DEDICATED

TO MY KIND FRIENDS

MISS MACKIE AND MISS MASTERS

IN WHOSE SCHOOLS MY LECTURES WERE FIRST GIVEN

MYTHS OF GREECE AND ROME

NARRATED WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO LITERATURE AND ART

BY

H. A. GUERBER

LECTURER ON MYTHOLOGY

NEW YORK • : • CINCINNATI • : • CHICAGO

AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY 1893

Copyright, 1893, by AMERICAN BOOK COMPANY.

CLASS. MYTHS.

PREFACE.

THE aim of this book is to present a complete and entertain- ing account of Grecian and Roman mythology in such a manner that the student will appreciate its great influence upon literature and art.

These myths, an inexhaustible fund of inspiration for the poets and artists of the past, have also inspired many noted modern works. The better to impress this fact upon the student, appropri- ate quotations from the poetical writings of all ages, from Hesiod's " Works and Days," to Tennyson's " CEnone," have been inserted in the text, while reproductions of ancient masterpieces and noted examples of modern painting and sculpture are plentifully used as illustrations.

The myths are told as graphically and accurately as possible, great care being taken, however, to avoid the more repulsive features of heathen mythology ; and when two or more versions of the same myth occur, the preference has invariably been given to the most popular, that is to say, to the one which has inspired the greatest works.

Both the Latin and the Greek forms of proper names are given, but the Latin names are usually retained throughout the narrative, because more frequently used in poetry and art.

5

6 PREFACE.

The closing chapter includes an analysis of myths by the light of philology and comparative mythology, and the philological explanation of the stories related in the preceding chapters.

A map, genealogical table, and complete glossary and index adapt this little volume for constant use in the library and art gallery, at home and abroad.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

MAP SHOWING LOCATION OF MYTHS .... 8

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS 10

CHAP. I. THE BEGINNING OK ALL THINGS 11

II. JUPITER ......... 39

III. JUNO 51

IV. MINERVA 55

V. APOLLO 61

VI. DIANA 93

VII. VENUS 103

VIII. MERCUUY 131

IX. MARS 138

X. VULCAN 144

XI. NEPTUNK 149

XII. PLUTO 159

XIII. BACCHUS . . -171

XIV. CERES AND PROSERPINA 183

XV. VESTA 198

XVI. JANUS 205

XVII. SOMNUS AND MoRS ....... 2O8

XVIII. .-KOLUS . . . . . . . . . 213

XIX. HERCULES 216

XX. PERSEUS 240

XXI. THESEU> 250

XXII. JASON 263

XXIII. THE CALYDONIAN HUM 275

XXIV. (.EDIPUS 280

XXV. BELI.EROPHON 291

XXVI. MINOR DIVINITIES ....... 297

XXVII. THE TROJAN WAR 305

XXVIII. ADVENTURES OF ULYSSES 337

XXIX. ADVENTURES OF ./ENEAS 360

XXX. ANALYSIS OF MYTHS . . . . . . . 378

GENEALOGICAL TABLE ........ 402

INDEX TO POETICAL QUOTATIONS 405

GLOSSARY AND INDEX 407

LIST. OF ILLUSTRATIONS.

Council of the Gods

Amor

Fountain of Cybele (Rhea)

Minerva and Prometheus

Pandora

Hope

Olympian Zeus

Ganymede and the Eagle

The Abduction of Europa

Juno

Iris

Minerva

Apollo Belvedere

Apollo and Daphne

Orpheus and Eurydice .

Farnese Bull

Aurora

Apollo and the Muses

Diana of Versailles

Niobe

Triumph of Venus

Fourth Hour of the Night

Sleeping Love

Hero and Leander

Cupid and Psyche

Venus de Milo

Flying Mercury

Venus de Milo and Mars

Vulcan forging Arrows for Cupid

Fountain of Neptune

Father Nile

Charon and Psyche

The Three Fates

Youth of Bacchus

Ariadne

Abduction of Proserpina Ceres . .

A Nymph 191

School of the Vestal Virgins .... 199

The Vestal Tuccia 201

Genius of Death 209

Hercules an Infant 217

Hercules and Centaur 222

Mounted Amazon going to the

Chase 225

Hercules at the Feet of Omphale, 231

Fortuna 233

Hercules and Lichas 237

Perseus 245

Perseus and Andromeda 247

Dtedalus and Icarus 254

Ariadne 258

Theseus 261

Jason and the Dragon 270

Medea 272

Atalanta's Race 277

CEdipus and the Sphinx 284

Antigone and Ismene 289

Chimsera 293

Psyche and Pan 302

Venus with the Apple 309

Abduction of Helen 313

Parting of Hector and Androm- ache 322

Thetis bearing the Armor of

Achilles 327

Laocoon 334

Triumph of Galatea 340

Polyphemus, Acis, and Galatea . . 342

MYTHS OF GREECE AND ROME.

CHAPTER I.

THE BEGINNING OF ALL THINGS.

MYTHOLOGY is the science which treats of the early tradi- tions, or myths, relating to the religion of the ancients, and includes, besides a full account of the origin of their gods, their theory concerning the beginning of all things.

Among all the nations scattered over the face of the earth, the Hebrews alone were instructed by God, who gave them not only a full account of the creation of the world and of Myths of all living creatures, but also a code of laws to reg- creation, ulate their conduct. All the questions they fain would ask. were fully answered, and no room remained for conjecture.

It was not so, however, with the other nations. The Greeks and Romans, for instance, lacking the definite knowledge which we obtain from the Scriptures, and still anxious to know every- thing, were forced to invent, in part, their own theory. As they looked about them for some clew to serve as guide, they could not help but observe and admire the wonders of nature. The suc- cession of day and night, summer and winter, rain and sunshine ;

ii

12 CLASSICAL MYTHS.

the fact that the tallest trees sprang from tiny seeds, the greatest rivers from diminutive streams, and the most beautiful flowers and delicious fruits from small green buds, — all seemed to tell them of a superior Being, who had fashioned them to serve a definite purpose.

They soon came to the conclusion that a hand mighty enough to call all these wonders into life, could also have created the beautiful Earth whereon they dwelt. These thoughts gave rise to others ; suppositions became certainties ; and soon the fol- lowing myth or fable was evolved, to be handed down from generation to generation.

At first, when all things lay in a great confused mass, —

" Ere earth, and sea, and covering heavens, were known, The face of nature, o'er the world, was one ; And men have call'd it Chaos ; formless, rude, The mass; dead matter's weight, inert, and crude; Where, in mix'd heap of ill-compounded mold, The jarring seeds of things confusedly roll'd."

OVID (Elton's tr.).

The Earth did not exist. Land, sea, and air were mixed up together ; so that the earth was not solid, the sea was not fluid, nor the air transparent.

" No sun yet beam'd from yon cerulean height ; No orbing moon repair'd her horns of light; No earth, self-poised, on liquid ether hung; No sea its world-enclasping waters flung; Earth was half air, half sea, an embryo heap; Nor earth was fix'd, nor fluid was the deep ; Dark was the void of air ; no form was traced ; Obstructing atoms struggled through the waste; Where cold, and hot, and moist, and dry rebell'd ; Heavy the light, and hard the soft repell'd."

OVID (Elton's tr.).

Over this shapeless mass reigned a careless deity called Chaos, whose personal appearance could not be described, as there was

THE BEGIXXJXG Of ALL THINGS. 13

no light by which he could be seen. He shared his throne with his wife, the dark goddess of Night, named chaos and Nyx or Nox, whose black robes, and still blacker Nyx-

countenance, did not tend to illuminate the surrounding gloom.

These two divinities wearied of their power in the course of time, and called their son Erebus (Darkness) to their assistance. His first act was to dethrone and supplant Chaos ; Erebus, aether, and then, thinking he would be happier with a and Hemera- helpmeet, he married his own mother, Nyx. Of course, with our present views, this marriage was a heinous sin ; but the an- cients, who at first had no fixed laws, did not consider this union unsuitable, and recounted how Erebus and Nyx ruled over the chaotic world together, until their two beautiful children, y£ther (Light) and Hemera (Day), acting in concert, dethroned them, and seized the supreme power.

Space, illumined for the first time by their radiance, revealed itself in all its uncouthness. ^Ether and Hemera carefully ex- amined the confusion, saw its innumerable possi- creation of Gcea bilities, and decided to evolve from it a " thing of and Uranus- beauty ;" but quite conscious of the magnitude of such an under- taking, and feeling that some assistance would be desirable, they summoned Eros (Amor or Love), their own child, to their aid. By their combined efforts, Pontus (the Sea) and Gaea (Ge, Tel- lus, Terra), as the Earth was first called, were created.

In the beginning the Earth did not present the beautiful ap- pearance that it does now. No trees waved their leafy branches on the hillsides ; no flowers bloomed in the valleys ; no grass grew on the plains ; no birds flew through the air. All was silent, bare, and motionless. Eros, the first to perceive these deficien- cies, seized his life-giving arrows and pierced the cold bosom of the Earth. Immediately the brown surface was covered with luxuriant verdure ; birds of many colors flitted through the foli- age of the new-born forest trees ; animals of all kinds gamboled over the grassy plains ; and swift-darting fishes swam in the lim- pid streams. All was now life, joy, and motion.

AMOR.— Martin.

THE BEG I. \.\IXG OF ALL THINGS. 15

Gaea, roused from her apathy, admired all that had already been done for her embellishment, and, resolving to crown and complete the work so well begun, created Uranus (Heaven).

"Her first-bom Earth produc'd, Of like immensity, the starry Heaven: That he might sheltering compass her around On every side."

HESIOD (Elton's tr.).

This version of the creation *of the world, although but one of the many current with the Greeks and Romans, was the one most generally adopted ; but another, also very

' ', The egg myth.

popular, stated that the first divinities, Erebus and

Xyx, produced a gigantic egg, from which Eros, the god of love,

emerged to create the Earth.

" In the dreary chaotical closet Of Erebus old, was a privy deposit, By Night the primaeval in secrecy laid ; A Mystical Egg, that in silence and shade Was brooded and hatched ; till time came about : And Love, the delightful, in glory flew out."

ARISTOPHANES (Frere's tr.).

The Earth thus created was supposed by the ancients to be a disk, instead of a sphere as science has proved. The Greeks fancied that their country occupied a central posi-

Mount Olympus

tion, and that Mount Olympus, a very high moun- and the river tain, the mythological abode of their gods, was placed in the exact center. Their Earth was divided into two equal parts by Pontus (the Sea, — equivalent to our Mediter- ranean and Black Seas) ; and all around it flowed the great river Oceanus in a "steady, equable current," undisturbed by storm, from which the Sea and all the rivers were supposed to derive their waters.

The Greeks also imagined that the portion of the Earth directly north of their country was inhabited by a fortunate race of men,

1 6 CLASSICAL MYTHS.

the Hyperboreans, who dwelt in continual bliss, arid enjoyed a never-ending springtide. Their homes were said to be " inacces- TheHyperbo- sible by land or by sea." They were "exempt reans. from disease, old age, and death," and were so virtuous that the gods frequently visited them, and even conde- scended to share their feasts and games. A people thus favored could not fail to be happy, and many were the songs in praise of their sunny land.

" I come from a land in the sun-bright deep,

Where golden gardens grow ; Where the winds of the north, becalm'd in sleep, Their conch shells never blow.

" So near the track of the stars are we, That oft, on night's pale beams, The distant sounds of their harmony Come to our ears, like dreams.

"The Moon, too, brings her world so nigh,

That when the night-seer looks To that shadowless orb, in a vernal sky, He can number its hills and brooks.

"To the Sun god all our hearts and lyres

By day, by night, belong ; And the breath we draw from his living fires

We give him back in song."

MOORE.

South of Greece, also near the great river Oceanus, dwelt an- other nation, just as happy and virtuous as the Hyperboreans, — the Ethiopians. They, too, often enjoyed the

The Ethiopians

and the isles company of the gods, who shared their innocent

of the Blest. . . . , ,. .

pleasures with great delight.

And far away, on the shore of this same marvelous river, ac- cording to some mythologists, were the beautiful Isles of the Blest, where mortals who had led virtuous lives, and had thus found favor in the sight of the gods, were transported without

THE BEGINNING OF ALL THINGS. 17

tasting of death, and where they enjoyed an eternity of bliss. These islands had sun, moon, and stars of their own, and were never visited by the cold wintry winds that swept down from the north.

'•' The Isles of the Blest, they say,

The Isles of the Blest,

Are peaceful and happy, by night and by day, Far away in the glorious west.

" They need not the moon in that land of delight,

They need not the pale, pale star ;

The sun is bright, by day and night,

Where the souls of the blessed are.

" They till not the ground, they plow not the wave,

They labor not, never ! oh, never ! Not a tear do they shed, not a sigh do they heave, They are happy, for ever and ever ! "

PINDAR.

Chaos, Erebus, and Nyx were deprived of their power by yEther and Hemera, who did not long enjoy the possession of the scepter ; for Uranus and Gaea, more powerful Uranus and than their progenitors, soon forced them to depart, Gaea<

and began to reign in their stead. They had not dwelt long on the summit of Mount Olympus, before they found themselves the parents of twelve gigantic children, the Titans, whose strength was such that their father, Uranus, greatly feared them. To pre- vent their ever making use of it against him, he seized them im- mediately after their birth, hurled them down into a dark abyss called Tartarus, and there chained them fast.

This chasm was situated far under the earth ; and Uranus knew that his six sons (Oceanus, Coeus, Crius, Hyperion, lap- etus, and Cronus), as well as his six daughters, ,

' Titans, Cyclo-

theTitanides (Ilia, Rhea, Themis, Thetis, Mnemos- pes, and Cen- yne, and Phoebe), could not easily escape from its cavernous depths. The Titans did not long remain sole occu- pants of Tartarus, for one day the brazen doors were again

1 8 CLASSICAL MYTHS.

thrown wide open to admit the Cyclopes, — Brontes (Thunder), Steropes (Lightning), and Arges (Sheet-lightning), — three later- born children of Uranus and Gaea, who helped the Titans to make the darkness hideous with their incessant clamor for free- dom. In due time their number was increased by the three ter- rible Centirrjani (Hundred-handed), Cottus, Briareus, and Gyes, who were sent thither by Uranus to share their fate.

Greatly dissatisfied with the treatment her children had re- ceived at their father's hands, Gaea remonstrated, but all in vain. Uranus would not grant her request to set the giants free, and, whenever their muffled cries reached his ear, he trembled for his own safety. Angry beyond all expression, Gaea swore revenge, and descended into Tartarus, where she urged the Titans to con- spire against their father, and attempt to wrest the scepter from his grasp.

All listened attentively to the words of sedition ; but none were courageous enough to carry out her plans, except Cronus, the

The Titans youngest of the Titans, more familiarly known as revolt. Saturn or Time, who found confinement and chains peculiarly galling, and who hated his father for his cruelty. Gaea finally induced him to lay violent hands upon his sire, and, after releasing him from his bonds, gave him a scythe, and bade him be of good cheer and return victorious.

Thus armed and admonished, Cronus set forth, came upon his father unawares, defeated him, thanks to his extraordinary weap- on, and, after binding him fast, took possession of the vacant throne, intending to rule the universe forever. Enraged at this insult, Uranus cursed his son, and prophesied that a day would come when he, too, would be supplanted by his children, and would suffer just punishment for his impudence.

Cronus paid no heed to his father's imprecations, but calmly proceeded to release the Titans, his brothers and sisters, who, in their joy and gratitude to escape the dismal realm of Tartarus, expressed their willingness to be ruled by him. Their satisfac- tion was complete, however, when he chose his own sister Rhea

(19)

20 CLASSICAL MYTHS.

(Cybele, Ops) for his consort, and assigned to each of the others some portion of the world to govern at will. To Oceanus and

Cronus and Thetis, for example, he gave charge over the ocean

Rhea. an(j a\\ the rivers upon earth ; while to Hyperion

and Phoebe he intrusted the direction of the sun and moon, which

the ancients supposed were daily driven across the sky in brilliant

golden chariots.

Peace and security now reigned on and around Mount Olym- pus ; and Cronus, with great satisfaction, congratulated himself on the result of his enterprise. One fine morning, however, his equanimity was disturbed by the announcement that a son was born to him. The memory of his father's curse then suddenly re- turned to his mind. Anxious to avert so great a calamity as the loss of his power, he hastened to his wife, determined to devour the child, and thus prevent him from causing further annoyance. Wholly unsuspicious, Rhea heard him inquire for his son. Gladly she placed him in his extended arms ; but imagine her surprise and horror when she beheld her husband swallow the babe !

Time passed, and another child was born, but only to meet

with the same cruel fate. One infant after another disappeared

Birth down the capacious throat of the voracious Cro-

of Jupiter. nus^ — a personification of Time, who creates only to destroy. In vain the bereaved mother besought the life of one little one : the selfish, hard-hearted father would not relent. As her prayers seemed unavailing, Rhea finally resolved to obtain by stratagem the boon her husband denied ; and as soon as her youngest son, Jupiter (Jove, Zeus), was born, she concealed him.

Cronus, aware of his birth, soon made his appearance, deter- mined to dispose of him in the usual summary manner. For some time Rhea pleaded with him, but at last pretended to yield to his commands. Hastily wrapping a large stone in swaddling clothes, she handed it to Cronus, simulating intense grief. Cro- nus was evidently not of a very inquiring turn of mind, for he swallowed the whole without investigating the real contents of the shapeless bundle.

THE BEGINNING OF ALL THIXGS. 21

" To th' imperial son of Heaven, Whilom the king of gods, a stone she gave Imvrapt in infant swathes; and this with grasp Eager he snatch'd, and in his ravening breast Convey'd away : unhappy ! nor once thought That for the stone his child behind remain'd Invincible, secure; who soon, with hands Of strength o'ercoming him, should cast him forth From glory, and himself th' immortals rule."

HESIOD (Elton's tr.).

Ignorant of the deception practiced upon him, Cronus then took leave, and the overjoyed mother clasped her rescued treas- ure to her breast. It was not sufficient, however, to have saved young Jupiter from imminent death : it was also necessary that his father should remain unconscious of his existence.

To insure this, Rhea intrusted her babe to the tender care of the Melian nymphs, who bore him off to a cave on Mount Ida. There a goat, Amalthea, was procured to act as Jupiter's nurse, and fulfilled her office so acceptably that infancy. she was eventually placed in the heavens as a constellation, a brilliant reward for her kind ministrations. To prevent Jupiter's cries being heard in Olympus, the Curetes (Corybantes), Rhea's priests, uttered piercing screams, clashed their weapons, executed fierce dances, and chanted rude war songs.

The real significance of all this unwonted noise and commo- tion was not at all understood by Cronus, who, in the intervals of his numerous affairs, congratulated himself upon the cunning he had shown to prevent the accomplishment of his father's curse. But all his anxiety and fears were aroused when he suddenly became aware of the fraud practiced upon him, and of young Jupiter's continued existence. He immediately tried to devise some plan to get rid of him ; but, before he could put it into execution, he found himself attacked, and, after a short but terrible encounter, signally defeated.

Jupiter, delighted to have triumphed so quickly, took possession

22 CLASSICAL MYTHS.

of the supreme power, and aided by Rhea's counsels, and by a nauseous potion prepared by Metis, a daughter of Oceanus, Jupiter's compelled Cronus to produce the unfortunate chil- supremacy. ^ren he had swallowed ; i.e., Neptune, Pluto, Ves- ta, Ceres, and Juno.

Following the example of his predecessor, Jupiter gave his brothers and sisters a fair share of his new kingdom. The wis- est among the Titans — Mnemosyne, Themis, Oceanus, and Hy- perion— submitted to the new sovereign without murmur, but the others refused their allegiance ; which refusal, of course, occa- sioned a deadly conflict.

" When gods began with wrath, And war rose up between their starry brows, Some choosing to cast Cronus from his throne That Zeus might king it there, and some in haste With opposite oaths that they would have no Zeus To rule the gods forever."

E. B. BROWNING.

Jupiter, from the top of Mount Olympus, discerned the superior number of his foes, and, quite aware of their might, concluded

The giants' that reenforccments to his party would not be su- perfluous. In haste, therefore, he released the Cy- clopes from Tartarus, where they had languished so long, stipu- lating that in exchange for their freedom they should supply him with thunderbolts, — weapons which only they knew how to forge. This new engine caused great terror and dismay in the ranks of the enemy, who, nevertheless, soon rallied, and struggled valiantly to overthrow the usurper and win back the sovereignty of the world.

During ten long years the war raged incessantly, neither party wishing to submit to the dominion of the other, but at the end of that time the rebellious Titans were obliged to yield. Some of them were hurled into Tartarus once more, where they were carefully secured by Neptune, Jupiter's brother, while the young conqueror joyfully proclaimed his victory.

THE BEGINNING OF ALL THINGS. 23

*' League all yt>ur forces then, ye powers above, Join all, and try th' omnipotence of Jove: Let down our golden everlasting chain, Whose strong embrace holds heaven and earth and main : Strive all, of mortal and immortal birth, To drag, by this, the Thunderer down to earth, Ye strive in vain ! if I but stretch this hand, I heave the gods, the ocean, and the land; I fix the chain to great Olympus' height, And the vast world hangs trembling in my sight ! For such I reign, unbounded and above ; And such are men and gods, compar'd to Jove."

HOMER (Pope's tr.).

The scene of this mighty conflict was supposed to have been in Thessaly, where the country bears the imprint of some great natural convulsion ; for the ancients imagined that the gods, making the most of their gigantic strength and stature, hurled huge rocks at each other, and piled mountain upon mountain to reach the abode of Jupiter, the Thunderer.

"Mountain on mountain, as the Titans erst, My brethren, scaling the high seat of Jove, Heaved Pelion upon Ossa's shoulders broad In vain emprise."

LOWELL.

Saturn, or Cronus, the leader and instigator of the revolt, weary at last of bloodshed and strife, withdrew to Italy, or Hes- peria, where he founded a prosperous kingdom, and reigned in peace for many long years.

