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, if ever you
would see Pelion more."
And she went, as the heroes drove her, grim and silent all, with muffled
oars, till the pine wood 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 sluice mouths, and fragrant gardens, and
groves of all strange fruits; past marshes where fat kine 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 leapt the breakers like a horse;
for she knew the time was come to show her mettle, and win honour for
the heroes and herself.
Into the surge they rushed, and Argo leapt the breakers like a horse,
till 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 paean, till the heroes' hearts rose
high again; and they rowed on stoutly and steadfastly, away into the
darkness of the West.
PART V
_How the Argonauts Were Driven into the Unknown Sea_
So they fled away in haste to the westward: but Aietes manned his fleet
and followed them.
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