The Argonautica

Aethalides then persuaded Queen Hypsipyle to receive them

as daylight waned through dusk; yet not even at dawn

were Argo's hawsers loosed to Boreas' blowing breath.

The Lemnian women went through the city and sat down

in full assembly; Hypsipyle gave the command herself.

At last the whole assembly gathered in one throng,

At once Hypsipyle spoke, urging all the women:

Friends, come now, let us give these men welcome gifts,

all that men should rightly carry aboard a ship,

provisions and pleasant wine, so firmly outside our towers

they may stay outside and never seek our help in need,

learn our true story; let no evil report travel

far abroad: we have done a mighty deed, and nothing

would please them at all, if ever they learned the true tale.

This counsel rose within my mind; I offer it now;

but if some other woman frames a better counsel,

let her rise; for this very purpose I called you here.

So she spoke, and sat down on her father's own seat,

a seat of stone; then her dear nurse Polyxo rose,

her shriveled feet already halting with old age,

leaning on her staff, afire to address the gathered women.

Four maidens sat beside Polyxo, close at hand,

unwed; white locks were flowering over Polyxo's head.

Polyxo stood amid assembly, lifting her bowed neck