the argonautica-第27节
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cause of wrath with the stranger…folk。〃
BOOK IV
（ll。 1…5） Now do thou thyself； goddess Muse； daughter of Zeus； tell of the labour and wiles of the Colchian maiden。 Surely my soul within me wavers with speechless amazement as I ponder whether I should call it the lovesick grief of mad passion or a panic flight； through which she left the Colchian folk。
（ll。 6…10） Aeetes all night long with the bravest captains of his people was devising in his halls sheer treachery against the heroes； with fierce wrath in his heart at the issue of the hateful contest； nor did he deem at all that these things were being accomplished without the knowledge of his daughters。
（ll。 11…29） But into Medea's heart Hera cast most grievous fear； and she trembled like a nimble fawn whom the baying of hounds hath terrified amid the thicket of a deep copse。 For at once she truly forboded that the aid she had given was not hidden from her father； and that quickly she would fill up the cup of woe。 And she dreaded the guilty knowledge of her handmaids； her eyes were filled with fire and her ears rung with a terrible cry。 Often did she clutch at her throat； and often did she drag out her hair by the roots and groan in wretched despair。 There on that very day the maiden would have tasted the drugs and perished and so have made void the purposes of Hera； had not the goddess driven her； all bewildered； to flee with the sons of Phrixus； and her fluttering soul within her was comforted； and then she poured from her bosom all the drugs back again into the casket。 Then she kissed her bed； and the folding…doors on both sides； and stroked the walls； and tearing away in her hands a long tress of hair； she left it in the chamber for her mother； a memorial of her maidenhood； and thus lamented with passionate voice：
（ll。 30…33） 〃I go； leaving this long tress here in my stead； O mother mine； take this farewell from me as I go far hence； farewell Chalciope； and all my home。 Would that the sea； stranger； had dashed thee to pieces； ere thou camest to the Colchian land！〃
（ll。 34…56） Thus she spake； and from her eyes shed copious tears。 And as a bondmaid steals away from a wealthy house； whom fate has lately severed from her native land； nor yet has she made trial of grievous toil； but still unschooled to misery and shrinking in terror from slavish tasks； goes about beneath the cruel hands of a mistress； even so the lovely maiden rushed forth from her home。 But to her the bolts of the doors gave way self…moved； leaping backwards at the swift strains of her magic song。 And with bare feet she sped along the narrow paths； with her left hand holding her robe over her brow to veil her face and fair cheeks； and with her right lifting up the hem of her tunic。 Quickly along the dark track； outside the towers of the spacious city； did she come in fear； nor did any of the warders note her； but she sped on unseen by them。 Thence she was minded to go to the temple； for well she knew the way； having often aforetime wandered there in quest of corpses and noxious roots of the earth； as a sorceress is wont to do； and her soul fluttered with quivering fear。 And the Titanian goddess； the moon； rising from a far land； beheld her as she fled distraught； and fiercely exulted over her； and thus spake to her own heart：
（ll。 57…65） 〃Not I alone then stray to the Latinian cave； nor do I alone burn with love for fair Endymion； oft times with thoughts of love have I been driven away by thy crafty spells； in order that in the darkness of night thou mightest work thy sorcery at ease； even the deeds dear to thee。 And now thou thyself too hast part in a like mad passion； and some god of affection has given thee Jason to be thy grievous woe。 Well； go on； and steel thy heart； wise though thou be； to take up thy burden of pain； fraught with many sighs。〃
（ll。 66…82） Thus spake the goddess； but swiftly the maiden's feet bore her； hasting on。 And gladly did she gain the high…bank of the river and beheld on the opposite side the gleam of fire； which all night long the heroes were kindling in joy at the contest's issue。 Then through the gloom； with clear…pealing voice from across the stream； she called on Phrontis； the youngest of Phrixus' sons； and he with his brothers and Aeson's son recognised the maiden's voice； and in silence his comrades wondered when they knew that it was so in truth。 Thrice she called； and thrice at the bidding of the company Phrontis called out in reply； and meantime the heroes were rowing with swift… moving oars in search of her。 Not yet were they casting the ship's hawsers upon the opposite bank； when Jason with light feet leapt to land from the deck above； and after him Phrontis and Argus； sons of Phrixus； leapt to the ground； and she； clasping their knees with both hands； thus addressed them：
