the argonautica-第36节

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d　with　them　darted　off　Canthus；　the　fifth。　　He　was　urged　on　by　the　doom　of　the　gods　and　his　own　courage；　that　he　might　learn　for　certain　from　Heracles　where　he　had　left　Polyphemus；　son　of　Eilatus；　for　he　was　minded　to　question　him　on　every　point　concerning　his　comrade。　　But　that　hero　had　founded　a　glorious　city　among　the　Mysians；　and；　yearning　for　his　home…return；　had　passed　far　over　the　mainland　in　search　of　Argo；　and　in　time　he　reached　the　land　of　the　Chalybes；　who　dwell　near　the　sea；　there　it　was　that　his　fate　subdued　him。　　And　to　him　a　monument　stands　under　a　tall　poplar；　just　facing　the　sea。　　But　that　day　Lynceus　thought　he　saw　Heracles　all　alone；　far　off；　over　measureless　land；　as　a　man　at　the　month's　beginning　sees；　or　thinks　he　sees；　the　moon　through　a　bank　of　cloud。　　And　he　returned　and　told　his　comrades　that　no　other　searcher　would　find　Heracles　on　his　way；　and　they　also　came　back；　and　swift…footed　Euphemus　and　the　twin　sons　of　Thracian　Boreas；　after　a　vain　toil。

（ll。　1485…1501）　　But　thee；　Canthus；　the　fates　of　death　seized　in　Libya。　　On　pasturing　flocks　didst　thou　light；　and　there　followed　a　shepherd　who；　in　defence　of　his　own　sheep；　while　thou　weft　leading　them　off　（11）　to　thy　comrades　in　their　need；　slew　thee　by　the　cast　of　a　stone；　for　he　was　no　weakling；　Caphaurus；　the　grandson　of　Lycoreian　Phoebus　and　the　chaste　maiden　Acacallis；　whom　once　Minos　drove　from　home　to　dwell　in　Libya；　his　own　daughter；　when　she　was　bearing　the　gods'　heavy　load；　and　she　bare　to　Phoebus　a　glorious　son；　whom　they　call　Amphithemis　and　Garamas。　　And　Amphithemis　wedded　a　Tritonian　nymph；　and　she　bare　to　him　Nasamon　and　strong　Caphaurus；　who　on　that　day　in　defending　his　sheep　slew　Canthus。　　But　he　escaped　not　the　chieftains'　avenging　hands；　when　they　learned　the　deed　he　had　done。　　And　the　Minyae；　when　they　knew　it；　afterwards　took　up　the　corpse　and　buried　it　in　the　earth；　mourning；　and　the　sheep　they　took　with　them。

（ll。　1502…1536）　　Thereupon　on　the　same　day　a　pitiless　fate　seized　Mopsus　too；　son　of　Ampycus；　and　he　escaped　not　a　bitter　doom　by　his　prophesying；　for　there　is　no　averting　of　death。　　Now　there　lay　in　the　sand；　avoiding　the　midday　heat；　a　dread　serpent；　too　sluggish　of　his　own　will　to　strike　at　an　unwilling　foe；　nor　yet　would　he　dart　full　face　at　one　that　would　shrink　back。　　But　into　whatever　of　all　living　beings　that　life…giving　earth　sustains　that　serpent　once　injects　his　black　venom；　his　path　to　Hades　becomes　not　so　much　as　a　cubit's　length；　not　even　if　Paeeon；　if　it　is　right　for　me　to　say　this　openly；　should　tend　him；　when　its　teeth　have　only　grazed　the　skin。　　For　when　over　Libya　flew　godlike　Perseus　Eurymedon　　　for　by　that　name　his　mother　called　himbearing　to　the　king　the　Gorgon's　head　newly　severed；　all　the　drops　of　dark　blood　that　fell　to　the　earth；　produced　a　brood　of　those　serpents。　　Now　Mopsus　stepped　on　the　end　of　its　spine；　setting　thereon　the　sole　of　his　left　foot；　and　it　writhed　round　in　pain　and　bit　and　tore　the　flesh　between　the　shin　and　the　muscles。　　And　Medea　and　her　handmaids　fled　in　terror；　but　Canthus　bravely　felt　the　bleeding　wound；　for　no　excessive　pain　harassed　him。　　Poor　wretch！　　Already　a　numbness　that　loosed　his　limbs　was　stealing　beneath　his　skin；　and　a　thick　mist　was　spreading　over　his　eyes。　　Straightway　his　heavy　limbs　sank　helplessly　to　the　ground　and　he　grew　cold；　and　his　comrades　and　the　hero；　Aeson's　son；　gathered　round；　marvelling　at　the　close…coming　doom。　　Nor　yet　though　dead　might　he　lie　beneath　the　sun　even　for　a　little　space。　　For　at　once　the　poison　began　to　rot　his　flesh　within；　and　the　hair　decayed　and　fell　from　the　skin。　　And　quickly　and　in　haste　they　dug　a　deep　grave　with　mattocks　of　bronze；　and　they　tore　their　hair；　the　heroes　and　the　maidens；　bewailing　the　dead　man's　piteous　suffering；　and　when　he　had　received　due　burial　rites；　thrice　they　marched　round　the　tomb　in　full　armour；　and　heaped　above　him　a　mound　of　earth。

（ll。　1537…1553）　　But　when　they　had　gone　aboard；　as　the　south　wind　blew　over　the　sea；　and　they　were　searching　for　a　passage　to　go　forth　from　the　Tritonian　lake；　for　long　they　had　no　device；　but　all　the　day　were　borne　on　aimlessly。　　And　as　a　serpent　goes　writhing　along　his　crooked　path　when　the　sun's　fiercest　rays　scorch　him；　and　with　a　hiss　he　turns　his　head　to　this　side　and　that；　and　in　his　fury　his　eyes　glow　like　sparks　of　fire；　until　he　creeps　to　his　lair　through　a　cleft　in　the　rock；　so　Argo　seeking　an　outlet　from　the　lake；　a　fairway　for　ships；　wandered　for　a　long　time。　　Then　straightway　Orpheus　bade　them　bring　forth　from　the　ship　Apollo's　massy　tripod　and　offer　it　to　the　gods　of　the　land　as　propitiation　for　their　return。　　So　they　went　forth　and　set　Apollo's　gift　on　the　shore；　then　before　them　stood；　in　the　form　of　a　youth；　farswaying　Triton；　and　he　lifted　a　clod　from　the　earth　and　offered　it　as　a　stranger's　gift；　and　thus　spake：

（ll。　1554…1561）　　〃Take　it；　friends；　for　no　stranger's　gift　of　great　worth　have　I　here　by　me　now　to　place　in　the　hands　of　those　who　beseech　me。　　But　if　ye　are　searching　for　a　passage　through　this　sea；　as　often　is　the　need　of　men　passing　through　a　strange　land；　I　will　declare　it。　　For　my　sire　Poseidon　has　made　me　to　be　well　versed　in　this　sea。　　And　I　rule　the　shore　if　haply　in　your　distant　land　you　have　ever　heard　of　Eurypylus；　born　in　Libya；　the　home　of　wild　beasts。〃

（ll。　1562…1563）　　Thus　he　spake；　and　readily　Euphemus　held　out　his　hands　towards　the　clod；　and　thus　addressed　him　in　reply：

（ll。　1564…1570）　　〃If　haply；　hero；　thou　knowest　aught　of　Apis　（12）　and　the　sea　of　Minos；　tell　us　truly；　who　ask　it　of　you。　　For　not　of　our　will　have　we　come　hither；　but　by　the　stress　of　heavy　storms　have　we　touched　the　borders　of　this　land；　and　have　borne　our　ship　aloft　on　our　shoulders　to　the　waters　of　this　lake　over　the　mainland；　grievously　burdened；　and　we　know　not　where　a　passage　shows　itself　for　our　course　to　the　land　of　Pelops。〃

