the argonautica(阿尔戈)-第6章
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The Argonautica
herdsmen of Aeson's son had driven before them from the herd two steers。
These the younger comrades dragged near the altars； and the others
brought lustral water and barley meal； and Jason prayed； calling on Apollo
the god of his fathers：
（ll。 411…424） 〃Hear； O King； that dwellest in Pagasae and the city
Aesonis； the city called by my father's name； thou who didst promise me；
when I sought thy oracle at Pytho； to show the fulfilment and goal of my
journey； for thou thyself hast been the cause of my venture； now do thou
thyself guide the ship with my comrades safe and sound； thither and back
again to Hellas。 Then in thy honour hereafter we will lay again on thy
altar the bright offerings of bullsall of us who return； and other gifts in
countless numbers I will bring to Pytho and Ortygia。 And now； come；
Far…darter； accept this sacrifice at our hands； which first of all we have
offered thee for this ship on our embarcation； and grant； O King； that with
a prosperous weird I may loose the hawsers； relying on thy counsel； and
may the breeze blow softly with which we shall sail over the sea in fair
weather。〃
（ll。 425…439） He spake； and with his prayer cast the barley meal。
And they two girded themselves to slay the steers； proud Ancaeus and
Heracles。 The latter with his club smote one steer mid…head on the brow；
and falling in a heap on the spot； it sank to the ground； and Ancaeus struck
the broad neck of the other with his axe of bronze； and shore through the
mighty sinews； and it fell prone on both its horns。 Their comrades
quickly severed the victims' throats； and flayed the hides： they sundered
the joints and carved the flesh； then cut out the sacred thigh bones； and
covering them all together closely with fat burnt them upon cloven wood。
And Aeson's son poured out pure libations； and Idmon rejoiced beholding
the flame as it gleamed on every side from the sacrifice； and the smoke of
it mounting up with good omen in dark spiral columns； and quickly he
spake outright the will of Leto's son：
（ll。 440…447） 〃For you it is the will of heaven and destiny that ye
shall return here with the fleece； but meanwhile both going and returning；
countless trials await you。 But it is my lot； by the hateful decree of a god；
to die somewhere afar off on the mainland of Asia。 Thus； though I learnt
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my fate from evil omens even before now； I have left my fatherland to
embark on the ship； that so after my embarking fair fame may be left me
in my house。〃
（ll。 448…462） Thus he spake； and the youths hearing the divine
utterance rejoiced at their return； but grief seized them for the fate of
Idmon。 Now at the hour when the sun passes his noon…tide halt and the
ploughlands are just being shadowed by the rocks； as the sun slopes
towards the evening dusk； at that hour all the heroes spread leaves thickly
upon the sand and lay down in rows in front of the hoary surf…line； and
near them were spread vast stores of viands and sweet wine； which the
cupbearers had drawn off in pitchers； afterwards they told tales one to
another in turn； such as youths often tell when at the feast and the bowl
they take delightful pastime； and insatiable insolence is far away。 But
here the son of Aeson； all helpless； was brooding over each event in his
mind； like one oppressed with thought。 And Idas noted him and assailed
him with loud voice：
（ll。 463…471） 〃Son of Aeson； what is this plan thou art turning over in
mind。 Speak out thy thought in the midst。 Does fear come on and
master thee； fear； that confounds cowards？ Be witness now my
impetuous spear； wherewith in wars I win renown beyond all others （nor
does Zeus aid me so much as my own spear）； that no woe will be fatal； no
venture will be unachieved； while Idas follows； even though a god should
oppose thee。 Such a helpmeet am I that thou bringest from Arene。〃
（ll。 472…475） He spake； and holding a brimming goblet in both hands
drank off the unmixed sweet wine； and his lips and dark cheeks were
drenched with it； and all the heroes clamoured together and Idmon spoke
out openly：
（ll。 480…484） 〃Vain wretch； thou art devising destruction for thyself
before the time。 Does the pure wine cause thy bold heart to swell in thy
breast to thy ruin； and has it set thee on to dishonour the gods？ Other
words of comfort there are with which a man might encourage his
comrade； but thou hast spoken with utter recklessness。 Such taunts； the
tale goes； did the sons of Aloeus once blurt out against the blessed gods；
and thou dost no wise equal them in valour； nevertheless they were both
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slain by the swift arrows of Leto's son； mighty though they were。〃
（ll。 485…486） Thus he spake； and Aphareian Iclas laughed out； loud
and long； and eyeing him askance replied with biting words：
（ll。 487…491） 〃Come now； tell me this by thy prophetic art； whether
for me too the gods will bring to pass such doom as thy father promised
for the sons of Aloeus。 And bethink thee how thou wilt escape from my
hands alive； if thou art caught making a prophecy vain as the idle wind。〃
（ll。 492…495） Thus in wrath Idas reviled him； and the strife would
have gone further had not their comrades and Aeson's son himself with
indignant cry restrained the contending chiefs； and Orpheus lifted his lyre
in his left hand and made essay to sing。
（ll。 496…511） He sang how the earth； the heaven and the sea； once
mingled together in one form； after deadly strife were separated each from
other； and how the stars and the moon and the paths of the sun ever keep
their fixed place in the sky； and how the mountains rose； and how the
resounding rivers with their nymphs came into being and all creeping
things。 And he sang how first of all Ophion and Eurynome； daughter of
Ocean； held the sway of snowy Olympus； and how through strength of
arm one yielded his prerogative to Cronos and the other to Rhea； and how
they fell into the waves of Ocean； but the other two meanwhile ruled over
the blessed Titan…gods； while Zeus； still a child and with the thoughts of a
child； dwelt in the Dictaean cave； and the earthborn Cyclopes had not yet
armed him with the bolt； with thunder and lightning； for these things give
renown to Zeus。
（ll。 512…518） He ended； and stayed his lyre and divine voice。 But
though he had ceased they still bent forward with eagerness all hushed to
quiet； with ears intent on the enchanting strain； such a charm of song had
he left behind in their hearts。 Not long after they mixed libations in
honour of Zeus； with pious rites as is customary； and poured them upon
the burning tongues； and bethought them of sleep in the darkness。
（ll。 519…558） Now when gleaming dawn with
