And as he went through the streets, the people came out to look at him, so tall and fair was he; but some of the elders whispered together; and at last one of them stopped Jason, and called to him:  “Fair lad, who are you, and whence come you; and what is your errand in the town?”

“My name, good father, is Jason, and I come from Pelion up above; and my errand is to Pelias your king; tell me then where his palace is.”

But the old man started, and grew pale, and said, “Do you not know the oracle, my son, that you go so boldly through the town, with but one sandal on?”

“I am a stranger here, and know of no oracle; but what of my one sandal?  I lost the other in Anauros, while I was struggling with the flood.”

Then the old man looked back to his companions; and one sighed and another smiled; at last he said:  “I will tell you, lest you rush upon your ruin unawares.  The oracle in Delphi has said, that a man wearing one sandal should take the kingdom from Pelias, and keep it for himself.  Therefore beware how you go up to his palace, for he is the fiercest and most cunning of all kings.”

Then Jason laughed a great laugh, like a war horse in his pride:  “Good news, good father, both for you and me.  For that very end I came into the town.”

Then he strode on toward the palace of Pelias, while all the people wondered at his bearing.

And he stood in the doorway and cried, “Come out, come out, Pelias the valiant, and fight for your kingdom like a man.”

Pelias came out wondering, and “Who are you, bold youth?” he cried.

“I am Jason, the son of AEson, the heir of all this land.”

Then Pelias lifted up his hands and eyes, and wept, or seemed to weep; and blessed the heavens which had brought his nephew to him, never to leave him 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 whichsoever of my daughters you shall choose; though a sad kingdom you will find it, and whosoever rules it a miserable man.  But come in, come in, and feast.”

So he drew Jason in, whether he would or not, and spoke to him so lovingly and feasted him so well, that Jason’s anger passed; and after supper his three cousins came into the hall, and Jason thought that he should like well enough to have one of them for his wife.

But at last he said to Pelias, “Why do you look so sad, my uncle?  And what did you mean just now, when you said that this was a doleful kingdom, and its ruler a miserable man?”

Then Pelias sighed heavily again and again and again, like a man who had to tell some dreadful story and was afraid to begin; but at last: 

“For seven long years and more have I never known a quiet night; and no more will he who comes after me, till the golden fleece be brought home.”

Then he told Jason the story of Phrixus, and of the golden fleece; and told him, too, which was a lie, that Phrixus’s spirit tormented him, calling 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, who will bring home the golden fleece, that our uncle’s spirit may have rest; and that we may have rest also, whom he never lets sleep in peace?”