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The white lamb

by Eugenia Salza Prina Ricotti

As a matter of fact as it often happens when somebody leave for a long time his own country and his state, Jason found that old Pelias, having get hold of his throne, did not have any idea to give it back. Medea did not like the idea and decided to put everything in order. Of course she did it in her one’s way. She knew an enchantment that allowed her to give to any being she desired youth, beauty and strength and with it she easily succeeded to do away with the usurper. She had already made friend with Pelias daughters and invited them to come and assist to a wonderful experiment. Having put a very large kettle on the fire she ordered to bring her an old ram in very bad conditions, and after having killed it and cut it to pieces she throw them in the cauldron. Then, to accomplish the miracle, she pronounced the magic words and a white lamb well alive, kicking and bleating jumped out of the boiling water.
Pelias’s daughters were full of admiration and asked her if she could do the same prodigy for human beings Medea told them that this was very simple and that it was with this system that she had succeeded to make her father in law younger and restored Jason’s strength and vigor. Going back home the girls told what had happened to their father and little by little in the old man’s mind crept the wish to return a young boy. Pelias did not beware of Medea, because she always took good care to hide her hate for him, and when he asked her to do the same enchantment for him she accepted and not a doubt crossed Pelias’s mind. The day of the experiment was fixed and, when it came, the big cauldron was filled with water and put on the fire. Just when the water began to boil Medea slashed Pelias’s throat, cut him to pieces and threw them in the cauldron. Then glancing with despise to the unfortunate old man’s daughters she went away leaving them to tears and misery.
Jason was king anew.


BYBLIOGRAPHY
M. SCHLIMM, Sorceresses in Pandora. Women in Classical Greece, Milano, 1995, pp. 57- 62