on the father's
side. For Cretheus and Athamas were both sons of Aeolus; and Phrixus was
the son of Athamas, son of Aeolus. And here, if thou hast heard at all
of the seed of Helios, thou dost behold Augeias; and this is Telamon
sprung from famous Aeacus; and Zeus himself begat Aeacus. And so all the
rest, all the comrades that follow him, are the sons or grandsons of the
immortals."

[Footnote 1: A name of Ares.]

Such was the tale of Argus; but the king at his words was filled with
rage as he heard; and his heart was lifted high in wrath. And he spake
in heavy displeasure; and was angered most of all with the son of
Chalciope; for he deemed that on their account the strangers had come;
and in his fury his eyes flashed forth beneath his brows:

"Begone from my sight, felons, straightway, ye and your tricks, from the
land, ere someone see a fleece and a Phrixus to his sorrow. Banded
together with your friends from Hellas, not for the fleece, but to seize
my sceptre and royal power have ye come hither. Had ye not first tasted
of my table, surely would I have cut out your tongues and hewn off both
hands and sent you forth with your feet alone, so that ye might be
stayed from starting hereafter. And what lies have ye uttered against
the blessed gods!"

Thus he spake in his wrath; and mightily from its depths swelled the
heart of Aeacus' son, and his soul within longed to speak a deadly word
in defiance, but Aeson's son checked him, for he himself first made
gentle answer:

"Aeetes, bear with this armed band, I pray. For not in the way thou
deemest have we come to thy city and palace, no, nor yet with such
desires. For who would of his own will dare to cross so wide a sea for
the goods of a stranger? But fate and the ruthless command of a
presumptuous king urged me. Grant a favour to thy suppliants, and to all
Hellas will I publish a glorious fame of thee; yea, we are ready now to
pay thee a swift recompense in war, whether it be the Sauromatae or some
other people that thou art eager to subdue to thy sway."

He spake, flattering him with gentle utterance; but the king's soul
brooded a twofold purpose within him, whether he should attack and slay
them on the spot or should make trial of their might. And this, as he
pondered, seemed the better way, and he addressed Jason in answer:

"Stranger, why needest thou go through thy tale to the end? For if ye
are in truth of heavenly race, or have come in no wise inferior to