Medea
called to him. He strove to gather it all up in his arms; Medea
was beside him, and they went swiftly on.
They came to the river and down to the place where the Argo was
moored. The heroes who were aboard started up, astonished to see
the Fleece that shone as with the lightning of Zeus. Over Medea
Jason cast it, and he lifted her aboard the Argo.
"O friends," he cried, "the quest on which we dared the gulfs of
the sea and the wrath of kings is accomplished, thanks to the
help of this maiden. Now may we return to Greece; now have we the
hope of looking upon our fathers and our friends once more. And
in all honor will we bring this maiden with us, Medea, the
daughter of King Aeetes.
Then he drew his sword and cut the hawsers of the ship, calling
upon the heroes to drive the Argo on. There was a din and a
strain and a splash of oars, and away from Aea the Argo dashed.
Beside the mast Medea stood; the Golden Fleece had fallen at her
feet, and her head and face were covered by her silver veil.
IV. THE SLAYING OF APSYRTUS
That silver veil was to be splashed with a brother's blood, and
the Argonauts, because of that calamity, were for a long time to
be held back from a return to their native land.
Now as they went down the river they saw that dangers were coming
swiftly upon them. The chariots of the Colchians were upon the
banks. Jason saw King Aeetes in his chariot, a blazing torch
lighting his corsclet and his helmet.
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