The Argonautica

He spoke and touched her right hand; swiftly he turned

and went back; around him, from side to side, young women

in countless numbers danced with joy till Jason passed

beyond the gates; afterward, borne on smooth-running wagons,

they came down to the shore, bearing many guest-gifts,

when Jason had told all the message from beginning to end

that Queen Hypsipyle had fully explained when she summoned Jason.

They readily led the men to their own homes as guests.

For Cypris stirred sweet longing through the women's hearts,

for sake of Hephaestus, wise god of manifold invention,

so Lemnos afterward might thrive again, unharmed, with men.

Then Aeson's son went toward Hypsipyle's royal house;

all other heroes went wherever chance assigned them,

apart from Heracles, who kept his place there with Argo,

by his own will, with a few companions chosen apart.

At once the city rejoiced in dance after dance and feasting,

fragrant burnt-offering smoke filled all the town;

above all gods, Hephaestus and Cypris herself

they propitiated both gods with chanted songs and sacrifices.

Always from one day into another came postponement

of sailing; long delay would hold them resting there,

had not Heracles gathered companions apart from the women

and sharply reproached all the men with scathing words:

Fools, does kindred murder bar our road back home?