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！
（ll。 408…410） Thus he spake； and straightway fear seized them as they heard。 And for a long while they were struck with silence； till at last the hero； son of Aeson； spake； sore dismayed at their evil plight：
（ll。 411…418） 〃O aged sire； now hast thou come to the end of the toils of our sea…journeying and hast told us the token； trusting to which we shall make our way to Pontus through the hateful rocks； but whether； when we have escaped them； we shall have a return back again to Hellas； this too would we gladly learn from thee。 What shall I do； how shall I go over again such a long path through the sea； unskilled as I am； with unskilled comrades？ And Colchian Aea lies at the edge of Pontus and of the world。〃
（ll。 419…425） Thus he spake； and him the aged sire addressed in reply： 〃O son； when once thou hast escaped through the deadly rocks； fear not； for a deity will be the guide from Aea by another track； and to Aea there will be guides enough。 But； my friends； take thought of the artful aid of the Cyprian goddess。 For on her depends the glorious issue of your venture。 And further than this ask me not。〃
（ll。 426…437） Thus spake Agenor's son； and close at hand the twin sons of Thracian Boreas came darting from the sky and set their swift feet upon the threshold； and the heroes rose up from their seats when they saw them present。 And Zetes； still drawing hard breath after his toil； spake among the eager listeners； telling them how far they had driven the Harpies and how his prevented their slaying them； and how the goddess of her grace gave them pledges； and how those others in fear plunged into the vast cave of the Dictaean cliff。 Then in the mansion all their comrades were joyful at the tidings and so was Phineus himself。 And quickly Aeson's son； with good will exceeding； addressed him：
（ll。 438…442） Assuredly there was then； Phineus； some god who cared for thy bitter woe； and brought us hither from afar； that the sons of Boreas might aid thee； and if too he should bring sight to thine eyes； verily I should rejoice； methinks； as much as if I were on my homeward way。〃
（ll。 443…447） Thus he spake； but Phineus replied to him with downcast look： 〃Son of Aeson； that is past recall； nor is there any remedy hereafter； for blasted are my sightless eyes。 But instead of that； may the god grant me death at once； and after death I shall take my share in perfect bliss。〃
（ll。 448…467） Then they two returned answering speech； each to other； and soon in the midst of their converse early dawn appeared； and round Phineus were gathered the neighbours who used to come thither aforetime day by day and constantly bring a portion of their food。 To all alike； however poor he was that came； the aged man gave his oracles with good will； and freed many from their woes by his prophetic art； wherefore they visited and tended him。 And with them came Paraebius； who was dearest to him； and gladly did he perceive these strangers in the house。 For long ere now the seer himself had said that a band of chieftains； faring from Hellas to the city of Aceres； would make fast their hawsers to the Thynian land； and by Zeus' will would check tho approach of the Harpies。 The rest the old man pleased with words of wisdom and let them go； Paraebius only he bade remain there with the chiefs； and straightway he sent him and bade him bring back the choicest of his sheep。 And when he had left the hall Phineus spake gently amid the throng of oarsmen：
（ll。 468…489） 〃O my friends； not all men are arrogant； it seems； nor unmindful of benefits。 Even as this man； loyal as he is； came hither to learn his fate。 For when he laboured the most and toiled the most； then the needs of life； ever growing more and more； would waste him； and day after day ever dawned more wretched； nor was there any respite to his toil。 But he was paying the sad penalty of his father's sin。 For he when alone on the mountains； felling trees； once slighted the prayers of a Hamadryad； who wept and sought to soften him with plaintive words； not to cut down the stump of an oak tree coeval with herself； wherein for a long time she had lived continually； but he in the arrogance of youth recklessly cut it down。 So to him the nymph thereafter made her death a curse； to him and to his children。 I indeed knew of the sin when he came； and I bid him build an altar to the Thynian nymph； and offer on it an atoning sacrifice； with prayer to escape his father's fate。 Here； ever since he escaped the god…sent doom； never has he forgotten or neglected me； but sorely and against his will do I send him from my doors； so eager is he to remain with me in my affliction。〃
