The Argonautica
beside Philyra, when he had deceived Rhea; and the goddess found them
in the midst of their dalliance; and Cronos leapt up from the couch
with a rush in the form of a steed with flowing mane, but Ocean’s
daughter, Philyra, in shame left the spot and those haunts, and came to
the long Pelasgian ridges, where by her union with the transfigured
deity she brought forth huge Cheiron, half like a horse, half like a
god.
Thence they sailed on, past the Macrones and the far-stretching land of
the Becheiri and the overweening Sapeires, and after them the Byzeres;
for ever forward they clave their way, quickly borne by the gentle
breeze. And lo, as they sped on, a deep gulf of the sea was opened, and
lo, the steep crags of the Caucasian mountains rose up, where, with his
limbs bound upon the hard rocks by galling fetters of bronze,
Prometheus fed with his liver an eagle that ever rushed back to its
prey. High above the ship at even they saw it flying with a loud whirr,
near the clouds; and yet it shook all the sails with the fanning of
those huge wings. For it had not the form of a bird of the air but kept
poising its long wing-feathers like polished oars. And not long after
they heard the bitter cry of Prometheus as his liver was being torn
away; and the air rang with his screams until they marked the ravening
eagle rushing back from the mountain on the self-same track. And at
night, by the skill of Argus, they reached broad-flowing Phasis, and
the utmost bourne of the sea.
And straightway they let down the sails and the yard-arm and stowed
them inside the hollow mast-crutch, and at once they lowered the mast
itself till it lay along; and quickly with oars they entered the mighty
stream of the river; and round the prow the water surged as it gave
them way. And on their left hand they had lofty Caucasus and the
Cytaean city of Aea, and on the other side the plain of Ares and the
sacred grove of that god, where the serpent was keeping watch and ward
over the fleece as it hung on the leafy branches of an oak. And Aeson’s
son himself from a golden goblet poured into the river libations of
honey and pure wine to Earth and to the gods of the country, and to the
souls of dead heroes; and he besought them of their grace to give
kindly aid, and to welcome their ship’s hawsers with favourable omen.
And straightway Ancaeus spake these words:
“We have reached the Colchian land and the stream of Phasis; and it is
time for us to take counsel whether we shall make trial of Aeetes with
soft words, or an attempt of another kind shall be fitting.”
Thus he spake, and by the advice of Argus Jason bade them enter a
shaded backwater and let the ship ride at anchor off shore; and it was
near at hand in their course and there they passed the night. And soon
the dawn appeared to their expectant eyes.
BOOK III
Come now, Erato, stand by my side, and say next how Jason brought back
the fleece to Iolcus aided by the love of Medea. For thou sharest the
power of Cypris, and by thy love-cares dost charm unwedded maidens;
wherefore to thee too is attached a name that tells of love.
Thus the heroes, unobserved, were waiting in ambush amid the thick
reed-beds; but Hera and Athena took note of them, and, apart from Zeus
and the other immortals, entered a chamber and took counsel together;
and Hera first made trial of Athena:
“Do thou now first, daughter of Zeus, give advice. What must be done?
Wilt thou devise some scheme whereby they may seize the golden fleece
of Aeetes and bear it to Hellas, or can they deceive the king with soft
words and so work persuasion? Of a truth he is terribly overweening.
Still it is right to shrink from no endeavour.”
Thus she spake, and at once Athena addressed her: “I too was pondering
such thoughts in my heart, Hera, when thou didst ask me outright. But
not yet do I think that I have conceived a scheme to aid the courage of
the heroes, though I have balanced many plans.”
She ended, and the goddesses fixed their eyes on the ground at their
feet, brooding apart; and straightway Hera was the first to speak her
thought: “Come, let us go to Cypris; let both of us accost her and urge
her to bid her son (if only he will obey) speed his shaft at the
daughter of Aeetes, the enchantress, and charm her with love for Jason.
And I deem that by her device he will bring back the fleece to Hellas.”
Thus she spake, and the prudent plan pleased Athena, and she addressed
her in reply with gentle words:
“Hera, my father begat me to be a stranger to the darts of love, nor do
I know any charm to work desire. But if the word pleases thee, surely I
will follow; but thou must speak when we meet her.”
So she said, and starting forth they came to the mighty palace of
Cypris, which her husband, the halt-footed god, had built for her when
first he brought her from Zeus to be his wife. And entering the court
they stood beneath the gallery of the chamber where the goddess
prepared the couch of Hephaestus. But he had gone early to his forge
and anvils to a broad cavern in a floating island where with the blast
of flame he wrought all manner of curious work; and she all alone was
sitting within, on an inlaid seat facing the door. And her white
shoulders on each side were covered with the mantle of her hair and she
was parting it with a golden comb and about to braid up the long
tresses; but when she saw the goddesses before her, she stayed and
called them within, and rose from her seat and placed them on couches.
Then she herself sat down, and with her hands gathered up the locks
still uncombed. And smiling she addressed them with crafty words:
“Good friends, what intent, what occasion brings you here after so
long? Why have ye come, not too frequent visitors before, chief among
goddesses that ye are?”
