They reach Bithynia. Amycus, king of the Bebryces, having chal lenged any of them to box with him, is slain by Polydeuces, and in the subsequent fight many of the Bebryces fall. At Salmydessa in Thrace they find blind Phineus, whom the sons of Boreas relieve from the attacks of the Harpies. In return he tells them of their voyage. Hence they come to the Symplegades, and, after escaping through them, are received by Lycus, king of the Mariandyni. Idmon and Tiphys die there. They meet with strange adventures among the Chalybes, Tiba reni, and Mossynœci. Coming to an island infested by " the birds of Ares," they pick up the shipwrecked sons of Chalciope, who henceforth serve them as guides to Colchis.

1 HERE were the steadings and the farm of Amycus, proud king of the Bebryces, whom on a day the Bithynian nymph, Melie, bare from the embraces of Posei don, 1

lord of birth, to be the haughtiest of men, for he laid this unseemly ordinance even on his guests, that none should go away, till he had made trial of his boxing; and many of his neighbours had he slain. So then he came to the ship, but scorned to ask the object of their voyage and who they were, in his exceeding insolence; but this word at once spake he amongst them all: " Hearken, ye rovers o'er the deep; 'tis right ye should know these things. Of stranger folk none may get him hence, whoso draweth nigh to the Bebryces, ere he have lifted up his hands to fight with me. Wherefore set the best man of your company alone and apart to do battle with me in boxing on the spot. But if ye neglect and trample on my decrees, verily some hard necessity shall follow you to your sorrow."

So spake he in his great pride. But savage anger seized them as they listened. And most of all his chiding smote Polydeuces. Quickly he stood up as champion of his fel lows, and spake, "Hold thee now, and show no coward violence, whoever thou boastest to be ; for we will yield to thy ordinance, as thou declarest it. I myself willingly do undertake to meet thee in this very hour." ¹

So spake he bluntly; but the other rolled his eyes and gazed at him, as when a lion is wounded by a spear, and men encompass him upon the hills ; but he, hemmed in, though he be, by the press, yet recketh no more of them, but only mindeth in his solitude that man who first did wound him and slew him not. Then did the son of Tyn darus lay aside his fine close-woven robe, that robe which one of the Lemnian maidens had given him for a stranger's gift, and he threw down his dark cloak of double woof with the brooches thereupon, and the rough shepherd's crook of wild mountain olive that he was carrying. Anon they looked about for a convenient spot near, and made their comrades all sit down in two bands upon the beach; nor were they in form or stature like each other to behold. The one was like some monstrous birth of baleful Typhoeus 1

or haply of Earth 2

herself, such as she aforetime bare to Zeus in her displeasure;' while the other, the son of Tyndarus, was like a star of heaven, whose twinklings are most lovely when he shineth in the gloaming. So fair was the son of Zeus, with the young down still sprouting on his face and the glad light yet in his eyes. But his might and his spirit waxed as doth a beast's ; and he swung his arms, testing them to see if they moved nimbly as of yore, or lest they might be stiff withal from toil and rowing. Amycus how ever made no trial of himself; there he stood apart in silence, and kept his eyes on him, and his heart beat high with eagerness to dash the other's life-blood from his breast. Betwixt them Lycoreus, henchman of Amycus, laid at their feet two pairs of thongs 3

,' rough, dry, and wrinkled all about. ^{2 3 4} And Amycus with haughty words addressed the other: 55 " Here will I freely give thee without casting lots which- ever of these thou wilt, that thou mayst not find fault with me hereafter. Come, bind it about thy hand; and, when thou hast learnt, thou mayst tell another, how far I excel in cutting the hides of oxen when they are dry, and in dabbling men's cheeks with blood."

He spake; but the other answered him with never a taunt, but, lightly smiling, readily took up the thongs that lay at his own feet; and Castor came to be his squire, and mighty Talaus, the son of Bias ; and quickly they bound the thongs about his arms, very earnestly exhorting him to show his prowess ; while for that other Aretus and Ornytus did the like, and little they knew, poor fools, that they had bound them for the last time, with ill luck to boot.

But they then, when they were ready with their thongs, face to face, at once held out before their bodies their weighty fists, and brought their might to meet each other. Then the king of the Bebryces, like a wave of the sea that rears its rugged crest against a swift ship that only just avoids it by the skill of the crafty pilot, as the billow is eager to sweep her away within its wall of water; even so the king pressed hard the son of Tyndarus to frighten him, nor would he give him any respite. But the other, un wounded ever, kept avoiding his rush by his skill; and quickly he noted his rough boxing, to see if he were invin cible in his strength or haply his inferior; so there he stood continually, 1

and gave him blow for blow. As when car penters, urgently laying on, do strike with hammers and nail together ship-timbers with sharp mortices, while blow on blow re-echoes round unceasingly ; so their cheeks and jaws on both sides resounded, and the gnashing of teeth arose incessantly, and they ceased not to smite each in turn, ⁵ till sore gasping o'ercame them both. Then stood they a little apart, wiping from their faces great drops of sweat, with grievous panting and hard breathing the while. Once more they roused them to the encounter, like two bulls that furiously battle for a grazing heifer. Then did Amycus, rising on tiptoe, like a butcher, strain to his full height and shot forth his heavy fist at him, but he stooped his head and went under his rush, but caught his blow just on the shoulder; then did he come up to Amycus, and advancing his knee past him dashed in and smote him above the ear, crashing the bones inward ; and the other fell on his knees in agony, but the Minyan heroes cheered ; and away sped his spirit at once.

But the Bebryces, I trow, left not their king thus ; no, at once they caught up rough clubs and spears aud made straight for Polydeuces. But his comrades drew their keen swords from the scabbards and stood up before him. 'Twas Castor first that smote a man upon the head as he rushed at him, and his skull was cleft in twain on either shoulder. Likewise he smote the giant Itymoneus and Mimas; the one he smote beneath the breast, having rushed on him with speedy foot, 1

and hurled him in the dust; the other, as he drew nigh, he struck with his right hand above the left eye-brow and tore off the lid, and the eye was left uncovered. And Oreides too, daring squire of Amycus, wounded Talaus, the SOIl of Bias, in the loins, but he slew him not, for the bronze sped beneath his belt merely along the skin, and touched not his belly. In like manner Aretus sprang at Iphitus, steadfast son of Eurytus, and smote him with a seasoned club, not yet doomed to die miserably ; Aretus indeed was soon to fall beneath the sword of Clytius.

'Twas then that Ancaeus, bold son of Lycurgus, uplifted his great axe right speedily, holding his black bear skin in ⁶ his left hand, and sprang furiously into the thick of the Bebryces, and the son of Æacus charged with him, and Jason too rushed on with them.

As when, on a day in winter, grizzled wolves attack and terrify countless sheep in the fold without the knowledge of the keen-scented dogs and the shepherds themselves, and they seek how they may at once spring on them and take them, oft peering over the pens withal, while the sheep from every side huddle as they are, tumbling over one an other ; even so, I ween, the heroes grievously affrighted the overweening Bebryces. As shepherds or bee-keepers smoke a mighty swarm of bees in a rock, and these the while, all huddled in their hive, buzz round confusedly ; and far from the rock they dart, smoked right through by the sooty fumes; so these men no longer abode steadfastly, but fled routed within Bebrycia, carrying the news of the death of Amycus ; poor fools, for they knew not of another unseen woe that was very nigh to them. For their orchards and villages were wasted by the hostile spear of Lycus and the Mariandyni, now that their king was gone. For there was ever a feud twixt them about the land that yielded iron; for these at once began to pillage the farms and steadings, while the heroes forthwith plundered and carried off their countless sheep ; and thus some man amongst them would say : 145 " Bethink you what they would have brought upon themselves by their craven deeds, if haply some god had brought Heracles too hither. Very sure . am I, had he been here, there would have been not so much as a trial of boxing ; no, but when he came to tell his ordi nances, forthwith the club would have made him forget his pride and the ordinances too which he declared. Yea, we have left him yonder on the shore without a thought and gone our way across the sea, but every man amongst us shall know that fatal mistake, now that he is far away."

Thus spake he; but all these things were wrought by the counsels of Zeus. There they abode that night, and set to curing the wounds of those who were smitten, and they offered sacrifices to the deathless gods, and made ready a great supper; and sleep o'ertook no man beside the wine-bowls and the blazing sacrifices. And they wreathed their yellow locks with bay that groweth by the sea, whereto also were fastened the cables, and sang in sweet harmony to the lyre of Orpheus; and as they sang the headland round grew calm and still, for their song was of the son of Zeus,' who dwelleth in Therapnæ 1

.

Now when the sun, rising from the east, shone upon the dewy hills, and awoke shepherds, in that hour they loosed their cables from the stem of the bay-tree, and, putting their booty on board, even all that they had need to carry, they steered with the wind along the swirling Bosporus. Then did a wave like to a steep mountain rush upon them in front, as though it were charging them, rearing itself ever above the clouds, and never wouldst thou have said they would escape a horrid fate, for it hung arching right over the middle of the ship in all its fury; but yet even this grows smooth, if but you possess a clever pilot. So then they too came forth, unscathed, though much afeard, through the skill of Tiphys. And on the next day they anchored over against the Bithynian land.

Here Phineus, son of . Agenor, had his home beside the sea; he who, by reason of the divination that the son of Leto granted him aforetime, suffered most awful woes, far beyond all men; for not one jot did he regard even Zeus himself, in foretelling the sacred purpose to men unerringly. Wherefore Zeus granted him a weary length of days, but reft his eyes of the sweet light, nor suffered him to have any joy of all the countless gifts, which those, who dwelt around and sought to him for oracles, were ever bringing to ⁷ his house. But suddenly through the clouds the Harpies darted nigh, and kept snatching them from his mouth or hands in their talons. Sometimes never a morsel of food was left him, sometimes a scrap, that he might live and suffer. And upon his food they spread a fetid stench; and none could endure to bring food to his mouth, but stood afar off; so foul a reek breathed from the remnants of his meal. At once, when he heard the sound and noise of a company, he perceived that they were the very men now passing by, at whose coming an oracle from Zeus had said that he should enjoy his food. Up from his couch he rose, as it were, a lifeless phantom, and, leaning on his staff, came to the door on his wrinkled feet, feeling his way along the walls ; and, as he went, his limbs trembled from weakness and age, and his skin was dry and caked with filth, and nought but the skin held his bones together. So he came forth from his hall, and sat down with heavy knees on the threshold of the court, and a dark mantle wrapped him, and seemed to sweep the ground below all round ; and there he sank with never a word, in strength less lethargy.

But they, when they saw him, gathered round, and were astonied. And he, drawing a laboured breath from the bottom of his chest, took up his parable for them and said: 209 " Hearken, choice sons of all the Hellenes, if 'tis you in very truth, whom now Jason, at the king's chill bidding, is leading on the ship Argo to fetch the fleece. 'Tis surely you. Still doth my mind know each thing by its divining. Wherefore to thee, my prince, thou son of Leto, do I give thanks eyen in my cruel sufferings. By Zeus, the god of suppliants, most awful god to sinful men, for Phœbus’ sake and for the sake of Hera herself, who before all other gods hath had you in her keeping as ye came, help me, I im plore ; rescue a hapless wretch from misery, and do not heedlessly go hence and leave me thus. For not only hath the avenging fiend set his heel upon my eyes, not only do I drag out to the end a tedious old age, but yet another most bitter pain is added to the tale. Harpies, swooping from some unseen den of destruction, that I see not, do snatch the food from my mouth. And I have no plan to help me. But lightly would my mind forget her longing for a meal, or the thought of them, so quickly fly they through the air. But if, as happens at times, they leave me some scrap of food, a noisome stench it bath, and a smell too strong to bear, nor could any mortal man draw nigh and bear it even for a little while, no, not though his heart were forged of adamant. But me, God wot, doth necessity, cruel and in satiate, constrain to abide, and abiding to put such food in my miserable belly. Them 'tis heaven's decree that the sons of Boreas 1

shall check; and they shall ward them off, for they are my kinsmen, if indeed I am that Phineus, who in days gone by had a name amongst men for my wealth and divination, whom Agenor, my sire, begat; their sister Cleopatra 2

did I bring to my house as wife with gifts of wooing, what time I ruled among the Thracians."

