3.822
The Argonautica 3.822 · Dawn3.822Dawn
Lines 822–827. Morning comes, and Argus goes ahead to the ship while his brothers stay behind.
· · ·
δʼ1
d’
And
πυκνὰ2
pyknà
again and againoften
λύεσκε3
lýeske
she undidloosed
ἀνὰ4
anà
—up
κληῖδας5
klēîdas
the boltsbars
ἑῶν6
heôn
of herher own
θυράων7
thyráōn
doors
, σκεπτομένη8
skeptoménē
watchinglooking for
αἴγλην9
aíglēn
for the lightgleam
. δʼ10
d’
And
Ἠριγενής11
Ērigenḗs
Dawnearly-born
βάλε12
bále
castthrew
ἀσπάσιον13
aspásion
a welcome
φέγγος14
phéngos
light
τῇ15
têi
on her
, δʼ16
d’
and
ἕκαστοι17
hékastoi
everyoneeach
κίνυντο18
kínynto
began to stirwere moving
ἀνὰ19
anà
through
πτολίεθρον20
ptolíethron
the town
. ἔνθα21
éntha
Then
Ἄργος22
Árgos
Argus
ἀνώγει23
anṓgei
toldbade
κασιγνήτους24
kasignḗtous
his brothers
μὲν25
mèn
—
μεῖναι26
meînai
to stayto remain
αὐτόθι27
autóthi
there
ἔτʼ28
ét’
still
, ἵνα29
hína
so that
φράζοιντο30
phrázointo
they could watchthey might consider
νόον31
nóon
the mind
καὶ32
kaì
and
μήδεα33
mḗdea
planscounsels
κούρης34
koúrēs
of the girl
; δʼ35
d’
but
αὐτὸς36
autòs
he himself
κίεν37
kíen
went
αὖτʼ38
aût’
backagain
ἐπὶ39
epì
to
νῆα40
nêa
the ship
προπάροιθε41
propároithe
ahead of thembefore
, λιασθείς42
liastheís
parting from themhaving withdrawn
. And again and again she undid the bolts of her doors, watching for the light. And Dawn cast a welcome light on her, and everyone began to stir through the town. Then Argus told his brothers to stay there still, so that they could watch the girl's mind and plans; but he himself went back to the ship ahead of them, parting from them.
And again and again she undid the bolts of her doors, watching for the light. And Dawn cast a welcome light on her, and everyone began to stir through the town. Then Argus told his brothers to stay there still, so that they could watch the girl's mind and plans; but he himself went back to the ship ahead of them, parting from them.
Interpretation
Again and again she unbarred her doors to watch for the light. Then Dawn cast her welcome light on Medea, and everyone began to stir through the town. Argus told his brothers to stay where they were and watch the girl's mind and plans, while he went back ahead of them to the ship.
She keeps unbarring her doors to look for the light, and when Dawn comes, the whole town stirs. Argus, Chalciope's son, leaves his brothers to keep watch on Medea and goes ahead to the Argonauts with the news.
Ἠριγενής, "early-born," is Homer's epithet for Dawn, here standing alone as her name.
3.828
The Argonautica 3.828 · She dresses at first light3.828She dresses at first light
Lines 828–835. Medea dresses and gets ready to go to Hecate's temple at dawn.
· · ·
And when first the girl saw the dawn appearing, she bound up with her hands her golden hair, which had hung loose, trailing down in neglect, and wiped her dry cheeks. Then with nectar-sweet ointment she brightened all over her skin, and put on a lovely robe fastened with well-curved brooches, and over her lovely head she cast a silvery veil.