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ARGONAUTICA BOOK 1 [105]

(1.105-114) Tiphys, son of Hagnias, left the Siphaean people of the Thespians, well skilled to foretell the rising wave on the broad sea, and well skilled to infer from sun and star the stormy winds and the time for sailing. Tritonian Athena herself urged him to join the band of chiefs, and he came among them a welcome comrade. She herself too fashioned the swift ship; and with her Argus, son of Arestor, wrought it by her counsels. Wherefore it proved the most excellent of all ships that have made trial of the sea with oars.

105   Τῖφυς δ' Ἁγνιάδης Σιφαέα κάλλιπε δῆμον
106 Θεσπιέων, ἐσθλὸς μὲν ὀρινόμενον προδαῆναι
107 κῦμ' ἁλὸς εὐρείης, ἐσθλὸς δ' ἀνέμοιο θυέλλας
108 καὶ πλόον ἠελίῳ τε καὶ ἀστέρι τεκμήρασθαι.
109 αὐτή μιν Τριτωνὶς ἀριστήων ἐς ὅμιλον
110 ὦρσεν Ἀθηναίη, μετὰ δ' ἤλυθεν ἐλδομένοισιν.
111 αὐτὴ γὰρ καὶ νῆα θοὴν κάμε: σὺν δέ οἱ Ἄργος
112 τεῦξεν Ἀρεστορίδης κείνης ὑποθημοσύνῃσιν.
113 τῶ καὶ πασάων προφερεστάτη ἔπλετο νηῶν,
114 ὅσσαι ὑπ' εἰρεσίῃσιν ἐπειρήσαντο θαλάσσης.

(1.115-117) After them came Phlias from Araethyrea, where he dwelt in affluence by the favour of his father Dionysus, in his home by the springs of Asopus.

115     Φλίας δ' αὖτ' ἐπὶ τοῖσιν Ἀραιθυρέηθεν ἵκανεν,
116 ἔνθ' ἀφνειὸς ἔναιε Διωνύσοιο ἕκητι,
117 πατρὸς ἑοῦ, πηγῇσιν ἐφέστιος Ἀσωποῖο.

(1.118-121) From Argos came Talaus and Areius, sons of Bias, and mighty Leodocus, all of whom Pero daughter of Neleus bare; on her account the Aeolid Melampus endured sore affliction in the steading of Iphiclus.

118     Ἀργόθεν αὖ Ταλαὸς καὶ Ἀρήιος, υἷε Βίαντος,
119 ἤλυθον ἴφθιμός τε Λεώδοκος, οὓς τέκε Πηρὼ
120 Νηληίς: τῆς δ' ἀμφὶ δύην ἐμόγησε βαρεῖαν
121 Αἰολίδης σταθμοῖσιν ἐν Ἰφίκλοιο Μελάμπους.

(1.122-132) Nor do we learn that Heracles of the mighty heart disregarded the eager summons of Aeson's son. But when he heard a report of the heroes' gathering and had reached Lyrceian Argos from Arcadia by the road along which he carried the boar alive that fed in the thickets of Lampeia, near the vast Erymanthian swamp, the boar bound with chains he put down from his huge shoulders at the entrance to the market-place of Mycenae; and himself of his own will set out against the purpose of Eurystheus; and with him went Hylas, a brave comrade, in the flower of youth, to bear his arrows and to guard his bow.

