him.
Jason looked upon her, and even although his mind was filled with the
thought of bending King AEetes to his will, he saw what manner of
maiden she was, and what beauty and what strength was hers.

She had a dark face that was made very strange by her crown of golden
hair. Her eyes, like her father's, were wide and full of light, and her
lips were so full and red that they made her mouth like an opening
rose. But her brows were always knit as if there was some secret anger
within her.

"With brave men I have no quarrel," said AEetes "I will make a trial of
your bravery, and if your bravery wins through the trial, be very sure
that you will have the Golden Fleece to bring back in triumph to Iolcus.

"But the trial that I would make of you is hard for a great hero even.
Know that on the plain of Ares yonder I have two fire-breathing bulls
with feet of brass. These bulls were once conquered by me; I yoked them
to a plow of adamant, and with them I plowed the field of Ares for four
plow-gates. Then I sowed the furrows, not with the seed that Demeter
gives, but with teeth of a dragon. And from the dragon's teeth that I
sowed in the field of Ares armed men sprang up. I slew them with my
spear as they rose around me to slay me. If you can accomplish this
that I accomplished in days gone by I shall submit to you and give you
the Golden Fleece. But if you cannot accomplish what I once
accomplished you shall go from my city empty-handed; for it is not
right that a brave man should yield aught to one who cannot show
himself as brave."

So AEetes said. Then Jason, utterly confounded, cast his eyes upon the
ground. He raised them to speak to the king, and as he did he found the
strange eyes of Medea upon him. With all the courage that was in him he
spoke:

"I will dare this contest, monstrous as it is. I will face this doom. I
have come far, and there is nothing else for me to do but to yoke your
fire-breathing bulls to the plow of adamant, and plow the furrows in
the field of Ares, and struggle with the Earth-born Men." As he said
this he saw the eyes of Medea grow wide as with fear.

Then AEetes, said, "Go back to your ship and make ready for the trial."
Jason, with Peleus and Telamon, left the chamber, and the king smiled
grimly as he saw them go. Phrontis and Melas went to where their mother
was. But Medea stayed, and AEetes looked upon her with his great
leopard's eyes. "My daughter, my wise Medea," he said, "go, p