the argonautica-第25章

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ame　to　the　abode　of　Nausithous　and　to　Macris；　the　nurse　of　Dionysus；　to　cleanse　himself　from　the　deadly　murder　of　his　children；　here　he　loved　and　overcame　the　water　nymph　Melite；　the　daughter　of　the　river　Aegaeus；　and　she　bare　mighty　Hyllus。　　But　when　he　had　grown　up　he　desired　not　to　dwell　in　that　island　under　the　rule　of　Nausithous　the　king；　but　he　collected　a　host　of　native　Phaeacians　and　came　to　the　Cronian　sea；　for　the　hero　King　Nausithous　aided　his　journey；　and　there　he　settled；　and　the　Mentores　slew　him　as　he　was　fighting　for　the　oxen　of　his　field。

（ll。　552…556）　　Now；　goddesses；　say　how　it　is　that　beyond　this　sea；　near　the　land　of　Ausonia　and　the　Ligystian　isles；　which　are　called　Stoechades；　the　mighty　tracks　of　the　ship　Argo　are　clearly　sung　of？　　What　great　constraint　and　need　brought　the　heroes　so　far？　　What　breezes　wafted　them？

（ll。　557…591）　　When　Apsyrtus　had　fallen　in　mighty　overthrow　Zeus　himself；　king　of　gods；　was　seized　with　wrath　at　what　they　had　done。　　And　he　ordained　that　by　the　counsels　of　Aeaean　Circe　they　should　cleanse　themselves　from　the　terrible　stain　of　blood　and　suffer　countless　woes　before　their　return。　　Yet　none　of　the　chieftains　knew　this；　but　far　onward　they　sped　starting　from　the　Hyllean　land；　and　they　left　behind　all　the　islands　that　were　beforetime　thronged　by　the　Colchiansthe　Liburnian　isles；　isle　after　isle；　Issa；　Dysceladus；　and　lovely　Pityeia。　　Next　after　them　they　came　to　Corcyra；　where　Poseidon　settled　the　daughter　of　Asopus；　fair…haired　Corcyra；　far　from　the　land　of　Phlius；　whence　he　had　carried　her　off　through　love；　and　sailors　beholding　it　from　the　sea；　all　black　with　its　sombre　woods；　call　it　Corcyra　the　Black。　　And　next　they　passed　Melite；　rejoicing　in　the　soft…blowing　breeze；　and　steep　Cerossus；　and　Nymphaea　at　a　distance；　where　lady　Calypso；　daughter　of　Atlas；　dwelt；　and　they　deemed　they　saw　the　misty　mountains　of　Thunder。　　And　then　Hera　bethought　her　of　the　counsels　and　wrath　of　Zeus　concerning　them。　And　she　devised　an　ending　of　their　voyage　and　stirred　up　storm…winds　before　them；　by　which　they　were　caught　and　borne　back　to　the　rocky　isle　of　Electra。　　And　straightway　on　a　sudden　there　called　to　them　in　the　midst　of　their　course；　speaking　with　a　human　voice；　the　beam　of　the　hollow　ship；　which　Athena　had　set　in　the　centre　of　the　stem；　made　of　Dodonian　oak。　　And　deadly　fear　seized　them　as　they　heard　the　voice　that　told　of　the　grievous　wrath　of　Zeus。　　For　it　proclaimed　that　they　should　not　escape　the　paths　of　an　endless　sea　nor　grievous　tempests；　unless　Circe　should　purge　away　the　guilt　of　the　ruthless　murder　of　Apsyrtus；　and　it　bade　Polydeuces　and　Castor　pray　to　the　immortal　gods　first　to　grant　a　path　through　the　Ausonian　sea　where　they　should　find　Circe；　daughter　of　Perse　and　Helios。

（ll。　592…626）　　Thus　Argo　cried　through　the　darkness；　and　the　sons　of　Tyndareus　uprose；　and　lifted　their　hands　to　the　immortals　praying　for　each　boon：　but　dejection　held　the　rest　of　the　Minyan　heroes。　　And　far　on　sped　Argo　under　sail；　and　entered　deep　into　the　stream　of　Eridanus；　where　once；　smitten　on　the　breast　by　the　blazing　bolt；　Phaethon　half…consumed　fell　from　the　chariot　of　Helios　into　the　opening　of　that　deep　lake；　and　even　now　it　belcheth　up　heavy　steam　clouds　from　the　smouldering　wound。　　And　no　bird　spreading　its　light　wings　can　cross　that　water；　but　in　mid…course　it　plunges　into　the　flame；　fluttering。　　And　all　around　the　maidens；　the　daughters　of　Helios；　enclosed　in　tall　poplars；　wretchedly　wail　a　piteous　plaint；　and　from　their　eyes　they　shed　on　the　ground　bright　drops　of　amber。　　These　are　dried　by　the　sun　upon　the　sand；　but　whenever　the　waters　of　the　dark　lake　flow　over　the　strand　before　the　blast　of　the　wailing　wind；　then　they　roll　on　in　a　mass　into　Eridanus　with　swelling　tide。　　But　the　Celts　have　attached　this　story　to　them；　that　these　are　the　tears　of　Leto's　son；　Apollo；　that　are　borne　along　by　the　eddies；　the　countless　tears　that　he　shed　aforetime　when　he　came　to　the　sacred　race　of　the　Hyperboreans　and　left　shining　heaven　at　the　chiding　of　his　father；　being　in　wrath　concerning　his　son　whom　divine　Coronis　bare　in　bright　Lacereia　at　the　mouth　of　Amyrus。　　And　such　is　the　story　told　among　these　men。　　But　no　desire　for　food　or　drink　seized　the　heroes　nor　were　their　thoughts　turned　to　joy。　But　they　were　sorely　afflicted　all　day；　heavy　and　faint　at　heart；　with　the　noisome　stench；　hard　to　endure；　which　the　streams　of　Eridanus　sent　forth　from　Phaethon　still　burning；　and　at　night　they　heard　the　piercing　lament　of　the　daughters　of　Helios；　wailing　with　shrill　voice；　and；　as　they　lamented；　their　tears　were　borne　on　the　water　like　drops　of　oil。

（ll。　627…658）　　Thence　they　entered　the　deep　stream　of　Rhodanus　which　flows　into　Eridanus；　and　where　they　meet　there　is　a　roar　of　mingling　waters。　　Now　that　river；　rising　from　the　ends　of　the　earth；　where　are　the　portals　and　mansions　of　Night；　on　one　side　bursts　forth　upon　the　beach　of　Ocean；　at　another　pours　into　the　Ionian　sea；　and　on　the　third　through　seven　mouths　sends　its　stream　to　the　Sardinian　sea　and　its　limitless　bay。　（3）　　And　from　Rhodanus　they　entered　stormy　lakes；　which　spread　throughout　the　Celtic　mainland　of　wondrous　size；　and　there　they　would　have　met　with　an　inglorious　calamity；　for　a　certain　branch　of　the　river　was　bearing　them　towards　a　gulf　of　Ocean　which　in　ignorance　they　were　about　to　enter；　and　never　would　they　have　returned　from　there　in　safety。　　But　Hera　leaping　forth　from　heaven　pealed　her　cry　from　the　Hercynian　rock；　and　all　together　were　shaken　with　fear　of　her　cry；　for　terribly　crashed　the　mighty　firmament。　　And　backward　they　turned　by　reason　of　the　goddess；　and　noted　the　path　by　which　their　return　was　ordained。　　And　after　a　long　while　they　came　to　the　beach　of　the　surging　sea　by　the　devising　of　Hera；　passing　unharmed　through　countless　tribes　of　the　Celts　and　Ligyans。　　For　round　them　the　goddess　poured　a　dread　mist　day　by　day　as　they　fared　on。　　And　so；　sailing　through　the　midmost　mouth；　they　reached　the　Stoechades　islands　in　safety　by　the　aid　of　the　sons　of　Zeus；　wherefore　altars　and　sacred　rites　are　established　in　their　honour　for　ever；　and　not　that　sea…faring　alone　did　they　attend　to　succour；　but　Zeus　granted　to　them　the　ships　of　future　sailors　too。　　Then　leaving　the　Stoechades　they　passed　on　to　the　island　Aethalia；　where　after　their　toil　they　wiped　away　with　pebbles　sweat　in　abundance；　and　pebbles　like　skin　in　colour　are　strewn　on　the　beach；　（4）　and　there　are　their　quoits　and　their　wondrous　armour；　and　there　is　the　Argoan　harbour　called　after　them。

（ll。　659…684）　　And　quickly　from　there　they　passed　through　the　sea；　beholding　the　Tyrrhenian　shores　of　Ausonia；　and　they　came　to　the　famous　harbour　of　Aeaea；　and　from　the　ship　they　cast　hawsers　to　the　shore　near　at　hand。　　And　here　they　found　Circe　bathing　her　head　in　the　salt　sea…spray；　for　sorely　had　she　been　scared　by　visions　of　the　night。　　With　blood　her　chambers　and　all　the　walls　of　her　palace　seemed　to　be　running；　and　flame　was　devouring　all　the　magic　herbs　with　which　she　used　to　bewitch　strangers　whoever　came；　and　she　herself　with　murderous　blood　quenched　the　glowing　flame；　drawing　it　up　in　her　hands；　and　she　ceased　from　deadly　fear。　　Wherefore　when　morning　came　she　rose；　and　with　sea…spray　was　bathing　her　hair　and　her　garments。　　And　beasts；　not　resembling　the　beasts　of　the　wild；　nor　yet　like　men　in　body；　but　with　a　medley　of　limbs；　went　in　a　throng；　as　sheep　from　the　fold　in　multitudes　follow　the　shepherd。　　Such　creatures；　compacted　of　various　limbs；　did　each　herself　produce　from　the　primeval　slime　when　she　had　not　yet　grown　solid　beneath　a　rainless　sky　nor　yet　had　received　a　drop　of　moisture　from　the　rays　of　the　scorching　sun；　but　time　combined　these　forms　and　marshalled　them　in　their　ranks；　in　such　wise　these　monsters　shapeless　of　form　followed　her。　　And　exceeding　wonder　seized　the　heroes；　and　at　once；　as　each　gazed　on　the　form　and　face　of　Circe；　they　readily　guessed　that　she　was　the　sister　of　Aeetes。

