第 15 节
作者:指点迷津      更新:2021-02-19 00:27      字数:9321
  wrath from heaven will fall upon you two for your help to me。〃
  (ll。 262…287)      Then were those two eager to help him because of the
  oath。     And quickly the younger heroes prepared a feast for the aged man;
  a   last   prey   for   the   Harpies;   and   both   stood   near   him;   to   smite   with   the
  sword those pests when they swooped down。 Scarcely had the aged man
  touched      the  food   when     they   forthwith;    like  bitter  blasts   or  flashes   of
  lightning; suddenly darted from the clouds; and swooped down with a yell;
  fiercely craving for food; and the heroes beheld them and shouted in the
  midst   of   their   onrush; but   they  at   the   cry  devoured   everything   and   sped
  away over the sea after; and an intolerable stench remained。                   And behind
  them the two sons of Boreas raising their swords rushed in pursuit。                      For
  Zeus imparted to them tireless strength; but without Zeus they could not
  have followed; for the Harpies used ever to outstrip the blasts of the west
  wind when they came to Phineus and when they left him。                      And as when;
  upon the mountain… side; hounds; cunning in the chase; run in the track of
  horned goats   or   deer;   and   as   they  strain   a little   behind   gnash   their   teeth
  upon the edge of their jaws in vain; so Zetes and Calais rushing very near
  just grazed the Harpies in vain with their finger…tips。              And assuredly they
  would   have   torn   them   to   pieces;   despite   heaven's   will;   when   they   had
  overtaken them far off at the Floating Islands; had not swift Iris seen them
  and leapt down from the sky from heaven above; and cheeked them with
  these words:
  (ll。 288…290)      〃It is not lawful; O sons of Boreas; to strike with your
  swords the Harpies; the hounds of mighty Zeus; but I myself will give you
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  a pledge; that hereafter they shall not draw near to Phineus。〃
  (ll。   291…300)     With   these   words   she   took   an   oath   by   the   waters   of
  Styx; which to all the gods is most dread and most awful; that the Harpies
  would never thereafter again approach the home of Phineus; son of Agenor;
  for so it was fated。      And the heroes yielding to the oath; turned back their
  flight to the ship。       And on account of this men call them the Islands of
  Turning though aforetime they called them the Floating Islands。                    And the
  Harpies and Iris parted。         They entered their den in Minoan Crete; but she
  sped up to Olympus; soaring aloft on her swift wings。
  (ll。 301…310)      Meanwhile the chiefs carefully cleansed the old man's
  squalid skin and with due selection sacrificed sheep which they had borne
  away from the spoil of Amycus。              And when they had laid a huge supper
  in   the   hall;   they   sat   down   and   feasted;   and   with   them   feasted   Phineus
  ravenously; delighting his soul; as in a dream。              And there; when they had
  taken their fill of food and drink; they kept awake all night waiting for the
  sons of Boreas。 And the aged sire himself sat in the midst; near the hearth;
  telling of the end of their voyage and the completion of their journey:
  (ll。   311…315)    〃Listen   then。     Not   everything   is   it   lawful   for   you   to
  know      clearly;   but   whatever     is  heaven's    will;  I  will   not   hide。   I  was
  infatuated aforetime; when in my folly I declared the will of Zeus in order
  and to the end。       For he himself wishes to deliver to men the utterances of
  the prophetic art incomplete; in order that they may still have some need to
  know the will of heaven。
  (ll。   316…340)    〃First   of   all;   after   leaving   me;   ye   will   see   the   twin
  Cyanean rocks where the   two seas meet。                No one;   I ween; has won   his
  escape between them。           For they are not firmly fixed with roots beneath;
  but constantly  clash   against   one  another  to one point;  and   above  a  huge
  mass of salt water rises in a crest; boiling up; and loudly dashes upon the
  hard   beach。      Wherefore   now   obey   my   counsel;   if   indeed   with   prudent
  mind and reverencing the blessed gods ye pursue your way; and perish not
