Apollonius Rhodius: Argonautica
Book I
Translated by Christopher Kelk
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Phoebus, of ancient heroes’ deeds I’ll sing,
Starting with you: they, at the ordering
Of King Pelias, out through Pontus’ gateway
And then across its rocks, sailed clean away
On well-benched Argo for the fleece of gold.
A dreadful fate stayed for him he’d been told
By an oracle – that he would slaughtered be
Through the prompting of a man whom he would see
One-sandalled, of the common folk. They say
That not long after, Jason made his way 10
By foot through chill Anaurus and, although
He saved one sandal from the mud, even so
He left the other mired in the sea.
He reached King Pelias immediately
To partake in a banquet he had planned
For Poseidon, the god who’d sired him, and
The other gods; no honour did he pay
To Grecian Hera. So, without delay,
Pelias eyed him and deliberated
And a laborious voyage formulated 20
That, being thrown amongst barbarian men
Or sailing on the sea, never again
Might he behold his native land. It’s stated
By ancient bards that Argos fabricated
The ship with Athene’s help. Now let me be
The bard who sings the heroes’ ancestry,
Their names, the lengthy voyage, all that they
Achieved while on they wandered. To my lay
May the Muses lend their hand. Initially,
I’ll sing of Orpheus whom Calliope, 30
They say, produced close to Pimpleis’ height,
When she with Oiagrus had spent a night
Of love, the Cretan. With his songs’ sweet sound
The harsh rocks of the mountains all around
He pacified, the rivers too, they say.
Wild oaks, still tokens of his songs today,
Growing on Thracian Zone’s shore, close stand
In rows, which Orpheus from the Pierian land
Conducted thither with his soothing lute.
And Aeson’s son received him at the suit 40
Of Chiron (he then held supremacy
Throughout Pieria) so he could be
A sharer in his toils. There went as well
Asterion, who by the whirling swell
Of Apidanus’ streams first saw the light
(His father Kometes within the sight
Of Mt. Phyes then dwelt – Peiresiae
Was his abode: bonding as one nearby
In deluge teemed great Apidanus and
Mighty Enipeus), then, to join their band 50
Polyphemus came, the son of Eilatus,
Who once had fought among the vigorous
Lapiths against the Centaurs. Now, despite
Stiff limbs, his spirit still retained its might.
Nor was Iphiclus left in Phylace
For long (Aeson had wed Alcimede,
His sister, there – with this as stimulation,
He entered into the association).
Nor did the ruler of sheep-rich Pherae,
Admetus, stay beneath the mountain high 60
Above Chalkodon. Nor yet in Alope
Did those two men well-versed in trickery,
Hermes’s sons, Erytus and Echion,
Each corn-rich, stay behind, and boldly on,
To keep them company, with them one more -
Their kin, whom Phthian Eupolemeia bore
To Aithalus, where Amphryssos sweeps on,
Myrmidon’s child; those two were each the son
Of Antianeira, child of Menetes.
And then came Coronus, as well as these, 70
The son of Kaineus, leaving rich Gyrton,
A stalwart man but in this not alone –
His father equalled him in gallantry.
Caineus, it is preserved in poetry,
Was killed by the Centaurs, while he was aside
From the other leaders, routing far and wide
The foe. In flight they could not move nor slay
The man – unbowed unbowed and underneath the clay.
Engulfed in sturdy pines. Then Mopsus went,
From Titarus, who was pre-eminent 80
In augury, tutored by Leto’s son.
Eurymadas was yet another one,
The child of Ctimenus: in Ctimene,
In Dolope, in the vicinity
Of Lake Xynias, he dwelt. To co-exist
With leaders, Actor sent into the list
Menoitius from their home in Opoeis.
Teleus’ son Eurytion took his place
As well, and stout Eurybates, the son
Of Actor’s son Iros. Another one 90
Was Oileus, an expert in soldiery,
Well-skilled in striking at the enemy,
Breaking their ranks. Also Canethus sent
Euboean Kanthos, keen and vehement
(Abantias was his grandfather). To see
Cerinthus once again grim Destiny
Would not allow. For he would evermore,
With prophet Mopsus, on the distant shore
Of Libya lie slain. No agony’s
Too great for mortals since for even these 100
Is Libya their grave – as far away
From Colchis as the rising of the day
Is from the setting sun. There Clytius
And Iphitus, sons of rich Eurytus,
Oechalia’s lords, foregathered (his own bow
Apollo gave to Eurytus, although
He had no joy of it, for willingly
He clashed with him who gave it). Subsequently
Came the Ajaxes, not in unison
Nor from the same place, for they both had gone 110
To live far from Aegina, having slain
Phocus, their brother, a deed quite insane.
Peleus now lived in Phthia, Telamon
Still on the isle. The child of Teleon,
Bold Boutes from Cecropia, also went,
And spearsman Phaleros, for Alcon sent
Him there, his father. No more sons had he
To care for him in his senility.
Young and an only child, yet nonetheless
He sent him that he might show worthiness 120
Among bold heroes. Under Taenarus
Theseus, who was the most illustrious
Of the Erechtheids, had been restrained
By dark chains, for the same path he’d maintained
As Peirithus. Both, by their industry,
Would have effected, with them all to see,
A better outcome. Tiphys, Hagnias’ child,
Predictor of when surging seas grow wild,
Of storms and when the time is right to sail,
Left Thespian Siphaes. Of avail 130
In urging him to join the hero throng
Was Athene, she herself going along,
A welcome friend. She was the very one
To build the swift ship, though Arestor’s son,
Argos, was her assistant. The best ship
It was of all that ever made a trip.
From Aerithyrea to join them there
Was Pthlias who, through Dionysus’s care,
His father, near the springs of Asopus
Settled in riches. Then, too, Tanaus 140
And Areius, Bias’s sons, who went
From Argos, also the magnificent
Leodokos, the issue of Pero,
Neleus’s daughter; she caused grievous woe
To Melampus of Aeolia when he
Strove in Iphiclus’ stables. Nor do we
Believe stout-hearted Heracles had spurned
Determined Jason’s call. No, when he learned
Of heroes gathering while on his way
To Argos from Arcadia that day, 150
A live boar in his arms, which until then
Had grazed the pasture in Lampeia’s glen,
In the great Erymanthian morass,
And reached Mycenae’s agora, that mass
Of trussed-up boar he dropped and with a will
Took off (although Eurystheus took it ill).
Young Hylas, too, went with him, a true friend,
To bear his arrows and his bow to tend.
Then Nauplius, who was from the holy race
Of Danaus: his ancestry we trace 160
Through Clytonaeos and through Naubolos,
And Lernus and Proitos and Nauplius:
Poseidon’s wife, Danaan Amymone,
Bore him, a man who gained supremacy
In seamanship. Last of the Argive men,
Idmon, had known through augury even then
His fate, yet went so that the Argive race
Might not begrudge that he would earn a place
Among the heroes. Abas, though, was not
His actual father – he had been begot 170
By Leto’s son, among the celebrated
Aeolians revered and educated
By Leto’s son himself in prophecy,
In avian auspices and augury
Through fire. Then Aetolian Leda pressed
To join the throng from Sparta in the west
Castor and stout Pollux, masterly
With winged steeds; extended pregnancy
Produced them in the House of Tyndareus
And in one birth; she managed to induce 180
Their going, for the thoughts that she possessed
Fit well a bride of Zeus. To join the rest,
From Arene Lynceus and proud Idas went,
Apharitos’s sons, both confident
In their great might. If rumour tells no lies,
Lynceus had such perceptive eagle eyes
That they could penetrate the earth below.
