 Section 7 of the Junior Classics, Volume 3, Tales from Greece and Rome, edited by William Patton, 1868-1936. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Gillian Hendry. How the Argonauts Sailed to Colchis, by Charles Kingsley What happened next, my children, whether it be true or not, stands written in ancient songs, which you shall read for yourselves some day. And grand old songs they are, written in grand old rolling verse, and they call them the songs of Orpheus, or the Orphics, to this day. They tell how the heroes came to Aphatai across the bay, and waited for the south-west wind, and chose themselves a captain from their crew, and how all called for Hercules, because he was the strongest and most huge, but Hercules refused, and called for Jason, because he was the wisest of them all. So Jason was chosen captain, and Orpheus heaped a pile of wood, and slew a bull, and offered it to Juno, and called all the heroes to stand round, each man's head crowned with olive, and to strike their swords into the bull. Then he filled a golden goblet with the bull's blood, and with wheat and flour, and honey and wine, and the bitter, salt-sea water, and bad the heroes' taste. So each tasted the goblet, and passed it round, and vowed an awful vow, and they vowed before the sun, and the night, and the blue-haired sea who shakes the land, to stand by Jason faithfully in the adventure of the golden fleece, and whosoever shrank back, or disobeyed, or turned traitor to his vow, then justice should minister against him, and the fates who track guilty men. Then Jason lighted the pile, and burnt the carcass of the bull, and they went to their ship, and sailed eastward, like men who have a work to do, and the place from which they went was called Aphatai, the sailing place from that day forth. Three thousand years and more ago they sailed away into the unknown eastern seas, and great nations have come and gone since then, and many a storm has swept the earth. Many a mighty armament, to which Argo would be but one small boat, English and French, Turkish and Russian, have sailed those waters since, yet the fame of that small Argo lives forever, and her name has become a proverb among men. So they sailed past the Isle of Scethus, with the Cape of Sipius on their left, and turned to the northward towards Pylion, up the long Macnesian shore. On their right hand was the open sea, and on their left old Pylion rose, while the clouds crawled round his dark pine forests, and his caps of summer snow, and their hearts yearned for the dear old mountain, as they thought of pleasant days gone by, and of the sports of their boyhood, their hunting and their schooling in the cave beneath the cliff. At last Pylius spoke, Let us land here friends, and climb the dear old hill once more. We are going on a fearful journey, who knows if we shall see Pylion again. Let us go up to Chiron our master, and ask his blessing ere we start, and I have a boy too with him, whom he trains as he trained me once. The son whom Thetis brought me, the silver-footed lady of the sea, whom I caught in the cave, and tamed her, though she changed her shape seven times. For she changed as I held her into water, and to vapour, and to burning flame, and to a rock, and to a black-maned lion, and to a tall and stately tree, but I held her and held her ever, till she took her own shape again, and led her to my father's house, and won her for my bride. And all the rulers of Olympus came to our wedding, and the heavens and the earth rejoiced together, when an immortal wedded a mortal man. And now let me see my son, for it is not often I shall see him upon earth, famous he will be, but short-lived, and die in the flower of youth. So Typhus the Helmsman steered them to the shore under the crag of Pylion, and they went up through the dark pine forests towards the centre's cave. As they came into the misty hall beneath the snow-crowned crag, they saw the great centaur lying with his huge limbs spread upon the rocks, and beside him stood Achilles, the child whom no steel could wound, and played upon his harp right sweetly, while Kyren watched and smiled. Then Kyren leaped up and welcomed them, and kissed them every one, and set a feast before them off swine's flesh and venison and good wine, and young Achilles served them and carried the golden goblet round. And after supper all the heroes clapped their hands and called on Orpheus to sing, but he refused and said, How can I, who am the younger, sing before our ancient host? So they called on Kyren to sing, and Achilles brought him his harp, and he began a wondrous song, a famous story of old time, of the fight between the centaur's and the lapithae, which you may still see carved in stone. He sang how his brothers came to ruin by their folly when they were mad with wine, and how they and the heroes fought with fists and teeth, and the goblets from which they drank, and how they tore up the pine trees in their fury, and hurled great crags of stone, while the mountains thundered with the battle, and the land was wasted far and wide, till the lapithae drove them from their home in the rich thelassian plains to the lonely glens of Pindus, leaving Kyren all alone. And the heroes praised his song right heartily, for some of them had helped in that great fight. Then Orpheus took the lyre and sang of Chaos and the making of the wondrous world, and how all things sprang from love, who could not live alone in the abyss. And as he sang, his voice rose from the cave above the crags and through the treetops and the glens of oak and pine, and the trees bowed their heads when they heard it, and the grey rocks cracked and rang, and the forest beasts crept near to listen, and the birds forsook their nests and hovered round, and old Kyren clapped his hands together and beat his hooves upon the ground for wonder at that magic song. Then Pelius kissed his boy and wept over him, and they went down to the ship, and Kyren came down with them weeping and kissed them one by one and blessed them and promised to them great renown. And the heroes wept when they left him till their great hearts could weep no more, for he was kind and just and pious and wiser than all beasts and men. Then he went up to a cliff and prayed for them that they might come home safe and well, while the heroes rode away and watched him standing on his cliff above the sea with his great hands raised toward heaven and his white locks waving in the wind, and they strained their eyes to watch him to the last, for they felt that they should look on him no more. So they rode on over the long swell of the sea, past Olympus, the seat of the immortals, and past the wooded bays of Athos and south race, the sacred Isle, and they came past Lemnos to the Hellespont and through the narrow strait of Abidas and so on into the Propontis, which we call Marmora now. And there they met with Sisychus, ruling in Asia over the Doleons, who the song say, was the son of Aeneas, of whom you will hear many a tale someday. For Homer tells us how he fought at Troy and Virgil how he sailed away and founded Rome. Now Sisychus, the song say, was one of the heroes for his father had been one of Chyron scholars, so he welcomed them and feasted them and stored their ship with corn and wine and cloaks and rugs, the songs say, and shirts, of which no doubt they stood in need. But at night, while they lay sleeping, came down on them terrible men who lived with the bears in the mountains, like titans or giants in shape. For each of them had six arms and they fought with young furs and pines, but Hercules killed them all before Morn with his deadly poisoned arrows, but among them in the darkness he slew Sisychus the kindly prince. Then they got to their ship and to their oars and Typhus bad them cast off the Hossars and go to sea. But as he spoke, a whirlwind came and spun the argo round and twisted the Hossars together so that no man could loose them. Typhus dropped the rudder from his hand and cried, This comes from the gods above! But Jason went forward and asked counsel of the magic bow. Then the magic bow spoke and answered, This is because you have slain Sisychus your friend. You must appease his soul or you will never leave this shore. Jason went back sadly and told the heroes what he had heard and they leaped on shore and searched till dawn but on they found the body all rolled