第 18 节
作者:
指点迷津 更新:2021-02-19 00:27 字数:9321
with his ram he was flying from the city of Orchomenus; and Dipsacus
was the son of a meadow… nymph; nor was insolence his delight; but
contented by his father's stream he dwelt with his mother; pasturing his
flocks by the shore。 And quickly they sighted and sailed past his shrine
and the broad banks of the river and the plain; and deep…flowing Calpe;
and all the windless night and the day they bent to their tireless oars。
And even as ploughing oxen toil as they cleave the moist earth; and sweat
streams in abundance from flank and neck; and from beneath the yoke
their eyes roll askance; while the breath ever rushes from their mouths in
hot gasps; and all day long they toil; planting their hoofs deep in the
ground; like them the heroes kept dragging their oars through the sea。
(ll。 669…685) Now when divine light has not yet come nor is it utter
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darkness; but a faint glimmer has spread over the night; the time when
men wake and call it twilight; at that hour they ran into the harbour of the
desert island Thynias and; spent by weary toil; mounted the shore。 And
to them the son of Leto; as he passed from Lycia far away to the countless
folk of the Hyperboreans; appeared; and about his cheeks on both sides his
golden locks flowed in clusters as he moved; in his left hand he held a
silver bow; and on his back was slung a quiver hanging from his shoulders;
and beneath his feet all the island quaked; and the waves surged high on
the beach。 Helpless amazement seized them as they looked; and no one
dared to gaze face to face into the fair eyes of the god。 And they stood
with heads bowed to the ground; but he; far off; passed on to the sea
through the air; and at length Orpheus spake as follows; addressing the
chiefs:
(ll。 686…693) 〃Come; let us call this island the sacred isle of Apollo
of the Dawn since he has appeared to all; passing by at dawn; and we will
offer such sacrifices as we can; building an altar on the shore; and if
hereafter he shall grant us a safe return to the Haemonian land; then will
we lay on his altar the thighs of horned goats。 And now I bid you
propitiate him with the steam of sacrifice and libations。 Be gracious; O
king; be gracious in thy appearing。〃
(ll。 694…713) Thus he spake; and they straightway built up an altar
with shingle; and over the island they wandered; seeking if haply they
could get a glimpse of a fawn or a wild goat; that often seek their pasture
in the deep wood。 And for them Leto's son provided a quarry; and with
pious rites they wrapped in fat the thigh bones of them all and burnt them
on the sacred altar; celebrating Apollo; Lord of Dawn。 And round the
burning sacrifice they set up a broad dancing…ring; singing; 〃All hail fair
god of healing; Phoebus; all hail;〃 and with them Oeagrus' goodly son
began a clear lay on his Bistonian lyre; how once beneath the rocky ridge
of Parnassus he slew with his bow the monster Delphyne; he; still young
and beardless; still rejoicing in his long tresses。 Mayst thou be gracious!
Ever; O king; be thy locks unshorn; ever unravaged; for so is it right。
And none but Leto; daughter of Coeus; strokes them with her dear hands。
And often the Corycian nymphs; daughters of Pleistus; took up the
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cheering strain crying 〃Healer〃; hence arose this lovely refrain of the
hymn to Phoebus。
(ll。 714…719) Now when they had celebrated him with dance and
song they took an oath with holy libations; that they would ever help each
other with concord of heart; touching the sacrifice as they swore; and even
now there stands there a temple to gracious Concord; which the heroes
themselves reared; paying honour at that time to the glorious goddess。
(ll。 720…751) Now when the third morning came; with a fresh west
wind they left the lofty island。 Next; on the opposite side they saw and
passed the mouth of the river Sangarius and the fertile land of the
Mariandyni; and the stream of Lycus and the Anthemoeisian lake; and
beneath the breeze the ropes and all the tackling quivered as they sped
onward。 During the night the wind ceased and at dawn they gladly
reached the haven of the Acherusian headland。 It rises aloft with steep
cliffs; looking towards the Bithynian sea; and beneath it smooth rocks;
ever washed by the sea; stand rooted firm; and round them the wave rolls
and thunders loud; but above; wide…spreading plane trees grow on the
topmost point。 And from it towards the land a hollow glen slopes
gradually away; where there is a cave of Hades overarched by wood and
rocks。 From here an icy breath; unceasingly issuing from the chill recess;
ever forms a glistening rime which melts again beneath the midday sun。
And never does silence hold that grim headland; but there is a continual
murmur from the sounding sea and the leaves that quiver in the winds
from the cave。 And here is the outfall of the river Acheron which bursts
its way through the headland and falls into the Eastern sea; and a hollow
ravine brings it down from above。 In after times the Nisaean Megarians
named it Soonautes (2) when they were about to settle in the land of the
Mariandyni。 For indeed the river saved them with their ships when they
were caught in a violent tempest。 By this way the heroes took the ship
through (3) the Acherusian headland and came to land over against it as
the wind had just ceased。
(ll。 752…773) Not long had they come unmarked by Lycus; the lord of
that land; and the Mariandynithey; the slayers of Amycus; according to
the report which the people heard before; but for that very deed they even
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made a league with the heroes。 And Polydeuces himself they welcomed
as a god; flocking from every side; since for a long time had they been
warring against the arrogant Bebrycians。 And so they went up all
together into the city; and all that day with friendly feelings made ready a
feast within the palace of Lycus and gladdened their souls with converse。
Aeson's son told him the lineage and name of each of his comrades and
the behests of Pelias; and how they were welcomed by the Lemnian
women; and all that they did at Dolionian Cyzieus; and how they reached
the Mysian land and Cius; where; sore against their will; they left behind
the hero Heracles; and he told the saying of Glaucus; and how they slew
the Bebrycians and Amycus; and he told of the prophecies and affliction of
Phineus; and how they escaped the Cyanean rocks; and how they met with
Leto's son at the island。 And as he told all; Lycus was charmed in soul
with listening; and he grieved for Heracles left behind; and spake as
follows among them all:
(ll。 774…810) 〃O friends; what a man he was from whose help ye
have fallen away; as ye cleave your long path to Aeetes; for well do I
know that I saw him here in the halls of Dascylus my father; when he
came hither on foot through the land of Asia bringing the girdle of warlike
Hippolyte; and me he found with the down just growing on my cheeks。
And here; when my brother Priolas was slain by the Mysiansmy brother;
whom ever since the people lament with most piteous dirgeshe entered
the lists with Titias in boxing and slew him; mighty Titias; who surpassed
all the youths in beauty and strength; and he dashed his teeth to the ground。
Together with the Mysians he subdued beneath my father's sway the
Phrygians also; who inhabit the lands next to us; and he made his