Then Periclymenos was keen to go,
The eldest august Neleus had begot
In Argos: it had been his happy lot 190
That Lord Poseidon gave him boundless might,
Allowing him to take on in each fight
What shape he chose. Amphidamas went, too,
And Kepheus from Arcadia, both who
Lived in Tegea, on Apheidas’ land,
Both sons of Aleus, and, close at hand,
Ancaeos, who was sent to Lycourgos,
Their elder brother, sire to Ancaeos,
But he was left behind that he might tend
The aged Aleos, though glad to send 200
Ancaeus with his brothers. At their side
He was wrapped in a Maenalian bear-hide,
A massive, two-edged axe in his right hand,
For, to prevent his entering that band,
His grandfather had, deep within his den,
Concealed his arms. Augeias followed then
(Eëlius’ son, they say) – he was the king
Of Eleia, in riches glorying.
He longed to see Colchis and Aeëtes,
The ruler of that country. Next to these 210
Asterios and Amphion appeared,
The sons of Hyperasius, both reared
In Achaean Pellene, founded by
Their grandfather and perching way up high
Upon Aegalios. Leaving the land
Of Taenarus, Euphemos joined that band,
Poseidon’s son – Europe gave him birth,
Stout Tityos’s daughter – on this earth
No-one was swifter: on the grey-green sea
He sped and such was his rapidity 220
Only his toes got wet. Another two
Of Lord Poseidon’s sons then joined the crew:
From great Miletus’ city, Erginus
Arrived, as well as mighty Ankaeus,
Who left behind Parthenia, the land
Of Imbrian Hera, both with great command
Of seamanship and war. From Calydon
Stout Meleager went, Laocoön
As well, Oineus’s sons: the latter, though,
Was born of a mother whose status was low 230
(She was a slave). Oineus had him conveyed,
Now getting old, to be Meleager’s aide.
Still young himself, he joined the gallant team
Of heroes. There’d be no-one, I esteem,
Excepting Heracles, who could transcend
That man, had he but seen one more year’s end
With the Aetolians. Now Iphiclus,
His uncle and the son of Thestius,
Accompanied him, skilled in both hand-to-hand
And javelin. With him, to join the band, 240
There also went one Pylaemonius,
The son of Lernus from Olenios
(Or so it has been said, but actually
His father was Hephaestus). Therefore he
Was crippled in one foot, though there was none
Dared fault the great strength of Hephaestus’ son:
He too was added to that company
Of leaders, boosting the celebrity
Of Jason. From Phocia went Iphitus,
Born of Naubolus, son of Omytus 250
Who had been Jason’s host some time before
When he had gone to Pytho to explore
A forecast for a future odyssey
And offered him his hospitality.
Then went Zetes and Kalaïs, two more,
Boreas’s sons, whom Oreithyuia bore,
Erechtheus’ child, far off in wintry Thrace
(And from Cecropia in his firm embrace
He snatched her when he saw her dance and sway
Near Iphissos). He took her far away 260
To where there stands the Rock of Sarpedon,
Where Erigonus’ streams meander on,
And took her, hiding her beneath the screen
Of dusky vapours. Now they could be seen,
Their ankles shaking wings of ebony,
With scales of gold, a wondrous thing to see.
All down their backs, from head and neck, dark hair
Hither and yon would flutter in the air.
Stout Peleas’ son Acastus would be gone,
Not staying home, and he who waited on 270
Athene, Argos. Therefore they both planned
To be included in the hero-band.
All these were met, Jason’s authorities.
Those dwelling thereabouts called all of these
Great leaders Minyans, because the most
And best could from Minyas’ daughters boast
Their heritage. Thus Jason was the son
Of Alcimede, who had been just one
Of Minyas’ daughters, Clymene. Each maid
Had readied everything that should be laid 280
Within the ships when men must sail the seas,
Then through the city these celebrities
Went to their ships where that part of the coast
Is called Magnesian Pagasae; a host,
A very host, went with them. Stars that glow
Among the clouds they seemed. Seeing them go,
All armed, each man said: “Zeus, what’s Pelias
Up to? Where is he sending this huge mass
From all of Greece? They’d burn in just one day
Aeëtes’ halls with deadly fire if they 290
Did not receive from his consenting hand
The fleece. The ships, however, must be manned,
The venture will be hard.” From here and there
The city heard these words. Into the air
The women often raised their hands and prayed
To the immortals that they lend their aid
For a successful outcome. They all sighed,
Lamenting to each other as they cried:
“Sad Alcimede, pain is yours, though late.
Unhappy old age has become your fate. 300
Aeson as well, poor Aeson! It would be
Far better that, not knowing misery,
Before this day beneath the earth he lay,
Wrapped in his shroud. Thus Phrixus, on that day
Young Helle died, should, ram and all, have met
A Stygian engulfing wave. And yet
An evil, mortal-sounding augury
For Alcimede forecast misery
And countless woes thereafter.” As the men
Departed, thus the women spoke. By then 310
A host of slaves had gathered. There, also,
Came Jason’s grieving mother. There was woe
In every woman’s heart. Bowed down with years,
His father, closely wrapped in bed, shed tears
With them. But Jason then soothed their heartache
And cheered them, ordering the slaves to take
The weapons up: this silently they did
And sadly. First of all his mother slid
Her arms about her son, vociferously
Weeping, just as a maiden tenderly 320
Will fall upon her white-haired nurse, bereft,
And grieve, when there’s no other servant left
To aid her, living now an onerous life
Under her stepmother who turns the knife
With many fresh abuses, while her core
Is bound with woe while she bemoans once more
Each slight, nor can she utter every groan
That struggles in her throat. Thus did she moan
And cradle Jason and, in yearning, say
These words: ‘My child, would that upon that day 330
I heard King Pelias’s vile decree
I had expired, forgetting misery,
That you your dear self might put me to rest –
The only hope I’ve left: I have been blessed
By all the other fruits. Once so respected
Among Achaean women, now neglected,
Left like a slave within this empty palace,
Pining for you, the dupe of fate so callous:
Through you I had renown and majesty,
For you alone my prized virginity 340
I lost: you were my one and only one:
Eileithyuia begrudged me any son
Or daughter after you. Alas! I never,
Not even in my dreams, imagined ever
Phrixus’s flight could bring me misery.”
She and her women-servants vehemently
Thus mourned. But Jason tenderly addressed her:
“Dear mother, don’t let such resentment fester
Within your heart; tears won’t erase your sorrow,
But rather you’ll be dealt more pain tomorrow. 350
The gods give unseen grief to men: forebear
To weep, although your heart be filled with care.
Bear up and trust Athene’s guarantees
As well as the celestial prophecies
(For Phoebus augurs great prosperity)
And then the chieftains’ aid. Stay quietly
At home, you and your maids; pray, do not show
Yourself a fateful bird to the Argo.
With me shall go my servants and my kin.”
He spoke these words and set out from within 360
The house. As from a temple odorous
With balm Apollo sets out for Delos,
That holy isle, or Claros, or Pytho,
Or Lycia, that spacious land, where flow
The streams of Xanthos, thus he went among
The crowd of people and, from out that throng
There rose a mighty shout. Then the priestess
Of Artemis, the town’s benefactress,
Old Iphias there met him: as that band
Of people ran ahead, she kissed his hand. 370
She could not speak, though eager to, but she
Was pushed aside and, as the elderly
Are treated by the young, was left forsaken.
He was soon far away. When he had taken
The path of well-built city streets to reach
The place they called the Pagasaean beach,
His comrades welcomed him, all packed aboard
The Argo; then he stood before this horde
Right at the entrance, so they gathered there
And stood before him. They were all aware 380
Of Argos and Acastus making right
For them straight from the city in despite
Of Pelias. Argos wore a bull’s hide,
Arestor’s son, floor-length, black on one side
With hair. A lovely cloak he wore as well
From his child Pelopeia. Jason would not tell
Them anything they asked but made them go
And sit, assembled. Each then, in his row,
They sat upon the folded sail and mast.
Then Jason kindly spoke: “All’s firm and fast – 390
Our naval needs are all in readiness.
