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ARGONAUTICA BOOK 1 [700]

(1.700-701) "If this purpose please you all, now will I even send a messenger to the ship."

700     "Εἰ μὲν δὴ πάσῃσιν ἐφανδάνει ἥδε μενοινή,
701 ἤδη κεν μετὰ νῆα καὶ ἄγγελον ὀτρύναιμι."

(1.702-707) 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."

702     ἦ ῥα, καὶ Ἰφινόην μετεφώνεεν ἆσσον ἐοῦσαν:
703 "Ὄρσο μοι, Ἰφινόη, τοῦδ' ἀνέρος ἀντιόωσα,
704 ἡμέτερόνδε μολεῖν, ὅστις στόλου ἡγεμονεύει,
705 ὄφρα τί οἱ δήμοιο ἔπος θυμῆρες ἐνίσπω:
706 καὶ δ' αὐτοὺς γαίης τε καὶ ἄστεος, αἴ κ' ἐθέλωσιν,
707 κέκλεο θαρσαλέως ἐπιβαινέμεν εὐμενέοντας."

(1.708-711) 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:

708     ̂Ἠ, καὶ ἔλυσ' ἀγορήν, μετὰ δ' εἰς ἑὸν ὦρτο νέεσθαι.
709 ὧς δὲ καὶ Ἰφινόη Μινύας ἵκεθ': οἱ δ' ἐρέεινον,
710 χρεῖος ὅ τι φρονέουσα μετήλυθεν. ὦκα δὲ τούσγε
711 πασσυδίῃ μύθοισι προσέννεπεν ἐξερέοντας:

(1.712-716) "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."

712     "Κούρη τοί μ' ἐφέηκε Θοαντιὰς ἐνθάδ' ἰοῦσαν,
713 Ὑψιπύλη, καλέειν νηὸς πρόμον, ὅστις ὄρωρεν,
714 ὄφρα τί οἱ δήμοιο ἔπος θυμῆρες ἐνίσπῃ:
715 καὶ δ' αὐτοὺς γαίης τε καὶ ἄστεος, αἴ κ' ἐθέλητε,
716 κέκλεται αὐτίκα νῦν ἐπιβαινέμεν εὐμενέοντας."

(1.717-720) 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.

717     Ὧς ἄρ' ἔφη: πάντεσσι δ' ἐναίσιμος ἥνδανε μῦθος.
718 Υψιπύλην δ' εἴσαντο καταφθιμένοιο Θόαντος
719 τηλυγέτην γεγαυῖαν ἀνασσέμεν: ὦκα δὲ τόνγε
720 πέμπον ἴμεν, καὶ δ' αὐτοὶ ἐπεντύνοντο νέεσθαι.

(1.721-729) 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.

721     Αὐτὰρ ὅγ' ἀμφ' ὤμοισι θεᾶς Τριτωνίδος ἔργον,
722 δίπλακα πορφυρέην περονήσατο, τήν οἱ ὄπασσεν
723 Παλλάς, ὅτε πρῶτον δρυόχους ἐπεβάλλετο νηὸς
724 Ἀργοῦς, καὶ κανόνεσσι δάε ζυγὰ μετρήσασθαι.
725 τῆς μὲν ῥηίτερόν κεν ἐς ἠέλιον ἀνιόντα
726 ὄσσε βάλοις, ἢ κεῖνο μεταβλέψειας ἔρευθος.
727 δὴ γάρ τοι μέσση μὲν ἐρευθήεσσ' ἐτέτυκτο,
728 ἄκρα δὲ πορφυρέη πάντῃ πέλεν: ἐν δ' ἄρ' ἑκάστῳ
729 τέρματι δαίδαλα πολλὰ διακριδὸν εὖ ἐπέπαστο.

(1.730-734) 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.

730     Ἐν μὲν ἔσαν Κύκλωπες ἐπ' ἀφθίτῳ ἥμενοι ἔργῳ,
731 Ζηνὶ κεραυνὸν ἄνακτι πονεύμενοι: ὃς τόσον ἤδη
732 παμφαίνων ἐτέτυκτο, μιῆς δ' ἔτι δεύετο μοῦνον
733 ἀκτῖνος, τὴν οἵδε σιδηρείῃς ἐλάασκον
734 σφύρῃσιν, μαλεροῖο πυρὸς ζείουσαν ἀυτμήν.

(1.735-741) 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.

735     Ἐν δ' ἔσαν Ἀντιόπης Ἀσωπίδος υἱέε δοιώ,
736 Ἀμφίων καὶ Ζῆθος: ἀπύργωτος δ' ἔτι Θήβη
737 κεῖτο πέλας, τῆς οἵγε νέον βάλλοντο δομαίους
738 ἱέμενοι. Ζῆθος μὲν ἐπωμαδὸν ἠέρταζεν
739 οὔρεος ἠλιβάτοιο κάρη, μογέοντι ἐοικώς:
740 Ἀμφίων δ' ἐπί οἱ χρυσέῃ φόρμιγγι λιγαίνων
741 ἤιε, δὶς τόσση δὲ μετ' ἴχνια νίσσετο πέτρη

(1.742-746) 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.

742     Ἑξείης δ' ἤσκητο βαθυπλόκαμος Κυθέρεια
743 Ἄρεος ὀχμάζουσα θοὸν σάκος: ἐκ δέ οἱ ὤμου
744 πῆχυν ἔπι σκαιὸν ξυνοχὴ κεχάλαστο χιτῶνος
745 νέρθεν ὑπὲκ μαζοῖο: τὸ δ' ἀντίον ἀτρεκὲς αὔτως
746 χαλκείῃ δείκηλον ἐν ἀσπίδι φαίνετ' ἰδέσθαι.

(1.747-751) 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.

747    Ἐν δὲ βοῶν ἔσκεν λάσιος νομός: ἀμφὶ δὲ βουσὶν
748 Τηλεβόαι μάρναντο καὶ υἱέες Ἠλεκτρύωνος:
749 οἱ μὲν ἀμυνόμενοι, ἀτὰρ οἵγ' ἐθέλοντες ἀμέρσαι,
750 ληισταὶ Τάφιοι: τῶν δ' αἵματι δεύετο λειμὼν
751 ἑρσήεις, πολέες δ' ὀλίγους βιόωντο νομῆας.

(1.752-758) 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.

752     Ἐν δὲ δύω δίφροι πεπονήατο δηριόωντες.
753 καὶ τὸν μὲν προπάροιθε Πέλοψ ἴθυνε, τινάσσων
754 ἡνία, σὺν δέ οἱ ἔσκε παραιβάτις Ἱπποδάμεια:
755 τὸν δὲ μεταδρομάδην ἐπὶ Μυρτίλος ἤλασεν ἵππους,
756 σὺν τῷ δ' Οἰνόμαος προτενὲς δόρυ χειρὶ μεμαρπὼς
757 ἄξονος ἐν πλήμνῃσι παρακλιδὸν ἀγνυμένοιο
758 πῖπτεν, ἐπεσσύμενος Πελοπήια νῶτα δαΐξαι.

(1.759-762) 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.

759     Ἐν καὶ Ἀπόλλων Φοῖβος ὀιστεύων ἐτέτυκτο,
760 βούπαις οὔπω πολλός, ἑὴν ἐρύοντα καλύπτρης
761 μητέρα θαρσαλέως Τιτυὸν μέγαν, ὅν ῥ' ἔτεκέν γε
762 δῖ' Ἐλάρη, θρέψεν δὲ καὶ ἂψ ἐλοχεύσατο Γαῖα.

(1.763-767) 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.

