accordingly　came　to　dwell　far　off；　in　the　sacred　cave　of　the　Phaeacians；　and　granted　boundless　wealth　to　the　inhabitants。　　There　at　that　time　did　they　spread　a　mighty　couch；　and　thereon　they　laid　the　glittering　fleece　of　gold；　that　so　the　marriage　might　be　made　honoured　and　the　theme　of　song。　　And　for　them　nymphs　gathered　flowers　of　varied　hue　and　bore　them　thither　in　their　white　bosoms；　and　a　splendour　as　of　flame　played　round　them　all；　such　a　light　gleamed　from　the　golden　tufts。　　And　in　their　eyes　it　kindled　a　sweet　longing；　yet　for　all　her　desire；　awe　withheld　each　one　from　laying　her　hand　thereon。　　Some　were　called　daughters　of　the　river　Aegaeus；　others　dwelt　round　the　crests　of　the　Meliteian　mount；　and　others　were　woodland　nymphs　from　the　plains。　　For　Hera　herself；　the　spouse　of　Zeus；　had　sent　them　to　do　honour　to　Jason。　That　cave　is　to　this　day　called　the　sacred　cave　of　Medea；　where　they　spread　the　fine　and　fragrant　linen　and　brought　these　two　together。　　And　the　heroes　in　their　hands　wielded　their　spears　for　war；　lest　first　a　host　of　foes　should　burst　upon　them　for　battle　unawares；　and；　their　heads　enwreathed　with　leafy　sprays；　all　in　harmony；　while　Orpheus'　harp　rang　clear；　sang　the　marriage　song　at　the　entrance　to　the　bridal　chamber。　　Yet　not　in　the　house　of　Alcinous　was　the　hero；　Aeson's　son；　minded　to　complete　his　marriage；　but　in　his　father's　hall　when　he　had　returned　home　to　Ioleus；　and　such　was　the　mind　of　Medea　herself；　but　necessity　led　them　to　wed　at　this　time。　　For　never　in　truth　do　we　tribes　of　woe…stricken　mortals　tread　the　path　of　delight　with　sure　foot；　but　still　some　bitter　affliction　keeps　pace　with　our　joy。　Wherefore　they　too；　though　their　souls　were　melted　with　sweet　love；　were　held　by　fear；　whether　the　sentence　of　Alcinous　would　be　fulfilled。
  （ll。　1170…1227）　　Now　dawn　returning　with　her　beams　divine　scattered　the　gloomy　night　through　the　sky；　and　the　island　beaches　laughed　out　and　the　paths　over　the　plains　far　off；　drenched　with　dew；　and　there　was　a　din　in　the　streets；　the　people　were　astir　throughout　the　city；　and　far　away　the　Colchians　were　astir　at　the　bounds　of　the　isle　of　Macris。　　And　straightway　to　them　went　Alcinous；　by　reason　of　his　covenant；　to　declare　his　purpose　concerning　the　maiden；　and　in　his　hand　he　held　a　golden　staff；　his　staff　of　justice；　whereby　the　people　had　righteous　judgments　meted　out　to　them　throughout　the　city。　　And　with　him　in　order　due　and　arrayed　in　their　harness　of　war　went　marching；　band　by　band；　the　chiefs　of　the　Phaeacians。　　And　from　the　towers　came　forth　the　women　in　crowds　to　gaze　upon　the　heroes；　and　the　country　folk　came　to　meet　them　when　they　heard　the　news；　for　Hera　had　sent　forth　a　true　report。　　And　one　led　the　chosen　ram　of　his　flock；　and　another　a　heifer　that　had　never　toiled；　and　others　set　hard　by　jars　of　wine　for　mixing；　and　the　smoke　of　sacrifice　leapt　up　far　away。　　And　women　bore　fine　linen；　the　fruit　of　much　toil；　as　women　will；　and　gifts　of　gold　and　varied　ornaments　as　well；　such　as　are　brought　to　newly…wedded　brides；　and　they　marvelled　when　they　saw　the　shapely　forms　and　beauty　of　the　gallant　heroes；　and　among　them　the　son　of　Oeagrus；　oft　beating　the　ground　with　gleaming　sandal；　to　the　time　of　his　loud…ringing　lyre　and　song。　