e　of　his　sore　need；　Phrixus；　who　surpassed　all　strangers　in　gentleness　and　fear　of　the　gods；　had　not　Zeus　himself　sent　Hermes　his　messenger　down　from　heaven；　so　that　he　might　meet　with　a　friendly　host；　much　less　would　pirates　coming　to　his　land　be　let　go　scatheless　for　long；　men　whose　care　it　was　to　lift　their　hands　and　seize　the　goods　of　others；　and　to　weave　secret　webs　of　guile；　and　harry　the　steadings　of　herdsmen　with　ill…sounding　forays。　　And　he　said　that　besides　all　that　the　sons　of　Phrixus　should　pay　a　fitting　penalty　to　himself　for　returning　in　consort　with　evildoers；　that　they　might　recklessly　drive　him　from　his　honour　and　his　throne；　for　once　he　had　heard　a　baleful　prophecy　from　his　father　Helios；　that　he　must　avoid　the　secret　treachery　and　schemes　of　his　own　offspring　and　their　crafty　mischief。　　Wherefore　he　was　sending　them；　as　they　desired；　to　the　Achaean　land　at　the　bidding　of　their　fathera　long　journey。　　Nor　had　he　ever　so　slight　a　fear　of　his　daughters；　that　they　would　form　some　hateful　scheme；　nor　of　his　son　Apsyrtus；　but　this　curse　was　being　fulfilled　in　the　children　of　Chalciope。　　And　he　proclaimed　terrible　things　in　his　rage　against　the　strangers；　and　loudly　threatened　to　keep　watch　over　the　ship　and　its　crew；　so　that　no　one　might　escape　calamity。
  （ll。　609…615）　　Meantime　Argus；　going　to　Aeetes'　palace；　with　manifold　pleading　besought　his　mother　to　pray　Medea's　aid；　and　Chalciope　herself　already　had　the　same　thoughts；　but　fear　checked　her　soul　lest　haply　either　fate　should　withstand　and　she　should　entreat　her　in　vain；　all　distraught　as　she　would　be　at　her　father's　deadly　wrath；　or；　if　Medea　yielded　to　her　prayers；　her　deeds　should　be　laid　bare　and　open　to　view。
  （ll。　616…635）　　Now　a　deep　slumber　had　relieved　the　maiden　from　her　love…pains　as　she　lay　upon　her　couch。　　But　straightway　fearful　dreams；　deceitful；　such　as　trouble　one　in　grief；　assailed　her。　　And　she　thought　that　the　stranger　had　taken　on　him　the　contest；　not　because　he　longed　to　win　the　ram's　fleece；　and　that　he　had　not　come　on　that　account　to　Aeetes'　city；　but　to　lead　her　away；　his　wedded　wife；　to　his　own　home；　and　she　dreamed　that　herself　contended　with　the　oxen　and　wrought　the　task　with　exceeding　ease；　and　that　her　own　parents　set　at　naught　their　promise；　for　it　was　not　the　maiden　they　had　challenged　to　yoke　the　oxen　but　the　stranger　himself；　from　that　arose　a　contention　of　doubtful　issue　between　her　father　and　the　strangers；　and　both　laid　the　decision　upon　her；　to　be　as　she　should　direct　in　her　mind。　　But　she　suddenly；　neglecting　her　parents；　chose　the　stranger。　　And　measureless　anguish　seized　them　and　they　shouted　out　in　their　wrath；　and　with　the　cry　sleep　released　its　hold　upon　her。　　Quivering　with　fear　she　started　up；　and　stared　round　the　　walls　of　her　chamber；　and　with　difficulty　did　she　gather　her　spirit　within　her　as　before；　and　lifted　her　voice　aloud：
