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bestow the gift at once； but she； facing him with kindly words； touched his
cheeks； kissed him and drew him to her； and replied with a smile：
（ll。 151…153） 〃Be witness now thy dear head and mine； that surely I
will give thee the gift and deceive thee not； if thou wilt strike with thy
shaft Aeetes' daughter。〃
（ll。 154…166） She spoke； and he gathered up his dice； and having well
counted them all threw them into his mother's gleaming lap。 And
straightway with golden baldric he slung round him his quiver from where
it leant against a tree…trunk； and took up his curved bow。 And he fared
forth through the fruitful orchard of the palace of Zeus。 Then he passed
through the gates of Olympus high in air； hence is a downward path from
heaven； and the twin poles rear aloft steep mountain tops the highest crests
of earth； where the risen sun grows ruddy with his first beams。 And
beneath him there appeared now the life…giving earth and cities of men and
sacred streams of rivers； and now in turn mountain peaks and the ocean all
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around； as he swept through the vast expanse of air。
（ll。 167…193） Now the heroes apart in ambush； in a back…water of the
river； were met in council； sitting on the benches of their ship。 And
Aeson's son himself was speaking among them； and they were listening
silently in their places sitting row upon row： 〃My friends； what pleases
myself that will I say out； it is for you to bring about its fulfilment。 For
in common is our task； and common to all alike is the right of speech； and
he who in silence withholds his thought and his counsel； let him know that
it is he alone that bereaves this band of its home…return。 Do ye others rest
here in the ship quietly with your arms； but I will go to the palace of
Aeetes； taking with me the sons of Phrixus and two comrades as well。
And when I meet him I will first make trial with words to see if he will be
willing to give up the golden fleece for friendship's sake or not； but
trusting to his might will set at nought our quest。 For so； learning his
frowardness first from himself； we will consider whether we shall meet
him in battle； or some other plan shall avail us； if we refrain from the war…
cry。 And let us not merely by force； before putting words to the test；
deprive him of his own possession。 But first it is better to go to him and
win his favour by speech。 Oftentimes； I ween； does speech accomplish at
need what prowess could hardly catty through； smoothing the path in
manner befitting。 And he once welcomed noble Phrixus； a fugitive from
his stepmother's wiles and the sacrifice prepared by his father。 For all
men everywhere； even the most shameless； reverence the ordinance of
Zeus； god of strangers； and regard it。〃
（ll。 194…209） Thus he spake； and the youths approved the words of
Aeson's son with one accord； nor was there one to counsel otherwise。
And then he summoned to go with him the sons of Phrixus； and Telamon
and Augeias； and himself took Hermes' wand； and at once they passed
forth from the ship beyond the reeds and the water to dry land； towards the
rising ground of the plain。 The plain； I wis； is called Circe's； and here in
line grow many willows and osiers； on whose topmost branches hang
corpses bound with cords。 For even now it is an abomination with the
Colchians to burn dead men with fire； nor is it lawful to place them in the
earth and raise a mound above； but to wrap them in untanned oxhides and
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suspend them from trees far from the city。 And so earth has an equal
portion with air； seeing that they bury the women； for that is the custom of
their land。
（ll。 210…259） And as they went Hera with friendly thought spread a
thick mist through the city； that they might fare to the palace of Aeetes
unseen by the countless hosts of the Colchians。 But soon when from the
plain they came to the city and Aeetes' palace； then again Hera dispersed
the mist。 And they stood at the entrance； marvelling at the king's courts
and the wide gates and columns which rose in ordered lines round the
walls； and high up on the palace a coping of stone rested on brazen
triglyphs。 And silently they crossed the threshold。 And close by garden
vines covered with green foliage were in full bloom； lifted high in air。
And beneath them ran four fountains； ever…flowing； which Hephaestus had
delved out。 One was gushing with milk； one with wine； while the third
flowed with fragrant oil； and the fourth ran with water； which grew warm
at the setting of the Pleiads； and in turn at their rising bubbled forth from
the hollow rock； cold as crystal。 Such then were the wondrous works
that the craftsman…god Hephaestus had fashioned in the palace of Cytaean
Aeetes。 And he wrought for him bulls with feet of bronze； and their
mouths were of bronze； and from them they breathed out a terrible flame
of fire； moreover he forged a plough of unbending adamant； all in one
piece； in payment of thanks to Helios； who had taken the god up in his
chariot when faint from the Phlegraean fight。 （1） And here an inner…court
was built； and round it were many well…fitted doors and chambers here and
there； and all along on each side was a richly…wrought gallery。 And on
both sides loftier buildings stood obliquely。 In one； which was the
loftiest； lordly Aeetes dwelt with his queen； and in another dwelt Apsyrtus；
son of Aeetes； whom a Caucasian nymph； Asterodeia； bare before he made
Eidyia his wedded wife； the youngest daughter of Tethys and Oceanus。
And the sons of the Colchians called him by the new name of Phaethon； （2）
because he outshone all the youths。 The other buildings the handmaidens
had； and the two daughters of Aeetes； Chalciope and Medea。 Medea then
＇they found＇ going from chamber to chamber in search of her sister； for
Hera detained her within that day； but beforetime she was not wont to
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haunt the palace； but all day long was busied in Hecate's temple； since she
herself was the priestess of the goddess。 And when she saw them she
cried aloud； and quickly Chalciope caught the sound； and her maids；
throwing down at their feet their yarn and their thread； rushed forth all in a
throng。 And she； beholding her sons among them； raised her hands aloft
through joy； and so they likewise greeted their mother； and when they saw
her embraced her in their gladness； and she with many sobs spoke thus：
（ll。 260…267） 〃After all then； ye were not destined to leave me in
your heedlessness and to wander far； but fate has turned you back。 Poor
wretch that I am！ What a yearning for Hellas from some woeful madness
seized you at the behest of your father Phrixus。 Bitter sorrows for my
heart did he ordain when dying。 And why should ye go to the city of
Orchomenus； whoever this Orchomenus is； for the sake of Athamas'
wealth； leaving your mother alone to bear her grief？〃
（ll。 268…274） Such were her words； and Aeetes came forth last of all
and Eidyia herself came； the queen of Aeetes； on hearing the voice of
Chalciope； and straightway all the court was filled with a throng。 Some
of the thralls were busied with a mighty bull； others with the axe were
cleaving dry billets； and others heating with fire water for the baths； nor
was there one who relaxed his toil； serving the king。
（ll。 275…298）