in dust and blood among the corpses of those monstrous beasts and they wept over their kind host and laid him on a fair bed and heaped a huge mound over him and offered black sheep at his tomb and Orpheus sang a magic song to him that his spirit might have rest and then they held games at the tomb after the custom of those times and Jason gave prizes to each winner. To Ancius he gave a golden cup for he wrestled best of all and to Hercules a silver one for he was the strongest of all and to Caster who rode best a golden crest and Pollux the boxer had a rich carpet and to Orpheus for his song a sandal with golden wings but Jason himself was the best of all the archers and the Minui crowned him with an olive crown and so the songs say the soul of good Cisacus was appeased and the heroes went on their way in peace but when Cisacus's wife heard that he was dead she died likewise of grief and her tears became a fountain of clear water which flows the whole year round then they rode away the songs say along the Mycenae shore and past the mouth of Rindicus till they found a pleasant bay sheltered by the long ridges of Arganthus and by high walls of bustled rock there they ran the ship ashore upon the yellow sand and furled the sail and took the mast down and lashed it in its crutch and next they let down the ladder and went ashore to sport and rest there Hercules went away into the woods bow in hand to hunt wild deer and Hylas the fair boy slipped away after him and followed him by stealth and sat down weary to rest himself by the side of a lake and there the water nymphs came up to look at him and loved him and carried him down under the lake to be their playfellow forever happy and young and Hercules sought for him in vain shouting his name till all the mountains rang but Hylas never heard him far down under the sparkling lake so while Hercules wandered searching for him a fair breeze sprang up and Hercules was nowhere to be found and the Argos sailed away and Hercules was left behind and never saw the Noble Phasian stream then the Minui came to a doleful land where Amicus the giant ruled and cared nothing for the laws of Jupiter but challenged all strangers to box with him and those whom he conquered he slew but Pollux the boxer struck him a harder blow than he ever felt before and the Minui went on up the Bosphorus till they came to the city of Phineas the fierce Bithinian king Forasites and Calus bad Jason land there because they had a work to do they went up from the shore toward the city through forests white with snow and Phineas came out to meet them with a lean and woeful face and said welcome gallant heroes to the land of bitter blasts the land of cold and misery yet I will feast you as best I can and he led them in and set meat before them but before they could put their hands to their mouths down came two fearful monsters the like of whom man never saw for they had the faces and the hair of fair maidens but the wings and claws of hawks and they snatched the meat from off the table and flew shrieking out above the roofs then Phineas beat his breast and cried these are the harpies whose names are the whirlwind and the swift the daughters of wonder and of the amber nymph and they rob us day and night they carried off the daughters of Pandarius whom all the gods had blessed for Phineas fed them on Olympus with honey and milk and wine and Juno gave them beauty and wisdom and Minerva skill in all the arts but when they came to their wedding the harpies snatched them both away and gave them to be slaves to the fates and live in horror all their days and now they haunt me and my people and the Bosphorus with fearful storms and sweep away our food from off our tables so that we starve in spite of all our wealth then up rose Zites and Callus the winged sons of the north wind and said to you not know us Phineas and these wings which grow upon our backs and Phineas hid his face in terror but he answered not a word because you have been a traitor Phineas the harpies haunt you night and day where is Cleopatra our sister your wife whom you keep in prison and where are her two children whom you blinded in your rage at the bidding of an evil woman and cast them out upon the rocks swear to us that you will write our sister and cast out that wicked woman and then we will free you from your plague and drive the whirlwind maidens to the south but if not we will put out your eyes as you put out the eyes of your own sons then Phineas swore an oath to them and drove out the wicked women and Jason took those two poor children and cured their eyes with magic herbs but Zites and Callus rose up sadly and said farewell now heroes all farewell our dear companions when we played on Pylion in old times for a fate is laid upon us and our days come at last in which we must hunt the whirlwinds over land and sea forever and if we catch them they die and if not we die ourselves at that all the heroes wept but the two young men sprang aloft into the air after the harpies and the battle of the winds began the heroes trembled in silence as they heard the shrieking of the blasts while the palace rocked and all the city and great stones were torn from the crags and the forest pines were hurled earthward north and south and east and west and the Bosphorus boiled white with foam and the clouds were dashed against the cliffs but at last the battle ended and the harpies fled screaming toward the south and the sons of the north wind rushed after them and brought clear sunshine where they passed for many a league they followed them over all the isles of the Cyclades and away to the south west across Hellas till they came to the Ionian sea and there they fell upon the Akinadas at the mouth of the Akeluas and those isles were called the whirlwind isles for many a hundred years but what became of Zittis and Calus I know not for the heroes never saw them again and some say that Hercules met them and slew them with his arrows and some say that they fell down from weariness and the heat of the summer sun and that the sun god buried them among the Cyclades in the pleasant isle of Tennis and for many a hundred years their grave was shown there and over it a pillar which turned to every wind but those dark storms and whirlwinds haunt the Bosphorus until this day but the Argonauts went eastward and out into the open sea which we now call the Black Sea but it was called the Uxine then no Greek had ever crossed it and all feared that dreadful sea and its rocks and shoals and fogs and bitter freezing storms and they told strange stories of it some false and some half true how it stretched northward to the ends of the earth and the sluggish Putrid Sea and the everlasting night and the regions of the dead and the heroes trembled for all their courage as they came into that wild Black Sea and saw it stretching out before them without a shore as far as I could see and first Orpheus spoke and warned them we shall come now to the wandering blue rocks my mother warned me of them Calliope the immortal muse soon they saw the blue rocks shining like spires and castles of grey glass while an ice cold wind blew from them and chilled the heroes hearts as they neared they could see them heaving as they rolled upon the long set waves crashing and grinding together till the roar went up to heaven the sea sprang up in spouts between them and swept around them in white sheets of foam but their heads swung nodding high in air while the air whistled shrill among the crags the heroes hearts sank within them as they lay upon their oars in fear but Orpheus called to Typhus the helmsman between them we must pass so look ahead for an opening and be brave for Juno is with us but Typhus the cunning helmsman stood silent clenching his teeth till he saw a heron come flying mast high toward the rocks and hover a while before them as if looking for a passage through then he cried sent as a pilot let us follow the cunning bird then the heron flapped to and fro a moment till he saw a hidden gap and into it he rushed like an arrow while the heroes watched what would befall and the blue rocks clashed together as the bird flew swiftly through but they struck but a feather from his tail and then rebounded apart at the shock then Typhus cheered the heroes and they shouted and the oars bent wide beneath their stokes as they rushed between those toppling ice cracks and