Let us make no delay – the breezes bless
Our ship. So, friends – for all of us have planned
To journey back as well as to the land
Of Aeëtes – let’s vote unstintingly,
To be the leader of this odyssey,
The bravest man to care for everything
And take our covenants and quarrelling
With enemies upon himself.” At that,
To the courageous Heracles, who sat 400
Amongst them, all the young men turned their eyes
And bade him with one shout up to the skies
To lead them. He extended his right hand
From where he sat and said: “Such a command
Of high esteem let none put upon me.
You’ll not persuade me. I shall also see
That none else will stand up. Let him who brought
Us here command the host.” A noble thought!
As he had ordered them, they acquiesced.
Bold Jason, glad at heart, rose and addressed 410
Them in their eagerness: “If you commend
Me for this honour, let there be an end
To more delay. Let’s show our piety
To Phoebus with incense and instantly
Prepare a meal. When those who oversee
My quarters, whose responsibility
Is to decide which oxen to convey
Hither, my slaves, arrive, let’s all away,
Dragging our ship down to the sea, and tote
All arms aboard and each one cast a vote 420
For the benches and along the waterline
To Phoebus Embrasius let’s build a shrine –
He promised by a prophecy the way
Across the sea to show – that thus I may
Begin my toil for Pelias the King
With sacrifice. “ Straight to his labouring
He turned and they all rose obediently
And piled their clothes on a smooth stone the sea
Did not approach (but in the distant past
The wintry waves had cleansed it). Hard and fast 430
They bound the ship, at Argos’s command,
With twined rope, stretching it in a tight band
On either side so that the planks may be
Well-nailed and face the lashing of the sea.
Straightway they dug a ship-wide waterway
Which stretched her journey’s length into the bay,
Dragged by their hands. Ahead of her they made
Deeper and deeper furrows while they laid
Smooth rollers on them. On the first of these
They dipped her so she should be borne with ease 440
While gliding on. High up on either side
They turned the oars and fitted them inside
The oarlocks so they stretched one cubit’s span,
And then in rows they settled, every man,
And pushed with chest and arms. Tiphys got on
To urge the youths to row in unison.
He shouted loudly, and immediately
In one great thrust with all their energy
They moved the Argo, giving her her head
By straining with their feet, and on she sped. 450
All yelled and ran on either side, elated.
Beneath the sturdy keel the rollers, grated,
Emitted groans. Due to the gravity,
Dark smoke gushed forth, and down into the sea
She slipped. They held her back as on she went.
Oars fitted, they placed each accoutrement,
The mast, the well-made sails on board. But when
All things were well attended to, why then
The benches were by lots all allocated,
Two men per bench, though one was designated – 460
The very centre one – for Heracles
And Ancaius, apart from all of these
Others (the latter was a resident
Of Tegea). An outright settlement –
No lot – gave them alone the middle row;
With one accord they voted to bestow
On Tiphys the responsibility
Of steering the well-keeled ship. Then, by the sea
They piled up stones and built on the seaboard
An altar to Apollo as the Lord 470
Of Shores and Embarkation. Soon they spread
Dried olive-logs on top. Two steers were led
By Jason’s herdsmen from the herd, and then
These were dragged forward by the younger men
Near to the altar. Barley was conveyed
And holy water, too. Then Jason prayed
To Apollo, his ancestral deity:
“O lord, who dwell in Pagasae, hear me,
O lord, who in Aesonis also dwell,
Named for my father, you who vowed to tell 480
How we should find and win our cherished aim
When to your Pythian oracle I came –
You were the cause of this our expedition –
Keep us, as on we sail, in sound condition,
Take us and bring us back. For each of us
Returning, just so many glorious
Bulls shall be sacrificed to you. As well,
I’ll carry countless gifts to where you dwell –
Ortygia and Pytho. Phoebus, King,
Far-Shooter, come, accept this offering, 490
First given as our fare. Grant that I may
Unloose the ropes and thus get underway
Unscathed, and may there be a gentle breeze
To help us make our way on quiet seas.”
He spoke and cast the barley with this prayer.
And then those two great men made to prepare
To kill the sacrifices, Heracles
And proud Ancaius; and while one of these,
The former, clubbed one smartly on the head
So that at once it sank and lay there dead, 500
The other’s spacious neck was lacerated
By Ancaius who quickly penetrated
With his bronze axe the tough, resilient
Sinews and, holding both its horns, he sent
It sprawling. Then their comrades swiftly ripped
Their throats apart and then their hides they stripped,
Sundered the joints, then carved the flesh, then tore
Apart the sacred thigh-bones; furthermore
They smothered all in fat and set it aflame
On cloven sticks of wood. Then Jason came 510
And poured unmixed libations; standing there,
Idmon rejoiced, beholding everywhere
The glowing sacrificial conflagration,
Auspicious smoke in purplish gyration
Arising. With blunt speed he spoke the bent
Of Leto’s son: “It is the gods’ intent
And destiny that you the fleece convey
Hither, though countless trials on your way
Will hound you. But there is a god’s decree
That must one day prove terrible to me, 520
Condemning me to die far, far away
On mainland Asia. Thus before today
I learned from evil auguries my fate
Yet boarded ship that I might generate
Fame for my house.” Hearing the prophecy,
The youths expressed their great felicity
At their return but grieved at Idmon’s fate.
So when the sun had passed the midday’s date
And boulders now were just about to shade
The fields in darkness and the sun to fade 530
Beneath the evening dusk, they thickly spread
A bower of leaves and lay down on that bed
In ranks just where the breakers reached the shore,
With food and honeyed wine, a spacious store,
The goblet-bearers having drawn the wine
Into their pitchers, then line after line,
They told such tales as youths often relate
When wine and viands pleasurably sate
And ravenous insolence is then elsewhere.
Then Jason, at a loss, weighed every care 540
Like someone troubled. Taking him to task
On seeing this, said Idas: “May I ask,
Son of Aeson, what scheme is in your head?
Tell all. Have you been overcome with dread,
Which cows all cowards? Witness, my staunch spear,
With which I win illustriousness clear
Beyond them all against my foes (not Zeus
Himself has ever been of greater use
Than has my spear), no pain proving to be
A fatal one, each risk destined to see 550
Fulfilment while Idas is close at hand.
That’s the ally you brought here from the land
Of Arene.” With these words a brimming cup
He grasped with both his hands and swallowed up
The unmixed wine, his lips and dark cheeks wet
With purple residue. Each man then let
A shout out, and Idmon spoke openly:
“You fool, you plan before your destiny
Your own destruction. Your stout heart’s distended
With unmixed wine: your life will soon be ended. 560
Dare you insult the gods? Some words of ease
May cheer a friend but haughty words are these,
Such as the sons of Aloeus, they say,
Once blurted out against the gods, and they
Were mightier than you. They were snuffed out
By Phoebus’s swift arrow, strong and stout
Though they had been.” Then Idas lengthily
Guffawed, then looked askance and stingingly
Replied: “Come, tell me through your prophecy 570
That by your father was granted those two
And say how these two hands will suffer you
Safely to dodge them both if you are seen
To be a charlatan.” Such was his spleen
In his reproach. More railing they’d have heard
Had not their comrades – Jason too – deterred
With shouts their scrap. Orpheus began to sing,
Holding his lyre, his theme the severing,
After destructive strife, of earth and sea
And sky, once fastened in one entity, 580
And how the sun’s paths, moon and stars up high
Had each its permanent locus in the sky:
The mountains rose, and every creeping thing
And rivers, with their nymphs, all clamouring
Then came alive. He sang how Ophion
And Ocean’s Eurynome first held the throne
In cloudy Olympus; Cronus snatched the sway
From one, and Rhea from the other; they
(That is Ophion and Euronyme)
Fell into Ocean. This authority 590
Over the blessed Titans was maintained
While Zeus was yet a child and entertained
Nothing but childish notions and still dwelt
In the Dictaean cave nor had been dealt
The bolt with thunder and lightning supplied
By the earthborn Cyclopes: these things provide
Zeus with renown.” At this he stayed his lyre
And his sweet voice, though all were still afire
To hear, bent forwards, pricking up each ear
In fascination, so great was the cheer 600
His singing left behind. Subsequently
They mixed libations, as is customary,
To Zeus; upon the flaming tongues it streamed.
