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manner, by Boreas and the Argonauts, because, at the instigation of their stepmother, he had put out the eyes of his own sons. Nor are there wanting some, who attribute this severity to Neptune, because Phineus had instructed the sons of Phryxus, in the course of navigation from Colchos to Greece. To add to the sufferings, from the loss of sight, of the wretched Phineus, the harpies were sent by the gods, to torment him. These tormentors were winged; and, as often as they saw the table spread, and the refreshments prepared, for this unfortunate man, they used to rush down, and snatch and bear away the greater part of the viands, The small portion that remained, was defiled, and rendered so nauseous, by the intolerable stench that remained, from the contact of these monsters, that no person could endure to touch it.

The Argonauts being desirous to learn various circumstances, respecting their future navigation, Phineus profest himself willing to instruct them, in these particulars, provided they would engage, in return, to deliver him from the persecution of the harpies. To this they agreed; and having laid out the table, with a repast, as if it were intended for Phineus, the harpies suddenly flying down, with horrid outcries, fell on the viands, and snatched, and tore away every thing: the winged youths, Calais and Zetes, the sons of Boreas, beholding this, drew their falchions, and pursued the harpies through the air. The monsters must of necessity have perished, by the hands of their pursuers, and the winged brothers also had the prospect of perishing, by fatigue, and the intolerable length of the pursuit; but one of the harpies fell down, into the river Tigres, in Peloponnesus, which from her obtained the name of Harpys.Some writers give to this harpy the name of Nicothoès others, that of Aellopus. It does not seem to be de

cided, what was the name of the other harpy, whether Ocypetè, Ocythoé, or, as Hesiod calls her, Ocypode. This latter harpy, flying through the Propontis, arrived at the islands of the Echinades; which from her obtained the name of Strophades, for having arrived at them, she there turned her course. Having arrived at the shore, she fell down through fatigue, together with her pursuer. But Apollonius, in his Argonautics, relates, that the sons of Boreas continued their pursuit of the harpies, to the Strophades; and that the monsters sustained no injury, because they bound themselves by an oath, to refrain from any further injury to Phineus.

Phineus, being thus delivered from the annoyance of the harpies, pointed out, and described to the Argonauts, the course of their future voyage. In particular, he warned them of the danger they must incur, in passing. the Symplegades.-These were rocks, of very great size, and unfixed in the sea, which being agitated by the winds, clashed together, and, encountering each other, impeded the passage through the deep. Besides this, an immense mist and darkness arose from them, with a tremendous sound, so that no bird could fly over them. Phineus advised the adventurers, to send a dove before them, through the Symplegades; apprizing them, that if they saw the dove pass through in safety, they might then urge on their vessel through the strait, without hesitation; but if, on the contrary, they should see the dove destroyed, that then they ought not to attempt a passage.

Fortified by the instructions of Phineus, the Argonauts set sail; and arrived at the Symplegades. On their approaching them, they let fly the dove, from the prow of the ship. The bird pursued her flight, with great rapidity, as the rocks were approaching to clash together. She past safely through, with the loss of some feathers

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feathers only of her tail.The Argonauts, observing the moment, when the rocks receded from each other, rowed with all their might, and, by the assistance of Juno, past through, without any other injury, than the loss of some of the ornaments on the stern of the ship; and, from that time, the Symplegades remained immoveable.

This danger being past, the Argonauts reached the country of the Mariandyni; and were hospitably re ceived by Lycus, the king of that region. In this place, Idmon the augur died; being wounded by a wild boar. Tiphys, the pilot of the ship, died also, on this coast.Ancaus undertakes the care of steering the vessel; and, having past the mouth of the river Thermodon, and the ridges of Caucasus, the ship arrives at the Phasis, a river which flows through the Colchian territory.

The ship no sooner arrived in the Colchian harbour, than Jason proceeded, to demand an interview with Fetes, the king of that empire. He stated to him the orders, he had received from Pelias; and exhorted the monarch to surrender the golden fleece, in a peaceable manner. Eetes professed his readiness to yield the prize, provided Jason would singly undertake, and perform, the tasks proposed by him:-first, he was to yoke the brazen-footed bulls. They were two in number, the gift of Vulcan, fierce, and of extraordinary size; and from their mouths they discharged fire and smoke. The bulls being yoked; the next labour, enjoined by the king, was to sow the ploughed ground, with dragon's teeth.-These teeth were the gift of Pallas. They were a portion of those, which had originally belonged to the serpent slain by Cadmus. That chief had already sown one half of them, at Thebes, to produce inhabitants for his new colony. The residue were in the possession of Æetes; and by him handed

over

over to Jason. Whose last labour was to be a conflict, with the armed men, who were to spring up from the ground, sown with the teeth in question.

The young hero was in great perplexity; when he learned, at what a price the golden fleece must be purchased. He knew not how to extricate himself, from the perils, in which he was involved; as he was wholly ignorant, by what art or device, he should contrive to -yoke the bulls. But, at this critical time, Medea began to feel a violent passion for the young adventurer. This princess was the daughter of Eetes, and Idyia, who was the daughter of Neptune. She was uncommonly skilful, in magic arts, incantations, and the secret power of herbs and drugs.Medea being fearful lest Jason should perish, in his conflict with the bulls, sought an interview with him, unknown to her father; and engaged to assist him, in taming the bulls, and carrying off the golden fleece, on condition of his swearing, to espouse and carry her away with him, as the companion of his voyage, to Greece. Jason, having sworn to do as she required, received from her a certain medicament, of power to enable him to yoke the bulls, by disarming the force and fury of flame. She instructed him, to anoint, with this composition, his limbs, his shield, and spear; with an assurance, that being completely imbued, with this magical unguent, for the space of one day, no force of fire or steel should have power to harm him. At the same time she apprized him, how armed men were to spring up from the dragon's teeth, which he should sow; and which would set upon him immediately. To obviate this danger, she advised him, as soon as he should see a number of them crouded together, to throw a stone, from a distance among them; and when he should perceive them fighting with each other, on this account, to attack them without delay.

Jason,

Jason, thus forewarned, and taught by Medea, and fortified, by the application of the medicament, pierced into the thickest recess of a grove, surrounding a temple; and sought for the bulls. These monsters rushed forth, in a furious manner, driving volumes of fire and smoke from their mouths and nostrils. But Jason seised, and yoked them to the plough. Having proceeded to sow the dragon's teeth; he perceived armed men to spring up from the ground. As soon as he found them assembling, in considerable numbers; he secretly threw large stones, where he saw the thickest crouds were gathered. Intestine discord was thus excited among them; and while they were fiercely engaged, in combat with each other; Jason attacked them, and completed their destruction. Thus, having subdued the bulls; and sown the dragon's teeth; it seemed, that nothing remained to be done; but that Eetes, according to the terms of his stipulation, should yield up the golden fleece. But, this fierce prince, far from performing his compact, conceived the design of burning the vessel of the Argonauts; and putting to death all

ther crew.

Medea, discovering the intentions of her father, hastened to anticipate him. And proceeding to a place, where she met Jason by night, she led him, without delay, to the part of the sacred grove, where the fleece was preserved. She lulled to rest, by the power of drugs, and charms, the watchful dragon, who guarded it; and having thus possessed herself of the prize, embarked with Jason, on board his vessel, accompanied by Absyrtus her brother, whom she had persuaded to become a partner of her flight from their father.*

*Here again the author differs from Apollonius.

Eetes,

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