Myths That Every Child Should Know

r Trained the

; but now I have a tale of heroes who sailed away into a distant land t

ermopyl?; and Socrates the wise asked no pay from his countrymen, but lived poor and barefoot all his days, only caring to make men good. And there are heroes in our days also, who do noble deeds, but not for gold. Our discoverers did not go to make themselves rich, when they sailed out one after another into the dreary frozen seas; nor did the ladies, who went out last year, to drudge in the hospitals of the East, making themselves poor, that they might be rich in noble works. And young men, too, whom you know, children,

d been told in story and in song, mixed up, no doubt, with dreams and fables, yet true and right at heart. So we will honour these old Argonauts, and listen to their story as it stands;

king. And when a famine came upon the land, their cruel stepmother, Ino, wished to kill them, that her own children might reign, and said that they must be sacrificed on an altar, to turn away the anger of the gods. So the poor children were brought to the altar, and the priest stood ready with his knife, when out of the clouds came the Golden Ram, and took them on his bac

in, till the wild beasts should feast him as their guest. So he went on in hunger and sorrow for many a weary day, till he saw a pack of wolves. The wolves were tearing a sheep; but when they saw At

the Thracian Chersonese, and there Helle fell into the sea. So those narrow str

. And at last, they say, he stopped at Colchis, on the steep Circassian coast; and there Phrixus married Chalchiope, the daughter of

d, and the pleasant hills of Hellas. So he came in dreams to the heroes of the Minuai, and called sadly by their bed

How shall we set

the golden fleece; and then my spirit will come back wi

, and said: "Who dare sail to Colchis, or bring home the golden fleece?" And in all

n, and there were dark and sad tales about his birth. When he was a babe he was cast out on the mountains, and a wild mare came by and kicked him. But a shepherd passing found the baby, with its face all blackened by the blow; and took him home, and called him Pelias, beca

his little son by the hand; and he said to himself, "I must hide the chil

rds and the olive groves, and across the torrent of Anauros, tow

the boy was tired and footsore, and ?son had to bear him in his arms, t

fair flowers and herbs, as if in a garden, ranged in order, each sort by itself. There they grew gayly in the sunshine, an

down the lad,

r hands upon his knees, and say, 'In the name of Zeus the fa

too, was a hero's son; but when he was within, h

beneath the sky. Down to the waist he was a man; but below he was a noble horse; his white hair rolled down over his broad sho

t with a golden key; and as he struck, he sang till h

he shaping of the wondrous earth. And he sang of the treasures of the hills, and the hidden jewels of the mine, and the veins of

the games which heroes love; and of travel, and wars, and sieges, and a noble death in fight; and then he sang of peace an

on was silent, and called

Cheiron smiled, and said, "Call hither your father ?son, for I know you, and all tha

iron asked him, "Why came you no

?son

less, and dare venture like a hero's son. But now I entreat you by Father Zeus, let the boy be your gues

nd upon his golden locks, and said, "Are you afraid of my hor

s hoofs like you, if I coul

n, when your playfellows will come home, and you shall lea

the storm like a prudent man. This boy shall not cross the Anauros

t weep, so full was his fancy of that strange cave, and the

aught him how to play it, till the sun sank low

eroes, ?neas, and Heracles, and Pe

cried, "I have killed two deer," and another, "I took a wildcat among the crags"; and Heracles dragged a wild goat after him by its horns, for he was as h

them all, each accor

ed snake; he came with downcast eyes to Cheiron, and whispered how he had watched the snake cast his old skin, and grow young again be

e gift, and each is worthy in his place; but to this child they h

nned the deer and quartered them, and set them to roast before the fire; and while the

ar spring water, for wine is not fit for growing lads. And when the remnants were put away, they all lay down u

t the cave's mouth, and there they boxed, and ran, and w

ure, in and out, and round and round. There they danced hand in hand, till the night fell over land

s' sons, and forgot Iolcos, and his father, and all his former life. But he grew strong, and brave and cunning, upon the pleasant downs of Pelion, in the keen hungry mountain air. And he learnt to wrestle, and to box, and to hunt, and to p

RT

st His Sanda

e. And Heracles was gone to Thebes, to fulfil those famous labours which have become a proverb among men. And Peleus had married a sea nymph, and his wedding is famous to this day. And ?neas was gone home to Troy, and many a noble tale you will read of hi

the Magnesian shore; Olympus, the seat of the Immortals, and Ossa, and Pelion, where he stood. Then he looked east and saw the bright blue sea, which stretched away forever toward the dawn. Then he looked south, and saw a pleasa

t true what the heroes tell me,

to you, Jason, if you wer

ake it and

d kept it long. Are you stron

ith his," said Jason. Bu

olcos by the sea; many a danger, and many a woe; and stran

Jason, "to see what

eave the nest when it is fledged. Will you go to Iolco

ak harshly to no soul whom you may meet, a

entaur was a prophet, and saw things long before they came. So he pr

ll he came to the vineyard walls, and the pomegranates and the olives in the

shook palsied on her breast, and her hands shook palsied on her knees; and

rrent down, all brown from the mountain rains, and silver veined with melting snow; while underneath he could hear the boulders rumb

"I am weak and old, fair youth. For H

r her scornfully, when Cheir

Immortals on Olympus, I will carry you over t

mbly as a goat; and Jason staggered in, wond

nd the stones rolled about his feet, and his feet slipped about the stones; so

ntle! Do you make game of

rrent by herself; but Cheiron's words were in his mind, and he sa

upon the bank; and a strong man he needed to have

o go upon his journey; but he cast one look at the old w

nd her jewels like the stars of heaven; and over her forehead was a veil, woven of the golden clouds of sunset; and through the v

s knees, and hid his f

Zeus. As thou hast done to me, so will I do to thee. Call on

like a pillar of tall white cloud, and floated away a

blessed old Cheiron, and said: "Surely the Centaur is a prophet, and guessed wha

as he walked, he found that he had

he; but some of the elders whispered together; and at last one of them stopped Jason, and cal

om Pelion up above; and my errand is to Pelias

"Do you not know the oracle, my son, that you go s

ut what of my one sandal? I lost the other in A

rush upon your ruin unawares. The oracle in Delphi has said, that a man wearing one sandal should take the kingdom from Pelia

in his pride: "Good news, good father, both for y

alace of Pelias, while all the

"Come out, come out, Pelias the valiant

ing, and "Who are you,

n of ?son, the heir

more. "For," said he, "I have but three daughters, and no son to be my heir. You shall be my heir then, and rule the kingdom after me, and marry whichs

im so well, that Jason's anger passed; and after supper his three cousins came into the

uncle? And what did you mean just now, when you said that

again, like a man who had to tell some dreadf

n a quiet night; and no more will he who comes a

ing 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,

rd of that golden fleece; but he looked on it as a thi

ingdom; till Jason who was young and simple, could not help saying to himself, "Surely he is not the dark man whom people call him. Yet why did he drive my father out?" And he asked Pel

r father was growing old and weary, and he gave the kingdom up to me of his own

see his father; and he believed all that Pelias said, for

ars. There is one neighbour of mine, whom I dread more than all men on earth. I am stronger than he now, and can command him; but I

uld send him to fetch that same golden fleece; for if he once

his eyes; and Jason saw it, and started; and over his mind came the warning of the ol

d gently, "My son, he s

nd he lifted his fist angrily, while Pelias stood up to him like a wolf at bay; a

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 yo

into his mind, and he thought, "What if the Centaur were a prophet in

fleece. Promise me but this in return, and keep your word as I keep mine. Treat my father lovingly while I am gone, for

ll his hate; and said, "I promise, and I will perform. It will be

tween them; and afterward both

d 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

rifice to Hera." So he went up, and offered his sacrifice; and as he stood by th

und to all the princes of the Minuai who were pupils of the Centaur wit

e said in his heart: "Let all the princes go with him, and like him, never ret

RT

lt the Ship

l the heroes of the Minuai, "Who dare co

h trunks of pine trees, but even so he would not die; and thither came Zetes and Calais, the winged sons of the north wind; and Peleus, the father of Achilles, whose bride was silver-footed Thetis the goddess of the sea. And thither came Telamon and Oileus, the fathers of the two Aiantes, who fought upon the plains of Troy; and Mopsus, the wise soothsayer, who knew the speech of birds; and Idmon, to whom Ph?bus gave a tongue to prophesy of things to come; and Ancaios, who could read the st