So spake the son of Agenor; and deep sorrow took hold on each of the heroes, but specially on the two sons of Boreas. But they wiped away a tear and drew nigh, and thus spake Zetes, taking in his the hand of the suffering old man: " Ah! poor sufferer, methinks there is no other man more wretched than thee. Why is it that such woes have fastened on thee ? Is it that thou hast sinned against the gods in deadly folly through thy skill in divination ? Wherefore are they so greatly wroth against thee ? Lo ! our heart within us is sorely bewildered, though.we yearn to help thee, if in very truth the god hath reserved for us ^{8 9} twain this honour. For plain to see are the rebukes that the immortals send on us men of earth. Nor will we check the coming of the Harpies, for all our eagerness, till that thou swear that we shall not fall from heaven's favour in return for this." So spake he, and straight that aged man opened his sightless eyes and lifted them up, and thus made answer: " Hush ! remind me not of those things, my son. The son of Leto be my witness, who of his kindness taught me divination ; be witness that ill-omened fate, that is my lot, and this dark cloud upon my eyes, and the gods below, whose favour may I never find if I die perjured thus, that there shall come no wrath from heaven on you by reason of your aid."

262 Then were those twain eager to help him by reason of the oath, and quickly did the young men make ready a feast for the old man, a last booty for the Harpies ; and the two stood near to strike them with their swords as they swooped down. Soon as ever that aged man did touch the food, down rushed those Harpies with whirr of wings at once, eager for the food, like grievous blasts, or like lightning darting suddenly from the clouds; but those heroes, when they saw them in mid air, shouted ; and they at the noise sped off afar across the sea after they had devoured everything, but behind them was left an intoler able stench. And the two sons of Boreas started in pur suit of them with their swords drawn; for Zeus inspired them with tireless courage, and 'twas not without the will of Zeus that they followed them, for they would dart past the breath of the west wind, what time they went to and from Phineus. As when upon the hill-tops dogs skilled in the chase run on the track of homed goats or deer, and, straining at full speed just behind, in vain do gnash their teeth upon their lips; even so Zetes and Calais, darting very nigh to them, in vain grazed them with their finger tips. And now, I trow, they would have torn them in pieces against the will of the gods on the floating islands,' after they had come afar, had not swift Iris seen them, and darting down from the clear heaven above stayed them with this word of rebuke: " Ye sons of Boreas, 'tis not or dained that ye should slay the Harpies, the hounds of mighty Zeus, with your swords; but I, even I, will give you an oath that they will come no more nigh him."

Therewith she sware by the stream of Styx, most dire and awful oath for all the gods, that these should never again draw near unto the house of Phineus, son of Agenor, for even so was it fated. So they yielded to her oath and turned to hasten back to the ship. And so it is that men call those isles, " the isles of turning," though aforetime they called them " the floating 1

isles." And the Harpies and Iris parted; they entered their lair in Crete, the land of Minos, but she sped up to Olympus, soaring on her swift pinions.

Meantime the chieftains carefully washed the old man's squalid skin, and chose out and sacrificed sheep, which they had brought from the booty of Amycus. Now when they had laid a great supper in his halls, they sat them down and feasted, and with them Phineus fell afeasting ravenously, cheering his heart as in a dream. Then when they had taken their fill of food and drink, they sat up all night awaiting the sons of Boreas. And in their midst beside the hearth sat that ancient one himself, telling them of the ends of their voyage and the fulfilment of their journey: " Hearken then. All ye may not learn of a surety, but as much as is heaven's will I will not hide. Aforetime I went astray in my folly by declaring the mind of Zeus in order to the end. For he willeth himself to make plain to men oracles that need divination, to the ¹⁰ end that they may have some need of the mind of the gods.

317 " First of all, when ye have gone hence from me, ye shall see the two Cyanean 1

rocks at the place where two seas meet. Through these, I trow, none can win a passage. For they are not fixed on foundations below, but oft they clash together upon each other, and much salt water boils up from beneath, rearing its crest, and loud is the roar round the bluff headland.

" Wherefore now give heed to my exhorting, if in sooth ye make this voyage with cautious mind and due regard for the blessed gods; perish not then senselessly by a death of your own choosing, nor rush on at the heels of youthful rashness. First I bid you let loose from the ship a dove, and send her forth before you to try the way. And if she fly safely on her wings through those rocks to the sea, no longer do ye delay your voyage for any time, but stoutly ply the oars in your hands and cleave through the strait of sea, for now your life will depend, not so much on your prayers, as on your stalwart arms. Wherefore leave all other things alone and exert 2

yourselves bravely to the utmost; yet ere you start, I do not forbid you to entreat the gods. But if the dove be slain right in mid passage, fare ye back again, for far better it is to yield to the death less gods. For then could ye not escape an evil doom at the rocks, no, not if Argo were made of iron. Ah! hapless wights ! dare not to go beyond my warning, although ye think me thrice as much the foe of the lords of heaven, aye and even more hateful to them than I really am ; dare not to sail yet further against the omen. And these things shall be even as they may. But if ye escape the clashing ^{11 12} of the rocks and come scatheless inside Pontus, forthwith keep the Bithynian 1

land upon your right, and sail cautiously amid the breakers, till that ye round the swift current of the river Rhebas and the Black headland, and be come to a haven in the Thynian isle. Thence return a short stretch across the sea, and beach your ship on the opposite shore of the Mariandyni. There is a path down to Hades, and the headland 2

of Acherusia juts out and stretches itself on high, and swirling Acheron, cutting through the foot of the cliff, pours itself forth from a mighty ravine. Very nigh to it shall ye pass by many hills of the Paphlagonians, over whom Pelops first held sway in Enete, 3

of whose blood they avow them to be. Now there is a certain cliff that fronts the circling * Bear, on all sides steep; men call it Carambis ; above it the gusty north 4

is parted in twain ; in such wise is it turned toward the sea, towering to heaven. At once when a man bath rounded it a wide beach stretches before him, and at the end of that wide beach nigh to a jutting cliff the stream of the river Halys 5

terribly dis charges, and after him, but flowing near, the Iris rolls into the sea, a lesser stream with clear ripples. Here in front a great and towering bend stands out 6

; next, Thermodon's mouth flows into a sleeping bay near the Themiscyrean headland, from its meandering through a wide continent. ^{13 14 15 16 17 18} There is the plain of Doias, and hard by are the triple cities of the Amazons ; and after them the Chalybes 1

in habit a rough and stubborn land, of all men most wretched, labourers they, busied with working of iron. Near them dwell the Tibareni, rich in sheep, beyond the Genetæan head land, where is a temple of Zeus, lord of hospitality. Next beyond this, but nigh thereto, the Mossynœci 2

hold the woody mainland and the foot of the mountain, men that have builded houses of timber with wooden battlements and chambers deftly finished, which they call ' Mossynæ,’ and hence they have their name. Coast on past them, and anchor at a smooth isle, 3

after ye have driven off with all the skill ye may those ravening birds, which, men say, do roost upon this desert isle in countless numbers. Therein the queens of the Amazons builded a temple of stone to Ares, even Otrere and Antiope, what time they went forth to battle. Now here shall there come to you from out the bitter sea a help 4

ye looked not for, wherefore of good will I bid you there to stay. But hold; why should I once more offend by telling everything from beginning to end in my divining ? In front of the island, on the mainland oppo site, dwell the Philyres ; 5

higher up, beyond them, are the ^{19 20 21 22 23} Macrones; and yet beyond these, the countless tribes of the Becheiri. Next to them dwell the Sapeires, and their neighbours are the Byzeres, and right beyond them come next the warlike Colchians themselves. But cleave on your way, until ye come nigh to the inmost sea. There across the Cytæan 1

mainland, from the Amarantian hills afar, and the plain of Circe, 2

the swirling Phasis rolls his broad stream into the sea. Drive your ship into the mouth of that river, and ye shall see the towers of Cytæan Æetes and the shady grove of Ares, where a dragon, dire monster to behold, watches from his ambush round the fleece as it hangs on the top of an oak; nor night nor day doth sweet sleep overcome his restless eyes."

408 So spake he; and as they hearkened, fear fell on them forthwith. Long were they struck with speechlessness; at last spake the hero, the son of iEson, sorely at a loss, " Old man, lo! now hast thou rehearsed the end of our toilsome voyage, and the sure sign, which if we obey we shall pass through those loathed rocks to Pontus; but whether there shall be a return again to Hellas for us, if we do escape them, this too would I fain learn of thee. How am I to act, how shall I come again over so wide a path of sea, in ignorance myself and with a crew alike ignorant? for Colchian Æa lieth at the uttermost end of Pontus and the earth."

So spake he, and to him did that old man make answer, “ My child, as soon as thou hast escaped through those rocks of death, be of good cheer, for a god will guide thee on a different route from Æa; and toward Æa, there shall be plenty to guide thee. Yea, friends, bethink you of the crafty aid of the Cyprian goddess. For by her is pre ^{24 25} pared a glorious end to your toils. But question me no further of these matters."

So spake the son of Agenor, and the two sons of Thracian Boreas came glancing down from heaven, and set their rushing feet upon the threshold beside them. Up sprang the heroes from their seats, when they saw them coming near. And among the eager throng Zetes made harangue, drawing great gasps for breath after his toil, and told them how far they had journeyed, and how Iris pre vented them from slaying the Harpies, and how the goddess in her favour gave them an oath, and those others slunk away in terror 'neath the vast cavern of the cliff of Dicte. Glad then were all their comrades in the house, -and Phineus himself, at the news. And quickly did the son of Æson address the old man with right good will: " It seems then, Phineus, some god there was who pitied thy grievous misery, and brought us, too, hither from afar, that the sons of Boreas might help thee; if but he would grant the light unto thine eyes, methinks I would be even as glad -as if I were on my homeward way."

So spake he; but the other, with downcast face, answered him: " Ah! son of Æson, that may never be recalled, nor is there any remedy for that hereafter; for blasted 1

are my sightless eyes. Instead thereof God grant me death 2

at once, and after death shall I share in all festive joys."

Thus these twain held converse together. And anon, in no long space, as they talked, the dawn appeared; and the neighbouring folk came round Phineus, they who even aforetime gathered thither day by day, ever bringing a ^{26 27} portion of food for him in spite of all. And unto all of them that aged man with good will gave oracles, whatso feeble man might come; and he loosed many of their woes by his divination ; wherefore they would visit and care for him. With these came Paræbius, the man most dear to him, and glad was he to hear them in his house. For long before had he himself declared that an expedition of chief tains, on its way from Hellas to the city of Æetes, should fasten its cables to the Thynian 1

land, and they should re strain by Zeus's will the Harpies from coming to him. So then that old man sent these men forth, winning them with words of wisdom; only Paræbius he bade stay there with the chieftains; and quickly he sent him forth, bidding him bring thither the pick of all his sheep; and as he went out from the hall, Phineus made harangue graciously amongst the throng of rowers: 468 " Friends, all men, I trow, are not overweening, nor forgetful of a kindness. Thus yonder man, brave soul as he is, came hither that he might learn his fate. 2

For when he toiled his best and worked his hardest, even then above all repeated want of food would waste him, and day on day was ever more miserable, nor was there any respite from his suffering. But he was pay ing a sad return for his father's sin; for he, cutting trees alone on a day in the hills, slighted the prayer of a tree nymph, who besought him with tears and earnest entreaty not to cut the trunk of an oak that had grown up with her, whereon she had passed many a long year together, but he, in the senseless pride of youth, cut it down. Wherefore did the nymph make her death unprofitable to him and his children afterwards. Now I knew the sin, when he came to me; so I bade him build an altar to the Thynian nymph, and offer upon it sacrifice to cleanse the guilt, praying for an escape from his father's doom. Then when ^{28 29} he escaped the doom sent by the goddess, he never forget nor ceased to care for me; and scarce can I send him to the door, unwilling to depart, for he is fain to abide even here with me in my distress."

