The Argonautica

surely you shall live within my palace, lawful wedded bride,

once our homeward voyage reaches Hellas' land.

So he said, and fitted her right hand close in his hand.

She bade them drive the swift ship toward the sacred grove

close by at once, so, while the night still covered them,

they might seize the Fleece and carry it off against Aeetes' will.

Then word and deed came together at once for the eager crew.

They took her aboard and straightway shoved Argo from shore;

a loud din rose as the heroes pressed hard with their oars,

but Medea leapt backward, suddenly starting away,

and stretched helpless hands toward the land; but Jason

encouraged Medea with words and checked her bitter grieving.

At that hour men shook sleep free from their eyes,

hunters who trust their hounds keep watch throughout the night

near dawn, forestalling the first light of morning,

lest first it should blur every track of the beasts and their scent,

the dawn striking down upon them with shafts of white light:

then Jason and the maiden left the ship and stepped

across the grassy ground people call the Ram's

Couch, where first it bent its knees when they had grown weary,

once carrying on its back the Minyan son of Athamas.

Close by, the altar's foundations stood blackened with smoke,

which Phrixus, descendant of Aeolus, set up to Zeus of Flight,

sacrificing that marvel all golden, as once he was told