The Golden Fleece | Page 6

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 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 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, "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 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
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 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