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she will aid him with her kindly counsel； easily do I think he will win the
fleece of gold and return to Iolcus； for she is full of wiles。〃
（ll。 90…99） Thus she spake； and Cypris addressed them both： 〃Hera
and Athena； he will obey you rather than me。 For unabashed though he is；
there will be some slight shame in his eyes before you； but he has no
respect for me； but ever slights me in contentious mood。 And； overborne
by his naughtiness； I purpose to break his ill…sounding arrows and his bow
in his very sight。 For in his anger he has threatened that if I shall not keep
my hands off him while he still masters his temper； I shall have cause to
blame myself thereafter。〃
（ll。 100…105） So she spake； and the goddesses smiled and looked at
each other。 But Cypris again spoke； 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
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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
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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； smoothin