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would let the boy see him kill with a single arrow the bear； the boar； or the
deer。 And soon Jason； running beside him； hunted too。
No heroes were ever better trained than those whose childhood and
youth had been spent with Chiron the king…centaur。 He made them more
swift of foot than any other of the children of men。 He made them stronger
and more ready with the spear and bow。 Jason was trained by Chiron as
Heracles just before him had been trained； and as Achilles was to be
trained afterward。
Moreover； Chiron taught him the knowledge of the stars and the
wisdom that had to do with the ways of the gods。
Once； when they were hunting together； Jason saw a form at the end of
an alley of treesthe form of a woman it wasof a woman who had on her
head a shining crown。 Never had Jason dreamt of seeing a form so
wondrous。 Not very near did he come； but he thought he knew that the
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
woman smiled upon him。 She was seen no more； and Jason knew that he
had looked upon one of the immortal goddesses。
All day Jason was filled with thought of her whom he had seen。 At
night； when the stars were out； and when they were seated outside the cave；
Chiron and Jason talked together； and Chiron told the youth that she whom
he had seen was none other than Hera； the wife of Zeus； who had for his
father Aeson and for himself an especial friendliness。
So Jason grew up upon the mountain and in the forest fastnesses。
When he had reached his full height and had shown himself swift in the
hunt and strong with the spear and bow； Chiron told him that the time had
come when he should go back to the world of men and make his name
famous by the doing of great deeds。
And when Chiron told him about his father Aesonabout how he had
been thrust out of the kingship by Pelias； his uncle a great longing came
upon Jason to see his father and a fierce anger grew up in his heart against
Pelias。
Then the time came when he bade good…by to Chiron his great
instructor； the time came when he went from the centaur's cave for the last
time； and went through the wooded ways and down the side of the
Mountain Pelion。 He came to the river； to the swift Anaurus； and he found
it high in flood。 The stones by which one might cross were almost all
washed over； far apart did they seem in the flood。
Now as he stood there pondering on what he might do there came up
to him an old woman who had on her back a load of brushwood。 〃Wouldst
thou cross？〃 asked the old woman。 〃Wouldst thou cross and get thee to the
city of Iolcus； Jason； where so many things await thee？〃
Greatly was the youth astonished to hear his name spoken by this old
woman； and to hear her give the name of the city he was bound for。
〃Wouldst thou cross the Anaurus？〃 she asked again。 〃Then mount upon
my back； holding on to the wood I carry； and I will bear thee over the
river。〃
Jason smiled。 How foolish this old woman was to think that she could
bear him across the flooded river！ She came near him and she took him in
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
her arms and lifted him up on her shoulders。 Then； before he knew what
she was about to do； she had stepped into the water。
》From stone to stepping…stone she went； Jason holding on to the wood
that she had drawn to her shoulders。 She left him down upon the bank。 As
she was lifting him down one of his feet touched the water； the swift
current swept away a sandal。
He stood on the bank knowing that she who had carried him across the
flooded river had strength from the gods。 He looked upon her； and behold！
she was transformed。 Instead of an old woman there stood before him one
who had on a golden robe and a shining crown。 Around her was a
wondrous lightthe 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 whom he had seen in the ways of the forestHera； 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； 〃Thou art Pelias；
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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 multitudethe 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 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 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
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Aeson spoke； Jason remembered even without the sight of the ruby ring
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