the cold blue lips of death and ere the rocks could meet again they had passed them and were safe out in the open sea after that they sailed on wearily along the asian coast by the black cape and thineus where the hot stream of thimbrus falls into the sea and Sangarius whose waters float on the uxine till they came to wolf the river and to wolf the kindly king and there died two brave heroes Idmun and Typhus the wise helmsman one died of an evil sickness and one a wild boar slew so the heroes heaped a mound above them and set upon it an oar on high and left them there to sleep together on the far off Lycean shore but Idus killed the boar and avenged Typhus and Anchaos took the rudder and was helmsman and steered them on toward the east and they went on past Sinope and many a mighty rivers mouth and passed many a barbarous tribe and the cities of the amazons the warlike women of the east till all night they heard the clank of anvils and roar of furnace blasts and the forge fires shone like sparks through the darkness in the mountain glens aloft for they were come to the shores of the Calibus withs who never tire but serve Mars the cruel war god forging weapons day and night at day dawn they looked eastward and midway between the sea and the sky they saw white snow peaks hanging glittering sharp and bright above the clouds and they knew that they were come to Caucasus at the end of all the earth Caucasus the highest of all mountains the father of the rivers of the east on this peak lies chained the titan while a vulture tears his heart and at his feet are piled dark forests round the magic Colcian land and they rode three days to the eastward while Caucasus rose higher hour by hour till they saw the dark stream of fascis running headlong to the sea and shining above the rooftops the golden roofs of King Aedes the child of the sun then out spoke and chaos the helmsman we are come to our goal at last for there are the roofs of Aedes and the woods where all poisons grow but who can tell us where among them is hid the golden fleece many a toil must we bear or we find it and bring it home to Greece but Jason cheered the heroes for his heart was high and bold and he said I will go alone up to Aedes though he be the child of the sun and win him with soft words better so than to go all together and to come to blows at once but the Minui would not stay behind so they rode boldly up the stream and a dream came to Aedes and filled his heart with fear he thought he saw a shining star which fell into his daughter's lap and that Medea his daughter took it gladly and carried it to the riverside and cast it in and there the whirling river bore it down and out into the black sea then he leaped up in fear and but his servants bring his chariot that he might go down to the riverside and appease the nymphs and the heroes whose spirits haunt the bank so he went down in his golden chariot and his daughters by his side Medea the Fair Witchmaiden and Calciope who had been frixas wife and behind him a crowd of servants and soldiers for he was a rich and mighty prince as he drove down by the Reedy River he saw Argo sliding up beneath the bank and many a hero in her like immortals for beauty and for strength as their weapons glittered round them in the level morning sunlight through the white mist of the stream but Jason was the noblest of all for Juno who loved him gave him beauty and tallness and vigorous manhood and when they came near together and looked into each other's eyes the heroes were odd before Aetis as he shone in his chariot like his father the glorious son for his robes were of rich gold tissue and the rays of his diadem flashed fire and in his hand he bore a dueled scepter which glittered like the stars and sternly he looked at them under his brows and sternly he spoke and loud who are you and what want you here that you come to the shore of Kutaya do you take no account of my rule nor of my people the caulkians who serve me who never tired yet in the battle and know well how to face an invader and the heroes sat silent before the face of that ancient king but Juno the awful goddess put courage into Jason's heart and he rose and shouted loudly in answer we are no pirates nor lawless men we come not to plunder and to ravage or carry away slaves from your land but my uncle the son of Neptune Pilius the Minoan king he it is who has sent me on a quest to bring home the golden fleece and these two my bold comrades are no nameless men for some are the sons of immortals and some of heroes far renowned and we too never tire in battle and know well how to give blows and to take yet we wish to be guests at your table it will be better so for both then Aetis rage rushed up like a whirlwind and his eyes flashed fire as he heard but he crushed his anger down in his breast and spoke mildly a cunning speech if you all fight for the fleece with my caulkians then many a man must die but do you indeed expect to win from me the fleece in fight so few you are that if you be worsted I can load your ship with your corpses but if you will be ruled by me you will find it better far to choose the best man among you and let him fulfil the labour which I demand then I will give him the golden fleece for a prize and a glory to you all so saying he turned his horses and drove back in silence to the town and the Minoai sat silent with sorrow and longed for Hercules and his strength for there was no facing the thousands of the caulkians the fearful chance of war but Calciope, Frix's widow went weeping to the town for she remembered her Minoan husband and all the pleasures of her youth while she watched the fair faces of his kinsmen and their long locks of golden hair and she whispered to Medea her sister why should all these brave men die why does not my father give them up the fleece that my husband's spirit may have rest and Medea's heart fitted the heroes and Jason most of all and she answered our father is stern and terrible and who can win the golden fleece but Calciope said these men are not like our men there is nothing which they cannot dare nor do and Medea thought of Jason and his brave countenance and said if there was one among them who knew no fear I could show him how to win the fleece so in the dusk of evening they went down to the riverside Calciope and Medea the witch maiden and Argus Frix's son and Argus the boy crept forward among the beds of reeds till he came where the heroes were sleeping on the thwarts of the ship beneath the bank while Jason kept ward on shore and leaned upon his lands full of thought and the boy came to Jason and said I am the son of Frix's your cousin and Calciope father waits for you to talk about the golden fleece then Jason went boldly with the boy and found the two princesses standing and when Calciope saw him she wept and took his hands and cried oh cousin of my beloved go home before you die it would be base to go home now fair princess and to have sailed all these seas in vain then both the princesses besought him but Jason said it is too late but you know not said Medea what he must do who would win the fleece he must tame the two brazen footed bulls who breathed devouring flame and with them he must plow air nightfall four acres in the field of Mars and he must sew them with serpents teeth of which each tooth springs up into an armed man then he must fight with all those warriors and little will it profit him to conquer them for the fleece is guarded by a serpent more huge than any mountain pine and over his body you must step if you would reach the golden fleece then Jason laughed bitterly unjustly is that fleece kept here and by an unjust and lawless king and unjustly shall I die in my youth for I will attempt it ere another son be set then Medea trembled and said no mortal man can reach that fleece unless I guide him through for round it beyond the river is a wall full nine L's high with lofty towers and buttresses and mighty gates of threefold brass and over the gates the wall is arched with golden battlements above and over the gateway sits Bremo the wild witch huntress of the woods brandishing a pine torch in her hands while her mad hounds howl around no man dare meet her or look on her but only I her priestess and she watches far and wide lest any stranger should come near no wall so high but it may be climbed at last and no wood so thick but it may be crawled