Provided by The Internet Classics Archive.
See bottom for copyright. Available online at
    http://classics.mit.edu//Apollonius/argon.html

The Argonautica
By Apollonius


Translated by R. C. Seaton

----------------------------------------------------------------------

BOOK I

Beginning with thee, O Phoebus, I will recount the famous deeds of
men of old, who, at the behest of King Pelias, down through the mouth
of Pontus and between the Cyanean rocks, sped well-benched Argo in
quest of the golden fleece. 

Such was the oracle that Pelias heard, that a hateful doom awaited
him to be slain at the prompting of the man whom he should see coming
forth from the people with but one sandal. And no long time after,
in accordance with that true report, Jason crossed the stream of wintry
Anaurus on foot, and saved one sandal from the mire, but the other
he left in the depths held back by the flood. And straightway he came
to Pelias to share the banquet which the king was offering to his
father Poseidon and the rest of the gods, though he paid no honour
to Pelasgian Hera. Quickly the king saw him and pondered, and devised
for him the toil of a troublous voyage, in order that on the sea or
among strangers he might lose his home-return. 

The ship, as former bards relate, Argus wrought by the guidance of
Athena. But now I will tell the lineage and the names of the heroes,
and of the long sea-paths and the deeds they wrought in their wanderings;
may the Muses be the inspirers of my song! 

First then let us name Orpheus whom once Calliope bare, it is said,
wedded to Thracian Oeagrus, near the Pimpleian height. Men say that
he by the music of his songs charmed the stubborn rocks upon the mountains
and the course of rivers. And the wild oak-trees to this day, tokens
of that magic strain, that grow at Zone on the Thracian shore, stand
in ordered ranks close together, the same which under the charm of
his lyre he led down from Pieria. Such then was Orpheus whom Aeson's
son welcomed to share his toils, in obedience to the behest of Cheiron,
Orpheus ruler of Bistonian Pieria. 

Straightway came Asterion, whom Cometes begat by the waters of eddying
Apidanus; he dwelt at Peiresiae near the Phylleian mount, where mighty
Apidanus and bright Enipeus join their streams, coming together from
afar. 

Next to them from Larisa came Polyphemus, son of Eilatus, who aforetime
among the mighty Lapithae, when they were arming themselves against
the Centaurs, fought in his younger days; now his limbs were grown
heavy with age, but his martial spirit still remained, even as of
old. 

Nor was Iphiclus long left behind in Phylace, the uncle of Aeson's
son; for Aeson had wedded his sister Alcimede, daughter of Phylacus:
his kinship with her bade him be numbered in the host. 

Nor did Admetus, the lord of Pherae rich in sheep, stay behind beneath
the peak of the Chalcodonian mount. 

Nor at Alope stayed the sons of Hermes, rich in corn-land, well skilled
in craftiness, Erytus and Echion, and with them on their departure
their kinsman Aethalides went as the third; him near the streams of
Amphrysus Eupolemeia bare, the daughter of Myrmidon, from Phthia;
the two others were sprung from Antianeira, daughter of Menetes.

From rich Gyrton came Coronus, son of Caeneus, brave, but not braver
than his father. For bards relate that Caeneus though still living
perished at the hands of the Centaurs, when apart from other chiefs
he routed them; and they, rallying against him, could neither bend
nor slay him; but unconquered and unflinching he passed beneath the
earth, overwhelmed by the downrush of massy pines. 

There came too Titaresian Mopsus, whom above all men the son of Leto
taught the augury of birds; and Eurydamas the son of Ctimenus; he
dwelt at Dolopian Ctimene near the Xynian lake. 

Moreover Actor sent his son Menoetius from Opus that he might accompany
the chiefs. 

Eurytion followed and strong Eribotes, one the son of Teleon, the
other of Irus, Actor's son; the son of Teleon renowned Eribotes, and
of Irus Eurytion. A third with them was Oileus, peerless in courage
and well skilled to attack the flying foe, when they break their ranks.

Now from Euboea came Canthus eager for the quest, whom Canethus son
of Abas sent; but he was not destined to return to Cerinthus. For
fate had ordained that he and Mopsus, skilled in the seer's art, should
wander and perish in the furthest ends of Libya. For no ill is too
remote for mortals to incur, seeing that they buried them in Libya,
as far from the Colchians as is the space that is seen between the
setting and the rising of the sun. 

To him Clytius and Iphitus joined themselves, the warders of Oechalia,
sons of Eurytus the ruthless, Eurytus, to whom the Far-shooting god
gave his bow; but he had no joy of the gift; for of his own choice
he strove even with the giver. 

After them came the sons of Aeacus, not both together, nor from the
same spot; for they settled far from Aegina in exile, when in their
folly they had slain their brother Phoeus. Telamon dwelt in the Attic
island; but Peleus departed and made his home in Phthia.

After them from Cecropia came warlike Butes, son of brave Teleon,
and Phalerus of the ashen spear. Alcon his father sent him forth;
yet no other sons had he to care for his old age and livelihood. But
him, his well-beloved and only son, he sent forth that amid bold heroes
he might shine conspicuous. But Theseus, who surpassed all the sons
of Erechtheus, an unseen bond kept beneath the land of Taenarus, for
he had followed that path with Peirithous; assuredly both would have
lightened for all the fulfilment of their toil. 

Tiphys, son of Hagnias, left the Siphaean people of the Thespians,
well skilled to foretell the rising wave on the broad sea, and well
skilled to infer from sun and star the stormy winds and the time for
sailing. Tritonian Athena herself urged him to join the band of chiefs,
and he came among them a welcome comrade. She herself too fashioned
the swift ship; and with her Argus, son of Arestor, wrought it by
her counsels. Wherefore it proved the most excellent of all ships
that have made trial of the sea with oars. 

After them came Phlias from Araethyrea, where he dwelt in affluence
by the favour of his father Dionysus, in his home by the springs of
Asopus. 

From Argos came Talaus and Areius, sons of Bias, and mighty Leodocus,
all of whom Pero daughter of Neleus bare; on her account the Aeolid
Melampus endured sore affliction in the steading of Iphiclus.

Nor do we learn that Heracles of the mighty heart disregarded the
eager summons of Aeson's son. But when he heard a report of the heroes'
gathering and had reached Lyrceian Argos from Arcadia by the road
along which he carried the boar alive that fed in the thickets of
Lampeia, near the vast Erymanthian swamp, the boar bound with chains
he put down from his huge shoulders at the entrance to the market-place
of Mycenae; and himself of his own will set out against the purpose
of Eurystheus; and with him went Hylas, a brave comrade, in the flower
of youth, to bear his arrows and to guard his bow. 

Next to him came a scion of the race of divine Danaus, Nauplius. He
was the son of Clytonaeus son of Naubolus; Naubolus was son of Lernus;
Lernus we know was the son of Proetus son of Nauplius; and once Amymone
daughter of Danaus, wedded to Poseidon, bare Nauplius, who surpassed
all men in naval skill. 

Idmon came last of all them that dwelt at Argos, for though he had
learnt his own fate by augury, he came, that the people might not
grudge him fair renown. He was not in truth the son of Abas, but Leto's
son himself begat him to be numbered among the illustrious Aeolids;
and himself taught him the art of prophecy--to pay heed to birds and
to observe the signs of the burning sacrifice. 

Moreover Aetolian Leda sent from Sparta strong Polydeuces and Castor,
skilled to guide swift-footed steeds; these her dearly-loved sons
she bare at one birth in the house of Tyndareus; nor did she forbid
their departure; for she had thoughts worthy of the bride of Zeus.

The sons of Aphareus, Lynceus and proud Idas, came from Arene, both
exulting in their great strength; and Lynceus too excelled in keenest
sight, if the report is true that that hero could easily direct his
sight even beneath the earth. 

And with them Neleian Periclymenus set out to come, eldest of all
the sons of godlike Neleus who were born at Pylos; Poseidon had given
him boundless strength and granted him that whatever shape he should
crave during the fight, that he should take in the stress of battle.

Moreover from Arcadia came Amphidamas and Cepheus, who inhabited Tegea
and the allotment of Apheidas, two sons of Aldus; and Ancaeus followed
them as the third, whom his father Lycurgus sent, the brother older
than both. But he was left in the city to care for Aleus now growing
old, while he gave his son to join his brothers. Antaeus went clad
in the skin of a Maenalian bear, and wielding in his right hand a
huge two-edged battleaxe. For his armour his grandsire had hidden
in the house's innermost recess, to see if he might by some means
still stay his departure. 

There came also Augeias, whom fame declared to be the son of Helios;
he reigned over the Eleans, glorying in his wealth; and greatly he
desired to behold the Colchian land and Aeetes himself the ruler of
the Colchians. 

Asterius and Amphion, sons of Hyperasius, came from Achaean Pellene,
which once Pelles their grandsire founded on the brows of Aegialus.

After them from Taenarus came Euphemus whom, most swift-footed of
men, Europe, daughter of mighty Tityos, bare to Poseidon. He was wont
to skim the swell of the grey sea, and wetted not his swift feet,
but just dipping the tips of his toes was borne on the watery path.

Yea, and two other sons of Poseidon came; one Erginus, who left the
citadel of glorious Miletus, the other proud Ancaeus, who left Parthenia,
the seat of Imbrasion Hera; both boasted their skill in seacraft and
in war. 

After them from Calydon came the son of Oeneus, strong Meleagrus,
and Laocoon--Laocoon the brother of Oeneus, though not by the same
mother, for a serving-woman bare him; him, now growing old, Oeneus
sent to guard his son: thus Meleagrus, still a youth, entered the
bold band of heroes. No other had come superior to him, I ween, except
Heracles, if for one year more he had tarried and been nurtured among
the Aetolians. Yea, and his uncle, well skilled to fight whether with
the javelin or hand to hand, Iphiclus son of Thestius, bare him company
on his way. 

With him came Palaemonius, son of Olenian Lernus, of Lernus by repute,
but his birth was from Hephaestus; and so he was crippled in his feet,
but his bodily frame and his valour no one would dare to scorn. Wherefore
he was numbered among all the chiefs, winning fame for Jason.

From the Phocians came Iphitus sprung from Naubolus son of Ornytus;
once he had been his host when Jason went to Pytho to ask for a response
concerning his voyage; for there he welcomed him in his own hails.

Next came Zetes and Calais, sons of Boreas, whom once Oreithyia, daughter
of Erechtheus, bare to Boreas on the verge of wintry Thrace; thither
it was that Thracian Boreas snatched her away from Cecropia as she
was whirling in the dance, hard by Hissus' stream. And, carrying her
far off, to the spot that men called the rock of Sarpedon, near the
river Erginus, he wrapped her in dark clouds and forced her to his
will. There they were making their dusky wings quiver upon their ankles
on both sides as they rose, a great wonder to behold, wings that gleamed
with golden scales: and round their backs from the top of the head
and neck, hither and thither, their dark tresses were being shaken
by the wind. 

No, nor had Acastus son of mighty Pelias himself any will to stay
behind in the palace of his brave sire, nor Argus, helper of the goddess
Athena; but they too were ready to be numbered in the host.

