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The Argonautica
before their return。 Yet none of the chieftains knew this； but far onward
they sped starting from the Hyllean land； and they left behind all the
islands that were beforetime thronged by the Colchiansthe Liburnian
isles； isle after isle； Issa； Dysceladus； and lovely Pityeia。 Next after them
they came to Corcyra； where Poseidon settled the daughter of Asopus； fair…
haired Corcyra； far from the land of Phlius； whence he had carried her off
through love； and sailors beholding it from the sea； all black with its
sombre woods； call it Corcyra the Black。 And next they passed Melite；
rejoicing in the soft…blowing breeze； and steep Cerossus； and Nymphaea at
a distance； where lady Calypso； daughter of Atlas； dwelt； and they deemed
they saw the misty mountains of Thunder。 And then Hera bethought her
of the counsels and wrath of Zeus concerning them。 And she devised an
ending of their voyage and stirred up storm…winds before them； by which
they were caught and borne back to the rocky isle of Electra。 And
straightway on a sudden there called to them in the midst of their course；
speaking with a human voice； the beam of the hollow ship； which Athena
had set in the centre of the stem； made of Dodonian oak。 And deadly fear
seized them as they heard the voice that told of the grievous wrath of Zeus。
For it proclaimed that they should not escape the paths of an endless sea
nor grievous tempests； unless Circe should purge away the guilt of the
ruthless murder of Apsyrtus； and it bade Polydeuces and Castor pray to the
immortal gods first to grant a path through the Ausonian sea where they
should find Circe； daughter of Perse and Helios。
（ll。 592…626） Thus Argo cried through the darkness； and the sons of
Tyndareus uprose； and lifted their hands to the immortals praying for each
boon： but dejection held the rest of the Minyan heroes。 And far on sped
Argo under sail； and entered deep into the stream of Eridanus； where once；
smitten on the breast by the blazing bolt； Phaethon half…consumed fell
from the chariot of Helios into the opening of that deep lake； and even
now it belcheth up heavy steam clouds from the smouldering wound。
And no bird spreading its light wings can cross that water； but in mid…
course it plunges into the flame； fluttering。 And all around the maidens；
the daughters of Helios； enclosed in tall poplars； wretchedly wail a piteous
plaint； and from their eyes they shed on the ground bright drops of amber。
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These are dried by the sun upon the sand； but whenever the waters of the
dark lake flow over the strand before the blast of the wailing wind； then
they roll on in a mass into Eridanus with swelling tide。 But the Celts
have attached this story to them； that these are the tears of Leto's son；
Apollo； that are borne along by the eddies； the countless tears that he shed
aforetime when he came to the sacred race of the Hyperboreans and left
shining heaven at the chiding of his father； being in wrath concerning his
son whom divine Coronis bare in bright Lacereia at the mouth of Amyrus。
And such is the story told among these men。 But no desire for food or
drink seized the heroes nor were their thoughts turned to joy。 But they
were sorely afflicted all day； heavy and faint at heart； with the noisome
stench； hard to endure； which the streams of Eridanus sent forth from
Phaethon still burning； and at night they heard the piercing lament of the
daughters of Helios； wailing with shrill voice； and； as they lamented； their
tears were borne on the water like drops of oil。
（ll。 627…658） Thence they entered the deep stream of Rhodanus
which flows into Eridanus； and where they meet there is a roar of
mingling waters。 Now that river； rising from the ends of the earth； where
are the portals and mansions of Night； on one side bursts forth upon the
beach of Ocean； at another pours into the Ionian sea； and on the third
through seven mouths sends its stream to the Sardinian sea and its
limitless bay。 （3） And from Rhodanus they entered stormy lakes； which
spread throughout the Celtic mainland of wondrous size； and there they
would have met with an inglorious calamity； for a certain branch of the
river was bearing them towards a gulf of Ocean which in ignorance they
were about to enter； and never would they have returned from there in
safety。 But Hera leaping forth from heaven pealed her cry from the
Hercynian rock； and all together were shaken with fear of her cry； for
terribly crashed the mighty firmament。 And backward they turned by
reason of the goddess； and noted the path by which their return was
ordained。 And after a long while they came to the beach of the surging
sea by the devising of Hera； passing unharmed through countless tribes of
the Celts and Ligyans。 For round them the goddess poured a dread mist
day by day as they fared on。 And so； sailing through the midmost mouth；
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they reached the Stoechades islands in safety by the aid of the sons of
Zeus； wherefore altars and sacred rites are established in their honour for
ever； and not that sea…faring alone did they attend to succour； but Zeus
granted to them the ships of future sailors too。 Then leaving the
Stoechades they passed on to the island Aethalia； where after their toil
they wiped away with pebbles sweat in abundance； and pebbles like skin
in colour are strewn on the beach； （4） and there are their quoits and their
wondrous armour； and there is the Argoan harbour called after them。
（ll。 659…684） And quickly from there they passed through the sea；
beholding the Tyrrhenian shores of Ausonia； and they came to the famous
harbour of Aeaea； and from the ship they cast hawsers to the shore near at
hand。 And here they found Circe bathing her head in the salt sea…spray；
for sorely had she been scared by visions of the night。 With blood her
chambers and all the walls of her palace seemed to be running； and flame
was devouring all the magic herbs with which she used to bewitch
strangers whoever came； and she herself with murderous blood quenched
the glowing flame； drawing it up in her hands； and she ceased from deadly
fear。 Wherefore when morning came she rose； and with sea…spray was
bathing her hair and her garments。 And beasts； not resembling the beasts
of the wild； nor yet like men in body； but with a medley of limbs； went in a
throng； as sheep from the fold in multitudes follow the shepherd。 Such
creatures； compacted of various limbs； did each herself produce from the
primeval slime when she had not yet grown solid beneath a rainless sky
nor yet had received a drop of moisture from the rays of the scorching sun；
but time combined these forms and marshalled them in their ranks； in such
wise these monsters shapeless of form followed her。 And exceeding
wonder seized the heroes； and at once； as each gazed on the form and face
of Circe； they readily guessed that she was the sister of Aeetes。
（ll。 685…717） Now when she had dismissed the fears of her nightly
visions； straightway she fared backwards； and in her subtlety she bade the
heroes follow； charming them on with her hand。 Thereupon the host
remained stedfast at the bidding of Aeson's son； but Jason drew with him
the Colchian maid。 And both followed the selfsame path till they reached
the hall of Circe； and she in amaze at their coming bade them sit on
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brightly burnished seats。 And they； q