122     Οὐδὲ μὲν οὐδὲ βίην κρατερόφρονος Ἡρακλῆος
123 πευθόμεθ' Αἰσονίδαο λιλαιομένου ἀθερίξαι.
124 ἀλλ' ἐπεὶ ἄιε βάξιν ἀγειρομένων ἡρώων,
125 νεῖον ἀπ' Ἀρκαδίης Λυρκήιον Ἄργος ἀμείψας
126 τὴν ὁδόν, ᾗ ζωὸν φέρε κάπριον, ὅς ῥ' ἐνὶ βήσσῃς
127 φέρβετο Λαμπείης, Ἐρυμάνθιον ἂμ μέγα τῖφος,
128 τὸν μὲν ἐνὶ πρώτῃσι Μυκηναίων ἀγορῇσιν
129 δεσμοῖς ἰλλόμενον μεγάλων ἀπεθήκατο νώτων:
130 αὐτὸς δ' ᾗ ἰότητι παρὲκ νόον Εὐρυσθῆος
131 ὡρμήθη: σὺν καί οἱ Ὕλας κίεν, ἐσθλὸς ὀπάων,
132 πρωθήβης, ἰῶν τε φορεὺς φύλακός τε βιοῖο.

(1.133-138) Next to him came a scion of the race of divine Danaus, Nauplius. He was the son of Clytonaeus son of Naubolus; Naubolus was son of Lernus; Lernus we know was the son of Proetus son of Nauplius; and once Amymone daughter of Danaus, wedded to Poseidon, bare Nauplius, who surpassed all men in naval skill.

133     Τῷ δ' ἐπὶ δὴ θείοιο κίεν Δαναοῖο γενέθλη,
134 Ναύπλιος. ἦ γὰρ ἔην Κλυτονήου Ναυβολίδαο:
135 Ναύβολος αὖ Λέρνου: Λέρνον γε μὲν ἴδμεν ἐόντα
136 Προίτου Ναυπλιάδαο: Ποσειδάωνι δὲ κούρη.
137 πρίν ποτ' Ἀμυμώνη Δαναῒς τέκεν εὐνηθεῖσα
138 Ναύπλιον, ὃς περὶ πάντας ἐκαίνυτο ναυτιλίῃσιν.

(1.139-145) Idmon came last of all them that dwelt at Argos, for though he had learnt his own fate by augury, he came, that the people might not grudge him fair renown. He was not in truth the son of Abas, but Leto's son himself begat him to be numbered among the illustrious Aeolids; and himself taught him the art of prophecy -- to pay heed to birds and to observe the signs of the burning sacrifice.

139     Ἴδμων δ' ὑστάτιος μετεκίαθεν, ὅσσοι ἔναιον
140 Ἄργος, ἐπεὶ δεδαὼς τὸν ἑὸν μόρον οἰωνοῖσιν
141 ἤιε, μή οἱ δῆμος ἐυκλείης ἀγάσαιτο.
142 οὐ μὲν ὅγ' ἦεν Ἄβαντος ἐτήτυμον, ἀλλά μιν αὐτὸς
143 γείνατο κυδαλίμοις ἐναρίθμιον Αἰολίδῃσιν
144 Λητοΐδης: αὐτὸς δὲ θεοπροπίας ἐδίδαξεν
145 οἰωνούς τ' ἀλέγειν ἠδ' ἔμπυρα σήματ' ἰδέσθαι.

(1.146-150) Moreover Aetolian Leda sent from Sparta strong Polydeuces and Castor, skilled to guide swift-footed steeds; these her dearly-loved sons she bare at one birth in the house of Tyndareus; nor did she forbid their departure; for she had thoughts worthy of the bride of Zeus.

146     Καὶ μὴν Αἰτωλὶς κρατερὸν Πολυδεύκεα Λήδη
147 Κάστορά τ' ὠκυπόδων ὦρσεν δεδαημένον ἵππων
148 Σπάρτηθεν: τοὺς δ' ἥγε δόμοις ἔνι Τυνδαρέοιο
149 τηλυγέτους ὠδῖνι μιῇ τέκεν: οὐδ' ἀπίθησεν
150 νισσομένοις: Ζηνὸς γὰρ ἐπάξια μήδετο λέκτρων.

(1.151-155) The sons of Aphareus, Lynceus and proud Idas, came from Arene, both exulting in their great strength; and Lynceus too excelled in keenest sight, if the report is true that that hero could easily direct his sight even beneath the earth.

