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The Argonautica
sail and oar； they passed right through the Hellespont dark…gleaming with
eddies。
（ll。 936…960） There is a lofty island inside the Propontis； a short
distance from the Phrygian mainland with its rich cornfields； sloping to the
sea； where an isthmus in front of the mainland is flooded by the waves； so
low does it lie。 And the isthmus has double shores； and they lie beyond
the river Aesepus； and the inhabitants round about call the island the
Mount of Bears。 And insolent and fierce men dwell there； Earthborn； a
great marvel to the neighbours to behold； for each one has six mighty
hands to lift up； two from his sturdy shoulders； and four below； fitting
close to his terrible sides。 And about the isthmus and the plain the
Doliones had their dwelling； and over them Cyzicus son of Aeneus was
king； whom Aenete the daughter of goodly Eusorus bare。 But these men
the Earthborn monsters； fearful though they were； in nowise harried；
owing to the protection of Poseidon； for from him had the Doliones first
sprung。 Thither Argo pressed on； driven by the winds of Thrace； and the
Fair haven received her as she sped。 There they cast away their small
anchorstone by the advice of Tiphys and left it beneath a fountain； the
fountain of Artaeie； and they took another meet for their purpose； a heavy
one； but the first； according to the oracle of the Far…Darter； the Ionians；
sons of Neleus； in after days laid to be a sacred stone； as was right； in the
temple of Jasonian Athena。
（ll。 961…988） Now the Doliones and Cyzicus himself all came
together to meet them with friendliness； and when they knew of the quest
and their lineage welcomed them with hospitality； and persuaded them to
row further and to fasten their ship's hawsers at the city harbour。 Here
they built an altar to Ecbasian Apollo （6） and set it up on the beach； and
gave heed to sacrifices。 And the king of his own bounty gave them sweet
wine and sheep in their need； for he had heard a report that whenever a
godlike band of heroes should come； straightway he should meet it with
gentle words and should have no thought of war。 As with Jason； the soft
down was just blooming on his chin； nor yet had it been his lot to rejoice
in children； but still in his palace his wife was untouched by the pangs of
child…birth； the daughter of Percosian Merops； fair…haired Cleite； whom
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lately by priceless gifts he had brought from her father's home from the
mainland opposite。 But even so he left his chamber and bridal bed and
prepared a banquet among the strangers； casting all fears from his heart。
And they questioned one another in turn。 Of them would he learn the
end of their voyage and the injunctions of Pelias； while they enquired
about the cities of the people round and all the gulf of the wide Propontis；
but further he could not tell them for all their desire to learn。 In the
morning they climbed mighty Dindymum that they might themselves
behold the various paths of that sea； and they brought their ship from its
former anchorage to the harbour； Chytus； and the path they trod is named
the path of Jason。
（ll。 989…1011） But the Earthborn men on the other side rushed down
from the mountain and with crags below blocked up the mouth of vast
Chytus towards the sea； like men lying in wait for a wild beast within。
But there Heracles had been left behind with the younger heroes and he
quickly bent his back…springing bow against the monsters and brought
them to earth one after another； and they in their turn raised huge ragged
rocks and hurled them。 For these dread monsters too； I ween； the
goddess Hera； bride of Zeus； had nurtured to be a trial for Heracles。 And
therewithal came the rest of the martial heroes returning to meet the foe
before they reached the height of outlook； and they fell to the slaughter of
the Earthborn； receiving them with arrows and spears until they slew them
all as they rushed fiercely to battle。 And as when woodcutters cast in
rows upon the beach long trees just hewn down by their axes； in order that；
once sodden with brine； they may receive the strong bolts； so these
monsters at the entrance of the foam…fringed harbour lay stretched one
after another； some in heaps bending their heads and breasts into the salt
waves with their limbs spread out above on the land； others again were
resting their heads on the sand of the shore and their feet in the deep water；
both alike a prey to birds and fishes at once。
（ll。 1012…1076） But the heroes； when the contest was ended without
fear； loosed the ship's hawsers to the breath of the wind and pressed on
through the sea…swell。 And the ship sped on under sail all day； but when
night came the rushing wind did not hold steadfast； but contrary blasts
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caught them and held them back till they again approached the hospitable
Doliones。 And they stepped ashore that same night； and the rock is still
called the Sacred Rock round which they threw the ship's hawsers in their
haste。 Nor did anyone note with care that it was the same island； nor in
the night did the Doliones clearly perceive that the heroes were returning；
but they deemed that Pelasgian war…men of the Macrians had landed。
Therefore they donned their armour and raised their hands against them。
And with clashing of ashen spears and shields they fell on each other； like
the swift rush of fire which falls on dry brushwood and rears its crest； and
the din of battle； terrible and furious； fell upon the people of the Doliones。
Nor was the king to escape his fate and return home from battle to his
bridal chamber and bed。 But Aeson's son leapt upon him as he turned to
face him； and smote him in the middle of the breast； and the bone was
shatter