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CopyriQ;ht, 1900, by 
 
 JAMKS A. IIENSHAI.I. 
 
 IUibrapy of Congr«»«i 
 Iwo Copies Received 1 
 DEC 19 1900 
 
 -^ Copyright «ntry 
 
 SECOND COPY 
 
 0««v«red to 
 
 ORDER DIVISION 
 JAN S 1901 
 
 / 9 oo 
 
 No 
 
 L 
 
 I'KP.SS OKTHK ROBKRT CLARKE 
 COiMPANY. CINCINNATI, U. S. A. 
 
<:i» 
 ^ 
 
 TO 
 
 ADMIRAL GEORGE DEWEY 
 
 in remembrance of the pleasant 
 
 days spent in his company on the 
 
 sunny shores of Greece 
 
 this travesty on the first 
 
 Great Naval Expedition 
 
 is respectfully inscribed 
 
 by 
 
 THE AUTHOR 
 
In this travesty of the Quest of the Golden Fleece I 
 have followed the route, and noted the incidents, as re- 
 corded in *^The Argfonautica *' of ApoIIonius Rhodius, 
 and as translated into English prose by Edward P. Cole- 
 ridge, B.A., Oxford, England, from the revised text of 
 R. Merkel, from the Laurentian MS. (Leipzig, \^52, 
 Teubner^s small edition.) 
 
 For the anachronisms, pseudo-poetics and mock- 
 heroics (for which I have obtained a special mechanical 
 license), and other absurdities, I must alone be held re- 
 sponsible and amenable to a patient and long-suffering 
 public. 
 
 Bozemarif Montana, 
 
 (vii) 
 
 THE AUTHOR. 
 
THE ARGUMENT OF THE ^'ARGONAUTICA/^ 
 
 Tyro, the daughter of Salmoncus, had two sons by 
 Poseidon, Neleus and Pelias; she afterwards wedded 
 Cretheus, son of -^olus, and bore to him -/Eson, Pheres, 
 and Amythaon. From ^son sprang Jason; from 
 Pheres, Admetus ? from Amythaon, Mclampus. 
 
 Now Jason was handed over to the Centaur Chiron 
 to be brought up and to learn the art of healing ; while 
 ^son, his father, left the kingdom to Pelias, his own 
 brother, bidding him rule Thessaly until Jason^s return 
 from Chiron. But Pelias had received an oracle from 
 Apollo, bidding him beware of a man who should come 
 with only one sandal ; for by him should he be slain. 
 
 So Jason grew up, and came to his uncle, for to 
 take his share in his father^s kingdom. But when he 
 came to the river Anaurus, which is in Thessaly, wishing 
 to ford it, there upon the bank he found Hera in the dis- 
 guise of an old dame, and she would cross, but was 
 afraid. Then did Jason take her upon his shoulders, 
 and carry her safe over, but one sandal left he in the 
 mud in the middle of the river. Thence he fared to the 
 city with his one sandal, and there he found an assembly 
 of the folk, and Pelias doing sacrifice to the gods. When 
 Pelias saw him thus he minded him of the oracle, and 
 being eager to be rid of him he set him this task, that he 
 should go to Scythia in quest of the Golden Fleece, and 
 then receive the kingdom. Now this he did from no 
 
 Cviii) 
 
wish for the Fleece, but because he thought that Jason 
 would be slain by some man in that strange land, or be 
 shipwrecked. 
 
 This is the story of the Golden Fleece. 
 
 — {From the Greek of the Scholiasts*) 
 
 There was a curse in the family of JEo\uz from the 
 day that two members of it, Athamas and his wife 
 Ino, ill-treated Phrixus and Helle, two other i^olids. 
 Zeus saved the two intended victims and put a curse 
 upon the guilty family, which could not be revoked until 
 the Golden Fleece was brought from Colchis to Hellas. 
 
 (ix) 
 
A SECOND ARGUMENT. 
 
 Athamas, the son of JEoluSf and brother of Cretheus^ 
 had to wife Nephele first, and begat two children, Phrixus 
 and Hclle. When Nephele died, he married Ino, who 
 did plot against the children of Nephele, and persuaded 
 her country-women to roast the seed for sowing ; but the 
 earth, receiving roasted seed, would not bear her yearly- 
 crops. So Athamas sent to Delphi to inquire about the 
 barrenness ; but Ino bribed his messengers, telling them 
 to return and say, that the god had answered that Helle 
 and Phrixus must be sacrificed if they wanted the barren- 
 ness to cease. Wherefore Athamas was persuaded, and 
 placed them at the altar ; but the gods in pity snatched 
 them away through the air by means of the ram with 
 the Golden Fleece; now Helle let go, and fell into the 
 sea that bears her name, while Phrixus landed safe in 
 Colchis. There he offered up the ram to Zeus, who 
 helped his flight, for that he had escaped the plot of his 
 step-mother. And having married Chalciope, daughter 
 of ^etes, king of the Scythians, he begat four sons, 
 Argus, Cytissorus, Melas, and Phrontis. And there he 
 died. — {Given by Bntnck, from an unknoivn source.) 
 
 (x) 
 
THE ROUTE OF THE ARGONAUTS TO JEh, 
 
 AND THEIR RETURN THENCE 
 
 TO lOLCHOS, 
 
 There is no particular difficulty in following Argo 
 on her outward voyage, or in identifying the numerous 
 places mentioned by ApoUonius along the route ; indeed, 
 his knowledge of the geography up to JEa.^ the goal of 
 the enterprise, is singularly accurate. It is when we at- 
 tempt to follow his account of the return journey, which 
 was made by a different route, that we find ourselves ut- 
 terly perplexed, and forced to the conclusion that our 
 author has been drawing purely from imagination, with- 
 out any idea of the impossibility of the course which he 
 assigns to the heroes. 
 
 Briefly, the voyage amounts to this. The Argonauts 
 leave the Pelasgicus Sinus (Gulf of Volo), coast along 
 Thessaly to Thermaicus Sinus (Gulf of Salonica), steer 
 across -^gasum Mare (Archipelago) to the Hellespont 
 (Dardanelles); through this straight into the Propontis 
 (Sea of Mamara) ; through the Bosporus into the Euxine 
 (Black Sea). Except when they cross the Archipelago, 
 their voyage is almost a coasting one, and is easy to fol- 
 low on a map. 
 
 The return voyage teems with such insurmount- 
 able difficulties, and is altogether so hopelessly confused 
 and mythical, that it would be a mere waste of time and 
 patience to attempt to follow it on a modern map 
 
 (xi) 
 
Wc can only indicate briefly the course the heroes 
 are said to have taken. After crossing the Euxine 
 (Black Sea), they rowed through river- ways right 
 across Dacia, Moesia, Illyria, and Dalmatia (Bulgaria, 
 Servia, Bosnia, and Herzegovina), into the Adriatic; 
 sailing to Italy, they cross the northern part by the 
 Eridanus (Po); sail into the Rhone, thence into the 
 Mediterranean ; right across to the west coast of Italy, 
 along which they pass ; through the Lipari islands and 
 the strait of Messina ; up the cast coast of Italy to the 
 Adriatic again ; thence driven by storms, they come to 
 the African coast; being caught in the shoals of the 
 Syrtis they carry Argo overland to lake Tritonis 
 (Bahr Faraouni in Tunis), and finding an outlet into the 
 Mediterranean, sail along the African coast to the coast 
 of Asia Minor, and so into the -^gean homewards. — 
 (^Abridged from Coleridge,) 
 
 (xii) 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 With thee, Phoebus, will I begin and record the fa- 
 mous deeds of those men of old time, who, at the bidding 
 of king Pelias, rowed the good ship Argo past the mouth 
 of the Euxine and through the rocks Cyanean to fetch the 
 Golden Fleece. 
 
 For Pelias had heard an oracle on this wise, that in 
 the latter days a hateful doom awaited him, even death, 
 at the prompting of one whom he should see come forth 
 from the people with but one sandal. And not long 
 after, according to the sure report, came Jason on foot 
 across the stream of a swollen torrent, and one sandal 
 did he save from ^neath the mud, but the other left he 
 there sticking in the river-bed. So he came to Pelias 
 forthwith to take a part in the solemn feast, which he was 
 offering to his father Poseidon and the other gods, but to 
 Pelasgian Hera he paid no heed. And the instant Pelias 
 saw Jason, he was ware of him, and made ready to his 
 hurt a grevious task of seamanship, that so he might lose 
 his return in the deep or haply among strange folk. 
 
 Now minstrels even before my day do tell how 
 Argus by the counsels of Athene buik a ship for him ; 
 but mine shall it be now to declare the lineage and name of 
 the heroes, and their passage of the long sea, and all 
 that they did in their wanderings ; and may the Muses be 
 the heralds of my song ! — {Apollonius Rhodius.) 
 
 (xiii) 
 
ARGUMENT. 
 
 Pelias in alann, sends Jason to Colchis to fetch the 
 Golden Fleece. So Jason gathers the chieftains^ and is 
 chosen captain himself. After launching the Argo they 
 sail on without adventure as far as Lemnos, where they 
 stay awhile, and arc hospitably received by Hypsipyle 
 the queen. Thence they come to the Doliones and their 
 king Cyzicus, and are kindly entertained. Giants with- 
 stand them at Dindymus, but these are shot by Heracles. 
 On the same night a storm drives the ship back to 
 Cyzicum, and in the darkness they and the Doliones come 
 to blows, and Cyzicus is slain. After mourning for him, 
 they sail on to Mysia, where Hylas is lost, and Heracles, 
 who will not be comforted, is left behind with Polyphe- 
 mus — {Adapted from the Scholiast s,) 
 
YE &OT>3 <5Si 
 
 N Thessaly, in oldcn time, there 
 dwelt 
 A good king, .^son, whom IVe 
 
 always felt 
 Was euchred sore, and of his 
 
 crown bereft, 
 Though holding ace, and bow- 
 ers right and left. 
 But Pelias revoked, in other words 
 Renigg^d ; took all the tricks, and afterwards 
 Took crown and scepter, also took the cake ; 
 Threw in the throne — himself the king did 
 make. 
 Of course, such things don't happen in 
 our day; 
 We merely stock the cards, and win our way. 
 Or form a trust, or moneyed syndicate — 
 Buy votes enough to float the ship of state. 
 
 But Pelias, now king of lolchos. 
 Was sore afraid, and on his bed did toss. 
 His bed of roses, did this Grecian king. 
 Find stuffed with thorns, and all that kind of 
 
 thing — 
 One reason that he felt so sore afraid — 
 Another was, an oracle had said: 
 A man with one sandal would come some 
 
 day — 
 And sandal wood was precious — any way. 
 This man with but one sandal — left one, 
 
 too; 
 With pard's skin, russet hood and tunic blue. 
 Would from the king demand that was his 
 own — 
 
YE G^OT>S 6^ 
 
 I^JTTUE FISHES SI 
 
 ND he would from his usurped 
 throne be thrown. 
 Now, at the foot of old Mount 
 Pelion, 
 There dwelt the famous Centaur, 
 
 old Chiron; 
 Half man, half horse, a thorough- 
 bred was he, 
 Well-skilled in music, woodcraft, surgery. 
 And in a cave beneath an old oak tree, 
 He kept a rural University, 
 Not subsidized, nor yet endowed, as some — 
 With a human-equine curriculum. 
 He taught heroic pupils out-door sports. 
 The art of war, and also other sorts 
 Of arts ; and artful they became, of course. 
 From being coached and trained by this ** old 
 horse/* 
 Of many famous scholars I might name. 
 Who from this truly rural college came. 
 Were Hercules and ./^B^culapius, 
 Well-heeled Achilles ; but the one for us 
 Was Jason, son of ^son, best of all 
 The young cave-dwellers in old Chiron^s stall. 
 And Chiron did his very level best, 
 To fit young Jason for his future quest. 
 And this old Centaur sent our hero brave, 
 O'er many leagues of stormy ocean's wave , 
 So well-equipped in all the arts of war. 
 And love, and seamanship, and sportsman's 
 
 lore. 
 That none could him withstand, this Minyan 
 bold. 
 
 cWF 
 
 
^OOI^J 
 
 Who sailed the seas to seize the Fleece of 
 
 Gold. 
 And now when -^^on*s son became of age, 
 The time arrived when he must soon engage 
 To verify the oracle foretold 
 Long years before; and so our warrior bold 
 Was dressed by Chiron in a tunic blue, 
 Of Magnesian cut, and a pard^s skin too — 
 Not his ''Old Pard's'' skin, but a leopard's 
 
 pelt— 
 And two huge spears, and a sword in his belt ; 
 Then with russet hood on his flaxen hair. 
 He looked too killing, and beyond compare. 
 Then shaking Chiron's hoof, he said, ** Fare- 
 well, 
 
 1 ARE WELL, 'old hoss,' my 
 tongue can never tell 
 How much I grieve to part with 
 
 you, this day.'' 
 But Chiron only hoarsely said, 
 " Neigh, nay." 
 (Long after this, upon one 
 summer day. 
 When Hercules and certain Centaurs gay, 
 About a jar of wine kicked up a spree, 
 A poisoned arrow pierced old Chiron's knee — 
 An arrow poisoned with the Hydra's corse. 
 For which no cure was known for man or 
 
 horse. 
 A constellation he was made by Jove, 
 And firmly fixed in firmament above. 
 On any starlit night we yet may spy 
 This emeritus professor in the sky. 
 
With bow well drawn and arrow made to (j^\ 
 
 suit^ 
 To teach our young ideas how to shoot.) 
 
 O Jason broke away at break 
 of day, 
 And thro^ the well-known 
 woods he took his way; 
 Thro' woods where often he 
 had chased the stag^ 
 And brought the spotted leopard oft to bag. 
 Likewise, the boar, who stoutest hearts with- 
 stood, 
 He oft bored thro' with spear of cornel wood. 
 Then, thro' the woods, he came upon the 
 plain , 
 Where plain to see his journey would be vain, 
 Unless across the Anaurus he stood, 
 Whose rushing, swollen tide bode him no 
 
 good. 
 The river, swollen by the recent rain. 
 Had overflowed its banks ; and then, again, 
 Huge trees, torn up, mid-stream were whirled 
 
 along. 
 Too deep to wade; the tide to stem, too 
 
 strong. 
 Its tide, if taken at its flood, would be 
 The death of any mortal man, you see; 
 And Jason, though a dcmi-god, 't is true. 
 Afraid to risk his mortal half, felt blue. 
 
 And time and tide for no man wait, you 
 know; 
 But for a woman, yes, be she Juno ; 
 
And this fair goddess, of heaven the queen, 
 And sweet on Jason, appeared on the scene. 
 She in the guise of an old woman came; 
 ** Oh Jay/^ she said (the first half of his name — 
 The mortal half it was, as well we know) ; 
 '^Oh, son!*' (the half divine), "You needs 
 
 must go 
 Across this mighty, rushing stream, my boy ; 
 Fear not, and I will give you safe convoy/* 
 
 nND thereupon she put her arm 'round 
 him. 
 As in she plunged, and both were in the 
 
 swim; 
 The floating trees she quickly turned aside. 
 And landed safely on the other side. 
 ** You see,'* she said, " it 's not the first, nor 
 
 yet"— 
 And here she took him in out of the wet — 
 ** Nor yet the last time that a man, I *m 'fraid. 
 Will be supported by a woman's aid." 
 
 mHEN Jason shook the water from his 
 eyes. 
 He gazed in wonder and in mute surprise ; 
 For Juno had assumed her form divine; 
 Her bright, resplendent beauty 'round did 
 
 shine. 
 He shook again, with cold and terror, too. 
 For in the raging stream he' d lost one shoe. 
 ** Oh, Jason 1 do not be afraid," she said ; 
 ** Though you have lost your shoe, don't lose 
 your head; 
 
YE Q^CDS 6^ 
 
 I^JTTLT, FISHES II 
 
 HIS 
 
 To 
 
 loss to you will be your /fj^ 
 greatest gain, 
 Pelias ^twill prove to be his 
 bane; 
 Straight to lolchos now you fain 
 
 must go, 
 And claim from him your rights ; 
 it must be so ; 
 For so it has been long ordained, this thing ; 
 And you will some day be the rightful king. 
 And if you ^re faithful to your trust, indeed, 
 You ^11 always find that I ^m your friend, in 
 
 need. 
 But now I must be gone, or I ^11 be missed 
 By Jove. Good-bye; consider that youVe 
 kissed.^^ 
 When Jason near to old lolchos drew, 
 Half-shod, the people smiled and wondered too ; 
 And when the city gates he had passed thro', 
 They smiled again to see his tunic blue, 
 His yellow hair, a foot above the crowd, 
 His brass-bound spears — and then they smiled 
 aloud. 
 But Jason, with his tall, commanding mien, 
 Passed swiftly on and noticed not, I ween. 
 The mean remarks and gibes and sneers of 
 
 those 
 Who still admired him in his homespun 
 clothes. 
 He came at last beside the palace gate. 
 Where Pelias, the king, himself, in state, 
 Sat on an ivory throne, clad all in red. 
 With crown of jeweled gold upon his head. 
 
 ^^ 
 
 
 
 ^J 
 
 ]U 
 
Then Jason, followed by the motley crowd, 
 Strode boldly up, and there in accents loud, 
 Said: *^PeIias, IVe come to claim my own. 
 To claim my father^s scepter, crown and 
 
 throne ; 
 By having lost one shoe I 'm slightly lame. 
 Still, that does not invalidate my claim. 
 But only serves to make my title clear, 
 For I am the one-sandaled man you fear/' 
 And thereupon he came down with both feet 
 Upon the step below the kingly seat* 
 
 ^hen Pelias, dissembling, softly said : 
 I know you, Jason, well, but thought you 
 
 dead; 
 
 Right glad I am to see you here, my boy; 
 V\\ send for JE&on, who ^11 be filled with 
 
 joy. 
 Accept this scepter, crown and everything 
 That goes to make a man a so-called king. 
 Right gladly Til step down and out* The 
 
 throne 
 Is celluloid, not ivory or bone; 
 The crown is gilt ; its jewels are but glass ; 
 It ^s all a fake ; the public is an ass. 
 The palace needs repair; it^s mortgaged, all; 
 But we ^11 repair now to the banquet hall.^^ 
 In princely raiment Jason was arrayed, 
 A pair of brand new sandals for him made ; 
 His homely, homespun garb he cast aside. 
 For far from home he soon was doomed to 
 
 ride; 
 
I^^\' 
 
 hiTTLT,' FISHES %\ 
 
 For Pclias was a wily man, and he 
 '^'^ Had formed an artful plan, as we shall see, 
 By subterfuge and wine to outwit Jase, 
 And send him, eager, on a wild-goose chase. 
 
 THEREUPON a regal feast was 
 
 spread, 
 A royal function, which I Ve heard 
 
 it said 
 Surpassed all previous efforts, dish 
 
 for dish; 
 Confections rare, and fruit, flesh, 
 fowl and fish. 
 With lavish hand were spread upon the board. 
 While from tall jars the choicest wines were 
 
 poured ; 
 And old and crusty, blood-red wine was then 
 Transfused from skins of goats to skins of 
 
 men; 
 And full as goat skins many were that night — 
 (From which, perhaps, arose the saying, trite). 
 
 Enchanting music filled the spacious room. 
 And garlands rare diffused their sweet perfume. 
 Of brave adventure, minstrels sung, so sweet ; 
 Fair girls in da.nse de ventre did compete. 
 
 And now, when everything was apropos. 
 And all were merry, mellow, and so, so, 
 ^T was then that Pelias proposed to tell 
 A tale of olden time, and what befell 
 The children of the noble Nephele, 
 Phrixus, her son, and daughter fair, Helle ; 
 How they, unjustly, were condemned to die. 
 The ire of Queen Ino to gratify. 
 
 fit 
 
 ^, 
 
^OOJ^J 
 
 But Nephele, the good, discarded queen, 
 Trumped Ino^s trick and won, as will be 
 seen; 
 
 seen; 
 Procured a ram with wings and Fleece of 
 
 Gold, 
 The gift of Neptune, although some do hold 
 ^Twas Mercury who brought the buck, in 
 
 haste — 
 But all the same upon its back she placed 
 Phrixus and Helle both, her children dear. 
 The ram his course for Colchis straight 
 
 did steer; 
 And scorching thro' the air, his golden trail 
 Seemed like a bright, effulgent comet's tail. 
 Poor Helle, in affright, so dazed was she, 
 Let go her hold and tumbled in the sea ; 
 And since that time, forsooth, all men are 
 
 wont 
 To call that sea, in truth, the Hellespont. 
 The ram, with Phrixus, then to Colchis came. 
 Where he in time became a man of fame. 
 
 The ram he sacrificed to Jove. The fleece, 
 A sacred thing, he kept for love of Greece ; 
 Until the king,-/Eetes,bad but wise. 
 Had Phrixus slain, and stole the golden prize. 
 In Colchis still, this wicked king doth hold 
 What should belong to us, the Fleece of Gold.'' 
 
 I ow this the tale the wily king did tell. 
 And this the story that he told so well. 
 To Jason then he spoke in accents low. 
 And said : ** This happened forty years ago ; 
 
Methinks the time has come some Minyan 
 
 bold 
 Should from this minion take the Fleece of 
 
 Gold. 
 I would that I were young enough to go, 
 ^T would bring such credit on your reign, 
 
 you know ; 
 In such a quest the question 's one of age, 
 And I 'm too old in such things to engage. 
 This expedition must be made by sea, 
 And water never did agree with me. 
 
 OU ^RE young and brave and 
 strong and handsome, 
 too. 
 And scores of demigods would 
 
 go with you. 
 To share your glorious deeds 
 
 and lasting fame; 
 The world would ring with 
 praises of your name, 
 ril stay at home, and raise the revenue 
 To pay off all the debts of state, for you; 
 And lead a quiet, humdrum, rusty life. 
 While you ^re abroad engaged in stirring strife.' 
 Now Jason, flushed with wine and flat- 
 tery ,too. 
 Was eager for the quest. Right well he knew 
 The object of the story was to pull 
 O'er his own eyes, forsooth, this golden wool ; 
 In hopes that going for wool he 'd come home 
 
 shorn. 
 He knew to be the wish, of Pelias, born. 
 
 10 
 
Right well did Jason know all this, yet still 
 He felt that he the mission must fulfill; 
 Bring back from foreign shore this Golden 
 
 Fleece, 
 Then reign as king of lokhos, in peace. 
 
 R. 
 
 e said : ** Oh^ Pelias, build me a ship, 
 And I will undertake to make the trip; 
 Send heralds out thro^ all the Grecian land, 
 For volunteers to join my brave command. 
 While Vm away you^lI still be king; to you 
 I leave all matters and the revenue ; 
 Be kind and just and keep the coffers full, 
 But do not raise the tax on foreign wool.^^ 
 
 Now, Argus, son of Phrixus, did equip. 
 And build, with Juno^s aid, a mighty ship ; 
 With fifty oars, and mast, and sheets and 
 
 sail. 
 That could with safety ride the fiercest gale. 
 The stem and figurehead, 't is truly said, 
 Of speaking oak of Dodona was made ; 
 The faculty of speech this stem possessed, 
 And oft advised brave Jason and the rest. 
 The great ship^s hull was gaily painted blue, 
 Ukramarine, a fine cerulean hue; 
 The mast and oars and every single spar 
 Were painted fiery red with cinnabar ; 
 The rudder, still a ruddier tint, Tm told. 
 The figurehead was overlaid with gold ; 
 Likewise the gunwales and the portholes, too. 
 And the starboard-holes, where the oars went 
 through, 
 
<^ 
 
 IjJTTUE' FISHES SI 
 
 LL these were rimmed with gold 
 
 some carats fine, 
 Which brightly in the morning sun 
 did shine. 
 The good ship to her anchor 
 riding free, 
 As graceful as a swan upon the 
 sea, 
 Was finished now, and fully found, I ween, 
 The most complete equipment ever seen : 
 Two banks of oars, a tiller stout and long, 
 A huge square sail with sheets and braces 
 
 strong; 
 The spacious hold and lockers all were stored 
 With food and wine ; the best was put aboard. 
 And nothing now was lacking but the crew; 
 And but one thing remained for him to do, 
 So Jason named her Argo, which was quite 
 An honor to Argus, the great shipwright ; 
 A cup of Thracian wine poured on her prow. 
 Her sponsor, Juno, and godmother, now. 
 Next day there came a score of men to 
 town, 
 Brave heroes they, and men of great renown ; 
 And they were followed, day by day, until 
 Full sixty god-like warriors did fill 
 The shipping list; all men of daring, too; 
 All eager for the quest — a noble crew. 
 From far and near these warriors came in 
 
 haste ; 
 To answer Jason's call, no time did waste. 
 And all were famous demigods, you see. 
 The very flower of Grecian chivalry. 
 
 12 
 
IRST Orpheus, the great musician, 
 came, 
 Who with his lyre had made a last- 
 ing name; 
 *Tis said he played so well that 
 
 rocks and trees 
 Broke from their bonds and followed 
 him with ease; 
 (But we have seen the same, where clubs and 
 
 stones. 
 In our own day, have followed dulcet tones 
 Emitted from some strolling German band.) 
 To Hades once he took his lyre in hand. 
 To fetch his wife, Eurydice, from there 
 (The place where all good liars do repair) ; 
 But looking backward, lost his wife, so dear ; 
 Brought back his lyre to earth — it still is here. 
 
 Anon there came Asterion. Then we 
 Have Nauplius, whose tears made salt the 
 
 sea; 
 Erginus, swift of foot, and gray-haired, too. 
 Though young in years as any in the crew; 
 Both sons of Neptune. And then after these, 
 One Polyphemus, friend of Hercules ; 
 Not one-eyed Pol., by Ulysses made blind, 
 But Pol. who fought the Centaurs, drunk, 
 you mind. 
 Then came two other friends within the 
 hour — 
 Bold Theseus, who slew the Minotaur, 
 And Pirithous, gallant forest king ; — 
 Some doubt they went, but some doubt every- 
 thing. 
 
HEN came the prophet Idmon, 
 though he knew 
 HeM lose his life, as well as Ti- 
 phys, too. 
 
 Diana sent her best loved, chosen friend; 
 In answer to the summons, did commend 
 Fair Atalanta, swiftest runner, too, 
 And only woman in the Argo's crew; 
 But she could hold her own in fight or chase. 
 With any man ; she was not commonplace ; 
 Perhaps new woman you would call her now, 
 If you knew woman, that I might allow; 
 But in our day, I think you will admit 
 Miss Atalanta would be called misfit. 
 
 Oileus, the red-haired Locrian king. 
 Next came to town, well armed with every- 
 thing. 
 Then Iphiclus, the cow-boy, who, we ^11 own. 
 Drank iron rust to give him nerve and tone. 
 Admetus, king of Pherae, got the word ; 
 Whose herd Apollo tended once, we Ve heard. 
 Two sons of Mercury, who M left their farms. 
 In Jason's cause resolved to take up arms — 
 Echion and his brother, Eurytus. 
 
 Then came the unsexed woman, Caeneus, 
 Whom Neptune changed, we read, from 
 
 woman, fair. 
 To man, with all her rights and some to 
 
 spare. 
 Then came another prophet, Mopsus ; he 
 Was also skilled in ornithology. 
 
 -/Ethalides was herald of the crew 
 (Echion was another herald, too) ; 
 
Eurydamus, an oarsman known to fame; 
 Mencetius, son of Actor^ also came. 
 
 Eurytion^ and then Eribotes, 
 Were seen approaching thro' the forest trees. 
 Then next came Clytius and Iphitus, 
 Both gallant sons of old man Eurytus, 
 And both were mighty bowmen, for you 
 
 know 
 They claimed to be inventors of the bow. 
 
 And then a gilded chariot to the town 
 Bore two brave men of wisdom and renown, 
 The brothers Peleus and Telamon ; 
 And bold Phalerus followed closely on. 
 Then Butes, who for beauties had an eye, 
 And weakness for the weaker sex, came nigh. 
 
 The helmsman, Tiphys, pilot of the ship, 
 By Juno was induced to make the trip; 
 No man more skillful in his way than he. 
 Well versed in signs of air and sky and sea. 
 Next, Phlias, son of Bacchus, joined the crew; 
 His vineyards left to sail the ocean blue. 
 
 Then came the King of Clubs, great 
 Hercules, 
 To brave the terrors of the unknown seas ; 
 As he approached with club and lion's skin. 
 Great was the shout, vociferous the din 
 That rent the air; and Jason paid the rent. 
 And Hercules invited to his tent. 
 Of his twelve labors great we all have heard. 
 And when and where and how they all oc- 
 curred; 
 Labors most capital; the greatest known; 
 But Capital such Labor could not own. 
 
 15 
 
YE G^O'DS 6Eb 
 1,ITTLT> FISHES 
 
 mITH Hercules there came his trusty 
 squire, 
 The fair and faithful Hylas, whose 
 
 fond sire, 
 Theodamas, had given him leave 
 
 to go, 
 To bear the giant's arrows and 
 his bow; 
 
 No braver lad in Greece than Hylas, Esq., 
 Not only brave, but fair and picturesque. 
 Two heroes, world-renowned from cast 
 to west, 
 Next morning early came to join the quest, 
 Both Castor and his brother, Pollux; they 
 Were twins, and sons of Leda, and they say, 
 I swan 1 that Jove himself was e'en their sire, 
 And on these cygnets set his signet, fire ; 
 By Gemini, they still are known ; in fine, 
 A constellation bright they nightly shine; 
 And Pollux was the champion pugilist. 
 No man could stand before his awful fist ; 
 Jim Corbett, Sharkey or the long-armed Fitz, 
 Would be no more to him than three tomtits. 
 And Castor was the champion charioteer. 
 Well known on Grecian turf ; the chanticleer — 
 Cock of the walk— in all athletic sports ; 
 Took all the prizes in games of all sorts. 
 
 Then Lynceus and Idas I must name. 
 Two brothers who from fair Messene came ; 
 Lynceus was the lookout of the ship. 
 And nothing his observant gaze could slip; 
 In earth, or waters underneath, could be 
 No thing too small for Lynceus to see. 
 
 vn 
 
1 
 
 HEN Periclymenest who had the 
 power 
 To change his shape or form, 
 from hour to hour; 
 No doubt a Minyan politician, he, 
 And shaped his ends to suit vox populu 
 Ancseus, lover of the ocean blue, 
 A skillful sailor and good helmsman, too. 
 Then from Arcadian forests, fair and 
 green, 
 Amphidamus and Cepheus are seen. 
 The cow-boy, Augeas, from his cattle ranch, 
 A man of vaFrous deeds and warrior staunch. 
 Asterius and Amphion, both brave. 
 Came next to join the quest by ocean wave. 
 
 Then followed one, so fleet of foot was he. 
 That dry shod he could run upon the sea ; 
 Euphemus was his name, he beat the earth. 
 And water too, for all his feet were worth. 
 From Calydon there next arrived that 
 day 
 The valiant Meleager, whom, they say. 
 Was second best to no man of the force 
 (But Hercules we must except, of course). 
 His uncle, too, the brave Laocoon, 
 Was eager for the laurels to be won; 
 Another uncle, also, Iphiclus — 
 The second of that name it seems to us. 
 Just here V\\ say what may be known to 
 you, 
 A duplicate Ancaeus joined the crew. 
 Upon investigation it was found 
 There were not names enough to go around ; 
 
J^ITTHE FISHES % 
 
 MALL, common names were 
 
 rife, and did increase, 
 But big, hard names were rather 
 
 scarce in Greece ; 
 A nose by any other name would 
 
 smell — 
 But Jim for Jason would not do 
 so well. 
 Then Palaemonius, son of 
 Lcrnus, came, 
 And in good time, for he was slightly lame. 
 The mighty hunter, Areas, then came in. 
 His well-filled quiver made of leopard's skin. 
 Now, with a mighty, rushing, curious 
 sound, 
 Flew through the air and lit upon the ground 
 Two brothers, sons of Boreas, the bold — 
 Zcta and Calais, whom, we 're told. 
 Could fly at will, or fly at anything. 
 For to each heel there was affixed a wing ; 
 Some say the wings were on their heads — 
 
 the fools ! — 
 Had that been so these brothers had been 
 
 mules ; 
 In either case I think we '11 not deny 
 What seems more certain — they were very fly. 
 
 Asclepius, a surgeon of great skill, 
 Then next arrived, to either cure or kill; 
 No allopath or homoeopath was he. 
 From Chiron he got his degree, M.D.; 
 And Chiron, being more than one-half horse. 
 Was versed in spavin, ringbone, and, of 
 course. 
 
 r 
 
 
He treated these as well as human ills, 
 And tauo:ht his students how to make horse 
 
 pills; 
 The practice in his hos^pital, you see^ 
 To some estent was vet-er-i-na-ry. 
 
 The son of Pelias, the king, you know, 
 Acastus, then expressed his wish to go. 
 And Neleus, though growing old and gray. 
 Was not content, alone, at home to stay; 
 For Periclymenes and Nestor, too. 
 And they were both his sons, had joined the 
 
 crew. 
 Almenus, son of Mars, was next to come. 
 Laertes, too, from Ithaca, his home. 
 Two sons of Bias, both of whom were game, 
 Areius and Talaus, also came. 
 Then Canthus, fiom Euboea, slim and tall; 
 And mighty Leodocus last of all. 
 
 Perhaps there *s some whom IVe forgot 
 
 to name. 
 Some village champion, though unknown to 
 
 fame; 
 And some Pve named, perhaps, it did not 
 
 suit 
 To go, and therefore sent a substitute. 
 As this occurred so many years ago. 
 Some names have been forgotten, that I know ; 
 And some there were who never learned to 
 
 write. 
 But signed the roll with ** X, his mark,*' all 
 
 right; 
 And in this way these men of mark expressed 
 Their firm and strong desire to join the quest. 
 
 a 
 
 ly 
 
 19 
 
And I am very sorry — might say vexed — 
 That but an X was for such names annexed ; 
 For doubtless they were brave and gallant 
 
 men, 
 And may have fought and bled and died ; but 
 
 then — 
 Were, lacking friends with pull and cinch at 
 
 court, 
 Not named in the official report. 
 
 That nighty was spread upon the board, a 
 feast ; 
 And all the heroes from the first to least. 
 And guests of honor, men of high renown. 
 And dignitaries of the far-famed town. 
 Were all assembled ^round the festive board. 
 And held high wassail ; all with one accord, 
 To celebrate with joy the great event. 
 And give a glorious send-off — wise intent — 
 To sixty godlike heroes, who were bound 
 To fleece that Golden Fleece wherever found, 
 And bring it back to Thcssaly, a full 
 Yard wide, and warranted to be all wool. 
 
 M,^>a 
 
And so they held high wassail, as Tvc 
 
 told; 
 Though some drank more than mortal man 
 
 could hold ; 
 The stomach of the godlike man, you see, 
 Was wassail-proof,, of high or low degree. 
 The great promoter of the quest was there, 
 The wily king, who spoke and sawed the air 
 With frantic gestures, with his royal arms. 
 The glories to enhance, and the alarms 
 Of any thought of danger to dispel. 
 And boodle politicians wished them well. 
 And government contractors, on the make. 
 Who furnished commissaries, for the sake 
 Of Grecian glory and renown, they said; 
 But public honor then, as now, was dead ; 
 In olden time, the same as in our day, 
 Contract supplies — enlarge the bills — their 
 
 way. 
 So these contractors, with their pockets filled. 
 Cried **Bon voyage;'' cared not if all were 
 
 killed. 
 'J^nE banquet, though, was voted a suc- 
 ^^ cess. 
 
 And all enjoyed the function, more or less ; 
 With mirth and music, song and speech and 
 
 wine. 
 They filled the long, dark watches, I opine ; 
 So, all night long they quaffed the wassail 
 
 cup. 
 And at the break of day were all broke up — 
 The banquet, not the wassail cup, I mean — 
 As soon as Sol appeared upon the scene ; 
 
.■i.v^ 
 
 J^ITTLE FISHES 
 
 As he emerged and mounted in the sky. 
 It seemed as though he winked his other eye ; 
 The reason, though, is very plain to me, 
 ^T was water in his eye from out the sea ; 
 At boozy men he M scarcely deign to wink. 
 When he himself had just come out the drink. 
 ^EXT morning, on the sun- 
 lit, curving strand 
 Of Pagasae, the harbor 
 
 bay, did stand 
 The populace of lolchos, 
 to view 
 
 The proud ship Argo and her famous crew. 
 Right bravely rode the gay and gallant ship, 
 And tugged the twisted cable she would slip, 
 And spread her wings to catch the western 
 
 breeze. 
 And sail away to lands beyond the seas. 
 
 An altar then was built upon the shore. 
 Of stones and shingle from the beach; and 
 
 o^er 
 It all were placed the olive logs, well dried ; 
 A blazing brand of fir was then applied. 
 Two steers were slaughtered for the sacrifice 
 To Neptune or Apollo ; I ^m not wise 
 Enough to say to which of these two gods 
 The offering was made, but by all odds 
 It was the greatest barbecue, I Ve heard. 
 That ever in Thessalian land occurred. 
 
 The king was there and cast the barley 
 meal. 
 And Jason poured libations, pure, to seal 
 The compact he and all the others made. 
 
 
 Z^^j'^ 
 
 
 
 
 Ki.: 
 
To leave the Grecian border on this raid, 
 And not return until their hands did hold 
 That sacred thing to Greece, the Fleece of 
 Gold. 
 
 The flames leaped high; and upward, 
 wreaths of smoke 
 Ascended, happy omen, to invoke 
 The aid of Neptune or Apollo; and 
 The roast beef gravy mingled with the sand. 
 
 And sand and grit these warriors possessed 
 To sail their galley east, or galley west; 
 But toward the east to sail to Colchis land. 
 It was their fixed intent, you understand; 
 No altar now could alter this decree. 
 To steer due east across the Euxine sea; 
 No sacrificial ox could circumvent. 
 Or change their course from east to Occident. 
 But hap^Iy all the signs and omens too, 
 Implied success and honor to the crew. 
 
 HE heroes now were all aboard the 
 ship. 
 And casting lots for places on the trip. 
 The middle bench of upper bank of oars 
 (For on the ship there were two decks or 
 
 floors) 
 Was then by common will of all assigned 
 To Hercules and Ancaeus ; a kind 
 Of place of honor, also one of rank; 
 Their mighty strokes were tellers in that bank. 
 And in the second bank, the middle seat 
 Was giv^n to Atalanta, who was sweet 
 On Meleager, sitting by her side; 
 And thus for months contented they did ride. 
 
 23 
 
<::^— --^= 
 
 YE G^O^DS 6$b 
 
 LITTHE^FISHES SI 
 
 Or rather, rowed, the galley toward the east ; 
 Their bank account was good, to say the least. 
 I HE helm was given to Tiphys, 
 who could steer 
 By day or night, in weather 
 
 foul or clear; 
 The tiller ropes were his, 
 
 with one accord, 
 Until her ropes and spars 
 went by the board. 
 And Lynceus, the lookout, then was named; 
 For periscopic vision he was famed ; 
 As lookout all the others looked to him. 
 To see that safely rode their vessel trim. 
 Then Jason was elected Captain bold. 
 And all the rest were mates, so I Ve been told ; 
 They could not go before the mast, you ^11 find. 
 For that was near the middle ; so behind 
 The mast one-half the crew were thus com- 
 pelled 
 To sit, as they the gallant bark propelled. 
 With fifty oars through fifty holes, was she, 
 A wholly holy terror of the sea. 
 
 And now the cables were drawn in and 
 coiled ; 
 The anchor raised and fished; the crew all 
 
 toiled 
 In getting under way ; then to his oar 
 Each warrior went, and looking toward the 
 
 shore. 
 Gave three loud cheers in old vociferous 
 
 Greek, 
 As went the Grecian banner to the peak. 
 
 v;^ 
 
 
 w 
 
 V' 
 
 
 
 
 w 
 
 "M 
 
The folk on shore responded with a will ; 
 Responsive echoes came from every hill ; 
 And from the top of tall Mount Pelion 
 The good old Centaur Chiron looked upon 
 The stirring scene below, and breathed a 
 
 prayer 
 For Jason^s safe return, his only care. 
 
 And all the gods and woodland nymphs 
 looked down, 
 To see these men of courage and renown ; 
 The Tritons and the nymphs. Nereides, 
 Were looking on in wonder, from the seas ; 
 And as they looked, admired, for truth to 
 
 say. 
 They *d ne^er before seen such a grand array 
 Of handsome, strong, and well-armed men ; 
 
 in fine. 
 Each man was one-half human, half divine. 
 HEN Tiphys grasped the tiller 
 with his hand. 
 And fifty oars gave way at his 
 command ; 
 With measured strokes the feathered oars 
 
 kept time 
 To voice and lyre of Orpheus, sublime. 
 Who played and sung of war and doughty 
 
 deeds 
 That, doughty then, are doubted now, for 
 
 creeds 
 Of olden time are looked upon to-day 
 As fairy tales or fables, sad to say. 
 
LITTLE FI3HES%\ 
 
 ND Jason, standing in the stern, 
 a-lec, 
 Then poured a cup of mead upon 
 
 the sea ; 
 And fishes followed in the gal- 
 
 ley^s wake, 
 Great tunnies, dolphins, mullet, 
 
 cod and hake. 
 Enchanted by the lyre of Or- 
 pheus — 
 It might have been the mead, it seems to us — 
 But lyres and fishes, ever since that day, 
 Are strangely coupled, but this way — 
 The liars follow fishes — lie in wait, 
 And then, when caught, again they lie in 
 weight. 
 Thus Argo left her moorings in the bay. 
 And cleft the sun-kissed waves, as on her way 
 She dashed the spray on either side the prow. 
 And proudly glided o'er the sea ; and now 
 The Argonauts, responsive to the skill 
 Of helmsman Tiphys, labored with a will, 
 And turned the harbor headland with a dash, 
 That seemed to those on shore to be a flash 
 Of vivid lightning, as the morning sun 
 On burnished slSelds and weapons brightly 
 
 shone ; 
 The glare from highly polished helmet scales. 
 And gilded figurehead and gilded wales. 
 Reflected by the rays of bright sunlight. 
 Seemed like a meteor as she passed from sight. 
 The folk on shore then slowly took their 
 
 way 
 
 26 
 
Back toward the city gates, a sad array 
 Of weeping maidens, who with every tear 
 Breathed silent prayers for those they held so 
 
 dear; 
 And sad-browed men, and heart-sick mothers 
 
 too, 
 Besought the gods to guard the vaFrous 
 
 crew. 
 But Pelias, the king, with joy was filled, 
 And hoped and prayed that Jason would be 
 
 killed ; 
 And with pretended grief upon his face. 
 The tenor of his inmost thoughts was base. 
 Now Neptune showed his favor for the 
 
 crew. 
 And raised the wind in their behalf; 'tis true 
 A fresh and merry, wholesail, western breeze 
 Came piping off the shore across the seas ; 
 The rowers, at command of Tiphys, then 
 Laid by their oars, and like good sailor men. 
 Unfurled and hoisted up and spread the sail. 
 And trimmed it flat to catch the gentle gale. 
 The Argo like a sea bird fairly flew 
 With widespread wing across the waters blue ; 
 And like a sea bird dipped her outstretched 
 
 wing, 
 And from her prow in showers the spray did 
 
 fling. 
 Then Orpheus tuned up his lyre and sung 
 An old sea ballad, learned when he 
 
 young. 
 He sung of Saturn, mighty Titan, who 
 With murderous intent a sickle drew, 
 
6^ 
 J^ITTLE FISHES 
 
 ^jjsiwpy*^ 
 
 And slashed his father^ Uranos, whose blood 
 Dropped in the sea^ and from the salty flood 
 Arose fair Venus, born of blood which fell 
 Upon the ocean wave ; so blood will tell. 
 And Saturn was the famous sire, 't is said, 
 Of Centaur Chiron, blooded thoroughbred. 
 
 E also sang of Bacchus, who, 
 
 he told. 
 Was captured by Tyrsenian 
 
 pirates bold; 
 Was bound with cords and 
 
 taken on their ship; 
 But from his godlike limbs the cords did slip; 
 And vines of grape and ivy climbed the mast — 
 The captain wild with rage, the men aghast — 
 And grapes and berries hung in clusters fair 
 From shrouds and stays and spars and every- 
 where ; 
 And Bacchus, turning to a lion, then, 
 Devoured the captain ; and the men, 
 With terror filled, plunged headlong in the sea. 
 And there were turned to dolphins, all agree. 
 If any doubt this story told the crew, 
 The dolphins still exist to prove it true. 
 In point of fact, these fish that very day. 
 Charmed by the lyre of Orpheus and his lay, 
 Close to the Argo swam, with crested jaws. 
 And flapped their tails in token of applause. 
 
 Now past the Pelian cliffs the Argo sped. 
 The Sepian headland now in sight, ahead ; 
 This was the place where Thetis, by her 
 
 wish. 
 Did change herself into a cuttle-fish, 
 
 28 
 
 ^^ 
 
 ya 
 
And various other formst as fast she fled 
 From Peleus, who wanted her to wed; 
 Till, tired of change of form, she changed her 
 
 mind, 
 And married him; to this he was inclined 
 By Centaur Chiron's sage advice, though she, 
 A lovely water nymph, lived in the sea. 
 They had one son, Achilles, who was now 
 With Chiron on the lofty mountain brow ; 
 And Peleus was now an Argonaut, 
 And in the sea dwells Thetis, as she ought. 
 These songs were much enjoyed by all 
 
 the crew. 
 Because, you see, theyM nothing else to do; 
 While Meleager, though a warrior grim, 
 Held Atalanta's hand ; she winked at him. 
 And Sepias now astern, they saw the isle 
 Sciathus, on their weather bow ; and while 
 They looked upon the mainland, there they 
 
 saw 
 The headland of Magnesia ; then a flaw 
 Of fresher breeze the Argo caused to list 
 To starboard, while the rising waves she 
 
 kissed. 
 The cairn of Dolops now was in plain view, 
 W hich soon was reached, and then the Argons 
 
 crew 
 The broad sail lowered and furled it on the 
 
 yard; 
 Then took their oars and rowed both fast and 
 
 hard. 
 Until they beached the Argo on the sand; 
 Right glad were they again to tread the land. 
 
 29 
 
 ^e.. 
 
YE 0^07)3 6^ 
 LITTLE FISHES 
 
 ERE Jason camped and rested 
 two long days. 
 The heroes passed the time in 
 
 various ways — 
 In wrestling matches, racing, 
 
 feats of strength, 
 In quoits and boxing, swim- 
 ming — till at length 
 A fair and fresh wind blowing 
 off the land, 
 They pushed the Argo seaward from the 
 
 strand. 
 And making sail, their goodly vessel flew. 
 Right glad again to breast the waters blue. 
 And sailing on and on, at length observed 
 The city Meliboea as they swerved ; 
 Then Homele and other mountains tall — 
 Olympus, Ossa ; higher than them all 
 The Thracian hill of Athos, as they passed, 
 Half way to Hellespont its shadow cast. 
 
 And strong and stronger blew the breeze, 
 and soon 
 The sheets and halyards sung a merry 
 
 tune; 
 The huge sail filled and bellied to the blast, 
 And strained and creaked upon the bended 
 
 mast; 
 But Tiphys eased the Argo o^er the seas. 
 Till with the sun went down the western 
 
 breeze. 
 The heroes then, with oars again in hand. 
 And rowing swiftly toward the rock-crowned 
 land. 
 
 30 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^^^^r^J^C){_ 
 
At nightfall anchored safely in the lee 
 Of Lemnos isle, far out upon the sea. 
 
 Now in this isle the women held full sway, 
 And woman^s rights the order of the day; 
 The women held all offices, from queen 
 To supervisor of the roads, I ween; 
 And all the Lemnian soldiers, rank and file, 
 Wore bifurcated skirts ; for on this isle 
 No man had been allowed to live for years ; 
 No man or boy; for strange it now appears. 
 The females slit the throat of every male. 
 Till not a man was left to tell the tale. 
 
 It seems that on this pleasant, sea-girt isle. 
 Where every prospect pleases, man was vile ; 
 Unfaithful to their lawful wedded wives. 
 They led concupiscent and evil lives. 
 And frequented the Thracian mainland, where 
 They flirted with the women over there. 
 We read that Venus, for some fancied slight. 
 Caused all this trouble dire — it may be right. 
 But every husband gave this same excuse. 
 Which to the classic reader may be news : 
 His wife was fond of onions, musk and myrrh. 
 So that he could not bear the smell of her. 
 And roamed away to other pastures new. 
 And sweeter smelling fragance — so would 
 you. 
 
 All ready for an early start next day. 
 The crew were busy getting under way. 
 When from the shore they heard such noise 
 
 and din. 
 They stopped, and ceased to haul the anchor 
 
 31 
 
sr^ 
 
 
 And looking shoreward, were surprised to sec 
 
 A band of warlike female soldiery, 
 
 Well armed, and with their fighting harness 
 
 on, 
 Each woman seemed a mighty Amazon ; 
 They clashed their swords and shields with 
 
 warlike will, 
 But woman^s usual weapon — tongue — was 
 
 still; 
 And at their head Hypsipyle, their queen. 
 Stood gazing, proud defiance in her mien. 
 
 Then Jason sent ^^thalides, for he 
 Was herald of the ship's good company. 
 To ask what meant this warlike, fierce array. 
 When he was just about to sail away; 
 To tell, moreover, Queen Hypsipyle 
 The object of his mission o'er the sea. 
 
 ER fears removed, the queen 
 then did implore 
 That Jason and his crew 
 
 would come ashore 
 And be her guests, with all 
 
 that did imply; 
 He guessed they would be 
 happy to comply. 
 She sent a formal invitation then 
 To Jason and his crew of gallant men, 
 To meet the ladies of her court at tea. 
 And signed her maiden name : R. S. V. P. 
 
 ^thalides returned and made report; 
 The heroes voted to remain in port ; 
 Accepted was the invitation, too. 
 By every warrior of the Argo's crew, 
 
 32 
 
Except great Hercules, his squire, Hylas, 
 And Meleager, and the warrior lass, 
 Fair Atalanta ; they would not consent 
 To meet these ladies of strong minds and 
 
 scent. 
 In justice, though, it seems but right to say, 
 Their ill smell with their husbands passed 
 
 away; 
 And then the simple truth confronts us, too. 
 That they were sweet — on Jason and his crew. 
 
 And now each sailor overhauled his kit, 
 Picked out his gear of most becoming fit ; 
 His broidered robe of gorgeous woof and hue. 
 His jeweled bek, and burnished it anew; 
 And Orpheus polished well his tuneful lyre ; 
 To look his very best did each aspire. 
 And when they left the ship toward close of 
 
 day. 
 They looked like gods, indeed, as on their 
 
 way 
 They marched in solid ranks with martial 
 
 tread. 
 With Jason, noble hero, at their head; 
 And solid they became with maidens fair 
 Of Lemnos isle — but that ^s not our affair. 
 
 At court the queen received them, one /| 
 
 and all; 
 Assigned to each a seat in banquet hall 
 Beside a lady of the court, but she 
 Had Jason sit beside herself, you see 
 
 33 
 
They had a lovely time, as each one said, 
 For never in that isle was such a spread; 
 The choicest viands, wines and mead were 
 
 there ; 
 While song and speech and story filled the 
 
 air; 
 A feast of reason, surely, for the queen 
 Had reason for the feast, as may be seen ; 
 And then the flow of soul, or overflow. 
 Was most enjoyed, perhaps, as you may know 
 
 HE queen, dissembling, then 
 with cunning speech. 
 Said: *^You, perhaps, have 
 
 wondered at this breach 
 Of etiquette, in asking you to 
 tea. 
 
 With only wives and maidens, as you see ; 
 Perhaps you Ve wondered, also, at the dearth 
 Of men and boys in this fair spot of earth* 
 Know then that they, the lords of Lcmnos 
 
 isle. 
 Oft leave their wives and daughters for awhile. 
 And to the mainland one and all repair. 
 Allured by charms of pretty maidens there ; 
 And personae non gratae we are now. 
 Deserted and neglected, you ^11 allow. 
 
 But now for woman's rights we all de- 
 clare ; 
 WeVe banished all the males, ^tis only fair 
 And right ; in other words, we Ve cut them, 
 
 dead. 
 And we strong-minded women rule instead. 
 
 34 
 
We think we live much better^ on the whole, 
 Since every woman now is femme-sole ; 
 For in our courts the married ones^ of course, 
 Obtained decrees of absolute divorce. 
 We bought a pair of Justice scales, and then 
 We weighed the thoughts and actions of our 
 
 men; 
 Weighed in the balance thus, from day to day, 
 We found that all were wanton, in their 
 
 weigh. 
 WeVe notified our husbands, so ^tis clear 
 They^II never more come back to interfere.** 
 And thus the time was spent from day to 
 
 day. 
 In dinner parties, teas and picnics gay; 
 The heroes well content to stay on land. 
 Till Hercules felt called to take a hand; 
 With club and lion^s skin he went on shore. 
 And with his comrades talked the matter o*er. 
 
 ^*If Jason wishes to remain,*' said he, 
 ** The Jack of Hearts to Queen Hypsipyle, 
 Then I, the King of Clubs, will take the trick. 
 And steer our gallant ship through thin and 
 
 thick. 
 Fair Atalanta, Meleager bold 
 And I will try to seize the Fleece of Gold; 
 For we stand pat ; we know three of a kind 
 Is good enough to see and raise your blind. 
 You think your royal flush is sure to win ; 
 You *11 find it but a bob-tail, sure as sin. 
 We *re good enough to open, and will take 
 The jack-pot, with the Fleece of Gold — the 
 
 stake.** 
 
 35 
 
HE heroes, much ashamed at this 
 reproof, 
 Resolved to leave at once the 
 
 royal roof; 
 By Jason led, they bid a fond 
 
 farewell 
 To queen, and ladies of the court, 
 as well. 
 
 In solid phalanx then they formed once more. 
 And marched with heavy footsteps to the 
 
 shore ; 
 Their spears and shields adorned with flowers 
 
 rare, 
 And other tokens from the Lemnian fair, 
 Who weeping sadly, said, with tearful voice : 
 ^* Again weVe widows lone, but not from 
 choice/' 
 Then all the heroes went aboard the ship; 
 The cable from the stern did Argus slip 
 From round a rock; and then the Argo's crew 
 Hove up the anchor stone, and fished it, too ; 
 Then took their places at the oars, and soon 
 Were swiftly rowing to a measured tune : 
 '* The Girl I Left Behind Me,'' done in Greek, 
 An ode they owed to Lemnos, so to speak. 
 That day they reached the island Samo- 
 thrace ; 
 There was a sacred temple in this place ; 
 And secret rites were practiced by the crew. 
 Which right or wrong, I can't reveal to you. 
 They left next day and seemed a trifle tired, 
 Though what the reason was, IVe not in- 
 quired ; 
 
^OOJ^J 
 
 But Orpheus, who'd been there once before, 
 And knew the grips and passwords — smiled 
 
 the more. 
 The south wind then began to blow quite 
 
 hard; 
 They raised the sail and spread it on the 
 
 yard, 
 And sailing thence o'er the -^gean sea, 
 The Hellespont they entered with great glee ; 
 For now good fishing they were sure to find, 
 And soon their lines were trolling out behind. 
 
 And Atalanta, to their great surprise. 
 The first fish caught, a tunny of some size; 
 Hand over hand she hauled it o'er the stern. 
 The coarse line made her little fingers burn ; 
 But with some pride she brought it in with 
 
 ease. 
 ** He '11 weigh a stone or more," said Hercules ; 
 ** He '11 weigh the anchor stone, you mean," 
 
 she said. 
 And whirled her line three times around her 
 
 head. 
 Then cast it far to leeward ; strange to say, 
 Another fish she caught; it was her day; 
 Another tunny, flapping fins and tail. 
 As Atalanta drew it o'er the rail ; 
 This one so big she had to use the gaff. 
 **He'll weigh a tunny more," she said, ^*now 
 
 laugh!" 
 They wondered all to see the luck she had ; 
 A full round dozen, dolphins too, egad I 
 The others fishing by her side, alas 1 
 Got ne^er a bite — and thus it came to pass : 
 
 37 
 
 9^- 
 
HILE all the crew at Lemnos 
 were away^ 
 Fair Atalanta watched the fishes 
 
 play 
 About the ship. One day a bit 
 
 of brass 
 Fell overboard ; a great fish made 
 a pass 
 
 And seized it ere it sunk — a happy thought : 
 Then Atalanta took an armor scale^ 
 In one end drilled a hole with sharpened nail ; 
 With constant rubbing made it shine quite 
 
 bright, 
 Then fixed it just above the hook, aright ; 
 The line passed through the little hole, you see, 
 And round the hook it whirled quite merrily. 
 And this the lure evolved from woman's 
 mind, 
 The first revolving fish-bait of its kind ; 
 And thus you see — you '11 not forget it soon — 
 A woman did invent the trolling spoon. 
 The proof is this : that I, myself, one day — 
 Near where Leander swam across the bay — 
 Picked up a sea-worn, spoon-shaped scale of 
 
 brass. 
 With letter **h!* scratched on one side ; alas I 
 Poor Atalanta lost it all too soon ; 
 Her loss, my gain, for now this souvenir spoon. 
 And well preserved, may still be gazed upon. 
 Though one thing still it lacks — the hole i^ 
 
 gone; 
 The letter alpha 's there, graved on the bowl ; 
 In fact, there 's nothing missing but the hole. 
 
 m 
 
 
 38 
 
 <?S^ 
 
 ^^^k^- 
 
CHE wind blew fresh and fair ; the weather 
 bright; 
 Ancaeus steered the ship by day; at night 
 The helmsman Tiphys^ with his sight so keen, 
 The tiller held ; and so they sailed between 
 The land of Ida on the starboard side, 
 Rhoeteum on the port ; and on the tide 
 Passed Abydos and Abarnis ; at last 
 From Hellespont to the Propontis passed. 
 And came to Cyzicum, a harbor fair ; 
 And by advice of Tiphys anchored there. 
 *T was here they got a heavier anchor stone, 
 And tautened shrouds and stays, which all 
 
 must own 
 Was a most wise and thoughtful thing to do. 
 For men about to sail in waters new. 
 
 Beyond the harbor, and the river, too, 
 A lofty, rugged hill stood in plain view; 
 And on this hill a wild and lawless race 
 Of earth-born men did dwell, both big and 
 
 base; 
 Each giant had six arms, as we are told, 
 A full half dozen weapons thus could hold; 
 With bows of cornel wood we must aver. 
 The first six-shooters in the world, they were. 
 
 The peaceful people of the harbor town. 
 The Doliones, men of good renown. 
 And ruled by Cyzicus, the youthful king, 
 A welcome warm, and food and drink did 
 
 bring 
 To Jason and the rest. It seems the king. 
 By Juno, had been warned to do this thing; 
 
 39 
 
 9^^ 
 
I^JTTLE FISHES SI 
 
 To give good cheer and welcome to the crew ; 
 
 And this the generous king proposed to do ; 
 
 In fact, he gave the best, spared no expense, 
 
 To please his famous guests, in every sense. 
 
 Receptions, dinner parties, breakfasts rare, 
 
 Were also given by the ladies fair 
 
 Of Dolionian society, 
 
 To Jason and the Grecian chivalry ; 
 
 For at the banquet in the royal hall. 
 
 The object of the quest was told to all. 
 
 EXT morning Jason,Tiphys 
 and a score 
 Of Argonauts, went inland 
 
 to explore. 
 And climb the mountain 
 Dindymus, to see 
 The route their voyage led them o'er the sea. 
 The earth-born giants then from Arctos hill. 
 With rocks the seaward channel tried to fill, 
 And pen the Argo, like a rat, inside. 
 The sport of wind and wave and every tide. 
 Then Hercules, who had remained behind. 
 Had sport exactly suited to his mind ; 
 And with his mighty arm and bended bow, 
 With every arrow laid a giant low ; 
 His arrows gone he took his brazen club ; 
 The others joined him, in the fierce hubbub, 
 With sword and spear, and soon they won 
 
 the day. 
 And every six-armed man had passed away. 
 Instead of passing rocks to impede ships, 
 It kept them busy passing in their chips. 
 
 
 I 
 
 
Forehanded men^ of course, we often see; 
 To be forewarned is forearmed said to be ; 
 But six-armed men are now extinct, indeed, 
 The Argonauts wiped out the useless breed. 
 
 Now Jason and the heroes bade farewell 
 To Cyzicus the king, his bride as well, 
 The fair-haired Cleite, and her ladies true, 
 And all the gallant Cyzicusscs, too. 
 
 With southwest wind they crossed the 
 harbor bar, 
 Sailed day and night by sun and polar star. 
 One night a dreadful, raging storm did break. 
 That made the Argons well-hewn timbers 
 
 quake ; 
 The lightnings flashed across the inky sky, 
 The thunders rolled and rattled far and nigh. 
 
 Then Jason, sleeping, had a horrid dream ; 
 So true and realistic did it seem, 
 That some old writers thought it was a fact ; 
 Have so recorded it with wondrous tact. 
 But Jason dreamed the Argo, without sail. 
 Was driven back before the furious gale 
 To Cyzicum; and in the haven there — 
 Of this, however, they were unaware — 
 The Argo safe was anchored by the glare 
 Of lightning flashing brightly through the air. 
 
 He further dreamed the heroes went ashore. 
 Not knowing that theyM been there once 
 
 before; 
 In truth, they did not think then to inquire. 
 But, with great shouts of joy, they built a fire 
 To dry their dripping garments, and to make 
 A sacrifice to Neptune, for their sake. 
 
 41 
 
HE Dolioncs woke with dread 
 and fright, 
 And in the darkness of the horrid 
 
 night, 
 Put on their fighting harness, 
 
 seized their arms, 
 Rushed out to know the cause 
 of these alarms; 
 And seeing men about a fire bright, 
 And arms and armor flashing in its light. 
 Thought that their foes had come with fire to 
 
 burn 
 And sack their city. Then each man in turn 
 Let fly his arrow ; then with shield and spear, 
 Rushed all together, without thought of fear, 
 Upon the Argonauts, who much surprised— 
 Not knowing they were friends they highly 
 
 prized — 
 Gave blow for blow; and fierce the battle 
 
 raged. 
 Until the Argonauts became enraged 
 And drove the Doliones back to town ; 
 And sad to say, a score of men went down 
 Before their spears. At last, at break of day. 
 It was discovered then to their dismay, 
 That they had fought their friends. The sad- 
 dest thing — 
 Among the dead was Cyzicus, the king. 
 Then Jason woke; his mind was much 
 relieved 
 To find it all a dream, which, he believed. 
 Had really happened ; and the storm now o^er, 
 The Argo sailed along the peaceful shore. 
 
 42 
 
 W. 
 
 %^^^I3 
 
 ^\ 
 
A crested bird then flew above the mast^ 
 And perched upon the high-peaked stern, at 
 
 last; 
 A loud and cheery, joyous^ trilling note 
 Then issued from its swelling, azure throat ; 
 It was a brave king-fisher, halcyon bird, 
 That came to bring the tired sailors word, 
 That now from storms for weeks they would 
 
 be free. 
 With summer weather and a rippling sea. 
 
