r closely with fat burnt them upon cloven wood.
And Aeson's son poured out pure libations, and Idmon rejoiced beholding
the flame as it gleamed on every side from the sacrifice, and the smoke
of it mounting up with good omen in dark spiral columns; and quickly he
spake outright the will of Leto's son:

"For you it is the will of heaven and destiny that ye shall return here
with the fleece; but meanwhile both going and returning, countless
trials await you. But it is my lot, by the hateful decree of a god, to
die somewhere afar off on the mainland of Asia. Thus, though I learnt my
fate from evil omens even before now, I have left my fatherland to
embark on the ship, that so after my embarking fair fame may be left me
in my house."

Thus he spake; and the youths hearing the divine utterance rejoiced at
their return, but grief seized them for the fate of Idmon. Now at the
hour when the sun passes his noon-tide halt and the ploughlands are just
being shadowed by the rocks, as the sun slopes towards the evening dusk,
at that hour all the heroes spread leaves thickly upon the sand and lay
down in rows in front of the hoary surf-line; and near them were spread
vast stores of viands and sweet wine, which the cupbearers had drawn off
in pitchers; afterwards they told tales one to another in turn, such as
youths often tell when at the feast and the bowl they take delightful
pastime, and insatiable insolence is far away. But here the son of
Aeson, all helpless, was brooding over each event in his mind, like one
oppressed with thought. And Idas noted him and assailed him with loud
voice:

"Son of Aeson, what is this plan thou art turning over in mind. Speak
out thy thought in the midst. Does fear come on and master thee, fear,
that confounds cowards? Be witness now my impetuous spear, wherewith in
wars I win renown beyond all others (nor does Zeus aid me so much as my
own spear), that no woe will be fatal, no venture will be unachieved,
while Idas follows, even though a god should oppose thee. Such a
helpmeet am I that thou bringest from Arene."

He spake, and holding a brimming goblet in both hands drank off the
unmixed sweet wine; and his lips and dark cheeks were drenched with it;
and all the heroes clamoured together and Idmon spoke out openly:

"Vain wretch, thou art devising destruction for thyself before the time.
Does the pure wine cause thy bold heart to swell in thy breast to thy
ruin, and has it set thee on to disho