u will come to me like some
messenger-bird. If you forget me may some blast of wind sweep me away
to Iolcus, and may I sit in your hall an unknown and an unexpected
guest!"

Then they parted; Medea went swiftly back to the palace, and Jason,
turning to the river, went to where the Argo was moored.

The heroes embraced and questioned him; he told them of Medea's counsel
and he showed them the charm she had given him. That savage man Arcas
scoffed at Medea's counsel and Medea's charm, saying that the Argonauts
had become poor-spirited indeed when they had to depend upon a girl's
help.

Jason bathed in the river; then he anointed himself with the charm; he
sprinkled his spear and shield and sword with it. He came to Arcas who
sat upon his bench, still nursing his anger, and he held the spear
toward him.

Arcas took up his heavy sword and he hewed at the butt of the spear.
The edge of the sword turned. The blade leaped back in his hand as if
it had been struck against an anvil. And Jason, feeling within him a
boundless and tireless strength, laughed aloud.

III. THE WINNING OF THE GOLDEN FLEECE

They took the ship out of the backwater and they brought her to a wharf
in the city. At a place that was called "The Ram's Couch" they fastened
the Argo. Then they marched to the field of Ares, where the king and
the Colchian people were.

Jason, carrying his shield and spear, went before the king. From the
king's hand he took the gleaming helmet that held the dragon's teeth.
This he put into the hands of Theseus, who went with him. Then with the
spear and shield in his hands, with his sword girt across his
shoulders, and with his mantle stripped off, Jason looked across the
field of Ares.

He saw the plow that he was to yoke to the bulls; he saw the yoke of
bronze near it; he saw the tracks of the bulls' hooves. He followed the
tracks until he came to the lair of the fire-breathing bulls. Out of
that lair, which was underground, smoke and fire belched. He set his
feet firmly upon the ground and he held his shield before him. He
awaited the onset of the bulls. They came clanging up with loud
bellowing, breathing out fire. They lowered their heads, and with
mighty, iron-tipped horns they came to gore and trample him.

Medea's charm had made him strong; Medea's charm had made his shield
impregnable. The rush of the bulls did not overthrow him. His comrades
shouted to see him standing firmly there, and in wonder the C