BOOK IV

STEMMA MEDEAE

INDEX

INTRODUCTION

Much has been written about the chronology of Alexandrian literature and

the famous Library, founded by Ptolemy Soter, but the dates of the chief

writers are still matters of conjecture. The birth of Apollonius Rhodius

is placed by scholars at various times between 296 and 260 B.C., while

the year of his death is equally uncertain. In fact, we have very little

information on the subject. There are two "lives" of Apollonius in the

Scholia, both derived from an earlier one which is lost. From these we

learn that he was of Alexandria by birth,[1] that he lived in the time

of the Ptolemies, and was a pupil of Callimachus; that while still a

youth he composed and recited in public his _Argonautica_, and that the

poem was condemned, in consequence of which he retired to Rhodes; that

there he revised his poem, recited it with great applause, and hence

called himself a Rhodian. The second "life" adds: "Some say that he

returned to Alexandria and again recited his poem with the utmost

success, so that he was honoured with the libraries of the Museum[2] and

was buried with Callimachus." The last sentence may be interpreted by

the notice of Suidas, who informs us that Apollonius was a contemporary

of Eratosthenes, Euphorion and Timarchus, in the time of Ptolemy

Euergetes, and that he succeeded Eratosthenes in the headship of the

Alexandrian Library. Suidas also informs us elsewhere that Aristophanes

at the age of sixty-two succeeded Apollonius in this office. Many modern

scholars deny the "bibliothecariate" of Apollonius for chronological

reasons, and there is considerable difficulty about it. The date of

Callimachus' _Hymn to Apollo,_ which closes with some lines (105-113)

that are admittedly an allusion to Apollonius, may be put with much

probability at 248 or 247 B.C. Apollonius must at that date have been at

least twenty years old. Eratosthenes died 196-193 B.C. This would make

Apollonius seventy-two to seventy-five when he succeeded Eratosthenes.

This is not impossible, it is true, but it is difficult. But the

difficulty is taken away if we assume with Ritschl that Eratosthenes

resigned his office some years before his death, which allows us to put

the birth of Apollonius at about 280, and would solve other

difficulties. For instance, if the Librarians were buried within the

precincts, it would account for the burial of Apollonius next to

Callimachus--Eratosthenes being still alive. However that may be, it is

rather arbitrary to take away the "bibliothecariate" of Apollonius,

which is clearly asserted by Suidas, on account of chronological

calculations which are themselves uncertain. Moreover, it is more

probable that the words following "some say" in the second "life" are a

remnant of the original life than a conjectural addition, because the

first "life" is evidently incomplete, nothing being said about the end

of Apollonius' career.

[Footnote 1: "Or of Naucratis," according to Aelian and Athenaeus.]

[Footnote 2: [Greek: hôs kai tôn bibliothêkôn tou mouseiou axiôthênai

auton.]]

The principal event in his life, so far as we know, was the quarrel with

his master Callimachus, which was most probably the cause of his

condemnation at Alexandria and departure to Rhodes. This quarrel appears

to have arisen from differences of literary aims and taste, but, as

literary differences often do, degenerated into the bitterest personal

strife. There are references to the quarrel in the writings of both.

Callimachus attacks Apollonius in the passage at the end of the _Hymn to

Apollo_, already mentioned, also probably in some epigrams, but most of

all in his _Ibis_, of which we have an imitation, or perhaps nearly a

translation, in Ovid's poem of the same name. On the part of Apollonius

there is a passage in the third book of the _Argonautica_ (11. 927-947)

which is of a polemical nature and stands out from the context, and the

well-known savage epigram upon Callimachus.[1] Various combinations have

been attempted by scholars, notably by Couat, in his _Poésie

Alexandrine_, to give a connected account of the quarrel, but we have

not _data_ sufficient to determine the order of the attacks, and

replies, and counter-attacks. The _Ibis_ has been thought to mark the

termination of the feud on the curious ground that it was impossible for

abuse to go further. It was an age when literary men were more inclined

to comment on writings of the past than to produce original work.

Literature was engaged in taking stock of itself. Homer was, of course,

professedly admired by all, but more admired than imitated. Epic poetry

was out of fashion and we find many epigrams of this period--some by

Callimachus--directed against the "cyclic" poets, by whom were meant at

that time those who were always dragging in conventional and commonplace

epithets and phrases peculiar to epic poetry. Callimachus was in

accordance with the spirit of the age when he proclaimed "a great book"

to be "a great evil," and sought to confine poetical activity within the

narrowest limits both of subject and space. Theocritus agreed with him,

both in principle and practice. The chief characteristics of

Alexandrianism are well summarized by Professor Robinson Ellis as

follows: "Precision in form and metre, refinement in diction, a learning

often degenerating into pedantry and obscurity, a resolute avoidance of

everything commonplace in subject, sentiment or allusion." These traits

are more prominent in Callimachus than in Apollonius, but they are

certainly to be seen in the latter. He seems to have written the

_Argonautica_ out of bravado, to show that he _could_ write an epic

poem. But the influence of the age was too strong. Instead of the unity

of an Epic we have merely a series of episodes, and it is the great

beauty and power of one of these episodes that gives the poem its

permanent value--the episode of the love of Jason and Medea. This

occupies the greater part of the third book. The first and second books

are taken up with the history of the voyage to Colchis, while the fourth

book describes the return voyage. These portions constitute a metrical

guide book, filled no doubt with many pleasing episodes, such as the

rape of Hylas, the boxing match between Pollux and Amycus, the account

of Cyzicus, the account of the Amazons, the legend of Talos, but there

is no unity running through the poem beyond that of the voyage itself.

[Footnote 1: Anth. Pal. xi. 275.]

The Tale of the Argonauts had been told often before in verse and prose,

and many authors' names are given in the Scholia to Apollonius, but

their works have perished. The best known earlier account that we have

is that in Pindar's fourth Pythian ode, from which Apollonius has taken

many details. The subject was one for an epic poem, for its unity might

have been found in the working out of the expiation due for the crime of

Athamas; but this motive is barely mentioned by our author.

As we have it, the motive of the voyage is the command of Pelias to

bring back the golden fleece, and this command is based on Pelias'

desire to destroy Jason, while the divine aid given to Jason results

from the intention of Hera to punish Pelias for his neglect of the

honour due to her. The learning of Apollonius is not deep but it is

curious; his general sentiments are not according to the Alexandrian

standard, for they are simple and obvious. In the mass of material from

which he had to choose the difficulty was to know what to omit, and much

skill is shewn in fusing into a tolerably harmonious whole conflicting

mythological and historical details. He interweaves with his narrative

local legends and the founding of cities, accounts of strange customs,

descriptions of works of art, such as that of Ganymede and Eros playing

with knucklebones,[1] but prosaically calls himself back to the point

from these pleasing digressions by such an expression as "but this would

take me too far from my song." His business is the straightforward tale

and nothing else. The astonishing geography of the fourth book reminds

us of the interest of the age in that subject, stimulated no doubt by

the researches of Eratosthenes and others.

[Footnote 1: iii. 117-124.]

The language is that of the conventional epic. Apollonius seems to have

carefully studied Homeric glosses, and gives many examples of isolated

uses, but his choice of words is by no means limited to Homer. He freely

avails himself of Alexandrian words and late uses of Homeric words.

Among his contemporaries Apollonius suffers from a comparison with

Theocritus, who was a little his senior, but he was much admired by

Roman writers who derived inspiration from the great classical writers

of Greece by way of Alexandria. In fact Alexandria was a useful bridge

between Athens and Rome. The _Argonautica_ was translated by Varro

Atacinus, copied by Ovid and Virgil, and minutely studied by Valerius

Flaccus in his poem of the same name. Some of his finest passages have

been appropriated and improved upon by Virgil by the divine right of

superior genius.[1] The subject of love had been treated in the romantic

spirit before the time of Apollonius in writings that have perished, for

instance, in those of Antimachus of Colophon, but the _Argonautica_ is

perhaps the first poem still extant in which the expression of this

spirit is developed with elaboration. The Medea of Apollonius is the

direct precursor of the Dido of Virgil, and it is the pathos and passion

of the fourth book of the Aeneid that keep alive many a passage of

Apollonius.

[Footnote 1: e.g. compare _Aen._ iv. 305 foll, with Ap. Rh. iv. 355

foll., _Aen._ iv. 327-330 with Ap. Rh. i. 897, 898, _Aen._ iv. 522

foll., with Ap. Rh. iii. 744 foll.]

BIBLIOGRAPHY.

Two editions of the Argonautica were published by Apollonius. Of these

we have only the second. The Scholia preserve a few passages of the

first edition, from which the second seems to have differed only

slightly. The old opinion that our MSS. preserve any traces of the first

edition has long been given up. The principal MSS. are the following:--

The Laurentian, also called the Medicean, XXXII. 9, of the early

eleventh century, the excellent MS. at Florence which contains

Sophocles, Aeschylus and Apollonius Rhodius. This is far the best

authority for the text (here denoted by L).

The Guelferbytanus of the thirteenth century, which closely agrees

with another Laurentian, XXXII. 16, of the same date (here denoted

by G and L^2 respectively).

There were in the early eleventh century two types of text, the first

being best known to us by L, the second by G and L^2 and the corrections

made in L. Quotations in the Etymologicum Magnum agree with the second

type and show that this is as old as the fifth century. Besides these

there are, of inferior MSS., four Vatican and five Parisian which are

occasionally useful. Most of them have Scholia; the best Scholia are

those of L.

The principal editions are:--

Florence, 1496, 4to. This is the _editio princeps_, by Lascaris, based

on L, with Scholia, a very rare book.

Venice, 1521, 8vo. The Aldine, by Franciscus Asulanus, with Scholia.

Paris, 1541, 8vo, based on the Parisian MSS.

Geneva, 1574, 4to, by Stephanus, with Scholia.

Leyden, 1641, 2 vols., 8vo, by J. Hölzlin, with a Latin version.

Oxford, 1777, 2 vols., 4to, by J. Shaw, with a Latin version.

Strassburg, 1780, 8vo and 4to, by R.F.P. Brunck.

Rome, 1791-1794, 2 vols., 4to, by Flangini, with an Italian translation.

Leipzig, 1797, 8vo, by Ch. D. Beck, with a Latin version. A second

volume, to contain the Scholia and a commentary, was never published.

Leipzig, 1810-1813, 2 vols., 8vo. A second edition of Brunck by G.H.

Schäfer, with the Florentine and Parisian Scholia, the latter printed

for the first time.

Leipzig, 1828, 8vo, by A. Wellauer, with the Scholia, both Florentine

and Parisian.

Paris, 1811, 4to, by F.S. Lehrs, with a Latin version. In the Didot

series.

Leipzig, 1852, 8vo, by R. Merkel, "ad cod. MS. Laurentianum." The

Teubner Text.

Leipzig, 1854, 2 vols., 8vo, by R. Merkel. The second volume contains

Merkel's prolegomena and the Scholia to L, edited by H. Keil.

Oxford, 1900, 8vo, by R.C. Seaton. In the "Scriptorum Classicorum

Bibliotheca Oxoniensis" series.

The text of the present edition is, with a few exceptions, that of the

Oxford edition prepared by me for the Delegates of the Clarendon Press,

whom I hereby thank for their permission to use it.

The English translations of Apollonius are as follows:--

By E.B. Greene, by F. Fawkes, both 1780; by W. Preston, 1803. None of

these are of value. There is a prose translation by E.P. Coleridge in

the Bohn Series. The most recent and also the best is a verse

translation by Mr. A.S. Way, 1901, in "The Temple Classics."

