the argonautica-第8节
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d a report that whenever a godlike band of heroes should come； straightway he should meet it with gentle words and should have no thought of war。 As with Jason； the soft down was just blooming on his chin； nor yet had it been his lot to rejoice in children； but still in his palace his wife was untouched by the pangs of child…birth； the daughter of Percosian Merops； fair…haired Cleite； whom lately by priceless gifts he had brought from her father's home from the mainland opposite。 But even so he left his chamber and bridal bed and prepared a banquet among the strangers； casting all fears from his heart。 And they questioned one another in turn。 Of them would he learn the end of their voyage and the injunctions of Pelias； while they enquired about the cities of the people round and all the gulf of the wide Propontis； but further he could not tell them for all their desire to learn。 In the morning they climbed mighty Dindymum that they might themselves behold the various paths of that sea； and they brought their ship from its former anchorage to the harbour； Chytus； and the path they trod is named the path of Jason。
（ll。 989…1011） But the Earthborn men on the other side rushed down from the mountain and with crags below blocked up the mouth of vast Chytus towards the sea； like men lying in wait for a wild beast within。 But there Heracles had been left behind with the younger heroes and he quickly bent his back…springing bow against the monsters and brought them to earth one after another； and they in their turn raised huge ragged rocks and hurled them。 For these dread monsters too； I ween； the goddess Hera； bride of Zeus； had nurtured to be a trial for Heracles。 And therewithal came the rest of the martial heroes returning to meet the foe before they reached the height of outlook； and they fell to the slaughter of the Earthborn； receiving them with arrows and spears until they slew them all as they rushed fiercely to battle。 And as when woodcutters cast in rows upon the beach long trees just hewn down by their axes； in order that； once sodden with brine； they may receive the strong bolts； so these monsters at the entrance of the foam…fringed harbour lay stretched one after another； some in heaps bending their heads and breasts into the salt waves with their limbs spread out above on the land； others again were resting their heads on the sand of the shore and their feet in the deep water； both alike a prey to birds and fishes at once。
（ll。 1012…1076） But the heroes； when the contest was ended without fear； loosed the ship's hawsers to the breath of the wind and pressed on through the sea…swell。 And the ship sped on under sail all day； but when night came the rushing wind did not hold steadfast； but contrary blasts caught them and held them back till they again approached the hospitable Doliones。 And they stepped ashore that same night； and the rock is still called the Sacred Rock round which they threw the ship's hawsers in their haste。 Nor did anyone note with care that it was the same island； nor in the night did the Doliones clearly perceive that the heroes were returning； but they deemed that Pelasgian war…men of the Macrians had landed。 Therefore they donned their armour and raised their hands against them。 And with clashing of ashen spears and shields they fell on each other； like the swift rush of fire which falls on dry brushwood and rears its crest； and the din of battle； terrible and furious； fell upon the people of the Doliones。 Nor was the king to escape his fate and return home from battle to his bridal chamber and bed。 But Aeson's son leapt upon him as he turned to face him； and smote him in the middle of the breast； and the bone was shattered round the spear； he rolled forward in the sand and filled up the measure of his fate。 For that no mortal may escape； but on every side a wide snare encompasses us。 And so； when he thought that he had escaped bitter death from the chiefs； fate entangled him that very night in her toils while battling with them； and many champions withal were slain； Heracles killed Telecles and Megabrontes； and Acastus slew Sphodris； and Peleus slew Zelus and Gephyrus swift in war。 Telamon of the strong spear slew Basileus。 And Idas slew Promeus； and Clytius Hyacinthus； and the two sons of Tyndareus slew Megalossaces and Phlogius。 And after them the son of Oeneus slew bold Itomeneus； and Artaceus； leader of men； all of whom the inhabitants still honour with the worship due to heroes。 And the rest gave way and fled in terror just as doves fly in terror before swift…winged hawks。 