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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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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
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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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
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 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
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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 C