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their grief and the women with them； and addressed them and told them
everything：
（ll。 1347…1362） 〃Listen； friends； as I lay in my grief； three goddesses
girded with goat…skins from the neck downwards round the back and waist；
like maidens； stood over my head nigh at hand； and they uncovered me；
drawing my cloak away with light hand； and they bade me rise up myself
and go and rouse you； and pay to our mother a bounteous recompense for
all her travail when she bare us so long in her womb； when Amphitrite
shall have loosed Poseidon's swift…wheeled car。 But I cannot fully
understand concerning this divine message。 They said indeed that they
were heroines； Libya's warders and daughters； and all the toils that we
endured aforetime by land and sea； all these they declared that they knew
full well。 Then I saw them no more in their place； but a mist or cloud
came between and hid them from my sight。〃
（ll。 1363…1369） Thus he spake； and all marvelled as they heard。 Then
was wrought for the Minyae the strangest of portents。 From the sea to
the land leapt forth a monstrous horse； of vast size； with golden mane
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tossing round his neck； and quickly from his limbs he shook off abundant
spray and started on his course； with feet like the wind。 And at once
Peleus rejoiced and spake among the throng of his comrades：
（ll。 1370…1379） 〃I deem that Poseidon's ear has even now been
loosed by the hands of his dear wife； and I divine that our mother is none
else than our ship herself； for surely she bare us in her womb and groans
unceasingly with grievous travailing。 But with unshaken strength and
untiring shoulders will we lift her up and bear her within this country of
sandy wastes； where yon swift…footed steed has sped before。 For he will
not plunge beneath the earth； and his hoof…prints； I ween； will point us to
some bay above the sea。〃
（ll。 1380…1392） Thus he spake； and the fit counsel pleased all。 This is
the tale the Muses told； and I sing obedient to the Pierides； and this report
have I heard most truly； that ye； O mightiest far of the sons of kings； by
your might and your valour over the desert sands of Libya raised high
aloft on your shoulders the ship and all that ye brought therein； and bare
her twelve days and nights alike。 Yet who could tell the pain and grief
which they endured in that toil？ Surely they were of the blood of the
immortals； such a task did they take on them； constrained by necessity。
How forward and how far they bore her gladly to the waters of the
Tritonian lake！ How they strode in and set her down from their stalwart
shoulders！
（ll。 1393…1421） Then； like raging hounds； they rushed to search for a
spring； for besides their suffering and anguish； a parching thirst lay upon
them； and not in vain did they wander； but they came to the sacred plain
where Ladon； the serpent of the land； till yesterday kept watch over the
golden apples in the garden of Atlas； and all around the nymphs； the
Hesperides； were busied； chanting their lovely song。 But at that time；
stricken by Heracles； he lay fallen by the trunk of the apple…tree； only the
tip of his tail was still writhing； but from his head down his dark spine he
lay lifeless； and where the arrows had left in his blood the bitter gall of the
Lernaean hydra； flies withered and died over the festering wounds。 And
close at hand the Hesperides； their white arms flung over their golden
heads； lamented shrilly； and the heroes drew near suddenly； but the
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maidens； at their quick approach； at once became dust and earth where
they stood。 Orpheus marked the divine portent； and for his comrades
addressed them in prayer： 〃O divine ones； fair and kind； be gracious； O
queens； whether ye be numbered among the heavenly goddesses； or those
beneath the earth； or be called the Solitary nymphs； come； O nymphs；
sacred race of Oceanus； appear manifest to our longing eyes and show us
some spring of water from the rock or some sacred flow gushing from the
earth； goddesses； wherewith we may quench the thirst that burns us
unceasingly。 And if ever again we return in our voyaging to the Achaean
land； then to you among the first of goddesses with willing hearts will we
bring countless gifts； libations and banquets。〃
（ll。 1422…1431） So he spake； beseeching them with plaintive voice；
and they from their station near pitied their pain； and lo！ First of all they
caused grass to spring from the earth； and above the grass rose up tall
shoots； and then flourishing saplings grew standing upright far above the
earth。 Hespere became a poplar and Eretheis an elm； and Aegle a
willow's sacred trunk。 And forth from these trees their forms looked out；
as clear as they were before； a marvel exceeding great； and Aegle spake
with gentle words answering their longing looks： （ll。 1432…1449）
〃Surely there has come hither a mighty succour to your toils； that most
accursed man； who robbed our guardian serpent of life and plucked the
golden apples of the goddesses and is gone； and has left bitter grief for us。
For yesterday came a man most fell in wanton violence； most grim in form；
and his eyes flashed beneath his scowling brow； a ruthless wretch； and he
was clad in the skin of a monstrous lion of raw hide； untanned； and he bare
a sturdy bow of olive； and a bow； wherewith he shot and killed this
monster here。 So he too came； as one traversing the land on foot；
parched with thirst； and he rushed wildly through this spot； searching for
water； but nowhere was he like to see it。 Now here stood a rock near the
Tritonian lake； and of his own device； or by the prompting of some god；
he smote it below with his foot； and the water gushed out in full flow。 And
he； leaning both his hands and chest upon the ground； drank a huge
draught from the rifted rock； until； stooping like a beast of the field； he had
satisfied his mighty maw。〃
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（ll。 1450…1457） Thus she spake； and they gladly with joyful steps ran
to the spot where Aegle had pointed out to them the spring； until they
reached it。 And as when earth…burrowing ants gather in swarms round a
narrow cleft； or when flies lighting upon a tiny drop of sweet honey cluster
round with insatiate eagerness； so at that time； huddled together； the
Minyae thronged about the spring from the rock。 And thus with wet lips
one cried to another in his delight：
（ll。 1458…1460） 〃Strange！ In very truth Heracles； though far away；
has saved his comrades； fordone with thirst。 Would that we might find
him on his way as we pass through the mainland！〃
（ll。 1461…1484） So they spake； and those who were ready for this
work answered； and they separated this way and that； each starting to
search。 For by the night winds the footsteps had been effaced where the
sand was stirred。 The two sons of Boreas started up； trusting in their
wings； and Euphemus； relying on his swift feet； and Lynceus to cast far his
piercing eyes； and with them darted off Canthus； the fifth。 He was urged
on by the doom of the gods and his own courage； that he might learn for
certain from Heracles where he had left Polyphemus； son of Eilatus； for he
was minded to question him on every point concerning his comrade。 But
that hero had founded a glorious city among the Mysians； and； yearning
for his home…return； had passed far over the mainland in search of Argo；
and in time he reached the land of the Chalybes； who dwel