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he sleepers in the city； till mothers clasped their children in their fear。
But Medeia called gently to him； and he stretched out his long spotted neck； and licked her hand； and looked up in her face； as if to ask for food。 Then she made a sign to Orpheus； and he began his magic song。
And as he sung； the forest grew calm again； and the leaves on every tree hung still； and the serpent's head sank down； and his brazen coils grew limp； and his glittering eyes closed lazily； till he breathed as gently as a child； while Orpheus called to pleasant Slumber； who gives peace to men； and beasts； and waves。
Then Jason leapt forward warily； and stept across that mighty snake； and tore the fleece from off the tree…trunk； and the four rushed down the garden； to the bank where the ARGO lay。
There was a silence for a moment； while Jason held the golden fleece on high。 Then he cried； 'Go now； good ARGO； swift and steady； if ever you would see Pelion more。'
And she went； as the heroes drove her； grim and silent all； with muffled oars； till the pine…wood bent like willow in their hands； and stout ARGO groaned beneath their strokes。
On and on； beneath the dewy darkness； they fled swiftly down the swirling stream； underneath black walls； and temples； and the castles of the princes of the East； past sluice…mouths； and fragrant gardens； and groves of all strange fruits； past marshes where fat kine lay sleeping； and long beds of whispering reeds； till they heard the merry music of the surge upon the bar； as it tumbled in the moonlight all alone。
Into the surge they rushed； and ARGO leapt the breakers like a horse； for she knew the time was come to show her mettle； and win honour for the heroes and herself。
Into the surge they rushed； and ARGO leapt the breakers like a horse； till the heroes stopped all panting； each man upon his oar； as she slid into the still broad sea。
Then Orpheus took his harp and sang a paean； till the heroes' hearts rose high again； and they rowed on stoutly and steadfastly； away into the darkness of the West。
PART V … HOW THE ARGONAUTS WERE DRIVEN INTO THE UNKNOWN SEA
SO they fled away in haste to the westward； but Aietes manned his fleet and followed them。 And Lynceus the quick…eyed saw him coming； while he was still many a mile away； and cried； 'I see a hundred ships； like a flock of white swans； far in the east。' And at that they rowed hard； like heroes； but the ships came nearer every hour。
Then Medeia； the dark witch…maiden； laid a cruel and a cunning plot； for she killed Absyrtus her young brother； and cast him into the sea； and said； 'Ere my father can take up his corpse and bury it； he must wait long； and be left far behind。'
And all the heroes shuddered； and looked one at the other for shame； yet they did not punish that dark witch…woman； because she had won for them the golden fleece。
And when Aietes came to the place he saw the floating corpse； and he stopped a long while； and bewailed his son； and took him up； and went home。 But he sent on his sailors toward the westward； and bound them by a mighty curse … 'Bring back to me that dark witch…woman； that she may die a dreadful death。 But if you return without her； you shall die by the same death yourselves。'
So the Argonauts escaped for that time： but Father Zeus saw that foul crime； and out of the heavens he sent a storm； and swept the ship far from her course。 Day after day the storm drove her； amid foam and blinding mist； till they knew no longer where they were； for the sun was blotted from the skies。 And at last the ship struck on a shoal； amid low isles of mud and sand； and the waves rolled over her and through her； and the heroes lost all hope of life。
Then Jason cried to Hera； 'Fair queen； who hast befriended us till now； why hast thou left us in our misery； to die here among unknown seas？ It is hard to lose the honour which we have won with such toil and danger； and hard never to see Hellas again； and the pleasant bay of Pagasai。'
Then out and spoke the magic bough which stood upon the ARGO'S beak； 'Because Father Zeus is angry； all this has fallen on you； for a cruel crime has been done on board； and the sacred ship is foul with blood。'
At that some of the heroes cried； 'Medeia is the murderess。 Let the witch…woman bear her sin； and die！' And they seized Medeia； to hurl her into the sea； and atone for the young boy's death； but the magic bough spoke again； 'Let her live till her crimes are full。 Vengeance waits for her； slow and sure； but she must live； for you need her still。 She must show you the way to her sister Circe； who lives among the islands of the West。 To her you must sail； a weary way； and she shall cleanse you from your guilt。'
Then all the heroes wept aloud when they heard the sentence of the oak； for they knew that a dark journey lay before them； and years of bitter toil。 And some upbraided the dark witch…woman； and some said； 'Nay； we are her debtors still； without her we should never have won the fleece。' But most of them bit their lips in silence； for they feared the witch's spells。
And now the sea grew calmer； and the sun shone out once more； and the heroes thrust the ship off the sand…bank； and rowed forward on their weary course under the guiding of the dark witch…maiden； into the wastes of the unknown sea。
Whither they went I cannot tell； nor how they came to Circe's isle。 Some say that they went to the westward； and up the Ister （2） stream； and so came into the Adriatic； dragging their ship over the snowy Alps。 And others say that they went southward； into the Red Indian Sea； and past the sunny lands where spices grow； round AEthiopia toward the West； and that at last they came to Libya； and dragged their ship across the burning sands； and over the hills into the Syrtes； where the flats and quicksands spread for many a mile； between rich Cyrene and the Lotus…eaters' shore。 But all these are but dreams and fables； and dim hints of unknown lands。
But all say that they came to a place where they had to drag their ship across the land nine days with ropes and rollers； till they came into an unknown sea。 And the best of all the old songs tells us how they went away toward the North； till they came to the slope of Caucasus； where it sinks into the sea； and to the narrow Cimmerian Bosphorus； （3） where the Titan swam across upon the bull； and thence into the lazy waters of the still Maeotid lake。 （4） And thence they went northward ever； up the Tanais； which we call Don； past the Geloni and Sauromatai； and many a wandering shepherd…tribe； and the one…eyed Arimaspi； of whom old Greek poets tell； who steal the gold from the Griffins； in the cold Riphaian hills。 （5）
And they passed the Scythian archers； and the Tauri who eat men； and the wandering Hyperboreai； who feed their flocks beneath the pole…star； until they came into the northern ocean； the dull dead Cronian Sea。 （6） And there ARGO would move on no longer； and each man clasped his elbow； and leaned his head upon his hand； heart…broken with toil and hunger； and gave himself up to death。 But brave