763     Ἐν καὶ Φρίξος ἔην Μινυήιος ὡς ἐτεόν περ
764 εἰσαΐων κριοῦ, ὁ δ' ἄρ' ἐξενέποντι ἐοικώς.
765 κείνους κ' εἰσορόων ἀκέοις, ψεύδοιό τε θυμόν,
766 ἐλπόμενος πυκινήν τιν' ἀπὸ σφείων ἐσακοῦσαι
767 βάξιν, ὃ καὶ δηρόν περ ἐπ' ἐλπίδι θηήσαιο.

(1.768-773) 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.

768     Τοῖ' ἄρα δῶρα θεᾶς Τριτωνίδος ἦεν Ἀθήνης.
769 δεξιτερῇ δ' ἕλεν ἔγχος ἑκηβόλον, ὅ ῥ' Ἀταλάντη
770 Μαινάλῳ ἔν ποτέ οἱ ξεινήιον ἐγγυάλιξεν,
771 πρόφρων ἀντομένη: περὶ γὰρ μενέαινεν ἕπεσθαι
772 τὴν ὁδόν: ἀλλὰ γὰρ αὐτὸς ἑκὼν ἀπερήτυε κούρην,
773 δεῖσεν δ' ἀργαλέας ἔριδας φιλότητος ἕκητι.

(1.774-792) 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:

774     Βῆ δ' ἴμεναι προτὶ ἄστυ, φαεινῷ ἀστέρι ἶσος,
775 ὅν ῥά τε νηγατέῃσιν ἐεργόμεναι καλύβῃσιν
776 νύμφαι θηήσαντο δόμων ὕπερ ἀντέλλοντα,
777 καί σφισι κυανέοιο δι' ἠέρος ὄμματα θέλγει
778 καλὸν ἐρευθόμενος, γάνυται δέ τε ἠιθέοιο
779 παρθένος ἱμείρουσα μετ' ἀλλοδαποῖσιν ἐόντος
780 ἀνδράσιν, ᾧ καί μιν μνηστὴν κομέουσι τοκῆες:
781 τῷ ἴκελος πρὸ πόληος ἀνὰ στίβον ἤιεν ἥρως.
782 καί ῥ' ὅτε δὴ πυλέων τε καὶ ἄστεος ἐντὸς ἔβησαν,
783 δημότεραι μὲν ὄπισθεν ἐπεκλονέοντο γυναῖκες,
784 γηθόσυναι ξείνῳ: ὁ δ' ἐπὶ χθονὸς ὄμματ' ἐρείσας
785 νίσσετ' ἀπηλεγέως, ὄφρ' ἀγλαὰ δώμαθ' ἵκανεν
786 Ὑψιπύλης: ἄνεσαν δὲ πύλας προφανέντι θεράπναι
787 δικλίδας, εὐτύκτοισιν ἀρηρεμένας σανίδεσσιν.
788 ἔνθα μιν Ἰφινόη κλισμῷ ἔνι παμφανόωντι
789 ἐσσυμένως καλῆς διὰ παστάδος εἷσεν ἄγουσα
790 ἀντία δεσποίνης: ἡ δ' ἐγκλιδὸν ὄσσε βαλοῦσα
791 παρθενικὰς ἐρύθηνε παρηίδας: ἔμπα δὲ τόνγε
792 αἰδομένη μύθοισι προσέννεπεν αἱμυλίοισιν:

(1.793-833) "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."

