第 21 节
作者:指点迷津      更新:2021-02-19 00:27      字数:9322
  (ll。  1047…1067)        〃The     island   of   Ares    is  near   us;   you   know     it
  yourselves now that ye have seen these birds。               But little will arrows avail
  us; I trow; for landing。       But let us contrive some other device to help us;
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  if ye intend to land; bearing in mind the injunction of Phineus。                    For not
  even could Heracles; when he came to Arcadia; drive away with bow and
  arrow   the   birds   that   swam   on   the   Stymphalian   lake。      I   saw   it   myself。
  But he shook in his hand a rattle of bronze and made a loud clatter as he
  stood     upon    a  lofty   peak;    and   the   birds   fled   far  off;  screeching      in
  bewildered   fear。      Wherefore now  too   let   us   contrive   some   such   device;
  and I myself will speak; having pondered the matter beforehand。                      Set on
  your   heads   your   helmets   of   lofty  crest;  then   half   row  by  turns;   and   half
  fence the ship about with polished spears and shields。                 Then all together
  raise a mighty shout so that the birds may be scared by the unwonted din;
  the nodding crests; and the uplifted spears on high。                And if we reach the
  island itself; then make mighty noise with the clashing of shields。〃
  (ll。   1068…1089)      Thus   he   spake;   and   the   helpful   device   pleased   all。
  And on their heads they placed helmets of bronze; gleaming terribly; and
  the blood…red crests were tossing。            And half of them rowed in turn; and
  the   rest   covered the   ship   with spears   and shields。       And as   when   a   man
  roofs over a house with tiles; to be an ornament of his home and a defence
  against rain; and one the fits firmly into another; each after each; so they
  roofed over the ship with their shields; locking them together。                   And as a
  din arises from a warrior…host of men sweeping on; when lines of battle
  meet; such a shout rose upward from the ship into the air。 Now they saw
  none of the birds yet; but when they touched the island and clashed upon
  their shields; then the birds in countless numbers rose in flight hither and
  thither。    And as when the son of Cronos sends from the clouds a dense
  hailstorm on city and houses; and the people who dwell beneath hear the
  din above the roof and sit quietly; since the stormy season has not come
  upon them  unawares;  but   they  have  first made   strong   their  roofs;   so the
  birds   sent   against   the   heroes   a   thick   shower   of   feather…   shafts   as   they
  darted over the sea to the mountains of the land opposite。
  (ll。 1090…1092)       What then was the purpose of Phineus in bidding the
  divine   band   of   heroes   land   there?    Or   what   kind   of   help   was   about   to
  meet their desire?
  (ll。 1093…1122)       The sons of Phrixus were faring towards the city of
  Orchomenus from Aea; coming from Cytaean Aeetes; on board a Colchian
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  ship; to win the boundless wealth of their father; for he; when dying; had
  enjoined this journey upon them。             And lo; on that day they were very near
  that   island。    But    Zeus    had   impelled     the  north    wind's   might    to   blow;
  marking   by   rain   the   moist   path   of   Arcturus;   and   all   day   long   he   was
  stirring the leaves upon the mountains; breathing gently upon the topmost
  sprays; but at night he rushed upon the sea with monstrous force; and with
  his shrieking blasts uplifted the surge; and a dark mist covered the heavens;
  nor   did   the   bright   stars   anywhere   appear   from   among   the   clouds;   but   a
  murky gloom brooded all around。               And so the sons of Phrixus; drenched
  and trembling in fear of a horrible doom; were borne along by the waves
  helplessly。     And the force of the wind had snatched away their sails and
  shattered     in   twain   the   hull;  tossed    as  it  was    by   the  breakers。     And
  hereupon by heaven's prompting those four clutched a huge beam; one of
  many   that   were   scattered   about;   held   together   by   sharp   bolts;   when   the