through no serpent so wary but he may be charmed or witch queen so fierce but spells may soothe her and I may yet win the golden fleece if a wise maiden help bold men and he looked at Medea cunningly and held her with his glittering eye till she blushed and trembled and said who can face the fire of the bull's breath and fight ten thousand armed men he whom you help said Jason flattering her for your fame is spread over all the earth are you not the queen of all enchantresses wiser even than your sister Cersei in her fairy island in the west would that I were with my sister Cersei in her fairy island in the west far away from sore temptation and thoughts which tear the heart but if it must be so for why should you die I have an ointment here I made it from the magic ice flower which sprang from Prometheus's wound above the clouds on Caucasus in the dreary fields of snow anoint yourself with that and you shall have in you seven men's strength and anoint your shield with it and neither fire nor sword can harm you by what you begin you must end before sunset for its virtue lasts only one day and anoint your helmet with it before you saw the serpent's teeth and when the sons of earth spring up cast your helmet among their ranks and the deadly crop of the war god's field will mow itself and perish then Jason fell on his knees before her and thanked her and kissed her hands and she gave him the vase of ointment trembling through the reeds and Jason told his comrades what had happened and showed them the box of ointment and all rejoiced but Idus and he grew mad with envy at sunrise Jason went and bathed and anointed himself from head to foot and his shield and his helmet and his weapons and but his comrades tried the spell so they tried to bend his lance but it stood like an iron bar and Idus in spite hewed at it with his sword but the blade flew to splinters in his face then they hurled their lances at his shield but the spear points turned like lead and Cainius tried to throw him but he never stirred afoot and Pollock struck him with his fist a blow which would have killed an ox but Jason only smiled and the heroes danced about him with delight and he leaped and ran and shouted in the joy of that enormous strength till the sun rose and it was time to go and claim Idus' promise so he sent up Telemann and Ithalades to tell Idus that he was ready for the fight and they went up among the marble walls and beneath the roofs of gold and stood in Idus' hall while he grew pale with rage fulfill your promise to us child of the blazing sun give us the serpent's teeth and let loose the fiery bulls for we have found a champion among us who can win the golden fleece and Idus bit his lips for he fancied that they had fled away by night but he could not go back from his promise so he gave them the serpent's teeth then he called for his chariot and his horses and sent heralds through all the town and all the people went out with him to the dreadful war god's field and there Idus sat upon his throne with his warriors on each hand thousands and tens of thousands clothed from head to foot in steel chain mail and the people and the women crowded to every window and bank and wall while the Manuai stood together a mere handful in the midst of that great host Calciope was there and Argus trembling and Medea wrapped closely in her veil but Idus did not know that she was muttering cunning spells between her lips then Jason cried fulfill your promise and let your fiery bulls come forth then Idus sped open the gates and the magic bulls leaped out their brazen hoofs rang upon the ground and their nostrils sent out sheets of flame as they rushed with lowered heads upon Jason but he never flinched a step the flame of their breath swept round him but it singed not a hair of his head and the bulls stopped short and trembled when Medea began her spell then Jason sprang upon the nearest and seized him by the horn and up and down they wrestled till the bull fell grovelling on his knees for the heart of the brute died within him and his mighty limbs were loosed beneath the steadfast eye of that dark witch maiden and the magic whisper of her lips so both the bulls were tamed and yoked and Jason bound them to the plow and held them onward with his lance till he had plowed the sacred field and all the menui shouted but Idus bit his lips with rage for the half of Jason's work was over and the sun was yet high in heaven then he took the serpent's teeth and sewed them and waited what would befall but Medea looked at him and at his helmet lest he should forget the lesson she had topped every furrow heaved and bubbled rose a man out of the earth they rose by thousands each clad from head to toe in steel and drew their swords and rushed on Jason where he stood in the midst alone then the menui grew pale with fear for him but Idus laughed a bitter laugh see if I had not warriors enough already around me I could call them out of the bosom of the earth but Jason snatched off his helmet and hurled it into the thickest of the throng and blind madness came upon them suspicion, hate and fear and one cried to his fellow Thou did strike me and another Thou art Jason Thou shalt die so fury seized those earth-born phantoms and each turned his hand against the rest and they fought and were never weary till they all lay dead upon the ground 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 menui 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 Idus thought he has conquered the bulls and sored 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 council with his princes till the sun went down and all was dark then he bade a herald cry every man to his home for tonight tomorrow we will meet these heroes and speak about the golden fleece then he turned and looked at Medea this is your doing false witch-maid you have helped these yellow-haired strangers and brought shame upon your father and yourself Medea shrank and trembled and her face grew pale with fear and Idus knew that she was guilty and whispered if they win the fleece you die but the menui marched toward their ship growling like lions cheated of their prey for they saw that Idus meant to mock them and to cheat them out of all their toil and Ilius said go to the grove together and take the fleece by force and Idus 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 but Jason held them back though he praised them for he hoped for Medea's help and after a while Medea came trembling and wept a long while before she spoke and at last Idus come and I must die for my father has found out that I have helped you you he would kill if he dared but he will not harm you because you have been his guests go then go and remember per Medea when you are far away across the sea but all the heroes cried if you die we die with you for without you we cannot win the fleece and home we will not go without it but fall here fighting to the last man you need not die said Jason flee home with us across the sea show us first how to win the fleece for you can do it why else are you the priestess of the grove show us but how to win the fleece and come with us and you shall be my queen and rule over the rich princes of the Manuai in Ialkos by the sea and all the heroes pressed round and vowed to her that she should be their queen Medea wept and shuddered and hit her face in her hands for her heart yearned after her sisters and her playfellows and the home where she was brought up as a child but at last she looked up at Jason and spoke between her sobs must I leave my home and my people to wander with strangers across the sea the lot is cast and I must endure it I will show you how to win the golden fleece bring up your ship to the wood side and moor her there against the bank and let Jason come up at midnight and one brave comrade with him and meet me beneath the wall then all the heroes cried together I will go and I and I and Idus the rash grew mad with envy for he longed to be foremost in all things but Medea came then and said Orpheus shall go with Jason and bring his magic harp for I hear of him that he is the king of all minstrels and can charm all things on earth and Orpheus laughed for joy and clapped his hands because the choice had fallen on him for in those days poets and singers were as bold warriors as the best so at midnight they went up the bank and found Medea and besides came Absurtus her