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waist； and the stones rolled about his feet； and his feet slipped about the
stones； so he went on staggering； and panting； while the old woman
cried from off his back …
'Fool； you have wet my mantle！ Do you make game of poor old
souls like me？'
Jason had half a mind to drop her； and let her get through the torrent
by herself； but Cheiron's words were in his mind； and he said only；
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'Patience； mother； the best horse may stumble some day。'
At last he staggered to the shore； and set her down upon the bank；
and a strong man he needed to have been； or that wild water he never
would have crossed。
He lay panting awhile upon the bank； and then leapt up to go upon
his journey； but he cast one look at the old woman； for he thought； 'She
should thank me once at least。'
And as he looked； she grew fairer than all women； and taller than all
men on earth； and her garments shone like the summer sea； and her
jewels like the stars of heaven； and over her forehead was a veil woven
of the golden clouds of sunset； and through the veil she looked down on
him； with great soft heifer's eyes； with great eyes； mild and awful； which
filled all the glen with light。
And Jason fell upon his knees； and hid his face between his hands。
And she spoke； 'I am the Queen of Olympus； Hera the wife of Zeus。
As thou hast done to me； so will I do to thee。 Call on me in the hour of
need； and try if the Immortals can forget。'
And when Jason looked up； she rose from off the earth； like a pillar
of tall white cloud； and floated away across the mountain peaks； toward
Olympus the holy hill。
Then a great fear fell on Jason： but after a while he grew light of
heart； and he blessed old Cheiron； and said； 'Surely the Centaur is a
prophet； and guessed what would come to pass； when he bade me speak
harshly to no soul whom I might meet。'
Then he went down toward Iolcos； and as he walked he found that
he had lost one of his sandals in the flood。
And as he went through the streets； the people came out to look at
him； so tall and fair was he； but some of the elders whispered together；
and at last one of them stopped Jason； and called to him； 'Fair lad； who
are you； and whence come you； and what is your errand in the town？'
'My name； good father； is Jason； and I come from Pelion up above；
and my errand is to Pelias your king； tell me then where his palace is。'
But the old man started； and grew pale； and said； 'Do you not know
the oracle； my son； that you go so boldly through the town with but one
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sandal on？'
'I am a stranger here； and know of no oracle； but what of my one
sandal？ I lost the other in Anauros； while I was struggling with the
flood。'
Then the old man looked back to his companions； and one sighed；
and another smiled； at last he said； 'I will tell you； lest you rush upon
your ruin unawares。 The oracle in Delphi has said that a man wearing
one sandal should take the kingdom from Pelias； and keep it for himself。
Therefore beware how you go up to his palace； for he is the fiercest
and most cunning of all kings。'
Then Jason laughed a great laugh； like a war…horse in his pride。
'Good news； good father； both for you and me。 For that very end I
came into the town。'
Then he strode on toward the palace of Pelias； while all the people
wondered at his bearing。
And he stood in the doorway and cried； 'Come out； come out； Pelias
the valiant； and fight for your kingdom like a man。'
Pelias came out wondering； and 'Who are you； bold youth？' he cried。
'I am Jason； the son of AEson； the heir of all this land。'
Then Pelias lifted up his hands and eyes； and wept； or seemed to
weep； and blessed the heavens which had brought his nephew to him；
never to leave him more。 'For；' said he； 'I have but three daughters； and
no son to be my heir。 You shall be my heir then； and rule the kingdom
after me； and marry whichsoever of my daughters you shall choose；
though a sad kingdom you will find it； and whosoever rules it a
miserable man。 But come in； come in； and feast。'
So he drew Jason in； whether he would or not； and spoke to him so
lovingly and feasted him so well； that Jason's anger passed； and after
supper his three cousins came into the hall； and Jason thought that he
should like well enough to have one of them for his wife。
But at last he said to Pelias； 'Why do you look so sad； my uncle？
And what did you mean just now when you said that this was a doleful
kingdom； and its ruler a miserable man？'
Then Pelias sighed heavily again and again and again； like a man
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who had to tell some dreadful story； and was afraid to begin； but at last …
'For seven long years and more have I never known a quiet night；
and no more will he who comes after me； till the golden fleece be
brought home。'
Then he told Jason the story of Phrixus； and of the golden fleece； and
told him； too； which was a lie； that Phrixus' spirit tormented him； calling
to him day and night。 And his daughters came； and told the same tale
（for their father had taught them their parts）； and wept； and said； 'Oh
who will bring home the golden fleece； that our uncle's spirit may rest；
and that we may have rest also； whom he never lets sleep in peace？'
Jason sat awhile； sad and silent； for he had often heard of that golden
fleece； but he looked on it as a thing hopeless and impossible for any
mortal man to win it。
But when Pelias saw him silent； he began to talk of other things； and
courted Jason more and more； speaking to him as if he was certain to be
his heir； and asking his advice about the kingdom； till Jason； who was
young and simple； could not help saying to himself； 'Surely he is not the
dark man whom people call him。 Yet why did he drive my father out？'
And he asked Pelias boldly； 'Men say that you are terrible； and a man
of blood； but I find you a kind and hospitable man； and as you are to me；
so will I be to you。 Yet why did you drive my father out？'
Pelias smiled； and sighed。 'Men have slandered me in that； as in all
things。 Your father was growing old and weary； and he gave the
kingdom up to me of his own will。 You shall see him to…morrow； and
ask him； and he will tell you the same。'
Jason's heart leapt in him when he heard that he was to see his father；
and he believed all that Pelias said； forgetting that his father might not
dare to tell the truth。
'One thing more there is；' said Pelias； 'on which I need your advice；
for； though you are young； I see in you a wisdom beyond your years。
There is one neighbour of mine； whom I dread more than all men on
earth。 I am stronger than he now； and can command him； but I know
that if he stay among us； he will work my ruin in the end。 Can you give
me a plan； Jason； by which I can rid myself of that man？'
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