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ARGONAUTICA BOOK 1

(1.1-4) Beginning with thee, O Phoebus, I will recount the famous deeds of men of old, who, at the behest of King Pelias, down through the mouth of Pontus and between the Cyanean rocks, sped well-benched Argo in quest of the golden fleece.

1 Ἀρχόμενος σέο, Φοῖβε, παλαιγενέων κλέα φωτῶν
2 μνήσομαι, οἳ Πόντοιο κατὰ στόμα καὶ διὰ πέτρας
3 Κυανέας βασιλῆος ἐφημοσύνῃ Πελίαο
4 χρύσειον μετὰ κῶας ἐύζυγον ἤλασαν Ἀργώ.

(1.5-17) Such was the oracle that Pelias heard, that a hateful doom awaited him to be slain at the prompting of the man whom he should see coming forth from the people with but one sandal. And no long time after, in accordance with that true report, Jason crossed the stream of wintry Anaurus on foot, and saved one sandal from the mire, but the other he left in the depths held back by the flood. And straightway he came to Pelias to share the banquet which the king was offering to his father Poseidon and the rest of the gods, though he paid no honour to Pelasgian Hera. Quickly the king saw him and pondered, and devised for him the toil of a troublous voyage, in order that on the sea or among strangers he might lose his home-return.

5     Τοίην γὰρ Πελίης φάτιν ἔκλυεν, ὥς μιν ὀπίσσω
6 μοῖρα μένει στυγερή, τοῦδ' ἀνέρος, ὅντιν' ἴδοιτο
7 δημόθεν οἰοπέδιλον, ὑπ' ἐννεσίῃσι δαμῆναι.
8 δηρὸν δ' οὐ μετέπειτα τεὴν κατὰ βάξιν Ἰήσων
9 χειμερίοιο ῥέεθρα κιὼν διὰ ποσσὶν Ἀναύρου
10 ἄλλο μὲν ἐξεσάωσεν ὑπ' ἰλύος, ἄλλο δ' ἔνερθεν
11 κάλλιπεν αὖθι πέδιλον ἐνισχόμενον προχοῇσιν.
12 ἵκετο δ' ἐς Πελίην αὐτοσχεδὸν ἀντιβολήσων
13 εἰλαπίνης, ἣν πατρὶ Ποσειδάωνι καὶ ἄλλοις
14 ῥέζε θεοῖς, Ἥρης δὲ Πελασγίδος οὐκ ἀλέγιζεν.
15 αἶψα δὲ τόνγ' ἐσιδὼν ἐφράσσατο, καί οἱ ἄεθλον
16 ἔντυε ναυτιλίης πολυκηδέος, ὄφρ' ἐνὶ πόντῳ
17 ἠὲ καὶ ἀλλοδαποῖσι μετ' ἀνδράσι νόστον ὀλέσσῃ.

(1.18-22) The ship, as former bards relate, Argus wrought by the guidance of Athena. But now I will tell the lineage and the names of the heroes, and of the long sea-paths and the deeds they wrought in their wanderings; may the Muses be the inspirers of my song!

18     Νῆα μὲν οὖν οἱ πρόσθεν ἐπικλείουσιν ἀοιδοὶ
19 Ἄργον Ἀθηναίης καμέειν ὑποθημοσύνῃσιν.
20 νῦν δ' ἂν ἐγὼ γενεήν τε καὶ οὔνομα μυθησαίμην
21 ἡρώων, δολιχῆς τε πόρους ἁλός, ὅσσα τ' ἔρεξαν
22 πλαζόμενοι: Μοῦσαι δ' ὑποφήτορες εἶεν ἀοιδῆς.

(1.23-34) First then let us name Orpheus whom once Calliope bare, it is said, wedded to Thracian Oeagrus, near the Pimpleian height. Men say that he by the music of his songs charmed the stubborn rocks upon the mountains and the course of rivers. And the wild oak-trees to this day, tokens of that magic strain, that grow at Zone on the Thracian shore, stand in ordered ranks close together, the same which under the charm of his lyre he led down from Pieria. Such then was Orpheus whom Aeson's son welcomed to share his toils, in obedience to the behest of Cheiron, Orpheus ruler of Bistonian Pieria.

23     Πρῶτά νυν Ὀρφῆος μνησώμεθα, τόν ῥά ποτ' αὐτὴ
24 Καλλιόπη Θρήικι φατίζεται εὐνηθεῖσα
25 Οἰάγρῳ σκοπιῆς Πιμπληίδος ἄγχι τεκέσθαι
26 αὐτὰρ τόνγ' ἐνέπουσιν ἀτειρέας οὔρεσι πέτρας
27 θέλξαι ἀοιδάων ἐνοπῇ ποταμῶν τε ῥέεθρα.
28 φηγοὶ δ' ἀγριάδες, κείνης ἔτι σήματα μολπῆς,
29 ἀκτῆς Θρηικίης Ζώνης ἔπι τηλεθόωσαι
30 ἑξείης στιχόωσιν ἐπήτριμοι, ἃς ὅγ' ἐπιπρὸ
31 θελγομένας φόρμιγγι κατήγαγε Πιερίηθεν.
32 Ὀρφέα μὲν δὴ τοῖον ἑῶν ἐπαρωγὸν ἀέθλων
33 Αἰσονίδης Χείρωνος ἐφημοσύνῃσι πιθήσας
34 δέξατο, Πιερίῃ Βιστωνίδι κοιρανέοντα.

(1.35-39) Straightway came Asterion, whom Cometes begat by the waters of eddying Apidanus; he dwelt at Peiresiae near the Phylleian mount, where mighty Apidanus and bright Enipeus join their streams, coming together from afar.

35     Ἤλυθε δ' Ἀστερίων αὐτοσχεδόν, ὅν ῥα Κομήτης
36 γείνατο δινήεντος ἐφ' ὕδασιν Ἀπιδανοῖο,
37 Πειρεσιὰς ὄρεος Φυλληίου ἀγχόθι ναίων,
38 ἔνθα μὲν Ἀπιδανός τε μέγας καὶ δῖος Ἐνιπεὺς
39 ἄμφω συμφορέονται, ἀπόπροθεν εἰς ἓν ἰόντες.

(1.40-44) Next to them from Larisa came Polyphemus, son of Eilatus, who aforetime among the mighty Lapithae, when they were arming themselves against the Centaurs, fought in his younger days; now his limbs were grown heavy with age, but his martial spirit still remained, even as of old.

40     Λάρισαν δ' ἐπὶ τοῖσι λιπὼν Πολύφημος ἵκανεν
41 Εἰλατίδης, ὃς πρὶν μὲν ἐρισθενέων Λαπιθάων,
42 ὁππότε Κενταύροις Λαπίθαι ἐπὶ θωρήσσοντο,
43 ὁπλότερος πολέμιζε: τότ' αὖ βαρύθεσκέ οἱ ἤδη
44 γυῖα, μένεν δ' ἔτι θυμὸς ἀρήιος, ὡς τὸ πάρος περ.

(1.45-48) Nor was Iphiclus long left behind in Phylace, the uncle of Aeson's son; for Aeson had wedded his sister Alcimede, daughter of Phylacus: his kinship with her bade him be numbered in the host.

45     Οὐδὲ μὲν Ἴφικλος Φυλάκῃ ἔνι δηρὸν ἔλειπτο,
46 μήτρως Αἰσονίδαο: κασιγνήτην γὰρ ὄπυιεν
47 Αἴσων Ἀλκιμέδην Φυλακηίδα: τῆς μιν ἀνώγει
48 πηοσύνη καὶ κῆδος ἐνικρινθῆναι ὁμίλῳ.

(1.49-50) Nor did Admetus, the lord of Pherae rich in sheep, stay behind beneath the peak of the Chalcodonian mount.

49     Οὐδὲ Φεραῖς Ἄδμητος ἐυρρήνεσσιν ἀνάσσων
50 μίμνεν ὑπὸ σκοπιὴν ὄρεος Χαλκωδονίοιο.

(1.51-56) Nor at Alope stayed the sons of Hermes, rich in corn-land, well skilled in craftiness, Erytus and Echion, and with them on their departure their kinsman Aethalides went as the third; him near the streams of Amphrysus Eupolemeia bare, the daughter of Myrmidon, from Phthia; the two others were sprung from Antianeira, daughter of Menetes.

