Then the magic furrows opened, and the kind earth took
them home into her breast and the grass grew up all green again
above them, and Jason's work was done.
Then the Minuai rose and shouted, till Prometheus heard them from
his crag. And Jason cried, 'Lead me to the fleece this moment,
before the sun goes down.'
But Aietes thought, 'He has conquered the bulls, and sown and
reaped the deadly crop. Who is this who is proof against all
magic? He may kill the serpent yet.' So he delayed, and sat
taking counsel with his princes till the sun went down and all was
dark. Then he bade a herald cry, 'Every man to his home for to-
night. To-morrow we will meet these heroes, and speak about the
golden fleece.'
Then he turned and looked at Medeia. 'This is your doing, false
witch-maid! You have helped these yellow-haired strangers, and
brought shame upon your father and yourself!'
Medeia shrank and trembled, and her face grew pale with fear; and
Aietes knew that she was guilty, and whispered, 'If they win the
fleece, you die!'
But the Minuai marched toward their ship, growling like lions
cheated of their prey; for they saw that Aietes meant to mock them,
and to cheat them out of all their toil. And Oileus said, 'Let us
go to the grove together, and take the fleece by force.'
And Idas the rash cried, 'Let us draw lots who shall go in first;
for, while the dragon is devouring one, the rest can slay him and
carry off the fleece in peace.
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