a　fair　mantle　of　double　fold；　which　his　sister　Pelopeia　had　given　him。　　Still　Jason　forebore　from　asking　them　about　each　point　but　bade　all　be　seated　for　an　assembly。　　And　there；　upon　the　folded　sails　and　the　mast　as　it　lay　on　the　ground；　they　all　took　their　seats　in　order。　　And　among　them　with　goodwill　spake　Aeson's　son：
  （ll。　332…340）　　〃All　the　equipment　that　a　ship　needs　for　all　is　in　due　orderlies　ready　for　our　departure。　　Therefore　we　will　make　no　long　delay　in　our　sailing　for　these　things'　sake；　when　the　breezes　but　blow　fair。　　But；　friends；for　common　to　all　is　our　return　to　Hellas　hereafter；　and　common　to　all　is　our　path　to　the　land　of　Aeetesnow　therefore　with　ungrudging　heart　choose　the　bravest　to　be　our　leader；　who　shall　be　careful　for　everything；　to　take　upon　him　our　quarrels　and　covenants　with　strangers。〃
  （ll。　341…344）　　Thus　he　spake；　and　the　young　heroes　turned　their　eyes　towards　bold　Heracles　sitting　in　their　midst；　and　with　one　shout　they　all　enjoined　upon　him　to　be　their　leader；　but　he；　from　the　place　where　he　sat；　stretched　forth　his　right　hand　and　said：
  （ll。　345…347）　　〃Let　no　one　offer　this　honour　to　me。　　For　I　will　not　consent；　and　I　will　forbid　any　other　to　stand　up。　　Let　the　hero　who　brought　us　together；　himself　be　the　leader　of　the　host。〃
  （ll。　348…350）　　Thus　he　spake　with　high　thoughts；　and　they　assented；　as　Heracles　bade；　and　warlike　Jason　himself　rose　up；　glad　at　heart；　and　thus　addressed　the　eager　throng：
  （ll。　351…362）　　〃If　ye　entrust　your　glory　to　my　care；　no　longer　as　before　let　our　path　be　hindered。　　Now　at　last　let　us　propitiate　Phoebus　with　sacrifice　and　straightway　prepare　a　feast。　　And　until　my　thralls　come；　the　overseers　of　my　steading；　whose　care　it　is　to　choose　out　oxen　from　the　herd　and　drive　them　hither；　we　will　drag　down　the　ship　to　the　sea；　and　do　ye　place　all　the　tackling　within；　and　draw　lots　for　the　benches　for　rowing。　Meantime　let　us　build　upon　the　beach　an　altar　to　Apollo　Embasius　（1）　who　by　an　oracle　promised　to　point　out　and　show　me　the　paths　of　the　sea；　if　by　sacrifice　to　him　I　should　begin　my　venture　for　King　Pelias。〃
  （ll。　363…393）　　He　spake；　and　was　the　first　to　turn　to　the　work；　and　they　stood　up　in　obedience　to　him；　and　they　heaped　their　garments；　one　upon　the　other；　on　a　smooth　stone；　which　the　sea　did　not　strike　with　its　waves；　but　the　stormy　surge　had　cleansed　it　long　before。　　First　of　all；　by　the　command　of　Argus；　they　strongly　girded　the　ship　with　a　rope　well　twisted　within；　（2）　stretching　it　tight　on　each　side；　in　order　that　the　planks　might　be　well　compacted　by　the　bolts　and　might　withstand　the　opposing　force　of　the　surge。　　And　they　quickly　dug　a　trench　as　wide　as　the　space　the　ship　covered；　and　at　the　prow　as　far　into　the　sea　as　it　would　run　when　drawn　down　by　their　hands。　　And　they　ever　dug　deeper　in　front　of　the　stem；　and　in　the　furrow　laid　polished　rollers；　and　inclined　the　ship　down　upon　the　first　rollers；　that　so　she　might　glide　and　be　borne　on　by　them。　　And　above；　on　both　sides；　reversing　the　oars；　they　fastened　them　round　the　thole…　pins；　so　as　to　project　a　cubit's　space。　　