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！
50
… Page 51…
The Heroes
After awhile Jason answered； half laughing； 'Were I you； I would
send him to fetch that same golden fleece； for if he once set forth after it
you would never be troubled with him more。'
And at that a bitter smile came across Pelias' lips； and a flash of
wicked joy into his eyes； and Jason saw it； and started； and over his
mind came the warning of the old man； and his own one sandal； and the
oracle； and he saw that he was taken in a trap。
But Pelias only answered gently； 'My son； he shall be sent forthwith。'
'You mean me？' cried Jason； starting up； 'because I came here with
one sandal？' And he lifted his fist angrily； while Pelias stood up to him
like a wolf at bay； and whether of the two was the stronger and the
fiercer it would be hard to tell。
But after a moment Pelias spoke gently； 'Why then so rash； my son？
You； and not I； have said what is said； why blame me for what I have not
done？ Had you bid me love the man of whom I spoke； and make him
my son…in…law and heir； I would have obeyed you； and what if I obey
you now； and send the man to win himself immortal fame？ I have not
harmed you； or him。 One thing at least I know； that he will go； and that
gladly； for he has a hero's heart within him； loving glory； and scorning
to break the word which he has given。'
Jason saw that he was entrapped； but his second promise to Cheiron
came into his mind； and he thought； 'What if the Centaur were a prophet
in that also； and meant that I should win the fleece！' Then he cried
aloud …
'You have well spoken； cunning uncle of mine！ I love glory； and I
dare keep to my word。 I will go and fetch this golden fleece。 Promise
me but this in return； and keep your word as I keep mine。 Treat my
father lovingly while I am gone； for the sake of the all…seeing Zeus； and
give me up the kingdom for my own on the day that I bring back the
golden fleece。'
Then Pelias looked at him and almost loved him； in the midst of all
his hate； and said； 'I promise； and I will perform。 It will be no shame to
give up my kingdom to the man who wins that fleece。' Then they
swore a great oath between them； and afterwards both went in； and lay
51
… Page 52…
The Heroes
down to sleep。
But Jason could not sleep for thinking of his mighty oath； and how
he was to fulfil it； all alone； and without wealth or friends。 So he
tossed a long time upon his bed； and thought of this plan and of that； and
sometimes Phrixus seemed to call him； in a thin voice； faint and low； as
if it came from far across the sea； 'Let me come home to my fathers and
have rest。' And sometimes he seemed to see the eyes of Hera； and to
hear her words again … 'Call on me in the hour of need； and see if the
Immortals can forget。'
And on the morrow he went to Pelias； and said； 'Give me a victim；
that I may sacrifice to Hera。' So he went up； and offered his sacrifice；
and as he stood by the altar Hera sent a thought into his mind； and he
went back to Pelias； and said …
'If you are indeed in earnest； give me two heralds； that they may go
round to all the princes of the Minuai； who were pupils of the Centaur
with me； that we may fit out a ship together； and take what shall befall。'
At that Pelias praised his wisdom； and hastened to send the heralds
out； for he said in his heart； 'Let all the princes go with him； and； like
him； never return； for so I shall be lord of all the Minuai； and the greatest
king in Hellas。'
PART III … HOW THEY BUILT THE SHIP
'ARGO' IN IOLCOS
SO the heralds went out； and cried to all the heroes of the Minuai；
'Who dare come to the adventure of the golden fleece？'
And Hera stirred the hearts of all the princes； and they came from all
their valleys to the yellow sands of Pagasai。 And first came Heracles
the mighty； with his lion's skin and club； and behind him Hylas his
young squire； who bore his arrows and his bow； and Tiphys； the skilful
steersman； and Butes； the fairest of all men； and Castor and Polydeuces
the twins； the sons of the magic swan； and Caeneus； the strongest of
mortals； whom the Centaurs tried in vain to kill； and overwhelmed him
with trunks of pine…trees； but even so he would not die； and thither came
52
… Page 53…
The Heroes
Zetes and Calais； the winged sons of the north wind； and Peleus； the
father of Achilles； whose bride was silver…footed Thetis； the goddess of
the sea。 And thither came Telamon and Oileus； the fathers of the two
Aiantes； who fought upon the plains of Troy； and Mopsus； the wise
soothsayer； who knew the speech of birds； and Idmon； to whom Phoebus
gave a tongue to prophesy of things to come； and Ancaios； who could
read the stars； and knew all the circles of the heavens； and Argus； the
famed shipbuilder； and many a hero more； in helmets of brass and gold
with tall dyed horse… hair crests； and embroidered shirts of linen beneath
their coats of mail； and greaves of polished tin to guard their knees in
fight； with each man his shield upon his shoulder； of many a fold of
tough bull's hide； and his sword of tempered bronze in his silver…studded
belt； and in his right hand a pair of lances； of the heavy white ash…staves。
So they came down to Iolcos； and all the city came out to meet them；
and were never tired with looking at their height； and their beauty； and
their gallant bearing and the glitter of their inlaid arms。 And some said；
'Never was such a gathering of the heroes since the Hellens conquered
the land。' But the women sighed over them； and whispered； 'Alas！
they are all going to their death！'
Then they felled the pines on Pelion； and shaped them with the axe；
and Argus taught them to build a galley； the first long ship which ever
sailed the seas。 They pierced her for fifty oars … an oar for each hero of
the crew … and pitched her with coal…black pitch； and painted her bows
with vermilion； and they named her ARGO after Argus； and worked at
her all day long。 And at night Pelias feasted them like a king； and they
slept in his palace…porch。
But Jason went away to the northward； and into the land of Thrace；
till he found Orpheus； the prince of minstrels； where he dwelt in his cave
under Rhodope； among the savage Cicon tribes。 And he asked him；
'Will you leave your mountains； Orpheus； my fellow…scholar in old times；
and cross Strymon once more with me； to sail with the heroes of the
Minuai； and bring home the golden fleece； and charm for us all men and
all monsters with your magic harp and song？'
Then Orpheus sighed； 'Have I not had enough of toil and of weary
53
… Page 54…
The Heroes
wandering； far and wide since I lived in Cheiron's cave； above Iolcos by
the sea？ In vain is the skill and the voice which my goddess mother
gave me； in vain have I sung and laboured； in vain I went down to the
dead； and charmed all the kings of Hades； to win back Eurydice my
bride。 For I won her； my beloved； and lost her again the same day； and
wandered away in