Argonautica IV 183-235

Ἠὼς μέν ῤ̔ ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἐκίδνατο, τοὶ δ᾽ ἐς ὅμιλον

ἷξον: θάμβησαν δὲ νέοι μέγα κῶας ἰδόντες

λαμπόμενον στεροπῇ ἴκελον Διός. ὦρτο δ᾽ ἕκαστος185

ψαῦσαι ἐελδόμενος δέχθαι τ᾽ ἐνὶ χερσὶν ἑῇσιν.

Αἰσονίδης δ᾽ ἄλλους μὲν ἐρήτυε, τῷ δ᾽ ἐπὶ φᾶρος

κάββαλε νηγάτεον: πρύμνῃ δ᾽ ἐνεείσατο κούρην

ἐνθέμενος, καὶ τοῖον ἔπος μετὰ πᾶσιν ἔειπεν:

μηκέτι νῦν χάζεσθε, φίλοι, πάτρηνδε νέεσθαι.190

ἤδη γὰρ χρειώ, τῆς εἵνεκα τήνδ᾽ ἀλεγεινὴν

ναυτιλίην ἔτλημεν ὀιζύι μοχθίζοντες,

εὐπαλέως κούρης ὑπὸ δήνεσι κεκράανται.

τὴν μὲν ἐγὼν ἐθέλουσαν ἀνάξομαι οἴκαδ᾽ ἄκοιτιν

κουριδίην: ἀτὰρ ὔμμες Ἀχαιίδος οἷά τε πάσης195

αὐτῶν θ᾽ ὑμείων ἐσθλὴν ἐπαρωγὸν ἐοῦσαν

σώετε. δὴ γάρ που, μάλ᾽ ὀίομαι, εἶσιν ἐρύξων

Αἰήτης ὁμάδῳ πόντονδ᾽ ἴμεν ἐκ ποταμοῖο.

ἀλλ᾽ οἱ μὲν διὰ νηός, ἀμοιβαδὶς ἀνέρος ἀνὴρ

ἑζόμενος, πηδοῖσιν ἐρέσσετε: τοὶ δὲ βοείας200

ἀσπίδας ἡμίσεες, δῄων θοὸν ἔχμα βολάων,

προσχόμενοι νόστῳ ἐπαμύνετε. νῦν δ᾽ ἐνὶ χερσὶν

παῖδας ἑοὺς πάτρην τε φίλην, γεραρούς τε τοκῆας

ἴσχομεν: ἡμετέρῃ δ᾽ ἐπερείδεται Ἑλλὰς ἐφορμῇ,

ἠὲ κατηφείην, ἢ καὶ μέγα κῦδος ἀρέσθαι.205

ὧς φάτο, δῦνε δὲ τεύχε᾽ ἀρήια: τοὶ δ᾽ ἰάχησαν

θεσπέσιον μεμαῶτες. ὁ δὲ ξίφος ἐκ κολεοῖο

σπασσάμενος πρυμναῖα νεὼς ἀπὸ πείσματ᾽ ἔκοψεν.

ἄγχι δὲ παρθενικῆς κεκορυθμένος ἰθυντῆρι

Ἀγκαίῳ παρέβασκεν: ἐπείγετο δ᾽ εἰρεσίῃ νηῦς210

σπερχομένων ἄμοτον ποταμοῦ ἄφαρ ἐκτὸς ἐλάσσαι.

ἤδη δ᾽ Αἰήτῃ ὑπερήνορι πᾶσί τε Κόλχοις

Μηδείης περίπυστος ἔρως καὶ ἔργ᾽ ἐτέτυκτο.