And　the　heroes　themselves　stood　on　both　sides　at　the　oars　in　a　row；　and　pushed　forward　with　chest　and　hand　at　once。　　And　then　Tiphys　leapt　on　board　to　urge　the　youths　to　push　at　the　right　moment；　and　calling　on　them　he　shouted　loudly；　and　they　at　once；　leaning　with　all　their　strength；　with　one　push　started　the　ship　from　her　place；　and　strained　with　their　feet；　forcing　her　onward；　and　Pelian　Argo　followed　swiftly；　and　they　on　each　side　shouted　as　they　rushed　on。　　And　then　the　rollers　groaned　under　the　sturdy　keel　as　they　were　chafed；　and　round　them　rose　up　a　dark　smoke　owing　to　the　weight；　and　she　glided　into　the　sea；　but　the　heroes　stood　there　and　kept　dragging　her　back　as　she　sped　onward。　　And　round　the　thole…pins　they　fitted　the　oars；　and　in　the　ship　they　placed　the　mast　and　the　well…made　sails　and　the　stores。
  （ll。　394…401）　　Now　when　they　had　carefully　paid　heed　to　everything；　first　they　distributed　the　benches　by　lot；　two　men　occupying　one　seat；　but　the　middle　bench　they　chose　for　Heracles　and　Ancaeus　apart　from　the　other　heroes；　Ancaeus　who　dwelt　in　Tegea。　　For　them　alone　they　left　the　middle　bench　just　as　it　was　and　not　by　lot；　and　with　one　consent　they　entrusted　Tiphys　with　guarding　the　helm　of　the　well…stemmed　ship。
  （ll。　402…410）　　Next；　piling　up　shingle　near　the　sea；　they　raised　there　an　altar　on　the　shore　to　Apollo；　under　the　name　of　Actius　（3）　and　Embasius；　and　quickly　spread　above　it　logs　of　dried　olive…wood。　　Meantime　the　herdsmen　of　Aeson's　son　had　driven　before　them　from　the　herd　two　steers。　　These　the　younger　comrades　dragged　near　the　altars；　and　the　others　brought　lustral　water　and　barley　meal；　and　Jason　prayed；　calling　on　Apollo　the　god　of　his　fathers：
  （ll。　411…424）　　〃Hear；　O　King；　that　dwellest　in　Pagasae　and　the　city　Aesonis；　the　city　called　by　my　father's　name；　thou　who　didst　promise　me；　when　I　sought　thy　oracle　at　Pytho；　to　show　the　fulfilment　and　goal　of　my　journey；　for　thou　thyself　hast　been　the　cause　of　my　venture；　now　do　thou　thyself　guide　the　ship　with　my　comrades　safe　and　sound；　thither　and　back　again　to　Hellas。　　Then　in　thy　honour　hereafter　we　will　lay　again　on　thy　altar　the　bright　offerings　of　bullsall　of　us　who　return；　and　other　gifts　in　countless　numbers　I　will　bring　to　Pytho　and　Ortygia。　　And　now；　come；　Far…darter；　accept　this　sacrifice　at　our　hands；　which　first　of　all　we　have　offered　thee　for　this　ship　on　our　embarcation；　and　grant；　O　King；　that　with　a　prosperous　weird　I　may　loose　the　hawsers；　relying　on　thy　counsel；　and　may　the　breeze　blow　softly　with　which　we　shall　sail　over　the　sea　in　fair　weather。〃
  （ll。　425…439）　　He　spake；　and　with　his　prayer　cast　the　barley　meal。　　And　they　two　girded　themselves　to　slay　the　steers；　proud　Ancaeus　and　Heracles。　　The　latter　with　his　club　smote　one　steer　mid…head　on　the　brow；　and　falling　in　a　heap　on　the　spot；　it　sank　to　the　ground；　and　Ancaeus　struck　the　broad　neck　of　the　other　with　his　axe　of　bronze；　and　shore　through　the　mighty　sinews；　and　it　fell　prone　on　both　its　horns。　　Their　comrades　quickly　severed　the　victims'　throats；　and　flayed　the　hides：　they　sundered　the　joints　and　carved　the　flesh；　then　cut　out　the　sacred　thigh　bones；　and　covering　them　all　together　closely　with　fat　burnt　them　upon　cloven　wood。　　And　Aeson's　son　poured　out　pure　libations；　and　Idmon　rejoiced　beholding　the　flame　as　it　gleamed　on　every　side　from　the　sacrifice；　and　the　smoke　of　it　mounting　up　with　good　omen　in　dark　spiral　columns；　and　quickly　he　spake　outright　the　will　of　Leto's　son：
