The Argonauts sailed for a long time along the shores of the Euxine Pontus. They passed through many countries and saw many peoples. Finally, an island appeared in the distance. "Argo" was quickly approaching the island; the shore was already not far away. Suddenly, a large bird rose from the island, its wings sparkling in the rays of the sun; she flew over the Argo and dropped her feather on one of the heroes - Oilei. Like an arrow, the feather pierced Oilei's shoulder, blood flowed from the wound, and the oar fell from the hands of the wounded hero. Oileus's comrades removed the feather from his wound. The Argonauts look at the feather in surprise and see that it is copper and sharp, like an arrow. Another bird soared over the island and flew towards the Argo, but the hero Clytius was already waiting for it with a bow in his hands. As soon as the bird flew up to the Argo, Clytius shot an arrow at it, and the killed bird fell into the sea. Seeing this bird covered with copper feathers, the Argonauts realized that these were Stymphalid birds, and the island where they lived was Aretiada. The amphidaman advised the heroes to put on armor and cover themselves with shields. Before landing on the shore, the Argonauts began to shout and hit their shields with spears and swords. Birds soared over the island in a huge flock, they flew high above the Argo, and a whole rain of feather-arrows fell on the heroes. The heroes covered themselves from these arrows with shields. The birds, having described a circle above the Argo, soon disappeared far beyond the horizon.
The Argonauts came to the shore of Aretiada and were about to settle down to rest when four young men came out to meet them. The young men were terribly emaciated, their clothes hung in rags on them, barely covering their bodies. These were the sons of Phrixus. They left Colchis to return to Orkhomenes, but on the way they were shipwrecked on a stormy night, and only thanks to a happy accident the waves threw them onto Aretiada, where the Argonauts found them. The heroes were delighted at this meeting; Jason was especially happy: after all, the young men were family to him. The Argonauts fed the young men, gave them new clothes and told them that they were going to the kingdom of Eetus for the Golden Fleece. The eldest of the young men, Argos, promised to help the Argonauts, but warned them that King Eet, the son of Helios, was powerful and cruel and did not give mercy to anyone. But nothing could stop the Argonauts from fulfilling their once-made decision - to get the Golden Fleece.
The next morning the Argonauts set off on their further journey. They swam for a long time. Finally, in the distance, like clouds gathering on the horizon, the peaks of the Caucasus turned blue. Now it was not far to Colchis.
The Argo rushes quickly, driven by the uniform strokes of the oars. The sun is already disappearing, sinking into the sea. Evening shadows ran across the waves. The flapping of wings was heard high above the Argo. It was a huge eagle flying towards the rock to which the titan Prometheus was chained. The wind rose on the sea from the flapping of the huge wings of the eagle. He disappeared into the distance, and the Argonauts sadly heard the heavy groans of Prometheus; they could be heard from afar, drowned out at times by the blows of the oars.
The shore is not far away. Here is the mouth of Phasis. The Argonauts rowed upstream and anchored in a river bay overgrown with thick reeds. Jason made a thanksgiving libation to the gods and called on the gods of Colchis and the souls of dead heroes to help him in his dangerous task. The heroes on the Argo fell asleep peacefully. Their goal was achieved, they were in Colchis, near the capital of King Eet, but many more dangers lay ahead of them.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru