THE GOLDEN FLEECE(金羊毛)

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THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES

THE GOLDEN

FLEECE AND THE

HEROES WHO LIVED

BEFORE ACHILLES

BY PADRAIC COLUM

THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES

Part I.

The Voyage to Colchis

I. The Youth Jason

A man in the garb of a slave went up the side of that mountain that is

all covered with forest, the Mountain Pelion. He carried in his arms a little

child.

When it was full noon the slave came into a clearing of the forest so

silent that it seemed empty of all life. He laid the child down on the soft

moss, and then, trembling with the fear of what might come before him, he

raised a horn to his lips and blew three blasts upon it.

Then he waited. The blue sky was above him, the great trees stood

away from him, and the little child lay at his feet. He waited, and then he

heard the thud-thud of great hooves. And then from between the trees he

saw coming toward him the strangest of all beings, one who was half man

and half horse; this was Chiron the centaur.

Chiron came toward the trembling slave. Greater than any horse was

Chiron, taller than any man. The hair of his head flowed back into his

horse's mane, his great beard flowed over his horse's chest; in his man's

hand he held a great spear.

Not swiftly he came, but the slave could see that in those great limbs

of his there was speed like to the wind's. The slave fell upon his knees.

And with eyes that were full of majesty and wisdom and limbs that were

full of strength and speed, the king-centaur stood above him. "O my lord,"

the slave said, "I have come before thee sent by Aeson, my master, who

told me where to come and what blasts to blow upon the horn. And Aeson,

once King of Iolcus, bade me say to thee that if thou dost remember his

ancient friendship with thee thou wilt, perchance, take this child and guard

and foster him, and, as he grows, instruct him with thy wisdom."

"For Aeson's sake I will rear and foster this child," said Chiron the

THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES

king-centaur in a deep voice.

The child lying on the moss had been looking up at the four-footed and

two-handed centaur. Now the slave lifted him up and placed him in the

centaur's arms. He said:

"Aeson bade me tell thee that the child's name is Jason. He bade me

give thee this ring with the great ruby in it that thou mayst give it to the

child when he is grown. By this ring with its ruby and the images

engraved on it Aeson may know his son when they meet after many years

and many changes. And another thing Aeson bade me say to thee, O my

lord Chiron: not presumptuous is he, but he knows that this child has the

regard of the immortal Goddess Hera, the wife of Zeus."

Chiron held Aeson's son in his arms, and the little child put hands into

his great beard. Then the centaur said, "Let Aeson know that his son will

be reared and fostered by me, and that, when they meet again, there will

be ways by which they will be known to each other."

Saying this Chiron the centaur, holding the child in his arms, went

swiftly toward the forest arches; then the slave took up the horn and went

down the side of the Mountain Pelion. He came to where a horse was

hidden, and he mounted and rode, first to a city, and then to a village that

was beyond the city.

All this was before the famous walls of Troy were built; before King

Priam had come to the throne of his father and while he was still known,

not as Priam, but as Podarces. And the beginning of all these happenings

was in Iolcus, a city in Thessaly.

Cretheus founded the city and had ruled over it in days before King

Priam was born. He left two sons, Aeson and Pelias. Aeson succeeded his

father. And because he was a mild and gentle man, the men of war did not

love Aeson; they wanted a hard king who would lead them to conquests.

Pelias, the brother of Aeson, was ever with the men of war; he knew

what mind they had toward Aeson and he plotted with them to overthrow

his brother. This they did, and they brought Pelias to reign as king in

Iolcus.

The people loved Aeson; and they feared Pelias. And because the

THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES

people loved him and would be maddened by his slaying, Pelias and the

men of war left him living. With his wife, Alcimide, and his infant son,

Aeson went from the city, and in a village that was at a distance from

Iolcus he found a hidden house and went to dwell in it.

Aeson would have lived content there were it not that he was fearful

for Jason, his infant son. Jason, he knew, would grow into a strong and a

bold youth, and Pelias, the king, would be made uneasy on his account.

Pelias would slay the son, and perhaps would slay the father for the son's

sake when his memory would come to be less loved by the people. Aeson

thought of such things in his hidden house, and he pondered on ways to

have his son reared away from Iolcus and the dread and the power of King

Pelias.

