the argonautica-第31节

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ur　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　brightly　burnished　seats。　　And　they；　quiet　and　silent；　sped　to　the　hearth　and　sat　there；　as　is　the　wont　of　wretched　suppliants。　　Medea　hid　her　face　in　both　her　hands；　but　Jason　fixed　in　the　ground　the　mighty　hilted　sword　with　which　he　had　slain　Aeetes'　son；　nor　did　they　raise　their　eyes　to　meet　her　look。　　And　straightway　Circe　became　aware　of　the　doom　of　a　suppliant　and　the　guilt　of　murder。　Wherefore　in　reverence　for　the　ordinance　of　Zeus；　the　god　of　suppliants；　who　is　a　god　of　wrath　yet　mightily　aids　slayers　of　men；　she　began　to　offer　the　sacrifice　with　which　ruthless　suppliants　are　cleansed　from　guilt　when　they　approach　the　altar。　First；　to　atone　for　the　murder　still　unexpiated；　she　held　above　their　heads　the　young　of　a　sow　whose　dugs　yet　swelled　from　the　fruit　of　the　womb；　and；　severing　its　neck；　sprinkled　their　hands　with　the　blood；　and　again　she　made　propitiation　with　other　drink　offerings；　calling　on　Zeus　the　Cleanser；　the　protector　of　murder…　stained　suppliants。　　And　all　the　defilements　in　a　mass　her　attendants　bore　forth　from　the　palacethe　Naiad　nymphs　who　ministered　all　things　to　her。　　And　within；　Circe；　standing　by　the　hearth；　kept　burning　atonement…cakes　without　wine；　praying　the　while　that　she　might　stay　from　their　wrath　the　terrible　Furies；　and　that　Zeus　himself　might　be　propitious　and　gentle　to　them　　both；　whether　with　hands　stained　by　the　blood　of　a　stranger　or；　as　kinsfolk；　by　the　blood　of　a　kinsman；　they　should　implore　his　grace。

（ll。　718…738）　　But　when　she　had　wrought　all　her　task；　then　she　raised　them　up　and　seated　them　on　well　polished　seats；　and　herself　sat　near；　face　to　face　with　them。　　And　at　once　she　asked　them　clearly　of　their　business　and　their　voyaging；　and　whence　they　had　come　to　her　land　and　palace；　and　had　thus　seated　themselves　as　suppliants　at　her　hearth。　　For　in　truth　the　hideous　remembrance　of　her　dreams　entered　her　mind　as　she　pondered；　and　she　longed　to　hear　the　voice　of　the　maiden；　her　kinswoman；　as　soon　as　she　saw　that　she　had　raised　her　eyes　from　the　ground。　　For　all　those　of　the　race　of　Helios　were　plain　to　discern；　since　by　the　far　flashing　of　their　eyes　they　shot　in　front　of　them　a　gleam　as　of　gold。　　So　Medea　told　her　all　she　askedthe　daughter　of　Aeetes　of　the　gloomy　heart；　speaking　gently　in　the　Colchian　tongue；　both　of　the　quest　and　the　journeyings　of　the　heroes；　and　of　their　toils　in　the　swift　contests；　and　how　she　had　sinned　through　the　counsels　of　her　much…sorrowing　sister；　and　how　with　the　sons　of　Phrixus　she　had　fled　afar　from　the　tyrannous　horrors　of　her　father；　but　she　shrank　from　telling　of　the　murder　of　Apsyrtus。　　Yet　she　escaped　not　Circe's　ken；　nevertheless；　in　spite　of　all；　she　pitied　the　weeping　maiden；　and　spake　thus：

（ll。　739…748）　　〃Poor　wretch；　an　evil　and　shameful　return　hast　thou　planned。　　Not　for　long；　I　ween；　wilt　thou　escape　the　heavy　wrath　of　Aeetes；　but　soon　will　he　go　even　to　the　dwellings　of　Hellas　to　avenge　the　blood　of　his　son；　for　intolerable　are　the　deeds　thou　hast　done。　　But　since　thou　art　my　suppliant　and　my　kinswoman；　no　further　ill　shall　I　devise　against　thee　at　thy　coming；　but　begone　from　my　halls；　companioning　the　stranger；　whosoever　he　be；　this　unknown　one　that　thou　hast　taken　in　thy　father's　despite；　and　kneel　not　to　me　at　my　hearth；　for　never　will　I　approve　thy　counsels　and　thy　shameful　flight。〃

（ll。　749…752）　　Thus　she　spake；　and　measureless　anguish　seized　the　maid；　and　over　her　eyes　she　cast　her　robe　and　poured　forth　a　lamentation；　until　the　hero　took　her　by　the　hand　and　led　her　forth　from　the　hall　quivering　with　fear。　　So　they　left　the　home　of　Circe。

