nd I must die; for my father has found out that I
have helped you. You he would kill if he dared; but he will not harm
you, because you have been his guests. Go then, go, and remember poor
Medeia when you are far away across the sea." But all the heroes cried:

"If you die, we die with you; for without you we cannot win the fleece,
and home we will not go without it, but fall here fighting to the last
man."

"You need not die," said Jason. "Flee home with us across the sea. Show
us first how to win the fleece; for you can do it. Why else are you the
priestess of the grove? Show us but how to win the fleece, and come with
us, and you shall be my queen, and rule over the rich princes of the
Minuai, in Iolcos by the sea."

And all the heroes pressed round, and vowed to her that she should be
their queen.

Medeia wept, and shuddered, and hid her face in her hands; for her heart
yearned after her sisters and her playfellows, and the home where she
was brought up as a child. But at last she looked up at Jason, and spoke
between her sobs:

"Must I leave my home and my people, to wander with strangers across the
sea? The lot is cast, and I must endure it. I will show you how to win
the golden fleece. Bring up your ship to the woodside, and moor her
there against the bank and let Jason come up at midnight, and one brave
comrade with him, and meet me beneath the wall."

Then all the heroes cried together: "I will go!" "and I!" "and I!" And
Idas the rash grew mad with envy; for he longed to be foremost in all
things. But Medeia calmed them, and said: "Orpheus shall go with Jason,
and bring his magic harp; for I hear of him that he is the king of all
minstrels, and can charm all things on earth."

And Orpheus laughed for joy, and clapped his hands, because the choice
had fallen on him; for in those days poets and singers were as bold
warriors as the best.

So at midnight they went up the bank, and found Medeia; and beside came
Absyrtus her young brother, leading a yearling lamb.

Then Medeia brought them to a thicket, beside the War-god's gate; and
there she bade Jason dig a ditch, and kill the lamb and leave it there,
and strew on it magic herbs and honey from the honeycomb.

Then sprang up through the earth, with the red fire flashing before her,
Brimo the wild witch huntress, while her mad hounds howled around. She
had one head like a horse's, and another like a ravening hound's, and
another like a hissing snake's, a