  （ll。　440…447）　　〃For　you　it　is　the　will　of　heaven　and　destiny　that　ye　shall　return　here　with　the　fleece；　but　meanwhile　both　going　and　returning；　countless　trials　await　you。　　But　it　is　my　lot；　by　the　hateful　decree　of　a　god；　to　die　somewhere　afar　off　on　the　mainland　of　Asia。　　Thus；　though　I　learnt　my　fate　from　evil　omens　even　before　now；　I　have　left　my　fatherland　to　embark　on　the　ship；　that　so　after　my　embarking　fair　fame　may　be　left　me　in　my　house。〃
  （ll。　448…462）　　Thus　he　spake；　and　the　youths　hearing　the　divine　utterance　rejoiced　at　their　return；　but　grief　seized　them　for　the　fate　of　Idmon。　　Now　at　the　hour　when　the　sun　passes　his　noon…tide　halt　and　the　ploughlands　are　just　being　shadowed　by　the　rocks；　as　the　sun　slopes　towards　the　evening　dusk；　at　that　hour　all　the　heroes　spread　leaves　thickly　upon　the　sand　and　lay　down　in　rows　in　front　of　the　hoary　surf…line；　and　near　them　were　spread　vast　stores　of　viands　and　sweet　wine；　which　the　cupbearers　had　drawn　off　in　pitchers；　afterwards　they　told　tales　one　to　another　in　turn；　such　as　youths　often　tell　when　at　the　feast　and　the　bowl　they　take　delightful　pastime；　and　insatiable　insolence　is　far　away。　　But　here　the　son　of　Aeson；　all　helpless；　was　brooding　over　each　event　in　his　mind；　like　one　oppressed　with　thought。　　And　Idas　noted　him　and　assailed　him　with　loud　voice：
  （ll。　463…471）　　〃Son　of　Aeson；　what　is　this　plan　thou　art　turning　over　in　mind。　　Speak　out　thy　thought　in　the　midst。　　Does　fear　come　on　and　master　thee；　fear；　that　confounds　cowards？　　Be　witness　now　my　impetuous　spear；　wherewith　in　wars　I　win　renown　beyond　all　others　（nor　does　Zeus　aid　me　so　much　as　my　own　spear）；　that　no　woe　will　be　fatal；　no　venture　will　be　unachieved；　while　Idas　follows；　even　though　a　god　should　oppose　thee。　　Such　a　helpmeet　am　I　that　thou　bringest　from　Arene。〃
  （ll。　472…475）　　He　spake；　and　holding　a　brimming　goblet　in　both　hands　drank　off　the　unmixed　sweet　wine；　and　his　lips　and　dark　cheeks　were　drenched　with　it；　and　all　the　heroes　clamoured　together　and　Idmon　spoke　out　openly：
  （ll。　480…484）　　〃Vain　wretch；　thou　art　devising　destruction　for　thyself　before　the　time。　　Does　the　pure　wine　cause　thy　bold　heart　to　swell　in　thy　breast　to　thy　ruin；　and　has　it　set　thee　on　to　dishonour　the　gods？　　Other　words　of　comfort　there　are　with　which　a　man　might　encourage　his　comrade；　but　thou　hast　spoken　with　utter　recklessness。　　Such　taunts；　the　tale　goes；　did　the　sons　of　Aloeus　once　blurt　out　against　the　blessed　gods；　and　thou　dost　no　wise　equal　them　in　valour；　nevertheless　they　were　both　slain　by　the　swift　arrows　of　Leto's　son；　mighty　though　they　were。〃
  （ll。　485…486）　　Thus　he　spake；　and　Aphareian　Iclas　laughed　out；　loud　and　long；　an