the argonautica(阿尔戈)-第26节
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men I bear no grudge； such as ye yourselves tell me of him who bears
sway in Hellas。 And the trial of your courage and might shall be a
contest which I myself can compass with my hands； deadly though it be。
Two bulls with feet of bronze I have that pasture on the plain of Ares；
breathing forth flame from their jaws； them do I yoke and drive over the
stubborn field of Ares； four plough…gates； and quickly cleaving it with the
share up to the headland； I cast into the furrows the seed； not the corn of
Demeter； but the teeth of a dread serpent that grow up into the fashion of
armed men； them I slay at once； cutting them down beneath my spear as
they rise against me on all sides。 In the morning do I yoke the oxen； and
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at eventide I cease from the harvesting。 And thou； if thou wilt
accomplish such deeds as these； on that very day shalt carry off the fleece
to the king's palace； ere that time comes I will not give it； expect it not。
For indeed it is unseemly that a brave man should yield to a coward。〃
（ll。 422…426） Thus he spake； and Jason； fixing his eyes on the ground；
sat just as he was； speechless； helpless in his evil plight。 For a long time
he turned the matter this way and that； and could in no way take on him
the task with courage； for a mighty task it seemed； and at last he made
reply with crafty words：
（ll。 427…431） 〃With thy plea of right； Aeetes； thou dost shut me in
overmuch。 Wherefore also I will dare that contest； monstrous as it is；
though it be my doom to die。 For nothing will fall upon men more dread
than dire necessity； which indeed constrained me to come hither at a king's
command。〃
（ll。 432…438） Thus he spake； smitten by his helpless plight； and the
king with grim words addressed him； sore troubled as he was： 〃Go forth
now to the gathering； since thou art eager for the toil； but if thou shouldst
fear to lift the yoke upon the oxen or shrink from the deadly harvesting；
then all this shall be my care； so that another too may shudder to come to a
man that is better than he。〃
（ll。 439…463） He spake outright； and Jason rose from his seat； and
Augeias and Telamon at once； and Argus followed alone； for he signed to
his brothers to stay there on the spot meantime； and so they went forth
from the hall。 And wonderfully among them all shone the son of Aeson
for beauty and grace； and the maiden looked at him with stealthy glance；
holding her bright veil aside； her heart smouldering with pain； and her soul
creeping like a dream flitted in his track as he went。 So they passed forth
from the palace sorely troubled。 And Chalciope； shielding herself from
the wrath of Aeetes； had gone quickly to her chamber with her sons。 And
Medea likewise followed； and much she brooded in her soul all the cares
that the Loves awaken。 And before her eyes the vision still appeared
himself what like he was； with what vesture he was clad； what things he
spake； how he sat on his seat； how he moved forth to the doorand as she
pondered she deemed there never was such another man； and ever in her
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ears rung his voice and the honey…sweet words which he uttered。 And
she feared for him； lest the oxen or Aeetes with his own hand should slay
him； and she mourned him as though already slain outright； and in her
affliction a round tear through very grievous pity coursed down her cheek；
and gently weeping she lifted up her voice aloud：
（ll。 464…470） Why does this grief come upon me； poor wretch？
Whether he be the best of heroes now about to perish； or the worst； let him
go to his doom。 Yet I would that he had escaped unharmed； yea； may this
be so； revered goddess； daughter of Perses； may he avoid death and return
home； but if it be his lot to be o'ermastered by the oxen； may he first learn
this； that I at least do not rejoice in his cruel calamity。〃
（ll。 471…474） Thus then was the maiden's heart racked by love… cares。
But when the others had gone forth from the people and the city； along the
path by which at the first they had come from the plain； then Argus
addressed Jason with these words：
（ll。 475…483） 〃Son of Aeson； thou wilt despise the counsel which I
will tell thee； but； though in evil plight； it is not fitting to forbear from the
trial。 Ere now thou hast heard me tell of a maiden that uses sorcery under
the guidance of Hecate； Perses' daughter。 If we could win her aid there
will be no dread； methinks； of thy defeat in the contest； but terribly do I
fear that my mother will not take this task upon her。 Nevertheless I will
go back again to entreat her； for a common destruction overhangs us all。〃
（ll。 383…491） He spake with goodwill； and Jason answered with these
words： 〃Good friend； if this is good in thy sight； I say not nay。 Go and
move thy mother； beseeching her aid with prudent words； pitiful indeed is
our hope when we have put our return in the keeping of women。〃 So he
spake； and quickly they reached the back…water。 And their comrades
joyfully questioned them； when they saw them close at hand； and to them
spoke Aeson's son grieved at heart：
（ll。 492…501） 〃My friends； the heart of ruthless Aeetes is utterly filled
with wrath against us； for not at all can the goal be reached either by me or
by you who question me。 He said that two bulls with feet of bronze
pasture on the plain of Ares； breathing forth flame from their jaws。 And
with these he bade me plough the field； four plough…gates； and said that he
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would give me from a serpent's jaws seed which will raise up earthborn
men in armour of bronze； and on the same day I must slay them。 This
taskfor there was nothing better to deviseI took on myself outright。〃
（ll。 502…514） Thus he spake； and to all the contest seemed one that
none could accomplish； and long； quiet and silent； they looked at one
another； bowed down with the calamity and their despair； but at last Peleus
spake with courageous words among all the chiefs： 〃It is time to be
counselling what we shall do。 Yet there is not so much profit； I trow； in
counsel as in the might of our hands。 If thou then； hero son of Aeson； art
minded to yoke Aeetes' oxen； and art eager for the toil； surely thou wilt
keep thy promise and make thyself ready。 But if thy soul trusts not her
prowess utterly； then neither bestir thyself nor sit still and look round for
some one else of these men。 For it is not I who will flinch； since the
bitterest pain will be but death。〃
（ll。 515…522） So spake the son of Aeacus； and Telamon's soul was
stirred； and quickly he started up in eagerness； and Idas rose up the third in
his pride； and the twin sons of Tyndareus； and with them Oeneus' son who
was numbered among strong men； though even the soft down on his cheek
showed not yet； with such courage was his soul uplifted。 But the others
gave way to these in silence。 And straightway Argus spake these words to
those that longed for the contest：
（ll。 523…539） 〃My friends； this indeed is left us at the last。 But I deem
that there will come to you some timely aid from my mother。 Wherefore；
eager though ye be； refrain and abide in your ship a little longer as before；
for it is better to forbear than recklessly to choose an evil fate。 There is a
maiden； nurtured in the halls of Aeetes； whom the goddess Hecate taught
to handle magic herbs with exceeding skill all that the land and flowing
waters produce。 With them is quenched the blast of unwearied flame；
and at once she stays the course of rivers as they rush roaring on； and
checks the stars and the paths of the sacred moon。 Of her we bethought
us as we came hither along the path from the pal
