The Argonautica
Thus he spake, and at once sleep laid him to rest. And she stored up in
her heart the word of wisdom, and straightway rose from her couch and
went through the palace; and her handmaids came hasting together,
eagerly tending their mistress. But quietly she summoned her herald and
addressed him, in her prudence urging Aeson’s son to wed the maiden,
and not to implore Alcinous; for he himself, she said, will decree to
the Colchians that if she is still a maid he will deliver her up to be
borne to her father’s house, but that if she shares a husband’s bed he
will not sever her from wedded love.
Thus she spake, and quickly from the hall his feet bore him, that he
might declare to Jason the fair-omened speech of Arete and the counsel
of godfearing Alcinous. And he found the heroes watching in full armour
in the haven of Hyllus, near the city; and out he spake the whole
message; and each hero’s heart rejoiced; for the word that he spake was
welcome.
And straightway they mingled a bowl to the blessed ones, as is right,
and reverently led sheep to the altar, and for that very night prepared
for the maiden the bridal couch in the sacred cave, where once dwelt
Macris, the daughter of Aristaeus, lord of honey, who discovered the
works of bees and the fatness of the olive, the fruit of labour. She it
was that first received in her bosom the Nysean son of Zeus in Abantian
Euboea, and with honey moistened his parched lips when Hermes bore him
out of the flame. And Hera beheld it, and in wrath drove her from the
whole island. And she accordingly came to dwell far off, in the sacred
cave of the Phaeacians, and granted boundless wealth to the
inhabitants. There at that time did they spread a mighty couch; and
thereon they laid the glittering fleece of gold, that so the marriage
might be made honoured and the theme of song. And for them nymphs
gathered flowers of varied hue and bore them thither in their white
bosoms; and a splendour as of flame played round them all, such a light
gleamed from the golden tufts. And in their eyes it kindled a sweet
longing; yet for all her desire, awe withheld each one from laying her
hand thereon. Some were called daughters of the river Aegaeus; others
dwelt round the crests of the Meliteian mount; and others were woodland
nymphs from the plains. For Hera herself, the spouse of Zeus, had sent
them to do honour to Jason. That cave is to this day called the sacred
cave of Medea, where they spread the fine and fragrant linen and
brought these two together. And the heroes in their hands wielded their
spears for war, lest first a host of foes should burst upon them for
battle unawares, and, their heads enwreathed with leafy sprays, all in
harmony, while Orpheus’ harp rang clear, sang the marriage song at the
entrance to the bridal chamber. Yet not in the house of Alcinous was
the hero, Aeson’s son, minded to complete his marriage, but in his
father’s hall when he had returned home to Ioleus; and such was the
mind of Medea herself; but necessity led them to wed at this time. For
never in truth do we tribes of woe-stricken mortals tread the path of
delight with sure foot; but still some bitter affliction keeps pace
with our joy. Wherefore they too, though their souls were melted with
sweet love, were held by fear, whether the sentence of Alcinous would
be fulfilled.
Now dawn returning with her beams divine scattered the gloomy night
through the sky; and the island beaches laughed out and the paths over
the plains far off, drenched with dew, and there was a din in the
streets; the people were astir throughout the city, and far away the
Colchians were astir at the bounds of the isle of Macris. And
straightway to them went Alcinous, by reason of his covenant, to
declare his purpose concerning the maiden, and in his hand he held a
golden staff, his staff of justice, whereby the people had righteous
judgments meted out to them throughout the city. And with him in order
due and arrayed in their harness of war went marching, band by band,
the chiefs of the Phaeacians. And from the towers came forth the women
in crowds to gaze upon the heroes; and the country folk came to meet
them when they heard the news, for Hera had sent forth a true report.
And one led the chosen ram of his flock, and another a heifer that had
never toiled; and others set hard by jars of wine for mixing; and the
smoke of sacrifice leapt up far away. And women bore fine linen, the
fruit of much toil, as women will, and gifts of gold and varied
ornaments as well, such as are brought to newly-wedded brides; and they
marvelled when they saw the shapely forms and beauty of the gallant
heroes, and among them the son of Oeagrus, oft beating the ground with
gleaming sandal, to the time of his loud-ringing lyre and song. And all
the nymphs together, whenever he recalled the marriage, uplifted the
lovely bridal-chant; and at times again they sang alone as they circled
in the dance, Hera, in thy honour; for it was thou that didst put it
into the heart of Arete to proclaim the wise word of Alcinous. And as
soon as he had uttered the decree of his righteous judgement, and the
completion of the marriage had been proclaimed, he took care that thus
it should abide fixed; and no deadly fear touched him nor Aeetes’
grievous wrath, but he kept his judgement fast bound by unbroken oaths.