So many then were the helpers who assembled to join the son of Aeson.
All the chiefs the dwellers thereabout called Minyae, for the most
and the bravest avowed that they were sprung from the blood of the
daughters of Minyas; thus Jason himself was the son of Alcimede who
was born of Clymene the daughter of Minyas. 

Now when all things had been made ready by the thralls, all things
that fully-equipped ships are furnished withal when men's business
leads them to voyage across the sea, then the heroes took their way
through the city to the ship where it lay on the strand that men call
Magnesian Pagasae; and a crowd of people hastening rushed together;
but the heroes shone like gleaming stars among the clouds; and each
man as he saw them speeding along with their armour would say:

"King Zeus, what is the purpose of Pelias? Whither is he driving forth
from the Panachaean land so great a host of heroes? On one day they
would waste the palace of Aeetes with baleful fire, should he not
yield them the fleece of his own goodwill. But the path is not to
be shunned, the toil is hard for those who venture." 

Thus they spake here and there throughout the city; but the women
often raised their hands to the sky in prayer to the immortals to
grant a return, their hearts' desire. And one with tears thus lamented
to her fellow: 

"Wretched Alcimede, evil has come to thee at last though late, thou
hast not ended with splendour of life. Aeson too, ill-fated man! Surely
better had it been for him, if he were lying beneath the earth, enveloped
in his shroud, still unconscious of bitter toils. Would that the dark
wave, when the maiden Helle perished, had overwhelmed Phrixus too
with the ram; but the dire portent even sent forth a human voice,
that it might cause to Alcimede sorrows and countless pains hereafter."

Thus the women spake at the departure of the heroes. And now many
thralls, men and women, were gathered together, and his mother, smitten
with grief for Jason. And a bitter pang seized every woman's heart;
and with them groaned the father in baleful old age, lying on his
bed, closely wrapped round. But the hero straightway soothed their
pain, encouraging them, and bade the thralls take up his weapons for
war; and they in silence with downcast looks took them up. And even
as the mother had thrown her arms about her son, so she clung, weeping
without stint, as a maiden all alone weeps, falling fondly on the
neck of her hoary nurse, a maid who has now no others to care for
her, but she drags on a weary life under a stepmother, who maltreats
her continually with ever fresh insults, and as she weeps, her heart
within her is bound fast with misery, nor can she sob forth all the
groans that struggle for utterance; so without stint wept Alcimede
straining her son in her arms, and in her yearning grief spake as
follows: 

"Would that on that day when, wretched woman that I am, I heard King
Pelias proclaim his evil behest, I had straightway given up my life
and forgotten my cares, so that thou thyself, my son, with thine own
hands, mightest have buried me; for that was the only wish left me
still to be fulfilled by time, all the other rewards for thy nurture
have I long enjoyed. Now I, once so admired among Achaean women, shall
be left behind like a bondwoman in my empty halls, pining away, ill-fated
one, for love of thee, thee on whose account I had aforetime so much
splendour and renown, my only son for whom I loosed my virgin zone
first and last. For to me beyond others the goddess Eileithyia grudged
abundant offspring. Alas for my folly! Not once, not even in nay dreams
did I forebode this, that the flight of Phrixus would bring me woe."

Thus with moaning she wept, and her handmaidens, standing by, lamented;
but Jason spake gently to her with comforting words: 

"Do not, I pray thee, mother, store up bitter sorrows overmuch, for
thou wilt not redeem me from evil by tears, but wilt still add grief
to grief. For unseen are the woes that the gods mete out to mortals;
be strong to endure thy share of them though with grief in thy heart;
take courage from the promises of Athena, and from the answers of
the gods (for very favourable oracles has Phoebus given), and then
from the help of the chieftains. But do thou remain here, quiet among
thy handmaids, and be not a bird of ill omen to the ship; and thither
my clansmen and thralls will follow me." 

He spake, and started forth to leave the house. And as Apollo goes
forth from some fragrant shrine to divine Delos or Claros or Pytho
or to broad Lyeia near the stream of Xanthus, in such beauty moved
Jason through the throng of people; and a cry arose as they shouted
together. And there met him aged Iphias, priestess of Artemis guardian
of the city, and kissed his right hand, but she had not strength to
say a word, for all her eagerness, as the crowd rushed on, but she
was left there by the wayside, as the old are left by the young, and
he passed on and was gone afar. 

Now when he had left the well-built streets of the city, he came to
the beach of Pagasae, where his comrades greeted him as they stayed
together near the ship Argo. And he stood at the entering in, and
they were gathered to meet him. And they perceived Aeastus and Argus
coming from the city, and they marvelled when they saw them hasting
with all speed, despite the will of Pelias. The one, Argus, son of
Arestor, had cast round his shoulders the hide of a bull reaching
to his feet, with the black hair upon it, the other, a fair mantle
of double fold, which his sister Pelopeia had given him. Still Jason
forebore from asking them about each point but bade all be seated
for an assembly. And there, upon the folded sails and the mast as
it lay on the ground, they all took their seats in order. And among
them with goodwill spake Aeson's son: 

"All the equipment that a ship needs for all is in due order--lies
ready for our departure. Therefore we will make no long delay in our
sailing for these things' sake, when the breezes but blow fair. But,
friends,--for common to all is our return to Hellas hereafter, and
common to all is our path to the land of Aeetes--now therefore with
ungrudging heart choose the bravest to be our leader, who shall be
careful for everything, to take upon him our quarrels and covenants
with strangers." 

Thus he spake; and the young heroes turned their eyes towards bold
Heracles sitting in their midst, and with one shout they all enjoined
upon him to be their leader; but he, from the place where he sat,
stretched forth his right hand and said: 

"Let no one offer this honour to me. For I will not consent, and I
will forbid any other to stand up. Let the hero who brought us together,
himself be the leader of the host." 

Thus he spake with high thoughts, and they assented, as Heracles bade;
and warlike Jason himself rose up, glad at heart, and thus addressed
the eager throng: 

"If ye entrust your glory to my care, no longer as before let our
path be hindered. Now at last let us propitiate Phoebus with sacrifice
and straightway prepare a feast. And until my thralls come, the overseers
of my steading, whose care it is to choose out oxen from the herd
and drive them hither, we will drag down the ship to the sea, and
do ye place all the tackling within, and draw lots for the benches
for rowing. Meantime let us build upon the beach an altar to Apollo
Embasius who by an oracle promised to point out and show me the paths
of the sea, if by sacrifice to him I should begin my venture for King
Pelias." 

He spake, and was the first to turn to the work, and they stood up
in obedience to him; and they heaped their garments, one upon the
other, on a smooth stone, which the sea did not strike with its waves,
but the stormy surge had cleansed it long before. First of all, by
the command of Argus, they strongly girded the ship with a rope well
twisted within, stretching it tight on each side, in order that the
planks might be well compacted by the bolts and might withstand the
opposing force of the surge. And they quickly dug a trench as wide
as the space the ship covered, and at the prow as far into the sea
as it would run when drawn down by their hands. And they ever dug
deeper in front of the stem, and in the furrow laid polished rollers;
and inclined the ship down upon the first rollers, that so she might
glide and be borne on by them. And above, on both sides, reversing
the oars, they fastened them round the thole- pins, so as to project
a cubit's space. And the heroes themselves stood on both sides at
the oars in a row, and pushed forward with chest and hand at once.
And then Tiphys leapt on board to urge the youths to push at the right
moment; and calling on them he shouted loudly; and they at once, leaning
with all their strength, with one push started the ship from her place,
and strained with their feet, forcing her onward; and Pelian Argo
followed swiftly; and they on each side shouted as they rushed on.
And then the rollers groaned under the sturdy keel as they were chafed,
and round them rose up a dark smoke owing to the weight, and she glided
into the sea; but the heroes stood there and kept dragging her back
as she sped onward. And round the thole-pins they fitted the oars,
and in the ship they placed the mast and the well-made sails and the
stores. 

Now when they had carefully paid heed to everything, first they distributed
the benches by lot, two men occupying one seat; but the middle bench
they chose for Heracles and Ancaeus apart from the other heroes, Ancaeus
who dwelt in Tegea. For them alone they left the middle bench just
as it was and not by lot; and with one consent they entrusted Tiphys
with guarding the helm of the well-stemmed ship. 

Next, piling up shingle near the sea, they raised there an altar on
the shore to Apollo, under the name of Actius and Embasius, and quickly
spread above it logs of dried olive-wood. Meantime the herdsmen of
Aeson's son had driven before them from the herd two steers. These
the younger comrades dragged near the altars, and the others brought
lustral water and barley meal, and Jason prayed, calling on Apollo
the god of his fathers: 

"Hear, O King, that dwellest in Pagasae and the city Aesonis, the
city called by my father's name, thou who didst promise me, when I
sought thy oracle at Pytho, to show the fulfilment and goal of my
journey, for thou thyself hast been the cause of my venture; now do
thou thyself guide the ship with my comrades safe and sound, thither
and back again to Hellas. Then in thy honour hereafter we will lay
again on thy altar the bright offerings of bulls--all of us who return;
and other gifts in countless numbers I will bring to Pytho and Ortygia.
And now, come, Far-darter, accept this sacrifice at our hands, which
first of all we have offered thee for this ship on our embarcation;
and grant, O King, that with a prosperous weird I may loose the hawsers,
relying on thy counsel, and may the breeze blow softly with which
we shall sail over the sea in fair weather." 

He spake, and with his prayer cast the barley meal. And they two girded
themselves to slay the steers, proud Ancaeus and Heracles. The latter
with his club smote one steer mid-head on the brow, and falling in
a heap on the spot, it sank to the ground; and Ancaeus struck the
broad neck of the other with his axe of bronze, and shore through
the mighty sinews; and it fell prone on both its horns. Their comrades
quickly severed the victims' throats, and flayed the hides: they sundered
the joints and carved the flesh, then cut out the sacred thigh bones,
and covering them all together closely with fat burnt them upon cloven
wood. And Aeson's son poured out pure libations, and Idmon rejoiced
beholding the flame as it gleamed on every side from the sacrifice,
and the smoke of it mounting up with good omen in dark spiral columns;
and quickly he spake outright the will of Leto's son: 

"For you it is the will of heaven and destiny that ye shall return
here with the fleece; but meanwhile both going and returning, countless
trials await you. But it is my lot, by the hateful decree of a god,
to die somewhere afar off on the mainland of Asia. Thus, though I
learnt my fate from evil omens even before now, I have left my fatherland
to embark on the ship, that so after my embarking fair fame may be
left me in my house." 