So spake the son of Agenor; and the other anon drew nigh, driving two sheep from the fold. Then up stood Jason, and up stood the sons of Boreas as the old man bade them. Quickly they called on the name of prophetic Apollo, and did sacrifice upon the hearth just as the day was waning, and the young men of the crew made ready a plenteous feast. Then when they had well feasted, some laid them to rest by the cables of the ship, and some in knots there in the house. At morn the steady summer winds 1

began to blow, which breathe o'er the whole earth equally, for such is the command of Zeus.

There runs a legend that Cyrene 2

once was herding sheep along the marsh of the Peneus amongst the men of former times, for her heart rejoiced in her maidenhood and virgin couch. But Apollo caught her up from her shepherding by the river far from Hæmonia, and set her down among the maidens of the country who dwelt in Libya beside the Myrtosian height. There she bare Aristæus unto Phoebus, whom the Hæmonians, with their rich corn-lands, call "the Hunter" and the Shepherd." For the god, for the love of the nymph, granted her length of days and a home in the country there, and brought her infant son to be reared ’neath the cave of Chiron. And when he was grown, the divine Muses found for him a wife, and taught him the ^{30 31} arts of healing and prophecy; and they made him the keeper of their flocks, all that feed along the plain of Athamas in Phthia, and around steep Othrys, and the sacred stream of the river Apidanus. Now when the Dog star 1

from heaven scorched up the islands of Minos, 2

and for a long space the inhabitants found no relief, then by the advice of Hecatus they called him in to stay the plague. So he left Phthia at the bidding of his father, and came to dwell in Cos, having gathered thither the Parrhasian 3

folk, who are of the lineage of Lycaon; and he builded a mighty altar to Zeus, the god of rain, 4

and did fair sacrifice upon the mountains to Sirius, that baleful star, and to Zeus himself, the son of Cronos. Wherefore it is that the Etesian winds blow cool across the earth for forty days from Zeus; and even now in Cos priests offer sacrifices before the rising of the Dog.

528 So runs this legend; and the chiefs abode there by con straint ; 5

and every day the Thynians sent forth good store of gifts for the strangers, out of favour for Phineus. After this, when they had builded an altar to the twelve blessed gods on the edge of the sea opposite, and had offered sacrifice upon it, they went aboard their swift ship to row away, nor did they forget to take with them a timorous dove, but Euphemus clutched her in his hand, cowering with terror, and carried her along, and they loosed their double cables from the shore.

Nor, I ween, had they started, ere Athene was ware of ^{32 33 34 35 36} them, and forthwith and hastily she stepped upon a light cloud, which should bear her at once for all her weight; and she hasted on her way seaward, with kindly intent to the rowers. As when a man goes wandering from his country, as oft we men do wander in our hardihood, and there is no land too far away, for every path lies open before his eyes, when lo! he seeth in his mind his own home, and withal there appeareth a way to it over land or over sea, and keenly he pondereth this way and that, and searcheth it out with his eyes; even so the daughter of Zeus, swifty darting on, set foot upon the cheerless strand of Thynia.

Now they, when they came to the strait of the winding passage, walled in with beetling crags on either side, while an eddying current from below washed up against the ship as it went on its way; and on they went in grievous fear, and already on their ears the thud of clashing rocks smote unceasingly, and the dripping cliffs roared; in that very hour the hero Euphemus clutched the dove in his hand, and went to take his stand upon the prow, while they, at the bidding of Tiphys, son of Hagnias, rowed with a will, that they might drive right through the rocks, trusting in their might. And as they rounded a bend, they saw those rocks opening for the last time of all. And their spirit melted at the sight; but the hero Euphemus sent forth the dove to dart through on her wings, and they, one and all, lifted up their heads to see, and she sped through them, but at once the two rocks met again with a clash ; and the foam leapt up in a seething mass like a cloud, and grimly roared the sea, and all around the great firmament bellowed. And the hollow caves echoed beneath the rugged rocks as the sea went surging in, and high on the cliffs was the white spray vomited as the billow dashed upon them. Then did the current spin the ship round. And the rocks cut off just the tail-feathers of the dove, but she darted away unhurt. And loudly the rowers cheered, but Tiphys himself shouted to them to row lustily, for once more the rocks were opening. Then came trembling on them as they rowed, until the wave with its returning wash came and bore the ship within the rocks. Thereon most awful fear seized on all, for above their head was death with no escape ; and now on this side and on that lay broad Pontus to their view, when suddenly in front rose up a mighty arching wave, like to a steep hill, and they bowed down their heads at the sight. For it seemed as if it must indeed leap down and whelm the ship entirely. But Tiphys was quick to ease her as she laboured, to the rowing, and the wave rolled with all his force beneath the keel, and lifted up the ship herself from underneath, far from the rocks, and high on the crest of the billow she was borne. Then did Euphemus go amongst all the crew, and call to them to lay on to their oars with all their might, and they smote the water at his cry. So she sprang forward twice as far as any other ship would have yielded to rowers, and the oars bent like curved bows as the heroes strained. In that instant the vaulted wave was past them, and she at once was riding over the furious billow like a roller, plunging headlong forward o'er the trough of the sea. But the eddying current stayed the ship in the midst of " the Clashers," and they quaked on either side, and thundered, and the ship-timbers throbbed. Then did Athene with her left hand hold the stubborn rock apart, while with her right she thrust them through upon their course; and the ship shot through the air like a winged arrow. Yet the rocks, ceaselessly dashing together, crushed off, in passing, the tip of the carved stern. And Athene sped back to Olympus, when they were escaped unhurt. But the rocks closed up together, rooted firm for ever; even so was it decreed by the blessed gods, whenso a man should have passed through alive in his ship. And they, I trow, drew breath again after their chilling fear, as they gazed out upon the sky, and the expanse of sea spreading far and wide. For verily they deemed that they were saved from Hades, and Tiphys first made harangue: 611 " Methinks we have escaped this danger sure enough, we and the ship, and there is no other we have to thank so much as Athene, who inspired the ship with divine courage, when Argus fastened her together with bolts; and it is not right that she should be caught. Wherefore, son of Æson, no more fear at all the bidding of thy king, since God hath granted us to escape through the rocks, for Phineus, son of Agenor, declared that, after this, toils, easy to master, should be ours."

Therewith he made the ship speed past the Bithynian coast across the sea. But the other answered him with gentle words: " Ah! Tiphys, why comfort my heavy heart thus ? I have sinned, and upon me has come a grievous blindness I may not cope with ; for I should have refused this journey outright at once when Pelias ordained it, even though I was to have died, torn ruthlessly limb from limb; but now do I endure 1

exceeding terror, and troubles past bearing, in deadly dread to sail across the chill paths of the deep, in deadly dread whene'er we land. For on all sides are enemies. And ever as the days go by, I watch through the dreary night, and think of all, since first ye mustered for my sake ; and lightly dost thou speak, caring only for thine 2

own life, while I fear never so little for my self, but for this man and for that, for thee and the rest of my comrades do I fear, if I bring you not safe and sound to Hellas." ^{37 38}

So spake lie, making trial of the chieftains; but they cried out with words of cheer. And his heart was glad within him at their exhorting, and once more he spake to them outright, " My friends, your bravery makes me more bold. Wherefore now no more will I let fear fasten on me, even though I must voyage across the gulf of Hades, since ye stand firm amid cruel terrors. Nay, since we have sailed from out the clashing rocks, I trow there will be no other horror in store such as this, if we surely go our way, following the counsel of Phineus."

So spake he, and forthwith they ceased from such words, and toiled in rowing unceasingly, and soon they passed by Rhebas, that swiftly-rushing river, and the rock of Colone, and, not long after, the Black headland, and, next, the mouth of the river Phyllis, 1

where aforetime Dipsacus received the son of Athamas in his house what time he was flying, together with the ram, from the city of Orcho menus; his mother was a meadow-nymph, and he loved not wanton deeds, but gladly dwelt with his mother by the waters of his father, feeding flocks upon the shore. And quickly they sighted and passed by his shrine, and the river's broad banks and the plain and Calpe with its deep stream; and day by day, the calm night through, they bent to their unresting oars. As ploughing oxen do toil in cleaving a moist fallow-field, and the sweat trickles in great drops from their flanks and neck, and they keep turning their eyes askance from under the yoke, while the parched breath from their mouths comes ever snorting forth, and they planting their hoofs firmly in the ground go toiling on the livelong day; like unto them the heroes tugged their oars through the brine.

669 Now when the dawn divine was not yet come, nor yet was it exceeding dark, but o'er the night was spread a ³⁹ streak of light, the hour when men arise and call it twilight; 1

in that hour they rowed into the harbour of the desert Thynian isle with laboured toil, and went ashore. And to them appeared the son of Leto, coming up from far Lycia, on his way to the countless race of the Hyperboreans; and clustering locks of gold streamed down his cheeks as he came; and in his left hand he held his silver bow, while about his back was slung his quiver from his shoulders ; beneath his feet the island quaked throughout, and on the shore the waves surged up. And they were filled with wild alarm when they caught sight of him, and none dare gaze into the god's fair eyes. But there they stood with heads bowed low upon the ground, till he was far on his way to sea through the air ; then at last spake Orpheus, thus declaring his word to the chieftains, " Come now, let us call this island the sacred isle of Apollo, god of dawn, for that he was seen by all passing over it at dawn, and let us sacrifice such things as we may, when we have raised an altar on the strand ; but if hereafter he grant us a safe return to the land of Hæmonia, then surely will we lay upon his altar the thighs of hornèd goats. And now, as ye may, I bid you win his favour with the steam of sacrifice. Be gracious, 0 be gracious in thy appearing, prince! "

So spake he; and some at once made an altar of shingle, 2

while others roamed the island in quest of fawns or wild goats if haply they might see aught of either, such beasts as oft do seek their food in a wood's depths. And for them the son of Leto found a quarry; then with pious rites they wrapped the thigh bones 3

of them all in a roll of fat ^{40 41 42} and burned them on the sacred altar, calling on the name of Apollo, god of dawn. And they stood in a wide ring around the burning sacrifice, chanting this hymn to Phœbus, " Hail, all hail! fair healing god ; " 1

while the goodly son of (Eager led for them their clear song on his Bistonian 2

lyre, telling how on a day beneath Parnassus' rocky ridge he slew the monster snake Delphine with his bow, while yet a beardless youth, proud of his long locks. " 0 be gracious, ever be thy hair uncut, 3

my prince, ever free from hurt, for thus 'tis right. Only Leto herself, daughter of Cams, fondles it in her hands." And the Corycian 4

nymphs, daughters of Pleistus, oft took up the cheering strain, crying, "Hail, all hail! " 5

This then was the fair refrain they chanted to Phœbus.

Now when they had celebrated 6

him with song and dance, they took an oath by the holy drink-offering, that verily they would help one another for ever in unity of purpose, laying their hand upon the sacrifice; and still to this day there stands a temple there to cheerful Unity, the temple ^{43 44 45 46 47 48} their own hands then built to the honour of a, deity most potent.