beauty, and their gallant bearing, and the glitter of their inlaid arms. And some said, "Never was such a gathering of the heroe

seas. They pierced her for fifty oars, an oar for each hero of the crew, and pitched her with coal-black pitch, and painted her bows with vermilion;

e, among the savage Cicon tribes. And he asked him: "Will you leave your mountains, Orpheus, my fellow scholar in old times, and cross Strymon once more w

he same day, and wandered away in my madness, even to Egypt and the Libyan sands, and the isles of all the seas, driven on by the terrible gadfly, while I charmed in vain the hearts of men, and the savage forest beasts, and the trees, and the lifeless stones, with my magic harp and song, giving rest, but finding none. But at last Calliope, my mother, delivered me, and brought me home in peace;

acred lake, and the fountain which breathed out fire, in the darkness of the ancient oak wood, beneath the mountain of the hundred springs. And he led him to the holy oak, where the black dove settled in old times, and was cha

for them to move her, and her keel sank deep in the sand. Then all the heroes looked at each other b

id, and bade Orpheus play upon the harp, while the heroes waited

to wave, while the wind sings cheerful in the cordage, and the oars flash fast among the foam! How sweet it is to roam

r, and heaved from stem to stern, and leapt up from the sand upon the rollers, and plunged onward like

ach man to his oar, and kept time to Orpheus's harp; and away across the bay they rowed southward, while t

RT

onauts Sail

eracles, because he was the strongest and most huge; but Heracles refused, and called for Jason, because he was the wisest of them all. So Jason was chosen captain: and Orpheus heaped a pile of wood and slew a bull, and offered it to Hera, and called all the heroes to stand round, each man's head crowned with olive, and to strike their swords into the bull. Then he filled a golden goblet with the bull's blood, and with wheaten flour, and honey,

he sailing place, from that day forth. Three thousand years ago and more they sailed away, into the unknown Eastern seas; and great nations have come and gone since then, and many a storm has swept the

nd at last Peleus spoke: "Let us land here, friends, and climb the dear old hill once more. We are going on a fearful journey: who knows if we shall see Pelion again? Let us go up to Cheiron our master, and ask his blessing ere we start. And I have a boy, too, with him, whom he trains as he trained me once, the son whom Thetis brought me, the silver-footed lady of the sea, whom I caught in the cave, and tamed her though she changed her shape seven times. For she changed, as I held her, into water, and to

under the crags of Pelion; and they went up throu

ying with his huge limbs spread upon the rock; and beside him stood Achilles, the child whom

alled on Cheiron to sing, and Achilles brought him his harp; and he began a wondrous song; a famous story of old time, of the fight between Centaurs and the Lapithai, which you may still see carved in stone. He sang how his brothers came to ruin by their folly, when they were mad with wine; and how they and the heroes fought, with fists, and teeth, and the goblets from which they drank; and

from the cave, above the crags, and through the tree tops, and the glens of oak and pine. And the trees bowed their heads when they heard it, and the gray rocks cracked and rang, and the fores

, till their great hearts could weep no more; for he was kind and just and pious, and wiser than all beasts and men. Then he went up to a cliff, and prayed for them, that they might come home safe and well; while the heroes rowed away, an

now. And there they met with Cyzicus, ruling in Asia over the Dolions, who, the songs say, was the son of ?neas, of whom you will hear many a tale some day. For Homer tells us how he fought at Troy; and Virgil how he sailed away and founded Rome; and men believed until late years that from him

itans or giants in shape; for each of them had six arms, and they fought with young firs and pines. But Heracles killed

lwind came, and spun the Argo round, and twisted the hawsers together, so that no man could loose them. Then Tiphys dropped the

cause you have slain Cyzicus your friend. You must a

heep at his tomb, and Orpheus sang a magic song to him, that his spirit might have rest. And then they held games at the tomb, after the custom of those times, and Jason gave prizes to each winner. To Anc?us he gave a golden cup, for he wrestled best of all; and to Heracles a silver one, for he was the strongest of all; and to Castor,

died likewise of grief; and her tears became a fount

d by the long ridges of Arganthus, and by high walls of basalt rock. And there they ran the ship ashore upon the yellow sand, and furl

nd there the water nymphs came up to look at him, and loved him, and carried him down under the lake to be their playfellow, forever happy and young. And Heracles sought for him in vain, shouting his name till all the mountains rang; but Hylas never

