This celebrated hero was the son of Alcemede, by Aeson; the education of
the youthful Jason, whose right of succession to the throne of Iolchos had
been wrested from him by Pelias, was entrusted to the care of the centaur
Chiron, and he was removed from the presence of the usurper of the kingdom
of Iolchos, because the latter had been informed by an oracle that one of
the descendants of Aeolus, (from whom Jason had come) would dethrone him.
After he had distinguished himself by the most rapid success in every
branch of science, Jason left the country, and by the advice of his
preceptor, went to consult the oracle. He was ordered to {169} go to
Iolchos, his native country, covered with the spoils of a leopard, and
dressed in the garments of a Magnesian. In his journey he was stopped by
the inundation of a river, over which, however, he was carried by Juno, in
the character of an old woman. In crossing the stream, he lost one of his
sandals, and on his arrival at Iolchos, the singularity of his dress, and
the fairness of his complexion, attracted the notice of the people, and
drew a crowd round him in the market place. Pelias came to see him with the
others, and, as he had been warned by the oracle, to beware of a man who
should appear at Iolchos with one foot bare, and the other shod, the
appearance of Jason, who as we have seen, had lost one of his sandals,
alarmed him, and his terrors were soon after augmented, as Jason,
accompanied by his friends repaired to the palace of Pelias, and demanded
the kingdom of which he had been unjustly deprived. The boldness of Jason
intimidated Pelias; he was unwilling to abdicate the crown, yet he feared
the resentment of his adversary.
[Illustration]
As Jason was young and desirous of glory, Pelias reminded him that their
common relation, Phryxus, had been inhumanly murdered by Aeetes, king of
Colchis, in order to obtain possession of the golden fleece which belonged
to the murdered man; observing, that, the deed merited punishment, and was
one which would produce a crown of glory to him who should inflict it;
adding, that if Jason, were to undertake it, he would resign his own crown
and kingdom to him, immediately on his return. Burning with the desire of
{170} military fame, Jason readily undertook an expedition which seemed to
promise so much glory. The expedition was bruited about all Greece, and the
young and ardent of the nation were called upon to join him in the glory
and the danger.
They set sail in a ship called Argo and after a series of adventures
arrived at Colchis. Alarmed at an invasion which appeared so formidable,
Aeetes promised to restore the golden fleece for the possession of which he
had slain Phryxus, provided the invaders consented to the conditions he
should propose, and which were as follows: Jason was to tame bulls whose
breath were fierce flames, with feet and horns of brass, and to plough with
them, when subdued, a field sacred to Mars. He was then to sow in the
ground the teeth of a serpent, from which armed men would spring up, whose
rage would be directed against him who should be daring enough to plough
the field; and as a conclusion to his arduous tasks, he was to kill a
frightful dragon which remained ever on the watch at the tree where the
golden fleece was suspended. All were in fear for the fate of the
Argonauts, but Juno watched over their safety, and extricated them from
their difficulties. Medea, the king's daughter, fell in love with Jason,
and in an interview with her lover in the temple of Hecate, in which they
swore a mutual fidelity, and bound themselves by the most solemn oaths, she
pledged herself to deliver her lover from all his dangers. Her knowledge of
herbs, enchantments and incantations, was uncommon, and he received from
her whatever instruments and herbs could protect him against the coming
dangers.
"She then retires to Hecate's shrine, that stood
Far in the covert of a shady wood:
She finds the fury of her flames assauged,
But, seeing Jason there, again they raged.
Blushes and paleness did by turns invade
Her tender cheeks, and secret grief betrayed;
As fire, that sleeping under ashes lies,
Fresh blown and roused, does up in blazes rise,
New kindled by her lover's sparkling eyes,
So flamed the virgin's breast.
For chance, that day, had with uncommon grace;,
Adorned the lovely youth, and thro' his face
Displayed an air so pleasing, as might charm
A goddess, and a vestal's bosom warm.
Her ravished eyes survey him o'er and o'er,
As some gay wonder never seen before;
Transported to the skies she seems to be
And thinks she gazes on a deity,
{171}
But when he spoke and pressed her trembling hand,
And did with tender words her heart demand,
With vows and oaths to make her soon his bride,
She wept a flood of tears, and thus replied.
'I see my error, yet to ruin move,
Nor owe my fate to ignorance, but love:
Your life I'll guard, and only crave of you
To swear once more--and to your oath be true.'
He swears by Hecate, he would all fulfil,
And by her grandfather's prophetic skill
By everything that doubting love could press,
His present danger and desired success.
She credits him, and kindly does produce
Enchanted herbs, and teaches him their use,
Their mystic names, and virtues he admires.
And with his booty joyfully retires."