young brother leading a yearling lamb then Medea brought them to a thicket beside the war god's gate and there she bad Jason dig a ditch and kill the lamb and leave it there and strew on it magic herbs and honey from the honeycomb then sprang up through the earth with the red fire flashing before her Bremel the wild witch huntress while her mad hounds howled around she had one head like a horses and another like a ravening hounds and another like a hissing snakes and a sword in either hand and she leaped into the ditch with her hounds and they ate and drank their fill while Jason and Orpheus trembled and Medea hid her eyes and at last the witch queen vanished and fled with her hounds into the woods and the bars of the gates fell down and the brazen doors flew open and Medea and the heroes ran forward and hurried through the poison wood among the dark stems of the mighty beaches guided by the gleam of the golden fleece until they saw it hanging on one vast tree in the midst and Jason would have sprung to seize it but Medea held him back and pointed shuddering to the tree-foot where the mighty serpent lay coiled in and out among the roots with a body like a mountain pine his coil stretched many a fathom spangled with bronze and gold and half of him they could see but no more for the rest lay in the darkness beyond and when he saw them coming he lifted up his head and watched them with his small bright eyes and flashed his forked tongue and roared like the fire among the woodlands till the forest tossed and groaned for his cries shook the trees from leaf to root and swept over the long reaches of the river and over Aetis Hall and woke the sleepers in the city till mothers clashed their children in their fear but Medea called gently to him stretched out his long spotted neck and licked her hand and looked up in her face as if to ask for food then she made a sign to Orpheus and he began his magic song and as he sang the forest grew calm again and the leaves on every tree hung still and the serpent's head sank down and his brazen coils grew limp and his glittering eyes closed lazily till he breathed as gently as a child while Orpheus called to pleasant slumber who gives peace to men and beasts and waves then Jason leaped up warily and stepped across that mighty snake and tore the fleece from off the tree trunk and the four rushed down the garden to the bank where the Argo lay there was a silence for a moment while Jason held the golden fleece on high then he cried go now good Argo swift and steady Argo would see Peleon more and she went as the heroes drove her grim and silent all with muffled oars till the pinewood bent like willow in their hands and stout Argo groaned beneath their strokes on and on beneath the dewy darkness they fled swiftly down the swirling stream underneath black walls and temples and the castles of the princes of the east past sleuth mouth and fragrant gardens and the groves of all strange fruits past marshes where fat kind lay sleeping and long beds of whispering reeds till they heard the merry music of the surge upon the bar as it tumbled in the moonlight all alone into the surge they rushed and Argo leaped the breakers like a horse for she knew the time was come to show her metal and win honour for the heroes and herself into the surge they rushed the heroes stopped all panting each man upon his oar as she slid into the still broad sea then Orpheus took his harp and sang a peon till the heroes' hearts rose high again and they rose on stoutly and steadfastly away into the darkness of the west end of section 7 section 8 of the junior classics volume 3 Tales from Greece and Rome edited by William Patton 1868-1936 This LibriVox recording is in the public domain recording by Gillian Hendry Hunting the Caledonian Boar by Elsie Finnemore Buckley In the city of Caledon long ago there were great rejoicings because the Queen Althea had given birth to a son her firstborn who, if he grew to years of manhood she in time sit upon the throne of his father Ineos and rule the land some seven days after the child was born it chanced that the Queen was lying in her chamber with the babe upon her breast as she lay she watched the shadows playing up and down upon the walls and to her eyes they took strange forms of men and beasts now it was a great fight she saw with horses and chariots rushing over a plane and mighty warriors meeting face to face in battle now it was a hunt with winding of horns and dogs straining at the leash and a white tusked boar breaking through a thicket but whether it was a hunt or whether it was a battle everywhere there was one figure of a man she watched a man tall and fair and brave who stood out conspicuous among his fellows such a hero as her son might grow to be if he lived till years of manhood and she prayed that her vision might come true and her son grew up to be a hero a man mighty in sport and mighty in battle in time the flames died down and the fire burned clear and stood still upon the hearth the Queen's eyes grew heavy and she was about to turn on her side to sleep when a strange thing happened which took from her all desire for rest the wall of the room in front of her which had glowed bright and cheery in the fire light her grey and misty and seemed to vanish before her eyes and through the opening there came towards her the forms of three strange women taller and more terrible than any women of earth the first one carried in her hand a skin of thread the second a spindle and the third a pair of great sharp shears the Queen lay still and motionless with terror as they came forward slowly arm in arm looking down upon the child at her breast at length the first one spoke I give to thy child Althea a thread of life exceeding bright and fair and I said the second will weave that thread into dark places where it will shine the brighter for the darkness round about and bring him honour and great renown the third one said never a word but walked slowly round the couch till she stood before the fire on the hearth a great brand had fallen from the great and lay smouldering on the stones bending down she took it in her hand and thrust it deep into the red hot heart of the fire and stood watching it till it was well alight and the tongues of flame shot crackling upwards then she turned towards the Queen as soon as that brand upon the fire is consumed she said I will cut the shining thread with my shears and his life shall be as ashes cast forth upon the wind with a cry of terror the Queen sprang up from her couch rushed across the room and drawing forth the blazing brand from the fire she smothered it in her gown and crushed it beneath her bare feet till not a live spark remained about it then she hid it in a secret place where she alone could find it and cast herself upon her couch and knew no more for many a long day she lay between life and death but at last the gods had mercy and her strength came slowly back to her but when anyone asked her the cause of her burning she would shudder and mutter some strange tale of a brand which fell from the fire and would have burned out the life of her child what she meant no one ever knew but they thought that the gods had burned her with a sudden fever and that not knowing what she did she had burnt herself in the fire but of the half burnt brand and of the word of the fates they knew nothing for Althea had said in her heart the fates have spoken and their word shall surely come to pass a fine and fair thread of life has lachesis given to my son and clotho will weave it into dark places where it shall shine exceeding bright the gifts they have given are good the hand of Atpus alone is against him and she has measured his life by the life of a frail piece of wood but so long as the gods shall give me strength no careless hand shall place that brand upon the flames and no man shall know the secret of his life for grief or madness may turn even the heart of a friend on me and on me alone shall my son's life rest for well do I know that neither prayer nor sacrifice can avail to turn the heart of Atpus the unswerving one so she kept the brand securely hidden where she alone could find it many other fair children did she bear to any as the king but best of them all she loved Meliega her firstborn for the word that the fates had spoken came true he grew to be a great warrior and a mighty man and was feared by