 And now a calm succeeded to the gale ; 
 Each rower took his oar and did not fail 
 To do his very level best; for both 
 The first and second banks, of course, were 
 
 loth 
 To be outdone ; and port and starboard, too, 
 Did try each other^s mettle to outdo. 
 
 Then Hercules put forth his mighty 
 
 strength, 
 And would have turned the ship around, at 
 
 length, 
 But suddenly his great oar broke in half, 
 And back he tumbled from the bench; the 
 
 laugh 
 Was then on him ; but turning to the rest. 
 Said : ** Who laughs last will always laugh 
 
 the best.'' 
 The broken oar he spliced with leather 
 
 braid. 
 And trimming down the broad and flattened 
 
 blade. 
 He made a fishing rod some ten yards long. 
 Much like a flag-staff, trim and very strong; 
 
 43 
 
 (<:, 
 
J^ITTLE FISHES 
 
 With leather loops tied on the rod and tip, 
 Through which, as guides, the fishing line 
 would slip. 
 
 ITH two round shields, and 
 spindles in between, 
 He made an object none 
 
 had ever seen; 
 The central shaft extended 
 
 through a hole 
 
 Bored through the butt of his big fishing pole ; 
 With handle near the edge of outer rim, 
 It freely turned ; he said it suited him. 
 
 The signal halyards for a line he took ; 
 And from a rod of brass he made a hook. 
 Such fishing tackle none had ever seen ; 
 The rod and reel were something new I ween ; 
 The very first that ever had been known, 
 And Hercules invented both, we ^11 own. 
 And then he took a strip of lion^s pelt, 
 Some silken bits from Atalanta's belt, 
 A plume from Jason's helmet, who was nigh ; 
 With these he tied an artificial fly. 
 
 Then Hercules addressed the crew and 
 said: 
 ** Fair Atalanta as high-hook's ahead ; 
 She beat us all a-fishing with her spoon. 
 But I expect to take her laurels soon. 
 I Ve thought about this thing from day to day, 
 And when I broke my oar, I saw my way. 
 One day, while idly looking on the sea, 
 I saw some big fish feeding, on the lee ; 
 A school of sprats was floating with the tide, 
 On them the fish were feeding, side by side ; 
 
 44. 
 
And then a tern, attracted by the prey, 
 Swooped down and mingled in the fishy fray ; 
 A fish then lifted up his ponderous jaw. 
 Took in the tern, and that *s the last I saw. 
 Now, one good tern deserves another, sure ; 
 So I have made this artificial lure. 
 Well calculated to deceive, you ^11 learn; 
 You call it what you will — I ^11 call the tern/^ 
 
 Then Hercules began to cast his fly, 
 With all the others standing idly by ; 
 His ponderous rod he waved both back and 
 
 forth. 
 The heavy line did follow, south, then north ; 
 The fly in air, and then in water, too. 
 As first in front, and then behind it flew ; 
 Each cast he made was longer than before. 
 Until the fly reached half way to the shore. 
 
 And now the rest began to smile and 
 laugh, 
 The bolder ones, indeed, began to chaff : 
 **Vd spare the rod and use a trolling line,** 
 Said Atalanta, ^^and PU lend you mine.** 
 ** Just look,** said Meleager, ** how he reels 
 About the quarter-deck, with those big wheels.** 
 **I*ve noticed that,** said Polyphemus, **too; 
 I think he*s got wheels in his head; don*t 
 
 you 
 
 >** 
 
 ** He seems to have a cast in either eye,** 
 Said fleet Euphemus, walking quickly by. 
 ** I think he *d better take a tern below,** 
 Said Periclymenes, and turned to go. 
 
 45 
 
E* S teaching swallows how to 
 use their wings/^ 
 Said Iphiclus ; and others said 
 
 these things : 
 ** One swallow never made a 
 
 summer yet/^ 
 **But this a cold day makes 
 for Here, you betP^ 
 ** I think we M better let him take the mast, 
 And with the anchor cable make a cast/^ 
 **Hc could n^t catch the measles with that 
 
 blind/^ 
 ** He ^s caught a cold already, in his mind/* 
 ** No doubt it *s lots of sport for manly men 
 To cast that rope and wind it up again ;^* 
 From Atalanta came this parting shot, 
 Then went below to fix her Psyche knot. 
 
 But Hercules cast far upon the tide. 
 And gently jerked the lure from side to side. 
 When suddenly a great fish passing by. 
 Turned in his course and quickly seized 
 
 the fly. 
 Then Hercules, with triumph in his look. 
 Did yank the rod and set the big brass hook ; 
 This monstrous fish, as long as half the ship. 
 Then started off as if to maKe a trip 
 Around the world in half a dozen days ; 
 But Hercules knew all his water ways. 
 His scaly tricks, and fishy manners, too ; 
 He knew a fish from gills to tail, all thro'. 
 He snubbed him short, the great fish leaped 
 on high. 
 Fell down again, and made the water fly ; 
 
 46 
 
And back and forth he went, and to and fro. 
 The heavy rod was bending like a bow ; 
 And up and down he leaped, this way and 
 
 that, 
 Sometimes 't was hard to tell where he was 
 
 '*at;'' 
 And like a buzz-saw whirled the curious reel ; 
 But Hercules, with sinews strong as steel, 
 On bended rod did play the fish with skill ; 
 Some bet he would, some bet he would not, kill. 
 Twice underneath the ship the huge fish 
 
 went. 
 But Hercules, this trick did circumvent. 
 By passing rod and line around the stern ; 
 Then off upon another tack did turn 
 This monstrous fish. And now two hours 
 
 had passed; 
 It seemed as though the fight all day would 
 
 last ; 
 Till, by a lucky chance came driving by. 
 Old Neptune, with his sea-horse team so spry. 
 Astounded was the famous old sea-king. 
 And stopped to see the outcome of this thing. 
 He much admired the queer, new-fangled 
 
 way. 
 With rod and reel a monstrous fish to play. 
 He watched the rushing, leaping, diving fish ; 
 He heard the rattle of the reel, and swish 
 Of tautened line, that through the water cut ; 
 And saw the angler give the fish the butt. 
 As underneath his car the fish did plunge, 
 He, with his trident, gave a sharp, quick 
 
 lunge, 
 
 W^(^ 
 
 ff^ 
 
tJTTLE FISHES 
 
 ^•f!^ 
 
 And gaffed the fish ; then held it up aloft ; 
 The heroes cheered, and all their helmets 
 
 doffed ; 
 And praised both Hercules and Neptune, 
 
 too; — 
 Who threw the fish on deck, and said: 
 
 '^Adieu'/^ 
 
 ND now a fair wind spring- t^ 
 ing up, just then, 
 They hoisted sail ; got under 
 
 way again. 
 Toward evening, Tiphys, 
 saw a land he knew — 
 The Mysian land, well-watered, fertile, too. 
 They beached the Argo on the sandy shore, 
 And near the river Cios, with good store 
 Of fish and game; with pleasant groves of 
 
 trees ; 
 A camping spot that could not fail to please. 
 Around the fire of olive logs that night. 
 They told of deeds of prowess, sport and fight. 
 
 Next morning, Hercules, set out to find 
 A tree exactly suited to his mind. 
 From which to make an oar both stout and 
 
 long; 
 An oar expressly made for one so strong. 
 The others filled afresh the water jars ; 
 Repaired the rigging, too, like good Jack-tars ; 
 And some went fishing, with the usual brag, 
 Still ethers went to hunt the lordly stag ; 
 And one and all, each in his chosen way, 
 Resolved to spend a happy, pleasant day. 
 
 48 
 
 ^^;,.;:.;- 
 
 ^^^^^'^e. 
 
Toward evening, Hylas, squire of Her- 
 cules, 
 Went wandering thro* the grove of oaken 
 
 trees, 
 With brazen pitcher, searching for a spring 
 Of cool, refreshing water; and did sing 
 With very gladness ; and his charming voice 
 Rang thro* the woods — made even birds 
 
 rejoice. 
 Now Hylas was a handsome youth, whose 
 
 hair, 
 In golden ringlets fell about his fair 
 And girlish face. At last he found the spring. 
 And on the velvet sward himself did fling. 
 Beside the cool and deep and limpid stream. 
 To rest his graceful limbs, and doze and dream. 
 
 The summer afternoon went on apace ; 
 The rising moon shone full on Hylas* face ; 
 The night-birds sung, the crickets chirped 
 
 with glee; 
 Still Hylas slept, from thought of danger free. 
 Then from the deep and silent pool emerged 
 A lovely water-nymph, and round her surged 
 The moonlit waves ; and from her dripping 
 
 hair 
 Fell showers of sparkling water jewels, rare. 
 She then stepped out upon the sloping 
 
 bank, 
 And made her way thro* reeds and rushes 
 
 dank; 
 
 The full moon on her filmy garments beamed. 
 
 Thro' which her form like polished ivory 
 
 gleamed. 
 
 4.9 
 
IITTLE FISHES 
 
 HE stood before the sleeping 
 youth, entranced; 
 The moonbeams thro' his golden 
 
 ringlets danced. 
 Upon the mossy bank she then 
 
 reclined. 
 And gazing on the sleeping youth, 
 her mind 
 
 Was filled with love and admiration true ; 
 A youth so fair and comely, godlike, too, 
 She ne'er had seen before. She heaved a sigh. 
 And crooned a soft and tuneful lullaby : 
 
 *^0 come, and be my love beneath the 
 waves, 
 And dwell with me in mossy, coral caves ; 
 Come, be my love, fair youth, we '11 never part ; 
 You 'U reign forever in my fond, true heart." 
 Then raising Hylas, sleeping, in her arms, 
 She paused awhile to gaze upon his charms ; 
 Then stole along the reedy, sedgy bank. 
 And with her burden in the deep pool sank. 
 Poor Hylas never would be seen again ; 
 He doubtless died with water on the brain. 
 To be exact, his friend Asclepius, 
 Would diagnose it hydrocephalus. 
 
 Next morn they searched the woods for 
 miles around, 
 But gentle Hylas never more was found. 
 Then Hercules, and Polyphemus, too, 
 O'ercome with grief, resolved to leave the 
 
 crew. 
 And stay behind to search both far and near. 
 To find some trace of Hylas, loved so dear. 
 
 50 
 
 y^^K 
 
 3 
 
 
 "^A 
 
Then with sad hearts the others went 
 
 aboard ; 
 To lose three comrades they could ill afford ; 
 But Jason said, and so did all the rest, 
 Whatever the fates decreed, that were the best, 
 A bright effulgent light then shone around, 
 And from the waves arose a fearful sound ; 
 Then from the sea old Glaucus raised his head, 
 And to the wondering crew the sea-god said : 
 
 ** O, Jason, and ye heroes of his quest, 
 *T is true, indeed, that what *s decreed is best ; 
 Grieve not for Hercules, nor Hylas, fair, 
 Nor Polyphemus ; for the gods declare 
 That Hercules to Argos must return, 
 His twelve great labors to perform, to earn 
 A life among the deathless gods, ye see ; 
 And Polyphemus, 't is declared that he 
 Must found a city where you camped last 
 
 night. 
 And everything that 's happened is just right ; 
 For Hylas now's a very happy spouse, 
 And with his lovely wife is keeping house; 
 They keep a famous ocean swell resort, 
 And Hylas now 's a famed aquatic sport. 
 So bid farewell to every vain regret ; 
 You Ve got enough to think about, you bet ! ** 
 
 51 
 
ARGUMENT. 
 
 They reach Bithynia. Amycus, king of the Be- 
 bryces, having challenged any of them to box with him, 
 is slain by Polydeuces, and in the subsequent fight many 
 of the Bebryces fall. At Salmydessa in Thrace they 
 find blind Phineus, whom the sons of Boreas relieve from 
 the attacks of the Harpies. In return he tells them of 
 their voyage. Hence they come to the Symplegades, 
 and, after escaping through them, are received by 
 Lycus, king of the Mariandyni. Idmon and Tiphys die 
 there. They meet with strange adventures among the 
 Chalybes, Tibareni, and Mossynoeci. Coming to an 
 island infested by ** the birds of Ares,** they pick up the 
 shipwrecked sons of Chalciope, who henceforth serve 
 them as guides to Colchis. — (Adapted from the Scho- 
 liasts.) 
 
 53 
 
Then 
 
 HEY sailed all day with wind 
 abaft and free ; 
 And all felt grieved to lose 
 
 their comrades three. 
 They sailed all night till dawn, 
 the wind still fair, 
 when the wind went down, to oars 
 
 (a 
 
 repair ; 
 And just at sunrise anchored in a bight 
 Beneath Posideum headland, on the right. 
 Here Amycus the giant king did dwell. 
 King of the Bebryces, and known quite well 
 To be a champion pugilist and tough, 
 At least he held the belt, and talked enough. 
 He made a law that none dared disobey : 
 That every stranger, chance threw in his 
 
 way, 
 Should have a fight with him, a boxing 
 
 match ; 
 He always killed his man — he got no scratch. 
 The ship was gently rocking on her keel ; 
 The Argonauts had had their morning meal, 
 And on the shore were sitting round the fire, 
 While O^-pheus sang and played his tuneful 
 
 lyre. 
 Then Amycus came stalking down the shore, 
 And like a surly lion loud did roar ; 
 ^^What ho! ye thieves, marauders, sailor 
 
 men! 
 You Ve landed here without permission; then 
 Know ye that I am Amycus, the king. 
 And in your faces I my challenge fling : 
 The boldest man must fight me on the spot. 
 
This is my law, and see ye fail me not ; 
 Trot out your man ; this favor I Vc allowed, 
 Or single-handed I '11 clean out the crowd." 
 
 |IVE us a rest, good king/' then 
 Jason said, 
 **Or I will be compelled to 
 
 punch your head." 
 '^You're talking thro' your 
 helmet, Amycus ; " 
 Said Pollux, champion boxer, ** one of us 
 Could give you cards and spades, casino, too, 
 And knock you out ; an easy thing to do." 
 '^A bad man from Bebrycia, is this king/' 
 Said Erginus, ** I '11 wager an>ihing 
 That he does all his fighting thro' the press." 
 ** The press of circumstances, I should guess," 
 Rejoined Tiphys, ** and the proper thing 
 Would be to grant his pressing suit, this 
 
 king." 
 *^AI1 right," said Pollux, ** that suits me, you 
 
 know, 
 And at his royal nibs I II have a go." 
 
 And Amycus then smiled with inward joy. 
 To think how quick he 'd pulverize this boy. 
 Then Jason marked a ring upon the sand ; 
 And at one side the Argonauts did stand, 
 And at the other side stood Amycus 
 And all his crowd, quite eager for a muss. 
 Then Pollux laid aside his robe and cloak. 
 And to his brother. Castor, then he spoke : 
 ^'You'll be my second, Castor, in this 
 fight; 
 
 r"- — 
 
 ^Ol 
 
Ampulla-holder, Idas; that's all rig^ht; 
 And Jason will be umpire, all agree ; 
 And Amycus may choose the referee/' 
 Then Amycus he chose Lycoreus ; 
 His seconds, Aretus and Oryntus. 
 
 And now the seconds bound the thongs 
 
 of hide 
 About their hands — stood ready by their 
 
 side. 
 Then Pollux spoke and said i " Since you 
 
 are king, 
 PII give you choice of sides in this round 
 
 ring/' 
 But Amycus, impatient, tossed his head. 
 And scorned the generous offer, as he said : 
 **Oh, talk is cheap; Fve had enough of that; 
 I 'm ready now to fight at drop of hat/' 
 ^^AIl right/' said Pollux, ^^I will do that 
 
 thing," 
 And shied his brother Castor in the ring; 
 Because that was the proper thing to do ; 
 All first-class mills start up that way; 'tis 
 
 true. 
 The combatants were ready in the ring. 
 And Pollux smiled ; not so the surly king ; 
 A thunder cloud sat on his regal brow. 
 His big and burly form erect ; and now 
 His ponderous fists he put before his face — 
 He stood, a giant bruiser, in his place. 
 And Pollux, tall and graceful, full of zeal ; 
 His form well-knit and muscles hard as steel ; 
 The hero of a hundred fights was he. 
 The champion of the caestus, all agree. 
 
 57 
 
<^ 
 
 J^ITTLE FISHES 
 
 HEN Jason gave the word, the 
 burly king 
 Rushed like a goaded bull around 
 
 the ring, 
 His long arms striking out on 
 
 every side, 
 To force the fighting now he 
 vainly tried ; 
 But Pollux, wary, warded every blow ; 
 He wished to learn the method of his foe. 
 The first round done, and not a blow was 
 
 struck ; 
 The king disgusted with his sorry luck, 
 And great beads dripping from his face, he 
 
 cried : 
 ** Is this a fight or foot-race ; who *1I decide ? ** 
 ** I guess it is,^^ said Pollux, laughing hard, 
 ** It seems you Ve good at neither, old blow- 
 hard/^ 
 Then Jason gave the word again and 
 smiled ; 
 He said : ** O, king, be gentle with the child/' 
 Then Pollux quickly with his left let fly. 
 And landed squarely on the king's right eye. 
 '^ First blow for Pollux!'' said the umpire; 
 
 then 
 The seconds rubbed, and then, refreshed the 
 men. 
 Then, at the word, both came up to the 
 scratch; 
 It now looked like a genuine slugging match. 
 As blow for blow resounded thro' the air ; 
 ** The king is groggy ! " Jason did declare. 
 
 58 
 
 IS 
 
 ^^^ 
 
 ^. 
 
The king then launched a fearful right hand 
 
 blow 
 That would have felled an ox — it was no go^ 
 For Pollux ducked his head, it grazed his ear, 
 And swinging round his left he put it clear 
 Upon the kingly nose ; the claret flew ; 
 ''First blood for Pollux!'' shouted all the 
 
 crew. 
 Another round ; the king was rather slow ; 
 One eye was closed, and still the blood did 
 
 flow; 
 His beard was soaked with bloody froth and 
 
 foam, 
 'Twere best for him if he had stayed at 
 
 home; 
 But mad with pain and rage he fumed and 
 
 roared, 
 Like some great beast by spear of hunter 
 
 gored. 
 On Pollux now he rushed with desperate 
 
 strength; 
 The blows fell thick and fast, until at length 
 Brave Pollux dealt a solar plexus blow 
 Full on his chest, and down the king did go. 
 ** First knock-down blow for Pollux ! '' all did 
 
 cry; 
 And cheers and shouts for Pollux rent the 
 
 sky. 
 The men were groomed and rested once 
 
 again, 
 Though Pollux seemed quite fresh and strong; 
 
 and then. 
 He had not lost his temper, which is bad, 
 
I^ITTHE FISHES 
 
 For whom the gods destroy they first make 
 
 mad. 
 He took a pull at the ampulla, and, 
 Of course, he came up smiling to his stand. 
 Poor Amycus was in a dreadful plight, 
 Tho^ still expecting he would win the fight ; 
 He never had been vanquished, heretofore ; 
 But then he ^d never met his match before. 
 
 E staggered to the center of the 
 ring, 
 His hide-bound fists before his 
 
 face did bring. 
 And worked them back and 
 forth in bruiser style, 
 And roared and cursed and fretted all the 
 
 while. 
 He had a poultice on his battered eye. 
 Yet loud and boastful was his proud defy ; 
 A compress on his broken, bloody nose. 
 Yet every inch a king, and bold his pose. 
 He rushed at Pollux, striking fast and 
 hard; 
 But Pollux, ever watchful, kept his guard ; 
 Stood fast and firm — he knew his tactics 
 
 now — 
 A fair exchange of blows he did allow ; 
 Such fearful blows, as they each other 
 
 knock. 
 It made them quake from head to heels — the 
 
 shock. 
 And Amycus gave Pollux many thwacks, 
 And Pollux gave the king as many whacks. 
 
 60 
 
Then Amycus, encouraged, sparred for 
 breath. 
 Then made a rush for victory or death. 
 And Pollux now determined that the fight 
 Should end this round — in that he was quite 
 
 right. 
 He now advanced upon his kingly foe, 
 In scientific manner dealt a blow 
 That staggered Amycus, and broke his jaw ; 
 Then mauled with right and left his features 
 
 raw; 
 Knocked out his teeth, and battered sore his 
 
 head, 
 ICnocked off one ear, and hanging by a thread 
 The other one ; and then the scalp, with gore. 
 From forehead to the royal crown he tore ; 
 And then with all his force he gave a blow 
 That broke his neck, and down the king 
 
 did go, 
 A shapeless mass of common human clay. 
 The king was dead, and Pollux won the day I 
 The Bebryces, aghast, were stricken dumb, 
 To see their king, invincible, succumb; 
 They seized their clubs with murderous in- 
 tent, 
 
 ND madly rushed at Pollux ; 
 then gave vent 
 To howls of rage and hate — 
 
 for vengeance cried ; 
 But Jason and the rest flew 
 
 to his side; 
 With sword and spear they 
 soon drove back the horde, 
 
 61 
 
<:^ 
 
 And cut and slashed, and thrust and pierced, 
 
 and bored; 
 Ancaeus with his battle-axe did chop, 
 And cut and carve, and from their bodies lop 
 Their heads and limbs ; he killed, I think, a 
 
 score 
 
 The rest, they killed as many, maybe more, 
 And would have killed them all, perhaps, if they 
 Had not concluded then to run away. 
 
 HE Argonauts did celebrate 
 that night. 
 The happy ending of this 
 
 unsought fight; 
 And to Apollo offered sac- 
 rifice; 
 
 There all the honor and the glory lies. 
 And Orpheus extemporized and sung 
 An ode to Pollux, and his praises rung ; 
 And with an olive wreath the hero crowned ; 
 Then all with wine and song the troubles 
 drowned. 
 Next morn the quiet day broke bright and 
 fair; 
 The swallows circled high up in the air ; 
 The sea-gulls in their swift erratic flight, 
 Skimmed o^er the water blue, on pinions 
 
 white ; 
 The shore-birds piped and twittered on the 
 
 sand; 
 And peace and quiet reigned o^er sea and land. 
 The dead men lying on the blood-stained 
 shore, 
 
 62 
 
Had peace and quiet found for evermore. 
 The smoke from altar fires still smouldering, 
 
 rose 
 Like holy incense, for the calm repose 
 Of those unhappy souls, that passed away 
 From out those ruined tenements of clay. 
 The Argo now was under way again, 
 And rowing slowly were the tired men, 
 When just in time a breeze, both fresh and 
 
 fair, 
 Was sent by Neptune, for they were his 
 
 care; 
 And soon into the Bosporus they sailed, 
 Whose swirling tide the Argo stemmed, and 
 
 quailed 
 Before a mighty wave, that mountain high, 
 Came rushing down between the sea and 
 
 sky. 
 And threatened to engulf and overwhelm 
 The gallant ship; but Tiphys turned the 
 
 helm 
 And climbed and mounted o'er the mighty 
 
 wave, 
 And by his skill the ship and crew did save. 
 This danger passed, they sailed all day and 
 
 night. 
 Till the Bithynian land was reached all right. 
 They anchored in the haven of the town 
 Called Salmydessa, and of some renown ; 
 For here dwelt Phineus, the prophet-king, 
 So wise, in fact, that he knew every thing ; 
 The past and present, and the future, too, 
 He knew just like a book, and read it through. 
 
 63 
 
<:^ 
 
 I^JTTUE FISHES 
 
 __^ W iP WI I J. II ^^, 
 
 LITTLE learning is a dangerous 
 
 thing, 
 But too much knowledge ruined 
 
 this Thracian king ; 
 He grew so wise he thought to 
 
 rival Jove, 
 Who struck him blind ; and Har- 
 pies with him strove 
 At every meal, and snatched his food away ; 
 No morsel did they suffer any day 
 To pass his lips, until the food they 'd spoiled 
 With putrid, reeking odors ; thus they foiled 
 The poor blind king, who gladly would have 
 
 died; 
 But he was doomed to live, all joy denied* 
 
 Now Zetes and Calais of the crew. 
 And sons of Boreas, the north wind, too. 
 Were blood relations of this prophet king, 
 And they, it was decreed, should succor bring 
 To this poor, feeble, persecuted man. 
 Who long had suffered sore from Jove^s dread 
 ban. 
 Now Phineus a banquet did prepare, 
 A costly, sumptuous, recherche affair, 
 To honor Jason and the heroes all, 
 And bade them welcome to the royal hall ; 
 For though a poor., afflicted monarch, he 
 Was rich in worldly goods, as misery. 
 
 And seated round the festive board, that 
 night. 
 He called each hero by his name, aright ; 
 For, by his divination, well he knew 
 The object of the Argo, and her crew. 
 
 64 
 
^OO/^Zj 
 
 He gave them much advice as to their course, 
 Forewarned them of the dangers, and their 
 
 source ; 
 And told them of the awful floating rocks, 
 The Symplegades, and their clashing shocks, 
 That ground to pieces everything that tried 
 To force a passage to the other side. 
 But, for a guide, he gave to them a dove, 
 A harbinger of peace, good will and love ; 
 For well he knew that Jason and the rest 
 Would soon deliver him from his great pest. 
 The Harpies ; and quite happy did he feel, 
 That he would soon enjoy a good square 
 
 meal. 
 
 OW, when the Argonauts 
 were satisfied 
 With viands choice, and all 
 
 their wants supplied. 
 The king then from his 
 royal chair of state, 
 Did take a roasted quail upon his plate. 
 He dared not eat till all the rest were through, 
 In deff^rence to their appetites ; he knew 
 The Harpies would swoop down, and then 
 
 pollute. 
 All food that he dared touch — flesh, bread or 
 
 fruit. 
 And give to it so foul a smell and taste. 
 That all would leave the banquet hall in 
 haste. 
 
IITTLE FISHES 
 
 O when the king the quail put on 
 
 his plate, 
 The Harpies came, afraid they M 
 
 be too fate; 
 They came with shrieks, flew 
 
 thro^ the open door, 
 And snatched his food away, 
 
 and hovered o'er 
 
 fair. 
 While from their necks streamed manes of 
 
 lonp; black hair ; 
 Instead of fingers, long black talons grew. 
 And o'er the king these grewsome creatures 
 
 flew; 
 And such a putrid stench filled all the air, 
 'Twas more than human flesh and blood 
 
 could bear. 
 The brothers, Zetes and Calais, drew 
 Their swords, and on their wing'd heels 
 
 swiftly flew. 
 And chased the Harpies, shrieking, from the 
 
 hall; 
 They ne'er appeared again; but that's not 
 
 all; 
 The food was then examined, then found 
 
 out — 
 'Twas all Limburger cheese and sauerkraut. 
 And now, next morn, good Phineus, the 
 
 king. 
 Gave presents to the crew of everything 
 To help them on their way, and please the 
 
 eye; 
 
 
 .^. 
 
 On long black wings, with women's faces f 4^ 
 
 
 i 
 
 i, 
 
 
 L 
 
 ^j^"-^^^ -22 
 
^OOJ^JJ 
 
 Corn, wine and oil, and cloth of deepest dye, 
 And well- wrought arms, and gems and jewels 
 
 rare; 
 And gave them sage advice for every care ; 
 His troubles with the Harpies being o^er. 
 They loosed the double cables from the 
 
 shore ; 
 The heroes with stout arms the long oars 
 
 plied. 
 The Argo left the harbor on the tide ; 
 And Juno rode upon a cloud on high, 
 To watch, and guard their progress, from the 
 
 sky. 
 Much need of help the heroes soon would 
 
 feel. 
 Though now they swiftly sailed on even keel. 
 Far off they saw the narrow, rocky strait. 
 The towering, beetling cliffs that formed the 
 
 gate. 
 Thro* which they soon would be compelled 
 
 to pass. 
 Along the winding passage ; and, alas I 
 Right in this narrow strait, between two seas, 
 The rocks Cyanean — Symplegades — 
 The dreaded dashers, back and forth did 
 
 roll; 
 No living thing had ever passed them, whole. 
 And soon they met the rushing, swirling 
 
 tide. 
 And furious eddies whirled on every side ; 
 High rocky walls rose straightway from the 
 
 shores ; 
 With scarcely room to ply their labored oars. 
 
 67 
 
J^ITTLE FISHES 
 
 And through this dark and dreadful rocky 
 
 The gallant Argo straight ahead did forge; y^|^ 
 
 O'er whirlpools black, and hissing currents ^ 
 
 through, 
 She forged ahead, urged by her willing crew. 
 
 HEY heard the clash, and felt 
 the fearful shocks, 
 That came resounding from 
 
 the floating rocks. 
 Then soon they saw those 
 dreadful shapes arise 
 From out the sea, and tower toward the skies ; 
 They floated back against the cliffs, and then 
 Rushed toward the center, where they met 
 
 again. 
 (A double-acting trap it was, in fine. 
 And bound to work, a-comin* or a-gwine.) 
 The heroes were appalled, dismayed ; the 
 sight 
 Struck terror to their hearts, and well it might. 
 It seemed a hopeless task to persevere. 
 They never could go through ; that was most 
 
 clear. 
 Then Tason's voice was heard above the din : 
 ** My heroes brave, this game we Ve bound 
 
 to win! 
 The dove that Phineus, the king, gave me. 
 Will surely guide us to the Euxine Sea ; 
 If she in safety past the rocks doth fly. 
 Then we may safely pass the Clashcrs by ; 
 Now Lynceus, who has such famous sight. 
 
 
 Vi 
 
 &m 
 
Will stand upon the prow and mark her 
 
 flight!^' 
 Then Lynceus, the gray dove in his hand, 
 Upon the vessels prow did firmly stand ; 
 And when the rocks were opening, let her go ; 
 She darted like an arrow from a bow, 
 And through the narrow chasm winged her 
 
 flight- 
 The dashers came together in their might ; 
 The dove had safely passed, except the tip 
 Of one tail feather, that the rocks did clip. 
 
 This, Lynceus, with his keen eye did spy. 
 And saw her safely mounting toward the 
 
 sky; 
 And loudly did he shout to warn the crew. 
 When at the last she safely fluttered thro^ 
 Then Tiphys gave the word to row with 
 
 speed. 
 And bravely then the heroes rowed, indeed ; 
 And Jason urged them onward; still they 
 
 toiled ; 
 The waves dashed o^er the deck, the water 
 
 boiled; 
 And now the rocks were parting at their 
 
 prow. 
 And to their oars with double strength they 
 
 bow. 
 The howling, whistling blast, blew hoarse 
 
 and strong, 
 stronger still the Argo moved along ; 
 The rushing, foam-capped torrent, swiftly 
 
 passed, 
 swifter still the Argo moved at last ; 
 
 69 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^'^^^^ 
 
YE (TO'DS 6^ 
 
 hlTTUE FISHES 
 
 631 
 
 'Mid dashing and the splashing of the waves, 
 The roaring and the booming of the caves, 
 *Mid crashing and the clashing of the rocks, 
 The buffetings and blows and heavy shocks — 
 Still faster sped the Argo, like a flash — 
 The Clashers now were closing with a crash. 
 
 MIGHTY, arching wave, 
 
 the Argo tossed, 
 And checked her speed ; then 
 
 all, indeed, seemed lost I 
 But Juno, ever faithful, with 
 one hand 
 
 Held back the rock; and Jason gave command 
 To row for life, and all they held most dear ! 
 Then Juno with her right hand pushed her 
 
 clear ! 
 The rocks then closed behind the gallant ship. 
 And from her high-peaked stem a piece did clip. 
 Behind them closed the rocks for evermore, 
 For so it was decreed long time before. 
 That should a ship and crew pass safely 
 
 through. 
 One rock they should become, instead of two ; 
 And firmly bound and rooted to the shore, 
 And leave an open passage evermore. 
 
 The tired crew with willing hands then 
 spread 
 The lofty sail ; the Argo rushed ahead 
 Before a timely breeze both fresh and free, 
 Along the border of the Euxine Sea. 
 The river Rhebas, rock Colone, and 
 The river Phyllis, with its bar of sand. 
 
 ti\ 
 
^OOK^Ij 
 
 Were swiftly passed ; the wind still fresh and 
 
 fair, 
 And day and night they sailed, nor thought 
 
 of care; 
 *TiII just at twilight on the third day out, 
 The helmsman Tiphys put the ship about. 
 And anchored in the lee of Thynian isle ; 
 Right glad the crew to go ashore, awhile. 
 While seated round the camp-fire, burning 
 
 bright. 
 There came a sudden flash and greater 
 
 light; 
 The god Apollo quickly passed them by. 
 As fast he sped between the earth and sky. 
 The Argonauts were terror-stricken, quite. 
 And bowed their heads till he was out of sight ; 
 And then a sacrifice they did prepare. 
 And hymns to Phoebus rose upon the air ; 
 And Orpheus performed a song and dance. 
 In honor of the lucky circumstance. 
 
 With weather fair, and favoring gales 
 
 next day. 
 Again they started on their watery way ; 
 And soon they passed the stream Sangarius, 
 The Lycus, and the lake Anthemous ; 
 And all that night the wind blew half a 
 
 gale; 
 They still pursued their way with shortened 
 
 sail; 
 And in the morning anchored just behind 
 The Acherusian headland, and did find 
 A harbor safe and pleasant, in the lee 
 Of this bold headland of the Euxine Sea. 
 
 1 
 
 Ml 
 
IITTLE FISHES 
 
 ^BSff^s^ 
 
 ND here the Mariandyni did 
 dwell, 
 And good and wise king Lycus 
 
 ruled them well ; 
 And he a welcome warm to 
 
 Jason gave, 
 And all the Argonauts, the he- 
 roes brave, 
 Who fought and whipt the cruel Bcbryces, 
 Who long had been his dreaded enemies. 
 
 And Lycus gave to Pollux presents rare, 
 A golden badge and champion belt to wear, 
 For knocking out and killing Amycus, 
 The double-fisted bruiser — hateful cuss ! 
 And Pollux said to Jason: ^^Don^t you see? 
 King Lycus seems to like us — you and me/' 
 But, Lycus gave to each and every one, 
 Some token for the battle they had won; 
 And Atalanta, fair, was not ignored. 
 She got a jeweled cup, also a sword ; 
 Her heart was full, so full she could not 
 
 speak. 
 So Atalanta kissed his royal check. 
 
 For many days the heroes lingered here, 
 The guests of Lycus, and his princely cheer. 
 The nobles of the court, a noble clan. 
 The Mariandyni, and Mary Ann — 
 Or some such name — King Lycus* 
 
 spouse. 
 Did entertain and keep an open house, 
 And strive to please; in fact they did their 
 
 best, 
 Li honor of the heroes and their quest. 
 
 noble 
 
 ^»:2^5i 
 
The Argonauts and Mariandyni 
 In all athletic games and sports did vie ; 
 In games on land, aquatic sports as well. 
 In all of these the heroes did exceL 
 
 The tournament for shooting with the bow 
 Was won by Atalanta, for although 
 Brave Meleager tied her in the bout, 
 _ She beat her beau ideal, miss and out ; 
 /I Although a miss, she never scored a miss — 
 (It seems to me there *s something queer in 
 
 this)— 
 If women ever voted in that day. 
 No doubt she voted as she shot, alway. 
 
 And Castor, Oileus and Idas, 
 Took all the prizes in the throwing class 
 With spear and javelin — it went their way ; 
 For they were men of mark; good marks- 
 men they. 
 
 And Jason with the discus, or the quoit. 
 Of all the others proved the most adroit ; 
 Defeated Peleus, with a wondrous score. 
 The champion of the discus, heretofore. 
 He held the record at the Pythian meet. 
 And until now had never met defeat. 
 
 And Telamon, in wrestling, took first 
 prize; 
 He always threw his man, whatever his size. 
 But never threw the game, as men now do — 
 The hippodrome *s a modem thing, and new. 
 In olden time they wrestled for the crown 
 Of laurel leaves, and threw each other down ; 
 The stadium was crowded — it was free ; 
 The best man always won, as it should be ; 
 
 73 
 
^^^^,As^^^^^ 
 
 <r> _ r^ 
 
 YE G^O'DS 6^ 
 
 UTTUE FISHES 
 
 But now-a-days the thing ^s all cut and dried, 
 
 The principals the principal divide; 
 
 They squirm and double, fall by turns, and 
 
 so — 
 The people pay to see the sorry show. 
 
 For when the least excited he 
 
 hit hard — 
 Ancaeus won the prize, for he 
 was best, 
 
 He fought with fists, and gave his mouth a 
 rest. 
 In all the chariot races Castor won ; 
 When he was through, some scarcely had 
 
 begun. 
 He held the record on the stadic course. 
 Knew all about a chariot and a horse ; 
 ^Twas not much use for any to compete — 
 When Castor held the reins, he won the heat; 
 On chariot wheels he run so well, they say. 
 Our little wheels are casters still, to-day. 
 
 Foot races then were much enjoyed by all ; 
 And many were the sprinters, short and tall.^ 
 Calais held the Pythian record ; true. 
 Some said he used his wings — both run and 
 
 flew; 
 But wings on this occasion were ruled out. 
 King Lycus made the rules and terms, no 
 
 doubt ; 
 *Twas his opinion, pinions should be barred. 
 And legs alone should get an entry card. 
 
 vV--^v (T _ 
 
 ^<^=->: 
 
 
 ■^^^.^s^ 
 
 03 
 
 /> 
 
Calais^ notwithstanding^ won the first, 
 The stadion, and like a meteor burst 
 Around the course, and run with legs and 
 
 feet, 
 But really seemed to fly, he was so fleet. 
 
 By Euphemus the next foot race was won. 
 Though closely pressed by Erginus, who run 
 So fast and well, that cheers and shouts arose 
 To cheer him on ; but just before the close 
 He tripped and fell — the golden cup was lost ; 
 This slip, betwixt the cup and lip, the cost. 
 
 Then Atalanta won the free for all. 
 As graceful as a deer, so lithe and tall; 
 A spinster sprinter who outstripped the rest — 
 I mean outran, I think that sounds the best — 
 Her little feet seemed scarce to touch the 
 
 ground. 
 As twice the stadium she ran around. 
 And all the others, left she, far behind; 
 The queen, herself, the laurel wreath en- 
 twined 
 About her shapely head, and kissed her brow; 
 Such grace and speed sheM never seen till 
 
 now. 
 ** You must be very tired, dear,^^ she said, 
 **You breathe in such short pants; you^re 
 
 nearly dead.^' 
 ** Oh, never mind,** said Atalanta, fair, 
 ** When married, longer breeches I will wear.** 
 
 In leaping, Zetes won the olive crown ; 
 He jumped so high it seemed he*d ne*er come 
 
 down; 
 Fair leaping, too, it was ; his purple wings 
 
 75 
 
I^ITTUE "FISHES % 
 
 Were folded 
 strings. 
 
 close^ and tied with leathern 
 
 HE great event of that eventful 
 day, 
 Was racing on the water of 
 
 the bay ; 
 But only two in this race could 
 compete — 
 Euphemus and At'Ianta; who so fleet, 
 That they could run dry shod upon the sea. 
 And run they did that day, as all agree. 
 They started from the ship and ran ashore. 
 About two hundred yards, or little more ; 
 Euphemus won the race, was first to land; 
 The boy more buoyant was, you understand ; 
 At'lanta would have won in ten yards more. 
 She touched his shoulder as he touched the 
 shore. 
 Now this account some may think over- 
 drawn. 
 To run on water as upon a lawn ; 
 ni make it plain and feasible, I hope: 
 For sandals they had cakes of ivory soap, 
 Which could not sink ; and these their bodies 
 
 bore — 
 So with the soap they washed themselves 
 ashore. 
 The heralds then announced that on next 
 day 
 The Argo and her crew would sail away ; 
 That on the following morn there would take 
 
 place 
 A novel and peculiar chariot race ; 
 
 76 
 
A chariot race, they said, without a horse, 
 One never seen before on any course ; 
 Not at the game Olympian, nor at 
 The Pythian or Nemean ; and that 
 The sons of Boreas would run the race, 
 Both Zetes and Calais strive for place. 
 
 Now Zetes, with some rods of brass, and 
 
 reeds. 
 And chariot wheels, made two velocipedes. 
 With pedals on the front wheel, handle bar, 
 And saddles made of shields ; they were by far. 
 The most astounding chariots ever seen — 
 Bicycles we would call them now, I ween. 
 Thus, Zetes was the father of the bike ; 
 His progeny to-day are not much like 
 Their rude progenitors ; but as to speed — 
 Well, that's another story, as you'll read. 
 At all events, the bikes were stout and 
 
 strong. 
 And on their broad wheels smoothly rolled 
 
 along. 
 The hubs and spokes and felloes made of 
 
 wood; 
 With thick broad tires of brass, and welded 
 
 good; 
 But no pneumatic tubes, so much admired — 
 'Tis punctured tires that make the fellows 
 
 tired. 
 Now Zetes and Calais both had wings. 
 On heels, like Mercury ; and with these things 
 They chased the Harpies, screaming, through 
 
 the air. 
 From the Bithynian land to Crete — their lair. 
 
 77 
 
LITTLE FISHES t 
 
 /^^^ 5^^t-:;:^^N 
 
 
 n 
 
 1 
 
 ^ 
 
 EXT morning Lycus and the 
 queen and court 
 Assembled early, eager for the 
 
 sport ; 
 The stadium was crowded; 
 
 all were there ; 
 The Argonauts the guests of 
 ladies, fair ; 
 And Atalanta at the king^s right hand, 
 The place of honor held in the grand stand ; 
 And Jason sat beside the lovely queen ; 
 Such grace and beauty ne'er before was seen. 
 And now when everything was all pre- 
 pared, 
 The heralds blew their trumpets, and de- 
 clared : 
 The sons of Boreas would now compete, 
 And race in horseless chariots ; a feat. 
 The heralds added, heretofore unknown, 
 And one unique, as every one would own. 
 Then Zetes and Calais on their wheels. 
 Propelled by pedals, now appeared ; and peals 
 Of loud applause, and trumpets blare did greet 
 The brothers, as they drove their wheels so 
 
 fleet. 
 The ladies, wreaths and garlands rare, did 
 
 fling. 
 As they rode up abreast betore the king. 
 Who gave the word and dropped the flag, and 
 
 then — 
 Away they sped around the course, and when 
 The wings upon their heels were brought in 
 play, 
 
 78 
 
 V. 
 
 V 
 
As swift as hawks they speeded on their way ; 
 The heavy wheels seemed scarce to touch the 
 
 ground, 
 As o'er the course the brothers flew around. 
 
 Such lightning speed was never seen before ; 
 Old Boreas, himself, could do no more, 
 As scorching swiftly round the course they 
 
 race, 
 The axles fairly smoking with the pace. 
 Calais was ahead, till at the turn, 
 His hubs began to blaze and fiercely burn ; 
 Then Zetes forged ahead and kept the lead, 
 Calais followed closely, and, indeed. 
 He lapped the hind wheel of his brother's bike. 
 As underneath the score they passed, much 
 
 like 
 Two fiery meteors with smoking trail. 
 And such a splendid record could not fail 
 To cause the wild excitement that arose ; 
 The loud huzzas and cheers that at the close 
 Did greet the brothers both; and each was 
 
 crowned 
 With laurel wreaths — tumultuous then the 
 
 sound. 
 The king gave Zetes, then, a cup and ring ; 
 A richly broidered scarf the queen did fling 
 About the neck of Calais — and so. 
 The novel race was ended, and the show. 
 The king had planned a royal hunt that 
 
 day 
 To please his guests, if they could only stay ; 
 And Jason was persuaded to forego 
 His sailing, for another day or so ; 
 
 79 
 
J^ITTLE FISHES f 
 
 ■ — :; ' 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 1 
 
 He would have sailed that very day, alas ! 
 Could he have known the thing that came to 
 pass* 
 
 HE hunt had proved a great 
 success for all, 
 And many were the trophies, 
 
 great and small. 
 Returning toward the town in 
 joyous mood, 
 A fierce and wounded boar rushed from a 
 
 wood, 
 And with his cruel tusks he ripped and tore 
 The seer Idmon, who was wounded sore ; 
 Then Peleus ran up and with his spear 
 He pierced the boar ; and Idas being near. 
 With his great battle axe he cleft its head ; 
 This done, they found their comrade Idmon, 
 
 dead! 
 Poor Idmon, who his own death had foretold, 
 In this great quest to seize the Fleece of Gold. 
 
 They bore the lifeless hero to the town. 
 And manly tears they shed, their grief to 
 
 drown. 
 And then upon the heels of this great woe 
 There came a greater one, could that be so; 
 The helmsman Tiphys, bitten by a snake. 
 Was also dead — enough their hearts to break. 
 They buried their loved comrades by the sea. 
 And mourned for days with heartfelt agony. 
 They sailed away at last, with many 
 fears. 
 And Lycus sped his parting guests with tears ; 
 
 80 
 
 
 i 
 
 >x 
 
And Dascylus, his son and heir, he sent — 
 As some small recompense, was his intent — 
 To join and aid the heroes in their quest ; 
 To make amends he did his very best. 
 
 Ancaeus, now the helmsman, steered the 
 
 ship; 
 A beam wind blowing, caused the sail to dip, 
 As fast upon her way the Argo sped. 
 The river Callichorus just ahead. 
 And soon the tomb of Sthenelus, the brave, 
 Upon the beach, washed by the salt sea 
 
 wave. 
 Was seen upon the starboard bow, a-Iee — 
 A surfeit of the surf, indeed, had he. 
 (This warrior bold by woman^s hand was 
 
 slain; 
 An arrow wound — but deep enough, *tis 
 
 plain — 
 Inflicted by an Amazonian maid ; 
 And Hercules, his friend, the last rites paid.) 
 And now the heroes saw a fearful sight — 
 The ghost of Sthenelus, in armor bright — 
 His helmet with four plumes and blood-red 
 
 crest ; 
 Upon his tomb he stood, and looked his best; 
 He gazed and smiled at Jason and his crew, 
 Then waved his hand and quickly passed from 
 
 view. 
 Then sailing on and on with favoring 
 
 breeze. 
 They saw ere long beneath the willow trees, 
 The stream Parthenius, so fair and bright ; 
 The city Sesamus was passed at night ; 
 
I^ITTLE FISHES 
 
 The Erythinian hills, Crobialus, 
 And Cromne, and the wooded Cytorus 
 Were passed; Carambis then was left astern; 
 They sailed ag:ain all day and night, in turn. 
 
 iNON they reached the river 
 Halys, where 
 They anchored for a day or 
 
 two, and there 
 They filled their jars with water, 
 
 fresh and sweet ; 
 The sons of Deimachus here 
 they meet — 
 Deileon and Phlogius, also 
 Brave Autolycus, all of whom we know 
 Had fought, with Hercules, the Amazons ; 
 And all were eager, these three noble sons. 
 To join the quest, with Jason, for the Fleece, 
 All for the glory and renown of Greece ; 
 They signed the roll, and then embarked that 
 
 day, 
 And with the heroes gladly sailed away. 
 
 While sailing on, there rose a heavy gale ; 
 They laid the Argo to, and furled the sail ; 
 Then manned the oars and labored with the 
 
 sea. 
 Made for the land, a harbor and a lee. 
 The headland of the Amazons in sight. 
 They doubled to their oars and rowed with 
 
 might ; 
 The headland then they weathered, and at 
 
 last 
 They safely in the shekered harbor passed. 
 
 82 
 
 y 
 
And here they found good fishing, for it 
 seems 
 The Thermodon is formed of many streams ; 
 About a hundred branches, large and small, 
 And many kinds of fishes in them all. 
 With slender reeds for rods, and silken lines. 
 The heroes found good sport beneath the 
 
 pines. 
 And oaks, and olive trees, that fringed the 
 
 shore 
 Of each bright stream; a stream for each, 
 and more. 
 They fished with bait and artificial fly ; 
 To catch the biggest fish they all did try. 
 The small ones they threw back again, to 
 
 grow; 
 They did not fish for count, but size, you 
 
 know. 
 This goes to show that in the olden time. 
 To fish for count was thought to be a crime ; 
 It seems quite clear the fish-hog was unknown. 
 For he belongs to modern days, we Ml own — 
 A fishing dude, who catches great and small. 
 But mostly fingerlings, and counts them all. 
 
 Now, Atalanta had the nicest rig, 
 And all the fish she killed were game and 
 
 big; 
 Her rod, a straight and slender, supple reed ; 
 Her flies, tied by herself, were rare, indeed ; 
 Her cast, composed of three artistic flies. 
 To all the heroes was a great surprise. 
 
UCH hooks IVe never seen/' /Ti// 
 said Telamon, 
 **They Ve very small, but very 
 
 good, I '11 own/' v^i 
 
 " My fishing hooks/' she said, C^ 
 
 ** are sharp and fine, 
 I had them made from pattern 
 wholly mine; 
 The shape is something new, you may de- 
 pend. 
 And I have named the hook the 'Grecian 
 Bend.'" 
 ** Now, tell me, Atalanta," Jason said, 
 '* What have you named this fly, with wings 
 
 so red ? " 
 ** That fly," said Atalanta, with much pride, 
 ''Is 'Maid of Athens.'" Then the others 
 
 cried: 
 " It 's made of feathers ! "— " Yes, and hand- 
 made, too." — 
 "If 'Maid of Athens/ it should then be 
 
 blue."— 
 "You're right," said she, "it's hand-fly in 
 
 the cast, 
 Byronically speaking, and the last. 
 The middle one, the bob-fly, funny thing ! 
 Is made of covert feathers from the wing 
 Of Pegasus, and ' Peggy ' is its name ; 
 Its flight is quite poetic ; all the same 
 A right good fly ; its wings are also red ; 
 For when Perseus lopped Medusa's head. 
 And Pegasus sprang from her blood, of 
 course, 
 
 84 
 
We know he was a blooded, brig^ht bay- 
 horse/^ 
 ** Why do n^t you name it * horse-fly ? * ** 
 
 Castor said; 
 But Atalanta only shook her head. 
 ** The end, or tail-fly, leader, if you choose. 
 Is best of all ; a very clever ruse ; 
 * Quicksilver Doctor,^ I have named this fly, 
 So nimble, quick and lively, smart and 
 
 spry; 
 For Mercury IVe named it, pretty thing; 
 It^s made of feathers from his right heel 
 
 wing/* 
 **If that^s the case/* said Meleager, then, 
 ** Why should n*t ^ heeler * be its cognomen ? 
 Or * salivator/ I should call it sure/* — 
 ** I think vou*d better take the Keely Cure,** 
 Said Atalanta, getting somewhat tired. 
 But all the same, her flies were much 
 
 mired. 
 And fish rose freely to the clever lures — 
 The deed, and not the name, 
 
 success assures. 
 Next day the Argo getting 
 
 under way. 
 The Amazons came trooping 
 
 toward the bay. 
 Their fighting harness on; 
 
 and at their head 
 Marched queen Hippolyte with 
 
 martial tread 
 But Jason and his crew were all aboard. 
 And safe from Amazonian spear or sword. 
 
 85 
 
 ad- 
 
 113 
 
 
 1 
 
HEN queen Hippolyte approached 
 the shore ; 
 With angry voice proclaimed she 
 
 was for war 
 With all marauding ships and 
 
 roving men ; 
 ** Be off 1 " she cried, *' and do not 
 come again; 
 Hereafter, fishing rights will be reserved, 
 And game and fish, by law, will be pre- 
 served ; 
 The bank of every stream will bear the sign : 
 * No Fishing Here,^ and death will be the 
 
 fine/' 
 ** Good queen,'* quoth Jason, ** that is hardly so, 
 For we found fishing very good, you know ; 
 A sign so false would never, never do ; 
 As you are good and beautiful, be true. 
 We came to fish, and do not care to fight ; 
 We only took the large ones, which is right ; 
 The small ones we threw back again to 
 
 grow/' 
 ** If that 's the case," replied the queen, ** then 
 
 know 
 That you are welcome any time to fish 
 In all my streams, and come whene'er you 
 
 wish/' 
 The heroes thanked the queen, with one ac- 
 cord — 
 Thus angling virtue finds its own reward. 
 And now the Argo left the land-locked 
 bay; 
 With sail unfurled, proceeded on her way. 
 
 86 
 
 «?5- 
 
 ><, 
 
Next day, toward night, the smoke borne on 
 
 the breeze, 
 Proclaimed the land where dwelt the Chalybes ; 
 The mining folk who delved the iron ore. 
 And worked amid the furnace smoke and 
 
 roar. 
 Then next they passed the headland bold 
 
 and sheer. 
 And named for mighty Zeus, whom all fear. 
 And then they coasted by the rocky shore 
 Where dwelt the Tibareni, men who bore 
 Vicarious troubles — so it is averred — 
 Which you may read in scholia, word for 
 
 word. 
 And then the Holy mountain rose in view. 
 And hills where dwelt the Mossynoeci, too; 
 These moss-backs, in their houses built of 
 
 wood. 
 Had customs very strange, I Ve understood ; 
 What others in their houses always do. 
 They always did outside, in public view. 
 No room for scandal, then, it would appear. 
 Among the Mossynoeci, that *s most clear ; 
 They saw themselves as others saw them, 
 
 too, 
 In Nature^s mirror held to public view. 
 
 All these they passed ; and rowing swiftly, 
 
 now. 
 The isle of Ares on their starboard bow 
 Loomed up. A huge bird then came swoop- 
 ing by, 
 And from his pinion broad and swift let fly 
 A feather, long and sharp, which quickly sped, 
 
 87 
 
YE G^O'DS 6^ 
 
 IITTLE FISHES 
 
 And pierced the shoulder^ barely missed the 
 
 head, 
 Of brave Oileus, who dropped his oar ; 
 Eribotes plucked out the shaft, all gore ; 
 Then with his baldric bound the bleeding 
 
 wound. 
 The curious feathered shaft was passed 
 
 around, 
 And viewed with wonder by the Argo's crew. 
 
 UST then another bird ap- 
 peared and flew 
 Above the mast, and shot a 
 
 feathered dart. 
 Which hissing thro* the air 
 
 caused all to start. 
 Save Clytius, who with his 
 well-strung bow, 
 And on the wing, soon laid the huge bird low. 
 Then rose Amphidamas, and from his 
 place. 
 Declared the way, this danger new, to face: 
 ** The isle of Ares, I have heard,'* he said, 
 "Is guarded well by these huge birds, so 
 
 dread. 
 When Hercules with arrows could not drive 
 The birds Stymphalid, then did he contrive 
 Another plan, which drove the birds away ; 
 And this the plan we must adopt to-day. 
 
 " That plan is now to raise a mighty din. 
 By clashing sword and buckler ; this will win. 
 When Hercules his brazen armor shook 
 
 ^Ui w With dreadful din, the frightened birds forsook 
 
 li 
 
 t\ 
 
The mere Stymphalid, filled with wild alarms; 
 We *1I find mere noise annoys them more than 
 
 arms/^ 
 The heroes then their armor did put on ; 
 Their brazen helmets also did they don. 
 One-half the crew then roofed the vessel in 
 With shields and bucklers ; then they made a 
 
 din 
 By clashing shield and buckler, sword and 
 
 spear, 
 The others rowed the ship with lessened fear, 
 Protected by the metal roof overhead ; 
 And swiftly toward the shore the Argo sped. 
 The birds affrighted, from the island rose. 
 And flew in terror from their noisy foes ; 
 . They wildly shot their feathers all away, 
 ^M^ And dropped upon the sea in dire dismay; 
 
 Their motive power and weapons thus they 
 
 lost, 
 And at the mercy of the waves were tossed. 
 Thus, some highflyers at the present day, 
 Their substance and their power throw away. 
 
 Arriving at the isle, the heroes found 
 Four shipwrecked sailors, weak and nearly 
 
 drowned ; 
 The sons of Phrixus, bound from Colchis land 
 For Orchomenus, by the king^s command. 
 For king JEctes, being warned, ^t is said. 
 Of danger from his household, felt a dread 
 Of these, his daughter Chalciope^s sons. 
 And so the king this threatened danger shuns, 
 By sending them to sea, and in a boat 
 Unsafe and old, not fit to sail or float. 
 
 89 
 
 ^-■, 
 
YE G^O'DS 6^ 
 J^lTTLEyiSHES 
 
 ND as foretold by Phineus, these 
 four 
 Agreed to go with Jason ; what 
 
 is more : 
 Agreed to guide the ship to -^a, 
 
 where^ 
 The king /Eetes reigned; whose 
 constant care 
 Was well to guard and keep the Golden Fleece, 
 Stripped from the ram that bore from shores 
 
 of Greece 
 Their father Phrixus to the Colchian land — 
 The Fleece that Jason now would soon de- 
 mand. 
 This Golden Fleece, the brothers did declare, 
 Was guarded night and day with jealous care ; 
 A sleepless dragon watched beneath the tree 
 Whereon it hung, a glorious sight to see; 
 Within the grove of Mars, a sacred thing. 
 The greatest treasure of the wicked king. 
 Next morn a gentle wind blew fresh and 
 free, 
 They left the isle of Ares on the lee ; 
 And sailing on without mishap, all day, 
 At night they passed the isle of Philyra. 
 Philyra in the olden time did dwell 
 About this isle, and Saturn knew it well ; 
 This water nymph, Philyra, was the mere. 
 Or mother, of the Centaur Chiron, fair. 
 
 The Argo, favored by the welcome breeze. 
 Sailed on and on, and passed the Macrones. 
 The coast of Becheiri then was passed; 
 The lawless Sapeira left at last; 
 
 :§ 
 
 'I 
 
Anon they heard heart-rending cries and 
 
 shrieks, 
 And saw an eagle soaring o^er the peaks, 
 Where to a rock, bound fast with chains of 
 
 brass, 
 And afterward the Byzerae were left 
 Astern, as onward thro' the waters cleft 
 The good ship Argo, till arose in view 
 The cliffs of the Caucasian mountains, blue. 
 Prometheus was doomed the days to pass ; 
 And on his liver, fed this dreadful bird ; 
 And his, the fearful cries, the heroes heard. 
 That night they reached their journey's 
 
 end, at last. 
 And furled the sail, unstepped the well-tried 
 
 mast; 
 And rowing slowly 'gainst the ebbing tide. 
 They left the city JE^z, on one side. 
 Till near the field of Ares, sacred grove, 
 They anchored in a shady, sheltered cove. 
 Then from a golden chalice, Jason poured 
 Libations sweet ; the crew with one accord 
 Gave thanks to all their guardian gods that 
 
 they 
 Had reached their journey's end, and blessed 
 
 the day. 
 
 ♦EINDOF* 
 
 BOOKn* 
 
 91 
 
ARGUMENT. 
 
 Hera and Athena persuade Aphrodite to send Eros 
 to Medea. Meantime Jason comes to JEctcs^ king of 
 Gjichis, and begs the Fleece; but the king was exceed- 
 ing wroth, and set him great labors to perform, namely, 
 to yoke two fire-breathing bulls, and sow the dragon's 
 teeth upon Ares' acre, and then to slay the earth-born 
 giants who should rise o'er the lea. 
 
 But Medea is in love with Jason, and gives him 
 drugs to tame those bulls, telling him how to accomplish 
 all. Wherefore Jason finished the appointed task, to the 
 grief and wonder of JEcics, — (Adapted from the Scho- 
 liasts.) 
 
 93 
 
"OH i^Ey 
 
 ALLRlGHrr--- 
 
OW Jason held a coun- 
 cil with his crew; 
 They pondered well 
 the thing they came 
 to do; 
 How best the Golden 
 Fleece they might 
 obtain, 
 
 And take it back to lolchos again. 
 The mighty king they held in wholesome 
 
 dreadt 
 The son of Helios, the sun, 't was said ; 
 No king in all the world so great as he, 
 The proud ^etes, lord of land and sea. 
 The heroes then resolved to speak him 
 fair, 
 With friendly words; with precious gifts 
 
 and rare. 
 With all the arts of soft diplomacy. 
 To soothe and flatter this great king, that he 
 Might haply bid them take the Golden Fleece 
 From Colchis to the sunny shores of Greece. 
 But if fair means, their end to gain, should 
 
 fail. 
 Then strategy or force must e^en prevail. 
 No terrors now, nor dangers, could subdue 
 The ardor and the purpose of the crew. 
 
 95 
 
'Y^&ot>S^^7^ 
 
 UT Juno, faithful guardian, 
 knew indeed, 
 The quest without her aid 
 
 would ne'er succeed ; 
 So with Minerva she to 
 Venus sped, 
 And to the matchless queen of love she said : 
 ** My dearest Venus, we your help desire ; 
 The quest of Jason is the question dire ; 
 Without your aid, we fear he is undone ; 
 Request we, therefore, that you send your 
 
 son. 
 Fair Cupid, with his arrows and his bow. 
 To Colchis land ; in haste, too, must he go. 
 The king, i^etes, hath a daughter fair, 
 A comely maid, with wondrous golden hair. 
 Well skilled in sorcVy, also, is this maid. 
 Which she must use in noble Jason's aid. 
 Now this our plan, Minerva's plan, and 
 
 mine; 
 Inspire Medea's soul with love divine; 
 Bid Cupid wound her with his sharpest 
 
 dart. 
 And plant a love for Jason in her heart." 
 ** Most gracious goddess," Venus then 
 replied, 
 ^^Your slightest wish shall be my law; 
 
 beside. 
 To help brave Jason in his noble quest, 
 Is, I considar, quite a priv'lege blest. 
 Cupid is shooting craps with Ganymede; 
 
 96 
 
^^^fkHES 
 
 VVl send him off, at once, with greatest 
 
 speed. 
 You may be sure that he will do his part, 
 And hit the bull's-eye of Medea's heart/' 
 The river fog hung low the following 
 
 day, 
 When Jason started for the town JE.a.. 
 And with him went the sons of Phrixus, 
 
 who. 
 Were saved from shipwreck by the val'rous 
 
 crew. 
 Enveloped by the fog that Juno sent, 
 And safe from prying eyes, their way they 
 
 went 
 Across the plain ; then through the city gate ; 
 At last within the palace court they wait. 
 Then Juno caused the cloud of mist to 
 
 rise. 
 And wondrous things disclosed to Jason's 
 
 eyes. 
 Around the court were marble columns 
 
 tall. 
 And brazen arms and armor graced the 
 
 wall; 
 And fountains spouting water, milk and 
 
 wine 
 And rare perfumes; while tree and plant 
 
 and vine 
 Bore luscious fruits, and flowers of gorgeous 
 
 dyes; 
 It seemed a glorious, earthly paradise. 
 
 97 
 
y^G^02)J^~^- 
 
 About the palace, then, the news soon 
 
 spread, 
 That Phrixus* sons, who, given up for dead, 
 Had safe returned; the servants wept for joy; 
 While Chalciope cried: '*My boy I my 
 
 boyr^ 
 Embraced each son in turn, and welcome 
 
 gave 
 To Jason, who had saved them from the 
 
 grave. 
 
 EDEA, fairest maid in all 
 the land, 
 A sorceress, with the fates 
 
 at her command, 
 A priestess of the goddess 
 Hecate, 
 
 No one so loved, nor yet so feared, as she. 
 Yet modestly she stood aloof and gazed 
 At Jason^s noble, princely mien ; amazed 
 At such a paragon of form and face. 
 More like a god, than of the human race. 
 
 Then last of all came i^etes, the king, 
 Who inward cursed the news that all did 
 
 bring. 
 That Phrixus* sons had all returned alive ; 
 Some other murd Vous plan he must contrive. 
 For Helios, his father, long ago. 
 Had warned him Against a wily, dangerous 
 
 foe 
 Within his household, one of his own blood, 
 
 98 
 
 ,.=^^C.^^ 
 
r i^'-rf^ES 
 
 J=^ 
 
 Whose secret plotting boded him no good. 
 His son Absyrtus, and his daughters two, 
 He knew were ever faithful, loyal, true. 
 Upon his grandsons, then, suspicion fell; 
 If rid of them, he thought all would be well; 
 And long ago he *d sent them on this trip 
 To Orchomenus, in a rotten ship; 
 And feeling sure that they were dead or 
 
 drowned, 
 It vexed him much to hear that they M been 
 
 found. 
 Meanwhile the roguish Cupid, though 
 
 unseen. 
 Brushed close by Jason, touched him, too, 
 
 I ween ; 
 With arrow fitted to his tense-drawn bow. 
 He made an off-hand shot, while kneeling 
 
 low. 
 That pierced the center of Medea^s heart ; 
 She felt the shock of Cupid^s feathered dart. 
 The pain was followed by a sweet desire. 
 And love for Jason coursed her veins like 
 
 fire; 
 A fire unquenched by blood, for we know 
 
 well. 
 Love grows by what it feeds on — blood will 
 
 tell. 
 And now a feast of welcome was 
 
 prepared. 
 For Chalciope^s sons, whose lives were 
 
 spared; 
 
 99 
 
 <4= 
 
 L.ofO. 
 
 ff"^'^^^ 
 
'Y^&o<D3<^ - 
 
 And Jason, who had brought them safely 
 
 home, 
 No more on tempest-driven seas to roam. 
 
 The king demanded, then, the eldest son. 
 To tell him why his will had not been done ; 
 Why he to Orchomenus had not sailed. 
 And why the royal expedition failed. 
 
 HE eldest son replied, with 
 fear and dread : 
 **0 king, the wonder is 
 
 we are not dead ; 
 The ship you gave us was 
 both weak and old, 
 And unseaworthy, as I Ve since been told. 
 A stress of weather caused her seams to 
 
 gape, 
 She filled and sank; we then made our 
 
 escape, 
 And on our oars were glad to reach the 
 
 shore. 
 Borne by the raging seas, heart-sick and 
 sore.** 
 *^That*s nonsense,** cried the king, 
 ^^your ship was new. 
 With planks of oak, and copper-fastened, 
 
 too; 
 With brazen bolts and bands . her keel was 
 
 bound 
 To keelson, stem, and stem-post, strong 
 and sound; 
 
 100 
 
^'-^fkflES 
 
 I saw her buiitt myself, when but a youth, 
 And know whereof I speak; and now, 
 
 forsooth, 
 You tell me she was old, and badly found, 
 And foundered in a gale, because unsound ; 
 Her planks not worth a copper, and her 
 
 seams. 
 It seems were opened 'twixt her oaken 
 
 beams 
 By stress of weather; whether this is true 
 Or not, I do not know; the ship was new, 
 I knew that long ago ; and I believe 
 She struck a rock and opened like a sieve ; 
 If not, how comes it that this other ship 
 That rescued you, did safely sail and slip 
 Through this same storm that wrecked 
 
 your noble craft, 
 Her timbers shivered, slivered, fore and 
 
 aft?^^ 
 **That ship, O king, the staunchest 
 
 craft afloat. 
 Designed by Juno, is a heaven-born boat ; 
 And warriors, half divine, compose her 
 
 crew. 
 The boldest sailors on the ocean blue ; 
 The scions of immortal gods are they. 
 Whose deeds of valor helped them on their 
 
 way; 
 All dangers of the land and sea they Ve 
 
 passed. 
 And now at Colchis have arrived at last. 
 
 101 
 
 ^^^^^^^P 
 
<a^ 
 
 Y^&o^S'^ "^ 
 
 From Greece they come, that famous 
 
 far-off land, 
 With Jason, son of ^son, in command ; 
 He is our kinsman, too, as you may know, 
 From Cretheus descended — we also. 
 The rightful king of lolchos, you see, 
 Thougn Pelias now wears his crown; 
 
 and he 
 Has sent brave Jason on this dangerous 
 
 quest, 
 To you, your royal highness, to request 
 That Phrixus^ Golden Fleece be sent to 
 
 Greece, 
 So that fair land may thus obtain release 
 From Jove^s great wrath and fury, which is 
 
 due 
 To grievous wrong which Athamas did 
 
 do. 
 In olden time, to good queen Nephele, 
 And to her children, Phrixus and Helle." 
 
 UT! wretched caitiff!'' cried 
 the angry king, 
 *^What idle tale is this to me 
 
 ye bring? 
 These vile marauders, men of 
 no renown. 
 Are come to take my scepter and my 
 
 crown. 
 Think ye these men, rambunctious though 
 they be, 
 
 102 
 
"■TfkflES 
 
 For pelt of Phrixus* ram would brave the 
 
 sea; 
 The pelting of the rocks and winds and 
 
 waves 
 For several pounds of wool, ye lying 
 
 knaves ! 
 If at my board ye had not tasted bread, 
 I *d cut your lying tongues from out your 
 
 head!^' 
 Then Jason, like a demi-god, arose. 
 And e^en the king admired his graceful 
 
 pose; 
 His form erect, he mildly bowed his head ; 
 Medea hung on every word he said. 
 
 ** Most gracious king ^etes, list I pray, 
 In justice to a stranger. First, I 'II say. 
 That every word your grandson spoke is 
 
 true. 
 And should have had some weight, me- 
 
 thinks, with you. 
 The Fleece you hold so lightly, I will 
 
 own. 
 To me is everything ; in short, my throne 
 Depends upon its safe return to Greece, 
 Where it will bring prosperity and peace ; 
 The pelt you deemed just now of little 
 
 worth. 
 To me is the one thing in all the earth 
 I most desire ; and if you 'II give it me. 
 My choicest treasures, brought beyond the 
 
 sea, 
 
 103 
 
 "4= 
 
 .f="tS.^^^ 
 
Y^&OT>S^S^"^ 
 
 Shall all be yours ; bright gems and jewels 
 
 rare, 
 And cups of gold and silver, chased and 
 
 fair; 
 And arms and armor, dye-stuffs, spices, too. 
 And many things, I '11 freely give to you. 
 
 R if you have a foeman to sub- 
 due, 
 Our services we freely offer you ; 
 K you have colonies to pacify. 
 Or for humanity you wish to try 
 For territorial expansion, then 
 I freely offer you my god-like men. 
 But rest assured of one thing, once for all, 
 I Ve vowed to have the Golden Fleece, or 
 
 Now king i^etes was a diplomat ; 
 His royal cheek was flushed, and he stood 
 
 pat; 
 Concealing well his anger and his spite, 
 He said : ** Perhaps your cause is just and 
 
 right; 
 Perhaps you are as brave as you pretend ; 
 I '11 put you to the test, and in the end. 
 If you perform the task I have in view, 
 The Golden Fleece I '11 freely give to you. 
 The task is one that I can do with ease. 
 No other can, not even Hercules. 
 I have a pair of bulls, whose pedigree 
 Is of the purest strain, as you '11 agree : 
 
 104 
 
"'^ft^ES 
 
 By VuIcan^s forgc^ and out of molten brass, 
 Their food is fire and flame instead of grass. 
 These brazen bulls, whose breath is fire and 
 
 flame, 
 Your task will be to render kind and tame; 
 Put on the yoke, and harness to a plow 
 With share of adamant ; which I *II allow 
 No one but me can safely do and live. 
 But you may try ; my leave I gladly give. 
 You next will plough a furrow, straight 
 
 and true, 
 Across the field of Mars — as I can do — 
 Then sow, not grain, but teeth of serpent 
 
 dread. 
 The serpent slain by Cadmus, so ^t is said ; 
 And from these teeth your crop will surely 
 
 rise 
 The self-same day, perhaps to your sur- 
 prise; 
 A crop of fierce and warlike men will grow 
 From out the furrow, armed from head to 
 
 toe. 
 Then single-handed, you these men must 
 
 slay — 
 Then with the Golden Fleece you^Il sail 
 
 away.'* 
 Thus spoke the king and laughed within 
 
 his sleeve ; 
 But Jason said : "^Eetes, by your leave, 
 I ^11 try the task to-morrow, though I di^" 
 And from the kingly presenee quick did hie. 
 
 105 
 
 <4=: 
 
E wandered to the gar- 
 den, much depressed, 
 And in a thick-set grove 
 
 sat down to rest. 
 He thought the Golden 
 Fleece could ne'er be 
 won, 
 And sighed to think his 
 race so nearly run. 
 Medea, when she heard the task pro- 
 posed — 
 A task impossible, the king supposed — 
 Resolved that she would take brave Jason's 
 
 part. 
 And aid him with her magic spells and art ; 
 For love of Jason she would thwart the 
 
 king— 
 O, love is such a strange and curious thing. 
 And in that time, so long ago, we're told. 
 The old, old story even then was old. 
 But though the story may be old, 't would 
 
 seem 
 It 's always new and bright as love's young 
 
 dream ; 
 And Cupid, after all these many years. 
 Is still a roguish boy, all smiles or tears. 
 Medea followed Jason to the grove. 
 For love had made her bold, and haply 
 
 strove 
 Against her maiden modesty ; and so. 
 She found poor Jason in the depths of woe. 
 
 100 
 
"■TfkiES 
 
 ** Forgive me, sir/* she said, ** if I, poor 
 
 maid, 
 
 Of all our household seem the least afraid 
 To speak of gratitude for your brave deed, 
 In giving help in time of direst need 
 To Chalciope^s sons, who bid me say 
 How much they grieved to hear the king, 
 
 to-day. 
 Impose a task so difficult on you ; 
 A task which no one but the king can do/' 
 ** O, fairest maid,*' then Jason did reply, 
 ** With your kind sympathy, PII gladly die ; 
 If so the gods have deemed that it should be. 
 Death will be welcome with your sym- 
 pathy/' 
 ** Brave sir, it grieves me much, this 
 
 cruel thing. 
 That by my father, JEetes the king. 
 Is thus imposed on you who joy did give 
 To me and mine ; that those thought dead, 
 
 still live. 
 
 O would that I might perish in your stead ; 
 
 Alas ! 'twould be far better thus/' she said. 
 
 ** O, lovely maiden, if within your heart 
 
 You have a thought of me, 't were hard to 
 
 part; 
 But if that thought is fraught with love for 
 
 me. 
 Then gladly will I die, for I love thee." 
 Thus Jason spoke, and took her lovely 
 
 hand; 
 
 107 
 
c^ 
 
 
 -^ 
 
 EDEA tried her feelings 
 
 to command. 
 
 Then smiling through 
 
 her tears of joy, she 
 
 said, 
 
 As Jason to a seat the 
 
 fair girl led : 
 ''Why talk of death, 
 when we should strive to live ; 
 If you to me your promise fair will give 
 To love me always, and be true to me, 
 Then I will help in this extremity/* 
 
 ** O fairest maid in all the world," he said. 
 If I do live, then surely we will wed ; 
 You *11 share my throne in Greece, beyond 
 
 the sea ; 
 I swear by all the gods to love but thee/* 
 ** Know then,** she said, ** I have a sub- 
 tile charm. 
 That can, and will, preserve you from all 
 
 harm; 
 With aid that I by magic can invoke. 
 The brazen oxen you may safely yoke ; 
 Their flaming breath will bring no harm to 
 
 thee; 
 
 And harnessed to the plow, as you will see. 
 Straightway across the field of Mars they *11 
 
 And plow a furrow straight, and deep also. 
 And when the dreaded serpent's teeth 
 you*ve sown, 
 
 108 
 
'-•■^ft^ES 
 
 ^Twill not be long before your crop is 
 
 grown — 
 A band of fierce and warlike, well-armed 
 
 men, 
 Whom, by my magic you will slay, and 
 
 then — 
 Then with the Golden Fleece you'll sail 
 
 away. 
 And soon forget Medea and JE.a.J* 
 
 ^*When I forget thee, dearest love,** 
 
 said he, 
 ** May I be swallowed by the ruthless sea ; 
 In Pluto's realm may I be doomed to pine. 
 And all the tortures of the damned, be mine. 
 Should I depart, love, with the Golden 
 
 Fleece, 
 I'll carry you, my promised wife, to Greece; 
 And there, my wedded wife, you '11 reign 
 
 with mc. 
 The proudest, happiest queen in Thessaly. 
 I swear by all the gods, this solemn vow : 
 To love you always, as I love you now." 
 Then Jason sealed the compact with a kiss ; 
 Medea's heart was full; unspoken bliss 
 More eloquent than words, shone in her 
 
 face. 
 As tears and sighs and fears to smiles gave 
 
 place. 
 ** Dear Jason — for you 're very dear to 
 
 me, 
 Medea said, and blushed to speak so free : 
 
 109 
 
 (f^^^^=^^^^^ 
 
cC^ 
 
 V^G^02)j^~^c 
 
 T dawn tomorrow, meet 
 me ^neath the oak/' — 
 In whispers, now, the lovely 
 
 maiden spoke : — 
 ** The oak beside the shrine 
 of Hecate, 
 There I 'II unfold my plan, for love of thee. 
 And now, I must be gone ; and you are free 
 Until to-morrow's dawn — but think of mc." 
 One long-drawn kiss — then from his side 
 
 she fled. 
 Swift, 'neath the fragrant trees, nor turned 
 her head. 
 Then Jason rose, as from a pleasant 
 dream, 
 And strode across the plain to Phasis' 
 
 stream. 
 Then soon aboard the Argo went in haste; 
 The heroes all assembled in her waist ; 
 To them he told his story, and his task, 
 And many were the questions all did ask. 
 Said Idas : " Let us try the force of arms. 
 And not depend on magic spells and charms ; 
 Talk not to me of fierce fire-breathing bull." 
 Said Peleus : ** Brave lason 's got a pull, 
 A pull, I think will win, from his report." 
 " He '11 surely win with such a friend 
 at court, 
 Said Atalanta, bravest of her kind; 
 ** Now mind, my friends, that when a 
 woman's mind 
 
f i-'-^fk^ES 
 
 Has formed a plan, with love as her reward. 
 You *II find that plan more mighty than the 
 
 sword/' 
 Then Meleager, taking up his cue 
 From Atalanta, said, with vigor, too: 
 ** If Jason wants to play the hayseed act. 
 And plow and sow and reap, in point of fact, 
 To raise a crop of men ; it comes to pass, 
 It's all the same — all flesh we know is 
 
 grass; 
 The time will come when all will plow by 
 
 steam, 
 So let him drive his fierce fire-breathing 
 
 team; 
 And heads of men or grass he'll surely 
 
 clip — 
 Whatever man doth sow, that shall he 
 
 rip." 
 ** I hope," said Pollux, ** none will feel 
 
 afraid 
 For Jason's sake, nor be the least dismayed; 
 This maid for Jason has her aid proposed. 
 And he's proposed to her; the bargain's 
 
 closed ; 
 And by this bargain count her of the crew. 
 And very glad we'll be to have her, too. 
 And then you all remember what was said 
 By Phineus, the prophet, on this head : 
 That Venus would assist us in the end ; 
 Be sure that in our need she '11 prove our 
 
 friend." 
 
 Ill 
 
 Uiiii 
 
<c^ 
 
 Y^Cfo<:D3<^~^ 
 
 OU're mighty 
 
 boy/^ said Orpheus, 
 We'll gladly welcome 
 
 her as one of us ; 
 A good musician, too, 
 
 as I 've heard tell ; 
 So fair, so wise, so- 
 prano, too, as well; 
 She '11 take the place of Hylas in the choir, 
 Perhaps, in time, she'll learn to play the 
 lyre." 
 And then a feast was held, and gen'rous 
 wine 
 Did cheer the hearts of these brave men, 
 
 divine. 
 In jeweled cup they pledged bold Jason's 
 
 bride; 
 With song and story cast all care aside. 
 
 Next morn, at dawn, Medea, in her car. 
 Arrayed resplendent as the morning star. 
 Attended by her maidens, secretly. 
 Drove quickly to the shrine of Hecate. 
 The birds were piping merry roundelays. 
 And singing matin hymns of love and 
 
 praise. 
 The maidens passed within the temple door. 
 And there, with secret rites and prayers, 
 
 implore 
 Great Hecate to give Medea power 
 To work her charms with magic plant and 
 flower. 
 
 112 
 
i^'msiEs 
 
 And now, Medea, 'heath the old oak 
 
 tree, 
 For Jason watched and waited patiently. 
 Not long to wait, for soon he came in haste ; 
 His arm was soon around her slender waist ; 
 And breathing words of love and constancy, 
 He kissed away her tears most tenderly. 
 
 ** O, Jason list, for time now flies apace,'* 
 Medea said, love shining in her face : 
 This precious drug — -hide quick beneath 
 
 your cloak." — 
 He took it from her hand, e'en as she 
 
 spoke — 
 ^* 'T is from a two-stalked plant distilled, that 
 
 grew 
 Where fell the drops of blood, like morning 
 
 dew; 
 Dropped from the eagle's beak that ruthless 
 
 tore 
 The liver of Prometheus." And o'er 
 Her heart she pressed her hands, and gasped 
 
 for breath. 
 For fear that all might end in Jason's 
 
 death. 
 Then Jason drew her to his manly 
 
 breast, 
 And lovingly her golden locks caressed. 
 With cheering words he kissed away her 
 
 woe. 
 With arms clasped round his neck she 
 
 whispered low: 
 
 113 
 
1 early dawn go 
 
 river side^ 
 And all alone, bathe in 
 
 its flowing tide ; 
 And while the morning 
 star doth faintly gleam, 
 Then mix the drug with 
 water from the stream ; 
 And with the magic potion, as with oil. 
 Anoint thy body well; it will not soil, 
 But fragrant as a flower upon the lea ; 
 A match for deathless gods then shalt thou 
 be. 
 *^And sprinkle well thy sword and shield 
 and spear, 
 No danger then, dear Jason, need you 
 
 fear; 
 And e^en the brazen oxcn^s flaming breath, 
 That otherwise would cause your instant 
 
 death, 
 Will harmless prove to thee, my love. And 
 
 then 
 When from the ground arise the warlike 
 
 men, 
 With sword and buckler, spear and javelin ; 
 Do thou a great stone cast amidst the din 
 Of clashing swords and shields, for then 
 
 will tney 
 Each on the other turn, and kill and slay. 
 Then mayest thou with thy charmed spear 
 and sword 
 
 114 
 
f ^'%%K3 
 
 Let out the brief lives of the earth-bom 
 
 horde. 
 This done, thy task is ended. Now good- 
 bye, 
 Thy life is spared, though even I may die. 
 To-morrow, then, thou *It bear a charmed 
 
 life; 
 And after, should we live, thy promised 
 
 wife, 
 m go with thee to sunny, far-off Greece, 
 And there I hope to merit love and peace.** 
 ** My own sweet love,** said Jason, ** we 
 
 will pray 
 The gods may soon vouchsafe the happy 
 
 day.** 
 A loving, fond embrace, and heart to heart, 
 A honied kiss — and then the lovers part. 
 
 Behold next day upon the field of Mars, 
 The king and courtiers in their warlike cars. 
 The household of the king in gilded wain. 
 Drove through the gate, and out upon the 
 
 plain. 
 And then Medea, fairest sight by far. 
 Attended by her maidens in her car. 
 A throng of soldiers to the field repair. 
 With banners gay, and brazen trumpet*s 
 
 blare. 
 And warriors, priests and thralls, with one 
 
 accord. 
 Moved out upon the plain, a mighty horde. 
 To witness Jason*s sure defeat and death. 
 
 115 
 
 <4= 
 
 r"^^-^^ 
 
^r^ 
 
 Y^&o^S^ - 
 
 By these dread brazen bulls with flaming 
 breath. 
 
 ND now the grandest 
 
 sight of all appears — 
 
 The Argo, sailing 
 
 proudly, while the 
 
 cheers 
 
 Of Jason and his heroes 
 
 rent the air ; 
 They came to conquer, 
 came to do or dare, 
 mighty ship sailed swiftly up the 
 stream, 
 The morning breeze blew fresh, abaft the 
 
 beam; 
 And fifty oars in perfect time were plied. 
 Like fifty giant arms along her side. 
 Ancaeus, putting down the helm, she veered 
 Into the wind ; then for the shore he steered. 
 The sail was lowered and furled upon the 
 
 yard. 
 The oarsmen still were rowing fast and 
 
 hard, 
 Until at length the river bank they reach. 
 And backing ship, they stopped beside the 
 
 beach. 
 And safely moored the Argo in the lee, 
 The proudest ship that ever sailed the sea. 
 The heroes leaped ashore with perfect ease, 
 And formed in .solid phalanx 'neath the 
 
 trees ; 
 
 116 
 
» •^'^WlES 
 
 Then boldly marched, with Jason at their 
 
 head, 
 The very earth did tremble at their tread* 
 Then marching to the chariot of the 
 
 king, 
 Gave three Greek cheers that made the 
 
 welkin ring; 
 The welkin rang, and rang again, Fve 
 
 heard. 
 But badly cracked remained from cheer the 
 
 third. 
 The Colchian welkin ne^er will ring again, 
 'T was sorely damaged by these loud-voiced 
 
 men. 
 **i^etes, let me introduce my friends,^' 
 Said Jason, anxious then to make amends ; 
 They, doffing helmets, gave their college 
 
 yell, 
 
 Old Chiron^s college yell, and did it well ; 
 So well, in fact, that birds for miles around. 
 With bursted galls, dropped dead upon the 
 
 ground. 
 The king, astonished, rose up in his car. 
 The yell reverberating, near and far. 
 
 ** I ^m pleased to meet you, gentlemen,*^ 
 
 said he, 
 ** But don^t repeat that yell ; it don^t agree 
 With thin-skinned people, like we Colchians 
 
 are; 
 Your fine Greek chorus is too loud, by 
 
 far. 
 
 117 
 
 ^^^^^^S 
 
<c>> 
 
 OW, Jason, if your will 
 
 is still inclined 
 To yoke the brazen 
 
 oxen, you will find 
 That everything is ready 
 for the test ; 
 That you decline, I really think is best ; 
 For I, and I alone, the task can do. 
 Be warned in time; it's certain death for 
 you/' 
 Then Idas quickly spoke : ** O, gracious 
 king. 
 We wouldn't miss the show for anything; 
 'T would be too bad to disappoint the crowd. 
 And Tason, he will do your oxen proud ; 
 For ne's a bully boy, I'd have you know, 
 Your brazen bulls with him will prove too 
 slow." 
 Then Pollux spoke, the famous pugilist, 
 And to his helmet raised his brawny fist : 
 '^Should Jason smash your bulls, most 
 
 gracious sire. 
 And by his mettle, quench their metal ire, 
 We '11 all chip in and buy another pair. 
 Or send them straight to Vulcan for repair ; 
 The straight, you know, will both pair 
 
 surely beat. 
 Or Jason, flushed with pride in their defeat. 
 Will order three, from brazen kine, you 
 
 see — 
 Three of a kind, then surely there will be." 
 
 118 
 
'-'■^ftSES 
 
 B 
 
 ^'You speak in Grecian idioms/' said 
 
 the king, 
 '^A Grecian idiom is a stupid thing. 
 But talk is cheap ; to business now we 'II 
 
 turn. 
 That Pm a business man, you soon will 
 
 learn ; 
 This is my busy day ; it 's getting late. 
 And time and tide, you know, for no man 
 
 wait. 
 As Jason still insists the bulls to yoke. 
 Perhaps he 'II find, too late, it is no joke. 
 You Greeks may nod and laugh and smile 
 
 and wink; 
 That he will yoke the oxen — I don't think. 
 But should he do so, and perform the task — 
 Then everything is his that he may ask ; 
 The Fleece of Qjld, a paltry thing, at best. 
 My crown and scepter, throne, and all the 
 
 rest; 
 When Greece her knees a suppliant bent, 
 
 you know; 
 A suppliant bent — then grease her knees, 
 
 just so; 
 A Colchian school-boy chestnut, I'll admit. 
 But one that this occasion seems to fit. 
 
 ** Here, Jason, hold your helmet, take 
 these teeth. 
 The seed you are to sow upon this heath; 
 And when the seed 's into the furrow sown, 
 
 119 
 
i~\- 
 
 Not long you ^11 have to wait before it's 
 
 grown ; 
 A crop of fierce and well-armed men, and 
 
 brave^ 
 Whom you must reap and bind, your life 
 
 to save; 
 Remember, he who by the plow would 
 
 thrive. 
 Must either hold the plow, himself, or drive ; 
 As you '11 do both, why you can plainly see. 
 The thing 's impossible — except for me." 
 
 ROT out your bulls,'' said Jason, 
 let's begin, 
 A thing begun 's half done ; I 'm 
 sure to win. 
 Your bulls are muzzle-loaders — obsolete ; 
 I '11 draw their fire ; 't is quite an easy feat. 
 I 'm made of pure asbestos, and fire-proof ; 
 A perfect salamander — web and woof. 
 The warmest member in the crowd ; that 's 
 
 right; 
 There '11 be a hot time in the town, to-night." 
 
 ERHAPS my bulls are not so 
 very hot ; 
 You'll find them sizzling, in 
 the corner lot ; 
 Also the adamantine plow and yoke." 
 The king laughed in his sleeve, while yet 
 he spoke. 
 
 120 
 
^•-TftdlM 
 
 Then Jason thrust his sword into the sod, 
 And on it hung his helmet, like a hod. 
 Wherein reposed the serpent^s teeth for seed, 
 And for the brazen oxen went with speed. 
 And as he passed Medea, lovely maid, 
 She whispered : ** Jason, do not be afraid/* 
 The women all admired his yellow hair; 
 They M never seen a mortal half so fair; 
 They threw him kisses as he disappeared. 
 And prayed for his success; half hoped, 
 
 half feared. 
 But what is this that caused the king to 
 
 look! 
 While all his frame as with an ague shook ! 
 *T is Jason with the oxen and the plow. 
 As to the yoke their brazen heads they bow ; 
 While from their mouths and nostrils sheets 
 
 of flame 
 Extended far behind ; but all the same. 
 And unconcerned, brave Jason plodded on. 
 His team obedient to his voice, anon. 
 And pulling bravely, with their might and 
 
 main. 
 They plowed a furrow straight across the 
 
 plain. 
 '*Gee, Bright! Whoa, Buck!*' cried 
 
 Jason, as with gad. 
 He whacked their sides. The women folks 
 
 were glad. 
 " Hurrah for Jason ! ** cried the heroes then. 
 And such a shout will ne'er be heard again. 
 
 121 
 
 ^^^^^^ 
 
HEN: '^What^s the 
 matter with brave 
 Jason, now? 
 Cried Meleager, as he 
 watched the plow. 
 ''O! he^s all right!'' 
 responded all the 
 crew 
 
 The king looked wild — 'twas all that he 
 could do. 
 Then Jason, running nimbly 'cross the 
 sward, 
 Took up his helmet ; buckled on his sword. 
 Then in the furrow sowed the serpent's teeth, 
 And with the plow he turned them under- 
 neath; 
 And in the comer lot at length did stop. 
 Turned out his team ; returned to reap his 
 
 crop. 
 Already in the furrow, bursting through. 
 Brass helmets, pushing up like mushrooms, 
 
 grew; 
 Soon followed arms and bodies, legs, and 
 
 then. 
 Behold the band of fierce and warlike men ! 
 Well-armed with sword and javelin and 
 
 spear. 
 They clashed their shields, and showed no 
 sign of fear. 
 Then Jason, shouting loudly, waved his 
 sword ; 
 
 122 
 
^^^^hHES 
 
 With flashing eyes they rushed, with one 
 accord, 
 
 To slay the bold intruder ; but they found 
 
 He parried all their blows, and stood his 
 ground. 
 
 Then Jason catching up a heavy stone, 
 
 With all his strength the missile then was 
 thrown, 
 
 And struck to earth two warriors in the 
 crowd. 
 
 Who on each other turned with curses loud ; 
 
 And striking right and left, were soon en- 
 gaged 
 
 With all the others — so the battle waged. 
 
 And Jason, slashing with his magic sword. 
 
 Soon all had bit the dust, of this vile horde. 
 While shouts and cries of victory re- 
 sound. 
 
 His comrades lifted Jason from the ground. 
 
 And on their shoulders bore him to the 
 king. 
 
 And cried: '*Lo, here the conqueror, we 
 bring! 
 
 And since he has performed his wondrous 
 task, 
 
 The Golden Fleece, alone, is all we ask. 
 
 Although you deemed it but a paltry thing. 
 
 We prize it as the ransom of a king. 
 
 You promised him your crown, ana scepter, 
 too. 
 
 But these, i^^tes, we will leave with you.' 
 
 123 
 
 •^^ 
 
 ^^^^^p 
 
~Y^&OT)S<^ 
 
 HE king, with rage, could 
 scarce contain himself ; 
 Of all his choicest treas- 
 ures, goods and pcif, 
 The Golden Fleece he 
 prized the most of all ; 
 Some plan he must invent, some way fore- 
 stall 
 These loud-mouthed Greeks; he cared not 
 
 for his word ; 
 That he should keep his promise seemed 
 absurd. 
 **I do not understand this thing,^* he 
 said; 
 His face turned pale, and then again turned 
 
 red. 
 ** I Vc been hoodooed and buncoM, that is 
 
 plain ; 
 My bulls were hypnotized ; the earth-born 
 
 slain; 
 But each one slew the other, which was 
 
 hard; 
 Each man was hoisted by his own petard. 
 But since by some vile trick the task is 
 
 done. 
 And Jason thinks the Golden Fleece hc^s 
 
 won; 
 I 'm willing, now, the claim to arbitrate, 
 As is the custom in affairs of state. 
 I'll choose two men, and they may choose 
 a third, 
 
 124 
 
r UTftSES 
 
 To them the matter then will be referred. 
 As ex-offido I ^11 add my name ; 
 We ^11 thoroughly investigate the claim. 
 We ^U send for men and papers — that ^s the 
 
 way; 
 And then, when through, report without 
 
 delay. 
 But first, a protocol will be prepared, 
 Wherein my final terms will be declared. 
 To this state paper each his name must 
 
 sign. 
 The names of all concerned — excepting 
 
 mine. 
 Now, one thing more I M have you un- 
 derstand : 
 The Golden Fleece will never leave this 
 
 land. 
 A mascot true, it is my greatest pride, 
 Which Phrixus willed to me before he 
 
 died; 
 Dyed in the wool with precious virgin gold, 
 A sacred, priceless thing, to have and hold. 
 My title 's good ; there ^s not the slightest 
 
 flaw; 
 Possession is nine points in Colchian law. 
 Therefore, possess yourselves in perfect 
 
 peace. 
 You never will possess the Golden Fleece.** 
 And saying which he quickly drove 
 
 away. 
 The Argonauts had not a word to say. 
 
