(ll. 1179-1195) "Zeus' self, I ween, beholds everything; nor do wemen escape his eye, we that be god-fearing and just, for as he rescued yourfather from the hands of a murderous step-dame and gave him measurelesswealth besides; even so hath he saved you harmless from the baleful storm.And on board this ship ye may sail hither and thither, where ye will,whether to Aea or to the wealthy city of divine Orthomenus. For our shipAthena built and with axe of bronze cut her timbers near the crest ofPelion, and with the goddess wrought Argus. But yours the fierce surgehath shattered, before ye came nigh to the rocks which all day long clashtogether in the straits of the sea. But come, be yourselves our helpers, forwe are eager to bring to Hellas the golden fleece, and guide us on ourvoyage, for I go to atone for the intended sacrifice of Phrixus, the cause ofZeus' wrath against the sons of Aeolus."(ll. 1196-1199) He spake with soothing words; but horror seizedthem when they heard. For they deemed that they would not find Aeetesfriendly if they desired to take away the ram's fleece. And Argus spake asfollows, vexed that they should busy themselves with such a quest:(ll. 1200-1215) "My friends, our strength, so far as it avails, shallnever cease to help you, not one whit, when need shall come. But Aeetesis terribly armed with deadly ruthlessness; wherefore exceedingly do Idread this voyage. And he boasts himself to be the son of Helios; and allround dwell countless tribes of Colchians; and he might match himselfwith Ares in his dread war-cry and giant strength. Nay, to seize thefleece in spite of Aeetes is no easy task; so huge a serpent keeps guardround and about it, deathless and sleepless, which Earth herself broughtforth on the sides of Caucasus, by the rock of Typhaon, where Typhaon,they say, smitten by the bolt of Zeus, son of Cronos, when he lifted againstthe god his sturdy hands, dropped from his head hot gore; and in suchplight he reached the mountains and plain of Nysa, where to this day helies whelmed beneath the waters of the Serbonian lake."(ll. 1216-1218) Thus he spake, and straightway many a cheek grewpale when they heard of so mighty an adventure. But quickly Peleusanswered with cheering words, and thus spake:(ll. 1219-1225) "Be not so fearful in spirit, my good friend. For we