the argonautica-第21节

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ourage；　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　appearedhimself　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　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　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　palace；　if　haply　my　mother；　her　own　sister；　might　persuade　her　to　aid　us　in　the　venture。　　And　if　this　is　pleasing　to　you　as　well；　surely　on　this　very　day　will　I　return　to　the　palace　of　Aeetes　to　make　trial；　and　perchance　with　some　god's　help　shall　I　make　the　trial。〃

（ll。　540…544）　　Thus　he　spake；　and　the　gods　in　their　goodwill　gave　them　a　sign。　　A　trembling　dove　in　her　flight　from　a　mighty　hawk　fell　from　on　high；　terrified；　into　the　lap　of　Aeson's　son；　and　the　hawk　fell　impaled　on　the　stern…ornament。　　And　quickly　Mopsus　with　prophetic　words　spake　among　them　all：

（ll。　545…554）　　〃For　you；　friends；　this　sign　has　been　wrought　by　the　will　of　heaven；　in　no　other　way　is　it　possible　to　interpret　its　meaning　better；　than　to　seek　out　the　maiden　and　entreat　her　with　manifold　skill。　　And　I　think　she　will　not　reject　our　prayer；　if　in　truth　Phineus　said　that　our　return　should　be　with　the　help　of　the　Cyprian　goddess。　　It　was　her　gentle　bird　that　escaped　death；　and　as　my　heart　within　me　foresees　according　to　this　omen；　so　may　it　prove！　　But；　my　friends；　let　us　call　on　Cytherea　to　aid　us；　and　now　at　once　obey　the　counsels　of　Argus。〃

（ll。　555…563）　　He　spake；　and　the　warriors　approved；　remembering　the　injunctions　of　Phineus；　but　all　alone　leapt　up　Apharcian　Idas　and　shouted　loudly　in　terrible　wrath：　〃Shame　on　us；　have　we　come　here　fellow　voyagers　with　women；　calling　on　Cypris　for　help　and　not　on　the　mighty　strength　of　Enyalius？　　And　do　ye　look　to　doves　and　hawks　to　save　yourselves　from　contests？　　Away　with　you；　take　thought　not　for　deeds　of　war；　but　by　supplication　to　beguile　weakling　girls。〃

（ll。　564…571）　　Such　were　his　eager　words；　and　of　his　comrades　many　murmured　low；　but　none　uttered　a　word　of　answer　back。　　And　he　sat　down　in　wrath；　and　at　once　Jason　roused　them　and　uttered　his　own　thought：　〃Let　Argus　set　forth　from　the　ship；　since　this　pleases　all；　but　we　will　now　move　from　the　river　and　openly　fasten　our　hawsers　to　the　shore。　　For　surely　it　is　not　fitting　for　us　to　hide　any　longer　cowering　from　the　battle…cry。〃

（ll。　572…575）　　So　he　spake；　and　straightway　sent　Argus　to　return　in　haste　to　the　city；　and　they　drew　the　anchors　on　board　at　the　command　of　Aeson's　son；　and　rowed　the　ship　close　to　the　shore；　a　little　away　from　the　back…water。

（ll。　576…608）　　But　straightway　Aeetes　held　an　assembly　of　the　Colchians　far　aloof　from　his　palace　at　a　spot　where　they　sat　in　times　before；　to　devise　against　the　Minyae　grim　treachery　and　troubles。　　And　he　threatened　that　when　first　the　oxen　should　have　torn　in　pieces　the　man　who　had　taken　upon　him　to　perform　the　heavy　task；　he　would　hew　down　the　oak　grove　above　the　wooded　hill；　and　burn　the　ship　and　her　crew；　that　so　they　might　vent　forth　in　ruin　their　grievous　insolence；　for　all　their　haughty　schemes。　　For　never　would　he　have　welcomed　the　Aeolid　Phrixus　as　a　guest　in　his　halls；　in　spite　of　his　sore　need；　Phrixus；　who　surpassed　all　strangers　in　gentleness　and　fear　of　the　gods；　had　not