The Argonautica
profit of your life if the Thracian host fall upon us, or some other
foe, as often happens among men, even as now this company is come
unforeseen? But if one of the blessed gods should turn this aside yet
countless other woes, worse than battle, remain behind, when the aged
women die off and ye younger ones, without children, reach hateful old
age. How then will ye live, hapless ones? Will your oxen of their own
accord yoke themselves for the deep plough-lands and draw the
earth-cleaving share through the fallow, and forthwith, as the year
comes round, reap the harvest? Assuredly, though the fates till now
have shunned me in horror, I deem that in the coming year I shall put
on the garment of earth, when I have received my meed of burial even so
as is right, before the evil days draw near. But I bid you who are
younger give good heed to this. For now at your feet a way of escape
lies open, if ye trust to the strangers the care of your homes and all
your stock and your glorious city.”
Thus she spake, and the assembly was filled with clamour. For the word
pleased them. And after her straightway Hypsipyle rose up again, and
thus spake in reply.
“If this purpose please you all, now will I even send a messenger to
the ship.”
She spake and addressed Iphinoe close at hand: “Go, Iphinoe, and beg
yonder man, whoever it is that leads this array, to come to our land
that I may tell him a word that pleases the heart of my people, and bid
the men themselves, if they wish, boldly enter the land and the city
with friendly intent.”
She spake, and dismissed the assembly, and thereafter started to return
home. And so Iphinoe came to the Minyae; and they asked with what
intent she had come among them. And quickly she addressed her
questioners with all speed in these words:
“The maiden Hypsipyle daughter of Thoas, sent me on my way here to you,
to summon the captain of your ship, whoever he be, that she may tell
him a word that pleases the heart of the people, and she bids
yourselves, if ye wish it, straightway enter the land and the city with
friendly intent.”
Thus she spake and the speech of good omen pleased all. And they deemed
that Thoas was dead and that his beloved daughter Hypsipyle was queen,
and quickly they sent Jason on his way and themselves made ready to go.
Now he had buckled round his shoulders a purple mantle of double fold,
the work of the Tritonian goddess, which Pallas had given him when she
first laid the keel-props of the ship Argo and taught him how to
measure timbers with the rule. More easily wouldst thou cast thy eyes
upon the sun at its rising than behold that blazing splendour. For
indeed in the middle the fashion thereof was red, but at the ends it
was all purple, and on each margin many separate devices had been
skilfully inwoven.
In it were the Cyclops seated at their imperishable work, forging a
thunderbolt for King Zeus; by now it was almost finished in its
brightness and still it wanted but one ray, which they were beating out
with their iron hammers as it spurted forth a breath of raging flame.
In it too were the twin sons of Antiope, daughter of Asopus, Amphion
and Zethus, and Thebe still ungirt with towers was lying near, whose
foundations they were just then laying in eager haste. Zethus on his
shoulders was lifting the peak of a steep mountain, like a man toiling
hard, and Amphion after him, singing loud and clear on his golden lyre,
moved on, and a rock twice as large followed his footsteps.
Next in order had been wrought Cytherea with drooping tresses, wielding
the swift shield of Ares; and from her shoulder to her left arm the
fastening of her tunic was loosed beneath her breast; and opposite in
the shield of bronze her image appeared clear to view as she stood.
And in it there was a well-wooded pasturage of oxen; and about the oxen
the Teleboae and the sons of Eleetryon were fighting; the one party
defending themselves, the others, the Taphian raiders, longing to rob
them; and the dewy meadow was drenched with their blood, and the many
were overmastering the few herdsmen.
And therein were fashioned two chariots, racing, and the one in front
Pelops was guiding, as he shook the reins, and with him was Hippodameia
at his side, and in pursuit Myrtilus urged his steeds, and with him
Oenomaus had grasped his couched spear, but fell as the axle swerved
and broke in the nave, while he was eager to pierce the back of Pelops.
And in it was wrought Phoebus Apollo, a stripling not yet grown up, in
the act of shooting at mighty Tityos who was boldly dragging his mother
by her veil, Tityos whom glorious Elate bare, but Earth nursed him and
gave him second birth.
And in it was Phrixus the Minyan as though he were in very deed
listening to the ram, while it was like one speaking. Beholding them
thou wouldst be silent and wouldst cheat thy soul with the hope of
hearing some wise speech from them, and long wouldst thou gaze with
that hope.
Such then were the gifts of the Tritonian goddess Athena. And in his
right hand Jason held a fardarting spear, which Atalanta gave him once
as a gift of hospitality in Maenalus as she met him gladly; for she
eagerly desired to follow on that quest; but he himself of his own
accord prevented the maid, for he feared bitter strife on account of
her love.
