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handle； fashioned of adamant。
（ll。 1326…1339） The bulls meantime raged exceedingly； breathing
forth furious flame of fire； and their breath rose up like the roar of
blustering winds； in fear of which above all seafaring men furl their large
sail。 But not long after that they moved on at the bidding of the spear；
and behind them the rugged fallow was broken up； cloven by the might of
the bulls and the sturdy ploughman。 Then terribly groaned the clods
withal along the furrows of the plough as they were rent； each a man's
burden； and Jason followed； pressing down the cornfield with firm foot；
and far from him he ever sowed the teeth along the clods as each was
ploughed； turning his head back for fear lest the deadly crop of earthborn
men should rise against him first； and the bulls toiled onwards treading
with their hoofs of bronze。
（ll。 1340…1407） But when the third part of the day was still left as it
wanes from dawn； and wearied labourers call for the sweet hour of
unyoking to come to them straightway； then the fallow was ploughed by
the tireless ploughman； four plough…gates though it was； and he loosed the
plough from the oxen。 Them he scared in flight towards the plain； but he
went back again to the ship； while he still saw the furrows free of the
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earthborn men。 And all round his comrades heartened him with their
shouts。 And in the helmet he drew from the river's stream and quenched
his thirst with the water。 Then he bent his knees till they grew supple；
and filled his mighty heart with courage； raging like a boar； when it
sharpens its teeth against the hunters； while from its wrathful mouth
plenteous foam drips to the ground。 By now the earthborn men were
springing up over all the field； and the plot of Ares； the death…dealer；
bristled with sturdy shields and double…pointed spears and shining helmets；
and the gleam reached Olympus from beneath； flashing through the air。
And as when abundant snow has fallen on the earth and the storm blasts
have dispersed the wintry clouds under the murky night； and all the hosts
of the stars appear shining through the gloom； so did those warriors shine
springing up above the earth。 But Jason bethought him of the counsels of
Medea full of craft； and seized from the plain a huge round boulder； a
terrible quoit of Ares Enyalius； four stalwart youths could not have raised
it from the ground even a little。 Taking it in his hands he threw it with a
rush far away into their midst； and himself crouched unseen behind his
shield； with full confidence。 And the Colchians gave a loud cry； like the
roar of the sea when it beats upon sharp crags； and speechless amazement
seized Aeetes at the rush of the sturdy quoit。 And the Earthborn； like
fleet…footed hounds； leaped upon one another and slew with loud yells；
and on earth their mother they fell beneath their own spears； likes pines or
oaks； which storms of wind beat down。 And even as a fiery star leaps
from heaven； trailing a furrow of light； a portent to men； whoever see it
darting with a gleam through the dusky sky； in such wise did Aeson's son
rush upon the earthborn men； and he drew from the sheath his bare sword；
and smote here and there； mowing them down； many on the belly and side；
half risen to the airand some that had risen as far as the shouldersand
some just standing upright； and others even now rushing to battle。 And
as when a fight is stirred up concerning boundaries； and a husbandman； in
fear lest they should ravage his fields； seizes in his hand a curved sickle；
newly sharpened； and hastily cuts the unripe crop； and waits not for it to
be parched in due season by the beams of the sun； so at that time did Jason
cut down the crop of the Earthborn； and the furrows were filled with blood；
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as the channels of a spring with water。 And they fell； some on their faces
biting the rough clod of earth with their teeth； some on their backs； and
others on their hands and sides； like to sea… monsters to behold。 And
many； smitten before raising their feet from the earth； bowed down as far
to the ground as they had risen to the air； and rested there with the damp of
death on their brows。 Even so； I ween； when Zeus has sent a measureless
rain； new planted orchard…shoots droop to the ground； cut off by the root
the toil of gardening men； but heaviness of heart and deadly anguish come
to the owner of the farm； who planted them； so at that time did bitter grief
come upon the heart of King Aeetes。 And he went back to the city among
the Colchians； pondering how he might most quickly oppose the heroes。
And the day died； and Jason's contest was ended。
ENDNOTES： （1） i。e。 the fight between the gods and the giants。 （2）
i。e。 the Shining One。 （3） A name of Ares。 （4） i。e。 the liquid that flows
in the veins of gods。 （5） Or； reading MENIM； 〃took no heed of the cause
of wrath with the stranger…folk。〃
BOOK IV
（ll。 1…5） Now do thou thyself； goddess Muse； daughter of Zeus； tell
of the labour and wiles of the Colchian maiden。 Surely my soul within
me wavers with speechless amazement as I ponder whether I should call it
the lovesick grief of mad passion or a panic flight； through which she left
the Colchian folk。
（ll。 6…10） Aeetes all night long with the bravest captains of his people
was devising in his halls sheer treachery against the heroes； with fierce
wrath in his heart at the issue of the hateful contest； nor did he deem at all
that these things were being accomplished without the knowledge of his
daughters。
（ll。 11…29） But into Medea's heart Hera cast most grievous fear； and
she trembled like a nimble fawn whom the baying of hounds hath terrified
amid the thicket of a deep copse。 For at once she truly forboded that the
aid she had given was not hidden from her father； and that quickly she
would fill up the cup of woe。 And she dreaded the guilty knowledge of
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her handmaids； her eyes were filled with fire and her ears rung with a
terrible cry。 Often did she clutch at her throat； and often did she drag out
her hair by the roots and groan in wretched despair。 There on that very
day the maiden would have tasted the drugs and perished and so have
made void the purposes of Hera； had not the goddess driven her； all
bewildered； to flee with the sons of Phrixus； and her fluttering soul within
her was comforted； and then she poured from her bosom all the drugs back
again into the casket。 Then she kissed her bed； and the folding…doors on
both sides； and stroked the walls； and tearing away in her hands a long
tress of hair； she left it in the chamber for her mother； a memorial of her
maidenhood； and thus lamented with passionate voice：
（ll。 30…33） 〃I go； leaving this long tress here in my stead； O mother
mine； take this farewell from me as I go far hence； farewell Chalciope； and
all my home。 Would that the sea； stranger； had dashed thee to pieces； ere
thou camest to the Colchian land！〃
（ll。 34…56） Thus she spake； and from her eyes shed copious tears。
And as a bondmaid steals away from a wealthy house； whom fate has
lately severed from her native land； nor yet has she made trial of grievous
toil； but still unschooled to misery and shrinking in terror from slavish
tasks； goes about beneath the cruel hands of a mistress； even so the lovely
maiden rushed forth from her home。 But to her the bolts of the doors
gave way self…moved； leaping backwards at the swift strains of her magic
song。 And with bare feet she sped along the na