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the golden fleece of Aeetes and bear it to Hellas； or can they deceive the
king with soft words and so work persuasion？ Of a truth he is terribly
overweening。 Still it is right to shrink from no endeavour。〃
（ll。 17…21） Thus she spake； and at once Athena addressed her： 〃I too
was pondering such thoughts in my heart； Hera； when thou didst ask me
outright。 But not yet do I think that I have conceived a scheme to aid the
courage of the heroes； though I have balanced many plans。〃
（ll。 22…29） She ended； and the goddesses fixed their eyes on the
ground at their feet； brooding apart； and straightway Hera was the first to
speak her thought： 〃Come； let us go to Cypris； let both of us accost her
and urge her to bid her son （if only he will obey） speed his shaft at the
daughter of Aeetes； the enchantress； and charm her with love for Jason。
And I deem that by her device he will bring back the fleece to Hellas。〃
（ll。 30…31） Thus she spake； and the prudent plan pleased Athena； and
she addressed her in reply with gentle words：
（ll。 32…35） 〃Hera； my father begat me to be a stranger to the darts of
love； nor do I know any charm to work desire。 But if the word pleases
thee； surely I will follow； but thou must speak when we meet her。〃
（ll。 36…51） So she said； and starting forth they came to the mighty
palace of Cypris； which her husband； the halt…footed god； had built for her
when first he brought her from Zeus to be his wife。 And entering the
court they stood beneath the gallery of the chamber where the goddess
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prepared the couch of Hephaestus。 But he had gone early to his forge and
anvils to a broad cavern in a floating island where with the blast of flame
he wrought all manner of curious work； and she all alone was sitting
within； on an inlaid seat facing the door。 And her white shoulders on
each side were covered with the mantle of her hair and she was parting it
with a golden comb and about to braid up the long tresses； but when she
saw the goddesses before her； she stayed and called them within； and rose
from her seat and placed them on couches。 Then she herself sat down；
and with her hands gathered up the locks still uncombed。 And smiling
she addressed them with crafty words：
（ll。 52…54） 〃Good friends； what intent； what occasion brings you here
after so long？ Why have ye come； not too frequent visitors before； chief
among goddesses that ye are？〃
（ll。 55…75） And to her Hera replied： 〃Thou dost mock us； but our
hearts are stirred with calamity。 For already on the river Phasis the son
of Aeson moors his ship； he and his comrades in quest of the fleece。 For
all their sakes we fear terribly （for the task is nigh at hand） but most for
Aeson's son。 Him will I deliver； though he sail even to Hades to free
Ixion below from his brazen chains； as far as strength lies in my limbs； so
that Pelias may not mock at having escaped an evil doomPelias who left
me unhonoured with sacrifice。 Moreover Jason was greatly loved by me
before； ever since at the mouth of Anaurus in flood； as I was making trial
of men's righteousness； he met me on his return from the chase； and all the
mountains and long ridged peaks were sprinkled with snow； and from
them the torrents rolling down were rushing with a roar。 And he took
pity on me in the likeness of an old crone； and raising me on his shoulders
himself bore me through the headlong tide。 So he is honoured by me
unceasingly； nor will Pelias pay the penalty of his outrage； unless thou
wilt grant Jason his return。〃
（ll。 76…82） Thus she spake； and speechlessness seized Cypris。 And
beholding Hera supplicating her she felt awe； and then addressed her with
friendly words： 〃Dread goddess； may no viler thing than Cypris ever be
found； if I disregard thy eager desire in word or deed； whatever my weak
arms can effect； and let there be no favour in return。〃
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（ll。 83…89） She spake； and Hera again addressed her with prudence：
〃It is not in need of might or of strength that we have come。 But just
quietly bid thy boy charm Aeetes' daughter with love for Jason。 For if
she will aid him with her kindly counsel； easily do I think he will win the
fleece of gold and return to Iolcus； for she is full of wiles。〃
（ll。 90…99） Thus she spake； and Cypris addressed them both： 〃Hera
and Athena； he will obey you rather than me。 For unabashed though he is；
there will be some slight shame in his eyes before you； but he has no
respect for me； but ever slights me in contentious mood。 And； overborne
by his naughtiness； I purpose to break his ill…sounding arrows and his bow
in his very sight。 For in his anger he has threatened that if I shall not keep
my hands off him while he still masters his temper； I shall have cause to
blame myself thereafter。〃
（ll。 100…105） So she spake； and the goddesses smiled and looked at
each other。 But Cypris again spoke； vexed at heart： 〃To others my
sorrows are a jest； nor ought I to tell them to all； I know them too well
myself。 But now； since this pleases you both； I will make the attempt and
coax him； and he will not say me nay。〃
（ll。 106…110） Thus she spake； and Hera took her slender hand and
gently smiling； replied： 〃Perform this task； Cytherea； straightway； as thou
sayest； and be not angry or contend with thy boy； he will cease hereafter to
vex thee。〃
（ll。 111…128） She spake； and left her seat； and Athena accompanied
her and they went forth both hastening back。 And Cypris went on her
way through the glens of Olympus to find her boy。 And she found him
apart； in the blooming orchard of Zeus； not alone； but with him
Ganymedes； whom once Zeus had set to dwell among the immortal gods；
being enamoured of his beauty。 And they were playing for golden dice；
as boys in one house are wont to do。 And already greedy Eros was
holding the palm of his left hand quite full of them under his breast；
standing upright； and on the bloom of his cheeks a sweet blush was
glowing。 But the other sat crouching hard by； silent and downcast； and
he had two dice left which he threw one after the other； and was angered
by the loud laughter of Eros。 And lo； losing them straightway with the
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former； he went off empty handed； helpless； and noticed not the approach
of Cypris。 And she stood before her boy； and laying her hand on his lips；
addressed him：
（ll。 129…144） 〃Why dost thou smile in triumph； unutterable rogue？
Hast thou cheated him thus； and unjustly overcome the innocent child？
Come； be ready to perform for me the task I will tell thee of； and I will
give thee Zeus' all…beauteous plaything the one which his dear nurse
Adrasteia made for him； while he still lived a child； with childish ways； in
the Idaean cavea well…rounded ball； no better toy wilt thou get from the
hands of Hephaestus。 All of gold are its zones； and round each double
seams run in a circle； but the stitches are hidden； and a dark blue spiral
overlays them all。 But if thou shouldst cast it with thy hands； lo； like a
star； it sends a flaming track through the sky。 This I will give thee； and
do thou strike with thy shaft and charm the daughter of Aeetes with love
for Jason； and let there be no loitering。 For then my thanks would be the
slighter。〃
（ll。 145…150） Thus she spake； and welcome were her words to the
listening boy。 And he threw down all his toys； and eagerly seizing her
robe on this side and on that； clung to the goddess。 And he implored her to
bestow the gift at once； but she； facing him with kindly words； touched his
cheeks； kissed