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Ah, would he were our master's son!" Presently Medeia came forth, decked in all her jewels and her rich Eastern robes, and looking more beautiful than the day, so that all the guests could look at nothing else. And in her right hand she held a golden cup, and in her left a flask of gold.
And he looked at Medeia cunningly, and held her with his glittering eye, till she blushed and trembled, and said 'Who can face the fire of the bulls' breath, and fight ten thousand armed men? 'He whom you help, said Jason, flattering her, 'for your fame is spread over all the earth. Are you not the queen of all enchantresses, wiser even than your sister Circe, in her fairy island in the West?
And he lifted up his brazen club, while all the guests looked on aghast. Medeia shrieked a fearful shriek, and dashed the cup to the ground, and fled; and where the wine flowed over the marble pavement the stone bubbled, and crumbled, and hissed, under the fierce venom of the draught.
And as they neared it, slowly and wearily, they heard sweet songs upon the shore. But when Medeia heard it, she started, and cried, 'Beware, all heroes, for these are the rocks of the Sirens. You must pass close by them, for there is no other channel; but those who listen to that song are lost. Then Orpheus spoke, the king of all minstrels, 'Let them match their song against mine.
Then he rose and said, "The wine is rich, and the wine-bearer fair. Let her pledge me first herself in the cup that the wine may be sweeter." Medeia turned pale and stammered, "Forgive me, fair hero, but I am ill and dare drink no wine." Theseus looked again into her eyes and cried, "Thou shalt pledge me in that cup or die!"
And Medeia thought of Jason and his brave countenance, and said, 'If there was one among them who knew no fear, I could show him how to win the fleece. So in the dusk of evening they went down to the river-side, Chalciope and Medeia the witch-maiden, and Argus, Phrixus' son.
And let Jason come up at midnight and one brave comrade with him, and meet me beneath the wall." Then all the heroes cried together, "I will go and I and I!" But Medeia calmed them and said, "Orpheus shall go with Jason, and take his magic harp." And Orpheus laughed for joy and clapped his hands, because the choice had fallen on him.
But each man's neighbor whispered in return, "His shoulders are broad; will you rise and put him out?" So they all sat still where they were. Then Theseus called to the servants and said, "Go tell King Ægeus, your master, that Theseus is here and asks to be his guest awhile." A servant ran and told Ægeus, where he sat in his chamber with Medeia, the dark witch-woman, watching her eye and hand.
And she came and looked at Medeia; and Medeia hid her face beneath her veil. And Circe cried, 'Ah, wretched girl, have you forgotten all your sins, that you come hither to my island, where the flowers bloom all the year round? Where is your aged father, and the brother whom you killed? Little do I expect you to return in safety with these strangers whom you love.
And all the heroes pressed round and vowed to her that she should be their queen. Medeia wept and hid her face in her hands. "Must I leave my home and my people?" she sobbed. "But the lot is cast: I will show you how to win the Golden Fleece. Bring up your ship to the woodside, and moor her there against the bank.
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