o ye tell me plainly what
has been your fortune, and who these men are, your companions, and where
from your hollow ship ye came ashore."

Such were his questions, and Argus, before all his brethren, being
fearful for the mission of Aeson's son, gently replied, for he was the
elder-born:

"Aeetes, that ship forthwith stormy blasts tore asunder, and ourselves,
crouching on the beams, a wave drove on to the beach of the isle of
Enyalius[1] in the murky night; and some god preserved us. For even the
birds of Ares that haunted the desert isle beforetime, not even them did
we find. But these men had driven them off, having landed from their
ship on the day before; and the will of Zeus taking pity on us, or some
fate, detained them there, since they straightway gave us both food and
clothing in abundance, when they heard the illustrious name of Phrixus
and thine own; for to thy city are they faring. And if thou dost wish to
know their errand, I will not hide it from thee. A certain king,
vehemently longing to drive this man far from his fatherland and
possessions, because in might he outshone all the sons of Aeolus, sends
him to voyage hither on a bootless venture; and asserts that the stock
of Aeolus will not escape the heart-grieving wrath and rage of
implacable Zeus, nor the unbearable curse and vengeance due for Phrixus,
until the fleece comes back to Hellas. And their ship was fashioned by
Pallas Athena, not such a one as are the ships among the Colchians, on
the vilest of which we chanced. For the fierce waves and wind broke her
utterly to pieces; but the other holds firm with her bolts, even though
all the blasts should buffet her. And with equal swiftness she speedeth
before the wind and when the crew ply the oar with unresting hands. And
he hath gathered in her the mightiest heroes of all Achaea, and hath
come to thy city from wandering far through cities and gulfs of the
dread ocean, in the hope that thou wilt grant him the fleece. But as
thou dost please, so shall it be, for he cometh not to use force, but is
eager to pay thee a recompense for the gift. He has heard from me of thy
bitter foes the Sauromatae, and he will subdue them to thy sway. And if
thou desirest to know their names and lineage I will tell thee all. This
man on whose account the rest were gathered from Hellas, they call
Jason, son of Aeson, whom Cretheus begat. And if in truth he is of the
stock of Cretheus himself, thus he would be our kinsman