I may also mention the excellent translation in French by Prof. H. de La

Ville de Mirmont of the University of Bordeaux, 1892.

Upon Alexandrian literature in general Couat's _Poésie Alexandrine, sous

les trois premiers Ptoletmées_, 1882, may be recommended. Susemihl's

_Geschichte der Griechischen Litteratur in der Alexandinerzeit_, 2

vols., 1891, is a perfect storehouse of facts and authorities, but more

adapted for reference than for general reading. Morris' _Life and Death

of Jason_ is a poem that in many passages singularly resembles

Apollonius in its pessimistic tone and spirit.

APOLLONIUS RHODIUS

THE ARGONAUTICA

BOOK I

SUMMARY OF BOOK I

Invocation of Phoebus and cause of the expedition

(1-22).--Catalogue of the Argonauts (23-233).--March of the heroes

to the port: farewell of Jason and Alcimede

(234-305).--Preparations for departure and launching of Argo:

sacrifice to Apollo: prediction of Idmon (306-447).--The festival,

insolence of Idas, song of Orpheus and departure (448-558).--Voyage

along the coast of Thessaly and across to Lemnos (559-608).--Recent

history of Lemnos and stay of the Argonauts there: farewell of

Jason and Hypsipyle (609-909).--Voyage from Lemnos by Samothrace to

the Propontis: reception by the Doliones of Cyzicus

(910-988).--Fight against the Giants: departure and return of the

Argonauts to Cyzicus: sacrifice to Rhea on Mt. Dindymum

(989-1152).--Arrival among the Mysians: rape of Hylas, which is

announced to Heracles (1153-1260).--While Heracles and Polyphemus

search for Hylas they are left behind (1261-1328).--The fate of

Heracles and Polyphemus: arrival of Argo among the Bebrycians

(1329-1362).

APOLLONIUS RHODIUS THE ARGONAUTICA

BOOK I

Beginning with thee, O Phoebus, I will recount the famous deeds of men

of old, who, at the behest of King Pelias, down through the mouth of

Pontus and between the Cyanean rocks, sped well-benched Argo in quest of

the golden fleece.

Such was the oracle that Pelias heard, that a hateful doom awaited

him--to be slain at the prompting of the man whom he should see coming

forth from the people with but one sandal. And no long time after, in

accordance with that true report, Jason crossed the stream of wintry

Anaurus on foot, and saved one sandal from the mire, but the other he

left in the depths held back by the flood. And straightway he came to

Pelias to share the banquet which the king was offering to his father

Poseidon and the rest of the gods, though he paid no honour to Pelasgian

Hera. Quickly the king saw him and pondered, and devised for him the

toil of a troublous voyage, in order that on the sea or among strangers

he might lose his home-return.

The ship, as former bards relate, Argus wrought by the guidance of

Athena. But now I will tell the lineage and the names of the heroes, and

of the long sea-paths and the deeds they wrought in their wanderings;

may the Muses be the inspirers of my song!

First then let us name Orpheus whom once Calliope bare, it is said,

wedded to Thracian Oeagrus, near the Pimpleian height. Men say that he

by the music of his songs charmed the stubborn rocks upon the mountains

and the course of rivers. And the wild oak-trees to this day, tokens of

that magic strain, that grow at Zone on the Thracian shore, stand in

ordered ranks close together, the same which under the charm of his lyre

he led down from Pieria. Such then was Orpheus whom Aeson's son welcomed

to share his toils, in obedience to the behest of Cheiron, Orpheus ruler

of Bistonian Pieria.

Straightway came Asterion, whom Cometes begat by the waters of eddying

Apidanus; he dwelt at Peiresiae near the Phylleian mount, where mighty

Apidanus and bright Enipeus join their streams, coming together from

afar.

Next to them from Larisa came Polyphemus, son of Eilatus, who aforetime

among the mighty Lapithae, when they were arming themselves against the

Centaurs, fought in his younger days; now his limbs were grown heavy

with age, but his martial spirit still remained, even as of old.

Nor was Iphiclus long left behind in Phylace, the uncle of Aeson's son;

for Aeson had wedded his sister Alcimede, daughter of Phylacus: his

kinship with her bade him be numbered in the host.

Nor did Admetus, the lord of Pherae rich in sheep, stay behind beneath

the peak of the Chalcodonian mount.

Nor at Alope stayed the sons of Hermes, rich in corn-land, well skilled

in craftiness, Erytus and Echion, and with them on their departure their

kinsman Aethalides went as the third; him near the streams of Amphrysus

Eupolemeia bare, the daughter of Myrmidon, from Phthia; the two others

were sprung from Antianeira, daughter of Menetes.

From rich Gyrton came Coronus, son of Caeneus, brave, but not braver

than his father. For bards relate that Caeneus though still living

perished at the hands of the Centaurs, when apart from other chiefs he

routed them; and they, rallying against him, could neither bend nor slay

him; but unconquered and unflinching he passed beneath the earth,

overwhelmed by the downrush of massy pines.

There came too Titaresian Mopsus, whom above all men the son of Leto

taught the augury of birds; and Eurydamas the son of Ctimenus; he dwelt

at Dolopian Ctimene near the Xynian lake.

Moreover Actor sent his son Menoetius from Opus that he might accompany

the chiefs.

Eurytion followed and strong Eribotes, one the son of Teleon, the other

of Irus, Actor's son; the son of Teleon renowned Eribotes, and of Irus

Eurytion. A third with them was Oileus, peerless in courage and well

skilled to attack the flying foe, when they break their ranks.

Now from Euboea came Canthus eager for the quest, whom Canethus son of

Abas sent; but he was not destined to return to Cerinthus. For fate had

ordained that he and Mopsus, skilled in the seer's art, should wander

and perish in the furthest ends of Libya. For no ill is too remote for

mortals to incur, seeing that they buried them in Libya, as far from the

Colchians as is the space that is seen between the setting and the

rising of the sun.

To him Clytius and Iphitus joined themselves, the warders of Oechalia,

sons of Eurytus the ruthless, Eurytus, to whom the Far-shooting god gave

his bow; but he had no joy of the gift; for of his own choice he strove

even with the giver.

After them came the sons of Aeacus, not both together, nor from the same

spot; for they settled far from Aegina in exile, when in their folly

they had slain their brother Phocus. Telamon dwelt in the Attic island;

but Peleus departed and made his home in Phthia.

After them from Cecropia came warlike Butes, son of brave Teleon, and

Phalerus of the ashen spear. Alcon his father sent him forth; yet no

other sons had he to care for his old age and livelihood. But him, his

well-beloved and only son, he sent forth that amid bold heroes he might

shine conspicuous. But Theseus, who surpassed all the sons of

Erechtheus, an unseen bond kept beneath the land of Taenarus, for he had

followed that path with Peirithous; assuredly both would have lightened

for all the fulfilment of their toil.

Tiphys, son of Hagnias, left the Siphaean people of the Thespians, well

skilled to foretell the rising wave on the broad sea, and well skilled

to infer from sun and star the stormy winds and the time for sailing.

Tritonian Athena herself urged him to join the band of chiefs, and he

came among them a welcome comrade. She herself too fashioned the swift

ship; and with her Argus, son of Arestor, wrought it by her counsels.

Wherefore it proved the most excellent of all ships that have made trial

of the sea with oars.

After them came Phlias from Araethyrea, where he dwelt in affluence by

the favour of his father Dionysus, in his home by the springs of Asopus.

From Argos came Talaus and Areius, sons of Bias, and mighty Leodocus,

all of whom Pero daughter of Neleus bare; on her account the Aeolid

Melampus endured sore affliction in the steading of Iphiclus.

Nor do we learn that Heracles of the mighty heart disregarded the eager

summons of Aeson's son. But when he heard a report of the heroes'

gathering and had readied Lyrceian Argos from Arcadia by the road along

which he carried the boar alive that fed in the thickets of Lampeia,

near the vast Erymanthian swamp, the boar bound with chains he put down

from his huge shoulders at the entrance to the market-place of Mycenae;

and himself of his own will set out against the purpose of Eurystheus;

and with him went Hylas, a brave comrade, in the flower of youth, to

bear his arrows and to guard his bow.

Next to him came a scion of the race of divine Danaus, Nauplius. He was

the son of Clytonaeus son of Naubolus; Naubolus was son of Lernus;

Lernus we know was the son of Proetus son of Nauplius; and once Amymone

daughter of Danaus, wedded to Poseidon, bare Nauplius, who surpassed all

men in naval skill.

Idmon came last of all them that dwelt at Argos, though he had learnt

his own fate by augury, he came, that the people might not grudge him

fair renown. He was not in truth the son of Abas, but Leto's son himself

begat him to be numbered among the illustrious Aeolids; and himself

taught him the art of prophecy--to pay heed to birds and to observe the

signs of the burning sacrifice.

Moreover Aetolian Leda sent from Sparta strong Polydeuces and Castor,

skilled to guide swift-footed steeds; these her dearly-loved sons she

bare at one birth in the house of Tyndareus; nor did she forbid their

departure; for she had thoughts worthy of the bride of Zeus.

The sons of Aphareus, Lynceus and proud Idas, came from Arene, both

exulting in their great strength; and Lynceus too excelled in keenest

sight, if the report is true that that hero could easily direct his

sight even beneath the earth.

And with them Neleian Periclymenus set out to come, eldest of all the

sons of godlike Neleus who were born at Pylos; Poseidon had given him

boundless strength and granted him that whatever shape he should crave

during the fight, that he should take in the stress of battle.

Moreover from Arcadia came Amphidamas and Cepheus, who inhabited Tegea

and the allotment of Apheidas, two sons of Aleus; and Ancaeus followed

them as the third, whom his father Lycurgus sent, the brother older than

both. But he was left in the city to care for Aleus now growing old,

while he gave his son to join his brothers. Ancaeus went clad in the

skin of a Maenalian bear, and wielding in his right hand a huge

two-edged battleaxe. For his armour his grandsire had hidden in the

house's innermost recess, to see if he might by some means still stay

his departure.

There came also Augeias, whom fame declared to be the son of Helios; he

reigned over the Eleans, glorying in his wealth; and greatly he desired

to behold the Colchian land and Aeetes himself the ruler of the

Colchians.

Asterius and Amphion, sons of Hyperasius, came from Achaean Pellene,

which once Pelles their grandsire founded on the brows of Aegialus.

After them from Taenarus came Euphemus whom, most swift-footed of men,

Europe, daughter of mighty Tityos, bare to Poseidon. He was wont to skim

the swell of the grey sea, and wetted not his swift feet, but just

dipping the tips of his toes was borne on the watery path.

Yea, and two other sons of Poseidon came; one Erginus, who left the

citadel of glorious Miletus, the other proud Ancaeus, who left

Parthenia, the seat of Imbrasion Hera; both boasted their skill in

sea-craft and in war.

After them from Calydon came the son of Oeneus, strong Meleagrus, and

Laocoon--Laocoon the brother of Oeneus, though not by the same mother,

for a serving-woman bare him; him, now growing old, Oeneus sent to guard

his son: thus Meleagrus, still a youth, entered the bold band of heroes.

No other had come superior to him, I ween, except Heracles, if for one

year more he had tarried and been nurtured among the Aetolians. Yea, and

his uncle, well skilled to fight whether with the javelin or hand to

hand, Iphiclus son of Thestius, bare him company on his way.

With him came Palaemonius, son of Olenian Lernus, of Lernus by repute,

but his birth was from Hephaestus; and so he was crippled in his feet,

but his bodily frame and his valour no one would dare to scorn.

