Jason, at the command of the usurper Pelias, who compasses his destruction, arrives at Colchos, accompanied by the princes of Greece, and resolved to effect the recovery of the golden fleece—Medea, the daughter of the king, is captivated with his beauty, and convinced by his professions of unalterable attachment—By her knowledge of magic, she enables him to overcome all opposition, and sets sail with her lover for Greece, where they arrive in safety.
The Argonauts now stemm’d the foaming tide, And to Arcadia’s shore their course applied; Where sightless Phineus spent his age in grief, But Boreas’ sons engage in his relief, And those unwelcome guests, the odious race Of harpies, from the monarch’s table chase. With Jason, then, they greater toils sustain, And Phasis’ slimy banks at last they gain. Here boldly they demand the golden prize Of Scythia’s king, who sternly thus replies: “That mighty labours they must first o’ercome, Or sail their Argo thence unfreighted home.”