e pain,
if we are slain and leave thee to be their prey. But this covenant will
weave a web of guile to lead him to ruin. Nor will the people of the
land for thy sake oppose us, to favour the Colchians, when their prince
is no longer with them, who is thy champion and thy brother; nor will I
shrink from matching myself in fight with the Colchians, if they bar my
way homeward."

(ll. 410-420) Thus he spake soothing her; and she uttered a deadly
speech: "Take heed now. For when sorry deeds are done we must needs
devise sorry counsel, since at first I was distraught by my error, and
by heaven's will it was I wrought the accomplishment of evil desires.
Do thou in the turmoil shield me from the Colchians' spears; and I will
beguile Apsyrtus to come into thy hands--do thou greet him with splendid
gifts--if only I could persuade the heralds on their departure to bring
him alone to hearken to my words. Thereupon if this deed pleases thee,
slay him and raise a conflict with the Colchians, I care not."

(ll. 421-422) So they two agreed and prepared a great web of guile for
Apsyrtus, and provided many gifts such as are due to guests, and among
them gave a sacred robe of Hypsipyle, of crimson hue. The Graces with
their own hands had wrought it for Dionysus in sea-girt Dia, and he gave
it to his son Thoas thereafter, and Thoas left it to Hypsipyle, and she
gave that fair-wrought guest-gift with many another marvel to Aeson's
son to wear. Never couldst thou satisfy thy sweet desire by touching it
or gazing on it. And from it a divine fragrance breathed from the time
when the king of Nysa himself lay to rest thereon, flushed with wine
and nectar as he clasped the beauteous breast of the maiden-daughter
of Minos, whom once Theseus forsook in the island of Dia, when she had
followed him from Cnossus. And when she had worked upon the heralds to
induce her brother to come, as soon as she reached the temple of
the goddess, according to the agreement, and the darkness of night
surrounded them, that so she might devise with him a cunning plan for
her to take the mighty fleece of gold and return to the home of Aeetes,
for, she said, the sons of Phrixus had given her by force to the
strangers to carry off; with such beguiling words she scattered to the
air and the breezes her witching charms, which even from afar would have
drawn down the savage beast from the steep mountain-height.

(ll. 445-451) Ruthless Love, great bane, great curse to ma