Chapter 16 Tales of the Argonauts-16

By this time Aeetes and all the Colchians knew of Medea's love affairs, her actions and her escape.Arms in hand, they assembled in the marketplace, and hurried to the river.Aeetes rode in a four-horse chariot given to him by the sun god, holding a round shield in his left hand, a big torch in his right, and a thick spear beside him.His son Absyrtus drove the chariot himself.When the large party reached the mouth of the river, the Argonauts had already sailed into the sea, and there was only a small black spot bobbing up and down in the waves.The king put down his shield and torches, raised his hands to the sky, and asked Zeus and the sun god to prove the crimes committed by the enemy against him, and then angrily announced to his residents: If they can't catch his daughter Medea at sea or on the shore Ya, then they will all beheaded.The Colchians turned pale with fright, and immediately set sail to the sea and chased after the black spot ahead.The fleet, commanded by Absyrtus, sailed in darkness like a flock of birds.

The Argonauts sailed the sea with full sail.On the morning of the third day, the ship entered the Harus and reached the coast of Pafraconia.Here, at Medea's command, they sacrificed the goddess Hecate who had saved them.The heroes suddenly remembered that the old Phineus had prophesied to them that they should go another way when they returned, but no one knew where it was.Or Argos, son of Phryxos, who knew from the records of the priests that their ships were heading for the river Is, which rises from the distant hill of Lypern, and that one of its tributaries flows into the The Ionian Sea, another tributary flows into the Sicilian Sea.Just as he was explaining to everyone, a broad long rainbow appeared in the sky, pointing them in the direction, and at the same time, a favorable wind blew up.The omens in the sky were repeatedly revealed, and they sailed on without hesitation until they reached the mouth of the Is River, which empties into the Ionian Sea.The river is flowing steadily, as if welcoming the triumphant return of the heroes.

The Colchians did not stop in pursuit.They rode light boats, rushed ahead of the heroes to reach the mouth of the Is River, and ambushed in various islands and bays, blocking the heroes' return.When the Argonauts saw the number of Colchis soldiers, they disembarked and took refuge on an island.The Colchians pursued them closely, and a hand-to-hand encounter was imminent.The cornered Greeks were ready to negotiate peace.The two parties agreed that the Argonauts could take away the golden fleece promised by the king, but they had to send the king’s daughter Medea to the temple of Artemis on another island, waiting for the local king’s arbitration. Decide whether she should go back to her father or go to Greece with the Argonauts.Hearing this news, Medea was very worried, pulled her beloved aside, and said with tears: "Jason, what will you do with me? Have you forgotten the solemn oath you made to me in times of difficulty?" I trusted you, so I left my hometown and my mother rashly. Because I was infatuated with you, I helped you get the golden fleece. For you, I underestimated my name. For you, I am like your wife Go with you to Greece, and you shall protect me. Do not leave me alone! If I have to be sentenced to my father, then my life is over; if you forsake me, then one day you will die I will be longed for in the world; the golden fleece will leave you like a dream, and disappear in the hands of Hades, the king of hell; my vengeful spirit will disturb your mind and drive you from your home It's like you tricked me into leaving my hometown!" She let out the torrent of emotion and was so excited that she was going crazy.Jason looked at her, and felt guilty, so he explained: "Don't worry, my dear!

I didn't take this treaty seriously.We've only found a delay for you, as we face a horde of enemies.If we do go to war with them, we will die miserably, and your situation will be even more unfortunate then.Let me be clear, in fact this treaty is just a strategy, hoping to defeat Absyrtus. " Upon hearing his words, Medea offered him another cruel strategy. "I've committed a crime once and caused a disaster," she said. "Now I cannot turn back, so I am not afraid to continue to do evil. I will help you defeat the Colchis, I will lure my brother into your hands, and you will prepare a rich feast. I will fight again Convince the emissaries to leave him and leave him alone with me. Then you can kill him."

The heroes set a trap for Absyrtus and sent him many gifts, one of which was a magnificent golden robe given to Jason by Queen Remnos.The astute Medea told the messenger to let Absyrtus go to another island in the middle of the night, to the temple of Artemis, where she would think of a plan to retrieve the golden fleece for him and let him go to the temple of Artemis. Take it back to your father.Medea lied that she was involuntarily captured by the sons of Phrixus with violence and handed over to strangers. Things really happened as she hoped.Absyrtus believed in Medea's solemn oath.He came to this sacred island by boat in the dark night, hoping to get a strategy from his sister to subdue the foreigners.At this moment, Jason rushed out from behind, waving a gleaming sword.Medea turned around hastily and pulled her veil over her eyes. She couldn't bear to see the tragic scene of her brother being killed.The poor king's son was killed by Jason's sword like a lamb on the altar.The all-seeing Nemesis saw the horror from her secret place, and a dark look appeared in her eyes.

Jason wiped the blood from his hands and buried the body.Medea raised her torch and signaled to the Argonauts.They swarmed on the island of Artemis, like wild beasts into a flock, and fell on Absyrtus' retinue, and none of them survived.