But Pelias only answered gently, "My son, he shall be sent forthwith."
"You mean me?" cried Jason, starting up, "because I came here with one
sandal?" And he lifted his fist angrily, while Pelias stood up to him
like a wolf at bay; and whether of the two was the stronger and the
fiercer, it would be hard to tell.
But after a moment Pelias spoke gently, "Why then so rash, my son? You,
and not I, have said what is said; why blame me for what I have not
done? Had you bid me love the man of whom I spoke, and make him my
son-in-law and heir, I would have obeyed you; and what if I obey you
now, and send the man to win himself immortal fame? I have not harmed
you, or him. One thing at least I know, that he will go, and that
gladly; for he has a hero's heart within him; loving glory, and scorning
to break the word which he has given."
Jason saw that he was entrapped; but his second promise to Cheiron came
into his mind, and he thought, "What if the Centaur were a prophet in
that also, and meant that I should win the fleece!" Then he cried aloud:
"You have well spoken, cunning uncle of mine! I love glory, and I dare
keep to my word. I will go and fetch this golden fleece. Promise me but
this in return, and keep your word as I keep mine. Treat my father
lovingly while I am gone, for the sake of the all-seeing Zeus; and give
me up the kingdom for my own, on the day that I bring back the golden
fleece.
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