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eir golden hair； all through the night wailed their piteous lament。 And there all would have parted from life without a name and unknown to mortal men； those bravest of heroes； with their task unfulfilled； but as they pined in despair； the heroine…nymphs； warders of Libya； had pity on them； they who once found Athena； what time she leapt in gleaming armour from her father's head； and bathed her by Trito's waters。 It was noon…tide and the fiercest rays of the sun were scorching Libya； they stood near Aeson's son； and lightly drew the cloak from his head。 And the hero cast down his eyes and looked aside； in reverence for the goddesses； and as he lay bewildered all alone they addressed him openly with gentle words：
（ll。 1318…1329） 〃Ill…starred one； why art thou so smitten with despair？ We know how ye went in quest of the golden fleece； we know each toil of yours； all the mighty deeds ye wrought in your wanderings over land and sea。 We are the solitary ones； goddesses of the land； speaking with human voice； the heroines； Libya's warders and daughters。 Up then； be not thus afflicted in thy misery； and rouse thy comrades。 And when Amphitrite has straightway loosed Poseidon's swift…wheeled car； then do ye pay to your mother a recompense for all her travail when she bare you so long in her womb； and so ye may return to the divine land of Achaea。〃
（ll。 1330…1332） Thus they spake； and with the voice vanished at once； where they stood。 But Jason sat upon the earth as he gazed around； and thus cried：
（ll。 1333…1336） 〃Be gracious； noble goddesses of the desert； yet the saying about our return I understand not clearly。 Surely I will gather together my comrades and tell them； if haply we can find some token of our escape； for the counsel of many is better。〃
（ll。 1337…1346） He spake； and leapt to his feet； and shouted afar to his comrades； all squalid with dust； like a lion when he roars through the woodland seeking his mate； and far off in the mountains the glens tremble at the thunder of his voice； and the oxen of the field and the herdsmen shudder with fear； yet to them Jason's voice was no whit terrible the voice of a comrade calling to his friends。 And with looks downcast they gathered near； and hard by where the ship lay he made them sit down in their grief and the women with them； and addressed them and told them everything：
（ll。 1347…1362） 〃Listen； friends； as I lay in my grief； three goddesses girded with goat…skins from the neck downwards round the back and waist； like maidens； stood over my head nigh at hand； and they uncovered me； drawing my cloak away with light hand； and they bade me rise up myself and go and rouse you； and pay to our mother a bounteous recompense for all her travail when she bare us so long in her womb； when Amphitrite shall have loosed Poseidon's swift…wheeled car。 But I cannot fully understand concerning this divine message。 They said indeed that they were heroines； Libya's warders and daughters； and all the toils that we endured aforetime by land and sea； all these they declared that they knew full well。 Then I saw them no more in their place； but a mist or cloud came between and hid them from my sight。〃
（ll。 1363…1369） Thus he spake； and all marvelled as they heard。 Then was wrought for the Minyae the strangest of portents。 From the sea to the land leapt forth a monstrous horse； of vast size； with golden mane tossing round his neck； and quickly from his limbs he shook off abundant spray and started on his course； with feet like the wind。 And at once Peleus rejoiced and spake among the throng of his comrades：
（ll。 1370…1379） 〃I deem that Poseidon's ear has even now been loosed by the hands of his dear wife； and I divine that our mother is none else than our ship herself； for surely she bare us in her womb and groans unceasingly with grievous travailing。 But with unshaken strength and untiring shoulders will we lift her up and bear her within this country of sandy wastes； where yon swift…footed steed has sped before。 For he will not plunge beneath the earth； and his hoof…prints； I ween； will point us to some bay above the sea。〃
（ll。 1380…1392） Thus he spake； and the fit counsel pleased all。 This is the tale the Muses told； and I sing obedient to the Pierides； and this report have I heard most truly； that ye； O mightiest far of the sons of kings； by your might and your valour over the desert sands of Libya raised high aloft on your shoulders the ship and all that ye brought therein； and bare her twelve days and nights alike。 Yet who could tell the pain and grief which they endured in that toil？ Surely they were of the blood of the immortals； such a task did they take on them； constrained by necessity。 How forward and how far they bore her gladly to the waters of the Tritonian lake！ How they strode in and set her down from their stalwart shoulders！
