The Argonautica

set us some other trial still more cruel than this one.

But if you desire full knowledge of my rugged native homeland,

I shall tell you; for my own heart strongly urges me onward.

There is a land encircled round by sheer and lofty mountains,

rich beyond measure in sheep and in pastures, where Prometheus,

Prometheus, son of Iapetus, fathered noble Deucalion,

who first made cities and built sacred temples for

the deathless gods, and first held kingship over mortals.

The neighboring peoples call that country Haemonia.

Within it stands Iolcus, my city, and within it many

other cities are settled; there no one has heard the name

of the Aeaean island. Yet Minyas set out from Haemonia,

Minyas, descended from Aeolus, founded, as rumor tells,

long ago Orchomenus, bordering lands of the Cadmeians.

But why do I tell you all these words idly cast to the wind,

our home and Ariadne, whose fame travels far away,

the daughter of Minos--that was the glorious name they gave

that lovely maiden--the very one you asked me to name?

Would that, as Minos then reached agreement with Theseus

for Ariadne's sake, your father might become a friend to us.

So he spoke, gently soothing her spirit with soft conversation.

But bitterest anguish kept stirring the heart within her,

and deep in grief addressed the stranger in impassioned words:

In Hellas, perhaps, it is noble to honor sworn agreements.