Wherefore he was numbered among all the chiefs, winning fame for Jason.

From the Phocians came Iphitus sprung from Naubolus son of Ornytus; once

he had been his host when Jason went to Pytho to ask for a response

concerning his voyage; for there he welcomed him in his own halls.

Next came Zetes and Calais, sons of Boreas, whom once Oreithyia,

daughter of Erechtheus, bare to Boreas on the verge of wintry Thrace;

thither it was that Thracian Boreas snatched her away from Cecropia as

she was whirling in the dance, hard by Ilissus' stream. And, carrying

her far off, to the spot that men called the rock of Sarpedon, near the

river Erginus, he wrapped her in dark clouds and forced her to his will.

There they were making their dusky wings quiver upon their ankles on

both sides as they rose, a great wonder to behold, wings that gleamed

with golden scales: and round their backs from the top of the head and

neck, hither and thither, their dark tresses were being shaken by the

wind.

No, nor had Acastus son of mighty Pelias himself any will to stay behind

in the palace of his brave sire, nor Argus, helper of the goddess

Athena; but they too were ready to be numbered in the host.

So many then were the helpers who assembled to join the son of Aeson.

All the chiefs the dwellers thereabout called Minyae, for the most and

the bravest avowed that they were sprung from the blood of the daughters

of Minyas; thus Jason himself was the son of Alcimede who was born of

Clymene the daughter of Minyas.

Now when all things had been made ready by the thralls, all things that

fully-equipped ships are furnished withal when men's business leads them

to voyage across the sea, then the heroes took their way through the

city to the ship where it lay on the strand that men call Magnesian

Pagasae; and a crowd of people hastening rushed together; but the heroes

shone like gleaming stars among the clouds; and each man as he saw them

speeding along with their armour would say:

"King Zeus, what is the purpose of Pelias? Whither is he driving forth

from the Panachaean land so great a host of heroes? On one day they

would waste the palace of Aeetes with baleful fire, should he not yield

them the fleece of his own goodwill. But the path is not to be shunned,

the toil is hard for those who venture."

Thus they spake here and there throughout the city; but the women often

raised their hands to the sky in prayer to the immortals to grant a

return, their hearts' desire. And one with tears thus lamented to her

fellow:

"Wretched Alcimede, evil has come to thee at last though late, thou hast

not ended with splendour of life. Aeson too, ill-fated man! Surely

better had it been for him, if he were lying beneath the earth enveloped

in his shroud, still unconscious of bitter toils. Would that the dark

wave, when the maiden Helle perished, had overwhelmed Phrixus too with

the ram: but the dire portent even sent forth a human voice, that it

might cause to Alcimede sorrows and countless pains hereafter."

Thus the women spake at the departure of the heroes. And now many

thralls, men and women, were gathered together, and his mother, smitten

with grief for Jason. And a bitter pang seized every woman's heart; and

with them groaned the father in baleful old age, lying on his bed,

closely wrapped round. But the hero straightway soothed their pain,

encouraging them, and bade the thralls take up his weapons for war; and

they in silence with downcast looks took them up. And even as the mother

had thrown her arms about her son, so she clung, weeping without stint,

as a maiden all alone weeps, falling fondly on the neck of her hoary

nurse, a maid who has now no others to care for her, but she drags on a

weary life under a stepmother, who maltreats her continually with ever

fresh insults, and as she weeps, her heart within her is bound fast with

misery, nor can she sob forth all the groans that struggle for

utterance; so without stint wept Alcimede straining her son in her arms,

and in her yearning grief spake as follows:

"Would that on that day when, wretched woman that I am, I heard King

Pelias proclaim his evil behest, I had straightway given up my life and

forgotten my cares, so that thou thyself, my son, with thine own hands,

mightest have buried me; for that was the only wish left me still to be

fulfilled by thee, all the other rewards for thy nurture have I long

enjoyed. Now I, once so admired among Achaean women, shall be left

behind like a bondwoman in my empty halls, pining away, ill-fated one,

for love of thee, thee on whose account I had aforetime so much splendour

and renown, my only son for whom I loosed my virgin zone first and last.

For to me beyond others the goddess Eileithyia grudged abundant

offspring. Alas for my folly! Not once, not even in my dreams did I

forebode this, that the flight of Phrixus would bring me woe."

Thus with moaning she wept, and her handmaidens, standing by, lamented;

but Jason spake gently to her with comforting words:

"Do not, I pray thee, mother, store up bitter sorrows overmuch, for thou

wilt not redeem me from evil by tears, but wilt still add grief to

grief. For unseen are the woes that the gods mete out to mortals; be

strong to endure thy share of them though with grief in thy heart; take

courage from the promises of Athena, and from the answers of the gods

(for very favourable oracles has Phoebus given), and then from the help

of the chieftains. But do thou remain here, quiet among thy handmaids,

and be not a bird of ill omen to the ship; and thither my clansmen and

thralls will follow me."

He spake, and started forth to leave the house. And as Apollo goes forth

from some fragrant shrine to divine Delos or Claros or Pytho or to broad

Lycia near the stream of Xanthus, in such beauty moved Jason through the

throng of people; and a cry arose as they shouted together. And there

met him aged Iphias, priestess of Artemis guardian of the city, and

kissed his right hand, but she had not strength to say a word, for all

her eagerness, as the crowd rushed on, but she was left there by the

wayside, as the old are left by the young, and he passed on and was gone

afar.

Now when he had left the well-built streets of the city he came to the

beach of Pagasae, where his comrades greeted him as they stayed together

near the ship Argo. And he stood at the entering in, and they were

gathered to meet him. And they perceived Acastus and Argus coming from

the city, and they marvelled when they saw them hasting with all speed,

despite the will of Pelias. The one, Argus, son of Arestor, had cast

round his shoulders the hide of a bull reaching to his feet, with the

black hair upon it, the other, a fair mantle of double fold, which his

sister Pelopeia had given him. Still Jason forebore from asking them

about each point but bade all be seated for an assembly. And there, upon

the folded sails and the mast as it lay on the ground, they all took

their seats in order. And among them with goodwill spake Aeson's son:

"All the equipment that a ship needs--for all is in due order--lies

ready for our departure. Therefore we will make no long delay in our

sailing for these things' sake, when the breezes but blow fair. But,

friends,--for common to all is our return to Hellas hereafter, and

common to all is our path to the land of Aeetes--now therefore with

ungrudging heart choose the bravest to be our leader, who shall be

careful for everything, to take upon him our quarrels and covenants with

strangers."

Thus he spake; and the young heroes turned their eves towards bold

Heracles sitting in their midst, and with one shout they all enjoined

upon him to be their leader; but he, from the place where he sat,

stretched forth his right hand and said:

"Let no one offer this honour to me. For I will not consent, and I will

forbid any other to stand up. Let the hero who brought us together,

himself be the leader of the host."

Thus he spake with high thoughts, and they assented, as Heracles bade;

and warlike Jason himself rose up, glad at heart, and thus addressed the

eager throng:

"If ye entrust your glory to my care, no longer as before let our path

be hindered. Now at last let us propitiate Phoebus with sacrifice and

straightway prepare a feast. And until my thralls come, the overseers of

my steading, whose care it is to choose out oxen from the herd and drive

them hither, we will drag down the ship to the sea, and do ye place all

the tackling within, and draw lots for the benches for rowing. Meantime

let us build upon the beach an altar to Apollo Embasius[1] who by an

oracle promised to point out and show me the paths of the sea, if by

sacrifice to him I should begin my venture for King Pelias."

[Footnote 1: i.e. God of embarcation.]

He spake, and was the first to turn to the work, and they stood up in

obedience to him; and they heaped their garments, one upon the other, on

a smooth stone, which the sea did not strike with its waves, but the

stormy surge had cleansed it long before. First of all, by the command

of Argus, they strongly girded the ship with a rope well twisted

within,[1] stretching it tight on each side, in order that the planks

might be well compacted by the bolts and might withstand the opposing

force of the surge. And they quickly dug a trench as wide as the space

the ship covered, and at the prow as far into the sea as it would run

when drawn down by their hands. And they ever dug deeper in front of the

stem, and in the furrow laid polished rollers; and inclined the ship

down upon the first rollers, that so she might glide and be borne on by

them. And above, on both sides, reversing the oars, they fastened them

round the thole-pins, so as to project a cubit's space. And the heroes

themselves stood on both sides at the oars in a row, and pushed forward

with chest and hand at once. And then Tiphys leapt on board to urge the

youths to push at the right moment; and calling on them he shouted

loudly; and they at once, leaning with all their strength, with one push

started the ship from her place, and strained with their feet, forcing

her onward; and Pelian Argo followed swiftly; and they on each side

shouted as they rushed on. And then the rollers groaned under the sturdy

keel as they were chafed, and round them rose up a dark smoke owing to

the weight, and she glided into the sea; but the heroes stood there and

kept dragging her back as she sped onward. And round the thole-pins they

fitted the oars, and in the ship they placed the mast and the well-made

sails and the stores.

[Footnote 1: Or, reading [Greek: ektothen], "they strongly girded the

ship outside with a well-twisted rope." In either case there is probably

no allusion to [Greek: hupozômata] (ropes for undergirding) which-were

carried loose and only used in stormy weather.]

Now when they had carefully paid heed to everything, first they

distributed the benches by lot, two men occupying one seat; but the

middle bench they chose for Heracles and Ancaeus apart from the other

heroes, Ancaeus who dwelt in Tegea. For them alone they left the middle

bench just as it was and not by lot; and with one consent they entrusted

Tiphys with guarding the helm of the well-stemmed ship.

Next, piling up shingle near the sea, they raised there an altar on the

shore to Apollo, under the name of Actius[1] and Embasius, and quickly

spread above it logs of dried olive-wood. Meantime the herdsmen of

Aeson's son had driven before them from the herd two steers. These the

younger comrades dragged near the altars, and the others brought lustral

water and barley meal, and Jason prayed, calling on Apollo the god of

his fathers:

[Footnote 1: i.e. God of the shore.]

"Hear, O King, that dwellest in Pagasae and the city Aesonis, the city

called by my father's name, thou who didst promise me, when I sought thy

oracle at Pytho, to show the fulfilment and goal of my journey, for thou

thyself hast been the cause of my venture; now do thou thyself guide the

ship with my comrades safe and sound, thither and back again to Hellas.

Then in thy honour hereafter we will lay again on thy altar the bright

offerings of bulls--all of us who return; and other gifts in countless

numbers I will bring to Pytho and Ortygia. And now, come, Far-darter,

accept this sacrifice at our hands, which first of all we have offered

thee for this ship on our embarcation; and grant, O King, that with a

prosperous weird I may loose the hawsers, relying on thy counsel, and

may the breeze blow softly with which we shall sail over the sea in fair

weather."

He spake, and with his prayer cast the barley meal. And they two girded

themselves to slay the steers, proud Ancaeus and Heracles. The latter

with his club smote one steer mid-head on the brow, and falling in a

heap on the spot, it sank to the ground; and Ancaeus struck the broad

neck of the other with his axe of bronze, and shore through the mighty

sinews; and it fell prone on both its horns. Their comrades quickly

severed the victims' throats, and flayed the hides: they sundered the

joints and carved the flesh, then cut out the sacred thigh bones, and

covering them all together closely with fat burnt them upon cloven wood.

