T H E ARGONAUTS

How Argus wrought, But nowh it mine th And to bell of the long

memorials For they burgeon and bloom by Zonéyet on

F6: bio hi hem ri se g p , when he

was ; but now were his limbs

Yet even at of old hi s hcart with

for that Aiaon had ’ si ster the l hfinkid tbé love of his kin to conmain hhn to join that THE F IRST BOOK

e n Neither Adm tus in Pherae, the goodly la d of sheep, ’ am m Chalkodon s o - In his M m m untain steep . Neither in Alopebu ried Echion and Er sons m n Of Hermes , wealthy in co m o es. m kinsma the third with came forthon the t m these, , Ques

as they hied , Am hr sns where the streams of p y softly slide, ’ En olemeia Phthian r p the , Myrmidon s daughter, ha e, ‘ But ofls rin of Antianeira the M enefid those twain p g were. Came thither M forsa king Gyrton the wealthy town ’ ’ t valiant e Righ was Kainen son , yet he passed not his father s renown . For of K aineus the oets have sun howsmitten ofCenu nrs he died p g, ,

Who could not be slain, when alone in his prowess, with nohc ac

t He drave them before him in rout, but hey rallied, and charged

afresh ,

Yet availed not their fury to thrust him aback , nor to pierce his flesh ;

But unconquered, unflinching , down to the underworld Battered from life by the storm of the massy pines that Tia resian “ t was i And came — ops withal , un o whom g ven ’ M Of Léto s son ahove al l men tfi lore of the birds of the ’ E Ktimenus d th And there was son , which welt in e land M X nian mere did his 0 al fol the y p ace stand . ’ nitins fared at Aktor his fi ther s behest ' To the end he might go with the Chieftains of men on the yo

glorious Quest. And £95293“ hath followed with these ; the mighty 18 one, ’ ’ a Aktor s This, cleon scion, and that, of Irus , son ; For in soothit was Teleon he at Erihétes the l - g g crowned, Irus E And , urytion. exceeding cunning to followW flight O r l a ht f the foe, when the ee ing b ttalions were s at ered before his THE ARGONAUTS

Came the son of Kanéthus the scion of Abns ; witheager speed Came Kanthus forthof Eubma : it was not fate-decreed

Even he and M o sus witha l the wise in a ur P , ng y, T r s i l t he t - o e i hin L b a os in t was e of a wide sand . p y , sea 8 h of ooth, never was misc ief removed too far to be found the doomed ; ’ s in Fora much as Libya s desert were even these entombed, As fsr from the K olchian land as the space outstretched between ’ i h The sun s uprising, and where the sett ng t ereof is seen . ' And Kl us and I naus athered to that reat musterin it s g g g, O E l ichalia s warders, of urytus, ruth ess king, Who recei ved of F ar-smiter a bow but he had no f , thereo , ’ F or in archer -skill withthe i ver s self he t ve y g wan y s ro . ’ Aialtus 9° And with these fared sons, yet not from the oelfsame a Pl ce, Nor together, for far had they wandered away from the home of

Actin whm sme in their folly the blood of their brother they Salamis Telamon bare his burden of guilt But eleus roved till in Phthia the halls nf t h P he outcast e built.

h Kekro ia 3 - And with t ese from p Boutes, lord of battle fame, ’ Stout Teleon s and n t e mi ht s earman came m w h g y p . l t was AJkon his father that sen t him forth: no sons sa ve him Had the ancient to cherishhis age and his light of life grown dim - Yet. albeit his only begotten he was, and the last of his line, sent him amidst valour heroes his r ess He , that so of p ow should

shine . But Theseus son s of E , of all the rechtheus most renowned, At Tainarum under the earthb an unseen fetber a bo y w s und. F or he trod the Pathof F ear withPeirithoiis ; else that Quest B the mi ht of these had been li htlier com nssed of all th y g g p e rest. ’ AM Ha ni s son hathforsake the T i t M g a , n hesp ans hat dwell In the city of Siphas : of all men keenest was he to foretell THE FIRST BOOK

a es on the broad sea keen to foreknow fi'om afar The wrath ofthe w v , b The blasts of the ston mand to guide the galle sun and y star. " y by T At Q Tritonis -m was t ‘ herself that made him eager uled To join that muster of heroes that longed his face to behold ; For she fashioned the sea-swift shihani Argus but wrought as e n ’ ’ ' t s counsels Ares or s son , for the Godde s s guided his hand

Therefore amongst all ships unmatched was the ship that he made, h Even all that with swi nging oars the paths of the sea ave essayed. Arai thriae Came Phlias withal from y to essay the Quest, m m of his Fro a y home, for the toil hands had the Wine od blessed, ’ wellethAsfi us bill s . His er, where p up from the green breast s Aréius Talaus From Argos did son of Bias, and , come, ’ ’ And Laodolt Néleus mighty gs, fruit of daughter s womb, ’ m sake Ai olus scion Melampus bore ’ hiltlus ami ction . In {p steading of bonds exceeding sore l Ior yet did the prowess of mighty-hearted Herakles fail ’ Aison s The longing of son for his helping, as telleth the tale . as soon as the fl in rumonr of erin heroes he h y g g eard , r h'om - He turned f om the track that he tr Arcadia Argos ward, On the paththat he paced as he bare that boar alive fi nm the glen Of M eia herein he hs d batt d the vast Er a h L w ene m nt ian . p , , y fen ’ At the entering-in of Mycenae s market- stead be cast t shoulders the beu , as he writhed in his bonds

himself of his 1 ° But own will, aside, 3 t H Has ed away ; and las, Whi r t ehbere his ar ows warded his bow, wi hthe bero hathhied. t - Therewithal ba hthe scion of god descended Danaus gone, ’ Nar i n Kl wnéus Naubolus jin , born unto King y , son IEg a Naub lus a d Leron o sprang ; n m , as bards have ca lfd, ’ Ptoitus u s i of Of , Na plius son and unto Po e don old ’ ’ o e dau hter who t ce Amym n , Danaus g , couched in he God s embra . ’ E m-hm m m . chief in r s emit. oi Qn e u Bare Nauplius, the seafare

THE FIRST BOOK

Had his old m dsire in a t c s g secre hamber hidden from ight, ’ ha s he - If ply o might cripple the wi ng s of the eagle s flight. Fared thither Angeiaa; tbey named him in songs of the olden day the hero in Elie- land bare sway he lon ed to behold the l hn g Ko c i o coast, h Aiétes tbe lord of the Kolchian ost. stefi s cam and Am hi the sons t at a fair ueen b re A u g B p m b q o , ’ When P elléné s king Hy a n“ dwelt i n the city of yore ° ’ ’ By Pelles their grandsire mlt neath the cliffs of Achaia w hore . Tainarus to b e ined to their o n from came jo c mpa y, ’ Europé s child ; and the swiftest of all men on Earthwas be : 180 ’ F or the daugheer ofTuym the giant oouehed in Poseidon s embrace; ’ ’ s run o er And thi their son would the grey sea s weltering face, Né ther sank in the sur e his fast-fl ste s but ithfo tsole g ying p , , w o i hthe s h on w t ra on aver ath as e ted . Bedewed p y , his w y p w waf

One lea vin Miletus afar cit o hau ht fame g , the y f g y , ’ E E s Imbrasian e e ven rginu , and one from H r s fane h the mi ht and en of renown r t e t n Part enia, g y ; m we e h wai In the crafi the and ithal mthe toil of the bnt - m w de stra in. ’ Kal don Oineus s h Hasting from y son to their mu ter ath hied, fl La i Melu get the m l wart ; and there was oefi n st ll st his side, Brother to Oineus but nOt of the selfsam omb er th r w e ey , Fm a had md d hre him s and l fim thoughfieoked was his

uide and for u r t his son hathOineus the old ki sent For g g a d o ng . So it fell that a beardleu lad to the valorous gathering went t eroes ; yet no man of al l that ca me had the deeds ouMone Of me M m e H m kk g it e might bm hn w ded w ’ One yu r mid Aetoha s wng t ill he grew to his strengthl

’ - Yea, and his mother s brother, a javelin hurler keen, And a warrior tried whm foot is set in t f e r , aga s oot in thf ay, 8 THE ARGONAUTS

Lernus in name ; hu mbin hwu he chfld of me Lmd ot e Wherefore he halted in either foot ; but his bodily frame And his pmwm might no man contemmfor wdi ichcause also his

Was und t t s fo wi hthe mighty who won for J ason dea hles fame. ’ I hitus O Pholti s Came , rnytus son, from withal for the Quest, Of Naubo us in the r t J n his uest ine : days ove pas was aso g , What time un to Pytho he fared to inquire of the high Touching the Quest ; for he welcomed him then in his mountain n o

home . ’ - l And Zetes and Kalais withal , the North wind s chi dren, e wer there, ’ Oreithia E e a Whom y , rechtheus daughter, to Bor as b re In the uttermost part of wintry Thrace ; for the God And the Thracian North- wind snatched her away

town, E ’ ven as she whirled in the dance on the lawn by Ilissus flow. And he brought her afar to the place where standeth the crag men R E For the ock of Sarpedon, whereby doth rginus the river glide u m de And he shrouded her round with viewless clo ds, and he

her his bride. And lo on the ankles of these did uiverin , q g unfold, 00 l , $ , they upleapt a beho d

Down-streaming from neck and from head in the glory of youth e array d, Dark tresses that tossed in the rushing breezes amidst them that

’ That da withhis rni ht in th P y g y sire e halls of elias pride . would Ar us be left had wrou ht e e Nor g , who g as Ath n guided his hand ; Butt i needs mnst number t tht lor s b hese twa n be ed oo wi he g iou and . ’ This is the ta le of the helpers withAim s son that were found Th un ese be the men whom the folk , even all which dwelt aro d ‘ ‘ THE F LRS I BOOK 9

Called ever the Minyan Chiefs : for of those that went on the ap

’ Born of the dau hte rs of Min as blood were the most e g y and thbest. Yea she whichhad borne thi s J ason to ern r s erilous- , p i e p wild, ’ Al khned also was dau hter o l mené A g y , Minyas child. Now when all things ready were made by the hands of many a thrall, Even whatso the galley for sea ready-dight should be furnished

withal , W t hen trafi c lure hthe shipmen afar to an alieu land, Then throu hthe cit the awed to their shi here she la g y y p p, w y on the strand

Whi his sia a a E as c cal ed Ma ne n sae. er on rd t st ode l g P g v , wa hey r , To right and so left a mingled mnltitude ran : but showed Radiant amidst them as stars aM d elouds nd some u ; a gn cry, As gau d on the gloriom fomu that in hm ess ofwarswept by ‘ ' ’ t is in Peln s t ht i us ao W houg a, K ng Ze , that goodl y a band t eroes is hurled by him forthof the Panachaian land In the day of their comin g withravening fire the halls shall

he shall yield tbem the Fleeoe of his owu

’ But lon a liethbet ee una o d t i a g w y w n, ce mplishe ye t is the o l. So spake they on this side and that throughthe city z the

Heaven ward u lifti n their hands to the Gods tht abide for a e p g , a y ’ Made vehement prayer for the hea rt s delight of the home

And one to another made answern nd moenedfl s her tears fell fam ‘ WM M M M e m w il m w a m M ; Nor to thee was vouchsafed amid blies to the end of thy days to attain ! ’ — Woe s me for Ai son the ill-m rred l veril y this had been F or him if rolled is shroud be£ore this l da , in h woefu y, the cu of aflliction unw ted he la p , y to TH E ARGONAUTS

— ’ Had whelmed down Phrixus too withthe ram l but a man s

F rom the throat of the monster the ortent accurst that so it , p ,

’ F or t s t Alkimedé sorrow and griefs untold in he day o come. ’ So mi m m c h e d the oan of the women ar hed the ero s along. And by thi s were the thralls and the handmaids gathered in o

n - Then fell on his neck his mother , and sharply the a guish thorn f his - Pierced each so t breast, the while father , the eld forlorn, l s -s his bed la roanin and r nn C o e wathed as a corpse on , y g g g o

But the hero essayed to hushtheir laments and am ge their pain r - With words of chee , and he spake, Take up my war array! in si len ce obe To the thralls, and with downcast eyes did these y . as round her fi had flu But his mother , child her arms at the rst she ng , So elawe and e t without stint as the motherless maiden she she, w p :

little arms clas fondl her re old nurse when p y g y , m he e t tid — Comethup of her woe z ehe hath no one to love her nor com

’ ’ And a wear e neatha ste dame s y lot is h rs p tyrannous sway, Who with bitter reviliny evil -entreateth her youthalway : And her heart as she wailethis cramped as by chains in her

That she cannot sob forththe anguish that strug lethfor utterance there :

So stintlessl e t Alkimedé so in her arms did she strain y w p , H er son ; and she cried fi'orn the depths of her l ove and her W S W“ ‘ Q htha t on that same da hen I the a t , y w , lihc ion H earkened the voice of elias the kin and his P g, evil behest, I had ielded u the hos and for otten to mourn and to ee y p g g g w p, l t That thyse f, hat thine own have laid me to sln p, —THE FIRST BOOK xl O my beloved l J or this was the one wishunfulfilled But with other thy nursing-dues long had mine heart in con nt tentme been stilled. ' And L of Achaia s daughters the envied in da s that are shall be f hlone Like a bondwoman now in tenantless halls le t , Pinin a ha less mother in earnin for thee m ride g, p , y g , y p

And exceeding delight in the days overpast, for whom I untied F or the first sime and last my zone ; for to me beyond otha s

- Of the stern Birth goddess begrudge—d abundan t fruit ofthe womb. Ahme for l e of henrt not not dream e o my b indn ss l once, in g e might I see The vision of Phrixus ’ deliverance turned to a curse for me ! e of e So mourned she, and ver she moaned amidst her spe ch , and there by S h and echoed her il exceedi bitter tood her andmaids a an . , w , ng cry But the hero ith entle ords ha a r w g w for comfort m de answe ,

‘ not thus overmeasure withan uishof soul for thsake Fill me g y , mine forasmuchas from shalt not redeem Mother , evil thou me so

tears but shalt add the rather woe unto wei ht of woe, , g Gods mete out unto morta ls afi i eti ons unforeseen

Take comfort no thinhthat Athéné hereuntb our courage hathsoo

Remember the oracles : call to remembran oe how good was the word h b f r t - hat is Oft us . e lad o his hero arra for mine l t come g y he p . Now mother do thou withthine hm dmaids i n uiet abide in , , q

- Neither be as a bird ill -omeued to bode my And escort of clansmen and thralls th “son to So s ake he and mid p , turned hu forth ‘ hathhe ta en .

- i n “ And as goeth Apollo forth of his incense bear g . 1 2 THE ARGONAUTS

t K laros or P tho the la ThroughDelos he hallowed, “ , y p c e

Or L cia the de here the waters of Xanthus ri le and shm e y wi , w pp S se ed he on ard he ressed throu hthe thron and o em , as w p g g,

And re met him an d c n arose. the Of their mingled cheeri g an t ),

dame, hias s of Artemis of tower , priestes warder k his ri ht hand ca ht she and kissed i but s ake no word at all t g ug , g p , ’ Fm she cmdd nog how fain soe erfl o pressed the multitude on ; frin fthe and as left alone Amds he drifi ed away to the ge o c w , t d the un : d he ssed on afar and was As he ol be left by yo g an pa ,

gone . So t streets of the cit builded r when he had left be y fai , To the beachPa asaean and his comrades hailed him there g be came, In a thnong abiding beside the Argo ship as she lay ’ B the i s mouthand o era ainst her athered the . y r ver , v g g y And the looked and behold Adrastus and Ar us hasti n amam y , , g g Tbitherward fi-om the cit and sorel the marvelled beholdin y, y y , g

to ask them of this or of thnt

B l t h th s t ut he bade them for counci si them down w ere e other sa .

So there u folded il and the mast as it la alon pon sa g y g, Row upon row were the heroes sitting all in a throng ;

in liethin seem for our go g ly array . ’ things sake will we malte no longer delay F rom our sailin so soon as the breem lmt blow for the vo a e g, y g

' — - But h e sinoe in ho e for the home return to u land we be , iend p o r

O0C, THE FIRST BOOK r3

And one in the wa we must mke w Aiéte the athof the u t y g p Q es , Therefore do ye now choose withhea rts ungmdging our best To be chief and ca tain to order all our oin s ari ht p , g g g ,

As he sat in their ‘ ’— Crying Our captain be thou ! but not from his placc he

But he stretched his ri ht ha nd forthand he ans ere and k g , w d spa e the word ‘ L et no man oifer this honour to me : I will nowise consent ; And if an man else would arise l will also withstand his int ent. y , ’ The selfsa me man who assembled our bandJ et him too lmd. H e k in his of soul and the shouted i spa e greatness , y , pra sing the rede

' Of H erakles ; then did J ason the warrior wight re And he sprang w his feeg and he spake in their with voice : 0

our voyaging tarry no more ; sufli ce the delays

now, even now, let us oifer to Phte bus the sacrifice meet, And re are us a feast even here and while et tars the feet p p ; , y y Of m r overseers of y thalls, my command F itl to choose for us beasts from the herd and t i t y , o dr ve to he

to ohey, 1 4 TH E ARGONAUTS

The heroes arose and their arments row u on ro he ed th , g p w ap ey On a smoothrock - shelf : the waves of the sea beat not thereon ;

But the dash of the stormy brine had cleansed it long agone . Then ivin heed to the counsels of Ar us stoutl the braced , g g g , y y The ship with a hawser deftly twisted that girded her waist ; For the strai ned it from d tha the beams t the bol ts y side to si e, o might hold ith d - Fast, and w m n the might of the meeting surge on rolled . 370 a tren ch i And , in compass as great as the w dth of the galley, they delved ; And overagainst her prow to the see so far it shelved s u “ t l i m tha the hull shou d run, by the m ght of their

n s And deepening ever afro t of her stern they cooped that bed . n d - A smoothly maven rollers they laid in the furrow arow . s Then down on the foremost rollers lowly they tilted her prow, That adown them one after other with one smooth rush she i might sl de . Thereafter above did they pass the oars h'om side to side the lash on it hand To the tholes did y them , outstanding a cubit e her And to right ofthe ship and to left at these did they ta lte their stand 38° and fro Ti hs t o- -h Went p y the while, to shou in the season the y heave o. e wo rd with shout and uth t ri ht Then gav he the a mighty , the yo sfor hg they thrust with their uttermom

F m h berthin the sand as withfeet hard-sna in ' l ro er , ing suong y thel e F hzfdrward Pelian s orcing , and Argo eaward swept F ull swiftl and shouted the all as to ri ht and to left the t y , y , g y leap . ’ under the massy keel s heavy grinding groaned aloud

lle s ando s irted about them the srnoke in a duslt The ro r , p y cloud ’ shin wei t : and into the sea she Neaththe cru g gh slid, and her crew sge rs war ed her Back withthe hawse p , and stayed her as onward

she flew . “ mm mm s ome 1 5

the oars t the t les the tted on either side the mast Then o ho y fi , and l - n And the we l fashio ed sails, and the tackling withal, therein

they cast. ' ut as hdili en e t had tl B soon wit g t hed hey ordered all ungs so. First cast the the lots for the thwarts e man should r y wh reat each ow, Allotting one unto two men still ; but the midmost thwart F or e chose the first from the rest of the he roes a Herakl s y , part ; l - l And Ankaius the dwe ler in Tegea town for his fe low they chose . l f th th l h t So dae midmost p ace o e benches ey eft uuc alleng ed to hoee, Neither cast for them lots ; and withune consent of the voices qoo of them Unto Tiphys was given the helm Then did they heap of the stones at hand To the sea an altar the reared to A ollo the Lord of the Stran , y p d, called the a- Who is Lord ofthe farers shipboard withal, and in haste

’ And by this were the herdmen of Aison s son drawn nighthereto Bringing oxen twain from the herd ; and these the y oung men And set them beeide the altar ; and others stood thereby Wt the ate f sacrifice and the meal no r i h w r o . And w d ew nigh ’ fathers god did he cry : Pa asae dwellest whose filir halls in g , be

i : md to thee do we vow aga n , a on thine s fe home , altar to lay ' Burnt ofierings so many of goodly bulls : there withal will l pay - A fi o th shrb and Ofl i othel ifu be o d t y q yg g g y n rice.

of this Which now, at our going abroad , for the sake our ship We oEer our first of a ll : and with ros erous weird nm l , p p y slip The hsm ers b th n : and soft bid blow hr e , y y devisi g the eez t M m ma y fare on ever throughcalm efi e m m m 1 6 THE ARGONAUTS

With the prayer then cast he the meal z and now for the

Ankaius H eraltles. Girded themselves, the mighty, and And this withhis club on the foreheed smote the steer mid-head ; heavil all in a hes to the earthit dr ed d y p opp own dead. Ankaius withhia brazen axe at the seoond steer On the broad neck : clean throughthe sinews strong thereof did

And there on the earthwithhorns doubled under its cheet it la , , y . And swiftl their comrades se ered the throats a th s i y v , nd e k ns

did they flay, And the sundered the oints carved and th s y j , and they , e acred thi hs the cut out g y , the a And y laid them together, and closely with fat they wr pped

them about, ’ And burnt on the cloven wood zdrin k-ofleringounmin gled of winc ’ Aison s Poured son ; and Idmon rejoiced, beholding shine leamed all round from the sacrifice and the

n f d in t b l As forthfor an ome o goo wavering wreaths i ro te . ’ And the ur se p po of Leto s son, nothing doubting, straightway a ke : ’ ‘ Fgfyou ti s ordained of the doom of the Gods and of m hw ’ man s fate H ither to win withthe F leece ; but meanwhile lie in wai t e hie Toils without number, as thither ye fare, and as backward y . But for me by the hateful doom of a God is it fated to die n he he I w ot w re on t hore. F ar hence, kno , Asian mainland s Y thi s is m doom : b birds evil-bodin l kne it before ea, y y g w ; Y et from m fatherland went l z to eail in our alle l came y y g y , ’ Tha t so to mine houee mi ht be left the renown of a hero s nam g e . ak and the n men h r n the of He sp q you g , ea i g words the propheg were glad For tbel r home-rem but for l dmon s doom were their hearta

sun - sinkethadown And so, at the hour when the from his noon halt ,

1 8 THE ARGONAUTS

To hearten his friend ; bu thy words were wholly presumptuom bold ! So hluste ed as telleththe ta le a ainst the Blessed of old r , —, g The m s ofAloeus z and thou thou art nothing so mighry as they In manhood : yet hothdid the swift shafi s overmaster and sla y ’ t hou hianss the were and assin stron . Ofthe Son of La ona, t g g y p g g ’ Then Aphareus son brake forth into laughter loud and long,

th i al Come now, by deep div nation reve unto me, thou seer, If the G ods for me be brin gi ng to pass suchdoom as that ‘ r ci us be t Whi chwas dealt ofthatfathe ofthine to the sons that Al e ga . bethin k thee how thou shalt esca e from mine hands alive o And p , 49 if we find Thee guilty of boding a prophecy vain as the idle wind ! Wrathfull ed he in railin : and no had the strife run hi h er wax g w g , But amidst oftheir wrangling their comrades withloud indignant ’ — WithAison s son estrained them and lo withhis l re u he d n , y p In his left hann rpheus arosen nd the fountain of song And he sang how in the beg uil ing the earth and the heaven and the sea me form e blended t ether i unit In the selfsa w le og n y , And how baleful con tention ea chfrom other asunder tore ; And he sang ofthe goal ofthe course in the firmament fixed evermore ' d th moon and the rintl s o For the stars an e , p e s paths d the s o

were born and hats m e , w o ov thon Earth E e O ’ i and urynom , cean s b rth, ’ In lordship of all things sat on Olympus snow-crowned height ; ’ how O hion must eld unto hands and his mi ht p y Kronos g , ’ and into the Ocean s waves plunged they . ’ Tita ne ods m O er the blessed g these twain for a space held y , h While Zeus as yet was a c ild, while yet as a child he thought, And dwelt in the cave Dicwean, while yet the time was not ’ When the Earth-born Cyclops the thunderbolt s strength to hit TEE PIKST BOOK 1 9

