(ll.1179-1195) "Zeus' self, I ween, beholds everything; nor do we men escape his eye, we that be god-fearing and just, for as he rescued your father from the hands of a murderous step-dame and gave him measureless wealth besides; even so hath he saved you harmless from the baleful storm.And on board this ship ye may sail hither and thither, where ye will, whether to Aea or to the wealthy city of divine Orthomenus.For our ship Athena built and with axe of bronze cut her timbers near the crest of Pelion, and with the goddess wrought Argus.But yours the fierce surge hath shattered, before ye came nigh to the rocks which all day long clash together in the straits of the sea.But come, be yourselves our helpers, for we are eager to bring to Hellas the golden fleece, and guide us on our voyage, for I go to atone for the intended sacrifice of Phrixus, the cause of Zeus' wrath against the sons of Aeolus."(ll.1196-1199) He spake with soothing words; but horror seized them when they heard.For they deemed that they would not find Aeetes friendly if they desired to take away the ram's fleece.And Argus spake as follows, vexed that they should busy themselves with such a quest:
(ll.1200-1215) "My friends, our strength, so far as it avails, shall never cease to help you, not one whit, when need shall come.But Aeetes is terribly armed with deadly ruthlessness; wherefore exceedingly do I dread this voyage.And he boasts himself to be the son of Helios; and all round dwell countless tribes of Colchians; and he might match himself with Ares in his dread war-cry and giant strength.Nay, to seize the fleece in spite of Aeetes is no easy task; so huge a serpent keeps guard round and about it, deathless and sleepless, which Earth herself brought forth on the sides of Caucasus, by the rock of Typhaon, where Typhaon, they say, smitten by the bolt of Zeus, son of Cronos, when he lifted against the god his sturdy hands, dropped from his head hot gore; and in such plight he reached the mountains and plain of Nysa, where to this day he lies whelmed beneath the waters of the Serbonian lake."(ll.1216-1218) Thus he spake, and straightway many a cheek grew pale when they heard of so mighty an adventure.But quickly Peleus answered with cheering words, and thus spake:
(ll.1219-1225)"Be not so fearful in spirit, my good friend.For weare not so lacking in prowess as to be no match for Aeetes to try his strength with arms; but I deem that we too are cunning in war, we that go thither, near akin to the blood of the blessed gods.Wherefore if he will not grant us the fleece of gold for friendship's sake, the tribes of the Colchians will not avail him, I ween."(ll.1226-1230) Thus they addressed each other in turn, until again, satisfied with their feast, they turned to rest.And when they rose at dawn a gentle breeze was blowing; and they raised the sails, which strained to the rush of the wind, and quickly they left behind the island of Ares.
(ll.1231-1241) And at nightfall they came to the island of Philyra, where Cronos, son of Uranus, what time in Olympus he reigned over the Titans, and Zeus was yet being nurtured in a Cretan cave by the Curetes of Ida, lay beside Philyra, when he had deceived Rhea; and the goddess found them in the midst of their dalliance; and Cronos leapt up from the couch with a rush in the form of a steed with flowing mane, but Ocean's daughter, Philyra, in shame left the spot and those haunts, and came to the long Pelasgian ridges, where by her union with the transfigured deity she brought forth huge Cheiron, half like a horse, half like a god.
(ll.1242-1261) Thence they sailed on, past the Macrones and the far- stretching land of the Becheiri and the overweening Sapeires, and after them the Byzeres; for ever forward they clave their way, quickly borne by the gentle breeze.And lo, as they sped on, a deep gulf of the sea was opened, and lo, the steep crags of the Caucasian mountains rose up, where, with his limbs bound upon the hard rocks by galling fetters of bronze, Prometheus fed with his liver an eagle that ever rushed back to its prey.High above the ship at even they saw it flying with a loud whirr, near the clouds; and yet it shook all the sails with the fanning of those huge wings.For it had not the form of a bird of the air but kept poising its long wing- feathers like polished oars.And not long after they heard the bitter cry of Prometheus as his liver was being torn away; and the air rang with his screams until they marked the ravening eagle rushing back from the mountain on the self-same track.And at night, by the skill of Argus, they reached broad-flowing Phasis, and the utmost bourne of the sea.
(ll.1262-1276)And straightway they let down the sails and the yard-arm and stowed them inside the hollow mast-crutch, and at once they lowered the mast itself till it lay along; and quickly with oars they entered the mighty stream of the river; and round the prow the water surged as it gave them way.And on their left hand they had lofty Caucasus and the Cytaean city of Aea, and on the other side the plain of Ares and the sacred grove of that god, where the serpent was keeping watch and ward over the fleece as it hung on the leafy branches of an oak.And Aeson's son himself from a golden goblet poured into the river libations of honey and pure wine to Earth and to the gods of the country, and to the souls of dead heroes; and he besought them of their grace to give kindly aid, and to welcome their ship's hawsers with favourable omen.And straightway Ancaeus spake these words:
(ll.1277-1280) "We have reached the Colchian land and the stream of Phasis; and it is time for us to take counsel whether we shall make trial of Aeetes with soft words, or an attempt of another kind shall be fitting."(ll.1281-1285) Thus he spake, and by the advice of Argus Jason bade them enter a shaded backwater and let the ship ride at anchor off shore; and it was near at hand in their course and there they passed the night.And soon the dawn appeared to their expectant eyes.
ENDNOTES: (1)i.e.Polydeuces.(2)i.e.Saviour of Sailors.(3)i.e.through the ravine that divides the headland.(4) i.e.river of fair dances.(5) i.e.the bedchamber.(6) The north-west wind.(7) Called "Mossynes".(8) i.e.without exacting gifts from the bridegroom.So in the "Iliad" (ix.146) Agamemnon offers Achilles any of his three daughters ANAEONOS.
