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brightly burnished seats。 And they； quiet and silent； sped to the hearth
and sat there； as is the wont of wretched suppliants。 Medea hid her face
in both her hands； but Jason fixed in the ground the mighty hilted sword
with which he had slain Aeetes' son； nor did they raise their eyes to meet
her look。 And straightway Circe became aware of the doom of a
suppliant and the guilt of murder。 Wherefore in reverence for the
ordinance of Zeus； the god of suppliants； who is a god of wrath yet
mightily aids slayers of men； she began to offer the sacrifice with which
ruthless suppliants are cleansed from guilt when they approach the altar。
First； to atone for the murder still unexpiated； she held above their heads
the young of a sow whose dugs yet swelled from the fruit of the womb；
and； severing its neck； sprinkled their hands with the blood； and again she
made propitiation with other drink offerings； calling on Zeus the Cleanser；
the protector of murder… stained suppliants。 And all the defilements in a
mass her attendants bore forth from the palacethe Naiad nymphs who
ministered all things to her。 And within； Circe； standing by the hearth；
kept burning atonement…cakes without wine； praying the while that she
might stay from their wrath the terrible Furies； and that Zeus himself
might be propitious and gentle to them both； whether with hands stained
by the blood of a stranger or； as kinsfolk； by the blood of a kinsman； they
should implore his grace。
（ll。 718…738） But when she had wrought all her task； then she raised
them up and seated them on well polished seats； and herself sat near； face
to face with them。 And at once she asked them clearly of their business
and their voyaging； and whence they had come to her land and palace； and
had thus seated themselves as suppliants at her hearth。 For in truth the
hideous remembrance of her dreams entered her mind as she pondered；
and she longed to hear the voice of the maiden； her kinswoman； as soon as
she saw that she had raised her eyes from the ground。 For all those of the
race of Helios were plain to discern； since by the far flashing of their eyes
they shot in front of them a gleam as of gold。 So Medea told her all she
askedthe daughter of Aeetes of the gloomy heart； speaking gently in the
Colchian tongue； both of the quest and the journeyings of the heroes； and
of their toils in the swift contests； and how she had sinned through the
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counsels of her much…sorrowing sister； and how with the sons of Phrixus
she had fled afar from the tyrannous horrors of her father； but she shrank
from telling of the murder of Apsyrtus。 Yet she escaped not Circe's ken；
nevertheless； in spite of all； she pitied the weeping maiden； and spake
thus：
（ll。 739…748） 〃Poor wretch； an evil and shameful return hast thou
planned。 Not for long； I ween； wilt thou escape the heavy wrath of
Aeetes； but soon will he go even to the dwellings of Hellas to avenge the
blood of his son； for intolerable are the deeds thou hast done。 But since
thou art my suppliant and my kinswoman； no further ill shall I devise
against thee at thy coming； but begone from my halls； companioning the
stranger； whosoever he be； this unknown one that thou hast taken in thy
father's despite； and kneel not to me at my hearth； for never will I approve
thy counsels and thy shameful flight。〃
（ll。 749…752） Thus she spake； and measureless anguish seized the
maid； and over her eyes she cast her robe and poured forth a lamentation；
until the hero took her by the hand and led her forth from the hall
quivering with fear。 So they left the home of Circe。
（ll。 753…756） But they were not unmarked by the spouse of Zeus； son
of Cronos； but Iris told her when she saw them faring from the hall。 For
Hera had bidden her watch what time they should come to the ship； so
again she urged her and spake：
（ll。 757…769） 〃Dear Iris； now come； if ever thou hast fulfilled my
bidding； hie thee away on light pinions； and bid Thetis arise from the sea
and come hither。 For need of her is come upon me。 Then go to the sea…
beaches where the bronze anvils of Hephaestus are smitten by sturdy
hammers； and tell him to still the blasts of fire until Argo pass by them。
Then go to Aeolus too； Aeolus who rules the winds； children of the clear
sky； and to him also tell my purpose so that he may make all winds cease
under heaven and no breeze may ruffle the sea； yet let the breath of the
west wind blow until the heroes have reached the Phaeacian isle of
Alcinous。〃
（ll。 770…782） So she spake； and straightway Iris leapt down from
Olympus and cleft her way； with light wings outspread。 And she plunged
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into the Aegean Sea； where is the dwelling of Nereus。 And she came to
Thetis first and； by the promptings of Hera； told her tale and roused her to
go to the goddess。 Next she came to Hephaestus； and quickly made him
cease from the clang of his iron hammers； and the smoke…grimed bellows
were stayed from their blast。 And thirdly she came to Aeolus； the famous
son of Hippotas。 And when she had given her message to him also and
rested her swift knees from her course； then Thetis leaving Nereus and her
sisters had come from the sea to Olympus to the goddess Hera； and the
goddess made her sit by her side and uttered her word：
（ll。 783…832） 〃Hearken now； lady Thetis； to what I am eager to tell
thee。 Thou knowest how honoured in my heart is the hero； Aeson's son；
and the others that have helped him in the contest； and how I saved them
when they passed between the Wandering rocks； （5） where roar terrible
storms of fire and the waves foam round the rugged reefs。 And now past
the mighty rock of Scylla and Charybdis horribly belching； a course awaits
them。 But thee indeed from thy infancy did I tend with my own hands
and love beyond all others that dwell in the salt sea because thou didst
refuse to share the couch of Zeus； for all his desire。 For to him such
deeds are ever dear； to embrace either goddesses or mortal women。 But
in reverence for me and with fear in thy heart thou didst shrink from his
love； and he then swore a mighty oath that thou shouldst never be called
the bride of an immortal god。 Yet he ceased not from spying thee against
thy will； until reverend Themis declared to him the whole truth； how that it
was thy fate to bear a son mightier than his sire； wherefore he gave thee up；
for all his desire； fearing lest another should be his match and rule the
immortals； and in order that he might ever hold his own dominion。 But I
gave thee the best of the sons of earth to be thy husband； that thou
mightest find a marriage dear to thy heart and bear children； and I
summoned to the feast the gods； one and all。 And with my own hand I
raised the bridal torch； in return for the kindly honour thou didst pay me。
But come； let me tell a tale that erreth not。 When thy son shall come to
the Elysian plain； he whom now in the home of Cheiron the Centaur
water…nymphs are tending； though he still craves thy mother milk； it is
fated that he be the husband of Medea； Aeetes' daughter； do thou aid thy
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daughter…in…law as a mother…in…law should； and aid Peleus himself。 Why
is thy wrath so steadfast？ He was blinded by folly。 For blindness comes
even upon the gods。 Surely at my behest I deem that Hephaestus will cease
from kindling the fury of his flame； and that Aeolus； son of Hippotas； will
check his swift rushing winds； all but the steady