lowed to fall
unaccomplished to the ground. A mighty oath hast thou transgressed,
ruthless one; but not long shalt thou and thy comrades sit at ease
casting eyes of mockery upon me, for all your covenants."

Thus she spake, seething with fierce wrath; and she longed to set fire
to the ship and to hew it utterly in pieces, and herself to fall into
the raging flame. But Jason, half afraid, thus addressed her with gentle
words:

"Forbear, lady; me too this pleases not. But we seek some respite from
battle, for such a cloud of hostile men, like to a fire, surrounds us,
on thy account. For all that inhabit this land are eager to aid
Apsyrtus, that they may lead thee back home to thy father, like some
captured maid. And all of us would perish in hateful destruction, if we
closed with them in fight; and bitterer still will be the pain, if we
are slain and leave thee to be their prey. But this covenant will weave
a web of guile to lead him to ruin. Nor will the people of the land for
thy sake oppose us, to favour the Colchians, when their prince is no
longer with them, who is thy champion and thy brother; nor will I shrink
from matching myself in fight with the Colchians, if they bar my way
homeward."

Thus he spake soothing her; and she uttered a deadly speech: "Take heed
now. For when sorry deeds are done we must needs devise sorry counsel,
since at first I was distraught by my error, and by heaven's will it was
I wrought the accomplishment of evil desires. Do thou in the turmoil
shield me from the Colchians' spears; and I will beguile Apsyrtus to
come into thy hands--do thou greet him with splendid gifts--if only I
could persuade the heralds on their departure to bring him alone to
hearken to my words. Thereupon if this deed pleases thee, slay him and
raise a conflict with the Colchians, I care not."

So they two agreed and prepared a great web of guile for Apsyrtus, and
provided many gifts such as are due to guests, and among them gave a
sacred robe of Hypsipyle, of crimson hue. The Graces with their own
hands had wrought it for Dionysus in sea-girt Dia, and he gave it to his
son Thoas thereafter, and Thoas left it to Hypsipyle, and she gave that
fair-wrought guest-gift with many another marvel to Aeson's son to wear.
Never couldst thou satisfy thy sweet desire by touching it or gazing on
it. And from it a divine fragrance breathed from the time when the king
of Nysa himself lay to rest thereon, flushed with wine and ne