But at last he said to Pelias, "Why do you look so sad, my uncle? And
what did you mean just now, when you said that this was a doleful
kingdom, and its ruler a miserable man?"
Then Pelias sighed heavily again and again and again, like a man who
had to tell some dreadful story and was afraid to begin; but at last:
"For seven long years and more have I never known a quiet night; and no
more will he who comes after me, till the golden fleece be brought
home."
Then he told Jason the story of Phrixus, and of the golden fleece; and
told him, too, which was a lie, that Phrixus's spirit tormented him,
calling to him day and night. And his daughters came, and told the same
tale (for their father had taught them their parts) and wept, and said,
"Oh, who will bring home the golden fleece, that our uncle's spirit may
have rest; and that we may have rest also, whom he never lets sleep in
peace?"
Jason sat awhile, sad and silent; for he had often heard of that golden
fleece; but he looked on it as a thing hopeless and impossible for any
mortal man to win it.
But when Pelias saw him silent, he began to talk of other things, and
courted Jason more and more, speaking to him as if he was certain to be
his heir, and asking his advice about the kingdom; till Jason who was
young and simple, could not help saying to himself, "Surely he is not
the dark man whom people call him.
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