Then he looked east and
saw the bright blue sea, which stretched away forever toward the dawn.
Then he looked south, and saw a pleasant land, with white-walled towns
and farms, nestling along the shore of a land-locked bay, while the
smoke rose blue among the trees; and he knew it for the bay of Pagasai,
and the rich lowlands of Haemonia, and Iolcos by the sea.
Then he sighed, and asked: "Is it true what the heroes tell me, that I
am heir of that fair land?"
"And what good would it be to you, Jason, if you were heir of that fair
land?"
"I would take it and keep it."
"A strong man has taken it and kept it long. Are you stronger than
Pelias the terrible?"
"I can try my strength with his," said Jason. But Cheiron sighed and
said:
"You have many a danger to go through before you rule in Iolcos by the
sea; many a danger, and many a woe; and strange troubles in strange
lands, such as man never saw before."
"The happier I," said Jason, "to see what man never saw before."
And Cheiron sighed again, and said: "The eaglet must leave the nest when
it is fledged. Will you go to Iolcos by the sea? Then promise me two
things before you go."
Jason promised, and Cheiron answered: "Speak harshly to no soul whom you
may meet, and stand by the word which you shall speak."
Jason wondered why Cheiron asked this of him; but he knew that the
Centaur was a prophet, and saw things long before they came.
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