151     Οἵ τ' Ἀφαρητιάδαι Λυγκεὺς καὶ ὑπέρβιος Ἴδας
152 Ἀρήνηθεν ἔβαν, μεγάλῃ περιθαρσέες ἀλκῇ
153 ἀμφότεροι: Λυγκεὺς δὲ καὶ ὀξυτάτοις ἐκέκαστο
154 ὄμμασιν, εἰ ἐτεόν γε πέλει κλέος, ἀνέρα κεῖνον
155 ῥηιδίως καὶ νέρθε κατὰ χθονὸς αὐγάζεσθαι.

(1.156-160) And with them Neleian Periclymenus set out to come, eldest of all the sons of godlike Neleus who were born at Pylos; Poseidon had given him boundless strength and granted him that whatever shape he should crave during the fight, that he should take in the stress of battle.

156    Σὺν δὲ Περικλύμενος Νηλήιος ὦρτο νέεσθαι,
157 πρεσβύτατος παίδων, ὅσσοι Πύλῳ ἐξεγένοντο
158 Νηλῆος θείοιο: Ποσειδάων δέ οἱ ἀλκὴν
159 δῶκεν ἀπειρεσίην ἠδ' ὅττι κεν ἀρήσαιτο
160 μαρνάμενος, τὸ πέλεσθαι ἐνὶ ξυνοχῇ πολέμοιο.

(1.161-171) Moreover from Arcadia came Amphidamas and Cepheus, who inhabited Tegea and the allotment of Apheidas, two sons of Aldus; and Ancaeus followed them as the third, whom his father Lycurgus sent, the brother older than both. But he was left in the city to care for Aleus now growing old, while he gave his son to join his brothers. Antaeus went clad in the skin of a Maenalian bear, and wielding in his right hand a huge two-edged battleaxe. For his armour his grandsire had hidden in the house's innermost recess, to see if he might by some means still stay his departure.

161     Καὶ μὴν Ἀμφιδάμας Κηφεύς τ' ἴσαν Ἀρκαδίηθεν,
162 οἳ Τεγέην καὶ κλῆρον Ἀφειδάντειον ἔναιον,
163 υἷε δύω Ἀλεοῦ: τρίτατός γε μὲν ἕσπετ' ἰοῦσιν
164 Ἀγκαῖος, τὸν μέν ῥα πατὴρ Λυκόοργος ἔπεμπεν,
165 τῶν ἄμφω γνωτὸς προγενέστερος. ἀλλ' ὁ μὲν ἤδη
166 γηράσκοντ' Ἀλεὸν λίπετ' ἂμ πόλιν ὄφρα κομίζοι,
167 παῖδα δ' ἑὸν σφετέροισι κασιγνήτοισιν ὄπασσεν.
168 βῆ δ' ὅγε Μαιναλίης ἄρκτου δέρος, ἀμφίτομόν τε
169 δεξιτερῇ πάλλων πέλεκυν μέγαν. ἔντεα γάρ οἱ
170 πατροπάτωρ Ἀλεὸς μυχάτῃ ἐνέκρυψε καλιῇ,
171 αἴ κέν πως ἔτι καὶ τὸν ἐρητύσειε νέεσθαι.

(1.172-175) There came also Augeias, whom fame declared to be the son of Helios; he reigned over the Eleans, glorying in his wealth; and greatly he desired to behold the Colchian land and Aeetes himself the ruler of the Colchians.

172     Βῆ δὲ καὶ Αὐγείης, ὃν δὴ φάτις Ἠελίοιο
173 ἔμμεναι: Ἠλείοισι δ' ὅγ' ἀνδράσιν ἐμβασίλευεν,
174 ὄλβῳ κυδιόων: μέγα δ' ἵετο Κολχίδα γαῖαν
175 αὐτόν̣̣τ' Αἰήτην ἰδέειν σημάντορα Κόλχων.

(1.176-178) Asterius and Amphion, sons of Hyperasius, came from Achaean Pellene, which once Pelles their grandsire founded on the brows of Aegialus.

