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dealer； bristled with sturdy shields and double…pointed spears and shining helmets； and the gleam reached Olympus from beneath； flashing through the air。 And as when abundant snow has fallen on the earth and the storm blasts have dispersed the wintry clouds under the murky night； and all the hosts of the stars appear shining through the gloom； so did those warriors shine springing up above the earth。 But Jason bethought him of the counsels of Medea full of craft； and seized from the plain a huge round boulder； a terrible quoit of Ares Enyalius； four stalwart youths could not have raised it from the ground even a little。 Taking it in his hands he threw it with a rush far away into their midst； and himself crouched unseen behind his shield； with full confidence。 And the Colchians gave a loud cry； like the roar of the sea when it beats upon sharp crags； and speechless amazement seized Aeetes at the rush of the sturdy quoit。 And the Earthborn； like fleet…footed hounds； leaped upon one another and slew with loud yells； and on earth their mother they fell beneath their own spears； likes pines or oaks； which storms of wind beat down。 And even as a fiery star leaps from heaven； trailing a furrow of light； a portent to men； whoever see it darting with a gleam through the dusky sky； in such wise did Aeson's son rush upon the earthborn men； and he drew from the sheath his bare sword； and smote here and there； mowing them down； many on the belly and side； half risen to the airand some that had risen as far as the shouldersand some just standing upright； and others even now rushing to battle。 And as when a fight is stirred up concerning boundaries； and a husbandman； in fear lest they should ravage his fields； seizes in his hand a curved sickle； newly sharpened； and hastily cuts the unripe crop； and waits not for it to be parched in due season by the beams of the sun； so at that time did Jason cut down the crop of the Earthborn； and the furrows were filled with blood； as the channels of a spring with water。 And they fell； some on their faces biting the rough clod of earth with their teeth； some on their backs； and others on their hands and sides； like to sea… monsters to behold。 And many； smitten before raising their feet from the earth； bowed down as far to the ground as they had risen to the air； and rested there with the damp of death on their brows。 Even so； I ween； when Zeus has sent a measureless rain； new planted orchard…shoots droop to the ground； cut off by the root the toil of gardening men； but heaviness of heart and deadly anguish come to the owner of the farm； who planted them； so at that time did bitter grief come upon the heart of King Aeetes。 And he went back to the city among the Colchians； pondering how he might most quickly oppose the heroes。 And the day died； and Jason's contest was ended。
ENDNOTES： （1） i。e。 the fight between the gods and the giants。 （2） i。e。 the Shining One。 （3） A name of Ares。 （4） i。e。 the liquid that flows in the veins of gods。 （5） Or； reading MENIM； 〃took no heed of the 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…