The Argonautica | Page 9

the gods (for very favourable oracles has Phoebus given), and then
from the help of the chieftains. But do thou remain here, quiet among
thy handmaids, and be not a bird of ill omen to the ship; and thither my
clansmen and thralls will follow me."
(ll. 306-316) He spake, and started forth to leave the house. And as
Apollo goes forth from some fragrant shrine to divine Delos or Claros
or Pytho or to broad Lyeia near the stream of Xanthus, in such beauty
moved Jason through the throng of people; and a cry arose as they
shouted together. And there met him aged Iphias, priestess of Artemis
guardian of the city, and kissed his right hand, but she had not strength
to say a word, for all her eagerness, as the crowd rushed on, but she
was left there by the wayside, as the old are left by the young, and he
passed on and was gone afar.
(ll. 317-331) Now when he had left the well-built streets of the city, he
came to the beach of Pagasae, where his comrades greeted him as they
stayed together near the ship Argo. And he stood at the entering in, and
they were gathered to meet him. And they perceived Aeastus and Argus
coming from the city, and they marvelled when they saw them hasting
with all speed, despite the will of Pelias. The one, Argus, son of
Arestor, had cast round his shoulders the hide of a bull reaching to his
feet, with the black hair upon it, the other, a fair mantle of double fold,
which his sister Pelopeia had given him. Still Jason forebore from
asking them about each point but bade all be seated for an assembly.
And there, upon the folded sails and the mast as it lay on the ground,

they all took their seats in order. And among them with goodwill spake
Aeson's son:
(ll. 332-340) "All the equipment that a ship needs for all is in due
order--lies ready for our departure. Therefore we will make no long
delay in our sailing for these things' sake, when the breezes but blow
fair. But, friends,--for common to all is our return to Hellas hereafter,
and common to all is our path to the land of Aeetes--now therefore with
ungrudging heart choose the bravest to be our leader, who shall be
careful for everything, to take upon him our quarrels and covenants
with strangers."
(ll. 341-344) Thus he spake; and the young heroes turned their eyes
towards bold Heracles sitting in their midst, and with one shout they all
enjoined upon him to be their leader; but he, from the place where he
sat, stretched forth his right hand and said:
(ll. 345-347) "Let no one offer this honour to me. For I will not consent,
and I will forbid any other to stand up. Let the hero who brought us
together, himself be the leader of the host."
(ll. 348-350) Thus he spake with high thoughts, and they assented, as
Heracles bade; and warlike Jason himself rose up, glad at heart, and
thus addressed the eager throng:
(ll. 351-362) "If ye entrust your glory to my care, no longer as before
let our path be hindered. Now at last let us propitiate Phoebus with
sacrifice and straightway prepare a feast. And until my thralls come, the
overseers of my steading, whose care it is to choose out oxen from the
herd and drive them hither, we will drag down the ship to the sea, and
do ye place all the tackling within, and draw lots for the benches for
rowing. Meantime let us build upon the beach an altar to Apollo
Embasius (1) who by an oracle promised to point out and show me the
paths of the sea, if by sacrifice to him I should begin my venture for
King Pelias."
(ll. 363-393) He spake, and was the first to turn to the work, and they
stood up in obedience to him; and they heaped their garments, one

upon the other, on a smooth stone, which the sea did not strike with its
waves, but the stormy surge had cleansed it long before. First of all, by
the command of Argus, they strongly girded the ship with a rope well
twisted within, (2) stretching it tight on each side, in order that the
planks might be well compacted by the bolts and might withstand the
opposing force of the surge. And they quickly dug a trench as wide as
the space the ship covered, and at the prow as far into the sea as it
would run when drawn down by their hands. And they ever dug deeper
in front of the stem, and in the furrow laid polished rollers; and inclined
the ship