ndaries, 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, 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.

BOOK IV

SUMMARY OF BOOK IV

Invocation of the Muse (1-5).--Grief of Medea, who flies from the
palace during the night and joins the Argonauts (6-91).--By the aid
of Medea, Jason seizes and carries off the golden fleece, after
which the Argonauts depart (92-211).--Pursued by the Colchians,
they land in Paphlagonia, where Argus shows them the route to take
(212-293).--The Argonauts sail up the Ister, by a branch of which
they make their way into the Adriatic, where they find their
progress barred by the Colchians, who had come by a shorter route
(294-337).--Agreement between the Argonauts and the Colchians:
Medea's reproaches to Jason (338-451).--Murder of Apsyrtus by
Jason: the Colchians give up the pursuit (452-551).--The Argonauts
sail along the Eridanus into the Rhone, and reach the abode of
Circe in Italy (552-684).--Jason and Medea are purified by Circe:
the Argonauts pass the isle of the Sirens, Scylla, Charybdis, and
the Planctae (685-981).--Arrival among the Phaeacians: here other
Colchians reclaim Medea, and, to prevent her surrender, her
marriage with Jason is celebrated (982-1169).--Departure of the
Argonauts, who are driven by a storm on t