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nothing in Aea except the furious people and the fire…breathing bulls。 O
how pitiful it was that the strange hero and his friends should have come
to such a place for the sake of the Golden Fleece that was watched over by
the sleepless serpent in the grove of Ares！
Still Chalciope lamented。 Would Chalciope come to her and ask her；
Medea； to help her sons？ If she should come she might speak of the
strangers； too； and of the danger they were in。 Medea went to her couch
and lay down upon it。 She longed for her sister to come to her or to call to
her。
But Chalciope stayed in her own chamber。 Medea； lying upon her
couch； listened to her sister's laments。 At last she went near where
Chalciope was。 Then shame that she should think so much about the
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stranger came over her。 She stood there without moving； she turned to go
back to the couch； and then trembled so much that she could not stir。 As
she stood between her couch and her sister's chamber she heard the voice
of Chalciope calling to her。
She went into the chamber where her sister stood。 Chalciope flung her
arms around her。 〃Swear；〃 said she to Medea； 〃swear by Hecate； the Moon；
that you will never speak of something I am going to ask you。〃 Medea
swore that she would never speak of it。
Chalciope spoke of the danger her sons were in。 She asked Medea to
devise a way by which they could escape with the stranger from Aea。 〃In
Aea and in Colchis；〃 she said； 〃there will be no safety for my sons
henceforth。〃 And to save Phrontis and Melas； she said； Medea would have
to save the strangers also。 Surely she knew of a charm that would save the
stranger from the brazen bulls in the contest on the morrow！
So Chalciope came to the very thing that was in Medea's mind。 Her
heart bounded with joy and she embraced her。 〃Chalciope；〃 she said； 〃I
declare that I am your sister； indeedaye； and your daughter； too； for did
you not care for me when I was an infant？ I will strive to save your sons。 I
will strive to save the strangers who came with your sons。 Send one to the
strangerssend him to the leader of the strangers； and tell him that I would
see him at daybreak in the temple of Hecate。〃
When Medea said this Chalciope embraced her again。 She was amazed
to see how Medea's tears were flowing。 〃Chalciope；〃 she said； 〃no one will
know the dangers that I shall go through to save them。〃
Swiftly then Chalciope went from the chamber。 But Medea stayed
there with her head bowed and the blush of shame on her face。 She
thought that already she had deceived her sister； making her think that it
was Phrontis and Melas and not Jason that was in her mind to save。 And
she thought on how she would have to plot against her father and against
her own people； and all for the sake of a stranger who would sail away
without thought of her； without the image of her in his mind。
Jason； with Peleus and Telamon； went back to the Argo。 His comrades
asked how he had fared； and when he spoke to them of the fire…breathing
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bulls with feet of brass； of the dragon's teeth that had to be sown； and of
the Earth…born Men that had to be overcome； the Argonauts were greatly
cast down； for this task； they thought； was one that could not be
accomplished。 He who stood before the fire…breathing bulls would perish
on the moment。 But they knew that one amongst them must strive to
accomplish the task。 And if Jason held back； Peleus； Telamon； Theseus；
Castor； Polydeuces； or any one of the others would undertake it。
But Jason would not hold back。 On the morrow； he said； he would
strive to yoke the fire…breathing； brazen…footed bulls to the plow of
adamant。 If he perished the Argonauts should then do what they thought
was bestmake other trials to gain the Golden Fleece； or turn their ship
and sail back to Greece。
While they were speaking； Phrontis； Chalciope's son； came to the ship。
The Argonauts welcomed him； and in a while he began to speak of his
mother's sister and of the help she could give。 They grew eager as be
spoke of her； all except rough Arcas； who stood wrapped in his bear's skin。
〃Shame on us；〃 rough Arcas cried； 〃shame on us if we have come here to
crave the help of girls！ Speak no more of this！ Let us； the Argonauts； go
with swords into the city of Aea； and slay this king； and carry off the
Fleece of Gold。〃
Some of the Argonauts murmured approval of what Arcas said。 But
Orpheus silenced him and them； for in his prophetic mind Orpheus saw
something of the help that Medea would give them。 It would be well；
Orpheus said； to take help from this wise maiden； Jason should go to her
in the temple of Hecate。 The Argonauts agreed to this； they listened to
what Phrontis told them about the brazen bulls； and the night wore on。
When darkness came upon the earth； when； at sea； sailors looked to
the Bear arid the stars of Orion； when； in the city； there was no longer the
sound of barking dogs nor of men's voices； Medea went from the palace。
She came to a path； she followed it until it brought her into the part of the
grove that was all black with the shadow that oak trees made。
She raised up her hands and she called upon Hecate； the Moon。 As she
did； there was a blaze as from torches all around； and she saw horrible
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serpents stretching themselves toward her from the branches of the trees。
Medea shrank back in fear。 But again she called upon Hecate。 And now
there was a howling as from the hounds of Hades all around her。 Fearful；
indeed； Medea grew as the howling came near her； almost she turned to
flee。 But she raised her hands again and called upon Hecate。 Then the
nymphs who haunted the marsh and the river shrieked； and at those
shrieks Medea crouched down in fear。
She called upon Hecate； the Moon； again。 She saw the moon rise
above the treetops； and then the hissing