When Jason returned to the Argo, he told his comrades what had happened in the palace of Eeta and what task the king had given him. The Argonauts thought. What should they do, how to fulfill Eet’s instructions? Finally, Argos said:
- Friends, his daughter, Medea, lives in the palace of Eeta. She is a great sorceress and the only one who can help us. I'll go ask my mother to convince Medea to help us. If Medea helps, then we will not be afraid of any danger.
As soon as Argos said this, a white dove flew over the Argo, pursued by a kite. The dove flew up to Jason and hid in the folds of his cloak, and the kite fell on the Argo.
“This is a happy sign from the gods,” exclaimed the soothsayer Mops, “the gods themselves tell us to ask Medea for help.” Look, the bird dedicated to Aphrodite was saved on Jason’s chest! Remember what Phineus said. Didn't he advise us to pray to Aphrodite for help? Pray to the goddess, she will help us. Let Argos quickly go to his mother, she will convince Medea to help us.
The Argonauts listened to the prophetic Pug: they made a sacrifice to Aphrodite, and Argos quickly went to the palace of Eetus to his mother.
Meanwhile, Zet gathered all the Colchians to the square. He told the people about the arrival of strangers and ordered them to guard the Argo so that none of the Argonauts could escape. Eet decided to burn the Argo with all the heroes after Jason died on the field dedicated to Ares; He decided to subject the sons of Frix to a painful execution.
Night has fallen. The capital of Eeta fell asleep. Peace reigned everywhere. Only he is not in the palace of Medea. A string of dreams hover over her head, one more disturbing than the other. Then Medea dreams that Jason is fighting with bulls, and Medea herself should serve as the hero’s reward for victory. Then she dreams that she herself enters into a fight with bulls breathing fire and easily defeats them. Then he sees how her parents refuse to give her as a wife to Jason, because it was not he who defeated the bulls. A dispute flares up between Jason and Eet, Medea herself must resolve this dispute. When she decided the dispute in favor of Jason, she angered her father and he shouted at her menacingly. Medea woke up in tears, wants to run to Chalkiope, but is ashamed to go to her. She had already touched the door handle three times, but each time she came back. Medea fell on her bed and began to sob. One of Medea’s slaves heard her sobs and told Chalciope about this. Chalciope hurries to her sister and sees Medea lying on her bed, sobbing.
“Oh, my sister,” says Chalkiope, “what are you crying about?” Are you shedding tears over the fate of my sons? Have you found out that our father wants to destroy them?
Medea did not say a word in response to Chalkiope, because she was not crying for her sons, but finally she said:
“I had ominous dreams, sister.” Death threatens your sons and the stranger with whom they returned. Oh, that the gods would give me strength to help them!
Chalkiope shuddered in horror when she heard Medea’s words; hugging her, she begs for help. Chalciope knows that Medea can help Jason with her charms. And Medea said to Chalkiope:
- Listen, sister, I will help the stranger. Let him come to the temple of Hecate in the morning, I will give him a talisman that will help him accomplish the feat. Just promise me to keep everything secret, otherwise my father will destroy us all.
Chalkiope left. Medea was left alone. Opposite feelings fought in her chest. Either she was afraid to go against her father’s will, or again she decided to help Jason, whom she loved so much. She even wanted to commit suicide by taking poison. Medea had already taken out the casket with poison and opened it, but the goddess Hera instilled in her an uncontrollable thirst for life. Medea pushed away the casket with poison, forgot all her doubts, she only thought about Jason and decided to help him.
As soon as dawn broke and the distant snowy peaks of the Caucasus began to turn pink, Argos came to the Argonauts and told them that Medea had agreed to help Jason and was asking Jason to come to the temple of Hecate. When the sun rose, Jason went with Argos and the soothsayer Pug to the temple of Hecate. The goddess Hera made Jason so beautiful that even the Argonauts fell in love looking at him.
Medea, meanwhile, got up early in the morning, took out a casket with magic ointments and took out an ointment from it, which was called “Prometheus oil”. It was prepared from the juice of the roots of a plant grown from the blood of Prometheus. Anyone who rubbed himself with this ointment became invulnerable to iron, copper, or fire; He acquired irresistible strength and became invincible for a day. It was this ointment that Medea decided to give to Jason. Medea called the slaves and went to the temple of Hecate. Medea was joyful in her heart, she forgot all her worries and thought only about a date with Jason.
Here is the temple of Hecate. Medea entered it. Jason wasn't there yet. Jason soon arrived. Medea looked at him, and her heart began to beat strongly in her chest. Medea cannot say the words.
Jason and Medea stood silently for a long time; Finally, the hero broke the silence. He took Medea by the hand and said:
- Beautiful maiden, why did you lower your eyes to the ground? Why are you afraid of me? Do you really think that I harbor evil intentions? No, I didn’t come here with evil intentions. I have come to pray for your protection. Just, I pray you, tell me the truth; remember that Hecate will not tolerate lies in her sanctuary, and neither will Zeus, the protector of all those who pray for help. Tell me, will you help me? If you help, your name will be glorified throughout Greece by the great heroes who came with me here to Colchis. Remember how great the glory of the daughter of Minos, Ariadne, who helped the great Theseus.
Medea was silent and only looked at Jason with eyes full of love. She was beautiful in her confusion. With a trembling hand, she took out the prepared magic ointment from her belt and gave it to Jason. In a barely audible voice Medea said to him:
“Listen, Jason, this is what my help will consist of: at night, wash yourself in the river; Having put on black clothes, dig a deep hole on the shore and over it sacrifice a black sheep to Hecate, dousing it with honey. Then go to your ship, but be careful - don’t look back. You will hear voices and the furious barking of dogs, but go straight and do not be afraid. When morning comes, anoint your body, spear, shield and sword with this ointment. The ointment will give you irresistible strength, and you will fulfill Eet’s instructions. Just remember: when warriors emerge from the ground, throw a stone at them, and they will begin to fight each other, then attack them. Take the ointment, with its help you will get fleece. Then take the fleece wherever you want.
Medea fell silent. Her eyes became sadly clouded at the mere thought of separation from Jason. Medea stood with her head down, full of sadness, and finally said:
“You will go, Jason, to your homeland, but do not forget me, at least occasionally remember Medea, because I saved you.”
Medea asked where Jason was from. Jason told her about Iolka, about the flowering valley where he stood. He called Medea to go with him to Greece. He promised her great honor, promised that they would honor her like a goddess in Iolka.
“Oh, if only Eet would agree to enter into an alliance of friendship with me!” - Jason exclaimed, - oh, if only he would let you go with me to my homeland!
“No, this will not happen,” Medea said with a sigh full of sorrow, “my father is harsh and unforgiving.” Return to your homeland alone, just don’t forget me. Oh, how glad I would be if a wild wind carried me on its wings to Iolcus, so that I could remind you of myself when you forget me, when you forget that I saved you.
Tears welled up in Medea's eyes. Jason looks at her and is overcome by love for Medea. He begs her to secretly leave her father’s house and flee with him to Iolcus.
Medea is ready to leave Colchis; separation from Jason frightens her, she is afraid that she will not be able to bear this separation. Medea cries at the mere thought of separation from Jason. Hera inspired her with the desire to follow Jason everywhere. The goddess wants Medea to go to Iolcus; there, with her help, Hera decided to destroy Pelias, whom she hated.
Medea said goodbye to Jason; he promised her to come again to the temple of Hecate to meet with her again and decide what to do. Medea rode home happily in her chariot - she knew that Jason loved her.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru