high。　　And　if　we　reach　the　island　itself；　then　make　mighty　noise　with　the　clashing　of　shields。〃
  （ll。　1068…1089）　　Thus　he　spake；　and　the　helpful　device　pleased　all。　　And　on　their　heads　they　placed　helmets　of　bronze；　gleaming　terribly；　and　the　blood…red　crests　were　tossing。　　And　half　of　them　rowed　in　turn；　and　the　rest　covered　the　ship　with　spears　and　shields。　　And　as　when　a　man　roofs　over　a　house　with　tiles；　to　be　an　ornament　of　his　home　and　a　defence　against　rain；　and　one　the　fits　firmly　into　another；　each　after　each；　so　they　roofed　over　the　ship　with　their　shields；　locking　them　together。　　And　as　a　din　arises　from　a　warrior…host　of　men　sweeping　on；　when　lines　of　battle　meet；　such　a　shout　rose　upward　from　the　ship　into　the　air。　Now　they　saw　none　of　the　birds　yet；　but　when　they　touched　the　island　and　clashed　upon　their　shields；　then　the　birds　in　countless　numbers　rose　in　flight　hither　and　thither。　　And　as　when　the　son　of　Cronos　sends　from　the　clouds　a　dense　hailstorm　on　city　and　houses；　and　the　people　who　dwell　beneath　hear　the　din　above　the　roof　and　sit　quietly；　since　the　stormy　season　has　not　come　upon　them　unawares；　but　they　have　first　made　strong　their　roofs；　so　the　birds　sent　against　the　heroes　a　thick　shower　of　feather…　shafts　as　they　darted　over　the　sea　to　the　mountains　of　the　land　opposite。
  （ll。　1090…1092）　　What　then　was　the　purpose　of　Phineus　in　bidding　the　divine　band　of　heroes　land　there？　　Or　what　kind　of　help　was　about　to　meet　their　desire？
  （ll。　1093…1122）　　The　sons　of　Phrixus　were　faring　towards　the　city　of　Orchomenus　from　Aea；　coming　from　Cytaean　Aeetes；　on　board　a　Colchian　ship；　to　win　the　boundless　wealth　of　their　father；　for　he；　when　dying；　had　enjoined　this　journey　upon　them。　　And　lo；　on　that　day　they　were　very　near　that　island。　　But　Zeus　had　impelled　the　north　wind's　might　to　blow；　marking　by　rain　the　moist　path　of　Arcturus；　and　all　day　long　he　was　stirring　the　leaves　upon　the　mountains；　breathing　gently　upon　the　topmost　sprays；　but　at　night　he　rushed　upon　the　sea　with　monstrous　force；　and　with　his　shrieking　blasts　uplifted　the　surge；　and　a　dark　mist　covered　the　heavens；　nor　did　the　bright　stars　anywhere　appear　from　among　the　clouds；　but　a　murky　gloom　brooded　all　around。　　And　so　the　sons　of　Phrixus；　drenched　and　trembling　in　fear　of　a　horrible　doom；　were　borne　along　by　the　waves　helplessly。　　And　the　force　of　the　wind　had　snatched　away　their　sails　and　shattered　in　twain　the　hull；　tossed　as　it　was　by　the　breakers。　　And　hereupon　by　heaven's　prompting　those　four　clutched　a　huge　beam；　one　of　many　that　were　scattered　about；　held　together　by　sharp　bolts；　when　the　ship　broke　to　pieces。　　And　on　to　the　island　the　waves　and　the　blasts　of　wind　bore　the　men　in　their　distress；　within　a　little　of　death。　And　straightway　a　mighty　rain　burst　forth；　and　rained　upon　the　sea　and　the　island；　and　all　the　country　opposite　the　island；　where　the　arrogant　Mossynoeci　dwelt。　　And　the　sweep　of　the　waves　hurled　the　sons　of　Phrixus；　together　with　their　massy　beam；　upon　the　beach　of　the　island；　in　the　murky　night；　and　the　floods　of　rain　from　Zeus　ceased　at　sunrise；　and　soon　the　two　bands　drew　near　and　met　each　other；　and　Argus　spoke　first：
