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ARGONAUTICA BOOK 4 [303]

(4.303-337) Now some of the Colchians, in a vain search, passed out from Pontus through the Cyanean rocks; but the rest went to the river, and them Apsyrtus led, and, turning aside, he entered the mouth called Fair. Wherefore he outstripped the heroes by crossing a neck of land into the furthest gulf of the Ionian sea. For a certain island is enclosed by Ister, by name Peuee, three-cornered, its base stretching along the coast, and with a sharp angle towards the river; and round it the outfall is cleft in two. One mouth they call the mouth of Narex, and the other, at the lower end, the Fair mouth. And through this Apsyrtus and his Colchians rushed with all speed; but the heroes went upwards far away towards the highest part of the island. And in the meadows the country shepherds left their countless flocks for dread of the ships, for they deemed that they were beasts coming forth from the monster-teeming sea. For never yet before had they seen seafaring ships, neither the Scythians mingled with the Thracians, nor the Sigynni, nor yet the Graucenii, nor the Sindi that now inhabit the vast desert plain of Laurium. But when they had passed near the mount Angurum, and the cliff of Cauliacus, far from the mount Angurum, round which Ister, dividing his stream, falls into the sea on this side and on that, and the Laurian plain, then indeed the Colchians went forth into the Cronian sea and cut off all the ways, to prevent their foes' escape. And the heroes came down the river behind and reached the two Brygean isles of Artemis near at hand. Now in one of them was a sacred temple; and on the other they landed, avoiding the host of Apsyrtus; for the Colchians had left these islands out of many within the river, just as they were, through reverence for the daughter of Zeus; but the rest, thronged by the Colchians, barred the ways to the sea. And so on other islands too, close by, Apsyrtus left his host as far as the river Salangon and the Nestian land.

303     Κόλχοι δ' αὖτ' ἄλλοι μέν, ἐτώσια μαστεύοντες,
304 Κυανέας Πόντοιο διὲκ πέτρας ἐπέρησαν:
305  ἄλλοι δ' αὖ ποταμὸν μετεκίαθον, οἷσιν ἄνασσεν
306 Ἄψυρτος, Καλὸν δὲ διὰ στόμα πεῖρε λιασθείς.
307 τῶ καὶ ὑπέφθη τούσγε βαλὼν ὕπερ αὐχένα γαίης
308 κόλπον ἔσω πόντοιο πανέσχατον Ἰονίοιο.
309 Ἴστρῳ γάρ τις νῆσος ἐέργεται οὔνομα Πεύκη,
310  τριγλώχιν, εὖρος μὲν ἐς αἰγιαλοὺς ἀνέχουσα,
311 στεινὸν δ' αὖτ' ἀγκῶνα ποτὶ ῥόον: ἀμφὶ δὲ δοιαὶ
312 σχίζονται προχοαί. τὴν μὲν καλέουσι Νάρηκος:
313 τὴν δ' ὑπὸ τῇ νεάτῃ, Καλὸν στόμα. τῇ δὲ διαπρὸ
314 Ἄψυρτος Κόλχοι τε θοώτερον ὡρμήθησαν:
315  οἱ δ' ὑψοῦ νήσοιο κατ' ἀκροτάτης ἐνέοντο
316 τηλόθεν. εἱαμενῇσι δ' ἐν ἄσπετα πώεα λεῖπον
317 ποιμένες ἄγραυλοι νηῶν φόβῳ, οἷά τε θῆρας
318 ὀσσόμενοι πόντου μεγακήτεος ἐξανιόντας.
319 οὐ γάρ πω ἁλίας γε πάρος ποθὶ νῆας ἴδοντο,
320  οὔτ' οὖν Θρήιξιν μιγάδες Σκύθαι, οὐδὲ Σίγυννοι,
321 οὔτ' οὖν Γραυκένιοι, οὔθ' οἱ περὶ Λαύριον ἤδη
322 Σίνδοι ἐρημαῖον πεδίον μέγα ναιετάοντες.
323 αὐτὰρ ἐπεί τ' Ἄγγουρον ὄρος, καὶ ἄπωθεν ἐόντα
324 Ἀγγούρου ὄρεος σκόπελον πάρα Καυλιακοῖο,
325  ᾧ πέρι δὴ σχίζων Ἴστρος ῥόον ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα
326 βάλλει ἁλός, πεδίον τε τὸ Λαύριον ἠμείψαντο,
327 δή ῥα τότε Κρονίην Κόλχοι ἅλαδ' ἐκπρομολόντες
328 πάντῃ, μή σφε λάθοιεν, ὑπετμήξαντο κελεύθους.
329 οἱ δ' ὄπιθεν ποταμοῖο κατήλυθον, ἐκ δ' ἐπέρησαν
330  δοιὰς Ἀρτέμιδος Βρυγηίδας ἀγχόθι νήσους.
331 τῶν δ' ἤτοι ἑτέρῃ μὲν ἐν ἱερὸν ἔσκεν ἔδεθλον:
332 ἐν̣̣δ' ἑτέρῃ, πληθὺν πεφυλαγμένοι Ἀψύρτοιο,
333 βαῖνον: ἐπεὶ κείνας πολέων λίπον ἔνδοθι νήσους
334 αὔτως, ἁζόμενοι κούρην Διός: αἱ δὲ δὴ ἄλλαι
335  στεινόμεναι Κόλχοισι πόρους εἴρυντο θαλάσσης.
336 ὧς δὲ καὶ εἰς ἀκτὰς πληθὺν λίπεν ἀγχόθι νήσων
337 μέσφα Σαλαγγῶνος ποταμοῦ καὶ Νέστιδος αἴης.

(4.338-349) There the Minyae would at that time have yielded in grim fight, a few to many; but ere then they made a covenant, shunning a dire quarrel; as to the golden fleece, that since Aeetes himself had so promised them if they should fulfill the contests, they should keep it as justly won, whether they carried it off by craft or even openly in the king's despite; but as to Medea -- for that was the cause of strife -- that they should give her in ward to Leto's daughter apart from the throng, until some one of the kings that dispense justice should utter his doom, whether she must return to her father's home or follow the chieftains to the land of Hellas.

338     Ἔνθα κε λευγαλέῃ Μινύαι τότε δηιοτῆτι
339 παυρότεροι πλεόνεσσιν ὑπείκαθον: ἀλλὰ πάροιθεν
340  συνθεσίην, μέγα νεῖκος ἀλευάμενοι, ἐτάμοντο,
341 κῶας μὲν χρύσειον, ἐπεί σφισιν αὐτὸς ὑπέστη
342 Αἰήτης, εἰ κεῖνοι ἀναπλήσειαν ἀέθλους,
343 ἔμπεδον εὐδικίῃ σφέας ἑξέμεν, εἴτε δόλοισιν,
344 εἴτε καὶ ἀμφαδίην αὔτως ἀέκοντος ἀπηύρων:
345  αὐτὰρ Μήδειάν γε--τὸ γὰρ πέλεν ἀμφήριστον--
346 παρθέσθαι κούρῃ Λητωίδι νόσφιν ὁμίλου,
347 εἰσόκε τις δικάσῃσι θεμιστούχων βασιλήων,
348 εἴτε μιν εἰς πατρὸς χρειὼ δόμον αὖτις ἱκάνειν,
349 εἴτε μεθ' Ἑλλάδα γαῖαν ἀριστήεσσιν ἕπεσθαι.

(4.350-354) Now when the maiden had mused upon all this, sharp anguish shook her heart unceasingly; and quickly she called forth Jason alone apart from his comrades, and led him aside until they were far away, and before his face uttered her speech all broken with sobs:

350     Ἔνθα δ' ἐπεὶ τὰ ἕκαστα νόῳ πεμπάσσατο κούρη,
351 δή ῥά μιν ὀξεῖαι κραδίην ἐλέλιξαν ἀνῖαι
352 νωλεμές: αἶψα δὲ νόσφιν Ἰήσονα μοῦνον ἑταίρων
353 ἐκπροκαλεσσαμένη ἄγεν ἄλλυδις, ὄφρ' ἐλίασθεν
354 πολλὸν ἑκάς, στονόεντα δ' ἐνωπαδὶς ἔκφατο μῦθον:

(4.355-390) "What is this purpose that ye are now devising about me, O son of Aeson? Has thy triumph utterly cast forgetfulness upon thee, and reekest thou nothing of all that thou spakest when held fast by necessity? Whither are fled the oaths by Zeus the suppliants' god, whither are fled thy honied promises? For which in no seemly wise, with shameless will, I have left my country, the glories of my home and even my parents -- things that were dearest to me; and far away all alone I am borne over the sea with the plaintive kingfishers because of thy trouble, in order that I might save thy life in fulfilling the contests with the oxen and the earthborn men. Last of all the fleece -- when the matter became known, it was by my folly thou didst win it; and a foul reproach have I poured on womankind. Wherefore I say that as thy child, thy bride and thy sister, I follow thee to the land of Hellas. Be ready to stand by me to the end, abandon me not left forlorn of thee when thou dost visit the kings. But only save me; let justice and right, to which we have both agreed, stand firm; or else do thou at once shear through this neck with the sword, that I may gain the guerdon due to my mad passion. Poor wretch! if the king, to whom you both commit your cruel covenant, doom me to belong to my brother. How shall I come to my father's sight? Will it be with a good name? What revenge, what heavy calamity shall I not endure in agony for the terrible deeds I have done? And wilt thou win the return that thy heart desires? Never may Zeus' bride, the queen of all, in whom thou dost glory, bring that to pass. Mayst thou some time remember me when thou art racked with anguish; may the fleece like a dream vanish into the nether darkness on the wings of the wind! And may my avenging Furies forthwith drive thee from thy country, for all that I have suffered through thy cruelty! These curses will not be allowed to fall unaccomplished to the ground. A mighty oath hast thou transgressed, ruthless one; but not long shalt thou and thy comrades sit at ease casting eyes of mockery upon me, for all your covenants."

355      "Αἰσονίδη, τίνα τήνδε συναρτύνασθε μενοινὴν
356 ἀμφ' ἐμοί; ἦέ σε πάγχυ λαθιφροσύναις ἐνέηκαν
357 ἀγλαΐαι, τῶν δ' οὔτι μετατρέπῃ, ὅσσ' ἀγόρευες
358 χρειοῖ ἐνισχόμενος; ποῦ τοι Διὸς Ἱκεσίοιο
359 ὅρκια, ποῦ δὲ μελιχραὶ ὑποσχεσίαι βεβάασιν;
360  ᾗς ἐγὼ οὐ κατὰ κόσμον ἀναιδήτῳ ἰότητι
361 πάτρην τε κλέα τε μεγάρων αὐτούς τε τοκῆας
362 νοσφισάμην, τά μοι ἦεν ὑπέρτατα: τηλόθι δ' οἴη
363 λυγρῇσιν κατὰ πόντον ἅμ' ἀλκυόνεσσι φορεῦμαι
364 σῶν ἕνεκεν καμάτων, ἵνα μοι σόος ἀμφί τε βουσὶν
365  ἀμφί τε γηγενέεσσιν ἀναπλήσειας ἀέθλους.
366 ὕστατον αὖ καὶ κῶας, ἐπεί τ' ἐπαϊστὸν ἐτύχθη,
367 εἷλες ἐμῇ ματίῃ: κατὰ δ' οὐλοὸν αἶσχος ἔχευα
368 θηλυτέραις. τῶ φημὶ τεὴ κούρη τε δάμαρ τε
369 αὐτοκασιγνήτη τε μεθ' Ἑλλάδα γαῖαν ἕπεσθαι.
370  πάντῃ νυν πρόφρων ὑπερίστασο, μηδέ με μούνην
371 σεῖο λίπῃς ἀπάνευθεν, ἐποιχόμενος βασιλῆας.
372 ἀλλ' αὔτως εἴρυσο: δίκη δέ τοι ἔμπεδος ἔστω
373 καὶ θέμις, ἣν ἄμφω συναρέσσαμεν: ἢ σύγ' ἔπειτα
374 φασγάνῳ αὐτίκα τόνδε μέσον διὰ λαιμὸν ἀμῆσαι,
375  ὄφρ' ἐπίηρα φέρωμαι ἐοικότα μαργοσύνῃσιν.
376 σχετλίη, εἴ κεν δή με κασιγνήτοιο δικάσσῃ
377 ἔμμεναι οὗτος ἄναξ, τῷ ἐπίσχετε τάσδ' ἀλεγεινὰς
378 ἄμφω συνθεσίας. πῶς ἵξομαι ὄμματα πατρός;
379 ἦ μάλ' ἐυκλειής; τίνα δ' οὐ τίσιν, ἠὲ βαρεῖαν
380  ἄτην οὐ σμυγερῶς δεινῶν ὕπερ, οἷα ἔοργα,
381 ὀτλήσω; σὺ δέ κεν θυμηδέα νόστον ἕλοιο;
382 μὴ τόγε παμβασίλεια Διὸς τελέσειεν ἄκοιτις,
383 ᾗ ἐπικυδιάεις. μνήσαιο δέ καί ποτ' ἐμεῖο,
384 στρευγόμενος καμάτοισι: δέρος δέ τοι ἶσον ὀνείροις
385  οἴχοιτ' εἰς ἔρεβος μεταμώνιον. ἐκ δέ σε πάτρης
386 αὐτίκ' ἐμαί σ' ἐλάσειαν Ἐρινύες: οἷα καὶ αὐτὴ
387 σῇ πάθον ἀτροπίῃ. τὰ μὲν οὐ θέμις ἀκράαντα
388 ἐν γαίῃ πεσέειν. μάλα γὰρ μέγαν ἤλιτες ὅρκον,
389 νηλεές: ἀλλ' οὔ θήν μοι ἐπιλλίζοντες ὀπίσσω
390  δὴν ἔσσεσθ' εὔκηλοι ἕκητί γε συνθεσιάων."

