the argonautica(阿尔戈)-第50章
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unceasingly。 And if ever again we return in our voyaging to the Achaean
land； then to you among the first of goddesses with willing hearts will we
bring countless gifts； libations and banquets。〃
（ll。 1422…1431） So he spake； beseeching them with plaintive voice；
and they from their station near pitied their pain； and lo！ First of all they
caused grass to spring from the earth； and above the grass rose up tall
shoots； and then flourishing saplings grew standing upright far above the
earth。 Hespere became a poplar and Eretheis an elm； and Aegle a
willow's sacred trunk。 And forth from these trees their forms looked out；
as clear as they were before； a marvel exceeding great； and Aegle spake
with gentle words answering their longing looks： （ll。 1432…1449）
〃Surely there has come hither a mighty succour to your toils； that most
accursed man； who robbed our guardian serpent of life and plucked the
golden apples of the goddesses and is gone； and has left bitter grief for us。
For yesterday came a man most fell in wanton violence； most grim in form；
and his eyes flashed beneath his scowling brow； a ruthless wretch； and he
was clad in the skin of a monstrous lion of raw hide； untanned； and he bare
a sturdy bow of olive； and a bow； wherewith he shot and killed this
monster here。 So he too came； as one traversing the land on foot；
parched with thirst； and he rushed wildly through this spot； searching for
water； but nowhere was he like to see it。 Now here stood a rock near the
Tritonian lake； and of his own device； or by the prompting of some god；
he smote it below with his foot； and the water gushed out in full flow。 And
he； leaning both his hands and chest upon the ground； drank a huge
draught from the rifted rock； until； stooping like a beast of the field； he had
satisfied his mighty maw。〃
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（ll。 1450…1457） Thus she spake； and they gladly with joyful steps ran
to the spot where Aegle had pointed out to them the spring； until they
reached it。 And as when earth…burrowing ants gather in swarms round a
narrow cleft； or when flies lighting upon a tiny drop of sweet honey cluster
round with insatiate eagerness； so at that time； huddled together； the
Minyae thronged about the spring from the rock。 And thus with wet lips
one cried to another in his delight：
（ll。 1458…1460） 〃Strange！ In very truth Heracles； though far away；
has saved his comrades； fordone with thirst。 Would that we might find
him on his way as we pass through the mainland！〃
（ll。 1461…1484） So they spake； and those who were ready for this
work answered； and they separated this way and that； each starting to
search。 For by the night winds the footsteps had been effaced where the
sand was stirred。 The two sons of Boreas started up； trusting in their
wings； and Euphemus； relying on his swift feet； and Lynceus to cast far his
piercing eyes； and with them darted off Canthus； the fifth。 He was urged
on by the doom of the gods and his own courage； that he might learn for
certain from Heracles where he had left Polyphemus； son of Eilatus； for he
was minded to question him on every point concerning his comrade。 But
that hero had founded a glorious city among the Mysians； and； yearning
for his home…return； had passed far over the mainland in search of Argo；
and in time he reached the land of the Chalybes； who dwell near the sea；
there it was that his fate subdued him。 And to him a monument stands
under a tall poplar； just facing the sea。 But that day Lynceus thought he
saw Heracles all alone； far off； over measureless land； as a man at the
month's beginning sees； or thinks he sees； the moon through a bank of
cloud。 And he returned and told his comrades that no other searcher
would find Heracles on his way； and they also came back； and swift…footed
Euphemus and the twin sons of Thracian Boreas； after a vain toil。
（ll。 1485…1501） But thee； Canthus； the fates of death seized in Libya。
On pasturing flocks didst thou light； and there followed a shepherd who；
in defence of his own sheep； while thou weft leading them off （11） to thy
comrades in their need； slew thee by the cast of a stone； for he was no
weakling； Caphaurus； the grandson of Lycoreian Phoebus and the chaste
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maiden Acacallis； whom once Minos drove from home to dwell in Libya；
his own daughter； when she was bearing the gods' heavy load； and she
bare to Phoebus a glorious son； whom they call Amphithemis and
Garamas。 And Amphithemis wedded a Tritonian nymph； and she bare to
him Nasamon and strong Caphaurus； who on that day in defending his
sheep slew Canthus。 But he escaped not the chieftains' avenging hands；
when they learned the deed he had done。 And the Minyae； when they
knew it； afterwards took up the corpse and buried it in the earth； mourning；
and the sheep they took with them。
（ll。 1502…1536） Thereupon on the same day a pitiless fate seized
Mopsus too； son of Ampycus； and he escaped not a bitter doom by his
prophesying； for there is no averting of death。 Now there lay in the sand；
avoiding the midday heat； a dread serpent； too sluggish of his own will to
strike at an unwilling foe； nor yet would he dart full face at one that would
shrink back。 But into whatever of all living beings that life…giving earth
sustains that serpent once injects his black venom； his path to Hades
becomes not so much as a cubit's length； not even if Paeeon； if it is right
for me to say this openly； should tend him； when its teeth have only grazed
the skin。 For when over Libya flew godlike Perseus Eurymedon for
by that name his mother called himbearing to the king the Gorgon's head
newly severed； all the drops of dark blood that fell to the earth； produced a
brood of those serpents。 Now Mopsus stepped on the end of its spine；
setting thereon the sole of his left foot； and it writhed round in pain and bit
and tore the flesh between the shin and the muscles。 And Medea and her
handmaids fled in terror； but Canthus bravely felt the bleeding wound； for
no excessive pain harassed him。 Poor wretch！ Already a numbness that
loosed his limbs was stealing beneath his skin； and a thick mist was
spreading over his eyes。 Straightway his heavy limbs sank helplessly to
the ground and he grew cold； and his comrades and the hero； Aeson's son；
gathered round； marvelling at the close…coming doom。 Nor yet though
dead might he lie beneath the sun even for a little space。 For at once the
poison began to rot his flesh within； and the hair decayed and fell from the
skin。 And quickly and in haste they dug a deep grave with mattocks of
bronze； and they tore their hair； the heroes and the maidens； bewailing the
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