the golden fleece(金羊毛)-第16章
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Heracles； who stayed looking toward where the great vulture had flown。
The night came and the Argonauts sailed on in silence； thinking in awe
of the Titan god and of the doom that Zeus had inflicted upon him。 Then；
as they sailed on under the stars； Orpheus told them of Prometheus； of his
gift to men； and of the fearful punishment that had been meted out to him
by Zeus。
Prometheus
The gods more than once made a race of men： the first was a Golden
Race。 Very close to the gods who dwell on Olympus was this Golden Race；
they lived justly although there were no laws to compel them。 In the time
of the Golden Race the earth knew only one season； and that season was
everlasting Spring。 The men and women of the Golden Race lived through
a span of life that was far beyond that of the men and women of our day；
and when they died it was as though sleep had become everlasting with
them。 They had all good things； and that without labor； for the earth
without any forcing bestowed fruits and crops upon them。 They had peace
all through their lives； this Golden Race； and after they had passed away
their spirits remained above the earth； inspiring the men of the race that
came after them to do great and gracious things and to act justly and
kindly to one another。
After the Golden Race had passed away； the gods made for the earth a
second racea Silver Race。 Less noble in spirit and in body was this Silver
Race； and the seasons that visited them were less gracious。 In the time of
the Silver Race the gods made the seasonsSummer and Spring； and
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Autumn and Winter。 They knew parching heat； and the bitter winds of
winter； and snow and rain and hail。 It was the men of the Silver Race who
first built houses for shelter。 They lived through a span of life that was
longer than our span； but it was not long enough to give wisdom to them。
Children were brought up at their mothers' sides for a hundred years；
playing at childish things。 And when they came to years beyond a
hundred they quarreled with one another； and wronged one another； and
did not know enough to give reverence to the immortal gods。 Then； by the
will of Zeus； the Silver Race passed away as the Golden Race had
passed away。 Their spirits stay in the Underworld； and they are called by
men the blessed spirits of the Underworld。
And then there was made the third racethe Race of Bronze。 They
were a race great of stature； terrible and strong。 Their armor was of bronze；
their swords were of bronze； their implements were of bronze； and of
bronze； too； they made their houses。 No great span of life was theirs； for
with the weapons that they took in their terrible hands they slew one
another。 Thus they passed away； and went down under the earth to Hades；
leaving no name that men might know them by。
Then the gods created a fourth raceour own： a Race of Iron。 We have
not the justice that was amongst the men of the Golden Race； nor the
simpleness that was amongst the men of the Silver Race； nor the stature
nor the great strength that the men of the Bronze Race possessed。 We are
of iron that we may endure。 It is our doom that we must never cease from
labor and that we must very quickly grow old。
But miserable as we are to…day； there was a time when the lot of men
was more miserable。 With poor implements they had to labor on a hard
ground。 There was less justice and kindliness amongst men in those days
than there is now。
Once it came into the mind of Zeus that he would destroy the fourth
race and leave the earth to the nymphs and the satyrs。 He would destroy it
by a great flood。 But Prometheus； theTitan god who had given aid to
Zeus against the other TitansPrometheus； who was called the Foreseer
could not consent to the race of men being destroyed utterly； and he
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
considered a way of saving some of them。 To a man and a woman；
Deucalion and Pyrrha； just and gentle people； he brought word of the plan
of Zeus； and he showed them how to make a ship that would bear them
through what was about to be sent upon the earth。
Then Zeus shut up in their cave all the winds but the wind that brings
rain and clouds。 He bade this wind； the South Wind； sweep over the earth；
flooding it with rain。 He called upon Poseidon and bade him to let the sea
pour in upon the land。 And Poseidon commanded the rivers to put forth all
their strength； and sweep dykes away； and overflow their banks。
The clouds and the sea and the rivers poured upon the earth。 The flood
rose higher and higher； and in the places where the pretty lambs had
played the ugly sea calves now gambolled； men in their boats drew fishes
out of the tops of elm trees； and the water nymphs were amazed to come
on men's cities under the waves。
Soon even the men and women who had boats were overwhelmed by
the rise of waterall perished then except Deucalion and Pyrrha； his wife；
them the waves had not overwhelmed； for they were in a ship that
Prometheus had shown them how to build。 The flood went down at last；
and Deucalion and Pyrrha climbed up to a high and a dry ground。 Zeus
saw that two of the race of men had been left alive。 But he saw that these
two were just and kindly； and had a right reverence for the gods。 He spared
them； and he saw their children again peopling the earth。
Prometheus； who had saved them； looked on the men and women of
the earth with compassion。 Their labor was hard； and they wrought much
to gain little。 They were chilled at night in their houses； and the winds that
blew in the daytime made the old men and women bend double like a
wheel。 Prometheus thought to himself that if men and women had the
element that only the gods knew ofthe element of firethey could make
for themselves implements for labor； they could build houses that would
keep out the chilling winds； and they could warm themselves at the blaze。
But the gods had not willed that men should have fire； and to go
against the will of the gods would be impious。 Prometheus went against
the will of the gods。 He stole fire from the altar of Zeus； and he hid it in a
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hollow fennel stalk； and he brought it to men。
Then men were able to hammer iron into tools； and cut down forests
with axes； and sow grain where the forests had been。 Then were they able
to make houses that the storms could not overthrow； and they were able to
warm themselves at hearth fires。 They had rest from their labor at times。
They built cities； they became beings who no longer had heads and backs
bent but were able to raise their faces even to the gods。
And Zeus spared the race of men who had now the sacred element of
fire。 But he knew that Prometheus had stolen this fire even from his own
altar and had given it to men。 And he thought on how he might punish the
great Titan god for his impiety。
He brought back from the Underworld the giants that he had put there
to guard the Titans that had been hurled down to Tartarus。 He brought
back Gyes； Cottus； and Briareus； and he commanded them to lay hands
upon Prometheus and to fasten him with fetters to the highest； blackest
crag upon Caucasus。 And Briareus； Cottus； and Gyes seized upon the Titan
god； and carried him to Caucasus； and fettered him with fetters of bronze
to the highest； blackest cragwith fetters of bronze that may not be broken。
There they have left the Titan stretched； under the sky； with the cold winds
blowing upon him； and with the sun streaming down on him。 And that his
punishment might exceed all other punishments Zeus had sent a vulture to
prey upon hima vulture that tears at his liver each day。
And yet Prometheus does not cry out that he has repented of his gift to
man； although the winds blow upon him； and the sun streams upon him；
and the vulture tears at his liver； Prometheus will not cry out his
repentance to heaven。 And Zeus may not utterly destroy him。 For
Prometheus the Foreseer knows a secret that Zeus would fain have him
disclose。 He knows that even as Zeus overthrew his father and made
himself the ruler in his stead； so； too； another will overthrow Zeus。 And
one day Zeus will have to have the fetters broken from around the limbs of
Prometheus； and will have to bring from the rock and the vulture； and into
the Council of the Olympians； the unyielding Titan god。
When the light of the morning came the Argo was very near to the
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Mountain Caucasus。 The voyagers looked in awe upon its black crags。
They saw the great vulture circling over a high rock； and from beneath
where the vulture circled they heard a weary cry。 Then Heracles； who all
night had stood by the mast； cried out to the Argonauts to bring the ship
near to a landing place。
But Jason would not have them go near； fear of the wrath of Zeus was
strong upon him； rather； he bade the Argonauts put all their strength into
their rowing； and draw far off from that forbidden mountain。 Heracles； not
heeding what Jason ordered； declared that it was his purpose to make his
way up to the black crag； and； with his shield and his sword in his hands；
slay the vulture that preyed upon the liver of Prometheus。
Then Orpheus in a clear voice spoke to the Argonauts。 〃Surely some
spirit possesses Heracles；〃 he said。 〃Despite all we do or say he will make
his way to where Prometheus is fettered to the rock。 Do not gainsay him in
this！ Remember what Nereus； the ancient one of the sea； declared！ Did
Nereus not say that a