（ll。 1393…1421） Then； like raging hounds； they rushed to search for a spring； for besides their suffering and anguish； a parching thirst lay upon them； and not in vain did they wander； but they came to the sacred plain where Ladon； the serpent of the land； till yesterday kept watch over the golden apples in the garden of Atlas； and all around the nymphs； the Hesperides； were busied； chanting their lovely song。 But at that time； stricken by Heracles； he lay fallen by the trunk of the apple…tree； only the tip of his tail was still writhing； but from his head down his dark spine he lay lifeless； and where the arrows had left in his blood the bitter gall of the Lernaean hydra； flies withered and died over the festering wounds。 And close at hand the Hesperides； their white arms flung over their golden heads； lamented shrilly； and the heroes drew near suddenly； but the maidens； at their quick approach； at once became dust and earth where they stood。 Orpheus marked the divine portent； and for his comrades addressed them in prayer： 〃O divine ones； fair and kind； be gracious； O queens； whether ye be numbered among the heavenly goddesses； or those beneath the earth； or be called the Solitary nymphs； come； O nymphs； sacred race of Oceanus； appear manifest to our longing eyes and show us some spring of water from the rock or some sacred flow gushing from the earth； goddesses； wherewith we may quench the thirst that burns us unceasingly。 And if ever again we return in our voyaging to the Achaean land； then to you among the first of goddesses with willing hearts will we bring countless gifts； libations and banquets。〃
（ll。 1422…1431） So he spake； beseeching them with plaintive voice； and they from their station near pitied their pain； and lo！ First of all they caused grass to spring from the earth； and above the grass rose up tall shoots； and then flourishing saplings grew standing upright far above the earth。 Hespere became a poplar and Eretheis an elm； and Aegle a willow's sacred trunk。 And forth from these trees their forms looked out； as clear as they were before； a marvel exceeding great； and Aegle spake with gentle words answering their longing looks：
（ll。 1432…1449） 〃Surely there has come hither a mighty succour to your toils； that most accursed man； who robbed our guardian serpent of life and plucked the golden apples of the goddesses and is gone； and has left bitter grief for us。 For yesterday came a man most fell in wanton violence； most grim in form； and his eyes flashed beneath his scowling brow； a ruthless wretch； and he was clad in the skin of a monstrous lion of raw hide； untanned； and he bare a sturdy bow of olive； and a bow； wherewith he shot and killed this monster here。 So he too came； as one traversing the land on foot； parched with thirst； and he rushed wildly through this spot； searching for water； but nowhere was he like to see it。 Now here stood a rock near the Tritonian lake； and of his own device； or by the prompting of some god； he smote it below with his foot； and the water gushed out in full flow。 And he； leaning both his hands and chest upon the ground； drank a huge draught from the rifted rock； until； stooping like a beast of the field； he had satisfied his mighty maw。〃
（ll。 1450…1457） Thus she spake； and they gladly with joyful steps ran to the spot where Aegle had pointed out to them the spring； until they reached it。 And as when earth…burrowing ants gather in swarms round a narrow cleft； or when flies lighting upon a tiny drop of sweet honey cluster round with insatiate eagerness； so at that time； huddled together； the Minyae thronged about the spring from the rock。 And thus with wet lips one cried to another in his delight：
（ll。 1458…1460） 〃Strange！ In very truth Heracles； though far away； has saved his comrades； fordone with thirst。 Would that we might find him on his way as we pass through the mainland！〃
（ll。 1461…1484） So they spake； and those who were ready for this work answered； and they separated this way and that； each starting to search。 For by the night winds the footsteps had been effaced where the sand was stirred。 The two sons of Boreas started up； trusting in their wings； and Euphemus； relying on his swift feet； and Lynceus to cast far his piercing eyes； and with them darted off Canthus； the fifth。 He was urged on by the doom of the gods and his own cour