his foes through the length and breadth of the land in all the countryside there was no man who could hurl the javelin with such force and skill as he and whenever he went forth to battle the victory lay with the men of Caledon and he was called the saviour and protector of his city when he was in the flower of his manhood the call of Jason came from Farty-Alcos for all the heroes of Greece to join him in his search for the golden fleece amongst them sailed Meliega in the good ship Argo and came to the land of the dusky Colfians on the shore of the black sea he played his part like a man and came back to Caledon with a fair name for courage and endurance then he was hoisted on the shoulders of his countrymen and carried through the streets of the city and feasted right royally in his father's house soon after his return it chanced that the harvest was more plentiful than it had ever been within the memory of man wherefore Ineos the king ordered a great thanksgiving to be held throughout the land in order of Bathas and Ceres and Minerva who had given such good gifts to men at every shrine and temple the altars smoked with sacrifice and glad bands of youths and maidens with garlands on their heads danced hand in hand around singing the song of the harvest when Diana the Huntress saw that everywhere the altars smoked in honour of Ceres and Bathas and Minerva but that never a single stone was raised to her she was filled with jealousy and wrath one night when all the land lay sleeping she left the mountains where she loved to hunt and came down to Caledon the arrows in her quiver rattled as she stowed along in her wrath and the flash of her eyes was as the flash of summer lightning across the sky with great swinging strides she came and stood over Ineos as he slept oh king she said too long have I been patient and waited for my Jews but I will suffer thine in gratitude no more when the young corn stands green upon the plain and the vine leaves are shooting cast once more their shade upon the bare hillside then shall thou have cause to know my power broad and dark are the forests and many a wild beast lurks therein that is tame at my word alone one of these will I let loose upon thine land many a fair field shall be trodden underfoot and many a vineyard and olive grove laid waste yea and red blood shall flow ere my wrath be assuaged and I take away the pests from your midst I have spoken and no sacrifice shall turn me from my word thus did she speak saying the words in his ear and turned and left the room by the way she had come with a start he awoke from his sleep and looked around him but no one could he see only a sudden storm of wind lashed the branches of the trees and the dark cloud hid the face of the moon the sad winter time is coming he thought with its storms and its darkened days yet lest there be ought in my dream I will remember Diana tomorrow and her altar too shall smoke with sacrifice so on the morrow a great festival was held in honour of Diana the maiden huntress and Ineos laid aside all thought of his dream but when the springtime came and the early summer he had caused to remember it with sorrow for out of the forests there came a great bore which laid waste all the country right and left in size he was more huge than an ox of Epirus whose oxen are the largest in the world and the bristles on his neck stood up like spikes his breath was as a flame of fire that burned up all that stood in his way and his cruel little eyes gleamed red with blood over the corn fields he raged and trampled the green blades beneath his hooves and with his strong white tusks he tore down the vine branches and broke the overhanging boughs of the olive so that the young berries and fruit lay spoilt upon the ground not only did he lay waste the fields but the flocks and herds on the pasture land were not safe from his attack and neither shepherds nor dogs could protect them from his fury through all the countryside the people fled in terror for their lives and hid within the city walls only now and again a band of the bravest would go forth and lay nets and snares for him but so great was the strength of the beast that he broke through every trap they could devise and killing any man who stood in his path he would return with greater fury than before to his attack upon the fields and cattle at length things came to such a pass that unless the monster could be checked famine would erelong stare the people in the face when Melieger saw that neither prayer nor sacrifice would turn the heart of Diana nor any ordinary hunting put an end to the bore he determined to gather around him a band of heroes who for the sake of glory would come together for the hunt and either kill the beast or perish themselves in the attempt so he sent a proclamation far and wide through all the kingdoms of Greece oh men of Greece the fair plains of Caledon lie trodden underfoot by a grievous monster and her people are fallen upon evil days come hither and help us all ye who love adventure and fear not risk nor peril ye seasoned warriors whose spirit is not dead within you ye young men who have yet your name to win come hither to us and we will give you fair sport and good cheer with all in answer to his call they're flocked from far and wide to Caledon a great host of brave men and mighty was the muster which gathered beneath the roof of Aeneas for the hunting of the bore Jason himself came the leader of the Argonauts and Caster and Pollux the great twin brethren there was Thesias too who slew the Minotaur and Perythus his friend who went down with him to Hades and tried to carry off proserpony from the king of the dead and swift-footed Aedas came and Linceas his brother whose eyes were so sharp that they could see into the centre of the earth others were there besides whose names are too many to tell and Toxias and Plexippus the brothers of Althea the queen whom she loved as she loved her own son Melieger in the great hall a sumptuous feast was spread and loud was the laughter and bright were the faces as one friend met another he had not seen for many a long day the feast was well under way when one of the attendants whispered in the ear of the king that yet another guest had come for the hunting of the bore who is he? asked the king my lord I know not the man replied let him not standing without at all events said Aedas but show him in here and we will make him welcome with the rest in a few moments the man returned and held back the curtain of the great doorway for the newcomer to enter all eyes were turned eagerly that way to see who it might be and a murmur of surprise ran round the hall for they saw upon the threshold no stalwart warrior as they had expected but a maiden and beautiful she was clad in hunter's tunic which fell to her knee and her legs were strapped about with leather and thongs crosswise about her body she wore a girdle from which hung a quiver full of arrows and with her right hand she lent on a great ashen bowl like a staff her shining hair fell back in waves from her forehead and was gathered up in a coil behind her face drowned on the company unabashed the glow of her cheek and the spring of her step told of life in the open and of health giving sport over hill and dale so that she might have been Diana herself come down from her hunting on the mountains she looked round the hall till her eyes fell upon Aedas the host in the place of honour and in no eyes troubled by the silence which her coming had caused she said sire for my late coming I crave thy pardon doubtless some of thy guests have come from more distant lands than I but as ill luck would have it I chose to come by way of the sea instead of by the isthmus for a whole day I ate out my heart with waiting till the wind fell and I could cross over in safety concealing his surprise as best he could Aedas answered maiden we thank thee for thy coming and make thee right welcome in our halls yet we would know thy name who a woman all alone has crossed barren tracks of land and stormy seas unflinching and come to take part in a hunt which is no mere child sport but a perilous venture in which strong men might hesitate to risk their lives and looms as she listened to his words she smiled oh king she said thou hideest thy surprise but ill yet am I not offended nor will I make a mystery of who I am my name is Atalanta and I come from the