AEETES

How may we glory above other kings Being (by our birth) descended from the Gods? Our wealth renowned through the world tripartite, Most in the riches of the golden fleece, And not the least of all our happiness, Medea for her powerful magic skill, And Necromantic exorcisms admired, And dreaded through the Colchian territories. And he that strives by purchase of this fleece, To weaken us, or shake our Royalty, Must taste the fury of these fiery fiends, The novel: speak. Whose their General? Usher them in, that we may know their quest And what adventure drew them to these shores. Princes, you aim at dangers more in proffe Then in report, which if you should behold In their true figure, would amaze your spirits: Yea, terifye the Gods; let me advise you, As one that knows their terror, to desist Ere you enwrap your seffe into these perils, Whence there is no euafion. Hercules. Princes, since you will needs attempt these dangers You shall; and if achieve the Golden Fleece Transport it where you please, mean time, this day Repose your selves, w l'e feast you in our Palace. To morrow morning with the rising Sun, Our golden prize shall be conserved or won. Upon the safeguard of this golden Fleece Colchos depends, and he that bears it hence Bears with it all our Fortune's; the Argonauts Have it in quest, if Lason escape our monsters I'll rather at some banquet poison him, And quaff to him his death, or in the night Set fire upon his Argoe, and in flames Consume the happy hope of his return, This purpose we, as we are Colchos King, Absyrtus where's your sister? When you next see her give to her this noate, The manner of our practice, her fell hand Cannot be missed in this, but it shall fallen Heavy on these that Colchos seeks to thrall. The hour draws nigh, the people throng on heaps, To this adventure in the field of Mars, And noble Jason armed with his good hield, Is up already and demands the field. Yet valiant Greek desist, I, though a stranger Pity thy youth, or if thou wilt persist So dreadful is the adventure thou persuest, That thou wilt think I shall unbowel hell, Macle the fiends, and make a passage Free for the Infernals. Discover them. That practice by your ruins; I'll prevent, And sooner then with that return to Greece, Your slaughtered bodies leave with this rich fleece. Enjoy it Jason, I admire thy worth, Which as it hath exceeded admiration, So must we needs applaud it. Noble gentlemen. Depart not Colchos, ere your worths and valour We with some rich and worthy gifts present. The conquest of our Bulls, and Dragons death, (Though we esteemed them) yet they sad us not, Since we behold the safety of this prince. Enter our palace, and your praise sound hie, Where you shall feast, (or all by treafon die.) Medea, we are robbed, despoiled, dishonoured, Our Fleece rap't hence, we must not suffer it, Since all our ominous Fortune's it includes, I am resolved Jason this night shall die. A strong guard I will select, and in the dead of night, When they are sunk in Leth , set upon them, And kill them in their beds. Jason then die, When he most Hope's for this rich Colchian prize.