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The Argonautica by c. 3rd cent. B.C. Apollonius Rhodius
page 122 of 244 (50%)
Never yet had there been such a man in the days of old, neither of all
the heroes of the lineage of Zeus himself, nor of those who sprung from
the blood of the other gods, as on that day the bride of Zeus made
Jason, both to look upon and to hold converse with. Even his comrades
wondered as they gazed upon him, radiant with manifold graces; and the
son of Ampycus rejoiced in their journey, already foreboding how all
would end.

Now by the path along the plain there stands near the shrine a poplar
with its crown of countless leaves, whereon often chattering crows would
roost. One of them meantime as she clapped her wings aloft in the
brandies uttered the counsels of Hera:

"What a pitiful seer is this, that has not the wit to conceive even what
children know, how that no maiden will say a word of sweetness or love
to a youth when strangers be near. Begone, sorry prophet, witless one;
on thee neither Cypris nor the gentle Loves breathe in their kindness."

She spake chiding, and Mopsus smiled to hear the god-sent voice of the
bird, and thus addressed them: "Do thou, son of Aeson, pass on to the
temple, where thou wilt find the maiden; and very kind will her greeting
be to thee through the prompting of Cypris, who will be thy helpmate in
the contest, even as Phineus, Agenor's son, foretold. But we two, Argus
and I, will await thy return, apart in this very spot do thou all alone
be a suppliant and win her over with prudent words."

He spake wisely, and both at once gave approval. Nor was Medea's heart
turned to other thoughts, for all her singing, and never a song that she
essayed pleased her long in her sport. But in confusion she ever
faltered, nor did she keep her eyes resting quietly upon the throng of
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