Читать книгу The Tale of the Argonauts онлайн

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And therein was Phœbus Apollo, a slender stripling yet,

Shooting at him who the ravisher’s hand to the veil had set{760}

Of his mother, at Tityos the giant, whom Elarê bare; but the Earth

Nursed him, and hid in her womb, and gave to him second birth.

And Phrixus the Minyan was there; and it seemed that unto the ram

He verily hearkened; it seemed that a voice from the gold-fleeced came.

Thou wert hushed to behold them—wouldst cheat thy soul with the hope that perchance

Forth of the lifeless lips would break the utterance

Of speech—ay, long wouldst thou gaze in expectation’s trance.

Such was the gift of Athênê, the Goddess Itonian’s toil.

And a lance far-leaping he grasped in his right hand, given erewhile

Of the maid Atalanta on Mainalus’ height for the pledge of a friend.{770}

Gladly she met him, for sorely her soul desired to wend

On the Quest: howbeit the hero himself withheld the maid,

For the peril of bitter strife for her love’s sake made him afraid.

So he hied him to go to the town, as the radiant star to behold