Page:The-story-of-the-golden-fleece--281903-29-andrew-lang.djvu/46

The Story of the Golden Fleece Greece. He knew about the stars, and the plants of earth, which were good for medicine and which were poisonous. He was the best archer with the bow, and the best player of the harp; he knew most songs and stories of old times, for he was the last of a people, half horse and half man, who had dwelt in ancient times on the hills. Therefore, the kings in Greece sent their sons to him to be taught shooting, singing, and telling the truth, and that was all the teaching they had then, except that they learned to hunt, fish, and fight, and throw spears, and toss the hammer and the stone. There Jason lived with Chiron and the boys in the cave, and many of the boys became famous. There was Orpheus who played the harp so sweetly that wild beasts followed his minstrelsy, and even 40