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the passage into the Sea of Pontus。
They brought the Argo near the shore。 They blew trumpets and set the
loudest…voiced of the heroes to call out to those upon the island。 But no
answer came to them； and all day the Argo lay close to the island。 There
were hidden people watching them； people with bows in their hands and
arrows laid along the bowstrings。 And the people who thus threatened the
unknowing Argonauts were women and young girls。
There were no men upon the Island of Lemnos。 Years before a curse
had fallen upon the people of that island； putting strife between the men
and the women。 And the women had mastered the men and had driven
them away from Lemnos。 Since then some of the women had grown old；
and the girls who were children when their fathers and brothers had been
banished were now of an age with Atalanta； the maiden who went with the
Argonauts。
They chased the wild beasts of the island； and they tilled the fields；
and they kept in good repair the houses that were built before the
banishing of the men。 The older women served those who were younger；
and they had a queen； a girl whose name was Hypsipyle。
The women who watched with bows in their hands would have shot
their arrows at the Argonauts if Hypsipyle's nurse； Polyxo； had not stayed
them。 She forbade them to shoot at the strangers until she had brought to
them the queen's commands。
She hastened to the palace and she found the young queen weaving at
a loom。 She told her about the ship and the strangers on board the ship；
and she asked the queen what word she should bring to the guardian
maidens。
〃Before you give a command； Hypsipyle；〃 said Polyxo； the nurse；
〃consider these words of mine。 We； the elder women； are becoming
ancient now； in a few years we will not be able to serve you； the younger
women； and in a few years more we will have gone into the grave and our
places will know us no more。 And you； the younger women； will be
becoming strengthless； and no more will be you able to hunt in the woods
nor to till the fields； and a hard old age will be before you。
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
〃The ship that is beside our shore may have come at a good time。
Those on board are goodly heroes。 Let them land in Lemnos； and stay if
they will。 Let them wed with the younger women so that there may be
husbands and wives； helpers and helpmeets； again in Lemnos。〃
Hypsipyle； the queen； let the shuttle fall from her hands and stayed for
a while looking full into Polyxo's face。 Had her nurse heard her say
something like this out of her dreams； she wondered？ She bade the nurse
tell the guardian maidens to let the heroes land in safety； and that she
herself would put the crown of King Thoas； her father； upon her head； and
go down to the shore to welcome them。
And now the Argonauts saw people along the shore and they caught
sight of women's dresses。 The loudest…voiced amongst them shouted again；
and they heard an answer given in a woman's voice。 They drew up the
Argo upon the shore； and they set foot upon the land of Lemnos。
Jason stepped forth at the head of his comrades； and he was met by
Hypsipyle； her father's crown upon her head； at the head of her maidens。
They greeted each other； and Hypsipyle bade the heroes come with them
to their town that was called Myrine and to the palace that was there。
Wonderingly the Argonauts went； looking on women's forms and faces
and seeing no men。 They came to the palace and went within。 Hypsipyle
mounted the stone throne that was King Thoas's and the four maidens who
were her guards stood each side of her。 She spoke to the heroes in greeting
and bade them stay in peace for as long as they would。 She told them of
the curse that had fallen upon the people of Lemnos； and of how the
menfolk had been banished。 Jason； then； told the queen what voyage he
and his companions were upon and what quest they were making。 Then in
friendship the Argonauts and the women of Lemnos stayed together all
the Argonauts except Heracles； and he； grieving still for Hylas； stayed
aboard the Argo。
IX。 The Lemnian Maidens
And now the Argonauts were no longer on a ship that was being
dashed on by the sea and beaten upon by the winds。 They had houses to
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
live in； they had honey…tasting things to eat； and when they went through
the island each man might have with him one of the maidens of Lemnos。 It
was a change that was welcome to the wearied voyagers。
They helped the women in the work of the fields； they hunted the
beasts with them； and over and over again they were surprised at how
skillfully the women had ordered all affairs。 Everything in Lemnos was
strange to the Argonauts； and they stayed day after day； thinking each day
a fresh adventure。
Sometimes they would leave the fields and the chase； and this hero or
that hero； with her who was his friend amongst the Lemnian maidens；
would go far into that strange land and look upon lakes that were all
covered with golden and silver water lilies； or would gather the blue
flowers from creepers that grew around dark trees； or would hide
themselves so that they might listen to the quick…moving birds that sang in
the thickets。 Perhaps on their way homeward they would see the Argo in
the harbor； and they would think of Heracles who was aboard； and they
would call to him。 But the ship and the voyage they had been on now
seemed far away to them； and the Quest of the Golden Fleece seemed to
them a story they had heard and that they had thought of； but that they
could never think on again with all that fervor。
When Jason looked on Hypsipyle he saw one who seemed to him to be
only childlike in size。 Greatly was he amazed at the words that poured
forth from her as she stood at the stone throne of King Thoashe was
amazed as one is amazed at the rush of rich notes that comes from the
throat of a little bird； all that she said was made lightninglike by her eyes
her eyes that were not clear and quiet like the eyes of the maidens he had
seen in Iolcus； but that were dark and burning。 Her mouth was heavy and
this heavy mouth gave a shadow to her face that； but for it； was all bright
and lovely。
Hypsipyle spoke two languagesone； the language of the mothers of
the women of Lemnos； which was rough and harsh； a speech to be flung
out to slaves； and the other the language of Greece； which their fathers had
spoken； and which Hypsipyle spoke in a way that made it sound like
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
strange music。 She spoke and walked and did all things in a queenlike way；
and Jason could see that； for all her youth and childlike size； Hypsipyle
was one who was a ruler。
》From the moment she took his hand it seemed that she could not bear
to be away from him。 Where he walked； she walked too； where he sat she
sat before him； looking at him with her great eyes while she laughed or
sang。
Like the perfume of strange flowers； like the savor of strange fruit was
Hypsipyle to Jason。 Hours and hours he would spend sitting beside her or
watching her while she arrayed herself in white or in brightly colored
garments。 Not to the chase and not into the fields did Jason go； nor did he
ever go with the others into the Lemnian land； all day he sat in the palace
with her； watching her； or listening to her singing； or to the long； fierce
speeches that she used to make to her nurse or to the four maidens who
attended her。
In the evening they would gather in the hall of the palace； the