176     Ἀστέριος δὲ καὶ Ἀμφίων Ὑπερασίου υἷες
177 Πελλήνης ἀφίκανον Ἀχαιίδος, ἥν ποτε Πέλλης
178 πατροπάτωρ ἐπόλισσεν ἐπ' ὀφρύσιν Αἰγιαλοῖο.

(1.179-184) After them from Taenarus came Euphemus whom, most swift-footed of men, Europe, daughter of mighty Tityos, bare to Poseidon. He was wont to skim the swell of the grey sea, and wetted not his swift feet, but just dipping the tips of his toes was borne on the watery path.

179     Ταίναρον αὖτ' ἐπὶ τοῖσι λιπὼν Εὔφημος ἵκανεν,
180 τόν ῥα Ποσειδάωνι ποδωκηέστατον ἄλλων
181 Εὐρώπη Υιτυοῖο μεγασθενέος τέκε κούρη.
182 κεῖνος ἀνὴρ καὶ πόντου ἐπὶ γλαυκοῖο θέεσκεν
183 οἴδματος, οὐδὲ θοοὺς βάπτεν πόδας, ἀλλ' ὅσον ἄκροις
184 ἴχνεσι τεγγόμενος διερῇ πεφόρητο κελεύθῳ.

(1.185-189) Yea, and two other sons of Poseidon came; one Erginus, who left the citadel of glorious Miletus, the other proud Ancaeus, who left Parthenia, the seat of Imbrasion Hera; both boasted their skill in seacraft and in war.

185     Καὶ δ' ἄλλω δύο παῖδε Ποσειδάωνος ἵκοντο:
186 ἤτοι ὁ μὲν πτολίεθρον ἀγαυοῦ Μιλήτοιο
187 νοσφισθεὶς Ἐργῖνος, ὁ δ' Ἰμβρασίης ἕδος Ἥρης,
188 Παρθενίην, Ἀγκαῖος ὑπέρβιος: ἴστορε δ' ἄμφω
189 ἠμὲν ναυτιλίης ἠδ' ἄρεος εὐχετόωντο.

(1.190-201) After them from Calydon came the son of Oeneus, strong Meleagrus, and Laocoon -- Laocoon the brother of Oeneus, though not by the same mother, for a serving-woman bare him; him, now growing old, Oeneus sent to guard his son: thus Meleagrus, still a youth, entered the bold band of heroes. No other had come superior to him, I ween, except Heracles, if for one year more he had tarried and been nurtured among the Aetolians. Yea, and his uncle, well skilled to fight whether with the javelin or hand to hand, Iphiclus son of Thestius, bare him company on his way.

190     Οἰνεΐδης δ' ἐπὶ τοῖσιν ἀφορμηθεὶς Καλυδῶνος
191 ἀλκήεις Μελέαγρος ἀνήλυθε, Λαοκόων τε,
192 Λαοκόων Οἰνῆος ἀδελφεός, οὐ μὲν ἰῆς γε
193 μητέρος: ἀλλά ἑ θῆσσα γυνὴ τέκε: τὸν μὲν ἄρ' Οἰνεὺς
194 ἤδη γηραλέον κοσμήτορα παιδὸς ἴαλλεν:
195 ὧδ' ἔτι κουρίζων περιθαρσέα δῦνεν ὅμιλον
196 ἡρώων. τοῦ δ' οὔτιν' ὑπέρτερον ἄλλον ὀίω,
197 νόσφιν γ' Ἡρακλῆος, ἐπελθέμεν, εἴ κ' ἔτι μοῦνον
198 αὖθι μένων λυκάβαντα μετετράφη Αἰτωλοῖσιν.
199 καὶ μήν οἱ μήτρως αὐτὴν ὁδόν, εὖ μὲν ἄκοντι,
200 εὖ δὲ καὶ ἐν σταδίῃ δεδαημένος ἀντιφέρεσθαι,
201 Θεστιάδης Ἴφικλος ἐφωμάρτησε κιόντι.


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