the golden fleece(金羊毛)-第2章
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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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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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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
