Argonautica, Book 1

ἀρχόμενος σέο, Φοῖβε, παλαιγενέων κλέα φωτῶν
FIRST in my song shalt thou be, O Phœbus, the song that I sing
μνήσομαι, οἳ Πόντοιο κατὰ στόμα καὶ διὰ πέτρας
Of the heroes of old, who sped, at the hest of Pelias the king,
Κυανέας βασιλῆος ἐφημοσύνῃ Πελίαο
When down through the gorge of the Pontus-sea, through the Crags Dark-blue,
χρύσειον μετὰ κῶας ἐύζυγον ἤλασαν Ἀργώ.
On the Quest of the Fleece of Gold the strong-ribbed Argo flew.
τοίην γὰρ Πελίης φάτιν ἔκλυεν, ὥς μιν ὀπίσσω
For an oracle came unto Pelias, how that in days to be
μοῖρα μένει στυγερή, τοῦδ᾽ ἀνέρος, ὅντιν᾽ ἴδοιτο
A terrible doom should be dealt him of him whom his eyes should see
δημόθεν οἰοπέδιλον, ὑπ᾽ ἐννεσίῃσι δαμῆναι.
From the field coming in, with the one foot only sandal-shod.
δηρὸν δ᾽ οὐ μετέπειτα τεὴν κατὰ βάξιν Ἰήσων
Nor long thereafter did Jason fulfil the word of the God:
χειμερίοιο ῥέεθρα κιὼν διὰ ποσσὶν Ἀναύρου
For in wading the rush of Amaurus swollen with winter-tide rain
ἄλλο μὲν ἐξεσάωσεν ὑπ᾽ ἰλύος, ἄλλο δ᾽ ἔνερθεν
One sandal plucked he forth of the mire, but the one was he fain {10}
κάλλιπεν αὖθι πέδιλον ἐνισχόμενον προχοῇσιν.
To leave in the depths, for the swirl of the waters to sweep to themain.
ἵκετο δ᾽ ἐς Πελίην αὐτοσχεδὸν ἀντιβολήσων
Straightway to the presence of Pelias he came, and his hap was tolight
εἰλαπίνης, ἣν πατρὶ Ποσειδάωνι καὶ ἄλλοις
On a banquet, the which unto Father Poseidon the king had dight,
ῥέζε θεοῖς, Ἥρης δὲ Πελασγίδος οὐκ ἀλέγιζεν.
And the rest of the Gods, but Pelasgian Hêrê he heeded not.
αἶψα δὲ τόνγ᾽ ἐσιδὼν ἐφράσσατο, καί οἱ ἄεθλον
And the king beheld him, and straightway laid for his life the plot,
ἔντυε ναυτιλίης πολυκηδέος, ὄφρ᾽ ἐνὶ πόντῳ
And devised for him toil of a troublous voyage, that lost in the sea,
ἠὲ καὶ ἀλλοδαποῖσι μετ᾽ ἀνδράσι νόστον ὀλέσσῃ.
Or lost amid alien men his home-return might be.
νῆα μὲν οὖν οἱ πρόσθεν ἐπικλείουσιν ἀοιδοὶ
Of the ship and her fashioning, bards of the olden time have told
Ἄργον Ἀθηναίης καμέειν ὑποθημοσύνῃσιν.
How Argus wrought, how Athênê made him cunning-souled.
νῦν δ᾽ ἂν ἐγὼ γενεήν τε καὶ οὔνομα μυθησαίμην
But now be it mine the lineage and names of her heroes to say, {20}
ἡρώων, δολιχῆς τε πόρους ἁλός, ὅσσα τ᾽ ἔρεξαν
And to tell of the long sea-paths whereover they needs must stray,
πλαζόμενοι: Μοῦσαι δ᾽ ὑποφήτορες εἶεν ἀοιδῆς.
And the deeds that they wrought:--may the Muses vouchsafe to inspirethe lay.
πρῶτά νυν Ὀρφῆος μνησώμεθα, τόν ῥά ποτ᾽ αὐτὴ
Of Orpheus first will I sing, of the child that Calliopê bare,
Καλλιόπη Θρήικι φατίζεται εὐνηθεῖσα
As telleth the tale, for she loved Oeagrus, Thracia's heir.
Οἰάγρῳ σκοπιῆς Πιμπληίδος ἄγχι τεκέσθαι
By the peak Pimplean was born the Song-queen's wondrous child;
αὐτὰρ τόνγ᾽ ἐνέπουσιν ἀτειρέας οὔρεσι πέτρας
For they tell how he charmed by the voice of his song on themountains wild
θέλξαι ἀοιδάων ἐνοπῇ ποταμῶν τε ῥέεθρα.
The stubborn rocks into life, made rivers their flowing refrain,
φηγοὶ δ᾽ ἀγριάδες, κείνης ἔτι σήματα μολπῆς,
And the wildwood oaks this day be memorials of that weird strain;
ἀκτῆς Θρηικίης Ζώνης ἔπι τηλεθόωσαι
For they burgeon and bloom by Zonê yet on the Thracian shore,
ἑξείης στιχόωσιν ἐπήτριμοι, ἃς ὅγ᾽ ἐπιπρὸ
Ranked orderly line upon line, the selfsame trees which of yore, {30}
θελγομένας φόρμιγγι κατήγαγε Πιερίηθεν.
Spell-drawn by his lyre, from Pieria followed the minstrel on.
Ὀρφέα μὲν δὴ τοῖον ἑῶν ἐπαρωγὸν ἀέθλων
Such an one was the Orpheus that Aison's son for a helper won
Αἰσονίδης Χείρωνος ἐφημοσύνῃσι πιθήσας
For his high emprise, when he followed the pointing of Cheiron'shand,--
δέξατο, Πιερίῃ Βιστωνίδι κοιρανέοντα.
Orpheus, who ruled o'er the Bistonid folk in Pieria-land.
ἤλυθε δ᾽ Ἀστερίων αὐτοσχεδόν, ὅν ῥα Κομήτης
And swiftly Asterion came, whom Komêtês begat by the side
γείνατο δινήεντος ἐφ᾽ ὕδασιν Ἀπιδανοῖο,
Of Apidanus, there where his seaward-swirling waters glide;
Πειρεσιὰς ὄρεος Φυλληίου ἀγχόθι ναίων,
In Peiresiae he dwelt, anigh to Phyllêion's leafy crest.
ἔνθα μὲν Ἀπιδανός τε μέγας καὶ δῖος Ἐνιπεὺς
Mighty Apidanus, sacred Enipeus, have thitherward pressed
ἄμφω συμφορέονται, ἀπόπροθεν εἰς ἓν ἰόντες.
To mingle the waters, far-severed that rise from the earth's deepbreast.
Λάρισαν δ᾽ ἐπὶ τοῖσι λιπὼν Πολύφημος ἵκανεν
Polyphemus forsook Larissa, and unto Jason he sought; {40}
Εἰλατίδης, ὃς πρὶν μὲν ἐρισθενέων Λαπιθάων,
Eilatus' son: in his youth mid the Lapithan heroes he fought.
ὁππότε Κενταύροις Λαπίθαι ἐπὶ θωρήσσοντο,
When the Lapithans armed them for fight, when the Centaur host theyquelled,
ὁπλότερος πολέμιζε: τότ᾽ αὖ βαρύθεσκέ οἱ ἤδη
Their youngest he was; but now were his limbs sore burdened with eld.
γυῖα, μένεν δ᾽ ἔτι θυμὸς ἀρήιος, ὡς τὸ πάρος περ.
Yet even as of old his heart with the spirit of battle swelled.
οὐδὲ μὲν Ἴφικλος Φυλάκῃ ἔνι δηρὸν ἔλειπτο,
Nor in Phylakê Iphiklus tarried to waste an inglorious life,
μήτρως Αἰσονίδαο: κασιγνήτην γὰρ ὄπυιεν
Uncle of Aison's child, for that Aison had taken to wife
Αἴσων Ἀλκιμέδην Φυλακηίδα: τῆς μιν ἀνώγει
His sister the Phylakid maiden Alkimêdê: wherefore strong
πηοσύνη καὶ κῆδος ἐνικρινθῆναι ὁμίλῳ.
Was the love of his kin to constrain him to join that hero-throng.
οὐδὲ Φεραῖς Ἄδμητος ἐυρρήνεσσιν ἀνάσσων
Neither Admêtus in Pherae, the goodly land of sheep,
μίμνεν ὑπὸ σκοπιὴν ὄρεος Χαλκωδονίοιο.
In his palace would tarry beneath Chalkodon's mountain-steep. {50}
οὐδ᾽ Ἀλόπῃ μίμνον πολυλήιοι Ἑρμείαο
Neither in Alopê tarried Echion and Erytus, sons
υἱέες εὖ δεδαῶτε δόλους, Ἔρυτος καὶ Ἐχίων,
Of Hermes, wealthy in corn-land, crafty-hearted ones.
τοῖσι δ᾽ ἐπὶ τρίτατος γνωτὸς κίε νισσομένοισιν
And their kinsman, the third with these, came forth, on the Questas they hied,
Αἰθαλίδης: καὶ τὸν μὲν ἐπ᾽ Ἀμφρυσσοῖο ῥοῇσιν
Aithalides: where the streams of Amphrysus softly slide,
Μυρμιδόνος κούρη Φθιὰς τέκεν Εὐπολέμεια:
Him Eupolemeia the Phthian, Myrmidon's daughter, bare,
τὼ δ᾽ αὖτ᾽ ἐκγεγάτην Μενετηίδος Ἀντιανείρης.
But offspring of Antianeira the Menetid those twain were.
ἤλυθε δ᾽ ἀφνειὴν προλιπὼν Γυρτῶνα Κόρωνος
Came thither Korônus, forsaking Gyrton the wealthy town:
Καινεΐδης, ἐσθλὸς μέν, ἑοῦ δ᾽ οὐ πατρὸς ἀμείνων.
Right valiant was Kaineus' son, yet he passed not his father'srenown.
Καινέα γὰρ ζῶόν περ ἔτι κλείουσιν ἀοιδοὶ
For of Kaineus the poets have sung, how smitten of Centaurs he died,
Κενταύροισιν ὀλέσθαι, ὅτε σφέας οἶος ἀπ᾽ ἄλλων
Who could not be slain, when alone in his prowess, with none beside,{60}
ἤλασ᾽ ἀριστήων: οἱ δ᾽ ἔμπαλιν ὁρμηθέντες
He drave them before him in rout, but they rallied, and chargedafresh,
οὔτε μιν ἐγκλῖναι προτέρω σθένον, οὔτε δαΐξαι:
Yet availed not their fury to thrust him aback, nor to pierce hisflesh;
ἀλλ᾽ ἄρρηκτος ἄκαμπτος ἐδύσετο νειόθι γαίης,
But unconquered, unflinching, down to the underworld he passed,
θεινόμενος στιβαρῇσι καταΐγδην ἐλάτῃσιν.
Battered from life by the storm of the massy pines that they cast.
ἤλυθε δ᾽ αὖ Μόψος Τιταρήσιος, ὃν περὶ πάντων
And came Titaresian Mopsus withal, unto whom was given
Λητοΐδης ἐδίδαξε θεοπροπίας οἰωνῶν:
Of Lêto's son above all men the lore of the birds of the heaven.
ἠδὲ καὶ Εὐρυδάμας Κτιμένου πάις: ἄγχι δὲ λίμνης
And there was Eurydamas, Ktimenus' son, which dwelt in the land
Ξυνιάδος Κτιμένην Δολοπηίδα ναιετάασκεν.
Of Dolopian folk: by the Xynian mere did his palace stand.
καὶ μὴν Ἄκτωρ υἷα Μενοίτιον ἐξ Ὀπόεντος
And from Opus Menoitius fared at Aktor his father's behest
ὦρσεν, ἀριστήεσσι σὺν ἀνδράσιν ὄφρα νέοιτο.
To the end he might go with the chieftains of men on the gloriousQuest. {70}
εἵπετο δ᾽ Εὐρυτίων τε καὶ ἀλκήεις Ἐρυβώτης,
And Eurytion hath followed with these; Eribôtes the mighty is gone,
υἷες ὁ μὲν Τελέοντος, ὁ δ᾽ Ἴρου Ἀκτορίδαο:
This, Teleon's scion, and that, of Irus, Aktor's son;
ἤτοι ὁ μὲν Τελέοντος ἐυκλειὴς Ἐρυβώτης,
For in sooth it was Teleon begat Eribôtes the glory-crowned,
Ἴρου δ᾽ Εὐρυτίων. σὺν καὶ τρίτος ἦεν Ὀιλεύς,
And Irus, Eurytion. With these was a third, Oïleus, found,
ἔξοχος ἠνορέην καὶ ἐπαΐξαι μετόπισθεν
Peerless in manhood, exceeding cunning to follow the flight
εὖ δεδαὼς δῄοισιν, ὅτε κλίνωσι φάλαγγας.
Of the foe, when the reeling battalions were shattered before hismight.
αὐτὰρ ἀπ᾽ Εὐβοίης Κάνθος κίε, τόν ῥα Κάνηθος
Came the son of Kanêthus the scion of Abas; with eager speed
πέμπεν Ἀβαντιάδης λελιημένον: οὐ μὲν ἔμελλεν
Came Kanthus forth of Eubœa: it was not fate-decreed
νοστήσειν Κήρινθον ὑπότροπος. αισα γὰρ ἦεν
That again he should turn and behold Kerinthus, for doomed was he,
αὐτὸν ὁμῶς Μόψον τε δαήμονα μαντοσυνάων
Even he and Mopsus withal, the wise in augury, {80}
πλαγχθέντας Λιβύης ἐνὶ πείρασι δῃωθῆναι,
To perish in Libya, lost in the waste of a wide sand-sea.
ὡς οὐκ ἀνθρώποισι κακὸν μήκιστον ἐπαυρεῖν,
Sooth, never was mischief removed too far to be found of the doomed;
ὁππότε κἀκείνους Λιβύῃ ἔνι ταρχύσαντο,
Forasmuch as in Libya's desert were even these entombed,
τόσσον ἑκὰς Κόλχων, ὅσσον τέ περ ἠελίοιο
As far from the Kolchian land as the space outstretched between
μεσσηγὺς δύσιές τε καὶ ἀντολαὶ εἰσορόωνται.
The sun's uprising, and where the setting thereof is seen.
τῷ δ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἐπὶ Κλυτίος τε καὶ Ἴφιτος ἠγερέθοντο,
And Klytius and Iphitus gathered to that great mustering,
Οἰχαλίης ἐπίουροι, ἀπηνέος Εὐρύτου υἷες,
Oichalia's warders, children of Eurytus, ruthless king,
Εὐρύτου, ᾧ πόρε τόξον Ἑκηβόλος: οὐδ᾽ ἀπόνητο
Who received of Far-smiter a bow; but he had no profit thereof,
δωτίνης: αὐτῷ γὰρ ἑκὼν ἐρίδηνε δοτῆρι.
For in archery-skill with the giver's self he wantonly strove.
τοῖσι δ᾽ ἐπ᾽ Αἰακίδαι μετεκίαθον: οὐ μὲν ἅμ᾽ ἄμφω,
And with these fared Aiakus' sons, yet not from the selfsame place,{90}
οὐδ᾽ ὁμόθεν: νόσφιν γὰρ ἀλευάμενοι κατένασθεν
Nor together, for far had they wandered away from the home of theirrace,
Αἰγίνης, ὅτε Φῶκον ἀδελφεὸν ἐξενάριξαν
Aegina, what time in their folly the blood of their brother theyspilt,
ἀφραδίῃ. Τελαμὼν μὲν ἐν Ἀτθίδι νάσσατο νήσῳ:
Even Phokus: to Salamis Telamon bare his burden of guilt:
Πηλεὺς δὲ Φθίῃ ἐνὶ δώματα ναῖε λιασθείς.
But Peleus roved till in Phthia the halls of the outcast he built.
τοῖς δ᾽ ἐπὶ Κεκροπίηθεν ἀρήιος ἤλυθε Βούτης,
And with these from Kekropia Boutes, a lord of battle-fame,
παῖς ἀγαθοῦ Τελέοντος, ἐυμμελίης τε Φάληρος.
Stout Teleon's son, and Phalêrus the mighty spearman came.
Ἄλκων μιν προέηκε πατὴρ ἑός: οὐ μὲν ἔτ᾽ ἄλλους
It was Alkon his father that sent him forth: no sons save him
γήραος υἷας ἔχεν βιότοιό τε κηδεμονῆας.
Had the ancient to cherish his age and his light of life grown dim:
ἀλλά ἑ τηλύγετόν περ ὁμῶς καὶ μοῦνον ἐόντα
Yet, albeit his only-begotten he was, and the last of his line,
πέμπεν, ἵνα θρασέεσσι μεταπρέποι ἡρώεσσιν.
He sent him, that so amidst valour of heroes his prowess shouldshine. {100}
Θησέα δ᾽, ὃς περὶ πάντας Ἐρεχθεΐδας ἐκέκαστο,
But Theseus, of all the sons of Erechtheus most renowned,
Ταιναρίην ἀίδηλος ὑπὸ χθόνα δεσμὸς ἔρυκεν,
At Tainarum under the earth by an unseen fetter was bound.
Πειρίθῳ ἑσπόμενον κοινὴν ὁδόν: ἦ τέ κεν ἄμφω
For he trod the Path of Fear with Peirithoüs; else that Quest
ῥηίτερον καμάτοιο τέλος πάντεσσιν ἔθεντο.
By the might of these had been lightlier compassed of all the rest.
Τῖφυς δ᾽ Ἁγνιάδης Σιφαέα κάλλιπε δῆμον
And Tiphys, Hagnias' son, hath forsaken the Thespians that dwell
Θεσπιέων, ἐσθλὸς μὲν ὀρινόμενον προδαῆναι
In the city of Siphas: of all men keenest was he to foretell
κῦμ᾽ ἁλὸς εὐρείης, ἐσθλὸς δ᾽ ἀνέμοιο θυέλλας
The wrath of the waves on the broad sea, keen to foreknow from afar
καὶ πλόον ἠελίῳ τε καὶ ἀστέρι τεκμήρασθαι.
The blasts of the storm, and to guide the galley by sun and by star.
αὐτή μιν Τριτωνὶς ἀριστήων ἐς ὅμιλον
'Twas Athênê Tritonis herself that made him eager-souled
ὦρσεν Ἀθηναίη, μετὰ δ᾽ ἤλυθεν ἐλδομένοισιν.
To join that muster of heroes that longed his face to behold; {110}
αὐτὴ γὰρ καὶ νῆα θοὴν κάμε: σὺν δέ οἱ Ἄργος
For she fashioned the sea-swift ship, and Argus but wrought as sheplanned,
τεῦξεν Ἀρεστορίδης κείνης ὑποθημοσύνῃσιν.
Arestor's son, for the Goddess's counsels guided his hand:
τῶ καὶ πασάων προφερεστάτη ἔπλετο νηῶν,
Therefore amongst all ships unmatched was the ship that he made,
ὅσσαι ὑπ᾽ εἰρεσίῃσιν ἐπειρήσαντο θαλάσσης.
Even all that with swinging oars the paths of the sea have essayed.
Φλίας δ᾽ αὖτ᾽ ἐπὶ τοῖσιν Ἀραιθυρέηθεν ἵκανεν,
Came Phlias withal from Araithyriae to essay the Quest,
ἔνθ᾽ ἀφνειὸς ἔναιε Διωνύσοιο ἕκητι,
From a wealthy home, for the toil of his hands had the Wine-godblessed,
πατρὸς ἑοῦ, πηγῇσιν ἐφέστιος Ἀσωποῖο.
His father, where welleth Asôpus up from the green hill's breast.
Ἀργόθεν αὖ Ταλαὸς καὶ Ἀρήιος, υἷε Βίαντος,
From Argos did sons of Bias, Arêius and Talaus, come,
ἤλυθον ἴφθιμός τε Λεώδοκος, οὓς τέκε Πηρὼ
And mighty Laodokus, fruit of Nêleus' daughter's womb,
Νηληίς: τῆς δ᾽ ἀμφὶ δύην ἐμόγησε βαρεῖαν
Even Pero, for whose sake Aiolus' scion Melampus bore {120}
Αἰολίδης σταθμοῖσιν ἐν Ἰφίκλοιο Μελάμπους.
In Iphiklus' steading affliction of bonds exceeding sore.
οὐδὲ μὲν οὐδὲ βίην κρατερόφρονος Ἡρακλῆος
Nor yet did the prowess of mighty-hearted Herakles fail
πευθόμεθ᾽ Αἰσονίδαο λιλαιομένου ἀθερίξαι.
The longing of Aison's son for his helping, as telleth the tale.
ἀλλ᾽ ἐπεὶ ἄιε βάξιν ἀγειρομένων ἡρώων,
But as soon as the flying rumour of gathering heroes he heard,
νεῖον ἀπ᾽ Ἀρκαδίης Λυρκήιον Ἄργος ἀμείψας
He turned from the track that he trod from Arcadia Argos-ward,
τὴν ὁδόν, ᾗ ζωὸν φέρε κάπριον, ὅς ῥ᾽ ἐνὶ βήσσῃς
On the path that he paced as he bare that boar alive from the glen
φέρβετο Λαμπείης, Ἐρυμάνθιον ἂμ μέγα τῖφος,
Of Lampeia, wherein he had battened, the vast Erymanthian fen.
τὸν μὲν ἐνὶ πρώτῃσι Μυκηναίων ἀγορῇσιν
At the entering-in of Mycenae's market-stead he cast
δεσμοῖς ἰλλόμενον μεγάλων ἀπεθήκατο νώτων:
From his mighty shoulders the beast, as he writhed in his bondsknit fast:
αὐτὸς δ᾽ ᾗ ἰότητι παρὲκ νόον Εὐρυσθῆος
But himself of his own will, thrusting Eurystheus' purpose aside,{130}
ὡρμήθη: σὺν καί οἱ Ὕλας κίεν, ἐσθλὸς ὀπάων,
Hasted away; and Hylas, his henchman true and tried,
πρωθήβης, ἰῶν τε φορεὺς φύλακός τε βιοῖο.
Which bare his arrows and warded his bow, with the hero hath hied.
τῷ δ᾽ ἐπὶ δὴ θείοιο κίεν Δαναοῖο γενέθλη,
Therewithal hath the scion of god-descended Danaus gone,
Ναύπλιος. ἦ γὰρ ἔην Κλυτονήου Ναυβολίδαο:
Nauplius, born unto King Klytonêus, Naubolus' son;
Ναύβολος αὖ Λέρνου: Λέρνον γε μὲν ἴδμεν ἐόντα
And of Lernus Naubolus sprang; and Lernus, as bards have told,
Προίτου Ναυπλιάδαο: Ποσειδάωνι δὲ κούρη.
Of Proitus, Nauplius' son; and unto Poseidon of old
πρίν ποτ᾽ Ἀμυμώνη Δαναῒς τέκεν εὐνηθεῖσα
Amymônê, Danaus' daughter, who couched in the God's embrace,
Ναύπλιον, ὃς περὶ πάντας ἐκαίνυτο ναυτιλίῃσιν.
Bare Nauplius, chief in the seafarer's craft of the Earth-born race.
Ἴδμων δ᾽ ὑστάτιος μετεκίαθεν, ὅσσοι ἔναιον
Last cometh Idmon the seer, of all that in Argos dwell,
Ἄργος, ἐπεὶ δεδαὼς τὸν ἑὸν μόρον οἰωνοῖσιν
Cometh knowing the doom he hath heard the birds of heaven foretell,{140}
ἤιε, μή οἱ δῆμος ἐυκλείης ἀγάσαιτο.
Lest the people should haply begrudge him a hero's glorious fame:
οὐ μὲν ὅγ᾽ ἦεν Ἄβαντος ἐτήτυμον, ἀλλά μιν αὐτὸς
Yet not of the very loins of Abas the doomed seer came;
γείνατο κυδαλίμοις ἐναρίθμιον Αἰολίδῃσιν
But the son of Lêto begat him to share the noble name
Λητοΐδης: αὐτὸς δὲ θεοπροπίας ἐδίδαξεν
Of Aetolia's sons, and in prophecy-lore he made him wise,
οἰωνούς τ᾽ ἀλέγειν ἠδ᾽ ἔμπυρα σήματ᾽ ἰδέσθαι.
And in signs of the fowl of the heaven and tokens 'mid flame thatrise.
καὶ μὴν Αἰτωλὶς κρατερὸν Πολυδεύκεα Λήδη
Polydeukes the strong did Aetolia's Princess Leda speed
Κάστορά τ᾽ ὠκυπόδων ὦρσεν δεδαημένον ἵππων
From Sparta, and Kastor cunning to rein the fleetfoot steed.
Σπάρτηθεν: τοὺς δ᾽ ἥγε δόμοις ἔνι Τυνδαρέοιο
These twain in Tyndareus' palace, her dearly-beloved, her pride,
τηλυγέτους ὠδῖνι μιῇ τέκεν: οὐδ᾽ ἀπίθησεν
That lady at one birth bare; howbeit she nowise denied
νισσομένοις: Ζηνὸς γὰρ ἐπάξια μήδετο λέκτρων.
Their prayer to depart, for her spirit was worthy of Zeus' bride.{150}
οἵ τ᾽ Ἀφαρητιάδαι Λυγκεὺς καὶ ὑπέρβιος Ἴδας
Apharetus' children, Lynkeus and Idas the arrogant-souled,
Ἀρήνηθεν ἔβαν, μεγάλῃ περιθαρσέες ἀλκῇ
From Arênê went forth: in their prowess exceeding were theseoverbold,
ἀμφότεροι: Λυγκεὺς δὲ καὶ ὀξυτάτοις ἐκέκαστο
Even both; but Lynkeus for eyes of keenest ken was renowned,
ὄμμασιν, εἰ ἐτεόν γε πέλει κλέος, ἀνέρα κεῖνον
If in sooth that story be true, that, though one lay underground,
ῥηιδίως καὶ νέρθε κατὰ χθονὸς αὐγάζεσθαι.
Yet lightly of Lynkeus' eyes should the gloom-swathed corpse befound.
σὺν δὲ Περικλύμενος Νηλήιος ὦρτο νέεσθαι,
And with these Periklymenus Neleus' son was enkindled to fare,
πρεσβύτατος παίδων, ὅσσοι Πύλῳ ἐξεγένοντο
Eldest of all the sons that the Lady of Pylos bare
Νηλῆος θείοιο: Ποσειδάων δέ οἱ ἀλκὴν
Unto Neleus the godlike; and might unmeasured Poseidon gave
δῶκεν ἀπειρεσίην ἠδ᾽ ὅττι κεν ἀρήσαιτο
To the prince, and a boon moreover, that whatso shape he shouldcrave,
μαρνάμενος, τὸ πέλεσθαι ἐνὶ ξυνοχῇ πολέμοιο.
That, as he fought in the shock of the meeting ranks, he shouldhave. {160}
καὶ μὴν Ἀμφιδάμας Κηφεύς τ᾽ ἴσαν Ἀρκαδίηθεν,
From Arcadia Amphidamas and Kepheus came for the Quest,
οἳ Τεγέην καὶ κλῆρον Ἀφειδάντειον ἔναιον,
Who were dwellers in Tegea-town, and the land that Apheidaspossessed,
υἷε δύω Ἀλεοῦ: τρίτατός γε μὲν ἕσπετ᾽ ἰοῦσιν
Two scions of Aleus; yea and a third followed even as they went,
Ἀγκαῖος, τὸν μέν ῥα πατὴρ Λυκόοργος ἔπεμπεν,
Ankaius: Lykurgus his father was minded the lad to have sent,
τῶν ἄμφω γνωτὸς προγενέστερος. ἀλλ᾽ ὁ μὲν ἤδη
Being elder brother to these, but himself was constrained to stay
γηράσκοντ᾽ Ἀλεὸν λίπετ᾽ ἂμ πόλιν ὄφρα κομίζοι,
In the city with Aleus, tending the dear head silver-grey.
παῖδα δ᾽ ἑὸν σφετέροισι κασιγνήτοισιν ὄπασσεν.
Howbeit in charge to his brethren twain he gave the lad.
βῆ δ᾽ ὅγε Μαιναλίης ἄρκτου δέρος, ἀμφίτομόν τε
So he went, and the fell of a bear Maenalian for buckler he had,
δεξιτερῇ πάλλων πέλεκυν μέγαν. ἔντεα γάρ οἱ
And a battle-axe huge his right hand swung; for his armour of fight
πατροπάτωρ Ἀλεὸς μυχάτῃ ἐνέκρυψε καλιῇ,
Had his old grandsire in a secret chamber hidden from sight, {170}
αἴ κέν πως ἔτι καὶ τὸν ἐρητύσειε νέεσθαι.
If haply so he might cripple the wings of the eagle's flight.
βῆ δὲ καὶ Αὐγείης, ὃν δὴ φάτις Ἠελίοιο
Fared thither Augeias; they named him in songs of the olden day
ἔμμεναι: Ἠλείοισι δ᾽ ὅγ᾽ ἀνδράσιν ἐμβασίλευεν,
The Sun-god's child, and the hero in Elis-land bare sway
ὄλβῳ κυδιόων: μέγα δ᾽ ἵετο Κολχίδα γαῖαν
In pride of his wealth: but he longed to behold the Kolchian coast,
αὐτόν̣̣τ᾽ Αἰήτην ἰδέειν σημάντορα Κόλχων.
And to look upon mighty Aiêtes the lord of the Kolchian host.
Ἀστέριος δὲ καὶ Ἀμφίων Ὑπερασίου υἷες
Asterius came, and Amphion, the sons that a fair queen bore,
Πελλήνης ἀφίκανον Ἀχαιίδος, ἥν ποτε Πέλλης
When Pellênê's king Hyperasius dwelt in the city of yore
πατροπάτωρ ἐπόλισσεν ἐπ᾽ ὀφρύσιν Αἰγιαλοῖο.
By Pelles their grandsire built 'neath the cliffs of Achaia's shore.
Ταίναρον αὖτ᾽ ἐπὶ τοῖσι λιπὼν Εὔφημος ἵκανεν,
Euphêmus from Tainarus came to be joined to their company,
τόν ῥα Ποσειδάωνι ποδωκηέστατον ἄλλων
Europê's child; and the swiftest of all men on Earth was he: {180}
Εὐρώπη Υιτυοῖο μεγασθενέος τέκε κούρη.
For the daughter of Tityos the giant couched in Poseidon's embrace;
κεῖνος ἀνὴρ καὶ πόντου ἐπὶ γλαυκοῖο θέεσκεν
And this their son would run o'er the grey sea's weltering face,
οἴδματος, οὐδὲ θοοὺς βάπτεν πόδας, ἀλλ᾽ ὅσον ἄκροις
Neither sank in the surge his fast-flying steps, but, with footsolealone
ἴχνεσι τεγγόμενος διερῇ πεφόρητο κελεύθῳ.
Bedewed with the spray, on his watery path was he wafted on.
καὶ δ᾽ ἄλλω δύο παῖδε Ποσειδάωνος ἵκοντο:
Sons of Poseidon beside him withal two other came,
ἤτοι ὁ μὲν πτολίεθρον ἀγαυοῦ Μιλήτοιο
One leaving Miletus afar, the city of haughty fame,
νοσφισθεὶς Ἐργῖνος, ὁ δ᾽ Ἰμβρασίης ἕδος Ἥρης,
Even Erginus, and one from Imbrasian Hêrê's fane
παρθενίην, Ἀγκαῖος ὑπέρβιος: ἴστορε δ᾽ ἄμφω
Parthenia, Ankaius the mighty; and men of renown were the twain
ἠμὲν ναυτιλίης ἠδ᾽ ἄρεος εὐχετόωντο.
In the craft of the sea, and withal in the toil of the battle-strain.
Οἰνεΐδης δ᾽ ἐπὶ τοῖσιν ἀφορμηθεὶς Καλυδῶνος
Hasting from Kalydon Oineus' son to their muster hath hied, {190}
ἀλκήεις Μελέαγρος ἀνήλυθε, Λαοκόων τε,
Meleager the stalwart; and there was Laocoön still at his side,
Λαοκόων Οἰνῆος ἀδελφεός, οὐ μὲν ἰῆς γε
Brother to Oineus; but not of the selfsame womb were they,
μητέρος: ἀλλά ἑ θῆσσα γυνὴ τέκε: τὸν μὲν ἄρ᾽ Οἰνεὺς
For a handmaid bare him; and him, though flecked was his hair withgrey,
ἤδη γηραλέον κοσμήτορα παιδὸς ἴαλλεν:
For guide and for guard to his son hath Oineus the old king sent.
ὧδ᾽ ἔτι κουρίζων περιθαρσέα δῦνεν ὅμιλον
So it fell that a beardless lad to the valorous gathering went
ἡρώων. τοῦ δ᾽ οὔτιν᾽ ὑπέρτερον ἄλλον ὀίω,
Of heroes; yet no man of all that came had the deeds outdone
νόσφιν γ᾽ Ἡρακλῆος, ἐπελθέμεν, εἴ κ᾽ ἔτι μοῦνον
Of the lad, save Herakles, if that he might but have tarried on
αὖθι μένων λυκάβαντα μετετράφη Αἰτωλοῖσιν.
One year mid Aetolia's sons, till he grew to his strength, I ween.
καὶ μήν οἱ μήτρως αὐτὴν ὁδόν, εὖ μὲν ἄκοντι,
Yea, and his mother's brother, a javelin-hurler keen,
εὖ δὲ καὶ ἐν σταδίῃ δεδαημένος ἀντιφέρεσθαι,
And a warrior tried, when foot is set against foot in the fray, {200}
Θεστιάδης Ἴφικλος ἐφωμάρτησε κιόντι.
Iphiklus, Thestius' scion, trod the selfsame way.
σὺν δὲ Παλαιμόνιος Λέρνου πάις Ὠλενίοιο,
Came Palaimonius, whose grandsire was Olenius, and his sire
Λέρνου ἐπίκλησιν, γενεήν γε μὲν Ἡφαίστοιο:
Lernus in name; but in birth was he child of the Lord of Fire:
τούνεκ᾽ ἔην πόδα σιφλός: ἀτὰρ δέμας οὔ κέ τις ἔτλη
Wherefore he halted in either foot; but his bodily frame
ἠνορέην τ᾽ ὀνόσασθαι, ὃ καὶ μεταρίθμιος ἦεν
And his prowess might no man contemn, for which cause also his name
πᾶσιν ἀριστήεσσιν, Ἰήσονι κῦδος ἀέξων.
Was found with the mighty who won for Jason deathless fame.
ἐκ δ᾽ ἄρα Φωκήων κίεν Ἴφιτος Ὀρνυτίδαο
Came Iphitus, Ornytus' son, from Phokis withal for the Quest,
Ναυβόλου ἐκγεγαώς: ξεῖνος δέ οἱ ἔσκε πάροιθεν,
Of Naubolus' line: in the days overpast was Jason his guest,
ἦμος ἔβη Πυθώδε θεοπροπίας ἐρεείνων
What time unto Pytho he fared to inquire of the high Gods' doom
ναυτιλίης: τόθι γάρ μιν ἑοῖς ὑπέδεκτο δόμοισιν.
Touching the Quest; for he welcomed him then in his mountain home.{210}
Ζήτης αὖ Κάλαΐς τε Βορήιοι υἷες ἵκοντο,
And Zetes and Kalais withal, the North-wind's children, were there,
οὕς ποτ᾽ Ἐρεχθηὶς Βορέῃ τέκεν Ὠρείθυια
Whom Oreithyia, Erechtheus' daughter, to Boreas bare
ἐσχατιῇ Θρῄκης δυσχειμέρου: ἔνθ᾽ ἄρα τήνγε
In the uttermost part of wintry Thrace; for the God swooped down,
Θρηίκιος Βορέης ἀνερέψατο Κεκροπίηθεν
And the Thracian North-wind snatched her away from Kekrops' town,
Ἰλισσοῦ προπάροιθε χορῷ ἔνι δινεύουσαν.
Even as she whirled in the dance on the lawn by Ilissus' flow.
καί μιν ἄγων ἕκαθεν, Σαρπηδονίην ὅθι πέτρην
And he brought her afar to the place where standeth the crag men know
κλείουσιν, ποταμοῖο παρὰ ῥόον Ἐργίνοιο,
For the Rock of Sarpedon, whereby doth Erginus the river glide:
λυγαίοις ἐδάμασσε περὶ νεφέεσσι καλύψας.
And he shrouded her round with viewless clouds, and he made her hisbride.
τὼ μὲν ἐπ᾽ ἀκροτάτοισι ποδῶν ἑκάτερθεν ἐρεμνὰς
And lo, on the ankles of these did quivering pinions unfold,
σεῖον ἀειρομένω πτέρυγας, μέγα θάμβος ἰδέσθαι,
Strong wings, as in air they upleapt, a marvel great to behold, {220}
χρυσείαις φολίδεσσι διαυγέας: ἀμφὶ δὲ νώτοις
Gleaming with golden scales; and about their shoulders strayed,
κράατος ἐξ ὑπάτοιο καὶ αὐχένος ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα
Down-streaming from neck and from head in the glory of youth arrayed,
κυάνεαι δονέοντο μετὰ πνοιῇσιν ἔθειραι.
Dark tresses that tossed in the rushing breezes amidst them thatplayed.
οὐδὲ μὲν οὐδ᾽ αὐτοῖο πάις μενέαινεν Ἄκαστος
Yea, and Akastus, his own son, had no will to abide
ἰφθίμου Πελίαο δόμοις ἔνι πατρὸς ἑῆος
That day with his mighty sire in the halls of Pelias' pride.
μιμνάζειν, Ἄργος τε θεᾶς ὑποεργὸς Ἀθήνης:
Nor would Argus be left, who had wrought as Athênê guided his hand;
ἀλλ᾽ ἄρα καὶ τὼ μέλλον ἐνικρινθῆναι ὁμίλῳ.
But these twain needs must be numbered too with the glorious band.
τόσσοι ἄρ᾽ Αἰσονίδῃ συμμήστορες ἠγερέθοντο.
This is the tale of the helpers with Aison's son that were found:
τοὺς μὲν ἀριστῆας Μινύας περιναιετάοντες
These be the men whom the folk, even all which dwelt around,
κίκλησκον μάλα πάντας, ἐπεὶ Μινύαο θυγατρῶν
Called ever the Minyan Chiefs: for of those that went on the Quest{230}
οἱ πλεῖστοι καὶ ἄριστοι ἀφ᾽ αἵματος εὐχετόωντο
Born of the daughters of Minyas' blood were the most and the best.
ἔμμεναι: ὧς δὲ καὶ αὐτὸν Ἰήσονα γείνατο μήτηρ
Yea, she which had borne this Jason to emprise perilous-wild,
Ἀλκιμέδη, Κλυμένης Μινυηίδος ἐκγεγαυῖα.
Alkimedê, also was daughter of Klymenê, Minyas' child.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ δμώεσσιν ἐπαρτέα πάντ᾽ ἐτέτυκτο,
Now when all things ready were made by the hands of many a thrall,
ὅσσα περ ἐντύνονται ἐπαρτέες ἔνδοθι νῆες,
Even whatso the galley for sea ready-dight should be furnishedwithal,
εὖτ᾽ ἂν ἄγῃ χρέος ἄνδρας ὑπεὶρ ἅλα ναυτίλλεσθαι,
When traffic lureth the shipmen afar to an alien land,
δὴ τότ᾽ ἴσαν μετὰ νῆα δι᾽ ἄστεος, ἔνθα περ ἀκταὶ
Then through the city they passed to their ship, where she lay onthe strand
κλείονται Παγασαὶ Μαγνήτιδες: ἀμφὶ δὲ λαῶν
Which is called Magnesian Pagasae. Ever, as onward they strode,
πληθὺς σπερχομένων ἄμυδις θέεν: οἱ δὲ φαεινοὶ
To right and to left a mingled multitude ran: but they showed
ἀστέρες ὣς νεφέεσσι μετέπρεπον: ὧδε δ᾽ ἕκαστος
Radiant amidst them as stars amid clouds; and some 'gan cry, {240}
ἔννεπεν εἰσορόων σὺν τεύχεσιν ἀίσσοντας:
As they gazed on the glorious forms that in harness of war swept by:

'What is in Pelias' thoughts, King Zeus, that so goodly a band
ἡρώων γαίης Παναχαιίδος ἔκτοθι βάλλει;
Of heroes is hurled by him forth of the Panachaian land?
αὐτῆμάρ κε δόμους ὀλοῷ πυρὶ δῃώσειαν
In the day of their coming with ravening fire the halls shall theyfill
Αἰήτεω, ὅτε μή σφιν ἑκὼν δέρος ἐγγυαλίξῃ.
Of Aiêtes, except he shall yield them the Fleece of his own goodwill.
ἀλλ᾽ οὐ φυκτὰ κέλευθα, πόνος δ᾽ ἄπρηκτος ἰοῦσιν.
But a long way lieth between, unaccomplished yet is the toil.'
ὧς φάσαν ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα κατὰ πτόλιν: αἱ δὲ γυναῖκες
So spake they on this side and that through the city: the womenthe while,
πολλὰ μάλ᾽ ἀθανάτοισιν ἐς αἰθέρα χεῖρας ἄειρον,
Heavenward uplifting their hands, to the Gods that abide for aye
εὐχόμεναι νόστοιο τέλος θυμηδὲς ὀπάσσαι.
Made vehement prayer for the heart's delight of the homecoming day.
ἄλλη δ᾽ εἰς ἑτέρην ὀλοφύρετο δακρυχέουσα:
And one to another made answer, and moaned, as her tears fell fast:{250}

'Hapless Alkimedê, thee too evil hath found at the last;
ἤλυθεν, οὐδ᾽ ἐτέλεσσας ἐπ᾽ ἀγλαΐῃ βιότοιο.
Nor to thee was vouchsafed amid bliss to the end of thy days toattain!
Αἴσων αὖ μέγα δή τι δυσάμμορος. ἦ τέ οἱ ἦεν
Woe's me for Aison the ill-starred!--verily this had been gain
βέλτερον, εἰ τὸ πάροιθεν ἐνὶ κτερέεσσιν ἐλυσθεὶς
For him, if rolled in his shroud before this woeful day,
νειόθι γαίης κεῖτο, κακῶν ἔτι νῆις ἀέθλων.
Deep under Earth, with the cup of affliction untasted, he lay:
ὡς ὄφελεν καὶ Φρίξον, ὅτ᾽ ὤλετο παρθένος Ἕλλη,
And O that the darkling surge, when Hellê the maiden died,
κῦμα μέλαν κριῷ ἅμ᾽ ἐπικλύσαι: ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐδὴν
Had whelmed down Phrixus too with the ram!--but a man's voice cried
ἀνδρομέην προέηκε κακὸν τέρας, ὥς κεν ἀνίας
From the throat of the monster, the portent accurst, that so itmight doom
Ἀλκιμέδῃ μετόπισθε καὶ ἄλγεα μυρία θείη.
For Alkimedê sorrow and griefs untold in the days to come.'
αἱ μὲν ἄρ᾽ ὧς ἀγόρευον ἐπὶ προμολῇσι κιόντων.
So 'mid the moan of the women marched the heroes along. {260}
ἤδη δὲ δμῶές τε πολεῖς δμωαί τ᾽ ἀγέροντο:
And by this were the thralls and the handmaids gathered in onegreat throng.
μήτηρ δ᾽ ἀμφ᾽ αὐτὸν βεβολημένη. ὀξὺ δ᾽ ἑκάστην
Then fell on his neck his mother, and sharply the anguish-thorn
δῦνεν ἄχος: σὺν δέ σφι πατὴρ ὀλοῷ ὑπὸ γήραι
Pierced each soft breast, the while his father, the eld-forlorn,
ἐντυπὰς ἐν λεχέεσσι καλυψάμενος γοάασκεν.
Close-swathed as a corpse on his bed, lay groaning and groaningagain.
αὐτὰρ ὁ τῶν μὲν ἔπειτα κατεπρήυνεν ἀνίας
But the hero essayed to hush their laments and assuage their pain
θαρσύνων, δμώεσσι δ᾽ ἀρήια τεύχε᾽ ἀείρειν
With words of cheer, and he spake, 'Take up my war-array,'
πέφραδεν: οἱ δέ τε σῖγα κατηφέες ἠείροντο.
To the thralls, and with downcast eyes did these in silence obey.
μήτηρ δ᾽ ὡς τὰ πρῶτ᾽ ἐπεχεύατο πήχεε παιδί,
But his mother, as round her child her arms at the first she hadflung,
ὧς ἔχετο κλαίουσ᾽ ἀδινώτερον, ἠύτε κούρη
So clave she, and wept without stint: as the motherless maiden sheclung,
οἰόθεν ἀσπασίως πολιὴν τροφὸν ἀμφιπεσοῦσα
Whose forlorn little arms clasp fondly her grey old nurse, when thetide {270}
μύρεται, ᾗ οὐκ εἰσὶν ἔτ᾽ ἄλλοι κηδεμονῆες,
Cometh up of her woe:--she hath no one to love her nor comfortbeside;
ἀλλ᾽ ὑπὸ μητρυιῇ βίοτον βαρὺν ἡγηλάζει:
And a weary lot is hers 'neath a stepdame's tyrannous sway,
καί ἑ νέον πολέεσσιν ὀνείδεσιν ἐστυφέλιξεν,
Who with bitter revilings evil-entreateth her youth alway:
τῇ δέ τ᾽ ὀδυρομένῃ δέδεται κέαρ ἔνδοθεν ἄτῃ,
And her heart as she waileth is cramped as by chains in her frenzieddespair,
οὐδ᾽ ἔχει ἐκφλύξαι τόσσον γόον, ὅσσον ὀρεχθεῖ:
That she cannot sob forth the anguish that struggleth for utterancethere:
ὧς ἀδινὸν κλαίεσκεν ἑὸν παῖδ᾽ ἀγκὰς ἔχουσα
So stintlessly wept Alkimedê, so in her arms did she strain
Ἀλκιμέδη, καὶ τοῖον ἔπος φάτο κηδοσύνῃσιν:
Her son; and she cried from the depths of her love and her yearningpain:

'Oh, that on that same day when I, the affliction-oppressed,
δειλὴ ἐγὼ Πελίαο κακὴν βασιλῆος ἐφετμήν,
Hearkened the voice of Pelias the king, and his evil behest,
αὐτίκ᾽ ἀπὸ ψυχὴν μεθέμεν, κηδέων τε λαθέσθαι,
I had yielded up the ghost, and forgotten to mourn and to weep, {280}
ὄφρ᾽ αὐτός με τεῇσι φίλαις ταρχύσαο χερσίν,
That thyself, that thine own dear hands, in the grave might havelaid me to sleep,
τέκνον ἐμόν: τὸ γὰρ οἶον ἔην ἔτι λοιπὸν ἐέλδωρ
O my beloved!--for this was the one wish unfulfilled:
ἐκ σέθεν, ἄλλα δὲ πάντα πάλαι θρεπτήρια πέσσω.
But with other thy nursing-dues long had mine heart in contentmentbeen stilled.
νῦν γε μὲν ἡ τὸ πάροιθεν Ἀχαιιάδεσσιν ἀγητὴ
And I, of Achaia's daughters the envied in days that are gone,
δμωὶς ὅπως κενεοῖσι λελείψομαι ἐν μεγάροισιν,
Like a bondwoman now in tenantless halls shall be left alone,
σεῖο πόθῳ μινύθουσα δυσάμμορος, ᾧ ἔπι πολλὴν
Pining, a hapless mother, in yearning for thee, my pride
ἀγλαΐην καὶ κῦδος ἔχον πάρος, ᾧ ἔπι μούνῳ
And exceeding delight in the days overpast, for whom I untied
μίτρην πρῶτον ἔλυσα καὶ ὕστατον. ἔξοχα γάρ μοι
For the first time and last my zone; for to me beyond others thedoom
Εἰλείθυια θεὰ πολέος ἐμέγηρε τόκοιο.
Of the stern Birth-goddess begrudged abundant fruit of the womb.
ᾤ μοι ἐμῆς ἄτης: τὸ μὲν οὐδ᾽ ὅσον, οὐδ᾽ ἐν ὀνείρῳ
Ah me for my blindness of heart!--not once, not in dreams, might Isee {290}
ὠισάμην, εἰ Φρίξος ἐμοὶ κακὸν ἔσσετ᾽ ἀλύξας.
The vision of Phrixus' deliverance turned to a curse for me!'
ὧς ἥγε στενάχουσα κινύρετο: ταὶ δὲ γυναῖκες
So mourned she, and ever she moaned amidst of her speech, andthereby
ἀμφίπολοι γοάασκον ἐπισταδόν: αὐτὰρ ὁ τήνγε
Stood her handmaids, and echoed her wail, an exceeding bitter cry.
μειλιχίοις ἐπέεσσι παρηγορέων προσέειπεν:
But the hero with gentle words for her comfort made answer, andspake:

'Fill me not thus overmeasure with anguish of soul for thy sake,
ὧδε λίην, ἐπεὶ οὐ μὲν ἐρητύσεις κακότητος
Mother mine, forasmuch as from evil thou shalt not redeem me so
δάκρυσιν, ἀλλ᾽ ἔτι κεν καὶ ἐπ᾽ ἄλγεσιν ἄλγος ἄροιο.
By thy tears, but shalt add the rather woe unto weight of woe.
πήματα γάρ τ᾽ ἀίδηλα θεοὶ θνητοῖσι ϝέμουσιν,
For the Gods mete out unto mortals afflictions unforeseen:
τῶν μοῖραν κατὰ θυμὸν ἀνιάζουσά περ ἔμπης
Wherefore be strong to endure their doom, though thine anguish bekeen.
τλῆθι φέρειν: θάρσει δὲ συνημοσύνῃσιν Ἀθήνης,
Take comfort to think that Athênê hereunto our courage hath stirred:{300}
ἠδὲ θεοπροπίοισιν, ἐπεὶ μάλα δεξιὰ Φοῖβος
Remember the oracles: call to remembrance how good was the word
ἔχρη, ἀτὰρ μετέπειτά γ᾽ ἀριστήων ἐπαρωγῇ.
Of Phœbus: be glad for this hero-array for mine help that is come.
ἀλλὰ σὺ μὲν νῦν αὖθι μετ᾽ ἀμφιπόλοισιν ἕκηλος
Now, mother, do thou with thine handmaids in quiet abide in thinehome,
μίμνε δόμοις, μηδ᾽ ὄρνις ἀεικελίη πέλε νηί:
Neither be as a bird ill-omened to bode my ship ill-speed;
κεῖσε δ᾽ ὁμαρτήσουσιν ἔται δμῶές τε κιόντι.
And escort of clansmen and thralls thy son to the galley shall lead.'
ἦ, καὶ ὁ μὲν προτέρωσε δόμων ἐξῶρτο νέεσθαι.
So spake he, and turned him, and forth of his halls his way hath heta'en.
οἷος δ᾽ ἐκ νηοῖο θυώδεος εἶσιν Ἀπόλλων
And as goeth Apollo forth of his incense-bearing fane,
δῆλον ἀν᾽ ἠγαθέην, ἠὲ Κλάρον, ἢ ὅγε Πυθώ,
Through Delos the hallowed, or Klaros, or Pytho the place of hisshrine,
ἢ Αυκίην εὐρεῖαν, ἐπὶ Ξάνθοιο ῥοῇσιν,
Or Lycia the wide, where the waters of Xanthus ripple and shine,
τοῖος ἀνὰ πληθὺν δήμου κίεν: ὦρτο δ᾽ ἀυτὴ
So seemed he, as onward he pressed through the throng, and a loudacclaim {310}
κεκλομένων ἄμυδις. τῷ δὲ ξύμβλητο γεραιὴ
Of their mingled cheering arose. And there met him an ancient dame,
Ἰφιὰς Ἀρτέμιδος πολιηόχου ἀρήτειρα,
Iphias, priestess of Artemis warder of tower and wall.
καί μιν δεξιτερῆς χειρὸς κύσεν, οὐδέ τι φάσθαι
At his right hand caught she, and kissed it, but spake no word atall,
ἔμπης ἱεμένη δύνατο, προθέοντος ὁμίλου:
For she could not, how fain soe'er, so pressed the multitude on;
ἀλλ᾽ ἡ μὲν λίπετ᾽ αὖθι παρακλιδόν, οἷα γεραιὴ
And she drifted away to the fringe of the crowd, and was left alone,
ὁπλοτέρων, ὁ δὲ πολλὸν ἀποπλαγχθεὶς ἐλιάσθη.
As the old be left by the young: and he passed on afar, and was gone.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεί ῥα πόληος ἐυδμήτους λίπ᾽ ἀγυιάς,
So when he had left the streets of the city builded fair,
ἀκτὴν δ᾽ ἵκανεν Παγασηίδα, τῇ μιν ἑταῖροι
To the beach Pagasaean he came, and his comrades hailed him there
δειδέχατ᾽, Ἀργῴῃ ἄμυδις παρὰ νηὶ μένοντες.
In a throng abiding beside the Argo ship as she lay
στῆ δ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἐπὶ προμολῇς: οἱ δ᾽ ἀντίοι ἠγερέθοντο.
By the river's mouth, and overagainst her gathered they. {320}
ἐς δ᾽ ἐνόησαν Ἄκαστον ὁμῶς Ἄργον τε πόληος
And they looked, and behold, Adrastus and Argus hasting amain
νόσφι καταβλώσκοντας, ἐθάμβησαν δ᾽ ἐσιδόντες
Thitherward from the city, and sorely they marvelled, beholding thetwain
πασσυδίῃ Πελίαο παρὲκ νόον ἰθύοντας.
Despite the purpose of Pelias thitherward hurrying fast.
δέρμα δ᾽ ὁ μὲν ταύροιο ποδηνεκὲς ἀμφέχετ᾽ ὤμους
On his shoulders a bull's hide Argus the son of Arestor had cast,
Ἄργος Ἀρεστορίδης λάχνῃ μέλαν: αὐτὰρ ὁ καλὴν
Great, dark with the fell; but the prince in a mantle fair wasarrayed,
δίπλακα, τήν οἱ ὄπασσε κασιγνήτη Πελόπεια.
Twofold: Pelopeia his sister the gift in his hand had laid.
ἀλλ᾽ ἔμπης τὼ μέν τε διεξερέεσθαι ἕκαστα
Howbeit Jason forbare to ask them of this or of that;
ἔσχετο: τοὺς δ᾽ ἀγορήνδε συνεδριάασθαι ἄνωγεν.
But he bade them for council sit them down where the others sat.
αὐτοῦ δ᾽ ἰλλομένοις ἐπὶ λαίφεσιν, ἠδὲ καὶ ἱστῷ
So there upon folded sails, and the mast as it lay along,
κεκλιμένῳ μάλα πάντες ἐπισχερὼ ἑδριόωντο.
Row upon row were the heroes sitting all in a throng; {330}
τοῖσιν δ᾽ Αἴσονος υἱὸς ἐυφρονέων μετέειπεν:
And to these of his heart's good will the son of Aison spake:

