the golden fleece(金羊毛)-第23节
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stranger from the brazen bulls in the contest on the morrow！
So Chalciope came to the very thing that was in Medea's mind。 Her
heart bounded with joy and she embraced her。 〃Chalciope；〃 she said； 〃I
declare that I am your sister； indeedaye； and your daughter； too； for did
you not care for me when I was an infant？ I will strive to save your sons。 I
will strive to save the strangers who came with your sons。 Send one to the
strangerssend him to the leader of the strangers； and tell him that I would
see him at daybreak in the temple of Hecate。〃
When Medea said this Chalciope embraced her again。 She was amazed
to see how Medea's tears were flowing。 〃Chalciope；〃 she said； 〃no one will
know the dangers that I shall go through to save them。〃
Swiftly then Chalciope went from the chamber。 But Medea stayed
there with her head bowed and the blush of shame on her face。 She
thought that already she had deceived her sister； making her think that it
was Phrontis and Melas and not Jason that was in her mind to save。 And
she thought on how she would have to plot against her father and against
her own people； and all for the sake of a stranger who would sail away
without thought of her； without the image of her in his mind。
Jason； with Peleus and Telamon； went back to the Argo。 His comrades
asked how he had fared； and when he spoke to them of the fire…breathing
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bulls with feet of brass； of the dragon's teeth that had to be sown； and of
the Earth…born Men that had to be overcome； the Argonauts were greatly
cast down； for this task； they thought； was one that could not be
accomplished。 He who stood before the fire…breathing bulls would perish
on the moment。 But they knew that one amongst them must strive to
accomplish the task。 And if Jason held back； Peleus； Telamon； Theseus；
Castor； Polydeuces； or any one of the others would undertake it。
But Jason would not hold back。 On the morrow； he said； he would
strive to yoke the fire…breathing； brazen…footed bulls to the plow of
adamant。 If he perished the Argonauts should then do what they thought
was bestmake other trials to gain the Golden Fleece； or turn their ship
and sail back to Greece。
While they were speaking； Phrontis； Chalciope's son； came to the ship。
The Argonauts welcomed him； and in a while he began to speak of his
mother's sister and of the help she could give。 They grew eager as be
spoke of her； all except rough Arcas； who stood wrapped in his bear's skin。
〃Shame on us；〃 rough Arcas cried； 〃shame on us if we have come here to
crave the help of girls！ Speak no more of this！ Let us； the Argonauts； go
with swords into the city of Aea； and slay this king； and carry off the
Fleece of Gold。〃
Some of the Argonauts murmured approval of what Arcas said。 But
Orpheus silenced him and them； for in his prophetic mind Orpheus saw
something of the help that Medea would give them。 It would be well；
Orpheus said； to take help from this wise maiden； Jason should go to her
in the temple of Hecate。 The Argonauts agreed to this； they listened to
what Phrontis told them about the brazen bulls； and the night wore on。
When darkness came upon the earth； when； at sea； sailors looked to
the Bear arid the stars of Orion； when； in the city； there was no longer the
sound of barking dogs nor of men's voices； Medea went from the palace。
She came to a path； she followed it until it brought her into the part of the
grove that was all black with the shadow that oak trees made。
She raised up her hands and she called upon Hecate； the Moon。 As she
did； there was a blaze as from torches all around； and she saw horrible
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serpents stretching themselves toward her from the branches of the trees。
Medea shrank back in fear。 But again she called upon Hecate。 And now
there was a howling as from the hounds of Hades all around her。 Fearful；
indeed； Medea grew as the howling came near her； almost she turned to
flee。 But she raised her hands again and called upon Hecate。 Then the
nymphs who haunted the marsh and the river shrieked； and at those
shrieks Medea crouched down in fear。
She called upon Hecate； the Moon； again。 She saw the moon rise
above the treetops； and then the hissing and shrieking and howling died
away。 Holding up a goblet in her hand Medea poured out a libation of
honey to Hecate； the Moon。
And then she went to where the moon made a brightness upon the
ground。 There she saw a flower that rose above the other flowersa flower
that grew from two joined stalks； and that was of the color of a crocus。
Medea cut the stalks with a brazen knife； and as she did there came a deep
groan out of the earth。
This was the Promethean flower。 It had come out of the earth first
when the vulture that tore at Prometheus's liver had let fall to earth a drop
of his blood。 With a Caspian shell that she had brought with her Medea
gathered the dark juice of this flowerthe juice that went to make her most
potent charm。 All night she went through the grove gathering the juice of
secret herbs； then she mingled them in a phial that she put away in her
girdle。
She went from that grove and along the river。 When the sun shed its
first rays upon snowy Caucasus she stood outside the temple of Hecate。
She waited； but she had not long to wait； for； like the bright star Sirius
rising out of Ocean； soon she saw Jason coming toward her。 She made a
sign to him； and he came and stood beside her in the portals of the temple。
They would have stood face to face if Medea did not have her head
bent。 A blush had come upon her face； and Jason seeing it； and seeing how
her head was bent； knew how grievous it was to her to meet and speak to a
stranger in this way。 He took her hand and he spoke to her reverently； as
one would speak to a priestess。
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〃Lady；〃 he said； 〃I implore you by Hecate and by Zeus who helps all
strangers and suppliants to be kind to me and to the men who have come
to your country with me。 Without your help I cannot hope to prevail in the
grievous trial that has been laid upon me。 If you will help us； Medea； your
name will be renowned throughout all Greece。 And I have hopes that you
will help us； for your face and form show you to be one who can be kind
and gracious。〃
The blush of shame had gone from Medea's face and a softer blush
came over her as Jason spoke。 She looked upon him and she knew that she
could hardly live if the breath of the brazen bulls withered his life or if the
Earth…born Men slew him。 She took the charm from out her girdle；
ungrudgingly she put it into Jason's hands。 And as she gave him the charm
that she had gained with such danger； the fear and trouble that was around
her heart melted as the dew melts from around the rose when it is warmed
by the first light of the morning。
Then they spoke standing close together in the portal of the temple。
She told him how he should anoint his body all over with the charm； it
would give him； she said； boundless and untiring strength； and make him
so that the breath of the bulls could not wither him nor the horns of the
bulls pierce him。 She told him also to sprinkle his shield and his sword
with the charm。
And then they spoke of the dragon's teeth and of the Earth…born Men
who would spring from them。 Medea told Jason that when they arose out
of the earth he was to cast a great stone amongst them。 The Earth…born
Men would struggle about the stone； and they would slay each other in the
contest。
Her dark and delicate face was beautiful。 Jason looked upon her； and it
came into his mind that in Colchis there was something else of worth
besides the
