And her white shoulders on
each side were covered with the mantle of her hair and she was parting
it with a golden comb and about to braid up the long tresses; but when
she saw the goddesses before her, she stayed and called them within, and
rose from her seat and placed them on couches. Then she herself sat
down, and with her hands gathered up the locks still uncombed. And
smiling she addressed them with crafty words:

"Good friends, what intent, what occasion brings you here after so long?
Why have ye come, not too frequent visitors before, chief among
goddesses that ye are?"

And to her Hera replied: "Thou dost mock us, but our hearts are stirred
with calamity. For already on the river Phasis the son of Aeson moors
his ship, he and his comrades in quest of the fleece. For all their
sakes we fear terribly (for the task is nigh at hand) but most for
Aeson's son. Him will I deliver, though he sail even to Hades to free
Ixion below from his brazen chains, as far as strength lies in my limbs,
so that Pelias may not mock at having escaped an evil doom--Pelias who
left me unhonoured with sacrifice. Moreover Jason was greatly loved by
me before, ever since at the mouth of Anaurus in flood, as I was making
trial of men's righteousness, he met me on his return from the chase;
and all the mountains and long ridged peaks were sprinkled with snow,
and from them the torrents rolling down were rushing with a roar. And he
took pity on me in the likeness of an old crone, and raising me on his
shoulders himself bore me through the headlong tide. So he is honoured
by me unceasingly; nor will Pelias pay the penalty of his outrage,
unless thou wilt grant Jason his return."

Thus she spake, and speechlessness seized Cypris. And beholding Hera
supplicating her she felt awe, and then addressed her with friendly
words: "Dread goddess, may no viler thing than Cypris ever be found, if
I disregard thy eager desire in word or deed, whatever my weak arms can
effect; and let there be no favour in return."

She spake, and Hera again addressed her with prudence: "It is not in
need of might or of strength that we have come. But just quietly bid thy
boy charm Aeetes' daughter with love for Jason. For if 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."

Thus she spake, and Cypris addressed them both: "Hera and Athena, he
will obey you rather than me. For una