He had for a friend one who was the wisest of all creatures Chiron the

centaur; Chiron who was half man and half horse; Chiron who had lived

and was yet to live measureless years. Chiron had fostered Heracles, and it

might be that he would not refuse to foster Jason, Aeson's child.

Away in the fastnesses of Mount Pelion Chiron dwelt; once Aeson had

been with him and had seen the centaur hunt with his great bow and his

great spears. And Aeson knew a way that one might come to him; Chiron

himself had told him of the way.

Now there was a slave in his house who had been a huntsman and who

knew all the ways of the Mountain Pelion. Aeson talked with this slave

one day, and after he had talked with him he sat for a long time over the

cradle of his sleeping infant. And then he spoke to Alcimide, his wife,

telling her of a parting that made her weep. That evening the slave came in

and Aeson took the child from the arms of the mournful-eyed mother and

put him in the slave's arms. Also he gave him a horn and a ring with a

great ruby in it and mystic images engraved on its gold. Then when the

ways were dark the slave mounted a horse, and, with the child in his arms,

rode through the city that King Pelias ruled over. In the morning he came

to that mountain that is all covered with forest, the Mountain Pelion. And

that evening he came back to the village and to Aeson's hidden house, and

he told his master how he had prospered.

THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES

Aeson was content thereafter although he was lonely and although his

wife was lonely in their childlessness. But the time came when they

rejoiced that their child had been sent into an unreachable place. For

messengers from King Pelias came inquiring about the boy. They told the

king's messengers that the child had strayed off from his nurse, and that

whether he had been slain by a wild beast or had been drowned in the

swift River Anaurus they did not know.

The years went by and Pelias felt secure upon the throne he had taken

from his brother. Once he sent to the oracle of the gods to ask of it whether

he should be fearful of anything. What the oracle answered was this: that

King Pelias had but one thing to dread--the coming of a halfshod man.

The centaur nourished the child Jason on roots and fruits and honey;

for shelter they had a great cave that Chiron had lived in for numberless

years. When he had grown big enough to leave the cave Chiron would let

Jason mount on his back; with the child holding on to his great mane he

would trot gently through the ways of the forest.

Jason began to know the creatures of the forest and their haunts.

Sometimes Chiron would bring his great bow with him; then Jason, on his

back, would hold the quiver and would hand him the arrows. The centaur

would let the boy see him kill with a single arrow the bear, the boar, or the

deer. And soon Jason, running beside him, hunted too.

No heroes were ever better trained than those whose childhood and

youth had been spent with Chiron the king-centaur. He made them more

swift of foot than any other of the children of men. He made them stronger

and more ready with the spear and bow. Jason was trained by Chiron as

Heracles just before him had been trained, and as Achilles was to be

trained afterward.

Moreover, Chiron taught him the knowledge of the stars and the

wisdom that had to do with the ways of the gods.

Once, when they were hunting together, Jason saw a form at the end of

an alley of trees--the form of a woman it was--of a woman who had on her

head a shining crown. Never had Jason dreamt of seeing a form so

wondrous. Not very near did he come, but he thought he knew that the

THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES

woman smiled upon him. She was seen no more, and Jason knew that he

had looked upon one of the immortal goddesses.

All day Jason was filled with thought of her whom he had seen. At

night, when the stars were out, and when they were seated outside the cave,

Chiron and Jason talked together, and Chiron told the youth that she whom

he had seen was none other than Hera, the wife of Zeus, who had for his

father Aeson and for himself an especial friendliness.

So Jason grew up upon the mountain and in the forest fastnesses.

When he had reached his full height and had shown himself swift in the

hunt and strong with the spear and bow, Chiron told him that the time had

come when he should go back to the world of men and make his name

famous by the doing of great deeds.

And when Chiron told him about his father Aeson--about how he had

been thrust out of the kingship by Pelias, his uncle a great longing came

upon Jason to see his father and a fierce anger grew up in his heart against

Pelias.

Then the time came when he bade good-by to Chiron his great

instructor; the time came when he went from the centaur's cave for the last

time, and went through the wooded ways and down the side of the

Mountain Pelion. He came to the river, to the swift Anaurus, and he found

it high in flood. The stones by which one might cross were almost all

washed over; far apart did they seem in the flood.

Now as he stood there pondering on what he might do there came up

to him an old woman who had on her back a load of brushwood. "Wouldst

thou cross?" asked the old woman. "Wouldst thou cross and get thee to the

city of Iolcus, Jason, where so many things await thee?"

Greatly was the youth astonished to hear his name spoken by this old

woman, and to hear her give the name of the city he was bound for.

"Wouldst thou cross the Anaurus?" she asked again. "Then mount upon

my back, holding on to the wood I carry, and I will bear thee over the

river."

Jason smiled. How foolish this old woman was to think that she could

bear him across the flooded river! She came near him and she took him in

THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES

her arms and lifted him up on her shoulders. Then, before he knew what

she was about to do, she had stepped into the water.

>From stone to stepping-stone she went, Jason holding on to the wood

that she had drawn to her shoulders. She left him down upon the bank. As

she was lifting him down one of his feet touched the water; the swift

current swept away a sandal.

He stood on the bank knowing that she who had carried him across the

flooded river had strength from the gods. He looked upon her, and behold!

she was transformed. Instead of an old woman there stood before him one

who had on a golden robe and a shining crown. Around her was a

wondrous light--the light of the sun when it is most golden. Then Jason

knew that she who had carried him across the broad Anaurus was the

goddess whom he had seen in the ways of the forest--Hera, great Zeus's

wife.

"Go into Iolcus, Jason," said great Hera to him, "go into Iolcus, and in

whatever chance doth befall thee act as one who has the eyes of the

immortals upon him."

She spoke and she was seen no more. Then Jason went on his way to

the city that Cretheus, his grandfather, had founded and that his father

Aeson had once ruled over. He came into that city, a tall, great-limbed,

unknown youth, dressed in a strange fashion, and having but one sandal

on.

II. KING PELIAS

That day King Pelias, walking through the streets of his city, saw

coming toward him a youth who was half shod. He remembered the words

of the oracle that bade him beware of a half-shod man, and straightway he

gave orders to his guards to lay hands upon the youth.

But the guards wavered when they went toward him, for there was

something about the youth that put them in awe of him. He came with the

guards, however, and he stood before the king's judgment seat.

Fearfully did Pelias look upon him. But not fearfully did the youth

look upon the king. With head lifted high he cried out, "Thou art Pelias,

THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES

but I do not salute thee as king. Know that I am Jason, the son of Aeson

from whom thou hast taken the throne and scepter that were rightfully

his."

King Pelias looked to his guards. He would have given them a sign to

destroy the youth's life with their spears, but behind his guards he saw a

threatening multitude--the dwellers of the city of Iolcus; they gathered

around, and Pelias knew that he had become more and more hated by them.

And from the multitude a cry went up, "Aeson, Aeson! May Aeson come

back to us! Jason, son of Aeson! May nothing evil befall thee, brave

youth!"

Then Pelias knew that the youth might not be slain. He bent his head

while he plotted against him in his heart. Then he raised his eyes, and

looking upon Jason he said, "O goodly youth, it well may be that thou art

the son of Aeson, my brother. I am well pleased to see thee here. I have

had hopes that I might be friends with Aeson, and thy coming here may be

the means to the renewal of our friendship. We two brothers may come

together again. I will send for thy father now, and he will be brought to

meet thee in my royal palace. Go with my guards and with this rejoicing

people, and in a little while thou and I and thy father Aeson will sit at a

feast of friends."

So Pelias said, and Jason went with the guards and the crowd of

people, and he came to the palace of the king and he was brought within.

The maids led him to the bath and gave him new robes to wear. Dressed in

these Jason looked a prince indeed.

But all that while King Pelias remained on his judgment seat with his

crowned head bent down. When he raised his head his dark brows were

gathered together and his thin lips were very close. He looked to the

swords and spears of his guards, and he made a sign to the men to stand

close to him. Then he left the judgment seat and he went to the palace.

III. THE GOLDEN FLEECE

They brought Jason into a hall where Aeson, his father, waited. Very

strange did this old and grave-looking man appear to him. But when

THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES

Aeson spoke, Jason remembered even without the sight of the ruby ring

the tone of his father's voice and he clasped him to him. And his father

knew him even without the sight of the ruby ring which Jason had upon

his finger.