, and those whom he conquered he slew. But Polydeuces the boxer struck him a harder blow than he ever felt before, and slew him; and the Minuai went on up

lasts, a land of cold and misery; yet I will feast you as best I can." And he led them in, and set meat before them; but before they could put their hands to their mouths, down came two fearful monsters,

l the Gods had blest; for Aphrodite fed them on Olympus with honey and milk and wine; and Hera gave them beauty and wisdom, and Athene skill in all the arts; but when they came to their wedding, the Harpies snatched them both away, and gave

aid, "Do you not know us, Phineus, and these wings which grow upon our

en, whom you blinded in your rage, at the bidding of an evil woman, and cast them out upon the rocks? Swear to us that you will right our sister, and cast out that wicked woma

t the wicked woman; and Jason took those two poo

hom we played on Pelion in old times; for a fate is laid upon us, and our day is come at last, in which we may

men sprang up, and aloft into the air after t

e city, and great stones were torn from the crags, and the forest pines were hurled eastward, north and sout

here they fell upon the Echinades, at the mouth of the Achelous; and those isles were called the Whirlwind Isles for many a hundred years. But what became of Zetes and Calais I know not; for the heroes never saw them again; and some say that Heracles met them, and quarrelled with them, and slew them with his arrows; and some sa

d shoals, and fogs, and bitter freezing storms; and they told strange stories of it, some false and some half true, how it stretched northward to the ends of the earth, and the sluggish Putrid Sea, and the ever

ll come now to the wandering blue rocks; my mothe

they neared, they could see them heaving, as they rolled upon the long sea waves, crashing and grinding together, till the roar went up to heaven. The sea sprang

for an opening, and be brave, for Hera is with us." But Tiphys the cunning helmsman stood silent, clenching his teeth, till he saw a heron come flying mast high

e saw a hidden gap, and into it he rushed like an

d swiftly through; but they struck but a feather fr

r strokes, as they rushed between those toppling ice crags, and the cold blue lips of death.

the river, and to Wolf the kindly king. And there died two brave heroes, Idmon and Tiphys the wise helmsman; one died of an evil sickness, and one a wild boar slew. So the heroes heaped a mound above them, and set upo

t, till all night they heard the clank of anvils and the roar of furnace blasts, and the forge fires shone like sparks through the darkness, in the mountai

clouds. And they knew that they were come to Caucasus, at the end of all the earth; Caucasus the highest of all mountains, the father of the rivers o

our, till they saw the dark stream of Phasis rushing headlong to the sea, and s

fs of Aietes, and the woods where all poisons grow; but who can tell us where among them is

tes, though he be the child of the sun, and win him with soft words. Better so than to go altogether,

h fell into his daughter's lap; and that Medeia his daughter took it gladly, and carried it to the

the heroes whose spirits haunt the bank. So he went down in his golden chariot, and his daughters by his side, Medeia the fair witch m

or beauty and for strength, as their weapons glittered round them in the level morning sunlight, through the white mist of

ke his father the glorious Sun; for his robes were of rich gold tissue, and the rays of his diadem flashed fire; and in his hand he b

Do you take no account of my rule, nor of my people the Colchians who serve

r and to ravage, or carry away slaves from your land; but my uncle, the son of Poseidon, Pelias the Minuan king, he it is who has set me on a quest to bring home the golden fleece. And these, too, my bold comrades, they are no nam

eyes flashed fire as he heard; but he crushed his anger

w you are, that if you be worsted, I can load your ship with your corpses. But if you will be ruled by me, you will find it better far to choose

Minuai sat silent with sorrow, and longed for Heracles and his strength; for th

uth, while she watched the fair faces of his kinsmen, and their long locks of golden hair. And she whispered to Medeia her siste

father is stern and terrible, and who can win the golden fleece?" But Chalciope sa

nce, and said: "If there was one among them who kn

Argus the boy crept forward, among the beds of reeds, till he came where the heroes were sleeping, on the thwarts of the ship,