 125 
 
 <4== 
 
 f^^^^^^ 
 
r-^G^02)^^~^ 
 
 HEN came Medea, with 
 a faithful maid ; 
 She beckoned Jason to 
 
 her side, and said : 
 ** My father's shameful 
 words I blushed to 
 hear; 
 But we'll outwit him, 
 Jason, never fear. 
 At midnight do not fail to come to me, 
 Where last we met — the shrine of Hecate. 
 Then with my help you '11 take the Golden 
 
 Fleece, 
 And then set sail, at once, for far-off Greece. 
 Have everything prepared for instant flight ; 
 For I leave home, with you, this very night. 
 Already I 'm suspected by the king. 
 For helping you, to-day, to do this thing. 
 And should you then the Fleece take from 
 
 its tree, 
 A shameful, certain death, 'twould mean 
 
 for me. 
 Should I remain 
 fled." 
 ** My faithful, promised wife," then Jason 
 
 behind when you were 
 
 said. 
 
 ** I will not sail without you, never fear ; 
 You are to me most precious, fond and dear. 
 My love for you will only cease with life, 
 And some day you will be my cherished 
 wife." 
 
 126 
 
'^•■^fUlES 
 
 She pressed his hand, then said : ** Do 
 
 not forget; 
 Good-bye ! to-night — alone — where last we 
 
 met/' 
 Then in her car the crowd she soon outran. 
 And Jason to the heroes told the plan. 
 Aboard the ship they sang a merry 
 
 tune. 
 Right glad they were to leave the place so 
 
 soon. 
 Though Idas said he did not think it right, 
 To sneak away without a chance to fight. 
 To have his way, he said he'd sack the 
 
 town, 
 Then take the Golden Fleece, and smash 
 
 -Petes' crown. 
 But better, wiser, counsel still prevailed. 
 And down the stream the Argo swiftly 
 
 sailed. 
 Again they moored her in the sheltered 
 
 bight. 
 And then prepared all things for instant 
 
 flight. 
 
 BOOH 
 III 
 
 127 
 
 <^^^^ 
 
ARGUMENT. 
 
 JEctzz discovers all; but meantime Medea has fled 
 to the Argonauts ; and by her aid they have taken the 
 Fleece and gone. Absyrtus^ son of iEetes, gives chase ; 
 but coming up with them is treacherously slain, at the 
 mouth of the Ister, by Jason and Medea ; whereat Zeus 
 is angry, but Hera ever befriends them. Thence they 
 come to Circe to be purified of the murder ; and they pass 
 through **the Wandering Rocks/' and through Scylla 
 and Charybdis, and past the Sirens, all save Butes ; and 
 come unto Corcyra, where Medea is saved by Alcinous 
 from the pursuit of the Colchians, and is wedded to 
 Jason. Next they are driven to the Syrtis off Libya, and 
 suffer greatly from thirst. Here Canthus and Mopsus 
 meet their doom ; and the rest are saved by Triton and 
 sent upon their way to Crete, where Talos withstands 
 them, only to fall before Medea's magic. 
 
 After this they make a straight run to -^gina, and 
 so without further adventure to their home in Thessaly. — 
 (Adapted from the Scholiasts.) 
 
 >29 
 
w^ 
 
 OK^Ip'. 
 
 fi 
 
 T midnight, at th* ap- 
 pointed time and place, 
 Medea waited ; tears 
 ran down her face. 
 The thought of leaving home 
 
 was sad, indeed ; 
 *Twixt love and duty, sore 
 her heart did bleed. 
 *'0! would that Jason ne^er had come,^* 
 
 she said ; 
 **0! would that I, unhappy maid, were 
 
 dead!^' 
 But Jason coming, kissed away her tears ; 
 With soothing words soon banished all her 
 fears. 
 ** O ! Tason, I am leaving all for you ; 
 My childnood^s home ; my faithful maids, 
 
 and true; 
 My father, mother, brother, sister dear ; 
 My native land — and all for love sincere. 
 For love of you, dear Jason, all I leave. 
 For in your love I trust ; in you believe. 
 Henceforth my all — my very life you *1I be ; 
 And will you love me always — only me ? 
 ** Sweet love,^^ said Jason, ** by the gods 
 I swear, 
 No one with you my true hearths love will 
 
 share; 
 This day, my sweet, you saved my worth- 
 less life; 
 
 131 
 
<c^ 
 
 ^mR^^3^^= jiy I 
 
 Henceforth it *s yours — my faithful, prom- 
 ised wife/' 
 
 HEN Jason brushed aside 
 her golden hair, 
 And sealed his vow upon 
 
 her forehead fair. 
 Around his neck her white 
 arms then she flung, 
 And to his tall and graceful form she clung, 
 E^en like a vine that clingeth to a rock. 
 Though countless storms may rage and 
 
 tempests shock. 
 She laid her tear-stained cheek upon his 
 
 breast. 
 And gently, he her golden locks caressed ; 
 When starting up, as if from sleep, she 
 gasped ; 
 ** Time flies apace 1 ** and then his hand 
 she clasped. 
 And gliding swiftly ^neath the silent stars. 
 She led him to the sacred grove of Mars ; 
 And there the wondrous sight did he behold, 
 The goal of all his hopes — the Fleece of 
 
 Gold! 
 Its dazzling light resplendent shone around ; 
 But underneath there lay upon the ground, 
 The dreadful dragon, coiled about the tree 
 Where hung the Golden Fleece ; its guar- 
 dian, he. 
 His countless folds were clad with shield- 
 like scales ; 
 
 132 
 
 ^-%*fe 
 
^'■^fkflES 
 
 And sicklc-Iike, and sharp, his long, curved 
 
 nails* 
 His red and slimy mouth was opened wide, 
 With rows of teeth like spear-heads, side by- 
 side; 
 While from his yellow nostrils, snoring 
 
 loud. 
 His sickly, noisome breath arose, a cloud. 
 
 ** Haste, Jason, do not be the least afraid ! 
 Quick 1 seize the Golden Fleece 1 ** Medea 
 
 said. 
 ** The dreadful beast, who never slept before, 
 I charmed to sleep an hour ago, or more. 
 The magic potion soon will lose its spell ; 
 Quick ! seize the Fleece, and all will yet be 
 
 well!^' 
 She placed her sandaled foot upon its head. 
 And crooning softly to the dragon, said : 
 ** Sleep on, O dreaded, fearful beast, 
 
 sleep on ; 
 May dreams, in fancy, bring thee pleasures 
 
 gone; 
 Sleep on, O monster, while the owl doth fly ; 
 While kind moon-goddess Hecate is nigh.^^ 
 And o^er the dragon^s eye-lids then she 
 
 poured 
 The soporific drug — he louder snored. 
 Then Jason lightly stepped from fold to fold. 
 And from the tree he took the Fleece of Gold. 
 As in his arms he bore the long-sought prize, 
 The monster dragon opened wide his eyes. 
 
 133 
 
 <^^^^^^^ 
 
<c^ 
 
 V^G^02)j^~^ 
 
 And from his throat emitted such a roar, 
 The earth did quake for miles, from shore 
 to shore. 
 
 EDE A threw her mantle 
 
 o'er its head, 
 Then swiftly from the 
 place, with Jason, fled. 
 The shining Fleece lit 
 up their path like day, 
 As through the grove 
 they quickly made 
 their way. 
 And thence across the plain unto the ship ; 
 Then quick aboard — the crew the cables 
 
 slip. 
 
 And down the river soon were rowing fast. 
 Till near the river's mouth they stopped, at 
 
 last. 
 Then Jason, standing on the vessel's stem. 
 Addressed the heroes, who, their faces turn 
 To where he stood, Medea by his side. 
 The fairest maid in all the world, so wide. 
 ^*0, brothers, many dangers we have 
 
 shared ; 
 Our lives from many perils hath been 
 
 spared ; 
 Until, at last, the object of our quest 
 Hath been secured ; and I am doubly blest. 
 This is the happiest moment of my life, 
 For you Ve obtained the Fleece, and I a wife. 
 To guard her safely, now will be your care, 
 
 134 
 
f ^'^fkms 
 
 For 
 
 she as queen, my throne will 
 
 some d< 
 
 share. 
 
 And bear me witness ; by the gods I vow ! 
 To love her always, as I love her now. 
 Without her aid the Golden Fleece would be. 
 Still guarded by the dragon *neath the tree.^* 
 Thus Jason spoke. Then Peleus replied : 
 ** O, Jason, with our lives we *II guard your 
 
 bride.^^ 
 And then Medea, stretching out her 
 
 hand, 
 Cried: ** Heroes! look! O look upon the 
 
 land! 
 The beacon fires are lit on every hill; 
 Hoist up your sail, and quickly let it fill. 
 The warning bell is clanging in the tower ; 
 Bend to your oars, and pray the gods for 
 
 power 
 
 My father is alarmed ; he knows I Ve fled ! 
 And ta^en the Golden Fleece 1 ** Medea said. 
 And as she spoke, behold upon the 
 
 strand. 
 The chariot of the king ; and in his hand 
 A flaming torch, that like a meteor flew ; 
 And urging on his horses passed from 
 
 view 
 Around the point below; and followed then, 
 A multitude of horses, cars and men. 
 While up the river, sailors loudly cried ; 
 Manned sails and oars, to catch the ebbing 
 
 tide. 
 
 135 
 
 SS few ^^^^^^^ 
 
And as the early dawn began to break, 
 A hundred ships soon followed Argons wake. 
 
 ITH sail and oars the Argo 
 swiftly sped ; 
 But at the river's mouth, 
 
 not far ahead, 
 A huge ship blocked the 
 channel ; while on shore, 
 An army of a thousand men, or more. 
 Were waiting for the Argo and her crew. 
 Then Jason gave his orders, quickly, too : 
 '^ Along the gunwale of the landward 
 side. 
 Let all the shields of first bench men be tied ! 
 And brace them strong and firm ; then on 
 
 his spear 
 Let each man's helmet just above, appear ! 
 While down below the men their oars will 
 
 ply! 
 Then those on shore will shoot their arrows, 
 
 high. 
 All, save the oarsmen, man the starboard 
 
 side. 
 To fight the ship that bars our way I '' he 
 cried. 
 Then Juno sent, abaft, a welcome gale. 
 That fiercely blew, and filled the swelling 
 
 sail. 
 But up the river, blew the other way ; 
 Drove back the Colchian fleet in dire dismay. 
 
 136 
 
l-'-^fkflES 
 
 The Argo forged ahead with wind and tide, 
 The queen of all the seas, and Jason^s pride. 
 Then bearing down upon the ship, ahead, 
 Bold Jason turned to Ancaeus, and said : 
 " That ship we *I1 sink ! there is no other 
 
 way; 
 She blocks the channel *twixt the sea and 
 
 bay; 
 *T is Hobson^s choice ; we *1I ram her in the 
 
 side! 
 And sink her where she lays, whatever 
 
 betide. 
 
 We Ve got the push ! our stem is solid oak ! 
 We ^11 crush her like an egg-shell ! " thus he 
 
 spoke. 
 Ancaeus bid them row both fast and 
 
 hard; 
 And to the breeze to brace and square the 
 
 yard. 
 The Colchian ship was anchored bow and 
 
 stern ; 
 The Argo from her straight course did not 
 
 turn; 
 But crashing, smashing, cut the ship in 
 
 twain; 
 Sailed o^er the wreck, and out upon the 
 
 main. 
 The Colchian ship was fairly cut in two, 
 And sank like lead, beneath the waters blue. 
 But ere she sunk, Absyrtus, on the stern. 
 With angry eyes, Medea did discern. 
 
 137 
 
 (t^^""^"^^^^^^^ 
 
ILE sister I false one ! 
 traitress!^^ then he said ; 
 Medea answered not — 
 she cut him dead* 
 I know some ancient 
 poets do aver — 
 In justice^ though, with 
 them I can't concur — 
 That Jason, or Medea, maybe both, 
 Did really slay Absyrtus, nothing loth. 
 Now when the Colchian ship did dis- 
 appear. 
 The Argo's crew did loudly shout and cheer. 
 ** How's that ! " cried Castor, shouting with 
 
 his might ; 
 Cried Pollux, just as loud: **It's out of 
 sight ! 
 Then king i^ctes, in his car, on shore. 
 Did tear his hair, and bitter oaths he swore ; 
 But all in vain; the Argo sailed away, 
 And soon was lost to sight, far down the 
 
 bay. 
 The best laid plans of mice or men, you see, 
 On sea or solid land, oft gang agley. 
 
 The breeze blew fresh and fair; they 
 sailed all night ; 
 They swiftly sailed until the morning light 
 Broke thick and gray, and then a heavy log 
 Fell like a pall ; they drifted like a log. 
 For now a calm fell on the silent sea, 
 And three long days they drifted, helplessly. 
 
 138 
 
^I^ftsHES 
 
 The heavy mist the mast-head hid from 
 
 view; 
 They lost their course ; they knew not what 
 
 to do. 
 At length, at dawn, a lambient, rosy 
 
 light 
 Shone all about the prow, a welcome sight ; 
 And from the figure-head was heard a voice 
 That caused their hearts, despondent, to 
 
 rejoice : 
 *' Brave heroes, rouse ye from despair 
 
 and doubt! 
 Your ship is safe and sound; your arms 
 
 are stout. 
 Your journey home will be some time de- 
 layed; 
 Accept whatever comes — be not afraid. 
 The fog, and mist, and gloom, by Juno 
 
 sent. 
 Hath saved your lives, and proved her good 
 
 intent. 
 While shrouded by the mist and fog, so 
 
 meet. 
 The angry king and all the G)Ichian fleet 
 PassM haply by, and at the straits doth 
 
 wait, 
 To bar your passage through the narrow 
 
 gate. 
 And now another route you must pursue ; 
 For rivers, you must leave the ocean blue ; 
 And overland awhile, your journey take ; 
 
 139 
 
 <4== 
 
 .^^^P 
 
'Y^&o^S^^ ~^ 
 
 HEN in the sea^ again 
 leave your waTce, 
 Until, at last, you'll sight 
 
 the shores of Greece, 
 And all will end in perfect 
 joy and peace. 
 But, now, due north your present course 
 
 will be. 
 Instead of east ; be brave and follow me ! ** 
 Then rose a breeze from off the southern 
 shore. 
 Dispersed the fog; and doubted they no 
 
 more. 
 Carambis left aport, and far astern, 
 Ahead the steady, radiant light did bum ; 
 They followed, day and night, the rosy 
 
 gleam. 
 Until they entered Ister's mighty stream. 
 They entered on the flood tide, high and 
 
 strong. 
 And swiftly 'tween the banks were whirled 
 
 along. 
 At length, at night, they anchored in the 
 
 stream. 
 And strange, indeed, did everything now 
 
 seem. 
 No more was felt the salt breeze of the sea ; 
 No more was heard the purl of waves, a-lee. 
 But swift and silent flowed the mighty tide ; 
 While forests hemmed them in on either 
 
 side. 
 
 140 
 
V ^'■^fMlES 
 
 And farther up the stream they rowed 
 
 each day^ 
 Until the salty tide had lost its sway, 
 And fresh and sweet the river water ran. 
 Good fishing now they found, and soon 
 
 began 
 To lure the finny tribe from Ister's flood, 
 By hook or crook, or any way they could ; 
 With bait or spoon, or artificial fly, 
 To catch the biggest fish they all did try. 
 Medea watched the sport with some sur- 
 prise; 
 The gentle art was new to Colchian eyes. 
 With Jason^s aid she soon essayed a cast. 
 And hooked a fish as long as half the 
 
 mast. 
 She played it with great skill, it must be 
 
 said; 
 She played it 'till the fish seemed nearly 
 
 dead; 
 Then Jason deftly gaffed it with his spear. 
 And all the crew joined in a hearty cheer. 
 'Twas ever thus, in fishing bout or 
 
 match. 
 The novice sometimes scores the biggest 
 
 catch. 
 Whatever the sport, in feather, fur or fin. 
 The modest tenderfoot will sometimes win. 
 We call it ** luck,^' whatever that may mean, 
 But luck or ** chance'' is born of skill, I 
 
 ween. 
 
 141 
 
<c^ 
 
 Y^G'o^S^^'^ 
 
 O in and try your luck/* 
 or ** Now *z your 
 chance/* 
 Is often said, our cour- 
 age to enhance. 
 And if we win, can it 
 
 be truly said 
 That luck or chance, 
 not skill, came out ahead? 
 The expert angler's often asked, for- 
 sooth: 
 ** What luck ? " when patient, skillful work, 
 
 in truth. 
 Hath filled his creel, in which chance had 
 
 no part ; 
 *T is such things break the honest angler's 
 
 heart. 
 Or quoth the upstart, finger on his nose : 
 ** You caught them on the fly, sir, I sup- 
 pose r *' 
 ** Of course,'* the honest angler then replies. 
 ** The barnyard hackle is the best of flies ; 
 And that you used, sir, just as like as 
 
 not**— 
 He feels like killing him upon the spot. 
 
 Medea caught the largest fish that day. 
 As woman sometimes will when there *s a 
 
 way. 
 She bore her honors meekly — did not 
 
 brag— 
 The gentle doe at times outstrips the stag. 
 
 142 
 
iJ^^tSzs 
 
 Now steadily up stream the Argo sped ; 
 Propelled by lusty arms, she forged ahead. 
 But swifter, clearer, now the river flowed ; 
 And harder still the god-like oarsmen 
 
 rowed. 
 At night was often heard the lion's roar ; 
 By day strange beasts were seen along the 
 
 shore; 
 To these they gave no heed, nor thought of 
 
 harm; 
 Such sights and sounds to them caused no 
 
 alarm. 
 But now their hearts were filled with fear 
 
 and dread — 
 A mighty cataract was seen ahead. 
 And foam-flecked water; eddies every- 
 where, 
 Caused every heart to sink in grim despair. 
 And then discouraged by the fearsome 
 
 sight. 
 They anchored in a quiet, sheltered bight. 
 Then Jason and Ancaeus went ashore, 
 With Argus, Lynceus, and several more. 
 Together then they climbed the wooded 
 
 hiU, 
 And up the river's bank they journeyed 
 
 still. 
 Until they reached, at length, the high 
 
 divide. 
 And saw a river on the other side. 
 A welcome sight ; it flowed the other way ; 
 
 143 
 
 if''''^^^^^:^^ 
 
cs= 
 
 Y^G'OT)S'^"'~ 
 
 ^T will bear us to the sea, again 
 say. 
 
 ^^ETURNING then the joy- 
 ous news to tell, 
 They found a wide and well- 
 worn road, as well. 
 **The task is not a hard 
 one,** Argus said ; 
 On wheels we *1I move the Argo to the head 
 Of this divide ; and then when that is done, 
 *T will be dead easy, and no end of fun, 
 To wheel the Argo down the other side, 
 And in the other river safely glide.'* 
 ** You *re mighty right,** then Jason, smiling, 
 said, 
 I always thought you*d wheels in that 
 great head.** 
 And now for days a busy scene ensued. 
 Great trees, and small, were felled and sawed 
 
 and hewed. 
 A timber cradle for the Argo made, 
 With wheels and axles strongly built and 
 
 stayed. 
 Then in the water, down the sloping beach. 
 They ran the car, until the ship they reach. 
 And safely floated her within the cage ; 
 Then with the twisted cables all engage, 
 And hauled the Argo out upon the shore ; 
 Despair and doubt then troubled them no 
 
 more. 
 
 144 
 
L'-^fMi^s 
 
 Then up the hill they labored, slow but 
 
 sure; 
 No task so great but they could well endure. 
 And so they reached the top — the water- 
 shed; 
 ** We '11 rest until to-morrow/' Jason said. 
 At early dawn they started down the slope ; 
 Each heart was now inspired with joy and 
 
 hope. 
 At length they safely reached the river side ; 
 At length they launched the Argo on its tide. 
 Then with the wheels and timbers of the 
 
 wain 
 The heroes built an altar, once again, 
 To offer sacrifice and hymns of praise 
 To Juno, who had brought them through 
 
 the maze 
 Of deep and dark despair to this bright 
 
 spot — 
 That she had guided them, they doubted 
 
 not. 
 The hunters hied them forth with spear 
 
 and bow, 
 And through the forest wandered to and fro; 
 Brave Areas, Atalanta, Idas, too, 
 And Meleager, searched the forest through. 
 At length, a lordly stag Atlanta spied ; 
 She drove an arrow through his tawny 
 
 hide; 
 It pierced his heart, of course, she could not 
 
 fail— 
 
 145 
 
A hart he was, from branching horns to 
 
 tail. 
 He dropped dead in his tracks, for so, also, 
 His tracks were always under him, you 
 
 know. 
 
 ND then a bull, both tall and 
 big of girth. 
 With lowered horns, began 
 
 to paw the earth ; 
 His glaring eye the hunters 
 did defy ; 
 
 But Idas shot an arrow through his eye. 
 '* I hit the bullseye, plump and fair,^^ he said ; 
 ^'It pierced the bovine brain — the bull is 
 
 dead; 
 The boss of all the herd, no doubt was he ; 
 The bull of all the woods is slain, by me ! '^ 
 A huge boar next came rushing through 
 the wood ; 
 Erect upon his back his bristles stood. 
 His foam-flecked tusks he bared with piggish 
 
 pride; 
 But Areas* spear went crashing through his 
 
 side. 
 '' That 's not so bad 1 '' quoth Areas to the 
 
 rest; 
 ** I bore his taunt as long as I thought best. 
 The greatest boar of earth, as you '11 agree. 
 With neatness and dispatch was slain by 
 
 me 
 
 146 
 
LIT^TLE 
 
 riSHES 
 
 UST then an eagle bold dropped 
 
 from the sky, 
 
 And Meleager let an arrow fly, 
 
 That cleft the great bird^s skull, 
 
 and down he felL 
 
 Then Meleager^s heart with pride did swell; 
 
 And then he said: ** Now, how is that for 
 
 high?'' 
 I shot him on the wing — good shot say I/' 
 Then Atalanta, smiling, sweetly said : 
 ** It seems to me you shot him on the head ! '* 
 
 HUS chaffing, boasting, in a 
 merry vein. 
 The hunters to the ship returned 
 again. 
 
 The bull for sacrifice was then prepared. 
 To thank the gods their lives had all been 
 
 spared ; 
 To Juno, faithful guardian, all did pray. 
 To shield and guard them on their home- 
 ward way. 
 The altar flames leaped high above the trees. 
 The smoke ascended on the evening breeze ; 
 The omen was propitious, thank the gods — 
 So long as they were happy — what 's the 
 odds. 
 So down Eridanus, the river, sailed 
 The good ship Argo, which had never failed 
 To serve the heroes well, by sea or land ; 
 A gallant ship ; a noble, gallant band. 
 
 147 
 
<c^ 
 
 OW as they reached the 
 
 river^s mouth, one day. 
 The water boiled and 
 
 bubbled, strange to say ; 
 And clouds of steam rose 
 
 hissing on the air, 
 And altogether seemed 
 
 a queer affair. 
 This is the place," Medea said, ** where 
 
 Young Phaethon ; I Ve heard my father tell 
 How he one day the sun-car drove ; alas I 
 That such a thing should ever come to 
 
 The horses ran away — came near the earth, 
 And set the world on fire — his life was worth 
 Far less than all the world ; so mighty Jove, 
 While seated on his throne, in heaven above, 
 Sent crashing through the air a fiery dart 
 That fired young Phaethon from out the 
 
 cart, 
 And sent him scorching in the sea below — 
 That ^s why the water boils and bubbles so. 
 He 's burning still ; of that there is no doubt. 
 For he can never, never, be put out.'^ 
 Next day they reached the river^s mouth, 
 and then. 
 Behold the glorious, open sea, again ! 
 A welcome sight, indeed, to all the crew, 
 As bending to the breeze, the Argo flew. 
 The island of ./Ethalia reached, at last, 
 
 148 
 
^'■^fhfiES 
 
 moored the Argo safely, firm and 
 
 here the heroes spent in port ; 
 ' the time in manly games and 
 
 While Jason and Medea walked one day, 
 oddess Iris met them on their way. 
 lid them they to Greeks isle must hie, 
 ;he their blood-stained hands would 
 
 Absyrtus' death was still laid at their door, 
 So they for Circe^s favor must implore. 
 Next morning early saw them on their 
 
 way; 
 The Argo bounding gayly o^er the bay. 
 The high Tyrsenian cliffs were in full view, 
 Their amethystine tints above the blue. 
 And sailing onward through the starlit 
 
 night, 
 Next day the isle of Circe hove in sight. 
 Anon, they anchored near the little isle ; 
 The crew with music did the time beguile. 
 While Jason and Medea stepped ashore, 
 With more of dread than they had felt 
 
 before. 
 For Circe was ^etes* sister, dear ; 
 No wonder that their hearts were filled with 
 
 fear. 
 Yet true, she was Medea^s favorite aunt ; 
 They hoped that she their prayers would 
 
 freely grant. 
 
 149 
 
 (^^^^^^^ 
 
she placed with 
 
 OW Circe was a sorce- 
 ress, half divine, 
 Who, by a touch, turned 
 
 all men into swine. 
 Medea, knowing this, 
 
 had come prepared; 
 
 A knowledge of the 
 
 magic art she shared 
 
 With Circe, who had taught her years ago. 
 
 The art divine, and things she ought to 
 
 know. 
 In Jason^s tunic 
 
 care, 
 Some withered leaves, and safely pinned 
 them there. 
 ^^The Pontic Moly, sure and sacred 
 charm ; 
 Whoever wears it ne*er will come to harm ; 
 A foil to sorcery and magic art,^' 
 She said, **Now keep it safely o^er your 
 
 heart. 
 So long as you possess the sacred twig. 
 By Circe, you can not be made a pig.^* 
 And as they walked they saw great 
 droves of swine 
 That once were men; and oft did they 
 
 repine 
 In grunts and squeals their low and abject 
 
 state ; 
 And some, no doubt, deserved a better fate. 
 Then as they neared the center of the isle, 
 
 150 
 
^ U'^ft&E.S 
 
 The 
 
 met them with a pleasant 
 
 sore ress 
 
 smile; 
 
 She bade them welcome to her palace hall. 
 Where Jason and Medea told her all: 
 About the Golden Fleece, and Jason^s quest ; 
 About the brazen bulls, and all the rest ; 
 How king -^etes did repudiate 
 His royal word and promise, made in state; 
 Then, how the Golden Fleece they took at 
 
 night; 
 And then appealed to Circe*s sense of right. 
 ''But how about Absyrtus' death?'' 
 
 asked she, 
 "For this youVe come to be absolved by 
 
 me. 
 **" My dear aunt Circe/' then Medea said, 
 ** We do not know if he is already dead. 
 A ship was in our way as we passed out; 
 We rammed and sunk this ship without a 
 
 doubt ; 
 My brother stood upon her quarter-deck, 
 And called me names, from his part of the 
 
 wreck. 
 Now, whether he was drowned, or swam 
 
 ashore. 
 We do not know, and cannot tell you more." 
 Now Circe thought it best, at all events, 
 . To purify them both, in every sense, 
 Of any guilt that might attach to them ; 
 'T would do no harm; 'twould clear their 
 
 skirts; ahem! 
 
 151 
 
Within her secret chamber they 
 
 drew, 
 And there she purified the happy two. 
 This course was necessary to appease 
 The wrath of Jove, incensed by -^etes. 
 
 HEN Circe showed them 
 
 around th' enchanted place ; 
 
 The beastly swine, once of 
 
 the human race, 
 That by their squeals and 
 grunts did her implore, 
 To change them back to human form, once 
 
 more. 
 Then Circe said : ** Observe those two black 
 
 swine 
 That hang their heads ; unceasingly they 
 
 whine. 
 The one a fish-hog is, and when a man 
 He fished for count, and always filled his 
 
 can 
 With big and little, fingerlings, as well ; 
 Then, boasting of his catch, great lies did 
 teU. 
 The other one's a game-hog, nasty 
 brute. 
 Who, all day long, did nothing else but 
 
 shoot ; 
 With bow and spear he roamed the forests 
 
 wide. 
 And potted every living thing he spied. 
 
 152 
 
'-''^TMiEs 
 
 Now there *s a spotted hog, both lank and 
 
 lean, 
 Who, as a man, was just as bad and mean. 
 With net and spear, and torch, he fished at 
 
 night. 
 And slept by day, for fear Diana might 
 Surprise him at his lawless, so-called sport, 
 And hale him off to answer at the court. 
 And see that hog with drooping ears 
 
 and tail ; 
 At games and public places he M ne'er fail 
 To occupy two scats, while ladies stood; 
 I Ve turned him to a pig for others* good. 
 That scrawny hog, that's biting at his back. 
 Who, as a man did never false tales lack. 
 Did scandalize his friends and neighbors ; so, 
 I changed him to a pig some months ago. 
 That flabby one, that wallows in the 
 
 mire, 
 A boodle politician, thief and liar. 
 And so the herd have all, for some good 
 
 cause. 
 Been changed from men to hogs by Na- 
 ture's laws. 
 The change was slight, for they were hogs 
 
 before; 
 On two legs walked, where now they walk 
 
 on four ; 
 The difference then, I think you'll surely 
 
 find. 
 Is only in degree, and not in kind." 
 
 153 
 
C.,4S, 
 
 y-EG'02)J^'^2^ 
 
 Medea said, 
 ** Be sure and come to sec 
 
 us when we 're wed. 
 And now we must be 
 going, Jason dear/' 
 ** I 'II come to see you, cnildren, never fear/' 
 Responded Circe, ** and I 'II come right soon ; 
 I hope you 'II have a happy honey-moon." 
 Then Jason and Medea made their way 
 Across the isle to where the Argo lay. 
 They sailed at once, by Jason's strict com- 
 mand. 
 At dawn they reached the fair Tyrscnian 
 
 strand ; 
 And there they beached the Argo for a day, 
 In troublous doubt as to their future way. 
 
 Now Peleus was strolling on the beach. 
 Communing with himself in silent speech; 
 When Thetis, lovely sea-nymph, came 
 
 ashore — 
 His wife, who 'd left him many years be- 
 fore — 
 He clasped her to his breast with tears of 
 
 joy, 
 And cried : ** O, Thetis, how 's our darling 
 
 boy!" 
 ** Achilles is all right," his wife replied, 
 **He's with old Qiiron on the mountain 
 
 side. 
 Another matter 's brought mc here to you : 
 
 154 
 
'^'-^ft^ES 
 
 I ^m sent by Juno, to befriend your crew. 
 Great dangers still await you on your 
 
 course ; 
 Pay strict attention then to my discourse. 
 The Wandering Rocks, and Sirens, menace 
 
 you, 
 And fearful Scylla and Charybdis, too. 
 
 Now Iris, by command of Juno, fair, 
 To old ^olus, will at once repair. 
 And bid him quiet all the winds that blow, 
 Except a steady west wind, even so. 
 And, then old Vulcan she will next entreat 
 To close his forge, and thus dispel the heat. 
 Disperse the clouds of smoke from off the 
 
 sea, 
 So that the Argo, sailing fast and free. 
 May with less danger thus pursue her way. 
 If Vulcan and -^olus both obey. 
 
 Now when the Sirens^ island you draw 
 
 near, 
 Bid Orpheus play and sing both loud and 
 
 clear. 
 To drown the voices of the Sirens fair. 
 So sweet, enchanting, are their voices, rare, 
 Seductive, too, no man would count the 
 
 cost. 
 But, landing there, forever would be lost. 
 My nymphs will guide you through the 
 
 Wandering Rocks, 
 And guard you from their awful clashing 
 
 shocks. 
 
