d duly placed the carcase above; and he kindled
the logs placing fire beneath, and poured over them mingled libations,
calling on Hecate Brimo to aid him in the contests. And when he had
called on her he drew back; and she heard him, the dread goddess, from
the uttermost depths and came to the sacrifice of Aeson's son; and round
her horrible serpents twined themselves among the oak boughs; and there
was a gleam of countless torches; and sharply howled around her the
hounds of hell. All the meadows trembled at her step; and the nymphs
that haunt the marsh and the river shrieked, all who dance round that
mead of Amarantian Phasis. And fear seized Aeson's son, but not even so
did he turn round as his feet bore him forth, till he came back to his
comrades; and now early dawn arose and shed her light above snowy
Caucasus.

Then Aeetes arrayed his breast in the stiff corslet which Ares gave him
when he had slain Phlegraean Mimas with his own hands; and upon his head
he placed a golden helmet with four plumes, gleaming like the sun's
round light when he first rises from Ocean. And he wielded his shield of
many hides, and his spear, terrible, resistless; none of the heroes
could have withstood its shock now that they had left behind Heracles
far away, who alone could have met it in battle. For the king his
well-fashioned chariot of swift steeds was held near at hand by
Phaethon, for him to mount; and he mounted, and held the reins in his
hands. Then from the city he drove along the broad highway, that he
might be present at the contest; and with him countless multitude rushed
forth. And as Poseidon rides, mounted in his chariot, to the Isthmian
contest or to Taenarus, or to Lerna's water, or through the grove of
Hyantian Onchestus, and thereafter passes even to Calaureia with his
steeds, and the Haemonian rock or well-wooded Geraestus; even so was
Aeetes, lord of the Colchians, to behold.

Meanwhile, prompted by Medea, Jason steeped the charm in water and
sprinkled with it his shield and sturdy spear, and sword; and his
comrades round him made proof of his weapons with might and main, but
could not bend that spear even a little, but it remained firm in their
stalwart hands unbroken as before. But in furious rage with them Idas,
Aphareus' son, with his great sword hewed at the spear near the butt,
and the edge leapt back repelled by the shock, like a hammer from the
anvil; and the heroes shouted with joy for their hope in the c