the argonautica(阿尔戈)-第34章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Thrinacian sea； and Alcinous and his people with kindly sacrifice gladly
welcomed their coming； and over them all the city made merry； thou
wouldst say they were rejoicing over their own sons。 And the heroes
themselves strode in gladness through the throng； even as though they had
set foot in the heart of Haemonia； but soon were they to arm and raise the
battle…cry； so near to them appeared a boundless host of Colchians； who
had passed through the mouth of Pontus and between the Cyanean rocks in
search of the chieftains。 They desired forthwith to carry off Medea to her
father's house apart from the rest； or else they threatened with fierce
cruelty to raise the dread war…cry both then and thereafter on the coming
of Aeetes。 But lordly Alcinous checked them amid their eagerness for
war。 For he longed to allay the lawless strife between both sides without
the clash of battle。 And the maiden in deadly fear often implored the
comrades of Aeson's son； and often with her hands touched the knees of
Arete； the bride of Aleinous：
（ll。 1014…1028） 〃I beseech thee； O queen； be gracious and deliver me
not to the Colchians to be borne to my father； if thou thyself too art one of
the race of mortals； whose heart rushes swiftly to ruin from light
transgressions。 For my firm sense forsook meit was not for wantonness。
Be witness the sacred light of Helios； be witness the rites of the maiden
that wanders by night； daughter of Perses。 Not willingly did I haste from
my home with men of an alien race； but a horrible fear wrought on me to
bethink me of flight when I sinned； other device was there none。 Still my
maiden's girdle remains； as in the halls of my father； unstained； untouched。
Pity me； lady； and turn thy lord to mercy； and may the immortals grant
thee a perfect life； and joy； and children； and the glory of a city
129
… Page 130…
The Argonautica
unravaged！〃
（ll。 1029…1030） Thus did she implore Arete； shedding tears； and thus
each of the chieftains in turn：
（ll。 1031…1052） 〃On your account； ye men of peerless might； and on
account of my toils in your ventures am I sorely afflicted； even I； by
whose help ye yoked the bulls； and reaped the deadly harvest of the
earthborn men； even I； through whom on your homeward path ye shall
bear to Haemonia the golden fleece。 Lo； here am I； who have lost my
country and my parents； who have lost my home and all the delights of life；
to you have I restored your country and your homes； with eyes of gladness
ye will see again your parents； but from me a heavy…handed god has raft
all joy； and with strangers I wander； an accursed thing。 Fear your
covenant and your oaths； fear the Fury that avenges suppliants and the
retribution of heaven； if I fall into Aeetes' hands and am slain with
grievous outrage。 To no shrines； no tower of defence； no other refuge do
I pay heed； but only to you。 Hard and pitiless in your cruelty！ No
reverence have ye for me in your heart though ye see me helpless；
stretching my hands towards the knees of a stranger queen； yet； when ye
longed to seize the fleece； ye would have met all the Colchians face to
thee and haughty Aeetes himself； but now ye have forgotten your courage；
now that they are all alone and cut off。〃
（ll。 1053…1067） Thus she spake； beseeching； and to whomsoever she
bowed in prayer； that man tried to give her heart and to check her anguish。
And in their hands they shook their sharp pointed spears； and drew the
swords from their sheaths； and they swore they would not hold back from
giving succour； if she should meet with an unrighteous judgement。 And
the host were all wearied and Night came on them； Night that puts to rest
the works of men； and lulled all the earth to sleep； but to the maid no sleep
brought rest； but in her bosom her heart was wrung with anguish。 Even
as when a toiling woman turns her spindle through the night； and round
her moan her orphan children； for she is a widow； and down her cheeks
fall the tears； as she bethinks her how dreary a lot hath seized her； so
Medea's cheeks were wet； and her heart within her was in agony； pierced
with sharp pain。
130
… Page 131…
The Argonautica
（ll。 1068…1072） Now within the palace in the city； as aforetime； lay
lordly Alcinous and Arete； the revered wife of Alcinous； and on their
couch through the night they were devising plans about the maiden； and
him； as her wedded husband； the wife addressed with loving words：
（ll。 1073…1095） 〃Yea； my friend； come； save the woe…stricken maid
from the Colchians and show grace to the Minyae。 Argos is near our isle
and the men of Haemonia； but Aeetes dwells not near； nor do we know of
Aeetes one whit： we hear but his name； but this maiden of dread suffering
hath broken my heart by her prayers。 O king； give her not up to the
Colchians to be borne back to her father's home。 She was distraught
when first she gave him the drugs to charm the oxen； and next； to cure one
ill by another； as in our sinning we do often； she fled from her haughty
sire's heavy wrath。 But Jason； as I hear； is bound to her by mighty oaths
that he will make her his wedded wife within his halls。 Wherefore； my
friend； make not； of thy will； Aeson's son to be forsworn； nor let the father；
if thou canst help； work with angry heart some intolerable mischief on his
child。 For fathers are all too jealous against their children； what wrong
did Nycteus devise against Antiope； fair of face！ What woes did Danae
endure on the wide sea through her sire's mad rage！ Of late； and not far
away； Echetus in wanton cruelty thrust spikes of bronze in his daughter's
eyes； and by a grievous fate is she wasting away； grinding grains of bronze
in a dungeon's gloom。〃
（ll。 1096…1097） Thus she spake； beseeching； and by his wife's words
his heart was softened； and thus he spake：
（ll。 1098…1109） 〃Arete； with arms I could drive forth the Colchians；
showing grace to the heroes for the maiden's sake。 But I fear to set at
nought the righteous judgment of Zeus。 Nor is it well to take no thought
of Aeetes； as thou sayest： for none is more lordly than Aeetes。 And； if he
willed； he might bring war upon Hellas； though he dwell afar。 Wherefore
it is right for me to deliver the judgement that in all men's eyes shall be
best； and I will not hide it from thee。 If she be yet a maid I decree that
they carry her back to her father； but if she shares a husband's bed； I will
not separate her from her lord； nor； if she bear a child beneath her breast；
will I give it up to an enemy。〃
131
… Page 132…
The Argonautica
（ll。 1110…1120） Thus he spake； and at once sleep laid him to rest。
And she stored up in her heart the word of wisdom； and straightway rose
from her couch and went through the palace； and her handmaids came
hasting together； eagerly tending their mistress。 But quietly she
summoned her herald and addressed him； in her prudence urging Aeson's
son to wed the maiden； and not to implore Alcinous； for he himself； she
said； will decree to the Colchians that if she is still a maid he will deliver
her up to be borne to her father's house； but that if she shares a husband's
bed he will not sever her from wedded love。
（ll。 1121…1127） Thus she spake； and quickly from the hall his feet
bore him； that he might declare to Jason the fair…omened speech of Arete
and the counsel of godfearing Alcinous。 And he found the heroes
watching in full armour in the haven of Hyllus； near the city； and out he
spake the whole message； and each hero's heart rejoiced； for the word that
he spake was welcome。
（ll。 1128…1169） And straightway they mingled a bowl to the blessed
ones； as is right； and reverently led sheep to the altar； and for that very
night prepared for the maiden the bridal couch in the sacred cave； where
once dwelt Macris； the daughter of Aristaeus； lord of honey； who
discovered the works of bees and the fatness of the olive； the fruit of
labour。 She it was that first received in her bosom the Nysean son of
Zeus in Abantian Euboea； and with honey moistened his parched lips
when Hermes bore him out of the flame。 And Hera beheld it； and in
wrath drove her from the whole island。 And she accordingly came to
dwell far off； in the sacred cave of the Phaeacians； and granted boundless
wealth to the inhabitants。 There at that time did they spread a mighty
couch； and thereon they laid the glittering fleece of gold； that so the
marriage might be made honoured and the theme of song。 And for them
nymphs gathered flowers of varied hue and bore them thither in their
white bosoms； and a splendour as of flame played round them all； such a
light gleamed from the golden tufts。 And in their eyes it kindled a sweet
longing； yet for all her desire； awe withheld each one from laying her hand
thereon。 Some were called daughters of the river Aegaeus； others dwelt
round the crests of the Meliteian mount； and others were woodland
132
… Page 133…
The Argonautica
nymphs from the plains。 For Hera herself； the spouse of Zeus； had sent
them to do honour to Jason。 That cave is
