gleaming apples and took from the plants there the juices that can
bring youth back."

Pelias said: "If you have been able to come by those juices, how is it
that you remain in woeful age and decrepitude?"

She said: "Because of my many griefs, king, I would not renew my life.
I would be ever nearer death and the end of all things. But you are a
king and have all things you desire at your hand--beauty and state and
power. Surely if any one would desire it, you would desire to have
youth back to you."

Pelias, when he heard her say this, knew that besides youth there was
nothing that he desired. After crimes that had gone through the whole
of his manhood he had secured for himself the kingdom that Cretheus had
founded. But old age had come on him, and the weakness of old age, and
the power he had won was falling from his hands. He would be overthrown
in his weakness, or else he would soon come to die, and there would be
an end then to his name and to his kingship.

How fortunate above all kings he would be, he thought, if it could be
that some one should come to him with juices that would renew his
youth! He looked longingly into the eyes of the ancient-seeming woman
before him, and he said: "How is it that you show no gains from the
juices that you speak of? You are old and in woeful decrepitude. Even
if you would not win back to youth you could have got riches and state
for that which you say you possess."

Then Medea said: "I have lost so much and have suffered so much that I
would not have youth back at the price of facing the years. I would
sink down to the quiet of the grave. But I hope for some ease before I
die--for the ease that is in king's houses, with good food to eat, and
rest, and servants to wait upon one's aged body. These are the things I
desire, O Pelias, even as you desire youth. You can give me such
things, and I have come to you who desire youth eagerly rather than to
kings who have a less eager desire for it. To you I will give the
juices that bring one back to the strength and the glory of youth."

Pelias said: "I have only your word for it that you possess these
juices. Many there are who come and say deceiving things to a king."

Said Medea: "Let there be no more words between us, O king. To-morrow I
will show you the virtue of the juices I have brought with me. Have a
great vat prepared--a vat that a man could lay himself in with the
water covering him. Have this vat filled with water,