(4.391-394) Thus she spake, seething with fierce wrath; and she longed to set fire to the ship and to hew it utterly in pieces, and herself to fall into the raging flame. But Jason, half afraid, thus addressed her with gentle words:

391     Ὧς φάτ' ἀναζείουσα βαρὺν χόλον: ἵετο δ' ἥγε
392 νῆα καταφλέξαι, διά τ' ἔμπεδα πάντα κεάσσαι,
393 ἐν δὲ πεσεῖν αὐτὴ μαλερῷ πυρί. τοῖα δ' Ἰήσων
394 μειλιχίοις ἐπέεσσιν ὑποδδείσας προσέειπεν:

(4.395-409) "Forbear, lady; me too this pleases not. But we seek some respite from battle, for such a cloud of hostile men, like to a fire, surrounds us, on thy account. For all that inhabit this land are eager to aid Apsyrtus, that they may lead thee back home to thy father, like some captured maid. And all of us would perish in hateful destruction, if we closed with them in fight; and bitterer still will be the pain, if we are slain and leave thee to be their prey. But this covenant will weave a web of guile to lead him to ruin. Nor will the people of the land for thy sake oppose us, to favour the Colchians, when their prince is no longer with them, who is thy champion and thy brother; nor will I shrink from matching myself in fight with the Colchians, if they bar my way homeward."

395      "Ἴσχεο, δαιμονίη: τὰ μὲν ἁνδάνει οὐδ' ἐμοὶ αὐτῷ.
396 ἀλλά τιν' ἀμβολίην διζήμεθα δηιοτῆτος,
397 ὅσσον δυσμενέων ἀνδρῶν νέφος ἀμφιδέδηεν
398 εἵνεκα σεῦ. πάντες γάρ, ὅσοι χθόνα τήνδε νέμονται,
399 Ἀψύρτῳ μεμάαασιν ἀμυνέμεν, ὄφρα σε πατρί,
400  οἷά τε ληισθεῖσαν, ὑπότροπον οἴκαδ' ἄγοιντο.
401 αὐτοὶ δὲ στυγερῷ κεν ὀλοίμεθα πάντες ὀλέθρῳ,
402 μίξαντες δαῒ χεῖρας: ὅ τοι καὶ ῥίγιον ἄλγος
403 ἔσσεται, εἴ σε θανόντες ἕλωρ κείνοισι λίποιμεν.
404 ἥδε δὲ συνθεσίη κρανέει δόλον, ᾧ μιν ἐς ἄτην
405  βήσομεν. οὐδ' ἂν ὁμῶς περιναιέται ἀντιόωσιν
406 Κόλχοις ἦρα φέροντες ὑπὲρ σέο νόσφιν ἄνακτος,
407 ὅς τοι ἀοσσητήρ τε κασίγνητός τε τέτυκται:
408 οὐδ' ἂν ἐγὼ Κόλχοισιν ὑπείξω μὴ πολεμίζειν
409 ἀντιβίην, ὅτε μή με διὲξ εἰῶσι νέεσθαι."


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