 155 
 
HEN Scylla and Charybdis 
 yet remain^ 
 Such terrors you will never 
 
 meet again ; 
 For Scylla hath six mouths 
 well-armed with teeth, 
 And woe to him that passeth underneath. 
 And on a cliff she dwells, within a 
 
 cave, 
 Round which the angry waters rush and 
 
 rave. 
 And opposite, a rock between the tides. 
 Is where the dread Charybdis ever hides. 
 Her mouth ^s a fearful whirlpool, wide and 
 
 deep, 
 Through which the circling waters surge 
 and leap; 
 But, I will hold the Argons rudder 
 straight, 
 And guide her safely through the narrow 
 
 gate. 
 And thus your greatest dangers will be 
 
 passed, 
 And you will reach the shores of Greece, 
 
 at last. 
 It happens that the luckiest thing in life. 
 For you, is that a water-nymph's your 
 
 wife. 
 And now, good-bye — but one thing do not 
 
 do. 
 Don't point me out to any of the crew. 
 
 150 
 
^'^fl%ES 
 
 EMEMBER me to Chiron, when 
 you meet ; 
 He must be careful of Achilles^ 
 feet; 
 He ^s proof against all ills, except one heel. 
 And much solicitude for that I feel. 
 Instead of sandals, make for him strong 
 
 shoes. 
 Which, for his mother^s sake he ^11 not re- 
 fuse. 
 Now Peleus, again PIl say good-bye; 
 The fact is, I am feeling kind o* dry ; 
 My fins are curling up, as you can see,' 
 And then headlong she plunged into the sea. 
 
 Now, Peleus related all he M heard 
 To Jason and the crew, and they averred 
 *T were best to try to carry out the plan 
 Devised by Juno ; and at once began 
 To tauten stays and braces for the trip; 
 Put everything in order on the ship. 
 
 Next day the west wind blowing fresh 
 and free, 
 The Argo once again put out to sea. 
 Her pennon floated proudly from the mast ; 
 The sea was smooth, the Argo sailing fast ; 
 And sailing fast and free by day and night, 
 At length a little island hove in sight. 
 And then a cliff, and beach of yellow 
 
 sand. 
 Then cool and shady groves upon the 
 land. 
 
 157 
 
HE breath of orange blos- 
 soms filled the air; 
 Delicious fragrance floated 
 
 everywhere ; 
 Enchanting music sweetly 
 rose and fell, 
 Responsive to the rhythmic ocean swell ; 
 And softly stealing o^er the fragrant sea, 
 In cadence soft, the strangest melody 
 Came tripping, rippling, o'er the ocean 
 
 tide— 
 The Sirens* song — the sailor's willing 
 
 bride. 
 Their lovely forms displayed beneath the 
 
 trees ; 
 Their love songs borne upon the summer 
 breeze : 
 "O, sailors bold, come rest ye here 
 
 awhile ; 
 love's sweet dalliance your hours be- 
 guile; 
 Our arms are soft and white; our kisses 
 
 sweet; 
 O, sailors, come and rest in love's retreat." 
 Then toward the land Ancaeus steered 
 the ship. 
 Medea then to Jason's side did slip : 
 " O, Jason, take the helm at any cost; 
 Steer out to sea, or we are surely lost." 
 And Atalanta cried to Orpheus : 
 *' Strike up your lyre and loudly sing to us ; 
 
 158 
 
'-'-^ftSzs 
 
 And sing of Greece, and wives and sweet- 
 hearts, there ; 
 
 And let your voice and lyre fill all the 
 air; 
 
 Crowd out and drown those songs of vile 
 deceit; 
 
 For death, not love, lurks in their dread re- 
 treat/' 
 Then Jason boldly took the helm and 
 steered. 
 
 And toward the open sea the Argo veered. 
 
 The song of Orpheus, so loud and clear. 
 
 Did banish other sounds from mind and ear. 
 
 The crew was saved, at least all saved but 
 one. 
 
 For ere the song of Orpheus was begun. 
 
 Poor Butes, overcome by Siren's lay. 
 
 Leaped overboard, and quickly swam away. 
 
 But Venus, ere he reached the island shore. 
 
 Descended on a cloud, and Butes bore 
 
 To far off Lilybeum, there to dwell, 
 
 A booty for this beauty, IVe heard tell. 
 Anon, the Argo, sailing toward the east, 
 
 Another danger met, and not the least. 
 
 The Wandering Rocks, of which they'd 
 heard with dread, 
 
 The heroes saw next day, and fust ahead. 
 
 Fierce flames were belching from a cave 
 on shore, 
 
 Though Vulcan's forge was out, and 
 smoked no more; 
 
 159 
 
<c^ 
 
 ND, resting on the hammer 
 in his hand, 
 The god of fire upon a 
 
 rock did stand. 
 He did no work that day, 
 it did not suit 
 To have the air so black with smoke and 
 
 soot. 
 He gazed in wonder as the Argo sailed, 
 And then the crew old Vulcan loudly- 
 hailed : 
 **A bully boat ; a bully crew, as well ! ** 
 The heroes gave the Chiron college yell. 
 
 Then sailing on they had enough to do. 
 With oars and sail, to guide the Argo 
 
 through 
 The Wan a ring Rocks, that loomed on 
 
 every side. 
 And rolled and tumbled in the angry tide. 
 But now a wondrous sight the crew beheld. 
 Which all their dread and fear at once dis- 
 pelled : 
 For, swimming swiftly at the Argons side. 
 And perched on every rolling rock, beside, 
 Were countless sea-nymphs, fairest of the 
 
 fair; 
 With liquid eyes, and wondrous golden 
 
 hair. 
 Their sickle fins glanced brightly in the 
 
 sun, 
 Gay fin-de-siede girls, who thought it fun 
 
 160 
 
^'-^ftsHES 
 
 To fend the Argo with their arms so 
 
 white, 
 And ward her from the rocks ; a glorious 
 
 sight. 
 And Thetis, swimming swiftly at the 
 
 stern, 
 The rudder in her hands did twist and 
 
 turn, 
 And safely steered the Argo on her course ; 
 The west wind blowing now with increased 
 
 force; 
 And Juno, resting on a cloud, above. 
 Looked down upon the scene with eyes of 
 
 love. 
 Now, safely through the Wandering 
 
 Rocks, at last. 
 The Argo, aided by the sea-nymphs, passed. 
 Then from the rocks, where they ^d been 
 
 perched in glee. 
 The Nereids plunged headlong in the 
 
 sea. 
 Then Galatea marshaled them each side 
 The Argo, where their arms and fins they 
 
 plied. 
 And kept her in the channel, straight and 
 
 true; 
 While Thetis at the rudder steered her 
 
 through 
 The deep and narrow strait, whose treach- 
 
 Vous tide. 
 Did Scylla from Charybdis e'er divide. 
 
 161 
 
HIS danger passed, again 
 the open sea 
 Spread out before the 
 
 Argo, sailing free. 
 Loud cheers from Jason 
 and the crew rang 
 out; 
 The water-nymphs, like 
 dolphins, swam about. 
 The heroes manned the gunwales ; kisses 
 
 threw 
 To Thetis and her nymphs, as fair as 
 
 true; 
 The Nereids then flapped their fins with 
 
 glee. 
 Then disappeared beneath the deep blue 
 sea. 
 Now, sailing past Trinacrian isle, next 
 day. 
 The sound of bleating sheep came o^er the 
 
 bay; 
 Anon, the low of kine came from the shore; 
 Then toward the land they bent the labo- 
 ring oar. 
 But Lynceus, far-sighted, bid them hold : 
 ** I see,^' said he, ** two maids with crooks 
 
 of gold. 
 Who herd the sheep and cattle, white as 
 
 snow. 
 With horns of gold, as through green fields 
 they go»** 
 
 162 
 
'^'■^fUlES 
 
 Medea then seemed quite alarmed, and said : 
 ** Of heroes do not land ; sail on instead. 
 From what I Ve heard my father of ttimes 
 
 say, 
 These are Phaethusa and Lampetie, 
 The daughters of the sun, who tend their 
 
 herds 
 On this fair isle/' They wondered at her 
 
 words. 
 But turned the ship again and sailed away. 
 And Corcyra they reached the following day. 
 *T was here the kind Phaeacians dwelt 
 
 in peace ; 
 Good friends to all who hailed from sunny 
 
 Greece. 
 The king, Alcinous, a welcome true 
 Gave Jason and the heroes, whom he knew 
 By good report to be most famous men ; 
 Ana they were glad to rest ashore again. 
 The queen. Arete, also entertained 
 Medea and At^lanta ; and was pained 
 To hear the story of Medea's flight ; 
 But told her what she 'd done was just and 
 
 right. 
 In games of skill the heroes spent the 
 
 days; 
 The king and court were loud in words of 
 
 praise. 
 The people from the country flocked to 
 
 town 
 To see these Grecian heroes of renown. 
 
 163 
 
And priceless gifts and treasures were be- 
 stowed ; 
 
 And freely, milk and wine and honey, 
 flowed. 
 
 UT lo, one day appeared the 
 Colchian fleet ! 
 The leader came ashore the 
 
 king to greet. 
 The rocks Cyanean theyM 
 safely passed, 
 And through the mouth of Pontus came at 
 last. 
 '* The orders of JEtes are,** he said, 
 ** To find his daughter, who has basely fled ; 
 To take her back to Colchis, there to meet 
 The penalty of death, for her deceit. 
 So, if Medea and the Golden Fleece 
 Are given up, a treaty then, of peace. 
 Will be prepared, which he will then 
 
 submit ; 
 A peace commission formed to sit on it. 
 The treaty will provide — a usual thing — 
 Indemnity from Jason to the king. 
 
 One item is to pay the cost of hire 
 Of two brass bulls, with use of fire ; 
 Also, the hire of plow and double yoke ; 
 And rent of ground, he with the oxen 
 
 broke ; 
 Also the seed with which the ground was 
 sown, 
 
'-'-^iSiLS 
 
 Both rare and priceless, even he will own. 
 And then the crop, though reaped with toil 
 
 and care, 
 Was left to spoil and rot — at least the share 
 Of king iEetes, which he values high. 
 Then there ^s the damage to his dragon's 
 
 eye; 
 A broken limb, whereon the Fleece once 
 
 hung. 
 The choicest tree in all the grove, and 
 
 young. 
 The wharfage for the Argo must be paid. 
 And recompense for water rights be made. 
 Then there 's the sunken ship, though once 
 
 condemned, 
 Her price went up as she went down, con- 
 temned. 
 Then last of all, there comes the wear and 
 
 tear 
 Of king Petes' bed and royal chair. 
 Whereon he rolled and squirmed, and 
 
 pitched and tossed. 
 Since that dark night the Golden Fleece 
 
 was lost. 
 Now this the bill of costs the king hath 
 
 made. 
 And this the bill of costs that must be paid. 
 The treaty will not name the just amount 
 That Jason to the king must e'en account. 
 To his commissioners the king will trust 
 To do his will — in other words, they must. 
 
 165 
 
 ^^^^^pj 
 
r --J 
 
 Y^&OT>3^Shr^~ 
 
 UCH latitude, however, he ^11 
 allow — 
 Not less than half the lati- 
 tude, I trow, 
 Of Jason^s kingdom, when 
 he takes the throne, 
 ^T will take to pay the debt, I freely own. 
 This hs> the ultimatum of the king ; 
 At least the substance — I was told to bring. 
 And if the terms are not to Jason's mind. 
 And to refuse he seems at all inclined. 
 Then I am well prepared, and will enforce 
 The just demands of ^etes, of course. 
 My battle ships are anchored in the bay ; 
 The Argo's bottled up — can't get away." 
 Then king Alcinous looked vexed and 
 frowned, 
 '* You know," said he, '* that this is neutral 
 
 ground ; 
 One day in port you are compelled to stay. 
 Should Jason wish to leave and sail away. 
 He is my guest and ally, for the nonce ; 
 Your ultimatum I'll report, at once; 
 And ukimately I will arbitrate 
 Between you both, and my decision state. 
 Which will be final, and you must comply; 
 Not yours to kick, nor ask the reason why. 
 Now order what you please to cat or drink ; 
 I must have time to cogitate and think. 
 
 And now my army I must mobilize, 
 A numerous mob, at present, I surmise. 
 lee 
 
 ^-%*^ 
 
'^''m&Es 
 
 /i2^ 
 
 I have more soldiers than I really need^ 
 
 I wish that half were killed or dead^ indeed. 
 
 Large standing armies are a great expense, 
 
 And I have several millions for defense/' 
 
 Alcinous then took a formal leave, 
 
 A large smile lurking in his royal sleeve. 
 
 The captain of the fleet was sore dismayed; 
 
 In other words he felt somewhat afraid. 
 Now Jason, when he heard the terms 
 proposed, 
 
 Waxed very wroth, and even seemed dis- 
 posed 
 
 To fight the fleet with his one ship, alone ; 
 
 To this the heroes, one and all, were prone. 
 
 Alcinous, however, urged delay ; 
 
 Said he would arbitrate the following day ; 
 
 Reluctantly the heroes did consent. 
 Medea to the queen. Arete, went ; 
 
 With tearful eyes did importune her aid. 
 
 " Have pity, queen, O pity me, poor maid ; 
 
 O do not let them send me back,** she 
 cried; 
 
 ** O do not take me from my Jason's side. 
 
 He's all I have; and I'm to be his wife. 
 
 If taken back, I'll surely loose my life." 
 
 The queen, much moved, said she would 
 intercede 
 
 With king Alcinous, and try, indeed. 
 
 To form some plan whereby to circumvent 
 
 Her Colchian foes, who for her death were 
 bent. 
 
 167 
 
HE queen then hastened to 
 her lord, the king, 
 And said : ** My dear, do n*t 
 
 let them do this thing ; 
 Do n*t let them take this poor 
 maid back to die. 
 We rather should commend her, you and I, 
 For what she*s done for noble Jason's 
 
 sake; 
 Now, hubby, this poor maid, don't let them 
 
 Suppose that I should thus be forced from 
 
 you — 
 Now what would then be right for you to 
 
 do." 
 The king then thought it over in his 
 
 mind: 
 '* My dear," said he, ** her case is not that 
 
 kind. 
 If she were Jason's wife, 't is very clear, 
 I should insist on her remaining here. 
 For king ^etes then would have no claim, 
 Though she would be his daughter all the 
 
 same. 
 But she would owe allegiance to her lord ; 
 To him who furnished clothes and bed and 
 
 board." 
 "O, thank you," said the queen, ** you've 
 
 made it clear ; 
 Now, kiss me, sweet ; you 're such a duck, 
 
 my dear ! " 
 
 108 
 
^^^^tsflES 
 
 Now queen Aretes' plan -was quickly 
 
 formed ; 
 Medea, also Jason, she informed: 
 **Your wedding must take place without 
 
 delay; 
 The king, himself, will givz the bride 
 
 away — 
 He's good at giving things away," she 
 
 said, 
 **' T was he that put this nice plan in my 
 
 head* 
 
 Medea, you will wear my wedding dress. 
 No time to make a trousseau, now, I guess. 
 At'Ianta will be bridesmaid, none so fair ; 
 And I, myself, will dress your golden hair. 
 Now, I must go and see about the cake; 
 And all the other preparations make. 
 The wedding will take place this afternoon. 
 And after that begins the honey-moon. 
 Let Orpheus compose the wedding hymn ; 
 Have everything in order, nice and trim. 
 Now, in the holy cave down by the 
 
 sea, 
 Where Macris once did dwell with honey- 
 bee, 
 The maidens of the queen did there prepare 
 The bridal chamber for the happy pair. 
 The walls made gay with silken curtains 
 
 hung, 
 Festoons of orange blossoms o'er them 
 
 strung ; 
 
 169 
 
c^^ 
 
 With bridal wreaths 
 
 flecked, 
 The honey-scented grotto was bedecked. 
 The bridal couch of sandal wood was 
 
 made, 
 And on it softest skins and pelts were laid, 
 With robes of precious silks, and white 
 
 swanks down, 
 And fine, fair linen then the whole did 
 
 crown. 
 The Golden Fleece was then laid over all, 
 And through the holy, sacred, rocky hall 
 It shed a radiance sweet, divinely fair. 
 Its steady, golden sheen beyond compare. 
 And strains of music, soft and low and 
 
 sweet. 
 And fragrant incense filled the rare retreat. 
 
 The heroes built an altar by the sea ; 
 The Argo gently rose and fell, a-lee. 
 They slaughtered lambs, and mixed the 
 
 barley meal. 
 And to the blessed gods they made appeal 
 For health and joy, and happiness through 
 
 life. 
 For Jason and his lovely Colchian wife. 
 The akar fire, high leaping through the air, 
 Threw out upon the sea its ruddy glare ; 
 Shone on the sea-nymphs, floating on the 
 
 waves. 
 And bringing gifts of amber from their 
 
 caves. 
 
 170 
 
W LiTrLE 
 
 TITHES 
 
 And gems and corals rare, they also bore. 
 And jewels bright, from every sea-girt shore. 
 The woodland nymphs brought blossoms, 
 
 pure and white ; 
 Their golden hair, and bosoms, were be- 
 
 dight 
 With gorgeous flowers of every hue and 
 
 shade. 
 By Juno sent, from mountain, glen and 
 
 glade. 
 Now, as the deepening twilight closed 
 
 around. 
 The wheels of chariots rumbled o^er the 
 
 ground ; 
 And in procession moved the happy throng, 
 To share the marriage feast, in wine and 
 
 song. 
 The royal chariot, with the king and queen. 
 Both dressed in royal robes of brighest 
 
 sheen ; 
 Then Jason and Medea, happy pair. 
 Arrayed in wedding garments rich and 
 
 rare; 
 At^Ianta, bridesmaid, radiant as a star. 
 And Meleager, groomsman, in their car. 
 Then followed maids of honor, sweetly 
 
 dressed ; 
 The courtiers of the king, clothed in their 
 
 best; 
 With priests and satellites, and warriors 
 
 grim — 
 
 171 
 
 J^^^^^S 
 
Then Orpheus struck up the wedding 
 hymn. 
 
 ND there, beside the ever 
 
 restless sea, 
 On which he M sailed with 
 baffling winds, and free ; 
 Through nights of gloom, 
 and sunny days of ease; 
 With furious gales, and gentle summer 
 
 breeze ; 
 Beside the sea, the Argo in full sight — 
 Behold brave Jason on his wedding night I 
 And standing proudly by his manly side — 
 Behold Medea, Jason's Colchian bride I 
 The fairest maid in all the world, was she ; 
 The bravest man in all the world, was he. 
 For then, as now, both here and every- 
 where, 
 'T is true — none but the brave deserve the 
 fair. 
 And then, the altar fire gleaming bright. 
 The priests performed the sacred marriage 
 
 rite. 
 The king, quite proudly, gave the bride 
 
 away; 
 The bride and groom both promised to 
 
 obey, 
 And honor, love and cherish; or at least, 
 'Twas understood so, by the king and 
 priest. 
 
 172 
 
^^^rknES 
 
 Then Orpheus and all the Argons crew, 
 And all the wedding guests, and people, too. 
 And all the nymphs, from woodland and 
 
 the sea. 
 The marriage hymn sang loud and joyfully. 
 Of all the folk assembled at this scene. 
 No one was truly happier than the queen. 
 The wedding breaWast, she would %iyjz 
 
 next day — 
 So king and queen and people went away. 
 The heroes all kept guard throughout the 
 
 night, 
 With song and cup and speech, till broad 
 
 daylight. 
 Next day the wedding breakfast was 
 
 prepared. 
 And all the guests, both great and small, 
 
 repaired 
 To greet the bride and groom, in banquet 
 
 hall, 
 Where they were warmly welcomed, one 
 
 and all. 
 By king Alcinous and his loved queen ; 
 And bright and gay and joyous was the 
 
 scene. 
 Around the tables, spread with sumptuous 
 
 fare. 
 Were seated all the guests ; and with them 
 
 there. 
 The Captain of the Colchian fleet, as well, 
 Who was, in truth, a jolly naval swell. 
 
 173 
 
 •*== 
 
 .^^^P 
 
By special invitation he was there, 
 To sec the king concerning his affair. 
 
 OW Jason and Medea sat 
 serene, 
 :J, One by the king, the other 
 by the queen. 
 Medea looked so pretty, and 
 ' so sweet. 
 
 She charmed the jolly Captain of the fleet. 
 **The daughter of the king, she is, no 
 
 doubt,^' 
 He thought, and swelled his manly bosom 
 
 out. 
 He did not know that she was lately wed. 
 The silly Captain thought the royal spread 
 Was in his honor, and would soon be told, 
 To take Medea and the Fleece of Gold. 
 **l will not sail for Colchis, though,*' he 
 
 said, 
 ** Until this lovely damsel I have wed." 
 The king then rose before his royal 
 chair. 
 And said to all the guests assembled there : 
 ** The time has now arrived when I should 
 
 state. 
 That I a matter was to arbitrate. 
 Between ^etes, king of Colchis land. 
 And Jason, sitting here, at my right hand. 
 Now Jason, with the necessary pull, 
 Became entitled to a fleece of wool ; 
 
 174 
 
F LITTLE 
 
 Possession of the fleece was then withheld. 
 Till Jason, by a ruse, was then compelled 
 To take the fleece which rightly was his 
 
 own; 
 And then he sailed away — but not alone. 
 
 iEetes had a daughter — and has yet — 
 Who fell in love with Jason first they 
 
 met. 
 She aided Jason to obtain his pelt, 
 And then such fear of king iEetes felt, 
 That she resolved from home to run away. 
 And sailed with Jason, as his fiancee. 
 It happens that a week or so ago. 
 Came Jason and his ship, as you all know. 
 And then again it happens, strange to 
 
 say. 
 The Colchian fleet sailed in on yesterday. 
 The Captain of the fleet, in duty bound — 
 Medea and the fleece both being found — 
 Demands them, with indemnity, in full; 
 A great cry makes about a little wool. 
 And this the case I was to arbitrate ; 
 And this the crooked thing to render 
 
 straight. 
 Now, yesterday, the case I d{6. review ; 
 Called for my law books; searched them 
 
 through and through; 
 Compared the legal aspects of the case. 
 With wise decisions made in every place ; 
 With precedents established by each court, 
 In all such cases of retrieve and tort. 
 
 175 
 
 ~^^^^^^ 
 
- r 
 
 Y^&o<Z)S^S^ ^ 
 
 OW, my decision, 
 
 was this ; 
 Or would have been, but 
 
 things have gone amiss — 
 That Jason should retain the 
 
 fleece of wool ; 
 In him the title ^s vested, clear and full. 
 And finding nothing legal to prevent, 
 Medea to her father should be sent. 
 Indemnity from Jason to the king, 
 I hold to be a most improper thing. 
 The damages alleged, were all incurred 
 By Jason in his contract — so averred. 
 A contract made by ^etes the king — 
 So Jason does not owe him anything. 
 
 Now this decision, made but yesterday, 
 Is hardly worth a sou-markee to-day. 
 There *s many a slip 'twixt cup and lip, 
 
 't is true ; 
 And circumstances alter cases, too. 
 Now, yesterday, 't was plain, and in accord 
 With all the law : Medea was my ward. 
 I, as her legal guardian, did prepare 
 Her extradition papers, with much care ; 
 Whereas, to-day, I have no legal right. 
 In equity, a wife to extradite. 
 In common law, or chancery, as well, 
 A wife must with her husband ever dwell. 
 This knotty problem has at last been solved. 
 And from an irksome duty I *m absolved ; 
 For Jason cut the Gordian knot last night 
 
 176 
 
^^^^tshs 
 
 By wedding fair Medea, fast and tight. 
 
 To quiet any doubtt I need but say, 
 
 *T was I, myself, who gave the bride away. 
 
 Medea now is in another state — 
 The state of wedlock — with her happy 
 
 mate; 
 My jurisdiction's lapsed; 'tis just as well; 
 And in that happy state may they long 
 
 dwell. 
 Now, just another word, to make things 
 
 clear: 
 The Captain of the Colchian fleet is here. 
 A man of honor, and a sailor bold. 
 He will not take amiss what he 's been told ; 
 A miss she is no longer ; sure *s he 's born ; 
 He came for wool and goes back badly 
 
 shorn. 
 Now pledge we all a brimming cup of wine 
 To Jason and his happy bride, divine. 
 Now let all care and animosity 
 Be drowned in wine, without verbosity." 
 The Captain of the fleet then took the 
 
 floor. 
 And in his hand a cup of wine he bore : 
 ** O king, I wish to drink the fair bride's 
 
 health; 
 I wish her joy, and happiness, and wealth. 
 The lady I have never seen before. 
 And seeing her is simply to adore. 
 Her modesty and beauty, rare to see. 
 Would surely banish evil far from me. 
 
 177 
 
YE<yo'T)S'^'^ 
 
 ITH her I ne^er would sail to 
 
 Colchis land^ 
 
 Where shame and death 
 
 await her from the hand 
 
 Of king ^etes, lost to every 
 
 sense 
 
 Of manhood^ truth and justice; so from 
 
 hence 
 I will not sail to-day^ nor yet next year ; 
 For Pving ^etes^ wrath I greatly fear. 
 And now King Alcinous, I will swear 
 Allegiance to your crown, if you ^11 prepare 
 A deed of gift to some fair tract of land, 
 Which I will colonize with my command/* 
 And so it came to pass, they settled there. 
 And lived forever after, free from care. 
 The eood ship Argo, Jason and his 
 
 bride, 
 The heroes all, once more upon the tide 
 Sailed gaily forth ; for now it seemed to be 
 A short and pleasant sail to Thessaly. 
 Before they sailed, Alcinous, the King, 
 Rich stranger^s gifts to all the crew did 
 
 bring, 
 With twelve Phaeacian slave girls, dressed 
 
 in green, 
 Attendants for Medea, from the queen. 
 And now, the huge sail hoisted flat and 
 
 trim. 
 The Argo, like a sea-bird, swift did skim 
 O^er waters blue, that rippled in the sun ; 
 
 178 
 
 ^^ii^ 
 
i-'-^mEs 
 
 The heroes glad their voyage seemed most 
 
 done. 
 By Epirus they coasted, sailing free. 
 Ambracia, Arcarnania, passed a-Iee. 
 A few days later Lynceus did spy 
 The land of Pelops, dimly, 'neath the sky. 
 Then all the heroes shouted, cheer on 
 
 cheer, 
 To think their longed-for native land was 
 
 near. 
 But soon a calm fell on the waters 
 
 bright ; 
 The sun, a crimson ball, sunk out of 
 
 sight. 
 The sail was furled and lashed upon the 
 
 yard; 
 The heroes at the oars were pulling hard ; 
 The night grew thick and murky all around ; 
 The plashing of the oars the only sound. 
 Then suddenly, at midnight, there arose 
 A gale tempestuous from the northern 
 
 snows. 
 The Argo flew before the chilly blast. 
 The black waves rolling high and thick 
 
 and fast. 
 Nine days and nights they drove before the 
 
 gale. 
 Nine days and nights, without an oar or 
 
 sail. 
 Behind them shrieked the tempest-ridden 
 
 breeze; 
 
 179 
 
 ^£=^=^=^^^^ 
 
<c>> 
 
 Y^QfOT^Sr^-^ 
 
 Behind them piled the high tumultuous 
 
 T last, ahead, they heard the 
 breakers roar, 
 And on a tidal wave were 
 
 cast ashore. 
 On Syrtis' sandy shoals, 
 both high and dry, 
 The Argo, partly buried, now doth Lie. 
 
 The tidal wave, receding from the shore, 
 The distant sea is heard and seen no more. 
 And stretching all around, on either hand. 
 Is nothing to fe seen but shining sand. 
 And foam and wrack left by the ruthless 
 
 tide; 
 No tree or shrub or rock can be descried. 
 The heroes then bemoaned their cruel fate ; 
 Their pitiful and helpless, abject state. 
 And as the dreary, starless night closed 
 
 'round, 
 They threw themselves upon the storm- 
 swept ground. 
 Each wrapped his cloak about his wretched 
 
 head. 
 And waited i©r the dawn, with fear and 
 
 dread. 
 Medea and her maidens, in their grief. 
 Wept bitter, salty tears ; 't was tneir belief 
 That one and all of thirst must surely die 
 Upon this barren waste ; this desert dry. 
 
 180 
 
^'^ftsflES 
 
 Next morning, Jason wandered off, 
 
 alone, 
 Across the Libyan desert, tempest strown; 
 To think and meditate, perchance aright. 
 Some plan devise to help him in this plight. 
 At length he covered up his weary head. 
 And laid him down, the scorching sand his 
 
 bed. 
 Anon, the Libyan goddesses, so fair, 
 Who sauntering by, heard moans of grim 
 
 despair ; 
 And seeing Jason groveling in the sand. 
 Impelled by pity, took him by the hand. 
 Then from his yellow curls removed the 
 
 cloak. 
 And thus the goddesses to Jason spoke : 
 **0, son of ^son, do not be cast 
 
 down; 
 Thou wilt not die ; thou yet shalt wear thy 
 
 crown. 
 We Ve heard about thy quest for Fleece of 
 
 Gold; 
 About thy toils and troubles weVe been 
 
 told. 
 We Ve Libyans daughters, warders of her 
 
 land; 
 *Tis here we herd our sheep upon the 
 
 strand. 
 Now rouse ye Jason, and all fear dispel; 
 Be brave and true, and all will yet be 
 
 well. 
 
 181 
 
'y^G^02)J^~^ 
 
 HEN Amphitritc loosens 
 
 Neptune's car, 
 Thy homeward way will 
 
 then be shown afar. 
 Then follow with the 
 
 Argo, as seems best, 
 And bear her, as she bore 
 you, on this quest." 
 Thus spoke the goddesses, so fair and 
 
 bright, 
 And quickly vanished in the bright sun- 
 light. 
 Then to his comrades Jason swiftly 
 fled. 
 And told them all the goddesses had 
 
 said. 
 They marveled much, and none knew 
 
 what was meant; 
 But all believed the words that had been 
 
 sent. 
 When, lo ! ere long, a wondrous sight be- 
 hold! 
 A monstrous horse with flowing mane of 
 
 gold. 
 Came striding toward them from the dis- 
 tant sea ; 
 And passing swiftly, as on wings, did 
 
 flee. 
 Far inland ^cross the desert, and at last, 
 Was lost to view. The crew all stood 
 aghast. 
 
 182 
 
W LITTLE 
 
 TISHES 
 
 ''Mcthinks/' said Pcleus, ''that Nep- 
 
 tune^s car 
 By Amphitrite has been loosed afar. 
 That was his off wheel-horse; I know him 
 
 well; 
 I Ve often seen him in the ocean swell^ 
 When I was courting Thetis by the sea ; 
 He *s got a water-blister on one knee/* 
 Then Lynceus, of the telescopic eye, 
 Said: ''Comrades bold, the horse I still 
 
 descry. 
 He *s plunging in the waves of some vast 
 
 lake, 
 That lies beyond the course we saw him 
 
 take/* 
 "An inland sea, I Ve heard somewhere, 
 
 or read, 
 Lies on the Libyan coast/* then Jason said. 
 " It follows then, a matter *t is, of course. 
 That we should follow after this white 
 
 horse; 
 For something red before, perhaps behind, 
 Is always near a white horse, you will 
 
 find/* 
 Thus Pollux spoke to Atalanta fair. 
 Who then was doing up her bright red 
 
 hair. 
 " The question now,** quoth Jason, " is 
 
 to take 
 The Argo *cross the desert to this lake. 
 Just how to do it, we must now decide ! ** 
 
 183 
 
 '^^j 
 
 .^^^^^p 
 
HERE^S but one way, 
 Argus quick replied : 
 ** We ^11 raise her on our shoul- 
 ders, while we slide 
 Her keel upon the sand ; and 
 thus abide 
 By good advice received by you, to-day. 
 From guardian goddesses of Libya. '^ 
 *^WeTl undergo a great hardship, I 
 
 know,'' 
 Said Pollux, ''and our progress will be 
 
 slow/' 
 Said Castor : ** I for one do now agree 
 To shoulder this responsibility." 
 
