the heroes-第17部分

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


e　land　of　Hellas　more。'

Then　Orpheus　lifted　his　harp；　and　crashed　his　cunning　hand　　across　the　strings；　and　his　music　and　his　voice　rose　like　a　　trumpet　through　the　still　evening　air；　into　the　air　it　rushed　　like　thunder；　till　the　rocks　rang　and　the　sea；　and　into　their　　souls　it　rushed　like　wine；　till　all　hearts　beat　fast　within　　their　breasts。

And　he　sung　the　song　of　Perseus；　how　the　Gods　led　him　over　　land　and　sea；　and　how　he　slew　the　loathly　Gorgon；　and　won　　himself　a　peerless　bride；　and　how　he　sits　now　with　the　Gods　　upon　Olympus；　a　shining　star　in　the　sky；　immortal　with　his　　immortal　bride；　and　honoured　by　all　men　below。

So　Orpheus　sang；　and　the　Sirens；　answering　each　other　across　　the　golden　sea；　till　Orpheus'　voice　drowned　the　Sirens'；　and　　the　heroes　caught　their　oars　again。

And　they　cried；　'We　will　be　men　like　Perseus；　and　we　will　　dare　and　suffer　to　the　last。　　Sing　us　his　song　again；　brave　　Orpheus；　that　we　may　forget　the　Sirens　and　their　spell。'

And　as　Orpheus　sang；　they　dashed　their　oars　into　the　sea；　and　　kept　time　to　his　music；　as　they　fled　fast　away；　and　the　　Sirens'　voices　died　behind　them；　in　the　hissing　of　the　foam　　along　their　wake。

But　Butes　swam　to　the　shore；　and　knelt　down　before　the　　Sirens；　and　cried；　'Sing　on！　sing　on！'　　But　he　could　say　no　　more；　for　a　charmed　sleep　came　over　him；　and　a　pleasant　　humming　in　his　ears；　and　he　sank　all　along　upon　the　pebbles；　　and　forgot　all　heaven　and　earth；　and　never　looked　at　that　sad　　beach　around　him；　all　strewn　with　the　bones　of　men。

Then　slowly　rose　up　those　three　fair　sisters；　with　a　cruel　　smile　upon　their　lips；　and　slowly　they　crept　down　towards　　him；　like　leopards　who　creep　upon　their　prey；　and　their　hands　　were　like　the　talons　of　eagles　as　they　stept　across　the　bones　　of　their　victims　to　enjoy　their　cruel　feast。

But　fairest　Aphrodite　saw　him　from　the　highest　Idalian　peak；　　and　she　pitied　his　youth　and　his　beauty；　and　leapt　up　from　　her　golden　throne；　and　like　a　falling　star　she　cleft　the　sky；　　and　left　a　trail　of　glittering　light；　till　she　stooped　to　the　　Isle　of　the　Sirens；　and　snatched　their　prey　from　their　claws。　　　And　she　lifted　Butes　as　he　lay　sleeping；　and　wrapt　him　in　　golden　mist；　and　she　bore　him　to　the　peak　of　Lilybaeum；　and　　he　slept　there　many　a　pleasant　year。

But　when　the　Sirens　saw　that　they　were　conquered；　they　　shrieked　for　envy　and　rage；　and　leapt　from　the　beach　into　the　　sea；　and　were　changed　into　rocks　until　this　day。

Then　they　came　to　the　straits　by　Lilybaeum；　and　saw　Sicily；　　the　three…cornered　island；　under　which　Enceladus　the　giant　　lies　groaning　day　and　night；　and　when　he　turns　the　earth　　quakes；　and　his　breath　bursts　out　in　roaring　flames　from　the　　highest　cone　of　AEtna；　above　the　chestnut　woods。　　And　there　　Charybdis　caught　them　in　its　fearful　coils　of　wave；　and　　rolled　mast…high　about　them；　and　spun　them　round　and　round；　　and　they　could　go　neither　back　nor　forward；　while　the　　whirlpool　sucked　them　in。

And　while　they　struggled　they　saw　near　them；　on　the　other　　side　the　strait；　a　rock　stand　in　the　water；　with　its　peak　　wrapt　round　in　clouds　…　a　rock　which　no　man　could　climb；　　though　he　had　twenty　hands　and　feet；　for　the　stone　was　smooth　　and　slippery；　as　if　polished　by　man's　hand；　and　halfway　up　a　　misty　cave　looked　out　toward　the　west。

