"
Then Jason fell on his knees before her, and thanked her and kissed her
hands; and she gave him the vase of ointment, and fled trembling through
the reeds. And Jason told his comrades what had happened, and showed
them the box of ointment; and all rejoiced but Idas and he grew mad with
envy.
And at sunrise Jason went and bathed, and anointed himself from head to
foot, and his shield, and his helmet, and his weapons, and bade his
comrades try the spell. So they tried to bend his lance, but it stood
like an iron bar; and Idas 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 Caineus tried to
throw him, but he never stirred a foot; and Polydeuces 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 leapt and ran, and
shouted, in the joy of that enormous strength, till the sun rose, and it
was time to go and to claim Aietes's promise.
So he sent up Telamon and Aithalides to tell Aietes that he was ready
for the fight; and they went up among the marble walls, and beneath the
roofs of gold, and stood in Aietes's hall, while he grew pale with rage.
"Fulfil your promise to us, child of the blazing sun. Give us the
serpents' teeth, and let loose the fiery bulls; for we have found a
champion among us who can win the golden fleece.
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