CHAPTER XVII.
The Golden Fleece -
Medea
THE GOLDEN FLEECE
IN very ancient times there lived in Thessaly a king and queen
name Athamas and Nephele. They had two children, a boy and a
girl. After a time Athamas grew indifferent to his wife, put her
away, and took another. Nephele suspected danger to her children
from the influence of the step-mother, and took measures to send
them out of her reach.
Mercury assisted her, and gave her a ram
with a golden fleece, on which she set the two children,
trusting that the ram would convey them to a place of safety.
The ram vaulted into the air with the children on his back,
taking his course to the East, till when crossing the strait
that divides Europe and Asia, the girl, whose name was Helle,
fell from his back into the sea, which from her was called the
Hellespont,- now the Dardanelles. The ram continued his career
till he reached the kingdom of Colchis, on the eastern shore of
the Black Sea, where he safely landed the boy Phryxus, who was
hospitably received by AEetes, king of the country. Phryxus
sacrificed the ram to Jupiter, and gave the Golden Fleece to
AEetes, who placed it in a consecrated rove, under the care of a
sleepless dragon.
There was another kingdom in Thessaly near to that of
Athamas, and ruled over by a relative of his. The king AEson,
being tired of the cares of government, surrendered his crown to
his brother Pelias on condition that he should hold it only
during the minority of
Jason, the son of AEson. When Jason was
grown up and came to demand the crown from his uncle, Pelias
pretended to be willing to yield it, but at the same time
suggested to the young man the glorious adventure of going in
quest of the Golden Fleece, which it was well known was in the
kingdom of Colchis, and was, as Pelias pretended, the rightful
property of their family. Jason was pleased, with the thought
and forthwith made preparations for the expedition. At that time
the only species of navigation known to the Greeks consisted of
small boats or canoes hollowed out from trunks of trees, so that
when Jason employed Argus to build him a vessel capable of
containing fifty men, it was considered a gigantic undertaking.
It was accomplished, however, and the vessel named "Argo," from
the name of the builder. Jason sent his invitation to all the
adventurous young men of Greece, and soon found himself at the
head of a band of bold youths, many of whom afterwards were
renowned among the heroes and demigods of Greece.
Hercules,
Theseus,
Orpheus, and Nestor were among them. They are called
the Argonauts, from the name of their vessel.
The "Argo" with her crew of heroes of Thessaly and having
touched at the Island of Lemnos, thence crossed to Mysia and
thence to Thrace. Here they found the sage Phineus, and from him
received instruction as to their future course. It seems the
entrance of the Euxine Sea was impeded by two small rocky
islands, which floated on the surface, and in their tossings and
heavings occasionally came together, crushing and grinding to
atoms any object that might be caught between them. They were
called the Symplegades, or Clashing Islands. Phineus instructed
the Argonauts how to pass this dangerous strait. When they
reached the islands they let go a dove, which took her way
between the rocks, and passed in safety, only losing some
feathers of her tail. Jason and his men seized the favourable
moment of the rebound, plied their oars with vigour, and passed
safe through, though the islands closed behind them, and
actually grazed their stern. They now rowed along the shore till
they arrived at the eastern end of the sea, and landed at the
kingdom of Colchis.
Jason made known his message to the Colchian king, AEetes,
who consented to give tip the golden fleece if Jason would yoke
to the plough two fire-breathing bulls with brazen feet, and sow
the teeth of the dragon which Cadmus had slain, and from which
it was well known that a crop of armed men would spring up, who
would turn their weapons against their producer. Jason accepted
the conditions, and a time was set for making the experiment.
Previously, however, he found means to plead his cause to Medea,
daughter of the king. He promised her marriage, and as they
stood before the altar of Hecate, called the goddess to witness
his oath.
Medea yielded, and by her aid, for she was a potent
sorceress, he was furnished with a charm, by which he could
encounter safely the breath of the fire-breathing bulls and the
weapons of the armed men.
At the time appointed, the people assembled at the grove of
Mars, and the king assumed his royal seat, while the multitude
covered the hill-sides. The brazen-footed bulls rushed in,
breathing fire from their nostrils that burned up the herbage as
they passed. The sound was like the roar of a furnace, and the
smoke like that of water upon quick-lime. Jason advanced boldly
to meet them. His friends, the chosen heroes of Greece, trembled
to behold him. Regardless of the burning breath, he soothed
their rage with his voice, patted their necks with fearless
hand, and adroitly slipped over them the yoke, and compelled
them to drag the plough. The Colchians were amazed; the Greeks
shouted for joy. Jason next proceeded to sow the dragon's teeth
and plough them in. And soon the crop of armed men sprang up,
and, wonderful to relate! no sooner had they reached the surface
than they began to brandish their weapons and rush upon Jason.
The Greeks trembled for their hero, and even she who had
provided him a way of safety and taught him how to use it, Medea
herself, grew pale with fear. Jason for a time kept his
assailants at bay with his sword and shield, till, finding their
numbers overwhelming, he resorted to the charm which Medea had
taught him, seized a stone and threw it in the midst of his
foes. They immediately turned their arms against one another,
and soon there was not one of the dragon's brood left alive. The
Greeks embraced their hero, and
Medea, if she dared, would have
embraced him too.
