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before you； and at the end of broad Aegialus； at a jutting point of coast； the
waters of the river Halys pour forth with a terrible roar； and after it his
flowing near； but smaller in stream； rolls into the sea with white eddies。
Onward from thence the bend of a huge and towering cape reaches out
from the land； next Thermodon at its mouth flows into a quiet bay at the
Themiscyreian headland； after wandering through a broad continent。
And here is the plain of Doeas； and near are the three cities of the
Amazons； and after them the Chalybes； most wretched of men； possess a
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soil rugged and unyielding sons of toil； they busy themselves with
working iron。 And near them dwell the Tibareni； rich in sheep； beyond the
Genetaean headland of Zeus； lord of hospitality。 And bordering on it the
Mossynoeci next in order inhabit the well…wooded mainland and the parts
beneath the mountains； who have built in towers made from trees their
wooden homes and well…fitted chambers； which they call Mossynes； and
the people themselves take their name from them。 After passing them ye
must beach your ship upon a smooth island； when ye have driven away
with all manner of skill the ravening birds； which in countless numbers
haunt the desert island。 In it the Queens of the Amazons； Otrere and
Antiope； built a stone temple of Ares what time they went forth to war。
Now here an unspeakable help will come to you from the bitter sea；
wherefore with kindly intent I bid you stay。 But what need is there that I
should sin yet again declaring everything to the end by my prophetic art？
And beyond the island and opposite mainland dwell the Philyres： and
above the Philyres are the Macrones； and after them the vast tribes of the
Becheiri。 And next in order to them dwell the Sapeires； and the Byzeres
have the lands adjoining to them； and beyond them at last live the warlike
Colchians themselves。 But speed on in your ship； till ye touch the inmost
bourne of the sea。 And here at the Cytaean mainland and from the
Amarantine mountains far away and the Circaean plain； eddying Phasis
rolls his broad stream to the sea。 Guide your ship to the mouth of that
river and ye shall behold the towers of Cytaean Aeetes and the shady
grove of Ares； where a dragon； a monster terrible to behold； ever glares
around； keeping watch over the fleece that is spread upon the top of an oak；
neither by day nor by night does sweet sleep subdue his restless eyes。〃
（ll。 408…410） Thus he spake； and straightway fear seized them as they
heard。 And for a long while they were struck with silence； till at last the
hero； son of Aeson； spake； sore dismayed at their evil plight：
（ll。 411…418） 〃O aged sire； now hast thou come to the end of the toils
of our sea…journeying and hast told us the token； trusting to which we shall
make our way to Pontus through the hateful rocks； but whether； when we
have escaped them； we shall have a return back again to Hellas； this too
would we gladly learn from thee。 What shall I do； how shall I go over
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again such a long path through the sea； unskilled as I am； with unskilled
comrades？ And Colchian Aea lies at the edge of Pontus and of the world。〃
（ll。 419…425） Thus he spake； and him the aged sire addressed in reply：
〃O son； when once thou hast escaped through the deadly rocks； fear not；
for a deity will be the guide from Aea by another track； and to Aea there
will be guides enough。 But； my friends； take thought of the artful aid of
the Cyprian goddess。 For on her depends the glorious issue of your
venture。 And further than this ask me not。〃
（ll。 426…437） Thus spake Agenor's son； and close at hand the twin
sons of Thracian Boreas came darting from the sky and set their swift feet
upon the threshold； and the heroes rose up from their seats when they saw
them present。 And Zetes； still drawing hard breath after his toil； spake
among the eager listeners； telling them how far they had driven the
Harpies and how his prevented their slaying them； and how the goddess of
her grace gave them pledges； and how those others in fear plunged into the
vast cave of the Dictaean cliff。 Then in the mansion all their comrades
were joyful at the tidings and so was Phineus himself。 And quickly
Aeson's son； with good will exceeding； addressed him：
（ll。 438…442） Assuredly there was then； Phineus； some god who
cared for thy bitter woe； and brought us hither from afar； that the sons of
Boreas might aid thee； and if too he should bring sight to thine eyes； verily
I should rejoice； methinks； as much as if I were on my homeward way。〃
（ll。 443…447） Thus he spake； but Phineus replied to him with
downcast look： 〃Son of Aeson； that is past recall； nor is there any remedy
hereafter； for blasted are my sightless eyes。 But instead of that； may the
god grant me death at once； and after death I shall take my share in perfect
bliss。〃
（ll。 448…467） Then they two returned answering speech； each to other；
and soon in the midst of their converse early dawn appeared； and round
Phineus were gathered the neighbours who used to come thither aforetime
day by day and constantly bring a portion of their food。 To all alike；
however poor he was that came； the aged man gave his oracles with good
will； and freed many from their woes by his prophetic art； wherefore they
visited and tended him。 And with them came Paraebius； who was dearest
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to him； and gladly did he perceive these strangers in the house。 For long
ere now the seer himself had said that a band of chieftains； faring from
Hellas to the city of Aceres； would make fast their hawsers to the Thynian
land； and by Zeus' will would check tho approach of the Harpies。 The
rest the old man pleased with words of wisdom and let them go； Paraebius
only he bade remain there with the chiefs； and straightway he sent him and