And Aeson's son poured out pure libations, and Idmon rejoiced beholding

the flame as it gleamed on every side from the sacrifice, and the smoke

of it mounting up with good omen in dark spiral columns; and quickly he

spake outright the will of Leto's son:

"For you it is the will of heaven and destiny that ye shall return here

with the fleece; but meanwhile both going and returning, countless

trials await you. But it is my lot, by the hateful decree of a god, to

die somewhere afar off on the mainland of Asia. Thus, though I learnt my

fate from evil omens even before now, I have left my fatherland to

embark on the ship, that so after my embarking fair fame may be left me

in my house."

Thus he spake; and the youths hearing the divine utterance rejoiced at

their return, but grief seized them for the fate of Idmon. Now at the

hour when the sun passes his noon-tide halt and the ploughlands are just

being shadowed by the rocks, as the sun slopes towards the evening dusk,

at that hour all the heroes spread leaves thickly upon the sand and lay

down in rows in front of the hoary surf-line; and near them were spread

vast stores of viands and sweet wine, which the cupbearers had drawn off

in pitchers; afterwards they told tales one to another in turn, such as

youths often tell when at the feast and the bowl they take delightful

pastime, and insatiable insolence is far away. But here the son of

Aeson, all helpless, was brooding over each event in his mind, like one

oppressed with thought. And Idas noted him and assailed him with loud

voice:

"Son of Aeson, what is this plan thou art turning over in mind. Speak

out thy thought in the midst. Does fear come on and master thee, fear,

that confounds cowards? Be witness now my impetuous spear, wherewith in

wars I win renown beyond all others (nor does Zeus aid me so much as my

own spear), that no woe will be fatal, no venture will be unachieved,

while Idas follows, even though a god should oppose thee. Such a

helpmeet am I that thou bringest from Arene."

He spake, and holding a brimming goblet in both hands drank off the

unmixed sweet wine; and his lips and dark cheeks were drenched with it;

and all the heroes clamoured together and Idmon spoke out openly:

"Vain wretch, thou art devising destruction for thyself before the time.

Does the pure wine cause thy bold heart to swell in thy breast to thy

ruin, and has it set thee on to dishonour the gods? Other words of

comfort there are with which a man might encourage his comrade; but thou

hast spoken with utter recklessness. Such taunts, the tale goes, did the

sons of Aloeus once blurt out against the blessed gods, and thou dost no

wise equal them in valour; nevertheless they were both slain by the

swift arrows of Leto's son, mighty though they were."

Thus he spake, and Aphareian Idas laughed out, loud and long, and eyeing

him askance replied with biting words:

"Come now, tell me this by thy prophetic art, whether for me too the

gods will bring to pass such doom as thy father promised for the sons of

Aloeus. And bethink thee how thou wilt escape from my hands alive, if

thou art caught making a prophecy vain as the idle wind."

Thus in wrath Idas reviled him, and the strife would have gone further

had not their comrades and Aeson's son himself with indignant cry

restrained the contending chiefs; and Orpheus lifted his lyre in his

left hand and made essay to sing.

He sang how the earth, the heaven and the sea, once mingled together in

one form, after deadly strife were separated each from other; and how

the stars and the moon and the paths of the sun ever keep their fixed

place in the sky; and how the mountains rose, and how the resounding

rivers with their nymphs came into being and all creeping things. And he

sang how first of all Ophion and Eurynome, daughter of Ocean, held the

sway of snowy Olympus, and how through strength of arm one yielded his

prerogative to Cronos and the other to Rhea, and how they fell into the

waves of Ocean; but the other two meanwhile ruled over the blessed

Titan-gods, while Zeus, still a child and with the thoughts of a child,

dwelt in the Dictaean cave; and the earthborn Cyclopes had not yet armed

him with the bolt, with thunder and lightning; for these things give

renown to Zeus.

He ended, and stayed his lyre and divine voice. But though he had ceased

they still bent forward with eagerness all hushed to quiet, with ears

intent on the enchanting strain; such a charm of song had he left behind

in their hearts. Not long after they mixed libations in honour of Zeus,

with pious rites as is customary, and poured them upon the burning

tongues, and bethought them of sleep in the darkness.

Now when gleaming dawn with bright eyes beheld the lofty peaks of

Pelion, and the calm headlands were being drenched as the sea was

ruffled by the winds, then Tiphys awoke from sleep; and at once he

roused his comrades to go on board and make ready the oars. And a

strange cry did the harbour of Pagasae utter, yea and Pelian Argo

herself, urging them to set forth. For in her a beam divine had been

laid which Athena had brought from an oak of Dodona and fitted in the

middle of the stem. And the heroes went to the benches one after the

other, as they had previously assigned for each to row in his place, and

took their seats in due order near their fighting gear. In the middle

sat Ancaeus and mighty Heracles, and near him he laid his club, and

beneath his tread the ship's keel sank deep. And now the hawsers were

being slipped and they poured wine on the sea. But Jason with tears held

his eyes away from his fatherland. And just as youths set up a dance in

honour of Phoebus either in Pytho or haply in Ortygia, or by the waters

of Ismenus, and to the sound of the lyre round his altar all together in

time beat the earth with swiftly-moving feet; so they to the sound of

Orpheus' lyre smote with their oars the rushing sea-water, and the surge

broke over the blades; and on this side and on that the dark brine

seethed with foam, boiling terribly through the might of the sturdy

heroes. And their arms shone in the sun like flame as the ship sped on;

and ever their wake gleamed white far behind, like a path seen over a

green plain. On that day all the gods looked down from heaven upon the

ship and the might of the heroes, half-divine, the bravest of men then

sailing the sea; and on the topmost heights the nymphs of Pelion

wondered as they beheld the work of Itonian Athena, and the heroes

themselves wielding the oars. And there came down from the mountain-top

to the sea Chiron, son of Philyra, and where the white surf broke he

dipped his feet, and, often waving with his broad hand, cried out to

them at their departure, "Good speed and a sorrowless home-return!" And

with him his wife, bearing Peleus' son Achilles on her arm, showed the

child to his dear father.

Now when they had left the curving shore of the harbour through the

cunning and counsel of prudent Tiphys son of Hagnias, who skilfully

handled the well-polished helm that he might guide them steadfastly,

then at length they set up the tall mast in the mast-box, and secured it

with forestays, drawing them taut on each side, and from it they let

down the sail when they had hauled it to the top-mast. And a breeze came

down piping shrilly; and upon the deck they fastened the ropes

separately round the well-polished pins, and ran quietly past the long

Tisaean headland. And for them the son of Oeagrus touched his lyre and

sang in rhythmical song of Artemis, saviour of ships, child of a

glorious sire, who hath in her keeping those peaks by the sea, and the

land of Iolcos; and the fishes came darting through the deep sea, great

mixed with small, and followed gambolling along the watery paths. And as

when in the track of the shepherd, their master, countless sheep follow

to the fold that have fed to the full of grass, and he goes before gaily

piping a shepherd's strain on his shrill reed; so these fishes followed;

and a chasing breeze ever bore the ship onward.

And straightway the misty land of the Pelasgians, rich in cornfields,

sank out of sight, and ever speeding onward they passed the rugged sides

of Pelion; and the Sepian headland sank away, and Sciathus appeared in

the sea, and far off appeared Piresiae and the calm shore of Magnesia on

the mainland and the tomb of Dolops; here then in the evening, as the

wind blew against them, they put to land, and paying honour to him at

nightfall burnt sheep as victims, while the sea was tossed by the swell:

and for two days they lingered on the shore, but on the third day they

put forth the ship, spreading on high the broad sail. And even now men

call that beach Aphetae[1] of Argo.

[Footnote 1: i.e. The Starting.]

Thence going forward they ran past Meliboea, escaping a stormy beach and

surf-line. And in the morning they saw Homole close at hand leaning on

the sea, and skirted it, and not long after they were about to pass by

the outfall of the river Amyrus. From there they beheld Eurymenae and

the sea-washed ravines of Ossa and Olympus; next they reached the slopes

of Pallene, beyond the headland of Canastra, running all night with the

wind. And at dawn before them as they journeyed rose Athos, the Thracian

mountain, which with its topmost peak overshadows Lemnos, even as far as

Myrine, though it lies as far off as the space that a well-trimmed

merchantship would traverse up to mid-day. For them on that day, till

darkness fell, the breeze blew exceedingly fresh, and the sails of the

ship strained to it. But with the setting of the sun the wind left them,

and it was by the oars that they reached Lemnos, the Sintian isle.

Here the whole of the men of the people together had been ruthlessly

slain through the transgressions of the women in the year gone by. For

the men had rejected their lawful wives, loathing them, and had

conceived a fierce passion for captive maids whom they themselves

brought across the sea from their forays in Thrace; for the terrible

wrath of Cypris came upon them, because for a long time they had grudged

her the honours due. O hapless women, and insatiate in jealousy to their

own ruin! Not their husbands alone with the captives did they slay on

account of the marriage-bed, but all the males at the same time, that

they might thereafter pay no retribution for the grim murder. And of all

the women, Hypsipyle alone spared her aged father Thoas, who was king

over the people; and she sent him in a hollow chest to drift over the

sea, if haply he should escape. And fishermen dragged him to shore at

the island of Oenoe, formerly Oenoe, but afterwards called Sicinus from

Sicinus, whom the water-nymph Oenoe bore to Thoas. Now for all the women

to tend kine, to don armour of bronze, and to cleave with the

plough-share the wheat-bearing fields, was easier than the works of

Athena, with which they were busied aforetime. Yet for all that did they

often gaze over the broad sea, in grievous fear against the Thracians'

coming. So when they saw Argo being rowed near the island, straightway

crowding in multitude from the gates of Myrine and clad in their harness

of war, they poured forth to the beach like ravening Thyiades; for they

deemed that the Thracians were come; and with them Hypsipyle, daughter

of Thoas, donned her father's harness. And they streamed down speechless

with dismay; such fear was wafted about them.

Meantime from the ship the chiefs had sent Aethalides the swift herald,

to whose care they entrusted their messages and the wand of Hermes, his

sire, who had granted him a memory of all things, that never grew dim;

and not even now, though he has entered the unspeakable whirlpools of

Acheron, has forgetfulness swept over his soul, but its fixed doom is to

be ever changing its abode; at one time to be numbered among the

dwellers beneath the earth, at another to be in the light of the sun

among living men. But why need I tell at length tales of Aethalides? He

at that time persuaded Hypsipyle to receive the new-comers as the day

was waning into darkness; nor yet at dawn did they loose the ship's

hawsers to the breath of the north wind.

Now the Lemnian women fared through the city and sat down to the

assembly, for Hypsipyle herself had so bidden. And when they were all

gathered together in one great throng straightway she spake among them

with stirring words:

"O friends, come let us grant these men gifts to their hearts' desire,

such as it is fitting that they should take on ship-board, food and

sweet wine, in order that they may steadfastly remain outside our

towers, and may not, passing among us for need's sake, get to know us

all too well, and so an evil report be widely spread; for we have

wrought a terrible deed and in nowise will it be to their liking, should

they learn it. Such is our counsel now, but if any of you can devise a

better plan let her rise, for it was on this account that I summoned you

hither."

Thus she spake and sat upon her father's seat of stone, and then rose up

her dear nurse Polyxo, for very age halting upon her withered feet,

bowed over a staff, and she was eager to address them. Near her were

seated four virgins, unwedded, crowned with white hair. And she stood in

the midst of the assembly and from her bent back she feebly raised her

neck and spake thus:

"Gifts, as Hypsipyle herself wishes, let us send to the strangers, for

it is better to give them. But for you what device have ye to get profit

of your life if the Thracian host fall upon us, or some other foe, as

often happens among men, even as now this company is come unforeseen?