Thus he spake; and the youths hearing the divine utterance rejoiced
at their return, but grief seized them for the fate of Idmon. Now
at the hour when the sun passes his noon-tide halt and the ploughlands
are just being shadowed by the rocks, as the sun slopes towards the
evening dusk, at that hour all the heroes spread leaves thickly upon
the sand and lay down in rows in front of the hoary surf-line; and
near them were spread vast stores of viands and sweet wine, which
the cupbearers had drawn off in pitchers; afterwards they told tales
one to another in turn, such as youths often tell when at the feast
and the bowl they take delightful pastime, and insatiable insolence
is far away. But here the son of Aeson, all helpless, was brooding
over each event in his mind, like one oppressed with thought. And
Idas noted him and assailed him with loud voice: 

"Son of Aeson, what is this plan thou art turning over in mind. Speak
out thy thought in the midst. Does fear come on and master thee, fear,
that confounds cowards? Be witness now my impetuous spear, wherewith
in wars I win renown beyond all others (nor does Zeus aid me so much
as my own spear), that no woe will be fatal, no venture will be unachieved,
while Idas follows, even though a god should oppose thee. Such a helpmeet
am I that thou bringest from Arene." 

He spake, and holding a brimming goblet in both hands drank off the
unmixed sweet wine; and his lips and dark cheeks were drenched with
it; and all the heroes clamoured together and Idmon spoke out openly:

"Vain wretch, thou art devising destruction for thyself before the
time. Does the pure wine cause thy bold heart to swell in thy breast
to thy ruin, and has it set thee on to dishonour the gods? Other words
of comfort there are with which a man might encourage his comrade;
but thou hast spoken with utter recklessness. Such taunts, the tale
goes, did the sons of Aloeus once blurt out against the blessed gods,
and thou dost no wise equal them in valour; nevertheless they were
both slain by the swift arrows of Leto's son, mighty though they were."

Thus he spake, and Aphareian Iclas laughed out, loud and long, and
eyeing him askance replied with biting words: 

"Come now, tell me this by thy prophetic art, whether for me too the
gods will bring to pass such doom as thy father promised for the sons
of Aloeus. And bethink thee how thou wilt escape from my hands alive,
if thou art caught making a prophecy vain as the idle wind."

Thus in wrath Idas reviled him, and the strife would have gone further
had not their comrades and Aeson's son himself with indignant cry
restrained the contending chiefs; and Orpheus lifted his lyre in his
left hand and made essay to sing. 

He sang how the earth, the heaven and the sea, once mingled together
in one form, after deadly strife were separated each from other; and
how the stars and the moon and the paths of the sun ever keep their
fixed place in the sky; and how the mountains rose, and how the resounding
rivers with their nymphs came into being and all creeping things.
And he sang how first of all Ophion and Eurynome, daughter of Ocean,
held the sway of snowy Olympus, and how through strength of arm one
yielded his prerogative to Cronos and the other to Rhea, and how they
fell into the waves of Ocean; but the other two meanwhile ruled over
the blessed Titan-gods, while Zeus, still a child and with the thoughts
of a child, dwelt in the Dictaean cave; and the earthborn Cyclopes
had not yet armed him with the bolt, with thunder and lightning; for
these things give renown to Zeus. 

He ended, and stayed his lyre and divine voice. But though he had
ceased they still bent forward with eagerness all hushed to quiet,
with ears intent on the enchanting strain; such a charm of song had
he left behind in their hearts. Not long after they mixed libations
in honour of Zeus, with pious rites as is customary, and poured them
upon the burning tongues, and bethought them of sleep in the darkness.

Now when gleaming dawn with bright eyes beheld the lofty peaks of
Pelion, and the calm headlands were being drenched as the sea was
ruffled by the winds, then Tiphys awoke from sleep; and at once he
roused his comrades to go on board and make ready the oars. And a
strange cry did the harbour of Pagasae utter, yea and Pelian Argo
herself, urging them to set forth. For in her a beam divine had been
laid which Athena had brought from an oak of Dodona and fitted in
the middle of the stem. And the heroes went to the benches one after
the other, as they had previously assigned for each to row in his
place, and took their seats in due order near their fighting gear.
In the middle sat Antaeus and mighty Heracles, and near him he laid
his club, and beneath his tread the ship's keel sank deep. And now
the hawsers were being slipped and they poured wine on the sea. But
Jason with tears held his eyes away from his fatherland. And just
as youths set up a dance in honour of Phoebus either in Pytho or haply
in Ortygia, or by the waters of Ismenus, and to the sound of the lyre
round his altar all together in time beat the earth with swiftly-moving
feet; so they to the sound of Orpheus' lyre smote with their oars
the rushing sea-water, and the surge broke over the blades; and on
this side and on that the dark brine seethed with foam, boiling terribly
through the might of the sturdy heroes. And their arms shone in the
sun like flame as the ship sped on; and ever their wake gleamed white
far behind, like a path seen over a green plain. On that day all the
gods looked down from heaven upon the ship and the might of the heroes,
half- divine, the bravest of men then sailing the sea; and on the
topmost heights the nymphs of Pelion wondered as they beheld the work
of Itonian Athena, and the heroes themselves wielding the oars. And
there came down from the mountain-top to the sea Chiron, son of Philyra,
and where the white surf broke he dipped his feet, and, often waving
with his broad hand, cried out to them at their departure, "Good speed
and a sorrowless home- return!" And with him his wife, bearing Peleus'
son Achilles on her arm, showed the child to his dear father.

Now when they had left the curving shore of the harbour through the
cunning and counsel of prudent Tiphys son of Hagnias, who skilfully
handled the well-polished helm that he might guide them steadfastly,
then at length they set up the tall mast in the mastbox, and secured
it with forestays, drawing them taut on each side, and from it they
let down the sail when they had hauled it to the top-mast. And a breeze
came down piping shrilly; and upon the deck they fastened the ropes
separately round the well-polished pins, and ran quietly past the
long Tisaean headland. And for them the son of Oeagrus touched his
lyre and sang in rhythmical song of Artemis, saviour of ships, child
of a glorious sire, who hath in her keeping those peaks by the sea,
and the land of Iolcos; and the fishes came darting through the deep
sea, great mixed with small, and followed gambolling along the watery
paths. And as when in the track of the shepherd, their master, countless
sheep follow to the fold that have fed to the full of grass, and he
goes before gaily piping a shepherd's strain on Iris shrill reed;
so these fishes followed; and a chasing breeze ever bore the ship
onward. 

And straightway the misty land of the Pelasgians, rich in cornfields,
sank out of sight, and ever speeding onward they passed the rugged
sides of Pelion; and the Sepian headland sank away, and Sciathus appeared
in the sea, and far off appeared Piresiae and the calm shore of Magnesia
on the mainland and the tomb of Dolops; here then in the evening,
as the wind blew against them, they put to land, and paying honour
to him at nightfall burnt sheep as victims, while the sea was tossed
by the swell: and for two days they lingered on the shore, but on
the third day they put forth the ship, spreading on high the broad
sail. And even now men call that beach Aphetae of Argo. 

Thence going forward they ran past Meliboea, escaping a stormy beach
and surf-line. And in the morning they saw Homole close at hand leaning
on the sea, and skirted it, and not long after they were about to
pass by the outfall of the river Amyrus. From there they beheld Eurymenae
and the seawashed ravines of Ossa and Olympus; next they reached the
slopes of Pallene, beyond the headland of Canastra, running all night
with the wind. And at dawn before them as they journeyed rose Athos,
the Thracian mountain, which with its topmost peak overshadows Lemnos,
even as far as Myrine, though it lies as far off as the space that
a well-trimmed merchantship would traverse up to mid-day. For them
on that day, till darkness fell, the breeze blew exceedingly fresh,
and the sails of the ship strained to it. But with the setting of
the sun the wind left them, and it was by the oars that they reached
Lemnos, the Sintian isle. 

Here the whole of the men of the people together had been ruthlessly
slain through the transgressions of the women in the year gone by.
For the men had rejected their lawful wives, loathing them, and had
conceived a fierce passion for captive maids whom they themselves
brought across the sea from their forays in Thrace; for the terrible
wrath of Cypris came upon them, because for a long time they had grudged
her the honours due. O hapless women, and insatiate in jealousy to
their own ruin! Not their husbands alone with the captives did they
slay on account of the marriage-bed, but all the males at the same
time, that they might thereafter pay no retribution for the grim murder.
And of all the women, Hypsipyle alone spared her aged father Thoas,
who was king over the people; and she sent him in a hollow chest,
to drift over the sea, if haply he should escape. And fishermen dragged
him to shore at the island of Oenoe, formerly Oenoe, but afterwards
called Sicinus from Sicinus, whom the water-nymph Oenoe bore to Thoas.
Now for all the women to tend kine, to don armour of bronze, and to
cleave with the plough-share the wheat-bearing fields, was easier
than the works of Athena, with which they were busied aforetime. Yet
for all that did they often gaze over the broad sea, in grievous fear
against the Thracians' coming. So when they saw Argo being rowed near
the island, straightway crowding in multitude from the gates of Myrine
and clad in their harness of war, they poured forth to the beach like
ravening Thyiades: for they deemed that the Thracians were come; and
with them Hypsipyle, daughter of Thoas, donned her father's harness.
And they streamed down speechless with dismay; such fear was wafted
about them. 

Meantime from the ship the chiefs had sent Aethalides the swift herald,
to whose care they entrusted their messages and the wand of Hermes,
his sire, who had granted him a memory of all things, that never grew
dim; and not even now, though he has entered the unspeakable whirlpools
of Acheron, has forgetfulness swept over his soul, but its fixed doom
is to be ever changing its abode; at one time to be numbered among
the dwellers beneath the earth, at another to be in the light of the
sun among living men. But why need I tell at length tales of Aethalides?
He at that time persuaded Hypsipyle to receive the new-comers as the
day was waning into darkness; nor yet at dawn did they loose the ship's
hawsers to the breath of the north wind. 

Now the Lemnian women fared through the city and sat down to the assembly,
for Hypsipyle herself had so bidden. And when they were all gathered
together in one great throng straightway she spake among them with
stirring words: 

"O friends, come let us grant these men gifts to their hearts' desire,
such as it is fitting that they should take on ship-board, food and
sweet wine, in order that they may steadfastly remain outside our
towers, and may not, passing among us for need's sake, get to know
us all too well, and so an evil report be widely spread; for we have
wrought a terrible deed and in nowise will it be to their liking,
should they learn it. Such is our counsel now, but if any of you can
devise a better plan let her rise, for it was on this account that
I summoned you hither." 

Thus she spake and sat upon her father's seat of stone, and then rose
up her dear nurse Polyxo, for very age halting upon her withered feet,
bowed over a staff, and she was eager to address them. Near her were
seated four virgins, unwedded, crowned with white hair. And she stood
in the midst of the assembly and from her bent back she feebly raised
her neck and spake thus: 

"Gifts, as Hypsipyle herself wishes, let us send to the strangers,
for it is better to give them. But for you what device have ye to
get profit of your life if the Thracian host fall upon us, or some
other foe, as often happens among men, even as now this company is
come unforeseen? But if one of the blessed gods should turn this aside
yet countless other woes, worse than battle, remain behind, when the
aged women die off and ye younger ones, without children, reach hateful
old age. How then will ye live, hapless ones? Will your oxen of their
own accord yoke themselves for the deep plough-lands and draw the
earth-cleaving share through the fallow, and forthwith, as the year
comes round, reap the harvest? Assuredly, though the fates till now
have shunned me in horror, I deem that in the coming year I shall
put on the garment of earth, when I have received my meed of burial
even so as is right, before the evil days draw near. But I bid you
who are younger give good heed to this. For now at your feet a way
of escape lies open, if ye trust to the strangers the care of your
homes and all your stock and your glorious city." 

Thus she spake, and the assembly was filled with clamour. For the
word pleased them. And after her straightway Hypsipyle rose up again,
and thus spake in reply. 

"If this purpose please you all, now will I even send a messenger
to the ship." 

She spake and addressed Iphinoe close at hand: "Go, Iphinoe, and beg
yonder man, whoever it is that leads this array, to come to our land
that I may tell him a word that pleases the heart of my people, and
bid the men themselves, if they wish, boldly enter the land and the
city with friendly intent." 

She spake, and dismissed the assembly, and thereafter started to return
home. And so Iphinoe came to the Minyae; and they asked with what
intent she had come among them. And quickly she addressed her questioners
with all speed in these words: 

"The maiden Hypsipyle daughter of Thoas, sent me on my way here to
you, to summon the captain of your ship, whoever he be, that she may
tell him a word that pleases the heart of the people, and she bids
yourselves, if ye wish it, straightway enter the land and the city
with friendly intent." 

Thus she spake and the speech of good omen pleased all. And they deemed
that Thoas was dead and that his beloved daughter Hypsipyle was queen,
and quickly they sent Jason on his way and themselves made ready to
go. 

Now he had buckled round his shoulders a purple mantle of double fold,
the work of the Tritonian goddess, which Pallas had given him when
she first laid the keel-props of the ship Argo and taught him how
to measure timbers with the rule. More easily wouldst thou cast thy
eyes upon the sun at its rising than behold that blazing splendour.
For indeed in the middle the fashion thereof was red, but at the ends
it was all purple, and on each margin many separate devices had been
skilfully inwoven. 

In it were the Cyclops seated at their imperishable work, forging
a thunderbolt for King Zeus; by now it was almost finished in its
brightness and still it wanted but one ray, which they were beating
out with their iron hammers as it spurted forth a breath of raging
flame. 

In it too were the twin sons of Antiope, daughter of Asopus, Amphion
and Zethus, and Thebe still ungirt with towers was lying near, whose
foundations they were just then laying in eager haste. Zethus on his
shoulders was lifting the peak of a steep mountain, like a man toiling
hard, and Amphion after him, singing loud and clear on his golden
lyre, moved on, and a rock twice as large followed his footsteps.

Next in order had been wrought Cytherea with drooping tresses, wielding
the swift shield of Ares; and from her shoulder to her left arm the
fastening of her tunic was loosed beneath her breast; and opposite
in the shield of bronze her image appeared clear to view as she stood.

And in it there was a well-wooded pasturage of oxen; and about the
oxen the Teleboae and the sons of Eleetryon were fighting; the one
party defending themselves, the others, the Taphian raiders, longing
to rob them; and the dewy meadow was drenched with their blood, and
the many were overmastering the few herdsmen. 

And therein were fashioned two chariots, racing, and the one in front
Pelops was guiding, as he shook the reins, and with him was Hippodameia
at his side, and in pursuit Myrtilus urged his steeds, and with him
Oenomaus had grasped his couched spear, but fell as the axle swerved
and broke in the nave, while he was eager to pierce the back of Pelops.

And in it was wrought Phoebus Apollo, a stripling not yet grown up,
in the act of shooting at mighty Tityos who was boldly dragging his
mother by her veil, Tityos whom glorious Elate bare, but Earth nursed
him and gave him second birth. 

And in it was Phrixus the Minyan as though he were in very deed listening
to the ram, while it was like one speaking. Beholding them thou wouldst
be silent and wouldst cheat thy soul with the hope of hearing some
wise speech from them, and long wouldst thou gaze with that hope.

Such then were the gifts of the Tritonian goddess Athena. And in his
right hand Jason held a fardarting spear, which Atalanta gave him
once as a gift of hospitality in Maenalus as she met him gladly; for
she eagerly desired to follow on that quest; but he himself of his
own accord prevented the maid, for he feared bitter strife on account
of her love. 

And he went on his way to the city like to a bright star, which maidens,
pent up in new-built chambers, behold as it rises above their homes,
and through the dark air it charms their eyes with its fair red gleam
and the maid rejoices, love-sick for the youth who is far away amid
strangers, for whom her parents are keeping her to be his bride; like
to that star the hero trod the way to the city. And when they had
passed within the gates and the city, the women of the people surged
behind them, delighting in the stranger, but he with his eyes fixed
on the ground fared straight on, till he reached the glorious palace
of Hypsipyle; and when he appeared the maids opened the folding doors,
fitted with well-fashioned panels. Here Iphinoe leading him quickly
through a fair porch set him upon a shining seat opposite her mistress,
but Hypsipyle turned her eyes aside and a blush covered her maiden
cheeks, yet for all her modesty she addressed him with crafty words:

"Stranger, why stay ye so long outside our towers? for the city is
not inhabited by the men, but they, as sojourners, plough the wheat-bearing
fields of the Thracian mainland. And I will tell out truly all our
evil plight, that ye yourselves too may know it well. When my father
Thoas reigned over the citizens, then our folk starting from their
homes used to plunder from their ships the dwellings of the Thracians
who live opposite, and they brought back hither measureless booty
and maidens too. But the counsel of the baneful goddess Cypris was
working out its accomplishment, who brought upon them soul destroying
infatuation. For they hated their lawful wives, and, yielding to their
own mad folly, drove them from their homes; and they took to their
beds the captives of their spear, cruel ones. Long in truth we endured
it, if haply again, though late, they might change their purpose,
but ever the bitter woe grew, twofold. And the lawful children were
being dishonoured in their halls, and a bastard race was rising. And
thus unmarried maidens and widowed mothers too wandered uncared for
through the city; no father heeded his daughter ever so little even
though he should see her done to death before his eyes at the hands
of an insolent step-dame, nor did sons, as before, defend their mother
against unseemly outrage; nor did brothers care at heart for their
sister. But in their homes, in the dance, in the assembly and the
banquet all their thought was only for their captive maidens; until
some god put desperate courage in our hearts no more to receive our
lords on their return from Thrace within our towers so that they might
either heed the right or might depart and begone elsewhither, they
and their captives. So they begged of us all the male children that
were left in the city and went back to where even now they dwell on
the snowy tilths of Thrace. Do ye therefore stay and settle with us;
and shouldst thou desire to dwell here, and this finds favour with
thee, assuredly thou shalt have the prerogative of my father Thoas;
and I deem that thou wilt not scorn our land at all; for it is deepsoiled
beyond all other islands that lie in the Aegaean sea. But come now,
return to the ship and relate my words to thy comrades, and stay not
outside our city." 

She spoke, glozing over the murder that had been wrought upon the
men; and Jason addressed her in answer: 

"Hypsipyle, very dear to our hearts is the help we shall meet with,
which thou grantest to us who need thee. And I will return again to
the city when I have told everything in order due. But let the sovereignty
of the island be thine; it is not in scorn I yield it up, but grievous
trials urge me on." 

He spake, and touched her right hand; and quickly he turned to go
back: and round him the young maids on every side danced in countless
numbers in their joy till he passed through the gates. And then they
came to the shore in smooth-running wains, bearing with them many
gifts, when now he had related from beginning to end the speech which
Hypsipyle had spoken when she summoned them; and the maids readily
led the men back to their homes for entertainment. For Cypris stirred
in them a sweet desire, for the sake of Hephaestus of many counsels,
in order that Lemnos might be again inhabited by men and not be ruined.

Thereupon Aeson's son started to go to the royal home of Hypsipyle;
and the rest went each his way as chance took them, all but Heracles;
for he of his own will was left behind by the ship and a few chosen
comrades with him. And straightway the city rejoiced with dances and
banquets, being filled with the steam of sacrifice; and above all
the immortals they propitiated with songs and sacrifices the illustrious
son of Hera and Cypris herself. And the sailing was ever delayed from
one day to another; and long would they have lingered there, had not
Heracles, gathering together his comrades apart from the women, thus
addressed them with reproachful words: 

"Wretched men, does the murder of kindred keep us from our native
land? Or is it in want of marriage that we have come hither from thence,
in scorn of our countrywomen? Does it please us to dwell here and
plough the rich soil of Lemnos? No fair renown shall we win by thus
tarrying so long with stranger women; nor will some god seize and
give us at our prayer a fleece that moves of itself. Let us then return
each to his own; but him leave ye to rest all day long in the embrace
of Hypsipyle until he has peopled Lemnos with men-children, and so
there come to him great glory." 

Thus did he chide the band; but no one dared to meet his eye or to
utter a word in answer. But just as they were in the assembly they
made ready their departure in all haste, and the women came running
towards them, when they knew their intent. And as when bees hum round
fair lilies pouring forth from their hive in the rock, and all around
the dewy meadow rejoices, and they gather the sweet fruit, flitting
from one to another; even so the women eagerly poured forth clustering
round the men with loud lament, and greeted each one with hands and
voice, praying the blessed gods to grant him a safe return. And so
Hypsipyle too prayed, seizing the hands of Aeson's son, and her tears
flowed for the loss of her lover: 

"Go, and may heaven bring thee back again with thy comrades unharmed,
bearing to the king the golden fleece, even as thou wilt and thy heart
desireth; and this island and my father's sceptre will be awaiting
thee, if on thy return hereafter thou shouldst choose to come hither
again; and easily couldst thou gather a countless host of men from
other cities. But thou wilt not have this desire, nor do I myself
forbode that so it will be. Still remember Hypsipyle when thou art
far away and when thou hast returned; and leave me some word of bidding,
which I will gladly accomplish, if haply heaven shall grant me to
be a mother." 

And Aeson's son in admiration thus replied: "Hypsipyle, so may all
these things prove propitious by the favour of the blessed gods. But
do thou hold a nobler thought of me, since by the grace of Pelias
it is enough for me to dwell in my native land; may the gods only
release me from my toils. But if it is not my destiny to sail afar
and return to the land of Hellas, and if thou shouldst bear a male
child, send him when grown up to Pelasgian Iolcus, to heal the grief
of my father and mother if so be that he find them still living, in
order that, far away from the king, they may be cared for by their
own hearth in their home." 

He spake, and mounted the ship first of all; and so the rest of the
chiefs followed, and, sitting in order, seized the oars; and Argus
loosed for them the hawsers from under the sea-beaten rock. Whereupon
they mightily smote the water with their long oars, and in the evening
by the injunctions of Orpheus they touched at the island of Electra,
daughter of Atlas, in order that by gentle initiation they might learn
the rites that may not be uttered, and so with greater safety sail
over the chilling sea. Of these I will make no further mention; but
I bid farewell to the island itself and the indwelling deities, to
whom belong those mysteries, which it is not lawful for me to sing.

