t him with stealthy glance,
holding her bright veil aside, her heart smouldering with pain; and
her soul creeping like a dream flitted in his track as he went. So they
passed forth from the palace sorely troubled. And Chalciope, shielding
herself from the wrath of Aeetes, had gone quickly to her chamber with
her sons. And Medea likewise followed, and much she brooded in her soul
all the cares that the Loves awaken. And before her eyes the vision
still appeared--himself what like he was, with what vesture he was clad,
what things he spake, how he sat on his seat, how he moved forth to the
door--and as she pondered she deemed there never was such another man;
and ever in her ears rung his voice and the honey-sweet words which he
uttered. And she feared for him, lest the oxen or Aeetes with his
own hand should slay him; and she mourned him as though already slain
outright, and in her affliction a round tear through very grievous
pity coursed down her cheek; and gently weeping she lifted up her voice
aloud:

(ll. 464-470) "Why does this grief come upon me, poor wretch? Whether he
be the best of heroes now about to perish, or the worst, let him go to
his doom. Yet I would that he had escaped unharmed; yea, may this be so,
revered goddess, daughter of Perses, may he avoid death and return home;
but if it be his lot to be o'ermastered by the oxen, may he first learn
this, that I at least do not rejoice in his cruel calamity."

(ll. 471-474) Thus then was the maiden's heart racked by love-cares. But
when the others had gone forth from the people and the city, along the
path by which at the first they had come from the plain, then Argus
addressed Jason with these words:

(ll. 475-483) "Son of Aeson, thou wilt despise the counsel which I will
tell thee, but, though in evil plight, it is not fitting to forbear from
the trial. Ere now thou hast heard me tell of a maiden that uses sorcery
under the guidance of Hecate, Perses' daughter. If we could win her
aid there will be no dread, methinks, of thy defeat in the contest;
but terribly do I fear that my mother will not take this task upon
her. Nevertheless I will go back again to entreat her, for a common
destruction overhangs us all."

(ll. 383-491) He spake with goodwill, and Jason answered with these
words: "Good friend, if this is good in thy sight, I say not nay. Go and
move thy mother, beseeching her aid with prudent words; pitiful indeed
is our hope when we have put our re