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ARGONAUTICA BOOK 3 [912]

(3.912-918) So she spake, and the crafty counsel pleased them all. And straightway Argus drew Aeson's son apart from his comrades as soon as he heard from his brothers that Medea had gone at daybreak to the holy shrine of Hecate, and led him over the plain; and with them went Mopsus, son of Ampycus, skilled to utter oracles from the appearance of birds, and skilled to give good counsel to those who set out on a journey.

912     Ὧς ηὔδα: πάσῃσι δ' ἐπίκλοπος ἥνδανε μῆτις.
913 αὐτίκα δ' Αἰσονίδην ἑτάρων ἄπο μοῦνον ἐρύσσας
914 Ἄργος, ὅτ' ἤδη τήνδε κασιγνήτων ἐσάκουσεν
915 ἠερίην Ἑκάτης ἱερὸν μετὰ νηὸν ἰοῦσαν,
916 ἦγε διὲκ πεδίου: ἅμα δέ σφισιν εἵπετο Μόψος
917 Ἀμπυκίδης, ἐσθλὸς μὲν ἐπιπροφανέντας ἐνισπεῖν
918 οἰωνούς, ἐσθλὸς δὲ σὺν εὖ φράσσασθαι ἰοῦσιν.

(3.919-926) Never yet had there been such a man in the days of old, neither of all the heroes of the lineage of Zeus himself, nor of those who sprung from the blood of the other gods, as on that day the bride of Zeus made Jason, both to look upon and to hold converse with. Even his comrades wondered as they gazed upon him, radiant with manifold graces; and the son of Ampycus rejoiced in their journey, already foreboding how all would end.

919     Ἔνθ' οὔπω τις τοῖος ἐπὶ προτέρων γένετ' ἀνδρῶν,
920 οὔθ' ὅσοι ἐξ αὐτοῖο Διὸς γένος, οὔθ' ὅσοι ἄλλων
921 ἀθανάτων ἥρωες ἀφ' αἵματος ἐβλάστησαν,
922 οἷον Ἰήσονα θῆκε Διὸς δάμαρ ἤματι κείνῳ
923 ἠμὲν ἐσάντα ἰδεῖν, ἠδὲ προτιμυθήσασθαι.
924 τὸν καὶ παπταίνοντες ἐθάμβεον αὐτοὶ ἑταῖροι
925 λαμπόμενον χαρίτεσσιν: ἐγήθησεν δὲ κελεύθῳ
926 Ἀμπυκίδης, ἤδη που ὀισσάμενος τὰ ἕκαστα.

(3.927-931) Now by the path along the plain there stands near the shrine a poplar with its crown of countless leaves, whereon often chattering crows would roost. One of them meantime as she clapped her wings aloft in the branches uttered the counsels of Hera:

927     Ἔστι δέ τις πεδίοιο κατὰ στίβον ἐγγύθι νηοῦ
928 αἴγειρος φύλλοισιν ἀπειρεσίοις κομόωσα,
929 τῇ θαμὰ δὴ λακέρυζαι ἐπηυλίζοντο κορῶναι.
930 τάων τις μεσσηγὺς ἀνὰ πτερὰ κινήσασα
931 ὑψοῦ ἐπ' ἀκρεμόνων Ἥρης ἠνίπαπε βουλάς:

(3.932-937) "What a pitiful seer is this, that has not the wit to conceive even what children know, how that no maiden will say a word of sweetness or love to a youth when strangers be near. Begone, sorry prophet, witless one; on thee neither Cypris nor the gentle Loves breathe in their kindness."

932     "Ἀκλειὴς ὅδε μάντις, ὃς οὐδ' ὅσα παῖδες ἴσασιν
933 οἶδε νόῳ φράσσασθαι, ὁθούνεκεν οὔτε τι λαρὸν
934 οὔτ' ἐρατὸν κούρη κεν ἔπος προτιμυθήσαιτο
935 ἠιθέῳ, εὖτ' ἄν σφιν ἐπήλυδες ἄλλοι ἕπωνται.
936 ἔρροις, ὦ κακόμαντι, κακοφραδές: οὔτε σε Κύπρις,
937 οὔτ' ἀγανοὶ φιλέοντες ἐπιπνείουσιν Ἔρωτες."

(3.938-946) She spake chiding, and Mopsus smiled to hear the god-sent voice of the bird, and thus addressed them: "Do thou, son of Aeson, pass on to the temple, where thou wilt find the maiden; and very kind will her greeting be to thee through the prompting of Cypris, who will be thy helpmate in the contest, even as Phineus, Agenor's son, foretold. But we two, Argus and I, will await thy return, apart in this very spot; do thou all alone be a suppliant and win her over with prudent words."

938     Ἴσκεν ἀτεμβομένη: μείδησε δὲ Μόψος ἀκούσας
939 ὀμφὴν οἰωνοῖο θεήλατον, ὧδέ τ' ἔειπεν:
940 "Τύνη μὲν νηόνδε θεᾶς ἴθι, τῷ ἔνι κούρην
941 δήεις, Αἰσονίδη: μάλα δ' ἠπίῃ ἀντιβολήσεις
942 Κύπριδος ἐννεσίῃς, ἥ τοι συνέριθος ἀέθλων
943 ἔσσεται, ὡς δὴ καὶ πρὶν Ἀγηνορίδης φάτο Φινεύς.
944 νῶι δ', ἐγὼν Ἄργος τε, δεδεγμένοι, εὖτ' ἂν ἵκηαι,
945 τῷδ' αὐτῷ ἐνὶ χώρῳ ἀπεσσόμεθ': οἰόθι δ' αὐτὸς
946 λίσσεό μιν πυκινοῖσι παρατροπέων ἐπέεσσιν."

(3.947-974) He spake wisely, and both at once gave approval. Nor was Medea's heart turned to other thoughts, for all her singing, and never a song that she essayed pleased her long in her sport. But in confusion she ever faltered, nor did she keep her eyes resting quietly upon the throng of her handmaids; but to the paths far off she strained her gaze, turning her face aside. Oft did her heart sink fainting within her bosom whenever she fancied she heard passing by the sound of a footfall or of the wind. But soon he appeared to her longing eyes, striding along loftily, like Sirius coming from ocean, which rises fair and clear to see, but brings unspeakable mischief to flocks; thus then did Aeson's son come to her, fair to see, but the sight of him brought love-sick care. Her heart fell from out her bosom, and a dark mist came over her eyes, and a hot blush covered her cheeks. And she had no strength to lift her knees backwards or forwards, but her feet beneath were rooted to the ground; and meantime all her handmaidens had drawn aside. So they two stood face to face without a word, without a sound, like oaks or lofty pines, which stand quietly side by side on the mountains when the wind is still; then again, when stirred by the breath of the wind, they murmur ceaselessly; so they two were destined to tell out all their tale, stirred by the breath of Love. And Aeson's son saw that she had fallen into some heaven-sent calamity, and with soothing words thus addressed her:

947      ̂Ἠ ῥα περιφραδέως, ἐπὶ δὲ σχεδὸν ᾔνεον ἄμφω.
948 οὐδ' ἄρα Μηδείης θυμὸς τράπετ' ἄλλα νοῆσαι,
949 μελπομένης περ ὅμως: πᾶσαι δέ οἱ, ἥντιν' ἀθύροι
950 μολπήν, οὐκ ἐπὶ δηρὸν ἐφήνδανεν ἑψιάασθαι.
951 ἀλλὰ μεταλλήγεσκεν ἀμήχανος, οὐδέ ποτ' ὄσσε
952 ἀμφιπόλων μεθ' ὅμιλον ἔχ' ἀτρέμας: ἐς δὲ κελεύθους
953 τηλόσε παπταίνεσκε, παρακλίνουσα παρειάς.
954 ἦ θαμὰ δὴ στηθέων ἐάγη κέαρ, ὁππότε δοῦπον
955 ἢ ποδὸς ἢ ἀνέμοιο παραθρέξαντα δοάσσαι.
956 αὐτὰρ ὅγ' οὐ μετὰ δηρὸν ἐελδομένῃ ἐφαάνθη
957 ὑψόσ' ἀναθρώσκων ἅ τε Σείριος Ὠκεανοῖο,
958 ὃς δή τοι καλὸς μὲν ἀρίζηλός τ' ἐσιδέσθαι
959 ἀντέλλει, μήλοισι δ' ἐν ἄσπετον ἧκεν ὀιζύν:
960 ὧς ἄρα τῇ καλὸς μὲν ἐπήλυθεν εἰσοράασθαι
961 Αἰσονίδης, κάματον δὲ δυσίμερον ὦρσε φαανθείς.
962 ἐκ δ' ἄρα οἱ κραδίη στηθέων πέσεν, ὄμματα δ' αὔτως
963 ἤχλυσαν: θερμὸν δὲ παρηίδας εἷλεν ἔρευθος.
964 γούνατα δ' οὔτ' ὀπίσω οὔτε προπάροιθεν ἀεῖραι
965 ἔσθενεν, ἀλλ' ὑπένερθε πάγη πόδας. αἱ δ' ἄρα τείως
966 ἀμφίπολοι μάλα πᾶσαι ἀπὸ σφείων ἐλίασθεν.
967 τὼ δ' ἄνεῳ καὶ ἄναυδοι ἐφέστασαν ἀλλήλοισιν,
968 ἢ δρυσίν, ἢ μακρῇσιν ἐειδόμενοι ἐλάτῃσιν,
969 αἵ τε παρᾶσσον ἕκηλοι ἐν οὔρεσιν ἐρρίζωνται,
970 νηνεμίῃ: μετὰ δ' αὖτις ὑπὸ ῥιπῆς ἀνέμοιο
971 κινύμεναι ὁμάδησαν ἀπείριτον: ὧς ἄρα τώγε
972 μέλλον ἅλις φθέγξασθαι ὑπὸ πνοιῇσιν Ἔρωτος.
973 γνῶ δέ μιν Αἰσονίδης ἄτῃ ἐνιπεπτηυῖαν
974 θευμορίῃ, καὶ τοῖον ὑποσσαίνων φάτο μῦθον:

(3.975-1007) "Why, pray, maiden, dost thou fear me so much, all alone as I am? Never was I one of these idle boasters such as other men are -- not even aforetime, when I dwelt in my own country. Wherefore, maiden, be not too much abashed before me, either to enquire whatever thou wilt or to speak thy mind. But since we have met one another with friendly hearts, in a hallowed spot, where it is wrong to sin, speak openly and ask questions, and beguile me not with pleasing words, for at the first thou didst promise thy sister to give me the charms my heart desires. I implore thee by Hecate herself, by thy parents, and by Zeus who holds his guardian hand over strangers and suppliants; I come here to thee both a suppliant and a stranger, bending the knee in my sore need. For without thee and thy sister never shall I prevail in the grievous contest. And to thee will I render thanks hereafter for thy aid, as is right and fitting for men who dwell far oft, making glorious thy name and fame; and the rest of the heroes, returning to Hellas, will spread thy renown and so will the heroes' wives and mothers, who now perhaps are sitting on the shore and making moan for us; their painful affliction thou mightest scatter to the winds. In days past the maiden Ariadne, daughter of Minos, with kindly intent rescued Theseus from grim contests -- the maiden whom Pasiphae daughter of Helios bare. But she, when Minos had lulled his wrath to rest, went aboard the ship with him and left her fatherland; and her even the immortal gods loved, and, as a sign in mid-sky, a crown of stars, which men call Ariadne's crown, rolls along all night among the heavenly constellations. So to thee too shall be thanks from the gods, if thou wilt save so mighty an array of chieftains. For surely from thy lovely form thou art like to excel in gentle courtest."

975     "Τίπτε με, παρθενική, τόσον ἅζεαι, οἶον ἐόντα;
976 οὔ τοι ἐγών, οἷοί τε δυσαυχέες ἄλλοι ἔασιν
977 ἀνέρες, οὐδ' ὅτε περ πάτρῃ ἔνι ναιετάασκον,
978 ἦα πάρος. τῶ μή με λίην ὑπεραίδεο, κούρη,
979 ἤ τι παρεξερέεσθαι, ὅ τοι φίλον, ἠέ τι φάσθαι.
980 ἀλλ' ἐπεὶ ἀλλήλοισιν ἱκάνομεν εὐμενέοντες,
981 χώρῳ ἐν ἠγαθέῳ, ἵνα τ' οὐ θέμις ἔστ' ἀλιτέσθαι,
982 ἀμφαδίην ἀγόρευε καὶ εἴρεο: μηδέ με τερπνοῖς
983 φηλώσῃς ἐπέεσσιν, ἐπεὶ τὸ πρῶτον ὑπέστης
984 αὐτοκασιγνήτῃ μενοεικέα φάρμακα δώσειν.
985 πρός σ' αὐτῆς Ἑκάτης μειλίσσομαι ἠδὲ τοκήων
986 καὶ Διός, ὃς ξείνοις ἱκέτῃσί τε χεῖρ' ὑπερίσχει:
987 ἀμφότερον δ', ἱκέτης ξεῖνός τέ τοι ἐνθάδ' ἱκάνω,
988 χρειοῖ ἀναγκαίῃ γουνούμενος. οὐ γὰρ ἄνευθεν
989 ὑμείων στονόεντος ὑπέρτερος ἔσσομ' ἀέθλου.
990 σοὶ δ' ἂν ἐγὼ τίσαιμι χάριν μετόπισθεν ἀρωγῆς,
991 ἣ θέμις, ὡς ἐπέοικε διάνδιχα ναιετάοντας,
992 οὔνομα καὶ καλὸν τεύχων κλέος: ὧς δὲ καὶ ὧλλοι
993 ἥρωες κλῄσουσιν ἐς Ἑλλάδα νοστήσαντες
994 ἡρώων τ' ἄλοχοι καὶ μητέρες, αἵ νύ που ἤδη
995 ἡμέας ἠιόνεσσιν ἐφεζόμεναι γοάουσιν:
996 τάων ἀργαλέας κεν ἀποσκεδάσειας ἀνίας.
997 δή ποτε καὶ Θησῆα κακῶν ὑπελύσατ' ἀέθλων
998 παρθενικὴ Μινωὶς ἐυφρονέουσ' Ἀριάδνη,
999 ἥν ῥά τε Πασιφάη κούρη τέκεν Ἠελίοιο.
1000 ἀλλ' ἡ μὲν καὶ νηός, ἐπεὶ χόλον εὔνασε Μίνως,
1001 σὺν τῷ ἐφεζομένη πάτρην λίπε: τὴν δὲ καὶ αὐτοὶ
1002 ἀθάνατοι φίλαντο, μέσῳ δέ οἱ αἰθέρι τέκμαρ
1003 ἀστερόεις στέφανος, τόν τε κλείουσ' Ἀριάδνης,
1004 πάννυχος οὐρανίοισιν ἑλίσσεται εἰδώλοισιν.
1005 ὧς καὶ σοὶ θεόθεν χάρις ἔσσεται, εἴ κε σαώσῃς
1006 τόσσον ἀριστήων ἀνδρῶν στόλον. ἦ γὰρ ἔοικας
1007 ἐκ μορφῆς ἀγανῇσιν ἐπητείῃσι κεκάσθαι."


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