`` True , the Golden Fleece may not be so valuable as you have thought it ; but then there is nothing better in the world ; and one must needs have an object , you know . Come ! Your night 's work has been well performed ; and to-morrow you can inform King Aetes that the first part of your allotted task is fulfilled . '' Agreeably to Medea 's advice , Jason went betimes in the morning to the palace of King Aetes . Entering the presence chamber , he stood at the foot of the throne , and made a low obeisance . `` Your eyes look heavy , Prince Jason , '' observed the king ; `` you appear to have spent a sleepless night . I hope you have been considering the matter a little more wisely , and have concluded not to get yourself scorched to a cinder , in attempting to tame my brazen-lunged bulls . '' `` That is already accomplished , may it please your majesty , '' replied Jason . `` The bulls have been tamed and yoked ; the field has been plowed ; the dragon 's teeth have been sown broadcast , and harrowed into the soil ; the crop of armed warriors have sprung up , and they have slain one another , to the last man . And now I solicit your majesty 's permission to encounter the dragon , that I may take down the Golden Fleece from the tree , and depart , with my nine and forty comrades . '' King Aetes scowled , and looked very angry and excessively disturbed ; for he knew that , in accordance with his kingly promise , he ought now to permit Jason to win the Fleece , if his courage and skill should enable him to do so . But , since the young man had met with such good luck in the matter of the brazen bulls and the dragon 's teeth , the king feared that he would be equally successful in slaying the dragon . And therefore , though he would gladly have seen Jason snapped up at a mouthful , he was resolved -LRB- and it was a very wrong thing of this wicked potentate -RRB- not to run any further risk of losing his beloved Fleece . `` You never would have succeeded in this business , young man , '' said he , `` if my undutiful daughter Medea had not helped you with her enchantments . Had you acted fairly , you would have been , at this instant , a black cinder , or a handful of white ashes . I forbid you , on pain of death , to make any more attempts to get the Golden Fleece . To speak my mind plainly , you shall never set eyes on so much as one of its glistening locks . '' Jason left the king 's presence in great sorrow and anger . He could think of nothing better to be done than to summon together his forty-nine brave Argonauts , march at once to the Grove of Mars , slay the dragon , take possession of the Golden Fleece , get on board the Argo , and spread all sail for Iolchos . The success of this scheme depended , it is true , on the doubtful point whether all the fifty heroes might not be snapped up , at so many mouthfuls , by the dragon .
But , XXXXX Jason was hastening down the palace steps , the Princess Medea called after him , and beckoned him to return .
To as at by from if in into on with