Latin · Unit 39

The Argonauts

Fabulae Faciles

The celebrated voyage of the Argonauts was brought about in this way. Pelias had expelled his brother Aeson from his kingdom in Thessaly, and had determined to take the life of Jason, the son of Aeson. Jason, however, escaped and grew up to manhood in another country. At last he returned to Thessaly; and Pelias, fearing that he might attempt to recover the kingdom, sent him to fetch the Golden Fleece from Colchis, supposing this to be an impossible feat. Jason with a band of heroes set sail in the ship Argo (called after Argus, its builder), and after many adventures reached Colchis. Here Aeētes, king of Colchis, who was unwilling to give up the Fleece, set Jason to perform what seemed an impossible task, namely to plough a field with certain fire-breathing oxen, and then to sow it with dragon's teeth. Medēa, however, the daughter of the king, assisted Jason by her skill in magic, first to perform the task appointed, and then to procure the Fleece. She then fled with Jason, and to delay the pursuit of her father, sacrificed her brother Absyrtus. After reaching Thessaly, Medēa caused the death of Pelias and was expelled from the country with her husband. They removed to Corinth, and here Medēa becoming jealous of Glauce, daughter of Creon, caused her death by means of a poisoned robe. She was afterward carried off in a chariot sent by the sun-god, and a little later Jason was accidentally killed.

151 lines

The Wicked Uncle (Fabulae Faciles 57)

1
There were once in Thessaly two brothers, of whom one was called Aeson, the other Pelias.
Erantsum: be; exist
ōlimolim: formerly, once upon a time
inin, on; into, to, against
ThessaliāThessalia: Thessaly
duotwo
frātrēs,frater: brother
quōrumqui: who, which, what, that
alterthe one, the other
Aesōn,Aeson: Aeson, father of Jason
PeliāsPelias: Pelias, king of Thessaly
alterthe one, the other
appellābātur.appello: call by name, name
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Aeson had at first held the kingship; but after a few years Pelias, led on by greed for the kingdom, not only drove out his own brother, but even had it in mind to kill Jason, the son of Aeson.
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Certain of Aeson's friends, however, when they learned the plan of Pelias, decided to snatch the boy out of so great a danger.
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By night therefore they carried Jason away from the city, and when they had returned to the king on the next day, they reported to him that the boy was dead.
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When Pelias heard this, although in truth he felt great joy, he nevertheless put on a show of grief and asked what the cause of the death was.
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But they, since they understood well that his grief was false, made up some story or other about the boy's death.

A Fateful Accident (Fabulae Faciles 58)

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After a short time Pelias, fearing that he might lose the kingdom he had seized by such force and fraud, sent a certain friend to Delphi, to consult the oracle.
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He therefore betook himself to Delphi as quickly as possible and explained for what reason he had come.
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The oracle answered that there was no danger at present; it warned Pelias, however, that if anyone should come wearing one shoe, he should beware of him.
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A few years later it happened that Pelias was about to make a great sacrifice; he had sent messengers out in all directions and had named a fixed day for assembling.
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On the appointed day a great number of men came together from the fields on every side; and among these came Jason too, who from boyhood had lived with a certain centaur.
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While he was making his journey, however, he lost one of his shoes in crossing some river or other.

calceum: shoe, from calceus

The Golden Fleece (Fabulae Faciles 59)

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Jason therefore, since he could in no way recover the lost shoe, arrived at the palace with one foot bare.
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When Pelias saw him, he was suddenly filled with fear; for he understood that this was the man whom the oracle had pointed out.
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He therefore formed this plan.
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There was a certain king Aeetes, who at that time held the kingdom of Colchis.
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To him had been entrusted that golden fleece which Phrixus had once left there.
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Pelias decided therefore to give Jason the task of getting possession of this fleece; for since the thing was of great danger, he hoped that he would die on the journey.
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He summoned Jason to him, therefore, and having urged him on, told him what he wanted done.
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Although he understood that the thing was very difficult, Jason gladly took on the task.

vellus: fleece
Iāsonī: of Jason, from Iasonius

The Building of the Good Ship Argo (Fabulae Faciles 60)

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Since, however, Colchis was a journey of many days away from that place, Jason was unwilling to set out alone.
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He sent messengers therefore in all directions, to explain the reason for the journey and to name a fixed day for assembling.
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Meanwhile, after he had ordered everything that is of use for fitting out ships to be brought together, he gave the task of building a ship to a certain Argus, who had the greatest knowledge of matters of the sea.
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About ten days were spent on this; for Argus, who was in charge of the work, used such diligence that he did not break off from the labor even for the hours of the night.
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For carrying a great number of men the ship was a little broader than those which we are accustomed to use on our own sea, and for enduring the force of storms it was made entirely of oak.

Argō: the Argo, Jason's ship
perferendam: carry through, from perfero

The Anchor is Weighed (Fabulae Faciles 61)

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Meanwhile that day was drawing near which Jason had appointed through his messengers, and from all the regions of Greece many, whom either the newness of the thing or the hope of glory was stirring, were assembling from every side.
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It is handed down that in this number were Hercules, about whom we have written much above, Orpheus, a most famous player of the lyre, Theseus, Castor, and many others whose names are very well known.
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Out of these Jason chose, to the number of fifty, those whom he judged most ready to undergo every danger, and joined them to himself as companions; then, after waiting a few days to get together supports against every chance, he launched the ship, and having got weather suitable for sailing, cast off amid the great applause of all.

novitās: newness
citharoedum: female singer-musician, from citharoedus
commorātus: stop, abide, from commoro

A Fatal Mistake (Fabulae Faciles 62)

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Not much later the Argonauts (for so those who sailed in that ship were called) reached a certain island, Cyzicus by name; and having gone out of the ship they were received in hospitality by the king of that region.
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Having waited there a few hours, at sunset they cast off again; but after they had gone forward a few miles, so great a storm suddenly arose that they could not hold their course, and they were driven, with great danger, onto the same part of the island from which they had lately set out.
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The inhabitants, however, since the night was dark, did not recognize the Argonauts, and thinking that an enemy ship had come, snatched up arms and tried to keep them from landing.
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There was fierce fighting on the shore, and the king himself, who had run down with the others, was killed by the Argonauts.
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Soon, however, when it was already growing light, the inhabitants realized that they were mistaken and threw down their arms; and the Argonauts, when they saw that the king had been killed, felt great grief.

Argonautae: the Argonauts
Cyzicum: Cyzicus, an island, from Cyzicos
dīlūcēsceret: dawn, become, from dilucesco

The Loss of Hylas (Fabulae Faciles 63)

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On the day after that, Jason, judging the weather to be suitable enough (for the greatest calm had now followed), weighed anchor, and having gone forward a few miles reached Mysia before nightfall.
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There he waited a few hours at anchor; for he had learned from the sailors that the supply of water which they had with them was already running short, and for that reason certain of the Argonauts had gone out onto the land and were looking for water.
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In their number was a certain Hylas, a boy of most outstanding beauty.
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While he was looking for a spring, he had gone a little apart from his companions.
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But the nymphs who haunted the spring, when they had seen the young man, tried to persuade him to stay with them; and when he said that he would not do this, they carried the boy off by force.
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His companions, after they realized that Hylas had been lost, were filled with great grief and searched for a long time in vain.
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Hercules, however, and Polyphemus, who had followed the boy's tracks further, when they at last returned to the shore, learned that Jason had set sail.

arbitrātus: arbitration

Difficult Dining (Fabulae Faciles 64)

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After this the Argonauts held their course for Thrace, and after they had put in with their ship at the town of Salmydessus, they went out onto the land.
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There, when they had asked the inhabitants who held the kingship of that region, they were informed that a certain Phineus was then king.
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They learned too that he was blind and was suffering a certain dreadful punishment, because he had once shown himself most cruel to his own sons.
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This was the kind of that punishment.
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Certain monsters of horrible appearance had been sent by Jupiter, which had the heads of maidens and the bodies of birds.
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These birds, which were called Harpies, brought the greatest trouble to Phineus; for as often as he had reclined at table, they came and at once carried off the food that had been set before him.
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By this it came about that Phineus was not far from dying of hunger.

