before you can even have the privilege of being
devoured by the dragon. For example, you
must first tame my two brazen-footed and bra-
zen-lunged bulls, which Vulcan, the wonderful
blacksmith, made for me. There is a furnace in
each of their stomachs; and they breathe such
hot fire out of their mouths and nostrils, that no-
body has hitherto gone nigh them without being
instantly burned to a small, black cinder. What
do you think of this, my brave Jason?"

"I must encounter the peril," answered Jason,
composedly, "since it stands in the way of my
purpose."

"After taming the fiery bulls," continued King
Aeetes, who was determined to scare Jason if
possible, "you must yoke them to a plough, and
must plough the sacred earth in the grove of
Mars, and sow some of the same dragon's teeth
from which Cadmus raised a crop of armed
men. They are an unruly set of reprobates,
those sons of the dragon's teeth; and unless
you treat them suitably, they will fall upon you
sword in hand. You and your nine and forty
Argonauts, my bold Jason, are hardly numerous
or strong enough to fight with such a host as
"spring up"??

[[313]]

p312 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p313w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p314

v?