Thence did they row with eagerness over the depths of the black Sea,
having on the one side the land of the Thracians, on the other Imbros
on the south; and as the sun was just setting they reached the foreland
of the Chersonesus. There a strong south wind blew for them; and raising
the sails to the breeze they entered the swift stream of the maiden
daughter of Athamas; and at dawn the sea to the north was left behind
and at night they were coasting inside the Rhoeteian shore, with the
land of Ida on their right. And leaving Dardania they directed their
course to Abydus, and after it they sailed past Percote and the sandy
beach of Abarnis and divine Pityeia. And in that night, as the ship
sped on by sail and oar, they passed right through the Hellespont
dark-gleaming with eddies. 

There is a lofty island inside the Propontis, a short distance from
the Phrygian mainland with its rich cornfields, sloping to the sea,
where an isthmus in front of the mainland is flooded by the waves,
so low does it lie. And the isthmus has double shores, and they lie
beyond the river Aesepus, and the inhabitants round about call the
island the Mount of Bears. And insolent and fierce men dwell there,
Earthborn, a great marvel to the neighbours to behold; for each one
has six mighty hands to lift up, two from his sturdy shoulders, and
four below, fitting close to his terrible sides. And about the isthmus
and the plain the Doliones had their dwelling, and over them Cyzicus
son of Aeneus was king, whom Aenete the daughter of goodly Eusorus
bare. But these men the Earthborn monsters, fearful though they were,
in nowise harried, owing to the protection of Poseidon; for from him
had the Doliones first sprung. Thither Argo pressed on, driven by
the winds of Thrace, and the Fair haven received her as she sped.
There they cast away their small anchorstone by the advice of Tiphys
and left it beneath a fountain, the fountain of Artaeie; and they
took another meet for their purpose, a heavy one; but the first, according
to the oracle of the Far-Darter, the Ionians, sons of Neleus, in after
days laid to be a sacred stone, as was right, in the temple of Jasonian
Athena. 

Now the Doliones and Cyzicus himself all came together to meet them
with friendliness, and when they knew of the quest and their lineage
welcomed them with hospitality, and persuaded them to row further
and to fasten their ship's hawsers at the city harbour. Here they
built an altar to Ecbasian Apollo and set it up on the beach, and
gave heed to sacrifices. And the king of his own bounty gave them
sweet wine and sheep in their need; for he had heard a report that
whenever a godlike band of heroes should come, straightway he should
meet it with gentle words and should have no thought of war. As with
Jason, the soft down was just blooming on his chin, nor yet had it
been his lot to rejoice in children, but still in his palace his wife
was untouched by the pangs of child-birth, the daughter of Percosian
Merops, fair-haired Cleite, whom lately by priceless gifts he had
brought from her father's home from the mainland opposite. But even
so he left his chamber and bridal bed and prepared a banquet among
the strangers, casting all fears from his heart. And they questioned
one another in turn. Of them would he learn the end of their voyage
and the injunctions of Pelias; while they enquired about the cities
of the people round and all the gulf of the wide Propontis; but further
he could not tell them for all their desire to learn. In the morning
they climbed mighty Dindymum that they might themselves behold the
various paths of that sea; and they brought their ship from its former
anchorage to the harbour, Chytus; and the path they trod is named
the path of Jason. 

But the Earthborn men on the other side rushed down from the mountain
and with crags below blocked up the mouth of vast Chytus towards the
sea, like men lying in wait for a wild beast within. But there Heracles
had been left behind with the younger heroes and he quickly bent his
back-springing bow against the monsters and brought them to earth
one after another; and they in their turn raised huge ragged rocks
and hurled them. For these dread monsters too, I ween, the goddess
Hera, bride of Zeus, had nurtured to be a trial for Heracles. And
therewithal came the rest of the martial heroes returning to meet
the foe before they reached the height of outlook, and they fell to
the slaughter of the Earthborn, receiving them with arrows and spears
until they slew them all as they rushed fiercely to battle. And as
when woodcutters cast in rows upon the beach long trees just hewn
down by their axes, in order that, once sodden with brine, they may
receive the strong bolts; so these monsters at the entrance of the
foam-fringed harbour lay stretched one after another, some in heaps
bending their heads and breasts into the salt waves with their limbs
spread out above on the land; others again were resting their heads
on the sand of the shore and their feet in the deep water, both alike
a prey to birds and fishes at once. 

But the heroes, when the contest was ended without fear, loosed the
ship's hawsers to the breath of the wind and pressed on through the
sea-swell. And the ship sped on under sail all day; but when night
came the rushing wind did not hold steadfast, but contrary blasts
caught them and held them back till they again approached the hospitable
Doliones. And they stepped ashore that same night; and the rock is
still called the Sacred Rock round which they threw the ship's hawsers
in their haste. Nor did anyone note with care that it was the same
island; nor in the night did the Doliones clearly perceive that the
heroes were returning; but they deemed that Pelasgian war-men of the
Macrians had landed. Therefore they donned their armour and raised
their hands against them. And with clashing of ashen spears and shields
they fell on each other, like the swift rush of fire which falls on
dry brushwood and rears its crest; and the din of battle, terrible
and furious, fell upon the people of the Doliones. Nor was the king
to escape his fate and return home from battle to his bridal chamber
and bed. But Aeson's son leapt upon him as he turned to face him,
and smote him in the middle of the breast, and the bone was shattered
round the spear; he rolled forward in the sand and filled up the measure
of his fate. For that no mortal may escape; but on every side a wide
snare encompasses us. And so, when he thought that he had escaped
bitter death from the chiefs, fate entangled him that very night in
her toils while battling with them; and many champions withal were
slain; Heracles killed Telecles and Megabrontes, and Acastus slew
Sphodris; and Peleus slew Zelus and Gephyrus swift in war. Telamon
of the strong spear slew Basileus. And Idas slew Promeus, and Clytius
Hyacinthus, and the two sons of Tyndareus slew Megalossaces and Phlogius.
And after them the son of Oeneus slew bold Itomeneus, and Artaceus,
leader of men; all of whom the inhabitants still honour with the worship
due to heroes. And the rest gave way and fled in terror just as doves
fly in terror before swift-winged hawks. And with a din they rustled
in a body to the gates; and quickly the city was filled with loud
cries at the turning of the dolorous fight. But at dawn both sides
perceived the fatal and cureless error; and bitter grief seized the
Minyan heroes when they saw before them Cyzicus son of Aeneus fallen
in the midst of dust and blood. And for three whole days they lamented
and rent their hair, they and the Dollones. Then three times round
his tomb they paced in armour of bronze and performed funeral rites
and celebrated games, as was meet, upon the meadow-plain, where even
now rises the mound of his grave to be seen by men of a later day.
No, nor was his bride Cleite left behind her dead husband, but to
crown the ill she wrought an ill yet more awful, when she clasped
a noose round her neck. Her death even the nymphs of the grove bewailed;
and of all the tears for her that they shed to earth from their eyes
the goddesses made a fountain, which they call Cleite, the illustrious
name of the hapless maid. Most terrible came that day from Zeus upon
the Doliones, women and men; for no one of them dared even to taste
food, nor for a long time by reason of grief did they take thought
for the toil of the cornmill, but they dragged on their lives eating
their food as it was, untouched by fire. Here even now, when the Ionians
that dwell in Cyzicus pour their yearly libations for the dead, they
ever grind the meal for the sacrificial cakes at the common mill.

After this, fierce tempests arose for twelve days and nights together
and kept them there from sailing. But in the next night the rest of
the chieftains, overcome by sleep, were resting during the latest
period of the night, while Acastus and Mopsus the son of Ampyeus kept
guard over their deep slumbers. And above the golden head of Aeson's
son there hovered a halcyon prophesying with shrill voice the ceasing
of the stormy winds; and Mopsus heard and understood the cry of the
bird of the shore, fraught with good omen. And some god made it turn
aside, and flying aloft it settled upon the stern-ornament of the
ship. And the seer touched Jason as he lay wrapped in soft sheepskins
and woke him at once, and thus spake: 

"Son of Aeson, thou must climb to this temple on rugged Dindymum and
propitiate the mother of all the blessed gods on her fair throne,
and the stormy blasts shall cease. For such was the voice I heard
but now from the halcyon, bird of the sea, which, as it flew above
thee in thy slumber, told me all. For by her power the winds and the
sea and all the earth below and the snowy seat of Olympus are complete;
and to her, when from the mountains she ascends the mighty heaven,
Zeus himself, the son of Cronos, gives place. In like manner the rest
of the immortal blessed ones reverence the dread goddess."

Thus he spake, and his words were welcome to Jason's ear. And he arose
from his bed with joy and woke all his comrades hurriedly and told
them the prophecy of Mopsus the son of Ampycus. And quickly the younger
men drove oxen from their stalls and began to lead them to the mountain's
lofty summit. And they loosed the hawsers from the sacred rock and
rowed to the Thracian harbour; and the heroes climbed the mountain,
leaving a few of their comrades in the ship. And to them the Macrian
heights and all the coast of Thrace opposite appeared to view close
at hand. And there appeared the misty mouth of Bosporus and the Mysian
hills; and on the other side the stream of the river Aesepus and the
city and Nepeian plain of Adrasteia. Now there was a sturdy stump
of vine that grew in the forest, a tree exceeding old; this they cut
down, to be the sacred image of the mountain goddess; and Argus smoothed
it skilfully, and they set it upon that rugged hill beneath a canopy
of lofty oaks, which of all trees have their roots deepest. And near
it they heaped an altar of small stones, and wreathed their brows
with oak leaves and paid heed to sacrifice, invoking the mother of
Dindymum, most venerable, dweller in Phrygia, and Titias and Cyllenus,
who alone of many are called dispensers of doom and assessors of the
Idaean mother,--the Idaean Dactyls of Crete, whom once the nymph Anchiale,
as she grasped with both hands the land of Oaxus, bare in the Dictaean
cave. And with many prayers did Aeson's son beseech the goddess to
turn aside the stormy blasts as he poured libations on the blazing
sacrifice; and at the same time by command of Orpheus the youths trod
a measure dancing in full armour, and clashed with their swords on
their shields, so that the ill-omened cry might be lost in the air
the wail which the people were still sending up in grief for their
king. Hence from that time forward the Phrygians propitiate Rhea with
the wheel and the drum. And the gracious goddess, I ween, inclined
her heart to pious sacrifices; and favourable signs appeared. The
trees shed abundant fruit, and round their feet the earth of its own
accord put forth flowers from the tender grass. And the beasts of
the wild wood left their lairs and thickets and came up fawning on
them with their tails. And she caused yet another marvel; for hitherto
there was no flow of water on Dindymum, but then for them an unceasing
stream gushed forth from the thirsty peak just as it was, and the
dwellers around in after times called that stream, the spring of Jason.
And then they made a feast in honour of the goddess on the Mount of
Bears, singing the praises of Rhea most venerable; but at dawn the
winds had ceased and they rowed away from the island. 