ἐς δ᾽ ἀγορὴν ἀγέροντ᾽ ἐνὶ τεύχεσιν: ὅσσα δέ πόντου

κύματα χειμερίοιο κορύσσεται ἐξ ἀνέμοιο,215

ἢ ὅσα φύλλα χαμᾶζε περικλαδέος πέσεν ὕλης

φυλλοχόῳ ἐνὶ μηνί—τίς ἂν τάδε τεκμήραιτο;

ὧς οἱ ἀπειρέσιοι ποταμοῦ παρεμέτρεον ὄχθας,

κλαγγῇ μαιμώοντες: ὁ δ᾽ εὐτύκτῳ ἐνὶ δίφρῳ

Αἰήτης ἵπποισι μετέπρεπεν, οὕς οἱ ὄπασσεν220

ἠέλιος πνοιῇσιν ἐειδομένους ἀνέμοιο,

σκαιῇ μέν ῤ̔ ἐνὶ χειρὶ σάκος δινωτὸν ἀείρων,

τῇ δ᾽ ἑτέρῃ πεύκην περιμήκεα: πὰρ δέ οἱ ἔγχος

ἀντικρὺ τετάνυστο πελώριον. ἡνία δ᾽ ἵππων

γέντο χεροῖν Ἄψυρτος. ὑπεκπρὸ δὲ πόντον ἔταμνεν225

νηῦς ἤδη κρατεροῖσιν ἐπειγομένη ἐρέτῃσιν,

καὶ μεγάλου ποταμοῖο καταβλώσκοντι ῥεέθρῳ.

αὐτὰρ ἄναξ ἄτῃ πολυπήμονι χεῖρας ἀείρας

ἠέλιον καὶ Ζῆνα κακῶν ἐπιμάρτυρας ἔργων

κέκλετο: δεινὰ δὲ παντὶ παρασχεδὸν ἤπυε λαῷ230

εἰ μή οἱ κούρην αὐτάγρετον, ἢ ἀνὰ γαῖαν,

ἢ πλωτῆς εὑρόντες ἔτ᾽ εἰν ἁλὸς οἴδματι νῆα,

ἄξουσιν, καὶ θυμὸν ἐνιπλήσει μενεαίνων

τίσασθαι: "κεφαλῇσι δαήσεσθε σφετέρῃσι

πάντα χόλον καὶ πᾶσαν ἑὴν ὑποδέγμενοι ἄτην." 235

The Argonauts begin their Return

A speech of encouragement from Jason before the Argonauts make their escape. This is reported in direct speech. By contrast, it is followed by Aietes' threats stated indirectly (though see n. 233-5.)

183  ἐκίδνατο: "was spreading," < κίδναμαι: imperf. ind. pass. 3rd. sg. (Il. 8.1, 24.695). The episode of winning the Fleece is over and is marked, as it was at the beginning, by a time-indication (109–14n.)

184–5 In Homer, θάμβος often describes astonishment at a new event. στεροπῇ ἴκελον Διός: continues the fire-imagery of 173, φλογὶ εἴκελον.

185  ὦρτο δʼ ἕκαστος / ψαῦσαι ἐελδόμενος: “Everyone rose up, eager to touch it.”

186 δέχθαι: < δέχομαι ("take, accept, receive"): aor. inf. mid. (epic). ἐνὶ χερσὶν ἑῇσιν: for the assonance cf. 194, 196, 197, 199, 204, 211, 213.

187  τῷ δ᾽ ἐπὶ: "and upon it"

188  κάββαλε: "he threw" < καταβάλλω, aor. ind. act. 3rd. sg. (Homeric).

188   ἐνεείσατο: "he sat (her) down," aor. mid. > ἐνίζω. A slight textual change to πρύμνῃ δ ̓ ἔνι εἴσατο κούρην would invite the reader to contrast the form with the end of line 145, or even 119 in the sense that Jason is ‘establishing’ or ‘setting up’ (LSJ 2. ἵζω) Medea as part of a triumphal monument by sitting her on the Fleece.

189  ἐνθέμενος: “having put her on board.”

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For the transmitted ἀνθέμενος cf. Xen. Anab. 2.2.4; also (LSJ B1). Read ἐνθέμενος instead and cf. Od. 5.166 (where Calypso is talking about the provisions that she is going to put on board Odysseus’s raft), Antiphon 5.39 ἐνθεις τινα εἰς τὸ πλοῖον; and particularly Arg. 1.357–8.

189–205: Both leaders exhort their troops before operations commence, although the two sides do not engage (202–4n.). Jason's words are directly reported; Aietes' in indirect speech. Jason’s speech recalls Eur. IT 1385–91.