720 Now when the third day was come, then did they leave that steep isle with a fresh west wind. Thence they sighted over against them the mouth of the river Sangarius, 1

and the fruitful land of the Mariandyni and the streams of Lycus and the lake of Anthemoisia, and by them they passed. And as they ran before the breeze, the ropes and tackling throughout the ship were shaken; at dawn, for the wind dropped during the night, they were glad to reach the haven of the Acherusian headland, which rises up with steep beetling crags, facing the Bithynian sea; beneath it are rooted smooth sea-washed rocks, and round them the billow rolls and thunders loud, but above, upon the top, grow spreading plane trees. Further inland from this lieth a glen in the hollow, where is the cave of Hades, 2

roofed in with trees and rocks, whence an icy blast, breathing always from the chill den within, ever freezeth the sparkling rime, that thaws again beneath the noonday sun. Never spreads silence o'er that grim 3

headland, but there is a confused murmur of the booming sea, and of leaves rustling in the wind within. There too is the mouth of the river Acheron, which discharges through the head land and falleth into the sea eastward; a hollow chasm brings it down from above. The Megarians of Nisae. called it in after-times " Saviour of Mariners," when they were about to settle in the land of the Mariandyni. For lo ! it saved them and their ships when they were caught by a foul tempest. So now at once the heroes passed ^{49 50 51} through 1

the Acherusian headland and anchored insider just as the wind was dropping.

No long time, 2

I trow, could the slavers of Amycus, as report had told, anchor without the knowledge of Lycus, lord of that mainland, or of the Mariandyni; but they made even a league with them on that account. And they wel comed Polydeuces himself as he had been a god, gathering from all sides, for long time had they warred bitterly against the overweening Bebryces. And so it was that at once within the halls of Lycus they made ready a feast that day with all good will, going to the city, and rejoiced their hearts with converse.

And the son of Æson declared his lineage and the name of each of his crew, and the commands of Pelias, and how they were entertained by the women of Lemnos, and all that they did in Cyzicus, city of the 'Doliones, and how they came to Mysia and Chios, where they left the hero Heracles against their will; also he declared the message of Glaucus, and told how they smote the Bebryces and Amycus, and of the prophecies and misery of Phineus, and how they escaped the Cyanean rocks, and met the son of Leto at the island. And the heart of Lycus was charmed at listening to his tale, and thus spake he amongst them all: 774 " My friends, what a man is he whose aid ye have lost in your long, long voyage to Æetes! For well I mind seeing him here in the halls of my father Dascylus, what time he came hither afoot through the mainland of Asia, bringing the girdle of Hippolyte, 3

the warrior queen; but me he found ^{52 53 54} with the down just sprouting on my chin. Then 1

when our brother Priolaus was slain by the Mysians, whom from that day forth the people mourn in piteous elegies, he entered the lists with Titias the mighty, and vanquished him in boxing, a man who excelled all our young men in build and might; and he dashed his teeth upon the ground. Moreover he subdued to my father Phrygians and Mysians together, who inhabit the lands nigh to us, and took for his own the tribes of the Bithynians with their land, as far as the mouth of the Rhebas and the rock of Colone ; next the Paphlagonians, sprung from Pelops, yielded with out fight, all whom the black water of Billæus breaks around. But now the Bebryces and the violence of Amycus did separate me from Heracles, who dwells afar, for they have long cut great slices from my land, till they set their boundaries at the water-meadows of the Hypius. Yet have they paid the penalty to you, and I trow that he, the son of Tyndarus, brought not death this day upon the Bebryces without the will of heaven, what time he slew yon man. Wherefore now whatso thanks I can return, that will I right gladly. For that is right for weaklings, when others that be stronger than them begin to help them; so with you all and in your company I charge Dascylus my son to follow; 2

and if he go, verily ye shall meet with friends on your voyage as far as the mouth of Thermodon itself. Moreover I will dedicate to the sons of Tyndarus 3

a temple high upon the Acherusian hill; to it ^{55 56 57} shall all sailors seek when they see it in the far distance o'er the sea; yea, and hereafter will I set apart for them before the city, as for gods, fat lands on the well-tilled plain."

So then, the livelong day, they took their pastime at the feast, but at dawn they went down in haste unto the ship, yea, and with them went Lycus too, bringing countless gifts to bear away, for with them was he sending from his house his son to fare.

There the doom of his fate smote Idmon, son of Abas, most excellent seer; yet could not his divining save him, for fate led him on to die. For within the water- mead beside the reedy river lay a boar, with white tusks, cooling his flanks and huge belly in the mud, a deadly monster, whereof even the nymphs that haunt the meads were afraid ; and no man knew of his being there, for all alone along the broad marsh he browsed. Now he, the son of Abas, was passing by the springs of that muddy river, when lo ! the boar leapt up from some unseen lair among the reeds and charged and smote him on the thigh, cutting sinews and bone right in twain. And with one bitter cry 1

down fell he upon the ground, and his comrades flocking round cried o'er their smitten fellow. But Peleus made one quick lunge with his hunting-spear at the boar as he darted in flight into the marsh, and out he rushed again to charge them, but Idas smote him, and with one grunt he fell grovelling about the sharp spear. And there they left him on the ground where he fell, and sorrowfully bare their swooning comrade to the ship, but he died in his companions' arms.

835 So they stayed them from all thought of sailing, and abode in bitter grief for the burial of the dead man. Three full days they mourned, and on the fourth made him a ⁵⁸ splendid funeral; and the people, with Lycus their king as well, joined in the funeral rites ; and at the grave 1

-side they cut the throats of countless sheep, as is the meed of the departed. So in that land this warrior's cairn was heaped, and upon it is a sign' for those who may yet be born to see, a log of wild olive such as ships are builded of, which putteth forth her leaf a little below the Acherusian head land. Yea, and if I must needs declare this also clearly in my song, Phœbus bade the Bœotians, who came from Nisæa, worship him, nothing doubting, as the protector of their city, and found a town about that log of ancient olive ; but 2

these to-day do honour to Agamestor instead of Idmon, god-like son of Æolus.

Who next did die ? that 3

must I tell; for yet again the heroes piled a barrow for a comrade dead. For verily there are yet two tombs of those two men to be seen. 'Tis said that Tiphys, son of Hagnias, died, for it was not appointed him to voyage further. Nay, a short illness closed there his eyes far from his fatherland, 4

while his company were burying the dead son of Abas. And bitter was the grief they felt at this cruel woe. For when they had buried him too beside the other there, they threw themselves down in their distress before the sea, closely wrapped from head to foot, and never a word they spake nor had they any thought for meat or drink, but sorrow made their spirit droop ; for very far from their hopes was their return, and in their ^{59 60 61 62} anguish would they have stopped from going any further, had not Hera put exceeding courage in the breast of Ancæus, whom Astypalæa bare to Poseidon by the waters of Imbrasus ; 1

for a right good steersman was he. So he did up anon, and spake to Peleus, " Son of Æacus, how can this be well to linger on in a strange land, neglectful of our enterprise ? Jason hath in me, whom he is leading from Parthenie away to fetch the fleece, a man whose skill in war is only second to his knowledge of ships; wherefore I pray you, let this fear for the ship be short-lived. Yea, and there be others here, men of skill; and whomso of these we shall set over the helm, none shall harm our voyaging. But quickly tell all this comfort out; then boldly rouse them to a remembrance of their labour."

So spake he, and the heart of the other went out to 2

him in gladness; and anon, without delay, he made harangue in their midst, " God help us, sirs ! why nurse we thus our grief in vain ? The dead, I trow, have died the death that fell to their lot, but there are amongst us, methinks, helms men in our company, aye, plenty of them. Wherefore delay we no more our attempt, but up to your work, cast ing sorrow to the winds."

885 To him the son of Æson made answer, much perplexed: " Son of Æacus, where then be these steersmen ? For they whom aforetime we boasted were men of skill, hang down their heads, more vexed at me than ever. Wherefore I fore see a sorry fate for us as well as for the dead, if indeed it be our lot neither to come to the city of baleful Aeetes, nor ever again to pass the rocks and reach the land of Hellas; for here will a miserable doom hide us without fame, till we grow old for nought." So spake he; but right speedily ^{63 64} Ancæus took upon him to steer the swift ship, for verily lie was turned thereto by the prompting of the goddess. And after him arose Erginus and Nauplius and Euphemus, all eager for to steer. But these did they hold therefrom, for many of the crew would have Ancæus.

So they went aboard on the twelfth day at dawn ; for lo! a strong west wind did blow for them, and quickly they passed through the Acheron with rowing ; and, trusting to the wind, they shook out their sails, and so sped calmly on a goodly stretch under canvas. Quickly came they past the mouth of the river Callichorus,l where, men say, the Nysean son of Zeus, what time he left the tribes of India and came to dwell in Thebes, held his revels and led the dance before the cave, wherein he would sleep away the gloomy 2

hours of sacred 1

night, wherefore they who dwell around do call that river " Stream of fair dancing," and -that cave the Bedchamber,” 3

after him.

. Sailing thence they saw the tomb of Sthenelus, 4

son of ^{65 66 67 68} Actor, who on his way back from the bold fight with the Amazons-for thither had he gone with Heracles—died there upon the beach, of an arrow wound. So then they sailed on no further. For Persephone herself sent forth the spirit of the son of Actor, at his piteous prayer, to gaze a little on men of like passions with himself. So he took his stand on the summit of his tomb and watched for the ship, in form even as when he went to the war, and on his head shone his four-plumed helmet with the blood-red crest. And then he passed once more beneath the mighty gloom; but they marvelled at the sight, and Mopsus, son of Ampycus, did prophesy, and bade them anchor there and appease the spirit with drink-offerings. So they quickly furled the sails, and making fast the cables on the strand were busied about the tomb of Sthenelus, pouring libations to him, and offering sheep as victims. Moreover they did build, besides pouring libations, an altar to Apollo, pro tector of ships, and burnt sheep thereon; and there Orpheus dedicated his lyre, whence that place is called " the Lyre."

Anon, as the wind blew strong, they went aboard; and set the sail and made it taut to either sheet; 1

and Argo was carried at full speed to sea, even as when a falcon aloft through the air spreading his wings to the blast goes swiftly on his way, swerving not in his swoop, as he poises on steady pinions. And so they passed by the streams of Parthenius, 2

murmuring to the sea, gentlest of rivers, wherein the virgin child of Leto doth cool her limbs in its lovely waters, whenso she ascendeth to heaven from the chase. Then speeding ever onward through the night ^{69 70} they sailed out past Sesamus and the steep Erythinian hills, Crobialus, and Cromne, and wooded Cytorus. Next after doubling Carambis, as the sun was rising, they rowed all day and all night too along a vast stretch of sand.

946 Anon they set foot on the soil of Assyria, where Zeus, tricked by his own promise, set down Sinope, daughter of Asopus, and granted her her virgin state. For verily he longed for her love; so the great god promised to give her whatsoever her heart desired; and she in her cunning asked her maidenhood. So too did she beguile Apollo, eager for her love, and after them the river Halys; nor did any man ever subdue her in love's embrace. There were dwelling even yet at that day the sons of noble Deimachus, prince of Triccæ, Deileon and Autolycus and Phlogius, after they had wandered away from Heracles. Now these, when they marked the expedition of the chieftains, came forth to meet them, and told them truly who they were; for they had no wish to abide there any longer, but went aboard the ship, soon as ever the clear 1

south-wind blew. So in their company they sped before the swift breeze, and left the river Halys, and Iris, that flows hard by, yea, and that part 2

of Syria that these have formed; and on that day they rounded the distant headland of the Amazons, that shutteth in their harbour.

There on a day the hero Heracles laid in ambush for Melanippe, daughter of Aretius, as she came forth; and, in ransom for her sister, Hippolyte gave him her dazzling girdle; so he set her free uuhurt. ^{71 72}

They then anchored in a bay behind the headland, at the. mouth of the Thermodon, for the sea was rising against their going. This river hath no counterpart, nor is there any other that sendetli forth from itself upon the earth so many streams. If a man should count each up, there would lack but four of a hundred. 1

Yet is there only one real spring, which cometh down from high mountains unto the land. Men say these are called the Amazonian moun tains. Thence it spreads straight over a somewhat hilly country far inland, wherefore it hath a winding course, and ever it twists in different directions, wheresoever it can best find a flat country; one branch far away, another near at hand; and there be many of them, of which no man knoweth, where they lose themselves in the sand; but it, mingling with a few openly, discharges its arching 2

flood of foam into cheerless Pontus. And now would they have stayed to do battle with the Amazons; nor would they, I trow, have striven without bloodshed, for the Amazons are no gentle folk, and cared not for justice in their dwellings on the plain of Doias; nay, their thoughts were set on deeds of grievous violence, and the works of Ares; for they, indeed, drew their stock from Ares and the nymph Har monia, who bare these warrior daughters unto him, what time she won his love in the dells of the Acmonian grove but once more, from Zeus mayhap, came the breath of the clear south-wind. And Argo left the round headland before the wind, where the Themiscyrean Amazons were doing on their harness.

These dwelt not all together in one city, but were scattered over the land by tribes in three bodies ; apart ^{73 74} were those over whom Hippolyte was then queen; and apart dwelt the Lycastiæ, and apart the Chadesiæ, who hurl the spear. On the next day, as night drew on, they came unto the land of the Chalybes. 1002 These take no thought for ploughing with oxen, nor for any planting of luscious fruit; neither do they, strange folk, herd cattle in the dewy pasture. But cleaving open the stubborn earth with her store of iron, they do take therefrom a wage to barter for food ; for them dawn never riseth without toil, but mid soot and flame and smoke 1

they endure their heavy labour.

Anon, after these, they doubled the headland of Zeus, the great father, and sailed safely by the land of the Tibareni. Here it is that when the women bear children to the men, 'tis the men that throw themselves upon their beds and groan, with their heads veiled, while the women tend them carefully with food, and get ready for them the bath they use after child-birth. 2

Next they passed the Holy mountain and land, wherein upon the hills dwell the Mossynœci in wooden houses, and hence they have their name. Strange is their justice; strange their ordinances. All that men may do openly, either among the people or in the market-place, all this they perform at home; but all that we do in our houses, that do they out of doors in the midst of the streets, with none to blame. In love is there no modesty among this people, but like swine that feed in herds, caring not a jot for the .presence of any, they lie with their women upon the ground. Now their king sitteth in a house of wood, high above the rest, and declareth just judgment to the throng of folk. Poor wretch! for if haply he do err at all in his judging, they keep him shut up that day without food.

By these they passed, and, rowing all day long, cleft ^{75 76} their way, till they were almost opposite to the isle of Ares, for towards dusk the light breeze failed. Already they saw one of those birds of Ares that haunt the isle come swooping through the air from above, which did stretch his pinions o'er the speeding ship and shoot against her a sharp feather, and it fell on the left shoulder of goodly Oileus ; and lie let his oar fall from his hands, for he was wounded; but they marvelled to see the feathered shaft. And Eribotes from his seat hard by drew forth the feather and bound up the wound, having loosed the baldric hanging from his own scabbard; and lo ! there appeared another swooping down after the former, but the hero Clytius, the son of Eurytus slew it, for he had ere this stretched his bended bow, and he shot a swift arrow at the bird, even as it flew above; and it fell with a rush hard by the swift ship 2

; then amongst them spake Amphidamas, the son of Aleus : " Nigh to us is the isle of Ares ; be sure of that from seeing these birds with your own eyes. And I think that arrows will not help us much to disembark; but let us provide some other counsel for our help, if haply ye mean to anchor here, mindful of the bidding of Phineus. For not even Heracles, when he came to Arcadia, was able to drive away with his arrows the birds that swam Ion on the Stymphalian 1

mere; that saw I with mine own eyes. But he, shaking his rattling bronze armour in his hands, did raise a din upon a lofty height, and they were scared afar, screaming in frightful terror. Wherefore now let us too devise some such plan, and I will tell you myself, since I have ere this thought upon it. Put on your heads your high-crested helmets, and half of you take turns at rowing, and the other half guard' the ship with polished spears and ^{77 78} bucklers. And at .once raise a mighty shout all together, that they may be scared by the uproar, from being unused thereto, and the nodding plumes and uplifted spears. And if we reach the island itself, then shout and raise a hideous din by smiting on your shields."

1068 So spake he ; and his helpful counsel pleased them all; so about their heads they put their brazen helmets, dread fully flashing, and upon them waved the blood-red plumes. And part took turns at rowing, while the rest with sword and shield did guard the ship. As when a man doth roof a house with tiles, an ornament to his house and a defence against the rain, as one tile is fitted firmly on another; so they covered in the ship with a pent-house of shields. And as the clash that goeth up from a warlike throng of men in motion, what time the lines of battle meet, even such was the sound that rose into the air on high from the ship. Nor could they see any of the birds the while, but when they drew nigh the island and smote upon their bucklers, forthwith those birds rose in thousands, flying this way and that. As when the son of Cronos sends a heavy hailstorm from the clouds on city and houses, and they who dwell beneath them hear the rattle on their roofs and sit in silence, for the wintry season is not come upon them un awares, but ere its coming have they made fast the roof; even so the birds let loose on them a thick shower of shafts, as they darted high o'er the sea to the hills on the farther shore.

What did Phineus mean, (that must I tell,) in bidding the divine company of heroes anchor here ? or what help was to come to them at their desire ? The sons of Phrixus had gone on board a Colchian ship, and were faring to the city of Orchomenus from Æa, at the direction of Cytæan Æetes, that they might take unto themselves the boundless wealth of their father, for he, as he lay a-dying, laid this journey on them. And very nigh were they to the island on that day. But Zeus stirred up the .mighty north-wind to blow, marking the wet path of Arcturus in the waves ; so all day long he shook the leaves upon the mountains a little, blowing lightly on the topmost branches, but at night came he seaward in his giant strength, roaring and stirring the billow with his breath ; and a dark mist veiled the sky, nor were the bright stars to be seen from the clouds, but a curtain of gloom settled over all. And they, the sons of Phrixus, dripping and in terror of a fearsome death, were drifting thus before the waves. Aud the furious wind rent their sails, yea, and brake their ship in pieces, shaken as it was by the breakers. Then by heaven's guidance those four men seized hold upon a mighty beam, such as were scattered in plenty, after the wreck, held together by sharp bolts. And them did the waves and the breath of the wind drive in sore distress unto the island, within a little of death. Anon there burst on them a wondrous 1

storm of rain, and it rained over the sea and the island, and all the coast over against the island, where dwelt the haughty Mossynœci. And the onset of the wave hurled them, the sons of Phrixus, together with the stout beam, upon the beach of the island in the gloom of night; but at sunrise it ceased, that heaven sent torrent, and quickly they drew nigh and met one an other, and Argus first made harangue;

1123 " By Zeus, who seeth all, we do entreat you, whosoever ye be, to be favourable and help us at our need. For rough tempests, grievously buffeting the sea, have scattered piece meal the timbers of our shameful barque, 2

wherein we were ^{79 80} cleaving our way, on business bent. Wherefore now we implore you, if ye will hearken, give us some rag to wrap around our skin and take us hence, in pity for companions in adversity. Yea, reverence suppliant strangers for the sake of Zeus, the god of strangers and suppliants ; for we are both suppliants of Zeus and strangers. And, I trow, he hath his eye even upon us."

Him in answer did the son of Æson question carefully, for he thought that the prophecies of Phineus were being accomplished, " Anon will we provide all these things with good will. But come now, tell me truly, in what country ye dwell, and the business that bids you fare across the sea, and your own famous name and lineage."

And Argus answered him in helpless misery, " Haply ye have heard yourselves even aforetime, I deem, and of a surety, how one Phrixus, son of Æolus, came from Hellas unto Æa,—that Phrixus, who came to the town of Æetes, sitting astride a ram, the rani that Hermes made of gold; yea, and even now might ye see the fleece fluttering on the rough branches of an oak. For afterwards, by the ram's own counsel, Phrixus sacrificed him to Zeus, the son of Cronos, who helpeth fugitives, 1

before all other gods. Him did Æetes receive into his house and gave to him his daughter Chalciope without gifts of wooing in the gladness of his heart. From these twain are we sprung. But he, even Phrixus, died long ago, full of years, in the halls of Æetes ; and we, obeying our father's command, set out at once to Orchomenus to take the possessions of Athamas. And if, as thou sayest, thou hast a mind to learn our name, lo! this man is called Cytisorus, and this Phrontis, and that Melas, and me myself shall ye call Argus."

So spake he; and the chieftains were glad at the meet ing, and they crowded round them in wonder. But Jason ⁸¹ again made answer thus, as was fitting : “Why, lo! ye come as kinsmen 1

of my father and be- In our kindly aid in your wretchedness. For Cretheus and Athamas were brothers; and I, the grandson of Cretheus, am on my way with these my comrades from Hellas itself into the city of Æetes. But we will speak of these matters yet again to each other; but first put on raiment; for by heaven's guidance, I ween, have ye come to my hands in your need."

Therewith he gave them raiment from the ship to put on. And at once thereafter made they for the temple of Ares, to offer sacrifice of sheep, and right eagerly they set themselves about the altar, which stood outside the roofless temple, built of pebbles ; within is a black stone planted, the holy stone whereto in days gone by all the Amazons did pray, nor was it lawful, when these did come from the mainland opposite, to burn sacrifices of oxen and sheep upon this altar, but they kept great herds of horses and sacrificed them. Now when the heroes had done sacrifice and eaten the feast they had prepared, then did the son of Æson take up his parable and begin to speak : 1179 " Zeus hath still his eye on all things, I trow; and of a surety we men escape not his ken, those of us who be god-fearing, nor yet those who be just; for even so he rescued your father from a murderous step-mother, 2

and gave him boundless wealth away from her; and even so hath he also rescued you un hurt from the destroying storm. And ye may fare upon this ship this way or that, whither ye list, either to Æa, or to the rich city of goodly Orchomenus. For 'twas Athene ^{82 83} that built this ship and cut with brazen axe her timbers about the peak of Pelion ; and with the goddess worked Argus. But that ship of yours hath the angry wave riven asunder, or ever she came nigh to the rocks which clash to gether the livelong day in the sea's narrow channel. But come now, even ye, and help us in our struggle to bring the fleece of gold to Hellas, and be our pilots, for I am sent to make full atonement for the attempted sacrifice 1

of Phrixus, that stirred the wrath of Zeus against the sons of Æolus.”

So spake he to comfort them, but they would none of it when they heard; for they thought they would find Æetes no gentle host, if they desired to take the ram's fleece. Thus spake Argus, sore vexed that they were bent on such a quest, " My friends, the strength that is in us shall never be withheld from helping you, no, not one jot, when any need arise. But terribly is Æetes furnished with deadly cruelty. Wherefore I do greatly fear to voyage thither. He avows him 2

to be the son of Hellos, and around him dwell countless tribes of Colchians, and he might match even with Ares his dread war cry and mighty strength. Yea, and 'twere no easy task to take the fleece away from Æetes ; so huge a serpent keepeth guard around and about it, a deathless, sleepless snake, which earth herself did rear in the wolds of Caucasus, by the rock of Typhon, where they say Typhon, smitten by the bolt of Zeus, the son of Cronos, what time he stretched out his strong hands against him, did drop warm gore from his head ; and he came with this wound to the mountains and plain of Nysa; where to this day he lies, deep beneath the waters of the Serbonian 3

mere." ^{84 85 86}

So spake he; and o'er the cheek of many did paleness spread at once, when they heard the greatness of their labour. But Peleus quickly answered and said, with brave words, " Be not so exceeding fearful at heart, my trusty friend. 1

For we are not so wanting in valiancy, as to be no match for a bout in arms with Æetes ; nay, methinks we too came hither knowing somewhat of war, for we are near in blood to the blessed gods. Wherefore if he give us not the fleece of gold for love, I trow his tribes of Colchians shall not much avail him."

Thus did they hold converse together, until, satisfied with food, they fell asleep. And when they woke at dawn, a gentle breeze was blowing; so they set the sails, which did strain before the rushing wind; and swiftly they left the isle of Ares on the lee.

