按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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 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
9
… Page 10…
THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
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 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 cupbearer
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 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。 Ali； that I
were as young as he is now！ Ali； that I had been reared and fostered as he
was reared and fostered by the wise centaur and under the eyes of the
immortals！ Then would I do that which in my youth I often dreamed of
doing！ Then would I perform a deed that would make my name and the
name of my city famous throughout all Greece！ Then would I bring from
10
… Page 11…
THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
far Colchis； the famous Fleece of Gold that King Aetes keeps guard over！〃
He finished speaking； and all in the hall shouted out； 〃The Golden
Fleece； the Golden Fleece from Colchis！〃 Jason stood up； and his father's
hand gripped him。 But he did not heed the hold of his father's hand； for
〃The Golden Fleece； the Golden Fleece！〃 rang in his ears； and before his
eyes were the faces of those who were all eager for the sight of the wonder
that King Aetes kept guard over。
Then said Jason； 〃Thou hast spoken well； O King Pelias！ Know； and
know all here assembled； that I have heard of the Golden Fleece and of the
dangers that await on any one who should strive to win it from King
Aetes's care。 But know； too； that I would strive to win the Fleece and bring
it to Iolcus； winning fame both for myself and for the city。〃
When he had spoken he saw his father's stricken eyes； they were fixed
upon him。 But he looked from them to the shining eyes of the young men
who were even then pressing around where he stood。 〃Jason； Jason！〃 they
shouted。 〃The Golden Fleece for Iolcus！〃
〃King Pelias knows that the winning of the Golden Fleece is a feat
most difficult；〃 said Jason。 〃But if he will have built for me a ship that can
make the voyage to far Colchis； and if he will send throughout all Greece
the word of my adventuring so that all the heroes who would win fame
might come with me； and if ye； young heroes of Iolcus； will come with me；
I will peril my life to win the wonder that King Aetes keeps guard over。〃
He spoke and those in the hall shouted again and made clamor around
him。 But still his father sat gazing at him with stricken eyes。
King Pelias stood up in the hall and holding up his scepter he said； 〃O
my nephew Jason； and O friends assembled here； I promise that I will
have built for the voyage the best ship that ever sailed from a harbor in
Greece。 And I promise that I will send throughout all Greece a word
telling of Jason's voyage so that all heroes desirous of winning fame may
come to help him and to help all of you who may go with him to win from
the keeping of King Aetes the famous Fleece of Gold。〃
So King Pelias said； but Jason； looking to the king from his father's
stricken eyes； saw that he had been led by the king into the acceptance of
11
… Page 12…
THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
the voyage so that he might fare far from Iolcus； and perhaps lose his life
in striving to gain the wonder that King Aetes kept guarded。 By the glitter
in Pelias's eyes he knew the truth。 Nevertheless Jason would not take back
one word that he had spoken； his heart was strong within him； and he
thought that with the help of the bright…eyed youths around and with the
help of those who would come to him at the word of the voyage； he would
bring the Golden Fleece to Iolcus and make famous for all time his own
name。
IV。 THE ASSEMBLING OF THE HEROES AND THE
BUILDING OF THE SHIP
First there came the youths Castor and Polydeuces。 They came riding
on white horses； two noble…looking brothers。 From Sparta they came； and
their mother was Leda； who； after the twin brothers； had another child
born to herHelen； for whose sake the sons of many of Jason's friends
were to wage war against the great city of Troy。 These were the first
heroes who came to Iolcus after the word had gone forth through Greece
of Jason's adventuring in quest of the Golden Fleece。
And then there came one who had both welcome and reverence from
Jason； this one came without spear or bow； bearing in his hands a lyre only。
He was Orpheus； and he knew all the ways of the gods and all the stories
of the gods； when he sang to his lyre the t