the golden fleece(金羊毛)-第13章
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and further from him Atalanta drew。
Then it seemed to him that she checked her swiftness a little to look
back at him。 He gained on her a little。 And then his hand touched the
apples that were in his girdle。 As it touched them it came into his mind
what to do with the apples。
He was not far from her now； but already her swiftness was drawing
her further and further away。 He took one of the apples into his hand and
tossed it into the air so that it fell on the track before her。
Atalanta saw the shining apple。 She checked her speed and stooped in
the race to pick it up。 And as she stooped Hippomenes darted past her； and
went flying toward the goal that now was within his sight。
But soon she was beside him again。 He looked； and he saw that the
goal marks were far； far ahead of him。 Atalanta with the flying hair passed
him； and drew away and away from him。 He had not speed to gain upon
her now； he thought； so he put his strength into his hand and he flung the
second of the shining apples。 The apple rolled before her and rolled off the
course。 Atalanta turned off the course； stooped and picked up the apple。
Then did Hippomenes draw all his spirit into his breast as he raced on。
He was now nearer to the goal than she was。 But he knew that she was
behind him； going lightly where he went heavily。 And then she was beside
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him； and then she went past him。 She paused in her speed for a moment
and she looked back on him。
As he raced on； his chest seemed weighted down and his throat was
crackling dry。 The goal marks were far away still； but Atalanta was
nearing them。 He took the last of the golden apples into his hand。 Perhaps
she was now so far that the strength of his throw would not be great
enough to bring the apple before her。
But with all the strength he could put into his hand he flung the apple。
It struck the course before her feet and then went bounding wide。 Atalanta
swerved in her race and followed where the apple went。 Hippomenes
marvelled that he had been able to fling it so far。 He saw Atalanta stoop to
pick up the apple； and he bounded on。 And then； although his strength was
failing； he saw the goal marks near him。 He set his feet between them and
then fell down on the ground。
The attendants raised him up and put the victor's wreath upon his head。
The concourse of people shouted with joy to see him victor。 But he looked
around for Atalanta and he saw her standing there with the golden apples
in her hands。 〃He has won；〃 he heard her say； 〃and I have not to hate
myself for bringing a doom upon him。 Gladly； gladly do I give up the race；
and glad am I that it is this youth who has won the victory from me。〃
She took his hand and brought him before the king。 Then Schoeneus；
in the sight of all the rejoicing people； gave Atalanta to Hippomenes for
his bride； and he bestowed upon him also a great gift of horses。 With his
dear and hard…won bride； Hippomenes went to his own country； and the
apples that she brought with her； the golden apples of Aphrodite； were
reverenced by the people。
X。 The Departure From Lemnos
A day came when Heracles left the Argo and went on the Lemnian
land。 He gathered the heroes about him； and they； seeing Heracles come
amongst them； clamored to go to hunt the wild bulls that were inland from
the sea。
So； for once； the heroes left the Lemnian maidens who were their
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friends。 Jason； too； left Hypsipyle in the palace and went with Heracles。
And as they went； Heracles spoke to each of the heroes； saying that they
were forgetting the Fleece of Gold that they had sailed to gain。
Jason blushed to think that he had almost let go out of his mind the
quest that had brought him from Iolcus。 And then he thought upon
Hypsipyle and of how her little hand would stay in his； and his own hand
became loose upon the spear so that it nearly fell from him。 How could he；
he thought； leave Hypsipyle and this land of Lemnos behind？
He heard the clear voice of Atalanta as she； too； spoke to the
Argonauts。 What Heracles said was brave and wise； said Atalanta。
Forgetfulness would cover their names if they stayed longer in Lemnos
forgetfulness and shame； and they would come to despise themselves。
Leave Lemnos； she cried； and draw Argo into the sea； and depart for
Colchis。
All day the Argonauts stayed by themselves； hunting the bulls。 On
their way back from the chase they were met by Lemnian maidens who
carried wreaths of flowers for them。 Very silent were the heroes as the
maidens greeted them。 Heracles went with Jason to the palace； and
