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the heroes-第20节

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ad given to Alcinous the wise。

So they went in; and saw him sitting; like Poseidon; on his  throne; with his golden sceptre by him; in garments stiff  with gold; and in his hand a sculptured goblet; as he pledged  the merchant kings; and beside him stood Arete; his wise and  lovely queen; and leaned against a pillar as she spun her  golden threads。

Then Alcinous rose; and welcomed them; and bade them sit and  eat; and the servants brought them tables; and bread; and  meat; and wine。

But Medeia went on trembling toward Arete the fair queen; and  fell at her knees; and clasped them; and cried; weeping; as  she knelt …

'I am your guest; fair queen; and I entreat you by Zeus; from  whom prayers come。  Do not send me back to my father to die  some dreadful death; but let me go my way; and bear my  burden。  Have I not had enough of punishment and shame?'

'Who are you; strange maiden? and what is the meaning of your  prayer?'

'I am Medeia; daughter of Aietes; and I saw my countrymen  here to…day; and I know that they are come to find me; and  take me home to die some dreadful death。'

Then Arete frowned; and said; 'Lead this girl in; my maidens;  and let the kings decide; not I。'

And Alcinous leapt up from his throne; and cried; 'Speak;  strangers; who are you?  And who is this maiden?'

'We are the heroes of the Minuai;' said Jason; 'and this  maiden has spoken truth。  We are the men who took the golden  fleece; the men whose fame has run round every shore。  We  came hither out of the ocean; after sorrows such as man never  saw before。  We went out many; and come back few; for many a  noble comrade have we lost。  So let us go; as you should let  your guests go; in peace; that the world may say; 〃Alcinous  is a just king。〃'

But Alcinous frowned; and stood deep in thought; and at last  he spoke …

'Had not the deed been done which is done; I should have said  this day to myself; 〃It is an honour to Alcinous; and to his  children after him; that the far…famed Argonauts are his  guests。〃  But these Colchi are my guests; as you are; and for  this month they have waited here with all their fleet; for  they have hunted all the seas of Hellas; and could not find  you; and dared neither go farther; nor go home。'

'Let them choose out their champions; and we will fight them;  man for man。'

'No guests of ours shall fight upon our island; and if you go  outside they will outnumber you。  I will do justice between  you; for I know and do what is right。'

Then he turned to his kings; and said; 'This may stand over  till to…morrow。  To…night we will feast our guests; and hear  the story of all their wanderings; and how they came hither  out of the ocean。'

So Alcinous bade the servants take the heroes in; and bathe  them; and give them clothes。  And they were glad when they  saw the warm water; for it was long since they had bathed。   And they washed off the sea…salt from their limbs; and  anointed themselves from head to foot with oil; and combed  out their golden hair。  Then they came back again into the  hall; while the merchant kings rose up to do them honour。   And each man said to his neighbour; 'No wonder that these men  won fame。  How they stand now like Giants; or Titans; or  Immortals come down from Olympus; though many a winter has  worn them; and many a fearful storm。  What must they have  been when they sailed from Iolcos; in the bloom of their  youth; long ago?'

Then they went out to the garden; and the merchant princes  said; 'Heroes; run races with us。  Let us see whose feet are  nimblest。'

'We cannot race against you; for our limbs are stiff from  sea; and we have lost our two swift comrades; the sons of the  north wind。  But do not think us cowards:  if you wish to try  our strength; we will shoot; and box; and wrestle; against  any men on earth。'

And Alcinous smiled; and answered; 'I believe you; gallant  guests; with your long limbs and broad shoulders; we could  never match you here。  For we care nothing here for boxing;  or for shooting with the bow; but for feasts; and songs; and  harping; and dancing; and running races; to stretch our limbs  on shore。'

So they danced there and ran races; the jolly merchant kings;  till the night fell; and all went in。

And then they ate and drank; and comforted their weary souls;  till Alcinous called a herald; and bade him go and fetch the  harper。

The herald went out; and fetched the harper; and led him in  by the hand; and Alcinous cut him a piece of meat; from the  fattest of the haunch; and sent it to him; and said; 'Sing to  us; noble harper; and rejoice the heroes' hearts。'

