And when I meet him I will first make trial with words to see if he will be willing to give up the golden fleece for friendship's sake or not, but trusting to his might will set at nought our quest.

For so, learning his frowardness first from himself, we will consider whether we shall meet him in battle, or some other plan shall avail us, if we refrain from the war-cry.

And let us not merely by force, before putting words to the test, deprive him of his own possession.

But first it is better to go to him and win his favour by speech.

Oftentimes, I ween, does speech accomplish at need what prowess could hardly catty through, smoothing the path in manner befitting.