  （ll。　636…644）　　〃Poor　wretch；　how　have　gloomy　dreams　affrighted　me！　　I　fear　that　this　voyage　of　the　heroes　will　bring　some　great　evil。　　My　heart　is　trembling　for　the　stranger。　　Let　him　woo　some　Achaean　girl　far　away　among　his　own　folk；　let　maidenhood　be　mine　and　the　home　of　my　parents。　　Yet；　taking　to　myself　a　reckless　heart；　I　will　no　more　keep　aloof　but　will　make　trial　of　my　sister　to　see　if　she　will　entreat　me　to　aid　in　the　contest；　through　grief　for　her　own　sons；　this　would　quench　the　bitter　pain　in　my　heart。〃
  （ll。　645…673）　　She　spake；　and　rising　from　her　bed　opened　the　door　of　her　chamber；　bare…footed；　clad　in　one　robe；　and　verily　she　desired　to　go　to　her　sister；　and　crossed　the　threshold。　　And　for　long　she　stayed　there　at　the　entrance　of　her　chamber；　held　back　by　shame；　and　she　turned　back　once　more；　and　again　she　came　forth　from　within；　and　again　stole　back；　and　idly　did　her　feet　bear　her　this　way　and　that；　yea；　as　oft　as　she　went　straight　on；　shame　held　her　within　the　chamber；　and　though　held　back　by　shame；　bold　desire　kept　urging　her　on。　　Thrice　she　made　the　attempt　and　thrice　she　checked　herself；　the　fourth　time　she　fell　on　her　bed　face　downward；　writhing　in　pain。　　And　as　when　a　bride　in　her　chamber　bewails　her　youthful　husband；　to　whom　her　brothers　and　parents　have　given　her；　nor　yet　does　she　hold　converse　with　all　her　attendants　for　shame　and　for　thinking　of　him；　but　she　sits　apart　in　her　grief；　and　some　doom　has　destroyed　him；　before　they　have　had　pleasure　of　each　other's　charms；　and　she　with　heart　on　fire　silently　weeps；　beholding　her　widowed　couch；　in　fear　lest　the　women　should　mock　and　revile　her；　like　to　her　did　Medea　lament。　　And　suddenly　as　she　was　in　the　midst　of　her　tears；　one　of　the　handmaids　came　forth　and　noticed　her；　one　who　was　her　youthful　attendant；　and　straightway　she　told　Chalciope；　who　sat　in　the　midst　of　her　sons　devising　how　to　win　over　her　sister。　　And　when　Chalciope　heard　the　strange　tale　from　the　handmaid；　not　even　so　did　she　disregard　it。　　And　she　rushed　in　dismay　from　her　chamber　right　on　to　the　chamber　where　the　maiden　lay　in　her　anguish；　having　torn　her　cheeks　on　each　side；　and　when　Chalciope　saw　her　eyes　all　dimmed　with　tears；　she　thus　addressed　her：
  （ll。　674…680）　　〃Ah　me；　Medea；　why　dost　thou　weep　so？　　What　hath　befallen　thee？　　What　terrible　grief　has　entered　thy　heart？　　Has　some　heaven…sent　disease　enwrapt　thy　frame；　or　hast　thou　heard　from　our　father　some　deadly　threat　concerning　me　and　my　sons？　Would　that　I　did　not　behold　this　home　of　my　parents；　or　the　city；　but　dwelt　at　the　ends　of　the　earth；　where　not　even　the　name　of　Colchians　is　known！〃
  （ll。　681…687）　　Thus　she　spake；　and　her　sister's　cheeks　flushed；　and　though　she　was　eager　to　reply；　long　did　maiden　shame　restrain　her。　　At　one　moment　the　word　rose　on　the　end　of　her　tongue；　at　another　it　fluttered　back　deep　within　her　breast。　　And　often　through　her　lovely　lips　it　strove　for　utterance；　but　no　sound　came　forth；　till　at　last　she　spoke　with　guileful　words；　for　the　bold　Loves　were　pressing　her　hard：
  （ll。　688…692）　　〃Chalciope；　my　heart　is　all　trembling　for　thy　sons；　lest　my　father　forthwith　destroy　them　together　with　the　strangers。　　Slumbering　just　now　in　a　short…lived　sleep　such　a　ghastly　dream　did　I　seemay　some　god　forbid　its　fulfilment　and　never　mayst　thou　win　for　thyself　bitter　care　on　thy　sons'　account。〃
