroying them like a flame； and at last Jason met them； and was eager to give aid where none was needed； but already they were taking thought for him too。 Thereupon they sat to devise some） prudent counsel for their voyage； and the maiden came upon them as they pondered； but Peleus spake his word first：
（ll。 495…502） 〃I now bid you embark while it is still night； and take with your oars the passage opposite to that which the enemy guards； for at dawn when they see their plight I deem that no word urging to further pursuit of us will prevail with them； but as people bereft of their king； they will be scattered in grievous dissension。 And easy； when the people are scattered； will this path be for us on our return。〃
（ll。 503…506） Thus he spake； and the youths assented to the words of Aeacus' son。 And quickly they entered the ship； and toiled at their oars unceasingly until they reached the sacred isle of Electra； the highest of them all； near the river Eridanus。
（ll。 507…521） But when the Colchians learnt the death of their prince； verily they were eager to pursue Argo and the Minyans through all the Cronian sea。 But Hera restrained them by terrible lightnings from the sky。 And at last they loathed their own homes in the Cytaean land； quailing before Aeetes' fierce wrath； so they landed and made abiding homes there； scattered far and wide。 Some set foot on those very islands where the heroes had stayed； and they still dwell there； bearing a name derived from Apsyrtus； and others built a fenced city by the dark deep Illyrian river； where is the tomb of Harmonia and Cadmus； dwelling among the Encheleans； and others live amid the mountains which are called the Thunderers； from the day when the thunders of Zeus； son of Cronos； prevented them from crossing over to the island opposite。
（ll。 522…551） Now the heroes； when their return seemed safe for them； fared onward and made their hawsers fast to the land of the Hylleans。 For the islands lay thick in the river and made the path dangerous for those who sailed thereby。 Nor； as aforetime； did the Hylleans devise their hurt； but of their own accord furthered their passage； winning as guerdon a mighty tripod of Apollo。 For tripods twain had Phoebus given to Aeson's son to carry afar in the voyage he had to make； at the time when he went to sacred Pytho to enquire about this very voyage； and it was ordained by fate that in whatever land they should be placed； that land should never be ravaged by the attacks of foemen。 Therefore even now this tripod is hidden in that land near the pleasant city of Hyllus； far beneath the earth； that it may ever be unseen by mortals。 Yet they found not King Hyllus still alive in the land； whom fair Melite bare to Heracles in the land of the Phaeacians。 For he came to the abode of Nausithous and to Macris； the nurse of Dionysus； to cleanse himself from the dea
