other the whip of cunning workmanship,
to drive the mules; and they rushed hasting to the city and the palace.
And when she was come Chalciope in grief for her sons questioned her;
but Medea, distraught by swiftly-changing thoughts, neither heard her
words nor was eager to speak in answer to her questions. But she sat
upon a low stool at the foot of her couch, bending down, her cheek
leaning on her left hand, and her eyes were wet with tears as she
pondered what an evil deed she had taken part in by her counsels.
(ll. 1163-1190) Now when Aeson's son had joined his comrades again in
the spot where he had left them when he departed, he set out to go with
them, telling them all the story, to the gathering of the heroes; and
together they approached the ship. And when they saw Jason they embraced
him and questioned him. And he told to all the counsels of the maiden
and showed the dread charm; but Idas alone of his comrades sat apart
biting down his wrath; and the rest joyous in heart, at the hour
when the darkness of night stayed them, peacefully took thought for
themselves. But at daybreak they sent two men to go to Aeetes and
ask for the seed, first Telamon himself, dear to Ares, and with him
Aethalides, Hermes' famous son. So they went and made no vain journey;
but when they came, lordly Aeetes gave them for the contest the fell
teeth of the Aonian dragon which Cadmus found in Ogygian Thebes when
he came seeking for Europa and there slew the--warder of the spring of
Ares. There he settled by the guidance of the heifer whom Apollo by his
prophetic word granted him to lead him on his way. But the teeth the
Tritonian goddess tore away from the dragon's jaws and bestowed as a
gift upon Aeetes and the slayer. And Agenor's son, Cadmus, sowed them on
the Aonian plains and founded an earthborn people of all who were left
from the spear when Ares did the reaping; and the teeth Aeetes then
readily gave to be borne to the ship, for he deemed not that Jason would
bring the contest to an end, even though he should cast the yoke upon
the oxen.
(ll. 1191-1224) Far away in the west the sun was sailing beneath the
dark earth, beyond the furthest hills of the Aethiopians; and Night was
laying the yoke upon her steeds; and the heroes were preparing their
beds by the hawsers. But Jason, as soon as the stars of Heliee, the
bright-gleaming bear, had set, and the air had all grown still under
heaven, went to a desert spot, like some stealt
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