'What things soever it needeth that sea-bound galleys should take,
--πάντα γὰρ εὖ κατὰ κόσμον--ἐπαρτέα κεῖται ἰοῦσιν.
All this ready dight for our going lieth in seemly array.
τῶ οὐκ ἂν δηναιὸν ἐχοίμεθα τοῖο ἕκητι
Wherefore for these things' sake will we make no longer delay
ναυτιλίης, ὅτε μοῦνον ἐπιπνεύσουσιν ἀῆται.
From our sailing, so soon as the breezes but blow for the voyagebegun.
ἀλλά, φίλοι,--ξυνὸς γὰρ ἐς Ἑλλάδα νόστος ὀπίσσω,
But, friends--since in hope for the home-return to our land we beone,
ξυναὶ δ᾽ ἄμμι πέλονται ἐς Αἰήταο κέλευθοι--
And one in the way we must take to Aiêtes, the path of the Quest,
τούνεκα νῦν τὸν ἄριστον ἀφειδήσαντες ἕλεσθε
Therefore do ye now choose with hearts ungrudging our best
ὄρχαμον ἡμείων, ᾧ κεν τὰ ἕκαστα μέλοιτο,
To be chief and captain, to order all our goings aright,
νείκεα συνθεσίας τε μετὰ ξείνοισι βαλέσθαι.
To take on him our quarrels with aliens, and pledge ourcovenant-plight.' {340}
ὧς φάτο: πάπτηναν δὲ νέοι θρασὺν Ἡρακλῆα
He spake, and the youths upon valiant Herakles turned their eyes,
ἥμενον ἐν μέσσοισι: μιῇ δέ ἑ πάντες ἀυτῇ
As he sat in their midst, and from all the heroes did one shout rise,
σημαίνειν ἐπέτελλον: ὁ δ᾽ αὐτόθεν, ἔνθα περ ἧστο,
Crying 'Our captain be thou!'--but not from his place he stirred;
δεξιτερὴν ἀνὰ χεῖρα τανύσσατο φώνησέν τε:
But he stretched his right hand forth, and he answered and spakethe word:

'Let no man offer this honour to me: I will nowise consent;
πείσομαι: ὥστε καὶ ἄλλον ἀναστήσεσθαι ἐρύξω.
And if any man else would arise, I will also withstand his intent.
αὐτός, ὅτις ξυνάγειρε, καὶ ἀρχεύοι ὁμάδοιο.
The selfsame man who assembled our band, let him too lead.'
ἦ ῥα μέγα φρονέων, ἐπὶ δ᾽ ᾔνεον, ὡς ἐκέλευεν
He spake in his greatness of soul, and they shouted, praising therede
Ἡρακλέης: ἀνὰ δ᾽ αὐτὸς ἀρήιος ὤρνυτ᾽ Ἰήσων
Of Herakles: then did Jason the warrior wight rejoice;
γηθόσυνος, καὶ τοῖα λιλαιομένοις ἀγόρευεν:
And he sprang to his feet, and he spake in their midst with eagervoice: {350}

'If indeed ye be minded on me this glorious charge to cast,
μηκέτ᾽ ἔπειθ᾽, ὡς καὶ πρίν, ἐρητύοιτο κέλευθα.
Let our voyaging tarry no more; suffice the delays overpast.
νῦν γε μὲν ἤδη Φοῖβον ἀρεσσάμενοι θυέεσσιν
But now, even now, let us offer to Phœbus the sacrifice meet,
δαῖτ᾽ ἐντυνώμεσθα παρασχεδόν. ὄφρα δ᾽ ἴωσιν
And prepare us a feast even here; and, while yet tarry the feet
δμῶες ἐμοὶ σταθμῶν σημάντορες, οἷσι μέμηλεν
Of my thralls, overseers of my steading, which bear in charge mycommand
δεῦρο βόας ἀγέληθεν ἐὺ κρίναντας ἐλάσσαι,
Fitly to choose for us beasts from the herd, and to drive to thestrand,
τόφρα κε νῆ᾽ ἐρύσαιμεν ἔσω ἁλός, ὅπλα δὲ πάντα
We will launch on the sea our ship, we will set up her tacklingtherein,
ἐνθέμενοι πεπάλαχθε κατὰ κληῖδας ἐρετμά.
And thwart by thwart cast lots for the place each oarsman shall win.
τείως δ᾽ αὖ καὶ βωμὸν ἐπάκτιον Ἐμβασίοιο
To Apollo, the Seafarers' Saviour, uppile we then on the beach
θείομεν Ἀπόλλωνος, ὅ μοι χρείων ὑπέδεκτο
An altar; for whatso I needs must do hath he promised to teach, {360}
σημανέειν δείξειν τε πόρους ἁλός, εἴ κε θυηλαῖς
And to show us the paths of the sea, if first with sacrifice
οὗ ἕθεν ἐξάρχωμαι ἀεθλεύων βασιλῆι.
I seek unto him, or ever I strive with the king for the prize.'
η ῥα, καὶ εἰς ἔργον πρῶτος τράπεθ̓: οἱ δ᾽ ἐπανέσταν
So spake he, and turned him first to the work; and, his call toobey,
πειθόμενοι: ἀπὸ δ᾽ εἵματ᾽ ἐπήτριμα νηήσαντο
The heroes arose, and their garments row upon row heaped they
λείῳ ἐπὶ πλαταμῶνι, τὸν οὐκ ἐπέβαλλε θάλασσα
On a smooth rock-shelf: the waves of the sea beat not thereon;
κύμασι, χειμερίη δὲ πάλαι ἀποέκλυσεν ἅλμη.
But the dash of the stormy brine had cleansed it long agone.
νῆα δ᾽ ἐπικρατέως Ἄργου ὑποθημοσύνῃσιν
Then, giving heed to the counsels of Argus, stoutly they braced
ἔζωσαν πάμπρωτον ἐυστρεφεῖ ἔνδοθεν ὅπλῳ
The ship with a hawser deftly twisted that girded her waist;
τεινάμενοι ἑκάτερθεν, ἵν᾽ εὖ ἀραροίατο γόμφοις
For they strained it from side to side, that the beams to the boltsmight hold
δούρατα καὶ ῥοθίοιο βίην ἔχοι ἀντιόωσαν.
Fast, and withstand the might of the meeting surge on-rolled. {370}
σκάπτον δ᾽ αἶψα κατ᾽ εὖρος ὅσον περιβάλλετο χῶρον,
And a trench, in compass as great as the width of the galley, theydelved;
ἠδὲ κατὰ πρῴραν εἴσω ἁλὸς ὁσσάτιόν περ
And overagainst her prow to the sea so far it shelved
ἑλκομένη χείρεσσιν ἐπιδραμέεσθαι ἔμελλεν.
As the space that the hull should run, by the might of their handson-sped:
αἰεὶ δὲ προτέρω χθαμαλώτερον ἐξελάχαινον
And deepening ever afront of her stern they scooped that bed.
στείρης, ἐν δ᾽ ὁλκῷ ξεστὰς στορέσαντο φάλαγγας:
And smoothly-shaven rollers they laid in the furrow arow.
τὴν δὲ κατάντη κλῖναν ἐπὶ πρώτῃσι φάλαγξιν,
Then down on the foremost rollers slowly they tilted her prow,
ὥς κεν ὀλισθαίνουσα δι᾽ αὐτάων φορέοιτο.
That adown them one after other with one smooth rush she might slide.
ὕψι δ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα μεταστρέψαντες ἐρετμὰ
Thereafter above did they pass the oars from side to side;
πήχυιον προύχοντα περὶ σκαλμοῖσιν ἔδησαν.
To the tholes did they lash them, outstanding a cubit on either hand;
τῶν δ᾽ ἐναμοιβαδὶς αὐτοὶ ἐνέσταθεν ἀμφοτέρωθεν,
And to right of the ship and to left at these did they take theirstand; {380}
στέρνα θ᾽ ὁμοῦ καὶ χεῖρας ἐπήλασαν. ἐν δ᾽ ἄρα Τῖφυς
And with chest and with hands against them they bare, and to and fro
βήσαθ᾽, ἵν᾽ ὀτρύνειε νέους κατὰ καιρὸν ἐρύσσαι:
Went Tiphys the while, to shout in the season the yo-heave-ho.
κεκλόμενος δ᾽ ἤυσε μάλα μέγα: τοὶ δὲ παρᾶσσον
Then gave he the word with a mighty shout, and the youths forthright
ᾧ κράτεϊ βρίσαντες ἰῇ στυφέλιξαν ἐρωῇ
Drave her with one rush down, as they thrust with their uttermostmight,
νειόθεν ἐξ ἕδρης, ἐπὶ δ᾽ ἐρρώσαντο πόδεσσιν
From her berth in the sand, as with feet hard-straining stronglythey stept
προπροβιαζόμενοι: ἡ δ᾽ ἕσπετο Πηλιὰς Ἀργὼ
Forcing her forward, and Pelian Argo seaward swept
ῥίμφα μάλ᾽: οἱ δ᾽ ἑκάτερθεν ἐπίαχον ἀίσσοντες.
Full swiftly, and shouted they all, as to right and to left theyleapt.
αἱ δ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ὑπὸ τρόπιδι στιβαρῇ στενάχοντο φάλαγγες
And under the massy keel's heavy grinding groaned aloud
τριβόμεναι περὶ δέ σφιν ἀιδνὴ κήκιε λιγνὺς
The rollers, and spirted about them the smoke in a dusky cloud
βριθοσύνῃ, κατόλισθε δ᾽ ἔσω ἁλός: οἱ δέ μιν αὖθι
'Neath the crushing weight: and into the sea she slid, and her crew{390}
ἂψ ἀνασειράζοντες ἔχον προτέρωσε κιοῦσαν.
Back with the hawsers warped her, and stayed her as onward she flew.
σκαλμοῖς δ᾽ ἀμφὶς ἐρετμὰ κατήρτυον: ἐν δέ οἱ ἱστὸν
Then the oars to the tholes they fitted on either side, and the mast
λαίφεά τ᾽ εὐποίητα καὶ ἁρμαλιὴν ἐβάλοντο.
And the well-fashioned sails, and the tackling withal, therein theycast.
αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ τὰ ἕκαστα περιφραδέως ἀλέγυναν,
But soon as with diligent heed they had ordered all things so,
κληῖδας μὲν πρῶτα πάλῳ διεμοιρήσαντο,
First cast they the lots for the thwarts whereat each man should row,
ἄνδρ᾽ ἐντυναμένω δοιὼ μίαν: ἐκ δ᾽ ἄρα μέσσην
Allotting one unto two men still; but the midmost thwart
ᾕρεον Ἡρακλῆι καὶ ἡρώων ἄτερ ἄλλων
For Herakles chose they first, from the rest of the heroes apart;
Ἀγκαίῳ, Τεγέης ὅς ῥα πτολίεθρον ἔναιεν.
And Ankaius the dweller in Tegea-town for his fellow they chose.
τοῖς μέσσην οἴοισιν ἀπὸ κληῖδα λίποντο
So the midmost place of the benches they left unchallenged to those,
αὔτως, οὔτι πάλῳ: ἐπὶ δ᾽ ἔτρεπον αἰνήσαντες
Neither cast for them lots; and with one consent of the voices ofthem {400}
Τῖφυν ἐυστείρης οἰήια νηὸς ἔρυσθαι.
Unto Tiphys was given the helm of the galley of goodly stem.
ἔνθεν δ᾽ αὖ λάιγγας ἁλὸς σχεδὸν ὀχλίζοντες
Then did they heap of the stones of the shingle, and, nigh at hand
νήεον αὐτόθι βωμὸν ἐπάκτιον Ἀπόλλωνος,
To the sea, an altar they reared to Apollo the Lord of the Strand,
Ἀκτίου Ἐμβασίοιό τ᾽ ἐπώνυμον: ὦκα δέ τοίγε
Who is called the Lord of the farers a-shipboard withal, and in haste
φιτροὺς ἀζαλέης στόρεσαν καθύπερθεν ἐλαίης.
Billets of olive-wood sapless and dry thereon they placed.
τείως δ᾽ αὖτ᾽ ἀγέληθεν ἐπιπροέηκαν ἄγοντες
And by this were the herdmen of Aison's son drawn nigh thereto
βουκόλοι Αἰσονίδαο δύω βόε. τοὺς δ᾽ ἐρύσαντο
Bringing oxen twain from the herd; and these the young men drew
κουρότεροι ἑτάρων βωμοῦ σχεδόν. οἱ δ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἔπειτα
And set them beside the altar; and others stood thereby
χέρνιβά τ᾽ οὐλοχύτας τε παρέσχεθον. αὐτὰρ Ἰήσων
With the water of sacrifice and the meal. And now drew nigh
εὔχετο κεκλόμενος πατρώιον Ἀπόλλωνα:
Jason, and unto Apollo his fathers' god did he cry: {410}

'Hearken, O King, who in Pagasae dwellest, whose fair halls be
ἡμετέροιο τοκῆος ἐπώνυμον, ὅς μοι ὑπέστης
In the city Aisonian, named of my sire, who didst promise to me,
Πυθοῖ χρειομένῳ ἄνυσιν καὶ πείραθ᾽ ὁδοῖο
When I sought unto thee at Pytho, to point me my journey's goal
σημανέειν, αὐτὸς γὰρ ἐπαίτιος ἔπλευ ἀέθλων:
And fulfilment; for thou, even thou, to the emprise didst kindle mysoul.
αὐτὸς νῦν ἄγε νῆα σὺν ἀρτεμέεσσιν ἑταίροις
Now therefore my ship with my comrades safe and sound bring thou
κεῖσέ τε καὶ παλίνορσον ἐς Ἑλλάδα. σοὶ δ᾽ ἂν ὀπίσσω
Thither, and back unto Hellas again: and to thee do we vow,
τόσσων, ὅσσοι κεν νοστήσομεν, ἀγλαὰ ταύρων
For as many of us as shall win safe home, on thine altar to lay
ἱρὰ πάλιν βωμῷ ἐπιθήσομεν: ἄλλα δὲ Πυθοῖ,
Burnt offerings so many of goodly bulls: therewithal will I pay
ἄλλα δ᾽ ἐς Ὀρτυγίην ἀπερείσια δῶρα κομίσσω.
At Pytho thy shrine, and Ortygia, other gifts beyond price.
νῦν δ᾽ ἴθι, καὶ τήνδ᾽ ἧμιν, Ἑκηβόλε, δέξο θυηλήν,
Come then, Far-smiter, accept at our hands this sacrifice, {420}
ἥν τοι τῆσδ᾽ ἐπίβαθρα χάριν προτεθείμεθα νηὸς
Which now, at our going abroad, for the sake of this our ship
πρωτίστην: λύσαιμι δ᾽, ἄναξ, ἐπ᾽ ἀπήμονι μοίρῃ
We offer, our first of all: and with prosperous weird may I slip
πείσματα σὴν διὰ μῆτιν: ἐπιπνεύσειε δ᾽ ἀήτης
The hawsers, by thy devising: and soft bid blow the breeze
μείλιχος, ᾧ κ᾽ ἐπὶ πόντον ἐλευσόμεθ᾽ εὐδιόωντες.
Whereby we may fare on ever through calm of summer seas.'
ἦ, καὶ ἅμ᾽ εὐχωλῇ προχύτας βάλε. τὼ δ᾽ ἐπὶ βουσὶν
With the prayer then cast he the meal: and now for the slaughteringthese
ζωσάσθην, Ἀγκαῖος ὑπέρβιος, Ἡρακλέης τε.
Girded themselves, Ankaius the mighty, and Herakles.
ἤτοι ὁ μὲν ῥοπάλῳ μέσσον κάρη ἀμφὶ μέτωπα
And this with his club on the forehead smote the steer mid-head;
πλῆξεν, ὁ δ᾽ ἀθρόος αὖθι πεσὼν ἐνερείσατο γαίῃ:
And heavily all in a heap to the earth it dropped down dead.
Ἀγκαῖος δ᾽ ἑτέροιο κατὰ πλατὺν αὐχένα κόψας
And Ankaius hewed with his brazen axe at the second steer
χαλκείῳ πελέκει κρατεροὺς διέκερσε τένοντας:
On the broad neck: clean through the sinews strong thereof did itshear; {430}
ἤριπε δ᾽ ἀμφοτέροισι περιρρηδὴς κεράεσσιν.
And there on the earth, with horns doubled under its chest, it lay.
τοὺς δ᾽ ἔταροι σφάξαν τε θοῶς, δεῖράν τε βοείας,
And swiftly their comrades severed the throats, and the skins didthey flay,
κόπτον, δαίτρευόν τε, καὶ ἱερὰ μῆρ᾽ ἐτάμοντο,
And they sundered the joints, and they carved, and the sacred thighsthey cut out,
κὰδ δ᾽ ἄμυδις τάγε πάντα καλύψαντες πύκα δημῷ
And they laid them together, and closely with fat they wrapped themabout,
καῖον ἐπὶ σχίζῃσιν: ὁ δ᾽ ἀκρήτους χέε λοιβὰς
And burnt on the cloven wood: drink-offerings unmingled of wine
Αἰσονίδης, γήθει δὲ σέλας θηεύμενος Ἴδμων
Poured Aison's son; and Idmon rejoiced, beholding shine
πάντοσε λαμπόμενον θυέων ἄπο τοῖό τε λιγνὺν
The splendour that gleamed all round from the sacrifice and thesmoke,
πορφυρέαις ἑλίκεσσιν ἐναίσιμον ἀίσσουσαν:
As forth for an omen of good in wavering wreaths it broke.
αἶψα δ᾽ ἀπηλεγέως νόον ἔκφατο Λητοΐδαο:
And the purpose of Leto's son, nothing doubting, straightway hespoke:

'For you 'tis ordained of the doom of the Gods and of each man'sfate {440}
ἐνθάδε κῶας ἄγοντας: ἀπειρέσιοι δ᾽ ἐνὶ μέσσῳ
Hither to win with the Fleece; but meanwhile lie in wait
κεῖσέ τε δεῦρό τ᾽ ἔασιν ἀνερχομένοισιν ἄεθλοι.
Toils without number, as thither ye fare, and as backward ye hie.
αὐτὰρ ἐμοὶ θανέειν στυγερῇ ὑπὸ δαίμονος αἴσῃ
But for me by the hateful doom of a God is it fated to die
τηλόθι που πέπρωται ἐπ᾽ Ἀσίδος ἠπείροιο.
Far hence, I know not where, on the Asian mainland shore.
ὧδε κακοῖς δεδαὼς ἔτι καὶ πάρος οἰωνοῖσιν
Yea, this is my doom: by birds evil-boding I knew it before;
πότμον ἐμὸν πάτρης ἐξήιον, ὄφρ᾽ ἐπιβαίην
Yet from my fatherland went I: to sail in your galley I came,
νηός, ἐυκλείη δὲ δόμοις ἐπιβάντι λίπηται.
That so to mine house might be left the renown of a hero's name.'
ὧς ἄρ᾽ ἔφη: κοῦροι δὲ θεοπροπίης ἀίοντες
He spake, and the young men, hearing the words of the prophet, wereglad
νόστῳ μὲν γήθησαν, ἄχος δ᾽ ἕλεν Ἴδμονος αἴσῃ.
For their home-return, but for Idmon's doom were their hearts madesad.
ἦμος δ᾽ ἠέλιος σταθερὸν παραμείβεται ἦμαρ,
And so, at the hour when the sun from his noon-halt sinketh adown,{450}
αἱ δὲ νέον σκοπέλοισιν ὑποσκιόωνται ἄρουραι,
And over the harvest-lands the long rock-shadows are thrown,
δειελινὸν κλίνοντος ὑπὸ ζόφον ἠελίοιο,
As the sun to the eventide dusk slow-slideth aslant from the sky,
τῆμος ἄρ᾽ ἤδη πάντες ἐπὶ ψαμάθοισι βαθεῖαν
Even then did the heroes all on the sands of the beach pile high
φυλλάδα χευάμενοι πολιοῦ πρόπαρ αἰγιαλοῖο
A couch of the wildwood leaves, and in front of the surf-line hoar
κέκλινθ᾽ ἑξείης: παρὰ δέ σφισι μυρί᾽ ἔκειτο
Row upon row lay down, and beside them was measureless store
εἴδατα, καὶ μέθυ λαρόν, ἀφυσσαμένων προχόῃσιν
Of meats, and of sweet strong wine which the cupbearers poured forthem out
οἰνοχόων: μετέπειτα δ᾽ ἀμοιβαδὶς ἀλλήλοισιν
From the pitchers: thereafter they told, as each man's turn cameabout,
μυθεῦνθ᾽, οἷά τε πολλὰ νέοι παρὰ δαιτὶ καὶ οἴνῳ
Story and legend, as young men oft at the feast and the bowl
τερπνῶς ἑψιόωνται, ὅτ᾽ ἄατος ὕβρις ἀπείη.
Will take their delight, when insatiate violence is far from theirsoul.
ἔνθ᾽ αὖτ᾽ Αἰσονίδης μὲν ἀμήχανος εἰν ἑοῖ αὐτῷ
But there was Aison's son, as a man in a nightmare dream, {460}
πορφύρεσκεν ἕκαστα κατηφιόωντι ἐοικώς.
Struggling with deep dark thoughts, and as one distraught did heseem;
τὸν δ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ὑποφρασθεὶς μεγάλῃ ὀπὶ νείκεσεν Ἴδας:
And Idas marked him askance, and he shouted in scoffing tone:

'What thoughts to and fro in thine heart art thou turning, thouAison's son?
αὔδα ἐνὶ μέσσοισι τεὸν νόον. ἦέ σε δαμνᾷ
Speak out in our midst thy mind! Hath fear in thy spirit awoke
τάρβος ἐπιπλόμενον, τό τ᾽ ἀνάλκιδας ἄνδρας ἀτύζει;
Overmastering thee--that thing which dazeth dastard folk?
ἴστω νῦν δόρυ θοῦρον, ὅτῳ περιώσιον ἄλλων
Be witness my furious spear, wherewithal beyond others I win
κῦδος ἐνὶ πτολέμοισιν ἀείρομαι, οὐδέ μ᾽ ὀφέλλει
Renown in the wars--nor is Zeus so present a helper therein,
Ζεὺς τόσον, ὁσσάτιόν περ ἐμὸν δόρυ, μή νύ τι πῆμα
Nor so mighty to save as my spear--that on thee no deadly bane
λοίγιον ἔσσεσθαι, μηδ᾽ ἀκράαντον ἄεθλον
Shall light, nor shall any strife of thine hands be striven in vain,
Ἴδεω ἑσπομένοιο, καὶ εἰ θεὸς ἀντιόῳτο.
While Idas attendeth thee, not though against thee a God shouldarise. {470}
τοῖόν μ᾽ Ἀρήνηθεν ἀοσσητῆρα κομίζεις.
Such a helper is this thou hast won from Arênê for thine emprise.'
ἦ, καὶ ἐπισχόμενος πλεῖον δέπας ἀμφοτέρῃσιν
He spake, and the brimming beaker with both hands lifted he up,
πῖνε χαλίκρητον λαρὸν μέθυ: δεύετο δ᾽ οἴνῳ
And the strong wine drank unmingled, and dashed with the dew of thecup
χείλεα, κυάνεαί τε γενειάδες: οἱ δ᾽ ὁμάδησαν
Were his lips and his swarthy cheeks: but a startled clamour broke
πάντες ὁμῶς, Ἴδμων δὲ καὶ ἀμφαδίην ἀγόρευσεν:
From all together; and openly Idmon rebuked him, and spoke:

'Beshrew thee!--thy thoughts thus soon to thyself are deadly andfell!
ἦέ τοι εἰς ἄτην ζωρὸν μέθυ θαρσαλέον κῆρ
Hath the strong wine caused thy reckless heart for thy ruin to swell
οἰδάνει ἐν στήθεσσι, θεοὺς δ᾽ ἀνέηκεν ἀτίζειν;
In thy breast, and eggeth thee on to set the Gods at nought?
ἄλλοι μῦθοι ἔασι παρήγοροι, οἷσί περ ἀνὴρ
Other words of comfort there be wherewithal a man might have sought
θαρσύνοι ἕταρον: σὺ δ᾽ ἀτάσθαλα πάμπαν ἔειπας,
To hearten his friend; but thy words were wholly presumptuous-bold!{480}
τοῖα φάτις καὶ τοὺς πρὶν ἐπιφλύειν μακάρεσσιν
So blustered, as telleth the tale, against the Blessèd of old
υἷας Ἀλωιάδας, οἷς οὐδ᾽ ὅσον ἰσοφαρίζεις
The sons of Alôeus: and thou--thou art nothing so mighty as they
ἠνορέην: ἔμπης δὲ θοοῖς ἐδάμησαν ὀιστοῖς
In manhood: yet both did the swift shafts overmaster and slay
ἄμφω Λητοΐδαο, καὶ ἴφθιμοί περ ἐόντες.
Of the Son of Latona, though giants they were and passing strong.'
ὧς ἔφατ᾽: ἐκ δ᾽ ἐγέλασσεν ἄδήν Ἀφαρήιος Ἴδας
Then Aphareus' son brake forth into laughter loud and long,
καί μιν ἐπιλλίζων ἠμείβετο κερτομίοισιν:
And blinking upon him in drunken wise flung back the jeer:

'Come now, by thy deep divination reveal unto me, thou seer,
εἰ καὶ ἐμοὶ τοιόνδε θεοὶ τελέουσιν ὄλεθρον,
If the Gods for me also be bringing to pass such doom as that
οἷον Ἀλωιάδῃσι πατὴρ τεὸς ἐγγυάλιξεν.
Which was dealt of that father of thine to the sons that Alôeusbegat.
φράζεο δ᾽ ὅππως χεῖρας ἐμὰς σόος ἐξαλέοιο,
And bethink thee how thou shalt escape from mine hands alive, if wefind {490}
χρειὼ θεσπίζων μεταμώνιον εἴ κεν ἁλῴης.
Thee guilty of boding a prophecy vain as the idle wind!'
Χώετ᾽ ἐνιπτάζων: προτέρω δέ κε νεῖκος ἐτύχθη,
Wrathfuller waxed he in railing: and now had the strife run high,
εἰ μὴ δηριόωντας ὁμοκλήσαντες ἑταῖροι
But amidst of their wrangling their comrades with loud indignant cry,
αὐτός τ᾽ Αἰσονίδης κατερήτυεν: ἂν δὲ καὶ Ὀρφεὺς
With Aison's son, restrained them:--and lo, with his lyre upheld
λαιῇ ἀνασχόμενος κίθαριν πείραζεν ἀοιδῆς.
In his left hand, Orpheus arose, and the fountain of song upwelled.
ἤειδεν δ᾽ ὡς γαῖα καὶ οὐρανὸς ἠδὲ θάλασσα,
And he sang how in the beginning the earth and the heaven and thesea
τὸ πρὶν ἐπ᾽ ἀλλήλοισι μιῇ συναρηρότα μορφῇ,
In the selfsame form were blended together in unity,
νείκεος ἐξ ὀλοοῖο διέκριθεν ἀμφὶς ἕκαστα:
And how baleful contention each from other asunder tore;
ἠδ᾽ ὡς ἔμπεδον αἰὲν ἐν αἰθέρι τέκμαρ ἔχουσιν
And he sang of the goal of the course in the firmament fixed evermore
ἄστρα σεληναίη τε καὶ ἠελίοιο κέλευθοι:
For the stars and the moon, and the printless paths of thejourneying sun, {500}
οὔρεά θ᾽ ὡς ἀνέτειλε, καὶ ὡς ποταμοὶ κελάδοντες
And how the mountains arose, how rivers that babbling run,
αὐτῇσιν νύμφῃσι καὶ ἑρπετὰ πάντ᾽ ἐγένοντο.
They and their Nymphs, were born, and whatso moveth on Earth;
ἤειδεν δ᾽ ὡς πρῶτον Ὀφίων Εὐρυνόμη τε
And he sang how Ophion at first, and Eurynomê, Ocean's birth,
Ὠκεανὶς νιφόεντος ἔχον κράτος Οὐλύμποιο:
In lordship of all things sat on Olympus' snow-crowned height;
ὥς τε βίῃ καὶ χερσὶν ὁ μὲν Κρόνῳ εἴκαθε τιμῆς,
And how Ophion must yield unto Kronos' hands and his might,
ἡ δὲ Ῥέῃ, ἔπεσον δ᾽ ἐνὶ κύμασιν Ὠκεανοῖο:
And she unto Rhea, and into the Ocean's waves plunged they.
οἱ δὲ τέως μακάρεσσι θεοῖς Τιτῆσιν ἄνασσον,
O'er the blessed Titan-gods these twain for a space held sway,
ὄφρα Ζεὺς ἔτι κοῦρος, ἔτι φρεσὶ νήπια εἰδώς,
While Zeus as yet was a child, while yet as a child he thought,
Δικταῖον ναίεσκεν ὑπὸ σπέος: οἱ δέ μιν οὔπω
And dwelt in the cave Dictaean, while yet the time was not
γηγενέες Κύκλωπες ἐκαρτύναντο κεραυνῷ,
When the Earth-born Cyclops the thunderbolt's strength to his handsshould give, {510}
βροντῇ τε στεροπῇ τε: τὰ γὰρ Διὶ κῦδος ὀπάζει.
Even thunder and lightning: by these doth Zeus his glory receive.
ἦ, καὶ ὁ μὲν φόρμιγγα σὺν ἀμβροσίῃ σχέθεν αὐδῇ.
Low murmured the lyre, and slept, and the voice divine was still:
τοὶ δ᾽ ἄμοτον λήξαντος ἔτι προύχοντο κάρηνα
But moveless the heads of them all are bending forward, and thrill
πάντες ὁμῶς ὀρθοῖσιν ἐπ᾽ οὔασιν ἠρεμέοντες
Their eager-listening ears, through the hush as they strain, inthrall
κηληθμῷ: τοῖόν σφιν ἐνέλλιπε θέλκτρον ἀοιδῆς.
To the spell; such wondrous glamour the song hath cast over all.
οὐδ᾽ ἐπὶ δὴν μετέπειτα κερασσάμενοι Διὶ λοιβάς,
And a little thereafter they mingled, even as is meet and right,
ἣ θέμις, ἑστηῶτες ἐπὶ γλώσσῃσι χέοντο
The wine, and poured on the tongues where the altar-fires blazedbright.
αἰθομέναις, ὕπνου δὲ διὰ κνέφας ἐμνώοντο.
Then turned they to sleep, and around them were folded the wings ofthe night.
αὐτὰρ ὅτ᾽ αἰγλήεσσα φαεινοῖς ὄμμασιν Ἠὼς
But when radiant Dawn with her flashing eyes on the steeps lookeddown
Πηλίου αἰπεινὰς ἴδεν ἄκριας, ἐκ δ᾽ ἀνέμοιο
Of Pelion's crests, and, washed by the wind, the forelands thatfrown {520}
εὔδιοι ἐκλύζοντο τινασσομένης ἁλὸς ἄκραι,
Over the tossing sea rose sharp and clear to view,
δὴ τότ᾽ ἀνέγρετο Τῖφυς: ἄφαρ δ᾽ ὀρόθυνεν ἑταίρους
Then Tiphys awoke, and he hasted the Argo's hero-crew
βαινέμεναί τ᾽ ἐπὶ νῆα καὶ ἀρτύνασθαι ἐρετμά.
To hie them aboard, and to range the oars in order due.
σμερδαλέον δὲ λιμὴν Παγασήιος ἠδὲ καὶ αὐτὴ
And a weird dread cry from the haven of Pagasae rang to them; yea,
Πηλιὰς ἴαχεν Ἀργὼ ἐπισπέρχουσα νέεσθαι.
From Pelian Argo herself came a voice, bidding hasten away:
ἐν γάρ οἱ δόρυ θεῖον ἐλήλατο, τό ῥ᾽ ἀνὰ μέσσην
For within her a beam divine had been laid, which Athênê brought
στεῖραν Ἀθηναίη Δωδωνίδος ἥρμοσε φηγοῦ.
From the oak Dodonaean, and into the midst of her stem was itwrought.
οἱ δ᾽ ἀνὰ σέλματα βάντες ἐπισχερὼ ἀλλήλοισιν,
So the heroes went up to the thwarts, and twain after twain arow,
ὡς ἐδάσαντο πάροιθεν ἐρεσσέμεν ᾧ ἐνὶ χώρῳ,
Even as fell the places by lot but a little ago,
εὐκόσμως σφετέροισι παρ᾽ ἔντεσιν ἑδριόωντο.
Orderly ranged sat down, and by each was his harness of fight. {530}
μέσσῳ δ᾽ Ἀγκαῖος μέγα τε σθένος Ἡρακλῆος
On the midmost Ankaius, and next him Herakles' giant might
ἵζανον: ἄγχι δέ οἱ ῥόπαλον θέτο, καί οἱ ἔνερθεν
Sat, and beside him he laid his club; and the keel of the ship
ποσσὶν ὑπεκλύσθη νηὸς τρόπις.: εἵλκετο δ᾽ ἤδη
Under his massy tread plunged deep. And now did they slip
πείσματα, καὶ μέθυ λεῖβον ὕπερθ᾽ ἁλός. αὐτὰρ Ἰήσων
The hawsers, and poured on the sea the wine. Tear-dimmed that day
δακρυόεις γαίης ἀπὸ πατρίδος ὄμματ᾽ ἔνεικεν.
Were Jason's eyes, from the fatherland-home as he turned them away.
οἱ δ᾽, ὥστ᾽ ἠίθεοι Φοίβῳ χορὸν ἢ ἐνὶ Πυθοῖ
And these--as the youths that in Pytho begin unto Phœbus the dance,
ᾔ που ἐν Ὀρτυγίῃ, ἢ ἐφ᾽ ὕδασιν Ἰσμηνοῖο
In Ortygia, or there where Ismenus' ripples in sunlight glance,
στησάμενοι, φόρμιγγος ὑπαὶ περὶ βωμὸν ὁμαρτῇ
Hand in hand to the notes of the lyre his altar around
ἐμμελέως κραιπνοῖσι πέδον ῥήσσωσι πόδεσσιν:
With rhythmical fall of the feet swift-circling beat the ground,--
ὧς οἱ ὑπ᾽ Ὀρφῆος κιθάρῃ πέπληγον ἐρετμοῖς
So smote with the oars, by the lyre of Orpheus timing the stroke,{540}
πόντου λάβρον ὕδωρ, ἐπὶ δὲ ῥόθια κλύζοντο:
The sea's wild water, and over the blades the surges broke.
ἀφρῷ δ᾽ ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα κελαινὴ κήκιεν ἅλμη
And on this side and that with the foam the dark brine seethingflashed;
δεινὸν μορμύρουσα ἐρισθενέων μένει ἀνδρῶν.
Like muttered thunder it sounded by strokes of the mighty updashed.
στράπτε δ᾽ ὑπ᾽ ἠελίῳ φλογὶ εἴκελα νηὸς ἰούσης
And glanced in the sun like flame, as the ship winged onward herflight,
τεύχεα: μακραὶ δ᾽ αἰὲν ἐλευκαίνοντο κέλευθοι,
Their armour: the wake far-weltering ever behind gleamed white,
ἀτραπὸς ὣς χλοεροῖο διειδομένη πεδίοιο.
As an oft-trodden path through a grassy plain lieth clear in sight.
πάντες δ᾽ οὐρανόθεν λεῦσσον θεοὶ ἤματι κείνῳ
And all the Gods that day from the height of the heaven looked down
νῆα καὶ ἡμιθέων ἀνδρῶν μένος, οἳ τότ᾽ ἄριστοι
On the ship, and the might of the demigod heroes, the men of renown,
πόντον ἐπιπλώεσκον: ἐπ᾽ ἀκροτάτῃσι δὲ νύμφαι
Sailing the sea; and afar on the crests of the hill-tops lone
Πηλιάδες κορυφῇσιν ἐθάμβεον εἰσορόωσαι
The Maids of the Mountain, the Pelian Nymphs, in amaze looked on{550}
ἔργον Ἀθηναίης Ἰτωνίδος, ἠδὲ καὶ αὐτοὺς
At the work of Athênê Itônis, the heroes' goodly array,
ἥρωας χείρεσσιν ἐπικραδάοντας ἐρετμά.
As the ashen blades in their hands kept time with measured sway.
αὐτὰρ ὅγ᾽ ἐξ ὑπάτου ὄρεος κίεν ἄγχι θαλάσσης
Yea, and there came one down from the mountain's height to the shore,
χείρων Φιλλυρίδης, πολιῇ δ᾽ ἐπὶ κύματος ἀγῇ
Even Cheiron, Philyra's son, and plashed the surf-wash hoar
τέγγε πόδας, καὶ πολλὰ βαρείῃ χειρὶ κελεύων,
On his feet, as his broad hand waving many a farewell sent,
νόστον ἐπευφήμησεν ἀκηδέα νισσομένοισιν.
And he shouted, 'Good speed, and a sorrowless home-return!' as theywent.
σὺν καί οἱ παράκοιτις ἐπωλένιον φορέουσα
And there was his wife, with Peleus' babe in her arms held high,
Πηλεΐδην Ἀχιλῆα, φίλῳ δειδίσκετο πατρί.
Achilles, waving a greeting as sped his sire thereby.
οἱ δ᾽ ὅτε δὴ λιμένος περιηγέα κάλλιπον ἀκτὴν
So when they had rounded the headland, and left the haven behind
φραδμοσύνῃ μήτι τε δαΐφρονος Ἁγνιάδαο
By the cunning and wisdom of Hagnias' son the prudent of mind,--{560}
Τίφυος, ὅς ῥ᾽ ἐνὶ χερσὶν ἐύξοα τεχνηέντως
Even of Tiphys, who swayed in the master-craftsman's grip
πηδάλι᾽ ἀμφιέπεσκ᾽, ὄφρ᾽ ἔμπεδον ἐξιθύνοι,
The helm smooth-shaven, to guide unswerving the course of the ship,--
δή ῥα τότε μέγαν ἱστὸν ἐνεστήσαντο μεσόδμῃ,
Then set they up in the centre-block the towering mast,
δῆσαν δὲ προτόνοισι, τανυσσάμενοι ἑκάτερθεν,
And on either hand strained taut the stays, and they lashed themfast;
κὰδ δ᾽ αὐτοῦ λίνα χεῦαν, ἐπ᾽ ἠλακάτην ἐρύσαντες.
And the sail they unfurled therefrom, from the yard-arm spreadingit wide.
ἐν δὲ λιγὺς πέσεν οὖρος: ἐπ᾽ ἰκριόφιν δὲ κάλωας
And a breeze shrill-piping upsprang, and the sheets upon either side
ξεστῇσιν περόνῃσι διακριδὸν ἀμφιβαλόντες
O'er the polished pins on the deck then cast they in order meet;
Τισαίην εὔκηλοι ὑπὲρ δολιχὴν θέον ἄκρην.
And past the long Tisaian ness did they restfully fleet.
τοῖσι δὲ φορμίζων εὐθήμονι μέλπεν ἀοιδῇ
And Orpheus, in song whose rhythmical cadence kept time to the lyre,
Οἰάγροιο πάις νηοσσόον εὐπατέρειαν
Sang of the Saviour of Ships, the Child of the Glorious Sire, {570}
Ἄρτεμιν, ἣ κείνας σκοπιὰς ἁλὸς ἀμφιέπεσκεν
Artemis, she that hath those crags of the sea in her keeping,
ῥυομένη καὶ γαῖαν Ἰωλκίδα: τοὶ δὲ βαθείης
The Lady that wardeth Iolkos-land. And the fishes leaping
ἰχθύες ἀίσσοντες ὕπερθ᾽ ἁλός, ἄμμιγα παύροις
Up from the deep sea came, and, drawn by the spell of the lay,
ἄπλετοι, ὑγρὰ κέλευθα διασκαίροντες ἕποντο.
Both small and great followed gambolling over the watery way.
ὡς δ᾽ ὁπότ᾽ ἀγραύλοιο κατ᾽ ἴχνια σημαντῆρος
And as when in the track of a shepherd, the warder of flocks on thewold,
μυρία μῆλ᾽ ἐφέπονται ἄδην κεκορημένα ποίης
Follow sheep that have fed to the full of the grass, a throng untold,
εἰς αὖλιν, ὁ δέ τ᾽ εἶσι πάρος σύριγ γι λιγείῃ
And he goeth before with his shrill reed piping them home to thefold,
καλὰ μελιζόμενος νόμιον μέλος, ὧς ἄρα τοίγε
As sweetly he fluteth a shepherd's strain,--so over the seas
ὡμάρτευν: τὴν δ᾽ αἰὲν ἐπασσύτερος φέρεν οὖρος.
Followed the fishes: on wafted her ever the chasing breeze.
αὐτίκα δ᾽ ἠερίη πολυλήιος αἶα Πελασγῶν
And ere long melting in haze the Pelasgians' land of corn {580}
δύετο, Πηλιάδας δὲ παρεξήμειβον ἐρίπνας
Sank out of sight; and past Mount Pelion's cliffs were they borne
αἰὲν ἐπιπροθέοντες: ἔδυνε δὲ Σηπιὰς ἄκρη,
Aye running onward; and sank in the offing the Sepian strand,
φαίνετο δ᾽ εἰναλίη Σκίαθος, φαίνοντο δ᾽ ἄπωθεν
And sea-girt Skiathos rose, and a far-away gleam of sand,
Πειρεσιαὶ Μάγνησά θ᾽ ὑπεύδιος ἠπείροιο
The Peiresian beach and Magnesian, clear in the summer air
ἀκτὴ καὶ τύμβος Δολοπήιος: ἔνθ᾽ ἄρα τοίγε
On the mainland; and lo, the barrow of Dolops: at eventide there
ἑσπέριοι ἀνέμοιο παλιμπνοίῃσιν ἔκελσαν,
Beached they the ship, for against them the veering breeze hadturned.
καί μιν κυδαίνοντες ὑπὸ κνέφας ἔντομα μήλων
And they honoured the dead, and victims of sheep in the gloamingthey burned,
κεῖαν, ὀρινομένης ἁλὸς οἴδματι: διπλόα δ᾽ ἀκταῖς
While the sea-surge stormily tossed. Two days to and fro on the shore
ἤματ᾽ ἐλινύεσκον: ἀτὰρ τριτάτῳ προέηκαν
They loitered, but ran on the third their galley asea once more;
νῆα, τανυσσάμενοι περιώσιον ὑψόθι λαῖφος.
And the broad sail spread they on high, and the keel from the strandshot away: {590}
τὴν δ᾽ ἀκτὴν Ἀφέτας Ἀργοῦς ἔτι κικλήσκουσιν.
Men call it 'The Launching of Argo'--Aphetai--unto this day.
ἔνθεν δὲ προτέρωσε παρεξέθεον Μελίβοιαν.
Onward they ran, ever onward: they left Meliboia behind;

They caught but a glimpse of the foam-flecked beach of the stormywind:
ἠῶθεν δ᾽ Ὁμόλην αὐτοσχεδὸν εἰσορόωντες
And with dawning on Homolê looked they, and lo, it was looming anigh;
πόντῳ κεκλιμένην παρεμέτρεον: οὐδ᾽ ἔτι δηρὸν
Broad-couched on the breast of the waters it lay as they passed itby.
μέλλον ὑπὲκ ποταμοῖο βαλεῖν Ἀμύροιο ῥέεθρα.
Thereafter full soon by the outfall of Amyrus' flood must they fly.
κεῖθεν δ᾽ Εὐρυμενάς τε πολυκλύστους τε φάραγγας
Eurymenê then, and the surf-tormented gorges they spied
Ὄσσης Οὐλύμποιό τ᾽ ἐσέδρακον: αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα
Of Olympus' and Ossa's seaward face: wind-wafted they ride
κλίτεα Παλλήναια, Καναστραίην ὑπὲρ ἄκρην,
By the slopes of Pallênê; beyond Kanastra's foreland-height
ἤνυσαν ἐννύχιοι πνοιῇ ἀνέμοιο θέοντες.
They passed, running lightly before the breath of the breeze in thenight. {600}
ἦρι δὲ νισσομένοισιν Ἄθω ἀνέτελλε κολώνη
And before them at dawn on-speeding the pillar of Athos rose,
Θρηικίη, ἣ τόσσον ἀπόπροθι Λῆμνον ἐοῦσαν,
The Thracian mountain: its topmost peak's dark shadow it throws
ὅσσον ἐς ἔνδιόν κεν ἐύστολος ὁλκὰς ἀνύσσαι,
Far as a merchantman goodly-rigged in a day might win,
ἀκροτάτῃ κορυφῇ σκιάει, καὶ ἐσάχρι Μυρίνης.
Even to Lemnos' isle, and the city Myrinê therein.
τοῖσιν δ᾽ αὐτῆμαρ μὲν ἄεν καὶ ἐπι κνέφας οὖρος
And the wind blew all that day till the folds of the darkness fell,
πάγχυ μάλ᾽ ἀκραής, τετάνυστο δὲ λαίφεα νηός.
Blew ever fresh, and the sail strained over the broad sea-swell.
αὐτὰρ ἅμ᾽ ἠελίοιο βολαῖς ἀνέμοιο λιπόντος
Howbeit the wind's breath failed them at going down of the sun:
εἰρεσίῃ κραναὴν Σιντηίδα Λῆμνον ἵκοντο.
So to Lemnos the craggy, the Sintian isle, by rowing they won.
ἔνθ᾽ ἄμυδις πᾶς δῆμος ὑπερβασίῃσι γυναικῶν
There all the men of the nation together pitilessly
νηλειῶς δέδμητο παροιχομένῳ λυκάβαντι.
By the violent hands of the women were slain in the year gone by;{610}
δὴ γὰρ κουριδίας μὲν ἀπηνήναντο γυναῖκας
Forasmuch as the hearts of the men from their lawful wives hadturned,
ἀνέρες ἐχθήραντες, ἔχον δ᾽ ἐπὶ ληιάδεσσιν
And in love for their captive handmaids with baleful passion theyburned,
τρηχὺν ἔρον, ἃς αὐτοὶ ἀγίνεον ἀντιπέρηθεν
Maids that themselves from the Thracian land in foray had brought
Θρηικίην δῃοῦντες: ἐπεὶ χόλος αἰνὸς ὄπαζεν
Oversea:--'twas the wrath of the Cyprian Queen that curse hadwrought,
Κύπιδος, οὕνεκά μιν γεράων ἐπὶ δηρὸν ἄτισσαν.
Because that for long they had left her unhonoured by sacrifice:--
ὦ μέλεαι, ζήλοιό τ᾽ ἐπισμυγερῶς ἀκόρητοι.
Ah hapless, whose hungering jealousy craved that woeful price!
οὐκ οἶον σὺν τῇσιν ἑοὺς ἔρραισαν ἀκοίτας
For not with the captives their husbands alone for the sin did theyslay,
ἀμφ᾽ εὐνῇ, πᾶν δ᾽ ἄρσεν ὁμοῦ γένος, ὥς κεν ὀπίσσω
But every male therewithal, lest perchance in the coming day
μήτινα λευγαλέοιο φόνου τίσειαν ἀμοιβήν.
Out of these might arise an avenger for that grim murder's sake.
οἴη δ᾽ ἐκ πασέων γεραροῦ περιφείσατο πατρὸς
In one alone for an aged sire did compassion awake, {620}
Ὑψιπύλεια Θόαντος, ὃ δὴ κατὰ δῆμον ἄνασσεν:
Hypsipylê, daughter of Thoas, the king of the folk of the land.
λάρνακι δ᾽ ἐν κοίλῃ μιν ὕπερθ᾽ ἁλὸς ἧκε φέρεσθαι,
In an ark did she send him to drift o'er the sea from themurder-strand,
αἴ κε φύγῃ. καὶ τὸν μὲν ἐς Οἰνοίην ἐρύσαντο
If he haply might 'scape. And fisher-folk saved him and brought tothe isle
πρόσθεν, ἀτὰρ Σίκινόν γε μεθύστερον αὐδηθεῖσαν
Which men call Sikinus now, but Oinoë named it erewhile;
νῆσον, ἐπακτῆρες, Σικίνου ἄπο, τόν ῥα Θόαντι
For from Sikinus folk renamed it, the child whom the Maid of theSpring,
νηιὰς Οἰνοίη νύμφη τέκεν εὐνηθεῖσα.
Oinoë, bare, when she couched in love with Thoas the king.
τῇσι δὲ βουκόλιαί τε βοῶν χάλκειά τε δύνειν
So it came to pass that for these to tend the kine, and to wear
τεύχεα, πυροφόρους τε διατμήξασθαι ἀροὔρας
War-harness of brass, and to furrow the wheat-bearing land with theshare,
ῥηίτερον πάσῃσιν Ἀθηναίης πέλεν ἔργων,
In the eyes of them all seemed task more light than Athênê's toil
οἷς αἰεὶ τὸ πάροιθεν ὁμίλεον. ἀλλὰ γὰρ ἔμπης
Wherewithal were their hands aforetime busy: yet all the while {630}
ἦ θαμὰ δὴ πάπταινον ἐπὶ πλατὺν ὄμμασι πόντον
Across the broad sea ever they cast and anon their eyes
δείματι λευγαλέῳ, ὁπότε Θρήικες ἴασιν.
With a haunting fear lest the Thracian sails in the offing shouldrise.
τῶ καὶ ὅτ᾽ ἐγγύθι νήσου ἐρεσσομένην ἴδον Ἀργώ,
So when they beheld the Argo's oars flashing down to their coast,
αὐτίκα πασσυδίῃ πυλέων ἔκτοσθε Μυρίνης
Forth from the gates of Myrinê straightway in one great host
δήια τεύχεα δῦσαι ἐς αἰγιαλὸν προχέοντο,
Clad in their harness of battle down to the beach they poured
Θυιάσιν ὠμοβόροις ἴκελαι: φὰν γάρ που ἱκάνειν
Like unto ravening Thyiads: they weened that the Thracian horde
Θρήικας: ἡ δ᾽ ἅμα τῇσι Θοαντιὰς Ὑψιπύλεια
Were come: and there was Hypsipylê clad in the war-array
δῦν᾽ ἐνὶ τεύχεσι πατρός. ἀμηχανίῃ δ᾽ ἐχέοντο
Of Thoas her father: and all these speechless with wildered dismay
ἄφθογγοι: τοῖόν σφιν ἐπὶ δέος ᾐωρεῖτο.
Streamed down,--such panic was wafted about them all that day.
τείως δ᾽ αὖτ᾽ ἐκ νηὸς ἀριστῆες προέηκαν
But forth of the galley the while had the chieftains sent to theshore {640}
Αἰθαλίδην κήρυκα θοόν, τῷπέρ τε μέλεσθαι
Aithalides, their herald swift, the man who bore
ἀγγελίας καὶ σκῆπτρον ἐπέτρεπον Ἑρμείαο,
Charge of their messages, yea, and the wand they committed to him
σφωιτέροιο τοκῆος, ὅ οἱ μνῆστιν πόρε πάντων
Of Hermes his sire, who had given him memory never made dim
ἄφθιτον: οὐδ᾽ ἔτι νῦν περ ἀποιχομένου Ἀχέροντος
Of all things:--yea, nor forgetfulness swept even now o'er his soul
δίνας ἀπροφάτους ψυχὴν ἐπιδέδρομε λήθη:
Of long-left Acheron's flow, where the torrents unspeakable roll.
ἀλλ᾽ ἥγ᾽ ἔμπεδον αἰὲν ἀμειβομένη μεμόρηται,
For the doom of his spirit is fixed, to and fro evermore is it swept,
ἄλλοθ᾽ ὑποχθονίοις ἐναρίθμιος, ἄλλοτ᾽ ἐς αὐγὰς
Now numbered with ghosts underground, now back to the light hath itleapt,
ἠελίου ζωοῖσι μετ᾽ ἀνδράσιν. ἀλλὰ τί μύθους
To the beams of the sun among living men:--but why should I tell
Αἰθαλίδεω χρειώ με διηνεκέως ἀγορεύειν;
The story of Aithalides that all men know full well?
ὅς ῥα τόθ᾽ Ὑψιπύλην μειλίξατο δέχθαι ἰόντας
Of him was Hypsipylê won to receive that sea-borne array {650}
ἤματος ἀνομένοιο διὰ κνέφας: οὐδὲ μὲν ἠοῖ
As waned the day to the gloaming: yet not with the new-born day
πείσματα νηὸς ἔλυσαν ἐπὶ πνοιῇ βορέαο.
Unmoored they the ship for the North-wind's breathing to waft away.
Λημνιάδες δὲ γυναῖκες ἀνὰ πτόλιν ἷζον ἰοῦσαι
Through the city the daughters of Lemnos into the folkmote pressed,
εἰς ἀγορήν: αὐτὴ γὰρ ἐπέφραδεν Ὑψιπύλεια.
And there sat down, as Hypsipylê's self sent forth her behest.
καί ῥ᾽ ὅτε δὴ μάλα πᾶσαι ὁμιλαδὸν ἠγερέθοντο,
So when they were gathered in one great throng to the market-stead,
αὐτίκ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἥγ᾽ ἐνὶ τῇσιν ἐποτρύνουσ᾽ ἀγόρευεν:
For their counselling straightway she rose in the midst of them all,and she said:

'Friends, now, an ye will, good store of gifts to the men give we,
ἀνδράσιν, οἷά τ᾽ ἔοικεν ἄγειν ἐπὶ νηὸς ἔχοντας,
Even such as is meet that the farers a-shipboard should bear oversea,
ἤια, καὶ μέθυ λαρόν, ἵν᾽ ἔμπεδον ἔκτοθι πύργων
Even meats and the sweet strong wine, that without our towers so
μίμνοιεν, μηδ᾽ ἄμμε κατὰ χρειὼ μεθέποντες
They may bide, nor for need's sake passing amidst of us to and fro{660}
ἀτρεκέως γνώωσι, κακὴ δ᾽ ἐπὶ πολλὸν ἵκηται
May know of us all too well, and our evil report shall go
βάξις: ἐπεὶ μέγα ἔργον ἐρέξαμεν, οὐδέ τι πάμπαν
Afar, for a terrible deed have we wrought, and in no wise, I trow,
θυμηδὲς καὶ τοῖσι τόγ᾽ ἔσσεται, εἴ κε δαεῖεν.
Good in their sight shall it seem, if they haply shall hear the tale.
ἡμετέρη μὲν νῦν τοίη παρενήνοθε μῆτις:
Lo, this is our counsel, and this, meseemeth, best shall avail.
ὑμέων δ᾽ εἴ τις ἄρειον ἔπος μητίσεται ἄλλη,
But if any amidst you hath counsel that better shall serve our need
ἐγρέσθω: τοῦ γάρ τε καὶ εἵνεκα δεῦρ᾽ ἐκάλεσσα.
Let her rise; for to this have I summoned you, even the giving ofrede.'
ὧς ἄρ᾽ ἔφη, καὶ θῶκον ἐφίζανε πατρὸς ἑοῖο
So spake she, and sat her down on the ancient chair of stone
λάινον: αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα φίλη τροφὸς ὦρτο Πολυξώ,
That of old was her sire's, and Polyxo her nurse uprose thereupon.
γήραϊ δὴ ῥικνοῖσιν ἐπισκάζουσα πόδεσσιν,
On her wrinkle-shrivelled feet she halted for very eld
βάκτρῳ ἐρειδομένη, περὶ δὲ μενέαιν᾽ ἀγορεῦσαι.
Bowed over a staff; but with longing for speech the heart in herswelled. {670}
τῇ καὶ παρθενικαὶ πίσυρες σχεδὸν ἑδριόωντο
And hard by her side were there sitting ancient maidens four,
ἀδμῆτες λευκῇσιν ἐπιχνοαούσῃ ἐθείραις.
Virgins, whose heads with the thin white hair were silvered o'er.
στῆ δ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἐνὶ μέσσῃ ἀγορῇ, ἀνὰ δ᾽ ἔσχεθε δειρὴν
And amidst of the folkmote stood she, and up from her crook-bowedback
ἦκα μόλις κυφοῖο μεταφρένου, ὧδέ τ᾽ ἔειπεν:
Feebly a little she lifted her neck, and in this wise spake:

