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vexed at heart： 〃To others my sorrows are a jest； nor ought I to tell them to all； I know them too well myself。 But now； since this pleases you both； I will make the attempt and coax him； and he will not say me nay。〃
（ll。 106…110） Thus she spake； and Hera took her slender hand and gently smiling； replied： 〃Perform this task； Cytherea； straightway； as thou sayest； and be not angry or contend with thy boy； he will cease hereafter to vex thee。〃
（ll。 111…128） She spake； and left her seat； and Athena accompanied her and they went forth both hastening back。 And Cypris went on her way through the glens of Olympus to find her boy。 And she found him apart； in the blooming orchard of Zeus； not alone； but with him Ganymedes； whom once Zeus had set to dwell among the immortal gods； being enamoured of his beauty。 And they were playing for golden dice； as boys in one house are wont to do。 And already greedy Eros was holding the palm of his left hand quite full of them under his breast； standing upright； and on the bloom of his cheeks a sweet blush was glowing。 But the other sat crouching hard by； silent and downcast； and he had two dice left which he threw one after the other； and was angered by the loud laughter of Eros。 And lo； losing them straightway with the former； he went off empty handed； helpless； and noticed not the approach of Cypris。 And she stood before her boy； and laying her hand on his lips； addressed him：
（ll。 129…144） 〃Why dost thou smile in triumph； unutterable rogue？ Hast thou cheated him thus； and unjustly overcome the innocent child？ Come； be ready to perform for me the task I will tell thee of； and I will give thee Zeus' all…beauteous plaything the one which his dear nurse Adrasteia made for him； while he still lived a child； with childish ways； in the Idaean cavea well…rounded ball； no better toy wilt thou get from the hands of Hephaestus。 All of gold are its zones； and round each double seams run in a circle； but the stitches are hidden； and a dark blue spiral overlays them all。 But if thou shouldst cast it with thy hands； lo； like a star； it sends a flaming track through the sky。 This I will give thee； and do thou strike with thy shaft and charm the daughter of Aeetes with love for Jason； and let there be no loitering。 For then my thanks would be the slighter。〃
（ll。 145…150） Thus she spake； and welcome were her words to the listening boy。 And he threw down all his toys； and eagerly seizing her robe on this side and on that； clung to the goddess。 And he implored her to bestow the gift at once； but she； facing him with kindly words； touched his cheeks； kissed him and drew him to her； and replied with a smile：
（ll。 151…153） 〃Be witness now thy dear head and mine； that surely I will give thee the gift and deceive thee not； if thou wilt strike with thy shaft Aeetes' daughter。〃
（ll。 154…166） She spoke； and he gathered up his dice； and having well counted them all threw them into his mother's gleaming lap。 And straightway with golden baldric he slung round him his quiver from where it leant against a tree…trunk； and took up his curved bow。 And he fared forth through the fruitful orchard of the palace of Zeus。 Then he passed through the gates of Olympus high in air； hence is a downward path from heaven； and the twin poles rear aloft steep mountain tops the highest crests of earth； where the risen sun grows ruddy with his first beams。 And beneath him there appeared now the life…giving earth and cities of men and sacred streams of rivers； and now in turn mountain peaks and the ocean all around； as he swept through the vast expanse of air。
（ll。 167…193） Now the heroes apart in ambush； in a back…water of the river； were met in council； sitting on the benches of their ship。 And Aeson's son himself was speaking among them； and they were listening silently in their places sitting row upon row： 〃My friends； what pleases myself that will I say out； it is for you to bring about its fulfilment。 For in common is our task； and common to all alike is the right of speech； and he who in silence withholds his thought and his counsel； let him know that it is he alone that bereaves this band of its home…return。 Do ye others rest here in the ship quietly with your arms； but I will go to the palace of Aeetes； taking with me the sons of Phrixus and two comrades as well。 And when I meet him I will first make trial