; and Chalciope my mother waits for y

the two princesses standing; and when Chalciope

beloved, go home

have sailed all these seas in vain." Then both the pri

tfall four acres in the field of Ares; and he must sow them with serpents' teeth, of which each tooth springs up into an armed man. Then he must fight with all those warriors; and litt

re, and by an unjust and lawless king; and unjustly shall I d

es, and mighty gates of threefold brass; and over the gates the wall is arched, with golden battlements above. And over the gateway sits Brimo, the wild witch huntress of the woods, brandishi

led through; no serpent so wary but he may be charmed, or witch queen so fierce but spe

d held her with his glittering eye, t

the bulls' breath, and fig

read over all the earth. Are you not the queen of all enchantresses,

Prometheus's wound, above the clouds on Caucasus, in the dreary fields of snow. Anoint yourself with that, and you shall have in you seven men's strength; and anoint your shield with it, and neither fire nor sword can harm you. But what you begin you must end b

he vase of ointment, and fled trembling through the reeds. And Jason told his comrades what had h

at it with his sword, but the blade flew to splinters in his face. Then they hurled their lances at his shield, but the spear points turned like lead; and Caineus tried to throw him, but he never stirred a foot; and Polydeuces struck him with his fis

or the fight; and they went up among the marble walls, and beneath the

the serpents' teeth, and let loose the fiery bulls; for we h

ad fled away by night; but he could not go back fro

sent heralds through all the town; and all the peop

, clothed from head to foot in steel-chain mail. And the people and the women crowded to every window

a, wrapped closely in her veil; but Aietes did not know

your promise, and let yo

ent out sheets of flame, as they rushed with lowered heads upon Jason; but he never flinched a step. The flame of their breat

he bull fell grovelling on his knees; for the heart of the brute died within him, and his mighty limb

ound them to the plough, and goaded them onward wit

s lips with rage; for the half of Jason's wor

ed what would befall. But Medeia looked at him and at his

oot in steel, and drew their swords and rushed on Jason, where he stood in the midst alone. Then the Minuai grew pale with fear for him;

ke me!" and another, "Thou art Jason; thou shalt die!" So fury seized those earth-born phantoms, and each turned his hand against the rest; and they fought and were never weary, till they

eard them from his crag. And Jason cried: "Lead me

e may kill the serpent yet." So he delayed, and sat taking counsel with his princes, till the sun went down and all was dark. Then

false witch maid! You have helped these yellow-haired st

e with fear; and Aietes knew that she was guilty,

for they saw that Aietes meant to mock them, and to cheat them out of all their toi

ragon is devouring one, the rest can slay him, and carry off the fleece in peace.

rembling, and wept a long whil

would kill if he dared; but he will not harm you, because you have been his guests. Go then,

cannot win the fleece, and home we will not go wi

or you can do it. Why else are you the priestess of the grove? Show us but how to win the fleece, and com

round, and vowed to her tha

ned after her sisters and her playfellows, and the home where she was brought

re it. I will show you how to win the golden fleece. Bring up your ship to the woodside, and moor her there ag

e longed to be foremost in all things. But Medeia calmed them, and said: "Orpheus shall go with Jason, and bri

ecause the choice had fallen on him; for in those day

found Medeia; and beside came Absyrtus h

and there she bade Jason dig a ditch, and kill the lamb and leave

rembled, and Medeia hid her eyes. And at last the witch queen vanished, and fled with her hounds into the woods; and the bars of the gates fell down, and the brazen doors flew wide, and Medeia and the heroes ran forward and hurried through the poison wood, among the dark stems of the mighty beeches, guided by the gleam of the golden fleece, until they saw it hanging on one vast

d like the fire among the woodlands, till the forest tossed and groaned. For his cry shook the trees from leaf to root, and swept over th

d neck, and licked her hand, and looked up in her face, as if to ask

ad sank down, and his brazen coils grew limp, and his glittering eyes closed lazily, till he breathed as

y snake, and tore the fleece from off the tree trunk; and th

golden fleece on high. Then he cried: "Go now, good Arg

, with muffled oars, till the pine wood bent like willow i

the princes of the East; past sluice mouths, and fragrant gardens, and groves of all strange fruits; past marshes where fat kine lay sleep

s like a horse; for she knew the time was come to show

like a horse, till the heroes stopped all panting, eac

eroes' hearts rose high again; and they rowed on stout

RT

s Were Driven in

ck eyed saw him coming, while he was still many a mile away, and cried: "I see a hundred ships, like a flock o

ed Absyrtus her young brother, and cast him into the sea, and said: "Ere my fathe

her for shame; yet they did not punish that dark witch

up, and went home. But he sent on his sailors toward the westward, and bound them by a mighty curse: "Bring back to me that d

se. Day after day the storm drove her, amid foam and blinding mist, till they knew no longer where they were, for the sun was blotted from the skies. And

n our misery, to die here among unknown seas? It is hard to lose the honour which we have won w

