smile, "you have hit upon the truth. I am an
enchantress. Circe, my father's sister, taught
me to be one, and I could tell you, if I pleased,
who was the old woman with the peacock, the
pomegranate, and the cuckoo staff, whom you
carried over the river; and, likewise, who it is
that speaks through the lips of the oaken image,
that stands in the prow of your galley. I am
acquainted with some of your secrets, you per-
ceive. It is well for you that I am favorably
inclined; for, otherwise, you would hardly es-
cape being snapped up by the dragon."

"I should not so much care for the dragon,"
replied Jason, "if I only knew how to manage
the brazen-footed and fiery-lunged bulls."

"If you are as brave as I think you, and as
you have need to be," said Medea, "your own
bold heart will teach you that there is but one
way of dealing with a mad bull. What it is
I leave you to find out in the moment of peril.
As for the fiery breath of these animals, I have
a charmed ointment here, which will prevent
you from being burned up, and cure you if you
chance to be a little scorched."

So she put a golden box into his hand, and

[[316]]

p315 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p316w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p317

v?