But if one of the blessed gods should turn this aside yet countless

other woes worse than battle, remain behind, when the aged women die off

and ye younger ones, without children, reach hateful old age. How then

will ye live, hapless ones? Will your oxen of their own accord yoke

themselves for the deep ploughlands and draw the earth-cleaving share

through the fallow, and forthwith, as the year comes round, reap the

harvest? Assuredly, though the fates till now have shunned me in horror,

I deem that in the coming year I shall put on the garment of earth, when

I have received my meed of burial even so as is right, before the evil

days draw near. But I bid you who are younger give good heed to this.

For now at your feet a way of escape lies open, if ye trust to the

strangers the care of your homes and all your stock and your glorious

city."

Thus she spake, and the assembly was filled with clamour. For the word

pleased them. And after her straightway Hypsipyle rose up again, and

thus spake in reply.

"If this purpose please you all, now will I even send a messenger to the

ship."

She spake and addressed Iphinoe close at hand: "Go, Iphinoe, and beg

yonder man, whoever it is that leads this array, to come to our land

that I may tell him a word that pleases the heart of my people, and bid

the men themselves, if they wish, boldly enter the land and the city

with friendly intent."

She spake, and dismissed the assembly, and thereafter started to return

home. And so Iphinoe came to the Minyae; and they asked with what intent

she had come among them. And quickly she addressed her questioners with

all speed in these words:

"The maiden Hypsipyle daughter of Thoas, sent me on my way here to you,

to summon the captain of your ship, whoever he be, that she may tell him

a word that pleases the heart of the people, and she bids yourselves, if

ye wish it, straightway enter the land and the city with friendly

intent."

Thus she spake and the speech of good omen pleased all. And they deemed

that Thoas was dead and that his beloved daughter Hypsipyle was queen,

and quickly they sent Jason on his way and themselves made ready to go.

Now he had buckled round his shoulders a purple mantle of double fold,

the work of the Tritonian goddess, which Pallas had given him when she

first laid the keel-props of the ship Argo and taught him how to measure

timbers with the rule. More easily wouldst thou cast thy eyes upon the

sun at its rising than behold that blazing splendour. For indeed in the

middle the fashion thereof was red, but at the ends it was all purple,

and on each margin many separate devices had been skilfully inwoven.

In it were the Cyclops seated at their imperishable work, forging a

thunderbolt for King Zeus; by now it was almost finished in its

brightness and still it wanted but one ray, which they were beating out

with their iron hammers as it spurted forth a breath of raging flame.

In it too were the twin sons of Antiope, daughter of Asopus, Amphion and

Zethus, and Thebe still ungirt with towers was lying near, whose

foundations they were just then laying in eager haste. Zethus on his

shoulders was lifting the peak of a steep mountain, like a man toiling

hard, and Amphion after him, singing loud and clear on his golden lyre,

moved on, and a rock twice as large followed his footsteps.

Next in order had been wrought Cytherea with drooping tresses, wielding

the swift shield of Ares; and from her shoulder to her left arm the

fastening of her tunic was loosed beneath her breast; and opposite in

the shield of bronze her image appeared clear to view as she stood.

And in it there was a well-wooded pasturage of oxen; and about the oxen

the Teleboae and the sons of Electryon were fighting; the one party

defending themselves, the others, the Taphian raiders, longing to rob

them; and the dewy meadow was drenched with their blood, and the many

were overmastering the few herdsmen.

And therein were fashioned two chariots, racing, and the one in front

Pelops was guiding, as he shook the reins, and with him was Hippodameia

at his side, and in pursuit Myrtilus urged his steeds, and with him

Oenomaus had grasped his couched spear, but fell as the axle swerved and

broke in the nave, while he was eager to pierce the back of Pelops.

And in it was wrought Phoebus Apollo, a stripling not yet grown up, in

the act of shooting at mighty Tityos who was boldly dragging his mother

by her veil, Tityos whom glorious Elare bare, but Earth nursed him and

gave him second birth.

And in it was Phrixus the Minyan as though he were in very deed

listening to the ram, while it was like one speaking. Beholding them

thou wouldst be silent and wouldst cheat thy soul with the hope of

hearing some wise speech from them, and long wouldst thou gaze with that

hope.

Such then were the gifts of the Tritonian goddess Athena. And in his

right hand Jason held a far-darting spear, which Atalanta gave him once

as a gift of hospitality in Maenalus as she met him gladly; for she

eagerly desired to follow on that quest; but he himself of his own

accord prevented the maid, for he feared bitter strife on account of her

love.

And he went on his way to the city like to a bright star, which maidens,

pent up in new-built chambers, behold as it rises above their homes, and

through the dark air it charms their eyes with its fair red gleam and

the maid rejoices, love-sick for the youth who is far away amid

strangers, for whom her parents are keeping her to be his bride; like to

that star the hero trod the way to the city. And when they had passed

within the gates and the city, the women of the people surged behind

them, delighting in the stranger, but he with his eyes fixed on the

ground fared straight on, till he reached the glorious palace of

Hypsipyle; and when he appeared the maids opened the folding doors,

fitted with well-fashioned panels. Here Iphinoe leading him quickly

through a fair porch set him upon a shining seat opposite her mistress,

but Hypsipyle turned her eyes aside and a blush covered her maiden

cheeks, yet for all her modesty she addressed him with crafty words:

"Stranger, why stay ye so long outside our towers? for the city is not

inhabited by the men, but they, as sojourners, plough the wheat-bearing

fields of the Thracian mainland. And I will tell out truly all our evil

plight, that ye yourselves too may know it well. When my father Thoas

reigned over the citizens, then our folk starting from their homes used

to plunder from their ships the dwellings of the Thracians who live

opposite, and they brought back hither measureless booty and maidens

too. But the counsel of the baneful goddess Cypris was working out its

accomplishment, who brought upon them soul destroying infatuation. For

they hated their lawful wives, and, yielding to their own mad folly,

drove them from their homes; and they took to their beds the captives of

their spear, cruel ones. Long in truth we endured it, if haply again,

though late, they might change their purpose, but ever the bitter woe

grew, twofold. And the lawful children were being dishonoured in their

halls, and a bastard race was rising. And thus unmarried maidens and

widowed mothers too wandered uncared for through the city; no father

heeded his daughter ever so little even though he should see her done to

death before his eyes at the hands of an insolent step-dame, nor did

sons, as before, defend their mother against unseemly outrage; nor did

brothers care at heart for their sister. But in their homes, in the

dance, in the assembly and the banquet all their thought was only for

their captive maidens; until some god put desperate courage in our

hearts no more to receive our lords on their return from Thrace within

our towers so that they might either heed the right or might depart and

begone elsewhither, they and their captives. So they begged of us all

the male children that were left in the city and went back to where even

now they dwell on the snowy tilths of Thrace. Do ye therefore stay and

settle with us; and shouldst them desire to dwell here, and this finds

favour with thee, assuredly thou shalt have the prerogative of my father

Thoas; and I deem that thou wilt not scorn our land at all; for it is

deep-soiled beyond all other islands that lie in the Aegaean sea. But

come now, return to the ship and relate my words to thy comrades, and

stay not outside our city."

She spoke, glozing over the murder that had been wrought upon the men;

and Jason addressed her in answer:

"Hypsipyle, very dear to our hearts is the help we shall meet with,

which thou grantest to us who need thee. And I will return again to the

city when I have told everything in order due. But let the sovereignty

of the island be thine; it is not in scorn I yield it up, but grievous

trials urge me on."

He spake, and touched her right hand; and quickly he turned to go back:

and round him the young maids on every side danced in countless numbers

in their joy till he passed through the gates. And then they came to the

shore in smooth-running wains, bearing with them many gifts, when now he

had related from beginning to end the speech which Hypsipyle had spoken

when she summoned them; and the maids readily led the men back to their

homes for entertainment. For Cypris stirred in them a sweet desire, for

the sake of Hephaestus of many counsels, in order that Lemnos might be

again inhabited by men and not be ruined.

Thereupon Aeson's son started to go to the royal home of Hypsipyle; and

the rest went each his way as chance took them, all but Heracles; for he

of his own will was left behind by the ship and a few chosen comrades

with him. And straightway the city rejoiced with dances and banquets,

being filled with the steam of sacrifice; and above all the immortals

they propitiated with songs and sacrifices the illustrious son of Hera

and Cypris herself. And the sailing was ever delayed from one day to

another; and long would they have lingered there, had not Heracles,

gathering together his comrades apart from the women, thus addressed

them with reproachful words:

"Wretched men, does the murder of kindred keep us from our native land?

Or is it in want of marriage that we have come hither from thence, in

scorn of our countrywomen? Does it please us to dwell here and plough

the rich soil of Lemnos? No fair renown shall we win by thus tarrying so

long with stranger women; nor will some god seize and give us at our

prayer a fleece that moves of itself. Let us then return each to his

own; but him leave ye to rest all day long in the embrace of Hypsipyle

until he has peopled Lemnos with men-children, and so there come to him

great glory."

Thus did he chide the band; but no one dared to meet his eye or to utter

a word in answer. But just as they were in the assembly they made ready

their departure in all haste, and the women came running towards them,

when they knew their intent. And as when bees hum round fair lilies

pouring forth from their hive in the rock, and all around the dewy

meadow rejoices, and they gather the sweet fruit, flitting from one to

another; even so the women eagerly poured forth, clustering round the

men with loud lament, and greeted each one with hands and voice, praying

the blessed gods to grant him a safe return. And so Hypsipyle too

prayed, seizing the hands of Aeson's son, and her tears flowed for the

loss of her lover:

"Go, and may heaven bring thee back again with thy comrades unharmed,

bearing to the king the golden fleece, even as thou wilt and thy heart

desireth; and this island and my father's sceptre will be awaiting thee,

if on thy return hereafter thou shouldst choose to come hither again;

and easily couldst thou gather a countless host of men from other

cities. But thou wilt not have this desire, nor do I myself forbode that

so it will be. Still remember Hypsipyle when thou art far away and when

thou hast returned; and leave me some word of bidding, which I will

gladly accomplish, if haply heaven shall grant me to be a mother."

And Aeson's son in admiration thus replied: "Hypsipyle, so may all these

things prove propitious by the favour of the blessed gods. But do thou

hold a nobler thought of me, since by the grace of Pelias it is enough

for me to dwell in my native land; may the gods only release me from my

toils. But if it is not my destiny to sail afar and return to the land

of Hellas, and if thou shouldst bear a male child, send him when grown

up to Pelasgian Iolcus, to heal the grief of my father and mother if so

be that he find them still living, in order that, far away from the

king, they may be cared for by their own hearth in their home."

He spake, and mounted the ship first of all; and so the rest of the

chiefs followed, and, sitting in order, seized the oars; and Argus

loosed for them the hawsers from under the sea-beaten rock. Whereupon

they mightily smote the water with their long oars, and in the evening

by the injunctions of Orpheus they touched at the island of Electra,[1]

daughter of Atlas, in order that by gentle initiation they might learn

the rites that may not be uttered, and so with greater safety sail over

the chilling sea. Of these I will make no further mention; but I bid

farewell to the island itself and the indwelling deities, to whom belong

those mysteries, which it is not lawful for me to sing.

[Footnote 1: Samothrace.]

