from Aea, where they had been reared,
thinking to reach the country of Athamas and lay claim to his
possessions. But they had been wrecked at a place not far from the
mouth of the Phasis, and with great pain and struggle they had made
their way back.

They were fearful of Aea and of their uncle King AEetes, and they would
gladly go with Jason and the Argonauts back to Greece. They would help
Jason, they said, to persuade AEetes to give the Golden Fleece peaceably
to them. Their mother was the daughter of AEetes--Chalciope, whom the
king had given in marriage to Phrixus, his guest.

A council of the Argonauts was held, and it was agreed that Jason
should go with two comrades to King AEetes, Phrontis and Melas going
also. They were to ask the king to give them the Golden Fleece and to
offer him a recompense. Jason took Peleus and Telamon with him.

As they came to the city a mist fell, and Jason and his comrades with
the sons of Phrixus went through the city without being seen. They came
before the palace of King AEetes. Then Phrontis and Melas were some way
behind. The mist lifted, and before the heroes was the wonder of the
palace in the bright light of the morning.

Vines with broad leaves and heavy clusters of fruit grew from column to
column, the columns holding a gallery up. And under the vines were the
four fountains that Hephaestus had made for King AEetes. They gushed out
into golden, silver, bronze, and iron basins. And one fountain gushed
out clear water, and another gushed out milk; another gushed out wine;
and another oil. On each side of the courtyard were the palace
buildings; in one King AEetes lived with Apsyrtus, his son, and in the
other Chalciope and Medea lived with their handmaidens.

Medea was passing from her father's house. The mist lifted suddenly and
she saw three strangers in the palace courtyard. One had a crimson
mantle on; his shoulders were such as to make him seem a man that a
whole world could not overthrow, and his eyes had all the sun's light
in them.

Amazed, Medea stood looking upon Jason, wondering at his bright hair
and gleaming eyes and at the lightness and strength of the hand that he
had raised. And then a dove flew toward her: it was being chased by a
hawk, and Medea saw the hawk's eyes and beak. As the dove lighted upon
her shoulder she threw her veil around it, and the hawk dashed itself
against a column. And as Medea, trembling, leaned against the column
she heard a c