g wood countless eddies
of smoke roll up mingled with soot, and one ever springs up quickly
after another, rising aloft from beneath in wavering wreaths; so at that
time did that monster roll his countless coils covered with hard dry
scales. And as he writhed, the maiden came before his eyes, with sweet
voice calling to her aid sleep, highest of gods, to charm the monster;
and she cried to the queen of the underworld, the night-wanderer, to be
propitious to her enterprise. And Aeson's son followed in fear, but the
serpent, already charmed by her song, was relaxing the long ridge of
his giant spine, and lengthening out his myriad coils, like a dark wave,
dumb and noiseless, rolling over a sluggish sea; but still he raised
aloft his grisly head, eager to enclose them both in his murderous
jaws. But she with a newly cut spray of juniper, dipping and drawing
untempered charms from her mystic brew, sprinkled his eyes, while she
chanted her song; and all around the potent scent of the charm cast
sleep; and on the very spot he let his jaw sink down; and far behind
through the wood with its many trees were those countless coils
stretched out.

Hereupon Jason snatched the golden fleece from the oak, at the maiden
bidding; and she, standing firm, smeared with the charm the monster's
head, till Jason himself bade her turn back towards their ship, and she
left the grove of Ares, dusky with shade. And as a maiden catches on her
finely wrought robe the gleam of the moon at the full, as it rises above
her high-roofed chamber; and her heart rejoices as she beholds the fair
ray; so at that time did Jason uplift the mighty fleece in his hands;
and from the shimmering of the flocks of wool there settled on his fair
cheeks and brow a red flush like a flame. And great as is the hide of a
yearling ox or stag, which huntsmen call a brocket, so great in extent
was the fleece all golden above. Heavy it was, thickly clustered with
flocks; and as he moved along, even beneath his feet the sheen rose up
from the earth. And he strode on now with the fleece covering his left
shoulder from the height of his neck to his feet, and now again he
gathered it up in his hands; for he feared exceedingly, lest some god or
man should meet him and deprive him thereof.

(ll. 183-189) Dawn was spreading over the earth when they reached the
throng of heroes; and the youths marvelled to behold the mighty fleece,
which gleamed like the lightning of Zeus. And each on