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other figures were wrought around the figure of FearStrife and Pursuit
and Flight； Tumult and Panic and Slaughter。 The figure of Fate was there
dragging a dead man by the feet； on her shoulders Fate had a garment that
was red with the blood of men。
Around these figures were heads of snakes； heads with black jaws and
glittering eyes； twelve heads such as might affright any man。 And on other
parts of the shield were shown the horses of Ares； the grim god of war。
The figure of Ares himself was shown also。 He held a spear in his hand；
and he was urging the warriors on。
Around the inner rim of the shield the sea was shown； wrought in
white metal。 Dolphins swam in the sea； fishing for little fishes that were
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
shown there in bronze。 Around the rim chariots were racing along with
wheels running close together； there were men fighting and women
watching from high towers。 The awful figure of the Darkness of Death
was shown there； too； with mournful eyes and the dust of battles upon her
shoulders。 The outer rim of the shield showed the Stream of Ocean； the
stream that encircles the world； swans were soaring above and swimming
on its surface。
All in wonder the heroes gazed on the great shield； telling each other
that only one man in all the world could carry itHeracles the son of Zeus。
Could it be that Heracles had come amongst them？ They went into the
feasting hall and they saw one there who was tall as a pine tree； with
unshorn tresses of hair upon his head。 Heracles indeed it was！ He turned to
them a smiling face with smiling eyes。 Heracles！ They all gathered around
the strongest hero in the world； and he took the hand of each in his mighty
hand。
V。 THE ARGO
The heroes went the next day through the streets of Iolcus down to
where the ship lay。 The ways they went through were crowded； the heroes
were splendid in their appearance； and Jason amongst them shone like a
star。
The people praised him； and one told the other that it would not be
long until they would win back to Iolcus； for this band of heroes was
strong enough； they said； to take King Aetes's city and force him to give
up to them the famous Fleece of Gold。 Many of the bright…eyed youths of
Iolcus went with the heroes who had come from the different parts of
Greece。
As they marched past a temple a priestess came forth to speak to Jason；
Iphias was her name。 She had a prophecy to utter about the voyage。 But
Iphias was very old； and she stammered in her speech to Jason。 What she
said was not heard by him。 The heroes went on； and ancient Iphias was left
standing there as the old are left by the young。
The heroes went aboard the Argo。 They took their seats as at an
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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES
assembly。 Then Jason faced them and spoke to them all。
〃Heroes of the quest；〃 said Jason； 〃we have come aboard the great ship
that Argus has built； and all that a ship needs is in its place or is ready to
our hands。 All that we wait for now is the coming of the morning's breeze
that will set us on our way for far Colchis。
〃One thing we have first to dothat is； to choose a leader who will
direct us all； one who will settle disputes amongst ourselves and who will
make treaties between us and the strangers that we come amongst。 We
must choose such a leader now。〃
Jason spoke； and some looked to him and some looked to Heracles。
But Heracles stood up； and； stretching out his hand； said：
〃Argonauts！ Let no one amongst you offer the leadership to me。 I will
not take it。 The hero who brought us together and made all things ready
for our goingit is he and no one else who should be our leader in this
voyage。〃
So Heracles said； and the Argonauts all stood up and raised a cry for
Jason。 Then Jason stepped forward； and he took the hand of each Argonaut
in his hand； and he swore that he would lead them with all the mind and
all the courage that he possessed。 And he prayed the gods that it would be
given to him to lead them back safely with the Golden Fleece glittering on
the mast of the Argo。
They drew lots for the benches they would sit at； they took the places
that for the length of the voyage they would have on the ship。 They made
sacrifice to the gods and they waited for the breeze of the morning that
would help them away from Iolcus。
And while they waited Aeson； the father of Jason； sat at his own hearth；
bowed and silent in his grief。 Alcimide； his wife； sat near him； but she was
not silent； she lamented to the women of Iolcus who were gathered around
her。 〃I did not go down to the ship；〃 she said； 〃for with my grief I would
not be a bird of ill omen for the voyage。 By this hearth my son took
farewell of me the only son I ever bore。 From the doorway I watched
him go down the street of the city； and I heard the people shout as he went
amongst them； they glorying in my son's splendid appearance。 Ah； that I
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might live to see his return and to hear the shout that will go up when the
people look on Jason again！ But I know that my life will not be spared so
long； I will not look on my son when he comes back from the dangers he
will run in the quest of the Golden Fleece。〃
Then the women of Iolcus asked her to tell them of the Golden Fleece；
and Alcimide told them of it and of the sorrows that were upon the race of
Aeolus。
Cretheus； the father of Aeson； and Pelias； was of the race of Aeolus；
and of the race of Aeolus； too； was Athamas； the king who ruled in Thebes
at the same time that Cretheus ruled in Iolcus。 And the first children of
Athamas were Phrixus and Helle。
〃Ah； Phrixus and ah； Helle；〃 Alcimide lamented； 〃what griefs you
have brought on the race of Aeolus！ And what griefs you yourselves
suffered！ The evil that Athamas； your father； did you lives to be a curse to
the line of Aeolus！
〃Athamas was wedded first to Nephele； the mother of Phrixus and
Helle； the youth and maiden。