Thence did they row with eagerness over the depths of the black Sea,

having on the one side the land of the Thracians, on the other Imbros on

the south; and as the sun was just setting they reached the foreland of

the Chersonesus. There a strong south wind blew for them; and raising

the sails to the breeze they entered the swift stream of the maiden

daughter of Athamas; and at dawn the sea to the north was left behind

and at night they were coasting inside the Rhoeteian shore, with the

land of Ida on their right. And leaving Dardania they directed their

course to Abydus, and after it they sailed past Percote and the sandy

beach of Abarnis and divine Pityeia. And in that night, as the ship sped

on by sail and oar, they passed right through the Hellespont

dark-gleaming with eddies.

There is a lofty island inside the Propontis, a short distance from the

Phrygian mainland with its rich cornfields, sloping to the sea, where an

isthmus in front of the mainland is flooded by the waves, so low does it

lie. And the isthmus has double shores, and they lie beyond the river

Aesepus, and the inhabitants round about call the island the Mount of

Bears. And insolent and fierce men dwell there, Earthborn, a great

marvel to the neighbours to behold; for each one has six mighty hands to

lift up, two from his sturdy shoulders, and four below, fitting close to

his terrible sides. And about the isthmus and the plain the Doliones had

their dwelling, and over them Cyzicus son of Aeneus was king, whom

Aenete the daughter of goodly Eusorus bare. But these men the Earthborn

monsters, fearful though they were, in nowise harried, owing to the

protection of Poseidon; for from him had the Doliones first sprung.

Thither Argo pressed on, driven by the winds of Thrace, and the Fair

haven received her as she sped. There they cast away their small

anchorstone by the advice of Tiphys and left it beneath a fountain, the

fountain of Artacie; and they took another meet for their purpose, a

heavy one; but the first, according to the oracle of the Far-Darter, the

Ionians, sons of Neleus, in after days laid to be a sacred stone, as was

right, in the temple of Jasonian Athena.

Now the Doliones and Cyzicus himself all came together to meet them with

friendliness, and when they knew of the quest and their lineage welcomed

them with hospitality, and persuaded them to row further and to fasten

their ship's hawsers at the city harbour. Here they built an altar to

Ecbasian[1] Apollo and set it up on the beach, and gave heed to

sacrifices. And the king of his own bounty gave them sweet wine and

sheep in their need; for he had heard a report that whenever a godlike

band of heroes should come, straightway he should meet it with gentle

words and should have no thought of war. As with Jason, the soft down

was just blooming on his chin, nor yet had it been his lot to rejoice in

children, but still in his palace his wife was untouched by the pangs of

child-birth, the daughter of Percosian Merops, fair-haired Cleite, whom

lately by priceless gifts he had brought from her father's home from the

mainland opposite. But even so he left his chamber and bridal bed and

prepared a banquet among the strangers, casting all fears from his

heart. And they questioned one another in turn. Of them would he learn

the end of their voyage and the injunctions of Pelias; while they

enquired about the cities of the people round and all the gulf of the

wide Propontis; but further he could not tell them for all their desire

to learn. In the morning they climbed mighty Dindymum that they might

themselves behold the various paths of that sea; and they brought their

ship from its former anchorage to the harbour, Chytus; and the path they

trod is named the path of Jason.

[Footnote 1: i.e. god of disembarcation.]

But the Earthborn men on the other side rushed down from the mountain

and with crags below blocked up the mouth of vast Chytus towards the

sea, like men lying in wait for a wild beast within. But there Heracles

had been left behind with the younger heroes and he quickly bent his

back-springing bow against the monsters and brought them to earth one

after another; and they in their turn raised huge ragged rocks and

hurled them. For these dread monsters too, I ween, the goddess Hera,

bride of Zeus, had nurtured to be a trial for Heracles. And therewithal

came the rest of the martial heroes returning to meet the foe before

they reached the height of outlook, and they fell to the slaughter of

the Earthborn, receiving them with arrows and spears until they slew

them all as they rushed fiercely to battle. And as when woodcutters cast

in rows upon the beach long trees just hewn down by their axes, in order

that, once sodden with brine, they may receive the strong bolts; so

these monsters at the entrance of the foam-fringed harbour lay stretched

one after another, some in heaps bending their heads and breasts into

the salt waves with their limbs spread out above on the land; others

again were resting their heads on the sand of the shore and their feet

in the deep water, both alike a prey to birds and fishes at once.

But the heroes, when the contest was ended without fear, loosed the

ship's hawsers to the breath of the wind and pressed on through the

sea-swell. And the ship sped on under sail all day; but when night came

the rushing wind did not hold steadfast, but contrary blasts caught them

and held them back till they again approached the hospitable Doliones.

And they stepped ashore that same night; and the rock is still called

the Sacred Rock round which they threw the ship's hawsers in their

haste. Nor did anyone note with care that it was the same island; nor in

the night did the Doliones clearly perceive that the heroes were

returning; but they deemed that Pelasgian war-men of the Macrians had

landed. Therefore they donned their armour and raised their hands

against them. And with clashing of ashen spears and shields they fell on

each other, like the swift rush of fire which falls on dry brushwood and

rears its crest; and the din of battle, terrible and furious, fell upon

the people of the Doliones. Nor was the king to escape his fate and

return home from battle to his bridal chamber and bed. But Aeson's son

leapt upon him as he turned to face him, and smote him in the middle of

the breast, and the bone was shattered round the spear; he rolled

forward in the sand and filled up the measure of his fate. For that no

mortal may escape; but on every side a wide snare encompasses us. And

so, when he thought that he had escaped bitter death from the chiefs,

fate entangled him that very night in her toils while battling with

them; and many champions withal were slain; Heracles killed Telecles and

Megabrontes, and Acastus slew Sphodris; and Peleus slew Zelus and

Gephyrus swift in war. Telamon of the strong spear slew Basileus. And

Idas slew Promeus, and Clytius Hyacinthus, and the two sons of Tyndareus

slew Megalossaces and Phlogius. And after them the son of Oeneus slew

bold Itomeneus, and Artaceus, leader of men; all of whom the inhabitants

still honour with the worship due to heroes. And the rest gave way and

fled in terror just as doves fly in terror before swift-winged hawks.

And with a din they rushed in a body to the gates; and quickly the city

was filled with loud cries at the turning of the dolorous fight. But at

dawn both sides perceived the fatal and cureless error; and bitter grief

seized the Minyan heroes when they saw before them Cyzicus son of Aeneus

fallen in the midst of dust and blood. And for three whole days they

lamented and rent their hair, they and the Doliones. Then three times

round his tomb they paced in armour of bronze and performed funeral

rites and celebrated games, as was meet, upon the meadow-plain, where

even now rises the mound of his grave to be seen by men of a later day.

No, nor was his bride Cleite left behind her dead husband, but to crown

the ill she wrought an ill yet more awful, when she clasped a noose

round her neck. Her death even the nymphs of the grove bewailed; and of

all the tears for her that they shed to earth from their eyes the

goddesses made a fountain, which they call Cleite,[1] the illustrious

name of the hapless maid. Most terrible came that day from Zeus upon the

Doliones, women and men; for no one of them dared even to taste food,

nor for a long time by reason of grief did they take thought for the

toil of the cornmill, but they dragged on their lives eating their food

as it was, untouched by fire. Here even now, when the Ionians that dwell

in Cyzicus pour their yearly libations for the dead, they ever grind the

meal for the sacrificial cakes at the common mill.[2]

[Footnote 1: Cleite means illustrious.]

[Footnote 2: i.e. to avoid grinding it at home.]

After this, fierce tempests arose for twelve days and nights together

and kept them there from sailing. But in the next night the rest of the

chieftains, overcome by sleep, were resting during the latest period of

the night, while Acastus and Mopsus the son of Ampycus kept guard over

their deep slumbers. And above the golden head of Aeson's son there

hovered a halcyon prophesying with shrill voice the ceasing of the

stormy winds; and Mopsus heard and understood the cry of the bird of the

shore, fraught with good omen. And some god made it turn aside, and

flying aloft it settled upon the stern-ornament of the ship. And the

seer touched Jason as he lay wrapped in soft sheepskins and woke him at

once, and thus spake:

"Son of Aeson, thou must climb to this temple on rugged Dindymum and

propitiate the mother[1] of all the blessed gods on her fair throne, and

the stormy blasts shall cease. For such was the voice I heard but now

from the halcyon, bird of the sea, which, as as it flew above thee in

thy slumber, told me all. For by her power the winds and the sea and all

the earth below and the snowy seat of Olympus are complete; and to her,

when from the mountains she ascends the mighty heaven, Zeus himself, the

son of Cronos, gives place. In like manner the rest of the immortal

blessed ones reverence the dread goddess."

[Footnote 1: Rhea.]

Thus he spake, and his words were welcome to Jason's ear. And he arose

from his bed with joy and woke all his comrades hurriedly and told them

the prophecy of Mopsus the son of Ampycus. And quickly the younger men

drove oxen from their stalls and began to lead them to the mountain's

lofty summit. And they loosed the hawsers from the sacred rock and rowed

to the Thracian harbour; and the heroes climbed the mountain, leaving a

few of their comrades in the ship. And to them the Macrian heights and

all the coast of Thrace opposite appeared to view close at hand. And

there appeared the misty mouth of Bosporus and the Mysian hills; and on

the other side the stream of the river Aesepus and the city and Nepeian

plain of Adrasteia. Now there was a sturdy stump of vine that grew in

the forest, a tree exceeding old; this they cut down, to be the sacred

image of the mountain goddess; and Argus smoothed it skilfully, and they

set it upon that rugged hill beneath a canopy of lofty oaks, which of

all trees have their roots deepest. And near it they heaped an altar of

small stones, and wreathed their brows with oak leaves and paid heed to

sacrifice, invoking the mother of Dindymum, most venerable, dweller in

Phrygia, and Titias and Cyllenus, who alone of many are called

dispensers of doom and assessors of the Idaean mother,--the Idaean

Dactyls of Crete, whom once the nymph Anchiale, as she grasped with both

hands the land of Oaxus, bare in the Dictaean cave. And with many

prayers did Aeson's son beseech the goddess to turn aside the stormy

blasts as he poured libations on the blazing sacrifice; and at the same

time by command of Orpheus the youths trod a measure dancing in full

armour, and clashed with their swords on their shields, so that the

ill-omened cry might be lost in the air--the wail which the people were

still sending up in grief for their king. Hence from that time forward

the Phrygians propitiate Rhea with the wheel and the drum. And the

gracious goddess, I ween, inclined her heart to pious sacrifices; and

favourable signs appeared. The trees shed abundant fruit, and round

their feet the earth of its own accord put forth flowers from the tender

grass. And the beasts of the wild wood left their lairs and thickets and

came up fawning on them with their tails. And she caused yet another

marvel; for hitherto there was no flow of water on Dindymum, but then

for them an unceasing stream gushed forth from the thirsty peak just as

it was, and the dwellers around in after times called that stream, the

spring of Jason. And then they made a feast in honour of the goddess on

the Mount of Bears, singing the praises of Rhea most venerable; but at

dawn the winds had ceased and they rowed away from the island.

Thereupon a spirit of contention stirred each chieftain, who should be

the last to leave his oar. For all around the windless air smoothed the

swirling waves and lulled the sea to rest. And they, trusting in the

calm, mightily drove the ship forward; and as she sped through the salt

sea, not even the storm-footed steeds of Poseidon would have overtaken

her. Nevertheless when the sea was stirred by violent blasts which were

just rising from the rivers about evening, forspent with toil, they

ceased. But Heracles by the might of his arms pulled the weary rowers

along all together, and made the strong-knit timbers of the ship to

quiver. But when, eager to reach the Mysian mainland, they passed along

in sight of the mouth of Rhyndacus and the great cairn of Aegaeon, a

little way from Phrygia, then Heracles, as he ploughed up the furrows of

the roughened surge, broke his oar in the middle. And one half he held

in both his hands as he fell sideways, the other the sea swept away with

its receding wave. And he sat up in silence glaring round; for his hands

were unaccustomed to lie idle.