190  μηκέτι νῦν: a frequent opening of Homeric speeches of exhortation (e.g. Il. 15.426). Jason is again portrayed as indulging in mock heroics. The beginning of his speech is something of an oxymoron: ‘Do not give ground . . . to get away!’

191–2  ἔτλημεν: "we endured," < τλάω: aor. ind. act. 1st. pl.

193  εὐπαλέως κούρης ὑπὸ δήνεσι κεκράανται: “has easily been accomplished by the girl's skills.” κεκράανται: < κραίνω: perf. ind. m/p. 3rd. sg. (epic), marking the climax of the complex sentence.

194–5  “With her consent (ἐθέλουσαν), I will bring her (τήν) home as my lawful wife.” This line carries with it dubious connotations; cf. Od. 3.272: (Aegisthus and Clytemnestra) The link with Aegisthus and the deceptions of the end of the Odyssey is a hint at the way in which Jason’s proposal will develop. Jason has made a solemn promise (96–8n.) and undertaking which Medea will have to frighten him into keeping and which he will then break, when offered a better opportunity in Corinth. He is explicit here in describing the union as a marriage, a dubious statement seeing that Medea has been taken from her father, not given by him.

195  οἷά τε: "in as much as," indicating the reason for what said. This is a Homeric usage (LSJ οἷος II.3).

195–7  “But do you save her, as the salvation of the whole of Greece and you yourselves.” There are many parallels for this exhortation in pre-battle oratory. The most famous is probably the anonymous shout before the battle of Salamis at Aesch. Pers. 402–4 (202–4n.). σώετε is forcefully placed, emphasising the contrast between 190–4 (which could be paraphrased as, ‘our αἔθλον has been achieved by Medea’) and the rest of the speech, in which the Argonauts are exhorted to fight for all Achaea.

197  δὴ γάρ που, μάλʼ ὀίομαι: the run of short particles (δὴ γάρ που, μάλ) conveys nervous apprehension at the prospect of encountering Aietes. δὴ γάρ gives strong emphasis, with που adding a note of diffidence (quickly masked by the assertive μάλʼ ὀίομαι). The prospect of being caught by him is the threat and as such his name occupies the first position in the next line.

197–8  εἶσιν ἐρύξων ... ἴμεν: "(Aietes) will come to prevent (us) from going," future participle expressing intention. ἴμεν = ἱέναι, infin. < εἷμι.

199–200 "Therefore every other man through the length of the ship should sit and ply the oars.” For the construction of ἑζόμενος, see K–G II 288. It seems in partial apposition to the main verb (ἐρέσσετε).

200–2  βοείας / ἀσπίδας: is the object of the participle προσχόμενοι (202).

201 δῄων θοὸν ἔχμα βολάων: “a swift barrier against enemy missiles.” The phrase suits a speech in which Jason adopts the role of valiant but verbose leader after the dangerous work has been done by Medea. The simpler phrase would be θοὸν σάκος (1.743). προσχόμενοι: “holding (a shield or a weapon) before one.” ἐπαμύνετε: ironically recalls Hector’s words at Il. 12.243 and military exhortations such as Thuc. 3.14.

202–4 νῦν ἐνὶ χερσὶν . . . ἴσχομεν: “Now we have in our hands . . .” Jason continues the emotive rhetoric. The ascending tricolon with ‘love of country’ embedded between ‘love for children and parents’ adds to the emotion of the appeal. However, as elsewhere in the poem, the theme of a warrior arming or preparations for combat never leads to an actual confrontation. ἑός used for the first person plural is an Alexandrian innovation.

204–5  ἡμετέρῃ . . .ἀρέσθαι: “Hellas depends upon our enterprise, as to whether it will achieve despair or great glory.” Jason's final flourish recalls Sarpedon's similar philosophy at Il. 12.328 as he exhorts Glaucus to attack the Trojan wall. Gylippus and the Spartan generals end their final speech with a similar aphorism at Thuc. 7.68: “of the dangers these are the rarest when failure brings no great loss and success confers no little gain”, and there is a similar sentiment at Catull. 64.102 aut mortem appeteret Theseus aut praemia laudis.