（ll。 490…499） Thus spake Agenor's son； and his friend straightway came near leading two sheep from the flock。 And up rose Jason and up rose the sons of Boreas at the bidding of the aged sire 。 And quickly they called upon Apollo； lord of prophecy； and offered sacrifice upon the health as the day was just sinking。 And the younger comrades made ready a feast to their hearts' desire。 Thereupon having well feasted they turned themselves to rest； some near the ship's hawsers； others in groups throughout the mansion。 And at dawn the Etesian winds blew strongly； which by the command of Zeus blow over every land equally。
（ll。 500…527） Cyrene； the tale goes； once tended sheep along the marsh…meadow of Peneus among men of old time； for dear to her were maidenhood and a couch unstained。 But； as she guarded her flock by the river； Apollo carried her off far from Haemonia and placed her among the nymphs of the land； who dwelt in Libya near the Myrtosian height。 And here to Phoebus she bore Aristaeus whom the Haemonians； rich in corn…land； call 〃Hunter〃 and 〃Shepherd〃。 Her； of his love； the god made a nymph there； of long life and a huntress； and his son he brought while still an infant to be nurtured in the cave of Cheiron。 And to him when he grew to manhood the Muses gave a bride； and taught him the arts of healing and of prophecy； and they made him the keeper of their sheep； of all that grazed on the Athamantian plain of Phthia and round steep Othrys and the sacred stream of the river Apidanus。 But when from heaven Sirius scorched the Minoan Isles； and for long there was no respite for the inhabitants； then by the injunction of the Far…Darter they summoned Aristaeus to ward off the pestilence。 And by his father's command he left Phthia and made his home in Ceos； and gathered together the Parrhasian people who are of the lineage of Lycaon； and he built a great altar to Zeus Icmaeus； and duly offered sacrifices upon the mountains to that star Sirius； and to Zeus son of Cronos himself。 And on this account it is that Etesian winds from Zeus cool the land for forty days； and in Ceos even now the priests offer sacrifices before the rising of the Dog…star。
（ll。 528…536） So the tale is told； but the chieftains stayed there by constraint； and every day the Thynians； doing pleasure to Phineus； sent them gifts beyond measure。 And afterwards they raised an altar to the blessed twelve on the sea…beach opposite and laid offerings thereon and then entered their swift ship to row； nor did they forget to bear with them a trembling dove； but Euphemus seized her and brought her all quivering with fear； and they loosed the twin hawsers from the land。
（ll。 537…548） Nor did they start unmarked by Athena； but straightway swiftly she set her feel on a light cloud； which would waft her on； mighty though she was； and she swept on to the sea with friendly thoughts to the oarsmen。 And as when one roveth far from his native land； as we men often wander with enduring heart； nor is any land too distant but all ways are clear to his view； and he sees in mind his own home； and at once the way over sea and land seems slain； and swiftly thinking； now this way； now that； he strains with eager eyes； so swiftly the daughter of Zeus darted down and set her foot on the cheerless shore of Thynia。
（ll。 549…567） Now when they reached the narrow strait of the winding passage； hemmed in on both sides by rugged cliffs； while an eddying current from below was washing against the ship as she moved on； they went forward sorely in dread； and now the thud of the crashing rocks ceaselessly struck their ears； and the sea…washed shores resounded； and then Euphemus grasped the dove in his hand and started to mount the prow； and they； at the bidding of Tiphys； son of Hagnias； rowed with good will to drive Argo between the rocks； trusting to their strength。 And as they rounded a bend they saw the rocks opening for the last time of all。 Their spirit melted within them； and Euphemus sent forth the dove to dart forward in flight； and they all together raised their heads to look； but she flew between them； and the rocks again rushed together and crashed as they met face to face。 And the foam leapt up in a mass like a cloud； awful was the thunder of the sea； and all round them the mighty welkin roared。
（ll。 568…592） The hollow caves beneath the rugged cliffs rumbled as the sea came surging in； and the white foam of the dashing wave spurted high above the cliff。 Next the current whirled the ship round。 And the rocks shore away the end of the dove's tail… feathers；