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The Argonautica
plunged into the vast abyss； and the heroes shouted when they gazed with
their eyes on that dread portent。 There is the harbour of Argo and there
are the signs of her stay； and altars to Poseidon and Triton； for during that
day they tarried。 But at dawn with sails outspread they sped on before
the breath of the west wind； keeping the desert land on their right。 And
on the next morn they saw the headland and the recess of the sea； bending
inward beyond the jutting headland。 And straightway the west wind
ceased； and there came the breeze of the clear south wind； and their hearts
rejoiced at the sound it made。 But when the sun sank and the star
returned that bids the shepherd fold； which brings rest to wearied
ploughmen； at that time the wind died down in the dark night； so they
furled the sails and lowered the tall mast and vigorously plied their
polished oars all night and through the day； and again when the next night
came on。 And rugged Carpathus far away welcomed them； and thence
they were to cross to Crete； which rises in the sea above other islands。
（ll。 1638…1653） And Talos； the man of bronze； as he broke off rocks
from the hard cliff； stayed them from fastening hawsers to the shore； when
they came to the roadstead of Dicte's haven。 He was of the stock of
bronze； of the men sprung from ash…trees； the last left among the sons of
the gods； and the son of Cronos gave him to Europa to be the warder of
Crete and to stride round the island thrice a day with his feet of bronze。
Now in all the rest of his body and limbs was he fashioned of bronze and
invulnerable； but beneath the sinew by his ankle was a blood…red vein； and
this； with its issues of life and death； was covered by a thin skin。 So the
heroes； though outworn with toil； quickly backed their ship from the land
in sore dismay。 And now far from Crete would they have been borne in
wretched plight； distressed both by thirst and pain； had not Medea
addressed them as they turned away：
（ll。 1654…1658） 〃Hearken to me。 For I deem that I alone can subdue
for you that man； whoever he be； even though his frame be of bronze
throughout； unless his life too is everlasting。 But be ready to keep your
ship here beyond the cast of his stones； till he yield the victory to me。〃
（ll。 1659…1672） Thus she spake； and they drew the ship out of range；
resting on their oars； waiting to see what plan unlooked for she would
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bring to pass； and she； holding the fold of her purple robe over her cheeks
on each side； mounted on the deck； and Aeson's son took her hand in his
and guided her way along the thwarts。 And with songs did she propitiate
and invoke the Death… spirits； devourers of life； the swift hounds of Hades；
who； hovering through all the air； swoop down on the living。 Kneeling in
supplication； thrice she called on them with songs； and thrice with prayers；
and； shaping her soul to mischief； with her hostile glance she bewitched
the eyes of Talos； the man of bronze； and her teeth gnashed bitter wrath
against him； and she sent forth baneful phantoms in the frenzy of her rage。
（ll。 1673…1693） Father Zeus； surely great wonder rises in my mind；
seeing that dire destruction meets us not from disease and wounds alone；
but lo！ even from afar； may be； it tortures us！ So Talos； for all his frame
of bronze； yielded the victory to the might of Medea the sorceress。 And
as he was heaving massy rocks to stay them from reaching the haven； he
grazed his ankle on a pointed crag； and the ichor gushed forth like melted
lead； and not long thereafter did he stand towering on the jutting cliff。 But
even as some huge pine； high up on the mountains； which woodmen have
left half hewn through by their sharp axes when they returned from the
forestat first it shivers in the wind by night； then at last snaps at the
stump and crashes down； so Talos for a while stood on his tireless feet；
swaying to and fro； when at last； all strengthless； fell with a mighty thud。
For that night there in Crete the heroes lay； then； just as dawn was
growing bright； they built a shrine to Minoan Athena； and drew water and
went aboard； so that first of all they might by rowing pass beyond
Salmone's height。
（ll。 1694…1730） But straightway as they sped over the wide Cretan
sea night scared them； that night which they name the Pall of Darkness；
the stars pierced not that fatal night nor the beams of the moon； but black
chaos descended from heaven； or haply some other darkness came； rising
from the nethermost depths。 And the heroes； whether they drifted in
Hades or on the waters； knew not one whit； but they committed their
return to the sea in helpless doubt whither it was bearing them。 But
Jason raised his hands and cried to Phoebus with mighty voice； calling on
him to save them； and the tears ran down in his distress； and often did he
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promise to bring countless offerings to Pytho； to Amyclae； and to Ortygia。
And quickly； O son of Leto； swift to hear； didst thou come down from
heaven to the Melantian rocks； which lie there in the sea。 Then darting
upon one of the twin peaks； thou raisedst aloft in thy right hand thy golden
bow； and the bow flashed a dazzling gleam all round。 And to their sight
appeared a small island of the Sporades； over against the tiny isle Hippuris；
and there they cast anchor and stayed； and straightway dawn arose and
gave them light； and they made for Apollo a glorious abode in a shady
wood； and a shady altar； calling on Phoebus the 〃Gleamer〃； because of the
gleam far…seen； and that bare island they called Anaphe； （13） for that
Phoebus had revealed it to men sore bewildered。 And they sacrificed all
that men could provide for sacrifice on a desolate strand； wherefore when
Medea's Phaeacian handmaids saw them pouring water for libations on the
burning brands； they could no longer restr