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bronze and gold； and half of him they could see； but no more； for the rest
lay in the darkness far beyond。
And when he saw them coming he lifted up his head； and watched
them with his small bright eyes； and flashed his forked tongue； and
roared like the fire among the woodlands； till the forest tossed and
groaned。 For his cries shook the trees from leaf to root； and swept over
the long reaches of the river； and over Aietes' hall； and woke the sleepers
in the city； till mothers clasped their children in their fear。
But Medeia called gently to him； and he stretched out his long
spotted neck； and licked her hand； and looked up in her face； as if to ask
for food。 Then she made a sign to Orpheus； and he began his magic
song。
And as he sung； the forest grew calm again； and the leaves on every
tree hung still； and the serpent's head sank down； and his brazen coils
grew limp； and his glittering eyes closed lazily； till he breathed as gently
as a child； while Orpheus called to pleasant Slumber； who gives peace to
men； and beasts； and waves。
Then Jason leapt forward warily； and stept across that mighty snake；
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and tore the fleece from off the tree…trunk； and the four rushed down the
garden； to the bank where the ARGO lay。
There was a silence for a moment； while Jason held the golden
fleece on high。 Then he cried； 'Go now； good ARGO； swift and steady；
if ever you would see Pelion more。'
And she went； as the heroes drove her； grim and silent all； with
muffled oars； till the pine…wood bent like willow in their hands； and
stout ARGO groaned beneath their strokes。
On and on； beneath the dewy darkness； they fled swiftly down the
swirling stream； underneath black walls； and temples； and the castles of
the princes of the East； past sluice…mouths； and fragrant gardens； and
groves of all strange fruits； past marshes where fat kine lay sleeping； and
long beds of whispering reeds； till they heard the merry music of the
surge upon the bar； as it tumbled in the moonlight all alone。
Into the surge they rushed； and ARGO leapt the breakers like a horse；
for she knew the time was come to show her mettle； and win honour for
the heroes and herself。
Into the surge they rushed； and ARGO leapt the breakers like a horse；
till the heroes stopped all panting； each man upon his oar； as she slid into
the still broad sea。
Then Orpheus took his harp and sang a paean； till the heroes' hearts
rose high again； and they rowed on stoutly and steadfastly； away into the
darkness of the West。
PART V … HOW THE ARGONAUTS WERE
DRIVEN INTO THE UNKNOWN SEA
SO they fled away in haste to the westward； but Aietes manned his
fleet and followed them。 And Lynceus the quick…eyed saw him coming；
while he was still many a mile away； and cried； 'I see a hundred ships；
like a flock of white swans； far in the east。' And at that they rowed hard；
like heroes； but the ships came nearer every hour。
Then Medeia； the dark witch…maiden； laid a cruel and a cunning plot；
for she killed Absyrtus her young brother； and cast him into the sea； and
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The Heroes
said； 'Ere my father can take up his corpse and bury it； he must wait long；
and be left far behind。'
And all the heroes shuddered； and looked one at the other for shame；
yet they did not punish that dark witch…woman； because she had won for
them the golden fleece。
And when Aietes came to the place he saw the floating corpse； and
he stopped a long while； and bewailed his son； and took him up； and
went home。 But he sent on his sailors toward the westward； and bound
them by a mighty curse … 'Bring back to me that dark witch…woman； that
she may die a dreadful death。 But if you return without her； you shall
die by the same death yourselves。'
So the Argonauts escaped for that time： but Father Zeus saw that
foul crime； and out of the heavens he sent a storm； and swept the ship far
from her course。 Day after day the storm drove her； amid foam and
blinding mist； till they knew no longer where they were； for the sun was
blotted from the skies。 And at last the ship struck on a shoal； amid low
isles of mud and sand； and the waves rolled over her and through her；
and the heroes lost all hope of life。
Then Jason cried to Hera； 'Fair queen； who hast befriended us till
now； why hast thou left us in our misery； to die here among unknown
seas？ It is hard to lose the honour which we have won with such toil
and danger； and hard never to see Hellas again； and the pleasant bay of
Pagasai。'
Then out and spoke the magic bough which stood upon the ARGO'S
beak； 'Because Father Zeus is angry； all this has fallen on you； for a cruel
crime has been done on board； and the sacred ship is foul with blood。'
At that some of the heroes cried； 'Medeia is the murderess。 Let the
witch…woman bear her sin； and die！' And they seized Medeia； to hurl
her into the sea； and atone for the young boy's death； but the magic
bough spoke again； 'Let her live till her crimes are full。 Vengeance
waits for her； slow and sure； but she must live； for you need her still。
She must show you the way to her sister Circe； who lives among the
islands of the West。 To her you must sail； a weary way； and she shall
cleanse you from your guilt。'
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Then all the heroes wept aloud when they heard the sentence of the
oak； for they knew that a dark journey lay before them； and years of
bitter toil。 And some upbraided the dark witch…woman； and some said；
'Nay； we are her debtors still； without her we should never have won the
fleece。' But most of them bit their lips in silence； for they feared the
witch's spells。
And now the sea grew calmer； and the sun shone out once more； and
the heroes thrust the ship off the sand…bank； and rowed forward on their
weary course under the guiding of the dark witch…maiden； into the
wastes of the unknown sea。
Whither they went I cannot tell； nor how they came to Circe's isle。
Some say that they went to the westward； and up the Ister （2） stream；
and so came into the Adriatic； dragging their ship over the snowy Alps。
And others say that they went southward； into the Red Indian Sea； and
past the sunny lands where spices grow； round AEthiopia toward the
West； and that at last they came to Libya； and dragged their ship across
the burning sands； and over the hills into the Syrtes； where the flats and
quicksands spread for many a mile； between rich Cyrene and the Lotus…
eaters' shore。 But all these are but dreams and fables； and dim hints of
unknown lands。
But all say that they came to a place where they had to drag their
ship across the land nine days with ropes and rollers； till they came into
an unknown sea。 And the best of all the old songs tells us how they
went away toward the North； till they came to the slope of Caucasus；
where it sinks into the sea； and to the narrow Cimmerian Bosphorus； （3）
where the Titan swam across upon the bul