lift the mighty fleece in his hands;
and from the shimmering of the flocks of wool there settled on his fair
cheeks and brow a red flush like a flame. And great as is the hide of a
yearling ox or stag, which huntsmen call a brocket, so great in extent
was the fleece all golden above. Heavy it was, thickly clustered with
flocks; and as he moved along, even beneath his feet the sheen rose up
from the earth. And he strode on now with the fleece covering his left
shoulder from the height of his neck to his feet, and now again he
gathered it up in his hands; for he feared exceedingly, lest some god or
man should meet him and deprive him thereof.

Dawn was spreading over the earth when they reached the throng of
heroes; and the youths marvelled to behold the mighty fleece, which
gleamed like the lightning of Zeus. And each one started up eager to
touch it and clasp it in his hands. But the son of Aeson restrained them
all, and threw over it a mantle newly-woven; and he led the maiden to
the stern and seated her there, and spake to them all as follows:

"No longer now, my friends, forbear to return to your fatherland. For
now the task for which we dared this grievous voyage, toiling with
bitter sorrow of heart, has been lightly fulfilled by the maiden's
counsels. Her--for such is her will--I will bring home to be my wedded
wife; do ye preserve her, the glorious saviour of all Achaea and of
yourselves. For of a surety, I ween, will Aeetes come with his host to
bar our passage from the river into the sea. But do some of you toil at
the oars in turn, sitting man by man; and half of you raise your shields
of oxhide, a ready defence against the darts of the enemy, and guard our
return. And now in our hands we hold the fate of our children and dear
country and of our aged parents; and on our venture all Hellas depends,
to reap either the shame of failure or great renown."

Thus he spake, and donned his armour of war; and they cried aloud,
wondrously eager. And he drew his sword from the sheath and cut the
hawsers at the stern. And near the maiden he took his stand ready armed
by the steersman Ancaeus, and with their rowing the ship sped on as they
strained desperately to drive her clear of the river.

By this time Medea's love and deeds had become known to haughty Aeetes
and to all the Colchians. And they thronged to the assembly in arms; and
countless as the waves of the stormy sea when they rise crested by the
wind, or as the l