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bride。 For I won her； my beloved； and lost her again the same day； and
wandered away in my madness； even to Egypt and the Libyan sands； and
the isles of all the seas； driven on by the terrible gadfly； while I charmed
in vain the hearts of men； and the savage forest beasts； and the trees； and
the lifeless stones； with my magic harp and song； giving rest； but finding
none。 But at last Calliope my mother delivered me； and brought me
home in peace； and I dwell here in the cave alone； among the savage
Cicon tribes； softening their wild hearts with music and the gentle laws
of Zeus。 And now I must go out again； to the ends of all the earth； far
away into the misty darkness； to the last wave of the Eastern Sea。 But
what is doomed must be； and a friend's demand obeyed； for prayers are
the daughters of Zeus； and who honours them honours him。'
Then Orpheus rose up sighing； and took his harp； and went over
Strymon。 And he led Jason to the south…west； up the banks of
Haliacmon and over the spurs of Pindus； to Dodona the town of Zeus；
where it stood by the side of the sacred lake； and the fountain which
breathed out fire； in the darkness of the ancient oakwood； beneath the
mountain of the hundred springs。 And he led him to the holy oak；
where the black dove settled in old times； and was changed into the
priestess of Zeus； and gave oracles to all nations round。 And he bade
him cut down a bough； and sacrifice to Hera and to Zeus； and they took
the bough and came to Iolcos； and nailed it to the beak…head of the ship。
And at last the ship was finished； and they tried to launch her down
the beach； but she was too heavy for them to move her； and her keel
sank deep into the sand。 Then all the heroes looked at each other
blushing； but Jason spoke； and said； 'Let us ask the magic bough；
perhaps it can help us in our need。'
Then a voice came from the bough； and Jason heard the words it said；
and bade Orpheus play upon the harp； while the heroes waited round；
holding the pine…trunk rollers； to help her toward the sea。
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The Heroes
Then Orpheus took his harp； and began his magic song … 'How sweet
it is to ride upon the surges； and to leap from wave to wave； while the
wind sings cheerful in the cordage； and the oars flash fast among the
foam！ How sweet it is to roam across the ocean； and see new towns
and wondrous lands； and to come home laden with treasure； and to win
undying fame！'
And the good ship ARGO heard him； and longed to be away and out
at sea； till she stirred in every timber； and heaved from stem to stern； and
leapt up from the sand upon the rollers； and plunged onward like a
gallant horse； and the heroes fed her path with pine…trunks； till she
rushed into the whispering sea。
Then they stored her well with food and water； and pulled the ladder
up on board； and settled themselves each man to his oar； and kept time to
Orpheus' harp； and away across the bay they rowed southward； while the
people lined the cliffs； and the women wept； while the men shouted； at
the starting of that gallant crew。
PART IV … HOW THE ARGONAUTS SAILED TO
COLCHIS
AND what happened next； my children； whether it be true or not；
stands written in ancient songs； which you shall read for yourselves
some day。 And grand old songs they are； written in grand old rolling
verse； and they call them the Songs of Orpheus； or the Orphics； to this
day。 And they tell how the heroes came to Aphetai； across the bay； and
waited for the south…west wind； and chose themselves a captain from
their crew： and how all called for Heracles； because he was the
strongest and most huge； but Heracles refused； and called for Jason；
because he was the wisest of them all。 So Jason was chosen captain；
and Orpheus heaped a pile of wood； and slew a bull； and offered it to
Hera； and called all the heroes to stand round； each man's head crowned
with olive； and to strike their swords into the bull。 Then he filled a
golden goblet with the bull's blood； and with wheaten flour； and honey；
and wine； and the bitter salt…sea water； and bade the heroes taste。 So
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The Heroes
each tasted the goblet； and passed it round； and vowed an awful vow：
and they vowed before the sun； and the night； and the blue…haired sea
who shakes the land； to stand by Jason faithfully in the adventure of the
golden fleece； and whosoever shrank back； or disobeyed； or turned
traitor to his vow； then justice should minister against him； and the
Erinnues who track guilty men。
Then Jason lighted the pile； and burnt the carcase of the bull； and
they went to their ship and sailed eastward； like men who have a work to
do； and the place from which they went was called Aphetai； the sailing…
place； from that day forth。 Three thousand years and more they sailed
away； into the unknown Eastern seas； and great nations have come and
gone since then； and many a storm has swept the earth； and many a
mighty armament； to which ARGO would be but one small boat； English
and French； Turkish and Russian； have sailed those waters since； yet the
fame of that small ARGO lives for ever； and her name is become a
proverb among men。
So they sailed past the Isle of Sciathos； with the Cape of Sepius on
their left； and turned to the northward toward Pelion； up the long
Magnesian shore。 On their right hand was the open sea； and on their
left old Pelion rose； while the clouds crawled round his dark pine…forests；
and his caps of summer snow。 And their hearts yearned for the dear old
mountain； as they thought of pleasant days gone by； and of the sports of
their boyhood； and their hunting； and their schooling in the cave beneath
the cliff。 And at last Peleus spoke； 'Let us land here； friends； and climb
the dear old hill once more。 We are going on a fearful journey； who
knows if we shall see Pelion again？ Let us go up to Cheiron our
master； and ask his blessing ere we start。 And I have a boy； too； with
him； whom he trains as he trained me once … the son whom Thetis
brought me； the silver…footed lady of the sea； whom I caught in the cave；
and tamed her； though she changed her shape seven times。 For she
changed； as I held her； into water； and to vapour； and to burning flame；
and to a rock； and to a black…maned lion； and to a tall and stately tree。
But I held her and held her ever； till she took her own shape again； and
led her to my father's house； and won her for my bride。 And all the
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The Heroes
rulers of Olympus came to our wedding； and the heavens and the earth
rejoiced together； when an Immortal wedded mortal man。 And now let
me see my son； for it is not often I shall see him upon earth： famous he
will be； but short…lived； and die in the flower of youth。'
So Tiphys the helmsman steered them to the shore under the