"Oh, the seed that I shall furnish has a rapid growth," e'tes answered, with a furtive smile. "If there is no harvest ready for thy sickle thou shalt be excused from reaping."

While Orpheus was singing the bravery and prowess of the Argonau'tic Captain, he impressed all hearts but each in a special manner. Æe'

tes felt more than ever that Ja'son must be destroyed, and that, too, quickly and craftily; the Greeks were inspired with confidence in their success; and one fluttering heart beat with a stranger feeling still. This heart dwelt within the breast of Mede'a, the witch-daughter of King Ee'tes.

Now do not imagine that she resembled those toothless crones who are reported to wander wilfully, on broomstick steeds, throughout the regions of the night; for Mede'a was young and beautiful.

Moreover, she was the wisest woman in the world, save one, and "could call spirits from the vasty deep," and pierce the veil that overhangs the future, and make mystic mixtures of strange

herbs possessing unheard-of properties. Hitherto she had been sought in vain by many nobles of her father's court. She cared nothing for them, and would far rather wander in the woods, and cull the herbs by whose aid she wrought her incantations. But when first she looked upon the handsome Greek she was charmed at his appearance, and, by the time the Song Wizard had ended, she had resolved to bewitch Ja'son, if possible; for, said she to herself:

"Whom would not Ja'son's valor, youth, and blood
Invite? or could these merits be withstood,
At least his charming person must encline
The hardest heart- I'm sure 'tis so with mine;
Yet, if I help him not, the flaming breath

Of bulls, and earth-born foes, must be his death.
Or, should he through these dangers force his way,
At last he must be made the dragon's prey.

If no remorse for such distress I feel,

I am a tigress, and my breast is steel.

Why do I scruple then to see him slain,
And with the tragic scene my eyes profane?
The gods forbid — but prayers are idle breath
When action only can prevent his death.

Mede'a, haste, from danger set him free,

Ja'son shall thy eternal debtor be;

And thou, his Queen, with sovereign state enstalled,
By Grecian dames the Kind Preserver called." 1

1 Appendix, Note 37.

So, when the Ar'gonauts departed, Mede'a slipped away from her father's presence unobserved, and contrived to meet our hero before he reached his ship. She told him that the labor he was to attempt the next day would bring him to certain death, and entreated him to flee.

Ja'son was pleased to know that such a beautiful being had an interest in him, and asked what danger could ensue from a little agricultural amusement, such as had been proposed.

Then Mede'a told him of the land the wily king would furnish no other than the Field of A'res never tilled before; the plough, an implement of ponderous weight, with share of adamant and beam of iron; the team, two untamed bulls, curiously wrought in brass, breathing forth smoke and flame and consuming everything which they approached. And if he succeeded in ploughing the field, the seed that he must sow was no less than the dragon's teeth (Athena's gift, of which you have heard), every one of which would forthwith spring up a fullarmed man, who would attack him with a twoedged sword.

Ja'son rubbed his hands in positive delight; this was not to be so tame an affair after all. So he thanked the maiden warmly, saying that she had brought him tidings that would insure a good night's rest.

Finding him set in his purpose, Mede'a said, "There is an ice-flower growing on the cliffs of rugged Cau'casus, and nourished by Prome'theus's blood. If I can bring it here before tomorrow's light, I may compound an ointment that shall cause you to stand uninjured before fire or steel. But if I help you gain the Golden Fleece what will become of me? My father will destroy me in his wrath."

As Ja'son looked upon the winsome maiden, it did not take him long to suggest a plan the very one Mede'a longed to hear.

"Go back with us to Greece, and be my bride."

How she accepted we will not attempt to say, but they were betrothed; and the little witch did not faint, either, but soon after mounted a chariot, drawn by winged serpents, and set out to see if she might pluck the magical ice-flower, ere it should be too late.

CHAPTER XIV.

SEED-TIME AND HARVEST.

. This plant, which rough Cauca'sian mountains bore,
Sprung from the venom of Prome'theus' gore
(While on the wretch the savage eagle stormed).

Its color like Cory'cian crocus formed:

On two tall stems upsprings the flowery shoot,
A cubit high; like red raw flesh its root.

APOLLONIUS RHODIUS. - Translated by Fawkes.1

ROMETHEUS was a re

mote ancestor of Ja'son. For a peculiar crime Zeus had sentenced him to lie chained to a crag on Mt. Cau'casus for thirty thousand years, while a vulture or an eagle should peck and tear at his liver every day; but every

night the organ grew

afresh and the open wound was healed. How

1 Appendix, Note 38.