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saw that two of the race of men had been left alive。 But he saw that these
two were just and kindly； and had a right reverence for the gods。 He spared
them； and he saw their children again peopling the earth。
Prometheus； who had saved them； looked on the men and women of
the earth with compassion。 Their labor was hard； and they wrought much
to gain little。 They were chilled at night in their houses； and the winds that
blew in the daytime made the old men and women bend double like a
wheel。 Prometheus thought to himself that if men and women had the
element that only the gods knew ofthe element of firethey could make
for themselves implements for labor； they could build houses that would
keep out the chilling winds； and they could warm themselves at the blaze。
But the gods had not willed that men should have fire； and to go
against the will of the gods would be impious。 Prometheus went against
the will of the gods。 He stole fire from the altar of Zeus； and he hid it in a
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hollow fennel stalk； and he brought it to men。
Then men were able to hammer iron into tools； and cut down forests
with axes； and sow grain where the forests had been。 Then were they able
to make houses that the storms could not overthrow； and they were able to
warm themselves at hearth fires。 They had rest from their labor at times。
They built cities； they became beings who no longer had heads and backs
bent but were able to raise their faces even to the gods。
And Zeus spared the race of men who had now the sacred element of
fire。 But he knew that Prometheus had stolen this fire even from his own
altar and had given it to men。 And he thought on how he might punish the
great Titan god for his impiety。
He brought back from the Underworld the giants that he had put there
to guard the Titans that had been hurled down to Tartarus。 He brought
back Gyes； Cottus； and Briareus； and he commanded them to lay hands
upon Prometheus and to fasten him with fetters to the highest； blackest
crag upon Caucasus。 And Briareus； Cottus； and Gyes seized upon the Titan
god； and carried him to Caucasus； and fettered him with fetters of bronze
to the highest； blackest cragwith fetters of bronze that may not be broken。
There they have left the Titan stretched； under the sky； with the cold winds
blowing upon him； and with the sun streaming down on him。 And that his
punishment might exceed all other punishments Zeus had sent a vulture to
prey upon hima vulture that tears at his liver each day。
And yet Prometheus does not cry out that he has repented of his gift to
man； although the winds blow upon him； and the sun streams upon him；
and the vulture tears at his liver； Prometheus will not cry out his
repentance to heaven。 And Zeus may not utterly destroy him。 For
Prometheus the Foreseer knows a secret that Zeus would fain have him
disclose。 He knows that even as Zeus overthrew his father and made
himself the ruler in his stead； so； too； another will overthrow Zeus。 And
one day Zeus will have to have the fetters broken from around the limbs of
Prometheus； and will have to bring from the rock and the vulture； and into
the Council of the Olympians； the unyielding Titan god。
When the light of the morning came the Argo was very near to the
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Mountain Caucasus。 The voyagers looked in awe upon its black crags。
They saw the great vulture circling over a high rock； and from beneath
where the vulture circled they heard a weary cry。 Then Heracles； who all
night had stood by the mast； cried out to the Argonauts to bring the ship
near to a landing place。
But Jason would not have them go near； fear of the wrath of Zeus was
strong upon him； rather； he bade the Argonauts put all their strength into
their rowing； and draw far off from that forbidden mountain。 Heracles； not
heeding what Jason ordered； declared that it was his purpose to make his
way up to the black crag； and； with his shield and his sword in his hands；
slay the vulture that preyed upon the liver of Prometheus。
Then Orpheus in a clear voice spoke to the Argonauts。 〃Surely some
spirit possesses Heracles；〃 he said。 〃Despite all we do or say he will make
his way to where Prometheus is fettered to the rock。 Do not gainsay him in
this！ Remember what Nereus； the ancient one of the sea； declared！ Did
Nereus not say that a great labor awaited Heracles； and that in the doing of
it he should work out the will of Zeus？ Stay him not！ How just it would be
if he who is the son of Zeus freed from his torments the much…enduring
Titan god！〃
So Orpheus said in his clear； commanding voice。 They drew near to
the Mountain Caucasus。 Then Heracles； gripping the sword and shield that
were the gifts of the gods； sprang out on the landing place。 The Argonauts
shouted farewell to him。 But he； filled as he was with an overmastering
spirit； did not heed their words。
A strong breeze drove them onward； darkness came down； and the
Argo went on through the night。 With the morning light those who were
sleeping were awakened by the cry of Nauplius〃Lo！ The Phasis； and the
utmost bourne of the sea！〃 They sprang up； and looked with many strange
feelings upon the broad river they had come to。
Here was the Phasis emptying itself into the Sea of Pontus！ Up that
river was Colchis and the city of King Aetes； the end of their voyage； the
place where was kept the Golden Fleece！ Quickly they let down the sail；
they lowered the mast and they laid it along the deck； strongly they
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grasped the oars； they swung the Argo around； and they entered the broad
stream of the Phasis。
Up the river they went with the Mountain Caucasus on their left hand；
and on their right the groves and gardens of Aea； King Aetes's city。 As they
went up the stream； Jason poured from a golden cup an offering to the
gods。 And to the dead heroes of that country the Argonauts prayed for
good fortune to their enterprise。
It was Jason's counsel that they should not at once appear before King
Aetes； but visit him after they had seen the strength of his city。 They drew
their ship into a shaded backwater； and there they stayed while day grew
and faded around them。
Night came； and the heroes slept upon the deck of Argo。 Many things
came back to them in their dreams or through their half…sleep： they
thought of the Lemnian maidens they had parted from； of the Clashing
Rocks they had passed between； of the look in the eyes of Heracles as he
raised his face to the high； black peak of Caucasus。 They slept； and they
thought they saw before them THE GOLDEN FLEECE； darkness
surrounded it； it seemed to the dreaming Argonauts that the darkness was
the magic power that King Aetes possessed。
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PART II。 The Return To Greece
I。 King Aeetes
They had come into a country that was the strangest of all countries；
and amongst a people that were the strangest of all peoples。 They were in
the land； this people said； before the moon had come into the sky。 And it is
true that when the great king of Egypt had come so far； finding in all other
places men living on the high hills and eating the acorns that grew on the
oaks there； he found in Colchis the city of Aea with a wall around it and
with pillars on which writings were graven。 That was when Egypt was
called the Morning Land。
And many of the magicians of Egypt who had come with King
Sesostris stayed in that city of Aea； and they taught people spells that
could stay the moon in her going and coming； in her rising and setting。
Priests of the Moon ruled the city of Aea until King Aeetes came。
Aeetes had no need of their magic； for H