The Argonautica

eagerly spoke to her gathered handmaids in these words:

Dear friends, surely I have committed a grave error,

and never considered that we ought to avoid going among foreign

men who roam through our land. The whole city is struck by confusion;

and so not one of the women has come up here to meet us,

those who in former days came gathering here every day.

But since we have come, and now no one else is approaching,

come, let music fully sate and satisfy our hearts,

gentle and soothing, and gather the flowers of tender grass;

then we shall all return when the customary hour has arrived.

And all of you would reach home bearing many gifts

on that same day, if you all will agree with this wish of mine.

Argus with words turns me aside from duty, and so does

Chalciope herself. Hear me; keep this silently in mind,

lest word of this should ever reach my father's ears.

They bid me accept all the gifts from the stranger who undertook

the trial with bulls, and save the stranger from the deadly ordeal.

And I approved the counsel, and also called the man himself

to come and meet me face-to-face, alone and apart from companions,

so we may privately divide each gift the stranger offers,

when he brings his gifts, and give him a drug far worse in return.

But take your stand apart from me when the stranger arrives.

So Medea spoke; and her crafty design delighted all the women.

At once Argus drew Aeson's son alone, away from companions,