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unceasingly until they reached the sacred isle of Electra； the highest of
them all； near the river Eridanus。
（ll。 507…521） But when the Colchians learnt the death of their prince；
verily they were eager to pursue Argo and the Minyans through all the
Cronian sea。 But Hera restrained them by terrible lightnings from the
sky。 And at last they loathed their own homes in the Cytaean land；
quailing before Aeetes' fierce wrath； so they landed and made abiding
homes there； scattered far and wide。 Some set foot on those very islands
where the heroes had stayed； and they still dwell there； bearing a name
derived from Apsyrtus； and others built a fenced city by the dark deep
Illyrian river； where is the tomb of Harmonia and Cadmus； dwelling
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among the Encheleans； and others live amid the mountains which are
called the Thunderers； from the day when the thunders of Zeus； son of
Cronos； prevented them from crossing over to the island opposite。
（ll。 522…551） Now the heroes； when their return seemed safe for
them； fared onward and made their hawsers fast to the land of the Hylleans。
For the islands lay thick in the river and made the path dangerous for those
who sailed thereby。 Nor； as aforetime； did the Hylleans devise their hurt；
but of their own accord furthered their passage； winning as guerdon a
mighty tripod of Apollo。 For tripods twain had Phoebus given to Aeson's
son to carry afar in the voyage he had to make； at the time when he went
to sacred Pytho to enquire about this very voyage； and it was ordained by
fate that in whatever land they should be placed； that land should never be
ravaged by the attacks of foemen。 Therefore even now this tripod is hidden
in that land near the pleasant city of Hyllus； far beneath the earth； that it
may ever be unseen by mortals。 Yet they found not King Hyllus still
alive in the land； whom fair Melite bare to Heracles in the land of the
Phaeacians。 For he came to the abode of Nausithous and to Macris； the
nurse of Dionysus； to cleanse himself from the deadly murder of his
children； here he loved and overcame the water nymph Melite； the
daughter of the river Aegaeus； and she bare mighty Hyllus。 But when he
had grown up he desired not to dwell in that island under the rule of
Nausithous the king； but he collected a host of native Phaeacians and came
to the Cronian sea； for the hero King Nausithous aided his journey； and
there he settled； and the Mentores slew him as he was fighting for the oxen
of his field。
（ll。 552…556） Now； goddesses； say how it is that beyond this sea； near
the land of Ausonia and the Ligystian isles； which are called Stoechades；
the mighty tracks of the ship Argo are clearly sung of？ What great
constraint and need brought the heroes so far？ What breezes wafted
them？
（ll。 557…591） When Apsyrtus had fallen in mighty overthrow Zeus
himself； king of gods； was seized with wrath at what they had done。 And
he ordained that by the counsels of Aeaean Circe they should cleanse
themselves from the terrible stain of blood and suffer countless woes
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before their return。 Yet none of the chieftains knew this； but far onward
they sped starting from the Hyllean land； and they left behind all the
islands that were beforetime thronged by the Colchiansthe Liburnian
isles； isle after isle； Issa； Dysceladus； and lovely Pityeia。 Next after them
they came to Corcyra； where Poseidon settled the daughter of Asopus； fair…
haired Corcyra； far from the land of Phlius； whence he had carried her off
through love； and sailors beholding it from the sea； all black with its
sombre woods； call it Corcyra the Black。 And next they passed Melite；
rejoicing in the soft…blowing breeze； and steep Cerossus； and Nymphaea at
a distance； where lady Calypso； daughter of Atlas； dwelt； and they deemed
they saw the misty mountains of Thunder。 And then Hera bethought her
of the counsels and wrath of Zeus concerning them。 And she devised an
ending of their voyage and stirred up storm…winds before them； by which
they were caught and borne back to the rocky isle of Electra。 And
straightway on a sudden there called to them in the midst of their course；
speaking with a human voice； the beam of the hollow ship； which Athena
had set in the centre of the stem； made of Dodonian oak。 And deadly fear
seized them as they heard the voice that told of the grievous wrath of Zeus。
For it proclaimed that they should not escape the paths of an endless sea
nor grievous tempests； unless Circe should purge away the guilt of the
ruthless murder of Apsyrtus； and it bade Polydeuces and Castor pray to the
immortal gods first to grant a path through the Ausonian sea where they
should find Circe； daughter of Perse and Helios。
（ll。 592…626） Thus Argo cried through the darkness； and the sons of
Tyndareus uprose； and lifted their hands to the immortals praying for each
boon： but dejection held the rest of the Minyan heroes。 And far on sped
Argo under sail； and entered deep into the stream of Eridanus； where once；
smitten on the breast by the blazing bolt； Phaethon half…consumed fell
from the chariot of Helios into the opening of that deep lake； and even
now it belcheth up heavy steam clouds from the smouldering wound。
And no bird spreading its light wings can cross that water； but in mid…
course it plunges into the flame； fluttering。 And all around the maidens；
the daughters of Helios； enclosed in tall poplars； wretchedly wail a piteous
plaint； and from their eyes they shed on the ground bright drops of amber。
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These are dried by the sun upon the sand； but whenever the waters of the
dar