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ARGONAUTICA BOOK 2 [500]

(2.500-527) Cyrene, the tale goes, once tended sheep along the marsh-meadow of Peneus among men of old time; for dear to her were maidenhood and a couch unstained. But, as she guarded her flock by the river, Apollo carried her off far from Haemonia and placed her among the nymphs of the land, who dwelt in Libya near the Myrtosian height. And here to Phoebus she bore Aristaeus whom the Haemonians, rich in corn-land, call "Hunter" and "Shepherd". Her, of his love, the god made a nymph there, of long life and a huntress, and his son he brought while still an infant to be nurtured in the cave of Cheiron. And to him when he grew to manhood the Muses gave a bride, and taught him the arts of healing and of prophecy; and they made him the keeper of their sheep, of all that grazed on the Athamantian plain of Phthia and round steep Othrys and the sacred stream of the river Apidanus. But when from heaven Sirius scorched the Minoan Isles, and for long there was no respite for the inhabitants, then by the injunction of the Far-Darter they summoned Aristaeus to ward off the pestilence. And by his father's command he left Phthia and made his home in Ceos, and gathered together the Parrhasian people who are of the lineage of Lycaon, and he built a great altar to Zeus Icmaeus, and duly offered sacrifices upon the mountains to that star Sirius, and to Zeus son of Cronos himself. And on this account it is that Etesian winds from Zeus cool the land for forty days, and in Ceos even now the priests offer sacrifices before the rising of the Dog-star.

500     Κυρήνη πέφαταί τις ἕλος πάρα Πηνειοῖο
501 μῆλα νέμειν προτέροισι παρ' ἀνδράσιν: εὔαδε γάρ οἱ
502 παρθενίη καὶ λέκτρον ἀκήρατον. αὐτὰρ Ἀπόλλων
503 τήνγ' ἀνερεψάμενος ποταμῷ ἔπι ποιμαίνουσαν
504 τηλόθεν Αἱμονίης, χθονίῃς παρακάτθετο νύμφαις,
505 αἳ Λιβύην ἐνέμοντο παραὶ Μυρτώσιον αἶπος.
506 ἔνθα δ' Ἀρισταῖον Φοίβῳ τέκεν, ὃν καλέουσιν
507 Ἀγρέα καὶ Νόμιον πολυλήιοι Αἱμονιῆες.
508 τὴν μὲν γὰρ φιλότητι θεὸς ποιήσατο νύμφην
509 αὐτοῦ μακραίωνα καὶ ἀγρότιν: υἷα δ' ἔνεικεν
510 νηπίαχον Χείρωνος ὑπ' ἄντροισιν κομέεσθαι.
511 τῷ καὶ ἀεξηθέντι θεαὶ γάμον ἐμνήστευσαν
512 Μοῦσαι, ά̓κεστορίην τε θεοπροπίας τ' ἐδίδαξαν:
513 καί μιν ἑῶν μήλων θέσαν ἤρανον, ὅσσ' ἐνέμοντο
514 ἂμ πεδίον Φθίης Ἀθαμάντιον ἀμφί τ' ἐρυμνὴν
515 Ὄθρυν καὶ ποταμοῦ ἱερὸν ῥόον Ἀπιδανοῖο.
516 ἦμος δ' οὐρανόθεν Μινωίδας ἔφλεγε νήσους
517 Σείριος, οὐδ' ἐπὶ δηρὸν ἔην ἄκος ἐνναέτῃσιν,
518 τῆμος τόνγ' ἐκάλεσσαν ἐφημοσύναις Ἑκάτοιο
519 λοιμοῦ ἀλεξητῆρα. λίπεν δ' ὅγε πατρὸς ἐφετμῇ
520 Φθίην, ἐν δὲ Κέῳ κατενάσσατο, λαὸν ἀγείρας
521 Παρράσιον, τοίπερ τε Λυκάονός εἰσι γενέθλης,
522 καὶ βωμὸν ποίησε μέγαν Διὸς Ἰκμαίοιο,
523 ἱερά τ' εὖ ἔρρεξεν ἐν οὔρεσιν ἀστέρι κείνῳ
524 Σειρίῳ αὐτῷ τε Κρονίδῃ Διί. τοῖο δ' ἕκητι
525 γαῖαν ἐπιψύχουσιν ἐτήσιαι ἐκ Διὸς αὖραι
526 ἤματα τεσσαράκοντα: Κέῳ δ' ἔτι νῦν ἱερῆες
527 ἀντολέων προπάροιθε Κυνὸς ῥέζουσι θυηλάς.