And to her Hera replied: “Thou dost mock us, but our hearts are stirred
with calamity. For already on the river Phasis the son of Aeson moors
his ship, he and his comrades in quest of the fleece. For all their
sakes we fear terribly (for the task is nigh at hand) but most for
Aeson’s son. Him will I deliver, though he sail even to Hades to free
Ixion below from his brazen chains, as far as strength lies in my
limbs, so that Pelias may not mock at having escaped an evil
doom—Pelias who left me unhonoured with sacrifice. Moreover Jason was
greatly loved by me before, ever since at the mouth of Anaurus in
flood, as I was making trial of men’s righteousness, he met me on his
return from the chase; and all the mountains and long ridged peaks were
sprinkled with snow, and from them the torrents rolling down were
rushing with a roar. And he took pity on me in the likeness of an old
crone, and raising me on his shoulders himself bore me through the
headlong tide. So he is honoured by me unceasingly; nor will Pelias pay
the penalty of his outrage, unless thou wilt grant Jason his return.”
Thus she spake, and speechlessness seized Cypris. And beholding Hera
supplicating her she felt awe, and then addressed her with friendly
words: “Dread goddess, may no viler thing than Cypris ever be found, if
I disregard thy eager desire in word or deed, whatever my weak arms can
effect; and let there be no favour in return.”
She spake, and Hera again addressed her with prudence: “It is not in
need of might or of strength that we have come. But just quietly bid
thy boy charm Aeetes’ daughter with love for Jason. For if she will aid
him with her kindly counsel, easily do I think he will win the fleece
of gold and return to Iolcus, for she is full of wiles.”
Thus she spake, and Cypris addressed them both: “Hera and Athena, he
will obey you rather than me. For unabashed though he is, there will be
some slight shame in his eyes before you; but he has no respect for me,
but ever slights me in contentious mood. And, overborne by his
naughtiness, I purpose to break his ill-sounding arrows and his bow in
his very sight. For in his anger he has threatened that if I shall not
keep my hands off him while he still masters his temper, I shall have
cause to blame myself thereafter.”
So she spake, and the goddesses smiled and looked at each other. But
Cypris again spoke, vexed at heart: “To others my sorrows are a jest;
nor ought I to tell them to all; I know them too well myself. But now,
since this pleases you both, I will make the attempt and coax him, and
he will not say me nay.”
Thus she spake, and Hera took her slender hand and gently smiling,
replied: “Perform this task, Cytherea, straightway, as thou sayest; and
be not angry or contend with thy boy; he will cease hereafter to vex
thee.”
She spake, and left her seat, and Athena accompanied her and they went
forth both hastening back. And Cypris went on her way through the glens
of Olympus to find her boy. And she found him apart, in the blooming
orchard of Zeus, not alone, but with him Ganymedes, whom once Zeus had
set to dwell among the immortal gods, being enamoured of his beauty.
And they were playing for golden dice, as boys in one house are wont to
do. And already greedy Eros was holding the palm of his left hand quite
full of them under his breast, standing upright; and on the bloom of
his cheeks a sweet blush was glowing. But the other sat crouching hard
by, silent and downcast, and he had two dice left which he threw one
after the other, and was angered by the loud laughter of Eros. And lo,
losing them straightway with the former, he went off empty handed,
helpless, and noticed not the approach of Cypris. And she stood before
her boy, and laying her hand on his lips, addressed him:
“Why dost thou smile in triumph, unutterable rogue? Hast thou cheated
him thus, and unjustly overcome the innocent child? Come, be ready to
perform for me the task I will tell thee of, and I will give thee Zeus’
all-beauteous plaything—the one which his dear nurse Adrasteia made for
him, while he still lived a child, with childish ways, in the Idaean
cave—a well-rounded ball; no better toy wilt thou get from the hands of
Hephaestus. All of gold are its zones, and round each double seams run
in a circle; but the stitches are hidden, and a dark blue spiral
overlays them all. But if thou shouldst cast it with thy hands, lo,
like a star, it sends a flaming track through the sky. This I will give
thee; and do thou strike with thy shaft and charm the daughter of
Aeetes with love for Jason; and let there be no loitering. For then my
thanks would be the slighter.”
Thus she spake, and welcome were her words to the listening boy. And he
threw down all his toys, and eagerly seizing her robe on this side and
on that, clung to the goddess. And he implored her to bestow the gift
at once; but she, facing him with kindly words, touched his cheeks,
kissed him and drew him to her, and replied with a smile:
“Be witness now thy dear head and mine, that surely I will give thee
the gift and deceive thee not, if thou wilt strike with thy shaft
Aeetes’ daughter.”
She spoke, and he gathered up his dice, and having well counted them
all threw them into his mother’s gleaming lap. And straightway with
golden baldric he slung round him his quiver from where it leant
against a tree-trunk, and took up his curved bow. And he fared forth
through the fruitful orchard of the palace of Zeus. Then he passed
through the gates of Olympus high in air; hence is a downward path from
heaven; and the twin poles rear aloft steep mountain tops the highest
crests of earth, where the risen sun grows ruddy with his first beams.
And beneath him there appeared now the life-giving earth and cities of
men and sacred streams of rivers, and now in turn mountain peaks and
the ocean all around, as he swept through the vast expanse of air.
Now the heroes apart in ambush, in a back-water of the river, were met