oaring
on, and checks the stars and the paths of the sacred moon. Of her we
bethought us as we came hither along the path from the palace, if haply
my mother, her own sister, might persuade her to aid us in the venture.
And if this is pleasing to you as well, surely on this very day will I
return to the palace of Aeetes to make trial; and perchance with some
god's help shall I make the trial."

Thus he spake, and the gods in their goodwill gave them a sign. A
trembling dove in her flight from a mighty hawk fell from on high,
terrified, into the lap of Aeson's son, and the hawk fell impaled on the
stern-ornament. And quickly Mopsus with prophetic words spake among them
all:

"For you, friends, this sign has been wrought by the will of heaven; in
no other way is it possible to interpret its meaning better, than to
seek out the maiden and entreat her with manifold skill. And I think she
will not reject our prayer, if in truth Phineus said that our return
should be with the help of the Cyprian goddess. It was her gentle bird
that escaped death; and as my heart within me foresees according to this
omen, so may it prove! But, my friends, let us call on Cytherea to aid
us, and now at once obey the counsels of Argus."

He spake, and the warriors approved, remembering the injunctions of
Phineus; but all alone leapt up Aphareian Idas and shouted loudly in
terrible wrath: "Shame on us, have we come here fellow-voyagers with
women, calling on Cypris for help and not on the mighty strength of
Enyalius? And do ye look to doves and hawks to save yourselves from
contests? Away with you, take thought not for deeds of war, but by
supplication to beguile weakling girls."

Such were his eager words; and of his comrades many murmured low, but
none uttered a word of answer back. And he sat down in wrath; and at
once Jason roused them and uttered his own thought: "Let Argus set forth
from the ship, since this pleases all; but we will now move from the
river and openly fasten our hawsers to the shore. For surely it is not
fitting for us to hide any longer cowering from the battle-cry."

So he spake, and straightway sent Argus to return in haste to the city;
and they drew the anchors on board at the command of Aeson's son, and
rowed the ship close to the shore, a little away from the back-water.

But straightway Aeetes held an assembly of the Colchians far aloof from
his palace at a spot where they sat in times before, to devise against