Thereupon a spirit of contention stirred each chieftain, who should
be the last to leave his oar. For all around the windless air smoothed
the swirling waves and lulled the sea to rest. And they, trusting
in the calm, mightily drove the ship forward; and as she sped through
the salt sea, not even the storm-footed steeds of Poseidon would have
overtaken her. Nevertheless when the sea was stirred by violent blasts
which were just rising from the rivers about evening, forspent with
toil, they ceased. But Heracles by the might of his arms pulled the
weary rowers along all together, and made the strong-knit timbers
of the ship to quiver. But when, eager to reach the Mysian mainland,
they passed along in sight of the mouth of Rhyndaeus and the great
cairn of Aegaeon, a little way from Phrygia, then Heracles, as he
ploughed up the furrows of the roughened surge, broke his oar in the
middle. And one half he held in both his hands as he fell sideways,
the other the sea swept away with its receding wave. And he sat up
in silence glaring round; for his hands were unaccustomed to he idle.

Now at the hour when from the field some delver or ploughman goes
gladly home to his hut, longing for his evening meal, and there on
the threshold, all squalid with dust, bows his wearied knees, and,
beholding his hands worn with toil, with many a curse reviles his
belly; at that hour the heroes reached the homes of the Cianian land
near the Arganthonian mount and the outfall of Cius. Them as they
came in friendliness, the Mysians, inhabitants of that land, hospitably
welcomed, and gave them in their need provisions and sheep and abundant
wine. Hereupon some brought dried wood, others from the meadows leaves
for beds which they gathered in abundance for strewing, whilst others
were twirling sticks to get fire; others again were mixing wine in
the bowl and making ready the feast, after sacrificing at nightfall
to Apollo Ecbasius. 

But the son of Zeus having duly enjoined on his comrades to prepare
the feast took his way into a wood, that he might first fashion for
himself an oar to fit his hand. Wandering about he found a pine not
burdened with many branches, nor too full of leaves, but like to the
shaft of a tall poplar; so great was it both in length and thickness
to look at. And quickly he laid on the ground his arrow-holding quiver
together with his bow, and took off his lion's skin. And he loosened
the pine from the ground with his bronze-tipped club and grasped the
trunk with both hands at the bottom, relying on his strength; and
he pressed it against his broad shoulder with legs wide apart; and
clinging close he raised it from the ground deep-rooted though it
was, together with clods of earth. And as when unexpectedly, just
at the time of the stormy setting of baleful Orion, a swift gust of
wind strikes down from above, and wrenches a ship's mast from its
stays, wedges and all; so did Heracles lift the pine. And at the same
time he took up his bow and arrows, his lion skin and club, and started
on his return. 

Meantime Hylas with pitcher of bronze in hand had gone apart from
the throng, seeking the sacred flow of a fountain, that he might be
quick in drawing water for the evening meal and actively make all
things ready in due order against his lord's return. For in such ways
did Heracles nurture him from his first childhood when he had carried
him off from the house of his father, goodly Theiodamas, whom the
hero pitilessly slew among the Dryopians because he withstood him
about an ox for the plough. Theiodamas was cleaving with his plough
the soil of fallow land when he was smitten with the curse; and Heracles
bade him give up the ploughing ox against his will. For he desired
to find some pretext for war against the Dryopians for their bane,
since they dwelt there reckless of right. But these tales would lead
me far astray from my song. And quickly Hylas came to the spring which
the people who dwell thereabouts call Pegae. And the dances of the
nymphs were just now being held there; for it was the care of all
the nymphs that haunted that lovely headland ever to hymn Artemis
in songs by night. All who held the mountain peaks or glens, all they
were ranged far off guarding the woods; but one, a water-nymph was
just rising from the fair-flowing spring; and the boy she perceived
close at hand with the rosy flush of his beauty and sweet grace. For
the full moon beaming from the sky smote him. And Cypris made her
heart faint, and in her confusion she could scarcely gather her spirit
back to her. But as soon as he dipped the pitcher in the stream, leaning
to one side, and the brimming water rang loud as it poured against
the sounding bronze, straightway she laid her left arm above upon
his neck yearning to kiss his tender mouth; and with her right hand
she drew down his elbow, and plunged him into the midst of the eddy.

Alone of his comrades the hero Polyphemus, son of Eilatus, as he went
forward on the path, heard the boy's cry, for he expected the return
of mighty Heracles. And he rushed after the cry, near Pegae, like
some beast of the wild wood whom the bleating of sheep has reached
from afar, and burning with hunger he follows, but does not fall in
with the flocks; for the shepherds beforehand have penned them in
the fold, but he groans and roars vehemently until he is weary. Thus
vehemently at that time did the son of Eilatus groan and wandered
shouting round the spot; and his voice rang piteous. Then quickly
drawing his great sword he started in pursuit, in fear lest the boy
should be the prey of wild beasts, or men should have lain in ambush
for him faring all alone, and be carrying him off, an easy prey. Hereupon
as he brandished his bare sword in his hand he met Heracles himself
on the path, and well he knew him as he hastened to the ship through
the darkness. And straightway he told the wretched calamity while
his heart laboured with his panting breath. 

"My poor friend, I shall be the first to bring thee tidings of bitter
woe. Hylas has gone to the well and has not returned safe, but robbers
have attacked and are carrying him off, or beasts are tearing him
to pieces; I heard his cry." 

Thus he spake; and when Heracles heard his words, sweat in abundance
poured down from his temples and the black blood boiled beneath his
heart. And in wrath he hurled the pine to the ground and hurried along
the path whither his feet bore on his impetuous soul. And as when
a bull stung by a gadfly tears along, leaving the meadows and the
marsh land, and recks not of herdsmen or herd, but presses on, now
without cheek, now standing still, and raising his broad neck he bellows
loudly, stung by the maddening fly; so he in his frenzy now would
ply his swift knees unresting, now again would cease from toil and
shout afar with loud pealing cry. 

But straightway the morning star rose above the topmost peaks and
the breeze swept down; and quickly did Tiphys urge them to go aboard
and avail themselves of the wind. And they embarked eagerly forthwith;
and they drew up the ship's anchors and hauled the ropes astern. And
the sails were bellied out by the wind, and far from the coast were
they joyfully borne past the Posideian headland. But at the hour when
gladsome dawn shines from heaven, rising from the east, and the paths
stand out clearly, and the dewy plains shine with a bright gleam,
then at length they were aware that unwittingly they had abandoned
those men. And a fierce quarrel fell upon them, and violent tumult,
for that they had sailed and left behind the bravest of their comrades.
And Aeson's son, bewildered by their hapless plight, said never a
word, good or bad; but sat with his heavy load of grief, eating out
his heart. And wrath seized Telamon, and thus he spake: 

"Sit there at thy ease, for it was fitting for thee to leave Heracles
behind; from thee the project arose, so that his glory throughout
Hellas should not overshadow thee, if so be that heaven grants us
a return home. But what pleasure is there in words? For I will go,
I only, with none of thy comrades, who have helped thee to plan this
treachery." 

He spake, and rushed upon Tiphys son of Hagnias; and his eyes sparkled
like flashes of ravening flame. And they would quickly have turned
back to the land of the Mysians, forcing their way through the deep
sea and the unceasing blasts of the wind, had not the two sons of
Thracian Boreas held back the son of Aeacus with harsh words. Hapless
ones, assuredly a bitter vengeance came upon them thereafter at the
hands of Heracles, because they stayed the search for him. For when
they were returning from the games over Pelias dead he slew them in
sea-girt Tenos and heaped the earth round them, and placed two columns
above, one of which, a great marvel for men to see, moves at the breath
of the blustering north wind. These things were thus to be accomplished
in after times. But to them appeared Glaucus from the depths of the
sea, the wise interpreter of divine Nereus, and raising aloft his
shaggy head and chest from his waist below, with sturdy hand he seized
the ship's keel, and then cried to the eager crew: 

"Why against the counsel of mighty Zeus do ye purpose to lead bold
Heracles to the city of Aeetes? At Argos it is his fate to labour
for insolent Eurystheus and to accomplish full twelve toils and dwell
with the immortals, if so be that he bring to fulfilment a few more
yet; wherefore let there be no vain regret for him. Likewise it is
destined for Polyphemus to found a glorious city at the mouth of Cius
among the Mysians and to fill up the measure of his fate in the vast
land of the Chalybes. But a goddess-nymph through love has made Hylas
her husband, on whose account those two wandered and were left behind."

He spake, and with a plunge wrapped him about with the restless wave;
and round him the dark water foamed in seething eddies and dashed
against the hollow ship as it moved through the sea. And the heroes
rejoiced, and Telamon son of Aeacus came in haste to Jason, and grasping
his hand in his own embraced him with these words: 

"Son of Aeson, be not wroth with me, if in my folly I have erred,
for grief wrought upon me to utter a word arrogant and intolerable.
But let me give my fault to the winds and let our hearts be joined
as before." 

Him the son of Aeson with prudence addressed: "Good friend, assuredly
with an evil word didst thou revile me, saying before them all that
I was the wronger of a kindly man. But not for long will I nurse bitter
wrath, though indeed before I was grieved. For it was not for flocks
of sheep, no, nor for possessions that thou wast angered to fury,
but for a man, thy comrade. And I were fain thou wouldst even champion
me against another man if a like thing should ever befall me."

He spake, and they sat down, united as of old. But of those two, by
the counsel of Zeus, one, Polyphemus son of Eilatus, was destined
to found and build a city among the Mysians bearing the river's name,
and the other, Heracles, to return and toil at the labours of Eurystheus.
And he threatened to lay waste the Mysian land at once, should they
not discover for him the doom of Hylas, whether living or dead. And
for him they gave pledges choosing out the noblest sons of the people
and took an oath that they would never cease from their labour of
search. Therefore to this day the people of Cius enquire for Hylas
the son of Theiodamas, and take thought for the well-built Trachis.
For there did Heracles settle the youths whom they sent from Cius
as pledges. 

And all day long and all night the wind bore the ship on, blowing
fresh and strong; but when dawn rose there was not even a breath of
air. And they marked a beach jutting forth from a bend of the coast,
very broad to behold, and by dint of rowing came to land at sunrise.

----------------------------------------------------------------------

BOOK II

Here were the oxstalls and farm of Amycus, the haughty king of the
Bebrycians, whom once a nymph, Bithynian Melie, united to Poseidon
Genethlius, bare the most arrogant of men; for even for strangers
he laid down an insulting ordinance, that none should depart till
they had made trial of him in boxing; and he had slain many of the
neighbours. And at that time too he went down to the ship and in his
insolence scorned to ask them the occasion of their voyage, and who
they were, but at once spake out among them all: 

"Listen, ye wanderers by sea, to what it befits you to know. It is
the rule that no stranger who comes to the Bebrycians should depart
till he has raised his hands in battle against mine. Wherefore select
your bravest warrior from the host and set him here on the spot to
contend with me in boxing. But if ye pay no heed and trample my decrees
under foot, assuredly to your sorrow will stern necessity come upon
you. 

Thus he spake in his pride, but fierce anger seized them when they
heard it, and the challenge smote Polydeuces most of all. And quickly
he stood forth his comrades' champion, and cried: 

"Hold now, and display not to us thy brutal violence, whoever thou
art; for we will obey thy rules, as thou sayest. Willingly now do
I myself undertake to meet thee." 

