t in triumph, may I die
either straining my neck in the noose from the roof-tree or tasting
drugs destructive of life. But even so, when I am dead, they will fling
out taunts against me; and every city far away will ring with my
doom, and the Colchian women, tossing my name on their lips hither and
thither, will revile me with unseemly mocking--the maid who cared so
much for a stranger that she died, the maid who disgraced her home and
her parents, yielding to a mad passion. And what disgrace will not be
mine? Alas for my infatuation! Far better would it be for me to forsake
life this very night in my chamber by some mysterious fate, escaping all
slanderous reproach, before I complete such nameless dishonour."

(ll. 802-824) She spake, and brought a casket wherein lay many drugs,
some for healing, others for killing, and placing it upon her knees she
wept. And she drenched her bosom with ceaseless tears, which flowed in
torrents as she sat, bitterly bewailing her own fate. And she longed to
choose a murderous drug to taste it, and now she was loosening the
bands of the casket eager to take it forth, unhappy maid! But suddenly a
deadly fear of hateful Hades came upon her heart. And long she held
back in speechless horror, and all around her thronged visions of the
pleasing cares of life. She thought of all the delightful things that
are among the living, she thought of her joyous playmates, as a maiden
will; and the sun grew sweeter than ever to behold, seeing that in truth
her soul yearned for all. And she put the casket again from off her
knees, all changed by the prompting of Hera, and no more did she waver
in purpose; but longed for the rising dawn to appear quickly, that she
might give him the charms to work the spell as she had promised, and
meet him face to face. And often did she loosen the bolts of her door,
to watch for the faint gleam: and welcome to her did the dayspring shed
its light, and folk began to stir throughout the city.

(ll. 825-827) Then Argus bade his brothers remain there to learn the
maiden's mind and plans, but himself turned back and went to the ship.

(ll. 828-890) Now soon as ever the maiden saw the light of dawn, with
her hands she gathered up her golden tresses which were floating round
her shoulders in careless disarray, and bathed her tear-stained cheeks,
and made her skin shine with ointment sweet as nectar; and she donned
a beautiful robe, fitted with well-bent clasps, and above on h