And　when　Orpheus　saw　it　he　groaned；　and　struck　his　hands　　together。　　And　'Little　will　it　help　us；'　he　cried；　'to　escape　　the　jaws　of　the　whirlpool；　for　in　that　cave　lives　Scylla；　the　　sea…hag　with　a　young　whelp's　voice；　my　mother　warned　me　of　　her　ere　we　sailed　away　from　Hellas；　she　has　six　heads；　and　　six　long　necks；　and　hides　in　that　dark　cleft。　　And　from　her　　cave　she　fishes　for　all　things　which　pass　by　…　for　sharks；　　and　seals；　and　dolphins；　and　all　the　herds　of　Amphitrite。　　　And　never　ship's　crew　boasted　that　they　came　safe　by　her　　rock；　for　she　bends　her　long　necks　down　to　them；　and　every　　mouth　takes　up　a　man。　　And　who　will　help　us　now？　　For　Hera　　and　Zeus　hate　us；　and　our　ship　is　foul　with　guilt；　so　we　must　　die；　whatever　befalls。'

Then　out　of　the　depths　came　Thetis；　Peleus'　silver…footed　　bride；　for　love　of　her　gallant　husband；　and　all　her　nymphs　　around　her；　and　they　played　like　snow…white　dolphins；　diving　　on　from　wave　to　wave；　before　the　ship；　and　in　her　wake；　and　　beside　her；　as　dolphins　play。　　And　they　caught　the　ship；　and　　guided　her；　and　passed　her　on　from　hand　to　hand；　and　tossed　　her　through　the　billows；　as　maidens　toss　the　ball。　　And　when　　Scylla　stooped　to　seize　her；　they　struck　back　her　ravening　　heads；　and　foul　Scylla　whined；　as　a　whelp　whines；　at　the　　touch　of　their　gentle　hands。　　But　she　shrank　into　her　cave　　affrighted　…　for　all　bad　things　shrink　from　good　…　and　ARGO　　leapt　safe　past　her；　while　a　fair　breeze　rose　behind。　　Then　　Thetis　and　her　nymphs　sank　down　to　their　coral　caves　beneath　　the　sea；　and　their　gardens　of　green　and　purple；　where　live　　flowers　bloom　all　the　year　round；　while　the　heroes　went　on　　rejoicing；　yet　dreading　what　might　come　next。

After　that　they　rowed　on　steadily　for　many　a　weary　day；　till　　they　saw　a　long　high　island；　and　beyond　it　a　mountain　land。　　　And　they　searched　till　they　found　a　harbour；　and　there　rowed　　boldly　in。　　But　after　awhile　they　stopped；　and　wondered；　for　　there　stood　a　great　city　on　the　shore；　and　temples　and　walls　　and　gardens；　and　castles　high　in　air　upon　the　cliffs。　　And　on　　either　side　they　saw　a　harbour；　with　a　narrow　mouth；　but　wide　　within；　and　black　ships　without　number；　high　and　dry　upon　the　　shore。

Then　Ancaios；　the　wise　helmsman；　spoke；　'What　new　wonder　is　　this？　　I　know　all　isles；　and　harbours；　and　the　windings　of　　all　seas；　and　this　should　be　Corcyra；　where　a　few　wild　goat…　herds　dwell。　　But　whence　come　these　new　harbours　and　vast　　works　of　polished　stone？'

But　Jason　said；　'They　can　be　no　savage　people。　　We　will　go　in　　and　take　our　chance。'

So　they　rowed　into　the　harbour；　among　a　thousand　black…beaked　　ships；　each　larger　far　than　ARGO；　toward　a　quay　of　polished　　stone。　　And　they　wondered　at　that　mighty　city；　with　its　roofs　　of　burnished　brass；　and　long　and　lofty　walls　of　marble；　with　　strong　palisades　above。　　And　the　quays　were　full　of　people；　　merchants；　and　mariners；　and　slaves；　going　to　and　fro　with　　merchandise　among　the　crowd　of　ships。　　And　the　heroes'　hearts　　were　humbled；　and　they　looked　at　each　other　and　said；　'We　　thought　ourselves　a　gallant　crew　when　we　sailed　from　Iolcos　　by　the　sea；　but　how　small　we　look　before　this　city；　like　an　　ant　before　a　hive　of　bees。'

Then　the　sailors　hailed　them　roughly　from　the　quay；　'What　men　　are　you？　…　we　want　no　strangers　here；　nor　pirates。　　We　keep　　our　business　to　ourselves。'

