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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） Meantime Eros passed unseen through the grey mist；
causing confusion； as when against grazing heifers rises the gadfly； which
oxherds call the breese。 And quickly beneath the lintel in the porch he
strung his bow and took from the quiver an arrow unshot before；
messenger of pain。 And with swift feet unmarked he passed the
threshold and keenly glanced around； and gliding close by Aeson's son he
laid the arrow…notch on the cord in the centre； and drawing wide apart with
both hands he shot at Medea； and speechless amazement seized her soul。
But the god himself flashed back again from the high…roofed hall； laughing
loud； and the bolt burnt deep down in the maiden's heart like a flame； and
ever she kept darting bright glances straight up at Aeson's son； and within
her breast her heart panted fast through anguish； all remembrance left her；
and her soul melted with the sweet pain。 And as a poor woman heaps dry
twigs round a blazing branda daughter of toil； whose task is the spinning
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of wool； that she may kindle a blaze at night beneath her roof； when she
has waked very earlyand the flame waxing wondrous great from the
small brand consumes all the twigs together； so； coiling round her heart；
burnt secretly Love the destroyer； and the hue of her soft cheeks went and
came； now pale； now red； in her soul's distraction。
（ll。 299…303） Now when the thralls had laid a banquet ready before
them； and they had refreshed themselves with warm baths； gladly did they
please their souls with meat and drink。 And thereafter Aeetes questioned
the sons of his daughter； addressing them with these words：
（ll。 304…316） 〃Sons of my daughter and of Phrixus； whom beyond all
strangers I honoured in my halls； how have ye come returning back to Aea？
Did some calamity cut short your escape in the midst？ Ye did not listen
when I set before you the boundless length of the way。 For I marked it
once； whirled along in the chariot of my father Helios； when he was
bringing my sister Circe to the western land and we came to the shore of
the Tyrrhenian mainland； where even now she abides； exceeding far from
Colchis。 But what pleasure is there in words？ Do ye tell me plainly what
has been your fortune； and who these men are； your companions； and
where from your hollow ship ye came ashore。〃
（ll。 317…319） Such were his questions； and Argus； before all his
brethren； being fearful for the mission of Aeson's son； gently replied； for
he was the elder…born：
（ll。 320…366） 〃Aeetes； that ship forthwith stormy blasts tore asunder；
and ourselves； crouching on the beams； a wave drove on to the beach of
the isle of Enyalius （3） in the murky night； and some god preserved us。
For even the birds of Ares that haunted the desert isle beforetime； not even
them did we find。 But these men had driven them off； having landed
from their ship on the day before； and the will of Zeus taking pity on us； or
some fate； detained them there； since they straightway gave us both food
and clothing in abundance； when they heard the illustrious name of
Phrixus and thine own； for to thy city are they faring。 And if thou dost
wish to know their errand； I will not hide it from time。 A certain king；
vehemently longing to drive this man far from his fatherland and
possessions； because in might he outshone all the sons of Aeolus； sends
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him to voyage hither on a bootless venture； and asserts that the stock of
Aeolus will not escape the heart…grieving wrath and rage of implacable
Zeus； nor the unbearable curse and vengeance due for Phrixus； until the
fleece comes back to Hellas。 And their ship was fashioned by Pallas
Athena； not such a one as are the ships among the Colchians； on the vilest
of which we chanced。 For the fierce waves and wind broke her utterly to
pieces； but the other holds firm with her bolts； even though all the blasts
should buffet her。 And with equal swiftness she speedeth before the wind
and when the crew ply the oar with unresting hands。 And he hath
gathered in her the mightiest heroes of all Achaea； and hath come to thy
city from wandering far through cities and gulfs of the dread ocean； in the
hope that thou wilt grant him the fleece。 But as thou dost please； so shall
it be； for he cometh not to use force； but is eager to pay thee a recompense
for the gift。 He has heard from me of thy bitter foes the Sauromatae； and
he will subdue them to thy sway。 And if thou desirest to know their
names and lineage I will tell thee all。 This man on whose account the
rest were gathered from Hellas； they call Jason； son of Aeson； whom
Cretheus begat。 And if in truth he is of the stock of Cretheus himself；
thus he would be our kinsman on the father's side。 For Cretheus and
Athamas were both sons of Aeolus； and Phrixus was the son of Athamas；
son of Aeolus。 And here； if thou hast heard at all of the seed of Helios；
thou dost behold Augeias； and this is Telamon sprung from famous Aeacus；
and Zeus himself begat Aeacus。 And so all the rest； all the comrades that
follow him； are the sons or grandsons of the immortals。〃
（ll。 367…371） Such was the tale of Argus； but the king at his words
was filled with rage as he heard； and his heart was lifted high in wrath。
And he spake in heavy displeasure； and was angered most of all with the
son of Chalciope； for he deemed that on their account the strangers had
come； and in his fury his eyes flashed forth beneath his brows：
（ll。 372…381） 〃Begone from my sight； felons； straightway； ye and
your tricks； from the land； ere someone see a fleece and a Phrixus to his
sorrow。 Banded together with your friends from Hellas； not for the fleece；
but to seize my sceptre and royal power have ye come hither。 Had ye not
first tasted of my table； surely would I have cut out your tongues and hewn
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off both hands and sent you forth with your feet alone； so that ye might be
stayed from starting hereafter。 And what lies have ye uttered against the
blessed gods！〃
（ll。 382…385） Thus he spake in his wrath； and mightily from its
depths swelled the heart of Aeacus' son； and his soul within longed to
speak a deadly word in defiance； but Aeson's son checked him； for he
himself first made gentle answer：
（ll。 386…395） 〃Aeetes； bear with this armed band； I pray。 For not in
the way thou deemest have we come to thy city and palace； no； nor yet
with such desires。 For who would of his own will dare to cross so wide a
sea for the goods of a stranger？ But fate and the ruthless command of a
presumptuous king urged me。 Grant a favour to thy suppliants； and to all
Hellas will I publish a glorious fame of thee； yea； we are ready now to pay
thee a swift recompense in war； whether it be the Sauromatae or some
other people that thou art eager to subdue to thy sway。〃
（ll。 396…400） He spake； flattering him with gentle utterance； but the
king's soul brooded a twofold purpose within him； whether he should
attack and slay them on the spot or should make trial of their might。 And
this； as he pondered； seemed the better way； and he addressed Jason in
answer：
（ll。 401…421） 〃Stranger； why needest thou go through thy tale to the
end？ For if ye are in truth of heavenly race； or have come in no wise
inferior to me； to win the goods of strangers； I will give thee the fleece to
bear away； if thou dost wish； when I have tried thee。 For against brave
men I bear no grudge；