But Arete pleaded hard with her husband for Medeia, for her heart was softened.  And she said:  “The Gods will punish her, not we.  After all, she is our guest and my suppliant, and prayers are the daughters of Zeus.  And who, too, dare part man and wife, after all they have endured together?”

And Alcinous smiled.  “The minstrel’s song has charmed you; but I must remember what is right; for songs cannot alter justice; and I must be faithful to my name.  Alcinous I am called, the man of sturdy sense, and Alcinous I will be.”  But for all that, Arete besought him, until she won him round.

So next morning he sent a herald, and called the kings into the square, and said:  “This is a puzzling matter; remember but one thing.  These Minuai live close by us, and we may meet them often on the seas; but Aietes lives afar off, and we have only heard his name.  Which, then, of the two is it safer to offend, the men near us, or the men far off?”

The princes laughed, and praised his wisdom; and Alcinous called the heroes to the square, and the Colchi also; and they came and stood opposite each other; but Medeia stayed in the palace.  Then Alcinous spoke:  “Heroes of the Colchi, what is your errand about this lady?”

“To carry her home with us, that she may die a shameful death; but if we return without her, we must die the death she should have died.”

“What say you to this, Jason the AEolid?” said Alcinous, turning to the Minuai.

“I say,” said the cunning Jason, “that they are come here on a bootless errand.  Do you think that you can make her follow you, heroes of the Colchi? her, who knows all spells and charms?  She will cast away your ships on quicksands, or call down on you Brimo the wild huntress; or the chains will fall from off her wrists, and she will escape in her dragon car; or if not thus, some other way; for she has a thousand plans and wiles.  And why return home at all, brave heroes, and face the long seas again, and the Bosphorus, and the stormy Euxine, and double all your toil?  There is many a fair land round these coasts, which waits for gallant men like you.  Better to settle there, and build a city, and let Aietes and Colchis help themselves.”

Then a murmur rose among the Colchi, and some cried, “He has spoken well”; and some, “We have had enough of roving, we will sail the seas no more!” And the chief said at last, “Be it so, then; a plague she has been to us, and a plague to the house of her father, and a plague she will be to you.  Take her, since you are no wiser; and we will sail away toward the north.”

Then Alcinous gave them food, and water, and garments, and rich presents of all sorts; and he gave the same to the Minuai, and sent them all away in peace.

So Jason kept the dark witch maiden to breed him woe and shame; and the Colchi went northward into the Adriatic, and settled, and built towns along the shore.