But　Jason　answered　gently；　with　many　a　flattering　word；　and　　praised　their　city　and　their　harbour；　and　their　fleet　of　　gallant　ships。　　'Surely　you　are　the　children　of　Poseidon；　and　　the　masters　of　the　sea；　and　we　are　but　poor　wandering　　mariners；　worn　out　with　thirst　and　toil。　　Give　us　but　food　　and　water；　and　we　will　go　on　our　voyage　in　peace。'

Then　the　sailors　laughed；　and　answered；　'Stranger；　you　are　no　　fool；　you　talk　like　an　honest　man；　and　you　shall　find　us　　honest　too。　　We　are　the　children　of　Poseidon；　and　the　masters　　of　the　sea；　but　come　ashore　to　us；　and　you　shall　have　the　　best　that　we　can　give。'

So　they　limped　ashore；　all　stiff　and　weary；　with　long　ragged　　beards　and　sunburnt　cheeks；　and　garments　torn　and　weather…　stained；　and　weapons　rusted　with　the　spray；　while　the　sailors　　laughed　at　them　（for　they　were　rough…tongued；　though　their　　hearts　were　frank　and　kind）。　　And　one　said；　'These　fellows　　are　but　raw　sailors；　they　look　as　if　they　had　been　sea…sick　　all　the　day。'　　And　another；　'Their　legs　have　grown　crooked　　with　much　rowing；　till　they　waddle　in　their　walk　like　ducks。'

At　that　Idas　the　rash　would　have　struck　them；　but　Jason　held　　him　back；　till　one　of　the　merchant　kings　spoke　to　them；　a　　tall　and　stately　man。

'Do　not　be　angry；　strangers；　the　sailor　boys　must　have　their　　jest。　　But　we　will　treat　you　justly　and　kindly；　for　strangers　　and　poor　men　come　from　God；　and　you　seem　no　common　sailors　by　　your　strength；　and　height；　and　weapons。　　Come　up　with　me　to　　the　palace　of　Alcinous；　the　rich　sea…going　king；　and　we　will　　feast　you　well　and　heartily；　and　after　that　you　shall　tell　us　　your　name。'

But　Medeia　hung　back；　and　trembled；　and　whispered　in　Jason's　　ear；　'We　are　betrayed；　and　are　going　to　our　ruin；　for　I　see　　my　countrymen　among　the　crowd；　dark…eyed　Colchi　in　steel　　mail…shirts；　such　as　they　wear　in　my　father's　land。'

'It　is　too　late　to　turn；'　said　Jason。　　And　he　spoke　to　the　　merchant　king；　'What　country　is　this；　good　sir；　and　what　is　　this　new…built　town？'

'This　is　the　land　of　the　Phaeaces；　beloved　by　all　the　　Immortals；　for　they　come　hither　and　feast　like　friends　with　　us；　and　sit　by　our　side　in　the　hall。　　Hither　we　came　from　　Liburnia　to　escape　the　unrighteous　Cyclopes；　for　they　robbed　　us；　peaceful　merchants；　of　our　hard…earned　wares　and　wealth。　　　So　Nausithous；　the　son　of　Poseidon；　brought　us　hither；　and　　died　in　peace；　and　now　his　son　Alcinous　rules　us；　and　Arete　　the　wisest　of　queens。'

So　they　went　up　across　the　square；　and　wondered　still　more　as　　they　went；　for　along　the　quays　lay　in　order　great　cables；　and　　yards；　and　masts；　before　the　fair　temple　of　Poseidon；　the　　blue…haired　king　of　the　seas。　　And　round　the　square　worked　　the　ship…wrights；　as　many　in　number　as　ants；　twining　ropes；　　and　hewing　timber；　and　smoothing　long　yards　and　oars。　　And　　the　Minuai　went　on　in　silence　through　clean　white　marble　　streets；　till　they　came　to　the　hall　of　Alcinous；　and　they　　wondered　then　still　more。　　For　the　lofty　palace　shone　aloft　　in　the　sun；　with　walls　of　plated　brass；　from　the　threshold　to　　the　innermost　chamber；　and　the　doors　were　of　silver　and　gold。　　　And　on　each　side　of　the　doorway　sat　living　dogs　of　gold；　who　　never　grew　old　or　died；　so　well　Hephaistos　had　made　them　in　　his　forges　in　smoking　Lemnos；　and　gave　them　to　Alcinous　to　　guard　his　gates　by　night。　　And　within；　against　the　walls；　　stood　thrones　on　either　side；　down　the　whole　length　of　the　　hall；　strewn　with　rich　glossy　shawls；　and　on　them　the　　merchant　kings　of　those　crafty　sea…roving　Phaeaces　sat　eating　　and　drinking　in　pride；　and　feasting　there　all　the　year　round。　　　And　bo