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they will outnumber you。 I will do justice between you； for I know and
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do what is right。'
Then he turned to his kings； and said； 'This may stand over till to…
morrow。 To…night we will feast our guests； and hear the story of all
their wanderings； and how they came hither out of the ocean。'
So Alcinous bade the servants take the heroes in； and bathe them；
and give them clothes。 And they were glad when they saw the warm
water； for it was long since they had bathed。 And they washed off the
sea…salt from their limbs； and anointed themselves from head to foot
with oil； and combed out their golden hair。 Then they came back again
into the hall； while the merchant kings rose up to do them honour。
And each man said to his neighbour； 'No wonder that these men won
fame。 How they stand now like Giants； or Titans； or Immortals come
down from Olympus； though many a winter has worn them； and many a
fearful storm。 What must they have been when they sailed from Iolcos；
in the bloom of their youth； long ago？'
Then they went out to the garden； and the merchant princes said；
'Heroes； run races with us。 Let us see whose feet are nimblest。'
'We cannot race against you； for our limbs are stiff from sea； and we
have lost our two swift comrades； the sons of the north wind。 But do
not think us cowards： if you wish to try our strength； we will shoot；
and box； and wrestle； against any men on earth。'
And Alcinous smiled； and answered； 'I believe you； gallant guests；
with your long limbs and broad shoulders； we could never match you
here。 For we care nothing here for boxing； or for shooting with the
bow； but for feasts； and songs； and harping； and dancing； and running
races； to stretch our limbs on shore。'
So they danced there and ran races； the jolly merchant kings； till the
night fell； and all went in。
And then they ate and drank； and comforted their weary souls； till
Alcinous called a herald； and bade him go and fetch the harper。
The herald went out； and fetched the harper； and led him in by the
hand； and Alcinous cut him a piece of meat； from the fattest of the
haunch； and sent it to him； and said； 'Sing to us； noble harper； and rejoice
the heroes' hearts。'
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So the harper played and sang； while the dancers danced strange
figures； and after that the tumblers showed their tricks； till the heroes
laughed again。
Then； 'Tell me； heroes；' asked Alcinous； 'you who have sailed the
ocean round； and seen the manners of all nations； have you seen such
dancers as ours here； or heard such music and such singing？ We hold
ours to be the best on earth。'
'Such dancing we have never seen；' said Orpheus； 'and your singer is
a happy man； for Phoebus himself must have taught him； or else he is
the son of a Muse； as I am also； and have sung once or twice； though not
so well as he。'
'Sing to us； then； noble stranger；' said Alcinous； 'and we will give
you precious gifts。'
So Orpheus took his magic harp； and sang to them a stirring song of
their voyage from Iolcos； and their dangers； and how they won the
golden fleece； and of Medeia's love； and how she helped them； and went
with them over land and sea； and of all their fearful dangers； from
monsters； and rocks； and storms； till the heart of Arete was softened； and
all the women wept。 And the merchant kings rose up； each man from
off his golden throne； and clapped their hands； and shouted； 'Hail to the
noble Argonauts； who sailed the unknown sea！'
Then he went on； and told their journey over the sluggish northern
main； and through the shoreless outer ocean； to the fairy island of the
west； and of the Sirens； and Scylla； and Charybdis； and all the wonders
they had seen； till midnight passed and the day dawned； but the kings
never thought of sleep。 Each man sat still and listened； with his chin
upon his hand。
And at last； when Orpheus had ended； they all went thoughtful out；
and the heroes lay down to sleep； beneath the sounding porch outside；
where Arete had strewn them rugs and carpets； in the sweet still summer
night。
But Arete pleaded hard with her husband for Medeia； for her heart
was softened。 And she said； 'The Gods will punish her； not we。 After
all； she is our guest and my suppliant； and prayers are the daughters of
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Zeus。 And who； too； dare part man and wife； after all they have
endured together？'
And Alcinous smiled。 'The minstrel's song has charmed you： but I
must remember what is right； for songs cannot alter justice； and I must
be faithful to my name。 Alcinous I am called； the man of sturdy sense；
and Alcinous I will be。' But for all that Arete besought him； until she
won him round。
So next morning he sent a herald； and called the kings into the
square； and said； 'This is a puzzling matter： remember but one thing。
These Minuai live close by us； and we may meet them often on the seas；
but Aietes lives afar off； and we have only heard his name。 Which；
then； of the two is it safer to offend … the men near us； or the men far
off？'
The princes laughed； and praised his wisdom； and Alcinous called
the heroes to the square； and the Colchi also； and they came and stood
opposite each other； but Medeia stayed in the palace。 Then Alcinous
spoke； 'Heroes of the Colchi； what is your errand about this lady？'
'To carry her home with us； that she may die a shameful death； but if
we return without her； we must die the death she should have died。'
'What say you to this； Jason the AEolid？' said Alcinous； turning to
the Minuai。
'I say；' said the cunning Jason； 'that they are come here on a bootless
errand。 Do you think that you can make her follow you； heroes of the
Colchi … her； who knows all spells and charms？ She will cast away
your ships on quicksands； or call down on you Brimo the wild huntress；
or the chains will fall from off her wrists； and she will escape in her
dragon…car； or if not thus； some other way； for she has a thousand plans
and wiles。 And why return home at all； brave heroes； and face the long
seas again； and the Bosphorus； and the stormy Euxine； and double all
your toil？ There is many a fair land round these coasts； which waits for
gallant men like you。 Better to settle there； and build a city； and let
Aietes and Colchis help themselves。'
Then a murmur rose among the Colchi； and some cried 'He has
spoken well；' and some； 'We have had enough of roving； we will sail the
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seas no more！' And the chief said at last； 'Be it so； then； a plague she
has been to us； and a plague to the house of her father； and a plague she
will be to you。 Take her； since you are no wiser； and we will sail away
toward the