The Argonautica

Long they remained struck speechless; late at last spoke

the heroic son of Aeson, helpless in deep trouble:

“Old man, you have recounted every trial to its end,

our voyage's trials, and every sign we must obey

to pass the hateful rocks to Pontus. Tell me clearly:

once we escape, does homeward passage lead to Hellas?

That too I would be glad to learn here at your side.

How shall I act, how cross so vast a sea-road twice,

ignorant myself, with ignorant companions? Colchian Aea

lies hard against the farthest verge of Pontus and earth.”

He spoke, and then the old man answered him and said:

My child, when first you safely flee those deadly rocks,

take heart, for then a god shall guide a different course

out of Aea; and as far as Aea, guides abound.

Friends, now consider the goddess's cunning aid,

Cypris': on her rests the glorious end of all your trials.

And question me no further now concerning these events.”

So Agenor's son spoke; close at hand the two sons

of Thracian Boreas darted downward through the air

and set their swift feet on the threshold; all the heroes

sprang swiftly from their seats and saw the brothers there.

To those who pressed to hear, Zetes, still drawing hard

breath from his labor, told how far the Harpies were driven,

and how Iris held them back from tearing those creatures;