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will be； but short…lived； and die in the flower of youth。'
So Tiphys the helmsman steered them to the shore under the crags of
Pelion； and they went up through the dark pine… forests towards the
Centaur's cave。
And they came into the misty hall； beneath the snow…crowned crag；
and saw the great Centaur lying； with his huge limbs spread upon the
rock； and beside him stood Achilles； the child whom no steel could
wound； and played upon his harp right sweetly； while Cheiron watched
and smiled。
Then Cheiron leapt up and welcomed them； and kissed them every
one； and set a feast before them of swine's flesh； and venison； and good
wine； and young Achilles served them； and carried the golden goblet
round。 And after supper all the heroes clapped their hands； and called
on Orpheus to sing； but he refused； and said； 'How can I； who am the
younger； sing before our ancient host？' So they called on Cheiron to
sing； and Achilles brought him his harp； and he began a wondrous song；
a famous story of old time； of the fight between the Centaurs and the
Lapithai； which you may still see carved in stone。 （1） He sang how his
brothers came to ruin by their folly； when they were mad with wine； and
how they and the heroes fought； with fists； and teeth； and the goblets
from which they drank； and how they tore up the pine… trees in their fury；
and hurled great crags of stone； while the mountains thundered with the
battle； and the land was wasted far and wide； till the Lapithai drove them
from their home in the rich Thessalian plains to the lonely glens of
Pindus； leaving Cheiron all alone。 And the heroes praised his song
right heartily； for some of them had helped in that great fight。
Then Orpheus took the lyre； and sang of Chaos； and the making of
the wondrous World； and how all things sprang from Love； who could
not live alone in the Abyss。 And as he sang； his voice rose from the
cave； above the crags； and through the tree…tops； and the glens of oak
and pine。 And the trees bowed their heads when they heard it； and the
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gray rocks cracked and rang； and the forest beasts crept near to listen；
and the birds forsook their nests and hovered round。 And old Cheiron
claps his hands together； and beat his hoofs upon the ground； for wonder
at that magic song。
Then Peleus kissed his boy； and wept over him； and they went down
to the ship； and Cheiron came down with them； weeping； and kissed
them one by one； and blest them； and promised to them great renown。
And the heroes wept when they left him； till their great hearts could
weep no more； for he was kind and just and pious； and wiser than all
beasts and men。 Then he went up to a cliff； and prayed for them； that
they might come home safe and well； while the heroes rowed away； and
watched him standing on his cliff above the sea； with his great hands
raised toward heaven； and his white locks waving in the wind； and they
strained their eyes to watch him to the last； for they felt that they should
look on him no more。
So they rowed on over the long swell of the sea； past Olympus； the
seat of the Immortals； and past the wooded bays of Athos； and
Samothrace the sacred isle； and they came past Lemnos to the
Hellespont； and through the narrow strait of Abydos； and so on into the
Propontis； which we call Marmora now。 And there they met with
Cyzicus； ruling in Asia over the Dolions； who； the songs say； was the son
of AEneas； of whom you will hear many a tale some day。 For Homer
tells us how he fought at Troy； and Virgil how he sailed away and
founded Rome； and men believed until late years that from him sprang
our old British kings。 Now Cyzicus； the songs say； welcomed the
heroes； for his father had been one of Cheiron's scholars； so he
welcomed them； and feasted them； and stored their ship with corn and
wine； and cloaks and rugs； the songs say； and shirts； of which no doubt
they stood in need。
But at night； while they lay sleeping； came down on them terrible
men； who lived with the bears in the mountains； like Titans or giants in
shape； for each of them had six arms； and they fought with young firs
and pines。 But Heracles killed them all before morn with his deadly
poisoned arrows； but among them； in the darkness； he slew Cyzicus the
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kindly prince。
Then they got to their ship and to their oars； and Tiphys bade them
cast off the hawsers and go to sea。 But as he spoke a whirlwind came；
and spun the ARGO round； and twisted the hawsers together； so that no
man could loose them。 Then Tiphys dropped the rudder from his hand；
and cried； 'This comes from the Gods above。' But Jason went forward；
and asked counsel of the magic bough。
Then the magic bough spoke； and answered； 'This is because you
have slain Cyzicus your friend。 You must appease his soul； or you will
never leave this shore。'
Jason went back sadly； and told the heroes what he had heard。 And
they leapt on shore； and searched till dawn； and at dawn they found the
body； all rolled in dust and blood； among the corpses of those monstrous
beasts。 And they wept over their kind host； and laid him on a fair bed；
and heaped a huge mound over him； and offered black sheep at his tomb；
and Orpheus sang a magic song to him； that his spirit might have rest。
And then they held games at the tomb； after the custom of those times；
and Jason gave prizes to each winner。 To Ancaeus he gave a golden
cup； for he wrestled best of all； and to Heracles a silver one； for he was
the strongest of all； and to Castor； who rode best； a golden crest； and
Polydeuces the boxer had a rich carpet； and to Orpheus for his song a
sandal with golden wings。 But Jason himself was the best of all the
archers； and the Minuai crowned him with an olive crown； and so； the
songs say； the soul of good Cyzicus was appeased and the heroes went
on their way in peace。
But when Cyzicus' wife heard that he was dead she died likewise of
grief； and her tears became a fountain of clear water； which flows the
whole year round。
Then they rowed away； the songs say； along the Mysian shore； and
past the mouth of Rhindacus； till they found a pleasant bay； sheltered by
the long ridges of Arganthus； and by high walls of basalt rock。 And
there they ran the ship ashore upon the yellow sand； and furled the sail；
and took the mast down； and lashed it in its crutch。 And next they let
down the ladder； and went ashore to sport and rest。
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And there Heracles went away into the woods； bow in hand； to hunt
wild deer； and Hylas the fair boy slipt away after him； and followed him
by stealth； until he lost himself among the glens； and sat down weary to
rest himself by the side of a lake； and there the water nymphs came up to
look at him； and loved him； and carried him down under the lake to be
their playfellow； for ever happy and young。