Jupiter, having disposed of all the Titans, now fancied he would enjoy the power so unlawfully obtained ; but Gaea, to pun- ish him for depriving her children of their birth- Death right, created a terrible monster, called Typhceus, of Typhoeus. or Typhon, which she sent to attack him. This Typhceus was a giant, from whose trunk one hundred dragon heads arose ; flames shot from his eyes, nostrils, and mouths; while he incessantly uttered such blood-curdling screams, that the gods, in terror, fled

24 CLASSICAL MYTHS.

from Mount Olympus and sought refuge in Egypt. In mortal fear lest this terror-inspiring monster would pursue them, the gods there assumed the forms of different animals ; and Jupiter became a ram, while Juno, his sister and queen, changed herself into a cow.

The king of the gods, however, soon became ashamed of his cowardly flight, and resolved to return to Mount Olympus to slay Typhoeus with his terrible thunderbolts. A long and fierce strug- gle ensued, at the end of which, Jupiter, again victorious, viewed his fallen foe with boundless pride ; but his triumph was very short-lived.

Enceladus, another redoubtable giant, also created by Gaea, now appeared to avenge Typhceus. He too was signally de- Defeat of feated, and bound with adamantine chains in a Enceladus. burning cave under Mount ./Etna. In early times, before he had become accustomed to his prison, he gave vent to his rage by outcries, imprecations, and groans : sometimes he even breathed forth fire and flames, in hopes of injuring his con- queror. But time, it is said, somewhat cooled his resentment ; and now he is content with an occasional change of position, which, owing to his huge size, causes the earth to tremble over a space of many miles, producing what is called an earthquake.

" 'Tis said, that thunder-struck Enceladus, Groveling beneath the incumbent mountain's weight, Lies stretched supine, eternal prey of flames; And, when he heaves against the burning load, Reluctant, to invert his broiling limbs, A sudden earthquake shoots through all the isle, And ALtna. thunders dreadful under ground, Then pours out smoke in wreathing curls convolved, And shades the sun's bright orb, and blots out day."

ADDISON.

Jupiter had now conquered all his foes, asserted his right to the throne, and could at last reign over the world undisturbed ; but he knew that it would be no small undertaking to rule well

THE BEGINNING OF ALL THINGS. 25

heaven, earth, and sea, and resolved to divide the power with his brothers. To avoid quarrels and recrimina- jupiter divides tions, he portioned the world out into lots, allow- • hls realm- ing each of his brothers the privilege of drawing his own share.

Neptune thus obtained control over the sea and all the rivers, and immediately expressed his resolve to wear a symbolic crown, composed exclusively of marine shells and aquatic plants, and to abide within the bounds of his watery realm.

Pluto, the most taciturn of the brothers, received for his por- tion the scepter of Tartarus and all the Lower World, where no beam of sunlight was ever allowed to find its way ; while Jupiter reserved for himself the general supervision of his brothers' estates, and the direct management of Heaven and Earth.

Peace now reigned throughout all the world. Not a murmur was heard, except from the Titans, who at length, seeing that further opposition would be useless, grew reconciled to their fate.

In the days of their prosperity, the Titans had intermarried. Cronus had taken Rhea "for better or for worse;" and lapetus had seen, loved, and wedded the fair Clymene, one of the ocean nymphs, or Oceanides, daughters of Oceanus. The latter pair be- came the proud parents of four gigantic sons, — Atlas, Menetius, Prometheus (Forethought), and Epimetheus (Afterthought), — who were destined to play prominent parts in Grecian mythology.

At the time of the creation, after covering the new-born Earth with luxuriant vegetation, and peopling it with living creatures of all kinds, Eros perceived that it would be neces- story of sary to endow them with instincts which would Prometheus, enable them to preserve and enjoy the life they had received. He therefore called the youngest two sons of lapetus to his aid, and bade them make a judicious distribution of gifts to all living creatures, and create and endow a superior being, called Man, to rule over all the others.

Prometheus' and Epimetheus' first care was, very naturally, to provide for the beings already created. These they endowed with such reckless generosity, that all their favors were soon dispensed,

<26)

MINERVA AND PROMETHEUS.— ThorwaUsen. ( Copenhagen.)

THE BEGINNING OF ALL THINGS. 27

and none remained for the endowment of man. Although they had not the remotest idea how to overcome this difficulty, they proceeded to fashion man from clay.

" Prometheus first transmuted Atoms culled for human clay."

HORACE.

They first molded an image similar in form to the gods ; bade Eros breathe into its nostrils the spirit of life, and Minerva (Pal- las) endow it with a soul ; whereupon man lived, and moved, and viewed his new domain.

Justly proud of his handiwork, Prometheus observed man, and longed to bestow upon him some great power, unshared by any other creature of mortal birth, which would raise him far above all other living beings, and bring him nearer to the perfection of the immortal gods. Fire alone, in his estimation, could effect this ; but fire was the special possession and prerogative of the gods, and Prometheus knew they would never willingly share it with man, and that, should any one obtain it by stealth, they would never forgive the thief. Long he pondered the matter, and finally determined to make the attempt, and obtain fire, or die.

One dark night, therefore, he set out for Olympus, entered unperceived into the gods' abode, seized a lighted brand, hid it in his bosom, and departed unseen, exulting in the success of his enterprise. Arrived upon earth once more, he consigned the stolen treasure to the care of man, who immediately adapted it to various purposes, and eloquently expressed his gratitude to the benevolent deity \vho had risked his own life to obtain it for him.

" Of Prometheus, how undaunted On Olympus' shining bastions His audacious foot he planted, Myths are told and songs are chanted, Full of promptings and suggestions.

" Beautiful is the tradition

Of that flight through heavenly portals,

28 CLASSICAL MYTHS.

The old classic superstition Of the theft and the transmission Of the fire of the Immortals."

LONGFELLOW.

From his lofty throne on the topmost peak of Mount Olympus Jupiter beheld an unusual light down upon earth. Anxious to ascertain its exact nature, he watched it closely, and before long discovered the larceny. His anger then burst forth, terrible to behold ; and the gods all quailed when they heard him solemnly vow he would punish the unhappy Prometheus without mercy. To seize the offender in his mighty grasp, bear him off to the Caucasian Mountains, and bind him fast to a great rock, was but a moment's work. There a voracious vulture was summoned to feast upon his liver, the tearing of which from his side by the bird's cruel beak and talons caused the sufferer intense anguish. All day long the vulture gorged himself ; but during the cool night, while the bird slept, Prometheus' suffering abated, and the liver grew again, thus prolonging the torture, which bade fair to have no end.

Disheartened by the prospect of long years of unremitting pain, Prometheus at times could not refrain from pitiful com- plaints ; but generation after generation of men lived on earth, and died, blessing him for the gift he had obtained for them at such a terrible cost. After many centuries of woe, Hercules, son of Jupiter and Alcmene, found Prometheus, killed the vulture, broke the adamantine chains, and liberated the long-suffering god.

The first mortals lived on earth in a state of perfect innocence and bliss. The air was pure and balmy ; the sun shone brightly

stor of a^ t^le vear; t^6 eartri brought forth delicious Epimetheus fruit in abundance ; and beautiful, fragrant flowers

and Pandora. , ,

bloomed everywhere. Man was content. Extreme cold, hunger, sickness, and death were unknown. Jupiter, who justly ascribed a good part of this beatific condition to the gift conferred by Prometheus, was greatly displeased, and tried to

THE BEGINNING OF ALL THINGS. 29

devise some means to punish mankind for the acceptance of the heavenly fire.

With this purpose in view, he assembled the gods on Mount Olympus, where, in solemn council, they decided to create woman ; and, as soon as she had been artfully fashioned, each one endowed her with some special charm, to make her more

attractive.

"The crippled artist-god, Illustrious, molded from the yielding clay A bashful virgin's image, as advis'd Saturnian Jove.

"But now when the fair mischief, seeming-good, His hand had perfected, he led her forth Exulting in her grac'd attire, the gift Of Pallas, in the midst of gods and men. On men and gods in that same moment seiz'd The ravishment of wonder, when they saw The deep deceit, th' inextricable snare."

HESIOD (Elton's tr.).

Their united efforts were crowned with the utmost success. Nothing was lacking, except a name for the peerless creature ; and the gods, after due consideration, decreed she should be called Pandora. They then bade Mercury take her to Prome- theus as a gift from heaven ; but he, knowing only too well that nothing good would come to him from the gods, refused to ac- cept her, and cautioned his brother Epimetheus to follow his example. Unfortunately Epimetheus was of a confiding dis- position, and when he beheld the maiden he exclaimed, " Surely so beautiful and gentle a being can bring no evil ! " and accepted her most joyfully.

The first days of their union were spent in blissful wanderings, hand in hand, under the cool forest shade; in weaving 'garlands of fragrant flowers ; and in refreshing themselves with the luscious fruit, which hung so temptingly within reach..

One lovely evening, while dancing on the green, they saw

(3°)

PANDORA.— Sichel.

THE BEG IX. \I.\G OF ALL THINGS. 31

Mercury, Jupiter's messenger, coming towards them. His step was slow and weary, his garments dusty and travel-stained, and he seemed almost to stagger beneath the weight of a huge box which rested upon his shoulders. Pandora immediately ceased dancing, to speculate with feminine curiosity upon the contents of the chest, timidly nudged Epimetheus, and in a whisper begged him to ask Mercury what brought him thither. Epimetheus complied with her request ; but Mercury evaded the question, asked permission to deposit his burden in their dwelling for safe- keeping, professing himself too weary to convey it to its destina- tion that day, and promised to call for it shortly. The permis- sion was promptly granted. Mercury, with a sigh of relief, placed the box in one corner, and then departed, refusing all hospitable offers of rest and refreshment.

He had scarcely crossed the threshold, when Pandora expressed a strong desire to have a peep at the contents of the mysterious box ; but Epimetheus, surprised and shocked, told her that her curiosity was unseemly, and then, to dispel the frown and pout seen for the first time on the fair face of his beloved, he entreated her to come out into the fresh air and join in the merry games of their companions. For the first time, also, Pandora refused to comply with his request. Dismayed, and very much discouraged, Epimetheus sauntered out alone, thinking she would soon join him, and perhaps by some caress atone for her present willfulness.

Left alone with the mysterious casket, Pandora became more and more inquisitive. Stealthily she drew near, and examined it with great interest, for it was curiously wrought of dark wood, and surmounted by a delicately carved head, of such fine work- manship that it seemed to smile and encourage her. Around the box a glittering golden cord was wound, and fastened on top in an intricate knot. Pandora, who prided herself specially on her deft fingers, felt sure she could unfasten it, and, reasoning that it would not be indiscreet to untie it if she did not raise the lid, she set to work. Long she strove, but all in vain. Ever and anon the laughing voices of Epimetheus and his companions,

32 CLASSICAL MYTHS.

playing in the luxuriant shade, were wafted in on the summer breeze. Repeatedly she heard them call, and beseech her to join them ; yet she persisted in her attempt. She was just on the point of giving it up in despair, when suddenly the refractory knot yielded to her fumbling fingers, and the cord, unrolling, dropped on the floor.

Pandora had repeatedly fancied that sounds like whispers issued from the box. The noise now seemed to increase, and she breath- lessly applied her ear to the lid to ascertain whether it really proceeded from within. Imagine, therefore, her surprise when she distinctly heard these words, uttered in the most pitiful accents: " Pandora, dear Pandora, have pity upon us! Free us from this gloomy prison! Open, open, we beseech you! "

Pandora's heart beat so fast and loud, that it seemed for a moment to drown all other sounds. Should she open the box? Just then a familiar step outside made her start guiltily. Epime- theus was coming, and she knew he would urge her again to come out, and would prevent the gratification of her curiosity. Precipitately, therefore, she raised the lid to have one little peep before he came in.

Now, Jupiter had malignantly crammed into this box all the diseases, sorrows, vices, and crimes that afflict poor humanity ; and the box was no sooner opened, than all these ills flew out, in the guise of horrid little brown-winged creatures, closely resembling moths. These little insects fluttered about, alight- ing, some upon Epimetheus, who had just entered, and some upon Pandora, pricking and stinging them most unmercifully. Then they flew out through the open door and windows, and fastened upon the merrymakers without, whose shouts of joy were soon changed into wails of pain and anguish.

Epimetheus and Pandora had never before experienced the faintest sensation of pain or anger ; but, as soon as these winged evil spirits had stung them, they began to weep, and, alas! quar- reled for the first time in their lives. Epimetheus reproached his wife in bitterest terms for her thoughtless action ; but in the very

THE BEG I XX I XG OF ALL THIXGS. 33

midst of his vituperation he suddenly heard a sweet little voice entreat for freedom. The sound proceeded from the unfortu- nate box, whose cover Pandora had dropped again, in the first moment of her surprise and pain. " Open, open, and I will heal your wounds! Please let me out!" it pleaded.

The tearful couple viewed each other inquiringly, and listened again. Once more they heard the same pitiful accents; and Epimetheus bade his wife open the box and set the speaker free, adding very amiably, that she had already done so much harm by her ill-fated curiosity, that it would be difficult to add materially to its evil consequences, and that, perchance, the box contained some good spirit, whose ministrations might prove beneficial.

It was well for Pandora that she opened the box a second time, for the gods, with a sudden impulse of compassion, had concealed among the evil spirits one kindly creature, Hope, whose mission was to heal the wounds inflicted by her fellow-prisoners.

" Hope sole remain'd within, nor took her flight, Beneath the vessel's verge conceal'd from light."

HESIOD (Elton's tr.).

Lightly fluttering hither and thither on her snowy pinions, Hope touched the punctured places on Pandora's and Epime- theus' creamy skin, and relieved their suffering, then quickly flew out of the open window, to perform the same gentle office for the other victims, and cheer their downcast spirits.

Thus, according to the ancients, evil entered into the world, bringing untold misery ; but Hope followed closely in its foot- steps, to aid struggling humanity, and point to a happier future.

" Hope rules a land forever green : All powers that serve the bright-eyed Queen

Are confident and gay ; Clouds at her bidding disappear; Points she to aught ? — the bliss draws near, And Fancy smooths the way."

WORDSWORTH.

HOPE.— Thorwaldsen.

THE BEGIXX1XG OF ALL THINGS. 35

During many centuries, therefore, Hope continued to be re- vered, although the other divinities had ceased to be worshiped.

According to another version, Pandora was sent down to man, bearing a vase in which the evil spirits were imprisoned, and on the way, seized by a fit of curiosity, raised the cover, and allowed them all to escape.

Little by little the world was peopled ; and the first years of man's existence upon earth were, as we have seen, years of unalloyed happiness. There was no occasion for labor, for the earth brought forth spontaneously all that was necessary for man's subsistence. " Innocence, vir- tue, and truth prevailed ; neither were there any laws to restrict men, nor judges to punish." This time of bliss has justly borne the title of Golden Age, and the people in Italy then throve under the wise rule of good old Saturn, or Gronus.

Unfortunately, nothing in this world is lasting ; and the Golden Age was followed by another, not quite so prosperous, hence called the Silver Age, when the year was first divided into seasons, and men were obliged to toil for their daily bread.

" Succeeding times a silver age behold, Excelling brass, but more excell'd by gold. Then summer, autumn, winter, did appear, And spring was but a season of the year ; The sun his annual course obliquely made, Good days contracted, and enlarg'd the bad. The air with sultry heats began to glow, The wings of winds were clogg'd with ice and snow; And shivering mortals into houses driven, Sought shelter from the inclemency of heaven. Those houses, then, were caves or homely sheds, With twining osiers fenc'd, and moss their beds. Then plows, for seed, the fruitful furrows broke, And oxen labor'd first beneath the yoke."

OVID (Dryden's tr.).

Yet, in spite of these few hardships, the people were happy, far happier than their descendants during the Age of Brass, which

36 CLASSICAL MYTHS.

speedily followed, when strife became customary, and differences were settled by blows.

But by far the worst of all was the Iron Age, when men's pas- sions knew no bounds, and they even dared refuse all homage to the immortal gods. War was waged incessantly ; the earth was saturated with blood ; the rights of hospitality were openly violated ; and murder, rape, and theft were committed on all sides.

Jupiter had kept a close watch over men's actions during

all these years ; and this evil conduct aroused his wrath to such

a point, that he vowed he would annihilate the

The Deluge.

human race. But the modes of destruction were manifold, and, as he could not decide which would eventually prove most efficacious, he summoned the gods to deliberate and aid him by their counsels. The first suggestion offered, was to destroy the world by fire, kindled by Jupiter's much-dreaded thunderbolts; and the king of gods was about to put it into instant execution, when his arm was stayed by the objection that the rising flames might set fire to his own abode, and reduce its magnificence to unsightly ashes. He therefore rejected the plan as impracticable, and bade the gods devise other means of de- struction.

After much delay and discussion, the immortals agreed to wash mankind off the face of the earth by a mighty deluge. The winds were instructed to gather together the rain clouds over the earth. Neptune let loose the waves of the sea, bidding them rise, overflow, and deluge the land. No sooner had the gods spoken, than the elements obeyed : the winds blew ; the rain fell in torrents ; lakes, seas, rivers,1" and oceans broke their bonds ; and terrified mortals, forgetting their petty quarrels in a common im- pulse to flee from the death which threatened them, climbed the highest mountains, clung to uprooted trees, and even took refuge in the light skiffs they had constructed in happier days. Their efforts were all in vain, however ; for the waters rose higher and higher, overtook them one after another in their ineffectual efforts to escape, closed over the homes where they might have

THE BEGINXIXG OF ALL THINGS. 37

been so happy, and drowned their last despairing cries in their seething depths.

" Now hills and vales no more distinction know, And level'd nature lies oppress'd below ; The most of mortals perish in the flood."

OVID (Dryden's tr.).

The rain continued to fall, until, after many days, the waves covered all the surface of the earth except the summit of Mount Parnassus, the highest peak in Greece. On this gtor of mountain, surrounded by the ever-rising flood, Deucalion stood the son of Prometheus, Deucalion, with his faithful wife Pyrrha, a daughter of Epimetheus and Pandora. From thence they, the sole survivors, viewed the universal deso- lation with tear-dimmed eyes.

In spite of the general depravity, the lives of this couple had always been pure and virtuous ; and when Jupiter saw them there alone, and remembered their piety, he decided not to include them in the general destruction, but to save their lives. He therefore bade the winds return to their cave, and the rain to cease. Nep- tune, in accordance with his decree, blew a resounding blast upon his conch shell to recall the wandering waves, which immediately returned within their usual bounds.

"At length the world was all restor'd to view, But desolate, and of a sickly hue ; Nature beheld herself, and stood aghast, A dismal desert and a silent waste."

OVID (Dryden's tr. ).

•

Deucalion and Pyrrha followed the receding waves step by step down the steep mountain side, wondering how they should repeople the desolate earth. As they talked, they came to the shrine of Delphi, which alone had been able to resist the force of the waves. There they entered to consult the wishes of the gods. Their surprise and horror were unbounded, however, when a voice exclaimed, " Depart from hence with veiled heads, and

3

38 CLASSICAL MYTHS.

cast your mother's bones behind you!" To obey such a com- mand seemed sacrilegious in the extreme ; for the dead had always been held in deep veneration by the Greeks, and the des- ecration of a grave was considered a heinous crime, and punished accordingly. But, they reasoned, the gods' oracles can seldom be accepted in a literal sense ; and Deucalion, after due thought, explained to Pyrrha what he conceived to be the meaning of this mysterious command.

"The Earth," said he, "is the mother of all, and the stones may be considered her bones." Husband and wife speedily decided to act upon this premise, and continued their descent, casting stones behind them. All those thrown by Deucalion were immediately changed into men, while those cast by Pyrrha became women.

Thus the earth was peopled for the second time with a blame- less race of men, sent to replace the wicked beings slain by Jupiter. Deucalion and Pyrrha shortly after became the happy parents of a son named Hellen, who gave his name to all the Hellenic or Greek race ; while his sons y£olus and Dorus, and grandsons Ion and Achaeus, became the ancestors of the ^Eolian, Dorian, Ionian, and Achaian nations.

Other mythologists, in treating of the deluvian myths, state that Deucalion and Pyrrha took refuge in an ark, which, after sailing about for many days, was stranded on the top of Mount Parnassus. This version was far less popular with the Greeks, although it betrays still more plainly the common source whence all these myths are derived.

" Who does not see in drown Deucalion's name, When Earth her men and Sea had lost her shore, Old Noah ! "

FLETCHER.

CHAPTER II.

JUPITER.

JUPITER, Jove, or Zeus, king of the gods, supreme ruler of the universe, the special deity of mankind, the personification of the sky and of all the phenomena of the air, and the

,. ,. ,. . , , Jupiter's titles.

guardian of political order and peace, was the most

prominent of all the Olympian divinities : the others were obliged

to submit to his will, and trembled at his all-powerful nod.

" He, whose all-conscious eyes the world behold, The eternal Thunderer sat, enthroned in gold. High heaven the footstool of his feet he makes, And wide beneath him all Olympus shakes."

" He spoke, and awful bends his sable brows, Shakes his ambrosial curls, and gives the nod, The stamp of fate and sanction of the god : High heaven with trembling the dread signal took, And nil Olympus to the center shook."

HOMER (Pope's tr.).

The Fates and Destiny alone dared oppose Jupiter's sovereign will, and they continued to issue their irrevocable decrees, even after he supplanted his father and began to rule over all.

In common with all other Greek and Roman divinities, Jupiter, though immortal, was subject to pleasure, pain, grief, and anger, and a prey to all the passions which rule the hearts of men.

It was he who presided at the councils held on the top of " many-peaked Olympus," and summoned the gods whenever he wished to discuss with them any matter of importance, or to in-

39

OLYMPIAN ZEUS.— Flaxman.

Jf 'PITER. 41

dulge in a sumptuous repast, when they ate the celestial am- brosia and quaffed the fragrant nectar.

He is generally represented as a fine majestic figure, with long curling hair and beard, clad in flowing drapery, his redoubt- able thunderbolts or scepter in one hand, and a statue of Vic- tory in the other. The world is his footstool ; and the eagle, emblem of strength and power, is generally seen close beside him.

Jupiter had his own special attendants, such as Victoria, or Nice, the goddess of victory, who was ever ready Jupiter's to obey his slightest behest, and it is said her mas- attendants, ter loved her so dearly, that he generally held an image of her in his hand.

The hundred-tongued goddess of fame, Fama, trumpet in hand, proclaimed, at his bidding, anything he wished, never question- ing whether it were true or false.

" Fame than who never plague that runs

Its way more swiftly wins: Her very motion lends her power : She flies and waxes every hour. At first she shrinks, and cowers for dread:

Ere long she soars on high : Upon the ground she plants her tread,

Her forehead in the sky."

