the argonautica-第14章
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implore the gods as ye will； I forbid you not。 But if she flies onward and perishes midway； then do ye turn back； for it is better to yield to the immortals。 For ye could not escape an evil doom from the rocks； not even if Argo were of iron。
（ll。 341…359） 〃O hapless ones； dare not to transgress my divine warning； even though ye think that I am thrice as much hated by the sons of heaven as I am； and even more than thrice； dare not to sail further with your ship in despite of the omen。 And as these things will fall； so shall they fall。 But if ye shun the clashing rocks and come scatheless inside Pontus； straightway keep the land of the Bithynians on your right and sail on； and beware of the breakers； until ye round the swift river Rhebas and the black beach； and reach the harbour of the Isle of Thynias。 Thence ye must turn back a little space through the sea and beach your ship on the land of the Mariandyni lying opposite。 Here is a downward path to the abode of Hades； and the headland of Acherusia stretches aloft； and eddying Acheron cleaves its way at the bottom； even through the headland； and sends its waters forth from a huge ravine。 And near it ye will sail past many hills of the Paphlagonians； over whom at the first Eneteian Pelops reigned； and of his blood they boast themselves to be。
（ll。 360…406） 〃Now there is a headland opposite Helice the Bear； steep on all sides； and they call it Carambis； about whose crests the blasts of the north wind are sundered。 So high in the air does it rise turned towards the sea。 And when ye have rounded it broad Aegialus stretches before you； and at the end of broad Aegialus； at a jutting point of coast； the waters of the river Halys pour forth with a terrible roar； and after it his flowing near； but smaller in stream； rolls into the sea with white eddies。 Onward from thence the bend of a huge and towering cape reaches out from the land； next Thermodon at its mouth flows into a quiet bay at the Themiscyreian headland； after wandering through a broad continent。 And here is the plain of Doeas； and near are the three cities of the Amazons； and after them the Chalybes； most wretched of men； possess a soil rugged and unyielding sons of toil； they busy themselves with working iron。 And near them dwell the Tibareni； rich in sheep； beyond the Genetaean headland of Zeus； lord of hospitality。 And bordering on it the Mossynoeci next in order inhabit the well…wooded mainland and the parts beneath the mountains； who have built in towers made from trees their wooden homes and well…fitted chambers； which they call Mossynes； and the people themselves take their name from them。 After passing them ye must beach your ship upon a smooth island； when ye have driven away with all manner of skill the ravening birds； which in countless numbers haunt the desert island。 In it the Queens of the Amazons； Otrere and Antiope； built a stone temple of Ares what time they went forth to war。 Now here an unspeakable help will come to you from the bitter sea； wherefore with kindly intent I bid you stay。 But what need is there that I should sin yet again declaring everything to the end by my prophetic art？ And beyond the island and opposite mainland dwell the Philyres： and above the Philyres are the Macrones； and after them the vast tribes of the Becheiri。 And next in order to them dwell the Sapeires； and the Byzeres have the lands adjoining to them； and beyond them at last live the warlike Colchians themselves。 But speed on in your ship； till ye touch the inmost bourne of the sea。 And here at the Cytaean mainland and from the Amarantine mountains far away and the Circaean plain； eddying Phasis rolls his broad stream to the sea。 Guide your ship to the mouth of that river and ye shall behold the towers of Cytaean Aeetes and the shady grove of Ares； where a dragon； a monster terrible to behold； ever glares around； keeping watch over the fleece that is spread upon the top of an oak； neither by day nor by night does sweet sleep subdue his restless eyes。〃
（ll。 408…410） Thus he spake； and straightway fear seized them as they heard。 And for a long while they were struck with silence； till at last the hero； son of Aeson； spake； sore dismayed at their evil plight：
（ll。 411…418） 〃O aged sire； now hast thou come to the end of the toils of our sea…journeying and hast told us the token； trusting to which we shall make our way to Pontus through the hateful rocks； but whether； when we have escaped them； we shall have a return back again to Hellas； this too would we gladly learn from thee。 What shall I do； how shall I go over again such a long path through the sea； unskilled as I am； with unskilled comrades？ And Colchian Aea lies at the edge of Pontus and of the world。〃
（ll。 419…425） Thus he spake； and him the aged sire addressed in reply： 〃O son； when once thou hast escaped through the deadly rocks； fear not； for a deity will be the guide from Aea by another track； and to Aea there will be guides enough。 But； my friends； take thought of the artful aid of the Cyprian goddess。 For on her depends the glorious issue of your venture。 And further than this ask me not。〃
（ll。 426…437） Thus spake Agenor's son； and close at hand the twin sons of Thracian Boreas came darting from the sky and set their swift feet upon the threshold； and the heroes rose up from their seats when they saw them present。 And Zetes； still drawing hard breath after his toil； spake among the eager listeners； telling them how far they had driven the Harpies and how his prevented their slaying them； and how the goddess of her grace gave them pledges； and how those others in fear plunged into the vast cave of the Dictaean cliff。 Then in the mansion all their comrades were joyful at the tidings and so was Phineus himself。 And quickly Aeson's son； with good will exceeding； addressed him：
（ll。 438…442） Assuredly there was then； Phineus； some god who cared for thy bitter woe； and brought us hither from afar； that the sons of Boreas might aid thee； and if too he should bring sight to thine eyes； verily I should rejoice； methinks； as much as if I were on my homeward way。〃
（ll。 443…447） Thus he spake； but Phineus replied to him with downcast look： 〃Son of Aeson； that is past recall； nor is there any remedy hereafter； for blasted are my sightless eyes。 But instead of that； may the god grant me death at once； and after death I shall take my share in perfect bliss。〃
（ll。 448…467） Then they two returned answering speech； each to other； and soon in the midst of their converse early dawn appeared； and round Phineus were gathered the neighbours who used to come thither aforetime day by day and constantly bring a portion of their food。 To all alike； however poor he was that came； the aged man gave his oracles with good will； and freed many from their woes by his prophetic art； wherefore they visited and tended him。 And with them came Paraebius； who was dearest to him； and gladly did he perceive these strangers in the house。 For long ere now the seer himself had said that a band of chieftains； faring from Hellas to the city of Aceres； would make fast their hawsers to the Thynian land； and by Zeus' will would check tho approach of the Harpies。 The rest the old man pleased with words of wisdom and let them go； Paraebius only he bade remain there with the chiefs； and straightway he sent him and bade him bring back the choicest of his sheep。 And when he had left the hall Phineus spake gently amid the throng of oarsmen：
（ll。 468…489） 〃O my friends； not all men are arrogant； it seems； nor unmindful of benefits。 Even as this man； loyal as he is； came hither to learn his fate。 For when he laboured the most and toiled the most； then the needs of life； ever growing more and more； would waste him； and day after day ever dawned more wretched； nor was there any respite to his toil。 But he was paying the sad penalty of his father's sin。 For he when alone on the mountains； felling trees； once slighted the prayers of a Hamadryad； who wept and sought to soften him with plaintive words； not to cut down the stump of an oak tree coeval with herself； wherein for a long time she had lived continually； but he in the arrogance of youth recklessly cut it
