Eetes, perceiving what Medea had done, hastened to pursue the Argonauts. That princess, being apprized of the near approach of her enraged father, killed her brother Absyrtus; and cut his limbs into small pieces, which she scattered on the face of the deep. Eetes waited to collect the dispersed remains of his murdered child; and was thus induced to remit the pursuit. Having, therefore, turned back, and interred the mangled limbs of his son, he called the name of that place Tomi.* Eetes then sent à numerous body of Colchians, in pursuit of Medea; and threatened, that if they failed to bring her back, they should undergo the punishment, which he destined for his daughter. These Colchians disperst themselves, into various quarters, to pursue their search after the Argonauts, who had already past the river Eridanus. The anger of Jupiter being excited, against the Argonauts, by the cruel murder of Absyrtus; he raised a storm, which drove them out of their course. As they were passing the islands called Absyrtides, the ship Argo addrest them, with a human voice, in these words."THE WRATH OF JOVE SHALL NEVER CEASE, UN" TIL, HAVING PROCEEDED TO AUSONIA, YE ARE Eetes hastened to pursue.] In this passage the author differs from Apollonius, whom he generally follows. That poet does not represent Eetes, as pursuing the Golchians, nor does he represent Medea as cutting the body of Absyrtus in pieces. Apollodorus, in this part of his story, follows Pherecydes; as may be collected from the scholiast of Apollonius, v. 228.-See Heyne, not. 208. in Apollod. * From a Greek word, which signifies to cut or divide. PURIFIED 66 PURIFIED BY CIRCE, FROM THE BLOOD OF AB❝ SYRTUS." Having past the boundaries of Libya and Gaul, the Argonauts were wafted through the Sardinian sea; and coasted along the shores of Etruria. From thence they proceeded to the island of Ea, where expiatory rites were performed for them by Circè. As the adventurers sailed past the abode of the Sirens, Orpheus, who was aware of their allurements, preserved his companions from the danger, by a strain of melody, in opposition to their songs. Butes alone of the number leaped overboard; and began to swim towards the rocks, where these enchantresses were stationed. Venus, touched with compassion, rescued him from the waves, and conveyed him safely to Lilybaum. * After their escape from the Sirens, the Argonauts encountered new dangers; from Scylla and Charybdis ; and the wandering rocks, from whence a prodigious body of flame and smoke appeared to be vomited forth. Thetis and her nymphs, by the direction of Juno, conducted the vessel safely through this perilous strait. And having past Sicily, where the herds and flocks of the sun grazed, the adventurers arrived at Corcyra, the island of the Phaacians, which at that time was governed by Alcinous. As to the Colchians, whom we mentioned above, they, finding themselves unable to overtake the Argonauts, some of them settled in the mountains of the Phaacians. Others, pursuing their voyage onward, colonized the islands, named after Absyrtus, the Absyrtides.-A third party of them proceeded to Corcyra, and, finding the ship Argo there, demanded Medea, from King Alcinous. *Called Plancta, The -The monarch answered, that, if the princess was already married to Jason, he would not surrender her to them; but that, if she yet remained single, he would send her back to her father.-Aretè, the wife of Alcinous, discovering the determination of her husband, hastened to anticipate his purpose, by causing Jason and Medea to solemnize their nuptials.-The Colchians, fearing to return without their errand, obtained leave from Alcinous, to settle in Corcyra. The Argonauts, departing from this hospitable island, with Medea, encountered a violent storm, in the gloom of night. While they were in the utmost distress, Apollo standing on the Melantian rocks, darted his lightnings, like arrows, on the deep, to assist the Greeks in finding their way. They perceive an island nearthey approach it-they enter a safe harbour, when there were the least hopes of finding one.—' -To this island they gave the name of Anaphè;* and raised an altar there to Apollo Egletes.-Names which were both of them derived from the incident of their preservation. Here, after the Argonauts had performed their sacrifices, in due form, they refreshed themselves. On this occasion, the twelve Phaacian virgins, whom Aretè had given to Medea, for her attendants on the voyage, began to mock the young Argonauts. The youths replied, in the same strain of levity; and hence arose an ancient custom, of introducing a certain war of wit-set matches of jest and derision, which became an established part of the rites appropriated to particular festivals. The Argonauts, having sailed from this place, reached Crete. Where they were, at first, prevented from landing, by Talos. Some writers say, that this personage * From the Greek, anaphaino, to show, because Apollo showed it to them; and Agletes, from aglè, brightness. was was sprung from the race of men, who lived in the brazen age.- -Others, that he was formed by the god Vulcan, and by him given to Minos. The substance of this extraordinary man was of brass. And some have asserted, that his true name was Taurus. He had but one vein, which extended from his neck to his heel, where it was covered over, by a skin or filament, in which was an orifice, closed, as tradition reports, by a pin or nail. This Talus protected the island, running all round it, thrice a day. When this vigilant guard perceived the vessel of the Argonauts sailing past, he immediately attacked it, with huge stones. Here, again, the artifice and magic arts of Medea came to the relief of the adventurers; and extricated them from their perplexity. It is related by some, that Talus, having been driven to madness, by the envenomed potions, administered to him by Medea, died, in that manner. Others say, that being imposed on, by her promises of making him immortal, he suffered her to draw out the brazen pin, that closed his vein, by which means, all the ichor of his body flowed out, and he died.-Others ascribe his death to a wound in the heel, inflicted by the arrow of Paas. The Argonauts, having rested themselves one night. at Crete, proceeded thence, to Egina; where they touched, to take in water. Here a sportive contention arose, among the crew; while they emulated each other; in performing this service, with dispatch; and ran with their burdens of water to the shore. Having past by Eubaa and Locris, these bold adventurers entered the harbour of Iolcus; where they anchored, and their expedition closed; at the interval of four months, from its commencement. During this time, Pelias, having no apprehension of the return of the Argonauts, began to think of putting Eson to death. The old man, finding it was vain to contend, requested, and obtained from the tyrant the melancholy privilege, of putting an end to his own existence. Having sacrificed a bull, he drank his blood, and courageously ended his days in that manner. The mother of Jason loaded Pelias with execrations; and, leaving her little son, as the destined leader of a future warfare, against the persecutor of her family, hanged herself. Pelias put the child also to death; and thought himself secured against all danger from the family. When, behold Fason returned, in triumph, with the golden fleece. He presented this precious acquisition to Pelias; and waited for a proper opportunity, of revenging the injuries he and his family had suffered. Meantime, taking with him a number of the most distinguished heroes, Jason sailed to the isthmus of Corinth; where he consecrated the ship Argo, to Neptune. After this, he consulted with Medea, on the most ef fectual means of punishing Pelias, for his cruel conduct. The Colchian princess accomplished their revenge, in the following manner. She contrived to gain admission into the palace of Pelias; and having insinuated herself into the confidence of his daughters, Asteropea and Antinoè; she persuaded them, to cut up and boil their father, promising to renew his youth, with her medicaThese young women, reposing a confidence in her professions, killed and dissected their aged father. ments. Acastus, the son of Pelias, and the people of Iolcus, buried the murdered prince; and expelled Medea and Jason from that district. They emigrated to Corinth ; where they past ten entire years, in unabated prosperity. At the end of that period; Creon, king of Corinth, having betrothed his daughter Glaucè to Jason, he ex pelled |