51    Οὐδ' Ἀλόπῃ μίμνον πολυλήιοι Ἑρμείαο
52 υἱέες εὖ δεδαῶτε δόλους, Ἔρυτος καὶ Ἐχίων,
53 τοῖσι δ' ἐπὶ τρίτατος γνωτὸς κίε νισσομένοισιν
54 Αἰθαλίδης: καὶ τὸν μὲν ἐπ' Ἀμφρυσσοῖο ῥοῇσιν
55 Μυρμιδόνος κούρη Φθιὰς τέκεν Εὐπολέμεια:
56 τὼ δ' αὖτ' ἐκγεγάτην Μενετηίδος Ἀντιανείρης.

(1.57-64) From rich Gyrton came Coronus, son of Caeneus, brave, but not braver than his father. For bards relate that Caeneus though still living perished at the hands of the Centaurs, when apart from other chiefs he routed them; and they, rallying against him, could neither bend nor slay him; but unconquered and unflinching he passed beneath the earth, overwhelmed by the downrush of massy pines.

57     Ἤλυθε δ' ἀφνειὴν προλιπὼν Γυρτῶνα Κόρωνος
58 Καινεΐδης, ἐσθλὸς μέν, ἑοῦ δ' οὐ πατρὸς ἀμείνων.
59 Καινέα γὰρ ζῶόν περ ἔτι κλείουσιν ἀοιδοὶ
60 Κενταύροισιν ὀλέσθαι, ὅτε σφέας οἶος ἀπ' ἄλλων
61 ἤλασ' ἀριστήων: οἱ δ' ἔμπαλιν ὁρμηθέντες
62 οὔτε μιν ἐγκλῖναι προτέρω σθένον, οὔτε δαΐξαι:
63 ἀλλ' ἄρρηκτος ἄκαμπτος ἐδύσετο νειόθι γαίης,
64 θεινόμενος στιβαρῇσι καταΐγδην ἐλάτῃσιν.

(1.65-68) There came too Titaresian Mopsus, whom above all men the son of Leto taught the augury of birds; and Eurydamas the son of Ctimenus; he dwelt at Dolopian Ctimene near the Xynian lake.

65     Ἤλυθε δ' αὖ Μόψος Τιταρήσιος, ὃν περὶ πάντων
66 Λητοΐδης ἐδίδαξε θεοπροπίας οἰωνῶν:
67 ἠδὲ καὶ Εὐρυδάμας Κτιμένου πάις: ἄγχι δὲ λίμνης
68 Ξυνιάδος Κτιμένην Δολοπηίδα ναιετάασκεν.

(1.69-70) Moreover Actor sent his son Menoetius from Opus that he might accompany the chiefs.

69     Καὶ μὴν Ἄκτωρ υἷα Μενοίτιον ἐξ Ὀπόεντος
70 ὦρσεν, ἀριστήεσσι σὺν ἀνδράσιν ὄφρα νέοιτο.

(1.71-76) Eurytion followed and strong Eribotes, one the son of Teleon, the other of Irus, Actor's son; the son of Teleon renowned Eribotes, and of Irus Eurytion. A third with them was Oileus, peerless in courage and well skilled to attack the flying foe, when they break their ranks.

71     Εἵπετο δ' Εὐρυτίων τε καὶ ἀλκήεις Ἐρυβώτης,
72 υἷες ὁ μὲν Τελέοντος, ὁ δ' Ἴρου Ἀκτορίδαο:
73 ἤτοι ὁ μὲν Τελέοντος ἐυκλειὴς Ἐρυβώτης,
74 Ἴρου δ' Εὐρυτίων. σὺν καὶ τρίτος ἦεν Ὀιλεύς,
75 ἔξοχος ἠνορέην καὶ ἐπαΐξαι μετόπισθεν
76 εὖ δεδαὼς δῄοισιν, ὅτε κλίνωσι φάλαγγας.

(1.77-85) Now from Euboea came Canthus eager for the quest, whom Canethus son of Abas sent; but he was not destined to return to Cerinthus. For fate had ordained that he and Mopsus, skilled in the seer's art, should wander and perish in the furthest ends of Libya. For no ill is too remote for mortals to incur, seeing that they buried them in Libya, as far from the Colchians as is the space that is seen between the setting and the rising of the sun.

