--- title: The Golden Fleece., part 3 — Tanglewood Tales · full text with trees · page 2 description: The Golden Fleece., part 3, «Tanglewood Tales» by Nathaniel Hawthorne: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: Many of these brave fellows had been educated by Chiron, the four-footed pedagogue, and were therefore old schoolmates of Jason, and knew him t --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/27/page/2/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Tanglewood Tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/) / The Golden Fleece., part 3 # The Golden Fleece., part 3 · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/27/) **2** "I see them very plainly," remarked Lynceus, whose eyes, you know, were as far-sighted as a telescope. "[43](../../43/ "tree and pragmatics") They are a band of enormous giants, all of whom have six arms apiece, and a club, a sword, or some other weapon in each of their hands."[44](../../44/ "tree and pragmatics") "You have excellent eyes," said King Cyzicus. "[45](../../45/ "tree and pragmatics") Yes; they are six-armed giants, as you say, and these are the enemies whom I and my subjects have to contend with."[46](../../46/ "tree and pragmatics") The next day, when the Argonauts were about setting sail, down came these terrible giants, stepping a hundred yards at a stride, brandishing their six arms apiece, and looking formidable, so far aloft in the air.[47](../../47/ "tree and pragmatics") Each of these monsters was able to carry on a whole war by himself, for with one arm he could fling immense stones, and wield a club with another, and a sword with a third, while the fourth was poking a long spear at the enemy, and the fifth and sixth were shooting him with a bow and arrow.[48](../../48/ "tree and pragmatics") But, luckily, though the giants were so huge, and had so many arms, they had each but one heart, and that no bigger nor braver than the heart of an ordinary man.[49](../../49/ "tree and pragmatics") Besides, if they had been like the hundred-armed Briareus, the brave Argonauts would have given them their hands full of fight.[50](../../50/ "tree and pragmatics") Jason and his friends went boldly to meet them, slew a great many, and made the rest take to their heels, so that if the giants had had six legs apiece instead of six arms, it would have served them better to run away with.[51](../../51/ "tree and pragmatics") Another strange adventure happened when the voyagers came to Thrace, where they found a poor blind king, named Phineus, deserted by his subjects, and living in a very sorrowful way, all by himself.[52](../../52/ "tree and pragmatics") On Jason's inquiring whether they could do him any service, the king answered that he was terribly tormented by three great winged creatures, called Harpies, which had the faces of women, and the wings, bodies, and claws of vultures.[53](../../53/ "tree and pragmatics") These ugly wretches were in the habit of snatching away his dinner, and allowed him no peace of his life.[54](../../54/ "tree and pragmatics") Upon hearing this, the Argonauts spread a plentiful feast on the sea-shore, well knowing, from what the blind king said of their greediness, that the Harpies would snuff up the scent of the victuals, and quickly come to steal them away.[55](../../55/ "tree and pragmatics") And so it turned out; for, hardly was the table set, before the three hideous vulture women came flapping their wings, seized the food in their talons, and flew off as fast as they could.[56](../../56/ "tree and pragmatics") But the two sons of the North Wind drew their swords, spread their pinions, and set off through the air in pursuit of the thieves, whom they at last overtook among some islands, after a chase of hundreds of miles.[57](../../57/ "tree and pragmatics") The two winged youths blustered terribly at the Harpies (for they had the rough temper of their father), and so frightened them with their drawn swords, that they solemnly promised never to trouble King Phineus again.[58](../../58/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the Argonauts sailed onward and met with many other marvelous incidents, any one of which would make a story by itself.[59](../../59/ "tree and pragmatics") At one time they landed on an island, and were reposing on the grass, when they suddenly found themselves assailed by what seemed a shower of steel-headed arrows.[60](../../60/ "tree and pragmatics") Some of them stuck in the ground, while others hit against their shields, and several penetrated their flesh.[61](../../61/ "tree and pragmatics") The fifty heroes started up, and looked about them for the hidden enemy, but could find none, nor see any spot, on the whole island, where even a single archer could lie concealed.[62](../../62/ "tree and pragmatics") Still, however, the steel-headed arrows came whizzing among them; and, at last, happening to look upward, they beheld a large flock of birds, hovering and wheeling aloft, and shooting their feathers down upon the Argonauts.