And with a din they rustled in a body to the gates； and quickly the city was filled with loud cries at the turning of the dolorous fight。 But at dawn both sides perceived the fatal and cureless error； and bitter grief seized the Minyan heroes when they saw before them Cyzicus son of Aeneus fallen in the midst of dust and blood。 And for three whole days they lamented and rent their hair； they and the Dollones。 Then three times round his tomb they paced in armour of bronze and performed funeral rites and celebrated games； as was meet； upon the meadow…plain； where even now rises the mound of his grave to be seen by men of a later day。 No； nor was his bride Cleite left behind her dead husband； but to crown the ill she wrought an ill yet more awful； when she clasped a noose round her neck。 Her death even the nymphs of the grove bewailed； and of all the tears for her that they shed to earth from their eyes the goddesses made a fountain； which they call Cleite； （7） the illustrious name of the hapless maid。 Most terrible came that day from Zeus upon the Doliones； women and men； for no one of them dared even to taste food； nor for a long time by reason of grief did they take thought for the toil of the cornmill； but they dragged on their lives eating their food as it was； untouched by fire。 Here even now； when the Ionians that dwell in Cyzicus pour their yearly libations for the dead； they ever grind the meal for the sacrificial cakes at the common mill。 （8）
（ll。 1079…1091） After this； fierce tempests arose for twelve days and nights together and kept them there from sailing。 But in the next night the rest of the chieftains； overcome by sleep； were resting during the latest period of the night； while Acastus and Mopsus the son of Ampyeus kept guard over their deep slumbers。 And above the golden head of Aeson's son there hovered a halcyon prophesying with shrill voice the ceasing of the stormy winds； and Mopsus heard and understood the cry of the bird of the shore； fraught with good omen。 And some god made it turn aside； and flying aloft it settled upon the stern…ornament of the ship。 And the seer touched Jason as he lay wrapped in soft sheepskins and woke him at once； and thus spake：
（ll。 1092…1102） 〃Son of Aeson； thou must climb to this temple on rugged Dindymum and propitiate the mother （9） of all the blessed gods on her fair throne； and the stormy blasts shall cease。 For such was the voice I heard but now from the halcyon； bird of the sea； which； as it flew above thee in thy slumber； told me all。 For by her power the winds and the sea and all the earth below and the snowy seat of Olympus are complete； and to her； when from the mountains she ascends the mighty heaven； Zeus himself； the son of Cronos； gives place。 In like manner the rest of the immortal blessed ones reverence the dread goddess。〃
（ll。 1103…1152） Thus he spake； and his words were welcome to Jason's ear。 And he arose from his bed with joy and woke all his comrades hurriedly and told them the prophecy of Mopsus the son of Ampycus。 And quickly the younger men drove oxen from their stalls and began to lead them to the mountain's lofty summit。 And they loosed the hawsers from the sacred rock and rowed to the Thracian harbour； and the heroes climbed the mountain； leaving a few of their comrades in the ship。 And to them the Macrian heights and all the coast of Thrace opposite appeared to view close at hand。 And there appeared the misty mouth of Bosporus and the Mysian hills； and on the other side the stream of the river Aesepus and the city and Nepeian plain of Adrasteia。 Now there was a sturdy stump of vine that grew in the forest； a tree exceeding old； this they cut down； to be the sacred image of the mountain goddess； and Argus smoothed it skilfully； and they set it upon that rugged hill beneath a canopy of lofty oaks； which of all trees have their roots deepest。 And near it they heaped an altar of small stones； and wreathed their brows with oak leaves and paid heed to sacrifice； invoking the mother of Dindymum； most venerable； dweller in Phrygia； and Titias and Cyllenus； who alone of many are called dispensers of doom and assessors of the Idaean mother；the Idaean Dactyls of Crete； whom once the nymph Anchiale； as she grasped with both hands the land of Oaxus； bare in the Dictaean cave。 And with many prayers did Aeson's son beseech the goddess to turn aside the stormy blasts as he poured libations on the blazing sacrifice； and at the same time by command of Orpheus the youths trod a measure dancing in full armour； and clashed with their swords on their shields； so that the ill…omened cry might be lost in the air the wail
