Jason and the Argonauts (Penguin Classics)

by Apollonius Of Rhodes

  come here alone, apart from his companions,

  to meet me face-to-face, so that we girls

  might share among ourselves whatever gifts

  1180he brings us. We shall give him, in exchange,

  a very potent herbal tincture. Please, though,

  stand at a distance when the man arrives.”

  So she requested, and her subtle words

  persuaded all the maids.

  As soon as Argus

  1185 (913)learned from his brothers that the girl had left

  at daybreak for the shrine of Hecate,

  he led the son of Aeson out alone,

  apart from his companions, through the plain.

  And with them went the offspring of Ampycus,

  1190Mopsus, an expert at interpreting

  bird signs and guiding heroes on their quests.

  Never among the men of long ago—

  not among all those sired by Zeus himself,

  nor among those the other gods begot—

  1195had any man appeared as irresistible

  to speak with and adore as on that day

  Jason appeared. Hera the wife of Zeus

  had made him so. Even his comrades marveled

  as they admired his radiant appeal,

  1200 (925)and Mopsus swaggered as they walked because

  he knew already of the trip’s success.

  Beside the footpath through the plain there stands,

  next to the shrine of Hecate, a poplar

  that wears long hair, innumerable leaves.

  1205Crows regularly sit and chatter in it,

  and one of them was way up toward the crown

  flapping its wings as they were walking by.

  At Hera’s prompting it insulted Mopsus:

  “You are a sorry sort of seer, too stupid

  1210to recognize what even children know:

  a maiden never tells a gentleman

  sweet words of love when others are around.

  Get yourself gone, false prophet, bad adviser.

  Neither Cypris nor the gentle love gods

  1215 (937)breathe their seductive kindnesses your way.”

  So spoke the crow in insult. Mopsus, though,

  when he had heard the sacred bird’s command,

  smiled in reply and said:

  “You go on, Jason,

  go on and meet the maiden at the temple.

  1220Her welcome will be very warm indeed

  thanks to the goddess Cypris, who will help you

  complete the labor, just as Phineus

  the son of Agenor predicted to you.

  Argus and I will wait right here until

  1225you finish. You alone must state your case

  and win her over with convincing phrases.”

  So he insisted, under good advisement,

  and his companions gave assent at once.

  Medea’s heart, however much she sang,

  1230 (949)could not escape from thoughts of Jason, Jason.

  None of the tunes she tried distracted her

  for long. She broke them off in helplessness

  and failed to hold her gaze steady and constant

  upon her maids. Her head kept swiveling;

  1235she kept on staring out along the roadways.

  Time and time again the heart convulsed

  within her breast as she debated whether

  a passing sound was footsteps or the wind.

  Soon he appeared. Her longing eyes perceived him

  1240rising from the horizon, as the Dog Star,

  Sirius, rises from the River Ocean—

  mesmerizing, beautiful—to wreak

  unspeakable destruction on the flocks.

  In just such splendor did the son of Aeson

  1245 (961)rise into view, and his arrival leveled

  still greater anguish at the lovesick girl.

  Her heart dropped from her breast, her eyes were fog,

  and hectic redness chafed her cheeks. She lost

  the strength to lift her knees and move forward

  1250or back. Her soles were rooted to the earth.

  Meanwhile the handmaids had withdrawn from them.

  The two stood face-to-face, unspeaking, silent

  like oaks or lofty pines that stand unrustled

  beside each other on a windless day

  1255atop a peak, until a gust of wind

  rouses them, and they rustle ceaselessly.

  So both of them would soon have much to say

  under the impact of the gusts of Eros.

  Jason could tell the gods had sunk the girl

  in madness, so he plied her gently:

  1260 (975)“Maiden,

  why are you scared to be alone with me?

  I’m not like other men, a no-good boaster,

  not now or back when I was in my homeland.

  Therefore, though you are young, don’t act so wildly

  1265bashful before me that you shrink from saying

  what you desire, or anything at all.

  Since we have come with goodwill toward each other

  and meet on hallowed ground where harmful deeds

  are sacrilege, speak freely, ask your questions.

  1270But please don’t lead me on by saying simply

  what I would like to hear, since from the outset

  you have assured your sister you will give me

  the strength-inspiring potion.

  I beseech you

  both in your parents’ names and in the names

  1275 (986)of holy Hecate and Zeus Upholder

  of Suppliants and Strangers. I have come,

  a suppliant and stranger, to embrace

  your knees in desperation, since alone—

  that is, without your favor—I shall never

  1280return successful from this wretched contest.

  I am prepared to pay you future honor

  for your assistance, all the honor due

  between two people living far apart,

  by glorifying both your name and virtues.

