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MYTHOLOG  Y 
 
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MYTHOLOGY 
 
 GREEK  AND   ROMAN 
 
 TRANSLATED  FROM  THE  GERMAN  OF 
 
 FRIEDRICH  "NÖSSELT 
 
 BY 
 
 MRS  ANGUS  W.   HALL 
 
 AND 
 
 DEDICATED    BY    THE    KIND    PERMISSION    OF   THEIR    ROYAL    HIGHNESSES 
 
 PRINCE  AND    PRINCESS    CHRISTIAN,   TO   THEIR   DAUGHTERS 
 
 THE    PRINCESSES    VICTORIA   AND    LOUISE   OF 
 
 SCHLESWIG  -  HOLSTEIN 
 
 For  this  book  doth  tell  of  a  path  that  leadeth  to  a  Living  Wei 
 
 LONDON 
 KERBY  &  ENDEAN,   440  OXFORD  STREET 
 
 1885 
 
THE  WORLD  AS  KNOWN  TO  THE  ANCIENT  GREEKS. 
 
FE3^:  11 
 
 *2    " 
 
 *oi0  ^s 
 
 TO 
 
 ItflJ.  $rinass  (Ehristmn, 
 
 Madam, 
 
 In  asking  for  the  permission  so  kindly  granted 
 by  your  Royal  Highness  to  dedicate  this  translation  of  Dr 
 Nösselt's  "Handbook  of  Mythology"  to  your  daughters 
 the  Princesses  Victoria  and  Louise,  I  thought  it  might  be 
 worthy  of  their  acceptance,  and  also  generally  useful — more 
 especially  as  there  is,  I  believe,  a  great  want  in  this  country 
 of  a  book  on  Mythology,  fit  for  the  general  reader  and 
 essential  to  the  education  of  the  young. 
 
 Believing  that  Dr  Nösselt's  Mythology  would  supply  this 
 want,  I  was  induced  to  undertake  the  present  transla- 
 tion, and,  should  it  become  as  popular  in  England  as  it  is 
 in  Germany,  where  it  is  not  only  a  text-book  in  schools, 
 but  has  also  obtained  a  place  on  the  book-shelf  of  every 
 cultivated  home,  I  shall  be  amply  rewarded. 
 
 Classics  are  generally  a  sealed  book  to  the  young :  I 
 have  therefore  interspersed  throughout  carefully  selected 
 extracts  from  Wright's  and  Pope's  "Iliad,"  Worsley's 
 "Odyssey,"  Morris'  "Virgil,"  and  Garth's  "Ovid."  Buck- 
 ley's "  Euripides  "  and  Blackwood's  "  Ancient  Classics  for 
 English  Readers  "  have  been  of  great  assistance. 
 
 b 
 
viii  Dedication. 
 
 The  spelling  of  names  is  almost  entirely  in  accordance 
 with  that  of  Smith's  "Classical  Dictionary,"  and,  in  the 
 myths,  the  Greek  names  have  been  kept  almost  without 
 exception. 
 
 From  an  historical  point  of  view  Mythology  is  most 
 valuable,  as  it  tells  of  those  early  ages  when  men  were 
 struggling  instinctively  towards  the  Light,  and,  even  in  their 
 darkness,  learnt  to  honour  the  good  and  brave  and  to 
 despise  the  weak  and  cowardly. 
 
 Before  concluding  I  desire  to  express  my  thanks  to  my 
 friend  Mrs  FitzHugh,  daughter  of  Mr  James  Mure,  through 
 whose  hands  the  book  passed  before  it  went  to  press. 
 
 Trusting  that  this  volume  may  give  some  amusement  as 
 well  as  instruction  to  the  young  Princesses,  to  whom  it  is 
 dedicated,  as  well  as  to  the  general  reader, 
 
 I  remain, 
 
 With  the  greatest  respect, 
 
 Madam, 
 
 Your  Royal  Highness' 
 
 Most  obedient  and  devoted  humble  servant, 
 
 AMALTA  HALL. 
 
 Claremoxt,  Southampton, 
 Christmas,  18S4. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Introduction 
 
 I'acjb 
 I 
 
 Part  L— Grecian  and  Roman  Divinities. 
 
 Chap. 
 
 I. 
 
 The  Grecian  Account  of  the  Creation 
 
 II. 
 
 Uranus  and  his  Descendants 
 
 III. 
 
 Gaea  or  Ge,  and  her  Descendants 
 
 \/  IV. 
 
 Zeus  or  Jupiter 
 
 V. 
 
 Horae.     Parcae.     Muses. 
 
 Graces 
 
 VI. 
 
 Poseidon  or  Neptune.     Venus  or  Amphitrite 
 
 VII. 
 
 Pluto  and  Persephone  or  Proserpine 
 
 VIII. 
 
 Hestia  or  Vesta     . 
 
 IX. 
 
 Demeter  or  Ceres 
 
 X. 
 
 Pallas  Athene  or  Minerva 
 
 XI. 
 
 Hephaistos  or  Vulcan 
 
 XII. 
 
 Ares  or  Mars 
 
 XIII. 
 
 Aphrodite  or  Venus 
 
 XIV. 
 
 Dionysus     or     Bacchus. 
 Satyrs,  and  Pan 
 
 Maenades,      Sil 
 
 XV. 
 
 Hermes  or  Mercury 
 
 XVI. 
 
 Phoebus  Apollo,  .Esculapius 
 
 ,  Aurora  or  Eos 
 
 XVII. 
 
 Artemis  or  Diana 
 
 XVIII. 
 
 The  Nymphs 
 
 XIX. 
 
 Daemons  and  Heroes 
 
 XX. 
 
 Hekate      . 
 
 XXI. 
 
 Aeolos 
 
 14 
 
 24 
 
 50 
 
 59 
 65 
 *5 
 89 
 104 
 
 '13 
 
 124 
 120 
 
 148 
 
 159 
 164 
 
 201 
 208 
 
 213 
 216 
 218 
 
Contents. 
 
 Chap.  Page 
 
 XXII.  Nyx,  or  Night,  and  her  Children  .  .  222 
 
 XXIII.  Deities  known  only  to  the  Inhabitants  of  Italy     .  230 
 
 Part  II.— Mythological  History  of  the  Greeks. 
 
 I.  Deucalion  and  Pyrrha        ....  239 
 
 II.  Cecrops,   Pandion   and  his  Daughters    Philomela 
 and  Procne 
 III.  Kadmos    . 
 
 IV.   Danaos 
 
 V.  Pelops       . 
 VI.   Perseus 
 VII.   Herakles  or  Hercules 
 VIII.  Artreus  and  Thyestes 
 IX.  Theseus     . 
 X.  Eteocles  and  Polynices 
 XI.  The  Calydonian  Hunt 
 
 243 
 247 
 256 
 257 
 257 
 264 
 278 
 280 
 292 
 299 
 
 XII.  The  Combat  between  the  Lapithae  and  the  Centaurs  305 
 
 XIII.  The  Argonautic  Expedition           .             .             .  309 
 
 XIV.  The  Trojan  War               .             .             .             -343 
 XV.  Strife  between  Achilleus  and  Agamemnon             .  352 
 
 XVI.   Combat  between  Paris  and  Menelaos        .             .  358 
 XVII.  Combat    between   Diomed    and    Pandaros    and 
 
 Aeneas             .....  367 
 
 XVIII.   The  Wounding  of  Ares  by  Diomed           .             .  371 
 
 XIX.  Death  of  Adrastos              ....  377 
 
 XX.  Diomed  and  Glaucos         ....  378 
 
 XXI.   Hektor  and  Andromache               .             .             .  381 
 
 XXII.   Fight  between  Hektor  and  Ajax  .             .             .  386 
 
 XXIII.  Continuation  of  the  Trojan  War  .             .             .  389 
 
 XXIV.  The  vain  Attempt  of  Agamemnon  to  conciliate 
 
 Achilleus          .....  393 
 XXV.  The  Steeds  of  Rhesos       .             .             .             -395 
 
Contents. 
 
 Chap. 
 XXVI.  Death  of  Hippolochos,    Peisandros,    Iphidamas 
 
 and  Koon         .... 
 XXVII.  The  Wounding  of  Diomed  and  Machaon 
 XXVIII.   Battle  at  the  Greek  Entrenchments 
 XXIX.  The  Death  of  Sarpedon    . 
 XXX.  Death  of  Patroklos 
 XXXI.  Lament  of  Achilleus  over  Patroklos 
 XXXII.   Reconciliation  of  Agamemnon  and  Achilleus 
 
 XXXIII.  The  Heroic  Deeds  of  Achilleus     . 
 
 XXXIV.  The  Death  of  Hektor 
 XXXV.   Lament  for  Hektor 
 
 XXXVI.  Burial  of  Patroklos 
 
 XXXVII.  Funeral  of  Hektor.     Achilleus'  last  Combat  and 
 Death  .... 
 
 XXXVIII.   Destruction  of  Troy,  1 184 
 XXXIX.   Return  of  Odysseus  from  Troy 
 
 XL.  Journey  of  Telemachos  to  Pylos  and  Sparta 
 XLI.   Shipwreck  of  Odysseus 
 XLII.  Odysseus  in  Phaeacia 
 XLIII.  The  Kikones,  Lotophages,  and  Kuklopes 
 XLIV.   Odysseus'  Account  of  the  Aeolian  Islands  (Lipri) 
 the  Laistrygonen,  and  Kirke  . 
 XLV.  Odysseus'  Descent  into  the  Underland 
 XLVI.  Odysseus'  Account  of  the  Seirenes,    Scylla  an< 
 
 Charybdis,  and  the  Herds  of  Helios   . 
 XLVII.  Return  of  Odysseus  to  Ithaka 
 XLVIII.   Odysseus  and  the  Swineherd  Eumaios 
 XLIX.  Odysseus  returns  to  his  Home 
 L.   The  Vengeance  of  Odysseus 
 LI.  Odysseus  makes  himself  known  to  his  Household 
 LII.  Odysseus  Visits  Laertes     . 
 LIII.  Death  of  Agamemnon 
 LIV.  Orestes  and  Iphigeneia  in  Tauris  . 
 
 XI 
 Page 
 
 397 
 400 
 
 403 
 407 
 410 
 414 
 418 
 421 
 426 
 433 
 435 
 
 439 
 449 
 461 
 
 463 
 476 
 479 
 491 
 
 509 
 506 
 
 512 
 
 518 
 521 
 533 
 549 
 560 
 56S 
 573 
 575 
 
LIST  OF  ILLUSTRATIONS. 
 
 The  World  as  Known  to  the  Greeks 
 
 Zeus  dictating  the  Law  to  Eros 
 
 Ganymede  feeding  the  Eagle 
 
 Hebe 
 
 Hephaistos    . 
 
 Hero  and  Leander 
 
 Hermes 
 
 Orpheus  and  Eurydice 
 
 Odysseus  accepting  the  Arms  of  Achilles 
 
 Page 
 v 
 
 29 
 47 
 5* 
 114 
 148 
 162 
 200 
 44S 
 
INDEX 
 
 MYTHOLOGICAL    NAMES. 
 
 In  Greek. 
 
 In  Latin. 
 
 Adrasteia. 
 
 Adrastea. 
 
 Aeolos. 
 
 Aeolus. 
 
 Amaltheia. 
 
 Amalthea. 
 
 Aphrodite. 
 
 Venus. 
 
 Apollon. 
 
 Apollo. 
 
 Ares. 
 
 Mars. 
 
 Artemis. 
 
 Diana. 
 
 Asklepios. 
 
 Aesculapius. 
 
 Athene. 
 
 Minerva. 
 
 Boreas  (North  Wind). 
 
 Aquilo. 
 
 Charites,  Graces. 
 
 Gratiae. 
 
 Chloris. 
 
 Hora. 
 
 Daidalos. 
 
 Daedalus. 
 
 Daimon. 
 
 Genius. 
 
 Demeter. 
 
 Ceres. 
 
 Dike. 
 
 Astraea. 
 
 Dionysos. 
 
 Bacchus. 
 
 Elysion. 
 
 Elysium. 
 
 Enyo. 
 
 Bellona. 
 
 Eos. 
 
 Aurora. 
 
 Erynnyen,  or  Eumeniden. 
 
 Furiae. 
 
 Eros  (Cupid). 
 
 Amor. 
 
 Euros  (South-East  Wind). 
 
 Eurus  and  Vulturnus. 
 
 Gaea  (the  Earth) . 
 
 Tellus. 
 
 Glaukos. 
 
 Glaucus. 
 
 Graiai. 
 
 Graeae. 
 
 Hades. 
 
 Tartarus. 
 
 Hebe. 
 
 Hebe,  or  Juventas. 
 
XIV 
 
 Index. 
 
 In  Greek. 
 
 Hekate. 
 
 Helios  (the  Sun). 
 
 Hephaistos. 
 
 Hera,  or  Here. 
 
 Hermes,  Mercury. 
 
 Hestia. 
 
 Himeros  (also  Cupid). 
 
 Kairos. 
 
 Kentauros. 
 
 Kerberos. 
 
 Kronos. 
 
 Kybele. 
 
 Kyklopen. 
 
 Leto. 
 
 Leukothea. 
 
 Main  as. 
 
 Melikertes,  or  Palaemon. 
 
 Moira. 
 
 Nemesis  (Adrasteia). 
 
 Nike. 
 
 Notos  (South  Wind). 
 
 Okeanos. 
 
 Ouranos. 
 
 Palaimon  (Melikertes). 
 
 Pallas- Athene. 
 
 Pan. 
 
 Pegasos. 
 
 Persephone. 
 
 Phoibos,  Apollon. 
 
 Pluton. 
 
 Polydeukes. 
 
 Poseidon. 
 
 Rheia-Kybele. 
 
 Selene. 
 
 Skylla. 
 
 Tartaros. 
 
 Titan- Helios. 
 
 Tyche-Kairos. 
 
 Zephyros  (West  Wind). 
 
 Zeus. 
 
 In  latin. 
 
 Hecate. 
 
 Sol. 
 
 Vulcan. 
 Juno. 
 
 Mercurius. 
 
 Vesta. 
 
 Cupido. 
 
 Fortuna-Occasio. 
 
 Centaur. 
 
 Cerberus. 
 
 Saturn. 
 
 Cybele. 
 
 Cyclopen. 
 
 Latona. 
 
 Aurora. 
 
 Maenas  (PI.  ades). 
 
 Melicertes. 
 
 Fatum-Parcae. 
 
 Adrastea. 
 
 Victoria. 
 
 Auster. 
 
 Oceanus. 
 
 Uranus. 
 
 Portunus. 
 
 Minerva. 
 
 Faunus-Pan. 
 
 Pegasus. 
 
 Proserp  ina- Libera. 
 
 Phoebus. 
 
 Pluto. 
 
 Pollux. 
 
 Neptune. 
 
 Rhea. 
 
 Luna. 
 
 Scylla. 
 
 Tartarus. 
 
 Sol. 
 
 Fortuna. 
 
 Favonius. 
 
 Jupiter. 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The  first  inhabitants  of  the  world  were  undoubtedly  gifted 
 with  all  powers  of  mind  and  feeling,  but  these  powers 
 only  became  perfected  by  later  experiences  and  trials.  It 
 is  not  probable  that  they  were  rude  and  cruel  like  the 
 savages  of  America  and  the  South  Sea  Islands,  but 
 rather  complete  children  of  nature,  as  far  removed  from 
 wild  barbarity  as  from  the  crimes  that  civilization  brought 
 in  its  train.  They  lived  an  innocent  life, — at  least  so  the 
 most  ancient  legends  tell  us, — uninterrupted  by  envy  or 
 hatred,  without  sickness  or  infirmity,  and  with  neither  evil 
 passions  nor  strong  emotions  to  weaken  their  bodies.  They 
 reached  a  good  old  age,  and  after  a  long  series  of  happy 
 years,  passed  away  in  gentle  sleep. 
 
 Where  the  actual  scene  of  this  beautiful  natural  life  of 
 our  first  parents  lay  has  not  been  ascertained ;  that  it  was 
 in  Asia  is  certain,  but  whether  in  the  valley  of  the  Caucasus 
 or  the  mountain  plains  of  Kashmir,  or  elsewhere,  is  not 
 known.  Their  descendants,  as  their  numbers  increased, 
 took  possession  of  the  neighbouring  countries,  spreading 
 further  and  further  until  they  populated  the  most  distant 
 regions  of  the  earth. 
 
 Their  childlike  simple  belief  in  one  God  they  lost  early 
 through  their  own  fault.  Then  they  turned  to  the  elements 
 of  nature,  and  either  feared  or  trusted  as  they  received 
 benefit  or  injury  from  them.     When  they  heard  the  warring 
 
 A 
 
2  Introduction. 
 
 of  the  storm  or  the  crashing  of  the  thunder,  when  a  flash 
 tning  struck  down  a  tree  before  their  eyes,  or  the 
 rid  luat  of  the  sun  warmed  and  comforted  them,  they 
 Beem  intuitively  to  have  felt  that  there  was  some  unknown 
 mighty  power  which  directed  all  these  elements,  bringing  to 
 mankind  cither  happiness  or  misery. 
 
 As  time  went  on,  they  identified  these  various  powers, 
 and  looked  upon  them  as  individual  gods.  When  they 
 beheld  them  struggling  with  each  other,  the  wind  lashing 
 the  sea,  the  water  overcoming  the  fierce  flame,  and  the  rivers 
 flooding  and  devastating  the  land,  they  imagined  that  each 
 element  had  its  own  special  deity,  and  that  these  often 
 warred  one  with  another.  The  number  of  gods  rapidly 
 Increased,  but  still  they  ever  regarded  One  as  more  mighty 
 than  the  rest,  and  the  others  as  subordinate. 
 
 With  all  the  qualities  which  they  themselves  possessed 
 they  endowed  their  gods,  only  in  a  higher  degree.  Thus 
 so  long  as  they  themselves  were  innocent,  their  gods  were 
 innocent.  When,  however,  in  the  course  of  time,  men 
 degenerated,  they  endowed  the  gods  with  all  their  own 
 crimes  and  vices.  They  worshipped  these  deities,  and 
 called  upon  them  in  all  the  important  affairs  of  life,  offering 
 to  them  sacrifices  and  prayers.  Sometimes  one  nation 
 adopted  the  gods  of  another,  but  even  when  this  was  the 
 case,  they  invariably  adapted  them  to  their  own  require- 
 ments. And  for  this  reason  it  is  often  difficult  to  trace  the 
 origin  of  the  worship  of  certain  deities. 
 
 tally  ancient  monarchs,  heroes,  and  benefactors 
 
 of  their  country  were  immortalized  after  their  death;  and 
 
 lifferent  myths  were  in  time  connected  by  the  poets 
 
 and  singers,  who  improved,  completed,  and  often  added, 
 
 until  they  gradually  blended  them  into  a  perfect  whole. 
 
 No    nation    of    the   olden    time   was    so    distinguished 
 
Introduction,  3 
 
 for  beauty  of  imagination  as  the  Greek.  None  of  their 
 gods  were  monstrosities,  as  among  the  Hindoos ;  they 
 had  mostly  beautiful,  human  figures,  but  grander  and  more 
 beautiful  and  perfect  than  those  of  the  human  race.  To 
 portray  the  gods  was  the  highest  aim  of  the  painter  and 
 sculptor,  and,  as  Greek  art  delighted  only  in  noble  forms, 
 the  nation  at  large  received  worthy  representations  of  their 
 great  deities. 
 
 In  plays,  especially  in  tragedies,  the  gods  were  often 
 made  to  take  a  visible  part,  or  else  their  deeds  were  related 
 and  brought  forward,  so  that  the  people  became  more  and 
 more  acquainted  with  them. 
 
 The  great  mass  of  the  people  continued  in  the  simple 
 belief  handed  down  to  them  by  their  fathers,  and  read 
 all  the  myths  and  art  representations  of  the  gods  literally ; 
 but  the  more  educated  tried  to  see  and  find  a  higher  mean- 
 ing in  them. 
 
 By  mythology  we  mean  especially  that  of  the  Greeks  and 
 Romans,  for  our  poets,  painters,  and  sculptors  confine 
 themselves  principally  to  these  two  nations.  It  is  there- 
 fore essential  that  every  well-educated  girl  should  know 
 so  much  of  it  as  will  enable  her  to  understand  and 
 appreciate  the  various  works  of  art  and  poetry  and  at  the 
 same  time  give  her  a  better  insight  into  the  manners  and 
 customs  of  the  ancients. 
 
PART  I. 
 GRECIAN  AND  ROMAN  DIVINITIES. 
 
L— THE  GRECIAN  ACCOUNT  OF  THE 
 CREATION. 
 
 Among  the  accounts  of  ancient  writers  as  to  the  Creation 
 of  the  World,  very  few  seem  to  have  been  imbued  with  the 
 idea  that  a  Supreme  Being  had  existed  from  Eternity,  and 
 had  created  all  things.  Even  the  Greeks  did  not  cherish 
 this  grand  conception.  According  to  them  the  visible  world 
 was  made  out  of  very  imperfect  elements,  and  brought  to 
 its  present  state  of  perfect  beauty  by  means  of  wonderful 
 changes  and  terrific  combats  among  the  Powers  of  Nature, 
 all  of  which  were  regarded  as  individual  Beings. 
 
 These  various  evolutions  they  classed  under  the  head  of 
 three  divine  kingdoms,  the  successive  monarchs  of  which 
 were  named  Uranus,  Chronos,  and  Zeus.  They  further 
 believed  that  each  had  gained  his  kingdom  from  his  father 
 and  predecessor  by  rebellion  and  warfare.  Neither  Chronos 
 nor  Uranus  was  worshipped  by  the  Greeks  as  supreme 
 lord. and  master:  all  religious  honour  and  worship  were 
 given  to  Zeus  and  his  divine  house  alone.  The  most  con- 
 nected and  best  known  of  these  myths  is  that  of  Hesiod,  an 
 old  Greek  poet,  who  lived  probably  about  900  b.c.,  and  who 
 relates  the  following  : — 
 
 In  the  beginning  everything  was  empty  and  void — an 
 infinite  dark  space,  called  Chaos.  Out  of  this  arose  (how 
 is  not  said)  the  Earth,  Ge  or  Gaea,  not  as  a  round  ball  but  as 
 a  flat  disc,  thus  dividing  the  infinite  space  into  two  parts, 
 the  Upper  and  the  Under  world— Heaven  and  Tartarus — the 
 
S  Uranus  and  his  Descendants. 
 
 latter  remaining  in  darkness  called  Erebus  (eternal  night). 
 But  the  earth  also  was  still  in  darkness,  for  as  yet  there  was 
 nothing  to  light  it,  and  this  darkness  was  called  Nyx  (night). 
 Out  of  Nyx  and  Erebus,  both  supposed  to  be  divine  beings, 
 arose  Hemera  (day)  on  the  Earth,  and  above  her  Aether 
 (upper  air).  Then  did  the  Earth  bring  forth  the  starry 
 heaven  (Uranus)  which  surrounded  her,  also  the  mighty 
 Ocean  and  the  Mountains. 
 
 II.— URANUS  AND  HIS  DESCENDANTS. 
 
 As  everything  on  earth  appeared  to  have  been  brought 
 forth  by  the  combined  powers  of  Earth  and  Heaven,  the 
 Greeks  regarded  Uranus  and  Gaea  as  man  and  wife,  and 
 the  ancestors  of  all  the  Gods.     Their  children  were — 
 
 (i.)  The   Titans    and  Titanidae,   six  of  each.     Of  the 
 
 Titans  three  only  are  celebrated — Oceanus,  Japetus,  and 
 
 Chronos.     The  others  were  Coeus,  Crius,  and  Hyperion. 
 
 Of  the  Titanidae,  their  sisters,  only  four  were  well  known — 
 
 Tethys,  Mnemosyne,  Themis,  and  Rhea.    Thia  and  Phoebe 
 
 are   seldom   mentioned.      These   twelve    represented   the 
 
 primitive  powers  of  nature,  as  they  appear  in  the  forces  of 
 
 water   and   fire,  and  in  the   movement   and  light   of  the 
 
 .  &c 
 
 inus  was  the  god  of  the  mighty  stream  that  encircled 
 
 the  whole  earth,  without  beginning  or  end  (he  must  not  be 
 
 mistaken  for  Pontus,  the  Mediterranean  Sea,  whose  waters 
 
 were  salt),  and  his  children  were  the  rivers.     He  was  of  a 
 
 Me,  friendly  disposition,  and  did  not  take  any  part 
 
 in  the  revolt  of  his  brothers. 
 
 •1  as  an  old  man  with  a  bull's  head,  or  else 
 
 rated  in  a  carriage  drawn  by  sea-monsters,  and  surrounded 
 
Uranus  and  his  Descendants.  9 
 
 by  mermaids,  sea-dogs,  and  mermen  or  Tritons,  blowing 
 horns.  His  wife  was  his  sister  Tethys.*  An  old  poem 
 describes  her  as  the  black-eyed  wife  of  Oceanus,  the  queen 
 in  the  sea-coloured  garments,  who  rolls  round  the  earth, 
 wafted  gently  by  the  wings  of  the  wind,  and  breaking  the 
 force  of  the  waves  against  the  rocks.  She  takes  care  of  the 
 sea-monsters,  is  the  mother  of  fogs,  clouds,  and  springs, 
 and  delights  in  the  ships  that  sail  on  the  broad  bosom  of 
 the  ocean. 
 
 Among  the  streams  counted  as  the  children  of  Oceanus 
 and  Tethys  is  Achelous,  who  is  honoured  as  the  king  of 
 rivers  ;  also  the  Oceanidae,  who  appear  as  nymphs  of  springs 
 and  waters  generally. 
 
 Japetus,  and  his  sons,  Atlas  (part  XI.),  Prometheus  and 
 Epimetheus  (part  VII.),  are  the  links  between  the  gods  and 
 mortals. 
 
 Chronos  or  Saturn,  the  youngest  of  the  Titans,  was  at  the 
 same  time  the  most  cunning.  Their  father,  Uranus,  greatly 
 fearing  his  offspring,  had  thrown  them  into  Tartarus,  where 
 they  lay  chained  in  everlasting  darkness.  But  Gaea,  their 
 mother,  had  pity  on  her  children,  and  advised  them  to  rise 
 against  their  father.  This  they  did.  Chronos  placed  him- 
 self at  the  head  of  his  brothers,  and  having  received  a  sickle- 
 shaped  knife  from  his  mother,  rushed  up  to  his  father,  and 
 wounded  him  while  sleeping,  so  that  he  -remained  insensible 
 from  that  hour,  He  sunk  down  into  the  depths  of  Tartarus, 
 having  first  predicted  punishment  to  his  sons  for  their  un- 
 natural conduct. 
 
 Out  of  the  blood  that  sprang  from  his  wounds  rose  the 
 dreadful  Erinyes,  the  giants,  and  other  monsters,  of  whom 
 more  hereafter. 
 
 *  Tethys  must  not  be  mistaken  for  Thetis.  The  latter  was  a 
 daughter  of  Nereus  and  Doris,  and  mother  of  Achilles. 
 
i  o  Uranus  and  his  Descendants. 
 
 Chronos  then  married  his  sister,  Rhea,  who  became  the 
 mother  of  five  children,  Hestia  (Vesta),  Demeter  (Ceres), 
 Hera  (Juno),  Pluton  (Pluto),  and  Poseidon  (Neptune). 
 Chronos  fearing  that  the  prediction  of  Uranus  might  come 
 true,  that  his  sons  would,  in  their  turn,  rise  against  him, 
 swallowed  all  his  children  as  soon  as  they  saw  the  light  of 
 day.  When  the  sixth  child  was  born,  Rhea,  fearing  it  might 
 share  the  fate  of  its  brothers  and  sisters,  asked  the  advice  of 
 her  parents,  Uranus  and  Gaea,  as  to  what  she  should  do  to 
 save  it.  They  told  her  to  hide  it  in  a  cave  in  the  island 
 of  Crete,  and  to  give  the  greedy  father  a  stone,  wrapped 
 in  swaddling  clothes,  instead.  She  did  so,  and  Chronos 
 owed  it  so  quickly  that  he  never  noticed  the  fraud. 
 
 Zeus  (Jupiter),  as  the  little  one  was  called,  was  brought 
 Dp  in  a  cave  in  Crete,  and  when  at  the  end  of  a  year  he 
 was  full  grown,  he  determined  to  revenge  himself  on  his 
 unnatural  father.  Metis,  one  of  the  daughters  of  Oceanus, 
 and  afterwards  Jupiter's  wife,  gave  Chronos  an  emetic;  this 
 made  him  bring  up  first,  the  stone  he  had  swallowed,  and 
 then,  wonderful  to  say,  all  the  five  children  ! 
 
 Chronos  represented  Time.  As  Time  swallows  his  chil- 
 dren, the  years,  months,  and  days,  so  Chronos  swallowed  his 
 children  ;  and  as  the  years,  months,  and  days  return  again, 
 so  did  Chronos'  offspring.  He  is  always  depicted  as  an  old 
 man  with  a  long  beard,  and  in  his  hand  a  scythe,  for  Time 
 down  everything.  Sometimes  also  with  a  snake 
 biting  its  tail,  an  emblem  of  Eternity.  The  back  of  his 
 covered  with  a  veil,  as  a  sign  that  Time  only  shows 
 us  the  present,  the  future  remains  hidden.  In  Rome  he  was 
 called  Saturn. 
 
 In  old  legends  his  reign  is  called  the  Golden  Age.    People 
 
 ke  the  Gods,  without  sorrow,  grief,  or  labour,  and 
 
 the  earth  brought  forth  her  increase  and  riches.     Free  from 
 
Uranus  and  his  Descendants.  1 1 
 
 all  toil,  the  people's  lives  flowed  on  in  unbroken  happiness. 
 They  knew  no  pain,  no  old  age,  for  their  bodies  and  spirits 
 retained  their  youthfulness  and  vigour,  till  death  came  and 
 carried  them  away  in  a  soft  sleep.  After  this  they  became 
 invisible  spirits,  guarding  the  human  race.  In  remembrance 
 of  this  happy  time,  the  Romans  every  year,  in  the  middle  of 
 December,  celebrated  the  Saturnalia.  The  feast  began  by 
 the  removal  of  the  woollen  bandages  in  which  the  feet  of 
 the  statue  were  wrapped  during  the  rest  of  the  year,  and 
 this  act  loosed  the  various  burdens  laid  on  the  citizens. 
 All  public  and  private  business  was  put  on  one  side ;  the 
 courts  of  justice  and  the  schools  were  empty,  no  criminal 
 was  punished,  no  war  begun.  The  people  only  lived  for 
 pleasure ;  banquets  were  held,  and  what  most  distinguished 
 these  festivals  was  the  freedom  which  the  slaves  enjoyed. 
 Not  only  were  they  free,  and  allowed  to  wear  a  hat,  the 
 mark  of  freedom,  and  a  toga  with  a  red  stripe  like  the 
 noblest  Roman,  but  they  were  waited  on  by  their  own 
 masters  at  a  bounteous  table,  and  the  latter  had  to  submit 
 to  the  most  laughable  punishments  if  they  failed  to  acquit 
 themselves  properly.  They  were  also  allowed  openly  to 
 complain  to  their  masters  of  anything  they  wished  changed. 
 Happiness  and  joy  reigned  everywhere,  and  people  gave 
 each  other  presents  as  at  our  own  Christmas  time. 
 
 Saturn's  wife,  Rhea,  was  afterwards  confused  with  the 
 goddess  Cybele,  who  was  specially  honoured  in  Phrygia,  a 
 country  in  Asia  Minor.  The  legend  of  the  origin  of  her 
 worship  is  as  follows  : — 
 
 Maeon,  one  of  the  kings  of  Phrygia,  had  a  daughter  born 
 to  him.  As,  however,  he  had  wished  for,  and  expected  a 
 son,  he  sent  the  little  girl  off  to  a  neighbouring  mountain, 
 where  she  was  first  nursed  by  lions  and  panthers,  and 
 afterwards  brought  up  by  old  women.     She  grew  up  very 
 
\2 
 
 Uranus  and  his  Descendants. 
 
 beautiful,  good,  and  clever,  and  was  beloved  by  everyone. 
 
 invented  the  drum,  taught   the  use  of  healing  herbs, 
 
 I  children  and  animals,  and  was  known  by  all  as  the 
 
 ' '  »ther  of  the  Mountain." 
 
 Purin-    her   journeys   hither   and   thither,   helping   and 
 
 d,  and  attended  by  her  faithful  servant  Marsyas, 
 
 she  bo  ame  acquainted  with  the  shepherd  Attys,  the  nephew 
 
 of  a  neighbouring  king.     They  mutually  fell  in  love,  and 
 
 were  secretly  married  ;  but  when  the  father  of  Cybele  (thus 
 
 the  "Good  Mother  of  the   Mountain"   called)  heard 
 
 what  his  daughter  had  done,  he  was  furious,  and  had  Attys 
 
 killed.     Cybele,  driven  to  despair,  left  her  father's  castle, 
 
 and  fled  to  the  mountains,  there  to  nurse  her  bitter  grief, 
 
 accompanied  only  by  the  faithful  Marsyas,  who  never  left 
 
 her.     With  Hying  hair,  and  amid  the  sound  of  drums  and 
 
 fifes,  she  hurried  from  country  to  country,  still  doing  good 
 
 wherever  she  went,  teaching   the   people  to  cultivate  the 
 
 ind,  to  live  sociably  together,  and  to  build  permanent 
 
 In  »uses.     While   she   was   thus   travelling   through    strange 
 
 lands,  the  angry  Gods  sent  a  dreadful  famine  into  Phrygia. 
 
 The  oracle  was  questioned  as  to  what  ought  to  be  done  to 
 
 put  an  end  to  it.     "Worship  Cybele  as  a  Goddess,  and 
 
 honourably   bury   Attys,"   was   the   answer.      The   people 
 
 wished  to  obey,  but  not  a  vestige  of  the  unfortunate  youth's 
 
 ly    was   to   be   found.      Then    the    Phrygians   made   a 
 
 -ure  like  Attys  and  buried  it;  to  Cybele,   however,  they 
 
 veral  altars,  and    instituted  feasts   in  her  honour. 
 
 Her    principal  festival  was  from   the  22nd  to  the  27th  of 
 
 ■  h.     The  first  day  a  pine  tree  was  cut  down,  on  which 
 
 hung  a  figure  of  Attys.    This  was  carried  into  the  temple 
 
 less,   and  presented  to  her  with  these  words, 
 
 Tee  is  brought  to  thee."     On  the  second  day,  the 
 
 anxious  expectation,  horns  were  heard  over  every 
 
Uranus  and  his  Descendants.  1 3 
 
 hill  and  valley.  This  represented  the  wailings  of  Cybele 
 while  searching  for  Attys.  At  last,  on  the  third  day,  the 
 long  looked  for  one  was  found.  With  wild  cries  of  joy,  a 
 pine  torch  in  one  hand,  a  knife  in  the  other,  and  with 
 flying  hair  and  wild  screams,  the  priestesses  of  the  goddess, 
 the  Corybantes,  rushed  madly  about,  amidst  the  noise  of 
 drums,  horns,  fifes,  and  cymbals,  gashing  their  arms  and 
 feet  recklessly. 
 
 Rhea  or  Cybele  is  depicted  as  a  tall  handsome  woman 
 with  a  noble  and  calm  face.  She  is  generally  seated  on  a 
 throne  with  a  couple  of  lions  beside  her ;  also  in  a  carriage 
 drawn  by  two  or  four  lions.  Her  dress  is  fastened  at  the 
 waist  with  a  girdle,  but  her  mantle  hangs  loosely  down 
 in  front,  and  is  brought  like  a  veil  over  her  head  at  the 
 back.  On  her  head  she  wears  a  mural  crown,  i.e.,  a  crown 
 with  towers,  ramparts,  and  turrets.  In  her  right  hand  a 
 sceptre,  in  her  left  a  small  drum.  Sometimes  wheat  ears 
 are  placed  beside  her,  or  the  sun  on  one  side  and  the  moon 
 on  the  other,  or  else  above  the  mural  crown,  a  cap  with  the 
 sun  and  the  moon. 
 
 (2.)  Uranus  and  Rhea  had,  besides  the  Titans  and 
 Titanidae,  two  other  sets  of  children,  the  Hecatoncheires 
 and  the  Cyclopes.  The  Hecatoncheires  or  Centimanes 
 (Gyges.  Briareus,  and  Cottus)  were  enormous  giants, 
 powerful,  strong,  and  of  dreadful  appearance,  each  having 
 no  less  than  fifty  heads  and  one  hundred  hands.  They 
 were  not  wicked  or  cruel,  but  so  terrible  on  account  of 
 their  great  strength,  that  their  own  father  imprisoned  them 
 in  Tartarus,  and  placed  another  monster,  Campe,  at  the 
 entrance  of  their  prison,  to  guard  them. 
 
 (3.)  The  Cyclopes  (Brontes,  Steropes,  and  Arges),  ac- 
 cording to  Hesiod,  were  also  mighty  giants.  Wherever 
 volcanic  mountains  arose,  and  where  the   depths  of  the 
 
14         Gaea  or  Gc,  and  her  Descendants. 
 
 hot  forth  streams  of  fire,  there  were  they  supposed  to 
 
 have  their  abode,  as  in  Mount  Etna  and  the  Lipari  Isles. 
 
 only  one  eye   in  the  middle  of  their  foreheads, 
 
 but   t:  as  a   small  carriage  wheel.     Some 
 
 them  three  eyes,  two  ordinary  ones  in  addition 
 
 •rad  eye.     They  were  very  skilful,  and  invented 
 
 many  artistic  works. 
 
 III. -GAEA   OR    GE,    AND    HER 
 DESCENDANTS. 
 
 the  Earth,  is  called  in  old  Greek  legends  and 
 
 the  mother  of  the  gods  and  men,  the  all-powerful 
 
 and  creator  as  well  as  destroyer  of  all  things. 
 
 I  flowers,   and   herbs  were   her   special   delight   and 
 
 ml    she,    the    honoured    mother   of  all    things 
 
 nurtures  the  creatures  of  earth,  sea,  and  air.     Besides  the 
 
 D  she  had  by  Saturn,  she  Lad  others  who  were  hers 
 
 These  were : — 
 
 Pontus,  the  Mediterranean  Sea. 
 
 Nereus,    a    sea-god.       He    represented    the    calm, 
 
 th  sea,  and  is  depicted  as  a  mild  and  just  god.       "  He 
 
 Hesiod,   "always  ready  to   do  a  just  and  kind 
 
 .   and  dislikes   all   ill-deeds."      He  had   the  gift  of 
 
 prophecy,  and   lived  at  the  bottom  of  the  sea,  where  his 
 
 rejoiced  him  by  their  songs  and  dances.     He 
 
 the  winds  shut  up  in  hidden  caves,  and  loosed  them 
 
 ire,  when  they  had  to  disturb  the  surface  of  the 
 
 As  the  sea  is  always  changing,  sometimes  green 
 
 and  sometimes  blue,  and  as  water  has  no  shape  of  its  own, 
 
 takes  the  form  of  whatever  it  is  in,  the  poets  ascribe 
 
 -  the  power  of  being  able  to  take  different 
 
 iha] 
 
Gaea  or  Ge,  and  her  Descendants.  1 5 
 
 Nereics  is  generally  represented  as  an  old  man,  with  an 
 oar  over  his  shoulder,  walking  arm-in-arm  on  the  sea  with 
 his  wife  Doris.  They  had  fifty  daughters,  the  Nereides  and 
 Doreides,  lovely  sea-nymphs,  who,  though  not  so  beautiful 
 as  the  goddesses,  were  quite  as  attractive.  They  knew  that 
 they  were  lovely,  and  woe  to  all  mortal  maidens  who 
 imagined  themselves  more  beautiful  than  the  Nymphs. 
 The  poets  sing  of  their  lovely  feet,  their  rosy  arms,  their 
 graceful  figures,  dark  eyes,  beautiful  golden  hair,  and  per- 
 petual joyousness.  They  dwelt  at  the  bottom  of  the  sea, 
 danced  merrily  over  the  waves,  and  rode  on  dolphins,  sea- 
 horses, or  other  marine  animals.  Their  garments  were 
 gracefully  wound  round  them,  the  colours  being  always  either 
 blue  or  green  like  the  colour  of  the  sea.  Sometimes  they 
 appear  in  the  form  of  various  sea-animals,  and  join  in  the 
 games  of  the  merry  dolphins.  The  most  celebrated  of  the 
 Nereides  are  Amphitrite  and  Thetis,  of  whom  more  anon. 
 
 (3.)  Thaumas,  the  wonderful,  does  not  appear  after  this, 
 but  his  children,  Iris  and  the  Harpies,  play  a  very  prominent 
 part  in  mythology. 
 
 Iris,  the  Rainbow,  was  the  messenger  of  the  Gods,  and  the 
 special  attendant  of  the  Queen  of  Heaven.  Whenever  the 
 latter  had  any  business  to  transact  on  earth,  Iris  was  at  once 
 sent  off,  and  her  path  was  marked  by  the  brilliant  rainbow. 
 On  Olympus  she  sat  next  to  Hera,  awaiting  her  commands, 
 prepared  the  couch  of  her  august  mistress,  and  called  those 
 with  whom  she  wished  to  speak.  Sometimes  also  she  did 
 the  bidding  of  Zeus  and  the  other  gods :  as  when  Jove 
 required  the  waters  of  the  Styx  to  be  brought  up  from  the 
 nether-world  for  the  oath  of  the  gods,  he 
 
 "  Sends  Iris  down 
 To  bring  the  great  oath  in  a  golden  ewer, 
 The  far-famed  water,  from  steep,  sky-capt  rock 
 
1 6         Gaca  or  Ge,  and  her  Descendants. 
 
 Distilling  in  cold  stream.     Beneath  the  earth 
 Abundant  from  the  sacred  river-head 
 Through  shades  of  darkest  night  the  Stygian  horn 
 Of  ocean  flowers  :  a  tenth  of  all  the  streams 
 
 To  the  dread  oath  allotted 
 
 Who  of  immortals,  that  inhabit  still 
 Olympus  topped  with  snow,  libation  pours 
 And  is  forsworn,  he  one  whole  year  entire 
 Lies  reft  of  breath,  nor  yet  approaches  once 
 The  nectared  and  ambrosial  sweet  repast. 
 
 nine  years 
 
 From  everlasting  deities  remote 
 
 His  lot  is  cast :  in  council  nor  in  feast 
 
 Once  joins  he,  till  nine  years  entire  are  full. 
 
 So  great  an  oath  the  deities  of  heaven 
 Decreed  the  waters  incorruptible." 
 
 —  Hesiod,  "Theogony"  (Elton). 
 
 Iris  is  always  represented  as  a  young  girl  with  saffron- 
 coloured  or  golden  wings. 
 
 The  Harpies  were  hideous  monsters,  half  birds,  half 
 women,  frightfully  scraggy.  Two  and  sometimes  four  are 
 mentioned :  Aello,  Ocypete,Celaeno,and  Podarge.  When  the 
 Gods  wished  to  punish  anyone  they  summoned  the  Harpies, 
 who  quickly  came,  fell  greedily  on  all  the  food  before  them, 
 eat  ravenously  without  ever  being  satisfied,  and  destroyed 
 and  spoiled  all  that  was  left.  They  were  not  always  de- 
 picted in  the  same  way,  but  they  are  always  shrivelled  and 
 thin,  with  women's  faces,  large  coarse  ears,  birds'  bodies, 
 and  long  sharp  claws, 
 
 (4.)  Phorcus. — He,  like  Thaumus,  is  not  either  re- 
 presented by  ancient  poets,  painters,  or  sculptors,  but  is 
 only  mentioned  as  being  the  father  of  several  monsters. 
 He  was  a  sea-god,  and  married  to  his  sister,  the  beautiful 
 Ceto.     Their  children  were  : 
 
Gaea  or  Ge,  and  her  Descendants.  I  7 
 
 (a.)  The  Greece.  Old  women,  grey  haired  from  their  very 
 birth,  who  lived  in  perpetual  darkness  at  the  uttermost  ends 
 of  the  earth,  somewhere  beyond  the  Atlas  Mountains  in 
 Africa.  They  had  only  one  eye  and  one  tooth  between 
 them,  the  latter  as  large  as  a  boar's  tusk.  These  were 
 used  by  turns,  and  it  was  therefore  difficult  to  depict 
 them. 
 
 {b.)  The  Gorgons.  Of  these  there  were  three  :  Stheno, 
 Euryale,  and  Medusa,  the  two  first  immortal,  the  third 
 mortal.  They  were  monsters  with  broad  inflated  faces, 
 snakes  instead  of  hair,  snakes  wound  round  their  bodies, 
 enormous  teeth,  iron  hands,  and  golden  wings.  Whoever 
 beheld  them  was  turned  to  stone.  Medusa  had  been  origin- 
 ally wondrously  beautiful,  but  having  offended  the  goddess 
 Pallas  Athene,  she  was  changed  into  a  hideous  monster. 
 When  Perseus,  one  of  the  heroes  of  ancient  Greece,  killed 
 her,  and  cut  off  her  head,  Minerva  placed  the  frightful 
 trophy  on  her  shield,  and  even  there  the  sight  of  it  turned 
 people  into  stone.  The  blood  that  dropped  from  the  head 
 produced  all  the  numerous  snakes  with  which  Africa  abounds, 
 for  the  Gorgons,  like  the  Graeae,  were  supposed  to  live  in 
 those  far  distant  parts  of  Africa,  where  reigned  perpetual 
 night.  From  the  blood  which  gushed  forth  from  the  body 
 of  Medusa  arose  Pegasus  and  Chrysaor. 
 
 (a.)  Pegasus  was  a  winged  horse,  which  as  soon  as 
 it  was  created,  flew  to  the  abode  of  the  gods.  Here 
 Zeus  took  it,  harnessed  it  to  his  chariot,  and  drove 
 furiously  through  the  clouds,  flashes  of  lightning  darting- 
 out  of  the  horse's  hoofs.  A  later  fable  says :  Pegasus 
 was  pasturing,  free  and  wild,  beside  some  springs  near 
 Corinth.  Bellerophon,  a  noble  youth,  had  long  and 
 vainly  tried  to  tame  the  creature.  At  last  one  day,  while 
 sleeping  in  the  temple  of  Pallas,  the  goddess  appeared  to 
 
1 8         Gaca  or  Ge,  and  her  Descendants. 
 
 him,  and  presented  him  with  a  golden  bridle.  The  hero 
 awoke,  found  the  bridle  beside  him,  stole  quietly  with  it  in 
 his  hand  to  where  the  horse  was  drinking,  threw  it  over  him 
 and  succeeded  in  jumping  on  his  back.  On  this  account 
 the  animal  was  called  Pegasus,  i.e.,  the  horse  of  the 
 spring.  Bellerophon  soon  became  ambitious  and  arrogant, 
 swung  himself  on  his  winged  steed  into  the  air,  and 
 rose  up  towards  heaven.  The  Gods,  who  quickly  punish 
 arrogance,  sent  a  hornet  to  sting  the  horse,  which  rearing 
 wildly,  threw  its  rider,  who  only  just  escaped  with  his 
 life.  Pegasus  then  flew  to  the  home  of  the  Gods  and 
 served  Zeus,  until  Eos,  the  Goddess  of  the  Dawn,  begged 
 him  for  herself.  She  then  harnessed  him  to  her  carriage, 
 and  drove  him  through  the  skies  every  morning. 
 
 Another  and  later  poem  says  : — 
 
 The  nine  daughters  of  King  Pierus  once  challenged  the 
 Muses  to  a  trial  of  music,  that  wras  to  be  held  on  Mount 
 Helicon.  While  the  girls  were  singing,  the  whole  air 
 became  dark  and  murky,  caused  by  the  discord  of  their 
 voices.  But  when  the  Muses  began,  their  song  wras  so 
 heavenly  that  both  the  sky  and  the  earth  paused  to  listen  ; 
 the  stars  stayed  their  courses,  and  the  seas  and  rivers  stood 
 still.  Yes  !  Mount  Helicon  itself  was  so  elated  with  joy, 
 that  it  rose  higher  and  higher,  until  Poseidon,  fearing  it 
 might  reach  heaven,  sent  Pegasus  down  to  stop  the  rising 
 mountain.  Stamping  with  his  mighty  hoofs  on  the  summit 
 of  Mount  Helicon,  he  succeeded  in  making  it  stand  still ; 
 but  where  his  powerful  feet  had  struck  the  ground,  a  spring 
 gushed  forth,  called  Hippocrine,  whose  waters  inspired 
 all  those  who  drank  them  with  divine  powers.  The 
 presumptuous  daughters  of  Pierus  were  changed  into 
 chattering  magpies. 
 
 (b.)  Chrysaor  or  Goldsword.     So  called  because  he  was 
 
Gaea  or  Ge,  and  ker  Descendants.  1 9 
 
 born  with  a  golden  sword  in  his  hand.  About  him 
 mythology  says  nothing  further  than  that  he  was  the  father 
 of  two  monsters,  Geryon  and  Echidna. 
 
 (a.)  Geryon,  a  giant  of  fearful  aspect,  with  no  less  than 
 three  bodies,  six  hands,  six  feet,  and  two  wings.  He  was 
 said  to  have  been  a  king  of  Spain  or  the  Balearic  Isles,  and 
 owned  magnificent  herds  of  cattle,  that  were  tended  by  his 
 nephew,  the  giant  Eurytion,  and  guarded  by  the  two-headed 
 dog  Orthrus  who  was  slain  by  Hercules. 
 
 (b.)  Echidna  was  a  monster  of  a  different  type.  The 
 upper  half  of  her  body  was  like  a  beautiful  nymph,  with 
 large  dark  eyes  and  rosy  cheeks,  whilst  the  lower  part 
 was  an  enormous  snake.  She  lived  in  a  deep  underground 
 cave  in  the  Pityusian  Isles,  where  her  beautiful  face 
 attracted  all  the  passing  sailors.  When  they  came  near,  she 
 encircled  them  with  her  snake's  tail,  and  drawing  them 
 into  the  cavern,  quickly  devoured  them.  She  had  two 
 husbands : 
 
 Typhon,  one  of  the  sons  of  Gaea  and  Tartarus. 
 
 Orthrus,  the  above  named  two-headed  dog. 
 
 Her  children  were  also  monsters  ;  among  them  were  : 
 
 (a.)  Orthrus,  sometimes  spoken  of  as  her  husband,  and 
 sometimes  as  her  son. 
 
 (b.)  Cerberus,  a  frightful  dog,  with  three  (according  to 
 Hesiod,  fifty)  heads,  surrounded  by  a  mane  of  hissing 
 serpents,  and  the  hinder  part  of  his  body,  a  dragon's  tail. 
 He  guarded  the  entrance  to  the  lower  regions,  only  allowed 
 spirits  to  enter,  and  growled  at  all  mortals,  unless  first 
 propitiated  with  corn  and  honey  cakes.  If  any  at- 
 tempted to  leave  the  Underworld,  he  at  once  attacked 
 and  devoured  them.  Hercules  once  brought  him  up  out 
 of  Tartarus  by  squeezing  his  three  heads  together  between 
 his  knees. 
 
20         Gacci  or  Ge,  and  her  Descendants. 
 
 (r.)  The  Lernean  Hydra,  so  called  from  the  town  of 
 Lerna,  in  the  Peloponnesus.  This  serpent  lived  in  a 
 large  swamp  near  the  town,  and  had  fifty  heads,  the  centre 
 one  being  immortal.  Hercules  conquered  it,  but  only 
 with  great  difficulty. 
 
 (d.)  Chimaera,  another  monster,  half  goat,  half  lion,  and 
 constantly  spitting  fire.  She  dwelt  in  Lycia,  a  province  on 
 the  south  coast  of  Asia  Minor,  and  was  at  last  killed  by 
 Bellerophon,  who  leapt  on  Pegasus,  and  attacked  her  as 
 she  flew  through  the  air. 
 
 (c.)  The  Sphinx,  a  monster  with  a  woman's  head  and 
 neck,  the  body  of  a  lion,  the  tail  of  a  dragon,  and  large 
 wings.  She  hovered  about  the  neighbourhood  of  Thebes 
 watching  for  travellers,  to  every  one  of  whom  she  pro- 
 pounded a  riddle,  and  those  who  could  not  guess  it  were, 
 at  once  devoured. 
 
 (f.)  The  Nemean  Lion  lived  in  a  cave  near  Nemea  in 
 the  Peloponnesus.  He  was  of  gigantic  size  and  could  not 
 be  wounded.  Notwithstanding  this,  Hercules  overcame 
 him. 
 
 (g.)  Ladon,  the  Dragon  who  guarded  the  Golden  Apples 
 in  the  garden  of  Hesperides.  He  had  one  hundred  heads, 
 from  each  of  which  issued  a  frightful  hissing  noise. 
 
 (//.)  Scylla,  a  monster  with  six  necks  and  six  heads,  each 
 of  which  made  a  terrific  roaring  noise.  Her  twelve  useless 
 had  grown  on  to  a  rock,  standing  in  the  straits  between 
 Italy  and  Sicily.  It  was  so  high  that  its  summit  reached 
 to  the  clouds,  and  so  smooth  and  glossy  that  no  one  could 
 climb  it  Her  body  was  covered  with  wolves  and  sea-dogs, 
 who  all  added  to  the  frightful  roaring,  and  she  inhabited  a 
 cave,  from  which  only  her  upper  half  projected.  Here 
 she  lay  and  watched  the  passing  ships,  which  often  suc- 
 (  umbed  to  her  wiles.     This   fable  arose   from  the  fearful 
 
Gaea  or  Ge,  and  her  Descendants.  2 1 
 
 noise  caused  by  the  waters,  which  formerly  rushed  through 
 the  straits  with  great  rapidity,  roaring  throughout  the 
 caves  excavated  by  the  sea,  and  then,  when  any  ships 
 were  wrecked,  it  was  said  the  monster  had  destroyed 
 them. 
 
 (i.)  The  Dragon  of  Colchis  lay  in  a  wood  close  to  that 
 city,  on  the  eastern  shores  of  the  Black  Sea,  where,  never 
 sleeping,  day  or  night,  he  guarded  the  Golden  Fleece. 
 
 5.  Fama.  She  was  the  Goddess  of  News,  and  the 
 youngest  of  the  daughters  of  the  Earth.  Gaea  brought  her 
 forth  to  revenge  herself  on  the  Gods,  after  her  children, 
 the  giants,  had  been  conquered,  so  that  she  might  make 
 their  misdeeds  known.  Fama  had  a  temple  in  Athens. 
 Virgil  gives  the  following  beautiful  account  of  her  : — 
 
 "  Straight  through  the  mighty  Libyan  folks  is  Rumour  on  the 
 
 wing- 
 Rumour,  of  whom  nought  swifter  is  of  any  evil  thing  : 
 She  gathereth  strength  by  going  on,  and  bloometh  shifting 
 
 oft; 
 A  little  thing,  afraid  at  first,  she  springeth  soon  aloft ; 
 Her  feet  are  on  the  worldly  soil,  her  head  the  clouds  o'erlay. 
 Earth  spurred  by  anger  'gainst  the  Gods,  begot  her  as  they 
 
 say, 
 Of  Coeus  and  Enceladus  the  latest  sister  birth. 
 Swift  are  her  wings  to  cleave  the  air,  swift-foot  she  treads  the 
 
 earth  : 
 A  monster  dread  and  huge,  on  whom  so  many  as  there  lie 
 The  feathers,  under  each  there  lurks,  O  strange  !  a  watchful 
 
 eye  ; 
 And  there  wag  tongues,  and  babble  mouths  and  hearkening 
 
 ears  up  stand 
 As  many  :  all  a-dusk  by  night  she  flies  'twixt  sky  and  land 
 Loud  clattering,  never  shutting  eye  in  rest  of  slumber  sweet. 
 By  day  she  keepeth  watch  high-set  on  houses  of  the  street, 
 
2  2  Gaea  or  Gc,  and  her  Descendants. 
 
 Or  on  the  towers  aloft  she  sits  for  mighty  cities'  fear  : 
 And  lies  and  ill  she  loves  no  less  than  sooth  which  she 
 must  bear." 
 
 —Virgil,  "^Eneid"  (Morris). 
 
 Tartarus  was  Gaea's  husband,  as  well  as  Uranus.  In 
 him  were  imprisoned  those,  immortals  who  had  been  thrown 
 down  by  the  conquering  Gods,  such  as  the  Titans  and 
 Hecatoncheires.  He  was  depicted  with  a  brass  floor,  metal 
 walls,  and  an  iron  gate.  Later  on  the  poets  described 
 Tartarus  as  the  place  where,  after  death,  the  wicked 
 had  to  suffer  punishment  in  everlasting  darkness.  Their 
 son  was 
 
 Typlion,  a  frightful  monster,  brought  forth  by  the  Earth, 
 as  a  punishment  to  the  Gods  for  having  condemned  her 
 children,  the  Titans  and  giants  to  live  in  Tartarus.  His 
 birthplace  was  Cilesia,  in  Asia  Minor,  probably  because 
 there  are  many  volcanic  rocks  and  small  craters  there,  and 
 earthquakes  are  of  frequent  occurrence.  He  was  so  tall 
 that  his  head  touched  the  clouds,  and  when  he  stretched 
 out  his  arms  they  reached  from  sunrise  to  sunset.  His 
 hands  had  no  fingers,  but  instead  a  hundred  dragons,  and 
 hideous  snakes  wound  round  his  body,  their  heads  rising 
 above  his,  with  fiercely  glaring  eyes,  and  long  black  tongues 
 hanging  out  of  their  mouths.  His  whole  body  was  covered 
 with  feathers,  stiff  bristles  grew  on  his  head,  and  from  his 
 chin  descended  a  long  shaggy  beard.  Two  enormous  wings 
 grew  from  his  shoulders,  and  whenever  he  raised  his  voice, 
 the  roaring  and  howling  were  so  terrific  that  all  the  hills 
 trembled. 
 
 The  giants  that  arose  from  the  drops  of  Uranus'  blood 
 were  also  called  children  of  the  Earth.  They  were  frightful 
 figures,  men  of  enormous  size  and  strength,  with  long  hair 
 growing  from  their  heads    and  chins,  and    dragons'    tails 
 
Gaea  or  Ge,  and  her  Descendants.  2  3 
 
 instead  of  feet.  Their  appearance  was  so  frightful  that 
 the  very  stars  turned  pale,  and  even  the  sun  hid  his  face 
 in  fear. 
 
 The  Eumenides  or  Erinyes  (Furies)  had  the  same 
 origin.  Only  three  of  these  are  known  by  name,  Alecto, 
 Megaera,  and  Tisiphone.  They  represented  the  punish- 
 ment that  follows  all  misdeeds,  especially  the  torments  of 
 conscience. 
 
 As  soon  as  anyone  had  committed  a  crime,  the  Furies 
 appeared  and  followed  him  incessantly  with  torches  and 
 scourges  made  of  snakes.  They  whipped  him  from  country 
 to  country,  never  leaving  him,  even  at  night,  and  following 
 him  down  to  the  Netherworld.  All  human  ills  which  were 
 looked  upon  as  punishments  sent  by  the  Gods,  such  as  rage, 
 madness,  murder,  war,  and  plagues,  came  from  them.  They 
 lived  at  the  entrance  of  the  Kingdom  of  Death.  Here  they 
 received  the  souls  of  the  wicked,  and  from  hence  they  rose 
 to  the  earth  to  torment  criminals  during  their  lives.  They 
 were  depicted  as  hideous  women  with  broad,  haggard, 
 wrinkled  faces,  tongues  hanging  out  of  their  mouths,  snakes 
 instead  of  hair,  spots  of  blood  all  round  their  glowing  eyes, 
 claws  instead  of  fingers,  and  black  from  head  to  foot.  In 
 their  hands  they  carried  a  scourge  of  snakes  and  a  torch  or 
 dagger.  Whenever  they  were  angry,  drops  of  poison  fell 
 from  their  mouths  to  the  earth,  causing  dreadful  illnesses 
 and  destroying  vegetation. 
 
 No  wonder  that  the  people  were  afraid  of  them,  and  did 
 not  even  venture  to  mention  their  names  aloud  !  When 
 approaching  a  place  dedicated  to  them,  dead  silence  was 
 preserved,  for  fear  of  waking  them  ;  even  when  praying  to 
 them,  it  had  to  be  done  with  closed  lips ;  and  after  the 
 prayer  was  ended,  the  suppliant  departed  without  looking 
 back.        Non-wine-producing    fruits    and     black    animals 
 
24  Zeus  or  Jupiter. 
 
 only  were  sacrificed  to  them,  and  the  wood  used  was  elm, 
 cedar,  and  elder,  and  to  them  the  crocus  and  narcissus  were 
 sacred. 
 
 IV.-ZEUS  OR  JUPITER. 
 
 Zeus  was  regarded  by  the  Greeks  as  the  living  spirit  of 
 Nature,  that  vital  power  that  shows  itself  in  everything  that 
 has  life.  His  kingdom  was  the  sky,  and  everything  that 
 took  place  there  was  his  work.  Zeus  was  the  God  of  the 
 Upper  Regions,  the  mighty  lord  who  drove  along  in  the  midst 
 of  thunder  and  lightning,  the  gracious  sender  of  rain.  It 
 was  therefore  only  natural  that  he  was  specially  honoured, 
 and  was  looked  upon  as  the  first  among  the  Gods. 
 
 As  soon  as  he  was  born,  his  mother  gave  him  in  charge 
 to  Themis,  who  got  the  goat  Amalthea  to  nurse  him,  and 
 ordered  the  Curetes,  i  e.,  the  armed  priests  of  Crete,  to  make 
 loud  noises  by  clashing  their  arms,  to  prevent  Chronos  hear- 
 ing the  little  one  cry.  Amalthea,  however,  was  such  a 
 frightful  looking  animal  that  the  Gods  begged  Gaea  to  with- 
 draw her  from  their  sight.  This  was  accordingly  done,  and 
 the  goat  was  hidden  in  a  cave  in  the  island  of  Crete,  where 
 she  nursed  Zeus.  Bees  were  also  supposed  to  have  brought 
 him  food. 
 
 Amalthea  was  afterwards  placed  among  the  stars,  where 
 she  still  shines  under  the  name  of  Capella,  but  her  skin 
 became  the  famous  ^Egis,  the  shield  of  Pallas  Athene 
 (Minerva).  It  was  perfectly  impenetrable,  and  Zeus  made 
 use  of  it  when  fighting  with  the  giants. 
 
 Zeus  grew  so  rapidly  that,  after  a  year,  he  was  strong 
 enough  to  revenge  himself  on  his  father.  Metis,  the  Goddess 
 of  Wisdom,  gave  him  an  emetic  for  Chronos,  who  was  obliged 
 
Zeus  or  Jupitei'.  2  5 
 
 to  bring  up  all  the  five  children  he  had  swallowed.  Zeus 
 then  deprived  him  of  his  kingdom,  and  divided  it  with  his 
 two  brothers,  Pluto  and  Poseidon.  Pluto  received  the 
 Underworld,  Poseidon  the  sea,  but  Zeus  retained  the 
 heavens  and  the  earth  for  himself. 
 
 Before  he  could  enjoy  his  new  power,  however,  he  had  to 
 fight  many  a  battle.  First  came  the  Titans,  who  began  a 
 tremendous  war  in  the  mountainous  districts  of  Thessaly. 
 Zeus  and  the  other  immortals  stood  on  Mount  Olympus, 
 and  opposite  on  Mount  Othrys  stood  the  fearful  Titans. 
 Then  commenced  a  terrific  combat,  and  for  ten  long  years 
 they  warred  against  each  other,  till  heaven,  earth,  and  sea 
 were  filled  with  the  roar  of  battle. 
 
 At  last  Gaea  advised  the  gods  to  call  the  Cyclopes  and 
 the  Hecatoncheirae  to  help  them.  These  monsters  were  still 
 in  Tartarus,  where  they  had  been  imprisoned,  and  another 
 monster,  Campe,  guarded  the  entrance.  Zeus  appeared, 
 slew  Campe,  and  led  the  freed  prisoners  against  the 
 Titans. 
 
 Joyful,  and  full  of  courage,  they  prepared  themselves  for 
 battle.  The  clever  Cyclopes  gave  Poseidon  the  mighty 
 trident,  and  Pluto,  the  helmet,  which  made  him  invisible, 
 while  for  Zeus  they  brought  the  flashing  lightning  from  the 
 depths  of  the  earth.  After  Zeus  had  refreshed  his  fellow- 
 combatants  with  nectar  and  ambrosia,  the  fight  began 
 anew. 
 
 Making  use  of  his  weapons,  he  let  loose  the  storms, 
 which  threw  lightning  and  dust  in  the  eyes  of  the  com- 
 batants, till  the  Titans  were  completely  overcome  by  the 
 "  hundred  armed  Ones,"  and  were  obliged  to  confess  them- 
 selves vanquished. 
 
 The  victorious  Gods  then  chained  them,  threw  them  into 
 the  gruesome  depths  of  Tartarus,   and  placed  the    Heca- 
 
2  6  Zeus  oir  Jupiter. 
 
 toncheirae  to  guard  them.  But  the  Earth  lamented  over  the 
 fate  of  her  sons,  and  in  order  to  punish  the  Gods  for  their 
 severity,  created  the  Giants,  those  dreadful  monsters,  before 
 whom  the  very  stars  turned  pale.  They  came  forth  out  of 
 the  earth,  eager  for  war,  piled  mountain  on  mountain  in 
 order  to  reach  heaven,  and  then  rushed  towards  it  with 
 burning  oak  trees  and  enormous  pieces  of  rock.  Well  may 
 the  Gods  have  feared  such  an  onslaught  !  But  as  an  oracle 
 had  foretold,  that  they  could  only  conquer  the  Giants  by  the 
 aid  of  a  mortal,  Zeus  called  the  powerful  Hercules  to 
 their  assistance.  As  soon  as  Gaea  heardt  his,  she  searched 
 for  magic  herbs,  by  which  she  could  protect  her  sons  against 
 the  arms  of  mortals.  Zeus,  however,  forbade  all  the  Gods 
 of  Light,  Eos  (sunrise),  Helios  (the  sun),  Selene  (the  moon) 
 to  shine,  and  himself  cut  all  the  magic  herbs,  so  that  Gaea 
 found  none. 
 
 Now  began  the  terrible  conflict.  All  the  Gods  helped, 
 and  Hercules  worked  bravely  with  them.  Here  one  Giant 
 was  killed  by  arrows,  there  another  was  overthrown  by  red- 
 hot  iron.  A  third  fell  under  Hercules'  club,  on  others 
 islands  and  volcanoes  were  thrown,  and  at  last  Jupiter 
 flung  his  mighty  thunderbolts  and  killed  all  that  were  left. 
 Once  again  the  angry  Earth  tried  to  avenge  the  overthrow  of 
 the  Titans  and  Giants,  and  brought  forth  a  monster  more 
 terrible  than  any  that  had  preceded  it,  the  dreadful  Typhon. 
 While  the  gigantic  snakes  that  wound  round  him  hissed  fear- 
 fully, flames  issued  from  his  mouth,  and  he  rushed  towards 
 heaven  throwing  enormous  pieces  of  burning  rock,  which  so 
 terrified  the  assembled  Gods  that  they  all  fled  to  Egypt, 
 where  they  changed  themselves  into  various  animals,  that 
 Typhon  might  not  recognise  them.  Even  mighty  Jove  fled, 
 but  while  doing  so,  hurled  thunderbolts  behind  him  as  his 
 pursuers  came  ever  nearer  and  nearer.     But  they  were  of 
 
Zeus  or  Jupiter.  2  7 
 
 no  avail,  and  not  until  he  raised  his  sharp  diamond-sickle 
 was  the  monster  quelled,  and,  fleeing  in  his  turn,  took 
 refuge  in  the  Caucasus,  where  a  mighty  conflict  between  him 
 and  the  God  of  Heaven  took  place. 
 
 Already  Zeus  thought  he  had  conquered,  blood  streamed 
 from  the  thousand  wounds  that  Typhon  had  received,  when 
 suddenly,  the  innumerable  snakes  that  grew  on  his  body 
 wound  themselves  round  the  God,  and  threw  him  to  the 
 ground.  Typhon  secured  the  sickle,  cut  out  the  sinews  of 
 Zeus's  hands  and  feet,  threw  him  across  his  shoulders  and 
 carried  him  to  Sicily,  where  he  shut  him  up  in  a  horrible 
 sulphurous  cave. 
 
 The  sinews  he  wrapped  in  a  bear's  skin,  placed  a  dragon 
 to  guard  them,  and  hurried  off  to  find  the  other  Gods. 
 
 Meanwhile  Pan  and  Hermes,  who  were  hiding  in  the 
 neighbourhood,  heard  the  moans  of  the  wounded  Zeus. 
 They  crept  cautiously  forward,  stole  the  sinews  from  the 
 dragon,  fitted  them  again  into  their  proper  places,  and  lo  ! 
 Zeus  was  well  and  sound  once  more.  He  hastily  got  into 
 his  thunder-chariot,  with  the  winged  steeds,  and  pursued 
 the  monster.  Typhon  fled  before  the  thunderbolts  of  the 
 God,  till  he  reached  Mount  Nysa,  where  the  Parcae  per- 
 suaded him  to  take  some  fruit  to  refresh  himself.  They  did 
 so  with  the  view  of  giving  Zeus  time  to  overtake  him,  and 
 in  this  they  succeeded  ;  but  no  sooner  did  Typhon  perceive 
 the  approaching  God  than  he  fled  and  took  refuge  in  Thrace, 
 on  Mount  Haemus.  Here  they  again  met  in  mortal  combat. 
 Jupiter  hurled  thunderbolts  and  lightnings  ;  Typhon,  whole 
 mountains  ;  but  the  thunderbolts  were  the  most  destructive, 
 and  at  last  the  monster  turned  and  fled  through  the  sea  to 
 Sicily,  where  he  met  his  doom ;  Jupiter  throwing  him  to  the 
 ground  and  rolling  Mount  Etna  on  the  top  of  him.  There 
 he  lies  still,   and  whenever  he  turns  or  moves,  the  earth 
 
2S  Zeus  or  Jupiter. 
 
 shakes  ;  when  he  breathes,  the  mountain  smokes,  and  when 
 lie  rages,  flames  and  fire  rush  out  of  the  crater. 
 
 Now  at  last  the  power  of  Zeus  was  established.  There 
 was  but  one  more  battle  which  we  shall  relate.  Neptune 
 (Poseidon)  had  two  sons,  the  giants  Otus  and  Ephialtes, 
 also  called  Aloidae,  after  their  foster  father  Aloeus.  When 
 only  nine  years  old  they  were  nine  fathoms  high,  their 
 father  Poseidon  having  endowed  them  with  the  faculty  of 
 growing  every  year  one  fathom  in  height  and  one  yard  in 
 breadth.  Thus,  at  nine  years  of  age,  they  declared  war 
 against  the  Gods,  threatening  to  take  Heaven  by  storm  by 
 piling  the  mountains  Pelion,  Ossa,  and  Olympus,  one  on 
 the  top  of  the  other.  The  Gods  were  startled  at  this  mighty 
 attack,  and  would,  it  is  said,  have  been  conquered  if  the 
 giants  had  been  grown  up.  Ephialtes  demanded  Hera 
 (Juno),  and  Otus,  Artemis  (Diana)  to  wife.  At  first  Ares 
 (Mars)  opposed  them,  but  although  he  was  very  strong  and 
 experienced  in  warfare,  he  was  overcome,  bound,  and 
 thrown  into  prison,  out  of  which  Hermes  (Mercury) 
 rescued  him  by  stratagem.  It  was  only,  however,  by 
 cunning  that  the  giants  could  be  conquered.  Artemis, 
 assuming  the  disguise  of  a  stag,  ran  right  between  the  two 
 armies,  and  as  they  shot  at  the  animal,  their  arrows  missed 
 the  stag,  hitting  each  other,  and  they  sank  lifeless  to  the 
 ground.  As  punishment  for  their  presumption  they  were 
 condemned  after  their  death  to  remain  chained,  with  snakes, 
 back  to  back  to  a  pillar  in  the  netherworld.  On  this  pillar 
 sat  an  owl,  which  by  its  cries  never  allowed  them  to  sleep, 
 while  a  vulture  was  ever  beside  them,  devouring  their 
 entrails  as  fast  as  they  grew. 
 
 This  was  the  last  combat  that  the  monsters  attempted 
 against  the  Gods,  who  now  enjoyed  their  sovereignty 
 undisturbed. 
 
Zeus  or  Jupiter.  29 
 
 Over  all  Gods  and  people  and  everything  in  heaven 
 and  earth,  Zeus  reigned  supreme.  He  is  represented  as 
 driving  in  his  thunder-chariot  with  winged  horses  through 
 the  clouds ;  flashing  lightnings,  gathering  the  clouds  and 
 scattering  them  again,  and  sending  down  rain,  hail,  and 
 snow.  He  has  his  throne  in  the  heavens  on  Mount 
 Olympus,  a  high  mountain  in  Greece,  whose  summit  is 
 generally  surrounded  with  clouds.  On  this  account  he 
 is  also  called  the  Olympic.  From  thence  he  looks  down  on 
 the  doings  of  men,  and  keeps  them  and  the  Gods  in  order. 
 Here  also  stand  the  magnificent  palaces  where  the  Gods 
 hold  their  feasts  and  sit  in  council.  The  fate  of  men,  all 
 earthly  happiness  and  misfortune,  riches  and  poverty,  life 
 and  death,  all  depend  on  Zeus.  He  was  looked  upon, 
 especially,  as  the  guardian  of  hospitality,  and  punished  all 
 those  who  failed  in  this  duty.  This,  amongst  others, 
 Lycaon,  King  of  Arcadia,  experienced. 
 
 Zeus,  hearing  that  he  killed  every  stranger  who  came 
 into  his  country,  determined  to  prove  the  correctness  of 
 this  report.  Assuming  the  human  form,  he  went  to 
 Lycaon's  house.  Very  soon  the  others  present  divined  he 
 was  a  god,  and  began  to  worship  him  ;  but  the  king  only 
 laughed  at  them  and  determined  to  kill  him  in  the  night. 
 Wishing,  however,  to  be  quite  sure  that  his  guest  was  not  a 
 god,  he  thought  he  would  prove  his  omniscience,  and 
 placed  a  dish  of  child's  flesh  before  him.  Then  Zeus' 
 mighty  anger  was  roused ;  the  king's  house  stood  suddenly 
 in  flames,  and  in  trying  to  escape  Lycaon  was  turned  into 
 the  cowardly  but  murderous  wolf.  Zeus  equally  rewarded 
 those  who  practised  the  rights  of  hospitality.  The  Roman 
 poet,  Ovid,  gives  us  the  following  example  : — 
 
 There  was  a  district  in  Phrygia,  in  Asia  Minor,  that 
 in  ancient  times  had  been  inhabited,  but  was  now  covered 
 by  the  sea. 
 
o  Zeus  or  Jupiter. 
 
 ITcrc  Jove  with  Hermes  came;  but  in  disguise 
 
 Of  mortal  men  concealed  their  deities  ; 
 
 One  laid  aside  his  thunder,  one  his  rod  ; 
 
 And  many  toilsome  steps  together  trod  : 
 
 For  harbour  at  a  thousand  doors  they  knocked  ; 
 
 Not  one  of  all  the  thousand  but  was  locked. 
 
 At  last  an  hospitable  house  they  found  ; 
 
 A  homely  shed,  the  roof  not  far  from  ground, 
 
 Was  thatch'd  with  reeds  and  straw  together  bound. 
 
 There  Baucis  and  Philemon  liv'd,  and  there 
 Had  liv'd  long  married,  and  a  happy  pair  : 
 Now  old  in  love,  though  little  was  their  store, 
 Inur'd  to  want,  their  poverty  they  bore, 
 Nor  aim'd  at  wealth,  professing  to  be  poor. 
 For  master,  or  for  servant  here  to  call, 
 Was  all  alike,  where  only  two  were  all ; 
 Command  was  none,  where  equal  love  was  paid  ; 
 Or  rather,  both  commanded,  both  obeyed. 
 
 From  lofty  roofs  the  gods  repulsed  before, 
 Now  stooping,  enter'd  through  the  little  door  : 
 The  man  (their  hearty  welcome  first  expressed) 
 A  common  settle  drew  for  either  guest, 
 Inviting  each  his  weary  limbs  to  rest  : 
 But  ere  they  sate,  officious  Baucis  lays 
 Two  cushions  stuff'd  with  straw,  the  seat  to  raise  ; 
 Coarse,  but  the  best  she  had  ;  then  rakes  the  load 
 Of  ashes  from  the  hearth,  and  spreads  abroad 
 The  living  coals  :  and  lest  they  should  expire, 
 With  leaves  and  bark  she  feeds  her  infant  fire  : 
 It  smokes  ;  and  then  with  trembling  breath  she  blows, 
 Till  in  a  cheerful  blaze  the  flames  arose  ; 
 With  brushwood  and  with  chips  she  strengthens  these, 
 And  adds  at  last  the  boughs  of  rotten  trees. 
 The  fire  thus  formed,  she  sets  the  kettle  on 
 (Like  burnish'd  gold  the  little  seether  shone): 
 Next  took  the  coleworts  which  her  husband  got 
 From  his  own  ground  (a  small  well-water'd  spot)  ; 
 
Zeus  or  Jupiter.  3 1 
 
 She  stripp'd  the  stalks  of  all  their  leaves  ;  the  best. 
 She  cull'd,  and  them  with  handy  care  she  dressed. 
 High  o'er  the  hearth  a  chine  of  bacon  hung  ; 
 Good  old  Philemon  seized  it  with  a  prong 
 And  from  the  smoky  rafter  drew  it  down  ; 
 Then  cut  a  slice,  but  scarce  enough  for  one  ; 
 Yet  a  large  portion  of  a  little  store, 
 Which,  for  their  sakes  alone,  he  wish'd  were  more. 
 This  in  the  pot  he  plunged  without  delay, 
 To  tame  the  flesh,  and  drain  the  salt  away. 
 The  time  between,  before  the  fire  they  sat, 
 And  shorten'd  the  delay  by  pleasing  chat. 
 
 A  beam  there  was,  on  which  a  beechen  pail 
 Hung  by  the  handle,  on  a  driv'n  nail  : 
 This  filled  with  water,  gently  warmed,  they  set 
 Before  their  guests  :  in  this  they  bath'd  their  feet, 
 And  after  with  clean  towels  dry  their  sweat. 
 This  done,  the  host  produced  the  genial  bed, 
 Sallow  the  feet,  the  borders,  and  the  stead  ; 
 Which  with  no  costly  coverlet  they  spread, 
 But  coarse  old  garments  :  yet,  such  robes  as  these 
 They  laid  alone,  at  feasts  or  holidays. 
 The  good  old  housewife,  tucking  up  her  gown, 
 The  tables  set  :  th'  invited  gods  lie  down. 
 The  trivet  table  of  a  foot  was  lame, 
 A  blot  which  prudent  Baucis  overcame, 
 Who  thrusts  beneath  the  limping  leg  a  sherd  ; 
 So  was  the  mended  board  exactly  rear'd  : 
 Then  rubbed  it  o'er  with  newly  gathered  mint, 
 A  wholesome  herb  that  breathed  a  grateful  scent. 
 Pallas  began  the  feast,  where  first  was  seen 
 The  parti-coloured  olive,  black  and  green  ; 
 Autumnal  cornels  next  in  order  serv'd  ; 
 In  lees  of  wine,  well  pickled  and  preserved. 
 A  garden  salad  was  the  third  supply 
 Of  endive,  radishes,  and  succory  : 
 Then  curds  and  cream,  the  flow'r  of  country  fare, 
 
32  Zeus  or  Jupiter. 
 
 And  new-laid  eggs,  which  Baucis'  busy  care 
 
 Turn'd  by  a  gentle  fire,  and  roasted  rare. 
 
 All  these  in  earthenware  were  serv'd  to  board  ; 
 
 And  next  in  place,  an  earthen  pitcher,  stor'd 
 
 With  liquor  of  the  best  the  cottage  could  afford  ; 
 
 This  was  the  table's  ornament  and  pride, 
 
 With  figures  wrought  :  like  pages  at  his  side 
 
 Stood  beechen  bowls  ;  and  these  were  shining  clean, 
 
 Yarnish'd  with  wax  without,  and  lin'd  within. 
 
 By  this  the  boiling  kettle  had  prepared 
 
 And  to  the  table  sent  the  smoking  lard, 
 
 On  which  with  eager  appetite  they  dine, 
 
 A  sav'ry  bit,  that  serv'd  to  relish  wine  : 
 
 The  wine  itself  was  suiting  to  the  rest, 
 
 Still  working  in  the  must,  and  lately  pressed. 
 
 The  second  course  succeeds  like  that  before, 
 
 Plums,  apples,  nuts,  and  of  their  wintry  store 
 
 Dry  figs,  and  grapes,  and  wrinkled  dates  were  set, 
 
 In  canisters,  t'  enlarge  the  little  treat  : 
 
 All  these  a  milk-white  honey-comb  surround, 
 
 Which  in  the  midst  the  country  banquet  crown'd  : 
 
 But  the  kind  hosts  their  entertainment  grace 
 
 With  hearty  welcome,  and  an  open  face  : 
 
 In  all  they  did,  you  might  discern  with  ease, 
 
 A  willing  mind,  and  a  desire  to  please. 
 
 Meantime  the  beechen  bowls  went  round,  and  still, 
 Though  often  emptied  were  observ'd  to  fill, 
 Fill'd  without  hands,  and  of  their  own  accord 
 Ran  without  feet,  and  dane'd  about  the  board. 
 Devotion  seized  the  pair,  to  see  the  feast 
 With  wine,  and  of  no  common  grape  increas'd  ; 
 And  up  they  held  their  hands,  and  fell  to  pray'r, 
 Excusing  as  they  could,  their  country  fare. 
 
 One  goose  they  had  ('twas  all  they  could  allow), 
 A  wakeful  sentry,  and  on  duty  now  ; 
 Whom  to  the  gods  for  sacrifice  they  vow  : 
 Her  with  malicious  zeal  the  couple  view'd  ; 
 
Zeus  or  Jupiter,  33 
 
 one  ran  for  life,  and  limping  they  pursued  : 
 
 Full  well  the  fowl  perceived  the  bad  intent, 
 
 And  would  not  make  her  master's  compliment  ; 
 
 But  persecuted,  to  the  Powers  she  flies, 
 
 And  close  between  the  legs  of  Jove  she  lies  ; 
 
 He,  with  a  gracious  ear,  the  suppliant  heard, 
 
 And  saved  her  life  ;  then,  what  he  was,  declared, 
 
 And  owned  the  God.     "  The  neighbourhood,"  said  he, 
 
 "  Shall  justly  perish  for  impiety  : 
 
 Ye  stand  alone  exempted  :  but  obey 
 
 With  speed,  and  follow  where  we  lead  the  way  : 
 
 Leave  these  accurst,  and  to  the  mountain's  height 
 
 Ascend  ;  nor  once  look  backward  in  your  flight." 
 
 They  haste,  and  what  their  tardy  feet  deny'd, 
 The  trusty  staff  (their  better  leg),  supplied. 
 An  arrow's  flight  they  wanted  to  the  top, 
 And  there  secure,  but  spent  with  travel,  stop  ; 
 Then  turn  their  now  no  more  forbidden  eyes  : — 
 Lost  in  a  lake,  the  floated  level  lies  : 
 A  wat'ry  desert  covers  all  the  plains  ; 
 Their  cot  alone,  as  in  an  isle,  remains. 
 Wond'ring  with  weeping  eyes,  while  they  deplore 
 Their  neighbours'  fate,  and  country  now  no  more, 
 Their  little  shed,  scarce  large  enough  for  two, 
 Seems,  from  the  ground  increas'd,  in  height  and  bulk  to  grow 
 A -stately  temple  shoots  within  the  skies, 
 The  crotchets  of  their  cot  in  columns  rise, 
 The  pavement  polish'd  marble  they  behold, 
 The  gates  with  sculpture  grand,  the  spires  and  tiles  of  gold. 
 Then  thus  the  sire  of  Gods,  with  looks  serene  : 
 "  Speak  thy  desire,  thou  only  just  of  men  ; 
 And  thou,  O  woman,  only  worthy  found 
 To  be  with  such  a  man  in  marriage  bound." 
 
 Awhile  they  whisper  ;  then  to  Jove  addressed, 
 Philemon  thus  prefers  their  joint  request  : 
 "  We  crave  to  serve  before  your  sacred  shrine, 
 And  offer  at  your  altars,  rites  divine  ; 
 
 C 
 
34  Zeus  or  Jupiter. 
 
 And  since  not  any  action  of  our  life 
 Has  been  polluted  with  domestic  strife  : 
 We  beg  one  hour  of  death,  that  neither  she, 
 With  widow'd  tears,  may  live  to  bury  me, 
 Nor  weeping  I,  with  withered  arms,  may  bear 
 My  breathless  Baucis  to  the  sepulchre." 
 
 The  godheads  sign  their  suit.     They  run  their  race 
 In  the  same  tenour  all  th'  appointed  space  ; 
 Then,  when  their  hour  was  come,  while  they  relate 
 These  past  adventures  at  the  temple-gate, 
 Old  Baucis  is  by  old  Philemon  seen 
 Sprouting  with  sudden  leaves  of  sprightly  green  : 
 Old  Baucis  look'd  where  old  Philemon  stood, 
 And  saw  his  lengthened  arms  a  sprouting  wood  ; 
 New  roots  their  fastened  feet  begin  to  bind, 
 Their  bodies  stiffen  in  a  rising  rind  : 
 Then,  ere  the  bark  above  their  shoulders  grew, 
 They  give  and  take  at  once  their  last  adieu. 
 At  once,  "  Farewell,  O  faithful  spouse  ! "  they  said  : 
 At  once  th'  incroaching  rinds  their  closing  lips  invade. 
 
 — Ovid,  "  Metamorphoses,"  Book  viii.  (Dryden). 
 
 He  was  changed  into  an  oak,  and  she  into  a  lime,  and 
 for  many  years  after,  the  people  pointed  out  the  sacred 
 trees. 
 
 All  the  Gods  looked  upon  Zeus  as  their  father  and  lord, 
 they  dreaded  his  anger,  and  were  often  punished  for  dis- 
 obedience. All,  even  the  mightiest  of  them,  bowed  before 
 his  strength  and  might.  He  once,  in  anger,  said  to  Hera, 
 "  Not  all  the  Gods  could  aid  thee  if  I  were  to  hold  thee  with 
 my  all-powerful  hands."  Notwithstanding  this,  he  had  once 
 to  seek  for  foreign  help  against  some  of  the  Gods.  Hera, 
 Poseidon,  and  Athene  had  combined  to  overcome  him. 
 On  hearing  this,  Thetis  hurried  off  and  fetched  the  mighty 
 Briareus,  one  of  the  Hecatoncheirae,  from  the  Underworld, 
 
Zeus  or  Jupiter.  35 
 
 who  placing  himself  beside  the  God,  dared  any  to  touch 
 him. 
 
 As  it  was  necessary,  in  order  to  rule  the  world,  that  Zeus 
 should  be  wise  above  all  others,  his  first  wife  was  Metis, 
 Goddess  of  Wisdom,  and  yet,  although  not  a  sound  escaped 
 him,  he  was  outwitted  by  the  other  Gods,  and  only  later 
 on  did  he  discover  their  frauds. 
 
 Amongst  the  Goddesses  the  following  were  his  wives  : — 
 
 1.  Metis,  a  daughter  of  Oceanus,  who  administered  the 
 emetic  to  Chronos.  Her  daughter  was  Pallas  Athene 
 (Minerva),  Goddess  of  Wisdom. 
 
 2.  Themis,  one  of  the  Titanidae.  Her  children  were 
 the  Hours  and  the  Parcae.  Themis  was  the  Goddess  of 
 Order,  Regularity,  and  Equality,  and  presided  over  the 
 division  of  the  food  at  the  Gods'  banquets.  She  was  con- 
 founded with  her  daughter  Dice,  Goddess  of  Justice,  one  of 
 the  Hours  and  protectress  of  all  ordinances.  She  was  a 
 serious,  awe-inspiring  maiden,  but  to  delineate  her  with 
 bandaged  eyes,  holding  a  sword  and  scales,  is  a  later 
 idea  unknown  to  the  ancients. 
 
 3.  Hera  or  Juno.  She  was,  as  already  stated,  a  daughter 
 of  Chronos  and  Rhea,  a  sister  of  Zeus,  and  was  also  eaten 
 by  her  father.  Her  mother  took  her  to  Oceanus  and 
 Tethys,  who  nursed  and  brought  her  up  with  great  care. 
 She  was  regarded  as  Zeus's  principal  wife.  Their  mar- 
 riage was  celebrated  in  Crete,  in  presence  of  all  the  Gods 
 and  Goddesses,  who  each  brought  a  wedding  gift.  From 
 Gaea  she  received  a  branch  with  golden  apples  ;  this  she 
 planted,  and  gave  the  Hesperides  charge  of  the  beautiful 
 gardens  in  which  it  grew.  At  this  marriage  all  the  rites  and 
 customs  in  vogue  among  the  Greeks  were  observed,  and 
 which  we  will  briefly  describe.  First  came  a  gorgeous 
 procession?  led  by  the  bridal  couple,  seated  on  a  splendid 
 
3 
 
 6  Zeus  or  Jupiter. 
 
 car,  decorated  with  wreaths,  and  drawn  by  two  magnificent 
 horses.  Bride  and  bridegroom  were  crowned  with  mint, 
 balm,  and  dittany.  Later,  myrtle  was  substituted.  On 
 each  side  went  torch-bearers  and  musicians  ;  behind  the 
 carriage  came  the  bridegroom's  friends,  singing  joyous  songs, 
 until  they  reached  the  bridegroom's  house,  where  the  house- 
 keeper received  them,  and  placed  cakes,  figs,  and  other 
 fruits  before  them. 
 
 Hera  was  looked  upon  as  the  foundress  and  protectress 
 of  marriage,  though  certainly,  as  a  wife,  she  was  not 
 a  pattern  of  fidelity,  for  she  was  quarrelsome,  jealous, 
 and  deceitful.  She  constantly  tormented  Zeus  with 
 reproaches,  followed  his  footsteps  with  suspicion,  and 
 revenged  herself  unmercifully  on  all  whom  he  found 
 more  amiable  than  herself.  This  happened  very  often, 
 for,  beautiful  as  she  was,  her  jealous  nature  estranged  him, 
 as  she  constantly  crossed  his  plans.  This  led  to  stormy 
 scenes  between  them.  Once  he  hung  her  up  in  the  sky, 
 fastening  two  anvils  on  to  her  feet,  and  when  she  again  tor- 
 mented him,  he  reminded  her  of  it,  and  threatened  to  repeat  it. 
 
 "  Hast  thou  forgot,  when  bound  and  fix'd  on  high, 
 From  the  vast  concave  of  the  spangled  sky, 
 I  hung  thee  trembling  in  a  golden  chain, 
 And  all  the  raging  gods  opposed  in  vain  ? 
 Headlong  I  hurl'd  them  from  the  Olympian  hall, 
 Stunn'd  in  the  whirl,  and  breathless  with  the  fall. 
 For  godlike  Hercules  these  deeds  were  done, 
 Nor  seemed  the  vengeance  worthy  such  a  son  : 
 When,  by  thy  wiles  induced,  fierce  Boreas  toss'd 
 The  shipwreck'd  hero  on  the  Coan  coast, 
 Him  through  a  thousand  forms  of  death  I  bore, 
 And  sent  to  Argos,  and  his  native  shore. 
 Hear  this,  remember,  and  our  fury  dread, 
 Nor  pall  the  unwilling  vengeance  on  thy  head." 
 
 "  Iliad,"  Book  xv.  (Pope). 
 
Zeus  or  Jupiter.  3  7 
 
 When,  however,  she  wanted  to  get  anything  from  her 
 husband  she  could  make  herself  very  agreeable.  Thus, 
 during  the  Trojan  war,  when  Zeus  had  commanded  that 
 none  of  the  Gods  should  take  any  part  in  it,  and,  in  order  to 
 see  this  carried  out,  seated  himself  on  the  top  of  Mount 
 Ida,  where  he  kept  strict  watch,  Hera,  who  favoured  the 
 Greeks,  determined  to  put  him  to  sleep,  and  went  into 
 her  chamber  to  deck  herself  carefully.  First,  she  bathed 
 in  the  celestial  waters,  to  remove  every  spot  and  stain ; 
 then  she  anointed  herself  with  sweet-scented  oil,  combed 
 and  arranged  her  magnificent  hair,  which  fell  in  luxu- 
 riant and  shining  tresses  from  her  regal  head,  and 
 shrouded  herself  in  a  beautiful  garment,  wrought  by 
 the  artistic  fingers  of  Athene,  fastened  in  front  with 
 golden  hooks.  She  then  placed  precious  rings  in  her 
 ears,  and  wrapped  a  veil  round  her  head,  which  shone 
 like  the  sun.  The  principal  ornament  was,  however,  still 
 wanting,  and  hastening  to  Aphrodite,  she  begged  the  loan  of 
 her  girdle,  which  made  all  those  who  wore  it  irresistible. 
 She  said  she  wanted  it  to  reconcile  her  father,  Oceanus, 
 with  his  wife  Tethys,  as  they  had  been  for  some  time 
 estranged.  Having  obtained  it,  she  quickly  flew  to  the 
 Isle  of  Lemnos,  and  begged  the  God  of  Sleep  to  cover  the 
 ever-wakeful  eyes  of  Jupiter  with  slumber.  Sleep  allowed 
 himself  to  be  persuaded  and  accompanied  her  to  Mount 
 Ida,  where  he  hid  himself  behind  the  highest  peak  of  the 
 mountain.  Hera  now  approached  Zeus,  telling  him  she 
 was  only  passing  on  her  way  to  the  ends  of  the  earth  in 
 order  to  reconcile  Oceanus  and  Tethys.  But  the  girdle  did 
 its  work.  Zeus  thought  he  had  never  seen  his  wife  look 
 so  beautiful,  and  entreated  her  with  kindly  words  to  take  a 
 seat  beside  him.  Gladly  she  obeyed,  and  soon  Sleep  sank 
 down  gently  and   closed  his   eyes.      The  Gods  had  only 
 
o 
 
 8  Zens  or  Jtipiter. 
 
 waited  for  this.  Neptune  hastened  to  the  camp  of  the 
 Greeks,  led  them  against  the  Trojans,  and  caused  frightful 
 destruction  amongst  them.  At  last  Zeus  awoke  and  saw 
 the  fearful  confusion.  He  discovered  that  Hera  had 
 deceived  him,  and  threatened  her  with  his  anger.  She, 
 however,  declared  herself  innocent,  and  the  God  allowed 
 himself  to  be  quieted.  All  the  poets  unite  in  praising 
 the  beauty  of  Juno.  They  describe  her  as  tall,  beauti- 
 fully formed,  of  a  majestic  presence,  and  particularly 
 laud  her  beautiful  and  commanding  eye  and  white  arm. 
 Woe  to  the  mortal  maiden  who  thought  herself  more 
 beautiful  than  the  Goddess  !  Mythology  relates  numerous 
 instances  in  which  Juno  made  both  women  and  maidens 
 feel  the  power  of  her  vengeance. 
 
 To  her  the  peacock  was  sacred,  for  he  is  said  by 
 his  cry  to  foretell  the  changes  in  the  weather,  and  Juno 
 represented  the  lower  regions  of  air,  where  they  princi- 
 pally occur.  The  Isle  of  Samos  was  her  birthplace ; 
 here  she  was  specially  venerated,  and  a  number  of  peacocks 
 kept  in  her  honour.  She  was  worshipped  in  many  other 
 parts  of  Greece  besides  Samos,  but  more  especially  at 
 Argos  in  the  Peloponnesus,  where  a  magnificent  temple 
 outside  the  town  was  erected  to  her.  Every  year  her 
 fete  was  celebrated  by  two  processions,  one  consist- 
 ing of  armed  and  mail-clad  men,  the  other  of  women,  led 
 by  the  head  priestess,  who  was  seated  on  a  car  drawn 
 by  white  bullocks.  As  soon  as  the  procession  arrived,  a 
 hecatomb  (a  hundred  head)  of  oxen  were  sacrificed, 
 followed  by  various  warlike  games.  Her  children  were  : 
 Ares  (Mars),  Hephaestus  (Vulcan),  and  Hebe.  In  Rome 
 she  was  worshipped  under  the  name  of  Juno,  as  Jupiter's 
 wife,  and  Goddess  of  Light  and  Marriage,  and  often  a  sur- 
 name was  added,  such  as  Juno  Lucina,  Juno  Sospeta,  Juno 
 
Zeus  or  Jupiter.  39 
 
 Regina ;  as  the  latter,  she  was  also  called  the  Capitolian, 
 and  in  her  temple  in  the  Capitol  sacred  geese  were  kept  in 
 her  honour,  and  it  was  said  of  them  that  during  the  wars 
 with  the  Gauls  their  vigilance  saved  Rome.  As  Juno 
 Regina,  she  had  rendered  the  Romans  another  service 
 in  the  town  of  Veji,  of  which  she  was  patroness.  When 
 they  were  besieging  this  place,  they  dug  a  passage  under 
 the  walls  into  the  city,  and  at  the  end  of  it  found  them- 
 selves in  her  temple.  The  town  was  conquered;  the 
 Romans  wished  to  carry  the  mighty  Goddess  back  with 
 them  to  Rome,  but  dared  not  do  this  without  first 
 asking  her  leave.  They  therefore  went  to  the  temple 
 and  asked  the  figure  whether  she  would  go  with  them ; 
 she  graciously  bent  her  head  and  was  carried  in  triumph 
 to  Rome,  where  a  temple  was  built  for  her  on  Mount 
 Aventine.  Here  she  was  especially  worshipped  by  married 
 women. 
 
 4.  Leto  or  Latona  was  the  daughter  of  Coeus,  one 
 of  the  Titans.  She  represented  the  starlight  night,  and 
 was  depicted  as  a  kind  and  gentle  Goddess,  the  most 
 beneficent  of  all  those  on  Mount  Olympus,  and  the  friend 
 of  Gods  and  men.  Nevertheless  she  was  unmercifully 
 persecuted  by  jealous  Hera,  who,  in  order  that  she  might 
 find  no  rest,  made  all  continents  and  islands  promise  not 
 to  harbour  her,  and  placed  Mars  on  one  high  hill,  and 
 Iris  on  another,  to  see. that  her  behests  were  carried  out, 
 while  she  sent  a  dragon  to  follow  her  enemy.  Tired, 
 parched  with  thirst,  Latona  came  to  a  lake  and  attempted 
 to  drink,  but  the  peasants  drove  her  away,  whereupon  they 
 were  changed  into  frogs.  At  length  she  found  rest  on  the 
 island  of  Delos. 
 
 Of  this  there  are  two  accounts.  One  says  Delos  was  a 
 floating  island,  and  as  such  was  not  included  in  Hera's 
 
40  Zeus  or  Jupiter. 
 
 prohibition.  It  had  therefore  taken  compassion  on  the 
 wandering  Goddess,  and  as  soon  as  she  stepped  on  to  it, 
 four  pillars  rose  from  the  bottom  of  the  sea  to  support  and 
 steady  it. 
 
 The  other  legend  says,  Poseidon  so  pitied  Latona  that 
 he  raised  this  island  (which  had  hitherto  lain  at  the  bottom 
 of  the  sea)  with  his  trident,  and  sent  Hermes  to  guide  the 
 Goddess  thither.  But  Delos  was  afraid  of  incurring  Hera's 
 anger  by  taking  her  in.  Latona,  however,  took  an  oath  that 
 Apollo's  temple  should  be  built  there,  and  that  the  fire  on 
 his  altar  should  never  die  out.  This  satisfied  and  quieted 
 Delos,  and  soon  after  Latona's  two  immortal  children, 
 Apollo  and  Artemis,  were  born. 
 
 Besides  these  four  goddesses,  Zeus  had  several  mortal 
 wives.     The  most  celebrated  of  whom  were  : 
 
 (i.)  Danae,  a  daughter  of  Acrisius,  King  of  Argos,  in  the 
 Peloponnesus,  who,  having  been  forewarned  that  he  should 
 die  by  the  hand  of  his  grandson,  determined  that  his 
 daughter  should  never  marry,  and  shut  her  up  in  a  brazen 
 tower.  Zeus,  however,  had  pity  on  the  unfortunate 
 captive,  and  one  day,  as  she  stood  by  the  open  window  of 
 her  prison,  a  shower  of  golden  rain  fell  in.  Surprised  and 
 delighted,  Danae  gathered  up  the  glittering  drops,  when  lo  ! 
 the  metal  changed  into  the  God  of  Heaven,  and  Zeus 
 stood  before  her.  This  is  probably  meant  to  convey  that  her 
 warders  allowed  themselves  to  be  bribed  with  gold.  Soon 
 after  she  had  a  son  called  Perseus,  whose  history  we  shall 
 relate  further  on.  As  for  Danae,  her  father  was  so  enraged 
 that  he  placed  both  her  and  her  child  in  a  chest,  and 
 threw  it  into  the  sea.  The  kind  and  pitying  sea  nymph  saved 
 them  both,  by  wafting  the  chest  to  the  isle  of  Lere'phos, 
 where  the  king  took  it  in.  When  Perseus  grew  up,  he 
 went  forth  into  the  world  in  search    of    adventures,    per- 
 
Zeus  or  Jtipiter.  4 1 
 
 formed  many  wonderful  feats,  and  returned  to  the  island, 
 where,  finding  that  the  king  had,  during  his  absence,  greatly 
 tormented  his  mother,  he  turned  him  into  stone  with  the 
 Medusa's  head,  which  he  had  brought  with  him,  and  took 
 his  mother  to  Argos. 
 
 (2.)  Maia,  was  a  daughter  of  Atlas,  and  grand-daughter 
 of  the  Titan  Japetus.  Atlas  had  seven  daughters,  who  were 
 afterwards  placed  in  the  heavens,  and  formed  the  constella- 
 tion of  the  Pleiades.  Maia  bore  Zeus  one  son  in  Arcadia, 
 called  Hermes  or  Mercury. 
 
 (3.)  Semele,  daughter  of  Cadmus,  King  of  Thebes. 
 Zeus  fell  in  love  with  her  and  often  visited  her  in  human 
 form,  for  no  mortal  could  endure  the  splendour  of  his 
 divine  glory.  For  a  long  time  Semele  was  happy  in 
 the  belief  that  she  was  beloved  by  the  mighty  Zeus, 
 till  at  last  Hera,  ever  jealous  and  restless,  determined  to 
 destroy  her.  She  came  disguised  as  a  slave,  and  casually 
 ventured  to  remark  that  perhaps  after  all  her  lover  was 
 not  the  mighty  God  of  Heaven.  "  You  can  easily  put  him 
 to  the  proof,"  added  she  cunningly,  "by  asking  him  to 
 appear  to  you  in  all  his  glory,  as  he  does  to  Hera."  Semele 
 fell  into  the  trap.  When  Zeus  came  to  her  again,  she 
 begged  him  to  grant  a  request.  He  promised  to  do  what- 
 ever she  asked,  and  strengthened  it  by  taking  the  oath 
 of  the  Gods.  Hardly,  however,  had  Semele  expressed  her 
 wish,  than  Jupiter  regretted  his  oath,  and  entreated  her  to 
 withdraw  her  foolish  request ;  but  the  more  he  begged,  the 
 stronger  grew  Semele's  suspicion  that  her  lover  was  not  the 
 God,  and  he  was  forced  to  fulfil  her  wish.  Then  suddenly 
 she  heard  the  roaring  of  a  terrific  storm.  Lightnings  flashed 
 through  the  dark  night,  and  thunders,  repeated  by  a 
 thousand  echoes,  made  the  earth  tremble  and  shake.  At 
 last  the  God  of  Heaven  approached  and  stood  before  her  in 
 
42  Zeus  or  Jupiter. 
 
 resplendent  glory,  but  alas  !  she  could  not  bear  the  blinding 
 sight,  and  as  his  burning  rays  turned  her  mortal  body  into 
 ashes,  her  spirit  rose  to  the  abode  of  the  immortals.  Her 
 son  was  Dionysus  or  Bacchus.  She  is  always  represented 
 as  a  beautiful  maiden  with  long  flowing  hair. 
 
 (4.)  Europa  was  a  Phoenician,  daughter  of  Agenor,  and 
 sister  of  Cadmus,  King  of  Thebes.  Once  whilst  she  and 
 her  companions  were  playing  in  a  meadow  and  gathering 
 flowers,  Zeus  saw  her  from  his  seat  in  the  clouds,  fell  in 
 love  with  her,  and  determined  to  carry  her  off.  To  escape 
 the  jealous  anger  of  Hera  he  changed  himself  into  a  bull, 
 swam  the  sea,  and  came  to  land  just  where  Europa  was 
 sitting.  He  lay  on  the  grass  near  the  maidens,  and 
 looked  so  gentle  and  quiet,  that,  fearing  no  danger,  they 
 gathered  round  him  and  stroked  the  beautiful  creature, 
 wreathing  his  neck  with  flowers.  Europa  even  ventured 
 to  seat  herself  on  his  back.  Now  he  rose,  but  Europa 
 remained  sitting,  and  allowed  herself  to  be  carried  about  the 
 meadow.  Suddenly,  however,  he  quickened  his  pace, 
 hurried  to  the  sea  shore,  and  jumped  into  the  waves  before 
 the  other  maidens  could  come  to  her  rescue.  He  swam 
 with  her  to  the  Island  of  Crete,  where  she  became  his  wife. 
 Her  children  were  Minos  and  Radamanthus,  two  kings  of 
 Crete,  celebrated  for  their  justice  and  wise  laws,  and  on  this 
 account  were,  after  their  death,  made  judges  in  the  Under- 
 world.    Europa  was  also  married  to  a  king  of  Crete. 
 
 (5.)  Callisto.  It  has  already  been  related  how  Zeus 
 punished  Lycaon,  the  inhospitable  king  of  Arcadia.  His 
 daughter,  the  beautiful  Callisto,  was  a  great  lover  of  the 
 chase,  and  often  hunted  in  the  woods  in  the  suite  of  Artemis. 
 When,  however,  Zeus  had  persuaded  her  to  marry  him, 
 the  incensed  Artemis  changed  her  into  a  bear.  One  day 
 when  her  son  Areas  was  hunting  in  the  woods  he  met  his 
 
Zeus  or  Jupiter.  43 
 
 mother  (whom  he  did  not  recognise  under  her  trans- 
 formation), and  was  about  to  kill  her,  but  Zeus,  to 
 prevent  the  murder,  quickly  changed  him  also  into  a  bear, 
 placing  both  in  the  heavens  as  stars.  Hence  Callisto  is 
 is  always  called  the  Great  Bear,  and  Areas  the  Little 
 Bear.  But  even  there  Callisto  was  followed  by  the  jealous 
 anger  of  Hera,  who  prayed  Tethys  not  to  allow  that  con- 
 stellation to  sink  into  the  sea  with  the  rest  to  cool  itself, 
 and  on  this  account,  say  the  ancients,  the  Great  Bear  never 
 sets  but  gyrates  in  everlasting  circles  round  the  Pole. 
 Another  fable  says  that  Zeus  himself  changed  Callisto 
 into  a  bear  to 'hide  her  from  Hera,  but  she  saw  through  the 
 deception  and  caused  Artemis  to  shoot  both  her  and  Areas, 
 after  which  Zeus  placed  them  in  the  sky. 
 
 (6.)  Io,  was  a  daughter  of  the  river  God  Inachus  in  Argolis, 
 and  grand-daughter  of  Oceanus.  One  day  when  she  had 
 wrandered  rather  further  than  usual  from  her  father's  shores, 
 she  heard  the  voice  of  Zeus,  who  had  seen  and  loved  her. 
 Io,  startled,  attempted  to  fly,  but  he  spread  dark  night 
 over  the  earth  to  prevent  her  escape.  Hera,  ever  on  the 
 watch,  missing  her  husband,  looked  on  the  earth,  and 
 seeing  it  covered  with  black  night  in  the  middle  of  the 
 day,  became  suspicious  and  ordered  Night  to  retire. 
 Zeus,  noticing  her  vicinity,  quickly  changed  Io  into  a 
 white  cow,  that  she  might  thus  escape  Hera's  wrath. 
 
 She,  however,  was  not  deceived,  and  begged  him 
 to  make  her  a  present  of  the  beautiful  animal.  Very 
 unwillingly  Zeus  consented,  afraid  of  confirming  her 
 suspicions  by  refusing.  Hera  now  placed  the  unhappy 
 maiden  under  the  charge  of  Argus,  in  whose  head  were  a 
 hundred  eyes,  two  only  of  which  slept  at  one  time. 
 Wherever  Io  might  wander,  nothing  escaped  his  glance. 
 During  the  day  she  fed  under  his  eyes,  and  at  night  she 
 
44  Zeus  or  Jtipiter. 
 
 was  firmly  tied,  so  that  there  was  no  possibility  of  escape. 
 In  vain  she  tried  to  stretch  out  her  arms  entreatingly 
 towards  him.  Alas !  she  had  no  arms  now  !  and  the 
 pitiful  cries  she  uttered  were  only  fearful  bellowings.  At 
 last  she  came  to  the  shores  of  her  father's  river,  and  when 
 she  looked  into  its  clear  waters  she  started  back  with 
 terror,  for  instead  of  the  sweet  face  that  was  wont  to  be 
 reflected  there  she  now  saw  only  a  cow's  head  with  crumpled 
 horns.  There  were  her  playmates,  the  Naiads,  and  her 
 father  Inachus,  but  no  one  recognised  her.  With  wonder 
 they  noticed  that  the  cow  followed  them  lovingly,  so  they 
 stroked  the  gentle  creature,  and  fed  her  with  herbs.  She 
 licked  her  father's  hands,  while  tears  of  anguish  fell  from 
 her  eyes.  Unable  to  make  herself  known,  she,  with  her 
 foot,  traced  the  name  "  Io "  on  the  sand.  Then  they 
 suspected  who  she  was,  and  Inachus  loudly  complained 
 at  the  misfortune  that  had  befallen  his  child.  But 
 Argus  quickly  chased  the  unhappy  maiden  further  on,  and 
 seated  himself  on  a  mount  that  he  might  observe  her 
 better.  Mighty  Jove  at  last  took  compassion  on  her, 
 and  ordered  Mercury  to  kill  Argus.  Mercury  instantly 
 flew  down  to  the  earth,  disguised  himself  as  a  goatherd, 
 and  driving  his  goats  close  to  where  Argus  was  sitting, 
 began  to  play  on  his  shepherd's  pipe.  Argus,  quite  en- 
 chanted, listened,  and  begged  him  to  come  and  sit  beside 
 him.  Mercury  then  told  him  so  many  amusing  stories, 
 that,  assisted  by  the  magic  wand  of  the  God,  the  hundred 
 eyes  gradually  closed  in  sleep.  Quickly  Mercury  drew 
 forth  the  hitherto  hidden  sword,  and  cut  off  the  head  of  the 
 slumbering  monster.  But  even  now  poor  Io  was  not  free, 
 for  Hera  sent  the  terrible  Erinyes  into  her  heart,  and  they 
 drove  her  about  from  place  to  place  all  over  the  earth,  till 
 at  last  she  sank  down  exhausted  beside  the  shores  of  the 
 
Zeus  or  Jupiter.  45 
 
 Nile.  Her  sighs  and  tears  and  her  pitiful  bellowings  were 
 heard  by  Zeus,  and  he  entreated  Hera  to  put  an  end  to 
 the  unhappy  one's  sufferings,  promising  that  Io  should 
 never  again  give  her  cause  for  jealousy.  Thereupon  Hera 
 loosened  the  spell,  and  Io  was  restored  to  her  original 
 form.  Her  son  Epaphus  was  supposed  to  have  been  born 
 in  Egypt,  where  she  was  afterwards  worshipped  as  a  goddess. 
 As  she  is  always  represented  with  horns  like  the  Egyptian 
 Goddess  Isis,  the  legend  of  Io  gradually  became  mixed  up 
 with  the  worship  of  Isis. 
 
 (7.)  LeJa,  was  the  wife  of  Tyndareus,  King  of  Sparta. 
 Zeus  saw  her,  and,  enchanted  with  her  beauty,  changed 
 himself  into  a  white  swan,  and  made  Aphrodite,  who  had 
 also  changed  herself  into  an  eagle,  chase  him,  while  he  pre- 
 tended to  fly  for  safety  into  Leda's  arms.  The  kind-hearted 
 queen,  fearing  no  evil,  took  him  up,  but  no  sooner  had  she 
 touched  him  than  he  stood  transformed  before  her,  and 
 carried  her  off.  Her  children  were  Castor  and  Pollux, 
 Helen  and  Clytemnestra.  Some  myths  say  that  Castor  and 
 Pollux  both  came  out  of  one  egg.  They  are  also  called 
 Dioscuri,  were  famous  for  their  great  brotherly  love  and 
 bravery,  and  their  skill  in  all  the  arts  of  war ;  Castor  more 
 especially  for  his  horsemanship,  and  Pollux  for  pugilism. 
 Both  took  part  in  the  Argonautic  expedition.  Once, 
 while  in  the  Black  Sea,  a  storm  arose,  and  while  all  the 
 sailors  prayed  to  the  Gods  for  help,  flames  of  fire  suddenly 
 appeared  on  the  brothers'  heads,  and  the  tempest  was 
 stilled.  By  this  it  was  known  that  they  were  the  sons  of  a 
 god,  and  ever  after,  sailors,  during  storms,  used  to  pray  to 
 them  for  help.  If,  during  a  thunderstorm,  tiny  flames  (the 
 fire  of  St  Elmo)  appeared  on  the  tops  of  the  masts,  it  was 
 taken  as  a  sign  that,  although  invisible,  they  were  there. 
 Of  their  brotherly  love,   the  following  is   an   instance  : — 
 
46  Zeus  or  Jupiter. 
 
 Castor  had  been  slain  in  battle,  but  Pollux  had  only  been 
 stunned  by  the  blow  of  a  stone,  so  Zeus  raised  him  to  the 
 abode  of  the  Gods.  Here,  however,  he  could  find  no  happi- 
 ness, his  beloved  brother  not  being  there,  and  he  entreated 
 Zeus  either  to  kill  him  and  let  him  join  his  brother  in  the 
 Underworld,  or  else  to  allow  Castor  to  participate  with  him 
 in  the  delights  of  heaven.  Zeus  chose  a  middle  course. 
 He  allowed  Castor  to  spend  one  day  in  the  sky,  and  Pollux 
 to  accompany  his  brother  the  next  to  the  Underworld,  so 
 the  two  brothers  lived  alternate  days  between  Heaven  and 
 Hades.  They  were  afterwards  placed  among  the  constel- 
 lations, and  are  depicted  with  a  star  on  their  heads.  They 
 are  never  apart,  but  always  together,  either  on  horseback  or 
 standing  beside  their  steeds,  or  else  without  horses,  and 
 holding  spears  in  their  hands. 
 
 Helen  was  known  as  the  most  beautiful  maiden  in  Greece, 
 and  all  the  kings'  sons  sought  her  in  marriage.  Tyndareus 
 then  told  them  that  as  only  one  could  obtain  her,  they 
 should  take  an  oath  to  let  the  decision  rest  with  her  and 
 be  satisfied  with  it.  They  took  the  oath,  and  she  chose 
 Menelaus,  King  of  Sparta.  Accounts  differ  as  to  her 
 fate  after  the  destruction  of  Troy.  One  poet  relates  that, 
 when  in  Troy,  she  reproached  herself  bitterly  for  having  left 
 her  husband  and  followed  Paris,  for  whom,  on  account  of 
 his  cowardice,  she  soon  did  not  care.  When  Troy  was 
 taken,  Menelaus  found  and  would  have  killed  her,  but  the 
 sword  fell  from  his  hand, — at  length  he  forgave  her ;  and 
 after  her  return  to  Sparta  she  became  a  good  wife  and  true 
 spouse. 
 
 Another  legend  says  that  she  was  wrecked  during  a 
 storm  while  flying  with  Paris  to  Egypt.  The  king  of  that 
 country,  Proteus,  hearing  from  her  attendants  who  she  was, 
 took  possession  of  her  and  all  her  treasure,  and  ordered 
 Paris  from  the  country. 
 
Zeus  or  Jupiter.  47 
 
 Meanwhile,  Menelaus,  who  could  not  forget  his  lost  wife, 
 heard  that  she  had  fled  to  Egypt,  and  resolved  to  pursue 
 her.  But  before  he  arrived  there  Proteus  was  dead,  and 
 his  son,  who  reigned  in  his  stead,  so  persecuted  Helen 
 that  she  fled  from  the  palace,  and  found  a  resting-place 
 in  the  tomb  of  Proteus.  Here  she  spent  her  days  in 
 weeping,  and  even  the  assurance  of  Hermes  that  she  would 
 one  day  see  her  husband  again,  had  scarcely  the  power  to 
 keep  her  alive.  Menelaus  landed  just  as  she  had  sunk 
 down  on  the  grave  of  Proteus,  calling  on  the  spirit  of  her 
 late  protector  for  aid.  They  recognised  and  embraced 
 each  other,  and  all  the  past  was  forgotten,  the  King  of 
 Egypt  allowing  the  re-united  couple  to  depart  in  joy  to 
 Sparta. 
 
 Clytemnestra  became  the  wife  of  Agamemnon,  King  of 
 Mycene,  in  the  Peloponnesus. 
 
 (8.)  Alcmene.  She,  like  her  husband  Amphitryon, 
 King  of  Tiryus,  was  a  descendant  of  Perseus,  and  was  of 
 such  unearthly  beauty  that  she  fascinated  Zeus.  She 
 was  the  mother  of  Hercules,  the  most  celebrated  of  all  the 
 heroes. 
 
 The  favourite  of  Zeus  was  a  boy  called  Ganymede,  son  of 
 Troas,  King  of  Troy.  The  lad  was  so  beautiful  that  Zeus 
 determined  to  have  him  for  his  own.  One  day  while  the 
 boy  was  watchinghis  father's  flocks  on  Mount  Ida,  Zeus 
 flew  down  in  the  shape  of  an  enormous  eagle  and  carried 
 him  gently  to  the  skies.  From  that  time  he  continued  to 
 live  with  the  Gods,  and  at  their  banquets  filled  the  goblets 
 with  wine. 
 
 The  temple  of  Zeus  at  Olympia,  in  Elis,  near  the  west  coast 
 of  the  Peloponnesus,  was  the  most  celebrated  of  all  his 
 shrines.  It  was  built  in  the  year  450  b.c.,  and  was  in  the 
 usual  form  of  the  Greek  temples,  i.e.,  an  oblong.     It  was  of 
 
48  Zeus  or  Jupiter. 
 
 white  marble  surrounded  with  Doric  colonnades.  Both  in 
 front  and  behind  the  roof  formed  a  high  gable.  That  in 
 front  was  surmounted  by  a  gilt  statue  of  the  Goddess  of 
 Victory,  with  a  golden  shield  in  one  hand  and  the  Medusa's 
 head  in  the  other.  On  one  side  was  depicted  the  race  be- 
 tween Pelops,  the  son  of  Tantalus,  and  Oenomaus,  King  of 
 Elis.  On  the  other  side  was  the  battle  of  the  Lapithae  and 
 the  Centaurs.  The  former  were  a  Thessalian  race,  and  the 
 latter  were  supposed  to  be  creatures,  half  men,  half  horses. 
 The  doors  of  the  temple  were  of  brass,  on  which  were 
 worked,  in  relief,  all  the  deeds  of  Hercules.  But  the  most 
 remarkable  thing  of  all  was  the  wonderful  statue  of  Zeus 
 inside  the  temple.  Phidias,  the  great  Athenian  sculptor, 
 had  accomplished  this  masterpiece.  Seated  on  a  throne  ol 
 ebony,  inlaid  with  ivory  and  gold,  was  the  God  in  all  his 
 majesty.  He  was  of  superhuman  size  and  was  made  of 
 ivory,  while  his  robe  and  sandals  were  of  gold.  On  his 
 golden  curls,  which  fell  in  masses  over  his  shoulders, 
 reposed  an  olive  wreath  of  gold.  In  his  right  hand  he  held 
 the  Goddess  of  Victory,  and  in  his  left  a  sceptre,  cunningly 
 fashioned  in  various  metals,  and  surmounted  by  an  eagle. 
 His  naked  breast  was  half  covered  with  the  golden  curls  of 
 his  massive  beard,  and  his  golden  robe  was  ornamented 
 with  lilies  and  figures  of  animals.  The  throne  stood  on  a 
 gigantic  square  of  marble,  the  front  of  which  was  beautifully 
 carved,  while  on  each  side  stood  the  Hours  and  Graces. 
 
 But  where  the  sculptor's  skill  surpassed  itself  was  in  the 
 calm  majesty,  the  look  of  grandeur,  nobility,  and  good- 
 ness that  pervaded  the  countenance  of  the  God.  Indeed,  so 
 wonderful  was  it  that  the  artist  himself,  the  first  time  he  saw 
 it  completed,  was  fairly  overcome,  and  fell  down  and  wor- 
 shipped his  own  handiwork. 
 
 Representations  of  Zeus  were   very  numerous.      Some- 
 
Zeits  or  Jupiter.  49 
 
 limes  he  is  depicted  seated  on  his  throne,  hurling  his 
 mighty  thunderbolts  ;  sometimes,  holding  his  sceptre  in  his 
 hand  ;  at  others,  driving  his  chariot,  and  flashing  lightnings 
 and  thunders  on  the  cowering  Giants  beneath.  An  eagle 
 is  generally  seated  at  his  feet. 
 
 Several  Oracles  were  sacred  to  him.  The  oldest  and  most 
 celebrated  was  the  one  at  Dodona,  in  Epirus,  and  its  origin 
 was  supposed  to  be  as  follows  : — 
 
 In  very  ancient  times  two  black  doves  flew  away  from  the 
 temple  of  Amnion  at  Thebes,  in  Upper  Egypt.  One  came 
 to  the  Libyan  Desert,  and,  seating  herself  on  a  tree  in 
 an  oasis,  was  the  origin  of  the  oracle  of  Zeus  Amnion, 
 his  temple  being  there  built.  The  other  flew  across  the 
 sea  to  Epirus,  seated  herself  on  an  oak  tree,  and,  in 
 human  voice,  called  all  the  surrounding  inhabitants  to 
 build  a  temple  to  Zeus.  The  people  erected  the  temple, 
 surrounded  it  as  usual  with  colonnades,  and  soon  crowds 
 flocked  from  far  and  near  to  hear  and  consult  the  God. 
 Many  must  have  been  well  satisfied  with  the  result,  for  the 
 walls  of  the  temple,  as  well  as  the  colonnades,  were  covered 
 with  votive  offerings.  Close  to  the  temple  was  the  sacred 
 grove  of  oaks,  the  trees  of  which,  according  to  the  legends, 
 had  the  gift  of  speech.  One  oak  was  especially  sacred,  as 
 being  the  one  on  which  the  dove  had  settled,  and  beneath 
 it  the  priests  used  to  sit  and  listen  to  the  rustling  and 
 murmuring  of  the  leaves,  which,  they  pretended,  were  the 
 sayings  of  Zeus.  All  round  the  temple  brazen  bowls 
 were  hung,  and  from  time  to  time  the  priests  would  strike 
 them  till  the  sound,  ringing  far  and  near,  from  these  tones 
 they  predicted  future  events. 
 
 Not  far  from  the  temple  was  the  holy  well,  which  always 
 overflowed  at  midnight,  and  dried  up  at  noon ;  this  also  was 
 considered  sacred  and  prophetic. 
 
50  Horac,  Parcae,  Muses,  Graces. 
 
 The  Romans  learned  the  knowledge  of  Zeus  from  the 
 Greeks,  and  called  him  Jupiter.  They  honoured  him  as 
 chief  of  the  Gods,  and  gave  him  the  epithets  of  Best  and 
 Greatest.  His  chief  temple  was  on  the  Capitol  at  Rome, 
 where  he  was  represented  seated  on  his  throne,  with 
 Minerva  on  his  right  hand  and  Juno  on  his  left.  Here  all 
 the  principal  sacrifices  were  offered,  and  the  Sybilline  books 
 and  public  documents  were  kept.  Tarquin  the  elder  began 
 the  building,  and  Tarquinius  Superbus  completed  it,  and 
 though  it  was  several  times  burnt  down,  Domitian,  in  the 
 end  of  the  first  century  after  Christ,  rebuilt  it  more  magnifi- 
 cently than  before. 
 
 We  must  say  something  of  Zeus's  daughters  :  the  Horae, 
 the  Parcae,  the  Muses,  and  Graces. 
 
 V.— HORAE.     PARCAE.     MUSES.     GRACES. 
 
 (i.)  The  Horae,  daughters  of  Zeus  and  Themis,  re- 
 presented the  seasons.  Their  number  is  not  always  the 
 same.  At  first  there  were  only  two,  for  in  the  East  there 
 are  only  two  seasons,  the  dry  and  the  wet.  In  Greece, 
 however,  there  are  three,  spring,  summer,  and  winter 
 (autumn  is  not  noticeable),  so  the  Greeks  generally  adopted 
 three  Hours,  and  called  them,  Dice,  Eumonia,  and  Irene,  i.e., 
 Justice,  Decorum,  and  Peace,  for  the  Hours  were  also  the 
 Goddesses  of  domestic  life,  and  superintended  the  well-being 
 of  the  country.  Sometimes  four  are  mentioned,  which  would 
 correspond  to  our  four  seasons.  The  poets  all  praise  them 
 greatly.  They  provided  good  laws,  saw  justice  properly 
 carried  out,  kept  the  peace,  ennobled  mankind,  and  pro- 
 vided riches  and  prosperity  generally.  On  Olympus  it  was 
 their  duty  to  feed  and  harness  Hera's  horses,  which  office 
 they  likewise  performed  for  the  Sungod,  as  well  as  helping 
 
Horae,  Parcae,  Muses,  Graces.  51 
 
 him  to  clothe  and  to  divest  himself  of  his  shining  armour. 
 They  also  waited  on  the  Goddesses  and  helped  to  deck  them. 
 The  poets  especially  praise  Dice,  whom  they  sometimes 
 confused  with  her  mother  Themis.  They  describe  her  as 
 sitting  beside  Zeus,  observing  the  doings  of  mankind. 
 With  justice  she  metes  out  each  one's  destiny,  and 
 smoothes  away  all  unfairness;  any  injustice  made  her 
 very  angry,  and  she  punished  anyone  who  practised  it 
 and  upset  her  scales  of  justice.  She  took  an  interest  in  all 
 festivals  and  friendly  gatherings,  and  was  the  promoter  of 
 peace  and  kindly  intercourse,  but  she  hated  excess,  for  she 
 personated  the  highest  wisdom  and  virtue.  During  the 
 golden  age  she  still  dwelt  among  mortals,  but  when  that 
 had  passed  away,  and  the  degenerate  silver  age  began,  she 
 took  refuge  in  the  mountains,  whence  she  only  occasionally 
 descended  to  warn  mankind  that  she  would  leave  them 
 altogether  if  they  did  not  abandon  their  avarice,  dissensions, 
 and  injustice. 
 
 But  the  mortals  would  not  listen  to  her,  and  the  iron  age 
 commenced.  Then  Dice  left  the  earth,  and  turned  towards 
 heaven,  where  she  still  shines  as  a  star-maiden,  called 
 Astraea.  She  was  represented  as  a  stern-looking  woman, 
 and  is  sometimes  mixed  up  with  Nemesis,  the  Goddess  of 
 Avenging  Justice. 
 
 (2.)  The  Parcae  or  Moirae.  They  were  the  daughters 
 of  Zeus  and  Themis.  The  ancient  Greeks  believed  that 
 everyone  had  a  fixed  destiny  which  neither  he  nor  the 
 Gods  could  alter.  The  Greeks  called  it  Moira,  the 
 Romans,  Fatum,  and  when  once  a  man's  Fate  was  decided, 
 do  what  he  liked,  it  would  overtake  him  at  last.  The  Gods 
 themselves  were  under  the  power  of  Fate,  and  even  Jove 
 was  not  exempt.  The  Gods  often,  especially  Zeus, 
 pronounced  the  Fate  of  mortals.  This  Fatum  was 
 always    considered   by   the  poets  as   a   person,    and   thus 
 
52  Horcic,  Parcae,  Muses,  Graces. 
 
 arose  the  myth  of  the  Parcae  or  Moirae,  Goddesses  of  Fate. 
 They  were  supposed  to  deal  out  both  mortal  and  immortal 
 destinies,  and  were  called  the  daughters  of  Zeus,  because 
 on  his  decision  all  destinies  hung.  From  the  justice  of  these 
 Goddesses,  the  Parcae  were  generally  termed  the  daughters 
 of  just  Themis.  The  Greeks  acknowledged  three  :  Clotho, 
 Lachesis,  and  Atropos,  who  were  always  depicted  as  very  old 
 women.  As  soon  as  a  child  was  born  they  began  to  spin 
 the  thread  of  its  life.  Clotho  held  the  spindle  and  fastened 
 the  thread,  while  Lachesis  continued  to  spin  until  man's 
 fatal  hour  having  struck,  the  inexorable  Atropos  came  to 
 cut  the  thread.  They  knew  the  fate  of  man  from  his  birth, 
 and  sometimes  even  foretold  it  him.  Thus  Atropos  looked 
 into  the  past,  Lachesis  into  the  present,  and  Clotho  into 
 the  future,  as  they  sat  together  weaving  and  singing  over 
 their  work. 
 
 Amongst  the  Parcae,  we  must  not  omit  the  Children  of 
 the  Night.  As  death  was  represented  as  something 
 terrible  that  no  prayers  or  entreaties  could  turn  aside,  the 
 poets  imagined  some  very  cruel  and  inexorable  Goddesses 
 of  Destiny  called  Keres,  who,  unlike  the  Parcae,  did  not 
 deal  out  Fate  with  justice,  but  delighted  in  murder,  and 
 loved  to  bring  misfortune  and  destruction  on  mankind. 
 They  did  not  dwell  in  Olympus,  but  in  the  Under- 
 world, and  it  was  their  business  to  see  that  Pluto  never 
 wanted  a  sacrifice.  The  destinies  they  meted  out  were 
 always  cruel,  for  they  loved  bloodshed,  and  attended  every 
 battlefield,  where  they  fought  furiously  with  their  claws  over 
 the  bodies  of  the  dead  warriors,  tearing  them  from  each 
 other. 
 
 (3.)  The  Muses.  These  were  nine,  and  they  were  the 
 daughters  of  Jupiter  and  Mnemosyne,  whom  we  already 
 know  as  one  of  the  Titanidae.    Mnemosyne  means  memory. 
 
Horcie,  Parcae,  Muses,  Graces.  53 
 
 Mount  Olympus  was  the  oldest  place  of  worship  of  the 
 Muses  ;  afterwards,  Helicon,  Parnassus,  and  Pindus,  three 
 mountains  in  Greece,  were  dedicated  to  them.  Out  of 
 these  rose  springs,  the  waters  of  which  were  miraculous  \  the 
 Castalian  spring  on  Mount  Parnassus,  and  Hippocrene  and 
 Aganippe  on  Mount  Helicon. 
 
 The  streams  of  Lethe  and  Mnemosyne  were  also  sacred 
 to  them  :  whosoever  drank  of  the  former,  completely  forgot 
 the  past ;  but  he  who  wished  to  retain  and  sharpen  his 
 memory,  tasted  the  waters  of  the  latter. 
 
 The  Muses  were  beautiful  young  maidens  in  loose  flow- 
 ing garments.  At  first  they  were  all  worshipped  alike, 
 without  any  distinctive  attributes,  but  in  later  years  each 
 had  a  special  art  assigned  to  her.  When  on  Mount 
 Olympus,  they  played  and  sang  during  the  banquets  of  the 
 Gods.  Apollo,  as  the  leader  of  their  choir,  was  named 
 Musagetes,  i.e.,  leader  of  the  Muses.  Their  names  and 
 attributes  are  as  follows  : — 
 
 1.  Clio,  the  Muse  of  history ;  she  carries  a  half-opened 
 roll  of  papyrus  in  her  hand. 
 
 2.  Euterpe,  the  Muse  of  lyric  poetry  and  music,  espe- 
 cially the  flute,  has  generally  one  or  two  flutes  in  her  hand. 
 
 3.  Melpomene,  the  Muse  of  elegy  and  tragedy,  wears  a 
 veil  over  her  head.  In  one  hand  she  holds  a  dagger,  in  the 
 other  a  tragic  mask. 
 
 4.  Thalia,  the  Muse  of  comedy,  has  a  tambourine  in 
 one  hand,  a  shepherd's  crook  in  the  other,  and  at  her  feet  a 
 comic  mask.  Sometimes  she  wears  a  goat's  skin  round  her 
 shoulders. 
 
 5.  Terpsichore,  the  Muse  of  choral  dance  and  song,  was 
 represented  playing  on  a  seven-stringed  lyre. 
 
 6.  Erato,  Muse  of  erotic  poetry,  is  often  depicted  in  a 
 dancing  posture,   holding  a   nine-stringed  lute,  which   she 
 
54  Horae,  Parcae,  Mies  es,  Graces. 
 
 strikes  with  the  plectron  (a  small  stick  of  wood  or  ivory), 
 used  instead  of  the  fingers  for  striking  the  strings. 
 
 7.  Polyhymnia,  the  Muse  of  sacred  songs  and  myths, 
 also  speech  and  mimicry,  appears  wrapped  in  a  loose 
 mantle.  She  sometimes  bears  a  scroll,  and  generally  has 
 the  forefinger  of  her  right  hand  on  her  lips. 
 
 8.  Urania,  the  Muse  of  astronomy,  is  represented  as 
 looking  up  towards  the  sky,  holding  a  celestial  globe  in  her 
 left  hand,  and  a  small  staff,  with  which  she  points  out  the 
 stars,  in  her  right. 
 
 9.  Calliope,  Muse  of  epic  poetry,  carries  a  folded  scroll 
 of  parchment  in  one  hand,  and  a  stylus  in  the  other.  She 
 has  often  also  waxen  tablets  beside  her. 
 
 Hesiod  says  they  used  to  bathe  in  the  pure  stream  of 
 Hippocrene,  and  on  the  vast  and  holy  Mount  of  Helicon 
 held  dances  at  night,  with  delicate  feet  leading 
 "  The  mazy  measure,  breathing  grace. 
 
 From  the  Muse 
 And  Phoebus,  archer-god,  arise  on  earth 
 Minstrels  and  men  of  song. 
 
 Unutterably  blest 
 He  whom  the  Muses  love.     A  melting  voice 
 Flows  ever  from  his  lip  :  and  is  there  one 
 Whose  aching  heart  some  sudden  anguish  wrings  ? 
 But  lo  !  the  bard,  the  Muse's  minister, 
 Awakes  the  strain  :  he  sings  the  mighty  deeds 
 Of  men  of  yore  :  and  straight,  though  stricken  to  the  soul, 
 He  shall  forget,  nor  aught  of  all  his  griefs 
 Remember  :  so  the  blessing  of  the  Muse 
 Hath  instantaneous  turned  his  woes  away." 
 
 —Hesiod,  "Theogony"  (Elton). 
 
 They  were  also  called  Camoenae,  and  from  the  district  of 
 Pieria,  Pierides.     Their  competition  with  the  daughters  of 
 
Horae,  Parcae,  Muses,  Graces.  55 
 
 Pierus  has  already  been  related.  Another  instance  of  the 
 power  of  their  song  is  the  following  legend  : — 
 
 Once,  when  they  were  all  playing  and  singing,  a  whole 
 nation  heard  them,  and  were  so  enchanted  with  their  music, 
 that  they  forgot  to  partake  of  any  food,  and  at  length  died, 
 quite  shrivelled  up.  Then  the  Muses,  in  pity,  changed  them 
 into  grasshoppers. 
 
 From  the  Muses  were  descended — 
 
 a.  The  Syrens,  daughters  of  the  river  god  Achelous 
 and  Terpsichore,  Melpomene,  and  Calliope,  The  Greek 
 poets  pictured  them  as  nymphs,  living  on  an  island 
 near  the  coast  of  southern  Italy.  Here  they  sat  and 
 sang  so  enchantingly  that  the  strains  fascinated  all  the 
 mariners  who  passed  by,  and  when  they,  attracted  by  the 
 music,  landed  on  the  island,  they  were  attacked  by  the 
 Syrens  and  killed,  and  the  shore  was  covered  with  the 
 blanched  bones  and  remains  of  their  victims.  These 
 terrible  beings  varied  from  two  to  eight  in  number.  Fate 
 had  told  them  they  would  die  if  they  allowed  any  to  pass 
 their  island  without  charming  them  by  their  music.  Now 
 the  ship  of  the  Argonauts  approached.  As  soon  as  it  came 
 in  sight,  they  seated  themselves  on  one  of  the  rocks  that 
 jut  out  into  the  sea,  on  the  coast  of  Sicily,  and  began  their 
 bewitching  songs.  But  what  was  their  amazement  when 
 Orpheus,  the  beautiful  singer,  sang  on  board  the  ship  so 
 enchantingly  to  his  lute,  that  they  had  to  leave  off  their  own 
 songs  to  listen,  while  the  crew,  undisturbed  by  their  witchery, 
 sailed  past  in  safety.  Then  the  Syrens  threw  away  their 
 lutes,  for  they  remembered  the  dire  prophecy  that  Fate  had 
 foretold  them,  and  in  despair,  dashed  themselves  down 
 from  the  precipitous  heights  into  the  depths  of  the  sea 
 below,  where  they  were  at  once  changed  into  rocks.  Not- 
 withstanding this,  they  are  later  on  still  mentioned  by  the 
 
56  Horae,  Parcae,  Muses,  Graces. 
 
 poets,  i.e.,  Ulysses,  on  his  return  from  Troy,  after  wandering 
 and  tossing  about  for  ten  years,  came  past  their  island. 
 Fortunately  he  had  been  warned  against  them,  and  when 
 nearing  the  dangerous  spot,  said  to  his  companions,  "  Listen, 
 dear  friends,  we  are  now  approaching  the  Syrens  with  their 
 magic  voices.  I  will  therefore  fasten  all  your  ears  with  wax, 
 so  that  ye  cannot  hear  them.  I  alone  will  brave  the 
 danger,  but  bind  me  with  ropes  to  the  mast,  and  even  if  I 
 entreat  and  beg  you  with  every  possible  gesture  to  loosen 
 me,  only  fasten  my  bands  the  tighter,  till  we  are  in  safety." 
 Scarcely  had  he  stopped  his  companions'  ears,  than  the 
 Syrens  came  floating  by  and  began  their  songs.  Ulysses, 
 who  alone  heard  their  music,  nearly  lost  his  senses  with 
 longing  and  delight,  and  all  past  warnings  were  forgotten. 
 Frantically  he  beckoned  to  his  companions  to  loosen  his 
 bands,  but  while  some  of  them  redoubled  their  exertions  to 
 get  quickly  away  from  the  spot,  others  hastened  to  bind  him 
 more  firmly,  and  not  till  the  Syrens  were  quite  out  of 
 sight,  did  they  take  the  wax  from  their  ears  or  loosen 
 Ulysses. 
 
 The  Syrens  are  variously  described.  Sometimes  with 
 birds'  claws,  like  the  Harpies,  sometimes  as  women,  with 
 wings  and  web-footed,  and  sometimes  as  beautiful  young 
 girls  with  hens'  feet.  Once  they  were  persuaded  by  Hera 
 to  enter  into  a  trial  of  skill  with  the  Muses,  but  they  were 
 completely  vanquished  by  the  heavenly  singers,  who  pulled 
 out  the  beautiful  feathers  of  the  Syrens'  wings  and  made 
 them  into  victors'  crowns  for  themselves. 
 
 (Z>.)  Hymen  or  Hymenäeus.  A  son  of  Zeus,  and  one 
 of  the  Muses,  but  which  of  them  is  not  certain  ;  while  some 
 say  he  was  the  son  of  Dionysus  and  Aphrodite  (Venus). 
 He  was  the  God  of  wedding  festivities  and  marriage.  The 
 legend  about  him  is  as  follows  : — 
 
Horae,  Parcae,  Mies  es,  Graces.  57 
 
 In  ancient  times  there  lived  in  Athens  a  beautiful  youth 
 called  Hymen.  He  loved  a  young  girl,  whose  parents 
 would  not  give  their  consent  to  her  marriage,  or  even  allow 
 him  to  see  her,  for  she  was  rich,  and  he  was  poor.  He 
 therefore  took  advantage  of  the  great  feast  that  was  held 
 every  year  at  Eleusis  in  honour  of  Demeter,  in  which  only 
 women  and  girls  were  allowed  to  take  part ;  disguising 
 himself  as  a  maiden,  he  had  the  good  fortune  to  find  his 
 betrothed.  Suddenly  some  pirates  landed  on  the  coast 
 and  carried  off  all  the  girls  to  a  desert  island,  where,  tired 
 with  their  journey,  they  fell  fast  asleep.  Hymen,  however, 
 kept  awake,  and  as  soon  as  all  was  quiet,  rose  up,  killed  the 
 pirates,  and  then  returned  quickly  to  Athens,  where  he 
 promised  the  bereaved  parents  to  restore  their  daughter  to 
 them,  if  they  would  bestow  her  on  him.  To  this  they  joy- 
 fully consented.  He  brought  back  the  captured  maidens 
 to  Athens,  and  never  before  was  there  such  a  wedding  seen 
 as  his.  All  that  was  then  done  became  the  custom  at  future 
 weddings  in  Athens;  songs  were  composed  in  honour  of 
 Hymen,  and  he  was  ever  after  looked  upon  as  the  God  of 
 Marriage. 
 
 Another  legend  says  that  Hymen  was  a  youth  of  Argos. 
 While  his  wedding  feast  was  going  on,  the  house  fell  in, 
 and  he  was  killed,  but  /Esculapius  woke  him  up  from  death. 
 
 Hymen  is  always  numbered  among  the  attendants  of 
 Aphrodite,  and  is  therefore  often  represented  with  her  and 
 Eros  or  Amor.  He  is  represented  as  a  beautiful  youth, 
 barely  beyond  the  age  of  boyhood,  with  wings,  a  saffron 
 coloured  garment,  and  sandals  ;  on  his  head  he  has  a  wreath 
 of  marjoram,  and  in  his  hand  he  carries  an  upright  torch. 
 He  was  supposed  to  preside  at  weddings,  and  songs  were 
 always  sung  in  his  honour. 
 
 (4.)  The  Caryatides  or  Graces.      They  are  called  the 
 
58  Horae,  Parcae,  Mtises,  Graces. 
 
 children  of  Zeus,  and  Eurynöme,  daughter  of  Oceanus, 
 is  generally  named  as  their  mother.  They  were  the  God- 
 desses of  Grace  and  Beauty,  three  in  number,  and  the 
 constant  attendants  of  the  immortals  at  their  banquets  and 
 festive  gatherings.  Their  names  were  :  Euphrosyne  (Joyous- 
 ness),  Aglaia  (Brilliancy),  and  Thalia  (Thoughtfulness). 
 
 The  Graces  always  followed  Zeus  and  Hera,  Apollo 
 and  Dionysus,  joy  and  pleasure  attending  their  footsteps. 
 Even  the  Goddess  of  Beauty  could  not  do  without  them  if 
 she  wished  to  please  and  fascinate  ;  it  was  by  their  aid  that 
 she  was  bathed  and  anointed,  and  clothed  in  shining 
 raiment.  One  of  them  is  sometimes  called  the  wife  of  the 
 God  of  Sleep,  a  very  charming  little  allegory,  for  beauty  is 
 ever  most  lovely  when  asleep,  and  sleep  and  gracefulness 
 are  inseparable. 
 
 The  Graces  are  generally  represented  in  a  group  as 
 beautiful  young  girls,  nude,  for  grace  and  beauty  should 
 not  be  hidden,  standing  back  to  back,  in  a  dancing  posture, 
 their  arms  interlaced,  and  branches  and  flowers  are  in  their 
 hands. 
 
 (5.)  Hebe.  A  daughter  of  Zeus  and  Hera,  and  the 
 Goddess  of  Youth,  was  depicted  as  a  very  young  girl.  At 
 first  her  duty  in  Heaven  was  to  fill  the  goblets  of  the  im- 
 mortals with  nectar.  But  this  office  was  taken  from  her, 
 because  she  had  once  stumbled  while  performing  it, 
 and  given  to  Ganymede;  she  became  the  wife  of  Her 
 cules,  after  his  ascent  to  Olympus. 
 
Poseidon  or  Neptune.  59 
 
 VI.— POSEIDON  OR  NEPTUNE.      VENUS  OR 
 AMPHITRITE. 
 
 Poseidon,  like  the  rest  of  his  brothers  and  sisters,  was, 
 after  his  birth,  swallowed  alive,  but  one  legend  tells  us  that 
 Rhea  substituted  for  him  a  new-born  colt,  and  hid  her  son 
 in  a  sheepfold,  where  he  was  brought  up  by  shepherds. 
 
 After  Chronos  had  been  thrown  into  Tartarus  Poseidon 
 closed  its  iron  gate  upon  him,  and  when  the  three  brothers 
 divided  the  universe  between  them,  Pontus  (the  sea)  fell  to 
 his  share.  The  Cyclops  forged  the  mighty  trident  with 
 which  he  ruled  the  sea,  as  Zeus  did  the  heavens  with  the 
 sceptre.  He  was  passionate,  wild,  and  fierce,  like  the 
 element  he  represented.  When  he  struck  the  earth  the 
 tops  of  the  mountains  trembled,  and  even  the  Underworld 
 began  to  quake.  He  united  the  clouds,  allowed  them  to 
 rain  into  the  sea,  and  called  the  storms  together  so  that 
 they  agitated  his  watery  kingdom  till  gigantic  billows 
 rose,  and  then  he  calmed  the  ocean  with  one  wave  of  his 
 all-powerful  trident.  Standing  in  his  chariot,  always  with 
 the  trident  in  his  hand  and  surrounded  by  Tritons,  Nereids, 
 Dolphins,  Whales,  and  Seals,  he  drove  over  the  waves ;  but 
 often  retired  to  his  magnificent  palace  at  the  bottom  of  the 
 sea,  at  ^Egea,  on  the  borders  of  the  ^Egean  Sea.  With 
 four  strides  he  could  accomplish  the  distance  between  his 
 palace  and  Olympus.  Sometimes  he  was  kindly  disposed 
 towards  mankind,  and  it  was  he  who  taught  the  Greeks  the 
 art  of  navigation ;  but  most  generally  he  was  antagonistic 
 to  them ;  and  every  disturbance  of  the  ocean,  and  every 
 shipwreck,  was  attributed  to  him. 
 
 In  the  Trojan  War  he  sided  with  the  Greeks,  until 
 mighty  Jove  forbade  any  of  the  Gods  and  Goddesses  to 
 
6o  Poseidon  o?'  Neptune. 
 
 take  part  in  the  combat.  For  a  long  time  none  ventured 
 to  disobey  him ;  even  when  Hera  herself  begged  Poseidon 
 to  interfere  he  at  first  refused,  and  remained  seated  on  a 
 mountain,  in  an  island  not  far  from  the  Trojan  coast; 
 but  at  length,  seeing  the  Greeks  were  really  hardly  pressed, 
 he  suddenly  left  the  jagged  peak,  and  with  four  steps 
 reached  his  palace  at  the  bottom  of  the  sea.  Harnessing 
 his  chariot  he  arrayed  himself  in  his  splendid  golden 
 apparel,  and  with  his  richly  chased  golden  scourge  in  his 
 hand,  he  mounted  the  car  : — 
 
 His  whirling  wheels  the  glossy  surface  sweep  ; 
 The  enormous  monsters  rolling  o'er  the  deep 
 Gambol  around  him  on  the  watery  way, 
 And  heavy  whales  in  awkward  measures  play ; 
 The  sea  subsiding  spreads  a  level  plain, 
 Exults,  and  owns  the  monarch  of  the  main  ; 
 The  parting  waves  before  his  coursers  fly, 
 The  wondering  waters  leave  his  axle  dry. 
 
 —"Iliad,"  Book  xiii.  (Pope). 
 
 On  reaching  the  Grecian  ships  he  unharnessed  his 
 horses,  placed  them  in  a  cavern,  gave  them  ambrosial  food, 
 fastened  fetters  round  their  feet  to  prevent  their  running 
 away,  and  hurried  into  the  midst  of  the  Greek  host,  where, 
 under  the  guise  of  a  priest,  he  encouraged  them  to  go  on 
 fighting.  The  vicinity  of  Zeus  on  Mount  Ida  prevented 
 his  taking  any  actual  part  in  the  combat.  So  Hera  devised 
 a  means  of  allowing  him  to  do  so.  She  went  beautifully 
 attired  to  Zeus  on  Mount  Ida,  and  succeeded,  with  the 
 help  of  the  God  of  Sleep,  in  lulling  him  to  slumber.  Then 
 Poseidon  at  once  plunged  into  the  fight,  placed  himself  at 
 the  head  of  the  Greeks,  and  forced  the  Trojans  to  fly. 
 Suddenly  Zeus  awoke,  looked  down  on  the  battlefield, 
 and    saw    with    anger   how    Poseidon    had    disobeyed   his 
 
Poseidon  or  Neptune.  6 1 
 
 commands.  At  first  his  rage  was  turned  on  the  artful 
 Hera,  but  she  called  heaven  and  earth  to  witness  that 
 Poseidon  was  not  fighting  at  her  request,  which  pacified 
 Zeus.  He  smiled  graciously  on  her,  bade  her  call  Iris  to 
 him,  and  when  the  fair  messenger  appeared,  he  com- 
 manded her  to  go  down  to  Poseidon  and  bid  him,  in 
 Zeus's  name,  to  return  at  once  to  the  sea,  or  to  join  the 
 other  Gods  on  Olympus.  Quickly  Iris  departed  on  her 
 errand,  and  carried  the  message  to  Poseidon.  He  was 
 very  wrathful  at  Zeus's  interference.  "  I  am  his  brother," 
 said  he,  "  and  when  we  divided  the  universe,  Heaven  fell  to 
 his  share,  and  the  Sea  to  mine,  while  the  Earth  is  our  joint 
 property.  Therefore  I  shall  not  obey  him  ;  he  may  frighten 
 his  sons  and  daughters  with  his  imperious  words,  but  not 
 me."  Iris,  however,  soothed  him  gently.  "  Must  I  really 
 carry  back  such  words  to  the  all-powerful  Jove,  or  wilt  thou 
 not  rather  give  me  another  answer?"  "Thou  art  right," 
 answered  Poseidon,  "  and  thy  words  are  prudent  and 
 sensible.  But  thou  cannot  blame  me,  that  his  overbearing 
 message  should  hurt  and  incense  me.  Still  it  is  better  that 
 this  once  I  should  give  in  to  him,"  and  he  left  the  Greek 
 host  to  dive  again  to  his  own  kingdom. 
 
 The  horse  was  especially  sacred  to  him.  He  had  created 
 it,  and  invented  the  bridle,  and  was  therefore  always  prayed 
 to  for  help  and  protection  by  all  those  engaged  in  races. 
 The  ancients  believed  that  the  Dolphins  were  fond  of  the 
 human  race,  wrere  great  lovers  of  music,  and  often  rescued 
 people  who  were  in  danger  of  being  drowned.  They 
 also  gave  warning  of  a  coming  storm  by  playing  on  the 
 surface  of  the  sea,  and  were  especially  fond  of  the  singer 
 Arion,  who  lived  at  the  court  of  Periander,  ruler  of  Corinth, 
 about  700  b.c.  This  musician  had  accumulated  great 
 riches    on    a    journey   through    Italy   and    Sicily,    by    his 
 
62  Poseidon  or  Neptune. 
 
 enchanting  songs,  and  had  embarked  with  his  treasures  to 
 return  to  Corinth.  But  the  covetous  sailors  determined  to 
 throw  him  overboard  and  take  possession  of  his  riches. 
 He  entreated  them  to  spare  his  life,  but  in  vain  !  He  then 
 offered  them  all  he  had,  but  they,  afraid  that  he  would 
 betray  them,  insisted  on  his  death.  "  It  is  well,"  said  he, 
 "yet  grant  me  this  one  request.  Let  me  die  as  I  have 
 lived  :  in  festal  garb,  my  lyre  in  my  hand,  I  would  sink 
 down  into  my  watery  grave."  They  permitted  him  to  do 
 this,  and  arrayed  in  rich  robes,  he  stepped  on  the  edge 
 of  the  ship,  sang  a  song,  and  plunged  into  the  waters 
 beneath. 
 
 But  the  marvellous  tones  of  his  lyre  had  attracted  a  shoal 
 of  Dolphins,  who  listened  to  him  entranced,  and  as  he 
 touched  the  water  one  swam  up  to  him,  let  him  mount 
 his  back,  and  carried  him  safely  to  the  southern  point 
 of  the  Peloponnesus,  while  the  sailors  thought  he  was 
 drowned.  Arion,  on  reaching  Corinth  in  safety,  went  to 
 Periander  and  told  him  of  his  wonderful  rescue. 
 
 In  a  short  time  the  sailors  also  arrived.  "Where  have 
 you  left  Arion  ?  "  asked  the  monarch.  "  He  died  at  sea," 
 they  answered,  and  then  suddenly  the  singer  himself  stood 
 before  him.  The  men,  thinking  it  was  his  spirit,  im- 
 mediately confessed  their  guilt,  and  suffered  their  just 
 punishment  on  the  cross.  The  faithful  Dolphin  was,  as  a 
 reward,  placed  by  the  Gods  among  the  stars,  and  Arion's 
 Lyre  also  forms  one  of  the  most  beautiful  of  the  con- 
 stellations. 
 
 Poseidon  was  generally  depicted  nude ;  either  driving  in 
 a  chariot,  standing  on  the  backs  of  sea-horses,  or  sitting  on 
 a  dolphin,  but  almost  always  with  his  trident  in  his  hand. 
 His  hair  was  bluish  black,  falling  on  his  shoulders  in  full 
 curls.     The  sea-horses  were  represented  as  half  horses  and 
 
Amphitrite.  6$ 
 
 half  fish,  and  sometimes  two — often  four — were  harnessed 
 abreast.  Often  the  God  was  alone,  and  then  again  accom- 
 panied by  his  wife. 
 
 Besides  Amphitrite,  his  principal  wife,  he  had  several 
 minor  ones,  also  a  great  many  sons,  for  whoever  possessed 
 size,  strength,  wildness,  and  fierceness,  was  called  a  son  of 
 Poseidon,  the  pirates  and  sea-robbers  being  reckoned 
 among  them.  One  of  them  was  the  giant  Antaeus  in 
 Libya,  whose  mother  was  the  Earth.  He  was  sixty  yards 
 long,  lived  on  the  flesh  of  lions,  and  forced  all  strangers  to 
 fight  with  him.  At  last  the  mighty  Hercules  appeared,  but 
 even  he  found  it  difficult  to  overcome  him,  for  every  time 
 the  monster  touched  his  mother  Earth,  he  gained  fresh 
 strength,  till  at  length  Hercules  with  a  mighty  pull  lifted 
 him  off  the  ground  and  crushed  him  in  his  arms. 
 
 Amphitrite,  a  daughter  of  Nereus  and  Doris,  was  the 
 most  beautiful  of  all  the  Nereids.  When  Poseidon  first 
 sought  her  in  marriage  she  disdained  him,  and  sought  re- 
 fuge with  Atlas.  Poseidon  searched  for  her  everywhere, 
 and  despatched  his  servants  in  every  direction,  but  nowhere 
 could  she  be  found.  At  last  a  Dolphin  discovered  her,  and 
 the  clever  animal  succeeded  in  persuading  her  to  listen 
 favourably  to  the  God's  wooing. 
 
 Now  she  became  Queen  of  the  great  Ocean  Kingdom,  and 
 out  of  gratitude  placed  the  Dolphin  among  the  stars.  The 
 poets,  when  describing  her  loveliness,  call  her  the  "  Blue- 
 footed  One,"  a  surname  which,  according  to  our  idea,  does 
 not  however  bespeak  much  beauty.  She  is  generally  de- 
 picted without  garments,  and  standing  in  her  chariot,  while 
 the  wind  softly  wafts  her  veil  above  her  head.  Sometimes 
 she  rides  on  a  Dolphin,  or  is  seated  in  a  gigantic  shell  drawn 
 by  Dolphins. 
 
 Triton,  the  son  of  the  God  and  Aphrodite,  was  Poseidon's 
 
6  4  Aphrodite. 
 
 general  attendant,  and  was  a  sea-god  and  animal.  His 
 hair  was  like  green  seaweed,  under  his  ears  were  gills,  his 
 mouth  was  large  and  broad,  showing  enormous  teeth,  his 
 body  and  hands  were  covered  with  scales,  his  fingers  had 
 claws  instead  of  nails,  and  on  his  chest  and  body  were 
 fins.  Later  on  the  number  of  Tritons  was  greatly  increased, 
 and  they  were  represented  with  human  heads,  and  bodies 
 ending  in  fishes'  tails.  They  generally  accompanied  Posei- 
 don, swimming  beside  his  chariot,  and  blowing  through 
 pierced  conch-shells.  This  blowing  noise  was  at  times  so 
 terrific  that  it  was  powerful  enough  to  still  the  wildest 
 roaring  of  the  ocean. 
 
 Another  of  the  sea-gods  was  Proteus,  a  son  of  Oceanus  and 
 Tethys.  As  he  had  formerly  been  King  of  Egypthe  frequented 
 that  coast,  and  had  the  gift  of  being  able  to  change  himself 
 into  any  shape  he  liked,  and  to  foretell  the  future.  He  usually 
 tended  Poseidon's  horses.  When  the  sun  shone  bright  and 
 warm  at  noon  he  rose  from  the  waves,  and  sunned  him- 
 self with  the  seals  on  uninhabited  and  rocky  islands.  Often 
 he  slept  in  the  midst  of  the  animals,  but  always  carefully 
 counted  them  lest  any  should  have  got  away.  When 
 obliged  to  foretell  the  future,  he  endeavoured  to  escape 
 by  changing  himself  into  all  sorts  of  shapes.  Mene- 
 laus,  on  his  return  from  Troy,  wished  to  consult  this  God, 
 so  he  and  three  other  Greeks  wrapped  themselves  in  seal- 
 skins, and  lay  down  thus  disguised  amongst  the  sea- 
 animals.  But  no  sooner  was  Proteus  asleep  than  Menelaus 
 jumped  up,  bound  him  firmly,  and  then  forced  him  to 
 disclose  the  future  to  him. 
 
 Another  sea-god  was  Glaucus,  who  was  originally  a  fisher 
 in  Boeotia,  and  could  swim  marvellously.  Once  he  had 
 caught  a  great  quantity  of  fish,  and  when  they  were  dead 
 he  laid  them  on  the  grass.     But  in  the  grass  grew  a  herb, 
 
Phito  arid  Persephone  or  Proserpine.       65 
 
 which  had  life-giving  properties,  and  in  a  short  time  they 
 all  came  to  life  again,  leapt  up,  and  sprang  back  into  the 
 sea.  Glaucus  rushed  after  to  re-capture  them,  upon  which 
 Oceanus  and  Tethys  received  him  graciously,  and  changed 
 him  into  a  sea-god.  He  also  had  the  gift  of  fortune-telling, 
 and  is  generally  represented  as  half  man,  half  fish,  his  body 
 covered  with  blue  scales,  and  ending  in  a  fish's  tail.  His 
 arms  were  also  blue,  his  chest  broad  and  deep  ;  his  beard 
 was  green,  and  water  dropped  from  his  long  waving  hair. 
 
 VII.— PLUTO    AND    PERSEPHONE    OR 
 PROSERPINE.* 
 
 Pluto,  another  son  of  Chronos  and  Rhea,  was  called 
 Hades  by  the  older  Greeks.  After  his  birth  he  fared  no 
 better  than  his  brothers  ;  but  when  the  three  divided  the 
 universe  the  Underworld  fell  to  his  share.  That  he  took 
 part  in  the  war  with  the  Titans  has  already  been  related. 
 For  this  purpose  the  Cyclops  forged  him  the  helmet  which 
 rendered  him  invisible.  His  palace  in  the  Underworld  is 
 described  as  gloomy  and  silent,  and  the  entrance  to  it  was 
 guarded  by  the  monster  Cerberus.  Not  far  from  it  grazed 
 Pluto's  horses.  When  he  drove  out  he  stood  on  a  chariot 
 drawn  by  four  black  horses,  harnessed  with  golden  reins. 
 
 He  once  had  a  combat  with  Hercules,  when  the  latter 
 descended  to  the  Underworld  to  bring  back  Alcestis  to  Earth, 
 and  received  an  arrow  in  his  shoulder.  Furious  with  rage 
 and  pain  he  rose  and  went  up  to  Olympus,  where  ^Escu- 
 lapius  laid  some  healing  balm  on  the  wound. 
 
 The  statues  of  this  God  can  always  be  recognised  by  the 
 *  Plate  IX.,  fig.  26. 
 E 
 
66       Pluto  and  Persephone  or  Proserpine. 
 
 wild  and  disordered  state  of  the  hair,  which  hangs  over  the 
 forehead,  giving  a  very  fierce  expression,  whereas  Zeus 
 and  Poseidon  always  have  their's  carefully  parted,  so  as  to 
 leave  the  forehead  free.  On  his  head  he  wears  a  helmet,  a 
 wreath  of  narcissus  and  maidenhair,  or  a  crown  of  ebony. 
 In  his  hand  are  a  double-pointed  sceptre,  and  a  staff  or  key. 
 At  his  feet  lies  Cerberus.  Sometimes  the  upper  part  of  his 
 body  is  bare,  or  else  he  is  clothed  in  a  tunic,  and  he  is 
 seated,  either  on  a  throne  of  ebony,  or  in  a  chariot. 
 
 The  cypress  and  box  were  sacred  to  him.  All  his 
 sacrifices  were  offered  at  night.  The  priest,  with  a  wreath 
 of  cypress  round  his  head,  sprinkled  the  animal  about  to  be 
 sacrificed  (either  a  black  bullock  or  a  black  goat)  with 
 incense  between  the  horns,  and  having  first  burnt  it,  offered 
 it  to  the  God. 
 
 The  Greeks  believed  that  all  people,  after  death,  were 
 led  as  shadows  by  Mercury  to  the  Underworld.  Every 
 dark  cave  or  gloomy  abyss  they  imagined  to  be  one  of  the 
 entrances  to  Tartarus,  which  was  pictured  as  a  vast  gloomy 
 space  below  the  surface  of  the  earth,  where  perpetual  dark- 
 ness (Erebus)  reigned ;  for  sunlight  could  never  penetrate 
 it.  Frightful  storms  raged  through  this  waste,  and  if 
 any  one  had  the  misfortune  to  fall  into  it  from  the  earth 
 he  was  blown  about  for  a  whole  year  before  reaching 
 Tartarus  itself,  for  as  far  as  the  sky  was  above  the  earth,  so 
 far  did  Pluto's  Kingdom  lie  beneath  it,  and  the  pillars  that 
 supported  the  celestial  vault  reached  right  up  from  Hades, 
 if  an  anvil  were  to  fall,  it  would  take  ten  days  and  nights 
 before  it  reached  the  bottom  ! 
 
 At  the  entrance  to  Tartarus  stood  the  Palace  of  Night ; 
 here  lived  :  Sleep,  Death,  Dreams,  Sorrow,  Trouble,  Sick- 
 ness, Age,  Hunger,  War,  Envy,  Hatred,  and  all  the  ills  that 
 man   is   heir   to.     Having  once  passed  these,  two  slowly 
 
Phdo  and  Persephone  or  Proserpine.       6  7 
 
 rolling  rivers  came  in  view,  the  Styx  and  the  Cocytus,  and 
 where  they  met,  their  waters  formed  a  dull,  black,  marshy 
 lake.  Here  Charon,  the  dark  and  sinister  looking  boat- 
 man, with  unkempt  locks  and  ragged  clothes,  ferried  the 
 shadows  across  in  his  rotten  boat  for  the  sum  of  two  oboles 
 (about  twopence).  Those  who  had  not  been  buried  could 
 not  go  across  :  they  must  wander  up  and  down  the  shores 
 of  the  lake,  without  intermission  or  respite,  for  a  hundred 
 years.  Once  across  the  lake  the  shadows  came  to  a 
 cavern,  where  Cerberus  kept  watch,  so  that  no  living  man 
 should  enter  the  Kingdom  of  the  Shades.  At  last  a  large 
 open  space  was  reached,  where  the  three  judges  of  the 
 Underworld,  Minos,  Acacus,  and  Rhadamanthus,  sat  to 
 give  judgment,  and  to  decide  whether  the  Spirit  was  to  go 
 into  the  kingdom  of  the  blessed,  or  among  the  condemned. 
 The  first  was  called  Elysium  and  lay  to  the  right,  where 
 the  palace  of  stern  Pluto  guarded  its  entrance,  while, 
 to  prevent  any  unhallowed  being  entering  in,  it  was  sur- 
 rounded on  all  sides  by  the  river  Lethe.  All  the  happy 
 spirits  drank  of  the  silvery  waters,  and  immediately  every 
 sad  and  mournful  recollection  faded  from  memory.  Thence 
 they  wandered  on  in  a  pleasant  twilight,  beside  crystal 
 streams,  and  fresh  green  meadows  full  of  lovely  flowers, 
 listening  to  the  songs  of  birds,  or  resting  in  beautiful 
 woods  and  scented  groves.  No  heat  nor  cold  was  felt, 
 for  perpetual  spring  reigned,  and  the  ground  brought  forth 
 a  plentiful  harvest  three  times  a  year,  without  labour  of 
 any  kind.  No  troubles  nor  sorrows,  such  as  fall  to  the 
 lot  of  mankind  on  earth,  ever  entered  here.  Every  morn- 
 ing brought  fresh  joys,  and  every  day  the  happy  spirits  felt 
 how  blessed  were  these  realms.  They  dwelt  in  perfect 
 peace,  and  only  did  that  which  they  had  loved  best  to 
 do  when   on  the   earth.      Some  danced  to    the  sound  of 
 
68       Pluto  and  Persephone  or  Proserpine. 
 
 the  lyre,  some  wandered  about,  and  others  had  friendly 
 combats. 
 
 Those  condemned  by  Minos  to  go  to  Tartarus,  received 
 from  Rhadamanthus  the  punishment  destined  for  them. 
 
 Tisiphone,  one  of  the  Furies,  seized  the  victim,  dragged 
 him  to  the  left  towards  the  rest  of  the  condemned,  and 
 scourged  him  pitilessly,  calling  on  the  other  Furies  to  assist 
 her.  In  order  to  prevent  the  wicked  from  ever  leaving  this 
 spot  it  was  surrounded  by  the  roaring  floods  of  Acheron, 
 and  the  fiery  waters  of  Phlegethon.  Here  all  the  wicked  of 
 this  earth  suffered  unspeakable  tortures.  The  Danaides, 
 the  fifty  daughters  of  King  Danäos  of  Argos,  who  killed  their 
 husbands  in  one  night  by  command  of  their  father,  were 
 here  employed  perpetually  drawing  water  in  bottomless 
 buckets,  feeling  all  the  while  the  utter  hopelessness  of 
 their  task. 
 
 Tantalus,  a  King  of  Phrygia,  in  Asia  Minor,  had  once 
 been  a  favourite  of  the  Gods  ;  he  had  eaten  at  their  table, 
 and  was  considered  worthy  of  their  friendship.  But  the 
 ungrateful  monarch  stole  their  nectar  and  ambrosia  and 
 gave  it  to  his  servants,  and  when  the  immortals  afterwards 
 dined  with  him,  he,  to  prove  their  omniscience,  killed  his 
 own  son  Pelops  and  served  him  up  at  the  feast.  The  Gods 
 perceived  his  wicked  deed,  and  rose  in  anger  from  the  table. 
 Only  Demeter,  absorbed  in  grief  for  the  loss  of  her  daughter 
 Persephone,  who  had  lately  been  stolen  from  her,  did  not 
 notice  the  fraud,  and  had  already  eaten  a  piece  of  the 
 shoulder.  In  order  to  avoid  punishing  the  innocent  with 
 the  guilty  they  brought  the  slaughtered  boy  to  life  again, 
 and  gave  him  an  ivory  shoulder  in  place  of  the  one  he  had 
 lost.  But  the  wicked  father  was  condemned  to  everlasting 
 punishment. 
 
 He   was   thrown   into    Tartarus,    and    plunged    in    the 
 
Pluto  and  Persephone  or  Proserpine.       69 
 
 middle  of  the  lake,  the  waters  of  which  reached  to  his  chin  ; 
 a  burning  thirst  perpetually  consumed  him,  but  whenever 
 he  stooped  to  drink,  the  waters  receded,  and  he  could  not 
 obtain  a  single  drop.  Frightful  hunger  also  assailed  him, 
 but  although  trees  laden  with  tempting  fruits  hung  their 
 branches  down  to  his  very  lips,  no  sooner  did  he  attempt  to 
 reach  them  than  they  fell  away  from  his  grasp.  Thus  was 
 he  condemned  always  to  see  that  for  which  he  longed,  but 
 never  to  obtain  it. 
 
 Another  legend  relates  that  his  punishment  consisted  of 
 a  perpetual  terror  that  an  overhanging  rock  would  fall 
 and  crush  him  to  pieces.  He  tried  to  save  himself,  but 
 in  vain — his  feet  were  rooted  to  the  spot !  he  could  not 
 move. 
 
 Sisyphus,  King  of  Corinth,  had  often  offended  the 
 Gods.  He  used  to  watch  for  travellers  on  the  sides  of  a 
 narrow  pass  whence  there  was  no  escape,  and  thence 
 threw  down  pieces  of  rock  and  killed  them.  For  this 
 crime  Zeus  sent  Death  to  him.  But  Sisyphus  took 
 Death  prisoner  and  loaded  him  with  fetters.  At  length 
 Pluto  remarked  that  no  more  spirits  came  to  the  Under- 
 world, and  he  had  to  ask  Ares  to  free  Death  from  the 
 chains.  When  at  length  Sisyphus  in  his  turn  came  to  die, 
 he  dared  once  more  to  cheat  the  Gods.  He  besought  his 
 wife  not  to  have  him  buried,  and  then,  when  he  reached 
 Tartarus,  he  complained  bitterly  of  her  hard-heartedness, 
 and  begged  Pluto  to  let  him  return  once  again  to  earth  to 
 reproach  her.  The  God  permitted  him  to  go,  but  Sisyphus 
 never  returned.  Then  Pluto,  in  great  wrath,  sent  Hermes 
 to  fetch  the  king  to  Tartarus,  and  for  this  evasion,  as 
 well  as  his  many  other  crimes,  he  now  suffered  his  well- 
 merited  punishment.  He  was  condemned  to  roll  a  huge 
 piece  of  rock  up  hill,  and  whenever,  after  endless  labour, 
 
yo       Pluto  and  Persephone  or  Proserpine. 
 
 he  had  nearly  reached  the  summit,  an  unseen  power  rolled 
 it  down  again  with  relentless  force,  while  Sisyphus  had 
 to  spring  on  one  side  to  prevent  being  crushed,  and  begin 
 again  his  hopeless  task. 
 
 Ixion,  a  Thessalian  prince  and  the  father  of  the  Centaurs, 
 creatures  half  men,  half  horses,  had  quarrelled  with  his 
 father-in-law  (Dei'oneus),  but  feigning  to  be  friendly  with 
 him,  he  invited  him  to  a  grand  banquet  of  reconciliation, 
 and  afterwards  let  him  fall  through  a  trap-door  into  a  burn- 
 ing furnace  where  he  perished  miserably.  Ixion,  seized 
 with  remorse  for  his  wicked  deed,  begged  the  Gods  to 
 pardon  him,  and  they  not  only  forgave  him,  but  became 
 so  fond  of  him  that  they  allowed  him  to  join  their  celestial 
 banquets.  This  made  him  proud  and  overbearing,  and  at 
 last  he  so  far  forgot  himself  as  to  fall  in  love  with  imperial 
 Hera. 
 
 Greatly  offended  at  his  audacity,  she  withdrew  in  anger, 
 and  Zeus,  incensed,  threw  a  thunderbolt  at  him,  and 
 hurled  him  down  into  the  depths  of  Tartarus.  Here  he 
 was  fastened  by  snakes  to  a  wheel  which  the  stormy  winds 
 blew  perpetually  hither  and  thither,  racking  his  body  in 
 every  joint ;  a  true  and  striking  picture  of  the  restless 
 torments  of  an  evil  conscience. 
 
 Prometheus,  the  son  of  one  of  the  Titans,  and  a  brother 
 of  Atlas  and  Epimetheus,  belonging  therefore  to  the  celestial 
 race,  had  created  the  first  man.  Taking  some  clay,  he 
 had  shaped  it  into  the  human  form,  and  endowed  it  with 
 attributes  from  every  animal.  Life  alone  was  wanting. 
 Then  Athene,  seeing  his  difficulty,  hid  him  beneath  her 
 shield,  and  took  him  to  Mount  Olympus,  where  he  lighted 
 a  torch  in  the  rays  of  the  Sun's  chariot,  and  with  this 
 celestial  fire,  put  life  into  the  image  he  had  made.  Thus 
 was   the  first  man  created,   and  from   him  all  the  world 
 
Pluto  and  Persephone  or  Proserpine.       7 1 
 
 became  populated.  The  Gods,  well  pleased  at  this,  came 
 down  from  heaven  and  made  an  agreement  with  mankind 
 that  they  would  grant  them  fatherly  protection,  while  the 
 mortals  in  their  turn  should  worship  them  and  offer  up 
 sacrifices ;  in  order  to  ratify  this  contract  a  sacrificial 
 offering  was  at  once  to  take  place.  Prometheus  divided 
 the  sacrifice  into  two  parts,  the  Gods  were  to  choose  one, 
 the  other  was  to  be  for  mankind.  He,  however,  intended 
 to  deceive  the  divine  powers,  so  he  covered  the  flesh,  fat, 
 and  entrails  with  the  paunch  and  skin  to  make  it  unsightly, 
 thinking  that  the  Gods  would  leave  it  and  choose  the  other 
 pile,  which  consisted  only  of  the  bones,  neatly  arranged, 
 and  well-covered  with  a  layer  of  fat.  Then  he  prayed  to 
 the  King  of  Heaven,  "  O  Zeus,  greatest  and  mightiest  of 
 all  the  Gods,  choose  as  thy  inmost  heart  directs  thee." 
 But  Zeus  detected  the  fraud,  and  his  anger  was  kindled. 
 He  reproached  Prometheus  for  his  duplicity,  and  took  the 
 warmth-giving  fire  away  from  mankind. 
 
 Prometheus  was  not  to  be  daunted,  however ;  he 
 ascended  to  Olympus,  stole  the  fire  a  second  time,  and 
 hiding  it  inside  a  hollow  reed,  brought  it  down  to  the 
 earth.  But  the  theft  was  quickly  discovered  by  Zeus,  who 
 ordered  Hephaestus,  the  skilful  workman,  to  make  a  lovely 
 image  equal  to  the  Goddesses  in  beauty.  Athene  then 
 took  her,  dressed  her  in  an  exquisite  silver  garment, 
 wreathed  with  garlands  of  rare  flowers  and  sweet-scented 
 herbs,  threw  a  beautiful  veil  round  her,  and  placed  a  golden 
 crown  of  rare  workmanship,  also  made  by  Hephaestus,  upon 
 her  head. 
 
 When  the  Gods  saw  this  exquisite  image,  more  perfect 
 than  a  human  being,  and  yet  hardly  to  be  distinguished 
 from  one,  they  were  both  astonished  and  delighted,  and 
 declared  that  Prometheus  would  never  discover  the  fraud. 
 
72       Pluto  and  Persephone  or  Proserpine. 
 
 He,  however,  was  well  on  his  guard,  and  warned  his  brother 
 Epimetheus  not  to  accept  any  present  from  the  Gods  j  for 
 Prometheus,  *.*.,  "forethought,"  was  far  more  clever  than 
 Epimetheus,  or  "afterthought."  The  Gods  now  sent 
 Pandora— thus  was  the  image  named — down  to  earth, 
 and  Epimetheus,  notwithstanding  his  brother's  warning, 
 received  and  welcomed  her  joyfully.  Alas !  he  did  not 
 know  all  the  evils  she  would  bring  on  mankind  !  She  gave 
 him  a  box  that  she  held  in  her  hand,  and  begged  him  to 
 open  the  lid  for  her.  In  vain  Prometheus  entreated  him 
 to  have  nothing  to  do  with  it ;  his  curiosity  got  the  better 
 of  him — he  opened  it — and  those  evils  that  have  troubled 
 the  world  ever  since  flew  out :  sickness,  sorrow,  hatred, 
 hunger,  and  evil  passions  of  every  sort  and  kind.  Only 
 Hope  remained  at  the  bottom  of  the  box,  and  Zeus,  in 
 mercy,  not  wishing  to  make  mankind  quite  miserable,  shut 
 the  lid  before  she  could  fly  away ;  and  thus  when  grief  and 
 trouble  crush  mankind  beneath  their  heavy  load,  fair  Hope 
 is  ever  ready  to  console  and  comfort  them. 
 
 Zeus,  however,  was  not  yet  satisfied,  and  to  punish 
 Prometheus  for  his  audacity  he  chained  him  to  a  pillar  in 
 Tartarus,  where  an  eagle  perpetually  hovered  round  him 
 gnawing  his  liver,  which,  as  fast  as  it  was  eaten  by  day, 
 grew  again  during  the  night.  This  torture  was  to  last  for 
 ever,  or  at  least  for  thirty  thousand  years ;  but  later  on  the 
 Gods  relented,  and  the  punishment  was  remitted. 
 
 According  to  another  myth,  Prometheus  was  chained  to 
 the  Caucasus,  where  Hercules  found  him,  slew  the  eagle, 
 and  thus  freed  the  unfortunate  victim  of  the  wrath  of  mighty 
 Jove. 
 
 Tityus,  an  enormous  giant,  who  had  once  dared  to  offend 
 Leto,  wife  of  Zeus,  was  also  tormented  in  Tartarus.  He 
 lay  extended  on  the  ground,  his  body  covering  nine  acres. 
 
Pluto  and  Persephone  or  Proserpine.       73 
 
 Two  vultures  sat  on  him,  driving  their  beaks  and  talons  into 
 him  and  gnawing  his  entrails,  while  he  in  vain  tried  to  drive 
 them  away  with  his  hands. 
 
 These  and  many  others  were  to  be  seen  suffering  untold 
 torments  in  the  gloomy  depths  of  Hades. 
 
 Virgil,  in  his  "  ^Eneid,"  tells  how  ^Eneas,  the  Trojan 
 Prince,  when  fleeing  from  Troy  went  to  the  city  of  Cumea, 
 near  Naples,  to  consult  the  Sybil,  who  there  lived  in  a  cave, 
 as  to  his  future  fate ;  and  how  she  then  led  him  down  to 
 the  Underworld.     The  entrance  to  it  is  thus  described  : — 
 
 A  deep  den  is  there,  pebble-piled,  with  mouth  that  gapeth  wide; 
 Black  mere  and  thicket  shadowy-mirk  the  secret  of  it  hide. 
 And  over  it  no  fowl  there  is  may  wend  upon  the  wing 
 And  'scape  the   bane ;    its   blackened  jaws  bring  forth  such 
 
 venoming. 
 Such  is  the  breath  it  bears  aloft  unto  the  hollow  heaven. 
 
 —Virgil,  "  ^neid  "  (Morris). 
 
 The  Sybil  offered  four  black  oxen  to  Hecate,  at  the  same 
 time  pouring  wine  on  the  animals'  foreheads,  tearing  away 
 the  hair  from  between  their  horns,  burning  it,  and  calling 
 incessantly  on  Hecate,  while  the  animals  were  sacrificed. 
 Then  ^Eneas  offered  a  black  ewe  lamb  to  Nyx,  another  to 
 Gaea,  and  a  young  heifer  to  Proserpine.  When  all  was 
 ended,  and  while  the  sacrifices  were  still  burning  on  the 
 altars,  a  frightful  rumbling  noise  was  heard  ;  the  hills  and 
 woods  shook  and  trembled,  and  fearful  sounds,  resembling 
 the  howling  of  dogs,  issued  forth.  "  Hecate  will  now 
 appear,"  cried  the  Sybil,  "  away  all  ye  who  are  unclean. 
 But  you,  ^Eneas,  summon  up  all  your  courage,  draw  your 
 sword  from  the  scabbard,  and  follow  me."  With  these 
 words  she  dashed  forward  into  the  rocky  depths  that 
 yawned  before  her,  ^Eneas  following  quickly. 
 
74       Pluto  and  Persephone  or  Proserpine. 
 
 All  dim  amid  the  lonely  night  on  thro'  the  dusk  they  went, 
 On  through  the  empty  house  of  Dis,  the  land  of  nought  at  all. 
 E'en  as  beneath  the  doubtful  moon,  when  niggard  light  doth 
 
 foil 
 Upon    some   way  amid   the  woods,   when   God  hath   hidden 
 
 heaven, 
 And  black  night  from  the  things  of  earth,  the  colours  clear  hath 
 
 driven. 
 Lo,  in  the  first  of  Orca's  jaws,  close  to  the  doorway  side, 
 The  Sorrows  and  Avenging  Griefs  have  set  their  beds  to  bide  ; 
 There  the  pale  kin  of  Sickness  dwells,  and  Eld,  the  woeful 
 
 thing, 
 And  Fear,  and  squalid  fashioned  Lack,  and  witless  Hungering, 
 Shapes  terrible  to  see  with  eye  ;  and  Toil  of  Men  and  Death, 
 And    Sleep,    Death's    brother,    and    the    Lust    of    Soul,   that 
 
 sickeneth  : 
 And  War,  the  death-bearer,  was  set  full  in  the  threshold's  way, 
 And  those  Well-willer's  iron  beds  :  there  heartless  Discord  lay, 
 Whose  Viper-breeding  hair  about  was  bloody  filletted. 
 But  in  the  midst  a  mighty  Elm,  dusk  as  the  night,  outspread 
 Its  immemorial  boughs  and  limbs,  where  lying  dreams  there 
 
 lurk, 
 As  tells   the   tale,  still   clinging  close,   neath    every    leaf-side 
 
 mirk. 
 Withal  most  wondrous,  many-shaped,  are  all  the  wood  beasts 
 
 there  ; 
 The  Centaur's  stable  by  the  porch,  and  two-shaped  Scylla's  fare, 
 And  hundred  folded  Briareus,  and  Lerna's  Worm  of  dread 
 Fell  hissing  ;  and  Chimaera's  length  and  fire-behelmed  head, 
 Gorgons  and  Harpies,  and  the  shape  of  that  three-bodied  Shade. 
 
 —Virgil,  "^Eneid"  (Morris). 
 
 At  sight  of  all  these  monsters,  sudden  fear  seized  ^Eneas, 
 and  he  drew  his  sword  to  overcome  them.  But  just  in  time 
 his  guide  reminded  him  that  they  were  only  spirits  without 
 bodies. 
 
 They  had  now  arrived  on  the  marshy  banks  of  Acheron, 
 
Pluto  and  Persephone  or  Proserpine.       75 
 
 the  dark  waters  of  which  flow  into  the  slimy  Cocytus. 
 Here  they  found  Charon,  with  his  long,  grey  beard,  his 
 wild,  shaggy  hair  shadowing  his  face,  his  eyes  shooting  fiery 
 glances,  and  a  ragged  cloak  thrown  round  his  shoulders. 
 As  soon  as  his  boat  approached  the  shore  all  those  waiting 
 crowded  and  pushed  eagerly  forward,  each  one  wishing  to  be 
 the  first  to  get  in.  Here  were  mothers  and  fathers,  heroes, 
 giants,  youths,  brides,  and  bridegrooms,  in  untold  numbers, 
 all  entreatingly  stretching  forth  their  hands,  and  praying  to 
 be  ferried  across  to  the  opposite  shore. 
 
 But  gloomy  Charon  picked  out,  one  here,  one  there, 
 and  chased  the  others  away,  by  throwing  mud  and  slime  at 
 them. 
 
 "  Tell  me,  maiden,"  asked  ./Eneas  of  his  guide,  "  what 
 means  all  this  throng  beside  the  stream  ?  Why  do  some 
 wander  up  and  down  the  shore  while  others  are  taken 
 across  ?  " 
 
 "  I  will  tell  thee,"  answered  the  Sybil;  "all  that  mass  of 
 beings  that  drifts  about  so  helplessly,  is  the  spirits  of  those 
 who  have  not  been  buried  on  earth.  Charon  dare  only 
 carry  those  across  whose  bones  are  laid  at  rest  in  the 
 ground.  The  rest  must  wander  round  these  shores  for  a 
 hundred  years ;  after  which  lapse  of  time  they  may  once 
 more  approach  these  swamps." 
 
 With  great  sorrow  ^Eneas  now  recognised  amongst  the 
 wandering  spirits  many  old  friends,  especially  those  who, 
 having  been  drowned  at  sea,  had  not  received  the  funeral 
 rites  of  the  grave.  He  spoke  to  several  of  them,  and  they 
 entreated  him  earnestly  to  throw  some  earth  over  their  un- 
 buried  bones. 
 
 As  soon  as  Charon  beheld  ^Eneas,  he  called  out  to  him 
 insolently,  "  Who  art  thou  that  comest  armed  to  these 
 shores  ?      Speak  !  and  tell  thy   errand  !      Stand  back,  for 
 
J  6       Plato  and  Persephone  or  Proserpine. 
 
 this  is  the  region  of  spirits  !  No  living  being  dares  cross 
 this  water  in  my  boat,  for  here  reign  Sleep  and  Night  alone. 
 True  !  Hercules,  Theseus,  and  Pirithöus  came  down  here 
 (Part  II.),  but  they  gained  nothing  by  it."  The  Sybil 
 replied  shortly,  "  This  man  is  the  celebrated  hero  y£neas, 
 who  has  come  hither  to  see  his  father.  If  you  will  not 
 grant  him  free  admittance,  behold  here  is  the  golden  branch 
 which  he  has  brought  with  him." 
 
 The  Sybil  had  previously  informed  ^Eneas  that  no  one 
 could  be  admitted  to  the  Underworld  who  did  not  bring  a 
 golden  branch  as  a  present  to  Proserpine.  This  branch 
 grew  in  a  wood  closely  surrounded  by  thick  bushes,  and 
 very  difficult  to  find ;  while,  even  after  it  was  found,  only 
 those  could  pluck  it  to  whom  Fate  had  granted  permission 
 to  descend  to  the  Netherworld.  After  vain  search  in  all 
 directions,  yEneas  saw  a  pair  of  doves  flying.  He  followed 
 them,  and  to  his  joy  discovered  that  they  settled  on  a  tree 
 where  grew  the  golden  branch,  which  often  as  it  was 
 plucked  always  sprouted  again.  He  had  broken  it  off,  and 
 now  bore  it  with  him  to  the  Underworld. 
 
 No  sooner  did  Charon  see  this  branch  than  he  at  once 
 brought  his  boat  to  the  strand,  and  driving  back  the  throng- 
 ing mass  of  spirits,  took  ^Eneas  in.  It  was,  however,  only 
 intended  to  carry  light  spirits,  so  that  with  ^Eneas'  weight 
 the  slimy  waters  began  to  ooze  in  between  the  rotten  boards. 
 But  at  length  both  iEneas  and  the  Sybil  reached  the  opposite 
 shore  in  safety. 
 
 The  three-mouthed  bark  of  Cerberus  here  filleth  all  the  place, 
 As  huge,  he  lieth  in  a  den  that  hath  them  full  in  face  ; 
 And  when  the  Adders  she  beheld  upon  his  crest  up-borne, 
 A  sleepy  morsel,  honey-steeped  and  blent  of  wizard's  scorn. 
 She  cast  him  :  then  his  threefold  throat  all  wild  with  hunger's 
 lack, 
 
Pluto  and  Persephone  or  Proserpine.       7  7 
 
 He  opened  wide  and  caught  at  it,  and  sank  his  monstrous  bark. 
 And  there  he  lay  upon  the  earth,  enormous  thro'  the  cave. 
 ^Eneas  caught  upon  the  pass  the  door-ward's  Slumber  gave, 
 And  fled  the  bank  of  that  sad  stream,  no  man  may  pass  again. 
 And  many  sounds  they  heard  therewith,  a  wailing  vast  and  vain  ; 
 For  weeping  souls  of  speechless  babes  round  the  first  threshold 
 
 lay, 
 Whom  without  share  of  Life's  delight,  snatch'd  from  the  breast 
 
 away, 
 The  black  Day  hurried  off,  and  all  in  bitter  ending  hid. 
 
 —Virgil,  "^Eneid"  (Morris). 
 
 Next  yEneas  saw  the  spirits  of  the  suicides.  How  gladly 
 would  these  return  to  the  Upperworld  !  How  willingly 
 would  they  endure  either  poverty  or  trouble  to  get  back 
 again  !  But  this  is  denied  them,  the  inexorable  Styx  flows 
 nine  times  round  their  place  of  confinement. 
 
 Not  far  from  thence,  behold  the  meads  far  spread  on  every  side, 
 The  mourning-meads  in  tale  have  they  such  very  name  and  sign. 
 There  those  whom  hard  love  eat  away  with  cruel  wasting,  pine, 
 Are  hidden  in  the  lonely  paths  with  myrtle  groves  about. 
 Nor  in  the  very  death  itself  may  wear  their  trouble  out. 
 
 —Virgil,  "^Eneid"  (Morris). 
 
 Farther  on  ^neas  found  the  spirits  of  all  those  who  were 
 warriors  in  the  Upperworld  congregated  together.  Most  of 
 them  still  bore  the  wounds  of  which  they  had  died,  and 
 among  them  the  Trojan  Prince  recognised  many  old  friends 
 with  whom  he  would  have  stayed  to  speak,  but  his  guide 
 hurried  him  on. 
 
 "  Night  falls,  >Eneas,  weeping  here,  we  wear  the  hours  in  vain  ; 
 And  hard  upon  us  is  the  place,  where  cleaves  the  road  a-twain, 
 On,  by  the  walls  of  mighty  Dis,  the  right  hand  highway  goes, 
 Our  way  to  that  Elysium  :  the  left  drags  on  to  woes. 
 Ill-doers'  souls,  and  bringeth  them  to  Godless  Tartarus." 
 
;8      Pluto  and  Persephone  or  Proserpine. 
 
 But  suddenly  yEneas  turned,  and  lo,  a  city  lay 
 Widespread  'neath  crags  upon  the  left,  girt  with  a  wall  threefoh 
 And  round  about  in  hurrying  flood,  a  flaming  river  rolled, 
 E'en  Phlegethon  of  Tartarus,  with  rattling,  stony  roar  : 
 In  face  with  adamantine  posts  was  wrought  the  mighty  door, 
 Such  as  no  force  of  men,  nor  might  of  heaven-abiders  high 
 May  cleave  with  steel ;  an  iron  tower  thence  riseth  to  the  sky  : 
 And  there  is  set  Tisiphone,  with  girded  blood-stained  gown, 
 Who,  sleepless,  holdeth  night  and  day,  the  doorway  of  the  town. 
 Great  wail,  and  cruel  sound  of  stripes,  that  city  sendeth  out, 
 And  iron  clanking  therewithal  of  fetters  dragged  about. 
 Then  fearfully  ^neas  stayed  and  drank  the  tumult  in. 
 
 —Virgil,  "  ^neid"  (Morris.) 
 
 "  What  frightful  lamentations  are  these,  O  maiden  ?  "  he 
 asked,  "what  crimes  are  being  punished  here  ?  " 
 
 The  Sybil  replied,  "  Sinless  ones  cannot  penetrate  into 
 that  place  of  condemnation  ;  but  Hecate  once  led  me  round 
 there  and  shewed  me  everything.  I  can  therefore  tell  you 
 what  is  going  on.  Stern  Rhadamanthus  there  executes  justice, 
 and  forces  sinners  to  confess  all  the  sins  and  wickedness  they 
 have  committed  whilst  on  earth.  Then  Tisiphone,  armed 
 with  her  scourge  of  snakes,  seizes  the  culprit  and  calls  her 
 cruel  sisters  to  her  aid.  Behind  that  double  iron  gate  of 
 doom,  which  is  guarded  by  the  Dragon  with  fifty  heads,  the 
 Titans  are  imprisoned.  The  Aloidae  also  are  there,  who 
 wanted  to  dethrone  Zeus.  I  further  saw  the  proud,  pre- 
 sumptuous Salmoneus  of  Elis  who  dared  to  imitate  his 
 thunder  and  lightning,  and  insisted  on  being  worshipped 
 like  him ;  but,  Oh,  fool  !  the  almighty  father  hurled  his 
 thunderbolt,  and  threw  him  into  these  unfathomable 
 depths.  Tityus  also  is  there,  he  whose  body  covers  nine 
 acres,  and  whose  liver  the  vultures  gnaw  incessantly. 
 There,  too,  are  all  those  who  hated  their  brothers,  grieved 
 their    fathers,   betrayed   their  friends,   abused   hospitality, 
 
Pluto  and  Persephone  or  Proserpine.       79 
 
 hoarded  up  treasures  for  themselves  without  helping  others, 
 returned  evil  for  good,  despised  the  Gods,  sold  their  country 
 for  gold,  or  ruled  it  as  tyrants. 
 
 "  Nor  had  I  now  an  hundred  mouths,   an  hundred  tongues  at 
 
 need, 
 An  iron  voice,  might  I  tell  o'er,  all  guise  of  evil  deed  ; 
 Or  run  adown  the  names  of  woe  those  evil  deeds  are  worth." 
 Now  to  the  road  !  fulfil  the  gift  that  we  so  far  have  brought. 
 "  Haste  on  !  "  she  saith,  "  I  see  the  walls  in  Cyclop's  furnace 
 
 wrought : 
 And  now  the  opening  of  the  gates  is  lying  full  in  face, 
 Where  we  are  bidden,  lay  adown  the  gift  that  brings  us  grace." 
 
 —Virgil,  "  ^Eneid"  (Morris). 
 
 Thus  both  reached  the  doors  of  the  palace  to  which, 
 after  having  sprinkled  himself  with  fresh  water,  ^Eneas 
 fastened  the  golden  branch. 
 
 So,  all  being  done,  the  Goddess'  gift,  well  paid  in  manner  meet, 
 They  come  into  a  joyous  land,  and  greensward  fair  and  sweet, 
 Amid  the  happiness  of  groves,  the  blessed  dwelling-place. 
 Therein  a  more  abundant  Heaven,  clothes  all  the  meadow's 
 
 face 
 With  purple  light,  and  their  own  sun,  and  their  own  stars  they 
 
 have. 
 Here  some  in  games  upon  the  grass,  their  bodies  breathing  gay  ; 
 Or  on  the  yellow  face  of  sand,  they  strive  and  play  the  play  ; 
 Some  beat  the  earth  with  dancing  foot,  and  some  the  song  they 
 
 say  ; 
 And  therewithal  the  Thracian  man,  in  flowing  raiment  sings 
 Unto  the  measure  of  the  dance  on  seven-folded  strings  ; 
 And  now  he  smites  with  finger  touch,  and  now  with  ivory  reed, 
 Others  he  saw  to  right  and  left,  about  the  meadows  wide, 
 Feasting  ;  or  joining  merry  mouths  to  sing  the  battle  won. 
 Amidst  the  scented  laurel  grove,  whence  earthward  rolleth  on, 
 The  full  flood  that  Eridanus  athwart  the  wood  doth  pour. 
 
8o      Pluto  and  Persephone  or  Proserpine. 
 
 Lo,they  who  in  their  country's  fight,  sword-wounded  bodies  bore ; 
 Lo,  priests  of  holy  life  and  chaste,  while  they  in  life  had  part ; 
 Lo,  god-loved  poets,  men  who  spake  things  worthy  Phoebus' 
 
 heart  : 
 And  they  who  bettered  life  on  earth  by  new-found  mastery  ; 
 And  they  whose  good  deeds  left  a  tale  for  men  to  name  them  by  ; 
 And  all  they  had  their  brows  about  with  snowy  fillets  bound. — 
 Now  unto  them  the  Sybil  spake  as  there  they  flowed  around, — 
 
 "  Say  happy  souls, 
 
 What  land,  what  place  Anchises  hath  ?  for  whose  sake  came  we 
 
 here, 
 And  swam  the  floods  of  Erebus  and  every  mighty  wave." 
 
 —Virgil,  "^Eneid"  (Morris). 
 
 One  of  the  heroes  then  answers  her  : — 
 
 "  None  hath  a  certain  dwelling  place  ;  in  shady  groves  we  bide, 
 And  meadows  fresh  with  running  streams,  and  beds  by  river 
 
 side, 
 But  if  such  longing  and  so  sore  the  heart  within  you  hath, 
 O'ertop  yon  ridge  and  I  will  set  your  feet  in  easy  path." 
 
 —Virgil,  "^Eneid"  (Morris). 
 
 He  then  led  the  way,  and  after  wandering  up  and  down, 
 they  at  last  found  Anchises  seated  in  a  beautiful  green 
 valley.  As  soon  as  he  recognised  his  son  he  stretched  out 
 both  hands,  and  greeted  him  joyfully,  the  tears  running 
 down  his  cheeks,  while  loving  words  fell  from  his  lips, 
 ^neas  opened  his  arms  three  times  to  embrace  his  father, 
 but  each  time  the  spirit  eluded  his  grasp, 
 
 E'en  as  the  breathing  of  the  wind,  or  winged  thing  of  dreams. — 
 But  down  amid  a  hollow  dale,  meanwhile  ./Eneas  sees 
 A  secret  grove,  a  thicket  fair,  with  murmuring  of  the  trees, 
 And  Lethe's  stream  that  all  along  that  quiet  place  doth  wend  ; 
 O'er  which  there  hovered  countless  folks  and  peoples  without  end: 
 And  as  when  bees  amid  the  fields  in  summer  tide  the  bright, 
 Settle  on  diverse  flowery  things  and  round  the  lilies  white 
 
Pluto  and  Persephone  or  Proserpine.       8 1 
 
 Go  streaming ;  so  the  fields  were  filled  with  mighty  murmuring. — 
 Unlearned  ^Eneas  fell  aquake  at  such  a  wondrous  thing, 
 And  asketh  what  it  all  may  mean,  what  rivers  these  may  be, 
 And  who  the  men  that  fill  the  banks  with  such  a  company. 
 Then  spake  Anchises  :    "  These  are  the  souls  to  whom  Fate 
 
 oweth  now 
 New  bodies  :  there  they  drink  the  draught  by  Lethe's  quiet  flow, 
 The  draught  that  is  the  death  of  care,  the  long  forgetfulness." 
 
 —Virgil,  "/Eneid"  (Morris). 
 
 "  Father,"  replied  ^Eneas,  "  I  can  hardly  believe  that 
 disembodied  spirits  would  ever  wish  to  return  to  their 
 earthly  abode  again  !  " 
 
 "  I  will  tell  thee  the  reason,  my  son,"  answered  Anchises. 
 "  See,  everything  in  Nature  is  alive,  and  has  a  spirit.  The 
 heavens  above,  the  earth,  the  sea,  the  luminous  sun  and 
 moon  ;  the  bodies  of  men,  animals,  birds,  and  sea-monsters. 
 All  these  souls  are  of  heavenly  origin,  but  many  faults  and 
 sins  darken  the  divine  spark  that  shines  within  them.  Even 
 after  death  corruption  still  clings  to  them,  and  for  this 
 reason  they  continue  to  be  tormented,  that  everything  bad 
 in  them  may  be  expiated  by  punishment.  With  some  the 
 storms  and  winds  blow  away  their  sins,  others  are  washed 
 clean  in  the  river,  others  are  purified  by  the  flames.  Only 
 to  very  few  is  it  granted  to  live  in  the  beautiful  fields  of 
 Elysium  till  in  course  of  time  every  stain  is  worn  away,  and 
 they  stand  clean  and  without  blemish.  Then,  when  a  thou- 
 sand years  have  elapsed,  one  of  the  Gods  calls  the  cleansed 
 spirits  to  the  river  Lethe,  there  to  drink  forgetfulness,  so 
 that  they  may  return  to  the  Upperworld  without  any 
 recollection  of  the  past,  and  take  a  fresh  form." 
 
 He  then  showed  him  the  various  figures,  especially  those 
 who  were  destined  to  distinguish  themselves  as  his  descend- 
 ants :  Romulus,  Numa,  Pompilius,  Julius  Caesar,  Augustus, 
 
 F 
 
82       Pluto  and  Persephone  or  Proserpine. 
 
 and  many  others.     After  this  they  bid  each  other  farewell, 
 and  ^Eneas  returned  to  the  Uppenvorld. 
 
 The  wife  of  Pluto  was  Persephone  (Proserpine),  the 
 daughter  of  Zeus  and  Demeter  (Ceres).  Zeus  had,  without 
 Demeter's  knowledge,  promised  the  beautiful  Persephone, 
 when  a  child,  in  marriage  to  his  brother  Pluto.  One 
 day  when  she  had  grown  up  into  a  most  lovely  maiden  she 
 was  playing  with  her  friends,  the  Nymphs,  in  the  flowery 
 meadows  of  Sicily.  Led  by  Artemis  and  Athene,  two  of 
 Zeus's  daughters,  they  performed  some  charming  dances, 
 flowers  springing  up  beneath  their  feet  at  every  step.  The 
 truth  was,  Pluto  had  entreated  Gaea  to  let  the  rarest  blossoms 
 shoot  forth  so  as  to  charm  the  maiden  with  their  scent. 
 Violets,  hyacinths,  crocuses,  roses,  narcissus  sprang  forth  in 
 luxurious  wantonness,  aye,  hundreds  from  one  root,  such  as 
 neither  Gods  nor  men  had  ever  seen  before.  Delighted 
 with  this  wonderful  beauty,  the  artless  maiden  withdrew 
 from  the  rest  of  her  companions  to  gather  flowers  and  make 
 them  into  garlands.  On  and  on  she  wandered,  new  and 
 more  beautiful  blossoms  tempted  her  further,  till  at  last,  far 
 away  from  her  companions,  she  sat  down  to  rest  and  twine 
 her  beautiful  blossoms  into  wreaths.  Suddenly  the  earth 
 began  to  tremble,  she  felt  a  shock,  and  a  wide  chasm  yawned 
 before  her,  out  of  which  rose  a  golden  chariot,  drawn  by 
 fiery  black  steeds.  Seated  in  it  was  Pluto,  the  God  of  the 
 Underworld.  Springing  out,  he  seized  the  frightened 
 maiden,  and  notwithstanding  all  her  struggles,  placed  her  in 
 his  chariot.  The  horses  dashed  away,  and  no  one  heard  her 
 cries  and  lamentations  but  Helios  (the  Sun-God)  and 
 Hecate  (Goddess  of  Witchcraft),  and  even  they  only  heard 
 them  at  a  great  distance.  As  long  as  she  could  see  the 
 heavens  above  her  Persephone  hoped  for  a  rescue ;  but 
 soon  the  horses  plunged  into  a  deep  abyss,  the  earth  closed 
 
Pluto  and  Persephone  or  Proserpine.       8 
 
 j 
 
 over   her,   and   thick    darkness  surrounded    the   trembling 
 maiden. 
 