with words to see if he will be willing to give up the golden fleece for friendship's sake or not； but trusting to his might will set at nought our quest。 For so； learning his frowardness first from himself； we will consider whether we shall meet him in battle； or some other plan shall avail us； if we refrain from the war…cry。 And let us not merely by force； before putting words to the test； deprive him of his own possession。 But first it is better to go to him and win his favour by speech。 Oftentimes； I ween； does speech accomplish at need what prowess could hardly catty through； smoothing the path in manner befitting。 And he once welcomed noble Phrixus； a fugitive from his stepmother's wiles and the sacrifice prepared by his father。 For all men everywhere； even the most shameless； reverence the ordinance of Zeus； god of strangers； and regard it。〃
（ll。 194…209） Thus he spake； and the youths approved the words of Aeson's son with one accord； nor was there one to counsel otherwise。 And then he summoned to go with him the sons of Phrixus； and Telamon and Augeias； and himself took Hermes' wand； and at once they passed forth from the ship beyond the reeds and the water to dry land； towards the rising ground of the plain。 The plain； I wis； is called Circe's； and here in line grow many willows and osiers； on whose topmost branches hang corpses bound with cords。 For even now it is an abomination with the Colchians to burn dead men with fire； nor is it lawful to place them in the earth and raise a mound above； but to wrap them in untanned oxhides and suspend them from trees far from the city。 And so earth has an equal portion with air； seeing that they bury the women； for that is the custom of their land。
（ll。 210…259） And as they went Hera with friendly thought spread a thick mist through the city； that they might fare to the palace of Aeetes unseen by the countless hosts of the Colchians。 But soon when from the plain they came to the city and Aeetes' palace； then again Hera dispersed the mist。 And they stood at the entrance； marvelling at the king's courts and the wide gates and columns which rose in ordered lines round the walls； and high up on the palace a coping of stone rested on brazen triglyphs。 And silently they crossed the threshold。 And close by garden vines covered with green foliage were in full bloom； lifted high in air。 And beneath them ran four fountains； ever…flowing； which Hephaestus had delved out。 One was gushing with milk； one with wine； while the third flowed with fragrant oil； and the fourth ran with water； which grew warm at the setting of the Pleiads； and in turn at their rising bubbled forth from the hollow rock； cold as crystal。 Such then were the wondrous works that the craftsman…god Hephaestus had fashioned in the palace of Cytaean Aeetes。 And he wrought for him bulls with feet of bronze； and their mouths were of bronze； and from them they breathed out a terrible flame of fire； moreover he forged a plough of unbending adamant； all in one piece； in payment of thanks to Helios； who had taken the god up in his chariot when faint from the Phlegraean fight。 （1） And here an inner…court was built； and round it were many well…fitted doors and chambers here and there； and all along on each side was a richly…wrought gallery。 And on both sides loftier buildings stood obliquely。 In one； which was the loftiest； lordly Aeetes dwelt with his queen； and in another dwelt Apsyrtus； son of Aeetes； whom a Caucasian nymph； Asterodeia； bare before he made Eidyia his wedded wife； the youngest daughter of Tethys and Oceanus。 And the sons of the Colchians called him by the new name of Phaethon； （2） because he outshone all the youths。 The other buildings the handmaidens had； and the two daughters of Aeetes； Chalciope and Medea。 Medea then ＇they found＇ going from chamber to chamber in search of her sister； for Hera detained her within that day； but beforetime she was not wont to haunt the palace； but all day long was busied in Hecate's temple； since she herself was the priestess of the goddess。 And when she saw them she cried aloud； and quickly Chalciope caught the sound； and her maids； throwing down at their feet their yarn and their thread； rushed forth all in a throng。 And she； beholding her sons among them； raised her hands aloft through joy； and so they likewise greeted their mother； and when they saw her embraced her in their gladness； and she with many sobs spoke thus：
（ll。 260…267） 〃After all then； ye were not destined to leave me in your heedlessness and to wander far； but fate has turned you back。 Poor wretch that I am！ What a yearning for Hellas from some woeful madness seized you at the behest of your father Phrixus。 Bitter sorrows for my heart did he ordain when dying。 And why should ye go to the city of Orchomenus； whoever this Orchomenus is； for t