Because Father Zeus is angry, all this has fallen on you; for a cruel

"Medeia is the murderess. Let the

l her crimes are full. Vengeance waits for her, slow and sure; but she must live, for you need her still. She must show you the way to h

and years of bitter toil. And some upbraided the dark witch woman, and some said: "Nay, we are her debtors still; without

thrust the ship off the sand bank, and rowed forward on their weary course, u

ers say that they went southward, into the Red Indian Sea, and past the sunny lands where spices grow, round ?thiopia toward the west; and that at last they came to Libya, and dragged their ship across the burning sa

ill they came to the slope of Caucasus, where it sinks into the sea; and to the narrow Cimmerian Bosphorus,[B] where the Titan swam across upon the bull; and thence into the lazy waters of the still M?otid Lake.[C] And thence they went nort

roken with toil and hunger, and gave himself up to death. But brave Ancaios the helmsman cheered up their hearts once more, and bade them leap on land, and haul the ship with ropes and rollers for many a weary day, whether over land, or mud, or ice, I know not, for the song is mixed and broken like a dream. And it says next

ly past; for I can see the pure west wind ruffle the water, and hear the roar of ocea

ander forever, disgraced by the guilt of my princes; for the blood of Absyrtus still tracks me, and woe follows hard upon woe. And now some dark horror will clutch me, if I co

ing, and caught the sail, and strained the ropes. And away they drove twelve nights, on the wide wild western sea, through the foam, and over the rollers, while they saw

art again, brave sailors; for I see a pine-clad isle, and the hal

ng man can land there: there is no harbour on

ays more they sailed on, till they came to Aiaia

as they went inland, Circe met them, coming down toward the ship; and they t

t Medeia; and Medeia hid

he year round? Where is your aged father, and the brother whom you killed? Little do I expect you to return in safety with these strang

us from our guilt!" But she sent them away and said, "Go o

ast the Ausonian Islands, and the capes of the Tyrrhenian shore, till they came to a flowery island, upon a still, bright summer's eve. And as they neared it, slowly and wearily, they heard sweet songs upon the shore

mine. I have charmed stones, and trees, and dragons, how much more the hearts of

rock in the setting sun, among beds of crimson poppies and golden asphodel. Slowly they sung and sleepily, with silver vo

with lazy heads; while silver shoals of fish came up to hearken, and whispered as they broke the shining calm. The Wind overhead hushed his w

s, and they closed their heavy eyes; and they dreamed of bright still gardens, and of slumbers unde

nd rest awhile." And another, "Let us row to the shore, and hear the words they sing." And anoth

leapt out and swam toward the shore, crying, "I come, I come

uder, Orpheus, sing a bolder strain; wake up these hapless

e rose like a trumpet through the still evening air; into the air it rushed like thunder, till the rocks

oathly Gorgon, and won himself a peerless bride; and how he sits now with the Gods upon Olympu

r across the golden sea, till Orpheus's voice drowne

dare and suffer to the last. Sing us his song again, bra

t time to his music, as they fled fast away; and the Sirens' voic

more; for a charmed sleep came over him, and a pleasant humming in his ears; and he sank all along upon the pebble

ey crept down toward him, like leopards who creep upon their prey; and their hands were like th

ling star she cleft the sky, and left a trail of glittering light, till she stooped to the Isle of the Sirens, and snatched their prey from their claws.

shrieked for envy and rage, and leapt from the beach in

s the earth quakes, and his breath bursts out in roaring flames from the highest cone of ?tna, above the chestnut woods. And there Charybdis caught them in its fea

peak wrapt round in clouds; a rock which no man could climb, though he had twenty hands and feet, for the ston

er ere we sailed away from Hellas; she has six heads, and six long necks, and hides in that dark cleft. And from her cave she fishes for all things which pass by, for sharks, and seals, and dolphins, and all the herds of Amphitrite. And never s

guided her, and passed her on from hand to hand, and tossed her through the billows, as maidens toss the ball. And when Scylla stooped to seize her, they struck back her ravening heads, and foul Scylla whined, as a whelp whines, at the touch of their gentle hands. But she shrank into her cave affri

