Thus she spake, and the prudent plan pleased Athena, and she addressed her in reply with gentle words: 

“Hera, my father begat me to be a stranger to the darts of love, nor do I know any charm to work desire.  But if the word pleases thee, surely I will follow; but thou must speak when we meet her.”

So she said, and starting forth they came to the mighty palace of Cypris, which her husband, the halt-footed god, had built for her when first he brought her from Zeus to be his wife.  And entering the court they stood beneath the gallery of the chamber where the goddess prepared the couch of Hephaestus.  But he had gone early to his forge and anvils to a broad cavern in a floating island where with the blast of flame he wrought all manner of curious work; and she all alone was sitting within, on an inlaid seat facing the door.  And her white shoulders on each side were covered with the mantle of her hair and she was parting it with a golden comb and about to braid up the long tresses; but when she saw the goddesses before her, she stayed and called them within, and rose from her seat and placed them on couches.  Then she herself sat down, and with her hands gathered up the locks still uncombed.  And smiling she addressed them with crafty words: 

“Good friends, what intent, what occasion brings you here after so long?  Why have ye come, not too frequent visitors before, chief among goddesses that ye are?”

And to her Hera replied:  “Thou dost mock us, but our hearts are stirred with calamity.  For already on the river Phasis the son of Aeson moors his ship, he and his comrades in quest of the fleece.  For all their sakes we fear terribly (for the task is nigh at hand) but most for Aeson’s son.  Him will I deliver, though he sail even to Hades to free Ixion below from his brazen chains, as far as strength lies in my limbs, so that Pelias may not mock at having escaped an evil doom—­Pelias who left me unhonoured with sacrifice.  Moreover Jason was greatly loved by me before, ever since at the mouth of Anaurus in flood, as I was making trial of men’s righteousness, he met me on his return from the chase; and all the mountains and long ridged peaks were sprinkled with snow, and from them the torrents rolling down were rushing with a roar.  And he took pity on me in the likeness of an old crone, and raising me on his shoulders himself bore me through the headlong tide.  So he is honoured by me unceasingly; nor will Pelias pay the penalty of his outrage, unless thou wilt grant Jason his return.”

Thus she spake, and speechlessness seized Cypris.  And beholding Hera supplicating her she felt awe, and then addressed her with friendly words:  “Dread goddess, may no viler thing than Cypris ever be found, if I disregard thy eager desire in word or deed, whatever my weak arms can effect; and let there be no favour in return.”

She spake, and Hera again addressed her with prudence:  “It is not in need of might or of strength that we have come.  But just quietly bid thy boy charm Aeetes’ daughter with love for Jason.  For if she will aid him with her kindly counsel, easily do I think he will win the fleece of gold and return to Iolcus, for she is full of wiles.”