Apollonius Rhodius, Argonautica, Edward P. Coleridge (Translator), 1.1

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1.1-1.4

wITH thee, Phœbus, will I begin and record the famous deeds of those men of old time, who, at the bidding of king Pelias, rowed the good ship Argo past the mouth of the Euxine and through the rocks Cyanean to fetch the golden fleece.

1.5-1.17

For Pelias had heard an oracle on this wise, that in the latter days a hateful doom awaited him, even death at the prompting of one whom he should see come forth from the people with but one sandal. And not long after, according to the sure report, came Jason on foot across the stream of a swollen torrent, and one sandal did he save from 'neath the mud, but the other left he there sticking in the river bed. So he came to Pelias forthwith to take a part in the solemn feast, which he was offering to his father Poseidon and the other gods, but to Pelasgian Hera he paid no heed. And the instant Pelias saw Jason, he was ware of him, and made ready to his hurt a grievous task of seaman-¹² ship, that so he might lose his return in the deep or haply among strange folk.

1.18-1.22

Now minstrels even before any day do tell how Argus by the counsels of Athene built a ship for him ; but mine shall it now be to declare the lineage and name of the heroes, and their passage of the long sea, and all that they did in their wanderings; and may the Muses be the heralds of my song!

1.23-1.34

First then let us make mention of Orpheus ; he it was, whom, on a day, as rumour saith, Calliope bare beside the peak of Pimpleia, her pledge of love to Thracian Oeager. He, men say, did charm the stubborn rocks upon the hills and the river streams by the strains of his minstrelsy. And wild oaks, memorials yet of that his singing, which he had led right on from Pieria by the spell, of his lyre, marched in ordered ranks, each behind his fellow, to range themselves, with all their leaves, upon the fringe of the Thracian shore. So mighty a man was Orpheus, whom the son of Æson, by the counsels of Chiron, did persuade and take to help him in his toils from his kingship over Bistonian Pieria.

1.35-1.39

Anon came Asterion ; he it was whom Cometes did beget by the waters of swirling Apidanus, when he dwelt in Peiresia, hard by the Phylleian hill, where mighty Apidanus' and divine Enipeus do unite, flowing into one stream from their distant sources.

1.40-1.44

To these came Polyphemus, son of Elatus, having left Larissa; who erst, what time the Lapithæ armed against³⁴ the Centaurs, joined the fray as the youngest of the mighty Lapithæ. Now on that day were his limbs weighed down with wine, but firm abode his warlike spirit still, even as aforetime.

1.45-1.48

No long space was Iphiclus, uncle of the son of Æson, left behind in Phylace; for Æson had wedded his sister, Alcimede of Phylace; whence the claims of blood and kith bade him enrol himself in the muster.

1.49-1.50

Neither did Admetus, lord of Pheræ, rich in sheep, abide beneath the peak of the Chalcodonian mountain.

1.51-1.56

Argonautica. Apollonius Rhodius. Edward P. Coleridge (Translator). London. 1889.

Sponsored by Perseus Project, Tufts University.

Funding provided by Schmidt Sciences.

Current edition Experimental

The Argonautica, translated by E. P. Coleridge (OCR draft) (English) (E. P. Coleridge's English translation of Apollonius Rhodius, published by Harvard University Press in 1912.)

Provisional text from uncorrected OCR; expect errors.

Editions (3)

Argonautica Perseus (The Argonautica of Apollonius Rhodius, Apollonius, Rhodius, creator; Mooney, George W, editor, translator. London: Longmans, Green, and Co., 1912.) — 1.1 focus

ἀρχόμενος σέο, Φοῖβε, παλαιγενέων κλέα φωτῶν

μνήσομαι, οἳ Πόντοιο κατὰ στόμα καὶ διὰ πέτρας

Κυανέας βασιλῆος ἐφημοσύνῃ Πελίαο

χρύσειον μετὰ κῶας ἐύζυγον ἤλασαν Ἀργώ.

τοίην γὰρ Πελίης φάτιν ἔκλυεν, ὥς μιν ὀπίσσω

μοῖρα μένει στυγερή, τοῦδʼ ἀνέρος, ὅντινʼ ἴδοιτο

δημόθεν οἰοπέδιλον, ὑπʼ ἐννεσίῃσι δαμῆναι.

δηρὸν δʼ οὐ μετέπειτα τεὴν κατὰ βάξιν Ἰήσων

χειμερίοιο ῥέεθρα κιὼν διὰ ποσσὶν Ἀναύρου

ἄλλο μὲν ἐξεσάωσεν ὑπʼ ἰλύος, ἄλλο δʼ ἔνερθεν

κάλλιπεν αὖθι πέδιλον ἐνισχόμενον προχοῇσιν.

ἵκετο δʼ ἐς Πελίην αὐτοσχεδὸν ἀντιβολήσων

εἰλαπίνης, ἣν πατρὶ Ποσειδάωνι καὶ ἄλλοις

ῥέζε θεοῖς, Ἥρης δὲ Πελασγίδος οὐκ ἀλέγιζεν.