(2.528-536) So the tale is told, but the chieftains stayed there by constraint, and every day the Thynians, doing pleasure to Phineus, sent them gifts beyond measure. And afterwards they raised an altar to the blessed twelve on the sea-beach opposite and laid offerings thereon and then entered their swift ship to row, nor did they forget to bear with them a trembling dove; but Euphemus seized her and brought her all quivering with fear, and they loosed the twin hawsers from the land.

528     Καὶ τὰ μὲν ὧς ὑδέονται: ἀριστῆες δὲ καταῦθι
529 μίμνον ἐρυκόμενοι: ξεινήια δ' ἄσπετα Θυνοὶ
530 πᾶν ἦμαρ Φινῆι χαριζόμενοι προΐαλλον.
531 ἐκ δὲ τόθεν μακάρεσσι δυώδεκα δωμήσαντες
532 βωμὸν ἁλὸς ῥηγμῖνι πέρην καὶ ἐφ' ἱερὰ θέντες,
533 νῆα θοὴν εἴσβαινον ἐρεσσέμεν, οὐδὲ πελείης
534 τρήρωνος λήθοντο μετὰ σφίσιν: ἀλλ' ἄρα τήνγε
535 δείματι πεπτηυῖαν ἑῇ φέρε χειρὶ μεμαρπὼς
536 Εὔφημος, γαίης δ' ἀπὸ διπλόα πείσματ' ἔλυσαν.

(2.537-548) Nor did they start unmarked by Athena, but straightway swiftly she set her feel on a light cloud, which would waft her on, mighty though she was, and she swept on to the sea with friendly thoughts to the oarsmen. And as when one roveth far from his native land, as we men often wander with enduring heart, nor is any land too distant but all ways are clear to his view, and he sees in mind his own home, and at once the way over sea and land seems slain, and swiftly thinking, now this way, now that, he strains with eager eyes; so swiftly the daughter of Zeus darted down and set her foot on the cheerless shore of Thynia.

537     Οὐδ' ἄρ' Ἀθηναίην προτέρω λάθον ὁρμηθέντες:
538 αὐτίκα δ' ἐσσυμένως νεφέλης ἐπιβᾶσα πόδεσσιν
539 κούφης, ἥ κε φέροι μιν ἄφαρ βριαρήν περ ἐοῦσαν,
540 σεύατ' ἴμεν πόντονδε, φίλα φρονέουσ' ἐρέτῃσιν.
541 ὡς δ' ὅτε τις πάτρηθεν ἀλώμενος, οἷά τε πολλὰ
542 πλαζόμεθ' ἄνθρωποι τετληότες, οὐδέ τις αἶα
543 τηλουρός, πᾶσαι δὲ κατόψιοί εἰσι κέλευθοι,
544 σφωιτέρους δ' ἐνόησε δόμους, ἄμυδις δὲ κέλευθος
545 ὑγρή τε τραφερή τ' ἰνδάλλεται, ἄλλοτε δ' ἄλλῃ
546 ὀξέα πορφύρων ἐπιμαίεται ὀφθαλμοῖσιν:
547 ὧς ἄρα καρπαλίμως κούρη Διὸς ἀίξασα
548 θῆκεν ἐπ' ἀξείνοιο πόδας Θυνηίδος ἀκτῆς.

(2.549-567) Now when they reached the narrow strait of the winding passage, hemmed in on both sides by rugged cliffs, while an eddying current from below was washing against the ship as she moved on, they went forward sorely in dread; and now the thud of the crashing rocks ceaselessly struck their ears, and the sea-washed shores resounded, and then Euphemus grasped the dove in his hand and started to mount the prow; and they, at the bidding of Tiphys, son of Hagnias, rowed with good will to drive Argo between the rocks, trusting to their strength. And as they rounded a bend they saw the rocks opening for the last time of all. Their spirit melted within them; and Euphemus sent forth the dove to dart forward in flight; and they all together raised their heads to look; but she flew between them, and the rocks again rushed together and crashed as they met face to face. And the foam leapt up in a mass like a cloud; awful was the thunder of the sea; and all round them the mighty welkin roared.

549     Οἱ δ' ὅτε δὴ σκολιοῖο πόρου στεινωπὸν ἵκοντο
550 τρηχείῃς σπιλάδεσσιν ἐεργμένον ἀμφοτέρωθεν,
551 δινήεις δ' ὑπένερθεν ἀνακλύζεσκεν ἰοῦσαν
552 νῆα ῥόος, πολλὸν δὲ φόβῳ προτέρωσε νέοντο,
553 ἤδη δέ σφισι δοῦπος ἀρασσομένων πετράων
554 νωλεμὲς οὔατ' ἔβαλλε, βόων δ' ἁλιμυρέες ἀκταί,
555 δὴ τότ' ἔπειθ' ὁ μὲν ὦρτο πελειάδα χειρὶ μεμαρπὼς
556 Εὔφημος πρῴρης ἐπιβήμεναι: οἱ δ' ὑπ' ἀνωγῇ
557 Τίφυος Ἁγνιάδαο θελήμονα ποιήσαντο
558 εἰρεσίην, ἵν' ἔπειτα διὲκ πέτρας ἐλάσειαν,
559 κάρτεϊ ᾧ πίσυνοι. τὰς δ' αὐτίκα λοίσθιον ἄλλων
560 οἰγομένας ἀγκῶνα περιγνάμψαντες ἴδοντο.
561 σὺν δέ σφιν χύτο θυμός: ὁ δ' ἀίξαι πτερύγεσσιν
562 Εὔφημος προέηκε πελειάδα: τοὶ δ' ἅμα πάντες
563 ἤειραν κεφαλὰς ἐσορώμενοι: ἡ δὲ δι' αὐτῶν
564 ἔπτατο: ταὶ δ' ἄμυδις πάλιν ἀντίαι ἀλλήλῃσιν
565 ἄμφω ὁμοῦ ξυνιοῦσαι ἐπέκτυπον. ὦρτο δὲ πολλὴ
566 ἅλμη ἀναβρασθεῖσα, νέφος ὥς: αὖε δὲ πόντος
567 σμερδαλέον: πάντῃ δὲ περὶ μέγας ἔβρεμεν αἰθήρ.

(2.568-592) The hollow caves beneath the rugged cliffs rumbled as the sea came surging in; and the white foam of the dashing wave spurted high above the cliff. Next the current whirled the ship round. And the rocks shore away the end of the dove's tail- feathers; but away she flew unscathed. And the rowers gave a loud cry; and Tiphys himself called to them to row with might and main. For the rocks were again parting asunder. But as they rowed they trembled, until the tide returning drove them back within the rocks. Then most awful fear seized upon all; for over their head was destruction without escape. And now to right and left broad Pontus was seen, when suddenly a huge wave rose up before them, arched, like a steep rock; and at the sight they bowed with bended heads. For it seemed about to leap down upon the ship's whole length and to overwhelm them. But Tiphys was quick to ease the ship as she laboured with the oars; and in all its mass the wave rolled away beneath the keel, and at the stern it raised Argo herself and drew her far away from the rocks; and high in air was she borne. But Euphemus strode among all his comrades and cried to them to bend to their oars with all their might; and they with a shout smote the water. And as far as the ship yielded to the rowers, twice as far did she leap back, and the oar, were bent like curved bows as the heroes used their strength.

