cause　of　wrath　with　　　　　　the　stranger…folk。〃
  BOOK　IV
  （ll。　1…5）　　Now　do　thou　thyself；　goddess　Muse；　daughter　of　Zeus；　tell　of　the　labour　and　wiles　of　the　Colchian　maiden。　　Surely　my　soul　within　me　wavers　with　speechless　amazement　as　I　ponder　whether　I　should　call　it　the　lovesick　grief　of　mad　passion　or　a　panic　flight；　through　which　she　left　the　Colchian　folk。
  （ll。　6…10）　　Aeetes　all　night　long　with　the　bravest　captains　of　his　people　was　devising　in　his　halls　sheer　treachery　against　the　heroes；　with　fierce　wrath　in　his　heart　at　the　issue　of　the　hateful　contest；　nor　did　he　deem　at　all　that　these　things　were　being　accomplished　without　the　knowledge　of　his　daughters。
  （ll。　11…29）　　But　into　Medea's　heart　Hera　cast　most　grievous　fear；　and　she　trembled　like　a　nimble　fawn　whom　the　baying　of　hounds　hath　terrified　amid　the　thicket　of　a　deep　copse。　　For　at　once　she　truly　forboded　that　the　aid　she　had　given　was　not　hidden　from　her　father；　and　that　quickly　she　would　fill　up　the　cup　of　woe。　　And　she　dreaded　the　guilty　knowledge　of　her　handmaids；　her　eyes　were　filled　with　fire　and　her　ears　rung　with　a　terrible　cry。　　Often　did　she　clutch　at　her　throat；　and　often　did　she　drag　out　her　hair　by　the　roots　and　groan　in　wretched　despair。　　There　on　that　very　day　the　maiden　would　have　tasted　the　drugs　and　perished　and　so　have　made　void　the　purposes　of　Hera；　had　not　the　goddess　driven　her；　all　bewildered；　to　flee　with　the　sons　of　Phrixus；　and　her　fluttering　soul　within　her　was　comforted；　and　then　she　poured　from　her　bosom　all　the　drugs　back　again　into　the　casket。　　Then　she　kissed　her　bed；　and　the　folding…doors　on　both　sides；　and　stroked　the　walls；　and　tearing　away　in　her　hands　a　long　tress　of　hair；　she　left　it　in　the　chamber　for　her　mother；　a　memorial　of　her　maidenhood；　and　thus　lamented　with　passionate　voice：
  （ll。　30…33）　　〃I　go；　leaving　this　long　tress　here　in　my　stead；　O　mother　mine；　take　this　farewell　from　me　as　I　go　far　hence；　farewell　Chalciope；　and　all　my　home。　　Would　that　the　sea；　stranger；　had　dashed　thee　to　pieces；　ere　thou　camest　to　the　Colchian　land！〃
  （ll。　34…56）　　Thus　she　spake；　and　from　her　eyes　shed　copious　tears。　　And　as　a　bondmaid　steals　away　from　a　wealthy　house；　whom　fate　has　lately　severed　from　her　native　land；　nor　yet　has　she　made　trial　of　grievous　toil；　but　still　unschooled　to　misery　and　shrinking　in　terror　from　slavish　tasks；　goes　about　beneath　the　cruel　hands　of　a　mistress；　even　so　the　lovely　maiden　rushed　forth　from　her　home。　　But　to　her　the　bolts　of　the　doors　gave　way　self…moved；　leaping　backwards　at　the　swift　strains　of　her　magic　song。　　And　with　bare　feet　she　sped　along　the　narrow　paths；　with　her　left　hand　holding　her　robe　over　her　brow　to　veil　her　face　and　fair　cheeks；　and　with　her　right　lifting　up　the　hem　of　her　tunic。　Quickly　along　the　dark　track；　outside　the　towers　of　the　spacious　city；　did　she　come　in　fear；　nor　did　any　of　the　warders　note　her；　but　she　sped　on　unseen　by　them。　　Thence　she　was　minded　to　go　to　the　temple；　for　well　she　knew　the　way；　having　often　aforetime　wandered　there　in　quest　of　corpses　and　noxious　roots　of　the　earth；　as　a　sorceress　is　wont　to　do；　and　her　soul　fluttered　with　quivering　fear。　　And　the　Titanian　goddess；　the　moon；　rising　from　a　far　land；　beheld　her　as　she　fled　distraught；　and　fiercely　exulted　over　her；　and　thus　spake　to　her　own　heart：
  （ll。　57…65）　　〃Not　I　alone　then　stray　to　the　Latinian　cave；　nor　do　I　alone　burn　with　love　for　fair　Endymion；　oft　times　with　thoughts　of　love　have　I　been　driven　away　by　thy　crafty　spells；　in　order　that　in　the　darkness　of　night　thou　mightest　work　thy　sorcery　at　ease；　even　the　deeds　dear　to　thee。　　And　now　thou　thyself　too　hast　part　in　a　like　mad　passion；　and　some　god　of　affection　has　given　thee　Jason　to　be　thy　grievous　woe。　　Well；　go　on；　and　steel　thy　heart；　wise　though　thou　be；　to　take　up　thy　burden　of　pain；　fraught　with　many　sighs。〃
  （ll。　66…82）　　Thus　spake　the　goddess；　but　swiftly　the　maiden's　feet　bore　her；　hasting　on。　　And　gladly　did　she　gain　the　high…bank　of　the　river　and　beheld　on　the　opposite　side　the　gleam　of　fire；　which　all　night　long　the　heroes　were　kindling　in　joy　at　the　contest's　issue。　　Then　through　the　gloom；　with　clear…pealing　voice　from　across　the　stream；　she　called　on　Phrontis；　the　youngest　of　Phrixus'　sons；　and　he　with　his　brothers　and　Aeson's　son　recognised　the　maiden's　voice；　and　in　silence　his　comrades　wondered　when　they　knew　that　it　was　so　in　truth。　　Thrice　she　called；　and　thrice　at　the　bidding　of　the　company　Phrontis　called　out　in　reply；　and　meantime　the　heroes　were　rowing　with　swift…　moving　oars　in　search　of　her。　　Not　yet　were　they　casting　the　ship's　hawsers　upon　the　opposite　bank；　when　Jason　with　light　feet　leapt　to　land　from　the　deck　above；　and　after　him　Phrontis　and　Argus；　sons　of　Phrixus；　leapt　to　the　ground；　and　she；　clasping　their　knees　with　both　hands；　thus　addressed　them：
  （ll。　83…91）　　〃Save　me；　the　hapless　one；　my　friends；　from　Aeetes；　and　yourselves　too；　for　all　is　brought　to　light；　nor　doth　any　remedy　come。　　But　let　us　flee　upon　the　ship；　before　the　king　mounts　his　swift　chariot。　　And　I　will　lull　to　sleep　the　guardian　serpent　and　give　you　the　fleece　of　gold；　but　do　thou；　stranger；　amid　thy　comrades　make　the　gods　witness　of　the　vows　thou　hast　taken　on　thyself　for　my　sake；　and　now　that　I　have　fled　far　from　my　country；　make　me　not　a　mark　for　blame　and　dishonour　for　want　of　kinsmen。〃
  （ll。　92…98）　　She　spake　in　anguish；　but　greatly　did　the　heart　of　Aeson's　son　rejoice；　and　at　once；　as　she　fell　at　his　knees；　he　raised　her　gently　and　embraced　her；　and　spake　words　of　comfort：　〃Lady；　let　Zeus　of　Olympus　himself　be　witness　to　my　oath；　and　Hera；　queen　of　marriage；　bride　of　Zeus；　that　I　will　set　thee　in　my　halls　my　own　wedded　wife；　when　we　have　reached　the　land　of　Hellas　on　our　return。〃
  （ll。　99…108）　　Thus　he　spake；　and　straightway　clasped　her　right　hand　in　his；　and　she　bade　them　row　the　swift　ship　to　the　sacred　grove　near　at　hand；　in　order　that；　while　it　was　still　night；　they　might　seize　and　carry　off　the　fleece　against　the　will　of　Aeetes。　Word　and　deed　were　one　to　the　eager　crew。　　For　they　took　her　on　board；　and　straightway　thrust　the　ship　from　shore；　and　loud　was　the　din　as　the　chieftains　strained　at　their　oars；　but　she；　starting　back；　held　out　her　hands　in　despair　towards　the　shore。　But　Jason　spoke　cheering　words　and　restrained　her　grief。
  （ll。　109…122）　　Now　at　the　hour　when　men　have　cast　sleep　from　their　eyes~huntsmen；　who；　trusting　to　their　bounds；　never　slumber　away　the　end　of　night；　but　avoid　the　light　of　dawn　lest；　smiting　with　its　white　beams；　it　efface　the　track　and　scent　of　the　quarry　　then　did　Aeson's　son　and　the　maiden　step　forth　from　the　ship　over　a　grassy　spot；　the　〃Ram's　couch〃　as　men　call　it；　where　it　first　bent　its　wearied　knees　in　rest；　bearing　on　its　back　the　Minyan　son　of　Athamas。　　And　close　by；　all　smirched　with　soot；　was　the　base　of　the　altar；　which　the　Aeolid　Phrixus　once　set　up　to　Zeus；　the　alder　of　fugitives；　when　he　sacrificed　the　golden　wonder　at　the　bidding　of　Hermes　who　graciously　met　him　on　the　way。　　There　by　the　counsels　of　Argus　the　chieftains　put　them　ashore。
  （ll。　123…161）　　And　they　two　by　the　pathway　came　to　the　sacred　grove；　seeking　the　huge　oak　tree　on　which　was　hung　the　fleece；　like　to　a　cloud　that　blushes　red　with　the　fiery　beams　of　the　rising　sun。　　But　right　in　front　the　serpent　with　his　keen　sleepless　eyes　saw　them　coming；　and　stretched　out　his　long　neck　and　hissed　in　awful　wise；　and　all　round　the　long　banks　of　the　river　echoed　and　the　boundless　grove。　　Those　heard　it　who　dwelt　in　the　Colchian　land　very　far　from　Titanian　Aea；　near　the　outfall　of　Lycus；　the　river　which　parts　from　loud…roaring　Araxes　and　blends　his　sacred　stream　with　Phasis；　and　they　twain　flow　on　together　in　one　and　pour　their　waters　into　the　Caucasian　Sea。　And　through　fear　young　mothers　awoke；　and　round　their　new…born　babes；　who　were　sleeping　in　their　arms；　threw　their　hands　in　agony；　for　the　small　limbs　started　at　that　hiss。　　And　as　when　above　a　pile　of　smouldering　wood　countless　eddies　of　smoke　roll　up　mingled　with　soot；　and　one　ever　springs　up　quickly　after　another；　rising　aloft　from　beneath　in　wavering　wreaths；　so　at　that　time　did　that　monster　roll　his　countless　coils　covered　with　hard　dry　scales。　　And　as　he　writhed；　the　maiden　came　before　his　eyes；　with　sweet　voice　calling　to　her　aid　sleep；　highest　of　gods；　to　charm　the　monster；　and　she　cried　to　the　queen　of　the　underworld；　the　night…wanderer；　to　be　propitious　to　her　enterprise。　　And　Aeson's　son　followed　in　fear；　but　the　serpent；　already　charmed　by　her　song；　was　relaxing　the　long　ridge　of　his　giant　spine；　and　lengthening　out　his　myriad　coils；　like　a　dark　wave；　dumb　and　noiseless；　rolling　over　a　sluggish　sea；　but　still　he　raised　aloft　his　grisly　head；　eager　to　enclose　them　both　in　his　murderous　jaws。　　But　she　with　a　newly　cut　spray　of　juniper；　dipping　and　drawing　untempered　charms　from　her　mystic　brew；　sprinkled　his　eyes；　while　she　chanted　her　song；　and　all　around　the　potent　scent　of　the　charm　cast　sleep；　and　on　the　very　spot　he　let　his　jaw　sink　down；　and　far　behind　through　the　wood　with　its　many　trees　were　those　countless　coils　stretched　out。
  Hereupon　Jason　snatched　the　golden　fleece　from　the　oak；　at　the　maiden　bidding；　and　she；　standing　firm；　smeared　wit