αἶψα δὲ τόνγʼ ἐσιδὼν ἐφράσσατο, καί οἱ ἄεθλον

ἔντυε ναυτιλίης πολυκηδέος, ὄφρʼ ἐνὶ πόντῳ

ἠὲ καὶ ἀλλοδαποῖσι μετʼ ἀνδράσι νόστον ὀλέσσῃ.

νῆα μὲν οὖν οἱ πρόσθεν ἐπικλείουσιν ἀοιδοὶ

Ἄργον Ἀθηναίης καμέειν ὑποθημοσύνῃσιν.

νῦν δʼ ἂν ἐγὼ γενεήν τε καὶ οὔνομα μυθησαίμην

ἡρώων, δολιχῆς τε πόρους ἁλός, ὅσσα τʼ ἔρεξαν

πλαζόμενοι· Μοῦσαι δʼ ὑποφήτορες εἶεν ἀοιδῆς.

πρῶτά νυν Ὀρφῆος μνησώμεθα, τόν ῥά ποτʼ αὐτὴ

Καλλιόπη Θρήικι φατίζεται εὐνηθεῖσα

Οἰάγρῳ σκοπιῆς Πιμπληίδος ἄγχι τεκέσθαι

αὐτὰρ τόνγʼ ἐνέπουσιν ἀτειρέας οὔρεσι πέτρας

θέλξαι ἀοιδάων ἐνοπῇ ποταμῶν τε ῥέεθρα.

φηγοὶ δʼ ἀγριάδες, κείνης ἔτι σήματα μολπῆς,

ἀκτῆς Θρηικίης Ζώνης ἔπι τηλεθόωσαι

ἑξείης στιχόωσιν ἐπήτριμοι, ἃς ὅγʼ ἐπιπρὸ

θελγομένας φόρμιγγι κατήγαγε Πιερίηθεν.

Ὀρφέα μὲν δὴ τοῖον ἑῶν ἐπαρωγὸν ἀέθλων

Αἰσονίδης Χείρωνος ἐφημοσύνῃσι πιθήσας

δέξατο, Πιερίῃ Βιστωνίδι κοιρανέοντα.

ἤλυθε δʼ Ἀστερίων αὐτοσχεδόν, ὅν ῥα Κομήτης

γείνατο δινήεντος ἐφʼ ὕδασιν Ἀπιδανοῖο,

Πειρεσιὰς ὄρεος Φυλληίου ἀγχόθι ναίων,

ἔνθα μὲν Ἀπιδανός τε μέγας καὶ δῖος Ἐνιπεὺς

ἄμφω συμφορέονται, ἀπόπροθεν εἰς ἓν ἰόντες.

Λάρισαν δʼ ἐπὶ τοῖσι λιπὼν Πολύφημος ἵκανεν

Εἰλατίδης, ὃς πρὶν μὲν ἐρισθενέων Λαπιθάων,

ὁππότε Κενταύροις Λαπίθαι ἐπὶ θωρήσσοντο,

ὁπλότερος πολέμιζε· τότʼ αὖ βαρύθεσκέ οἱ ἤδη

γυῖα, μένεν δʼ ἔτι θυμὸς ἀρήιος, ὡς τὸ πάρος περ.

οὐδὲ μὲν Ἴφικλος Φυλάκῃ ἔνι δηρὸν ἔλειπτο,

μήτρως Αἰσονίδαο· κασιγνήτην γὰρ ὄπυιεν

Αἴσων Ἀλκιμέδην Φυλακηίδα· τῆς μιν ἀνώγει

πηοσύνη καὶ κῆδος ἐνικρινθῆναι ὁμίλῳ.

οὐδὲ Φεραῖς Ἄδμητος ἐυρρήνεσσιν ἀνάσσων

μίμνεν ὑπὸ σκοπιὴν ὄρεος Χαλκωδονίοιο.

Apollonii Rhodii Argonautica, edited by R. Brunck (OCR draft) Experimental (R. Brunck's edition of the Argonautica, with a concise critical apparatus. Leipzig: Teubner, 1810.) — 1.1 focus

Αρχόμενος σέο, Φοῖβε, παλαιγενέων κλέα φωτων

μνήσομαι, οἳ Πόντοιο κατὰ στόμα, καὶ διὰ πέτρας.

Κυανέας, βασιλῆος ἐφημοσύνῃ Πελίαο,

χρύσειον μετὰ κῶας ἐΰζυγον ἤλασαν Αργώ.

Τοίην γὰρ Πελίης φάτιν ἔκλυεν, ὡς μιν ὀπίσσω

μοῖρα μένει στυγερὴ, τοῦδ᾽ ἀνέρος, ὅντιν᾽ ἴδοιτο

δημόθεν οἰοπέδιλον, ὑπ᾽ ἐννεσίησι δαμῆναι.