（ll。 83…91） 〃Save me； the hapless one； my friends； from Aeetes； and yourselves too； for all is brought to light； nor doth any remedy come。 But let us flee upon the ship； before the king mounts his swift chariot。 And I will lull to sleep the guardian serpent and give you the fleece of gold； but do thou； stranger； amid thy comrades make the gods witness of the vows thou hast taken on thyself for my sake； and now that I have fled far from my country； make me not a mark for blame and dishonour for want of kinsmen。〃
（ll。 92…98） She spake in anguish； but greatly did the heart of Aeson's son rejoice； and at once； as she fell at his knees； he raised her gently and embraced her； and spake words of comfort： 〃Lady； let Zeus of Olympus himself be witness to my oath； and Hera； queen of marriage； bride of Zeus； that I will set thee in my halls my own wedded wife； when we have reached the land of Hellas on our return。〃
（ll。 99…108） Thus he spake； and straightway clasped her right hand in his； and she bade them row the swift ship to the sacred grove near at hand； in order that； while it was still night； they might seize and carry off the fleece against the will of Aeetes。 Word and deed were one to the eager crew。 For they took her on board； and straightway thrust the ship from shore； and loud was the din as the chieftains strained at their oars； but she； starting back； held out her hands in despair towards the shore。 But Jason spoke cheering words and restrained her grief。
（ll。 109…122） Now at the hour when men have cast sleep from their eyes~huntsmen； who； trusting to their bounds； never slumber away the end of night； but avoid the light of dawn lest； smiting with its white beams； it efface the track and scent of the quarry then did Aeson's son and the maiden step forth from the ship over a grassy spot； the 〃Ram's couch〃 as men call it； where it first bent its wearied knees in rest； bearing on its back the Minyan son of Athamas。 And close by； all smirched with soot； was the base of the altar； which the Aeolid Phrixus once set up to Zeus； the alder of fugitives； when he sacrificed the golden wonder at the bidding of Hermes who graciously met him on the way。 There by the counsels of Argus the chieftains put them ashore。
（ll。 123…161） And they two by the pathway came to the sacred grove； seeking the huge oak tree on which was hung the fleece； like to a cloud that blushes red with the fiery beams of the rising sun。 But right in front the serpent with his keen sleepless eyes saw them coming； and stretched out his long neck and hissed in awful wise； and all round the long banks of the river echoed and the boundless grove。 Those heard it who dwelt in the Colchian land very far from Titanian Aea； near the outfall of Lycus； the river which parts from loud…roaring Araxes and blends his sacred stream with Phasis； and they twain flow on together in one and pour their waters into the Caucasian Sea。 And through fear young mothers awoke； and round their new…born babes； who were sleeping in their arms； threw their hands in agony； for the small limbs started at that hiss。 And as when above a pile of smouldering wood countless eddies of smoke roll up mingled with soot； and one ever springs up quickly after another； rising aloft from beneath in wavering wreaths； so at that time did that monster roll his countless coils covered with hard dry scales。 And as he writhed； the maiden came before his eyes； with sweet voice calling to her aid sleep； highest of gods； to charm the monster； and she cried to the queen of the underworld； the night…wanderer； to be propitious to her enterprise。 And Aeson's son followed in fear； but the serpent； already charmed by her song； was relaxing the long ridge of his giant spine； and lengthening out his myriad coils； like a dark wave； dumb and noiseless； rolling over a sluggish sea； but still he raised aloft his grisly head； eager to enclose them both in his murderous jaws。 But she with a newly cut spray of juniper； dipping and drawing untempered charms from her mystic brew； sprinkled his eyes； while she chanted her song； and all around the potent scent of the charm cast sleep； and on the very spot he let his jaw sink down； and far behind through the wood with its many trees were those countless coils stretched out。
Hereupon Jason snatched the golden fleece from the oak； at the maiden bidding； and she； standing firm； smeared wit