Thus he spake outright; but the other with rolling eyes glared on
him, like to a lion struck by a javelin when hunters in the mountains
are hemming him round, and, though pressed by the throng, he reeks
no more of them, but keeps his eyes fixed, singling out that man only
who struck him first and slew him not. Hereupon the son of Tyndareus
laid aside his mantle, closely-woven, delicately-wrought, which one
of the Lemnian maidens had given him as a pledge of hospitality; and
the king threw down his dark cloak of double fold with its clasps
and the knotted crook of mountain olive which he carried. Then straightway
they looked and chose close by a spot that pleased them and bade their
comrades sit upon the sand in two lines; nor were they alike to behold
in form or in stature. The one seemed to be a monstrous son of baleful
Typhoeus or of Earth herself, such as she brought forth aforetime,
in her wrath against Zeus; but the other, the son of Tyndareus, was
like a star of heaven, whose beams are fairest as it shines through
the nightly sky at eventide. Such was the son of Zeus, the bloom of
the first down still on his cheeks, still with the look of gladness
in his eyes. But his might and fury waxed like a wild beast's; and
he poised his hands to see if they were pliant as before and were
not altogether numbed by toil and rowing. But Amycus on his side made
no trial; but standing apart in silence he kept his eyes upon his
foe, and his spirit surged within him all eager to dash the life-blood
from his breast. And between them Lyeoreus, the henchman of Amycus,
placed at their feet on each side two pairs of gauntlets made of raw
hide, dry, exceeding tough. And the king addressed the hero with arrogant
words: 

"Whichever of these thou wilt, without casting lots, I grant thee
freely, that thou mayst not blame me hereafter. Bind them about thy
hands; thou shalt learn and tell another how skilled I am to carve
the dry oxhides and to spatter men's cheeks with blood."

Thus he spake; but the other gave back no taunt in answer, but with
a light smile readily took up the gauntlets that lay at his feet;
and to him came Castor and mighty Talaus, son of Bias, and they quickly
bound the gauntlets about his hands, often bidding him be of good
courage. And to Amycus came Aretus and Ornytus, but little they knew,
poor fools, that they had bound them for the last time on their champion,
a victim of evil fate. 

Now when they stood apart and were ready with their gauntlets, straightway
in front of their faces they raised their heavy hands and matched
their might in deadly strife. Hereupon the Bebrycian king even as
a fierce wave of the sea rises in a crest against a swift ship, but
she by the skill of the crafty pilot just escapes the shock when the
billow is eager to break over the bulwark--so he followed up the son
of Tyndareus, trying to daunt him, and gave him no respite. But the
hero, ever unwounded, by his skill baffled the rush of his foe, and
he quickly noted the brutal play of his fists to see where he was
invincible in strength, and where inferior, and stood unceasingly
and returned blow for blow. And as when shipwrights with their hammers
smite ships' timbers to meet the sharp clamps, fixing layer upon layer;
and the blows resound one after another; so cheeks and jaws crashed
on both sides, and a huge clattering of teeth arose, nor did they
cease ever from striking their blows until laboured gasping overcame
both. And standing a little apart they wiped from their foreheads
sweat in abundance, wearily panting for breath. Then back they rushed
together again, as two bulls fight in furious rivalry for a grazing
heifer. Next Amycus rising on tiptoe, like one who slays an ox, sprung
to his full height and swung his heavy hand down upon his rival; but
the hero swerved aside from the rush, turning his head, and just received
the arm on his shoulder; and coming near and slipping his knee past
the king's, with a rush he struck him above the ear, and broke the
bones inside, and the king in agony fell upon his knees; and the Minyan
heroes shouted for joy; and his life was poured forth all at once.

Nor were the Bebrycians reckless of their king; but all together took
up rough clubs and spears and rushed straight on Polydeuces. But in
front of him stood his comrades, their keen swords drawn from the
sheath. First Castor struck upon the head a man as he rushed at him:
and it was cleft in twain and fell on each side upon his shoulders.
And Polydeuces slew huge Itymoneus and Mimas. The one, with a sudden
leap, he smote beneath the breast with his swift foot and threw him
in the dust; and as the other drew near he struck him with his right
hand above the left eyebrow, and tore away his eyelid and the eyeball
was left bare. But Oreides, insolent henchman of Amycus, wounded Talaus
son of Bias in the side, but did not slay him, but only grazing the
skin the bronze sped under his belt and touched not the flesh. Likewise
Aretus with well-seasoned club smote Iphitus, the steadfast son of
Eurytus, not yet destined to an evil death; assuredly soon was he
himself to be slain by the sword of Clytius. Then Ancaeus, the dauntless
son of Lycurgus, quickly seized his huge axe, and in his left hand
holding a bear's dark hide, plunged into the midst of the Bebrycians
with furious onset; and with him charged the sons of Aeacus, and with
them started warlike Jason. And as when amid the folds grey wolves
rush down on a winter's day and scare countless sheep, unmarked by
the keen-scented dogs and the shepherds too, and they seek what first
to attack and carry off; often glaring around, but the sheep are just
huddled together and trample on one another; so the heroes grievously
scared the arrogant Bebrycians. And as shepherds or beekeepers smoke
out a huge swarm of bees in a rock, and they meanwhile, pent up in
their hive, murmur with droning hum, till, stupefied by the murky
smoke, they fly forth far from the rock; so they stayed steadfast
no longer, but scattered themselves inland through Bebrycia, proclaiming
the death of Amycus; fools, not to perceive that another woe all unforeseen
was hard upon them. For at that hour their vineyards and villages
were being ravaged by the hostile spear of Lycus and the Mariandyni,
now that their king was gone. For they were ever at strife about the
ironbearing land. And now the foe was destroying their steadings and
farms, and now the heroes from all sides were driving off their countless
sheep, and one spake among his fellows thus: 

"Bethink ye what they would have done in their cowardice if haply
some god had brought Heracles hither. Assuredly, if he had been here,
no trial would there have been of fists, I ween, but when the king
drew near to proclaim his rules, the club would have made him forget
his pride and the rules to boot. Yea, we left him uncared for on the
strand and we sailed oversea; and full well each one of us shall know
our baneful folly, now that he is far away." 

Thus he spake, but all these things had been wrought by the counsels
of Zeus. Then they remained there through the night and tended the
hurts of the wounded men, and offered sacrifice to the immortals,
and made ready a mighty meal; and sleep fell upon no man beside the
bowl and the blazing sacrifice. They wreathed their fair brows with
the bay that grew by the shore, whereto their hawsers were bound,
and chanted a song to the lyre of Orpheus in sweet harmony; and the
windless shore was charmed by their song; and they celebrated the
Therapnaean son of Zeus. 

But when the sun rising from far lands lighted up the dewy hills and
wakened the shepherds, then they loosed their hawsers from the stem
of the baytree and put on board all the spoil they had need to take;
and with a favouring wind they steered through the eddying Bosporus.
Hereupon a wave like a steep mountain rose aloft in front as though
rushing upon them, ever upheaved above the clouds; nor would you say
that they could escape grim death, for in its fury it hangs over the
middle of the ship, like a cloud, yet it sinks away into calm if it
meets with a skilful helmsman. So they by the steering-craft of Tiphys
escaped, unhurt but sore dismayed. And on the next day they fastened
the hawsers to the coast opposite the Bithynian land. 

There Phineus, son of Agenor, had his home by the sea, Phineus who
above all men endured most bitter woes because of the gift of prophecy
which Leto's son had granted him aforetime. And he reverenced not
a whit even Zeus himself, for he foretold unerringly to men his sacred
will. Wherefore Zeus sent upon him a lingering old age, and took from
his eyes the pleasant light, and suffered him not to have joy of the
dainties untold that the dwellers around ever brought to his house,
when they came to enquire the will of heaven. But on a sudden, swooping
through the clouds, the Harpies with their crooked beaks incessantly
snatched the food away from his mouth and hands. And at times not
a morsel of food was left, at others but a little, in order that he
might live and be tormented. And they poured forth over all a loathsome
stench; and no one dared not merely to carry food to his mouth but
even to stand at a distance; so foully reeked the remnants of the
meal. But straightway when he heard the voice and the tramp of the
band he knew that they were the men passing by, at whose coming Zeus'
oracle had declared to him that he should have joy of his food. And
he rose from his couch, like a lifeless dream, bowed over his staff,
and crept to the door on his withered feet, feeling the walls; and
as he moved, his limbs trembled for weakness and age; and his parched
skin was caked with dirt, and naught but the skill held his bones
together. And he came forth from the hall with wearied knees and sat
on the threshold of the courtyard; and a dark stupor covered him,
and it seemed that the earth reeled round beneath his feet, and he
lay in a strengthless trance, speechless. But when they saw him they
gathered round and marvelled. And he at last drew laboured breath
from the depths of his chest and spoke among them with prophetic utterance:

"Listen, bravest of all the Hellenes, if it be truly ye, whom by a
king's ruthless command Jason is leading on the ship Argo in quest
of the fleece. It is ye truly. Even yet my soul by its divination
knows everything. Thanks I render to thee, O king, son of Leto, plunged
in bitter affliction though I be. I beseech you by Zeus the god of
suppliants, the sternest foe to sinful men, and for the sake of Phoebus
and Hera herself, under whose especial care ye have come hither, help
me, save an ill-fated man from misery, and depart not uncaring and
leaving me thus as ye see. For not only has the Fury set her foot
on my eyes and I drag on to the end a weary old age; but besides my
other woes a woe hangs over me the bitterest of all. The Harpies,
swooping down from some unseen den of destruction, ever snatch the
food from my mouth. And I have no device to aid me. But it were easier,
when I long for a meal, to escape my own thoughts than them, so swiftly
do they fly through the air. But if haply they do leave me a morsel
of food it reeks of decay and the stench is unendurable, nor could
any mortal bear to draw near even for a moment, no, not if his heart
were wrought of adamant. But necessity, bitter and insatiate, compels
me to abide and abiding to put food in my cursed belly. These pests,
the oracle declares, the sons of Boreas shall restrain. And no strangers
are they that shall ward them off if indeed I am Phineus who was once
renowned among men for wealth and the gift of prophecy, and if I am
the son of my father Agenor; and, when I ruled among the Thracians,
by my bridal gifts I brought home their sister Cleopatra to be my
wife." 

So spake Agenor's son; and deep sorrow seized each of the heroes,
and especially the two sons of Boreas. And brushing away a tear they
drew nigh, and Zetes spake as follows, taking in his own the hand
of the grief-worn sire: 

"Unhappy one, none other of men is more wretched than thou, methinks.
Why upon thee is laid the burden of so many sorrows? Hast thou with
baneful folly sinned against the gods through thy skill in prophecy?
For this are they greatly wroth with thee? Yet our spirit is dismayed
within us for all our desire to aid thee, if indeed the god has granted
this privilege to us two. For plain to discern to men of earth are
the reproofs of the immortals. And we will never check the Harpies
when they come, for all our desire, until thou hast sworn that for
this we shall not lose the favour of heaven." 

