seductive music of the Sirens, had sprung from the vessel into
the waves below. Aphrodite, however, in pity for his youth, landed him
gently on the island of Libibaon before the Sirens could reach him, and
there he remained for many years.

And now the Argonauts approached new dangers, for on one side of them
seethed and foamed the whirlpool of Charybdis, whilst on the other towered
the mighty rock whence the monster Scylla swooped down upon unfortunate
mariners; but here the goddess Hera came to their assistance, and sent to
them the sea-nymph Thetis, who guided them safely through these dangerous
straits.

The Argo next arrived at the island of the Phaeaces, where they were
hospitably entertained by King Alcinous and his queen Arete. But the
banquet prepared for them by their kind host was unexpectedly interrupted
by the appearance of a large army of Colchians, sent by Aetes to demand the
restoration of his daughter.

Medea threw herself at the feet of the queen, and implored her to save her
from the anger of her father, and Arete, in her kindness of heart, promised
her her protection. Next morning, in an assembly of the people at which the
Colchians were invited to be present, the latter were informed that as
Medea was the lawful wife of Jason they could not consent to deliver her
up; whereupon the Colchians, seeing that the resolution of the king was not
to be shaken, and fearing to face the anger of Aetes should they return to
Colchis without her, sought permission of Alcinous to settle in his
kingdom, which request was accorded them.

{229}

After these events the Argonauts once more set sail, and steered for
Iolcus; but, in the course of a terrible and fearful night, a mighty storm
arose, and in the morning they found themselves stranded on the treacherous
quicksands of Syrtes, on the shores of Libya. Here all was a waste and
barren desert, untenanted by any living creature, save the venomous snakes
which had sprung from the blood of the Medusa when borne by Perseus over
these arid plains.

They had already passed several days in this abode of desolation, beneath
the rays of the scorching sun, and had abandoned themselves to the deepest
despair, when the Libyan queen, who was a prophetess of divine origin,
appeared to Jason, and informed him that a sea-horse would be sent by the
gods to act as his guide.

Scarcely had she departed when a gigantic hippocamp was seen in the
distance, making its way towards