1231 On the following night they passed the isle of Philyra, 2

where Cronos, son of Uranus, lay with Philyra, having deceived Rhea, when he ruled the Titans on Olympus, and that other, Zeus, was yet being reared in a cave in Crete by the Idæan Curetes; but the goddess caught them in the midst of their dalliance; and he sprang up and sped away in the semblance of a horse with flowing mane, but she, that child of Oceanus, Philyra, left that country and those haunts in shame, and came to the distant hills of the Pelasgi, where she bare to him in return for his love huge Chiron, half horse, half god in appearance.

Thence they sailed on past the Macrones and the bound less coast of the Becheiri, and the lawless Sapeiræ, and the Byzeræ next to them ; for ever onward they cleft their way ^{87 88} in haste, borne forward by the gentle wind. And as they sailed, there came in sight a bay of the sea, and before them rose up the steep cliffs of the Caucasian mountains, where Prometheus was feeding with his liver an eagle. swooping back again and again, his limbs fast bound to the hard rocks with bands of brass, unbreakable; that eagle did they see at eve skimming right above the ship with loud rush of wings nigh to the clouds, and yet he made all the sails to shake as he flapped his pinions. For he ha I not the form of a bird of the air, but, when he moved his swift feathers, they were like to polished oars. And no long time after, they heard a bitter cry. as the liver of Prometheus was torn, and the welkin rang with his sereams. until again they marked the savage eagle soaring on his way from the mountain; and at night, by the skill of Argus, came they to the broad stream of the Phasis. and the uttermost ends of the sea.

Anon they furled and put away the sails and the yard arm within the hollow mast-hold, and they let down the mast too along the deck, and quickly rowed into the river's broad current; and he dashed all round them. yet gave way. Upon their left hand they kept steep Caucasus and the Cytæan town of Æa, and next the plain of Ares and that god's sacred grove, where the serpent keepeth watch and ward o'er the fleece as it hangs on the oak's rough branches. Then did the son of Æson with his own hand pour a libation sweet as honey, of unmixed wine, from a golden chalice into the river to Earth and the gods of that land, 1

and the spirits of heroes dead and gone ; and he be sought them to be his kindly helpers graciously, and to allow a fair anchoring of the ship. And forthwith Ancæus ⁸⁹ spake this word amongst them, “ Lo! we are come to the Colchian land and the stream of Phasis; 'tis high time to make plans for ourselves, whether indeed we will try Æetes with gentleness, or whether haply some different attempt shall win the day."

1281 So spake he ; and Jason, by the advice of Argus, bade them row the ship into a shaded backwater 1

and let her ride at anchor in deep water, and that they found close by; so there they bivouacked for the night; and no long time after appeared the dawn to their longing eyes. ⁹⁰

1 Here were the oxstalls and farm of Amycus, the haughty king of the Bebrycians, whom once a nymph, Bithynian Melie, united to Poseidon Genethlius, bare--the most arrogant of men; for even for strangers he laid down an insulting ordinance, that none should depart till they had made trial of him in boxing; and he had slain many of the neighbours. And at that time too he went down to the ship and in his insolence scorned to ask them the occasion of their voyage, and who they were, but at once spake out among them all:

"Listen, ye wanderers by sea, to what it befits you to know. It is the rule that no stranger who comes to the Bebrycians should depart till he has raised his hands in battle against mine. Wherefore select your bravest warrior from the host and set him here on the spot to contend with me in boxing. But if ye pay no heed and trample my decrees under foot, assuredly to your sorrow will stern necessity come upon you."

Thus he spake in his pride, but fierce anger seized them when they heard it, and the challenge smote Polydeuces most of all. And quickly he stood forth his comrades' champion, and cried:

"Hold now, and display not to us thy brutal violence, whoever thou art; for we will obey thy rules, as thou sayest. Willingly now do I myself undertake to meet thee."

Thus he spake outright; but the other with rolling eyes glared on him, like to a lion struck by a javelin when hunters in the mountains are hemming him round, and, though pressed by the throng, he recks no more of them, but keeps his eyes fixed, singling out that man only who struck him first and slew him not. Hereupon the son of Tyndareus laid aside his mantle, closely-woven, delicately-wrought, which one of the Lemnian maidens had given him as a pledge of hospitality; and the king threw down his dark cloak of double fold with its clasps and the knotted crook of mountain olive which he carried. Then straightway they looked and chose close by a spot that pleased them and bade their comrades sit upon the sand in two lines; nor were they alike to behold in form or in stature. The one seemed to be a monstrous son of baleful Typhoeus or of Earth herself, such as she brought forth aforetime, in her wrath against Zeus; but the other, the son of Tyndareus, was like a star of heaven, whose beams are fairest as it shines through the nightly sky at eventide. Such was the son of Zeus, the bloom of the first down still on his cheeks, still with the look of gladness in his eyes. But his might and fury waxed like a wild beast's; and he poised his hands to see if they were pliant as before and were not altogether numbed by toil and rowing. But Amycus on his side made no trial; but standing apart in silence he kept his eyes upon his foe, and his spirit surged within him all eager to dash the life-blood from his breast. And between them Lycoreus, the henchman of Amycus, placed at their feet on each side two pairs of gauntlets made of raw hide, dry, exceeding tough. And the king addressed the hero with arrogant words:

" 55 Whichever of these thou wilt, without casting lots, I grant thee freely, that thou mayst not blame me hereafter. Bind them about thy hands; thou shalt learn and tell another how skilled I am to carve the dry oxhides and to spatter men's cheeks with blood."

Thus he spake; but the other gave back no taunt in answer, but with a light smile readily took up the gauntlets that lay at his feet; and to him came Castor and mighty Talaus, son of Bias, and they quickly bound the gauntlets about his hands, often bidding him be of good courage. And to Amycus came Aretus and Ornytus, but little they knew, poor fools, that they had bound them for the last time on their champion, a victim of evil fate.

Now when they stood apart and were ready with their gauntlets, straightway in front of their faces they raised their heavy hands and matched their might in deadly strife. Hereupon the Bebrycian king--even as a fierce wave of the sea rises in a crest against a swift ship, but she by the skill of the crafty pilot just escapes the shock when the billow is eager to break over the bulwark--so he followed up the son of Tyndareus, trying to daunt him, and gave him no respite. But the hero, ever unwounded, by his skill baffled the rush of his foe, and he quickly noted the brutal play of his fists to see where he was invincible in strength, and where inferior, and stood unceasingly and returned blow for blow. And as when shipwrights with their hammers smite ships' timbers to meet the sharp clamps, fixing layer upon layer; and the blows resound one after another; so cheeks and jaws crashed on both sides, and a huge clattering of teeth arose, nor did they cease ever from striking their blows until laboured gasping overcame both. And standing a little apart they wiped from their foreheads sweat in abundance, wearily panting for breath. Then back they rushed together again, as two bulls fight in furious rivalry for a grazing heifer. Next Amycus rising on tiptoe, like one who slays an ox, sprung to his full height and swung his heavy hand down upon his rival; but the hero swerved aside from the rush, turning his head, and just received the arm on his shoulder; and coming near and slipping his knee past the king's, with a rush he struck him above the ear, and broke the bones inside, and the king in agony fell upon his knees; and the Minyan heroes shouted for joy; and his life was poured forth all at once.

Nor were the Bebrycians reckless of their king; but all together took up rough clubs and spears and rushed straight on Polydeuces. But in front of him stood his comrades, their keen swords drawn from the sheath. First Castor struck upon the head a man as he rushed at him: and it was cleft in twain and fell on each side upon his shoulders. And Polydeuces slew huge Itymoneus and Mimas. The one, with a sudden leap, he smote beneath the breast with his swift foot and threw him in the dust; and as the other drew near he struck him with his right hand above the left eyebrow, and tore away his eyelid and the eyeball was left bare. But Oreides, insolent henchman of Amycus, wounded Talaus son of Bias in the side, but did not slay him, but only grazing the skin the bronze sped under his belt and touched not the flesh. Likewise Aretus with well-seasoned club smote Iphitus, the steadfast son of Eurytus, not yet destined to an evil death; assuredly soon was he himself to be slain by the sword of Clytius. Then Ancaeus, the dauntless son of Lycurgus, quickly seized his huge axe, and in his left hand holding a bear's dark hide, plunged into the midst of the Bebrycians with furious onset; and with him charged the sons of Aeacus, and with them started warlike Jason. And as when amid the folds grey wolves rush down on a winter's day and scare countless sheep, unmarked by the keen-scented dogs and the shepherds too, and they seek what first to attack and carry off, often glaring around, but the sheep are just huddled together and trample on one another; so the heroes grievously scared the arrogant Bebrycians. And as shepherds or beekeepers smoke out a huge swarm of bees in a rock, and they meanwhile, pent up in their hive, murmur with droning hum, till, stupefied by the murky smoke, they fly forth far from the rock; so they stayed steadfast no longer, but scattered themselves inland through Bebrycia, proclaiming the death of Amycus; fools, not to perceive that another woe all unforeseen was hard upon them. For at that hour their vineyards and villages were being ravaged by the hostile spear of Lycus and the Mariandyni, now that their king was gone. For they were ever at strife about the ironbearing land. And now the foe was destroying their steadings and farms, and now the heroes from all sides were driving off their countless sheep, and one spake among his fellows thus:

" 145 Bethink ye what they would have done in their cowardice if haply some god had brought Heracles hither. Assuredly, if he had been here, no trial would there have been of fists, I ween, but when the king drew near to proclaim his rules, the club would have made him forget his pride and the rules to boot. Yea, we left him uncared for on the strand and we sailed oversea; and full well each one of us shall know our baneful folly, now that he is far away."

Thus he spake, but all these things had been wrought by the counsels of Zeus. Then they remained there through the night and tended the hurts of the wounded men, and offered sacrifice to the immortals, and made ready a mighty meal; and sleep fell upon no man beside the bowl and the blazing sacrifice. They wreathed their fair brows with the bay that grew by the shore, whereto their hawsers were bound, and chanted a song to the lyre of Orpheus in sweet harmony; and the windless shore was charmed by their song; and they celebrated the Therapnaean son of Zeus. ¹

But when the sun rising from far lands lighted up the dewy hills and wakened the shepherds, then they loosed their hawsers from the stem of the bay-tree and put on board all the spoil they had need to take; and with a favouring wind they steered through the eddying Bosporus. Hereupon a wave like a steep mountain rose aloft in front as though rushing upon them, ever upheaved above the clouds; nor would you say that they could escape grim death, for in its fury it hangs over the middle of the ship, like a cloud, yet it sinks away into calm if it meets with a skilful helmsman. So they by the steering-craft of Tiphys escaped, unhurt but sore dismayed. And on the next day they fastened the hawsers to the coast opposite the Bithynian land.

