eatly cast down, for this task, they thought, was one that could not
be accomplished. He who stood before the fire-breathing bulls would
perish on the moment. But they knew that one amongst them must strive
to accomplish the task. And if Jason held back, Peleus, Telamon,
Theseus, Castor, Polydeuces, or any one of the others would undertake
it.

But Jason would not hold back. On the morrow, he said, he would strive
to yoke the fire-breathing, brazen-footed bulls to the plow of adamant.
If he perished the Argonauts should then do what they thought was
best--make other trials to gain the Golden Fleece, or turn their ship
and sail back to Greece.

While they were speaking, Phrontis, Chalciope's son, came to the ship.
The Argonauts welcomed him, and in a while he began to speak of his
mother's sister and of the help she could give. They grew eager as he
spoke of her, all except rough Arcas, who stood wrapped in his bear's
skin. "Shame on us," rough Arcas cried, "shame on us if we have come
here to crave the help of girls! Speak no more of this! Let us, the
Argonauts, go with swords into the city of Aea, and slay this king, and
carry off the Fleece of Gold."

Some of the Argonauts murmured approval of what Arcas said. But Orpheus
silenced him and them, for in his prophetic mind Orpheus saw something
of the help that Medea would give them. It would be well, Orpheus said,
to take help from this wise maiden; Jason should go to her in the
temple of Hecate. The Argonauts agreed to this; they listened to what
Phrontis told them about the brazen bulls, and the night wore on.

When darkness came upon the earth; when, at sea, sailors looked to the
Bear arid the stars of Orion; when, in the city, there was no longer
the sound of barking dogs nor of men's voices, Medea went from the
palace. She came to a path; she followed it until it brought her into
the part of the grove that was all black with the shadow that oak trees
made.

She raised up her hands and she called upon Hecate, the Moon. As she
did, there was a blaze as from torches all around, and she saw horrible
serpents stretching themselves toward her from the branches of the
trees. Medea shrank back in fear. But again she called upon Hecate. And
now there was a howling as from the hounds of Hades all around her.
Fearful, indeed, Medea grew as the howling came near her; almost she
turned to flee. But she raised her hands again and called upon Hecate.
Then the nymphs who hau