Salmydēssum: Salmydessus, a town of Thrace
Phīneum: Phineus, the blind king
dīrō: awful, from dirus
volucrum: bird, flying insect, from volucris
Harpȳiae: the Harpies
Phīneō: Phineus, the blind king
accubuerat: lie near or by

The Deliverance of Phineus (Fabulae Faciles 65)

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The matter therefore stood badly when the Argonauts put in with their ship.
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But Phineus, as soon as he heard that they had landed in his territory, rejoiced greatly.
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For he knew what a reputation for courage the Argonauts had, and did not doubt that they would bring him help.
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He therefore sent a messenger to the ship, to call Jason and his companions to the palace.
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When they had come there, Phineus explained in how great a danger his affairs stood, and promised that he would give great rewards if they found a remedy.
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The Argonauts took on the task gladly, and when the hour came, they reclined at table with the king; but as soon as the dinner was set out, the Harpies entered the dining room and tried to carry off the food.
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The Argonauts first attacked the birds with their swords; when, however, they saw that this did no good, Zetes and Calais, who were equipped with wings, raised themselves into the air, in order to make their attack from above.
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When the Harpies noticed this, terrified by the newness of the thing they at once fled away, and never returned afterwards.

sociōsque: associate
cēnāculum: attic, garret

The Symplegades (Fabulae Faciles 66)

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When this had been done, Phineus, in order to give the thanks deserved for so great a kindness, showed Jason by what method he could avoid the Symplegades.
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The Symplegades, moreover, were two rocks of huge size, which had been placed there by Jupiter with this purpose, that no one should reach Colchis.
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These floated in the sea a little way apart, and if anything came into the space between, they rushed together with incredible speed.
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After he had been taught by Phineus what had to be done, therefore, Jason weighed anchor and cast off, and carried along by a gentle wind soon drew near the Symplegades.
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Then, standing on the prow, he let go a dove which he held in his hand.
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She flew straight through the space between, and before the rocks clashed she got away unharmed, having lost only her tail.
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Then the rocks drew apart on either side; before they rushed together again, however, the Argonauts, understanding well that all hope of safety lay in speed, strained at the oars with the greatest force and brought the ship through unharmed.
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When this had been done they gave the greatest thanks to the gods, by whose help they had been snatched out of so great a danger; for all knew that the thing had not turned out so happily without the help of the gods.

Symplēgadēs: the Symplegades, the clashing rocks
cōnflīxērunt: clash, collide, from confligo

A Heavy Task (Fabulae Faciles 67)

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After a short interval the Argonauts came to the river Phasis, which was in the territory of the Colchians.
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There, when they had put in with their ship and had gone out onto the land, they betook themselves at once to king Aeetes and demanded of him that the golden fleece be handed over to them.
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When he had heard for what reason the Argonauts had come, he was moved by anger and for a long time said that he would not hand over the fleece.
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At last, however, because he knew that Jason had taken on this task not without the help of the gods, he changed his mind and promised that he would hand over the fleece, if Jason should first carry out two very difficult labors; and when Jason had said that he was ready to undergo every danger, he showed him what he wanted done.
68
First two bulls of horrible appearance, which gave out flames from their mouths, had to be yoked; then, when these were yoked, a certain field had to be ploughed and the teeth of a dragon sown.
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When he had heard this, Jason, although he understood that the thing was of the greatest danger, nevertheless took on the task, so as not to lose this chance of doing something well.

Phāsim: the Phasis, a river of
Colchōrum: the Colchians, from Colchi
mūtātā: dumb, silent, from mutatus

The Magic Ointment (Fabulae Faciles 68)

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Medea, the king's daughter, fell in love with Jason, and when she heard that he was about to undergo so great a danger, she took the thing hard.
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For she understood that her father had set this labor with this very purpose, that Jason might die.
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Since this was so, Medea, who had the greatest knowledge of medicine, formed this plan.
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In the middle of the night, without her father's knowledge, she got out of the city, and after she had come into the neighboring mountains, she picked certain herbs; then, having pressed out their juice, she prepared an ointment which by its own power would nourish the body and make the sinews strong.
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When this had been done, she gave Jason the ointment; and she instructed him to smear his body and his arms with it in the morning on the day on which those labors had to be carried out.
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Although Jason surpassed almost all men in size and in strength of body (for his whole life was spent in hunting and in the pursuit of military matters), he nevertheless judged that this plan should not be neglected.