δηρὸν δ᾽ οὐ μετέπειτα θεὴν κατὰ βάξιν ΙΗΣΩΝ,

χειμερίοιο ρέεθρα κιὼν διὰ ποσσὶν Αναύρου,

ἄλλο μὲν ἐξεσάωσεν ὑπ᾿ ἰλύος, ἄλλο δ᾽ ἔνερθε

κάλλιπεν αὖθι πέδιλον ἐνισχόμενον προχοῇσιν.

ἵκετο δ᾽ ἐς Πελίην αὐτοσχεδὸν, ἀντιβολήσων

εἰλαπίνης, ἣν πατρὶ Ποσειδάωνι καὶ ἄλλοις

ῥέζε θεοῖς, Ηρης δὲ Πελασγίδος οὐκ ἀλέγιζεν.

αἶψα δὲ τόν γ᾽ ἐςιδὼν ἐφράσσατο, καί οἱ ἄεθλον

ἔντυε ναυτιλίης πολυκηδέος, ὄφρ᾽ ἐνὶ πόντῳ

ἠέ κεν ἀλλοδαποῖσι μετ᾿ ἀνδράσι νόστον ὀλέσσῃ.

Νῆα μὲν οὖν οἱ πρόσθεν ἐπικλείουσιν ἀοιδοὶ

Αργον Αθηναίης καμέειν ὑποθημοσύνῃσι.

νῦν δ᾽ ἂν ἐγὼ γενεήν τε καὶ οὔνομα μυθησαίμην

ἡρώων, δολιχῆς τε πόρους ἁλὸς, ὅσσα τ᾽ ἔρεξαν

πλαζόμενοι· Μοῦσαι δ᾽ ὑποφήτορες εἶεν ἀοιδῆς.

Πρῶτά νυν ΟΡΦΗΟΣ μνησώμεθα, τόν ῥάποτ᾿ αὐτὴ

Καλλιόπη Θρήϊκι φατίζεται εὐνηθεῖσα

Οἰάγρῳ σκοπιῆς Πιμπληΐδος ἄγχι τεκέσθαι.

αὐτὰρ τόν γ᾽ ἐνέπουσιν ἀτειρέας οὔρεσι πέτρας

θέλξαι ἀοιδάων ἐνοπῇ, ποταμῶν τε ῥέεθρα.

φηγοὶ δ᾽ ἀγριάδες, κείνης ἔτι σήματα μολπῆς,

ἀκτῆς Θρηϊκίης Ζώνης ἔπι τηλεθόωσαι

ἑξείης στιχόωσιν ἐπήτριμοι, ἃς ὅ γ᾽ ἐπιπρὸ

θελγομένας φόρμιγγι κατήγαγε Πιερίηθεν.

Ορφέα μὲν δὴ τοῖον ἑῶν ἐπαρωγὸν ἀέθλων

Αἰσονίδης, Χείρωνος ἐφημοσύνῃσι πιθήσας,

δέξατο, Πιερίῃ Βιστωνίδι κοιρανέοντα.

Ηλυθε δ᾽ ΑΣΤΕΡΙΩΝ αὐτοσχεδὸν, ὅν ῥα Κομήτης

γείνατο δινήεντος ἐφ᾽ ὕδασιν Απιδανοῖο,

Πειρεσιάς, ὄρεος Φυλληΐου ἀγχόθι, ναίων,

ἔνθα μὲν Απιδανός τε μέγας, καὶ δῖος Ενιπεὺς

ἄμφω συμφορέονται, ἀπόπροθι εἰς ἓν ἰόντες.

Λάρισσαν δ᾽ ἐπὶ τοῖσι λιπὼν ΠΟΛΥΦΗΜΟΣ ἵκανεν

Εἰλατίδης, ὃς πρὶν μὲν ἐρισθενέων Λαπιθάων,

ὁππότε Κενταύροις Λαπίθαι ἐπεθωρήσσοντο,

ὁπλότερος πολέμιζε· τότ᾽ αὖ βαρύθεσκέ οἱ ἤδη

γυῖα, μένεν δ᾽ ἔτι θυμὸς ἀρήϊος, ὡς τοπάρος περ.

Οὐδὲ μὲν ΙΦΙΚΛΟΣ Φυλάκῃ ἔνι δηρὸν ἔλειπτο,

μήτρως Αἰσονίδαο· κασιγνήτην γὰρ ὅπυιεν

Αἴσων Αλκιμέδην Φυλακηΐδα· τῆς μιν ἀνώγει

πηοσύνη καὶ κῆδος ἐνικρινθῆναι ὁμίλῳ.

Οὐδὲ Φεραῖς ΑΔΜΗΤΟΣ ἐϋρήνεσσιν ἀνάσσων

μίμνεν ὑπὸ σκοπιὴν ὄρεος Χαλκωδονίοιο.

Apollonii Rhodii Argonautica, edited by R. C. Seaton (OCR draft) Experimental (R. C. Seaton's Oxford Classical Text of the Argonautica, with a concise critical apparatus. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1900.) — 1.1 focus

Ἀρχόμενος σέο, Φοῖβε, παλαιγενέων κλέα φωτῶν

μνήσομαι, οἳ Πόντοιο κατὰ στόμα καὶ διὰ πέτρας

Κυανέας βασιλῆος ἐφημοσύνῃ Πελίαο

χρύσειον μετὰ κῶας ἐύζυγον ἤλασαν Ἀργώ.

Τοίην γὰρ Πελίης φάτιν ἔκλυεν, ὥς μιν ὀπίσσω

μοῖρα μένει στυγερή, τοῦδ᾽ ἀνέρος, ὅντιν᾽ ἴδοιτο

δημόθεν οἰοπέδιλον, ὑπ᾽ ἐννεσίῃσι δαμῆναι.

δηρὸν δ᾽ οὐ μετέπειτα †τεὴν† κατὰ βάξιν Ἰήσων

χειμερίοιο ῥέεθρα κιὼν διὰ ποσσὶν Ἀναύρου

ἄλλο μὲν ἐξεσάωσεν ὑπ᾿ ἰλύος, ἄλλο δ᾽ ἔνερθεν

κάλλιπεν αὖθι πέδιλον ἐνισχόμενον προχοῇσιν.

ἵκετο δ᾽ ἐς Πελίην αὐτοσχεδὸν ἀντιβολήσων

εἰλαπίνης, ἣν πατρὶ Ποσειδάωνι καὶ ἄλλοις

ῥέζε θεοῖς, Ἥρης δὲ Πελασγίδος οὐκ ἀλέγιζεν.

αἶψα δὲ τόνγ᾽ ἐσιδὼν ἐφράσσατο, καί οἱ ἄεθλον

ἔντυε ναυτιλίης πολυκηδέος, ὄφρ᾽ ἐνὶ πόντῳ

ἠὲ καὶ ἀλλοδαποῖσι μετ᾿ ἀνδράσι νόστον ὀλέσσῃ.

Νῆα μὲν οὖν οἱ πρόσθεν ἐπικλείουσιν ἀοιδοὶ

Ἄργον Ἀθηναίης καμέειν ὑποθημοσύνῃσιν.

νῦν δ᾽ ἂν ἐγὼ γενεήν τε καὶ οὔνομα μυθησαίμην

ἡρώων, δολιχῆς τε πόρους ἁλός, ὅσσα τ᾽ ἔρεξαν

πλαζόμενοι· Μοῦσαι δ᾽ ὑποφήτορες εἶεν ἀοιδῆς.

Πρῶτά νυν Ὀρφῆος μνησώμεθα, τόν ῥά ποτ᾿ αὐτὴ

Καλλιόπη Θρήικι φατίζεται εὐνηθεῖσα

Οἰάγρῳ σκοπιῆς Πιμπληίδος ἄγχι τεκέσθαι.

αὐτὰρ τόνγ᾽ ἐνέπουσιν ἀτειρέας οὔρεσι πέτρας

θέλξαι ἀοιδάων ἐνοπῇ ποταμῶν τε ῥέεθρα.

φηγοὶ δ᾽ ἀγριάδες, κείνης ἔτι σήματα μολπῆς,

ἀκτῆς Θρηικίης Ζώνης ἔπι τηλεθόωσαι

ἑξείης στιχόωσιν ἐπήτριμοι, ἃς ὅγ᾽ ἐπιπρὸ

θελγομένας φόρμιγγι κατήγαγε Πιερίηθεν.

Ὀρφέα μὲν δὴ τοῖον ἑῶν ἐπαρωγὸν ἀέθλων

Αἰσονίδης Χείρωνος ἐφημοσύνῃσι πιθήσας

δέξατο, Πιερίῃ Βιστωνίδι κοιρανέοντα.

Ἤλυθε δ᾽ Ἀστερίων αὐτοσχεδόν, ὅν ῥα Κομήτης

γείνατο δινήεντος ἐφ᾽ ὕδασιν Ἀπιδανοῖο,

Πειρεσιὰς ὄρεος Φυλληίου ἀγχόθι ναίων,

ἔνθα μὲν Ἀπιδανός τε μέγας καὶ δῖος Ἐνιπεὺς

ἄμφω συμφορέονται, ἀπόπροθεν εἰς ἓν ἰόντες.

Λάρισαν δ᾽ ἐπὶ τοῖσι λιπὼν Πολύφημος ἵκανεν

Εἰλατίδης, ὃς πρὶν μὲν ἐρισθενέων Λαπιθάων,

ὁππότε Κενταύροις Λαπίθαι ἐπὶ θωρήσσοντο,

ὁπλότερος πολέμιζε· τότ᾽ αὖ βαρύθεσκέ οἱ ἤδη

γυῖα, μένεν δ᾽ ἔτι θυμὸς ἀρήιος, ὡς τὸ πάρος περ.