  （ll。　693…704）　　She　spake；　making　trial　of　her　sister　to　see　if　she　first　would　entreat　help　for　her　sons。　　And　utterly　unbearable　grief　surged　over　Chalciope's　soul　for　fear　at　what　she　heard；　and　then　she　replied：　〃Yea；　I　myself　too　have　come　to　thee　in　eager　furtherance　of　this　purpose；　if　thou　wouldst　haply　devise　with　me　and　prepare　some　help。　　But　swear　by　Earth　and　Heaven　that　thou　wilt　keep　secret　in　thy　heart　what　I　shall　tell　thee；　and　be　fellow…worker　with　me。　　I　implore　thee　by　the　blessed　gods；　by　thyself　and　by　thy　parents；　not　to　see　them　destroyed　by　an　evil　doom　piteously；　or　else　may　I　die　with　my　dear　sons　and　come　back　hereafter　from　Hades　an　avenging　Fury　to　haunt　thee。〃
  （ll。　705…710）　　Thus　she　spake；　and　straightway　a　torrent　of　tears　gushed　forth　and　low　down　she　clasped　her　sister's　knees　with　both　hands　and　let　her　head　sink　on　to　her　breast。　　Then　they　both　made　piteous　lamentation　over　each　other；　and　through　the　halls　rose　the　faint　sound　of　women　weeping　in　anguish。　　Medea；　sore　troubled；　first　addressed　her　sister：
  （ll。　711…717）　　〃God　help　thee；　what　healing　can　I　bring　thee　for　what　thou　speakest　of；　horrible　curses　and　Furies？　　Would　that　it　were　firmly　in　my　power　to　save　thy　sons！　　Be　witness　that　mighty　oath　of　the　Colchians　by　which　thou　urgest　me　to　swear；　the　great　Heaven；　and　Earth　beneath；　mother　of　the　gods；　that　as　far　as　strength　lies　in　me；　never　shalt　thou　fail　of　help；　if　only　thy　prayers　can　be　accomplished。〃
  （ll。　718…723）　　She　spake；　and　Chalciope　thus　replied：　〃Couldst　thou　not　then；　for　the　strangerwho　himself　craves　thy　aid　　devise　some　trick　or　some　wise　thought　to　win　the　contest；　for　the　sake　of　my　sons？　　And　from　him　has　come　Argus　urging　me　to　try　to　win　thy　help；　I　left　him　in　the　palace　meantime　while　I　came　hither。〃
  （ll。　724…739）　　Thus　she　spake；　and　Medea's　heart　bounded　with　joy　within　her；　and　at　once　her　fair　cheeks　flushed；　and　a　mist　swam　before　her　melting　eyes；　and　she　spake　as　follows：　〃Chalciope；　as　is　dear　and　delightful　to　thee　and　thy　sons；　even　so　will　I　do。　Never　may　the　dawn　appear　again　to　my　eyes；　never　mayst　thou　see　me　living　any　longer；　if　I　should　take　thought　for　anything　before　thy　life　or　thy　sons'　lives；　for　they　are　my　brothers；　my　dear　kinsmen　and　youthful　companions。　　So　do　I　declare　myself　to　be　thy　sister；　and　thy　daughter　too；　for　thou　didst　lift　me　to　thy　breast　when　an　infant　equally　with　them；　as　I　ever　heard　from　my　mother　in　past　days。　　But　go；　bury　my　kindness　in　silence；　so　that　I　may　carry　out　my　promise　unknown　to　my　parents；　and　at　dawn　I　will　bring　to　Hecate's　temple　charms　to　cast　a　spell　upon　the　bulls。〃
  （ll。　740…743）　　Thus　Chalciope　went　back　from　the　chamber；　and　made　known　to　her　sons　the　help　given　by　her　sister。　　And　again　did　shame　and　hateful　fear　seize　Medea　thus　left　alone；　that　she　should　devise　such　deeds　for　a　man　in　her　father's　despite。
  （ll。　744…771）　　Then　did　night　draw　darkness　over　the　earth；　and　on　the　sea　sailors　from　their　ships　looked　towards　t