rdain　when　dying。　　And　why　should　ye　go　to　the　city　of　Orchomenus；　whoever　this　Orchomenus　is；　for　the　sake　of　Athamas'　wealth；　leaving　your　mother　alone　to　bear　her　grief？〃
  （ll。　268…274）　　Such　were　her　words；　and　Aeetes　came　forth　last　of　all　and　Eidyia　herself　came；　the　queen　of　Aeetes；　on　hearing　the　voice　of　Chalciope；　and　straightway　all　the　court　was　filled　with　a　throng。　　Some　of　the　thralls　were　busied　with　a　mighty　bull；　others　with　the　axe　were　cleaving　dry　billets；　and　others　heating　with　fire　water　for　the　baths；　nor　was　there　one　who　relaxed　his　toil；　serving　the　king。
  （ll。　275…298）　　Meantime　Eros　passed　unseen　through　the　grey　mist；　causing　confusion；　as　when　against　grazing　heifers　rises　the　gadfly；　which　oxherds　call　the　breese。　　And　quickly　beneath　the　lintel　in　the　porch　he　strung　his　bow　and　took　from　the　quiver　an　arrow　unshot　before；　messenger　of　pain。　　And　with　swift　feet　unmarked　he　passed　the　threshold　and　keenly　glanced　around；　and　gliding　close　by　Aeson's　son　he　laid　the　arrow…notch　on　the　cord　in　the　centre；　and　drawing　wide　apart　with　both　hands　he　shot　at　Medea；　and　speechless　amazement　seized　her　soul。　　But　the　god　himself　flashed　back　again　from　the　high…roofed　hall；　laughing　loud；　and　the　bolt　burnt　deep　down　in　the　maiden's　heart　like　a　flame；　and　ever　she　kept　darting　bright　glances　straight　up　at　Aeson's　son；　and　within　her　breast　her　heart　panted　fast　through　anguish；　all　remembrance　left　her；　and　her　soul　melted　with　the　sweet　pain。　　And　as　a　poor　woman　heaps　dry　twigs　round　a　blazing　branda　daughter　of　toil；　whose　task　is　the　spinning　of　wool；　that　she　may　kindle　a　blaze　at　night　beneath　her　roof；　when　she　has　waked　very　earlyand　the　flame　waxing　wondrous　great　from　the　small　brand　consumes　all　the　twigs　together；　so；　coiling　round　her　heart；　burnt　secretly　Love　the　destroyer；　and　the　hue　of　her　soft　cheeks　went　and　came；　now　pale；　now　red；　in　her　soul's　distraction。
  （ll。　299…303）　　Now　when　the　thralls　had　laid　a　banquet　ready　before　them；　and　they　had　refreshed　themselves　with　warm　baths；　gladly　did　they　please　their　souls　with　meat　and　drink。　　And　thereafter　Aeetes　questioned　the　sons　of　his　daughter；　addressing　them　with　these　words：
  （ll。　304…316）　　〃Sons　of　my　daughter　and　of　Phrixus；　whom　beyond　all　strangers　I　honoured　in　my　halls；　how　have　ye　come　returning　back　to　Aea？　　Did　some　calamity　cut　short　your　escape　in　the　midst？　　Ye　did　not　listen　when　I　set　before　you　the　boundless　length　of　the　way。　　For　I　marked　it　once；　whirled　along　in　the　chariot　of　my　father　Helios；　when　he　was　bringing　my　sister　Circe　to　the　western　land　and　we　came　to　the　shore　of　the　Tyrrhenian　mainland；　where　even　now　she　abides；　exceeding　far　from　Colchis。　But　what　pleasure　is　there　in　words？　　Do　ye　tell　me　plainly　what　has　been　your　fortune；　and　who　these　men　are；　your　companions；　and　where　from　your　hollow　ship　ye　came　ashore。〃
  （ll。　317…319）　　Such　were　his　questions；　and　Argus；　before　all　his　brethren；　being　fearful　for　the　mission　of　Aeson's　son；　gently　replied；　for　he　was　the　elder…born：
