the golden fleece(金羊毛)-第17章
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this！ Remember what Nereus； the ancient one of the sea； declared！ Did
Nereus not say that a great labor awaited Heracles； and that in the doing of
it he should work out the will of Zeus？ Stay him not！ How just it would be
if he who is the son of Zeus freed from his torments the much…enduring
Titan god！〃
So Orpheus said in his clear； commanding voice。 They drew near to
the Mountain Caucasus。 Then Heracles； gripping the sword and shield that
were the gifts of the gods； sprang out on the landing place。 The Argonauts
shouted farewell to him。 But he； filled as he was with an overmastering
spirit； did not heed their words。
A strong breeze drove them onward； darkness came down； and the
Argo went on through the night。 With the morning light those who were
sleeping were awakened by the cry of Nauplius〃Lo！ The Phasis； and the
utmost bourne of the sea！〃 They sprang up； and looked with many strange
feelings upon the broad river they had come to。
Here was the Phasis emptying itself into the Sea of Pontus！ Up that
river was Colchis and the city of King Aetes； the end of their voyage； the
place where was kept the Golden Fleece！ Quickly they let down the sail；
they lowered the mast and they laid it along the deck； strongly they
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grasped the oars； they swung the Argo around； and they entered the broad
stream of the Phasis。
Up the river they went with the Mountain Caucasus on their left hand；
and on their right the groves and gardens of Aea； King Aetes's city。 As they
went up the stream； Jason poured from a golden cup an offering to the
gods。 And to the dead heroes of that country the Argonauts prayed for
good fortune to their enterprise。
It was Jason's counsel that they should not at once appear before King
Aetes； but visit him after they had seen the strength of his city。 They drew
their ship into a shaded backwater； and there they stayed while day grew
and faded around them。
Night came； and the heroes slept upon the deck of Argo。 Many things
came back to them in their dreams or through their half…sleep： they
thought of the Lemnian maidens they had parted from； of the Clashing
Rocks they had passed between； of the look in the eyes of Heracles as he
raised his face to the high； black peak of Caucasus。 They slept； and they
thought they saw before them THE GOLDEN FLEECE； darkness
surrounded it； it seemed to the dreaming Argonauts that the darkness was
the magic power that King Aetes possessed。
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PART II。 The Return To Greece
I。 King Aeetes
They had come into a country that was the strangest of all countries；
and amongst a people that were the strangest of all peoples。 They were in
the land； this people said； before the moon had come into the sky。 And it is
true that when the great king of Egypt had come so far； finding in all other
places men living on the high hills and eating the acorns that grew on the
oaks there； he found in Colchis the city of Aea with a wall around it and
with pillars on which writings were graven。 That was when Egypt was
called the Morning Land。
And many of the magicians of Egypt who had come with King
Sesostris stayed in that city of Aea； and they taught people spells that
could stay the moon in her going and coming； in her rising and setting。
Priests of the Moon ruled the city of Aea until King Aeetes came。
Aeetes had no need of their magic； for Helios； the bright Sun； was his
father； as he thought。 Also； Hephaestus； the artisan of the gods； was his
friend； and Hephaestus made for him many wonderful things to be his
protection。 Medea； too； his wise daughter； knew the secrets taught by those
who could sway the moon。
But Aeetes once was made afraid by a dream that he had： he dreamt
that a ship had come up the Phasis； and then； sailing on a mist； had
rammed his palace that was standing there in all its strength and beauty
until it had fallen down。 On the morning of the night that he had had this
dream Aeetes called Medea； his wise daughter； and he bade her go to the
temple of Hecate； the Moon； and search out spells that might destroy those
who came against his city。
That morning the Argonauts； who had passed the night in the
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backwater of the river； had two youths come to them。 They were in a
broken ship； and they had one oar only。 When Jason； after giving them
food and fresh garments； questioned them； he found out that these youths
