the golden fleece(金羊毛)-第27节
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garments with the spray of the sea。
Medea pleaded with Circe to tell her of the life she foresaw for her； but
Circe would not speak of it。 She told Medea that one day she would meet a
woman who knew nothing about enchantments but who had much human
wisdom。 She was to ask of her what she was to do in her life or what she
was to leave undone。 And whatever this woman out of her wisdom told her；
that Medea was to regard。 Once more Circe offered them the cup filled
with clear water； and when they had drunken of it she left them upon the
seashore。 As she went toward her marble house the strange beasts
followed Circe； whimpering as they went。 Jason and Medea went aboard
the Argo； and the heroes drew away from Circe's island。
VI。 In The Land of the Phaeacians
Wearied were the heroes now。 They would have fain gone upon the
island of Circe to rest there away from the oars and the sound of the sea。
But the wisest of them； looking upon the beasts that were men transformed；
held the Argo far off the shore。 Then Jason and Medea came aboard； and
with heavy hearts and wearied arms they turned to the open sea again。
No longer had they such high hearts as when they drove the Argo
between the Clashers and into the Sea of Pontus。 Now their heads drooped
as they went on； and they sang such songs as slaves sing in their hopeless
labor。 Orpheus grew fearful for them now。
For Orpheus knew that they were drawing toward a danger。 There was
no other way for them； he knew； but past the Island Anthemoessa in the
Tyrrhenian Sea where the Sirens were。
Once they had been nymphs and had tended Persephone before she
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was carried off by Aidoneus to be his queen in the Underworld。 Kind they
had been； but now they were changed； and they cared only for the
destruction of men。
All set around with rocks was the island where they were。 As the Argo
came near； the Sirens； ever on the watch to draw mariners to their
destruction； saw them and came to the rocks and sang to them； holding
each other's hands。
They sang all together their lulling song。 That song made the wearied
voyagers long to let their oars go with the waves； and drift； drift to where
the Sirens were。 Bending down to them the Sirens； with soft hands and
white arms； would lift them to soft resting places。 Then each of the Sirens
sang a clear； piercing song that called to each of the voyagers。 Each man
thought that his own name was in that song。 〃O how well it is that you
have come near；〃 each one sang； 〃how well it is that you have come near
where I have awaited you； having all delight prepared for you！〃
Orpheus took up his lyre as the Sirens began to sing。 He sang to the
heroes of their own toils。 He sang of them； how； gaunt and weary as they
were； they were yet men； men who were the strength of Greece； men who
had been fostered by the love and hope of their country。 They were the
winners of the Golden Fleece and their story would be told forever。 And
for the fame that they had won men would forego all rest and all delight。
Why should they not toil； they who were born for great labors and to face
dangers that other men might not face？ Soon hands would be stretched out
to themthe welcoming hands of the men and women of their own land。
So Orpheus sang； and his voice and the music of his lyre prevailed
above the Sirens' voices。 Men dropped their oars； but other men remained
at their benches； and pulled steadily； if wearily； on。 Only one of the
Argonauts； Butes； a youth of Iolcus； threw himself into the water and
swam toward the rocks from which the Sirens sang。
But an anguish that nearly parted their spirits from their bodies was
upon them as they went wearily on。 Toward the end of the day they beheld
another islandan island that seemed very fair； they longed to land and
rest themselves there and eat the fruits of the island。 But Orpheus would
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not have them land。 The island； he said； was Thrinacia。 Upon that island
the Cattle of the Sun pastured； and if one of the cattle perished through
them their return home might not be won。 They heard the lowing of the
cattle through the mist； and a deep longing for the sight of their own fields；
with a white house near； and flocks and herds at pasture； came over the
heroes。 They came near the Island of Thrinacia； and they saw the Cattle of
the Sun feeding by the meadow streams； not one of them was black； all
were white as milk； and the horns upon their heads were golden。 They saw
the two nymphs who herded the kinePhaethusa and Lampetia； one with a
staff of silver and the other with a staff of gold。
Driven by the breeze that came over the Thrinacian Sea the Argonauts
came to the land of the Phaeacians。 It was a good land as they saw when
they drew near； a land of orchards and fresh pastures； with a white and
sun…lit city upon the height。 Their spirits came back to them as they drew
into the harbor； they made fast the hawsers； and they went upon the ways
of the city。
And then they saw everywhere around them the dark faces of Colchian
soldiers。 These were the men of King ；Eetes； and they had come overland
to the Phaeacian city； hoping to cut off the Argonauts。 Jason； when he saw
the soldiers； shouted to those who had been left on the Argo； and they
drew out of the harbor； fearful lest the Colchians should grapple with the
ship and wrest from them the Fleece of Gold。 Then Jason made an
encampment upon the shore； and the captain of the Colchians went here
and there； gathering together his men。
Medea left Jason's side and hastened through the city。 To the palace of
Alcinous； king of the Phaeacians； she went。 Within the palace she found
Arete； the queen。 And Arete was sitting by her hearth； spinning golden and
silver threads。
Arete was young at that time； as young as Medea； and as yet no child
had been born to her。 But she had the clear eyes of one who understands；
and who knows how to order things well。 Stately； too； was Arete； for she
had been reared in the house of a great king。 Medea came to her； and fell
upon her knees before her； and told her how she had fled from the house
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of her father； King Aeetes。
She told Arete； too； how she had helped Jason to win the Golden
Fleece； and she told her how through her her brother had been led to his
death。 As she told this part of her story she wept and prayed at the knees of
the queen。
Arete was greatly moved by Medea's tears and prayers。 She went to
Alcinous in his garden； and she begged of him to save the Argonauts from
the great force of the Colchians that had come to cut them off。 〃The
Golden Fleece；〃 said Arete； 〃has been won by the tasks that Jason
performed。 If the Colchians should take Medea； it would be to bring her
back to Aea and to a bitter doom。 And the maiden；〃 said the queen； 〃has
broken my heart by her prayers and tears。〃
King Alcinous said： 〃Aeetes is strong； and although his kingdom is far
from ours； he can bring war upon us。〃 But still Arete pleaded with him to
protect Medea from the Colchians。 Alcinous went within； he raised up
Medea from where she crouched on the floor of the palace； and he
promised her that the Argonauts would be protected in his city。
Then the king mounted his chariot； Medea went with him； and they
came down to the seashore where the heroes had made their encampment。
The Argonauts and the Colchians were drawn up against each other； and
the Colchians far outnumbered the wearied heroes。
Alcinous drove his chariot between the two armies。 The Colchians
prayed him to have the strangers make surrender to them。 But the king
drove his chariot to where the heroes stood； and he took the hand of each；
and received them as his guests。 Then the Colchians knew that they might
