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will be to you。 Take her； since you are no wiser； and we will sail away
toward the north。'
Then Alcinous gave them food； and water； and garments； and rich
presents of all sorts； and he gave the same to the Minuai； and sent them
all away in peace。
So Jason kept the dark witch…maiden to breed him woe and shame；
and the Colchi went northward into the Adriatic； and settled； and built
towns along the shore。
Then the heroes rowed away to the eastward； to reach Hellas； their
beloved land； but a storm came down upon them； and swept them far
away toward the south。 And they rowed till they were spent with
struggling； through the darkness and the blinding rain； but where they
were they could not tell； and they gave up all hope of life。 And at last
touched the ground； and when daylight came waded to the shore； and
saw nothing round but sand and desolate salt pools； for they had come
to the quicksands of the Syrtis； and the dreary treeless flats which lie
between Numidia and Cyrene； on the burning shore of Africa。 And
there they wandered starving for many a weary day； ere they could
launch their ship again； and gain the open sea。 And there Canthus was
killed； while he was trying to drive off sheep； by a stone which a
herdsman threw。
And there too Mopsus died； the seer who knew the voices of all birds；
but he could not foretell his own end； for he was bitten in the foot by a
snake； one of those which sprang from the Gorgon's head when Perseus
carried it across the sands。
At last they rowed away toward the northward； for many a weary
day； till their water was spent； and their food eaten； and they were worn
out with hunger and thirst。 But at last they saw a long steep island； and
a blue peak high among the clouds； and they knew it for the peak of Ida；
and the famous land of Crete。 And they said； 'We will land in Crete；
and see Minos the just king； and all his glory and his wealth； at least he
will treat us hospitably； and let us fill our water… casks upon the shore。'
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But when they came nearer to the island they saw a wondrous sight
upon the cliffs。 For on a cape to the westward stood a giant； taller than
any mountain pine； who glittered aloft against the sky like a tower of
burnished brass。 He turned and looked on all sides round him； till he
saw the ARGO and her crew； and when he saw them he came toward
them； more swiftly than the swiftest horse； leaping across the glens at a
bound； and striding at one step from down to down。 And when he
came abreast of them he brandished his arms up and down； as a ship
hoists and lowers her yards； and shouted with his brazen throat like a
trumpet from off the hills； 'You are pirates； you are robbers！ If you
dare land here； you die。'
Then the heroes cried； 'We are no pirates。 We are all good men and
true； and all we ask is food and water；' but the giant cried the more …
'You are robbers； you are pirates all； I know you； and if you land；
you shall die the death。'
Then he waved his arms again as a signal； and they saw the people
flying inland； driving their flocks before them； while a great flame arose
among the hills。 Then the giant ran up a valley and vanished； and the
heroes lay on their oars in fear。
But Medeia stood watching all from under her steep black brows；
with a cunning smile upon her lips； and a cunning plot within her heart。
At last she spoke； 'I know this giant。 I heard of him in the East。
Hephaistos the Fire King made him in his forge in AEtna beneath the
earth； and called him Talus； and gave him to Minos for a servant； to
guard the coast of Crete。 Thrice a day he walks round the island； and
never stops to sleep； and if strangers land he leaps into his furnace；
which flames there among the hills； and when he is red…hot he rushes on
them； and burns them in his brazen hands。'
Then all the heroes cried； 'What shall we do； wise Medeia？ We
must have water； or we die of thirst。 Flesh and blood we can face fairly；
but who can face this red…hot brass？'
'I can face red…hot brass； if the tale I hear be true。 For they say that
he has but one vein in all his body； filled with liquid fire； and that this
vein is closed with a nail： but I know not where that nail is placed。
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But if I can get it once into these hands； you shall water your ship here in
peace。'
Then she bade them put her on shore； and row off again； and wait
what would befall。
And the heroes obeyed her unwillingly； for they were ashamed to
leave her so alone； but Jason said； 'She is dearer to me than to any of you；
yet I will trust her freely on shore； she has more plots than we can dream
of in the windings of that fair and cunning head。'
So they left the witch…maiden on the shore； and she stood there in
her beauty all alone； till the giant strode back red…hot from head to heel；
while the grass hissed and smoked beneath his tread。
And when he saw the maiden alone； he stopped； and she looked
boldly up into his face without moving； and began her magic song：…
'Life is short； though life is sweet； and even men of brass and fire
must die。 The brass must rust； the fire must cool； for time gnaws all
things in their turn。 Life is short； though life is sweet： but sweeter to
live for ever； sweeter to live ever youthful like the Gods； who have ichor
in their veins … ichor which gives life； and youth； and joy； and a
bounding heart。'
Then Talus said； 'Who are you； strange maiden； and where is this
ichor of youth？'
Then Medeia held up a flask of crystal； and said； 'Here is the ichor of
youth。 I am Medeia the enchantress； my sister Circe gave me this； and
said； 〃Go and reward Talus； the faithful servant； for his fame is gone out
into all lands。〃 So come； and I will pour this into your veins； that you
may live for ever young。'
And he listened to her false words； that simple Talus； and came near；
and Medeia said； 'Dip yourself in the sea first； and cool yourself； lest you
burn my tender hands； then show me where the nail in your vein is； that
I may pour the ichor in。'
Then that simple Talus dipped himself in the sea； till it hissed； and
roared； and smoked； and came and knelt before Medeia； and showed her
the secret nail。
And she drew the nail out gently； but she poured no ichor in； and
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instead the liquid fire spouted forth； like a stream of red…hot iron。 And
Talus tried to leap up； crying； 'You have betrayed me； false witch…
maiden！' But she lifted up her hands before him； and sang； till he sank
beneath her spell。 And as he sank； his brazen limbs clanked heavily；
and the earth groaned beneath his weight； and the liquid fire ran from
his heel； like a stream of lava； to the sea； and Medeia laughe