mountains of Arcadia where all day long I hunt with the nymphs over hill and over dale and through the dark forests following in the footsteps of her we serve great Diana the huntress at her command I stand before thee now for she said to me Atalanta the land of Caledon lies groaning beneath the curse with I cursed them because they forgot me and gave me not my Jews but do thou go and help them and for thy sake I will lay aside my wrath and let them slay the monster that I sent against them yet without thee shall they not accomplish it but the glory of the hunt shall be thine thus did she speak and in obedience to her word am I come when she had spoken a murmur and each man determined in his mind that no mere woman should surpass him in courage and strength the sons of Thestius the queen's brothers especially looked a scans at her and their hearts were filled with jealousy and wrath for there seemed no reason why she should not be a match for any man among them in a trial where swiftness of foot and sureness of eye would avail as much as brute force when Meliagre saw their dark looks he was very angry that they should so far forget their good breeding as to fail in welcoming a guest and he rose from his seat and went towards her oh maiden he said we make thee right welcome to our halls and we thank thee because thou hast heard our appeal and art come to help us in the day of our trouble come now and sit thee down and make glad thy heart meet and whine for thou must need it sorely after thy long journey as he spoke he took her by the hand and set her in a place of honour between his father and himself and saw that she had her fill of the good fair on the board as he sat beside her and talked with her his heart was kindled with love for she was exceeding fair to look upon and the more he thought upon the morrow's hunting the more loath was he that she should risk her life in it at length he said at Elanta surely thou knowest not what manner of beast it is that we are gathered together to destroy thou hast hunted the swift-footed stag per chance through the greenwood but never a monster so fierce as this bore that Diana has sent against us I tell thee it will be no child's play but a matter of death to some of us ask thou no mother or father to mourn thee if any evil chance befall or any lover who is longing for thy return think well or it be too late but she laughed aloud at his words thou takeest me for some drooping damsel that sits at home and spins and faints if she see but a drop of blood I tell thee I know neither father nor mother nor husband nor brother and I love but little the lot of women kind however have I lived within four walls and the first roof that covered me was the forest trees of Mount Perthinius whence I came or how I got to Perthinius no one can tell and I have no wish to find out as for savage beasts had I not the eyes of a hawk and the feet of a deer I had not been safe ten seconds on the uplands of Arcadia for there dwells a fierce tribe of centaurs monsters half human and half horse who have the passions of men and the strength of beasts these pursued me over hill and dale and I fled like the wind before them but ever and the non I found time to turn and let fly from my bow a dart which fell but seldom short of the mark so that after a time they gave up in despair and molested me no more so talk not to me of fierce beasts or of danger nothing that Maliegar could say would turn her from her purpose but across the board he saw the eyes of Toxius and Plexipus his mother's brothers fixed upon him and their brows were dark and lowering as they frowned upon him and Atalanta so he said no more lest they should discover his secret and taunt him as for Atalanta a stone would have returned his love as readily as she but to give up her maiden life for his sake was as far from her thoughts as the east is from the west when the morrow dawned great was the bustle and confusion in the court of the palace where all were to meet together for the hunting of the boar attendance ran this way and that to fetch and carry for their masters and as the huntsman blew his horn the hounds barked impatiently and strained whining at their leashes at length when all was ready Althea with her maidens came forth into the portico and bade farewell to her guests her husband, her brothers and to Meliegar her son God speed thee my son she said as she looked proudly on him and good luck to thy hunting then she stood on the step and waved to them with a smile as they turned to look back at her before the curve of the roadway hid them from sight but though a smile was on her lips her eyes were full of tears and her heart within her was dark with a dim foreshadowing of evil with a heavy step she turned and went into the house and as she passed the altar by the hearth she stopped and bowed her head great Diana, she prayed have mercy and bring my loved ones safely back to me this day then she went to her chamber forth from its hiding place the half burnt brand on which her son's life depended his life at any rate is safe she thought so long as this brand is in my keeping and she hid it away again where she knew no one could find it and set to work restlessly to wile away the hours as best she could till the hunters should come home they meanwhile had gone their way up the steep path which led into the mountains and deep into the heart of the forest where they knew their prey was lurking soon they came upon the track of his hoofs leading to the dry bed of a stream where the rushes and reeds grew high in the marshland and the bending willows cast their shadows over the spot he had chosen for his lair here they spread their nets cautiously about and stationed themselves at every point of vantage and when all was ready let loose the hounds and waited for to come forth from his hiding place not long did they have to wait with a snort of rage he rushed out the breath from his nostrils came forth like steam and the white foam flew from his mouth and covered his bristly sides and neck quick as lightning he made for the first man he could see and the tramp of his hoofs re-echoed through the woods like thunder as he came upon the hard ground as soon as he rushed out a shower of missiles fell towards him from every side but some were aimed awry or fell too far or too short of him and those that touched him slipped aside on his tough hide and he broke through the nets that had been spread to catch him and galloped away unharmed whilst two of the hunters who stood in his path and had not been able to rush aside in time lay groaning on the ground with his hoof upon them when the rest saw that he had escaped they gave chase with all speed headed by caster and Pollux on their white horses and Atalanta close beside them running swiftly as the wind ahead of them the woodland track gave a sudden turn to the left and the boar rushing blindly forward would have plunged into the undergrowth and bushes and escaped beyond range of their darts but Atalanta seeing what must happen stopped short in the chase quick as thought she put an arrow to the string and let fly at the great beast ahead and Diana, true to her word guided the arrow so that it pierced him in the vital part behind the ear with a snot of pain and fury he turned round upon the hunters and charged down towards them as they came up from behind and great would have been the havoc he had wrought among them but for Meliegar he leaped lightly to one side and gathering together all his strength buried this spear deep into the beast's black shoulder and felled him to the earth with the force of his blow immediately the others gathered round and helped to finish the work that Meliegar had begun and soon the monster lay dead upon the ground then Meliegar with his foot upon the boar's head spoke to the hunters my friends he said I thank you all for the courage and devotion you have shown this day my land can once more raise her head in joy for the monster that wrought such havoc in her fields lies dead here at my feet yet the price of his death has not been light my friends and they bowed their heads in silence as they remembered the two whom the boar had struck in his rush one of whom was now dead yet those who have suffered have suffered gloriously giving up themselves as brave men must for the sake of others and their names shall surely not be unremembered by us