第 36 节
作者:指点迷津      更新:2021-02-19 00:27      字数:9322
  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
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  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。
  (ll。 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 Medeafor that was the cause of strifethat 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。
  (ll。 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:
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  (ll。 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  fleecewhen      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。〃
  (ll。   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:
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  (ll。 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。〃
  (ll。 410…420)      Thus he spake soothing her; and she uttered a deadly
  speech: 〃Take heed now。           For when sorry deeds are done we must needs
  devise   sorry  counsel;  since   at   first   I   was distraught by  my  error;  and   by
  heaven's   will   it   was   I   wrought   the   accomplishment   of   evil   desires。   Do
  thou in the turmoil shield me from the Colchians' spears; and I will beguile
  Apsyrtus to come into thy handsdo thou greet him with splendid giftsif
  only I could persuade the heralds on their departure to bring him alone to
  hearken to my words。           Thereupon if this deed pleases thee; slay him and
  raise a conflict with the Colchians; I care not。
  (ll。 421…422)      So they two agreed and prepared a great web of guile
  for   Apsyrtus;   and   provided   many   gifts   such   as   are   due   to   guests;   and
  among      them   gave    a  sacred    robe   of  Hypsipyle;     of  crimson     hue。   The
  Graces with their own hands had wrought it for Dionysus in sea…girt Dia;
  and he gave it to his son Thoas thereafter; and Thoas left it to Hypsipyle;
  and   she   gave   that   fair…wrought   guest…gift   with   many   another   marvel   to
  Aeson's   son   to   wear。     Never   couldst   thou   satisfy   thy   sweet   desire   by
  touching it or gazing on it。        And from it a divine fragrance breathed from
  the time when the king of Nysa himself lay to rest thereon; flushed with
  wine and nectar as he clasped the beauteous breast of the maiden…daughter
  of Minos; whom once Theseus forsook in the island of Dia; when she had
  followed him from Cnossus。            And when she had wo