heaven upon the ship and the might of the heroes； half… divine； the bravest
of men then sailing the sea； and on the topmost heights the nymphs of
Pelion wondered as they beheld the work of Itonian Athena； and the
heroes themselves wielding the oars。 And there came down from the
mountain…top to the sea Chiron； son of Philyra； and where the white surf
broke he dipped his feet； and； often waving with his broad hand； cried out
to them at their departure； 〃Good speed and a sorrowless home… return！〃
And with him his wife； bearing Peleus' son Achilles on her arm； showed
the child to his dear father。
（ll。 559…579） Now when they had left the curving shore of the
harbour through the cunning and counsel of prudent Tiphys son of
Hagnias； who skilfully handled the well…polished helm that he might guide
them steadfastly； then at length they set up the tall mast in the mastbox；
and secured it with forestays； drawing them taut on each side； and from it
they let down the sail when they had hauled it to the top…mast。 And a
breeze came down piping shrilly； and upon the deck they fastened the
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ropes separately round the well…polished pins； and ran quietly past the long
Tisaean headland。 And for them the son of Oeagrus touched his lyre and
sang in rhythmical song of Artemis； saviour of ships； child of a glorious
sire； who hath in her keeping those peaks by the sea； and the land of Iolcos；
and the fishes came darting through the deep sea； great mixed with small；
and followed gambolling along the watery paths。 And as when in the
track of the shepherd； their master； countless sheep follow to the fold that
have fed to the full of grass； and he goes before gaily piping a shepherd's
strain on Iris shrill reed； so these fishes followed； and a chasing breeze
ever bore the ship onward。
（ll。 580…591） And straightway the misty land of the Pelasgians； rich
in cornfields； sank out of sight； and ever speeding onward they passed the
rugged sides of Pelion； and the Sepian headland sank away； and Sciathus
appeared in the sea； and far off appeared Piresiae and the calm shore of
Magnesia on the mainland and the tomb of Dolops； here then in the
evening； as the wind blew against them； they put to land； and paying
honour to him at nightfall burnt sheep as victims； while the sea was tossed
by the swell： and for two days they lingered on the shore； but on the third
day they put forth the ship； spreading on high the broad sail。 And even
now men call that beach Aphetae （4） of Argo。
（ll。 592…608） Thence going forward they ran past Meliboea； escaping
a stormy beach and surf…line。 And in the morning they saw Homole close
at hand leaning on the sea； and skirted it； and not long after they were
about to pass by the outfall of the river Amyrus。 From there they beheld
Eurymenae and the seawashed ravines of Ossa and Olympus； next they
reached the slopes of Pallene； beyond the headland of Canastra； running
all night with the wind。 And at dawn before them as they journeyed rose
Athos； the Thracian mountain； which with its topmost peak overshadows
Lemnos； even as far as Myrine； though it lies as far off as the space that a
well…trimmed merchantship would traverse up to mid…day。 For them on
that day； till darkness fell； the breeze blew exceedingly fresh； and the sails
of the ship strained to it。 But with the setting of the sun the wind left them；
and it was by the oars that they reached Lemnos； the Sintian isle。
（ll。 609…639） Here the whole of the men of the people together had
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been ruthlessly slain through the transgressions of the women in the year
gone by。 For the men had rejected their lawful wives； loathing them； and
had conceived a fierce passion for captive maids whom they themselves
brought across the sea from their forays in Thrace； for the terrible wrath of
Cypris came upon them； because for a long time they had grudged her the
honours due。 O hapless women； and insatiate in jealousy to their own
ruin！ Not their husbands alone with the captives did they slay on account
of the marriage…bed； but all the males at the same time； that they might
thereafter pay no retribution for the grim murder。 And of all the women；
Hypsipyle alone spared her aged father Thoas； who was king over the
people； and she sent him in a hollow chest； to drift over the sea； if haply he
should escape。 And fishermen dragged him to shore at the island of
Oenoe； formerly Oenoe； but afterwards called Sicinus from Sicinus； whom
the water…nymph Oenoe bore to Thoas。 Now for all the women to tend
kine； to don armour of bronze； and to cleave with the plough…share the
wheat…bearing fields； was easier than the works of Athena； with which
they were busied aforetime。 Yet for all that did they often gaze over the
broad sea； in grievous fear against the Thracians' coming。 So when they
saw Argo being rowed near the island； straightway crowding in multitude
from the gates of Myrine and clad in their harness of war； they poured
forth to the beach like ravening Thyiades： for they deemed that the
Thracians were come； and with them Hypsipyle； daughter of Thoas；
donned her father's harness。 And they streamed down speechless with
dismay； such fear was wafted about them。
（ll。 640…652） Meantime from the ship the chiefs had sent Aethalides
the swift herald； to whose care they entrusted their messages and the wand
of Hermes； his sire； who had granted him a memory of all things； that
never grew dim； and not even now； though he has entered the unspeakable
whirlpools of Acheron； has forgetfulness swept over his soul； but its fixed
doom is to be ever changing its abode； at one time to be numbered among
the dwellers beneath the earth； at another to be in the light of the sun
among living men。 But why need I tell at length tales of Aethalides？
He at that time persuaded Hypsipyle to receive the new…comers as the day
was waning into darkness； nor yet at dawn did they loose the ship's
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hawsers to the breath of the north wind。
（ll。 653…656） Now the Lemnian women fared through the city and sat
down to the assembly； for Hypsipyle herself had so bidden。 And when they
were all gathered together in one great throng straightway she spake
among them with stirring words：
（ll。 657…666） 〃O friends； come let us grant these men gifts to their
hearts' desire； such as it is fitting that they should take on ship…board； food
and sweet wine； in order that they may steadfastly remain outside our
towers； and may not； passing among us for need's sake； get to know us all
too well； and so an evil report be widely spread； for we have wrought a
terrible deed and in nowise will it be to their liking； should they learn it。
Such is our counsel now； but if any of you can devise a better plan let her
rise； for it was on this account that I summoned you hither。〃
（ll。 667…674） Thus she spake and sat upon her father's seat of stone；
and then rose up her dear nurse Polyxo； for very age halting upon her
withered feet； bowed over a staff； and she was eager to address them。
Near her were seated four virgins； unwedded； crowned with white hair。
And she stood in the midst of the assembly and from her bent back she
feebly raised her neck and spake thus：
（ll。 675…696） 〃Gifts； as Hypsipyle herself wishes； let us send to the
strangers； for it is better to give them。 But for you what device have ye
to get profit of your life if the Thracian host fall upon us； or some other
foe； as often happens among men； even as now this company is come
unforeseen？ But if one of the blessed gods should turn this aside yet
countless other woes； worse than battle； remain behind； when the aged
women die off and ye younger ones； without children； reach hateful old
age。 How then will ye live； hapless ones？ Will your oxen of their own
accord yoke themselves for the deep plough…lands and draw the earth…
cleaving share through the fallow； and forthwith； as the year comes round；
reap the harvest？ Assuredly； though the fates till now have shunned me
in horror； I deem that in the coming year I shall put on the garment of
earth； when I have received my meed of burial even so as is right； before
the evil days draw near。 But I bid you who are younger give good heed
to this。 For now at your feet a way of escape lies open； if ye trust to the