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moved along； even beneath his feet the sheen rose up from the earth。
And he strode on now with the fleece covering his left shoulder from the
height of his neck to his feet； and now again he gathered it up in his hands；
for he feared exceedingly； lest some god or man should meet him and
deprive him thereof。
（ll。 183…189） Dawn was spreading over the earth when they reached
the throng of heroes； and the youths marvelled to behold the mighty fleece；
which gleamed like the lightning of Zeus。 And each one started up eager
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to touch it and clasp it in his hands。 But the son of Aeson restrained them
all； and threw over it a mantle newly…woven； and he led the maiden to the
stern and seated her there； and spake to them all as follows：
（ll。 190…205） 〃No longer now； my friends； forbear to return to your
fatherland。 For now the task for which we dared this grievous voyage；
toiling with bitter sorrow of heart； has been lightly fulfilled by the
maiden's counsels。 Herfor such is her willI will bring home to be my
wedded wife； do ye preserve her； the glorious saviour of all Achaea and of
yourselves。 For of a surety； I ween； will Aeetes come with his host to bar
our passage from the river into the sea。 But do some of you toil at the
oars in turn； sitting man by man； and half of you raise your shields of
oxhide； a ready defence against the darts of the enemy； and guard our
return。 And now in our hands we hold the fate of our children and dear
country and of our aged parents； and on our venture all Hellas depends； to
reap either the shame of failure or great renown。〃
（ll。 206…211） Thus he spake； and donned his armour of war； and they
cried aloud； wondrously eager。 And he drew his sword from the sheath
and cut the hawsers at the stern。 And near the maiden he took his stand
ready armed by the steersman Aneaeus； and with their rowing the ship
sped on as they strained desperately to drive her clear of the river。
（ll。 212…235） By this time Medea's love and deeds had become
known to haughty Aeetes and to all the Colchians。 And they thronged to
the assembly in arms； and countless as the waves of the stormy sea when
they rise crested by the wind； or as the leaves that fall to the ground from
the wood with its myriad branches in the month when the leaves fallwho
could reckon their tale？so they in countless number poured along the
banks of the river shouting in frenzy； and in his shapely chariot Aeetes
shone forth above all with his steeds； the gift of Helios； swift as the blasts
of the wind。 In his left hand he raised his curved shield； and in his right a
huge pine…torch； and near him in front stood up his mighty spear。 And
Apsyrtus held in his hands the reins of the steeds。 But already the ship
was cleaving the sea before her； urged on by stalwart oarsmen； and the
stream of the mighty river rushing down。 But the king in grievous
anguish lifted his hands and called on Helios and Zeus to bear witness to
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their evil deeds； and terrible threats he uttered against all his people； that
unless they should with their own hands seize the maiden； either on the
land or still finding the ship on the swell of the open sea； and bring her
back； that so he might satisfy his eager soul with vengeance for all those
deeds； at the cost of their own lives they should learn and abide all his rage
and revenge。
（ll。 236…240） Thus spake Aeetes； and on that same day the Colchians
launched their ships and cast the tackle on board； and on that same day
sailed forth on the sea； thou wouldst not say so mighty a host was a fleet
of ships； but that a countless flight of birds； swarm on swarm； was
clamouring over the sea。
（ll。 241…252） Swiftly the wind blew； as the goddess Hera planned； so
that most quickly Aeaean Medea might reach the Pelasgian land； a bane to
the house of Pelias； and on the third morn they bound the ship's stern
cables to the shores of the Paphlagonians； at the mouth of the river Halys。
For Medea bade them land and propitiate Hecate with sacrifice。 Now all
that the maiden prepared for offering the sacrifice may no man know； and
may my soul not urge me to sing thereof。 Awe restrains my lips； yet from
that time the altar which the heroes raised on the beach to the goddess
remains till now； a sight to men of a later day。
（ll。 253…256） And straightway Aeson's son and the rest of the heroes
bethought them of Phineus； how that he had said that their course from
Aea should be different； but to all alike his meaning was dim。 Then
Argus spake； and they eagerly hearkened：
（ll。 257…293） 〃We go to Orchomenus； whither that unerring seer；
whom ye met aforetime； foretold your voyage。 For there is another
course； signified by those priests of the immortal gods； who have sprung
from Tritonian Thebes。 As yet all the stars that wheel in the heaven were
not； nor yet； though one should inquire； could aught be heard of the sacred
race of the Danai。 Apidanean Arcadians alone existed； Arcadians who
lived even before the moon； it is said； eating acorns on the hills； nor at that
time was the Pelasgian land ruled by the glorious sons of Deucalion； in the
days when Egypt； mother of men of an older time； was called the fertile
Morning…land； and the river fair…flowing Triton； by which all the Morning…
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land is watered； and never does the rain from Zeus moisten the earth； but
from the flooding of the river abundant crops spring up。 From this land；
it is said； a king （1） made his way all round through the whole of Europe
and Asia； trusting in the might and strength and courage of his people； and
countless cities did he found wherever he came； whereof some are still
inhabited and some not； many an age hath passed since then。 But Aea
abides unshaken even now and the sons of those men whom that king
settled to dwell in Aea。 They preserve the writings of their fathers；
graven on pillars； whereon are marked all the ways and the limits of sea
and land as ye journey on all sides round。 There is a river； the uttermost
horn of Ocean； broad and exceeding deep； that a merchant ship may
traverse； they call it Ister and have marked it far off； and for a while it
cleaves the boundless tilth alone in one stream； for beyond the blasts of
the north wind； far off in the Rhipaean mountains； its springs burst forth
with a roar。 But when it enters the boundaries of the Thracians and
Scythians； here； dividing its stream into two； it sends its waters partly into
the Ionian sea； （2） and partly to the south into a deep gulf that bends
upwards from the Trinaerian sea； that sea which lies along your land； if
indeed Achelous flows forth from your land。〃
（ll。 204…302） Thus he spake； and to them the goddess granted a
happy portent； and all at the sight shouted approval； that this was their
appointed path。 For before them appeared a trail of heavenly light； a sign
where they might pass。 And gladly they left behind there the son of
Lyeus and with canvas outspread sailed over the sea； with their eyes on the
Paphlagonian mountains。 But they did not round Carambis； for the
winds and the gleam of the heavenly fire stayed with them till they
reached Ister's mighty stream。
（ll。 303…337） Now some of the Colchians； in a vain search； passed
out from Pontus through the Cyanean rocks； but the rest went to the river；
and them Apsyrtus led； and； turning aside；