第 17 节
作者:指点迷津      更新:2021-02-19 00:27      字数:9322
  people who are of the lineage of Lycaon; and he built a great altar to Zeus
  Icmaeus; and duly offered sacrifices upon the mountains to that star Sirius;
  and to Zeus son of Cronos himself。 And on this account it is that Etesian
  winds from Zeus cool the land for forty days; and in Ceos even now the
  priests offer sacrifices before the rising of the Dog…star。
  (ll。   528…536)     So   the   tale   is   told;   but   the   chieftains   stayed   there   by
  constraint;   and   every   day   the   Thynians;   doing   pleasure   to   Phineus;   sent
  them  gifts   beyond   measure。         And   afterwards   they  raised   an   altar   to   the
  blessed   twelve   on   the   sea…beach   opposite   and   laid   offerings   thereon   and
  then entered their swift ship to row; nor did they forget to bear with them a
  trembling   dove;   but   Euphemus   seized   her   and   brought   her   all   quivering
  with fear; and they loosed the twin hawsers from the land。
  (ll。 537…548)      Nor did they start unmarked by Athena; but straightway
  swiftly she set her feel on a light cloud; which would waft her on; mighty
  though she was; and she swept on to the sea with friendly thoughts to the
  oarsmen。       And as when one roveth far from his native land; as we men
  often wander with enduring heart; nor is any land too distant but all ways
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  are clear to his view; and he sees in mind his own home; and at once the
  way   over   sea   and   land   seems   slain;   and   swiftly   thinking;  now   this   way;
  now that; he strains with eager eyes; so swiftly the daughter of Zeus darted
  down and set her foot on the cheerless shore of Thynia。
  (ll。  549…567)       Now      when     they   reached     the   narrow     strait  of  the
  winding   passage;   hemmed   in   on   both   sides   by   rugged   cliffs;   while   an
  eddying current from below was washing against the ship as she moved on;
  they went forward sorely in dread; and now the thud of the crashing rocks
  ceaselessly   struck   their   ears;   and   the   sea…washed   shores   resounded;   and
  then   Euphemus   grasped   the   dove   in   his   hand   and   started   to   mount   the
  prow; and they; at the bidding of Tiphys; son of Hagnias; rowed with good
  will to drive Argo between the rocks; trusting to their strength。                     And as
  they rounded a bend they saw the rocks opening for the last time of all。
  Their spirit melted within them; and Euphemus sent forth the dove to dart
  forward in flight; and they all together raised their heads to look; but she
  flew   between   them;   and   the   rocks   again   rushed   together   and   crashed   as
  they   met   face   to   face。   And   the   foam   leapt   up   in   a   mass   like   a   cloud;
  awful was the thunder of the sea; and all round them the mighty welkin
  roared。
  (ll。 568…592)      The hollow caves beneath the rugged cliffs rumbled as
  the sea came surging in; and the white foam of the dashing wave spurted
  high above the cliff。        Next the current whirled the ship round。                And the
  rocks shore away the end of the dove's tail… feathers; but away she flew
  unscathed。       And the rowers gave a loud cry; and Tiphys himself called to
  them   to   row   with   might   and   main。       For   the   rocks   were   again   parting
  asunder。      But as they rowed they trembled; until the tide returning drove
  them back within the rocks。             Then most awful fear seized upon all; for
  over   their   head   was   destruction   without   escape。       And   now   to   right   and
  left   broad   Pontus   was seen;  when   suddenly  a   huge   wave   rose up   before
  them; arched; like a steep rock; and at the sight they bowed with bended
  heads。     For it   seemed   about   to   leap   down   upon   the   ship's   whole   length
  and to   overwhelm  them。          But Tiphys was   quick   to   ease the   ship   as   she
  laboured with the oars; and in all its mass the wave rolled away beneath
  the keel; and at the stern it raised Argo herself and drew her far away from
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  the rocks; and high in air was she borne。             But Euphemus strode among all
  his comrades and cried to them to bend to their oars with all their might;