And　all　the　nymphs　together；　whenever　he　recalled　the　marriage；　uplifted　the　lovely　bridal…chant；　and　at　times　again　they　sang　alone　as　they　circled　in　the　dance；　Hera；　in　thy　honour；　for　it　was　thou　that　didst　put　it　into　the　heart　of　Arete　to　proclaim　the　wise　word　of　Alcinous。　　And　as　soon　as　he　had　uttered　the　decree　of　his　righteous　judgement；　and　the　completion　of　the　marriage　had　been　proclaimed；　he　took　care　that　thus　it　should　abide　fixed；　and　no　deadly　fear　touched　him　nor　Aeetes'　grievous　wrath；　but　he　kept　his　judgement　fast　bound　by　unbroken　oaths。　　So　when　the　Colchians　learnt　that　they　were　beseeching　in　vain　and　he　bade　them　either　observe　his　judgements　or　hold　their　ships　away　from　his　harbours　and　land；　then　they　began　to　dread　the　threats　of　their　own　king　and　besought　Alcinous　to　receive　them　as　comrades；　and　there　in　the　island　long　time　they　dwelt　with　the　Phaeacians；　until　in　the　course　of　years；　the　Bacchiadae；　a　race　sprung　from　Ephyra；　（10）　settled　among　them；　and　the　Colchians　passed　to　an　island　opposite；　and　thence　they　were　destined　to　reach　the　Ceraunian　hills　of　the　Abantes；　and　the　Nestaeans　and　Oricum；　but　all　this　was　fulfilled　after　long　ages　had　passed。　　And　still　the　altars　which　Medea　built　on　the　spot　sacred　to　Apollo；　god　of　shepherds；　receive　yearly　sacrifices　in　honour　of　the　Fates　and　the　Nymphs。　　And　when　the　Minyae　departed　many　gifts　of　friendship　did　Alcinous　bestow；　and　many　Arete；　moreover　she　gave　Medea　twelve　Phaeacian　handmaids　from　the　palace；　to　bear　her　company。　　And　on　the　seventh　day　they　left　Drepane；　and　at　dawn　came　a　fresh　breeze　from　Zeus。　　And　onward　they　sped　borne　along　by　the　wind's　breath。　　Howbeit　not　yet　was　it　ordained　for　the　heroes　to　set　foot　on　Achaea；　until　they　had　toiled　even　in　the　furthest　bounds　of　Libya。
  （ll。　1228…1250）　　Now　had　they　left　behind　the　gulf　named　after　the　Ambracians；　now　with　sails　wide　spread　the　land　of　the　Curetes；　and　next　in　order　the　narrow　islands　with　the　Echinades；　and　the　land　of　Pelops　was　just　descried；　even　then　a　baleful　blast　of　the　north　wind　seized　them　in　mid…course　and　swept　them　towards　the　Libyan　sea　nine　nights　and　as　many　days；　until　they　came　far　within　Syrtis；　wherefrom　is　no　return　for　ships；　when　they　are　once　forced　into　that　gulf。　　For　on　every　hand　are　shoals；　on　every　hand　masses　of　seaweed　from　the　depths；　and　over　them　the　light　foam　of　the　wave　washes　without　noise；　and　there　is　a　stretch　of　sand　to　the　dim　horizon；　and　there　moveth　nothing　that　creeps　or　flies。　　Here　accordingly　the　flood…tidefor　this　tide　often　retreats　from　the　land　and　bursts　back　again　over　the　beach　coming　on　with　a　rush　and　roarthrust　them　suddenly　on　to　the　innermost　shore；　and　but　little　of　the　keel　was　left　in　the　water。　　And　they　leapt　forth　from　the　ship；　and　sorrow　seized　them　when　they　gazed　on　the　mist　and　the　levels　of　vast　land　stretching　far　like　a　mist　and　continuous　into　the　distance；　no　spot　for　water；　no　path；　no　steading　of　herdsmen　did　they　descry　afar　off；　but　all　the　scene　was　possessed　by　a　dead　calm。　　And　thus　did　one　hero；　vexed　in　spirit；　ask　another：
