WILLIAM MORRIS
THE LIFE AND DEATH OF JASON
BOOK XIV
The Sirens — The Garden of the Hesperides — The
heroes do sacrifice at Malea.
ow o'er the open sea they took their way,
For three days, and at dawning of the day,
Upon the fourth, saw the Trinacrian shore,
And there-along they coasted two days more.
Then first Medea warned them to take heed, 5
Lest they should end all memory of their deed
-Where dwell the Sirens on the yellow sand,
And folk should think some tangled poisonous land
Had buried them, or some tumultuous sea
O'er their white bones was tossing angrily; 10
Or that some muddy river, far from Greece
Drove seaward o'er the ringlets of the fleece.
But when the Minyae hearkened to this word,
With many a thought their wearied hearts were
stirred,
And longing for the near-gained Grecian land, 15
Where in a little while their feet should stand;
Yet none the less like to a happy dream,
Now, when they neared it, did their own home seem,
And like a dream the glory of their quest,
And therewithal some thought of present rest 2o
Stole over them, and well-nigh made them sigh
To hear the sighing restless wind go by.
But now, nigh even on the second day,
As o'er the gentle waves they took their way,
The orange-scented land-breeze seemed to bear 25
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