on 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 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 dis