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spoke Aeson's son grieved at heart：
（ll。 492…501） 〃My friends； the heart of ruthless Aeetes is utterly filled
with wrath against us； for not at all can the goal be reached either by me or
by you who question me。 He said that two bulls with feet of bronze
pasture on the plain of Ares； breathing forth flame from their jaws。 And
with these he bade me plough the field； four plough…gates； and said that he
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would give me from a serpent's jaws seed which will raise up earthborn
men in armour of bronze； and on the same day I must slay them。 This
taskfor there was nothing better to deviseI took on myself outright。〃
（ll。 502…514） Thus he spake； and to all the contest seemed one that
none could accomplish； and long； quiet and silent； they looked at one
another； bowed down with the calamity and their despair； but at last Peleus
spake with courageous words among all the chiefs： 〃It is time to be
counselling what we shall do。 Yet there is not so much profit； I trow； in
counsel as in the might of our hands。 If thou then； hero son of Aeson； art
minded to yoke Aeetes' oxen； and art eager for the toil； surely thou wilt
keep thy promise and make thyself ready。 But if thy soul trusts not her
prowess utterly； then neither bestir thyself nor sit still and look round for
some one else of these men。 For it is not I who will flinch； since the
bitterest pain will be but death。〃
（ll。 515…522） So spake the son of Aeacus； and Telamon's soul was
stirred； and quickly he started up in eagerness； and Idas rose up the third in
his pride； and the twin sons of Tyndareus； and with them Oeneus' son who
was numbered among strong men； though even the soft down on his cheek
showed not yet； with such courage was his soul uplifted。 But the others
gave way to these in silence。 And straightway Argus spake these words to
those that longed for the contest：
（ll。 523…539） 〃My friends； this indeed is left us at the last。 But I deem
that there will come to you some timely aid from my mother。 Wherefore；
eager though ye be； refrain and abide in your ship a little longer as before；
for it is better to forbear than recklessly to choose an evil fate。 There is a
maiden； nurtured in the halls of Aeetes； whom the goddess Hecate taught
to handle magic herbs with exceeding skill all that the land and flowing
waters produce。 With them is quenched the blast of unwearied flame；
and at once she stays the course of rivers as they rush roaring on； and
checks the stars and the paths of the sacred moon。 Of her we bethought
us as we came hither along the path from the palace； if haply my mother；
her own sister； might persuade her to aid us in the venture。 And if this is
pleasing to you as well； surely on this very day will I return to the palace
of Aeetes to make trial； and perchance with some god's help shall I make
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the trial。〃
（ll。 540…544） Thus he spake； and the gods in their goodwill gave
them a sign。 A trembling dove in her flight from a mighty hawk fell from
on high； terrified； into the lap of Aeson's son； and the hawk fell impaled on
the stern…ornament。 And quickly Mopsus with prophetic words spake
among them all：
（ll。 545…554） 〃For you； friends； this sign has been wrought by the
will of heaven； in no other way is it possible to interpret its meaning better；
than to seek out the maiden and entreat her with manifold skill。 And I
think she will not reject our prayer； if in truth Phineus said that our return
should be with the help of the Cyprian goddess。 It was her gentle bird
that escaped death； and as my heart within me foresees according to this
omen； so may it prove！ But； my friends； let us call on Cytherea to aid us；
and now at once obey the counsels of Argus。〃
（ll。 555…563） He spake； and the warriors approved； remembering the
injunctions of Phineus； but all alone leapt up Apharcian Idas and shouted
loudly in terrible wrath： 〃Shame on us； have we come here fellow
voyagers with women； calling on Cypris for help and not on the mighty
strength of Enyalius？ And do ye look to doves and hawks to save
yourselves from contests？ Away with you； take thought not for deeds of
war； but by supplication to beguile weakling girls。〃
（ll。 564…571） Such were his eager words； and of his comrades many
murmured low； but none uttered a word of answer back。 And he sat
down in wrath； and at once Jason roused them and uttered his own thought：
〃Let Argus set forth from the ship； since this pleases all； but we will now
move from the river and openly fasten our hawsers to the shore。 For
surely it is not fitting for us to hide any longer cowering from the battle…
cry。〃
（ll。 572…575） So he spake； and straightway sent Argus to return in
haste to the city； and they drew the anchors on board at the command of
Aeson's son； and rowed the ship close to the shore； a little away from the
back…water。
（ll。 576…608） But straightway Aeetes held an assembly of the
Colchians far aloof from his palace at a spot where they sat in times before；
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to devise against the Minyae grim treachery and troubles。 And he
threatened that when first the oxen should have torn in pieces the man who
had taken upon him to perform the heavy task； he would hew down the
oak grove above the wooded hill； and burn the ship and her crew； that so
they might vent forth in ruin their grievous insolence； for all their haughty
schemes。 For never would he have welcomed the Aeolid Phrixus as a
guest in his halls； in spite of his sore need； Phrixus； who surpassed all
strangers in gentleness and fear of the gods； had not Zeus himself sent
Hermes his messenger down from heaven； so that he might meet with a
friendly host； much less would pirates coming to his land be let go
scatheless for long； men whose care it was to lift