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should sin yet again declaring everything to the end by my prophetic art？
And beyond the island and opposite mainland dwell the Philyres： and
above the Philyres are the Macrones； and after them the vast tribes of the
Becheiri。 And next in order to them dwell the Sapeires； and the Byzeres
have the lands adjoining to them； and beyond them at last live the warlike
Colchians themselves。 But speed on in your ship； till ye touch the inmost
bourne of the sea。 And here at the Cytaean mainland and from the
Amarantine mountains far away and the Circaean plain； eddying Phasis
rolls his broad stream to the sea。 Guide your ship to the mouth of that
river and ye shall behold the towers of Cytaean Aeetes and the shady
grove of Ares； where a dragon； a monster terrible to behold； ever glares
around； keeping watch over the fleece that is spread upon the top of an oak；
neither by day nor by night does sweet sleep subdue his restless eyes。〃
（ll。 408…410） Thus he spake； and straightway fear seized them as they
heard。 And for a long while they were struck with silence； till at last the
hero； son of Aeson； spake； sore dismayed at their evil plight：
（ll。 411…418） 〃O aged sire； now hast thou come to the end of the toils
of our sea…journeying and hast told us the token； trusting to which we shall
make our way to Pontus through the hateful rocks； but whether； when we
have escaped them； we shall have a return back again to Hellas； this too
would we gladly learn from thee。 What shall I do； how shall I go over
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again such a long path through the sea； unskilled as I am； with unskilled
comrades？ And Colchian Aea lies at the edge of Pontus and of the world。〃
（ll。 419…425） Thus he spake； and him the aged sire addressed in reply：
〃O son； when once thou hast escaped through the deadly rocks； fear not；
for a deity will be the guide from Aea by another track； and to Aea there
will be guides enough。 But； my friends； take thought of the artful aid of
the Cyprian goddess。 For on her depends the glorious issue of your
venture。 And further than this ask me not。〃
（ll。 426…437） Thus spake Agenor's son； and close at hand the twin
sons of Thracian Boreas came darting from the sky and set their swift feet
upon the threshold； and the heroes rose up from their seats when they saw
them present。 And Zetes； still drawing hard breath after his toil； spake
among the eager listeners； telling them how far they had driven the
Harpies and how his prevented their slaying them； and how the goddess of
her grace gave them pledges； and how those others in fear plunged into the
vast cave of the Dictaean cliff。 Then in the mansion all their comrades
were joyful at the tidings and so was Phineus himself。 And quickly
Aeson's son； with good will exceeding； addressed him：
（ll。 438…442） Assuredly there was then； Phineus； some god who
cared for thy bitter woe； and brought us hither from afar； that the sons of
Boreas might aid thee； and if too he should bring sight to thine eyes； verily
I should rejoice； methinks； as much as if I were on my homeward way。〃
（ll。 443…447） Thus he spake； but Phineus replied to him with
downcast look： 〃Son of Aeson； that is past recall； nor is there any remedy
hereafter； for blasted are my sightless eyes。 But instead of that； may the
god grant me death at once； and after death I shall take my share in perfect
bliss。〃
（ll。 448…467） Then they two returned answering speech； each to other；
and soon in the midst of their converse early dawn appeared； and round
Phineus were gathered the neighbours who used to come thither aforetime
day by day and constantly bring a portion of their food。 To all alike；
however poor he was that came； the aged man gave his oracles with good
will； and freed many from their woes by his prophetic art； wherefore they
visited and tended him。 And with them came Paraebius； who was dearest
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to him； and gladly did he perceive these strangers in the house。 For long
ere now the seer himself had said that a band of chieftains； faring from
Hellas to the city of Aceres； would make fast their hawsers to the Thynian
land； and by Zeus' will would check tho approach of the Harpies。 The
rest the old man pleased with words of wisdom and let them go； Paraebius
only he bade remain there with the chiefs； and straightway he sent him and
bade him bring back the choicest of his sheep。 And when he had left the
hall Phineus spake gently amid the throng of oarsmen：
（ll。 468…489） 〃O my friends； not all men are arrogant； it seems； nor
unmindful of benefits。 Even as this man； loyal as he is； came hither to
learn his fate。 For when he laboured the most and toiled the most； then
the needs of life； ever growing more and more； would waste him； and day
after day ever dawned more wretched； nor was there any respite to his toil。
But he was paying the sad penalty of his father's sin。 For he when alone
on the mountains； felling trees； once slighted the prayers of a Hamadryad；
who wept and sought to soften him with plaintive words； not to cut down
the stump of an oak tree coeval with herself； wherein for a long time she
had lived continually； but he in the arrogance of youth recklessly cut it
down。 So to him the nymph thereafter made her death a curse； to him
and to his children。 I indeed knew of the sin when he came； and I bid
him build an altar to the Thynian nymph； and offer on it an atoning
sacrifice； with prayer to escape his father's fate。 Here； ever since he
escaped the god…sent doom； never has he forgotten or neglected me； but
sorely and against his will do I send him from my doors； so eager is he to
remain with me in my affliction。〃
（ll。 490…499） Thus spake Agenor's son； and his friend straightway
came near leading two sheep from the flock。 And up rose Jason and up
rose the sons of Boreas at the bidding of the aged sire 。 And quickly they
called upon Apollo； lord of prophecy； and offered sacrifice upon the health
as the day was just sinking。 And the younger comrades made ready a
feast to their hearts' desire。 Thereupon having well feasted they turned
themselves to rest； some near the ship's hawsers； others in groups
throughout the mansion。 And at dawn the Etesian winds blew strongly；
which by the command of Zeus blow over every land equally。
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（ll。 500…527） Cyrene； the tale goes； once tended sheep along the
marsh…meadow of Peneus among men of old time； for dear to her were
maidenhood and a couch unstained。 But； as she guarded her flock by the
river； Apollo carried her off far from Haemonia and placed her among the
nymphs of the land； who dwelt in Libya near the Myrtosian height。 And
here to Phoebus she bore Aristaeus whom the Haemonians； rich in corn…
land； call 〃Hunter〃 and 〃Shepherd〃。 Her； of his love； the god made a
nymph there； of long life and a huntress； and his son he brought while still
an infant to be nurtured in the cave of Cheiron。 And to him when he
grew to manhood the Muses gave a bride； and taught him the arts of
healing and of prophecy； and they made him the keeper of their sheep； of
all that grazed on the Athamantian plain of Phthia and round steep Othrys
and the sacred stream of the river Apidanus。 But when from heaven Sirius
scorched the Minoan Isles； and for long there was no respite for the
inhabitants； then by the injunction of the Far…Darter they summoned
Aristaeus to ward off the pestilence。 And by his father's command he left
Phthia and made his home in Ceos； and gathered together the Parrhasian
people who are of the lineage of Lycaon； and he built a great altar to Zeus
Icmaeus； and duly offered sacrifices