  ship broke to pieces。          And on to   the island the waves   and the blasts   of
  wind     bore    the   men    in   their  distress;    within    a  little  of  death。    And
  straightway   a   mighty   rain   burst   forth;   and   rained   upon   the   sea   and   the
  island;    and    all  the   country     opposite    the   island;   where     the   arrogant
  Mossynoeci        dwelt。    And     the   sweep    of  the   waves    hurled    the   sons   of
  Phrixus; together with their massy beam; upon the beach of the island; in
  the murky night; and the floods of rain from Zeus ceased at sunrise; and
  soon the two bands drew near and met each other; and Argus spoke first:
  (ll。 1123…1133)       〃We beseech you; by Zeus the Beholder; whoever ye
  are; to be kindly and to help us in our need。               For fierce tempests; falling
  on the   sea; have   shattered all   the timbers of   the crazy  ship in   which   we
  were cleaving our path on business bent。                 Wherefore we entreat you; if
  haply ye will listen; to grant us just a covering for our bodies; and to pity
  and    succour     men    in  misfortune;      your   equals    in  age。    Oh;    reverence
  suppliants and strangers for Zeus' sake; the god of strangers and suppliants。
  To   Zeus   belong   both   suppliants   and   strangers;   and   his   eye;       methinks;
  beholdeth even us。〃
  (ll。 1134…1139)       And in reply the son of Aeson prudently questioned
  him;   deeming   that   the   prophecies   of   Phineus   were   being   fulfilled:   〃All
  these   things   will   we   straightway   grant   you   with   right   good   will。      But
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  come tell me truly in what country ye dwell and what business bids you
  sail across the sea; and tell me your own glorious names and lineage。〃
  (ll。 1140…1156)      And him Argus; helpless in his evil plight; addressed:
  〃That one Phrixus an Aeolid reached Aea from Hellas you yourselves have
  clearly   heard   ere   this;   I   trow;   Phrixus;   who   came   to   the   city   of Aeetes;
  bestriding a ram; which Hermes had made all gold; and the fleece ye may
  see even now。        The ram; at its own prompting; he then sacrificed to Zeus;
  son   of   Cronos;   above   all;   the   god   of   fugitives。   And   him   did   Aeetes
  receive   in   his   palace;   and   with   gladness   of   heart   gave   him   his   daughter
  Chalciope in marriage without gifts of wooing。 (8)                  From those two are
  we sprung。 But Phrixus died at last; an aged man; in the home of Aeetes;
  and we; giving heed to our father's behests; are journeying to Orehomenus
  to take the possessions of Athamas。 And if thou dost desire to learn  our
  names; this   is Cytissorus;  this Phrontis;  and this Melas; and   me   ye   may。
  call Argus。〃
  (ll。   1157…1159)     Thus   he    spake;   and    the   chieftains   rejoiced   at  the
  meeting;   and   tended   them;   much   marvelling。         And   Jason   again   in   turn
  replied; as was fitting; with these words:
  (ll。 1160…1178)       〃Surely ye are our kinsmen on my father's side; and
  ye pray that with kindly hearts we succour your evil plight。 For Cretheus
  and Athamas   were   brothers。         I   am   the   grandson   of   Cretheus;   and   with
  these comrades here I am journeying from that same Hellas to the city of
  Aeetes。     But of these things we will converse hereafter。               And do ye first
  put clothing upon you。          By heaven's devising; I ween; have ye come to
  my hands in your sore need。〃
  (ll。 1168…1178)       He spake; and out of the ship gave them raiment to
  put    on。   Then     all  together   they   went    to  the  temple    of  Ares    to  offer
  sacrifice   of   sheep;   and   in   haste   they   stood   round   the   altar;   which   was
  outside the roofless temple; an altar built of pebbles; within a black stone
  stood fixed; a sacred thing; to which of yore the Amazons all used to pray。
  Nor was it lawful for them; when they came from the opposite coast; to
  burn on this altar offerings of sheep and oxen; but they used to slay horses
  which they kept in great herds。           Now when they had sacrificed and eaten
  the feast prepared; then Aeson's son spake among them and thus began:
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