'Gifts, even as unto the lady Hypsipylê seemeth meet,
πέμπωμεν ξείνοισιν, ἐπεὶ καὶ ἄρειον ὀπάσσαι.
Send we to the strangers, for thus were it better their coming togreet.
ὔμμι γε μὴν τίς μῆτις ἐπαύρεσθαι βιότοιο,
But you--by what art or device shall ye save your souls alive
αἴ κεν ἐπιβρίσῃ Θρήιξ στρατός, ἠέ τις ἄλλος
If a Thracian host burst on you, or cometh in battle to strive
δυσμενέων, ἅ τε πολλὰ μετ᾽ ἀνθρώποισι πέλονται;
Some other foe?--there be many such chances to men that befall,
ὡς καὶ νῦν ὅδ᾽ ὅμιλος ἀνωίστως ἐφικάνει.
Even as now yon array cometh unforeseen of us all. {680}
εἰ δὲ τὸ μὲν μακάρων τις ἀποτρέποι, ἄλλα δ᾽ ὀπίσσω
But if one of the Blessèd should turn this affliction away, thereremain
μυρία δηιοτῆτος ὑπέρτερα πήματα μίμνει,
Countless afflictions beside, far worse than the battle's strain.
εὖτ᾽ ἂν δὴ γεραραὶ μὲν ἀποφθινύθωσι γυναῖκες,
For when through the gates of the grave the older women have passed,
κουρότεραι δ᾽ ἄγονοι στυγερὸν ποτὶ γῆρας ἵκησθε.
And childless the younger have won to a joyless eld at the last,
πῶς τῆμος βώσεσθε δυσάμμοροι; ἦε βαθείαις
How then will ye live, O hapless?--what, will the beasts freewilled
αὐτόματοι βόες ὔμμιν ἐνιζευχθέντες ἀρούραις
On their own necks cast the yoke, to the end that your lands may betilled?
γειοτόμον νειοῖο διειρύσσουσιν ἄροτρον,
And the furrow-sundering share will they drag through the heavy loam?
καὶ πρόκα τελλομένου ἔτεος στάχυν ἀμήσονται;
And, as rolleth the year round, straight will they bring you theharvest home?
ἦ μὲν ἐγών, εἰ καί με τὰ νῦν ἔτι πεφρίκασιν
Now, albeit from me the Fates still shrink as in loathing and fear,
κῆρες, ἐπερχόμενόν που ὀίομαι εἰς ἔτος ἤδη
Yet surely on me, when the feet draw nigh of another year, {690}
γαῖαν ἐφέσσεσθαι, κτερέων ἀπὸ μοῖραν ἑλοῦσαν
The earth shall lie, when the burial rites have been rendered to me,
αὔτως, ἣ θέμις ἐστί, πάρος κακότητα πελάσσαι.
Even as is due, and the evil days I shall not see.
ὁπλοτέρῃσι δὲ πάγχυ τάδε φράζεσθαι ἄνωγα.
But for you which be younger, I counsel you, give good heed untothis,
νῦν γὰρ δὴ παρὰ ποσσὶν ἐπήβολός ἐστ᾽ ἀλεωρή,
For that now at your feet an open way of deliverance there is,
εἴ κεν ἐπιτρέψητε δόμους καὶ ληίδα πᾶσαν
If ye will but commit your dwellings and all your spoil to the guard
ὑμετέρην ξείνοισι καὶ ἀγλαὸν ἄστυ μέλεσθαι.
Of the strangers, yea, and your goodly city for these to ward.'
ὧς ἔφατ᾽: ἐν δ᾽ ἀγορὴ πλῆτο θρόου. εὔαδε γάρ σφιν
She spake, and with clamour the folkmote was filled, for good intheir eyes
μῦθος. ἀτὰρ μετὰ τήνγε παρασχεδὸν αὖτις ἀνῶρτο
Was the word, and straightway thereafter again did Hypsipylê rise,
Ὑψιπύλη, καὶ τοῖον ὑποβλήδην ἔπος ηὔδα:
And her voice pealed over the multitude, stilling the mingled cries:

'If in sooth in the sight of you all well-pleasing is this samerede, {700}
ἤδη κεν μετὰ νῆα καὶ ἄγγελον ὀτρύναιμι.
Unto the ship straightway a messenger hence will I speed.'
ἦ ῥα, καὶ Ἰφινόην μετεφώνεεν ἆσσον ἐοῦσαν:
To Iphinoê which waited beside her spake she her hest:

'Up, Iphinoê, and to yonder man bear this my request,
ἡμέτερόνδε μολεῖν, ὅστις στόλου ἡγεμονεύει,
That he come to our town, even he who is chief of the strangers'array,
ὄφρα τί οἱ δήμοιο ἔπος θυμῆρες ἐνίσπω:
For the word that pleaseth the heart of my people to him would I say.
καὶ δ᾽ αὐτοὺς γαίης τε καὶ ἄστεος, αἴ κ᾽ ἐθέλωσιν,
Yea, and his fellows bid thou to light in friendship down
κέκλεο θαρσαλέως ἐπιβαινέμεν εὐμενέοντας.
On our shore, if they will, and to enter undismayed our town.'
ἦ, καὶ ἔλυσ᾽ ἀγορήν, μετὰ δ᾽ εἰς ἑὸν ὦρτο νέεσθαι.
She spake, and dismissed the assembly, and homeward she wended herway;
ὧς δὲ καὶ Ἰφινόη Μινύας ἵκεθ᾽: οἱ δ᾽ ἐρέεινον,
But Iphinoê to the Minyans went; and they bade her say
χρεῖος ὅ τι φρονέουσα μετήλυθεν. ὦκα δὲ τούσγε
What was the mind wherewithal she was come, and what her need. {710}
πασσυδίῃ μύθοισι προσέννεπεν ἐξερέοντας:
And straightway she told them the words of her message with eagerspeed:

'The daughter of Thoas, Hypsipylê, sent me hither away
Ὑψιπύλη, καλέειν νηὸς πρόμον, ὅστις ὄρωρεν,
To summon the lord of your ship, and the captain of your array,
ὄφρα τί οἱ δήμοιο ἔπος θυμῆρες ἐνίσπῃ:
That the will of her folk she may tell him, their heart's desirethis day.
καὶ δ᾽ αὐτοὺς γαίης τε καὶ ἄστεος, αἴ κ᾽ ἐθέλητε,
Yea, and his fellows she biddeth to light in friendship down
κέκλεται αὐτίκα νῦν ἐπιβαινέμεν εὐμενέοντας.
On our shore, if they will, and to enter undismayed our town.'
ὧς ἄρ᾽ ἔφη: πάντεσσι δ᾽ ἐναίσιμος ἥνδανε μῦθος.
So spake she, and fair in the sight of them all was the word thatshe said;
Υψιπύλην δ᾽ εἴσαντο καταφθιμένοιο Θόαντος
For they deemed that Hypsipylê reigned in the room of Thoas dead,
τηλυγέτην γεγαυῖαν ἀνασσέμεν: ὦκα δὲ τόνγε
His daughter, his well-beloved; and they hasted Jason to meet
πέμπον ἴμεν, καὶ δ᾽ αὐτοὶ ἐπεντύνοντο νέεσθαι.
The island-queen, and they dight them to follow their captain'sfeet. {720}
αὐτὰρ ὅγ᾽ ἀμφ᾽ ὤμοισι θεᾶς Τριτωνίδος ἔργον,
Then he flung o'er his shoulders the web by the Goddess Itonianwrought;
δίπλακα πορφυρέην περονήσατο, τήν οἱ ὄπασσεν
In the clasp of a brooch were the folds of the purple of Pallascaught,
Παλλάς, ὅτε πρῶτον δρυόχους ἐπεβάλλετο νηὸς
Which she gave, when for Argo's building the keel-props first shedight,
Ἀργοῦς, καὶ κανόνεσσι δάε ζυγὰ μετρήσασθαι.
And taught him with rule of the shipwright to measure her timbersaright.
τῆς μὲν ῥηίτερόν κεν ἐς ἠέλιον ἀνιόντα
More easy it were in sooth on the sun at his rising to gaze
ὄσσε βάλοις, ἢ κεῖνο μεταβλέψειας ἔρευθος.
Than to fasten thine eyes on the flush of its glory, itssplendour-blaze.
δὴ γάρ τοι μέσση μὲν ἐρευθήεσσ᾽ ἐτέτυκτο,
For the fashion thereof in the midst was fiery crimson glow,
ἄκρα δὲ πορφυρέη πάντῃ πέλεν: ἐν δ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἑκάστῳ
And the top was of purple throughout; and above on the marge andbelow
τέρματι δαίδαλα πολλὰ διακριδὸν εὖ ἐπέπαστο.
Picture by picture did many a broidered marvel show.
ἐν μὲν ἔσαν Κύκλωπες ἐπ᾽ ἀφθίτῳ ἥμενοι ἔργῳ,
For therein were the Cyclopes bowed o'er their work that perishethnot, {730}
Ζηνὶ κεραυνὸν ἄνακτι πονεύμενοι: ὃς τόσον ἤδη
Forging the levin of Zeus the King, and so far was it wrought
παμφαίνων ἐτέτυκτο, μιῆς δ᾽ ἔτι δεύετο μοῦνον
In its fiery splendour, that yet of its flashes there lacked but one:
ἀκτῖνος, τὴν οἵδε σιδηρείῃς ἐλάασκον
And the giant smiths with their sledges of iron were smiting thereon;
σφύρῃσιν, μαλεροῖο πυρὸς ζείουσαν ἀυτμήν.
While forth of it spurts as of flaming breath ever leapt and anon.
ἐν δ᾽ ἔσαν Ἀντιόπης Ἀσωπίδος υἱέε δοιώ,
And there were the sons of Asôpus' daughter Antiopê set,
Ἀμφίων καὶ Ζῆθος: ἀπύργωτος δ᾽ ἔτι Θήβη
Amphion and Zethus: and Thêbê, with towers ungirded as yet,
κεῖτο πέλας, τῆς οἵγε νέον βάλλοντο δομαίους
Stood nigh them; and lo, the foundations thereof were they layingbut now
ἱέμενοι. Ζῆθος μὲν ἐπωμαδὸν ἠέρταζεν
In fierce haste. Zethus had heaved a craggy mountain's brow
οὔρεος ἠλιβάτοιο κάρη, μογέοντι ἐοικώς:
On his shoulders: as one hard straining in toil did the image appear.
Ἀμφίων δ᾽ ἐπί οἱ χρυσέῃ φόρμιγγι λιγαίνων
And Amphion the while to his golden lyre sang loud and clear, {740}
ἤιε, δὶς τόσση δὲ μετ᾽ ἴχνια νίσσετο πέτρη
On-pacing; and twice so great was the rock that followed anear.
ἑξείης δ᾽ ἤσκητο βαθυπλόκαμος Κυθέρεια
And next Kythereia with tresses heavily drooping was shown;
Ἄρεος ὀχμάζουσα θοὸν σάκος: ἐκ δέ οἱ ὤμου
And the buckler of onset of Arês she bare: from her shoulder the zone
πῆχυν ἔπι σκαιὸν ξυνοχὴ κεχάλαστο χιτῶνος
Of her tunic over her left arm fell with a careless grace
νέρθεν ὑπὲκ μαζοῖο: τὸ δ᾽ ἀντίον ἀτρεκὲς αὔτως
Low over her breast; and ever she seemed on the shield to gaze,
χαλκείῃ δείκηλον ἐν ἀσπίδι φαίνετ᾽ ἰδέσθαι.
On the face that out of its brazen mirror smiled to her face.
ἐν δὲ βοῶν ἔσκεν λάσιος νομός: ἀμφὶ δὲ βουσὶν
And therein was a herd of shaggy kine; for the winning thereof
Τηλεβόαι μάρναντο καὶ υἱέες Ἠλεκτρύωνος:
Elektryon's sons and Teleboan raiders in battle strove:
οἱ μὲν ἀμυνόμενοι, ἀτὰρ οἵγ᾽ ἐθέλοντες ἀμέρσαι,
For these were defending their own; but the Taphian rovers were fain
ληισταὶ Τάφιοι: τῶν δ᾽ αἵματι δεύετο λειμὼν
To rob them; and drenched was the dewy meadow with that red rain.{750}
ἑρσήεις, πολέες δ᾽ ὀλίγους βιόωντο νομῆας.
But with that overmastering host were the herdmen striving in vain.
ἐν δὲ δύω δίφροι πεπονήατο δηριόωντες.
And therein had been fashioned chariots twain in the race that sped.
καὶ τὸν μὲν προπάροιθε Πέλοψ ἴθυνε, τινάσσων
And Pelops was guiding the car that afront in the contest fled;
ἡνία, σὺν δέ οἱ ἔσκε παραιβάτις Ἱπποδάμεια:
And Hippodameia beside him rode that fateful race.
τὸν δὲ μεταδρομάδην ἐπὶ Μυρτίλος ἤλασεν ἵππους,
And rushing behind him Myrtilus scourging his steeds gave chase;
σὺν τῷ δ᾽ Οἰνόμαος προτενὲς δόρυ χειρὶ μεμαρπὼς
And Oinomaus with him had couched his lance with a murderous face.
ἄξονος ἐν πλήμνῃσι παρακλιδὸν ἀγνυμένοιο
But, as snapt at the nave the axle, aslant was he falling in dust,
πῖπτεν, ἐπεσσύμενος Πελοπήια νῶτα δαΐξαι.
Even as at Pelops' back he was aiming the treacherous thrust.
ἐν καὶ Ἀπόλλων Φοῖβος ὀιστεύων ἐτέτυκτο,
And therein was Phœbus Apollo, a slender stripling yet,
βούπαις οὔπω πολλός, ἑὴν ἐρύοντα καλύπτρης
Shooting at him who the ravisher's hand to the veil had set {760}
μητέρα θαρσαλέως Τιτυὸν μέγαν, ὅν ῥ᾽ ἔτεκέν γε
Of his mother, at Tityos the giant, whom Elarê bare; but the Earth
δῖ᾽ Ἐλάρη, θρέψεν δὲ καὶ ἂψ ἐλοχεύσατο Γαῖα.
Nursed him, and hid in her womb, and gave to him second birth.
ἐν καὶ Φρίξος ἔην Μινυήιος ὡς ἐτεόν περ
And Phrixus the Minyan was there; and it seemed that unto the ram
εἰσαΐων κριοῦ, ὁ δ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἐξενέποντι ἐοικώς.
He verily hearkened; it seemed that a voice from the gold-fleecedcame.
κείνους κ᾽ εἰσορόων ἀκέοις, ψεύδοιό τε θυμόν,
Thou wert hushed to behold them--wouldst cheat thy soul with thehope that perchance
ἐλπόμενος πυκινήν τιν᾽ ἀπὸ σφείων ἐσακοῦσαι
Forth of the lifeless lips would break the utterance
βάξιν, ὃ καὶ δηρόν περ ἐπ᾽ ἐλπίδι θηήσαιο.
Of speech--ay, long wouldst thou gaze in expectation's trance.
τοῖ᾽ ἄρα δῶρα θεᾶς Τριτωνίδος ἦεν Ἀθήνης.
Such was the gift of Athênê, the Goddess Itonian's toil.
δεξιτερῇ δ᾽ ἕλεν ἔγχος ἑκηβόλον, ὅ ῥ᾽ Ἀταλάντη
And a lance far-leaping he grasped in his right hand, given erewhile
Μαινάλῳ ἔν ποτέ οἱ ξεινήιον ἐγγυάλιξεν,
Of the maid Atalanta on Mainalus' height for the pledge of a friend.{770}
πρόφρων ἀντομένη: περὶ γὰρ μενέαινεν ἕπεσθαι
Gladly she met him, for sorely her soul desired to wend
τὴν ὁδόν: ἀλλὰ γὰρ αὐτὸς ἑκὼν ἀπερήτυε κούρην,
On the Quest: howbeit the hero himself withheld the maid,
δεῖσεν δ᾽ ἀργαλέας ἔριδας φιλότητος ἕκητι.
For the peril of bitter strife for her love's sake made him afraid.
βῆ δ᾽ ἴμεναι προτὶ ἄστυ, φαεινῷ ἀστέρι ἶσος,
So he hied him to go to the town, as the radiant star to behold
ὅν ῥά τε νηγατέῃσιν ἐεργόμεναι καλύβῃσιν
Which a maid, as she draweth her newly-woven curtain's fold,
νύμφαι θηήσαντο δόμων ὕπερ ἀντέλλοντα,
Beholdeth, as over her dwelling upward it floateth fair;
καί σφισι κυανέοιο δι᾽ ἠέρος ὄμματα θέλγει
And it charmeth her eyes, flashing out of the depths of the darklingair
καλὸν ἐρευθόμενος, γάνυται δέ τε ἠιθέοιο
Flushed with a crimson glory: the maid's heart leapeth then
παρθένος ἱμείρουσα μετ᾽ ἀλλοδαποῖσιν ἐόντος
Lovesick for the youth who is far away amid alien men,
ἀνδράσιν, ᾧ καί μιν μνηστὴν κομέουσι τοκῆες:
Her betrothed, unto whom her parents shall wed her on some glad day:{780}
τῷ ἴκελος πρὸ πόληος ἀνὰ στίβον ἤιεν ἥρως.
So as a star was the hero treading the cityward way.
καί ῥ᾽ ὅτε δὴ πυλέων τε καὶ ἄστεος ἐντὸς ἔβησαν,
So when he had passed through the gates, and within the city hecame,
δημότεραι μὲν ὄπισθεν ἐπεκλονέοντο γυναῖκες,
The women thereof thronged after, and wafted him blithe acclaim,
γηθόσυναι ξείνῳ: ὁ δ᾽ ἐπὶ χθονὸς ὄμματ᾽ ἐρείσας
Having joy of the stranger: but earthward ever his eyes he cast,
νίσσετ᾽ ἀπηλεγέως, ὄφρ᾽ ἀγλαὰ δώμαθ᾽ ἵκανεν
Pacing unfaltering on till he came to the palace at last
Ὑψιπύλης: ἄνεσαν δὲ πύλας προφανέντι θεράπναι
Of Hypsipylê: then at the hero's appearing the maids flung wide
δικλίδας, εὐτύκτοισιν ἀρηρεμένας σανίδεσσιν.
The gates and the fair-fashioned boards of the leaves on either side.
ἔνθα μιν Ἰφινόη κλισμῷ ἔνι παμφανόωντι
Then through the beautiful hall did Iphinoê lead on
ἐσσυμένως καλῆς διὰ παστάδος εἷσεν ἄγουσα
Swiftly, and caused him to sit on a tinsel-glittering throne
ἀντία δεσποίνης: ἡ δ᾽ ἐγκλιδὸν ὄσσε βαλοῦσα
Facing the Queen; and Hypsipylê turned her eyes away, {790}
παρθενικὰς ἐρύθηνε παρηίδας: ἔμπα δὲ τόνγε
For the maiden blood flushed hot in her cheek. But her shame that day
αἰδομένη μύθοισι προσέννεπεν αἱμυλίοισιν:
Tied not her tongue, and with crafty-winsome words did she say:

'Stranger, wherefore so long have ye tarried without our towers?
ἧσθ᾽ αὔτως; ἐπεὶ οὐ μὲν ὑπ᾽ ἀνδράσι ναίεται ἄστυ,
Forasmuch as no man dwelleth within this city of ours;
ἀλλὰ Θρηικίης ἐπινάστιοι ἠπείροιο
But these have betaken them hence to dwell on the Thracian shore,
πυροφόρους ἀρόωσι γύας. κακότητα δὲ πᾶσαν
And there are they ploughing the wheat-bearing lands. I will tellthee o'er
ἐξερέω νημερτές, ἵν᾽ εὖ γνοίητε καὶ αὐτοί.
The evil tale, to the end ye also may understand.
εὖτε Θόας ἀστοῖσι πατὴρ ἐμὸς ἐμβασίλευεν,
In the days when Thoas my father was king o'er the folk of the land,
τηνίκα Θρηικίην, οἵ τ᾽ ἀντία ναιετάουσιν,
My people in ships from Lemnos over the sea-ridges rode,
δήμου ἀπορνύμενοι λαοὶ πέρθεσκον ἐπαύλους
And harried the homes of the Thracians that overagainst us abode;{800}
ἐκ νηῶν, αὐτῇσι δ᾽ ἀπείρονα ληίδα κούραις
And with booty untold they returned, and with many a captive maid.
δεῦρ᾽ ἄγον: οὐλομένης δὲ θεᾶς πορσύνετο μῆτις
But the curse of a baneful Goddess upon them now was laid;
Κύπριδος, ἥ τέ σφιν θυμοφθόρον ἔμβαλεν ἄτην.
For the Cyprian caused on their souls heart-ruining blindness tofall,
δὴ γὰρ κουριδίας μὲν ἀπέστυγον, ἐκ δὲ μελάθρων,
That they hated their lawful wives, and forth from bower and hall
ᾗ ματίῃ εἴξαντες, ἀπεσσεύοντο γυναῖκας:
At the beck of their folly they drove the Lemnian matrons away,
αὐτὰρ ληιάδεσσι δορικτήταις παρίαυον,
And beside those spear-won thralls in the bed of love they lay--
σχέτλιοι. ἦ μὲν δηρὸν ἐτέτλαμεν, εἴ κέ ποτ᾽ αὖτις
Cruel ones! Sooth, long time we endured it, if haply again,
ὀψὲ μεταστρέψωσι νόον: τὸ δὲ διπλόον αἰεὶ
Though late, their hearts might be turned; but our wrong and ourbitter pain
πῆμα κακὸν προύβαινεν. ἀτιμάζοντο δὲ τέκνα
Waxed evermore twofold; and the children of true-born blood
γνήσι᾽ ἐνὶ μεγάροις, σκοτίη δ᾽ ἀνέτελλε γενέθλη.
In our halls were dishonoured, and grew up amidst us a bastardbrood. {810}
αὔτως δ᾽ ἀδμῆτές τε κόραι, χῆραί τ᾽ ἐπὶ τῇσιν
Yea, and our maids unwedded, and widowed wives thereto,
μητέρες ἂμ πτολίεθρον ἀτημελέες ἀλάληντο.
Uncared for about our city wandered to and fro.
οὐδὲ πατὴρ ὀλίγον περ ἑῆς ἀλέγιζε θυγατρός,
No father had heeded, no, never so little, his daughter's plight,
εἰ καὶ ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖσι δαϊζομένην ὁρόῳτο
Not though before his eyes he beheld her slain outright
μητρυιῆς ὑπὸ χερσὶν ἀτασθάλου: οὐδ᾽ ἀπὸ μητρὸς
By a tyrannous stepdame's hands: and sons would defend no more
λώβην, ὡς τὸ πάροιθεν, ἀεικέα παῖδες ἄμυνον:
A mother from outrage and shame, as they wont in the days of yore.
οὐδὲ κασιγνήτοισι κασιγνήτη μελε θυμῷ.
No love for a sister then the heart of the brother bore.
ἀλλ᾽ οἶαι κοῦραι ληίτιδες ἔν τε δόμοισιν
But only the handmaid-thralls in the home found grace in their sight,
ἔν τε χοροῖς ἀγορῇ τε καὶ εἰλαπίνῃσι μέλοντο:
In the dance, in the market-place, and whenso the banquet was dight.
εἰσόκε τις θεὸς ἄμμιν ὑπέρβιον ἔμβαλε θάρσος,
Till at last some God in our hearts this desperate courage awoke,{820}
ἂψ ἀναερχομένους Θρῃκῶν ἄπο μηκέτι πύργοις
No more to receive them, when back they returned from the Thracianfolk,
δέχθαι, ἵν᾽ ἢ φρονέοιεν ἅπερ θέμις, ἠέ πῃ ἄλλῃ
Our towers within, that so they might heed the right, or begone
αὐταῖς ληιάδεσσιν ἀφορμηθέντες ἵκοιντο.
Hence to another land, even they and their thralls war-won.
οἱ δ᾽ ἄρα θεσσάμενοι παίδων γένος, ὅσσον ἔλειπτο
Then required they of us their sons, even what manchild soe'er
ἄρσεν ἀνὰ πτολίεθρον, ἔβαν πάλιν, ἔνθ᾽ ἔτι νῦν περ
Had been left in the town, and returned unto Thrace; and to thisday there
Θρηικίης ἄροσιν χιονώδεα ναιετάουσιν.
The Lemnian men on the snowy Thracian corn-lands dwell.
τῶ ὑμεῖς στρωφᾶσθ᾽ ἐπιδήμιοι: εἰ δέ κεν αὖθι
Then tarry ye sojourning here: and if haply it please thee well
ναιετάειν ἐθέλοις, καί τοι ἅδοι, ἦ τ᾽ ἂν ἔπειτα
To abide in the land, and it seem to thee good, of a surety thine
πατρὸς ἐμεῖο Θόαντος ἔχοις γέρας: οὐδέ τί σ᾽ οἴω
Shall be Thoas my father's honour. I ween this land of mine
γαῖαν ὀνόσσεσθαι: περὶ γὰρ βαθυλήιος ἄλλων
Thou shalt scorn not, for passing fruitful it is above all the rest{830}
νήσων, Αἰγαίῃ ὅσαι εἰν ἁλὶ ναιετάουσιν.
Of the myriad isles that lie on the broad Aegean's breast.
ἀλλ᾽ ἄγε νῦν ἐπὶ νῆα κιὼν ἑτάροισιν ἐνίσπες
But come now, go to thy galley, and tell these words of ours
μύθους ἡμετέρους, μηδ᾽ ἔκτοθι μίμνε πόληος.
Unto thy comrades, nor longer tarry without our towers.'
Ἴσκεν, ἀμαλδύνουσα φόνου τέλος, οἷον ἐτύχθη
She ended, with fair words veiling the deed of murder dread
ἀνδράσιν: αὐτὰρ ὁ τήνγε παραβλήδην προσέειπεν
Done on the men; and the hero answered the queen, and he said:

'Hypsipylê, passing welcome this thy request shall be
χρησμοσύνης, ἣν ἄμμι σέθεν χατέουσιν ὀπάζεις.
Which thou tenderest us, whose desire withal is now unto thee.
εἶμι δ᾽ ὑπότροπος αὖτις ἀνὰ πτόλιν, εὖτ᾽ ἂν ἕκαστα
Back through thy town will I come, when an end I have made to say
ἐξείπω κατὰ κόσμον. ἀνακτορίη δὲ μελέσθω
All this to my fellows in order: howbeit let all the sway
σοίγ᾽ αὐτῇ καὶ νῆσος: ἔγωγε μὲν οὐκ ἀθερίζων
And the lordship be thine in the island. I make not in scorn myrequest, {840}
χάζομαι, ἀλλά με λυγροὶ ἐπισπέρχουσιν ἄεθλοι.
But a sore task thrusteth me onward still, and I may not rest.'
ἦ, καὶ δεξιτερῆς χειρὸς θίγεν: αἶψα δ᾽ ὀπίσσω
He spake, and the queen's right hand hath he touched, and aback tothe strand
βῆ ῥ᾽ ἴμεν, ἀμφὶ δὲ τόνγε νεήνιδες ἄλλοθεν ἄλλαι
He hath turned him to go; and around him the maidens on either hand
μυρίαι εἱλίσσοντο κεχαρμέναι, ὄφρα πυλάων
Danced blithely, a throng unnumbered, till forth of the gates he hadstrode.
ἐξέμολεν. μετέπειτα δ᾽ ἐυτροχάλοισιν ἀμάξαις
Thereafter the women loaded them wains smooth-running, and rode
ἀκτὴν εἰσαπέβαν, ξεινήια πολλὰ φέρουσαι,
Down to the beach, and gifts of greeting they bare good store,
μῦθον ὅτ᾽ ἤδη πάντα διηνεκέως ἀγόρευσεν,
When now to his fellows the hero had told the message o'er,
τόν ῥα καλεσσαμένη διεπέφραδεν Ὑψιπύλεια:
Which Hypsipylê spake unto him when she sent and bade him come.
καὶ δ᾽ αὐτοὺς ξεινοῦσθαι ἐπὶ σφέα δώματ᾽ ἄγεσκον
And with little ado the maidens drew the heroes home
ῥηιδίως. Κύπρις γὰρ ἐπὶ γλυκὺν ἵμερον ὦρσεν
To their halls; for sweet desire did the Lady of Cyprus awake, {850}
Ἡφαίστοιο χάριν πολυμήτιος, ὄφρα κεν αὖτις
For a grace to Hephaistus the Lord of Craft, that Lemnos might take
ναίηται μετόπισθεν ἀκήρατος ἀνδράσι Λῆμνος.
New life, and unruined be peopled of men once more for his sake.
ἔνθ᾽ ὁ μὲν Ὑψιπύλης βασιλήιον ἐς δόμον ὦρτο
Now into Hypsipylê's royal palace Aison's son
Αἰσονίδης: οἱ δ᾽ ἄλλοι ὅπῃ καὶ ἔκυρσαν ἕκαστος,
Hath passed, and the rest, as it happed unto each man, so are theygone,
Ἡρακλῆος ἄνευθεν, ὁ γὰρ παρὰ νηὶ λέλειπτο
Save Herakles only; for still with the ship would the hero abide,
αὐτὸς ἑκὼν παῦροί τε διακρινθέντες ἑταῖροι.
For he willed it so, and a few his chosen comrades beside.
αὐτίκα δ᾽ ἄστυ χοροῖσι καὶ εἰλαπίνῃσι γεγήθει
And straightway rejoiced the city with dance and with festival,
καπνῷ κνισήεντι περίπλεον: ἔξοχα δ᾽ ἄλλων
And was filled with sacrifice-steam to the Deathless: but most of all
ἀθανάτων Ἥρης υἷα κλυτὸν ἠδὲ καὶ αὐτὴν
Honoured they Hêrê's glorious son, and atonement's price
Κύπριν ἀοιδῇσιν θυέεσσί τε μειλίσσοντο.
To the Cyprian Queen they paid with song and with sacrifice. {860}
ἀμβολίη δ᾽ εἰς ἦμαρ ἀεὶ ἐξ ἤματος ἦεν
And ever from day unto day did the heroes their sailing forbear,
ναυτιλίης: δηρὸν δ᾽ ἂν ἐλίνυον αὖθι μένοντες,
Loth to depart; and long had they tarried loitering there,
εἰ μὴ ἀολλίσσας ἑτάρους ἀπάνευθε γυναικῶν
But Herakles gathered his comrades, and drew from the women apart,
Ἡρακλέης τοίοισιν ἐνιπτάζων μετέειπεν:
And with words of upbraiding he spake, and rebuked them indignantof heart:

'What, sirs, is it blood of kindred spilt that maketh us roam
ἡμέας; ἦε γάμων ἐπιδευέες ἐνθάδ᾽ ἔβημεν
From our land?--or came ye, because that ye found no brides at home,
κεῖθεν, ὀνοσσάμενοι πολιήτιδας; αὖθι δ᾽ ἕαδεν
Hitherward, scorning the maidens of Greece? Doth it please you totoil
ναίοντας λιπαρὴν ἄροσιν Λήμνοιο ταμέσθαι;
Here dwelling, and driving the plough through the soft smoothLemnian soil?
οὐ μὰν εὐκλειεῖς γε σὺν ὀθνείῃσι γυναιξὶν
Good sooth, but little renown shall we win of our tarrying
ἐσσόμεθ᾽ ὧδ᾽ ἐπὶ δηρὸν ἐελμένοι: οὐδέ τι κῶας
Here long time with the stranger women! No God will bring {870}
αὐτόματον δώσει τις ἑλὼν θεὸς εὐξαμένοισιν.
That Fleece unto us, nor wrest from its warder, for our request!
ἴομεν αὖτις ἕκαστοι ἐπὶ σφέα: τὸν δ᾽ ἐνὶ λέκτροις
Forth let us go each man to his place--_him_ leave ye to rest
Ὑψιπύλης εἰᾶτε πανήμερον, εἰσόκε Λῆμνον
All day on Hypsipylê's couch, till he people from shore to shore
παισὶν ἐσανδρώσῃ, μεγάλη τέ ἑ βάξις ἵκηται.
Lemnos with menfolk: great his renown shall be therefor!'
ὧς νείκεσσεν ὅμιλον: ἐναντία δ᾽ οὔ νύ τις ἔτλη
So did he chide with the band; was none dared meet his eye,
ὄμματ᾽ ἀνασχεθέειν, οὐδὲ προτιμυθήσασθαι:
Neither look in his face, nor was any man found that essayed reply.
ἀλλ᾽ αὔτως ἀγορῆθεν ἐπαρτίζοντο νέεσθαι
But straight from his presence, to make their departing ready, theywent
σπερχόμενοι. ταὶ δέ σφιν ἐπέδραμον, εὖτ᾽ ἐδάησαν.
In haste; and the women came running, so soon as they knew theirintent.
ὡς δ᾽ ὅτε λείρια καλὰ περιβρομέουσι μέλισσαι
And as when round beautiful lilies the wild bees hum at their toil,
πέτρης ἐκχύμεναι σιμβληίδος, ἀμφὶ δὲ λειμὼν
From their hive in the rock forth pouring; the dew-sprent meadowthe while {880}
ἑρσήεις γάνυται, ταὶ δὲ γλυκὺν ἄλλοτε ἄλλον
Around them rejoiceth, and hovering, stooping, now and again
καρπὸν ἀμέργουσιν πεποτημέναι: ὧς ἄρα ταίγε
They sip of the sweet flower-fountains--in such wise round the men
ἐνδυκὲς ἀνέρας ἀμφὶ κινυρόμεναι προχέοντο,
Forth streamed the women with yearning faces, making their moan;
χερσί τε καὶ μύθοισιν ἐδεικανόωντο ἕκαστον,
And with hands caressing and soft sad words did they greet each one,
εὐχόμεναι μακάρεσσιν ἀπήμονα νόστον ὀπάσσαι.
Beseeching the Blessed to grant them a home-coming void of bane.
ὧς δὲ καὶ Ὑψιπύλη ἠρήσατο χεῖρας ἑλοῦσα
Yea, so doth Hypsipylê pray, as her clinging fingers strain
Αἰσονίδεω, τὰ δέ οἱ ῥέε δάκρυα χήτει ἰόντος:
The hand of Jason, and stream her tears with the parting-pain:

'Go thou, and thee may the Gods with thy comrades scathless bring
χρύσειον βασιλῆι δέρος κομίσειαν ἄγοντα
Back to the home-land, bearing the Fleece of Gold to the king,
αὔτως, ὡς ἐθέλεις καί τοι φίλον. ἥδε δὲ νῆσος
Even as thou wilt, and thine heart desireth: and this mine isle,{890}
σκῆπτρά τε πατρὸς ἐμεῖο παρέσσεται, ἢν καὶ ὀπίσσω
And my father's sceptre withal, shall wait for thee the while,
δή ποτε νοστήσας ἐθέλῃς ἄψορρον ἱκέσθαι.
If haply, thine home-coming won, thou wouldst choose to come hitheragain.
ῥηιδίως δ᾽ ἂν ἑοῖ καὶ ἀπείρονα λαὸν ἀγείραις
Thou couldst gather from other cities a host unnumbered of men
ἄλλων ἐκ πολίων: ἀλλ᾽ οὐ σύγε τήνδε μενοινὴν
Lightly--ah, but the longing shall never awaken in thee;
σχήσεις, οὔτ᾽ αὐτὴ προτιόσσομαι ὧδε τελεῖσθαι.
Yea, and mine own heart bodeth that this shall never be!
μνώεο μὴν ἀπεών περ ὁμῶς καὶ νόστιμος ἤδη
Yet O remember Hypsipylê whilst thou art far away,
Ὑψιπύλης: λίπε δ᾽ ἧμιν ἔπος, τό κεν ἐξανύσαιμι
And when home thou hast won; and leave me a word that thy love shallobey
πρόφρων, ἢν ἄρα δή με θεοὶ δώωσι τεκέσθαι.
With joy, if the Gods shall vouchsafe me to bear a son to my lord.'
τὴν δ᾽ αὖτ᾽ Αἴσονος υἱὸς ἀγαιόμενος προσέειπεν:
Lovingly looked on her Aison's son, and he spake the word:

'Hypsipylê, so may the Gods bring all these blessings to be! {900}
ἐκ μακάρων: τύνη δ᾽ ἐμέθεν πέρι θυμὸν ἀρείω
Howbeit a better wish than this frame thou for me;
ἴσχαν᾽, ἐπεὶ πάτρην μοι ἅλις Πελίαο ἕκητι
Forasmuch as by Pelias' grace it sufficeth me still to live
ναιετάειν: μοῦνόν με θεοὶ λύσειαν ἀέθλων.
In the home-land--only the Gods from my toils deliverance give!
εἰ δ᾽ οὔ μοι πέπρωται ἐς Ἑλλάδα γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι
But and if to return to the land of Hellas be not my doom,
τηλοῦ ἀναπλώοντι, σὺ δ᾽ ἄρσενα παῖδα τέκηαι,
Afar as I sail, and a fair manchild be the fruit of thy womb,
πέμπε μιν ἡβήσαντα Πελασγίδος ἔνδον Ἰωλκοῦ
To Pelasgian Iolkos send him, when boyhood and manhood be met,
πατρί τ᾽ ἐμῷ καὶ μητρὶ δύης ἄκος, ἢν ἄρα τούσγε
To my father and mother, to solace their grief,--if living yet
τέτμῃ ἔτι ζώοντας, ἵν᾽ ἄνδιχα τοῖο ἄνακτος
Haply he find them,--that so, in the stead of the prince their son,
σφοῖσιν πορσύνωνται ἐφέστιοι ἐν μεγάροισιν.
They may win in their halls a dear one, to brighten the hearth leftlone.'
ἦ, καὶ ἔβαιν᾽ ἐπὶ νῆα παροίτατος: ὧς δὲ καὶ ἄλλοι
He spake, and was gone; and afront of his fellows he strode to theship, {910}
βαῖνον ἀριστῆες: λάζοντο δὲ χερσὶν έρετμὰ
And the rest of the chiefs followed on, and the oars in their handsdid they grip,
ἐνσχερὼ ἑζόμενοι: πρυμνήσια δέ σφισιν Ἄργος
Row upon row as they sat; and the hawsers did Argus cast
λῦσεν ὑπὲκ πέτρης ἁλιμυρέος. ἔνθ᾽ ἄρα τοίγε
Loose from the rock brine-lashed; and mightily then and fast
κόπτον ὕδωρ δολιχῇσιν ἐπικρατέως ἐλάτῃσιν.
Fell they to smiting with oars long-bladed the seething wave.
ἑσπέριοι δ᾽ Ὀρφῆος ἐφημοσύνῃσιν ἔκελσαν
And at even by Orpheus' counsel the keel ashore they drave
νῆσον ἐς Ἠλέκτρης Ἀτλαντίδος, ὄφρα δαέντες
On the isle of Elektra the daughter of Atlas, that there they mightlearn
ἀρρήτους ἀγανῇσι τελεσφορίῃσι θέμιστας
The mystic rites whose unveiling is not soul-daunting nor stern,
σωότεροι κρυόεσσαν ὑπεὶρ ἅλα ναυτίλλοιντο.
And safelier so might voyage over the chill grey sea:--
τῶν μὲν ἔτ᾽ οὐ προτέρω μυθήσομαι: ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐτὴ
No more will I speak of the Hidden Things--but a blessing be
νῆσος ὁμῶς κεχάροιτο καὶ οἳ λάχον ὄργια κεῖνα
Upon that same isle, and the Gods there dwelling, to whom belong{920}
δαίμονες ἐνναέται, τὰ μὲν οὐ θέμις ἄμμιν ἀείδειν.
Those rites whereof it is not vouchsafed that we tell in song.
κεῖθεν δ᾽ εἰρεσίῃ Μέλανος διὰ βένθεα πόντου
And from thence o'er the Black Sea's depths unfathomed they spedwith the oar,
ἱέμενοι τῇ μὲν Θρῃκῶν χθόνα, τῇ δὲ περαίην
To leftward keeping the land of Thrace, and to rightward the shore
Ἴμβρον ἔχον καθύπερθε: νέον γε μὲν ἠελίοιο
Of Imbros overagainst it; and, even as sank the sun,
δυομένου Χερόνησον ἐπὶ προύχουσαν ἵκοντο.
Unto the long sea-foreland of Chersonese they won.
ἔνθα σφιν λαιψηρὸς ἄη νότος, ἱστία δ᾽ οὔρῳ
There did the strong swift south-wind blow, and the sail they spread
στησάμενοι κούρης Ἀθαμαντίδος αἰπὰ ῥέεθρα
To the breeze, and into the outward-rushing waters they sped
εἰσέβαλον: πέλαγος δὲ τὸ μὲν καθύπερθε λέλειπτο
Of Athamas' daughter: and lo, astern with the morning light
ἦρι, τὸ δ᾽ ἐννύχιοι Ῥοιτειάδος ἔνδοθεν ἀκτῆς
The outsea lay, and along Rhœteion's beach in the night
μέτρεον, Ἰδαίην ἐπὶ δεξιὰ γαῖαν ἔχοντες.
They coasted, and still on their right the land Idaean lay. {930}
Δαρδανίην δὲ λιπόντες ἐπιποοσέβαλλον Ἀβύδῳ,
And they left Dardania behind, and Abydos-ward steered they.
Περκώτην δ᾽ ἐπὶ τῇ καὶ Ἀβαρνίδος ἠμαθόεσσαν
By Perkotê in that same night, and Abarnis' stretches of sand
ἠιόνα ζαθέην τε παρήμειβον Πιτύειαν.
Onward they glided, and past Pityeia the hallowed land.
καὶ δὴ τοίγ᾽ ἐπὶ νυκτὶ διάνδιχα νηὸς ἰούσης
And the selfsame night, as with sails and with oars sped Argo on,
δίνῃ πορφύροντα διήνυσαν Ἑλλήσποντον.
Through the sea-gorge darkly-swirling of Hellespont they won.
ἔστι δέ τις αἰπεῖα Προποντίδος ἔνδοθι νῆσος
Now within the Propontis an island there is, both high and steep;
τυτθὸν ἀπὸ Φρυγίης πολυληίου ἠπείροιο
Short space from the corn-blest Phrygian land doth it rise from thedeep
εἰς ἅλα κεκλιμένη, ὅσσον τ᾽ ἐπιμύρεται ἰσθμὸς
Seaward-sloped: to the mainland stretched a neck of land
χέρσῳ ἐπιπρηνὴς καταειμένος: ἐν δέ οἱ ἀκταὶ
Low as the wash of the sea; so the place hath a twofold strand.
ἀμφίδυμοι, κεῖνται δ᾽ ὑπὲρ ὕδατος Λἰσήποιο.
And beyond the waterfloods of Aisêpus the river they lie. {940}
Λ̓́ρκτων μιν καλέουσιν ὄρος περιναιετάοντες:
The Hill of the Bears it is called of them that dwell thereby.
καὶ τὸ μὲν ὑβρισταί τε καὶ ἄγριοι ἐνναίουσιν
And cruel oppressors and fierce have there their robber-hold,
Γηγενέες, μέγα θαῦμα περικτιόνεσσιν ἰδέσθαι.
Earth-born, a marvel great for the dwellers around to behold.
ἓξ γὰρ ἑκάστῳ χεῖρες ὑπέρβιοι ἠερέθονται,
Six mighty arms each monster uplifteth against a foe,
αἱ μὲν ἀπὸ στιβαρῶν ὤμων δύο, ταὶ δ᾽ ὑπένερθεν
Even two from his brawny shoulders that spring, and therebelow
τέσσαρες αἰνοτάτῃσιν ἐπὶ πλευρῇς ἀραρυῖαι.
Four other, that out of his sides exceeding terrible grow.
ἰσθμὸν δ᾽ αὖ πεδίον τε Δολίονες ἀμφενέμοντο
Now Dolian men on the isthmus abode, and about the plain;
ἀνέρες: ἐν δ᾽ ἥρως Λἰνήιος υἱὸς ἄνασσεν
And amidst them did Kyzikus, hero-son of Aineus, reign,
Κύζικος, ὃν κούρη δίου τέκεν Εὐσώροιο
The son whom Ainêtê, the daughter of godlike Eusôrus, bare.
Αἰνήτη. τοὺς δ᾽ οὔτι καὶ ἔκπαγλοί περ ἐόντες
But these men the Earth-born giants, how mighty and dreadful soe'er,{950}
Γηγενέες σίνοντο, Ποσειδάωνος ἀρωγῇ:
In no wise harried: their shield and defender Poseidon became,
τοῦ γὰρ ἔσαν τὰ πρῶτα Δολίονες ἐκγεγαῶτες.
For himself had begotten of old the first of the Dolian name.
ἔνθ᾽ Ἀργὼ προύτυψεν ἐπειγομένη ἀνέμοισιν
Thitherward Argo, as chased by the Thracian breezes she fled,
Θρηικίοις, Καλὸς δὲ λιμὴν ὑπέδεκτο θέουσαν.
Pressed, and the goodly haven received her as onward she sped.
κεῖσε καὶ εὐναίης ὀλίγον λίθον ἐκλύσαντες
And their light-weight anchor-stone did they cast away thereby
Τίφυος ἐννεσίῃσιν ὑπὸ κρήνῃ ἐλίποντο,
By Tiphys' behest, and they left it beside the fountain to lie,
κρήνῃ ὑπ᾽ Ἀρτακίῃ: ἕτερον δ᾽ ἔλον, ὅστις ἀρήρει,
By Artakia's spring; and another they chose, huge, meet for theirneed.
βριθύν: ἀτὰρ κεῖνόν γε θεοπροπίαις Ἑκάτοιο
Howbeit their first, by Archer Apollo's oracle-rede,
Νηλεΐδαι μετόπισθεν Ἰάονες ἱδρύσαντο
The Ionian Neleïds laid thereafter, a hallowed stone,
ἱερόν, ἣ θέμις ἦεν, Ἰησονίης ἐν Ἀθήνης.
In the shrine of Athênê, Jason's friend, as was meet to be done.{960}
τοὺς δ᾽ ἄμυδις φιλότητι Δολίονες ἠδὲ καὶ αὐτὸς
And in all lovingkindness the Dolians came, and to meet them pressed
Κύζικος ἀντήσαντες ὅτε στόλον ἠδὲ γενέθλην
Kyzikus' self, when their lineage he heard, and was ware of theQuest,
ἔκλυον, οἵτινες εἶεν, ἐυξείνως ἀρέσαντο,
And knew what heroes were these; and with glad guest-welcome theymet,
καί σφεας εἰρεσίῃ πέπιθον προτέρωσε κιόντας
And besought them to speed in their rowing a short space onward yet,
ἄστεος ἐν λιμένι πρυμνήσια νηὸς ἀνάψαι,
And to fasten the hawser within the city's haven fair.
ἔνθ᾽ οἵγ᾽ Ἐκβασίῳ βωμὸν θέσαν Ἀπόλλωνι
To Apollo the Lord of Landing they builded an altar there:
εἱσάμενοι παρὰ θῖνα, θυηπολίης τ᾽ ἐμελοντο.
By the strand they upreared it, and there did the smoke of thesacrifice rise;
δῶκεν δ᾽ αὐτὸς ἄναξ λαρὸν μέθυ δευουένοισιν
And sweet strong wine did the king's self give them, their need tosuffice,
μῆλά θ᾽ ὁμοῦ: δὴ γάρ οἱ ἔην φάτις, εὖτ᾽ ἂν ἵκωνται
And sheep therewithal: for an oracle rang in his ears--'In the day
ἀνδρῶν ἡρώων θεῖος στόλος, αὐτίκα τόνγε
When a godlike band of heroes shall come, meet thou their array {970}
μείλιχον ἀντιάαν, μηδὲ πτολέμοιο μέλεσθαι.
With welcome of love, and thou shalt not bethink thee at all of thefray.'
ἶσόν που κἀκείνῳ ἐπισταχύεσκον ἴουλοι,
And, like unto Jason, the soft down bloomed on the young king's chin;
οὐδέ νύ πω παίδεσσιν ἀγαλλόμενος μεμόρητο:
Neither yet was he gladdened with laughter of children his hallswithin;
ἀλλ᾽ ἔτι οἱ κατὰ δώματ᾽ ἀκήρατος ἦεν ἄκοιτις
For the pangs of the travailing hour not yet to his bride had beenknown,
ὠδίνων, Μέροπος Περκωσίου ἐκγεγαυῖα,
Even to the lady born of Merops, Perkosius' son,
Κλείτη ἐυπλόκαμος, τὴν μὲν νέον ἐξέτι πατρὸς
Fair-tressed Kleitê. But now had she passed from her sire's hallsforth
θεσπεσίοις ἕδνοισιν ἀνήγαγεν ἀντιπέρηθεν.
On the mainland-shore, when he won her with gifts of priceless worth.
ἀλλὰ καὶ ὧς θάλαμόν τε λιπὼν καὶ δέμνια νύμφης
But for all this left he his bridal bower and the bed of his bride,
τοῖς μέτα δαῖτ᾽ ἀλέγυνε, βάλεν δ᾽ ἀπὸ δείματα θυμοῦ.
And arrayed them a banquet, and cast from his heart all fear aside.
ἀλλήλους δ᾽ ἐρέεινον ἀμοιβαδίς: ἤτοι ὁ μέν σφεων
And they questioned each other, the king and the heroes. Of themwould he learn {980}
πεύθετο ναυτιλίης ἄνυσιν, Πελίαό τ᾽ ἐφετμάς:
The end whereunto they voyaged, and Pelias' bidding stern.
οἱ δὲ περικτιόνων πόλιας καὶ κόλπον ἅπαντα
Of the dwellers around, and their cities, they asked and were fainto be taught
εὐρείης πεύθοντο Προποντίδος: οὐ μὲν ἐπιπρὸ
Touching all the gulf of Propontis the wide: but the king knew nought
ἠείδει καταλέξαι ἐελδομένοισι δαῆναι.
Beyond to tell them, albeit with eager desire they sought.
ἠοῖ δ᾽ εἰσανέβαν μέγα Δίνδυμον, ὄφρα καὶ αὐτοὶ
So at dawn did they climb huge Dindymus' sides, with purpose to gaze
θηήσαιντο πόρους κείνης ἁλός: ἐκ δ᾽ ἄρα τοίγε
With their own eyes over the unknown sea and her trackless ways;--
νῆα Χυτοῦ λιμένος προτέρω ἐξήλασαν ὅρμον:
But forth of the outer haven first their galley they rowed;--
ἥδε δ᾽ Ἰησονίη πέφαται ὁδός, ἥνπερ ἔβησαν.
Still Jason's Path is it named, that mountain-track they trode.
Γηγενέες δ᾽ ἑτέρωθεν ἀπ᾽ οὔρεος ἀίξαντες
But the earth-born giants the while rushed down from themountain-side,
φράξαν ἀπειρεσίοιο Χυτοῦ στόμα νειόθι πέτρῃς
And the seaward mouth they blocked of the haven of Chytos the wide{990}
πόντιον, οἷά τε θῆρα λοχώμενοι ἔνδον ἐόντα.
With crags, like men that lie in wait for a wolf in his lair.
ἀλλὰ γὰρ αὖθι λέλειπτο σὺν ἀνδράσιν ὁπλοτέροισιν
Howbeit with them that were younger had Herakles tarried there;
Ἡρακλέης, ὃς δή σφι παλίντονον αἶψα τανύσσας
And he leapt to his feet, and against them his back-springing bowdid he strain.
τόξον ἐπασσυτέρους πέλασε χθονί: τοὶ δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ
One after other he stretched them on earth; and the giants amain
πέτρας ἀμφιρρῶγας ἀερτάζοντες ἔβαλλον.
Heaved up huge jagged rocks, and hurled them against their foe.
δὴ γάρ που κἀκεῖνα θεὰ τρέφεν αἰνὰ πέλωρα
Yea, for that terrible monster-brood was nurtured, I trow,
Ἥρη, Ζηνὸς ἄκοιτις, ἀέθλιον Ἡρακλῆι.
Of Hêrê, the bride of Zeus, for a trial of Herakles.
σὺν δὲ καὶ ὧλλοι δῆθεν ὑπότροποι ἀντιόωντες,
Therewithal came the rest of their fellows, returning to battle withthese
πρίν περ ἀνελθέμεναι σκοπιήν, ἥπτοντο φόνοιο
Or ever they won the mountain-crest. To the slaughter they fell
γηγενέων ἥρωες ἀρήιοι, ἠμὲν ὀιστοῖς
Of the Earth-born brood, those heroes: with arrows some did theyquell, {1000}
ἠδὲ καὶ ἐγχείῃσι δεδεγμένοι, εἰσόκε πάντας
And some on the points of their spears they received, until they hadslain
ἀντιβίην ἀσπερχὲς ὀρινομένους ἐδάιξαν.
All that to grapple of fight had rushed so furious-fain.
ὡς δ᾽ ὅτε δούρατα μακρὰ νέον πελέκεσσι τυπέντα
And even as when the woodmen with axes have smitten, and throw
ὑλοτόμοι στοιχηδὸν ἐπὶ ῥηγμῖνι βάλωσιν,
The long beams down on the strand of the sea ranged row upon row,--
ὄφρα νοτισθέντα κρατεροὺς ἀνεχοίατο γόμφους:
For the brine-sodden wood shall grip the strong bolts faster so,--
ὧς οἱ ἐνὶ ξυνοχῇ λιμένος πολιοῖο τέταντο
Even so at the entering-in of the foam-fringed haven they lay
ἑξείης, ἄλλοι μὲν ἐς ἁλμυρὸν ἀθρόοι ὕδωρ
One after other; some in a huddled heap where the spray
δύπτοντες κεφαλὰς καὶ στήθεα, γυῖα δ᾽ ὕπερθεν
Dashed over their heads and their breasts, the while, stretched highon the land,
χέρσῳ τεινάμενοι: τοὶ δ᾽ ἔμπαλιν, αἰγιαλοῖο
Stiffened their limbs: there were some yet again, whose heads on thesand
κράατα μὲν ψαμάθοισι, πόδας δ᾽ εἰς βένθος ἔρειδον,
Rested, the while in the heaving waters swayed their feet;-- {1010}
ἄμφω ἅμ᾽ οἰωνοῖσι καὶ ἰχθύσι κύρμα γενέσθαι.
But doomed were they all alike for the birds' and the fishes' meat.
ἥρωες δ᾽, ὅτε δή σφιν ἀταρβὴς ἔπλετ᾽ ἄεθλος,
And the heroes, so soon as the peril afar from their emprise wasdriven,
δὴ τότε πείσματα νηὸς ἐπὶ πνοιῇς ἀνέμοιο
Cast loose the hawsers of Argo before the breezes of heaven.
λυσάμενοι προτέρωσε διὲξ ἁλὸς οἶδμα νέοντο.
Forth shot she, and onward they drave, fast cleaving the broadsea-swell.
ἡ δ᾽ ἔθεεν λαίφεσσι πανήμερος: οὐ μὲν ἰούσης
All day under canvas she ran: howbeit, as twilight fell
νυκτὸς ἔτι ῥιπὴ μένεν ἔμπεδον, ἀλλὰ θύελλαι
No longer the wind-rush steadily held, but the veering blast
ἀντίαι ἁρπάγδην ὀπίσω φέρον, ὄφρ᾽ ἐπέλασσαν
Caught them, and swept them aback, till it brought them again atthe last
αὖτις ἐυξείνοισι Δολίοσιν ἐκ δ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ἔβησαν
To the guest-fain Dolian men. Then stepped they ashore in the gloom
αὐτονυχί: ἱερὴ δὲ φατίζεται ἥδ᾽ ἔτι πέτρη,
Of the night; and unto this day is it called the Rock of Doom
ᾗ πέρι πείσματα νηὸς ἐπεσσύμενοι ἐβάλοντο.
Round which the hawsers of Argo in blind haste now did they pass;{1020}
οὐδέ τις αὐτὴν νῆσον ἐπιφραδέως ἐνόησεν
Neither did any man deem that the selfsame island it was;
ἔμμεναι: οὐδ᾽ ὑπὸ νυκτὶ Δολίονες ἂψ ἀνιόντας
Nor yet were the Dolians ware that again in the night to their coast
ἥρωας νημερτὲς ἐπήισαν: ἀλλά που ἀνδρῶν
The heroes were come, but haply they weened that a Makrian host
Μακριέων εἴσαντο Πελασγικὸν ἄρεα κέλσαι.
Of Pelasgian men for war had sailed to their land overseas:
τῶ καὶ τεύχεα δύντες ἐπὶ σφίσι χεῖρας ἄειραν.
Wherefore their armour they donned, and uplifted their hands againstthese.
σὺν δ᾽ ἔλασαν μελίας τε καὶ ἀσπίδας ἀλλήλοισιν
And with onset of spears and with clashing of shields met they inthe strife,
ὀξείῃ ἴκελοι ῥιπῇ πυρός, ἥ τ᾽ ἐνὶ θάμνοις
Like to the vehement blast of flame which hath leapt into life
αὐαλέοισι πεσοῦσα κορύσσεται: ἐν δὲ κυδοιμὸς
Mid the copses dry, and the red tongues climb: and the battle-dinthen
δεινός τε ζαμενής τε Δολιονίῳ πέσε δήμῳ.
Fearful and furious fell in the midst of the Dolian men.
οὐδ᾽ ὅγε δηιοτῆτος ὑπὲρ μόρον αὖτις ἔμελλεν
Nor may Kyzikus now overleap his weird, and aback from the war {1030}
οἴκαδε νυμφιδίους θαλάμους καὶ λέκτρον ἱκέσθαι.
Win home to the bower of love and the arms of his bride any more.
ἀλλά μιν Λἰσονίδης τετραμμένον ἰθὺς ἑοῖο
But, even as he turned on him, full on the king leapt Aison's son,
πλῆξεν ἐπαΐξας στῆθος μέσον, ἀμφὶ δὲ δουρὶ
And stabbed in the midst of his breast, and shattered was all thebone
ὀστέον ἐρραίσθη: ὁ δ᾽ ἐνὶ ψαμάθοισιν έλυσθεὶς
Around the spear, and falling in death-throes down on the sands
μοῖραν ἀνέπλησεν. τὴν γὰρ θέμις οὔποτ᾽ ἀλύξαι
He filled up the measure of Fate. To escape her resistless hands
θνητοῖσιν: πάντῃ δὲ περὶ μέγα πέπταται ἕρκος.
Is vouchsafed unto none: as a wide snare compassed we are with herbands.
ὧς τὸν ὀιόμενόν που ἀδευκέος ἔκτοθεν ἄτης
Even so, as he weened that the bitterness now of death was past
εἶναι ἀριστήων αὐτῇ ὑπὸ νυκτὶ πέδησεν
At the hands of the heroes, lo, in her gin were his feet caught fast
μαρνάμενον κείνοισι: πολεῖς δ᾽ ἐπαρηγόνες ἄλλοι
In the night, as he battled with them, and many a champion withal
ἔκταθεν: Ἡρακλέης μὲν ἐνήρατο Τηλεκλῆα
Was slain with the king; by Herakles' hands did Telekles fall, {1040}
ἠδὲ Μεγαβρόντην: Σφόδριν δ᾽ ἐνάριξεν Ἄκαστος:
And fell Megabrontes; and Sphodris Akastus overthrew;
Πηλεὺς δὲ Ζέλυν εἷλεν ἀρηίθοόν τε Γέφυρον.
And Zelys, Gephyrus withal, the battle-swift Peleus slew.
αὐτὰρ ἐυμμελίης Τελαμὼν Βασιλῆα κατέκτα.
Telamon's ashen spear through Basileus' heart is thrust;
Ἴδας δ᾽ αὖ Προμέα, Κλυτίος δ᾽ Ὑάκινθον ἔπεφνεν,
Died Promeus by Idas, and Klytius laid Hyakinthus in dust;
Τυνδαρίδαι δ᾽ ἄμφω Μεγαλοσσάκεα Φλογίον τε.
And the Tyndarids twain slew Phlogius, slew Megalossakes;
Οἰνεΐδης δ᾽ ἐπὶ τοῖσιν ἕλεν θρασὺν Ἰτυμονῆα
And valiant Itymoneus fell before Oineus' son amid these,
ἠδὲ καὶ Ἀρτακέα, πρόμον ἀνδρῶν: οὓς ἔτι πάντας
And Artakes with him, a chieftain of men: and unto this day
ἐνναέται τιμαῖς ἡρωίσι κυδαίνουσιν.
Unto all these slain do the people the worship of heroes pay.
οἱ δ᾽ ἄλλοι εἴξαντες ὑπέτρεσαν, ἠύτε κίρκους
Then wavered the ranks and broke; then fled they in panic affright,
ὠκυπέτας ἀγεληδὸν ὑποτρέσσωσι πέλειαι.
As before the swift-winged hawks doth a cloud of doves take flight.{1050}
ἐς δὲ πύλας ὁμάδῳ πέσον ἀθρόοι: αἶψα δ᾽ ἀυτῆς
Through the gates in a huddled rout they poured, and the townstraightway
πλῆτο πόλις στονόεντος ὑποτροπίῃ πολέμοιο.
With the war-yell was filled, and backward rolled was the woefulfray.
ἠῶθεν δ᾽ ὀλοὴν καὶ ἀμήχανον εἰσενόησαν
But at dawn were they ware, both these and those, of the curelessill,
ἀμπλακίην ἄμφω: στυγερὸν δ᾽ ἄχος εἷλεν ἰδόντας
Of the ruinous error; and now did bitter anguish fill
ἥρωας Μινύας Αἰνήιον υἷα πάροιθεν
The Minyan heroes, beholding before them Aineus' child
Κύζικον ἐν κονίῃσι καὶ αἵματι πεπτηῶτα.
Stretched in the dust, and Kyzikus lying blood-defiled.
ἤματα δὲ τρία πάντα γόων, τίλλοντό τε χαίτας
For three whole days with rending of hair did they mourn his doom,
αὐτοὶ ὁμῶς λαοί τε Δολίονες. αὐτὰρ ἔπειτα
Even they with the Dolian folk. Thereafter about his tomb
τρὶς περὶ χαλκείοις σὺν τεύχεσι δινηθέντες
Three times in their brazen armour the round of lament did they pace,
τύμβῳ ἐνεκτερέιξαν, ἐπειρήσαντό τ᾽ ἀέθλων,
And buried him: funeral games held they in the selfsame place, {1060}
ἣ θέμις, ἂμ πεδίον λειμώνιον, ἔνθ᾽ ἔτι νῦν περ
As was meet, in the meadow-plain where yet before the eyes
ἀγκέχυται τόδε σῆμα καὶ ὀψιγόνοισιν ἰδέσθαι.
Of the folk of the latter day doth the heap of his grave-mound rise.
οὐδὲ μὲν οὐδ᾽ ἄλοχος Κλείτη φθιμένοιο λέλειπτο
Yea, neither would Kleitê his wife any more mid the living abide,
οὗ πόσιος μετόπισθε: κακῷ δ᾽ ἐπὶ κύντερον ἄλλο
Forlorn of her lord; but a woefuller evil she added beside
ἤνυσεν, ἁψαμένη βρόχον αὐχένι. τὴν δὲ καὶ αὐταὶ
To the evil done, when clasping her neck with the noose she died.
νύμφαι ἀποφθιμένην ἀλσηίδες ὠδύραντο:
Ah, but the Wildwood Maids made moan for the beautiful dead;
καί οἱ ἀπὸ βλεφάρων ὅσα δάκρυα χεῦαν ἔραζε,
And of all the tears that to earth from their eyes for her sake theyshed
πάντα τάγε κρήνην τεῦξαν θεαί, ἣν καλέουσιν
A fountain the Goddesses made, and the name of it far and wide
Κλείτην, δυστήνοιο περικλεὲς οὔνομα νύμφης.
Hath been heard, even Kleitê, the name of a most unhappy bride.
αἰνότατον δὴ κεῖνο Δολιονίῃσι γυναιξὶν
Ah, that was the darkest day that from Zeus did ever befall {1070}
ἀνδράσι τ᾽ ἐκ Διὸς ἦμαρ ἐπήλυθεν: οὐδὲ γὰρ αὐτῶν
The daughters and sons of the Dolian race, and in none of them all
ἔτλη τις πάσσασθαι ἐδητύος, οὐδ᾽ ἐπὶ δηρὸν
Was there spirit to taste of food, and their hands for a weary while
ἐξ ἀχέων ἔργοιο μυληφάτου ἐμνώοντο:
By reason of grief hung down, and forgat the millstone's toil:
ἀλλ᾽ αὔτως ἄφλεκτα διαζώεσκον ἔδοντες.
But their lives dragged on, while untouched of the fire was the foodthat they ate.
ἔνθ᾽ ἔτι νῦν, εὖτ᾽ ἄν σφιν ἐτήσια χύτλα χέωνται
Yea, the Ionian folk that in Kyzikus dwell even yet,
Κύζικον ἐνναίοντες Ἰάονες, ἔμπεδον αἰεὶ
When they pour drink-offerings year by year, at the city's mill
πανδήμοιο μύλης πελάνους ἐπαλετρεύουσιν.
Grind ever their corn, for the querns in the houses of mourning arestill.
ἐκ δὲ τόθεν τρηχεῖαι ἀνηέρθησαν ἄελλαι
And the wild winds woke at the sound of their mourning to shriekand to rave
ἤμαθ᾽ ὁμοῦ νύκτας τε δυώδεκα, τοὺς δὲ καταῦθι
Twelve days, twelve nights; and prisoned by wrath of wind and wave
ναυτίλλεσθαι ἔρυκον. ἐπιπλομένῃ δ᾽ ἐνὶ νυκτὶ
Tarried the heroes from sailing, until, on the thirteenth night,{1080}
ὧλλοι μέν ῥα πάρος δεδμημένοι εὐνάζοντο
When the rest of the wanderers lay for the last time bowed by themight
ὕπνῳ ἀριστῆες πύματον λάχος: αὐτὰρ Ἄκαστος
Of slumber on that drear shore, while watch and ward was kept
Μόψος τ᾽ Ἀμπυκίδης ἀδινὰ κνώσσοντας ἔρυντο.
Of Akastus and Mopsus Ampykus' son over them that slept,--
ἡ δ᾽ ἄρ᾽ ὑπὲρ ξανθοῖο καρήατος Αἰσονίδαο
Then over the golden head of Aison's son did there fly
πωτᾶτ᾽ ἀλκυονὶς λιγυρῇ ὀπὶ θεσπίζουσα
A kingfisher: clear through the hush his happy-boding cry
λῆξιν ὀρινομένων ἀνέμων: συνέηκε δὲ Μόψος
Rang for the lulling of winds; and Mopsus hearkening caught
ἀκταίης ὄρνιθος ἐναίσιμον ὄσσαν ἀκούσας.
The shore-bird's note, and he knew it with happy omen fraught.
καὶ τὴν μὲν θεὸς αὖτις ἀπέτραπεν, ἷζε δ᾽ ὕπερθεν
And a God's hand guided its wing, that it wheeled and shot to theheight
νηίου ἀφλάστοιο μετήορος ἀίξασα.
Of the Argo's stern, and thereon hath it stayed its arrowy flight.
τὸν δ᾽ ὅγε κεκλιμένον μαλακοῖς ἐνὶ κώεσιν οἰῶν.
And the seer touched Jason, there on the fleeces soft as he lay{1090}
κινήσας ἀνέγειρε παρασχεδόν, ὧδέ τ᾽ ἔειπεν:
Of the sheep, and from slumber he roused him with haste, and thusdid he say:

