t upon the men;
and Jason addressed her in answer:

"Hypsipyle, very dear to our hearts is the help we shall meet with,
which thou grantest to us who need thee. And I will return again to the
city when I have told everything in order due. But let the sovereignty
of the island be thine; it is not in scorn I yield it up, but grievous
trials urge me on."

He spake, and touched her right hand; and quickly he turned to go back:
and round him the young maids on every side danced in countless numbers
in their joy till he passed through the gates. And then they came to the
shore in smooth-running wains, bearing with them many gifts, when now he
had related from beginning to end the speech which Hypsipyle had spoken
when she summoned them; and the maids readily led the men back to their
homes for entertainment. For Cypris stirred in them a sweet desire, for
the sake of Hephaestus of many counsels, in order that Lemnos might be
again inhabited by men and not be ruined.

Thereupon Aeson's son started to go to the royal home of Hypsipyle; and
the rest went each his way as chance took them, all but Heracles; for he
of his own will was left behind by the ship and a few chosen comrades
with him. And straightway the city rejoiced with dances and banquets,
being filled with the steam of sacrifice; and above all the immortals
they propitiated with songs and sacrifices the illustrious son of Hera
and Cypris herself. And the sailing was ever delayed from one day to
another; and long would they have lingered there, had not Heracles,
gathering together his comrades apart from the women, thus addressed
them with reproachful words:

"Wretched men, does the murder of kindred keep us from our native land?
Or is it in want of marriage that we have come hither from thence, in
scorn of our countrywomen? Does it please us to dwell here and plough
the rich soil of Lemnos? No fair renown shall we win by thus tarrying so
long with stranger women; nor will some god seize and give us at our
prayer a fleece that moves of itself. Let us then return each to his
own; but him leave ye to rest all day long in the embrace of Hypsipyle
until he has peopled Lemnos with men-children, and so there come to him
great glory."

Thus did he chide the band; but no one dared to meet his eye or to utter
a word in answer. But just as they were in the assembly they made ready
their departure in all haste, and the women came running towards them,
when they knew their in