  （ll。　1251…1258）　　〃What　land　is　this？　　Whither　has　the　tempest　hurled　us？　　Would　that；　reckless　of　deadly　fear；　we　had　dared　to　rush　on　by　that　same　path　between　the　clashing　rocks！　　Better　were　it　to　have　overleapt　the　will　of　Zeus　and　perished　in　venturing　some　mighty　deed。　　But　now　what　should　we　do；　held　back　by　the　winds　to　stay　here；　if　ever　so　short　a　time？　　How　desolate　looms　before　us　the　edge　of　the　limitless　land！〃
  （ll。　1259…1276）　　Thus　one　spake；　and　among　them　Ancaeus　the　helmsman；　in　despair　at　their　evil　case；　spoke　with　grieving　heart：　〃Verily　we　are　undone　by　a　terrible　doom；　there　is　no　escape　from　ruin；　we　must　suffer　the　cruellest　woes；　having　fallen　on　this　desolation；　even　though　breezes　should　blow　from　the　land；　for；　as　I　gaze　far　around；　on　every　side　do　I　behold　a　sea　of　shoals；　and　masses　of　water；　fretted　line　upon　line；　run　over　the　hoary　sand。　　And　miserably　long　ago　would　our　sacred　ship　have　been　shattered　far　from　the　shore；　but　the　tide　itself　bore　her　high　on　to　the　land　from　the　deep　sea。　　But　now　the　tide　rushes　back　to　the　sea；　and　only　the　foam；　whereon　no　ship　can　sail；　rolls　round　us；　just　covering　the　land。　　Wherefore　I　deem　that　all　hope　of　our　voyage　and　of　our　return　is　cut　off。　　Let　someone　else　show　his　skill；　let　him　sit　at　the　helm　the　man　that　is　eager　for　our　deliverance。　　But　Zeus　has　no　will　to　fulfil　our　day　of　return　after　all　our　toils。〃
  （ll。　1277…1317）　　Thus　he　spake　with　tears；　and　all　of　them　that　had　knowledge　of　ships　agreed　thereto；　but　the　hearts　of　all　grew　numb；　and　pallor　overspread　their　cheeks。　　And　as；　like　lifeless　spectres；　men　roam　through　a　city　awaiting　the　issue　of　war　or　of　pestilence；　or　some　mighty　storm　which　overwhelms　the　countless　labours　of　oxen；　when　the　images　of　their　own　accord　sweat　and　run　down　with　blood；　and　bellowings　are　heard　in　temples；　or　when　at　mid…day　the　sun　draws　on　night　from　heaven；　and　the　stars　shine　clear　through　the　mist；　so　at　that　time　along　the　endless　strand　the　chieftains　wandered；　groping　their　way。　　Then　straightway　dark　evening　came　upon　them；　and　piteously　did　they　embrace　each　other　and　say　farewell　with　tears；　that　they　might；　each　one　apart　from　his　fellow；　fall　on　the　sand　and　die。　　And　this　way　and　that　they　went　further　to　choose　a　resting…place；　and　they　wrapped　their　heads　in　their　cloaks　and；　fasting　and　unfed；　lay　down　all　that　night　and　the　day；　awaiting　a　piteous　death。　　But　apart　the　maidens　huddled　together　lamented　beside　the　daughter　of　Aeetes。　　And　as　when；　forsaken　by　their　mother；　unfledged　birds　that　have　fallen　from　a　cleft　in　the　rock　chirp　shrilly；　or　when　by　the　banks　of　fair…flowing　Pactolus；　swans　raise　their　song；　and　all　around　the　dewy　meadow　echoes　and　the　river's　fair　stream；　so　these　maidens；　laying　in　the　dust　their　golden　hair；　all　through　the　night　wailed　their　piteous　lament。　And　there　all　would　have　parted