The Argonautica
dwell amid high mountains in wooden huts,[20] from which that people
take their name. And strange are their customs and laws. Whatever it is
right to do openly before the people or in the market place, all this
they do in their homes, but whatever acts we perform at home, these
they perform out of doors in the midst of the streets, without blame.
And among them is no reverence for the marriage-bed, but, like swine
that feed in herds, no whit abashed in others’ presence, on the earth
they lie with the women. Their king sits in the loftiest hut and
dispenses upright judgments to the multitude, poor wretch! For if haply
he err at all in his decrees, for that day they keep him shut up in
starvation.
They passed them by and cleft their way with oars over against the
island of Ares all day long; for at dusk the light breeze left them. At
last they spied above them, hurtling through the air, one of the birds
of Ares which haunt that isle. It shook its wings down over the ship as
she sped on and sent against her a keen feather, and it fell on the
left shoulder of goodly Oileus, and he dropped his oar from his hands
at the sudden blow, and his comrades marvelled at the sight of the
winged bolt. And Eribotes from his seat hard by drew out the feather,
and bound up the wound when he had loosed the strap hanging from his
own sword-sheath; and besides the first, another bird appeared swooping
down; but the hero Clytius, son of Eurytus—for he bent his curved bow,
and sped a swift arrow against the bird—struck it, and it whirled round
and fell close to the ship. And to them spake Amphidamas, son of Aleus:
“The island of Ares is near us; you know it yourselves now that ye have
seen these birds. But little will arrows avail us, I trow, for landing.
But let us contrive some other device to help us, if ye intend to land,
bearing in mind the injunction of Phineus. For not even could Heracles,
when he came to Arcadia, drive away with bow and arrow the birds that
swam on the Stymphalian lake. I saw it myself. But he shook in his hand
a rattle of bronze and made a loud clatter as he stood upon a lofty
peak, and the birds fled far off, screeching in bewildered fear.
Wherefore now too let us contrive some such device, and I myself will
speak, having pondered the matter beforehand. Set on your heads your
helmets of lofty crest, then half row by turns, and half fence the ship
about with polished spears and shields. Then all together raise a
mighty shout so that the birds may be scared by the unwonted din, the
nodding crests, and the uplifted spears on high. And if we reach the
island itself, then make mighty noise with the clashing of shields.”
Thus he spake, and the helpful device pleased all. And on their heads
they placed helmets of bronze, gleaming terribly, and the blood-red
crests were tossing. And half of them rowed in turn, and the rest
covered the ship with spears and shields. And as when a man roofs over
a house with tiles, to be an ornament of his home and a defence against
rain, and one the fits firmly into another, each after each; so they
roofed over the ship with their shields, locking them together. And as
a din arises from a warrior-host of men sweeping on, when lines of
battle meet, such a shout rose upward from the ship into the air. Now
they saw none of the birds yet, but when they touched the island and
clashed upon their shields, then the birds in countless numbers rose in
flight hither and thither. And as when the son of Cronos sends from the
clouds a dense hailstorm on city and houses, and the people who dwell
beneath hear the din above the roof and sit quietly, since the stormy
season has not come upon them unawares, but they have first made strong
their roofs; so the birds sent against the heroes a thick shower of
feather-shafts as they darted over the sea to the mountains of the land
opposite.
What then was the purpose of Phineus in bidding the divine band of
heroes land there? Or what kind of help was about to meet their desire?
The sons of Phrixus were faring towards the city of Orchomenus from
Aea, coming from Cytaean Aeetes, on board a Colchian ship, to win the
boundless wealth of their father; for he, when dying, had enjoined this
journey upon them. And lo, on that day they were very near that island.
But Zeus had impelled the north wind’s might to blow, marking by rain
the moist path of Arcturus; and all day long he was stirring the leaves
upon the mountains, breathing gently upon the topmost sprays; but at
night he rushed upon the sea with monstrous force, and with his
shrieking blasts uplifted the surge; and a dark mist covered the
heavens, nor did the bright stars anywhere appear from among the
clouds, but a murky gloom brooded all around. And so the sons of
Phrixus, drenched and trembling in fear of a horrible doom, were borne
along by the waves helplessly. And the force of the wind had snatched
away their sails and shattered in twain the hull, tossed as it was by
the breakers. And hereupon by heaven’s prompting those four clutched a
huge beam, one of many that were scattered about, held together by
sharp bolts, when the ship broke to pieces. And on to the island the
waves and the blasts of wind bore the men in their distress, within a
little of death. And straightway a mighty rain burst forth, and rained
upon the sea and the island, and all the country opposite the island,
where the arrogant Mossynoeci dwelt. And the sweep of the waves hurled
the sons of Phrixus, together with their massy beam, upon the beach of
the island, in the murky night; and the floods of rain from Zeus ceased
at sunrise, and soon the two bands drew near and met each other, and
Argus spoke first:
“We beseech you, by Zeus the Beholder, whoever ye are, to be kindly and
to help us in our need. For fierce tempests, falling on the sea, have
shattered all the timbers of the crazy ship in which we were cleaving
our path on business bent. Wherefore we entreat you, if haply ye will
listen, to grant us just a covering for our bodies, and to pity and
succour men in misfortune, your equals in age. Oh, reverence suppliants
and strangers for Zeus’ sake, the god of strangers and suppliants. To
Zeus belong both suppliants and strangers; and his eye, methinks,
beholdeth even us.”
