fair weather."

(ll. 425-439) He spake, and with his prayer cast the barley meal.
And they two girded themselves to slay the steers, proud Ancaeus and
Heracles. The latter with his club smote one steer mid-head on the brow,
and falling in a heap on the spot, it sank to the ground; and Ancaeus
struck the broad neck of the other with his axe of bronze, and shore
through the mighty sinews; and it fell prone on both its horns. Their
comrades quickly severed the victims' throats, and flayed the hides:
they sundered the joints and carved the flesh, then cut out the sacred
thigh bones, and covering them all together 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:

(ll. 440-447) "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."

(ll. 448-462) 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:

(ll. 463-471) "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