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oward Pelion; up the long Magnesian shore。 On their right hand was the open sea; and on their left old Pelion rose; while the clouds crawled round his dark pine…forests; and his caps of summer snow。 And their hearts yearned for the dear old mountain; as they thought of pleasant days gone by; and of the sports of their boyhood; and their hunting; and their schooling in the cave beneath the cliff。 And 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 vapour; and to burning flame; and to a rock; and to a black…maned lion; and to a tall and stately tree。 But I held her and held her ever; till she took her own shape again; and led her to my father's house; and won her for my bride。 And all the rulers of Olympus came to our wedding; and the heavens and the earth rejoiced together; when an Immortal wedded mortal man。 And now let me see my son; for it is not often I shall see him upon earth: famous he will be; but short…lived; and die in the flower of youth。'
So Tiphys the helmsman steered them to the shore under the crags of Pelion; and they went up through the dark pine… forests towards the Centaur's cave。
And they came into the misty hall; beneath the snow…crowned crag; and saw the great Centaur lying; with his huge limbs spread upon the rock; and beside him stood Achilles; the child whom no steel could wound; and played upon his harp right sweetly; while Cheiron watched and smiled。
Then Cheiron leapt up and welcomed them; and kissed them every one; and set a feast before them of swine's flesh; and venison; and good wine; and young Achilles served them; and carried the golden goblet round。 And after supper all the heroes clapped their hands; and called on Orpheus to sing; but he refused; and said; 'How can I; who am the younger; sing before our ancient host?' So they called 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 the Centaurs and the Lapithai; which you may still see carved in stone。 (1) 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 how they tore up the pine… trees in their fury; and hurled great crags of stone; while the mountains thundered with the battle; and the land was wasted far and wide; till the Lapithai drove them from their home in the rich Thessalian plains to the lonely glens of Pindus; leaving Cheiron all alone。 And the heroes praised his song right heartily; for some of them had helped in that great fight。
Then Orpheus took the lyre; and sang of Chaos; and the making of the wondrous World; and how all things sprang from Love; who could not live alone in the Abyss。 And as he sang; his voice rose 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 forest beasts crept near to listen; and the birds forsook their nests and hovered round。 And old Cheiron claps his hands together; and beat his hoofs upon the ground; for wonder at that magic song。
Then Peleus kissed his boy; and wept over him; and they went down to the ship; and Cheiron came down with them; weeping; and kissed them one by one; and blest them; and promised to them great renown。 And the heroes wept when they left him; 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; and watched him standing on his cliff above the sea; with his great hands raised toward heaven; and his white locks waving in the wind; and they strained their eyes to watch him to the last; for they felt that they should look on him no more。
So they rowed on over the long swell of the sea; past Olympus; the seat of the Immortals; and past the wooded bays of Athos; and Samothrace the sacred isle; and they came past Lemnos to the Hellespont; and through the narrow strait of Abydos; and so on into the Propontis; which we call Marmora now。 And there they met with Cyzicus; ruling in Asia over the Dolions; who; the songs say; was the son of AEneas; 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 sprang our old British kings。 Now Cyzicus; the songs say; welcomed the heroes; for his father had been one of Cheiron's scholars; so he welcomed them; and feasted them; and stored their ship with corn and wine; and cloaks and rugs; the songs say; and shirts; of which no doubt they stood in need。
But at night; while they lay sleeping; came down on them terrible men; who lived with the bears in the mountains; like Titans or giants in shape; for each of them had six arms; and they fought with young firs and pines。 But Heracles killed them all before morn with his deadly poisoned arrows; but among them; in the darkness; he slew Cyzicus the kindly prince。
Then they got to their ship and to their oars; and Tiphys bade them cast off the hawsers and go to sea。 But as he spoke a whirlwind came; and spun the ARGO round; and twisted the hawsers together; so that no man could loose them。 Then Tiphys dropped the rudder from his hand; and cried; 'This comes from the Gods above。' But Jason went forward; and asked counsel of the magic bough。
Then the magic bough spoke; and answered; 'This is because you have slain Cyzicus your friend。 You must appease his soul; or you will never leave this shore。'
Jason went back sadly; and told the heroes what he had heard。 And they leapt on shore; and searched till dawn; and at dawn they found the body; all rolled in dust and blood; among the corpses of those monstrous beasts。 And they wept over their kind host; and laid him on a fair bed; and heaped a huge mound over him; and offered black sheep 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 Ancaeus 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; who rode best; a golden crest; and Polydeuces the boxer had a rich carpet; and to Orpheus for his song a sandal with golden wings。 But Jason himself was the best of all the archers; and the Minuai crowned him with an olive crown; and so; the songs say; the soul of good Cyzicus was