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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
THE GOLDEN
FLEECE AND THE
HEROES WHO LIVED
BEFORE ACHILLES
BY PADRAIC COLUM
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
Part I。
The Voyage to Colchis
I。 The Youth Jason
A man in the garb of a slave went up the side of that mountain that is
all covered with forest； the Mountain Pelion。 He carried in his arms a little
child。
When it was full noon the slave came into a clearing of the forest so
silent that it seemed empty of all life。 He laid the child down on the soft
moss； and then； trembling with the fear of what might come before him； he
raised a horn to his lips and blew three blasts upon it。
Then he waited。 The blue sky was above him； the great trees stood
away from him； and the little child lay at his feet。 He waited； and then he
heard the thud…thud of great hooves。 And then from between the trees he
saw coming toward him the strangest of all beings； one who was half man
and half horse； this was Chiron the centaur。
Chiron came toward the trembling slave。 Greater than any horse was
Chiron； taller than any man。 The hair of his head flowed back into his
horse's mane； his great beard flowed over his horse's chest； in his man's
hand he held a great spear。
Not swiftly he came； but the slave could see that in those great limbs
of his there was speed like to the wind's。 The slave fell upon his knees。
And with eyes that were full of majesty and wisdom and limbs that were
full of strength and speed； the king…centaur stood above him。 〃O my lord；〃
the slave said； 〃I have come before thee sent by Aeson； my master； who
told me where to come and what blasts to blow upon the horn。 And Aeson；
once King of Iolcus； bade me say to thee that if thou dost remember his
ancient friendship with thee thou wilt； perchance； take this child and guard
and foster him； and； as he grows； instruct him with thy wisdom。〃
〃For Aeson's sake I will rear and foster this child；〃 said Chiron the
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
king…centaur in a deep voice。
The child lying on the moss had been looking up at the four…footed and
two…handed centaur。 Now the slave lifted him up and placed him in the
centaur's arms。 He said：
〃Aeson bade me tell thee that the child's name is Jason。 He bade me
give thee this ring with the great ruby in it that thou mayst give it to the
child when he is grown。 By this ring with its ruby and the images
engraved on it Aeson may know his son when they meet after many years
and many changes。 And another thing Aeson bade me say to thee； O my
lord Chiron： not presumptuous is he； but he knows that this child has the
regard of the immortal Goddess Hera； the wife of Zeus。〃
Chiron held Aeson's son in his arms； and the little child put hands into
his great beard。 Then the centaur said； 〃Let Aeson know that his son will
be reared and fostered by me； and that； when they meet again； there will
be ways by which they will be known to each other。〃
Saying this Chiron the centaur； holding the child in his arms； went
swiftly toward the forest arches； then the slave took up the horn and went
down the side of the Mountain Pelion。 He came to where a horse was
hidden； and he mounted and rode； first to a city； and then to a village that
was beyond the city。
All this was before the famous walls of Troy were built； before King
Priam had come to the throne of his father and while he was still known；
not as Priam； but as Podarces。 And the beginning of all these happenings
was in Iolcus； a city in Thessaly。
Cretheus founded the city and had ruled over it in days before King
Priam was born。 He left two sons； Aeson and Pelias。 Aeson succeeded his
father。 And because he was a mild and gentle man； the men of war did not
love Aeson； they wanted a hard king who would lead them to conquests。
Pelias； the brother of Aeson； was ever with the men of war； he knew
what mind they had toward Aeson and he plotted with them to overthrow
his brother。 This they did； and they brought Pelias to reign as king in
Iolcus。
The people loved Aeson； and they feared Pelias。 And because the
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
people loved him and would be maddened by his slaying； Pelias and the
men of war left him living。 With his wife； Alcimide； and his infant son；
Aeson went from the city； and in a village that was at a distance from
Iolcus he found a hidden house and went to dwell in it。
Aeson would have lived content there were it not that he was fearful
for Jason； his infant son。 Jason； he knew； would grow into a strong and a
bold youth； and Pelias； the king； would be made uneasy on his account。
Pelias would slay the son； and perhaps would slay the father for the son's
sake when his memory would come to be less loved by the people。 Aeson
thought of such things in his hidden house； and he pondered on ways to
have his son reared away from Iolcus and the dread and the power of King
Pelias。
He had for a friend one who was the wisest of all creatures Chiron the
centaur； Chiron who was half man and half horse； Chiron who had lived
and was yet to live measureless years。 Chiron had fostered Heracles； and it
might be that he would not refuse to foster Jason； Aeson's child。
Away in the fastnesses of Mount Pelion Chiron dwelt； once Aeson had
been with him and had seen the centaur hunt with his great bow and his
great spears。 And Aeson knew a way that one might come to him； Chiron
himself had told him of the way。
Now there was a slave in his house who had been a huntsman and who
knew all the ways of the Mountain Pelion。 Aeson talked with this slave
one day； and after he had talked with him he sat for a long time over the
cradle of his sleeping infant。 And then he spoke to Alcimide； his wife；
telling her of a parting that made her weep。 That evening the slave came in
and Aeson took the child from the arms of the mournful…eyed mother and
put him in the slave's arms。 Also he gave him a horn and a ring with a
great ruby in it and mystic images engraved on its gold。 Then when the