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Medea upon the shore； before Jason lifted her aboard the Argo。
VII。 They Come to the Desert Land
And now with sail spread wide the Argo went on； and the heroes rested
at the oars。 The wind grew stronger。 It became a great blast； and for nine
days and nine nights the ship was driven fearfully along。
The blast drove them into the Gulf of Libya； from whence there is no
return for ships。 On each side of the gulf there are rocks and shoals； and
the sea runs toward the limitless sand。 On the top of a mighty tide the Argo
was lifted； and she was flung high up on the desert sands。
A flood tide such as might not come again for long left the Argonauts
on the empty Libyan land。 And when they came forth and saw that vast
level of sand stretching like a mist away into the distance； a deadly fear
came over each of them。 No spring of water could they descry； no path； no
herdsman's cabin； over all that vast land there was silence and dead calm。
And one said to the other： 〃What land is this？ Whither have we come？
Would that the tempest had overwhelmed us； or would that we had lost the
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ship and our lives between the Clashing Rocks at the time when we were
making our way into the Sea of Pontus。〃
And the helmsman； looking before him； said with a breaking heart：
〃Out of this we may not come； even should the breeze blow from the land；
for all around us are shoals and sharp rocksrocks that we can see fretting
the water； line upon line。 Our ship would have been shattered far from the
shore if the tide had not borne her far up on the sand。 But now the tide
rushes back toward the sea； leaving only foam on which no ship can sail to
cover the sand。 And so all hope of our return is cut off。〃
He spoke with tears flowing upon his cheeks； and all who had
knowledge of ships agreed with what the helmsman had said。 No dangers
that they had been through were as terrible as this。 Hopelessly； like lifeless
specters； the heroes strayed about the endless strand。
They embraced each other and they said farewell as they laid down
upon the sand that might blow upon them and overwhelm them in the
night。 They wrapped their heads in their cloaks； and； fasting； they laid
themselves down。
Jason crouched beside the ship； so troubled that his life nearly went
from him。 He saw Medea huddled against a rock and with her hair
streaming on the sand。 He saw the men who； with all the bravery of their
lives； had come with him； stretched on the desert sand； weary and without
hope。 He thought that they； the best of men； might die in this desert with
their deeds all unknown； he thought that he might never win home with
Medea； to make her his queen in Iolcus。
He lay against the side of the ship； his cloak wrapped around his head。
And there death would have come to him and to the others if the nymphs
of the desert had been unmindful of these brave men。 They came to Jason。
It was midday then； and the fierce rays of the sun were scorching all Libya。
They drew off the cloak that wrapped his head； they stood near him； three
nymphs girded around with goatskins。
〃Why art thou so smitten with despair？〃 the nymphs said to Jason。
〃Why art thou smitten with despair； thou who hast wrought so much and
hast won so much？ Up！ Arouse thy comrades！ We are the solitary nymphs；
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the warders of the land of Libya； and we have come to show a way of
escape to you； the Argonauts。
〃Look around and watch for the time when Poseidon's great horse
shall be unloosed。 Then make ready to pay recompense to the mother that
bore you all。 What she did for you all； that you all must do for her； by
doing it you will win back to the land of Greece。〃 Jason heard them say
these words and then he saw them no more； the nymphs vanished amongst
the desert mounds。
Then Jason rose up。 He did not know what to make out of what had
been told him； but there was courage now and hope in his heart。 He
shouted； his voice was like the roar of a lion calling to his mate。 At his
shout his comrades roused themselves； all squalid with the dust of the
desert the Argonauts stood around him。
〃Listen； comrades； to me；〃 Jason said； 〃while I speak of a strange thing
that has befallen me。 While I lay by the side of our ship three nymphs
came before me。 With light hands they drew away the cloak that wrapped
my head。 They declared themselves to be the solitary nymphs； the warders；
of Libya。 Very strange were the words they said to me。 When Poseidon's
great horse shall be unloosed； they said； we were to make the mother of us
all a recompense； doing for her what she had done for us all。 This the
nymphs told me to say； but I cannot understand the meaning of their
words。〃
There were some there who would not have given heed to Jason's
words； deeming them words without meaning。 But even as he spoke a
wonder came before their eyes。 Out of the far…off sea a great horse leaped。
Vast he was of size and he had a golden mane。 He shook the spray of the
sea off his sides and mane。 Past them he trampled and away toward the
horizon； leaving great tracks in the sand。
Then Nestor spoke rejoicingly。 〃Behold the great horse！ It is the horse
that the desert nymphs spoke of； Poseidon's horse。 Even now has the horse
been unloosed； and now is the time to do what the nymphs bade us do。
〃Who but Argo is the mother of us all？ She has carried us。 Now we
must make her a recompense and carry her even as she carried us。 With
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untiring shoulders we must bear Argo across this great desert。
〃And whither shall we bear her？ Whither but along the tracks that
Poseidon's horse has left in the sand！ Poseidon's horse will not go under
the earthonce again he will plunge into the sea！ 〃
So Nestor said and the Argonauts saw truth in his saying。 Hope came
to them againthe hope of leaving that desert and coming to the sea。
Surely when they came to the sea again； and spread the sail and held the
oars in