the golden fleece(金羊毛)-第15章
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make great a man。〃
So Heracles said； and he went from Hypsipyle's hall。 The heroes
looked at each other； and they stood up； and shame that they had stayed so
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long away from the quest came over each of them。 The maidens took their
hands； the heroes unloosed those soft hands and turned away from them。
Hypsipyle left the throne of King Thoas and stood before Jason。 There
was a storm in all her body； her mouth was shaken； and a whole life's
trouble was in her great eyes。 Before she spoke Jason cried out： 〃What
Heracles said is true； 0 Argonauts！ On the Quest of the Golden Fleece our
lives and our honors depend。 To Colchisto Colchis must we go！〃
He stood upright in the hall； and his comrades gathered around him。
The Lemnian maidens would have held out their arms and would have
made their partings long delayed； but that a strange cry came to them
through the night。 Well did the Argonauts know that cryit was the cry of
the ship； of Argo herself。 They knew that they must go to her now or stay
from the voyage for ever。 And the maidens knew that there was something
in the cry of the ship that might not be gainsaid； and they put their hands
before their faces； and they said no other word。
Then said Hypsipyle； the queen； 〃I； too； am a ruler； Jason； and I know
that there are great commands that we have to obey。 Go； then； to the Argo。
Ah； neither I nor the women of Lemnos will stay your going now。 But to…
morrow speak to us from the deck of the ship and bid us farewell。 Do not
go from us in the night； Jason。〃
Jason and the Argonauts went from Hypsipyle's hall。 The maidens who
were left behind wept together。 All but Hypsipyle。 She sat on the throne of
King Thoas and she had Polyxo； her nurse； tell her of the ways of Jason's
voyage as he had told of them； and of all that he would have to pass
through。 When the other Lemnian women slept she put her head upon her
nurse's； knees and wept； bitterly Hypsipyle wept； but softly； for she would
not have the others hear her weeping。
By the coming of the morning's light the Argonauts had made all ready
for their sailing。 They were standing on the deck when the light came； and
they saw the Lemnian women come to the shore。 Each looked at her friend
aboard the Argo； and spoke； and went away。 And last； Hypsipyle； the
queen； came。 〃Farewell； Hypsipyle；〃 Jason said to her； and she； in her
strange way of speaking； said：
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〃What you told us I have rememberedhow you will come to the
dangerous passage that leads into the Sea of Pontus； and how by the flight
of a pigeon you will know whether or not you may go that way。 0 Jason；
let the dove you fly when you come to that dangerous place be
Hypsipyle's。〃
She showed a pigeon held in her hands。 She loosed it； and the pigeon
alighted on the ship； and stayed there on pink feet； a white…feathered
pigeon。 Jason took up the pigeon and held it in his hands； and the Argo
drew swiftly away from the Lemnian land。
XI。 The Passage Of The Symplegades
They came near Salmydessus； where Phineus； the wise king； ruled；
and they sailed past it； they sighted the pile of stones； with the oar upright
upon it that they had raised on the seashore over the body of Tiphys； the
skillful steersman whom they had lost； they sailed on until they heard a
sound that grew more and more thunderous； and then the heroes said to
each other； 〃Now we come to the Symplegades and the dread passage into
the Sea of Pontus。〃
It was then that Jason cried out： 〃Ah； when Pelias spoke of this quest
to me； why did I not turn my head away and refuse to be drawn into it？
Since we came near the dread passage that is before us I have passed every
night in groans。 As for you who have come with me； you may take your
ease； for you need care only for your own lives。 But I have to care for you
all； and to strive to win for you all a safe return to Greece。 Ah； greatly am I
afflicted now； knowing to what a great peril I have brought you！〃
So Jason said； thinking to make trial of the heroes。 They； on their part；
were not dismayed； but shouted back cheerful words to him。 Then he said：
〃O friends of mine； by your spirit my spirit is quickened。 Now if I knew
that I was being borne down into the black gulfs of Hades； I should fear
nothing； knowing that you are constant and faithful of heart。〃
As he said this they came into water that seethed all around the ship。
Then into the hands of Euphemus； a youth of Iolcus； who was the keenest…
eyed amongst the Argonauts； Jason put the pigeon that Hypsipyle had
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given him。 He bade him stand by the prow of the Argo； ready to loose the