E e n li min : b these doc eus his ' ven thund r a d gh g y glmy receive. m m W Wand slepg and the voice d i sfifl : l t But move ess the heads of hem all are bending forward, and thrill Their eager To the s ell suchwondrous son hathcast v all p ; glamour the g o er . And a little thei e after the min l d even as is y g e , meet and right, The wine oured on ton ues wher the altar-fires hlazed , and p the g e

t d t sl ound th Then urne hey to eep, and ar em were folded the

But when radiant Dawn withher flashing eyes on the steeps

’ OfPelion s cre ts ashedb the ind the forelands that f sl o s , and, w y w , rown

To hie them s hen and w mmge the oars in order due . ’ Anda wehd dmade r fi mn the haven of Pa u n mn wthe y g g m yea,

divi ne had been laid For within her a beam , which Athenebrought ' F rom the oak DM and in W midst of her M m m s it

So me hem m w me thwm and m fi n afi a as fell the laces b lot but a little a o Even p y g , ed mn ed m d and b eachw his hamm of fi ht Ord y g m y g . ’ On the midmost Ankaim and next him Herakles giant might Sag and beaide him he laid hi s ehtb ; and the keel of the ship U nder his massy tread plunged deep. And now did th slip sers - ed on he m z'fi The ha w , and pm t Tear nned

a - h m oo e —eyes, from the f therland home as e d th m And these a s the outhsthatinP thobe inm to Phc hus the dance y y g , I l In Ortygig or there where ripp es in sunlight glanee, Hand in uhand to the notes of the lyre hi s altar With rhythmical fal l of the feet swift-circling beat the g m c fi a m So s moeemiththe m by the hre oi b véam m 2 0 TH E ARGONAUTS

’ th bl t sur es b The sea s wild water, and over e ades he g roke. And on this side and that withthe foam the dark brine seethi ng 5

And glanced in the sun hke fiamq as the ship winged onward

her flight, - e Their armour the wake far weltering ever behind gleamed whit , ft- ththrou ha s lain lieth As an o trodden pa g gras y p clear in sight. And all the Gods that day from the height of the heaven looked

On the ship, and the might of the demigod heroes, the men of

Sailing the sea ; and afar on the crests of the hill - tops lone ids the t i the The Ma of M oun a n, Pelian Nymphmi n amaze looked on s ’ e e o a d r At the work of Ath n It ni , the heroes goo ly ar ay, As the ashen blades iu their hands ke t time wi thmeas ured swa p y . ’ Yea and the e came one down from the mountain s hei ht to the , r g shore, ’ E n h and lashed the surf- b ven Cheiro , P ilyra s son, p wash oar On l his feet, as his broad hand waving many a farewe l sent, ‘ and wless - And he shouted, Good speed, a sorro home return ! t t as hey wen . ’ And there was ms wife withPeleus babe in her arms held hi h , g , A hil e vin a reetin as s ed his sire thereb c l u wa g g g p y . S when the had nounded the headland and o y , left the haven

’ — By the cunniDg and wisdom of Haguiaa m the prudent om g ’ E Ti hs the - ven of p y , who swayed m master craftsman s grip - The helm smooth shaven, to guide unswerving the course of the

ship, hen set the u in the eentre- bloek the towerin m st T y p g a , Andon d ther hand mained taut the sta yg and they lashed them fast - And the sail they unfurled therefrom, from the yard arm spread the long

the wold, to the ful

fa ith An sweetly he fluteth Followed the fis hes t

And the hououred the dead and victims of shee y , p

the shore

They eWght hut a g as THE ARGONAUTS

- u h hb f he aters it la Broad co c ed on t e reast o t w y Thereafter full soon by the outfall of Amyrus

And before them at da wn on-s eedin the illu oa hos rose p g p , ’ The Thracian moun tain : its topmost peak s dark shadowi t t hrows F ar as a me rcha ntman - ri ed in a da mi ht m goodly gg y g v , E ’ ven to Lemnos isle and the cit M ri né therein. , y And the wind ble all that da till the folds oft he dar ness fell w y k , Blew ever freshan the sail strained over the br se - d oad s . , a well ’ ’ Howbeit the wind s breathfailed them at going down of the si m : So Lemnos the cra he smfian isl b mwin the on m ggy , t q y g y w There all the men of the nation tdgether pitilessly By the violent hands of the women Were slai n in the yea r geoeébyn; F omsmuchas the hearu of the men fi om their lawful wi ves had

And in love for their captive handmaids withhaleful p sdon they burned, M aids that themaelves from the Thracian land in foray had hrmight —’ Overses : twas the wrathof the Cyprian Queen that curse had

Because that for long they had left her unhonoured by sacrifice

For not with the captives their husbands alone

lest perchance in the Out of these might arise an avenger for that grim In one alone for an a ed sire did oom ass on awake g p i , H si lé u t yp py , da ghter of Thoas, the king of he folk of the land. ’ In an ark did n himt r th ' t mur er- u she se d o d ift o er e sea fi om he d str d. ’ If fis r- a he haply might scape . And he folk s ved him and brought to the isle THE FIRST BOOK 3;

F or from Sikinm folk renamed ig the child whom the Maid of

the Spring, O n b e she h l t h i 06, ar , when eouc ed iu ove wi hT oas the king . So it came to ass that for these to teud the kine and to wear p , War-hu na s of brm and to furrow the wheat-bearing la nd with

the share, ’ In the eyes of them all seemed task morc light than Athén é s toil Wherewithal were their hands aforetime busy : yet all the while fiso Acrom the broad sea ever the cast and anon their eyes Witha haunting fear lest the hracian sails in the olhng should riac; ’ hen t o s ars fl h do to their o st So w they beheld he Arg o as ing wn c a , Forthfrom the gates of M yriné straightway in one great host

C of their m s es ea and the aud the c mmitted to harge cs ag , y , w y o Of Hermes hhér stdi had i ven him memor never mads g o g y . — ’ Of al n r for et ii ness e ey e his s l l thing s ya , o g f l sw pt n now o er ou ’ - Of h e . long left Ac eron s flow, where the torrents unsp akable roll F or the d of his irit is fi e to and evermore m t swe t oom sp x d, fro i p ,

hathit To the beams the sun among li ving meuh but The stsry of Aithalides that all men know full Of him was H ypsipylé won to receive that sea As waned the day to the gloammy yet not withthe uewr boru ’ Unmoored they the ship for the North-wind s

Through the city the ds ughters of Lemnos into the folkmOte

’ H pyles self sent forth her behest. So when they were gsther in oue great tht oug m the w a TEE ARGONAUTS

For their counselling straightwa y she rose in the she said all , and ‘ will ood r of ifts Friends, now, an ye , g sto e g

give we, Even suchas is meet that the farers a-shipboard should Even meats and the sweet strong ’ T ma bide nor for need s t hey y , sal

80 Ice she, and sat her down on ’ old a her sire s and That w s , Polyxo her ‘ On herwi inkl e- shrivelled feet she halted Bowed over a a taff ; but withlonging for

Even as now yon array ' But if one of t he Blessed should turn this amiction

’ i t i e a e than the hattl e Com dess afll c ions bes d , f r wors For when throughthe gates of the grave

THE ARGONAUTS

To summon the lord of our shipfi nd That the will of her f i she ma tell him their o y ,

Y and his f ll s she biddeth t i f h u es , e ow to ligh n riends ip dow ’ to u o . On our shore, if will, and enter undismayed o r t wn h So spake s e, fair in the sight of them all was the wocd

in the room ofThoas dead , they hasted Jason to mee t ’ ‘ captain s feet. ’ Then he flung o er hia shoulders the web by the Goddess Itonian wrought ; In the clas br och the u le p ofa o were the folds of p rp ofPallas caught, ’ u i - Which she gave, when for Arg o s b ild ng the keel props first

And taught him withrule of the shipwright to measure her

M ore easy it were in Than to fasten thine eyes on the flushof k gloryfl ts splendour

blaze. For the fashion thereof in the midst was fiery cdmson giow,

P masvel show. For therein were their work that n o erishethnot p , ' F eus h d a . h orgi ng the levi n o t e King, an so far w s it wroug t In its fiery splendom, that yet of its flashes there And the giant smiths withtheir sledges ofiron wese smiting thereon W u t n n hile forthof it sp r s as of flami g breathever leapt and ano . ’ And there e the of As é us dau hter An s t wer sons p g tiopé e ,

loy the foundations thereof were they hy mg but now ’ fi s n ro In erce haste. Zethu had heaved a craggy mou tain s b w

On hi s shouldeu : as one hard stn ining in toil did the image q pear. THE F IM T BOOK the while to his golden lyre sang loud 38 THE ARGONAU TS

’ h I ia s the of t n o ton n . Such was gift A é é, the G ddess toil - he ras ed in his ri ht i m e And a lance far leaping g p g hand, g v rewhile ’ Of a ° the maid Atala nta on M ain lus heightfor the ledge ofa friend . 77 l d to ‘ end G a ly she met him , for sorely her soul d w On : r the Quest howbeit the he o himself withheld the maid, ’ the i f k For per l o bitter strife for her love s sa e made him afraid . So h o to the to as the radia nt star to behold he ied him to g wn, ’ - Which a maid, as she draweth her newly woven curtain s fold, v dwelli n ‘u a d Boateth Beholdeth , as o er her g pw r it fair ; And it charmethher es out f h d ms of the ey , flashing o t e ep

’ l Flushed with a crimson glory . the maid s heart eapeththen who i Lovesick for the youth is far away amid al en men, H er her 80 betrothed, unto whom her parents shall wed on some 7 glad day :

So as a star was the hero treading the cityward way . So s when he had pas ed through the gates, and within the city

H avin o of the but earth rd ev his e es he east g j y stranger : wa er y , Pacing un faltering on ti ll he came to the palace at last ’ ° si he maids n Of IIyp pyléx then at the hero s a ng t fl ng wide ThLe tes and the fair- fashioned boar of the leaves on eithe e ga r sid . Then through’the beautifui hall did S iftl and us him to sit on a w y , ca ed

-winsome words did she say ‘ S wherefore so lon without our towers ? tranger, g have ye tarried Fon smuchas no man dwellethwithin this cityv of om s r - But these have betaken them hence to dwell on the Thracian shi e ii , lands. I ‘'m

The t evil a le to the end e also ma . , y y understand ' ’ ’ In t the days when I hoas my father wss king o er the folk of he lwd, Tfl iE Fi RST BOOK 2 9

l hi s fr L m s r h aea-ri es rod My peop e in a p om e no ove t e dg e, And harried the hmues of the Thra cians that overagainst us abode sfloo

And t untold re and d withman a o t ve maid. withhoo y m , an y ap i But the cnrse of a Goddess upon them now was laid ; For the C rian ca nsed on their souls heart-mi in hli dness to fa l yp n g n l , That they hated their la wful wiveu and forthfrom hower aad hall the d At heck their folly they drove the Lemnian matrons away, And heside those spear-won thralls in the hed of love they lay» e n ! S i Cru l o es ooth , long t me we endured it, if haply again, T u e r ho gh late, th ir hearts might be turned ; but our w ong and our hitter pain Waxed evermore twofold ; and the children of tme-horn hlood In our hall s re di shonoured and rew u amidst us a hasta rd 3m we , g brood. Yea and and EN /ed e o f our maids unwedded, W wiv s theret ,

Uncared for ahout our city wandered to and fro. ’ No M r had n nem so httle his dau h s l e M m , g m p ight, Not thoughbefore his eyes he heheld her slain oufi ght ’ By a tyrannous stepdame s hs nds : and sons wonld defeud no m re t er fi u a e md sham as the wout in the da s of Amo h om o u g q y y yore. ‘ h No love for a si ster then the heart of t e hrother hore. But nl the ha ndmaidfi hralls in the home found m e in their c y g sight, - hn t hha a k and tv e so e n uet was di ht. In the dance, in the m r et place, q g Tull at last some God in our hearts this desperate m age awokq sso N mose to reoeivc them hen hck the tur ed - o , w a y re n fra m the l Thracian fo k, Om wwm withim tha w they might heed the tighu or hegone fl - the and l . Hence to another land, even y their thra ls war won ’ Then requhed they of m their m s even what manclfild soe er H ad hee n left in the and returned unto Thraoe town, ; and to

T - he Lenmian men on the sn owy Thracisn corn lands dwell . ' Then la rry ye so here z and if hapl y it pleu e thee well ' T a a sur o hde in the , snd it seem to thee good, of ety thine ’ Shall he Thoas m father s houour I m o this land q ine y . 30 THE ARGONAUTS

But no o to th t lle and tell these words of ours come w, g y g y,

Unto thy comrades, nor longer tarry h ir veilin th d e f n She ended, wit fa words g e e d o m rder dread Done on the men ; and the hero amwered the queem and he said ‘Hypfipyla psssing welcome thi s thy req uest shall he W u tenderest us hose desire witha l is un thee hichtho , w now to . Back throu hthtown will l oome when an end l have made to sa g , y All this to m ellows in order z howheit let all the sway l ghi he t t s And the on p hine in the island. I make no in scorn p “WWW " ’ t ma not . But a sore ask thrusteth me onward still , and I y rest ’ hathhe and ahack He spake, and the queen s right hand touched, to the strand H e hathtw ned him to gm and around him the maidens on

Danoed hlithel a thron unnnmhered till forthof the at y, g , g es he

had strode.

M n to the heachand ifts of reetin hu e o d store , g g g g o , ’ When now to his fellows the hero had told a er m ge o , ha when she sent and de him come . the maidens drew the heroes home s 8 To their halls ; for sweet desire did the Lady of Cypru awake, 50 H e haistus rd For a grace to p the Lo of Craft, that Lemnos might ta ke he w led of men once more k p p for his aa e . ’ ’ Now into Hypsipyles royal palace Aison s son ed and the “ it ha ed unto each en Hath pass , rest, pp m are e em th y g , H eraldes hero ahide Save only ; for still with the ship would the , d hs and a few his ehosen comrades hs t e wifie m e ide .

steam fin the D eathless : w most of s ll ° ’ ’ Heres gb riom s ommd atonernent s prioe u en the asd wltho and withs i oe Q e y p s ng s cr fi . THE F HQST BOOK 31

And ever from da uuto da did the heroes their sailin forhear y y g ,

Loth to and long had the tarried loitering there, But H athered his comr es and drew from the women g ,

And ith rds of u hr n he s ake rebuk he ~ w wo p aidi g p , and ed t m ia

‘Wha fir is it hlood f kindred s ilt that hus roam h g — o p maket Emm our hnd i o r came t eeause tha t ye found no bfides at

Hither ard s e rnin the maidens of Greece ? Dothit w , o g please

the plough through the soft smooth Lemnian soil ?

Good soothhut little renown shall we wi n of our tarr in , y Here long time with the stranger women ! No God wil bring ”o That F leeoe unt ua nor wrest from its warder for our re uest ! o , — , q F orthlet us go eachman to his lace bim lea ve ye to rest ’ Al l day on H yp le s couchfl i ll he people from shore to shore ’ Lemn os withmj gllt z great his renown shall be therefor ! So did he chide

in hi s fac nor as an man found that essa d Neither look e, w y ye to But straight from his presence, make their departing they went In the women came runnin so as he haste ; and g, soon t y knew

h lilies the wild hees at r i l And as w en round heautiful hum thei to , From their hive in the rock forth pouring ; the dew-sprent sso meadow the while Around them re oicethsnd hoverin stoo in now and a ai n j , g—, p g, g They sip ofthe sweet flow - fountains ihsueh wise round the men

' Besee hin thBlessed ra t them a hme- min vnid of ha c g e to g n o eo g ne. Ya e , so doth Hypsipyl pray, as her m The hand of Jason, and stream her m s m w 32 THE ARGONAUTS

‘ Go thomand thee m y the Gods withthy oomrades soathless brine home-land bearin the F l l t h k Ba ck bo the , g eece of Go d o t e ing , thine heart desireth: and Even as thou wflg and this miue i sle, ’ ‘ Amd my father s scepu e widi ahshall wait for thee the while, - If haply, thine home coming won, thou wouldst choose to come

hither again. Thou couldst a ther from other cities a host unnumbered of men — g a h the Lightly , but longing shall never awaken in thee ; Ym and mme own hean bodeththat thi s shall never be ! 0 e Yet remember Hypsipyl whilst thou art far away, And when home thou hast won ; and leave me a word tha t thy love shall obey ’ xf Gods shall vouchsafe me to bear a son to m lord. With p y , the y ’ a s ake the r : Lovingly looked on her Aisou son, and he p wo d ‘ e bri n all these blessin s to be ! Hypsipyl , so may the Gods g g N H owbeit a better wishthan this frame thou for me ; ’ F u has b Pelias race it sufli cethme still to live ora sm o y— g - the r ds m t s n e e In the home land onlyy Go from y oil delivera c giv l. d if to return to the land of H ellas be daoom But an not my , I a fair hl ' t o Afar as saiLand manc i d be the fi uit of hy womh, Iolk os send him bo hood and manhood be met To Pelasgian , when y , et To my father and m her, to solace their H a l f - a so in the stead p y he ind them, th t , of the hearth They may win in their halls a dear one, to brighten lefi lone. H e spakq and was gone ; and afront of his fellows he strode to g mg the shi And the rest of the chiefs followed on and the oars in theh ,

md the ham s d id Argm cast

i Fell they to smiting with oars long bladed the seeth ng wave . ' ’ O hu counsel the keel hore the d ve And at even ly rp e s as y ra On the isle ozElektra the dau hwr of Atlas that thene the g , y might lw n

AR NA T 34 r ue. GQ U S

In no wise harried : their F or himself had begotten

Thitherward Argo, as ch

g ; and another they

their need. ’ i r Howbeit the r first, by A cher Apollo s

’ s And to fasten the haw er within the city s haven fair. To Apollo the Lord of Landing they builded an altar there the u reared the smolte By the strand y p it, and there did of the sacrifice rise ; ’ And sweet strong wine did the king s self give them, their need f to su fice, And sheep therewithal for an oracle rang in his ears In theday n l than When a godlike ha d of heroes shal come, meet their m ay , W l come of lo and thou shalt hethink thee ithwe ve, not at all of

' like unto J ason the sofi down on the u And, , bloomed yo ng king s

Neither et was he gladdened with laughter of children his hall s y i For the pangs of the travailing hour not yet to his bride had been k nown, ’ E of t Perk i us ven to the lady born Me opa, os ’ - Klei Fair treated té. But now had she passed from her site s halls THE FIRST noon 35

On the mainland- when he won her withifts of rieeless worth shore, g p . But r all this left he his b dal b fo ri ower and the bed of hi s bride, And arm ed them a ban uet and cast his har y q , from e t all fear aside. And the uestioned eachother the and the her ofio y q , king oes. Of them would he learn ’ v The end whereunto they oyaged , and Pelias bidding stern. Of the dwellers around, and their cities, they asked and were fain to be taught Touching all the gulfofProPOnti s the widezbut the ki ng knewnought to e t e ir tell them , alb i with ager des e they sought. ’ So at dawn the climb hu e ur o t did y g Dindymus sides, with p p se ogaze Withtheir own eyes over the unknown sea and her trackless waysr But forth of the outer first their galley they rowed ; ’ i - St ll Jason s Path is it named, that mountain track they trode. But the earth- born giants the while rushed down from the - mountain side,

Wt r s lilte men that lie in wait for a wolf in his l i hc s g , air. Howbeit with them that we ounger had H eraltles tarried there ; And he lea t to his feet z‘ya ainst them his back- p , g springing

bow did he strain . O ne after other he stretched them on earth; and the giants amain H eaved u hu e a ed rocks and hm~led them a ainst their f p g j gg , g oe. Yes - at , for that terrible monster brood was m ured , I trow, he bride s for a trial of Of H éré, t o eu , Herakles . of their fellows retumin Therewithal came the rest , g to battle

fi e n the mountain- To the sl u Or w y wo crest. a ghter they fi ll E -bom brood those heroes : x Of the arth , with arrows some did ooo h c " t en e . smne on the oints of their s ears the recei d nt And p p y ve , u il they

e fi ht had rushed so -f All that to grappl of g furious ain .

w e m e The b ngbeams down on the strand ofthe sea m g eht m 36 THE ARGONAUTS

i - s dd n od shall ri the stron bolts faster so For the br ne o e wo g p g , Even so at the entering-in of the foam-fringed haven they la y One after other ; some in a hnddled heap where the spray Dashed over their heads and their hu m me whihstretched hi hon the g land, e Stiffened their limbs : there were some yet again, whose h ads on the sand

R while in e ested, the the heaving waters swayed their f et ; ’ ’ the all alike for the birds nd tbe fishes mea were y a t. And the hem w mon as the peril afar from their emprise

was driven, the b eeze hea Cast loose the ha wsers of Argo before r s of ven. e Forth shot she, and onward they drave, fast cl aving the broad

All day under canvas she ran : howbeit, as twilight fell l n - il No onger the wi d rush stead y held, but Cm ght them md m ept them ahachtill it brought them again at the last - th To the guest fain Dolian men . Then stepped ey aahore in

Of the night ; and unto this day is it called the Rock of Doom Round whichthe hawsers ofAr go in blind ha ste now did they pass ; Neither did any man deem that the Nor yet were the Dolians ware that again in the night The heroa weu comq but l m mat a mto tb i m e r Of Pelasgian men for war land overseas u the donned and Wherefore their armo r y , uplifted their hands

withonset of spears and wi thcln hing of shields met they the t ‘ife in s x , Like to the vehement blast of flame which hath leapt into life Mid the co ses dr and red ton ues : and the bat p y, the g climb tl e din then

he midst of the D Fearfa l and furious fell in t olian men .

N m ns overlea his eird and aback from t or ay Kyzik now p w , he war Win er of l e and the arms of his lr ide an home to the bow ov y more. THE FI RST BOOK 37

’ t n as he tnrned on him fnll on the kin lea t Aison s son Bu , eve , g p , And m hbed in the nndst ofhis bm sg and shattered was all the bone the r and fallin in death-throes down on the Aronnd spea , g sands t a resistlesa He fil led ap the measure of Fa e. To esc pe her hands Is vouchsafed unto none : as a wide snare compassed we are with her hands. ned that the bitt ss of des thwas ast Even so, as he wee erne now p t the hands lo tn her tn were hrs feet can ht fast A of the heroes, , g g a t a a In the ni ght, as he b ttled with h n, and many a champion with l ’ H eraltles did Telekles l Was slain with the king ; hands fa l, e abrontes S hodris u m And fell M ; p Al s overthrew , - 2 ée b ms l ft tre . And g p y withal , the batt e swi Pele slew e ’ Telamon s spear thronghBasileus heart is thrust ; Promens by Ida , and Klytius laid Hyaltinthas in dust ; T darids Phlo ins Me al ssaltes And the yn twain slew g , slew g o ; ’ l It moneus a And va iant y fell before Gine s son amid these, Artakes withhim a hief ai of men : and nnto tbis da And , c t n y of hr Unto all these slain do the people the worship e oes pa . Then wavered the ranlt s and hroke ; then fled th ia mb ic - in ed ha wks dotha elond fi ves tak e fli t As hefore the swift w g o gh. hthe t in a hs ddled ront th om'ed and the t n Tluoeg ga es ey p , ow

Withthe war- ell was filled and backward rolled was the woe y , f fnl ray . But at dawn wm th war boththese and those of the cme q g , Wil l Of the minbns error ; and now did bitter anguish fill child l - ne ying blood deified. three whole rendin ofhairdid the monrn his m For days with g y doo , Em they with the Dolian folk Three times in their brazen armonr the round of lament did they

in the «(W W e “ a w e- m t ’ w ‘ Of the folk of the latter day doththe heap o i fl 38 m e ARGONAtrr s

Yeg nd thfl would Kleité his wife any more mid the F orlorn of her lord ; but a woefnller evil she the evil done clas in her neck with To , when p g Ah ut hWildwood moan for , b t e Maids made And of all the tears that to earthfrom their

Goddesses made, and the name of

year by year, at the querns in the houses

shriek and to ra ve

T lv da t ve hts we e ys, wel nig ; snd p Te d the oes from sailin rrie her g, When the rest of the wanderers lay for the the might f slnmher on tht drear s ore while watehand ward was ke t Q s h , p ’ M u m: Am kus Of and Mopsus py son over them that slept, ’ Then over the golden head of Ai son s w n did there fly A ki ngfisher : d ear throa ghthe hnshhis happy-boding cry Rsng for the lulling of m nds

’ And a God s hand n de iu n t hl d sht t g i d wi g, hat it w ee ed an o o the height ’ Of the Ar o s ua th- t t fli h g msnd ei eon hathi stayed i s arrowy g t. ac he l‘y Of the s heep, 4 nd &om slumber be ronsed him withhaste, and thm did b e say : THE FIRST BOOK 39

’ Aison s son, thou must climb to the temple that standeth there m ’ On Dindy us rugged height, and make to the Mother thy p , the Blest : and the stormym Shall be stille F or but no hath cr h mine d. w a y y ears on the i - n ght wind passed, ’ The weird sea-kingfisher s cry ; and around thy slumbering head i Wheeling its flight, it uttered the th ng that my lips have said. For swa ed b her ower be the wi nds and y y p , earth below t Yea also Olympus crowned with the everlas ing snow . And to her when from her hills she ascendethdothu oo , to heaven , Zeus give p ’ Even Kronos son himselfl and all the Deathless Raee ’ Of the Bl before her a c esséd in reverence bow wful fa e . t So spa ke be z to hear that word the heart of Jason leap . Gladsorm he sprang from his couch, and his comrades, there as

h he t ld as the athered around e waken in haste ; and o , y g

’ l Mo sns Am kus . prop spoken of p py son, the seer Then steercnm the byve the yom g mm dravg and withspeed

U the stee hill d at withthe beasts till the won to the p p p h , y ’ mounuin s crest. F rom the Rock of Doom did others the hawsers of 'Argo slip TO il t m i d i ! )haven a 00 strand m o t they rowed, and le pt the ;

' eft r tarried behmd of their fellows , fo there

'

Makrian elifis, and firll in view oversea on this side la y , the blue hills far away 40 THE ARGONAUTS

’ For the Mountain - goddess s sacred image : withcunning skill Of the craftsman did Ar gus carve it ; and so on the rugged hill Did the set it u : for the shrine thereof stood mll oak s round y p , Whichof all trees root them the deepest beneaththe face of the

Then of loose stones built they an altar : withleaves from the oaken spray The wreathed it round and the sacrifiee the u n did the la y a , re po y y . ’ O n Dind mé s the Mother majestic, on y Queen, the while did the y call , duvelleth : Tit as the cried e e Who in Phrygia on y y , on Kyll n withal,

— - o hv Who alone be calledthe Dispenser—s fDoorn y the judgment seat Of t who b e the Mo her Idaean sit y all that pri sthood of Crete, Dakt lians The y of Ida, born in the cave Dictaean of i e a- When the Nymph Anch al clutched in the throes of avail, and tore O ’ With the fingers of either hand the earth by axus sha re . ’ Aison s the withearnest cr Knelt son to Goddess, and prayed her ies turn the t the To empest away, on flame of the sacrifice he oured the i And the outh the rewithal at As p w ne . y s Orpheus’ command

And clashed withtheir swords on their shieldhthat the sound that boded them ill

Mi ht be lost in the air the wail for the de d hh l st g , a , w ic the peop e ill In g ief for their king sent up ; for whichem e unto this day W timbrel and drum the ith t And the Goddess of them that sought her was clined her ear To f - m of the sacri ice p her grace did tokens of good appear . Fa r the trees ahed git in abundm ce dowmand around their feet

' The earthmid her tender grass withflowers unsown was sw And the b st of the ild od came fo in es s w wo , rsak g thicket and lais, F awni ng withswayi ng tails : and another marvel there

’ With waterspmn gs flowed ; but now did a suddea torrent F ' rom ber thhaty crm a nd the F ountain of Jason they name tt sull,

42 THE ARGONAUTS

Then as friends greet friends did the Mysians withkindl y welcoming them the thatdwelt in the land and ifts Meet , people , g

Then sa less lo s did some of them ather and rass fi'om the mead p g g , g Did some bri in hereof t store r their the m ed ng , w gres fo eouches y ow , - The while in the bands of some the whirling fire sticks glowed. Some min led the wine in the mazer and read the feast the di ht g , y y g , Doing sacrifice to Apollo as deepened the shades of night. ’ But Zeus son spake to his comrades meetly the feast to prepare

But into the fiorest himself hathhi edn o the end that there,

Or ever he su ed f r the hi s ha nds t i n an om . pp , o gri p of he mighfasho Then found he a i ne as he v d and s a the hurden it bore p ro e , cant w s Ofbou s e - l n lea ves as gh, nor with h avy c usteri g w its shade made dim ; Bat like to the shaft it rose of a ta ll and alim : Even suchwas the measure to behold in height and in girth Swiftly his arrow-fraught niver hath Herakles cast to the earth ’ Witb the shafts therein : rom his shoulders the lion s hide did

- With his brass heavy club at its roots he smote, till he loosed ’ earth s grip . Low down did he ras the stem about with hand g p either , Putting tmst in his might : withshoulder against it thrust did he stand W e t f e wide set. F rom the ound l t rew ith gr , dee rooted a bei it g , Hathhis r t m o g ip uphea ved it withall the that clave hereto. And a when m awares the mast of a shipfi n the hour ’ O s r -fi au ht t i s r ali When rion sto m g se ting wo king inv d power, ’ o on - u Is struck fr m high by a tempest s swiftly swooping sq all, rent frow

Even so he upwrenched that tree ; and he gathered s p arrows

’ t And the lion s hide, and his chtb; and he hasted him hackward o go. But H ylas the while witha pitcher of brass from the throng hathhied ’ Seeking a spring s pure flow ; for the feast of the eventide

4, r ue m oua ur s

In arnin to kiss thou dai nt li s wh her ye g y p , hi s Drawn down was arm , and through

from the light.

afire he pur r On the p ey, for already the from the foe ; And in vehement rage must he

About the place ; and his Then suddenly drew he his

Themeven as he shook in his hand ’ e self to Came H rakles meet him, a giant form that To the s i thr u hthe loom and he knew bim hp o g g ; , way a tale most dread hile l thhea v tin his be rt He told, w aboured wi y pan g a , ‘ God hel tbee tha t p ,

H e uttemthbellowingu mad withthe sting of tbe TK E F IRST BOOK 45

So he in his fi enzy now would be plying his strong swift knees w ’ Unrestin and nowfrom his toil would he cease for a moment s s aoe g, — p , e And shout d the mighty voice rang far through the lonely place . ’ E s r - t ftsoon the mo ning star rose over the moun ain s crest, And the winds swept down from the gorges ; and Tiphys cried

’ et h h . To g them aboard in haste, and to earken the wind s be est embarked and the anchor- of s they , stones theship (1 , and the hawsers the reofin haste did they slip. And the nddst of the sail belhed out withthe blu g and far away ’ From the sea-strand witho b Poseidon s waftedwere the j y y foreland y . But in - u it fell , the hour when the dawn glad eyed from the heaven beam doth , r r - F om the east up ising, and all the earth ways clearer gleam, a- r l And the dewy wolds are spa k e beneath her flashing sheen , e th r of those that f en un Then wer ey wa e orsak wares had been. - Then mighty contention arose, and an indignation burst -f a and r a vehement ierce, th t an should go, fo s ke the first ’ Aison s son distrau ht it Oftheir comrades in wess . g w hamaze Spake never a wor or bad or good in their evil case ; ’ ’ s But devouring his soul he at neath wilderment s heavy load. ’ a : Then Telamon swrathw xed hot, andthus with theprince he chode ‘ — ! sit thine esse l Ha thou there at good sOOth. for dry t profit was his, That Herakles should be left thou ivest no counsel l thus ; g , wis, Lest b sly his glory in Hellas should If the aads peradventure—vouchsafe us the home- return to see ! Wh lc s re in ords i I a c i at p a u w will go, I only, with n n o these ’ H r ho lotted with thee this treason to e altles. ’ on iphys Hagnias son he ruM and his ire his as the lea n flame f the Gleamed through e pi g o ravening fire . And now to the land the Mysian men had won back again - e In despite ofthe driving surge, and the head wind s c aseless strain ; But the two winged sons of Thracian Boreas rose thereu n And withfi erce stern words from his purpose withheld ’ us Aia k son . 45 w e ARGONAUTS Unhappy they ! Upon these who withheld the rest whiehwe For when from the games over Peliaa dead - Homeward, m Tenos the sea girt he s o’er the slain e - The arth , and above that grave mound reared he The one wherwfi a marvel exoeeding for men to

Highout of the waves his shaggy head and his breast Even to the waisg and his brawny hand did the God

And around him the darkling water foamed in eddiea

And the heroes were glad

t h l as of his own and In e g p ,

hathwrought TH E FIRST BOOK 47

To utter an arrogant word which I could not refrain : let us cast n To the winds my transgressio , and knit be our hearts as in days ’ overpast. ’ Aison s ID courteous ise lt Answered him son , and w spa e he ’ ‘Ah of a truthtwas a lu t rd thu s k me . t er wo o a est to , friend, that p , When thou saidst in the midst of us all that a traitor I was un to him

' — me was a fi iend l I Who to yet will not nurse wrath brooding grim, Though vexed was mysoul atthefirst ; since not asfor flocks of b Didst thou chafe and wast wroth, nor for oarded wealth of - treasure heap, ’ But all for a comrade s sake. I were fain thou wouldst champion so ’ e if need should be ever a ainst an ther foe Ev n me, , g o

He spake, and they sat them down , as in days overpast made one. ’ —' b u Eilatus But their lost the counsel of Ze s, Polyphemus ‘ a l M sian men cit to har Was doomed m the y to build a y , e The name of the river thereby : but aback must H eraltles { are E ’ At urystheus labours to toil . But he threatened in anger hot

To waste the Mysian land, if her folk for him found not Wh H las had li hte if dead or alive he were . at doom o y g d, b And pledges gave for the lost, m that sons most no le and fair l Of their peop e they chose, and for th swore a nor: m Th tthey would refrain fro the toil ofthe search for evennore. Kians Wherefore for tidings of Hylas the unto this day, ’ Theiodamas For son, of the stranger inquire . the warders aye Guard Trechis the fair- built ; for there did the hero cause to abide The sons that the sent fior their r n m t tu his ur y a so o rn f y aside. And the wind all day bare onward the galley and all night through Witha freshstron b : but hen da nin r f g last w w g arose, the b eatho io t blew i No wht any more ; and they spied jutting forth from a curve of xg the land a to A foreland, nd broad behold that dark height swelled frmn t the s ra nd. th b he s se - e ent tot oars and at unri e ke u fi r . So y , th el p u owedthe aand

by the stress of toil and the strain of

oved not his limbs, but he glared

And between them Ly

In front of their feet the

lots that Without casting of ,

’ o erwhelm, ’ But that scantly she scapethby wisdom of him that When over her bulwark to hurl itself mad is t

marked his brutal To wot if the giant in might TH E SBOOND BOOK

So ever he faeed him and warded, and flashed baclt

of the twain,

Then standing apart for a little they wiped

toil of the fray . Then eachagaimt other again they Two bulls for a heifer are fighting

he av ing t is gauntleted hand on the hero ; but swerving stroke B turn of his hmd hathhe tbiled him hath y a ,

he hathrushed ’ With his whole weight dashing hi s fist neath

Out of their scabbards : and Kastor the first with TH E ARGONAUTS

Upon either shoulder asla nt did the ghastly hal ves of

And as when mid the folds the grey wolves sca

Through Bebryltia bearing the tidings of N n ll t\ they y . ' Fools? g they ltnew ol another All unforeaeen, £or thei r orchards were wa ted i n that r a n s a con n s ome 53

’ amidst of their hamlets L ltus s eara devour And did y ravening p , And the M ariand nians was y slew, forasmuch as their king afar, that a e - e l at For y for the iron b aring and were the nations war. So now had the spoilers fallen on garth and byre and fold

And this one to that one cried the while they drave the ‘ oe had the aid for their foll to- Bethink ye, y p felon y day, If haply a God had mbrought our Heraltlea hither to aid ! H a l surel had he but been here no trial I ween had been m& y , , , ' Of strife withthe fists ; but so soon as the caitifi drew nighto

His the ordinance, straightway club should have made him

E ac he ke i ea and b r et tbe mi ht of his han¢ ven g y , g g Al m “ ?eft him we left him alone on a detolate strand u , —, , And we aailed awa oversea z shali we ltnow each y full soon , one , Our baneful ( i seein our h is ! o ly , g mightiest c ampion gone But th s s had w ht all thi d thi e oounael o eu mng q beyon e r ken . the So here through the night they abode, and the hurts of wounded men and slew r c They tended, to the Gods everlasting the sac ifi e ’ the di ht : slee u on man a e supper y g fell p p no ey s, the b wl as the as the blazin altar the lon ni ht throu h o y t and g g g g , “yi ththeir golden loclts enwreathed withthe leaves of a bay that grew

H a d b the tbd r hawser bound. r y strand, about whose stem was ’ And to Orpheus tfihqey chanted ; their voices blended sound Rang tundefully : e breathless beach lay tranoed withthe spell ' ’ Ol the song ; for of s of Therapnae s chi ld &d the

’ ills did the li t of the ne sun lea h gh w p, As he rose fi'om his fi r sea-hourmas he roused the shepherds frosn sl eep. Then fi‘om the stem of the ba did the heroea their hawser uncoil y , muehas sufi ced for their need of 54 THE ARGONAUTS

W e u d hishthe Afront ofthe row ruahethon them as W p , u ha ved Higher , still higher p to the

’ o er the gaueyie m Yet a hrk may eiég

’ and with dawn on Bithynia s shore me m chor w ma st. ’ T e hia aw e here hard by the sea had Phineus Ag nor s son ,

ch the dwellers arom d aye

ha t o h “ m ear.

M hi s

' m m m ud

He knew M ma nne r W E S ECOJWD BOOK 55

And he rose fi'om his couchas a shadow dream m ht rise , y ig

from a bed, ’ kled feet gan creep to the doar ° g along the walls ; and for helphm esa trembled sore f r a e his limbs as m ed ithfilth as his o g he ov , and w w

this enwrapped the bones within .

Hi s e md a s oon like a darlt all over him thro n w ary knees ; w , p w , Enshrouded him ; under his feet him seemed that the earthreeled round ; thless d hli s uld a e no s und And he hy ma sm g m cq an is p co fr m o .

’ S lia Z o s up nn eus, wh is ever the sterne t fioe — ’ ’ Of trans s rv phmbus in awful Here s name g—m o for M and I beseech b the Godi m lore ou in whose c re hith e c me y p y a er y a , H el me : deliver fi 'om an uisha most ill- fated man p g , N r ha sten uncarin d le e me in bale and ban e ther away g an a v ,

To escape the ken of mine own be as, Than theirs ; so swift throughthe welki n on hovering wings are the d y cpe . 56 m s a m ona ur s

But if ha y ever they leave but a rnorsel of meat on my boardg It reek withmost unendurable strengthofa stenchabhorred. N a n mi ht to the mame o mm mnot for an instang g dare draw nigh , Not thoughin his breast were a hean forged all of adanrant fitam Bi n me of a surety dothhard compelli ng of hunger oonstrain ’ abide and abidin sta this famine s na i n ain To , g to y g w g p But those m tormentors an le saithm 11 be made to fiee y , orac , ’ Boreas neither stran rs hall m deliverers he y sons ; ge s y , gmdeed I be Phineumrenowned among men in the days long gone wealth t A calledm son For my and my soo hsaying lore, if , g‘ Ifthe the l hracmns l ret ned sister ofthese, Kleopatra, when over g , ’ - Came to mine hall g a bride by a royal bride price gai ned.

’ Thrilled all the heroeg but chiefly the North-wind s sci Brushing the tean from their eyes they drew nighhitnu nhd Zethes spake ; And the hand of the grief-worn sire in his hand withthe word — ! f the there hea ed u Among men ah, where ore on is p s ch a burden of woe ? Baleful i n soothwas the folly wherewiththroughthy p 'ophecy-lote

the For thine help, in hour to us first

So spake he : the stricken in si htleu e es strai ht a His g y g w y, with ‘ — l thrust not suchthou hts Hush g , filled ! ’ u - Be witness Latona s son, who taught to me gracio s willed

T HE ARGONAUTS

r ever neare witheager gfiy y t misaed but b - int 'or hem, y sword po

em, and downward she plunged

of air , and

’ Zeus s hounds ; but

them from lighting

of the Oathof t he S

wm for so was it doomed

and the Sm phm me Ida of m s ncouo aoox 59

An r m hun er he cheered his hes e did f o ravenous g rt, so strang it seem .

their need, ’ hrou hthe l ht ke th t T on n t e vi il and wai ed for Boreas n . g g ig p y g , eed And the ancient sa in their midst in the mddy glow of the fire ; ’ And he told of their vo a i s honrn and the n : y g ng , e d of their desire ‘ — Give ear nto me w forefended it is thnt hear all th n h —n ye ro g Your fabe H whatwe er seemethgood to the Gods ill hide not from yon. ’ ’ Mad was l of re whe l s ake nnto Esrths s yo , n p sons Zeus will In all points tmto the end : for this is his pleamre still

To reveal unto men hi s oracles short of the fixlness of doom. Tha t so the ma lean on the God y g and faithand prayer hzve room. R otten e are f m me The ocks yan g y ro , two n C the se s meet, the Dark Blue rags,

r l o no pilot, I ween , hath p evai ed to g For rooted they are not to earthon fonndations ofroclt therehelow “ so But with mshm d recoil uncensingly each against other they clash H hover archeth created brine and the foam-fenthers ig them the , flash F rom the : - seething oauldron the precipi ce fixeland thnnderethaye. Wherefore to this my counsel give

Ye essa this uest b doom l -s u not di e y Q , that y se f o ght ye may As the f l essa m hth e i r of uth to . oo , nor n ashneu yo y cr by First witha bir witha whitse-wi ed dove shall e malte am d, ng , y y , ’ S e in the s U she shall inher pe g her flight from hip s prow. w m y d’ f twixt the Cra s of Terror nd o t the o n sea Sa e g , a m o pe , No longer thereafter from daring the selfmme pnthshrink ye Bnt grip ye the oam in your handa md pnt forthyour nm rmost

’ Cleavi n the e the for that safet g gorg of sea, y Shell not he in prayer so mnchu the m ngth 60 THE ARGONAUTS

Wherefore let all else be and toil e withmi ht and , y g

Boldl y : but ere then pray as ye list ; I say not nay. e - But and if the d ath trap clutch in the midst the dove, and slay , Then sail ye aback ; for better by far it is that ye S a hould yield to—the De thless . The evil fate should ye nowise flee the R s 34° Of ock no, not though fashioned of iron your Argo h h s ould e. O wretches dare not to trans ress the m ton ue hath , g waming y g given , Though thrice so much ye account me abhorred of the Dwellers in Heaven — Ye di ou hit were more than as I am b m rievous sin g g thrice y y g , to ! Yet dare not flout the omen, to thrust your galley therein if And these things shall fall as they haply shall fall . But scatheless ye shun The rushof the C R Sea shall he won lashing ocks, and the Pontus , ’ therefrom the Bithnia ns land to our ri ht shall e kee Sailing , y y g y p, E f ver heed ully standing out from the reefs, until ye shall sweep Round the out ll of s ift- flowin Rhha and round the fi w g e , head

’ haven of Thynes isle shall anchor your bu lb sso ’ Thence turn e abaek fior a little s ace o er the lon m - l y p g swe l , i T ll ye beach your keel on the strandwhere the well . Thereby is a paththroughdarkness descend h us a Ac er i n towereth . And the Cape upward, a giant wall And swirling Acheron cleaving the u S ddenly poureth forth his flood from a mighty ravine . he - hla ni $T reby many column hills of the Pep go an shore ass the nati on whose ki n in Eneté horn of ore hall p , g was y , Even zilopsgandyet do they hoastthemspruugfromhis princel And a headland there c is, looking full where the ircling Beur 3so

A cm exceedin stee and K arambis it g g p, hathto name . The blasts of the North - wind are sundered about the crest of the

So sheer dothit s rin from the sea so shar l cleaveththe i p g , p y it a r. e have rounded the r ou there Now when y same, lo, stretcheth befo e y ' M SECQ ND BOOK 6 :

’ far at the end of the gleamin g strand s long sweep fioreland the waters of H alys set ward leap Iris o doth g ,

There i s the lain of Doias the cities three r s p , i e near Of the Amazon : then the wbose lot is of all Maids y most drear, The al hes dwell in a ru ed land on a smbhorn soil y y gg ,

well . l Buoeou t past thesen nd heachyour keel on a smoothisle : there

Thme hirdmwhi chin coundess muldmdes haung men sayfi he strand — ' Of the desolate isle ; therein dotha M ple of Arés m l O whk ht b the ueens of the Amam n mr- n M y q a ay , they marched to the fray ; need from the bitter sea arise

them with kindly intent I advise .

Should tfl l to yon e very whit of the ta le of my prophecy ? ’ l r r e Onward away from the is e, on the mainland sho e s fa sid , 62 TH E ARGONAUTS

fiood into the sea dodxedd n Phasis ur His hroad yi g po . ’ Into the selfsame river s mouthyour galley hring K taian Aiétes Then on the towers shall ye look of y the king, ’ - o - s And the War god s gr ve dim hadowed. And high on a dark

the Fleece m d a dra a m fearfii l to see H angeth ; gom onuer , und kee i and d doth Ever glaretharo , p ng watch war : never da wn

M Even so me speak : straightway as they heard were they th thrilled wi fear .

hl s the d“ hrake at the last that sil drear Lon speec es sat, ence ’ Ai soi s son sore w|ldered that bodin of evil to hear r , g ‘O aneieng now hast thou come to the hourn of the toils we must ltnow On the sm and hu t told m the tokemhy trust whc ein we may go T u the baleful m k m d win unto Pomus : but if nce more hm gh m o , we sku ll homeward return unto

l his l f ere al so t earn hee . Exceeding ain w—t o of t H ow shall I do ? how tmck sucha

and Who am but a youth, with K olchian land ’ thdothlie on t s At the ends of the ear , the grea ea s uttermost strand . S d h hut a nswered the ancient a d t ake a ain o di e cry ; , n p yet g s ‘ M son when once thowhast sd el fied throu hthe k ocks “ y , y g of,

Fear nog for a God shall show F \B

slt the y . Tue se coun s oon 63

On the threshold their swift feet set they ; and straight from his E ach hero upsprang, beholding the champions suddenly there . Ea e r tidi n s ere the and Z t s still as dre g r fo g w y ; e e , he w Hard breathfi'om the toil of the huntin told them ho far t e g, w hy

them ' told i nt t Chasing , how Iris restra ned them at poi o slay ; Of the oaths whi ch the Goddess gave of her grace ; bow in sore

' t th d lun out clifl in a ca vern vas ey ha p ged of sight. Then were the heroes all in the mansion filled with delight

F a . or the tidings, and Phineus with l Then spake unto him

with love overflowing his soul ’gan say ‘ 0 Phineas Of a surety a God , , there was, in compassion

i amioti on and us fi'om afar on thy gr evous , he sent ’ t i ht dri ve th t tors h tha Boreas sons m ormen from t ee. Hither, g y m if e ould i hut li ht to thine such lsdness in me Now hw g ve g eyes, g W h ththe Fleece I ere me t ould stir, as thoug wi w co o mine ’ home, I trow. but the the ancient r He e, head of sank , and he answe ed low ‘ ’ s son it is ast : Nay, , p recall no dawn shall arise . - Ba lm breathing on them, for blasted are these my sightless eyes . t th : Nay, death let a God bes ow right speedily, ra er than this ’ l de d hall l enter at last into erfect Them when am a n p bliss. h to th the answerin So s alte and eac un o er . p , g speech returned And amidst their converse in no long space the dawn -flush

Of the Child of the Mist : then gathered the neighbours to sso ’ Phineus door Whiehin time past da y by day wont thither to come evermore ; from their own a portion of mes t ea eh o br ught. — And to all did the ancient yea to the poor whose hands hare nought 64 THE ARGONAUTS

e from ct s oracles ; y a, afl i i on : r f g whe e ore they came, an

And came withthe t araibiumhe that was U nto hhm and withjoy was he ware of the the hall l i f t - F or the ancient to him oag s nce had ore old that a chiefia in M d, ’ ' i tes t - Unto A é a y faring from Hellas land, On the beachof the Thynian m aa should make their ham s fu g aso M Wtbese should M HW o eus he restraiaed frmn

So withwords of wisdom and love the ancient gladdened eachheart Ere he let them o Paraihius suffered not to de art g ; but he p ,

t is frieod to go to the flocL and to bring the goodliest t t S hen to s Of he sheep un o him. o w perform his hehest he had To the chiefifi ns gathered tha e spake Phineuq and lovingly said :

Neither fnrgetful of kindness ; so loyal of heart and so good he came a a t Is yon man . Hither on d y to inquire of his fa e and late For, when never so hard he toiled, sore labouring early , Yet ever his need rew reater his ed alwa g g , m y, Withleanness wastin g his frame : day fo wed on evil day Yet worse t no res ite there was to hi s weariful sin But p p . herein ’ Was this man a i n the debt of hi s fa ther s ancient p y g sin.

