Читать книгу The Tale of the Argonauts онлайн

74 страница из 84

Which swooped from the river-gorges as day to the evenfall drew:{1160}

And the heroes forspent with toiling refrained, save only one

Who by might of his hands tugged onward his weary comrades alone;

Even Herakles: quivered the strong-knit beams as he strained to the stroke.

But when, as they fled by the mainland-shore of the Mysian folk,

And Rhyndakus’ outfall they sighted, and, huge against the sky,

Aigaion’s cairn, past Phrygia a little, and slipped thereby,

Even then, through the furrows of roughened surge as he tugged and tore,

Snapped he the ashen blade, and, grasping the half of the oar

Yet in his hands, back Herakles fell, and the half swept down

The tossing wake of the ship. But he rose, and with angry frown{1170}

Sat gazing around, for his hands endured not idle to lie.

’Twas the hour when the delver or ploughman aback from the field doth hie

With joy to his hut, and his soul sore craveth the eventide meat,

And bow on the threshold his knees, and totter his weary feet.

All dust-besprent he beholdeth his cramped hands worn with toil,