  （ll。　320…366）　　〃Aeetes；　that　ship　forthwith　stormy　blasts　tore　asunder；　and　ourselves；　crouching　on　the　beams；　a　wave　drove　on　to　the　beach　of　the　isle　of　Enyalius　（3）　in　the　murky　night；　and　some　god　preserved　us。　　For　even　the　birds　of　Ares　that　haunted　the　desert　isle　beforetime；　not　even　them　did　we　find。　　But　these　men　had　driven　them　off；　having　landed　from　their　ship　on　the　day　before；　and　the　will　of　Zeus　taking　pity　on　us；　or　some　fate；　detained　them　there；　since　they　straightway　gave　us　both　food　and　clothing　in　abundance；　when　they　heard　the　illustrious　name　of　Phrixus　and　thine　own；　for　to　thy　city　are　they　faring。　　And　if　thou　dost　wish　to　know　their　errand；　I　will　not　hide　it　from　time。　　A　certain　king；　vehemently　longing　to　drive　this　man　far　from　his　fatherland　and　possessions；　because　in　might　he　outshone　all　the　sons　of　Aeolus；　sends　him　to　voyage　hither　on　a　bootless　venture；　and　asserts　that　the　stock　of　Aeolus　will　not　escape　the　heart…grieving　wrath　and　rage　of　implacable　Zeus；　nor　the　unbearable　curse　and　vengeance　due　for　Phrixus；　until　the　fleece　comes　back　to　Hellas。　　And　their　ship　was　fashioned　by　Pallas　Athena；　not　such　a　one　as　are　the　ships　among　the　Colchians；　on　the　vilest　of　which　we　chanced。　　For　the　fierce　waves　and　wind　broke　her　utterly　to　pieces；　but　the　other　holds　firm　with　her　bolts；　even　though　all　the　blasts　should　buffet　her。　　And　with　equal　swiftness　she　speedeth　before　the　wind　and　when　the　crew　ply　the　oar　with　unresting　hands。　　And　he　hath　gathered　in　her　the　mightiest　heroes　of　all　Achaea；　and　hath　come　to　thy　city　from　wandering　far　through　cities　and　gulfs　of　the　dread　ocean；　in　the　hope　that　thou　wilt　grant　him　the　fleece。　　But　as　thou　dost　please；　so　shall　it　be；　for　he　cometh　not　to　use　force；　but　is　eager　to　pay　thee　a　recompense　for　the　gift。　　He　has　heard　from　me　of　thy　bitter　foes　the　Sauromatae；　and　he　will　subdue　them　to　thy　sway。　　And　if　thou　desirest　to　know　their　names　and　lineage　I　will　tell　thee　all。　　This　man　on　whose　account　the　rest　were　gathered　from　Hellas；　they　call　Jason；　son　of　Aeson；　whom　Cretheus　begat。　　And　if　in　truth　he　is　of　the　stock　of　Cretheus　himself；　thus　he　would　be　our　kinsman　on　the　father's　side。　　For　Cretheus　and　Athamas　were　both　sons　of　Aeolus；　and　Phrixus　was　the　son　of　Athamas；　son　of　Aeolus。　　And　here；　if　thou　hast　heard　at　all　of　the　seed　of　Helios；　thou　dost　behold　Augeias；　and　this　is　Telamon　sprung　from　famous　Aeacus；　and　Zeus　himself　begat　Aeacus。　　And　so　all　the　rest；　all　the　comrades　that　follow　him；　are　the　sons　or　grandsons　of　the　immortals。〃
  （ll。　367…371）　　Such　was　the　tale　of　Argus；　but　the　king　at　his　words　was　filled　with　rage　as　he　heard；　and　his　heart　was　lifted　high　in　wrath。　　And　he　spake　in　heavy　displeasure；　and　was　angered　most　of　all　with　the　son　of　Chalciope；　for　he　deemed　that　on　their　account　the　strangers　had　come；　and　in　his　fury　his　eyes　flashed　forth　beneath　his　brows：
  （ll。　372…381）　　〃Begone　from　my　sight；　felons；　straightway；　ye　and　your　tricks；　from　the　land；　ere　someone　see　a　fleece　and　a　Phrixus　to　his　sorrow。　　Banded　together　with　your　friends　from　Hellas；　not　for　the　fleece；　but　to　seize　my　sceptre　and　royal　power　have　ye　come　hither。　　Had　ye　not　first　tasted　of　my　table；　surely　would　I　have　cut　out　your　tongues　and　hewn　off　both　hands　and　sent　you　forth　with　your　feet　alone；　so　that　ye　might　be　stayed　from　starting　hereafter。　　And　what　lies　have　ye　uttered　against　the　blessed　gods！〃
  （ll。　382…385）　　Thus　he　spake　in　his　wrath；　and　mightily　from　its　depths　swelled　the　heart　of　Aeacus'　son；　and　his　soul　within　longed　to　speak　a　deadly　word　in　defiance；　but　Aeson's　son　checked　him；　for　he　himself　first　made　gentle　answer：
  （ll。　386…395）　　〃Aeetes；　bear　with　this　armed　band；　I　pray。　　For　not　in　the　way　thou　deemest　have　we　come　to　thy　city　and　palace；　no；　nor　yet　with　such　desires。　　For　who　would　of　his　own　will　dare　to　cross　so　wide　a　sea　for　the　goods　of　a　stranger？　　But　fate　and　the　ruthless　command　of　a　presumptuous　king　urged　me。　Grant　a　favour　to　thy　suppliants；　and　to　all　Hellas　will　I　publish　a　glorious　fame　of　thee；　yea；　we　are　ready　now　to　pay　thee　a　swift　recompense　in　war；　whether　it　be　the　Sauromatae　or　some　other　people　that　thou　art　eager　to　subdue　to　thy　sway。〃
  （ll。　396…400）　　He　spake；　flattering　him　with　gentle　utterance；　but　the　king's　soul　brooded　a　twofold　purpose　within　him；　whether　he　should　attack　and　slay　them　on　the　spot　or　should　make　trial　of　their　might。　　And　this；　as　he　pondered；　seemed　the　better　way；　and　he　addressed　Jason　in　answer：
  （ll。　401…421）　　〃Stranger；　why　needest　thou　go　through　thy　tale　to　the　end？　　For　if　ye　are　in　truth　of　heavenly　race；　or　have　come　in　no　wise　inferior　to　me；　to　win　the　goods　of　strangers；　I　will　give　thee　the　fleece　to　bear　away；　if　thou　dost　wish；　when　I　have　tried　thee。　　For　against　brave　men　I　bear　no　grudge；　such　as　ye　yourselves　tell　me　of　him　who　bears　sway　in　Hellas。　　And　the　trial　of　your　courage　and　might　shall　be　a　contest　which　I　myself　can　compass　with　my　hands；　deadly　though　it　be。　　Two　bulls　with　feet　of　bronze　I　have　that　pasture　on　the　plain　of　Ares；　breathing　forth　flame　from　their　jaws；　them　do　I　yoke　and　drive　over　the　stubborn　field　of　Ares；　four　plough…gates；　and　quickly　cleaving　it　with　the　share　up　to　the　headland；　I　cast　into　the　furrows　the　seed；　not　the　corn　of　Demeter；　but　the　teeth　of　a　dread　serpent　that　grow　up　into　the　fashion　of　armed　men；　them　I　slay　at　once；　cutting　them　down　beneath　my　spear　as　they　rise　against　me　on　all　sides。　　In　the　morning　do　I　yoke　the　oxen；　and　at　eventide　I　cease　from　the　harvesting。　　And　thou；　if　thou　wilt　accomplish　such　deeds　as　these；　on　that　very　day　shalt　carry　off　the　fleece　to　the　king's　palace；　ere　that　time　comes　I　will　not　give　it；　expect　it　not。　　For　indeed　it　is　unseemly　that　a　brave　man　should　yield　to　a　coward。〃
  （ll。　422…426）　　Thus　he　spake；　and　Jason；　fixing　his　eyes　on　the　ground；　sat　just　as　he　was；　speechless；　helpless　in　his　evil　plight。　　For　a　long　time　he　turned　the　matter　this　way　and　that；　and　could　in　no　way　take　on　him　the　task　with　courage；　for　a　mighty　task　it　seemed；　and　at　last　he　made　reply　with　crafty　words：
  （ll。　427…431）