ones? Will your oxen of their
own accord yoke themselves for the deep plough-lands and draw the
earth-cleaving share through the fallow, and forthwith, as the year
comes round, reap the harvest? Assuredly, though the fates till now have
shunned me in horror, I deem that in the coming year I shall put on the
garment of earth, when I have received my meed of burial even so as is
right, before the evil days draw near. But I bid you who are younger
give good heed to this. For now at your feet a way of escape lies open,
if ye trust to the strangers the care of your homes and all your stock
and your glorious city."

(ll. 697-699) Thus she spake, and the assembly was filled with clamour.
For the word pleased them. And after her straightway Hypsipyle rose up
again, and thus spake in reply.

(ll. 700-701) "If this purpose please you all, now will I even send a
messenger to the ship."

(ll. 702-707) She spake and addressed Iphinoe close at hand: "Go,
Iphinoe, and beg yonder man, whoever it is that leads this array, to
come to our land that I may tell him a word that pleases the heart of my
people, and bid the men themselves, if they wish, boldly enter the land
and the city with friendly intent."

(ll. 708-711) She spake, and dismissed the assembly, and thereafter
started to return home. And so Iphinoe came to the Minyae; and they
asked with what intent she had come among them. And quickly she
addressed her questioners with all speed in these words:

(ll. 712-716) "The maiden Hypsipyle daughter of Thoas, sent me on my way
here to you, to summon the captain of your ship, whoever he be, that she
may tell him a word that pleases the heart of the people, and she bids
yourselves, if ye wish it, straightway enter the land and the city with
friendly intent."

(ll. 717-720) Thus she spake and the speech of good omen pleased all.
And they deemed that Thoas was dead and that his beloved daughter
Hypsipyle was queen, and quickly they sent Jason on his way and
themselves made ready to go.

(ll. 721-729) Now he had buckled round his shoulders a purple mantle of
double fold, the work of the Tritonian goddess, which Pallas had given
him when she first laid the keel-props of the ship Argo and taught him
how to measure timbers with the rule. More easily wouldst thou cast thy
eyes upon the sun at its rising than behold that blazing splendour. For
indeed in the middle the fashion thereof was red, but at the ends it was
all purple, and on ea