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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） 〃With thy plea of right； Aeetes； thou dost shut me in overmuch。 Wherefore also I will dare that contest； monstrous as it is； though it be my doom to die。 For nothing will fall upon men more dread than dire necessity； which indeed constrained me to come hither at a king's command。〃
（ll。 432…438） Thus he spake； smitten by his helpless plight； and the king with grim words addressed him； sore troubled as he was： 〃Go forth now to the gathering； since thou art eager for the toil； but if thou shouldst fear to lift the yoke upon the oxen or shrink from the deadly harvesting； then all this shall be my care； so that another too may shudder to come to a man that is better than he。〃
（ll。 439…463） He spake outright； and Jason rose from his seat； and Augeias and Telamon at once； and Argus followed alone； for he signed to his brothers to stay there on the spot meantime； and so they went forth from the hall。 And wonderfully among them all shone the son of Aeson for beauty and grace； and the maiden looked at him with stealthy glance； holding her bright veil aside； her heart smouldering with pain； and her soul creeping like a dream flitted in his track as he went。 So they passed forth from the palace sorely troubled。 And Chalciope； shielding herself from the wrath of Aeetes； had gone quickly to her chamber with her sons。 And Medea likewise followed； and much she brooded in her soul all the cares that the Loves awaken。 And before her eyes the vision still appearedhimself what like he was； with what vesture he was clad； what things he spake； how he sat on his seat； how he moved forth to the doorand as she pondered she deemed there never was such another man； and ever in her ears rung his voice and the honey…sweet words which he uttered。 And she feared for him； lest the oxen or Aeetes with his own hand should slay him； and she mourned him as though already slain outright； and in her affliction a round tear through very grievous pity coursed down her cheek； and gently weeping she lifted up her voice aloud：
（ll。 464…4