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They saw the great vulture circling over a high rock； and from beneath
where the vulture circled they heard a weary cry。 Then Heracles； who all
night had stood by the mast； cried out to the Argonauts to bring the ship
near to a landing place。
But Jason would not have them go near； fear of the wrath of Zeus was
strong upon him； rather； he bade the Argonauts put all their strength into
their rowing； and draw far off from that forbidden mountain。 Heracles； not
heeding what Jason ordered； declared that it was his purpose to make his
way up to the black crag； and； with his shield and his sword in his hands；
slay the vulture that preyed upon the liver of Prometheus。
Then Orpheus in a clear voice spoke to the Argonauts。 〃Surely some
spirit possesses Heracles；〃 he said。 〃Despite all we do or say he will make
his way to where Prometheus is fettered to the rock。 Do not gainsay him in
this！ Remember what Nereus； the ancient one of the sea； declared！ Did
Nereus not say that a great labor awaited Heracles； and that in the doing of
it he should work out the will of Zeus？ Stay him not！ How just it would be
if he who is the son of Zeus freed from his torments the much…enduring
Titan god！〃
So Orpheus said in his clear； commanding voice。 They drew near to
the Mountain Caucasus。 Then Heracles； gripping the sword and shield that
were the gifts of the gods； sprang out on the landing place。 The Argonauts
shouted farewell to him。 But he； filled as he was with an overmastering
spirit； did not heed their words。
A strong breeze drove them onward； darkness came down； and the
Argo went on through the night。 With the morning light those who were
sleeping were awakened by the cry of Nauplius〃Lo！ The Phasis； and the
utmost bourne of the sea！〃 They sprang up； and looked with many strange
feelings upon the broad river they had come to。
Here was the Phasis emptying itself into the Sea of Pontus！ Up that
river was Colchis and the city of King Aetes； the end of their voyage； the
place where was kept the Golden Fleece！ Quickly they let down the sail；
they lowered the mast and they laid it along the deck； strongly they
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
grasped the oars； they swung the Argo around； and they entered the broad
stream of the Phasis。
Up the river they went with the Mountain Caucasus on their left hand；
and on their right the groves and gardens of Aea； King Aetes's city。 As they
went up the stream； Jason poured from a golden cup an offering to the
gods。 And to the dead heroes of that country the Argonauts prayed for
good fortune to their enterprise。
It was Jason's counsel that they should not at once appear before King
Aetes； but visit him after they had seen the strength of his city。 They drew
their ship into a shaded backwater； and there they stayed while day grew
and faded around them。
Night came； and the heroes slept upon the deck of Argo。 Many things
came back to them in their dreams or through their half…sleep： they
thought of the Lemnian maidens they had parted from； of the Clashing
Rocks they had passed between； of the look in the eyes of Heracles as he
raised his face to the high； black peak of Caucasus。 They slept； and they
thought they saw before them THE GOLDEN FLEECE； darkness
surrounded it； it seemed to the dreaming Argonauts that the darkness was
the magic power that King Aetes possessed。
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
PART II。 The Return To Greece
I。 King Aeetes
They had come into a country that was the strangest of all countries；
and amongst a people that were the strangest of all peoples。 They were in
the land； this people said； before the moon had come into the sky。 And it is
true that when the great king of Egypt had come so far； finding in all other
places men living on the high hills and eating the acorns that grew on the
oaks there； he found in Colchis the city of Aea with a wall around it and
with pillars on which writings were graven。 That was when Egypt was
called the Morning Land。
And many of the magicians of Egypt who had come with King
Sesostris stayed in that city of Aea； and they taught people spells that
could stay the moon in her going and coming； in her rising and setting。
Priests of the Moon ruled the city of Aea until King Aeetes came。
Aeetes had no need of their magic； for Helios； the bright Sun； was his
father； as he thought。 Also； Hephaestus； the artisan of the gods； was his
friend； and Hephaestus made for him many wonderful things to be his
protection。 Medea； too； his wise daughter； knew the secrets taught by those
who could sway the moon。
But Aeetes once was made afraid by a dream that he had： he dreamt
that a ship had come up the Phasis； and then； sailing on a mist； had
rammed his palace that was standing there in all its strength and beauty
until it had fallen down。 On the morning of the night that he had had this
dream Aeetes called Medea； his wise daughter； and he bade her go to the
temple of Hecate； the Moon； and search out spells that might destroy those
who came against his city。
That morning the Argonauts； who had passed the night in the
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
backwater of the river； had two youths come to them。 They were in a
broken ship； and they had one oar only。 When Jason； after giving them
food and fresh garments； questioned them； he found out that these youths
were of the city of Aea； and that they were none others than the sons of
Phrixusof Phrixus who had come there with the Golden Ram。
And the youths； Phrontis and Melas； were as amazed as was Jason
when they found out whose ship they had come aboard。 For Jason was the
grandson of Cretheus； and Cretheus was the brother of Athamas； their
grandfather。 They had ventured from Aea； where they had been reared；
thinking to reach the country of Athamas and lay claim to his possessions。
But they had been wrecked at a place not far from the mouth of the Phasis；
and with great p