204  ἐπερείδεται: the metaphorical use of the verb enhances Jason’s appeal, together with the use of ἐφορμῇ. While the verb (ἐφορμάω) is common in Homer, the noun occurs only at Od. 22.130 μία δ ̓ οἴη γίνετ ̓ ἐφορμή. The Spartan king Archidamus expresses a similar martial sentiment before an invasion of Attica at Thuc. 2.11.2 ἡ γὰρ Ἑλλὰς πᾶσα τῇδε τῇ ὁρμῇ ἐπῆρται. At the end of such a speech the expected sentiment is ‘Let us do our best and either win glory or die in the attempt.’ κατηφείη, ‘dejection’ is more in keeping with Jason’s character as a sometime sufferer of ἀμηχανία.

206-7  ὥς φάτο . . . μεμαῶτες: as often, a loud roar greets the encouragement to battle.

208   recalls Od. 10.126–7 (Odysseus’s flight from the Laestrygonians) A. omits the formulaic adjectives (ὀξὺ, κυανοπρῴροιο), shortens the formula by leaving out παρὰ μηροῦ and instead of ἐρυσσάμενος he uses σπασσάμενος. He adopts a more complicated word order (nn. 83–4, 143–4), with hyperbaton of ξίφος . . . σπασσάμενος, separation of πρυμναῖα and πείσματ(α), and tmesis of ἀποκόπτω. πρυμναῖα is a coinage by A. The usual phrases occur at Od. 12.148.

209–10  ἄγχι δὲ παρθενικῆς . . . παρέβασκεν: “armed, he took his place, near to the maiden, next to the steersman Ancaeus.” The imagery is both that of charioteer and steersman, even though Jason and Medea are in the prow of the ship. These lines are neatly balanced by 224–7. Framed between is the simile of the leaves and the elaborate description of Aietes in full armour. The focus of the narrative switches between Colchians and Argonauts in almost cinematic fashion.

209 ἰθυντῆρι: ἱθυντήρ is a rare synonym for κυβερνήτης.The verb ἰθυνω is commonly used of guiding a chariot.

210 παρέβασκεν: "took his place next to" + dat. This form of παραβαίνω occurs only at Il. 11.104. The παραβάτης is used of the warrior who stands beside the charioteer ( Il. 23.132.)

210–11  ἐπείγετο . . . ἐκτὸς ἐλάσσαι: ‘The ship sped forward by the rowing of the men very eager to drive the ship outside the river without delay.” A. alludes to longer Homeric formulae such as Od. 4.579–80.

212–13  ἤδη δʼ Αἰήτῃ . . . ἔργ(α) ἐτέτυκτο: “Already Medea's love and deeds were fully known to proud Aietes and all the Colchians.” The sudden transition between Argonauts and Colchians is marked by ἤδη, which often denotes a change of scene. The adjectives περίπυστος and ὑπερήνωρ emphasise the split between father and daughter, the former marking Medea’s now notorious reputation, and the latter alluding to Aietes’ character and used of Pelias, also an overbearing tyrant, at Hes. Th. 995.

214  ἐς δʼ ἀγορὴν ἀγέροντʼ ἐνὶ τεύχεσιν: "They gathered for their meeting, armed.” (Il. 2.92–3, 18.245 ἐς δ ̓ ἀγορὴν ἀγέροντο). It was unusual to attend an agora under arms (Il. 2.808 ). Used here, the phrase suggests that the time for discussion or persuasion is over: only fighting can sort things out now.

214–15 ὅσσα δέ πόντου / κύματα χειμερίοιο κορύσσεται ἐξ ἀνέμοιο: “As many as the waves of the sea raised into a crest by a stormy wind.” The emphasis on the great size of the Colchian horde reminds the reader of the historical parallel of Xerxes and the Persians versus small bands of Greeks. The model for the first part of A.’s simile is Il. 4.422–4.

