"
Then Pelias looked at him and almost loved him, in the midst of all his
hate; and said, "I promise, and I will perform. It will be no shame to
give up my kingdom to the man who wins that fleece."
Then they swore a great oath between them; and afterward both went in,
and lay down to sleep.
But Jason could not sleep, for thinking of his mighty oath, and how he
was to fulfil it, all alone, and without wealth or friends. So he tossed
a long time upon his bed, and thought of this plan and of that; and
sometimes Phrixus seemed to call him, in a thin voice, faint and low, as
if it came from far across the sea, "Let me come home to my fathers and
have rest." And sometimes he seemed to see the eyes of Hera, and to hear
her words again, "Call on me in the hour of need, and see if the
Immortals can forget."
And on the morrow he went to Pelias, and said, "Give me a victim, that I
may sacrifice to Hera." So he went up, and offered his sacrifice; and
as he stood by the altar, Hera sent a thought into his mind; and he went
back to Pelias, and said:
"If you are indeed in earnest, give me two heralds, that they may go
round to all the princes of the Minuai who were pupils of the Centaur
with me, that we may fit out a ship together, and take what shall
befall."
At that Pelias praised his wisdom, and hastened to send the heralds out;
for he said in his heart: "Let all the princes go with him, and like
him, never return; for so I shall be lord of all the Minuai, and the
greatest king in Hellas.
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