 Demeter,  hearing  the  last  cry  of  her  child,  hastened  to  the 
 spot  in  the  greatest  anxiety,  but  not  a  sound  disturbed  the 
 stillness  reigning  around — her  daughter  was  gone,  and  no 
 trace  of  her  could  be  found  anywhere.  In  vain  she  ques- 
 tioned all  the  Gods,  and  men,  and  even  the  birds ;  no  one 
 could  afford  her  any  information.  She  then  lighted  her 
 torch  by  the  flames  of  Mount  Etna,  and  wandered  about  for 
 nine  days  and  nights,  seeking  for  her.  On  the  tenth  day 
 she  met  Hecate,  who  told  her  that  she  also  had  heard  the 
 cries  of  the  maiden,  but  did  not  know  where  she  was. 
 Plunged  in  the  deepest  grief,  they  both  hastened  to  Sol 
 (Helios),  from  whose  sight  nothing  is  hid.  "Who  has  stolen 
 away  my  child?"  asked  Demeter,  as  she  placed  herself  before 
 his  steeds.  "  None  other  than  Zeus  himself  is  the  cause 
 of  the  theft,"  answered  Sol,  "  for  he  promised  her  to  his 
 brother,  the  dark  ruler  of  the  Spirit-world,  who  has  carried 
 her  off  to  his  kingdom.  But  be  of  good  cheer,  O  Goddess, 
 thy  son-in-law  is  the  brother  of  the  mighty  Zeus,  and 
 equal  to  him  in  Celestial  Majesty."  But  the  words  did  not 
 comfort  the  unhappy  mother.  What  consolation  was  it  to 
 her,  even  if  her  daughter  were  thus  exalted,  if  she  should 
 never  see  her  again  ?  for  Demeter  knew  whoever  once  went 
 down  into  the  dark  spirit-world  could  never  again  ascend 
 either  to  earth  or  heaven  !  Driven  wild  with  despair  she 
 pronounced  the  curse  of  unfruitfulness  on  the  whole  earth. 
 As  she  was  so  miserable  herself  everything  else  should  be 
 miserable  too  !  All  the  plants  and  trees  withered  and  died 
 — the  ground  became  barren  and  scorched — and  the  whole 
 world  was  soon  a  vast  dead  waste. 
 
 When  Zeus   looked  down   from  Olympus  and  saw   the 
 dreadful  state  of  the  earth  he  sent  Iris  to  beg  Demeter  to 
 
84       Pluto  and  Persephone  or  Proserpine. 
 
 return  to  heaven,  and  take  away  the  curse,  but  she  would 
 not  listen.  Then  all  the  Immortals  came  to  her  at  Eleusis, 
 and  promised  her  the  most  magnificent  gifts  if  she  would 
 return  with  them  to  Olympus.  She  only  persisted  in  her 
 refusal  until  she  should  once  again  have  seen  her  lost  child . 
 At  last  Zeus  sent  Hermes  down  to  Orcus,  to  beg  Pluto 
 to  send  back  the  maiden  to  her  mother.  Pluto  agreed,  for 
 he  knew  that  anyone  who  had  tasted  the  fruits  of  the  Shadow 
 Kingdom,  could  never  more  be  separated  from  it,  and  he 
 had  cunningly  persuaded  Proserpine  to  share  a  pomegranate 
 with  him.  In  the  joy  of  her  heart  at  the  prospect  of  seeing 
 her  mother,  she  eat  a  few  mouthfuls,  and  thus  had  for  ever 
 identified  herself  with  Orcus  ! 
 
 It  is  true  she  returned  to  the  earth  with  Hermes  in 
 Pluto's  chariot,  but  it  was  only  for  a  short  time,  and  when 
 Demeter  heard  that  her  daughter  had  tasted  of  the  fruit  of  the 
 Underworld,  she  told  her  of  the  inevitable  decrees  of  Fate, 
 that  did  not  permit  her  to  remain  in  the  Upperworld. 
 Two-thirds  of  the  year  she  was  allowed  to  live  among  the 
 Gods  in  heaven,  the  other  four  months  she  had  to  return  to 
 Pluto  in  the  Underworld.  Somewhat  comforted,  Demeter 
 now  withdrew  the  curse  of  barrenness,  but  not  wholly,  for 
 she  determined  that  while  Proserpine  was  in  Orcus,  the 
 earth  should  also  mourn.  Thus,  when  in  Spring  Pluto's 
 wife  leaves  the  Underworld,  the  earth  is  clothed  in  green, 
 and  everything  is  glad  and  rejoices  with  her  and  Demeter; 
 but  in  the  Autumn,  when  she  has  to  return  to  her  husband, 
 the  earth  loses  all  its  beauty,  the  herbs,  leaves,  and  flowers 
 die,  and  a  bare  solitude  spreads  over  the  face  of  sorrowing 
 Nature. 
 
 It  was  customary  among  the  Greeks  to  cut  the  hair  of 
 those  about  to  die,  and  dedicate  it  to  Persephone,  in  order 
 to  make  death  easy.     The  early  poets  say  the  God  of  Death 
 
Hestia  or  Vesta.  85 
 
 cut  off  the  locks,  and  presented  them  as  an  offering  to 
 Persephone,  but  the  later  ones  make  the  Goddess  do  it 
 herself. 
 
 VIII.— HESTIA  OR  VESTA. 
 
 Among  the  ancients,  Fire  was  regarded  as  something 
 holy  and  sacred,  for  its  discovery  and  use  was  the  com- 
 mencement of  culture  and  civilization.  When  the  fire  was 
 kindled  on  the  hearth  all  the  family,  both  masters  and 
 servants,  collected  round  it,  and  thus  the  hearth  and  fire 
 became  the  rallying  point  of  all  social  life.  No  wonder, 
 therefore,  that  Fire  was  looked  upon  by  men  as  the  most 
 beneficent  of  the  Elements,  and  worshipped  by  them  as  a 
 Deity.  The  Greeks  called  it  Hestia,  the  Romans,  Vesta ; 
 Hestia,  means  hearth,  and  as  the  hearth  was  generally  in 
 the  centre  of  the  dwelling,  the  family  used  to  assemble 
 round  it,  while  the  images  of  the  Gods  were  usually  placed 
 over  it,  as  the  fire  that  burnt  on  the  hearth  was  sacred  to 
 Hestia,  who  was  regarded  as  the  Goddess  of  domestic  and 
 social  life.  She  was  the  eldest  daughter  of  Chronos  and 
 Rhea,  and  although  both  Apollo  and  Poseidon  had  sued 
 for  her  hand,  love  had  never  touched  her  heart.  She 
 refused  them  both,  and  vowed  by  the  perpetual  oath  of  the 
 Gods,  placing  her  hand  the  while  on  Zeus's  head,  that 
 she  would  remain  a  virgin  for  ever.  On  this  account, 
 Zeus  decreed  her  special  honours;  she  was  always  to  be 
 the  centre  of  every  house,  to  receive  the  best  at  all  the 
 sacrifices,  and  to  be  worshipped  by  mankind  as  the  eldest 
 of  the  Goddesses.  Even  in  the  assembly  of  the  Gods,  she 
 had  the  seat  of  honour,  and  when  the  Greeks  brought 
 sacrifices  to  all  their  Gods,  she  received  hers  first. 
 
S6  Hestia  or  Vesta. 
 
 Not  many  temples  were  built  to  her  in  Greece,  for  her 
 altar  was  the  hearth  in  every  home.  Her  temple  always 
 stood  in  the  centre  of  the  town.  It  was  circular,  surrounded 
 by  colonnades,  and  surmounted  by  a  dome,  beneath  which 
 stood  the  altar  where  the  sacred  flame  was  kept  perpetually 
 burning ;  she  was  not  only  the  protectress  of  the  house, 
 but  of  the  whole  town.  In  Rome  she  was  still  more  highly 
 honoured. 
 
 ^Eneas  was  supposed  to  have  introduced  her  worship  into 
 Italy,  and  her  first  temple  was  at  Alba  Longa.  But  Numa 
 Pompilius  built  her  a  temple  in  Rome,  and  ordered  that 
 four  priestesses,  called  Vestals  or  Vestal  Virgins,  should  per- 
 form the  services  of  her  temple  ;  Tarquin  the  elder  increased 
 their  number  to  ten.  They  had  all  to  be  of  Patrician  blood, 
 and  had  to  begin  their  service  between  the  ages  of  five  and 
 ten.  The  chief  priest,  or  Pontifex  Maximus,  collected  twenty 
 such  children,  and  from  among  these  the  required  number 
 were  chosen  by  lot.  Their  duties  consisted  in  tending  the 
 sacred  flame  on  the  altar,  which  had  always  to  be  kept 
 burning;  guarding  the  Palladium,  or  ancient  picture  of 
 Pallas,  of  which  more  hereafter  ;  and  other  duties  connected 
 with  the  temple.  During  the  first  ten  years  they  received 
 instruction  from  the  elder  priestesses,  in  the  next  ten  years 
 they  performed  the  duties  themselves,  and  during  the  last 
 ten  years  they  had  in  turn  to  instruct  the  younger  ones.  If 
 by  any  chance  the  fire  on  the  altar  died  out,  it  was  re- 
 garded as  a  fearful  misfortune,  and  the  careless  maiden  who 
 had  so  shamefully  neglected  her  duties  was  scourged  by  the 
 Chief  Priest ;  the  fire  was  rekindled  by  the  rays  of  the  sun, 
 and  prayers  and  sacrifices  were  offered  to  propitiate  the 
 angry  Goddess. 
 
 When  a  Vestal  had  served  thirty  years,  she  was  allowed 
 to  quit  the  temple,  and  marry ;  this  happened  very  rarely, 
 
Hestia  or  Vesta.  87 
 
 as  those  who  had  tried  it  had  not  been  very  happy  in  their 
 married  life ;  but  it  was  strictly  forbidden  to  marry  while  in 
 the  service  of  the  temple  ;  and  frightful  was  the  punishment 
 of  any  Vestal  who  might  have  been  persuaded  secretly  to 
 transgress  this  rule.  As  soon  as  it  was  discovered  her  lover 
 was  scourged  to  death,  and  she  herself  condemned  to  be 
 buried  alive.  Entirely  shrouded  in  a  thick  veil  she  was  slowly 
 and  solemnly  carried  across  the  market-place  in  a  covered 
 litter,  and  all  who  met  her  stepped  aside  and  joined  the 
 procession,  which  went  on  till  it  reached  the  Collinian  Gate. 
 Here  the  litter  was  put  down  close  to  a  small  vault  in  the 
 town  wall.  The  Chief  Priest  then  repeated  several  prayers 
 to  himself,  raising  his  hands  towards  heaven  the  while,  and 
 when  the  coverings  were  removed  he  dragged  forth  the 
 unfortunate  Vestal  and  led  her  to  the  vault,  into  which  she 
 had  to  get  by  means  of  a  ladder.  At  the  bottom  stood  a 
 small  bed,  a  lighted  lamp,  a  loaf  of  bread,  a  pitcher  of 
 water,  a  jug  of  milk,  and  a  cruse  of  oil.  The  priests  then 
 hurried  away  from  the  spot,  and  the  executioners  proceeded 
 to  close  up  the  vault,  where  the  unhappy  maiden,  separated 
 from  all  the  world,  was  left  alone  in  her  frightful  solitude. 
 Slowly  she  watched  the  drops  of  oil  decreasing  and  lessening, 
 every  hour  of  her  life,  till  the  pains  of  hunger  or  want  of 
 air  put  an  end  to  her  miserable  existence. 
 
 Twelve  times,  from  the  commencement  of  the  reign  of 
 Tarquin  to  the  end  of  that  of  the  Emperor  Domitian,  had 
 this  dreadful  punishment  been  inflicted  on  guilty  Vestals. 
 The  day  of  the  execution  of  a  Vestal  was  looked  upon  as  a 
 day  of  universal  mourning  in  Rome,  and  sacrifices  were 
 offered  without  ceasing  to  try  and  propitiate  the  anger  of 
 the  Goddess.  In  one  instance  the  Goddess  listened  to  the 
 prayers  of  her  priestess,  and  rescued  her  by  a  miracle.  She 
 had  been  falsely  accused,  and  in  order  to  clear  herself  she 
 
SS  Hcstia  or  Vesta. 
 
 went  down  to  the  Tiber,  and  there  in  the  sight  of  all  the 
 people  she  drew  water  in  a  sieve,  carried  it  to  the  market- 
 place, and  there  poured  it  out  at  the  feet  of  the  priests. 
 
 To  compensate  these  virgins  for  their  solitary  life  great 
 honour  and  distinction  were  paid  them  in  Rome.  They 
 were  allowed  not  only  to  have  the  entire  control  of  their 
 fortunes,  which  was  permitted  to  no  other  woman,  but 
 whenever  they  walked  abroad  a  lictor,  armed  with  a  fasces, 
 went  before  to  clear  the  way.  If  a  criminal  met  a  Vestal 
 on  his  way  to  execution  his  life  was  spared,  if  she  asserted 
 that  the  meeting  was  accidental  and  not  premeditated.  At 
 all  plays  and  races  the  best  places  were  kept  for  them. 
 
 In  return,  however,  they  were  expected  to  be  very  strict 
 and  serious  in  their  behaviour.  A  Vestal  was  brought  to 
 judgment  merely  for  wearing  too  many  ornaments,  and 
 being  too  lively  in  her  manner;  if,  after  the  most  careful 
 search  and  enquiry,  nothing  wrong  could  be  proved 
 against  her,  she  was  liberated,  but  the  Chief  Priest 
 admonished  her  to  dress  quietly  and  be  more  serious 
 in  her  behaviour  for  the  future.  Later  on,  when  simplicity 
 had  departed  from  Rome,  and  habits  of  luxury  and 
 voluptuousness  crept  in,  the  young  girls  out  of  the  Patrician 
 families  refused  to  become  Vestals,  as  they  did  not  consider 
 the  honours  bestowed  compensated  for  all  they  had  to  give 
 up.  The  Emperor  Augustus,  therefore,  made  a  decree  by 
 which  the  daughters  of  freed  slaves  were  admitted  to  the 
 order;  this  naturally  sank  the  status  of  the  priestesses  of 
 this  Goddess,  for  her  qualifications  (domesticity  and 
 morality),  had  long  since  departed  from  Rome. 
 
 The  dress  of  the  Vestals  consisted  of  a  long  white  gar- 
 ment bound  round  the  bottom  with  a  purple  border,  a 
 golden  circle  round  the  head,  and  a  thick  veil  worn  when- 
 ever they  offered  up  sacrifices.    There  are  still  several  statues 
 
Demeter  or  Ceres.  89 
 
 and  bas-reliefs  of  Vesta  in  existence,  but  we  cannot  be  sure 
 whether  they  are  meant  for  the  Goddess  herself,  or  only 
 some  of  her  Vestals.  They  represent  a  majestic  woman  in 
 a  long  garment  falling  down  over  her  feet,  a  veil  at  the  back 
 of  the  head,  and  a  sceptre  in  her  hand,  which  sceptre  is 
 sometimes  ornamented  with  a  cross.  Sometimes  she  holds 
 a  torch,  a  lighted  lamp,  or  else  the  Palladium.  An  altar 
 with  flames  generally  stands  beside  her. 
 
 IX.— DEMETER   OR  CERES. 
 
 Demeter,  the  second  daughter  of  Chronos  and  Rhea,  was 
 born  near  the  town  of  Enna,  in  the  beautiful  island  of  Sicily, 
 and  was  also  swallowed  by  her  father.  In  her  the  Greeks 
 worshipped  the  secret  powers  of  Nature  that  lie  in  the 
 ground,  and  cause  plants  and  trees  to  shoot  forth  and  grow. 
 As  man  cannot  live  without  these,  and  his  well-being  and 
 civilization  depend  on  the  cultivation  of  the  ground,  she 
 was  looked  upon  as  a  specially  beneficent  Deity,  and 
 always  worshipped  as  the  "  Gracious  Mother."  Long  before 
 the  Greeks  knew  anything  of  agriculture  they  honoured 
 Demeter  as  the  kind  Goddess  who,  without  any  cultivation, 
 bestowed  on  them  fruits  and  eatable  roots.  When  at 
 length  it  was  discovered  in  Attica  that,  by  sowing  seeds  in 
 the  ground  all  sorts  of  useful  plants  were  obtained, 
 especially  grain,  Demeter  was  supposed  to  have  taught  the 
 people  agriculture,  and  was  therefore  specially  designated  as 
 the  "  Goddess  of  Harvest."  The  regular  cultivation  of 
 the  ground  obliged  the  people  to  have  settled  abodes,  they 
 became  possessed  of  individual  property,  and  the  mutual 
 need  of  help  to  defend  this  property  led  them  to  con- 
 gregate together;    thus  arose   villages,   towns,   and    states, 
 
go  Demeter  or  Ceres. 
 
 which  again  could  only  be  kept  together  by  laws  ;  so  that 
 Demeter  was  also  the  foundress  of  National  Laws, 
 
 In  the  story  of  Persephone  it  has  already  been  related 
 that  Demeter  had  married  her  brother  Zeus,  also  how  he 
 had  promised  their  daughter  in  marriage  to  Pluto,  who 
 carried  her  off  to  the  Underworld,  while  Demeter,  the 
 bereaved  mother,  sadly  and  wearily  sought  her  lost  child 
 for  nine  days  and  nights.  During  her  mournful  sojourn  she 
 laid  aside  her  divinity,  took  the  form  of  an  old  woman,  and 
 coming  to  Eleusis,  a  town  to  the  west  of  Athens,  seated 
 herself  on  the  Stone  of  Sadness,  close  to  the  Maidens'  Well, 
 where  all  the  young  girls  in  the  neighbourhood  were  wont 
 to  come  and  draw  water.  Among  them  came  the  daughters 
 of  Celeus,  King  of  Eleusis,  and  as  the  maidens  naturally  had 
 no  idea  that  the  old  woman  sitting  there  was  a  goddess, 
 they  asked  her  who  she  was,  and  whence  she  came. 
 
 "  My  name  is  Dos,"  answered  the  Goddess,  "  I  was 
 carried  off  by  pirates  and  brought  to  these  shores.  While 
 they  were  preparing  their  food,  I  managed  to  escape,  and 
 now  I  entreat  you  to  help  me,  and  get  me  some  place  as 
 nurse  or  housekeeper."  The  young  girls  hurried  home,  and 
 soon  returned  with  the  welcome  message  that  their  mother, 
 the  queen  Metanira,  would  gladly  take  her  as  nurse  to  her 
 little  son  Demophoon.  Demeter,  still  oppressed  with  grief, 
 and  wrapped  in  a  thick  veil  and  long  black  garment,  rose 
 and  followed  them.  But  scarcely  had  she  stepped  across  the 
 threshold  of  the  palace  than  her  divinity  became  apparent. 
 No  longer  overwhelmed  with  grief  she  raised  her  head,  and 
 standing  up  in  all  her  glorious  majesty  flooded  the  whole 
 apartment  with  dazzling  light.  Metanira,  filled  with  astonish- 
 ment and  greatly  terrified,  sprang  up  to  lead  the  Goddess 
 to  a  seat,  but  she  quickly  resumed  her  humble  servant's 
 form  and  refused  to   take  it.      When,  however,  the  slave 
 
Demeter  or  Ceres.  9 1 
 
 Jambe  (Mockery)  brought  her  another  seat  she  accepted 
 it,  but  drew  her  veil  over  her  face,  refused  all  food,  and 
 seemed  quite  absorbed  in  her  grief.  At  length  she  was 
 obliged  to  smile  at  the  mad  pranks  and  absurd  sayings  of 
 Jambe,  but  still  she  would  taste  no  wine,  and  begged  for  a 
 drink  of  water,  with  some  flour  and  herbs,  which  she  took 
 as  a  secret  sacrifice  to  herself.  Then  Metanira  brought 
 Demophoon  and  gave  him  into  her  charge,  the  Goddess 
 promising  to  guard  him  against  all  magic.  She  knew  the 
 healing  herbs  that  warded  off  witchcraft,  and  brought  him 
 up  without  any  earthly  food,  fed  him  entirely  on  nectar  and 
 ambrosia,  and  breathed  a  celestial  spirit  into  him.  When 
 Night  came  and  everyone  was  asleep  she  would  lay  the 
 child  in  the  sacred  flame  of  the  hearth,  so  that  the  fire 
 might  destroy  all  that  was  earthly  in  him,  and  leave  only 
 the  immortal  part,  for  she  wished  to  change  him  into  a 
 God,  and  bestow  perpetual  youth  on  him.  Thus  the  boy 
 grew  up  endowed  with  exquisite  beauty.  The  parents  were 
 amazed,  and  Metanira,  fired  with  curiosity,  determined  to 
 watch  and  discover  the  reason  of  this  change,  when  one 
 night,  to  her  horror,  she  beheld  the  nurse  place  the  boy  in 
 the  flames.  Crying  out  in  terror  she  destroyed  the  sacred 
 charm,  and  Demeter,  as  she  took  the  child  from  the  fire 
 and  placed  him  on  the  earth,  exclaimed,  "  Foolish  parents  ! 
 ye  are  without  sense  and  know  not  the  good  or  ill  that  may 
 befall  you  !  Now  therefore  ye  must  both  suffer  for  your 
 folly.  I  had  sworn  by  the  Styx  to  grant  the  boy  perpetual 
 youth  and  undying  fame.  New  he  cannot  escape  Death 
 and  the  common  doom  of  man.  Fame,  however,  is  still 
 his,  for  he  has  lain  in  my  arms  and  rested  on  my  knee.  I 
 am  Demeter,  the  honoured  Goddess,  who  bestows  happiness 
 and  usefulness  on  Gods  and  men  ! " 
 
 With  these  words  she  stood  before  them  in  all  her  divine 
 
92  Don  et  er  or  Ceres. 
 
 splendour,  and  ordered  them  to  build  her  an  altar  and 
 temple  on  a  hill  near  the  town,  where  she  would  teach 
 men,  and  tell  them  in  what  way  she  wished  to  be  wor- 
 shipped, and  also  how  they  might  soften  the  anger  of  the 
 Gods.  A  delicious  perfume,  which  seemed  to  emanate 
 from  her  glistening  robe,  filled  the  air,  and  bright  flashes  of 
 lightning  lit  up  the  apartment.  Then  she  vanished,  and 
 Celeus  at  once  began  building  the  temple,  which  hence- 
 forth became  the  principal  place  of  her  worship.  There 
 are  several  opinions  as  to  what  this  allegorical  poem  really 
 means.  One  legend  says  :  Under  the  figure  of  the  child 
 nursed  by  Demeter  is  represented  the  grain  which  the  earth 
 has  brought  forth  and  nourished;  and  as  she  placed  the 
 child  in  the  fire  to  sanctify  it,  so  the  corn  has  to  be  dried 
 and  roasted  in  the  flame  to  make  it  palatable. 
 
 Another  legend  says  that  Demophoon  represented  the 
 Goddess'  favourites,  i.e.,  the  agricultural  inhabitants  of 
 Eleusis,  and  that,  by  the  burning  of  Demophoon,  she  wished 
 to  point  out  to  them  that  her  worshippers  ought  to  conquer 
 everything  earthly,  overcome  all  sensuality,  and  ennoble 
 their  souls  ;  further,  that  as  Demophoon  retained  fame  after 
 death,  so  they  also  should  purify  their  souls  and  not  lose 
 them  by  any  earthly  fear  or  want  of  faith. 
 
 Celeus  had  an  older  son  Triptolemus,  whom  Demeter  now 
 selected  as  her  favourite.  She  taught  him  how  to  cultivate 
 the  ground,  and  also  the  use  of  the  plough  and  the  carriage. 
 She  gave  him  a  winged  chariot  drawn  by  two  Dragons,  and 
 in  it  he  flew  through  the  countries  of  the  East  and  West, 
 even  the  lands  of  the  wild  Scythians  and  the  Getae 
 (probably  the  inhabitants  of  Southern  Russia)  were  visited 
 by  him  ;  and  wherever  he  went,  he  taught  them  how  to  till 
 and  cultivate  the  ground,  although  threatened  with  danger 
 on  every  side  from  the  wild  and  uncouth  inhabitants.     He 
 
Demeter  or  Ceres.  93 
 
 was  hospitably  received  by  Lynceus,  one  of  the  Scythian 
 kings,  but  this  monarch,  when  he  had  elicited  all  he  possibly 
 could  from  the  wise  Triptolemus,  determined  to  kill  him 
 secretly  and  then  boast  of  his  knowledge.  Demeter, 
 however,  protected  her  favourite,  and  changed  the  wicked 
 king  into  a  fox. 
 
 Carnabon,  one  of  the  Getaen  kings,  fared  no  better.  He 
 had  actually  attacked  Triptolemus,  and  already  killed  one 
 of  the  Dragons  of  his  chariot,  when  the  angry  Goddess 
 appeared,  and  throwing  him  towards  heaven,  condemned 
 him  to  carry  the  dead  Dragon  for  ever  on  his  shoulders. 
 And  he  is  still  to  be  seen  bearing  his  burden  among  the 
 constellations. 
 
 When  at  length  Triptolemus  returned  from  his  wander- 
 ings his  own  father  Celeus  tried  to  kill  him ;  but  Demeter 
 effected  a  reconciliation  between  them,  and  left  the  father 
 no  peace  till  he  abdicated  in  favour  of  his  son.  After  his 
 death  Triptolemus  was  worshipped  beside  the  Goddess  in 
 the  temple  of  Eleusis,  as  the  benefactor  of  his  country. 
 The  whole  story  of  Triptolemus  is  probably  only  allegorical, 
 and  represents  the  history  of  agriculture ;  for  his  name 
 signifies  a  thrice  ploughed  field.  He  is  always  represented 
 as  a  youth  seated  in  a  dragon-chariot;  sometimes  with 
 a  plough  beside  him  and  wheat-ears  in  his  hands. 
 
 As  regards  the  myth  of  Demeter  and  her  lost  daughter, 
 the  following  appears  to  be  the  meaning :  Persephone,  the 
 daughter  of  the  all  productive  earth  (Demeter)  is  the  seed. 
 The  earth  rejoices  at  sight  of  the  plants  and  flowers,  but 
 they  fade  and  wither,  and  the  seed  disappears  quickly  from 
 the  face  of  the  earth  when  it  is  strewn  on  the  ground. 
 The  dreaded  monarch  of  the  Underworld  has  taken 
 possession  of  it.  In  vain  the  mother  searches  for  her 
 child,   the   whole   face   of  nature    mourns   her   loss,   and 
 
94  Demeter  or  Ceres. 
 
 everything  sorrows  and  grieves  with  her.  But  secretly  and 
 unseen  the  seed  developes  itself  in  the  lap  of  the  earth,  and 
 at  length  it  starts  forth  ;  what  was  dead  is  now  alive,  the 
 earth,  all  decked  with  fresh  green,  rejoices  at  the  recovery 
 of  her  long-lost  daughter,  and  everything  shares  in  her  joy. 
 But  only  for  a  time ;  after  six  months  the  face  of  nature 
 again  loses  its  beauty,  and  the  seed  returns  to  the  darkness 
 of  the  shadow-world. 
 
 The  story  of  Demeter  is  also  connected  with  that  of  Triopas 
 and  his  son  Erysichthon.  Triopas  was  the  son  of  either 
 Helios  (Sol)  or  of  Poseidon.  He  had  ventured  to  cut  down 
 a  large  grove  in  Thessalia,  sacred  to  Demeter,  in  order  to 
 build  himself  a  palace.  The  inhabitants,  angry  at  the 
 deed,  drove  him  out  of  the  country,  and  Demeter  punished 
 him  with  insatiable  hunger.  At  length  he  was  cast  before  a 
 dragon,  which,  with  wide-opened  mouth,  stood  ever  in  front 
 ready  to  devour  him.  This  perpetual  dread  of  death 
 killed  the  unhappy  man,  and  Demeter  afterwards  placed 
 him  among  the  stars. 
 
 Erysichthon  was  even  more  sacrilegious  than  his  father. 
 He  also  wished  to  cut  down  a  grove  dedicated  to  the 
 Goddess,  and  began  with  a  magnificent  oak-tree  that  was 
 inhabited  by  one  of  the  Dryads ;  this  tree  was  much 
 beloved  by  all  of  them,  because  it  was  their  wont  to  dance 
 and  hold  their  revels  beneath  its  wide-spreading  branches. 
 As  Erysichthon  made  the  first  cut  the  sacred  tree  shook,  the 
 leaves  paled,  and  blood  gushed  from  the  wound.  Notwith- 
 standing these  signs  he  did  not  cease,  but  on  the  contrary 
 redoubled  his  efforts,  and  when  one  of  his  slaves  tried  to 
 prevent  him  he  struck  him  down  with  his  axe:  even 
 the  plaintive  dying  tones  of  the  Dryad  did  not  touch  his 
 heart.  Then  Demeter  herself  appeared  before  him  as  a 
 Priestess,  and  warned  him  to  desist,  but  he  only  mocked 
 
Demeter  or  Ceres.  95 
 
 her.  Again  she  appeared  before  him,  this  time  in  all  her 
 divine  beauty,  but  with  no  effect.  At  last  the  oak  fell  with 
 a  crash,  and  amid  the  lamentations  of  her  sisters  the  life  of 
 the  Dryad  died  out  with  it.  When  Demeter  heard  their  cries 
 she  pronounced  the  fearful  doom  that  Erysichthon  should  for 
 ever  be  tormented  by  a  perpetual  gnawing  hunger;  and 
 summoned  dread  Hunger  from  his  abode  in  the  desert  to 
 spread  his  scraggy  wings  over  the  couch  of  the  murderer, 
 and  fill  him  with  his  poisonous  breath.  Dishes  innumer- 
 able were  placed  before  him,  but  failed  to  satisfy;  an 
 insatiable  hunger  perpetually  tortured  him,  and  having  eaten 
 up  the  whole  of  his  fortune  he  at  last  sold  his  daughter 
 Hypermestra  as  a  slave,  in  order  to  procure  fresh  food  with 
 the  money  thus  obtained.  But  even  this  would  not  have 
 lasted  him  long  had  not  Poseidon,  who  was  very  fond  of 
 her,  given  the  maiden  the  power  of  changing  herself  into 
 various  forms.  Thus  she  escaped  from  her  master 
 disguised  as  a  fisherman,  and  returned  to  her  father,  who 
 sold  her  over  and  over  again,  she  every  time  escaping 
 either  as  a  horse,  cow,  sheep,  or  bird.  Thus  for  some 
 time  she  was  enabled  to  supply  Lher  ravenous  parent  with 
 food,  but  at  last  it  could  no  longer  satisfy  him,  and  having 
 reduced  his  parents  and  his  two  sisters  to  beggary,  he  eat 
 up  his  horses  and  cats,  and  at  last  began  on  himself, 
 gnawing  his  own  entrails,  till  he  died  a  most  horrible 
 death. 
 
 Demeter  was  worshipped  in  a  twofold  sense  by  the  Greeks 
 as  the  foundress  of  agriculture,  and  as  Goddess  of  Law  and 
 Order. 
 
 They  used  to  celebrate  yearly  in  her  honour  the  Thes- 
 mophoria  or  Festival  of  Laws.  The  origin  of  this 
 feast  goes  back  to  the  very  earliest  ages.  It  consisted 
 chiefly  of  a  procession  of  all  noble  women  of  Athens,  who 
 
9 6  Demeter  or  Ceres. 
 
 carried  the  tables  (on  which  were  inscribed  the  first  and 
 original  laws)  to  the  temple  of  Eleusis.  Still  more  im- 
 portant were  the  Eleusinian  Feasts  sacred  to  Demeter.  They 
 took  their  name  from  the  town  of  Eleusis,  where,  on  a 
 mound  in  the  centre  of  the  town  the  temple  of  the  Goddess 
 stood.  Their  origin  also  belongs  to  early  Grecian  history, 
 but  they  are  of  later  date  than  the  Thesmophoria. 
 The  priests  who  conducted  these  festivals  were  :— 
 (i.)  The  Hierophant,  or  revealer  of  sacred  things.  He 
 was  at  the  same  time  Chief  Priest  of  all  Attica,  and  had  to 
 be  a  man  of  mature  age,  noble  presence,  gifted  with  a  fine 
 voice,  and  leading  a  simple,  pure,  and  unspotted  life.  His 
 dress  suited  his  high  station  ;  he  wore  a  long  purple  garment, 
 his  hair,  crowned  with  a  wreath  of  myrtle,  flowed  in  long 
 locks  over  his  shoulders,  and  a  diadem  ornamented  his 
 forehead.  At  the  festival  he  represented  the  Creator  of  the 
 world. 
 
 (2.)  Daduchus,  i.e.,  the  torch-bearer.  He  also  wore  a 
 wreath  of  myrtle,  a  purple  garment,  and  a  diadem,  carried 
 the  torches  at  the  sacred  festival,  and  represented  the  sun. 
 
 (3.)  Hieroceryx,  i.e.,  the  messenger  of  holy  tidings.  Like 
 the  others  he  wore  a  purple  raiment  and  myrtle  wreath,  and 
 represented  Hermes  or  Mercury,  who,  as  the  messenger  of 
 the  Gods,  was  indispensable  as  mediator  whenever  men 
 wished  to  approach  the  Immortals. 
 
 (4.)  Epibomius,  i.e.,  attendant  of  the  altar.  His  dress 
 was  the  same  as  the  others,  and  he  represented  the  moon. 
 
 Besides  these  four  chief  priests  many  priestesses  and 
 inferior  priests  assisted  at  the  festival.  These  latter  were 
 known  under  the  name  of  Melissae,  i.e.,  bees,  perhaps  so 
 called  because  bees,  being  makers  of  honey,  were  sacred  to 
 Demeter.  They  also  were  crowned  with  myrtle,  and  had 
 to  be  of  unblemished  character. 
 
Demeter  or  Ceres.  97 
 
 Only  those  were  allowed  to  take  part  in  the  Eleusinian 
 Feasts  who  had  been  first  initiated  into  the  preparatory 
 ceremonies  connected  with  them,  called  the  Eleusinian 
 Mysteries.  It  is  not  known  of  what  these  really  consisted, 
 for  the  strictest  secrecy  was  required  of  all  who  took  part 
 in  them ;  those  who  ventured  to  disclose  any  of  the  cere- 
 monies to  the  uninitiated  were  not  only  punished  with 
 death,  but  even  their  memory  was  held  in  obloquy,  and  their 
 crime  commemorated  by  being  engraved  on  a  pillar,  called 
 the  Pillar  of  Shame.  The  Greeks  laid  great  stress  on  the 
 advantages  derived  from  the  initiation.  They  declared, 
 that  it  helped  to  spread  good-will  among  men,  kept  the 
 soul  free  from  sin  and  crime,  placed  man  under  the  special 
 protection  of  the  Gods,  and  gave  him  the  means  of  attaining 
 perfect  virtue,  the  power  of  living  a  spotless  life,  the  hope 
 of  a  peaceful  death,  and  everlasting  bliss  hereafter.  We  may 
 therefore  surmise  that  the  fully  initiated  were  instructed  in 
 a  higher  and  nobler  worship,  while  the  mass  of  the  people 
 was  taught  to  believe  literally  various  myths  and  fables 
 related  of  the  Gods.  In  order  to  make  the  mysteries  still 
 more  attractive  the  priests  assured  all  those  who  participated 
 in  them  that,  after  death,  they  would  have  a  higher  place  in 
 Elysium,  a  clearer  understanding,  and  a  more  intimate 
 intercourse  with  the  Gods  ;  whereas  the  uninitiated  would 
 always  remain  in  outer  darkness.  Thus  even  young 
 children  were  introduced,  and  those  who  had  neglected 
 to  join  them  before  always  tried  to  make  amends  on  their 
 deathbeds. 
 
 There  were  the  great  and  the  lesser  Mysteries,  the 
 latter  being  a  sort  of  preparation  for  the  former.  To  be 
 admitted  into  these  it  was  necessary  to  be  a  free-born 
 Greek,  and  not  to  have  committed  a  murder,  even  by 
 accident.     They  were  celebrated  close  to  Athens,  near  the 
 
 G 
 
98  Demeter  or  Ceres. 
 
 river  Ilissus,  where  stood  a  small  temple  dedicated  to 
 Demeter.  All  who  intended  joining  had  to  prepare 
 themselves  by  fasting  and  solitude,  to  withdraw  from 
 all  earthly  pleasures  so  as  to  examine  themselves,  and  by 
 self-denial  and  serious  thought  to  prepare  for  the  wonders 
 about  to  be  revealed  to  them. 
 
 After  they  had  bathed  in  the  river  Ilissus  the  Daduchus 
 made  them  place  their  left  feet  on  the  skins  of  animals  which 
 had  been  sacrificed  to  Zeus,  and  take  the  oath  of  silence. 
 The  Hierophant  then  put  them  through  a  series  of  questions, 
 to  all  of  which  written  answers  were  prepared,  and  when 
 they  had  satisfactorily  gone  through  the  prescribed  formulas 
 they  were  placed  on  a  throne,  the  priests  circling  round  the 
 while  in  mystic  dances.  After  this  they  were  styled  Mystas, 
 and  were  allowed  to  take  part  in  the  Great  Eleusinian 
 Feasts,  but  were  not  yet  permitted  to  enter  the  innermost 
 sanctuary  of  the  Temple. 
 
 The  Great  Mysteries  were  celebrated  in  September, 
 and  all  who  wished  to  join  them  had,  at  least  a  year 
 before,  to  pass  through  the  lesser  Mysteries  ;  they  were 
 crowned  with  myrtle,  and  had  to  abstain  from  eating  fish, 
 apples,  beans,  and  peaches.  We  will  first  describe  the 
 celebration  of  the  festival,  and  then  give  an  account  of  the 
 inauguration  of  the  votaries.  The  feast  lasted  nine  days, 
 and  began  by  the  second  Archon*  and  four  assistants 
 offering  up  sacrifices  and  prayers  for  the  welfare  of  Greece. 
 Then  the  priests  in  their  robes  of  office  stepped  forward, 
 and  to  make  sure  that  none  but  those  who  had  clean  hands, 
 pure  tongues,  and  pure  souls  should  approach,  commanded 
 all  the  initiated  to  wash  their  hands  in  consecrated  water. 
 
 The  first  day  was  called  "  The  Gathering."     On  this  day, 
 
 *  Nine  Arch  on  s  were  chosen  every  year  to  manage  the  affairs  of 
 Athens. 
 
Demeter  or  Ceres.  99 
 
 all  who  had  passed  through  the  Lesser  mysteries,  assembled 
 to  participate  in  the  Greater. 
 
 The  second  day  was  called  "  Halade  Mystre  "  (to  the 
 sea,  ye  initiated !),  for  all  the  novices  had  to  go  in  a  proces- 
 sion to  the  shore,  there  to  bathe  and  purify  themselves  in 
 the  sea  water. 
 
 The  third  day  was  the  Day  of  Mourning,  and  was 
 supposed  to  commemorate  Demeter's  grief  at  the  loss  of 
 Persephone  (Proserpine).  All  pleasures  were  strictly  for- 
 bidden, and  every  one  fasted  till  nightfall,  when  they 
 partook  of  seedcakes,  parched  corn,  salt,  pomegranates,  and 
 the  sacred  wine,  mixed  with  milk  and  honey. 
 
 As  to  the  fourth  day,  there  is  no  certainty,  but  it  is  sup- 
 posed that  it  was  devoted  to  joint  sacrifices  to  Demeter  and 
 Persephone. 
 
 On  the  fifth  day,  the  "Day  of  Torches,"  all  the  ini- 
 tiated, with  torches  in  their  hands,  walked  at  nightfall,  in 
 pairs,  round  the  temple  of  Demeter,  the  Daduchus  himself 
 heading  the  procession  with  a  large  torch.  The  torches 
 they  waved  about  and  changed  from  hand  to  hand,  to 
 represent  the  wanderings  of  the  Goddess  in  quest  of  her 
 daughter. 
 
 The  greatest  day  of  all  was  the  sixth,  named  Jacchus. 
 This  name  really  meant  the  God  of  Wine,  Bacchus,  who 
 was  always  looked  upon  as  a  child  of  Demeter,  inasmuch 
 as  the  vine  grows  out  of  the  earth.  A  statue  representing 
 Jacchus  crowned  with  myrtle  and  a  torch  in  his  hand  was 
 on  this  day  carried  in  solemn  procession  by  the  initiated  all 
 the  way  from  Athens  to  Demeter's  temple  in  Eleusis,  a  dis- 
 tance of  about  twenty  miles.  Various  symbols  were  also 
 carried,  such  as  a  winnow,  or  fan  of  plaited  reeds,  and  a 
 basket,  both  relating  to  the  worship  of  the  Goddess  and 
 her  son. 
 
i  oo  Demeter  or  Ceres. 
 
 The  procession  was  accompanied  by  an  enormous  crowd 
 of  people,  sometimes  amounting  to  30,000  or  40,000,  all 
 shouting  the  name  of  Jacchus.  Instruments  of  various 
 kinds  were  played,  and  sacred  songs  were  sung.  Several 
 times  they  stopped  on  the  way  to  offer  sacrifices  and 
 perform  mystic  dances;  the  road  which  the  procession 
 took  was  called  the  "  Holy  Road,"  and  was  paved  with 
 broad,  flat  stones.  On  the  seventh  day  the  statue  of 
 Jacchus  was  carried  back  to  Athens.  The  return  journey 
 was  also  very  solemn,  and  attended  with  numerous  cere- 
 monies. Several  places  were  again  stopped  at,  like  the 
 "  stations "  of  Roman  Catholic  pilgrimages,  the  inhabi- 
 tants of  the  villages  or  towns  joining  in.  The  eighth  day 
 was  set  apart  for  the  inauguration  of  all  who  had  not 
 been  able  to  attend  before,  and  on  the  ninth  day,  the 
 priests  offered  a  drink  offering.  Amidst  various  other 
 ceremonies  two  great  flat-bottomed  earthen  bowls  were 
 filled  with  wine,  which  was  then  poured  on  the  earth,  one 
 bowl  towards  the  East,  the  other  towards  the  West,  the  priests 
 meanwhile  muttering  mystic  words,  and  all  the  initiated 
 standing  round  and  gazing  alternately  at  the  heavens  and 
 the  earth,  as  the  father  and  mother  of  all  creation. 
 
 The  inauguration  of  the  novices  took  place  during  the 
 night  between  the  sixth  and  seventh  days,  when  they  were 
 led  into  the  temple,  and  the  second  Archon  opened  the 
 ceremony  with  prayers  and  sacrifices.  The  priests  then 
 came  forward,  dressed  in  their  sacerdotal  garments,  while 
 the  Neophytes  collected  in  the  outer  hall  of  the  Temple, 
 the  inner  and  most  sacred  being  still  locked.  Then  a 
 herald  proclaimed  :  "  Away  from  here  all  ye  that  are  not 
 purified,  or  whose  souls  have  not  been  freed  from  sin."  If 
 any  had  by  chance  entered  who  were  not  votaries,  they  now 
 hurriedly  left  the  Temple,  for,  if  afterwards  discovered,  they 
 
Demeter  or  Ceres.  i  o  i 
 
 were  punished  with  death ;  and  to  make  still  more  sure  that 
 no  intruder  remained,  all  who  were  present  had  to  answer  the 
 questions  they  had  learnt.  Then  they  washed  themselves 
 again  in  consecrated  water,  and  renewed  the  oath  of  secrecy. 
 Next  they  took  off  their  ordinary  garments,  girded  them- 
 selves with  the  skins  of  young  does,  and  put  on  new 
 garments,  whereupon  the  priests  wished  them  joy  of  all  the 
 happiness  their  initiation  would  bring  them,  and  went  away, 
 leaving  them  alone  in  the  Temple,  which  was  now  in  entire 
 darkness. 
 
 Suddenly  terrific  peals  of  thunder  resounded,  shaking  the 
 very  foundations  of  the  Temple,  vivid  flashes  of  lightning 
 lit  up  the  darkness  and  displayed  fearful  forms,  while  dread- 
 ful sighs,  groans,  and  cries  of  pain  resounded  on  all  sides, 
 like  the  shrieks  of  the  condemned  in  Tartarus.  The 
 novices  were  taken  hold  of  by  invisible  hands,  their  hair  was 
 torn,  and  they  were  beaten  and  thrown  to  the  ground. 
 
 At  last  a  faint  light  illumined  the  distance,  and  a  fearful 
 scene  appeared  before  their  eyes.  The  gates  of  Tartarus, 
 the  abode  of  the  condemned,  lay  before  them  !  They  heard 
 their  cries  of  anguish,  their  hopeless  remorse,  and  their  vain 
 regrets  for  the  Paradise  that  was  lost  to  them.  Suddenly 
 the  brazen  gates  were  thrown  open  with  a  terrific  crash,  and 
 now  they  saw,  as  well  as  heard,  all  the  tortures  of  the  con- 
 demned. The  Furies,  armed  with  relentless  scourge  and 
 flaming  torch,  drove  the  unhappy  victims  incessantly  to  and 
 fro,  never  letting  them  rest  a  moment.  Meanwhile  the  loud 
 voice  of  the  Hierophant,  who  represented  the  judge  of  the 
 world,  was  heard  warning  and  threatening  the  novices,  and 
 expounding  what  was  passing  before  their  eyes.  It  may 
 well  be  imagined  that  all  these  fearful  scenes  so  terrified 
 and  frightened  them  that  drops  of  anguish  fell  from  their 
 brows,  and  they  did  not  know  where  to  hide  themselves. 
 
i02  Demeter  or  Ceres. 
 
 At  length  the  gates  of  Tartarus  closed  ;  and  now  the 
 innermost  sanctuary  of  the  Temple  lay  open  before  them 
 in  dazzling  light.  In  the  midst  stood  the  statue  of  the 
 Goddess,  brilliantly  decked  and  gleaming  with  precious 
 stones ;  heavenly  music  entranced  their  souls ;  a  cloudless 
 sky  o'ershadowed  them  ;  fragrant  scents  perfumed  the  air ; 
 and  in  the  distance  they  beheld  lovely  flowering  meads, 
 where  the  blessed  danced,  and  amused  themselves  with 
 innocent  games  and  pastimes.  The  votaries,  who  had 
 hitherto  been  only  Mystae,  were  now  called  Epoptae,  i.e., 
 clear-seeing.  There  was  yet  a  higher  rank,  that  of  the 
 "  Prophets,"  but  only  the  Priests  were  admitted  to  this. 
 
 These  Eleusinian  Mysteries  go  back  to  very  early  ages, 
 and  were  continued  up  to  about  385  after  Christ,  when  the 
 Emperor  Theodosius  the  Great  ordered  the  Temple  at 
 Eleusis  to  be  closed. 
 
 Demeter  was  pourtrayed  almost  like  Hera.  She  had 
 the  same  grand  figure,  and  majestic  look  and  carriage,  only 
 with  more  gentleness  ;  for  her  eyes  were  not  so  wide  open, 
 and  they  had  a  softer  expression ;  her  forehead  was  lower, 
 and  instead  of  a  diadem  she  had  only  a  simple  band,  or  a 
 wreath  of  wheat-ears.  She  wore  a  long  robe  or  tunic,  which 
 fell  in  straight  folds  to  her  feet,  and  over  this  a  sort  of  cloak 
 which  hung  down  behind.  Her  attributes  were  a  sceptre, 
 wheat-ears,  and  poppies  ;  and  these  last  were  usually  held 
 in  her  hand  or  wound  into  a  wreath  round  her  head  ;  some- 
 times also  she  was  seated  in  a  dragon-chariot,  with  the 
 mystic  basket  and  torch. 
 
 Her  worship  was  the  same  in  Rome  as  in  Greece.  The 
 Cerealiae  were  instituted  in  her  honour,  at  different  times 
 of  the  year,  both  as  a  thank-offering  for  the  fruits  of  the 
 earth  received,  and  also  to  ask  a  blessing  for  their  con- 
 tinuance. 
 
Demeter  or  Ceres.  103 
 
 As  soon  as  the  cold  weather  had  disappeared,  spring 
 feasts,  called  the  Ambarvaliae,  were  celebrated.  These 
 feasts  were  both  public  and  private.  In  the  latter,  towards 
 the  end  of  April,  any  family  who  possessed  land  took  an 
 animal  (an  ox  was  preferred),  decked  it  with  a  wreath,  led 
 it  in  triumph  round  the  fields,  and  then  sacrificed  it  to  the 
 Gods,  especially  Ceres.  On  the  nth  May  the  public 
 Ambarvaliae  took  place.  Romulus  was  supposed  to  have 
 instituted  them.  The  story  goes  that  Acca  Larentia,  the 
 wife  of  the  shepherd  Faustulus,  and  Romulus'  foster  mother, 
 had  twelve  sons,  and  when  one  of  these  died,  she  adopted 
 Romulus  in  his  stead.  On  a  certain  day  every  year  these 
 twelve  brothers,  crowned  with  wheat  ears,  used  to  make  a 
 triumphal  procession  round  their  fields,  and  were  called 
 the  Ambarvalian  brothers.  This  name  was  still  continued 
 even  after  Romulus  became  king,  and  instituted  a  special 
 order  of  priesthood  for  this  feast,  called  the  Ambarvalian 
 Brothers.  They  were  distinguished  by  a  white  band  round 
 their  heads,  and  wreaths  of  wheat  ears.  They  led  the 
 sacrificial  oxen  round  the  town,  the  rest  of  the  priesthood, 
 the  Vestal  Virgins,  and  the  Augurs  following,  after  which 
 the  animal  was  sacrificed  amid  prayers  and  offerings. 
 
 There  was  another  feast  in  the  middle  of  July,  just  before 
 harvest,  specially  for  the  country  people.  At  this  a  sow 
 was  sacrificed  to  Ceres,  and  while  offering  the  entrails  and 
 wine  they  called  on  the  Goddess,  as  well  as  on  Janus,  Jupiter, 
 and  Juno,  to  bless  them.  All  the  participators  in  this  feast 
 were  dressed  in  white,  crowned  with  oak  leaves,  and  sang 
 various  harvest  songs,  while  performing  grotesque  dances. 
 
 On  the  1 2th  April  the  town  Cerelian  Feasts  were 
 celebrated  in  Rome.  They  began  with  a  solemn  pro- 
 cession to  the  Racecourse.  The  picture  of  the  winged 
 Goddess   of  Victory,  a  palm  branch  in  one  hand,  and  a 
 
104  Pallas  Athene  or  Minerva. 
 
 wreath  in  the  other,  was  carried  first.  Then  came  statues 
 of  Jupiter,  Juno,  Minerva,  &c,  &c.  After  these  followed 
 the  horses  which  were  to  ran,  led  by  beautifully  dressed 
 boys.  Then  all  the  Magistrates,  the  Senate,  the  sons  of 
 the  Knights,  the  swordsmen,  and  the  wrestlers;  three 
 choirs  of  singers,  the  first  of  men,  the  second  of  youths, 
 the  third  of  boys ;  various  musicians,  and  lastly,  the  mass 
 of  the  people,  dressed  in  different  disguises,  and  bandying 
 jokes  in  all  directions.  Then  came  the  priests  and  their 
 servants,  carrying  the  vessels  and  implements  for  the  sacri- 
 fices, and  last  of  all,  the  slaughterers,  who  led  the  sacrificial 
 animals.  All  joined  in  sacred  songs  in  honour  of  Ceres, 
 who  had  taught  mankind  to  cultivate  the  ground. 
 
 When  the  whole  procession  had  reached  the  racecourse 
 chariot-races  began,  and  when  these  were  ended  a  solemn 
 sacrifice  was  offered  to  the  Goddess  by  priestesses  dressed 
 entirely  in  white. 
 
 X. — PALLAS  ATHENE  OR   MINERVA. 
 
 Having  completed  the  history  of  mighty  Zeus's  brothers 
 and  sisters,  we  will  now  speak  of  his  children.  It  has 
 already  been  stated  that  Metis,  one  of  the  Oceanidae, 
 was  one  of  his  wives.  He  swallowed  her,  because 
 Uranus  and  Gaea  had  told  him  that  she  would  have 
 a  son  and  a  daughter  who  would  rule  Olympus,  and 
 Zeus  had  no  wish  to  lose  the  mastery  of  heaven.  But 
 no  sooner  had  he  done  this  than  he  complained  of  frightful 
 pains  in  his  head,  and  appealing  to  Hephaestus  (Vulcan) 
 to  open  it  with  his  hammer,  lo  !  Pallas  Athene  sprang 
 forth,  fully  armed.  She  had  a  helmet  on  her  head,  a  spear 
 in  one  hand,  a   shield  in  the  other,  and  knocking  both 
 
Pallas  Athene  or  Minerva.  105 
 
 together,  made  such  a  warlike  din  and  noise,  that  the  whole 
 of  Olympus  began  to  shake,  the  sea  roared,  the  earth 
 trembled,  and  the  sun-chariot  stood  still  to  behold  this 
 wonder ! 
 
 She  was  worshipped  not  only  as  the  Goddess  of  War, 
 but  as  Goddess  of  Wisdom,  the  fine  arts,  and  sciences,  for 
 had  she  not  sprung  from  the  head  of  Zeus,  the  seat  of 
 all  knowledge  and  wisdom  ? 
 
 As  Goddess  of  War,  she  presided  over  all  the  battles  of 
 Gods  and  men.  She  took  part  in  the  wars  between  the 
 Titans  and  the  Giants ;  taught  Bellerophon  how  to  bridle 
 Pegasus  and  overcome  the  Chimaera ;  and  assisted  Perseus 
 and  Hercules  in  their  heroic  deeds.  She  took  part  with 
 the  Greeks  in  the  Trojan  War,  and  especially  protected 
 Ulysses  and  Diomed.  Whenever  Athene  is  referred  to  as 
 Goddess  of  War  she  is  always  depicted  as  fully  armed. 
 From  her  golden  helmet,  which  is  ornamented  with  two 
 griffins  at  the  sides  and  a  sphinx  in  front,  waves  a  magnificent 
 horse-hair  plume.  This  helmet  was  so  heavy  that  one 
 hundred  warriors  could  not  lift  it.  On  her  breast  she  wears 
 the  vEgis,  having  in  its  centre  the  terrific  Medusa's  head, 
 and  in  her  right  hand  she  carries  a  gleaming  lance. 
 
 The  following,  from  Homer's  Iliad,  is  a  very  good 
 account  of  a  combat  between  her  and  Ares  before  the 
 walls  of  Troy  : — 
 
 The  warring  Gods  in  fierce  contention  join  : 
 Rekindling  rage  each  heavenly  breast  alarms  : 
 With  horrid  clangour  shook  the  ethereal  arms  : 
 Heaven  in  loud  thunder  bids  the  trumpet  sound  ; 
 And  wide  beneath  them  groans  the  rending  ground. 
 Jove,  as  his  sport,  the  dreadful  scene  descries, 
 And  views  contending  Gods  with  careless  eyes. 
 The  Power  of  Battles  lifts  his  brazen  spear 
 
io6  Pallas  Athene  or  Minerva. 
 
 And  first  assaults  the  radiant  queen  of  War  : 
 "  What  moved  thy  madness,  thus  to  disunite 
 Ethereal  minds,  and  mix  all  heaven  in  fight? 
 What  wonder  this,  when  in  thy  frantic  mood 
 Thou  drovest  a  mortal  to  insult  a  God  ? 
 Thy  impious  hand  Tydides'  javelin  bore, 
 And  madly  bathed  it  in  celestial  gore." — 
 
 He  spoke,  and  smote  the  long-resounding  shield, 
 Which  bears  Jove's  thunder  on  its  dreadful  field  : 
 The  adamantine  aegis  of  her  sire, 
 That  turns  the  glancing  bolt  and  forked  fire. 
 Then  heaved  the  Goddess  in  her  mighty  hand 
 A  stone,  the  limit  of  the  neighbouring  land, 
 There  fix'd  from  eldest  times  ;  black,  craggy,  vast ; 
 This  at  the  heavenly  homicide  she  cast. 
 Thundering  he  falls,  a  mass  of  monstrous  size  : 
 And  seven  broad  acres  covers,  as  he  lies. 
 The  stunning  stroke  his  stubborn  nerves  unbound  : 
 Loud  o'er  the  fields  his  ringing  arms  resound  : 
 The  scornful  dame  her  conquest  views  with  smiles, 
 And,  glorying,  thus  the  prostrate  god  reviles  : 
 
 "  Hast  thou  not  yet,  insatiate  Fury  !  known 
 How  far  Minerva's  force  transcends  thy  own  ? 
 Juno,  whom  thou  rebellious  darest  withstand, 
 Corrects  thy  folly  thus  by  Pallas'  hand  ; 
 Thus  meets  thy  broken  faith  with  just  disgrace, 
 And  partial  aid  to  Troy's  perfidious  race." — 
 
 The  Goddess  spoke  and  turned  her  eyes  away, 
 That,  beaming  round,  diffused  celestial  day, 
 Joves'  Cyprian  daughter,  stooping  on  the  land, 
 Lent  to  the  wounded  God  her  tender  hand  : 
 Slowly  he  rises,  scarcely  breathes  with  pain, 
 And,  propp'd  on  her  fair  arm,  forsakes  the  plain. 
 This  the  bright  empress  of  the  Heavens  survey'd, 
 And,  scoffing,  thus  to  War's  victorious  maid  : 
 
 "  Lo  !  what  an  aid  on  Mars'  side  is  seen  ! 
 The  smile's  and  love's  unconquerable  Queen  ! 
 
Pallas  Athene  or  Minerva.  107 
 
 Mark  with  what  insolence,  in  open  view 
 
 She  moves  :  let  Pallas,  if  she  dares,  pursue  ! " — 
 
 Minerva  smiling  heard,  the  pair  o'ertook, 
 And  slightly  on  her  breast  the  wanton  strook  : 
 She,  unresisting,  fell  (her  spirits  fled) ; 
 On  earth  together,  lay  the  lovers  spread  ! — 
 
 "  And  like  these  heroes  be  the  fate  of  all 
 (Minerva  cries)  who  guard  the  Trojan  Wall  ! 
 To  Grecian  Gods  such  let  the  Phrygian  be, 
 So  dread,  so  fierce,  as  Venus  is  to  me ; 
 Then  from  the  lowest  stone  shall  Troy  be  moved." 
 Thus  she,  and  Juno  with  a  smile  approved. 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad"  (Pope)  Book  xxi. 
 
 Her  name  of  Athene  was  generally  applied  to  her  as  the 
 Goddess  of  the  peaceful  arts,  wisdom,  and  understanding ; 
 whereas  that  of  Pallas  was  more  properly  her  warlike  designa- 
 tion. Under  the  former  appellation  all  works  of  skill  were 
 ascribed  to  her,  except  those  connected  with  fire  and  metal ; 
 which  pertained  to  Hephaestus  or  Vulcan.  She  was  skilled 
 in  the  use  of  the  needle,  the  distaff,  and  the  shuttle,  and 
 worked  all  the  garments  of  the  Gods.  When  one  of  the 
 children  of  men  displayed  any  special  skill  he  was  supposed 
 to  have  been  taught  by  her,  but  woe  to  any  mortal  who 
 dared  to  compete  with  her !  Witness  the  sad  story  of 
 Arachne. 
 
 This  maiden  was  the  daughter  of  a  celebrated  dyer  in 
 Colophon,  a  town  in  Ionia,  on  the  east  coast  of  Asia,  and 
 had  been  instructed  by  the  Goddess  herself  in  the  art  of 
 weaving.  Her  skill  had  become  so  great  that  all  the 
 nymphs  of  the  neighbouring  rivers  and  mountains  came  to 
 admire  her  handiwork.  This  made  her  vain  and  presump- 
 tuous, and  she  challenged  the  Goddess  to  a  trial  of  skill. 
 Athene  good-naturedly  wished  to  spare  her,  and  coming  in 
 the  disguise  of  an  old  woman,  tried  to  dissuade  her  from 
 
io8  Pallas  Athene  or  Minerva. 
 
 her  foolish  undertaking,  and  when  this  failed,  she  appeared 
 to  her  in  her  own  form.  But  it  was  all  in  vain,  and  the 
 trial  commenced.  Arachne  did  in  truth  make  a  wonderful 
 piece  of  work,  and  Athene  could  find  no  fault  with  it,  but 
 her  wrath  was  terrible  when  she  saw  that  Arachne  had 
 skilfully  woven  into  her  tapestry  all  the  weaknesses  and 
 wickednesses  of  the  Immortals.  Fiercely  she  tore  the 
 artistic  web  in  pieces,  and  beat  the  shuttle  about  the 
 maiden's  head,  driving  her  to  such  despair  that  she  went 
 and  hanged  herself.  Athene  then  took  compassion  on  her, 
 and  dropping  the  juice  of  some  strong  herb  upon  her, 
 called  her  back  to  life  ;  but  it  could  not  be  in  her  former 
 shape,  so  she  was  turned  into  a  spider,  and  thus  it  comes 
 that  even  to  the  present  day  this  insect  weaves  such  won- 
 derful webs. 
 
 As  Goddess  of  Art,  her  statue  was  often  placed  beside 
 that  of  Plutus,  the  God  of  Riches,  because  science  and 
 industry  bring  riches.  All  occupations  that  require  know- 
 ledge and  learning  were  under  her  care  and  control.  She 
 was  the  patroness  of  dyers,  gold  and  silver  workers,  chariot- 
 makers,  builders,  sculptors,  and  painters,  as  well  as  of 
 doctors,  poets,  and  orators.  Of  her  invention  of  the  flute 
 there  are  two  versions.  One  myth  relates  : — When  Perseus 
 had  killed  the  Medusa,  and  the  other  two  Gorgons  were 
 crying  and  running  after  the  murderer,  the  snakes  on  their 
 heads  made  such  lamentable  hissings,  that  Athene  tried  to 
 imitate  their  piteous  tones.  And  to  do  so  she  cut  some 
 reeds  growing  by  the  sea  shore,  and  breathed  into  them. 
 
 The  other  myth  seems  to  have  been  invented  by  the 
 Athenians  themselves  to  vex  the  Thebans,  who  prided 
 themselves  on  their  flute-playing.  They  said  that  one  day 
 Athene  had  found  the  leg-bone  of  a  gazelle ;  she  breathed 
 into  it,  and  finding  she  could  bring  forth  very  sweet  tones, 
 
Pallas  Athene  07'  Minerva.  109 
 
 invented  the  flute.  Vanity  impelled  her  to  let  the 
 assembled  Gods  hear  the  new  instrument,  but  what  was 
 her  vexation  when,  instead  of  the  applause  she  had 
 expected,  some  remained  silent,  while  Hera  and  Aphrodite 
 laughed  at  her  mockingly.  "What  can  they  be  laughing 
 at  ?  "  she  thought,  and  went  to  a  spring  to  look  at  herself 
 while  playing.  She  started  back  with  horror  when  she  saw 
 her  cheeks  all  puffed  out  with  the  effort  of  blowing  !  angrily 
 she  threw  the  instrument  away,  pronouncing  a  curse  on 
 whoever  should  pick  it  up  and  play  upon  it.  The  curse 
 bore  fruit  sadly.  Marsyas,  who  has  already  been  mentioned 
 in  the  story  of  Cybele,  found  the  flute,  practised  on  it,  and 
 dared  at  last  to  challenge  Apollo  to  a  musical  contest. 
 Marsyas  lost  the  wager,  and  as  a  punishment  was  skinned 
 alive. 
 
 Athene  was  never  married,  or,  as  the  poets  express  it, 
 she  was  never  conquered  by  Aphrodite.  She  laid  great  stress 
 on  all  decency  and  good  habits,  and  severely  punished  all 
 those  who  infringed  them.  Tiresias,  a  Theban,  afterwards 
 the  renowned  soothsayer,  thought  one  day  to  watch  her 
 while  bathing,  but  he  was  punished  with  perpetual  blind- 
 ness. His  mother  Chariclo,  a  worshipper  of  the  Goddess, 
 entreated  her  to  give  him  back  his  eyesight.  But  this  was 
 impossible,  for  the  curse  that  had  once  been  pronounced 
 could  not  be  recalled.  She,  however,  gave  him  a  black 
 staff  as  a  guide,  and  made  his  hearing  so  acute  that  he 
 could  understand  the  voices  of  the  birds,  and  was  thus  able 
 to  foretell  the  future  ;  for  the  ancients  believed  that  one 
 could  prophesy  from  the  song  of  birds,  their  flight  and  even 
 their  way  of  eating, 
 
 Athene's  most  beautiful  temple  was  the  Parthenon  at 
 Athens,  which  was  built  by  order  of  Pericles,  and  orna- 
 mented by  Phidias  and  other  renowned  artists.      It  stood 
 
l  io  Pallas  Athene  or  Minerva. 
 
 on  the  Acropolis,  a  hill  in  the  middle  of  the  town,  its 
 position  alone  rendering  it  pre-eminent.  A  broad  flight  of 
 marble  steps  led  to  the  summit.  Here  passing  through  a 
 five-sided  pillared  archway,  the  walls  of  which  were  decorated 
 with  bas-reliefs,  the  votary  came  to  a  large  open  space,  in  the 
 centre  of  which,  on  slightly  elevated  ground,  stood  the 
 temple.  Like  most  of  the  Grecian  temples,  it  was  built 
 entirely  of  white  marble  and  of  an  oblong  shape,  surrounded 
 on  all  sides  by  colonnades  of  Doric  pillars.  Inside  was  a 
 statue  of  the  Goddess  in  ivory  and  gold,  made  by  Phidias. 
 It  was  thirty-six  feet  high.  On  her  head  was  a  helmet,  with 
 a  sphinx  in  front  and  griffins  on  each  side  ;  the  Aegis 
 guarded  her  breast ;  and  her  long  flowing  garment  fell  down 
 to  her  feet  in  narrow  folds.  In  one  hand  she  held  a  lance, 
 in  the  other  a  winged  Goddess  of  Victory.  The  shield  at 
 her  side  was  a  wonderful  work  of  art.  On  one  side  it 
 represented  in  bas-relief  the  flight  of  the  Athenians  and  the 
 Amazons,  on  the  other  the  battle  of  the  giants  against  the 
 Gods.  All  the  parts  of  the  bodies  that  were  visible  were  of 
 ivory,  while  the  armour  and  the  dresses  were  of  gold.  It 
 was  valued  at  600,000  dollars  (;£  120,000).  The  dress  of 
 the  Goddess  was  so  arranged  that  it  could  be  taken  off,  and 
 this  was  done  thrice  every  year,  so  that  the  statue  could  be 
 washed.  On  these  days  it  wras  strictly  prohibited  for  any 
 man  to  go  near  the  Temple. 
 
 It  was  with  justice  that  the  Athenians  specially  honoured 
 Athene,  for  she  was  not  only  the  patroness  of  all  arts  and 
 sciences,  of  which  Athens  was  the  centre,  but  she  had  also 
 given  them  the  olive  tree,  which  flourished  particularly 
 well  there.  The  principal  feasts  of  the  Goddess  in  Athens 
 were  called  Panathenae.  The  Athenae,  which  had  been 
 instituted  even  before  the  time  of  Theseus,  were  celebrated 
 every  year  j  whereas  the  Panathenae  were  only  held  every 
 
Pallas  Athene  or  Minerva.  1 1  r 
 
 four  years,  the  ceremonies  being  grander  in  the  latter 
 feast,  and  accompanied  by  races. 
 
 Pallas  Athene  was  generally  represented  as  a  warrior, 
 fully  armed.  Her  face  was  cold  and  stern,  with  a  thought- 
 ful but  hard  expression.  Besides  the  lance,  she  has  an  owl 
 or  a  snake  beside  her,  and  sometimes  an  olive  tree  with  an 
 owl  flying  over  it.  She  usually  wears  the  ordinary  dress  of 
 the  Greek  women,  but  always  in  addition  the  helmet  and 
 the  Aegis  :  the  owl  and  olive  were  sacred  to  her. 
 
 In  Rome  she  was  worshipped  under  the  name  of  Minerva, 
 and  her  statue  was  in  the  Capitol,  beside  those  of  Jupiter 
 and  Juno. 
 
 The  Palladium,  kept  in  the  temple  of  Vesta  at  Rome, 
 was  a  small  figure  of  Pallas,  roughly  carved  out  of  wood, 
 about  three  feet  high.  Ilos,  King  of  Troy,  grandfather 
 of  Priam,  after  building  the  city  asked  Zeus  to  give 
 him  a  visible  sign  that  he  would  take  it  under  his  special 
 protection.  During  the  night  the  Palladium  fell  down 
 from  heaven,  and  was  found  the  next  morning  outside 
 his  tent.  The  king  built  a  temple  for  it,  and  from  that 
 time  the  Trojans  firmly  believed  that  as  long  as  they  could 
 keep  this  figure  their  town  would  be  safe ;  but  if  at  any 
 time  it  should  be  lost  or  stolen,  some  dreadful  calamity 
 would  overtake  them.  The  story  further  relates  that,  at  the 
 siege  of  Troy,  its  whereabouts  was  betrayed  to  Diomed,  and 
 he  and  the  wily  Ulysses  climbed  the  wall  at  night  and 
 carried  it  off.  The  Palladium,  enraged  at  finding  itself  in 
 the  Grecian  camp,  sprang  three  times  in  the  air,  its  eyes 
 flashing  wildly,  while  drops  of  sweat  stood  on  its  brow. 
 The  Greeks,  however,  would  not  give  it  up,  and  Troy, 
 robbed  of  her  guardian,  was  soon  after  conquered  by  the 
 Greeks.  But  an  oracle  having  warned  Diomed  not  to  keep 
 it,  he,  on  landing  in  Italy,  gave  it  to  one  of  yEneas*  com- 
 
1 1 2  Pallas  Athene  or  Minerva. 
 
 panions,  by  whom  it  was  brought  into  the  neighbourhood  of 
 the  future  site  of  Rome. 
 
 Another  legend  relates  that  yEneas  saved  it  after  the 
 destruction  of  Troy,  and  fled  with  it  to  Italy,  where  it  was 
 afterwards  placed  by  his  descendants  in  the  Temple  ot 
 Vesta,  in  Rome.  Here  the  inner  and  most  sacred  place  in 
 the  Temple  was  reserved  for  it,  and  no  man,  not  even  the 
 chief  priest,  was  allowed  to  see  it  except  when  it  was 
 shown  on  the  occasion  of  any  high  festival.  The  Vestals 
 had  strict  orders  to  guard  it  carefully,  and  to  save  it  in 
 case  of  fire,  as  the  welfare  of  Rome  depended  on  its 
 preservation. 
 
 The  worship  of  Pallas  Athene  in  Athens  is  very  old,  and 
 goes  back  as  far  as  the  time  of  Cecrops,  who,  in  the  year  of 
 the  world  1550,  came  to  Attica  from  Sais,  in  Egypt.  Thus 
 it  is  supposed  to  have  been  brought  to  Greece  from  Egypt, 
 for  the  Egyptians  paid  homage  to  a  goddess  called  Neith, 
 in  all  respects  resembling  Pallas  Athene.  There  was  a 
 large  and  magnificent  temple  at  Sais,  with  the  following 
 mysterious  inscription  over  the  doorway  : 
 
 "  I  am  everything  that  is,  that  was,  and  that  will  be  ; 
 No  mortal  has  ever  lifted  my  veil." 
 
 She  was  entirely  covered  with  a  veil  which  no  one  was 
 allowed  to  raise.  King  Amasis  of  Egypt,  who  lived  during 
 the  reign  of  Cyrus,  enlarged  and  beautified  the  temple  by 
 adding  an  immense  outer  hall  of  rare  and  costly  stones. 
 The  greatest  architectural  wonder  was,  however,  a  small 
 chapel  attached  to  it  cut  out  of  one  stone.  This  monolith 
 had  been  brought  a  twenty  days'  journey  from  the  stone 
 quarries  of  Southern  Egypt,  and  for  three  years  2000  masons 
 worked  at  it.  When  it  was  finished,  Amasis  wished  to  have 
 it  brought  inside  the  temple,  but  just  as  they  were  setting 
 
Hephaestus  or  Vtclcan.  1 1 3 
 
 about  it,  the  chief  mason  sighed  deeply  because  the  building 
 had  already  taken  so  long,  and  he  was  getting  tired  of  the 
 work.  Amasis  took  this  for  an  evil  omen,  and  stopped  the 
 workmen,  so  the  monolith  remained  where  it  was  at  the 
 entrance. 
 
 XI. — HEPHAESTUS    OR  VULCAN. 
 
 Hephaestus,  the  son  of  Zeus  and  Hera,  was  the  God  of 
 Fire,  both  beneficent  and  destructive.  Men  first  obtained  fire 
 from  heaven  ;  the  lightning  striking  the  trees  showed  them 
 that  wood  could  burn,  and  they  then  found  that  by  rubbing 
 wood  together  they  could  produce  fire ;  therefore  they 
 thought  that  the  God  of  Fire  must  be  a  son  of  Zeus,  the  God 
 of  Heaven.  Some  poets  asserted  that  Hephaestus  had  no 
 father,  but  was  Hera's  son  alone,  because  Hera  represented 
 the  lower  air,  whence  all  storms  emanate.  Besides  the  fire 
 from  above,  that  which  burned  under  the  earth  came  also 
 from  him,  and  occasioned  earthquakes  and  volcanoes  ;  so 
 wherever  there  were  burning  mountains,  he  and  his  assist- 
 ants, the  Cyclopes,  were  supposed  to  have  their  workshops, 
 particularly  in  the  Isle  of  Lemnos,  Mount  Etna,  in  Sicily, 
 and  the  Lipari  Islands.  The  fumes  that  issued  forth  from 
 his  forge,  and  the  thunder  and  crashing  of  the  eruptions, 
 were  the  mighty  blows  of  the  Cyclopes'  hammers  on  the 
 anvil. 
 
 Hephaestus  was  also  the  god  of  all  artistic  work  in  steel  and 
 iron.  His  workshop  was  in  his  brazen  palace  on  Mount 
 Olympus.  Whatever  metal  things  the  Gods  required  were 
 made  by  him,  and  all  the  most  beautiful  and  artistic  arms  of 
 mankind  were  his  handiwork  ;  but  the  most  celebrated  things 
 he  manufactured  were  the  golden  tripods  on  which  the  Gods 
 
 H 
 
1 1 4  Hephaestus  or  Vulcan. 
 
 sat  at  their  meals,  which  placed  themselves  in  readiness  for 
 the  banquet,  and  disappeared  again  when  it  was  over.  He 
 had  also  made  for  himself  two  golden  slaves  as  supports  in 
 walking,  as  he  was  lame  and  weak  on  his  legs,  and  these  were 
 not  only  alive,  but  had  also  understanding.  Several  of  the 
 arms  of  the  ancient  heroes  were  ascribed  to  him,  in  parti- 
 cular the  beautiful  shield  of  Hercules  almost  entirely  covered 
 in  bas-relief.  He  also  made  Pandora,  who  was  so  destructive 
 to  Epimetheus  and  mankind  in  general.  Her  golden  fillet 
 was  a  wonderful  piece  of  workmanship,  for  on  it  he  had 
 depicted  every  animal  there  is.  The  golden  goblet  and  sun- 
 chariot  of  Helios  are  ascribed  to  him,  the  latter  being  that 
 on  which  Sol  drove  back  every  night  from  west  to  east. 
 Also  the  palaces  of  the  Gods  on  Mount  Olympus,  Zeus's 
 sceptre,  Pluto's  invisible  helmet,  Poseidon's  trident,  and 
 various  other  works  of  art. 
 
 Of  course  from  the  nature  of  his  employment,  Hephaestus 
 was  often  dirty  and  smutty.  He  is  likewise  described  as  being 
 very  ugly,  large,  broad-shouldered,  and  strong-armed,  and  so 
 uncouth  and  awkward  that  he  was  continually  the  butt  of 
 the  other  Gods.  His  thin  legs  were  all  the  more  conspicu- 
 ous when  compared  with  his  unwieldy  body,  and  his  lame- 
 ness only  increased  his  awkwardness.  When  the  Gods  were 
 at  meals  he  used  often  to  carry  the  goblets  round,  thereby 
 provoking  their  mirth  by  his  ungainliness  : 
 
 "  Fair  Juno  smiled, 
 And  smiling  took  the  goblet  from  her  son  ; 
 Meanwhile  he  filled  to  each  a  brimming  cup, 
 Drawing  sweet  nectar  from  the  golden  bowl, 
 And  bore  it  round  in  order  from  the  right ; 
 While  inextinguishable  laughter  rose, 
 To  see  halt  Vulcan  puffing  round  the  court." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  i.  (Wright). 
 On   his  head  he  generally  wore  a  slightly  rounded  cap, 
 
HliPHAIbTOS. 
 
Hephaestus  or  Vulcan.  1 1  5 
 
 called  Phrygian.  It  is  strange  that  the  ancients  should 
 have  given  the  lovely  Aphrodite,  Goddess  of  Love  and 
 Beauty,  as  wife  to  this  ugliest  of  all  the  Gods ;  and  it  is  not 
 surprising  that  they  did  not  care  much  for  each  other.  Soon 
 Hephaestus  learnt,  through  the  all-seeing  Sun-god  Helias, 
 that  Ares,  the  God  of  War,  was  a  great  friend  of  Aphrodite, 
 and  often  came  to  see  her.  In  haste  he  manufactured  a 
 net  so  fine  that  none  could  see  it,  and  yet  so  strong  as  to 
 be  quite  unbreakable,  and  laying  it  all  round  his  palace,  set 
 off  on  a  pretended  journey.  Ere  long  the  unconscious 
 Ares  appeared,  and  conversed  and  amused  himself  with 
 Aphrodite.  Suddenly  the  net  fell  over  them  !  Helias  at 
 once  informed  Hephaestus  that  his  stratagem  had  suc- 
 ceeded, and  he,  unwisely,  called  all  the  Gods  together  to 
 see  the  two  caught  in  the  net. 
 
 "  O  Father  Zeus,  and  all  immortals  blest, 
 
 Come  ye  and  laugh  at  this  inveterate  pair. 
 
 The  Zeus-born  Aphrodite  in  her  breast 
 
 Scorns  for  my  lameness,  and  affects  him  there, 
 
 Ares  Destroyer,  being  round  and  fair, 
 
 While  I  halt  from  my  birth." 
 
 Thereat  the  Gods  came  trooping  one  and  all. 
 
 Came  great  Poseidon  who  doth  earth  embrace, 
 
 Luck-bringing  Hermes,  to  the  brass-floored  hall, 
 
 And  the  far- working  Phoebus.     But  the  race 
 
 Of  Goddesses  abode  within  their  place, — 
 
 Shamed.     From  the  future-giving  Gods  meanwhile 
 
 Laughter  unquenchable  uprose  apace, 
 
 Soon  as  they  marked  the  shrewd  Hephaestus'  guile  ; 
 
 And  each  to  other  spake  with  jest  and  mutual  smile  : 
 
 "  Now  mark  how  evil-workers  thrive  not  well. 
 
 The  swift  is  overtaken  of  the  slow. 
 
 Ares,  the  fleetest  that  on  high  doth  dwell, 
 
 Is  by  Hephaestus,  who  doth  limping  go, 
 
 Caught  with  shrewd  cunning,  and  doth  forfeit  owe." 
 
 — Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  viii.  (Worsley). 
 
n6  Hephaestus  or  Vulcan. 
 
 But  they  also  laughed  at  Hephaestus  for  his  simplicity  in 
 not  being  better  able  to  manage  his  household,  and  he 
 was  obliged  to  free  the  prisoners  on  Poseidon's  assuring 
 him  that  it  should  not  happen  again. 
 
 Hephaestus  was  twice  thrown  down  from  heaven ;  the  first 
 time  on  Hera's  account,  when  he  fell  into  the  sea  ;  the 
 second  time  by  Zeus,  who  cast  him  on  to  the  isle  of 
 Lemnos.  Both  these  falls  are  related  by  Homer,  and  we 
 will  give  his  recital  in  full,  as  it  will  make  much  of  Vulcan's 
 history  plain  to  our  readers.  The  first  fall  is  recounted 
 in  Book  xviii.  of  the  Iliad.  Thetis,  the  mother  of  Achilles, 
 goes  to  Hephaestus  (Vulcan)  : 
 
 Meanwhile  the  silver-footed  dame 
 
 Reach'd  the  Vulcanian  dome,  eternal  frame  ! 
 
 High-eminent  amid  the  works  divine, 
 
 Where  heaven's  far-beaming  brazen  mansions  shine. 
 
 There  the  lame  architect  the  Goddess  found, 
 
 Obscure  in  smoke,  his  forges  flaming  round, 
 
 While  bathed  in  sweat  from  fire  to  fire  he  flew  ; 
 
 And  purring  loud,  the  roaring  bellows  blew. 
 
 That  day  no  common  task  his  labour  claim'd  : 
 
 Full  twenty  tripods  for  his  hall  he  framed, 
 
 That  placed  on  living  wheels  of  massy  gold, 
 
 (Wondrous  to  tell),  instinct  with  spirit  roll'd 
 
 From  place  to  place,  around  the  blessed  abodes 
 
 Self-moved,  obedient  to  the  beck  of  Gods  : 
 
 For  their  fair  handles  now,  o:erwrought  with  flowers, 
 
 In  moulds  prepared  the  glowing  ore  he  pours. 
 
 Just  as  responsive  to  his  thought  the  frame 
 
 Stood  prompt  to  move,  the  azure  Goddess  came  : 
 
 Charis,  his  spouse,  a  grace  divinely  fair 
 
 With  purple  fillets  round  her  braided  hair 
 
 Observed  her  entering  ;  her  soft  hand  she  press'd, 
 
 And  smiling,  thus  the  watery  Queen  addressed  : 
 
 "  What  Goddess,  this  unusual  favour  draws  ? 
 
Hephaestus  or  Vit  lean.  1 1 7 
 
 All  hail  and  welcome  !  whatsoe'er  the  cause  ; 
 
 Till  now,  a  stranger,  in  a  happy  hour 
 
 Approach,  and  taste  the  dainties  of  the  bower." 
 
 High  on  a  throne,  with  stars  of  silver  grae'd, 
 
 And  various  artifice,  the  Queen  she  placed 
 
 A  footstool  at  her  feet,  then  calling  said, 
 
 "  Vulcan  draw  near,  'tis  Thetis  asks  your  aid." 
 
 "  Thetis,"  replied  the  God,  "  our  powers  may  claim, 
 
 An  ever  dear,  an  ever  honoured  name. 
 
 When  my  proud  mother  hurled  me  from  the  sky 
 
 (My  awkward  form  it  seems  displeased  her  eye) 
 
 She  and  Eurynome  my  griefs  redressed, 
 
 And  soft  received  me  on  their  silver  breast. 
 
 Even  then  these  arts  employed  my  infant  thought  : 
 
 Chains,  bracelets,  pendants,  all  their  toys  I  wrought, 
 
 Nine  years  kept  secret  in  the  dark  abode 
 
 Secure  I  lay,  concealed  from  man  and  God  : 
 
 Deep  in  a  cavern!d  rock  my  days  were  led  ; 
 
 The  rushing  ocean  murmured  o'er  my  head. 
 
 Now  since  her  presence  glads  our  mansion,  say 
 
 For  such  desert  what  service  can  I  pay  ? 
 
 Vouchsafe,  O  Thetis,  at  our  board  to  share 
 
 The  genial  rites  and  hospitable  fare  ; 
 
 While  I  the  labours  of  the  forge  forego, 
 
 And  bid  the  roaring  bellows  cease  to  blow." 
 
 Then  from  his  anvil  the  lame  artist  rose, 
 
 Wide  with  distorted  legs,  oblique  he  goes, 
 
 And  stills  the  bellows  and  (in  order  laid) 
 
 Locks  in  their  chests  his  instruments  of  trade. 
 
 The  monarch's  steps  two  female  forms  uphold, 
 
 That  moved  and  breathed  in  animated  gold 
 
 To  whom  was  voice  and  sense  and  science  given 
 
 Of  works  divine,  (such  wonders  are  in  heaven  !) 
 
 On  these  supported,  with  unequal  gait 
 
 He  reach'd  the  throne  where  pensive  Thetis  sate  ; 
 
 There  placed  beside  her  on  the  shining  frame 
 
 He  thus  addressed  the  silver-footed  dame  : 
 
1 1 8  Hephaestus  or  Vulcan. 
 
 "  Thee,  welcome  Goddess  !  what  occasion  calls 
 
 (So  long  a  stranger)  to  these  honoured  walls  ! 
 
 'Tis  thine,  fair  Thetis,  the  command  to  lay, 
 
 And  Vulcan's  joy  and  duty  to  obey." 
 
 To  whom  the  mournful  mother  thus  replies  : 
 
 (The  crystal  drops  stood  trembling  in  her  eyes) 
 
 "  O  Vulcan  !  say  was  ever  breast  divine 
 
 So  pierced  with  sorrows,  so  o'erwhelmed  as  mine  ? 
 
 Sprung  from  my  bed,  a  godlike  hero  came, 
 
 The  bravest  sure  that  ever  bore  the  name  ! — 
 
 To  Troy  I  sent  him  !  but  his  native  shore 
 
 Never,  ah  never  !  shall  receive  him  more  ! — 
 
 But  thou,  in  pity,  by  my  prayer  he  won  : 
 
 Grace  with  immortal  arms  this  short-liv'd  son, 
 
 And  to  the  field  in  martial  pomp  restore, 
 
 To  shine  with  glory,  till  he  shines  no  more  !  " — 
 
 To  her  the  artist-god  :  "  Thy  griefs  resign, 
 
 Secure,  what  Vulcan  can,  is  ever  thine." — 
 
 Thus  having  said,  the  father  of  the  fires 
 
 To  the  black  labours  of  the  forge  retires. 
 
 Soon  as  he  bade  them  blow,  the  bellows  turn'd 
 
 Their  iron  mouths  ;  and  where  the  furnace  burn'd, 
 
 Resounding  breathed  ;   at  once  the  blast  expires, 
 
 And  twenty  forges  catch  at  once  the  fires  ; 
 
 Just  as  the  God  directs,  now  loud,  now  low, 
 
 They  raise  a  tempest,  or  they  gently  blow  ; 
 
 In  hissing  flames,  huge  silver  bars  are  roll'd, 
 
 And  stubborn  brass  and  tin  and  solid  gold  ; — 
 
 Then  first  he  formed  the  immense  and  solid  shield, 
 
 Rich  various  artifice  emblased  the  field  ; 
 
 Its  utmost  verge  a  threefold  circle  bound  ; 
 
 A  silver  chain  suspends  a  massy  round  ; 
 
 Five  ample  plates  the  broad  expanse  compose 
 
 And  godlike  labours  on  the  surface  rose. 
 
 There  shone  the  image  of  the  master  mind  : 
 
 There  earth,  there  heaven,  there  ocean  he  design'd  ; 
 
 The  unwearied  sun,  the  moon  completely  round  ; 
 
Hephaestus  or  Vulcan.  i  1 9 
 
 The  starry  lights  that  Heavens'  high  convex  crown'd  ; 
 
 The  Pleiads,  Hyads,  and  the  northern  team  ; 
 
 And  great  Orion's  more  refulgent  beam  ; 
 
 To  which,  around  the  axle  of  the  sky 
 
 The  bear  revolving,  points  his  golden  eye. 
 
 Still  shines  exalted  on  the  ethereal  plain, 
 
 Nor  bathes  his  blazing  forehead  in  the  main. 
 
 Two  cities  radiant  on  the  shield  appear 
 
 The  image,  one  of  peace  and  one  of  war. — 
 
 There,  in  the  forum  swarm  a  numerous  train 
 
 The  subject  of  debate,  a  townsman  slain. — 
 
 Another  part,  a  prospect  differing  far 
 
 Glowed  with  refulgent  arms  and  horrid  war. 
 
 Two  mighty  hosts  a  leaguer'd  town  embrace, 
 
 And  one  would  pillage,  one  would  burn  the  place. 
 
 Meantime  the  townsmen,  armed  with  silent  care, 
 
 A  secret  ambush  on  the  foe  prepare  : 
 
 Their  wives,  their  children,  and  the  watchful  band 
 
 Of  trembling  parents,  on  the  turrets  stand. 
 
 They  march  :  by  Pallas  and  by  Mars  made  bold  : 
 
 Gold  were  the  Gods,  their  radiant  garments  gold, 
 
 And  gold  their  armour  :  these  the  squadron  led 
 
 August,  divine,  superior  by  the  head  ! — 
 
 A  place  for  ambush  fit  they  found,  and  stood 
 
 Covered  with  shields  beside  a  silver  flood. — 
 
 Soon  the  white  flocks  proceeded  o'er  the  plains, 
 
 And  steers  slow  moving,  and  two  shepherd  swains. 
 
 In  arms  the  glittering  squadron  rising  round 
 
 Rush  sudden  ;  hills  of  slaughter  heap  the  ground  ; 
 
 Whole  flocks  and  herds  lie  bleeding  on  the  plains, 
 
 And  all  amidst  them,  dead,  the  shepherd  swains  ! 
 
 The  bellowing  oxen  the  besiegers  hear  ; 
 
 They  rise,  take  horse,  approach  and  meet  the  war, 
 
 They  fight,  they  fall,  beside  the  silver  flood, 
 
 The  waving  silver  seemed  to  blush  in  blood. — 
 
 And  the  whole  war  came  out,  and  met  the  eye  ; 
 
 And  each  bold  figure  seem'd  to  live  or  die. 
 
i  20  Hephaestus  or  Vulcan. 
 
 A  field  deep  furrow'd  next  the  God  design'd, 
 The  third  time  laboured  by  the  sweating  hind. 
 Still  as  at  either  end  they  wheel  around, 
 The  master  meets  them  with  his  goblet  crown'd. 
 Behind,  the  rising  earth  in  ridges  rolled 
 And  sable  looked,  tho'  formed  of  molten  gold. 
 
 Another  field  rose  high  with  waving  grain  ; 
 With  bended  sickles  stand  the  reaper  train  :— 
 With  sweeping  strokes  the  mowers  strow  the  lands, 
 The  gatherers  follow  and  collect  in  bands. 
 A  ready  banquet  on  the  turf  is  laid 
 Beneath  an  ample  oak's  expanded  shade  ; 
 The  victim  ox,  the  sturdy  youth  prepare  ; 
 The  reaper's  due  repast,  the  women's  care. — 
 
 Next  ripe  in  yellow  gold,  a  vineyard  shines 
 Bent  with  the  ponderous  harvest  of  its  vines.— 
 A  deeper  dye  the  dangling  cluster  show, 
 And  curl'd  on  silver  props,  in  order  glow  : 
 A  darker  metal  mix'd  entrench'd  the  place 
 And  pales  of  glittering  tin  the  enclosure  grace. 
 
 Here  herds  of  oxen  march,  erect  and  bold, 
 Rear  high  their  horns,  and  seem  to  low  in  gold, 
 And  speed  to  meadows,  on  whose  sounding  shores, 
 A  rapid  torrent  through  the  rushes  roars. — 
 Two  lions  rushing  from  the  wood  appeared, 
 And  seized  a  bull,  the  master  of  the  herd  : 
 He  roar'd  :  in  vain  the  dogs,  the  men  withstood, 
 They  tore  his  flesh  and  drank  his  sable  blood. 
 
 Next  this,  the  eye  of  Vulcan  leads 
 Deep  through  fair  forests,  and  a  length  of  meads  : 
 And  stalls,  and  folds,  and  scatter'd  cots  between  ; 
 And  fleecy  flocks,  that  whiten  all  the  scene. 
 
 A  figure  dance  succeeds  :  such  once  was  seen, 
 In  lofty  Gnossus  for  the  Cretan  Queen. 
 The  maids  in  soft  simars  of  linen  dress'd, 
 The  youths  all  graceful  in  the  glossy  vest.  .  .  . 
 How  all  at  once  they  rise,  at  once  descend, 
 
Hephaestus  or  Vulcan.  i  2  r 
 
 With  well  taught  feet ;  now  shape  in  oblique  ways 
 
 Confusedly  regular,  the  moving  maze 
 
 So  whirls  a  wheel,  in  giddy  circle  toss'd, 
 
 And  rapid  as  it  runs,  the  single  spokes  are  lost. 
 
 Thus  the  broad  shield  complete  the  artist  crown'd 
 
 With  his  last  hand,  and  poured  the  ocean  round. 
 
 In  living  silver  seemed  the  waves  to  roll, 
 
 And  beat  the  buckler's  verge,  and  bound  the  whole. 
 
 This  done,  whate'er  a  warrior's  use  requires, 
 He  forged  ;  the  cuirass  that  outshone  the  fires 
 The  greaves  of  ductile  tin,  the  helm  impress'd 
 With  various  sculpture,  and  the  golden  crest. 
 At  Thetis'  feet  the  finished  labour  lay  : 
 She  as  a  falcon  cuts  the  aerial  way, 
 Swift  from  Olympus'  snowy  summit  flies, 
 And  bears  the  blazing  present  thro'  the  skies. 
 
 — Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xviii.  (Tope). 
 
 The  second  time  that  Hephaestus  was  cast  down  from 
 heaven,  he  fell  on  the  Isle  of  Lemnos.  This  was  the  cause 
 of  his  lameness.  He  himself  speaks  of  this  fall  in  the 
 Iliad.  Zeus  and  Hera  having  quarrelled,  he  tried  to 
 pacify  his  mother : 
 
 "  Be  patient,  O  my  mother  !  "  he  exclaimed, 
 "  Although  afflicted  lest  mine  eyes  behold 
 Thee  stricken,  thee  so  loved  ;  and  I  bewail 
 My  lack  of  power,  to  help  thee  in  thy  woe; 
 So  irresistible  the  King  of  Heaven. 
 For  to  thy  rescue  when  erewhile  I  sped, 
 He  seized  me  by  the  foot,  and  hurl'd  me  down, 
 From  the  celestial  gates.     All  day  I  fell  ; 
 And  with  the  setting  sun  in  Lemnos  dropp'd. 
 There  scarce  alive,  the  men  of  Sintia  raised 
 My  sinking  frame." 
 
 —  Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  i.  (Wright). 
 
 Although  in  this  speech  Vulcan  appears  as  a  very  loving 
 
122  Hephaestus  or  Vulcan. 
 
 son,  he  was  not  always  so  ;  for  once,  to  revenge  himself  for 
 his  first  fall,  he  made  and  sent  her  a  golden  seat.  She, 
 suspecting  nothing,  sat  down  upon  it,  but  when  she 
 tried  to  rise,  she  could  not !  An  invisible  power  held 
 her  fast,  none  of  the  Gods  could  help  her,  and  Vulcan 
 utterly  refused  to  come  to  her  assistance,  in  spite  of  the 
 united  entreaties  of  all  the  immortals.  At  length  Bacchus 
 (Dionysus)  made  him  drink  so  much  wine,  that  he  knew  not 
 what  he  was  doing  ;  and  then,  leading  him  up  into  Heaven, 
 forced  him  to  release  his  parent. 
 
 Besides  the  artistic  works  already  mentioned  the  arms 
 of  ^Eneas  were  also  Vulcan's  handiwork,  and  Virgil  gives  a 
 fine  description  of  their  manufacture  by  the  Cyclops. 
 
 He  relates  how  Venus  went  to  her  husband,  and  with 
 friendly  words  entreated  him  to  make  a  suit  of  armour  for 
 her  son  ^Eneas. 
 
 Vulcan,  unaccustomed  to  be  thus  addressed  by  her, 
 delightedly  promised  to  do  all  that  she  required. 
 
 "  Thy  longing  shall  have  whatsoe'er  this  craft  of  mine  may  lend  ; 
 Whate'er  in  iron  may  be  done,  or  silver  golden  blend ; 
 Whatever  wind  and  fire  may  do  :  I  prithee  pray  no  more, 
 But  trust  the  glory  of  thy  might/' 
 
 He  then  rose  up  early  the  next  morning  and  hastened  to 
 his  forge,  in  the  Lipari  Isles,  where  ^olus,  the  god  of  the 
 winds,  lived. 
 
 Upon  the  flank  of  Sicily,  there  hangs  an  island  close 
 To  Lipari  of  Eolus,  with  shear-hewn  smoky  steep, 
 Beneath  it  thunder  caves  and  dens  ^tnean,  eaten  deep 
 With  forges  of  the  Cyclops  :  thence  men  hear  the  anvil's  cry 
 'Neath  mighty  strokes,  and  thro'  the  cave,  the  hissing  sparkles  fly 
 From  the  iron  of  the  Chalybes,  and  pants  the  forge  with  flame. 
 The  house  is  Vulcan's,  and  the  land  Vulcania  hath  to  name. 
 Thither  the  master  of  the  fire,  went  down  from  upper  air, 
 
Hephaestus  or  Vulcan.  1 2  3 
 
 Where  Cyclop  folk  in  mighty  den,  were  forging  iron  gear  ; 
 Pyraemon  of  the  naked  limbs,  Brontes  and  Steropes. 
 
 They  were  in  the  midst  of  manufacturing  a  thunderbolt 
 for  Jupiter,  but  it  was  not  yet  completed  : 
 
 Three  rays  they  wrought  of  writhen  storm,  three  of  the  watery 
 
 wrack  ; 
 Nor  do  the  three  of  ruddy  flame,  nor  windy  winging  lack. 
 And  now  the  work  of  fearful  flash,  and  roar  and  dread  they 
 
 won, 
 And  blent  amid  their  craftsmanship,  the  flame  that  floweth  on. 
 
 Some  of  the  Cyclops  were  busy  with  Mars'  chariot,  others 
 were  finishing  the  dreaded  Aegis,  Pallas'  fearful  shield,  when 
 Vulcan  stepped  in  and  called  out  : 
 
 "  Do  all  away,"  he  said,  "lay  by  the  labour  so  far  done, 
 Cyclops  of  Etna  !  turn  your  minds  to  this  one  thing  alone  : 
 Arms  for  a  great  man  must  be    wrought,  betake  ye  to   your 
 
 might, 
 Betake  ye  to  your  nimble  hands  and  all  your  mastery's  sleight, 
 And  hurry  tarrying,  into  haste." 
 
 No  more  he  spake  ;  all  they 
 Fall  swift  to  work  and  portion  out  the  labour  of  the  day  : 
 "  The  brazen  rivers  run  about  with  metal  of  the  gold, 
 And  soft  the  Chalybbane-master  flows  in  the  forges'  hold. 
 A  mighty  shield  they  set  on  foot,  to  match  all  weapons  held 
 By  Latin  men,  and  sevenfold  ring  on  ring,  about  it  weld. 
 Meanwhile  in  windy  bellow's  womb,  some  in  the  breezes  take 
 And  then  give  forth ;  some  dip  the  brass  all  hissing  in  the  Lake, 
 And  all  the  Cavern  is  agroan  with  strokes  on  anvil  laid  : 
 There  turn  and  turn  about  betwixt,  with  plenteous  might  to  aid 
 They  rear  their  arms  :  with  grip  of  tongs  they  turn  the  iron 
 
 o'er." 
 
124  Ares  or  Mars. 
 
 XII. — ARES   OR   MARS. 
 
 The  God  of  War  has  already  been  mentioned.  He  was  a 
 son  of  Zeus  and  Hera,  but  on  account  of  his  warlike  proclivi- 
 ties was  not  much  beloved  by  his  father.  He  had  no  wife, 
 but  that  he  loved  Aphrodite,  greatly  to  Hephaestus'  annoy- 
 ance, we  have  just  recounted.  Phobus  and  Deimus,  i.e., 
 Fright  and  Fear,  were  however  looked  upon  as  his  children, 
 and  followed  him  everywhere  in  battle,  harnessed  his  chariot, 
 and  ran  beside  it.  Eris  (Discord)  was  his  sister ;  she  also 
 accompanied  him  wherever  he  went.  Besides  these,  all 
 fierce  and  strong  warriors,  and  robbers  who  distinguished 
 themselves  by  wild  and  bloodthirsty  deeds,  were  called  his 
 sons. 
 
 In  Greece  his  temple  was  always  built  outside  the  town, 
 to  symbolize  that  war  should  not  enter  the  city ;  and  also, 
 that  he  might  guard  the  town  from  the  approach  of  enemies. 
 In  Sparta,  where  human  sacrifices  were  offered  to  him,  his 
 statue  was  hung  round  with  chains,  so  that  he  should  not 
 escape  from  the  Spartans  during  their  wars,  but  continue 
 to  give  them  his  protection. 
 
 He  is  generally  represented  nude,  with  a  helmet  on  his 
 head,  and  walking ;  seldom  sitting  or  standing  still.  Some- 
 times he  is  fully  armed,  with  helmet,  lance,  short  broad- 
 sword, and  cuirass ;  he  is  also  depicted  seated  in  a  war- 
 chariot,  driven  by  the  Goddess  of  War,  signs  of  victory 
 behind  him,  and  before  him  frightful  forms  representing 
 War  Cries,  Terror,  Fear,  and  Anger. 
 
 A  learned  antiquarian  thus  describes  him  : — 
 "  His  face  has   something  terse  and  powerful  about  it, 
 and  the  forehead  is  broad;  but  instead  of  being  arched 
 and  rounded  at  the  sides,  it  is  knotted  between  the  eye- 
 
Ares  or  Mars.  125 
 
 brows.  The  bridge  of  the  nose  is  broad,  the  mouth  small, 
 and  lips  full.  His  eyes  are  deep  set,  but  have,  notwith- 
 standing, a  clear  open  look,  and  his  hair  is  thick  and  short, 
 so  that  no  curls  cover  his  strong  muscular  throat.  The 
 expression  of  his  face  is  somewhat  stern,  threatening,  and 
 fierce.  His  body  is  very  compact,  with  a  broad  chest,  and 
 powerful  arms  and  shoulders  ;  but  the  thighs  and  legs  are 
 rather  slight,  as  he  combines  strength  with  speed  and 
 agility.  His  very  position,  the  left  leg  brought  forward, 
 while  resting  on  the  right  one,  has  something  peculiar  in  it, 
 noticed  in  him  alone,  which  gives  him  an  air  of  conscious 
 power  and  self-sufficiency.  In  short,  his  whole  appearance 
 denotes  a  powerful,  impetuous,  and  easily  roused  warrior.'' 
 
 Fewer  representations  of  Ares  are  found  among  the 
 Greeks  than  among  the  Romans.  To  these  last  he  was 
 essential,  partly  on  account  of  their  numerous  wars  and 
 strong  warlike  propensities,  and  partly  because  he  was  the 
 reputed  father  of  Romulus  and  Remus. 
 
 Numa  Pompilius  had  governed  the  Romans  for  about 
 eight  years  when  a  frightful  pestilence  broke  out  all  over 
 Italy,  terrifying  the  whole  nation,  and  suddenly  a  brazen 
 shield  fell  down  from  heaven.  The  king  assured  the 
 people  that  it  had  been  foretold  him  that  Rome's  well- 
 being  depended  on  this  shield,  and  that  as  long  as  it  was 
 safely  preserved  the  city  would  flourish.  In  order,  there- 
 fore, to  do  this,  the  king  had  eleven  other  shields  made 
 exactly  like  it,  so  that  not  even  he  himself  could  distinguish 
 the  original.  They  were  called  the  Ancilla,  and  the  care 
 of  them  was  given  to  twelve  trustworthy  citizens,  chosen 
 from  among  the  patricians,  who  were  called  Salii. 
 