216–7  ἢ ὅσα φύλλα . . . (τίς ἂν τάδε τεκμήραιτο;): “Or as many as the leaves that fall to the ground in a dense wood in the leaf-shedding month – who could count them?” The accumulated similes enable A. to explore the scene described from every angle. The Colchians are like the waves, but are also compared to falling leaves, numberless but signaling death and futility. περικλαδέος: A. is especially fond of alliteration in π (1.157, 1.169, 1.634, 1.671 and especially 2.937 πρηυτάτου ποταμοῦ, παρεμέτρεον).

217 τίς ἂν τάδε τεκμήραιτο: the rhetorical questions draw the reader into the passage ( Il. 9.77, Pind. O. 2.98–100).

218–19  ὧς οἱ ἀπειρέσιοι . . . μαιμώοντες: “Like this, the hordes were passing by the banks of the river, screaming in their eagerness.” The Colchians are going to an assembly and have not yet set sail (214). In A. παραμετρέω always means ‘pass by’ (cf. 1.595, 1.1166, 2.937). This seems strange until one remembers that ὄχθαι is the ‘built-up’ bank of a river (Il. 21.171–2).

219–21  ὁ δʼ εὐτύκτῳ ἐνὶ δίφρῳ / Αἰήτης . . . πνοιῇσιν ἐειδομένους ἀνέμοιο: “In his finely-wrought chariot Aietes was resplendent with the horses that the Sun had given as swift as the wind.” As the early dawn (110–11) fades and the sun rises, so does Aietes, the son of Helios. His son, Apsyrtus, is sometimes known as Phaethon (3.245,1235, 4.598). The present description of Aietes—spear in one hand, torch in the other, a companion in the chariot—refers to his ancestry. He is conspicuous (μετέπρεπεν) and so his name comes early in the sentence, while ἐειδομένους, used of his horses, suggests physical similarity with gusts of wind. The present passage recalls Il. 8.434 = 13.25–6 which describes the travels of Zeus and Poseidon respectively. These Homeric allusions connect particularly with the parallel scene at 3.1225–45. During this passage Aietes is explicitly compared to Poseidon, who is the patron god of Pelias, Jason’s enemy. Just as Poseidon pursues Odysseus relentlessly, so Aietes will track Jason and Medea. In Aietes’ case, although he has received the gift of swift horses, they will not help him to catch the fleeing Argo.

222–4  σκαιῇ μέν ῥ ̓ ἐνὶ χειρὶ σάκος . . . ἔγχος / ἀντικρὺ τετάνυστο πελώριον: “in his left hand, raising his circular shield and in the other a huge torch, and beside him lay his mighty spear, close at hand.” The Homeric warrior brandishes his spear but uses his shield for protection Il. 8.424. At the moment Aietes is more concerned to light the morning gloom with his torch and burn the Argo than to fling his spear after a fleeing Jason. The massive spear reminds us of his prowess as a fighter, but the torch conveys the imminent threat and its blaze suits the son of the Sun. Alliteration of π reinforces the threat that Aietes’ torch presents for the retreating Argo. Callimachus alludes to the story in passing in a different context (fr. 7.19– 21: The return of the Argonauts and the rite at Anaphe). Hector appears twice with a spear ‘eleven cubits’ long (Il. 6.319, 8.494); Achilles’ enormous spear is described at Il. 16.141 = 19.388. Aietes has temporarily put his spear to one side. For τανύω with ἔγχος, see Od. 15.282–3. ἀντικρύ stresses that the spear is to hand, ready for action. πελώριον fits with the picture of an Aietes of superhuman stature.

224–5  ἡνία δ ̓ ἵππων / γέντο χεροῖν Ἄψυρτος: “and Apsyrtus seized in his hands the reins of the steeds.” A adds a lexical rarity (γέντο = εἵλε / εἵλετο) and writes χεροῖν instead of χερσίν. Homer has γέντο δὲ χειρί (Il. 18.476), γέντο δ ̓ ἱμάσθλην (Il. 8.43), Call. h. 6.43 γέντο δὲ χειρί; no other part of this verb occurs in extant literature. The section ends, perhaps with sinister significance, by naming Apsyrtus and then switching in the middle of the line to the escaping Argo.

