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great ruby in it and mystic images engraved on its gold。 Then when the
ways were dark the slave mounted a horse； and； with the child in his arms；
rode through the city that King Pelias ruled over。 In the morning he came
to that mountain that is all covered with forest； the Mountain Pelion。 And
that evening he came back to the village and to Aeson's hidden house； and
he told his master how he had prospered。
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
Aeson was content thereafter although he was lonely and although his
wife was lonely in their childlessness。 But the time came when they
rejoiced that their child had been sent into an unreachable place。 For
messengers from King Pelias came inquiring about the boy。 They told the
king's messengers that the child had strayed off from his nurse； and that
whether he had been slain by a wild beast or had been drowned in the
swift River Anaurus they did not know。
The years went by and Pelias felt secure upon the throne he had taken
from his brother。 Once he sent to the oracle of the gods to ask of it whether
he should be fearful of anything。 What the oracle answered was this： that
King Pelias had but one thing to dreadthe coming of a halfshod man。
The centaur nourished the child Jason on roots and fruits and honey；
for shelter they had a great cave that Chiron had lived in for numberless
years。 When he had grown big enough to leave the cave Chiron would let
Jason mount on his back； with the child holding on to his great mane he
would trot gently through the ways of the forest。
Jason began to know the creatures of the forest and their haunts。
Sometimes Chiron would bring his great bow with him； then Jason； on his
back； would hold the quiver and would hand him the arrows。 The centaur
would let the boy see him kill with a single arrow the bear； the boar； or the
deer。 And soon Jason； running beside him； hunted too。
No heroes were ever better trained than those whose childhood and
youth had been spent with Chiron the king…centaur。 He made them more
swift of foot than any other of the children of men。 He made them stronger
and more ready with the spear and bow。 Jason was trained by Chiron as
Heracles just before him had been trained； and as Achilles was to be
trained afterward。
Moreover； Chiron taught him the knowledge of the stars and the
wisdom that had to do with the ways of the gods。
Once； when they were hunting together； Jason saw a form at the end of
an alley of treesthe form of a woman it wasof a woman who had on her
head a shining crown。 Never had Jason dreamt of seeing a form so
wondrous。 Not very near did he come； but he thought he knew that the
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
woman smiled upon him。 She was seen no more； and Jason knew that he
had looked upon one of the immortal goddesses。
All day Jason was filled with thought of her whom he had seen。 At
night； when the stars were out； and when they were seated outside the cave；
Chiron and Jason talked together； and Chiron told the youth that she whom
he had seen was none other than Hera； the wife of Zeus； who had for his
father Aeson and for himself an especial friendliness。
So Jason grew up upon the mountain and in the forest fastnesses。
When he had reached his full height and had shown himself swift in the
hunt and strong with the spear and bow； Chiron told him that the time had
come when he should go back to the world of men and make his name
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