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！
carrying him off； an easy prey。 Hereupon as he brandished his bare
sword in his hand he met Heracles himself on the path； and well he knew
him as he hastened to the ship through the darkness。 And straightway he
told the wretched calamity while his heart laboured with his panting
breath。
（ll。 1257…1260） 〃My poor friend； I shall be the first to bring thee
tidings of bitter woe。 Hylas has gone to the well and has not returned
safe； but robbers have attacked and are carrying him off； or beasts are
tearing him to pieces； I heard his cry。〃
（ll。 1261…1272） Thus he spake； and when Heracles heard his words；
sweat in abundance poured down from his temples and the black blood
boiled beneath his heart。 And in wrath he hurled the pine to the ground
and hurried along the path whither his feet bore on his impetuous soul。
And as when a bull stung by a gadfly tears along； leaving the meadows
and the marsh land； and recks not of herdsmen or herd； but presses on；
now without cheek； now standing still； and raising his broad neck he
bellows loudly； stung by the maddening fly； so he in his frenzy now would
37
… Page 38…
The Argonautica
ply his swift knees unresting； now again would cease from toil and shout
afar with loud pealing cry。
（ll。 1273…1289） But straightway the morning star rose above the
topmost peaks and the breeze swept down； and quickly did Tiphys urge
them to go aboard and avail themselves of the wind。 And they embarked
eagerly forthwith； and they drew up the ship's anchors and hauled the
ropes astern。 And the sails were bellied out by the wind； and far from the
coast were they joyfully borne past the Posideian headland。 But at the
hour when gladsome dawn shines from heaven； rising from the east； and
the paths stand out clearly； and the dewy plains shine with a bright gleam；
then at length they were aware that unwittingly they had abandoned those
men。 And a fierce quarrel fell upon them； and violent tumult； for that
they had sailed and left behind the bravest of their comrades。 And
Aeson's son； bewildered by their hapless plight； said never a word； good or
bad； but sat with his heavy load of grief； eating out his heart。 And wrath
seized Telamon； and thus he spake：
（ll。 1290…1295） 〃Sit there at thy ease； for it was fitting for thee to
leave Heracles behind； from thee the project arose； so that his glory
throughout Hellas should not overshadow thee； if so be that heaven grants
us a return home。 But what pleasure is there in words？ For I will go； I
only； with none of thy comrades； who have helped thee to plan this
treachery。〃
（ll。 1296…1314） He spake； and rushed upon Tiphys son of Hagnias；
and his eyes sparkled like flashes of ravening flame。 And they would
quickly have turned back to the land of the Mysians； forcing their way
through the deep sea and the unceasing blasts of the wind； had not the two
sons of Thracian Boreas held back the son of Aeacus with harsh words。
Hapless ones； assuredly a bitter vengeance came upon them thereafter at
the hands of Heracles； because they stayed the search for him。 For when
they were returning from the games over Pelias dead he slew them in sea…
girt Tenos and heaped the earth round them； and placed two columns
above； one of which； a great marvel for men to see； moves at the breath of
the blustering north wind。 These things were thus to be accomplished in
after times。 But to them appeared Glaucus from the depths of the sea； the
38
… Page 39…
The Argonautica
wise interpreter of divine Nereus； and raising aloft his shaggy head and
chest from his waist below； with sturdy hand he seized the ship's keel； and
then cried to the eager crew：
（ll。 1315…1325） 〃Why against the counsel of mighty Zeus do ye
purpose to lead bold Heracles to the city of Aeetes？ At Argos it is his
fate to labour for insolent Eurystheus and to accomplish full twelve toils
and dwell with the immortals； if so be that he bring to fulfilment a few
more yet； wherefore let there be no vain regret for him。 Likewise it is
destined for Polyphemus to found a glorious city at the mouth of Cius
among the Mysians and to fill up the measure of his fate in the vast land of
the Chalybes。 But a goddess…nymph through love has made Hylas her
husband； on whose account those two wandered and were left behind。〃
（ll。 1326…1331） He spake； and with a plunge wrapped him about with
the restless wave； and round him the dark water foamed in seething eddies
and dashed against the hollow ship as it moved through the sea。 And the
heroes rejoiced； and Telamon son of Aeacus came in haste to Jason； and
grasping his hand in his own embraced him with these words：
（ll。 1332…1335） 〃Son of Aeson； be not wroth with me； if in my folly I
have erred； for grief wrought upon me to utter a word arrogant and
intolerable。 But let me give my fault to the winds and let our hearts be
joined as before。〃
（ll。 1336…1343） Him the son of Aeson with prudence addressed：
〃Good friend； assuredly with an evil word didst thou revile me； saying
before them all that I was the wronger of a kindly man。 But not for long
will I nurse bitter wrath； though indeed before I was grieved。 For it was
not for flocks of sheep； no； nor for possessions that thou wast angered to
fury； but for a man； thy comrade。 And I were fain thou wouldst even
champion me against another man if a like thing should ever befall me。〃
（ll。 1344…1357） He spake； and they sat down； united as of old。 But of
those two； by the counsel of Zeus； one； Polyphemus son of Eilatus； was
destined to found and build a city among the Mysians bearing the river's
name； and the other； Heracles； to return and toil at the labours of
Eurystheus。 And he threatened to lay waste the Mysian land at once；
should they not discover for him the doom of Hylas； whether living or
39
… Page 40…
The Argonautica
dead。 And for him they gave pledges choosing out the noblest sons of
the people and took an oath that they would never cease from their labour
of search。 Therefore to this day the people of Cius enquire for Hylas the
son of Theiodamas； and take thought for the well…built Trachis。 For there
did Heracles settle the youths whom they sent from Cius as pledges。
（ll。 1358…1362） And all day long and all night the wind bore the ship
on； blowing fresh and strong； but when dawn rose there was not even a
breath of air。 And they marked a beach jutting forth from a bend of the
coast； very broad to behold； and by dint of rowing came to land at sunrise。
ENDNOTES： （1） i。e。 God of embarcation。 （2） Or； reading
EKTOTHEN； 〃they strongly girded the ship outside with a well…
twisted rope。〃 In either case there is probably no allusion to
YPOZOMATA （ropes for undergirding） which were carried loose
and only used in stormy weather。 （3） i。e。 God of the shore。 （4） i。e。 The
Starting。 （5） Samothrace。 （6） i。e。 god of disembarcation。 （7） Cleite
means illustrious。 （8） i。e。 to avoid grinding it at home。 （9） Rhea。
40
… Page 41…
The Argonautica
BOOK II
（ll。 1…10） Here were the oxstalls and farm of Amycus； the haughty
king of the Bebrycians； whom once a nymph； Bithynian Melie； united to
Poseidon Genethlius； bare the most arrogant of men；