There Phineus, son of Agenor, had his home by the sea, Phineus who above all men endured most bitter woes because of the gift of prophecy which Leto's son had granted him aforetime. And he reverenced not a whit even Zeus himself, for he foretold unerringly to men his sacred will. Wherefore Zeus sent upon him a lingering old age, and took from his eyes the pleasant light, and suffered him not to have joy of the dainties untold that the dwellers around ever brought to his house, when they came to enquire the will of heaven. But on a sudden, swooping through the clouds, the Harpies with their crooked beaks incessantly snatched the food away from his mouth and hands. And at times not a morsel of food was left, at others but a little, in order that he might live and be tormented. And they poured forth over all a loathsome stench; and no one dared not merely to carry food to his mouth but even to stand at a distance; so foully reeked the remnants of the meal. But straightway when he heard the voice and the tramp of the band he knew that they were the men passing by, at whose coming Zeus' oracle had declared to him that he should have joy of his food. And he rose from his couch, like a lifeless dream, bowed over his staff, and crept to the door on his withered feet, feeling the walls; and as he moved, his limbs trembled for weakness and age; and his parched skin was caked with dirt, and naught but the skin held his bones together. And he came forth from the hall with wearied knees and sat on the threshold of the courtyard; and a dark stupor covered him, and it seemed that the earth reeled round beneath his feet, and he lay in a strengthless trance, speechless. But when they saw him they gathered round and marvelled. And he at last drew laboured breath from the depths of his chest and spoke among them with prophetic utterance:

" 209 Listen, bravest of all the Hellenes, if it be truly ye, whom by a king's ruthless command Jason is leading on the ship Argo in quest of the fleece. It is ye truly. Even yet my soul by its divination knows everything. Thanks I render to thee, O king, son of Leto, plunged in bitter affliction though I be. I beseech you by Zeus the god of suppliants, the sternest foe to sinful men, and for the sake of Phoebus and Hera herself, under whose especial care ye have come hither, help me, save an ill-fated man from misery, and depart not uncaring and leaving me thus as ye see. For not only has the Fury set her foot on my eyes and I drag on to the end a weary old age; but besides my other woes a woe hangs over me--the bitterest of all. The Harpies, swooping down from some unseen den of destruction ever snatch the food from my mouth. And I have no device to aid me. But it were easier, when I long for a meal, to escape my own thoughts than them, so swiftly do they fly through the air. But if haply they _do_ leave me a morsel of food it reeks of decay and the stench is unendurable, nor could any mortal bear to draw near even for a moment, no, not if his heart were wrought of adamant. But necessity, bitter and insatiate, compels me to abide and abiding to put food in my cursèd belly. These pests, the oracle declares, the sons of Boreas shall restrain. And no strangers are they that shall ward them off if indeed I am Phineus who was once renowned among men for wealth and the gift of prophecy, and if I am the son of my father Agenor; and, when I ruled among the Thracians, by my bridal gifts I brought home their sister Cleopatra to be my wife."

So spake Agenor's son; and deep sorrow seized each of the heroes, and especially the two sons of Boreas. And brushing away a tear they drew nigh, and Zetes spake as follows, taking in his own the hand of the grief-worn sire:

"Unhappy one, none other of men is more wretched than thou, methinks. Why upon thee is laid the burden of so many sorrows? Hast thou with baneful folly sinned against the gods through thy skill in prophecy? For this are they greatly wroth with thee? Yet our spirit is dismayed within us for all our desire to aid thee, if indeed the god has granted this privilege to us two. For plain to discern to men of earth are the reproofs of the immortals. And we will never check the Harpies when they come, for all our desire, until thou hast sworn that for this we shall not lose the favour of heaven."

Thus he spake; and towards him the aged sire opened his sightless eyes, and lifted them up and replied with these words:

"Be silent, store not up such thoughts in thy heart, my child. Let the son of Leto be my witness, he who of his gracious will taught me the lore of prophecy, and be witness the ill-starred doom which possesses me and this dark cloud upon my eyes, and the gods of the underworld--and may their curse be upon me if I die perjured thus--no wrath from heaven will fall upon you two for your help to me."

262 Then were those two eager to help him because of the oath. And quickly the younger heroes prepared a feast for the aged man, a last prey for the Harpies; and both stood near him, to smite with the sword those pests when they swooped down. Scarcely had the aged man touched the food when they forthwith, like bitter blasts or flashes of lightning, suddenly darted from the clouds, and swooped down with a yell, fiercely craving for food; and the heroes beheld them and shouted in the midst of their onrush; but they at the cry devoured everything and sped away over the sea afar; and an intolerable stench remained. And behind them the two sons of Boreas raising their swords rushed in pursuit. For Zeus imparted to them tireless strength; but without Zeus they could not have followed, for the Harpies used ever to outstrip the blasts of the west wind when they came to Phineus and when they left him. And as when, upon the mountain-side, hounds, cunning in the chase, run in the track of horned goats or deer, and as they strain a little behind gnash their teeth upon the edge of their jaws in vain; so Zetes and Calais rushing very near just grazed the Harpies in vain with their finger-tips. And assuredly they would have torn them to pieces, despite heaven's will, when they had overtaken them far off at the Floating Islands, had not swift Iris seen them and leapt down from the sky from heaven above, and checked them with these words:

"It is not lawful, O sons of Boreas, to strike with your swords the Harpies, the hounds of mighty Zeus; but I myself will give you a pledge, that hereafter they shall not draw near to Phineus."

With these words she took an oath by the waters of Styx, which to all the gods is most dread and most awful, that the Harpies would never thereafter again approach the home of Phineus, son of Agenor, for so it was fated. And the heroes yielding to the oath, turned back their flight to the ship. And on account of this men call them the Islands of Turning though aforetime they called them the Floating Islands. And the Harpies and Iris parted. They entered their den in Minoan Crete; but she sped up to Olympus, soaring aloft on her swift wings.

Meanwhile the chiefs carefully cleansed the old man's squalid skin and with due selection sacrificed sheep which they had borne away from the spoil of Amycus. And when they had laid a huge supper in the hall, they sat down and feasted, and with them feasted Phineus ravenously, delighting his soul, as in a dream. And there, when they had taken their fill of food and drink, they kept awake all night waiting for the sons of Boreas. And the aged sire himself sat in the midst, near the hearth, telling of the end of their voyage and the completion of their journey:

"Listen then. Not everything is it lawful for you to know clearly; but whatever is heaven's will, I will not hide. I was infatuated aforetime, when in my folly I declared the will of Zeus in order and to the end. For he himself wishes to deliver to men the utterances of the prophetic art incomplete, in order that they may still have some need to know the will of heaven.

" 317 First of all, after leaving me, ye will see the twin Cyanean rocks where the two seas meet. No one, I ween, has won his escape between them. For they are not firmly fixed with roots beneath, but constantly clash against one another to one point, and above a huge mass of salt water rises in a crest, boiling up, and loudly dashes upon the hard beach. Wherefore now obey my counsel, if indeed with prudent mind and reverencing the blessed gods ye pursue your way; and perish not foolishly by a self-sought death, or rush on following the guidance of youth. First entrust the attempt to a dove when ye have sent her forth from the ship. And if she escapes safe with her wings between the rocks to the open sea, then no more do ye refrain from the path, but grip your oars well in your hands and cleave the sea's narrow strait, for the light of safety will be not so much in prayer as in strength of hands. Wherefore let all else go and labour boldly with might and main, but ere then implore the gods as ye will, I forbid you not. But if she flies onward and perishes midway, then do ye turn back; for it is better to yield to the immortals. For ye could not escape an evil doom from the rocks, not even if Argo were of iron.

"O hapless ones, dare not to transgress my divine warning, even though ye think that I am thrice as much hated by the sons of heaven as I am, and even more than thrice; dare not to sail further with your ship in despite of the omen. And as these things will fall, so shall they fall. But if ye shun the clashing rocks and come scatheless inside Pontus, straightway keep the land of the Bithynians on your right and sail on, and beware of the breakers, until ye round the swift river Rhebas and the black beach, and reach the harbour of the Isle of Thynias. Thence ye must turn back a little space through the sea and beach your ship on the land of the Mariandyni lying opposite. Here is a downward path to the abode of Hades, and the headland of Acherusia stretches aloft, and eddying Acheron cleaves its way at the bottom, even through the headland, and sends its waters forth from a huge ravine. And near it ye will sail past many hills of the Paphlagonians, over whom at the first Eneteian Pelops reigned, and of his blood they boast themselves to be.

"Now there is a headland opposite Helice the Bear, steep on all sides, and they call it Carambis, about whose crests the blasts of the north wind are sundered. So high in the air does it rise turned towards the sea. And when ye have rounded it broad Aegialus stretches before you; and at the end of broad Aegialus, at a jutting point of coast, the waters of the river Halys pour forth with a terrible roar; and after it Iris flowing near, but smaller in stream, rolls into the sea with white eddies. Onward from thence the bend of a huge and towering cape reaches out from the land, next Thermodon at its mouth flows into a quiet bay at the Themiscyreian headland, after wandering through a broad continent. And here is the plain of Doeas, and near are the three cities of the Amazons, and after them the Chalybes, most wretched of men, possess a soil rugged and unyielding--sons of toil, they busy themselves with working iron. And near them dwell the Tibareni, rich in sheep, beyond the Genetaean headland of Zeus, lord of hospitality. And bordering on it the Mossynoeci next in order inhabit the well-wooded mainland and the parts beneath the mountains, who have built in towers made from trees their wooden homes and well-fitted chambers, which they call Mossynes, and the people themselves take their name from them. After passing them ye must beach your ship upon a smooth island, when ye have driven away with all manner of skill the ravening birds, which in countless numbers haunt the desert island. In it the Queens of the Amazons, Otrere and Antiope, built a stone temple of Ares what time they went forth to war. Now here an unspeakable help will come to you from the bitter sea; wherefore with kindly intent I bid you stay. But what need is there that I should sin yet again declaring everything to the end by my prophetic art? And beyond the island and opposite mainland dwell the Philyres: and above the Philyres are the Macrones, and after them the vast tribes of the Becheiri. And next in order to them dwell the Sapeires, and the Byzeres have the lands adjoining to them, and beyond them at last live the warlike Colchians themselves. But speed on in your ship, till ye touch the inmost bourne of the sea. And here at the Cytaean mainland and from the Amarantine mountains far away and the Circaean plain eddying Phasis rolls his broad stream to the sea. Guide your ship to the mouth of that river and ye shall behold the towers of Cytaean Aeetes and the shady grove of Ares, where a dragon, a monster terrible to behold, ever glares around, keeping watch over the fleece that is spread upon the top of an oak; neither by day nor by night does sweet sleep subdue his restless eyes."

408 Thus he spake, and straightway fear seized them as they heard. And for a long while they were struck with silence; till at last the hero, son of Aeson, spake, sore dismayed at their evil plight:

"O aged sire, now hast thou come to the end of the toils of our sea-journeying and hast told us the token, trusting to which we shall make our way to Pontus through the hateful rocks; but whether, when we have escaped them, we shall have a return back again to Hellas, this too would we gladly learn from thee. What shall I do, how shall I go over again such a long path through the sea, unskilled as I am, with unskilled comrades? And Colchian Aea lies at the edge of Pontus and of the world."

Thus he spake, and him the aged sire addressed in reply: "O son, when once thou hast escaped through the deadly rocks, fear not; for a deity will be the guide from Aea by another track; and to Aea there will be guides enough. But, my friends, take thought of the artful aid of the Cyprian goddess. For on her depends the glorious issue of your venture. And further than this ask me not."

Thus spake Agenor's son, and close at hand the twin sons of Thracian Boreas came darting from the sky and set their swift feet upon the threshold; and the heroes rose up from their seats when they saw them present. And Zetes, still drawing hard breath after his toil, spake among the eager listeners, telling them how far they had driven the Harpies and how Iris prevented their slaying them, and how the goddess of her grace gave them pledges, and how those others in fear plunged into the vast cave of the Dictaean cliff. Then in the mansion all their comrades were joyful at the tidings and so was Phineus himself. And quickly Aeson's son, with good will exceeding, addressed him:

"Assuredly there was then, Phineus, some god who cared for thy bitter woe, and brought us hither from afar, that the sons of Boreas might aid thee; and if too he should bring sight to thine eyes, verily I should rejoice, methinks, as much as if I were on my homeward way."

Thus he spake, but Phineus replied to him with downcast look: "Son of Aeson, that is past recall, nor is there any remedy hereafter, for blasted are my sightless eyes. But instead of that, may the god grant me death at once, and after death I shall take my share in perfect bliss."