VIRGIL (Conington's tr.).

Close by Jupiter's side was sometimes seen Fortuna, goddess of fortune, poised on a constantly revolving wheel, whereon she journeyed throughout the world, scattering with careless hands her numerous gifts, and lavishing with indifference her choicest smiles ; while Hebe, or Juventas, the goddess of youth, was ever ready at his wish to pour out the nectar, in which the gods were wont to pledge each other.

"Hebe, honored of them all, Ministered nectar, and from cups of gold They pledged each other."

HOMER (Bryant's tr.).

GANYMEDE AND THE EAGLE. ( National Museum, Naples.)

JUPITER. 43

But this fair goddess awkwardly tripped and fell on a solemn oc- casion, and was forced to resign her office. To replace her, the father of the gods was obliged to go in quest of another cup- bearer.

To facilitate his search, he assumed the form of an eagle, and winged his flight over the earth. He had not flown far, before he beheld a youth of marvelous beauty, alone on a neighboring hill. To swoop down, catch him up in his mighty talons, and bear him safely off to Olympus, was but a moment's work ; and there the kidnapped youth Ganymede, the son of a king of Troy, was carefully instructed in the duties he was called upon to per- form in the future.

"And godlike Ganymede, most beautiful Of men ; the gods beheld and caught him up To heaven, so beautiful was he, to pour The wine to Jove, and ever dwell with them."

HOMER (Bryant's tr. ).

Solicitous for the welfare of mankind, Jupiter often visited the earth, taking great care to assume some disguise which would enable him to ascertain all he wished without any

Story of

risk of detection. One day he and Mercury, his Philemon special messenger and favorite among the gods, took the forms of needy, belated travelers, and entered the lowly hut of a worthy old couple, Philemon and Baucis.

Eager to offer their best to the strangers, these poor people decided to kill their sole remaining goose ; but their efforts to secure it were vain, and finally the persecuted fowl took refuge between Jupiter's knees. Touched with their zeal, yet anxious to prevent the death of the confiding goose, Jupiter revealed him- self to his faithful worshipers, and in gratitude for their intended sacrifice bade them ask any boon, promising by the great river Styx — the most binding and solemn oath a god could utter — to grant their request.

Contrary to the custom current in similar cases, Philemon

44 CLASSICAL MYTHS.

and Baucis made a modest and judicious choice, and proffered a timid request that they might serve the gods as long as life and strength endured, and finally die together. This most rea- sonable wish was immediately granted ; and Jupiter, moreover, changed their humble abode into a superb temple, where they could offer daily sacrifices on his altars.

"Their little shed, scarce large enough for two, Seems, from the ground increased, in height and bulk to grow. A stately temple shoots within the skies, The crotches of their cot in columns rise; The pavement polish'd marble they behold, The gates with sculpture grac'd, the spires and tiles of gold."

OVID (Dryden's tr.).

After many years of faithful service, when age had made them long for death, Philemon and Baucis were transformed into majestic oaks, which stood for many a century in front of the temple, monuments of the love and faith which had bound the pair through life.

Although married to Juno, Jupiter often indulged in love affairs with other goddesses, and even with mortal maidens. The ancients themselves did not practice polygamy, but their gods were sup- posed to be able to indulge all their passions with impunity. As the personification of the sky, Jupiter, therefore, consorted at times with Juno (the Atmosphere), with Dione (Moisture), with Themis (Justice), etc., without incurring any reproach ; for these marriages, in their estimation, were all symbolical.

But Juno being of a jealous disposition, Jupiter was forced to conduct his courtships with great secrecy and circumspection, and therefore generally adopted the precaution of a disguise. To win Europa, the fair daughter of Agenor, for instance, he became a bull.

"The gods themselves, Humbling their deities to love, have taken The shapes of beasts upon them. Jupiter Became a bull, and bellow'd."

SHAKESPEARE.

JUPITER. 45

One day Europa was playing in her father's meadows with her three brothers, Cadmus, Phoenix, and Cilix, when she suddenly saw a white bull coming towards her ; not with jupiter kidnaps fiery eyes and lowered horns, but gently, as if to Europa. express a mute request to be petted. The maiden, delighted, stroked the beast, and decked it with bright garlands of meadow- blossoms. Then, seeing it kneel, as if to invite her to mount, she lightly sprang upon its broad back, calling to her companions to follow her example ; but, before they could do as she wished, the bull had risen to his feet, and galloped off towards the sea with his fair burden on his back.

Instead of turning when he saw the foam-crested waves, he

plunged into the midst of them, and in a few minutes disap-

.peared from view, so rapidly did he swim away. To reassure

the frightened girl, the bull now spoke in gentle accents, bidding

her dismiss all fear, for he was the great Jupiter in disguise.

" Take courage, gentle maid ! nor fear the tide : I, though near-seen a bull, am heavenly Jove: I change my shape at will."

MOSCHCS (Elton's tr.).

Pleased with the novelty of her situation, and flattered by the god's evident admiration, Europa ceased to struggle, wound her arms more closely around the bull's neck to prevent the waves from washing her off her perilous seat, and allowed herself to be carried away.

Jupiter finally deposited his fair burden upon the shores of a new land, to which he gallantly gave her name, Europe. He then resumed his wonted form, explained at length his reasons for so unceremoniously kidnapping her, and finally won her consent to their union. Their three sons were Minos, Rhadamanthus, and Sarpedon. The two former were subsequently appointed judges in the Infernal Regions, while the third found an early but glorious death during the Trojan war.

All unconscious of their sister's fate, the young princes had

JUPITER. 47

returned in haste to their father's palace to announce her sudden involuntary departure. Agenor, whose favorite she had always been, rent his garments for grief, and bade his sons search go forth and seek her, and not to return till they for Eur°Pa- had found her. Accompanied by their mother, Telephassa, they immediately set out on their journey, inquiring of all they met if they had seen their sister. Search and inquiry proved equally fruitless.

At last, weary of this hopeless quest, Phoenix refused his fur- ther aid, and allowed his sorrowing relatives to continue without him, remaining in a land which from him was called Phoenicia. Cilix, too, soon followed his example, and settled in a fertile country which they had reached, hence called Cilicia ; and finally Telephassa, worn out with grief and fatigue, lay down to die, charging her oldest son to go on alone.

Cadmus wandered on till he came to Delphi, where he con- sulted the oracle ; but, to his great dismay, the only reply he re- ceived was, " Follow the cow, and settle where she rests."

In deep perplexity he left the temple, and, from force of habit, journeyed on, patiently questioning all he met. Soon he per- ceived a cow leisurely walking in front of him, and, mindful of the oracle, he ceased his search and followed her. Urged by curiosity, many adventurers joined him on the way, and, when the cow at last lay down in the land since called Bceotia, they all promised to aid Cadmus, their chosen leader, to found their future capital, which was to be called Thebes.

Parched with thirst after their long walk, the men then has- tened to a neighboring spring, but, to Cadmus' surprise, time passed and still they did not return. Armed with Founding his trusty sword, he finally went down to the spring of Thebes- to discover the cause of their delay, and found that they had all been devoured by a huge dragon, who lived in the hollow. The prince raised his sword to avenge their death, and dealt the dragon such a deadly blow upon the head, that he put an immediate end to its existence.

48 CLASSICAL MYTHS.

While Cadmus stood there contemplating his lifeless foe, a voice bade him extract the dragon's teeth, and sow them in the ground already broken for his future city. No human being was within sight: so Cadmus knew the order proceeded from the immortal gods, and immediately prepared to obey it. The drag- on's teeth were no sooner planted, than a crop of giants sprang from the soil, full grown, and armed to the teeth. They were about to fall upon Cadmus, when the same voice bade him cast a stone in the midst of their close-drawn phalanx. Cadmus, seeing the giants were almost upon him, and that no time was to be lost, quickly threw a stone. The effect produced was almost in- stantaneous ; for the giants, each fancying it had been thrown by his neighbor, began fighting among themselves. In a few min- utes the number of giants was reduced to five, who sheathed their bloodstained weapons, and humbly tendered their services to Cadmus. With their aid, the foundations of the city were laid ; but their labor was not very arduous, as the gods caused some of the public buildings to rise up out of the ground, all complete, and ready for use.

To reward Cadmus for his loving and painstaking search for Europa, Jupiter gave him the hand of the fair princess Harmonia, a daughter of Mars and Venus, in marriage. Cadmus, the founder of Thebes, is supposed to have invented the alphabet, and introduced its use into Greece. Although his career was very prosperous at first, he finally incurred the wrath of the gods by forgetting, on a solemn occasion, to offer them a suitable sacrifice ; and, in anger at his dereliction, they changed him and Harmonia into huge serpents.

Jupiter was, of course, very widely and generally worshiped by the ancients ; and his principal temples — the Capitol at Rome,

Worship and the shrine of Jupiter Ammon in Libya — have

of Jupiter. been world-renowned. He also had a noted tem- ple at Dodona, where an oak tree gave forth mysterious proph- ecies, which were supposed to have been inspired by the king of gods ; but of this shrine no ruins even remain.

JUPITER. 49

"Oh, where, Dodona ! is thine aged grove, Prophetic fount, and oracle divine ? What valley echoed the response of Jove ? What trace remaineth of the Thunderer's shrine? All, all forgotten! "

BYRON.

A magnificent temple at Olympia, on the Peloponnesus, was also dedicated to Jupiter ; and here every fifth year the people of Greece were wont to assemble to celebrate games, in honor of Jupiter's great victory over the Titans. These festivals were known as the Olympian Games ; and the Greeks generally reck- oned time by olympiads, that is to say, by the space of time be- tween the celebrations. Within the temple at Olympia stood a wonderful statue of gold and ivory, the work of Phidias. Its pro- portions and beauty were such, that it was counted one of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world. It is said, too, that the artist, having completed this masterpiece, longed for some sign of approval from heaven, and fervently prayed for a token that the god accepted his labor. Jupiter, in answer to this prayer, sent a vivid flash of lightning, which played about the colossal image, illuminating it, but leaving it quite unharmed.

The Greeks were indebted to Phidias for many of their most exquisite statues of the gods ; but none of the others equaled this figure of Jupiter in size, dignity of attitude, or elaborate finish.

" Wise Phidias, thus his skill to prove,

Through many a god advanc'd to Jove,

And taught the polish'd rocks to shine

With airs and lineaments divine ;

Till Greece, amaz'd, and half afraid,

Th' assembled deities survey'd."

ADDISON.

(So)

JUNO. (Vatican, Rome.)

CHAPTER III.

JUNO.

JUNO (Hera, Here), queen of heaven, and goddess of the atmosphere and of marriage, was the daughter of Cronus and Rhea, and consequently the sister of Jupiter ; but, juno's as soon as the latter had dethroned his parents and marriage, seized the scepter, he began to look about him for a suitable help- mate. Juno won his affections by her great beauty ; and he im- mediately began his courtship, which he carried on in the guise of a cuckoo, to infuse a little romance into it. He evidently found favor in her sight, and won her consent to share his throne ; for shortly afterward their wedding was celebrated with great pomp on Mount Olympus. It was on this solemn occasion that the immortal conclave of the gods declared that Juno should be henceforth honored as goddess of marriage.

"Juno, who presides Supreme o'er bridegrooms and o'er brides."

VIRGIL (Conington's tr.).

But although in the beginning this union seemed very happy, there soon arose subjects for contention ; for unfortunately Jupiter was inclined to be faithless, and Juno jealous, and, like the ele- ment she personified, exceedingly variable in her moods. On such occasions she gave way to her violent temper, and bitterly re- proached her husband, who, impatient of her censure, punished her severely, and, instead of reforming, merely continued his nu- merous intrigues with renewed zest.

On one occasion he fell deeply in love with a maiden named

52 CLASSICAL MYTHS.

Callisto, gentle, fair, and slender ; but, in spite of all the precau- tions which he took when visiting her, Juno discovered the ob- storyof Callisto ject °f ms affections. Night and day she thought

and Areas. an(j pianned, until she devised a species of re- venge which seemed adequate. The graceful girl was suddenly bereft of speech, changed into a rough, ungainly bear, and driven out into the solitudes of the great forests, which were from that time forth to be her home. Jupiter vainly sought his missing ladylove, and it was only long afterward that he discovered her and her little bear son Areas. In pity for all they had suffered, he transferred them both to the sky, where they are still known as the constellations of the Great and Little Bear.

Juno, like her husband, had also her special attendant, Iris

(the Rainbow), whom she frequently employed as messenger, — a

Juno's task which this deity accomplished with as much

attendant. celerity as Mercury. Her flight through the air was so rapid, that she was seldom seen ; and no one would have known she had passed, had it not been for the brilliant trail her many-colored robe left behind her in the sky.

"Like fiery clouds, that flush with ruddy glare, Or Iris, gliding through the purple air; When loosely girt her dazzling mantle flows, And 'gainst the sun in arching colors glows."

FLACCUS (Elton's tr.).

Juno is the mother of Mars, Hebe, and Vulcan, and is always described and represented as a beautiful, majestic woman, clad in flowing robes, with a diadem and scepter. The peacock and cuckoo were both sacred to her, and are therefore often seen at her side.

Her principal places of worship were at Mycenae, Sparta, Argos, Rome, and Herseum. She had also numerous other sanctuaries

Worship scattered throughout the ancient world, and was

worshiped in the same temples as Jupiter. Many

fine statues of this goddess were found in Greece and Italy, some

IRIS.— Guy Head. ( Gallery of St. Luke, Rome.)

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54 CLASSICAL MYTHS.

of which are still extant, and serve to show the ancients' exalted conception of the Queen of Heaven.

Juno's festivals, the Matronalia, in Rome, were always cele- brated with great pomp. Less important feasts were held in story of cieobis eacn city where a temple was dedicated to her.

and Biton. Qn one of these occasions an old priestess was very anxious to go to the temple at Argos, where she had ministered to the goddess for many years, and which she had left only to be married. The way was long and dusty : so the aged woman, who could no longer walk such a distance, bade her sons, Cieobis and Biton, harness her white heifers to her car. The youths hastened to do her bidding; but, although they searched diligently, the heifers could not be found. Rather than disappoint their aged mother, who had set her heart upon attending the services, these kind-hearted sons harnessed themselves to the cart, and drew her through the city to the temple gates, amid the acclamations of all the people, who admired this trait of filial devotion.

The mother was so touched by her sons' affection, that, as she knelt before the altar, she fervently prayed Juno to bestow upon them the greatest boon in her power. At the conclusion of the services the ex-priestess went into the portico, where her sons had thrown themselves to rest after their unwonted exertions ; but instead of finding them merely asleep, as she expected, she found them dead. The Queen of Heaven had transported them while asleep to the Elysian Fields, the place of endless bliss, where such as they enjoyed endless life.

CHAPTER IV.

MINERVA.

ALTHOUGH immortal, the gods were not exempt from physical pain. One day Jupiter suffered intensely from a sudden head- ache, and, in hopes that some mode of alleviation Birth of would be devised, he summoned all the gods to Minerva. Olympus. Their united efforts were vain, however ; and even the remedies suggested by Apollo, god of medicine, proved ineffi- cacious. Unwilling, or perchance unable, to endure the racking pain any longer, Jupiter bade one of his sons, Vulcan, cleave his head open with an ax. With cheerful alacrity the dutiful god obeyed ; and no sooner was the operation performed, than Minerva (Pallas, Athene) sprang out of her father's head, full- grown, clad in glittering armor, with poised spear, and chanting a triumphant song of victory.

" From his awful head Whom Jove brought forth, in warlike armor drest,

Golden, all radiant. "

SHELLEY.

The assembled gods recoiled in fear before this unexpected apparition, while at the same time a mighty commotion over land and sea proclaimed the advent of a great divinity.

The goddess, who had thus joined the inhabitants of Olympus, was destined to preside over peace, defensive war, and needle- work, to be the incarnation of wisdom, and to put to flight the obscure deity called Dullness, who until then had ruled the world,

55

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MINERVA. (National Museum, Naples.)

MINERVA. 57

"Ere Pallas issu'd from the Thund'rer's head, Dullness o'er all possess'd her ancient right, Daughter of Chaos and eternal Night."

POPE.

Minerva, having forced her unattractive predecessor to beat an ignominious retreat, quickly seized the scepter, and immediately began to rule in her stead.

Not long after her birth, Cecrops, a Phoenician, came to Greece, where he founded a beautiful city in the province since called Attica. All the gods watched his undertak- Naming ing with great interest ; and finally, seeing the town of Athens, promised to become a thriving place, each wished the privilege of naming it. A general council was held, and after some de- liberation most of the gods withdrew their claims. Soon none but Minerva and Neptune were left to contend for the coveted honor.

To settle the quarrel without evincing any partiality, Jupiter announced that the city would be intrusted to the protection of the deity who would create the most useful object for the use of man. Raising his trident, Neptune struck the ground, from which a noble horse sprang forth, amid the exclamations of wonder and admiration of all the spectators. His qualities were duly ex- plained by his proud creator, and all thought it quite impossible for Minerva to surpass him. Loudly they laughed, and scorn- fully too, when she, in her turn, produced an olive tree ; but when she had told them the manifold uses to which wood, fruit, foliage, twigs, etc., could be applied, and explained that the olive was a sign of peace and prosperity, and therefore far more desirable than the horse, the emblem of war and wretchedness, they could but acknowledge her gift the most serviceable, and award her the prize.

To commemorate this victory over her rival, Minerva gave her own name of Athene to the city, whose inhabitants, from that time -forth, were taught to honor her as their tutelary goddess.

58 CLASSICAL MYTHS.

Ever at Jupiter's side, Minerva often aided him by her wise counsels, and in times of war borrowed his terrible shield, the y£gis, which she flung over her shoulder when she sallied forth to give her support to those whose cause was just.

" Her shoulder bore

The dreadful y£gis with its shaggy brim Bordered with Terror. There was Strife, and there Was Fortitude, and there was fierce Pursuit, And there the Gorgon's head, a ghastly sight, Deformed and dreadful, and a sign of woe."

HOMER (Bryant's tr.).

The din of battle had no terrors for this doughty goddess, and on every occasion she was wont to plunge into the thickest of the fray with the utmost valor.

These virile tastes were, however, fully counterbalanced by some exclusively feminine, for Minerva was as deft with her

story of needle as with her sword. In Greece there lived

Arachne. jn those oiden times a maiden by the name of Arachne. Pretty, young, and winsome, she would have been loved by all had it not been for her inordinate pride, not in her personal advantages, but in her skill as a needlewoman.

Arachne, in her conceit, fancied that no one could equal the work done by her deft fingers, so she boasted far and wide that she would have no fear to match her skill with Minerva's. She made this remark so loudly and so frequently, that the goddess was finally annoyed, and left her seat in high Olympus to come down upon earth and punish the maiden. In the guise of an old crone, she entered Arachne's house, seated herself, and began a conversation. In a few minutes the maiden had resumed her usual strain, and renewed her rash boast. Minerva gently advised her to be more modest, lest she should incur the wrath of the gods by her presumptuous words ; but Arachne was so blinded by her conceit, that she scorned the well-meant warn- ing, saucily tossed her head, and declared she wished the god- dess would hear her, and propose a contest, in which she would

MINERVA. 59

surely be able to prove the truth of her assertions. This insolent speech so incensed Minerva, that she cast aside her disguise and accepted the challenge.

Both set up their looms, and began to weave exquisite designs in tapestry: Minerva choosing as her subject her contest with Neptune ; and Arachne, the kidnapping of Europa. In silence the fair weavers worked, and their webs grew apace under their practiced fingers. The assembled gods, the horse, the olive tree, seemed to live and move under Minerva's flashing shuttle.

"Emongst these leaves she made a Butterflie, With excellent device and wondrous slight, Fluttring among the Olives wantonly, That seem'd to live, so like it was in sight : The velvet nap which on his wings doth lie, The silken downe with which his backe is dight, His broad outstretched homes, his hayrie thies, His glorious colours, and his glistering eies."

SPENSER.

Arachne, in the mean while, was intent upon her swimming bull, against whose broad breast the waves splashed, and upon a half-laughing, half-frightened girl, who clung to the bull's horns, while the wind played with her flowing tresses and garments.

"Sweet Europa's mantle blew unclasp'd, From off her shoulder backward borne : From one hand droop'd a crocus : one hand grasp'd The mild bull's golden horn."

TENNYSON.

The finishing touches all given, each turned to view her rival's work, and at the very first glance Arachne was forced to acknowledge her failure. To be thus outstripped, after all her proud boasts, was humiliating indeed. Bitterly did Arachne now repent of her folly ; and in her despair she bound a rope about her neck, and hung herself. Minerva saw her discomfited rival was about to escape : so she quickly changed her dangling body

60 CLASSICAL MYTHS.

into a spider, and condemned her to weave and spin without ceasing, — a warning to all conceited mortals.

Minerva, the goddess of wisdom, was widely worshiped. Tem- ples and altars without number were dedicated to her ser- Worship of vice, the most celebrated of all being the Parthenon Minerva. at Athens. Naught but the ruins of this mighty pile now exist ; but they suffice to testify to the beauty of the edifice, which served, in turn, as temple, church, mosque, and finally as powder magazine.

"Fair Parthenon ! yet still must Fancy weep For thee, thou work of nobler spirits flo\vn. Bright, as of old, the sunbeams o'er thee sleep In all their beauty still — and thine is gone ! Empires have sunk since thou wert first revered, And varying rites have sanctified thy shrine. The dust is round thee of the race that rear'd Thy walls; and thou — their fate must soon be thine ! "

HEMANS.

Statues of Minerva — a beautiful, majestic woman, fully clothed and armed — were very numerous. The most celebrated of all, by the renowned Greek sculptor Phidias, measured full forty feet in height. Festivals were celebrated in honor of Minerva wherever her worship was held, — some, the Greek Panathenaea, for in- stance, only every four years; others, such as the Minervalia and Quinquatria, every year. At these festivals the Palladium, a statue of the goddess, said to have fallen from heaven, was car- ried in procession through the city, where the people hailed its appearance with joyful cries and songs of praise.

CHAPTER V.

APOLLO.

THE most glorious and beautiful among all the gods was Apollo (Phoebus, Sol, Helios, Cynthius, Pytheus), god of the sun, of medi- cine, music, poetry, and all fine arts.

" Bright-hair'd Apollo ! — thou who ever art A blessing to the world — whose mighty heart Forever pours out love, and light, and life; Thou, at whose glance, all things of earth are rife With happiness; to whom, in early spring, Bright flowers raise up their heads, where'er they cling On the steep mountain side, or in the vale Are nestled calmly. Thou at whom the pale And weary earth looks up, when winter flees, With patient gaze : thou for whom wind-stripped trees Put on fresh leaves, and drink deep of the light That glitters in thine eye : thou in whose bright And hottest rays the eagle fills his eye With quenchless fire, and far, far up on high Screams out his joy to thee, by all the names That thou dost bear — whether thy godhead claims Phoebus or Sol, or golden-hair'd Apollo, Cynthian or Pythian, if thou dost follow The fleeing night, oh, hear

Our hymn to thee, and willingly draw near! "

PIKE.

Apollo was the son of Jupiter and Latona, or Leto, the god- dess of dark nights. Juno's jealousy had been aroused by Jupiter's preference for her rival. To avenge herself, she banished

61

62 CLASSICAL MYTHS.

Latona to earth, and declared that if any one, mortal or immor- tal, showed her any pity or gave her any assistance, he would incur her lasting resentment.

After long, painful wanderings on earfti, poor Latona, weary and parched with thirst, drew near a small pool by the wayside to refresh herself; but, urged by Juno, some reapers bade her pass on, and then, seeing she paid no heed to their commands, they sprang into the shallow waters, and stirred up the mud at the bottom until it was quite unpalatable. With tear-dimmed eyes, Latona prayed these cruel men might never leave the spot whereon they now stood ; and Jupiter, in answer to her prayer, immediately transformed them into huge green frogs, which crea- tures have since then showed great preference for muddy pools.

Driven on once more by Juno's unrelenting hatred, Latona finally came to the seashore, where she stretched out imploring hands to Neptune, who sent a dolphin to bear her in safety to the floating island of Delos, raised in her behalf from the depths of the sea. The rocking motion, however, proving disagreeable to the goddess, Neptune chained the island fast in the ^Egean Sea ; and there in that delightful climate, justly praised by poets, were born to Jupiter and Latona twin children, Apollo and Diana, the divinities of the sun and moon.

Apollo, having attained manhood, could not avoid the usual lot of the gods, as well as of mortal men, — the pangs of love.

Story of They were first inspired by Coronis, a fair maiden,

Coroms. wno kjncne(j within his breast an ardent flame. The sun god wooed the girl warmly and persistently, and at length had the deep satisfaction of seeing his affections returned. His bliss, however, proved but fleeting ; for Coronis, reasoning, that, if one lover were so delightful, two would be doubly so, secretly encouraged another suitor.

" Flirted with another lover

(So at least the story goes) And was wont to meet him slyly, Underneath the blushing rose."

SAXE.

APOLLO. 63

Although so cleverly managed, these trysts could not escape the bright eyes of Apollo's favorite bird, the snowy raven, — for such was his hue in those early times, — so he flew off in haste to his master to report the discovery he had made. Des- perate with love and jealousy, Apollo did not hesitate, but, seiz- ing his bow and deadly arrows, shot Coronis through the heart.

The deed was no sooner accomplished, than all his love re- turned with tenfold power ; and, hastening to Coronis' side, he vainly tried all his remedies (he was god of medicine) to recall

her to life.

"The god of Physic Had no antidote ; alack ! He who took her off so deftly

Couldn't bring the maiden back ! "

SAXE.

Bending over the lifeless body of his beloved one, he bewailed his fatal haste, and cursed the bird who had brought him the unwelcome tidings of her faithlessness.

" Then he turned upon the Raven,

' Wanton babbler ! see thy fate ! Messenger of mine no longer, Go to Hades with thy prate !

" ' Weary Pluto with thy tattle !

Hither, monster, come not back; And — to match thy disposition — Henceforth be thy plumage black ! ' "

SAXE.

The only reminder of this unfortunate episode was a young son of Apollo and Coronis, ^sculapius (Asklepios), who was carefully instructed by Apollo in the healing art.

. iEsculapius.

Ihe disciples talent was so great, that he soon rivaled his master, and even, it is said, recalled the dead to life. Of course, these miracles did not long remain concealed from Jupiter's all-seeing eye; and he, fearing lest the people would

64 CLASSICAL MYTHS.

forget him and worship their physician, seized one of his thun- derbolts, hurled it at the clever youth, and thus brought to an untimely end his brilliant medical career.

"Then Jove, incensed that man should rise From darkness to the upper skies, The leech that wrought such healing hurled With lightning down to Pluto's world."

VlRGIL (Conington's tr.).

^Esculapius' race was not entirely extinct, however, for he left two sons — Machaon and Podalirius, who inherited his medical skill — and a daughter, Hygeia, who watched over the health of man.

Maddened with grief at the unexpected loss of his son, Apollo

would fain have wreaked his vengeance upon the Cyclopes, the

Admetus and authors of the fatal thunderbolt ; but ere he could

Aicestis. execute his purpose, Jupiter interfered, and, to pun- ish him, banished him to earth, where he entered the service of Admetus, King of Thessaly. One consolation alone now remained to the exiled god, — his music. His dulcet tones soon won the admiration of his companions, and even that of the king, who listened to his songs with pleasure, and to reward him gave him the position of head shepherd.

" Then King Admetus, one who had

Pure taste by right divine, Decreed his singing not too bad To hear between the cups of wine :

" And so, well pleased with being soothed

Into a sweet half sleep Three times his kingly beard he smoothed And made him viceroy o'er his sheep."

LOWELL."

Time passed. Apollo, touched by his master's kindness, wished to bestow some favor in his turn, and asked the gods to grant Admetus eternal life. His request was complied with, but only on

APOLLO. 65

condition, that, when the time came which had previously been appointed for the good king's death, some one should be found willing to die in his stead. This divine decree was reported to Alcestis, Admetus' beautiful young wife, who in a passion of self- sacrifice offered herself as substitute, and cheerfully gave her life for her husband. But immortality was too dearly bought at such a price ; and Admetus mourned until Hercules, pitying his grief, descended into Hades, and brought her back from the

tomb.

" Did not Hercules by force Wrest from the guardian Monster of the tomb Alcestis, a reanimated Corse, Given back to dwell on earth in vernal bloom ? "

WORDSWORTH.

Apollo, after endowing Admetus with immortality, left his ser- vice, and went to assist Neptune, who had also been banished to earth, to build the walls of Troy. Scorning to The wans Of perform any menial tasks, the God of Music seated Troy> himself near by, and played such inspiring tunes that the stones waltzed into place of their own accord.

Then, his term of exile being ended, he returned to heaven, and there resumed his wonted duties. From his exalted posi- tion he often cast loving glances down upon men, Apollo slays whose life he had shared for a short time, whose Python, every privation he had endured ; and, in answer to their prayers, he graciously extended his protection over them, and delivered them from misfortunes too numerous to mention. Among other deeds done for men was the slaying of the monster serpent Python, born from the slime and stagnant waters which remained upon the surface of the earth after the Deluge. None had dared approach the monster ; but Apollo fearlessly drew near, and slew him with his golden shafts. The victory over the terrible Python won for Apollo the surname of Pytheus (the Slayer), by which appellation he was frequently invoked.

This annihilation of Python is, of course, nothing but an alle-

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APOLLO BELVEDERE. ( Vatican, Rome.)

APOLLO. 67

gory, illustrating the sun's power to dry up marshes and stag- nant pools, thus preventing the lurking fiend malaria from making further inroads.

Apollo has always been a favorite subject for painters and sculptors. The most beautiful statue of him is the Apollo Belve- dere, which represents him at the moment of his conquest of the Python.

Although successful in war, Apollo was very unfortunate indeed in friendship. One day he came down to earth to enjoy the society of a youth of mortal birth, named Hya- Apollo and cinthus. To pass the time agreeably, the friends Hyacinthus. began a game of quoits, but had not played long, before Zephy- rus, god of the south wind, passing by, saw them thus occu- pied. Jealous of Apollo, for he too loved Hyacinthus, Zephy- rus blew Apollo's quoit aside so violently that it struck his playmate, and felled him to the ground. Vainly Apollo strove to check the stream of blood which flowed from the ghastly wound. Hyacinthus was already beyond aid, and in a few sec- onds breathed his last in his friend's arms. To keep some re- minder of the departed, Apollo changed the fallen blood drops into clusters of flowers, ever since called, from the youth's name, hyacinths ; while Zephyrus, perceiving too late the fatal effect of his jealousy, hovered inconsolable over the sad spot, and tenderly caressed the dainty flowers which had sprung from his friend's lifeblood.

" Zephyr penitent,

Who now, ere Phoebus mounts the firmament, Fondles the flower."

KEATS.

To divert his mind from the mournful fate of Hyacinthus, Apollo sought the company of Cyparissus, a clever young hunter ; but this friendship was also doomed to a sad end, Apollo and for Cyparissus, having accidentally killed Apollo's Cyparissus. pet stag, grieved so sorely over this mischance, that he pined away, and finally died. Apollo then changed his lifeless clay into a

68 CLASSICAL MYTHS.

cypress tree, which he declared should .henceforth be used to shade the graves of those who had been greatly beloved through life.

Some time after this episode, Apollo encountered in the for- est a beautiful nymph by the name of Daphne, the daughter of

Apollo and the river god Peneus. Love at first sight was the Daphne. immediate consequence on Apollo's part, and he longed to speak to the maid and win her affections. He first tried to approach her gently, so as not to frighten her ; but, before he could reach her side, she fled, and he, forgetful of all else, pursued her flying footsteps. As he ran, he called aloud to Daphne, entreating her to pause were it only for a moment, and promising to do her no harm.

"Abate, fair fugitive, abate thy speed, Dismiss thy fears, and turn thy beauteous head; With kind regard a panting lover view ; Less swiftly fly, less swiftly I'll pursue : Pathless, alas! and rugged is the ground, Some stone may hurt thee, or some thorn may wound.

" You fly, alas ! not knowing whom you fly ; No ill-bred swain, nor rustic clown, am I."

PRIOR.

The terrified girl paid no heed to promises or entreaties, but sped on until her strength began to fail, and she perceived, that, notwithstanding her utmost efforts, her pursuer was gaining upon her. Panting and trembling, she swerved aside, and rushed down to the edge of her father's stream, calling out loudly for his pro- tection. No sooner had she reached the water's edge, than her feet seemed rooted to the ground. A rough bark rapidly inclosed her quivering limbs, while her trembling hands were filled with leaves. Her father had granted her prayer by changing her into a laurel tree.

Apollo, coming up just then with outstretched arms, clasped nothing but a rugged tree trunk. At first he could not realize that the fair maiden had vanished from his sight forever ; but,

APOLLO AND DAPHNE. — Bernini. (Villa Borghese, Rome.)

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70 CLASSICAL MYTHS.

when the truth dawned upon him, he declared that from hence- forth the laurel would be considered his favorite tree, and that prizes awarded to poets, musicians, etc., should consist of a wreath of its glossy foliage.

" I espouse thee for my tree: Be thou the prize of honor and renown ; The deathless poet, and the poem, crown ; Thou shalt the Roman festivals adorn, And, after poets, be by victors worn."

OVID (Dryden's tr.).

This story of Apollo and Daphne was an illustration of the effect produced by the sun (Apollo) upon the dew (Daphne). The sun is captivated by its beauty, and longs to view it more closely ; the dew, afraid of its ardent lover, flies, and, when its fiery breath touches it, vanishes, leaving nothing but verdure in the selfsame spot where but a moment before it sparkled in all its purity.

The ancients had many analogous stories, allegories of the sun and dew, amongst others the oft-quoted tale of Cephalus and Cephaius and Procris. Cephalus was a hunter, who fell in love Procris. wjt^ ancj marrjec[ one of Diana's nymphs, Procris. She brought him as dowry a hunting dog, Lelaps, and a javelin warranted never to miss its mark. The newly married pair were perfectly happy ; but their content was viewed with great dis- pleasure by Eos (Aurora), goddess of dawn, who had previously tried, but without success, to win Cephalus' affections, and who now resolved to put an end to the bliss she envied.

All day long Cephalus hunted in the forest, and, when the evening shadows began to fall, joined his loving wife in their cozy dwelling. Her marriage gifts proved invaluable, as Lelaps was swift of foot, and tireless in the chase. One day, to test his powers, the gods from Olympus watched him course a fox, a special creation of theirs ; and so well were both animals matched in speed and endurance, that the chase bade fair to end only with the death of one or both of the participants. The gods, in

APOLLO. 71

their admiration for the fine run, declared the animals deserved to be remembered forever, and changed them into statues, which retained all the spirited action of the living creatures.

In the warm season, when the sun became oppressive, Cepha- lus was wont to rest during the noon hour in some shady spot, and as he flung himself down upon the short grass he often called for a breeze, bidding it cool his heated brow.

"A hunter once in that grove reclin'd,

To shun the noon's bright eye, And oft he woo'd the wandering wind,

To cool his brow with its sigh. While mute lay ev'n the wild bee's hum, Nor breath could stir the aspen's hair, His song was still, ' Sweet air, oh come ! ' While Echo answer'd, ' Come, sweet air ! ' "

MOORE.

Eos heard of this habit, and was fully aware that he merely addressed the passing wind ; nevertheless she sought Procris, and informed her that her husband was faithless, and paid court to a fair maid, who daily met him at noonday in the forest solitudes. Procris, blinded by sudden jealousy, gave credit to the false story, and immediately resolved to follow her husband.

The morning had well-nigh passed, and the sun was darting its perpendicular rays upon the earth, when Cephalus came to his usual resort, near which Procris was concealed.

" Sweet air, oh come ! " the hunter cried ; and Procris, cut to the heart by what she considered an infallible proof of his infi- delity, sank fainting to the ground. The rustle caused by her swoon attracted Cephalus' attention. Under the mistaken im- pression that some wild beast was lurking there, ready to pounce upon him, he cast his unerring javelin into the very midst of the thicket, and pierced the faithful bosom of his wife. Her dying moan brought him with one bound to her side ; ere she breathed her last, an explanation was given and received : and Pro- cris died with the blissful conviction that her husband had not

72 CLASSICAL MYTHS.

deserved her unjust suspicions, and that his heart was all her own.

There are, of course, many other versions of these selfsame myths ; but one and all are intended to illustrate the same natural phenomena, and are subject to the same interpretation.

Apollo's principal duty was to drive the sun chariot. Day after day he rode across the azure sky, nor paused on his way till he reached the golden boat awaiting him at the end of his long day's journey, to bear him in safety back to his eastern palace.

" Helios all day long his allotted labor pursues;

No rest to his passionate heart and his panting horses given, From the moment when roseate-fingered Eos kindles the dews

And spurns the salt sea-floors, ascending silvery the heaven, Until from the hand of Eos Hesperos, trembling, receives

His fragrant lamp, and faint in the twilight hangs it up."

OWEN MEREDITH.

A fair young maiden, named Clytie, watched Apollo's daily

journey with strange persistency ; and from the moment when he

left his palace in the morning until he came to the

far western sea in the evening, she followed his

course with loving eyes, thought of the golden-haired god, and

longed for his love. But, in spite of all this fervor, she never won

favor in Apollo's eyes, and languished until the gods, in pity,

changed her into a sunflower.

Even in this altered guise, Clytie could not forget the object of her love ; and now, a fit emblem of constancy, she still follows with upturned face the glowing orb in its daily journey across the sky.

" No, the heart that has truly lov'd never forgets,

But as truly loves on to the close ; As the sunflower turns on her god when he sets The same look which she turn'd when he rose."

MOORE.

A young shepherd, lying in the cool grass one summer after- noon, became aware of a distant sound of music, so sweet, so

APOLLO. 73

thrilling, that he fairly held his breath to listen. These weird, delightful tones were produced by Minerva, who, seated by the banks of a small stream, was trying her skill on Apollo and the flute. As she bent over the limpid waters, she Marsyas. suddenly beheld her puffed cheeks and distorted features, and impetuously threw the instrument into the water, vowing never to touch it again.

" Hence, ye banes of beauty, hence ! What? shall I my charms disgrace By making such an odious face?"

MELAMPPIDKS.

The sudden break in the entrancing music caused the youth, Marsyas, to start from his abstraction and look about him. He then perceived the rejected flute sailing gently down the stream past his feet. To seize the instrument and convey it to his lips was the work of an instant; and no sooner had he breathed into it, than the magic strain was renewed. No recol- lection of his pastoral duties could avail to tear Marsyas away from his new-found treasure ; and so rapidly did his skill in- crease, that he became insufferably conceited, and boasted he could rival Apollo, whom he actually challenged to a musical contest.

Intending to punish him for his presumption, Apollo accepted the challenge, and selected the nine Muses — patronesses of poetry and music — as umpires. Marsyas was first called upon to exhibit his proficiency, and charmed all by his melodious strains.

" So sweet that alone the south wind knew, By summer hid in green reeds' jointed cells To wait imprisoned for the south wind's spells, From out his reedy flute the player drew, And as the music clearer, louder grew, Wild creatures from their winter nooks and dells, Sweet furry things with eyes like starry wells, Crept wanderingly out ; they thought the south wind blew.

74 CLASSICAL MYTHS.

With instant joyous trust, they flocked around

His feet who such a sudden summer made,

His eyes, more kind than men's, enthralled and bound

Them there."

H. H.

The Muses bestowed much deserved praise, and then bade Apollo surpass his rival if he could. No second command was necessary. The god seized his golden lyre, and poured forth im- passioned strains. Before pronouncing their decision, the Muses resolved to give both musicians a second hearing, and again both strove ; but on this occasion Apollo joined the harmonious ac- cents of his godlike voice to the tones of his instrument, causing all present, and the very Muses too, to hail him as conqueror.

" And, when now the westering sun Touch'd the hills, the strife was done, And the attentive Muses said : ' Marsyas, thou art vanquished ! ' '

MATTHEW ARNOLD.

According to a previous arrangement, — that the victor should have the privilege of flaying his opponent alive, — Apollo bound Marsyas to a tree, and slew him cruelly. As soon as the moun- tain nymphs heard of their favorite's sad death, they began to weep, and shed such torrents of tears, that they formed a new river, called Marsyas, in memory of the sweet musician.

The mournful termination of this affair should have served as

a warning to all rash mortals. Such was not the case, however ;

Apollo and shortly after, Apollo found himself engaged in

and Pan. another musical contest with Pan, King Midas' favorite flute player. Upon this occasion Midas himself retained the privilege of awarding the prize, and, blinded by partiality, gave it to Pan, in spite of the marked inferiority of his playing. Apollo was so incensed by this injustice, that he determined to show his opinion of the dishonest judge by causing generous-sized ass's ears to grow on either side of his head.

APOLLO. 75

" The god of wit, to show his grudge, Clapt asses' ears upon the judge; A goodly pair, erect and wide, Which he could neither gild nor hide."

SWIFT.

Greatly dismayed by these new ornaments, Midas retreated into the privacy of his own apartment, and sent in hot haste for a barber, who, after having been sworn to secrecy, was admitted, and bidden to fashion a huge wig, which would hide the deform- ity from the eyes of the king's subjects. The barber acquitted himself deftly, and, before he was allowed to leave the palace, was again charged not to reveal the secret, under penalty of imme- diate death.

But a secret is difficult to keep ; and this one, of the king's long ears, preyed upon the poor barber's spirits, so that, in- capable of enduring silence longer, he sallied out into a field, dug a deep hole, and shouted down into the bosom of the earth, —

" ' King Midas wears (These eyes beheld them, these) such ass's ears ! ' "

HORACE.

Unspeakably relieved by this performance, the barber returned home. Time passed. Reeds grew over the hole, and, as they bent before the wind which rustled through their leaves, they were heard to murmur, " Midas, King Midas, has ass's ears ! " and all who passed by caught the whisper, and noised it abroad, so that the secret became the general topic of all conversations.

As Apollo had frequent opportunities of meeting the Muses, it is not to be wondered at that he fell a victim to the charms of the fair Calliope, who, in her turn, loved him pas- Orpheus and sionately, and even wrote verses in his honor. Eurydice. This being the state of her feelings, she readily consented to their union, and became the proud mother of Orpheus, who inherited his parents' musical and poetical gifts.

76 CLASSICAL MYTHS.

''Orpheus with his lute made trees, And the mountain-tops, that freeze,

Bow themselves when he did sing: To his music plants and flowers Ever sprung; as sun and showers

There had made a lasting spring.

" Everything that heard him play, Even the billows of the sea,

Hung their heads, and then lay by."

SHAKESPEARE.

This talent waxed greater as the years passed by, and became so remarkable, that the youth's fame was very widespread ; and when he fell in love with Eurydice, he brought all his skill into play to serenade her, and wooed her with voice and glance and with tender, passionate music. Eurydice was touched by his courtship, and ere long requited the love lavished upon her by conferring her hand upon Orpheus.

Shortly after their union, while walking alone in the fields, the bride encountered a youth named Aristeeus, whose bold admira- tion proved so distasteful, that she fled from him as quickly as possible. In her haste she accidentally trod upon a venomous serpent lurking in the long grass, which immediately turned upon her, and bit her heel. A short period of agonized suffering ensued ; then Eurydice died, and her spirit was conducted down into the gloomy realms of Pluto, leaving Orpheus broken-hearted.

Plaintive, heartrending laments now replaced the joyous wed- ding strains ; but even the charms of music failed to make life endurable, and Orpheus wandered off to Olympus, where he so piteously implored Jupiter to restore his wife to his longing arms, that the great god's heart was moved to compassion. He gave him permission, therefore, to go down into the Infernal Regions to seek his wife, but warned him at the same time that the under- taking was perilous in the extreme.

Nothing daunted, Orpheus hastened to the entrance of Hades, and there saw the fierce three-headed dog, named Cerberus, who

APOLLO. 77

guarded the gate, and would allow no living being to enter, nor any spirit to pass out of Hades. As soon as this monster saw Orpheus, he began to growl and bark savagely, to frighten him away ; but Orpheus merely paused, and began to play such melt- ing chords, that Cerberus' rage was appeased, and he finally allowed him to pass into Pluto's dark kingdom.

The magic sounds penetrated even into the remote depths of Tartarus, where the condemned suspended their toil for a moment, and hushed their sighs and groans to listen.

" E'en Tantalus ceased from trying to sip The cup that flies from his arid lip ; Ixion, too, the magic could feel, And, for a moment, blocked his wheel; Poor Sisyphus, doomed to tumble and toss The notable stone that gathers no moss, Let go his burden, and turned to hear The charming sounds that ravished his ear."

SAXE.

No living being had ever before penetrated thus into the Infernal Regions, and Orpheus wandered on until he came to the throne of Pluto, king of these realms, whereon the stern ruler sat in silence, his wife Proserpina beside him, and the relentless Fates at his feet.

Orpheus made known his errand in operatic guise, and suc- ceeded in moving the royal pair to tears, whereupon they gra- ciously consented to restore Eurydice to life and to her fond

husband's care.

" Hell consented To hear the Poet's prayer : Stern Proserpine relented, And gave him back the fair. Thus song could prevail O'er death, and o'er hell, A conquest how hard and how glorious ! Tho' fate had fast bound her With Styx nine times round her, Yet music and love were victorious."

POPE.

ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE.— Beyschlag.

APOLLO. 79

But one condition was imposed before he was allowed to de- part ; i.e., that he should leave the Infernal Regions without turning once to look into his beloved wife's face.

Orpheus accepted the condition joyfully, and wended his way out of Hades, looking neither to the right nor to the left, but straight before him ; and as he walked he wondered whether Eurydice were changed by her sojourn in these rayless depths. His longing to feast his eyes once more upon her loved features made him forget the condition imposed by Pluto, and turn just before he reached the earth ; but he only beheld the vanishing form of the wife he had so nearly snatched from the grave.

All was now over. He had tried and failed. No hope re- mained. In despair, the lonely musician retreated to the forest solitudes, and there played his mournful laments., —

" Such strains as would have won the ear Of Pluto, to have quite set free His half- regained Eurydice."

LOWELL.

But there were none to hear except the trees, winds, and wild beasts in the forest, who strove in their dumb way to comfort him as he moved restlessly about, seeking a solace for his burst- ing heart. At times it seemed to his half-delirious fancy that he could discern Eurydice wandering about in the dim distance, with the selfsame mournful expression of which he had caught a mere glimpse as she drifted reluctantly back into the dark shadows of Hades.

" At that elm-vista's end I trace Dimly thy sad leave-taking face, Eurydice ! Eurydice ! The tremulous leaves repeat to me

Eurydice ! Eurydice ! "

LOWELL.

At last there dawned a day when some Bacchantes overtook him in the forest, and bade him play some gay music, so they

8o CLASSICAL MYTHS.

might indulge in a dance. But poor Orpheus, dazed with grief, could not comply with their demands ; and the sad notes which alone he now could draw from his instrument so enraged the merrymakers, that they tore him limb from limb, and cast his mangled remains into the Hebrus River.

As the poet-musician's head floated down the stream, the pallid lips still murmured, " Eurydice ! " for even in death he could not forget his wife ; and, as his spirit drifted on to join her, he incessantly called upon her name, until the brooks, trees, and fountains he had loved so well caught up the longing cry, and repeated it again and again.

Nothing was now left to remind mortals of the sweet singer who had thus perished, except his lute, which the gods placed in the heavens as a bright constellation, Lyra, also called by Orpheus' name.

Another musician celebrated in mythological annals is Am- phion, whose skill was reported to be but little inferior to Orpheus'.

"'Tis said he had a tuneful tongue,

Such happy intonation, Wherever he sat down and sung

He left a small plantation ; Wherever in a lonely grove

He set up his forlorn pipes, The gouty oak began to move, And flounder into hornpipes."

TENNYSON.

This musician, a son of Jupiter and Antiope, had a twin brother Zethus, who, however, shared none of his artistic tastes. Story of Hearing that their mother Antiope had been Amphion. repudiated by her second husband, Lycus, so that he might marry another wife by the name of Dirce, these youths hastened off to Thebes, where they found the state of affairs even worse than represented ; for poor Antiope was now im- prisoned, and subject to her rival's daily cruel treatment.

FARNESE BULL. (National Museum, Naples.)

(Si)

82 CLASSICAL MYTHS.

Zethus and Amphion, after besieging and taking the city, put Lycus to death, and, binding Dirce to the tail of a wild bull, let him loose to drag her over briers and stones until she perished. This punishment inflicted upon Dirce is the subject of the famous group once belonging to the Farnese family, and now called by their name.

Amphion's musical talent was of great use to him when he subsequently became King of Thebes, and wished to fortify his capital by building a huge rampart all around it ; for the stones moved in rhythmic time, and, of their own volition, marched into their places.

Second to him only, in musical fame, was Arion, the musician

who won untold wealth by his talent. On one occasion, having

gone to Sicily to take part in a musical contest

which had attracted thither the most famous

musicians from all points of the compass, he resolved to return

home by sea.

Unfortunately for him, the vessel upon which he had embarked was manned by an avaricious, piratical crew, who, having heard of his treasures, resolved to murder him to obtain possession of them. He was allowed but scant time to prepare for death ; but, just as they were about to toss him overboard, he craved permission to play for the last time. The pirates consented. His clear notes floated over the sea, and allured a school of dolphins, which came and played about the ship. The pirates, terrified by the power of his music, and in dread lest their hearts should be moved, quickly laid hands upon him, and hurled him into the water, where he fell upon the broad back of a dolphin, who bore him in safety to the nearest shore.

" Then was there heard a most celestiall sound Of dainty musicke, which did next ensew Before the spouse : that was Arion crownd ; Who. playing on his harpe, unto him drew The eares and hearts of all that goodly crew, That even yet the Dolphin, which him bore

APOLLO. 83

Through the Agean seas from Pirates vew,

Stood still by him astonisht at his lore,

And all the raging seas for joy forgot to rore."

SPENSER.

To commemorate this miracle, the gods placed Arion's harp, together with the dolphin, in the heavens, where they form a constellation.

In the sunny plains of Greece there once dwelt Clymene, a fair nymph. She was not alone, however, for her golden-haired little son Phaeton was there to gladden her heart with all his childish graces.

Early in the morning, when the sun's bright orb first appeared above the horizon, Clymene would point it out to her boy, and tell him that his father, Apollo, was setting out for story of his daily drive. Clymene so often entertained her Phaeton, child with stories of his father's beauty and power, that at last Phaeton became conceited, and acquired a habit of boasting rather loudly of his divine parentage. His playmates, after a time, wearied of his arrogance, and, to avoid the constant repeti- tion of his vain speeches, bade him show some proof of his divine origin, or keep his peace.

Stung to the quick by some insolent taunts which they added, Phaeton hastened to his mother, and begged her to direct him to his father, that he might obtain the desired proof. Clymene im- mediately gave him all necessary information, and bade him make haste if he would reach his father's palace in the far east before the sun chariot passed out of its portals to accomplish its daily round. Directly eastward Phaeton journeyed, nor paused to rest until he came in view of the golden and jeweled pin- nacles and turrets of his father's abode.

" The sun's bright palace, on high columns rais'd With burnish'd gold and flaming jewels blaz'd, The folding gates diffus'd a silver light, And with a milder gleam refreshed the sight."

ADDISON.

84 CLASSICAL MYTHS.

Quite undazzled by this splendor, the youth still pressed on, straining his eyes to catch the first glimpse of the godly father, whose stately bearing and radiant air his mother had so enthusi- astically described.

Apollo, from his golden throne, had watched the boy's approach, and, as he drew nearer, recognized him as his own offspring. Timidly now Phaeton advanced to the steps of his father's throne, and humbly waited for permission to make his errand known. Apollo addressed him graciously, called him his son, and bade him speak without fear. In a few minutes the youth impetu- ously poured out the whole story, and watched with pleasure the frown which gathered on Apollo's brow when he repeated his companions' taunts. As soon as he had finished his tale, Apollo exclaimed that he would grant him any proof he wished, and confirmed these words by a solemn oath.

" ' By the terrible Styx ! ' said the angry sire, While his eyes flashed volumes of fury and fire, ' To prove your reviler an infamous liar, I swear I will grant you whate'er you desire ! ' '

SAXE.

This oath was the most solemn any god could utter, and in case of perjury he was obliged to drink the waters of this river, which would lull him into senseless stupidity for one whole year. During nine years following he was deprived of his office, banished from Olympus, and not allowed to taste of the life-giving nectar and ambrosia.

With a flash of triumph in his dark eyes, Phaeton, hearing this oath, begged permission to drive the sun chariot that very day, stating that all the world would be sure to notice his exalted position, and that none would ever dare doubt his veracity after such a signal mark of Apollo's favor.

When the god heard this presumptuous request, he started back in dismay, for he alone could control the four fiery steeds which drew the golden-wheeled sun car. Patiently he then ex-

APOLLO. 85

plained to Phaeton the great danger of such an undertaking, earnestly begging him to select some other, less fatal boon.

" Choose out a gift from seas, or earth, or skies, For open to your wish all nature lies ; Only decline this one unequal task, For 'tis a mischief, not a gift, you ask."

ADDISON.

But Phaeton, who, like many another conceited youth, fancied he knew better than his sire, would not give heed to the kindly warning, and persisted in his request, until Apollo, who had sworn the irrevocable oath, was obliged to fulfill his promise.

The hour had already come when the Sun usually began his daily journey. The pawing, champing steeds were ready ; rosy- fingered Aurora only awaited her master's signal to fling wide the gates of morn ; and the Hours were ready to escort him as • usual.

Apollo, yielding to pressure, quickly anointed his son with a cooling essence to preserve him from the burning sunbeams, gave him the necessary directions for his journey, and repeatedly and anxiously cautioned him to watch his steeds with the utmost care, and to use the whip but sparingly, as they were inclined to be very restive.

The youth, who had listened impatiently to cautions and direc- tions, then sprang into the seat, gathered up the reins, signaled to Aurora to fling the gates wide, and dashed out of the eastern palace with a flourish.

For an hour or two Phaeton bore in mind his father's principal injunctions, and all went well; but later, elated by his exalted position, he became very reckless, drove faster and faster, and soon lost his way. In finding it again he drove so close to the earth, that all the plants shriveled up, the fountains and rivers were dried in their mossy beds, the smoke began to rise from the parched and blackened earth, and even the people of the land over which he was passing were burned black, — a hue re- tained by their descendants to this day. 6

APOLLO. 87

Terrified at what he had done, Phaeton whipped up his steeds, and drove so far away, that all the vegetation which had sur- vived the intense heat came to an untimely end on account of the sudden cold.

The cries of mortals rose in chorus, and their clamors became so loud and importunate, that they roused Jupiter from a pro- found sleep, and caused him to look around to discover their origin. One glance of his all-seeing eye sufficed to reveal the damaged earth and the youthful charioteer. How had a beard- less youth dared to mount the sun chariot ? Jupiter could scarcely credit what he saw. In his anger he vowed he would make the rash mortal expiate his presumption by immediate death. He therefore selected the deadliest thunderbolt in his arsenal, aimed it with special care, and hurled it at Phaeton, whose burned and blackened corpse fell from his lofty seat down into the limpid waves of the Eridanus River.

" And Phaethon, caught in mid career, And hurled from the Sun to utter sunlessness, Like a flame-bearded comet, with ghastliest hiss, Fell headlong in the amazed Eridanus, Monarch of streams, who on the Italian fields Let loose, and far beyond his flowery lips Foam-white, ran ruinous to the Adrian deep."

WORSLEV.

The tidings of his death soon reached poor Clymene, who mourned her only son, and refused to be comforted ; while the Heliades, Phaeton's sisters, three in number, —

The Heliades.

Phaetusa, Lampetia, and /kgle, — spent their days by the riverside, shedding tears, wringing their white hands, and bewailing their loss, until the gods, in pity, transformed them into poplar trees, and their tears into amber, which substance was supposed by the ancients to flow from the poplar trees like teardrops. Phaeton's intimate friend, Cycnus, piously collected his charred remains, and gave them an honorable

88 CLASSICAL MYTHS.

burial. In his grief he continually haunted the scene of his friend's death, and repeatedly plunged into the river, in the hope of finding some more scattered fragments, until the gods changed him into a swan ; which bird is ever sailing mournfully about, and frequently plunging his head into the water to con- tinue his sad search.

Apollo, as the dearly loved leader of the nine Muses, — daugh- ters of Jupiter and Mnemosyne, goddess of memory, — was sur- named Musagetes.

" Whom all the Muses loved, not one alone ; — Into his hands they put the lyre of gold,

And, crowned with sacred laurel at their fount, Placed him as Musagetes on their throne."

LONGFELLOW.

Although the Muses united at times in one grand song, they had each separate duties assigned them.

Clio, the Muse of history, recorded all great deeds and heroic actions, with the names of their authors, and was therefore gen-

The nine erally represented with a laurel wreath and a book Muses. an(j stylus, to indicate her readiness to note all that happened to mortal men or immortal gods.

Euterpe, the graceful " Mistress of Song," was represented with a flute, and garlands of fragrant flowers.

Thalia, Muse of pastoral poetry, held a shepherd's crook and mask, and wore a crown of wild flowers.

" Mild pastoral Muse !

That, to the sparkling crown Urania wears, And to her sister Clio's laurel wreath, Preferr'st a garland culled from purple heath ! "

WORDSWORTH.

Her graver sister, Melpomene, who presided over tragedy, wore a crown of gold, and wielded a dagger and a scepter ; while Terpsichore, the light-footed Muse of dancing, was represented treading an airy measure.

go CLASSICAL MYTHS.

Erato, who preferred lyric poetry to all other styles of composi- tion, was pictured with a lyre ; and Polyhymnia, Muse of rhetoric, held a scepter to show that eloquence rules with resistless sway.

Calliope, Muse of heroic poetry, also wore a laurel crown ; and Urania, Muse of astronomy, held mathematical instruments, in- dicative of her love of the exact sciences.

This glorious sisterhood was wont to assemble on Mount Par- nassus or on Mount Helicon, to hold their learned debates on poetry, science, and music.

Apollo's favorite attendant was Eos (Aurora), the fair goddess of dawn, whose rose-tipped fingers opened wide the eastern gates of pearl, and who then flashed across the sky to announce her master's coming.

"Hail, gentle Dawn ! mild blushing goddess, hail ! Rejoiced I see thy purple mantle spread O'er half the skies ; gems pave thy radiant way, And orient pearls from every shrub depend."

So.MERVILLE.

This dainty goddess loved and married Tithonus, Prince of

Troy, and won from the gods the boon of everlasting life to

stor of confer upon him. Alas! however, she forgot to

Aurora and ask at the same time for continued youth ; and her husband grew older and older, and finally be- came so decrepit, that he was a burden to her. Knowing he would never die, and wishing to rid herself of his burdensome presence, she changed him into a grasshopper.

At this time the goddess fell in love with Cephalus, the young hunter, and frequently visited him on Mount Hymettus.

" ' Come,' Phoebus cries, ' Aurora, come — too late Thou linger'st slumbering with thy wither'd mate ! Leave him, and to Hymettus' top repair ! Thy darling Cephalus expects thee there ! ' The goddess, with a blush, her love betrays, But mounts, and, driving rapidly, obeys."

KEATS.

APOLLO. 91

The principal temples dedicated to the worship of Apollo were at Delos, his birthplace, and at Delphi, where a priestess called Pythia gave out mysterious oracles purporting to worship have come from the god. The ancients every- ofApoiio. where could not fail to recognize the sun's kindly influence and beneficent power, and were therefore ever ready to worship Apollo.

" I marvel not, O sun ! that unto thee In adoration man should bow the knee,

And pour his prayers of mingled awe and love; For like a God thou art, and on thy way Of glory sheddest with benignant ray,

Beauty, and life, and joyance from above."

So I/THEY.

The most renowned among the numerous festivals held in honor of Apollo were, without exception, the Pythian Games, celebrated at Delphi every three years.

A manly, beardless youth of great beauty, Apollo is generally crowned with laurels, and bears either a bow or a lyre.

" The Lord of the unerring bow, The God of life, and poesy, and light — The Sun in human limbs array'd, and brow All radiant from his triumph in the fight; The shaft hath just been shot — the arrow bright With an immortal's vengeance ; in his eye And nostril beautiful disdain, and might And majesty, flash their full lightnings by, Developing in that one glance the Deity."

IlVRON.

One of the Seven Wonders of the ancient world, the famous Colossus of Rhodes, was a statue of Apollo, his head encircled with a halo of bright sunbeams, and his legs spread wide apart to allow vessels, with all their sails spread, to pass in and out of the harbor, whose entrance he guarded for many a year.

DIANA OF VERSAILLES. ( Louvre, Paris. )

CHAPTER VI.

DIANA.

DIANA (Cynthia, Phoebe, Selene, Artemis), the fair twin sis- ter of Apollo, was not only goddess of the moon, but also of the chase.

" 'Goddess serene, transcending every star ! Queen of the sky, whose beams are seen afar ! By night heaven owns thy sway, by day the grove, When, as chaste Dian, here thou deign'st to rove.'"

BYRON.

In works of art this goddess is generally represented as a beau- tiful maiden, clad in a short hunting dress, armed with a bow, a quiver full of arrows at her side, and a crescent on her well- poised head.

Proud of her two children, Apollo and Diana, Latona boasted far and wide that such as hers had never been, for they excelled all others in beauty, intelligence, and power.

The daughter of Tantalus, Niobe, heard this boast, and laughed in scorn ; for she was the mother of four- story of teen children, — seven manly sons and seven beau- tiful daughters. In her pride she called aloud to Latona, and taunted her because her offspring numbered but two.

Shortly after, Niobe even went so far as to forbid her people to worship Apollo and Diana, and gave orders that all the statues representing them in her kingdom should be torn down from their pedestals, and destroyed. Enraged at this insult, Latona called her children to her side, and bade them go forth and slay all her luckless rival's offspring.

93

94 CLASSICAL MYTHS.

Provided with well-stocked quivers, the twins set out to do her bidding ; and Apollo, meeting the seven lads out hunting, cut their existence short with his unfailing arrows.

"Phoebus slew the sons With arrows from his silver bow, incensed At Niobe."

HOMER (Bryant's tr.).

With all proverbial speed the tidings reached Niobe, whose heart failed when she heard that her seven sons, her pride and delight, had fallen under Apollo's shafts, and that they now lay cold and stiff in the forest, where they had eagerly hastened a few hours before, to follow the deer to its cover.

As she mourned their untimely death, she thought her cup of sorrow was full ; but long ere her first passion of grief was over, Diana began to slay her daughters.

"But what is this? What means this oozing flood? Her daughters, too, are weltering in their blood: One clasps her mother's knees, one clings around Her neck, and one lies prostrate on the ground ; One seeks her breast ; one eyes the coming woe And shudders; one in terror crouches low."

MELEAGER.

In vain the poor girls sought to escape the flying arrows. In vain Niobe sought to protect them, and called upon all the gods of Olympus. Her daughters fell one by one, never to rise again. The last clung convulsively to her mother's breast ; but, even in that fond mother's passionate embrace, death found and claimed her. Then the gods, touched by the sight of woe so intense, changed Niobe into stone, just as she stood, with upturned face, streaming eyes, and quivering lips.

This statue was placed on Mount Sipylus, close to a stream of running water; and it was said that tears continually flowed down the marble cheeks, for, though changed, Niobe still felt, and wept for her great loss.

NIOBE. ( Vatican, Rome. )

9 6 CLASSICAL MYTHS.

This story is an allegory, in which Niobe, the mother, repre- sents winter, hard, cold, and proud ; until Apollo's deadly arrows, the sunbeams, slay her children, the winter months. Her tears are emblems of the natural thaw which comes in spring, when winter's pride has melted.

As soon as the young Goddess of the Moon had been intro- duced in Olympus, all the gods expressed a wish to marry her ; Diana's but she refused to listen to their entreaties, begged avocations, j^r father's permission to remain single all her life, and pleaded her cause so ably, that Jupiter was forced to grant her request.

Every evening, as soon as the Sun had finished his course, Diana mounted her moon car, and drove her milk-white steeds across the heavens, watched over and loved by the countless stars, which shone their brightest to cheer her on her way ; and as she drove she often bent down to view the sleeping earth, so shadowy and dreamlike, and to breathe the intoxicating perfume of the distant flowers. It always seemed to her then as if Nature, so beautiful during the day, borrowed additional charms from the witching hours of the night.

"'Twas now the time when Phoebus yields to night, And rising Cynthia sheds her silver light, Wide o'er the world in solemn pomp she drew Her airy chariot hung with pearly dew."

One evening, as she was driving noiselessly along, she suddenly checked her steeds ; for there on the hillside she saw a hand- story of some young shepherd, fast asleep, his upturned Endymion. face inumined by the moon's soft light. Diana wonderingly gazed upon his beauty, and before long felt her heart beat with more than admiration. Gliding gently from her chariot, she floated to his side, bent slowly, and dropped an airy kiss upon his slightly parted lips.

The youth Endymion, only partially awakened by this demon- stration, half raised his fringed lids, and for a moment his sleep-

DIAN-A. 97

dimmed eyes rested wonderingly upon the beautiful vision. That one glance, although it drove Diana away in great haste, kindled in his heart an inextinguishable passion. He rose with a start, and rubbed his sleepy eyes ; but when he saw the moon, which he fancied close beside him, sailing away across the deep-blue sky, he felt sure the whole occurrence had been but a dream, but so sweet a dream that he cast himself down upon the sward, hoping to woo it to visit him once more.

It did not come again that night, however; but the next night, as he lay on the selfsame spot, it recurred in all its sweet- ness ; and night after night it was repeated when the pale moon- beams fell athwart his sleeping face.

" Then, as the full orb poised upon the peak, There came a lovely vision of a maid, Who seemed to step as from a golden car Out of the low-hung moon."

LEWIS MORRIS.

Diana, fully as enamored as he, could not bear to pass him by without a caress, and invariably left her car for a moment, as it touched the mountain peak, to run to him and snatch a hasty kiss.

" Chaste Artemis, who guides the lunar car, The pale nocturnal vigils ever keeping, Sped through the silent space from star to star, And, blushing, stooped to kiss Endymion sleeping."

BOYESEN.

But, even when asleep, Endymion watched for her coming, and enjoyed the bliss of her presence ; yet a spell seemed to pre- vent his giving any sign of consciousness.

Time passed thus. Diana, who could not bear to think of the youth's beauty being marred by want, toil, and exposure, finally caused an eternal sleep to fall upon him, and bore him off to Mount Latmus, where she concealed him in a cave held sacred to her, and never profaned by human gaze. There each night

98 CLASSICAL MYTHS.

the goddess paused to gaze enraptured upon his beloved counte- nance, and to press a soft kiss upon his unconscious lips. Such is the tale of Diana and her lowly sweetheart, which has inspired poets of all ages.

' ' Queen of the wide air ; them most lovely queen Of all the brightness that mine eyes have seen! As thou exceedest all things in thy shrine, So every tale, does this sweet tale of thine."

KEATS.

Endymion was not, however, the only mortal loved by Diana, for mythologists report that her affections were also bestowed

Story of upon a young hunter by the name of Orion. All Onon. (jay jong ti^g youth scoured the forest, his faithful dog Sirius at his heels.

One day, in the dense shade of the forest, he met a group of Diana's nymphs, the seven Pleiades, daughters of Atlas. These fair maidens needed but to be seen to be passionately loved, and Orion's heart burned as he sought to approach them ; but they were very coy, and, as he drew near and addressed them, turned and fled.

Afraid lest he should never see them again were he now to lose sight of them, he pursued them hotly ; but the nymphs sped on, until, their strength failing, they called upon their patroness's aid. Their prayer was no sooner heard than answered, and Orion, panting and weary, came up just in time to see seven snow-white pigeons wing their way up into the azure sky.

There a second transformation overtook the Pleiades, who were changed into a constellation, composed of seven bright stars, and there they shone undimmed for ages ; but when Troy fell into the enemy's hands, all grew pale with grief, and one, more timid and impressionable than the rest, withdrew from sight to hide her anguish from the curious eyes of men.

" And is there glory from the heavens departed ? — O void unmark'd ! — thy sisters of the sky Still hold their place on high,

DIANA. 99

Though from its rank thine orb so long hath started, Thou, that no more art seen of mortal eye ! "

HEMANS.

Orion, like a fickle youth, was soon consoled for their disap- pearance, and loved Merope, daughter of QEnopion, King of Chios, who consented to their union on condition that his future son-in-law should win his bride by some heroic deed. Now, as Orion was anything but a patient man, the delay was very un- welcome indeed, and he made up his mind to elope with his bride instead of marrying her openly ; but the plan was frus- trated by CEnopion's watchfulness, and Orion was punished by the loss not only of his bride, but also of his eyesight.

Blind, helpless, and alone, he now wandered from place to place, hoping to find some one capable of restoring his sight. At last he reached the Cyclopes' cave, and one of them took pity on him, and led him to the Sun, from whose radiance he bor- rowed a store of light, —

" When, blinded by (Enopion, He sought the blacksmith at his forge, And, climbing up the mountain gorge, Fixed his blank eyes upon the sun."

LONGFELLOW.

Happy once more, he resumed his favorite sport, and hunted from morn till eve. Diana met him in the forest, and, sharing his tastes, soon learned to love him ; but this affection was viewed with great displeasure by Apollo, from whose piercing glance nothing that occurred by day could be hidden, and he resolved to put an end to his sister's infatuation. He therefore summoned her to his side. To divert her suspicions, he began to talk of archery, and, under the pretext of testing her skill as a markswoman, bade her shoot at a dark speck rising and falling far out at sea.

Diana seized her bow, feathered her arrow, and sent it with such force and accurate aim, that she touched the point, and saw it vanish beneath the waves, little suspecting that the dark

ioo CLASSICAL MYTHS.

head of Orion, who was refreshing himself by a sea bath, was given her as a target. When she discovered her error, she mourned his loss with many tears, vowed never to forget him, and placed him and his faithful dog Sirius as constellations in the sky.

When Diana had finished her nightly journey in her moon story of car> sne seized her bow and arrows, and, attended Actaeon. ^y ner nvniphs, was wont to sally forth to hunt the wild beasts in the forest.

One summer afternoon, after an unusually long and exciting pursuit, Diana and her followers came to one of the still moun- tain pools where they had often resorted to enjoy a plunge. The cool waters rippled so invitingly, that the goddess and her attendants hastened to divest themselves of their short hunting garments, and lave their heated limbs.

But unfortunately the goddess and her attendant nymphs had not been the only ones out hunting that day. Actaeon, the huntsman, had risen at dawn to stalk the deer ; and now, weary and parched with thirst, he too sought the well-known mountain spring,

" Deep in the cool recesses of the wood, Where the cold crystal of a mossy pool Rose to the flowery marge, and gave again The soft green lawn where ofttimes, overspent, I lay upon the grass and eager bathed My limbs in the clear lymph."

LEWIS MORRIS.

As he drew near the accustomed spot, Actaeon fancied he heard bursts of silvery laughter : so he crept on very cautiously, and soon, gently parting the thick branches of the underbrush, beheld the sporting group.

At the selfsame moment Diana turned to ascertain the cause of the rustle which had caught her practiced ear, and met the admiring gaze of the astonished young hunter. Speechless with indignation that a mortal had beheld her thus, she caught some

DIAXA. ioi

water in her hollow palm, flung it in his face, and bade him go and declare, if he could, that he had seen Diana disrobed.

The glittering drops had no sooner touched the young man's face, than he turned to obey her command, and found himself transformed into a stag, with slender, sinewy limbs, furry skin, and wide-branching antlers. Nothing remained of his former self except the woeful consciousness of his transformation ; and as he stood there, motionless and dismayed, the distant baying of his hounds coming to join him fell upon his ear.

An electric thrill of fear shot through every vein, as, mindful of his new form, he bounded away through the forest. Alas! too late ; for the pack had caught one glimpse of his sleek sides, and were after him in full cry.

In vain poor Actaeon strained every muscle. His limbs re- fused their support, and, as he sank exhausted to the ground, the hounds sprang at his quivering throat.

" Nearer they came and nearer, baying loud, With bloodshot eyes and red jaws dripping foam ; And when I strove to check their savagery, Speaking with words, no voice articulate came, Only a dumb, low bleat. Then all the throng Leapt swift on me, and tore me as I lay ! "

LEWIS MORRIS.

Diana was widely worshiped, and temples without number were dedicated to her service ; among others, the world-re- nowned sanctuary of Ephesus. The ancients also celebrated many festivals in honor of this fair goddess of the moon, who was ever ready to extend her protection over all deserving mortals.

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TRIUMPH OF VENUS.— Barrias.

CHAPTER VII.

VENUS.

VENUS (Dione, Aphrodite, Cytherea), the goddess of beauty, love, laughter, and marriage, is said by some Venus' mythologists to be the daughter of Jupiter and birth- Dione, goddess of moisture : others report that she sprang from the foam of the sea.

" Look, look, why shine

Those floating bubbles with such light divine ? They break, and from their mist a lily form Rises from out the wave, in beauty warm. The wave is by the blue-veined feet scarce press'd, Her silky ringlets float about her breast, Veiling its fairy loveliness ; while her eye Is soft and deep as the blue heaven is high. The Beautiful is born ; and sea and earth May well revere the hour of that mysterious birth."

SHELLEY.

The ocean nymphs were the first to discover her, cradled on a great blue wave ; and they carried her down into their coral caves, where they tenderly nursed her, and taught her with the utmost care. Then, her education being completed, the sea nymphs judged it time to introduce her to the other gods, and, with that purpose in view, carried her up to the surface of the sea, — where Tritons, Oceanides, and Nereides all crowded around her, loudly expressing their ardent admiration, — and offered her pearls and choice bits of coral from the deep, as a tribute to her charms.

(io4) FOURTH HOUR OF THE NIGHT.— Raphael.

VENUS. 105

Then they pillowed her softly on a great wave, and intrusted her to the care of Zephyrus, the soft south wind, who blew a gentle breath, and wafted her to the Island of Cyprus.

The four beautiful Horae (the Seasons), daughters of Jupiter anil Themis, goddess of justice, stood there on the shore to wel- come her.

" An ethereal band

Are visible above : the Seasons four, — Green-kirtled Spring, flush Summer, golden store

In Autumn's sickle, Winter frosty hoar."

KEATS.

And they were not alone to watch for her coming, for the three Charites (Graces, or Gratias) were also present.

" These three on men all gracious gifts bestow Which deck the body or adorn the mind, To make them lovely or well favored show ; A comely carriage, entertainment kind, Sweet semblance, friendly offices that bind, And all the compliments of courtesy ; They teach us how to each degree and kind We should ourselves demean, to low, to high, To friends, to foes: which skill men call Civility."

SPENCER.

Daughters of Jupiter and Eurynome, these maidens, who bore the respective names of Aglaia, Euphrosyne, and Thalia, longed to show their love for their new mistress. When the wave upon which she reclined came nearer still, the " rosy-bosomed Hours, fair Venus' train," appeared. The wind finally brought the fair goddess in safety to the shore ; and, as soon as her foot touched the white sand, all bent in homage to her surpassing beauty, and reverentially watched her dry her hair.

" Idalian Aphrodite beautiful, Fresh as the foam, new-bathed in Paphian wells, With rosy slender fingers backward drew From her warm brows and bosom her deep hair

106 CLASSICAL MYTHS.

Ambrosial, golden round her lucid throat And shoulder : from the violets her light foot Shone rosy-white, and o'er her rounded form Between the shadows of the vine bunches Floated the glowing sunlights, as she moved."

TENNYSON.

This hasty and somewhat primitive toilet completed, Venus and her followers set out for Mount Olympus, and on their way thither were joined by Himerus, god of the desire of love; Pothos, god of the amities of love ; Suadela, god of the soft speech of love ; and Hymen, god of marriage.

A throne had been prepared for the expected goddess, and, when she suddenly appeared to take possession of it, the as-

Venus and sembled gods could not restrain a rapturous mur-

Vuican. mur of admiration. Her beauty took them by storm, and her grace won their hearts ; but, although they one and all expressed a desire to marry her, Venus scornfully rejected their proposals. Even the king of gods was slighted, and, to punish her for her pride, he decreed she should marry Vulcan, god of the forge, the most ill-favored of all the heavenly council.

This compulsory union was anything but a happy one; for Venus never showed any affection for her deformed consort, and, instead of being a faithful wife, soon deserted him, and openly declared she would please herself.

Her first fancy was for Mars, the handsome god of war, who was not slow in reciprocating the fair goddess's affections, and

Story of many and sweet were the secret interviews they

Aiectryon. enjoyed. Yet, fearful lest some of the gods pass- ing by should discover them together, Mars always placed his attendant Aiectryon on guard, bidding him give due warning of any one's approach, and especially to call him before the sun rose, as the lovers were particularly anxious that Apollo should not witness their parting caresses.

All prospered according to their desires, until one night the unfortunate Aiectryon fell asleep ; and so profound were his

VENUS. 107

slumbers, that he did not even stir when Aurora flung open the gates of the east, and Apollo flashed forth to receive the melo- dious greetings of the feathered denizens of the forest.

The sun god drove rapidly on, glancing right and left, and taking note of all he saw. Nothing escaped his bright and pier- cing eye, as it flashed its beams hither and thither, and he was soon aware of the sleeping watchman and of the guilty lovers. As fast as his fleet-footed steeds could carry him, Apollo has- tened to Vulcan, to whom he vividly described the sight which had greeted his eyes.

The irate husband lost no time, but, seizing a net of linked steel, went in search of his runaway wife. Stealthily he ap- proached the lovers' bower, and deftly flung the net over both sleepers, who were caught in its fine meshes, and could not escape ; and there he kept them imprisoned, in spite of their en- treaties, until all the gods had seen their humiliating plight, and turned them into ridicule. But when he at last set them free, Mars darted away, vowing vengeance upon the negligent senti- nel, who was still blissfully sleeping. Pouncing upon him, Mars awakened him roughly, administered a sharp reproof, changed him into a cock, banished him into the barnyard, and condemned him to give daily warning of the sun's approach.

"And, from out a neighboring farmyard, Loud the cock Alectryon crowed."

LONGFELLOW.

Several beautiful children were born to Mars and Venus. Hermione, or Harmonia, their daughter, married Cadmus, King of Thebes; and Cupid (Cupido, Eros, Amor), their Venus- little son, was appointed god of love. Although children, nursed with tender solicitude, this second-born child did not grow as other children do, but remained a small, rosy, chubby child, with gauzy wings and roguish, dimpled face. Alarmed for his health, Venus consulted Themis, who oracularly replied, " Love cannot grow without Passion."

Io8 CLASSICAL MYTHS.

In 'vain the goddess strove to catch the concealed meaning of this answer. It was only revealed to her when Anteros, god of passion, was born. When with his brother, Cupid grew and flourished, until he became a handsome, slender youth ; but when separated from him, he invariably resumed his childish form and mischievous habits.

Venus, however, did not lavish all her love upon Mars, for she is said to have felt a tender passion for a young man named

Venus and Adonis, a bold young hunter, whose rash pursuit Adoms. of dangerous game caused Venus many anxious alarms. In vain she besought him to forego the pleasures of the chase and remain with her. He laughingly escaped, and con- tinued to join the other hunters in his favorite sport. But, alas! one day, after an exciting pursuit, he boldly attacked a wild boar, which, goaded to madness, turned upon him, buried his strong tusk in the youth's unprotected side, and trampled him to death.

" The white tusk of a boar has transpierced his white thigh.

" The youth lieth dead while his dogs howl around, And the nymphs weep aloud from the mists of the hill."

BION (Mrs. Browning's tr.).

Venus ran straight to the scene of his tragic death, rushing through underbrush and briers, tearing her delicate skin, and her blood tingeing all the white roses along her way to a faint pink. When she arrived, she found her beloved Adonis cold in death, and her passionate caresses met with no response. Then she burst into such a passion of tears, that the wood and water nymphs, the gods, men, and all nature in fact, joined with her to mourn the beloved youth.

"Her loss the Loves deplore : Woe, Venus, woe ! Adonis is no more."

BION (Elton's tr.).

Very reluctantly Mercury at last appeared to lead the soul of the departed down into the Infernal Regions, where it was wel-

(log)

no CLASSICAL MYTHS.

corned by Proserpina, queen of the realm, and led to the place where pure and virtuous mortals enjoyed an eternity of bliss. Venus, still inconsolable, shed countless tears, which, as they dropped upon the ground, were changed to anemones, while the red drops which had fallen from Adonis' side were transformed into red roses.

"As many drops as from Adonis bled, So many tears the sorrowing Venus shed : For every drop on earth a flower there grows : Anemones for tears; for blood the rose."

BION (Elton's tr.).

•

As time did not soften Venus' grief, but, on the contrary, made it more and more unendurable, she went to Olympus, where she fell at Jupiter's feet, imploring him to release Adonis from death's embrace, or allow her to share his lot in Hades.

To allow Beauty to desert the earth was not possible, nor could he resist her pleading : so he finally decreed that Adonis should be restored to her longing arms. But Pluto, whose sub- ject he had now become, refused to yield up Adonis ; and after much dispute a compromise was agreed upon, by virtue of which Adonis was allowed to spend one half of the year on earth, providing he spent the remaining six months in the Elysian Fields.

In early spring, therefore, Adonis left the Lower World, and came with bounding tread to join his beloved. On his path the flowers bloomed and the birds sang, to show their joy at his coming. An emblem of vegetation, which rises from the ground in early spring to deck the earth with beautiful foliage and flow- ers, and cause the birds to sing for gladness, Adonis reluctantly returned to Hades, when Winter, the cruel boar, slew him again with his white tusk, and made nature again droop, and mourn his departure.

"But even in death, so strong is Love, I could not wholly die ; and year by year,

VENUS. Ill

When the bright springtime comes, and the earth lives, Love opens these dread gates, and calls me forth Across the gulf."

LEWIS MORRIS.

The Goddess of Beauty also loved Anchises, Prince of Troy, but, ashamed of lavishing favors upon a mere mortal, extorted from him a promise that he would never reveal Venus and their secret marriage. Unfortunately, however, Anchises. Anchises was of a boastful disposition, and ere long yielded to temptation and revealed the secret, incurring her wrath to such an extent, that some mythologists accuse her of borrowing one of Jupiter's thunderbolts and slaying him. Others, however, report that Anchises lived to a ripe old age, and escaped from burning Troy on his son Eneas' back. Venus' love was, how- ever, all transferred to her son .-Eneas, whom she signally pro- tected throughout his checkered career.

Venus' most ardent admirers and faithful worshipers were the young people, for she delighted in their youthful story of Hero sentiments, and was ever ready to lend a helping and Leander- hand to all true lovers when apparently insurmountable obstacles appeared on their path.

This was the case with a lovely maiden by the name of Hero, who was dedicated by her parents to Venus' service, and, as soon as old enough, spent all her time in the temple, ministering to the goddess, or in a lonely tower by the sea, where she dwelt alone with her aged nurse.

" Honey-sweet Hero, of a princely race, Was priestess to Queen Venus in that place; And at her father's tower, by the sea set — Herself a Queen of Love, though maiden yet — Dwelt."

EDWIN ARNOLD.

The maiden's beauty increased with her years, until the fame of her loveliness spread throughout her native city Sestus, and even passed over the Hellespont and reached Abydus, where

112 CLASSICAL MYTHS.

Leander, the bravest and handsomest youth of the town, was fired with a desire to view the charming young priestess.

Just at that time a solemn festival in honor of Venus was to be celebrated at Sestus, to which all the youths and maidens were cordially invited. Under pretext of paying homage to the goddess, Leander entered her temple, and saw the young priest- ess, whose charms far surpassed all descriptions.

Venus, as has already been stated, was always deeply inter- ested in young lovers ; and when she saw these two, so well matched in beauty and grace, she bade Cupid pierce them with his love darts, which behest the mischief-loving god immediately

obeyed.

" God Eros, setting notch to string, Wounded two bosoms with one shaft-shooting, A maiden's and a youth's — Leander he, And lovely Hero, Sestos' sweetest, she; She of her town, and he of his, the boast; A noble pair ! "

EDWIN ARNOLD.

An undying passion was thus simultaneously kindled in both young hearts ; and, thanks to Venus' assistance, Leander man- aged to exchange a few words with Hero, declared his love, im- plored her to view his suit kindly, and, above all, to grant him a private interview, or he would surely die.

The maiden listened to his pleading with mingled joy and terror, for she knew her parents would never consent to their union. Then, afraid lest some one should notice that she was talking to a stranger, she bade him depart ; but he refused to go until he had learned where she lived, and proposed to swim across the Hellespont when the shades of night had fallen, and none could see his goal, and pay her a visit in her lonely tower.

" ' Sweet ! for thy love,' he cried, ' the sea I'd cleave, Though foam were fire, and waves with flame did heave, I fear not billows if they bear to thee ; Nor tremble at the hissing of the sea !

VENl 'S. 1 1 3

And I will come — oh ! let me come — each night, Swimming the swift flood to my dear delight: For white Abydos, where I live, doth front Thy city here, across our Hellespont.' "

EDWIN ARNOLD.

At last his prayers overcame the maiden's scruples, and she arranged to receive him in her sea-girt tower, promising at a given hour to light a torch and hold it aloft to guide him safely across the sea. Then only he departed.

Night came on ; darkness stole over the earth ; and Leander impatiently paced the sandy shore, and watched for the promised signal, which no sooner appeared, than he exultantly plunged into the dark waves, and parted them with lusty strokes, as he hastened across the deep to join his beloved. At times the huge billows towered above his head ; but when he had escaped their threaten- ing depths, and rose up on their foamy crests, he could catch a glimpse of the torch burning brightly, and pictured to himself the shy, sweet blushes which would dye Hero's cheek as he clasped her to his passionate heart.

" Leander had no fear — he cleft the wave — What is the peril fond hearts will not brave ! "

LANDON.

Venus, from the top of "many-peaked Olympus," smilingly viewed the success of her scheme, and nerved Leander's arm to cleave the rapid current. At last he reached the tower steps, and was lovingly greeted by Hero, whose heart had throbbed with anxiety at the thought of the perils her lover was braving for the sake of seeing her once more.

It was only when the dawn began to whiten the east, that the lovers finished their interview and parted, he to return to Abydus, and she to prepare for the daily duties which would soon claim her attention. But separation by day was all these fond lovers could endure, and night after night, as soon as the first stars ap- peared, Hero lighted her torch, and Leander hastened to her, to linger by her side till dawn.

114 CLASSICAL MYTHS.

" Thus pass'd the summer shadows in delight: Leander came as surely as the night, And when the morning woke upon the sea, It saw him not, for back at home was he."

HUNT.

No one suspected their meetings ; and all went well until the first fierce storms of winter swept down over the Hellespont. Hero, in the gray dawn of a winter's morning, besought her lover not to leave her to battle against the waves, which beat so vio- lently against the stone tower ; but he gently laughed at her fears, and departed, promising to return at night as usual.

The storm, which had raged so fiercely already in the early morning, increased in violence as the day wore on, until the waves were lashed into foam, while the wind howled more and more ominously as the darkness came on again ; but none of these signs could deter Leander from visiting Hero.

"There came one night, the wildest of the year, When the wind smote like edge of hissing spear, And the pale breakers thundered on the beach."

EDWIN ARNOLD.

All day long Hero had hoped that her lover would renounce his nightly journey ; but still, when evening came, she lighted her torch to serve as beacon, should he risk all to keep his word. The wind blew so fiercely, that the torch wavered and flickered, and nearly went out, although Hero protected its feeble flame by standing over it with outstretched robes.

At sight of the wonted signal, Leander, who had already once been beaten back by the waves, made a second attempt to cross the strait, calling upon the gods to lend him their aid. But this time his prayers were unheard, drowned in the fury of the storm ; yet he struggled on a while longer, with Hero's name on his lips.

At last, exhausted and ready to sink, he lifted his eyes once more to view the cheering light. It was gone, extinguished by

HERO AND LEANDER.— Bodenhausen.

("5)

n 6 CLASSICAL MYTHS.

a passing gust of wind. Like a stone Leander sank, once, twice, thrice, and the billows closed forever over his head.

Hero in the mean while had relighted her torch, and, quite un- conscious of the tragedy which had taken place, stood on the tower, straining her eyes to pierce the darkness. All night long she waited and watched for the lover who did not come ; and, when the first sunbeams shone over the tossing sea, she cast an anxious glance over the waters to Abydus. No one was in sight as far as she could see. She was about to descend to pursue her daily tasks, when, glancing at the foot of the tower, she saw her lover's corpse heaving up and down on the waves.

" As shaken on his restless pillow, His head heaves with the heaving billow; That hand, whose motion is not life, Yet feebly seems to menace strife, Flung by the tossing tide on high, Then level'd with the wave."

BYRON.

Hero's heart broke at this sad sight, and she longed to die, too, that she might not be parted from Leander. To hasten their meeting, she threw herself into the sea, and perished in the waves, close by his side. . Thus lived and died the faithful lovers, whose attachment has passed into a proverb.

Byron, the celebrated English bard, attempted Leander's feat of swimming across the Hellespont, and, on his return from that dangerous venture, wrote the following lines, which are so familiar to all English-speaking people : —

" The winds are high on Helle's wave,

As on that night of stormy water When Love, who sent, forgot to save The young, the beautiful, the brave,

The lonely hope of Sestos' daughter. Oh ! when alone along the sky Her turret torch was blazing high, Though rising gale, and breaking foam, And shrieking sea-birds warn'd him home }

VENUS. 1 1 7

And clouds aloft and tides below,

With signs and sounds, forbade to go,

He could not see, he would not hear,

Or sound or sign foreboding fear ;

His eye but saw that light of love,

The only star it hail'd above ;

His ear but rang with Hero's song,

' Ye waves, divide not lovers long ! '

That tale is old, but love anew

May nerve young hearts to prove as true."

An equally loving and unfortunate pair were Pyramus and Thisbe. Although no waves divided them, and they had the good fortune to occupy adjoining houses in Baby- pyramus Ion, their parents having quarreled, they were for- and Thisbe- forbidden to see or speak to each other. This decree wrung their tender hearts ; and their continuous sighs finally touched Venus, who prepared to give them her aid. Thanks to this goddess's kind offices, a crack was discovered in the party wall, through which the lovers could peep at each other, converse, and even, it is said, exchange a kiss or two.

Sundry stolen interviews through this crack made them long for uninterrupted and unrestrained meetings : so they made an appointment to meet on a certain day and hour, under a white mulberry tree, just without the city gates.

Thisbe, anxious to see her lover, was the first to reach the trysting place, and, as she slowly paced back and forth to while away the time of waiting, she wondered what had happened to delay Pyramus. Her meditation was suddenly broken by a rus- tling sound in some neighboring bushes ; and, thinking Pyramus was concealed there, she was about to call to him that he was discovered, when, instead of her lover, she saw a lion emerge from the thicket and come towards her, slowly lashing his sides with his tail, and licking his bloody jaws. With one terrified shriek the girl ran away, dropping her veil, which the lion caught in his bloody mouth and tore to shreds, before beating a retreat into the forest.

n8 CLASSICAL MYTHS.

Shortly after, Pyramus came rushing up, out of breath, and full of loving excuses for Thisbe, who was not there, however, to receive them. Wondering at her absence, Pyramus looked around, and after a short investigation discerned the lion's foot- prints and the mangled veil. These signs sufficed to convince him that Thisbe had perished, and in a fit of despair he drew his dagger from its sheath and thrust it into his heart.

A few minutes later, Thisbe cautiously drew near, peering anxiously about to discover whether the lion were still lurking near. Her first glance showed her Pyramus stretched dead be- neath the mulberry tree, with her bloody veil pressed convulsively to his lips. With a cry of terror she flew to his side, and tried to revive him ; but, when assured that all her efforts were in vain, she drew the dagger from his breast, and, plunging it into her own bosom, fell beside him quite lifeless.

" In her bosom plunged the sword, All warm and reeking from its slaughtered lord. "

OVID (Eusden's tr.).

Since that ominous day the fruit of the mulberry tree, which had been white, assumed a blood-like hue, dyed by the blood which flowed from the death wounds of Pyramus and Thisbe.

The lovely and talkative nymph Echo lived free from care and whole of heart until she met Narcissus, hunting in the for-

Echo and est- This frivolous young lady no sooner beheld

Narcissus. tne yOUth, than she fell deeply in love with him, and was proportionately grieved when she saw that he did not return her affections.

All her blandishments were unavailing, and, in her despair at his hard-heartedness, she implored Venus to punish him by mak- ing him suffer the pangs of unrequited love ; then, melancholy • and longing to die, she wandered off into the mountains, far from the haunts of her former companions, and there, brooding continually over her sorrow, pined away until there remained naught of her but her melodious voice.

VEA'L'S. 119

The gods, displeased at her lack of proper pride, condemned her to haunt rocks and solitary places, and, as a warning to other impulsive maidens, to repeat the last sounds which fell upon her ear.

" But her voice is still living immortal, — The same you have frequently heard In your rambles in valleys and forests, Repeating your ultimate word."

SAXE.

Venus alone had not forgotten poor Echo's last passionate prayer, and was biding her time to punish the disdainful Nar- cissus. One day, after a prolonged chase, he hurried to a lonely pool to slake his thirst.

" In some delicious ramble, he had found A little space, with boughs all woven round ; And in the midst of all, a clearer pool Than e'er reflected in its pleasant cool The blue sky here, and there, serenely peeping Through tendril wreaths fantastically creeping."

KEATS.

Quickly he knelt upon the grass, and bent over the pellucid waters to take a draught; but he suddenly paused, surprised. Down near the pebbly bottom he saw a face so passing fair, that he immediately lost his heart, for he thought it belonged to some water nymph gazing up at him through the transparent flood.

With sudden passion he caught at the beautiful apparition ; but, the moment his arms touched the water, the nymph vanished. Astonished and dismayed, he slowly withdrew to a short dis- tance, and breathlessly awaited the nymph's return.

The agitated waters soon resumed their mirror-like smooth- ness ; and Narcissus, approaching noiselessly on tiptoe, and cautiously peeping into the pool, became aware first of curly, tumbled locks, and then of a pair of beautiful, watchful, anxious eyes. Evidently the nymph had just concluded to emerge from her hiding place to reconnoiter.

120 CLASSICAL MYTHS.

More prudent this time, the youth gradually bent further over the pool ; and, reassured by his kindly glances, the nymph's whole head appeared. In gentle tones the youth now addressed her ; and her ruby lips parted and moved as if she were answer- ing, though not a sound came to his ear. In his excitement he began to gesticulate, whereupon two snowy arms repeated his every gesture ; but when, encouraged by her loving glances and actions, he tried once more to clasp her in his arms, she vanished as rapidly as the first time.

Time and again the same pantomime was enacted, and time and again the nymph eluded his touch ; but the enamored youth could not tear himself away from the spot haunted by this sweet image, whose sensitive face reflected his every emotion, and who grew as pale and wan as he, — evidently, like him, a victim to love and despair.

The shades of night could not even drive Narcissus away from his post, and, when the pale moonbeams illumined his re- treat, he bent over the pool to ascertain whether she too were anxious and sleepless, and saw her gazing longingly up at him.

There Narcissus lingered day and night, without eating or drinking, until he died, little suspecting that the fancied nymph was but his own image reflected in the clear waters. Echo was avenged ; but the gods of Olympus gazed compassionately down upon the beautiful corpse, and changed it into a flower bearing the youth's name, which has ever since flourished beside quiet pools, wherein its pale image is clearly reflected.

"A lonely flower he spied,

A meek and forlorn flower, with naught of pride, Drooping its beauty o'er the watery clearness, To woo its own sad image into nearness : Deaf to light Zephyrus it would not move ; But still would seem to droop, to pine, to love."

KEATS.

Pygmalion, King of Cyprus, was a very celebrated sculptor. All his leisure moments were spent in the faithful portrayal of the

VENUS. 1 2 1

gods and goddesses. One day his practiced hand fashioned an image of Galatea. It was so beautiful that even before it was entirely finished its author loved it. When com-

Pygmalion

pleted, Pygmalion admired it still more, deemed and

it too beautiful to remain inanimate, and besought Venus to give it life, stating that he wished a wife just like it. As Pygmalion had always been an obdurate bachelor, and had frequently declared he would never marry, Venus was de- lighted to see him at last a victim of the tender passion, and re- solved to grant his request. Pygmalion clasped the exquisite image to his breast to infuse some of his own warmth into the icy bosom, and pressed kiss after kiss upon the chiseled lips, until at last they grew soft and warm at his touch, and a faint color flushed the pale cheeks, as a breath dilated her lungs, and sent her blood coursing along her veins, —

" As once with prayers in passion flowing, Pygmalion embraced the stone, Till, from the frozen marble glowing, The light of feeling o'er him shone."

SCHILLER.

Pygmalion's delight at seeing his fair image a living and breathing maiden was unbounded, and after a short but passion- ate wooing the object of his affections became his happy wife.

In those same remote ages of "sweet mythology" there lived a king whose three daughters were world-renowned on account of their matchless beauty. Psyche, the youngest Cupld and of the sisters, was so lovely, that her father's subjects Psyche, declared her worthy to be called the Goddess of Beauty, and offered to pay homage to her instead of to Venus. Offended by this proposal, which Psyche had good sense enough to refuse, Venus resolved to demonstrate forcibly to that benighted race that the maiden was mortal. She therefore bade her son Cupid slay her.

Armed with his bow and arrows, and provided with a deadly poison, Cupid set out to do her bidding, and at nightfall reached

122 CLASSICAL MYTHS.

the palace, crept noiselessly past the sleeping guards, along the deserted halls, and came to Psyche's apartment, into which he glided unseen. Stealthily he approached the couch upon which the fair maiden was sleeping, and bent over her to administer the poisoned dose.

A moonbeam falling athwart her face revealed her unequaled loveliness, and made Cupid start back in surprise ; but, as he did so, one of his own love arrows came into contact with his rosy flesh, and inflicted a wound, from which he was to suffer for many a weary day.

All unconscious of the gravity of his hurt, he hung enraptured over the sleeping maiden, and let her fair image sink into his heart ; then, noiselessly as he had entered, he stole out again, vowing he would never harm such innocence and beauty.

Morning dawned. Venus, who had expected to see the sun illumine her rival's corpse, saw her sporting as usual in the pal- ace gardens, and bitterly realized that her first plan had com- pletely failed. She therefore began to devise various torments of a petty kind, and persecuted the poor girl so remorselessly, that she fled from home with the firm intention of putting an end to the life she could no longer enjoy in peace.

To achieve this purpose, Psyche painfully toiled up a rugged mountain, and, creeping to the very edge of a great precipice, cast herself down, expecting to be dashed to pieces on the jagged rocks below ; but Cupid, who had indignantly though helplessly seen all his mother's persecutions, had followed Psyche unseen, and, when he perceived her intention to commit suicide, he called to Zephyrus (the South Wind), and entreated him to catch the maiden in his strong yet gentle arms, and bear her off to a distant isle.

Consequently, instead of a swift, sharp fall and painful death, Psyche felt herself gently wafted over hill and dale, across spar- kling waters ; and, long before she wearied of this new mode of travel, she was gently laid on a flowery bank, in the midst of an exquisite garden.

VENUS. 1 23

Bewildered, she slowly rose to her feet, rubbed her pretty eyes to make sure she was not dreaming, and wonderingly strolled about the beautiful grounds. Ere long she came to an en- chanted palace, whose portals opened wide to receive her, while gentle voices bade her enter, and invisible hands drew her over the threshold and waited upon her.

\Yhen night came, and darkness again covered the earth, Cupid appeared in search of his beloved Psyche. In the per- fumed dusk he confessed his love, and tenderly begged for some return.

Now, although the fading light would not permit her to dis- cern the form or features of her unknown lover, Psyche listened to his soft tones with unconcealed pleasure, and soon con- sented to their union. Cupid then entreated her to make no attempt to discover his name, or to catch a glimpse of his face, warning her that if she did so he would be forced to leave her, never to return.

" ' Dear, I am with thee only while I keep My visage hidden ; and if thou once shouldst see My face, I must forsake thee: the high gods Link Love with Faith, and he withdraws himself From the full gaze of Knowledge.' "

LEWIS MORRIS.

Psyche solemnly promised to respect her mysterious lover's wishes, and gave herself up entirely to the enjoyment of his com- pany. All night long they talked ; and when the first faint streak of light appeared above the horizon, Cupid bade Psyche fare- well, promising to return with the welcome shades of night. All day long Psyche thought of him, longed for him, and, as soon as the sun had set, sped to the bower where the birds were sleepily trilling forth their evening song, and breathlessly waited until he came to join her.

" Now on broad pinions from the realms above Descending Cupid seeks the Cyprian grove,-

124 CLASSICAL MYTHS.

To his wide arms enamor'd Psyche springs,

And clasps her lover with aurelian wings.

A purple sash across His shoulder bends,

And fringed with gold the quiver'd shafts suspends."

DARWIN.

Although the hours of day seemed interminable, spent as they were in complete solitude, Psyche found the hours of night all too short in the sweet society of Love. Her every wish was gratified almost as soon as expressed ; and at last, encouraged by her lover's evident anxiety to please her, she gave utterance to her longing to see and converse with her sisters once more. The ardent lover could not refuse to grant this request, yet Psyche noticed that his consent seemed somewhat hesitating and reluctant.

The next morning, while enjoying a solitary stroll, Psyche sud- denly encountered her two sisters. After rapturous embraces and an incoherent volley of questions and answers, they settled down to enjoy a long talk. Psyche related her desperate at- tempt at suicide, her miraculous preservation from certain death, her aerial journey, her entrance into the enchanted palace, her love for her mysterious nightly visitor, — all, in short, that had happened since she had left her father's home.

Now, the elder sisters had always been jealous of Psyche's superior beauty ; and when they saw her luxurious surroundings, and heard her raptures about her lover, they were envious, and resolved to mar the happiness which they could not enjoy. They therefore did all in their power to convince poor Psyche that her lover must be some monster, so hideous that he dare not brave the broad light of day, lest he should make her loathe him, and further added, that, if she were not very careful, he would probably end by devouring her.

They thereupon advised poor troubled Psyche to conceal a lamp and dagger in her lover's apartment, and to gaze upon him in secret, when his eyes were closed in sleep. If the light of the lamp revealed, as they felt sure it would, the hideous coun-

CUPID AND PSYCHE.— Canova. ( Louvre, Paris. )

("5)

I '2 6 CLASSICAL MYTHS.

tenance and distorted form of a monster, they bade her use the dagger to kill him. Then, satisfied with their work, the sisters departed, leaving Psyche alone to carry out their evil sugges- tions.

When safe at home once more, the sisters constantly brooded over the tale Psyche had poured into their ears, and, hoping to secure as luxurious a home and as fascinating a lover, they each hurried off in secret to the mountain gorge, cast themselves over the precipice, and — perished.

Night having come, bringing the usually so welcome Cupid,' Psyche, tortured with doubt, could with difficulty conceal her agitation. After repeated efforts to charm her from her silent mood, Cupid fell asleep ; and, as soon as his regular breathing pro- claimed him lost in slumber, Psyche noiselessly lighted her lamp, seized her dagger, and, approaching the couch with great caution, bent over her sleeping lover. The lamp, which she held high above her head, cast its light full upon the face and form of a handsome youth.

" Now trembling, now distracted ; bold, And now irresolute she seems ; The blue lamp glimmers in her hold, And in her hand the dagger gleams. Prepared to strike, she verges near, Then, the blue light glimmering from above, The hideous sight expects with fear — And gazes on the god of Love."

APOLLONIUS.

Psyche's heart beat loudly with joy and pride as she beheld, instead of the monster, this graceful youth ; and as she hung over him, enraptured, she forgot all caution. An inadvertent motion tipped her lamp, and one drop of burning oil, running over the narrow brim, fell upon Cupid's naked shoulder.

The sudden pain made him open his eyes with a start. The lighted lamp, the glittering dagger, the trembling Psyche, told the whole story. Cupid sprang from the couch, seized his bow

VENUS. 127

and arrows, and, with a last sorrowful, reproachful glance at Psyche, flew away through the open window, exclaiming, —

" ' Farewell ! There is no Love except with Faith, And thine is dead ! Farewell ! I come no more ! ' "

LEWIS MORRIS.

When he had vanished into the dusky air without, the balmy night winds ceased to blow ; and suddenly a tempest began to rage with such fury, that poor frightened Psyche Psyche dared not remain alone in the palace, but hastened forsaken, out into the gardens, where she soon lost consciousness of her misery in a deep swoon. When she opened her eyes once more, the storm had ceased, the sun was high in the heavens, and palace and gardens had vanished.

Poor Psyche lingered there the following and many succeeding nights, vainly hoping for Cupid's return, and shedding many bit- ter tears of repentance. Finally she resolved to commit suicide, and, with that purpose in view, plunged into a neighboring river ; but the god of the stream caught and carried her ashore, where his daughters, the water nymphs, restored her to life. Thus forced to live, Psyche wandered about disconsolate, seeking Cupid, and questioning all she met, the nymphs, Pan, and Ceres, who compassionately listened to her confession of love for her husband.

"Not as the earthly loves which throb and flush Round earthly shrines was mine, but a pure spirit, Lovelier than all embodied love, more pure And wonderful ; but never on his eyes I looked, which still were hidden, and I knew not The fashion of his nature ; for by night, When visual eyes are blind, but the soul sees, Came he, and bade me seek not to inquire Or whence he came or wherefore. Nor knew I His name. And always ere the coming day, As if he were the Sun god, lingering With some too well loved maiden, he would rise

And vanish until eve."

LEWIS MORRIS.

128 CLASSICAL MYTHS.

Ceres had often seen Cupid, and had heard that very morn- ing that he was having a wound in his shoulder dressed by Venus : so she advised Psyche to go to the Goddess of Beauty, to enter her service, and to perform every task with cheerful alac- rity, knowing that such a course would ultimately bring about a meeting and reconciliation between the lovers.

Psyche gratefully accepted and followed Ceres' advice, and labored early and late to satisfy her exacting mistress, who ap- pointed such difficult tasks, that the poor girl would never have been able to accomplish them had she not been aided by all the beasts and insects, who loved her dearly.

Venus repeatedly tested her fidelity and endurance, and finally

resolved, as a crucial experiment, to send her to Hades to fetch

a box of beauty ointment, for which Proserpina

Psyche s

journey to alone had the recipe. Directed by Zephyrus, her old friend, Psyche encountered the terrors of Hades in safety, delivered her message, and in return received a small box. The gates of Hades were closed behind her, and she had nearly finished her last task, when she suddenly fancied that it would be wise to appropriate a little of the magic preparation to efface the traces of sleepless nights and many tears.

The box, however, contained naught but the spirit of Sleep, who, pouncing upon Psyche, laid her low by the roadside. Cupid, passing by, saw her there, marked the ravages of grief, remembered his love and her suffering, and, wrestling with the spirit, forced him to reenter the narrow bounds of his prison, and woke Psyche with a loving kiss.

" 'Dear, unclose thine eyes. Thou mayst look on me now. I go no more, But am thine own forever.' "

LEWIS MORRIS.

Then, hand in hand, they winged their flight to Olympus, entered the council hall ; and there Cupid presented Psyche, his chosen bride, to the assembled deities, who all promised to be present at the nuptial ceremony. Venus even, forgetting all her

VENUS DE MILO. ( Louvre, Paris. )

(129)

130 CLASSICAL MYTHS.

former envy, welcomed the blushing bride, who was happy ever after.

The ancients, for whom Cupid was an emblem of the heart, considered Psyche the personification of the soul, and repre- sented her with butterfly wings ; that little insect being another symbol of the soul, whic"h cannot die.

Venus, goddess of beauty, is represented either entirely naked, or with some scanty drapery called a " cestus." Seated in her Worship of chariot, formed of a single pearl shell, and drawn Venus. by snow-white doves, her favorite birds, she jour- neyed from shrine to shrine, complacently admiring the lavish decorations of jewels and flowers her worshipers provided. The offerings of young lovers were ever those which found most favor in her sight.

" Venus loves the whispers

Of plighted youth and maid, In April's ivory moonlight Beneath the chestnut shade."

MACAULAV.

Numerous ancient and some modern statues of this goddess grace the various art galleries, but among them all the most perfect is the world-renowned Venus de Milo.

Venus' festivals were always scenes of graceful amusements; and her votaries always wore wreaths of fresh, fragrant flowers, the emblem of all natural beauty.

CHAPTER VIII.

MERCURY.

As already repeatedly stated in the course of this work, Jupi- ter was never a strictly faithful spouse, and, in spite of his wife's " curtain lectures," could not refrain from indul- Birth of ging his caprice for every pretty face he met along Mercury, his way. It is thus, therefore, that he yielded to the charms of Maia, goddess of the plains, and spent some blissful hours in her society. This divine couple's happiness culminated when they first beheld their little son, Mercury (Hermes, Psycho- pompus, Oneicopompus), who was born in a grotto on Mount Cyllene, in Arcadia, —

" Mercury, whom Maia bore, Sweet Maia, on Cyllene's hoary top."

VIRGIL (Cowper's tr.).

This infant god was quite unlike mortal children, as will readily be perceived by the numerous pranks he played imme- diately after his birth. First he sprang from his mother's knee, grasped a tortoise shell lying on the ground, bored holes in its sides, stretched strings across its concavity, and, sweeping his hands over them, produced strains of sweetest music, thus in- venting the first lyre.

" So tfcere it lay, through wet and dry, As empty as the last new sonnet, Till by and by came Mercury, And, having mused upon it,

132 CLASSICAL MYTHS.

' Why here,' cried he, ' the thing of things In shape, material, and dimension ! Give it but strings, and, lo, it sings,

A wonderful invention.' "

LOWELL.

Being very hungry toward evening, young Mercury escaped from his sleeping mother, and sallied out in search of food. He

Mercury's had not gone very far, before he came to a wide theft. meadow, where Apollo's herds were at pasture. The oxen were fat and sleek ; and the mischievous little god, after satisfying himself that they were young, and therefore promised to be tender and juicy, drove fifty of them off to a secluded spot, taking good care to envelop their feet in leafy branches, so they would leave no traces. Then, his hiding place being reached in safety, Mercury coolly killed two of the oxen, which he pro- ceeded to eat.

