the golden fleece(金羊毛)-第19节
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after a mortal's ship had passed between them。
They were now in the Sea of Pontus； the sea into which flowed the
river that Colchis was uponthe River Phasis。 And now above Jason's
head the bird of peaceful days； the Halcyon； fluttered； and the Argonauts
knew that this was a sign from the gods that the voyage would not any
more be troublous。
XII。 The Mountain Caucasus
They rested in the harbor of Thynias； the desert island； and sailing
from there they came to the land of the Mariandyni； a people who were
constantly at war with the Bebrycians； there the hero Polydeuces was
welcomed as a god。 Twelve days afterward they passed the mouth of the
River Callichorus； then they came to the mouth of that river that flows
through the land of the Amazons； the River Thermodon。 Fourteen days
from that place brought them to the island that is filled with the birds of
Ares； the god of war。 These birds dropped upon the heroes heavy； pointed
feathers that would have pierced them as arrows if they had not covered
themselves with their shields； then by shouting； and by striking their
shields with their spears； they raised such a clamor as drove the birds
away。
They sailed on； borne by a gentle breeze； until a gulf of the sea opened
before them； and lo！ a mountain that they knew bore some mighty name。
Orpheus； looking on its peak and its crags； said； 〃Lo； now！ We； the
Argonauts； are looking upon the mountain that is named Caucasus！〃
When he declared the name the heroes all stood up and looked on the
mountain with awe。 And in awe they cried out a name； and that name was
〃Prometheus！〃
For upon that mountain the Titan god was held； his limbs bound upon
the hard rocks by fetters of bronze。 Even as the Argonauts looked toward
the mountain a great shadow fell upon their ship； and looking up they saw
a monstrous bird flying。 The beat of the bird's wings filled out the sail and
drove the Argo swiftly onward。 〃It is the bird sent by Zeus；〃 Orpheus said。
〃It is the vulture that every day devours the liver of the Titan god。〃 They
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cowered down on the ship as they heard that wordall the Argonauts save
Heracles； he stood upright and looked out toward where the bird was
flying。 Then； as the bird came near to the mountain； the Argonauts heard a
great cry of anguish go up from the rocks。
〃It is Prometheus crying out as the bird of Zeus flies down upon him；〃
they said to one another。 Again they cowered down on the ship； all save
Heracles； who stayed looking toward where the great vulture had flown。
The night came and the Argonauts sailed on in silence； thinking in awe
of the Titan god and of the doom that Zeus had inflicted upon him。 Then；
as they sailed on under the stars； Orpheus told them of Prometheus； of his
gift to men； and of the fearful punishment that had been meted out to him
by Zeus。
Prometheus
The gods more than once made a race of men： the first was a Golden
Race。 Very close to the gods who dwell on Olympus was this Golden Race；
they lived justly although there were no laws to compel them。 In the time
of the Golden Race the earth knew only one season； and that season was
everlasting Spring。 The men and women of the Golden Race lived through
a span of life that was far beyond that of the men and women of our day；
and when they died it was as though sleep had become everlasting with
them。 They had all good things； and that without labor； for the earth
without any forcing bestowed fruits and crops upon them。 They had peace
all through their lives； this Golden Race； and after they had passed away
their spirits remained above the earth； inspiring the men of the race that
came after them to do great and gracious things and to act justly and
kindly to one another。
After the Golden Race had passed away； the gods made for the earth a
second racea Silver Race。 Less noble in spirit and in body was this Silver
Race； and the seasons that visited them were less gracious。 In the time of
the Silver Race the gods made the seasonsSummer and Spring； and
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
Autumn and Winter。 They knew parching heat； and the bitter winds of
winter； and snow and rain and hail。 It was the men of the Silver Race who
first built houses for shelter。 They lived through a span of life that was
longer than our span； but it was not long enough to give wisdom to them。
Children were brought up at their mothers' sides for a hundred years；
playing at childish things。 And when they came to years beyond a
hundred they quarreled with one another； and wronged one another； and
did not know enough to give reverence to the immortal gods。 Then； by the
will of Zeus； the Silver Race passed away as the Golden Race had
passed away。 Their spirits stay in the Underworld； and they are called by
men the blessed spirits of the Underworld。
And then there was made the third racethe Race of Bronze。 They
were a race great of stature； terrible and strong。 Their armor was of bronze；
their swords were of bronze； their implements were of bronze； and of
bronze； too； they made their houses。 No great span of life was theirs； for
with the weapons that they took in their terrible hands they slew one
another。 Thus they passed away； and went down under the earth to Hades；
leaving no name that men might know them by。
Then the gods created a fourth raceour own： a Race of Iron。 We have
not the justice that was amongst the men of the Golden Race； nor the
simpleness that was amongst the men of the Silver Race； nor the stature
nor the great strength that the men of the Bronze Race possessed。 We are
of iron that we may endure。 It is our doom that we must never cease from
labor and that we must very quickly grow old。
But miserable as we are to…day； there was a time when the lot of men
was more miserable。 With poor implements they had to labor on a hard
ground。 There was less justice and kindliness amongst men in those days
than there is now。
Once it came into the mind of Zeus that he would destroy the fourth
race and leave the earth to the nymphs and the satyrs。 He would destroy it
by a great flood。 But Prometheus； theTitan god who had given aid to
Zeus against the other TitansPrometheus； who was called the Foreseer
could not consent to the race of men being destroyed utterly； and he
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considered a way of saving some of them。 To a man and a woman；
Deucalion and Pyrrha； just and gentle people； he brought word of the plan
of Zeus； and he showed them how to make a ship that would bear them
through what was about to be sent upon the earth。
Then Zeus shut up in their cave all the winds but the wind that brings
rain and clouds。 He bade this wind； the South Wind； sweep over the earth；
flooding it with rain。 He called upon Poseidon and bade him to let the sea
pour in upon the land。 And Poseidon commanded the rivers to put forth all
their strength； and sweep dykes away； and overflow their banks。
The clouds and the sea and the rivers poured upon the earth。 The flood
rose higher and higher； and in the places where the pretty lambs had
played the ugly sea calves now gambolled； men in their boats drew fishes
out of the tops of elm trees； and the water nymphs were amazed to come
on men's cities under the waves。
Soon even the men and women who had boats were overwhelmed by
the rise of waterall perished then except Deucalion and Pyrrha； his wife；
them the waves had not overwhelmed； for they were in a ship that
Prometheus had shown them how to build。 The flood went down at last；
and Deucalion and Pyrrha climbed up to a high and a dry ground。 Zeus
saw that two of the race of men had been left alive。 But he saw that these
two were just and kindly