（ll。　753…756）　　But　they　were　not　unmarked　by　the　spouse　of　Zeus；　son　of　Cronos；　but　Iris　told　her　when　she　saw　them　faring　from　the　hall。　　For　Hera　had　bidden　her　watch　what　time　they　should　come　to　the　ship；　so　again　she　urged　her　and　spake：

（ll。　757…769）　　〃Dear　Iris；　now　come；　if　ever　thou　hast　fulfilled　my　bidding；　hie　thee　away　on　light　pinions；　and　bid　Thetis　arise　from　the　sea　and　come　hither。　　For　need　of　her　is　come　upon　me。　Then　go　to　the　sea…beaches　where　the　bronze　anvils　of　Hephaestus　are　smitten　by　sturdy　hammers；　and　tell　him　to　still　the　blasts　of　fire　until　Argo　pass　by　them。　　Then　go　to　Aeolus　too；　Aeolus　who　rules　the　winds；　children　of　the　clear　sky；　and　to　him　also　tell　my　purpose　so　that　he　may　make　all　winds　cease　under　heaven　and　no　breeze　may　ruffle　the　sea；　yet　let　the　breath　of　the　west　　wind　blow　until　the　heroes　have　reached　the　Phaeacian　isle　of　Alcinous。〃

（ll。　770…782）　　So　she　spake；　and　straightway　Iris　leapt　down　from　Olympus　and　cleft　her　way；　with　light　wings　outspread。　　And　she　plunged　into　the　Aegean　Sea；　where　is　the　dwelling　of　Nereus。　　And　she　came　to　Thetis　first　and；　by　the　promptings　of　Hera；　told　her　tale　and　roused　her　to　go　to　the　goddess。　　Next　she　came　to　Hephaestus；　and　quickly　made　him　cease　from　the　clang　of　his　iron　hammers；　and　the　smoke…grimed　bellows　were　stayed　from　their　blast。　　And　thirdly　she　came　to　Aeolus；　the　famous　son　of　Hippotas。　　And　when　she　had　given　her　message　to　him　also　and　rested　her　swift　knees　from　her　course；　then　Thetis　leaving　Nereus　and　her　sisters　had　come　from　the　sea　to　Olympus　to　the　goddess　Hera；　and　the　goddess　made　her　sit　by　her　side　and　uttered　her　word：

（ll。　783…832）　　〃Hearken　now；　lady　Thetis；　to　what　I　am　eager　to　tell　thee。　　Thou　knowest　how　honoured　in　my　heart　is　the　hero；　Aeson's　son；　and　the　others　that　have　helped　him　in　the　contest；　and　how　I　saved　them　when　they　passed　between　the　Wandering　rocks；　（5）　where　roar　terrible　storms　of　fire　and　the　waves　foam　round　the　rugged　reefs。　　And　now　past　the　mighty　rock　of　Scylla　and　Charybdis　horribly　belching；　a　course　awaits　them。　　But　thee　indeed　from　thy　infancy　did　I　tend　with　my　own　hands　and　love　beyond　all　others　that　dwell　in　the　salt　sea　because　thou　didst　refuse　to　share　the　couch　of　Zeus；　for　all　his　desire。　　For　to　him　such　deeds　are　ever　dear；　to　embrace　either　goddesses　or　mortal　women。　　But　in　reverence　for　me　and　with　fear　in　thy　heart　thou　didst　shrink　from　his　love；　and　he　then　swore　a　mighty　oath　that　thou　shouldst　never　be　called　the　bride　of　an　immortal　god。　Yet　he　ceased　not　from　spying　thee　against　thy　will；　until　reverend　Themis　declared　to　him　the　whole　truth；　how　that　it　was　thy　fate　to　bear　a　son　mightier　than　his　sire；　wherefore　he　gave　thee　up；　for　all　his　desire；　fearing　lest　another　should　be　his　match　and　rule　the　immortals；　and　in　order　that　he　might　ever　hold　his　own　dominion。　　But　I　gave　thee　the　best　of　the　sons　of　earth　to　be　thy　husband；　that　thou　mightest　find　a　marriage　dear　to　thy　heart　and　bear　children；　and　I　summoned　to　the　feast　the　gods；　one　and　all。　　And　with　my　own　hand　I　raised　the　bridal　torch；　in　return　for　the　kindly　honour　thou　didst　pay　me。　　But　come；　let　me　tell　a　tale　that　erreth　not。　　When　thy　son　shall　come　to　the　Elysian　plain；　he　whom　now　in　the　home　of　Cheiron　the　Centaur　water…nymphs　are　tending；　though　he　still　craves　thy　mother　milk；　it