Let me hasten onward , and take it to my bosom . '' `` Stay , '' said Medea , holding him back . `` Have you forgotten what guards it ? '' To say the truth , in the joy of beholding the object of his desires , the terrible dragon had quite slipped out of Jason 's memory . Soon , however , something came to pass , that reminded him what perils were still to be encountered . An antelope , that probably mistook the yellow radiance for sunrise , came bounding fleetly through the grove . He was rushing straight towards the Golden Fleece , when suddenly there was a frightful hiss , and the immense head and half the scaly body of the dragon was thrust forth -LRB- for he was twisted round the trunk of the tree on which the Fleece hung -RRB- , and seizing the poor antelope , swallowed him with one snap of his jaws . After this feat , the dragon seemed sensible that some other living creature was within reach , on which he felt inclined to finish his meal . In various directions he kept poking his ugly snout among the trees , stretching out his neck a terrible long way , now here , now there , and now close to the spot where Jason and the princess were hiding behind an oak . Upon my word , as the head came waving and undulating through the air , and reaching almost within arm 's length of Prince Jason , it was a very hideous and uncomfortable sight . The gape of his enormous jaws was nearly as wide as the gateway of the king 's palace . `` Well , Jason , '' whispered Medea -LRB- for she was ill natured , as all enchantresses are , and wanted to make the bold youth tremble -RRB- , `` what do you think now of your prospect of winning the Golden Fleece ? '' Jason answered only by drawing his sword , and making a step forward . `` Stay , foolish youth , '' said Medea , grasping his arm . `` Do not you see you are lost , without me as your good angel ? In this gold box I have a magic potion , which will do the dragon 's business far more effectually than your sword . '' The dragon had probably heard the voices ; for swift as lightning , his black head and forked tongue came hissing among the trees again , darting full forty feet at a stretch . As it approached , Medea tossed the contents of the gold box right down the monster 's wide-open throat . Immediately , with an outrageous hiss and a tremendous wriggle -- flinging his tail up to the tip-top of the tallest tree , and shattering all its branches as it crashed heavily down again -- the dragon fell at full length upon the ground , and lay quite motionless . `` It is only a sleeping potion , '' said the enchantress to Prince Jason .
`` One always finds a use XXXXX these mischievous creatures , sooner or later ; so I did not wish to kill him outright .
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