第 9 节
作者:
指点迷津 更新:2021-02-19 00:27 字数:9322
them with reproachful words:
(ll。 865…874) 〃Wretched men; does the murder of kindred keep us
from our native land? Or is it in want of marriage that we have come
hither from thence; in scorn of our countrywomen? Does it please us to
dwell here and plough the rich soil of Lemnos? No fair renown shall we
win by thus tarrying so long with stranger women; nor will some god seize
and give us at our prayer a fleece that moves of itself。 Let us then return
each to his own; but him leave ye to rest all day long in the embrace of
Hypsipyle until he has peopled Lemnos with men…children; and so there
come to him great glory。〃
(ll。 875…887) Thus did he chide the band; but no one dared to meet
his eye or to utter a word in answer。 But just as they were in the
assembly they made ready their departure in all haste; and the women
came running towards them; when they knew their intent。 And as when
bees hum round fair lilies pouring forth from their hive in the rock; and all
around the dewy meadow rejoices; and they gather the sweet fruit; flitting
from one to another; even so the women eagerly poured forth clustering
round the men with loud lament; and greeted each one with hands and
voice; praying the blessed gods to grant him a safe return。 And so
Hypsipyle too prayed; seizing the hands of Aeson's son; and her tears
flowed for the loss of her lover:
(ll。 888…898) 〃Go; and may heaven bring thee back again with thy
comrades unharmed; bearing to the king the golden fleece; even as thou
wilt and thy heart desireth; and this island and my father's sceptre will be
awaiting thee; if on thy return hereafter thou shouldst choose to come
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hither again; and easily couldst thou gather a countless host of men from
other cities。 But thou wilt not have this desire; nor do I myself forbode that
so it will be。 Still remember Hypsipyle when thou art far away and when
thou hast returned; and leave me some word of bidding; which I will
gladly accomplish; if haply heaven shall grant me to be a mother。〃
(ll。 899…909) And Aeson's son in admiration thus replied: 〃Hypsipyle;
so may all these things prove propitious by the favour of the blessed gods。
But do thou hold a nobler thought of me; since by the grace of Pelias it is
enough for me to dwell in my native land; may the gods only release me
from my toils。 But if it is not my destiny to sail afar and return to the
land of Hellas; and if thou shouldst bear a male child; send him when
grown up to Pelasgian Iolcus; to heal the grief of my father and mother if
so be that he find them still living; in order that; far away from the king;
they may be cared for by their own hearth in their home。〃
(ll。 910…921) He spake; and mounted the ship first of all; and so the
rest of the chiefs followed; and; sitting in order; seized the oars; and Argus
loosed for them the hawsers from under the sea…beaten rock。 Whereupon
they mightily smote the water with their long oars; and in the evening by
the injunctions of Orpheus they touched at the island of Electra; (5)
daughter of Atlas; in order that by gentle initiation they might learn the
rites that may not be uttered; and so with greater safety sail over the
chilling sea。 Of these I will make no further mention; but I bid farewell
to the island itself and the indwelling deities; to whom belong those
mysteries; which it is not lawful for me to sing。
(ll。 922…935) Thence did they row with eagerness over the depths of
the black Sea; having on the one side the land of the Thracians; on the
other Imbros on the south; and as the sun was just setting they reached the
foreland of the Chersonesus。 There a strong south wind blew for them;
and raising the sails to the breeze they entered the swift stream of the
maiden daughter of Athamas; and at dawn the sea to the north was left
behind and at night they were coasting inside the Rhoeteian shore; with
the land of Ida on their right。 And leaving Dardania they directed their
course to Abydus; and after it they sailed past Percote and the sandy beach
of Abarnis and divine Pityeia。 And in that night; as the ship sped on by
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sail and oar; they passed right through the Hellespont dark…gleaming with
eddies。
(ll。 936…960) There is a lofty island inside the Propontis; a short
distance from the Phrygian mainland with its rich cornfields; sloping to the
sea; where an isthmus in front of the mainland is flooded by the waves; so
low does it lie。 And the isthmus has double shores; and they lie beyond
the river Aesepus; and the inhabitants round about call the island the
Mount of Bears。 And insolent and fierce men dwell there; Earthborn; a
great marvel to the neighbours to behold; for each one has six mighty
hands to lift up; two from his sturdy shoulders; and four below; fitting
close to his terrible sides。 And about the isthmus and the plain the
Doliones had their dwelling; and over them Cyzicus son of Aeneus was
king; whom Aenete the daughter of goodly Eusorus bare。 But these men
the Earthborn monsters; fearful though they were; in nowise harried;
owing to the protection of Poseidon; for from him had the Doliones first
sprung。 Thither Argo pressed on; driven by the winds of Thrace; and the
Fair haven received her as she sped。 There they cast away their small
anchorstone by the advice of Tiphys and left it beneath a fountain; the
fountain of Artaeie; and they took another meet for their purpose; a heavy
one; but the first; according to the oracle of the Far…Darter; the Ionians;
sons of Neleus; in after days laid to be a sacred stone; as was right; in the
temple of Jasonian Athena。
(ll。 961…988) Now the Doliones and Cyzicus himself all came
together to meet them with friendliness; and when they knew of the quest
and their lineage welcomed them with hospitality; and persuaded them to
row further and to fasten their ship's hawsers at the city harbour。 Here
they built an altar to Ecbasian Apollo (6) and set it up on the beach; and
gave heed to sacrifices。 And the king of his own bounty gave them sweet
wine and sheep in their need; for he had heard a report that whenever a
godlike band of heroes should come; straightway he should meet it with
gentle words and should have no thought of war。 As with Jason; the soft
down was just blooming on his chin; nor yet had it been his lot to rejoice
in children; but still in his palace his wife was untouched by the pangs of
child…birth; the daughter of Percosian Merops; fair…haired Cleite; whom
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lately by priceless gifts he had brought from her father's home from the
mainland opposite。 But even so he left his chamber and bridal bed and
prepared a banquet among the strangers; casting all fears from his heart。
And they questioned one another in turn。 Of them would he learn the
end of their voyage and the injunctions of Pelias; while they enquired
about the cities of the people round and all the gulf of the wide Propontis;
but further he could not tell them for all their desire to learn。 In the
morning they climbed mighty Dindymum that they might themselves
behold the various paths of that sea; and they brought their ship from its
former anchorage to the harbour; Chytus; and the path they trod is named
the path of Jason。
(ll。 989…1011) But the Earthborn men on the other side rushed down
from the mountain and with crags below blocked up the mouth of vast
Ch