the golden fleece(金羊毛)-第4部分
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With Zetes and Calais there came a youth armed with a great sword
whose name was Theseus。 Theseus's father was an unknown king； he had
bidden the mother show their son where his sword was hidden。 Under a
great stone the king had hidden it before Theseus was born。 Before he had
grown out of his boyhood Theseus had been able to raise the stone and
draw forth his father's sword。 As yet he had done no great deed； but he was
resolved to win fame and to find his unknown father。
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
On the day that the messengers had set out to bring through Greece the
word of Jason's going forth in quest of the Golden Fleece the woodcutters
made their way up into the forests of Mount Pelion； they began to fell
trees for the timbers of the ship that was to make the voyage to far
Colchis。
Great timbers were cut and brought down to Pagasae； the harbor of
Iolcus。 On the night of the day he had helped to bring them down Jason
had a dream。 He dreamt that she whom he had seen in the forest ways and
afterward by the River Anaurus appeared to him。 And in his dream the
goddess bade him rise early in the morning and welcome a man whom he
would meet at the city's gate … a tall and gray…haired man who would have
on his shoulders tools for the building of a ship。
He went to the city's gate and he met such a man。 Argus was his name。
He told Jason that a dream had sent him to the city of Iolcus。 Jason
welcomed him and lodged him in the king's palace； and that day the word
went through the city that the building of the great ship would soon be
begun。 But not with the timbers brought from Mount Pelion did Argus
begin。 Walking through the palace with Jason he noted a great beam in the
roof。 That beam； he said； had been shown him in his dream； it was from an
oak tree in Dodona； the grove of Zeus。 A sacred power was in the beam；
and from it the prow of the ship should be fashioned。 Jason had them take
the beam from the roof of the palace； it was brought to where the timbers
were； and that day the building of the great ship was begun。
Then all along the waterside came the noise of hammering； in the
street where the metalworkers were came the noise of beating upon metals
as the smiths fashioned out of bronze armor for the heroes and swords and
spears。 Every day； under the eyes of Argus the master； the ship that had in
it the beam from Zeus's grove was built higher and wider。 And those who
were building the ship often felt going through it tremors as of a living
creature。
When the ship was built and made ready for the voyage a name was
given to itthe Argo it was called。 And naming themselves from the ship
the heroes called themselves the Argonauts。 All was ready for the voyage；
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
and now Jason went with his friends to view the ship before she was
brought into the water。
Argus the master was on the ship； seeing to it that the last things were
being done before Argo was launched。 Very grave and wise looked Argus
Argus the builder of the ship。 And wonderful to the heroes the ship looked
now that Argus； for their viewing； had set up the mast with the sails and
had even put the oars in their places。 Wonderful to the heroes Argo looked
with her long oars and her high sails； with her timbers painted red and
gold and blue； and with a marvelous figure carved upon her prow。 All over
the ship Jason's eyes went。 He saw a figure standing by the mast； for a
moment he looked on it； and then the figure became shadowy。 But Jason
knew that he had looked upon the goddess whom he had seen in the ways
of the forest and had seen afterward by the rough Anaurus。
Then mast and sails were taken down and the oars were left in the ship；
and the Argo was launched into the water。 The heroes went back to the
palace of King Pelias to feast with the king's guests before they took their
places on the ship； setting out on the voyage to far Colchis。
When they came into the palace they saw that another hero had arrived。
His shield was hung in the hall； the heroes all gathered around； amazed at
the size and the beauty of it。 The shield shone all over with gold。 In its
center was the figure of Fearof Fear that stared backward with eyes
burning as with fire。 The mouth was open and the teeth were shown。 And
other figures were wrought around the figure of FearStrife and Pursuit
and Flight； Tumult and Panic and Slaughter。 The figure of Fate was there
dragging a dead man by the feet； on her shoulders Fate had a garment that
was red with the blood of men。
Around these figures were heads of snakes； heads with black jaws and
glittering eyes； twelve heads such as might affright any man。 And on other
parts of the shield were shown the horses of Ares； the grim god of war。
The figure of Ares himself was shown also。 He held a spear in his hand；
and he was urging the warriors on。
Around the inner rim of the shield the sea was shown； wrought in
white metal。 Dolphins swam in the sea； fishing for little fishes that were
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shown there in bronze。 Around the rim chariots were racing along with
wheels running close together； there were men fighting and women
watching from high towers。 The awful figure of the Darkness of Death
was shown there； too； with mournful eyes and the dust of battles upon her
shoulders。 The outer rim of the shield showed the Stream of Ocean； the
stream that encircles the world； swans were soaring above and swimming
on its surface。
All in wonder the heroes gazed on the great shield； telling each other
that only one man in all the world could carry itHeracles the son of Zeus。
Could it be that Heracles had come amongst them？ They went into the
feasting hall and they saw one there who was tall as a pine tree； with
unshorn tresses of hair upon his head。 Heracles indeed it was！ He turned to
them a smiling face with smiling eyes。 Heracles！ They all gathered around
the strongest hero in the world； and he took the hand of each in his mighty
hand。
V。 THE ARGO
The heroes went the next day through the streets of Iolcus down to
where the ship lay。 The ways they went through were crowded； the heroes
were splendid in their appearance； and Jason amongst them shone like a
star。
The people praised him； and one told the other that it would not be
long until they would win back to Iolcus； for this band of heroes was
strong enough； they said； to take King Aetes's city and force him to give
up to them the famous Fleece of Gold。 Many of the bright…eyed youths of
Iolcus went with the heroes who had come from the different parts of
Greece。
As they marched past a temple a priestess came forth to speak to Jason；
Iphias was her name。 She had a prophecy to utter about the voyage。 But
Iphias was very old； and she stammered in her speech to Jason。 What she
said was not heard by him。 The heroes went on； and ancient Iphias was left
standing there as the old are left by the young。
The heroes went aboard the Argo。 They took their seats as at an
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assembly。 Then Jason faced them and spoke to them all。
〃Heroes of the quest；〃 said Jason； 〃we have come aboard the great ship
that Argus has built； and all that a ship needs is in its place or is ready to
our hands。 All that we wait for now is the coming of the morning's breeze
that will set us on our way for far Colchis。
〃One thing we have first to dothat is； to choose a leader who will
direct us all； one who will settle disputes amongst ourselves and who will
make treaties between us and the strangers that we come amongst。 We
must choose such a leader now。〃
Jason spoke； and some looked to him and some looked to Heracles。
But Heracles stood up； and； stretching out his hand； said：
〃Argonauts！ Let no one amongst you offer the leadership to me。 I will
not take it。 The hero who brought us together and made all things ready
for our goingit is he and no one else who should be our leader in this
voyage。〃
So Heracles said； and the Argonauts all stood up and raised a cry for
Jason。 Then Jason stepped forward； and he took the hand of each Argonaut
in his hand； and he swore that he would lead them with all the mind and
all the courage that he possessed。 And he prayed the gods that it would be
given to him to lead them back safely with the Golden Fleece glittering on
the mast of the Argo。
They drew lots for the benches they would sit at； they took the places
that for the length of the voyage they would have on the ship。 They made
sacrifice to the gods and they waited for the