It remained to lull to sleep the dragon that guarded the
fleece, and this was done by scattering over him a few drops of
a preparation which Medea had supplied. At the smell he relaxed
his rage, stood for a moment motionless, then shut those great
round eyes, that had never been known to shut before, and turned
over on his side, fast asleep. Jason seized the fleece and with
his friends and Medea accompanying, hastened to their vessel
before AEetes the king could arrest their departure, and made
the best of their way back to Thessaly, where they arrived safe,
and Jason delivered the fleece to Pelias, and dedicated the
"Argo" to
Neptune. What became of the fleece afterwards we do
not know, but perhaps it was found after all, like many other
golden prizes, not worth the trouble it had cost to procure it.
This is one of those mythological tales, says a late writer,
in which there is reason to believe that a substratum of truth
exists, though overlaid by a mass of fiction. It probably was
the first important maritime expedition, and like the first
attempts of the kind of all nations, as we know from history,
was probably of a half-piratical character. If rich spoils were
the result it was enough to give rise to the idea of the golden
fleece.
Another suggestion of a learned mythologist, Bryant, is that
it is a corrupt tradition of the story of Noah and the ark. The
name "Argo" seems to countenance this, and the incident of the
dove is another confirmation.
Pope, in his "Ode on St. Cecilia's Day," thus celebrates the
launching of the ship "Argo," and the power of the music of
Orpheus, whom he calls the Thracian:
"So when the first bold vessel dared the seas,
High on the stern the Thracian raised his strain,
While Argo saw her kindred trees
Descend from Pelion to the main.
Transported demigods stood round,
And men grew heroes at the sound."
In Dyer's poem of "The Fleece" there is an account of the
ship "Argo" and her crew, which gives a good picture of this
primitive maritime adventure:
"From every region of AEgea's shore
The brave assembled; those illustrious twins
Castor and Pollux; Orpheus, tuneful bard;
Zetes and Calais, as the wind in speed;
Strong Hercules and many a chief renowned.
On deep Ioclos' sandy shore they thronged,
Gleaming in armour, ardent of exploits;
And soon, the laurel cord and the huge stone
Uplifting to the deck, unmoored the bark;
Whose keel of wondrous length the skilful hand
Of Argus fashioned for the proud attempt;
And in the extended keel a lofty mast
Upraised, and sails full swelling; to the chiefs
Unwonted objects. Now first, now they learned
Their bolder steerage over ocean wave,
Led by the golden stars, as Chiron's art
Had marked the sphere celestial," etc.
Hercules left the expedition at Mysia, for Hylas, a youth
beloved by him, having gone for water, was laid hold of and kept
by the nymphs of the spring, who were fascinated by his beauty.
Hercules went in quest of the lad, and while he was absent the
"Argo" put to sea and left him. Moore, in one of his songs,
makes a beautiful allusion to this incident:
"When Hylas was sent with his urn to the fount,
Through fields of light and with heart full of play,
Light rambled the boy over meadow and mount,
And neglected his task for the flowers in the way.
"Thus many like me, who in youth should have tasted
The fountain that runs by Philosophy's shrine,
Their time with the flowers on the margin have wasted,
And left their light urns all as empty as mine."
Medea
and
Jason
Amid the rejoicings for the recovery of the Golden Fleece, Jason
felt that one thing was wanting, the presence of AEson, his
father, who was prevented by his age and infirmities from taking
part in them.
Jason said to
Medea, "My spouse, would that your
arts, whose power I have seen so mighty for my aid, could do me
one further service, take some years from my life and add them
to my father's." Medea replied, "Not at such a cost shall it be
done, but if my art avails me, his life shall be lengthened
without abridging yours." The next full moon she issued forth
alone, while all creatures slept; not a breath stirred the
foliage, and all was still, To the stars she addressed her
incantations, and to the moon; to Hecate,* the goddess of the
under-world, and to Tellus the goddess of the earth, by whose
power plants potent for enchantment are produced. She invoked
the gods of the woods and caverns, of mountains and valleys, of
lakes and rivers, of winds and vapours. While she spoke the
stars shone brighter, and presently a chariot descended through
the air, drawn by flying serpents. She ascended it, and borne
aloft made her way to distant regions, where potent plants grew
which she knew how to select for her purpose. Nine nights she
employed in her search, and during that time came not within the
doors of her palace nor under any roof, and shunned all
intercourse with mortals.
* Hecate was a mysterious divinity sometimes identified with
Diana and sometimes with Proserpine. As
Diana represents the
moonlight splendour of night, so Hecate represents its darkness
and terrors. She was the goddess of sorcery and witchcraft, and
was believed to wander by night along the earth, seen only by
the dogs, whose barking told her approach.
