upon her, and behold! she was transformed. Instead of an old woman there stood before him one who had on a golden robe and ashining crown. Around her was a wondrous light--the light of the sun when it is most golden. Then Jason knew that she who had carried him across the broad Anaurus was the goddess [pg 11] whom he had seen in the ways of the forest--Hera, great Zeus's wife.
"Go into Iolcus, Jason," said great Hera to him, "go into Iolcus, and in whatever chance doth befall thee act as one who has the eyes of the immortals upon him."
She spoke and she was seen no more. Then Jason went on his way to the city that Cretheus, his grandfather, had founded and that his father AEson had once ruled over. He came into that city, a tall, great-limbed, unknown youth, dressed in a strange fashion, and having but one sandal on.
II. King Pelias
THAT day King Pelias, walking through the streets of his city, saw coming toward him a youth who was half shod. He remembered the words of the oracle that bade him beware of a half-shod man, and straightway he gave orders to his guards to lay hands upon the youth.
But the guards wavered when they went toward him, for there was something about the youth that put them in awe of him. He came with the guards, however, and he stood before the king's judgment seat.
Fearfully did Pelias look upon him. But not fearfully did the youth look upon the king. With head lifted high he cried out, [pg 12] "Thou art Pelias, but I do not salute thee as king. Know that I am Jason, the son of AEson from whom thou hast taken the throne and scepter that were rightfully his."
King Pelias looked to his guards. He would have given them a sign to destroy the youth's life with their spears, but behind his guards he saw a threatening multitude--the dwellers of the city of Iolcus; they gathered around, and Pelias knew that he had become
more and more hated by them. And from the multitude a cry went up, "AEson, AEson! May AEson come back to us! Jason, son of
AEson! May nothing evil befall thee, brave youth!"
Then Pelias knew that the youth might not be slain. He bent his head while he plotted against him in his heart. Then he raised his eyes, and looking upon Jason he said, "O goodly youth, it well may be that thou art the son of AEson, my brother. I am well pleased to see thee here. I have had hopes that I might be friends with AEson, and thy coming here may be the means to the renewal of our friendship. We two brothers may come together again. I will send for thy father now, and he will be brought to meet thee in my royal palace. Go with my guards and with this rejoicing people, and in a little while thou and I and thy father AEson will sit at a feast of
4
friends."
So Pelias said, and Jason went with the guards and the crowd of people, and he came to the palace of the king and he was brought within. The maids led him to the bath and gave him new robes to wear. Dressed in these Jason looked a prince indeed.
But all that while King Pelias remained on his judgment seat [pg 13] with his crowned head bent down. When he raised his head his dark brows were gathered together and his thin lips were very close. He looked to the swords and spears of his guards, and he made a sign to the men to stand close to him. Then he left the judgment seat and he went to the palace.
III. The Golden Fleece
THEY brought Jason into a hall where AEson, his father, waited. Very strange did this old and grave-looking man appear to him. But when AEson spoke, Jason remembered the tone of his father's voice and he clasped him to him. And his father knew him even
without the sight of the ruby ring which Jason had upon his finger.
Then the young man began to tell of the centaur and of his life upon the Mountain Pelion. As they were speaking together Pelias came to where they stood, Pelias in the purple robe of a king and with the crown upon his head. AEson tightly clasped Jason as if
he had become fearful for his son. Pelias smilingly took the hand of the young man and the hand of his brother, and he bade them both welcome to his palace.
Then, walking between them, the king brought the two into the feasting hall. The youth who had known only the forest and the
mountainside had to wonder at the beauty and the magnificence [pg 14] of all he saw around him. On the walls were bright pictures;
the tables were of polished wood, and they had vessels of gold and dishes of silver set upon them; along the walls were vases of lovely shapes and colors, and everywhere there were baskets heaped with roses white and red.
The king's guests were already in the hall, young men and elders, and maidens went amongst them carrying roses which they strung into wreaths for the guests to put upon their heads. A soft-handed maiden gave Jason a wreath of roses and he put it on
his head as he sat down at the king's table. When he looked at all the rich and lovely things in that hall, and when he saw the guests looking at him with friendly eyes, Jason felt that he was indeed far away from the dim spaces of the mountain forest and from the darkness of the centaur's cave.
Rich food and wine such as he had never dreamt of tasting were brought to the tables. He ate and drank, and his eyes followed the fair maidens who went through the hall. He thought how glorious it was to be a king. He heard Pelias speak to AEson, his father, telling him that he was old and that he was weary of ruling; that he longed to make friends, and that he would let no enmity now be between him and his brother. And he heard the king say that he, Jason, was young and courageous, and that he would call upon him to help to rule the land, and that, in a while, Jason would bear full sway over the kingdom that Cretheus had founded.
So Pelias spoke to AEson as they both sat together at the king's [pg 15] high table. But Jason, looking on them both, saw that the eyes that his father turned on him were full of warnings and mistrust.
After they had eaten King Pelias made a sign, and a cup-bearer bringing a richly wrought cup came and stood before the king. The king stood up, holding the cup in his hands, and all in the hall waited silently. Then Pelias put the cup into Jason's hands and he cried
out in a voice that was heard all through the hall, "Drink from this cup, O nephew Jason! Drink from this cup, O man who will soon
come to rule over the kingdom that Cretheus founded!"
All in the hall stood up and shouted with delight at that speech. But the king was not delighted with their delight, Jason saw. He took the cup and he drank the rich wine; pride grew in him; he looked down the hall and he saw faces all friendly to him; he felt as a king might feel, secure and triumphant. And then he heard King Pelias speaking once more.
"This is my nephew Jason, reared and fostered in the centaur's cave. He will tell you of his life in the forest and the mountains--
his life that was like to the life of the half gods."
Then Jason spoke to them, telling them of his life on the Mountain Pelion. When he had spoken, Pelias said:
"I was bidden by the oracle to beware of the man whom I should see coming toward me half shod. But, as you all see, I have brought the half-shod man to my palace and my feasting hall, so little do I dread the anger of the gods.
"And I dread it little because I am blameless. This youth, the [pg 16] son of my brother, is strong and courageous, and I rejoice in
his strength and courage, for I would have him take my place and reign over you.