Then the young man began to tell of the centaur and of his life upon

the Mountain Pelion. As they were speaking together Pelias came to where

they stood, Pelias in the purple robe of a king and with the crown upon his

head. Aeson tightly clasped Jason as if he had become fearful for his son.

Pelias smilingly took the hand of the young man and the hand of his

brother, and he bade them both welcome to his palace.

Then, walking between them, the king brought the two into the

feasting hall. The youth who had known only the forest and the

mountainside had to wonder at the beauty and the magnificence of all he

saw around him. On the walls were bright pictures; the tables were of

polished wood, and they had vessels of gold and dishes of silver set upon

them; along the walls were vases of lovely shapes and colors, and

everywhere there were baskets heaped with roses white and red.

The king's guests were already in the hall, young men and elders, and

maidens went amongst them carrying roses which they strung into wreaths

for the guests to put upon their heads. A soft-handed maiden gave Jason a

wreath of roses and he put it on his head as he sat down at the king's table.

When he looked at all the rich and lovely things in that hall, and when he

saw the guests looking at him with friendly eyes, Jason felt that he was

indeed far away from the dim spaces of the mountain forest and from the

darkness of the centaur's cave.

Rich food and wine such as he had never dreamt of tasting were

brought to the tables. He ate and drank, and his eyes followed the fair

maidens who went through the hall. He thought how glorious it was to be

a king. He heard Pelias speak to Aeson, his father, telling him that he was

old and that he was weary of ruling; that he longed to make friends, and

that he would let no enmity now be between him and his brother. And he

heard the king say that he, Jason, was young and courageous, and that he

would call upon him to help to rule the land, and that, in a while, Jason

THE GOLDEN FLEECE AND THE HEROES WHO LIVED BEFORE ACHILLES

would bear full sway over the kingdom that Cretheus had founded.

So Pelias spoke to Aeson as they both sat together at the king's high

table. But Jason, looking on them both, saw that the eyes that his father

turned on him were full of warnings and mistrust.

After they had eaten King Pelias made a sign, and a cupbearer

bringing a richly wrought cup came and stood before the king. The king

stood up, holding the cup in his hands, and all in the hall waited silently.

Then Pelias put the cup into Jason's hands and he cried out in a voice that

was heard all through the hall, "Drink from this cup, O nephew Jason!

Drink from this cup, O man who will soon come to rule over the kingdom

that Cretheus founded!"

All in the hall stood up and shouted with delight at that speech. But the

king was not delighted with their delight, Jason saw. He took the cup and

he drank the rich wine; pride grew in him; he looked down the hall and he

saw faces all friendly to him; he felt as a king might feel, secure and

triumphant. And then he heard King Pelias speaking once more.

"This is my nephew Jason, reared and fostered in the centaur's cave.

He will tell you of his life in the forest and the mountains, his life that was

like to the life of the half gods."

Then Jason spoke to them, telling them of his life on the Mountain

Pelion. When he had spoken, Pelias said:

"I was bidden by the oracle to beware of the man whom I should see

coming toward me half shod. But, as you all see, I have brought the half-

shod man to my palace and my feasting hall, so little do I dread the anger

of the gods.

"And I dread it little because I am blameless. This youth, the son of

my brother, is strong and courageous, and I rejoice in his strength and

courage, for I would have him take my place and reign over you. Ali, that I

were as young as he is now! Ali, that I had been reared and fostered as he

was reared and fostered by the wise centaur and under the eyes of the

immortals! Then would I do that which in my youth I often dreamed of

doing! Then would I perform a deed that would make my name and the

name of my city famous throughout all Greece! Then would I bring from

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THEGOLDENFLEECEANDTHEHEROESWHOLIVEDBEFOREACHILLES1THEGOLDENFLEECEANDTHEHEROESWHOLIVEDBEFOREACHILLESBYPADRAICCOLUMTHEGOLDENFLEECEANDTHEHEROESWHOLIVEDBEFOREACHILLES2PartI.TheVoyagetoColchisI.TheYouthJasonAmaninthegarbofaslavewentupthesideofthatmountainthatisallcoveredwithforest,theMountainPelion.Hecar...

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