So she spake, and the crafty counsel pleased them all.  And straightway Argus drew Aeson’s son apart from his comrades as soon as he heard from his brothers that Medea had gone at daybreak to the holy shrine of Hecate, and led him over the plain; and with them went Mopsus, son of Ampycus, skilled to utter oracles from the appearance of birds, and skilled to give good counsel to those who set out on a journey.

Never yet had there been such a man in the days of old, neither of all the heroes of the lineage of Zeus himself, nor of those who sprung from the blood of the other gods, as on that day the bride of Zeus made Jason, both to look upon and to hold converse with.  Even his comrades wondered as they gazed upon him, radiant with manifold graces; and the son of Ampycus rejoiced in their journey, already foreboding how all would end.

Now by the path along the plain there stands near the shrine a poplar with its crown of countless leaves, whereon often chattering crows would roost.  One of them meantime as she clapped her wings aloft in the brandies uttered the counsels of Hera: 

“What a pitiful seer is this, that has not the wit to conceive even what children know, how that no maiden will say a word of sweetness or love to a youth when strangers be near.  Begone, sorry prophet, witless one; on thee neither Cypris nor the gentle Loves breathe in their kindness.”

She spake chiding, and Mopsus smiled to hear the god-sent voice of the bird, and thus addressed them:  “Do thou, son of Aeson, pass on to the temple, where thou wilt find the maiden; and very kind will her greeting be to thee through the prompting of Cypris, who will be thy helpmate in the contest, even as Phineus, Agenor’s son, foretold.  But we two, Argus and I, will await thy return, apart in this very spot do thou all alone be a suppliant and win her over with prudent words.”

He spake wisely, and both at once gave approval.  Nor was Medea’s heart turned to other thoughts, for all her singing, and never a song that she essayed pleased her long in her sport.  But in confusion she ever faltered, nor did she keep her eyes resting quietly upon the throng of her handmaids; but to the paths far off she strained her gaze, turning her face aside.  Oft did her heart sink fainting within Tier bosom whenever she fancied she heard passing by the sound of a footfall or of the wind.  But soon he appeared to her longing eyes, striding along loftily, like Sirius coming from ocean, which rises fair and clear to see, but brings unspeakable mischief to flocks; thus then did Aeson’s son come to her, fair to see, but the sight of him brought love-sick care.  Her heart fell from out her bosom, and a dark mist came over her eyes, and a hot blush covered her cheeks.  And she had no strength to lift her knees backwards or forwards, but her feet beneath were rooted to the ground; and meantime all her handmaidens had drawn aside.  So they two stood face to face without a word, without a sound, like oaks or lofty pines, which stand quietly side by side on the mountains when the wind is still; then again, when stirred by the breath of the wind, they murmur ceaselessly; so they two were destined to tell out all their tale, stirred by the breath of Love.  And Aeson’s son saw that she had fallen into some heaven-sent calamity, and with soothing words thus addressed her: