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Chalciope； he feared； too； that his daughter； Medea； had aided the
strangers。 So the king spoke； and the Colchians； hating all strangers；
shouted around him。
Word of what her father had said was brought to Medea。 She knew that
she would have to go to the Argonauts and bid them flee hastily from
Aea。 They would not go； she knew； without the Golden Fleece； then she；
Medea； would have to show them how to gain the Fleece。
Then she could never again go back to her father's palace； she could
never again sit in this chamber and talk to her handmaidens； and be with
Chalciope； her sister。 Forever afterward she would be dependent on the
kindness of strangers。 Medea wept when she thought of all this。 And then
she cut off a tress of her hair and she left it in her chamber as a farewell
from one who was going afar。 Into the chamber where Chalciope was she
whispered farewell。
The palace doors were all heavily bolted； but Medea did not have to
pull back the bolts。 As she chanted her Magic Song the bolts softly drew
back； the doors softly opened。 Swiftly she went along the ways that led to
the river。 She came to where fires were blazing and she knew that the
Argonauts were there。
She called to them； and Phrontis； Chalciope's son； heard the cry and
knew the voice。 To Jason he spoke； and Jason quickly went to where
Medea stood。
She clasped Jason's hand and she drew him with her。 〃The Golden
Fleece；〃 she said； 〃the time has come when you must pluck the Golden
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Fleece off the oak in the grove of Ares。〃 When she said these words all
Jason's being became taut like the string of a bow。
It was then the hour when huntsmen cast sleep from their eyes
huntsmen who never sleep away the end of the night； but who are ever
ready to be up and away with their hounds before the beams of the sun
efface the track and the scent of the quarry。 Along a path that went from
the river Medea drew Jason。 They entered a grove。 Then Jason saw
something that was like a cloud filled with the light of the rising sun。 It
hung from a great oak tree。 In awe he stood and looked upon it； knowing
that at last he looked upon THE GOLDEN FLEECE。
His hand let slip Medea's hand and he went to seize the Fleece。 As he
did he heard a dreadful hiss。 And then he saw the guardian of the Golden
Fleece。 Coiled all around the tree； with outstretched neck and keen and
sleepless eyes； was a deadly serpent。 Its hiss ran all through the grove and
the birds that were wakening up squawked in terror。
Like rings of smoke that rise one above the other； the coils of the
serpent went around the treecoils covered by hard and gleaming scales。 It
uncoiled； stretched itself； and lifted its head to strike。 Then Medea dropped
on her knees before it； and began to chant her Magic Song。
As she sang； the coils around the tree grew slack。 Like a dark；
noiseless wave the serpent sank down on the ground。 But still its jaws
were open； and those dreadful jaws threatened Jason。 Medea； with a newly
cut spray of juniper dipped in a mystic brew； touched its deadly eyes。 And
still she chanted her Magic Song。 The serpent's jaws closed； its eyes
became deadened； far through the grove its length was stretched out。
Then Jason took the Golden Fleece。 As he raised his hands to it； its
brightness was such as to make a flame on his face。 Medea called to him。
He strove to gather it all up in his arms； Medea was beside him； and they
went swiftly on。
They came to the river and down to the place where the Argo was
moored。 The heroes who were aboard started up； astonished to see the
Fleece that shone as with the lightning of Zeus。 Over Medea Jason cast it；
and he lifted her aboard the Argo。
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〃O friends；〃 he cried； 〃the quest on which we dared the gulfs of the sea
and the wrath of kings is accomplished； thanks to the help of this maiden。
Now may we return to Greece； now have we the hope of looking upon our
fathers and our friends once more。 And in all honor will we bring this
maiden with us； Medea； the daughter of King Aeetes。
Then he drew his sword and cut the hawsers of the ship； calling upon
the heroes to drive the Argo on。 There was a din and a strain and a splash
of oars； and away from Aea the Argo dashed。 Beside the mast Medea
stood； the Golden Fleece had fallen at her feet； and her head and face were
covered by her silver veil。
IV。 THE SLAYING OF APSYRTUS
That silver veil was to be splashed with a brother's blood； and the
Argonauts； because of that calamity； were for a long time to be held back
from a return to their native land。
Now as they went down the river they saw that dangers were coming
swiftly upon them。 The chariots of the Colchians were upon the banks。
Jason saw King Aeetes in his chariot； a blazing torch lighting his corsclet
and his helmet。 Swiftly the Argo went； but there were ships behind her；
and they went swiftly too。
They came into the Sea of Pontus； and Phrontis； the son of Phrixus；
gave counsel to them。 〃Do not strive to make the passage of the
Symplegades；〃 he said。 〃All who live around the Sea of Pontus are
friendly to King Aeetes they will be warned by him； and they will be ready
to slay us and take the Argo。 Let us journey up the River Ister； and by that
way we can come to the Thrinacian Sea that is close to your land。〃
The Argonauts thought well of what Phrontis said； into the waters of
the Ister the ship was brought。 Many of the Colchian ships passed by the
mouth of the river； and went seeking the Argo toward the passage of the
Symplegades。
But the Argonauts were on a way that was dangerous for them。 For
Apsyrtus had not gone toward the Symplegades seeking the Argo。 He had
led his soldiers overland to the River Ister at a place that was at a distance
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above its mouth。 There were islands in the river at that place； and the
soldiers of Apsyrtus landed on the islands； while Apsyrtus went to the
kings of the people around and claimed their support。
The Argo came and the heroes found themselves cut off。 They could
not make their way between the islands that were filled with the Colchian
soldiers； nor along the banks that were lined with men friendly to King
Aeetes。 Argo was stayed。 Apsyrtus sent for the chiefs； he had men enough
to overwhelm them； but he shrank from a fight with the heroes； and he
thought that he might gain all he wanted from them without a struggle。
Theseus and Peleus went to him。 Apsyrtus would have them give up
the Golden Fleece； he would have them give up Medea and the sons of
Phrixus also。
Theseus and Peleus appealed to the judgment of the kings who
supported Apsyrtus。 Aeetes； they said； had no more claim on the Golden
Fleece。 He had promised it to Jason as a reward for tasks that he had
imposed。 The tasks had been accomplished and the Fleece； no matter in
what way it was taken from the grove of Ares； was theirs。 So Theseus and
Peleus said； and the kings who supported Apsyrtus gave judgment for the
Argonauts。
But Medea would have to be given to her brother。 If that were done the
Argo would be let go on her course； Apsyrtus said； and the Golden Fleece
would be left with them。 Apsyrtus said； too； that he would not take Medea
back to the wrath of her father； if the Argonauts gave her up she would be
let stay on the island of Artemis and under the guardianship of the
goddess。
The chiefs brought Apsyrtus's words back。 There was a council of the
Argonauts； and they agreed that they should leave Medea on the island of
Artemis