' He hs wt at nou ht the xa ers ofa N m hin an k -ue d hn d g p y y p m e wd g . F or wi thearnest entrea she moaned her re uest and s ty q , he ought

s are that trunk whichhad rown withher owth here To p g gr , w throughthe years long generatious her life was hound ; but in folly and

should be F or a curse nt him a hil u o nd his c dren. And I hen , w he came unto me,

t of s e did the him that al] And heir tender he p y make , he led,

But when Sirius glared on the Neither ca me to the dwellers

F or this Aristaius the sent y , To avert the plague ; and he

Yet not unmarked of Athene onward Swiftly her feet hath she set on a cloud light- floating shmrld f her Which wa t along, for she caused that

So seawa rd she swept to the help of the toilers at the And as when one rovethafar from hi s

’ Him seemeththe track over sea and o er land And the eyes ofhis soul in his eager pondering

Then fell u on all most Betwixt those rocks. p F or destruction that Even now through beheld : But hll um Wares at their bows a mighty surge Overbowed like a precipi ce~ frown ; and they d arch gleame ,

Ease her and under the keel hathit rolled as lea t , , p and afar High hath it lifted the stern , hath it swept ’ m the mckg and the galley twixt earthand

' tossed on high . the line of the rowers wi th

a And far as a shi to The hlades with shout. p Even t i ce so far lea t Ar o awa and the w p g y ,

Then did Athene backward thrust one massy rock Withher left hand touchin bark th , g their wi her

’ Omhke a wingéd arrow twixt billow and air she

® m us soarin when now q w ly p g, But the Crags in the selfsame place that moment were m e SECOND BOOK

By the Blq hen a man in his ship 70 m s a nooua ur s

’ mine own eare never a ot but for this man and that man s bane For j ; , And for thee and for other m comrades l bear thi s urden of ain , y b p , ’ ha l brin Lest p y never I g you alive unto Hellas again. ’ So spa ke hq tryi ng the heroes souls ; but withwords of cheer

Shouted they : glowed his heart that gallant chiding to hear . si n and - : 640 And ag he uplifted his voice, he hailed that hero crew O ln end ur manful s it hath ui k coura e n g yo pir q c ened my g a ew. h b wa should e W erefore, not though through abysses of Hades my y , ' ' Wdl I sufler that dread shall lay hold on my souhso stes dfast do ye

Of t Clashin R ks e ve led I tro there li ethin t he g oc w ha sai , w wai No terror hereafter like un to this if in truth obe , we y The counsel of Phineus So spake he ; from words they refrained But they fell to the ceaseless lahow of rowing ; and quickly they ga med ’ R - flo in : K otone s 6 0 heba the swift w g river height they descried, 5

And shortly thereafter past the Headland Dark did they glide. ’ Phlléis h Thereby was y outfall, w ere m the days bygone ’ Di sakus In the halls of his palace p welcomed Athamas son, t Orchomenus-cit he fled on the in ed ram b rne Wha time from y , w g o . ’ A N of the Mead was his mother : the tyrant s arrogant scorn ’ e at e be ed, but contented beside his f her s str ams dwelt e With his mother, and pastured his she p in the meadows beside

the sea. And qd ckly they fighted his shring and rhe broad low hanks of

e stream, ’ And the hin and of Kal é s - th p , p deep flowing waters ey caught

F or a momeut and u sed it b and still the da l ht aned , p y, , when y ig w , 66o ’ Neaththe stsrs ofthe windless ni t at the ti reless oars the straine gh y d.

Swa methfi mn flm k and fiom uechand aye from beneaththe yoke Appeared ; and his tresses golden-gleami ng about

I l held the sil n his eft hand he ver bow, and From his shoulders was gleaming adown his ’ all o er ’ and sur ed ed neath his feet, g the billow high on ’ en fell on them wildered fear as they looked

’ H is face to gaze withhis on the God s eyes l

' But withheads bowed wn to the earththey onward he F arin afar thr u the air to the s g o gh ea . Then f A ter long hush spake, and he cried to the hero S Come now, an ye will, this island the acred Isle - Of Apollo the Dawn god, seeing at dawning revealed ’ O er the isle he hath passed . Such things as we have let On the shore upbuilding an altar : and if in the days To Haimouia- land he vouchsafe us

But with sacrifice -steam and libation I bid you

° od. Be r i u The G g ac o s, THE ARGONAUTS

If e i th y haply m ght light on a fawn, or . the wild

That in multitudes seek their pasturage far in the ’ Anti Léto s son unto these thighs, on the altar they em, haihng

E H ’ ver unravaged, as eaven s will is !

So born wasathe lovely hymn that to t bus

Then, when with the dance and the song the M ore God, they ,

A In

now when the dawn of the thi rd And day came,

' — L us Anthemo i The streams of yk , the mere of sia these

74 m s a s s a ss i n s

So the t u into th cit and all to ether the y wen p e g y l Into L kus cysy throughhy the meat a nd the bowl zh In all they sag and withconverse gladdened

soul . ’ And Aison s scion his linea e to d and the na mes ef the g l , rest ’ Of the hero~ helpers withahand the tale of Pelias hest ; And how the women of Lemn os iu kindness dealt wjth ma h i e And of d l m m land of t e Dol an m u, H o to M sxa the nd to r c Herakles lion-sb uldd w y y camem K o , where Sore loth they forsook ; and the words of the Sea- god Glaukm he told ; how they laid the Behrykian people and Amfi us low; ’ of Phineus prophecies told he and all his weary woe ; And how they eseaped through the Crags Dark-blueg and beheld

’ Leto s son : d s ll as he ld all L kus the an ti , to , y H earkened in gladness of soul ; but withgrief did the heart of

H For erakles left behind, and unto them all he spake lost for the way ye must go

—‘ halls ofAiétesl myself have beheld him, and know ’ What mauner of man he was for in Da sk lus halls did he ; y stand, Even here in the halls of m sire hen he marched rh ht y , w roug he

Afno that belt of the bsttle-revellin ueen to win g g q , ’ Hippolyte:then did he flnd me withyouths soft down

H ere, when TH E S ECOND 8 00K 75

s t In stature and might : but Herakles da hed his tee h on the ground .

Mysians he bowed,

and i And the tribes of Bithynians he smote, won the r land by

his might, ’ E f R K lon es o . ven to the out all of heba, and unto height Pa hl m ians lo l And the p ag of Pe ps yie ded, nor faced that foe, ’ E ill s n ven all round whom B aio darkli g waters flow. ’ kians Am kus Then came the Bebr ; and y lawless tyranny, Wh l r ile Herakles dwe t afar, eft these my possessions from me, out of m n cantles till r Long carving y la d huge , st etched the line ’ Of their hounds to the meads where H ypi us deep-flowing waters

But e made them to a re uital for all : it was not I wot y p y q , , ’ by will of the Gods that war by Tyndareus son was brought ’ That da n Bebr kia hen their c ion iant he y o y s m w hamp g slew . Wherefore what tha nks soever L ykus ma y render to you Withjoy will I render ; for meet and right it is that the t t n When the strong for heir helping arise, by deeds their ha ks s a k should pe . LmDu kylus uow will I bid that he be o

’ on the Acherusian foreland s steep far 05 across the deep

l . Shall fane, and to these in prayer shall they cal Rich fields of the fertile lain will I set apart withal ’ - 0 g l . Unto them , as unto the ods, without the city wal Q Even so through the livelong day at the ba nquet revelled they on . to But with dawning down to the strand they hied them, in haste

Then went withthem Lykug and gifts in their galley to hear gave he 76 THE ARGONAUTS

u b t his son the n a n comrade to be. n m er. and sen , i voy gi g ’ - d u n Abas son did the doom fate spoken descen po , safety for him was therc none w must he die hy the doom

’ - en For it chanced that there lay in a reedy river s water m d , w Cooling his flanks and his mighty belly wallo ed in mire,

ked, so baleful a monster and dire

- et he No man knew hi s lair g alone in the fen wide str ching fed. ’ ’ But it chanced unto Abas son o er the marshy rises to fare Of the lnin and the beast on a sudden forthof his unseen lair p , , H - lea i out of t e e - ashed in his sidelon rnsh igh p ng hre d bed, g g 8113 His thigh, that the sinews were severed, and d was the

bone by the tush. Wit one shar cr to the earthhe fell and withanswerin shout h p y , g

charged full on them ; but Idas stabbed 83°

And harshly screaming he fell impaled on the keen spear Ther n the h e left e o e r as h la un w ded h him dead. a th e y, t y But their friend to the galley in death-throes gasping his comrades bore Sore grie ved : but he died in their arms or ever they resched

the shore.

The rfrom in sta d he the care not no n their voyeg g ye t y , y d w

’ ' To fi iend s burial tnrned they in heavi ness of heart. three whole da s the iled and their dead For y y wa , , when the fourthda bro e y k , Did they bury as one of the princes ; and Lykus anrhall his folk Had art in the woefii l rites a nd vicums of she nOt a Eew p ; ep ,

meet and . As right for the dead it is, by his grave they slew

And a token is ther to be seen b the men of the unb r da s g y o n y , — Now who was the next that died i for the heroes agai n in grief Another earth-mound heaped for anofi er peri shed chief : there be memorials twain of the wanderers et hi h- e Yea, y g r ared/ No telleththe tale how Ti hs the H a niad w p y g died ; for his weird L, Was to vo a e no further thereafter but him far a fr s y g : , way om hi home, S sickness hushed into slee the hort p of the tomb, While yet were the death- rites render

b hi t Ym and whm hard y the seer m oo they had buried there, On the shorc of the sea did the cast them adown in utte r des ir 86o y pa , Rofled in their mantles fi om head m foog all hmhed z no pm H ad mest nor drink in their thoughts ; but hhhitterness of heart ’ The s ake no for hO e of retnrnin was dead fin e h y p g p g aé mm s wm t. or r had the ne n fil t t And f g ief y go o r her, had here made end of

the Quest, But that H eré enkindl ed exceeding conrage within the soul ' ’ Of Ankfi u whom Au ald where Imbrasus waters r ll g yp m o , Bm to the Sea- od a ma n most deft in the steerin of shi s g , g p . So now unto Peleus he turned him, and spake with eager lipe 18 “W“dm e Wt W m W ’ , W —W g orm i e hufi lin er and li n e ? I ~ B 0 On an al en shor s o g g r , even he 7 Whom J ason brought on the Quest of the Fleece fi'om Parthenia r afa , — ' H k led of shi s even be ond m an now ge p f yw y y eunning in war. ‘ Whenefia q as m ching the plight of mu' no Ym oehers mm ng defl cm e withm l txem u 78 THEARGOBIAUTS

t th unt u e l s t ll t l Our seafari ng . Has e em and o o r f l ow e for hal em rise aronse them -withhe rtenin unto the high p a g word. spa ke he ; the soul of the other withgladness exeeeding

hi t did he tsrr hnt strai ht in d thm ll No w y, g the midst e a did

cherishwe thus a bootless sorrow for F or I ween these twain hy the doom first drawn withtheir

let us them to proof : make we no sta y ; ’ e unto the and cast our riefs a a But rome y y g w y . But in helpless despair un to him chd the son of Ai son sa ’ — O Aiakus of he son, these helmsmen thine now where ey F r the whi ch u therein once vaunted l u o y concerning their c nning o d, E e more than ven th se yet I with vexation of spirit are bowed. F or us then as for the dead il l doom dothmine heart t l , , fore e l, Whose lot shall he never to wi n to the town of Aietes the fell 89» , - - No, neither ever again to pass through the grim sea gate of H ellas but now shall To the land returning ; an evil fate, ’ As we wax old deedless u s and fameless , enshro d us namele s here . e s : ns o .H pake but eagerly pr lfened hunself to steer o The see- swift ship ; him the power of the Godden

was strong . E N ins E e rt rginus and then, and uph mus fo h from the throng the helm : hut their Strode, eager all comrades F or that none would they hasre hut Anka ius to guide them over

’ So then on the twelfthda hied them adown the Ar o s u y g crew At for - 9d dawn ; the West wind now, the mighty wafter, blew. ’ ro u Speedily out of the Ache n s mo th with the oars they passed,

And they shook the broad sail forth to the wind, and far and fast

the outfall of K allic orus the river swiftl the drave y h y y , Thce lace where the child N saian o eus as the sa le p y , doth tell , ' leavin the tn bes i n e e When , g ofthe Indians, Th b he came to dwe ll,

“ 80 TH E ARGOM TS

Swift-u sing as when some havfi thmughthe welkin soaring higli TO the brew e committeth his wing g and is borne fast : onward

she so, In its lovely coolethher limbs from the Thmé through night-fideonward and onw d a Er thinian P st Sesamus, past the long y steeps they fled ;

Karambi s ; and sdll hy an endl ess

Asfi us had i Of p , g ven a home By his own rash promise beguiled ” ’ “ “ a n a v : h Zeus self her maM ood.

Nar did m y man gain H h i s of ove her M e, n the arm l to , and humble he?

’ Trikkaian una hns a “ did noble De c sons w ,

n r ofH etakl Since the day whe they wande ed away from the host es.

r mm and Went shorewa d to them, told tha n in all

Wherein the M ossyntzcians dwell amid mountains

’ Wham er we be wnnt to do before men in the sight TH E SECOND BOOK 83

And wha wo e do in om' chambers a art w p , they i t of their cit un bla Without , in the m dst of he streets y, to do m d . No moden h the in lov hut as rootin swine nnshamed y m y g g , abashed for the e es of heholden thn stand thereh No whit y y, On the earthfor their hed of love withtheir women unwedded they lie . i lci ftiest - u l his In the r block ho se sitteth their king, and ho deth eonrt, r u m to Dec eeing his righteous j dg ents them that thither resort. —if Ah, luckless wight perchance

th hale him therein i t tth “ 1 0 0 Unto prison ey , to fast t ll falle h night. 3 - i ove st These they by, and well n gh ragain the shores Of the I e of Ares they cleft them a pnt hwithunresting oars da Through the livelong y , for the gentle breeze in the gloaming

’ - Then all in a moment one of the War god s birds they espied , l e i Which haunt that is e, through the w lkin dart ng high overhead And behold his inions he shook and down on the as she , p , sped A feather keen hathhe shot z to the leftward sh it sprang ‘ ’ Of O ilens he at the M en pang - Of the stroke, led all when the feather arrow

they saw . ’ But the sha fi fi'om the flesh did his rowing-mate En hétesd ran oso And he hound u the wonnd for his hnldric-band he nnclu ed p ; p , that bare Sweeping on throughthe air already the how was bent ’ Of the ha o K lyd i mytm son : from the string hathhe sent - inst fo l and the haft A swift fl in arrow a a w s . y g g that , struck home Down whtrlin heside swift shi s lashed the hird in t g the p p he foam. ’ e hdamm Aleiis son d thus Thn cried Amp i , an spake he : ‘ Nighto us now is the l sland of Are-z ye know ihwho see us I w Yon fowl of ravin ; and little shall arrows avail , tro , L To win ns a landing theneon ; hnt contri ve v e m m m w Some other vice for m hd mii hshee hm k 84

’ ’ Remembering Phineus wod and the sightless seer s ’ F or not great i i erakles wmto Arcndiafi -land when

Yea I will s eak i t who heretofore have h , p , t ought

That the birds by the noise may be

our nodding crests and the hrigh

' And hthronghthe swrm of their sha fts to the

Then wi thclashi ng of hraaen bucklers raise ye a So s ake he and in the si ht of th p , good g em

seemed.

Even so from the galley ohhighto the h t em rose. THE SECOND BOOK the bixds et aw the : but when as y a y ,

“ lashed on their buckle , 86 THE ARGO NAUTS

Andthe mil by the might ofthe hlast was snatched awa yfi ndcrashed T ’ l heir ship s hu l, shattered in twain

that dashed. Th ’ en by the Gods own prompting they clutched, and as one man c — h flo t fl i T ou ur to a mighty spu r for—tha many an one had been W f i firm- r ide rom the scattered m g knit by the st ong clasp ; ’ in.i on but eat im to the isle, evermore a little beyond d h s g p, e t t Ta m and the tweep af the tempes bnre hem in misery. ' — e bmst t u e it ir am Th n forth rain no ongue co ld t ll , rained on the , On the island and overagain st the island the floods of it fell Over all the land where the lawless Mossync cinns dwelL along withthe mm y beam the eweep of the snrges bore ’ The sons of Phrixus on to the island a rocky chore the l E t - In b ack dark night. n the floods of Zeus descended rai n s hs Ceased with the dawn and they met full oon, t o e companies

’ Then Argna fim found voice and m Argos crew spake be ‘ ou All - e We beseech y by b holder Zens, whosoever ye be u us in hel lm nesa Of men , to have mercy and succo r now our p ’ ’ bufi etd heve we been n m rou hwindc w a For long o the hythe g n, nd shattered the beams of hearken our r praye , To eover our nakd m now and to ta ke m hither , w ye go As O r m s ecmw BOOK 87

Y ourselm have certaink hennd hm heard ere thi s the r y , ’ Of Phrixng who oame on a day to Ai éteo fomesa-town Beetriding the ram whichfl ermes created all of gold * Y emmd the fleeoe thereof thu day may ye yet behold ; ’ F or the mm by the beatt s own counu l a m rifice did he give ’ Kroni F et To on the ugitives Zeus . And him did Aiét receive hhis pd c md gave him to wife hia Nor for ifts f sked in the hmh the g o wooing he a , o eart nnd ’ Of theae bn f t hathd twain we be the children ; t hrixua our fis her ied, ’ An old man striclten th ears in Aiétes halls of m y , nd w o thzt onr ms ake A fi ghM y m gi ving heed to the w rd p , ’ Athamas goods in pou eseion to tmlte. thou wouldst that our namewbe made

K om h f m N d Phr nfi he Behold , yfi t tlns m M o s ;

He spekg and vfor thia forgathering glad were the w oeo all z And they minu tered m w mem marvelling much: but J aoon agni n Spake as was q weet and rtighg for hi a hemt of the tidi ngn waa fain t Lonow ofa m ret kinsmen e are of m sire , y y y , which have yed That withmencifnl ts we look u on t s e r efi oo hesr would p hi y u .

K retheus Athamaa were For of one blood , even brethren, and ; ’ And K retheuo grandoon am iththese Aie From the selfsame Hellas, and unto ’ But of all these things to commune sha ll another time an fl. But no ut i nt u u : it ca me to a l trow w p rn me pon yo p m , ’ d i n t to n a dein oorw re d By ev ai g ofGodn hat ye came mi e hn y nee w. So hq and out of the chip he gave them rfi ment to dom ’ a top ther now unto m en fane are they gone For the n crificing of ehem a nd in all hu te round a bout

t s“ :

A hol ftahin y ig, h And hw nm mehwm fiom me fi rther m od ’ o er the dee came p, On this n me altar t o bnrn in aa crifice oxen nor sheep

nid s hns do I sail to Be onr vo a in e . Lo t y g g g , ’ l ri x Who wou d sac fice Phri us, and brought Zens . ’ ’ Aiol ns seed. ceased ; but with

or they deemed they shonld find o would wxn tha t F leeoe of th

’ h t - And e vanntethhimself he god s oeed, snd aronnd m THE ARGON‘AUTS

Where Cheiron the Goodly to see as a Thenee past the

They marked where

And at nightfall , by

O was the uttermost bonrne of the t the sail the furled and Then s raightway y , the

And m wd in the mu m ghthen g and the TH E S ECOND BOOK g r

: the fsst And lowered in haste, till it lay along then rowed y ’ Into the ri ver s strea m ; round the prow as they ps ssed H e snrged as he them way ; and they had on the left ward hand - n High Caucasus now, and the city K of Aia la d ; And to rightward the plain and the of the War-god lay Where keepeth the serpent watch As it hangeth amidst ofthe thick- leaved bonghs ofan oak ’ And Aison s son himself from a golden chalice shed Into the river libations of sweet unmingled wine Earthto the Gods of the lnnd to the S irits d I-I Unto , , p i Wh ch had died, and with bowed knees prayed less help to give

receive . Then sn'ai htwa Ankaios s alte the rd t hi s fello s and cried g y p wo o w , ‘ Lo now Kol hian a we he - , to the c land h ve won, w re the waters—glide is h Of Phasis the time come for counsel , to c oose

Or if other

And to m r her u to the anch b p p or stone, oiF lace was th there Now the p anigh to them then. 80 slept ey hs throushthe nig .

m THl RD BOOK

Of the soul of the chiefta ins : and yet have l mused a rede ’ ’ She spa ke ; and their eyes on the threshold bd ore the ast y c , As the ondered of this and of that till H é cried at y p , &r F or a thought in her heart had ‘ Let ns henee to the Cyprian Qneen ; and

Will ra to s if p y her bid her on , ’ At Aiétes sorceress-daughter s And bewitchher with love for Jason — And she answered snd now suasion fell t

‘ H éré father be at me unweetin of shaf s , my g g t N hin I ltn desi e or ot g ow of r ,

would she hraid up ; but before her beheld she the 94 m e ARGONAUTS

And on couches she eaused them to sit ; thereafter herself withal Sat dowm and her unoombed tresses coiled she about her head ; so And smiling innocént-archto the Goddesses twain she said : ‘ ou Dear sisters, what purpose or need hath brought y hither at last

' Who have tarried so longwfi ar ? Why come ye i In days oovver ast Not oft hath your presence been berm great for such as p Then unto her did H éré with sta tely speech reply : ’ h rt with Thou mockest, the while our ea calamity sshadow is dark , F or that even now in Phasis the river moored is the hark f OfAi son s somand the rest on the Qnest of the Fleece that have come . — F or all their sakes fort hat nigh is the deed and the hour ofdoom ’ E r Aison s son . xceed—ing so ely we fear , but most for I en Him y , though unto Hades now he were voyaging on To brea k those fetters of brass wherewithal Ixion rs bound a n Will deliver, so f r as strength in these my limbs is fou d, ’ ’ i s l lau h a Lest Pel as hou d g , having sc ped the doom , his iniquity s

Wh ride of s whathleft e unhn d it ifi o in p hi heart m o oure w hsaor ce. Y a d before J ason was N dear unto me m that g , n ’ E i Ananrus OM E tO the sea ven s nce, when full flood oured , ’ p In the day when men s heart-righteousness farn 'would I prove

Coming back from the hunting he met me ; and all overmantled with snow r a -r ea ks a We e the mount in idges and towering p , and down from ” them poured The winter -tide floods and the rolling torrents rattled and to“ took me r And he pitied the grey old crone, and he at my p ayer, And er the s r -maddin fl d his ov eawa d g oo on ders he bare. r i : u The efore I honour him now, and w ll honour nharmed shall

’ ’ - he i of Of Pelias spiter yea, thou his return una ded thee . So s s ke she : hlr s.of m could frame no word for u a p the p p oe, In her awe to behold great Hg king of her a grace w e THI RO e oox 95

‘ speechthen spake she an swerin g n ‘ O Goddess dread ma there nev be found an viler thin , y er y g Than K ypi i g if I shall set at naught desire of thine Ot i n word r in deed whatsoe ver these hnnds of mine o , frail ’ Ms a ail and f r all that l r uld y v ; o do no than k nor reqnital wo l . SQspake ‘ hi s hfa k mi t that e n th w w e hc of gh w come , m rofm g of Bu thon to thy child in peacefnl qnietness speak thy command ’ ’ To bewitchAiétes daughter withlove for Aison s seed ; F r if she ithh nsd shnll hd h ith l o w er cm p hi n w lovi n favonr u d, Li hd ee shall the hero wi n the Fleece ofé ld g n w m o , An d renn n m l olkog seei ng the maiden is subtle-sonled So did she speak ; and the Lady on prns answered thereto e e e e m child would render obedience to ou “H r Ath n , y y M ore than to me : in our resence a little abashed shall he be y —p , B bo t u hh t t t l z t old y ho g e be z bu no hing a a l he regs rde hme. Bnt ever he stri a inst me l u hh n. vethga , and a g et mine hests to scor Yea I am min ed b t his m n o rb rne , d , y tha ghti ess ve o ,

F ull in hi s sight : for of late this threat in Thm if l refi ained not mine

' ’ My scathe mi ne own head should hbe me the m ng So s ake the Goddesses smiled and cam p , Looked : but a gain ugh" ‘ t t riefs be for lan hter alone and I ou ht not so Un o o hers g— g , g To tall them to s enoughthat mine heart must its bitterness know ’ H owbeig if this be all your son l s I wi ll t and withsoft ords win sa fi ry , w y me nay She s ke and withtouchcaressin did Héréhe slim d take pa ; g r han , ftl i n she a s e ed and thus : And, so y sm li g the while, n w r , she spake ‘ Em K t rei s eed erf n t hu our re uest so, y he ag withp p on o this q 96 THE ARGONAUTS

m Withthy child : from his troubling of thee hereaiher shalt thou ’ have rest.

- She s k d he ose fi'o andAthéné assedat hei de pa emn s r p si , As forththe ed and awa the twa n : but the C rian y sp y, y i yp her hild she s and dowifl ts rid es see c a sed. To Olympus, g , , p ’ - And in Zeus s fruitfii l orchard close she nnd him at last, the boy whom Zeus on a day From earthunto heaven had brought toabide withl mmortals for aye; When he greatly desired his - in even as bo s like minded be wont to do. Were y g, y And a ready Eros the greedy the of his left hand i nin ainst hi s br a golden spoils his w n g, ag e u , t while a sweet fl mantled and w S anding upright , the ush glo ed ’ O e r the bloom of his cheelts : but the otlw was crouehing on ben t knees bowed In downcast silence : he had bnt twain ; on the earthhe flung ’ l h after other b Eros s ibin an w stu . , y g g g ng u he former he lost the the last of his dice B t, even as fared t , m, , And withempty and helpless hands he went tand his down-dmoped

ked not the comin o ris Before her child did she stsnd Mar g n p . , And withlovi n chidin she s ake as she laid on his li s her g g p , p ‘ ’ smil st ri n ? Why —thou in t umph, thou aughty varlet Thy playi nate Q a nd fairly hast thon overcome that innocent child ? l Go to now, accomplish my bidding, the thing that I sha l ask , And the la thin exceedin fair o eus shall re nite th task p y g g q y , ’ Whichwas fashioned hAdresteia his nurse for her babe s deli ht y g , ’ ’ Wh d he u ht as a child in the e en a chil tho cav i . , , g , neath Ida s he ght A - : wet ball fair rounded it is no goodlier toy, I , Conldst thou get thee mid all the marvels by hands of fl ephaistus

Of gold be the zones of it fashioned ; and round eachseveral one - Twofold be t he sw ns of beoidery thresd that encircling run . Bat the sthohes thereof be hidden : there coiletharound them all

A s F u st hhthat b l m ira ofblue. rom thine hand o ca it on i a l p l if th g ,

98 m s s nooms ur s

‘ O f truth that seemeth ood in mine e es fii endsm a the thing g y , That will I utter ; howbei t with you the fulfilment lies . h all e have all s are . This Quest , and in counsel and speech y part Whosoever in silence withholdethhi s rede and the tboughts of

his heart,

Let him know, he Now I counsel that ll But I , even I, wi I l k b s f hrixu d twai n wi l ta e t the ons P . u o s, an ofthe rest therewithal nd I me t him ithwords will first make tria l to know A , when I e , w , If he l of Gold 1 80 haply for ovingkindness the Fleece will bestow, r t it hi s t set us at na u ht an not but in e of mi hwill . Or will g , g g s n l For so, when the les o evil first by himse f hath been taught, S a the l hall we then dvise us, whether ordea of battle to try, - Or if other device shall avail us, refraining the onset cry . let us not or ever a ‘suasion be ut to the test But rashly, p —p , z Despoil this man of his own possession nay, To come before him and first withs eechhis race to win : , p g — Yea oft s eed h n fled ma ma m and hhd wha , fair p , g y & Little had prowess afix—for that winsomely it stole ’ On the besrt : yea hereby Phrixus wrought on the grim king s sonLtso ’ When a stepdame s guile and the sacrifice-stroke ofa father he flesh ’ To him : r on receive in no man s b east is shame utterly dead, r t - r and e sndeth But he honou eth Gues wa d Zeus, r g his ordinance ’ a dre d . ’ s t one he of Ai son s Then prai ed they wi h accord t counsel seed,

Nor did an man turn therefrom, to utter another rede. ’ r chose of Then call he on Ph ixus children to follow, and his ’ Au eias d Telamon and g ; moreover himself took Hermes wan . Forthright from the ship over water and reed-fringed river-side ’ Passed they, and out beyond o er the swell of the plain they hied. The Plain upon r l Wi lows and osiers there exceeding many grow. Mid their topmost brancl es cord- bound corpses be there For to K olchisns unto this day an abomination it were THE M RD BOOK 99

To hum on the pyre their men whichhave died ; nor yet in the

hhidn unfi nned of om the rofl th and hn m But y m a g idst tmes , Yet thhathe l h in city. es r qua s are these Withthe air ; for in graves of the esrthbe they wont thd r ,

N s as the dre did H éré withlovi n th ow, nigh y w, g ought for

’ S read thick mist alLthrou hthe cit that so the mi ht sca p g y, y g pe the ken ’ Of t t Aiétes hall hile r th the houa nds hm w w fa ed ey on. ’ And when from the plain to Aiéu s city and palaee they won, Then t ai htwa Héré m ttered that cloud haze s r g y y . the stood and the looked the oourts of At the entrance y , , y on the king in ama s e, On the id the colmnns that all around t a s gateways w e, and he w ll In ordered lines uprou ; and highon the roofs of the halls

Did a ooping of stone upon rows of brazen tri gl hs lie. r t t s l in eace t e en And ove he hre ho d p hy w t. hard ’ - in Were garden vines fulness of blossom, mantled o er

And withwa ter the fourthrsn ; steaming for heat did the name

- At the settingwtide of the P leis dn ; but out of its rock -hewn cave l t - u t Co d even as iee in heir rising season b bbled he wwve. Even suchwere the marvellous works that fl ephaisnw the craft wise God

t - z o And he wroughfor him brazen footed bulls, and their mouths s

were of bram o 1 00 THE ARGOM UTS

Moreover a of unbending adamant, all in one, th ei n his re uital of to the Sun Did heforge making er q thanks , h faint fi the Phle ra h Who had taken him up in is cha fi oh om g fig t. i t were ht There also was builded the inner court, and around pig Many chambers on either hand withtwo- leas ed doors fair-( light ; And without them a rich - wrought corridor ran to left and to right ; And athwart them the loftiest buildings Whereof one over its fellows uplifted its Aiétea th Therein with his queen abode, A i fair of his son Abs rm stand nd thereby did the mans on y , Whom a N 1 phCaucasiamAsterM bare to his bed i21 Eiduia - Or ever he home, his wife true wed, O Daughter of Tethys and cean, even their youngest one But the sons of the K olchians gave him a new ‘ ’ S for all the ouths were in beaut The hining, y y ’ In the nest did the handmaid- train and Ai étes Chalkio é And p and Medea. now had Medea hied ’ From her chamber forth to her sister s ; for H ere remained her

That she went not abroad : but little she wont theretofore to stay aso alace but all lon in the tem le of Hekaté In the p , day g p ’ riestess was . —Her conversa tion she had, for the Goddess s she And shsa aloud snd sudd heard was her call e w them, snd cri ed ; y Of Chalkiope : and her hsndmaids down at their feet let fall Their yarn and their threads and forthof the chamber ran they all In a them the mother : n throng, and amidst and there beholdi g her sons She cast up her hands in her gladness ; and those re-given ones r her Greeted their mothe , and lovingly gazed on , folding her round r o ds d s bhi s r u un With their arms, till he w r mi o ng b oken tterancefo d: ‘ t l e in lonel childless ain So then e were not o eave m y p , htm'ned a And to afar ; and fate hat you b ckward again . — ° O l l n Hellss awoke in our br as hapless what g for y e ts, ’ By some strange w m dnem at Phrixus your father s behests /i ffl la Bitter a iction did he ordain, when dying he y. — ’ F or mine heart l O why to Orchomenus city far away to: THE ARGONAUTS

’ r Pale now, and anon, th oughher soul s confusion, with crimson d a ame . Now when ready-dight was the banquet by labonr of handmaid and thr ’ And by steaming baths refreshment their faces were li ghtened am

withal, Gl th r adly ey feasted and drank till thei r souls we e satisfied. Thereafter un to the son s of his daughter Aietes cried : And thi s was the d his mouthas in uisition he made wor of , q ‘ ’ Ye sons of daughtet and l hrixu the man unto whom l paid Honour abovemy How came ye to Aia remrni ng i- d d some dark curse of sin Break thort in the midst your escape ? Y e would not hear nor obey Me, when I set before you the endl ess length of the way. For I marked ig when once I was whirled in my father the Sun» ’ s car, In the da y wherein he wafted my sister Kirké afar H es eria land Unto p r , till the chariot at last made stay n - r On the Tyrrhene mainla d shore, whe e even unto this day

l her K l chians . She abideth, exceedingfar from the and w e the o dwell What profit or pleasnre in words ? Speak out and plai nly tell

What happed in the midst of your journey, and say who these men he That ha ve me h our sll it hither. And here fr co w you w om y g ey ashore came ye ? So did he question ; and answered him Argus before the rea ’ But his heart misgave him con cerning the son of Ai son s quest With ke he seein that he as the elder- soft words spa , g w born ‘ Aiét s t e , tha our ship full quickly asunder was torn

By stormy blasts, and we, unto beams of the ’ On the beachof the War-god s Isle by the sweep of the surges were flung I ni ht S e God from destruction d u n me murky g . om re eemed s, I trow ;

For even the birds of Ares, that wont to haunt ere now

That desolate isle of the ses, even these we found no more ; THE TW BOOK 1 03

But these men drave them away when they landed the day before

f venture by ate.

- So soon as the name of Phrixus the far renowned they heard, 33a

Y a and thine o n : for unto th t be t a in . e , w y own hey voy g g

F his l s i t ' e this forasmuchas in rom and and pos ess ons o miv man, wish ’ t is hands he a eerless amon st the heroes of Aiolus m d w s p g , F or fate hsd decreed

Ofimphmble Zeug and hhw ahand the curse unendurabl dire, And the vmgeance for Phfi m till comethto H ellas the leeoe

of Gold.

Pallas Athéné fashion : not suchis her mould u o

Whereof our hap was the vilesoffiorf even at a touchit broke

Achaia -land and hathcome to th ch from anderin fi r In , y y w g B d de b dread k a- ulf if thou ha l wouldst rant his re uest g y g g p y g q , fi at the thing he desirethma y be z' for nowise he 'eosnethto wrest

thy sway . m4 THE ARGONAUTS W hat men the be I will tell to thee all in order due. y , for assembl fi'om H a he - ee whose helping ed ellas ro c w,

anger leapt from his eyes as straightway be gone from my sigh

forthwithnaught but your feet to

1 06 THE ARGONAUTS

In fisshion of armed men ; but straightway l lay them low Witht e hr t t - ht usts ofm s ear as around me he thron a bs t le . y p , y g, ring Withthe dawnin l o e m team and l cease fi'om mine g y k y , At the e t And th if thou brin suchdeeds to ass ven ide hour. om g p , ’ That day shalt win this Fleece, as thy king s commandment was . But l gi ve it thee not ere then ; neither hope it ; for shame a o should it be That a mighty channpion should yield to a man that is worser ’ than he. t he sat withhis es on the un but silen t hero e ro d. , y g

Long time he communed with his heart ; no way throughthe darkness gleamed t ht eed it To take on him stoutl the ssk for a mi d seemed. y , g y il But la te and a t last he spake, and he answered war y : “ s ht thou traitl Aiétes within th ri art . Full y, , y g shutting me wifl l dn g this empr'ise mighty beyond all thonght ;

Y es . thou hm doom be to die : for a man ma li ht u on nou ht , g y y g p g ’ dread t encouhter than ruthless fate s e More o overmastering hand, w ’ Whi chhitherward also constrained me to come at a king s ’ command. So s ake he des s ir but the kin made ns r to him p , filled with p ; g a we , Sore u oubled there u he u hwithwords exceeding grim ‘ Come then t the atherin thou ho art fain this toil t ssa o g g, w o e y . But if thou shalt fear the necks of the oxen the oke t o on y lay, if from the desdl harvestin bsckward thou shrink in is Or y g d may, b thee Then will I look unto this , that another, taught y , ’ i h t a he Ma shudder mcome in suchmal apert sort to a m g tier ho . oundl he s ake and he cea sed and J ason from hi s su t y p , ; , And Augeias and Telamon with him ; butfollo them onlythe feet Of Argus ; for even at the moment a sign to his brethren he cast There in their laoe to tarr : so forthof the hall the assed p y y p .

But the son of Aison outshone o all there in wondrous wise In goodlihesd and in grace : em wandered the snM s eyes ’ As kance unto him as she stealthil l s soft le , y her vei g m . And her heart was a smoulderin fire ain and her sonl as a dream g p ; , , THETH IRD BOOK 1 07

her fl Stole after love, itting still in h the halls in exceedin g

The thoughts through

vision of all evermore she had

And she dreamed as she

Of his voice, and the

And she mourned, and the low lamentation tured breast : “ t hthat l am is this an uishu on me Why, wre c , g p the best l Of heroes, who now is to perish , or be he the vi est Let him go to hi s doom

the bull s to be overmastered, or ever it be too late know it not forced , that I be So was Thous hast heard me tell

Hasten thou then, and with

For our - tu n if this home re r , So k he ; and soon to the ba ckwater came he a fain

you appeareththe goal ’ bulls on the War- god Pasture ; in flames of fire from the mouths

And withthese must l ploughhimpl oughgates four ofa fallowfield ’ Ahd seed of a ser ent s aws l he v shs ll it p j wil gi e , and for crop yield E t -born warriors in harness of hrass In the selfsame da ar h —. y These must I l And t i l und n better s ay . of hs for fo o way, — ’ I romised i rn ak e s In mine heart as I pondered outr ght to es ay .

H e s ake andi t seerned tmt al ble . F p , o an impossi ta sk or a space ’ e t c i azed in his Sil nt hey sat, and ach man g fellow s face, des air bowed down b calamit crushed till 'Peleus at last B p , y y , athstout word u ps he to hearten the heroes all aghast :

Smdlprofig l tmm shall be formd n tmu hands must help ous If thou then art minded k t to y o e the of Aié es the king , ’ Q hro Ahon w e wm snd thine heart i s gsod for the thing,

’ n o TEE ARGONAUTS

’ I make essa y . kindness sent fortha sign in sw

Fona fearful dove fmm the might of a hawk swift- winging her flight ’ Frmn on highinto Jason s M om fell in her panic affright. w l im al ed on the But the hawk s ooped blind y, and fluttered p high - stern crest . cam and he cried to the rest: of the Gods this token is sent; ’ F or in non e other wise shall ye better interpret the sign s intent That e seelt to the maiden and o her withs eechof entrest fair w , wo p y W t sb e i ll n t ect our ra er ithour uttermos wi t ; and een w o rej p y , If Phineus foretold that your home-return should be brought to pass Withhel of th i dd H er entle bird it was p e Cypr an Go ess . g t s e in Tha e caped from destruction . As now mine h art doth vision foresee As touchin g this omem O that so in the end it may be ! F riendg let us cry to the Queen of K era to help our need ’ t And straigbtway obey ye the counsel o Argus withdiligen heed. H e s ake and the oun men mised i callin to rnind the word p , y g g g Of P the o het ut I lone rose an er- hineus pr p ; b a g stirred Shoutin aloud m hi s fie n es rsthand thus did he ss g rce s of w , y ‘ — - Out on ir l were women our voyaging fellows through all

a r We men that be calling on Kypri now for our help to a ise, ’ — And not on the War-god s mighty strength i a nd by turning sso

’ ll shall e and on hawks sha ye scape from the toil , y win

deeds of war no more Butthe cunning in pleeding that winnetha Even so hot-hearted he spake ; and THE THIRD 300K i n

But let us whi chremain from her hidi ng-place And openly moor to the shore our galley ; fos Is the time for hiding as So did he speak : and To retnrn to the cit iths e d d the ha sers dre the men y w p e , an w w y ” Out of the stream inboard at Aison s son s command ; And a above the ck h th a l n lhtle bs water rowed t ey e g l ey ala d. Aiétes assembled for council the Kolchian men in

Aloof from his halls where thc athered n , in the place y g i days

he ur osed so soon the bulls should ha e torn him limh p p , as v

from limb, This man ho had taken u n him the hea tssk to fulfil w po vy , T he the oak - ro e d n that crested the sh hill o w g v ow aggy , And to burn the shi and her cre that so amid fume ahd flame p w, ’ They might vent that insolence forthfor a king s defiance that ’ Aiolus Yea, and he had not received, he said, even son I hi s halls in his sorest nee even Phrixus the man who outshone n d, , All stran e s in courtes and in fear of the Gods n hi h g r y o g ,

rme biddin him i ve to m n e min a d Ev e g g g the a ger thwelco g hn . H ow - his land much less therefore, when pirate rovers came to , ’ ’ Should the lon g scape griefs of their owm the emtilfs whose sso only t‘yh ’ Was to stretchforththei r hands in the taki ng of othes men s oods for a s oil g p , to weave dark vsebs of guihand on herdmen folk to fall Withsoul -dismayi ’ shoum and m harry steading and stall i ’ Yemwd the son s dfPhrim should render to him thereheside Meet lt the who had dared in r th « nide pena y , y emrning thi er to g consornn m thmen whnchwere mmded to dri e even hrm Felons , g v Light-hearted fromhonour and sceptre ass a m o The warning whereof he heard from his frither the Sun efewhilcs ‘ ' Biddin him See thou beware of thhi e ofis tm s m w g , o i m m i t : THEARGONAUTS

F or whichcause al so h se t them even as the cra ved oversea e n , y— , , to Achaia a long way z yet there came offear of his daughterg len these should frame Treason : no fmr of his son Absyr ms his hesrt had chilled

And bodings of awful revenge on the strangers foamed on his lip In his fury ; for loudly he threatened to hale to the flames their ship ’ her i ht s And crew that none throu hthe meshes ofruin s net m li . , g g p But Ar us had one tothe halls of Aiétes the hi le and iths eech g g w , w p Of manifold pleading now did the prince his mother beseech To prsy to M edea to help them ; yemand ha 'self theretofore Was fufl of the selfsame thoughg but the fear on her soul lay sore L est ha l fate should withstand and in vain she should s eak her fair p y , p , ’ F or her dread of her father s deadly wrath; or if to her prayer o ield et all should be brou ht to li ht She sh uld y , y g g , snd her deeds

Now the maiden had cast her down on her couch, and slmnber deer t er anguishrelieved her g but stra ightv ay dreams came haunt s war m s d l - i u Such visions ark and deceitfu as trouble the anguish d stra ght. F or it seemed that the manger had when upow him the task ; but ebe thought That it was not the Fleece of the Ram that he longed to win for fim

a r Nor m me salte of this had he fared in any wise ’ Ki étes but l To city, on y to lead her, his wedded wife, Unto his home ; and she dres med that herself did wrestl e in strife

i i the . With the bulls, and exceed ng lightlythe m ghty labour wrought e Howbeit the her parents set their promise at naught, F or that not to their child but to him as the challen e to ok , , w g y e

tha team.

- Wherefore contention of wrangling clashed throughher n comed

’ Twixt h and the sn'an ers and lo in her hand the d er sire g : , ecision

1 14 TH E ARGONAUTS

Unto whom her brethren and parents espoused -her a And for shame and for thinking on him awhile she

Was attained ofthese : and there

Sa she told it to Chalkiopé : now she sat Wi t thher son s, devi sin g o win her sister And ebe hearkened the strange tale told d iligent heed, Neither it lightly aside Forth her bower and on

Touchin g me and my sons ? Would God I had

n r the town but d ellin f home, o , my w g a sr

of the earth, where never was heard the name ! ’ ’ She spa ke : but Medea s cheeks flushed crimson ;

F rom the answer she yeamed full sore

And often she parted her lovely lips to threshold of speech: but —7 8 3 7 3 13 0 3 001: u s nhe and ever tbe bold Lom thrust her onward the

‘ O Chalkio é mine hea p ,

alien shore ; —6 ° I i l 9 So ghu tly a dream, while a alumhered, but nowd d aee And oh m y the Gods forefend that the vision accomplished

should be, Forbid that thy love for thy sons should ha made heart-anguish ’ w thee ! So spake fi q pmfi ng ha si steu longin g to hm r of her at h her o Unp ompted , f er help for s ns ’ au uielu e t d er the mother s soul lik mr in Strong g w p e a g g tide, F or her terror at that ehe had heardfl nd withfiervent bm ehing

If withme thou wouldet haply devise and prepnre nome help for

But swear thou by Earthand by I' ieaven that thou wilt conceal

' Whats e er l sa unto the and ilt bear therem th t o v y g w y par . e wthon see not m son a in torment st e a of y de roy d by doom ahame H orribl - some else with my dear loved will I die, and come ’ A vengeance-spirit to haunt thee from Hades home !

So spake she, and straightway gushed her tears in torrent flow ; her knees did ahe flin e arms a a n of w e And around g hr in p u io o , her head ; and there they two Over m de it ous lament and the d hal la th h eachother p e , im noug i ’ Went wailing low the sound of angu shed women s cry. And to her disquieted sorely Medea rmde reply : ‘ — — I ha k God help thee l what healing can—bring thee w t ml OfW W M W w M w umcod icm m a e {in n -embliohed “ n e the m k a mi k z . Mine by a power , to r THE ARGONAUTS

’ o er the aoul of Medea in

their ehipo on the Bear and the came upon every wayfare r longing for

r a s m ons nr s

shamidst of the suugglq if this be his weird, to

— ’ l doom l for how shall I scspe my pau nts lten i Withwhat manner of words shall l rfio

’ What il fi ’ w e, what cunning device for mine hero s help shall I nd : Ifl sm himapan fi omhis fi k ndg slmll l meet him wi thgreeting kind?

