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rounded ball； then they catch it one from another and send it high into the
air； and it never touches the ground； so they in turn one from another sent
the ship through the air over the waves； as it sped on ever away from the
rocks； and round them the water spouted and foamed。 And lord
Hephaestus himself standing on the summit of a smooth rock and resting
his massy shoulder on the handle of his hammer； beheld them； and the
spouse of Zeus beheld them as she stood above the gleaming heaven； and
she threw her arms round Athena； such fear seized her as she gazed。 And
as long as the space of a day is lengthened out in springtime； so long a
time did they toil； heaving the ship between the loud…echoing rocks； then
again the heroes caught the wind and sped onward； and swiftly they
passed the mead of Thrinacia； where the kine of Helios fed。 There the
nymphs； like sea…mews； plunged beneath the depths； when they had
fulfilled the behests of the spouse of Zeus。 And at the same time the
bleating of sheep came to the heroes through the mist and the lowing of
kine； near at hand； smote their ears。 And over the dewy leas Phaethusa；
the youngest of the daughters of Helios； tended the sheep； bearing in her
hand a silver crook； while Lampetia； herding the kine； wielded a staff of
glowing orichalcum （8） as she followed。 These kine the heroes saw
feeding by the river's stream； over the plain and the water…meadow； not
one of them was dark in hue but all were white as milk and glorying in
their horns of gold。 So they passed them by in the day…time； and when
night came on they were cleaving a great sea…gulf； rejoicing； until again
early rising dawn threw light upon their course。
（ll。 982…1013） Fronting the Ionian gulf there lies an island in the
Ceraunian sea； rich in soil； with a harbour on both sides； beneath which
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lies the sickle； as legend saithgrant me grace； O Muses； not willingly do I
tell this tale of olden days wherewith Cronos pitilessly mutilated his
father； but others call it the reaping…hook of Demeter； goddess of the
nether world。 For Demeter once dwelt in that island； and taught the
Titans to reap the ears of corn； all for the love of Macris。 Whence it is
called Drepane； （9） the sacred nurse of the Phaeacians； and thus the
Phaeacians themselves are by birth of the blood of Uranus。 To them
came Argo； held fast by many toils； borne by the breezes from the
Thrinacian sea； and Alcinous and his people with kindly sacrifice gladly
welcomed their coming； and over them all the city made merry； thou
wouldst say they were rejoicing over their own sons。 And the heroes
themselves strode in gladness through the throng； even as though they had
set foot in the heart of Haemonia； but soon were they to arm and raise the
battle…cry； so near to them appeared a boundless host of Colchians； who
had passed through the mouth of Pontus and between the Cyanean rocks in
search of the chieftains。 They desired forthwith to carry off Medea to her
father's house apart from the rest； or else they threatened with fierce
cruelty to raise the dread war…cry both then and thereafter on the coming
of Aeetes。 But lordly Alcinous checked them amid their eagerness for
war。 For he longed to allay the lawless strife between both sides without
the clash of battle。 And the maiden in deadly fear often implored the
comrades of Aeson's son； and often with her hands touched the knees of
Arete； the bride of Aleinous：
（ll。 1014…1028） 〃I beseech thee； O queen； be gracious and deliver me
not to the Colchians to be borne to my father； if thou thyself too art one of
the race of mortals； whose heart rushes swiftly to ruin from light
transgressions。 For my firm sense forsook meit was not for wantonness。
Be witness the sacred light of Helios； be witness the rites of the maiden
that wanders by night； daughter of Perses。 Not willingly did I haste from
my home with men of an alien race； but a horrible fear wrought on me to
bethink me of flight when I sinned； other device was there none。 Still my
maiden's girdle remains； as in the halls of my father； unstained； untouched。
Pity me； lady； and turn thy lord to mercy； and may the immortals grant
thee a perfect life； and joy； and children； and the glory of a city
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unravaged！〃
（ll。 1029…1030） Thus did she implore Arete； shedding tears； and thus
each of the chieftains in turn：
（ll。 1031…1052） 〃On your account； ye men of peerless might； and on
account of my toils in your ventures am I sorely afflicted； even I； by
whose help ye yoked the bulls； and reaped the deadly harvest of the
earthborn men； even I； through whom on your homeward path ye shall
bear to Haemonia the golden fleece。 Lo； here am I； who have lost my
country and my parents； who have lost my home and all the delights of life；
to you have I restored your country and your homes； with eyes of gladness
ye will see again your parents； but from me a heavy…handed god has raft
all joy； and with strangers I wander； an accursed thing。 Fear your
covenant and your oaths； fear the Fury that avenges suppliants and the
retribution of heaven； if I fall into Aeetes' hands and am slain with
grievous outrage。 To no shrines； no tower of defence； no other refuge do
I pay heed； but only to you。 Hard and pitiless in your cruelty！ No
reverence have ye for me in your heart though ye see me helpless；
stretching my hands towards the knees of a stranger queen； yet； when ye
longed to seize the fleece； ye would have met all the Colchians face to
thee and haughty Aeetes himself； but now ye have forgotten your courage；
now that they are all alone and cut off。〃
（ll。 1053…1067） Thus she spake； beseeching； and to whomsoever she
bowed in prayer； that man tried to give her heart and to check her anguish。
And in their hands they shook their sharp pointed spears； and drew the
swords from their sheaths； and they swore they would not hold back from
giving succour； if she should meet with an unrighteous judgement。 And
the host were all wearied and Night came on them； Night that puts to rest
the works of men； and lulled all the earth to sleep； but to the maid no sleep
brought rest； but in her bosom her heart was wrung with anguish。 Even
as when a toiling woman turns her spindle through the night； and round
her moan her orphan children； for she is a widow； and down her cheeks
fall the tears； as she bethinks her how dreary a lot hath seized her； so
Medea's cheeks were wet； and her heart within her was in agony； pierced
with sharp pain。
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（ll。 1068…1072） Now within the palace in the city； as aforetime； lay
lordly Alcinous and Arete； the revered wife of Alcinous； and on their
couch through the night they were devising plans about the maiden； and
him； as her wedded husband； the wife addressed with loving words：
（ll。 1073…1095） 〃Yea； my friend； come； save the woe…stricken maid
from the Colchians and show grace to the Minyae。 Argos is near our isle
and the men of Haemonia； but Aeetes dwells not near； nor do we know of
Aeetes one whit： we hear but his name； but this maiden of dread suffering
hath broken my heart by her prayers。 O king； give her not up to the
Colchians to be borne back to her father's home。 She was distraught
when first she gave him the drugs to charm the oxen； and next； to cure one
ill by anoth