They settled down for sleep. Bright Dawn now gleamed
On Pelion’s steep rocks with eyes that flashed,
And the calm headlands now were being splashed
By the seas unsettled by the wind’s attack.
Tiphys awoke and bade the men go back
On board and prime the oars. At Pagasae
The port and Argo cried a dreadful cry, 610
Urging departure. For a sacred spar
Had been sunk in her, brought there from afar
By Athena from a Dodonan oak which she
Had planted in her stem. Then orderly,
In single file, they then took up each row,
All which had been assigned some time ago,
And sat beside their arms, then came along
Ancaeus and stout Heracles among
That host; the latter placed beneath his heel
His club, which quite submerged the Argo’s keel. 620
The ropes were being slipped, while on the foam
Wine-offerings were poured. But Jason’s home
And country he averted from his sight.
Then they, just as a gang of young men might
Arrange for Phoebus in Pytho a dance,
Or in Ortygia, or yet, perchance,
Beside Ismenus’ stream, and to the sound
Of lyres round the altar beat the ground
Harmoniously with rapid feet, so they
Beat the tempestuous waters of the bay 630
To Orpheus’ lyre with their oars, each blade
Awash with surf, whose jet-black waters made
A gushing roar, engendered by the might
Of sturdy heroes. Armour shimmered bright
Like flames as on she sped, and far behind
Their wake gleamed white as you perhaps might find
A pathway through a green plain. On that day
All gods looked earthwards upon that display
Of ship and mighty half-divinities,
The bravest who then sailed upon the seas. 640
The nymphs of Pelion looked on, surprised,
From their high peaks at what had been devised
By Itonian Athena, as they plied
The oars; Chiron came to the Oceanside.
The son of Philyra, from his great height
And where the breakers crashed upon the bight,
He dipped his feet. Waving his heavy hand
A score of times he shouted to the band
And bade them safe return. His consort bore
Achilles and held out the infant for 650
Peleus, his sire, to see. So now when they
Had left behind the harbour’s curving bay,
Through warlike Tiphys’ plan, who skilfully
Handled the polished helm that he might be
A steadfast guide, they place the mighty mast
Straight into the cross-beam and tied it fast
On either side with mainstays, then let down
The sail once they had raised it to the crown
Of the masthead. Then there came a piping wind.
Upon the deck they separately pinned 660
The ropes with polished clasps, then peacefully
Sped by the long Tisaean promontory.
And then Oiagrus’ son took up his lyre
And sang the daughter of a noble sire,
The ship-protecting Artemis whose care
Were those sea-peaks and Iolcus, and this air
Was sweetly sung. The fish beneath the deep,
Both large and small at once, would dart and leap
Among those watery paths. So, just as when
Large flocks will trail their shepherds to the pen, 670
Sated with pasture, while he pipes a high
Bucolic tune, those fishes followed nigh,
While constant breezes bore her swiftly on.
Suddenly the Pelasgian land was gone,
Corn-rich and misty, out of sight, and they
Now passed the Pelian crags while on their way
They sped. The Sepian headland lost to view,
Sciathus loomed ahead, Piresias too,
And the serene Magnesian shore and where
Dolops was buried. Then at eve the air 680
Began to blow them backwards, so, that night,
They roasted sheep in sacrificial rite
To honour him nearby the swelling sea.
There on the shoreline in tranquillity
They sojourned for two days: the following day
They hoisted their huge sail and sped away.
Still do they call that beach-head Aphetae
Of Argo. Thence they hastened, passing by
Meliboea as its stormy shore they spied.
Then they at dawn came to the seaside 690
Port of Homole, and soon they would go by
Amyros’ streams, and then Eurymenae
They’d see as well as the well-sluiced ravines
Of Ossa and Olympus, hilly scenes
In Pallene, the hillocks hovering
Above Canastra: with the fluttering
Of winds they sped beyond them in the night.
Now Thracian Athos’ peak at morning light
Appeared: its top left Lemnos, obfuscated
As far as Myrine, though separated 700
From them as far as any merchantman,
Well-trimmed, sails till midday – a goodly span.
Then and into the night there came a blast
That strongly blew, the sails upon the mast
Ballooning. With the setting of the sun
The breezes ceased and then they came upon
The rocky isle of Sintians, Lemnos.
The year gone by they’d suffered a huge loss –
All of the men, due to the lechery
Of women, were victims of butchery. 710
Their lawful wives in hatred they’d repelled
And for their captive women now they held
An ardent passion, while upon their raids
In Thrace they seized and brought across these maids.
The dreadful wrath of Cypris they had earned
Because for many years now they had spurned
To render her her due. O ravenous
And to your own misfortune envious,
You wretched women! Not only each mate
And captive-maid did they obliterate 720
For their adultery but, so they may
For their foul deeds no retribution pay,
All males as well. One man received a pass –
Hypsipyleia rescued old Thoas,
Her father, king of that community:
She found a chest and pushed it out to sea
With him inside to save him from the slaughter.
Oenoean fishers pulled him from the water
(The isle was Sicinos, though, latterly,
Because the water-nymph called Oenoe 730
Bore him of Thoas). Now a cowherd’s care,
Donning bronze armour, using the ploughshare
In cornfields for them all was easier
Than were Athena’s works which earlier
They had been busy with. But constantly
They looked with pitiful dread upon the sea
For fear of Thracians. So when they espied
The Argo pulling close they rushed outside
The gates, all armed, and dashed down to the strand
Like raging Bacchants. Thracians in our land! 740
They thought. With them Hypsipyleia wore
Her father’s arms as they began to pour
Out, helpless, speechless, hemmed in by unease.
The leaders then sent out Aethalides,
Their speedy herald who was in command
Of messages and carried in his hand
His father Hermes’ sceptre (for him he
Had gained a comprehensive memory,
An ageless gift). Although to Acheron
And its repellent eddies he had gone, 750
Forgetfulness had not planted its seed
Yet in his soul, though it had been decreed
That she is always moving here and there,
Sometimes beneath the earth and sometimes where
Men dwell under the sun. But why should I
Tell lengthy tales of him? The day gone by
And creeping into night, he coaxed her then
To let ashore and entertain the men.
Nor did they loose the ropes at break of day.
The women of the island went away 760
Up to the city where they settled down
Within the meeting-place inside the town
At her command. Then to the congregation
At once she gave a spirited oration:
“My friends, let us give gifts that will content
These men, gifts fit for sailors, nourishment,
Sweet wine, that they resolve to stay beyond
Our towers nor create too great a bond,
Out of necessity, with us and thus
Provoke much talk. A dreadful deed by us 770
Was done, which would not please them if they knew it.
Such is our plan now: having listened to it,
If you know of a better, rise, for that
Is why I called you hither.” Then she sat
Back down upon her father’s stone-built seat.
But then her darling nurse got to her feet,
Polyxo, whose old legs had grown so bent
That she but limped as on her staff she leant,
Eager to speak. There were sat near her there
Four unwed maids with blond and downy hair. 780
She stood among them, slowly raised her head
Above her crooked back and thus she said:
“Let us send presents to these foreign men,
As Madam wishes – it were better then.
What’s your survival plan if we’re brought low
By Thracian soldiers or some other foe,
As often happens? Unexpectedly
Did they arrive. If some divinity
Relieves us now, much woe is still ahead,
Worse than mere battles, when old ones are dead 790
And you young maids, still childless, then arrive
At hateful old age? How will you survive
In wretchedness? Will oxen, yoked by you
To the deep plough, of their accord cut through
The fallow? At the ending of the year
Will they, with no ado, harvest each ear
Of corn? Till now the Fates have bypassed me
In horror, yet next year I well may be
Clothed in earth’s garments, with my share of rites,
As it should be, before the blackest nights 800
Appear. You younger ones, I beg, take heed
Of what I say. A chance of being freed
Lies at your feet: turn over to the crew
The care of home, stock, glorious city, too.”
The place was filled with shouts: they liked this speech.
Hypsipyle leapt fast into the breach
And said: “If all of you approve this plea,
I’ll send an envoy to the company.”
At that, she said to one who sat nearby,
Iphinoë: “Iphinoë, go hie 810
You to that man (their leader, I surmise);
Tell him to come here that I may apprise
Him of some news that our community
Will love, and bid them enter fearlessly
Our land and town, if that’s their inclination.”
With these words she dismissed the convocation
And set off home, and to the Minyae
Went Iphinoë. They inquired why
She came. Quickly she said: “Hypsipyle,
Thoas’s child, said our community 820
Will love the news the leader of your band
Shall hear from me – you may enter our land,
Our town, if that you wish, and feel no fear.”
Her happy words filled all of them with cheer.
Since Thoas was deceased, Hypsipyle
They deemed was now their queen, thus speedily
They sent their chief and started to prepare
To go themselves. He buckled, then and there,
A two-fold purple cloak, Athena-wrought,
Upon his shoulders, which she once had brought 830
To give to Jason when she first had laid
The keel-props of the Argo and had made
Him master of the art of measuring
The timbers with a rule. An easier thing
It were to watch the sun’s ascendancy
Than look upon that blazing majesty.
For in the centre it was flaming red
Yet purple at its foot and at its head,
While at each edge were fashioned skilfully
A segregated multiplicity 840
Of artworks. One beheld the Cyclopes
Applying their deathless abilities,
Fashioning a thunderbolt for Father Zeus,
Now almost finished, almost set for use:
A shaft of light was all it was without,
And this one thing was being hammered out
With iron mallets as it shot a flare
Of raging flame. Antiope’s sons were there,
Zethus and Amphion, Asopus’ brace
Of grandsons. Thebe, too, took up a space 850
Nearby, yet unprotected, whose foundation
They were just then, in keen anticipation,
Laying. Zethos was heaving shoulder-high
The peak of a steep mountain while, nearby,
With golden lyre and a loud, clear song,
Amphion led a rock that rolled along
Behind him, twice its size. Then following
Was long-tressed Cythereia, handling
Ares’ swift shield: her tunic was untied
From her left shoulder and all down that side 860
Beneath her breast. Reflected in that shield
Of bronze she stood out clear. There was a field
Of oxen, where there was a skirmishing
In place between Alectryon’s offspring
And the Teleboae, who were on a foray,
Taphian brigands, being kept at bay
By the former. With their blood the dewy lea
Was drizzling, while the majority
Conquered the fewer herdsmen. Then a race
Between two chariots upon its face 870
Was worked, Pelops, shaking the reins, before,
Hippodameia, and then yet one more,
Myrtilus, drove his horses, and, his spear
Grasped, couched, in hand, Oenomaus stood near,
Yet falling when an axle turned and split,
Though eager to stab Pelops’ back. Near it
Was wrought Apollo, yet a youth, although
A strapping lad, who’s shooting from his bow
Great Tityus who dragged audaciously
His mother by the veil, Tityus, he 880
To whom the glorious Elare gave birth
(Though nursed and given life again by Earth),
Then Minyan Phrixus, listening, seemingly,
To a ram that seemed to talk. Were you to see
These things you’d be struck speechless and mislead
Your soul in hope that you might have indeed
Heard actual words of wisdom as you viewed
Them long and with that hopeful attitude.
These were Athena’s gifts. In his right hand
He held a lengthy spear which, in the land 890
Of Maenalus, Atalanta had bestowed,
As guest-gift, with warm greetings, for that road
Of exploration she desired to take;
Yet he prevented her, fearing she’d make
Resentful rivals in carnality.
He entered the city, glowing dazzlingly,
As though he were a star which maidens eye,
While pent in splendid huts, ascending high
Above their homes, gleaming both red and fair,
Charming their eyes as through the dark-blue air 900
It goes; each maid delights while pining for
Her youth who sojourns on a foreign shore,
For whom her parents keep him for his bride.
Thus he approached the city. In a tide
Its women surged behind him, revelling
In him. He went straight on, though, focussing
His eyes upon the ground, until he came
To Hypsipyle’s mansion of glorious fame.
When he appeared her servants opened wide
The double doors which had been beautified 910
With well-wrought panels, and then, straightaway
Leading him through a handsome passageway,
Iphinoë placed him on a gleaming seat
Facing her mistress, who down at her feet
Now cast her eyes while blushing prettily;
And yet she spoke, for all her modesty,
With crafty words: “Why stay so long out there,
Stranger, beyond our walls? Not anywhere
Will you see men residing in this place:
They plough their wheat-filled furrows out in Thrace 920
As immigrants. I’ll tell you of our hell
That you might know it all and know it well.
Thoas, my father, once was ruler here:
Back then our men would sometimes disappear
And plunder from their ships the habitations
In Thrace (there’s little space between our nations)
And brought back loot aplenty, maids as well;
Deadly Cypris was planning to propel
Her scheme which brought lethal infatuation
To them. There now evolved a detestation 930
Of their true wives: to madness giving way,
They threw them out and took their spear-won prey
Into their beds, the rogues. We stuck it out
For some time, hoping that they’d start to doubt
Their choice. This bitter plight, however, grew
And doubled. In the halls their children, too,
Were treated badly, and a bastard race
Sprang up, and thus there roamed throughout this place
Each widowed mother and unmarried maid.
No heed, however fleetingly, was paid 940
By fathers to their daughters, in despite
Of evil stepmothers, before their sight,
Murdering them; and, not as formerly,
Mothers against such foul indignity
Received no help from sons; there was no care
Of brother for sister: and everywhere,
At home or in the dance, a convocation
Or at a feast, their one consideration
Would be their concubines. Eventually
Some god gave them a desperate bravery 950
No longer to allow them back when they
Returned from Thrace, that they might choose the way
Of right or, with their captive-maids, take sail
And leave. They begged of us each infant male
Left in the city, then took off. So now
They still reside in Thrace and ply the plough
On snowy fields. Stay here, and, should you yearn
To do so and it pleases you, you’ll earn
My father Thoas’ privilege. You’ll not,
I think, despise our land, for it has got 960
A deeper soil in the Aegean Sea
Than any other isle. Listen to me,
Go to your ship, relate all that I say
To your companions; do not stay away
Beyond our walls.” These were her words, but she
Did not disclose to him the butchery
Of all their men. He answered: “Very dear
Is the support you offer to us here,
For we’re in need of you, Hypsipyle.
I shall return when I accordingly 970
Have told them all. Continue to possess
The island’s sovereignty: no scornfulness
Provokes my yielding it, but I’m impelled
To grievous woes.” He spoke and briefly held
Her right hand, then set off back; all around
There whirled about him with a joyful sound
The countless maidens until he had cleared
The gates. Then later on they all appeared
On smoothly-running wagons on the beach
With many gifts (by now he’d told them each 980
And every thing she’d said). Then readily
They took them to their homes for company.
For Cypris gave to them a sweet allure,
For the sake of wise Hephaestus, to ensure
That Lemnos, uneradicated, be
Inhabited by men eternally.
