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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
bade him bring back the choicest of his sheep。 And when he had left the
hall Phineus spake gently amid the throng of oarsmen：
（ll。 468…489） 〃O my friends； not all men are arrogant； it seems； nor
unmindful of benefits。 Even as this man； loyal as he is； came hither to
learn his fate。 For when he laboured the most and toiled the most； then
the needs of life； ever growing more and more； would waste him； and day
after day ever dawned more wretched； nor was there any respite to his toil。
But he was paying the sad penalty of his father's sin。 For he when alone
on the mountains； felling trees； once slighted the prayers of a Hamadryad；
who wept and sought to soften him with plaintive words； not to cut down
the stump of an oak tree coeval with herself； wherein for a long time she
had lived continually； but he in the arrogance of youth recklessly cut it
down。 So to him the nymph thereafter made her death a curse； to him
and to his children。 I indeed knew of the sin when he came； and I bid
him build an altar to the Thynian nymph； and offer on it an atoning
sacrifice； with prayer to escape his father's fate。 Here； ever since he
escaped the god…sent doom； never has he forgotten or neglected me； but
sorely and against his will do I send him from my doors； so eager is he to
remain with me in my affliction。〃
（ll。 490…499） Thus spake Agenor's son； and his friend straightway
came near leading two sheep from the flock。 And up rose Jason and up
rose the sons of Boreas at the bidding of the aged sire 。 And quickly they
called upon Apollo； lord of prophecy； and offered sacrifice upon the health
as the day was just sinking。 And the younger comrades made ready a
feast to their hearts' desire。 Thereupon having well feasted they turned
themselves to rest； some near the ship's hawsers； others in groups
throughout the mansion。 And at dawn the Etesian winds blew strongly；
which by the command of Zeus blow over every land equally。
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（ll。 500…527） Cyrene； the tale goes； once tended sheep along the
marsh…meadow of Peneus among men of old time； for dear to her were
maidenhood and a couch unstained。 But； as she guarded her flock by the
river； Apollo carried her off far from Haemonia and placed her among the
nymphs of the land； who dwelt in Libya near the Myrtosian height。 And
here to Phoebus she bore Aristaeus whom the Haemonians； rich in corn…
land； call 〃Hunter〃 and 〃Shepherd〃。 Her； of his love； the god made a
nymph there； of long life and a huntress； and his son he brought while still
an infant to be nurtured in the cave of Cheiron。 And to him when he
grew to manhood the Muses gave a bride； and taught him the arts of
healing and of prophecy； and they made him the keeper of their sheep； of
all that grazed on the Athamantian plain of Phthia and round steep Othrys
and the sacred stream of the river Apidanus。 But when from heaven Sirius
scorched the Minoan Isles； and for long there was no respite for the
inhabitants； then by the injunction of the Far…Darter they summoned
Aristaeus to ward off the pestilence。 And by his father's command he left
Phthia and made his home in Ceos； and gathered together the Parrhasian
people who are of the lineage of Lycaon； and he built a great altar to Zeus
Icmaeus； and duly offered sacrifices upon the mountains to that star Sirius；
and to Zeus son of Cronos himself。 And on this account it is that Etesian
winds from Zeus cool the land for forty days； and in Ceos even now the
priests offer sacrifices before the rising of the Dog…star。
（ll。 528…536） So the tale is told； but the chieftains stayed there by
constraint； and every day the Thynians； doing pleasure to Phineus； sent
them gifts beyond measure。 And afterwards they raised an altar to the
blessed twelve on the sea…beach opposite and laid offerings thereon and
then entered their swift ship to row； nor did they forget to bear with them a
trembling dove； but Euphemus seized her and brought her all quivering
with fear； and they loosed the twin hawsers from the land。
（ll。 537…548） Nor did they start unmarked by Athena； but straightway
swiftly she set her feel on a light cloud； which would waft her on； mighty
though she was； and she swept on to the sea with friendly thoughts to the
oarsmen。 And as when one roveth far from his native land； as we men
often wander with enduring heart； nor is any land too distant but all ways
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are clear to his view； and he sees in mind his own home； and at once the
way over sea and land seems slain； and swiftly thinking； now this way；
now that； he strains with eager eyes； so swiftly the daughter of Zeus darted
down and set her foot on the cheerless shore of Thynia。
（ll。 549…567） Now when they reached the narrow strait of the
winding passage； hemmed in on both sides by rugged cliffs； while an
eddying current from below was washing against the ship as she moved on；
they went forward sorely in dread； and now the thud of the crashing rocks
ceaselessly struck their ears； and the sea…washed shores resounded； and
then Euphemus grasped the dove in his hand and started to mount the
prow； and they； at the bidding of Tiphys； son of Hagnias； rowed with good
will to drive Argo between the rocks； trusting to their strength。 And as
they rounded a bend they saw the rocks opening for the last time of all。
Their spirit melted within them； and Euphemus sent forth the dove to dart
forward in flight； and they all together raised their heads to look； but she
flew between them； and the rocks again rushed together and crashed as
they met face to face。 And the foam leapt up in a mass like a cloud；
awful was the thunder of the sea； and all round them the mighty welkin
roared。
（ll。 568…592） The hollow caves beneath the rugged cli