- — l starred l thou hhe should die et cannot l ho e that s o G il g , y p should eome ofm ain : na this should he butform woe y—p y, y H he d hhlfle wm berefi oh et thee behin shame ! — g q ! So t el ess b mine endea m m he , avaunt sca h y came

of eril . Out p —, then might he fare wheresoever seemeth him best But for nae selfsame da trium hant he bideththte ts on the when p e s ,

~ Then iet me die, fi om the ra&m straining my neck m the noose; Or tastin of oisons thst rend the soul from the bod loose rs» g p y . — ' Ahbut after m d in scoii s a nd what moclts will the , —y y g what y On my grave l e nd far and near how every city will n ng Wi ththe taleofm y doom ; andfromlip to lip shall be tossedtthhee n shall I be l n the mouths of the dau hters of Km A d a mock g

“ L she M w lovin l cu ed for a man of m h m m — g y a en oe That che diedl l she that on home and on a r ts hea d m p en pe dn grm , ” Gi vi ng r ins to her lust ! What shame should not be loaded on meg — A t my hfi mate folly l better by far should it be In this same night to forsake m life these chambers Withi n ’ ’ a f m ste i fi o r i o By fate y y , scap ng om slander s fiend sh din, B o ’ Or ever tha t hideous befoulin thst namel d fil l in g , ess e emenr, w l ' She a ake md she ros m d a casket ls p , m she broughg whereun here y a dru some h d to heal s el fi ome mi t to sla . Many a g, p , ghy y On her kmes she l aid ig and brake into weeping z her Was wet with her tears ; from the wounds unstanched of her

r fate z m dher soul was exceeding fain

’ And the eager fingers now of the hapless maid gan pm

1 2 0 THE ARGONAUTS

And these she commanded to harness the mnles to the wain in haste ’ - To hear their lady to H eb té s passing beautiful fane .

i the wa n . n And Medea the while took forthfrom the m ltet a dmg of fight,

The magic root that they say is the Herb of Prornetheus hight. if an withmidni ht ri u on Daira shall ca ll For y g sac fice p , only-hegem ond smear his bm en l of him No s troke of weapon sha l wound the flesh , ' Nmm r fi mn blazi ng fire shall he fimeh; but his strengthof linib t un s o And hi s prowess throughout that day shall all thei r migheonfo d. s Firs t-born it upshot from the clod in the hour when dropped to the ground ’ fr ned F rmn the mve ni ng eagle s beahwhere the crags ofCaum m ow , h i rments b hichor the blood of a God of Promet eus n no ound. T e , , An d the flower of it blossomed a cuhit the faoe of the earthabove :

C r f As the glow of the crocus o ycian, so was the hue thereo , U borne u on de stalks twain and p p p , The r oot theneof as flesh

F m C s ian strand she athe red e ro a p g , to w ave

neen Underworld Goddess, the Q

Andin duskyvesture clad throughthe blacknessofnight did she tread . And the darlt earthshuddered and qua lted deep down with

muttering moan,

T h th e r i ~ . ve h s s o her left and ga ey t e n , and the ft ir fa hioned ’ whip ha thshe ta en

1 2 3 THE ARGONAUTS

But hide in your ’ Lest to my father s ears peradventure the story should come s The b h t t e i his em rie fell y eseeo me o ta lte richgifts, and o sav n P e Y on stran ger who took it upon him the might of the bulls to quell. Ym and their counsel was good in mine eyesnhat his e In my presence this day, alone, with none of comrades n ar, That we ma y di vide thme pm enm among n m if ha be hring The ifts in hh and ma ive him as ell-d thin w g h M y g p rug, a g g T th t ll u he han e s reng thof the bu s, Be t stand ye aloof whe ’ draweth anigh . t coumel of sub lety . ’ had sundered Ai son s son , So won as he hw d from hie brethren how that M edea had gone ’ F orthin the misty dawning to fare unto Hekaté s fane ; And over the plain did he ol

the twain, ’ Am ltus py son, most wise to interpret the Of the coming nfbinds, and Neveryet had there been sucha man in the days ofithe men ofoldh of them l o eus nor e c 'n Nor ofthe ineage , the n b i Whichsprang from the blood of the rest of the that endure for aye Sucha man es the hride o eus made J ason to be that d ay l In glory of hodily presencefi n witchery of his wnguea And eve r his comrades gazing upon him in wonderment On his radiance of manifold gracezand glad for the way they ahould

’ Am ltus as fou hodin trow how should end. Waxed py m g , I , all NOWthere - b u as e r e is y the path thro gh the plain, y d aw n the wm le m h p s g ,

tent, M o a her inions beneathher as these twain n ong la g p , we t, ” The eou s ofi -mé ha ted mid hb n he swa ed to and m : n el e n , hig o g y £

1 34 TB E ARGONAUTS

Then it seemed as her heart dropped out of her bosom ; a dark mist came Om her eyeg and hot in her eheeks did the blushes fla met Nor backward nor forward a step could sbe stir zall strengthwas gone From her koees ; and her feet to the earthseemed rooted ; and one

Her haodmaidens all drew ba ck nd withhim as she lefl alone — fi w . 80 these twain stood a ll stirless and wordl ess stood faee to face :

As oaks the seemed or as ines u soarin in statel race y , p p g y g , Which side by side all still mid the mountains When winds b breathof the breeze when at are hushed ; but y — murmur and sigh an they our out all in their ha rts that la to p y .

“ Wh erefiorq O maidenAost fear me so sore ly alone as I m ? Nem s l - n u d bhm er m d f am wa u the lmd w g e s g o sh e, ' t h d t No, no w en aforetime l wel

shoulder u That thou not inquire whatsoever tho wilt, or utter

In a lace where sim is of heaven° accurst in a hallowed s t p , po , thou and uestion witha as thou wilt : but be uile me , q l g i thpleasa mwords fom muchm hougm st thy prmni se erewhile Te th l y sisterfi o give me the charmkhat lon g forfi he herbs of gnilet ’ ec a Hekaté s M r the sake ofth a I beseech th i y parents I p y , ’ And o eus o st an d l his , that er r ger an supp iant stretcheth hand

I a str a er itln l ic , a g w , whham come to thee

the ltnee ; task of fear

1 2 6 THE ARGONAUTS

on And anon yet again their glances each the other they flashed, As with radiant eyelids they smiled a heart- beguiling smile : 0 ‘ s oke at last et searce after all this And be p him the maiden , y while M n ha G ive thou heed l be . now, that mycou sel may p y for thine aid What time at thy coming my father within thine hands shall bave la id ’ r n s The crop of the se pe t s jaws for thy owing, the teeth of bone, Then shalt thou watch for the hour when the night is sundered in

’ the fl Then thou, when first in river s tireless ow thou hast bathed, t - i r re Alone, with none other beside hee, in night h ed vestu swathed, S r e - halt dig thee a ounded pit, and ov r the dark earth bowl slau htera ewe and shalt burn unsevered carcase whole Shaltthou g , the On ver brin k of the i t thou a pyre, the which on the y p hast i l - n He ltaté s prop tiate on y begotte , Per eus child, Out of a ehali ce ouri n the hi ve - r p g sto ed toil of the bee . e u hast sou ht So wh n tho g the grace of the Goddess heedfully, Then turn mee m ass from the re and beware lest an sound p py , y of Or footfalls behind thee startlethee, so that thou turn thee round, Owni ba in of hounds all that is wrou ht be undone thereh y g , lest g y - thyself to thi ne hero companions never again draw nigh . And in water at da wn thou stee this herb and th l shalt p , y hnbs r shalt thou ba e, And even a s with oil shalt anoint thee therewith; and prowesn here Shl n e : a t thou find, and strength exceedi g gr at thou wouldst no wrse say That withmen thou couldst matchthee in mighg but with

Gods that abide for aye . Therewithal be thy lance and thy buckler besprent withthe magic

dew, And thy sword : then shall not the spear-heads prevail to pierce thee through E - bu Of the arth born men, nor the fiery breath of the lls of bane

U nendnrabl . y darting Yet no long time shalt thou thus remain, But on ly for that same day : notwithstanding flinch not thou F rom the toi l ; and another thing yet for thine help will I tell to msn THE THIR D BOOK 1 2 7

So soon as the mi t bulls thu hast oked b ghy o y , md y sped the share throug hthe

stubborn soil,

f fell on the dusk cl s the ser ent thi Where y od p s teethfrom ne hand, ’ Even as thou mark st them in throngs through the {allows up.

a mass stone : and the y y , ’ As ravening hounds o er a gobbet of fleshtha t m nglq shall alay Eachone his feIIt hou alw in httla shalt fall l On the rout. So the Golden F eece unto ellas, if this be all,

He must r a she hokd mhhe md wande way . And m she spake ? “ agam ’ With mowefizl wmd and his n ght hand now hafii she ta en in her own ; For the shamefastness now fi'om her eyemon the wings of love had flown :

’ Medea s name : and in like wiae when sundered we are W L , ill for et thee not But td ofth ood wil where is thine home 1 0 0 g . h y g h , 7 Whith bound hu ilt fare in th alle over the erward t o w y g y foam . ’ Is it unto Orchomenus wealthy burg that th feet shall go ? ’ y Or Aiaia s ? fa n u anigh to isle Of the maiden wo ld I know, Some maiden far ’ Oi a e: P sipha kinswoman unto my sire that lady is. So did l he s eak and er him stole as the maid n p ; ov , e Love the victocious ; and answeri ng speechto hi s lips hathcapt n Yea, verily, never by ight, I ween , and by day nevermore ’ S t of me halt thou be forgot en , if unto Achaia s shore ’ sca e indeed and Aiétes befote m v a u Unscathed I shall p , . “ w e For mine hands to achieve, none othe r to THE ARGONAUTS

hath leased thee to learn what l d 1 p , an

l ’ Aio us son, and builded the town the marches Kadmeian her towers look

’ things vain as the wild winds empty sound hter M ince - g of , the princess far renowned ’ whereby that heart a desire

and ithAriadn I tro lord ; w g w, me : wherefore of gnest-love speak not flight

unto q m - Or a messenger bird withthe tidings, when I am forgotten “ t l ’ fzven me ma the swift-W hin ts the earths Or m f , y inged from

d wa hence over the sea to the land of l olkos bear An a y ,

s and the ship while his heatt for joy beat high; handmaidn and all in a troop did these dmw nigh unto her side they drew ; ’ s had soaned far up twixt earth and n r

in a dream she mounted thefi eet-run

h the eins in h i the h s e r , er r ght w ip hath

ve the mules and fast did the fiee ; y ,

wearily drooped aside ; sur ed the dark nw ver, as g the covenant bound her to

’ Aison s son had wended aback to the place where

h time he had left themin arin to di e w at f g meet maid . authe uory the whilq withthese did he hie alle dre heroes ; andnow to the g y w they anigh . him nf all that

’ did the maiden s counsels tell ; - O spell drug . ne only of all sat

but the others with joyfii l heart w l 1 1 ° hen darkness fel , their hands from their labour 1 THEW GK x3x

And in great peaee hid them down to their rest : but withda wn

To Aiém m u k fm the x ed of the

And Aithalides, glorious scion of So went the and not for nou ht for to these at their n in y, g , co r g

tes the kin t he teethf h Of Aié g or t e grim strife hatd to be striven, t l The tee h of the dragon Aonian , that, seeking the wide wor d through E Kadmus O Thébé l For uropa, found in gygian , and s ew, that lnrlted Aretian The monster , a warder, beside the spring.

There also he dwelt, by the heifer led, which Apollo the king

On the plain Aonian K admus the teeth of the serpent sowed ; ’ founded there on énor s son, ’ nant left when the harvest Arés s w s The rem of p wa done . teethto bear to the alle Aiétes av fitll fai So the g y g e n, F or he weened that to win to the goal of hi s taslt he should strive in

thon hto the oltin of those dread l Yea, g y g bulls he should hap y

And the sun down tmder the dark earthfar awa in the t u o y wes , g the uttermost hi lls of the Aethi o s h Beyond p , sank to is rest ;

the Ni h-t asla i her olte on the necks ofhe And g w y ng y r steedu . Then “l” ead On r a the sho e by the hawsers of Argo the heroes e ch his bed . u the flashin f th i B t Jason , so soon a s g stars o e c rcling Bear

U nto the wilderness even as a thief all steelthdy hied ‘ With whatso w as n eedful ; for all had he talten thought to pm vude m w w I n the day z srxi faned withhim Argm and mihk k m ’ therewithal ; for these hed he men fi'mn the g alle yfs

lace whichwes far aloof fi om the tread p ,

’ ’ the lamb s throat cut by the dark pit s

ed on the pilen nd he thrust thereunder the

and mingled libations he poured on the

dra for his hel er w p nigh.

backward he fared, and she

a fitful splendour of torches unnumbered ; and rang ild and hi hthe ho in of w g y g hounds of hell . meadow- land trembled under her tread ; and the yel l

glance r

not round as his feet thence bore him, until

’ Cs ucasus -B t! h and by this over snow ecke heig t,

on hi s ha d the golden helmet of fourfold plume

1 34 m ARGONAUTS

In his hands uptossing his bmzen shield Thou hadst said that adown through the

From the clouds that are bringing hard

Nor long time now would they ta rry from The em ri se but Ar p , row after row upon g

’ Aison s And son, when his Then with his r and his Bounding from o forth and there was he bearin His gleaming helm with the dragon’ s sharp teeth filled Wi - th his brand on his shoulders slun g. bare limbed,

As A és l r , in some wise Apo lo the ’ O er the fallowhe d and the glanoe ,

n u t but i i s forthfrom an m en lfi ‘ o gh hn held : but nddenly , a den in the b els ofthe earth herein was their r l From ow , w g imy stall, THE TH IRD BOOK

Whereover the lurid-gleami ng smoke ever hung as outbresthin Forth rushed they together as one, g

s a n And the heroe q ed when they saw. But J so ,

theyy came, Set wide his feet ; and even as a rock in the sea doth

Suddenly cast it adown on its E ven as it charged him, with he thr ow.

r - s n On their fo e knees, wiftly movi g athwart ’ While marvelled the king atthehero s might.

them do ; And they lifted end gave him the yolte on the necks be bound : And deftly thereon did he THE ARGONAUTS

Then he caught up agaimand cast on his abouldm strong with the

e en with goad Pelasgian, so did he smit

re : as that mad roar

their breath, whert the

laboured the whi le that fearsome twain . r f when the thi d part now was le t of the day, -for ried ra waned, when the toil wa labourers p y m 0 than not ! ’ the s eating

d He l d the m and heartene . p enge branen

TH E' ARGONAUTS

hurrying tunnel s that

w thehfam bowi ng m

from the beig

1 40 T HE ARGONAUTS

’ By tasting of poison 3 and H éré s purpose had come to nought, flee in her anic dread But for this, that the Goddess stirred her to p ’ 80 a s mf With Phrixus sons. her fluttering spirit w co orted In her breast ; and i nto her bosom in eager haste did she pour ’ - All t . mingled her spell drugs and poisons, her casket s deadly s ore And she kissed her bedmnd her hands on the wall s withloving caress Lingered : she kissed the posts of the doors ; and one long trms red l ft it her-bower Within for her mother to be She seve , and e , ’ A memorial maidenh d s da s and with v ioe moaned of oo y , passionate o she ‘ T tress in mine o n stead l ave or ever I e his w e L go, unto the , r M mother and far thou hI wend et take fi'om me ! y ; , g , y —farewell F are ell thou Chalkio é nd mine home l Would Godt hatt he w , p fl

’ Ere thou cam st to the K olchian 0 st a er had a d f land, r ng , y wne or

el down from her ey ids in floods the teardrops ran . from the house of a wealm man A bondrna d fate but n l hathtorn frmn hen fathl i . whom ew y er and

Who never till no hathtasted he lnt of bitter t il w t o , in m r But unschooled to misery, shrinking horror fro slave y U nder the cruel hands of a misne sg forthdothshe fiee ; Even so fnom her home forthhaued the lovel maid that da y y . Y ea and f f- ave m , the bolts o the doors sel moving to her g y ° ' ' L n k at t s ét-b t l of r s g abae he w rea hed spel he magic ong. f e she with eet unsandall d ran the narrow lanes along, a fold ofher Whileher left handgathered mantle, H er brows and her face and ber lo l cheeks ve y ,

The hem of the skirt ofher tunic she held u a s m the pr i ed fro gmund.

her terror she cm a d no man knew but past them all unseen she flewf to the temple the waymor unweeting she ro

r n s 'sous zm none

of the chieftains . But backward darting

hands to the shore

As he bare on his bs ck the Minyan

' ofiered And the Golden Marvel thereon, he as he et im es bade in t a m h . Herm , w y There set them aland, as

upon them with t and in awful wise did 1 44

As the tiny limbs withthe horror of that hiss thrilled and And even as whe above a smoulderin fi ot- i m g gg p le, The eddies of smoke roll upward in murky eoil on coil;

t is n overla edwiththe m ri d4 an - oils pp y a gedhafl hcraeklhg sé le.

deep mirk P aceththe u , Underworld Q een, ’ And followed her Alson s son in

A da m!)

Of the myriad stems of the forest stretching afa r were unrolled. Then from the oak- tree the hero snatched the F leece of Gold ’ At the maiden s biddin g . U nswerving all the while she ttayed And smeared on the hu d ofthe momter her ungueng till hson bade

‘ ' Till himself said Tmn we s ain and fare to the alle b , g , g y a ach! ’ n lefi she the War- od s rove here the vsst shades br The g g , w ooded

black . even as a maiden may catchon her vesture of deli cate thru d ’ The hght of the midm di s moomwhen she mileththe heavens

1 46 fre e s a eom r s

- the ox hide shields for a fenoe from the darts of the foe, our h - rn Lo n in our hands do we bear m e retu . , ow Our r n lhtherland - bel ve and the v t ha i child e , our dearly o d fi e r

Of our sires ; and wi ththis our venture the fate of Hellas is bound, ’ Or to reap confrrsion of facq or a glnry farc renowned. So ’ i ‘ke hg and donned hrs harness offight; N ahum /fil Withivondrom -ea er souls and forthof the scabbard hem g ; ’ the shi s -hawsers he twain with His sword, and p stern severed in

the brand.

And hard b the maide in armour clad hathhe taken his m l y m , c By Ankmm the hdmsma m and flashed the oars as the good shpa w

As to speed her forthof the But by this to Aiétes

revealed were all the deeds she had done. the gathering -place in their harness of

sho ed abo e all i the ilt w v w thhis steeds, g Of the Sun -god ; for even as the blasts of the wind were they

In hand hrs - buckler h his left shapely rounded on ighdid be tt er , And a pinec brand excee ding huge in his ri

sky Zeus the ofe si deed i he r , l g d d e y ; him to afl hi s hosg and he shouted terribl y : n o THE FOURTH BOOK ( 47

‘ Exce t e la hands on the maiden and sei e or on i t p y y , z , land

Or findin thei r shi et tossed on the swell of the o n g p y pe sea, And brin her that so l ma lut m fur wher l bu g , y g y y, ewith rn F or reven e on ur own heads all these thi n s sh fl g , yo g all ligh yd shall learn

The measure of all m wrathand all m reven i n th y g g en . So spake Aiétes : on tha t same da y tid the uwn lle s and Launch forth their ga y , cast da il th t And the selfsame y sa ed forthon e sea . hou wouldst not y That so mi a host was this of shi s but in cro d n g p , w o crowd h)? - w The nations folk over the sea ere clamouring loud. Swiftl the wind blew even as H éré the Goddess y , To the end that Aiaian Medea might reachthe Pelu gian land ’ Ri ht soon that in her mi t the bane of Pelias house be g , gh fiound. ’ So the men withthe third day s dawn the hawsers of Argo bound ’ the Pa hla ons strand where the sea d th To p g , an e waters of Halya meet

For Medea bade them to land, and with sacrifice to entreat ’ f r n Hd taté s grace . What s o that inca tation of hell The r ared and red thereof let no maiden p ep , man tell . Let my spirit enkindle me not to darken therewith my lay ! m li s Y et the altar tha Yea, awe refraineth y p . on t far day hy the heroes hard by tbe Y t t i n to be seen of the children et s snde h, a s g of da s to be . ’ Straightway to Aison s som and the heroes wrthazca me back Remembran ee of Phineuy an d how that he spake of another track Aia : ho beit to all was his meanin To be found from w g dim, k and er e h Tfll Argm arou and spa q eag thy earkened to him ma in to Or homenus whither the r he b d us e We y w c , p op cy a e far O he seer un rri hose nests n the da ov f t e w s er as e were . ng, g i y p t y F or anOther vo there in a m ath ’ s the m s of By the prie u m m w nis town . Not yet was the sw v hostuhat whirl round heaven their chariots of fire : m Not yet of the n cred Dam n oe g b oog xa m m r48 m ARGONAU W

id nia AroaM s alnne ~ on the L earth Anght might be hear . Ap a n

- b Dwelt the Arcadians which lived, or ever the moon had irth,

o o ddn nd Mid the moun ta ins acorn sustai nedd t is told. No s eptre ’ Of Deukalion s glorious line ruled then the Pela sgian in d, the d s called 'E t the fruitful lan ofi com In ay when men gyp , d , - - o l d . The M rning and, the mother of peoples el er born - ll he i rt And ofTrito he rfair dowing river wa s named, of whoma t ph Of the Morning-land is watered ; for ne ver descendeththe rain 370 r F rom Zeus thereupon : from his floods the stintless harvests sp ing . that land sa the went ourne in From , y y , a certain king j y g u hb h stren th he All Europe and Asia thro g , y t e g and t m

° And the a eless of his eo le and cities he bmlded unteld w might p p , Whi thersoew he came hereof some rema in m thie da , w y, ‘ Some nog for that long generations since then ha ve passed ars agv ’ But Ai a abidethunshaken a nati on the sons sons yet

Ab ide of the men whose dwelling i n Aia the hem set. ’ And graven memorials these men keep of thei r fathers days U n piflm whereon is every bourne and all the ways the r wa ste and the land a s e ourne on all sides roundt O wate y , y j y Now a ri ver the uttermost horn of the O h is found , cean, t erein , W d dee that a drornond m sail the a ide and exew ing g ay s me .

F t h have the uaced i and l ste r the named its cn ar m he hc m y g y ame . And awhile throughthe boundless tilthland it clm vethits v ay afafl ’ but n - l its founthins a re As one ; for beyo d the North wind s b asts , Where rnidst the Rhipaisn mom tains cit buu tedt forthin t hunder : Bnt so soon as it psrteththe Thracian andScythianmarehes as under; There is it cleft in twaim and the half of its flood it sendeth

Shonein afar to poi nt wherethei t psthwas gi ven/

1 50 THE ARGONAUTS

’ Now it fell that

In tbe other the

L anded seein the f e had left those twin isles void , g o Of their h for awe of tbe Dan hter o eus but all i om g ; bes de,

too r Yea, , of their host upon othe isles hard by Which betwixt the Nestian land and 8 bein few a ainst man There, g g y, that Yielded in that grim fight to their foes : howbei t ere then Made tbey a w vem ng fain that the strife shouid abide m wi m w - — ’ Forthe Golden Fleece forasmnchas Aiétes pledge had been gi ven thher s ther f r if the ordeal the d red and a com iubed To e oe e o , y a , o p

That pfi u shod q keeg as hwfidly won ; yemwhethertheirgnfle ’ Or their strengthin the king s despite had prevailed tha t splen

dour to win. ' the wrangling waxed hera n aloof fiom the thron shonld tbe ive , g , y g o her in w rd, “ u shonld bc od ed of a ki n sorne - n m j g g , justice dispensi g Whether he doom that to return to the home

And straightway she called forthJ ason aloof fi‘om bis co‘tm alone

m m m m my m afl m m m a r oom BOOK 1 5:

’ I t h need ? W n s ressoft y here now are the oaths of the Suppliants n— and thine Zeus honied promises, whither have these taken wing 6 By reason of these, in unseemly wise, with passion unshamed 3 0 forsoolt fatherhnd f halls - I my home, and the glory o far famed , Y ea and m ar nts -all that n l l , y p e was most n to me ; and sai r - Far ove the sea alone, where the plaintive sea mews wail, Becanse fth ubl that I mi o y tro e, ght redeem from destruction thy life ’ ’ To a m l shthe fire- u - cco i E . p bulls q elling , the arth born giants strife 5 Yes e e had to our , and the very Fleec , for the which y sailed shore, l All by my folly ye won . F ou shame thereby did I pour ! On womankind Wherefore, I say, as thy daughter , thy wife, I

- Yes a lio . , and thy sister, who follow thee h ck unto He s land Ohnow withpnrpose of Afar and forlorn of thee to t atheri l b l e thee , he g ng of ti ngs to eta t Bnt in an wise save me and sealed abide th solemn vow y ; y , Which is plighmmhy jmti ce of man and of God ; or else do thon a of m throat with o She r, thy pity, this y thy falchion thr ugh, T t so for m nzi v l ha y fre ed lo e may reap the guerdon d ue . — ’ O hw dess l if that he doom that m brother s re l remain y p y , This kin nnto hose stern u nt g w j dgme ye now would oommig g twain , ’ ? Yom cmd covenang how shall I come to my fathe r s sight i in soothl- ment W th glory what revenges, what devilish tor k will li—ght Upon me l what agony-cup shall l drai n for the dreadful deed That I ! Ohnever thinlt that in bli ss our return shal l wrought , y speed ’ ’ a of Ne er may the World Queen, bride Zeus ,

Wha mgnish-n cked : may the Fleece iike a drmm

‘ Down the wind to the netherworld-gloom ! Be thon thy fatherhnd i of V u e s By the Spir ts engeam for ro g 1 52 WE m ore

That throughthy betrayal I suffered l That estthwsrd my e urm should fall Um com l shafl God forhid ; for' a great w ow

0 u ! N t l n for r thless u o g, m e e o n Fro your troubles, on y , to m lte

And to hurl herself mid Did Jason essay to soothe her with gentle words ; and rhe msaidzt

F or thy sake . Be eager to he Of thy sire he Howbeit shoal If we closed in the

But nowzshall this covenant find m a pathof T es i o d troy hm. The folk of the land shall K olchians To favour the m thee, when their

He who fom othas thy champion and brother doth

t e K c if the Withh ol hian men, u they bar For her comfort he spake ; but wi th

m - In ine error, and god misguided accomplished

1 54 THE ARGONAUTS

By the covenant, ran they their ships in a

Even K olchians and Minyans . Then to hi Abs rtus to wait and for For y lie in , them And now that hero, Over the swell of th

A d winterti e torrent, when strong p erchance she would weave him a crew . And nowwere they

him ht And , as a e her

The Brygians which dwelt on

wrought. In the porchway In hi s hmdmu he gasped hi s As it welled it dyed

Crhnson her silver vd l md her mbg as she shrank aside. And with swift side-glance theall -q uelling Vengeance-fiend And her pitiless eye beheld that murderous deed they had ’ ’ Boo the ends of the dead man s limbs then severed Aison s son : T l e the sod thri s at it ai to hrice iclted he th blood from , ce p ag n

the dust, THE FOURTH BOOK 5 5

As the slayer must do that atonement be made for the treachery

Then hid he the clamm cor se in the round where un to this da wo y p g , y In the land of Abs rta n men be thse bones la ed in cl y o pp ay.