  and they with a shout smote the water。              And as far as the ship yielded to
  the   rowers;   twice   as   far   did   she   leap   back;   and   the   oar;   were   bent   like
  curved bows as the heroes used their strength。
  (ll。   593…610)   Then   a   vaulted   billow   rushed   upon   them;   and   the   ship
  like a cylinder ran on the furious wave plunging through the hollow sea。
  And the eddying current held her between the clashing rocks; and on each
  side   they   shook   and   thundered;   and   the   ship's   timbers   were   held   fast。
  Then Athena with her left hand thrust back one mighty rock and with her
  right pushed the ship through; and she; like a winged arrow; sped through
  the   air。  Nevertheless      the  rocks;   ceaselessly   clashing;      shore   off  as   she
  passed the extreme end of the stern…ornament。                 But Athena soared up to
  Olympus; when they had escaped unscathed。                    And the rocks in one spot
  at that moment were  rooted fast for  ever to each other; which thing  had
  been   destined   by  the  blessed   gods;   when   a   man   in   his   ship   should   have
  passed   between   them   alive。       And   the   heroes   breathed   again   after   their
  chilling fear; beholding at the same time the sky and the expanse of sea
  spreading   far   and   wide。      For   they   deemed   that   they   were   saved   from
  Hades; and Tiphys first of all began to speak:
  (ll。 611…618) 〃It is my hope that we have safely escaped this perilwe;
  and the ship; and none other is the cause so much as Athena; who breathed
  into Argo divine strength when Argus knitted her together with bolts; and
  she may not be caught。           Son of Aeson; no longer fear thou so much the
  hest of thy king; since a god hath granted us escape between the rocks; for
  Phineus;      Agenor's    son;   said   that   our  toils   hereafter   would     be   lightly
  accomplished。〃
  (ll。 619…637)      He spake; and at once he sped the ship onward through
  the   midst   of   the   sea   past   the   Bithynian   coast。   But   Jason   with   gentle
  words   addressed   him  in   reply:   〃Tiphys;   why   dost   thou   comfort   thus   my
  grieving heart?       I have erred and am distraught in wretched and helpless
  ruin。    For I ought; when Pelias gave the command; to have straightway
  refused this quest to his face; yea; though I were doomed to die pitilessly;
  torn limb from  limb; but now I   am wrapped   in excessive   fear and   cares
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  unbearable;   dreading   to   sail   through   the   chilling   paths   of   the   sea;   and
  dreading when we shall set foot on the mainland。                  For on every side are
  unkindly men。        And ever when day is done I pass a night of groans from
  the time when ye first gathered together for my sake; while I take thought
  for all things; but thou talkest at thine ease; eating only for thine own life;
  while for myself I am dismayed not a whit; but I fear for this man and for
  that equally; and for thee; and for my other comrades; if I shall not bring
  you back safe to the land of Hellas。〃
  (ll。   638…640)     Thus   he   spake;   making   trial   of   the   chiefs;   but   they
  shouted loud with cheerful words。             And his heart was warmed within him
  at their cry and again he spake outright among them:
  (ll。 641…647)      〃My friends; in your valour my courage is quickened。
  Wherefore now; even though I should take my  way through the gulfs of
  Hades; no more shall I let fear seize upon me; since ye are steadfast amid
  cruel terrors。     But now that we have sailed out from the striking rocks; I
  trow that never hereafter will there be another such fearful thing; if indeed
  we go on our way following the counsel of Phineus。〃
  (ll。 648…668)      Thus he spake; and straightway they ceased from such
  words and gave unwearying labour to the oar; and quickly they passed by
  the    swiftly   flowing     river  Rhebas     and   the   peak    of  Colone;     and   soon
  thereafter the black headland; and near it the mouth of the river   Phyllis;
  where aforetime Dipsaeus received in his home the son of Athamas; when
  with   his   ram  he   was   flying   from  the   city  of   Orchomenus;   and   Dipsacus
  was