  （ll。　1123…1133）　　〃We　beseech　you；　by　Zeus　the　Beholder；　whoever　ye　are；　to　be　kindly　and　to　help　us　in　our　need。　　For　fierce　tempests；　falling　on　the　sea；　have　shattered　all　the　timbers　of　the　crazy　ship　in　which　we　were　cleaving　our　path　on　business　bent。　　Wherefore　we　entreat　you；　if　haply　ye　will　listen；　to　grant　us　just　a　covering　for　our　bodies；　and　to　pity　and　succour　men　in　misfortune；　your　equals　in　age。　　Oh；　reverence　suppliants　and　strangers　for　Zeus'　sake；　the　god　of　strangers　and　suppliants。　　To　Zeus　belong　both　suppliants　and　strangers；　and　his　eye；　methinks；　beholdeth　even　us。〃
  （ll。　1134…1139）　　And　in　reply　the　son　of　Aeson　prudently　questioned　him；　deeming　that　the　prophecies　of　Phineus　were　being　fulfilled：　〃All　these　things　will　we　straightway　grant　you　with　right　good　will。　　But　come　tell　me　truly　in　what　country　ye　dwell　and　what　business　bids　you　sail　across　the　sea；　and　tell　me　your　own　glorious　names　and　lineage。〃
  （ll。　1140…1156）　　And　him　Argus；　helpless　in　his　evil　plight；　addressed：　〃That　one　Phrixus　an　Aeolid　reached　Aea　from　Hellas　you　yourselves　have　clearly　heard　ere　this；　I　trow；　Phrixus；　who　came　to　the　city　of　Aeetes；　bestriding　a　ram；　which　Hermes　had　made　all　gold；　and　the　fleece　ye　may　see　even　now。　　The　ram；　at　its　own　prompting；　he　then　sacrificed　to　Zeus；　son　of　Cronos；　above　all；　the　god　of　fugitives。　　And　him　did　Aeetes　receive　in　his　palace；　and　with　gladness　of　heart　gave　him　his　daughter　Chalciope　in　marriage　without　gifts　of　wooing。　（8）　　From　those　two　are　we　sprung。　But　Phrixus　died　at　last；　an　aged　man；　in　the　home　of　Aeetes；　and　we；　giving　heed　to　our　father's　behests；　are　journeying　to　Orehomenus　to　take　the　possessions　of　Athamas。　And　if　thou　dost　desire　to　learn　our　names；　this　is　Cytissorus；　this　Phrontis；　and　this　Melas；　and　me　ye　may。　call　Argus。〃
  （ll。　1157…1159）　　Thus　he　spake；　and　the　chieftains　rejoiced　at　the　meeting；　and　tended　them；　much　marvelling。　　And　Jason　again　in　turn　replied；　as　was　fitting；　with　these　words：
  （ll。　1160…1178）　　〃Surely　ye　are　our　kinsmen　on　my　father's　side；　and　ye　pray　that　with　kindly　hearts　we　succour　your　evil　plight。　For　Cretheus　and　Athamas　were　brothers。　　I　am　the　grandson　of　Cretheus；　and　with　these　comrades　here　I　am　journeying　from　that　same　Hellas　to　the　city　of　Aeetes。　　But　of　these　things　we　will　converse　hereafter。　　And　do　ye　first　put　clothing　upon　you。　　By　heaven's　devising；　I　ween；　have　ye　come　to　my　hands　in　your　sore　need。〃
  （ll。　1168…1178）　　He　spake；　and　out　of　the　ship　gave　them　raiment　to　put　on。　　Then　all　together　they　went　to　the　temple　of　Ares　to　offer　sacrifice　of　sheep；　and　in　haste　they　stood　round　the　altar；　which　was　outside　the　roofless　temple；　an　altar　built　of　pebbles；　within　a　black　stone　stood　fixed；　a　sacred　thing；　to　which　of　yore　the　Amazons　all　used　to　pray。　　Nor　was　it　lawful　for　them；　when　they　came　from　the　opposite　coast；　to　burn　on　this　altar　offerings　of　sheep　and　oxen；　but　they　used　to　slay　horses　which　they　kept　in　great　herds。　　Now　when　they　had　sacrificed　and　eaten　the　feast　prepared；　then　Aeson's　son　spake　among　them　and　thus　began：