Οὐδὲ μὲν Ἴφικλος Φυλάκῃ ἔνι δηρὸν ἔλειπτο,

μήτρως Αἰσονίδαο· κασιγνήτην γὰρ ὄπυιεν

Αἴσων Ἀλκιμέδην Φυλακηίδα· τῆς μιν ἀνώγει

πηοσύνη καὶ κῆδος ἐνικρινθῆναι ὁμίλῳ.

Οὐδὲ Φεραῖς Ἄδμητος ἐυρρήνεσσιν ἀνάσσων

μίμνεν ὑπὸ σκοπιὴν ὄρεος Χαλκωδονίοιο.

Translations (3)

The Argonautica, translated by R. C. Seaton (OCR draft) Experimental (R. C. Seaton's English translation of Apollonius Rhodius, published by Harvard University Press in 1912.) — 1.1 focus

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.

1.5-1.17

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.

1.18-1.22

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!

1.23-1.34

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.

1.35-1.39

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.

1.40-1.44

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.

1.45-1.48

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.

1.49-1.50

Nor did Admetus, the lord of Pherae rich in sheep, stay behind beneath the peak of the Chalcodonian mount.

1.51-1.56

The Argonautica, translated by F. A. Fawkes (OCR draft) Experimental (F. A. Fawkes's English translation of Apollonius Rhodius.) — 1.1 focus

INSPIR'D by thee, O Phœbus, I reſound

The glorious deeds of heroes long renown'd,

Whom Pelias urg'd the Golden Fleece to gain,

And well-built Argo wafted o'er the main,

Through the Cyanean rocks. The voice divine

Pronounc'd this ſentence from the ſacred ſhrine;

Erelong, and dreadful woes, foredoom'd by fate,

Thro' that man's counſels ſhall on Pelias wait,

'Whom he, before the altar of his God,

Shall view in public with one ſandal ſhod.

And, lo! as by this oracle foretold,

What time adventurous Jaſon, brave and bold,

Anaurus paſt, high fwoln with winter's flood,

He left one ſandal rooted in the mud.

To Pelias, thus, the haſty prince repair'd,

And the rich banquet at his altar ſhar'd.

The ſtately altar, with oblations ſtor'd,

Was to his ſire erected, ocean's lord,

And every Power that in Olympus reigns,

Save Juno, regent of Theſſalia's plains.

Pelias, whoſe looks his latent fears expreſs'd,

Fir'd with a bold adventure Jaſon's breast;

That, ſunk in ocean, or on ſome rude ſhore

Proſtrate, he ne'er might view his country more.

Old bards affirm this warlike ſhip was made

By ſkilful Argus, with Minerva's aid.

'Tis mine to ſing the chiefs, their names and race,

Their tedious wanderings on the main to trace,

And all their great achievements to rehearſe :

Deign, ye propitious Nine, to aid my verſe.

Firſt in the liſt, to join the princely bands,

The tuneful bard, enchanting Orpheus, ſtands;

Whom fair Calliope, on Thracia's ſhore,

Near Pimpla's mount, to bold Œägrus bore.

Hard rocks he ſoften'd with perſuaſive ſong,

And ſooth'd the rivers as they roll'd along.

Yon beeches tall, that bloom near Zona, ſtill

Remain memorials of his vocal ſkill:

His lays Pieria's liſtening trees admire,

And move in meaſures to his melting lyre.

Thus Orpheus charm'd, who o'er the Biſtons reign'd,

By Chiron's art to Jaſon's intereſt gain'd

Aſterion next; whoſe ſire rejoic'd to till

Pireſian valleys by Phylleion's hill,

Born near Apidanus, who ſportive leads

His winding waters thro' the fertile meads;

There where, from far, Enipeus, ſtream divine,

And wide Apidanus their currents join.

The ſon of Elatus, of deathleſs fame,

From fair Lariſſa, Polyphemus came.

Long ſince, when in the vigour of his might,

He join'd the hardy Lapithæ in fight

Against the Centaurs; now his ſtrength declin'd

Thro' age, yet young and martial was his mind.

Not long at Phylace Iphiclus ſtaid,

Great Jaſon's uncle; pleas'd he join'd his aid,

And march'd to meet th' adventurous band from far,

Urg'd by affinity and love of war.

Nor long Admetus, who at Pheræ reign'd,

Near high Chalcodon's bleating fields remain'd.

The Argonautica, translated by R. C. Seaton and modernized by OpenAI 5.6 Sol (OCR draft) Experimental (R. C. Seaton's English translation of Apollonius Rhodius, published by Harvard University Press in 1912 and modernized by OpenAI 5.6 Sol in 2026.) — 1.1 focus

1.1-1.4

Beginning with you, Phoebus, I will recount the famous deeds of ancient heroes who, at King Pelias’s command, sailed the well-benched Argo down through the mouth of Pontus and between the Cyanean rocks in quest of the golden fleece.

1.5-1.17

Such was the oracle that Pelias heard, that a hateful fate awaited him—to be killed at the prompting of the man whom he should see coming forth from the people wearing only one sandal. And not long afterward, 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 immediately 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 any chance of returning home.

