to perform the heavy task, he would hew down the oak grove above the
wooded hill, and burn the ship and her crew, that so they might vent
forth in ruin their grievous insolence, for all their haughty schemes.
For never would he have welcomed the Aeolid Phrixus as a guest in his
halls, in spite of his sore need, Phrixus, who surpassed all strangers
in gentleness and fear of the gods, had not Zeus himself sent Hermes his
messenger down from heaven, so that he might meet with a friendly host;
much less would pirates coming to his land be let go scatheless for
long, men whose care it was to lift their hands and seize the goods of
others, and to weave secret webs of guile, and harry the steadings of
herdsmen with ill-sounding forays. And he said that besides all that the
sons of Phrixus should pay a fitting penalty to himself for returning in
consort with evil-doers, that they might recklessly drive him from his
honour and his throne; for once he had heard a baleful prophecy from his
father Helios, that he must avoid the secret treachery and schemes of
his own offspring and their crafty mischief. Wherefore he was sending
them, as they desired, to the Achaean land at the bidding of their
father--a long journey. Nor had he ever so slight a fear of his
daughters, that they would form some hateful scheme, nor of his son
Apsyrtus; but this curse was being fulfilled in the children of
Chalciope. And he proclaimed terrible things in his rage against the
strangers, and loudly threatened to keep watch over the ship and its
crew, so that no one might escape calamity.

Meantime Argus, going to Aeetes' palace, with manifold pleading besought
his mother to pray Medea's aid; and Chalciope herself already had the
same thoughts, but fear checked her soul lest haply either fate should
withstand and she should entreat her in vain, all distraught as she
would be at her father's deadly wrath, or, if Medea yielded to her
prayers, her deeds should be laid bare and open to view.