myself of this youth," he said to himself; "I shall be far safer." So one day he called Jason into his presence and said to him, "You are a brave youth. No youth so brave has 5 ever come into our country. Surely so brave a youth as you must long for adventure." "I do," answered Jason. "Have you heard of the golden fleece?" asked the king. "I have," answered Jason. "Do you will that I go to 10 seek it?" "I do will so," was the king's brief reply. Jason caught the wicked gleam in the king's eye, but made no reply, only bowed low before the throne. For this was the manner, in those days, with which to receive and accept a royal 15 command. "You shall have my throne and my sceptre," said the king most foolishly, hardly knowing what he said, in his wild delight that he was to be free from the dangerous youth; for he knew or thought he knew that no 20 youth, however brave, could overcome this dreadful dragon, whose fiery breath, even when afar off, was like a scorching blast. So Jason went out from the king; and calling many brave youths to join him, they built a wonderful vessel 25 and named it the Argo. Upon its prow was fastened a beautiful figure, carved from the branches of the Talking Oak, a magic tree whose prophecies were never known to fail. The figure still held in its carved beauty the power to speak, and many a 30 goodly warning did it grant the brave youth, Jason. At last the ship was finished; the carved image was in place, and at the oars and upon the decks sat the bravest company of youths that Greece could gather. Proud indeed was Jason of his company, and sure in his heart 35 was he of success and glory. It was a long voyage; but the time passed most happily, and in due time the vessel grated upon the shores of the kingdom the youths were seeking. Fancy the surprise of the possessor of the golden fleece 5 when, an hour later, there came into his presence, a handsome, daring youth, who said, "I have come, good king, for the golden fleece." Records do not tell us what the king said. Perhaps he was so amazed he could say nothing; but we know that 10 Jason succeeded in his undertaking, and in due time sped back to his ship, sprang on board, and, seizing an oar, whispered, "Hurry, hurry, good youths, hurry!" It had been a terrible task and none but the bravest of youths would have had the courage to try. For first there 15 had been the brazen bulls, which he must tame and make to draw the plow terrible creatures were they with their breath of belching fire. Then must he plant the plowed furrows with the teeth of the dragon, even as Cadmus had done so long ago. From these teeth armed soldiers had 20 sprung up, whole armies of them, every one of which must be slain before the sun went down. But in both tasks Jason had succeeded; and then, because she admired the valor of the youth, the daughter of the king had pitied the sad fate that must befall him 25 should he approach the dragon-guarded fleece, and had come to his aid. "Here," said she, "is a vial of magic liquid. Go bravely into the presence of the dragon; and when he opens his great jaws to devour you, throw this into his cavernous 30 mouth. Even he cannot withstand its magic. He will at once roll over, lash his great tail, and fill the air for miles around with his terrible roar." 35 Thus, then, did the youth succeed in his daring venture, and bear away the golden fleece. "You promised me your kingdom," said Jason to old King Pelias, when he had appeared with the shining mass of wool. The old king scowled and clenched his sceptre in his hands. Never had he dreamed the youth would succeed; but here he stood, before the throne, claiming his 5 reward. "Yes, yes, you promised!" shouted the courtiers, who were proud of the brave youth and not over-fond of the old king. Then the king came down from his throne and placed 10 his sceptre in the hands of Jason. "Useless, useless is it," said he, "to contend against the will of the Fates. What they decree, that thing shall be in spite of kings or people." NOTES 271:7 Minerva. The Roman goddess of wisdom. In Greek mythology she was known as Athene. 272: 2 Great body of water. After the drowning of Helle, this was known as the "Hellespont" Sea of Helle. 273: 3 Centaur. The centaurs were half-men, half-horses, with the upper half of a man's body rising from the breast of a horse. Chiron was famous for his knowledge of music, medicine, and shooting. 275: 18 Cadmus. The son of Agenor, king of Phoenicia. He Iwas said to be the founder of Thebes. Argos (är'gos) Chiron (ki'ron) Helle (hel'ē) VOCABULARY Jason (ja'son) A JAPANESE MYTH THE STORY OF SUSA-NO-O The people of the Far East as well as we of the West have their myths and legends of the creation of the world, of gods and goddesses, and of national heroes of a great mythical past. Japan especially is very rich in such 5 literature. Her early history abounds in traditions of a golden era, and of their heaven-born descent. Many of these legends their poets and seers have lovingly recorded in their "Nihongi" or "Chronicles of Nippon." They tell us that in the long distant past there stood one 10 day on the great rainbow of heaven, fittingly termed by them the Mystic Floating Bridge, the great god Izanami and his consort, the goddess Izanagi. Long they peered into the vasty depths beneath and wondered, for they were intent on crossing the mystic bridge. Of what substance was the great 15 void? Of what were the mysterious depths? Nothing daunted, Izanami, grasping his great jeweled spear, which could reach all space, thrust it downward. It descended into water. Again, he thrust. Again he found water; water all around. But on raising his spear for the third 20 time, a drop of jeweled water fell from it. The water spread upon the waters below, gradually it thickened, and, lo! it became an island- the Island of Japan! Upon this island the god and goddess could now descend. They found the land good, and here they settled and chil25 dren were born to them. Their first-born they named Ama-terasu; and she was so beautiful to look upon that when she grew up they sent her back over the Floating Bridge that she might become the sun goddess and make the earth happy by her glorious sunshine. Their second child, a boy, was not as fair as his sister, but his melancholy beauty was such that they 5 also sent him back to their old home in the heavens, that he might add to the beauty of the sky with his silver radiance. They named him Tsuk-yi or the moon god. But, alas! like all earthly children, even this heavenly brother and sister soon quarreled; and Ama-terasu, the 10 eldest, denounced her younger brother saying, "Thou art a wicked god, and I will not look upon thee face to face!" From that day on they dwelt apart, separated by a day and a night. And now, to Izanagi and Izanami was born a third child, 15 a boy of lusty proportions. So strong and self-willed was he even as a child, that they named him Susa-no-o, the Impetuous. And thus he grew up, reveling in his growing strength and brooking no control. After a while he became jealous of his sister and brother dwelling in the 20 heavens above, for to him was only left this Nether-world. In his sulky moods, or raging fits of temper, all feared him. The oceans roared in their menace, the very mountains seemed torn apart in the terrific tempests that overwhelmed earth and sky. 25 Susa-no-o's parents at last were so much troubled by the continuous turmoil, that they decided to banish him to the Land of Yomi, on the uttermost confines of the Netherworld. Susa-no-o, however, had other plans. He could be meek and gentle if he tried. So one day, in his softest 30 summer mood, he approached his parents saying, "I am willing to obey your behests and depart to the far-off land thou hast given me, but first I have one request to make. I would not leave my sister in wrath, and so before my departure I would ask your permission to visit her in her 35 home in the high heavens." This apparently harmless |