strengthless, and no more will be you able to hunt in the
woods nor to till the fields, and a hard old age will be before you.

"The ship that is beside our shore may have come at a good time. Those
on board are goodly heroes. Let them land in Lemnos, and stay if they
will. Let them wed with the younger women so that there may be husbands
and wives, helpers and helpmeets, again in Lemnos."

Hypsipyle, the queen, let the shuttle fall from her hands and stayed
for a while looking full into Polyxo's face. Had her nurse heard her
say something like this out of her dreams, she wondered? She bade the
nurse tell the guardian maidens to let the heroes land in safety, and
that she herself would put the crown of King Thoas, her father, upon
her head, and go down to the shore to welcome them.

And now the Argonauts saw people along the shore and they caught sight
of women's dresses. The loudest-voiced amongst them shouted again, and
they heard an answer given in a woman's voice. They drew up the Argo
upon the shore, and they set foot upon the land of Lemnos.

Jason stepped forth at the head of his comrades, and he was met by
Hypsipyle, her father's crown upon her head, at the head of her
maidens. They greeted each other, and Hypsipyle bade the heroes come
with them to their town that was called Myrine and to the palace that
was there.

Wonderingly the Argonauts went, looking on women's forms and faces and
seeing no men. They came to the palace and went within. Hypsipyle
mounted the stone throne that was King Thoas's and the four maidens who
were her guards stood each side of her. She spoke to the heroes in
greeting and bade them stay in peace for as long as they would. She
told them of the curse that had fallen upon the people of Lemnos, and
of how the menfolk had been banished. Jason, then, told the queen what
voyage he and his companions were upon and what quest they were making.
Then in friendship the Argonauts and the women of Lemnos stayed
together--all the Argonauts except Heracles, and he, grieving still for
Hylas, stayed aboard the Argo.

IX. THE LEMNIAN MAIDENS

And now the Argonauts were no longer on a ship that was being dashed on
by the sea and beaten upon by the winds. They had houses to live in;
they had honey-tasting things to eat, and when they went through the
island each man might have with him one of the maidens of Lemnos. It
was a change that was welcome to the wearied voyagers.

They helped the w