"That is already accomplished, may it please
your majesty," replied Jason. "The bulls have
been tamed and yoked; the field has been
ploughed; the dragon's teeth have been sown
broadcast, and harrowed into the soil; the crop
of armed warriors have sprung up, and they
have slain one another, to the last man. And
now I solicit your majesty's permission to en-
counter the dragon, that I may take down the
Golden Fleece from the tree, and depart, with
my nine and forty comrades."

King uEetes scowled, and looked very angry
and excessively disturbed; for he knew that, in
accordance with his kingly promise, he ought
now to permit Jason to win the fleece, if his
courage and skill should enable him to do so,
But, since the young man had met with such
good luck in the matter of the brazen bulls and
the dragon's teeth, the king feared that he would
be equally successful in slaying the dragon.
And therefore, though he would gladly have
seen Jason snapped up at a mouthful, he wag
resolved (and it was a very wrong thing of this
wicked potentate) not to run any further risk of
losing his beloved fleece.

[[328]]

p327 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p328w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p329

v?