were of the city of Aea； and that they were none others than the sons of
Phrixusof Phrixus who had come there with the Golden Ram。
And the youths； Phrontis and Melas； were as amazed as was Jason
when they found out whose ship they had come aboard。 For Jason was the
grandson of Cretheus； and Cretheus was the brother of Athamas； their
grandfather。 They had ventured from Aea； where they had been reared；
thinking to reach the country of Athamas and lay claim to his possessions。
But they had been wrecked at a place not far from the mouth of the Phasis；
and with great pain and struggle they had made their way back。
They were fearful of Aea and of their uncle King Aeetes； and they
would gladly go with Jason and the Argonauts back to Greece。 They
would help Jason； they said； to persuade Aeetes to give the Golden Fleece
peaceably to them。 Their mother was the daughter of AeetesChalciope；
whom the king had given in marriage to Phrixus； his guest。
A council of the Argonauts was held； and it was agreed that Jason
should go with two comrades to King Aeetes； Phrontis and Melas going
also。 They were to ask the king to give them the Golden Fleece and to
offer him a recompense。 Jason took Peleus and Telamon with him。
As they came to the city a mist fell； and Jason and his comrades with
the sons of Phrixus went through the city without being seen。 They came
before the palace of King Aeetes。 Then Phrontis and Melas were some
way behind。 The mist lifted； and before the heroes was the wonder of the
palace in the bright light of the morning。
Vines with broad leaves and heavy clusters of fruit grew from column
to column； the columns holding a gallery up。 And under the vines were the
four fountains that Hephaestus had made for King Aeetes。 They gushed
out into golden； silver； bronze； and iron basins。 And one fountain gushed
out clear water； and another gushed out milk； another gushed out wine；
and another oil。 On each side of the courtyard were the palace buildings；
in one King Aeetes lived with Apsyrtus； his son； and in the other
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Chalciope and Medea lived with their handmaidens。
Medea was passing from her father's house。 The mist lifted suddenly
and she saw three strangers in the palace courtyard。 One had a crimson
mantle on； his shoulders were such as to make him seem a man that a
whole world could not overthrow； and his eyes had all the sun's light in
them。
Amazed； Medea stood looking upon Jason； wondering at his bright
hair and gleaming eyes and at the lightness and strength of the hand that
he had raised。 And then a dove flew toward her： it was being chased by a
hawk； and Medea saw the hawk's eyes and beak。 As the dove lighted upon
her shoulder she threw her veil around it； and the hawk dashed itself
against a column。 And as Medea； trembling； leaned against the column she
heard a cry from her sister； who was within。
For now Phrontis and Melas had come up； and Chalciope who was
spinning by the door saw them and cried out。 All the servants rushed out。
Seeing Chalciope's sons there they； too； uttered loud cries； and made such
commotion that Apsyrtus and then King Aeetes came out of the palace。
Jason saw King Aeetes。 He was old and white； but he had great green
eyes； and the strength of a leopard was in all he did。 And Jason looked
upon Apsyrtus too； the son of Aeetes looked like a Phoenician merchant；
black of beard and with rings in his ears； with a hooked nose and a gleam
of copper in his face。
Phrontis and Melas went from their mother's embrace and made
reverence to King Aeetes。 Then they spoke of the heroes who were with
them； of Jason and his two comrades。 Aeetes bade all enter the palace；
baths were made ready for them； and a banquet was prepared。
After the banquet； when they all sat together； Aeetes addressing the
eldest of Chalciope's sons； said：
〃Sons of Phrixus； of that man whom I honored above all men who
came to my halls； speak now and tell me how it is that you have come
back to Aea so soon； and who they are； these men who come with you？〃
Aeetes； as he spoke； looked sharply upon Phrontis and Melas； for he
suspected them of having returned to Aea； bringing these armed men with
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them； with an evil intent。 Phrontis looked at the King； and said：
〃Aeetes； our ship was driven upon the Island of Ares； where it was
almost broken upon the rocks。 That was on a murky night； and in the
morning the birds of Ares shot their sharp feathers upon us。 We pulled
away from that place； and thereafter we were driven by the winds back to
the mouth of the Phasis。 There