'Aison's son, thou must climb to the temple that standeth there
Δινδύμου ὀκριόεντος ἐύθρονον ἱλάξασθαι
On Dindymus' rugged height, and make to the Mother thy prayer,
μητέρα συμπάντων μακάρων: λήξουσι δ᾽ ἄελλαι
The fair-throned Mother of all the Blest: and the stormy blast
ζαχρηεῖς: τοίην γὰρ ἐγὼ νέον ὄσσαν ἄκουσα
Shall be stilled. For but now hath a cry by mine ears on thenight-wind passed,
ἀλκυόνος ἁλίης, ἥ τε κνώσσοντος ὕπερθεν
The weird sea-kingfisher's cry; and around thy slumbering head
σεῖο πέριξ τὰ ἕκαστα πιφαυσκομένη πεπότηται.
Wheeling its flight, it uttered the thing that my lips have said.
ἐκ γὰρ τῆς ἄνεμοί τε θάλασσά τε νειόθι τε χθὼν
For swayed by her power be the winds, and the sea, and the earthbelow,
πᾶσα πεπείρανται νιφόεν θ᾽ ἕδος Οὐλύμποιο:
Yea also Olympus crowned with the everlasting snow.
καί οἱ, ὅτ᾽ ἐξ ὀρέων μέγαν οὐρανὸν εἰσαναβαίνῃ,
And to her, when to heaven from her hills she ascendeth, doth Zeusgive place, {1100}
Ζεὺς αὐτὸς Κρονίδης ὑποχάζεται. ὧς δὲ καὶ ὧλλοι
Even Kronos' son himself, and all the Deathless Race
ἀθάνατοι μάκαρες δεινὴν θεὸν ἀμφιέπουσιν.
Of the Blessèd in reverence bow before her awful face.'
ὧς φάτο: τῷ δ᾽ ἀσπαστὸν ἔπος γένετ᾽ εἰσαΐοντι.
So spake he: to hear that word the heart of Jason leapt.
ὤρνυτο δ᾽ ἐξ εὐνῆς κεχαρημένος: ὦρσε δ᾽ ἑταίρους
Gladsome he sprang from his couch, and his comrades, there as theyslept,
πάντας ἐπισπέρχων, καί τέ σφισιν ἐγρομένοισιν
Did he waken in haste; and he told, as they gathered around him tohear,
Ἀμπυκίδεω Μόψοιο θεοπροπίας ἀγόρευεν.
The prophecy spoken of Mopsus Ampykus' son, the seer.
αἶψα δὲ κουρότεροι μὲν ἀπὸ σταθμῶν ἐλάσαντες
Then steers from the byre the young men drave, and with speed theypressed
ἔνθεν ἐς αἰπεινὴν ἄναγον βόας οὔρεος ἄκρην.
Up the steep hill-path with the beasts, till they won to themountain's crest.
οἱ δ᾽ ἄρα λυσάμενοι Ἱερῆς ἐκ πείσματα πέτρης
From the Rock of Doom did others the hawsers of Argo slip:
ἤρεσαν ἐς λιμένα Θρηίκιον: ἂν δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ
To the Thracian haven they rowed, and leapt to the strand; and theship {1110}
βαῖνον, παυροτέρους ἑτάρων ἐν νηὶ λιπόντες.
There guarded they left, for there tarried behind of their fellowsa few.
τοῖσι δὲ Μακριάδες σκοπιαὶ καὶ πᾶσα περαίη
And from Dindymus saw they the Makrian cliffs, and full in view
Θρηικίης ἐνὶ χερσὶν ἑαῖς προυφαίνετ᾽ ἰδέσθαι:
The stretch of the Thracian Coast oversea on this side lay,
φαίνετο δ᾽ ἠερόεν στόμα Βοσπόρου ἠδὲ κολῶναι
And the Bosporus misty-dim, and the blue hills far away
Μυσίαι: ἐκ δ᾽ ἑτέρης ποταμοῦ ῥόος Αἰσήποιο
Of Mysia-land, and the river Aisêpus on that side flowed,
ἄστυ τε καὶ πεδίον Νηπήιον Ἀδρηστείης.
And the town and the plain Nepeian of Adresteia showed.
ἔσκε δέ τι στιβαρὸν στύπος ἀμπέλου ἔντροφον ὕλῃ,
Then found they the sturdy stock of a vine in the forest that grew,
πρόχνυ γεράνδρυον: τὸ μὲν ἔκταμον, ὄφρα πέλοιτο
A tree exceeding old: with the axes the same did they hew
δαίμονος οὐρείης ἱερὸν βρέτας: ἔξεσε δ᾽ Ἄργος
For the Mountain-goddess's sacred image: with cunning skill
εὐκόσμως, καὶ δή μιν ἐπ᾽ ὀκριόεντι κολωνῷ
Of the craftsman did Argus carve it; and so on the rugged hill {1120}
ἵδρυσαν φηγοῖσιν ἐπηρεφὲς ἀκροτάτῃσιν,
Did they set it up: for the shrine thereof stood tall oaks round,
αἵ ῥά τε πασάων πανυπέρταται ἐρρίζωνται.
Which of all trees root them the deepest beneath the face of theground.
βωμὸν δ᾽ αὖ χέραδος παρενήνεον: ἀμφὶ δὲ φύλλοις
Then of loose stones built they an altar: with leaves from the oakenspray
στεψάμενοι δρυΐνοισι θυηπολίης ἐμέλοντο
They wreathed it around, and the sacrifice thereupon did they lay.
μητέρα Δινδυμίην πολυπότνιαν ἀγκαλέοντες,
On the Mother majestic, on Dindymê's Queen, the while did they call,
ἐνναέτιν Φρυγίης, Τιτίην θ᾽ ἅμα Κύλληνόν τε,
Who dwelleth in Phrygia: on Tityas they cried, on Kyllênê withal,
οἳ μοῦνοι πολέων μοιρηγέται ἠδὲ πάρεδροι
Who alone be called the Dispensers of Doom--by the judgment-seat
μητέρος Ἰδαίης κεκλήαται, ὅσσοι ἔασιν
Of the Mother Idaean who sit--by all that priesthood of Crete,
δάκτυλοι Ἰδαῖοι Κρηταιέες, οὕς ποτε νύμφη
The Daktylians of Ida, born in the cave Dictaean of yore
Ἀγχιάλη Δικταῖον ἀνὰ σπέος ἀμφοτέρῃσιν
When the Nymph Anchialê clutched in the throes of travail, and tore{1130}
δραξαμένη γαίης Οἰαξίδος ἐβλάστησεν.
With the fingers of either hand the earth by Oaxus' shore.
πολλὰ δὲ τήνγε λιτῇσιν ἀποστρέψαι ἐριώλας
Knelt Aison's son to the Goddess, and prayed her with earnest cries
Λἰσονίδης γουνάζετ᾽ ἐπιλλείβων ἱεροῖσιν
To turn the tempest away, on the flame of the sacrifice
αἰθομένοις: ἄμυδις δὲ νέοι Ὀρφῆος ἀνωγῇ
As he poured the wine. And the youths therewithal at Orpheus' command
σκαίροντες βηταρμὸν ἐνόπλιον ὠρχήσαντο,
Trode round her altar the measure, an armour-sheathèd band,
καὶ σάκεα ξιφέεσσιν ἐπέκτυπον, ὥς κεν ἰωὴ
And clashed with their swords on their shields, that the sound thatboded them ill
δύσφημος πλάζοιτο δι᾽ ἠέρος, ἣν ἔτι λαοὶ
Might be lost in the air, the wail for the dead, which the peoplestill
κηδείῃ βασιλῆος ἀνέστενον. ἔνθεν ἐσαιεὶ
In grief for their king sent up; for which cause unto this day
ῥόμβῳ καὶ τυπάνῳ Ῥείην Φρύγες ἱλάσκονται.
With timbrel and drum the Phrygians worship to Rhea pay.
ἡ δέ που εὐαγέεσσιν ἐπὶ φρένα θῆκε θυηλαῖς
And the Goddess of them that sought her was found, and inclined herear {1140}
ἀνταίη δαίμων: τὰ δ᾽ ἐοικότα σήματ᾽ ἔγεντο.
To the sacrifice-prayer: of her grace did tokens of good appear.
δένδρεα μὲν καρπὸν χέον ἄσπετον, ἀμφὶ δὲ ποσσὶν
For the trees shed fruit in abundance down, and around their feet
αὐτομάτη φύε γαῖα τερείνης ἄνθεα ποίης.
The earth mid her tender grass with flowers unsown was sweet.
θῆρες δ᾽ εἰλυούς τε κατὰ ξυλόχους τε λιπόντες
And the beasts of the wildwood came, forsaking thicket and lair,
οὐρῇσιν σαίνοντες ἐπήλυθον. ἡ δὲ καὶ ἄλλο
Fawning with swaying tails: and another marvel there
θῆκε τέρας: ἐπεὶ οὔτι παροίτερον ὕδατι νᾶεν
Did the Goddess create, for that Dindymus never theretofore
Δίνδυμον: ἀλλά σφιν τότ᾽ ἀνέβραχε διψάδος αὔτως
With watersprings flowed; but now did a sudden torrent pour
ἐκ κορυφῆς ἄλληκτον: Ἰησονίην δ᾽ ἐνέπουσιν
From her thirsty crest, and the Fountain of Jason they name it still,
κεῖνο ποτὸν κρήνην περιναιέται ἄνδρες ὀπίσσω.
The folk that in after days dwell round that sacred hill.
καὶ τότε μὲν δαῖτ᾽ ἀμφὶ θεᾶς θέσαν οὔρεσιν Ἄρκτων,
In the Goddess's honour a feast on the Bears' Hill then dight they,{1150}
μέλποντες Ῥείην πολυπότνιαν: αὐτὰρ ἐς ἠὼ
And Rhea the all-majestic they hymned: but at dawn of the day
ληξάντων ἀνέμων νῆσον λίπον εἰρεσίῃσιν.
Stilled were the winds, and with oars from the island sped they away.
ἔνθ᾽ ἔρις ἄνδρα ἕκαστον ἀριστήων ὀρόθυνεν,
Then hero was kindled with hero in gallant contention to try
ὅστις ἀπολλήξειε πανύστατος. ἀμφὶ γὰρ αἰθὴρ
Who last should be spent and refrain; for the peace of a windlesssky
νήνεμος ἐστόρεσεν δίνας, κατὰ δ᾽ εὔνασε πόντον.
Laid level the swirls of the sea, and lulled to sleep the wave.
οἱ δὲ γαληναίῃ πίσυνοι ἐλάασκον ἐπιπρὸ
And putting their trust in the calm, ever onward and onward theydrave
νῆα βίῃ: ̣̣ δ᾽ οὔ κε διὲξ ἁλὸς ἀίσσουσαν
The ship by their might; and with her, through the brine as shedarted and leapt,
οὐδὲ Ποσειδάωνος ἀελλόποδες κίχον ἵπποι.
Not even the storm-footed steeds of Poseidon the pace had kept.
ἔμπης δ᾽ ἐγρομένοιο σάλου ζαχρηεσιν αὔραις,
Howbeit the surges awoke as from sleep, as the keen blasts blew,
αἳ νέον ἐκ ποταμῶν ὑπὸ δείελον ἠερέθονται,
Which swooped from the river-gorges as day to the evenfall drew:{1160}
τειρόμενοι καὶ δὴ μετελώφεον: αὐτὰρ ὁ τούσγε
And the heroes forspent with toiling refrained, save only one
πασσυδίῃ μογέοντας ἐφέλκετο κάρτεϊ χειρῶν
Who by might of his hands tugged onward his weary comrades alone;
Ἡρακλέης, ἐτίνασσε δ᾽ ἀρη̣̣ότα δούρατα νηός.
Even Herakles: quivered the strong-knit beams as he strained to thestroke.
ἀλλ᾽ ὅτε δὴ Μυσῶν λελιημένοι ἠπείροιο
But when, as they fled by the mainland-shore of the Mysian folk,
Ῥυνδακίδας προχοὰς μέγα τ᾽ ἠρίον Λἰγαίωνος
And Rhyndakus' outfall they sighted, and, huge against the sky,
τυτθὸν ὑπὲκ Φρυγίης παρεμέτρεον εἰσορόωντες,
Aigaion's cairn, past Phrygia a little, and slipped thereby,
δὴ τότ᾽ ἀνοχλίζων τετρηχότος οἴδματος ὁλκοὺς
Even then, through the furrows of roughened surge as he tugged andtore,
μεσσόθεν ἆξεν ἐρετμόν. ἀτὰρ τρύφος ἄλλο μὲν αὐτὸς
Snapped he the ashen blade, and, grasping the half of the oar
ἄμφω χερσὶν ἔχων πέσε δόχμιος, ἄλλο δὲ πόντος
Yet in his hands, back Herakles fell, and the half swept down
κλύζε παλιρροθίοισι φέρων. ἀνὰ δ᾽ ἕζετο σιγῇ
The tossing wake of the ship. But he rose, and with angry frown{1170}
παπταίνων: χεῖρες γὰρ ἀήθεον ἠρεμέουσαι.
Sat gazing around, for his hands endured not idle to lie.
ἦμος δ᾽ ἀγρόθεν εἶσι φυτοσκάφος ἤ τις ἀροτρεὺς
'Twas the hour when the delver or ploughman aback from the fielddoth hie
ἀσπασίως εἰς αὖλιν ἑήν, δόρποιο χατίζων,
With joy to his hut, and his soul sore craveth the eventide meat,
αὐτοῦ δ᾽ ἐν προμολῇ τετρυμένα γούνατ᾽ ἔκαμψεν
And bow on the threshold his knees, and totter his weary feet.
αὐσταλέος κονίῃσι, περιτριβέας δέ τε χεῖρας
All dust-besprent he beholdeth his cramped hands worn with toil,
εἰσορόων κακὰ πολλὰ ἑῇ ἠρήσατο γαστρί:
With many a curse reviling the taskmaster Belly the while,--
τῆμος ἄρ᾽ οἵγ᾽ ἀφίκοντο Κιανίδος ἤθεα γαίης
Then came they to where in the land Kianian nestle her homes
ἀμφ᾽ Ἀργανθώνειον ὄρος προχοάς τε Κίοιο.
'Neath Arganthônê, where Kios against the sea-tide foams.
τοὺς μὲν ἐυξείνως Μυσοὶ φιλότητι κιόντας
Then as friends greet friends did the Mysians with kindly welcoming
δειδέχατ᾽, ἐνναέται κείνης χθονός, ἤιά τέ σφιν
Meet them, the people that dwelt in the land, and gifts did theybring, {1180}
μῆλά τε δευομένοις μέθυ τ᾽ ἄσπετον ἐγγυάλιξαν.
Even sheep, and wine without stint therewithal gave they for theirneed.
ἔνθα δ᾽ ἔπειθ᾽ οἱ μὲν ξύλα κάγκανα, τοὶ δὲ λεχαίην
Then sapless logs did some of them gather, and grass from the mead
φυλλάδα λειμώνων φέρον ἄσπετον ἀμήσαντες,
Did some bring in, whereof great store for their couches they mowed,
στόρνυσθαι: τοὶ δ᾽ ἀμφὶ πυρήια δινεύεσκον:
The while in the hands of some the whirling fire-sticks glowed.
οἱ δ᾽ οἶνον κρητῆρσι κέρων, πονέοντο τε δαῖτα,
Some mingled the wine in the mazer, and ready the feast they dight,
Ἐκβασίῳ ῥέξαντες ὑπὸ κνέφας Ἀπόλλωνι.
Doing sacrifice to Apollo as deepened the shades of night.
αὐτὰρ ὁ δαίνυσθαι ἑτάροις οἷς εὖ ἐπιτείλας
But Zeus' son spake to his comrades meetly the feast to prepare:
βῆ ῤ̔ ἴμεν εἰς ὕλην υἱὸς Διός, ὥς κεν ἐρετμὸν
But into the forest himself hath hied, to the end that there,
οἷ αὐτῷ φθαίη καταχείριον ἐντύνασθαι.
Or ever he supped, for the grip of his hands he might fashion an oar.
εὗρεν ἔπειτ᾽ ἐλάτην ἀλαλήμενος, οὔτε τι πολλοῖς
Then found he a pine as he roved, and scant was the burden it bore{1190}
ἀχθομένην ὄζοις, οὐδὲ μέγα τηλεθόωσαν,
Of boughs, nor with heavy-clustering leaves was its shade made dim;
ἀλλ᾽ οἷον ταναῆς ἔρνος πέλει αἰγείροιο:
But like to the shaft it rose of a poplar tall and slim:
τόσση ὁμῶς μῆκός τε καὶ ἐς πάχος ἦεν ἰδέσθαι.
Even such was the measure thereof to behold in height and in girth.
ῥίμφα δ᾽ ὀιστοδόκην μὲν ἐπὶ χθονὶ θῆκε φαρέτρην
Swiftly his arrow-fraught quiver hath Herakles cast to the earth
αὐτοῖσιν τόξοισιν, ἔδυ δ᾽ ἀπὸ δέρμα λέοντος.
With the shafts therein: from his shoulders the lion's hide did hestrip.
τὴν δ᾽ ὅγε χαλκοβαρεῖ ῥοπάλῳ δαπέδοιο τινάξας
With his brass-heavy club at its roots he smote, till he loosedearth's grip.
νειόθεν ἀμφοτέρῃσι περὶ στύπος ἔλλαβε χερσίν,
Low down did he grasp the stem about with either hand,
ἠνορέῃ πίσυνος: ἐν δὲ πλατὺν ὦμον ἔρεισεν
Putting trust in his might: with shoulder against it thrust did hestand
εὖ διαβάς: πεδόθεν δὲ βαθύρριζόν περ ἐοῦσαν
With feet wide set. From the ground, deep-rooted albeit it grew,
προσφὺς ἐξήειρε σὺν αὐτοῖς ἔχμασι γαίης.
Hath his grip upheaved it with all the clods that clave thereto.{1200}
ὡς δ᾽ ὅταν ἀπροφάτως ἱστόν νεός, εὖτε μάλιστα
And as when unawares the mast of a ship, in the very hour
χειμερίη ὀλοοῖο δύσις πέλει Ὠρίωνος,
When Orion's storm-fraught setting is working in baleful power,
ὑψόθεν ἐμπλήξασα θοὴ ἀνέμοιο κατάιξ
Is struck from on high by a tempest's swiftly-swooping squall,
αὐτοῖσι σφήνεσσιν ὑπὲκ προτόνων ἐρύσηται:
And with snapped stays rent from its box, and the wedges therewithal,
ὧς ὅγε τὴν ἤειρεν. ὁμοῦ δ᾽ ἀνὰ τόξα καὶ ἰοὺς
Even so he upwrenched that tree; and he gathered up arrows and bow,
δέρμα θ᾽ ἑλὼν ῥόπαλόν τε παλίσσυτος ὦρτο νέεσθαι.
And the lion's hide, and his club; and he hasted him backward to go.
τόφρα δ᾽ Ὕλας χαλκέῃ σὺν κάλπιδι νόσφιν ὁμίλου
But Hylas the while with a pitcher of brass from the throng hathhied
δίζητο κρήνης ἱερὸν ῥόον, ὥς κέ οἱ ὕδωρ
Seeking a spring's pure flow; for the feast of the eventide
φθαίη ἀφυσσάμενος ποτιδόρπιον, ἄλλα τε πάντα
To draw for him water against his return, and withal to prepare
ὀτραλέως κατὰ κόσμον ἐπαρτίσσειεν ἰόντι.
With speed all things for the time when again his lord should bethere. {1210}
δὴ γάρ μιν τοίοισιν ἐν ἤθεσιν αὐτὸς ἔφερβεν,
For in suchlike service did Herakles nurture the lad and train
νηπίαχον τὰ πρῶτα δόμων ἐκ πατρὸς ἀπούρας,
From the day when, a captive child, by the hero's hand he was ta'en
δίου Θειοδάμαντος, ὃν ἐν Δρυόπεσσιν ἔπεφνεν
From the home of his father Theodamas, slain in Dryopian land
νηλειῶς, βοὸς ἀμφὶ γεωμόρου ἀντιόωντα.
Without ruth, when he dared for his ploughteam's sake 'gainst thehero to stand.
ἤτοι ὁ μὲν νειοῖο γύας τέμνεσκεν ἀρότρῳ
For it fell, as Theodamas clave with the share the fallow field,
Θειοδάμας ἀνίῃ βεβολημένος: αὐτὰρ ὁ τόνγε
That mischief befell him; for Herakles came, and he bade him to yield
βοῦν ἀρότην ἤνωγε παρασχέμεν οὐκ ἐθέλοντα.
The heifer he ploughed withal unto him in his heart's despite:
ἵετο γὰρ πρόφασιν πολέμου Δρυόπεσσι βαλέσθαι
For against the Dryopian folk was he seeking occasion of fight,
λευγαλέην, ἐπεὶ οὔτι δίκης ἀλέγοντες ἔναιον.
For their bane, forasmuch as reckless of right in the land dweltthey:--
ἀλλὰ τὰ μὲν τηλοῦ κεν ἀποπλάγξειεν ἀοιδῆς.
But the story thereof should lead me far from my song astray. {1220}
αἶψα δ᾽ ὅγε κρήνην μετεκίαθεν, ἣν καλέουσιν
So in haste to the fountain he hied him, and Pegae hight that spring
πηγὰς ἀγχίγυοι περιναιέται. οἱ δέ που ἄρτι
Of the people that dwell in the field thereabout: and thedancing-ring
νυμφάων ἵσταντο χοροί: μέλε γάρ σφισι πάσαις,
Of the Nymphs, as it chanced, was there; for all these loved fullwell--
ὅσσαι κεῖσ᾽ ἐρατὸν νύμφαι ῥίον ἀμφενέμοντο,
Even all the Nymphs that about that fair hill wont to dwell--
Ἄρτεμιν ἐννυχίῃσιν ἀεὶ μέλπεσθαι ἀοιδαῖς.
In hymns through the night-tide ringing to chant unto Artemis still.
αἱ μέν, ὅσαι σκοπιὰς ὀρέων λάχον ἢ καὶ ἐναύλους,
But they which inherit the mountain-crest, or the rushing rill,
αἵγε μὲν ὑλήωροι ἀπόπροθεν ἐστιχόωντο,
And the Forest-haunters, were ranged from the fountain far away.
ἡ δὲ νέον κρήνης ἀνεδύετο καλλινάοιο
But it fell that the Water-nymph came floating up that day
νύμφη ἐφυδατίη: τὸν δὲ σχεδὸν εἰσενόησεν
From the depths of the fair-flowing spring:--lo, over her bendethhis face
κάλλεϊ καὶ γλυκερῇσιν ἐρευθόμενον χαρίτεσσιν.
In the rosy flush of its beauty, its manifold winsome grace. {1230}
πρὸς γάρ οἱ διχόμηνις ἀπ᾽ αἰθέρος αὐγάζουσα
For the full moon casting her beams from the height of the firmament
βάλλε σεληναίη. τὴν δὲ φρένας ἐπτοίησεν
Smote him, and faintness of love on her soul the Cyprian sent,
Κύπρις, ἀμηχανίῃ δὲ μόλις συναγείρατο θυμόν.
And scarce she unravelled her thoughts in sweet confusion blent.
αὐτὰρ ὅγ᾽ ὡς τὰ πρῶτα ῥόῳ ἔνι κάλπιν ἔρεισεν
But over the fountain's brim as aforetime aslant hath he bowed,
λέχρις ἐπιχριμφθείς, περὶ δ᾽ ἄσπετον ἔβραχεν ὕδωρ
And plunged in the ripple the pitcher: the water gurgled loud
χαλκὸν ἐς ἠχήεντα φορεύμενον, αὐτίκα δ᾽ ἥγε
As into the echoing brass it poured; and the Fountain-maid
λαιὸν μὲν καθύπερθεν ἐπ᾽ αὐχένος ἄνθετο πῆχυν
Her left arm slid from the depths, and around his neck was it laid
κύσσαι ἐπιθύουσα τέρεν στόμα: δεξιτερῇ δὲ
In her yearning to kiss those dainty lips, while, clutched by herright,
ἀγκῶν᾽ ἔσπασε χειρί, μέσῃ δ᾽ ἐνικάββαλε δίνῃ.
Drawn down was his arm, and through swirling eddies he sank from thelight.
τοῦ δ᾽ ἥρως ἰάχοντος ἐπέκλυεν οἶος ἑταίρων
But his cry as he sank was heard of one of his comrades alone {1240}
Εἰλατίδης Πολύφημος, ἰὼν προτέρωσε κελεύθου,
Who trod that fountainward path, Polyphemus, Eilatus' son,
δέκτο γὰρ Ἡρακλῆα πελώριον, ὁππόθ᾽ ἵκοιτο.
To meet that giant hero when back he should fare to the feast.
βῆ δὲ μεταΐξας Πηγέων σχεδόν, ἠύτε τις θὴρ
By Pegae, following the cry, hath he rushed, like a wildwood beast
ἄγριος, ὅν ῥά τε γῆρυς ἀπόπροθεν ἵκετο μήλων,
Unto whom from far away hath been wafted the bleating of sheep,
λιμῷ δ᾽ αἰθόμενος μετανίσσεται, οὐδ᾽ ἐπέκυρσεν
And with famine afire he pursueth; howbeit he may not leap
ποίμνῃσιν: πρὸ γὰρ αὐτοὶ ἐνὶ σταθμοῖσι νομῆες
On the prey, for already the shepherds have penned them safe fromthe foe;
ἔλσαν: ὁ δὲ στενάχων βρέμει ἄσπετον, ὄφρα κάμῃσιν:
And in vehement rage must he moan and howl, till aweary he grow;
ὧς τότ᾽ ἄρ᾽ Εἰλατίδης μεγάλ᾽ ἔστενεν, ἀμφὶ δὲ χῶρον
So Eilatus' son made vehement moan, and he roamed to and fro
φοίτα κεκληγώς: μελέη δέ οἱ ἔπλετο φωνή.
About the place; and his voice rang piteous, broken with woe.
αἶψα δ᾽ ἐρυσσάμενος μέγα φάσγανον ὦρτο δίεσθαι,
Then suddenly drew he his mighty blade, and he rushed to pursue,{1250}
μήπως ἢ θήρεσσιν ἕλωρ πέλοι, ἠέ μιν ἄνδρες
If perchance he were seized of beasts, or from ambush a robber-crew
μοῦνον ἐόντ᾽ ἐλόχησαν, ἄγουσι δὲ ληίδ᾽ ἑτοίμην.
Had leapt on him faring alone, and were haling afar their prey.
ἔνθ᾽ αὐτῷ ξύμβλητο κατὰ στίβον Ἡρακλῆι
Then, even as he shook in his hand his naked sword, in the way
γυμνὸν ἐπαΐσσων παλάμῃ ξίφος: εὖ δέ μιν ἔγνω
Came Herakles' self to meet him, a giant form that sped
σπερχόμενον μετὰ νῆα διὰ κνέφας. αὐτίκα δ᾽ ἄτην
To the ship through the gloom; and he knew him, and straightway atale most dread
ἔκφατο λευγαλέην, βεβαρημένος ἄσθματι θυμόν:
He told, while laboured with heavy panting his heart, and he said:

'God help thee, that I first bring to thee tidings of bitter pain!
οὐ γὰρ Ὕλας κρήνηνδε κιὼν σόος αὖτις ἱκάνει.
Hylas hath gone to the spring, and returned not alive again!
ἀλλά ἑ ληιστῆρες ἐνιχρίμψαντες ἄγουσιν,
Or robbers have seized him, and hale him away to captivity,
ἢ θῆρες σίνονται: ἐγὼ δ᾽ ἰάχοντος ἄκουσα.
Or evil beasts are rending:--I heard but now his cry.' {1260}
ὧς φάτο: τῷ δ᾽ ἀίοντι κατὰ κροτάφων ἅλις ἱδρὼς
Upon Herakles' temples then did the great sweat-gouts upstart,
κήκιεν, ἐν δὲ κελαινὸν ὑπὸ σπλάγχνοις ζέεν αἷμα.
As he heard him speak, and the dark blood curdled about his heart.
χωόμενος δ᾽ ἐλάτην χαμάδις βάλεν, ἐς δὲ κέλευθον
In fury he flung to the earth the pine, and along that path
τὴν θέεν, ᾗ πόδες αὐτὸν ὑπέκφερον ἀίσσοντα.
Rushed, whithersoever his feet might hurry his aimless wrath.
ὡς δ᾽ ὅτε τίς τε μύωπι τετυμμένος ἔσσυτο ταῦρος
And as, stung by a gadfly, a bull rusheth onward frenzy-stirred
πίσεά τε προλιπὼν καὶ ἑλεσπίδας, οὐδὲ νομήων
Forsaking the meadows and marshlands, the while of herdsman or herd
οὐδ᾽ ἀγέλης ὄθεται, πρήσσει δ᾽ ὁδόν, ἄλλοτ᾽ ἄπαυστος,
He taketh no heed, pressing on in his wild course now without check,
ἄλλοτε δ᾽ ἱστάμενος, καὶ ἀνὰ πλατὺν αὐχέν᾽ ἀείρων
Now making a moment's stand, and uplifting his massive neck,
ἵησιν μύκημα, κακῷ βεβολημένος οἴστρῳ:
He uttereth bellowings, mad with the sting of the cruel breese;
ὧς ὅγε μαιμώων ὁτὲ μὲν θοὰ γούνατ᾽ ἔπαλλεν
So he in his frenzy now would be plying his strong swift knees {1270}
συνεχέως, ὁτὲ δ᾽ αὖτε μεταλλήγων καμάτοιο
Unresting, and now from his toil would he cease for a moment's space,
τῆλε διαπρύσιον μεγάλῃ βοάασκεν ἀυτῇ.
And shouted:--the mighty voice rang far through the lonely place.
αὐτίκα δ᾽ ἀκροτάτας ὑπερέσχεθεν ἄκριας ἀστὴρ
Eftsoons the morning-star rose over the mountain's crest,
ἠῷος, πνοιαὶ δὲ κατήλυθον: ὦκα δὲ Τῖφυς
And the winds swept down from the gorges; and Tiphys cried on therest
ἐσβαίνειν ὀρόθυνεν, ἐπαύρεσθαί τ᾽ ἀνέμοιο.
To get them aboard in haste, and to hearken the wind's behest.
οἱ δ᾽ εἴσβαινον ἄφαρ λελιημένοι: ὕψι δὲ νηὸς
So with eager speed they embarked, and the anchor-stones of the ship
εὐναίας ἐρύσαντες ἀνεκρούσαντο κάλωας.
Heaved they aboard, and the hawsers thereof in haste did they slip.
κυρτώθη δ᾽ ἀνέμῳ λίνα μεσσόθι, τῆλε δ᾽ ἀπ᾽ ἀκτῆς
And the midst of the sail bellied out with the blast, and far away
γηθόσυνοι φορέοντο παραὶ Ποσιδήιον ἄκρην.
From the sea-strand with joy by Poseidon's foreland wafted were they.
ἦμος δ᾽ οὐρανόθεν χαροπὴ ὑπολάμπεται ἠὼς
But it fell, in the hour when the dawn glad-eyed from the heavendoth beam, {1280}
ἐκ περάτης ἀνιοῦσα, διαγλαύσσουσι δ᾽ ἀταρποί,
From the east uprising, and all the earth-ways clearer gleam,
καὶ πεδία δροσόεντα φαεινῇ λάμπεται αἴγλῃ,
And the dewy wolds are a-sparkle beneath her flashing sheen,
τῆμος τούσγ᾽ ἐνόησαν ἀιδρείῃσι λιπόντες.
Then were they ware of those that forsaken unwares had been.
ἐν δέ σφιν κρατερὸν νεῖκος πέσεν, ἐν δὲ κολῳὸς
Then mighty contention arose, and an indignation-burst
ἄσπετος, εἰ τὸν ἄριστον ἀποπρολιπόντες ἔβησαν
Most vehement-fierce, that any should go, and forsake the first
σφωιτέρων ἑτάρων. ὁ δ᾽ ἀμηχανίῃσιν ἀτυχθεὶς
Of their comrades in prowess. But Aison's son distraught with amaze
οὔτε τι τοῖον ἔπος μετεφώνεεν, οὔτε τι τοῖον
Spake never a word or bad or good in their evil case;
Αἰσονίδης: ἀλλ᾽ ἧστο βαρείῃ νειόθεν ἄτῃ
But devouring his soul he sat 'neath wilderment's heavy load.
θυμὸν ἔδων: Τελαμῶνα δ᾽ ἕλεν χόλος, ὧδέ τ᾽ ἔειπεν:
Then Telamon's wrath waxed hot, and thus with the prince he chode:

'Ha! sit thou there at thine ease!--good sooth, for thy profit wasthis, {1290}
Ἡρακλῆα λιπεῖν: σέο δ᾽ ἔκτοθι μῆτις ὄρωρεν,
That Herakles thus should be left; thou givest no counsel, I wis,
ὄφρα τὸ κείνου κῦδος ἀν᾽ Ἑλλάδα μή σε καλύψῃ,
Lest haply his glory in Hellas should overshadow thee,
αἴ κε θεοὶ δώωσιν ὑπότροπον οἴκαδε νόστον.
If the Gods peradventure vouchsafe us the home-return to see!--
ἀλλὰ τί μύθων ἦδος; ἐπεὶ καὶ νόσφιν ἑταίρων
What pleasure in words?--I will go, I only, with none of these
εἶμι τεῶν, οἳ τόνγε δόλον συνετεκτήναντο.
Thy comrades, who plotted with thee this treason to Herakles.'
ἦ, καὶ ἐς Ἁγνιάδην Τῖφυν θόρε: τὼ δέ οἱ ὄσσε
He spake, and on Tiphys Hagnias' son he rushed, and his ire
ὄστλιγγες μαλεροῖο πυρὸς ὣς ἰνδάλλοντο.
Gleamed through his eyes as the leaping flame of the ravening fire.
καί νύ κεν ἂψ ὀπίσω Μυσῶν ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἵκοντο
And now to the land of the Mysian men had they won back again
λαῖτμα βιησάμενοι ἀνέμου τ᾽ ἄλληκτον ἰωήν,
In despite of the driving surge, and the head-wind's ceaselessstrain;
εἰ μὴ Θρηικίοιο δύω υἷες Βορέαο
But the two winged sons of Thracian Boreas rose thereupon, {1300}
Αἰακίδην χαλεποῖσιν ἐρητύεσκον ἔπεσσιν,
And with fierce stern words from his purpose withheld they Aiakus'son.
σχέτλιοι: ἦ τέ σφιν στυγερὴ τίσις ἔπλετ᾽ ὀπίσσω
Unhappy they!--grim vengeance thereafter did Herakles wreak
χερσὶν ὑφ᾽ Ἡρακλῆος, ὅ μιν δίζεσθαι ἔρυκον.
Upon these who withheld the rest which were fain for the lost toseek.
ἄθλων γὰρ Πελίαο δεδουπότος ἂψ ἀνιόντας
For when from the games over Pelias dead they were wending again
τήνῳ ἐν ἀμφιρύτῃ πέφνεν, καὶ ἀμήσατο γαῖαν
Homeward, in Tenos the sea-girt he slew them; and heaped o'er theslain
ἀμφ᾽ αὐτοῖς, στήλας τε δύω καθύπερθεν ἔτευξεν,
The earth, and above that grave-mound reared he pillars twain,
ὧν ἑτέρη, θάμβος περιώσιον ἀνδράσι λεύσσειν,
The one whereof, a marvel exceeding for men to behold,
κίνυται ἠχήεντος ὑπὸ πνοιῇ βορέαο.
Sways to and fro in the blast when the North-wind whistleth cold.
καὶ τὰ μὲν ὧς ἤμελλε μετὰ χρόνον ἐκτελέεσθαι.
Ay, so in the after-time these things were ordained to be.
τοῖσιν δὲ Γλαῦκος βρυχίης ἁλὸς ἐξεφαάνθη,
But now did Glaukus appear unto them from the depths of the sea,{1310}
Νηρῆος θείοιο πολυφράδμων ὑποφήτης:
The servant of Nereus divine, the far-discerning seer.
ὕψι δὲ λαχνῆέν τε κάρη καὶ στήθε᾽ ἀείρας
High out of the waves his shaggy head and his breast did he rear
νειόθεν ἐκ λαγόνων στιβαρῇ ἐπορέξατο χειρὶ
Even to the waist, and his brawny hand did the God stretch out
νηίου ὁλκαίοιο, καὶ ἴαχεν ἐσσυμένοισιν:
To the keel of the ship, and unto her eager crew did he shout:

'Wherefore be ye thus purposed against great Zeus' decrees
Αἰήτεω πτολίεθρον ἄγειν θρασὺν Ἡρακλῆα;
Unto Aiêtes' city to bring bold Herakles?
Ἄργεΐ οἱ μοῖρ᾽ ἐστὶν ἀτασθάλῳ Εὐρυσθῆι
Lo, this is his weird--in the land of Argos labouring
ἐκπλῆσαι μογέοντα δυώδεκα πάντας ἀέθλους,
To accomplish toils full twelve for Eurystheus the tyrannous king,
ναίειν δ᾽ ἀθανάτοισι συνέστιον, εἴ κ᾽ ἔτι παύρους
And to dwell with the Deathless Ones, if he bring to fulfilment yet
ἐξανύσῃ: τῶ μή τι ποθὴ κείνοιο πελέσθω.
A few more toils: grieve ye not therefore with vain regret. {1320}
αὔτως δ᾽ αὖ Πολύφημον ἐπὶ προχοῇσι Κίοιο
Polyphemus' weird likewise is to rear, where Kios doth fall
πέπρωται Μυσοῖσι περικλεὲς ἄστυ καμόντα
Into the sea, 'mid the Mysians a glorious city's wall,
μοῖραν ἀναπλήσειν Χαλύβων ἐν ἀπείρονι γαίῃ.
And to find in the Chalybes' land the doom that endeth all.
αὐτὰρ Ὕλαν φιλότητι θεὰ ποιήσατο νύμφη
But Hylas a Goddess-nymph of her love for her spouse hath taken,
ὃν πόσιν, οἷό περ οὕνεκ᾽ ἀποπλαγχθέντες ἔλειφθεν.
For whose sake wandered away those twain unawares forsaken.'
ἦ, καὶ κῦμ᾽ ἀλίαστον ἐφέσσατο νειόθι δύψας:
Then downward he plunged, and he wrapped him about with the waveswhite-wreathing,
ἀμφὶ δέ οἱ δίνῃσι κυκώμενον ἄφρεεν ὕδωρ
And around him the darkling water foamed in eddies seething.
πορφύρεον, κοίλην δὲ διὲξ ἁλὸς ἔκλυσε νῆα.
And he loosed from his hand the hollow ship through the brine toflee;
γήθησαν δ᾽ ἥρωες: ὁ δ᾽ ἐσσυμένως ἐβεβήκει
And the heroes were glad: then rose up Telamon hastily,
Αἰακίδης Τελαμὼν ἐς Ἰήσονα, χεῖρα δὲ χειρὶ
And Aiakus' son unto Jason strode, and his hand did he take {1330}
ἄκρην ἀμφιβαλὼν προσπτύξατο, φώνησέν τε:
In the compassing grasp of his own, and embraced him, and thus hespake:

'Be nowise wroth with me, Aison's son, if folly-distraught
εἴ τί περ ἀασάμην: πέρι γάρ μ᾽ ἄχος εἷλεν ἐνισπεῖν
I have sinned in mine ignorance: anguish exceeding upon me hathwrought
μῦθον ὑπερφίαλόν τε καὶ ἄσχετον, ἀλλ᾽ ἀνέμοισιν
To utter an arrogant word which I could not refrain: let us cast
δώομεν ἀμπλακίην, ὡς καὶ πάρος εὐμενέοντες.
To the winds my transgression, and knit be our hearts as in daysoverpast.'
τὸν δ᾽ αὖτ᾽ Αἴσονος υἱὸς ἐπιφραδέως προσέειπεν:
Answered him Aison's son, and in courteous wise spake he:

'Ah, friend, of a truth 'twas a bitter word that thou spakest to me,
φὰς ἐνὶ τοῖσιν ἅπασιν ἐνηέος ἀνδρὸς ἀλείτην
When thou saidst in the midst of us all that a traitor I was untohim
ἔμμεναι. ἀλλ᾽ οὐ θήν τοι ἀδευκέα μῆνιν ἀέξω,
Who to me was a friend!--yet I will not nurse wrath brooding grim,
πρίν περ ἀνιηθείς: ἐπεὶ οὐ περὶ πώεσι μήλων,
Though vexed was my soul at the first; since not as for flocks ofsheep {1340}
οὐδὲ περὶ κτεάτεσσι χαλεψάμενος μενέηνας,
Didst thou chafe and wast wroth, nor for hoarded wealth of atreasure-heap,
ἀλλ᾽ ἑτάρου περὶ φωτός. ἔολπα δέ τοι σὲ καὶ ἄλλῳ
But all for a comrade's sake. I were fain thou wouldst champion so
ἀμφ᾽ ἐμεῦ, εἰ τοιόνδε πέλοι ποτέ, δηρίσασθαι.
Even me, if need should be ever, against another foe.'
ἦ ῥα, καὶ ἀρθμηθέντες, ὅπῃ πάρος, ἑδριόωντο.
He spake, and they sat them down, as in days overpast made one.
τὼ δὲ Διὸς βουλῇσιν, ὁ μὲν Μυσοῖσι βαλέσθαι
But their lost--by the counsel of Zeus, Polyphemus Eilatus' son
μέλλεν ἐπώνυμον ἄστυ πολισσάμενος ποταμοῖο
Was doomed mid the Mysian men to build a city, to bear
Εἰλατίδης Πολύφημος: ὁ δ᾽ Εὐρυσθῆος ἀέθλους
The name of the river thereby: but aback must Herakles fare
αὖτις ἰὼν πονέεσθαι. ἐπηπείλησε δὲ γαῖαν
At Eurystheus' labours to toil. But he threatened in anger hot
Μυσίδ᾽ ἀναστήσειν αὐτοσχεδόν, ὁππότε μή οἱ
To waste the Mysian land, if her folk for him found not
ἢ ζωοῦ εὕροιεν Ὕλα μόρον, ἠὲ θανόντος.
What doom upon Hylas had lighted, if dead or alive he were. {1350}
τοῖο δὲ ῥύσι᾽ ὄπασσαν ἀποκρίναντες ἀρίστους
And pledges they gave for the lost, in that sons most noble and fair
υἱέας ἐκ δήμοιο, καὶ ὅρκια ποιήσαντο,
Of their people they chose, and for hostages gave, and an oath theyswore
μήποτε μαστεύοντες ἀπολλήξειν καμάτοιο.
That they would not refrain from the toil of the search for evermore.
τούνεκεν εἰσέτι νῦν περ Ὕλαν ἐρέουσι Κιανοί,
Wherefore for tidings of Hylas the Kians unto this day,
κοῦρον Θειοδάμαντος, ἐυκτιμένης τε μέλονται
For Theiodamas' son, of the stranger inquire: the warders aye
Τρηχῖνος. δὴ γάρ ῥα κατ᾽ αὐτόθι νάσσατο παῖδας,
Guard Trêchis the fair-built; for there did the hero cause to abide
οὕς οἱ ῥύσια κεῖθεν ἐπιπροέηκαν ἄγεσθαι.
The sons that they sent for their ransom to turn his fury aside.
Νηῦν δὲ πανημερίην ἄνεμος φέρε νυκτί τε πάσῃ
And the wind all day bare onward the galley and all night through
λάβρος ἐπιπνείων: ἀτὰρ οὐδ᾽ ἐπὶ τυτθὸν ἄητο
With a fresh strong blast: but when dawning arose, the breath of itblew
ἠοῦς τελλομένης, οἱ δὲ χθονὸς εἰσανέχουσαν
No whit any more; and they spied jutting forth from a curve of theland {1360}
ἀκτὴν ἐκ κόλποιο μάλ᾽ εὐρεῖαν ἐσιδέσθαι
A foreland, and broad to behold that dark height swelled from thestrand.
φρασσαμενοι, κώπῃσιν ἅμ᾽ ἠελίῳ ἐπέκελσαν
So they bent to the oars, and at sunrise the keel up-furrowed thesand.