adamāvit: fall in love, from adamo
medicīnae: art, medicine, from medicina
īnsciente: unknowing, unaware, from insciens
herbās: herb, grass, from herba
sūcō: juice, sap
nervōsque: Nerva, from nervus
oblineret: smear over, from oblino
antecellēbat: surpass, excel, from antecello

The Sowing of the Dragon's Teeth (Fabulae Faciles 69)

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When that day came which the king had appointed for ploughing the field, Jason at daybreak betook himself with his companions to the appointed place.
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There he found a huge stable, in which the bulls were shut up; then, having opened the gates, he dragged the bulls out into the light, and with the greatest difficulty put the yoke on them.
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But when Aeetes saw that the bulls availed nothing against Jason, he wondered greatly; for he did not know that his own daughter had given him help.
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Then Jason, with everyone looking on, began to plough the field, and in this matter he showed such diligence that he finished the whole work before midday.
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When this had been done, he went to the place where the king was sitting and asked for the dragon's teeth; and when he received them, he scattered them with great care over the field which he had ploughed.
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The nature of these teeth, moreover, was such that in that place where the sowing had been done armed men were brought forth in some strange way.

sēmentēs: sowing, planting, from sementis
gīgnerentur: give birth to, bring forth, from gigno

A Strange Crop (Fabulae Faciles 70)

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Jason, however, had not yet finished the whole work; for Aeetes had commanded him to kill alone the armed men who would be brought forth from the teeth.
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After he had scattered all the teeth over the field, therefore, Jason, worn out with weariness, gave himself to rest, until those men should be brought forth.
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He slept a few hours, but towards evening, roused suddenly from sleep, he learned that the thing had turned out as had been foretold; for in every part of the field men of huge size of body, armed with swords and helmets, were rising out of the earth in a strange manner.
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When he had learned this, Jason thought that the plan which Medea had given him should not be left aside.
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He threw therefore a huge rock (for so Medea had instructed him) into the middle of the men.
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They ran together to the place from every side, and since each one, for some reason or other, wanted to have that rock for himself, a great quarrel arose.
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Soon they drew their swords and began to fight among themselves, and when very many had been killed in this way, the rest, worn out with wounds, were killed by Jason with no trouble.

lassitūdine: weariness, exhaustion, from lassitudo
praedictum: prediction
galeīsque: helmet

The Flight of Medea (Fabulae Faciles 71)

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When king Aeetes learned that Jason had finished the labor that had been set, he was seriously moved by anger; for he understood that it had been done by trickery; and he did not doubt that Medea had brought him help.
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But Medea, since she understood that she would be in great danger if she stayed in the palace, decided to seek safety in flight.
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Everything therefore being made ready for flight, in the middle of the night, without her father's knowledge, she got away with her brother Absyrtus, and betook herself as quickly as possible to the place where the Argo had been drawn up.
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When she had come there, she threw herself at Jason's feet, and with many tears begged him not to desert, in so great a crisis, a woman who had helped him so much.
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He, because he kept in memory that he had escaped a great danger through her help, received her gladly, and after he had heard the reason for her coming, urged her not to fear her father's anger.
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And he promised that he would carry her away in his ship as soon as possible.

dēsereret: leave, from desero
āvectūrum: carry away, carry

The Seizure of the Fleece (Fabulae Faciles 72)

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On the day after that, Jason with his companions launched the ship at daybreak, and having got suitable weather they strained at the oars towards that place in which Medea kept showing that the fleece was hidden.
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When they had come there, Jason went out onto the land, and leaving his companions at the sea, to be a guard for the ship, he himself betook himself with Medea into the woods.
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Having gone forward a few miles through the wood, he saw the fleece which he was looking for hanging from a tree.
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To carry it off, however, was of the greatest difficulty; for not only was the place itself excellently fortified both by nature and by art, but a certain dragon of terrible appearance was also guarding the tree.
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Then Medea, who, as we have shown above, had the greatest knowledge of medicine, steeped in poison a branch which she had torn from the nearest tree.
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When this had been done she drew near the place, and sprinkled the poison over the dragon, which with open jaws was waiting for her coming; then, while the dragon lay overcome with sleep, Jason tore the golden fleece from the tree and withdrew with Medea as quickly as possible.

cēlātum: secret, from celata
ēgregiē: excellently, admirably well
mūnītus: defended, fortified

The Return to the Argo (Fabulae Faciles 73)

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While this was going on, however, the Argonauts, who had been left at the sea, were waiting with anxious minds for Jason's return; for they understood that the task was of the greatest danger.
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After they had waited in vain until sunset, therefore, they began to despair of his safety, and did not doubt that some mischance had happened.
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Since this was so, they judged that they must hurry, in order to bring help to their leader; but while they prepare to set out, they suddenly catch sight of a light shining in a strange manner within the woods, and wondering greatly what the cause of this was, they run together to the place.
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When they had come there, they met Jason and Medea coming towards them, and learned that the golden fleece was the cause of that light.
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With all their fear removed they received their leader with great joy, and gave the greatest thanks to the gods because the thing had turned out so happily.

ānxiō: anxious, uneasy, from anxius
refulgēns: flash back, reflect light, from refulgeo

The Pursuit (Fabulae Faciles 74)

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When this had been done they all boarded the ship again without delay, and having weighed anchor cast off in the first watch; for they did not think it safe enough to stay in that place.
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But king Aeetes, who had already before this been of an unfriendly mind towards them, when he learned that his daughter had not only withdrawn to the Argonauts but had even brought them help in carrying off the fleece, blazed up more seriously at this grief.
108
He ordered a warship to be launched as quickly as possible, and having put soldiers on board, he pursued the fugitives.
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The Argonauts, who knew well that the matter was in a crisis, strained at the oars with all their strength; since, however, the ship in which they sailed was of huge size, they could not go forward at the same speed as the Colchians.
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By this it came about that they were within very little of being caught by the pursuing Colchians, for the distance between was no greater than a weapon could be thrown.
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But Medea, when she saw in what position matters stood, having given up almost all hope, formed this unspeakable plan.

exārsit: kindle, from exardeo
adicī: add, increase, from adicio
īnfandum: unspeakable, unutterable, from infandus

A Fearful Expedient (Fabulae Faciles 75)

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There was in the ship of the Argonauts a certain son of king Aeetes, Absyrtus by name, whom, as we have shown above, Medea had taken away with her when she fled from the city.
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Medea decided to kill this boy with this purpose, that by throwing his limbs into the sea she might hinder the course of the Colchians; for she knew for certain that Aeetes, when he had seen the limbs of his son, would not pursue further.
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And her expectation did not deceive Medea, for everything turned out as she had hoped.
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As soon as Aeetes saw the limbs, he ordered the ship to be held back in order to gather them up.
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While this was going on, however, the Argonauts, without breaking off from the labor of rowing, were soon being carried out of sight of the enemy, and did not stop fleeing until they reached the river Eridanus.
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Aeetes, judging that it would do him no good if he went further, returned home with downcast spirit, in order to give his son's body to burial.

Ēridanum: the Eridanus, a river, from Eridanus
dēmissō: downcast, humble, from demissus

The Bargain with Pelias (Fabulae Faciles 76)

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At last, after many dangers, Jason reached the same place from which he had set out.
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Then, having gone out of the ship, he betook himself at once to king Pelias, who still held the kingship, and having shown him the golden fleece, demanded of him that the kingship be handed over to him; for Pelias had promised that if Jason brought back the fleece, he would hand over the kingship to him.
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After Jason had shown what he wanted done, Pelias at first answered nothing, but for a long time remained silent in the same gloom; at last he spoke thus: "You see that I am now worn out with age, and there is no doubt that my last day is drawing near.
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Let me therefore hold this kingship while I live; but when at last I have died, you will succeed me." Won over by this speech, Jason answered that he would do what the other had asked.

