the argonautica-第26章
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（ll。 739…748） 〃Poor wretch； an evil and shameful return hast thou planned。 Not for long； I ween； wilt thou escape the heavy wrath of Aeetes； but soon will he go even to the dwellings of Hellas to avenge the blood of his son； for intolerable are the deeds thou hast done。 But since thou art my suppliant and my kinswoman； no further ill shall I devise against thee at thy coming； but begone from my halls； companioning the stranger； whosoever he be； this unknown one that thou hast taken in thy father's despite； and kneel not to me at my hearth； for never will I approve thy counsels and thy shameful flight。〃
（ll。 749…752） Thus she spake； and measureless anguish seized the maid； and over her eyes she cast her robe and poured forth a lamentation； until the hero took her by the hand and led her forth from the hall quivering with fear。 So they left the home of Circe。
（ll。 753…756） But they were not unmarked by the spouse of Zeus； son of Cronos； but Iris told her when she saw them faring from the hall。 For Hera had bidden her watch what time they should come to the ship； so again she urged her and spake：
（ll。 757…769） 〃Dear Iris； now come； if ever thou hast fulfilled my bidding； hie thee away on light pinions； and bid Thetis arise from the sea and come hither。 For need of her is come upon me。 Then go to the sea…beaches where the bronze anvils of Hephaestus are smitten by sturdy hammers； and tell him to still the blasts of fire until Argo pass by them。 Then go to Aeolus too； Aeolus who rules the winds； children of the clear sky； and to him also tell my purpose so that he may make all winds cease under heaven and no breeze may ruffle the sea； yet let the breath of the west wind blow until the heroes have reached the Phaeacian isle of Alcinous。〃
（ll。 770…782） So she spake； and straightway Iris leapt down from Olympus and cleft her way； with light wings outspread。 And she plunged into the Aegean Sea； where is the dwelling of Nereus。 And she came to Thetis first and； by the promptings of Hera； told her tale and roused her to go to the goddess。 Next she came to Hephaestus； and quickly made him cease from the clang of his iron hammers； and the smoke…grimed bellows were stayed from their blast。 And thirdly she came to Aeolus； the famous son of Hippotas。 And when she had given her message to him also and rested her swift knees from her course； then Thetis leaving Nereus and her sisters had come from the sea to Olympus to the goddess Hera； and the goddess made her sit by her side and uttered her word：
（ll。 783…832） 〃Hearken now； lady Thetis； to what I am eager to tell thee。 Thou knowest how honoured in my heart is the hero； Aeson's son； and the others that have helped him in the contest； and how I saved them when they passed between the Wandering rocks； （5） where roar terrible storms of fire and the waves foam round the rugged reefs。 And now past the mighty rock of Scylla and Charybdis horribly belching； a course awaits them。 But thee indeed from thy infancy did I tend with my own hands and love beyond all others that dwell in the salt sea because thou didst refuse to share the couch of Zeus； for all his desire。 For to him such deeds are ever dear； to embrace either goddesses or mortal women。 But in reverence for me and with fear in thy heart thou didst shrink from his love； and he then swore a mighty oath that thou shouldst never be called the bride of an immortal god。 Yet he ceased not from spying thee against thy will； until reverend Themis declared to him the whole truth； how that it was thy fate to bear a son mightier than his sire； wherefore he gave thee up； for all his desire； fearing lest another should be his match and rule the immortals； and in order that he might ever hold his own dominion。 But I gave thee the best of the sons of earth to be thy husband； that thou mightest find a marriage dear to thy heart and bear children； and I summoned to the feast the gods； one and all。 And with my own hand I raised the bridal torch； in return for the kindly honour thou didst pay me。 But come； let me tell a tale that erreth not。 When thy son shall come to the Elysian plain； he whom now in the home of Cheiron the Centaur water…nymphs are tending； though he still craves thy mother milk； it is fated that he be the husband of Medea； Aeetes' daughter； do thou aid thy daughter…in…law as a mother…in…law should； and aid Peleus himself。 Why is thy wrath so steadfast？ He was blinded by folly。 For blindness comes even upon the gods。 Surely at my behest I deem that Hephaestus will cease from kindling the fury of his flame； and that Aeolus； son of Hippotas； will check his swift rushing winds； all but the steady west wind； until they reach the havens of the Phaeacians； do thou devise a return without bane。 The rocks and the tyrannous waves are my fear； they alone； and them thou canst foil with thy sisters' aid。 And let them not fall in their helplessness into Charybdis lest she swallow them at one gulp； or approach the hideous lair of Scylla； Ausonian Scylla the deadly； whom night…wandering Hecate； who is called Crataeis； （6） bare to Phoreys； lest swooping upon them with her horrible jaws she destroy the chiefest of the heroes。 But guide their ship in the course where there shall be still a hair's breadth escape from destruction。〃
（ll。 833…841） Thus she spake； and Thetis answered with these words： 〃If the fury of the ravening flame and the stormy winds cease in very deed； surely will I promise boldly to save the ship； even though the waves bar the way； if only the west wind blows fresh and clear。 But it is time to fare on a long and measureless path； in quest of my sisters who will aid me； and to the spot where the ship's hawsers are fastened； that at early dawn the heroes may take thought to win their home…return。〃