Hypsipyle； seeing the mighty stranger coming； seated herself； not on the
couch where she was wont to sit looking into the face of Jason； but on the
stone throne of King Thoas； her father。 And seated on that throne she
spoke to Jason and to Heracles as a queen might speak。
In the hall that night the heroes and the Lemnian maidens who were
with them were quiet。 A story was told； Castor began it and Polydeuces
ended it。 And the story that Helen's brothers told was：
The Golden Maid
Epimetheus the Titan had a brother who was the wisest of all Beings
Prometheus called the Foreseer。 But Epimetheus himself was slow…witted
and scatter…brained。 His wise brother once sent him a message bidding him
beware of the gifts that Zeus might send him。 Epimetheus heard； but he
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did not heed the warning； and thereby he brought upon the race of men
troubles and cares。
Prometheus； the wise Titan； had saved men from a great trouble that
Zeus would have brought upon them。 Also he had given them the gift of
fire。 Zeus was the more wroth with men now because fire； stolen from him；
had been given them； he was wroth with the race of Titans； too； and he
pondered in his heart how he might injure men； and how he might use
Epimetheus； the mindless Titan； to further his plan。
While he pondered there was a hush on high Olympus； the mountain
of the gods。 Then Zeus called upon the artisan of the gods； lame
Hephaestus； and he commanded him to make a being out of clay that
would have the likeness of a lovely maiden。 With joy and pride
Hephaestus worked at the task that had been given him； and he fashioned a
being that had the likeness of a lovely maiden； and he brought the thing of
his making before the gods and the goddesses。
All strove to add a grace or a beauty to the work of Hephaestus。 Zeus
granted that the maiden should see and feel。 Athene dressed her in
garments that were as lovely as flowers。 Aphrodite； the goddess of love；
put a charm on her lips and in her eyes。 The Graces put necklaces around
her neck and set agolden crown upon her head。 The Hours brought her a
girdle of spring flowers。 Then the herald of the gods gave her speech
thatwas sweet and flowing。 All the gods and goddesses had given giftsto
her； and for that reason the maiden of Hephaestus's making was called
Pandora； the All…endowed。
She was lovely； the gods knew； not beautiful as they themselves are；
who have a beauty that awakens reverence rather than love； but lovely； as
flowers and bright waters and earthly maidens are lovely。 Zeus smiled to
himself when he looked upon her； and he called to Hermes who knew all
the ways of the earth； and he put her into the charge of Hermes。 Also he
gave Hermes a great jar to take along； this jar was Pandora's dower。
Epimetheus lived in a deep…down valley。 Now one day； as he was
sitting on a fallen pillar in the ruined place that was now forsaken by the
rest of the Titans； he saw a pair coming toward him。 One had wings； and
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he knew him to be Hermes； the messenger of the gods。 The other was a
maiden。 Epimetheus marveled at the crown upon her head and at her
lovely garments。 There was a glint of gold all around her。 He rose from
where he sat upon the broken pillar and he stood to watch the pair。 Hermes；
he saw； was carrying by its handle a great jar。
In wonder and delight he looked upon the maiden。 Epimetheus had
seen no lovely thing for ages。 Wonderful indeed was this Golden Maid；
and as she came nearer the charm that was on her lips and in her eyes
came to the Earth…born One； and he smiled with more and more delight。
Hermes came and stood before him。 He also smiled； but his smile had
something baleful in it。 He put the hands of the Golden Maid into the great
soft hand of the Titan； and he said； 〃0 Epimetheus； Father Zeus would be
reconciled with thee； and as a sign of his good will he sends thee this
lovely goddess to be thy companion。〃
Oh； very foolish was Epimetheus the Earth…born One！ As he looked
upon the Golden Maid who was sent by Zeus he lost memory of the wars
that Zeus had made upon the Titans and the Elder Gods； he lost memory of
his brother chained by Zeus to the rock； he lost memory of the warning
that his brother； the wisest of all beings； had sent him。 He took the hands
of Pandora； and he thought of nothing at all in all the world but her。 Very
far away seemed the voice of Hermes saying； 〃This jar； too； is from
Olympus； it has in it Pandora's dower。〃
The jar stood forgotten for long； and green plants grew over it while
Epimetheus walked in the garden with the Golden Maid； or watched her
while she gazed on herself in the stream； or searched in the untended
places for the fruit
