She took the charm from out her
girdle; ungrudgingly she put it into Jason's hands. And as she gave him
the charm that she had gained with such danger, the fear and trouble
that was around her heart melted as the dew melts from around the rose
when it is warmed by the first light of the morning.

Then they spoke standing close together in the portal of the temple.
She told him how he should anoint his body all over with the charm; it
would give him, she said, boundless and untiring strength, and make him
so that the breath of the bulls could not wither him nor the horns of
the bulls pierce him. She told him also to sprinkle his shield and his
sword with the charm.

And then they spoke of the dragon's teeth and of the Earth-born Men who
would spring from them. Medea told Jason that when they arose out of
the earth he was to cast a great stone amongst them. The Earth-born Men
would struggle about the stone, and they would slay each other in the
contest.

Her dark and delicate face was beautiful. Jason looked upon her, and it
came into his mind that in Colchis there was something else of worth
besides the Golden Fleece. And he thought that after he had won the
Fleece there would be peace between the Argonauts and King AEetes, and
that he and Medea might sit together in the king's hall. But when he
spoke of being joined in friendship with her father, Medea cried:

"Think not of treaties nor of covenants. In Greece such are regarded,
but not here. Ah, do not think that the king, my father, will keep any
peace with you! When you have won the Fleece you must hasten away. You
must not tarry in Aea."

She said this and her cheeks were wet with tears to think that he
should go so soon, that he would go so far, and that she would never
look upon him again. She bent her head again and she said: "Tell me
about your own land; about the place of your father, the place where
you will live when you win back from Colchis."

Then Jason told her of Icolus; he told her how it was circled by
mountains not so lofty as her Caucasus; he told her of the pasture
lands of Iolcus with their flocks of sheep; he told her of the Mountain
Pelion where he had been reared by Chiron, the ancient centaur; he told
her of his father who lingered out his life in waiting for his return.

Medea said: "When you go back to Iolcus do not forget me, Medea. I
shall remember you, Jason, even in my father's despite. And it will be
my hope that some rumor of yo