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150 trious stranger. Jason answered courteously and simply; and then, turning from the king, inquired of the citizens where his father dwelt:—

Trained in old Chiron's school I come, whose daughters in their cavern-home,

Philyra and Chariclo—spotless maids!—my childhood bred.

Now twice ten years fulfilled, nor tongue nor hand

Offending e'er, I seek my native land

To win the realm, where ruled of old my sire,—now passed to alien hold

Unrighteously, for there did Zeus ordain

Æolus and his sons should reign.

Well I wot hath Pelias, led by jaundiced greed astray,

Torn from my sire perforce the land of his ancient sway.

And me; when light dawned on my opening eyes,

My parents mourning made for dread of that fierce lord, and feigned me dead,

And so, 'mid funeral gloom, and women's cries,

Swathed me in purple bands, and darkling bare

At midnight from my home, to dwell 'neath Chiron's fostering care.

Thus hear ye briefly gathered all my rede;

And show me now, good townsmen mine, the cradle of my knightly line,

For sure no alien land is this to Æson's native seed!

Jason am I, the Centaur gave my name."

One would have expected that such a declaration would have sealed his death-warrant; but no—whatever Pelias felt, he concealed his resentment, and the youth reached his home unmolested—