 On  the  ist  of  March — that  month  being  sacred  to  Mars 
 — the  Salii  proceeded  through  the  streets  of  Rome,  clothed 
 in  rich  purple  garments,  and  wearing  broad  brass  girdles 
 
126  Aphrodite  or  Venus. 
 
 round  their  waists  and  helmets  on  their  heads.  They 
 carried  short  swords  in  their  right  hands,  with  which  they 
 beat  the  shields  that  they  held  in  their  left ;  at  the  same 
 time  singing  martial  songs  and  performing  warlike  dances, 
 to  the  accompaniment  of  flutes  and  horns. 
 
 These  processions  took  place  several  times  during  March, 
 and  were  always  followed  by  a  great  banquet. 
 
 We  must  not  forget  to  mention  here  the  Goddess  of 
 War,  Bellona,  called  Enyo  by  the  Greeks.  They  never 
 had  any  representation  of  her,  though  she  is  always  men- 
 tioned as  the  sister  or  friend  of  Mars,  and  as  delighting  in 
 bloodshed  and  destruction.  The  Romans  generally  depicted 
 her  with  Mars,  dressed  in  flowing  garments,  with  dis- 
 hevelled hair,  holding  a  torch  in  one  hand  and  a  whip  in 
 the  other. 
 
 In  Rome  she  had  a  large  and  spacious  temple  ;  a  small 
 pillar  stood  in  front  of  it,  in  which  a  short  spear  was  placed 
 upright,  amid  solemn  ceremonies,  whenever  war  was  declared 
 against  any  foreign  nation. 
 
 XIII.— APHRODITE    OR  VENUS. 
 
 Of  the  origin  of  Venus,  the  ancient  writer  Hesiod  gives 
 the  following  account  : — 
 
 "  Now  swift-circling,  a  white  foam  arose, — 
 And  a  nymph  was  nourished  in  its  midst. 
 
 The  wafting  waves 
 First  bore  her  to  Cythera  the  divine  : 
 To  wave-encircled  Cyprus  came  she  then, 
 And  forth  emerged,  a  goddess  in  the  charms 
 Of  awful  beauty.     Where  her  delicate  feet 
 Had  pressed  the  sands,  green  herbage  flow'ring  sprang, 
 Her  Aphrodite  gods  and  mortals  name, 
 
Aphrodite  or  Venus.  1 2  7 
 
 The  foam-born  Goddess  :  and  her  name  is  known 
 
 As  Cytherea  with  the  blooming  wreath, 
 
 For  that  she  touched  Cythera's  flowery  coast ; 
 
 And  Cyprus,  for  that  on  the  Cyprian  shore 
 
 She  rose  amid  the  multitude  of  waves. 
 
 Love  tracked  her  steps,  and  beautiful  Desire 
 
 Pursued  ;  while  soon  as  born  she  bent  her  way 
 
 Towards  heaven's  assembled  Gods  :  her  honour  these 
 
 From  the  beginning  :  whether  Gods  or  men 
 
 Her  presence  bless,  to  her  the  portion  falls 
 
 Of  Virgin  whisperings  and  alluring  smiles, 
 
 And  smooth  deceits,  and  gentle  extasy." 
 
 — Hesiod,  "Theogony"  (Elton). 
 
 She  was  called  Aphrodite,  or  foam-born;  also  Anadyomene, 
 or  risen  from  the  sea.  Soft  zephyrs  wafted  her  over  the 
 waves,  and  when  she  reached  Cyprus,  Eros  and  Himeros 
 (Love  and  Longing)  were  ready  to  receive  her.  Flowers 
 bloomed  beneath  her  feet  as  she  walked,  the  rosy  Hours 
 arrayed  her  in  heavenly  garments,  placed  golden  ornaments 
 on  her  neck  and  arms,  and  crowned  her  with  violets.  Thus 
 adorned,  they  conducted  her  into  the  presence  of  the 
 assembled  Gods,  where  she  was  received  with  delight  and 
 amazement. 
 
 Some  legends  represent  her  to  be  the  daughter  of  Zeus 
 and  Dione,  one  of  the  Oceanidae ;  others  say  she  was  the 
 daughter  of  ^Ether  and  Gaea.  She  was  worshipped  under 
 three  forms:  (1.)  As  the  Goddess  of  Beauty,  when  the 
 Greek  poets  cannot  sufficiently  praise  her.  They  describe 
 her  as  the  golden  one,  the  rosy  fingered,  gold  and  violet 
 crowned,  tender  footed,  silver  footed,  smiling,  and  sweet 
 spoken,  &c,  &c.  She  was  especially  fascinating — nay, 
 irresistible — when  she  wore  that  magic  girdle,  whose 
 powers  we  have  already  described  when  speaking  of  Zeus 
 and  Hera.     Even  storms  and  the  wild  waves  of  the  sea  were 
 
128  Aphrodite  or  Venus. 
 
 stilled  by  it.  To  indicate  the  force  of  Beauty,  and  its  power 
 to  wound,  she  carried  a  scourge,  a  key,  and  a  bow  and 
 arrows  in  her  hand.  (2.)  As  Goddess  of  Love  all  paid  her 
 homage,  and  everything  in  nature  acknowledged  her  sway ; 
 Diana,  Minerva,  and  Vesta  alone  never  succumbed  to  her 
 power.  She  was  generally  accompanied  by  Amor  (Eros), 
 Cupid  (Himeros),  and  Peitho,  the  Goddess  of  Persuasive- 
 ness, and  held  a  scourge  and  a  key, — with  the  latter  of 
 which  she  opened  men's  hearts,  and  then  constrained  them 
 to  love.  In  all  myths  and  legends  where  love  appears 
 Venus  ever  plays  a  prominent  part.  (3.)  As  Goddess  of 
 Marriage  and  Wedlock,  when  Hymeneus  is  invariably  her 
 attendant. 
 
 That  she  liked  Mars  better  than  her  husband  Vulcan  has 
 already  been  told,  as  well  as  how  the  latter  punished  her  by 
 snaring  them  both  in  the  invisible  net.  Ashamed  and 
 indignant  at  the  laughter  of  the  Gods  she  retired  to  the 
 Grove  of  Paphos,  in  Cyprus,  where  the  Graces  received  her, 
 bathed  and  anointed  her,  and  clothed  her  in  lovely  garments. 
 One  poet,  in  order  to  explain  why  the  ugliest  God  should 
 have  obtained  the  most  beautiful  Goddess  for  his  wife, 
 relates  that  the  Gods  all  disputed  the  possession  of  Venus, 
 each  one  wishing  to  have  her,  when  Momus,  the  god  of 
 raillery,  put  an  end  to  the  discussion  by  suggesting  that  she 
 should  be  given  to  the  ugliest  among  them.  This  proposal 
 was  unanimously  accepted,  and,  amid  great  merriment,  she 
 was  bestowed  on  Vulcan. 
 
 Pygmalion,  King  of  Cyprus,  was  also  a  sculptor.  Having 
 carved  a  lovely  figure  of  a  maiden  out  of  ivory,  he  was  so 
 fascinated  with  his  own  creation,  that  he  remained  lost  in 
 admiration  of  it,  and  forgetting  that  it  was  lifeless,  pressed 
 it  enthusiastically  to  his  heart,  entreating  it  to  return  his 
 love.     His  passion  became  daily  more  uncontrollable,  till  at 
 
Aphrodite  or  Venus.  129 
 
 last  he  went  to  the  altar  of  Aphrodite,  and  prayed  the  Goddess 
 of  Love  to  endow  with  life  the  result  of  his  skill.  Three 
 times  the  flowers  on  the  sacrificial  altar  rose  high  in  the  air, 
 a  sign  of  acquiescence,  and  trembling  with  hopes  and  fears 
 Pygmalion  hurried  home.  He  rushed  up  to  the  figure  ;  as 
 he  kisses  the  lips  they  warm  at  his  touch,  the  cold  hands 
 grow  soft  as  he  presses  them,  he  feels  the  beating  of  the 
 heart,  the  eyes  begin  to  shine,  and  at  last  his  ears  are 
 ravished  by  the  sound  of  the  young  girl's  voice  thanking  him 
 for  giving  her  life. 
 
 Pygmalion's  grandson  was  the  beautiful  Adonis.  The 
 nymphs  brought  him  up,  and  the  handsome  lad  became 
 greatly  loved  by  Aphrodite.  He  was  devoted  to  the  chase,  and 
 the  Goddess,  contrary  to  her  usual  habits,  wandered  with  him 
 for  days  in  the  forests  while  he  was  hunting,  often  entreat- 
 ing him  not  to  run  needlessly  into  the  dangers  that  his 
 fearlessness  brought  him  in  contact  with.  But  he  despised 
 her  warnings.  One  day  he  encountered  a  wild  boar,  which 
 rushed  madly  towards  him.  Adonis  shot  at  the  animal,  but 
 missing  his  aim,  it  turned  upon  him  and  tore  him  in  pieces. 
 Aphrodite,  becoming  anxious  at  the  non-appearance  of  her  be- 
 loved, went  to  search  for  him,  and  at  last  found  him  lying 
 on  the  ground  weltering  in  his  own  blood.  She  used  every 
 remedy  to  restore  him  to  life,  her  tears  flowing  the  while ; 
 but  all  in  vain,  and  Zeus  in  pity  turned  her  tears  and  his 
 blood  into  flowers,  the  beautiful  red  rose  springing  up  from 
 his  life-blood  and  the  lovely  white  wood  Anemone  from  the 
 Goddess's  tears. 
 
 One  day  Venus  made  a  boast  before  the  assembled  Gods 
 that,  with  the  exception  of  Artemis,  Pallas,  and  Hestia,  all  the 
 other  immortals  had  succumbed  to  her  power  and  loved 
 some  mortal,  but  that  she  herself  had  ever  remained  free. 
 Zeus,  to  punish  her  for  this  audacious  assertion,  caused  her 
 
 1 
 
1 30  Aphrodite  or  Venus. 
 
 at  once  to  fall  in  love  with  Anchises,  a  handsome  youth  of 
 the  family  of  the  Trojan  kings,  who  fed  his  flocks  on  Mount 
 Ida,  near  the  city  of  Troy.  Fired  with  passion,  she  hurried 
 to  Paphos  in  Cyprus.  There  the  Graces  bathed  and 
 anointed  her,  and  dressed  her  in  glorious  apparel.  She 
 then  returned  to  Mount  Ida,  so  wondrously  beautiful  that 
 all  the  wild  beasts  of  the  woods— bears,  lions,  and  panthers 
 — came  fawning  to  her  feet.  Taking  a  human  form,  she 
 came  to  the  tent  of  Anchises,  whom  she  found  playing  on 
 the  lyre.  When  he  saw  the  Goddess  he  sprang  up  and  be- 
 sought her  on  bended  knees  to  give  him  her  blessing,  for 
 notwithstanding  that  she  stood  before  him  in  mortal  shape, 
 he  thought  she  must  be,  at  least  partly,  divine.  "  Thou  art 
 mistaken,"  she  answered  him  ;  "  I  am  no  divinity,  but  only 
 a  daughter  of  one  of  the  Phrygian  kings.  As  I  and  several 
 of  my  companions  were  dancing  at  a  feast  of  Artemis,  Hermes 
 descended  among  us,  and  carried  me  away.  I  was  incon- 
 solable with  grief  and  despair,  when  he  tried  to  comfort  me 
 by  assuring  me  that  thou  wouldst  take  me  for  thy  wife.  I 
 have  come  therefore  to  beg  for  thy  favour,  and  can  promise 
 to  bring  thee  a  good  dowry."  It  did  not  need  this  last 
 inducement  to  make  the  enraptured  Anchises  willingly 
 acquiesce.  They  were  married  immediately,  and  lived 
 together  in  the  greatest  happiness ;  when  one  night,  waking 
 suddenly,  Anchises  saw  the  Goddess  standing  beside  him  in 
 all  her  divine  beauty.  His  eye  could  not  bear  the  splen- 
 dour of  the  sight,  and  turning  away  he  begged  her  to  spare 
 him.  "  Fear  not,"  she  answered,  "  thou  art  not  the  first 
 mortal  that  has  been  favoured.  And  now,  listen  !  When 
 our  son  is  born,  I  will  have  him  brought  up  by  the  Dryads. 
 When  he  is  five  years  old  he  shall  return  to  thee,  and  thou 
 canst  say  that  he  is  a  wood  nymph's  son.  But  on  pain 
 of  death  never  divulge  that  it  was  Artemis  who  deemed  thee 
 
Aphrodite  or  Verms.  1 3 1 
 
 worthy  of  her  love."  Anchises  promised  to  obey  this 
 charge,  but  one  day,  when  his  tongue  was  loosened  by  wine, 
 he  began  to  boast  that  Aphrodite  was  his  wife.  Immediately 
 the  threatened  punishment  descended.  Zeus  hurled  his 
 thunderbolt  upon  him.  He  escaped  with  his  life,  however, 
 though  lamed  for  the  rest  of  his  days.  And  for  this  reason 
 he  could  not  flee  when  Troy  was  in  flames,  but  his  faithful 
 son  ^Eneas  bore  him  away  on  his  shoulders,  and  thus  saved 
 him,  taking  him  to  Italy,  where  the  old  man  afterwards 
 died. 
 
 The  legend  of  Hippomenes  and  Atalanta,  with  which 
 Aphrodite  is  connected,  may  also  be  given  here.  Just  before 
 the  Trojan  war  a  king  named  Schoenus  was  living  in 
 the  island  of  Scyros,  in  the  Archipelago,  not  far  from 
 Eubea.  He  had  one  beautiful  daughter  called  Atalanta. 
 As  an  oracle  had  predicted  that,  if  ever  she  married  she 
 would  change  her  form,  she  determined  to  remain  a  maiden, 
 and  to  rid  herself  of  the  numerous  candidates  for  her  hand, 
 vowed  she  would  only  give  herself  to  him  who  could  outrun 
 her  in  a  race ;  all  whom  she  outstripped  would  be  put  to 
 death.  Notwithstanding  this,  many  suitors  came  to  com- 
 pete in  the  dangerous  races.  They  had  all  to  run  unarmed  ; 
 Atalanta  allowed  them  to  start  before  her,  then  hurrying 
 after  them  with  a  spear  in  her  hand,  she  threw  it  at  them 
 when  sufficiently  near;  and  after  having  killed  an  unfor- 
 tunate competitor,  she  placed  his  head  as  a  trophy  at  the 
 goal.  Several  had  already  thus  fallen  victims,  when  a 
 candidate  named  Hippomenes  appeared.  Aphrodite  had  pro- 
 mised him  her  protection,  and  had  given  him  three  golden 
 apples,  telling  him  exactly  what  to  do  with  them.  The  race 
 began.  Atalanta,  as  was  her  wont,  gave  her  suitor  a  start, 
 then  following  quickly,  came  close  up  to  him  and  was  about 
 to  pierce  him  with  her  spear,  when  Hippomenes  let  fall  one 
 
132  Aphrodite  or  Venus. 
 
 of  the  golden  apples.  The  maiden,  dazzled  by  its  brightness 
 and  beauty,  stopped  to  look  at  it,  thus  giving  Hippomenes 
 a  fresh  start.  He  dropped  the  other  two  apples  in  like 
 manner,  and  so  succeeded  in  arriving  first  at  the  goal.  Ac- 
 cordingly he  received  the  maiden  for  his  wife.  But  in  the 
 joy  of  his  success  he  forgot  to  offer  a  thank-offering  to 
 Aphrodite,  his  benefactress,  and  to  punish  this  ingratitude  she 
 filled  both  their  hearts  with  such  an  intense  passion  for  one 
 another,  that  they  could  not  restrain  their  loving  glances, 
 even  when  in  the  temple  of  Cybele.  This  insult  was  at 
 once  avenged  by  that  Goddess,  who  turned  them  into  a  pair 
 of  lions,  and  harnessed  them  to  her  chariot. 
 
 Although  the  story  of  the  judgment  of  Paris  is  so  well 
 known,  we  must  not  omit  it,  as  Aphrodite  played  such  a  pro- 
 minent part  in  it.  Priam,  the  son  of  Laomedon,  was  King 
 of  Troy.  His  wife  Hecuba  once  had  an  alarming  dream 
 of  a  torch,  that  set  the  whole  of  Troy  on  fire.  The  Seers 
 thus  interpreted  it :  Hecuba  would  have  a  son  who,  before 
 he  attained  his  thirtieth  year,  would  cause  the  complete 
 overthrow  of  Troy.  To  prevent  this,  as  soon  as  the  child 
 was  born  he  was  taken  to  the  neighbouring  Mount  Ida, 
 and  there  left.  A  she-bear  found  and  nursed  him,  and 
 later  on  a  shepherd  brought  him  up,  until  he  was  old 
 enough  to  guard  the  flocks.  He  was  called  Paris,  was 
 remarkable  alike  for  his  beauty  and  his  wisdom,  and  had 
 later  on  the  good  luck  or  misfortune  to  be  chosen  as  Umpire 
 between  three  goddesses. 
 
 The  case  was  this  :  Thetis,  the  daughter  of  Nereus  and 
 Doris,  was  so  lovely  that  both  Zeus  and  Poseidon  sued 
 for  her  hand.  But  fate  had  decreed  that  when  she  had  a 
 son  he  would  become  greater  and  mightier  than  his  father. 
 Themis  therefore  wisely  advised  that  she  should  be  married 
 to  a  mortal,  and  Peleus,  King  of  Thessaly,  who  was  after- 
 
Aphrodite  or  Venus.  135 
 
 wards  the  father  of  Achilles,  was  selected.     Thetis  tried  to 
 escape   from   him   by  assuming  various   forms;   first,    she 
 appeared  as  a  river,  then  a  flame,  then  a  wild  untamed 
 animal,  till  at  last  overcoming  all  dangers,  he  succeeded  in 
 conquering  her.     The   bridal  feast,  which  took  place  on 
 Mount  Pelion,  was  graced  by  the  presence  of  the  Gods  and 
 Goddesses,  who  all  brought  suitable  presents  to  the  bridal 
 pair.     Poseidon  gave  Peleus  immortal  horses,— the  Centaur 
 Chiron,  a  long  spear;  while  Apollo  played  the  lute,  and 
 the  Muses  sang  and  danced.     One  Goddess  alone  had  not 
 been  asked,  and  with  reason.     This  was  Eris,  Goddess  of 
 Discord ;  for  who  would  invite  strife,  especially  to  a  feast, 
 where  joy  ought  to  reign  ?     Eris,  however,  determined  to 
 avenge  the  slight  she  had  received.     Suddenly  appearing  at 
 the  open  door  she  rolled  a  golden  apple  into  the  banquet- 
 ing hall,  and  disappeared.     All  the  Goddesses,  filled  with 
 curiosity  ran  to  pick  it  up,  when,  to  their  surprise,  they  saw 
 the    following   inscription   written  on  it :    "  To   the   most 
 beautiful."     Each  at  once  claimed  it  for  herself,  till,  after 
 much  disputing,  the  rest  retired,  leaving  the  field  to  Hera, 
 Athene,  and  Aphrodite.      Zeus  would  not  undertake  the 
 decision,  knowing  well  that  whichever  way  he  settled  the 
 dispute  he  would  bring  down  the  anger  of  two  of  them  on 
 himself.     He  therefore  ordered  Hermes  to  take  the  three 
 Goddesses  to  Paris  on  Mount  Ida,  as  the  beautiful  shepherd 
 was  well  known  to  be  both  a  critic  of  beauty  and  a  clever 
 arbitrator. 
 
 Arrayed  to  the  utmost  advantage  the  three  came  and 
 laid  the  case  before  him,  and  each  promised  a  recom- 
 pense if  he  would  award  her  the  prize.  Juno  said  she 
 would  make  him  the  mightiest  and  richest  king  on  earth ; 
 Athene  promised  that  he  should  be  wiser  than  all  men  ;  and 
 Aphrodite  offered  him  the  greatest  good  fortune  in  Love, 
 
1 34  Aphrodite  or  Venus. 
 
 and  a  beautiful  wife.  Paris,  after  a  few  moments  of  thought, 
 gave  the  apple  to  Aphrodite;  when,  filled  with  rage  and 
 threatening  vengeance,  the  other  two  departed.  For  this 
 reason,  we  shall  find  them  later  on  taking  the  side  of  the 
 Greeks  throughout  the  Trojan  War. 
 
 Paris,  meanwhile,  continued  his  lowly  occupation  of 
 tending  the  royal  flocks,  without  either  he  or  King  Priam 
 being  aware  of  their  relationship  to  each  other.  One  day 
 the  king  commanded  some  funeral  games  to  be  celebrated 
 in  honour  of  one  of  the  princes  of  his  house,  and  promised 
 that  a  magnificent  Bull,  which  was  a  special  favourite  with 
 Paris,  should  be  the  prize  awarded  to  the  victor.  The 
 shepherd  of  Mount  Ida  therefore  competed  among  others  in 
 the  games  ;  when,  behold  !  he  overcame  all  his  opponents, 
 even  valiant  Hector,  the  greatest  and  most  celebrated  son  of 
 Priam.  Then  all  eyes  were  turned  on  the  Victor,  everyone 
 asking  with  curiosity  who  he  could  be,  until  Cassandra,  a 
 daughter  of  the  king,  who  had  the  gift  of  prophecy, 
 stepped  forth  and  declared  him  to  be  the  son  of  Priam  and 
 Hecuba.  The  king  acknowledged  him,  and  as  Paris  was 
 now  more  than  thirty  years  old,  the  dreaded  time  foretold 
 by  the  Seers  was  believed  to  be  past.  None  knew  that  the 
 fate  of  Troy  had  been  already  fixed  by  the  judgment  of 
 Paris. 
 
 In  a  short  time  Priam  sent  his  son  Paris  into  Greece; 
 for  long  ago  Hercules  had,  out  of  revenge,  carried  off 
 Hesione,  the  king's  sister,  and  given  her  in  marriage  to 
 Telamon,  King  of  Salamis.  Paris  was  therefore  sent  to 
 ascertain  if  she  were  still  alive,  and  to  bring  her  and  her 
 descendants  back  to  Troy.  He  landed  with  his  fleet  at 
 Sparta,  where  Menelaus  then  reigned.  The  king  was 
 absent  at  the  time,  but  his  wife  Helen,  daughter  of  Zeus 
 and  Leda,   received  Paris  most  graciously,  and  at  length 
 
Aphrodite  or  Venus.  135 
 
 allowed  herself  to  be  persuaded  to  accompany  the  stranger 
 back  to  Troy.  When  Menelaus  returned  and  found  that 
 his  wife  had  been  carried  off,  together  with  many  treasures, 
 he  was  furiously  enraged,  and  roused  all  the  princes  of 
 Greece  to  aid  him  in  a  war  against  Troy. 
 
 That  Aphrodite  took  the  side  of  the  Trojans  during  this 
 war  has  been  already  stated.  We  will  give  an  extract  from 
 the  fifth  Book  of  the  Iliad,  describing  the  wounding  of 
 Aphrodite  by  Diomed  : — 
 
 "  Diomed  meanwhile 
 
 Was  chasing  with  his  spear  the  Cyprian  Queen, 
 Well  knowing  her  a  goddess  void  of  strength, 
 Nor  one  of  those  who  sway  the  wars  of  men — 
 Minerva,  or  Bellona — strong  to  raze 
 Proud  cities'  walls.     When  high-souled  Tydeus'  son 
 At  last  o'ertook  her,  after  long  pursuit, 
 He  springing  fiercely,  with  his  javelin  grazed 
 Her  delicate  wrist  ;  and  pierced  the  ambrosial  veil 
 Wrought  by  the  Graces  with  their  own  fair  hands. 
 Forth  from  the  wound  came  trickling  blood  divine — 
 Ichor — such  stream  as  flows  in  heavenly  veins. 
 For  since  the  blessed  gods  partake  not  food, 
 Nor  quaff  dark  wine,  all-bloodless  are  their  forms, 
 And  they  are  called  immortal.     Stung  by  pain 
 Loud  shrieked  the  goddess         .... 
 
 '  Retire,  thou  child  of  Jove,' 
 And  quit  the  field,'  with  voice  exulting  cried 
 Tydides.     *  Is  it  not  enough  for  thee 
 Weak  women  to  cajole  ?     If  thou  go  forth 
 To  war  and  feats  of  arms,  truly  I  deem 
 Thou  soon  wilt  shudder  at  war's  very  name.' 
 Grievously  suffering,  and  with  pain  convulsed, 
 Fair  Venus  left  the  crash,  from  out  the  field 
 By  swift-foot  Iris  led — her  delicate  skin 
 Stained  with  dark  hues.     Now  leftward  of  the  field 
 
1 36  Aphrodite  or  Venus. 
 
 She  found  fierce  Mars  reclining— his  huge  spear 
 And  rapid  steeds  encircled  by  a  cloud. 
 Down  at  his  feet  the  wounded  goddess  fell, 
 And  supplicating  spoke  :  '  O  brother  dear, 
 Lend  me,  I  pray,  your  golden-fronted  steeds, 
 To  bear  me  to  Olympus,  where  the  gods 
 Their  seats  possess.     Wound,  by  a  mortal  man 
 Inflicted,  grieves  me  sore.     With  Jove  himself 
 Tydides  would  contend.' 
 
 At  her  behest 
 Mars  lent  his  golden-fronted  steeds  ;  and  she 
 Mounted  the  chariot,  sorrowful  at  heart. 
 Iris,  ascending  with  her,  took  the  reins, 
 And  lashed  the  steeds.     They  not  unwilling  flew 
 To  high  Olympus,  mansion  of  the  Gods. 
 There  swift-foot  Iris  stayed  her  coursers'  flight, 
 Loosed  from  the  car,  and  gave  ambrosial  food. 
 Venus  meanwhile  fell  at  her  mother's  knees  ; 
 And  in  her  arms  Dione  took  her  child, 
 Soothed  with  her  hand,  and  tenderly  addressed  : 
 '  Which  of  the  blest  inhabitants  of  heaven 
 Hath  wantonly  thus  injured  thee,  my  child, 
 As  though  deserving  of  such  chastisement  ? ' 
 To  her  the  laughter-loving  Aphrodite  : 
 '  The  wound  was  dealt  me  by  proud  Tydeus'  son.' 
 
 Answered  Dione,  goddess  most  divine  : 
 '  Bear  up,  my  child,  and  patiently  endure 
 Although  afflicted  ;  for  e'en  we  who  dwell 
 In  the  Olympian  mansions,  oftentimes 
 Suffer  from  men,  and  mutual  wrongs  inflict.' 
 
 She  spoke,  and  wiped  the  ichor  from  her  wrist  : 
 Instant  the  hand  was  healed, — her  pain  assuaged. 
 Juno  and  Pallas,  looking  on  meanwhile, 
 With  taunting  words  sarcastic  turned  to  Jove. 
 
Aphrodite  or  Venus.  137 
 
 At  Minerva's  words 
 Smiled  the  almighty  Sire  of  gods  and  men  ; 
 And  thus  to  golden  Aphrodite  spoke  : 
 '  To  thee,  my  child,  are  other  cares  assigned 
 Than  those  of  war.     To  Pallas  and  to  Mars 
 Leave  these  ;  and  be  connubial  joys  thy  care.'  " 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  v.  (Wright). 
 
 Aphrodite,  however,  had  her  revenge  on  Diomed  for  the 
 wound  he  had  given  her.  During  his  absence  at  Troy  she 
 inspired  his  wife  with  a  liking  for  another ;  and  on  his 
 return  to  Argos  she  received  him  so  coldly  that  he  deter- 
 mined to  leave  his  kingdom,  and  wandered  to  Italy,  where 
 he  was  murdered. 
 
 The  following  legend  is  also  related  of  Aphrodite  :  She 
 one  day  seated  herself  at  the  loom  of  Athene  intending  to 
 weave  herself  a  garment.  But,  behold  !  the  fine  threads 
 became  thick  as  cords,  and  the  whole  web  tore  in  pieces. 
 The  goddess,  however,  was  not  to  be  thus  baffled.  She 
 continued  to  weave,  the  Graces  helping  her  by  guiding 
 the  threads,  while  the  sun  and  moon  watched  her  at  her 
 work.  Meanwhile,  Love  having  departed  with  Aphrodite, 
 the  world  was  left  desolate ;  a  general  depression  took  posses- 
 sion of  Gods  and  men,  and  no  marriages  were  contracted. 
 At  last  Athene  herself  complained  of  her  uninvited  guest. 
 Then  all  the  Gods  assembled  together,  and  Hermes  taunt- 
 ingly reminded  Aphrodite  of  the  invisible  net  with  which 
 Vulcan  had  once  entrapped  her  and  Ares.  This  caused 
 universal  jeers  and  laughter,  amidst  which  the  Goddess, 
 ashamed  and  angry,  hastily  left  their  presence  and  hurried 
 back  to  Cyprus.  Immediately  new  life  filled  the  world : 
 the  return  of  Love  brought  happiness  to  all. 
 
 Aphrodite  was  as  gracious  and  beneficent  to  her  zealous 
 worshippers  as  she  was  revengeful  and  implacable  to  those 
 
138  Aphrodite  or  Venus. 
 
 who  neglected  or  slighted  her.  Phaon,  a  beautiful  youth  in 
 the  island  of  Lesbos,  had  once  ferried  her  across  the  water, 
 little  suspecting  who  she  was.  As  a  reward  for  this  service 
 she  gave  him  an  ointment,  which  had  the  effect  of  rendering 
 his  beauty  so  irresistible  that  all  the  maidens  in  the  island 
 fell  in  love  with  him.  Among  them  was  the  celebrated 
 poetess  Sappho,  whose  tender  love  the  inexorable  youth 
 treated  with  cold  indifference.  Her  life  at  last  became  a 
 burden  to  her.  She  could  no  longer  bear  the  pain  of 
 unrequited  love,  and  perished  by  throwing  herself  from  the 
 Leucadian  rock  into  the  Ionian  sea ;  for  a  legend  said  that 
 a  leap  from  this  rock  would  cure  all  pains  caused  by  love. 
 And  it,  indeed,  spoke  truly,  for  whoever  cast  himself  down 
 from  thence  lost  pains  and  life  together. 
 
 The  women  of  the  island  of  Lemnos  had  offended  Aphrodite 
 by  not  offering  her  any  sacrifice.  She  therefore  punished 
 them  by  making  all  the  men  in  the  island  turn  against 
 their  wives.  Setting  sail  for  Thrace  they  landed,  married 
 new  wives,  and  returned  with  them  to  Lemnos.  But  the 
 wronged  and  deserted  wives  murdered  their  faithless  hus- 
 bands the  night  of  their  return.  The  king  Thoas  alone 
 was  saved  by  his  daughter  Hypsipyle.  He  fled  to  the 
 peninsula  of  Taurus,  where,  further  on,  we  shall  again  hear 
 of  him. 
 
 The  myrtle,  rose,  and  apple,  and  also  doves,  sparrows, 
 and  swans  were  sacred  to  Aphrodite,  her  chariot  being  drawn 
 by  the  last  named  when  she  performed  her  serial  journeys. 
 She  was  worshipped  at  various  places,  the  most  celebrated 
 being  Cyprus,  where,  in  the  Meadow  of  Paphos,  only  blood- 
 less offerings,  such  as  myrtle-wreaths  and  incense,  were 
 presented  to  her ;  Amathus,  on  the  south  coast,  whence  her 
 name  of  Amathusia ;  and  the  Island  of  Cythera.  The 
 most  beautiful  statue  of  this  goddess  was  at  Cnidus,  a  town 
 
Aphrodite  or  Venus,  Eros  or  Cupid.       139 
 
 on  the  west  coast  of  Asia  Minor,  opposite  Rhodes.  It  was 
 of  white  marble,  sculptured  by  Praxiteles,  and  was  the 
 admiration  of  the  whole  of  Greece. 
 
 Of  all  the  ancient  statues  of  her  that  have  been  preserved 
 the  most  celebrated  is  the  Venus  de  Medici,  so  called  from 
 being  in  the  collection  of  the  great  family  of  Medici  in 
 Florence.  She  was  generally  represented  nude,  and  some- 
 times standing  in  a  large  shell,  drawn  by  Nereids  and 
 Tritons,  wringing  the  water  from  her  hair. 
 
 Friday  was  sacred  to  her  both  in  Greece  and  Rome. 
 
 Among  the  attendants  of  Aphrodite,  Eros  or  Cupid,  the 
 God  of  Love,  was  always  conspicuous.  He  was  represented 
 as  her  son,  for  beauty  and  amiability  bring  forth  love.  He 
 was  the  mightiest  of  Gods,  and  brought  all  under  his  sway, 
 for  his  power  was  irresistible — Love  being  an  universal  and 
 all-powerful  passion.  Even  the  Gods  were  obliged  to  submit 
 to  his  will ;  Athene,  Hestia,  and  Artemis  alone  resisted  him. 
 He  was  armed  with  bow  and  arrows,  which  latter  penetrated 
 to  Olympus  and  Tartarus,  several  times  wounding  even  his 
 own  mother.  With  his  torch  he  set  the  heaven  and  earth 
 in  a  blaze.  He  disarmed  both  gods  and  heroes, — deprived 
 Zeus  of  his  thunderbolt,  Ares  of  his  helmet,  Apollo  of 
 his  bow  and  arrows,  Dionysus  of  his  thyrsus,  and  Hercules 
 of  his  club  and  lion's  skin.  Even  the  wild  animals  acknow- 
 ledged his  sway,  and  no  corner  in  heaven  or  earth  was 
 safe  from  his  influence. 
 
 Love  being  often  childish,  frivolous,  and  fleeting,  Cupid  is 
 represented  as  a  lovely  winged  boy,  now  merry  and  laugh- 
 ing, now  sad  and  crying;  again  gentle  and  winning,  or 
 pouting  and  cross.  At  his  birth  Zeus,  foreseeing  that  the 
 boy  would  bring  only  grief  and  misfortune  into  the  world, 
 advised  Aphrodite  to  strangle  him.  But  the  compassionate 
 mother  hid  him  in  a  wood,  where  wild  animals  nursed  him. 
 
140       Aphrodite  or  Venus,  Bros  or  Cupid, 
 
 As  soon  as  he  was  strong  enough  he  made  himself  an  aspen 
 bow  and  arrows  of  cypress,  and  practised  shooting  animals. 
 Not  until  quite  sure  of  his  skill  did  he  attempt  the  hearts 
 of  men  ;  and  seldom  did  the  wounds  caused  by  his  arrows 
 heal.  Another  poet  says  that  Hephaestus  forged  his  arrows, 
 and  Aphrodite  dipped  their  points  in  honey ;  but  Eros  had 
 steeped  them  in  gall,  for  he  was  heartless,  proud,  envious, 
 suspicious,  and  cruel,  always  trying  to  do  harm,  and  to 
 circumvent  man  by  his  cunning.  He  often  joined  with 
 Dionysus  in  fooling  men,  concealing  himself  in  their  goblets 
 full  of  wine,  the  more  easily  to  wound  them  as  they  drank. 
 Anacreon,  a  contemporary  of  Miltiades,  whose  poems 
 dilate  on  the  joys  of  love  and  wine,  relates  the  following  : 
 One  evening  Eros,  half  frozen  and  dripping  with  rain, 
 came  to  his  door,  begging  for  shelter  and  warmth,  as  he  had 
 lost  his  way.  The  poet,  touched  with  compassion,  took  in 
 the  shivering  boy,  warmed  his  cold  hands  between  his  own. 
 and  wrung  the  water  from  his  golden  locks.  "  Ah  ! "  ex- 
 claimed Eros  suddenly,  with  a  deep  sigh,  "  I  fear  the  rain 
 has  spoilt  my  bow,"  so  saying,  he  took  it  up,  and  spanning 
 it  as  if  to  try  it,  shot  an  arrow  into  the  heart  of  the 
 unsuspecting  Anacreon,  and  departed  with  peals  of  laughter. 
 
 The  poet  goes  on  to  relate  that  another  time  Eros 
 came  to  him  offering  a  trial  by  combat.  x\nacreon  at  once 
 armed  himself  like  Achilles  with  corslet  and  shield,  and  all 
 the  arrows  of  the  small  god  failed  to  pierce  these  defences. 
 "  Oh  ! "  cried  the  boy  at  length,  "  my  arrows  are  all  gone, 
 the  contest  is  over,  and  thou  hast  won."  The  poet,  elated 
 with  his  victory,  took  off  his  armour,  when  Eros,  who  had 
 cunningly  concealed  one  arrow,  shot  him  to  the  heart. 
 
 Eros  had  two  kinds  of  arrows :  some  honey  dipped  and 
 golden  pointed,  producing  rapture  and  delight;  others 
 made  of  lead  with  poisoned  tips,  causing  pain  and  hate 
 instead  of  love. 
 
Aphrodite  or  Vemis,  Eros  or  Cupid.       1 4 1 
 
 As  love  cannot  thrive  without  return,  another  poet 
 relates  that  at  first  Eros  did  not  grow,  but  remained  small 
 and  puny.  His  mother  Aphrodite  being  much  troubled 
 at  this,  confided  her  grief  to  Themis,  who  advised  her  to  get 
 the  boy  a  play-fellow.  Fortunately,  Aphrodite  had  another 
 child,  Anteros  (mutual  love).  She  brought  the  two  children 
 together,  upon  which  Eros  quickly  began  to  grow  tall 
 and  strong,  spread  his  wings  joyously,  and  was  always 
 bright  and  happy  when  his  beloved  brother  was  beside  him, 
 but  sorrowful  and  dejected  when  alone. 
 
 One  of  the  most  beautiful  allegories  of  the  olden  time  is 
 that  of  Eros  and  Psyche  (the  human  soul).  Psyche  was  the 
 youngest  daughter  of  a  king,  and  was  of  such  surpassing 
 loveliness  that  she  was  universally  admired,  and  even  wor- 
 shipped as  a  Goddess.  Altars  wrere  built  in  honour  of  her, 
 and  men  forgot  to  pay  homage  to  Aphrodite.  The  Goddess, 
 enraged  at  this  neglect,  ordered  her  son  Eros  to  punish 
 the  innocent  maiden  by  inspiring  her  with  love  for  the  most 
 wicked  inhabitant  of  the  earth.  Psyche,  meanwhile,  not- 
 withstanding all  the  admiration  lavished  on  her,  was  not 
 happy.  Both  her  sisters  were  already  married,  but  no 
 mortal  youth  dared  to  raise  his  eyes  to  her.  Her  father 
 enquired  of  the  Oracle  what  was  to  be  the  ultimate  fate  of 
 his  beautiful  daughter,  and  received  the  following  sad  reply  : 
 "  The  mightiest  and  most  fearful  monster,  dreaded  even  by 
 the  Gods,  is  destined  to  become  her  husband.  Let  her  deck 
 herself  as  a  bride,  and  await  the  arrival  of  the  bridegroom 
 on  the  summit  of  a  steep  rock."  The  despair  of  the  father 
 may  be  imagined. 
 
 But  the  Oracle  must  be  obeyed.  Decked  as  a  bride, 
 Psyche  stands  on  the  rock,  her  heart  beating  quickly  with 
 anxious  fear,  when,  suddenly,  she  feels  a  gentle  zephyr 
 wafting  her  along,  and  presently  finds  herself  on  a  piece  of 
 
142       Aphrodite  or  Vemis,  Eros  or  Cupid. 
 
 velvety  turf  in  a  beautiful  flowery  valley.  A  deep  sweet 
 sleep  closes  her  eyelids,  and  when  she  awakes  she  finds  her- 
 self in  a  wood.  Before  her  astonished  gaze  stands  a  magni- 
 ficent castle,  and  an  invisible  voice  tells  her  that  she  is  the 
 mistress  of  it.  Filled  with  amazement,  she  enters;  all  is 
 still  and  quiet,  no  living  thing  is  to  be  seen,  but  invisible 
 spirits  minister  to  her  wants,  and  even  carry  out  her  most 
 secret  thoughts  and  wishes.  Night  falls,  and,  tired  with 
 excitement,  Psyche  lies  down  to  rest  on  a  soft  luxurious 
 couch,  and  is  soon  wrapped  in  slumber.  Suddenly  she 
 wakes ;  her  husband  is  present  with  her,  but  enveloped  in 
 complete  darkness ;  his  loving  words  and  soft  toned  voice 
 allow  her  to  picture  his  beauty,  but  he  commands  her  not 
 to  attempt  to  find  out  who  he  is,  or  she  will  be  taken  from 
 him,  and  given  up  to  endless  misery;  her  happiness  must 
 rest  on  unknown  love. 
 
 At  her  home,  meanwhile,  her  parents  know  nothing  of  her 
 fate.  They  are  full  of  grief  on  her  account ;  and  her  sisters 
 also  bewail  the  loss  of  the  beautiful  Psyche,  vowing  that 
 they  will  not  rest  till  they  have  found  her.  She  hears  their 
 distant  voices,  as,  standing  on  the  top  of  the  rock,  they 
 loudly  make  their  plaints.  And  at  length  a  great  desire 
 seizes  her  to  behold  once  again  the  companions  of  her 
 childhood,  and  she  importunes  her  husband  to  grant  her  a 
 meeting  with  her  sisters.  Reluctantly  he  gives  them  per- 
 mission to  visit  her,  but  warns  her  not  to  be  persuaded  by 
 them  to  try  and  identify  him.  Zephyrus  then  brings  the 
 sisters  to  Psyche's  charming  abode.  How  astonished  they 
 are  at  the  splendour  and  magnificence  that  they  see  on 
 every  side.  But  after  a  time  their  wonder  turns  to  envy ; 
 they  ask  who  is  their  sister's  husband,  and  when  Psyche 
 assures  them  that  she  has  never  seen  him,  they,  out  of 
 jealousy,  persuade  her  that  he  must  be  a  fearful  dragon,  who 
 
Aphrodite  or  Venus,  Eros  or  Cupid.       143 
 
 is  only  pampering  and  feeding  her,  in  order  to  devour  her 
 in  the  end. 
 
 This  idea  takes  such  hold  on  her  mind  that,  after  the 
 departure  of  her  sisters,  she  determines  to  solve  the  mystery. 
 She  procures  a  light  and  a  dagger,  and  concealing  both, 
 awaits  the  arrival  of  her  husband.  With  the  approach  of 
 night  he  comes,  and  is  soon  wrapped  in  sleep.  Quickly 
 she  fetches  the  light  and  dagger,  so  that  if  she  discovers  he 
 is  indeed  a  dragon  she  may  kill  him.  But  what  is  her 
 amazement  when  she  sees  the  beautiful  God  of  Love,  in  all 
 his  divine  splendour,  lying  before  her.  Lost  in  admiration, 
 she  sinks  on  her  knee  beside  him,  and  in  so  doing,  is 
 wounded  by  one  of  his  arrows,  which  fills  her  heart  with 
 passionate  love  for  him.  While  still  rapturously  gazing,  a 
 drop  of  hot  oil  from  her  lamp  falls  on  his  shoulder.  Start- 
 ing up,  awakened  by  the  pain,  he  sees  his  faithless  wife 
 before  him  with  the  light  in  her  hand.  Fierce  and  angry 
 reproaches  fall  from  his  lips,  and  he  declares  his  determina- 
 tion to  leave  her  at  once.  She,  beside  herself  with  grief 
 and  fear,  clings  to  his  feet  to  detain  him ;  but  nothing  will 
 keep  him  back,  and  she  is  dragged  with  him  through  the 
 air,  till  at  last  her  strength  gives  way,  her  hands  let  go 
 their  hold,  and  she  falls  to  earth.  Even  while  flying  Eros 
 upbraids  her  for  her  distrust:  "Thy  curiosity  alone  has 
 brought  this  great  misery  on  us  both.  Tranquil  and  un- 
 known love  only  could  have  made  us  happy;  for  know 
 that  my  mother's  undying  hatred  follows  thee,  and  I  had 
 hoped  to  hide  thee  in  safety  in  this  secluded  valley.  Now 
 our  happiness  is  at  an  end." 
 
 Thus  Eros,  enraged,  returned  to  Heaven,  and  Psyche, 
 despairing,  tried  to  end  her  life  by  throwing  herself  into  a 
 river  hard  by ;  but  the  gentle  waves  carried  her  back  to 
 the  bank,  where  Pan  met  her,  and  persuaded  her  not  again 
 
144       Aphrodite  or  Venus  y  Eros  or  Cupid. 
 
 to  attempt  to  destroy  herself.  She  then  hastened  back  to 
 her  sisters,  told  them  of  her  loss,  and  added,  in  order  to 
 revenge  herself  on  them  as  the  cause  of  all  her  misfortunes, 
 that  Eros  had  now  determined  to  select  them  for  his 
 wives,  and  that  Zephyrus  would  waft  them  down  from  the 
 summit  of  the  rock  to  the  beautiful  valley  beneath.  Fully 
 believing  this,  they  hastened  to  the  rock,  gorgeously 
 apparelled,  and  trusting  that  the  wind  would  carry  them  as 
 before,  they  threw  themselves  down,  and  were  shattered  in 
 pieces. 
 
 Eros,  meanwhile,  had  returned  to  his  mother's  palace, 
 where  he  lay  sick  and  ill  at  ease.  Aphrodite,  who  had  been 
 passing  her  time  in  bathing  and  disporting  herself  in  the 
 sea,  knew  nothing  of  what  had  taken  place.  When,  how- 
 ever, she  became  aware  of  it,  furious  anger  against  Psyche 
 took  possession  of  her.  She  hurried  back  to  her  palace, 
 upbraided  her  son  violently  for  deceiving  her,  and  vowed 
 bitter  vengeance  against  his  bride. 
 
 Psyche,  driven  from  place  to  place  by  grief  and  despair, 
 and  finding  rest  nowhere,  determined  at  last  to  seek  the 
 mother  of  her  lost  husband,  and  to  pray  on  her  knees  for 
 her  forgiveness.  She  approached  the  palace  of  Aphrodite  ;  a 
 slave  (Custom)  received  her,  and  dragged  her  in  by  her  hair. 
 The  goddess  met  her  with  scorn  and  mockery,  and  after 
 much  ill  usage  delivered  her  over  to  be  tormented  by  Fear 
 and  Longing.  She  then  mixed  a  large  heap  of  seeds  of 
 all  kinds,  and  ordered  her  unfortunate  victim  to  separate 
 each  kind  from  each  before  night.  Psyche  was  well  nigh 
 in  despair,  when  the  ants  had  pity  on  her,  and  coming  to 
 her  assistance,  the  whole  heap  was  soon  sorted.  The  next 
 morning  the  Goddess  sent  her  into  a  wood,  with  commands 
 to  bring  to  her  some  of  the  golden  wool  of  the  wild  sheep 
 that  fed  there.     Obediently  Psyche  went ;  but,  with  despair 
 
Aphrodite  or  Venus,  Eros  or  Cupid.      145 
 
 in  her  heart,  she  was  about  to  throw  herself  into  the  river 
 when  the  rushes  growing  on  the  banks  comforted  her, 
 telling  her  not  to  lose  heart ;  and  they  warned  her :  "  Do 
 not  approach  the  wild  sheep  too  closely,  for  the  midday 
 sun  makes  them  furious,  and  they  kill  every  one  who  comes 
 near.  But  in  the  cool  of  the  evening,  hide  behind  a  bush ; 
 for  the  sheep,  as  they  pass,  leave  their  thin  wool  hanging 
 among  the  thorns,  where  you  will  be  able  to  gather  it 
 without  danger."  Psyche  obeyed,  procured  the  wool,  and 
 returned  with  it  in  the  evening  to  Aphrodite. 
 
 The  Goddess,  however,  had  a  third  task  ready  for  her. 
 On  a  very  high  mountain  was  an  unfathomable  well,  in 
 whose  depths  rose  a  black  spring.  Psyche  was  commanded 
 to  fill  a  goblet  with  water  from  this  spring,  and  to  bring  it 
 to  her  cruel  taskmistress.  Willingly  and  obediently  she 
 climbed  the  mountain,  but  how  great  is  her  terror  when  she 
 saw  the  well  surrounded  by  fearful  Dragons,  who  threatened 
 to  devour  her.  But  even  here  help  was  at  hand,  for  Zeus 
 himself  took  pity  on  the  unhappy  maiden,  and  sent  his 
 eagle,  which,  taking  the  goblet  from  her  hand,  swept  down 
 into  the  well,  filled  the  cup  with  water,  and  returned  it 
 to  her. 
 
 Her  trials  even  now  were  not  at  an  end.  Aphrodite  next 
 gave  her  a  small  jar,  which  she  was  to  take  down  into  Tartarus 
 and  bring  back  filled  with  the  ointment  of  Perpetual  Beauty 
 from  Persephone.  Psyche  quite  despaired  of  accomplishing 
 this  difficult  task,  and  was  about  to  throw  herself  from  a  high 
 tower,  when  an  invisible  hand  held  her  back,  and  a  voice 
 directed  her  how  to  carry  out  the  behest  of  Aphrodite.  She 
 descended  into  the  Underworld  from  the  southern  extremity 
 of  the  Peloponnesus.  Charon  ferried  her  across  the  Styx, 
 and  Cerberus  was  quieted  with  a  piece  of  honey-cake  which 
 she  had  brought  with  her.     Not  allowing  herself  to  be  mis- 
 
 K 
 
1 46     Aphrot  fite  or  Venus,  Eros  or  Ctcpid. 
 
 led  by  the  numerous  phantoms  she  encountered,  she  at  last 
 reached  the  pala-  e  of  Pluto. 
 
 Here  Persepho.ie  welcomed  her  kindly,  and  invited  her  to 
 partake  of  the  fee  st  spread  before  her.  But,  remembering 
 the  advice  she  hao  received,  she  declined,  and  seated  herself 
 instead  respectfully  at  the  queen's  feet,  merely  taking  a  piece 
 of  black  bread.  Persephone  meanwhile  filled  the  jar  and 
 gave  it  back  to  her,  and  Psyche  at  once  prepared  to  return. 
 Her  journey  was  almost  at  an  end ;  already  she  saw  the  day- 
 light in  the  distance,  when,  forgetting  the  severe  lesson  she 
 had  received,  she  again  allowed  curiosity  to  get  the  better 
 of  her,  and  uncovered  the  jar.  An  overpowering  rush  of 
 steam  burst  forth,  throwing  her  to  the  ground.  And  now 
 she  would  indeed  have  been  lost  had  not  her  husband, 
 who  by  this  time  had  recovered  his  health  and  forgiven 
 her,  hastened  to  her  assistance.  He  recalled  her  to  life 
 again,  and  while  she  carried  the  jar  to  his  mother,  he 
 hurried  to  the  throne  of  Omnipotent  Zeus,  and  throwing 
 himself  on  his  knees  before  him  entreated  his  mercy  and 
 favour  on  behalf  of  his  beloved  Psyche.  Zeus  thereupon 
 assembled  the  Gods,  who  agreed  to  admit  Psyche  into 
 Heaven.  Even  Aphrodite,  touched  by  the  willing  obedience 
 shown  in  fulfilling  the  tasks  she  had  set  her,  forgave  her,  and 
 all  the  Gods  united  in  celebrating  the  marriage  of  Eros  and 
 Psyche  in  Olympus. 
 
 This  allegory  is  frequently  represented.  Sometimes 
 Psyche  is  depicted  as  a  lovely  girl,  with  butterfly's  wings 
 and  a  thyrsus  in  her  hand,  and  Eros,  armed  with  bow  and 
 quiver,  holding  her  hand  or  tenderly  embracing  her.  Some- 
 times they  are  shown  carrying  baskets  of  flowers  on  their 
 heads,  or  running  hand  in  hand,  Eros  holding  a  sceptre, 
 Psyche  a  torch. 
 
 Eros  is  almost  as  frequently  mentioned  as  Aphrodite  in 
 
Aphrodite  or  Venus  >  Eros  or  Ciipid.      147 
 
 all  legends  in  which  love  is  a  prominent  influence :  for  in- 
 stance, the  story  of  Hero  and  Leander,  familiar  to  all  readers 
 of  Schiller.     Hero  was  a  priestess  of  Aphrodite  in  Sestus,  a 
 town  of  Thrace,  on  the  European  side  of  the  Dardanelles. 
 She  was  beautiful  and  chaste,  and  brought  daily  offerings  to 
 Eros,  hoping  by  these  means  to  propitiate  him.     But  all 
 in  vain.     He  mischievously  shot  one  arrow  into  her  heart, 
 and  another  into  that  of  Leander,  a  beautiful  young  hunts- 
 man  of  Abydos,  on  the  Asiatic  coast.     At  the  feast  of 
 Adonis  they  met  for  the  first  time,  and  at  once  became 
 enamoured  of  each  other.     He  declared  his  love,  and  she 
 returned  it,  but  as  a  priestess  she  dared  not  marry  ;  her 
 parents  also  would  not  give  their  consent.     Love,  however, 
 overcame  all  difficulties,  and  even  the  broad  sea  that  lay 
 between  them  proved  no  obstacle.     Every  evening  when  all 
 slept  the  bold  youth  swam  across  the  channel  to  Hero's 
 tower,  the  lighted  torch  of  his  beloved  serving  him  for  a 
 beacon.     Having  spent  several  happy  hours  with  her,  he 
 returned  by  the  same  dangerous  way  in  which  he  had  come. 
 So  passed  the  spring  and  summer,  and  when  the  storms  of 
 winter  set  in  Leander  would  fain  still  continue  his  hazardous 
 visits.     One  stormy  night  he  hesitated  to  trust  himself  to 
 the  treacherous  waters  ;  the  friendly  torch  however  seemed 
 to  beckon  him  on,  and  he  plunged  boldly  into  the  waves. 
 But  the  merciless  billows  overwhelmed  him  ;  the  storm  raged 
 more  and  more  furiously,  and  at  last  even  extinguished  his 
 guiding  beacon.     In  vain  he  called  on  the  Gods  of  Heaven, 
 Love,  and  the  Sea  for  aid ;  in  vain  he  prayed  to  the  God- 
 dess Leucothea  to  stretch  forth  her  saving  veil ;  at  last  he 
 lost  consciousness,  and  his  lifeless  body  was  thrown  by  the 
 waves  on  to  the  shore  at  Sestus.     A  prey  to  fearful  anxiety  at 
 his  non-appearance,  Hero  mounted  her  tower  in  the  morn- 
 ing, trembling  for  the  safety  of  her  beloved.     She  suddenly 
 
1 48  Dionysus  or  Bacchus, 
 
 saw  from  thence  a  dead  body  on  the  beach,  and  with  horror 
 recognised  the  features  of  Leander.  Despairing  she  threw 
 herself  down,  and  died  embracing  his  dead  body. 
 
 In  later  years  art  and  poetry  increased  the  train  of  the 
 God  of  Love  by  introducing  a  number  of  tiny  Cupids  or 
 Love  Sprites.  They  were  also  depicted  as  small  petulant 
 boys,  and  sometimes  so  tiny  that  they  could  swing  on 
 flowers,  or  rest  on  the  lips  and  amidst  the  hair  of  lovely 
 maidens. 
 
 XIV.— DIONYSUS   OR   BACCHUS. 
 MAENADES,  SILENUS,  SATYRS,  AND   PAN. 
 
 Dionysus  or  Bacchus  was  the  son  of  Zeus  and 
 Semele.  We  have  already  learnt  how  Semele  fell  a  victim 
 to  her  curiosity,  when,  insisting  on  beholding  Zeus  in  all 
 his  divine  splendour,  unable  to  bear  the  brilliancy  of  the 
 rays  by  which  he  was  enveloped,  she  was  burnt  to  death. 
 Her  son  was  saved  from  the  flames  in  which  his  mother 
 perished ;  and  while  the  flames  filled  the  apartment,  thick 
 ivy  grew  up  round  the  pillars,  and  protected  the  child 
 with  its  cool  shade.  Jupiter  then  took  him  to  be  brought 
 up  by  Ino,  the  sister  of  Semele,  wife  of  King  Athamas  of 
 Thessaly.  But  when  Juno,  the  sworn  enemy  of  all  Jupiter's 
 other  wives,  discovered  this,  she  vented  all  her  anger  on  Ino 
 and  her  family.  She  caused  Athamas  to  become  mad,  so 
 that  he  turned  furiously  against  his  wife  and  children,  and 
 had  already  killed  his  eldest  son,  when  Ino,  wild  with 
 terror,  fled  to  the  shore  with  her  youngest  son  in  her  arms, 
 and  threw  herself  into  the  sea.  Zeus,  in  order  to  save  his 
 son  Bacchus  from  the  fury  of  Juno,  changed  him  into  a  he- 
 
2£L 
 
 HKKO  AM)  LEANUEK. 
 
Dionysus  or  Bacchus.  149 
 
 goat,  and  sent  him  with  Mercury  to  Nysa,  a  town  in  Thrace, 
 which  was  afterwards  especially  sacred  to  the  wine-god, 
 there  to  remain  under  the  care  of  the  nymphs.  When 
 Dionysus  was  old  enough  Zeus  gave  him  into  the  charge 
 of  old  Silenus  ;  and  he  continued  under  the  old  man's  care 
 till  he  was  full  grown,  when  he  went  forth  and  began  his 
 happy  journeys  through  the  earth,  giving  good  gifts  to 
 men. 
 
 He  taught  the  culture  of  the  vine,  and  the  making  of 
 wine  from  its  rich  clusters  of  grapes  \  also  the  cultivation  of 
 fruit-trees  in  general, — thus  he  became  man's  benefactor ; 
 and  was  everywhere  greeted  and  honoured  as  such,  the 
 people  joyously  singing  songs  in  his  praise.  Among  his 
 followers  were  a  number  of  men  and  women  in  a  state  of 
 intoxication  (or,  as  the  poets  more  delicately  express  it, 
 "  inspired  by  the  blessings  of  Bacchus  "),  Maenades  and 
 Satyrs  shouting  around  him.  The  women  especially,  the 
 Maenades  and  Bacchantes,  gave  themselves  up  to  unbridled 
 excitement  and  excesses.  With  wildly  dishevelled  hair, 
 amidst  which  snakes  were  entwined,  crowned  with  ivy  and 
 vine  leaves,  and  with  doe-skins  hanging  from  their  shoulders, 
 they  ran  wildly  about,  swinging  the  thyrsus  in  their  hands  : 
 this  was  originally  a  strong  vine  trail,  wreathed  with  ivy,  but 
 subsequently  any  staff  wound  round  with  ivy  and  having  at 
 one  end  a  fir  cone,  hiding  a  sharp  iron  spike,  was  so  called. 
 "  Evan  !  Evoe  !  "  they  shouted,  running  and  leaping  wildly 
 round  Dionysus,  amidst  the  weird  music  of  flutes,  drums, 
 and  fifes.  The  God  himself  sat  in  a  triumphal  chariot, 
 drawn  by  lions,  tigers,  foxes,  and  panthers. 
 
 But  in  some  places  he  was  not  cordially  received.  Here 
 and  there  his  gifts  were  not  appreciated,  and  his  teachings 
 were  disregarded.  In  some  countries  the  people  would  not 
 cultivate  the  vine,  either   because   they  did  not   like  the 
 
1 50  Dionysus  or  Bacchus. 
 
 trouble,  or  on  account  of  the  soil  and  climate  being  un- 
 favourable to  its  growth.  All  such  ingratitude  drew  down 
 the  full  force  of  the  God's  anger.  Lycurgus,  one  of  the 
 Kings  of  Thrace,  had  indeed  allowed  the  vine  to  be  planted 
 in  his  territory ;  but  had  afterwards  caused  every  vineyard 
 to  be  cut  down,  because  once  when  heated  with  wine  he 
 had  insulted  his  mother.  In  his  hatred  against  Bacchus 
 he  hunted  the  Maenades  with  thorny  sticks  when  they  were 
 celebrating  the  feast  of  their  God  in  the  woods  of  Nysa, 
 completely  putting  them  to  flight.  Dionysus  himself  leapt 
 into  the  sea  and  sought  shelter  with  Thetis,  who  welcomed 
 him  cordially,  and  received  from  him  a  golden  vase  in 
 return  for  her  kindness.  Another  legend  says  that  Lycurgus 
 had  thrown  the  followers  of  Dionysus  into  prison.  In  revenge 
 for  this  insult  the  God  deprived  him  for  a  time  of  reason, 
 and  in  his  madness  he  cut  off  his  own  legs  and  those  of  his 
 son,  instead  of  the  vine  stems.  But  the  anger  of  Dionysus 
 was  not  yet  appeased.  Though  Lycurgus  recovered  his 
 sanity,  yet  Thrace  was  afflicted  by  a  great  famine,  and 
 when  the  people  consulted  the  Oracle  the  answer  received 
 was  that,  Prosperity  would  not  return  till  the  king  was 
 dead.  Upon  this  they  dragged  Lycurgus  to  the  mountains, 
 bound  him  hand  and  foot,  and  caused  him  to  be  torn  to 
 death  by  wild  horses. 
 
 Pentheus,  King  of  Thebes,  a  grandson  of  Cadmus,  was 
 also  an  enemy  to  the  cultivation  of  the  vine.  When 
 Dionysus  on  his  return  from  India  came  to  Thebes  to  teach 
 the  inhabitants  vine-dressing,  he  was  received  with  scoffs 
 and  mockery  by  his  own  family.  Pentheus  and  the  sisters 
 of  Semele  denied  that  Dionysus  was  the  son  of  Zeus  and  a 
 God ;  they  declared  he  was  an  impostor,  and  Pentheus  even 
 affirmed  that  he  would  kill  him  and  his  followers.  But  their 
 punishment  quickly  followed.     The  king's  mother  and  her 
 
Dionysus  or  Bacchus.  151 
 
 sisters  were  struck  with  madness,  and  rushed  wildly  about 
 Mount  Cithaeron.  Pentheus  followed  them  hoping  to  bring 
 them  back;  but  his  own  mother,  in  her  insanity,  mistook 
 him  for  a  wild  beast,  and  tore  him  in  pieces.  After  this 
 catastrophe  the  victims  of  the  wrath  of  Dionysus  recovered 
 their  reason,  and,  seized  with  terror,  fled  the  country. 
 
 In  Orchomenus,  another  Boeotian  town,  lived  King 
 Minyas,  who  had  three  singularly  industrious  daughters. 
 Once  a  feast  of  Dionysus  was  being  celebrated  in  the  city, 
 and  every  one  ran  to  take  part  in  it ;  the  busy  Minyadae 
 alone  held  themselves  aloof,  and  continued  to  weave  and 
 spin,  hardly  looking  up  from  their  work.  Even  when  the 
 priest  himself  came  to  beg  them  to  participate  in  the 
 festival  they  refused,  although  all  the  other  women  of  the 
 town,  ivy-crowned,  hair  dishevelled,  and  each  holding  a 
 thyrsus  in  her  hand,  were  following  the  procession.  The 
 universally  feted  god  could  not  brook  this  slighting  dis- 
 regard. Suddenly  the  chamber  of  the  industrious  maidens 
 became  filled  with  the  loud  but  invisible  music  of  drums 
 and  fifes  ;  ivy  and  vines  grew  quickly  out  of  their  garments, 
 and  out  of  the  webs  they  were  weaving ;  the  air  was  laden 
 with  the  scent  of  myrtle  and  vines  ;  the  house  began  to 
 rock,  and  flashing  torches  waved  in  the  air,  revealing  the 
 dread  forms  of  various  wild  beasts.  The  terrified  Minyadae 
 rushed  trembling  to  hide  themselves  in  the  recesses  of  the 
 chamber,  when  they  were  changed  into  bats,  who  to  this 
 day  are  afraid  of  the  light,  and  always  conceal  themselves 
 in  dark  corners. 
 
 One  day  Bacchus  was  standing  on  the  shore  in  the  form 
 of  a  beautiful  youth  waiting  to  cross  over  to  the  isle  of 
 Naxos,  where  he  often  dwelt,  when  some  Italian  sailors 
 passed  by,  and  thinking  he  was  a  king's  son,  they  took  and 
 bound  him,   hoping  to  enrich  themselves  by  selling  him. 
 
152  Dionysus  or  Bacchus. 
 
 He  warned  them  by  a  miracle  of  his  divine  origin  ;  for 
 while  they  were  talking  together  the  cords  with  which  they 
 had  bound  him  fell  to  the  ground,  and  he  sat  down  on  the 
 shore  calmly  smiling.  The  steersman  was  amazed,  and 
 advised  the  sailors  to  have  nothing  to  do  with  the  youth, 
 for  fear  that  some  misfortune  might  overtake  them.  But 
 his  comrades  disregarded  this  warning,  bound  the  youth 
 afresh,  brought  him  on  board,  and  sailed  on.  Retribution 
 however  speedily  overtook  them.  An  enormous  vine, 
 covered  with  grapes,  and  entwined  with  ivy,  sprang  suddenly 
 up,  and  rapidly  reached  to  the  top  of  the  mast.  The  oars 
 became  wreathed  with  vine  and  ivy  trails,  and  a  stream  of 
 wine  filled  the  ship.  Dionysus  himself  then  appeared  in  a 
 two-fold  form  ;  on  deck  as  a  roaring  lion,  and  in  the 
 cabin  as  a  wild  bear,  and  tore  the  captain  of  the  vessel  in 
 pieces.  The  sailors,  rendered  desperate  by  terror,  sprang 
 overboard,  and  were  immediately  changed  into  dolphins. 
 Only  the  steersman  was  saved,  and  he  was  rewarded  by 
 Dionysus. 
 
 Although  the  God  revenged  himself  so  pitilessly  on  those 
 who  despised  or  opposed  him,  he  was  always  ready  to 
 reward  his  worshippers.  The  story  of  King  Midas  affords 
 a  good  illustration  of  his  liberality.  While  Midas  was  still 
 in  his  cradle,  a  number  of  ants  appeared,  carrying  small 
 seeds  which  they  placed  in  his  mouth.  The  augurs  de- 
 clared this  to  be  a  sign  that  the  child  would  one  day 
 become  a  very  rich  king.  This  prediction  was  indeed 
 fulfilled  j  for  while  he  reigned  over  Phrygia,  Bacchus  passed 
 through  the  country.  Old  Silenus,  the  God's  attendant, 
 having  lost  his  way,  the  peasants  who  found  him  brought 
 him  to  King  Midas,  who  received  him  cordially,  and  himself 
 conducted  him  to  rejoin  Dionysus.  This  attention  so 
 pleased  the  God  that  he  offered  to  grant  the  king  whatever 
 
Dionysus  or  Bacchus.  1 53 
 
 he  might  wish.  Midas,  who  believed  that  riches  constituted 
 the  greatest  happiness,  begged  for  the  power  of  turning 
 everything  that  he  touched  into  gold.  The  prayer  was  at 
 once  granted,  and  to  his  great  delight  he  soon  found 
 himself  surrounded  by  immense  lumps  of  the  precious 
 metal.  But  when  he  became  hungry,  and  sat  down  to  eat, 
 he  saw  with  horror  that  the  food,  as  soon  as  he  touched  it, 
 also  turned  into  gold,  and  starvation  stared  him  in  the  face. 
 He  therefore  entreated  the  God  to  take  back  the  fatal  gift. 
 "  So  be  it,"  answered  Dionysus ;  "  go  to  the  river  Pactolus  ; 
 walk  up  the  stream  and  dip  thy  head  in  the  spring." 
 Midas  obeyed,  and  immediately  the  power  of  making  gold 
 left  him.  But  the  river  ever  after  contained  gold-dust 
 amidst  its  sands. 
 
 Icarius,  the  Athenian,  also  experienced  the  kindness  of 
 the  God.  When  Dionysus  came  to  Athens,  Icarius  wel- 
 comed him  gladly,  and  the  wine  God  presented  him  with 
 some  vines,  instructed  him  as  to  their  culture,  and  taught 
 him  how  to  make  wine  from  their  fruit.  Icarius,  wishing  to 
 let  his  fellow-countrymen  taste  the  rare  gift,  filled  a  cart 
 with  casks  of  wine,  and  wandered  through  the  land  ac- 
 companied by  his  daughter  Erigone  and  his  dog  Maera. 
 One  day  he  encountered  some  shepherds,  who  found  the 
 new  drink  he  offered  to  them  so  delicious  that  they  became 
 intoxicated  with  it ;  and  then,  imagining  that  Icarius  had 
 poisoned  them,  they  killed  him.  When  they  recovered 
 their  senses  they  buried  his  body  under  a  tree. 
 
 Erigone,  who  had  been  absent,  now  returned.  Whining 
 and  moaning  the  dog  crept  up  to  her,  and  guided  her  to 
 the  spot  where  the  murdered  man  lay.  Beside  herself  with 
 grief,  and  deeming  life  to  be  no  longer  worth  having,  she 
 hung  herself  on  the  same  tree  under  which  her  father  was 
 buried.    Dionysus,  in  revenge  for  the  murder  of  his  favourite, 
 
1 54  Dionysus  or  Bacchus. 
 
 caused  the  daughters  of  all  the  shepherds  to  go  mad,  so 
 that  they  likewise  hung  themselves.  In  obedience  to  the 
 Oracle,  a  yearly  feast  was  instituted  in  honour  of  the 
 ill-fated  Erigone,  to  which  the  country  people,  in  addition 
 to  other  offerings,  always  brought  numbers  of  small  figures, 
 which  were  hung  among  the  trees  to  commemorate  her 
 tragic  end. 
 
 Of  Ariadne,  wife  of  Dionysus,  and  daughter  of  Minos, 
 King  of  Crete,  we  shall  hear  more  in  the  history  of 
 Theseus. 
 
 The  Greeks  instituted  the  Dionysian  festivals  in  honour 
 of  the  wine-god  ;  these  took  place  in  the  middle  of  March. 
 Besides  the  usual  ceremonies,  consisting  of  sacrifices  and 
 processions,  which  were  publicly  performed,  there  were  also 
 Mysteries  or  secret  rites  connected  with  these  festivals, 
 which  were  held  at  night,  and  in  these  latter  none  but  the 
 initiated  were  allowed  to  take  part. 
 
 Dionysus  (or  Bacchus,  as  he  was  called  in  Rome)  is 
 represented  as  a  fine  well-proportioned  man,  not  muscular, 
 his  body  being  rather  soft  and  rounded  in  appearance,  and 
 inclined  to  corpulency.  His  features  are  pleasing,  the  lips 
 full,  the  eyes  gentle  and  languishing.  A  diadem  encircles 
 his  forehead ;  his  long  curls  fall  on  to  his  shoulders,  fastened 
 together  in  a  knot  behind,  and  are  often  entwined  with 
 trails  of  vine  and  ivy.  He  is  generally  represented  nude,  but 
 sometimes  with  a  light  garment  thrown  carelessly  round 
 him,  or  wearing  the  skin  of  the  doe  Nebris  across  his  chest, 
 and  holding  the  thyrsus  and  a  drinking  cup.  The  lion, 
 tiger,  panther,  goat,  fox,  and  ass  were  sacred  to  him,  his 
 chariot  being  nearly  always  drawn  by  some  of  these  beasts 
 — very  rarely  by  horses  or  griffins. 
 
 We  will  now  describe  the  more  important  among  his 
 followers.     First  come  the  Maenades  or  Bacchantes, 
 
Maenades — Silenus.  1 5  5 
 
 women  so  overcome  by  wine  and  excitement  as  to  be  in 
 a  state  of  frenzy.  Their  heads  are  thrown  back,  snakes 
 twine  in  their  hair,  and  they  carry  in  their  right  hand 
 a  sharp  knife  or  dagger.  In  fits  of  wild  fury  they  kill 
 the  young  fawns,  eat  the  flesh  raw,  and  hang  the  bleed- 
 ing skins  round  their  shoulders.  Thus  they  leap  around 
 Bacchus,  making  the  woods  and  valleys  resound  with 
 their  frantic  screams. 
 
 Next  comes  Silenus.  He  is  represented  as  an  old 
 man,  nearly  bald,  with  heavy  coarse  features,  and  goat- like 
 physiognomy.  His  nose  is  broad  and  flat.  A  pair  of  small 
 horns,  visible  amongst  his  thin  hairs,  long  pointed  ears,  a 
 peaked  beard,  and  a  small  tail,  all  impart  to  him  a  striking 
 resemblance  to  a  goat.  At  other  times  he  is  merely  de- 
 picted as  an  ordinary  looking  old  man,  stout  and  very  bald. 
 In  accounts  of  Silenus  two  natures  appear  in  strong  con- 
 trast to  one  another.  At  one  time  he  is  described  as  a 
 learned  sage,  who  educated  the  young  Bacchus,  possessed 
 the  power  of  foretelling  the  future,  and  opened  the  paths  of 
 wisdom  by  revealing  the  secrets  of  a  future  life ;  making 
 evident  the  emptiness  and  transitoriness  of  all  earthly 
 things,  and  declaring  the  high  calling  of  mankind.  At 
 another  he  appears  in  the  train  of  Bacchus  as  a  foolish  old 
 drunkard,  never  sober,  riding  on  an  ass  or  a  wine  cask, 
 steadied  on  either  side  by  some  of  the  Bacchanalian  follow- 
 ing, and  keeping  the  whole  troop  in  roars  of  laughter  by  his 
 buffoonery.  The  Greeks  had  busts  of  Silenus,  which  were 
 made  hollow,  and  opened  in  two  like  a  door.  These  were 
 used  to  preserve  beautiful  busts  from  dust  and  dirt. 
 
 Socrates  being  particularly  ugly  (his  face  almost  a  fac- 
 simile of  one  of  these  Silenus  busts),  but  in  mind  and 
 character  remarkably  wise,  benevolent  and  venerable ;  Plato, 
 his   most   renowned    pupil,    drew   the    following   beautiful 
 
1 5  6  Satyrs — Pan . 
 
 comparison  between  them,  when  bringing  Alcibiades  into 
 the  presence  of  the  great  Philosopher.  We  give  it  here  as 
 a  specimen  of  the  wit  of  that  age.  "  Socrates  resembles 
 one  of  those  hollow  busts  of  Silenus,  both  outwardly  and 
 inwardly ;  his  exterior  being  only  the  veil  drawn  over  the 
 high  spirit  within,  just  as  the  carved  Silenus  covers  the 
 figure  of  a  God.  When  the  Silenus  mask  is  opened,  the 
 grandest  and  most  God-like  figure  appears  before  us  in 
 undying  beauty;  thus  too  is  it,  when  the  inward  part  of 
 Socrates  is  displayed.  What  rich  treasures  of  wisdom  do 
 we  then  behold  in  him,  whose  outward  appearance  so  little 
 denotes  what  is  stored  within ;  and  who  takes  no  heed  of 
 the  things  so  highly  prized  by  the  world,  but  passes  through 
 the  midst  of  mankind  with  cynical  irony.  In  this  point 
 also  he  resembles  the  mocking,  self-willed  old  Silenus ; 
 none  but  those  few  to  whom  he  chooses  to  disclose  them, 
 have  any  idea  of  the  great  qualities  lying  beneath  his  rough 
 exterior.  I  have  once  caught  a  glimpse  of  this  hidden 
 nature  of  his ;  it  appeared  to  me  so  noble,  sublime,  and 
 beautiful,  that  I  felt  myself  compelled  to  do  his  bidding.'' 
 Formerly  the  Greeks  had  only  one  Silenus,  but  later  on 
 several  are  mentioned  amongst  the  followers  of  Bacchus. 
 
 The  Satyrs  were  of  the  same  class  as  Silenus.  They 
 had  the  same  human  body,  with  faces  like  animals,  small 
 horns,  pointed  beards,  and  tails ;  but  they  were  younger,  and 
 not  bald.  They  wore  crowns  of  ivy  and  vine  leaves,  and 
 the  skins  of  wild  animals  hung  on  their  shoulders. 
 
 Pan,  the  God  of  shepherds  and  flocks,  must  be 
 considered  as  quite  distinct  from  the  Satyrs.  His 
 parentage  is  doubtful :  sometimes  Zeus  and  sometimes 
 Hermes  is  designated  as  his  father.  He  was  brought  up 
 by  nymphs  in  the  Mountains  of  Arcadia  in  the  Pelopon- 
 nesus,  in   which    country   he   was   first   worshipped.      In 
 
Pan.  157 
 
 appearance  he  resembled  the  Satyrs,  but  was  distinguished 
 from  them  by  having  a  pair  of  goats'  feet  and  a  hooked 
 nose,  whereas  they  had  flat  noses.  When  he  was  born  his 
 nurse  was  so  horrified  at  his  grotesque  appearance  that  she 
 fled,  but  Hermes  took  compassion  on  the  little  monster, 
 wrapped  him  in  a  skin,  and  carried  him  to  Mount  Olympus, 
 where  all  the  Gods,  especially  Dionysus,  were  delighted  with 
 him.  He  was  the  God  and  protector  of  herdsmen,  shep- 
 herds, huntsmen,  fishermen,  and  bee-keepers;  honey  and 
 milk  were  therefore  offered  to  him.  His  favourite  resorts 
 were  the  darkest  recesses  of  the  woods,  where  he  lived  in 
 company  with  the  nymphs,  honoured  by  them  as  the  pro- 
 tector of  their  herds.  Caves  and  mountain  tops,  as  well  as 
 oak,  fir,  and  pine  trees,  were  sacred  to  him.  To  mount  the 
 summits  of  the  hills,  and  watch  the  flocks  and  herds  feed- 
 ing ;  to  hunt  the  chamois  and  the  deer ;  or  to  slip  through 
 the  forest  and  lie  beside  some  woodland  stream, — these 
 were  his  greatest  pleasures.  On  his  return  from  hunting 
 he  would  drive  the  lambs  into  cool  shady  caves,  and  play 
 sweet  melodies  on  his  pipes,  and  the  mountain  nymphs 
 would  surround  him,  dancing  and  singing  the  praises  of  the 
 Gods.  Then  laying  aside  his  pipes  he  would  don  his 
 mantle  of  spotted  deer  skin,  and  join  in  the  dance.  If 
 he  came  back  fatigued  by  the  chase,  he  liked  to  repose 
 on  the  soft  grass  or  in  a  shady  cave,  and  woe  betide 
 the  shepherds  if  they  disturbed  him ;  for  he  would  dash 
 indignantly  out  of  his  retreat,  and  so  frighten  them  that 
 they  involuntarily  took  to  flight. 
 
 Once  when  Dionysus  and  his  followers  found  themselves 
 attacked  and  in  great  danger,  Pan  rescued  them  by  blowing 
 on  several  horns  at  once,  thereby  creating  such  a  wild 
 uproar  that  the  sound  rang  from  mountain  to  mountain, 
 and  the  assailants  of  the  God  and  his  worshippers,  terrified, 
 
158  Pan. 
 
 not  knowing  whence  the  sounds  came,  and  seeing  no  one, 
 fled  precipitately.  Hence  it  was  that  the  ancients  called 
 a  sudden  flight  (when  people,  alarmed,  ran  away  hardly 
 knowing  wherefore)  a  "panic  fear." 
 
 Pan  was  the  inventor  of  the  Syrinx,  as  has  already  been 
 stated;  he  drew  from  it  the  sweetest  music,  more  lovely 
 than  the  notes  of  the  nightingale.  He  was  principally 
 worshipped  in  Arcadia,  the  land  of  the  shepherds.  In 
 earliest  times,  when  the  Arcadians  were  yet  in  a  wild  and 
 savage  state  of  existence,  they  treated  Pan  with  little 
 ceremony,  and  were  wont  to  scourge  his  statue  when  they 
 were  unsuccessful  in  the  chase,  or  when  their  herds  did  not 
 prosper  as  well  as  they  expected.  But  when  they  became 
 more  civilised,  their  feelings  of  respect  for  him,  and  of 
 thankfulness  for  his  blessings,  became  heightened.  His 
 image  stood  under  a  fir  tree,  amidst  the  branches  of  which 
 were  hung  the  first-fruits  offered  to  him ;  while  around  its 
 trunk  was  fastened  the  skin  of  the  sacrificial  goat,  which 
 was  sacred  to  him. 
 
 In  some  parts  of  Italy  Pan  was  worshipped  under  the 
 name  of  Lupercus.  and  was  regarded  by  the  shepherds  as 
 their  special  protector  against  the  numerous  and  savage 
 packs  of  wolves.  His  statues  are  easily  recognized  by  the 
 fox  or  goat-skin  with  which  they  are  clothed,  and  the  whip 
 or  syrinx  that  he  holds  in  his  hand.  He  sometimes  holds  a 
 shepherd's  crook,  and  is  crowned  with  ivy  and  fir.  The 
 faces  of  these  statues  were  often  coloured  red. 
 
Hermes  07'  Mercury.  159 
 
 XV.— HERMES   OR   MERCURY. 
 
 Hermes,  the  far-famed  messenger  of  the  Gods, — 
 himself  the  God  of  Intercourse,  Invention,  and  Industry, 
 the  patron  of  merchants,  poets,  and  orators, — was  the  son 
 of  Zeus  and  Maia.  From  his  very  birth  his  future  great- 
 ness became  apparent ;  for,  when  only  four  hours  old,  he 
 left  his  cradle  and  the  cave  in  Arcadia  where  he  was  born, 
 and  hastened  away  to  possess  himself  of  the  beautiful  oxen 
 of  Apollo.  Not  far  from  the  grotto  he  found  a  tortoise  on 
 the  grass  :  taking  it  up  the  thought  struck  him  that  he 
 might  be  able  to  produce  sounds  from  the  hollow  shell. 
 Quick  as  thought  he  returned  with  it  to  the  cavern,  killed 
 the  animal,  and  stretched  a  piece  of  ox  skin  across  the  empty 
 hollow.  He  then  bored  holes  at  equal  distances  along  the 
 edge  of  the  shell,  fixed  reed-canes  in  them,  and  having 
 stretched  seven  sheep-gut  cords  from  one  side  to  the  other, 
 struck  them  with  a  plectrum  ;  and  behold  !  waves  of  sweet 
 music  were  wafted  out  upon  the  air,  to  which  he  sang  songs 
 in  honour  of  Zeus  and  Maia.     Thus  was  the  lyre  invented. 
 
 Hermes  then  hid  the  newly  discovered  instrument  in 
 his  cradle,  and  went  forth  to  the  shadowy  hills  of  Pieria,  a 
 beautiful  province  in  Macedonia,  where,  amidst  lovely  dells 
 and  flowery  pastures,  the  cattle  of  the  Gods  were  feeding. 
 Taking  fifty  of  the  finest  from  the  herd  of  Apollo,  he  pre- 
 pared to  return  ;  but,  lest  the  track  of  the  cattle  should  be 
 traced,  he  led  them  backwards,  fastening  twigs  of  tamarisk 
 and  myrtle  under  the  soles  of  his  feet,  to  efface  his  own 
 footprints.  Thus  he  journeyed  on  in  the  dead  of  night, 
 lighted  only  by  the  moon,  over  hill  and  valley,  deeming 
 himself  safe  from  discovery.  He  was  seen  by  none  but 
 one  old  man,  who  was  not  a  little  surprised  at  such  an 
 
1 60  Hermes  or  Mermry. 
 
 unwonted  spectacle,  and  Hermes  threatened  him  with  dire 
 vengeance  if  he  should  ever  breathe  a  word  of  what  he  had 
 seen.  At  last  the  child  safely  regained  his  mother's  cave  in 
 Arcadia.  Here  producing  a  flame  by  rubbing  two  hard 
 pieces  of  wood  together,  he  collected  logs,  and  succeeded  in 
 kindling  a  large  pile.  Then  he  killed  two  of  the  herd, 
 skinned  them,  spread  their  hides  to  dry  on  the  rock,  and 
 cutting  their  flesh  into  twelve  pieces,  roasted  it  on  the  fire. 
 He  then  erected  an  altar,  on  which  he  burnt  these  pieces  of 
 flesh  in  honour  of  the  Gods.  Burying  in  the  cave  what  still 
 remained,  he  stamped  out  the  fire,  and  to  destroy  every  trace 
 of  his  theft,  threw  his  tamarisk  sandals  into  the  swift  stream 
 close  by. 
 
 Then  he  lay  quietly  down  in  his  cradle,  with  his  left 
 hand  playing  like  a  babe  among  the  swaddling  clothes,  and 
 holding  in  his  right  the  lyre.  But  he  could  not  deceive  his 
 mother  Maia,  who  had  watched  him  all  the  time,  and  now 
 she  threatened  to  tell  Apollo  what  he  had  done.  "  Mother," 
 called  Hermes  calmly,  "  dost  thou  take  me  for  a  poor  weak 
 mortal  child,  who  knows  not  right  from  wrong,  and  would 
 cower  before  a  mother's  rebuke  ?  Why  should  we  among 
 all  the  Gods  remain  here  in  this  wretched  cave?  Why 
 should  not  I  be  honoured  as  well  as  Apollo  ?  If  my  father 
 Zeus  will  not  aid  me,  I  must  do  what  I  can  to  help 
 myself.  Only  let  Apollo  find  me,  and,  if  he  attempts  to 
 punish  me,  I  will  play  him  yet  a  worse  trick.  I  will  go  and 
 rob  his  temple  at  Delphi." 
 
 Meanwhile  the  old  man  had  not  kept  silence,  but 
 had  recounted  what  he  had  seen  to  Apollo.  Immedi- 
 ately the  God  consulted  the  all-wise  birds,  whose  flight 
 revealed  to  him  that  none  other  than  Mercury  had  com- 
 mitted the  theft,  and  that  he  had  taken  his  booty  to 
 the   grotto   in   Arcadia.      So   he   hurried   to   the   cave  of 
 
Hermes  or  Mercury.  1 6 1 
 
 Maia;  but  as  soon  as  Hermes  saw  the  God  he  nestled 
 under  the  clothes,  and,  pressing  the  lyre  close  to  him,  pre- 
 tended to  be  fast  asleep  like  the  most  innocent  babe  in 
 the  world.  But  Apollo  saw  through  this  artifice.  He 
 carefully  searched  the  cave  in  hopes  of  discovering  some 
 traces  of  his  cattle,  but  finding  nothing  but  nectar,  ambrosia, 
 gold,  silver,  and  beautiful  raiment  he  said  sternly  and 
 threateningly  :  "  Listen,  wily  boy  !  If  thou  dost  not  show 
 me  the  spot  where  my  cattle  are  hid  I  will  throw  thee  down 
 into  the  depths  of  Tartarus,  from  whence  neither  thy  Father 
 nor  thy  Mother  will  be  able  to  rescue  thee." 
 
 "How  canst  thou  imagine  for  a  moment,"  answered 
 Hermes,  looking  innocently  up,  "  that  I,  a  little  child,  can 
 have  stolen  thy  herds?  I  am  quite  happy  lying  in  my 
 cradle,  or  sitting  on  my  mother's  knee.  Why,  I  was  born 
 but  yesterday,  and  my  feet  are  too  soft  and  tender  to 
 go  on  the  hard  stony  ground.  I  swear  to  thee  by  my 
 father's  head,  that  I  am  not  the  thief,  neither  do  I  know 
 who  he  is." 
 
 But  Apollo  was  not  to  be  thus  cheated,  so  without  more 
 ado,  he  took  the  small  rogue  up  in  his  arms  to  carry  him 
 to  Zeus.  Then  Hermes  began  to  struggle  and  scream. 
 "Release  me,"  he  cried,  "and  I  will  follow  thee  without 
 resistance.  Never  will  I  appear  dragged  thus  before  the 
 throne  of  my  father."  At  last  Apollo  complied  with  his 
 entreaties,  and  Hermes,  wrapping  the  cradle  clothes  about 
 him,  accompanied  his  accuser  to  Mount  Olympus,  where 
 Zeus  at  once  assembled  the  Gods  to  listen  to  the  plaint  of 
 Apollo. 
 
 When  he  had  finished  the  child  Hermes  thus  began  his 
 defence  :  "  It  makes  me  laugh  to  think  that  Apollo  takes 
 me  for  a  strong  man,  able  to  carry  away  a  herd  of  oxen. 
 All  night  I  slumbered  peacefully,  and  never  left  my  mother's 
 
 L 
 
1 62  Hermes  or  Mercury. 
 
 care.  What  proof  has  he  of  my  guilt?  I,  in  my  turn, 
 accuse  him  of  harshness  and  injustice."  Thus  spoke 
 Hermes,  but  Zeus  was  not  deceived.  He  recognised  the 
 fault ;  but,  instead  of  being  angry,  he  only  smiled  at  the 
 cunning  and  boldness  of  the  boy. 
 
 "Go  to  !"  he  answered,  "show  where  thou  hast  hidden 
 the  cattle,"  and  Hermes  did  not  dare  to  carry  the  decep- 
 tion further.  He  returned  with  Apollo  to  the  cave,  and 
 showed  him  not  only  those  oxen  that  were  alive,  but  also 
 the  skins  of  those  he  had  slain,  and  the  God  marvelled 
 greatly  how  such  a  young  child  could  have  killed  them. 
 To  prevent  his  doing  any  more  mischief  he  bound  him  fast 
 with  willow  withes,  but  the  child's  divine  nature  displayed 
 itself.  The  bands  fell  from  him,  and  at  once  twined  them- 
 selves round  the  feet  of  the  oxen,  rendering  them  unable 
 to  move. 
 
 Then  he  fetched  his  lyre,  and  while  his  ringers  swept  the 
 strings,  sang  such  wonderful  songs  of  the  immortal  Gods, 
 the  dark  earth  and  how  it  was  made,  and  how  to  each  God 
 his  appointed  portion  was  given,  that  Apollo  was  lost  in 
 wonder,  and  eagerly  desired  to  possess  the  same  power. 
 When  Hermes  had  ended  he  promised  him  forgiveness  of 
 his  theft,  and  various  divine  gifts,  if  he  would  give  him  his 
 lyre  and  teach  him  to  play  it.  Hermes  gladly  consented ; 
 and  receiving  in  return  the  golden  whip,  and  the  guardian- 
 ship of  the  herds,  returned  with  Apollo  to  Mount  Olympus. 
 Hermes  soon  afterwards  invented  the  shepherd's  pipe,  an 
 invention  sometimes  attributed  to  Pan.  From  this  instru- 
 ment he  produced  such  lovely  sounds  that  all  the  Gods 
 listened  in  astonishment. 
 
 Hermes  and  Apollo  then  made  a  compact ;  the  former 
 swore  by  the  holy  oath  of  the  Gods  that  he  would  never 
 either  steal  from  Apollo  his  harp  or  bow,  or  rob  his  temple, 
 
Hermes  or  Mercury.  163 
 
 Apollo  giving  him  as  a  pledge  his  golden  rod,  which 
 possessed  the  power  of  bestowing  happiness  and  riches  ; 
 but  he  kept  to  himself  the  gift  of  foretelling  the  future, 
 whereas  Hermes  had  to  seek  this  knowledge  from  the 
 winged  Moirae. 
 
 The  principal  occupation  of  Hermes  was  to  act  as  the 
 messenger  of  the  Gods,  and  especially  of  Zeus.  As  such, 
 he  is  constantly  mentioned  by  Homer.  His  sandals  were 
 golden,  and,  like  his  cap,  were  furnished  with  wings,  so 
 that  he  equalled  the  wind  in  swiftness.  He  held  in  his 
 hand  a  staff,  round  which  were  twisted  two  snakes,  their 
 heads  meeting  at  the  point.  The  origin  of  this  was,  that 
 Hermes  had  once  seen  two  snakes  fighting,  and  on  his 
 striking  them  with  his  staff  they  ceased  their  combat,  and 
 twined  themselves  round  it.  With  this  staff  he  worked 
 many  wonders.  Whoever  he  touched  with  it  sank  into 
 deep  sleep,  or,  if  asleep,  awoke ;  and  whatever  substance  it 
 touched  was  turned  into  gold.  Two  small  wings  were 
 fastened  to  it. 
 
 Hermes  was  deputed  by  the  Gods  to  lead  the  souls 
 of  the  departed  to  the  Underworld  \  and  if  any  of  these 
 spirits  had  to  appear  again  as  witnesses  in  the  Upperworld, 
 he  was  sent  to  fetch  them.  Also  the  Dreams,  who  lived  at 
 the  entrance  of  the  Underworld,  were  conducted  by  him 
 to  mankind. 
 
 In  very  ancient  times  Hermes,  or  Mercury,  was  repre- 
 sented by  the  Greeks  in  the  shape  of  a  four-cornered  pillar, 
 broad  at  the  top  and  narrowing  towards  the  bottom  ;  which 
 was  called  a  Hermes.  These  pillars  stood  in  great  numbers 
 in  the  streets  of  Athens,  and  on  each  was  engraved  a 
 proverb,  such  as:  Learn  to  know  thyself;  He  is  the 
 strongest  who  conquers  himself;  Put  not  off  till  to-morrow 
 what  can  be  done  to-day.      Later  on  these  pillars  were 
 
1 64  Phcebtis  Apollo. 
 
 surmounted   by   the   head   of  Hermes.      He  is  variously 
 represented  as  a  boy,  a  youth,  and  a  man. 
 
 When  depicted  as  a  boy,  two  small  wings  are  visible 
 amidst  his  curling  hair ;  in  his  left  hand  is  a  bag,  and  a 
 finger  of  the  right  hand  rests  against  his  chin,  as  if  he  were 
 lost  in  thought,  or  meditating  some  cunning  stratagem.  As 
 a  youth,  he  is  represented  either  standing,  walking,  or 
 sitting,  with  hat,  staff,  or  scrip.  His  body  is  muscular,  his 
 carriage  elastic.  Wings  are  fastened  to  his  cap  and  his 
 heels.  His  hair  is  short  and  curling,  his  ears  and  mouth 
 small.  A  cock,  the  symbol  of  watchfulness,  a  tortoise,  and 
 a  ram,  are  shown  beside  him ;  as  well  as  a  bowl  for  offer- 
 ings, or  the  stem  of  a  palm  tree,  against  which  he  leans ; 
 the  latter  probably  an  emblem  of  his  invention  of  the  art 
 of  writing,  palm-leaves  being  then  used  for  paper. 
 
 XVI.— PHCEBUS    APOLLO,   AESCULAPIUS, 
 AURORA    OR    EOS. 
 
 As  has  already  been  stated,  Apollo  was  the  son  of  Zeus  or 
 Jupiter  and  Leto  or  Latona,  and  was  born  in  the  island  of 
 Delos.  Hardly  had  he  seen  the  light  of  day  when  the 
 nymphs  came  and  wrapped  him  in  fine  linen  and  golden 
 bands,  while  Themis  fed  him  with  nectar  and  ambrosia.  This 
 divine  food  rendered  his  growth  so  rapid  that  the  childish 
 clothing  fell  from  him,  and  he  stepped  forth  a  beautiful 
 youth,  announcing  boldly  that  the  harp  and  the  far-shooting 
 bow  would  for  the  future  be  specially  his.  When  he  thus, 
 in  his  glorious  beauty,  descended  from  the  mount  on  which 
 he  was  born  to  the  plain  beneath,  the  Gods  were  amazed  at 
 the  wonderful  apparition;  and  Delos  rejoiced  greatly  at 
 
Phoebus  Apollo.  165 
 
 being  chosen  by  Apollo  as  his  birthplace  and  favourite 
 resort.  Then  with  harp  slung  on  his  arm,  from  which  he 
 drew  the  most  exquisite  melodies,  his  head  surrounded  with 
 shining  rays,  his  body  clothed  in  golden  raiment,  he  joined 
 the  assembly  of  the  Gods,  where  he  was  received  with 
 universal  joy. 
 
 Music  and  song  resounded  on  all  sides,  the  Graces  and 
 Hours  danced,  the  Muses  sang  praises  to  the  bounty  of 
 the  Gods,  and  the  works  of  men.  Hera  (Juno)  and  Aphro- 
 dite (Venus)  took  part  in  the  dance  with  Artemis  or  Diana, 
 the  newly  born  twin  sister  of  Apollo,  who  sang  to  the  notes 
 of  her  brother's  lyre. 
 
 One  of  the  principal  seats  in  the  abode  of  the  Gods  on 
 Olympus  was  then  assigned  to  Apollo,  so  that,  when  he 
 appeared  in  the  Assembly,  bow  and  quiver  in  hand,  all 
 rose  from  their  seats  to  do  him  honour.  Zeus  and  his 
 mother  Leto  alone  remained  seated  at  his  entrance ;  and 
 she,  relieving  him  of  his  quiver,  which  she  locked  away, 
 hung  the  bow  on  one  of  the  pillars  of  the  hall,  and  bade 
 him  take  his  seat,  while  Zeus  handed  to  him  a  goblet 
 filled  with  nectar. 
 
 Descending  from  Olympus,  Apollo  repaired  to  Pieria 
 in  Macedonia,  thence  into  Thessaly,  and  on  to  the 
 island  of  Euboea,  but  nowhere  could  he  find  a  place  to 
 build  himself  a  temple.  Therefore  he  returned  to  the 
 Grecian  mainland,  and  plunged  into  the  thick  dark  forests 
 of  Bceotia,  as  yet  untrodden  by  the  foot  of  man.  Coming 
 at  last  to  the  spring  of  Thelpusa,  he  wished  there  to  found 
 his  abode.  But  the  nymph  of  the  spring,  fearing  that 
 his  fame  would  eclipse  her  own,  tried  to  dissuade  him. 
 "Dost  thou  really  intend/'  she  said,  "to  make  thyself 
 a  home  in  this  place  ?  Here  canst  thou  never  have 
 peace.      The   horses  and  the  lowing  cattle  that  come  in 
 
1 66  P/iceÖ7is  Apollo. 
 
 crowds  to  quench  their  thirst  at  my  fountain  would  dis- 
 turb the  stillness  of  thy  sacred  temple.  The  surrounding 
 plains  tempt  men  to  battle,  and  the  noise  of  strife  and  war- 
 fare will  break  the  repose  of  thy  holy  shrine.  Go  rather  to 
 Mount  Parnassus,  where  neither  chariot  nor  horse  will  dis- 
 turb thee.  There  canst  thou  build  thy  home  in  peace." 
 Apollo  believed  her  words,  and  coming  to  Parnassus,  laid 
 the  foundations  of  his  temple  in  a  cleft,  where  large  masses 
 of  rock  afforded  a  sheltering  roof.  Of  these  foundations 
 a  temple  of  white  marble  was  afterwards  erected  by  his 
 numerous  worshippers.  Not  far  from  the  spot  was  a 
 spring,  where  lay  the  mighty  dragon  Python.  The  God, 
 when  only  five  days  old,  killed  him  with  his  arrows,  and 
 was  thenceforth  called  the  Pythian  Apollo. 
 
 Apollo  was  the  God  of  Prophecy,  of  Music,  and  of 
 Archery. 
 
 As  God  of  Prophecy  he  was  especially  honoured  in 
 Delphi,  as  at  the  foot  of  Mount  Parnassus  he  had  founded 
 his  temple.  Here  in  the  wildest  part  of  the  mountain, 
 encompassed  by  gigantic  shapes  of  rock,  was  a  deep  chasm, 
 out  of  which  rose  a  perpetual  column  of  sulphureous  vapour. 
 An  old  writer  thus  describes  the  spot :  "  Where  the  inner- 
 most sanctuary  of  the  temple  now  stands,  was  a  deep  cleft. 
 A  herd  of  goats  browsed  near  it,  and  when  one  of  them 
 approached  its  edge,  it  took  such  astonishing  leaps,  and 
 made  such  strange  sounds,  quite  different  from  its  ordinary 
 bleating,  that  the  goatherd,  amazed  at  this  extraordinary 
 occurrence,  also  went  towards  the  chasm.  He  looked  down 
 hoping  to  discover  some  cause  for  it,  but  as  soon  as  he  did 
 so  he  became  afflicted  in  the  same  manner  as  were  the 
 goats  :  he  sprang  about  as  if  bewitched,  and  began  to  fore- 
 tell the  future.  On  this  becoming  known  to  the  inhabitants 
 of  the  surrounding  country,  they  flocked  to  examine  for 
 
Phoebus  Apollo.  167 
 
 themselves  this  wonderful  chasm,  and  as  many  as  drew  near 
 and  looked  in  became  inspired.  The  spot,  therefore,  be- 
 came regarded  as  a  suitable  locality  for  an  oracle,  and  the 
 predictions  declared  these  were  attributed  to  the  Goddess 
 Gaea  or  Ge  (Earth).  For  a  long  time  it  was  customary  for 
 all  those  who  desired  an  oracular  saying,  to  go  to  the 
 chasm  and  prophesy  to  each  other ;  but  as  several  of  them, 
 while  inspired,  sprang  into  the  gulf  in  their  wild  excitement, 
 and  were  never  more  seen,  it  was  determined  that  this 
 danger  should  be  prevented  by  appointing  one  woman  to 
 divine  for  all." 
 
 Round  this  abyss  gradually  arose  the  town  of  Delphi. 
 It  was  built  in  the  form  of  an  amphitheatre,  and  the  sur- 
 rounding scenery  was  so  wild  and  romantic  that  it  itself 
 inspired  a  feeling  of  awe  and  anxious  expectation  in  those 
 who  came  to  consult  the  oracle.  On  the  north  it  was  over- 
 shadowed by  the  high  and  pointed  summit  of  Mount 
 Parnassus ;  two  gigantic  masses  of  rock  completely  shut  it 
 in  on  the  east  and  west ;  and  on  the  southern  side  another 
 steep  and  fantastically  shaped  cliff  formed  an  abrupt 
 precipice.  In  this  hollow  resounded  numerous  echos, 
 which  increased  the  awe  of  those  who  ventured  near  this 
 wild  and  secluded  spot.  At  first  the  Greeks  believed  that 
 it  was  the  Goddess  Gaea  who  here  predicted  the  future ; 
 but  the  oracle  was  subsequently  dedicated  to  Apollo. 
 
 Originally  only  a  small  and  insignificant  temple  was 
 built  over  the  cleft,  but  in  the  reign  of  Cyrus,  a  magnificent 
 temple  of  Parian  marble  was  erected,  towards  the  construc- 
 tion of  which  all  the  Greek  states  contributed  the  sum  of,  in 
 our  money,  ^60,000.  Over  the  entrance  were  the  words, 
 "Thou  art."  The  inner  and  most  sacred  portion  of  the 
 edifice  was  called  the  Pythian.  Here  stood  a  golden  statue 
 of  Apollo,  and  over  the  chasm,  whence  proceeded  fumes,  was 
 
1 6  8  Phcebus  Apollo. 
 
 placed  a  tripod,  on  which  sat  the  priestess  who  declared  the 
 decision  of  the  oracle.  The  people  of  other  nations  besides 
 the  Greeks  came  hither  for  advice  and  guidance,  and  while 
 yet  afar  off,  those  who  came  to  consult  it  became  filled  with 
 holy  ardour.  On  the  heights  of  the  surrounding  mountains 
 glistened  the  roofs  of  the  sacred  buildings,  and  the  gold, 
 silver,  and  marble  pillars,  which  the  gratitude  of  the  enquir- 
 ing multitudes  had  placed  there.  On  descending  into  the 
 hollow  where  the  original  temple  stood  the  enquirer  found 
 himself  in  a  sacred  grove,  under  the  dark  shade  of  laurels 
 and  olive  trees.  A  wild  rushing  music  was  heard,  and  the 
 air  was  filled  with  fragrant  incense. 
 
 Before  being  admitted  into  the  sacred  precincts,  those  who 
 sought  the  oracle  had  to  prepare  themselves  by  sacrifices, 
 baths,  and  fasting  j  especially  were  they  obliged  to  present 
 the  required  gifts  to  Apollo.  The  sacrifices  were  generally 
 repeated  on  the  plea  that  they  had  not  been  successful  the 
 first  time,  in  order  to  give  the  priests  time  to  gain  full  infor- 
 mation about  the  enquirer.  The  sacrifice  was  not  pro- 
 nounced to  be  ready  until  the  sacrificial  animal  began  to 
 tremble  all  over  from  the  effects  of  the  cold  water  that  had 
 been  poured  upon  it.  At  last  it  was  said  that  the  God 
 allowed  the  questioners  to  enter.  Then,  in  solemn  proces- 
 sion amid  wild  music,  crowned  with  laurel,  a  branch  of  the 
 same  in  one  hand,  and  in  the  other  a  laurel  wreathed  tablet 
 on  which  were  written  the  questions  they  wished  to  have 
 answered,  they  were  conducted  to  the  temple,  and  brought 
 into  a  chapel  separated  only  from  the  Pythian,  or  Most 
 Holy,  by  a  wall.  Here  the  priests  left  them,  and  carried 
 the  tablets  into  the  Pythian  to  the  priestess  or  Pythia.  She 
 was  simply  dressed,  and,  before  entering  the  temple,  had 
 bathed  in  the  Castalian  spring,  had  been  crowned  with  laurel, 
 and  had  plucked  and  eaten  some  leaves  from  the  laurels 
 
Phcebus  Apollo.  169 
 
 growing  in  front  of  the  sacred  edifice.  These  preparations 
 completed,  she  seated  herself  in  the  tripod,  and  was  at  once 
 enveloped  in  the  sulphurous  fumes.  Her  senses  forsook  her, 
 the  priests  were  obliged  to  hold  her,  plaintive  cries  burst 
 from  her  lips,  she  foamed  at  the  mouth,  her  eyes  almost 
 started  from  their  sockets,  and  as  single  words  dropped 
 painfully  from  her  lips  between  the  throes  of  anguish,  they 
 were  carefully  written  down  by  the  priests.  Once  the  con- 
 vulsions and  tortures  of  the  Pythia  became  so  fearful  that  the 
 priests,  though  well  accustomed  to  these  sights,  fled  in  terror. 
 After  this  three  priestesses  were  appointed,  who  performed 
 this  function  by ;  turns. 
 
 When  the  Pythia  had  been  taken  from  the  tripod,  and  had 
 recovered  her  senses,  the  priests  collected  all  her  incoherent 
 words,  and  from  these  arranged  the  God's  answers  in  Hexa- 
 meters. The  answers  were  so  ambiguously  expressed 
 that  the  enquirer  never  clearly  knew  in  what  sense  the 
 answer  was  intended  to  be  taken,  so  that,  if  the  prophecy 
 did  not  prove  true,  the  priests  were  always  able  to  say  their 
 meaning  had  been  wrongly  comprehended.  Kings  and 
 other  wealthy  and  powerful  worshippers  enriched  the 
 temple  at  Delphi  with  quantities  of  costly  and  valuable 
 presents.  Besides  the  numbers  of  gilded  statues  which 
 occupied  every  available  open  place  in  the  vicinity  of  the 
 temple,  the  space  in  front  of  it  was  literally  filled  with 
 sumptuous  offerings,  and  the  several  outer  buildings  over- 
 flowed with  treasure,  so  that,  when  the  inhabitants  of  Phocis 
 once  ruthlessly  broke  into  and  plundered  the  temple,  the 
 gold  and  silver  alone  amounted  to  more  than  one  million  of 
 modern  money. 
 
 It  has  been  said  that  Apollo  was  also  the  God  of  Music. 
 Dancing  and  music  were  in  ancient  times,  and  are  still,  the 
 favourite  recreations  of  the  Greeks.     Any  one  who  could 
 
1 yo  Phoebus  Apollo. 
 
 put  words  to  music,  or  play  for  the  dance,  was  everywhere 
 welcome.  As  such  did  the  Greeks  picture  Apollo,  except 
 that  his  songs  were  reserved  for  the  Gods  alone.  On 
 a  golden  seat  on  Mount  Olympus,  wrapt  in  a  golden 
 mantle,  he  called  forth  from  his  harp  exquisite  melodies 
 while  they  sat  at  meat.  He  was  the  friend  and  leader  of  the 
 Muses,  and  was  therefore  called  Musagetes,  meaning,  Leader 
 of  the  Muses,  though  this  name  has  sometimes  been  applied 
 to  Dionysus  also,  and  even  to  Hercules.  As  a  musician  he 
 of  course  surpassed  all  mortals;  and  if  any  ventured  to 
 compete  with  him  he  received  the  reward  of  his  temerity. 
 Marsyas,  the  faithful  attendant  of  Cybele,  is  an  example. 
 He  found  the  flute  that  had  been  thrown  away  by  Athene 
 and,  having  practised  on  it,  challenged  Apollo  to  a  trial  of 
 skill,  at  which  the  Muses  were  to  be  the  umpires.  Apollo  at 
 once  took  his  lyre  and  drew  from  it  the  most  enchanting  tones, 
 but  Marsyas  blew  his  flute  at  the  same  time  so  loudly  that 
 he  quite  overpowered  the  sound  of  the  lyre,  and  thought  he 
 had  thus  gained  the  victory.  Apollo,  however,  overreached 
 him  by  beginning  to  sing  as  well  as  play,  and  this  combina- 
 tion won  him  a  complete  triumph.  The  Muses  declared 
 Marsyas  vanquished,  and  he  was  condemned  to  be  flayed 
 alive. 
 
 Apollo  was  considered  supreme  in  the  skilful  practice  01 
 archery,  and  is  thus  often  mentioned  in  the  old  myths  ; 
 as  for  instance,  in  the  wars  of  the  Gods  against  the  Titans, 
 the  wars  of  the  giants,  the  combat  between  Otus  and 
 Ephialtes  (better  known  as  the  x\loidae),  in  which  the  latter 
 was  shot  by  Apollo  in  the  left  eye.  If  any  one  died 
 suddenly,  whether  from  old  age  or  otherwise,  his  death 
 was  always  ascribed  to  the  arrows  of  Apollo  or  his  sister 
 Artemis.  As  however,  sudden  death  may  either  be  a  blessing 
 or  a  calamity,  the  God  and  his  sister  were  regarded  both  as 
 
Phoebus  Apollo.  1 7 1 
 
 benevolent  and  as  wrathful  divinities.  Thus  the  inhabitants 
 of  a  certain  island  were  considered  fortunate :  "  They  are 
 never  afflicted  with  lingering  disease,  but  as  soon  as  old  age 
 overtakes  them  they  are  shot  by  the  painless  arrows  of 
 Apollo  or  Artemis." 
 
 Penelope,  the  wife  of  Odysseus,  once  exclaimed,  "  Oh  ! 
 that  Artemis  would  grant  me,  unhappy  that  I  am  !  a  swift 
 and  peaceful  death,  like  to  gentle  Sleep."  And  again 
 Odysseus  asked  his  mother,  when  he  met  her  in  the  Under- 
 world, "  Hadst  thou  a  long  illness  before  Death  called  thee, 
 or  did  Artemis  shoot  thee  with  her  swift  arrows  ?  " 
 
 Those  plagues  and  diseases  which  speedily  terminated  in 
 death  were  also  attributed  to  Apollo  and  his  sister.  For 
 instance,  Homer  relates  in  the  beginning  of  the  Iliad,  that 
 Apollo  sent  a  pestilence  among  the  Greeks  as  they  lay 
 encamped  before  Troy,  because  his  priest  had  been  insulted 
 by  Agamemnon. 
 
 "  .  .  He  (Apollo),  with  the  king 
 
 Indignant,  sent  a  plague  that  scattered  death 
 Throughout  the  host,  in  vengeance  for  his  priest, 
 The  aged  Chryses,  whom  Atrides  scorned." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  i.  (Wright). 
 
 The  old  poets  give  a  harrowing  tale  of  how  Apollo  and 
 Artemis  punished  the  arrogance  of  Niobe.  Ovid  graphically 
 relates  the  story  as  follows  :  "  Once,"  says  he,  "  a  priestess 
 went  through  the  town  of  Thebes,  calling  upon  all  the 
 women  to  bring  offerings  of  incense  to  Leto  (Latona),  and 
 her  two  divine  children.  Just  then  Niobe  passed  by.  She 
 was  a  daughter  of  Tantalus,  King  of  Asia  Minor,  and  wife  of 
 Amphion,  King  of  Thebes.  "  What/'  cried  she  haughtily, 
 "  are  ye  mad,  that  ye  prefer  Apollo  and  Artemis  to  me  ? 
 Am  not  I  also  descended  from  the  Gods?     Have  not  I 
 
172  Phoebus  Apollo. 
 
 seven  stalwart  sons,  and  as  many  lovely  daughters?  and 
 yet  ye  would  give  Leto  the  precedence  !  she  who  wandered 
 about — a  homeless  fugitive — till  Delos  received  her.  She 
 who  has  but  two  children  !  while  I  stand  too  high  for  any 
 misfortune  to  touch  me,  and  even  were  I  to  lose  one  or  two 
 of  my  children,  there  would  still  remain  more  than  double 
 the  number  that  Leto  possesses  ! "  Thus  boasted  proud 
 Niobe,  and,  influenced  by  her  words,  the  women  of  Thebes 
 reluctantly  brought  their  offerings  to  Leto. 
 
 "  High  on  the  top  of  Cynthus'  shady  mount, 
 With  grief  the  Goddess  saw  the  base  affront  : 
 And,  the  abuse  revolving  in  her  breast, 
 The  mother  her  twin-offspring  thus  address'd  : 
 Lo,  I,  my  children,  who  with  comfort  knew 
 Your  god-like  birth,  and  thence  my  glory  drew  ; 
 And  thence  have  claim'd  precedency  of  place 
 From  all  but  Juno  of  the  heavenly  race, 
 Must  now  despair,  and  languish  in  disgrace, 
 My  godhead  questioned,  and  all  rights  divine, 
 Unless  you  succour,  banish'd  from  my  shrine. 
 Nay  more,  the  imp  of  Tantalus  has  flung 
 Reflections  with  her  vile  paternal  tongue  ; 
 Has  dared  prefer  her  mortal  breed  to  mine, 
 And  called  me  childless  ;  which,  just  Fate,  may  she  repine  ! 
 When  to  urge  more  the  Goddess  was  prepar'd, 
 Phcebus  in  haste  replies,  Too  much  we've  heard, 
 And  every  moment's  lost,  while  vengeance  is  deferr'd. 
 Diana  spoke  the  same.     Then  both  enshroud 
 Their  heavenly  bodies  in  a  sable  cloud  ; 
 And  to  the  Theban  towers  descending  light, 
 Through  the  soft  yielding  air  direct  their  flight. 
 Without  the  wall  there  lies  a  champaign  ground 
 With  even  surface,  far  extending  round, 
 Beaten  and  levell'd,  while  it  daily  feels 
 The  trampling  horse,  and  chariot's  grinding  wheels. 
 
Phoebus  Apollo.  i  73 
 
 Part  of  proud  Niobe's  young  rival  breed, 
 Practising  there  to  ride  the  manag'd  steed, 
 Their  bridles  boss'd  with  gold,  were  mounted  high 
 On  stately  furniture  of  Tyrian  die. 
 
 Of  these,  Ismenos,  who  by  birth  had  been 
 The  first  fair  issue  of  the  fruitful  queen, 
 Just  as  he  drew  the  rein  to  guide  his  horse 
 Around  the  compass  of  the  circling  course, 
 Sigh'd  deeply,  and  the  pangs  of  smart  express'd, 
 While  the  shaft  stuck,  engored,  within  his  breast  : 
 And  the  reins  dropping  from  his  dying  hand, 
 He  sunk  quite  down,  and  tumbled  on  the  sand. 
 
 Sipylus  next  the  rattling  quiver  heard, 
 And  with  full  speed  for  his  escape  prepar'd  ; 
 
 But  an  unerring  dart 
 O'ertook  him,  quick  discharg'd,  and  sped  with  art  ; 
 Fixed  in  his  neck  behind,  it  trembling  stood, 
 And  his  throat  display 'd  the  point  besmear'd  with  blood 
 Prone  as  his  posture  was,  he  tumbled  o'er, 
 And  bath'd  his  courser's  mane  with  streaming  gore. 
 
 Next  at  young  Phaedimus  they  took  their  aim  ; 
 And  Tantalus,  who  bore  his  grandsire's  name  : 
 These,  when  their  other  exercise  was  done, 
 To  try  the  wrestler's  oily  sport  begun  ; 
 And,  straining  ev'ry  nerve,  their  skill  express'd 
 In  closest  grapple,  joining  breast  to  breast : 
 When  from  the  bending  bow  an  arrow  sent, 
 Join'd  as  they  were,  through  both  their  bodies  went ; 
 
 With  grief  Alphenor  saw  their  doleful  plight, 
 
 And  smote  his  breast,  and  sickened  at  the  sight ; 
 
 Then  to  their  succour  ran  with  eager  haste, 
 
 And,  fondly  griev'd  ;  their  stiffening  limbs  embraced  : 
 
 But  in  the  action  falls  ;  a  thrilling  dart, 
 
 By  Phcebus  guided,  pierc'd  him  to  the  heart. 
 
 But  Damascithon,  by  a  double  wound, 
 
1 74  Phoebus  Apollo. 
 
 Beardless  and  young,  lay  gasping  on  the  ground, 
 Fixed  in  his  sinewy  ham,  the  steely  point 
 Stuck  through  his  knee,  and  pierc'd  the  nervous  joint : 
 And  as  he  stooped  to  tug  the  painful  dart, 
 Another  struck  him  in  a  vital  part  : 
 
 Ilioneus,  the  last,  with  terror  stands  ; 
 Lifting  in  prayer  his  unavailing  hands  ; 
 And,  ignorant  from  whom  his  griefs  arise, 
 Spare  me,  O  all  ye  heavenly  pow'rs  (he  cries)  : 
 Phoebus  was  touched  too  late,  the  sounding  bow 
 Had  sent  the  shaft,  and  struck  the  fatal  blow  ; 
 Which  yet  but  gently  gored  his  tender  side, 
 So  by  a  slight  and  easy  wound  he  died. 
 
 Swift  to  the  mother's  ears  the  rumour  came, 
 And  doleful  sighs  the  heavy  news  proclaim  ; 
 
 And  she  who  tossed  her  high  disdainful  head, 
 When  through  the  streets  in  solemn  pomp,  she  led 
 The  throng  that  from  Latona's  altar  fled, 
 Assuming  state  beyond  the  proudest  queen, 
 Was  now  the  miserablest  object  seen. 
 Prostrate  among  the  clay-cold  dead  she  fell, 
 And  kiss'd  an  undistinguish'd  last  farewell. 
 Then  her  pale  arms  advancing  to  the  skies, 
 Cruel  Latona  !  triumph  now  (she  cries) ; 
 My  grieving  soul  in  bitter  anguish  drench, 
 And  with  my  woes  your  thirsty  passion  quench  ; 
 Feast  your  black  malice  at  a  price  thus  dear, 
 While  the  sore  pangs  of  seven  such  deaths  I  bear. 
 Triumph,  too  cruel  rival,  and  display 
 Your  conquer'd  standard  ;  for  you've  won  the  day. 
 Yet  I'll  excel  ;  for  yet.  though  sev'n  are  slain, 
 Superior  still  in  number  I  remain. 
 
 Scarce  had  she  spoke  ;  the  bowstring's  twanging  sound 
 Was  heard,  and  dealt  fresh  terrors  all  around ; 
 Which  all,  but  Niobe  alone,  confound. 
 
Phcebus  Apollo,  i  7  5 
 
 Stunned  and  obdurate  by  her  load  of  grief, 
 Insensible  she  sits,  nor  hopes  relief. 
 
 Before  the  funeral  biers,  all  weeping  sad, 
 Her  daughters  stood,  in  vests  of  sable  clad  ; 
 When  one,  surpris'd,  and  stung  with  sudden  smart, 
 In  vain  attempts  to  draw  the  sticking  dart, 
 But  to  grim  death  her  blooming  youth  resigns 
 And  o'er  her  brother's  corpse  her  dying  head  reclines. 
 
 One  on  her  dying  sister  breathes  her  last ; 
 Vainly  in  flight  another's  hopes  are  placed  : 
 This  hiding  from  her  fate  a  shelter  seeks  ; 
 That  trembling  stands,  and  fills  the  air  with  shrieks  : 
 And  all  in  vain  ;  for  now  all  six  had  found 
 Their  way  to  death,  each  by  a  different  wound. 
 The  last,  with  eager  care  the  mother  veil'd, 
 Behind  her  spreading  mantle  close  conceal'd. 
 
 Only  for  this,  this  youngest  I  implore, 
 Grant  me  this  one  request,  I  ask  no  more  ; 
 O  grant  me  this  !  she  passionately  cries  : — 
 But  while  she  speaks,  the  destin'd  virgin  dies. 
 
 Widow'd  and  childless  (lamentable  state  !) 
 A  doleful  sight  among  the  dead  she  sits  ; 
 Harden'd  with  woes,  a  statue  of  despair, 
 To  every  breath  of  wind  unmov'd  her  hair  ; 
 
 No  more  her  pliant  tongue  its  motion  keeps, 
 But  stands  congeal'd,  within  her  frozen  lips. 
 Stagnate  and  dull,  within  her  purple  veins, 
 Its  current  stopp'd,  the  lifeless  blood  remains. 
 
 Action,  and  life  from  every  part  are  gone  ; 
 
 Yet  still  she  weeps  ;  and,  whirled  by  stormy  winds, 
 Borne  through  the  air,  her  native  country  finds  ; 
 There  fixed,  she  stands  upon  a  bleaky  hill, 
 There  yet  her  marble  cheeks  eternal  tears  distil." 
 
 — OviD,  "  Metamorphoses,"  Book  vi.  (Croxall). 
 
1 76  Phoebus  Apollo. 
 
 On  the  heights  of  Mount  Sipylus  in  Phrygia  stands  the 
 rock  of  Niobe,  which  from  a  distance  resembles  the  form  of 
 a  weeping  woman.  The  city  of  Rome  in  its  desolation  has 
 been  called  the  Niobe  of  nations,  "standing  childless  and 
 crownless  in  her  voiceless  woe." 
 
 Apollo  was  supposed  to  have  founded  many  towns  as  well 
 as  the  temple  at  Delphi  j  he  also  helped  to  erect  the  walls  of 
 Troy.  Long  before  the  siege  of  Troy  King  Laomedon 
 wished  to  surround  his  town  with  walls,  and  as  Apollo  and 
 Poseidon  had  just  then  offended  Zeus,  he  commanded  them 
 for  a  punishment  to  build  the  walls  for  the  king.  They 
 made  them  so  strong  that  the  Greeks  afterwards  found 
 it  impossible  to  destroy  them.  When,  however,  Laomedon 
 refused  to  give  to  Poseidon  and  Apollo  the  reward  he  had 
 promised,  and  drove  them  from  him  with  threats,  Poseidon 
 sent  a  frightful  sea-monster  which  devastated  the  whole 
 country,  and  could  only  be  pacified  by  the  sacrifice  of 
 Hesione,  the  king's  daughter.  Hercules  rescued  her  by 
 killing  the  monster;  but  Laomedon  proved  faithless  to 
 him  also,  by  refusing  to  give  him  the  promised  reward, 
 namely,  his  wonderful  horses,  that,  swift  as  the  wind, 
 traversed  both  water  and  fields  without  either  sinking  in 
 the  former,  or  treading  down  the  corn  in  the  latter. 
 Hercules  did  not  allow  this  perfidy  to  remain  unpunished. 
 He  killed  Laomedon,  and  gave  the  kingdom  to  his  son 
 Priam,  but  carried  Hesione  with  him  to  Greece,  where  he 
 espoused  her  to  his  friend  Telamon,  King  of  Salamis. 
 
 As  the  god  of  flocks  and  herds  Apollo  plays  a  prominent 
 part  in  the  beautiful  myth  of  Admetus  and  Alcestis. 
 Admetus,  King  of  Pherae  in  Thessaly,  loved  Alcestis,  the 
 fair  daughter  of  Pelias,  the  sovereign  of  a  neighbouring 
 kingdom.  But  Pelias  had  sworn  only  to  give  his  daughter 
 to  the  suitor  who  should  come  to  seek  her  in  a  chariot 
 
Phoebus  Apollo.  i  7  7 
 
 drawn  by  a  lion  and  a  wild  boar.  Fortunately,  Apollo 
 was  at  that  time  serving  Admetus  as  a  herdsman,  Zeus 
 having  expelled  him  from  Olympus.  Various  causes  for 
 the  anger  of  Zeus  have  been  stated,  amongst  others 
 that  Apollo  had  slain  the  dragon  Python.  But  however 
 this  may  have  been,  Apollo  befriended  Admetus  and 
 taught  him  to  tame  and  harness  the  wild  beasts,  so  that, 
 when  he  arrived  in  his  wonderful  chariot,  Pelias  fulfilled  his 
 promise  and  gave  him  Alcestis  as  his  wife.  But  his  trials 
 were  not  yet  over.  When  he  returned  to  his  palace  he 
 found  it  swarming  with  snakes  sent  by  Artemis  in  revenge, 
 Admetus  having  forgotten  to  offer  her  a  sacrifice.  Once 
 again,  however,  the  heavenly  herdsman  came  to  his  assist- 
 ance, succeeded  in  persuading  the  goddess  to  remove 
 the  reptiles,  and  Admetus  and  Alcestis  enjoyed  unbroken 
 happiness,  happiness  so  great  as  at  last  to  excite  the  envy 
 of  some  of  the  gods. 
 
 Suddenly  Admetus  fell  dangerously  ill,  and  even  the 
 entreaties  of  Apollo  were  ineffectual  in  inducing  the 
 implacable  Parcae  to  lengthen  the  thread  of  his  life.  The 
 only  concession  he  could  gain  was,  that  the  life  of  Admetus 
 should  be  prolonged  if  another  human  life  were  voluntarily 
 offered  up  in  his  stead.  But  of  whom  could  this  sacrifice 
 be  required  ?  Then  spoke  the  beautiful  Alcestis,  "  There 
 is  no  darkness  for  me  in  the  land  of  Hades,  no  pain  in 
 death  if  only  I  die  for  thee,  my  husband,"  and  even  as  the 
 words  came  from  her  lips  the  curse  of  the  gods  passed 
 from  Admetus,  and  the  strength  of  the  fair  bride  ebbed 
 slowly  away.  But  a  little  while,  and  the  awful  Moirae  had 
 borne  Alcestis  to  the  shadowy  kingdom,  and  Admetus 
 mourned  in  bitter  grief  the  love  which  he  had  lost.  Even 
 Persephone  was  touched  by  his  lamentations,  but  she 
 entreated  Pluto  in  vain  to  permit  the  daughter  of  Pelias  to 
 
i  j&  Phoebus  Apollo. 
 
 return  to  the  Upperworld.  Then  the  soul  of  the  brave 
 Hercules  was  stirred  within  him ;  he  descended  into 
 Tartarus,  and  in  the  land  of  darkness  did  battle  with  the 
 powers  of  death,  and  rescued  Alcestis  from  the  stern 
 inflexible  King  of  Hades.  So  once  more  she  stood  before 
 Admetus,  her  beauty  more  radiant  than  even  in  the  days 
 before  the  heavy  sorrow  of  her  loss  had  fallen  on  him,  and 
 once  more  the  sound  of  great  rejoicing  was  heard  in  the 
 halls  of  Pherae. 
 
 Apollo  showed  especial  friendship  towards  the  beautiful 
 youth  Hyacinthus.  When  hunting  or  wrestling  with  him, 
 he  concerned  himself  little  about  Delphi,  and  even  laid 
 aside  his  harp  and  bow.  Once  they  were  playing  quoits 
 near  the  river  Eurotas,  in  Sparta.  Apollo  threw  the  disc 
 high  in  the  air  ;  Hyacinthus  ran  to  catch  it,  but  Zephyrus, 
 angry  that  the  youth,  whom  he  also  loved,  did  not  respond 
 to  his  friendship,  so  guided  the  quoit  that  it  fell  close  to 
 where  Hyacinthus  stood.  The  ground  being  hard  it 
 rebounded,  and  drove  against  the  lad's  head. 
 
 "  (Apollo)  rais'd  him  bleeding  from  the  ground, 
 Chafes  his  cold  limbs,  and  wipes  the  fatal  wound  : 
 Then  herbs  of  noblest  juice  in  vain  applies ; 
 The  wound  is  mortal,  and  his  skill  defies. 
 As  in  a  water'd  garden's  blooming  walk, 
 When  some  rude  hand  has  bruis'd  its  tender  stalk, 
 A  fading  lily  droops  its  languid  head, 
 And  bends  to  earth,  its  life  and  beauty  fled  ; 
 So  Hyacinth,  with  head  declined,  decays. 
 
 Oh  !  art  thou  gone,  my  boy  (Apollo  cry'd) 
 Defrauded  of  thy  youth  in  all  its  pride  ! 
 Thou,  once  my  joy,  art  all  my  sorrow  now  ; 
 And  to  my  guilty  hand  my  grief  I  owe  : 
 
Phoebus  Apollo.  i  79 
 
 Oh  !  could  I  for  thee,  or  but  with  thee  die  ! 
 
 But  cruel  fates  to  me  that  pow'r  deny  ; 
 
 Yet  on  my  tongue  thou  shalt  for  ever  dwell ; 
 
 Thy  name  my  lyre  shall  sound,  my  verse  shall  tell  ; 
 
 And  to  a  flower  transform'd,  unheard  of  yet, 
 
 Stamped  on  thy  leaves  my  cries  thou  shalt  repeat. 
 
 While  Phcebus  thus  the  laws  of  fate  reveal'd, 
 Behold,  the  blood  which  stain'd  the  verdant  field, 
 Is  blood  no  longer  ;  but  a  flower  full  blown, 
 Far  brighter  than  the  Tyrian  scarlet  shone. 
 A  lily's  form  it  took  ;  its  purple  hue 
 Was  all  that  made  a  diff 'rence  to  the  view. 
 Nor  stopped  he  there  ;  the  god  upon  its  leaves 
 The  sad  expression  of  his  sorrow  weaves  ; 
 And  to  this  hour  the  mournful  purple  wears 
 Ai,  Ai,  inscribed  in  funeral  characters." 
 
 —Ovid,  "Metam."  Book  x.  (Dryden). 
 
 Thus  from  the  blood  of  the  beautiful,  the  beloved,  sprang 
 the  hyacinth ;  not  the  flower  which  we  call  by  that  name, 
 for  that  is  not  always  blue,  nor  is  it  marked  with  spots 
 resembling  the  letters  Ai ;  it  was  the  blue  sword  lily  which 
 the  poet  meant.  In  honour  of  Hyacinthus  the  Spartans 
 instituted  a  great  yearly  feast,  during  which  the  celebrated 
 Paean  was  performed.  This  was  a  song  in  praise  of  Apollo, 
 with  accompaniment  of  lyre  or  harp,  and  the  performance  of 
 pantomimic  dances. 
 
 Apollo  never  married,  but  he  loved  many  mortal  maidens, 
 the  most  celebrated  of  whom  was  Daphne.  Ovid  thus 
 relates  the  myth  : 
 
 "  The  first  and  fairest  of  his  loves  was  she 
 Whom  not  blind  fortune,  but  the  dire  decree 
 Of  angry  Cupid  forc'd  him  to  desire  : 
 Daphne"  her  name,  and  Peneus  was  her  sire. 
 Swell'd  with  the  pride,  that  new  success  attends, 
 
1 80  Phoebus  Apollo. 
 
 He  sees  the  stripling,  while  his  bow  he  bends, 
 And  thus  insults  him  :  Thou  lascivious  boy, 
 Are  arms  like  these  for  children  to  employ  ? 
 Know,  such  achievements  are  my  proper  claim  : 
 Due  to  my  vigour  and  unerring  aim  : 
 Resistless  are  my  shafts,  and  Python  late, 
 In  such  a  feather'd  death  has  found  his  fate. 
 Take  up  the  torch  (and  lay  my  weapons  by) 
 With  that  the  feeble  souls  of  lovers  fry. 
 
 To  whom  the  son  of  Venus  thus  reply'd  : 
 Phoebus,  thy  shafts  are  sure  on  all  beside, 
 But  mine  on  Phcebus,  mine  the  frame  shall  be 
 Of  all  thy  conquests,  when  I  conquer  thee. 
 
 He  said,  and  soaring,  swiftly  wing'd  his  flight  ; 
 Nor  stopped,  but  on  Parnassus'  airy  height. 
 Two  different  shafts  he  from  his  quiver  draws  : 
 One  to  repel  desire,  and  one  to  cause  ; 
 One  shaft  is  pointed  with  refulgent  gold  ; 
 To  bribe  the  love,  and  make  the  lover  bold ; 
 One  blunt,  and  tipped  with  lead,  whose  bare  allay, 
 Provokes  disdain,  and  drives  desire  away." 
 
 — Ovid,  "  Metam."  Book  i.  (Dryden). 
 
 Whereupon  Eros  wounded  Apollo  with  the  sharp,  and 
 Daphne  with  the  blunt  arrow,  neither  of  which  failed  to 
 accomplish  their  work.  Many  a  youth  had  besought  her  to 
 be  his  wife,  and  her  father  had  often  entreated  her  to  marry ; 
 but  she  cared  only  for  the  chase,  and  begged  her  father  not 
 to  deprive  her  of  her  freedom.  Now  Apollo  beheld  her, 
 and  at  once  his  heart  longed  for  her,  but  like  the  wind,  she 
 fled  away  from  him.     In  vain  he  called  after  her  : 
 
 "  Stay  nymph  (he  cry'd),  I  follow,  not  a  foe  : 
 Thus  from  the  lion  trips  the  trembling  doe  ; 
 Thus  from  the  wolf  the  frighten'd  lamb  removes, 
 And,  from  pursuing  falcons,  fearful  doves  ; 
 Thou  shunnst  a  god,  and  shunn'st  a  god  that  loves." 
 
 —Ovid,  "  Metam."  Book  i. 
 
Phoebus  Apollo.  1 8 1 
 
 Over  hill  and  vale  fled   Daphne,  but  nearer  yet  came 
 Phcebus  Apollo,  till  at  last  her  strength  began  to  fail,  and 
 she  almost  felt  his  breath  on  her  floating  hair : 
 11  And  now  despairing,  cast  a  mournful  look 
 Upon  the  streams  of  her  paternal  brook  :— 
 Oh  !  help  (she  cry'd),  in  this  extremest  need, 
 If  water-gods  are  deities  indeed  : 
 Gape,  earth,  and  this  unhappy  wretch  entomb  ; 
 Or  change  my  form,  whence  all  my  sorrows  come. 
 Scarce  had  she  finish'd,  when  her  feet  she  found 
 Benumb'd  with  cold,  and  fasten'd  to  the  ground  : 
 A  filmy  rind  about  her  body  grows  ; 
 Her  hair  to  leaves,  her  arms  extend  to  boughs  : 
 The  nymph  is  all  into  a  laurel  gone  : 
 The  smoothness  of  her  skin  remains  alone." 
 
 —Ovid,  "  Metam."  Book  i.  (Dryden). 
 
 Still  the  love  of  Apollo  remained,  tenderly  he  embraced 
 the  branches,  and  kissed  the  wood  that  seemed  to  shrink 
 from  him.  "  As  thou  couldst  not  be  my  bride,"  he  cried, 
 "  at  least  as  a  tree  shalt  thou  be  mine.  From  henceforth 
 laurels  shall  crown  my  head,  my  lyre,  and  my  quiver." 
 And  the  thick  clustering  leaves  became  at  rest  when  they 
 heard  these  words,  and  the  crown  of  the  green  bush  bowed 
 in  assent. 
 
 The  most  ordinary  surnames  of  Apollo  were  Delos  and 
 Cynthius,  for  the  island  of  Delos  was  above  all  others  sacred 
 to  him.  Here  a  brilliant  feast  was  held  yearly  in  his  honour. 
 From  all  the  neighbouring  countries  of  Greece,  solemn 
 embassies  called  Theoria  hastened  to  render  thanks  to  the 
 god  for  having  freed  the  Athenians  from  the  human  sacri- 
 fices, which  they  had  to  offer  every  nine  years  to  the 
 Minotaur  of  Crete.  Before  the  Theoria  sailed  for  Delos, 
 the  town  whence  it  started  was  solemnly  cleansed  and 
 purified.     When  this  expiation  was  completed  in   Athens, 
 
j  82  Phoebus  Apollo. 
 
 the  priest  of  Apollo  crowned  the  rudder  of  the  ship  with 
 laurel,  which  act  was  the  signal  for  departure.  Until  the 
 return  of  the  Theoria,  no  punishments  or  executions  took 
 place.  Laurel-wreathed  ships  came  from  all  parts  into  the 
 harbour  of  Delos.  Amid  the  chanting  of  hymns,  the 
 Theoria  ambassadors  stepped  on  shore,  and  soon  the  plain 
 at  the  foot  of  Mount  Cynthus  was  crowded  with  those  who 
 had  come  to  celebrate  the  birthday  of  Apollo  and  Artemis. 
 Clouds  of  incense  now  rose  from  the  numerous  altars,  and 
 gave  the  signal  for  the  commencement  of  the  feast. 
 
 All  then  separated  themselves  into  choirs.  Here  stood 
 the  most  beautiful  maidens  of  Delos,  dressed  in  white 
 shining  garments,  and  crowned  with  wreaths.  The  leaders 
 of  their  choir  would  commence  a  pantomimic  dance,  repre- 
 senting the  sorrows  and  wanderings  of  Leto,  while  their 
 companions  played  on  the  lyre  and  sang  hymns.  There, 
 another  choir  of  beautifully  arrayed  youths  sang  the  praises 
 of  Artemis ;  and  young  girls  from  Delphi,  executing  mystic 
 dances,  crowned  an  ancient  statue  of  Venus,  which  Theseus 
 had  brought  from  Crete  as  a  present  to  Ariadne.  The 
 Theoria,  meanwhile,  followed  in  solemn  procession,  singing 
 hymns,  conveying  their  gifts  to  the  temple,  and  sacrificing 
 oxen  to  the  gods. 
 
 Of  all  the  dances  one  was  specially  remarkable,  and  was 
 performed  by  the  young  men  of  Delos  :  it  consisted  in 
 innumerable  windings,  representing  the  mazes  of  a  laby- 
 rinth. Theseus  had  learned  it  from  Ariadne,  and  it  was  he 
 who  first  introduced  it  into  Delos.  Whoever  danced  it  the 
 best  received  a  beautifully  chased  tripod  as  his  reward. 
 Next  a  solemn  banquet  took  place,  and  the  festival  con- 
 cluded with  games.  This  feast  was  held  every  year,  as  has 
 been  said,  but  every  fifth  year  it  was  celebrated  with 
 especial  honours.     Similar  feasts  also  took  place  at  Delphi, 
 
Phcebtis  Apollo.  183 
 
 and  at  other  places  which  were  dedicated  to  the  god,  such 
 as  Mount  Parnassus  and  Mount  Helicon. 
 
 The  wolf,  deer,  eagle,  raven,  dolphin,  and  grasshopper 
 were  sacred  to  Apollo  ;  also  the  laurel  and  olive-tree.  The 
 god  was  regarded  as  the  ideal  of  manly  beauty ;  the  shape 
 of  his  face  was  a  long  oval,  his  forehead  was  high  and 
 arched,  his  curling  locks  fell  on  to  his  shoulders,  and  were 
 fastened  together  in  a  knot.  He  had  no  hair  on  his  face, 
 and  his  figure  was  graceful  and  active.  He  is  generally 
 depicted  crowned  with  laurel,  and  holding  the  plectrum,  a 
 bow  and  quiver,  or  sometimes  a  shepherd's  crook. 
 
 Later  poets  confound  Apollo  with  the  sun-god  Helios 
 or  Phoebus,  son  of  Hyperion  (i.e.,  he  who  goes  above 
 us).  Homer  calls  Helios  Hyperion.  He  is  represented 
 with  a  golden  helmet,  flashing  eyes,  and  his  head  surrounded 
 with  shining  rays.  His  sisters  were  Eos  or  Aurora  (the 
 dawn),  and  Selene  or  Luna  (the  moon).  He  lived  with 
 Aurora  on  the  east  side  of  the  earth,  near  Colchis,  from 
 whence,  every  morning  as  soon  as  rosy-fingered  Eos  had 
 opened  the  gates,  he  drove  across  the  heavens  in  his  golden 
 chariot,  drawn  by  four  fiery  steeds.  In  the  evening  he 
 descended  into  the  west  to  the  green  waters  of  Oceanus, 
 and  there  cooled  his  sun-horses.  The  Hours  and  Nereides 
 hastened  forth,  took  the  reins  from  his  hands,  and  the 
 crown  from  his  head,  unharnessed  the  steeds,  and  threw 
 ambrosial  grass  before  them.  Then  the  sun-god  stepped 
 into  the  wonderful  vessel  made  by  Vulcan,  called  the 
 Chalice  of  Helios,  and  sailed  with  incredible  speed  round 
 the  northern  half  of  the  earth,  back  to  his  golden  palace  in 
 the  east,  where  after  having  watered  his  horses,  and  bathed 
 in  the  sun-lake,  he  lay  down  to  rest.  This  sun-lake  was 
 separated  from  Oceanus  by  high  rocks  of  shining  brass. 
 
1 84  Phoebus  Apollo. 
 
 "  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  refresh'd  the  sight  : 
 
 Of  polish'd  iv'ry  was  the  cov'ring  wrought  : 
 
 The  matter  vied  not  with  the  sculptor's  thought, 
 
 For  in  the  portal  was  display'd  on  high 
 
 (The  work  of  Vulcan)  a  fictitious  sky  ; 
 
 A  waving  sea  th'  inferior  earth  embrac'd, 
 
 And  gods  and  goddesses  the  waters  grac'd. 
 
 JEgeon  here  a  mighty  whale  bestrode  ; 
 
 Triton,  and  Proteus  (the  deceiving  god), 
 
 With  Doris,  here  were  carv'd,  and  all  her  train, 
 
 Some  loosely  swimming  in  the  figur'd  main, 
 
 While  some  on  rocks  their  drooping  hair  divide, 
 
 And  some  on  fishes  through  the  waters  glide  : 
 
 Though  various  features  did  the  sisters  grace, 
 
 A  sister's  likeness  was  in  ev'ry  face. 
 
 On  earth  a  diff  rent  landscape  courts  the  eyes, 
 
 Men,  towns,  and  beasts,  in  distant  prospects  rise, 
 
 And  nymphs,  and  streams,  and  woods,  and  rural  deities. 
 
 O'er  all,  the  heav'n's  refulgent  image  shines  : 
 
 On  either  gate  were  six  engraven  signs." 
 
 —Ovid  "  Metam.,"  Book  ii.  (Addison). 
 
 Helios  had  several  wives  and  many  children,  among  others 
 Aeetes,  of  whom  we  shall  hear  more  in  the  description  of 
 the  Argonautic  expedition ;  the  sorceress,  Circe ;  and 
 Phaethon,  whose  rashness  and  sad  fate  Ovid  so  beautifully 
 describes. 
 
 Phaethon  once  boasted  that  he  was  the  son  of  Helios  ; 
 and  on  finding  that  his  assertion  was  disbelieved,  he  hurried 
 glowing  with  anger  to  his  mother  Clymene,  told  her  of  the 
 slight  he  had  received,  and  begged  her  to  tell  him  if  Helios, 
 or  as  the  Romans  called  him,  Sol,  was  in  truth  his  father. 
 Clymene  declared  that  he  was  so,  and  bade  him  go  to  his 
 
Phoebus  Apollo.  i»5 
 
 father's  palace,  and  there  from  his  lips  receive  the  assurance 
 he  sought.  Phaethon  obeyed  her  behest,  and  on  arriving 
 near  the  palace  stood  motionless,  dazzled  by  its  wondrous 
 brilliancy  : 
 
 "  The  god  sits  high,  exalted  on  a  throne 
 Of  blazing  gems,  with  purple  garments  on  ; 
 The  Hours,  in  order  rang'd  on  either  hand, 
 And  Days,  and  Months,  and  Years,  and  Ages  stand. 
 Here  Spring  appears,  with  flow'ry  chaplets  bound  ; 
 Here  Summer,  in  her  wheaten  garland  crown'd  ; 
 Here  Autumn  the  rich  trodden  grapes  besmear  ; 
 And  hoary  Winter  shivers  in  the  year." 
 
 —Ovid,  "  Metam.,"  Book  ii.  (Addison). 
 
 On  perceiving  the  youth,  Helios  cried  aloud  to  him  from 
 his  throne,  "What  wants  my  son?  for  know  thou  art  my 
 son,  and  I  must  call  thee  so." 
 
 And  Phaethon  answered  :  "  O  father,  who  d wellest  in  the 
 dazzling  light,  if  I  am  really  thy  son,  give  me  a  token,  so 
 that  men  may  recognize  me  as  such." 
 
 Then  the  god  took  from  his  head  the  starry  crown,  and 
 allowed  Phaethon  to  approach,  and  as  he  took  him  in  his 
 arms,  said,  "  Clymene  has  indeed  told  thee  true ;  thou  art 
 my  son,  and  that  men  may  not  doubt  it,  ask  of  me  what 
 thou  wilt.  Whate'er  thou  may'st  desire,  I  swear  by  the 
 Styx  that  I  will  grant  it  thee." 
 
 "  Then,"  cried  the  youth,  "  let  me  for  one  day  guide  thy 
 chariot  through  the  high  heavens." 
 
 In  vain  did  Helios  beseech  him  to  recall  his  words,  tell- 
 ing him  even  the  gods  themselves  could  not  drive  the  chariot, 
 that  the  horses  of  Helios  would  obey  no  earthly  master : 
 
 11  Not  Jove  himself,  the  ruler  of  the  sky, 
 That  hurls  the  three-forked  thunder  from  above, 
 Dares  try  his  strength  ;  yet,  who  as  strong  as  Jove  ? 
 
1 8 6  Phcebus  Apollo. 
 
 The  steeds  climb  up  the  first  ascent  with  pain, 
 And,  when  the  middle  firmament  they  gain, 
 If  downward  from  the  heav'ns  my  head  I  bow, 
 And  see  the  earth  and  ocean  hang  below, 
 E'en  I  am  seiz'd  with  horror  and  affright, 
 And  my  own  heart  misgives  me  at  the  sight. 
 A  mighty  downfall  steeps  the  ev'ning  stage, 
 And  steady  reins  must  curb  the  horses'  rage." 
 
 —Ovid,  "  Metam.,"  Book  ii.  (Addison). 
 
 Many  warnings  did  he  give  to  Phaethon  of  dangers  he 
 would  meet,  and  of  the  difficulty  of  avoiding  the  stars 
 and  wild  beasts,  which  formed  some  of  the  constellations, 
 and  added : 
 
 "  Nor  would  you  find  it  easy  to  compose 
 The  mettled  steeds,  when  from  their  nostrils  flows 
 The  scorching  fire  that  in  their  entrails  glows. 
 Ev'n  I  their  headstrong  fury  scarce  restrain, 
 When  they  grow  warm  and  restive  to  the  rein." — Ibid. 
 
 But  the  cautions  were  all  in  vain  :  Phaethon  would  accept 
 no  other  gift  as  a  substitute,  and  persisted  in  his  original 
 request;  till  at  last  his  father  reluctantly  yielded,  and  led 
 him  to  the  dangerous  chariot : 
 
 "  A  golden  axle  did  the  work  uphold, 
 Gold  was  the  beam,  the  wheels  were  orb'd  with  gold. 
 The  spokes  in  rows  of  silver  pleas'd  the  sight, 
 The  seat  with  parti-coloured  gems  was  bright ; 
 Apollo  shone  amid  the  glare  of  light. 
 The  youth  with  secret  joy  the  work  surveys, 
 When  now  the  morn  disclos'd  her  purple  rays  ; 
 The  stars  were  fled,  for  Lucifer  had  chas'd 
 The  stars  away,  and  fled  himself  at  last. 
 Soon  as  the  father  saw  the  rosy  morn, 
 And  the  moon  shining  with  a  blunter  horn, 
 He  bade  the  nimble  Hours  without  delay, 
 
Phoebus  Apollo.  187 
 
 Bring  forth  the  steeds  ;  the  nimble  Hours  obey  : 
 From  their  full  racks,  the  gen'rous  steeds  retire, 
 Dropping  ambrosial  foams,  and  snorting  fire." 
 
 —Ovid,  "  Metam.,"  Book  ii.  (Addison). 
 
 Then  Helios  anointed  the  face  of  his  son  with  divine 
 ointment,  to  enable  him  to  endure  the  heat,  placed  the 
 star-crown  on  his  brow,  directed  him  how  to  guide  the 
 horses,  and  which  road  to  take.  Yet  once  more  he  tried  to 
 dissuade  him  from  the  enterprise,  but 
 
 "  He  spoke  in  vain  ;  the  youth  with  active  heat 
 And  sprightly  vigour  vaults  into  the  seat  ; 
 And  joys  to  hold  the  reins,  and  fondly  gives 
 Those  thanks  his  father  with  remorse  receives. 
 Meanwhile  the  restless  horses  neigh'd  aloud, 
 Breathing  out  fire,  and  pawing  where  they  stood. 
 
 They  spring  together  out,  and  swiftly  bear 
 The  flying  youth  through  clouds  and  yielding  air  ; 
 With  wingy  speed  outstrip  the  Eastern  wind, 
 And  leave  the  breezes  of  the  morn  behind." — Ibid. 
 
 Soon,  however,  the  horses  felt  that  the  chariot  was  lighter 
 than  usual,  for  mortals  do  not  weigh  so  heavy  as  the  gods. 
 Wildly  they  sped  along  on  their  way  up  the  heights  of 
 heaven,  till  the  heart  of  Phaethon  sank  with  fear,  and  the 
 reins  trembled  in  his  hands.  On,  on,  hurried  the  steeds, 
 and  now  they  left  the  beaten  track,  and  passed  through 
 regions  which  they  had  never  visited  before.  Constellations 
 in  cold  and  icy  spheres  were  suddenly  scorched  with  heat : 
 the  Plough  or  Great  Bear,  which  had  been  condemned  to 
 remain  for  ever  in  the  sky,  tried  to  sink  into  the  forbidden 
 ocean.  At  length  Phaethon  turned  his  eyes  towards  the 
 bottomless  depths,  then  his  courage  entirely  forsook  him, 
 pale  as  death,  he  felt  all  grow  dark  before  him,  and  he 
 
1 88  Phoebus  Apollo. 
 
 looked  around  in  hopeless  despair.  He  had  forgotten  the 
 names  of  the  horses,  so  he  could  not  call  to  them. 
 
 And  now,  while  still  rushing  through  the  air,  the  youth 
 suddenly  saw  the  frightful  constellation  of  the  Scorpion, 
 extending  its  claws  to  seize  him.  At  this  sight  he  lost 
 consciousness,  and  the  reins  slipped  from  his  nerveless 
 hands.  No  sooner  did  the  horses  feel  themselves  to 
 be  free  and  unchecked,  than  they  sprang  madly  on  through 
 a  pathless  way  of  unknown  regions ;  now  mounting  to  the 
 highest  heaven,  now  sinking  to  the  broad  plains  of  earth. 
 
 The  clouds  dispersed  in  smoke  ;  fire  and  black  vapours 
 rose  from  the  deepest  recesses  of  the  mighty  hills  ;  great 
 chasms  opened  in  the  parched  ground  ;  the  green  grass  was 
 scorched  ;  the  trees  bowed  down  their  shrivelled  heads  ; 
 towns  and  cities  crumbled  into  ruins ;  whole  nations 
 perished,  and  dense  clouds  of  smoke  rose  up  from  earth  to 
 heaven.  Phaethon  recovered  his  senses,  but  the  heat  was 
 so  intense  that  he  could  scarcely  breathe.  The  chariot 
 glowed  beneath  him,  and  he  was  encircled  by  clouds  of 
 vapour.  Ever  since  this  time  it  is,  that  the  plains  of  Africa 
 have  been  sandy  and  scorched  and  its  inhabitants  black. 
 The  nymphs  of  the  brooks  and  springs  wailed  aloud.  The 
 rivers  were  dried  up  :  even  the  ocean  itself  receded,  and 
 rocks,  hitherto  hidden,  appeared  above  its  surface.  Through 
 the  cracks  in  the  earth  rays  of  light  penetrated  even  to 
 Tartary,  startling  Pluto  and  Persephone.  Thrice  did 
 Poseidon  attempt  to  raise  his  face  and  arms  above  the 
 water,  but  each  time  the  burning  heat  drove  him  back,  and 
 Nereus  and  Doris  took  refuge  in  dark  grottos. 
 
 At  length  Gaea,  goddess  of  Earth,  lifted  her  head,  and 
 with  her  hand  before  her  eyes  to  shade  them  from  the  glare, 
 cried  in  a  stifled  voice  :  "  If  I  must  perish  by  the  force  of 
 fire,  kill  me,  oh  !    Zeus,   with  thy  lightning.      Scarce  can 
 
Phcebtis  Apollo.  189 
 
 my  parched  lips  utter  these  few  words.  Behold  my 
 scorched  hair  and  blinded  eyes  !  my  face  covered  with 
 ashes  !  What  is  my  offence,  what  has  my  brother  done, 
 that  the  waters  should  be  dried  up?  If  thou  wilt  not  have 
 pity  on  us,  know  that  the  heavens  soon  will  be  burnt  also. 
 Already  the  Poles  are  steaming  !  Atlas  can  scarce  support 
 the  glowing  heavens  on  his  shoulders."  She  could  speak 
 no  more,  and  withdrew  again  to  the  depths  to  shade  her 
 head. 
 
 Then  Zeus,  moved  with  compassion  at  the  universal 
 misery,  and  seeing  that  all  living  things  on  the  earth  must 
 die  unless  Phaethon  should  be  smitten  from  his  father's 
 chariot,  arose  and  stood  on  the  summit  of  Mount 
 Olympus : 
 
 "  Then,  aiming  at  the  youth,  with  lifted  hand, 
 Full  at  his  head  he  hurl'd  the  forky  brand, 
 In  dreadful  thund'rings.     Thus  th' almighty  sire 
 Suppress'd  the  raging  of  the  fires  with  fire. 
 
 At  once  from  death  and  from  the  chariot  driv'n, 
 Th'  ambitious  boy  fell  thunderstruck  from  heaven. 
 The  horses  started  with  a  sudden  bound, 
 And  flung  the  reins  and  chariot  to  the  ground  ; 
 The  studded  harness  from  their  necks  they  broke  ; 
 Here  fell  a  wheel,  and  here  a  silver  spoke  ; 
 Here  were  the  beam  and  axle  torn  away  ; 
 And  scattered  o'er  the  earth,  the  shining  fragments  lay. 
 The  breathless  Phaethon  with  flaming  hair 
 Shot  from  the  chariot  like  a  falling  star, 
 
 Till  on  the  Po  his  blasted  corse  was  hurled 
 Far  from  his  country,  in  the  western  world." 
 
 —  Ovid,  "  Metam.,"  Book  ii.  (Addison). 
 
 The  nymphs  buried  his  body  \  Helios  bitterly  lamented 
 his   son's  death ;  Clymene  rushed   in  wild  sorrow    to   his 
 
I90  Phoebus  Apollo. 
 
 tomb,  and  bedewed  the  marble  with  her  tears.  His  sisters 
 also  bewailed  the  death  of  the  bright  Phaethon,  and  wept 
 sore  night  and  day  over  his  grave,  crying  :  "  Oh  !  Phaethon  ! 
 Phaethon ! "  till  the  gods  themselves  pitied  them,  and 
 changed  them  into  weeping  willows.  Ovid  thus  describes 
 this  transformation  : — 
 
 "  Four  times,  revolving,  the  full  moon  return'd  ; 
 So  long  the  mother  and  the  daughters  mourn'd  : 
 When  now  the  eldest  Phaethusa,  strove 
 To  rest  her  weary  limbs,  but  could  not  move  ; 
 Lampetia  would  have  helped  her,  but  she  found 
 Herself  withheld,  and  rooted  on  the  ground  : 
 A  third  in  wild  affliction,  as  she  grieves, 
 Would  rend  her  hair,  but  fills  her  hands  with  leaves  ; 
 One  sees  her  thighs  transform'd,  another  views 
 Her  arms  shot  out,  and  branching  into  boughs. 
 And  now  their  legs  and  breasts,  and  bodies  stood 
 Crusted  with  bark,  and  hard'ning  into  wood  ; 
 But  still  above  were  female  heads  display'd, 
 And  mouths  that  call'd  the  mother  to  their  aid. 
 What  could,  alas  !  the  weeping  mother  do  ? 
 From  this  to  that  with  eager  haste  she  flew. 
 
 She  tears  the  bark  that  to  each  body  cleaves, 
 And  from  their  verdant  fingers  strips  the  leaves  : 
 The  blood  came  trickling,  where  she  tore  away 
 The  leaves  and  bark  :  The  maids  were  heard  to  say, 
 Forbear,  mistaken  parent,  O  !  forbear, 
 A  wounded  daughter  in  each  tree  you  tear  ; 
 Farewell  for  ever  !     Here  the  bark  increas'd, 
 Clos'd  on  their  faces,  and  their  words  suppress'd. 
 
 The  new-made  trees  in  tears  of  amber  run  ; 
 Which,  harden'd  into  value  by  the  sun, 
 Distil  for  ever  on  the  streams  below  : 
 The  limpid  streams  their  radiant  treasure  show, 
 
Phoebus  Apollo.  1 9 1 
 
 Mixt  in  the  sand  ;  whence  the  rich  drops  conveyd, 
 Shine  in  the  dress  of  the  bright  Latian  maid." 
 
 OVID,  "  Metam.,"  Book  ii.  (Addison). 
 
 Thus  amber  is  the  tears  of  Phaethon's  sisters,  which, 
 falling  on  the  shores  of  Eridanus,  were  dried  and  hardened 
 by  the  sun. 
 
 Aurora  or  Eos  also  has  a  chariot  drawn  by  two  horses, 
 and  in  this  she  issues  from  the  gates  of  the  East  as  soon 
 as    night   is    past,  traverses  the  sky  in  front  of  the  fiery 
 chariot  of  the  sun,  and  descends  into  the  West,  whence  she 
 accompanies  Helios  in  his  chalice  back  to  the  East.      An 
 old  song  thus  speaks  of  her  :  "  Eos,  the  bright,  rosy  goddess 
 heralds  the  coming  Day,  and  with  her  golden  rays  drives 
 back  dark  night  to  Tartarus."     She  is  the  quickener  of  life 
 and  work  :  all  greet  her  appearance  with  joy,  rising  from 
 slumber  to  welcome  her  beaming  countenance.     Her  hus- 
 band was  Astraeus,  and  her  sons  the  four  winds,  Boreas, 
 the    north ;    Auster,    the    south ;    Eurus,    the    east ;    and 
 Zephyrus,   the    west.       She   was   represented  in   a  saffron 
 coloured  robe,  a  star  on  her  forehead,  and  a  torch  in  her 
 hand.     Tithonus  was  also  her  husband  :  he  was  the  brother 
 of  Laomedon,  King  of  Troy.     Eos  loved  him  dearly,  and 
 prayed  Zeus  to  endue  him  with  immortality.       Her  wish 
 was  granted,  but  she  had  forgotten  to  ask  for  her  husband 
 the  gift  of  perpetual  youth  also,  and  he  became  at  length  so 
 old,  so  weak,  and  ugly  that  her  love  for  him  departed.     She 
 locked  him  into  a  solitary  chamber,  and  there  he  could  be 
 heard,  as  old  age  crept   on,  groaning  and  wheezing.     In 
 vain  did  she  implore  the  gods  to  withdraw  their  gift  of 
 immortality.     Finding  at  last  that  this  was  impossible,  she 
 changed   Tithonus    into   a   grasshopper,    which    is   always 
 dried  up  and  withered  as  if  with  age,  and  never  ceases 
 chirping. 
 
192  Phoebus  Apollo. 
 
 Menmon,  who,  after  the  death  of  Hector,  aided  the 
 Trojans,  but  was  slain  by  Achilles,  was  the  son  of  Tithonus 
 and  Eos.  The  statue  of  Memnon  in  Egypt,  of  which  it  is 
 said  that  sometimes  at  daybreak  beautiful  music  issued 
 therefrom,  was  erected  to  his  memory. 
 
 Cephalus,  a  son  of  Hermes,  was  married  to  Procris, 
 daughter  of  Erechtheus,  King  of  Athens  •  and  there  were 
 none  in  all  the  land  who  dwelt  together  in  a  love  more  deep 
 and  pure.  One  morning  while  Cephalus  was  hunting,  the 
 goddess  Eos  saw  him,  and  becoming  enamoured  of  him, 
 carried  him  off  to  a  distant  mountain  ;  but  the  love  of  the 
 goddess  could  not  compensate  him  for  the  separation 
 from  his  beloved  Procris,  and  grief  so  consumed  him  that 
 Eos  at  length  allowed  him  to  return  to  his  wife.  But  she 
 predicted  at  parting  that  for  the  future  he  would  live  very 
 unhappily  with  Procris. 
 
 And  the  words  lay  heavy  on  the  heart  of  Cephalus,  so 
 that  he  followed  his  wife's  steps  with  suspicion  and  mistrust. 
 At  last,  to  prove  her,  he  left  her,  went  to  dwell  in  another 
 land,  and  after  some  time  returned  in  disguise  declaring 
 his  love  for  her,  and  imploring  her  to  return  it.  Procris  was 
 foolish  enough  not  to  withhold  all  hope,  and  her  husband 
 immediately  made  himself  known  to  her  and  overwhelmed 
 her  with  reproaches.  Bitterly  grieved  at  this  treatment,  she 
 fled  from  him,  hastened  to  the  sea  shore,  and  bade  them 
 make  ready  a  ship  to  take  her  from  her  father's  land.  She 
 took  refuge  with  Minos,  King  of  Crete,  who  was  very  fond 
 of  her,  and  presented  her  with  a  spear  which  never  missed 
 its  aim,  and  with  the  dog  Laelaps,  who  could  run  as  swiftly 
 as  the  wind,  and  overtake  any  prey.  But  Pasiphae,  the 
 wife  of  Minos,  becoming  jealous  of  her,  Procris  left  the 
 island  and  returned  to  her  husband.  Finding  that  he  still 
 loved  her,  they  became  reconciled,  and  she  transferred  to 
 
Phoebus  Apollo.  1 9 3 
 
 him  the  gifts  she  had  received  from  Minos,  but  when  love 
 has  once  been  disturbed  by  distrust  and  jealousy  perfect 
 peace  never  again  returns.  As  Cephalus  had  formerly 
 distrusted  her,  so  Procris  now  jealously  followed  her 
 husband  everywhere.  Ovid  well  describes  the  misery  of 
 Cephalus  : 
 
 "  Forth  to  the  woods  I  went  at  break  of  day 
 (The  constant  practice  of  my  youth)  for  prey  : 
 Nor  yet  for  servant,  horse,  or  dog  did  call ; 
 I  found  the  single  dart  to  serve  for  all. 
 With  slaughter  tir'd,  I  sought  the  cooler  shade, 
 And  winds  that  from  the  mountains,  pierc'd  the  glade  ; 
 '  Come,  gentle  air '  (so  was  I  wont  to  say), 
 1  Come,  gentle  air,  Sweet  Aura,  come  away.' 
 This  always  was  the  burden  of  my  song, 
 '  Come,  'suage  my  flames,  sweet  Aura,  come  along.' 
 
 (These  blandishments,  and  more  than  these,  I  said, 
 By  fate  to  unsuspected  ruin  led), 
 '  Thou  art  my  joy,  for  thy  dear  sake  I  love 
 Each  desert  hill,  and  solitary  grove.' 
 
 At  last  a  wandering  swain  in  hearing  came, 
 And,  cheated  with  the  sound  of  Aura's  name, 
 He  thought  I  had  some  assignation  made  ; 
 And  to  my  Procris'  ear  the  news  convey'd. 
 Great  love  is  soonest  with  suspicion  fir'd  : 
 She  swoon'd,  and  with  the  tale  almost  expir'd. 
 Ah  !  wretched  heart  (she  cry'd),  ah  !  faithless  man  ! 
 And  then  to  curse  th'  imagin'd  nymph  began  : 
 Yet  oft  she  doubts,  oft  hopes  she  is  deceiv'd, 
 And  chides  herself,  that  ever  she  believ'd, 
 Her  lord  to  such  injustice  could  proceed, 
 Till  she  herself  were  witness  of  the  deed. 
 
 Next  morn  I  to  the  woods  again  repair, 
 
 N 
 
1 94  Phoebus  Apollo. 
 
 And,  weary  with  the  chase  invoke  the  air  ; 
 '  Approach,  dear  Aura,  and  my  bosom  cheer'  :— 
 At  which  a  mournful  sound  did  strike  my  ear  ; 
 Yet  I  proceeded,  till  the  thicket  by, 
 With  rustling  noise  and  motion,  drew  my  eye  ; 
 I  thought  some  beast  of  prey  was  shelter'd  there, 
 And  to  the  covert  threw  my  certain  spear  ; 
 From  whence  a  tender  sigh  my  soul  did  wound 
 'Ah  !  me/  it  cried,  and  did  like  Procris  sound. 
 Procris  was  there  ;  too  well  the  voice  I  knew, 
 And  to  the  place  with  headlong  horror  flew  ; 
 Where  I  beheld  her  gasping  on  the  ground, 
 In  vain  attempting  from  the  deadly  wound 
 To  draw  the  dart,  her  love's  dear  fatal  gift ! 
 My  guilty  arms  had  scarce  the  strength  to  lift 
 The  beauteous  load  ;  my  silks,  and  hair  I  tore 
 (If  possible)  to  staunch  the  pressing  gore  ; 
 For  pity  begg'd  her  keep  her  flitting  breath, 
 And  not  to  leave  me  guilty  of  her  death." 
 
 —Ovid,  "  Metam.,"  Book  vii.  (Tate). 
 
 With  her  last  breath  Procris  entreated  him  not  to  take 
 her  hated  rival  into  his  house.  Then  Cephalus  understood 
 her  unhappy  mistake ;  but  alas  !  too  late  !  The  coldness 
 of  death  was  on  her  face,  and  her  eye  was  already  growing 
 dim.  One  loving  look  she  gave  him,  and  then  the  stillness 
 of  death  came  upon  her. 
 
 Of  Selene,  the  other  sister  of  Helios,  we  shall  presently 
 hear  more.  Before  proceeding  to  Apollo's  sister  Diana, 
 we  must  mention  his  son  Aesculapius.  He  was  the 
 god  of  healing  and  medicine.  His  mother  was  Coronis, 
 sister  of  Ixion,  a  king  in  Thessaly,  and  her  melancholy 
 end,  like  that  of  Procris,  was  caused  by  jealousy.  Apollo 
 saw  and  loved  her,  but  one  day  a  raven,  then  a  white 
 bird,  flew   by   and   brought  him   word    that    Coronis   was 
 
Phcebus  Apollo.  195 
 
 faithless  to  him,  and  loved  another.  Wrath  filled  the 
 soul  of  Apollo,  and  he  took  his  quiver  and  bow,  and  shot 
 one  of  his  unerring  arrows  into  her  heart.  But  when  he 
 saw  her  dying  before  his  eyes,  deep  repentance  overwhelmed 
 him.  In  vain  he  tried  to  detain  the  fleeting  life  ;  her  spirit 
 went  to  the  land  of  shadows  and  darkness ;  but  he  took 
 with  him  her  child  Aesculapius,  and  condemned  the  raven 
 to  wear  eternal  mourning  as  the  herald  of  evil  tidings. 
 
 Aesculapius  was  entrusted  to  the  care  of  the  Centaur 
 Chion,  who  brought  him  up,  and  taught  him  the  art  of 
 healing.  When  at  last  he  grew  to  manhood,  all  marvelled 
 at  his  wisdom,  which  exceeded  even  that  of  his  teacher. 
 He  had  learnt  the  power  of  every  herb  and  leaf  to  stay 
 sickness,  and  to  bring  back  to  health  the  wasted  form  of 
 men ;  and  there  even  went  forth  a  rumour  through  the 
 lands  that  the  strength  of  death  had  been  conquered  by 
 him.  Daily  the  fame  of  his  doings  spread  more  and  more, 
 till  Pluto  complained  bitterly  to  Zeus  that  the  art  of 
 Aesculapius  was  depopulating  the  dark  kingdom  of  Hades. 
 ■Charon  stood  sad  and  idle,  for  no  spirits  came  to  be  ferried 
 across  the  black  river.  Then  Zeus  bowed  his  head,  and 
 the  mighty  lightnings  flashed  down  on  the  Great  Healer, 
 and  smote  him  to  the  earth.  But  great  and  terrible  was 
 the  wrath  of  Apollo  at  the  death  of  his  son,  and  he  slew 
 with  his  arrows  the  Cyclops  who  had  shaped  the  thunder- 
 bolt, while  all  the  earth  mourned  for  its  loss.  Only  was 
 this  joy  left  to  mankind,  the  earthly  body  of  Aesculapius 
 had  perished,  but  the  divine  spirit  rose  to  heaven,  and  men 
 prayed  to  him  as  to  a  God. 
 
 The  temples  of  Aesculapius  were  generally  situated  near 
 a  spring,  and  on  the  summit  of  an  eminence,  that  being 
 the  most  healthy.  The  most  celebrated  was  at  Epidaurus, 
 a  sea-port  on  the  east  coast  of  the  Peloponnesus.     Here 
 
196  Phoebus  Apollo. 
 
 was  a  statue  of  him  made  of  ivory  and  gold,  and  over  the 
 porch  of  the  temple  were  inscribed  the  words,  "  None  but 
 the  pure  may  enter."  In  ancient  days  when  the  science  of 
 medicine  was  as  yet  in  its  infancy,  and  cures  were  effected 
 by  means  of  charms  and  mystic  signs,  the  priests,  especially 
 those  of  Apollo  and  Aesculapius,  were  looked  upon  as 
 physicians. 
 
 Those  worshippers  whose  maladies  allowed  them  to  go  in 
 person  to  the  Temple  of  Aesculapius  were  first  obliged  to 
 fast  and  bathe,  then  their  feelings  were  excited  by  the  re- 
 lation of  all  the  wonderful  deeds  of  Aesculapius ;  the  effect 
 of  this  recital  being  heightened  by  means  of  music  and  song. 
 They  then  offered  their  sacrifices,  after  which  they  had  to 
 sleep  on  the  bleeding  skins  of  the  sacrificial  animals  in  order 
 that  the  god  might  appear  to  them  in  their  dreams,  and  reveal 
 their  cure.  It  was  very  probable  that  the  sick  people  with 
 their  imaginations  thus  heated  should  dream  of  the  god. 
 If  this  did  not  happen,  they  were  assured  by  the  priests  that 
 the  god  had  appeared  to  them,  and  had  told  them  what 
 to  do. 
 
 Aesculapius  was  generally  depicted  with  the  upper  half 
 of  his  person  nude,  and  a  mantle  or  cloak  covering  the 
 lower  half,  one  point  of  the  mantle  being  thrown  over  the 
 left  shoulder.  His  face  is  that  of  a  middle-aged  man,  with 
 a  thick  beard.  His  hair  is  curling  and  parted,  leaving  the 
 forehead  bare.  He  may  always  be  recognised  by  the  snake 
 twined  round  his  staff,  or  held  in  one  hand,  while  in  the 
 other  he  holds  the  sacrificial  bowl.  The  goat,  dog,  cock, 
 and  raven  were  sacred  to  him. 
 
 Although  early  known  in  Greece,  he  was  not  worshipped 
 in  Rome  till  about  294  b.c.,  when  a  frightful  plague  devas- 
 tated the  whole  city  and  neighbourhood.  The  oracle 
 advised    that    Aesculapius    should     be    summoned    from 
 
Phoebus  Apollo.  197 
 
 Epidaurus,  and  that  a  temple  should  be  built  for  him,  for 
 then  the  plague  would  abate ;  a  solemn  embassy  therefore 
 was  at  once  despatched.  Whilst  the  Roman  messengers 
 were  standing  in  the  Temple,  lost  in  contemplation  of  the 
 God's  statue,  a  snake  crept  from  underneath  it,  glided 
 through  the  town  to  the  Roman  ships,  and  established 
 itself  in  the  cabin  of  the  envoys.  Here  it  remained  during 
 the  return  voyage.  When  the  ship  entered  the  Tiber,  it 
 sprang  out  and  crept  into  the  rushes  on  a  small  island  at  the 
 mouth  of  the  river,  which  was  therefore  selected  as  the  site 
 of  the  temple  of  Aesculapius,  and  at  once  the  plague  ceased. 
 
 Hygiea,  sometimes  called  the  wife,  sometimes  the  daughter 
 of  Aesculapius,  was  the  Goddess  of  Health.  Her  temple 
 was  generally  erected  beside  that  of  Aesculapius,  and 
 her  statue  stood  in  his  temple.  She  is  represented  as 
 a  tall  slender  maiden,  wrapped  in  a  long  garment ;  in 
 one  hand  she  holds  a  bowl,  in  the  other  a  cake  made  of 
 honey  and  oatmeal,  which  a  snake  is  devouring.  She 
 wears  a  snake  round  her  waist  instead  of  a  girdle,  and 
 sometimes  also  has  one  lying  on  her  lap,  while  beside  her 
 is  either  a  wolf  or  a  dog. 
 
 Before  we  leave  the  subject  of  Apollo  and  his  family,  we 
 may  mention  two  musicians,  often  called  the  sons  of  Apollo 
 — Linus  and  Orpheus. 
 
 Linus  was  the  son  of  the  muse  Terpsichore,  though  it  has 
 been  asserted  that  Urania  or  Calliope  was  his  mother. 
 Apollo  loved  him  greatly,  and  gave  him  the  lyre ;  at  that 
 time,  however,  the  strings  of  this  instrument  were  of  flax, 
 which  did  not  produce  good  tones,  so  for  these  Linus  sub- 
 stituted gut  strings.  This  so  enraged  Apollo  that,  in  a  fit  of 
 unbridled  anger,  he  killed  him.  According  to  another 
 legend,  Linus  was  killed  by  Hercules  with  a  lyre  while 
 instructing  him  in  the  art  of  playing  it.     Hercules  being 
 
198  Phoebus  Apollo. 
 
 clumsy  and  awkward,  his  teacher  reproved  him  severely, 
 and  this  he  resented  so  deeply  that  he  slew  Linus. 
 
 Orpheus,  son  of  Apollo  and  the  Muse  Calliope,  was  the 
 best  pupil  of  Linus.  He  was  the  greatest  singer  as  well  as 
 the  greatest  poet  of  ancient  times.  So  enchanting  was  his 
 song  that  the  trees  of  the  forest  bowed  their  heads  to  listen, 
 The  clouds  brightened  and  sailed  along  more  gently  when 
 they  heard  it,  the  wild  beasts  and  snakes  fawned  at  his  feet, 
 and  the  very  stones  followed  him  from  their  rocky  beds. 
 His  wife  was  the  beautiful  nymph  Eurydice,  and  they  lived 
 happily  together  in  unbroken  felicity.  But  one  day  a 
 venomous  adder  bit  Eurydice  in  the  foot,  and  she  felt  the 
 faintness  of  death  come  over  her,  laid  her  head  down  on  the 
 soft  grass  and  died.  Orpheus  was  inconsolable  at  her  loss, 
 and  day  after  day  sat  silent  in  the  woods,  never  opening  his 
 lips  to  sing.  He  besought  the  gods  in  vain  to  restore  her 
 to  him ;  so  at  last  he  rose  up,  harp  in  hand,  and  determined 
 he  would  himself  descend  to  the  shadowy  kingdom  of 
 Hades,  and  plead  for  her  release.  Thus  Ovid  tells  us  of 
 what  followed  : — 
 
 "  He  leaves  the  realms  of  light,  and  upper  air  ; 
 Daring  to  tread  the  dark  Tenarian  road, 
 And  tempt  the  shades  in  their  obscure  abode. 
 
 Persephone  he  seeks,  and  him  who  reigns 
 O'er  ghosts,  and  hell's  uncomfortable  plains. 
 Arriv'd,  he,  tuning  to  his  voice  his  strings, 
 Thus  to  the  king  and  queens  of  shadows  sings  : 
 1  Ye  powers,  who  under  earth  your  realms  extend, 
 To  whom  all  portals  must  one  day  descend  : 
 If  here  'tis  granted  sacred  truths  to  tell, 
 I  come  not  curious  to  explore  your  hell  ; 
 
 My  wife  alone  I  seek  ;  for  her  lov'd  sake 
 
Phoebus  Apollo.  199 
 
 These  terrors  I  support,  this  journey  take. 
 
 Long  I  my  loss  endeavour'd  to  sustain, 
 And  strongly  strove,  but  strove,  alas  !  in  vain  : 
 At  length  I  yielded,  won  by  mighty  love  ; 
 Well  known  is  that  omnipotence  above  ! 
 But  here,  I  doubt,  his  unfelt  influence  fails  ; 
 And  yet  a  hope  within  my  heart  prevails. 
 
 By  the  vast  chaos  of  these  depths  profound  ; 
 
 By  the  sad  silence  which  eternal  reigns 
 
 O'er  all  the  waste  of  these  wide-stretching  plains  ; 
 
 Let  me  again  Eurydice  receive, 
 
 Let  fate  her  quick-spun  thread  of  life  re-weave. 
 
 All  our  possessions  are  but  loans  from  you, 
 
 And  soon,  or  late,  you  must  be  paid  your  due. 
 
 She  too,  when  ripen'd  years  she  shall  attain, 
 Must,  of  avoidless  right,  be  yours  again  ; 
 I  but  the  transient  use  of  that  require, 
 Which  soon,  too  soon,  I  must  resign  entire. 
 But  if  the  destinies  refuse  my  vow, 
 And  no  remission  of  her  doom  allow  ; 
 Know,  I'm  determined  to  return  no  more  : 
 So  both  retain,  or  both  to  life  restore.' 
 Thus  while  the  bard  melodiously  complains, 
 And  to  his  lyre  accords  his  vocal  strains, 
 The  very  bloodless  shades  attention  keep, 
 And  silent,  seem  compassionate  to  weep  ; 
 
 Then  first  ('tis  said)  by  sacred  verse  subdued, 
 The  Furies  felt  their  cheeks  with  tears  bedew'd, 
 Nor  could  the  rigid  king  or  queen  of  hell, 
 Th'  impulse  of  pity  in  their  hearts  repel. 
 Now  from  a  troop  of  shades  that  last  arriv'd, 
 Eurydice  was  call'd,  and  stood  reviv'd. 
 
200  Phcebus  Apollo. 
 
 Thus  he  obtains  the  suit  so  much  desir'd 
 On  strict  observance  of  the  terms  required  : 
 For  if,  before  he  reach  the  realms  of  air, 
 He  backward  cast  his  eyes  to  view  the  fair, 
 The  forfeit  grant,  that  instant,  void  is  made, 
 And  she  for  ever  left  a  lifeless  shade. 
 
 Now  through  the  noiseless  throng  their  way  they  bend, 
 And  both  with  pain  the  rugged  road  ascend  ; 
 Dark  was  the  path,  and  difficult,  and  steep, 
 And  thick  with  vapours  from  the  smoky  deep. 
 They  well-nigh  now  had  passed  the  bounds  of  night, 
 And  just  approach'd  the  margin  of  the  light, 
 When  he,  mistrusting,  lest  her  steps  might  stray, 
 And  gladsome  of  the  glimpse  of  dawning  day, 
 His  longing  eyes,  impatient  backward  cast 
 To  catch  a  lover's  look, — but  look'd  his  last ; 
 For,  instant  dying,  she  again  descends, 
 While  he  to  empty  air  his  arms  extends. 
 
 One  last  farewell  she  spoke,  which  scarce  he  heard  ; 
 So  soon  she  dropp'd,  so  sudden  disappear'd. 
 
 All  stunn'd  he  stood,  when  thus  his  wife  he  view'd, 
 By  second  fate,  and  double  death  subdu'd  : 
 Now  to  repass  the  Styx  in  vain  he  tries, 
 Charon  averse,  his  pressing  suit  denies 
 Seven  days  entire,  along  th'  infernal  shores, 
 Disconsolate,  the  bard  Eurydice  deplores 
 
 Of  rigid  fate  incessant  he  complains, 
 And  hell's  inexorable  gods  arraigns." 
 
 —Ovid,  "  Metam.,"  Book  x.  (Dryden). 
 Then  Orpheus  returned  to  his  mountains,  and  wandered 
 there  for  three  years  amongst  the  woods  lamenting  and  be- 
 wailing his  loss.  The  very  sight  of  a  woman  or  maiden  was 
 hateful  to  him,  though  many  tried  to  win  his  love.  One 
 day  he  had  seated  himself  with  his  lyre,  the  beasts,  trees, 
 
OKI'HKl'S  AND  KÜKYDICE. 
 
Artemis  or  Diana.  201 
 
 and  rocks  listening  as  usual  to  his  song,  when  suddenly  a 
 crowd  of  excited  Maenades  came  rushing  by,  swinging  the 
 thyrsus  in  their  hands,  and  with  their  hair  streaming  wildly 
 in  the  wind.  "  Ha  !  "  they  cried,  as  they  caught  sight  of 
 Orpheus,  "  it  is  he  !  the  despiser  of  women  ! "  and  throwing 
 themselves  upon  him,  they  tore  him  in  pieces  in  their  mad 
 fury.  And  thus  his  spirit  met  Eurydice  once  more,  never 
 again  to  part,  in  the  land  which  is  far  away. 
 
 XVII. — ARTEMIS    OR    DIANA. 
 
 Artemis  was  the  Goddess  of  the  Chase.  The  story  of 
 her  parentage  and  birth  on  Mount  Olympus  has  already 
 been  related. 
 
 In  her  earliest  youth  she  formed  a  determination  never 
 to  marry.  Once  when  sitting  on  the  knees  of  Zeus,  she 
 entreated  him  in  the  following  words : — "  Grant  me,  oh  ! 
 father,  eternal  virginity,  that  men  may  praise  and  worship 
 me.  A  bow  and  arrows  with  which  to  follow  the  chase 
 through  woods  and  over  mountains  shall  be  my  sole 
 pleasure.  Give  me  twenty  nymphs  as  companions,  and 
 when  I  am  tired  their  dancing  shall  delight  me.  But 
 bestow  on  me  only  one  town,  for  I  love  not  to  be  sur- 
 rounded with  walls."  Zeus  granted  her  requests,  but 
 gave  her  thirty  towns  to  do  her  honour.  Joyfully  she 
 hastened  to  the  mountains  of  Crete,  where  she  selected  her 
 nymphs,  all  equally  lovely,  and  in  the  first  innocence  of 
 youth.  She  then  repaired  to  the  Lipari  Isles,  where  dwelt 
 the  Cyclops,  whom  she  commanded  to  make  her  a  bow, 
 quiver,  and  arrows.  After  this  she  went  to  Arcadia,  and 
 sought  Pan,  who  presented  her  with  some  splendid  hounds, 
 with  which  she  hunted  the  golden-antlered  stags.     These 
 
202  Artemis  or  Diana. 
 
 she  harnessed  in  front  of  her  carriage  of  gold,  and  flew  to 
 the  northern  mountain.  Here  she  pursued  her  favourite 
 pastime  of  hunting,  even  during  the  night,  a  fir-tree,  lit  by 
 a  flash  of  Zeus'  lightnings,  serving  her  for  a  torch. 
 
 She  came  at  last  to  Olympus,  the  palace  of  the  gods. 
 Hermes  received  her  in  the  outer  court,  and  relieved  her 
 of  her  weapons,  while  Apollo  bore  away  the  spoils  of  the 
 chase.  Her  nymphs  unharnessed  the  stags,  led  them  to 
 the  pastures  of  Hera,  and  gave  them  to  drink  out  of  troughs 
 of  gold.  Artemis  entered  the  golden  hall  of  the  gods,  and 
 seated  herself  beside  her  brother  Apollo.  Homer,  in  one 
 of  his  songs,  thus  speaks  of  her : — "  She,  the  swift,  pure 
 maiden,  the  huntress  with  the  golden  arrows,  follows  the 
 chase  over  wooded  mountains  and  storm-capped  heights. 
 Hills  and  woods,  earth  and  sea,  resound  with  her  mighty 
 footsteps ;  and  when  fatigued  she  unstrings  her  bow,  retires 
 to  Delphi,  hangs  up  her  quiver  and  arrows,  and  waters  her 
 steeds  in  the  rush-grown  river  near  Smyrna.  She  then  joins 
 the  choir  of  Muses  and  Graces,  and  leads  them,  chanting 
 holy  songs  to  her  mother  Latona.  She  !  the  ever  chaste 
 maiden,  protectress  of  upright  men,  has  never  submitted  to 
 the  power  of  Venus.  The  bow  and  the  chase,  music,  danc- 
 ing, and  sacred  hymns,  are  her  only  pleasures." 
 
 Though  all  her  nymphs  were  youthful,  and  of  surpassing 
 loveliness,  she  far  exceeded  them  in  beauty  and  stature. 
 
 Like  her  brother,  she  was  the  source  of  sudden  deaths ; 
 which  she  sent  both  to  punish  the  wicked,  and  also,  by 
 means  of  one  of  her  painless  arrows,  to  carry  the  virtuous 
 to  Elysium  without  suffering.  We  have  already  related 
 many  of  her  deeds  ;  as,  for  instance,  her  compassion  for 
 Niobe  when  she  lost  her  children ;  the  part  she  took  in  the 
 war  of  the  Gods  against  the  Aloidae,  Otus  and  Ephialtes  ; 
 and  the  shooting  of  Orion.     She  also  played  an  active  part 
 
Artemis  or  Diana.  203 
 
 in  the  Trojan  war,  taking  the  side  of  the  besieged,  but  was 
 blamed  for  interfering.  Homer  gives  an  account  of  this  in 
 the  twenty-first  book  of  the  "Iliad."  Zeus  had  allowed  the 
 gods  again  to  take  part  in  the  war,  and  they  all  descended 
 immediately  to  the  battlefield.  Poseidon  on  the  side  of  the 
 Greeks,  Apollo  on  that  of  the  Trojans,  met  in  the  combat 
 face  to  face,  but  Apollo,  fearing  a  conflict  with  the  mighty 
 sea-god,  said,  "  Let  us  rest  from  the  fight,  and  let  the  people 
 decide  their  disputes  unaided." 
 
 "  Then  turns  his  face,  far-beaming  heavenly  fires, 
 And  from  the  senior  power  submiss  retires  : 
 Him  thus  retreating,  Artemis  upbraids, 
 The  quiver'd  huntress  of  the  Sylvan  shades  : 
 
 1  And  is  it  thus  the  youthful  Phoebus  flies, 
 And  yields  to  ocean's  hoary  sire  the  prize  ? 
 How  vain  that  martial  pomp  and  dreadful  show 
 Of  pointed  arrows  and  the  silver  bow  ! 
 Now  boast  no  more  in  your  celestial  bovver, 
 Thy  force  can  match  the  great  earth-shaking  power.' 
 
 Silent  he  heard  the  queen  of  woods  upbraid  : 
 Not  so  Saturnia  bore  the  vaunting  maid  ; 
 But  furious  thus  :  '  What  insolence  has  driven 
 Thy  pride  to  face  the  Majesty  of  heaven  ? 
 
 What  though  tremendous  in  the  woodland  chase, 
 Thy  certain  arrows  pierce  the  savage  race  ? 
 How  dares  thy  rashness  on  the  powers  divine 
 Employ  those  arms,  or  match  thy  force  with  mine  ? 
 
 Learn  hence,  no  more  unequal  war  to  wage 
 
 She  said,  and  seized  her  wrists  with  eager  rage  ; 
 These  in  her  left  hand  lock'd,  her  right  untied 
 The  bow,  the  quiver,  and  its  plumy  pride. 
 About  her  temples  flies  the  busy  bow  ; 
 Now  here,  now  there,  she  winds  her  from  the  blow  ; 
 The  scattering  arrows,  rattling  from  the  case, 
 
204  Diana  or  Artemis. 
 
 Drop  round,  and  idly  mark  the  dusty  place. 
 Swift  from  the  field,  the  baffled  huntress  flies, 
 And  scarce  restrains  the  torrent  in  her  eyes." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xxi.  (Pope). 
 
 The  characteristics  of  Artemis  were  great  modesty  and 
 propriety,  and  whoever  violated  these  feelings,  whether 
 intentionally  or  not,  was  severely  punished.  For  example, 
 Actaeon,  grandson  of  Cadmus,  fell  a  victim  to  her  dis- 
 pleasure when  he  once  surprised  her  in  the  forest.  He  had 
 been  hunting  with  some  of  his  friends,  and  when  the  sun 
 rose  high  in  the  heavens  and  they  had  killed  a  great 
 quantity  of  game,  he  proposed  that  they  should  rest  in 
 some  cool  recess  of  the  woods,  and  continue  the  chase  next 
 day.     Ovid  relates  the  legend  as  follows  : 
 
 "  Down  in  a  vale  with  pine  and  cypress  clad, 
 
 (The  chaste  Diana's  private  haunt),  there  stood, 
 
 Full  in  the  centre  of  the  darksome  wood 
 
 A  precious  grotto,  all  around  o'er-grown 
 
 With  hoary  moss,  and  arch'd  with  pumice  stone. 
 
 From  out  its  rocky  cleft  the  waters  flow, 
 
 And,  trickling,  swell  into  a  lake  below. 
 
 Nature  had  everywhere  so  play'd  her  part, 
 
 That  ev'rywhere  she  seemed  to  vie  with  art. 
 
 Here  the  bright  goddess,  toil'd  and  chaf'd  with  heat, 
 
 Was  wont  to  bathe  her  in  the  cool  retreat. 
 
 Here  did  she  now  with  all  her  train  resort, 
 Panting  with  heat,  and  breathless  from  the  sport ; 
 Her  armour-bearer  laid  her  bow  aside, 
 Some  loos'd  her  sandals,  some  her  veil  unty'd  ; 
 Each  busy  nymph  her  proper  part  undress'd  ; 
 While  Crocale,  more  handy  than  the  rest, 
 Gathered  her  flowing  hair,  and  in  a  noose 
 Bound  it  together,  whilst  her  own  hung  loose. 
 
Diana  or  Artemis.  205 
 
 Five  of  the  more  ignoble  sort,  by  turns, 
 Fetch  up  the  water,  and  unlaid  the  urns." 
 
 Ovid,  "  Metam.,"  Book  iii. 
 
 Whilst  Artemis  was  bathing  surrounded  by  her  nymphs, 
 
 Actaeon  approached  the  grotto,  unaware  of  her  presence. 
 
 His  appearance  caused  general  dismay,  and  aroused  the 
 
 anger  of  the  goddess  to  the  utmost : 
 
 "  Surpris'd,  at  first  she  would  have  snatch'd  her  bow, 
 But  sees  the  circling  waters  round  her  flow  ; 
 These  in  the  hollow  of  her  hand  she  took, 
 And  dash'd  them  in  his  face  while  thus  she  spoke : 
 Tell,  if  thou  canst,  the  wondrous  sight  disclos'd, 
 A  goddess  naked  to  thy  view  expos'd. 
 
 This  said,  the  man  began  to  disappear 
 By  slow  degrees,  and  ended  in  a  deer  : 
 A  rising  horn  on  either  brow  he  wears, 
 And  stretches  out  his  neck,  and  pricks  his  ears  ; 
 Rough  is  his  skin,  with  sudden  hairs  o'er-grown, 
 His  bosom  pants  with  fears  before  unknown: 
 Transform'd  at  length,  he  flies  away  in  haste, 
 And  wonders  why  he  flies  away  so  fast. 
 But  as  by  chance,  within  a  neighbouring  brook, 
 He  saw  his  branching  horns,  and  alter'd  look, 
 Wretched  Actaeon  !  in  a  doleful  tone 
 He  try'd  to  speak,  but  only  gave  a  groan  ; 
 And  as  he  wept,  within  the  wat'ry  glass, 
 He  saw  the  big  round  drops,  with  silent  pace, 
 Run  trickling  down  a  savage,  hairy  face. 
 What  should  he  do  ?     Or  seek  his  old  abodes, 
 Or  herd  among  the  deer,  and  skulk  in  woods  ? 
 Here  shame  dissuades  him,  there  his  fear  prevails.'* 
 
 —Ovid,  "  Metam.,"  Book  iii. 
 
 While  Actaeon  hesitated  what  to  do,  his  hounds  caught 
 sight  of  him,  and  not  recognizing  their  master  they  rushed 
 to  the  spot : 
 
o6  Artemis  or  Dia 
 
 na. 
 
 "  He  bounded  off  with  fear,  and  swiftly  ran 
 O'er  craggy  mountains,  and  the  flow'ry  plain  ; 
 Through  brakes  and  thickets  forc'd  his  way,  and  flew 
 Through  many  a  ring,  where  once  he  did  pursue. 
 In  vain  he  oft  endeavour'd  to  proclaim 
 His  new  misfortune,  and  to  tell  his  name." 
 
 — Ovid,  "  Metam.,"  Book  iii. 
 
 Then  his  hounds  fell  on  him,  tearing  him  to  pieces  with 
 their  teeth  : 
 
 "  With  dropping  tears  his  bitter  fate  he  moans, 
 And  fills  the  mountains  with  his  dying  groans. 
 His  servants,  with  a  piteous  look  he  spies, 
 And  turns  about  his  supplicating  eyes  : 
 His  servants,  ignorant  of  what  had  chanc'd, 
 With  eager  haste  and  joyful  shouts  advanc'd, 
 And  called  their  lord  Actaeon  to  the  game : 
 He  shook  his  head  in  answer  to  the  name  ; 
 He  heard,  but  wish'd  he  had  indeed  been  gone, 
 Or  only  to  have  stood  a  looker-on: 
 But,  to  his  grief,  he  finds  himself  too  near, 
 And  feels  his  rav'nous  dogs  with  fury  tear 
 Their  wretched  master,  panting  in  a  deer." 
 
 —Ovid,  "  Metam.,"  Book  iii. 
 
 A  rumour  went  abroad  that  a  spirit  haunted  a  rock  in 
 the  wood,  and  did  great  damage  to  all  around.  The  advice 
 given  by  the  oracle,  on  being  consulted,  was  :  Bury  the  bones 
 of  Actaeon  ;  make  an  image  of  brass,  and  chain  it  to  the  rock. 
 When  this  was  done,  the  spirit  of  Actaeon  rested  in  peace. 
 
 The  most  celebrated  temple  of  Artemis  was  at  Ephesus. 
 It  was  entirely  of  marble,  with  Doric  pillars,  and  so  great 
 was  its  magnificence,  so  marvellous  the  artistic  skill  ex- 
 pended on  it,  that  it  was  counted  one  of  the  wonders  of  the 
 world.  It  was  destroyed  on  the  night  of  the  birth  of 
 Alexander  the  Great  by  Herostratus,  a  madman,  who  was 
 
Artemis  or  Diana.  207 
 
 determined  to  gain  notoriety  by  some  means,  and  burnt 
 what  he  could  not  otherwise  destroy. 
 
 As  Apollo  is  sometimes  confounded  with  Helios  or 
 Phoebus,  the  sun-god,  so  Selene,  Goddess  of  the  Moon, 
 was  by  later  poets  often  mistaken  for  Artemis.  Selene  was 
 the  sister  or  daughter  of  Helios.  Like  him  she  drives  in  a 
 chariot  upward  through  the  sky,  and  drives  again  into  the 
 sea  in  the  west.  Her  chariot  is  drawn  by  two  long-maned 
 horses,  or  magnificent  stags  ;  the  latter  probably,  because 
 the  moon,  when  not  at  its  full,  appears  to  have  two  horns. 
 The  old  poets  cannot  sufficiently  praise  her  soft  beauty  ; 
 and  as  Helios  bore  the  name  of  Titan,  she  was  sometimes 
 called  Titania.  Although  a  maiden,  like  Artemis,  she  was 
 not  proof  against  the  power  of  love.  The  beautiful 
 Endymion  was  regarded  by  her  with  deep  affection.  She 
 bore  him  over  the  sea  from  Greece  to  the  mountains  of 
 Asia  Minor,  where  he  hunted  in  the  woods  by  moonlight 
 until,  tired  and  weary,  he  lay  down  to  rest  in  the  cool  shade 
 of  the  trees.  Then  Selene  gazing  lovingly  down  on  him 
 would  bend  from  her  chariot  to  imprint  a  kiss  on  the  lips 
 of  the  beautiful  sleeper. 
 
 Artemis  is  sometimes  spoken  of  as  Goddess  of  the  Chase, 
 sometimes  as  Goddess  of  the  Moon.  Her  figure  is  tall  and 
 graceful  like  that  of  Apollo,  the  shape  of  her  face  is  a  fine 
 oval,  her  forehead  is  open,  and  her  eye  clear  and  far-seeing, 
 but  somewhat  cold.  Her  hair,  like  her  brother's,  is  fastened 
 in  a  knot,  only  a  few  curls  falling  on  her  shoulders.  She 
 always  wears  a  sleeveless  tunic,  fastened  at  the  waist  by  a 
 girdle,  and  caught  up  over  the  knee  to  afford  her  greater 
 freedom  of  movement  in  the  chase.  On  her  feet  are  laced 
 sandals  ;  in  her  hand  a  bow  and  spear  ;  and  her  quiver  is 
 slung  across  her  shoulders.  Sometimes  she  is  represented 
 standing,  sometimes  shooting  an  arrow.     As  Goddess  of  the 
 
2o8  The  Nymphs. 
 
 Moon,  her  brow  is  crowned  by  a  half  crescent  with  the 
 points  upwards,  and  she  holds  one  or  two  torches  in  her 
 hands. 
 
 XVIII.— THE   NYMPHS. 
 
 The  histories  and  characteristics  of  all  the  principal 
 deities  having  been  related,  we  must  now  mention  the  lesser 
 ones. 
 
 In  the  earliest  ages,  man  being  unacquainted  with  the 
 powers  of  nature,  could  not  grasp  the  idea  that  one 
 Almighty  Hand  had  created  all  things  :  he  believed  there- 
 fore in  a  plurality  of  gods  ;  but  even  this  belief  did  not 
 serve  fully  to  explain  the  various  phenomena  in  nature. 
 He  perceived  that  some  unseen  power  made  the  buds  burst 
 forth,  caused  the  leaves  to  shoot,  and  the  flowers  and  fruits 
 to  grow  and  ripen,  and  he  thought  a  spirit  must  exist  in  the 
 trees  and  plants.  It  was  unaccountable  to  him  how  the 
 springs  rose  out  of  the  eartL,  so  he  attributed  this  also  to 
 the  influence  of  a  special  Deity.  Thus  he  peopled  the 
 whole  of  nature  with  lesser  divinities. 
 
 Among  these  were  the  nymphs,  who  were  regarded  as 
 superhuman,  but  whose  power  did  not  equal  that  of  the 
 gods,  and  whose  existence  lasted  only  as  long  as  that  of 
 the  spring  or  tree  that  they  guarded.  The  nymphs  of  the 
 ocean  were  called  Oceanides ;  those  of  the  Mediterranean 
 Sea,  Nereides  or  Doreides  ;  those  of  the  woods  and  trees, 
 Dryades  and  Hamadryades ;  of  the  mountains  and  grottos, 
 Oreades  ;  of  the  springs,  Naiades  ;  with  many  others.  Some 
 of  them  were  daughters  of  Oceanus,  some  of  Nereus  and 
 Doris,  the  rest  were  generally  supposed  to  be  the  children 
 of  Zeus.     All  nymphs  were  beautiful,  and  had  the  gift  of 
 
The  Nymphs.  209 
 
 perpetual  youth,  and  also  the  power  of  rendering  themselves 
 invisible.  Many  of  them  attended  on  the  gods,  especially 
 on  Artemis  and  Bacchos. 
 
 The  sea-nymphs  sat  in  cool  grottos  under  the  water,  and 
 amused  themselves  with  games,  spinning,  and  talking. 
 Although  very  lovely  they  had  green  hair,  on  which  they 
 placed  wreaths  of  rushes  and  sea-weeds ;  their  eyes  were  blue, 
 and  their  garments  of  the  same  colour.  They  possessed  the 
 gift  of  prophecy,  and  showed  great  kindness  to  mortals  who 
 had  done  them  any  service ;  but  woe  to  those  who  in- 
 jured them,  as  has  already  been  seen  in  the  story  of 
 Erysichthon. 
 
 Many  of  the  nymphs  are  mentioned  by  special  names  ; 
 as,  for  instance,  Galatea,  a  daughter  of  Nereus;  Metis 
 and  Eurydike ;  Klymene,  the  mother  of  Phaethon ; 
 Daphne,  &c. 
 
 The  history  of  Echo  must  not  be  omitted  here.  Nar- 
 kissos,  the  son  of  a  river-god  in  Boeotia,  was  a  youth  of 
 surpassing  beauty.  While  he  was  yet  a  child,  his  mother,  a 
 nymph,  enquired  of  the  blind  soothsayer  Tiresias  whether 
 her  boy  was  destined  to  reach  a  good  old  age.  "  If  he 
 never  beholds  himself,"  was  the  answer.  When  Narkissos 
 was  sixteen  years  old  his  beauty  was  so  great  that  he  was 
 beloved  by  all  the  maidens  of  the  land,  but  he  cared  for 
 none  of  them.  One  day  while  he  was  hunting  a  stag  near 
 the  banks  of  the  Cephisus  the  nymph  Echo  saw  and  loved 
 the  beautiful  Narkissos.  This  unhappy  nymph  had  not  the 
 power  to  express  her  own  feelings,  she  was  only  able  to 
 repeat  the  last  words  of  others.  When  Hera  used  to 
 descend  to  earth,  full  of  jealousy  and  distrust,  for  the  pur- 
 pose of  watching  the  movements  of  Zeus,  Echo  would 
 engage  in  conversation,  and  thus  enable  Zeus  to  escape 
 unperceived.     But  Hera  at  length  discovered  the  stratagem, 
 
 o 
 
2 1  o  The  Nymphs. 
 
 and  punished  the  nymph  by  depriving  her  of  freedom  of 
 speech,  and  condemning  her  to  repeat  only  the  last  word 
 she  had  heard.     Ovid  thus  relates  her  sad  end  : 
 
 11  This  love-sick  virgin,  overjoy'd  to  find 
 The  boy  alone,  still  follow'd  him  behind. 
 
 She  long'd  her  hidden  passion  to  reveal, 
 And  tell  her  pains,  but  had  not  words  to  tell  : 
 She  can't  begin,  but  waits  for  the  rebound, 
 To  catch  his  voice,  and  to  return  the  sound. 
 The  nymph,  when  nothing  could  Narcissus  move, 
 
 Liv'd  in  the  shady  covert  of  the  woods, 
 In  solitary  caves,  and  dark  abodes  ; 
 Where,  pining,  wander'd  the  rejected  fair, 
 Till  harass'd  out,  and  worn  away  with  care, 
 The  sounding  skeleton,  of  blood  bereft, 
 Besides  her  bones  and  voice,  had  nothing  left. 
 Her  bones  are  petrify'd,  her  voice  is  found 
 In  vaults,  where  still  it  doubles  every  sound." 
 
 — Ovid,  "  Metam.,"  Book  iii.  (Addison). 
 
 Thus  was  poor  Echo  reduced  to  a  mere  voice,  and  she 
 sorrowed  and  wept,  together  with  other  nymphs  whose 
 affection  Narkissos  had  set  at  nought.  At  last  one  of 
 these  cried  to  Nemesis,  the  avenging  goddess  :  "  Oh  !  that 
 the  heartless  one  might  himself  one  day  feel  the  pangs  of 
 unrequited  love  ! "  and  Nemesis  heard  the  prayer. 
 
 "  There  stands  a  fountain  in  a  darksome  wood, 
 Nor  stain'd  with  falling  leaves,  nor  rising  mud  ; 
 Untroubled  by  the  breath  of  winds  it  rests, 
 Unsully'd  by  the  touch  of  men  or  beasts  ; 
 High  bowers  of  shady  trees  above  it  grow, 
 And  rising  grass  and  cheerful  greens  below. 
 Pleas'd  with  the  form  and  coolness  of  the  place, 
 
The  Nymphs.  2 1 1 
 
 And  over-heated  by  the  morning  chase, 
 Narcissus  on  the  grassy  verdure  lies." 
 
 Ovid,  "  Metam.,"  Book  iii. 
 
 As  he  stoops  towards  the  clear  water  to  refresh  himself  by 
 quenching  his  thirst,  he  suddenly  beholds  his  own  face,  and 
 starts  back  in  amazement.  What  lovely  eyes  and  hair, 
 what  a  swan-like  neck,  what  an  irresistibly  winning  expres- 
 sion of  countenance,  what  soft-tinted  cheeks !  He  is 
 fascinated  with  the  beauteous  image,  unconscious  that  it 
 is  his  own.  Lovingly  he  extends  his  arms  to  grasp  the 
 object  of  his  adoration,  but  only  the  cold,  lifeless  water 
 meets  his  touch. 
 
 "  Still  o'er  the  fountain's  wat'ry  gleam  he  stood, 
 Mindless  of  sleep,  and  negligent  of  food. 
 
 At  length  he  rais'd  his  head,  and  thus  began 
 To  vent  his  griefs,  and  tell  the  woods  his  pain  : 
 '  You  trees  (says  he),  and  thou  surrounding  grove, 
 Who  oft  have  been  the  kindly  scenes  of  love, 
 Tell  me  if  e'er  within  your  shades  did  lie 
 A  youth  so  tortur'd,  so  perplex'd  as  I  ? 
 
 And  yet  no  bulwark'd  town,  nor  distant  coast, 
 Preserves  the  beauteous  youth  from  being  seen, 
 No  mountains  rise,  nor  oceans  flow  between. 
 A  shallow  water  hinders  my  embrace  ; 
 And  yet  the  lovely  mimic  wears  a  face 
 That  kindly  smiles,  and  when  I  bend  to  join 
 My  lips  to  his,  he  fondly  bends  to  mine. 
 Hear,  gentle  youth,  and  pity  my  complaint, 
 Come  from  thy  well,  thou  fair  inhabitant. 
 
 His  eye  with  pleasure  on  my  face  he  keeps, 
 
 He  smiles  my  smiles,  and  when  I  weep  he  weeps  ; 
 
2 1 2  The  Nymphs. 
 
 Whene'er  I  speak,  his  moving  lips  appear 
 To  utter  something,  which  I  cannot  hear. 
 Ah,  wretched  me  !  I  now  begin  too  late 
 To  find  out  all  the  long  perplex'd  deceit  : 
 It  is  myself  I  love,  myself  I  see  ; 
 
 Whom  should  I  court  ?     How  utter  my  complaint  ? 
 How  gladly  would  I  from  myself  remove  ! 
 And  at  a  distance  set  the  thing  I  love. 
 
 And  now  I  faint  with  grief  ;  my  fate  draws  nigh  ; 
 In  all  the  pride  of  blooming  youth  I  die. 
 Death  will  the  sorrows  of  my  heart  relieve  : 
 Oh  !  might  the  visionary  youth  survive, 
 I  should  with  joy  my  latest  breath  resign  ; 
 But,  oh  !  I  see  his  fate  involv'd  in  mine.' 
 This  said,  the  weeping  youth  again  return'd 
 To  the  clear  fountain,  where  again  he  burn'd  ; 
 His  tears  defac'd  the  surface  of  the  well, 
 With  circle  after  circle,  as  they  fell  : 
 And  now  the  lovely  face  but  half  appears, 
 O'errun  with  wrinkles,  and  deform'd  with  tears. 
 Ah,  whither  (cries  Narcissus)  dost  thou  fly  ?  " 
 
 Ovid,  "  Metam,"  Book  iii. 
 
 Driven  to  despair  he  beats  his  breast  with  his  hands,  and 
 gradually  his  strength  ebbs  away. 
 
 u  And  none  of  those  attractive  charms  remain, 
 To  which  the  slighted  Echo  sued  in  vain. 
 She  saw  him  in  his  present  misery, 
 Whom,  spite  of  all  her  wrongs,  she  griev'd  to  see. 
 She  answer'd  back  his  sighs,  and  groan'd  to  ev'ry  groan  : 
 Ah,  youth,  belov'd  in  vain  !  Narcissus  cries  ; 
 '  Ah,  youth  belov'd  in  vain  ! '  the  nymph  replies. 
 Farewell  !  says  he  ; — the  parting  sound  scarce  fell 
 From  his  faint  lips  ;  but  she  reply'd,  '  Farewell.5 
 
D anions  and  Heroes.  2  r  3 
 
 Then  on  th'  unwholesome  earth  he  gasping  lies, 
 Till  death  shuts  up  those  self-admiring  eyes. 
 To  the  cold  shades  his  flitting  ghost  retires, 
 And  in  the  Stygian  waves  itself  admires. 
 For  him  the  Naiads  and  the  Dryads  mourn, 
 Whom  the  sad  Echo  answers  in  her  turn. 
 And  now  the  sister-nymphs  prepare  his  urn  ; 
 When,  looking  for  his  corse,  they  only  found 
 A  rising  stalk,  with  yellow  blossoms  crown'd." 
 
 Ovid,  "  Metam,"  Book  iii. 
 
 Fortuna  or  Tyche,  Goddess  of  Fortune,  was  one  of  the 
 Oceanidae.  She  was  sometimes  regarded  as  a  benevolent, 
 gracious  goddess,  who  delighted  to  make  men  happy,  and 
 sometimes  as  a  fickle,  changeable  being,  granting  men  good 
 fortune  only  again  to  deprive  them  of  it,  and  causing  more 
 misery  than  happiness.  She  is  generally  represented  as  a 
 woman  holding  either  a  cornucopia  or  a  boy,  Plutos,  God  of 
 Riches,  in  her  arms.  She  also  grasps  a  rudder  in  her  hand, 
 for  Fortune  governs  the  world,  or  else  she  stands  on  a  round 
 ball  or  wheel  to  signify  her  variableness. 
 
 XIX. — DAEMONS   AND   HEROES. 
 
 The  Persians,  the  Chaldeans,  and  other  Asiatic  nations 
 closely  connected  with  them,  believed  in  Daemons,  and  they 
 communicated  this  belief  to  the  Greeks.  In  the  earliest 
 ages  the  gods  were  often  called  Daemons,  and  as  such  were 
 looked  upon  with  terror  by  the  people.  Later  on,  Daemons 
 were  considered  to  be  a  race  of  mysterious  invisible  beings, 
 forming  a  link  between  gods  and  men,  inferior  to  the 
 Olympian  deities,  but  superior  to  mere  human  beings. 
 They  dwelt  in  the  air,  and  were  thus  enabled  to  continually 
 
2 1 4  Daemons  and  Heroes. 
 
 surround  and  influence  mankind.  The  philosopher  Plato, 
 the  most  illustrious  pupil  of  Socrates,  thus  speaks  of  them  : 
 "  Although  so  near  the  Daemons  are  never  visible  to  our 
 eyes,  but  with  wonderful  insight  and  a  clear  sharp  under- 
 standing, they  read  all  our  thoughts.  They  love  the  good 
 and  noble  among  men,  and  hate  the  base  and  wicked ;  they 
 can  feel  and  sympathise  with  human  joy  and  grief,  which 
 the  gods,  being  perfect,  cannot  do.  By  their  means  a  con- 
 stant intercourse  is  maintained  between  the  higher  deities 
 and  the  inhabitants  of  earth.  The  Daemons  appear  in 
 dreams,  and  prophesy  to  men  in  sickness,  in  health,  and  in 
 the  hour  of  death.  They  influence  the  human  soul  in 
 various  ways,  and  act  as  Mediators  between  the  gods  and 
 mankind."  Even  Socrates  believed  that  every  man  had  one 
 of  these  Daemons  as  a  guardian  angel  or  protector. 
 
 The  old  Greek  heroes  were  regarded  as  demi-gods,  and 
 this  belief  is  very  general  among  uncivilized  nations,  as  they 
 worship  those  who  distinguish  themselves  above  all  others 
 in  bravery  and  valour.  They  considered  these  mighty 
 men  to  be  their  protectors  while  on  earth,  praised  and 
 lauded  them,  and,  after  their  death,  worshipped  them  as 
 superhuman.  The  Greeks  especially  thus  regarded  all  those 
 who  used  their  strength  and  prowess  for  the  public  good  by 
 overcoming  the  enemies  of  their  country,  and  destroying 
 monsters  and  bandits.  These  Heroes,  as  they  were  called, 
 were  believed  to  be  the  especial  favourites  of  the  gods,  who 
 aided  them  to  perform  their  deeds  of  valour,  and  endowed 
 them  with  superhuman  strength.  After  death  they  were 
 borne  away  by  the  gods  either  to  Olympus  or  to  some  other 
 specially  favoured  abode,  such  as  the  islands  of  the  far  west, 
 beyond  the  pillars  of  Herkules,  where  Kronos  peacefully 
 ruled  after  his  dethronement.  There  they  dwelt  in  un- 
 broken happiness,  snow,  winter,  and  storms  being  alike 
 
Dae?nons  and  Heroes.  2 1 5 
 
 unknown.  It  was  not  till  later  times  that  Elysium  was 
 placed  by  the  poets  in  the  lower  world,  where  it  became 
 regarded  as  the  Kingdom  of  the  Blessed.  The  Greeks  care- 
 fully tended  the  graves  of  their  heroes,  and  did  them  honour 
 by  sacrifices  and  feasts,  for  they  believed  that  these  departed 
 warriors  still  protected  their  country,  and  that  they  would 
 even  come  to  its  rescue  in  bodily  form  when  extreme  danger 
 menaced  it. 
 
 The  Daemons  were  known  to  the  Romans  under  the 
 name  of  Genii.  Every  one  was  believed  to  be  protected  by 
 his  genius,  who  enabled  him  to  perform  great  deeds.  Some 
 poets  assigned  to  every  one  a  good  and  a  bad  genius,  and  as 
 a  man  proved  either  virtuous  or  wicked,  weak  or  strong,  the 
 prevailing  genius  was  called  either  white  or  black.  These 
 Genii  were  depicted  as  beautiful  winged  boys,  carrying  a 
 bowl,  a  snake,  or  a  cornucopia.  On  each  anniversary  of  his 
 birth  every  Roman  crowned  the  picture  or  image  of  his 
 genius,  sacrificed  to  it,  and  burnt  incense,  placing  honey- 
 cakes  and  wines  before  it. 
 
 Among  the  Romans  also,  houses,  towns,  streets,  and 
 roads  had  their  guardian  spirits.  These  were  known  as 
 Lares  and  Penates ;  they  were  generally  small  figures  made 
 of  wood,  ivory,  or  brass,  and  were  placed  either  in  a  special 
 temple  or  on  the  hearth.  Some  are  called  public,  and  some 
 household  gods.  The  former  protected  the  whole  nation, 
 the  towns  and  the  public  buildings.  Every  day  a  drink 
 offering  of  wine,  called  a  libation,  was  poured  out  before 
 them,  and  meat  on  small  wooden  dishes  was  burnt  in  front 
 of  them.  On  every  ist  of  May,  as  well  as  on  all  feast-days 
 and  public  anniversaries,  they  were  decked  with  flowers  and 
 crowned  with  magnificent  wreaths.  The  household  gods 
 were  adorned  in  the  same  manner  :  if  the  master  of  a  house 
 went  away  incense  was  burnt,  and  the  household  committed 
 
2 1 6  Hecate. 
 
 to  their  care ;  and  on  his  safe  return,  thankofferings  were 
 brought  to  them.  If  any  crime  was  committed,  a  more 
 extensive  sacrifice,  consisting  of  a  lamb  or  a  calf,  was  offered 
 to  the  Lares  and  Penates. 
 
 The  Romans  also  worshipped  the  souls  of  the  dead  under 
 the  name  of  Maries,  if  they  were  uncertain  whether  the 
 departed  spirits  were  good  or  wicked.  The  good  were 
 placed  among  the  Lares,  the  wicked  were  called  Larvae. 
 It  was  believed  that  both  had  the  power  of  appearing  in 
 the  Upperworld  on  three  particular  days  in  the  year.  But 
 the  Larvae  could  not  harm  good  people ;  only  the  wicked 
 had  cause  to  fear,  for  to  them  these  evil  spirits  appeared 
 during  the  night  in  the  most  frightful  shapes. 
 
 The  souls  of  those  who  had  not  received  proper  funeral 
 rites  were  also  supposed  to  re-appear  on  earth ;  and  in 
 order  to  tranquillize  these  restless  spirits  vows  were  paid 
 and  sacrifices  offered  to  them  on  the  last  day  of  February. 
 At  midnight  the  master  of  the  house  proceeded  barefoot 
 slowly  through  the  dwelling,  speaking  to  no  one,  throwing 
 black  beans  over  his  shoulder  and  pronouncing  the  words  : 
 "  With  these  beans  I  free  myself  and  mine."  Then  all  the 
 members  of  the  household  prayed  to  the  Larvae  not  to 
 disturb  their  peace,  washed  their  hands  three  times,  and 
 beat  loudly  on  a  copper  vessel,  in  order  to  scare  away  the 
 malignant  spirits  by  the  noise. 
 
 XX.-HEKATE. 
 
 Hekate,  grand-daughter  of  one  of  the  Titans,  was  the 
 greatest  of  the  Greek  divinities.  Hesiod  describes  her  as 
 very  mighty  and  powerful.  He  says  that  Zeus  honoured 
 her  above  all  the  other  Olympian  deities,  and  gave  her 
 
Hecate.  2 1  7 
 
 power  over  everything  on  earth  and  sea.  Being  the 
 Goddess  of  Destiny,  she  was  treated  with  great  respect  by  all 
 the  immortals.  At  every  sin-offering  she  was  called  upon  ; 
 riches  and  honours  were  in  her  power  to  bestow  ;  and  those 
 whom  she  favoured  surpassed  all  their  fellows  in  fame  and 
 fortune.  She  gave  strength  and  victory  to  warriors  and 
 wrestlers  ;  none  could  conquer  without  her  aid.  Mariners 
 and  fishermen  prayed  to  her  for  safety  and  success,  and  flocks 
 and  herds  prospered  or  diminished  at  her  will. 
 
 Thus  combining  in  herself  the  powers  of  the  various 
 other  goddesses,  it  was  almost  impossible  to  give  her  any 
 special  representation.  Sometimes  she  is  spoken  of  as 
 allied  to  Proserpine,  and  then  she  appears  as  the  Goddess 
 of  dark  magic,  and  sovereign  of  the  kingdom  of  death, 
 living  among  graves  and  at  cross-roads,  and  wearing  a 
 yellow  or  black  garment.  Sometimes,  again,  she  is  called 
 the  daughter  of  Night  or  Tartarus  (for  everything  awe- 
 inspiring  or  terrible  was  said  to  proceed  from  the  region  of 
 Light,  or  the  Underworld),  and  a  black  dog  or  lamb  was 
 offered  to  her  to  avert  all  evil  influences.  In  Athens  at 
 every  new  moon  the  wealthy  people  placed  food  at  cross 
 roads,  which  the  poor  came  and  ate  during  the  night :  this 
 was  called  the  feast  of  Hekate.  In  order  that  it  might  be 
 well  with  the  beloved  dead,  on  the  first  of  every  month  a 
 propitiatory  offering  to  Hekate  was  either  laid  on  the  grave, 
 buried  in  the  earth,  placed  at  a  point  where  two  roads 
 crossed,  or  thrown  into  the  sea. 
 
 Hekate  was  often  represented  in  the  form  of  three  female 
 figures  back  to  back.  In  her  six  hands  she  holds  a  dagger, 
 a  snake,  a  bundle  of  rope,  and  the  keys  of  the  Kingdom  of 
 Death :  a  dog  stands  beside  her.  She  protected  and  en- 
 couraged the  growth  of  all  herbs  from  which  charmed 
 drinks  were  produced,  especially  poisonous  ones.     In  some 
 
2 1 8  Aeolos. 
 
 mythic  legends  she  is  called  the  wife  of  King  Acetes  of 
 Colchis,  and  as  such  is  said  to  have  been  the  mother  of 
 Kirke  and  Medea,  the  two  famous  sorceresses  of  olden 
 times. 
 
 XXI.— AEOLOS. 
 
 To  the  north  of  Sicily  lie  the  Lipari  Isles,  in  ancient  days 
 known  also  as  the  Aeolian  Islands.  At  one  time  they 
 floated  in  the  sea,  like  Delos,  and  could  not  always  be 
 found  by  sailors.  The  king  of  these  isles  was  Aeolos.  By 
 him  all  voyagers  who  visited  his  shores  were  hospitably 
 welcomed  ;  and  as  it  was  his  wont  to  observe  carefully  the 
 signs  of  the  weather,  he  could  often  advise  and  forewarn 
 mariners.  Thus  he  became  regarded  both  by  the  Greek 
 and  Roman  poets  as  God  of  the  Winds,  and  being  associated 
 in  this  capacity  with  both  Poseidon  and  Zeus,  he  was 
 spoken  of  sometimes  as  the  son  of  the  one  deity,  sometimes 
 of  the  other. 
 
 Aeolos  kept  the  winds  in  his  cavern,  only  letting  them 
 out  when  he  pleased.  Boreas,  or  the  north  wind,  was 
 represented  as  a  swarthy  powerful  man,  with  wrinkled  fore- 
 head, and  thick  beard,  who  held  a  conch  shell  in  his  hand 
 to  signify  his  loud  roaring.  Aquilo,  the  north-east  wind, 
 brings  the  sleet  and  snow ;  in  his  hand,  therefore,  is  a  huge 
 beaker  from  which  he  pours  snow  and  hail  on  to  the  earth. 
 Eurus,  the  south-east  wind,  the  bearer  of  damp  and  mist,  is 
 covered  with  a  thick  garment,  and  his  right  hand  conceals 
 his  face.  Notos  or  Auster,  the  south  wind,  brings  rain  ;  his 
 face  is  partly  enveloped  in  a  cloak,  and  in  his  hand  he  holds 
 an  emptied  pitcher.  Zephyr,  the  west  wind,  soft  and  mild, 
 is  laden  with  flowers.  Lastly  comes  Africus,  the  south-west 
 wind. 
 
Aeolos,  2 1 9 
 
 The  most  beautiful  description  of  the  cave  of  Aeolos 
 is  in  the  first  book  of  the  Aeneid.  Aeneas,  after  the 
 destruction  of  Troy,  was  sailing  towards  Italy,  when  Juno, 
 in  her  hatred  of  him,  determined  to  raise  a  storm  to  drive 
 him  back. 
 
 "  So  brooding  in  her  fiery  heart  the  goddess  went  her  way 
 Unto  the  fatherland  of  storm,  full  fruitful  of  the  gale, 
 v^olia  hight,  where  ^Eolus  is  king  of  all  avail, 
 And  far  adown  a  cavern  vast  the  bickering  of  the  winds 
 And  roaring  tempests  of  the  world  with  bolt  or  fetter  binds  : 
 They  set  the  mountains  murmuring  much,  a-growling  angrily 
 About  their  bars,  while  ^olus  sits  in  his  burg  on  high, 
 And,  sceptre-holding,  softeneth  them,  and  strait  their  wrath 
 
 doth  keep  : 
 Yea  but  for  that  the  earth  and  sea,  and  vault  of  heaven  deep, 
 They  eager-swift  would  roll  away  and  sweep  adown  of  space  : 
 For  fear  whereof  the  Father  high  in  dark  and  hollow  place 
 Hath  hidden  them,  and   high  above   a  world  of  mountains 
 
 thrown 
 And  given  them  therewithal  a  king,  who,  taught  by  law  well 
 
 known, 
 Now  draweth,  and  now  casteth  loose  the   reins  that   hold 
 
 them  in  : 
 To  whom  did  suppliant  Juno  now  in  e'en  such  words  begin  : 
 '  The  Father  of  the   Gods  and  men  hath  given  thee  might 
 
 enow, 
 O  ^Eolus,  to  smooth  the  sea,  and  make  the  storm-wind  blow. 
 
 Set  on  thy  winds,  and  overwhelm  their  sunken  ships  at  sea, 
 Or  prithee  scattered  cast  them  forth,  things  drowned  diver- 
 sedly.' 
 
 To  whom  spake  ^Eolus  :  '  O  Queen,  to  search  out  thy  desire 
 Is  all  thou  needest  toil  therein  ;  from  the  deed  should  wend. 
 Thou  mak'st  my  realm  ;  the  sway  of  all,  and  Jove  thou  mak'st 
 my  friend, 
 
2  20  Aeolos. 
 
 And  o'er  the  tempest  and  the  cloud  thou  makest  me  of  might.' 
 Therewith  against  the  hollow  hill  he  turned  him  spear  in  hand 
 And  hurled  it  on  the  flank  thereof,  and  as  an  ordered  band 
 By  whatso   door  the  winds   rush  out  o'er  earth  in  whirling 
 
 blast, 
 And  driving  down  upon  the  sea  its  lowest  deeps  upcast. 
 The  East,  the  West  together  there,  the  Afric,  that  doth  hold 
 A  heart  fulfilled  of  stormy  rain,  huge  billows  shoreward  rolled. 
 Therewith  came  clamour  of  the  men  and  whistling  through 
 
 the  shrouds, 
 And  heaven  and  day  all  suddenly  were  swallowed  by  the  clouds 
 Away  from  eyes  of  Teucrian  men  ;  night  on  the  ocean  lies, 
 Pole  thunders  unto  pole,  and  still  with  wildfire  glare  the  skies, 
 And  all  things  hold  the  face  of  death  before  the  seamen's 
 
 eyes." 
 
 —Virgil,  "^Eneid,"  Book  i.  (Morris). 
 
 ^Eneas  believed  himself  to  be  lost,  and  envied  those  who 
 had  died  warriors'  deaths  before  the  walls  of  Troy. 
 
 "  Thus  as  he  cried  the  whistling  North  fell  on  with  sudden  gale, 
 And  drave  the  seas  up  towards  the  stars,  and  smote  aback 
 
 the  sail : 
 Then  break  the  oars,  the  bows  fall  off,  and  beam  on  in  the 
 
 trough 
 She  lieth,  and  the  sea  comes  on  a  mountain  huge  and  rough. 
 These  hang  upon  the   topmost  wave,  and   those  may  well 
 
 discern 
 The  sea's  ground  mid  the  gaping  whirl :  with  sand  the  surges 
 
 churn. 
 Three  keels  the  South  wind  cast  away  on  hidden" reefs  that  lie 
 Midmost  the  sea,  the  Altars  called  by  men  of  Italy, 
 A  huge  back  thrusting  through  the  tide  :  three  others  from 
 
 the  deep 
 The  East  toward  straits,  and  swallowing  sands  did  miserably 
 
 sweep." 
 
 —Virgil,  ".Eneid,"  Book  i.  (Morris). 
 
Aeolos.  221 
 
 At  last  nearly  all  the  vessels  are  engulphed  by  the  waves. 
 
 "  But  meanwhile  Neptune,  sorely  moved,  hath  felt  the  storm 
 
 let  go, 
 And  all  the  turmoil  of  the  main  with  murmur  great  enow  ; 
 The  deep  upheaved  from  all  abodes  the  lowest  that  there  be  : 
 So  forth  he  put  his  placid  face  o'er  topmost  of  the  sea, 
 And  there  he  saw  Eneas'  ships  o'er  all  the  main  besprent, 
 The  Trojans  beaten  by  the  flood  and  ruin  from  heaven  sent. 
 But  Juno's  guile  and  wrathful  heart  her  brother  knew  full  well : 
 So  East  and  West  he  called  to  him,  and  spake  such  words 
 
 to  tell  : 
 '  What  mighty  pride  of  race  of  yours  hath  hold  upon  your 
 
 minds, 
 That  earth  and  sea  ye  turmoil  so  without  my  will,  O  winds  ; 
 That  such  upheaval  and  so  great  ye  dare  without  my  will  ? 
 Whom  I But  first  it  comes  to  hand  the  troubled  flood  to 
 
 still : 
 For  such-like  fault  henceforward  though  with  nought  so  light 
 
 ye  pay. 
 Go  get  you  gone,  and  look  to  it  this  to  your  king  to  say  : 
 That  ocean's  realm  and  three-tined  spear  of  dread  are  given 
 
 by  Fate 
 Not  unto  him  but  unto  me  :  he  holds  the  cliffs  o'er  great, 
 Thine  houses,  Eurus  :  in  that  hall  I  bid  him  then  be  bold, 
 Thine  ^Eolus,  and  lord  it  o'er  his  winds  in  barred  hold.' 
 So  saying  and  swifter  than  his  word  he  layed  the  troubled 
 
 main." 
 
 —  Virgil,  "^Eneid,"  Book  i.  (Morris). 
 
222       Nyx,  or  Night,  and  her  Children, 
 
 XXII» — NYX,  OR  NIGHT,  AND  HER 
 CHILDREN. 
 
 It  has  already  been  stated  at  the  beginning  of  this 
 volume  that  Nyx  reigned  over  the  Upperworld  after  the 
 Sun  had  gone  down,  and  is  therefore  distinct  from  Erebus, 
 who  reigned  in  the  Underworld.  Hesiod  thus  describes 
 Nyx  and  Heme'ra  or  Day : 
 
 "  This  enters,  that 
 Forth  issues,  nor  the  two  can  one  abode 
 At  once  restrain.     This  passes  forth  and  roams 
 The  round  of  earth,  that  in  the  mansion  waits 
 Till  the  due  season  of  her  travel  come. 
 Lo  !  from  the  one  the  far-discerning  light 
 Beams  upon  earthly  dwellers :  but  a  cloud 
 Of  pitchy  darkness  veils  the  other  round." 
 
 —Hesiod,  "  Theogony"  (Elton). 
 
 Sometimes  Nyx  is  represented  driving  in  a  chariot  drawn 
 by  two  horses,  her  black  wings  overshadowing  the  earth, 
 clothed  in  a  long  black  garment,  her  head  enveloped  in  a 
 black  veil,  and  stars  following  her.  At  others  she  holds  in  her 
 right  hand  a  flowing  black  veil  spangled  with  stars,  and  in  her 
 left  a  torch  with  the  point  downwards.  Her  face  is  always 
 youthful  and  lovely,  but  grave.  She  dwelt  in  Tartarus, 
 which  was  also  the  abode  of  Hemera,  but  they  never  met. 
 Nyx  was  a  mighty  goddess,  even  Zeus  feared  her.  Once 
 his  anger  was  roused  against  Sleep,  who  had  deceived  him, 
 but  Night  wrapped  her  beloved  son  in  her  dark  veil,  and 
 Zeus  dared  not  displease  her  by  molesting  him.  Black 
 cocks  were  always  sacrificed  to  her.     All  those  things  that 
 
Nyx,  or  Night,  and  her  Children.       223 
 
 men  thought  terrible  and  dreadful,  or  of  which  the  origin 
 was  unknown  to  them,  were  called  the  children  of  Night. 
 Such  were  the  pitiless  Parcae,  the  Fates  ;  Nemesis,  Goddess 
 of  Revenge  ;  Eris,  of  Discord  ;  Ate,  of  injury  by  thoughtless 
 words  ;  Sleep  ;  Dreams  ;  Death  ;  Momus,  God  of  Envy  ; 
 Grief;  Lamentation ;  Hunger;  Old  Age;  Fear;  Care; 
 Deceit;  War;  and  Oath.  Some  of  these  we  will  now 
 describe. 
 
 Nemesis,  although  she  was  the  Goddess  of  Revenge,  was 
 not  a  cruel  deity,  but  only  inflicted  just  retribution  on 
 offenders.  An  old  song  speaks  of  her  as  the  "all-seeing,  ■ 
 immortal,  venerated  Goddess  and  Queen,  presiding  over  the 
 life  of  man,  and  rejoicing  in  his  success."  All  men  feared 
 and  honoured  her,  for  she,  "  the  noble,  pure,  and  holy 
 one,  saw  through  all  falseness  and  injustice."  When  human 
 wickedness  became  too  great,  Nemesis  and  Shame  forsook 
 the  earth,  and  took  up  their  abode  with  the  gods.  Kind 
 as  is  Nemesis  to  the  upright  and  contented,  she  is  stern 
 and  pitiless  towards  the  unjust  and  arrogant :  to  these  latter 
 she  appears  as  the  avenging  goddess,  armed  with  sword 
 and  scourge.  She  is  represented  as  a  tall  woman  of  serious 
 aspect,  dressed  in  a  tunic  and  long  flowing  mantle  ;  her 
 right  arm  holds  this  mantle  across  the  middle  of  her  body, 
 to  signify  that  she  metes  out  justice  with  equity.  In  her  left 
 hand  is  either  a  branch,  a  scourge,  a  pair  of  scales,  a  sword, 
 or  a  cornucopia.  Sometimes  she  is  depicted  with  a  wheel 
 at  her  feet,  on  which  sits  a  griffin :  sometimes  she  is 
 sitting  in  a  chariot  drawn  by  griffins.  Her  countenance  is 
 grave  and  her  earnest  gaze  is  always  bent  on  the  ground,  as 
 if  absorbed  in  the  consideration  of  right  and  wrong. 
 
 Eris,  Goddess  of  Discord,  was  sometimes  called  the 
 sister  of  Ares,  as  she  is  the  constant  companion  of  war. 
 At  first  she  is  of  very  small  stature,  but  she  grows  so  quickly, 
 
224      NyX>  or  Night,  and  her  Childj'en. 
 
 that  although  her  feet  tread  the  earth,  her  head  reaches  to 
 the  clouds ;  thus  symbolizing  the  growth  of  strife.  She  is 
 always  in  a  state  of  wrath,  her  face  stained  with  blood, 
 her  teeth  gnashing,  a  torch  in  her  hand,  and  snakes  sur- 
 rounding her  head.  She  dwells  with  the  Furies  in  the 
 Underworld,  and  her  children  are  all  the  evils  that  result 
 from  strife  and  war,  such  as  hunger,  pain,  bloodshed, 
 plagues,  etc. 
 
 Ate  originally  represented  thoughtlessness  and  illusive 
 deception,  often  leading  men  into  error,  and  sometimes 
 misleading  even  the  gods  themselves.  Having  once  in- 
 duced Ate  to  make  a  boast,  which  he  afterwards  repented 
 {vide  history  of  Herakles),  the  mighty  god  in  his  anger 
 seized  her  by  her  golden  locks  and  threw  her  to  earth, 
 vowing  that  she  should  never  again  be  admitted  into  the 
 assembly  of  the  gods.  Ever  since  then  she  has  wandered 
 over  the  earth,  doing  harm  to  all,  and  bringing  trouble 
 and  misfortune  in  her  train.  Fortunately  Ate  has  two 
 good  sisters,  Prayer  and  Petition,  who  follow  her  steps, 
 and  try  to  repair  the  ill  she  has  effected.  They  bestow 
 their  aid  on  all  who  honour  them,  but  those  who  neglect 
 or  despise  them  they  abandon  to  their  fate,  entreating 
 Zeus  to  pour  out  his  wrath  upon  them. 
 
 Sleep  and  Dreams.  Sleep  is  represented  as  a  youth  of 
 great  beauty  and  earnestness  of  countenance,  holding  in 
 one  hand  a  bunch  of  poppies,  and  in  the  other  a  torch 
 with  the  point  turned  towards  the  earth.  A  mole  or 
 dormouse,  representing  long  and  deep  slumber,  lies  beside 
 him.  He  lived  with  Death  in  a  palace  in  the  Underworld. 
 Some  poets  place  the  abode  of  Sleep  with  the  Kimmerii,  a 
 people  inhabiting  the  far  north,  where  the  sunlight  never 
 penetrates,  and  thick  darkness  reigns.  Here  Sleep  lies 
 on   a   couch,  in   a   sombre    cave ;    poppies    grow    at    the 
 
NyXy  or  Night,  and  her  Children.       225 
 
 entrance,  and  deep  silence  prevails.  He  holds  a  cornu- 
 copia, out  of  which  proceed  the  Dreams  by  which  he  is 
 surrounded. 
 
 The  Dreams  were  three :  Morpheus,  Phobetor,  and 
 Phantasos.  The  first  showed  the  sleeper  human  figures  ; 
 the  second,  animals ;  and  the  third,  inanimate  objects. 
 Their  dwelling  was  also  in  the  Underworld,  and  had  two 
 gates,  one  of  ivory  and  one  of  horn.  Through  the  former 
 went  deceptive  visions,  through  the  latter  those  destined  to 
 be  realized.  Ovid  gives  a  beautiful  description  of  these 
 Dreams.  Juno,  wishing  to  acquaint  a  certain  queen  with 
 the  death  of  her  husband  who  had  been  drowned  at  sea, 
 despatches  Iris  to  the  abode  of  Sleep  with  a  message 
 bidding  him  send  a  dream  to  warn  her  of  the  approach  of 
 fatal  tidings.     Iris  at  once  obeys  her  behest : 
 
 "  Indu'd  with  robes  of  various  hue  she  flies, 
 And  flying  draws  an  arch  (a  segment  of  the  skies) : 
 Then  leaves  her  bending  bow,  and  from  the  steep 
 Descends  to  search  the  silent  house  of  Sleep. 
 
 Near  the  Cymmerians,  in  his  dark  abode, 
 Deep  in  a  cavern,  dwells  the  drowsy  god  ; 
 Whose  gloomy  mansion,  nor  the  rising  sun, 
 Nor  setting,  visits,  nor  the  lightsome  moon. 
 
 But  safe  Repose,  without  an  air  of  breath, 
 Dwells  here,  and  a  dumb  quiet  next  to  death. 
 
 An  arm  of  Lethe  with  a  gentle  flow, 
 Arising  upwards  from  the  rock  below, 
 The  palace  moats,  and  o'er  the  pebbles  creeps, 
 And  with  soft  murmurs  calls  the  coming  sleeps. 
 Around  its  entry  nodding  poppies  grow, 
 And  all  cool  simples  that  sweet  rest  bestow  ; 
 Night  from  the  plants  their  sleepy  virtue  drains, 
 And  passing,  sheds  it  on  the  silent  plains  : 
 P 
 
2  26       Nyx,  or  Night,  and  her  Children. 
 
 No  door  there  was  th' unguarded  house  to  keep, 
 On  creaking  hinges  turn'd,  to  break  his  sleep. 
 
 But  in  the  gloomy  court  was  rais'd  a  bed, 
 Stuff'd  with  black  plumes,  and  on  an  ebon  stead  ; 
 Black  was  the  cov'ring  too  where  lay  the  god, 
 And  slept,  his  limbs  display'd  abroad  : 
 About  his  head  fantastic  visions  fly, 
 Which  various  images  of  things  supply. 
 
 The  virgin  ent'ring  bright,  indulg'd  the  day 
 To  the  brown  cave,  and  brush'd  the  dreams  away  : 
 The  god  disturb'd  with  this  new  glare  of  light 
 Cast  sudden  on  his  face,  unseal'd  his  sight, 
 And  rais'd  his  tardy  head,  which  sunk  again, 
 And  sinking,  on  his  bosom  knocked  his  chin  ; 
 At  length  shook  off  himself,  and  ask'd  the  dame 
 (And  asking  yawn'd)  for  what  intent  she  came. 
 To  whom  the  goddess  thus  :  '  O  sacred  Rest, 
 Sweet  pleasing  Sleep,  of  all  the  powers  the  best  ! 
 O  peace  of  mind,  repairer  of  decay, 
 Whose  balms  renew  the  limbs  to  labours  of  the  day. 
 
 Adorn  a  dream,  expressing  human  form, 
 The  shape  of  him  who  suffer'd  in  the  storm, 
 
 Before  his  queen  bid  the  pale  spectre  stand, 
 
 Who  begs  a  vain  relief  at  Juno's  hand.' 
 
 She  said,  and  scarce  awake  her  eyes  could  keep, 
 
 Unable  to  support  the  fumes  of  sleep  ; 
 
 But  fled,  returning  by  the  way  she  went, 
 
 And  swerv'd  along  her  bow  with  swift  ascent. 
 
 The  god,  uneasy  till  he  slept  again, 
 
 Though  against  his  custom,  call'd  aloud, 
 Exciting  Morpheus  from  the  sleepy  crowd  : 
 Morpheus,  of  all  his  numerous  train,  express'd 
 The  shape  of  man,  and  imitated  best  : 
 
Nyx,  or  AHght,  and  her  Children.       227 
 
 The  walk,  the  words,  the  gesture  could  supply 
 
 Plays  well,  but  all  his  action  is  confln'd 
 Extending  not  beyond  our  human  kind. 
 Another,  birds,  and  beasts,  and  dragons,  apes, 
 And  dreadful  images,  and  monster  shapes  : 
 This  demon,  Icelos,  in  heav'n's  high  hall, 
 The  gods  have  nam'd  ;  but  men  Phobetor  call. 
 A  third  is  Phantasus,  whose  actions  roll 
 On  meaner  thoughts,  and  things  devoid  of  soul ; 
 Earth,  fruits  and  flow'rs,  he  represents  in  dreams, 
 And  solid  rocks  removed,  and  running  streams. 
 These  three  to  kings  and  chiefs  their  scenes  display, 
 The  rest  before  the  ignoble  commons  play. 
 Of  these  the  chosen  Morpheus  is  dispatch'd, 
 Which  done,  the  lazy  monarch,  overwatch'd, 
 Down  from  his  propping  elbow  drops  his  head 
 Dissolv'd  in  sleep,  and  shrinks  within  his  bed." 
 
 —Ovid,  "  Metam.,"  Book  xi.  (Dryden). 
 
 By  other  poets  Sleep  is  described  as  lying  surrounded  with 
 flowers  in  a  cave  in  the  woods  of  Ethiopia,  with  dreams  of 
 various  shapes  flitting  around  him,  and  Peace,  Sloth,  and 
 Forgetfulness  guarding  the  entrance.  And  again  he  is 
 spoken  of  as  dwelling  in  the  Isle  of  Dreams,  where  stood  a 
 town  peopled  entirely  by  dreams  of  every  description  and 
 form ;  large  and  small,  beautiful  and  hideous,  joyful  and 
 sad,  pleasant  and  disagreeable,  in  rags  and  in  kingly  attire. 
 In  the  market  place,  on  either  side  of  a  well,  were  two 
 small  temples  dedicated  to  Falsehood  and  Truth :  also, 
 there  were  two  large  edifices,  sacred  to  Night  and  Scorn. 
 The  walls  of  the  town,  which  gleamed  with  every  colour  of 
 the  rainbow,  had  four  gates,  from  which  the  dreams  issued 
 to  wander  over  the  earth.  Two  of  these  gates  led  towards 
 the  harbour,  where  ships  lay  ready  to  carry  the  dreams  to 
 
228       Nyx,  or  Night,  and  her  Children. 
 
 foreign  lands  :  the  other  two,  one  of  iron,  the  other  of  clay, 
 led  to  the  field  of  Sloth.  Close  to  the  town  the  river  of 
 Forgetfulness  flowed  sleepily  and  noiselessly  through  a  thick 
 growth  of  tall  poppies,  frequented  by  numerous  owls  and 
 bats.  All  mortals  who  approached  the  town  were  hospitably 
 welcomed,  and  the  fairest  promises  were  made  to  them. 
 
 Death.  The  Greeks  considered  a  peaceful  death  to  be 
 a  happy  transit  into  the  land  of  Rest,  and  a  release  from  all 
 the  cares  and  griefs  of  this  life.  They  called  it  Thanatos 
 (Mors),  and  represented  it  as  a  beneficent  genius,  a  brother 
 of  Sleep,  and  inhabiting  the  same  palace  at  the  entrance  of 
 the  Underworld.  The  poet  Hesiod  thus  speaks  of  these 
 friendly  genii : 
 
 "Sons  of  gloomy  Night, 
 There  hold  their  habitation,  Death  and  Sleep, 
 Dread  deities  :  nor  them  doth  shining  sun 
 E'er  with  his  beam  contemplate,  when  he  climbs 
 The  cope  of  heaven,  or  when  from  heaven  descends. 
 Of  these  the  one  glides  gentle  o'er  the  space 
 Of  earth  and  broad  expanse  of  ocean  waves, 
 Placid  to  man.     The  other  has  a  heart 
 Of  iron  :  yea,  the  heart  within  his  breast 
 Is  brass  unpitying  :  whom  of  men  he  grasps, 
 Stern  he  retains  :  e'en  to  immortal  gods 
 
 A  foe." 
 
 —Hesiod,  "Theogony"  (Elton). 
 
 Death  ?s  depicted  as  a  youth,  beautiful,  but  with  a  serious 
 expression  of  countenance,  holding  in  his  right  hand  a  torch, 
 point  downwards,  and  in  his  left  hand,  butterflies  and  a 
 garland.  He  is  furnished  with  wings,  and  mournfully  con- 
 templates the  butterflies,  symbols  of  change  and  transition. 
 In  a  certain  piece  of  beautiful  sculpture,  Death  and  Sleep 
 are  represented  as  two  boys,  lying  on  the  lap  of  Night. 
 
Nyx,  or  Night,  and  her  Children.       229 
 
 But  Euripides,  the  Greek  tragic  poet,  describes  Death  as  a 
 frightful  monster,  with  flashing  eyes,  dark  streaming  hair, 
 black  garment,  and  a  drawn  sword.  He  gnashes  his  teeth, 
 opens  wide  his  gigantic  mouth,  and  stretches  out  his  blood- 
 stained hands  to  grasp  his  victims.  He  is  so  enormous 
 that  he  can  destroy  whole  towns. 
 
 Momos  was  the  God  of  Envy,  or  rather  of  Censure,  for 
 he  found  fault  with  everything,  whether  it  were  done  by 
 gods  or  men.  An  example  of  this  is  given  by  Lucian,  a 
 Greek  poet,  who  relates  as  follows:  "Athena  (Minerva), 
 Hephaestus  (Vulcan),  and  Poseidon  (Neptune)  once  dis- 
 puted as  to  which  could  produce  the  most  useful  thing. 
 Athena  made  a  house,  Hephaestus  a  man,  and  Poseidon 
 an  ox.  Momos  was  the  umpire,  but  he  found  something  to 
 cavil  at  in  each.  He  declared  that  the  house  ought  to  be 
 capable  of  being  turned  round,  so  that  its  occupant  might 
 exchange  at  will  a  bad  neighbour  for  a  good  one.  A  man, 
 he  said,  ought  to  have  a  window  in  his  breast,  so  that  his 
 fellow-men  might  look  into  his  heart.  And  as  for  the  ox, 
 if  his  horns  had  been  on  his  chest,  instead  of  on  his  head, 
 he  would  have  been  able  to  draw  much  heavier  burdens." 
 This  god  is  depicted  as  a  gaunt,  haggard  man,  sometimes 
 with  wings,  his  face  is  pale  and  downcast,  and  his  mouth 
 open. 
 
2^0 
 
 Deities  known  only  to  Italy. 
 
 XXIII.— DEITIES    KNOWN    ONLY    TO    THE 
 INHABITANTS    OF    ITALY. 
 
 Most  of  the  .sods  worshipped  by  the  Romans  were 
 identical  with  those  of  the  Greeks,  but  there  were  some 
 belonging  exclusively  to  Italy,  and  to  Rome  in  particular. 
 
 These  had  originated  among  the  old  Etruscans,  Latins, 
 and  Sabines,  and  had  been  gradually  absorbed  into  the 
 religion  of  the  Romans.  They  consisted  principally  of 
 protectors  and  guardians  of  human  life,  who  acted  as  medi- 
 ators between  the  gods  and  mankind,  and  were  worshipped 
 as  household  deities.  Besides  the  Lares  and  Penates 
 already  mentioned  were  : 
 
 (i.)  Janus.  According  to  old  legends,  Janus  was  a  king 
 of  ancient  Latium,  living  in  the  Golden  Age,  when  peace 
 and  happiness  reigned  supreme  on  earth.  He,  like  so 
 many  other  divinities,  was  first  worshipped  by  the  Romans 
 in  the  reign  of  Numa  Pompilius.  Janus  was  the  ancient  God 
 of  the  Sun  and  of  Light,  daily  issuing  from  and  returning 
 to  the  gates  of  Heaven,  which  he  opened  and  shut.  Thus 
 he  is  looked  upon  as  the  god  of  exit  and  entrance,  the 
 opener  and  closer  of  gates  and  doors  on  earth  as  well  as  in 
 heaven.  In  fact  he  presided  over  the  commencement  and 
 ending  of  all  things,  and  therefore  all  feasts  were  preceded 
 by  sacrifices  to  Janus. 
 
 To  him  came  Saturn  (Chronos)  when  deprived  of  his 
 power  by  Jupiter  ;  and  in  return  for  the  kind  and  hospit- 
 able welcome  accorded  to  him,  he  instructed  Janus  in  the 
 art  of  agriculture,  and  endowed  him  with  a  knowledge  of 
 the  future  and  a  perpetual  remembrance  of  the  past. 
 
 Janus  is  represented  as  an  old  man  with  two  faces,  the 
 
Deities  known  only  to  Italy.  231 
 
 one  looking  forward,  the  other  backward.  The  first  month 
 of  the  year  was  sacred  to  him,  for  he  was  regarded  as  the 
 keeper  and  opener  of  the  gate  of  the  New  Year  :  hence  the 
 name  of  January.  Various  offerings  were  brought  him  on 
 the  first  day  of  each  year,  such  as  cakes  made  of  honey, 
 milk,  parched  corn,  and  salt.  Whatever  happened  on  this 
 day  was  received  as  an  augury,  every  one  worked  hard,  and 
 if  the  labours  of  this  day  were  crowned  with  success,  it 
 was  considered  a  good  omen  for  the  rest  of  the  year. 
 Only  pleasant  occupations  were  undertaken,  and  all  strife 
 was  carefully  avoided.  It  was  also  customary,  as  at  our 
 Christmas-tide,  to  interchange  small  presents  (strenae, 
 whence  the  French  word,  etrennes),  consisting  principally 
 of  fruits.  Janus  carries  a  key  in  his  hand,  for  not  only  does 
 he  lock  and  open  the  gates  of  the  year,  but  the  seasons 
 and  all  the  blessings  of  the  year  depend  on  his  will. 
 
 In  Rome  a  magnificent  temple  was  erected  to  him,  as 
 the  god  in  whose  hands  rested  the  commencement  and 
 end  of  war.  A  legend  relates,  that  once  during  a  war 
 between  the  Romans  and  Sabines,  when  the  latter  invaded 
 the  open  porch,  Janus  drove  them  back  by  causing  a  hot 
 sulphur  spring  to  rise  suddenly  before  them.  After  this 
 event  the  gates  always  remained  open  in  time  of  war,  but 
 when  peace  was  concluded,  they  were  closed  by  the  consuls 
 with  great  ceremony  and  special  thanksgivings.  This, 
 however,  only  happened  three  times  in  the  history  of  war- 
 like Rome;  i.e.,  under  the  peaceful  sway  of  Numa  Pompilius, 
 between  the  first  and  second  Punic  wars,  and  in  the  reign 
 of  the  Emperor  Augustus.  Nero  also  once  closed  the 
 gates. 
 
 The  Temple,  like  the  god  himself,  had  two  faces,  and 
 two  doors  opposite  each  other.  Janus  is  sometimes  repre- 
 sented with  four  faces,  signifying  the  four  seasons  of  the 
 
232  Deities  known  only  to  Italy. 
 
 year.  His  wives  were  Camasena,  by  whom  he  had  a  son 
 Tiberius,  and  Juturna. 
 
 (2.)  Vertumnus  and  Pomona.  Vertumnus  was  God 
 of  Harvest  and  Commerce.  He  presided  over  garden  and 
 field  produce,  and  was  therefore  represented  as  a  young 
 man,  crowned  with  fruit  and  corn-ears,  and  carrying  a 
 crook,  a  garden  knife,  or  a  staff.  He  had  likewise  the 
 power  of  assuming  various  forms,  and  made  clever  use  of 
 this  gift  in  wooing  Pomona,  Goddess  of  Fruits. 
 
 This  nymph,  engrossed  in  the  care  of  her  garden,  refused 
 all  suitors  for  her  hand,  denying  them  admittance  to  her 
 presence.  But  Vertumnus  took  the  form  of  a  reaper,  laden 
 with  wheat,  or  carrying  on  his  head  a  bundle  of  fresh- 
 mown  hay,  and  offered  his  services  in  pruning  the  shrubs 
 and  vines,  or  helping  to  gather  the  fruit,  thus  in  various 
 ways  gaining  a  sight  of  the  beautiful  maiden.  At  last  he 
 disguised  himself  as  an  old  woman.  A  cap  covered  his 
 grey  locks,  and  leaning  on  a  staff  he  entered  the  garden 
 and  spoke  with  the  lovely  Pomona,  admiring  her  splendid 
 fruit.  Gradually  his  conversation  turned  to  the  happiness 
 of  married  life,  and  he  extolled  the  love  and  devotion  of 
 Vertumnus,  giving  at  the  same  time  a  warning  to  feminine 
 obduracy.  Then  suddenly  he  relinquished  his  disguise, 
 and  as  the  sun  breaks  triumphantly  through  the  dark  clouds, 
 so  Vertumnus  appeared  before  the  eyes  of  the  astonished 
 Pomona,  who  thereupon  consented  to  become  his  wife. 
 
 Pomona  is  depicted  laden  with  fruit,  some  in  a  basket 
 on  her  lap,  and  some  crowning  her  brow ;  and  fruits  were 
 offered  both  to  her  and  to  Vertumnus  to  propitiate  them, 
 in  order  that  they  might  bless  the  country  with  a  good 
 harvest. 
 
 (3.)  Flora,  Goddess  of  Flowers,  was  represented  as  a 
 young  maiden,  with  flowers  in  her  hands  and  amidst  her 
 
Deities  known  only  to  Italy.  233 
 
 hair.  By  the  Greeks  she  was  called  Chloris,  and  was  said 
 to  be  the  wife  of  Zephyrus.  During  the  festival  held  at 
 Rome  in  her  honour,  all  indulged  in  innocent  frolic  and 
 merriment ;  houses  were  decorated  with  wreaths  and  tables 
 strewn  with  flowers.  People  traversed  the  streets  singing 
 and  dancing,  garlanded  with  blossoms. 
 
 (4.)  Faunus  is  sometimes  mistaken  for  Pan.  He  was 
 god  of  fields  and  woods,  and  had  the  gift  of  foretelling 
 future  events,  especially  by  means  of  dreams.  His  wife 
 was  named  Fauna,  and  their  children  were  the  Fauni. 
 They  were  represented  with  small  horns,  curling  hair, 
 hooked  noses,  tails,  and  goats'  hoofs  ;  and  are  often  con- 
 founded with  the  Satyrs,  though  they  neither  carried  the 
 thyrsus,  nor  were  crowned  with  the  ivy  wreath.  They 
 inhabited  the  woods,  and  their  frolicsome  tricks  often 
 frightened  passers-by. 
 
 (5.)  Silvanus  was  god  of  the  herds,  closely  connected 
 with  Faunus,  but  of  a  much  more  friendly  disposition.  He 
 is  represented  as  a  nude,  bearded  man,  with  goats'  feet, 
 crowned  with  fir  branches ;  in  one  hand  is  a  sickle,  in  the 
 other  a  branch,  to  denote  that  he  guarded  the  forests  and 
 planted  waste  lands.  His  rough  voice  was  often  heard  at 
 night  resounding  through  the  forests.  He  is  said  to  have 
 been  a  king  of  the  Laurentes,  but  one  day  while  seeking 
 the  wood-nymph  Caucus,  whom  he  loved,  he  encountered 
 another  nymph  whose  affection  he  had  rejected,  and  who 
 transformed  him  into  a  woodpecker. 
 
 (6.)  Terminus  was  the  guardian  of  boundaries.  Numa 
 Pompilius,  when  he  divided  the  land  among  the  people, 
 instituted  the  worship  of  Terminus,  to  preserve  the  bound- 
 aries and  render  them  sacred.  The  statue  of  this  divinity 
 at  Rome  stood  in  the  Temple  of  Jupiter  in  the  Capitol, 
 and  was  never  allowed  to  be  removed  from  thence.     At 
 
234  Deities  known  only  to  Italy. 
 
 the  boundary  of  every  field,  as  well  as  at  the  original  limits 
 of  the  city,  was  placed  a  stone,  surmounted  by  a  carved 
 head  of  Terminus.  The  erection  of  these  stones  was 
 accomplished  with  solemn  ceremonies,  and  to  move  one  of 
 them  was  looked  upon  as  a  grave  crime. 
 
 The  twenty-third  of  February  was  set  apart  for  a  feast  to 
 commemorate  the  sanctity  of  boundaries.  Those  whose 
 lands  joined  assembled  at  the  boundary,  and  there  erected 
 a  simple  altar  of  grass,  which  they  crowned  with  flowers. 
 Then  a  lamb  or  pig  was  killed,  the  blood  sprinkled  on  the 
 altar,  the  flesh  burnt,  and  incense  and  the  first  fruits  of  the 
 land  thrown  into  the  flames.  After  this  the  people  partook 
 of  a  simple  meal,  interspersed  with  joyful  songs.  These  were 
 the  private  feasts,  in  addition  to  which  public  festivals  took 
 place,  in  which  not  only  the  Roman  magistrates,  but  also 
 embassies  from  neighbouring  countries  participated.  Meet- 
 ing at  the  boundaries  they  united  in  offering  oblations  to 
 Terminus.  These  feasts  were  continued  long  after  the 
 Romans  had  overcome  all  the  surrounding  nations. 
 
 7.  Occasio,  or  Opportunity.  Occasio  was  repre- 
 sented as  a  woman  with  winged  feet  standing  on  a  globe ; 
 her  hair  floats  in  front  of  her,  but  the  back  of  her  head  is 
 shaven,  which  signifies  that,  once  allowed  to  pass,  no  man 
 can  grasp  or  detain  her. 
 
 8.  Victoria.  Victoria,  or  Victory,  was  worshipped  in 
 Rome  from  the  very  earliest  times  ;  and  the  ever-increasing 
 love  of  war  among  the  Romans  rendered  the  sacrifices 
 offered  to  her  and  the  statues  erected  in  her  honour  more 
 and  more  numerous.  Proud,  victorious  Rome  was  indeed 
 an  appropriate  home  for  her ! 
 
 Her  most  celebrated  statue  was  set  up  by  Augustus, 
 and  stood  in  the  Senate  house.  It  depicted  a  lovely  and 
 youthful  female  figure  standing  on  a  globe,  holding  a  palm 
 
Deities  known  only  to  Italy.  235 
 
 branch  in  her  left  hand,  and  a  crown  in  her  right,  for 
 victory  brings  both  peace  and  glory.  She  was  winged,  for 
 victory  comes  quickly  and  unexpectedly,  and  tarries  not 
 long.  Victoria  is  sometimes  represented  in  a  war  chariot 
 driving  winged  horses. 
 
 The  three  last-named  divinities  were  scarcely  regarded 
 as  actual  gods,  but  rather  as  mortals  possessing  divine 
 attributes.  There  were  many  others  of  this  nature,  among 
 whom  may  be  mentioned  :  Concordia  (Harmony),  a  stately 
 woman  bearing  a  cornucopia,  and  an  olive  branch ;  Fides 
 (Faithfulness),  with  a  roll  of  parchment  in  her  left  hand, 
 and  the  forefinger  of  her  right  placed  on  her  lips  j  Pietas 
 (Piety),  with  her  head  half  veiled  and  her  hands  raised  in 
 prayer;  Libertas  (Freedom)  holding  in  the  right  hand  a 
 pointed  cap,  in  the  left  a  lance  ;  Justicia  (Justice),  a  majestic 
 woman  with  a  pair  of  scales  in  her  right  hand,  and  a 
 cornucopia  in  her  left ;  and  Spes  (Hope),  a  tall,  active 
 maiden,  holding  her  garment  looped  up  in  her  left  hand, 
 and  a  flower  in  her  right. 
 
 The  importation  into  Rome  of  the  costly  treasures  of  the 
 East  was  followed  by  the  downfall  of  the  early  Roman 
 religion,  for  then  the  Eastern  and  Egyptian  Gods  were 
 also  adopted.  At  the  time  of  the  Punic  wars,  the  image 
 and  priests  of  the  goddess  Cebele  were  brought  from 
 Phrygia  to  Rome.  (The  stone  of  which  the  figure  was 
 composed  was  of  a  dark  colour,  probably  meteoric.) 
 Although  the  Romans  at  first  regarded  with  distrust  the 
 feasts  of  both  Cybele  and  her  favourite  Athys,  yet  these 
 festivals  were  ere  long  participated  in  by  the  whole 
 nation. 
 
 The  worship  of  Serapis  and  Isis  was  introduced  from 
 Egypt,  and  that  of  the  sun-god  Mithras  from  Persia. 
 
PART    II. 
 
 MYTHOLOGICAL  HISTORY  OF  THE 
 GREEKS. 
 
I.— DEUCALION   AND    PYRRHA. 
 
 We  have  already  described  how  Prometheus  made  the  first 
 men  out  of  clay,  animating  them  with  fire  from  heaven. 
 His  son  Deucalion,  quitting  the  Caucasus  where  Prometheus 
 dwelt,  wandered  to  Greece,  and  established  himself  with 
 his  wife  Pyrrha  on  Mount  Parnassus.  Both  Deucalion 
 and  Pyrrha  were  good  and  virtuous,  and  honoured  the  gods, 
 while  all  the  other  inhabitants  of  the  earth  had  become 
 degenerate  and  wicked,  neglecting  to  offer  them  sacrifices. 
 Zeus,  therefore,  determined  to  destroy  every  living  being 
 upon  the  earth  by  means  of  a  flood.  The  following  is  the 
 account  given  by  Ovid  : 
 
 "  The  northern  breath,  that  freezes  floods,  he  binds  ; 
 With  all  the  race  of  cloud-dispelling  winds  : 
 The  south  he  loos'd,  who  night  and  horror  brings  ; 
 And  fogs  are  shaken  from  his  flaggy  wings. 
 
 Still  as  he  swept  along,  with  his  clench'd  fist 
 He  squeezed  the  clouds,  th'  imprison'd  clouds  resist : 
 The  skies,  from  pole  to  pole,  with  peals  resound  ; 
 And  show'rs  enlarged,  come  pouring  to  the  ground. 
 Then  clad  in  colours  of  a  various  dye, 
 Junonian  Iris  breeds  a  new  supply 
 To  feed  the  clouds  ;  impetuous  rain  descends  ; 
 The  bearded  corn  beneath  the  burden  bends  ; 
 Defrauded  clowns  deplore  their  perish'd  grain, 
 And  the  long  labours  of  the  year  are  vain. 
 Not  from  his  patrimonial  heaven  alone 
 Is  Jove  content  to  pour  his  vengeance  down  ; 
 
40  Dmcaiion  and  Pyrrka. 
 
 Aid  from  his  brother  of  the  seas  he  craves, 
 To  help  him  with  auxiliary  waves. 
 The  wat'ry  tyrant  calls  his  brooks  and  floods, 
 Who  roll  from  mossy  caves  (their  moist  abodes), 
 
 To  whom,  in  brief,  he  thus  imparts  his  will. 
 
 '  Small  exhortations  need  ;  your  pow'rs  employ  : 
 
 And  this  bad  world,  so  Jove  requires,  destroy.' 
 
 The  floods,  by  nature  enemies  to  land, 
 And  proudly  swelling  with  their  new  command, 
 Remove  the  living  stones  that  stopp'd  their  way, 
 And  gushing  from  their  source  augment  the  sea, 
 
 Th'  expanded  waters  gather  on  the  plain  : 
 They  float  the  fields  and  overtop  the  grain  ; 
 Then  rushing  onwards,  with  a  sweepy  sway, 
 Bear  flocks,  and  folds,  and  lab'ring  hinds  away. 
 Nor  safe  their  dwellings  were,  for,  sapp'd  by  floods, 
 Their  houses  fell  upon  their  household  gods. 
 The  solid  piles,  too  strongly  built  to  fall, 
 High  o'er  their  heads  behold  a  wat'ry  wall : 
 Now  seas  and  earth  were  in  confusion  lost ; 
 A  world  of  waters,  and  without  a  coast. 
 
 One  climbs  a  cliff;  one  in  his  boat  is  borne  : 
 
 Or  downward  driven,  they  bruise  the  tender  vine, 
 Or  tost  aloft,  are  knock'd  against  a  pine. 
 And  where  of  late  the  kids  had  cropt  the  grass, 
 The  monsters  of  the  deep  now  take  their  place. 
 
 The  frighted  wolf  now  swims  amongst  the  sheep  ; 
 The  yellow  lion  wanders  in  the  deep  : 
 His  rapid  force  no  longer  helps  the  boar  : 
 The  stag  swims  faster  than  he  ran  before. 
 The  fowls,  long  beating  on  their  wings  in  vain, 
 Despair  of  land  and  drop  into  the  main. 
 
Deucalion  and  Pyrr ha,  241 
 
 Most  of  the  mountains  were  entirely  submerged,  and 
 the  few  persons  who  succeeded  in  saving  themselves  from 
 drowning  died  of  starvation.  Deukalion  and  Pyrrha  alone 
 survived ;  for,  warned  by  the  gods  of  the  coming  destruc- 
 tion, they  had  prepared  themselves  a  ship.  Now,  finding 
 their  vessel  floating  alone  on  the  boundless  expanse  of 
 waters,  they  called  upon  divine  Themis,  the  Muses,  and 
 the  Nymphs  of  Mount  Parnassus  to  save  them.  Then 
 Zeus,  seeing  the  whole  surface  of  the  earth  covered 
 with  water,  and  that  no  human  beings  save  Deucalion  and 
 Pyrrha  remained  alive,  sent  the  north  wind  to  dry  the 
 atmosphere  and  drive  away  the  clouds,  so  that  Earth  might 
 once  more  clearly  behold  Heaven. 
 
 Poseidon,  stretching  forth  his  mighty  trident,  calmed 
 the  sea,  and  commanded  the  Tritons  to  blow  their  conch 
 shells,  and  call  the  rivers  back  to  their  usual  channels. 
 So  marvellously  loud  was  the  sound  from  these  shells, 
 that  it  reached  the  most  distant  shores,  and  immediately 
 the  waters  abated : 
 
 "  The  streams,  but  just  contained  within  their  bounds, 
 By  slow  degrees  into  their  channels  crawl ; 
 And  earth  increases,  as  the  waters  fall. 
 In  longer  time  the  tops  of  trees  appear, 
 Which  mud  on  their  dishonour'd  branches  bear. 
 
 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. 
 
 Which,  when  Deucalion  with  a  piteous  look 
 Beheld,  he  wept,  and  thus  to  Pyrrha  spoke  :  " 
 
 "  Oh !  wife  beloved,  behold,  we  are  the  only  people  left 
 on  the  face  of  the  desolate  earth.     All  the  sons  of  men 
 
 Q 
 
242  Deucalion  and  Pyrr ha. 
 
 have  perished  in  the  waters,  and  we  know  not  how  long  the 
 gods  will  spare  our  lives.  Ah  !  had  I  but  my  father's  power 
 of  creating  human  beings,  and  endowing  them  with  life,  so 
 that  upon  the  earth  men  might  be  seen  once  more." 
 
 Then  Deukalion  and  Pyrrha  hastened,  weeping,  to  the 
 temple  of  Themis,  threw  themselves  on  the  steps  of  the 
 altar,  kissed  the  cold  stones,  and 
 
 "  Thus  the  saint  implor'd  : 
 '  O  righteous  Themis,  if  the  powers  above 
 By  pray'rs  are  bent  to  pity,  and  to  love  ; 
 
 Tell  how  we  may  restore,  by  second  birth, 
 Mankind,  and  people  desolated  earth.' 
 
 Then  thus  the  gracious  goddess,  nodding,  said : 
 '  Depart,  and  with  your  vestments  veil  your  head  ; 
 And  stooping  lowly  down,  with  loosen'd  zones, 
 Throw  each  behind  your  backs,  your  mighty  mother's  bones.'  " 
 
 Long  they  stood  in  amazement,  until  at  last  Pyrrha  de- 
 clared that  she  could  not  obey  the  command  of  the  goddess : 
 the  idea  of  disturbing  her  beloved  mother's  bones  filled  her 
 with  horror.  Suddenly  it  occurred  to  them  that  some 
 hidden  meaning  might  be  contained  in  the  words  of  Themis. 
 At  last  Deukalion  spoke  :  "  Surely  the  goddess  means  that 
 the  earth  is  our  mother,  and  the  stones  are  her  bones ;  it  is 
 these  which  we  are  to  throw  behind  us."  And  Pyrrha 
 rejoiced  greatly  at  this  interpretation,  and,  though  half 
 doubting  its  truth,  determined  to  test  it : 
 
 "  Descending  from  the  mount,  they  first  unbind 
 Their  vests,  and,  veil'd,  they  cast  the  stones  behind  : 
 The  stones  (a  miracle  to  mortal  view, 
 But  long  tradition  makes  it  pass  for  true) 
 Did  first  the  rigour  of  their  kind  expel, 
 
Cecrops,  P auction  and  his  Daughters.     243 
 
 And  suppled  into  softness  as  they  fell  ; 
 Then  swell'd,  and  swelling,  by  degrees  grow  warm  ; 
 And  took  the  rudiments  of  human  form. 
 Imperfect  shapes  :  in  marble  such  are  seen, 
 When  the  rude  chisel  does  the  man  begin  ; 
 While  yet  the  roughness  of  the  stone  remains, 
 Without  the  rising  muscles,  and  the  veins. 
 
 By  help  of  power  divine,  in  little  space, 
 What  the  man  threw,  assum'd  a  manly  face  ; 
 And  what  the  wife,  renew'd  the  female  race. 
 Hence  we  derive  our  nature  ;  born  to  bear 
 Laborious  life,  and  harden'd  into  care." 
 
 And  the   people,   who   knew  neither   father   nor   mother, 
 went  forth  to  toil  through  the  wide  earth. 
 
 The  resemblance  between  this  history  and  the  Biblical 
 account  of  the  flood  is  very  striking ;  and  we  find  the  same 
 legend  related  in  various  ways  in  the  mythology  of  many 
 other  nations. 
 
 II. — CECROPS,  PANDION  AND  HIS 
 DAUGHTERS  PHILOMELA  AND  PROCNE. 
 
 Ancient  legends  relate  that  the  aborigines  of  Greece  were 
 raised  from  a  wild  and  uncivilized  state  by  various  strangers 
 who  landed  on  their  shores.  The  earliest  of  these  foreign 
 settlers  was  Cecrops,  who  came  from  Egypt  and  landed  in 
 Attica,  where  the  savage  inhabitants  joyfully  welcomed  him. 
 Having  married  Agranlos,  daughter  of  Actaeus,  king  of 
 Attica,  Cecrops  succeeded  to  the  throne  on  the  death  of 
 his  father-in-law.  He  introduced  many  improvements,  and 
 instituted  regular  marriages,  besides  teaching  the  natives  to 
 
244    Cecrops,  Pandion  and  his  Daughters. 
 
 build  houses,  cultivate  the  land,  and  plant  olive-trees :  and 
 thus  became  the  benefactor  of  the  country.  He  also  erected 
 a  castle  on  a  hill,  round  which  afterwards  rose  the  town  of 
 Athens. 
 
 It  is  related  that  Poseidon  and  Athene  once  had  a  dispute 
 as  to  which  of  them  should  own  the  district.  At  last  they 
 agreed  that  whichever  should  bestow  on  the  people  the 
 most  useful  gift  should  be  the  possessor  of  the  land. 
 Poseidon  struck  the  earth  with  his  trident  and  produced 
 the  horse,  Athene  gave  the  olive-tree.  Cecrops,  whom 
 they  appointed  umpire,  decided  in  favour  of  Athene,  and 
 thenceforth  she  became  the  protectress  of  the  land.  He 
 then  decreed  that,  in  order  to  spare  all  useful  animals,  only 
 bloodless  offerings,  such  as  the  first-fruits  of  the  land  and 
 cakes,  should  be  presented  to  her. 
 
 King  Pandion  was  a  descendant  of  Cecrops.  He  had 
 two  daughters,  Philomela  and  Prokne,  the  latter  the  wife  of 
 Tereus,  King  of  Thrace.  When,  five  years  after  their 
 marriage,  Terens  sailed  for  Athens,  Prokne  entreated  him 
 to  bring  her  sister  back  with  him  on  his  return : 
 
 "  If  thou  lovest  me,  either  take  me  with  thee  to  her  at 
 Athens,  or  entreat  my  father  that  he  let  her  return  with 
 thee.  The  sight  of  her  face  will  be  to  me  as  a  gift  from 
 the  gods." 
 
 As  soon  as  Tereus  arrived  at  Athens  he  told  Pandion  of 
 his  wife's  request.  While  he  was  in  the  presence  of  the 
 king,  Philomela  herself  entered  the  apartment.  So 
 glorious  was  her  beauty  that  the  heart  of  Tereus  was  filled 
 with  love  for  her,  and  he  determined  to  carry  her  off.  With 
 tears  he  implored  Pandion  to  let  him  take  Philomela  to  her 
 sister,  and  the  unsuspecting  maiden  herself  added  her 
 prayers  to  his.  At  last  Pandion  gave  his  consent,  and 
 intrusted  his  beloved  daughter  to   he  care  of  Tereus  : 
 
CccropSy  Pandion  and  his  Daughters.     245 
 
 "  With  you,  dear  son,  my  daughter  I  entrust, 
 And  by  the  gods  adjure  you  to  be  just  ; 
 By  truth,  and  ev'ry  consanguineal  tie, 
 To  watch  and  guard  her  with  a  father's  eye. 
 And  since  the  least  delay  will  tedious  prove, 
 In  keeping  from  my  sight  the  child  I  love, 
 With  speed  return  her        .... 
 And  you,  my  Philomel,  let  it  suffice, 
 To  know  your  sister's  banish'd  from  my  eyes  ; 
 If  any  sense  of  duty  sways  your  mind, 
 Let  me  from  you  the  shortest  absence  find." 
 After  sending  greetings  to  Prokne  and  her  children,  the 
 old  king  embraced  Philomela,  weeping,  and  farewells  were 
 exchanged  between  them.     On  landing  in  Thrace,  Tereus 
 bore  Philomela  to  a  dark  wood,  and  imprisoned  her  in  a 
 shepherd's  hut,  determining,  by  means  of  threats,  to  gain 
 her  consent  to  a  marriage  with  him  after  he  should  have 
 killed  Prokne.     When  she  scornfully  refused  to  listen  to 
 his  wicked  designs,  he  treated  her  with  great  cruelty,  and 
 she,  lifting  her  white  arms  towards  heaven,  implored  the 
 aid  of  the  gods.     Then  Tereus,  filled  with  rage  and  fear, 
 cut   out   her   tongue,    that    she    might   never    reveal    his 
 misdeeds. 
 
 When  Prokne,  on  his  return  to  her,  questioned  him 
 about  her  sister,  he  sighed  deeply,  and  replied,  "  Alas !  she 
 is  dead  !  I  buried  her  on  my  way  hither."  Prokne,  believing 
 his  words,  gave  way  to  the  bitterest  grief,  clothed  herself  in 
 black  robes,  erected  a  monument  to  the  memory  of 
 Philomela,  and  offered  propitiatory  sacrifices  on  behalf  of 
 her  spirit. 
 
 Philomela  remained  a  whole  year  in  hopeless  captivity. 
 At  last  she  spun  a  very  fine  garment,  into  which  she  worked 
 the  history  of  her  wrongs  ;  and  she  persuaded  the  warder, 
 who  had  been  appointed  to  guard  her,  to  convey  this  to  her 
 
246     Cecrops,  Pandion  and  his  Daughters. 
 
 sister.     When  Prokne  beheld  what  her  sister  had  sent  her, 
 revenge  glowed  in  her  heart,  though  sorrow  sealed  her  lips. 
 At  the  celebration  of  the  Bacchanalian  feasts  she  joined 
 the  throng   of  Maenades,  and    rushed  wildly  hither  and 
 thither  till  she  found  the  solitary  hut.     Forcing  open  the 
 door  she  bore  away  the  unfortunate  Philomela,  and  con- 
 cealed her  in  her  own  dwelling.      Then  in  these  furious 
 words  she  gave  vent  to  her  wrath  and  anger : 
 "  Years,  unavailing,  but  defer  our  time, 
 The  stabbing  sword  must  expiate  the  crime, 
 Or  worse,  if  wit,  on  bloody  vengeance  bent, 
 A  weapon  more  tormenting  can  invent. 
 Oh  sister!  I've  prepared  my  stubborn  heart, 
 To  act  some  hellish,  and  unheard-of  part." 
 
 Even  as  she  spoke  her  little  son  Itys  came  running  to  her, 
 expecting  to  be  received  with  wonted  affection.  But  a 
 hideous  plan  entered  the  mother's  mind,  even  while  she 
 felt  the  child's  little  arms  around  her  neck.  Furiously 
 seizing  him,  she  carried  him  to  an  inner  apartment,  and 
 there  stabbed  him  to  the  heart,  her  sister  aiding  in  the 
 fearful  deed.  Then  the  cruel  mother  invited  her  husband 
 to  a  banquet,  and  served  up  to  him  the  flesh  of  his  son. 
 Tereus,  never  suspecting,  partook  of  it,  and  after  the  feast 
 called  for  Itys,  when  Prokne  disclosed  what  she  had  done, 
 and  Philomela  rushed  furiously  into  the  chamber  with  the 
 head  of  the  boy  in  her  hand. 
 
 With  loud  cries  and  imprecations  Tereus  rose  from  the 
 table,  weeping  and  lamenting  his  son's  death.  Then  with 
 drawn  sword  he  rushed  frantically  in  pursuit  of  the  sisters, 
 who  fled  like  the  wind  from  his  vengeance.  Across  the 
 fields  he  followed  them,  until  just  as  he  had  almost  reached 
 them,  all  three  were  suddenly  transformed  into  birds,  and 
 each  flew  away  in  a  different  direction.  Philomela  became 
 a  nightingale,  Prokne  a  swallow,  and  Tereus  a  peewit. 
 
Kadmos.  247 
 
 III. — KADMOS. 
 
 Kadmos,  son  of  Agenor,  King  of  Phoenicia,  was  the 
 second  stranger  who  settled  in  Greece.  An  account  has 
 already  been  given  of  the  fate  of  his  sister  Europa,  whom 
 Zeus  in  the  form  of  a  bull  carried  off  to  Crete.  Her  father 
 Agenor  was  inconsolable,  and  said  to  Kadmos,  "  Go  forth  and 
 seek  thy  sister  in  all  lands,  and  if  thou  canst  not  find  her, 
 never  let  me  behold  thy  face  again." 
 
 Not1  knowing  whither  to  bend  his  steps,  Kadmos  enquired 
 of  the  Delphic  oracle,  and  received  the  following  reply  : 
 
 "  Behold  among  the  fields  a  lonely  cow, 
 Unworn  with  yokes,  unbroken  to  the  plough  ; 
 Mark  well  the  place  where  first  she  lays  her  down, 
 There  measure  out  thy  walls  and  build  a  town 
 And  from  thy  guide  Bceotia  call  the  land, 
 In  which  the  destin'd  walls  and  town  shall  stand." 
 
 No  sooner  had  Kadmos  left  the  precincts  of  the  temple 
 than  he  beheld  the  cow  as  the  oracle  had  foretold.  Far,  far, 
 he  followed  her,  over  hills  and  plains,  till  at  last  she  stopped, 
 raised  her  head,  bellowed  fiercely,  and  then  lay  down  to  rest. 
 Then  Kadmos  stooped  to  kiss  the  earth,  and  ordered  his 
 attendants  to  fetch  water  from  a  neighbouring  spring  with 
 which  to  sprinkle  the  ground  and  consecrate  it  to  Zeus  : 
 
 "O'er  the  wide  plain  there  rose  a  shady  wood 
 Of  aged  trees  ;  in  its  dark  bosom  stood 
 A  bushy  thicket,  pathless  and  unworn, 
 O'errun  with  brambles,  and  perplex'd  with  thorns  ; 
 Amidst  the  brake  a  hollow  den  was  found, 
 With  rocks  and  shelving  arches  vaulted  round. 
 Deep  in  the  dreary  den,  conceal'd  from  day, 
 
248  Kadmos. 
 
 Sacred  to  Mars,  a  mighty  dragon  lay, 
 Bloated  with  poison  to  a  monstrous  size  ; 
 Fire  broke  in  flashes  when  he  glanc'd  his  eyes 
 
 Three  tongues  he  brandish'd  when  he  charg'd  his  foes  ; 
 His  teeth  stood  jaggy  in  three  dreadful  rows." 
 
 When  the  servants  let  down  the  pail  into  the  well,  out  of 
 the  watery  depths  appeared 
 
 "  The  sleeping  serpent,  with  their  sound 
 Straight  he  bestirs  him,  and  is  seen  to  rise  ; 
 And  now  with  dreadful  hissings  fills  the  skies 
 And  darts  his  forky  tongues,  and  rolls  his  glaring  eyes. 
 The  Tyrians  drop  their  vessels  in  the  fright, 
 All  pale  and  trembling  at  the  hideous  sight. 
 Spire  above  spire  uprear'd  in  air  he  stood, 
 And  gazing  round  him,  overlook'd  the  wood. 
 
 In  vain  the  Tyrians  on  their  arms  rely, 
 
 In  vain  attempt  to  fight,  in  vain  to  fly  : 
 
 All  their  endeavours  and  their  hopes  are  vain  ; 
 
 Some  die  entangled  in  the  winding  train  ; 
 
 Some  are  devour'd  or  feel  a  loathsome  death, 
 
 Swol'n  up  with  blasts  of  pestilential  breath." 
 
 Kadmos,  wondering  at  the  long  absence  of  his  followers, 
 hastened  into  the  wood  in  search  of  them,  wrapped  in  a 
 leopard's  skin,  and  armed  with  a  glistening  spear : 
 
 "  Soon  as  the  youth  approach'd  the  fatal  place 
 He  saw  his  servants  breathless  on  the  grass  ; 
 
 1  Such  friends  (he  cries)  deserv'd  a  longer  date  ; 
 But  Cadmus  will  revenge  or  share  their  fate. 
 Then  heav'd  a  stone,  and  rising  to  the  throw, 
 He  sent  it  in  a  whirlwind  at  the  foe  : 
 A  tower  assaulted  by  so  rude  a  stroke, 
 
Kadmos.  249 
 
 With  all  its  lofty  battlements  had  shook; 
 But  nothing  here  th'  unwieldy  rock  avails, 
 Rebounding  harmless  from  the  plated  scales, 
 That  firmly  join'd,  preserv'd  him  from  a  wound. 
 
 With  more  success  the  dart  unerring  flew, 
 Which  at  his  back  the  raging  warrior  threw 
 Amid  the  plated  scales  it  took  its  course. 
 
 The  monster  hiss'd  aloud,  and  rag'd  in  vain, 
 And  writh'd  his  body  to  and  fro  with  pain. 
 
 And  now  his  rage,  increasing  with  his  pain 
 Reddens  his  eyes,  and  beats  in  every  vein  ; 
 Churn'd  in  his  teeth  the  foamy  venom  rose, 
 Whilst  from  his  mouth  a  blast  of  vapours  flows, 
 Such  as  th'  infernal  Stygian  waters  cast  : 
 The  plants  around  him  wither  in  the  blast. 
 Now  in  a  maze  of  rings  he  lies  enroll'd, 
 Now  all  unravell'd,  and  without  a  fold  : 
 Now,  like  a  torrent,  with  a  mighty  force, 
 Bears  down  the  forest  in  his  boisterous  course. 
 Cadmus  gave  back,  and  on  the  lion's  spoil 
 Sustain'd  the  shock,  then  forc'd  him  to  recoil ; 
 The  pointed  jav'lin  warded  off  his  rage  : 
 Mad  with  his  pains,  and  furious  to  engage, 
 The  serpent  champs  the  steel,  and  bites  the  spear, 
 
 But  still  the  hurt  he  yet  receiv'd  was  slight ; 
 For,  whilst  the  champion  with  redoubled  might 
 Strikes  home  the  jav'lin,  his  retiring  foe 
 Shrinks  from  the  wound,  and  disappoints  the  blow. 
 
 The  dauntless  hero  still  pursues  his  stroke, 
 And  presses  forward,  till  a  knotty  oak 
 Retards  his  foe,  and  stops  him  in  the  rear  ; 
 Full  in  his  throat  he  plung'd  the  fatal  spear, 
 That  in  th'  extended  neck  a  passage  found, 
 
250  Kadmos. 
 
 And  pierc'd  the  solid  timber  through  the  wound. 
 Fix'd  to  the  reeling  trunk,  with  many  a  stroke 
 Of  his  huge  tail,  he  lash'd  the  sturdy  oak  ; 
 Till  spent  with  toil,  and  lab'ring  hard  for  breath, 
 He  now  lay  twisting  in  the  pangs  of  death." 
 
 While  Kadmos  stood  gazing  in  wonder  at  the  dead  body  of 
 the  monster,  suddenly  he  heard  a  voice  ask  :  "  Why  art 
 thou  standing  thus  and  gazing  on  the  dragon  ? "  Starting 
 back  in  great  alarm,  he  beheld  Pallas  Athena,  his  protectress, 
 who  commanded  him  to  take  out  the  teeth  of  the  dragon, 
 and  to  sow  them  in  the  ground  after  he  should  have 
 ploughed  it  up  : 
 
 "  He  sows  the  teeth  at  Pallas's  command, 
 And  flings  the  future  people  from  his  hand. 
 The  clods  grow  warm,  and  crumble  where  he  sows  ; 
 And  now  the  pointed  spears  advance  in  rows  ; 
 Now  nodding  plumes  appear,  and  shining  crests, 
 Now  the  broad  shoulders  and  the  rising  breasts  ; 
 O'er  all  the  field  the  breathing  harvest  swarms, 
 A  growing  host,  a  crop  of  men  and  arms." 
 
 Then  the  armed  men  who  had  thus  sprung  out  of  the 
 earth  began  to  fight  and  slay  one  another  till  only  five  were 
 left :  these  helped  Kadmos  to  build  the  famous  city  of 
 Thebes. 
 
 Kadmos,  like  Cecrops  in  Attica,  was  regarded  as  the 
 benefactor  of  Boeotia.  He  taught  the  people  agriculture 
 and  the  use  of  iron,  and  introduced  into  their  country  the 
 Phoenician  gods  and  the  letters  of  the  alphabet. 
 
 Of  his  daughters,  only  Ino,  Semele,  the  mother  of  Bacchos, 
 and  Awtonoe  are  known. 
 
 The  tragic  fate  of  Ino  has  already  been  related :  the 
 following  is  the  full  account  given  by  Ovid.     Juno  descends 
 
Kadmos.  2  5 1 
 
 to  the  Underworld  to  bid  the  Furies  punish  Ino  and  her 
 husband  Athamas  for  having  taken  charge  of  the  infant 
 Bacchos : 
 
 "  Down  a  steep  yawning  cave,  where  yews  display'd 
 In  arches  meet,  and  lend  a  baleful  shade, 
 Through  silent  labyrinths  a  passage  lies 
 To  mournful  regions  and  infernal  skies  : 
 Here  Styx  exhales  its  noisome  clouds  :  and  here, 
 The  fun'ral  rites  once  paid,  all  souls  appear. 
 
 The  queen  of  heav'n,  to  gratify  her  hate, 
 
 And  soothe  immortal  wrath,  forgets  her  state. 
 
 Down  from  the  realms  of  day,  to  realms  of  night, 
 
 The  goddess  swift  precipitates  her  flight. 
 
 At  hell  arriv'd,  the  noise  hell's  porter  heard, 
 
 Th'  enormous  dog  his  triple  head  uprear'd  : 
 
 Thrice  from  three  grisly  throats  he  howl'd  profound, 
 
 Then  suppliant  couch'd,  and  stretch'd  along  the  ground. 
 
 Before  a  lofty,  adamantine  gate,  the  Furies  sat ; 
 
 Th'  implacable,  foul  daughters  of  the  Night. 
 A  sounding  whip  each  bloody  sister  shakes, 
 Or  from  her  tresses  combs  the  curling  snakes. 
 But  now,  great  Juno's  majesty  was  known, 
 
 The  hideous  monsters  their  obedience  shew'd 
 And,  rising  from  their  seats,  submissive  bow'd. 
 This  is  the  palace  of  woe  ;  here  groan  the  dead  , 
 
 Poor  Tantalus  to  taste  the  water  tries, 
 
 But  from  his  lips  the  faithless  water  flies  : 
 
 Then  thinks  the  bending  tree  he  can  command, 
 
 The  tree  starts  backwards,  and  eludes  his  hand. 
 
 The  labour  too  of  Sisyphus  is  vain  ; 
 
 Up  the  steep  mount  he  heaves  the  stone  with  pain, 
 
252  Kadmos. 
 
 Down  from  the  summit  rolls  the  stone  again. 
 The  Belides  their  leaky  vessels  still 
 Are  ever  filling,  and  yet  never  fill. 
 
 Stretch'd  on  the  rolling  wheel  Ixion  lies  ; 
 Himself  he  follows,  and  himself  he  flies." 
 
 Juno  then  informed  the  Furies  that  she  had  come  to  ask 
 them  to  cause  Athamas  to  commit  some  horrible  crime,  and 
 thus  bring  destruction  on  the  hated  family  : 
 
 "  Then  fell  Tisiphone  with  rage  was  stung, 
 And  from  her  mouth  th'  untwisted  serpents  flung. 
 
 '  To  gain  this  boon,  there  is  no  need 
 (She  cry'd)  in  formal  speeches  to  proceed. 
 Whatever  thou  command'st  to  do,  is  done  ; 
 Believe  it  finish'd,  though  not  yet  begun.' 
 
 She  spoke  :  The  goddess,  darting  upwards,  flies, 
 And  joyous  re-ascends  her  native  skies  : 
 Nor  enter'd  there,  till  round  her  Iris  threw 
 Ambrosial  sweets,  and  pour'd  celestial  dew. 
 
 The  faithful  fury,  guiltless  of  delays, 
 With  cruel  haste  the  dire  command  obeys. 
 
 To  Thebes  her  flight  she  sped,  and  hell  forsook  : 
 At  her  approach  the  Theban  turrets  shook  ; 
 The  sun  shrunk  back,  thick  clouds  the  day  o'ercast, 
 And  springing  greens  were  wither'd,  as  she  pass'd. 
 
 Now,  dismal  yellings  heard,  strange  spectres  seen, 
 Confound  as  much  the  monarch  as  the  queen. 
 In  vain  to  quit  the  palace  they  prepared ; 
 Tisiphone  was  there,  and  kept  the  ward. 
 
 Then  from  her  middle  locks  two  snakes  she  drew, 
 Whose  merit  from  superior  mischief  grew  : 
 Th'  envenom'd  ruin,  thrown  with  spiteful  care, 
 
Kadmos.  253 
 
 Clung  to  the  bosoms  of  the  hapless  pair  : 
 
 The  hapless  pair  soon  with  wild  thoughts  were  fir'd, 
 
 And  madness,  by  a  thousand  ways  inspir'd. 
 
 Nor  did  th'  unsated  monster  here  give  o'er, 
 But  dealt  of  plagues  afresh,  unnumber'd  store  : 
 Each  baneful  juice  too  well  she  understood  : 
 
 Hot  hemlock,  and  cold  aconite  she  chose 
 
 Whatever  can  untune  th'  harmonious  soul, 
 And  its  mild,  reas'ning  faculties  control ; 
 
 Mix'd  with  curs'd  art,  she  direfully  around 
 Through  all  their  nerves  difms'd  the  sad  compound, 
 Then  toss'd  her  torch  in  circles  still  the  same, 
 Improv'd  their  rage,  and  added  flame  to  flame. 
 The  grinning  Fury  her  own  conquest  spied, 
 And  to  her  rueful  shades  return'd  with  pride, 
 And  threw  th'  exhausted,  useless  snakes  aside." 
 
 Athamas,  mad  with  fury,  called  his  companion  to  the 
 chase,  saying  that  he  had  just  seen  a  lioness  with  two  cubs, 
 failing  to  recognise  his  wife  Ino  with  her  two  children,  so 
 blinded  was  his  reason  : 
 
 "  — Through  his  palace  still  he  chas'd  his  queen, 
 Then  tore  Learchus  from  her  breast :  The  child 
 Stretch'd  little  arms,  and  on  its  father  smii'd  : 
 A  father  now  no  more,  who  now  begun 
 Around  his  head  to  whirl  his  giddy  son, 
 And,  quite  insensible  to  nature's  call, 
 The  helpless  infant  flung  against  the  wall. 
 
 The  same  mad  poison  in  the  mother  wrought, 
 Young  Melicerta  in  her  arms  she  caught, 
 nd  with  disorder'd  tresses,  howling,  flies. 
 
254  Kadmos. 
 
 A  rock  there  stood,  whose  side  the  beating  waves 
 Had  long  consum'd,  and  hollow'd  into  caves  : 
 The  head  shot  forwards  in  a  bending  steep, 
 And  cast  a  dreadful  covert  o'er  the  deep. 
 The  wretched  Ino  on  destruction  bent, 
 Climb'd  up  the  cliff;  such  strength  her  fury  lent : 
 Thence  with  her  guiltless  boy,  who  wept  in  vain, 
 At  one  bold  spring  she  plung'd  into  the  main," 
 Aphrodite,  who  had  witnessed  all,  pitied  her,  and  en- 
 treated   Poseidon    to    receive    the    unfortunate    pair    and 
 transform  them  into  sea-gods.     He  consented,  and  divest- 
 ing their  nature  of  all  that  was  human  endowed  them  with 
 immortality.     Ino  became  the  sea-goddess  Leucothea,  and 
 her  son  Melicertes,  Palaemon. 
 
 Leucothea  was  always  regarded  as  the  protectress  of 
 shipwrecked  mariners.  Odysseus,  for  instance,  experienced 
 her  rescuing  power,  while  on  his  way  from  the  island  of 
 Kalypso,  when  his  ship  was  wrecked,  and  he  himself  was 
 perishing  in  the  waters,  Poseidon  having  caused  a  mighty 
 storm.     Homer,  in  the  Odyssey,  thus  describes  it : 
 
 "  The  rolling  flood, 
 Now  here,  now  there,  impell'd  the  floating  wood. 
 
 And  now  the  south,  and  now  the  north,  bear  sway, 
 
 And  now  the  east  the  foamy  floods  obey, 
 
 And  now  the  west  wind  whirls  it  o'er  the  sea. 
 
 The  wandering  chief  with  toils  on  toils  oppress'd, 
 
 Leucothea  saw,  and  pity  touch'd  her  breast. 
 
 (Herself  a  mortal  once,  of  Cadmus  strain, 
 
 But  now  an  azure  sister  of  the  main.) 
 
 Swift  as  a  sea-mew  springing  from  the  flood, 
 
 All  radiant  on  the  raft  the  goddess  stood  : 
 
 Then  thus  address'd  him  :  "  Thou  whom  heaven  decrees 
 
 To  Neptune's  wrath,  stern  tyrant  of  the  seas  ! 
 
Kadmos.  255 
 
 Strip  off  thy  garments  ;  Neptune's  fury  brave, 
 With  naked  strength,  and  plunge  into  the  wave. 
 
 This  heavenly  scarf  beneath  thy  bosom  bind, 
 
 Soon  as  thy  arms  the  happy  shore  shall  gain, 
 Return  the  gift,  and  cast  it  in  the  main, 
 Observe  my  orders  and  with  heed  obey, 
 Cast  it  far  off,  and  turn  thy  eyes  away." 
 
 Thus  Odysseus,  rescued  by  the  goddess,  reached  in  safety 
 the  island  of  Phaeacia. 
 
 Lykos,  King  of  Thebes,  was  also  a  descendant  of  Kad- 
 mos. Seized  with  a  strong  antipathy  to  his  niece  Antiope, 
 he  cast  her  into  prison,  and  permitted  his  wife  Dirke  to 
 torment  her  cruelly.  At  length  Antiope  succeeded  in 
 escaping  to  Mount  Kithaeron.  Thither  Dirke  followed  her, 
 and  as  the  Bacchanalian  feasts  were  being  celebrated,  she 
 joined  the  throng  and  searched  the  forests  for  Antiope.  At 
 length  some  of  the  Maenades  discovered  the  unhappy 
 victim,  and  brought  her  before  Zethos  and  Amphion,  sons 
 of  Zeus  and  Antiope. 
 
 These  youths  were  ignorant  of  their  parentage,  having 
 been,  while  yet  babes,  left  by  their  mother  on  Mount 
 Kithaeron,  where  they  were  found  by  a  shepherd.  One  of 
 the  gods,  whether  Zeus,  Apollo,  or  Hermes  is  not  known, 
 gave  Amphion  a  lyre  and  taught  him  to  play  it.  Soon  he 
 gained  like  Orpheus  such  marvellous  skill  in  this  art  that  the 
 wild  beasts  followed  him,  and  the  trees  bent  down  to  listen 
 to  the  enchanting  tones  he  drew  forth. 
 
 When  the  captive  Antiope  stood  before  Amphion  and 
 his  brother,  neither  recognising  the  other,  Zethos  was  about 
 to  deliver  her  up  to  Dirke,  but  Antiope  related  her  history, 
 which  was  confirmed  by  the  shepherd ;  and  Zethus  and 
 
256  Danaos. 
 
 Amphion  recognising  their  long-lost  mother,  vowed  ven- 
 geance against  Dirke.  Collecting  a  band  of  their  friends 
 and  companions,  they  marched  on  Thebes,  and,  having  slain 
 Lykos,  Amphion  became  king;  while  the  cruel  Dirke  was 
 dragged  to  death  by  being  fastened  by  her  hair  to  a  wild 
 bull.  A  beautiful  marble  group  depicting  her  fate  is  pre- 
 served at  Naples,  and  known  by  the  name  of  the  "  Farnesian 
 Bull." 
 
 IV.— DANAOS. 
 
 Danaos,  the  third  settler  in  Greece,  was  a  son  of  the 
 Egyptian  Belos,  After  a  quarrel  with  his  brother  Aegyptos, 
 he  determined  to  leave  his  country ;  and  having  built  a  ship 
 by  the  advice  of  Athene,  he  set  sail  for  Greece  and  landed 
 at  Argos  in  the  Peloponnesus. 
 
 Gelanor,  at  that  time  King  of  Argos,  received  him  kindly, 
 but  Danaos  rewarded  his  hospitality  by  driving  him  from 
 his  kingdom  and  usurping  his  throne.  Aegyptos  then 
 effected  a  reconciliation  with  his  brother,  and,  to  form  a 
 bond  between  them,  Danaos  married  his  fifty  daughters  to 
 the  fifty  sons  of  Aegyptos. 
 
 But  Danaos  could  not  forget  his  old  disagreement  with 
 his  brother ;  and,  moreover,  an  oracle  had  predicted  that  he 
 would  die  by  the  hand  of  one  of  his  sons-in-law.  He  there- 
 fore commanded  all  his  daughters  to  kill  their  husbands  in 
 one  night. 
 
 They  all  obeyed  him  except  the  youngest,  Hypermnestra, 
 who,  dearly  loving  her  husband  Lynkeus,  acquainted  him 
 with  her  father's  orders,  and  fled  with  him  in  the  darkness 
 of  the  night.  Having  placed  him  in  safety  she  returned  to 
 Danaos,  who,  in  his  rage  against  her,  threw  her  into  prison. 
 
Pelops. — Perseus.  257 
 
 But  all  the  inhabitants  of  Argos  begged  for  her  deliverance, 
 and  at  length  his  anger  was  appeased,  and  he  released  her. 
 He  also  pardoned  Lynkeus,  who  afterwards  became  his 
 successor. 
 
 The  forty -nine  sisters  of  Hypermnestra,  called  the 
 Danaides,  were  condemned  in  the  Underworld,  as  a  punish- 
 ment for  their  unnatural  crime,  to  fill  with  water  a  bottom- 
 less vessel  by  means  of  bottomless  cans.  Unceasingly  they 
 labour  on,  but  in  vain — their  task  is  unending. 
 
 V.— PELOPS. 
 
 Pelops,  son  of  Tantalos,  King  of  Phrygia,  was  the  fourth 
 foreigner  who  established  himself  in  Greece.  Landing  at 
 Elis,  on  the  west  coast  of  the  Peloponnesus,  he  was  welcomed 
 with  great  hospitality  by  King  Oenomaos,  who  challenged 
 him  to  a  chariot  race,  promising  to  give  him  his  daughter 
 Hippodamia  in  marriage,  should  he  be  successful. 
 
 Pelops,  to  secure  the  victory  to  himself,  bribed  the 
 charioteer  of  Oenomaus,  and  thus  arrived  first  at  the  goal. 
 He  married  Hippodamia,  and  succeeded  to  the  throne  of 
 Elis  on  the  death  of  his  father-in-law. 
 
 The  deadly  quarrel  of  the  sons  of  Pelops— Atreus  and 
 Thyestes — we  shall  relate  further  on. 
 
 VI.— PERSEUS. 
 
 Acrisios,  King  of  Argos,  a  descendant  of  Lynkeus,  had 
 been  warned  by  an  oracle  that  he  would  die  by  the  hand  of 
 his  grandson.  "Never  shall  that  come  to  pass,"  he  cried, 
 "  for  my  daughter  Danae  shall  never  marry ; "  and  he  caused 
 
 R 
 
258  Perseus. 
 
 her  to  be  imprisoned  in  a  dungeon.  But  the  power  of 
 Zeus  was  greater  than  that  of  Acrisios,  and  Danae  became 
 the  wife  of  mighty  Jove,  and  the  mother  of  Perseus.  Then 
 her  enraged  father,  in  great  fear  for  the  fulfilment  of  the 
 prediction,  determined  that  his  daughter  and  her  child 
 should  die.  And  Danae  was  led  to  the  sea-shore— she  and 
 her  child  placed  in  a  large  wooden  chest — and  thus  thrown 
 to  the  mercy  of  the  waves.  But  the  kind  Nereides  would 
 not  leave  them  to  perish ;  they  bore  the  chest  gently  over 
 the  heaving  sea  to  the  island  of  Seriphos,  where  she  was 
 welcomed  by  King  Polydektes. 
 
 When  Perseus  grew  up  to  manhood,  Polydektes,  fearing 
 his  bold  and  daring  spirit,  encouraged  him  to  go  in  search 
 of  adventures.  First  Perseus  determined  to  kill  the  Gorgon 
 Medusa,  and  in  this  the  young  hero  received  the  aid  of  the 
 gods  themselves.  Pluto  bestowed  on  him  a  bright  helmet, 
 which  rendered  him  invisible  while  he  wore  it ;  Hermes 
 gave  him  winged  sandals  to  enable  him  to  pass  through  the 
 air  swifter  than  the  flight  of  an  eagle.  From  Hephaestos  he 
 received  a  diamond  sickle,  from  Pallas  a  shield  of  such 
 brilliantly  polished  steel,  that  everything  was  reflected  in  it 
 as  in  a  looking  glass. 
 
 Thus  armed,  Perseus  went  forth  on  his  way  to  the  land 
 of  the  Gorgons.  And  first  he  came  to  the  country  of  the 
 Graese,  just  at  the  time  when  the  monsters  were  exchanging 
 the  one  eye  which  they  had  in  common,  and  thus  they  were 
 unable  to  see  him.  Quickly  stretching  forth  his  hand  he 
 wrenched  the  eye  from  them,  and  then  hastened  onwards. 
 And  now  at  length  he  reached  the  dread  abode  of  the 
 Gorgons.  Again  fortune  favoured  Perseus,  for  the  fearful 
 sisters  and  the  snakes  which  twined  round  their  heads  lay 
 asleep  in  their  lonesome  dwelling.  All  around  he  beheld 
 the  men  and  animals  that  had  been  turned  into  stone  at 
 
Per  setts.  259 
 
 sight  of  the  head  of  Medusa.  Uplifting  the  shield  given 
 him  by  Minerva,  in  order  that  the  fearful  face  might  be 
 mirrored  in  it,  and  that  thus  he  might  protect  himself  from 
 its  deadly  effect,  he  severed  the  head  from  the  body  with 
 one  blow  of  the  diamond  sickle. 
 
 Casting  a  veil  over  the  dead  face,  to  hide  it  from  his 
 eyes,  Perseus  placed  it  in  a  bag,  and  bore  it  from  the  cave. 
 But  now  the  awakened  Gorgons  rushed  after  him  with  loud 
 cries ;  terrible  was  their  anger  that  the  doom  of  Medusa 
 had  been  accomplished,  and  the  snakes  around  their  heads 
 hissed  forth  deadly  venom.  Only  by  means  of  the  winged 
 sandals  which  bore  him  through  the  air,  and  the  magic 
 helmet  which  hid  him  from  their  sight,  did  Perseus  escape 
 from  their  fury. 
 
 On  his  return  he  came  to  the  giant  Atlas,  son  of  Japetus, 
 one  of  the  Titans,  who  dwelt  in  a  splendid  palace  near 
 which  pastured  thousands  of  flocks  and  herds,  while  behind 
 the  palace,  in  a  lovely  garden,  grew  golden  apples  which 
 were  guarded  by  a  dragon.  Perseus  begged  for  a  night's 
 lodging  from  the  giant,  but  Atlas,  fearful  that  he  might  be 
 robbed  of  his  golden  fruit,  bid  him  angrily  "  Begone," 
 and  drove  him  roughly  from  the  door.  Then  Perseus, 
 averting  his  face,  grasped  the  head  of  Medusa,  and  held  it 
 before  the  eyes  of  Atlas.  Immediately  the  giant  was  trans 
 formed  into  a  range  of  mountains;  his  hair  and  beard 
 became  forests,  his  arms  stretched  out  into  rents  and  clefts, 
 while  his  head  formed  the  highest  peak  of  the  chain.  And 
 as,  when  he  was  a  giant,  he  supported  the  heavens  on  his 
 shoulders,  so  now  the  sky  and  clouds  rest  on  his  crest. 
 
 Onward  again  sped  Perseus,  his  winged  sandals  carrying 
 him  through  the  air  like  a  dream,  until  he  reached  the 
 shores  of  a  dark  sea,  where,  chained  to  a  huge  rock,  which 
 rose  out  of  the  heeaing  waters,  the  hero  beheld  a  maiden 
 
2  6o  Perseus. 
 
 of  surpassing  beauty.  It  was  Andromeda,  daughter  of 
 Kepheus,  King  of  Ethiopia.  Cassiopea,  her  mother,  had 
 once  boasted  of  her  child's  great  beauty,  and  proudly  said 
 that,  among  all  the  Nereids,  none  was  so  fair  as  she.  In 
 revenge  the  sea-nymphs  had  prevailed  on  Poseidon  to  send 
 a  flood  over  the  land,  and  out  of  the  waters  rose  a  mighty 
 monster,  who  spread  devastation  and  destruction  far  and 
 wide.  In  fear  and  terror  the  oracle  was  consulted,  and  the 
 answer  came  that  Andromeda  must  be  chained  to  a  rock, 
 and  be  devoured  by  the  huge  reptile. 
 
 Thus  was  the  maiden  awaiting  her  cruel  fate,  amidst  the 
 rising  waters  that  furiously  lashed  the   rocks.      Even  as 
 Perseus  reached  her,  the  roar  of  the  monster  was  heard  : 
 "  Aloud  the  virgin  cries  ; 
 
 Each  parent  to  her  shrieks,  in  shrieks  replies  ; 
 
 But  she  had  deepest  cause  to  rend  the  skies. 
 
