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On the broad neck: clean through the sinews strong thereof did it shear;{430}

And there on the earth, with horns doubled under its chest, it lay.

And swiftly their comrades severed the throats, and the skins did they flay,

And they sundered the joints, and they carved, and the sacred thighs they cut out,

And they laid them together, and closely with fat they wrapped them about,

And burnt on the cloven wood: drink-offerings unmingled of wine

Poured Aison’s son; and Idmon rejoiced, beholding shine

The splendour that gleamed all round from the sacrifice and the smoke,

As forth for an omen of good in wavering wreaths it broke.

And the purpose of Leto’s son, nothing doubting, straightway he spoke:

‘For you ’tis ordained of the doom of the Gods and of each man’s fate{440}

Hither to win with the Fleece; but meanwhile lie in wait

Toils without number, as thither ye fare, and as backward ye hie.

But for me by the hateful doom of a God is it fated to die

Far hence, I know not where, on the Asian mainland shore.