hat they were come to Caucasus, at the end of
all the earth; Caucasus the highest of all mountains, the father of the
rivers of the East. On his peak lies chained the Titan, while a vulture
tears his heart; and at his feet are piled dark forests round the magic
Colchian land.

And they rowed three days to the eastward, while Caucasus rose higher
hour by hour, till they saw the dark stream of Phasis rushing headlong
to the sea, and shining above the treetops, the golden roofs of King
Aietes, the child of the sun.

Then out spoke Ancaios the helmsman: "We are come to our goal at last;
for there are the roofs of Aietes, and the woods where all poisons grow;
but who can tell us where among them is hid the golden fleece? Many a
toil must we bear ere we find it, and bring it home to Greece."

But Jason cheered the heroes, for his heart was high and bold; and he
said: "I will go alone up to Aietes, though he be the child of the sun,
and win him with soft words. Better so than to go altogether, and to
come to blows at once." But the Minuai would not stay behind, so they
rowed boldly up the stream.

And a dream came to Aietes, and filled his heart with fear. He thought
he saw a shining star, which fell into his daughter's lap; and that
Medeia his daughter took it gladly, and carried it to the river side,
and cast it in, and there the whirling river bore it down, and out into
the Euxine Sea.

Then he leapt up in fear, and bade his servants bring his chariot, that
he might go down to the riverside and appease the nymphs, and the heroes
whose spirits haunt the bank. So he went down in his golden chariot, and
his daughters by his side, Medeia the fair witch maiden, and Chalciope,
who had been Phrixus's wife, and behind him a crowd of servants and
soldiers, for he was a rich and mighty prince.

And as he drove down by the reedy river, he saw Argo sliding up beneath
the bank, and many a hero in her, like immortals for beauty and for
strength, as their weapons glittered round them in the level morning
sunlight, through the white mist of the stream. But Jason was the
noblest of all; for Hera who loved him gave him beauty, and tallness,
and terrible manhood.

And when they came near together and looked into each other's eyes, the
heroes were awed before Aietes as he shone in his chariot, like his
father the glorious Sun; for his robes were of rich gold tissue, and the
rays of his diadem flashed fire; and in his hand he bore a jew