Then he told Jason the story of Phrixus and of the Golden Fleece, and told him what was a lie, that Phrixus’ spirit tormented him day and night.  And his daughters came and told the same tale, and wept and said, “Oh, who will bring home the Golden Fleece, that the spirit of Phrixus may rest, and that we may rest also, for he never lets us sleep in peace?”

Jason sat awhile, sad and silent, for he had often heard of that Golden Fleece, but he looked on it as a thing hopeless and impossible for any mortal man to win.

When Pelias saw him silent he began to talk of other things.  “One thing there is,” said Pelias, “on which I need your advice, for, though you are young, I see in you a wisdom beyond your years.  There is one neighbor of mine whom I dread more than all men on earth.  I am stronger than he now and can command him, but I know that if he stay among us, he will work my ruin in the end.  Can you give me a plan, Jason, by which I can rid myself of that man?”

After a while, Jason answered half-laughing, “Were I you, I would send him to fetch that same Golden Fleece, for if he once set forth after it, you would never be troubled with him more.”

At that a little smile came across the lips of Pelias, and a flash of wicked joy into his eyes.  Jason saw it and started, and he remembered the warning of the old man, and his own one sandal and the oracle, and he saw that he was taken in a trap.

But Pelias only answered gently, “My son, he shall be sent forthwith.”

“You mean me!” cried Jason, starting up, “because I came here with one sandal,” and he lifted his fist angrily, while Pelias stood up to him like a wolf at bay.  Whether of the two was the stronger and the fiercer it would be hard to tell.

But after a moment Pelias spoke gently, “Why so rash, my son?  I have not harmed you.  You will go, and that gladly, for you have a hero’s heart within you, and the love of glory.”

Jason knew that he was entrapped, but he cried aloud, “You have well spoken, cunning uncle of mine, I love glory.  I will go and fetch the Golden Fleece.  Promise me but this in return, and keep your word as I keep mine.  Treat my father lovingly while I am gone, for the sake of the all-seeing Zeus, and give me up the kingdom for my own on the day that I bring back the Golden Fleece.”

Then Pelias looked at him and almost loved him, in the midst of all his hate, and he said, “I promise, and I will perform.  It will be no shame to give up my kingdom to the man who wins that fleece.”

So they both went and lay down to sleep.  But Jason could not sleep for thinking how he was to win the Golden Fleece.  Sometimes Phrixus seemed to call him in a thin voice, faint and low, as if it came from far across the sea.  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.”

On the morrow Jason went to Pelias and said, “Give me a lamb, that I may sacrifice to Hera.”  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, who were pupils of the Centaur with me.  Then together we will fit out a ship, and take what shall befall.”