So the harper played and sang; while the dancers danced  strange figures; and after that the tumblers showed their  tricks; till the heroes laughed again。

Then; 'Tell me; heroes;' asked Alcinous; 'you who have sailed  the ocean round; and seen the manners of all nations; have  you seen such dancers as ours here; or heard such music and  such singing?  We hold ours to be the best on earth。'

'Such dancing we have never seen;' said Orpheus; 'and your  singer is a happy man; for Phoebus himself must have taught  him; or else he is the son of a Muse; as I am also; and have  sung once or twice; though not so well as he。'

'Sing to us; then; noble stranger;' said Alcinous; 'and we  will give you precious gifts。'

So Orpheus took his magic harp; and sang to them a stirring  song of their voyage from Iolcos; and their dangers; and how  they won the golden fleece; and of Medeia's love; and how she  helped them; and went with them over land and sea; and of all  their fearful dangers; from monsters; and rocks; and storms;  till the heart of Arete was softened; and all the women wept。   And the merchant kings rose up; each man from off his golden  throne; and clapped their hands; and shouted; 'Hail to the  noble Argonauts; who sailed the unknown sea!'

Then he went on; and told their journey over the sluggish  northern main; and through the shoreless outer ocean; to the  fairy island of the west; and of the Sirens; and Scylla; and  Charybdis; and all the wonders they had seen; till midnight  passed and the day dawned; but the kings never thought of  sleep。  Each man sat still and listened; with his chin upon  his hand。

And at last; when Orpheus had ended; they all went thoughtful  out; and the heroes lay down to sleep; beneath the sounding  porch outside; where Arete had strewn them rugs and carpets;  in the sweet still summer night。

But Arete pleaded hard with her husband for Medeia; for her  heart was softened。  And she said; 'The Gods will punish her;  not we。  After all; she is our guest and my suppliant; and  prayers are the daughters of Zeus。  And who; too; dare part  man and wife; after all they have endured together?'

And Alcinous smiled。  'The minstrel's song has charmed you:   but I must remember what is right; for songs cannot alter  justice; and I must be faithful to my name。  Alcinous I am  called; the man of sturdy sense; and Alcinous I will be。'   But for all that Arete besought him; until she won him round。

So next morning he sent a herald; and called the kings into  the square; and said; 'This is a puzzling matter:  remember  but one thing。  These Minuai live close by us; and we may  meet them often on the seas; but Aietes lives afar off; and  we have only heard his name。  Which; then; of the two is it  safer to offend … the men near us; or the men far off?'

The princes laughed; and praised his wisdom; and Alcinous  called the heroes to the square; and the Colchi also; and  they came and stood opposite each other; but Medeia stayed in  the palace。  Then Alcinous spoke; 'Heroes of the Colchi; what  is your errand about this lady?'

'To carry her home with us; that she may die a shameful  death; but if we return without her; we must die the death  she should have died。'

'What say you to this; Jason the AEolid?' said Alcinous;  turning to the Minuai。

'I say;' said the cunning Jason; 'that they are come here on  a bootless errand。  Do you think that you can make her follow  you; heroes of the Colchi … her; who knows all spells and  charms?  She will cast away your ships on quicksands; or call  down on you Brimo the wild huntress; or the chains will fall  from off her wrists; and she will escape in her dragon…car;  or if not thus; some other way; for she has a thousand plans  and wiles。  And why return home at all; brave heroes; and  face the long seas again; and the Bosphorus; and the stormy  Euxine; and double all your toil?  There is many a fair land  round these coasts; which waits for gallant men like you。   Better to settle there; and build a city; and let Aietes and  Colchis help themselves。'

Then a murmur rose among the Colchi; and some cried 'He has  spoken well;' and some; 'We have had enough of roving; we  will sail the seas no more!'  And the chief said at last; 'Be  it so; then; a plague she has been to us; and a plague to the  house of her father; and a plague she will be to you。  Take  her; since you are no wiser; and we will sail away toward the  north。'

Then Alcinous gave them food; and water; and garments; and  rich presents of all sorts; and he gave the same to the  Minuai; and sent them all away in peace。

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