She next erected two altars, the one to Hecate, the other to
Hebe, the goddess of youth, and sacrificed a black sheep,
pouring libations of milk and wine. She implored Pluto and his
stolen bride that they would not hasten to take the old man's
life. Then she directed that AEson should be led forth, and
having thrown him into a deep sleep by a charm, had him laid on
a bed of herbs, like one dead. Jason and all others were kept
away from the place, that no profane eyes might look upon her
mysteries. Then, with streaming hair, she thrice moved round the
altars, dipped flaming twigs in the blood, and laid them thereon
to burn. Meanwhile the cauldron with its contents was got ready.
In it she put magic herbs, with seeds and flowers of acrid
juice, stones from the distant east, and sand from the shore of
all-surrounding ocean; hoar frost, gathered by moonlight, a
screech owl's head and wings, and the entrails of a wolf. She
added fragments of the shells of tortoises, and the liver of
stags- animals tenacious of life- and the head and beak of a
crow, that outlives nine generations of men. These with many
other things "without a name" she boiled together for her
purposed work, stirring them up with a dry olive branch; and
behold! the branch when taken out instantly became green, and
before long was covered with leaves and a plentiful growth of
young olives; and as the liquor boiled and bubbled, and
sometimes ran over, the grass wherever the sprinklings fell shot
forth with a verdure like that of spring.
Seeing that all was ready, Medea cut the throat of the old
man and let out all his blood, and poured into his mouth and
into his wound the juices of her cauldron. As soon as he had
completely imbibed them, his hair and beard laid by their
whiteness and assumed the blackness of youth; his paleness and
emaciation were gone; his veins were full of blood, his limbs of
vigour and robustness. AEson is amazed at himself, and remembers
that such as he now is, he was in his youthful days, forty years
before.
Medea used her arts here for a good purpose, but not so in
another instance, where she made them the instruments of
revenge. Pelias, our readers will recollect, was the usurping
uncle of
Jason, and had kept him out of his kingdom. Yet he must
have had some good qualities, for his daughters loved him, and
when they saw what Medea had done for AEson, they wished her to
do the same for their father. Medea pretended to consent, and
prepared her cauldron as before. At her request an old sheep was
brought and plunged into the cauldron. Very soon a bleating was
heard in the kettle, and when the cover was removed, a lamb
jumped forth and ran frisking away into the meadow. The
daughters of Pelias saw the experiment with delight, and
appointed a time for their father to undergo the same operation.
But Medea prepared her cauldron for him in a very different way.
She put in only water and a few simple herbs. In the night she
with the sisters entered the bed chamber of the old king, while
he and his guards slept soundly under the influence of a spell
cast upon them by Medea. The daughters stood by the bedside with
their weapons drawn, but hesitated to strike, till Medea chid
their irresolution. Then turning away their faces, and giving
random blows they smote him with their weapons. He, starting
from his sleep, cried out, "My daughters, what are you doing?
Will you kill your father?" Their hearts failed them and their
weapons fell from their hands, but Medea struck him a fatal
blow, and prevented his saying more.
Then they placed him in the cauldron, and
Medea hastened to
depart in her serpent-drawn chariot before they discovered her
treachery or their vengeance would have been terrible. She
escaped, however, but had little enjoyment of the fruits of her
crime. Jason, for whom she had done so much, wishing to marry
Creusa, princess of Corinth, put away Medea. She, enraged at his
ingratitude, called on the gods for vengeance, sent a poisoned
robe as a gift to the bride, and then killing her own children,
and setting fire to the palace, mounted her serpent-drawn
chariot and fled to Athens, where she married King AEgeus, the
father of Theseus, and we shall meet her again when we come to
the adventures of that hero.
The incantations of Medea will remind the reader of those of
the witches in "Macbeth." The following lines are those which
seem most strikingly to recall the ancient model:
"Round about the cauldron go;
In the poisoned entrails throw.
Fillet of a fenny snake
In the cauldron boil and bake;
Eye of newt and toe of frog,
Wool of bat and tongue of dog,
Adder's fork and blind-worm's sting,
Lizard's leg and howlet's wing;
Maw of ravening salt-sea shark,
Root of hemlock digged in the dark," etc.
Macbeth, Act IV. Scene I.
And again:
Macbeth.- What is't you do?
Witches.- A deed without a name.
There is another story of Medea almost too revolting for
record even of a sorceress, a class of persons to whom both
ancient and modern poets have been accustomed to attribute every
degree of atrocity. In her flight from Colchis she had taken her
young brother Absyrtus with her. Finding the pursuing vessels of
AEetes gaining upon the Argonauts, she caused the lad to be
killed and his limbs to be strewn over the sea. AEetes on
reaching the place found these sorrowful traces of his murdered
son; but while he tarried to collect the scattered fragments and
bestow upon them an honourable interment, the Argonauts escaped.
In the poems of Campbell will be found a translation of one
of the choruses of the tragedy of "Medea," where the poet
Euripides has taken advantage of the occasion to pay a glowing
tribute to Athens, his native city. It begins thus:
"O haggard queen! to Athens dost thou guide
Thy glowing chariot, steeped in kindred gore;
Or seek to hide thy damned parricide
Where peace and justice dwell for evermore?"
Eugene
Delacroix Medea.
