the golden fleece(金羊毛)-第42章
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lips toward the water that ever flowed away from him； Sisyphuswho had
been condemned to roll up a hill a stone that ever rolled back Sisyphus
heard the music that Orpheus played； and for a while he sat still upon his
stone。 And even those dread ones who bring to the dead the memories of
all their crimes and all their faults； even the Eumenides had their cheeks
wet with tears。
In the throng of the newly come dead Orpheus saw Eurydice。 She
looked upon her husband； but she had not the power to come near him。
But slowly she came when Aidoneus called her。 Then with joy Orpheus
took her hands。
It would be granted themno mortal ever gained such privilege before
to leave； both together； the world of the dead； and to abide for another
space in the world of the living。 One condition there would bethat on
their way up through the valley of Acherusia neither Orpheus nor Eurydice
should look back。
They went through the gate and came amongst the watchers that are
around the portals。 These showed them the path that went up through the
valley of Acherusia。 That way they went； Orpheus and Eurydice； he going
before her。
Up and up through the darkened ways they went； Orpheus knowing；
that Eurydice was behind him； but never looking back upon her。 But as he
went； his heart was filled with things to tellhow the trees were
blossoming in the garden she had left； how the water was sparkling in the
fountain； how the doors of the house stood open； and how they； sitting
together； would watch the sunlight on the laurel bushes。 All these things
were in his heart to tell her； to tell her who came behind him； silent and
unseen。
And now they were nearing the place where the valley of Acherusia
opened on the world of the living。 Orpheus looked on the blue of the sky。
A white…winged bird flew by。 Orpheus turned around and cried； 〃O
Eurydice； look upon the world that I have won you back to！〃
He turned to say this to her。 He saw her with her long dark hair and
pale face。 He held out his arms to clasp her。 But in that instant she slipped
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back into the depths of the valley。 And all he heard spoken was a single
word； 〃Farewell！〃 Long； long had it taken Eurydice to climb so far； but in
the moment of his turning around she had fallen back to her place amongst
the dead。
Down through the valley of Acherusia Orpheus went again。 Again he
came before the watchers of the gate。 But now he was not looked at nor
listened to； and； hopeless； he had to return to the world of the living。
The birds were his friends now； and the trees and the stones。 The birds
flew around him and mourned with him； the trees and stones often
followed him； moved by the music of his lyre。 But a savage band slew
Orpheus and threw his severed head and his lyre into the River Hebrus。 It
is said by the poets that while they floated in midstream the lyre gave out
some mournful notes and the head of Orpheus answered the notes with
song。
And now that he was no longer to be counted with the living； Orpheus
went down to the world of the dead； not going now by that steep descent
through the valley of Acherusia； but going down straightway。 The silent
watchers let him pass； and he went amongst the dead and saw his Eurydice
in the throng。 Again they were together； Orpheus and Eurydice； and as
they went through the place that King Aidoneus ruled over； they had no
fear of looking back； one upon the other。
VII。 JASON AND MEDEA
Jason and Medea； unable to win to Iolcus； staved at Corinth； at the
court of King Creon。 Creon was proud to have Jason in his city； but of
Medea the king was fearful； for he had heard how she had brought about
the death of Apsyrtus； her brother。
Medea wearied of this long waiting in the palace of King Creon。 A
longing came upon her to exercise her powers of enchantment。 She did not
forget what Queen Arete had said to herthat if she wished to appease the
wrath of the gods she should have no more to do with enchantments。 She
did not forget this； but still there grew in her a longing to use all her
powers of enchantment。
And Jason； at the court of King Creon； had his longings； too。 He
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longed to enter Iolcus and to show the people the Golden Fleece that he
had won； he longed to destroy Pelias； the mur derer of his mother and
father； above all he longed to be a king； and to rule in the kingdom that
Cretheus had founded。
Once Jason spoke to Medea of his longing。 〃O Jason；〃 Medea said； 〃I
have done many things for thee and this thing also I will do。 I will go into
