the argonautica-第31章
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traightway thrust the ship from shore； and loud was the din as the chieftains strained at their oars； but she； starting back； held out her hands in despair towards the shore。 But Jason spoke cheering words and restrained her grief。
（ll。 109…122） Now at the hour when men have cast sleep from their eyes~huntsmen； who； trusting to their bounds； never slumber away the end of night； but avoid the light of dawn lest； smiting with its white beams； it efface the track and scent of the quarry then did Aeson's son and the maiden step forth from the ship over a grassy spot； the 〃Ram's couch〃 as men call it； where it first bent its wearied knees in rest； bearing on its back the Minyan son of Athamas。 And close by； all smirched with soot； was the base of the altar； which the Aeolid Phrixus once set up to Zeus； the alder of fugitives； when he sacrificed the golden wonder at the bidding of Hermes who graciously met him on the way。 There by the counsels of Argus the chieftains put them ashore。
（ll。 123…161） And they two by the pathway came to the sacred grove； seeking the huge oak tree on which was hung the fleece； like to a cloud that blushes red with the fiery beams of the rising sun。 But right in front the serpent with his keen sleepless eyes saw them coming； and stretched out his long neck and hissed in awful wise； and all round the long banks of the river echoed and the boundless grove。 Those heard it who dwelt in the Colchian land very far from Titanian Aea； near the outfall of Lycus； the river which parts from loud…roaring Araxes and blends his sacred stream with Phasis； and they twain flow on together in one and pour their waters into the Caucasian Sea。 And through fear young mothers awoke； and round their new…born babes； who were sleeping in their arms； threw their hands in agony； for the small limbs started at that hiss。 And as when above a pile of smouldering wood countless eddies of smoke roll up mingled with soot； and one ever springs up quickly after another； rising aloft from beneath in wavering wreaths； so at that time did that monster roll his countless coils covered with hard dry scales。 And as he writhed； the maiden came before his eyes； with sweet voice calling to her aid sleep； highest of gods； to charm the monster； and she cried to the queen of the underworld； the night…wanderer； to be propitious to her enterprise。 And Aeson's son followed in fear； but the serpent； already charmed by her song； was relaxing the long ridge of his giant spine； and lengthening out his myriad coils； like a dark wave； dumb and noiseless； rolling over a sluggish sea； but still he raised aloft his grisly head； eager to enclose them both in his murderous jaws。 But she with a newly cut spray of juniper； dipping and drawing untempered charms from her mystic brew； sprinkled his eyes； while she chanted her song； and all around the potent scent of the charm cast sleep； and on the very spot he let his jaw sink down； and far behind through the wood with its many trees were those countless coils stretched out。
Hereupon Jason snatched the golden fleece from the oak； at the maiden bidding； and she； standing firm； smeared with the charm the monster's head； till Jason himself bade her turn back towards their ship； and she left the grove of Ares； dusky with shade。 And as a maiden catches on her finely wrought robe the gleam of the moon at the full； as it rises above her high…roofed chamber； and her heart rejoices as she beholds the fair ray； so at that time did Jason uplift the mighty fleece in his hands； and from the shimmering of the flocks of wool there settled on his fair cheeks and brow a red flush like a flame。 And great as is the hide of a yearling ox or stag； which huntsmen call a brocket； so great in extent was the fleece all golden above。 Heavy it was； thickly clustered with flocks； and as he moved along； even beneath his feet the sheen rose up from the earth。 And he strode on now with the fleece covering his left shoulder from the height of his neck to his feet； and now again he gathered it up in his hands； for he feared exceedingly； lest some god or man should meet him and deprive him thereof。
（ll。 183…189） Dawn was spreading over the earth when they reached the throng of heroes； and the youths marvelled to behold the mighty fleece； which gleamed like the lightning of Zeus。 And each one started up eager to touch it and clasp it in his hands。 But the son of Aeson restrained them all； and threw over it a mantle newly…woven； and he led the maiden to the stern and seated her there； and spake to them all as follows：
（ll。 190…205） 〃No longer now； my friends； forbear to return to your fatherland。 For now the task for which we dared this grievous voyage； toiling with bitter sorrow of heart； has been lightly fulfilled by the maiden's counsels。 Herfor such is her willI will bring home to be my wedded wife； do ye preserve her； the glorious saviour of all Achaea and of yourselves。 For of a surety； I ween； will Aeetes come with his host to bar our passage from the river into the sea。 But do some of you toil at the oars in turn； sitting man by man； and half of you raise your shields of oxhide； a ready defence against the darts of the enemy； and guard our return。 And now in our hands we hold the fate of our children and dear country and of our aged parents； and on our venture all Hellas depends； to reap either the shame of failure or great renown。〃
（ll。 206…211） Thus he spake； and donned his armour of war； and they cried aloud； wondrously eager。 And he drew his sword from the sheath and cut the hawsers at the stern。 And near the maiden he took his stand ready armed by the steersman Aneaeus； and with their rowing the ship sped on as they strained desperately to drive her clear of the river。
（ll。 212…235） By this time Medea's love and deeds had become known to haughty Aeetes and to all the Colchians。 And they thronged to the assembly in arms； and countless as the waves of the stormy sea when they rise crested by the wind； or as the leaves that fall to the ground from the wood with its myriad branches in the month when the leaves fallwho could reckon their tale？so they in countless number poured along the banks of the river shouting in frenzy； and in his shapely chariot Aeetes shone forth above all with his steeds； the gift of Helios； swift as the blasts of the wind。 In his left hand he raised his curved shield； and in his right a huge pine…torch； and near him in front stood up his mighty spear。 And Apsyrtus held in his hands the reins of the steeds。 But already the ship was cleaving the sea before her； urged on by stalwart oarsmen； and the stream of the mighty river rushing down。 But the king in grievous anguish lifted his hands and called on Helios and Zeus to bear witness to their evil deeds； and terrible threats he uttered against all his people； that unless they should with their own hands seize the maiden； either on the land or still finding the ship on the swell of the open sea； and bring her back； that so he might satisfy his eager soul with vengeance for all those deeds； at the cost of their own lives they should learn and abide all his rage and revenge。
（ll。 236…240） Thus spake Aeetes； and on that same day the Colchians launched their ships and cast the tackle on board； and on that same day sailed forth on the sea； thou wouldst not say so mighty a host was a fleet of ships； but that a countless flight of birds； swarm on swarm； was clamouring over the sea。
（ll。 241…252） Swiftly the wind blew； as the goddess Hera planned； so that most quickly Aeaean Medea might reach the Pelasgian land； a bane to the house of Pelias； and on the third morn they bound the ship's stern cables to the shores of the Paphlagonians； at the mouth of the river Halys。 For Medea bade them land and propitiate Hecate with sacrifice。 Now all that the maiden prepared for offering the sacrifice may no man know； and may my soul not urge me to sing thereof。 Awe restrains my lips； yet from that time the altar which the heroes raised on the beach to the goddess remains till now； a sight to men of a later day。
（ll。 253…256） And straightway Aeson's son and the rest of the heroes bethought them of Phineus； how that he had said that their c
