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But they had been wrecked at a place not far from the mouth of the Phasis；
and with great pain and struggle they had made their way back。
They were fearful of Aea and of their uncle King Aeetes； and they
would gladly go with Jason and the Argonauts back to Greece。 They
would help Jason； they said； to persuade Aeetes to give the Golden Fleece
peaceably to them。 Their mother was the daughter of AeetesChalciope；
whom the king had given in marriage to Phrixus； his guest。
A council of the Argonauts was held； and it was agreed that Jason
should go with two comrades to King Aeetes； Phrontis and Melas going
also。 They were to ask the king to give them the Golden Fleece and to
offer him a recompense。 Jason took Peleus and Telamon with him。
As they came to the city a mist fell； and Jason and his comrades with
the sons of Phrixus went through the city without being seen。 They came
before the palace of King Aeetes。 Then Phrontis and Melas were some
way behind。 The mist lifted； and before the heroes was the wonder of the
palace in the bright light of the morning。
Vines with broad leaves and heavy clusters of fruit grew from column
to column； the columns holding a gallery up。 And under the vines were the
four fountains that Hephaestus had made for King Aeetes。 They gushed
out into golden； silver； bronze； and iron basins。 And one fountain gushed
out clear water； and another gushed out milk； another gushed out wine；
and another oil。 On each side of the courtyard were the palace buildings；
in one King Aeetes lived with Apsyrtus； his son； and in the other
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
Chalciope and Medea lived with their handmaidens。
Medea was passing from her father's house。 The mist lifted suddenly
and she saw three strangers in the palace courtyard。 One had a crimson
mantle on； his shoulders were such as to make him seem a man that a
whole world could not overthrow； and his eyes had all the sun's light in
them。
Amazed； Medea stood looking upon Jason； wondering at his bright
hair and gleaming eyes and at the lightness and strength of the hand that
he had raised。 And then a dove flew toward her： it was being chased by a
hawk； and Medea saw the hawk's eyes and beak。 As the dove lighted upon
her shoulder she threw her veil around it； and the hawk dashed itself
against a column。 And as Medea； trembling； leaned against the column she
heard a cry from her sister； who was within。
For now Phrontis and Melas had come up； and Chalciope who was
spinning by the door saw them and cried out。 All the servants rushed out。
Seeing Chalciope's sons there they； too； uttered loud cries； and made such
commotion that Apsyrtus and then King Aeetes came out of the palace。
Jason saw King Aeetes。 He was old and white； but he had great green
eyes； and the strength of a leopard was in all he did。 And Jason looked
upon Apsyrtus too； the son of Aeetes looked like a Phoenician merchant；
black of beard and with rings in his ears； with a hooked nose and a gleam
of copper in his face。
Phrontis and Melas went from their mother's embrace and made
reverence to King Aeetes。 Then they spoke of the heroes who were with
them； of Jason and his two comrades。 Aeetes bade all enter the palace；
baths were made ready for them； and a banquet was prepared。
After the banquet； when they all sat together； Aeetes addressing the
eldest of Chalciope's sons； said：
〃Sons of Phrixus； of that man whom I honored above all men who
came to my halls； speak now and tell me how it is that you have come
back to Aea so soon； and who they are； these men who come with you？〃
Aeetes； as he spoke； looked sharply upon Phrontis and Melas； for he
suspected them of having returned to Aea； bringing these armed men with
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
them； with an evil intent。 Phrontis looked at the King； and said：
〃Aeetes； our ship was driven upon the Island of Ares； where it was
almost broken upon the rocks。 That was on a murky night； and in the
morning the birds of Ares shot their sharp feathers upon us。 We pulled
away from that place； and thereafter we were driven by the winds back to
the mouth of the Phasis。 There we met with these heroes who were
friendly to us。 Who they are； what they have come to your city for； I shall
now tell you。
〃A certain king； longing to drive one of these heroes from his
land； and hoping that the race of Cretheus might perish utterly； led him
to enter a most perilous adventure。 He came here upon a ship that was
made by the command of Hera； the wife of Zeus； a ship more wonderful
than mortals ever sailed in before。 With him there came the mightiest of
the heroes of Greece。 He is Jason； the grandson of Cretheus； and he has
come to beg that you will grant him freely the famous Fleece of Gold that
Phrixus brought to Aea。
〃But not without recompense to you would he take the Fleece。 Already
he has heard of your bitter foes； the Sauromatae。 He with his comrades
would subdue them for you。 And if you would ask of the names and the
lineage of the heroes who are with Jason I shall tell you。 This is Peleus and
this is Telamon； they are brothers； and they are sons of 。；Eacus； who was
of the seed of Zeus。 And all the other heroes who have come with them are
of the seed of the gods。〃
So Phrontis said； but the King was not placated by what he said。 He
thought that the sons of Chalciope had returned to Aea bringing these
warriors with them so that they might wrest the kingship from him； or；
failing that； plunder the city。 Aeetes's heart was filled with wrath as he
looked upon them； and his eyes shone as a leopard's eyes。
〃Begone from my sight；〃 he cried； 〃robbers that ye are！ Tricksters！ If
you had not eaten at my table； assuredly I should have had your tongues
cut out for speaking falsehoods about the blessed gods； saying that this
one and that of your companions was of their divine race。〃
Telamon and Peleus strode forward with angry hearts； they would have