the hollow rock, cold as crystal. Such then were the wondrous works that
the craftsman-god Hephaestus had fashioned in the palace of Cytaean
Aeetes. And he wrought for him bulls with feet of bronze, and their
mouths were of bronze, and from them they breathed out a terrible flame
of fire; moreover he forged a plough of unbending adamant, all in one
piece, in payment of thanks to Helios, who had taken the god up in his
chariot when faint from the Phlegraean fight.[1] And here an inner-court
was built, and round it were many well-fitted doors and chambers here
and there, and all along on each side was a richly-wrought gallery. And
on both sides loftier buildings stood obliquely. In one, which was the
loftiest, lordly Aeetes dwelt with his queen; and in another dwelt
Apsyrtus, son of Aeetes, whom a Caucasian nymph, Asterodeia, bare before
he made Eidyia his wedded wife, the youngest daughter of Tethys and
Oceanus. And the sons of the Colchians called him by the new name of
Phaëthon,[2] because he outshone all the youths. The other buildings the
handmaidens had, and the two daughters of Aeetes, Chalciope and Medea.
Medea then [they found] going from chamber to chamber in search of her
sister, for Hera detained her within that day; but beforetime she was
not wont to haunt the palace, but all day long was busied in Hecate's
temple, since she herself was the priestess of the goddess. And when she
saw them she cried aloud, and quickly Chalciope caught the sound; and
her maids, throwing down at their feet their yarn and their thread,
rushed forth all in a throng. And she, beholding her sons among them,
raised her hands aloft through joy; and so they likewise greeted their
mother, and when they saw her embraced her in their gladness; and she
with many sobs spoke thus:

[Footnote 1: i.e. the fight between the gods and the giants.]

[Footnote 2: i.e. the Shining One.]