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sprung upon the island only that Medea cried out to them。 She showed
them the beasts that whimpered around the maidens； and then； as the
Argonauts looked upon them； they saw that these were not beasts of the
wild。 There was something strange and fearful about them； the heroes
gazed upon them with troubled eyes。 They brought the ship near； but they
stayed upon their benches； holding the oars in their hands。
Medea sprang to the island； she spoke to the maidens so that they
shrank away； then the beasts came and whimpered around her。 〃Forbear to
land here； O Argonauts；〃 Medea cried； 〃for this is the island where men
are changed into beasts。〃 She called to Jason to come； only Jason would
she have come upon the island。
They went swiftly toward the marble house； and the beasts followed
them； looking up at Jason and Medea with pitiful human eyes。 They went
into the marble house of Circe； and as suppliants they seated themselves at
the hearth。
Circe stood at her loom； weaving her many…colored threads。 Swiftly
she turned to the suppliants； she looked for something strange in them； for
just before they came the walls of her house dripped with blood and the
flame ran over and into her pot； burning up all the magic herbs she was
brewing。 She went toward where they sat； Medea with her face hidden by
her hands； and Jason； with his head bent；holding with its point in the
ground the sword with which he had slain the son of Aeetes When Medea
took her hands away from before her face； Circe knew that； like herself；
this maiden was of the race of Helios。 Medea spoke to her； telling her first
of the voyage of the heroes and of their toils； telling her then of how she
had given help to Jason against the will of Aeetes her father； telling her
then； fearfully； of the slaying of Apsyrtus。 She covered her face with her
robe as she spoke of it。 And then she told Circe she had come； warned by
the judgment of Zeus； to ask of Circe； the daughter of Helios； to purify her
from the stain of her brother's blood。
Like all the children of Helios； Circe had eyes that were wide and full
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
of life； but she had stony lipslips that were heavy and moveless。 Bright
golden hair hung smoothly along each of her sides。 First she held a cup to
them that was filled with pure water； and Jason and Medea drank from that
cup。
Then Circe stayed by the hearth； she burnt cakes in the flame； and all
the while she prayed to Zeus to be gentle with these suppliants。 She
brought both to the seashore。 There she washed Medea's body and her
garments with the spray of the sea。
Medea pleaded with Circe to tell her of the life she foresaw for her； but
Circe would not speak of it。 She told Medea that one day she would meet a
woman who knew nothing about enchantments but who had much human
wisdom。 She was to ask of her what she was to do in her life or what she
was to leave undone。 And whatever this woman out of her wisdom told her；
that Medea was to regard。 Once more Circe offered them the cup filled
with clear water； and when they had drunken of it she left them upon the
seashore。 As she went toward her marble house the strange beasts
followed Circe； whimpering as they went。 Jason and Medea went aboard
the Argo； and the heroes drew away from Circe's island。
VI。 In The Land of the Phaeacians
Wearied were the heroes now。 They would have fain gone upon the
island of Circe to rest there away from the oars and the sound of the sea。
But the wisest of them； looking upon the beasts that were men transformed；
held the Argo far off the shore。 Then Jason and Medea came aboard； and
with heavy hearts and wearied arms they turned to the open sea again。
No longer had they such high hearts as when they drove the Argo
between the Clashers and into the Sea of Pontus。 Now their heads drooped
as they went on； and they sang such songs as slaves sing in their hopeless
labor。 Orpheus grew fearful for them now。
For Orpheus knew that they were drawing toward a danger。 There was
no other way for them； he knew； but past the Island Anthemoessa in the
Tyrrhenian Sea where the Sirens were。
Once they had been nymphs and had tended Persephone before she
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
was carried off by Aidoneus to be his queen in the Underworld。 Kind they
had been； but now they were changed； and they cared only for the
destruction of men。
All set around with rocks was the island where they were。 As the Argo
came near； the Sirens； ever on the watch to draw mariners to their
destruction； saw them and came to the rocks and sang to them； holding
each other's hands。
They sang all together their lulling song。 That song made the wearied
voyagers long to let their oars go with the waves； and drift； drift to where
the Sirens were。 Bending down to them the Sirens； with soft hands and
white arms； would lift them to soft resting places。 Then each of the Sirens
sang a clear； piercing song that called to each of the voyagers。 Each man
thought that his own name was in that song。 〃O how well it is that you
have come near；〃 each one sang； 〃how well it is that you have come near
where I have awaited you； having all delight prepared for you！〃
Orpheus took up his lyre as the Sirens began to sing。 He sang to the
heroes of their own toils。 He sang of them； how； gaunt and weary as they
were； they were yet men； men who were the strength of Greece； men who
had been fostered by the love and hope of their country。 They were the
winners of the Golden Fleece and their story would be told forever。 And
for the fame that they had won men would forego all rest and all delight。
Why should they not toil； they who were born for great labors and to face
dangers that other men might not face？ Soon hands would be stretched out
to themthe welcoming hands of the men and women of their own land。
So Orpheus sang； and his voice and the music of his lyre prevailed
above the Sirens' voices。 Men dropped their oars； but other men remained
at their benches； and pulled steadily； if wearily； on。 Only one of the
Argonauts； Butes； a youth of Iolcus； threw himself into the water and