ter；　dividing　his　stream；　falls　into　the　sea　on　this　side　and　on　that；　and　the　Laurian　plain；　then　indeed　the　Colchians　went　forth　into　the　Cronian　sea　and　cut　off　all　the　ways；　to　prevent　their　foes'　escape。　　And　the　heroes　came　down　the　river　behind　and　reached　the　two　Brygean　isles　of　Artemis　near　at　hand。　　Now　in　one　of　them　was　a　sacred　temple；　and　on　the　other　they　landed；　avoiding　the　host　of　Apsyrtus；　for　the　Colchians　had　left　these　islands　out　of　many　within　the　river；　just　as　they　were；　through　reverence　for　the　daughter　of　Zeus；　but　the　rest；　thronged　by　the　Colchians；　barred　the　ways　to　the　sea。　　And　so　on　other　islands　too；　close　by；　Apsyrtus　left　his　host　as　far　as　the　river　Salangon　and　the　Nestian　land。
  （ll。　338…349）　　There　the　Minyae　would　at　that　time　have　yielded　in　grim　fight；　a　few　to　many；　but　ere　then　they　made　a　covenant；　shunning　a　dire　quarrel；　as　to　the　golden　fleece；　that　since　Aeetes　himself　had　so　promised　them　if　they　should　fulfill　the　contests；　they　should　keep　it　as　justly　won；　whether　they　carried　it　off　by　craft　or　even　openly　in　the　king's　despite；　but　as　to　Medeafor　that　was　the　cause　of　strifethat　they　should　give　her　in　ward　to　Leto's　daughter　apart　from　the　throng；　until　some　one　of　the　kings　that　dispense　justice　should　utter　his　doom；　whether　she　must　return　to　her　father's　home　or　follow　the　chieftains　to　the　land　of　Hellas。
  （ll。　350…354）　　Now　when　the　maiden　had　mused　upon　all　this；　sharp　anguish　shook　her　heart　unceasingly；　and　quickly　she　called　forth　Jason　alone　apart　from　his　comrades；　and　led　him　aside　until　they　were　far　away；　and　before　his　face　uttered　her　speech　all　broken　with　sobs：
  （ll。　355…390）　　〃What　is　this　purpose　that　ye　are　now　devising　about　me；　O　son　of　Aeson？　　Has　thy　triumph　utterly　cast　forgetfulness　upon　thee；　and　reekest　thou　nothing　of　all　that　thou　spakest　when　held　fast　by　necessity？　　Whither　are　fled　the　oaths　by　Zeus　the　suppliants'　god；　whither　are　fled　thy　honied　promises？　　For　which　in　no　seemly　wise；　with　shameless　will；　I　have　left　my　country；　the　glories　of　my　home　and　even　my　parents　　things　that　were　dearest　to　me；　and　far　away　all　alone　I　am　borne　over　the　sea　with　the　plaintive　kingfishers　because　of　thy　trouble；　in　order　that　I　might　save　thy　life　in　fulfilling　the　contests　with　the　oxen　and　the　earthborn　men。　　Last　of　all　the　fleecewhen　the　matter　became　known；　it　was　by　my　folly　thou　didst　win　it；　and　a　foul　reproach　have　I　poured　on　womankind。　Wherefore　I　say　that　as　thy　child；　thy　bride　and　thy　sister；　I　follow　thee　to　the　land　of　Hellas。　　Be　ready　to　stand　by　me　to　the　end；　abandon　me　not　left　forlorn　of　thee　when　thou　dost　visit　the　kings。　　But　only　save　me；　let　justice　and　right；　to　which　we　have　both　agreed；　stand　firm；　or　else　do　thou　at　once　shear　through　this　neck　with　the　sword；　that　I　may　gain　the　guerdon　due　to　my　mad　passion。　　Poor　wretch！　　if　the　king；　to　whom　you　both　commit　your　cruel　covenant；　doom　me　to　belong　to　my　brother。　　How　shall　I　come　to　my　father's　sight？　　Will　it　be　with　a　good　name？　