, and there rowed boldly in. But after awhile they stopped, and wondered; for there stood a great city on the shore, and temples and walls and gardens, and castles

harbours, and the windings of all the seas; and this should be Corcyra, where a few wild

e no savage people. We will

ng and lofty walls of marble, with strong palisades above. And the quays were full of people, merchants, and mariners, and slaves, going to and fro with merchandise among the crowd of ships. And the heroes' he

hailed them rough

trangers here, nor pirates. We

of gallant ships. "Surely you are the children of Poseidon, and the masters of the sea; and we are but poor wand

nest man, and you shall find us honest too. We are the children of Poseidon, and the m

ay, while the sailors laughed at them (for they were rough-tongued, though their hearts were frank and kind). And one said; "These fellows are but raw sailors;

but Jason held him back, till one of the merch

poor men come from God; and you seem no common sailors by your strength, and height, and weapons. Come up with me to the pal

trayed, and are going to our ruin; for I see my countrymen among the crowd;

poke to the merchant king: "What country is th

hall. Hither we came from Liburnia to escape the unrighteous Cyclopes; for they robbed us, peaceful merchants, of our hard-earned wares and weal

l more. For the lofty palace shone aloft in the sun, with walls of plated brass, from the threshold to the innermost chamber, and the doors were of silver and gold. And on each side of the doorway sat living dogs of gold, who never grew old or died, so well Hephaistus had made them in his forges in smoking Lemnos, and gave them to Alcinous to guard his gates by night. And within, against the walls, stood thrones on either side, down the whole length of the hall, strewn with rich glossy

For the rich southwest wind fed them, till pear grew ripe on pear, fig on fig, and grape on grape, all the winter and the spring. And at the further end gay flower beds bloomed through all seasons

rments stiff with gold, and in his hand a sculptured goblet, as he pledged the merchant kings; and beside

ade them sit and eat; and the servants broug

the fair queen, and fell at her knees, and

e. Do not send me back to my father, to die some dreadful death; but let me g

aiden? and what is the

rymen here to-day; and I know that they are come to

Lead this girl in, my maidens;

ne, and cried, "Speak, strangers, w

has run round every shore. We came hither out of the ocean, after sorrows such as man never saw before. We went out many, and come back few, for

nd stood deep in though

er him, that the far-famed Argonauts are his guests.' But these Colchi are my guests, as you are; and for this month they have waited he

r champions, and we will

you go outside, they will outnumber you. I will do j

o-morrow. To-night we will feast our guests, and hear the story of

ed themselves from head to foot with oil, and combed out their golden hair. Then they came back again into the hall, while the merchant kings rose up to do them honour. And each man said to his neighbour: "No wonder that these men won fam

erchant princes said: "Heroes, run races wi

wo swift comrades, the sons of the north wind. But do not think us cowards; if you wi

ders, we could never match you here. For we care nothing here for boxing, or for shooting with the bow;

s, the jolly merchant kings, till

their weary souls, till Alcinous called a h

Alcinous cut him a piece of meat from the fattest of the haunch, and sent it

anced strange figures; and after that the tumblers

, and seen the manners of all nations, have you seen such dancers as ours her

y man; for Ph?bus himself must have taught him, or else he is the son of a

nger," said Alcinous; "and we

w she helped them, and went with them over land and sea; and of all their fearful dangers, from monsters, and rocks, and storms, till the heart of Arete was softened, and all th

ry island of the West; and of the Sirens, and Scylla, and Charybdis, and all the wonders they had seen, till midnight pass

he heroes lay down to sleep, beneath the sounding porch outside, where

he Gods will punish her, not we. After all, she is our guest and my suppliant, and prayers are t

songs cannot alter justice; and I must be faithful to my name. Alcinous I am called, the man of st

er but one thing. These Minuai live close by us, and we may meet them often on the seas; but Aietes lives afar off,

and the Colchi also; and they came and stood opposite each other; but Medeia stayed in th