（ll。　685…717）　　Now　when　she　had　dismissed　the　fears　of　her　nightly　visions；　straightway　she　fared　backwards；　and　in　her　subtlety　she　bade　the　heroes　follow；　charming　them　on　with　her　hand。　　Thereupon　the　host　remained　stedfast　at　the　bidding　of　Aeson's　son；　but　Jason　drew　with　him　the　Colchian　maid。　　And　both　followed　the　selfsame　path　till　they　reached　the　hall　of　Circe；　and　she　in　amaze　at　their　coming　bade　them　sit　on　brightly　burnished　seats。　　And　they；　quiet　and　silent；　sped　to　the　hearth　and　sat　there；　as　is　the　wont　of　wretched　suppliants。　　Medea　hid　her　face　in　both　her　hands；　but　Jason　fixed　in　the　ground　the　mighty　hilted　sword　with　which　he　had　slain　Aeetes'　son；　nor　did　they　raise　their　eyes　to　meet　her　look。　　And　straightway　Circe　became　aware　of　the　doom　of　a　suppliant　and　the　guilt　of　murder。　Wherefore　in　reverence　for　the　ordinance　of　Zeus；　the　god　of　suppliants；　who　is　a　god　of　wrath　yet　mightily　aids　slayers　of　men；　she　began　to　offer　the　sacrifice　with　which　ruthless　suppliants　are　cleansed　from　guilt　when　they　approach　the　altar。　First；　to　atone　for　the　murder　still　unexpiated；　she　held　above　their　heads　the　young　of　a　sow　whose　dugs　yet　swelled　from　the　fruit　of　the　womb；　and；　severing　its　neck；　sprinkled　their　hands　with　the　blood；　and　again　she　made　propitiation　with　other　drink　offerings；　calling　on　Zeus　the　Cleanser；　the　protector　of　murder…　stained　suppliants。　　And　all　the　defilements　in　a　mass　her　attendants　bore　forth　from　the　palacethe　Naiad　nymphs　who　ministered　all　things　to　her。　　And　within；　Circe；　standing　by　the　hearth；　kept　burning　atonement…cakes　without　wine；　praying　the　while　that　she　might　stay　from　their　wrath　the　terrible　Furies；　and　that　Zeus　himself　might　be　propitious　and　gentle　to　them　　both；　whether　with　hands　stained　by　the　blood　of　a　stranger　or；　as　kinsfolk；　by　the　blood　of　a　kinsman；　they　should　implore　his　grace。

（ll。　718…738）　　But　when　she　had　wrought　all　her　task；　then　she　raised　them　up　and　seated　them　on　well　polished　seats；　and　herself　sat　near；　face　to　face　with　them。　　And　at　once　she　asked　them　clearly　of　their　business　and　their　voyaging；　and　whence　they　had　come　to　her　land　and　palace；　and　had　thus　seated　themselves　as　suppliants　at　her　hearth。　　For　in　truth　the　hideous　remembrance　of　her　dreams　entered　her　mind　as　she　pondered；　and　she　longed　to　hear　the　voice　of　the　maiden；　her　kinswoman；　as　soon　as　she　saw　that　she　had　raised　her　eyes　from　the　ground。　　For　all　those　of　the　race　of　Helios　were　plain　to　discern；　since　by　the　far　flashing　of　their　eyes　they　shot　in　front　of　them　a　gleam　as　of　gold。　　So　Medea　told　her　all　she　askedthe　daughter　of　Aeetes　of　the　gloomy　heart；　speaking　gently　in　the　Colchian　tongue；　both　of　the　quest　and　the　journeyings　of　the　heroes；　and　of　their　toils　in　the　swift　contests；　and　how　she　had　sinned　through　the　counsels　of　her　much…sorrowing　sister；　and　how　with　the　sons　of　Phrixus　she　had　fled　afar　from　the　tyrannous　horrors　of　her　father；　but　she　shrank　from　telling　of　the　murder　of　Apsyrtus。　　Yet　she　escaped　not　Circe's　ken；　nevertheless；　in　spite　of　all；　she　pitied　the　weeping　maiden；　and　spake　thus：

（ll。　739…748）　　〃Poor　wretch；　an　evil　and　shameful　return　hast　thou　planned。　　Not　for　long；　I　ween；　wilt　thou　escape　the　heavy　wrath　of　Aeetes；　but　soon　will　he　go　even　to　the　dwellings　of　Hel