: and round their backs from the top of the head and
neck, hither and thither, their dark tresses were being shaken by the
wind.

No, nor had Acastus son of mighty Pelias himself any will to stay behind
in the palace of his brave sire, nor Argus, helper of the goddess
Athena; but they too were ready to be numbered in the host.

So many then were the helpers who assembled to join the son of Aeson.
All the chiefs the dwellers thereabout called Minyae, for the most and
the bravest avowed that they were sprung from the blood of the daughters
of Minyas; thus Jason himself was the son of Alcimede who was born of
Clymene the daughter of Minyas.

Now when all things had been made ready by the thralls, all things that
fully-equipped ships are furnished withal when men's business leads them
to voyage across the sea, then the heroes took their way through the
city to the ship where it lay on the strand that men call Magnesian
Pagasae; and a crowd of people hastening rushed together; but the heroes
shone like gleaming stars among the clouds; and each man as he saw them
speeding along with their armour would say:

"King Zeus, what is the purpose of Pelias? Whither is he driving forth
from the Panachaean land so great a host of heroes? On one day they
would waste the palace of Aeetes with baleful fire, should he not yield
them the fleece of his own goodwill. But the path is not to be shunned,
the toil is hard for those who venture."

Thus they spake here and there throughout the city; but the women often
raised their hands to the sky in prayer to the immortals to grant a
return, their hearts' desire. And one with tears thus lamented to her
fellow:

"Wretched Alcimede, evil has come to thee at last though late, thou hast
not ended with splendour of life. Aeson too, ill-fated man! Surely
better had it been for him, if he were lying beneath the earth enveloped
in his shroud, still unconscious of bitter toils. Would that the dark
wave, when the maiden Helle perished, had overwhelmed Phrixus too with
the ram: but the dire portent even sent forth a human voice, that it
might cause to Alcimede sorrows and countless pains hereafter."

Thus the women spake at the departure of the heroes. And now many
thralls, men and women, were gathered together, and his mother, smitten
with grief for Jason. And a bitter pang seized every woman's heart; and
with them groaned the father in baleful old age, lying on his bed,
closely wrapped round. But