EPISODE 84

IN WHICH WE DISCOVER THE TRIALS THAT AWAIT JASON

Previously: The Argonauts have been received into the palace of the king of Colchis. As soon as she set eyes on Jason, Princess Medea fell in love with him. Thus have decided the gods who protect the Argonauts, for Medea is an enchantress.

The king of Colchis waited for his guests in the great reception hall surrounded by his court. Now that he had washed and fed them, he could question them. Jason and his companions made a noisy entrance, laughing and talking all together. A little surprised, Aeetes asked:

“Who are you and what has brought you to my kingdom?”

Jason replied: “We are young Greeks, all of us the sons of kings or gods. We have crossed the seas, braved countless dangers, to come and ask you to give us the Golden Fleece.”

A blast of anger overcame the king. Who did this pretentious youngster think he was? Who was he to dare lay claim on what was his country’s glory and renown? His face hardened and he replied in a cutting voice:

“I would only be able to give our precious Golden Fleece to the man who would demonstrate as much bravery as I have.”

“But I am brave! My companions are all brave! Tell me what we must do to prove it to you!” Jason interrupted him in a loud voice.

King Aeetes was now in the grip of rage: so, then, they took themselves for heroes! So, they liked taking risks, did they! In that case, they would get what they asked for.

“First of all you will have to tame two powerful bulls. They were created by the god Hephaestus himself, the god of Blacksmiths. Their hooves are of bronze and they belch out flames. After that you will yoke them to a plough and you shall till the field which I will indicate to you. Then you will sow these dragon’s teeth that I give you here in the same field. From each tooth, an armed warrior shall be born, whom you will have to vanquish. All this I have myself accomplished. If you succeed, then I shall give you the Golden Fleece which you have come to claim.”

Hearing this list of trials, the entire assembly shuddered. A faint scream escaped from the mouth of a young girl sitting behind the king. It was Princess Medea. She knew that her father was sending Jason to his death. The young man hesitated for a few moments, but he had no choice. He accepted the trials. Then he retired with his comrades. He had not yet looked once at Princess Medea.

That evening every man on the ship beseeched Jason to let him pass the trials in his stead. This one boasted about his strength, the other about his speed, the third about his agility. But the young man was unyielding. King Aeetes had challenged him personally; he had to take up the challenge himself. He left his companions in a great state of anxiety, and he went peacefully to rest. The truth was that he was very worried himself, but he would not have shown it for anything in the world. He counted on the goddess Aphrodite, of whom old Phineas had spoken, to sort things out for him. But the night progressed, and he could not find sleep.

That night in the king’s palace someone else could not sleep either. Princess Medea turned and tossed in her bed. Her black, loose hair became tangled on her pillow. Her face had become extremely pale. She burned with love for this young Greek. Horrid images kept coming back before her eyes: she imagined that fine body that she had seen in the baths being torn to pieces by the metal hooves of the two monstrous bulls. She imagined the fire belched up by the beasts setting Jason’s long hair on fire and transforming him into a living torch. She imagined the army of warriors piercing his body with a thousand arrows. It was an unbearable vision for this heart in love. At the same time, she thought of her father, the king, who was so proud of his Golden Fleece. Helping Jason meant betraying her father. Yet she, Medea the enchantress, thanks to her magic powers, could save the man she loved. She knew that. She even knew that she was Jason’s only chance. Which would she choose, loyalty to her father or her passion for Jason?

 

To be continued…