Apollo soon missed his cattle, and began to search for some clew to their hiding place or to the thief. He could, however, discover nothing but some broken twigs and scattered leaves. Suddenly he remembered that the babe whose birth had been announced early that morning in high Olympus had been ap- pointed god of thieves. He therefore lost no more time in use- less search and conjecture, but strode off to Mount Cyllene, where he found Mercury peacefully sleeping in his cradle. With a rude shake, the sun god roused him from his slumbers, and bade him restore the stolen cattle. Mercury pretended inno- cence, until Apollo, exasperated, dragged him off to Olympus, where he was convicted of the theft, and condemned to restore the stolen property. Mercury yielded to the decree, produced the remaining oxen, and, in exchange for the two missing, gave Apollo the lyre he had just fashioned.

This, like most other myths, admits of a natural explanation. Apollo (the Sun) was supposed by the ancients to possess great herds of cattle and sheep, — the clouds ; and Mercury, the per- sonification of the wind, born in the night, after a few hours' ex-

FLYING MERCURY.— Bologna. (National Museum, Florence.)

134 CLASSICAL MYTHS.

istence waxes sufficiently strong to drive away the clouds and conceal them, leaving no trace of his passage except a few broken branches and scattered leaves.

The gift of the lyre pleased Apollo so well, that he in return

wished to make a present to Mercury, and gave him a magic

wand, called Caduceus, which had the power of

Mercury's

wand, cap, reconciling all conflicting elements. Mercury, anx-

)es' ious to test it, thrust it between two quarreling

snakes, who immediately wound themselves in amity around it,

This so pleased him, that he bade them remain there forever, and

used the wand on all occasions.

" A snake-encircl'd wand ; By classic authors term'd Caduceus And highly fam'd for several uses."

GOLDSMITH.

Mercury was in due time appointed messenger of the gods, who, to make him fleet of foot, presented him with winged san- dals, the Talaria, which endowed him with marvelous rapidity of motion. As these sandals did not seem quite sufficient, however, the gods added the winged cap, Petasus, to the winged shoes.

" Foot-feather'd Mercury appear'd sublime Beyond the tall tree tops ; and in less time Than shoots the slanted hail-storm, down he dropt Towards the ground ; but rested not, nor stopt One moment from his home ; only the sward He with his wand light touch'd, and heavenward Swifter than sight was gone."

KEATS.

Mercury was not only the messenger of the gods, but was also appointed god of eloquence, commerce, rain, wind, and the special patron of travelers, shepherds, cheats, thieves, and pickpockets.

Jupiter often intrusted to Mercury messages of a delicate ' nature, and always found him an invaluable ally ;

Story of lo.

but the faithful messenger was never so much needed or so deeply appreciated as during Jupiter's courtship of lo, the peerless daughter of the river god Inachus.

MERCURY. 135

To avoid Juno's recriminations, Jupiter had carried on this affair with even more than his usual secrecy, visiting his beloved only when quite certain that his wife was asleep, and taking the further precaution of spreading a cloud over the spot wrhere he generally met her, to shield her from all chance of being seen from Olympus.

One fine afternoon, all conditions being favorable, Jupiter has- tened down to earth to see lo, and began to stroll with her up and down the river edge. They heeded not the noonday heat, for the cloud over their heads screened them from the sun's too ardent rays.

From some cause Juno's slumbers were less protracted than usual, and she soon arose from her couch to look about her realm, the atmosphere, and convince herself that all was well. Her attention was soon attracted by an opaque, immovable cloud near the earth, — a cloud which had no business there, for had she not bidden them all lie still on the blue until she awoke ? Her suspicions being aroused by the presence of this cloud, she sought her husband in Olympus, and, not finding him, flew down to earth, brushing the cloud aside in her haste.

Jupiter, thus warned of her coming, had but time to change the maiden beside him into a heifer, ere his wife alighted and inquired what he was doing there. Carelessly the god pointed to the heifer, and declared he had been whiling away the time by creating it ; but the explanation failed to satisfy Juno, who, seeing no other living creature near, suspected that her spouse had been engaged in a clandestine flirtation, and had screened its fair object from her wrath only by a sudden transformation.

Dissimulating these suspicions with care, Juno begged her hus- band to give her his new creation, which request he could not re- fuse, but granted most reluctantly, thus adding further confirma- tion to her jealous fears. The Queen of Heaven then departed, taking lo with her, and placed her under the surveillance of Argus, one of her servants, who possessed myriad eyes, but one half of which he closed at a time.

136 CLASSICAL MYTHS.

"The eyes of Argus, sentinel of Heaven: Those thousand eyes that watch alternate kept, Nor all o'er all his body waked or slept."

STATIUS (Elton's tr.).

She bade him watch the heifer closely, and report anything

unusual in its actions. One day, therefore, as he was watching

his charge pasture by the river, Argus heard her

Argus' watch.

relate to her father, Inachus, the story of her trans- formation, and immediately imparted his discovery to Juno, who, advising still closer watchfulness, sent him back to his post.

Jupiter, in the mean while, was in despair ; for days had passed without his being able to exchange a word with lo, or deliver her from her imprisonment. Finally he called Mercury to his aid, and bade him devise some plan to rescue her. Armed with a handful of poppies, Mercury approached Argus, and offered to while away the time by telling him tales.

As Mercury was the prince of story-tellers, this offer was not to be despised, and Argus joyfully accepted ; but instead of exerting himself to be entertaining, Mercury droned out such lengthy, uninteresting stories, that Argus soon closed half his eyes in profound sleep. Still talking in the same monotonous way, Mercury softly shook the poppies over the giant's head, until one by one the remaining eyelids closed, and Argus was wrapped in complete slumber.

Then Mercury seized the giant's sword, and with one well- directed blow severed his head from the huge trunk. Only one half of the task was successfully accomplished ; and while Mer- cury was driving the heifer away, Juno discovered his attempt, and promptly sent an enormous gadfly to torment the poor beast, who, goaded to madness by its cruel stings, fled wildly from one country to another, forded streams, and finally plunged into the sea, since called Ionian. After swimming across it, she took refuge in Egypt, where Jupiter restored her to all her girlish loveliness, and where her son Epaphus was born, to be the first king and the founder of Memphis.

MERCURY. 137

" In coming time that hollow of the sea Shall bear the name Ionian, and present A monument of lo's passage through,

Unto all mortals."

E. B. BROWNING.

Juno mourned the loss of her faithful Argus most bitterly, and, gathering up his myriad eyes, scattered them over the tail of her favorite bird, the peacock, to have some memento of her faithful servant ever near her.

" From Argus slain a painted peacock grew, Fluttering his feathers stain'd with various hue."

MOSCHUS.

This story is also an allegory. lo personifies the moon, rest- lessly wandering from place to place ; Argus, the heavens, whose starry eyes keep ceaseless watch over the moon's every move- ment ; Mercury is the rain, whose advent blots out the stars one by one, thus killing Argus, who else was never known to close all his eyes at once.

To Mercury was intrusted the charge of conducting the souls of the departed to Hades, and when occu- Mercury's

. . . offices and

pied m this way he bore the name of Psycho- worship, pompus, while, when addressed as conductor of Dreams, he was Oneicopompus.

" Gently as a kiss came Death to sever From spirit flesh, and to the realm of gloom The pallid shades with fearless brow descended To Hades, by the winged god attended."

BOYESEN.

He was one of the twelve principal gods of Olympus, and was widely worshiped. Temples, altars, and shrines were dedi- cated to his service throughout the ancient countries. His statues were considered sacred boundary marks, and their removal pun- ished by death. Solemn annual festivals were held in Rome in Mercury's honor in the month of May, and from him received their name of Mercuralia.

CHAPTER IX.

MARS.

MARS (Ares), son of Jupiter and Juno, was the god of war, the

personification of the angry clouded sky, and, although but little

Mars' worshiped in Greece, was one of the principal

character. Roman divinities. He is said to have first seen the light in Thrace, a country noted for its fierce storms and war-loving people.

" Infant Mars, where Thracia's mountains rose, Press'd with his hardy limbs th' incrusted snows."

STATIUS (Elton's tr.).

Never sated with strife and bloodshed, this god preferred the din of battle to all other music, and found no occupation so congenial as the toils and dangers of war. No gentle deeds of kindness were ever expected from him ; no loving prayers were ever addressed to him ; and the ancients felt no love for him, but, on the contrary, shuddered with terror when his name was mentioned.

Mars was generally represented in a brilliant suit of armor, a plumed helmet on his proud young head, a poised spear in one muscular hand, and a finely wrought shield in the other, showing him ever ready to cope with a foe.

His attendants, or some say his children, sympathized heartily

Mars' with his quarrelsome tastes, and delighted in fol-

attendants. iowjng his lead. They were Eris (Discord), Pho-

bos (Alarm), Metus (Fear), Demios (Dread), and Pallor (Terror).

Bellona, or Enyo, his sister, goddess of war, also accompanied

138

.V.I AS. 139

him, drove his chariot, parried dangerous thrusts, and watched over his general safety. Brother and sister were therefore wor- shiped together in the selfsame temple, and their altars were the only ones ever polluted by human sacrifices.

'' And to the fire-ey'd maid of smoky war, All hot and bleeding, will we offer them : The mailed Mars shall on his altar sit,

Up to the ears in blood." ,

SHAKESPEARE.

As strife was his favorite element, Mars was very active indeed during the war between the gods and giants, but in his martial ardor he frequently forgot all caution. On one story of otus occasion he was obliged to surrender to Otus and and EPhialtes- Ephialtes, — two giants, who, though but nine years of age, were already of immense stature, since they increased in height at the rate of nine inches each month.

Proud of their victory over the God of War, these giants bore him off in triumph, and bound him fast with iron chains slipped through iron rings. Day and night they kept watch over him ; and even when they slept, the rattle of the chains, whenever any one of the gods attempted to set him free, woke them up, and frustrated all efforts to deliver him. During fifteen weary months poor Mars lingered there in durance vile, until Mercury, the prince of thieves, noiselessly and deftly slipped the chains out of the rings, and restored him to freedom.

In revenge for the cruel treatment inflicted by Otus and Ephi- altes, Mars prevailed upon Apollo and Diana to use their poisoned arrows, and thus rid the world of these two ugly and useless giants.

Of a fiery disposition, Mars was never inclined to forgive an injury' ; and when Halirrhothius, Neptune's son, dared to carry off his daughter Alcippe. Mars hotly pursued the ab-

The Areopagus.

cluctor, and promptly slew him. Neptune, angry at this act of summary justice, cited the God of War to appear before a tribunal held in the open air, on a hill near the newly founded city of Athens.

140 CLASSICAL MYTHS.

It was then customary for such cases to be tried at night, in utter darkness, so that the judges might not be influenced by the personal appearance of either plaintiff or defendant ; and no rhetoric of any kind was allowed, that their minds might remain quite unbiased. Mars appeared before the judges, simply stated his case, and was acquitted. Since then the hill upon which his trial took place has been called the Areopagus (Ares' Hill) or Mars' Hill, and the judges of the principal court of justice at Athens received the name of Areopagitae.

Although such a partisan of strife, Mars was not impervious

to softer emotions, and passionately returned the devotion of Ve-

Mars' nusj wno bore him three beautiful children, — Har-

chiidren. monia, Cupid, and Anteros. Mars also fell in love with a beautiful young Vestal named Ilia, a descendant of ^Eneas, who, in spite of the solemn pledge not to listen to a lover's plead- ings until her time of service at the goddess Vesta's altar was accomplished, yielded to Mars' impetuous wooing, and consented to a clandestine union.

Although secretly married, Ilia continued to dwell in the temple until the birth of her twin sons Romulus and Remus. Romulus and Her parents, hearing she had broken her vows, corn- Remus, manded that she should suffer the prescribed pun- ishment of being buried alive, and that the children should be ex- posed to the teeth and claws of the wild beasts of the forest. The double sentence was ruthlessly carried out, and the young mother perished ; but, contrary to all previsions, the babes sur- vived, and, after having been suckled for a time by a she-wolf, were found and adopted by a shepherd.

Romulus and Remus throve under this man's kind care, and grew up strong and fearless. When they reached manhood, they longed for a wider sphere for their youthful activity, and, leaving the mountain where they had grown up, journeyed out into the world to seek their fortunes. After some time they came to a beautiful hilly country, where they decided to found a great city, the capital of their future realm. Accordingly the brothers began

VENUS DE MILO AND MAR

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142 CLASSICAL MYTHS.

to trace the outline of their city limits, and, in doing so, quarreled over the name of the prospective town.

Blinded by anger, Romulus suddenly raised the tool he held, and struck Remus such a savage blow that he fell to the ground, slain by his brother in a fit of passion. Alone now, Romulus at first vainly tried to pursue his undertaking, but, being soon joined by a number of adventurers as wicked and unscrupulous as he, they combined their forces, and built the celebrated city of Rome.

"Then, with his nurse's wolf-skin girt, Shall Romulus the line assert, Invite them to his new raised home, And call the martial city Rome."

VIRGIL (Conington's tr.).

As founder of this city, Romulus was its first king, and ruled the people with such an iron hand that his tyranny eventually became unbearable. The senators, weary of his exactions and arbitrary measures, finally resolved to free themselves of his presence. Taking advantage of an eclipse, which plunged the city in sudden darkness at noonday, and which occurred while all were assembled on the Forum, the magistrates slew Romulus, cut his body into pieces, and hid them under their wide togas.

When the light returned, and the terrified and awestruck

people, somewhat reassured, looked about them for their king,

they were told he had gone, never to return, carried

Quirinus.

off by the immortal gods, who wished mm to share their abode and dignity. The senators further informed the credulous population that Romulus was to be henceforth wor- shiped as a god under the name of Quirinus, and gave orders for the erection of a temple on one of the seven hills, which since then has been known as Mount Quirinal. Yearly festivals in Romulus' honor were ever after held in Rome, under the name of Quirinalia.

Well pleased with the new city of Rome and its turbulent, law- less citizens, Mars took it under his special protection ; and once,

J/.IA'S. 143

when a plague was raging which threatened to destroy all the people, the Romans rushed in a body to his temple, and clamored for a sign of his favor and protection.

Even while they prayed, it is said, a shield, Ancile, fell from heaven, and a voice was distinctly heard to declare that Rome would endure as long as this token of the god's good will was preserved. The very same day the plague ceased its frightful ravages, and the Romans, delighted with the result of their petitions, placed the heavenly shield in one of their principal temples.

Then, in constant dread lest some of their enemies should suc- ceed in stealing it, they caused eleven other shields to be made, so exactly like the heaven-sent Ancile, that none but the guardian priests, the Salii, who kept continual watch over them, could detect the original from the facsimiles. During the month of March, which, owing to its blustery weather, was dedicated to Mars and bore his name, the ancilse were carried in a proces- sion all through the city, the Salii chanting their rude war songs, and executing intricate war dances.

A Roman general, ere setting out on any warlike expedition, always entered the sanctuary of Mars, touched the sacred shield with the point of his lance, shook the spear in the hand of the god's effigy, and called aloud, " Mars, watch over us ! "

A common superstition among the Roman soldiery was, that Mars, under the name of Gradivus, marched -worship in person at the head of their army, and led them of Mars- on to victory. Mars' principal votaries were therefore the Roman soldiers and youths, whose exercising ground was called, in his honor, the Campus Martius, or Field of Mars. All the laurel crowns bestowed upon victorious generals were deposited at the foot of his statues, and a bull was the customary thank offering after a successful campaign.

" The soldier, from successful camps returning With laurel wreath'd, and rich with hostile spoil,

Severs the bull to Mars."

PRIOR.

CHAPTER X.

VULCAN.

VULCAN, or Hephaestus, son of Jupiter and Juno, god of fire

and the forge, seldom joined the general council of the gods.

His aversion to Olympus was of old standing. He

Vulcan's fall. .

had once been tenderly attached to his mother, had lavished upon her every proof of his affection, and had even tried to console her when she mourned Jupiter's neglect. On one occasion, intending to punish Juno for one of her usual fits of jealousy, Jupiter hung her out of heaven, fast bound by a golden chain ; and Vulcan, perceiving her in this plight, tugged at the chain with all his might, drew her up, and was about to set her free, when Jupiter returned, and, in anger at his son's interference in his matrimonial concerns, kicked him out of heaven.

The intervening space between heaven and earth was so great, that Vulcan's fall lasted during one whole day and night, ere he finally touched the summit of Mount Mosychlus, in the Island of

Lemnos.

" From morn

To noon he fell, from noon to dewy eve, A summer's day ; and with the setting sun Dropt from the zenith like a falling star, On Lemnos th' ^Egean isle."

MILTON.

Of course, to any one but a god such a terrible fall would have proved fatal ; and even Vulcan did not escape entirely unharmed, for he injured one of his legs, which accident left him lame and somewhat deformed for the remainder of his life.

144

VULCAN. 145

Now, although Vulcan had risked so much and suffered so greatly in taking his mother's part, she never even made the slightest attempt to ascertain whether he had Vulcan's reached the earth in safety. Hurt by her indiffer- ence and ingratitude, Vulcan vowed never again to return to Olympus, and withdrew to the solitudes of Mount JEtna., where he established a great forge in the heart of the mountain, in partnership with the Cyclopes, who helped him manufacture many cunning and useful objects from the metals found in great profusion in the bosom of the earth.

Among these ingenious contrivances were two golden hand- maidens gifted with motion, who attended the god wherever he went, and supported his halting footsteps.

" Two golden statues, like in form and look To living maidens, aided with firm gait The monarch's steps."

HOMER (Bryant's tr.).

Vulcan also devised a golden throne with countless hidden springs, which, when unoccupied, did not present an extraordi- nary appearance ; but as soon as any one ventured The golden to make use of it, the springs moved, and, the chair throne, closing around the person seated upon it, frustrated all attempts to rise and escape from its treacherous embrace.

Vulcan dispatched this throne, when completed, to his mother, who, delighted with its beauty and delicate workmanship, proudly seated herself upon it, and found herself a prisoner. In vain she strove to escape, in vain the gods all gallantly rushed to her assistance. Their united strength and skill proved useless against the cunning springs.

Finally Mercury was sent to Vulcan, primed with a most diplo- matic request to honor high Olympus with his presence; but all Mercury's eloquence and persuasions failed to induce the god of the forge to leave his sooty abode, and the messenger god was forced to return alone and report the failure of his attempt.

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VULCAN. 147

Then the gods deliberated anew, and decided to send Bacchus, god of wine, hoping his powers of persuasion would prove more effective.

Armed with a flask of his choicest vintage, Bacchus presented himself before Vulcan, and offered him a refreshing draught. Vulcan, predisposed to thirst, and incited to drink by the very nature of his labor, accepted the offered cup, and allowed himself to be beguiled into renewing his potations, until he was quite intoxicated. In this condition, Bacchus led him passive to Olympus, made him release the Queen of Heaven, and urged him to embrace his father and crave forgiveness.

Although restored to favor, Vulcan would not remain per- manently in Olympus, but preferred to return to his forge and continue his labors. He undertook, however, the construction of magnificent golden palaces for each of the gods upon the Olympian heights, fashioned their sumptuous furniture from pre- cious metals, and further embellished his work by a rich orna- mentation of precious stones.

" Then to their starry domes the gods depart, The shining monuments of Vulcan's art: Jove on his couch reclin'd his awful head, And Juno slumber'd on the golden bed."

HOMER (Pope's tr.).

Aided by the Cyclopes, Vulcan manufactured Jupiter's weap- ons, the dread thunderbolts, whose frightful power none could withstand, and Cupid's love-inspiring darts.

Vulcan, in spite of his deformity, extreme ugliness, and well- known aversion to any home but his sooty forge, was none the less prone to fall in love with the various god- Vulcan's desses. He first wooed Minerva, who, having loves- sworn never to marry, contemptuously dismissed his suit. To console Vulcan for this rebuff, and at the same time punish the Goddess of Beauty, who, according to some mythologists, had refused even his addresses, Jupiter bestowed upon him the fair

148 CLASSICAL MYTHS.

hand of Venus, and sent her and her mischievous train of Loves and Graces to reside in the dark caves of Mount ^Etna.

Amused by all the strange sights and sounds, the goddess at first seemed quite contented ; but after a time Vulcan's gloomy abode lost all its attractions : so she forsook her ill-favored hus- band, and went in search of another, more congenial mate.

Some time after, Vulcan married one of the Graces, who, how- ever, seems to have also soon wearied of his society, for she de- serted him.

Vulcan's children were mostly monsters, such as Cacus, Peri- phetes, Cercyon, etc., all of whom play an important part in heroic mythology. He is also the reputed father of Servius Tullius, sixth king of Rome, by a slave Ocrisia, whom he was wont to visit in the guise of a bright flame, which played harm- lessly about her.

Vulcan was worshiped by all blacksmiths and artisans, who recognized him as their special patron, and venerated him ac- cordingly.

" Those who labor

The sweaty forge, who edge the crooked scythe, Bend stubborn steel, and harden gleaming armor, Acknowledge Vulcan's aid."

PRIOR.

Great festivals, the Vulcanalia and the Hephaestia, were cele- brated in honor of this god, who is generally represented as a short, muscular man, with one leg shorter than the other, a work- man's cap on his curly locks, a short upper garment, and a smith's tools in his hand.

CHAPTER XI.

NEPTUNE.

WHEN Jupiter assigned to each of his brothers a separate por- tion of the universe, he decreed that Neptune, or Poseidon, should govern all the waters upon the face of the earth, and be sole monarch of the ocean.

"Neptune, the mighty marine god, I sing; Earth's mover, and the fruitless ocean's king. That Helicon and th' ALgean deeps dost hold. O thou earth-shaker ; thy command, twofold The gods have sorted; making thee of horses The awful tamer, and of naval forces The sure preserver. Hail, O Saturn's birth ! Whose graceful green hair circles all the earth. Bear a benign mind; and thy helpful hand Lend all, submitted to thy dread command."

HOMER (Chapman's tr.).

Before this new ruler made his appearance, the Titan Oceanus had wielded the scepter of the sea ; and regretfully he now resigned it to his youthful supplanter, whom he nevertheless admired sincerely, and described in glowing colors to his brothers.

" Have ye beheld the young God of the Seas, My dispossessor ? Have ye seen his face? Have ye beheld his chariot, foam'd along By noble winged creatures he hath made? I saw him on the calmed waters scud, With such a glow of beauty in his eyes, That it enforc'd me to bid sad farewell

To all my empire."

KEATS.

10 149

FOUNTAIN OF NEPTUNE.— Bologna. ( Bologna.)

NEPTUNE. 151

Neptune, the personification as well as the god of the sea,