Iolcus； and by my enchantments I will make clear the way for the return of
the Argo and for thy return with thy comrades…yea； and for thy coming to
the kingship； O Jason。〃
He should have remembered then the words of Queen Arete to Medea；
but the longing that he had for his triumph and his revenge was in the way
of his remembering。 He said； 〃O Medea； help me in this with all thine
enchantments and thou wilt be more dear to me than ever before thou
wert。〃
Medea then went forth from the palace of King Creon and she made
more terrible spells than ever she had made in Colchis。 All night she
stayed in a tangled place weaving her spells。 Dawn came； and she knew
that the spells she had woven had not been in vain； for beside her there
stood a car that was drawn by dragons。
Medea the Enchantress had never looked on these dragon shapes
before。 When she looked upon them now she was fearful of them。 But
then she said to herself； 〃I am Medea； and I would be a greater enchantress
and a more cunning woman than I have been； and what I have thought of；
that will I carry out。〃 She mounted the car drawn by the dragons； and in
the first light of the day she went from Corinth。
To the places where grew the herbs of magic Medea journeyed in her
dragon…drawn carto the Mountains Ossa； Pelion； Oethrys； Pindus； and
Olympus； then to the rivers Apidanus； Enipeus； and Peneus。 She gathered
herbs on the mountains and grasses on the rivers' banks； some she plucked
up by the roots and some she cut with the curved blade of a knife。 When
she had gathered these herbs and grasses she went back to Corinth on her
dragon…drawn car。
Then Jason saw her； pale and drawn was her face； and her eyes were
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strange and gleaming。 He saw her standing by the car drawn by the
dragons； and a terror of Medea came into his mind。 He went toward her；
but in a harsh voice she bade him not come near to disturb the brewing
that she was going to begin。 Jason turned away。 As he went toward the
palace he saw Glauce； King Creon's daughter； the maiden was coming
from the well and she carried a pitcher of water。 He thought how fair
Glauce looked in the light of the morning； how the wind played with her
hair and her garments； and how far away she was from witcheries and
enchantments。
As for Medea； she placed in a heap beside her the magic herbs and
grasses she had gathered。 Then she put them in a bronze pot and boiled
them in water from the stream。 Soon froth came on the boiling； and Medea
stirred the pot with a withered branch of an apple tree。 The branch was
withered it was indeed no more than a dry stick； but as she stirred the
herbs and grasses with it； first leaves； then flowers； and lastly； bright
gleaming apples came on it。 And when the pot boiled over and drops from
it fell upon the ground； there grew up out of the dry earth soft grasses and
flowers。 Such was the power of renewal that was in the magical brew that
Medea had made。
She filled a phial with the liquid she had brewed； and she scattered the
rest in the wild places of the garden。 Then； taking the phial and the apples
that had grown on the withered branch； she mounted the car drawn by the
dragons； and she went once more from Corinth。
On she journeyed in her dragon…drawn car until she came to a place
that was near to Iolcus。 There the dragons descended。 They had come to a
dark pool。 Medea； making herself naked； stood in that dark pool。 For a
while she looked down upon herself； seeing in the dark water her white
body and her lovely hair。 Then she bathed herself in the water。 Soon a
dread change came over her： she saw her hair become scant and gray； and
she saw her body become bent and withered。 She stepped out of the pool a
withered and witchlike woman； when she dressed herself the rich clothes
that she had worn before hung loosely upon her； and she looked the more
forbidding because of them。 She bade the dragons go； and they flew
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through the air with the empty car。 Then she hid in her dress the phial with
the liquid she had brewed and； the apples that had grown upon the
withered branch。 She picked up a stick to lean upon； and with the gait of
an ancient woman she went hobbling upon the road to Iolcus。
On the streets of the city the fierce fighting men that Pelias had
brought down from the mountains showed themselves； few of the men or
women of the city showed themselves even in the daytime。 Medea went
through the city and to the palace of King Pelias。 But no one might enter
there； and the guards laid ha
