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Jason had promised him an answer； there was no right way save to tell him
precisely what would be the most prudent thing to do； if he had his worst
enemy in his power。
Therefore； after a moment's consideration； he spoke up； with a firm
and manly voice。
〃I would send such a man；〃 said he； 〃in quest of the Golden Fleece！〃
This enterprise； you will understand； was； of all others； the most
difficult and dangerous in the world。 In the first place it would be
necessary to make a long voyage through unknown seas。 There was hardly
a hope； or a possibility； that any young man who should undertake this
voyage would either succeed in obtaining the Golden Fleece； or would
survive to return home； and tell of the perils he had run。 The eyes of King
Pelias sparkled with joy； therefore； when he heard Jason's reply。
〃Well said； wise man with the one sandal！〃 cried he。 〃Go； then； and at
the peril of your life； bring me back the Golden Fleece。〃
〃I go；〃 answered Jason； composedly。 〃If I fail； you need not fear that I
will ever come back to trouble you again。 But if I return to Iolchos with
the prize； then； King Pelias； you must hasten down from your lofty throne；
and give me your crown and sceptre。〃
〃That I will；〃 said the king； with a sneer。 〃Meantime； I will keep them
very safely for you。〃
The first thing that Jason thought of doing； after he left the king's
presence； was to go to Dodona； and inquire of the Talking Oak what
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course it was best to pursue。 This wonderful tree stood in the center of an
ancient wood。 Its stately trunk rose up a hundred feet into the air； and
threw a broad and dense shadow over more than an acre of ground。
Standing beneath it； Jason looked up among the knotted branches and
green leaves； and into the mysterious heart of the old tree； and spoke aloud；
as if he were addressing some person who was hidden in the depths of the
foliage。
〃What shall I do；〃 said he； 〃in order to win the Golden Fleece？〃
At first there was a deep silence； not only within the shadow of the
Talking Oak； but all through the solitary wood。 In a moment or two；
however； the leaves of the oak began to stir and rustle； as if a gentle breeze
were wandering amongst them； although the other trees of the wood were
perfectly still。 The sound grew louder； and became like the roar of a high
wind。 By and by； Jason imagined that he could distinguish words； but very
confusedly； because each separate leaf of the tree seemed to be a tongue；
and the whole myriad of tongues were babbling at once。 But the noise
waxed broader and deeper； until it resembled a tornado sweeping through
the oak； and making one great utterance out of the thousand and thousand
of little murmurs which each leafy tongue had caused by its rustling。 And
now； though it still had the tone of a mighty wind roaring among the
branches； it was also like a deep bass voice； speaking as distinctly as a tree
could be expected to speak； the following words：
〃Go to Argus； the shipbuilder； and bid him build a galley with fifty
oars。〃
Then the voice melted again into the indistinct murmur of the rustling
leaves； and died gradually away。 When it was quite gone； Jason felt
inclined to doubt whether he had actually heard the words； or whether his
fancy had not shaped them out of the ordinary sound made by a breeze；
while passing through the thick foliage of the tree。
But on inquiry among the people of Iolchos； he found that there was
really a man in the city； by the name of Argus； who was a very skilful
builder of vessels。 This showed some intelligence in the oak； else how
should it have known that any such person existed？ At Jason's request；
Argus readily consented to build him a galley so big that it should require
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fifty strong men to row it； although no vessel of such a size and burden
had heretofore been seen in the world。 So the head carpenter and all his
journeymen and apprentices began their work； and for a good while
afterwards； there they were； busily employed； hewing out the timbers； and
making a great clatter with their hammers； until the new ship； which was
called the Argo； seemed to be quite ready for sea。 And； as the Talking Oak
had already given him such good advice； Jason thought that it would not
be amiss to ask for a little more。 He visited it again； therefore； and
standing beside its huge； rough trunk； inquired what he should do next。
This time； there was no such universal quivering of the leaves；
throughout the whole tree； as there had been before。 But after a while；
Jason observed that the foliage of a great branch which stretched above his
head had begun to rustle； as if the wind were stirring that one bough； while
all the other boughs of the oak were at rest。
〃Cut me off！〃 said the branch； as soon as it could speak distinctly； 〃cut
me off！ cut me off！ and carve me into a figure…head for your galley。〃
Accordingly； Jason took the branch at its word； and lopped it off the
tree。 A carver in the neighborhood engaged to make the figurehead。 He
was a tolerably good workman； and had already carved several figure…
heads； in what he intended for feminine shapes； and looking pretty much
like those which we see nowadays stuck up under a vessel's bowsprit； with
great staring eyes； that never wink at the dash of the spray。 But （what was
very strange） the carver found that his hand was guided by some unseen
power； and by a skill beyond his own； and that his tools shaped out an
image which he had never dreamed of。 When the work was finished； it
turned out to be the figure of a beautiful woman； with a helmet on her
head； from beneath which the long ringlets fell down upon her shoulders。
On the left arm was a shield； and in its center appeared a lifelike
representation of the head of Medusa with the snaky locks。 The right arm
was extended； as if pointing onward。 The face of this wonderful statue；
though not angry or forbidding； was so grave and majestic； that perhaps
you might call it severe； and as for the mouth； it seemed just ready to
unclose its lips； and utter words of the deepest wisdom。
Jason was delighted with the oaken image； and gave the carver no rest
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until it was completed； and set up where a figure…head has always stood；
from that time to this； in the vessel's prow。
〃And now；〃 cried he； as he stood gazing at the calm； majestic face of
the statue； 〃I must go to the Talking Oak and inquire what next to do。〃
〃There is no need of that； Jason；〃 said a voice which； though it was far
lower； reminded him of the mighty tones of the great oak。 〃When you
desire good advice； you can seek it of me。〃
Jason had been looking straight into the face of the image when these
words were spoken。 But he could hardly believe either his ears or his eyes。
The truth was； however； that the oaken lips had moved； and； to all
appearance； the voice had proceeded from the statue's mouth。 Recovering
a little from his surprise； Jason bethought himself that the image had been
carved out of the wood of the Talking Oak； and that； therefore； it was
really no great wonder； but on the contrary； the most natural thing in the
world； that it should possess the faculty of speech。 It would have been
very odd； indeed； if it had not。 But certainly it was a great piece of good
fortune that he should be able to carry so wise a block of wood along with
him in his perilous voyage。
〃Tell me； wondrous image；〃 exclaimed Jason； 〃since you inherit the
wisdom of the Speaking Oak of Dodona； whose daughter you are；tell me；
where shall I find fifty bold youths； who will take each of them