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Argonauts； and they agreed that they should leave Medea on the island of
Artemis。
But grief and wrath took hold of Medea when she heard of this resolve。
Almost she would burn the Argo。 She went to where Jason stood； and she
spoke again of all she had done to save his life and win the Golden Fleece
for the Argonauts。 Jason made her look on the ships and the soldiers that
were around them； he showed her how these could overwhelm the
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Argonauts and slay them all。 With all the heroes slain； he said； Medea
would come into the hands of Apsyrtus； who then could leave her on the
island of Artemis or take her back to the wrath of her father。
But Medea would not consent to go nor could Jason's heart consent to
let her go。 Then these two made a plot to deceive Apsyrtus。
〃I have not been of the council that agreed to give you up to him；〃
Jason said。 〃After you have been left there I will take you off the island of
Artemis secretly。 The Colchians and the kings who support them； not
knowing that you have been taken off and hidden on the Argo； will let us
pass。〃 This Medea and Jason planned to do； and it was an ill thing； for it
was breaking the covenant that the chiefs had entered with Apsyrtus。
Medea then was left by the Argonauts on the island of Artemis。 Now
Apsyrtus had been commanded by his father to bring her back to Aea； he
thought that when she had been left by the Argonauts he could force her to
come with him。 So he went over to the island。 Jason； secretly leaving his
companions； went to the island from the other side。
Before the temple of Artemis Jason and Apsyrtus came face to face。
Both men； thinking they had been betrayed to their deaths； drew their
swords。 Then； before the vestibule of the temple and under the eyes of
Medea； Jason and Apsyrtus fought。 Jason's sword pierced the son of
Aeetes as he fell Apsyrtus cried out bitter words against Medea； saying
that it was on her account that he had come on his death。 And as he fell the
blood of her brother splashed Medea's silver veil。
Jason lifted Medea up and carried her to the Argo。 They hid the
maiden under the Fleece of Gold and they sailed past the ships of the
Colchians。 When darkness came they were far from the island of Artemis。
It was then that they heard a loud wailing； and they knew that the
Colchians had discovered that their prince had been slain。
The Colchians did not pursue them。 Fearing the wrath of Aeetes they
made settlements in the lands of the kings who had supported A Apsyrtus；
they never went back to Aea； they called themselves Apsyrtians
henceforward； naming themselves after the prince they had come with。
They had escaped the danger that had hemmed them in； but the
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Argonauts； as they sailed on； were not content； covenants had been broken；
and blood had been shed in a bad cause。 And as they went on through the
darkness the voice of the ship was heard； at the sound of that voice fear
and sorrow came upon the voyagers； for they felt that it had a prophecy of
doom。
Castor and Polydeuces went to the front of the ship； holding up their
hands； they prayed。 Then they heard the words that the voice uttered： in
the night as they went on the voice proclaimed the wrath of Zeus on
account of the slaying of Apsyrtus。
What was their doom to be？ It was that the Argonauts would have to
wander forever over the gulfs of the sea unless Medea had herself cleansed
of her brother's blood。 There was one who could cleanse MedeaCirce；
the daughter of Helios and Perse。 The voice urged the heroes to pray to the
immortal gods that the way to the island of Circe be shown to them。
V。 MEDEA COMES TO CIRCE
They sailed up the River Ister until they came to the Eridanus； that
river across which no bird can fly。 Leaving the Eridanus they entered the
Rhodanus； a river that rises in the extreme north； where Night herself has
her habitation。 And voyaging up this river they came to the Stormy Lakes。
A mist lay upon the lakes night and day； voyaging through them the
Argonauts at last brought out their ship upon the Sea of Ausonia。
It was Zetes and Calais； the sons of the North Wind； who brought the
Argo safely along this dangerous course。 And to Zetes and Calais Iris； the
messenger of the gods； appeared and revealed to them where Circe's island
lay。
Deep blue water was all around that island； and on its height a marble
house was to be seen。 But a strange haze covered everything as with a veil。
As the Argonauts came near they saw what looked to them like great
dragonflies； they came down to the shore； and then the heroes saw that
they were maidens in gleaming dresses。
The maidens waved their hands to the voyagers； calling them to come
on the island。 Strange beasts came up to where the maidens were and
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made whimpering cries。
The Argonauts would have drawn the ship close and would have
sprung upon the island only that Medea cried out to them。 She showed
them the beasts that whimpered around the maidens； and then； as the
Argonauts looked upon them； they saw that these were not beasts of the
wild。 There was something strange and fearful about them； the heroes
gazed upon them with troubled eyes。 They brought the ship near； but they
stayed upon their benches； holding the oars in their hands。
Medea sprang to the island； she spoke to the maidens so that they
shrank away； then the beasts came and whimpered around her。 〃Forbear to
land here； O Argonauts；〃 Medea cried； 〃for this is the island where men
are changed into beasts。〃 She called to Jason to come； only Jason would
she have come upon the island。
They went swiftly toward the marble house； and the beasts followed
them； looking up at Jason and Medea with pitiful human eyes。 They went
into the marble house of Circe； and as suppliants they seated themselves at
the hearth。
Circe stood at her loom； weaving her many…colored threads。 Swiftly
she turned to the suppliants； she looked for something strange in them； for
just before they came the walls of her house dripped with blood and the
flame ran over and into her pot； burning up all the magic herbs she was
brewing。 She went toward where they sat； Medea with her face hidden by
her hands； and Jason； with his head bent；holding with its point in the
ground the sword with which he had slain the son of Aeetes When Medea
took her hands away from before her face； Circe knew that； like herself；
this maiden was of the race of Helios。 Medea spoke to her； telling her first
of the voyage of the heroes and of their toils； telling her then of how she
had given help to Jason against the will of Aeetes her father； telling her
then； fearfully； of the slaying of Apsyrtus。 She covered her face with her
robe as she spoke of it。 And then she told Circe she had come； warned by
the judgment of Zeus； to ask of Circe； the daughter of Helios； to purify her
from the stain of her brother's blood。
Like all the children of Helios； Circe had eyes that were wide and full
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of life； but she had stony lipslips that were heavy and moveless。 Bright
golden hair hung smoothly along each of her sides。 First she held a cup to
them that was filled with pure water； and Jason and Medea drank from that
cup。
Then Circe stayed by the hearth； she burnt cakes in the flame； and all
the while she prayed to Zeus to be gentle with these suppliants。 She
brought both to the seashore。 There she washed Medea's body and her
garments with the spray of the sea。
Medea pleaded with Circe to tell her of the life she fore