the argonautica(阿尔戈)-第3章
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but Leto's son himself begat him to be numbered among the illustrious
Aeolids； and himself taught him the art of prophecyto pay heed to birds
and to observe the signs of the burning sacrifice。
（ll。 146…150） 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。
（ll。 151…155） 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。
（ll。 156…160） 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。
（ll。 161…171） Moreover from Arcadia came Amphidamas and
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Cepheus； who inhabited Tegea and the allotment of Apheidas； two sons of
Aldus； 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。
Antaeus 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。
（ll。 172…175） 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。
（ll。 176…178） Asterius and Amphion； sons of Hyperasius； came from
Achaean Pellene； which once Pelles their grandsire founded on the brows
of Aegialus。
（ll。 179…184） 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。
（ll。 185…189） 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 seacraft
and in war。
（ll。 190…201） After them from Calydon came the son of Oeneus；
strong Meleagrus； and LaocoonLaocoon 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。
（ll。 202…206） With him came Palaemonius； son of Olenian Lernus； of
Lernus by repute； but his birth was from Hephaestus； and so he was
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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。
（ll。 207…210） 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 hails。
（ll。 211…223） 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 Hissus' 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。
（ll。 224…227） 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。
（ll。 228…233） 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。
（ll。 234…241） 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：
（ll。 242…246） 〃King Zeus； what is the purpose of Pelias？ Whither is
he driving forth from the Panachaean land so great a host of heroes？ On
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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。〃
（ll。 247…250） 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：
（ll。 251…260） 〃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。〃
（ll。 261…277） 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：
（ll。 278…291） 〃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
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still to be fulfilled by time； 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 nay dreams did I
forebode this； that the flight of Phrixus would bring me woe。〃
（ll。 292…294） Thus with moaning she wept； and her handmaidens；
standing by； lamented； but Jason spake gently to her with comforting
words：
（ll。 295…305） 〃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。〃
（ll。 306…31