The glare ofa torchwhichthe maiden raised for a sign to set on And alongside the Kolchian galleythey aid their ship straigh And they slaughtered the crew of the K olchim even as

' The uibes of the woodland cushats, or li ons of the wold

huddled a mi ht floclt when the lea to the midst of the fold. Drive g y , y p of them all was there none that esca ed but on all that thro No, p , ng ’ Em as fla me m lting ha voc they rmhed ; and it seemed o Ere afire : Jason, for their helping , came no need of his aid the i f ° H ad y ; nay rather for him by this were the r hearts z raid . 49 Thereafier they sat them down te devise for their voyaging Dee oounsel nd et into the midrt of p ; a , y as they mused, stole

he ai Peleus s l him the first and he s alte T m den . And re o ved , p

‘ Now call I upon on to Cleavin onr sea onward while et it is «ni t and the foe g y , y gh, Tarry ; for when with the dawn they shall see and be ware of

There is no man l trust me who biddi n them follow the , , , g track “ your firshs Shail in them to hearken a word bu as follt of ftheir kin ft w ; g g bere ,

— ’ 4 far Eachfrom his fellows 0 H elios home shall be easier . ’ H e spakq and the young men pn ised tbe counsel ofAiakus child;

' m Without rest till th o the a crehuhe oi W , ey w n by 1 6 m a a n ur 5 — co a s is hi e a Er Of the eyots ghst nd so to the river idanus came. the K olchians of Now , so soon as the doom their murdered

knew’ Eager we re they for Argo to searchand he r Minyan crew i x - Throughall the K roni an Sea : but IIéré held them bacb it

Harmoni a doth stand : l With Enchelean men do they dwell : and some in the mounn inaklahd Amidst of the ridges a bide whichthe Crests of Thunder theye fll Since the da avhemerashedthe thunders o e us their souist o a y app l, That the crossed not over to isle on the heroes y the flood the , fi re ll. e- ard r Now these, when they weened that the hom ret s g im eri l was ast p p , W ’ ho had gotten so fa r on now, made Argo s hawsers fast To the strand H llaSan f r thick in t e l y ; o he riv mhe eyots lie, And a troublous track they make it for them that would voyage

evi sed not their hurt as in that al t da , p y r h the did their hel them forthon their at er y p m y . the for their uerdon the mi ht mi od A oll e y won g g y p p o gav . r Phcebus For t ipods twain had bestowed , far over the wave ’ ’ T b uest of Aison s son en to P tho o e borne in the Q , wh y s shrhi e H e weode w ask uchin this same vo a e the ur on di vin i m g y g p p e.

o

breakin in sh d r foes g thereupon oul p en il to waste . W - henefi re in that land yetchy Hyllé s pleam t town i s m e m ou n r s

’ it Poseidon ca used Asé us dau hter to w st There was p g , by reason of love he wafted Kerkyra the

k u from the s a hile all t it fell Blac en ing p e , w abou

e . The folds of it darkling forests, named it Kerkyra the Black Thenoe s ed the b Melité lad for the breene blowin sofl od p y y , g g

their track . Kerésus the stee and far oflin and fai nt as it p, , in the g showed, fleeted the isle where Kal so abode , the Lady yp , doubtful appea red to

C u t Héré The rests of Thunder. And known n o even then W the l ere counse s ofZeus concerning these, Yet devised she how that great

swept ’ B t $8° To Elektra s rocky isle . ug from surge unto surge as hey leapt, ’ Suddenly heard they a beam witha man s voice cry unto them Ont of the holl ow shi the whichin the midst of the m p ,

To the voice revealing the

And ffl t Circé u a iction of empests, till sho ld ’ s t Of Ab yr us ruthless murder. Moreover

First throughthe Ausonian sea a pathto the Of Ciroé the dau hter Persé unm the Sun - , g whom god bare. THEFOURTH BOOK

mere ; and the seething stream u belcheth p clouds of steam. soc

eddies be tossed be the tears from

shed without number in ancient days, 1 60

' ends of the a of N From the earth, where the port ls

part roareth ’ t e of Ocean To hbeaches , and one to the sea Ionia

80 Through i even mouths sendeth his flood .

O ver the Keltic mainland, and well

F roof the rock H erkynian

’ ltward they turn ed at the Goddess s ' they ware

' Unto these ha ve been rearéd z nor withthose sea

are fleclted as with scarf-skin

1 62 T HE ARG-ONAUTS

’ Y et am dfastly tarried the thromg at the hest of Aison a son In their place : bot he weng and heaide him the Kolchitn maiden

he drew.

So trod th the selfmme athtill the entered in thooe two 6 0 ey p y , , 9 I ’ l nto Circé s ha l . Bade them to sit ’ But wundlm md wordless they eped to her hearthstone s hzfiowed

the wont of the eupplhnt in evil m e ;

her adown, and in hothhands hid her £ace. But Jawn set in the earthhis mighty-hflwd aword ’ Wherewithal he had slain Aiém

h l n e Rose nem w meet er g a c . O e - the haodr that f the veng ance hounded feet, and the blood

When mme to his merey-aeag by whooe fierce hands blood l hath spi t . Firm w awne for the murda inexpiate yeg she hdd F orthover thei r heads the yonng ofa swine whooe dnga Frmn the fi'uit of the womb ; them fter ahe oevered md ahe dyed

Made the atonement callin on , g Zens, - stained on hia name murder , the med fi‘om the rnanaion THE FOURTH BOOK 1 63

Whether the howed at his throne for the life a t y of s ranger shed, Or eheir kb dred ha nds withthe blood of their neareat and deareat

Bnt when ohe had r u all w o ght so, and the work of atonement

Thw raiu d she thu n n md seated thern eachon a lea fi t r ne g g n ng ho , l h to e e she m d And herse f sat nig them, and eye y ai y hre t - the vo a ed thus, and he thin that theirheamrmm W e fore y y g g far shore they had eome to her land and her palace

And in anppliance sat on her threshold ; for inw her eonl had there

come, An rhe ponderedfl hideons thonghg aa her dreams in remem brance And to hear the voice of the maiden her kinswoman aorely ahe yearned :he so For knew her, soon as r f om the earth , F or lain to h drewfrorn the that p discern were all w ich Sun their birth, Foraamuchas they lightened afar a eplendonr lilte as of gold F npon whoeotheir faee should behold

to know, e Kolchian Sp aking the tongue with utterance gentle and low,

’ With hrixnt a m P o .

’ Of Aboyrtnn murder ; yet Circé diecerned it ’ B her -z kins ornan s tears e y woe wi cken w , she n the word :

‘Ahwretch! thon hact fonnd thee an evil and ahamefnl home a ‘ £64 DH E ARGONAUTS

To am ge me hlood ofhhm me unspeakahle deed ofithine handl

’ ’ ’ Whoooe er be this fellow unknown thou hast la en in thy father s

’ Sm a curse for thi n heart s devicm for

at last

hm d n aieed her and forthof the alace-doors he led By the pr , p , terror : and so from the mzneions of Cireé

Y et the aseed not nnmarkedof the Bride o eus bne l ris bore y p , w hcrv F or Héré had btdden her watchwhat nme they ehonld wend to

So on her mem e she a ed her and s ake withea er li again g p , p g p z

’ Of Fir - d s ant ils m amitten withthundermn ecm hi bl the e go ng ov b.

THE ARGONAUTS

Yet fm all this spared nog but followed thee sore Till reverend Themis revealed unto him all Fate’ H ow that thy wei rd was to hear a son who Than his : all d father wherefore, for his esire, Lest another should rise up in his stead ’ D athl eu O er the e , and so should himself not for a e ' But the beit oi the sons ofearthfor thine hushand

And wbes : and the Gods to the feast of th Even alhdid l bid zin mine own hands then did Of dse bridal tor hto t that love a c , requi e , th t

» m . and a c : Go to now, a word will I tell thee, a prophecy f t m j” um thy son to i 1a Elysian shall come at the last Th now in the clwellin s of Cheiron the Centa ur-km yson, who g g, ’ ’ l orn ofthe mother sbrm g is nnrsed by the Ma ds d the Sprung ’ Th e s it his eird t Ai te er i w o wed é s daughter ; Ea mon.

' - bufletin For the crags and the tyrannous g surges make me afi aid, hs s a th a T e e only and the e sh ll be foiled. if than and y nd. ’ In wildered snfier them not w W thm kwl

Em she

helper Hére s eornmand ; for at her ofNereus s, daughters , all to the

hatter thou thee , lest

' thou didst ltmdl e my spirit to

she pl unged throngh

who him, had not

and screaming adown on

a breath of the wind , or a

‘ When Dm gan sprinkle the sky fromher ehd ice

1 70 TR E ARGONAUTS

’ Bu t ed b the 8 ens -rin in breath tes, whose soul was bewi ch y ii clear g g And he s m he ur le sur e to tread that strsnd of death wa thro—ugh t p p g Doomed wretchl full soon had they robbed himthere ofhis home return ; L d Er x in it enrn a y of y p y y ,

’ t er graee to dwell on the height Lilybc an on Si cily s shore So in an ish f s rit h left hi : bnt erils worse than these gu —o pi t ey m p Awai ted them s hipwrec ’ F t eri n or on this side Scylla s smoothsheer crag up ow g loomed, And on that side Charybdis seething in ceaseless thunder boomed

cra shing R afront were s orts of fire out The Wandering ocks, where the p

' ’ F rom tbe crests of the clifls o er the - w i , crag red glo ing on h gh

And withsmoke was the air all mistily shrouded : thou hadst not

The be ms of the u The albeit H e haistus refrained fi om his a s n. m p m l. Wthhe t u id bubhle and i t ho prushing d the sea yet boil. daughters from this side and that side the And Thetis the Goddess her ha nd to the blade of the rudder set ; nd f the n R k s the shi haled the A onward amidst o Wa dering oc p y . ’ And ss when o er the face of a summer sea the dolphins plsy Circlin a und a shi as she runnethbefore the wind g ro P , i h i n while in front c er stern beheld, one wh le behi d, And alongside anon : and the shipmen be blithe for their gambol ling ; t so circled e So dar ed they up from the depths, , a glimm ring ring, Round Argo the ship ; and Thetis was steering her course through

And when now was the galley at point on the Wandering Rocks

' w fall . ltilwd s Straightway they their skirt above their snowy knees, THE FOURTH soon

' An d hi h the crests oi the skerries the ki g on , hen ng

streaming ;

And these nowtowered to the wel kin,

’ her fellow receiveth ; and high twixt heaven it gone Sped fm m her hand to the welltin ; and never it

‘ ’ So fi om crne unto other s hand pau ed on did the ’ Through the air o er the crests of the waves as alway Oftherocks ;

down Where she stood in the snnlit hem emand H er arms in su hfsintness of fesr o , c , as she lo ked

cling. And long as the spaee of a day So long was the time that they

Then the Nymphs in the seinblanoe of seaa m a 1 72 2 THE ‘ARGONAUTS

’ l ed heat of Zens s g , when wrought was the “ en through the air did there come to the heroes te dee And a lowing of ltine fixll nighto their ears floa d over the p . ’ - he the de There a shepherdess goddess pastnred the s e p o er wy lea, ’ Sun -god s daughters was she ’ Bearing a shepherd s crook of silver the while in her hand ; And L am etiéherded the kine ofmonnta in -hrass was the wand p , and That che s wayed as she followed their steps : and the heroea them selves the slidin lenm heside Those herds hy the river that pnsmredf g g , ’ O er the plain and the water-«meadow : was none arnid al l that herd - r . Dun hi ed of hide, but all white even as milk appeared And a glory of golden horns on the sa tely heads of them shone . ’ So - they passed in the daytime the Sun god s herds, and as night

dre w on, l - They went c eaving the great sea gulf rejoicing, until The Child of the Mist the t - hoot , Dawning, flashed on heir sea path . Now fi'ontin g the rnouthof the gnlf l onian liethan isle K erannian - In the sea , forest mantled, with deep rich soil,

grace, I speak of the ' ta le of the olden days ' Wherewithal the m ngthof his father by Kronos was ruthlessly shorn : ’ Bnt of some is it called Demétero of- Hades Reaper of Corn or Deméter in thnt land wont to ahide in the da s of old . y , ’ t rea cornfield s And she aught the Titans to p the spears of gold, Of her love unto Makris)the Sickle- land is it named ’ The P haeacians ha llowed nnrse : and by linesge so these eome ’ O o a a he. Of uran s very blood, and his sons the Ph e cians

hreeze to the land Phaeaciam Withwelcoming u crifioe the king and hia people recei ved them in kindly wise : ’ And all the city withri ot of mirtho er the far-driven ones

1 7, r un m oua ur s

’ So bowed n Arété s knm did s he M d bewx h to eachafter eachzxo t And thus to she, turning a ‘F ur of mi h d for nr em rise or yo g g an yo p ,

Am. I hounded of terrors thus even I b whow , , y device and rea ed Ye bowed the bulls to the yoke, p that deadly swath - — O E born Men whom on the homeward fthe arth even I , through path ’ Ye shall bear the F leece of Gold fii ll soon to Haimonia s shore

Ev have lost m n en I , who y country, m pare ts have lost evermore,

Have b u mine homg ha ve lost all es of life that l ltnew, restored our countr homes have restored But to you have y y , your nnto you ; And with ra pture- litten eyes your parents again shall ye But from mt rannous god all hs ppiness reft from me ; i an accursed ! And with al en men do I wander forlorn , wight Dread ye the covenant-trothand the oaths : the Avenging Sprite ’ O su liants dread and the Gods retribution if ever I come f the pp , , T Aiétes hnds amid utra e and a on meetin m doom ! o a , o g y g y No tem le have I neither tower of saIvation nor refii e beside p , , g

] r l . You cast I before me, mine on shie—ld in the pe i ous tide l e know not Hard hearts unrelenting and ruth ess y reverence, ye, F r e behold as ai o the suppliant, though y I stretch desp ringly s e Y he K chian Nfi ne hand to the knees of a strang r queen. et t ol

array, One and all had efsced when e thi rsted tobear the Fleeee awa zx , y , y — y og Ye Ai étes the udhad e faeed: but u manhoodhath a , pm y yo r is flown hen ur f es r m their hel ers be sundered handful ow. w yo o f o p , a alone

So pasn oned snd pu yed Medea . To whomso she bowed i n

prayer, Ever he hes rtened her fain to as u e her n u hed s , s ag a g is de pair. Andtheirkeen-wha tedlanees in wrsthful-quivering hands did they

shake, And unscabbarded swords ; and they swore they would fail not her

help nor forsake, THE FOURTH BOOK

Ifthe strange king touchi ng the maiden t e And lo, mid the throng as they wrangled, hnight, deep ’ m n The labours of e , stole o er them, and all the a In the am of her quiet : but not on the maid fell sl e h One whit, but her h art in her bosom for anguis

a toiling woman windethher thread t children around gh, andherfatherless her

she is ; and adown

dreary lot that

ed was writhing iu e a lace within as p , lady of lay in their — m belove et save l beseechthee the y d y , ,

a graee to the Mi nyan

the men of 1 6 m S 7 —ARGONAUT In our sinning we do d she straigheway esssyed ; “ shrinking in fear ’ sit e s From her proud tyrannous wrath , she fled. Now the man ,

as I hear, l o said This Jason, is bound by mighty oaths, which his own ips ,

’ not Aison s Wherefore, beloved, constrain son to forswear His of th consent that the sire rom u oath, y will , nor i the da ghter should tear Her life in the rage of his soul amid pangs unendurabl

l are I . For cruelly jea ous against fathers, ween What vengeance did Nyltteus wreak on Antiopelovely-faced ! ’ What woes were of Danaé borne on the wide sea s desolate sire’s mad And oflate nnr Through her rage , afar, it cameto pass That wanton - tyrannous Echetus thrust the goads of brass Through the eyes of his daughter : and ws swd and worn by her

woeful doom, ’ ’ S - he is grinding the grain of brass in a hovel s dungeon gloom. So spa lte she beseeching ; and softened so was the heart ofthe king — f h wife and he : By the words o is , spake in such wise answering Arété K olchian , the men would I even, in harness arrayed, rive h land for a race to the her es to save m D fort of the , g o , yon aid.

But I fea r to set the unswerving justice of Zeus at nought. r c Nor we —e this well done, to contemn , a cording to this thy thought, r Ai Aiétes : of ltinglie dting than éte s ma no man tell . ifhe a Yea, war, list, shall he bring gainst He though hedwell . ’ Wherefore ti s meet and right that the sentence be spoken of nse ’ Tin t in all men s e yes shall be hesg and l will not hide it fvom

If the damsel be virgin yet, I decree that the da ughter be led ’ T the fi ther : but if she minister unto a husband s o bed, ’ ot fr husband wife nor if l she Lwi ll part n om ; , hap y bear neath her zone ’ ’ ’ s o foes i l a child of Aison s His ofl prhgfl will I y e d up son . So he and round him strai ht did the of lu spake , g veil s mber close. r78 THE ARGONAUTS

l be nd ord the folk f land i n And b essing and weal yo w to o the she gave . Even there did they spread them the mighty couch and there over they laid

The glittering Golden Fleece, that the marriage so might be made - H r . f i onoured, a song in the mouths of ba ds Flowers manifold a r t e r d The Nymphs in h ir snowy bosoms gathe e , and thitherwardbare . m And a splendour like as of fire glowed round th e shapes divine, S - uch glory gleams from the golden tufts did shimmer and shine. Sweet longing lit up their eyes : howbeit did awe withhold E u ach one, tho gh she yearned to lay but her hand on the wonder

of gold. ’ Ai aius e m And of that bright throng the river g daught rs were so e , And some on the crests of Melisedwelt in their mountain -home w ’ - m m t for r forest glen Ny phs ofthe plainswere so e Zeus s b ide, ’ E H éré had ‘ sent n u - ven , them for ho o r to Jason s marriage tide . ’ to S That cave is this named Medea s acred Grot, ’ Forasmuch as to ock s solemnities there these twain they u bro ght, W oddrdus- li n h hen the sweet ne li en t ey spread. And the heroes

- n Guarded them war spear in ha d, lest haply for battle the rout Oftheir foes unawares should set them orever s were s ed on , the rite p . And with spra ys of bounteous leaf did they wreathe each m u his head ; le And in harmony all , while c ar the harp of Orpheus rang, - in At the entering of the cave the bridal hymn they sang . ’ ’ Alkinoiis m s s Yet not in ho e the hero Ai on son, l won But in ha ls of his father, the goal of marriage full fain had , ‘ Iolkos When home he returned to , and so withal was the mind Of e c n s r M dea, but hard ompulsio con t ained them now to be joined . But even as never the tribes of the woe- stricken children of earth - l l May tread full footed the path of de ight, but sti l with our mirth a ffl Hand in hand goeth pacing iction bitter as gall , ia ture of So these , when melted with p love were their souls, were thrall ’ U t Al ltinous n nto dread, wha things of se tence should haply befall . THE FO UR TH 800K 1 79

’ 80 soon as the dawn withher beams amhnosia l climbed heaven s

And r wel lti n scattered the gloomy night th ough the , and laughed in her light

- The island beaches, and all the paths through the plains that wound - u fis an Dew gleaming afar, and awoke in the streets a murm r of o d, folk ere astir t n And her w through the ow , and astir was the K olchian host off n M akria n - In their camp far on the bou ds ofthe sea ringed coast. Then w Alkinoiis him b covenanta li ht straight ay hied , y p g to hold, t he utter his ur ose as ouchin t maiden . His see tre of old To p p g p g , H is M of usti ce he r j , bare, whe ewith to the multitude Of the city were meted the statutes with righteousness endued . And beside him r arra ed in r harness of fi h , in o dered ranks y thei g t, ’ S r b s uadron were m chi n Phaeaeia s ehiefese of i t quad on y q u g m gh. And fort h from the tower-gist city in th rongs the women broke To gaze on the heroes ; and men therewithal of the cormtry ' folk -Met h ere had s them, w ich heard the tidings ; for H afar ped a : md one a lamh' unblemi shed A rumour th t erred not led, The choi ce of the sheep : witha heifen mlaboured one drew ngh; ‘ And others were rangin g the earthen prs of wine hard by ' Th s fi - mn e . e acri ce ww a fted To r gl smoke w far away . Came women withwebs of costl labour as w omen ma y , y , n old and withmanifold therehesicie " o And with tri kets of g , ornaments , g Such wonmo hron ht t o -w ? gifts as be be g the newly edded bride . ’ s l And they marvelled beholding the heroes tature and come iness, ’ ’ th t Oia i s ” As they tourered o er e hrong, and gv n scion amida of

the l ress, As in timie to the ha rmony- ri ngi ng ly re and the chanted strain E he i much] ver smote and anon with his gl ttering the plain . s blencfin s a - And the Nymph all g their voice , when marri ge noses h ri c imed on the st ng, i Upl fted the lovely bridal chant, and A lone and unprompted the song, as the wreaths of their dances

they twined. ' ' m m 0 f n ( ha n m w m Has, o thee was it do e ; or t w 1 80 THE ARGONAIITS

’ l t ni h Of Arété to tel Alkinoiis prudent word of he g t. But so soon as the king had pronounoed the decree of unswerving

now was the marriage accomplished proclaimed in all ’ men s ears, Then toolt he heed that it so should abide : no desdly fears ’ Touched hirn nor Aj étes terrible wrathmi ht his ur ose shake , g p p had li hd that he would But he held by the word he p g te , the oath

not break . And when now were the K olchians ware that in vain they besought

him to swerve, —‘ And when now he commanded them Either obey my decree

’ Or forthof my havens and land afar shall your galleys sail r ’ ’ their own kin s th a eui s a t e u il Then in that hour for g re t ng ga hy q a . d besou ht him amon st his follt to S snc An g g receive them. o there in the land

o Kolchian n L ng time with the people Phaeacian dwelt the ba d, Bacchiad E Till the lords, which by lineage sprang from phyré, As the ears assed settled amidst them and the to the isle ov s y p , , y er ea l : thenoe to the Thunder- hills ofAbantian men must th Sai ed ey ge,

' And therefi om to the fol lt Nestaian, and on to Oricum so. But the ri ver of time ere then down man a e r must fl y y a ow . But still to the altars the yearly sacrifice men F or the F atzes and the Nymphs in the fane op ollo the Shepherd

’ Whichalta rs l t the u sed Medea bui ded . And ga me e y p o er

the wave,

and many Arété gave.

besto to follo her forthof her l Twelve did the Queen w, w hal s. On the seventh day sailed they away from Drepane. Came with the morn ’ A freshbreeze sent o eus : and so by the wind s hrea thhorne O the t nward and onward y ran . Howbeit not yet on he strand Of Achaia b doom of the God mi ht the that hero- a y g y M b nd,

‘ x82 M ARGOHAU FS

But now what thin should we do whichhe risoned b winds , g , —p y in re Here, though but a little span we continue such d ar wise The plain of the limitless land stretchethoup

Which~have fall en o n this desolation ea a hrmth g y , even though f there should be

Of ai r the land forasmuch shoals do l s e from , as nought save e , ’ Afar s I ze t rs around o and scan tl the a ga o er the wa e , y brine O - verscaleththe hoary sands in foam foetted line upon line.

' ’ Long si nce far ofl from the shorn t-hst out é the m was it home ’ B the flood- s selfu fted and i on h n s it r y tide pli , hgh t e la d wa thown. But the tide now racethabaclt to the dee and foa m alone p, Whereas sai ethho n but thinl w thhath l keel , rolleth o , and y the

it veiled . — is the lm is ain d i v Lo, there he whosoever f our el verance w wins

Let him sit in m seat. But li ttle dothZem desi y rq l mot,

Bo ak e in the while and the others a reed theret hq g ; g o, mwhichmknowledge of ships g and all the heam d

Of f l ne’ or iu u r of a te est u bl m i g e war, or mp nspeaks y

the l and, and hathfiooded the labmus d

Orwhen re t outs ofblood fmm the i a u hve l g a g m ge wa ting a ro led, Or when from the shrines ’ Or the snn o er the

way to choose their couch

ofhis mantle enshrouded h

a a And as when , of their m ther fors ken , Whichhave fallen bo earthfrom a d efi i n a sheer scanr

’ ’ Or as when twixt the low- browed banks of Pactolus ‘ .34 m s: m oua m s

The nm n of tbe day it m and Burned withhi s fiercest beams :

Bnt the hero down warddroo in , p

’ unto him in his wildered fear 6 despair ? We know how ye fared for the Golden Fleece : of your solls we be ware Even a ll the sirength-overmastering lnbours on land that ye Alfid all ye endnred on the face of the wabery deep The W Ona of tbe tbe H e e y M mm , Warden and ( o thee.

' so soon as the steeds od the car swifi o

Of P s he ke mn o eidon Am htriné loosed from t fie e. , by p i yo , then render ye

voices close in his ear z and withm n ledgm

the earthsat J ason, and cried in amw e : in the desert hi glorious Goddesses, lone w ch

his feeg and be shduted er fi te desolate

Afl dnn -begrimeQ u a lion thu oeeking his mate dothrw

1 86 THE ARGONAUTS '

And onward he galloped withfeet like the blast of the wind

U nto the throng of his comrades did Pe leus re “ The ateed of the car of the Lord of the Sea ! -unyoked hathhe

- E but now b the hands of hhdeu v if l ween, ven y— b ed w g this t And our mother none other is , I divine, than he good ship Argo for verily us within her womb she bare

H er tberefore with sta lwart strengthand withtireless sboulders we ’ Wfll uphfg md afar o er the wastes ofthe sandyv land from the shore l hear Wi l we her, where yonder steed hath with swift feet sped

before . h- l rints shal For he will not, he, sink into the earth , but his oof p go ’ Pointing the way for us inland afar from the sea, I trow . - e i 3 So did he speak : of his keen witted counsel were all thy fain. Lo this is e n of ti t mn strai , thso g the Muses, and ! b g thw n, ’ The Pierides servant : and this true tale in mine ears hathbeen told That e O mi tiest f f the ons tbe kin old y , gh ar o s of gi of , By your manhood and mi ght o er the n nds of L i bya s deoert dm r h l v - Bare hig over earthyour galley and al he r oyaging gear,

And nights as msmy hat cup of

What tongue could tell it, which these in their toil filled up full-brim ? Of a truthof the bl ofthe D he were m l bo r im ood eathleu t y , cha u gr ’ Did the take on them dr e on b i o d y , onward iv n and y Necess ty s g o . ’ Till afar mid the ri les of Trito s m re how tri um ntl m ode pp e pha y , How gladl y adown from their stalwart shoulders they set their load ! ’ i u s - n Then rushing, like unto hounds n the wild h nt frenzy bu t, Sought they a for that now was there added u chi ng U nto ull their ution and manifold anguishs nor msed they in vain Wanda in came to the saered hm g3 there ; for lo, they p Where but yesterday Ladon the Serpent of Libya in Ada garden THE FOURTH BOOK r87

’ Kept watcho er the Apples of Gold ; and the Nymphs around n their warde , r v The Hesperides, rested neve , chanting their lo ely song . Bug now by the arrows of Herakles stricken he lay along By the trunk of the apple-tree : only the tip of his ts il had strength

' To uive t o n fr all q r yeg bu ad w om his head, through the length Of l l his dark chine, ife ess he lay. Where the arrows had left in his blood The hiwer gal l of the Hydra of Lem a swarming brood ’ Offlies - n o er the venom festering wou ds ofhim crawled and clung .

' Anear and to dust strai t a when t c hfl o-crw , and to earth ghw b

th turn even t . g Came hastily on, did ey here O o f the portent divine, and he st od, and he

lovel and ltindl 0 ueens be raciout e y , Q , g y , W ( ocklesses hether amongst the Heavenly z numbered ye be, O m r the Eartbl y, or whether they na e you the Lone OM Nympho

’ O some a c line s! Come, ye Nymphs, , d ughters of Ocean s sa red Appear y e in manifest foun to our longing S m o e spring gushing forth from the rock, some sacred upwelling ow the h E rth0 0ha es divine that the thirst i From oaom of s , p , wheh

Our wngues without cease may be quenched ; and if ever agaiu we

- Unto Achaia land in our weariful voyaging , T l h v e t i o hen, as to the ehiefest in hu m m you w ichha e don hs m

’ Gifts and libations and feasts with grateful love will we bring . earnest voice ; nnd they from anear did they cause green grau to above the se n éh n h From the enrth, and grass ro et n 1 88 TH E ARGONAUTS

Thereafter in fulness of bloom grew up into fair young trees - a t o t Tall st nding and straigh , high up fr m the face of the ear h they

towere d. In a o lnr was H es e é ed Er this an lm emb ered p p p r veil , y é e ow , t hm lo ! e . s ems of t e And Aigl a sacred willow And out of the , lik e as before the had be so a ain did the Appeared they, and y em g y

show, Ai lé A marvel exceeding great and g silence brake, And with gentle words in their longing

ou and deliverance out of our to y y toil , l to s il now one ruthless and shame ess , po ’ Our guardian serpent of life ; and the Goddesses apples of gold H e and he t awa and he left us sorrowful m bare hem y ,

F or there ca me estreen a man most fell in anton des ise y w p , ’ Grim sha en p , whose eyes neath his scowling brows flashed terrible lz i m, ’ A s o pitiles man in a monster li n s fell untanned, Raw s c - t ff hide, wa he lad, with a stubborn olive wood s a in his hand, bow ou n And a , with the arrows whereofhe shot y drago dead. came he also as one that af00t overland haths d And he , , pe , sou t T all this lace - but l wee n he was like to behld it hrough p , , o not ! Howbeit a certain mclt by the mere Tritonian stood : Thi m f hh n or a od mu ht s g o ow defi m G w g o on his mood, Did h e smite withhis foot, and forthdid the wauer in full burst flow. Then down to the enrthon hi s hands and his breast he bowed him low ; t rock l And out of the rif ed an unspeakable draught he swi led,

his mi ht ma d ~ s oo like a beast fth6 g y w, own t ped o e eld, he had J So spalte she ; and they right glad thence hastedmntil they came Tothe plaee where Ai gléhad told ofthe spring ; and they found the same .

0 E S 1 9 — TH ARGONAUT Herakles mw him as one tha t hathseen or bath

h t The moon, w en the mon h is young , through

between . m To his comrades returned he, and told the that

he The hero no as ourn . wise came those thr more j ed In like ee, E E é ven mus the swift of oot, and the scions twain

’ racian l s Ofthe T Wind of the North , having toi ed and triven in

in Lib a thee did the fell F tes b i to thine y a r ng end. s didst thou light ; and the shepherd, that

i Those sheep , in defend ng them smote thee, when thou thereofwast fain ’ T t then o take for thy comrades need, and here ofhis hand was slain the i cast of a stone ; fot in soothno weakling there ’ n t bus L k oreia s r fl u the gra dson of , y Lo d, Akakallis n r m ha the pri cess , whom Minos drave f o

I oLi a tod ell fruit of a God found in b n by w , when the was erm u t and w lorious oe r His da gh er she ; g —son unto Ph bus she ba e, s M and Garamas twofoldthenames ofhimwere W m Tr ’ m a Ny ph, the Lady of ito s Lake, did Amphithe is wed ’ And Nasamon s might and Kaphaurus the strong she bare to his

E s ven him which mote down Kanthus, defending his sheep as he

’ i tai Yet from the chief ns avenging hands escaped he not, When they learned what deed he had done ; and thew hfi nyans

' me took u and tbe hinn o m t iwrhfi stri t i And y p the corse, y laid s g

sheep for a THE‘FO URTH BOOK 1 9x

B his - u has avoi oe to hec i fosa sm c dan . y p y ore, ofdeath is therenone ‘ For a ‘prend snake lay mid the sand from the mid-noon snn to hidej Too slnggishto strike of his will at suchas would turn aside : t l u on one t Nor yet would he dar ful face p tha in fear shrank back . m u his m b Yet into who so but once he sho ld spit veno lack , Of - r all that on life sustaining earth d aw living breath, ’ Not a cubit s length should be left of hi s pathto the mansion of ww Death , — not t hM h if w 81 0 No, g the Healer God this I may y, nor Shonld medicine him if his s z , only teeth hould have gra ed but the

F or when over Li bya flying godlike Perseus came Who is also Enrymedon ; so did his mother nante his na me ’ - e As unto the king the Gorgon s head new s vered he bore, t - oats Whatsoever to ear h dropped down ofthe dark red g of gore, u r All q ickened, and serpents the eofofthe selfsame brooddid there

e res ed on the ridge ofthe spine of the deadly thing , Setting his left foot-sole thereupon ; and o the beast in his pain ’ Writhed round it the flesh twixt ankle and calf in his fangs hath 1 52 0 ’ he ta en, h f And he tare it, the while Medea and all her andmaids led ' a flri t h. r In g Howbeit the seer was handling , nothing ad ead , The bleeding wound ; for the pain not grievously vexed Ah W eb -for already a numbness of deadl y slumber stole Unstain in hi s his g g sinews a thick mist flooded eyes all round . Straightway his burdened limbs all helplessly sank to the ’ ro An d comrades and Aison sson am And chill did he g w. his , , azed o e - l r I At the str k s fast fa ling of doom, on the dead man th onging

not little s but e Yet for a pace, albeit newly d ad, ’ ' Mi ght he lie in the sna r that fast thronghhis fles hgan cormption to spread

. i From the venom hair from the skin l ke slime was east. 1 92 THE ARGONAUTS

With mattocks of bu ss ; andin mourning thereafter their hair did th re d ey n ,

Ronnd the hero meetly entombed then and over his rave the Marched they, g

rear . Bnt when nowthe were one abonrd of the shi and the 8 th y g p, m

Ovu the m they mnst needs make gness ofthe strait wherethrough ’ oot of Tritfinis mere ; neither any devioe had the bnt l l n ere the dr t al da o w if in in aimless wise. Long y , y g y g writheths when beet And as serpent along his crooked path, The s of the sun on the land and soorchhim withfiercest he t ray , a , h ide and that side he mrnethhis ha withissing to this s e d, and Ii i-t yne» k hat lea from the furnace litte and s Like nnto spar s t p , g r hi ne fnr ntil to his lair thron ha cleft of the roek he F or his y, n g may

wekh a momhof the m a fairwa dee So Argm g g y p,

t ited to snd fro. snddenl s ake Long time ec Then Orpheus y p , ’ - llo s mas t d forthof the shi t e shuld ta ke That Apo sy ripo p hy o , And peopitiate the Gods ofthe lsndtherewithfor their homeo going sake

' W - F r thhe u Even Triton the ide dominioned. om ear a

’ And he held it forthfor his Stranger s Gift ; and spake the God ‘ ift e dl see Reoeive it, my friends : no g exo eding goo y to

Here have I now to give unto them which seek unto me .

he is m father nd l am the ki n of the la t Thas e ha n s a, t y fl g h — ’ Ey the sea if perchance to your ears from afar Eurypylus name; ’ of h d of the Bm ts of Ravl n m Lib a c S n L ame. o t e an , fro y

1 94 — And they saw z but thereafier did no man mark how he u ni shedu

’ With the tripod, anigh though he were. Then each man s heart

grew light,

bles t. ’ And they cried unto Aison s son to take of their sheep the to sacrifice to the od and to hnn t the hm of And G , c y n the victim on - hdi d Then straightway he chose it in haste, and EZ he rab e An d slew it ihere on the stermand the sacrifice-prayer he cried : ’ ‘ ou ho f e e s Th God, w hast manifested thysel on the m r lone

h - or a Whet er Triton the great sea marvel thou be, whether thy n me ’ Be Phorkys or Nereus mid Sea-nymphs of Nereus loins which

So ra i n he se ered the t th and p y g v throa of e vi ctim, down from the stern i the a ves did he Out t did M d w cast i t. of he deep yet again he rise: his own true form a s a God s he manifest un to their e In wa yes . And as when one tr inetha fle - t steed for the b ad r ce- a et foo ro a com e, a - of the he t obeying horse, hs e k him , while high he is arching i n c in

the gieaming hig as from side to side ’ H e rollethit twixt i s l hin and rin i h champing jaws, is c as g g ng ; E thkeel n ven so with his hand to e of hollow Argo clingi g, Sea ward he thrust her and all his form from the statel cro ; , y wn 0f head his , over back and waist and navel, thus fa r down Was hi s sha e even mchas the Gods em blm ed wondrous p are . But down from his loins the tail of a sea-beast iengthened far F this side d t t orking to an ha , and he lashed the face of the tide

Onward he drave her till 'om the thu t , sped fi r s ofhis hand she flew THE F Q URTH BOOK i gs

l To the sea : then sank he mid &thomless depths, and the heroes a l

hom e es beheld tim a esome l . Shouted, w y w marve befall

is the haven of Ar o and there are the si ns of her sta z i s There g , g y ao There stand to Poseidon and Triton altars unto this da y ; as f da F orasmuch or that y tsrriéd there . ’ s t f At the dawning again before the W breath hey led. wer ke t the hile desert land to the i t And e they p w that r gh, On the mor in ss the beheld the lon n g thereafter the ne y , and g

est - i failed tbem ble the breath w nd , but w no less

Which bringeth from labour rest unto ploughmen W e. xfip t i lin dre n Even hen, when the wind d ed do wn as the dark g night w o , F ur d the the idle sail ud t e mast e le y , a h Th lo and no to the toil of the olished w did the fal ey wered, w p y l All throu the ni t d the da and the li ht of gh ghsn y, , g the day Throughthenight thersn fi erfi ill rugged Karpathos far away Weleomed them : thenee did thesy shape nheir course unto where

hli Crete above all the rest of the isles in the sea whic e.

' Thd og the man ofbtm fnorn the stubbom scaur as he tore R - r fast en ock shards, withstood them from making the hawse s

the shore’ ’ When came to the roadstead of Dirké s haven the W m onw xoso ’ Now be was the hst of the brazen stock of the Ash-tree s sons :

B his ankle be ht sine and uatm tb m m y nest he w, g i 96 THE ARGONAUTS

Were the issues of life an d of deathby nought save a frlm o f sltin. t t he land And the men were with travail ou worn, yet aloof from drew they be in ex eedi dismn Theirship withthe backward sweep oft oarg o ng y . ' th li htfwl m To the outsea nowfrom Cretehad ey turned them in p g o ,

travail~ ain outworrr Tormented with thirst, and by all their p ; But m the turned them - w : , e as y , Medea spake to the hero cre ‘ e : I I for our bel in s ubdue H ar me alone, ween, can y p g h er r Yon man, w m v he be, though fashioned of b ass all through

his . Be body, except he have life everlasting added thereto But consent ye to keep hereby your galley beyond the flight ’ Of ov mi lu . his stones, till he yield unto me his g

Then backed they the galley, beyond the cast of his arm , to On of all un uessed zilo the oars ; and they waited to see what counsel , g , Then ther s d of her w She would bring to pass . on ei i e che did she hold ’ For a veil before her face her purple mantle s fold . ' Then up w the deck she wenn snd her hand did Aison s son

Gras in his wn and from thwart to thwart so led her on . p o , And the spell - chant raised she : the Fates with singing invoked

she there, r Devourers of souls, swift hounds of Hades, th ough all the air

o . Which behovering ever, and swo p on thedoomed the living among three times e Bowing the knee unto these she invoked th m with song, Andthrice withprayer ; and with soul unto mischief shapen she cast

i l l . The glance of the ev l eye upon Ta os, his vision to b ast Andherteeth ashedfur accm ed u on hhn the arms of her y p , waved

ag r . Beckonings oom, as of one that in frenzy of hatred aved u c Ze s Father, awe as a wind on my spirit bloweth hill , b disease W i the doom of ill y not alone, nor by nds, how one from afar shall work our bane !

E r ven as he, though b azen , yielded yet to be slain E ede t Then as he heaved on hi h ofM a he . y the might sorceress , g n The massy rocks to withstand them from coming the haven a igh , On a s u the ra did his eel and the i hor- flood p r of c g he graze h , c Like melting b ad gushed forth: nor long thered ter he stood a

e and Anaph ,

Alcinous’ halls had they seen

and so, like the flame

t c be o s, in

2 00 THE ARGONAUTS

z . For their need, andwithal the fresh strong bree e, bade hasten away Wherefore it cometh that yet do the youths of the Myrmidons lay n lu - u On their shoulders the jars ll brimmed, and b rdened so do they

’ ’ With ri mning feet o er the race- course striving for victory s meed . — Be gracious, O blest generation of chieftains may these lays rm Year after year in the ears of men ever sweeter to sing ! t n For now at the las am I come to the glorious e ding of all , To the bourne ofyour travail for struggle nor strife did thereafter befall - Unto you, as homeward bound from Aigina did Argo flee, Neither tempest of winds brake forth ; but over a peaceful K ekro l By the land of by Au is coasting, and under the lee Eubtea Lokrian Of , by cities puntian of men did ye fleet, I ’ Till with rapture of welcome on Pagasse s strand ye set your feet.

’ THE TRANSLAPOR 'S EPTLOGU E ao3

t who poets, scholars and scien ists

care, in sheltered comfort (Timon 304 THE ARGO NAUTS

A great deal of lenrned labonr was expended n on the interpre ‘ p tstion of H It ma indeed be d remarks Prof. omer . y m ,’ ff ‘ G k all x l Maha y, that all philology among the ree s, te tua and

under f - m n hen of stand the text o IIo er, a d t At the same m o more o ti e, however, while n thing was merit rious than the r élc of the comni entator on H omem nothing wu lm so than any attempt to imitate hhm or w revim in any shape or

form e ic oetr . , p p y It h he that the age of t resu med poems ws t at t - fi u “ gem work , of perfect nish m min te details, of art for So poets were to restrict ’ ‘ -fli hts hmns to selves to short swallow g of song, fables, y

and that eachpoem ahould be a mine of literary faith and practice the great champion and exponent ‘ Phi ladel hm . P was Callimachus He was, in the days of tolemy p 2 8 - 2 E s . c t s 5 47 . Presiden of the Mu eum, ’ ” um y s wor was perhape the most influentiaMl ?" ’ Plato arid ci cero. P s o — hilologi t, archaeol gist, r historian , dramatist, poet, critic there was scarcely a depa tment i i e i t ~ of literature n whichhe did not, n th v ew of his oon empor aries excel indnstr x , ; and his y m enormous. As an e ample c on whichhe wor‘k ed it is sulficient to mention mt of the s ale —, j r d cti En dhof Liserat one of his many p o s ons an cy clopa nm, l r sa d biographica , bibliographical and critical, in one hund ed Th of hi s f twenty books. e prestige o ficial his exact interpremtion of the demands and m de him r H e withinc s a the autocrat of lette s. carved i ive

a work which the nonmoed snperi or to W o perhaps of Hadrian than of the W . e an

‘ 2 06 TQIEEAASHGKINM&1 TTTB

l and local thnu hit was its persona g , celebrity lasted till the e of R e Ovid took it as his Aug usta n ag om . model in his satirical poem of the same The in Al exandria made im possible thence to was comforted by the appl ause with which the

. all it Honoured by , and presented with the freedom of the city, he gratefully took for his country the here he as a reciated and was roud to be k ss land w w pp , p nown ’ ‘ R r Ap ollonius of hodes. He lived the e many years, a te ular f h i n d et and a o o r mor c. Mu n hile now e po , p p professor w at enemy died : the old literary cliques were no more : the fame of the prophet who had honour in his own country had recrossed the sea : men longed to

Apollonius was given to understa nd that a warm welcome was of b t t prepared for him in the land his irt h. The temp a ion so n the of his humili s s He triumpha scene ation wa irresi tible. returned to E : he read his poem to enthusiastic audiences : of E the opportune ratosthenes, who had succeeded Calli P L machus as resident and Chief ibrarian. created a vacancy A l for which pollonius was acc aimed the only possible successor. Smmsu lled as the head of the culmre and learning of the Greek l he of eaoeful industr wor d, lived days p y

r u to symbolise fo giveness and oblivion of old feuds, was b ried beside his old master, Callimachus .

L ike all the Ale xandrian scholars, to the last. or l gends t B t hem O e R d s A x . u oft nin and s he ho e , Cnidus, le andria all nly lf it is on the d na s tica h his e lines survi ve , and t at fam must rest. The l k er il Tame T poem is, i e the epics of g , , ennyson, the work student and not lrke of Homer the k of a , , those , wor of a man ’ TH E TRANSLATOR S EPI LOGUE 307

art of the i A l l who had been a p l fe be described. po onius connected the Argonauts with all the legends or myths belonging nt to the they might be supposed to have vi ed, ' matcrmplafcoersthis part of his work fi'om the richlibraries in whioh H find he wrote . m ce we traces of his having more matter than he quite knew what to do with; and his di gi essions on the origins oc of cities, names, rites, and so forth, are ad r ill ski Still all ave rage re e w p. , proportions “ as muchspace as the S of the hips in the 1M . There can be no doubt that the d q m utit a was fort he nncients the one great epic between Homer and Ve rgih Even cono

b his ra P . T. V earned fame s Romm s. arro y t n lation of Val F laccus L A u s i . wrote a atin rgona tic , wh ch was but translation of the Greek original . found hi the a es of Ver il who drew no small of his inw p g g , part ' s iration from him transferrin to hie d sudd at least a seore of p , g

similes, or picturesque touches. On A l far -be : the other hand, pol onius is very from ing an

t of H omer. ina ed w an derin the atmos hwe imi ator He is, , g p in amazin l ri in l t which his genius was trained , g y o g a ; and i is not the least proof of his genius that he recognised that his o strength in l lay the very things which were either neglected, or light y h . T e u touched on, by Homer elaborate picturesq ueness and n m failing vc with which he describes the coasting voyages, the r L the - li l wei d desolation of the ibyan sands , gauntlet ght, the batt e s with the giants, the pas age of the Clashing Crags , and that of W R raz the andering ocks, the ploughing with the b en bulls, and x many other such incidents, are e amples ofwork ofwhich Homer gives but slight and occasional examples while the great and ’ t o M crowning achievemen of the the st ry of edea s passion , fi thril h t with its erce fervour, its ing pat os, its lovely enderness and i virginal purity, its strangely modern introspect veness and analysis

v i l m e W ” . of moti es, is absolutely w thout paral el , not in Ho k $3 “ m m . in any Greek poet whose work s have come b m THE-ARGONAUTS

V r il ith hi a human s m ath with ad anta e of e g , w all y p y , all the v g rise th same hei ht having sucha model before him, cannot to e g : t i hat It is curi us he love of D is a ale reflex of t of Medea. o do p , too to note tha t even in the mi nor matter of similes A olloni us ts , , , p - o . Bk . . 1 8 V remains riginal In only one ( II 54 54 , where he 0 ’ somewhat expands Homer s thought)can he be charged with

The sum ed u b Pr fi Ellis argument has been well p y o R. F or Apollonius the problem was how to write an epic whi ch u sho ld be modelled on the Homeric epics, yet be so completely b W t dif erem as m suggesg not resern laneq but eontrast. e hinlt no one who has read even a hundred lines of the poem can fail to he stru he r s wh it ck f t . by this. It is in act ea on y is a success The d q mw ica could not have been written without the l lia d and

u but is in no sense echo of ei ther. Na we M sh it an y , rhythm laws of

element of his H is enius is uite as real an element success. g q s and no one wfll deny this who has studied the successi ve phases ’ M a B . indeed testness of ede s passion in ook III If, , g could he t b the t f infl n e after death the tes ed y exten o ue c , of Apollonius only with the of ’ literature.

THE END

r d nbur h Caisson C Limd cd , P ? i n fe s , E i g