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the men approved
    of the auspicious overture. You see,
    they all assumed Hypsipyle was queen
    because she was the only child of Thoas
    and he had passed on. So they sent her Jason
    970 and started getting ready for their visit.
    Over either shoulder Jason pinned
    a double-woven, vivid-purple mantle,
    the handwork of Itonian Athena.
    Pallas had given it to him when first
    975 (723) she propped up trusses for the ship and taught
    the men to measure out the beams by rule.
    You could more comfortably stare upon
    a sunrise than this mantle’s rich resplendence.
    The center was a fiery red, a violet
    980 border ran around it, and embroidered
    illustrations, subtly stitched vignettes,
    stood side by side along its top and bottom:
    The Cyclopes were seated in it, plying
    their endless trade. The stunning thunderbolt
    985 that they were forging for Imperial Zeus
    was all but finished, all but one last tip.
    Their iron mallets pounded at it, giving
    shape to a blast of molten, raging fire.
    Antiope’s twin sons were featured, too,
    990 (736) Zethus and Amphion, and Thebes was there,
    unfortified as yet, but they were raising
    the circuit walls. While Zethus seemed to stagger
    under the mountain peak upon his back,
    Amphion simply strolled along behind him
    995 and strummed his golden lyre, and a boulder
    twice as gigantic followed in his footsteps.
    Next appeared thickly braided Cytherea,
    the shield of Ares in her hand. Her gown
    had come unfastened, tumbled from her shoulder
    1000 down to her forearm, and exposed a breast,
    and in the shield’s polished bronze a mirror
    image admired her, a true reflection.
    Next, there were cattle on a tufted grange,
    and Taphian marauders, Teleboans,
    1005 (748) fighting the offspring of Electryon
    to win the herd. The latter strove to fend off
    the former, who were bent on taking plunder.
    Dew dampened the enclosure, dew and blood,
    and there were many brigands, few herdsmen.
    1010 A race came next, a pair of chariots,
    and Pelops flicked the reins and held the lead,
    Hippodameia standing at his side.
    Myrtilus whipped his horses in pursuit.
    Beside him Oenomaus rode in state,
    1015 his long spear pointed forward. But the axle
    snapped in his hub just as he lunged to pierce
    Pelops’ back, and he went tumbling sideways.
    Apollo was embroidered in it, too,
    a strong youth, not yet fully grown, and launching
    1020 (761) a shaft at giant Tityus, who was rashly
    tearing the veil from Apollo’s mother—
    Tityus whom divine Elara carried
    but Earth brought forth and suckled like a midwife.
    Phrixus the Minyan was there as well,
    1025 depicted as if he were giving ear
    to what the ram was saying. Yes, the ram
    seemed to be speaking. If you watched the scene
    you would be mute with wonder, duped by art,
    intent on overhearing something wise.
    1030 And you would gaze a long time waiting for it.
    Such was the gift of the Itonian goddess
    Athena. In his right hand Jason gripped
    the long-range throwing spear that Atalanta
    once gave him as a gift on Maenalus.
    1035 (771) She had been pleased to meet him and was eager
    to undertake the quest, but he decided
    against her in the end, because he feared
    the ugly rivalries that lust provokes.
    He strode on toward the citylike the star
    1040 young brides who are confined to new-built chambers
    watch rising radiantly above their houses.
    They stand adazzle as its twinkling crimson
    shines through the dark-blue night and charms their eyes.
    As it ascends, the virgin, too, delights
    1045 in longing for a youth, the groom for whom
    her parents have preserved her as a bride.
    But he is off somewhere, some distant city,
    dealing with strangers. Brilliant like that star,
    Jason came marching in the envoy’s tracks.
    1050 (782) When they had passed the gates into the city,
    the females all came swarming up behind him,
    admiring a strange new male. He fixed
    his gaze steadfastly on the ground until
    he reached Hypsipyle’s sunlit abode.
    1055