(_Formerly called Sacred and Profane Love_)
A charming story is told in Ovid's "Metamorphoses" of Jason's adventures
in search of the golden fleece, and of his love for Medea.[17] Jason was
a Greek prince, young, handsome, brave, and withal of noble heart. He
had journeyed over seas in his good ship Argo, and had at last come to
Colchis to win the coveted treasure.
The King Æëtes had no mind to give up the fleece without a struggle, and
he set the young hero a hard task. He was ordered to tame two bulls
which had feet of brass and breath of flame. When he had yoked these, he
was to plough a field and sow it with serpent's teeth which would yield
a crop of armed men to attack him. While Jason turned over in his mind
how he should perform these feats, he chanced to meet the king's
beautiful daughter Medea. At once the two fell in love with each other,
and Jason's fortunes took a new turn. Medea possessed certain secrets of
enchantment which might be of practical service to her lover in his
adventure. She had a magic salve which protected the body from fire and
steel. She also knew the charm--and it was merely the throwing of a
stone--which would turn the "earth-born crop of foes" from attacking an
enemy to attack one another. Finally she had drugs which would put to
sleep the dragon guarding the fleece.
To impart these secrets to Jason might seem an easy matter, but Medea
did not find it so. She was a loyal daughter, and Jason had come to take
her father's prized possession. She would be a traitor to aid a stranger
against her own people. The poet tells how in her trouble the princess
sought a quiet spot where she might take counsel with herself.
"In vain," she cried,
"Medea! dost thou strive! Some deity
Resists thee! Ah, this passion sure, or one
Resembling this, must be what men call love!
Why should my sire's conditions seem too hard?
And yet too hard they are! Why should I shake
And tremble for the fate of one whom scarce
These eyes have looked on twice? Whence comes this fear
I cannot quell? Unhappy! from thy breast
Dash out these new-lit fires!--Ah! wiser far
If so I could!--But some new power constrains,
And reason this way points, and that way, love."
The struggle goes on for some time, and the maiden's heart is torn with
conflicting impulses. Summoning up "all images of right and faith and
shame and natural duty," she fancies that her love is conquered. A
moment later Jason crosses her path and the day is lost. Together they
pledge their vows at the shrine of Hecate, and in due time they sail
away in the Argo with the golden fleece.
[Illustration: From a carbon print by Braun, Clément & Co.
John Andrew & Son, Sc.