Myths That Every Child Should Know: A Selection Of The Classic Myths Of All Times For Young People
General
Myths That Every Child Should Know: A Selection Of The Classic Myths Of All Times For Young People
Mythology -- Juvenile literature
And Chalciope was there and Argus, trembling, and Medeia, wrapped
closely in her veil; but Aietes did not know that she was muttering
cunning spells between her lips.
Then Jason cried, "Fulfil your promise, and let your fiery bulls come
forth."
Then Aietes bade open the gates, and the magic bulls leapt 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 Medeia 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
plough, and goaded them onward with his lance, till he had ploughed the
sacred field.
And all the Minuai shouted; but Aietes 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 serpents' teeth and sowed them, and waited what would
befall. But Medeia looked at him and at his helmet, lest he should
forget the lesson she had taught.
And every furrow heaved and bubbled, and out of every clod rose a man.
Out of the earth they rose by thousands, each clad from head to foot in
steel, and drew their swords and rushed on Jason, where he stood in the
midst alone. Then the Minuai grew pale with fear for him; but Aietes
laughed a bitter laugh. "See! if I had not warriors enough already round
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 didst 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 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."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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