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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
swam toward the rocks from which the Sirens sang。
But an anguish that nearly parted their spirits from their bodies was
upon them as they went wearily on。 Toward the end of the day they beheld
another islandan island that seemed very fair； they longed to land and
rest themselves there and eat the fruits of the island。 But Orpheus would
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not have them land。 The island； he said； was Thrinacia。 Upon that island
the Cattle of the Sun pastured； and if one of the cattle perished through
them their return home might not be won。 They heard the lowing of the
cattle through the mist； and a deep longing for the sight of their own fields；
with a white house near； and flocks and herds at pasture； came over the
heroes。 They came near the Island of Thrinacia； and they saw the Cattle of
the Sun feeding by the meadow streams； not one of them was black； all
were white as milk； and the horns upon their heads were golden。 They saw
the two nymphs who herded the kinePhaethusa and Lampetia； one with a
staff of silver and the other with a staff of gold。
Driven by the breeze that came over the Thrinacian Sea the Argonauts
came to the land of the Phaeacians。 It was a good land as they saw when
they drew near； a land of orchards and fresh pastures； with a white and
sun…lit city upon the height。 Their spirits came back to them as they drew
into the harbor； they made fast the hawsers； and they went upon the ways
of the city。
And then they saw everywhere around them the dark faces of Colchian
soldiers。 These were the men of King ；Eetes； and they had come overland
to the Phaeacian city； hoping to cut off the Argonauts。 Jason； when he saw
the soldiers； shouted to those who had been left on the Argo； and they
drew out of the harbor； fearful lest the Colchians should grapple with the
ship and wrest from them the Fleece of Gold。 Then Jason made an
encampment upon the shore； and the captain of the Colchians went here
and there； gathering together his men。
Medea left Jason's side and hastened through the city。 To the palace of
Alcinous； king of the Phaeacians； she went。 Within the palace she found
Arete； the queen。 And Arete was sitting by her hearth； spinning golden and
silver threads。
Arete was young at that time； as young as Medea； and as yet no child
had been born to her。 But she had the clear eyes of one who understands；
and who knows how to order things well。 Stately； too； was Arete； for she
had been reared in the house of a great king。 Medea came to her； and fell
upon her knees before her； and told her how she had fled from the house
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of her father； King Aeetes。
She told Arete； too； how she had helped Jason to win the Golden
Fleece； and she told her how through her her brother had been led to his
death。 As she told this part of her story she wept and prayed at the knees of
the queen。
Arete was greatly moved by Medea's tears and prayers。 She went to
Alcinous in his garden； and she begged of him to save the Argonauts from
the great force of the Colchians that had come to cut them off。 〃The
Golden Fleece；〃 said Arete； 〃has been won by the tasks that Jason
performed。 If the Colchians should take Medea； it would be to bring her
back to Aea and to a bitter doom。 And the maiden；〃 said the queen； 〃has
broken my heart by her prayers and tears。〃
King Alcinous said： 〃Aeetes is strong； and although his kingdom is far
from ours； he can bring war upon us。〃 But still Arete pleaded with him to
protect Medea from the Colchians。 Alcinous went within； he raised up
Medea from where she crouched on the floor of the palace； and he
promised her that the Argonauts would be protected in his city。
Then the king mounted his chariot； Medea went with him； and they
came down to the seashore where the heroes had made their encampment。
The Argonauts and the Colchians were drawn up against each other； and
the Colchians far outnumbered the wearied heroes。
Alcinous drove his chariot between the two armies。 The Colchians
prayed him to have the strangers make surrender to them。 But the king
drove his chariot to where the heroes stood； and he took the hand of each；
and received them as his guests。 Then the Colchians knew that they might
not make war upon the heroes。 They drew off。 The next day they marched
away。
It was a rich land that they had come to。 Once Aristaeus dwelt there；
the king who discovered how to make bees store up their honey for men
and how to make the good olive grow。 Macris； his daughter； tended
Dionysus； the son of Zeus； when Hermes brought him of the flame； and
moistened his lips with honey。 She tended him in a cave in the Phaeacian
land； and ever afterward the Phaeacians were blessed with all good things。
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Now as the heroes marched to the palace of King Alcinous the people
came to meet them； bringing them sheep and calves and jars of wine and
honey。 The women brought them fresh garments； to Medea they gave fine
linen and golden ornaments。
Amongst the Phaeacians who loved music and games and the telling of
stories the heroes stayed for long。 There were dances； and to the
Phaeacians who honored him as a god； Orpheus played upon his lyre。 And
every day； for the seven days that they stayed amongst them； the
Phaeacians brought rich presents to the heroes。
And Medea； looking into the clear eyes of Queen Arete； knew that she
was the woman of whom Circe had prophesied； the woman who knew
nothing of enchantments； but who had much human wisdom。 She was to
ask of her what she was to do in her life and what she was to leave undone。
And what this woman told her Medea was t* regard。 Arete told her that
she was to forget all the witcheries and enchantments that she knew； and
that she was never to practice against the life of any one。 This she told
Medea upon the shore； before Jason lifted her aboard the Argo。