  1285After my comrades have returned to Greece,

  they, too, will spread your fame, as will their mothers

  and wives, who right now possibly are sitting

  and wailing on the shore. You, you could scatter

  their cruel flock of worries on the winds.

  1290 (998)Minos’ maiden daughter Ariadne

  once rescued Theseus from a deadly trial—

  yes, Helius’ daughter Pasiphae,

  the sister of your father, was her mother.

  Once Minos had recovered from his anger,

  1295the girl embarked upon the hero’s ship

  and left her fatherland. Even the gods

  adored this girl, and a memento of her,

  a garland known as Ariadne’s Crown,

  revolves among the heavenly constellations

  1300at night. The gods will give you thanks as well

  if you assist so mighty an assembly

  of heroes. Judging from your beauty, you

  should be supreme in gentle kindnesses.”

  So he addressed her, playing to her pride.

  1305 (1008)She dropped her gaze but, as she did, a smile

  as sweet as nectar spread across her face.

  Her heart had thawed beneath his flattery.

  When she looked up at him again, she failed

  to find words fit to start with, since she was

  1310so keen to tell him everything at once.

  All modesty behind her, she removed

  the vial of resin from her fragrant bodice,

  and he was quick to wrap his hands around it.

  He seemed so very pleased. She would have tugged

  1315the soul out of her breast and happily

  bestowed it on this man who needed her.

  Eros had kindled a miraculous

  and winning fire on Jason’s golden hair,

&n
bsp; and he was ravishing her gaze. Her eyes

  1320 (1020)were glinting, and her heart grew warm and melted

  like dew on roses in the dawn’s first light.

  Each of them awkwardly admired the ground

  at times and then at times kept firing glances

  at one another, shooting forth desire

  1325from underneath their brows. A good while later,

  under extreme duress, the girl brought out:

  “Please listen. I shall give you some instructions:

  Once my father has bestowed upon you

  the serpent’s deadly fangs to sow the field,

  1330wait for the darkest hour of the night,

  then wash your body in a rushing river,

  don an all-black mantle, and retire

  somewhere alone, apart from your companions,

  and dig a wide round hole. Once you have slit

  1335 (1033)an ewe’s throat, drained the blood into the pit,

  and laid the carcass, whole, upon a fire

  that you have duly built up round the edges,

  call upon Hecate, the only child

  of Perses, while decanting from a goblet

  1340the comb-begotten labor of the bees.

  Then, after you have dutifully sought

  Hecate’s favor, turn and leave. Make certain

  neither the sound of footsteps nor the baying

  of dogs moves you to turn and look behind you,

  1345or you will cancel all that you have done

  and fail to come back ready to your comrades.

  At daybreak steep the drug I have provided

  in pure spring water, strip off all your clothes,

  and rub your body with it as with oil.

  1350 (1044)There will be awesome power and boundless valor

  within it. You will find your strength a match

  not for mere mortals but the deathless gods.

  Sprinkle your shield, sword, and spear with it.

  The weapons of the earthborn men will never

  1355injure you then, nor the unbearable fire

  that shoots out of the deadly bulls. Not long

  will you be so enhanced, just one day only.

  Be sure, then, not to shrink before the challenge.

  And I shall grace you with a second favor:

  1360once you have yoked the mighty bulls and swiftly

  with might and main plowed up the stubborn fallows,

  then, as the earthborn men are sprouting skyward

  out of the snake’s fangs planted in the furrows,

  cast a stone into their midst, a large one.

  1365 (1057)Make certain no one sees you. They will slaughter

  each other over it, like wild dogs

  contending over scraps of food. Make sure

  that you yourself then rush into the fray.

  Because of your successes you will carry

  1370the fleece back into Hellas, to some place

  far from Aea. Go, though, all the same,

  wherever you desire, wherever you

  insist on going once you spread your sail.”

  With that, she fixed her eyes before her feet

  1375in silence and suffused her gleaming cheeks

  with sultry tears, bereft because he soon

  would sail the sea far, far away from her.

  She took his hand and gazed upon his face.

  Modesty left her eyes, and yet again

  in agony she spoke to him:

  1380 (1069)“Remember

  the name Medea if, by chance, you live

  to come back home. When you are far away

  I shall remember yours as well. Please, though,

  kindly inform me where your home might be.

  1385Where will you go when you go sailing off

  across the sea? Will you approach luxurious

  Orchomenus or skirt Aeaea Island?

  And please do tell me more about that girl,

  the one you named, you know, the famous daughter

  1390of Pasiphae, who is my father’s sister.”

  Such were her inquiries, and devastating

  affection crept up over him, because

  she was a maiden, crying. So he answered:

  “Never, day or night, shall I forget you—

  1395 (1080)that is, so long as I escape my death

  and do return uninjured to Achaea,

  and if Aeëtes doesn’t force still worse

  trials upon us. If you wish to know

  about my homeland, I will tell you of it.

