t. There is the harbour of Argo and
there are the signs of her stay, and altars to Poseidon and Triton; for
during that day they tarried. But at dawn with sails outspread they sped
on before the breath of the west wind, keeping the desert land on their
right. And on the next morn they saw the headland and the recess of the
sea, bending inward beyond the jutting headland. And straightway the
west wind ceased, and there came the breeze of the clear south wind: and
their hearts rejoiced at the sound it made. But when the sun sank and
the star returned that bids the shepherd fold, which brings rest to
wearied ploughmen, at that time the wind died down in the dark night; so
they furled the sails and lowered the tall mast and vigorously plied
their polished oars all night and through the day, and again when the
next night came on. And rugged Carpathus far away welcomed them; and
thence they were to cross to Crete, which rises in the sea above other
islands.

And Talos, the man of bronze, as he broke off rocks from the hard cliff,
stayed them from fastening hawsers to the shore, when they came to the
road-stead of Dicte's haven. He was of the stock of bronze, of the men
sprung from ash-trees, the last left among the sons of the gods; and the
son of Cronos gave him to Europa to be the warder of Crete and to stride
round the island thrice a day with his feet of bronze. Now in all the
rest of his body and limbs was he fashioned of bronze and invulnerable;
but beneath the sinew by his ankle was a blood-red vein; and this, with
its issues of life and death, was covered by a thin skin. So the heroes,
though outworn with toil, quickly backed their ship from the land in
sore dismay. And now far from Crete would they have been borne in
wretched plight, distressed both by thirst and pain, had not Medea
addressed them as they turned away:

"Hearken to me. For I deem that I alone can subdue for you that man,
whoever he be, even though his frame be of bronze throughout, unless his
life too is everlasting. But be ready to keep your ship here beyond the
cast of his stones, till he yield the victory to me."

Thus she spake; and they drew the ship out of range, resting on their
oars, waiting to see what plan unlooked for she would bring to pass; and
she, holding the fold of her purple robe over her cheeks on each side,
mounted on the deck; and Aeson's son took her hand in his and guided her
way along the thwarts. And with songs did she propi