77     Αὐτὰρ ἀπ' Εὐβοίης Κάνθος κίε, τόν ῥα Κάνηθος
78 πέμπεν Ἀβαντιάδης λελιημένον: οὐ μὲν ἔμελλεν
79 νοστήσειν Κήρινθον ὑπότροπος. αισα γὰρ ἦεν
80 αὐτὸν ὁμῶς Μόψον τε δαήμονα μαντοσυνάων
81 πλαγχθέντας Λιβύης ἐνὶ πείρασι δῃωθῆναι,
82 ὡς οὐκ ἀνθρώποισι κακὸν μήκιστον ἐπαυρεῖν,
83 ὁππότε κἀκείνους Λιβύῃ ἔνι ταρχύσαντο,
84 τόσσον ἑκὰς Κόλχων, ὅσσον τέ περ ἠελίοιο
85 μεσσηγὺς δύσιές τε καὶ ἀντολαὶ εἰσορόωνται.

(1.86-89) To him Clytius and Iphitus joined themselves, the warders of Oechalia, sons of Eurytus the ruthless, Eurytus, to whom the Far-shooting god gave his bow; but he had no joy of the gift; for of his own choice he strove even with the giver.

86     Τῷ δ' ἄρ' ἐπὶ Κλυτίος τε καὶ Ἴφιτος ἠγερέθοντο,
87 Οἰχαλίης ἐπίουροι, ἀπηνέος Εὐρύτου υἷες,
88 Εὐρύτου, ᾧ πόρε τόξον Ἑκηβόλος: οὐδ' ἀπόνητο
89 δωτίνης: αὐτῷ γὰρ ἑκὼν ἐρίδηνε δοτῆρι.

(1.90-94) After them came the sons of Aeacus, not both together, nor from the same spot; for they settled far from Aegina in exile, when in their folly they had slain their brother Phoeus. Telamon dwelt in the Attic island; but Peleus departed and made his home in Phthia.

90     Τοῖσι δ' ἐπ' Αἰακίδαι μετεκίαθον: οὐ μὲν ἅμ' ἄμφω,
91 οὐδ' ὁμόθεν: νόσφιν γὰρ ἀλευάμενοι κατένασθεν
92 Αἰγίνης, ὅτε Φῶκον ἀδελφεὸν ἐξενάριξαν
93 ἀφραδίῃ. Τελαμὼν μὲν ἐν Ἀτθίδι νάσσατο νήσῳ:
94 Πηλεὺς δὲ Φθίῃ ἐνὶ δώματα ναῖε λιασθείς.

(1.95-104) After them from Cecropia came warlike Butes, son of brave Teleon, and Phalerus of the ashen spear. Alcon his father sent him forth; yet no other sons had he to care for his old age and livelihood. But him, his well-beloved and only son, he sent forth that amid bold heroes he might shine conspicuous. But Theseus, who surpassed all the sons of Erechtheus, an unseen bond kept beneath the land of Taenarus, for he had followed that path with Peirithous; assuredly both would have lightened for all the fulfilment of their toil.

95     Τοῖς δ' ἐπὶ Κεκροπίηθεν ἀρήιος ἤλυθε Βούτης,
96 παῖς ἀγαθοῦ Τελέοντος, ἐυμμελίης τε Φάληρος.
97 Ἄλκων μιν προέηκε πατὴρ ἑός: οὐ μὲν ἔτ' ἄλλους
98 γήραος υἷας ἔχεν βιότοιό τε κηδεμονῆας.
99 ἀλλά ἑ τηλύγετόν περ ὁμῶς καὶ μοῦνον ἐόντα
100 πέμπεν, ἵνα θρασέεσσι μεταπρέποι ἡρώεσσιν.
101 Θησέα δ', ὃς περὶ πάντας Ἐρεχθεΐδας ἐκέκαστο,
102 Ταιναρίην ἀίδηλος ὑπὸ χθόνα δεσμὸς ἔρυκεν,
103 Πειρίθῳ ἑσπόμενον κοινὴν ὁδόν: ἦ τέ κεν ἄμφω
104 ῥηίτερον καμάτοιο τέλος πάντεσσιν ἔθεντο.


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