“Night threw her shadow on the world. Sailors out at sea looked up at the circling Bear and the stars of Orion. Travellers and watchmen longed for sleep, and oblivion came at last to mothers mourning for their children's death. In the town, dogs ceased to bark and men to call to one another; silence reigned over the deepening dark. But gentle sleep did not visit Medea. In her yearning for Jason, fretful cares kept her awake. She feared the great strength of the bulls; she saw him face them in the field of Ares; she saw him meet an ignominious end. Her heart fluttered within her, restless…”

— Apollonius of Rhodes , book Argonautica

Source: Argonautica (3rd century BC), Book III. Jason and Medea, Lines 744–755

Original

Νὺξ μὲν ἔπειτ᾽ ἐπὶ γαῖαν ἄγεν κνέφας· οἱ δ᾽ ἐνὶ πόντῳ ναῦται εἰς Ἑλίκην τε καὶ ἀστέρας Ὠρίωνος ἔδρακον ἐκ νηῶν· ὕπνοιο δὲ καί τις ὁδίτης ἤδη καὶ πυλαωρὸς ἐέλδετο· καί τινα παίδων μητέρα τεθνεώτων ἀδινὸν περὶ κῶμ᾽ ἐκάλυπτεν· οὐδὲ κυνῶν ὑλακὴ ἔτ᾽ ἀνὰ πτόλιν, οὐ θρόος ἦεν σιγὴ δὲ μελαινομένην ἔχεν ὄρφνην. ἀλλὰ μάλ᾽ οὐ Μήδειαν ἐπὶ γλυκερὸς λάβεν ὕπνος. πολλὰ γὰρ Αἰσονίδαο πόθῳ μελεδήματ᾽ ἔγειρεν δειδυῖαν ταύρων κρατερὸν μένος, οἷσιν ἔμελλεν φθίσθαι ἀεικελίῃ μοίρῃ κατὰ νειὸν Ἄρηος. Πυκνὰ δέ οἱ κραδίη στηθέων ἔντοσθεν ἔθυιεν.

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Apollonius of Rhodes 34

ancient Greek poet -295–-215 BC

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