The Argonautica

Or did we journey here solely for lack of lawful marriages,

scorning our own city women? Are we pleased now

to live here and parcel out Lemnos' rich plowland?

No fame awaits us here with foreign women,

cooped here so long; nor will a god seize the fleece

and freely grant it, moving itself, to men who pray.

Return, each man, to his home; but leave Jason

all day in Hypsipyle's bed, until he makes Lemnos

full of male children, and great fame reaches him.

Thus Heracles rebuked the company; none dared confront him,

to raise their eyes or answer Heracles one word;

but straight from assembly they made themselves ready to leave,

in haste; the women ran to meet them, learning all.

As swarming bees hum round the lilies in full flower,

streaming out of their rock-built hive, while all around

the dew-bright meadow rejoices, and now from this, now that,

they gather sweet fruit on the wing; so likewise the women

streamed round the men, lamenting in faithful affection,

and greeted every man with hands outstretched and words,

praying the blessed gods to grant an unharmed homecoming.

So too Hypsipyle prayed, taking the hands

of Aeson's son; her tears flowed at the hero's leaving:

Go; may the gods bring you back with comrades uninjured,

bearing the Golden Fleece back homeward to the king,