Magic Arts (Fabulae Faciles 77)

122
When she learned this, Medea took the thing hard, and led on by greed for the kingdom decided to bring death on the king by trickery.
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This being decided, she came to the king's daughters and spoke thus: "You see that your father is now worn out with age and is not strong enough to endure the labor of ruling.
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Do you want him to be made young again?" Then the king's daughters answered thus: "Surely this cannot be done?
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For who was ever made a young man out of an old one?" But Medea answered: "You know that I have the greatest knowledge of medicine.
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Now therefore I will show you in what way this thing can be done." After she had made an end of speaking, she killed a ram now worn out with age and put its limbs in a bronze vessel, and having put fire under it she poured certain herbs into the water.
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Then, while the water boiled up, she sang a magic song.
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Soon the ram leapt out of the vessel and with its strength restored ran about through the fields.

cōnstitūtō: meeting, from constitutum
suppositō: place under, from suppono
effervēsceret: boil up, seethe
refectīs: liable to, from refectus

A Dangerous Experiment (Fabulae Faciles 78)

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While the king's daughters were gazing in amazement at this marvel, Medea spoke thus: "You see how much medicine avails.
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You therefore, if you want to bring your father back to youth, will yourselves do what I have done.
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Throw your father's limbs into the vessel; I will supply the magic herbs." When this was heard, the king's daughters thought that the plan which Medea had given them should not be left aside.
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They therefore killed their father Pelias and threw his limbs into the bronze vessel; and they did not doubt at all that this would do him the greatest good.
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But the thing turned out altogether otherwise than they had hoped, for Medea did not give the same herbs which she had used herself.
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And so, after they had waited a long time in vain, they understood that their father was in truth dead.
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When this had been done, Medea hoped that she and her husband would receive the kingship; but the citizens, when they understood in what way Pelias had perished, took so great a crime hard.
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And so, having driven Jason and Medea out of the kingdom, they made Acastus king.

stupentēs: be astounded, from stupeo
adulēscentiam: youth, young manhood, from adulescentia
ūsa: use, make use of, from utor

A Fatal Gift (Fabulae Faciles 79)

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Jason and Medea, driven out of Thessaly, came to the city of Corinth, of which city a certain Creon then held the kingship.
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Creon, moreover, had one daughter, Glauce by name.
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When he had seen her, Jason decided to send notice of divorce to Medea his wife, with this purpose, that he might take Glauce in marriage.
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But when Medea understood what he had in mind, seriously moved by anger she swore an oath that she would avenge so great a wrong.
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She formed therefore this plan.
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She prepared a garment woven with the greatest art and dyed in various colors; this she steeped in a certain deadly poison, whose power was such that if anyone put on that garment, his body would burn as if with fire.
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When this had been done she sent the garment to Glauce; and she, suspecting no harm, gladly accepted the gift, and after the manner of women at once put on the new garment.

iūrandō: oath, from jurandum
tinxit: wet, from tingo
ūrerētur: burn, from uro

Medea Kills Her Sons (Fabulae Faciles 80)

144
Glauce had scarcely put on the garment when she felt a heavy pain through all her limbs, and a little later, seized with cruel torment, departed from life.
145
When this had been done Medea, driven by madness and frenzy, killed her own sons; then, judging that she would be in great danger if she stayed in Thessaly, she decided to flee from that region.
146
This being decided, she prayed to the Sun to grant her help in so great a danger.
147
The Sun, moved by these prayers, sent a chariot to which were yoked dragons equipped with wings.
148
Medea, judging that so great a chance should not be let slip, mounted the chariot, and so, carried through the air, reached the city of Athens unharmed.
149
Jason himself was killed in a short time in a strange way.
150
It happened, whether by chance or by the plan of the gods, that he was sleeping under the shadow of his own ship, which had been drawn up onto the shore.
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Soon the ship, which up to then had stood upright, suddenly slipped down onto that side where Jason was lying and crushed the unlucky man.

adfecta: aim at, desire, from affecto
āmentiā: madness

The particulars

The course: Paine and Mainwaring, Prīmus Annus (Oxford, 1912) and Secundus Annus (1917); Appleton and Jones, Puer Rōmānus (1913); D'Ooge, Latin for Beginners (Boston, 1911); Ritchie, Fabulae Faciles (1903). Public domain. The teaching pages, the glosses and the narration are ours.
Reading aloud: Digital narration, directed by 1732 Studios.
The app: The course on your phone, with the drills, your place kept and the audio offline.
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The book: The Aeneid, the work this course leads to, free to read here.
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