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answered； 'Our father is stern and terrible； and who can win the golden
fleece？' But Chalciope said； 'These men are not like our men； there is
nothing which they cannot dare nor do。'
And Medeia thought of Jason and his brave countenance； and said；
'If there was one among them who knew no fear； I could show him how
to win the fleece。'
So in the dusk of evening they went down to the river…side；
Chalciope and Medeia the witch…maiden； and Argus； Phrixus' son。 And
Argus the boy crept forward； among the beds of reeds； till he came
where the heroes were sleeping； on the thwarts of the ship； beneath the
bank； while Jason kept ward on shore； and leant upon his lance full of
thought。 And the boy came to Jason； and said …
'I am the son of Phrixus； your Cousin； and Chalciope my mother
waits for you； to talk about the golden fleece。'
Then Jason went boldly with the boy； and found the two princesses
standing； and when Chalciope saw him she wept； and took his hands；
and cried … 'O cousin of my beloved； go home before you die！'
'It would be base to go home now； fair princess； and to have sailed
all these seas in vain。' Then both the princesses besought him； but
Jason said； 'It is too late。'
'But you know not；' said Medeia； 'what he must do who would win
the fleece。 He must tame the two brazen…footed bulls； who breathe
devouring flame； and with them he must plough ere nightfall four acres
in the field of Ares； and he must sow them with serpents' teeth； of which
each tooth springs up into an armed man。 Then he must fight with all
those warriors； and little will it profit him to conquer them； for the
fleece is guarded by a serpent； more huge than any mountain pine； and
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over his body you must step if you would reach the golden fleece。'
Then Jason laughed bitterly。 'Unjustly is that fleece kept here； and
by an unjust and lawless king； and unjustly shall I die in my youth； for I
will attempt it ere another sun be set。'
Then Medeia trembled； and said； 'No mortal man can reach that
fleece unless I guide him through。 For round it； beyond the river； is a
wall full nine ells high； with lofty towers and buttresses； and mighty
gates of threefold brass； and over the gates the wall is arched； with
golden battlements above。 And over the gateway sits Brimo； the wild
witch…huntress of the woods； brandishing a pine…torch in her hands；
while her mad hounds howl around。 No man dare meet her or look on
her； but only I her priestess； and she watches far and wide lest any
stranger should come near。'
'No wall so high but it may be climbed at last； and no wood so thick
but it may be crawled through； no serpent so wary but he may be
charmed； or witch…queen so fierce but spells may soothe her； and I may
yet win the golden fleece； if a wise maiden help bold men。'
And he looked at Medeia cunningly； and held her with his glittering
eye； till she blushed and trembled； and said …
'Who can face the fire of the bulls' breath； and fight ten thousand
armed men？'
'He whom you help；' said Jason； flattering her； 'for your fame is
spread over all the earth。 Are you not the queen of all enchantresses；
wiser even than your sister Circe； in her fairy island in the West？'
'Would that I were with my sister Circe in her fairy island in the West；
far away from sore temptation and thoughts which tear the heart！ But
if it must be so … for why should you die？ … I have an ointment here； I
made it from the magic ice… flower which sprang from Prometheus' wound；
above the clouds on Caucasus； in the dreary fields of snow。 Anoint
yourself with that； and you shall have in you seven men's strength； and
anoint your shield with it； and neither fire nor sword can harm you。
But what you begin you must end before sunset； for its virtue lasts only
one day。 And anoint your helmet with it before you sow the serpents'
teeth； and when the sons of earth spring up； cast your helmet among
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their ranks； and the deadly crop of the War…god's field will mow itself；
and perish。'
Then Jason fell on his knees before her； and thanked her and kissed
her hands； and she gave him the vase of ointment； and fled trembling
through the reeds。 And Jason told his comrades what had happened；
and showed them the box of ointment； and all rejoiced but Idas； and he
grew mad with envy。
And at sunrise Jason went and bathed； and anointed himself from
head to foot； and his shield； and his helmet； and his weapons； and bade
his comrades try the spell。 So they tried to bend his lance； but it stood
like an iron bar； and Idas in spite hewed at it with his sword； but the
blade flew to splinters in his face。 Then they hurled their lances at his
shield； but the spear…points turned like lead； and Caineus tried to throw
him； but he never stirred a foot； and Polydeuces struck him with his fist
a blow which would have killed an ox； but Jason only smiled； and the
heroes danced about him with delight； and he leapt； and ran； and shouted
in the joy of that enormous strength； till the sun rose； and it was time
to go and to claim Aietes' promise。
So he sent up Telamon and Aithalides to tell Aietes that he was ready
for the fight； and they went up among the marble walls； and beneath the
roofs of gold； and stood in Aietes' hall； while he grew pale with rage。
'Fulfil your promise to us； child of the blazing Sun。 Give us the
serpents' teeth； and let loose the fiery bulls； for we have found a
champion among us who can win the golden fleece。'
And Aietes bit his lips； for he fancied that they had fled away by
night： but he could not go back from his promise； so he gave them the
serpents' teeth。
Then he called for his chariot and his horses； and sent heralds
through all the town； and all the people went out with him to the
dreadful War…god's field。
And there Aietes sat upon his throne； with his warriors on each hand；
thousands and tens of thousands； clothed from head to foot in steel
chain…mail。 And the people and the women crowded to every window
and bank and wall； while the Minuai stood together； a mere handful in
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the midst of that great host。
And Chalciope was there and Argus； trembling； and Medeia；
wrapped closely in her veil； but Aietes did not know that she was
muttering cunning spells between her lips。
Then Jason cried； 'Fulfil your promise； and let your fiery bulls come
forth。'
Then Aietes bade open the gates； and the magic bulls leapt out。
Their brazen hoofs rang upon the ground； and their nostrils sent out
sheets of flame； as they rushed with lowered heads upon Jason； but he
never flinched a step。 The flame of their breath swept round him； but it
singed not a hair of his head； and the bulls stopped short and trembled
when Medeia began her spell。
Then Jason sprang upon