225–7  ὑπεκπρὸ δὲ πόντον ἔταμνεν / νηῦς . . . ῥεέθρῳ: “But already the ship was beginning to cut through the sea, urged on by its strong oarsmen, and the stream of the mighty river rushing down.” The scene reverts back to the Argo. The unusual ὑπεκπροτάμνω marks the switch to the Argo and stresses that the Argonauts were making the quickest possible getaway. The ship leaps forward as it gathers speed. This is also underlined by ἤδη marking a change of scene or stressing the immediate moment. The prominent position of νηῦς makes the Argo into a character in its own right. The rare καταβλώσκω (in Homer only at Od. 16.466) is used instead of κατέρχομαι.

228–30  αὐτὰρ ἄναξ . . . παρασχεδὸν ἤπυε λαῷ: “But the king in grievous anguish lifted his hands, calling on Helios and Zeus to bear witness to their evil deeds; and, from close at hand, uttered terrible threats against all his people.” Aietes utters his threats at short range (παρασχεδὸν ἔκφατο μῦθον). The threatening nature of Aietes’ words is emphasised by the frequency of π (ἤπυε with παρασχεδόν, together with the tricolon πάντα ~ πάντα ~ πᾶσαν; There is irony involved in the phrase κακῶν . . . ἔργων, as there are still more evil deeds to come – the death of Apsyrtus. The gesture of raised arms and hands is a universal one in ancient cultures, when seeking to invoke divine powers. For combined appeals to both Zeus and Helios, with Zeus first, cf. Il. 3.276-7, For Helios as witness of right dealing: Od. 8.271, 302.

231–5  Aietes’ threats to his people, reported in indirect speech, contrast with Jason’s pre-battle rhetoric (6–9n.). The speech’s violence is intensified by the jerky syntax and word order, the forced antithesis between ‘land and sea’ at 231, the awkward word order at 232 and the violent change of subject from ἄξουσιν to ἐνιπλήσει. The speech characterises a barbarian tyrant uttering imprecations against a band of Greeks.

231–3  εἰ μή οἱ κούρην . . . ἄξουσιν: “that unless they immediately captured his daughter, through their own efforts and brought her to him, whether they found her on land or found the ship, on the swell of the navigable sea.” Here αὐτάγρετος means ‘immediate capture by one’s own hands or efforts.’ The syntax of ἢ πλωτῆς εὑρόντες is disjointed, conveying Aietes’ anger.

233–5  καὶ θυμὸν . . . ὑποδέγμενοι ἄτην: “and he will fulfil his angry rage, eager to avenge everything that had happened, they will learn with their heads all his anger and experience the fullest of his misfortune.” This is the kind of language associated with tyrants such as Dareios, and Antigonos (228–30n.). The violent expression, δαήσονται κεφαλῇσι recalls Il. 4.161–2, Od. 22.217–8. ἑὴν ὑποδέγμενοι ἄτην: Od. 13.310 = 16.189. By their suffering the Colchians will learn what the king is suffering in losing his daughter and the Fleece. ἑός: used for the third person plural. A recently published papyrus (P.Oxy. 5425) has δαήσεσθε, which may necessitate a reassessment of how Aietes’ speech is understood; see further (Benaissa, Slattery, and Henry 2019, 107). The switch from indirect to direct speech in the middle of an oration is unique in Greek epic. The text printed is owed to Ed. Princeps.

 

 

ἠώς, ἠοῦς ἡ, dawn, morning-red

κίδναμαι, to be spread abroad

ὅμιλος, -ου, ὁ, crowd

θαμβέω, to be astounded, amazed

λάμπω, to give light, shine 185

στεροπή, ἡ, a flash of lightning

ἴκελος, like, resembling

ὄρνυμι, rise up

ψαύω, to touch

ἔλδομαι, to wish, long

ἐρητύω, to keep back, restrain, check

φᾶρος, τό, a large piece of cloth, a web

καταβάλλω, to throw down

νηγάτεος, η, ον, new-made

πρύμνη, ἡ, the stern

ἐνίζω, ἐνιζήσω, aor. 1 Med. ἐνεείσατο, to seat oneself; cause to sit.

