The Argonautica | Page 8

in the palace of his brave sire, nor Argus, helper of the
goddess Athena; but they too were ready to be numbered in the host.
(ll. 228-233) So many then were the helpers who assembled to join the
son of Aeson. All the chiefs the dwellers thereabout called Minyae, for
the most and the bravest avowed that they were sprung from the blood
of the daughters of Minyas; thus Jason himself was the son of
Alcimede who was born of Clymene the daughter of Minyas.
(ll. 234-241) Now when all things had been made ready by the thralls,
all things that fully-equipped ships are furnished withal when men's
business leads them to voyage across the sea, then the heroes took their
way through the city to the ship where it lay on the strand that men call
Magnesian Pagasae; and a crowd of people hastening rushed together;
but the heroes shone like gleaming stars among the clouds; and each
man as he saw them speeding along with their armour would say:
(ll. 242-246) "King Zeus, what is the purpose of Pelias? Whither is he
driving forth from the Panachaean land so great a host of heroes? On
one day they would waste the palace of Aeetes with baleful fire, should
he not yield them the fleece of his own goodwill. But the path is not to
be shunned, the toil is hard for those who venture."
(ll. 247-250) Thus they spake here and there throughout the city; but
the women often raised their hands to the sky in prayer to the
immortals to grant a return, their hearts' desire. And one with tears thus
lamented to her fellow:

(ll. 251-260) "Wretched Alcimede, evil has come to thee at last though
late, thou hast not ended with splendour of life. Aeson too, ill-fated
man! Surely better had it been for him, if he were lying beneath the
earth, enveloped in his shroud, still unconscious of bitter toils. Would
that the dark wave, when the maiden Helle perished, had overwhelmed
Phrixus too with the ram; but the dire portent even sent forth a human
voice, that it might cause to Alcimede sorrows and countless pains
hereafter."
(ll. 261-277) Thus the women spake at the departure of the heroes. And
now many thralls, men and women, were gathered together, and his
mother, smitten with grief for Jason. And a bitter pang seized every
woman's heart; and with them groaned the father in baleful old age,
lying on his bed, closely wrapped round. But the hero straightway
soothed their pain, encouraging them, and bade the thralls take up his
weapons for war; and they in silence with downcast looks took them up.
And even as the mother had thrown her arms about her son, so she
clung, weeping without stint, as a maiden all alone weeps, falling
fondly on the neck of her hoary nurse, a maid who has now no others to
care for her, but she drags on a weary life under a stepmother, who
maltreats her continually with ever fresh insults, and as she weeps, her
heart within her is bound fast with misery, nor can she sob forth all the
groans that struggle for utterance; so without stint wept Alcimede
straining her son in her arms, and in her yearning grief spake as
follows:
(ll. 278-291) "Would that on that day when, wretched woman that I am,
I heard King Pelias proclaim his evil behest, I had straightway given up
my life and forgotten my cares, so that thou thyself, my son, with thine
own hands, mightest have buried me; for that was the only wish left me
still to be fulfilled by time, all the other rewards for thy nurture have I
long enjoyed. Now I, once so admired among Achaean women, shall be
left behind like a bondwoman in my empty halls, pining away, ill-fated
one, for love of thee, thee on whose account I had aforetime so much
splendour and renown, my only son for whom I loosed my virgin zone
first and last. For to me beyond others the goddess Eileithyia grudged
abundant offspring. Alas for my folly! Not once, not even in nay

dreams did I forebode this, that the flight of Phrixus would bring me
woe."
(ll. 292-294) Thus with moaning she wept, and her handmaidens,
standing by, lamented; but Jason spake gently to her with comforting
words:
(ll. 295-305) "Do not, I pray thee, mother, store up bitter sorrows
overmuch, for thou wilt not redeem me from evil by tears, but wilt still
add grief to grief. For unseen are the woes that the gods mete out to
mortals; be strong to endure thy share of them though with grief in thy
heart; take courage from the promises of Athena, and from the answers
of