  1400My heart as well commands I do as much:

  there is a broad plain ringed by lofty mountains,

  a sheep land rich in pasture. It was there

  Prometheus, the son of Iapetus,

  begat the excellent Deucalion

  1405who was the first to draw up plans for cities

  and raise temples to the immortal gods.

  He also was the first to serve as king.

  My people call this land Haemonia.

  My city Iolcus stands in it, and in it

  1410 (1092)stand a hundred other cities where

  the name Aea never has been heard.

  And, yes, a legend states that Minyas,

  a son of Aeolus, once left this land

  to build the city of Orchomenus

  1415on the Cadmeians’ eastern border. Why, though,

  do I keep rambling on about my home

  and Minos’ most reverend daughter

  Ariadne? (That’s the famous name

  the lovely maiden you have asked about

  1420once called her own.) I pray that, just as Minos

  eventually accepted Theseus,

  your father may be joined to us in friendship.”

  So he responded, stroking her with soothing

  utterances. Most distressing worries, though,

  1425 (1104)kept troubling her heart, and she was sad

  when she addressed these throbbing words to him:

  “Although in Hellas it may be considered

  noble to keep one’s word, Aeëtes differs

  greatly in that regard from Minos, husband

  1430of Pasiphae—that man you mentioned to me.

  Nor do I rank myself with Ariadne.

  Say nothing, therefore, of a fond guest-friendship.

  But think of me when you return to Iolcus,

  and I shall think of you in spite of all

  1435my parents say. May news or bird of omen

  bring us together, when we live apart.

  Yet, if I slip your mind, may sudden storm winds

  snatch me aloft and carry me to Iolcus,

  so that I may confront you face-to-face,

  1440 (1115)reproaching you, reminding you that you

  escaped this land alive by my assistance.

  Yes, may I then appear out of the blue

  and haunt you right beside your palace hearth.”

  So she proclaimed, with liquid sorrow streaming

  1445down her cheeks. After a while he answered:

  “Sad maiden, let your storm winds rove

  in vain and all your birds and rumors, too.

  You’re talking nonsense. If you come to Greece

  and any of those places you have mentioned,

  1450men and women will esteem and love you,

  yes, they will venerate you like a goddess,

  some because your counsel helped their sons

  come home alive, others because you saved

  their brothers, relatives, and valiant husbands

  1455 (1127)from such great trouble. In our wedding chamber

  you shall enjoy the marriage bed with me,

  and nothing shall divide us from our love

  until our predetermined end enshrouds us.”

  So he explained. The heart within her melted

  1460to hear it, but she shuddered as it did,

  imagining the crime she would c
ommit.

  Poor maiden, she would not long shrink from living

  in Hellas. Hera had already ruled

  Medea of Aea would forsake

  1465her fatherland and come to holy Iolcus

  to ruin Pelias.

  Meanwhile the handmaids

  watching them in silence from afar

  grew agitated: daylight was expiring;

  Medea should be home beside her mother.

  1470 (1140)The girl herself had not yet thought of leaving,

  since she was so bewitched by Jason’s beauty

  and winning words. It was the son of Aeson

  who sensed the hour and said to her at last:

  “It’s time for us to go, or else the sun

  1475will set before you reach the court, and someone

  will note your absence and discover all.

  But we will come back here and meet again.”

  They tested one another with endearments

  so far, then turned and went their separate ways,

  1480Jason departing to his crew and ship

  in an exultant mood, she to her handmaids.

  They all went out to meet her, but she hardly

  noticed them gathering around her, no,

  her soul was flying through the clouds. Her feet

  1485 (1152)all on their own conveyed her to the wagon.

  One hand reached out to take the reins, the other

  the intricately braided whip, and off

  the mules went toward the city and the palace.

  When they returned, Chalciope of course

  1490asked questions, since she hoped to save her sons.

  The girl, though, spun by swiftly shifting thoughts,

  heard nothing and was not disposed to answer.

  She settled on a stool beside her bed,

  cheek resting flat upon her clenched left hand,

  1495and worried, teary-eyed, about the plot

  she had devised, how traitorous it was.

  When Jason joined his comrades at the spot

  where he had left them to approach Medea,

  he set out with them toward their shore-side camp,

  1500 (1165)recounting what she’d said along the way.

  They reached the ship together. When the heroes

  caught sight of Aeson’s son, they greeted him

  with questions, and he told them all about

  the maiden’s scheme and showed the potent drug.

  1505Though Idas sat apart from his companions

  and gnawed his anger, all the rest were joyful

  and, when the lateness of the hour compelled them,

  cheerfully went about their chores.

  At daybreak

  they sent a pair of soldiers to Aeëtes