（ll。　1571…1585）　　So　he　spake；　and　Triton　stretched　out　his　hand　and　showed　afar　the　sea　and　the　lake's　deep　mouth；　and　then　addressed　them：　〃That　is　the　outlet　to　the　sea；　where　the　deep　water　lies　unmoved　and　dark；　on　each　side　roll　white　breakers　with　shining　crests；　and　the　way　between　for　your　passage　out　is　narrow。　　And　that　sea　stretches　away　in　mist　to　the　divine　land　of　Pelops　beyond　Crete；　but　hold　to　the　right；　when　ye　have　entered　the　swell　of　the　sea　from　the　lake；　and　steer　your　course　hugging　the　land；　as　long　as　it　trends　to　the　north；　but　when　the　coast　bends；　falling　away　in　the　other　direction；　then　your　course　is　safely　laid　for　you　if　ye　go　straight　forward　from　the　projecting　cape。　　But　go　in　joy；　and　as　for　labour　let　there　be　no　grieving　that　limbs　in　youthful　vigour　should　still　toil。〃

（ll。　1586…1596）　　He　spake　with　kindly　counsel；　and　they　at　once　went　aboard；　intent　to　come　forth　from　the　lake　by　the　use　of　oars。　　And　eagerly　they　sped　on；　meanwhile　Triton　took　up　the　mighty　tripod；　and　they　saw　him　enter　the　lake；　but　thereafter　did　no　one　mark　how　he　vanished　so　near　them　along　with　the　tripod。　　But　their　hearts　were　cheered；　for　that　one　of　the　blessed　had　met　them　in　friendly　guise。　　And　they　bade　Aeson's　son　offer　to　him　the　choicest　of　the　sheep　and　when　he　had　slain　it　chant　the　hymn　of　praise。　　And　straightway　he　chose　in　haste　and　raising　the　victim　slew　it　over　the　stern；　and　prayed　with　these　words：

（ll。　1597…1600）　　〃Thou　god；　who　hast　manifested　thyself　on　the　borders　of　this　land；　whether　the　daughters　born　of　the　sea　call　thee　Triton；　the　great　sea…marvel；　or　Phoreys；　or　Nereus；　be　gracious；　and　grant　the　return　home　dear　to　our　hearts。〃

（ll。　1601…1637）　　He　spake；　and　cut　the　victim's　throat　over　the　water　and　cast　it　from　the　stern。　　And　the　god　rose　up　from　the　depths　in　form　such　as　he　really　was。　　And　as　when　a　man　trains　a　swift　steed　for　the　broad　race…course；　and　runs　along；　grasping　the　bushy　mane；　while　the　steed　follows　obeying　his　master；　and　rears　his　neck　aloft　in　his　pride；　and　the　gleaming　bit　rings　loud　as　he　champs　it　in　his　jaws　from　side　to　side；　so　the　god；　seizing　hollow　Argo's　keel；　guided　her　onward　to　the　sea。　　And　his　body；　from　the　crown　of　his　head；　round　his　back　and　waist　as　far　as　the　belly；　was　wondrously　like　that　of　the　blessed　ones　in　form；　but　below　his　sides　the　tail　of　a　sea　monster　lengthened　far；　forking　to　this　side　and　that；　and　he　smote　the　surface　of　the　waves　with　the　spines；　which　below　parted　into　curving　fins；　like　the　horns　of　the　new　moon。　　And　he　guided　Argo　on　until　he　sped　her　into　the　sea　on　her　course；　and　quickly　he　plunged　into　the　vast　abyss；　and　the　heroes　shouted　when　they　gazed　with　their　eyes　on　that　dread　portent。　　There　is　the　harbour　of　Argo　and　there　are　the　signs　of　her　stay；　and　altars　to　Poseidon　and　Triton；　for　during　that　day　they　tarried。　　But　at　dawn　with　sails　outspread　they　sped　on　before　the　breath　of　the　west　wind；　keeping　the　desert　land　on　their　right。　　And　on　the　next　morn　they　saw　the　headland　and　the　recess　of　the　sea；　bending　inward　beyond　the　jutting　headland。　　And　straightway　the　west　wind　ceased；　and　there　came　the　breeze　of　the　clear　south　wind；　and　their　hearts　rejoiced　at　the　sound　it　made。　　But　when　the　sun　sank　and　the　star　returned　that　bids　the　shepherd　fold；　which　brings　rest　to　wearie