Now at the hour when from the field some delver or ploughman goes gladly

home to his hut, longing for his evening meal, and there on the

threshold, all squalid with dust, bows his wearied knees, and, beholding

his hands worn with toil, with many a curse reviles his belly; at that

hour the heroes reached the homes of the Cianian land near the

Arganthonian mount and the outfall of Cius. Them as they came in

friendliness, the Mysians, inhabitants of that land, hospitably

welcomed, and gave them in their need provisions and sheep and abundant

wine. Hereupon some brought dried wood, others from the meadows leaves

for beds which they gathered in abundance for strewing, whilst others

were twirling sticks to get fire; others again were mixing wine in the

bowl and making ready the feast, after sacrificing at nightfall to

Apollo Ecbasius.

But the son of Zeus having duly enjoined on his comrades to prepare the

feast took his way into a wood, that he might first fashion for himself

an oar to fit his hand. Wandering about he found a pine not burdened

with many branches, nor too full of leaves, but like to the shaft of a

tall poplar; so great was it both in length and thickness to look at.

And quickly he laid on the ground his arrow-holding quiver together with

his bow, and took off his lion's skin. And he loosened the pine from the

ground with his bronze-tipped club and grasped the trunk with both hands

at the bottom, relying on his strength; and he pressed it against his

broad shoulder with legs wide apart; and clinging close he raised it

from the ground deep-rooted though it was, together with clods of earth.

And as when unexpectedly, just at the time of the stormy setting of

baleful Orion, a swift gust of wind strikes down from above, and

wrenches a ship's mast from its stays, wedges and all; so did Heracles

lift the pine. And at the same time he took up his bow and arrows, his

lion skin and club, and started on his return.

Meantime Hylas with pitcher of bronze in hand had gone apart from the

throng, seeking the sacred flow of a fountain, that he might be quick in

drawing water for the evening meal and actively make all things ready in

due order against his lord's return. For in such ways did Heracles

nurture him from his first childhood when he had carried him off from

the house of his father, goodly Theiodamas, whom the hero pitilessly

slew among the Dryopians because he withstood him about an ox for the

plough. Theiodamas was cleaving with his plough the soil of fallow land

when he was smitten with the curse; and Heracles bade him give up the

ploughing ox against his will. For he desired to find some pretext for

war against the Dryopians for their bane, since they dwelt there

reckless of right. But these tales would lead me far astray from my

song. And quickly Hylas came to the spring which the people who dwell

thereabouts call Pegae. And the dances of the nymphs were just now being

held there; for it was the care of all the nymphs that haunted that

lovely headland ever to hymn Artemis in songs by night. All who held the

mountain peaks or glens, all they were ranged far off guarding the

woods; but one, a water-nymph was just rising from the fair-flowing

spring; and the boy she perceived close at hand with the rosy flush of

his beauty and sweet grace. For the full moon beaming from the sky smote

him. And Cypris made her heart faint, and in her confusion she could

scarcely gather her spirit back to her. But as soon as he dipped the

pitcher in the stream, leaning to one side, and the brimming water rang

loud as it poured against the sounding bronze, straightway she laid her

left arm above upon his neck yearning to kiss his tender mouth; and with

her right hand she drew down his elbow, and plunged him into the midst

of the eddy.

Alone of his comrades the hero Polyphemus, son of Eilatus, as he went

forward on the path, heard the boy's cry, for he expected the return of

mighty Heracles. And he rushed after the cry, near Pegae, like some

beast of the wild wood whom the bleating of sheep has reached from afar,

and burning with hunger he follows, but does not fall in with the

flocks; for the shepherds beforehand have penned them in the fold, but

he groans and roars vehemently until he is weary. Thus vehemently at

that time did the son of Eilatus groan and wandered shouting round the

spot; and his voice rang piteous. Then quickly drawing his great sword

he started in pursuit, in fear lest the boy should be the prey of wild

beasts, or men should have lain in ambush for him faring all alone, and

be carrying him off, an easy prey. Hereupon as he brandished his bare

sword in his hand he met Heracles himself on the path, and well he knew

him as he hastened to the ship through the darkness. And straightway he

told the wretched calamity while his heart laboured with his panting

breath.

"My poor friend, I shall be the first to bring thee tidings of bitter

woe. Hylas has gone to the well and has not returned safe, but robbers

have attacked and are carrying him off, or beasts are tearing him to

pieces; I heard his cry."

Thus he spake; and when Heracles heard his words, sweat in abundance

poured down from his temples and the black blood boiled beneath his

heart. And in wrath he hurled the pine to the ground and hurried along

the path whither his feet bore on his impetuous soul. And as when a bull

stung by a gadfly tears along, leaving the meadows and the marsh land,

and recks not of herdsmen or herd, but presses on, now without check,

now standing still, and raising his broad neck he bellows loudly, stung

by the maddening fly; so he in his frenzy now would ply his swift knees

unresting, now again would cease from toil and shout afar with loud

pealing cry.

But straightway the morning star rose above the topmost peaks and the

breeze swept down; and quickly did Tiphys urge them to go aboard and

avail themselves of the wind. And they embarked eagerly forthwith; and

they drew up the ship's anchors and hauled the ropes astern. And the

sails were bellied out by the wind, and far from the coast were they

joyfully borne past the Posideian headland. But at the hour when

gladsome dawn shines from heaven, rising from the east, and the paths

stand out clearly, and the dewy plains shine with a bright gleam, then

at length they were aware that unwittingly they had abandoned those men.

And a fierce quarrel fell upon them, and violent tumult, for that they

had sailed and left behind the bravest of their comrades. And Aeson's

son, bewildered by their hapless plight, said never a word, good or bad;

but sat with his heavy load of grief, eating out his heart. And wrath

seized Telamon, and thus he spake:

"Sit there at thy ease, for it was fitting for thee to leave Heracles

behind; from thee the project arose, so that his glory throughout Hellas

should not overshadow thee, if so be that heaven grants us a return

home. But what pleasure is there in words? For I will go, I only, with

none of thy comrades, who have helped thee to plan this treachery."

He spake, and rushed upon Tiphys son of Hagnias; and his eyes sparkled

like flashes of ravening flame. And they would quickly have turned back

to the land of the Mysians, forcing their way through the deep sea and

the unceasing blasts of the wind, had not the two sons of Thracian

Boreas held back the son of Aeacus with harsh words. Hapless ones,

assuredly a bitter vengeance came upon them thereafter at the hands of

Heracles, because they stayed the search for him. For when they were

returning from the games over Pelias dead he slew them in sea-girt Tenos

and heaped the earth round them, and placed two columns above, one of

which, a great marvel for men to see, moves at the breath of the

blustering north wind. These things were thus to be accomplished in

after times. But to them appeared Glaucus from the depths of the sea,

the wise interpreter of divine Nereus, and raising aloft his shaggy head

and chest from his waist below, with sturdy hand he seized the ship's

keel, and then cried to the eager crew:

"Why against the counsel of mighty Zeus do ye purpose to lead bold

Heracles to the city of Aeetes? At Argos it is his fate to labour for

insolent Eurystheus and to accomplish full twelve toils and dwell with

the immortals, if so be that he bring to fulfilment a few more yet;

wherefore let there be no vain regret for him. Likewise it is destined

for Polyphemus to found a glorious city at the mouth of Cius among the

Mysians and to fill up the measure of his fate in the vast land of the

Chalybes. But a goddess-nymph through love has made Hylas her husband,

on whose account those two wandered and were left behind."

He spake, and with a plunge wrapped him about with the restless wave;

and round him the dark water foamed in seething eddies and dashed

against the hollow ship as it moved through the sea. And the heroes

rejoiced, and Telamon son of Aeacus came in haste to Jason, and grasping

his hand in his own embraced him with these words:

"Son of Aeson, be not wroth with me, if in my folly I have erred, for

grief wrought upon me to utter a word arrogant and intolerable. But let

me give my fault to the winds and let our hearts be joined as before."

Him the son of Aeson with prudence addressed: "Good friend, assuredly

with an evil word didst thou revile me, saying before them all that I

was the wronger of a kindly man. But not for long will I nurse bitter

wrath, though indeed before I was grieved. For it was not for flocks of

sheep, no, nor for possessions that thou wast angered to fury, but for a

man, thy comrade. And I were fain thou wouldst even champion me against

another man if a like thing should ever befall me."

He spake, and they sat down, united as of old. But of those two, by the

counsel of Zeus, one, Polyphemus son of Eilatus, was destined to found

and build a city among the Mysians bearing the river's name, and the

other, Heracles, to return and toil at the labours of Eurystheus. And he

threatened to lay waste the Mysian land at once, should they not

discover for him the doom of Hylas, whether living or dead. And for him

they gave pledges choosing out the noblest sons of the people and took

an oath that they would never cease from their labour of search.

Therefore to this day the people of Cius enquire for Hylas the son of

Theiodamas; and take thought for the well-built Trachis. For there did

Heracles settle the youths whom they sent from Cius as pledges.

And all day long and all night the wind bore the ship on, blowing fresh

and strong; but when dawn rose there was not even a breath of air. And

they marked a beach jutting forth from a bend of the coast, very broad

to behold, and by dint of rowing came to land at sunrise.

BOOK II

SUMMARY OF BOOK II

Fight between Polydeuces and Amycus, King of the Bebrycians; defeat

and death of Amycus (1-97).--Victory of the Argonauts over the

Bebrycians; arrival at the abode of Phineus (98-177).--History of

Phineus and the Harpies, who are chased by Zetes and Calais, sons

of Boreas (178-300).--Prediction of Phineus and return of the sons

of Boreas (301-447).--Episode of Paraebius (448-499).--Origin of

the Etesian winds (500-527).--Argo passes between the Symplegades

by the aid of Athena (528-647).--Arrival at the isle Thynias;

apparition of Apollo, to whom they pay honour (648-719).--Arrival

among the Mariandyni, where King Lycus welcomes them

(720-814).--Deaths of Idmon and Tiphys: Ancaeus chosen pilot

(815-910).--The Argonauts pass Sinope and the Cape of the Amazons,

and reach the Chalybes (911-1008).--Customs of the Tibareni and

Mossynoeci (1009-1029).--Contest with the birds of the isle

Aretias, where they meet with the sons of Phrixus, shipwrecked on

their way to Hellas (1030-1225).--Arrival in Colchis (1226-1285).

BOOK II

Here were the oxstalls and farm of Amycus, the haughty king of the

Bebrycians, whom once a nymph, Bithynian Melie, united to Poseidon

Genethlius, bare--the most arrogant of men; for even for strangers he

laid down an insulting ordinance, that none should depart till they had

made trial of him in boxing; and he had slain many of the neighbours.

And at that time too he went down to the ship and in his insolence

scorned to ask them the occasion of their voyage, and who they were, but

at once spake out among them all:

"Listen, ye wanderers by sea, to what it befits you to know. It is the

rule that no stranger who comes to the Bebrycians should depart till he

has raised his hands in battle against mine. Wherefore select your

bravest warrior from the host and set him here on the spot to contend

with me in boxing. But if ye pay no heed and trample my decrees under

foot, assuredly to your sorrow will stern necessity come upon you."

