cris, the daughter of Aristaeus, lord of honey, who discovered the
works of bees and the fatness of the olive, the fruit of labour. She it
was that first received in her bosom the Nysean son of Zeus in Abantian
Euboea, and with honey moistened his parched lips when Hermes bore him
out of the flame. And Hera beheld it, and in wrath drove her from the
whole island. And she accordingly came to dwell far off, in the sacred
cave of the Phaeacians, and granted boundless wealth to the inhabitants.
There at that time did they spread a mighty couch; and thereon they laid
the glittering fleece of gold, that so the marriage might be made
honoured and the theme of song. And for them nymphs gathered flowers of
varied hue and bore them thither in their white bosoms; and a splendour
as of flame played round them all, such a light gleamed from the golden
tufts. And in their eyes it kindled a sweet longing; yet for all her
desire, awe withheld each one from laying her hand thereon. Some were
called daughters of the river Aegaeus; others dwelt round the crests of
the Meliteian mount; and others were woodland nymphs from the plains.
For Hera herself, the spouse of Zeus, had sent them to do honour to
Jason. That cave is to this day called the sacred cave of Medea, where
they spread the fine and fragrant linen and brought these two together.
And the heroes in their hands wielded their spears for war, lest first a
host of foes should burst upon them for battle unawares, and, their
heads enwreathed with leafy sprays, all in harmony, while Orpheus' harp
rang clear, sang the marriage song at the entrance to the bridal
chamber. Yet not in the house of Alcinous was the hero, Aeson's son,
minded to complete his marriage, but in his father's hall when he had
returned home to Iolcus; and such was the mind of Medea herself; but
necessity led them to wed at this time. For never in truth do we tribes
of woe-stricken mortals tread the path of delight with sure foot; but
still some bitter affliction keeps pace with our joy; Wherefore they
too, though their souls were melted with sweet love, were held by fear,
whether the sentence of Alcinous would be fulfilled.

Now dawn returning with her beams divine scattered the gloomy night
through the sky; and the island beaches laughed out and the paths over
the plains far off, drenched with dew, and there was a din in the
streets; the people were astir throughout the city, and far away the
Colchians were astir at