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ARGONAUTICA BOOK 2 [811]

(2.811-814) Thus all day long they revelled at the banquet. But at dawn they hied down to the ship in haste; and with them went Lycus himself, when he had given them countless gifts to bear away; and with them he sent forth his son from his home.

811     Ὧς τότε μὲν δαῖτ' ἀμφὶ πανήμεροι ἑψιόωντο.
812 ἦρί γε μὴν ἐπὶ νῆα κατήισαν ἐγκονέοντες:
813 καὶ δ' αὐτὸς σὺν τοῖσι Λύκος κίε, μυρί' ὀπάσσας
814 δῶρα φέρειν: ἅμα δ' υἷα δόμων ἔκπεμπε νέεσθαι.

(2.815-834) And here his destined fate smote Idmon, son of Abas, skilled in soothsaying; but not at all did his soothsaying save him, for necessity drew him on to death. For in the mead of the reedy river there lay, cooling his flanks and huge belly in the mud, a white-tusked boar, a deadly monster, whom even the nymphs of the marsh dreaded, and no man knew it; but all alone he was feeding in the wide fell. But the son of Abas was passing along the raised banks of the muddy river, and the boar from some unseen lair leapt out of the reed-bed, and charging gashed his thigh and severed in twain the sinews and the bone. And with a sharp cry the hero fell to the ground; and as he was struck his comrades flocked together with answering cry. And quickly Peleus with his hunting spear aimed at the murderous boar as he fled back into the fen; and again he turned and charged; but Idas wounded him, and with a roar he fell impaled upon the sharp spear. And the boar they left on the ground just as he had fallen there; but Idmon, now at the last gasp, his comrades bore to the ship in sorrow of heart, and he died in his comrades' arms.

815     Ἔνθα δ' Ἀβαντιάδην πεπρωμένη ἤλασε μοῖρα
816 Ἴδμονα, μαντοσύνῃσι κεκασμένον. ἀλλά μιν οὔτι
817 μαντοσύναι ἐσάωσαν, ἐπεὶ χρεὼ ἦγε δαμῆναι:
818 κεῖτο γὰρ εἱαμενῇ δονακώδεος ἐν ποταμοῖο
819 ψυχόμενος λαγόνας τε καὶ ἄσπετον ἰλύι νηδὺν
820 κάπριος ἀργιόδων, ὀλοὸν τέρας, ὅν ῥα καὶ αὐταὶ
821 νύμφαι ἑλειονόμοι ὑπεδείδισαν: οὐδέ τις ἀνδρῶν
822 ἠείδει: οἶος δὲ κατὰ πλατὺ βόσκετο τῖφος.
823 αὐτὰρ ὅγ' ἰλυόεντος ἀνὰ θρωσμοὺς ποταμοῖο
824 fίσσετ' Ἀβαντιάδης: ὁ δ' ἄρ' ἔκποθεν ἀφράστοιο
825 ὕψι μάλ' ἐκ δονάκων ἀνεπάλμενος ἤλασε μηρὸν
826 ἀίγδην, μέσσας δὲ σὺν ὀστέῳ ἶνας ἔκερσεν.
827 ὀξὺ δ' ὅγε κλάγξας οὔδει πέσεν: οἱ δὲ τυπέντος
828 ἀθρόοι ἀντιάχησαν. ὀρέξατο δ' αἶψ' ὀλοοῖο
829 Πηλεὺς αἰγανέῃ φύγαδ' εἰς ἕλος ὁρμηθέντος
830 καπρίου: ἔσσυτο δ' αὖτις ἐναντίος: ἀλλά μιν Ἴδας
831 οὔτασε, βεβρυχὼς δὲ θοῷ περικάππεσε δουρί.
832 καὶ τὸν μὲν χαμάδις λίπον αὐτόθι πεπτηῶτα:
833 τὸν δ' ἕταροι ἐπὶ νῆα φέρον ψυχορραγέοντα,
834 ἀχνύμενοι, χείρεσσι δ' ἑῶν ἐνικάτθαν' ἑταίρων.