ἀνατίθημι, ἀναθήσω, ἀνέθηκα, ἀνατέθηκα, --- ,ἀνέτέθην, to lay upon, put on board

ἔπος, -ους, τό, word

μηκέτι, no more, no longer 190

χάζω, draw back, recoil

νέομαι, to go

χρεώ, want, need

ἕνεκα, on account of

ἀλεγεινός, ή, όν, hard

ναυτιλίη, ἡ, voyage

τλάω, to take upon oneself, to bear, suffer, undergo

ὀϊζ-ύς, ύος, ἡ, woe, misery

μοχθίζω, to suffer

εὐπᾰλής, ές, easy

δήνεα, τά, counsels, plans

κρᾰνέω, aor. ἔκρᾱνα, pf. pass. κέκρανται, aor. pass. ἐκράνθην, to accomplish, fulfil, bring to pass

ἀνάγω, ἀνάξω, ἀνήγαγον, ἀνῆχα, ἀνῆγμαι, ἀνήχθην, to lead, take

ἄκοιτις, ἡ, a spouse, wife

κουρίδιος, α, ον, wedded 195

ὔμμες, Aeolic and Epic form of ὑμεῖς, you (pl.)

Ἀχαιΐς, ΐδος, ἡ, the Achaian land

οἷά τε, as (see notes: LSJ s.v. οἷος)

ἑσθλός, -ή, -όν, good

ἐπᾰρωγός, ὁ, a helper, aider

σώω, Epic for σῴζω, σώσω, ἔσωσα, σέσωκα, σέσωσμαι, ἐσώθην, save

οἴομαι, οἰήσομαι, impf. ᾤμην, aor. ᾠήθην, think, believe

ἐρύκω, to keep in, hold back, keep in check, curb, restrain

ὅμᾰδος, ὁ, a force

ἀμοιβαδίς, by turns, alternately

ἕζομαι, sit down 200

πηδός, ὁ, the blade of an oar

ἐρέσσω, to row

βόειος, α, ον, of an ox

ἀσπίς, -ίδος, ἡ, shield

ἥμῐσυς, -εια, -υ, half

δήϊος, η, ον, hostile, destructive

ἔχμα, ατος, τό, that which holds, defence, bulwark

βολή, ἡ, a throw, the stroke

προέχω, to hold before

ἐπαμύνω, to come to aid, defend, assist

πάτρη, ἡ, native land

γεραρός, ά, όν, revered, respected

τοκεύς, έως, ὁ, parent

ἴσχω, have, hold

ἐπερείδω, depend, lean on

ἐφορμή, ἡ, enterprise, venture

κατήφεια, ἡ, dejection, sorrow, shame 205

κῦδος, -εος, τό, glory, majesty, might

αἴρω, ἀρῶ, ἦρα, ἦρκα, ἦρμαι, ἤρθην, take, achieve

δὐω, -δύσω, -έδυσα, (or ἔδυν,) δέδυκα, δέδυμαι, εδύθην, put on, dress in

τεῦχος, -εος, τό, arms, weapons

ἀρήϊος, η, ον, warlike

ἰαχέω, to cry, shout, shriek

θεσπέσιον, (adv.) prodigiously, unspeakablyg

μάω, be eager, press on

ξίφος, -ους, τό, sword

κολεός, ὁ, sheath of a sword

σπάω, to draw (a sword)

πρυμναῖος, α, ον, of a ship’s-stern

κόπτω, κόψω, ἔκοψα, κέκοφα, κέκομμαι, ἐκόπην, cut

ἄγχι, near

παρθενική, ἡ, unmarried girl

κορύσσω, to furnish, equip

ἰθυντήρ, ὁ, a guide, pilot

Ἀγκαῖος, ὁ, Ancaeus (an Argonaut)