  （ll。　1179…1195）　　〃Zeus'　self；　I　ween；　beholds　everything；　nor　do　we　men　escape　his　eye；　we　that　be　god…fearing　and　just；　for　as　he　rescued　your　father　from　the　hands　of　a　murderous　step…dame　and　gave　him　measureless　wealth　besides；　even　so　hath　he　saved　you　harmless　from　the　baleful　storm。　　And　on　board　this　ship　ye　may　sail　hither　and　thither；　where　ye　will；　whether　to　Aea　or　to　the　wealthy　city　of　divine　Orthomenus。　　For　our　ship　Athena　built　and　with　axe　of　bronze　cut　her　timbers　near　the　crest　of　Pelion；　and　with　the　goddess　wrought　Argus。　　But　yours　the　fierce　surge　hath　shattered；　before　ye　came　nigh　to　the　rocks　which　all　day　long　clash　together　in　the　straits　of　the　sea。　　But　come；　be　yourselves　our　helpers；　for　we　are　eager　to　bring　to　Hellas　the　golden　fleece；　and　guide　us　on　our　voyage；　for　I　go　to　atone　for　the　intended　sacrifice　of　Phrixus；　the　cause　of　Zeus'　wrath　against　the　sons　of　Aeolus。〃
  （ll。　1196…1199）　　He　spake　with　soothing　words；　but　horror　seized　them　when　they　heard。　　For　they　deemed　that　they　would　not　find　Aeetes　friendly　if　they　desired　to　take　away　the　ram's　fleece。　And　Argus　spake　as　follows；　vexed　that　they　should　busy　themselves　with　such　a　quest：
  （ll。　1200…1215）　　〃My　friends；　our　strength；　so　far　as　it　avails；　shall　never　cease　to　help　you；　not　one　whit；　when　need　shall　come。　　But　Aeetes　is　terribly　armed　with　deadly　ruthlessness；　wherefore　exceedingly　do　I　dread　this　voyage。　　And　he　boasts　himself　to　be　the　son　of　Helios；　and　all　round　dwell　countless　tribes　of　Colchians；　and　he　might　match　himself　with　Ares　in　his　dread　war…cry　and　giant　strength。　　Nay；　to　seize　the　fleece　in　spite　of　Aeetes　is　no　easy　task；　so　huge　a　serpent　keeps　guard　round　and　about　it；　deathless　and　sleepless；　which　Earth　herself　brought　forth　on　the　sides　of　Caucasus；　by　the　rock　of　Typhaon；　where　Typhaon；　they　say；　smitten　by　the　bolt　of　Zeus；　son　of　Cronos；　when　he　lifted　against　the　god　his　sturdy　hands；　dropped　from　his　head　hot　gore；　and　in　such　plight　he　reached　the　mountains　and　plain　of　Nysa；　where　to　this　day　he　lies　whelmed　beneath　the　waters　of　the　Serbonian　lake。〃
  （ll。　1216…1218）　Thus　he　spake；　and　straightway　many　a　cheek　grew　pale　when　they　heard　of　so　mighty　an　adventure。　　But　quickly　Peleus　answered　with　cheering　words；　and　thus　spake：
  （ll。　1219…1225）　　〃Be　not　so　fearful　in　spirit；　my　good　friend。　For　we　are　not　so　lacking　in　prowess　as　to　be　no　match　for　Aeetes　to　try　his　strength　with　arms；　but　I　deem　that　we　too　are　cunning　in　war；　we　that　go　thither；　near　akin　to　the　blood　of　the　blessed　gods。　　Wherefore　if　he　will　not　grant　us　the　fleece　of　gold　for　friendship's　sake；　the　tribes　of　the　Colchians　will　not　avail　him；　I　ween。〃
  （ll。　1226…1230）　　Thus　they　addressed　each　other　in　turn；　until　again；　satisfied　with　their　feast；　they　turned　to　rest。　　And　when　they　rose　at　dawn　a　gentle　breeze　was　blowing；　and　they　raised　the　sails；　which　strained　to　the　rush　of　the　wind；　and　quickly　they　left　behind　t