The Argonautica

Prometheus strained in brazen shackles none could flee,

and fed the swooping eagle liver yet again.

At evening, high above the ship, they saw the eagle

fly near the clouds with piercing whirr; yet even so

it shook all sails as wings went whizzing past the ship.

For his was not the build of any bird of heaven,

but he beat swift wings evenly, like polished oars.

Not long thereafter they heard the grievous cry

of Prometheus, his liver torn out; the upper air

resounded with his groans; soon the watchful heroes saw

the flesh-eating eagle swiftly trace the selfsame road.

By night, through Argus' guiding skill, the heroes reached

the broad stream Phasis at the utmost bounds of sea.

At once they furled the sails and yard inside the hollow

mast-crutch and neatly stowed the gear; the mast itself

they quickly lowered backward; swiftly then with oars

they drove into the river's mighty stream; on every side

the flood foamed, granting passage; to their left they held

sheer Caucasus rising, and Cytaean Aea's city;

and on the other side, Ares' plain and sacred groves

of Ares; there a serpent watched and guarded the Fleece,

hung spread across the leafy branches of an oak.

Aeson's son himself, from a golden cup, poured riverward

libations sweet as honey, pure, unmixed wine,