（ll。 842…855） She spake； and darting down from the sky fell amid the eddies of the dark blue sea； and she called to aid her the rest of the Nereids； her own sisters； and they heard her and gathered together； and Thetis declared to them Hera's behests； and quickly sped them all on their way to the Ausonian sea。 And herself； swifter than the flash of an eye or the shafts of the sun； when it rises upwards from a far…distant land； hastened swiftly through the sea； until she reached the Aeaean beach of the Tyrrhenian mainland。 And the heroes she found by the ship taking their pastime with quoits and shooting of arrows； and she drew near and just touched the hand of Aeaeus' son Peleus； for he was her husband； nor could anyone see her clearly； but she appeared to his eyes alone； and thus addressed him：
（ll。 856…864） 〃No longer now must ye stay sitting on the Tyrrhenian beach； but at dawn loosen the hawsers of your swift ship； in obedience to Hera； your helper。 For at her behest the maiden daughters of Nereus have met together to draw your ship through the midst of the rocks which are called Planctae； （7） for that is your destined path。 But do thou show my person to no one； when thou seest us come to meet time； but keep it secret in thy mind； lest thou anger me still more than thou didst anger me before so recklessly。〃
（ll。 865…884） She spake； and vanished into the depths of the sea； but sharp pain smote Peleus； for never before had he seen her come； since first she left her bridal chamber and bed in anger； on account of noble Achilles； then a babe。 For she ever encompassed the child's mortal flesh in the night with the flame of fire； and day by day she anointed with ambrosia his tender frame； so that he might become immortal and that she might keep off from his body loathsome old age。 But Peleus leapt up from his bed and saw his dear son gasping in the flame； and at the sight he uttered a terrible cry； fool that he was； and she heard it； and catching up the child threw him screaming to the ground； and herself like a breath of wind passed swiftly from the hall as a dream and leapt into the sea； exceeding wroth； and thereafter returned not again。 Wherefore blank amazement fettered his soul； nevertheless he declared to his comrades all the bidding of Thetis。 And they broke off in the midst and hurriedly ceased their contests； and prepared their meal and earth…strewn beds； whereon after supper they slept through the night as aforetime。
（ll。 885…921） Now when dawn the light…bringer was touching the edge of heaven； then at the coming of the swift west wind they went to their thwarts from the land； and gladly did they draw up the anchors from the deep and made the tackling ready in due order； and above spread the sail； stretching it taut with the sheets from the yard…arm。 And a fresh breeze wafted the ship on。 And soon they saw a fair island； Anthemoessa； where the clear… voiced Sirens； daughters of Achelous； used to beguile with their sweet songs whoever cast anchor there； and then destroy him。 Them lovely Terpsichore； one of the Muses； bare； united with Achelous； and once they tended Demeter's noble daughter still unwed； and sang to her in chorus； and at that time they were fashioned in part like birds and in part like maidens to behold。 And ever on the watch from their place of prospect with its fair haven； often from many had they taken away their sweet return； consuming them with wasting desire； and suddenly to the heroes； too； they sent forth from their lips a lily…like voice。 And they were already about to cast from the ship the hawsers to the shore； had not Thracian Orpheus； son of Oeagrus； stringing in his hands his Bistonian lyre； rung forth the hasty snatch of a rippling melody so that their ears might be filled with the sound of his twanging； and the lyre overcame the maidens' voice。 And the west wind and the sounding wave rushing astern bore the ship on； and the Sirens kept uttering their ceaseless song。 But even so the goodly son of Teleon alone of the comrades leapt before them all from the polished bench into the sea； even Butes； his soul melted by the clear ringing voice of the Sirens； and he swam through the dark surge to mount the beach； poor wretch。 Quickly would they have robbed him of his return then and there； but the goddess that rules Eryx； Cypris； in pity snatched him away； while yet in the eddies； and graciously meeting him saved him to dwell on the Lilybean height。 And the heroes； seized by anguish； left the Sirens； but other perils still worse； destructive to ships； awaited them in the meeting…place of the seas。
（ll。 922…981） For on one side appeared the smooth rock of Scylla； on the other Charybdis ceaselessly spouted and roared； in another part the Wandering rocks were booming beneath the mighty surge； where before the burning flame spurted forth from the top of the crags； above the rock glowing with fire； and the air was misty with smoke； nor could you have seen the sun's light。 Then； though Hephaestus had ceased from his toils； the sea was still sending up a warm vapour。 Hereupon on this side and on that the daughters of Nereus met them； and behind； lady Thetis set her hand to the rudder…blade； to guide them amid the Wandering rocks。 And as when in fair weather herds of dolphins come up from the depths and sport in circles round a ship as it speeds along； now seen in front； now behind； now again at the side and delight comes to the sailors； so the Nereids darted