  foolishly   by   a   self…sought   death;   or   rush   on   following   the   guidance   of
  youth。 First entrust the attempt to a dove when ye have sent her forth from
  the ship。     And if she escapes safe with her wings between the rocks to the
  open sea; then no more do ye refrain from the path; but grip your oars well
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  in your hands and cleave the sea's narrow strait; for the light of safety will
  be not so much in prayer as in strength of hands。                 Wherefore let all else
  go and labour boldly with might and main; but ere then implore the gods
  as ye will; I forbid you not。        But if she flies onward and perishes midway;
  then   do   ye   turn   back;   for   it   is   better   to   yield   to   the   immortals。 For   ye
  could not escape an evil doom from the rocks; not even if Argo were of
  iron。
  (ll。  341…359)      〃O    hapless    ones;   dare   not   to  transgress    my    divine
  warning; even though ye think that I am thrice as much hated by the sons
  of heaven as I am; and even more than thrice; dare not to sail further with
  your ship in despite of the omen。             And as these things will fall; so shall
  they fall。     But if ye shun the clashing rocks and come scatheless   inside
  Pontus; straightway keep the land of the Bithynians on your right and sail
  on; and beware of the breakers; until ye round the swift river Rhebas and
  the black beach; and reach the harbour of the Isle of Thynias。 Thence ye
  must turn back a little space through the sea and beach your ship on the
  land of the Mariandyni lying opposite。               Here is a downward path to the
  abode     of   Hades;    and    the  headland     of   Acherusia     stretches    aloft;  and
  eddying Acheron cleaves its way at the bottom; even through the headland;
  and sends its waters forth from a huge ravine。                 And near it ye will sail
  past   many   hills   of   the   Paphlagonians;   over   whom   at   the   first   Eneteian
  Pelops reigned; and of his blood they boast themselves to be。
  (ll。   360…406)    〃Now   there   is   a   headland   opposite   Helice   the   Bear;
  steep on all sides; and they call it Carambis; about whose crests the blasts
  of   the   north   wind   are   sundered。    So   high   in   the   air   does   it   rise   turned
  towards the sea。        And when ye have rounded it broad Aegialus stretches
  before you; and at the end of broad Aegialus; at a jutting point of coast; the
  waters of the   river   Halys   pour   forth   with   a   terrible   roar;   and   after   it   his
  flowing near; but smaller in stream; rolls into the sea with white eddies。
  Onward   from   thence   the   bend   of   a   huge   and   towering   cape   reaches   out
  from the land; next Thermodon at its mouth flows into a quiet bay at the
  Themiscyreian         headland;     after  wandering      through     a  broad    continent。
  And     here   is  the  plain   of  Doeas;     and   near   are  the   three   cities  of  the
  Amazons; and after them the Chalybes; most wretched of men; possess a
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  soil    rugged    and   unyielding      sons   of  toil;  they   busy    themselves      with
  working iron。 And near them dwell the Tibareni; rich in sheep; beyond the
  Genetaean headland of Zeus; lord of hospitality。                And bordering on it the
  Mossynoeci next in order inhabit the well…wooded mainland and the parts
  beneath   the   mountains;   who   have   built   in   towers   made   from   trees   their
  wooden homes and well…fitted chambers; which they call Mossynes; and
  the people themselves take their name from them。                  After passing them ye
  must beach   your   ship   upon   a  smooth   island;  when   ye   have driven   away
  with   all   manner   of   skill   the   ravening   birds;   which   in   countless   numbers
  haunt   the   desert   island。    In   it   the   Queens   of   the   Amazons;   Otrere   and
  Antiope;   built   a   stone temple   of Ares   what time   they  went   forth   to   war。
  Now   here   an   unspeakable   help   will   come   to   you   from   the   bitter   sea;
  wherefore with kindly intent I bid you stay。              But what need is there that I
  should sin yet again declaring everything to the end by my prophetic art?