 Weeping  to  her  they  cling  ;  no  sign  appears 
 
 Of  help,  they  only  lend  their  helpless  tears." 
 
 "Weep  not,  Maiden,"  said  Perseus,  "  the  time  is  short,  and 
 only  swift  aid  can  help  thee,"  and  he  promised  to  rescue 
 Andromeda,  if  her  parents  would  grant  her  to  him  in 
 marriage  as  a  reward.  Gladly  they  consented,  and  Perseus 
 went  forth  to  meet  the  beast : 
 
 "  As  well-rigg'd  valleys,  which  slaves,  sweating,  row, 
 With  their  sharp  beaks  the  whiten'd  ocean  plow  : 
 So  when  the  monster  mov'd,  still  at  his  back 
 The  furrow'd  waters  left  a  foamy  track. 
 Now  to  the  rock  he  was  advanc'd  so  nigh, 
 Whirl'd  from  a  sling  a  stone  the  space  would  fly. 
 Then  bounding,  upwards  the  brave  Perseus  sprung, 
 And  in  mid  air  on  hov'ring  pinions  hung. 
 His  shadow  quickly  floated  on  the  main, 
 The  monster  could  not  his  wild  rage  restrain, 
 But  at  the  floating  shadow  leap'd  in  vain." 
 
Perseus.  261 
 
 Perseus  did  not  leave  him  time  to  discover  his  mistake  ; 
 
 swiftly  descending,  he  drove  the  crooked  sword  into  the 
 
 monster's  back,  who 
 
 "  Impatient  of  the  pain 
 First  bounded  high,  and  then  sunk  low  again. 
 Now,  like  a  savage  boar,  when  chaf'd  with  wounds, 
 And  bay'd  with  op'ning  mouths  of  hungry  hounds, 
 He  on  the  foe  turns  with  collected  might, 
 Who  still  eludes  him  with  an  airy  flight. 
 And  wheeling  round,  the  scaly  armour  tries 
 Of  his  thick  sides  :  his  thinner  tail  now  plies  : 
 Till,  from  repeated  strokes,  out  gush'd  a  flood, 
 And  the  waves  redden'd  with  the  streaming  blood. 
 At  last,  the  dropping  wings,  befoam'd  all  o'er, 
 With  flaggy  heaviness  their  master  bore." 
 
 Then,  the  brave  Perseus,  standing  on  a  rock  that  rose 
 above  the  waters,  thrust  the  sword  once,  twice,  thrice  into 
 the  side  of  the  dying  beast,  till  he  sank  beneath  the  waves 
 of  the  green  sea. 
 
 Loud  rang  the  shouts  of  joy  and  gladness  from  the  shore, 
 and  Kepheus  and  Kassiopea  fulfilled  their  promise  that  the 
 rescued  maiden  should  become  the  wife  of  the  great  hero. 
 But  before  he  left  the  shore,  Perseus  stooped  to  wash  the 
 blood  from  his  hands,  and  he  laid  the  head  of  Medusa  on 
 some  reeds  close  by.  Immediately  the  rushes  were  turned 
 to  stone : 
 
 "  Fresh,  juicy  twigs,  surpris'd,  the  Nereids  brought, 
 Fresh,  juicy  twigs  the  same  contagion  caught. 
 The  nymphs  the  petrifying  seeds  still  keep, 
 And  propagate  the  wonder  through  the  deep. 
 The  pliant  sprays  of  coral  yet  declare 
 Their  stiff'ning  nature,  when  expos'd  to  air. 
 Those  sprays,  which  did,  like  bending  osiers,  move, 
 Snatch'd  from  their  element,  obdurate  prove, 
 And  shrubs  beneath  the  waves,  grow  stones  above." 
 
262  Perseus. 
 
 Now,  with  gladness  of  heart,  Perseus  led  Andromeda  to 
 the  palace  of  her  father,  and  great  preparations  were  made 
 for  the  marriage-feast  of  the  hero  and  his  bride.  All  the 
 chambers  shone  with  silver  and  gold,  and  were  decorated 
 with  flowers ;  from  the  hearth  rose  the  odour  of  savoury 
 preparations ;  all  the  neighbouring  princes  came  to  celebrate 
 the  marriage,  and  mirth  and  festivity  reigned  throughout. 
 
 While  all  seated  at  the  banquet  were  listening  to  the 
 story  which  Perseus  was  relating  of  his  adventures  since  he 
 left  Seriphos,  a  loud  noise  was  suddenly  heard,  and  Phineus, 
 brother  of  Kepheus  strode  into  the  palace  surrounded  by 
 armed  followers.  Fierce  was  the  anger  in  his  heart,  for  his 
 promised  bride  Andromeda  had  been  given  to  the  stranger 
 Perseus.  He  had  come  to  avenge  himself  for  the  injury, 
 and  strife  and  angry  words  arose  between  the  two  parties. 
 Perseus  struck  down  one  of  his  foes  with  a  lance,  disarmed 
 another  with  his  sword,  killed  a  third  with  a  fire-brand,  and 
 a  fourth  with  a  stamp  of  his  foot ;  but  those  on  his  side 
 were  rapidly  falling,  and  he  began  to  see  that  he  must  in 
 the  end  yield  to  force  of  numbers. 
 
 Then  placing  himself  with  his  back  against  a  pillar,  he 
 cried  above  the  din  of  the  combat,  "Turn  aside  all  ye  who 
 fight  on  my  side  ! "  and  unveiled  the  Gorgon's  head.  There, 
 as  they  stood  with  wrathful  faces,  and  hands  outstretched 
 to  strike,  his  foes  were  turned  to  stone.  Phineus,  with 
 averted  face,  begged  for  mercy  : 
 
 "  Hence  with  the  head,  as  far  as  winds  and  seas 
 Can  bear  thee  ;  Hence  ;  O  quit  the  Cephen  shore, 
 And  never  curse  us  with  Medusa  more  ; 
 
 I  warr'd  not  with  thee  out  of  hate  or  strife, 
 My  honest  cause  was  to  defend  my  wife, 
 First  pledged  to  me. 
 
Perseus.  263 
 
 Mine  was  the  title,  but  the  merit  thine. 
 
 'Twas  thine  to  conquer  by  Minerva's  power  ; 
 Favour'd  of  heaven,  thy  mercy  I  implore  ; 
 For  life  I  sue  ;  the  rest  to  thee  I  yield." 
 
 But  Perseus  sternly  answered  :  "Iron  shall  not  harm  thee, 
 nevertheless  thou  art  doomed,"  and  as  he  spoke  he  turned 
 the  fatal  head  till  its  face  looked  upon  his  enemy,  and 
 Phineus,  too,  became  a  figure  of  stone. 
 
 And  now  once  more  the  son  of  Danae  set  forth  to  return 
 to  his  mother,  bearing  with  him  his  young  wife,  and  at 
 length  they  reached  the  isle  of  Seriphos.  Polydectes  had 
 treated  Danae  most  cruelly  during  the  absence  of  her  son, 
 and  now  received  Perseus  coldly,  and  refused  to  believe  in 
 his  adventures,  affirming  that  the  slaying  of  Medusa  was  a 
 mere  fable.  Then  Perseus  in  anger  exclaimed  :  "  Thou, 
 thyself,  shall  prove  its  truth,"  and  bidding  all  save  Poly- 
 dectes turn  away  their  eyes,  he  raised  the  ghastly  head,  and 
 the  king  was  turned  to  stone.  Thus  did  Perseus  avenge 
 the  wrongs  of  his  mother. 
 
 The  head  of  the  Gorgon  he  presented  to  Pallas,  who 
 placed  it  upon  her  shield. 
 
 Then  the  hero  set  sail  for  Argos,  and  on  his  arrival  was 
 welcomed  by  his  grandfather  Acrisius,  who  by  this  time  had 
 forgotten  the  prediction  of  the  oracle.  But  the  decrees  of 
 fate  are  unalterable.  One  day  as  Acrisius  and  Perseus  were 
 hurling  the  quoit  in  a  field  near  Argos,  guided  by  an  unseen 
 power  the  missile  of  Perseus  struck  his  grandfather  on  the 
 forehead,  and  the  old  man  fell  lifeless  to  the  ground. 
 Bitterly  did  Perseus  grieve  for  the  deed  which  he  had 
 unwittingly  done.  The  death  of  Acrisius  made  him  King 
 of  Argos,  but  he  could  not  live  in  a  spot  which  had  so 
 sorrowful  recollections  for  him.     He  resigned  the  crown  to 
 
264  Herakles  or  Hercules. 
 
 his  kinsman  Megapenthes,  and  in  exchange  received  from 
 him  the  kingdom  of  Tiryns.  Here  he  built  the  city  of 
 Mykenae,  where  he  principally  resided,  and  which  he 
 bequeathed  to  his  son  Sthenelos,  while  the  kingdom  of 
 Tiryns  descended  to  his  other  son  Alcaeos.  After  his 
 death  Perseus  was  worshipped  as  a  hero,  and  a  temple  was 
 dedicated  to  him. 
 
 VII.— HERAKLES   OR   HERCULES. 
 
 Amphitryon,  son  of  Alcaeos,  King  of  Tiryns,  and  there- 
 fore a  grandson  of  Perseus,  married  the  beautiful  Alkmene, 
 unaware  that  Zeus,  who  frequently  interfered  in  the  affairs 
 of  mortals,  had  already  chosen  Alkmene  as  his  wife.  So  it 
 was  that  her  son  Herakles  was  also  the  son  of  Zeus. 
 
 On  the  day  on  which  Herakles  was  born,  Zeus  came  to 
 the  assembled  gods,  and  with  joy  and  pride  announced, 
 "  This  day  shall  be  born  a  child  who  shall  be  lord  of  his 
 race,  and  mightiest  of  the  sons  of  men."  It  was  the  evil 
 counsel  of  Ate  which  had  led  Zeus  to  make  this  boast; 
 and  Hera,  discerning  that  the  child  must  be  the  son  of 
 Zeus  and  Alkmene,  determined  to  revenge  herself.  She 
 entreated  Zeus  to  confirm  his  declaration  with  the  solemn 
 oath  of  the  gods.  This  he  did,  and  she  hastened  to  Argos, 
 and  brought  it  about  that  Eurystheus,  also  of  the  race  of 
 Perseus,  and  afterwards  King  of  Mykenae,  should  be  born 
 before  Herakles.  The  oath  of  Zeus  could  not  be  altered, 
 and  thus  Eurystheus,  not  Herakles,  became  lord  of  his  race, 
 and  the  son  of  Alkmene  was  bound  all  his  life  to  serve  a 
 weak  and  crafty  master. 
 
 Even  while  yet  a  babe,  the  marvellous  strength  of 
 Herakles  displayed  itself;  for  as  he  lay  one  day  sleeping  in 
 
Herakles  or  Hercules.  265 
 
 his  cradle,  two  large  snakes  sent  by  Hera  came  and  coiled 
 themselves  about  it,  then  Herakles  fearlessly  stretched  forth 
 his  hands  and  crushed  them  to  death  in  his  strong  grasp. 
 As  he  grew  older,  men  marvelled  more  and  more  at  his 
 great  strength,  and  he  had  noble  teachers  who  instructed 
 him  in  all  that  was  good  and  wise  :  the  clever  Linus  taught 
 him  to  play  the  lyre  ;  the  Centaur  Chiron  was  his  friend, 
 and  his  instructor  in  the  use  of  medicinal  herbs,  while  other 
 Centaurs  taught  him  dexterity  in  wielding  arms. 
 
 One  day,  while  tending  Amphitryon's  flocks  on  Mount 
 Kithaeron,  thinking  of  his  future  and  of  the  toils  that  lay 
 before  him,  he  came  to  a  spot  whence  two  paths  diverged, 
 and  raising  his  eyes,  saw,  advancing  towards  him,  two 
 women  of  superhuman  beauty.  The  one,  crowned  with 
 flowers  and  clothed  in  a  brilliant  red  garment,  danced  gaily 
 up  to  him,  and  entreated  him  to  follow  her  along  the  flowery 
 path  on  the  left  hand.  Here  she  promised  him  innumer- 
 able pleasures,  to  gain  which  neither  trouble  nor  toil  were 
 required. 
 
 Grasping  her  hand  he  was  on  the  point  of  yielding  to 
 her  persuasions,  when  her  companion,  a  tall  woman  jof 
 noble  bearing  and  kind  and  gentle  face,  arrayed  in  pure 
 white,  spoke  to  him  :  "  Beware,  Herakles  !  follow  not  the 
 daughter  of  Pleasure.  True,  her  path  at  the  commence- 
 ment is  gay  with  flowers,  but  soon  it  terminates  in  a  terrible 
 morass,  from  whence  thou  couldst  never  extricate  thyself, 
 and  thine  end  would  be  everlasting  destruction.  Seek  my 
 path  which  lies  to  the  right.  At  first  it  is  narrow,  steep, 
 and  thorny,  and  there  are  many  obstacles  in  it  which  thou 
 must  overcome,  but  nothing  great  is  ever  reached  without 
 labour ;  and  as  thou  advancest  farther  along  it,  it  will 
 become  beautiful  to  thine  eyes,  at  every  step  fair  scenes  will 
 greet  thee.     Love  me,  and  obey  my  behests,  then  at  last 
 
266  Herakles  or  Hercules. 
 
 thou  wilt  reach  the  home  of  the  undying  gods,  where,  after 
 all  thy  toils,  a  noble  reward  awaits  thee." 
 
 "Who  art  thou,  wondrous  being?"  asked  Herakles. 
 And  the  maiden  answered,  "lam  Virtue,  my  companion 
 is  Vice,  who  knows  not  the  pleasures  of  toil."     Bowing  his 
 head,  Herakles  swore  to  follow  the  path  of  Virtue,  which 
 brings  to  those  who  choose  it  renown  and  immortality. 
 
 Soon  now  were  the  great  toils  of  the  hero  to  begin,  with 
 strength  and  courage  he  must  do  good  deeds  for  the  sons  of 
 men.  First  he  slew  an  enormous  lion  on  Mount  Kithaeron; 
 then  he  aided  Kreon,  King  of  Thebes,  in  a  conflict  with  a 
 neighbouring  prince,  and  received  from  him  for  this  service 
 his  daughter  Megara  in  marriage,  by  whom  he  had  eight 
 children.  But  the  restless  hatred  of  Hera  ever  pursued 
 him,  and  one  day  she  caused  him  to  slay  his  wife  and 
 children  in  a  fit  of  passion.  Bitter  repentance  followed  the 
 deed,  and  he  enquired  of  the  oracle  how  he  could  restore 
 peace  to  his  conscience.  "Go  to  Eurystheus,"  was  the 
 answer,  "  and  perform  the  twelve  labours  which  he  will 
 assign  to  thee." 
 
 So  Herakles  went  forth  to  do  the  will  of  Eurystheus,  and 
 to  toil  in  many  lands. 
 
 These  are  the  labours  of  the  great  hero  : 
 
 (i.)  Killing  the  Nemean  lion. 
 
 In  a  rocky  cave  near  the  town  of  Nemea  in  the  Pelo- 
 ponnesus lived  a  lion,  a  descendant  of  Orthrus  and 
 Echidna.  His  strength  was  enormous,  his  ferocity  terrible ; 
 no  weapon  could  penetrate  through  his  skin  ;  and  as  he 
 devastated  the  country  far  and  wide,  Eurystheus  commanded 
 Herakles  to  destroy  him.  Blocking  up  one  entrance  to  the 
 cave,  the  hero  entered  by  the  other,  grasped  the  monster 
 with  both  hands,  and  by  an  effort  of  superhuman  strength 
 strangled  him.     Stripping  off  the  skin  of  the  huge  animal, 
 
Herakles  or  Hercules.  267 
 
 Herakles  then  threw  it  round  his  shoulders  as  a  mantle,  and 
 returned  to  Mykenae. 
 
 (2.)  Death  of  the  Lernean  Hydra. 
 
 This  enormous  serpent  was  a  descendant  of  Typhon  and 
 Echidna,  and  inhabited  the  swamps  of  Lernae.  It  had 
 nine,  or,  according  to  some  accounts,  fifty  heads,  the  centre 
 one  of  which  could  neither  be  cut  off  nor  destroyed.  It 
 was  against  this  terrible  monster  that  Herakles  was  sent 
 forth.  Rousing  it  from  its  lair,  he  seized  it  with  his  strong 
 hands,  and  began  to  cut  off  one  head  after  the  other ;  but 
 from  every  stump  immediately  there  sprang  two  fresh  heads. 
 Hera,  too,  to  add  to  the  difficulty  of  his  task,  sent  a  gigantic 
 crab,  which  bit  his  feet,  but  was  at  length  killed  by  a  blow 
 from  his  club.  Then  Herakles  called  to  his  assistance  his 
 sword-bearer,  Iolaos,  and  made  him  set  fire  to  a  forest,  and 
 pass  a  burning  brand  over  each  stump,  as  soon  as  the  hero 
 himself  had  severed  the  head  from  it.  Thus  he  prevented 
 the  growth  of  fresh  heads,  and  at  last  there  only  remained 
 the  imperishable  centre  one,  which  he  buried  in  a  deep 
 pit,  rolling  upon  it  a  huge  piece  of  rock.  Before  leaving 
 the  spot  Herakles  dipped  his  arrows  in  the  poisonous  blood 
 of  the  monster  serpent. 
 
 (3.)  Capture  of  the  Erymanthian  Boar. 
 
 On  Mount  Erymanthus  in  Arcadia  roamed  a  savage  boar, 
 whose  ferocious  aspect  struck  terror  to  the  hearts  of  all  who 
 beheld  him.  Long  did  Herakles  seek  in  vain  to  capture 
 him,  but  at  last  he  succeeded  in  so  completely  tiring  that 
 animal,  by  driving  him  through  heavy  snow  drifts,  that  he 
 was  easily  overtaken.  Then  putting  forth  his  mighty 
 strength  he  threw  the  boar  across  his  shoulders,  and  carried 
 him  alive  to  Eurystheus. 
 
 (4.)  Hunting  the  sacred  hind. 
 
 This  hind  was  consecrated  to  Artemis,  and  had  horns  of 
 
2  68  Herakles  or  Hercules. 
 
 gold  and  feet  of  brass.     So  swift  was  she  that  neither  man 
 nor   beast   could   overtake   her.      For   a   whole   year   did 
 Herakles    hunt    her,    on    foot,    among   the   mountains    of 
 Maenalos  in  Arcadia  ;  at  length  he  succeeded  in  coming 
 sufficiently  near  to  wound  her  in  the  foot.     Thus  lamed 
 he  took  her  alive,  and  brought  her  alive  to  Eurystheus. 
 (5.)  Destruction  of  the  Stymphalides. 
 These  terrible  birds  infested  the  swampy  shores  of  Lake 
 Stymphalos.      They  had  brazen  wings,  beaks,    and  claws, 
 and  their  iron  feathers  shot  forth  like  arrows,  and  mortally 
 wounded  whoever  they  touched.     Herakles   roused  them 
 from  their  nests,  by  rattling  a  brazen  clapper  given  him  by 
 Athene,  and  as  they  lazily  rose  into  the  air  he  shot  one 
 after  another  with  his  poisoned  arrows. 
 (6.)  Cleansing  of  the  Augean  stables. 
 This  was  a  strange  task.     Augeas,  King  of  Elis  in  the 
 Peloponnesus,  although  possessing  more  than  thirty  thousand 
 oxen,  had  never  had  his  stables  cleansed  for  thirty  years. 
 Having  heard  of  the  wonderful  strength  and  mighty  deeds 
 of  Herakles,  Augeas  begged  him  to  come  and  perform  for 
 him  this  task,  at  the  same  time  promising  him  a  reward  for 
 his   labour.       Eurystheus    allowed  him    to    accede  to    the 
 request  of  the  King  of  Elis,  stipulating  only  that  he  should 
 accomplish   the   work   in   one   day.     Then    Herakles,    by 
 cutting  a  canal,  turned  the  waters  of  the  neighbouring  river 
 Alpheos  into  the  stables,  and  so  cleansed  them  speedily. 
 But  when  he  claimed  from  the  king  his  promised  reward, 
 the  latter  refused  to  grant  it,  alleging  that  Herakles  had 
 not  executed  the  task  unassisted,  which  refusal  so  enraged 
 the  hero  that  he  slew  Augeas. 
 (7.)  Capture  of  the  Cretan  bull. 
 Poseidon,  to  punish  the  inhabitants  of  Crete  for  omitting  to 
 
Herakles  or  Herades.  269 
 
 perform  a  certain  vow,  sent  to  their  island  a  fierce  bull, 
 which  spouted  fire  from  its  nostrils,  and  committed  great 
 havoc.  Herakles,  in  obedience  to  the  commands  of 
 Eurystheus,  captured  it  and  brought  it  alive  to  Mykenae. 
 
 (8.)  Carrying  off  the  steeds  of  Diomedes. 
 
 This  was  a  dangerous  feat,  for  the  horses  of  Diomedes, 
 King  of  Thrace,  fed  on  human  flesh,  and  were  ferocious 
 animals,  their  mouths  emitting  smoke  and  flame.  Every 
 stranger  who  landed  was  given  to  them  to  devour.  But 
 Herakles  killed  Diomedes,  and  then  cast  his  body  before 
 the  steeds.  They  became  tame  after  eating  the  flesh,  and 
 thus  he  succeeded  in  bringing  them  to  Eurystheus. 
 
 (9.)  Seizure  of  the  belt  of  Hippolyte. 
 
 Hippolyte,  queen  of  the  Amazons  or  women-warriors, 
 possessed  a  belt  of  wondrous  beauty,  which  Herakles  was 
 directed  to  obtain  possession  of,  even  using  force  if  neces- 
 sary. She,  however,  willingly  relinquished  it  to  him,  for  the 
 mighty  hero  had  found  favour  in  the  sight  of  the  brave 
 queen,  and  on  his  departure  she  accompanied  him  to  the 
 shore,  near  which  lay  his  vessel.  But  Hera,  assuming  the 
 form  of  an  Amazon,  persuaded  the  subjects  of  Hippolyte 
 that  the  stranger  intended  to  carry  off  their  queen,  and 
 mounting  their  horses  they  rushed  to  rescue  her.  Herakles, 
 believing  this  to  be  an  act  of  treachery  on  the  part  of 
 Hippolyte,  slew  her,  and  putting  to  flight  the  rest  of  the 
 Amazons,  carried  off  the  girdle. 
 
 (10.)  Capture  of  the  herds  of  Geryones. 
 
 Far  away  in  sunny  Spain  pastured  the  beautiful  purple 
 oxen  of  the  three-headed  giant  Geryones,  son  of  Chrysaor. 
 Herakles,  sent  by  Eurystheus  to  secure  them,  first  slew 
 Eurytion,  the  herdsman  who  guarded  them,  and  his  dog 
 Orthrus,  and  then  was  in  the  act  of  leading  away  the  oxen 
 when  Geryones  himself,  aided  by  Hera,  fell  upon  him.     A 
 
2  70  Herakles  or  Hercules. 
 
 fierce  combat  ensued,  in  which  Herakles  succeeded  in  slaying 
 the  giant.  Then,  taking  with  him  the  herds,  the  hero  com- 
 menced his  return  journey  to  Greece.  Passing  through 
 Italy  he  arrived  at  Rome,  where  he  lay  down  to  rest,  and 
 slept.  He  awoke  to  find  several  of  his  oxen  missing,  and  in 
 no  way  could  he  account  for  their  disappearance,  for  although 
 he  discovered  their  footprints,  they  led  out  of  a  cavern  hard 
 by,  not  into  it.  He  was  about  to  give  up  the  search  in  de- 
 spair when  he  heard  the  loud  bellowing  of  the  animals  inside 
 the  cave.  A  gigantic  flame-breathing  robber,  named  Cacus, 
 had  stolen  them,  and  to  conceal  the  theft  he  had  dragged 
 them  in  backwards  by  their  tails.  Herakles  endeavoured  to 
 force  his  way  into  the  cave,  but  an  enormous  piece  of  rock, 
 too  heavy  for  ten  pairs  of  oxen  to  move,  blocked  the 
 entrance.  So  he  determined  to  break  in  the  roof,  but 
 Cacus  drove  him  back  by  sending  forth  clouds  of  smoke  and 
 flame.  Herakles  was,  however,  still  undaunted ;  again  he 
 descended  into  the  dark  cavern,  and  in  the  end,  after  a 
 furious  encounter  with  Cacus,  succeeded  in  killing  him  with 
 his  club. 
 
 Now  Herakles  brought  the  oxen  in  safety  to  Mykenae, 
 and  he  thought  surely  his  labours  must  be  at  an  end.  But 
 Eurystheus  declared  that  having  been  assisted  in  killing  the 
 Hydra  and  in  cleansing  the  Augean  stables,  he  must  yet  go 
 forth  again  to  perform  two  other  tasks,  and  they  were  to  be 
 more  difficult  still  than  those  he  had  already  done. 
 
 (n.)  Fetching  the  golden  apples  from  the  garden  of  the 
 Hesperides. 
 
 These  apples  had  been  intrusted  to  the  daughter  of  Atlas, 
 who  kept  them,  guarded  by  a  fierce  dragon,  in  a  beautiful 
 garden  in  the  land  of  the  setting  sun.  Knowing  not  where 
 to  seek  the  apples,  Herakles  sought  information  from  the 
 sea-god  Nereus  ;  but  he,  unwilling  to  disclose  the  way  to  the 
 
Herakles  or  Hercules.  2  7 1 
 
 garden,  tried  by  assuming  various  forms  to  evade  answering 
 the  questions  addressed  to  him.  At  last  Herakles  finding 
 him  asleep,  seized  him  and  forced  him  to  point  out  the  road. 
 Then  the  hero  journeyed  on  to  the  giant  Atlas,  who  had  not 
 yet  been  changed  into  a  mountain.  When  Herakles  asked 
 him  how  the  apples  of  the  Hesperides  could  be  obtained, 
 he  undertook  himself  to  procure  the  golden  fruit  from  his 
 daughters  if  Herakles  would  support  the  heavens  for  him 
 during  his  absence.  Herakles  agreed,  and  Atlas  presently 
 returned  with  the  apples  ;  he  refused  however  to  relieve 
 Herakles  of  his  burden.  Then  said  Herakles,  "Listen,  I 
 am  willing  to  bear  the  load  if  thou  wilt  take  the  apples  to 
 Eurystheus  ;  but  first  must  I  put  a  pad  upon  my  shoulders, 
 do  thou  support  the  weight  until  I  seek  one."  The  giant 
 complied,  but  no  sooner  had  he  resumed  the  burden  than 
 Herakles  secured  the  apples  and  hastened  away. 
 
 Other  poets  relate  that  the  hero  himself  fetched  the  fruit, 
 and  slew  the  dragon  who  kept  guard.  Eurystheus  returned 
 the  apples  to  Herakles,  and  he  took  them  to  Athene,  who 
 restored  them  to  the  care  of  the  Hesperides. 
 
 (12.)  Bringing  Kerberos  from  the  Underworld. 
 
 Eurystheus  now  commanded  Herakles  to  bring  from  the 
 lower  world  Kerberos,  the  fierce  three-headed  watch-dog  of 
 Pluto.  The  hero  descended  to  Tartaros,  grasped  the 
 savage  animal,  and  dragged  him  to  the  Upperworld. 
 Kerberos  struggled  violently  when  he  saw  the  daylight,  his 
 eyes  seemed  starting  from  his  head,  from  his  three  throats 
 issued  wild  howls,  and  foam  dropped  from  his  jaws; 
 whenever  it  fell  the  poisonous  plant,  aconite  of  hellebore, 
 sprang  up.  But  his  captor  held  him  fast,  and  brought 
 him  to  Eurystheus,  who  died  of  terror  at  sight  of  the 
 ferocious  beast. 
 
 Thus  were  completed,  after  long  toil,  the  twelve  great 
 
272  Herakles  or  Her  etiles. 
 
 labours  of  Herakles.  And  many  other  wonderful  deeds 
 did  he  accomplish,  which  were  not  at  the  bidding  of 
 Eurystheus.  On  his  way  to  Spain  to  fetch  the  oxen  of 
 Geryones,  the  mighty  hero  came  to  the  place  which  is  now 
 Gibraltar.  At  that  time  Europe  and  Africa  were  joined,  but 
 Herakles  tore  them  asunder,  and  Abyla  and  Calpe,  the 
 mountains  on  either  side  of  the  strait,  were  long  known  as 
 the  pillars  of  Herakles. 
 
 In  the  war  of  the  gods  against  the  giants  and  the  Aloidae, 
 Herakles  fought  on  the  side  of  the  former,  killing  two  of 
 the  giants  and  blinding  Ephialtes  with  his  arrows.  The 
 gods  themselves  feared  his  strength.  Once  he  forced 
 Apollo  to  foretell  to  him  the  future,  by  possessing  himself 
 of  the  god's  tripod  ;  and  whilst  on  his  journey  to  Geryones, 
 the  rays  of  the  sun  so  scorched  him  that  he  shot  at  Helios 
 with  his  arrows.  The  sun-god  admired  the  boldness  of  the 
 audacious  act,  and  he  gave  Herakles  his  golden  chalice  in 
 which  to  cross  the  sea,  and  although  Poseidon  sent  a  great 
 storm  it  was  powerless  to  harm  him.  Herakles,  too, 
 threatened  to  shoot  the  mighty  sea-god  with  his  arrows,  so 
 Poseidon  commanded  the  waves  to  subside,  and  he  continued 
 his  journey  in  safety. 
 
 Other  great  deeds  of  Herakles  have  been  already  related, 
 such  as  his  bringing  Alkestis  back  from  the  Underworld, 
 liberating  Prometheus,  killing  Laomedon,  King  of  Troy, 
 and  rescuing  Hesione. 
 
 Once  during  his  wanderings  Herakles  reached  Occhalia 
 in  the  island  of  Euboea,  and  in  the  halls  of  King  Eurytos 
 he  beheld  his  lovely  daughter  Iole.  He  entreated  her 
 father  to  bestow  on  him  the  gentle  maiden,  and  when  he 
 refused,  Herakles  in  anger  slew  him.  Then  he  stole  away 
 the  horses  of  Iphitos,  brother  of  Iole,  and  when  their  owner 
 came  to  him  in  search  of  them,  he  led  him  to  the  top  of  a 
 
Herakles  or  Hercules.  273 
 
 high  mountain  and  cast  him  thence  into  the  sea,  carrying 
 away  Iole  as  a  slave.  The  gods  were  wrathful  at  these 
 deeds,  and  punished  him  with  severe  illness.  He  con- 
 sulted the  oracle,  and  the  answer  came  :  "  Only  shalt  thou 
 be  pardoned  when  thou  hast  thyself  served  for  three  years 
 as  a  slave."  Hermes  then  sold  the  hero  to  Omphale,  Queen 
 of  Lydia,  whose  lightest  behest  he  was  bound  to  obey.  So 
 submissive  was  he,  that  he  often  sat  at  the  spinning  wheel, 
 clad  in  woman's  clothes,  while  Omphale  herself  donned  his 
 lion's  skin,  and  toyed  with  his  club. 
 
 Herakles  joined  in  the  Argonautic  Expedition,  but  only 
 proceeded  as  far  as  the  neighbourhood  of  Troy.  Here  his 
 favourite  attendant,  a  boy  named  Hylas,  landed  to  fetch 
 water  from  a  spring,  and  was  captured  by  the  Naiades. 
 Herakles  went  in  search  of  him,  thus  separating  himself 
 from  his  companions,  who  continued  their  voyage  without 
 him. 
 
 In  Calydon,  a  town  of  Aetolia,  Herakles  saw  and  wooed 
 Deianira,  the  beautiful  daughter  of  King  Oeneus,  but  the 
 river-god  Acheloos  also  sought  her  in  marriage,  when 
 both  suitors  agreed  to  contend  for  her  hand.  Accordingly 
 they  wrestled  together,  but  when  the  river-god  felt  that  the 
 superior  strength  of  Herakles  was  forcing  him  to  the  ground, 
 he  transformed  himself  into  a  snake.  Herakles  laughed 
 at  this  artifice,  and  cried  : 
 
 "  Such  foes  my  cradle  knew, 
 dire  snakes  my  infant  hand  o'erthrew  ; 
 
 Art  thou  proportioned  to  the  Hydra's  length, 
 Who,  by  his  wounds,  receiv'd  augmented  strength  ? 
 He  rais'd  a  hundred  hissing  heads  in  air, 
 While  one  I  lopped,  up  sprang  a  dreadful  pair. 
 
2  74  Herakles  or  Hercules. 
 
 Singly  I  quell'd  him,  and  stretch'd  dead  along. 
 What  canst  thou  do,  a  form  precarious,  prove 
 To  rouse  my  rage  with  terrors  not  thy  own  ?  " 
 He  said  ;  and  round  my  neck  his  hands  he  cast, 
 And,  with  his  straining  fingers,  wrung  me  fast ; 
 My  throat  he  tortured,  close  as  pincers  clasp, 
 In  vain  I  strove  to  loose  the  forceful  grasp. 
 
 Thus  vanquished  too,  a  third  form  still  remains, 
 Chang'd  to  a  bull,  my  lowing  fills  the  plains, 
 Straight  on  the  left  his  nervous  arms  were  thrown 
 Upon  my  brindled  neck,  and  tugg'd  it  down  ; 
 Then  deep  he  struck  my  horn  into  the  sand, 
 And  felled  my  bulk  among  the  dusty  land. 
 Nor  yet  his  fury  cool'd  ;  'twixt  rage  and  scorn, 
 From  my  maim'd  front  he  tore  the  stubborn  horn. 
 
 The   Naiades  took   the    horn,   and  consecrated  it  as  the 
 Cornucopia,  or  Horn  of  Plenty. 
 
 Thus  was  the  combat  ended,  and  the  vanquished  Acheloos 
 threw  himself  into  his  river,  and  Deianira  became  the  wife 
 of  Herakles  ;  their  son  was  called  Hyllus.  On  his  way 
 home  with  his  wife  Herakles  came  to  the  turbulent  river 
 Evenos,  which  had  overflowed  its  banks.  While  deliberat- 
 ing how  he  should  carry  Deianira  through  its  swollen  waters, 
 the  Centaur  Nessos  approached  and  offered  to  bear  her 
 across  on  his  back.  Herakles  accepted  this  proposal,  threw 
 his  cloak  and  bow  to  the  opposite  bank,  and  wrapping 
 himself  in  his  lion's  skin,  swam  through  the  stream. 
 Scarcely  had  he  reached  the  shore  when  heartrending  cries 
 from  Deianira  met  his  ear,  and  looking  round  he  saw 
 Nessos  carrying  her  off. 
 
 "  Nessus,  to  thee  I  call  (aloud  he  cries) 
 Vain  is  thy  trust  in  flight,  be  timely  wise  : 
 Thou  monster  double-shap'd,  my  right  set  free  ; 
 
Herakles  or  Her  etiles.  275 
 
 Think  not  perfidious  wretch,  from  me  to  fly, 
 
 Though  wing'd  with  horse's  speed  ;  wounds  shall  pursue  : 
 
 Swift  as  his  words,  the  fatal  arrow  flew  : 
 
 The  Centaur's  back  admits  the  feather'd  wood, 
 
 And  through  his  breast  the  barbed  arrow  stood." 
 
 As  the  blood  streamed  from  the  wound  inflicted  by  the 
 poisoned  arrow  of  Herakles,  Nessos  in  revenge  told 
 Deianira  to  preserve  it.  "  If  ever  thy  husband's  love  grow 
 cold,  let  him  wear  a  garment  steeped  in  this  blood,  and 
 immediately  his  affection  will  return  to  thee  with  two-fold 
 strength." 
 
 Having  thus  spoken,  the  Centaur  died. 
 
 Years  passed  on,  and  Herakles  still  journeyed  through 
 many  lands,  doing  deeds  of  courage  and  valour,  but  Deianira 
 began  at  last  to  think  that  his  love  had  passed  away  from 
 her,  and  she  remembered  the  words  of  Nessos,  and  sought 
 to  win  it  to  herself  again.  Quickly  dipping  a  robe  in  the 
 blood  of  Nessos,  she  sent  it  to  him  by  a  messenger,  entreat- 
 ing him  to  put  it  on  without  delay,  and  he,  not  knowing 
 that,  being  poisoned,  it  would  torture  its  wearer  with  ex- 
 cruciating pains,  obeyed  her  bequest : 
 
 "  Th'  unwitting  hero  takes  the  gift  in  haste, 
 And  o'er  his  shoulders  Lerna's  poison  cast, 
 As  first  the  fire  with  frankincense  he  strews, 
 And  utters  to  the  gods  his  holy  vows  ; 
 And  on  the  marble  altar's  polish'd  frame 
 Pours  forth  the  grapy  stream  ;  the  rising  flame 
 Sudden  dissolves  the  subtle  pois'nous  juice, 
 Which  taints  his  blood,  and  all  his  nerves  bedews. 
 With  wonted  fortitude  he  bore  the  smart, 
 And  not  a  groan  confess'd  his  burning  heart. 
 At  length  his  patience  was  subdu'd  by  pain, 
 He  rends  the  sacred  altar  from  the  plain  ; 
 Oete's  wide  forests  echo  with  his  cries  : 
 
276  Herakles  or  Hercules. 
 
 Now  to  rip  off  the  dreadful  robe  he  tries. 
 Where'er  he  plucks  the  vest,  the  skin  he  tears, 
 or  raging  with  his  pain, 
 To  rend  the  sticking  plague  he  tugs  in  vain. 
 
 As  the  red  iron  hisses  in  the  flood, 
 So  boils  the  venom  in  his  curdling  blood. 
 
 Then,  lifting  both  his  hands  aloft,  he  cries  : 
 
 Dread  Empress  of  the  skies, 
 Sate  with  my  death  the  rancour  of  thy  heart, 
 Look  down  with  pleasure,  and  enjoy  my  smart." 
 
 Then  seizing  the  unfortunate  messenger,  who,  falling  at  his 
 feet,  begged  for  mercy,  Hercules  raised  him  high  in  the 
 air  : 
 
 "  He  toss'd  him  o'er  his  head  with  airy  course, 
 And  hurl'd  with  more  than  with  an  engine's  force. 
 Far  o'er  th'  Eubcean  main  aloof  he  flies, 
 And  hardens,  by  degrees,  amid  the  skies. 
 
 Thus  whirl'd  with  nervous  force  through  distant  air, 
 The  purple  tide  forsook  his  veins,  with  fear  ; 
 All  moisture  left  his  limbs.     Transform'd  to  stone, 
 In  ancient  days  the  craggy  flint  was  known  ; 
 Still  in  th'  Eubcean  waves  his  front  he  rears, 
 Still  the  small  rock  in  human  form  appears, 
 And  still  the  name  of  hapless  Lychas  bears." 
 
 On  enquiring  of  an  oracle  what  would  assuage  his  pains, 
 he  was  commanded  to  erect  a  funeral  pile  on  Mount  Oeta. 
 Well  did  Herakles  understand  the  meaning  of  these  words. 
 He  made  all  necessary  preparations,  cutting  down  the  trees 
 himself,  and  then  he  caused  his  bow,  arrows,  and  club  to 
 be  brought  to  him.  The  two  first  he  gave  to  his  friend 
 Philoktetes,  and  then  he  spread  his  lion's  skin  on  the  pile, 
 stepped  on  to  it,  and  stood  there,  leaning  on  his  club,  as 
 
Her  aides  or  Hercules,  277 
 
 calm  and  unconcerned  as  though  he  were  about  to  join  a 
 banquet.  The  pile  was  set  alight  at  his  behest  by  his  son 
 Hyllos,  and  thus  at  length  did  the  toil  of  the  great  hero 
 come  to  an  end.  Long  had  he  laboured  among  men,  until 
 his  name  was  known  throughout  the  earth  for  the  brave  and 
 good  deeds  that  he  had  done.  Now  his  time  of  rest  was  to 
 begin. 
 
 Fiercer  and  fiercer  raged  the  flames  around  the  pile,  until 
 all  that  was  earthly  in  Herakles  perished,  and  only  his  god- 
 like nature  remained  : 
 
 "  So  when  Alcides  mortal  mould  resign'd, 
 His  better  part  enlarg'd,  and  grew  refin'd  ; 
 August  his  visage  shone  ;  almighty  Jove 
 In  his  swift  car  his  honour'd  offspring  drove  ; 
 High  o'er  the  hollow  clouds  the  coursers  fly, 
 And  lodge  the  hero  in  the  starry  sky." 
 
 There  in  the  halls  of  Olympus  was  Herakles  welcomed  by 
 the  ever-living  gods,  and  Hebe,  Goddess  of  Youth,  became 
 his  wife,  exemplifying  that  youth  and  strength  are  generally 
 combined. 
 
 Herakles  is  most  often  represented  as  a  tall,  muscular 
 man,  broad-shouldered,  broad-chested,  and  with  short  curl- 
 ing hair  and  beard.  Of  the  ancient  statues  of  him  that 
 have  been  preserved,  the  most  celebrated  is  the  so-called 
 "  Farnesian  Hercules."  * 
 
 Another  beautiful  piece  of  sculpture  is  the  Torso,  the 
 remains  of  a  statue  of  Hercules,  in  the  Vatican  at  Rome. 
 
 *  So  called  from  having  been  long  preserved  in  the  art  collection  of 
 the  Farnese  Palace  in  Rome,  but  this,  as  well  as  the  Farnesian  Bull, 
 has  since  been  removed  to  Naples. 
 
278  Atreus  and  Thy  est  es. 
 
 VIII. — ATREUS   AND   THYESTES. 
 
 Atreus  and  Thyestes,  sons  of  Pelops,  having  murdered 
 their  half  brother  Chrysippos,  because  they  imagined  their 
 father  loved  him  the  most,  sought  shelter  with  Eurystheus, 
 King  of  Mykenae,  whom  Herakles  served.  Not  only  did 
 he  grant  his  protection  to  the  two  brothers,  but  soon  after- 
 wards bestowed  on  Atreus  his  daughter  Aerope  in  marriage, 
 and  at  his  death  his  son-in-law  succeeded  him  as  King  of 
 Mykenae. 
 
 Thyestes  still  continued  to  live  with  his  brother,  but  at 
 length,  fired  with  fierce  anger  on  perceiving  that  he  was 
 trying  to  gain  the  love  of  Aerope,  Atreus  drove  him  from 
 his  palace  and  kingdom.  Thyestes  vowed  vengeance  on 
 his  brother,  and  then  commenced  a  deadly  quarrel  between 
 them,  into  which  the  old  poets  introduced  all  the  most 
 fearful  crimes  of  which  man  in  his  wildest  state  is  capable. 
 
 Having  carried  off  the  infant  son  of  Atreus,  Thyestes 
 instilled  into  the  boy  as  he  grew  up  the  most  violent 
 hatred  against  his  father ;  and  at  last  the  youth  was  incited 
 by  his  uncle  to  kill  Atreus,  not  knowing  that  he  himself 
 was  his  son.  Although  he  came  in  disguise  to  Mykenae  he 
 was  captured  in  the  very  act  of  committing  murder,  and 
 Atreus,  not  knowing  who  he  was,  caused  him  to  be  put  to 
 death  with  frightful  tortures. 
 
 Then  Thyestes  rejoiced  at  the  success  of  his  scheme  of 
 revenge.  He  sent  a  message  to  Atreus,  saying  :  "  Dost 
 thou  know  whom  thou  hast  thus  tortured  and  slain  ?  It 
 was  none  other  than  thine  own  son."  Horror-struck  at  the 
 deed  he  had  been  forced  to  commit,  the  sole  thought  of 
 Atreus  was  how  to  avenge  the  death  of  his  son. 
 
Atrcus  and  Thycstes.  279 
 
 Therefore  he  sent  to  Thyestes,  proposing  a  reconciliation. 
 "  Come,"  he  said,  "  let  us  bury  all  old  feuds,  and  celebrate 
 our  renewed  friendship  by  a  brotherly  banquet." 
 
 Thyestes  came :  Atreus  at  the  feast  caused  a  dish  of 
 meat  to  be  placed  before  his  brother,  and  when  he  had 
 heartily  partaken  of  it,  asked  him  with  a  fiendish  laugh : 
 "  Canst  thou  not  guess  whose  flesh  it  is  which  thou  hast 
 just  eaten?"  And  at  the  same  moment  he  threw  down 
 the  heads  and  hands  of  the  sons  of  Thyestes  before  the 
 face  of  their  father.  He  had  caused  the  youths  to  be 
 secretly  murdered  and  their  flesh  prepared  for  their  father's 
 repast. 
 
 Horror  and  dismay  seized  on  all,  and  darkness  over- 
 shadowed the  earth,  for  Helios,  the  sun-god,  hid  his  face, 
 that  no  light  might  shine  on  the  fearful  deed. 
 
 Thyestes,  in  bitter  anger,  fled  from  the  dwelling  of  his 
 unnatural  brother,  and  consulted  the  oracle  as  to  what 
 course  he  should  pursue.  The  reply  was,  that  his  son  and 
 grandson  would  avenge  the  deed ;  and  this  prophecy  was 
 indeed  fulfilled,  for  some  years  afterwards  ./Egisthus,  son  of 
 Thyestes,  having  slain  Atreus,  and  driven  away  his  sons 
 Agamemnon  and  Menelaos,  placed  his  own  father  upon 
 the  throne  of  Mykenae.  It  was  not  till  after  the  death  of 
 Thyestes  that  Agamemnon  recovered  his  father's  kingdom, 
 and  became  King  of  Mykenae. 
 
2  8o  Theseus. 
 
 IX« — THESEUS. 
 
 Aegeus,  one  of  the  descendants  of  Kekrops  and  Pandion, 
 had  been  twice  married,  but  had  no  son,  which  was  a 
 sore  grief  to  him.  At  length  he  sought  the  advice  of  the 
 Delphic  oracle,  but  the  answer  received  was  so  mysteri- 
 ous that  he  could  not  comprehend  it.  On  his  way 
 back  he  went  to  Pittheus,  King  of  Thrace,  and  asked 
 him  the  meaning  of  the  oracle's  reply.  Pittheus  at  once 
 declared  it  to  be  that  Aegeus  should  marry  his  daughter 
 Aethra. 
 
 The  wedding  was  celebrated  with  great  festivities,  but 
 afterwards  Aegeus  recollected  that  his  wife  Chalciope  was 
 yet  alive.  Not  daring  to  rouse  her  anger  by  bringing 
 home  her  rival,  he  left  Aethra  with  her  father  Pittheus. 
 But  before  his  departure  he  showed  to  her  his  sword  and 
 sandals  :  "  These,"  he  said,  "  I  will  place  beneath  that  mass 
 of  rock,  which  none  but  a  very  powerful  man  can  move. 
 When  our  son  is  born  tell  him  not  that  I  am  his  father 
 till  he  is  strong  enough  to  lift  this  stone.  Then  let  him 
 take  and  wear  my  sword  and  sandals,  and  send  him  unto 
 me  at  Athens.  By  them  I  shall  know  that  he  is  indeed 
 my  son." 
 
 Thus  Theseus  grew  up  in  ignorance  of  his  father's  name, 
 and  not  until  he  became  a  fine  manly  youth,  possessed  of 
 courage  and  heroism  far  beyond  his  years,  did  his  mother 
 tell  him  that  he  was  the  son  of  the  brave  Aegeus.  Proudly 
 she  led  him  to  the  rock,  which  he  lifted  with  ease,  and 
 there  beneath  it  lay  the  sword  and  sandals.  Taking  these 
 with  him  Theseus,  having  bidden  his  mother  farewell,  went 
 to  seek  his  father. 
 
Theseus.  281 
 
 His  shortest  way  was  by  ship  to  Athens,  but  he  chose 
 the  longer  by  land,  wishing  to  do  battle  on  his  road  with 
 the  giants  and  monsters  with  which  it  was  infested,  for  he 
 had  made  a  vow  not  to  appear  before  his  father  until  he  had 
 gained  for  himself  fame  and  renown. 
 
 First  he  went  to  Epidaurus,  where  dwelt  the  giant  Peri- 
 phetes,  who  killed  all  passing  travellers  with  an  enormous 
 iron  club.  As  soon  as  Theseus  approached  he  rushed 
 upon  him,  but  the  valiant  youth  was  too  strong,  and 
 wrenching  the  club  from  his  hands,  swung  it  high  in  the 
 air  and  struck  him  lifeless  to  the  ground.  Next  he  met 
 with  Sinis,  a  robber  who  slew  all  wayfarers  who  fell  into 
 his  hands  by  fastening  them  between  two  fir-trees,  which 
 he  bent  together  and  then  let  spring  asunder.  Theseus 
 put  Sinis  himself  to  death  in  the  same  manner,  and  then 
 proceeded  onward  till  he  encountered  the  giant  Skiron, 
 who  compelled  all  travellers  to  stop  and  wash  his  feet,  and 
 then,  as  they  stooped  to  do  his  bidding,  hurled  them  from 
 the  rocks  on  which  he  was  seated  into  the  watery  abyss 
 beneath.  But  when  he  tried  to  force  Theseus  to  wash 
 his  feet  the  hero  turned  quickly  upon  him,  and  flung  Skiron 
 himself  into  the  foaming  depths. 
 
 At  last  Theseus  came  to  the  robber  Prokrustes,  who  tor- 
 tured those  whom  he  captured  by  placing  them  on  one  of 
 his  two  iron  beds.  If  his  victim  was  short,  he  put  him  on 
 the  longest  bed,  crying,  "  How  short  thou  art !  But  wait,  I 
 will  soon  make  thee  taller,"  and  he  stretched  the  limbs  of 
 his  wretched  prisoner  till  he  tore  him  in  pieces.  If  on  the 
 contrary  the  captive  was  tall,  Prokrustes  placed  him  on  the 
 smaller  bed.  "  Thou  art  much  too  large,"  he  would  say, 
 "but  soon  will  I  fit  thee  to  the  bed,"  and  then  he  cut  off 
 his  legs  and  head.  But  when  Prokrustes  approached  to 
 seize  Theseus,  the  hero  grasped  him  with  his  strong  arms, 
 
282  Theseus. 
 
 placed  him  in  his  turn  on  the  bed,  and  cut  off  his  head  and 
 legs. 
 
 Thus  having  won  for  himself  glory  and  renown,  Theseus 
 arrived  in  Attica,  the  kingdom  of  his  father  Aegeus,  at  whose 
 court  dwelt  the  sorceress  Medea,  who  wished  to  obtain  the 
 succession  to  the  throne  for  her  own  son.  But  the  fifty  sons 
 of  Pallas,  brother  of  Aegeus,  who  were  called  the  Pallan- 
 tidae,  also  had  hoped,  if  no  direct  heir  appeared,  to  secure 
 the  throne  for  themselves.  They  therefore  were  enraged  at 
 the  pretensions  of  Medea  and  her  son,  and  the  whole  town 
 was  in  a  state  of  uproar  and  disturbance. 
 
 Theseus  did  not  at  first  make  himself  known,  but  Medea 
 soon  discovered  who  he  was  by  means  of  her  magic  arts,  and 
 determined  to  accomplish  his  destruction. 
 
 "  Beware  of  the  stranger  youth,"  she  said  to  the  king ; 
 "treachery  lurks  in  his  heart,"  and  she  rested  not  until 
 Aegeus  consented  that  she  should  fill  the  goblet  of  Theseus 
 with  a  deadly  potion  of  aconite.  Unsuspecting  any  danger, 
 the  hero  took  his  seat  at  the  banquet.  The  servants  set  a 
 dish  of  meat  before  him,  and  he  drew  forth  his  sword  to  cut 
 it.  Then  old  memories  stirred  the  heart  of  the  king,  for  the 
 weapon  in  the  hand  of  the  stranger  with  its  curiously  carved 
 handle  was  none  other  than  his  own,  left  so  long  ago  under 
 the  stone  in  the  land  of  Thrace.  And  as  he  looked  again, 
 he  saw  that  the  face  of  Theseus  was  as  the  face  of  the 
 maiden  Aethra,  and  he  knew  that  this  must  be  his  son. 
 
 Now  Theseus  raised  the  poisoned  cup  to  his  lips,  but  ere 
 he  could  drink  it  was  struck  from  his  hand ;  and  Aegeus,  in 
 fear  of  the  deed  which  had  almost  lost  him  his  child,  em- 
 braced him,  and  acknowledged  him  before  the  assembled 
 guests  as  his  son  and  successor. 
 
 Then  the  Pallantidae  rose  in  anger,  and  seized  their  arms, 
 and  soon  Athens  was  divided  into  two  parties — the  one  for 
 
Theseus.  283 
 
 Aegeus,  the  other  for  his  nephews.  But  the  courage  and 
 might  of  Theseus  decided  the  contest.  After  a  severe 
 struggle  the  Pallantidae  surrendered,  and  Medea  fled  from 
 the  vengeance  of  the  brave  son  of  Aethra  in  her  chariot 
 drawn  by  dragons. 
 
 An  opportunity  of  gaining  the  love  and  gratitude  of  the 
 Athenians  soon  presented  itself  to  Theseus.  A  fierce  wild 
 bull  ravaged  and  laid  waste  the  broad  plain  of  Marathon, 
 and  Theseus  determined  to  conquer  and,  if  possible,  bring 
 him  alive  to  Athens.  On  his  way  to  Marathon,  he  stopped 
 at  a  small  hut,  where  he  was  kindly  received  by  a  good  old 
 dame  named  Hekale.  He  asked  her  for  food,  but  she 
 replied,  "  I  have  nothing  but  a  few  herbs,  but  if  thou  wilt  I 
 will  prepare  thee  a  salad  of  them."  Theseus  gladly  partook 
 of  this  frugal  repast,  and  so  assiduously  did  Hekale  attend 
 on  him,  praying  heaven  the  while  to  grant  him  success  in  his 
 dangerous  enterprise,  that  the  hero,  touched  by  her  kind- 
 ness, promised  to  revisit  her  hut  on  his  return  journey. 
 Having  encountered  and  vanquished  the  bull,  Theseus 
 bound  him  and  proceeded  to  lead  him  to  Athens.  He 
 stopped,  however,  on  his  way  to  recount  his  success  to 
 Hekale ;  but  all  was  silent  in  the  hut,  and  on  entering  he 
 found  the  old  woman  lying  dead.  He  buried  her,  and  on 
 his  return  to  Athens,  instituted  in  her  honour  a  feast  called 
 Hecalisae,  which  commemorated  disinterested  hospitality. 
 On  reaching  the  town  at  length,  the  captured  bull  was  led 
 in  triumph  through  the  streets,  amidst  the  acclamations  of 
 the  people. 
 
 Theseus  also  rendered  the  Athenians  another  and  still 
 greater  service,  in  freeing  them  from  the  terrible  human 
 tribute  which  they  were  obliged  to  send  every  nine  years  to 
 Minos,  King  of  Crete,  the  origin  of  which  impost  was  this  : 
 Minos,  who  afterwards  became  one  of  the  judges  in  the 
 
284  Theseus. 
 
 Underworld,  had  a  son  named  Androgeus.  This  youth 
 once  came  to  Athens  to  take  part  in , the  games,  and  being 
 unusually  strong,  he  had  defeated  most  of  the  Athenians. 
 When  Aegeus  heard  the  people  shouting  the  praises  of 
 Androgeus,  jealousy  and  anger  filled  his  heart,  and  he  caused 
 the  young  man  to  be  treacherously  murdered.  Minos  then 
 led  an  army  into  Greece,  to  revenge  himself  upon  Aegeus. 
 On  his  way  to  Athens  he  besieged  the  town  of  Megara, 
 where  Nisus,  brother  of  Aegeus,  reigned. 
 
 This  prince  had  golden  or  red  hair,  and  an  oracle  had 
 said  to  him  :  "  Beware  lest  any  man  take  thy  hair.  While 
 thou  hast  it,  the  kingdom  will  never  depart  from  thee." 
 
 "  Who  could  deprive  me  of  my  hair?"  said  Nisos,  and  he 
 laughed  to  scorn  the  preparations  for  attack  which  he  saw 
 Minos  making. 
 
 But  what  fate  has  willed  must  inevitably  be  accom- 
 plished. 
 
 Scylla,  the  daughter  of  Nisos,  looking  from  the  castle 
 walls,  beheld  King  Minos,  and  the  sight  of  his  majestic 
 stature  and  noble  countenance  filled  her  heart  with  love 
 for  him,  so  that  she  forgot  her  father,  and  thought  only  of 
 how  she  might  win  the  heart  of  the  stranger.  Therefore 
 when  night  fell,  and  Nisos  slept,  she  crept  stealthily  into 
 his  chamber,  cut  off  the  golden  lock  wherein  lay  his  safety 
 and  that  of  his  people,  and  conveyed  it  to  King  Minos. 
 Minos  thereupon  easily  took  the  town,  but  he  thrust 
 Scylla  from  him  with  horror,  for  how  should  a  faithless 
 daughter  become  a  faithful  wife  ?  The  unhappy  Nisos,  in 
 his  wild  despair,  threw  himself  upon  his  sword,  and  was 
 changed  into  an  eagle  by  the  gods.  Scylla  cast  herself 
 into  the  blue  depths  of  the  sea,  and  was  transformed  into 
 a  fish. 
 
 Then  Minos  hastened  onwards  to  Athens,  but  so  strongly 
 
Theseus.  285 
 
 fortified  was  that  city,  that  all  his  efforts  to  take  it  were 
 unavailing.  He  entreated  the  aid  of  the  gods,  who, 
 by  means  of  famine  and  plague  forced  the  town  to 
 surrender.  Minos  demanded,  as  satisfaction  for  the 
 murder  of  his  son,  that  the  Athenians  should  send  to  Crete 
 every  nine  years  seven  maidens  and  seven  youths,  to  be 
 imprisoned  in  the  Labyrinth  and  devoured  by  the  frightful 
 monster  Minotaur. 
 
 Twice  already  had  the  Athenians  been  forced  to  pay 
 this  terrible  tribute,  and  now,  when  Theseus  arrived  at 
 Athens,  it  was  about  to  be  sent  for  the  third  time. 
 
 "Ye  shall  no  longer  be  subject  to  this  humiliating 
 calamity,  "  cried  Theseus ;  "  I  will  go  to  Crete  and  free 
 you  from  it." 
 
 With  great  reluctance  Aegeus  gave  consent,  and  Theseus 
 immediately  prepared  for  the  expedition. 
 
 It  was  customary  for  the  ship  that  bore  the  victims  to 
 their  destination  to  hoist  a  black  sail,  but  this  time,  in 
 addition,  Aegeus  provided  the  steersman  with  a  white  sail, 
 commanding  him,  should  Theseus  be  successful,  to  put  it 
 up  in  place  of  the  black  on  the  return  voyage.  But 
 if  he  were  unsuccessful,  he  was  to  retain  the  black,  that 
 he  might  see  from  a  distance  whether  or  not  his  son  were 
 still  alive.  Then  amid  solemn  sacrifices  and  propitiatory 
 offerings  to  the  gods,  Theseus  and  his  doomed  companions 
 set  sail  from  Athens. 
 
 On  his  arrival  in  Crete,  the  hero  sought  King  Minos,  and 
 announcing  himself  to  be  one  of  the  Athenian  victims, 
 requested  permission  to  go  alone  into  the  Labyrinth,  and 
 fight  with  the  Minotaur:  "If  I  come  forth  a  con- 
 queror," said  he,  "then  shall  these,  my  companions, 
 return  with  me  unharmed  to  our  own  land." 
 
 11  Let  it  be  as  thou  hast  said,"  replied  Minos,  "  but  think 
 
286  Theseus. 
 
 not  that  thou  wilt  be  able  to  overcome  the  Minotaur,  for  no 
 mortal  may  withstand  him." 
 
 "  The  issue  of  all  combat  rests  with  the  gods  alone," 
 answered  Theseus,  and  he  quitted  the  presence  of  Minos, 
 who  felt  assured  that,  even  should  Theseus  succeed  in 
 slaying  the  monster,  he  would  yet  find  it  impossible  to 
 extricate  himself  from  the  Labyrinth. 
 
 But  Ariadne,  the  daughter  of  Minos,  felt  the  tenderest 
 pity  for  the  hero,  and  to  assist  him  in  finding  his  way  out 
 of  the  secret  mazes  of  the  Labyrinth  she  gave  him  a  ball  of 
 thread,  saying,  "  Fasten  this  at  the  entrance  and  unwind  it 
 as  thou  goest.  By  this  means  shalt  thou  be  able  to  retrace 
 thy  steps."  Theseus  gratefully  accepted  her  gift,  and 
 armed  with  his  iron  club,  boldly  entered  the  dangerous 
 Labyrinth. 
 
 On  and  on  he  went  holding  fast  to  the  thread,  from 
 one  winding  path  to  another,  until  at  last  he  reached  the 
 innermost  recess  whence  the  Minotaur  rushed  upon  him 
 with  a  terrible  roar.  A  fierce  combat  ensued,  bravery 
 and  matchless  skill  being  brought  to  bear  upon  brute  force 
 and  ferocity.  After  a  prolonged  struggle  Theseus,  seizing 
 his  advantage,  struck  the  Minotaur  such  a  tremendous  blow 
 on  the  head  with  his  club  that  the  huge  monster  fell  lifeless 
 to  the  ground.  The  victor  hastened  joyfully  away,  and  was 
 safely  guided  by  the  thread  out  of  the  maze. 
 
 Then  he  sought  Ariadne,  and  with  heartfelt  thanks 
 assured  her  of  his  undying  love  and  gratitude.  But  alas  ! 
 for  the  vows  made  by  men  in  the  heat  of  passion  ! 
 
 Ariadne  consented  to  become  the  wife  of  Theseus,  and 
 to  accompany  him  to  Athens.  With  great  rejoicings  they 
 set  sail,  carrying  with  them  the  rescued  youths  and 
 maidens.  Favourable  winds  filled  the  sails,  and  soon 
 wafted   them    to   the  small  island  of  Naxos,  where  they 
 
Theseus.  287 
 
 landed  to  take  rest;  and  here  in  a  cool  grotto,  Theseus 
 and  Ariadne  made  themselves  a  soft  couch  of  moss, 
 and  lay  down  to  rest.  But  when  the  dark  wings  of  night 
 overshadowed  the  earth,  Bacchos,  to  whom  the  island 
 was  especially  dedicated,  descended  from  Olympus  and 
 wandered  over  his  domain  till  he  came  to  the  grotto. 
 
 Here  he  stood  transfixed,  enchanted  with  the  wondrous 
 beauty  of  Ariadne,  for  Eros  had  wounded  him  with  one  of 
 his  arrows.  He  was  on  the  point  of  awakening  her,  to  reveal 
 himself  and  carry  her  to  Heaven  as  his  bride,  when  the 
 thought  flashed  upon  him  that  it  would  be  cruel  to  take 
 her  from  her  husband.  "  But,"  thought  he,  "  it  may  be 
 that  he  is  not  worthy  of  her ;  he  may  not  sufficiently  prize 
 the  treasure  he  possesses.  I  will  now  prove  whether  or 
 not  he  loves  her  above  all  else." 
 
 Thereupon  he  appeared  to  Theseus  in  a  dream,  threaten- 
 ing him  with  the  vengeance  of  the  gods  unless  he  immediately 
 left  Ariadne.  Terror-stricken,  Theseus  awoke  ;  darkness 
 reigned  around :  he  started  from  his  couch,  the  last  words 
 of  the  god  still  ringing  in  his  ears.  "Surely,"  he  cried, 
 "  this  was  no  dream.  I  have  actually  beheld  the  menacing 
 countenance  of  the  god,  and  heard  his  wrathful  words. 
 How  can  I  quit  Ariadne,  my  beloved  ?  Yet  what  mortal 
 may  brave  the  displeasure  of  the  gods?  Besides,  he 
 threatened  me  with  death  if  I  disobeyed  his  will ;  of  what 
 avail  therefore  is  it  for  me  to  remain  here  if  I  must  then 
 die?  And  how  could  I  so  grieve  my  aged  father,  who  longs 
 for  my  return  ?  No,  I  must  fly  without  delay.  Let  the 
 gods  do  what  they  will  with  Ariadne."  So  saying  he  rushed 
 from  the  grotto,  and  awaking  his  companions  and  the 
 sailors,  set  sail  with  all  speed. 
 
 When  Ariadne  awoke  next  morning  and  missed  Theseus, 
 she  thought  he  had  but  gone  to  gather  fruit  for  her.     At 
 
288  Theseus. 
 
 length  alarmed  at  his  long  absence,  she  sought  him 
 among  the  mountain  passes,  calling  aloud :  "  Theseus, 
 Theseus  ! "  Echo  alone  answered  pityingly,  "  Theseus, 
 Theseus."  At  last  the  Onades  of  the  island  took  com- 
 passion upon  her,  and  told  her,  "Thou  seekest  him  in  vain, 
 for  ere  break  of  day  the  faithless  one  sailed  away  from  these 
 shores." 
 
 Weaned  and  with  a  heart  filled  with  sorrow,  Ariadne 
 yielded  at  length  to  her  despair,  and  sinking  on  a  rock, 
 wept  bitterly  in  her  great  loneliness.  The  hot  tears  had 
 blinded  her,  and  her  head  was  bent  low  with  grief,  so  she 
 knew  not  that  a  form  of  divine  beauty  was  standing  before 
 her.  Bacchos,  himself,  attended  by  a  thousand  nymphs, 
 and  Eros,  the  source  of  all  Ariadne's  misery.  Blossoms 
 sprang  from  the  rocky  ground  beneath  the  feet  of  the  god, 
 and  fruit-laden  vines  arched  their  fragrant  branches  above 
 him.  In  a  gentle  voice  he  spoke  to  Ariadne,  and  with 
 loving  words  at  length  he  soothed  her  grief,  and  she  be- 
 came his  wife. 
 
 All  that  was  earthly  in  her  nature  departed,  the  immortal 
 spirit  alone  remained,  and  in  the  arms  of  Bacchos  she  rose 
 to  Olympus,  where  all  united  in  celebrating  the  marriage 
 feast.  On  quitting  Naxos  the  wreath  of  Ariadne  was  flung 
 by  Bacchos  up  into  the  heavens,  where  it  still  remains,  a 
 brilliant  constellation. 
 
 Theseus  meanwhile  sailed  onwards  to  Delos,  where  he 
 sacrificed  to  Apollo  in  gratitude  for  his  safe  voyage  from 
 Crete ;  he  left  there,  as  a  thank-offering  to  the  god,  a  golden 
 image  of  Aphrodite,  given  to  him  by  Ariadne,  and  once  more 
 set  sail  for  Athens.  As  his  vessel  neared  the  town  he  either 
 forgot  to  bid  the  steersman  hoist  the  white  sail,  or  it  may  be 
 that  he  wished  to  excite  the  fears  of  his  father,  in  order 
 afterwards  to  give  him  the  greater  joy. 
 
Theseus.  289 
 
 Aegeus,  standing,  as  was  his  wont,  on  a  high  rock  over- 
 looking the  sea,  beheld,  as  he  scanned  the  horizon,  an 
 approaching  vessel.  As  it  drew  nearer  he  recognised  the 
 black  sail,  and  overwhelmed  with  grief  at  the  supposed 
 death  of  his  son,  threw  himself  into  the  foaming  waves 
 beneath,  and  so  perished.  It  was  from  this  circumstance 
 that  the  Archipelago  was  in  ancient  days  known  as  the 
 Aegean  Sea. 
 
 Immediately  on  landing,  Theseus  went  into  the  temple  at 
 the  entrance  of  the  town  to  sacrifice  to  the  gods,  at  the 
 same  time  despatching  a  messenger  to  the  king  to  announce 
 his  arrival.  Quitting  the  temple,  he  hastened  with  joy  to 
 embrace  his  beloved  father,  the  Athenians  thronging  round 
 him  and  strewing  his  path  with  flowers.  But  on  hearing 
 the  fatal  news  of  the  death  of  Aegeus,  he  wrung  his  hands, 
 cast  aside  the  wreaths  with  which  the  people  had  crowned 
 him,  and  hurried  to  the  palace  with  loud  lamentations, 
 the  whole  of  Athens  mourning  with  him  over  the  fate  of 
 their  king. 
 
 After  he  had  performed  the  funeral  rites  of  his  father, 
 he  instituted  a  yearly  festival  to  commemorate  his  safe 
 return. 
 
 Theseus  now  became  King  of  Athens,  and  at  first  reigned 
 wisely,  and  gained  the  affections  of  his  people.  But  soon 
 his  passion  for  adventure  and  desire  to  achieve  great  deeds 
 drove  him  from  Athens,  greatly  to  the  dissatisfaction  of  the 
 Athenians,  who  heard  of  him  now  here,  now  there,  but 
 seldom  saw  him  in  their  own  town.  So  invariably  did  he 
 join  in  all  the  great  enterprises  undertaken  by  the  Greeks 
 (among  these  was  the  Calydonian  Chase)  that  at  last 
 "  Nothing  without  Theseus  "  became  a  proverb. 
 
 His  faithful  friend  and  companion  was  Pirithous,  Prince 
 of  the  Lapithae,  a  people  of  Thessaly  ;  once  he  had  stolen 
 
 T 
 
290  Theseus. 
 
 from  Athens  the  beautiful  oxen  of  Theseus.  Their  owner, 
 discovering  the  theft,  at  once  went  in  pursuit  of  the 
 marauder ;  but  no  combat  followed,  for  as  soon  as  Pirithous 
 heard  that  the  animals  belonged  to  the  great  Theseus,  he 
 at  once  restored  them  to  him.  He  offered  his  hand  to  the 
 hero  in  friendship,  and  the  two  remained  ever  after  firm 
 friends. 
 
 When  Theseus  and  Pirithous  were  at  Sparta  they  saw 
 Helen,  the  daughter  of  Tyndareus  and  Leda,  dancing  in  the 
 temple  of  Artemis.  Although  then  but  ten  years  old,  she 
 was  so  surpassingly  beautiful  that  the  two  friends  carried 
 her  off,  and  drew  lots  as  to  whose  she  should  be. 
 
 Fortune  favoured  Theseus,  who  thereupon  committed 
 the  child  to  the  care  of  his  mother  Aethra,  until  she  should 
 be  grown  up.  But  in  order  to  gain  a  bride  for  Pirithoos,  a 
 fresh  quest  was  undertaken  by  the  two  companions,  who 
 indeed  were  sufficiently  audacious  to  attempt  to  carry  off 
 Persephone  herself  from  Pluto.  But  they  were  seized  by 
 the  Furies,  thrown  to  the  ground,  and  chained  in  the  under- 
 world. Here  they  remained  in  dark,  dreary  captivity,  until 
 Herakles  came  down  to  the  land  of  shadows  to  fetch 
 Kerberos.  He  liberated  Theseus,  but  when  he  endeavoured 
 to  take  off  the  fetters  from  Pirithoos,  the  earth  quaked  so 
 terribly  that  he  was  forced  to  desist,  and  Pirithoos 
 remained  a  prisoner  in  the  underworld  for  two  hundred 
 years. 
 
 On  the  return  of  Theseus  to  Athens  he  found  that  his 
 bride  Helen  was  no  longer  there.  During  his  imprison- 
 ment her  brothers  Castor  and  Pollux  had  come  and  set 
 her  free.  The  Athenians  had  allowed  the  two  heroes  to 
 enter  their  town,  and  since  their  arrival,  they  had  treated 
 the  citizens  with  so  much  kindness  and  consideration,  that 
 they  had  won  universal  affection  and  esteem.     They  had 
 
Theseus.  2  9 1 
 
 neither  appropriated  nor  extorted  anything ;  their  sole 
 request  had  been,  that  they  might  be  initiated  into  the 
 Eleusinian  Mysteries.  So  completely  indeed  had  the  twin 
 brothers  won  the  hearts  of  the  Athenians,  that  King 
 Theseus  received  but  a  cold,  ungracious  welcome;  and 
 when  he  sternly  tried  to  recall  them  to  their  former 
 allegiance,  they  rose  against  him  and  forced  him  to  fly 
 from  Athens. 
 
 Theseus  then  sought  the  island  of  Skyros,  in  the  Aegean 
 sea,  believing  its  king,  Lykomedes,  to  be  his  friend  ;  but 
 this  faithless  ally  had  joined  the  enemies  of  his  guest,  whom 
 he  now  determined  to  slay.  Receiving  Theseus  hospitably, 
 he  led  him  to  the  summit  of  a  high  mountain  on  pretence 
 of  showing  him  the  surrounding  country,  and  flung  him 
 headlong  from  thence  into  the  depths  beneath. 
 
 For  several  hundred  years  after  this,  the  grave  of  Theseus 
 was  shown  on  the  isle  of  Skyros.  At  last,  about  450  b.c., 
 the  Athenians,  thinking  it  a  reproach  that  the  bones  of 
 their  greatest  hero  should  rest  so  far  from  his  own  land,  sent 
 Kimon  to  bring  his  remains  to  Athens.  A  magnificent 
 tomb  was  erected  to  him  in  the  centre  of  the  town,  over 
 which,  in  later  times,  rose  a  beautiful  temple.* 
 
 The  story  of  Phaedra,  the  second  wife  of  Theseus,  and 
 his  son  Hippolytus,  is  well  known.  The  latter  was  a  son  of 
 the  Amazon  Queen  Antiope,  and  Phaedra  was  a  sister  of 
 Ariadne.  Hippolytus  having  been  carried  off  when  quite  a 
 child,  his  step-mother  had  never  seen  him.  When  he  had 
 grown  up  into  a  beautiful  youth,  she  one  day  met  him  on  a 
 journey,  and  unaware  who  he  was,  fell  in  love  with  him, 
 even  going  so  far  as  to  tell  him  of  it. 
 
 *  The  temple  of  Theseus  has  withstood  the  storms  of  centuries.  In 
 *he  middle  ages  it  was  used  as  a  church,  and  has  now  been  turned  into 
 xi  museum. 
 
292  Etc  odes  a  nd  Poly  11  ices. 
 
 But  Aphrodite,  who  out  of  mischief  had  caused  Phaedra  to 
 fall  in  love  with  him,  had  at  the  same  time  inspired  Hip- 
 polytos  with  such  a  dislike  to  her,  that  he  turned  from  her 
 with  loathing.  Wild  with  shame  and  anger  she  returned  to 
 Athens,  and  told  her  husband  that  the  youth  had  wanted  to 
 carry  her  off.  Theseus,  recognising  Hippolytos  to  be  his 
 son,  was  incensed  at  his  daring  to  do  this,  and  entreated 
 Poseidon,  who  had  once  promised  to  grant  him  a  wish,  that 
 he  would  punish  him.  The  god  heard  his  prayer,  and 
 when  Hippolytos  was  driving  in  his  chariot  along  the  sea- 
 shore, the  waves  suddenly  rose  angrily,  and  out  of  them 
 appeared  a  frightful  sea-monster.  This  apparition  so 
 terrified  the  horses  of  Hippolytos,  that  they  rushed  wildly 
 onwards,  the  chariot  overturned,  and  the  unfortunate  youth 
 was  dragged  over  the  rocks,  and  dashed  to  pieces. 
 
 When  Phaedra  heard  of  his  terrible  death  she  was  beside 
 herself  with  grief.  Full  of  self-reproach  and  seized  with 
 deep  remorse,  she  hastened  to  Theseus,  told  him  all,  and 
 then  went  away  and  hung  herself.  The  gods,  who  ever 
 took  compassion  on  the  innocent,  allowed  Aesculapius  to 
 restore  Hippolytos  to  life,  and  we  see  him  shining  in  the 
 heavens  as  the  constellation  of  Auriga  the  charioteer. 
 
 X. — ETEOCLES   AND    POLYNICES. 
 
 One  of  the  descendants  of  Kadmos  was  Laius,  who, 
 after  the  death  of  Amphion  and  Zethus,  returned  to  Thebes 
 and  ascended  the  throne  of  his  father.  His  wife  Jocasta 
 was  the  daughter  of  a  Theban  noble,  and  an  oracle  had 
 once  foretold  that  the  first  child  that  should  be  born  to  the 
 royal  couple  would  kill  his  father  and  marry  his  mother. 
 Therefore  errief  and  horror  filled  the  hearts  of  Laius  and 
 
Et co des  a nd  Polyn  ices.  293 
 
 Jocasta,  and  when  their  son  was  born  they  determined  he 
 should  be  put  to  death,  and  the  king  commanded  a  slave  to 
 take  the  child  and  to  slay  it  in  a  wood. 
 
 The  man  took  the  child,  and  went  forth  to  the  wooded 
 Mount  Kithaeron,  and  then  instead  of  killing  it,  he  hung  it 
 to  a  tree  by  its  feet,  and  went  away,  leaving  it  to  starve  or  to 
 be  eaten  up  by  wild  beasts.  The  cries  of  the  little  one, 
 however,  attracted  the  attention  of  the  shepherd  of  King 
 Polybos  of  Corinth,  who  was  herding  his  flocks  near  by. 
 Finding  the  child  tied,  he  cut  the  rope  by  which  his  feet 
 were  fastened,  and  seeing  that  they  were  much  swollen,  he 
 rubbed  them  with  an  ointment  of  healing  herbs,  and  named 
 the  boy  Oedipus,  or  "  thick  foot."  Then  he  carried  him  to 
 Periboea,  the  Queen  of  Corinth,  and  by  her  he  was  brought 
 up  as  her  own  son. 
 
 Time  passed  on,  and  as  Oedipus  grew  up  he  excelled  all 
 other  youths  in  strength  and  agility.  In  the  chase,  in  sports 
 and  games,  he  was  ever  the  foremost,  until  jealousy  began 
 to  fill  the  hearts  of  his  companions;  and  at  length  they 
 taunted  him,  telling  him  that  he  was  not  in  truth  the  son  of 
 King  Polybos,  but  only  a  foundling  whose  parents  were  un- 
 known. Grief  filled  the  heart  of  Oedipus  when  he  heard 
 these  words,  and  sorrowfully  he  went  to  the  queen  to  ask 
 the  truth.  "  No,  my  child,"  she  answered,  "  thou  art  not 
 our  son.  A  shepherd  found  thee  in  the  woods,  and  I  know 
 not  who  thy  parents  are.  Wouldst  thou  learn  that,  then 
 must  thou  consult  the  oracle." 
 
 So  when  Oedipus  became  a  man,  he  left  Corinth  and  went 
 to  consult  the  oracle  at  Delphi.  And  the  answer  came : 
 "  Beware  of  returning  to  thy  native  land,  else  shalt  thou  kill 
 thy  father  and  marry  thy  mother." 
 
 "May  the  gods  defend  me  from  such  a  crime,"  cried 
 Oedipus,  startled  and  horrified  ;  "  never  will  I  return  again 
 
294  Eteocles  and  Poly  nie  es. 
 
 to  Corinth;"  for  he  still  believed  that  Corinth  was  his 
 country,  and  that  Polybos  and  Periboea  were  his  parents. 
 Therefore  he  journeyed  onwards  with  a  heart  full  of  sorrow, 
 and  turned  his  steps  towards  Thebes,  little  dreaming  that  by 
 so  doing  he  was  in  truth  fulfilling  the  prophecy  of  the 
 oracle. 
 
 As  he  came  near  to  the  city  a  chariot  met  him  in  a  narrow 
 path.  In  it  was  seated  King  Laius,  who  was  on  his  way  to 
 consult  the  oracle  at  Delphi  as  to  what  had  become  of  his 
 son.  The  charioteer  cried  to  Oedipus  to  make  way  for  the 
 king,  and  as  he  did  not  immediately  obey,  pressed  the 
 horses  upon  him.  Then  the  anger  of  Oedipus  was  aroused, 
 and  hastily  drawing  his  sword,  he  slew  both  the  king  and 
 his  servant.  Thus  was  the  first  part  of  the  prediction  ful- 
 filled. 
 
 Oedipus  continued  his  journey,  and  soon  arrived  at  Thebes, 
 where  he  found  the  whole  city  in  grief  and  sorrow.  En- 
 quiring the  reason,  he  was  told  that  Hera  to  punish  the 
 Thebans  had  sent  the  terrible  Sphinx,  a  monster  having  the 
 face  of  a  woman  and  the  body  of  a  lion,  to  devour  all  who 
 could  not  answer  her  riddles.  The  son  of  Creon,  brother 
 to  Jocasta,  had  just  perished  in  this  manner,  and  now  it  had 
 been  promised  to  whoever  should  slay  the  monster  that  he 
 should  sit  on  the  throne  of  Thebes,  and  have  the  hand  of 
 the  widowed  Jocasta  in  marriage. 
 
 With  a  light  heart  Oedipus  went  forth,  in  the  hope  that 
 perchance  he  might  be  successful,  though  others  had  failed. 
 When  he  drew  near  to  the  Sphinx,  he  cried  to  her,  "  What 
 is  thy  riddle,  O  Sphinx  ?  " 
 
 And  she  answered :  "  What  is  it  that  goes  on  four  legs  in 
 the  morning,  on  two  at  noon,  and  on  three  in  the  evening  ; 
 and  when  it  has  most  feet  its  movement  is  slowest  ?  " 
 
 Oedipus  pondered  the  riddle  for  a  few  moments,  and  then 
 
Et  codes  and  Polynices.  295 
 
 his  answer  came  :  "  It  is  a  man,  for  in  childhood  he  creeps 
 upon  all  fours,  in  manhood  he  stands  on  two  feet,  in  old  age 
 he  has  a  staff  to  aid  him,  and  his  movement  is  slowest  when 
 he  is  an  infant  " 
 
 In  despair  at  her  riddle  being  guessed,  the  Sphinx 
 threw  herself  down  from  her  rock  and  was  killed,  while 
 Oedipus  returned  to  Thebes  amidst  the  rejoicings  of  the 
 excited  people.  Then  a  great  feast  was  held,  and  he  re- 
 ceived the  crown  of  Thebes,  and  Jocasta  was  given  to  him 
 in  marriage.  Thus  was  fulfilled  literally  the  whole  of  the 
 prophecy. 
 
 But  even  now  Oedipus  did  not  imagine  any  evil,  until  at 
 length  a  frightful  plague  broke  out  in  the  city  of  Thebes,  and 
 the  oracle  declared  the  plague  would  not  cease  until  the 
 death  of  Laius  was  avenged. 
 
 None  however  knew  who  had  slain  the  king.  Therefore 
 they  sent  for  the  wise  old  soothsayer  Tiresias,  who  called  up 
 the  spirit  of  Laius  from  the  underworld,  and  then  accused 
 Oedipus  of  being  the  murderer.  He  repudiated  the  crime, 
 for  as  yet  he  was  unaware  that  he  had  slain  Laius.  But  too 
 soon  he  learnt  the  truth. 
 
 King  Polybos  of  Corinth  died,  and  when  Oedipus  would 
 have  mourned  for  him  as  his  father,  Periboea  recounted  to 
 him  how  a  shepherd  had  found  him  on  Mount  Cithaeron, 
 and  had  brought  him  to  her,  and  that  thus  he  was  only  her 
 adopted  son.  When  Oedipus  heard  her  words,  he  sought 
 the  slave  who  had  carried  him  to  the  wood,  and  from  him 
 he  learnt  that  he  was  in  truth  the  son  of  Laius. 
 
 Filled  with  horror  at  the  fearful  deed  he  had  unconsciously 
 committed,  Oedipus  cried  out  that  eyes  which  had  seen 
 such  fearful  crimes  ought  never  again  to  behold  the  light 
 of  the  sun,  and  with  his  own  hand  he  put  out  his  eyes. 
 Jocasta  lay  dead,  having  killed  herself  in  her  misery,  and 
 
296  Eteocles  and  Polynices. 
 
 the  city  was  filled  with  grief  and  woe  for  the  fearful  calami- 
 ties which  had  come  upon  the  house  of  its  king.  Accom- 
 panied by  his  faithful  daughter  Antigone,  Oedipus  left 
 Thebes,  and  wandered  far  from  the  land  of  Cadmus.  At 
 length  he  came  to  Colonus  in  Attica,  where  in  a  hidden 
 dell  or  grove,  sacred  to  the  Eumenides,  the  blind  king 
 lived  to  a  very  old  age. 
 
 The  curse  that  had  lain  on  Oedipus  followed  his  two 
 sons  Eteocles  and  Polynices.  Being  twins,  their  father  had 
 commanded  that  they  should  reign  conjointly;  but  Eteocles 
 wished  to  reign  alone,  and  compelled  his  brother  to  fly 
 the  country.  Polynices  went  to  Argos,  and  entreated  King 
 Adrastus  to  aid  him  in  recovering  his  rights.  Now  Adrastus 
 had  two  daughters,  and  of  them  an  oracle  had  predicted 
 that  one  must  marry  a  lion,  and  the  other  a  wild  boar. 
 When,  therefore,  two  princes  appeared  at  his  court,  Poly- 
 nices with  a  lion's  skin  hung  over  his  shoulder,  and  Tydeus, 
 son  of  Oeneus  of  Calydon,  with  the  skin  of  a  wild  boar, 
 Adrastus  believed  that  these  were  the  sons-in-law  appointed 
 by  the  oracle,  and  bestowed  on  them  his  daughters  Argia 
 and  Deipyle  in  marriage.  In  addition  he  was  quite  willing 
 to  grant  the  request  of  Polynices ;  but  he  wished  to  try 
 fair  means  before  resorting  to  force,  and  therefore  Tydeus 
 was  sent  to  Thebes  to  ask  Eteocles  to  allow  his  brother  to 
 share  the  kingdom  with  him. 
 
 The  Thebans  were  just  sitting  down  to  a  banquet  when 
 Tydeus  arrived,  and  when  he  told  his  errand  they  laughed 
 him  to  scorn.  Wrathful  at  being  thus  treated,  he  offered 
 to  fight  with  all  the  partakers  of  the  banquet  in  turn,  and 
 having  done  so,  and  slain  them  all,  he  prepared  to  depart. 
 Just  as  he  left  the  gates  of  Thebes,  however,  fifty  armed 
 men  fell  upon  him  and  surrounded  him.  But  Tydeus  was 
 not  to  be  overcome,  bravely  he  fought,  till  forty-nine  of  his 
 
Rteocles  and  Poly niccs.  297 
 
 foes  lay  dying  around  him,  and  then  the  last  one  ran  back 
 to  the  city  to  tell  the  people  of  the  fate  of  his  comrades. 
 
 After  this  Adrastus  and  Polynices  determined  to  make 
 war  on  Thebes  ;  they  were  joined  by  five  other  heroes,  and 
 from  this  the  war  is  known  as  that  of  the  "  Seven  against 
 Thebes." 
 
 When  the  heroes  came  to  the  town  of  Nemea,  they  saw  a 
 beautiful  maiden,  with  a  child  in  her  arms,  seated  by  the 
 wayside.  This  was  Hypsipyie,  daughter  of  Thoas,  at  one 
 time  King  of  Lemnos,  from  which  island  Hypsipyie  had 
 been  driven  away  by  the  inhabitants  ;  she  had  then  fallen 
 into  the  hands  of  pirates,  who  sold  her  as  a  slave  to 
 Lycurgus,  King  of  Nemea.  He  had  entrusted  to  her  the 
 care  of  his  little  son  Archemorus,  with  these  words  :  "  Re- 
 member never  to  place  the  babe  upon  the  ground,  for  an 
 oracle  has  said  that  he  must  never  touch  the  earth  until  he 
 is  old  enough  to  run."  Hypsipyie  promised  to  recollect 
 the  warning,  and  guarded  the  child  so  carefully  that  she 
 never  let  him  go  out  of  her  arms.  When  the  seven  heroes 
 rode  by  they  begged  the  maiden  to  show  them  a  spring  at 
 which  they  might  quench  their  thirst,  and  she  led  them 
 immediately  to  a  neighbouring  well.  When  she  wished  to 
 draw  some  water  for  them,  however,  she  could  not  do  it 
 holding  the  child,  so  she  placed  him  on  some  thick,  high- 
 growing  ivy  near  the  spring,  and  then  descended  the  steps 
 to  fetch  the  water.  While  she  was  engaged  in  this,  the 
 dragon  who  guarded  the  well  crept  out  and  devoured  the 
 child.  The  heroes  killed  the  dragon,  and  besought  the 
 king  to  forgive  Hypsipyie  for  her  thoughtlessness,  but 
 Lykurgos  threw  her  into  prison,  where  she  remained  for 
 many  years. 
 
 In  remembrance  of  Archemorus,  funeral  games  were 
 instituted,  and  these  later  on  were  merged  in  to  the  Nemean 
 games  which  took  place  every  three  years. 
 
298  Eteocles  and  Poly nices. 
 
 The  seven  now  arrived  at  Thebes,  and  as  the  city  had 
 seven  gates,  they  each  chose  one,  before  which  to  make  a 
 stand.  Suddenly  the  gates  opened,  and  out  rushed  seven 
 Theban  heroes.  A  fearful  carnage  ensued,  in  which  Eteo- 
 cles and  Polynices  killed  one  another,  and  at  last  Arastus 
 alone  survived  of  all  the  seven  heroes  who  had  come  from 
 Argos. 
 
 After  the  death  of  Eteocles,  Kreon  undertook  the  govern- 
 ment of  Thebes,  and  commanded  that  no  one,  on  pain  of 
 death,  should  bury  the  body  of  Polynices.  But  Antigone, 
 the  faithful  daughter  of  Oedipus,  could  not  rest  while  the 
 body  of  her  brother  lay  unburied ;  so  in  the  darkness  of 
 the  night  she  stole  through  the  gates  of  the  city,  and  aided 
 by  Argia,  the  widow  of  Polynices,  buried  the  body.  Kreon 
 was  informed  of  this,  and  ordered  the  offenders  to  be 
 brought  before  him.  Argia  saved  herself  by  flight,  but 
 Antigone  was  captured  and  sentenced  to  die. 
 
 Haemon,  the  son  of  Kreon,  was  commanded  to  put  the 
 maiden  to  death,  but  he  had  long  secretly  loved  the  noble 
 Antigone,  and  now  instead  of  taking  her  life  he  concealed 
 her  in  a  solitary  shepherd's  hut.  Out  of  gratitude  she 
 became  his  wife,  while  he  pretended  that  she  was  dead. 
 Some  years  passed,  and  then  Kreon  was  told  that  not  only 
 was  Antigone  still  alive,  but  that  she  had  become  the  wife 
 of  his  son.  Then  his  fury  knew  no  bounds,  seizing  the  un- 
 fortunate Antigone,  he  caused  her  to  be  buried  alive,  and 
 Haemon  in  bitter  grief,  unable  to  live  without  her,  threw 
 himself  on  his  sword,  and  fell  lifeless  on  her  grave. 
 
 Ten  years  later  the  sons  of  the  heroes  who  had  been  slain 
 before  Thebes  determined  to  avenge  the  deaths  of  their 
 fathers,  hardly  needing  the  persuasions  of  Adrastus  to 
 induce  them  to  undertake  the  expedition  against  the  city. 
 The  oracle  promised  a  successful  issue,  and  eight  in  number, 
 they  set  forth. 
 
The  Caly donian  Htint.  299 
 
 The  Thebans  came  to  meet  them  and  offered  battle,  but 
 they  suffered  a  complete  defeat.  They  then  enquired  of 
 Tiresias  what  they  should  do,  and  he  counselled  them  to 
 give  up  the  town  to  the  victors.  This  they  agreed  to  do, 
 and  taking  all  their  treasures  with  them,  they  went  on 
 board  ship  under  cover  of  the  night,  and  the  next  day  the 
 heroes  from  Argos  entered  Thebes  without  opposition, 
 plundered  the  city,  and  burnt  it  to  the  ground. 
 
 XI. — THE   CALYDONIAN    HUNT. 
 
 About  this  time  there  reigned  in  Aetolia,  Oeneus,  King 
 of  Calydon,  and  his  wife  Althaea.  When  a  son  was  born 
 to  them  they  named  him  Meleager,  and  the  Moirae  or 
 Fates  came  to  bring  him  gifts.  Clotho  bestowed  on 
 him  generosity ;  Lachesis,  courage ;  but  Atropos  said : 
 u  Meleager  shall  live  only  so  long  as  the  brand  that  now 
 lies  burning  on  the  hearth  is  not  destroyed  by  fire." 
 Quickly  the  mother  snatched  from  the  hearth  the  burning 
 brand,  and  extinguishing  it,  she  placed  it  carefully  away  that 
 no  heedless  hand  might  again  set  it  alight. 
 
 When  Meleager  grew  up  a  strong,  brave  man,  his  father 
 presented  a  thank-offering  to  the  gods  for  a  bountiful 
 harvest,  unfortunately  omitting  Artemis.  The  goddess,  in- 
 censed at  this  slight,  sent  a  savage  wild  boar,  which  Ovid 
 thus  describes  : 
 
 "  His  eye-balls  glare  with  fire  suffus'd  with  blood  ; 
 His  neck  shoots  up  a  thick-set  thorny  wood  ; 
 His  bristled  back  a  trench  impal'd  appears, 
 And  stands  erected,  like  a  field  of  spears  ; 
 Froth  fills  his  chaps,  he  sends  a  grunting  sound, 
 And  part  he  churns,  and  part  befoams  the  ground. 
 
300  The  Calydoiiian  Hunt. 
 
 For  tusks  with  Indian  elephants  he  strove, 
 
 And  Jove's  own  thunder  from  his  mouth  he  drove. 
 
 He  burns  the  leaves  ;  the  scorching  blast  invades 
 
 The  tender  corn,  and  shrivels  up  the  blades  : 
 
 Or  suffering  not  their  yellow  beards  to  rear, 
 
 He  tramples  down  the  spikes,  and  intercepts  the  year. 
 
 In  vain  the  barns  expect  their  promis'd  load  ; 
 
 Nor  barns  at  home,  nor  ricks  are  heap'd  abroad  : 
 
 In  vain  the  hinds  the  threshing  floor  prepare, 
 
 And  exercise  their  flails  in  empty  air. 
 
 With  olives  ever-green  the  ground  is  strow'd, 
 
 And  grapes  ungather'd  shed  their  generous  blood. 
 
 Amid  the  fold  he  rages,  nor  the  sheep 
 
 Their  shepherds,  nor  the  grooms  their  bulls  can  keep.'' 
 
 All  the  country  people  fled  into  the  towns  on  account  of 
 the  terrible  animal,  and  he  committed  such  havoc  all 
 around  that  at  length  Meleager  invited  the  heroes  of  Greece 
 to  join  him  in  a  hunt,  in  order  to  kill  the  boar. 
 
 Thirty-two  valiant  youths,  with  Atalanta,  the  great 
 huntress,  accepted  the  invitation.  Ovid  gives  this  descrip- 
 tion of  Atalanta : 
 
 "  Amongst  the  rest,  fair  Atalanta  came, 
 Grace  of  the  woods  ;  a  diamond  buckle  bound 
 Her  vest  behind,  that  else  had  flow'd  upon  the  ground 
 And  shewed  her  buskin'd  legs  ;  her  head  was  bare, 
 But  for  her  native  ornament  of  hair  ; 
 Which  in  a  single  knot  was  tied  above. 
 
 Her  sounding  quiver,  on  her  shoulder  tied, 
 One  hand  a  dart,  and  one  a  bow  supply'd. 
 Such  was  her  face,  as  in  a  nymph  displayed 
 A  fair  fierce  boy,  or  in  a  boy  betray'd 
 The  blushing  beauties  of  a  modest  maid." 
 
 Among  the  assembled  heroes  were  the  Dioscuri,  Castor 
 and  Pollux,    Jason,   Theseus,   Pirithous,  Admetus,   Iolans, 
 
The  Calydonian  Hunt.  301 
 
 and  many  others.  When  all  had  arrived,  they  set  forth  in 
 quest  of  the  boar,  and  first  reached  a  dense  forest  where 
 they  spread  nets  and  uncoupled  their  dogs.  Then  they 
 tracked  the  monster  to  his  lair,  a  marshy  swamp  thickly 
 overgrown  with  willows  and  rushes. 
 
 No  sooner  did  he  become  aware  of  their  approach  than, 
 full  of  fury,  he  rushed  forth  trampling  down  the  brushes  and 
 trees  in  his  path. 
 
 "  The  beast  impetuous  with  his  tusks  aside 
 Deals  glancing  wounds  ;  the  fearful  dogs  divide  : 
 All  spend  their  mouths  aloof,  but  none  abide." 
 
 From  all  sides  arrows  rained  upon  him,  but  they  either 
 missed  the  mark  or  else  fell  harmlessly  beside  the  boar, 
 unable  to  penetrate  his  skin. 
 
 "  This  chaf'd  the  boar,  his  nostrils  flames  expire, 
 And  his  red  eye-balls  roll  with  living  fire. 
 Whirl'd  from  a  sling,  or  from  an  engine  thrown 
 Amid  the  foes,  so  flies  a  mighty  stone, 
 As  flew  the  beast  :  the  left  wing  put  to  flight, 
 The  chiefs  o'erborne,  he  rushes  on  the  right." 
 
 Already  three  of  the  heroes  lay  stretched  along  the  ground, 
 and  a  fourth  only  saved  himself  by  climbing  a  tree  with  the 
 help  of  his  lance.  From  thence  he  looked  down  with 
 beating  heart  on  the  huge  animal  as  he  made  wild  rushes  at 
 the  lower  part  of  the  trunk  of  the  tree. 
 
 "  Now  Leda's  twins,  the  future  stars,  appear  ; 
 White  were  their  habits,  white  their  horses  were 
 Conspicuous  both,  and  both  in  act  to  throw 
 Their  trembling  lances,  brandish'd  at  the  foe  : 
 Nor  had  they  miss'd  ;  but  he  to  thickets  fled, 
 Conceal'd  from  aiming  spears,  not  pervious  to  the  steed." 
 
 What,  however,  the  Dioscuri  were  unable  to  effect,  the  fair 
 
302  The  Calydonian  Hitnt. 
 
 huntress  Atalanta  accomplished.  An  arrow  shot  by  her 
 hand  struck  the  boar  just  below  the  ear,  and  went  right 
 through  his  head.  Meleager,  who  loved  the  fair,  brave 
 maiden,  was  the  first  to  point  out  this  successful  shot  to  his 
 companions. 
 
 a  Nor  shall  thy  valour  want  the  praises  due, 
 He  said.     A  virtuous  envy  seized  the  crew  ; 
 They  shout  ;   the  shouting  animates  their  hearts, 
 And  all  at  once  employ  their  thronging  darts." 
 
 On  all  sides  now  the  heroes  attacked  the  boar.  One 
 hurled  his  double-edged  axe  at  the  animal,  but  he  turned  on 
 him,  and  piercing  him  with  his  sharp  tusks,  threw  him  to 
 the  ground.  The  lance  of  Theseus  glanced  aside  and  only 
 hit  an  oak;  and  that  of  Jason  struck  one  of  the  dogs 
 instead  of  the  boar. 
 
 At  length  Meleager  was  successful,  his  spear  pierced  the 
 back  of  the  animal,  and  when  it  turned  furiously  round 
 upon  him  he  drove  his  hunting  knife  right  into  his  heart. 
 Loud  were  the  rejoicings  of  his  companions,  who  thronged 
 round,  and  marvelled  at  the  enormous  size  of  the  dying 
 monster. 
 
 Then  Meleager  drew  off  his  skin,  together  with  the  head 
 and  tusks,  and  presented  it  to  Atalanta  as  a  sign  of  her 
 victory.  This  roused  the  anger  of  the  brothers  of  Althaea, 
 and  they  cried  : 
 
 "  Lay  down  those  honour'd  spoils,  nor  think  to  share, 
 Weak  woman  as  thou  art,  the  prize  of  war." 
 
 At  the  same  time  they  snatched  the  spoil  from  her  hand. 
 But  Meleager  would  not  quietly  suffer  this,  and  after  fierce 
 words,  in  the  heat  of  anger  he  slew  first  one  and  then  the 
 other.     Althaea  had  gone  to  the  temple  to  return  thanks  for 
 
The  Calydonian  Hunt.  303 
 
 the  victory,   when  the  dead  bodies  of  her  brothers  were 
 
 brought  to  her. 
 
 "  Pale  at  the  sudden  sight,  she  changed  her  cheer, 
 And  with  her  cheer,  her  robes  ;  but  hearing  tell 
 The  cause,  the  manner,  and  by  whom  they  fell, 
 'Twas  grief  no  more,  or  grief  and  rage  were  one 
 Within  her  soul." 
 
 Filled  with  anger  against  her  own,  Althaea  drew  forth  the 
 brand,  on  the  preservation  of  which  his  life  depended. 
 "  And  first  she  strews 
 The  hearth  with  heaps  of  chips,  and  after  blows  : 
 Thrice  heav'd  her  hand,  and  heav'd  she  thrice  repress'd 
 The  sister  and  the  mother  long  contest, 
 Two  doubtful  titles,  in  one  tender  breast  : 
 And  now  her  eyes  and  cheeks  with  fury  glow, 
 Now  pale  her  cheeks,  her  eyes  with  pity  flow. 
 
 Sister,  and  mother,  long  the  scales  divide  ; 
 But  the  beam  nodded  on  the  sister's  side. 
 
 High  in  her  hand 
 Thus  while  she  spoke,  she  held  the  fatal  brand  ; 
 Then  thrice  before  the  kindled  pile  she  bowed, 
 And  the  three  Furies  thus  invoked  aloud  : 
 Come,  come,  revenging  sisters,  come,  and  view 
 A  sister  paying  her  dead  brother's  due. 
 A  crime  I  punish  and  a  crime  commit, 
 But  blood  for  blood,  and  death  for  death  is  fit. 
 
 Let  the  whole  household  in  one  ruin  fall, 
 And  may  Diana's  cause  o'ertake  us  all. 
 Shall  fate  to  happy  Oeneus  still  allow 
 One  son,  while  Thestius  stands  depriv'd  of  two  ? 
 
 Ah  !  whither  am  I  hurried  ?  Ah  !  forgive, 
 Ye  shades,  and  let  your  sister's  issue  live : 
 A  mother  cannot  give  him  death  ;  though  he 
 
304  The  Calydonian  Hunt. 
 
 Deserves  it,  he  deserves  it  not  from  me. 
 
 Then  shall  th'  unpunish'd  wretch  insult  the  slain  ? 
 
 Perish  this  impious,  this  detested  son ; 
 
 Perish  his  sire,  and  perish  I  withal  ; 
 
 And  let  the  house's  heir  and  the  hop'd  kingdom  fall. 
 