And in reply the son of Aeson prudently questioned him, deeming that
the prophecies of Phineus were being fulfilled: “All these things will
we straightway grant you with right good will. But come tell me truly
in what country ye dwell and what business bids you sail across the
sea, and tell me your own glorious names and lineage.”
And him Argus, helpless in his evil plight, addressed: “That one
Phrixus an Aeolid reached Aea from Hellas you yourselves have clearly
heard ere this, I trow; Phrixus, who came to the city of Aeetes,
bestriding a ram, which Hermes had made all gold; and the fleece ye may
see even now. The ram, at its own prompting, he then sacrificed to
Zeus, son of Cronos, above all, the god of fugitives. And him did
Aeetes receive in his palace, and with gladness of heart gave him his
daughter Chalciope in marriage without gifts of wooing. [21] From those
two are we sprung. But Phrixus died at last, an aged man, in the home
of Aeetes; and we, giving heed to our father’s behests, are journeying
to Orehomenus to take the possessions of Athamas. And if thou dost
desire to learn our names, this is Cytissorus, this Phrontis, and this
Melas, and me ye may call Argus.”
Thus he spake, and the chieftains rejoiced at the meeting, and tended
them, much marvelling. And Jason again in turn replied, as was fitting,
with these words:
“Surely ye are our kinsmen on my father’s side, and ye pray that with
kindly hearts we succour your evil plight. For Cretheus and Athamas
were brothers. I am the grandson of Cretheus, and with these comrades
here I am journeying from that same Hellas to the city of Aeetes. But
of these things we will converse hereafter. And do ye first put
clothing upon you. By heaven’s devising, I ween, have ye come to my
hands in your sore need.”
He spake, and out of the ship gave them raiment to put on. Then all
together they went to the temple of Ares to offer sacrifice of sheep;
and in haste they stood round the altar, which was outside the roofless
temple, an altar built of pebbles; within a black stone stood fixed, a
sacred thing, to which of yore the Amazons all used to pray. Nor was it
lawful for them, when they came from the opposite coast, to burn on
this altar offerings of sheep and oxen, but they used to slay horses
which they kept in great herds. Now when they had sacrificed and eaten
the feast prepared, then Aeson’s son spake among them and thus began:
“Zeus’ self, I ween, beholds everything; nor do we men escape his eye,
we that be god-fearing and just, for as he rescued your father from the
hands of a murderous step-dame and gave him measureless wealth besides;
even so hath he saved you harmless from the baleful storm. And on board
this ship ye may sail hither and thither, where ye will, whether to Aea
or to the wealthy city of divine Orthomenus. For our ship Athena built
and with axe of bronze cut her timbers near the crest of Pelion, and
with the goddess wrought Argus. But yours the fierce surge hath
shattered, before ye came nigh to the rocks which all day long clash
together in the straits of the sea. But come, be yourselves our
helpers, for we are eager to bring to Hellas the golden fleece, and
guide us on our voyage, for I go to atone for the intended sacrifice of
Phrixus, the cause of Zeus’ wrath against the sons of Aeolus.”
He spake with soothing words; but horror seized them when they heard.
For they deemed that they would not find Aeetes friendly if they
desired to take away the ram’s fleece. And Argus spake as follows,
vexed that they should busy themselves with such a quest:
“My friends, our strength, so far as it avails, shall never cease to
help you, not one whit, when need shall come. But Aeetes is terribly
armed with deadly ruthlessness; wherefore exceedingly do I dread this
voyage. And he boasts himself to be the son of Helios; and all round
dwell countless tribes of Colchians; and he might match himself with
Ares in his dread war-cry and giant strength. Nay, to seize the fleece
in spite of Aeetes is no easy task; so huge a serpent keeps guard round
and about it, deathless and sleepless, which Earth herself brought
forth on the sides of Caucasus, by the rock of Typhaon, where Typhaon,
they say, smitten by the bolt of Zeus, son of Cronos, when he lifted
against the god his sturdy hands, dropped from his head hot gore; and
in such plight he reached the mountains and plain of Nysa, where to
this day he lies whelmed beneath the waters of the Serbonian lake.”
Thus he spake, and straightway many a cheek grew pale when they heard
of so mighty an adventure. But quickly Peleus answered with cheering
words, and thus spake:
“Be not so fearful in spirit, my good friend. For we are not so lacking
in prowess as to be no match for Aeetes to try his strength with arms;
but I deem that we too are cunning in war, we that go thither, near
akin to the blood of the blessed gods. Wherefore if he will not grant
us the fleece of gold for friendship’s sake, the tribes of the
Colchians will not avail him, I ween.”
Thus they addressed each other in turn, until again, satisfied with
their feast, they turned to rest. And when they rose at dawn a gentle
breeze was blowing; and they raised the sails, which strained to the
rush of the wind, and quickly they left behind the island of Ares.
And at nightfall they came to the island of Philyra, where Cronos, son
of Uranus, what time in Olympus he reigned over the Titans, and Zeus
was yet being nurtured in a Cretan cave by the Curetes of Ida, lay