he could not help laughing to behold these mighty
men punishing each other for an offence which
he himself had committed. In an incredibly
short space of time, (almost as short, indeed, as
it had taken them to grow up,) all but one of
the heroes of the dragon's teeth were stretched
lifeless on the field. The last survivor, the bra-
vest and strongest of the whole, had just force
enough to wave his crimson sword over his head,
and give a shout of exultation, crying, "Victory!
Victory! Immortal fame!" when he himself fell
down, and lay quietly among his slain brethren.

And there was the end of the army that had
sprouted from the dragon's teeth. That fierce
and feverish fight was the only enjoyment which
they had tasted on this beautiful earth.

"Let them sleep in the bed of honor," said
the Princess Medea, with a sly smile at Jason.
"The world will always have simpletons enough,
just like them, fighting and dying for they know
not what, and fancying that posterity will take
the trouble to put laurel wreaths on their rusty
and battered helmets. Could you help smiling
Prince Jason, to see the self-conceit of that last
fellow, just as he tumbled down?"

[[326]]

p325 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p326w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p327

v?