按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
mountains when the wind is still； then again； when stirred by the breath of the wind； they murmur ceaselessly； so they two were destined to tell out all their tale； stirred by the breath of Love。 And Aeson's son saw that she had fallen into some heaven…sent calamity； and with soothing words thus addressed her：
（ll。 975…1007） 〃Why； pray； maiden； dost thou fear me so much； all alone as I am？ Never was I one of these idle boasters such as other men arenot even aforetime； when I dwelt in my own country。 Wherefore； maiden； be not too much abashed before me； either to enquire whatever thou wilt or to speak thy mind。 But since we have met one another with friendly hearts； in a hallowed spot； where it is wrong to sin； speak openly and ask questions； and beguile me not with pleasing words； for at the first thou didst promise thy sister to give me the charms my heart desires。 I implore thee by Hecate herself； by thy parents； and by Zeus who holds his guardian hand over strangers and suppliants； I come here to thee both a suppliant and a stranger； bending the knee in my sore need。 For without thee and thy sister never shall I prevail in the grievous contest。 And to thee will I render thanks hereafter for thy aid； as is right and fitting for men who dwell far oft； making glorious thy name and fame； and the rest of the heroes； returning to Hellas； will spread thy renown and so will the heroes' wives and mothers； who now perhaps are sitting on the shore and making moan for us； their painful affliction thou mightest scatter to the winds。 In days past the maiden Ariadne； daughter of Minos； with kindly intent rescued Theseus from grim conteststhe maiden whom Pasiphae daughter of Helios bare。 But she； when Minos had lulled his wrath to rest； went aboard the ship with him and left her fatherland； and her even the immortal gods loved； and； as a sign in mid…sky； a crown of stars； which men call Ariadne's crown； rolls along all night among the heavenly constellations。 So to thee too shall be thanks from the gods； if thou wilt save so mighty an array of chieftains。 For surely from thy lovely form thou art like to excel in gentle courtest。〃
（ll。 1008…1025） Thus he spake； honouring her； and she cast her eyes down with a smile divinely sweet； and her soul melted within her； uplifted by his praise； and she gazed upon him face to face； nor did she know what word to utter first； but was eager to pour out everything at once。 And forth from her fragrant girdle ungrudgingly she brought out the charm； and he at once received it in his hands with joy。 And she would even have drawn out all her soul from her breast and given it to him； exulting in his desire； so wonderfully did love flash forth a sweet flame from the golden head of Aeson's son； and he captivated her gleaming eyes； and her heart within grew warm； melting away as the dew melts away round roses when warmed by the morning's light。 And now both were fixing their eyes on the ground abashed； and again were throwing glances at each other； smiling with the light of love beneath their radiant brows。 And at last and scarcely then did the maiden greet him：
（ll。 1026…1062） 〃Take heed now； that I may devise help for thee。 When at thy coming my father has given thee the deadly teeth from the dragon's jaws for sowing； then watch for the time when the night is parted in twain； then bathe in the stream of the tireless river； and alone； apart from others； clad in dusky raiment； dig a rounded pit； and therein slay a ewe； and sacrifice it whole； heaping high the pyre on the very edge of the pit。 And propitiate only…begotten Hecate； daughter of Perses； pouring from a goblet the hive…stored labour of bees。 And then； when thou hast heedfully sought the grace of the goddess； retreat from the pyre； and let neither the sound of feet drive thee to turn back； nor the baying of hounds； lest haply thou shouldst maim all the rites and thyself fail to return duly to thy comrades。 And at dawn steep this charm in water； strip； and anoint thy body therewith as with oil； and in it there will be boundless prowess and mighty strength； and thou wilt deem thyself a match not for men but for the immortal gods。 And besides； let thy spear and shield and sword be sprinkled。 Thereupon the spear…heads of the earthborn men shall not pierce thee； nor the flame of the deadly bulls as it rushes forth resistless。 But such thou shalt be not for long； but for that one day； still never flinch from the contest。 And I will tell thee besides of yet another help。 As soon as thou hast yoked the strong oxen； and with thy might and thy prowess hast ploughed all the stubborn fallow； and now along the furrows the Giants are springing up； when the serpent's teeth are sown on the dusky clods； if thou markest them uprising in throngs from the fallow； cast unseen among them a massy stone； and they over it； like ravening hounds over their food； will slay one another； and do thou thyself hasten to rush to the battle… strife； and the fleece thereupon thou shalt bear far away from Aea； nevertheless； depart wherever thou wilt； or thy pleasure takes thee； when thou hast gone hence。〃
（ll。 1063…1068） Thus she spake； and cast her eyes to her feet in silence； and her cheek； divinely fair； was wet with warm tears as she sorrowed for that he was about to wander far from her side over the wide sea： and once again she addressed him face to face with mournful words； and took his right hand； for now shame had left her eyes：
（ll。 1069…1076） 〃Remember； if haply thou returnest to thy home； Medea's name； and so will I remember thine； though thou be far away。 And of thy kindness tell me this； where is thy home； whither wilt thou sail hence in thy ship over the sea； wilt thou come near wealthy Orchomenus； or near the Aeaean isle？ And tell me of the maiden； whosoever she be that thou hast named； the far…renowned daughter of Pasiphae； who is kinswoman to my father。〃
（ll。 1077…1078） Thus she spake； and over him too； at the tears of the maiden； stole Love the destroyer； and he thus answered her：
（ll。 1079…1101） 〃All too surely do I deem that never by night and never by day will I forget thee if I escape death and indeed make my way in safety to the Achaean land； and Aeetes set not before us some other contest worse than this。 And if it pleases thee to know about my fatherland； I will tell it out； for indeed my own heart bids me do that。 There is a land encircled by lofty mountains； rich in sheep and in pasture； where Prometheus； son of Iapetus； begat goodly Deucalion； who first founded cities and reared temples to the immortal gods； and first ruled over men。 This land the neighbours who dwell around call Haemonia。 And in it stands Ioleus； my city； and in it many others； where they have not so much as heard the name of the Aeaean isle； yet there is a story that Minyas starting thence； Minyas son of Aeolus； built long ago the city of Orchomenus that borders on the Cadmeians。 But why do I tell thee all this vain talk； of our home and of Minos' daughter； far…famed Ariadne； by which glorious name they called that lovely maiden of whom thou askest me？ Would that； as Minos then was well inclined to Theseus for her sake； so may thy father be j