297And so that her tricks might not cease, the Phasian woman feigns a quarrel with her husband and flees as a suppliant to the threshold of Pelias. 299And since he himself is weighed down by old age, his daughters receive her. 300These the cunning Colchian captured in a short time with a show of false friendship. 302And while she relates, among the greatest of her services, that Aeson's decay had been removed, and dwells on this part, hope is suggested to the maidens born of Pelias that by a like art their own father can grow young again. 306And they ask for this and bid her set a price without limit.
307For a short while she is silent and seems to hesitate, and holds their minds in suspense with feigned gravity as they ask. 309Soon, when she had promised, she said, 'So that your confidence in this gift may be greater, the oldest leader of the flock among your sheep will become a lamb by my drug.' 312At once a woolly ram worn out with countless years is dragged up, his horns curled round his hollow temples. 314When she had pierced his withered throat with a Haemonian knife and stained the blade with his scanty blood, the sorceress plunges the beast's limbs and potent juices together into the hollow bronze: look, they shrink the limbs of his body and burn away his horns, and with his horns his years, and a tender bleating is heard from the middle of the pot.
320Without delay, as they marvel at the bleating, a lamb leaps out and frisks away in flight and seeks the milky udders. 322The daughters of Pelias were astounded: and after the promises had shown good faith, then indeed they press more urgently. 324Three times Phoebus had unyoked his horses after plunging them in the Iberian river, and on the fourth night the stars were glittering and shining, when the deceitful daughter of Aeetes sets plain water and herbs without power on a swift fire. 328And now sleep like death held the king, his body relaxed, and with their king his guards, sleep which spells and the power of a magic tongue had given: the daughters, as bidden, had entered the threshold with the Colchian and stood round the bed.
332'Why do you hesitate now, idle girls? 333Draw your swords,' she says, 'and drain the old blood, so that I may refill the empty veins with young blood. 335In your hands is your father's life and age: if you have any devotion and are not entertaining empty hopes, do your duty to your father and drive out old age with your weapons, and let out the corrupt blood with thrusts of steel.' 339Urged on by these words, each, the more dutiful she is, is the first to be undutiful, and, so as not to be wicked, commits wickedness. 340Yet none can watch her own blows, and they turn their eyes away, and, averted, deal blind wounds with savage right hands.
343He, streaming with blood, still raises his limbs on his elbow, and half-mangled tries to rise from the bed, and in the midst of so many swords, stretching out his pale arms, 'What are you doing, daughters? 346Who arms you for your father's death?' 347he says. 347Their courage and their hands fell. 348As he was about to say more, the Colchian took away his throat along with his words, and plunged him, mangled, into the hot water.