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checks the stars and the paths of the sacred moon。 Of her we bethought
us as we came hither along the path from the palace； if haply my mother；
her own sister； might persuade her to aid us in the venture。 And if this is
pleasing to you as well； surely on this very day will I return to the palace
of Aeetes to make trial； and perchance with some god's help shall I make
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the trial。〃
（ll。 540…544） Thus he spake； and the gods in their goodwill gave
them a sign。 A trembling dove in her flight from a mighty hawk fell from
on high； terrified； into the lap of Aeson's son； and the hawk fell impaled on
the stern…ornament。 And quickly Mopsus with prophetic words spake
among them all：
（ll。 545…554） 〃For you； friends； this sign has been wrought by the
will of heaven； in no other way is it possible to interpret its meaning better；
than to seek out the maiden and entreat her with manifold skill。 And I
think she will not reject our prayer； if in truth Phineus said that our return
should be with the help of the Cyprian goddess。 It was her gentle bird
that escaped death； and as my heart within me foresees according to this
omen； so may it prove！ But； my friends； let us call on Cytherea to aid us；
and now at once obey the counsels of Argus。〃
（ll。 555…563） He spake； and the warriors approved； remembering the
injunctions of Phineus； but all alone leapt up Apharcian Idas and shouted
loudly in terrible wrath： 〃Shame on us； have we come here fellow
voyagers with women； calling on Cypris for help and not on the mighty
strength of Enyalius？ And do ye look to doves and hawks to save
yourselves from contests？ Away with you； take thought not for deeds of
war； but by supplication to beguile weakling girls。〃
（ll。 564…571） Such were his eager words； and of his comrades many
murmured low； but none uttered a word of answer back。 And he sat
down in wrath； and at once Jason roused them and uttered his own thought：
〃Let Argus set forth from the ship； since this pleases all； but we will now
move from the river and openly fasten our hawsers to the shore。 For
surely it is not fitting for us to hide any longer cowering from the battle…
cry。〃
（ll。 572…575） So he spake； and straightway sent Argus to return in
haste to the city； and they drew the anchors on board at the command of
Aeson's son； and rowed the ship close to the shore； a little away from the
back…water。
（ll。 576…608） But straightway Aeetes held an assembly of the
Colchians far aloof from his palace at a spot where they sat in times before；
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to devise against the Minyae grim treachery and troubles。 And he
threatened that when first the oxen should have torn in pieces the man who
had taken upon him to perform the heavy task； he would hew down the
oak grove above the wooded hill； and burn the ship and her crew； that so
they might vent forth in ruin their grievous insolence； for all their haughty
schemes。 For never would he have welcomed the Aeolid Phrixus as a
guest in his halls； in spite of his sore need； Phrixus； who surpassed all
strangers in gentleness and fear of the gods； had not Zeus himself sent
Hermes his messenger down from heaven； so that he might meet with a
friendly host； much less would pirates coming to his land be let go
scatheless for long； men whose care it was to lift their hands and seize the
goods of others； and to weave secret webs of guile； and harry the steadings
of herdsmen with ill…sounding forays。 And he said that besides all that
the sons of Phrixus should pay a fitting penalty to himself for returning in
consort with evildoers； that they might recklessly drive him from his
honour and his throne； for once he had heard a baleful prophecy from his
father Helios； that he must avoid the secret treachery and schemes of his
own offspring and their crafty mischief。 Wherefore he was sending them；
as they desired； to the Achaean land at the bidding of their fathera long
journey。 Nor had he ever so slight a fear of his daughters； that they
would form some hateful scheme； nor of his son Apsyrtus； but this curse
was being fulfilled in the children of Chalciope。 And he proclaimed
terrible things in his rage against the strangers； and loudly threatened to
keep watch over the ship and its crew； so that no one might escape
calamity。
（ll。 609…615） Meantime Argus； going to Aeetes' palace； with
manifold pleading besought his mother to pray Medea's aid； and
Chalciope herself already had the same thoughts； but fear checked her soul
lest haply either fate should withstand and she should entreat her in vain；
all distraught as she would be at her father's deadly wrath； or； if Medea
yielded to her prayers； her deeds should be laid bare and open to view。
（ll。 616…635） Now a deep slumber had relieved the maiden from her
love…pains as she lay upon her couch。 But straightway fearful dreams；
deceitful； such as trouble one in grief； assailed her。 And she thought that
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the stranger had taken on him the contest； not because he longed to win
the ram's fleece； and that he had not come on that account to Aeetes' city；
but to lead her away； his wedded wife； to his own home； and she dreamed
that herself contended with the oxen and wrought the task with exceeding
ease； and that her own parents set at naught their promise； for it was not
the maiden they had challenged to yoke the oxen but the stranger himself；
from that arose a contention of doubtful issue between her father and the
strangers； and both laid the decision upon her； to be as she should direct in
her mind。 But she suddenly； neglecting her parents； chose the stranger。
And measureless anguish seized them and they shouted out in their wrath；
and with the cry sleep released its hold upon her。 Quivering with fear she
started up； and stared round the walls of her chamber； and with difficulty
did she gather her spirit within her as before； and lifted her voice aloud：
（ll。 636…644） 〃Poor wretch； how have gloomy dreams affrighted me！
I fear that this voyage of the heroes will bring some great evil。 My heart
is trembling for the stranger。 Let him woo some Achaean girl far away
among his own folk； let maidenhood be mine and the home of my parents。
Yet； taking to myself a reckless heart； I will no more keep aloof but will
make trial of my sister to see if she will entreat me to aid in the contest；
through grief for her own sons； this would quench the bitter pain in my
heart。〃
（ll。 645…673） She spake； and rising from her bed opened the door of
her chamber； bare…footed； clad in one robe； and verily she desired to go to
her sister； and crossed the threshold。 And for long she stayed there at the
entrance of her chamber； held back by shame； and she turned back once
more； and again she came forth from within； and again stole back； and idly
did her feet bear her this way and that； yea； as oft as she went straight on；
shame held her within the chamber； and though held back by shame； bold
desire kept urging her on。 Thrice she made the attempt and thrice she
checked herself； the fourth time she fell on her bed face downward；
writhing in pain。 And as when a bride in her chamber bewails her
youthful husband； to whom her brothers and parents have given her； nor
yet does she hold converse with all her attendants for shame and for
thinking of him； but she sits apart in her grief； and some doom has
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destroyed him； before they have had pleasure of each other's charms； and
she with heart o