And he went on his way to the city like to a bright star, which
maidens, pent up in new-built chambers, behold as it rises above their
homes, and through the dark air it charms their eyes with its fair red
gleam and the maid rejoices, love-sick for the youth who is far away
amid strangers, for whom her parents are keeping her to be his bride;
like to that star the hero trod the way to the city. And when they had
passed within the gates and the city, the women of the people surged
behind them, delighting in the stranger, but he with his eyes fixed on
the ground fared straight on, till he reached the glorious palace of
Hypsipyle; and when he appeared the maids opened the folding doors,
fitted with well-fashioned panels. Here Iphinoe leading him quickly
through a fair porch set him upon a shining seat opposite her mistress,
but Hypsipyle turned her eyes aside and a blush covered her maiden
cheeks, yet for all her modesty she addressed him with crafty words:
“Stranger, why stay ye so long outside our towers? for the city is not
inhabited by the men, but they, as sojourners, plough the wheat-bearing
fields of the Thracian mainland. And I will tell out truly all our evil
plight, that ye yourselves too may know it well. When my father Thoas
reigned over the citizens, then our folk starting from their homes used
to plunder from their ships the dwellings of the Thracians who live
opposite, and they brought back hither measureless booty and maidens
too. But the counsel of the baneful goddess Cypris was working out its
accomplishment, who brought upon them soul destroying infatuation. For
they hated their lawful wives, and, yielding to their own mad folly,
drove them from their homes; and they took to their beds the captives
of their spear, cruel ones. Long in truth we endured it, if haply
again, though late, they might change their purpose, but ever the
bitter woe grew, twofold. And the lawful children were being
dishonoured in their halls, and a bastard race was rising. And thus
unmarried maidens and widowed mothers too wandered uncared for through
the city; no father heeded his daughter ever so little even though he
should see her done to death before his eyes at the hands of an
insolent step-dame, nor did sons, as before, defend their mother
against unseemly outrage; nor did brothers care at heart for their
sister. But in their homes, in the dance, in the assembly and the
banquet all their thought was only for their captive maidens; until
some god put desperate courage in our hearts no more to receive our
lords on their return from Thrace within our towers so that they might
either heed the right or might depart and begone elsewhither, they and
their captives. So they begged of us all the male children that were
left in the city and went back to where even now they dwell on the
snowy tilths of Thrace. Do ye therefore stay and settle with us; and
shouldst thou desire to dwell here, and this finds favour with thee,
assuredly thou shalt have the prerogative of my father Thoas; and I
deem that thou wilt not scorn our land at all; for it is deepsoiled
beyond all other islands that lie in the Aegaean sea. But come now,
return to the ship and relate my words to thy comrades, and stay not
outside our city.”
She spoke, glozing over the murder that had been wrought upon the men;
and Jason addressed her in answer:
“Hypsipyle, very dear to our hearts is the help we shall meet with,
which thou grantest to us who need thee. And I will return again to the
city when I have told everything in order due. But let the sovereignty
of the island be thine; it is not in scorn I yield it up, but grievous
trials urge me on.”
He spake, and touched her right hand; and quickly he turned to go back:
and round him the young maids on every side danced in countless numbers
in their joy till he passed through the gates. And then they came to
the shore in smooth-running wains, bearing with them many gifts, when
now he had related from beginning to end the speech which Hypsipyle had
spoken when she summoned them; and the maids readily led the men back
to their homes for entertainment. For Cypris stirred in them a sweet
desire, for the sake of Hephaestus of many counsels, in order that
Lemnos might be again inhabited by men and not be ruined.
Thereupon Aeson’s son started to go to the royal home of Hypsipyle; and
the rest went each his way as chance took them, all but Heracles; for
he of his own will was left behind by the ship and a few chosen
comrades with him. And straightway the city rejoiced with dances and
banquets, being filled with the steam of sacrifice; and above all the
immortals they propitiated with songs and sacrifices the illustrious
son of Hera and Cypris herself. And the sailing was ever delayed from
one day to another; and long would they have lingered there, had not
Heracles, gathering together his comrades apart from the women, thus
addressed them with reproachful words:
“Wretched men, does the murder of kindred keep us from our native land?
Or is it in want of marriage that we have come hither from thence, in
scorn of our countrywomen? Does it please us to dwell here and plough
the rich soil of Lemnos? No fair renown shall we win by thus tarrying
so long with stranger women; nor will some god seize and give us at our
prayer a fleece that moves of itself. Let us then return each to his
own; but him leave ye to rest all day long in the embrace of Hypsipyle
until he has peopled Lemnos with men-children, and so there come to him
great glory.”
Thus did he chide the band; but no one dared to meet his eye or to
utter a word in answer. But just as they were in the assembly they made
ready their departure in all haste, and the women came running towards
them, when they knew their intent. And as when bees hum round fair
lilies pouring forth from their hive in the rock, and all around the
dewy meadow rejoices, and they gather the sweet fruit, flitting from
one to another; even so the women eagerly poured forth clustering round
the men with loud lament, and greeted each one with hands and voice,
praying the blessed gods to grant him a safe return. And so Hypsipyle
too prayed, seizing the hands of Aeson’s son, and her tears flowed for
the loss of her lover:
“Go, and may heaven bring thee back again with thy comrades unharmed,
bearing to the king the golden fleece, even as thou wilt and thy heart
desireth; and this island and my father’s sceptre will be awaiting