[63](../../63/ "tree and pragmatics") These feathers were the steel-headed arrows that had so tormented them.[64](../../64/ "tree and pragmatics") There was no possibility of making any resistance; and the fifty heroic Argonauts might all have been killed or wounded by a flock of troublesome birds, without ever setting eyes on the Golden Fleece, if Jason had not thought of asking the advice of the oaken image.[65](../../65/ "tree and pragmatics") So he ran to the galley as fast as his legs would carry him.[66](../../66/ "tree and pragmatics") "O, daughter of the Speaking Oak," cried he, all out of breath, "we need your wisdom more than ever before\![67](../../67/ "tree and pragmatics") We are in great peril from a flock of birds, who are shooting us with their steel-pointed feathers.[68](../../68/ "tree and pragmatics") What can we do to drive them away?"[69](../../69/ "tree and pragmatics") "Make a clatter on your shields," said the image.[70](../../70/ "tree and pragmatics") On receiving this excellent counsel, Jason hurried back to his companions (who were far more dismayed than when they fought with the six-armed giants), and bade them strike with their swords upon their brazen shields.[71](../../71/ "tree and pragmatics") Forthwith the fifty heroes set heartily to work, banging with might and main, and raised such a terrible clatter, that the birds made what haste they could to get away; and though they had shot half the feathers out of their wings, they were soon seen skimming among the clouds, a long distance off, and looking like a flock of wild geese.[72](../../72/ "tree and pragmatics") Orpheus celebrated this victory by playing a triumphant anthem on his harp, and sang so melodiously that Jason begged him to desist, lest, as the steel-feathered birds had been driven away by an ugly sound, they might be enticed back again by a sweet one.[73](../../73/ "tree and pragmatics") While the Argonauts remained on this island, they saw a small vessel approaching the shore, in which were two young men of princely demeanor, and exceedingly handsome, as young princes generally were, in those days.[74](../../74/ "tree and pragmatics") Now, who do you imagine these two voyagers turned out to be?[75](../../75/ "tree and pragmatics") Why, if you will believe me, they were the sons of that very Phrixus, who, in his childhood, had been carried to Colchis on the back of the golden-fleeced ram.[76](../../76/ "tree and pragmatics") Since that time, Phrixus had married the king's daughter; and the two young princes had been born and brought up at Colchis, and had spent their play-days in the outskirts of the grove, in the center of which the Golden Fleece was hanging upon a tree.[77](../../77/ "tree and pragmatics") They were now on their way to Greece, in hopes of getting back a kingdom that had been wrongfully taken from their father.[78](../../78/ "tree and pragmatics") When the princes understood whither the Argonauts were going, they offered to turn back, and guide them to Colchis.[79](../../79/ "tree and pragmatics") At the same time, however, they spoke as if it were very doubtful whether Jason would succeed in getting the Golden Fleece.[80](../../80/ "tree and pragmatics") According to their account, the tree on which it hung was guarded by a terrible dragon, who never failed to devour, at one mouthful, every person who might venture within his reach.[81](../../81/ "tree and pragmatics") "There are other difficulties in the way," continued the young princes. "[82](../../82/ "tree and pragmatics") But is not this enough?[83](../../83/ "tree and pragmatics") Ah, brave Jason, turn back before it is too late.[84](../../84/ "tree and pragmatics") It would grieve us to the heart, if you and your nine and forty brave companions should be eaten up, at fifty mouthfuls, by this execrable dragon."[85](../../85/ "tree and pragmatics") "My young friends," quietly replied Jason, "I do not wonder that you think the dragon very terrible.[86](../../86/ "tree and pragmatics") You have grown up from infancy in the fear of this monster, and therefore still regard him with the awe that children feel for the bugbears and hobgoblins which their nurses have talked to them about.[87](../../87/ "tree and pragmatics") But, in my view of the matter, the dragon is merely a pretty large serpent, who is not half so likely to snap me up at one mouthful as I am to cut off his ugly head, and strip the skin from his body.[88](../../88/ "tree and pragmatics") At all events, turn back who may, I will never see Greece again, unless I carry with me the Golden Fleece."[89](../../89/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/27/) **2** - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/27/) - next →: [The Golden Fleece., part 4](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/28/) - ↑ back to [Tanglewood Tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg976/)