(2.835-850) And here they stayed from taking thought for their voyaging and abode in grief for the burial of their dead friend. And for three whole days they lamented; and on the next they buried him with full honours, and the people and King Lycus himself took part in the funeral rites; and, as is the due of the departed, they slaughtered countless sheep at his tomb. And so a barrow to this hero was raised in that land, and there stands a token for men of later days to see, the trunk of a wild olive tree, such as ships are built of; and it flourishes with its green leaves a little below the Acherusian headland. And if at the bidding of the Muses I must tell this tale outright, Phoebus strictly commanded the Boeotians and Nisaeans to worship him as guardian of their city, and to build their city round the trunk of the ancient wild olive; but they, instead of the god-fearing Aeolid Idmon, at this day honour Agamestor.

835     Ἔνθα δὲ ναυτιλίης μὲν ἐρητύοντο μέλεσθαι,
836 ἀμφὶ δὲ κηδείῃ νέκυος μένον ἀσχαλόωντες.
837 ἤματα δὲ τρία πάντα γόων: ἑτέρῳ δέ μιν ἤδη
838 τάρχυον μεγαλωστί: συνεκτερέιζε δὲ λαὸς
839 αὐτῷ ὁμοῦ βασιλῆι Λύκῳ: παρὰ δ' ἄσπετα μῆλα,
840 ἣ θέμις οἰχομένοισι, ταφήια λαιμοτόμησαν.
841 καὶ δή τοι κέχυται τοῦδ' ἀνέρος ἐν χθονὶ κείνῃ
842 τύμβος: σῆμα δ' ἔπεστι καὶ ὀψιγόνοισιν ἰδέσθαι,
843 νηίου ἐκ κοτίνοιο φάλαγξ: θαλέθει δέ τε φύλλοις
844 ἄκρης τυτθὸν ἔνερθ' Ἀχερουσίδος. εἰ δέ με καὶ τὸ
845 χρειὼ ἀπηλεγέως Μουσέων ὕπο γηρύσασθαι,
846 τόνδε πολισσοῦχον διεπέφραδε Βοιωτοῖσιν
847 Νισαίοισί τε Φοῖβος ἐπιρρήδην ἱλάεσθαι,
848 ἀμφὶ δὲ τήνγε φάλαγγα παλαιγενέος κοτίνοιο
849 ἄστυ βαλεῖν: οἱ δ' ἀντὶ θεουδέος Αἰολίδαο
850 Ἴδμονος εἰσέτι νῦν Ἀγαμήστορα κυδαίνουσιν.

(2.851-868) Who was the next that died? For then a second time the heroes heaped up a barrow for a comrade dead. For still are to be seen two monuments of those heroes. The tale goes that Tiphys son of Hagnias died; nor was it his destiny thereafter to sail any further. But him there on the spot a short sickness laid to rest far from his native land, when the company had paid due honours to the dead son of Abas. And at the cruel woe they were seized with unbearable grief. For when with due honours they had buried him also hard by the seer, they cast themselves down in helplessness on the sea-shore silently, closely wrapped up, and took no thought for meat or drink; and their spirit drooped in grief, for all hope of return was gone. And in their sorrow they would have stayed from going further had not Hera kindled exceeding courage in Ancaeus, whom near the waters of Imbrasus Astypalaea bore to Poseidon; for especially was he skilled in steering and eagerly did he address Peleus:

851     Τίς γὰρ δὴ θάνεν ἄλλος; ἐπεὶ καὶ ἔτ' αὖτις ἔχευαν
852 ἥρωες τότε τύμβον ἀποφθιμένου ἑτάροιο.
853 δοιὰ γὰρ οὖν κείνων ἔτι σήματα φαίνεται ἀνδρῶν.
854 Ἁγνιάδην Τῖφυν θανέειν φάτις: οὐδέ οἱ ἦεν
855 μοῖρ' ἔτι ναυτίλλεσθαι ἑκαστέρω. ἀλλά νυ καὶ τὸν
856 αὖθι μινυνθαδίη πάτρης ἑκὰς εὔνασε νοῦσος,
857 εἰσότ' Ἀβαντιάδαο νέκυν κτερέιξεν ὅμιλος.
858 ἄτλητον δ' ὀλοῷ ἐπὶ πήματι κῆδος ἕλοντο.
859 δὴ γὰρ ἐπεὶ καὶ τόνδε παρασχεδὸν ἐκτερέιξαν
860 αὐτοῦ, ἀμηχανίῃσιν ἁλὸς προπάροιθε πεσόντες,
861 ἐντυπὰς εὐκήλως εἰλυμένοι οὔτε τι σίτου
862 μνώοντ' οὔτε ποτοῖο: κατήμυσαν δ' ἀχέεσσιν
863 θυμόν, ἐπεὶ μάλα πολλὸν ἀπ' ἐλπίδος ἔπλετο νόστος.
864 καί νύ κ' ἔτι προτέρω τετιημένοι ἰσχανόωντο,
865 εἰ μὴ ἄρ' Ἀγκαίῳ περιώσιον ἔμβαλεν Ἥρη
866 θάρσος, ὃν Ἰμβρασίοισι παρ' ὕδασιν Ἀστυπάλαια
867 τίκτε Ποσειδάωνι: περιπρὸ γὰρ εὖ ἐκέκαστο
868 ἰθύνειν, Πηλῆα δ' ἐπεσσύμενος προσέειπεν:

(2.869-877) "Son of Aeacus, is it well for us to give up our toils and linger on in a strange land? Not so much for my prowess in war did Jason take me with him in quest of the fleece, far from Parthenia, as for my knowledge of ships. Wherefore, I pray, let there be no fear for the ship. And so there are here other men of skill, of whom none will harm our voyaging, whomsoever we set at the helm. But quickly tell forth all this and boldly urge them to call to mind their task."

869     "Αἰακίδη, πῶς καλὸν ἀφειδήσαντας ἀέθλων
870 γαίῃ ἐν ἀλλοδαπῇ δὴν ἔμμεναι; οὐ μὲν ἄρηος
871 ἴδριν ἐόντά με τόσσον ἄγει μετὰ κῶας Ἰήσων
872 Παρθενίης ἀπάνευθεν, ὅσον τ' ἐπιίστορα νηῶν.
873 τῶ μή μοι τυτθόν γε δέος περὶ νηὶ πελέσθω.
874 ὧς δὲ καὶ ὧλλοι δεῦρο δαήμονες ἄνδρες ἔασιν,
875 τῶν ὅτινα πρύμνης ἐπιβήσομεν, οὔτις ἰάψει
876 ναυτιλίην. ἀλλ' ὦκα, παραιφάμενος τάδε πάντα,
877 θαρσαλέως ὀρόθυνον ἐπιμνήσασθαι ἀέθλου."

(2.878-884) Thus he spake; and Peleus' soul was stirred with gladness, and straightway he spake in the midst of all: "My friends, why do we thus cherish a bootless grief like this? For those two have perished by the fate they have met with; but among our host are steersmen yet, and many a one. Wherefore let us not delay our attempt, but rouse yourselves to the work and cast away your griefs."

878     Ὧς φάτο: τοῖο δὲ θυμὸς ὀρέξατο γηθοσύνῃσιν.
879 αὐτίκα δ' οὐ μετὰ δηρὸν ἐνὶ μέσσοις ἀγόρευσεν:
880 "Δαιμόνιοι, τί νυ πένθος ἐτώσιον ἴσχομεν αὔτως;
881 οἱ μὲν γάρ ποθι τοῦτον, ὃν ἔλλαχον, οἶτον ὄλοντο:
882 ἡμῖν δ' ἐν γὰρ ἔασι κυβερνητῆρες ὁμίλῳ,
883 καὶ πολέες. τῶ μή τι διατριβώμεθα πείρης:
884 ἀλλ' ἔγρεσθ' εἰς ἔργον, ἀπορρίψαντες ἀνίας."

(2.885-893) And him in reply Aeson's son addressed with helpless words: "Son of Aeacus, where are these steersmen of thine? For those whom we once deemed to be men of skill, they even more than I are bowed with vexation of heart. Wherefore I forebode an evil doom for us even as for the dead, if it shall be our lot neither to reach the city of fell Aeetes, nor ever again to pass beyond the rocks to the land of Hellas, but a wretched fate will enshroud us here ingloriously till we grow old for naught."

885    Τὸν δ' αὖτ' Αἴσονος υἱὸς ἀμηχανέων προσέειπεν:
886 "Αἰακίδη, πῇ δ' οἵδε κυβερνητῆρες ἔασιν;
887 οὓς μὲν γὰρ τὸ πάροιθε δαήμονας εὐχόμεθ' εἶναι,
888 οἱ δὲ κατηφήσαντες ἐμεῦ πλέον ἀσχαλόωσιν.
889 τῶ καὶ ὁμοῦ φθιμένοισι κακὴν προτιόσσομαι ἄτην,
890 εἰ δὴ μήτ' ὀλοοῖο μετὰ πτόλιν Αἰήταο
891 ἔσσεται, ἠὲ καὶ αὖτις ἐς Ἑλλάδα γαῖαν ἱκέσθαι
892 πετράων ἔκτοσθε, κατ' αὐτόθι δ' ἄμμε καλύψει
893 ἀκλειῶς κακὸς οἶτος, ἐτώσια γηράσκοντας."

(2.894-898) Thus he spake, but Ancaeus quickly undertook to guide the swift ship; for he was stirred by the impulse of the goddess. And after him Erginus and Nauplius and Euphemus started up, eager to steer. But the others held them back, and many of his comrades granted it to Ancaeus.

894     Ὧς ἔφατ': Ἀγκαῖος δὲ μάλ' ἐσσυμένως ὑπέδεκτο
895 νῆα θοὴν ἄξειν: δὴ γὰρ θεοῦ ἐτράπεθ' ὁρμῇ.
896 τὸν δὲ μετ' Ἐργῖνος καὶ Ναύπλιος Εὔφημός τε
897 ὤρνυντ', ἰθύνειν λελιημένοι. ἀλλ' ἄρα τούσγε
898 ἔσχεθον: Ἀγκαίῳ δὲ πολεῖς ᾔνησαν ἑταίρων.

(2.899-910) So on the twelfth day they went aboard at dawn, for a strong breeze of westerly wind was blowing. And quickly with the oars they passed out through the river Acheron and, trusting to the wind, shook out their sails, and with canvas spread far and wide they were cleaving their passage through the waves in fair weather. And soon they passed the outfall of the river Callichorus, where, as the tale goes, the Nysean son of Zeus, when he had left the tribes of the Indians and came to dwell at Thebes, held revels and arrayed dances in front of a cave, wherein he passed unsmiling sacred nights, from which time the neighbours call the river by the name of Callichorus and the cave Aulion.

899     Ἠῷοι δἤπειτα δυωδεκάτῳ ἐπέβαινον
900 ἤματι: δὴ γάρ σφιν ζεφύρου μέγας οὖρος ἄητο.
901 καρπαλίμως δ' Ἀχέροντα διεξεπέρησαν ἐρετμοῖς,
902 ἐκ δ' ἔχεαν πίσυνοι ἀνέμῳ λίνα, πουλὺ δ' ἐπιπρὸ
903 λαιφέων πεπταμένων τέμνον πλόον εὐδιόωντες.
904 ὦκα δὲ Καλλιχόροιο παρὰ προχοὰς ποταμοῖο
905 ἤλυθον, ἔνθ' ἐνέπουσι Διὸς Νυσήιον υἷα,
906 Ἰνδῶν ἡνίκα φῦλα λιπὼν κατενάσσατο Θήβας,
907 ὀργιάσαι, στῆσαί τε χοροὺς ἄντροιο πάροιθεν,
908 ᾧ ἐν ἀμειδήτους ἁγίας ηὐλίζετο νύκτας,
909 ἐξ οὗ Καλλίχορον ποταμὸν περιναιετάοντες
910 ἠδὲ καὶ Αὐλίον ἄντρον ἐπωνυμίην καλέουσιν.


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