This learned person was one of the people , or quadrupeds , called Centaurs . He lived in a cavern , and had the body and legs of a white horse , with the head and shoulders of a man . His name was Chiron ; and , in spite of his odd appearance , he was a very excellent teacher , and had several scholars , who afterwards did him credit by making a great figure in the world . The famous Hercules was one , and so was Achilles , and Philoctetes likewise , and Aesculapius , who acquired immense repute as a doctor . The good Chiron taught his pupils how to play upon the harp , and how to cure diseases , and how to use the sword and shield , together with various other branches of education , in which the lads of those days used to be instructed , instead of writing and arithmetic . I have sometimes suspected that Master Chiron was not really very different from other people , but that , being a kind-hearted and merry old fellow , he was in the habit of making believe that he was a horse , and scrambling about the schoolroom on all fours , and letting the little boys ride upon his back . And so , when his scholars had grown up , and grown old , and were trotting their grandchildren on their knees , they told them about the sports of their school days ; and these young folks took the idea that their grandfathers had been taught their letters by a Centaur , half man and half horse . Little children , not quite understanding what is said to them , often get such absurd notions into their heads , you know . Be that as it may , it has always been told for a fact -LRB- and always will be told , as long as the world lasts -RRB- , that Chiron , with the head of a schoolmaster , had the body and legs of a horse . Just imagine the grave old gentleman clattering and stamping into the schoolroom on his four hoofs , perhaps treading on some little fellow 's toes , flourishing his switch tail instead of a rod , and , now and then , trotting out of doors to eat a mouthful of grass ! I wonder what the blacksmith charged him for a set of iron shoes ? So Jason dwelt in the cave , with this four-footed Chiron , from the time that he was an infant , only a few months old , until he had grown to the full height of a man . He became a very good harper , I suppose , and skilful in the use of weapons , and tolerably acquainted with herbs and other doctor 's stuff , and , above all , an admirable horseman ; for , in teaching young people to ride , the good Chiron must have been without a rival among schoolmasters . At length , being now a tall and athletic youth , Jason resolved to seek his fortune in the world , without asking Chiron 's advice , or telling him anything about the matter . This was very unwise , to be sure ; and I hope none of you , my little hearers , will ever follow Jason 's example . But , you are to understand , he had heard how that he himself was a prince royal , and how his father , King Jason , had been deprived of the kingdom of Iolchos by a certain Pelias , who would also have killed Jason , had he not been hidden in the Centaur 's cave . And , being come to the strength of a man , Jason determined to set all this business to rights , and to punish the wicked Pelias for wronging his dear father , and to cast him down from the throne , and seat himself there instead . With this intention , he took a spear in each hand , and threw a leopard 's skin over his shoulders , to keep off the rain , and set forth on his travels , with his long yellow ringlets waving in the wind . The part of his dress on which he most prided himself was a pair of sandals , that had been his father 's . They were handsomely embroidered , and were tied upon his feet with strings of gold .
But his whole attire was such as people did not very often see ; and as he passed along , the women and children ran to the doors and windows , wondering whither this beautiful youth was journeying , with his leopard 's skin and his golden-tied sandals , and what heroic deeds he meant to perform , XXXXX a spear in his right hand and another in his left .
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