a shameful death; but if we return without he

on the ?olid?" said Alcino

you Brimo the wild huntress; or the chains will fall from off her wrists, and she will escape in her dragon car; or if not thus, some other way; for she has a thousand plans and wiles. And why return home at all, brave heroes, and face the long s

sail the seas no more!" And the chief said at last, "Be it so, then; a plague she has been to us, and a plague to the hous

ts, and rich presents of all sorts; and he gave the

and shame; and the Colchi went northward into the A

d not tell, and they gave up all hope of life. And at last they touched the ground, and when daylight came they waded to the shore; and saw nothing round but sand, and desolate salt pools; for they had come to the quicksands of the Syrtis, and the dreary treeless flats, which lie

uld not foretell his own end, for he was bitten in the foot by a snake, one of th

t at last they saw a long steep island, and a blue peak high among the clouds; and they knew it for the peak of Ida, and the famous land of Crete. And they said, "We w

and looked on all sides round him, till he saw the Argo and her crew; and when he saw them he came toward them, more swiftly than the swiftest horse, leaping across the glens at a bound, and striding at one step from down to down. And whe

are all good men and true; and all we ask is

es all; I know you; and if you

driving their flocks before them, while a great flame arose among the hills. Then

East. Hephaistos the Fire King made him, in his forge in ?tna beneath the earth, and called him Talus, and gave him to Minos for a servant, to guard the coast of Crete. Thrice a day he walks round th

? We must have water, or we die of thirst. Flesh and bloo

is body, filled with liquid fire; and that this vein is closed with a nail; but I know not where that

on shore, and row off again

ason said, "She is dearer to me than to any of you, yet I will trust her freely on shore;

n her beauty all alone, till the giant strode back red hot from h

ed; and she looked boldly up into his face

time gnaws all things in their turn. Life is short, though life is sweet; but sweeter to live forever; sweeter to live eve

ou, strange maiden; and whe

ss; my sister Circe gave me this, and said, 'Go and reward Talus the faithful servant, for his fame is g

said, "Dip yourself in the sea first, and cool yourself, lest you burn my tender

ill it hissed, and roared, and smoked; and came and

trayed me, false witch maiden!" But she lifted up her hands before him, and sang, till he sank beneath her spell. And as he sank, his brazen limbs clanked heavily, and the earth groane

down, and kissed Medeia's feet; and watered their ship, an

ed sacrifices, and Orpheus purged them from their guilt. Then they rowed away again to the northward, past the Laconian shore, and c

and wept till they could weep no more. For the houses and the trees were all altered; and all the faces which they saw were strange; an

and asked them, "Who are you

fetch the golden fleece; and we have brought it, and grief therewith. Give us

all the kings came to the shore, and they led away th

e hearth, crippled and blind with age; while opposite him sat ?son, Jason's father, crippled and blind

his name. And the old man stretched his hands out, and felt him, and sa

ght home the golden fleece, and a princess of the Sun's race for my bride. So now give

ould not let him go; and cried, "Now I shall not go down l

he Da

the Crim?a a

e Sea

Ural M

he Ba

Brit

RT

he End of

d it sadly, and I believe that they are right and wise; for though the heroes were purified at Malea, yet sacri

to punish that poor old Pelias, i

d put him in a cauldron with magic herbs; and whispered her spells over him, and he leapt out again a young lamb. So that "Medeia's cauldron" is

n." But she only told them half the spell; so they failed, while Medeia mocked them; and poor old Pelias died, and h

rible to speak of here. But you will hear of it yourselves when you grow up, for it has been sung in noble poetry and music; and whether it be true or not, it stands forever a

ch Meleager killed; and of Heracles's twelve famous labours; and of the seven who fought at Thebes; and of the noble love of Castor and Polydeuces, the twin Dioscouroi; how wh

him not to touch. And the Centaurs smelt the wine, and flocked to it, and fought for it with Heracles; but he killed them all with his poisoned arrows, and Cheiron was left alone. Then Cheiron took up one of the arrows, and dropped it by chance

may help poor mortal men." So Cheiron gave him his immortality, and died, and had rest from pain. And Heracles and Prometheus wept over h

heir story is in the book which we call Homer, in two of the noblest songs on earth; the Iliad, which tells us of the siege of Troy, and Achilles's quarrel with the kings; and the Odyssey, which tells the wanderings of Odysseus, through m