Chapter 8 Tales of the Argonauts-8

Filled with gratitude, Phineus bid them farewell reluctantly.The heroes of the Argonauts embarked on a new adventure.At first, due to the northwest wind blowing at sea, they were unable to sail for ten consecutive days. It was not until they offered sacrifices and prayed devoutly to all twelve gods that they were blessed and accelerated their sailing again.After a while, they heard a loud thunderous noise from a distance. This was the sound of two huge impact rocks floating on the nearby sea colliding with each other, accompanied by a huge echo on the coast and the whistling sound of waves.Tives watched carefully at the helm, keeping the rudder steady.Young Oyuphomos stood up from the cabin, holding a pigeon in his hand.Phineus once predicted that if the pigeons can fly between the two impact rocks without fear, then they can move forward with confidence.When the two giant rocks just separated, Aoyufumosi hurriedly released the pigeon.Everyone watched with anticipation.As the pigeon flew past, the two giant rocks began to approach each other again.The sea created huge waves in the strait, the sea and the sky were roaring, and the two floating rocks were about to touch each other, leaving only a thin line of space for the pigeons to fly over.The pigeon flapped its wings and finally flew over safely. The colliding rocks clipped the pigeon's tail feathers.Therefore, Tifes loudly encouraged the paddling heroes to take advantage of the separation of the huge rock and row bravely.The sea water sucked the boat in, and the boat moved forward with the current.Disaster threatens them.A huge wave swept over like mountains and seas, and the heroes couldn't help gasping, and hurriedly buried their heads.Unflappable, Tives ordered the oars to cease.The huge waves rolled and rushed to the bottom of the boat, lifting the boat high above the closing rocks.Now, they worked together and rowed so hard that the oars were bent like bows.Suddenly, the vortex pulled the boat into the middle of the hanging rock again, and the rock almost brushed the hull.Their ship would have been smashed to pieces had it not been for a stealthy push from Athena.Still, the colliding rocks pinched the planks of the stern.The planks were crushed into pieces and fell into the sea, where they were swept away in an instant and disappeared without a trace.

When they saw the blue sky and the empty sea again, they breathed a sigh of relief.They really felt like they had escaped from hell. "It was not through our strength!" cried Tifes, "that Athena helped us. Now we need not fear any more, because according to Phineus' prophecy, what we shall meet Other obstacles can be overcome easily!" But Jason shook his head sadly and said: "Good Tifes, when Pelias persuaded me to take on this task, it made it difficult for the gods. .In fact, I would have liked to have been chopped into pieces by him! Now I worry about your lives day and night. Can I save you from danger and lead you back to your hometown safely?"

Jason said this only to test the hearts of his companions.But they all cheered him enthusiastically and asked to move on. They sailed on again full of energy, and finally came to the mouth of the Telmodon River.This river is different from other rivers in the world. It originates from a spring deep in the mountains, flows for a while, and then divides into ninety-six tributaries, rushing to the sea.The Amazons live where one of the widest rivers flows into the sea.This nation is all women, descendants of Ares, the god of war, and is warlike by nature.Had the Argonauts landed from here, there would undoubtedly have been a bloody battle with the Amazon women, for they were equal to the warlike heroes.They do not live in the city, but are divided into many tribes and scattered in the countryside.

A gust of westerly wind diverted the ship, and the Argonauts avoided the warlike Amazons.After a day and night's voyage, as Phineus predicted, they reached the kingdom of Calybel.People here neither farm nor herd. They spend all day digging iron ore in the desolate land in exchange for food with people in neighboring countries.They toiled hard in the dark cellar and dense smoke, and lived a life without joy. When the Argonauts reached Aretea, or the island of Are, a bird flapped its wings and flew over the ship, and shot a pointed feathered arrow, which hit the hero Oreus on the shoulder.Orius collapsed in the cabin in pain, unable to row.His companions plucked his feathers and bandaged his wounds.It was strange for them to see such flying arrows.After a while, a second bird flew by.Clytivus bent his bow and set an arrow, and shot the arrow, and the bird fell on the ship in response. "It seems that the island is close at hand!" said Anfi Damus, who was experienced in sailing. "Don't pay attention to these birds. There must be many of them. If we land, we don't have so many arrows to shoot them. Let's think about it." method, drive these aggressive birds away. I suggest you all wear helmets with high plumes, and decorate your boats with shining spears and shields, and roar loudly. Birds hear the cry, see the helmet feathers, sharp spears, and shining shields, will surely fly away in fright."

The heroes praised it as a good idea, and they all did as he suggested.They didn't see a single bird again.As they approached the island, and crashed against spear and shield, countless frightened birds flew from the shore, and flitted over the ship like a black cloud.The Argonauts shielded themselves with their shields, and the sharp feathers of the birds fell like locusts, but could not hurt them.These frightened and terrible birds flew far across the sea to the opposite shore.The Argonauts landed on the island. Here, they accidentally meet friends and partners.After walking a few steps ashore, they met four ragged young men walking towards them.One of them came up to them in a hurry and said hello, "Well-meaning people, no matter who you are, please help us poor troubled people, give us some clothes to wear, and give us some food to satisfy our hunger!"

Jason kindly promised to help them, and asked their names and backgrounds. "You must have heard the story of Phryxos, the son of Atamas and Nephele," answered the young man, "you know that he brought the Golden Fleece to Colchis, Is it so? King Aeetes betrothed his eldest daughter, Calchiope, and we are his sons. My name is Argos, and our father Phryxos died not long ago. We according to him will, and sail to fetch the treasures he left in Orchomenos." After hearing this, the heroes were very happy.Jason immediately recognized them as cousins, since his grandfather Atamas and Critus were brothers.These young men went on to tell how their boat was sunk by the wind and waves, and how they drifted to this island with no one to help, holding a plank of the boat.The Argonauts told them their intention to go to sea, and hoped that they would join their ranks and go on an adventure together.When they heard this, their eyes widened in horror. "Our grandfather Aeetes was a cruel man, said to be the son of the sun god, with extraordinary power. He ruled the countless races in the land of Colchis, and beside the golden fleece was guarded by a terrible dragon .” Hearing this, some of the heroes suddenly changed their faces in fear.But Peleus, the son of Aeacus, stood up and said: "Don't think we will be defeated by King Colchis, but don't forget that we are also the descendants of gods! If he doesn't give the golden fleece to you We, we'll take it away!" Then, they held a sumptuous banquet, and encouraged each other during the meal, adding to their courage.

The next morning the sons of Phryxos, clothed in new clothes, fed and drinking, were on board, and the Argonauts set sail again.After a day and night of sailing, they saw the peaks of the Caucasus looming above the sea.When dusk fell, they heard the sound of a bird flying in the sky. It was a goshawk going to eat Prometheus' liver.It flew in the air above the ship, beating its strong wings violently, raising gusts of wind, and bulging the sails.After a while, they heard Prometheus groaning in the distance, as the eagle was pecking at his liver.After a while, the moaning disappeared. They saw the goshawk flapping its wings high in the sky and flying back.

That same night they reached their destination, the mouth of the Faris River.A few people happily climbed up the mast, let down the sails, and paddled the boat out onto the wide river, up the river, where the waves seemed to make their way before the boat.To the left of the ship they saw the Caucasus Mountains and Kitea, the capital of the kingdom of Colchis.On the right are vast fields and the sacred grove of Ares.There, with wide sleepless eyes, a great dragon watched over the golden fleece that hung from the crown of the oak tree.Now Jason stood up, took the golden cup full of wine, raised it high, and poured it out in honor of the river and Mother Earth, and honored the gods and the heroes who died on the way.He asked the gods for help to protect the Argonauts.

"Now that we have come safely to Colchis," said the helmsman Anchos, "it is time for us to discuss seriously whether we should beg Aeetes amicably or use other means to achieve it." Our purpose." "Tomorrow!" cried the weary heroes.Jason immediately ordered the boat to be parked in a shady bay.They fell asleep as soon as they lay down.But after sleeping for a long time, it was dawn, and the morning sun woke them up.