The Argonautica

face to face, if they do not let me journey through and home.

So he spoke, fawning to soothe her; she answered with deadly words:

Take thought. Shameful deeds have forced this need upon us:

devise this too, since first I was blinded by error

and by a god brought all my evil purposes to fulfillment.

Stand firm in battle and repel the Colchian spears;

but I shall cast a charm and draw Apsyrtus straight to your hands,

and welcome Apsyrtus with rich, gracious gifts of friendship,

if I might somehow sway the heralds now departing

to bring Apsyrtus, all alone, over to my terms.

Then, if this deed finds favor, I raise no objection:

kill Apsyrtus, then raise open war against the Colchians.

So the two, coming together, fashioned a great deception

for Apsyrtus, preparing many splendid gifts of welcome,

One gift they gave was Hypsipyle's sacred robe,

purple in color. The Graces themselves had woven the garment

for Dionysus on sea-girt Dia; afterward, the god gave

to his son Thoas, and Thoas in turn left it to Hypsipyle;

and she gave it to Aeson's son, among many marvels,

to wear, a finely wrought guest-gift. No touch could satisfy,

nor could the longest gaze ever fulfill your sweet desire.

From it a deathless fragrance breathed ever since that hour

the Nysaean lord himself once lay down upon it,

flushed with wine and nectar, clasping in his arms the lovely