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The Argonautica

Apollonius of Rhodes

  • Poetry
  • Book language: English
  • 330 pages

The Argonautica by Apollonius of Rhodes is an ancient Greek epic poem about Jason and the Argonauts' voyage to Colchis for the Golden Fleece. It follows the building of the Argo, the gathering of heroes such as Orpheus, and their sea adventures. It is worth listening to for its vivid narrative and its place in Hellenistic poetry.

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Text source: standardebooks.org · The work is in the public domain.

Opening of the book

Book I

First in my song shalt thou be, O Phoebus, the song that I sing

Of the heroes of old, who sped, at the hest of Pelias the king,

When down through the gorge of the Pontus-sea, through the Crags

Dark-blue,

On the Quest of the Fleece of Gold the strong-ribbed Argo flew.

For an oracle came unto Pelias, how that in days to be

A terrible doom should be dealt him of him whom his eyes should see

From the field coming in, with the one foot only sandal-shod.

Nor long thereafter did Jason fulfil the word of the God:

For in wading the rush of Amaurus swollen with wintertide rain

One sandal plucked he forth of the mire, but the one was he fain

To leave in the depths, for the swirl of the waters to sweep to the main.

Straightway to the presence of Pelias he came, and his hap was to light

On a banquet, the which unto Father Poseidon the king had dight,

And the rest of the Gods, but Pelasgian Hêrê he heeded not.

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Contents

  1. Book I
  2. Book II
  3. Book III
  4. Book IV
  5. The Translator’s Epilogue
  6. Endnotes

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