568 κοῖλαι δὲ σπήλυγγες ὑπὸ σπιλάδας τρηχείας
569 κλυζούσης ἁλὸς ἔνδον ἐβόμβεον: ὑψόθι δ' ὄχθης
570 λευκὴ καχλάζοντος ἀνέπτυε κύματος ἄχνη.
571 νῆα δ' ἔπειτα πέριξ εἴλει ῥόος. ἄκρα δ' ἔκοψαν
572 οὐραῖα πτερὰ ταίγε πελειάδος: ἡ δ' ἀπόρουσεν
573 ἀσκηθής. ἐρέται δὲ μέγ' ἴαχον: ἔβραχε δ' αὐτὸς
574 Τῖφυς ἐρεσσέμεναι κρατερῶς. οἴγοντο γὰρ αὖτις
575 ἄνδιχα. τοὺς δ' ἐλάοντας ἔχεν τρόμος, ὄφρα μιν αὐτὴ
576 πλημμυρὶς παλίνορσος ἀνερχομένη κατένεικεν
577 εἴσω πετράων. τότε δ' αἰνότατον δέος εἷλεν
578 πάντας: ὑπὲρ κεφαλῆς γὰρ ἀμήχανος ἦεν ὄλεθρος.
579 ἤδη δ' ἔνθα καὶ ἔνθα διὰ πλατὺς εἴδετο Πόντος,
580 καί σφισιν ἀπροφάτως ἀνέδυ μέγα κῦμα πάροιθεν
581 κυρτόν, ἀποτμῆγι σκοπιῇ ἴσον: οἱ δ' ἐσιδόντες
582 ἤμυσαν λοξοῖσι καρήασιν. εἴσατο γάρ ῥα
583 νηὸς ὑπὲρ πάσης κατεπάλμενον ἀμφικαλύψειν.
584 ἀλλά μιν ἔφθη Τῖφυς ὑπ' εἰρεσίῃ βαρύθουσαν
585 ἀγχαλάσας: τὸ δὲ πολλὸν ὑπὸ τρόπιν ἐξεκυλίσθη,
586 ἐκ δ' αὐτὴν πρύμνηθεν ἀνείρυσε τηλόθι νῆα
587 πετράων: ὑψοῦ δὲ μεταχρονίη πεφόρητο.
588 Εὔφημος δ' ἀνὰ πάντας ἰὼν βοάασκεν ἑταίρους,
589 ἐμβαλέειν κώπῃσιν ὅσον σθένος: οἱ δ' ἀλαλητῷ
590 κόπτον ὕδωρ. ὅσσον δ' ἂν ὑπείκαθε νηῦς ἐρέτῃσιν,
591 δὶς τόσον ἂψ ἀπόρουσεν: ἐπεγνάμπτοντο δὲ κῶπαι
592 ἠύτε καμπύλα τόξα, βιαζομένων ἡρώων.

(2.593-610) Then a vaulted billow rushed upon them, and the ship like a cylinder ran on the furious wave plunging through the hollow sea. And the eddying current held her between the clashing rocks; and on each side they shook and thundered; and the ship's timbers were held fast. Then Athena with her left hand thrust back one mighty rock and with her right pushed the ship through; and she, like a winged arrow, sped through the air. Nevertheless the rocks, ceaselessly clashing, shore off as she passed the extreme end of the stern-ornament. But Athena soared up to Olympus, when they had escaped unscathed. And the rocks in one spot at that moment were rooted fast for ever to each other, which thing had been destined by the blessed gods, when a man in his ship should have passed between them alive. And the heroes breathed again after their chilling fear, beholding at the same time the sky and the expanse of sea spreading far and wide. For they deemed that they were saved from Hades; and Tiphys first of all began to speak:

593 ἔνθεν δ' αὐτίκ' ἔπειτα κατηρεφὲς ἔσσυτο κῦμα,
594 ἡ δ' ἄφαρ ὥστε κύλινδρος ἐπέτρεχε κύματι λάβρῳ
595 προπροκαταΐγδην κοίλης ἁλός. ἐν δ' ἄρα μέσσαις
596 Πληγάσι δινήεις εἶχεν ῥόος: αἱ δ' ἑκάτερθεν
597 σειόμεναι βρόμεον: πεπέδητο δὲ νήια δοῦρα.
598 καὶ τότ' Ἀθηναίη στιβαρῆς ἀντέσπασε πέτρης
599 σκαιῇ, δεξιτερῇ δὲ διαμπερὲς ὦσε φέρεσθαι.
600 ἡ δ' ἰκέλη πτερόεντι μετήορος ἔσσυτ' ὀιστῷ.
601 ἔμπης δ' ἀφλάστοιο παρέθρισαν ἄκρα κόρυμβα
602 νωλεμὲς ἐμπλήξασαι ἐναντίαι. αὐτὰρ Ἀθήνη
603 Οὔλυμπόνδ' ἀνόρουσεν, ὅτ' ἀσκηθεῖς ὑπάλυξαν.
604 πέτραι δ' εἰς ἕνα χῶρον ἐπισχεδὸν ἀλλήλῃσιν
605 νωλεμὲς ἐρρίζωθεν, ὃ δὴ καὶ μόρσιμον ἦεν
606 ἐκ μακάρων, εὖτ' ἄν τις ἰδὼν διὰ νηὶ περήσῃ.
607 οἱ δέ που ὀκρυόεντος ἀνέπνεον ἄρτι φόβοιο
608 ἠέρα παπταίνοντες ὁμοῦ πέλαγός τε θαλάσσης
609 τῆλ' ἀναπεπτάμενον. δὴ γὰρ φάσαν ἐξ Ἀίδαο
610 σώεσθαι: Τῖφυς δὲ παροίτατος ἤρχετο μύθων:


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