793     "Ξεῖνε, τίη μίμνοντες ἐπὶ χρόνον ἔκτοθι πύργων
794 ἧσθ' αὔτως; ἐπεὶ οὐ μὲν ὑπ' ἀνδράσι ναίεται ἄστυ,
795 ἀλλὰ Θρηικίης ἐπινάστιοι ἠπείροιο
796 πυροφόρους ἀρόωσι γύας. κακότητα δὲ πᾶσαν
797 ἐξερέω νημερτές, ἵν' εὖ γνοίητε καὶ αὐτοί.
798 εὖτε Θόας ἀστοῖσι πατὴρ ἐμὸς ἐμβασίλευεν,
799 τηνίκα Θρηικίην, οἵ τ' ἀντία ναιετάουσιν,
800 δήμου ἀπορνύμενοι λαοὶ πέρθεσκον ἐπαύλους
801 ἐκ νηῶν, αὐτῇσι δ' ἀπείρονα ληίδα κούραις
802 δεῦρ' ἄγον: οὐλομένης δὲ θεᾶς πορσύνετο μῆτις
803 Κύπριδος, ἥ τέ σφιν θυμοφθόρον ἔμβαλεν ἄτην.
804 δὴ γὰρ κουριδίας μὲν ἀπέστυγον, ἐκ δὲ μελάθρων,
805 ᾗ ματίῃ εἴξαντες, ἀπεσσεύοντο γυναῖκας:
806 αὐτὰρ ληιάδεσσι δορικτήταις παρίαυον,
807 σχέτλιοι. ἦ μὲν δηρὸν ἐτέτλαμεν, εἴ κέ ποτ' αὖτις
808 ὀψὲ μεταστρέψωσι νόον: τὸ δὲ διπλόον αἰεὶ
809 πῆμα κακὸν προύβαινεν. ἀτιμάζοντο δὲ τέκνα
810 γνήσι' ἐνὶ μεγάροις, σκοτίη δ' ἀνέτελλε γενέθλη.
811 αὔτως δ' ἀδμῆτές τε κόραι, χῆραί τ' ἐπὶ τῇσιν
812 μητέρες ἂμ πτολίεθρον ἀτημελέες ἀλάληντο.
813 οὐδὲ πατὴρ ὀλίγον περ ἑῆς ἀλέγιζε θυγατρός,
814 εἰ καὶ ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖσι δαϊζομένην ὁρόῳτο
815 μητρυιῆς ὑπὸ χερσὶν ἀτασθάλου: οὐδ' ἀπὸ μητρὸς
816 λώβην, ὡς τὸ πάροιθεν, ἀεικέα παῖδες ἄμυνον:
817 οὐδὲ κασιγνήτοισι κασιγνήτη μελε θυμῷ.
818 ἀλλ' οἶαι κοῦραι ληίτιδες ἔν τε δόμοισιν
819 ἔν τε χοροῖς ἀγορῇ τε καὶ εἰλαπίνῃσι μέλοντο:
820 εἰσόκε τις θεὸς ἄμμιν ὑπέρβιον ἔμβαλε θάρσος,
821 ἂψ ἀναερχομένους Θρῃκῶν ἄπο μηκέτι πύργοις
822 δέχθαι, ἵν' ἢ φρονέοιεν ἅπερ θέμις, ἠέ πῃ ἄλλῃ
823 αὐταῖς ληιάδεσσιν ἀφορμηθέντες ἵκοιντο.
824 οἱ δ' ἄρα θεσσάμενοι παίδων γένος, ὅσσον ἔλειπτο
825 ἄρσεν ἀνὰ πτολίεθρον, ἔβαν πάλιν, ἔνθ' ἔτι νῦν περ
826 Θρηικίης ἄροσιν χιονώδεα ναιετάουσιν.
827 τῶ ὑμεῖς στρωφᾶσθ' ἐπιδήμιοι: εἰ δέ κεν αὖθι
828 ναιετάειν ἐθέλοις, καί τοι ἅδοι, ἦ τ' ἂν ἔπειτα
829 πατρὸς ἐμεῖο Θόαντος ἔχοις γέρας: οὐδέ τί σ' οἴω
830 γαῖαν ὀνόσσεσθαι: περὶ γὰρ βαθυλήιος ἄλλων
831 νήσων, Αἰγαίῃ ὅσαι εἰν ἁλὶ ναιετάουσιν.
832 ἀλλ' ἄγε νῦν ἐπὶ νῆα κιὼν ἑτάροισιν ἐνίσπες
833 μύθους ἡμετέρους, μηδ' ἔκτοθι μίμνε πόληος."


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