1.169 to 1.173

79. A FATAL GIFT Iason et Medea e Thessalia expulsi ad urbem Corinthum venerunt, cuius urbis Creon quidam regnum tum obtinebat. Erat autem Creonti filia una, nomine Glauce. Quam cum vidisset, Iason constituit Medeae uxori suae nuntium mittere eo consilio, ut Glaucen in matrimonium duceret. At Medea ubi intellexit quae ille in animo haberet, ira graviter commota iure iurando confirmavit se tantam iniuriam ulturam. Hoc igitur consilium cepit. Vestem paravit summa arte textam et variis coloribus infectam; hanc mortifero quodam veneno tinxit, cuius vis talis erat ut si quis eam vestem induisset, corpus eius quasi igni ureretur. Hoc facto vestem ad Glaucen misit; illa autem nihil mali suspicans donum libenter accepit, et vestem novam more feminarum statim induit. 80. MEDEA KILLS HER SONS Vix vestem induerat Glauce cum dolorem gravem per omnia membra sensit, et paulo post crudeli cruciatu adfecta e vita excessit. His rebus gestis Medea furore atque amentia impulsa filios suos necavit; tum magnum sibi fore periculum arbitrata si in Thessalia maneret, ex ea regione fugere constituit. Hoc constituto solem oravit ut in tanto periculo auxilium sibi praeberet. Sol autem his precibus commotus currum misit cui erant iuncti dracones alis instructi. Medea non omittendam tantam occasionem arbitrata currum ascendit, itaque per aera vecta incolumis ad urbem Athenas pervenit. Iason ipse brevi tempore miro modo occisus est. Accidit sive casu sive consilio deorum ut sub umbra navis suae, quae in litus subducta erat, dormiret. Mox navis, quae adhuc erecta steterat, in eam partem ubi Iason iacebat subito delapsa virum infelicem oppressit. ULYSSES Ulysses, a famous Greek hero, took a prominent part in the long siege of Troy. After the fall of the city, he set out with his followers on his homeward voyage to Ithaca, an island of which he was king; but being driven out of his course by northerly winds, he was compelled to touch at the country of the Lotus-eaters, who are supposed to have lived on the north coast of Africa. Some of his comrades were so delighted with the lotus fruit that they wished to remain in the country, but Ulysses compelled them to embark again and continued his voyage. He next came to the island of Sicily, and fell into the hands of the giant Polyphemus, one of the Cyclopes. After several of his comrades had been killed by this monster, Ulysses made his escape by stratagem and reached the country of the winds. Here he received the help of Aeolus, king of the winds, and having set sail again, arrived within sight of Ithaca; but owing to the folly of his companions, the winds became suddenly adverse and he was again driven back. He then touched at an island which was the home of Circe, a powerful enchantress, who exercised her charms on his companions and turned them into swine. By the help of the god Mercury, Ulysses not only escaped this fate himself, but also forced Circe to restore her victims to human shape. After staying a year with Circe, he again set out and eventually reached his home.