παραβαίνω, παραβήσομαι, παρέβην, παραβέβαμαι, παρεβάθην, stand beside 210

ἐπείγω, ἐπείξομαι, ἤπειξα, ---, ἤπειγμαι, ἐπείχθην, speed, press hard

εἰρεσίη, ἡ, rowing

σπέρχω, to set in rapid motion

ἄμοτον, continually, furiously

ἄφαρ, straightway,at once

ἐκτός, without, outside

ἐλαύνω, ἐλῶ, ἤλασα, ἐλήλακα, ἐλήλαμαι, ἐλάθην, to drive, set in motion

ὑπερήνωρ, -ορος, ὁ, overbearing, arrogant

περίπυστος, ον, widely known

ἔρως, -ωτος, ὁ, love, desire

τεύχω, τεύξω, ἔτευξα, τέτευχα, τέτυγμαι, ἐτύχθην, make

ἀγορή, ἡ, assembly

ἀγείρω, ἤγειρα, ἀγήγερμαι, ἠγέρθην, gather, collect

τεῦχος, -εος, τό, arms, tackle

ὅσος, -η, -ον, as great as, as many as

κῦμα, -ατος, τό, wave 215

χειμέριος, α, ον, wintry, stormy

κορύσσω, rise (with a crest)

ἄνεμος, -ου, ὁ, wind, spirit

φύλλον, τό, a leaf

χαμᾶζε, to the ground, on the ground

περικλαδής, ές, with branches all round

πίπτω, πεσοῦμαι, ἔπεσον, πέπτωκα, --- ---, to fall

ὕλη, ἡ, wood

φυλλοχόος, ον, shedding the leaves.

μείς, μηνός, ὁ, month

τεκμαίρομαι, count

ἀπειρέσιος, α, ον, boundless, immense, countless

παραμετρέω, to pass by, pass along

ὄχθη, ἡ, a rising ground, a bank, dyke

κλαγγή, ἡ, any sharp sound

μαιμάω, to be very eager, pant

εὔτυκτος, ον, well-made, well-wrought

δίφρος, ὁ, chariot

μεταπρέπω, to stand out, shine forth 220

ὀπάζω, bestow, give as a gift

Ἠέλιος, -ου, ὁ, the Sun god

πνοιή, ἡ, a blowing, blast, breeze

εἴδομαι, to be visible; (mid.) to resemble

σκαιός, ά, όν, left

σάκος, -εος τό, shield

δῑνωτός, ή, όν, turned, rounded

ἀείρω, to lift, raise up

ἕτερος, -α, -ον, the other of two

πεύκη, ἡ, pine-torch

περιμήκης, ες, very tall

ἔγχος, -ου, τό, spear, lance

ἀντικρύ, over against, right opposite

τανύω, stretch, lie

πελώριος, ον, gigantic

ἡνία, τά, reins

γέντο, he grasped, = ἔλαβεν 225

ὑπεκπροτάμνω, to cut through going forward

κρᾰτερός, ά, όν, strong, stout, mighty, = καρτερός,

ἐπείγω, to drive on, urge forward

καταβλώσκω, to go down or through, poet. for κατέρχομαι

ῥέεθρον, τό, τhat which flows, a river, stream

πολυπήμων, -ον, gen. -ονος, causing manifold woe, baneful

ἐπιμάρτῠρος, ὁ, witness to one's word

κέλομαι, urge, exhort, command 230

παρασχεδόν, beside, near, close at hand

ἠπύω, call, invoke; utter

αὐτάγρετος, -ον, taken by one's own hands or exertions

πλωτός, ή, όν, floating, navigable

οἶδμα, ατος, τό, swell (of the sea)

ἐμπίπλημι, ἐνιπλήσω, fill, fulfil

μενεαίνω, desire earnestly or eagerly

τίνω, to pay the price, τῑσασθαι, aor inf mid

δάω, δαήσομαι to learn

ὑποδέχομαι, to receive, submit to (ὑποδέγμενοι: aor. part.) 235

 

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Suggested Citation

Peter Hulse. Apollonius: Argonautica Book IV. Carlisle, Pennsylvania: Dickinson College Commentaries, 2022. ISBN: 978-1-947822-21-4. https://dcc.dickinson.edu/apollonius-argonautica/argonautica-iv-183-235