Then Jason for the regal residence
Of Hypsipyle set out. As providence
Dictated, all the others went their way,
Except for Heracles, who chose to stay 990
With just a few picked friends. Immediately
The whole town danced and feasted joyously,
And all around them sacrificial savour
Was wafted here and there. They showed their favour
Above all of the other deities
To noted Ares and Cypris, for these
With sacrifice and song they adulated.
Day followed day while they procrastinated
Their setting sail. A long time they’d have dallied
In idleness had Heracles not harried 1000
Them all, far from the womenfolk, and thus
Rebuked them: “Wretches, is this keeping us,
From home, this kindred-butchery? Have we
Come here to wed and make a mockery
Of our own women? Do you think it grand
To dwell here, ploughing Lemnos’ fertile land?
We’ll win no fame kept back day after day
By foreign women. After such delay
No god will grant our prayers and thus bestow
The moving fleece. Let every man, then, go 1010
Back to his own: all day let Jason lie
In bed with her until he can supply
Lemnos with men and thus achieve great fame.”
Thus he rebuked them all. A sense of shame
Caused them to drop their eyes nor would they talk.
Then from the meeting they prepared to walk.
Learning their plan, the women speedily
Came running to them. Just as, droningly,
Bees haunt the splendid lilies when they shoot
From their rock-hive and gather the sweet fruit 1020
While dewy meadows smile, thus, sorrowing,
They streamed and thronged the heroes, welcoming
Each one with hands and voice while they implored
The gods a safe homecoming to afford.
Hypsipyle prayed too and wept to lose
Her lover: “Go, and may the gods all choose
To grant that you may in all safety bring
The golden fleece and give it to the king,
As is your wish. This island and the sway
Of my father shall be here should you, one day, 1030
Returning, come to Lemnos. Easily
Could you amass a goodly company
From other lands. You will not wish it, though;
I prophesy that it will not be so.
Remember me both when you’re far away
And on your homeward journey. May you say
Your wish and I will grant it readily
Should heaven grant to me maternity.”
Then Jason answered her in admiration:
“May heaven allow all this its consummation. 1040
Both think more nobly of me – by the grace
Of Pelias, to dwell in my birthplace
Is quite enough. May the gods just set me free
Of all my labours. If my destiny
Is not to see Greece more once, under sail,
I’ve travelled far, and, if you bear a male,
Send him when grown to Iolcus as relief
To my father and my mother from their grief
(If they still live) that, distanced far away
From the king, they may be cared for while they stay 1050
Within their home. “ He was the first to board,
The other chiefs behind. Each then was oared
In rows. The ship unloosed the ropes from round
The sea-girt rock. They made the sea resound
With their long oars. At Orpheus’ decree,
That evening to Electra’s island (she
Who was Atlanta’s child) they came, that they
May learn the rites, that one may never say,
In gentleness, then cross the icy sea
In safety. You will hear no more from me 1060
Of this; however, let us say farewell
To the island and the gods that in her dwell,
The keepers of those rites, of which to sing
Is not allowed. With eager labouring
Upon the oars they crossed the deep black sea
(The land of Thrace at one extremity
And Imbrus on the other); day was through
When they reached Chersonese; upon them blew
A mild south wind, and, raising to the breeze
Their sails, they rowed to the profundities 1070
Of Athamas’s virgin child, Helle;
At dawn they left behind the northern sea,
Sailing by night past the Rhoetaean strand
With Ida on their right, their left the land
Of Dardanus and for Abydos set
Their course, then, sailing further still, they met
Percote and the sandy waterside
Of Pityeia; by night they applied
Both sail and oar and passed the dark blue sea
Of eddying Hellespont. There happens to be 1080
A steep isle in Propontis, looming near
The corn-rich Phrygia, plunging so sheer
Her isthmus is immersed. Two shores are there,
The Aesepus below them; it’s called Bear
Mountain by those who dwell around the isle;
Its own inhabitants are fierce and vile,
Earthborn, who are, to dwellers thereabouts,
A wonder to behold. Each of them sprouts
Six heavy hands – each sturdy shoulderblade
Has two, while on their dread sides are arrayed 1090
Four more. The isthmus and the plain contained
The Doliones, over whom there reigned
The son of Aeneeus and of Ainete,
Commendable Eusorus’ progeny.
Though dread, the Earthborn caused no aggravation
To them thanks to Poseidon’s preservation
From whom these people had originated.
And then, by Thracian winds accelerated,
The Argo sailed into the anchorage
Of Kalos as upon their pilgrimage 1100
They sped, and it was there that they set free
Their little anchor-stone at the decree
Of Tiphys, leaving it beneath the spring
Of Artacia; a fitter one (a thing
Much heavier) they took. Subsequently,
According to Apollo’s prophecy,
The Ionians, sons of Neleus, built of it
A temple, as is proper, right and fit,
In Jason’s Athens. Cyzicus, along
With the Doliones, in a friendly throng, 1110
Met them and when they learned of their crusade
And lineage, a cordial welcome made
And urged them to row closer and to tie
Their hawsers in their harbour, then nearby
They built an altar right upon the strand
To Phoebus, god of disembarking, and
Gave sacrifices. Of his own largess
The king supplied them in their neediness
With sheep and sweet wine (he’d heard people say
That, if a godlike army came their way, 1120
He should receive them kindly and not seek
To fight them). As with Jason, on his cheek
There grew soft down, nor yet had he the pleasure
Of fatherhood, and in domestic leisure
His wife lived free of childbirth’s misery,
Percopian Merops’s progeny,
Fair-haired Cleite, whom from the opposite land,
With countless gifts, winning the lady’s hand,
He‘d just from her father brought. He left her bed
And chamber, then he organized a spread 1130
For them and cast all terror from his heart.
They asked each other questions. For his part,
He learned their quest and Pelias’ decree,
While they each bay of the Propontic Sea,
So broad, and neighbour cities learned, although
He could not tell them more, howeverso
They longed to hear. The dawn saw them ascend
Great Dindymum so they some time might spend
In scanning for themselves each passageway
Upon that sea, and then they made their way 1140
To Chytus Port from where they first had bound
Their hawsers, and the passage that they found
Was called Jasonian Way. But then there ran
From the far side of the isle each Earthborn man
Down from the mountain and with rocks below
Blocked up the mouth of vast Chytus, as though
They lay in wait for beasts inside their den.
But Heracles, left with the younger men,
Drew back his arching bow immediately,
Plunging them earthwards individually. 1150
They, in their turn, raised jagged rocks and threw
Them. Zeus’s wife, dread Hera, I construe,
Had nurtured them to be a cause of woe
To Heracles. Back then, to meet the foe,
Came all the rest before they’d reached the height
Of outlook, mighty heroes all, to fight
And slay the Earthborn, spears, and darts as well,
Impaling them till each and every knell
Was knolled among them. As woodcutters throw
Tall, newly-cut tress row on mounting row 1160
Upon the beach that they, once drenched in brine,
May be fast-bolted, so, line after line,
At the foam-skirted harbour-mouth they lay,
Some with both head and breast bent to the spray
In heaps, their limbs spread out upon the strand,
Some with their heads resting upon the sand,
Feet in the deep, to birds and fish left there
As prey. The heroes, once the armed affair
Was over, loosed their hawsers to the breeze
And sailed on through the swelling of the seas. 1170
All day they sped by sail; at the advent
Of night the breezes failed and back they went,
Impelled by adverse winds, and they once more
Arrived at the kindly Doliones’ shore.
That night they disembarked: The Sacred Rock
Is still its name. Then quickly to the dock
They lashed their hawsers. No-one was aware
It was the same isle, and that they were there
The Doliones in the dark of night
Had no clear knowledge, thinking that they might 1180
Be the warlike Macrians. They armed and raced
At them; with shields and spears each faction faced
The other like a fervid fire’s rush
That plunges down upon some barren brush.