 Ancaeus said : ** If Hercules were 
 here. 
 He 'd push her through the sand, while I 
 
 would steer." 
 ** Yes, you 're a bunco steerer, I 'II admit," 
 Said Idas, ** but old Hercules is nit. 
 He'd tell you put your shoulder to the 
 
 boat; 
 The problem's not to steer, but how to 
 
 tote." 
 '^That's right," said Canthus, ''and I'll 
 
 just observe: 
 We've got the sand, and ergo, lots of 
 
 nerve. 
 Don't waste your time in talking; don't 
 
 demur ; 
 The Argo 's carried us — we '11 carry her ; 
 
 184 
 
 ts-^ 
 
^'^ftsHES 
 
 On even keel across this sandy waste, 
 We ^U carry her with less of speed, than 
 
 haste. 
 The track of Neptune's horse is deep and 
 
 straight. 
 The only chart we need — an open gate. 
 His mane flew out behind, a golden vane 
 To point the way — remember, then, the 
 
 mane I ** 
 Next day, the heroes fearing now for 
 
 naught, 
 The mast and yard secured, both snug and 
 
 taut. 
 Along the Argons bilge, on either side; 
 And then their shoulders to the spars ap- 
 plied. 
 And hoisted up the vessel from her bed. 
 And so began their journey, with firm tread. 
 A task quite easy for this strong command 
 On firm, hard ground — but hard upon the 
 
 sand. 
 And Orpheus struck loud his golden lyre ; 
 Sole-stirring music did the crew inspire. 
 Medea and her maids sang hymns of praise ; 
 And so they passed twelve long and weary 
 
 days; 
 Until, at last, they reached a small salt sea. 
 The lake Tritonis, which they hailed with 
 
 glee. 
 And soon upon the rippling waves did 
 
 launch 
 
 185 
 

 Y^&OTiS^^ "^ 
 
 HEIR heavy burden^ Argo, 
 trim and staunch. 
 Then, water for their ves- 
 sel having found ; 
 For water for themselves 
 they searched around. 
 rhey 'd emptied all the water jugs before, 
 o lighten up the load their shoulders bore. 
 For twelve long days they drank but wine 
 
 and mead ; 
 So water pure was now an urgent need. 
 In searching for a spring *mid rocks and 
 
 trees, 
 They found the Garden of Hesperides. 
 And there, beneath an apple tree, lay dead. 
 The monster serpent, Ladon, with cleft 
 
 head. 
 And there, lamenting, were the maidens 
 
 three, 
 Erytheis, and ^gle, Hespere ; 
 Who, when they saw the heroes drawing 
 
 near. 
 To dust and ashes turned, at once, in 
 fear. 
 Then Orpheus, who knew the marvel 
 well. 
 Besought them by some sign or word to 
 
 tell, 
 Where he might find some spring to quench 
 
 his thirst — 
 And all the trials of the crew rehearsed. 
 
 186 
 
"■^fkflES 
 
 Then from their dust and ashes rose three 
 
 trees, 
 From which looked out the fair Hesperides. 
 The poplar one, Hespere, in alarm, 
 Said : ** Heroes, are you sure you mean no 
 
 harm ? ** 
 Erytheis, the elm, peeped from her trunk. 
 And meekly said : ** We hope you are not 
 
 drunk/' 
 The willow, i^gle, said: ** Don't be too 
 
 free; 
 *T is treason rank, to meddle with us three/' 
 "O, queens divine," then Orpheus 
 
 sweetly said, 
 **We would not harm a hair on either 
 
 head* 
 We will not trespass here within your park. 
 Nor even carve our names upon your bark. 
 We are not tourists, but sea-faring men ; 
 We seek but water, and when found, will 
 
 then 
 Depart at once, and bless you for your aid/' 
 Then ^gle brushed aside her leaves, 
 
 and said : 
 ** O, heroes, but a day or two ago 
 Came Hercules, the monster, whom yc 
 
 know. 
 He slew the guardian serpent, 'neath the 
 
 tree; 
 And stole the golden apples; then did 
 flee. 
 
 187 
 
 r^'^^^ 
 
 *4= 
 
<C5^ 
 
 'Y^&o<DS^Sh/^^ 
 
 OWN by the lake he smote 
 
 yon great gray rock^ 
 And whether from the gods^ 
 
 or from the shocks 
 A stream of water burst 
 from out the cleft; 
 And when heM quenched his thirst, the 
 
 monster left. 
 He left us to our grief, to weep alone; 
 And thus ye see, weVe troubles of our 
 
 own. 
 We^re full of sap, which from our leaves 
 
 drops down. 
 And thus, in tears, our grief we fain would 
 drown." 
 **I see, fair maids," then Orpheus re- 
 plied, 
 ** You Ve cause for grief, and bitterness be- 
 side. 
 Your orchard ^s robbed, your snake lies 
 
 dead, indeed ; 
 But you Ve the apples of our eyes, in need. 
 We thank you much, O gracious queens, 
 
 for this. 
 And humbly wish that we your bark might 
 kiss." 
 Quoth -^gle then : **' The kiss \s, under- 
 stood ; 
 What will you with a kiss of willow wood. 
 O, would that ye might see us in the flesh, 
 With golden hair, and rosy lips, so fresh. 
 
 188 
 
LITTLE „ 
 
 I know full well what Hobson^s choice 
 
 would be — 
 Instead of kissing bark, why — heM kiss 
 
 Said Pollux: *' What's the use of all this 
 fuss? 
 
 You *re barking up the wrong tree, Orpheus. 
 
 For information given, girls, much thanks. 
 
 We *1I now proceed to fill our water tanks.'* 
 When all the jars were filled and put 
 aboard. 
 
 And peace and quietness once more restored. 
 
 Then Lynceus, Euphemus, Canthus, too, 
 
 Also the sons of Boreas, who flew — 
 
 Searched far and wide, for tracks of Her- 
 cules ; 
 
 Far better had they stayed aboard, in 
 ease. 
 
 For Canthus, wandering by some sheep, 
 alone, 
 
 The shepherd slew him with a heavy 
 stone. 
 
 The heroes killed the shepherd, stole the 
 herd. 
 
 And Canthus* body in the sand interred. 
 
 And then poor Mopsus, bitten by a snake. 
 
 Soon died; and then another grave they 
 make. 
 
 The heroes were cast down with grim de- 
 spair ; 
 
 Medea and her maidens tore their hair. 
 
 189 
 
 ^^^====^.^^^^ 
 
Y^&OTiS^^ - 
 
 HREE times around 
 the graves, in har- 
 ness clad, 
 The heroes marched, to 
 music slow and sad. 
 With heavy hearts 
 they went aboard 
 the ship; 
 And then the cables from the rocks they 
 
 slip; 
 And rowing fast, they left the fatal shore, 
 And wished that they might see it never 
 
 more. 
 And round and round the lake they rowed 
 
 and sailed. 
 To find an outlet to the sea, but failed. 
 Then making for the land, they went 
 
 ashore ; 
 Set up ApoIlo^s tripod, as before. 
 
 Then Triton, in the semblance of a 
 youth. 
 Appeared before them; in his hand, for- 
 sooth, 
 A stranger^s gift — naught but a clod of 
 earth. 
 I give thee what I have — 't is little 
 worth.'' 
 He said, ** But if you wish to reach, this 
 
 day, 
 The open sea, then I can point the 
 
» "-^fk&ES 
 
 Euphemus gladly took the earthen clod, 
 And told their story to the wondering god; 
 Who, pointing far across the rippling lake, 
 Said: **l will show you, now, the course to 
 
 take* 
 Just by the clump of trees upon yon hill, 
 Just where the water looks so black and 
 
 still. 
 And where the breakers, white, show on 
 
 each side — 
 There, is the narrow outlet for the tide. 
 The channel lies along the starboard shore. 
 For half a league, perhaps a little more; 
 Until between two rocks you ^11 see a tree; 
 Then leave the coast, and you *11 be all at 
 
 sea/' 
 The heroes, rowing swiftly o'er the 
 
 lake. 
 They saw the youth Apollo's tripod take. 
 And plunging in was quickly lost to view 
 Beneath the waves ; while they their course 
 
 pursue. 
 But soon old Triton in his proper shape, 
 With fins and scales from forked tail to 
 
 nape. 
 Appeared beside the ship with jealous care. 
 And shook the water from his parsely hair. 
 Which sparsely covered this old sea-god's 
 
 head. 
 But not so green, as I have somewhere 
 
 read. 
 
 191 
 
Y^&OT>3^^~^- 
 
 §^LD Triton took the rud- 
 
 ^^ dcr in his hand, 
 
 o ci| And deftly steered the 
 
 ship toward the strand ; 
 
 Then safely through the 
 
 narrow inlet passed, 
 And out upon the open 
 sea, at last. 
 Then with a blast upon his huge sea- 
 
 shcll, 
 On balanced scales and fins, he wished 
 them well. 
 Then to the west wind hoisted they the 
 sail; 
 For several days the west wind did not 
 
 fail. 
 The breeze then backed to southward, to 
 
 their joy. 
 And steady blew, and fresh, their hopes to 
 
 buoy. 
 At length, the isle Carpathus, dimly seen. 
 Loomed up, far off, against the sky serene. 
 Next day a gladsome sight appeared to 
 
 greet 
 The hardy heroes, for the isle of Crete 
 Was close aboard; and all prepared to 
 
 land, 
 And pass the night upon the welcome 
 strand. 
 Now, giant Talos, warder of the isle, 
 A man of brass, and with a temper vile ; 
 
 192 
 
L'-^fMiES 
 
 A relic of the bronze age, truly; he, 
 Did watch unceasingly across the sea. 
 No ship did he allow to come near land, 
 But drove them off, with rocks, from his 
 
 strong hand. 
 This demi-god was brass from head to 
 
 heel; 
 His muscles and his sinews strong as steel ; 
 The hardest thing about him was his cheek ; 
 But one small place about him was quite 
 
 weak: 
 Beside one ankle was a swollen vein. 
 Just covered by a skin so thin, 'twas 
 
 plain. 
 To wound him in this spot, so varicose. 
 Would fatal prove ; at least, so I suppose. 
 Now, in the harbor, Argo proudly 
 
 sailed. 
 When from a cliff old Tabs loudly hailed : 
 ** Keep off ! keep off ! " he cried in thunder 
 
 tones. 
 And emphasized his vile remarks with 
 
 stones. 
 He broke great chunks of rock from off 
 
 the crag; 
 And huge stones from their earthy beds did 
 
 drag; 
 And hurled them toward the ship with aim 
 
 so true. 
 That quickly out of range, the crew with- 
 drew. 
 
 193 
 
c^ 
 
 c>> 
 
 Y^&0'j)3^~^'^ 
 
 ND Pollux then to Jason 
 
 sadly said : 
 *^We can not land until 
 
 this monster ^s dead. 
 Too bad it is that men of 
 flesh and blood 
 Are kept at bay, and drifting on its flood, 
 By this one man of brass — a brazen heap. 
 Who rocks us in the cradle of the deep. 
 That men of mettle, by this metal cad, 
 Are thus withstood — I say, it is too bad.'* 
 ^**Tis true,*^ Medea then to Jason 
 said, 
 **We can not land till this brass giant's 
 
 dead. 
 Now, IVe a potent charm that can not 
 
 fail 
 To bring disaster, even death entail. 
 To all things made of brass, for you well 
 
 know 
 The brazen bulls, by you were conquered 
 
 so. 
 Now I will go below and work the charm ; 
 Do you the vessel keep just cut of harm ; 
 And sailing off and on, and full and by. 
 With gibes and taunts the brazen man 
 
 defy; 
 To make him angry you must do your 
 
 best. 
 For whom the gods destroy — you know 
 the rest." 
 
 194 
 
^'^fts^ES 
 
 'HE heroes followed this advice, 
 so saj?:e; 
 Old Talos was beside himself 
 with rage; 
 And in his anger, rushing for a stone. 
 He gashed the vein beside his ankle-bone ; 
 But in his frenzy, gave it little heed; 
 In torrents did the severed vessel bleed. 
 At last, the brazen giant grew so weak. 
 He could not cast a stone — he could not 
 
 speak; 
 But swayed and reeled and tottered on the 
 
 crag; 
 And quivering, trembling, like a wounded 
 
 stag. 
 His limbs gave way, and down his body 
 
 dashed ; 
 Far down upon the rocks below he crashed. 
 With Talos dead, now everything was 
 
 right. 
 And so the heroes slept ashore that night. 
 Next morn, at dawn, by faint light of 
 
 the stars, 
 The heroes filled again the water jars. 
 And to the mild south wind they set the 
 
 sail, 
 E^en as the morning star began to pale. 
 As o^er the gulf of Crete they sailed 
 
 along. 
 Their lightsome hearts found vent in merry 
 
 song. 
 
 195 
 
OR now their souls were 
 filled with joy and peace ; 
 For soon^ O soon, theyM 
 sight the shores of Greece. 
 At night the full, round 
 moon rose o^er the sea ; 
 The dolphins sported in her light with glee ; 
 The merry waves caressed the Argons 
 
 prow, 
 And broke in silver spray about the bow. 
 
 Medea laid her head on Jason's breast ; 
 And he her moonlit, golden hair, caressed. 
 ** Medea, love,'^ he said, "we^ll soon be 
 
 home, 
 No more on earth or sea to sail or roam. 
 In happiness we *11 spend our future days, 
 With none to censure; all to love and 
 
 praise. 
 The Golden Fleece is won, and by your 
 
 aid; 
 My queen will be most welcome, too,'' he 
 
 said. 
 ** Together we will rule my people, dear. 
 And live, henceforth, devoid of strife or 
 fear.'^ 
 The best laid plans of mice and men, 
 they say, 
 Don't always suit the gang, in every way. 
 For soon the moon was hidden by a cloud ; 
 The stars were folded in night's sable 
 shroud ; 
 
 190 
 
^•^fkfii^s 
 
 And inky blackness clothed the sky and 
 
 sea; 
 And soon there was no windward, and no 
 
 lee. 
 The breeze died out, nor left the slightest 
 
 breath; 
 And everything was still and black as 
 
 death. 
 And even Lynceus now failed to spy 
 His hand, when held before his X-ray eye. 
 And silently the Argo drifted now ; 
 But whether port or starboard, stern or 
 
 bow, 
 Not even Lynceus could tell 'the crew. 
 They held their breath — ^twas all that 
 
 they could do. 
 Then Jason raised aloft his hands and 
 
 prayed; 
 And called on Phoebus, for his timely aid. 
 He supplicated Juno, heaven^s queen, 
 To shed a ray of light upon the scene. 
 And long and earnestly did he implore ; 
 He prayed as he had never prayed before. 
 
 Then suddenly a light illumed the sky ; 
 So bright that each was fain to shade his 
 
 eye; 
 And on a rock, revealed by this bright 
 
 glow — 
 Apollo stood, and in his hand, his bow I 
 And from his golden bow the radiant light 
 Dispelled the murky blackness of the night. 
 
 197 
 
 __^^ 
 
'Y^&oXfS^S^ ^'^i 
 
 NC^US then discov- 
 ered they were near 
 The little isle Hippuris ; 
 
 and did steer 
 Straight for its welcome 
 
 harbor, in the light. 
 The crew bent to their 
 oars with all their 
 might; 
 And then when safely anchored in its bay, 
 Apollo waved his bow, and flew away. 
 Next morn the grateful heroes built a 
 shrine, 
 In honor of the radiant god divine. 
 They also built an altar on the strand ; 
 And searched the island through, on every 
 
 hand, 
 For sheep or oxen for the sacrifice ; 
 But finding none, pure water must suffice. 
 Of this, they poured libations on the fire; 
 The hissing steam arose as high, or higher. 
 Than from a sacrificial bull or sheep. 
 The motive, not the means, still means a 
 heap. 
 It made Medea^s handmaids laugh and 
 jest; 
 ^T was such a curious sacrifice, at best. 
 They M seen great herds of cattle sacrificed, 
 By king Alcinous, and were surprised 
 To see the heroes put the fire out. 
 By pouring water on ; it made them shout. 
 
 198 
 
W LITTLE 
 
 riSHES 
 
 The heroes laughed in turn; and since 
 
 that day, 
 Some women jest whene'er their husbands 
 
 pray. 
 Aboard once more, they sailed 'neath 
 
 cloudless skies, 
 And proudly now, the Argons pennon flies. 
 And sailing smoothly on, at length they 
 
 reach 
 -^gina, where they anchored near the 
 
 beach. 
 And when they went ashore their jars to 
 
 fill. 
 There then arose a strife — the custom 
 
 still; 
 Each hero strove to fill his jar and race 
 Back to the ship, and try to win first place. 
 Euphemus, fleet of foot, of course, was 
 
 first ; 
 But near the ship he stopped to quench his 
 
 thirst ; 
 And Atalanta passed him with her jug. 
 And won the race and prize — a golden 
 
 mug. 
 And since that day, the Myrmidons of 
 
 Thrace, 
 With jugs of water on their shoulders, race. 
 
 The handicap in racing first begun, 
 In carrying jugs of water on the run. 
 *T was instituted by an Argonaut; 
 And still we race, though with a jug or not. 
 
 199 
 
 <4= 
 
 ^^^p 
 
<c^ 
 
 iGINA, left astern, 
 
 Argo sailed, 
 
 With wind and weather 
 
 fair, which never failed. 
 
 No more adventures did 
 
 the heroes meet; 
 
 But sailing ever on, and 
 
 ever fleet, 
 
 They passed the land of Cecrops; Aulis, 
 
 too; 
 The towns of the Opuntian Locri, view. 
 And so, at last, upon a sunny day. 
 They anchored, once again, at Pagasae ! 
 'Twas in the afternoon, they moored 
 the ship. 
 Much battered by the long, eventful trip; 
 But staunch and tight, and classed A 
 
 No. J; 
 Her figure-head, unmarred, still brightly 
 
 shone. 
 The heroes now prepared to go ashore ; 
 They soon would part, and some would 
 
 meet no more. 
 They packed their kits, and dressed them 
 
 in their best, 
 In honor of the ending of the quest. 
 
 Then Jason sent Euphemus, who was 
 fleet, 
 To lolchos, king Pelias to greet. 
 To tell that heM returned again to 
 Greece, 
 
 200 
 
LITTLE „ 
 ^ TI5HES 
 
 And with him brought the famous Golden 
 
 Fleece. 
 And to remind the king, in view of this, 
 His resignation would not be amiss. 
 In fact, it was the proper thing to do, 
 Since Jason had performed his mission, 
 
 true. 
 But if he did not choose, thus to vacate ; 
 And seemed inclined to halt, or vacillate ; 
 A writ, then, of ejectment, would be served. 
 AH legal forms would strictly be observed. 
 
 A posse comttatus, sixty strong. 
 Of sunburnt heroes, quick to right the 
 
 wrong. 
 Would then proceed pugnis et calctBus, 
 To execute the writ so just ; and Jus 
 Proprtetatts they would then decide. 
 With Jus possessionis too, implied ; 
 This would be done pro bono publico ; 
 He must be fired; then put out, 
 
 know. 
 And furthermore, the king, he 
 
 tell, 
 That, heretofore, he ruled not 
 
 well. 
 That Jason now proposed a government, 
 To which the governed would ^vsfz their 
 
 consent; 
 If of, and by, and for, the people all, 
 A government would always stand, not 
 
 fall. 
 
 201 
 
 1,.. 
 
UPHEMUS 
 
 the people^ too, 
 That Jason, some such 
 scheme had then in 
 view. 
 And with Medea^s coun- 
 sel and advice, 
 He *d rule in such a way 
 as would suffice. 
 Commissioner Euphemus went to town, 
 And had a secret session with the crown. 
 His mission he performed with sense and 
 
 tact; 
 For he was bom a diplomat, in fact. 
 The king was sorely vexed, and troubled, 
 
 too; 
 Nonplussed, and fearful; knew not what 
 to do. 
 He said that he M been sick for many 
 a day; 
 And did not see how he could go away. 
 ''To tell the truth,'' he said, ''IVe got the 
 
 grippe. 
 Tell Jason he must stay aboard his ship. 
 My doctor has forbidden me to speak 
 On any subject, for at least, a week. 
 Some day, when better able to be out ; 
 And when the weather's warmer, I've no 
 
 doubt, 
 My doctor will permit an interview 
 With Jason and his brave, courageous crew. 
 
 202 
 
^'''^hHES 
 
 At present^ he advises me to wear 
 
 My crown both night and day; for \ would 
 
 impair 
 My health, and give me cold, to take it 
 
 off; 
 And make much worse my hacking, rack- 
 ing cough. 
 I know it is a saying in the town : 
 * Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown; * 
 To take it off, I could not lie at all ; 
 Pd feel light-headed, that^s the truth, and 
 
 falL 
 I ^m glad you called, but now I Ve talked 
 
 enough. 
 For I must go and take my doctor^s stuff/* 
 Euphemus then replied: **0 mighty 
 
 king, 
 I think that Jason will not do a thing 
 To you, that would increase your cough or 
 
 cold; 
 In fact, he *d make it warm, with Fleece of 
 
 Gold. 
 One thing before I go, Td like to say. 
 Because we may not meet another day : 
 Small acorns from large oak trees always 
 
 fall. 
 And sometimes, with them, little nuts of 
 
 gall; 
 Not always, though, for gall sometimes we 
 
 find 
 When least expected, in the human mind.** 
 
 203 
 
Y^&O'DS^^ 
 
 UPHEMUS then with- 
 drew and slammed 
 the door; 
 For Pelias would soon 
 be king^ no more. 
 He hied him then unto 
 the public square ; 
 And soon a crowd of 
 people gathered there ; 
 To whom he told the story of the quest ; 
 Of Jason^s promises ; and did his best 
 To favor Jason in the public eye ; 
 And Pelias, he boldly did decry. 
 He then invited all to come next day, 
 To welcome Jason, at the harbor bay. 
 ^^ Hurrah! for Jason; and for Jason's 
 
 right!'' 
 The people cried and shouted, in their 
 might. 
 Next morn the populace were all on 
 hand. 
 And waiting anxiously upon the strand. 
 In holiday attire they all were dressed ; 
 Each man and woman strove to look his 
 
 best. 
 The story of the Fleece, they all had heard — 
 Euphemus told them all that had occurred — 
 And now they came to welcome back the 
 
 crew. 
 Who'd sailed so many months the ocean 
 blue. 
 
 204 
 
"^^^w 
 
 Whose mighty deeds of valor were re-told ; 
 
 Who ^d brought again to Greece the Fleece 
 of Gold. 
 And gilded cars and chariots and wains, 
 
 Came lumbering down the roads, and 
 through the lanes, 
 
 To carry up the Argonauts to town ; 
 
 Those weather-beaten heroes of renown ; 
 
 Who at the word, assembled at the 
 wales ; 
 
 I must admit that all description fails, 
 
 To give a good idea, true and right. 
 
 Of that imposing, gay and glorious sight. 
 The Argo showed her port side to the 
 shore ; 
 
 Thrust through each port-hole was a blade 
 of oar ; 
 
 An Argonaut, erect, stood on each blade; 
 
 The rest were on the gilded wale arrayed. 
 
 Thus, in three ranks, the heroes were dis- 
 posed; 
 
 Each rank above the other stood disclosed ; 
 
 Their burnished shields and helmets gleam- 
 ing bright. 
 
 Reflected from the sun long rays of light. 
 
 And Jason and Medea, happy pair; 
 
 The twelve Phaeacian maids, with golden 
 hair. 
 
 In silken raiment, stood upon the stem ; 
 
 A group toward which admiring glances 
 
 turn. 
 
 205 
 
 ^f^=^^^^ 
 
Y^&0'2)S^Sh>^^ 
 
 USPENDED on a 
 cross-bar, banncr- 
 
 A wondrous sight now 
 met the people's 
 eyes — 
 The Golden Fleece, the 
 object of the quest ; 
 And this the sight the people liked the 
 best. 
 Then from ten thousand throats upon 
 the shore, 
 There came a sound, much like the ocean's 
 
 roar. 
 The people waved their scarfs, and shouted 
 
 loud; 
 And ne'er before was such a happy crowd. 
 A welcome warm to Jason and his bride, 
 And to the heroes, came from every side. 
 *' Long life to Jason, king of lolchos ! " 
 They cried, as up their caps and staves they 
 toss. 
 Long live Medea I " ** Long life to our 
 queen ! " 
 O, never was there such a loyal scene. 
 Each hero then was welcomed by his 
 name; 
 For each and all were long well-known to 
 
 fame. 
 The soldiers of the king took great delight, 
 In cheering one and all by name, aright. 
 
 206 
 
^'^4&5 
 
 _^=^ 
 
 At^Ianta was the favored one of all; 
 
 And judging from the shouts — queen of the 
 
 bawl! 
 The Argo then was rowed upon the 
 
 beach. 
 The heroes disembarked; and then was 
 
 each 
 Invited on the platform, or grand stand, 
 their honor on the strand. 
 
 formal speech of welcome then was 
 
 Erected 
 The 
 
 made. 
 
 ** I point with pride/^ and so forth, then was 
 
 said. 
 **This is the proudest moment of my 
 
 life!'' 
 Of course was said by Jason and his wife. 
 But now a restive movement in the 
 
 throng, 
 Caused him to stop, and wonder what was 
 
 wrong. 
 What caused that rumbling noise — that 
 
 distant shout ? 
 Then toward the town all eyes were turned, 
 
 in doubt. 
 A cloud of dust was rolling down the road; 
 A man was driving fast, with lash and 
 
 goad. 
 The crowd gave way, as he came rushing 
 
 by; 
 Up to the stand he drove, with flashing 
 
 eye — 
 
 207 
 
Y^Qfo<DS^^ 
 
 The driver, car and horses of the king ! 
 
 HY drive so fast ? 
 What message do 
 you bring ? ^* 
 Euphemus asked. 
 ** What have you got 
 to say ? 
 Come, say it quick; 
 we ^11 have no more 
 delay'/' 
 King Pelias is dead ! '' the man replied ; 
 That's why I took this little pleasure 
 
 ride!'' 
 Dead drunk, you mean," then Pollux, 
 smiling said. 
 "He's dead de facto; dead as herring 
 
 red!" 
 Replied the man, and mopped his reeking 
 brow; 
 Dead as a door-nail, I assure you, now ! " 
 ** How did it happen ? Tell us all you 
 
 know; 
 You drive quite fast, but speak too all-fired 
 
 slow, 
 Euphemus said, in his impatient way. 
 The man took breath, and then went on 
 to say: 
 "The king was left alone; for all but 
 
 me 
 Left town this morning early, for the sea. 
 
 208 
 
^'-^flSlES 
 
 We were the only two left in the town. 
 He kept me home to polish up the crown. 
 He owed me six months wages, which he 
 
 said, 
 He M pay to-night, if I ^d stay by his bed. 
 His doctor, even, left him, I declare — 
 I see him now, sir, standing over there. 
 
 ELL, just about an hour ago, 
 
 or more, 
 I took him up his mail, which 
 looking o^er, 
 He found a box of powders, with a note ; 
 IVe got it here — and this is what was 
 wrote : 
 *To knock that tired feeling out of 
 sight; 
 To make the whiskers black, instead of 
 
 white ; 
 To make an old man young without de- 
 lay; 
 One powder must be taken, every day.* 
 ** Then Pelias remarked : * F 11 go you 
 one; 
 FlI take one now, in water, just for 
 
 fun; 
 I dreamed about this very thing last night ; 
 And that convinces me that its all right/ 
 And then he took the powder, sure enough; 
 And smacked his lips, and then said: 
 'That^s the stuff r 
 
 209 
 
wi: 
 
 Y^&o<D3^^ ~^ 
 
 UT soon he said 
 
 like one on fire ; 
 Said : * Give me water, 
 
 or I must expire ! ' 
 And then he drank a 
 g^allon, maybe more ; 
 And then lay on his bed, 
 and tried to snore ; 
 And failing that^ he then began to kick ; 
 Kicked all the bed-clothes off, and then the 
 
 tick; 
 And then he kicked the stuffing out the 
 
 bed; 
 But soon he kicked no more — for he was 
 dead/^ 
 Euphemus asked the doctor ♦ " Do you 
 think 
 He died of poison, or from too much 
 
 drink ?^' 
 ** Heart failure, I should say/^ he then re- 
 plied. 
 ** That could not be the cause from which 
 
 he died/' 
 
 Put in the man, ** For Pelias had no heart. 
 
 Kick failure, I should call it^ for my part/' 
 
 Medea smiled a knowing smile, 'tis 
 
 said, 
 
 When this poor man proclaimed the king 
 
 was dead. 
 She'd sent some mail the day before, to 
 town, 
 
 210 
 
i-'mfiES 
 
 By Euphcmus, directed to the crown. 
 But whether it the powder did enclose — 
 That, no one, but the sender, really knows. 
 The man, resuming, then said: '^I 
 
 have here 
 His crown and scepter, for to me *twas 
 
 clear. 
 That I should hold them for my six month's 
 
 pay; 
 In fact, it seemed to me the only way. 
 The king had pledged to pay, in full, to- 
 night; 
 I think you^Il grant, in this, that I am 
 
 right. 
 The crown and scepter I as pledges 
 
 hold. 
 Until Pm reimbursed, or they'll be 
 
 sold/' 
 Then Jason paid the man in full, and 
 
 more; 
 Who then the royal emblems did restore. 
 The Councillor of the king then rose; 
 
 said he: 
 *^A pleasant duty now devolves on me. 
 For Pelias, usurper, being dead. 
 The crown must now be placed on Jason's 
 
 head. 
 I know that this vast concourse is aware. 
 That Jason is his father -/Eson's heir ; 
 And >Eson being dead, I 'm proud to say. 
 That Jason will be crowned without delay. 
 
 211 
 
 **== 
 
 r^^'^-m^ 
 
Y^&o<D3^ 
 
 ' LL useless ceremony we ^11 
 dispense. 
 And this I wish to say with- 
 out offense. 
 The time and place and 
 man are here, you see ; 
 It is most opportune, you 'II all agree. 
 And as we can not live without a king ; 
 I '11 now proceed to do the proper thing.'' 
 And then he placed the crown on Jason's 
 head; 
 And in his hand the scepter placed, then 
 
 said: 
 " By virtue of my office, I declare. 
 That Jason's now the king, as -^son's 
 
 heir; 
 The king of lolchos, in Thessaly! 
 Long may he live and reign o'er you and 
 
 me. 
 The king is dead — and now Long Live 
 
 the King! 
 The Golden Fleece to all good luck will 
 bring ! " 
 The people shouted loud — the heroes 
 cheered ; 
 While in the bay the water-nymphs ap- 
 peared ; 
 For they were loyal to the new king's 
 
 cause, 
 And clapped their hands, in token of ap- 
 plause. 
 
 212 
 
» i-'miiEs 
 
 While wood-nymphs from the mountain 
 
 side stole down ; 
 With flowers and leaves they strewed the 
 
 road to town. 
 Then Jason and Medea, king and 
 
 queen, 
 The finest royal couple ever seen, 
 Rode in the car of state; the Golden 
 
 Fleece, 
 Hung o^er their heads, an emblem now of 
 
 peace. 
 The heroes and the councillors of state ; 
 The prominent officials, wise and great; 
 In gilded vans and wains, a pageant fine. 
 Were followed by the multitude in line. 
 Then through the city gates to palace 
 
 hall. 
 Where Jason and Medea welcomed all. 
 And then a week of feasting, and of bliss. 
 Another week of games then followed this. 
 So ends the quest of Jason for the 
 
 Fleece ; 
 And so begins his reign of Golden peace. 
 
DEC 191900 
 
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