that root, for the root was beloved of the queen of the
dead.
“She placed
the salve in the fragrant band that girdled her, beneath
her bosom,
and stepped out quickly and mounted the chariot, with
two of her maidens,
one at each side. Then she herself took the reins and,
seizing
the well-made whip in her right hand, she drove down
through
the city, and the rest of her handmaids laid their fingers
over
the chariot wicker and, holding up their skirts above their white knees, came running behind. She fancies
herself,
her hair flying, like Artemis driving her swiftly racing deer over mountains’ combs to the scent-rich sacrifice. Attendant nymphs have gathered from the forests to
follow her,
and fawning grove-beasts whimper in homage and
tremble as she passes.
So Aietes’ daughter sped through the city, and on either
side,
beggars, tradesmen, carters, old women with bundles of
sticks
made way for her, avoiding the princess’ eye.
“Meanwhile,
Jason was crossing the dew-white plain with Melas and
the old
seer Mopsos, skillful at omen reading. And thanks to
Hera,
never yet had there been such a man as was Jason that
day,
clear-eyed, radiant, his mind more swift, more sweet
in flight
than an eagle riding on the sky-blue robes of gods. In
fact,
his companions, walking beside him, were awed. As
they reached the shrine
they came to a poplar by the side of the path, whose
crown of countless
leaves was a favorite roost for crows. One flapped his
wings
as they passed and, cawing from the treetop, delivered
a message from Hera.
‘Who is this looney old seer who hasn’t got dawkins’
sense,
nor makes out even what children know, that a girl
does not
permit herself one word about love when the man she
meets
brings strangers with him? Away with you, you crackpot
prophet,
incompetent boob! It’s certainly not Aphrodite that
sends
your visions!’
“Mopsos listened to the bird with a smile, despite
the scolding. He turned to Jason and stretched out his
arms and said,
‘Carry on, Jason. Proceed to the temple where Medeia
awaits you.
Praise Aphrodite! Now Melas and I must go on with you no further. We’ll wait right here till your safe return.
Good luck!’
“Meanwhile the poor love-sick Medeia was singing
and dancing
with her maids — or rather, pretending to. For time and
again
her voice would falter and come to a halt. To keep her
eyes fixed
on the choir was more than she could do. She was
always turning them aside
to search the distant paths, and more than once she
was close
to fainting at a sound of wind she mistook for a footfall.
But at last
he appeared to her yearning eyes, striding like Sirius
rising
from the ocean — Sirius, hound of heaven, brilliant and beautiful but filled with menace for the
flocks. Medeia’s
heart stood still; her sight blurred. A flush spread across her cheeks. She could neither move toward him nor
retreat, but, as in
a frightening dream, her feet were rooted to the
ground. As songbirds
suddenly hush at an eagle’s approach, silent, titanic, scarcely moving a wing as it rings on invisible winds, so Medeia’s maidens fell silent and quickly disappeared.
Then Jason
and Aietes’ daughter stood face to face, without a word, like oaks or pines that stand in the mountains side by
side
in the hush when no breeze stirs.
“Then Jason, observing the pallor
on Medeia’s face and the quickness of her breath,
reached out to take
her hand — white fire shot through her — and said: “My
lady, I’m alone.
Why this terror? I was never profligate, here or at home in my own country. Take my word, no need to be on guard against me, but ask or tell me what you wish.
We’ve come
as friends, you and I, and come to a consecrated spot
which must not
be mocked. Speak to me: ask what you will. And since
you’ve promised
already to give me the charm I need, don’t put me off, I beg you, with timorous speeches. I plead by Hekate
herself,
by your parents and Zeus, whose hand protects all
suppliants.
Grant me your aid, and in days to come I’ll reward you
richly,
singing your praises through the world till your name is
immortalized.
Remember Ariadne, who befriended Theseus. She was a
darling of the gods
and her emblem is burning in the sky: all night
Ariadne’s Crown
rolls through the constellations. You, too, will be
thanked by the gods
if you save me and all my friends. Indeed, your
loveliness
seems outer proof of extraordinary beauty within.’
“So he spoke,
honoring her, and she lowered her gaze with a smile
embarrassed
and sweet. Then, uplifted by Jason’s praise, she looked
him in the face.
Yet how to begin she did not know. She longed to tell
the man everything at once.
But she drew the charm from her clove-scented cincture and dropped it in his hand. He received it with joy.
The princess revelled
in his need of her, and she would have poured out all
her soul to him,
so captivating was the light of love that filled his
gleaming
eyes. Her heart was warmed, made sweeter than the
dew on roses
in dawn’s first light.
“At one moment both were staring at the ground
in deep embarrassment; the next they were smiling,
glancing at each other
with shy love. At last Medeia forced out speech: listen. When you have met my father and he’s given
you
the serpent’s teeth, wait for the moment of midnight.
Then bathe
in a swift-running river. Afterward, go out in a robe
of black
and dig a round pit. There kill a ewe and sacrifice it
whole,
with libations of honey from the hive and prayers to
Hekate.
After that, withdraw. And do not be tempted to glance
behind you,
neither by footfalls and the baying of hounds nor by
anything else,
or you’ll never return alive. In the morning, melt this
charm
and rub it all over your body like oil. It will charge you
with strength
and confidence to make you a match for the gods
themselves. Then sprinkle
your spear and shield and sword as well. Then neither
the weapons
of the earthborn men nor the flames of the bulls can
touch you. But you’ll not
be immune for long — for one day only. Nevertheless, don’t flinch, ever, from the encounter. And something
more: When you
have yoked the bulls and ploughed the fallow (with
those great hands
and that great strength, it won’t take you long), and
the earthborn men
are springing up, watch till you see a good number of
them
rising from the loam, then throw a great boulder among
them and wait.