A fierce and violent disquieting
Fell on the Doliones. Their own king
Would not escape his fate and go home free
From harm to his dear wife: immediately
The son of Aeson, as he wheeled around,
Impaled the king’s chest with a single bound; 1190
Around the spear the bone was shattered and,
His fate fulfilled, he rolled across the sand –
No man avoids his lot: an ample net
Is spread around us. While he hoped even yet
To dodge his bitter death, that very night
Fate tangled with him as he faced the might
Of Jason’s chiefs. More seeming enemies
Were slain: Heracles dispatched Megabrontes
As well as Teleclus; Acastus slew
Sphodris, Peleus Zelys and that man who 1120
Was swift in war, Gephyros. The king, however,
Telamon slew, that man proficient ever
With the ash-spear. Promeus and Hyacinthos
Were slaughtered by Idas and Klytius,
Phlogios by the two Tyndaridae,
And Megalossaces, two others by
The son of Oeneus, brave Itymoneus
And one of their commanders, Artaceus.
Heroic praise is given them today
By the locals. All the others ran away 1130
In fear, as doves in swarms timidly flee
The rapid hawks. They scampered noisily
Into the gates in throngs: then mournful weeping
Because of this reverse was swiftly sweeping
Throughout the city. Both sides at daybreak
Took in the fatal fault, which to unmake
Were hopeless. The heroic company
Of Minyans was gripped by misery
In seeing dead amid the dust and gore
Cyzicus, son of Aineus. Both sides tore 1140
Their hair in mourning for three days, but then
Three times in their bronze armour all the men
Paced round the tomb, performed rites for the slain
And rightly held games on the meadowy plain
Where even now this tomb can be descried
By later folk. Cleite did not abide
Long past her husband’s death, for now she found
An even greater wretchedness – she bound
A rope around her neck. Her sad demise
Even the grove-maids wept at. From their eyes 1150
What tears they shed the goddesses created
A spring they called Cleite, after the fated
Lady herself; a day of misery
It was for men and women equally
Among the Doliones: none would take
One bite of food nor, for their sorrow’s sake,
Would undertake to labour at the mill
To grind the corn, but, so that they might still
Live on, they ate raw meat. Even today,
When the Ionian Cyzicans must pay 1160
Their annual libations for the dead,
The sacrificial cakes that must be fed
To them are made of corn that has been ground
At the common mill. Fierce storms began to pound
And lasted twelve whole days and nights, impeding
Departure. As the next night was receding,
The chieftains were asleep and as they slept
In deep repose a careful watch was kept
By Mopsus and Acastus, the issue
Of Ampycos. A kingfisher then flew 1170
Round Jason’s golden head: its piercing mew
Now prophesied good weather. Mopsus knew
The shore-bird’s omen. Some god made it turn
And, flying high, alight upon the stern.
As Jason, sleeping on soft fleeces, lay
The seer nudged him awake with no delay
And said: “O Jason, now you must repair
To stark Dindymus’ temple and, once there,
The godhead’s fair-throned queen propitiate.
The dreadful storms will cease: I heard of late 1180
The sea-bird’s cry – it told me everything
While round your sleeping self a-fluttering.
Upon the winds, upon the earth, the sea,
Snowy Olympus she has mastery.
Even the son of Cronus, Zeus, concedes
To her when from the mountains she proceeds
To mighty heaven. To this dread goddess
The other gods bestow a copiousness
Of reverence.” These words he joyed to hear.
He hurried from his bed, filled full of cheer. 1190
He roused all of his men immediately
As he sped on and told the prophecy
Of Mopsus, son of Ampycus, and then
Quickly the oxen by the younger men
Were driven from their stalls up to the tip
Of the sheer mountain; then upon the ship
They loosed the hawsers from the Holy Rock
And plied their oars to reach the Thracian dock.
They climbed the mountain, leaving but a few
Aboard. The Mithrian heights were close in view 1200
And Thrace. The misty Bosporus they spied
And Mysian heights, and on the other side
The Aesepus, the city and the plain
Of Nepeian Adrasteia. A stout skein
Of vine there was, and very old, which they
Chopped down in order that they might display
This idol for the peak’s divinity,
Which Argos chiselled very skilfully.
They placed it on the rugged hill below
Tall oaks than which no other species go 1210
So deep beneath the earth. Then alongside
They built a gravel altar, then they tied
Oak leaves around their heads and took great care
With sacrifice, intoning to the air
To call upon the Mother, nonpareil
Of Dindymum, who holds all Phrygian sway,
And Titias and Cyllenus, the possessors
Of the right to dispense doom and be assessors
Of the Idaean Mother (only they can be,
Of many, owners of this liberty), 1220
Idaean Dactyls of the Cretan land
Whom, grasping Oiaxian soil with either hand,
Anchiale bore in the Dictaian cave.
The son of Aeson prayed that she might save
Them from the storms with frequent supplications
As he poured out the glittering libations.
The young men, then, at Orpheus’s decree,
Began in armoured choreography
To move as on their shields their swords they struck
To dissipate the outcry of ill luck 1230
With which the people mourned their king. That scene
Has prompted kettledrum and tambourine
To be applied in their propitiation
Of Rhea by the Phrygian population
Even today. The goddess, I dare state,
Began to soften at those consummate
Procedures, for auspicious auguries
Appeared: abundant fruit grew on the trees,
While flowers sprang up automatically
Straight through the tender grass, while fawningly 1240
Wild beasts, their dens and thickets left behind,
Would wag their tails at men. Another find
Was marvellous to behold: for formerly
No water flowed in the vicinity
Of Dindymum, but now there gushed nonstop
Fresh water from the thirsty mountaintop.
And now its name the locals had devised
Is Jason’s Spring. So then they organized
For Rhea, queen of queens, a solemn feast
Upon the Mount of Bears. The winds had ceased 1250
By early light and so they rowed away.
A spirit of contention rose that day
With each chief as to who would be the last
To leave his oar. A calming zephyr passed
Across the eddies, quieting the sea.
So, trusting in this new tranquillity,
They pressed the Argo: so fast did she race
That Lord Poseidon’s horses have kept pace,
Storm-footed though they were. Nevertheless
Fierce blasts that evening caused a restlessness 1260
Brought for the rivers, harrying the seas.
The chieftains, spent, retired. But Heracles
With mighty arms pulled on the weary crew:
The ship’s strong timbers shook. Now eager to
Reach Mysia, they passed Rhyndeius’ bay
And Aegaeon’s great cairn, a little way
From Phrygia. But, ploughing through the swell,
Heracles then broke his oar and sideways fell,
One piece still in his hand, the other gone,
Swept backwards by the sea-surge. He sat on 1270
In silence, glaring: inactivity
Was not his wont. That time when from the lea
The delver or the ploughman in delight
Goes to his hut, desirous of a bite
To eat, and each one bends his weary knees
Upon the threshold, caked with dust, then sees
His toil-worn hands and curses to the sky
His belly - that was when they glided by
Cianian homes around Cius’ gateway
And Mount Arganthon. Amicably they 1280
Were welcomed by those living thereabout,
The Mysians, who to them handed out
Comestibles and wine in plenteousness
As well as sheep for they in their distress
Lacked these. Some brought dry wood, some leaves to spread
Aplenty to provide for each a bed.
Some rubbed together firesticks to afford
A flame, some mixed wine, others spread the board,
Once they had to Apollo at nightfall
Made sacrifice (for he was god of all 1290
Who sailed to sea). The son of Zeus then bade
Them to prepare the feast but then he made
His way into a wood that he might mould
An oar to fit his hand: lo and behold,
Roaming, he found a pine with branches few
And not too leafy, likening it to
The shaft of a tall poplar, for so high
And thick it was. He laid his quiver by
Posthaste, his bow as well. His lion’s hide
He doffed, and then his bronzed club he applied 1300
To it and, putting both his hands around
The trunk, he loosed the whole thing from the ground,
Relying on his strength, then, legs astride
For purchase, he upheld it on one side
Of his broad neck and ripped it totally
Skyward, though it had stood deep-rootedly
Within the earth. Just as in wintry days
Calamitous Orion starts his phase
Of setting and a sudden current shocks,
Falls on the ship’s mast and removes the blocks 1310
And stays, it was the same with Heracles.
