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！
d race of Oceanus； appear manifest to our longing eyes and show us some spring of water from the rock or some sacred flow gushing from the earth； goddesses； wherewith we may quench the thirst that burns us unceasingly。 And if ever again we return in our voyaging to the Achaean land； then to you among the first of goddesses with willing hearts will we bring countless gifts； libations and banquets。〃
（ll。 1422…1431） So he spake； beseeching them with plaintive voice； and they from their station near pitied their pain； and lo！ First of all they caused grass to spring from the earth； and above the grass rose up tall shoots； and then flourishing saplings grew standing upright far above the earth。 Hespere became a poplar and Eretheis an elm； and Aegle a willow's sacred trunk。 And forth from these trees their forms looked out； as clear as they were before； a marvel exceeding great； and Aegle spake with gentle words answering their longing looks：
（ll。 1432…1449） 〃Surely there has come hither a mighty succour to your toils； that most accursed man； who robbed our guardian serpent of life and plucked the golden apples of the goddesses and is gone； and has left bitter grief for us。 For yesterday came a man most fell in wanton violence； most grim in form； and his eyes flashed beneath his scowling brow； a ruthless wretch； and he was clad in the skin of a monstrous lion of raw hide； untanned； and he bare a sturdy bow of olive； and a bow； wherewith he shot and killed this monster here。 So he too came； as one traversing the land on foot； parched with thirst； and he rushed wildly through this spot； searching for water； but nowhere was he like to see it。 Now here stood a rock near the Tritonian lake； and of his own device； or by the prompting of some god； he smote it below with his foot； and the water gushed out in full flow。 And he； leaning both his hands and chest upon the ground； drank a huge draught from the rifted rock； until； stooping like a beast of the field； he had satisfied his mighty maw。〃
（ll。 1450…1457） Thus she spake； and they gladly with joyful steps ran to the spot where Aegle had pointed out to them the spring； until they reached it。 And as when earth…burrowing ants gather in swarms round a narrow cleft； or when flies lighting upon a tiny drop of sweet honey cluster round with insatiate eagerness； so at that time； huddled together； the Minyae thronged about the spring from the rock。 And thus with wet lips one cried to another in his delight：
（ll。 1458…1460） 〃Strange！ In very truth Heracles； though far away； has saved his comrades； fordone with thirst。 Would that we might find him on his way as we pass through the mainland！〃
（ll。 1461…1484） So they spake； and those who were ready for this work answered； and they separated this way and that； each starting to search。 For by the night winds the footsteps had been effaced where the sand was stirred。 The two sons of Boreas started up； trusting in their wings； and Euphemus； relying on his swift feet； and Lynceus to cast far his piercing eyes； and with them darted off Canthus； the fifth。 He was urged on by the doom of the gods and his own courage； that he might learn for certain from Heracles where he had left Polyphemus； son of Eilatus； for he was minded to question him on every point concerning his comrade。 But that hero had founded a glorious city among the Mysians； and； yearning for his home…return； had passed far over the mainland in search of Argo； and in time he reached the land of the Chalybes； who dwell near the sea； there it was that his fate subdued him。 And to him a monument stands under a tall poplar； just facing the sea。 But that day Lynceus thought he saw Heracles all alone； far off； over measureless land； as a man at the month's beginning sees； or thinks he sees； the moon through a bank of cloud。 And he returned and told his comrades that no other searcher would find Heracles on his way； and they also came back； and swift…footed Euphemus and the twin sons of Thracian Boreas； after a vain toil。
（ll。 1485…1501） But thee； Canthus； the fates of death seized in Libya。 On pasturing flocks didst thou light； and there followed a shepherd who； in defence of his own sheep； while thou weft leading them off （11） to thy comrades in their need； slew thee by the cast of a stone； for he was no weakling； Caphaurus； the grandson of Lycoreian Phoebus and the chaste maiden Acacallis； whom once Minos drove from home to dwell in Libya； his own daughter； when she was bearing the gods' heavy load； and she bare to Phoebus a glorious son； whom they call Amphithemis and Garamas。 And Amphithemis wedded a Tritonian nymph； and she bare to him Nasamon and strong Caphaurus； who on that day in defending his sheep slew Canthus。 But he escaped not the chieftains' avenging hands； when they learned the deed he had done。 And the Minyae； when they knew it； afterwards took up the corpse and buried it in the earth； mourning； and the sheep they took with them。
（ll。 1502…1536） Thereupon on the same day a pitiless fate seized Mopsus too； son of Ampycus； and he escaped not a bitter doom by his prophesying； for there is no averting of death。 Now there lay in the sand； avoiding the midday heat； a dread serpent； too sluggish of his own will to strike at an unwilling foe； nor yet would he dart full face at one that would shrink back。 But into whatever of all living beings that life…giving earth sustains that serpent once injects his black venom； his path to Hades becomes not so much as a cubit's length； not even if Paeeon； if it is right for me to say this openly； should tend him； when its teeth have only grazed the skin。 For when over Libya flew godlike Perseus Eurymedon for by that name his mother called himbearing to the king the Gorgon's head newly severed； all the drops of dark blood that fell to the earth； produced a brood of those serpents。 Now Mopsus stepped on the end of its spine； setting thereon the sole of his left foot； and it writhed round in pain and bit and tore the flesh between the shin and the muscles。 And Medea and her handmaids fled in terror； but Canthus bravely felt the bleeding wound； for no excessive pain harassed him。 Poor wretch！ Already a numbness that loosed his limbs was stealing beneath his skin； and a thick mist was spreading over his eyes。 Straightway his heavy limbs sank helplessly to the ground and he grew cold； and his comrades and the hero； Aeson's son； gathered round； marvelling at the close…coming doom。 Nor yet though dead might he lie beneath the sun even for a little space。 For at once the poison began to rot his flesh within； and the hair decayed and fell from the skin。 And quickly and in haste they dug a deep grave with mattocks of bronze； and they tore their hair； the heroes and the maidens； bewailing the dead man's piteous suffering； and when he had received due burial rites； thrice they marched round the tomb in full armour； and heaped above him a mound of earth。
（ll。 1537…1553） But when they had gone aboard； as the south wind blew over the sea； and they were searching for a passage to go forth from the Tritonian lake； for long they had no device； but all the day were borne on aimlessly。 And as a serpent goes writhing along his crooked path when the sun's fiercest rays scorch him； and with a hiss he turns his head to this side and that； and in his fury his eyes glow like sparks of fire； until he creeps to his lair through a cleft in the rock； so Argo seeking an outlet from the lake； a fairway for ships； wandered for a long time。 Then straightway Orpheus bade them bring forth from the ship Apollo's massy tripod and offer it to the gods of the land as propitiation for their return。 So they went forth and set Apollo's gift on the shore； then before them stood； in the form of a youth； farswaying Triton； and he lifted a clod from the earth and offered it as a stranger's gift； and thus spake：
（ll。 1554…1561） 〃Take it； friends； for no stranger's gift of great worth have I here by me now to place in the hands of those who beseech me。 But if ye are searching for a passage through this sea； as often is the need of men passing through a strange land； I will declare it。 For my sire Poseidon has made me to be well versed