Then they two returned answering speech, each to other, and soon in the midst of their converse early dawn appeared; and round Phineus were gathered the neighbours who used to come thither aforetime day by day and constantly bring a portion of their food. To all alike, however poor he was that came, the aged man gave his oracles with good will, and freed many from their woes by his prophetic art; wherefore they visited and tended him. And with them came Paraebius, who was dearest to him, and gladly did he perceive these strangers in the house. For long ere now the seer himself had said that a band of chieftains, faring from Hellas to the city of Aeetes, would make fast their hawsers to the Thynian land, and by Zeus' will would check the approach of the Harpies. The rest the old man pleased with words of wisdom and let them go; Paraebius only he bade remain there with the chiefs; and straightway he sent him and bade him bring back the choicest of his sheep. And when he had left the hall Phineus spake gently amid the throng of oarsmen:

" 468 O my friends, not all men are arrogant, it seems, nor unmindful of benefits. Even as this man, loyal as he is, came hither to learn his fate. For when he laboured the most and toiled the most, then the needs of life, ever growing more and more, would waste him, and day after day ever dawned more wretched, nor was there any respite to his toil. But he was paying the sad penalty of his father's sin. For he when alone on the mountains, felling trees, once slighted the prayers of a Hamadryad, who wept and sought to soften him with plaintive words, not to cut down the stump of an oak tree coeval with herself, wherein for a long time she had lived continually; but he in the arrogance of youth recklessly cut it down. So to him the nymph thereafter made her death a curse, to him and to his children. I indeed knew of the sin when he came; and I bid him build an altar to the Thynian nymph, and offer on it an atoning sacrifice, with prayer to escape his father's fate. Here, ever since he escaped the god-sent doom, never has he forgotten or neglected me; but sorely and against his will do I send him from my doors, so eager is he to remain with me in my affliction."

Thus spake Agenor's son; and his friend straightway came near leading two sheep from the flock. And up rose Jason and up rose the sons of Boreas at the bidding of the aged sire. And quickly they called upon Apollo, lord of prophecy, and offered sacrifice upon the hearth as the day was just sinking. And the younger comrades made ready a feast to their hearts' desire. Thereupon having well feasted they turned themselves to rest, some near the ship's hawsers, others in groups throughout the mansion. And at dawn the Etesian winds blew strongly, which by the command of Zeus blow over every land equally.

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.

528 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.

Nor did they start unmarked by Athena, but straightway swiftly she set her feet 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 plain, 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.

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.

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 oars were bent like curved bows as the heroes used their strength.

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:

" 611 It is my hope that we have safely escaped this peril--we, and the ship; and none other is the cause so much as Athena, who breathed into Argo divine strength when Argus knitted her together with bolts; and she may not be caught. Son of Aeson, no longer fear thou so much the best of thy king, since a god hath granted us escape between the rocks; for Phineus, Agenor's son, said that our toils hereafter would be lightly accomplished."

He spake, and at once he sped the ship onward through the midst of the sea past the Bithynian coast. But Jason with gentle words addressed him in reply: "Tiphys, why dost thou comfort thus my grieving heart? I have erred and am distraught in wretched and helpless ruin. For I ought, when Pelias gave the command, to have straightway refused this quest to his face, yea, though I were doomed to die pitilessly, torn limb from limb, but now I am wrapped in excessive fear and cares unbearable, dreading to sail through the chilling paths of the sea, and dreading when we shall set foot on the mainland. For on every side are unkindly men. And ever when day is done I pass a night of groans from the time when ye first gathered together for my sake, while I take thought for all things; but thou talkest at thine ease, caring only for thine own life; while for myself I am dismayed not a whit; but I fear for this man and for that equally, and for thee, and for my other comrades, if I shall not bring you back safe to the land of Hellas."

Thus he spake, making trial of the chiefs; but they shouted loud with cheerful words. And his heart was warmed within him at their cry and again he spake outright among them: "My friends, in your valour my courage is quickened. Wherefore now, even though I should take my way through the gulfs of Hades, no more shall I let fear seize upon me, since ye are steadfast amid cruel terrors. But now that we have sailed out from the striking rocks, I trow that never hereafter will there be another such fearful thing, if indeed we go on our way following the counsel of Phineus."

Thus he spake, and straightway they ceased from such words and gave unwearying labour to the oar; and quickly they passed by the swiftly flowing river Rhebas and the peak of Colone, and soon thereafter the black headland, and near it the mouth of the river Phyllis, where aforetime Dipsacus received in his home the son of Athamas, when with his ram he was flying from the city of Orchomenus; and Dipsacus was the son of a meadow-nymph, nor was insolence his delight, but contented by his father's stream he dwelt with his mother, pasturing his flocks by the shore. And quickly they sighted and sailed past his shrine and the broad banks of the river and the plain, and deep-flowing Calpe, and all the windless night and the day they bent to their tireless oars. And even as ploughing oxen toil as they cleave the moist earth, and sweat streams in abundance from flank and neck; and from beneath the yoke their eyes roll askance, while the breath ever rushes from their mouths in hot gasps; and all day long they toil, planting their hoofs deep in the ground; like them the heroes kept dragging their oars through the sea.

669 Now when divine light has not yet come nor is it utter darkness, but a faint glimmer has spread over the night, the time when men wake and call it twilight, at that hour they ran into the harbour of the desert island Thynias and, spent by weary toil, mounted the shore. And to them the son of Leto, as he passed from Lycia far away to the countless folk of the Hyperboreans, appeared; and about his cheeks on both sides his golden locks flowed in clusters as he moved; in his left hand he held a silver bow, and on his back was slung a quiver hanging from his shoulders; and beneath his feet all the island quaked, and the waves surged high on the beach. Helpless amazement seized them as they looked; and no one dared to gaze face to face into the fair eyes of the god. And they stood with heads bowed to the ground; but he, far off, passed on to the sea through the air; and at length Orpheus spake as follows, addressing the chiefs:

"Come, let us call this island the sacred isle of Apollo of the Dawn since he has appeared to all, passing by at dawn; and we will offer such sacrifices as we can, building an altar on the shore; and if hereafter he shall grant us a safe return to the Haemonian land, then will we lay on his altar the thighs of horned goats. And now I bid you propitiate him with the steam of sacrifice and libations. Be gracious, O king, be gracious in thy appearing."

Thus he spake, and they straightway built up an altar with shingle; and over the island they wandered, seeking if haply they could get a glimpse of a fawn or a wild goat, that often seek their pasture in the deep wood. And for them Leto's son provided a quarry; and with pious rites they wrapped in fat the thigh bones of them all and burnt them on the sacred altar, celebrating Apollo, Lord of Dawn. And round the burning sacrifice they set up a broad dancing-ring, singing, "All hail, fair god of healing, Phoebus, all hail," and with them Oeagrus' goodly son began a clear lay on his Bistonian lyre; how once beneath the rocky ridge of Parnassus he slew with his bow the monster Delphyne, he, still young and beardless, still rejoicing in his long tresses. Mayst thou be gracious! Ever, O king, be thy locks unshorn, ever unravaged; for so is it right. And none but Leto, daughter of Coeus, strokes them with her dear hands. And often the Corycian nymphs, daughters of Pleistus, took up the cheering strain crying "Healer"; hence arose this lovely refrain of the hymn to Phoebus.

Now when they had celebrated him with dance and song they took an oath with holy libations, that they would ever help each other with concord of heart, touching the sacrifice as they swore; and even now there stands there a temple to gracious Concord, which the heroes themselves reared, paying honour at that time to the glorious goddess.

720 Now when the third morning came, with a fresh west wind they left the lofty island. Next, on the opposite side they saw and passed the mouth of the river Sangarius and the fertile land of the Mariandyni, and the stream of Lycus and the Anthemoeisian lake; and beneath the breeze the ropes and all the tackling quivered as they sped onward. During the night the wind ceased and at dawn they gladly reached the haven of the Acherusian headland. It rises aloft with steep cliffs, looking towards the Bithynian sea; and beneath it smooth rocks, ever washed by the sea, stand rooted firm; and round them the wave rolls and thunders loud, but above, wide-spreading plane trees grow on the topmost point. And from it towards the land a hollow glen slopes gradually away, where there is a cave of Hades overarched by wood and rocks. From here an icy breath, unceasingly issuing from the chill recess, ever forms a glistening rime which melts again beneath the midday sun. And never does silence hold that grim headland, but there is a continual murmur from the sounding sea and the leaves that quiver in the winds from the cave. And here is the outfall of the river Acheron which bursts its way through the headland and falls into the Eastern sea, and a hollow ravine brings it down from above. In after times the Nisaean Megarians named it Soönautes ² when they were about to settle in the land of the Mariandyni. For indeed the river saved them with their ships when they were caught in a violent tempest. By this way the heroes took the ship through ³ the Acherusian headland and came to land over against it as the wind had just ceased.

Not long had they come unmarked by Lycus, the lord of that land, and the Mariandyni--they, the slayers of Amycus, according to the report which the people heard before; but for that very deed they even made a league with the heroes. And Polydeuces himself they welcomed as a god, flocking from every side, since for a long time had they been warring against the arrogant Bebrycians. And so they went up all together into the city, and all that day with friendly feelings made ready a feast within the palace of Lycus and gladdened their souls with converse. Aeson's son told him the lineage and name of each of his comrades and the behests of Pelias, and how they were welcomed by the Lemnian women, and all that they did at Dolionian Cyzicus; and how they reached the Mysian land and Cius, where, sore against their will, they left behind the hero Heracles, and he told the saying of Glaucus, and how they slew the Bebrycians and Amycus, and he told of the prophecies and affliction of Phineus, and how they escaped the Cyanean rocks, and how they met with Leto's son at the island. And as he told all, Lycus was charmed in soul with listening; and he grieved for Heracles left behind, and spake as follows among them all:

" 774 O friends, what a man he was from whose help ye have fallen away, as ye cleave your long path to Aeetes; for well do I know that I saw him here in the halls of Dascylus my father, when he came hither on foot through the land of Asia bringing the girdle of warlike Hippolyte; and me he found with the down just growing on my cheeks. And here, when my brother Priolas was slain by the Mysians--my brother, whom ever since the people lament with most piteous dirges--he entered the lists with Titias in boxing and slew him, mighty Titias, who surpassed all the youths in beauty and strength; and he dashed his teeth to the ground. Together with the Mysians he subdued beneath my father's sway the Phrygians also, who inhabit the lands next to us, and he made his own the tribes of the Bithynians and their land, as far as the mouth of Rhebas and the peak of Colone; and besides them the Paphlagonians of Pelops yielded just as they were, even all those round whom the dark water of Billaeus breaks. But now the Bebrycians and the insolence of Amycus have robbed me, since Heracles dwells far away, for they have long been cutting off huge pieces of my land until they have set their bounds at the meadows of deep-flowing Hypius. Nevertheless, by your hands have they paid the penalty; and it was not without the will of heaven, I trow, that he brought war on the Bebrycians this day--he, the son of Tyndareus, when he slew that champion. Wherefore whatever requital I am now able to pay, gladly will I pay it, for that is the rule for weaker men when the stronger begin to help them. So with you all, and in your company, I bid Dascylus my son follow; and if he goes, you will find all men friendly that ye meet on your way through the sea even to the mouth of the river Thermodon. And besides that, to the sons of Tyndareus will I raise a lofty temple on the Acherusian height, which all sailors shall mark far across the sea and shall reverence; and hereafter for them will I set apart outside the city, as for gods, some fertile fields of the well-tilled plain."

Thus all day long they revelled at the banquet. But at dawn they hied down to the ship in haste; and with them went Lycus himself, when he had given them countless gifts to bear away; and with them he sent forth his son from his home.

And here his destined fate smote Idmon, son of Abas, skilled in soothsaying; but not at all did his soothsaying save him, for necessity drew him on to death. For in the mead of the reedy river there lay, cooling his flanks and huge belly in the mud, a white-tusked boar, a deadly monster, whom even the nymphs of the marsh dreaded, and no man knew it; but all alone he was feeding in the wide fen. But the son of Abas was passing along the raised banks of the muddy river, and the boar from some unseen lair leapt out of the reed-bed, and charging gashed his thigh and severed in twain the sinews and the bone. And with a sharp cry the hero fell to the ground; and as he was struck his comrades flocked together with answering cry. And quickly Peleus with his hunting spear aimed at the murderous boar as he fled back into the fen; and again he turned and charged; but Idas wounded him, and with a roar he fell impaled upon the sharp spear. And the boar they left on the ground just as he had fallen there; but Idmon, now at the last gasp, his comrades bore to the ship in sorrow of heart, and he died in his comrades' arms.