the argonautica(阿尔戈)-第37节
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of Minos； whom once Theseus forsook in the island of Dia； when she had
followed him from Cnossus。 And when she had worked upon the heralds
to induce her brother to come； as soon as she reached the temple of the
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goddess； according to the agreement； and the darkness of night surrounded
them； that so she might devise with him a cunning plan for her to take the
mighty fleece of gold and return to the home of Aeetes； for； she said； the
sons of Phrixus had given her by force to the strangers to carry off； with
such beguiling words she scattered to the air and the breezes her witching
charms； which even from afar would have drawn down the savage beast
from the steep mountain…height。
（ll。 445…451） Ruthless Love； great bane； great curse to mankind；
from thee come deadly strifes and lamentations and groans； and countless
pains as well have their stormy birth from thee。 Arise； thou god； and arm
thyself against the sons of our foes in such guise as when thou didst fill
Medea's heart with accursed madness。 How then by evil doom did she
slay Apsyrtus when he came to meet her？ For that must our song tell
next。
（ll。 452…481） When the heroes had left the maiden on the island of
Artemis； according to the covenant； both sides ran their ships to land
separately。 And Jason went to the ambush to lie in wait for Apsyrtus and
then for his comrades。 But he； beguiled by these dire promises； swiftly
crossed the swell of the sea in his ship； and in dark night set foot on the
sacred island； and faring all alone to meet her he made trial in speech of
his sister； as a tender child tries a wintry torrent which not even strong
men can pass through； to see if she would devise some guile against the
strangers。 And so they two agreed together on everything； and
straightway Aeson's son leapt forth from the thick ambush； lifting his bare
sword in his hand； and quickly the maiden turned her eyes aside and
covered them with her veil that she might not see the blood of her brother
when he was smitten。 And Jason marked him and struck him down； as a
butcher strikes down a mighty strong…horned bull； hard by the temple
which the Brygi on the mainland opposite had once built for Artemis。 In
its vestibule he fell on his knees； and at last the hero breathing out his life
caught up in both hands the dark blood as it welled from the wound； and
he dyed with red his sister's silvery veil and robe as she shrank away。
And with swift side…glance the irresistible pitiless Fury beheld the deadly
deed they had done。 And the hero； Aeson's son； cut off the extremities of
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the dead man； and thrice licked up some blood and thrice spat the
pollution from his teeth； as it is right for the slayer to do； to atone for a
treacherous murder。 And the clammy corpse he hid in the ground where
even now those bones lie among the Apsyrtians。
（ll。 481…494） Now as soon as the heroes saw the blaze of a torch；
which the maiden raised for them as a sign to pursue； they laid their own
ship near the Colchian ship； and they slaughtered the Colchian host； as
kites slay the tribes of wood…pigeons； or as lions of the wold； when they
have leapt amid the steading； drive a great flock of sheep huddled together。
Nor did one of them escape death； but the heroes rushed upon the whole
crew； destroying them like a flame； and at last Jason met them； and was
eager to give aid where none was needed； but already they were taking
thought for him too。 Thereupon they sat to devise some） prudent counsel
for their voyage； and the maiden came upon them as they pondered； but
Peleus spake his word first：
（ll。 495…502） 〃I now bid you embark while it is still night； and take
with your oars the passage opposite to that which the enemy guards； for at
dawn when they see their plight I deem that no word urging to further
pursuit of us will prevail with them； but as people bereft of their king； they
will be scattered in grievous dissension。 And easy； when the people are
scattered； will this path be for us on our return。〃
（ll。 503…506） Thus he spake； and the youths assented to the words of
Aeacus' son。 And quickly they entered the ship； and toiled at their oars
unceasingly until they reached the sacred isle of Electra； the highest of
them all； near the river Eridanus。
（ll。 507…521） But when the Colchians learnt the death of their prince；
verily they were eager to pursue Argo and the Minyans through all the
Cronian sea。 But Hera restrained them by terrible lightnings from the
sky。 And at last they loathed their own homes in the Cytaean land；
quailing before Aeetes' fierce wrath； so they landed and made abiding
homes there； scattered far and wide。 Some set foot on those very islands
where the heroes had stayed； and they still dwell there； bearing a name
derived from Apsyrtus； and others built a fenced city by the dark deep
Illyrian river； where is the tomb of Harmonia and Cadmus； dwelling
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among the Encheleans； and others live amid the mountains which are
called the Thunderers； from the day when the thunders of Zeus； son of
Cronos； prevented them from crossing over to the island opposite。
（ll。 522…551） Now the heroes； when their return seemed safe for
them； fared onward and made their hawsers fast to the land of the Hylleans。
For the islands lay thick in the river and made the path dangerous for those
who sailed thereby。 Nor； as aforetime； did the Hylleans devise their hurt；
but of their own accord furthered their passage； winning as guerdon a
mighty tripod of Apollo。 For tripods twain had Phoebus given to Aeson's
son to carry afar in the voyage he had to make； at the time when he went
to sacred Pytho to enquire about this very voyage； and it was ordained by
fate that in whatever land they should be placed； that land should never be
ravaged by the attacks of foemen。 Therefore even now this tripod is hidden
in that land near the pleasant city of Hyllus； far beneath the earth； that it
may ever be unseen by mortals。 Yet they found not King Hyllus still
alive in the land； whom fair Melite bare to Heracles in the land of the
Phaeacians。 For he came to the abode of Nausithous and to Macris； the
nurse of Dionysus； to cleanse himself from the deadly murder of his
children； here he loved and overcame the water nymph Melite； the
daughter of the river Aegaeus； and she bare mighty Hyllus。 But when he
had grown up he desired not to dwell in that island under the rule of
Nausithous the king； but he collected a host of native Phaeacians and came
to the Cronian sea； for the hero King Nausithous aided his journey； and
there he settled； and the Mentores slew him as he was fighting for the oxen
of his field。
（ll。 552…556） Now； goddesses； say how it is that beyond this sea； near
the land of Ausonia and the Ligystian isles； which are called Stoechades；
the mighty tracks of the ship Argo are clearly sung of？ What great
constraint and need brought the heroes so far？ What breezes wafted
them？
（ll。 557…591） When Apsyrtus had fallen in mighty overthrow Zeus
himself； king of gods； was seized with wrath at what they had done。 And
he ordained that by the counsels of Aeaean Circe they should cleanse
themselves from the terrible stain of blood and suffer countless woes
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before their return。
