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offered to turn back； and guide them to Colchis。 At the same time；
however； they spoke as if it were very doubtful whether Jason would
succeed in getting the Golden Fleece。 According to their account； the tree
on which it hung was guarded by a terrible dragon； who never failed to
devour； at one mouthful； every person who might venture within his reach。
〃There are other difficulties in the way；〃 continued the young princes。
〃But is not this enough？ Ah； brave Jason； turn back before it is too late。 It
would grieve us to the heart； if you and your nine and forty brave
companions should be eaten up； at fifty mouthfuls； by this execrable
dragon。〃
〃My young friends；〃 quietly replied Jason； 〃I do not wonder that you
think the dragon very terrible。 You have grown up from infancy in the fear
of this monster； and therefore still regard him with the awe that children
feel for the bugbears and hobgoblins which their nurses have talked to
them about。 But； in my view of the matter； the dragon is merely a pretty
large serpent； who is not half so likely to snap me up at one mouthful as I
am to cut off his ugly head； and strip the skin from his body。 At all events；
turn back who may； I will never see Greece again； unless I carry with me
the Golden Fleece。〃
〃We will none of us turn back！〃 cried his nine and forty brave
comrades。 〃Let us get on board the galley this instant； and if the dragon is
to make a breakfast of us； much good may it do him。〃
And Orpheus （whose custom it was to set everything to music） began
to harp and sing most gloriously； and made every mother's son of them
feel as if nothing in this world were so delectable as to fight dragons； and
nothing so truly honorable as to be eaten up at one mouthful； in case of the
worst。
After this （being now under the guidance of the two princes； who were
well acquainted with the way）； they quickly sailed to Colchis。 When the
king of the country； whose name was Aetes； heard of their arrival； he
instantly summoned Jason to court。 The king was a stern and cruel looking
potentate； and though he put on as polite and hospitable an expression as
he could； Jason did not like his face a whit better than that of the wicked
King Pelias； who dethroned his father。 〃You are welcome； brave Jason；〃
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said King Aetes。 〃Pray； are you on a pleasure voyage？Or do you
meditate the discovery of unknown islands？or what other cause has
procured me the happiness of seeing you at my court？〃
〃Great sir；〃 replied Jason； with an obeisancefor Chiron had taught
him how to behave with propriety； whether to kings or beggars〃I have
come hither with a purpose which I now beg your majesty's permission to
execute。 King Pelias； who sits on my father's throne （to which he has no
more right than to the one on which your excellent majesty is now seated）；
has engaged to come down from it； and to give me his crown and sceptre；
provided I bring him the Golden Fleece。 This； as your majesty is aware； is
now hanging on a tree here at Colchis； and I humbly solicit your gracious
leave to take it away。〃 In spite of himself； the king's face twisted itself into
an angry frown； for； above all things else in the world； he prized the
Golden Fleece； and was even suspected of having done a very wicked act；
in order to get it into his own possession。 It put him into the worst possible
humor； therefore； to hear that the gallant Prince Jason； and forty…nine of
the bravest young warriors of Greece； had come to Colchis with the sole
purpose of taking away his chief treasure。
〃Do you know；〃 asked King Aetes； eyeing Jason very sternly； 〃what
are the conditions which you must fulfill before getting possession of the
Golden Fleece？〃
〃I have heard；〃 rejoined the youth； 〃that a dragon lies beneath the tree
on which the prize hangs； and that whoever approaches him runs the risk
of being devoured at a mouthful。〃
〃True；〃 said the king； with a smile that did not look particularly good…
natured。 〃Very true； young man。 But there are other things as hard； or
perhaps a little harder； to be done before you can even have the privilege
of being devoured by the dragon。 For example； you must first tame my
two brazen…footed and brazen…lunged bulls； which Vulcan； the wonderful
blacksmith； made for me。 There is a furnace in each of their stomachs； and
they breathe such hot fire out of their mouths and nostrils； that nobody has
hitherto gone nigh them without being instantly burned to a small； black
cinder。 What do you think of this； my brave Jason？〃
〃I must encounter the peril；〃 answered Jason； composedly； 〃since it
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stands in the way of my purpose。〃
〃After taming the fiery bulls；〃 continued King Aetes； who was
determined to scare Jason if possible； 〃you must yoke them to a plow； and
must plow the sacred earth in the Grove of Mars； and sow some of the
same dragon's teeth from which Cadmus raised a crop of armed men。 They
are an unruly set of reprobates； those sons of the dragon's teeth； and unless
you treat them suitably； they will fall upon you sword in hand。 You and
your nine and forty Argonauts； my bold Jason； are hardly numerous or
strong enough to fight with such a host as will spring up。〃
〃My master Chiron；〃 replied Jason； 〃taught me； long ago； the story of
Cadmus。 Perhaps I can manage the quarrelsome sons of the dragon's teeth
as well as Cadmus did。〃
〃I wish the dragon had him；〃 muttered King Aetes to himself； 〃and the
four…footed pedant； his schoolmaster； into the bargain。 Why； what a
foolhardy； self…conceited coxcomb he is！ We'll see what my fire…breathing
bulls will do for him。 Well； Prince Jason；〃 he continued； aloud； and as
complaisantly as he could； 〃make yourself comfortable for to…day； and to…
morrow morning； since you insist upon it； you shall try your skill at the
plow。〃
While the king talked with Jason； a beautiful young woman was
standing behind the throne。 She fixed her eyes earnestly upon the youthful
stranger； and listened attentively to every word that was spoken； and when
Jason withdrew from the king's presence； this young woman followed him
out of the room。
〃I am the king's daughter；〃 she said to him； 〃and my name is Medea。 I
know a great deal of which other young princesses are ignorant； and can
do many things which they would be afraid so much as to dream of。 If you
will trust to me； I can instruct you how to tame the fiery bulls； and sow the
dragon's teeth； and get the Golden Fleece。〃
〃Indeed； beautiful princess；〃 answered Jason； 〃if you will do me this
service； I promise to be grateful to you my whole life long。〃' Gazing at
Medea； he beheld a wonderful intelligence in her face。 She was one of
those persons whose eyes are full of mystery； so that； while looking into
them； you seem to see a very great way； as into a deep well； yet can never
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be certain whether you see into the farthest depths； or whether there be not
something else hidden at the bottom。 If Jason had been capable of fearing
anything； he would have been afraid of making this young princess his
enemy； for； beautiful as she now looked； she might； the very next instant；
become as terrible as the dragon that kept watch over the Golden Fleece。
〃Princess；〃 he exclaimed； 〃you seem indeed very wise and very
powerful。 But how can you help me to do the things of which you speak？
Are you an enchantress？〃
〃Yes； Prince Jason；〃 answered Medea； with a smile； 〃you have hit
upon the truth。 I am an enchantress。 Circe； my father's sister； taught me to
be one； and I could tell you； if I pleased； who was the old woman with the
peacock； the pomegranate； and the cuckoo staff； whom you carried over
the river； and； likewise