Thus he spake; and towards him the aged sire opened his sightless
eyes, and lifted them up and replied with these words: 

"Be silent, store not up such thoughts in thy heart, my child. Let
the son of Leto be my witness, he who of his gracious will taught
me the lore of prophecy, and be witness the ill-starred doom which
possesses me and this dark cloud upon my eyes, and the gods of the
underworld--and may their curse be upon me if I die perjured thus--no
wrath from heaven will fall upon you two for your help to me."

Then were those two eager to help him because of the oath. And quickly
the younger heroes prepared a feast for the aged man, a last prey
for the Harpies; and both stood near him, to smite with the sword
those pests when they swooped down. Scarcely had the aged man touched
the food when they forthwith, like bitter blasts or flashes of lightning,
suddenly darted from the clouds, and swooped down with a yell, fiercely
craving for food; and the heroes beheld them and shouted in the midst
of their onrush; but they at the cry devoured everything and sped
away over the sea after; and an intolerable stench remained. And behind
them the two sons of Boreas raising their swords rushed in pursuit.
For Zeus imparted to them tireless strength; but without Zeus they
could not have followed, for the Harpies used ever to outstrip the
blasts of the west wind when they came to Phineus and when they left
him. And as when, upon the mountain- side, hounds, cunning in the
chase, run in the track of horned goats or deer, and as they strain
a little behind gnash their teeth upon the edge of their jaws in vain;
so Zetes and Calais rushing very near just grazed the Harpies in vain
with their finger-tips. And assuredly they would have torn them to
pieces, despite heaven's will, when they had overtaken them far off
at the Floating Islands, had not swift Iris seen them and leapt down
from the sky from heaven above, and cheeked them with these words:

"It is not lawful, O sons of Boreas, to strike with your swords the
Harpies, the hounds of mighty Zeus; but I myself will give you a pledge,
that hereafter they shall not draw near to Phineus." 

With these words she took an oath by the waters of Styx, which to
all the gods is most dread and most awful, that the Harpies would
never thereafter again approach the home of Phineus, son of Agenor,
for so it was fated. And the heroes yielding to the oath, turned back
their flight to the ship. And on account of this men call them the
Islands of Turning though aforetime they called them the Floating
Islands. And the Harpies and Iris parted. They entered their den in
Minoan Crete; but she sped up to Olympus, soaring aloft on her swift
wings. 

Meanwhile the chiefs carefully cleansed the old man's squalid skin
and with due selection sacrificed sheep which they had borne away
from the spoil of Amycus. And when they had laid a huge supper in
the hall, they sat down and feasted, and with them feasted Phineus
ravenously, delighting his soul, as in a dream. And there, when they
had taken their fill of food and drink, they kept awake all night
waiting for the sons of Boreas. And the aged sire himself sat in the
midst, near the hearth, telling of the end of their voyage and the
completion of their journey: 

"Listen then. Not everything is it lawful for you to know clearly;
but whatever is heaven's will, I will not hide. I was infatuated aforetime,
when in my folly I declared the will of Zeus in order and to the end.
For he himself wishes to deliver to men the utterances of the prophetic
art incomplete, in order that they may still have some need to know
the will of heaven. 

"First of all, after leaving me, ye will see the twin Cyanean rocks
where the two seas meet. No one, I ween, has won his escape between
them. For they are not firmly fixed with roots beneath, but constantly
clash against one another to one point, and above a huge mass of salt
water rises in a crest, boiling up, and loudly dashes upon the hard
beach. Wherefore now obey my counsel, if indeed with prudent mind
and reverencing the blessed gods ye pursue your way; and perish not
foolishly by a self-sought death, or rush on following the guidance
of youth. First entrust the attempt to a dove when ye have sent her
forth from the ship. And if she escapes safe with her wings between
the rocks to the open sea, then no more do ye refrain from the path,
but grip your oars well in your hands and cleave the sea's narrow
strait, for the light of safety will be not so much in prayer as in
strength of hands. Wherefore let all else go and labour boldly with
might and main, but ere then implore the gods as ye will, I forbid
you not. But if she flies onward and perishes midway, then do ye turn
back; for it is better to yield to the immortals. For ye could not
escape an evil doom from the rocks, not even if Argo were of iron.

"O hapless ones, dare not to transgress my divine warning, even though
ye think that I am thrice as much hated by the sons of heaven as I
am, and even more than thrice; dare not to sail further with your
ship in despite of the omen. And as these things will fall, so shall
they fall. But if ye shun the clashing rocks and come scatheless inside
Pontus, straightway keep the land of the Bithynians on your right
and sail on, and beware of the breakers, until ye round the swift
river Rhebas and the black beach, and reach the harbour of the Isle
of Thynias. Thence ye must turn back a little space through the sea
and beach your ship on the land of the Mariandyni lying opposite.
Here is a downward path to the abode of Hades, and the headland of
Acherusia stretches aloft, and eddying Acheron cleaves its way at
the bottom, even through the headland, and sends its waters forth
from a huge ravine. And near it ye will sail past many hills of the
Paphlagonians, over whom at the first Eneteian Pelops reigned, and
of his blood they boast themselves to be. 

"Now there is a headland opposite Helice the Bear, steep on all sides,
and they call it Carambis, about whose crests the blasts of the north
wind are sundered. So high in the air does it rise turned towards
the sea. And when ye have rounded it broad Aegialus stretches before
you; and at the end of broad Aegialus, at a jutting point of coast,
the waters of the river Halys pour forth with a terrible roar; and
after it his flowing near, but smaller in stream, rolls into the sea
with white eddies. Onward from thence the bend of a huge and towering
cape reaches out from the land, next Thermodon at its mouth flows
into a quiet bay at the Themiscyreian headland, after wandering through
a broad continent. And here is the plain of Doeas, and near are the
three cities of the Amazons, and after them the Chalybes, most wretched
of men, possess a soil rugged and unyielding sons of toil, they busy
themselves with working iron. And near them dwell the Tibareni, rich
in sheep, beyond the Genetaean headland of Zeus, lord of hospitality.
And bordering on it the Mossynoeci next in order inhabit the well-wooded
mainland and the parts beneath the mountains, who have built in towers
made from trees their wooden homes and well-fitted chambers, which
they call Mossynes, and the people themselves take their name from
them. After passing them ye must beach your ship upon a smooth island,
when ye have driven away with all manner of skill the ravening birds,
which in countless numbers haunt the desert island. In it the Queens
of the Amazons, Otrere and Antiope, built a stone temple of Ares what
time they went forth to war. Now here an unspeakable help will come
to you from the bitter sea; wherefore with kindly intent I bid you
stay. But what need is there that I should sin yet again declaring
everything to the end by my prophetic art? And beyond the island and
opposite mainland dwell the Philyres: and above the Philyres are the
Macrones, and after them the vast tribes of the Becheiri. And next
in order to them dwell the Sapeires, and the Byzeres have the lands
adjoining to them, and beyond them at last live the warlike Colchians
themselves. But speed on in your ship, till ye touch the inmost bourne
of the sea. And here at the Cytaean mainland and from the Amarantine
mountains far away and the Circaean plain, eddying Phasis rolls his
broad stream to the sea. Guide your ship to the mouth of that river
and ye shall behold the towers of Cytaean Aeetes and the shady grove
of Ares, where a dragon, a monster terrible to behold, ever glares
around, keeping watch over the fleece that is spread upon the top
of an oak; neither by day nor by night does sweet sleep subdue his
restless eyes." 

Thus he spake, and straightway fear seized them as they heard. And
for a long while they were struck with silence; till at last the hero,
son of Aeson, spake, sore dismayed at their evil plight:

"O aged sire, now hast thou come to the end of the toils of our sea-journeying
and hast told us the token, trusting to which we shall make our way
to Pontus through the hateful rocks; but whether, when we have escaped
them, we shall have a return back again to Hellas, this too would
we gladly learn from thee. What shall I do, how shall I go over again
such a long path through the sea, unskilled as I am, with unskilled
comrades? And Colchian Aea lies at the edge of Pontus and of the world."

Thus he spake, and him the aged sire addressed in reply: "O son, when
once thou hast escaped through the deadly rocks, fear not; for a deity
will be the guide from Aea by another track; and to Aea there will
be guides enough. But, my friends, take thought of the artful aid
of the Cyprian goddess. For on her depends the glorious issue of your
venture. And further than this ask me not." 

Thus spake Agenor's son, and close at hand the twin sons of Thracian
Boreas came darting from the sky and set their swift feet upon the
threshold; and the heroes rose up from their seats when they saw them
present. And Zetes, still drawing hard breath after his toil, spake
among the eager listeners, telling them how far they had driven the
Harpies and how his prevented their slaying them, and how the goddess
of her grace gave them pledges, and how those others in fear plunged
into the vast cave of the Dictaean cliff. Then in the mansion all
their comrades were joyful at the tidings and so was Phineus himself.
And quickly Aeson's son, with good will exceeding, addressed him:

Assuredly there was then, Phineus, some god who cared for thy bitter
woe, and brought us hither from afar, that the sons of Boreas might
aid thee; and if too he should bring sight to thine eyes, verily I
should rejoice, methinks, as much as if I were on my homeward way."

Thus he spake, but Phineus replied to him with downcast look: "Son
of Aeson, that is past recall, nor is there any remedy hereafter,
for blasted are my sightless eyes. But instead of that, may the god
grant me death at once, and after death I shall take my share in perfect
bliss." 

Then they two returned answering speech, each to other, and soon in
the midst of their converse early dawn appeared; and round Phineus
were gathered the neighbours who used to come thither aforetime day
by day and constantly bring a portion of their food. To all alike,
however poor he was that came, the aged man gave his oracles with
good will, and freed many from their woes by his prophetic art; wherefore
they visited and tended him. And with them came Paraebius, who was
dearest to him, and gladly did he perceive these strangers in the
house. For long ere now the seer himself had said that a band of chieftains,
faring from Hellas to the city of Aceres, would make fast their hawsers
to the Thynian land, and by Zeus' will would check tho approach of
the Harpies. The rest the old man pleased with words of wisdom and
let them go; Paraebius only he bade remain there with the chiefs;
and straightway he sent him and bade him bring back the choicest of
his sheep. And when he had left the hall Phineus spake gently amid
the throng of oarsmen: 

"O my friends, not all men are arrogant, it seems, nor unmindful of
benefits. Even as this man, loyal as he is, came hither to learn his
fate. For when he laboured the most and toiled the most, then the
needs of life, ever growing more and more, would waste him, and day
after day ever dawned more wretched, nor was there any respite to
his toil. But he was paying the sad penalty of his father's sin. For
he when alone on the mountains, felling trees, once slighted the prayers
of a Hamadryad, who wept and sought to soften him with plaintive words,
not to cut down the stump of an oak tree coeval with herself, wherein
for a long time she had lived continually; but he in the arrogance
of youth recklessly cut it down. So to him the nymph thereafter made
her death a curse, to him and to his children. I indeed knew of the
sin when he came; and I bid him build an altar to the Thynian nymph,
and offer on it an atoning sacrifice, with prayer to escape his father's
fate. Here, ever since he escaped the god-sent doom, never has he
forgotten or neglected me; but sorely and against his will do I send
him from my doors, so eager is he t