按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
from the mountain and with crags below blocked up the mouth of vast
Chytus towards the sea； like men lying in wait for a wild beast within。
But there Heracles had been left behind with the younger heroes and he
quickly bent his back…springing bow against the monsters and brought
them to earth one after another； and they in their turn raised huge ragged
rocks and hurled them。 For these dread monsters too； I ween； the
goddess Hera； bride of Zeus； had nurtured to be a trial for Heracles。 And
therewithal came the rest of the martial heroes returning to meet the foe
before they reached the height of outlook； and they fell to the slaughter of
the Earthborn； receiving them with arrows and spears until they slew them
all as they rushed fiercely to battle。 And as when woodcutters cast in
rows upon the beach long trees just hewn down by their axes； in order that；
once sodden with brine； they may receive the strong bolts； so these
monsters at the entrance of the foam…fringed harbour lay stretched one
after another； some in heaps bending their heads and breasts into the salt
waves with their limbs spread out above on the land； others again were
resting their heads on the sand of the shore and their feet in the deep water；
both alike a prey to birds and fishes at once。
（ll。 1012…1076） But the heroes； when the contest was ended without
fear； loosed the ship's hawsers to the breath of the wind and pressed on
through the sea…swell。 And the ship sped on under sail all day； but when
night came the rushing wind did not hold steadfast； but contrary blasts
31
… Page 32…
The Argonautica
caught them and held them back till they again approached the hospitable
Doliones。 And they stepped ashore that same night； and the rock is still
called the Sacred Rock round which they threw the ship's hawsers in their
haste。 Nor did anyone note with care that it was the same island； nor in
the night did the Doliones clearly perceive that the heroes were returning；
but they deemed that Pelasgian war…men of the Macrians had landed。
Therefore they donned their armour and raised their hands against them。
And with clashing of ashen spears and shields they fell on each other； like
the swift rush of fire which falls on dry brushwood and rears its crest； and
the din of battle； terrible and furious； fell upon the people of the Doliones。
Nor was the king to escape his fate and return home from battle to his
bridal chamber and bed。 But Aeson's son leapt upon him as he turned to
face him； and smote him in the middle of the breast； and the bone was
shattered round the spear； he rolled forward in the sand and filled up the
measure of his fate。 For that no mortal may escape； but on every side a
wide snare encompasses us。 And so； when he thought that he had
escaped bitter death from the chiefs； fate entangled him that very night in
her toils while battling with them； and many champions withal were slain；
Heracles killed Telecles and Megabrontes； and Acastus slew Sphodris； and
Peleus slew Zelus and Gephyrus swift in war。 Telamon of the strong spear
slew Basileus。 And Idas slew Promeus； and Clytius Hyacinthus； and the
two sons of Tyndareus slew Megalossaces and Phlogius。 And after them
the son of Oeneus slew bold Itomeneus； and Artaceus； leader of men； all
of whom the inhabitants still honour with the worship due to heroes。 And
the rest gave way and fled in terror just as doves fly in terror before swift…
winged hawks。 And with a din they rustled in a body to the gates； and
quickly the city was filled with loud cries at the turning of the dolorous
fight。 But at dawn both sides perceived the fatal and cureless error； and
bitter grief seized the Minyan heroes when they saw before them Cyzicus
son of Aeneus fallen in the midst of dust and blood。 And for three whole
days they lamented and rent their hair； they and the Dollones。 Then three
times round his tomb they paced in armour of bronze and performed
funeral rites and celebrated games； as was meet； upon the meadow…plain；
where even now rises the mound of his grave to be seen by men of a later
32
… Page 33…
The Argonautica
day。 No； nor was his bride Cleite left behind her dead husband； but to
crown the ill she wrought an ill yet more awful； when she clasped a noose
round her neck。 Her death even the nymphs of the grove bewailed； and
of all the tears for her that they shed to earth from their eyes the goddesses
made a fountain； which they call Cleite； （7） the illustrious name of the
hapless maid。 Most terrible came that day from Zeus upon the Doliones；
women and men； for no one of them dared even to taste food； nor for a
long time by reason of grief did they take thought for the toil of the
cornmill； but they dragged on their lives eating their food as it was；
untouched by fire。 Here even now； when the Ionians that dwell in
Cyzicus pour their yearly libations for the dead； they ever grind the meal
for the sacrificial cakes at the common mill。 （8）
（ll。 1079…1091） After this； fierce tempests arose for twelve days and
nights together and kept them there from sailing。 But in the next night
the rest of the chieftains； overcome by sleep； were resting during the latest
period of the night； while Acastus and Mopsus the son of Ampyeus kept
guard over their deep slumbers。 And above the golden head of Aeson's
son there hovered a halcyon prophesying with shrill voice the ceasing of
the stormy winds； and Mopsus heard and understood the cry of the bird of
the shore； fraught with good omen。 And some god made it turn aside；
and flying aloft it settled upon the stern…ornament of the ship。 And the seer
touched Jason as he lay wrapped in soft sheepskins and woke him at once；
and thus spake：
（ll。 1092…1102） 〃Son of Aeson； thou must climb to this temple on
rugged Dindymum and propitiate the mother （9） of all the blessed gods on
her fair throne； and the stormy blasts shall cease。 For such was the voice
I heard but now from the halcyon； bird of the sea； which； as it flew above
thee in thy slumber； told me all。 For by her power the winds and the sea
and all the earth below and the snowy seat of Olympus are complete； and
to her； when from the mountains she ascends the mighty heaven； Zeus
himself； the son of Cronos； gives place。 In like manner the rest of the
immortal blessed ones reverence the dread goddess。〃
（ll。 1103…1152） Thus he spake； and his words were welcome to
Jason's ear。 And he arose from his bed with joy and woke all his
33
… Page 34…
The Argonautica
comrades hurriedly and told them the prophecy of Mopsus the son of
Ampycus。 And quickly the younger men drove oxen from their stalls and
began to lead them to the mountain's lofty summit。 And they loosed the
hawsers from the sacred rock and rowed to the Thracian harbour； and the
heroes climbed the mountain； leaving a few of their comrades in the ship。
And to them the Macrian heights and all the coast of Thrace opposite
appeared to view close at hand。 And there appeared the misty mouth of
Bosporus and the Mysian hills； and on the other side the stream of the
river Aesepus and the city and Nepeian plain of Adrasteia。 Now there
was a sturdy stump of vine that grew in the forest； a tree exceeding old；
this they cut down； to be the sacred image of the mountain goddess； and
Argus smoothed it skilfully； and they set it upon that rugged hill beneath a
canopy of lofty oaks； which of all trees have their roots deepest。 And
near it they heaped an altar of small stones； and wreathed their brows with
oak leaves and paid heed to sacrifice； invoking the mother of Dindymum；
most venerable； dweller in Ph