1.18-1.22

As earlier poets relate, Argus built the ship under Athena’s guidance. But now I will tell the lineage and the names of the heroes, and of the long sea-paths and the deeds they performed in their wanderings; may the Muses be the inspirers of my song!

1.23-1.34

First then let us name Orpheus whom once Calliope bore, 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 command of Cheiron, Orpheus ruler of Bistonian Pieria.

1.35-1.39

Immediately came Asterion, whom Cometes fathered by the waters of eddying Apidanus; he lived at Peiresiae near the Phylleian mount, where mighty Apidanus and bright Enipeus join their streams, coming together from afar.

1.40-1.44

Next to them from Larisa came Polyphemus, son of Eilatus, who formerly 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.

1.45-1.48

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 led him to join in the host.

1.49-1.50

Nor did Admetus, the lord of Pherae rich in sheep, stay behind beneath the peak of the Chalcodonian mount.

1.51-1.56

Notes on the current edition

Argonautica

1. Κυανέαι πέτραι, elsewhere called Πλαγκταί and Συμπλήγαδες. These famous rocks, which are also mentioned by Homer and Euripides, were said to guard the entrance to the Pontus.

2. The poet, whilst noticing the favour borne by Hera to Jason, gives no reason for the neglect shown to her by Pelias. Πελασγίδος here = θεσσαλικη̃ς ; the Pelasgi inhabiting Phthiotis in Thessaly. Cf. Horn. 11. ii. 681.

3. The Apidanus and Enipeus, two rivers in Thessaly. The Phylleian mountain is in Macedonia. Peiresia, or Pieria, name of a Macedonian district and town.

4. The Polyphemus here mentioned is not the same as the giant shepherd of Sicily, whom Odysseus blinded. This hero, who figures afterwards as the loyal and trusty friend of Heracles, had already dis tinguished himself in the famous battle between the Lapithæ and the Centaurs at the wedding feast of Pirithous.

Commentary

Scholia on Apollonius' Argonautica (Scholia in Apollonium Rhodium vetera. Wendel, Carl, editor. Weidmann: Berlin, 1935.) focus

1-4a. 1—4 a. Ἀρχόμενος: ἀπὸ περιεκτικοῦ ῥήματος ἡ μετοχὴ ἐσχημάτισται. περιεκτικὰ δέ εἰσιν, ὅσα 〈καὶ〉 δρᾶσίν καὶ πάθος ἐμφαίνουσιν, οἷον βιάζομαι, δωροῦμαι, σφαγιάζομαι. οὕτω καὶ τὸ

1-4a. ἄρχομαι τὸ
μὲν τι σημαίνει ‘ἀπὸ σοῦ τὴν ἀρχὴν ποιοῦμαι’ — ἔθος γὰρ ἀπὸ θεῶν προοιμιάζεσθαι· ‘ἐκ Διὸς ἀρχώμεσθα’ (Arat. Phaen. 1; Theocr. XVII 1) —, τὸ δέ τι σημαίνει ‘ἀρχαιρεσιαζόμενος ὑπὸ σοῦ’ οἷον ἐνθουσιῶν. παραπλησίως γὰρ τοὺς ποιητὰς τοῖς μαινομένοις ἐνθουσιᾶν 〈λέγεται〉. κέχρηται δὲ ἐπὶ τοῦ

1-4a. ἀρχόμενος παρατατικοῦ μετοχῇ, ἀντὶ τοῦ ἀρξά-
μενος.

1-4b. b. ὁ λόγος· ἀρχαιρεσιασθεὶς ὑπὸ σοῦ, Ἄπολλον, τὸ κλέος τῶν ἡρώων εἰς μνήμην ἄξω τῶν κατὰ τὸν Πελίαν 〈...〉. L mP

1-4c. c. παλαιγενέων: διαφέρει τὸ παλαιὸν τοῦ ἀρχαίου. τὸ μὲν γὰρ παλαιὸν καὶ ἀρχαῖον, τὸ δὲ ἀρχαῖον οὐκ ἔστι παλαιόν. τὸ γὰρ
ἀρχαῖον ἀναφέρει 〈εἰς〉 τὸ ἀρχῆς ἔχεσθαι.

1-4d. d. ἐύζυγον: εὐκάθεδρον. L gP

1-4e. e. ἤλασαν Ἀργώ: ὁ μὲν Ἀπολλώνιος καλεῖ τὴν Ἀργὼ ἀπὸ Ἄργου τοῦ κατασκευάσαντος, Φερεκύδης (3 fg 106 J.) δὲ ἀπὸ Ἄργου

5a. 5 a. τοίην γὰρ Πελίῃ: τὸ τοίην τίθεται καὶ ἀνταποδοτικῶς, καθ’ ὁμοίωσιν, πρὸς τὰς παραβολάς· ‘οἵη περ φύλλων γενεή,
τοίη δὲ καὶ ἀνδρῶν’ (Ζ 146)· καὶ ἀναφορικῶς· ‘ἀλλὰ καὶ ὡς τοίη περ ἐοῦσα’ (Γ 159). νῦν δὲ δύναται μὲν ἐπὶ θαυμασμοῦ κεῖσθαι τοῦ κατὰ προαίρεσιν λόγου, δύναται 〈δὲ〉 καὶ κατὰ ἀναφορὰν πρὸς τὰ ἐπιφερόμενα.

