' self, I ween, beholds everything; nor do we men escape his eye,
we that be god-fearing and just, for as he rescued your father from the
hands of a murderous step-dame and gave him measureless wealth besides;
even so hath he saved you harmless from the baleful storm. And on board
this ship ye may sail hither and thither, where ye will, whether to Aea
or to the wealthy city of divine Orchomenus. For our ship Athena built
and with axe of bronze cut her timbers near the crest of Pelion, and
with the goddess wrought Argus. But yours the fierce surge hath
shattered, before ye came nigh to the rocks which all day long clash
together in the straits of the sea. But come, be yourselves our helpers,
for we are eager to bring to Hellas the golden fleece, and guide us on
our voyage, for I go to atone for the intended sacrifice of Phrixus, the
cause of Zeus' wrath against the sons of Aeolus."

He spake with soothing words; but horror seized them when they heard.
For they deemed that they would not find Aeetes friendly if they desired
to take away the ram's fleece. And Argus spake as follows, vexed that
they should busy themselves with such a quest:

"My friends, our strength, so far as it avails, shall never cease to
help you, not one whit, when need shall come. But Aeetes is terribly
armed with deadly ruthlessness; wherefore exceedingly do I dread this
voyage. And he boasts himself to be the son of Helios; and all round
dwell countless tribes of Colchians; and he might match himself with
Ares in his dread war-cry and giant strength. Nay, to seize the fleece
in spite of Aeetes is no easy task; so huge a serpent keeps guard round
and about it, deathless and sleepless, which Earth herself brought forth
on the sides of Caucasus, by the rock of Typhaon, where Typhaon, they
say, smitten by the bolt of Zeus, son of Cronos, when he lifted against
the god his sturdy hands, dropped from his head hot gore; and in such
plight he reached the mountains and plain of Nysa, where to this day he
lies whelmed beneath the waters of the Serbonian lake."

Thus he spake, and straightway many a cheek grew pale when they heard of
so mighty an adventure. But quickly Peleus answered with cheering words,
and thus spake:

"Be not so fearful in spirit, my good friend. For we are not so lacking
in prowess as to be no match for Aeetes to try his strength with arms;
but I deem that we too are cunning in war, we that go thither, near akin
to the blood of the bl