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e up with me to the palace of Alcinous； the rich sea…going king； and we will feast you well and heartily； and after that you shall tell us your name。'
But Medeia hung back； and trembled； and whispered in Jason's ear； 'We are betrayed； and are going to our ruin； for I see my countrymen among the crowd； dark…eyed Colchi in steel mail…shirts； such as they wear in my father's land。'
'It is too late to turn；' said Jason。 And he spoke to the merchant king； 'What country is this； good sir； and what is this new…built town？'
'This is the land of the Phaeaces； beloved by all the Immortals； for they come hither and feast like friends with us； and sit by our side in the hall。 Hither we came from Liburnia to escape the unrighteous Cyclopes； for they robbed us； peaceful merchants； of our hard…earned wares and wealth。 So Nausithous； the son of Poseidon； brought us hither； and died in peace； and now his son Alcinous rules us； and Arete the wisest of queens。'
So they went up across the square； and wondered still more as they went； for along the quays lay in order great cables； and yards； and masts； before the fair temple of Poseidon； the blue…haired king of the seas。 And round the square worked the ship…wrights； as many in number as ants； twining ropes； and hewing timber； and smoothing long yards and oars。 And the Minuai went on in silence through clean white marble streets； till they came to the hall of Alcinous； and they wondered then still more。 For the lofty palace shone aloft in the sun； with walls of plated brass； from the threshold to the innermost chamber； and the doors were of silver and gold。 And on each side of the doorway sat living dogs of gold； who never grew old or died； so well Hephaistos had made them in his forges in smoking Lemnos； and gave them to Alcinous to guard his gates by night。 And within； against the walls； stood thrones on either side； down the whole length of the hall； strewn with rich glossy shawls； and on them the merchant kings of those crafty sea…roving Phaeaces sat eating and drinking in pride； and feasting there all the year round。 And boys of molten gold stood each on a polished altar； and held torches in their hands； to give light all night to the guests。 And round the house sat fifty maid…servants； some grinding the meal in the mill； some turning the spindle； some weaving at the loom； while their hands twinkled as they passed the shuttle； like quivering aspen leaves。
And outside before the palace a great garden was walled round； filled full of stately fruit…trees； gray olives and sweet figs； and pomegranates； pears； and apples； which bore the whole year round。 For the rich south…west wind fed them； till pear grew ripe on pear； fig on fig； and grape on grape； all the winter and the spring。 And at the farther end gay flower…beds bloomed through all seasons of the year； and two fair fountains rose； and ran； one through the garden grounds； and one beneath the palace gate； to water all the town。 Such noble gifts the heavens had given to Alcinous the wise。
So they went in； and saw him sitting； like Poseidon； on his throne； with his golden sceptre by him； in garments stiff with gold； and in his hand a sculptured goblet； as he pledged the merchant kings； and beside him stood Arete； his wise and lovely queen； and leaned against a pillar as she spun her golden threads。
Then Alcinous rose； and welcomed them； and bade them sit and eat； and the servants brought them tables； and bread； and meat； and wine。
But Medeia went on trembling toward Arete the fair queen； and fell at her knees； and clasped them； and cried； weeping； as she knelt …
'I am your guest； fair queen； and I entreat you by Zeus； from whom prayers come。 Do not send me back to my father to die some dreadful death； but let me go my way； and bear my burden。 Have I not had enough of punishment and shame？'
'Who are you； strange maiden？ and what is the meaning of your prayer？'
'I am Medeia； daughter of Aietes； and I saw my countrymen here to…day； and I know that they are come to find me； and take me home to die some dreadful death。'
Then Arete frowned； and said； 'Lead this girl in； my maidens； and let the kings decide； not I。'
And Alcinous leapt up from his throne； and cried； 'Speak； strangers； who are you？ And who is this maiden？'
'We are the heroes of the Minuai；' said Jason； 'and this maiden has spoken truth。 We are the men who took the golden fleece； the men whose fame has run round every shore。 We came hither out of the ocean； after sorrows such as man never saw before。 We went out many； and come back few； for many a noble comrade have we lost。 So let us go； as you should let your guests go； in peace； that the world may say； 〃Alcinous is a just king。〃'
But Alcinous frowned； and stood deep in thought； and at last he spoke …
'Had not the deed been done which is done； I should have said this day to myself； 〃It is an honour to Alcinous； and to his children after him； that the far…famed Argonauts are his guests。〃 But these Colchi are my guests； as you are； and for this month they have waited here with all their fleet； for they have hunted all the seas of Hellas； and could not find you； and dared neither go farther； nor go home。'
'Let them choose out their champions； and we will fight them； man for man。'
'No guests of ours shall fight upon our island； and if you go outside they will outnumber you。 I will do justice between you； for I know and do what is right。'
Then he turned to his kings； and said； 'This may stand over till to…morrow。 To…night we will feast our guests； and hear the story of all their wanderings； and how they came hither out of the ocean。'
So Alcinous bade the servants take the heroes in； and bathe them； and give them clothes。 And they were glad when they saw the warm water； for it was long since they had bathed。 And they washed off the sea…salt from their limbs； and anointed themselves from head to foot with oil； and combed out their golden hair。 Then they came back again into the hall； while the merchant kings rose up to do them honour。 And each man said to his neighbour； 'No wonder that these men won fame。 How they stand now like Giants； or Titans； or Immortals come down from Olympus； though many a winter has worn them； and many a fearful storm。 What must they have been when they sailed from Iolcos； in the bloom of their youth； long ago？'
Then they went out to the garden； and the merchant princes said； 'Heroes； run races with us。 Let us see whose feet are nimblest。'
'We cannot race against you； for our limbs are stiff from sea； and we have lost our two swift comrades； the sons of the north wind。 But do not think us cowards： if you wish to try our strength； we will shoot； and box； and wrestle； against any men on earth。'
And Alcinous smiled； and answered； 'I believe you； gallant guests； with your long limbs and broad shoulders； we could never match you here。 For we care nothing here for boxing； or for shooting with the bow； but for feasts； and songs； and harping； and dancing； and running races； to stretch our limbs on shore。'
So they danced