5b. b. φάτις δὲ καὶ φήμη ἐπειδὰν ἐπὶ μέλλοντος λέγωνται, πρόρρησίν τινα σημαίνουσιν. P

7. 7. 〈δημόθεν:〉 ἐκ τοῦ δήμου Ἰωλκίων. L g

9. 9. 〈Ἀναύρου:〉 Ἄναυρον λέγει τὸν χείμαρρον ποταμόν, ἐπειδὴ οἱ ἐξ ὑετῶν συνιστάμενοι οὕτω καλοῦνται.

Commentary (Carolus Wendel, 1935) (OCR draft) () focus

1-4a. mvp-tlg5012-tlg001-wendel1935g-com-grc1-1

1—4 a. Ἀρχόμενος: ἀπὸ περιεκτικοῦ ῥήματος ἡ μετοχὴ ἐσχημάτισται. περιεκτικὰ δέ εἰσιν, ὅσα 〈καὶ〉 δρᾶσίν καὶ πάθος ἐμφαίνουσιν, οἷον βιάζομαι, δωροῦμαι, σφαγιάζομαι. οὕτω καὶ τὸ ἄρχομαι τὸ
μὲν τι σημαίνει ‘ἀπὸ σοῦ τὴν ἀρχὴν ποιοῦμαι’ — ἔθος γὰρ ἀπὸ θεῶν προοιμιάζεσθαι· ‘ἐκ Διὸς ἀρχώμεσθα’ (Arat. Phaen. 1; Theocr. XVII 1) —, τὸ δέ τι σημαίνει ‘ἀρχαιρεσιαζόμενος ὑπὸ σοῦ’ οἷον ἐνθουσιῶν. παραπλησίως γὰρ τοὺς ποιητὰς τοῖς μαινομένοις ἐνθουσιᾶν 〈λέγεται〉. κέχρηται δὲ ἐπὶ τοῦ ἀρχόμενος παρατατικοῦ μετοχῇ, ἀντὶ τοῦ ἀρξά-
μενος.

1-4b. mvp-tlg5012-tlg001-wendel1935g-com-grc1-2

b. ὁ λόγος· ἀρχαιρεσιασθεὶς ὑπὸ σοῦ, Ἄπολλον, τὸ κλέος τῶν ἡρώων εἰς μνήμην ἄξω τῶν κατὰ τὸν Πελίαν 〈...〉. L mP

1-4c. mvp-tlg5012-tlg001-wendel1935g-com-grc1-3

c. παλαιγενέων: διαφέρει τὸ παλαιὸν τοῦ ἀρχαίου. τὸ μὲν γὰρ παλαιὸν καὶ ἀρχαῖον, τὸ δὲ ἀρχαῖον οὐκ ἔστι παλαιόν. τὸ γὰρ
ἀρχαῖον ἀναφέρει 〈εἰς〉 τὸ ἀρχῆς ἔχεσθαι.

1-4d. mvp-tlg5012-tlg001-wendel1935g-com-grc1-4

d. ἐύζυγον: εὐκάθεδρον. L gP

1-4e. mvp-tlg5012-tlg001-wendel1935g-com-grc1-5

e. ἤλασαν Ἀργώ: ὁ μὲν Ἀπολλώνιος καλεῖ τὴν Ἀργὼ ἀπὸ Ἄργου τοῦ κατασκευάσαντος, Φερεκύδης (3 fg 106 J.) δὲ ἀπὸ Ἄργου

⁴

1-4e_cont. mvp-tlg5012-tlg001-wendel1935g-com-grc1-6

τοῦ Φρίξου υἱοῦ. ταύτην δὲ λέγουσι πρώτην ναῦν γεγενῆσθαι. ἄλλοι δὲ λέγουσιν, 〈ὅτι〉 Δαναὸς διωκόμενος ὑπὸ Αἰγύπτου 〈τὴν〉 πρώτην κατεσκεύασε, ὅθεν καὶ Δαναῒς ἐκλήθη.

⁵⁶

5a. mvp-tlg5012-tlg001-wendel1935g-com-grc1-7

5 a. τοίην γὰρ Πελίῃ: τὸ τοίην τίθεται καὶ ἀνταποδοτικῶς, καθ’ ὁμοίωσιν, πρὸς τὰς παραβολάς· ‘οἵη περ φύλλων γενεή,
τοίη δὲ καὶ ἀνδρῶν’ (Ζ 146)· καὶ ἀναφορικῶς· ‘ἀλλὰ καὶ ὡς τοίη περ ἐοῦσα’ (Γ 159). νῦν δὲ δύναται μὲν ἐπὶ θαυμασμοῦ κεῖσθαι τοῦ κατὰ προαίρεσιν λόγου, δύναται 〈δὲ〉 καὶ κατὰ ἀναφορὰν πρὸς τὰ ἐπιφερόμενα.

