“Poor wretch, an evil and shameful return hast thou planned.  Not for long, I ween, wilt thou escape the heavy wrath of Aeetes; but soon will he go even to the dwellings of Hellas to avenge the blood of his son, for intolerable are the deeds thou hast done.  But since thou art my suppliant and my kinswoman, no further ill shall I devise against thee at thy coming; but begone from my halls, companioning the stranger, whosoever he be, this unknown one that thou hast taken in thy father’s despite; and kneel not to me at my hearth, for never will I approve thy counsels and thy shameful flight.”

Thus she spake, and measureless anguish seized the maid; and over her eyes she cast her robe and poured forth a lamentation, until the hero took her by the hand and led her forth from the hall quivering with fear.  So they left the home of Circe.

But they were not unmarked by the spouse of Zeus, son of Cronos; but Iris told her when she saw them faring from the hall.  For Hera had bidden her watch what time they should come to the ship; so again she urged her and spake: 

“Dear Iris, now come, if ever thou hast fulfilled bidding, his thee away on light pinions, and bid Thetis arise from the sea and come hither.  For need of her is come upon me.  Then go to the sea-beaches where the bronze anvils of Hephaestus are smitten by sturdy hammers, and tell him to still the blasts of fire until Argo pass by them.  Then go to Aeolus too, Aeolus who rules the winds, children of the clear sky; and to him also tell my purpose so that he may make all winds cease under heaven and no breeze may ruffle the sea; yet let the breath of the west wind blow until the heroes have reached the Phaeacian isle of Alcinous.”

So she spake, and straightway Iris leapt down from Olympus and cleft her way, with light wings outspread.  And she plunged into the Aegean Sea, where is the dwelling of Nereus.  And she came to Thetis first and, by the promptings of Hera, told her tale and roused her to go to the goddess.  Next she came to Hephaestus, and quickly made him cease from the clang of his iron hammers; and the smoke-grimed bellows were stayed from their blast.  And thirdly she came to Aeolus, the famous son of Hippotas.  And when she had given her message to him also and rested her swift knees from her course, then Thetis leaving Nereus and her sisters had come from the sea to Olympus to the goddess Hera; and the goddess made her sit by her side and uttered her word: 

“Hearken now, lady Thetis, to what I am eager to tell thee.  Thou knowest how honoured in my heart is the hero, Aeson’s son, and the others that have helped him in the contest, and how I saved them when they passed between the Wandering rocks[1] where roar terrible storms of fire and the waves foam round the rugged reefs.  And now past the mighty rock of Scylla and Charybdis horribly belching, a course awaits them.  But thee indeed from thy infancy did I tend with my own hands and love beyond