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ARGONAUTICA BOOK 2 [611]

(2.611-618) "It is my hope that we have safely escaped this peril -- we, and the ship; and none other is the cause so much as Athena, who breathed into Argo divine strength when Argus knitted her together with bolts; and she may not be caught. Son of Aeson, no longer fear thou so much the hest of thy king, since a god hath granted us escape between the rocks; for Phineus, Agenor's son, said that our toils hereafter would be lightly accomplished."

611     "Ἔλπομαι αὐτῇ νηὶ τόγ' ἔμπεδον ἐξαλέασθαι
612 ἡμέας: οὐδέ τις ἄλλος ἐπαίτιος, ὅσσον Ἀθήνη,
613 ἥ οἱ ἐνέπνευσεν θεῖον μένος, εὖτέ μιν Ἄργος
614 γόμφοισιν συνάρασσε: θέμις δ' οὐκ ἔστιν ἁλῶναι.
615 Αἰσονίδη, τύνη δὲ τεοῦ βασιλῆος ἐφετμήν,
616 εὖτε διὲκ πέτρας φυγέειν θεὸς ἧμιν ὄπασσεν,
617 μηκέτι δείδιθι τοῖον: ἐπεὶ μετόπισθεν ἀέθλους
618 εὐπαλέας τελέεσθαι Ἀγηνορίδης φάτο Φινεύς."

(2.619-637) He spake, and at once he sped the ship onward through the midst of the sea past the Bithynian coast. But Jason with gentle words addressed him in reply: "Tiphys, why dost thou comfort thus my grieving heart? I have erred and am distraught in wretched and helpless ruin. For I ought, when Pelias gave the command, to have straightway refused this quest to his face, yea, though I were doomed to die pitilessly, torn limb from limb, but now I am wrapped in excessive fear and cares unbearable, dreading to sail through the chilling paths of the sea, and dreading when we shall set foot on the mainland. For on every side are unkindly men. And ever when day is done I pass a night of groans from the time when ye first gathered together for my sake, while I take thought for all things; but thou talkest at thine ease, eating only for thine own life; while for myself I am dismayed not a whit; but I fear for this man and for that equally, and for thee, and for my other comrades, if I shall not bring you back safe to the land of Hellas."

619     ̂Ἠ ῥ' ἅμα, καὶ προτέρωσε παραὶ Βιθυνίδα γαῖαν
620 νῆα διὲκ πέλαγος σεῦεν μέσον. αὐτὰρ ὁ τόνγε
621 μειλιχίοις ἐπέεσσι παραβλήδην προσέειπεν:
622 "Τῖφυ, τίη μοι ταῦτα παρηγορέεις ἀχέοντι;
623 ἤμβροτον ἀασάμην τε κακὴν καὶ ἀμήχανον ἄτην.
624 χρῆν γὰρ ἐφιεμένοιο καταντικρὺ Πελίαο
625 αὐτίκ' ἀνήνασθαι τόνδε στόλον, εἰ καὶ ἔμελλον
626 νηλειῶς μελεϊστὶ κεδαιόμενος θανέεσθαι:
627 νῦν δὲ περισσὸν δεῖμα καὶ ἀτλήτους μελεδῶνας
628 ἄγκειμαι, στυγέων μὲν ἁλὸς κρυόεντα κέλευθα
629 νηὶ διαπλώειν, στυγέων δ', ὅτ' ἐπ' ἠπείροιο
630 βαίνωμεν. πάντῃ γὰρ ἀνάρσιοι ἄνδρες ἔασιν.
631 αἰεὶ δὲ στονόεσσαν ἐπ' ἤματι νύκτα φυλάσσω,
632 ἐξότε τὸ πρώτιστον ἐμὴν χάριν ἠγερέθεσθε,
633 φραζόμενος τὰ ἕκαστα σὺ δ' εὐμαρέως ἀγορεύεις
634 οἶον ἑῆς ψυχῆς ἀλέγων ὕπερ: αὐτὰρ ἔγωγε
635 εἷο μὲν οὐδ' ἠβαιὸν ἀτύζομαι: ἀμφὶ δὲ τοῖο
636 καὶ τοῦ ὁμῶς, καὶ σεῖο, καὶ ἄλλων δείδι' ἑταίρων
637 εἰ μὴ ἐς Ἑλλάδα γαῖαν ἀπήμονας ὔμμε κομίσσω."

(2.638-640) Thus he spake, making trial of the chiefs; but they shouted loud with cheerful words. And his heart was warmed within him at their cry and again he spake outright among them:

638     Ὧς φάτ' ἀριστήων πειρώμενος: οἱ δ' ὁμάδησαν
639 θαρσαλέοις ἐπέεσσιν. ὁ δὲ φρένας ἔνδον ἰάνθη
640 κεκλομένων, καί ῥ' αὖτις ἐπιρρήδην μετέειπεν:

(2.641-647) "My friends, in your valour my courage is quickened. Wherefore now, even though I should take my way through the gulfs of Hades, no more shall I let fear seize upon me, since ye are steadfast amid cruel terrors. But now that we have sailed out from the striking rocks, I trow that never hereafter will there be another such fearful thing, if indeed we go on our way following the counsel of Phineus."

641 "̂Ὠ φίλοι, ὑμετέρῃ ἀρετῇ ἔνι θάρσος ἀέξω.
642 τούνεκα νῦν οὐδ' εἴ κε διὲξ Ἀίδαο βερέθρων
643 στελλοίμην, ἔτι τάρβος ἀνάψομαι, εὖτε πέλεσθε
644 ἔμπεδοι ἀργαλέοις ἐνὶ δείμασιν. ἀλλ' ὅτε πέτρας
645 Πληγάδας ἐξέπλωμεν, ὀίομαι οὐκ ἔτ' ὀπίσσω
646 ἔσσεσθαι τοιόνδ' ἕτερον φόβον, εἰ ἐτεόν γε
647 φραδμοσύνῃ Φινῆος ἐπισπόμενοι νεόμεσθα."

(2.648-668) Thus he spake, and straightway they ceased from such words and gave unwearying labour to the oar; and quickly they passed by the swiftly flowing river Rhebas and the peak of Colone, and soon thereafter the black headland, and near it the mouth of the river Phyllis, where aforetime Dipsaeus received in his home the son of Athamas, when with his ram he was flying from the city of Orchomenus; and Dipsacus was the son of a meadow- nymph, nor was insolence his delight, but contented by his father's stream he dwelt with his mother, pasturing his flocks by the shore. And quickly they sighted and sailed past his shrine and the broad banks of the river and the plain, and deep-flowing Calpe, and all the windless night and the day they bent to their tireless oars. And even as ploughing oxen toil as they cleave the moist earth, and sweat streams in abundance from flank and neck; and from beneath the yoke their eyes roll askance, while the breath ever rushes from their mouths in hot gasps; and all day long they toil, planting their hoofs deep in the ground; like them the heroes kept dragging their oars through the sea.

648     Ὧς φάτο, καὶ τοίων μὲν ἐλώφεον αὐτίκα μύθων,
649 εἰρεσίῃ δ' ἀλίαστον ἔχον πόνον: αἶψα δὲ τοίγε
650 Ῥήβαν ὠκυρόην ποταμὸν σκόπελόν τε Κολώνης,
651 ἄκρην δ' οὐ μετὰ δηθὰ παρεξενέοντο Μέλαιναν,
652 τῇ δ' ἄρ' ἐπὶ προχοὰς Φυλληίδας, ἔνθα πάροιθεν
653 Διψακὸς υἷ' Ἀθάμαντος ἑοῖς ὑπέδεκτο δόμοισιν,
654 ὁππόθ' ἅμα κριῷ φεῦγεν πόλιν Ὀρχομενοῖο:
655 τίκτε δέ μιν νύμφη λειμωνιάς: οὐδέ οἱ ὕβρις
656 ἥνδανεν, ἀλλ' ἐθελημὸς ἐφ' ὕδασι πατρὸς ἑοῖο
657 μητέρι συνναίεσκεν ἐπάκτια πώεα φέρβων.
658 τοῦ μέν θ' ἱερὸν αἶψα, καὶ εὐρείας ποταμοῖο
659 ἠιόνας πεδίον τε, βαθυρρείοντά τε Κάλπην
660 δερκόμενοι παράμειβον, ὁμῶς δ' ἐπὶ ἤματι νύκτα
661 νήνεμον ἀκαμάτῃσιν ἐπερρώοντ' ἐλάτῃσιν.
662 οἷον δὲ πλαδόωσαν ἐπισχίζοντες ἄρουραν
663 ἐργατίναι μογέουσι βόες, περὶ δ' ἄσπετος ἱδρὼς
664 εἴβεται ἐκ λαγόνων τε καὶ αὐχένος: ὄμματα δέ σφιν
665 λοξὰ παραστρωφῶνται ὑπὸ ζυγοῦ: αὐτὰρ ἀυτμὴ
666 αὐαλέη στομάτων ἄμοτον βρέμει: οἱ δ' ἐνὶ γαίῃ
667 χηλὰς σκηρίπτοντε πανημέριοι πονέονται.
668 τοῖς ἴκελοι ἥρωες ὑπὲξ ἁλὸς εἷλκον ἐρετμά.

(2.669-685) Now when divine light has not yet come nor is it utter darkness, but a faint glimmer has spread over the night, the time when men wake and call it twilight, at that hour they ran into the harbour of the desert island Thynias and, spent by weary toil, mounted the shore. And to them the son of Leto, as he passed from Lycia far away to the countless folk of the Hyperboreans, appeared; and about his cheeks on both sides his golden locks flowed in clusters as he moved; in his left hand he held a silver bow, and on his back was slung a quiver hanging from his shoulders; and beneath his feet all the island quaked, and the waves surged high on the beach. Helpless amazement seized them as they looked; and no one dared to gaze face to face into the fair eyes of the god. And they stood with heads bowed to the ground; but he, far off, passed on to the sea through the air; and at length Orpheus spake as follows, addressing the chiefs:

669     ̂Ἠμος δ' οὔτ' ἄρ πω φάος ἄμβροτον, οὔτ' ἔτι λίην
670 ὀρφναίη πέλεται, λεπτὸν δ' ἐπιδέδρομε νυκτὶ
671 φέγγος, ὅτ' ἀμφιλύκην μιν ἀνεγρόμενοι καλέουσιν,
672 τῆμος ἐρημαίης νήσου λιμέν' εἰσελάσαντες
673 Θυνιάδος, καμάτῳ πολυπήμονι βαῖνον ἔραζε.
674 τοῖσι δὲ Λητοῦς υἱός, ἀνερχόμενος Λυκίηθεν
675 τῆλ' ἐπ' ἀπείρονα δῆμον Ὑπερβορέων ἀνθρώπων,
676 ἐξεφάνη: χρύσεοι δὲ παρειάων ἑκάτερθεν
677 πλοχμοὶ βοτρυόεντες ἐπερρώοντο κιόντι:
678 λαιῇ δ' ἀργύρεον νώμα βιόν, ἀμφὶ δὲ νώτοις
679 ἰοδόκη τετάνυστο κατωμαδόν: ἡ δ' ὑπὸ ποσσὶν
680 σείετο νῆσος ὅλη, κλύζεν δ' ἐπὶ κύματα χέρσῳ.
681 τοὺς δ' ἕλε θάμβος ἰδόντας ἀμήχανον: οὐδέ τις ἔτλη
682 ἀντίον αὐγάσσασθαι ἐς ὄμματα καλὰ θεοῖο.
683 στὰν δὲ κάτω νεύσαντες ἐπὶ χθονός: αὐτὰρ ὁ τηλοῦ
684 βῆ ῥ' ἴμεναι πόντονδε δι' ἠέρος: ὀψὲ δὲ τοῖον
685 Ὀρφεὺς ἔκφατο μῦθον ἀριστήεσσι πιφαύσκων:

(2.686-693) "Come, let us call this island the sacred isle of Apollo of the Dawn since he has appeared to all, passing by at dawn; and we will offer such sacrifices as we can, building an altar on the shore; and if hereafter he shall grant us a safe return to the Haemonian land, then will we lay on his altar the thighs of horned goats. And now I bid you propitiate him with the steam of sacrifice and libations. Be gracious, O king, be gracious in thy appearing."

686     "Εἰ δ' ἄγε δὴ νῆσον μὲν Ἑωίου Ἀπόλλωνος
687 τήνδ' ἱερὴν κλείωμεν, ἐπεὶ πάντεσσι φαάνθη
688 ἠῷος μετιών: τὰ δὲ ῥέξομεν οἷα πάρεστιν,
689 βωμὸν ἀναστήσαντες ἐπάκτιον: εἰ δ' ἂν ὀπίσσω
690 γαῖαν ἐς Αἱμονίην ἀσκηθέα νόστον ὀπάσσῃ,
691 δὴ τότε οἱ κεραῶν ἐπὶ μηρία θήσομεν αἰγῶν.
692 νῦν δ' αὔτως κνίσῃ λοιβῇσί τε μειλίξασθαι
693 κέκλομαι. ἀλλ' ἵληθι ἄναξ, ἵληθι φαανθείς."

(2.694-713) Thus he spake, and they straightway built up an altar with shingle; and over the island they wandered, seeking if haply they could get a glimpse of a fawn or a wild goat, that often seek their pasture in the deep wood. And for them Leto's son provided a quarry; and with pious rites they wrapped in fat the thigh bones of them all and burnt them on the sacred altar, celebrating Apollo, Lord of Dawn. And round the burning sacrifice they set up a broad dancing-ring, singing, "All hail fair god of healing, Phoebus, all hail," and with them Oeagrus' goodly son began a clear lay on his Bistonian lyre; how once beneath the rocky ridge of Parnassus he slew with his bow the monster Delphyne, he, still young and beardless, still rejoicing in his long tresses. Mayst thou be gracious! Ever, O king, be thy locks unshorn, ever unravaged; for so is it right. And none but Leto, daughter of Coeus, strokes them with her dear hands. And often the Corycian nymphs, daughters of Pleistus, took up the cheering strain crying "Healer"; hence arose this lovely refrain of the hymn to Phoebus.

694     Ὧς ἄρ' ἔφη: καὶ τοὶ μὲν ἄφαρ βωμὸν τετύκοντο
695 χερμάσιν: οἱ δ' ἀνὰ νῆσον ἐδίνεον, ἐξερέοντες
696 εἴ κέ τιν' ἢ κεμάδων, ἢ ἀγροτέρων ἐσίδοιεν
697 αἰγῶν, οἷά τε πολλὰ βαθείῃ βόσκεται ὕλῃ.
698 τοῖσι δὲ Λητοΐδης ἄγρην πόρεν: ἐκ δέ νυ πάντων
699 εὐαγέως ἱερῷ ἀνὰ διπλόα μηρία βωμῷ
700 καῖον, ἐπικλείοντες Ἑώιον Ἀπόλλωνα.
701 ἀμφὶ δὲ δαιομένοις εὐρὺν χορὸν ἐστήσαντο,
702 καλὸν Ἰηπαιήον' Ἰηπαιήονα Φοῖβον
703 μελπόμενοι: σὺν δέ σφιν ἐὺς πάις Οἰάγροιο
704 Βιστονίῃ φόρμιγγι λιγείης ἦρχεν ἀοιδῆς:
705 ὥς ποτε πετραίῃ ὑπὸ δειράδι Παρνησσοῖο
706 Δελφύνην τόξοισι πελώριον ἐξενάριξεν,
707 κοῦρος ἐὼν ἔτι γυμνός, ἔτι πλοκάμοισι γεγηθώς.
708 ἱλήκοις: αἰεί τοι, ἄναξ, ἄτμητοι ἔθειραι,
709 αἰὲν ἀδήλητοι: τὼς γὰρ θέμις. οἰόθι δ' αὐτὴ
710 Λητὼ Κοιογένεια φίλαις ἐν χερσὶν ἀφάσσει.
711 πολλὰ δὲ Κωρύκιαι νύμφαι, Πλείστοιο θύγατρες,
712 θαρσύνεσκον ἔπεσσιν, Ἰήιε κεκληγυῖαι:
713 ἔνθεν δὴ τόδε καλὸν ἐφύμνιον ἔπλετο Φοίβῳ.


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