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knees； as he strode from side to side； now here； now there； and rushed
swiftly through the flame。 But Aeetes marvelled at the hero's might。
And meantime the sons of Tyndareus for long since had it been thus
ordained for them near at hand gave him the yoke from the ground to
cast round them。 Then tightly did he bind their necks； and lifting the
pole of bronze between them； he fastened it to the yoke by its golden tip。
So the twin heroes started back from the fire to the ship。 But Jason took up
again his shield and cast it on his back behind him； and grasped the strong
helmet filled with sharp teeth； and his resistless spear； wherewith； like
some ploughman with a Pelasgian goad； he pricked the bulls beneath；
striking their flanks； and very firmly did he guide the well fitted plough
handle； fashioned of adamant。
（ll。 1326…1339） The bulls meantime raged exceedingly； breathing
forth furious flame of fire； and their breath rose up like the roar of
blustering winds； in fear of which above all seafaring men furl their large
sail。 But not long after that they moved on at the bidding of the spear；
and behind them the rugged fallow was broken up； cloven by the might of
the bulls and the sturdy ploughman。 Then terribly groaned the clods
withal along the furrows of the plough as they were rent； each a man's
burden； and Jason followed； pressing down the cornfield with firm foot；
and far from him he ever sowed the teeth along the clods as each was
ploughed； turning his head back for fear lest the deadly crop of earthborn
men should rise against him first； and the bulls toiled onwards treading
with their hoofs of bronze。
（ll。 1340…1407） But when the third part of the day was still left as it
wanes from dawn； and wearied labourers call for the sweet hour of
unyoking to come to them straightway； then the fallow was ploughed by
the tireless ploughman； four plough…gates though it was； and he loosed the
plough from the oxen。 Them he scared in flight towards the plain； but he
went back again to the ship； while he still saw the furrows free of the
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earthborn men。 And all round his comrades heartened him with their
shouts。 And in the helmet he drew from the river's stream and quenched
his thirst with the water。 Then he bent his knees till they grew supple；
and filled his mighty heart with courage； raging like a boar； when it
sharpens its teeth against the hunters； while from its wrathful mouth
plenteous foam drips to the ground。 By now the earthborn men were
springing up over all the field； and the plot of Ares； the death…dealer；
bristled with sturdy shields and double…pointed spears and shining helmets；
and the gleam reached Olympus from beneath； flashing through the air。
And as when abundant snow has fallen on the earth and the storm blasts
have dispersed the wintry clouds under the murky night； and all the hosts
of the stars appear shining through the gloom； so did those warriors shine
springing up above the earth。 But Jason bethought him of the counsels of
Medea full of craft； and seized from the plain a huge round boulder； a
terrible quoit of Ares Enyalius； four stalwart youths could not have raised
it from the ground even a little。 Taking it in his hands he threw it with a
rush far away into their midst； and himself crouched unseen behind his
shield； with full confidence。 And the Colchians gave a loud cry； like the
roar of the sea when it beats upon sharp crags； and speechless amazement
seized Aeetes at the rush of the sturdy quoit。 And the Earthborn； like
fleet…footed hounds； leaped upon one another and slew with loud yells；
and on earth their mother they fell beneath their own spears； likes pines or
oaks； which storms of wind beat down。 And even as a fiery star leaps
from heaven； trailing a furrow of light； a portent to men； whoever see it
darting with a gleam through the dusky sky； in such wise did Aeson's son
rush upon the earthborn men； and he drew from the sheath his bare sword；
and smote here and there； mowing them down； many on the belly and side；
half risen to the airand some that had risen as far as the shouldersand
some just standing upright； and others even now rushing to battle。 And
as when a fight is stirred up concerning boundaries； and a husbandman； in
fear lest they should ravage his fields； seizes in his hand a curved sickle；
newly sharpened； and hastily cuts the unripe crop； and waits not for it to
be parched in due season by the beams of the sun； so at that time did Jason
cut down the crop of the Earthborn； and the furrows were filled with blood；
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as the channels of a spring with water。 And they fell； some on their faces
biting the rough clod of earth with their teeth； some on their backs； and
others on their hands and sides； like to sea… monsters to behold。 And
many； smitten before raising their feet from the earth； bowed down as far
to the ground as they had risen to the air； and rested there with the damp of
death on their brows。 Even so； I ween； when Zeus has sent a measureless
rain； new planted orchard…shoots droop to the ground； cut off by the root
the toil of gardening men； but heaviness of heart and deadly anguish come
to the owner of the farm； who planted them； so at that time did bitter grief
come upon the heart of King Aeetes。 And he went back to the city among
the Colchians； pondering how he might most quickly oppose the heroes。
And the day died； and Jason's contest was ended。
ENDNOTES： （1） i。e。 the fight between the gods and the giants。 （2）
i。e。 the Shining One。 （3） A name of Ares。 （4） i。e。 the liquid that flows
in the veins of gods。 （5） Or； reading MENIM； 〃took no heed of the cause
of wrath with the stranger…folk。〃
BOOK IV
（ll。 1…5） Now do thou thyself； goddess Muse； daughter of Zeus； tell
of the labour and wiles of the Colchian maiden。 Surely my soul within