the argonautica(阿尔戈)-第31节
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silence； and her cheek； divinely fair； was wet with warm tears as she
sorrowed for that he was about to wander far from her side over the wide
sea： and once again she addressed him face to face with mournful words；
and took his right hand； for now shame had left her eyes：
（ll。 1069…1076） 〃Remember； if haply thou returnest to thy home；
Medea's name； and so will I remember thine； though thou be far away。
And of thy kindness tell me this； where is thy home； whither wilt thou sail
hence in thy ship over the sea； wilt thou come near wealthy Orchomenus；
or near the Aeaean isle？ And tell me of the maiden； whosoever she be
that thou hast named； the far…renowned daughter of Pasiphae； who is
kinswoman to my father。〃
（ll。 1077…1078） Thus she spake； and over him too； at the tears of the
maiden； stole Love the destroyer； and he thus answered her：
（ll。 1079…1101） 〃All too surely do I deem that never by night and
never by day will I forget thee if I escape death and indeed make my way
in safety to the Achaean land； and Aeetes set not before us some other
contest worse than this。 And if it pleases thee to know about my
fatherland； I will tell it out； for indeed my own heart bids me do that。
There is a land encircled by lofty mountains； rich in sheep and in pasture；
where Prometheus； son of Iapetus； begat goodly Deucalion； who first
founded cities and reared temples to the immortal gods； and first ruled
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over men。 This land the neighbours who dwell around call Haemonia。
And in it stands Ioleus； my city； and in it many others； where they have not
so much as heard the name of the Aeaean isle； yet there is a story that
Minyas starting thence； Minyas son of Aeolus； built long ago the city of
Orchomenus that borders on the Cadmeians。 But why do I tell thee all this
vain talk； of our home and of Minos' daughter； far…famed Ariadne； by
which glorious name they called that lovely maiden of whom thou askest
me？ Would that； as Minos then was well inclined to Theseus for her sake；
so may thy father be joined to us in friendship！〃
（ll。 1102…1104） Thus he spake； soothing her with gentle converse。
But pangs most bitter stirred her heart and in grief did she address him
with vehement words：
（ll。 1105…1117） 〃In Hellas； I ween； this is fair to pay heed to
covenants； but Aeetes is not such a man among men as thou sayest was
Pasiphae's husband； Minos； nor can I liken myself to Ariadne； wherefore
speak not of guest…love。 But only do thou； when thou hast reached Iolcus；
remember me； and thee even in my parents' despite； will I remember。
And from far off may a rumour come to me or some messenger…bird； when
thou forgettest me； or me； even me； may swift blasts catch up and bear
over the sea hence to Iolcus； that so I may cast reproaches in thy face and
remind thee that it was by my good will thou didst escape。 May I then be
seated in thy halls； an unexpected guest！〃
（ll。 1118…1130） Thus she spake with piteous tears falling down her
cheeks； and to her Jason replied： 〃Let the empty blasts wander at will； lady；
and the messenger…bird； for vain is thy talk。 But if thou comest to those
abodes and to the land of Hellas； honoured and reverenced shalt thou be
by women and men； and they shall worship thee even as a goddess； for
that by thy counsel their sons came home again； their brothers and
kinsmen and stalwart husbands were saved from calamity。 And in our
bridal chamber shalt thou prepare our couch； and nothing shall come
between our love till the doom of death fold us round。〃
（ll。 1131…1136） Thus he spake； and her soul melted within her to hear
his words； nevertheless she shuddered to behold the deeds of destruction
to come。 Poor wretch！ Not long was she destined to refuse a home in
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Hellas。 For thus Hera devised it； that Aeaean Medea might come to
Ioleus for a bane to Pelias； forsaking her native land。
（ll。 1137…1145） And now her handmaids； glancing at them from a
distance； were grieving in silence； and the time of day required that the
maiden should return home to her mother's side。 But she thought not yet
of departing； for her soul delighted both in his beauty and in his winsome
words； but Aeson's son took heed； and spake at last； though late： 〃It is time
to depart； lest the sunlight sink before we know it； and some stranger
notice all； but again will we come and meet here。〃
（ll。 1146…1162） So did they two make trial of one another thus far
with gentle words； and thereafter parted。 Jason hastened to return in
joyous mood to his comrades and the ship； she to her handmaids； and they
all together came near to meet her； but she marked them not at all as they
thronged around。 For her soul had soared aloft amid the clouds。 And
her feet of their own accord mounted the swift chariot； and with one hand
she took the reins； and with the other the whip of cunning workmanship；
to drive the mules； and they rushed hasting to the city and the palace。
And when she was come Chalciope in grief for her sons questioned her；
but Medea； distraught by swiftly…changing thoughts； neither heard her
words nor was eager to speak in answer to her questions。 But she sat
upon a low stool at the foot of her couch； bending down； her cheek leaning
on her left hand； and her eyes were wet with tears as she pondered what an
evil deed she had taken part in by her counsels。
（ll。 1163…1190） Now when Aeson's son had joined his comrades
again in the spot where he had left them when he departed； he set out to go
with them； telling them all the story； to the gathering of the heroes； and
together they approached the ship。 And when they saw Jason they
embraced him and questioned him。 And he told to all the counsels of the
maiden and showed the dread charm； but Idas alone of his comrades sat
apart biting down his wrath； and the rest joyous in heart； at the hour when
the darkness of night stayed them； peacefully took thought for themselves。
But at daybreak they sent two men to go to Aeetes and ask for the seed；
first Telamon himself； dear to Ares； and with him Aethalides； Hermes'
famous son。 So they went and made no vain journey； but when they
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came； lordly Aeetes gave them for the contest the fell teeth of the Aonian
dragon which Cadmus found in Ogygian Thebes when he came seeking
for Europa and there slew thewarder of the spring of Ares。 There he
settled by the guidance of the heifer whom Apollo by his prophetic word
granted him to lead him on his way。 But the teeth the Tritonian goddess
tore away from the dragon's jaws and bestowed as a gift upon Aeetes and
the slayer。 And Agenor's son； Cadmus； sowed them on the Aonian plains
and founded an earthborn people of all who were left from the spear when
Ares did the reaping； and the teeth Aeetes then readily gave to be borne to
the ship； for he deemed not that Jason would bring the contest to an end；
even though he should cast the yoke upon the oxen。
（ll。 1191…1224） Far away in the west the sun was sailing beneath the
dark earth； beyond the furthest hills of the Aethiopians； and Night was
laying the yoke upon her steeds； and the heroes were preparing their beds
by the hawsers。 But Jason； as soon as the stars of Heliee； the bright…
gleaming bear； had set； and the air had all grown still under heaven； went
to a desert spot； like some stealthy thief； with all that was