Taking bow, darts, hide, club, with all of these
He started back. Hylas began to turn
From the heroic crew, with a bronze urn,
And sought the holy spring that he might take
Some water for the evening meal and make
All else shipshape for Heracles when he
Returned, for Heracles had similarly
Brought up the boy from early infanthood
Without his father, Theiodamas the Good 1320
Whom he over an ox slew cruelly
Among the Dryopians after he,
While ploughing fallow land, met with distress
When Heracles had, for its usefulness
For ploughing, compelled him, against his will,
To render up the ox: he yearned for ill
To the Dryopians while seeking a device
To wage a war against them for their vice.
This would, however, lead me far astray
From what I sing about. But, as I say, 1330
Hylas came to the fountain, called Pegae
By the inhabitants who lived nearby.
The dances of the nymphs were being held
Just at this time, for all three nymphs who dwelled
Upon that lovely headland took great care
Always to honour with a nightly air
Queen Artemis. Those nymphs who singled out
The peaks and dells were ranging far about
To guard the woods. A water-nymph, outside
The lovely, flowing spring, however, spied 1340
Close by, as she appeared, the ruddy lad
In comeliness and sweet enchantment clad
(For the full moon was beaming high above,
Displaying him). Cypris so filled with love
Her trembling heart that she could scarcely draw
Her breath in her confusion. When she saw
Him dip the urn into the stream as he
Leaned over and the water brimmingly
Roared as it poured around the vessel there,
She laid her left arm on his neck four-square, 1350
Agog to kiss his tender mouth: her right
She laid upon his elbow and the sprite
Pulled him into the stream. One man alone,
Eilatus’ son, Polyphemus, heard the groan
While on the path, for he was looking out
For Heracles’ return. He dashed without
Delay to Pegae like a beast that’s caught
The sound of far-off bleating, being fraught
With blazing hunger, so it turns around
But not a flock of sheep can there be found, 1360
The shepherds having driven them within,
And so he roars in an incessant din
Until he’s weary: groaning loudly thus
Did Polyphemus, son of Eilatus,
Wander about in the vicinity
And shouted while his voice rang piteously.
He drew his great sword and was on his way
For fear that Hylas be to beasts a prey
Or men might ambush him and easily
Drag him away. Then on the pathway he 1370
Met Heracles himself while brandishing
His naked sword, for in the deepening
Of night he knew him well as on he went
To the ship. He told him of the dread event
At once, his breathing laboured: “I shall be
The first to tell of dire calamity,
My poor friend; Hylas set off for the well
But has not safe returned. What man can tell
If thieves attacked and now are dragging him
Away or beasts are tearing limb from limb 1380
His corpse? I heard him cry.” That’s what he said.
When Heracles heard this, down his forehead
Ran streams of sweat, black blood was bubbling
Within his gut and anger made him fling
The pine-tree to the ground, then off he went
Upon the path, his spirit vehement.
Just as a bull stung by a gadfly flees,
Abandoning the marshlands and the leas:
No thoughts of herd, no thoughts of shepherd fill
His head; he goes, now dashing, now stockstill, 1390
He bellows loudly, broad neck rising high,
Assaulted by the maddening gadfly –
It was in this way frenzied Heracles
Now restlessly applied his speedy knees
To running fast, and then, putting aside
His toil, he shouted loudly far and wide.
Immediately the morning star shone through
The mountain-tops while down the breezes blew.
Speedily Tiphys urged them all to board
The ship and, what the breezes could afford, 1400
Make use of, and they did this eagerly,
Hauling the ropes, and thrust off from the quay.
The sails were bellied by the wind, the strand
Left far behind and gladly the headland
Of Poseidon now they passed. Now dawn, bright-eyed,
Arisen from the east, they all espied
Beaming from heaven, and the ways showed, too,
So clearly, while the meadows, thick with dew,
Shone brightly: then it was they comprehended
That they had left behind, though unintended, 1410
Some men, and so a mighty quarrel fell
Among them, and incessant brawl as well
That they had left the bravest of their crew.
Bewildered, Jason knew not what to do
And sat in silence, eating out his heart
In grievous sorrow. With an angry start
Did Telamon speak out: “Oh sit there, please!
It’s fitting to abandon Heracles!
For his repute, it was your strategy,
Should not eclipse your own in Greece, should we 1420
Be blessed to come safe home. What joy is there
In words, though? I will take myself elsewhere,
Far from your friends who showed complicity
In your deceit. Those were his words. Then he
At Tiphys, son of Hagnas, swiftly came,
His eyes like curling licks of ravening flame.
They should have quickly come to Mysian turf
While battling through the endless winds and surf
But that the sons of Boreas the Thracian
Restrained the man with words of indignation: 1430
Alas, the dire revenge of Heracles
For staying of a search awaited these
Two men: in sea-girt Tenos they were slain
By him as they were coming back again
From the games for Pelias’ death; the earth he piled
Around them, then two monuments he styled
Above them, one, a wondrous sight to see,
Which moves when the North Wind blows stormily
Upon it. These events in future time
Would be fulfilled. Out of the deep sea’s rime 1440
Glaucus appeared, divine Nereus’s wise
Interpreter. They all observed him rise,
His shaggy head and chest imposingly
Drawn up above his flanks, then sturdily
He seized the keel and to the eager crew
Cried: “Why do you pay no attention to
Great Zeus’s counsel, proposing to bring
Bold Heracles to the city of the king
Aeëtes? He for the contemptuous
Eurystheus must complete twelve strenuous 1450
Labours and dwell in immortality,
Should he fulfil a few more; let there be
No grief for him. It’s the gods’ will, likewise,
That Polyphemus is to organize
A glorious city at the entranceway
Of Kios with the Mysians and stay
Thenceforward in the Chalybes’ great land.
The holy nymph has taken Hylas’ hand
In loving wedlock, for whose sake those two
Wandered around, now left behind by you.” 1460
He spoke and with a plunge the restless swell
He swathed about himself; round him, pell-mell,
The dark waves foamed in eddies and assailed
The hollow ship as through the sea she sailed.
The heroes were excited. Eagerly
To Jason Telamon, the progeny
Of Aeacus, went up and grasped his hand
Within his own, embraced him warmly and
Said: “Jason, cease your anger, please, I pray:
I erred in folly – sorrow made me say 1470
Things arrogant and dreadful. Let me throw
My error to the winds that we may show
Our friendship as before:” Then prudently
The son of Aeson said: “You slandered me,
Good friend, with vicious words, to all men here
Saying I wronged a kind friend. Never fear,
However, for my anger I’ll not keep,
Though pained beforehand. It was not for sheep
Or property that you felt indignation
But for a friend. I hold the expectation 1480
That you would fight another man for me
In such a case.” And then, as formerly,
They sat united. It was Zeus’s will
That of those two, Polyphemus would fulfil
A city’s founding in the Mysian land,
Named for the river flowing by it, and
The other, Heracles, would go and toil
For Eurystheus. He threatened to despoil
The Mysian territory instantly
Should they not bring to light the destiny 1490
Of Hylas, quick or dead. Then they all chose
The worthiest male progeny of those
Who lived there and then pledged a guarantee
Not to forsake their search. Accordingly
The people of Kios even today
Seek Hylas, Theiodamas’s son, while they
Watch over well-built Trachis – Heracles
Had settled in that place their guarantees,
Those noble sons. The ship, all day and night,
Was carried by strong winds but at first light 1500
No breeze was felt at all. A promontory
They then detected, very broad to see,
Rising above the bay, so on they rowed
And came to landfall as the rooster crowed.