pigeon as the ship came nigh that dreadful gate of rock。
They saw the spray being dashed around in showers； they saw the sea
spread itself out in foam； they saw the high； black rocks rush together；
sounding thunderously as they met。 The caves in the high rocks rumbled
as the sea surged into them； and the foam of the dashing waves spurted
high up the rocks。
Jason shouted to each man to grip hard on the oars。 The Argo dashed
on as the rocks rushed toward each other again。 Then there was such noise
that no man's voice could be heard above it。
As the rocks met； Euphemus loosed the pigeon。 With his keen eyes he
watched her fly through the spray。 Would she； not finding an opening to
fly through； turn back？ He watched； and meanwhile the Argonauts gripped
hard on the oars to save the ship from being dashed on the rocks。 The
pigeon fluttered as though she would sink down and let the spray drown
her。 And then Euphemus saw her raise herself and fly forward。 Toward the
place where she had flown he pointed。 The rowers gave a loud cry； and
Jason called upon them to pull with might and main。
The rocks were parting asunder； and to the right and left broad Pontus
was seen by the heroes。 Then suddenly a huge wave rose before them； and
at the sight of it they all uttered a cry and bent their heads。 It seemed to
them that it would dash down on the whole ship's length and overwhelm
them all。 But Nauplius was quick to ease the ship； and the wave rolled
away beneath the keel； and at the stern it raised the Argo and dashed her
away from the rocks。
They felt the sun as it streamed upon them through the sundered rocks。
They strained at the oars until the oars bent like bows in their hands。 The
ship sprang forward。 Surely they were now in the wide Sea of Pontus！
The Argonauts shouted。 They saw the rocks behind them with the sea
fowl screaming upon them。 Surely they were in the Sea of Pontusthe sea
that had never been entered before through the Rocks Wandering。 The
rocks no longer dashed together； each remained fixed in its place； for it
was the will of the gods that these rocks should no more clash together
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after a mortal's ship had passed between them。
They were now in the Sea of Pontus； the sea into which flowed the
river that Colchis was uponthe River Phasis。 And now above Jason's
head the bird of peaceful days； the Halcyon； fluttered； and the Argonauts
knew that this was a sign from the gods that the voyage would not any
more be troublous。
XII。 The Mountain Caucasus
They rested in the harbor of Thynias； the desert island； and sailing
from there they came to the land of the Mariandyni； a people who were
constantly at war with the Bebrycians； there the hero Polydeuces was
welcomed as a god。 Twelve days afterward they passed the mouth of the
River Callichorus； then they came to the mouth of that river that flows
through the land of the Amazons； the River Thermodon。 Fourteen days
from that place brought them to the island that is filled with the birds of
Ares； the god of war。 These birds dropped upon the heroes heavy； pointed
feathers that would have pierced them as arrows if they had not covered
themselves with their shields； then by shouting； and by striking their
shields with their spears； they raised such a clamor as drove the birds
away。
They sailed on； borne by a gentle breeze； until a gulf of the sea opened
before them； and lo！ a mountain that they knew bore some mighty name。
Orpheus； looking on its peak and its crags； said； 〃Lo； now！ We； the
Argonauts； are looking upon the mountain that is named Caucasus！〃
When he declared the name the heroes all stood up and looked on the
mountain with awe。 And in awe they cried out a name； and that name was
〃Prometheus！〃
For upon that mountain the Titan god was held； his limbs bound upon
the hard rocks by fetters of bronze。 Even as the Argonauts looked toward
the mountain a great shadow fell upon their ship； and looking up they saw
a monstrous bird flying。 The beat of the bird's wings filled out the sail and
drove the Argo swiftly onward。 〃It is the bird sent by Zeus；〃 Orpheus said。
〃It is the vulture that every day devours the liver of the Titan god。〃 They
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cowered down on the ship as they heard that wordall the Argonauts save
Heracles； he stood upright and looked out toward where the bird was
flying。 Then； as the bird came near to the mountain； the Argonauts heard a
great cry of anguish go up from the rocks。
〃It is Prometheus crying out as the bird of Zeus flies down upon him；〃
they said to one another。 Again they cowered down on the ship； all save
Heracles； who stayed looking toward where the great vulture had fl