⁷

5b. mvp-tlg5012-tlg001-wendel1935g-com-grc1-8

b. φάτις δὲ καὶ φήμη ἐπειδὰν ἐπὶ μέλλοντος λέγωνται, πρόρρησίν τινα σημαίνουσιν. P

7. mvp-tlg5012-tlg001-wendel1935g-com-grc1-9

7. 〈δημόθεν:〉 ἐκ τοῦ δήμου Ἰωλκίων. L g

9. mvp-tlg5012-tlg001-wendel1935g-com-grc1-10

9. 〈Ἀναύρου:〉 Ἄναυρον λέγει τὸν χείμαρρον ποταμόν, ἐπειδὴ οἱ ἐξ ὑετῶν συνιστάμενοι οὕτω καλοῦνται.

Commentary (Carolus Wendel, 1935/2026, translated by deepseek-v4-pro) (OCR draft) () focus

1-4a. mvp-tlg5012-tlg001-wendel1935e-com-eng1-1

1-4a. Beginning: the participle is formed from a verb of encompassing sense. Encompassing verbs are those that indicate both action and passion, such as βιάζομαι, δωροῦμαι, σφαγιάζομαι. Thus also ἄρχομαι signifies on the one hand 'I make a beginning from you' — for it is customary to begin with the gods: 'let us begin from Zeus' (Arat. Phaen. 1; Theocr. XVII 1) —, and on the other hand it signifies 'being inspired by you', as if being filled with divine frenzy. For poets are said to be inspired like madmen. He uses the present participle ἀρχόμενος instead of ἀρξάμενος.

¹²

1-4b. mvp-tlg5012-tlg001-wendel1935e-com-eng1-2

b. The meaning: having been inspired by you, Apollo, I will bring to memory the glory of the heroes of the time of Pelias 〈...〉. LmP

³⁴

1-4c. mvp-tlg5012-tlg001-wendel1935e-com-eng1-3

c. παλαιγενέων: παλαιόν differs from ἀρχαῖον. For παλαιόν is also ἀρχαῖον, but ἀρχαῖον is not παλαιόν. For ἀρχαῖον refers to being connected with a beginning.

⁵⁶

1-4d. mvp-tlg5012-tlg001-wendel1935e-com-eng1-4

d. ἐύζυγον: εὐκάθεδρον. L gP

d. ἐύζυγον: well-benched. LgP

1-4e. mvp-tlg5012-tlg001-wendel1935e-com-eng1-5

e. ἤλασαν Ἀργώ: Apollonius calls the Argo after Argus the builder, but Pherecydes (3 fg 106 J.) after Argus

⁷⁸

1-4e_cont. mvp-tlg5012-tlg001-wendel1935e-com-eng1-6

the son of Phrixus. They say that this was the first ship. But others say that Danaus, fleeing from Aegyptus, built the first ship, whence it was also called Danaïs.

⁹¹⁰¹¹¹²

5a. mvp-tlg5012-tlg001-wendel1935e-com-eng1-7

5a. τοίην γὰρ Πελίῃ: τοίην is used both correlatively, by way of comparison, in relation to similes: ‘οἵη περ φύλλων γενεή, τοίη δὲ καὶ ἀνδρῶν’ (Ζ 146); and anaphorically: ‘ἀλλὰ καὶ ὡς τοίη περ ἐοῦσα’ (Γ 159). Here it can be used to express admiration for the speech according to its intention, and it can also be used anaphorically in relation to what follows.

¹³¹⁴

5b. mvp-tlg5012-tlg001-wendel1935e-com-eng1-8

b. φάτις δὲ καὶ φήμη ἐπειδὰν ἐπὶ μέλλοντος λέγωνται, πρόρρησίν τινα σημαίνουσιν. P

b. φάτις and φήμη, when used of the future, signify a prophecy. P

7. mvp-tlg5012-tlg001-wendel1935e-com-eng1-9

7. 〈δημόθεν:〉 ἐκ τοῦ δήμου Ἰωλκίων. L g

7. 〈δημόθεν:〉 from the people of the Iolcians. Lg

9. mvp-tlg5012-tlg001-wendel1935e-com-eng1-10

9. 〈Ἀναύρου:〉 Ἄναυρον λέγει τὸν χείμαρρον ποταμόν, ἐπειδὴ οἱ ἐξ ὑετῶν συνιστάμενοι οὕτω καλοῦνται.

9. 〈Ἀναύρου:〉 He calls Anaurus the torrential river, since those formed from rains are so called.

Apollonius Rhodius Argonautica 1.1

Edward P. Coleridge (Translator)

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