Thus he spake in his pride, but fierce anger seized them when they heard

it, and the challenge smote Polydeuces most of all. And quickly he stood

forth his comrades' champion, and cried:

"Hold now, and display not to us thy brutal violence, whoever thou art;

for we will obey thy rules, as thou sayest. Willingly now do I myself

undertake to meet thee."

Thus he spake outright; but the other with rolling eyes glared on him,

like to a lion struck by a javelin when hunters in the mountains are

hemming him round, and, though pressed by the throng, he recks no more

of them, but keeps his eyes fixed, singling out that man only who struck

him first and slew him not. Hereupon the son of Tyndareus laid aside his

mantle, closely-woven, delicately-wrought, which one of the Lemnian

maidens had given him as a pledge of hospitality; and the king threw

down his dark cloak of double fold with its clasps and the knotted crook

of mountain olive which he carried. Then straightway they looked and

chose close by a spot that pleased them and bade their comrades sit upon

the sand in two lines; nor were they alike to behold in form or in

stature. The one seemed to be a monstrous son of baleful Typhoeus or of

Earth herself, such as she brought forth aforetime, in her wrath against

Zeus; but the other, the son of Tyndareus, was like a star of heaven,

whose beams are fairest as it shines through the nightly sky at

eventide. Such was the son of Zeus, the bloom of the first down still on

his cheeks, still with the look of gladness in his eyes. But his might

and fury waxed like a wild beast's; and he poised his hands to see if

they were pliant as before and were not altogether numbed by toil and

rowing. But Amycus on his side made no trial; but standing apart in

silence he kept his eyes upon his foe, and his spirit surged within him

all eager to dash the life-blood from his breast. And between them

Lycoreus, the henchman of Amycus, placed at their feet on each side two

pairs of gauntlets made of raw hide, dry, exceeding tough. And the king

addressed the hero with arrogant words:

"Whichever of these thou wilt, without casting lots, I grant thee

freely, that thou mayst not blame me hereafter. Bind them about thy

hands; thou shalt learn and tell another how skilled I am to carve the

dry oxhides and to spatter men's cheeks with blood."

Thus he spake; but the other gave back no taunt in answer, but with a

light smile readily took up the gauntlets that lay at his feet; and to

him came Castor and mighty Talaus, son of Bias, and they quickly bound

the gauntlets about his hands, often bidding him be of good courage. And

to Amycus came Aretus and Ornytus, but little they knew, poor fools,

that they had bound them for the last time on their champion, a victim

of evil fate.

Now when they stood apart and were ready with their gauntlets,

straightway in front of their faces they raised their heavy hands and

matched their might in deadly strife. Hereupon the Bebrycian king--even

as a fierce wave of the sea rises in a crest against a swift ship, but

she by the skill of the crafty pilot just escapes the shock when the

billow is eager to break over the bulwark--so he followed up the son of

Tyndareus, trying to daunt him, and gave him no respite. But the hero,

ever unwounded, by his skill baffled the rush of his foe, and he quickly

noted the brutal play of his fists to see where he was invincible in

strength, and where inferior, and stood unceasingly and returned blow

for blow. And as when shipwrights with their hammers smite ships'

timbers to meet the sharp clamps, fixing layer upon layer; and the blows

resound one after another; so cheeks and jaws crashed on both sides, and

a huge clattering of teeth arose, nor did they cease ever from striking

their blows until laboured gasping overcame both. And standing a little

apart they wiped from their foreheads sweat in abundance, wearily

panting for breath. Then back they rushed together again, as two bulls

fight in furious rivalry for a grazing heifer. Next Amycus rising on

tiptoe, like one who slays an ox, sprung to his full height and swung

his heavy hand down upon his rival; but the hero swerved aside from the

rush, turning his head, and just received the arm on his shoulder; and

coming near and slipping his knee past the king's, with a rush he struck

him above the ear, and broke the bones inside, and the king in agony

fell upon his knees; and the Minyan heroes shouted for joy; and his life

was poured forth all at once.

Nor were the Bebrycians reckless of their king; but all together took up

rough clubs and spears and rushed straight on Polydeuces. But in front

of him stood his comrades, their keen swords drawn from the sheath.

First Castor struck upon the head a man as he rushed at him: and it was

cleft in twain and fell on each side upon his shoulders. And Polydeuces

slew huge Itymoneus and Mimas. The one, with a sudden leap, he smote

beneath the breast with his swift foot and threw him in the dust; and as

the other drew near he struck him with his right hand above the left

eyebrow, and tore away his eyelid and the eyeball was left bare. But

Oreides, insolent henchman of Amycus, wounded Talaus son of Bias in the

side, but did not slay him, but only grazing the skin the bronze sped

under his belt and touched not the flesh. Likewise Aretus with

well-seasoned club smote Iphitus, the steadfast son of Eurytus, not yet

destined to an evil death; assuredly soon was he himself to be slain by

the sword of Clytius. Then Ancaeus, the dauntless son of Lycurgus,

quickly seized his huge axe, and in his left hand holding a bear's dark

hide, plunged into the midst of the Bebrycians with furious onset; and

with him charged the sons of Aeacus, and with them started warlike

Jason. And as when amid the folds grey wolves rush down on a winter's

day and scare countless sheep, unmarked by the keen-scented dogs and the

shepherds too, and they seek what first to attack and carry off, often

glaring around, but the sheep are just huddled together and trample on

one another; so the heroes grievously scared the arrogant Bebrycians.

And as shepherds or beekeepers smoke out a huge swarm of bees in a rock,

and they meanwhile, pent up in their hive, murmur with droning hum,

till, stupefied by the murky smoke, they fly forth far from the rock; so

they stayed steadfast no longer, but scattered themselves inland through

Bebrycia, proclaiming the death of Amycus; fools, not to perceive that

another woe all unforeseen was hard upon them. For at that hour their

vineyards and villages were being ravaged by the hostile spear of Lycus

and the Mariandyni, now that their king was gone. For they were ever at

strife about the ironbearing land. And now the foe was destroying their

steadings and farms, and now the heroes from all sides were driving off

their countless sheep, and one spake among his fellows thus:

"Bethink ye what they would have done in their cowardice if haply some

god had brought Heracles hither. Assuredly, if he had been here, no

trial would there have been of fists, I ween, but when the king drew

near to proclaim his rules, the club would have made him forget his

pride and the rules to boot. Yea, we left him uncared for on the strand

and we sailed oversea; and full well each one of us shall know our

baneful folly, now that he is far away."

Thus he spake, but all these things had been wrought by the counsels of

Zeus. Then they remained there through the night and tended the hurts of

the wounded men, and offered sacrifice to the immortals, and made ready

a mighty meal; and sleep fell upon no man beside the bowl and the

blazing sacrifice. They wreathed their fair brows with the bay that grew

by the shore, whereto their hawsers were bound, and chanted a song to

the lyre of Orpheus in sweet harmony; and the windless shore was charmed

by their song; and they celebrated the Therapnaean son of Zeus.[1]

[Footnote 1: i.e. Polydeuces.]

But when the sun rising from far lands lighted up the dewy hills and

wakened the shepherds, then they loosed their hawsers from the stem of

the bay-tree and put on board all the spoil they had need to take; and

with a favouring wind they steered through the eddying Bosporus.

Hereupon a wave like a steep mountain rose aloft in front as though

rushing upon them, ever upheaved above the clouds; nor would you say

that they could escape grim death, for in its fury it hangs over the

middle of the ship, like a cloud, yet it sinks away into calm if it

meets with a skilful helmsman. So they by the steering-craft of Tiphys

escaped, unhurt but sore dismayed. And on the next day they fastened the

hawsers to the coast opposite the Bithynian land.

There Phineus, son of Agenor, had his home by the sea, Phineus who above

all men endured most bitter woes because of the gift of prophecy which

Leto's son had granted him aforetime. And he reverenced not a whit even

Zeus himself, for he foretold unerringly to men his sacred will.

Wherefore Zeus sent upon him a lingering old age, and took from his eyes

the pleasant light, and suffered him not to have joy of the dainties

untold that the dwellers around ever brought to his house, when they

came to enquire the will of heaven. But on a sudden, swooping through

the clouds, the Harpies with their crooked beaks incessantly snatched

the food away from his mouth and hands. And at times not a morsel of

food was left, at others but a little, in order that he might live and

be tormented. And they poured forth over all a loathsome stench; and no

one dared not merely to carry food to his mouth but even to stand at a

distance; so foully reeked the remnants of the meal. But straightway

when he heard the voice and the tramp of the band he knew that they were

the men passing by, at whose coming Zeus' oracle had declared to him

that he should have joy of his food. And he rose from his couch, like a

lifeless dream, bowed over his staff, and crept to the door on his

withered feet, feeling the walls; and as he moved, his limbs trembled

for weakness and age; and his parched skin was caked with dirt, and

naught but the skin held his bones together. And he came forth from the

hall with wearied knees and sat on the threshold of the courtyard; and a

dark stupor covered him, and it seemed that the earth reeled round

beneath his feet, and he lay in a strengthless trance, speechless. But

when they saw him they gathered round and marvelled. And he at last drew

laboured breath from the depths of his chest and spoke among them with

prophetic utterance:

"Listen, bravest of all the Hellenes, if it be truly ye, whom by a

king's ruthless command Jason is leading on the ship Argo in quest of

the fleece. It is ye truly. Even yet my soul by its divination knows

everything. Thanks I render to thee, O king, son of Leto, plunged in

bitter affliction though I be. I beseech you by Zeus the god of

suppliants, the sternest foe to sinful men, and for the sake of Phoebus

and Hera herself, under whose especial care ye have come hither, help

me, save an ill-fated man from misery, and depart not uncaring and

leaving me thus as ye see. For not only has the Fury set her foot on my

eyes and I drag on to the end a weary old age; but besides my other woes

a woe hangs over me--the bitterest of all. The Harpies, swooping down

from some unseen den of destruction ever snatch the food from my mouth.

And I have no device to aid me. But it were easier, when I long for a

meal, to escape my own thoughts than them, so swiftly do they fly

through the air. But if haply they _do_ leave me a morsel of food it

reeks of decay and the stench is unendurable, nor could any mortal bear

to draw near even for a moment, no, not if his heart were wrought of

adamant. But necessity, bitter and insatiate, compels me to abide and

abiding to put food in my cursèd belly. These pests, the oracle

declares, the sons of Boreas shall restrain. And no strangers are they

that shall ward them off if indeed I am Phineus who was once renowned

among men for wealth and the gift of prophecy, and if I am the son of my

father Agenor; and, when I ruled among the Thracians, by my bridal gifts

I brought home their sister Cleopatra to be my wife."

So spake Agenor's son; and deep sorrow seized each of the heroes, and

especially the two sons of Boreas. And brushing away a tear they drew

nigh, and Zetes spake as follows, taking in his own the hand of the

grief-worn sire:

"Unhappy one, none other of men is more wretched than thou, methinks.

Why upon thee is laid the burden of so many sorrows? Hast thou with

baneful folly sinned against the gods through thy skill in prophecy? For

this are they greatly wroth with thee? Yet our spirit is dismayed within

us for all our desire to aid thee, if indeed the god has granted this

privilege to us two. For plain to discern to men of earth are the

reproofs of the immortals. And we will never check the Harpies when they

come, for all our desire, until thou hast sworn that for this we shall

not lose the favour of heaven."

Thus he spake; and towards him the aged sire opened his sightless eyes,

and lifted them up and replied with these words: