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The learning of Apollonius is not deep but it is curious； his general
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sentiments are not according to the Alexandrian standard； for they are
simple and obvious。 In the mass of material from which he had to
choose the difficulty was to know what to omit； and much skill is shown
in fusing into a tolerably harmonious whole conflicting mythological and
historical details。 He interweaves with his narrative local legends and the
founding of cities； accounts of strange customs； descriptions of works of
art； such as that of Ganymede and Eros playing with knucklebones； （3） but
prosaically calls himself back to the point from these pleasing digressions
by such an expression as 〃but this would take me too far from my song。〃
His business is the straightforward tale and nothing else。 The astonishing
geography of the fourth book reminds us of the interest of the age in that
subject； stimulated no doubt by the researches of Eratosthenes and others。
The language is that of the conventional epic。 Apollonius seems to
have carefully studied Homeric glosses； and gives many examples of
isolated uses； but his choice of words is by no means limited to Homer。
He freely avails himself of Alexandrian words and late uses of Homeric
words。 Among his contemporaries Apollonius suffers from a comparison
with Theocritus； who was a little his senior； but he was much admired by
Roman writers who derived inspiration from the great classical writers of
Greece by way of Alexandria。 In fact Alexandria was a useful bridge
between Athens and Rome。 The 〃Argonautica〃 was translated by Varro
Atacinus； copied by Ovid and Virgil； and minutely studied by Valerius
Flaccus in his poem of the same name。 Some of his finest passages have
been appropriated and improved upon by Virgil by the divine right of
superior genius。 （4） The subject of love had been treated in the romantic
spirit before the time of Apollonius in writings that have perished； for
instance； in those of Antimachus of Colophon； but the 〃Argonautica〃 is
perhaps the first poem still extant in which the expression of this spirit is
developed with elaboration。 The Medea of Apollonius is the direct
precursor of the Dido of Virgil； and it is the pathos and passion of the
fourth book of the 〃Aeneid〃 that keep alive many a passage of Apollonius。
ENDNOTES： （1） 〃Or of Naucratis〃； according to Aelian and
Athenaeus。 （2） Anth。 Pal。 xl。 275。 （3） iii。 117…124。 （4） e。g。 compare
〃Aen。〃 iv。 305 foll。 with Ap。 Rh。 iv。 355 foll。； 〃Aen。〃 iv。 327…330
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with Ap。 Rh。 I。 897； 898； 〃Aen。〃 iv。 522 foll。； with Ap。 Rh。 iii。 744
foll。
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BOOK I
（ll。 1…4） Beginning with thee； O Phoebus； I will recount the famous
deeds of men of old； who； at the behest of King Pelias； down through the
mouth of Pontus and between the Cyanean rocks； sped well…benched Argo
in quest of the golden fleece。
（ll。 5…17） Such was the oracle that Pelias heard； that a hateful doom
awaited him to be slain at the prompting of the man whom he should see
coming forth from the people with but one sandal。 And no long time
after； in accordance with that true report； Jason crossed the stream of
wintry Anaurus on foot； and saved one sandal from the mire； but the other
he left in the depths held back by the flood。 And straightway he came to
Pelias to share the banquet which the king was offering to his father
Poseidon and the rest of the gods； though he paid no honour to Pelasgian
Hera。 Quickly the king saw him and pondered； and devised for him the
toil of a troublous voyage； in order that on the sea or among strangers he
might lose his home…return。
（ll。 18…22） The ship； as former bards relate； Argus wrought by the
guidance of Athena。 But now I will tell the lineage and the names of the
heroes； and of the long sea…paths and the deeds they wrought in their
wanderings； may the Muses be the inspirers of my song！
（ll。 23…34） First then let us name Orpheus whom once Calliope bare；
it is said； wedded to Thracian Oeagrus； near the Pimpleian height。 Men
say that he by the music of his songs charmed the stubborn rocks upon the
mountains and the course of rivers。 And the wild oak…trees to this day；
tokens of that magic strain； that grow at Zone on the Thracian shore； stand
in ordered ranks close together； the same which under the charm of his
lyre he led down from Pieria。 Such then was Orpheus whom Aeson's son
welcomed to share his toils； in obedience to the behest of Cheiron；
Orpheus ruler of Bistonian Pieria。
（ll。 35…39） Straightway came Asterion； whom Cometes begat by the
waters of eddying Apidanus； he dwelt at Peiresiae near the Phylleian
mount； where mighty Apidanus and bright Enipeus join their streams；
coming together from afar。
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（ll。 40…44） Next to them from Larisa came Polyphemus； son of
Eilatus； who aforetime among the mighty Lapithae； when they were
arming themselves against the Centaurs； fought in his younger days； now
his limbs were grown heavy with age； but his martial spirit still remained；
even as of old。
（ll。 45…48） Nor was Iphiclus long left behind in Phylace； the uncle of
Aeson's son； for Aeson had wedded his sister Alcimede； daughter of
Phylacus： his kinship with her bade him be numbered in the host。
（ll。 49…50） Nor did Admetus； the lord of Pherae rich in sheep； stay
behind beneath the peak of the Chalcodonian mount。
（ll。 51…56） Nor at Alope stayed the sons of Hermes； rich in corn…land；
well skilled in craftiness； Erytus and Echion； and with them on their
departure their kinsman Aethalides went as the third； him near the streams
of Amphrysus Eupolemeia bare； the daughter of Myrmidon； from Phthia；
the two others were sprung from Antianeira； daughter of Menetes。
（ll。 57…64） From rich Gyrton came Coronus； son of Caeneus； brave；
but not braver than his father。 For bards relate that Caeneus though still
living perished at the hands of the Centaurs； when apart from other chiefs
he routed them； and they； rallying against him； could neither bend nor slay
him； but unconquered and unflinching he passed beneath the earth；
overwhelmed by the downrush of massy pines。
（ll。 65…68） There came too Titaresian Mopsus； whom above all men
the son of Leto taught the augury of birds； and Eurydamas the son of
Ctimenus； he dwelt at Dolopian Ctimene near the Xynian lake。
（ll。 69…70） Moreover Actor sent his son Menoetius from Opus that he
might accompany the chiefs。
（ll。 71…76） Eurytion followed and strong Eribotes； one the son of
Teleon； the other of Irus； Actor's son； the son of Teleon renowned Eribotes；
and of Irus Eurytion。 A third with them was Oileus； peerless in courage
and well skilled to attack the flying foe； when they break their ranks。
（ll。 77…85） Now from Euboea came Canthus eager for the quest；
whom Canethus son of Abas sent； but he was not destined to return to
Cerinthus。 For fate had ordained that he and Mopsus； skilled in the seer's
art； should wander and perish in the furthest ends of Libya。 For no ill is
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too remote for mortals to incur； seeing that they buried them in Libya； as
far from the Colchians as is the space that is seen between the setting and
the rising of the sun。
（ll。 86…89） To him Clytius and Iphitus joined themse