So when the Colchians learnt that they were beseeching in vain and he
bade them either observe his judgements or hold their ships away from
his harbours and land, then they began to dread the threats of their
own king and besought Alcinous to receive them as comrades; and there
in the island long time they dwelt with the Phaeacians, until in the
course of years, the Bacchiadae, a race sprung from Ephyra,[36] settled
among them; and the Colchians passed to an island opposite; and thence
they were destined to reach the Ceraunian hills of the Abantes, and the
Nestaeans and Oricum; but all this was fulfilled after long ages had
passed. And still the altars which Medea built on the spot sacred to
Apollo, god of shepherds, receive yearly sacrifices in honour of the
Fates and the Nymphs. And when the Minyae departed many gifts of
friendship did Alcinous bestow, and many Arete; moreover she gave Medea
twelve Phaeacian handmaids from the palace, to bear her company. And on
the seventh day they left Drepane; and at dawn came a fresh breeze from
Zeus. And onward they sped borne along by the wind’s breath. Howbeit
not yet was it ordained for the heroes to set foot on Achaea, until
they had toiled even in the furthest bounds of Libya.
Now had they left behind the gulf named after the Ambracians, now with
sails wide spread the land of the Curetes, and next in order the narrow
islands with the Echinades, and the land of Pelops was just descried;
even then a baleful blast of the north wind seized them in mid-course
and swept them towards the Libyan sea nine nights and as many days,
until they came far within Syrtis, wherefrom is no return for ships,
when they are once forced into that gulf. For on every hand are shoals,
on every hand masses of seaweed from the depths; and over them the
light foam of the wave washes without noise; and there is a stretch of
sand to the dim horizon; and there moveth nothing that creeps or flies.
Here accordingly the flood-tide—for this tide often retreats from the
land and bursts back again over the beach coming on with a rush and
roar—thrust them suddenly on to the innermost shore, and but little of
the keel was left in the water. And they leapt forth from the ship, and
sorrow seized them when they gazed on the mist and the levels of vast
land stretching far like a mist and continuous into the distance; no
spot for water, no path, no steading of herdsmen did they descry afar
off, but all the scene was possessed by a dead calm. And thus did one
hero, vexed in spirit, ask another:
“What land is this? Whither has the tempest hurled us? Would that,
reckless of deadly fear, we had dared to rush on by that same path
between the clashing rocks! Better were it to have overleapt the will
of Zeus and perished in venturing some mighty deed. But now what should
we do, held back by the winds to stay here, if ever so short a time?
How desolate looms before us the edge of the limitless land!”
Thus one spake; and among them Ancaeus the helmsman, in despair at
their evil case, spoke with grieving heart: “Verily we are undone by a
terrible doom; there is no escape from ruin; we must suffer the
cruellest woes, having fallen on this desolation, even though breezes
should blow from the land; for, as I gaze far around, on every side do
I behold a sea of shoals, and masses of water, fretted line upon line,
run over the hoary sand. And miserably long ago would our sacred ship
have been shattered far from the shore; but the tide itself bore her
high on to the land from the deep sea. But now the tide rushes back to
the sea, and only the foam, whereon no ship can sail, rolls round us,
just covering the land. Wherefore I deem that all hope of our voyage
and of our return is cut off. Let someone else show his skill; let him
sit at the helm the man that is eager for our deliverance. But Zeus has
no will to fulfil our day of return after all our toils.”
Thus he spake with tears, and all of them that had knowledge of ships
agreed thereto; but the hearts of all grew numb, and pallor overspread
their cheeks. And as, like lifeless spectres, men roam through a city
awaiting the issue of war or of pestilence, or some mighty storm which
overwhelms the countless labours of oxen, when the images of their own
accord sweat and run down with blood, and bellowings are heard in
temples, or when at mid-day the sun draws on night from heaven, and the
stars shine clear through the mist; so at that time along the endless
strand the chieftains wandered, groping their way. Then straightway
dark evening came upon them; and piteously did they embrace each other
and say farewell with tears, that they might, each one apart from his
fellow, fall on the sand and die. And this way and that they went
further to choose a resting-place; and they wrapped their heads in
their cloaks and, fasting and unfed, lay down all that night and the
day, awaiting a piteous death. But apart the maidens huddled together
lamented beside the daughter of Aeetes. And as when, forsaken by their
mother, unfledged birds that have fallen from a cleft in the rock chirp
shrilly; or when by the banks of fair-flowing Pactolus, swans raise
their song, and all around the dewy meadow echoes and the river’s fair
stream; so these maidens, laying in the dust their golden hair, all
through the night wailed their piteous lament. And there all would have
parted from life without a name and unknown to mortal men, those
bravest of heroes, with their task unfulfilled; but as they pined in
despair, the heroine-nymphs, warders of Libya, had pity on them, they
who once found Athena, what time she leapt in gleaming armour from her
father’s head, and bathed her by Trito’s waters. It was noon-tide and
the fiercest rays of the sun were scorching Libya; they stood near
Aeson’s son, and lightly drew the cloak from his head. And the hero
cast down his eyes and looked aside, in reverence for the goddesses,
and as he lay bewildered all alone they addressed him openly with
gentle words:
“Ill-starred one, why art thou so smitten with despair? We know how ye
went in quest of the golden fleece; we know each toil of yours, all the
mighty deeds ye wrought in your wanderings over land and sea. We are
the solitary ones, goddesses of the land, speaking with human voice,
the heroines, Libya’s warders and daughters. Up then; be not thus
afflicted in thy misery, and rouse thy comrades. And when Amphitrite