t the hearts of all grew numb, and
pallor overspread their cheeks. And as, like lifeless spectres, men
roam through a city awaiting the issue of war or of pestilence, or some
mighty storm which overwhelms the countless labours of oxen, when the
images of their own accord sweat and run down with blood, and bellowings
are heard in temples, or when at mid-day the sun draws on night from
heaven, and the stars shine clear through the mist; so at that time
along the endless strand the chieftains wandered, groping their way.
Then straightway dark evening came upon them; and piteously did they
embrace each other and say farewell with tears, that they might, each
one apart from his fellow, fall on the sand and die. And this way and
that they went further to choose a resting-place; and they wrapped their
heads in their cloaks and, fasting and unfed, lay down all that night
and the day, awaiting a piteous death. But apart the maidens huddled
together lamented beside the daughter of Aeetes. And as when, forsaken
by their mother, unfledged birds that have fallen from a cleft in the
rock chirp shrilly; or when by the banks of fair-flowing Pactolus, swans
raise their song, and all around the dewy meadow echoes and the river's
fair stream; so these maidens, laying in the dust their golden hair, all
through the night wailed their piteous lament. And there all would have
parted from life without a name and unknown to mortal men, those bravest
of heroes, with their task unfulfilled; but as they pined in despair,
the heroine-nymphs, warders of Libya, had pity on them, they who once
found Athena, what time she leapt in gleaming armour from her father's
head, and bathed her by Trito's waters. It was noon-tide and the
fiercest rays of the sun were scorching Libya; they stood near Aeson's
son, and lightly drew the cloak from his head. And the hero cast down
his eyes and looked aside, in reverence for the goddesses, and as he lay
bewildered all alone they addressed him openly with gentle words:

(ll. 1318-1329) "Ill-starred one, why art thou so smitten with despair?
We know how ye went in quest of the golden fleece; we know each toil of
yours, all the mighty deeds ye wrought in your wanderings over land
and sea. We are the solitary ones, goddesses of the land, speaking with
human voice, the heroines, Libya's warders and daughters. Up then;
be not thus afflicted in thy misery, and rouse thy comrades. And when
Amphitrite has straightway loosed Pos