What　revenge；　what　heavy　calamity　shall　I　not　endure　in　agony　for　the　terrible　deeds　I　have　done？　　And　wilt　thou　win　the　return　that　thy　heart　desires？　　Never　may　Zeus'　bride；　the　queen　of　all；　in　whom　thou　dost　glory；　bring　that　to　pass。　　Mayst　thou　some　time　remember　me　when　thou　art　racked　with　anguish；　may　the　fleece　like　a　dream　vanish　into　the　nether　darkness　on　the　wings　of　the　wind！　　And　may　my　avenging　Furies　forthwith　drive　thee　from　thy　country；　for　all　that　I　have　suffered　through　thy　cruelty！　　These　curses　will　not　be　allowed　to　fall　unaccomplished　to　the　ground。　　A　mighty　oath　hast　thou　transgressed；　ruthless　one；　but　not　long　shalt　thou　and　thy　comrades　sit　at　ease　casting　eyes　of　mockery　upon　me；　for　all　your　covenants。〃
  （ll。　391…394）　　Thus　she　spake；　seething　with　fierce　wrath；　and　she　longed　to　set　fire　to　the　ship　and　to　hew　it　utterly　in　pieces；　and　herself　to　fall　into　the　raging　flame。　　But　Jason；　half　afraid；　thus　addressed　her　with　gentle　words：
  （ll。　395…409）　　〃Forbear；　lady；　me　too　this　pleases　not。　　But　we　seek　some　respite　from　battle；　for　such　a　cloud　of　hostile　men；　like　to　a　fire；　surrounds　us；　on　thy　account。　　For　all　that　inhabit　this　land　are　eager　to　aid　Apsyrtus；　that　they　may　lead　thee　back　home　to　thy　father；　like　some　captured　maid。　　And　all　of　us　would　perish　in　hateful　destruction；　if　we　closed　with　them　in　fight；　and　bitterer　still　will　be　the　pain；　if　we　are　slain　and　leave　thee　to　be　their　prey。　　But　this　covenant　will　weave　a　web　of　guile　to　lead　him　to　ruin。　　Nor　will　the　people　of　the　land　for　thy　sake　oppose　us；　to　favour　the　Colchians；　when　their　prince　is　no　longer　with　them；　who　is　thy　champion　and　thy　brother；　nor　will　I　shrink　from　matching　myself　in　fight　with　the　Colchians；　if　they　bar　my　way　homeward。〃
  （ll。　410…420）　　Thus　he　spake　soothing　her；　and　she　uttered　a　deadly　speech：　〃Take　heed　now。　　For　when　sorry　deeds　are　done　we　must　needs　devise　sorry　counsel；　since　at　first　I　was　distraught　by　my　error；　and　by　heaven's　will　it　was　I　wrought　the　accomplishment　of　evil　desires。　　Do　thou　in　the　turmoil　shield　me　from　the　Colchians'　spears；　and　I　will　beguile　Apsyrtus　to　come　into　thy　handsdo　thou　greet　him　with　splendid　giftsif　only　I　could　persuade　the　heralds　on　their　departure　to　bring　him　alone　to　hearken　to　my　words。　　Thereupon　if　this　deed　pleases　thee；　slay　him　and　raise　a　conflict　with　the　Colchians；　I　care　not。
  （ll。　421…422）　　So　they　two　agreed　and　prepared　a　great　web　of　guile　for　Apsyrtus；　and　provided　many　gifts　such　as　are　due　to　guests；　and　among　them　gave　a　sacred　robe　of　Hypsipyle；　of　crimson　hue。　　The　Graces　with　their　own　hands　had　wrought　it　for　Dionysus　in　sea…girt　Dia；　and　he　gave　it　to　his　son　Thoas　thereafter；　and　Thoas　left　it　to　Hypsipyle；　and　she　gave　that　fair…wrought　guest…gift　with　many　another　marvel　to　Aeson's　son　to　wear。　　Never　couldst　thou　satisfy　thy　sweet　desire　by　touching　it　or　gazing　on　it。　　And　from　it　a　divine　fragrance　breathed　from　the　time　when　the　king　of　Nysa　himself　lay　to　rest　thereon；　flushed　with　wine　and　nectar　as　he　clasped　the　beauteous　breast　of　the　maiden…daughter　of　Minos；　whom　once　Theseus　forsook　in　the　island　of　Dia；　when　she　had　followed　him　from　Cnossus。　　And　when　she　had　worked　upon　the　heralds　to　induce　her　brother　to　come；　as　soon　as　she　reached　the　temple　of　the　goddess；　according　to　the　agreement；　and　the　darkness　of　night　surrounded　them；　that　so　she　might　devise　with　him　a　cunning　plan　for　her　to　take　the　mighty　fleece　of　gold　and　return　to　the　home　of　Aeetes；　for；　she　said；　the　sons　of　Phrixus　had　given　her　by　force　to　the　strangers　to　carry　off；　with　such　beguiling　words　she　scattered　to　the　air　and　the　breezes　her　witching　charms；　which　even　from　afar　would　have　drawn　down　the　savage　beast　from　the　steep　mountain…height。
  （ll。　445…451）　　Ruthless　Love；　great　bane；　great　curse　to　mankind；　from　thee　come　deadly　strifes　and　lamentations　and　groans；　and　countless　pains　as　well　have　their　stormy　birth　from　thee。　　Arise；　thou　god；　and　arm　thyself　against　the　sons　of　our　foes　in　such　guise　as　when　thou　didst　fill　Medea's　heart　with　accursed　madness。　　How　then　by　evil　doom　did　she　slay　Apsyrtus　when　he　came　to　meet　her？　　For　that　must　our　song　tell　next。
  （ll。　452…481）　　When　the　heroes　had　left　the　maiden　on　the　island　of　Artemis；　according　to　the　covenant；　both　sides　ran　their　ships　to　land　separately。　　And　Jason　went　to　the　ambush　to　lie　in　wait　for　Apsyrtus　and　then　for　his　comrades。　　But　he；　beguiled　by　these　dire　promises；　swiftly　crossed　the　swell　of　the　sea　in　his　ship；　and　in　dark　night　set　foot　on　the　sacred　island；　and　faring　all　alone　to　meet　her　he　made　trial　in　speech　of　his　sister；　as　a　tender　child　tries　a　wintry　torrent　which　not　even　strong　men　can　pass　through；　to　see　if　she　would　devise　some　guile　against　the　strangers。　　And　so　they　two　agreed　together　on　everything；　and　straightway　Aeson's　son　leapt　forth　from　the　thick　ambush；　lifting　his　bare　sword　in　his　hand；　and　quickly　the　maiden　turned　her　eyes　aside　and　covered　them　with　her　veil　that　she　might　not　see　the　blood　of　her　brother　when　he　was　smitten。　　And　Jason　marked　him　and　struck　him　down；　as　a　butcher　strikes　down　a　mighty　strong…horned　bull；　hard　by　the　temple　which　the　Brygi　on　the　mainland　opposite　had　once　built　for　Artemis。　　In　its　vestibule　he　fell　on　his　knees；　and　at　last　the　hero　breathing　out　his　life　caught　up　in　both　hands　the　dark　blood　as　it　welled　from　the　wound；　and　he　dyed　with　red　his　sister's　silvery　veil　and　robe　as　she　shrank　away。　　And　with　swift　side…glance　the　irresistible　pitiless　Fury　beheld　the　deadly　deed　they　had　done。　And　the　hero；　Aeson's　son；　cut　off　the　extremities　of　the　dead　man；　and　thrice　licked　up　some　blood　and　thrice　spat　the　pollution　from　his　teeth；　as　it　is　right　for　the　slayer　to　do；　to　atone　for　a　treacherous　murder。　　And　the　clammy　corpse　he　hid　in　the　ground　where　even　now　those　bones　lie　among　the　Apsyrtians。
  （ll。　481…494）　　Now　as　soon　as　the　heroes　saw　the　blaze　of　a　torch；　which　the　maiden　raised　for　them　as　a　sign　to　pursue；　they　laid　their　own　ship　near　the　Colchian　ship；　and　they　slaughtered　the　Colchian　host；　as　kites　slay　the　tribes　of　wood…pigeons；　or　as　lions　of　the　wold；