all once more my trusty comrades I thank you every man of you as for thee lady he continued turning to Atalanta while all have played their part yet the glory of the hunt is thine but for thy sure hand and eye the beast might yet be lurking in the forest wherefore as a token of our gratitude I will give to thee the boar's head as a trophy to do with as thou wilt at his words a murmur of applause went round the ring of them that listened only the voices of Toxius and Plexipus were not heard for they were mad with jealousy and wrath and as soon as there was silence they spoke but right asked Toxius shall one bear off the trophy of a hunt in which each one of us has played his part the insolence of his words and looks roused the anger of Meliegar to a boiling point all through the hunt the brothers had shown scant courtesy to Atalanta and now their rudeness was past bearing by the same right as the best man bears off the prize in any contest he answered quietly though he was pale with rage happy is that one who has first won the heart of the judge then said Plexipus with a sneer as he looked at Atalanta by the truth and the falsehood of his words Meliegar was maddened past all bearing scarce knowing what he did he sprang upon him and before anyone knew what he was about he had buried his hunting knife in the heart of Plexipus when Toxius saw his brother fall back upon the grass he sprang upon Meliegar and for a moment they swung backwards and forwards held each in the other's deadly grip but Meliegar was the younger and the stronger of the two and soon Toxius too they stretched upon the ground beside his brother and a cry of horror went through the crowd of those who stood by trembling Meliegar turned towards them my friends he said farewell you shall look upon my face no more whether I slew them justly or no the curse of heaven is upon me and I know that night and day the furies will haunt my steps because my hand is red with the blood of my kinsmen oh fair fields of Caledon that I have loved and served all my days farewell forever nevermore shall I look upon you nor my home on the steep hillside nor the face of the queen my mother but I must hide my head in shame par from the haunts of men as for thee lady he said turning to Atalanta their taunt was false yet true right honourably didst thou win the trophy as all these here will testify and he pointed to the hunters standing round yet my soul leapt with joy when I found that into thine hand and none others I might give the prize of the hunt wherefore think kindly on my memory lady when I am far away for a brave man's heart is in thy keeping farewell and he turned and went away by the forest path so surprised were all the company that no man moved hand or foot to stop him the first to speak was Atalanta comrades she said do you bear home the dead and break the news as gently as may be to the queen and I will follow him if perchance I can comfort him for the hand of heaven is heavy upon him the rimmer had reached the city that the boar had been killed but not without loss among the gallant band that had gone out against him and with a heavy heart Alfea was waiting to know who it was that had fallen in time she saw them returning home and in their midst four litters carried on the shoulders of some when she saw them her heart stood still with fear and as they came up and laid down the litters before the doorway she was as one turned to marble and moved neither hand nor foot when Ineos the king saw her he took her gently by the hand come within lady he said the hunting of the boar has cost us dear tell me the worst at once she cried I can bear it better so the suspense is maddening me two of those who lie before they are strangers who have given themselves for us he said one of them is sore-winded and the other is gone beyond recovery the other two Alfea and Deer to us Toxias and Plexipus thy brothers and he pointed to two of the bodies which lay side by side before her with their faces covered with a cry she drew back the coverings and gazed upon the faces that she loved so well as she looked she saw the wounds that had killed them and she knew now that it was no wild beast that had slain them but the hand of man up to her full height she looked round on those who stood by and the gleam of her eyes was terrible to see to save me no more she said but tell me how these two came to fall by the hand of man lady said Ines they sought a quarrel with one of her company and in anger he slew them both for a moment she was silent then in a low voice that all could hear she spoke my curse be upon him whoso are he be oh daughters of destruction wingless furies I bid you track his footsteps night and day may no roof cover his head nor any man give him food or drink but let him be a vagabond on the face of the earth till just vengeance overtake him on thee Ines and on my son Melieger to avenge the death of these my kinsmen who have been foully slain invaded Ines try to stop her she was as one death to his entreaties when she had finished she looked round for Melieger and when she could not see him she cried where is my son lady said Ines even now the wingless bearer of thy curse are hunting him through the forest for a moment she swayed to and fro as though she would fall he gods what have I done she muttered then with a cry she turned and rushed through the doorway across the deserted palace to her own chamber and barring the door behind her she took from its hiding place the brand she had kept jealously so long as on the day when the fates had come to her a bright fire was burning on the hearth and deep into the heart of it she pushed the log with both her hands oh my son my son she cried to think that I should come to this but though the flame that devours thy life burns out my heart within me yet must I do it thus only can I save thee from my curse for the word once spoken never dies and the furies once aroused sleep never night nor day wherefore death alone can give thee peace oh my leaguer my first born and my dearest Ineas meanwhile had followed her and stood without asking her to open to him but she cried out to him all is well I beg thee leave me I would be alone so he left her and she stood watching the flames slowly eat the wood away and at last when the log fell apart in ashes she sank down upon the floor and with her son's life hers too went out for grief meleaguer meanwhile had gone blindly forward along the forest track and from afar Atalanta followed him for a time he went onward straight as an arrow never stopping never turning but when his mother's curse was spoken faster than the whirlwind the furies flew from the realms of endless night and came and crouched before his feet with a cry he turned aside and tried to flee from them but wherever he looked they were there before him and he reeled backward and forward like a drunken man but soon his strength seemed to give way and he fell forward on the grass and Atalanta ran forward and took his head upon her knee to her eyes they too were alone in the heart of the forest for the foul shapes of the furies had seen but now he lay with his eyes closed faint and weak and she thought that some time in the hunt he must have strained himself and lay dying of some inward hurt that no man could heal for on his body she could see not a scratch so she sat in the gathering bloom with his head upon her lap there was not else she could do at last when his heart beat so faint that she thought it had stopped once for all he opened his eyes and looked up at her and when he saw her the fear and the madness died out of his face and he smiled the gods are kind he said once more he closed his eyes and Atalanta knew that he would open them never again gently she laid him with his head on the moss covered roots of a tree and sped away to the city to bear the news of his death by the darkness of night they bore him through the forest and all the people gathered together and watched from the walls the torch lit procession as it came slowly up the hill by the side of his mother they laid him and burned above them the torches of the dead and the mourners with heads bowed in grief stood around thus did it come to pass that the hunting of the boar Atalanta went back to the Arcadian Woodlands with a sore place in her heart for Maliegar who had died happy because his head was resting on her knee End of section 8