 Ah  !  hadst  thou  died,  my  son,  in  infant  years, 
 Thy  little  hearse  had  been  bedewed  with  tears. 
 Thou  liv'st  by  me  ;  to  me  thy  breath  resign  ; 
 
 Thy  life  by  double  title  I  require  ; 
 Once  given  at  birth,  and  once  preserved  by  fire 
 One  murder  pay,  or  add  one  murder  more, 
 And  me  to  them  who  fell  by  thee  restore. 
 I  would,  but  cannot  ;  my  son's  image  stands 
 Before  my  sight  ;  and  now  their  angry  hands 
 My  brothers  hold,  and  vengeance  these  exact, 
 This  pleads  compassion,  and  repents  the  fact. 
 He  pleads  in  vain,  and  I  pronounced  his  doom  : 
 My  brothers,  though  unjustly,  shall  o'ercome. 
 
 At  this,  for  the  last  time,  she  lifts  her  hand, 
 Averts  her  eyes,  and,  half-unwilling,  drops  the  brand. 
 The  hand  amid  the  flaming  fuel  thrown, 
 Or  drew  or  seem'd  to  draw,  a  dying  groan  : 
 The  flares  themselves  but  faintly  lick'd  their  prey, 
 Then  loath*d  their  impious  food,  and  would  have  shrunk  away. 
 
 Just  then  the  hero  cast  a  doleful  cry, 
 And  in  those  absent  flames  began  to  fry  : 
 The  blind  contagion  rag'd  within  his  veins, 
 But  he  with  manly  patience  bore  his  pains  ; 
 He  fear'd  not  fate,  but  only  griev'd  to  die 
 Without  an  honest  wound,  and  by  a  death  so  dry. 
 
 Then  call'd  his  brothers,  sisters,  sire  around, 
 And  her  to  whom  his  nuptial  vows  were  bound  ; 
 
The  Lapithce  and  the  Centaurs.         305 
 
 Perhaps  his  mother  ;  a  long  sigh  he  drew, 
 
 And,  his  voice  failing,  took  his  last  adieu. 
 
 For  as  the  flames  augment, 
 
 They  rise  and  sink  by  fits  ;  at  last  they  soar 
 
 In  one  bright  blaze,  and  then  descend  no  more  : 
 
 Just  so  his  inward  heats,  at  height  impair, 
 
 Till  the  last  burning  breath  shoots  out  the  soul  in  air. 
 
 Now  lofty  Calydon  in  ruins  lies  ; 
 All  ages,  all  degrees  unsluice  their  eyes  ; 
 
 Matrons  and  maidens  beat  their  breasts,  and  tear 
 Their  habits,  and  root  up  their  scatter'd  hair  : 
 The  wretched  father  (father  now  no  more), 
 With  sorrow  sunk,  lies  prostrate  on  the  floor. 
 
 By  steel  her  stubborn  soul  his  mother  freed, 
 And  punish'd  on  herself  her  impious  deed." 
 
 The  sisters  of  Meleager,  inconsolable  with  grief,  embraced 
 the  dead  body  of  their  brother,  while  their  tears  fell  on  his 
 face.  Even  when  his  body  was  buried  they  refused  to  leave 
 the  grave,  and  at  length  Artemis  took  compassion  upon  them, 
 and  transformed  them  into  guinea-fowls,  who  to  this  day 
 still  give  forth  their  plaintive  cry. 
 
 XII.— THE    COMBAT    BETWEEN    THE 
 LAPITHAE    AND    THE    CENTAURS. 
 
 In  the  mountains  of  Thessaly — that  country  which  lies  in 
 the  north  of  Hellas — there  dwelt,  in  ancient  days,  two 
 nations:  the  wild  Centaurs  and  the  somewhat  more  civilised 
 Lapithae.  The  Centaurs  were  descendants  of  Ixion,  and  at 
 first  were  represented  as  real  human  beings,  only  of  gigantic 
 
 u 
 
o 
 
 06         The  Lapithce  and  the  Centaurs. 
 
 stature  and  having  hairy,  shaggy  skins.  Ixion  had  on  one 
 occasion  promised  them  a  great  reward  if  they  should  suc- 
 ceed in  destroying  a  herd  of  wild  oxen,  which  had  become 
 savage  and  were  devastating  the  neighbourhood. 
 
 The  Centaurs  immediately  mounted  some  of  the  horses 
 which  were  running  wild  among  the  mountains,  and  attacked 
 the  oxen,  whom  they  soon  succeeded  in  destroying.  From 
 this  feat  they  received  their  name  of  Centaurs,  or  "  oxen- 
 killers,"  as  the  neighbouring  people,  seeing  them  afar  off 
 mounted  on  horses  (to  them  quite  a  novel  sight),  imagined 
 man  and  steed  to  be  one,  and  soon  the  tale  spread  abroad 
 that  up  in  the  mountains  lived  a  strange  race,  half  man, 
 half  horse. 
 
 Not  far  from  the  Centaurs  lived  the  other  race,  the 
 Lapithae.  Many  a  fierce  combat  took  place  from  time  to 
 time  between  these  two  tribes,  but  the  latter,  as  being  the 
 more  civilised,  in  the  end  succeeded  in  conquering  the 
 Centaurs. 
 
 Many  of  the  old  poets  tell  the  story  of  the  fight  of  the 
 Lapithae  and  the  Centaurs,  and  it  also  formed  the  subject 
 of  numerous  pieces  of  sculpture.     The  tale  runs  thus — 
 
 Pirithous,  son  of  Ixion,  was  celebrating  his  marriage  with 
 Hippodamia,  the  daughter  of  Adrastus,  and  among  the 
 wedding  guests  were  the  Centaurs.  But  the  copious 
 draughts  of  wine  excited  the  wild  guests ;  fiery  words  rose  to 
 their  lips,  and  at  length  one  of  them  laid  hold  of  the  bride 
 by  her  hair,  intending  to  try  and  carry  her  off,  while  the 
 rest  seized  the  other  women  and  maidens  who  were  at  the 
 banquet. 
 
 Then  in  fierce  anger  Theseus  sprang  from  his  seat,  and 
 while  all  the  guests  hastily  rose,  his  wrathful  voice  was 
 heard:  "What  phrenzy  possesses  thee?  what  madness  is 
 this  ?     Know,  that  while  I  live,  thou  wrongest  not  Pirithous 
 
The  Lapithcc  and  the  Centaurs.         307 
 
 alone,  but  two  friends  in  one,"  and  to  show  that  the  threat 
 was  meant,  he  thrust  aside  the  Centaur  and  freed  the  bride. 
 But  the  offender,  roused  by  the  act,  struck  Theseus  on  the 
 breast,  and  this  was  the  signal  for  a  general  conflict. 
 
 Terrible  was  the  tumult  that  ensued.  The  hero  seized 
 a  heavy  goblet  from  the  table,  and  hurled  it  at  the  Centaur, 
 who  fell  senseless  to  the  ground.  Quickly  the  rest  of  the 
 tribe  rose  with  wild  cries  of  "  To  arms,  to  arms."  Goblets, 
 beakers,  stools,  every  implement  they  could  seize,  was 
 hurled  from  all  sides.  One  of  the  Centaurs  tore  the  lighted 
 sconce  from  the  ceiling,  and  swinging  it  high  in  the  air, 
 directed  it  full  at  one  of  the  Lapithae,  and  shattered  his 
 head.  In  revenge,  one  of  the  Lapithae,  broke  a  leg  from 
 off  the  table,  and  with  two  fierce  blows  stretched  his  foe 
 along  the  ground. 
 
 One  rushed  to  the  altar,  on  which  fire  was  burning,  and 
 threw  some  of  the  burning  brands  among  his  enemies,  but 
 in  return  had  his  eyes  put  out  by  one  of  his  antagonists 
 with  a  pair  of  stag's  antlers.  Thus  the  combat  raged  ever 
 fiercer  and  fiercer.  One  Centaur  struck  his  enemy  with  a 
 burning  brand,  next  he  slew  a  young  boy  of  the  Lapithae. 
 "  What  glory  canst  thou  gain  by  killing  the  child,"  cried 
 one,  but  for  sole  answer  the  Centaur  thrust  the  burning 
 brand  down  the  speaker's  throat.  But  retribution  followed 
 him  ;  as  he  turned,  another  of  the  Lapithae  pierced  his 
 shoulder  with  a  red  hot  spear,  and  he  fled,  howling  with 
 rage. 
 
 The  rest  of  the  Centaurs,  fearing  the  glowing  iron  hastily 
 fled  from  the  grotto,  the  last  one,  having  turned  as  he  ran, 
 received  a  scorching  wound  between  the  eyes.  One  of 
 them  had  been  so  intent  on  drinking  that  he  had  been 
 quite  unconscious  of  the  fearful  din.  Overcome  with  wine, 
 he  lay  stretched  on  the  ground  on  a  bearskin.     One  of  the 
 
308  The  Lapithce  and  the  Centaurs. 
 
 Lapithae  caught  sight  of  him  as  he  lay  there,  and  grasping 
 his  spear,  cried  :  "  Drink  wine  in  the  river  Styx,"  and  drove 
 the  point  of  it  into  his  throat,  so  that  the  black  blood 
 streamed  out,  and  the  sleeper  painlessly  breathed  his  last. 
 
 Pirithous  was  victorious  above  all  the  rest  in  this  conflict. 
 He  pinned  one  of  his  foes  to  the  stem  of  an  oak  tree  with 
 his  lance ;  two  others  he  cut  down  with  one  blow  of  his 
 sword ;  a  fourth  was  pierced  through  the  head,  and  a  fifth 
 attempting  to  fly  from  him  slipped  down  the  steep  rock 
 and  was  impaled  on  a  tree. 
 
 Theseus  performed  wonders.  Springing  on  to  the  back 
 of  a  Centaur  he  broke  his  ribs  by  the  pressure  of  his 
 knees,  at  the  same  time  knocking  him  on  the  head  with 
 his  club.  Five  others  were  slain  by  his  hand ;  at  last  one 
 Centaur,  tearing  up  a  large  fir  tree,  hurled  it  at  Theseus, 
 but  he  managed  to  evade  it,  though  it  killed  the  man 
 beside  him. 
 
 For  some  time  longer  the  fight  continued,  until  at  length 
 the  Lapithae  remained  victors,  and  the  rest  of  the  Centaurs 
 took  to  flight. 
 
 The  wild  tribe  fled  through  Hellas,  and  across  the 
 isthmus  into  Arcadia,  where  they  had  a  second  combat 
 with  Hercules,  who  drove  them  out  of  all  the  caves  and 
 dens  in  which  they  had  concealed  themselves.  Those  who 
 escaped  him  then  fled  to  the  Isles  of  the  Syrens,  where 
 they  were  devoured  by  those  monsters. 
 
The  Argonautic  Expedition.  309 
 
 XIII. —THE   ARGONAUTIC    EXPEDITION. 
 
 In  Iolcus,  in  Thessaly,  the  northern  boundary  of  Greece, 
 reigned  King  Aeson.  But  the  cares  of  the  kingdom  hung 
 heavy  on  him,  and  at  length  he  retired,  giving  up  the 
 throne  to  his  son  Jason.  The  lad  was  still  very  young, 
 therefore  Pelias,  the  half-brother  of  Aeson,  governed  for 
 him ;  but  so  much  did  he  like  the  power  he  held  that  he 
 determined,  if  possible,  to  retain  it. 
 
 Jason,  meanwhile,  had  been  entrusted  to  the  care  of  the 
 wise  and  clever  Centaur,  Chiron,  and  he  did  full  honour  to 
 his  master.  Among  all  the  old  Greek  heroes  the  son  of 
 Aeson  was  one  of  the  greatest. 
 
 One  day  Pelias  offered  a  solemn  sacrifice  to  Poseidon,  to 
 which  he  invited  all  his  relations,  and  among  them  came 
 Jason.  On  his  way  the  young  man  reached  a  river.  Here 
 stood  an  old  dame  who  entreated  him  to  take  her  across. 
 Without  hesitation  he  raised  her  in  his  arms,  and  carried 
 her  safely  to  the  opposite  side,  but  one  of  his  sandals 
 remained  sticking  in  the  mud,  so  that  he  was  obliged  to 
 continue  his  journey  without  it.  The  old  woman  was  really 
 no  other  than  Hera,  who  in  this  disguise  had  come  to  prove 
 Jason. 
 
 When  Jason  arrived  at  Iolcus  he  presented  himself  before 
 Pelias  as  his  nephew,  and  demanded  his  father's  kingdom. 
 Pelias  had  not  seen  him  since  he  was  a  child,  and  had 
 entirely  forgotten  him.  Now  his  sudden  appearance  startled 
 him,  still  more  so  as  an  oracle  had  foretold  that  he  who 
 should  attend  the  sacrifice  wearing  only  one  shoe  would 
 deprive  him  of  the  crown.      Quickly  recovering  himself, 
 
J 
 
 io  The  Argonautic  Expedition. 
 
 however,  he  arranged  a  scheme  by  which  to  rid  himself  of 
 the  hated  nephew. 
 
 "So  be  it,"  he  said,  "thou  shalt  have  the  throne  of 
 Iolcus,  but  first  must  thou  go  forth  and  win  a  name  worthy 
 of  a  king.  Go  to  Colchis,  where,  carefully  guarded,  lies 
 the  Golden  Fleece  of  Phrixus.  When  thou  returnest  with 
 it  to  Iolcus,  then  shalt  thou  ascend  the  throne  of  thy 
 father."  Jason  did  not  perceive  the  artifice,  and  dazzled 
 by  the  glory  of  so  great  an  enterprise,  he  swore  by  the  gods 
 to  go  forth  and  accomplish  it. 
 
 The  history  of  the  Golden  Fleece  was  as  follows.  Not 
 far  from  Iolchus,  lay  the  small  kingdom  of  Alus,  of  which 
 Athamas  was  king.  By  his  first  wife  Nephele  he  had  a 
 son  Phrixus  and  a  daughter  Helle;  but  after  a  time  he 
 put  aside  Nephele  and  married  Ino,  who  hated  her  step- 
 children, treated  them  harshly  and  cruelly,  and  at  length 
 persuaded  her  husband  to  offer  them  both  up  as  a  sacrifice 
 to  the  gods.  Influenced  by  Ino,  Athamas  prepared  willingly 
 to  accede  to  her  wishes;  but  Nephele  appeared  to  her 
 children  in  a  dream  and  commanded  them  instantly  to  fly, 
 sending  to  aid  them  a  beautiful  strong  ram,  a  present  to 
 her  from  Hermes.  The  ram  was  a  creation  of  Poseidon, 
 and  a  marvel  of  his  kind.  He  had  more  than  human 
 understanding,  could  speak,  and  fly  through  the  air,  or  swim 
 across  the  sea,  and  his  fleece  was  golden. 
 
 Phrixus  and  Helle  seated  themselves  on  the  back  of  the 
 animal,  and  were  carried  by  him  to  the  sea-shore.  There 
 he  sprang  into  the  water  intending  to  swim  with  them  to 
 the  other  shore,  but  as  he  was  crossing  the  narrow  strait, 
 now  called  the  Dardanelles,  Helle  lost  her  hold,  slipped  off, 
 and  was  drowned.  Hence  the  Greeks  gave  the  strait  the 
 name  of  Hellespont  or  Sea  of  Helle.  Phrixus  feared  he 
 too  might  fall  off,  but  the  ram  reassured  him. 
 
The  Argonautic  Expedition.  31 1 
 
 "  Fear  not,"  he  said,  "  thy  fate  is  otherwise  decreed." 
 And  he  hurried  on,  across  the  Black  Sea  to  Colchis,  a 
 town  at  the  foot  of  Mt.  Caucasus,  where  Phrixus  was  kindly 
 welcomed  by  King  Aeetes,  a  son  of  Helios,  the  sun-god. 
 After  remaining  there  some  time  he  married  the  daughter 
 of  the  king,  and  then  the  ram,  having  finished  his  work, 
 desired  Phrixus  to  sacrifice  him,  and  to  hang  up  his  golden 
 fleece  in  a  grove,  sacred  either  to  Ares  or  Artemis. 
 
 Phrixus  did  as  he  was  desired,  and  the  immortal  part  of 
 the  ram  ascended  to  heaven,  where  it  is  still  visible  among 
 the  constellations,  while  the  fleece  was  hung  up,  and  after- 
 wards became  so  celebrated. 
 
 Jason  called  upon  all  the  Greek  heroes  to  come  and  take 
 part  in  the  expedition  to  Colchis.  And  to  this  call  they 
 all  responded.  Among  them  were  Herakles,  Castor  and 
 Pollux,  Theseus,  Peirithoos,  Pelius  (the  father  of  Achilles), 
 Meleager,  the  singer  Orpheus,  Amphion,  the  lad  Hylas, 
 and  Calais  and  Zetes  (two  sons  of  Boreas)  all  of  whom 
 were  sons  either  of  gods  or  kings. 
 
 Now  only  a  vessel  was  needed  to  carry  the  warriors  to 
 Colchis ;  and  Hera,  the  protectress  of  Jason,  here  came  to 
 his  aid.  The  Queen  of  Heaven  commanded  Athene  to 
 provide  a  ship,  and  she  at  once  directed  Argus,  the  son  of 
 Phrixus,  a  very  clever  architect,  to  construct  one.  During 
 its  building  she  put  in  a  piece  of  the  speaking  oak  of 
 Dodona ;  thus  it  was  that  the  vessel  was  able  to  talk.  The 
 ship  was  named  the  Argo,  and  those  who  sailed  in  her 
 received  the  name  of  Argonauts  or  sailors  of  the  Argo. 
 
 At  length  the  vessel  was  finished;  and  all  the  heroes, 
 ready  to  start  on  the  expedition,  went  down  to  the  shore  at 
 Iolcus  to  embark,  when  lo  !  the  Argo  was  found  to  be 
 immovable  !  Casting  aside  their  arms,  all  fastened  strong 
 ropes  round  their  chests  and  endeavoured  to  move  her  by 
 
3 1 2  The  Argonautic  Expedition. 
 
 main  force,  but  in  vain.  She  still  remained  firmly  em- 
 bedded in  the  shingle.  Then  Jason's  brave  heart  failed 
 him  for  an  instant,  but  not  for  long.  Bethinking  him  of 
 Orpheus,  the  sweet  singer  of  Thracia,  he  called 
 
 "  Me  unto  him,  that  I  by  the  power  of  my  music 
 Might  with  fresh  courage  inspire  their  long  and  wearisome 
 
 labours, 
 Quickly  my  harp  I  uplifted,  and  as  I  sent  forth  the  cadence, 
 Taught  by  my  mother  divine,  in  the  days  of  my  innocent  child- 
 hood 
 Stirred  I  the  hearts  of  the  heroes."  * 
 
 With  renewed  ardour  they  set  to  work,  for  the  song  of 
 Orpheus  put  fresh  vigour  into  their  hearts.  Then  the  oak, 
 out  of  which  part  of  the  ship's  keel  was  built,  was  heard  to 
 murmur,  and  suddenly  the  vessel  began  to  move  : 
 
 "  Bright  glanced  her  sides  as  she  sped  the  length  of  the  flat 
 
 shingly  margin, 
 Gaining  the  small  sheltered  bay.    Then  as  her  prow  kissed 
 
 the  waters 
 Quickly  they  parted  asunder,  rejoicing   the  heart   of  brave 
 
 Jason." 
 
 At  once  Argus  sprang  on  board  the  vessel,  followed  by 
 Tiphys,  the  steersman,  the  mast  and  sails  were  put  in,  and 
 all  else  that  was  needed,  and  then  the  oars  were  brought 
 down,  and  the  helm  fastened  to  the  rudder.  Now  all  was 
 ready,  and  Jason  reminded  them  that  a  leader  of  the 
 expedition  should  be  chosen,  proposing  that  their  choice 
 should  fall  on  Herakles.  To  this  the  others  agreed,  but  the 
 hero  himself  refused  the  honour.  He  knew  that  the  mighty 
 Queen  of  Heaven  was  his  enemy,  but  the  protectress  of 
 Jason,    therefore   he   begged  the    Argonauts  to  select  the 
 
 *  This  and  the  following  stanzas  are  from  an  ancient  Greek  poem, 
 the  "  Argonautica,"  supposed  to  have  been  written  by  Orpheus  himself. 
 
The  Argonautic  Expedition. 
 
 olo 
 
 son  of  Aeson  as  leader,  and  the  request  was  gladly 
 agreed  to. 
 
 Jason  demanded  that  his  companions  should  all  take  the 
 oath  of  obedience  to  him,  and  Orpheus  prepared  a  solemn 
 sacrifice,  which  he  thus  describes  : — 
 
 "  Now  to  the  low  sandy  shore,  we  brought  the  strong  limbs  of 
 
 the  oak  tree, 
 Placing  thereon   for    the    gods,   gifts  gathered    with    pious 
 
 devotion  ; 
 Next  I  the  mighty  steer  slew,  whose  crest  o'er  his  fellows  high 
 
 towered. 
 And  with  one  powerful  thrust,  I  severed  his  head  from  his 
 
 body, 
 Only  the  heart  I  cut  up,  and  placed  on  the  flat  baken  wheat 
 
 cakes, 
 Pouring  some  rich  golden  oil,  and  the  milk  of  the  sheep  o'er 
 
 the  offering." 
 
 Then  he  bade  his  comrades  gather  round  the  sacrifice,  and 
 thrust  their  spears  and  swords  into  it,  and 
 
 "  On  the  ground  in  their  midst,  I  placed  a  huge  earthen 
 
 vessel, 
 Holding  the  sacred  drink  which  with  many  a  prayer  I  had 
 
 mingled 
 Demeter's  all  precious  gift,  the  flour  that  mankind  sustaineth 
 Next  the  blood  of  the  steer,  and  lastly  the  brine  of  the  ocean. 
 Wreaths  of  the  olive  green,  I  bade  them  bind  round  their 
 
 foreheads, 
 Which  with  the  sacred  draught,  I  filled  a  rich  golden  goblet, 
 And  handed  the  mixture  round,  for  each  in  turn  to  partake  of. 
 Jason  commanded  I  then,  with  a  torch  to  fire  the  offering." 
 
 — "  Argonautica." 
 
 Speedily  the  sacrifice  was  reduced  to  ashes  by  the  flames, 
 and  then  turning  to  the  wrhite-crested  waves,  the  bard 
 stretched  forth  his  hands,  crying : 
 
314  The  Argonautic  Expedition. 
 
 "  Powers  of  the  great  sounding  deep — ye  gods  of  the  mighty 
 
 oceans, 
 Spirits  who  guard  the  lone  shores,  and  furthermost  waters  of 
 
 Tethys  ; 
 Nereus,  thee  too,  I  invoke,  the  ancient  and  father  of  all, 
 Thee,    and     thy    fifty    daughters,    all    gifted    with    beauty 
 
 supernal ; 
 Glaucus     surrounded     by     dolphins,     and    fair    foam-born 
 
 Amphitrite  ; 
 Proteus  also  and  Phorcus,  and  the  all-powerful  Triton  ! 
 Restless  swift-coursing  winds,  and  golden-hued  dawn  of  the 
 
 morning, 
 Star-spangled   ether  above,  and  dark  shrouded  daughter  of 
 
 evening. 
 Daemons  of  watery  depths,  who  unite  with  the  heroes  in 
 
 power  ; 
 Naiads  and  nymphs  of  the  rivers,  who  rush  to  the  boundless 
 
 ocean  ! 
 Come  from  your  surging  home,  and  list  to  the  oath  we  have 
 
 taken. 
 So  long  as  we  faithfully  keep,  the  oath  we  have  given  to 
 
 Jason, 
 Ever  to  be  at  his  side,  to  aid  him  in  all  his  hard  contests, 
 So  shall  we  safely  return,  each  to  his  own  native  country. 
 But   if  unmindful   of   this,   we   faithlessly  break    this,    our 
 
 promise, 
 May  the  all-judging  Dice,  against  us,  ever  be  witness, 
 And  the  dreaded  Erinnyes  follow  our  footsteps  for  ever." 
 
 — "  Argonautica." 
 When    the    oath    had    been    administered    to   all,   the 
 Argonauts  stepped  on  board  the  vessel,  and  after  laying 
 their  arms  under  the  seats,  grasped  the  oars.     Hera  sent  a 
 favourable  wind,  and  the  Argo  flew  on  her  way 
 
 "  Through  the  deep  endless  flood, 
 Scattering  the  white-crested  foam,  as  her  sharp  prow  clave 
 through  the  waters." 
 
The  Argonautic  Expedition.  3 1 5 
 
 By  morning  they  were  in  sight  of  the  lofty  peak  of  Mount 
 Pelion.  Tiphys  steered  towards  the  shore,  and  they  all 
 landed.  "  See  ye,  my  friends,"  said  Peleus,  "  that  wooded 
 rock  in  the  distance.  There  is  the  cave  of  Chiron,  the 
 best  and  wisest  of  all  Centaurs.  Wisely  did  silver-footed 
 Thetis  bring  Achilles  hither,  when  yet  a  babe,  that  he 
 might  be  educated  by  him.  My  heart  longs  to  embrace  my 
 son,  let  us  go  therefore  to  the  cave,  that  mine  eyes  may 
 once  more  behold  him." 
 
 "  Soon  we  arrived  at  the   cave,  and  there  in   the  darkened 
 entrance 
 Lay  outstretched    on   the  ground,   the   powerful  form  of  the 
 
 Centaur, 
 While  with  his  lyre  in  his  hand,  stood  the  son  of  Peleus  and 
 
 Thetis, 
 Bringing  forth  sweet  dreamy  strains,  to  please  the  ear  of  the 
 master." 
 
 — "  Argonautica." 
 
 When  Chiron  beheld  the  princes,  he  rose  joyfully,  and 
 received  them  with  great  gladness.  Then  he  prepared  a 
 couch  of  dried  leaves,  made  them  sit  down,  and  placed 
 wine  and  venison  before  them.  After  they  had  partaken  of 
 the  food,  the  heroes  begged  Orpheus  to  sing  to  the  accom- 
 paniment of  Chiron's  lyre.  But  the  singer  at  first  refused, 
 saying  he  dared  not  compete  with  one  so  renowned  and 
 famous  as  the  Centaur.  Chiron  himself,  however,  begged 
 him  to  join  in  a  contest,  and  taking  the  lyre  from  Achilles, 
 sang  the  battle  of  the  Centaurs  and  Lapithae,  and  their 
 fight  with  Herakles. 
 
 Then  Orpheus  sang  in  his  turn  about  Chaos,  the  skies, 
 and  the  heavens,  the  creation  of  earth  and  sea,  of  Eros  and 
 Kronos,  and  the  birth  of  all  the  lesser  gods  : 
 
 "  And  the  narrow  cave  rang  with  the  sound, 
 It  rose  to  the  mountain  tops,  and  the  wooded  valleys  of  Pelion, 
 
3*6  The  Ar gonautic  Expedition. 
 
 Bending  the  trees  that  had  stood  for  a  thousand  years  in  the 
 
 pine  woods. 
 Splitting  the  rocks  that  they  fell,  and  taming  the  beasts  of  the 
 
 forest. 
 Drawing  them  all  to  the  cave  by  the  wond'rous  power  of  its 
 
 music. 
 While  e'en  the  eagles  and  vultures  that  circled  the  stables  of 
 
 Chiron, 
 Paused  in  their  greedy  flight,  and  forgot  both  their  nests  and 
 
 their  natures." 
 
 — "  Argonautica." 
 
 Chiron  was  lost  in  wonder  at  the  beauty  of  the  song,  and 
 now,  as  Orpheus  concluded,  Tiphys  came  in  and  exhorted 
 them  to  depart,  so  they  hastily  took  up  their  weapons.  But 
 before  he  left,  brave  Peleus  raised  his  son  in  his  arms,  and 
 with  tears  in  his  eyes,  pressed  a  kiss  on  his  brow,  and  bade 
 him  farewell. 
 
 Chiron  bestowed  on  the  singer  Orpheus  a  beautiful  skin 
 as  a  parting  gift,  and  when  the  heroes  went  back  to  their 
 ships,  the  Centaur  accompanied  them  to  the  shore,  and 
 raising  his  hands  towards  heaven,  prayed  to  the  gods  for 
 their  safe  return. 
 
 Then  the  Argonauts  took  up  their  oars  once  more,  and 
 soon  the  vessel  was  cleaving  the  blue  waters,  swiftly  bearing 
 them  on  their  way.  Thus  they  journeyed  till  they  came  to 
 the  isle  of  Lemnos.  Here  they  were  so  hospitably  received 
 by  King  Thoas  and  his  daughter  Hypsipyle,  that  they  felt 
 no  inclination  to  go  away  from  the  island ;  even  Jason  was 
 so  captivated  by  the  beauty  of  the  princess,  that  he  wished 
 also  to  remain.  But  Orpheus  reminded  them  of  the  object 
 of  the  expedition,  and  ashamed  of  the  weakness  they  had 
 shown,  they  returned  to  their  vessel,  and  continued  the 
 voyage. 
 
The  Argonautic  Expedition.  3 1  7 
 
 Next  they  passed  through  the  Hellespont,  where  Athene 
 sent  them  favouring  winds,  and  having  landed  there,  and 
 erected  a  huge  stone  in  her  honour,  they  went  on  till  they 
 came  into  the  Sea  of  Marmora,  and  reached  an  island, 
 of  which  Cyzicus  was  king.  He  gave  them  a  hearty 
 welcome,  prepared  a  magnificent  banquet  for  them,  and 
 presented  them  with  food,  wine,  and  beautiful  garments  and 
 carpets  for  their  journey.  But  when  night  approached,  and 
 the  heroes  had  lain  down  to  rest,  a  number  of  wild  men 
 who  lived  in  the  mountain  fastnesses  of  the  island  sent  by 
 Hera  came  down  to  slay  Herakles.  They  were  of  enormous 
 size,  and  had  six  arms  and  hands,  and  as  soon  as  they 
 beheld  the  Argonauts,  who  had  hurriedly  seized  their 
 weapons,  they  fell  on  them,  brandishing  large  fir  trees, 
 which  they  had  torn  up  by  the  roots.  Fearful  was  the 
 combat  which  ensued,  but  Herakles  succeeded  in  com- 
 pletely vanquishing  his  foes ;  unfortunately,  however,  in  so 
 doing  he  accidentally  killed  King  Cyzicus,  who  had  hurried 
 down  to  try  and  separate  the  combatants. 
 
 When  the  heroes  prepared  to  depart,  they  found  to  their 
 surprise  that  all  their  united  efforts  would  not  enable  them 
 to  loosen  the  cable  that  held  the  ship  :  the  more  they 
 tried,  the  closer  the  knots  became  twisted ;  Tiphys  was 
 unable  to  explain  the  mystery,  for  he  did  not  know  that 
 Rhea,  angry  at  the  death  of  Cyzicus,  was  hindering  their 
 departure.  But  at  midnight,  whilst  he  was  asleep,  Athene 
 appeared  to  him,  and  commanded  him  and  his  companions 
 to  go  on  shore,  and  offer  up  a  death  sacrifice  in  honour  of 
 their  dead  host,  as  well  as  other  offerings  to  the  gods  of  the 
 Underworld.  Then  would  Rhea,  the  mother  of  all,  pardon 
 them ;  "  and  when  ye  have  finished  these  sacrifices,  hasten 
 to  the  hill  yonder,  which  is  sacred  to  Rhea,  and  offer  up  to 
 her  a  special  sacrifice." 
 
1 8  The  Argonautic  Expedition. 
 
 So  saying,  the  goddess  departed,  and  flew  like  an  arrow  back 
 to  heaven.  Then  Tiphys  hurriedly  sprang  from  his  couch, 
 awoke  the  others,  related  his  dream,  and  they  all  hastened  to 
 the  shore.  There,  as  dawn  crept  slowly  across  the  sky,  they 
 caught  sight  of  the  body  of  Cyzicus  covered  with  dust  and 
 blood,  and  surrounded  by  the  tall  forms  of  the  wild  men  he 
 had  slain.  The  Argonauts  were  filled  with  sadness  when 
 they  saw  this,  and  they  buried  the  body,  and  raised  a  tomb 
 to  the  memory  of  their  host.  Also  gathering  dry  boughs, 
 they  offered  an  oblation  to  the  goddess  Rhea,  while  Orpheus 
 poured  over  it  oil  mixed  with  milk,  water,  and  honey,  and 
 hallowed  the  offering  with  prayer  and  sweet  songs. 
 
 Then  Jason  arranged  some  funeral  games,  with  prizes  for 
 the  winners  :  the  best  wrestler  received  the  beautiful  golden 
 goblet  that  Hypsipyle  had  given  to  Jason;  Peleus  was 
 the  swiftest  runner,  and  got  a  purple  mantle,  worked  by 
 Athene;  Herakles,  who  could  throw  the  furthest,  a  silver 
 jug  of  exquisite  workmanship  ;  Castor,  the  best  rider,  a  set 
 of  golden  horse  trappings;  and  Pollux,  a  magnificent  carpet. 
 Jason  himself  surpassed  them  all  in  archery,  and  the  victor's 
 laurel  wreath  was  therefore  given  to  him,  whilst  Orpheus 
 received  a  pair  of  golden  winged  sandals  as  a  reward  for  his 
 music. 
 
 The  Argonants  now  proceeded  to  Rhea's  mountain. 
 Argos  having  cut  down  a  vine,  carved  a  figure  of  Rhea,  and 
 placed  it  in  a  grotto,  which  they  cut  in  the  rock,  while 
 Jason  erected  an  altar.  On  this  last  they  sprinkled  blood 
 and  wine,  and  the  goddess  was  completely  propitiated  when 
 Orpheus,  as  the  sacrifice  was  burning,  sang  some  songs  in 
 her  honour. 
 
 At  last  Tiphys  hurried  them  away  ;  they  descended  the 
 mountain,  and  having  embarked,  once  again  took  up  their 
 oars.    This  time  the  cable  loosed  itself,  and  Rhea  favoured 
 
The  Argonautic  Expedition.  3 1 9 
 
 their  departure.  Soon,  however,  the  wind  became  so 
 strong  that  they  had  to  keep  close  in  to  the  shore,  and  at 
 length  took  shelter  in  a  small  creek  on  the  Asiatic  coast. 
 Herakles  went  on  shore  to  try  and  kill  some  game  in  the 
 woods,  and  Hylas,  following  him,  stopped  at  a  spring  to 
 get  some  water.  But  the  Naiads,  thinking  the  beautiful 
 boy  must  be  the  son  of  a  god,  drew  him  down  into  the 
 spring,  and  he  was  seen  no  more.  The  wind  having  now 
 calmed,  Tiphys  urged  a  speedy  departure,  and  they  called 
 and  shouted  to  Herakles.  All  was  in  vain,  and  as  they 
 could  obtain  no  answer,  they  departed  without  him. 
 
 The  winds  drove  the  Argo  to  the  coast  of  the  Bebryces, 
 where  dwelt  King  Amycus,  who  used  to  make  all  travellers 
 wrestle  with  him.  In  ancient  days  they  used  the  caestus 
 in  these  wrestling  matches  ;  this  was  a  strong  leather  band 
 with  iron,  wound  round  the  hand  and  arm  to  make  the 
 blows  more  effectual.  When  the  Argonauts  were  summoned  to 
 wrestle  with  Amycus,  Pollux  at  once  accepted  the  challenge, 
 and  killed  the  king  almost  at  the  first  blow,  while  the  rest 
 of  the  Bebryces  were  soon  vanquished  by  the  heroes. 
 
 Next  they  landed  in  Bithynia,  a  district  of  Asia  Minor, 
 where  Phineus,  son  of  Agenor  and  brother  of  Cadmus  and 
 Europa,  reigned  as  king.  The  gods  had  afflicted  him  with 
 blindness,  as  a  punishment  for  foretelling  the  future.  He 
 was  also  plagued  by  the  Harpies,  who,  as  soon  as  his  table 
 was  spread,  flew  down,  snatched  the  food  from  his  mouth, 
 and  so  completely  destroyed  what  was  left,  that  no  one 
 could  touch  it.  The  Argonauts  wished  to  consult  Phineus 
 as  to  their  journey,  and  he  promised  to  satisfy  them  if  they 
 would  free  him  from  these  monsters.  Accordingly,  as  soon 
 as  the  Harpies  flew  down  to  snatch  the  food,  Calais  and 
 Zetes,  the  sons  of  Boreas,  drew  their  swords,  and  over- 
 coming them,  made  them  take  an  oath  that  they  would 
 
320  The  Argonautic  Expedition. 
 
 leave  Phineus  alone  for  the  future.  Very  grateful  for  this 
 act,  the  king  not  only  told  the  Argonauts  about  their 
 journey,  but  also  gave  them  much  other  good  advice. 
 
 At  last  the  wayfarers  reached  the  Bosphorus,  where  floated 
 about  in  the  sea  the  Cyancae  Insulae,  or  floating  islands 
 (also  known  as  the  Symplegades),  which  constantly  came 
 together  and  as  constantly  separated  again.  They  crashed 
 together  and  parted  asunder,  only  to  meet  with  'another 
 crash,  till  the  sound  echoed  through  the  high  vault  of  heaven, 
 and  the  angry  billows  rushed  round  them  with  a  terrific  roar. 
 
 When  Tiphys  saw  these  rocks  his  heart  fairly  failed  him, 
 but  just  then  an  eagle  flew  down  between  them,  and  settled 
 on  the  mast  of  the  Argo,  only  just  escaping  being  crushed, 
 by  the  loss  of  his  tail  feathers.  Again  the  rocks  separated, 
 and  ere  they  had  time  to  close,  the  heroes  seized  the  oars 
 and  rowed  with  all  their  might.  Even  then  the  vessel  must 
 have  been  crushed  had  not  Orpheus  grasped  his  lyre,  and, 
 held  by  the  power  of  his  song,  the  rocks  stood  still  and  the 
 sea  calmed  down,  while  the  Argo  passed  through  in  safety. 
 No  sooner  had  this  taken  place,  than  the  Symplegades 
 became  stationary,  and  remained  fixed  in  the  sea  as  the 
 Moirae  had  decreed. 
 
 After  escaping  this  danger,  the  Argonauts  kept  to  the 
 right  side  of  the  Black  Sea,  and  while  passing  up  it,  Tiphys, 
 the  steersman  died,  and  Ancaeus  took  his  place.  No 
 incident  occurred  now  until  they  reached  the  harbour  of 
 Colchis.     Then  Jason, 
 
 "  Called  together  the  heroes,  and  with  them  in  haste  took 
 
 council, 
 Whether  alone  by  himself,  he  should  go  to  Aeetes'  palace, 
 Speaking  him  fair  with  soft  words,  and  entreating  his  help  and 
 
 his  friendship, 
 Or  boldly  confess  our  design,  and  demand  the  prize  we  had 
 
 come  for." 
 
The  Argonautic  Expedition.  321 
 
 They  determined  that  they  would  not  all  go  thither,  for 
 now  that  they  had  reached  the  wished-for  goal,  fear  had 
 taken  possession  of  them,  and  their  hearts  began  to  fail. 
 
 Aeetes  meanwhile  had  been  troubled  by  a  dream  in 
 which  he  saw  his  daughter  Medea  being  carried  away  across 
 the  river  and  the  Black  Sea,  and,  seized  with  fear,  he  sprang 
 from  his  couch,  quickly  harnessed  his  golden  steeds,  and 
 calling  to  his  daughters,  commanded  them  to  offer  sacrifices 
 to  the  river-god,  in  order  to  avert  any  coming  danger  : 
 
 "  Then  in  his  golden  chariot,  his  beauteous  daughters  beside 
 
 him, 
 Rode  King  Aeetes  the  great,  all  through  the  glistening  meadows. 
 Down  to  the  banks  of  the  stream,  where  'mid  the  tall  flowering 
 
 rushes 
 Erst  had  it  been  their  wont,  to  come  with  their  vows  and 
 
 petitions." 
 
 Now  close  to  the  shore  floated  a  strange  vessel,  the  stately 
 Argo,  and  the  forms  of  the  heroes  could  be  plainly  seen: 
 "  God-like  they  seemed  in  stature,  bright  shone  their  arms  in 
 the  sunlight, 
 
 And  glorious  above  his  fellows,  was  Jason  the  mighty  leader.' 
 
 At  sight  of  Aeetes  Jason  and  his  companions  trembled, 
 for, 
 
 kt  There  in  the  sunlight  gleaming,  rolled  the  bright  car    of 
 
 Aeetes, 
 Flashed  the  golden  rays  of  the  crown  encircling  his  forehead, 
 And  in  his  hand  he  held  the  sceptre  glancing  like  lightning. 
 With  fatherly  pride  he  gazed  on  the  stately  daughters  beside 
 
 him  ; 
 But  his   eye   grew   stern   and   dark,   as   he   saw  the  vessel 
 
 approaching." 
 
 Rising  in  the  chariot  he  called  fiercely  across  the  water  to 
 the  strangers  : 
 
322  The  Argonautic  Expedition. 
 
 "  '  Say  of  what  nation  are  ye,  and  what  is  the  errand  that  brings 
 
 ye? 
 Truly  not  even  my  fame  hath  stayed  you  from  coming  hither. 
 Nor  fear  of  the  Colchian  folk,  the  nation  which  bends  'neath 
 
 my  sceptre, 
 And  ever  ready  to  fight,  are  impervious  even  to  Ares.'" 
 
 The  Argonauts  had  not  even  courage  to  answer  a  word 
 to  this  speech  of  the  king's,  until  at  length  Hera 
 strengthened  the  heart  of  Jason,  and  he  answered  : 
 
 "  We  come  not,  Oh  King  Aeetes,  to  destroy  thy  land  or 
 to  risk  our  own  lives  wantonly.  Neither  are  we  impelled 
 by  covetous  greed.  I  was  destined  in  time  past  for  this 
 service  by  Pelias,  my  father's  uncle.  I  may  not  gain  the 
 throne  of  Iolchos  until,  after  many  dangers  surmounted,  I 
 return  thither  bearing  the  golden  fleece.  These  my  com- 
 panions are  no  nameless  adventurers,  but  all  true  friends  to 
 me,  descended  from  heroes  and  the  immortal  gods,  and  all 
 acquainted  with  the  art  of  warfare.  If  thou  wilt  so  receive 
 us  we  will  come  to  thee  as  friends." 
 
 Then  the  eyes  of  Aeetes  flashed  with  anger,  but  he 
 suppressed  his  wrath,  devising  a  scheme  by  which  to  destroy 
 Jason,  while  he  answered  : 
 
 "  Hearken,  O  stranger,  had  you  come  here  armed  and  in 
 great  numbers  to  fight  for  the  golden  fleece  no  doubt  you 
 would  have  gained  it.  Now,  however,  it  would  be  no  honour 
 for  us  !to  conquer  so  few  of  you.  Choose  therefore  the 
 noblest  from  among  you,  and  if  he  shall  be  victorious,  as  I 
 doubt  not  that  he  will  be,  in  the  combats  that  I  will  prepare 
 for  him,  then  shall  you  carry  away  with  you  the  golden 
 fleece,"  and  he  returned  to  his  palace,  leaving  the  Argonauts 
 paralysed  with  fear. 
 
 How  they  regretted  now  that  they  had  not  waited  for 
 Herakles  !     At  last  they  selected  Jason  to  represent  them, 
 
The  A rgonautic  Expedition.  323 
 
 and  soon  after,  Aeetes'  grandson  appeared,  a  stately  youth, 
 bringing  the  following  message  from  the  Colchian  king  : 
 Jason  must  capture  two  wild  fire-breathing  oxen,  with  iron 
 hoofs,  harness  them  to  a  diamond  plough,  harrow  four  acres 
 of  a  field  dedicated  to  Ares,  and  sow  in  the  furrows  some 
 poisonous  dragon's  teeth  that  Phrixus  had  once  given  to 
 Aeetes.  These  teeth  would  quickly  grow  up  into  armed 
 men,  with  whom  he  would  have  to  fight,  and  when  he  had 
 vanquished  them,  he  would  have  to  conquer  the  dragons 
 that  guarded  the  golden  fleece. 
 
 Jason  would  have  been  completely  lost,  had  not  Medea, 
 the  king's  daughter,  come  to  his  rescue.  She  had  seen  and 
 fallen  in  love  with  the  noble  Grecian  hero,  and  for  some 
 time  hesitated  whether  to  help  him,  or  to  remain  faithful  to 
 her  father.  At  last  her  better  nature  conquered,  and  she 
 determined  to  put  love  on  one  side,  "  for,"  she  said  to  herself, 
 "  there  can  be  no  evil  greater  than  to  betray  one's  father." 
 So  she  hastened  into  the  depths  of  a  dark  wood,  there  to 
 place  an  offering  on  the  altar  of  Hecate,  for  this  maiden 
 Medea  was  a  sorceress  and  could  weave  spells  and  charms. 
 
 On  her  way  she  met  Jason,  and  immediately  all  her  good 
 resolutions  were  forgotten.  He  spoke  to  her,  entreated  her 
 to  help  him,  and  promised  to  make  her  his  wife  if  she 
 would  assist  him  in  the  coming  trials.  Medea  resisted  no 
 longer;  she  promised  to  aid  him,  and  Jason  swore  by  all 
 the  sacred  gods,  and  by  the  father  of  Aeetes  who  sees  every- 
 thing, that  he  would  never  leave  her.  In  return  he  obtained 
 from  her  some  wondrous  herbs  with  which  to  anoint  his 
 body,  so  that  nothing  could  wound  him ;  also  a  magic  stone 
 to  use  against  the  armed  men,  and  then  she  told  him  exactly 
 what  he  would  have  to  do. 
 
 The  next  morning  the  people  thronged  to  the  sacred  field 
 of  Ares.      Aeetes  also  appeared,  dressed  in  purple  robes, 
 
324  The  Argonautic  Expedition. 
 
 his  sceptre  in  his  hand,  and  when  he  bowed  his  head  the 
 fierce  bulls  rushed  forth,  their  nostrils  breathing  flames  of 
 fire,  the  grass  burning  beneath  their  feet,  and  (thus  Ovid 
 relates  it) 
 
 "As  forges  rumble  with  excessive  fires, 
 And  furnaces  with  fiercer  fury  glow, 
 When  water  on  the  pouting  mass  ye  throw  ; 
 With  such  a  noise  from  their  convulsive  breast, 
 Thro'  bellowing  throats  the  struggling  vapour  press'd." 
 
 — Ovid,  "  Metam.,"  Book  vii. 
 
 But  bravely  Jason  went  forth  to  meet  them. 
 
 "  While  on  th'  advent'rous  youth  the  monsters  turn 
 Their  glaring  eyes,  and  eager  to  engage, 
 Brandish  their  steel-tipt  horns  in  threatening  rage  : 
 With  brazen  hoofs  they  beat  the  ground,  and  choke 
 The  ambient  air,  with  clouds  of  dust  and  smoke. 
 Each  gazing  Grecian  for  his  champion  shakes, 
 While  bold  advances  he  securely  makes 
 Through  singing  blasts  ;  such  wonders  magic  art 
 Can  work,  when  love  conspires,  and  plays  his  part. 
 The  passive  savages  like  statues  stand, 
 While  he  their  dewlaps  strokes  with  soothing  hand  ; 
 To  unknown  yokes  their  brawny  necks  they  yield, 
 And,  like  tame  oxen,  plough  the  wond'ring  field. 
 The  Colchians  stare  ;  the  Grecians  shout,  and  raise 
 Their  champion's  courage  with  inspiring  praise. 
 
 Embolden'd  now,  on  fresh  attempts  he  goes, 
 With  serpents'  teeth  the  fertile  furrows  sows  ; 
 The  glebe,  fermenting  with  enchanted  juice, 
 Makes  the  snake's  teeth  a  human  crop  produce." 
 
 —Ovid,  "  Metam.,"  Book  vii. 
 
 The  iron  mass  sprang  up  from  the  earth,  and  fiercely  turned 
 on  Jason,  and  when  the  Argonauts  saw  these  armed  men 
 
The  Argonautic  Expedition.  325 
 
 levelling  their  spears  at  him,  they  covered  their  faces  in 
 anguish  : 
 
 "And  where  such  hardy  warriors  are  afraid, 
 What  must  the  tender  and  enamoured  maid  ? 
 Her  spirits  sink,  the  blood  her  cheek  forsook, 
 She  fears,  who  for  his  safety  undertook  ; 
 She  knew  the  virtue  of  the  spoils  she  gave, 
 She  knew  their  force,  and  knew  her  lover  brave  ; 
 But  what's  a  single  champion  to  a  host  ? 
 Yet  scorning  thus  to  see  him  tamely  lost  ; 
 Her  strong  reserve  of  secret  arts  she  brings, 
 And  last,  her  never-failing  song  she  sings." 
 
 —Ovid,  "  Metam.,"  Book  vii. 
 
 Jason  now  took  the  magic  stone,  and  threw  it  in  amongst 
 the  warriors,  when,  lo  !  they  turned  from  him  and  began 
 fighting  with  each  other  till  not  one  was  left. 
 
 There  was  still  the  dragon  to  conquer ;  but  Aeetes,  angry 
 that  the  hero  had  so  successfully  overcome  the  two  first 
 trials,  would  not  allow  him  to  go  on.  He  said  that  enough 
 had  been  done  for  that  day,  and  that  he  wished  to  rest.  On 
 the  morrow  Jason  might  fight  the  dragon ;  his  intention 
 being  to  kill  the  strangers  during  the  night. 
 
 Again  Medea  came  to  Jason's  assistance.  Her  anxiety 
 for  him  left  her  no  peace.  Hurrying  down  to  the  vessel  at 
 nightfall,  she  told  him  of  her  father's  intention,  and  urged 
 the  hero  to  follow  her  at  once  and  seize  the  golden  fleece 
 ere  day  should  break.  The  poem  of  Orpheus  thus  describes 
 the  theft  of  the  golden  fleece  — 
 
 "  Near  to  the  royal  palace  rose  a  wall  of  nine  fathoms, 
 Guarded  by  mighty  towers,  and  surrounded  by  bastions  severe. 
 Pierced  by  three  brazen  gateways  surmounted  by  pinnacles 
 
 golden. 
 There  aloft  o'er  the  entrance,  stands  the  far-seeing  goddess  : 
 
3 26  The  Argonautic  Expedition. 
 
 Artemis,  cold  and  proud  ;  on  whom  the  atoning  Colchians 
 Call  both  in  fear  and  terror,for  none  dare  approach  these  precincts, 
 Except  they  first  bring  offerings,  to  lay  at  the  feet  of  the  goddess. 
 No  mortal  can  ever  here  enter,  be  he  native  or  stranger, 
 By  dogs  with  fierce  flaming  eyes  on  every  side  it  is  guarded." 
 
 — "  Argonautica.'' 
 
 In  the  centre  of  the  enclosure  was  a  dark  shady  grove  of 
 laurels  and  cornel  trees,  with  gracefully  waving  palms,  while 
 in  the  midst  a  giant  oak  reared  its  head,  stretching  its  mighty 
 arms  almost  into  the  clouds  : 
 
 "  And  there  'neath  the  leafy  boughs,  hangs  the  golden  fleece  of 
 Aeetes, 
 Watched  with  incessant  care  by  the  fearful,  terrible  dragon. 
 Golden-hued  scales  protect  him,  impervious  to  every  weapon ; 
 Impatient  he  lashes  his  tail,  as  his  angry  eye  wanders  incessant." 
 
 — "  Argonautica." 
 
 The  Argonauts,  having  received  this  description  of  the 
 garden  from  Medea,  feared  they  would  not  be  able  to  over- 
 come the  obstacles,  and  they  begged  Orpheus  to  offer 
 sacrifices  to  Artemis  for  a  propitious  ending  to  their  venture, 
 and  to  try  and  tame  the  dragon  by  the  sweet  tones  of  his 
 lyre.  Thereupon  the  bard  chose  Jason,  Castor  and  Pollux, 
 and  one  other  Argonaut  to  be  at  hand  in  case  they  were 
 wanted.  Medea  accompanied  them,  and  they  made  their 
 way  to  the  sacred  wall  of  the  grove.     Then 
 
 "  Quickly  I  stooped  to  the  ground,  and  dug  out  a  three-cornered 
 trench, 
 Herein  I  placed  with  care,  branches  of  sweet-scented  cedar, 
 Elder,  also,  and  black  thorns,  and  the  sorrowful  weeping  willow, 
 While  Medea  the  sorceress  added  herbs  of  magical  powers/' 
 
 — "  Argonautica." 
 
 Then  Orpheus  slew  three  young  black  dogs,  mixed  their 
 blood  with  the  magic  herbs,   and  laid  them  on  the  pile. 
 
The  Argonautic  Expedition.  327 
 
 Then  over  all  he  poured  oil  and  water,  and  wrapping  him- 
 self in  black  garments,  sacrificed  to  the  gods  of  the  Under- 
 world. 
 
 Suddenly  the  ground  opened,  and  Tisiphone,  Alecto,  and 
 Megaera,  the  dread  Erinyes,  rose  from  the  depths  of  Tartarus, 
 and  the  sacrifice  fiercely  glowed  and  burned,  while  a  thick 
 black  smoke  ascended  to  heaven.  Now  in  the  midst  of  the 
 flames  appeared  other  beings  from  the  Underworld,  of  fierce 
 and  terrible  aspect.  Iron  Pandora,  well  known  in  Pluto's 
 dark  kingdom,  and  Hekate,  stern  and  solemn,  having  three 
 heads  :  on  her  left  shoulder  a  thickly-maned  horse's  head, 
 on  her  right  a  hind's,  and  in  the  centre  a  fierce  wild  lion, 
 while  in  her  hands  she  held  two  gleaming  swords.  Pandora 
 passed  slowly  round  and  round  the  trench  in  which  was  the 
 sacrifice,  and  Hekate  joined  the  Furies  in  a  magic  ring. 
 
 Then,  marvellous  to  relate,  the  figure  of  Artemis  over  the 
 gateway  dropped  the  torches  she  held  in  her  hands,  her 
 watchful  gaze  turned  to  the  sky.  The  dogs,  before  so  fierce, 
 now  fawned  upon  them,  back  sprang  the  mighty  bolts  of  the 
 brazen  gates,  the  portals  opened  wide,  and  there  before  the 
 Grecian  heroes  lay  the  mysterious  grove. 
 
 4<  I  was  the  first  to  enter,  close  followed  behind  by  brave  Jason, 
 After  us  came  Medea,  and  the  noble  sons  of  Tyndareus. 
 But  as  we  neared  the  oak,  and  the  steps  of  the  altar  of  Zeus, 
 Lo  !  with  a  terrible  roar,  the  mighty  dragon  espied  us." 
 
 — "  Argonautica." 
 
 Raising  his  head  he  uncoiled  his  huge  body,  lashing  the 
 ground  with  his  tail,  and  rending  the  air  with  his  cries,  while 
 the  very  trees  shook  from  their  roots,  and  the  earth  trembled 
 beneath  the  feet  of  the  heroes. 
 
 Orpheus  and  his  companions  fell  back,  but  Medea  fear- 
 lessly advanced,  bearing  in  her  hands  some  of  the  magic 
 
3 28  The  Argonautic  Expedition. 
 
 herbs,  and  when  the  bard  saw  this,  he  raised  his  lyre,  and 
 softly  and  sweetly  supplicated  sleep  : 
 
 "  Ruler  of  gods  and  of  men, 
 That  'neath  his  powerful  spell,  the  dragon's  great  strength  might 
 
 vanish. 
 Slowly  he  came  to  my  call,  and  gently  wrapping  in  slumber 
 All  who  were  weary  and  sad,  all  who  had  toiled  long  and  sorely 
 Floated  on  golden  wings,  to  the  flowery  meadows  of  Colchis." 
 
 — "  Argonautica." 
 
 As  the  God  of  Sleep  approached,  the  eyes  of  the  dragon 
 suddenly  began  to  close,  almost  as  if  death  had  come  upon 
 him,  and  at  last  his  long  neck  sank  down  on  to  the  shining 
 scales  of  his  body.  Even  Medea  herself  was  surprised  at 
 the  effect  of  the  spells,  but  she  urged  Jason  at  once  to  secure 
 the  precious  prize,  which  could  be  seen  sparkling  on  the 
 trunk  of  the  oak-tree  above  the  dragon. 
 
 Then  the  Argonaut  hastened  forward,  unfastened  the  golden 
 fleece,  and  they  all  returned  at  once  to  the  ship,  where  their 
 comrades  received  them  with  the  utmost  rejoicing,  and 
 offered  up  prayers  and  thanksgivings  to  the  immortal  gods. 
 
 Aeetes  meanwhile  had  heard  from  his  servants  of  Medea's 
 departure,  and  sent  his  little  son  Absyrtos  to  go  and  find  his 
 sister.  The  boy  came  to  the  vessel  of  the  heroes,  and  there 
 found  Medea  in  the  midst  of  them,  but  fearing  lest  her  flight 
 might  be  made  known  to  her  father,  the  maiden  laid  hold 
 on  her  brother,  killed  him,  and  threw  his  body  into  the  sea. 
 Then  she  hurried  the  Greeks  in  their  departure,  for  the  night 
 was  already  half  done,  and  she  knew  that  at  break  of  day 
 Aeetes  would  discover  the  theft. 
 
 Medea's  crime,  however,  was  not  to  go  unpunished.  The 
 Argonauts,  instead  of  returning  the  way  they  had  come, 
 wandered  about  toward  the  north.     They  saw  many  king- 
 
The  Argonautic  Expedition.  329 
 
 doms,  and  passed  through  the  sea  of  Azov  without  knowing 
 where  they  were. 
 
 At  that  time  the  Greeks  believed  that  the  sea  of  Azov 
 joined  the  Arctic  Ocean,  and  that  where  Russia  and  Poland 
 lie  there  was  nothing  but  water.  Therefore  the  poet  relates 
 how  the  Argo  sailed  on  and  on  without  interruption,  the 
 shores  peopled  with  nations  were  quickly  passed,  until  at  last 
 on  the  tenth  day  after  their  departure  they  came  to  the  great 
 river  Oceanos  that  encircles  the  earth.  The  steersman 
 Ancaeus  then  turned  the  vessel  to  the  left,  that,  crossing  the 
 North  Sea,  they  might  return  to  Greece  by  the  pillars  of 
 Herakles. 
 
 Here  in  the  Northern  Ocean  there  was  no  wind,  and  the 
 heroes  had  to  take  to  their  oars  ;  after  a  time,  however,  their 
 arms  began  to  weary,  for  they  were  making  hardly  any  way 
 at  all.  Then  Ancaeus  spoke  gently  to  his  tired  comrades, 
 and  persuaded  them  at  last  to  get  out  on  the  marshy  shore, 
 and  by  fastening  a  strong  rope  to  the  prow  endeavour  to 
 drag  the  vessel  along.  Imbued  with  fresh  courage,  they 
 complied  with  his  request,  and  leaping  into  the  shallows 
 proceeded  to  draw  the  Argo.  The  shores  they  passed  now, 
 consisted  of  sand  and  shingle,  low  and  flat,  and  over  all 
 reigned  a  dreary  silence  : 
 
 "  Death-like,  and  still,  and  eternal ; 
 Here,    neath   the   polar   wain,  and  the   furthermost  waters    of 
 Tethys." 
 
 — "  Argonautica." 
 
 Now  they  came  to  the  land  of  the  Macrobii,  or  long-lived 
 people,  who,  blessed  with  every  good  gift,  live  free  from 
 sorrow  and  pain.  In  the  fields  they  gather  all  that  they 
 need  for  food,  and  nectar  and  the  dew  of  heaven  suffice 
 them  for  beverage,  while  they  have  beauty  more  than  is 
 given  to  other  mortal  men  : 
 
330  The  Argonautic  Expedition. 
 
 "  Peace  and  happiness,  also,  dwell  in  their  bright  cheerful  faces  ; 
 Old  men  as  well  young,  know  how  to  speak  from  the  heart, 
 Crowning  their  deeds  of  kindness,  with  thoughtful  and  loving- 
 accents." 
 
 — "  Argonautica." 
 
 Next  the  Argo  reached  the  land  of  the  Cimmerii,  a  people 
 living  in  the  far  north,  on  whom  Helios  never  sheds  his 
 rays.  There  perpetual  darkness  reigns,  for  high  towering 
 cliffs  keep  away  the  light  of  the  sun.  They  also  passed  the 
 rocky  chasm  through  which  Acheron  dashes  down  into  the 
 Underworld.  And  then,  far  out  beyond  the  plain,  they  beheld 
 the  town  of  Hermioneia,  encircled  by  fair  meadows.  The 
 city  is  surrounded  by  strong  walls  and  towers,  and  the 
 streets  are  wide  and  well  built.  In  this  splendid  town 
 dwells  a  wondrous  nation,  so  upright  and  just  that  when 
 they  die  they  are  exempt  from  paying  toll  to  the  ferryman 
 of  Acheron,  and  may  pass  at  once  through  the  portals  of 
 Hades  to  the  land  of  shadows  and  dreams. 
 
 Now  the  Argonauts  again  entered  their  ship,  for  a  zephyr 
 gently  ruffled  the  surface  of  the  ocean.  The  mast  was  set 
 up  and  the  sails  hoisted,  when  suddenly  from  the  bottom  of 
 the  vessel  the  sacred  oak  that  formed  part  of  the  keel 
 startled  the  heroes  with  the  following  words  : 
 
 "'Woe  !  ah,  woe  !  hapless  vessel !  would  that  mid  sorrow  and 
 
 wailing, 
 Crushed  'gainst  the  cliffs  of  Axinos,*  I  lay  'neath  its  dark 
 
 sullen  waters. 
 Then  should  I  not  have  to  hear  the  infamous  crime  of  the 
 
 heroes, 
 
 *  In  ancient  times  the  Black  Sea  received  the  name  of  Axinus,  i.e., 
 "  the  inhospitable,"  which  name,  later  on,  when  its  shores  were 
 peopled  by  Greek  colonists,   was  changed  to  that  of  Euxinus,   "the 
 
 hospitable." 
 
The  Argonautic  Expedition.  331 
 
 Lost  to  all  honour  and  fame.    Now  ever  behind  stands  Erinys 
 Seeking  the  murdered  Absyrtus,  while  following  close  in  our 
 
 pathway, 
 Evils  and  mischiefs  attend  us.'  " 
 
 — "  Argonautica." 
 
 Then  the  oak  became  silent,  but  the  Argonauts  were  filled 
 with  fear,  that  on  account  of  Jason's  love  for  Medea  many 
 evils  were  still  to  await  them.  They  began  to  think  whether 
 it  would  not  be  better  to  throw  Medea  overboard,  and  let 
 her  become  food  for  the  monsters  of  the  deep ;  but  Jason, 
 guessing  their  thoughts,  entreated  them  to  spare  her  life. 
 Little  did  he  dream  how  much  pain  and  sorrow  this  wicked 
 maiden  was  yet  to  bring  upon  him. 
 
 Now  with  renewed  vigour  the  heroes  again  grasped  their 
 oars,  the  stormy  wind  filled  the  sails,  and  with  arrow-like 
 speed  they  flew  over  the  Atlantic  Ocean,  not  knowing 
 whither  they  were  going. 
 
 At  length,  having  coasted  the  northern  side  of  the  earth, 
 they  reached  the  western  shore,  where  lay  the  island  of  the 
 sorceress  Circe.  Here  Jason  landed,  and  was  about  to  send 
 out  spies  to  find  what  sort  of  people  the  inhabitants  were, 
 when  he  was  met  on  the  shore  by  the  lady  Circe.  She 
 was  a  sister  of  Aeetes,  and  possessed  of  wondrous  beauty, 
 far  above  that  of  ordinary  mortals,  and  the  Argonauts  were 
 lost  in  wonder  at  sight  of  her.  Her  beautiful  golden  hair 
 flowed  over  her  shoulders,  giving  a  celestial  halo  to  her 
 face,  and  gleaming  in  the  sunshine,  as  she  looked  upon  the 
 strangers  : 
 
 "  But  when  her  keen  searching  glance  fell  on  the  sorceress 
 Medea, 
 Wrapped  in  a  close  covering  veil,  to  hide  the  pale  shame  on 
 
 her  features  ! 
 Pity  softened  her  breast,  and  thus  she  spake  to  the  maiden  : 
 
S32  The  Argonautic  Expedition. 
 
 '  Ill-fated  one !  to  what  dire  misfortune  has  Cypris  condemned 
 
 thee  ! 
 Surely  ye   cannot  forget  the  crime  that  has  brought    you 
 
 hither 
 Trying  to  land  on  our  island.      Hopeless  the  task  is  and 
 
 useless, 
 For  ye  have  both  wronged  your  father,  and  cruelly  murdered 
 
 your  brother. 
 Therefore  ye  shall  not  regain  the  shores  of  your  own  native 
 
 country, 
 Till  with  the  aid  of  Orpheus,  on  the  shingly  strand  of  Maleia,* 
 Ye  sacrifice  to  the  gods,  thus  purging  away  your  transgression. 
 Here  then  ye  may  not  enter,  till  from  the  ban  ye  are  loosened. 
 But  there  is  nought  to  prevent  my  sending  you  all  ye  have 
 
 need  of, 
 Bread  and  refreshing  wine,  and  of  meat  a  plentiful  storing.' " 
 
 — "  Argonautica." 
 
 Then  she  returned  to  her  dwelling,  and  made  her  servants 
 carry  wine  and  food  down  to  the  ship,  a  soft  breeze  sprang 
 up,  the  heroes  loosened  the  cable,  and  the  Argo,  favoured 
 by  fortunate  winds,  entered  the  Mediterranean  Sea  by  the 
 pillars  of  Hercules,  and  came  to  Sardinia  and  Sicily  : 
 
 "  Now  round  the  three-sided  isle,t  we  bent  to  our  oars  with 
 
 fresh  vigour, 
 Trying  to  fly  from  Mount  Etna,  whose  fires  did  hinder  our 
 
 voyage. 
 As   with   a   mighty   upheaving,  the  waves   surged  over  the 
 
 vessel, 
 And  from  the  chasm  beneath  Charybdis  her  arms  extended. 
 Here  lay  the  vessel  hemmed  in,  a  barrier  in  either  direction, 
 Backwards  and  forwards  she  circled,  eddying  around  in  the 
 
 whirlpool. 
 
 *  Maleia  or  Malea  was  the  most  southern  point  of  the  Peloponnesus, 
 and  here  it  was  that  they  were  to  be  reconciled  to  the  gods. 
 f  Sicily. 
 
The  Argonautic  Expedition.  3 
 
 03 
 
 Soon  in  the  dark  fearsome  depths,  the  Argo  had  perished  for 
 ever, 
 
 But  that  the  daughter  of  Nereus,  Thetis,  the  bright  silver- 
 footed, 
 
 Wished  to  behold  once  again,  her  husband  the  far-seeing 
 Peleus, 
 
 Then  from  the  ocean  she  rose,  and  out  of  the  wild  seething 
 waters 
 
 Rescued  the  Argo  divine,  from  the  dangers  that  would  have 
 engulphed  her." 
 
 — "  Argonautica." 
 
 Thus  delivered  they  next  came  to  the  isle  of  the  Syrens  : 
 
 Here  in  a  deep  sheltered  creek,  the  blue  waters  lap  the  white 
 
 shingle, 
 While  on  the  high  rocks  above,  the  Syrens  with  music  celestial 
 Welcome  the  homeward  bound  traveller,  leading  him  on  to 
 
 destruction 
 Charmed  with  their  soul-thrilling  song,  the  heroes  now  listened 
 
 enraptured. 
 Gone  was  all  wish  to  depart  —  the  sweet  witching  lay  had 
 
 enthralled  them. 
 And  as  their  oars  they  rested,  Ancaeus  steered  straight  for 
 
 the  headland. 
 Now  was  my  time  for  action.     Quickly  my  harp  I  uplifted, 
 And    as    I    struck   the    chords,   I   sang  as  my  mother  had 
 
 taught  me, 
 Sang  in  a  voice  loud  and  clear,  to  drown  the  lay  so  destructive: 
 How  in  the  days  of  old,  about  swift  coursing  steeds  rose  a 
 
 quarrel, 
 'Twixt  the  old    powerful   Zeus,  and    Poseidon    the  ruler  of 
 
 Ocean, 
 And  how  the  mighty  sea-god,  enraged  at  his  Cronian*  brother 
 Had  with  his  golden  trident  parted  his  land  of  Lycaon, 
 Dashing  it  all  asunder,  right  through  the  waters  of  Ocean, 
 
 *  The  name  given  to  Zeus  from  his  being  the  son  of  Cronos. 
 
334  The  Argonautic  Expedition. 
 
 Forming  three  islands  sea  girded,  and  well  known  to  all  as 
 
 Euboea, 
 Sardo,  and    Cyprus,  the    home    of    the   goddess    of    Love, 
 
 Amphitrite. 
 Thus  did  I   pour  forth  my  lay,  and  from  the  snow-covered 
 
 headland, 
 Mournful,  and  sadly  despairing,  the  Sirens  ceased  their  soft 
 
 cadence. 
 One  dropped  the  lute  from  her  hand,  the  other  her  flute  made 
 
 of  Lotus, 
 And  with  a  heart-rending  sigh,  each   covered  her  face  and 
 
 lamented, 
 Knowing  their  doom  was  fulfilled,  and  that  Death  would  now 
 
 be  their  master. 
 Then  from  the  dizzy  heights,  they  threw  themselves  into  the 
 
 waters. 
 Where,  mid  the  wild  foaming  waves,  they  were  changed  into 
 
 dangerous  forelands." 
 
 — "  Argonautica." 
 
 Now  the  Argo  reached  the  island  of  Corcyra,  inhabited 
 by  a  race  of  sailors,  whose  king  Alcinous  was  known  as  the 
 wise  and  just,  and  the  heroes  landed  to  offer  sacrifices  to 
 Zeus  and  Apollo. 
 
 Scarcely  had  they  stepped  on  shore,  when  they  beheld 
 a  mighty  fleet  filled  with  armed  men  approaching.  These 
 ships  had  been  sent  by  King  Aeetes,  who,  enraged  at 
 the  flight  of  Medea  and  the  murder  of  his  young  son,  had 
 fitted  out  the  force  to  follow  the  Argo  and  bring  back  his 
 faithless  daughter.  The  vessels  having  also  anchored  in 
 the  harbour,  messengers  were  sent  to  the  palace  of  Alcinous 
 to  demand  the  surrender  of  the  fugitive.     Then, 
 
 u  Trembled  Medea  with  fear,  and  terror  distorted  her  visage 
 Lest  the   brave  King  of  Phaeacia,  on  hearing  her  flagrant 
 misconduct, 
 
The  Argonaiitic  Expedition. 
 
 JOD 
 
 Might  for  her  infamy  send  her,  back  to  the  home  she  had 
 blighted." 
 
 — "  Argonautica." 
 
 When  Alcinous  heard  the  message  he  at  once  ordered 
 that  Medea  should  be  handed  over  to  the  men  of  Aeetes, 
 but  the  Queen  Arete  had  compassion  on  the  maiden,  and 
 persuaded  her  husband  not  thus  to  cast  forth  a  stranger 
 who  had  sought  their  protection.  Therefore  the  king 
 decided  that  if  Medea  were  not  already  married  to  Jason 
 she  must  be  given  up  ;  if,  however,  she  was  married  Jason 
 might  retain  his  wife. 
 
 Now  the  marriage  had  not  taken  place,  so  Hera,  disguised 
 as  a  servant,  hurried  down  to  the  Argo  to  tell  them  of  the 
 decision  of  Alcinous.  In  great  haste  all  the  preparations 
 for  marriage  were  completed,  and  when  the  messenger  from 
 the  palace  arrived  he  found  the  heroes  seated  at  the 
 wedding  banquet,  upon  which  he  returned  again  to  Alcinous, 
 reporting  that  the  marriage  had  already  taken  place,  and 
 Medea  was  not  given  up. 
 
 After  their  departure  from  Corcyra  the  Argonauts  had 
 yet  more  dangers  to  encounter.  A  storm  threatened  them 
 with  destruction  off  the  coast  of  Africa,  and  when  they 
 sought  refuge  on  an  island  a  brazen  serpent  prevented 
 them  from  landing.  These  and  many  other  perils  they 
 overcame  with  the  help  of  the  gods,  till  at  last  they  came 
 to  the  promontory  of  Malea  on  the  shores  of  their  native 
 land.  Here  they  landed,  and  as  Circe  had  advised,  offered 
 sacrifices  to  the  gods,  Orpheus  praying  aloud  to  Neptune  to 
 grant  them  a  safe  return  to  Iolcus. 
 
 Then  once  again,  and  for  the  last  time,  the  Argonauts 
 stepped  on  board  their  vessel,  and  soon  after  dropped 
 anchor  in  the  harbour  of  Iolcus.  They  knew  not  what  evils 
 would  follow  the  coming  of  the  maiden  Medea  to  their  land. 
 
336  The  Argonautic  Expedition. 
 
 When  on  the  return  of  the  Argonauts  the  inhabitants 
 of  Iolcos  brought  thank-offerings  to  the  gods,  Aeson  alone 
 was  absent,  for  he  was  now  old  and  weak.  Jason  then 
 implored  his  wife  Medea  to  endow  his  aged  father  with 
 youth  and  strength  by  means  of  her  magic  arts,  even  if  in  so 
 doing  she  were  to  deprive  himself  of  some  years  of  his  life. 
 "The  latter  will  I  not  do,"  answered  Medea j  "  I  will  not 
 shorten  thy  life  at  all.  Nevertheless  thy  father  shall  become 
 young  again.  With  the  help  of  Hekate  I  will  accomplish 
 it."  She  waited  for  three  days  till  the  moon  was  full,  then, 
 so  relates  Ovid : 
 
 "  Medea  steals  from  court  ;  her  ancles  bare, 
 Her  garments  closely  girt,  but  loose  her  hair  ; 
 Thus  sally'd,  like  a  solitary  sprite, 
 She  traverses  the  terrors  of  the  night. 
 
 Men,  beasts,  and  birds  in  soft  repose  lay  charmed, 
 No  boisterous  winds  the  mountain-woods  alarmed  ;  .  .  . 
 All  elements  chain'd  in  unactive  rest, 
 No  sense  but  what  the  twinkling  stars  express'd  ; 
 To  them  (that  only  wak'd)  she  rears  her  arms, 
 And  thus  commences  her  mysterious  charms. 
 
 She  turned  her  thrice  about,  as  oft  she  threw 
 On  her  pale  tresses  the  nocturnal  dew  ; 
 Then,  yelling  thrice  a  most  enormous  sound, 
 Her  bare  knee  bended  on  the  flinty  ground, 
 '  O  night,'  said  she,  '  thou  confident  and  guide 
 Of  secrets,  such  as  darkness  ought  to  hide  ; 
 Ye  stars  and  moon,  that  when  the  sun  retires, 
 Support  his  empire  with  succeeding  fires  ; 
 And  thou,  great  Hecate,  friend  to  my  design  ; 
 Songs,  muttering  spells,  your  magic  forces  join  ; 
 And  thou,  O  earth,  the  magazine  that  yields 
 The  midnight  sorcerer  drugs  ;  skies,  mountains,  fields  ; 
 Ye  wat'ry  powers  of  fountain,  stream  and  lake  ; 
 Ye  sylvan  gods,  and  gods  of  night  awake.  .  .  . 
 
The  Argonautic  Expedition.  $37 
 
 Oft  by  your  aid,  swift  currents  I  have  led 
 
 Thro'  wandering  banks,  back  to  their  fountain  head  ; 
 
 Made  sleeping  billows  rave,  and  raving  billows  sleep  ; 
 
 Made  clouds,  or  sunshine  ;  tempests  rise,  or  fall  ; 
 
 And  stubborn  lawless  winds  obey  my  call. 
 
 With  muttered  words  disarmed  the  viper's  jaw, 
 
 Up  by  the  roots  vast  oaks  and  rocks  could  draw  ; 
 
 Made  forests  dance,  and  trembling  mountains  come, 
 
 Earth  groan,  and  frighted  ghosts  forsake  their  tomb. 
 
 Thee,  Cynthia,  my  resistless  rhymes  drew  down,  .  .  . 
 
 Nor  stronger  Titan  could  their  force  sustain  .  .  . 
 
 Nor  could  Aurora's  virgin  blush  avail.  .  .  . 
 
 The  fury  of  the  fiery  bulls  I  broke, 
 
 Their  stubborn  necks  submitting  to  my  yoke, 
 
 And  when  the  sons  of  earth  with  fury  burn'd, 
 
 Their  hostile  rage  upon  themselves  I  turn'd.  .  .  . 
 
 And  by  their  fatal  strife,  my  lover  freed. 
 
 And,  while  the  dragon  slept,  to  distant  Greece 
 
 Through  cheated  guards  convey'd  the  golden  fleece. 
 
 But  now  to  bolder  action  I  proceed, 
 
 Of  such  prevailing  juices  now  have  need, 
 
 That  withered  years  back  to  their  bloom  can  bring, 
 
 And  in  dead  winter  raise  a  second  spring. 
 
 And  you'll  perform't  ; 
 
 You  will  :  for  lo  !  the  stars  with  sparkling  fires, 
 Presage  as  bright  success  to  my  desires  : 
 And  now  another  happy  omen  see  ! 
 A  chariot,  drawn  by  dragons,  waits  for  me  ! 
 
 With  these  last  words,  she  leaps  into  the  wain, 
 Strokes  the  snake's  necks,  and  shakes  the  golden  rein. 
 And  now  beneath  her  fruitful  Tempe  lies, 
 Whose  stores  she  ransacks,  then  to  Crete  she  flies." 
 
 —Ovid,  "  Metam.,"  Book  vii. 
 
 And  gathers  together  herbs  from  all  the  mountains  of 
 Greece,  using  the  roots  of  some,  and  the  stems  and  leaves 
 of  others  for  her  magic  brew.     Having  thus  driven  about 
 
 Y 
 
$3%  The  Argonautic  Expedition. 
 
 for  nine  days  and  nine  nights  in  the  chariot,  she  returned 
 to  Iolcos,  the  dragons  having  only  lived  on  air  all  that 
 time. 
 
 Now  Medea  commenced  to  weave  her  spells.  She 
 remained  between  the  outer  porch  and  the  door  in  the 
 open  air,  for  to  enter  the  palace  would  have  broken  the 
 charm ;  erected  two  altars  of  grass,  and  strewed  them  with 
 magic  herbs  and  wild  brushwood,  and  having  dug  two 
 trenches  to  catch  the  blood,  she  killed  two  black  sheep. 
 Holding  a  jar  of  clear  honey  in  one  hand,  and  a  bowl  of 
 new  milk  in  the  other,  the  sorceress  next  proceeded  to  cry 
 loudly  to  the  powers  of  the  Underworld,  Pluto  and  Perse- 
 phone, to  grant  the  old  man  renewed  youth.  Having  thus, 
 with  many  a  long  and  secret  prayer,  conciliated  the  dark 
 powers,  she  commanded  the  weak  and  tottering  Aeson  to 
 be  brought  to  her,  and  putting  him  into  a  deathlike  sleep 
 through  her  magic  arts,  she  placed  his  body  beside  the 
 herb-strewn  altars. 
 
 Then  she  ordered  Jason  and  the  attendants  to  retire,  for  no 
 unhallowed  eye  might  watch  her  work,  and  with  dishevelled 
 hair,  paced  wildly  round  the  burning  altars,  dipping  small 
 splinters  of  wood  in  the  blood,  and  throwing  them  at  the 
 piles,  while  she  sprinkled  the  old  man  thrice  with  water, 
 sulphur,  and  fire  : 
 
 "  In  a  large  cauldron  now  the  med'eine  boils 
 Compounded  of  her  late  collected  spoils, 
 Blending  into  the  mash  the  various  powers 
 Of  wonder-working  juices,  roots,  and  flowers  ; 
 With  gems  i'  th'  eastern  ocean's  cell  refined, 
 And  such  as  ebbing  tides  had  left  behind  ; 
 To  them  the  midnight's  pearly  dew  she  flings 
 A  screech-owl's  carcase,  and  ill-boding  wings  ;  .  .  . 
 Last  a  crow's  head  to  such  an  age  arrived, 
 
The  Argonaut ic  Expedition.  339 
 
 That  he  had  now  nine  centuries  survived. 
 
 These,  and  with  these  a  thousand  more  that  grew 
 
 In  sundry  soils,  into  her  pot  she  threw  ; 
 
 Then  with  a  withered  olive-bough  she  rakes 
 
 The  bubbling  broth  ;  the  bough,  fresh  verdure  takes  ; 
 
 Green  leaves  at  first  the  perish'd  plant  surround, 
 
 Which  the  next  minute  with  ripe  fruit  were  crowned. 
 
 The  foaming  juices  now  the  brink  o'er-swell  ; 
 
 The  barren  heath,  where'er  the  liquid  fell, 
 
 Sprang  out  with  vernal  grass,  and  all  the  pride 
 
 Of  blooming  May." 
 
 —Ovid,  "  Metam.,"  Book  vii. 
 
 When  Medea  saw  this,  she  grasped  a  sharp  knife  and 
 cut  the  throat  of  Aeson,  that  all  the  old  blood  might  run 
 out.  Then  she  filled  the  body  with  the  mixture  from  the 
 cauldron,  and  behold  !  no  sooner  did  the  life-giving  stream 
 enter  the  veins  of  the  old  man.  than  the  grey  hair  and 
 beard  changed  into  dark  curling  locks,  the  wrinkles  dis- 
 appeared, a  ruddy  colour  spread  over  the  features,  the 
 shrivelled  limbs  filled  out,  and  as  the  new  blood  coursed 
 rapidly  through  all  the  veins,  the  bent  and  aged  body 
 became  straight  and  strong.  Aeson  awoke,  and  to  his 
 surprise  the  health  and  strength  of  youth  had  returned, 
 while  Jason  was  filled  with  gratitude  towards  his  wife  for 
 having  thus  restored  his' father's  youth. 
 
 But  Medea  could  not  rest  in  doing  good  by  her  charms, 
 and  soon  she  determined  to  take  vengeance  on  Pelias  and 
 his  house  for  withholding  the  throne  from  Jason.  So  she 
 came  to  his  palace,  and  told  how  she  and  Jason  had 
 quarrelled,  begging  the  king  to  protect  her.  Pelias  and 
 his  daughters  (one  of  whom  was  Alcestis,  afterwards  the 
 wife  of  Admetus)  received  her  gladly,  and  ere  long  the 
 beautiful  Medea  was  loved  by  all.     Craftily  she  relates  to 
 
34-0  The  Argonautic  Expedition. 
 
 the  maidens  her  wondrous  powers,  and  when  she  told  how 
 she  had  succeeded  in  restoring  Aeson  to  youth,  they  prayed 
 her  to  restore  their  beloved  father  also,  promising  her  great 
 rewards  if  she  should  succeed. 
 
 At  first  Medea  artfully  pretended  great  unwillingness, 
 and  it  was  not  until  after  numerous  entreaties  that  she 
 said :  "  So  be  it  then !  but  that  you  may  not  be  afraid, 
 and  more  fully  trust  in  my  power,  bring  hither  the  oldest 
 ram  in  your  flock.  I  will  then  turn  him  into  a  lamb  before 
 your  eyes." 
 
 An  old  ram  with  large  crooked  horns  was  brought  for 
 her  to  try  her  skill  upon,  and  Medea  pierced  his  throat  with 
 a  sharp  knife,  dipped  the  body  in  the  magic  brew,  and 
 immediately  it  shrunk  to  half  its  size,  the  horns  disappeared, 
 from  the  depths  of  the  cauldron  bleating  was  heard,  and 
 while  the  king's  daughters  were  still  marvelling  at  the  sound, 
 a  young  lamb  jumped  out,  and  began  gambolling  round 
 them.  Lost  in  amazement  at  the  wonderful  sight,  they 
 entreated  Medea  more  earnestly  than  ever  to  try  her  magic 
 power  on  their  father. 
 
 On  the  fourth  night  after  this  Medea  again  prepared  her 
 magic  cauldron.  She  caused  Pelias  to  fall  into  a  deathlike 
 slumber,  and  summoned  his  daughters,  but  although  they 
 approached  the  bed  where  their  father  lay,  they  would  not 
 venture  to  pierce  his  throat :  "  Wherefore  do  ye  hesitate, 
 faint-hearted  ones?  "  cried  Medea;  "  draw  the  knife  and  let 
 the  old  blood  run  out  that  I  may  fill  his  veins  with  the 
 fresh  stream  of  youth.  In  your  hands  rest  the  life  and 
 death  of  your  father.  If  ye  truly  love  him  ye  will  no  longer 
 hesitate." 
 
 Then  the  daughters,  although  their  filial  feelings  rose  up 
 against  such  a  deed,  took  up  the  sharp  knife  and  pierced 
 their  father's  throat.      But  they  turned   away  their  eyes, 
 
The  Argonautic  Expedition.  341 
 
 afraid  to  gaze   on  what   their   hands   had   so   unwillingly 
 done  : 
 
 "  Waking  in  consternation,  he  essays 
 (Welt'ring  in  blood)  his  feeble  arms  to  raise  : 
 
 From  whence 
 This  barbarous  usage  ?     What  is  my  offence  ? 
 What  fatal  fury,  what  infernal  charm, 
 'Gainst  a  kind  father  does  his  daughters  arm  ? 
 
 Hearing  his  voice,  as  thunder-struck,  they  stopp'd 
 Their  resolution,  and  their  weapons  dropp'd  : 
 Medea  then  the  mortal  blow  bestows, 
 And,  that  performed,  the  tragic  scene  to  close, 
 His  corse  into  the  boiling  caldron  throws. 
 Then,  dreading  the  revenge  that  must  ensue, 
 High  mounted  on  her  dragon  coach  she  flew."' 
 
 —Ovid,  "  Metam.,"  Book  vii. 
 
 Another  legend  relates  that  after  Pelias  was  dead,  Medea 
 went  up  to  the  housetop  with  his  daughters,  who  were  still 
 under  the  belief  that  their  father  would  come  forth  from 
 the  cauldron  with  renewed  youth.  She  then  pretended 
 that  she  must  first  make  an  offering  to  Selene  or  the  moon, 
 they  therefore  all  appeared  with  torches  in  their  hands.  In 
 reality,  however,  the  sorceress  had  arranged  with  Jason 
 that  he  and  his  friends  should  hold  themselves  in  readiness, 
 and  as  soon  as  they  saw  the  burning  torches  they  were  to 
 attack  the  palace.  This  he  did,  and  the  castle  of  Pelias 
 thus  fell  into  the  hands  of  his  nephew. 
 
 As,  however,  Jason  did  not  like  to  take  possession  of  the 
 crown  of  Iolcos  after  the  great  crime  that  had  been  com- 
 mitted, he  made  it  over  to  the  son  of  the  murdered  monarch, 
 and  went  with  Medea  to  Corinth,  where  he  received  a 
 friendly  welcome  from  King  Creon.  In  Corinth  they  lived 
 for  ten  years,  but  gradually  Jason  began  to  care  less  and 
 
34 2  The  Argonautic  Expedition. 
 
 less  for  Medea  for  he  feared  her  craftiness,  and  her  magic 
 powers,  and  his  heart  became  filled  with  love  for  Creusa  or 
 Glauke,  the  daughter  of  King  Creon.  Then  he  spoke  to 
 Medea  that  she  should  leave  him  of  her  own  accord.  When 
 she  refused  to  do  this,  he  cast  her  off  in  anger,  and  made 
 preparations  for  his  marriage  with  Creusa. 
 
 But  hatred  filled  the  heart  of  Medea  on  finding  herself 
 forsaken,  and  under  pretence  of  friendship  she  sent  a 
 beautiful  garment  to  her  rival,  the  inside  of  which  she  had 
 previously  rubbed  with  poisonous  herbs,  begging  her  with 
 loving  words  to  wear  it  on  the  day  of  her  marriage.  Dread- 
 ing no  evil,  the  bride  put  it  on,  but  soon  she  was  seized 
 with  fearful  pains,  her  eyes  shone  with  a  fiery  light,  her 
 skin  began  to  burn,  her  breath  failed,  and  she  died  in 
 terrible  agony. 
 
 Still  Medea's  vengeance  was  not  satisfied,  it  had  yet  to 
 fall  upon  Creon  and  Jason.  She  took  her  children  in  her 
 dragon  chariot,  and  having  first  murdered  them,  threw  them 
 one  by  one  down  to  the  earth  as  she  passed  through  the 
 air,  sending  down  also  flames  of  fire  which  consumed  both 
 Creon  and  his  palace.  Then  she  descended  to  Athens, 
 and  was  received  there  with  great  kindness  by  King  Aegeus, 
 but  here,  too,  her  wicked  deeds  soon  became  known,  and 
 she  returned  to  Colchis,  where,  during  the  long  time  that 
 had  elapsed  since  she  left,  her  mother's  brother  Perses  had 
 driven  her  father  Aeetes  from  his  throne.  Medea  caused 
 her  uncle  to  be  murdered,  and  gave  the  kingdom  back  to 
 her  father. 
 
 The  poets  give  very  various  accounts  of  the  end  of  this 
 wicked  woman.  Some  relate  that  she  became  reconciled 
 to  Jason,  whose  end  is  also  uncertain;  others  that,  wild 
 with  grief  at  the  death  of  Creusa  and  his  children,  the 
 leader  of  the  Argonauts  killed  himself;  others  that  he  sur- 
 vived Medea. 
 
The  Trojan  War.  343 
 
 XIV. — THE   TROJAN    WAR. 
 
 Although  more  reliance  can  be  placed  on  accounts  of  the 
 Trojan  War  and  the  destruction  of  Troy  than  on  the  pre- 
 vious myths,  yet  so  much  concerning  these  episodes  relates 
 to  the  Heroes  and  Legends  of  Mythology  that  we  must 
 not  pass  it  over  here. 
 
 The  cause  of  the  war,  as  has  already  been  related,  was 
 the  abduction  of  Helen,  the  wife  of  Menelaos,  by  Paris, 
 Prince  of  Troy,  during  the  absence  of  her  husband  from 
 Sparta.  When  Menelaos  returned  from  Crete,  and  heard 
 of  the  loss  of  his  wife  and  all  his  treasure,  he  was  furious 
 with  rage,  and  hastened  to  his  brother  Agamemnon,  King 
 of  Mykenae,  by  whose  advice  he  invited  the  other  Grecian 
 princes  to  join  him  in  an  expedition  to  Troy  to  avenge  his 
 wrongs. 
 
 First,  however,  they  sent  messengers  to  ask  for  restitution, 
 but  as  King  Priam  refused  all  satisfaction,  war  preparations 
 were  undertaken  in  earnest. 
 
 It  is  true  Menelaos  alone  had  sustained  the  injury,  but 
 the  Grecian  princes  were  bound  by  an  oath,  taken  in  by- 
 gone years,  to  look  upon  the  abduction  of  Helen  as  an 
 affront  to  them  all.  Once  had  all  the  princes  of  Greece 
 striven  together  for  the  hand  of  the  beautiful  Helen,  and 
 her  father,  to  avoid  offending  any  of  them,  had  left  the 
 decision  to  her,  making  the  suitors  promise  that  they  would 
 be  satisfied,  and  in  time  to  come  would  defend  her  and  her 
 husband  from  all  dangers  and  insults  that  should  be  offered 
 to  them.  The  choice  of  the  maiden  fell  upon  Menelaos, 
 who  after  the  death  of  his  father-in-law  became  King  of 
 Sparta.  Now  Menelaos  demanded  the  promised  help,  and 
 nearly  the  whole  of  Greece  came  to  his  assistance. 
 
344  T/ie  Trojan  War. 
 
 The  most  celebrated  of  the  princes  who  fought  against 
 Troy  besides  Menelaos  and  Agamemnon,  the  sons  of 
 A  treu  s,  were : 
 
 Nestor,  King  of  Elis,  a  man,  ninety  years  of  age,  who 
 had  already  seen  three  generations  rise  and  pass  away.  In 
 youth  and  manhood  Nestor  had  been  one  of  the  bravest 
 of  the  heroes,  and  now  in  his  old  age  he  was  reverenced 
 and  honoured  by  all  on  account  of  his  great  wisdom. 
 
 Odysseus  or  Ulysses,  King  of  Ithaca,  a  son  of  Laertes, 
 and  celebrated  for  his  eloquence  and  cunning.  It  had 
 been  foretold  to  him,  that  if  he  went  against  Troy  he  should 
 return  after  twenty  years  as  a  beggar  to  his  own  country. 
 For  this  reason  he  did  not  wish  to  join  the  expedition,  and 
 when  Menelaos  and  Agamemnon  came  to  him,  he  pretended 
 to  be  crazy.  They  found  him  with  an  ox  and  a  pony 
 harnessed  to  a  plough,  while  he  was  sowing  salt  instead  of 
 corn  in  the  furrows.  But  the  princes  saw  through  the 
 artifice.  Taking  his  little  son  Telemachos,  they  laid  him 
 just  in  the  way  of  the  plough.  Odysseus,  seeing  the  child, 
 carefully  raised  the  plough  over  him,  upon  which  they 
 declared  that  he  was  only  acting  a  part  to  deceive  them. 
 Therefore  he  had  to  join  them,  leaving  behind  his  wife 
 Penelope  and  his  child,  without  any  protection.  This 
 Ithacan  king  underwent  more  misfortunes  on  his  return 
 from  Troy  than  any  of  the  others. 
 
 Achilleus  has  already  been  mentioned  as  a  boy  in  the 
 cave  of  the  Centaur  Chiron.  It  had  been  foretold  to  his 
 mother  Thetis  that  her  son  would  either  live  a  long  and 
 quiet  life  or  a  short  and  renowned  one  ;  the  latter  if  he 
 went  to  war  against  Troy,  the  former  if  he  remained  quietly 
 at  home.  Therefore  when  he  was  born,  the  loving  mother 
 dipped  him  into  the  river  Styx,  that  thereby  she  might 
 render  him  invulnerable  j  one  part  only  she  forgot  to  dip, 
 
The  Trojan  War.  345 
 
 namely  the  heel  by  which  she  held  him.  And  it  was  in 
 this  spot  that  he  afterwards  received  his  death-wound. 
 Having  completed  his  education  under  Chiron,  Thetis 
 brought  her  son  to  the  isle  of  Scyros,  attired  him  as  a  girl, 
 and  under  this  guise  he  dwelt  among  the  king's  daughters. 
 When,  however,  the  Greeks  were  going  to  Troy  they  sought 
 everywhere  for  Achilleus,  an  oracle  having  declared  that 
 Troy  should  not  be  taken  unless  he  formed  part  of  the 
 expedition.  Long  did  they  search  in  vain,  until  at  length  the 
 cunning  Odysseus  discovered  where  the  youth  was  hidden. 
 In  order  to  make  sure  that  his  discovery  was  right,  Odysseus 
 travelled  to  Scyros,  disguised  as  a  merchant,  and  there 
 before  the  delighted  eyes  of  the  daughters  of  the  king 
 displayed  all  sorts  of  raw  articles,  amongst  them  a  sword, 
 a  lance,  and  a  bow  of  splendid  workmanship.  As  soon  as 
 Achilleus  saw  the  arms,  he  seized  them  with  eager  delight, 
 and  thus  betrayed  to  Odysseus  that  he  was  a  warrior.  When 
 the  king  then  told  him  of  the  object  of  his  journey,  the 
 youth  gladly  agreed  to  accompany  him,  for  the  expedition 
 was  well  suited  to  his  warlike  spirit  :  he  would  far  rather 
 live  a  short  life  and  earn  unending  fame,  than  spend  all  his 
 days  in  peaceful  inactivity. 
 
 Ajax,  a  tall  and  stately  youth,  son  of  Telamon,  King  of 
 Salamis  and  Hesione. 
 
 Ajax  the  lesser,  a  rough  but  brave  man,  son  of  Oileus, 
 king  of  the  Locrians  in  Hellas. 
 
 Patroklos,  a  relation  and  great  friend  of  Achilles,  from  the 
 island  of  Aegina  near  Salamis. 
 
 Diomedes,  King  of  Argos,  and  son  of  Tydeus.  He 
 wounded  Venus  and  Mars  before  Troy. 
 
 Pyrrhos  or  Neoptolemos,  son  of  Achilleus,  was  only 
 twelve  years  old,  but  he  also  took  part  in  the  Trojan  war. 
 
 Philoctetes,  a  Thessalian  king,  to  whom  Herakles  before 
 
346  The  Trojan  War. 
 
 his  death  gave  his  poisoned  arrows,  without  which,  so  an 
 oracle  had  said,  Troy  should  not  be  taken.  Having  been 
 bitten  by  a  snake  while  in  the  Greek  camp,  Philoctetes 
 retired  to  Lemnos  until  the  wound  should  heal,  and  took 
 with  him  the  arrows,  which  he  would  give  up  to  no  one 
 else.  This  placed  the  Greeks  in  some  perplexity,  until  at 
 length  Odysseus  and  Diomedes  succeeded  in  obtaining  them 
 from  him. 
 
 Teukros,  another  son  of  Telamon,  and  half-brother  to 
 Ajax,  renowned  for  his  skill  as  an  archer. 
 
 Lastly,  Idomeneus,  King  of  Crete,  the  friend  of  Menelaos. 
 
 And  now  we  will  proceed  to  give  the  history  of  the  Trojan 
 war,  as  related  by  the  great  Greek  poets,  more  especially 
 Homer  and  Euripides,  and  also  by  the  Roman  poet  Virgil. 
 
 Two  years  of  preparation  passed,  and  then  one  by  one 
 the  Greeks  assembled  in  the  harbour  of  Aulis  in  Boeotia, 
 until  at  length  all  had  arrived,  and  now  they  only  waited 
 for  a  favourable  wind  to  cross  to  the  opposite  shores  of  Asia 
 Minor.  But  the  anger  of  the  gods  was  kindled  against 
 Agamemnon,  whom  the  Greeks  had  chosen  for  their  leader, 
 and  no  wind  came  to  fill  the  drooping  sails.  The  reason 
 for  their  displeasure  is  variously  related  :  according  to  some 
 writers,  Agamemnon  had  killed  a  beautiful  stag  dedicated 
 to  Artemis,  and  had  then  boasted  that  no  god  could  equal 
 him  in  shooting.  Others  again  say  that  he  had  promised 
 the  finest  fruits  of  the  year  to  the  huntress  queen,  and  had 
 not  kept  his  vow. 
 
 The  wind  still  continued  unfavourable,  and  at  length  the 
 host  murmured  loudly,  and  demanded  that  the  wise  priest 
 Calchas  should  discover  who  it  was  that  had  brought  down 
 the  anger  of  the  gods  upon  them. 
 
 Then  the  words  of  the  seer  fell  slowly  and  sadly  on  the 
 ears  of  the  sons  of  Atreus. 
 
The  Trojan  War.  347 
 
 "  If  the  winds  are  to  become  favourable  and  the  walls  of 
 Troy  to  fall,  then  must  Iphigenia,  the  daughter  of 
 Agamemnon,  die  on  the  altar  of  Artemis,  the  protectress 
 of  Aulis." 
 
 And  Agamemnon  sent  forth  a  herald  to  proclaim  to  the 
 host  that  they  would  be  disbanded,  never  would  he  allow 
 his  daughter  to  be  thus  sacrificed.  But  Menelaos,  with 
 prayers  and  entreaties,  at  length  persuaded  his  brother  to 
 appease  the  wrath  of  Artemis,  and  Agamemnon  sent  mes- 
 sengers to  his  wife  Clytemnestra  (the  sister  of  Helen),  at 
 Mykenae,  and  bade  her  send  his  daughter  at  once  to  Aulis, 
 for  that  Achilleus  would  wed  her.  In  order,  too,  to  hasten 
 her  departure  the  more,  he  added  that  Achilleus  would  not 
 go  to  Troy  until  Iphigenia  had  become  his  wife  and  been 
 sent  to  his  home  in  Pthia. 
 
 Scarcely  had  the  messenger  departed  when  the  father 
 repented  him  of  having  yielded,  and  sent  a  second  mes- 
 senger to  Mykenae  to  tell  his  wife  not  to  send  their 
 daughter  to  Aulis,  as  the  marriage  had  been  postponed. 
 Menelaos,  however,  suspected  his  brother's  change  of  pur- 
 pose, and  waylaying  the  messenger  as  he  left  the  camp, 
 obtained  possession  of  the  letter.  Bitterly  did  he  reproach 
 Agamemnon  for  his  fickleness,  but  the  king  maintained  that 
 he  would  not  sacrifice  his  daughter. 
 
 "  I  cannot  become  the  murderer  of  my  own  child,"  he 
 said.  "  Thou,  in  thy  wild  passion  for  revenge  upon  one 
 who  has  been  faithless  to  thee,  mayest  tread  justice  under 
 foot,  but  never  will  I  murderously  stain  my  hands  in  the 
 blood  of  my  children.  The  horrid  deed  would  haunt  me 
 night  and  day,  and  never  more  should  I  have  peace." 
 
 While  they  were  still  disputing,  news  was  brought  of  the 
 arrival  of  Iphigenia.  Agamemnon  was  beside  himself  with 
 grief  and  dismay,  and  his  sorrow  even  touched  Menelaos. 
 
348  The  Trojan  War. 
 
 "  I  swear  to  thee  by  Pelops,  our  great  ancestor,"  he  cried, 
 "  that  when  I  saw  the  tears  streaming  from  thine  eyes,  my 
 brother,  my  very  soul  was  moved.  Scarce  could  I  myself 
 refrain  from  tears.  The  words  I  just  now  uttered  I  will 
 take  back.  I  will  not  be  wrathful  with  thee.  Thou  art 
 right,  slay  not  thy  child.  I  myself  declare  that  it  is  not 
 just." 
 
 Meanwhile  Clytemnestra,  the  mother  of  Iphigenia,  having 
 accompanied  her  daughter  to  the  Greek  camp  in  order  to 
 be  present  at  her  marriage  with  Achilleus,  had  accidentally 
 encountered  the  latter,  and  expressed  her  joy  at  the  ap- 
 proaching connection.  The  chieftain,  however,  assured  her 
 he  had  never  thought  of  it,  and  while  both  were  wondering 
 why  Agamemnon  should  have  deceived  them  in  this  manner, 
 a  faithful  old  slave  came  up  and  told  them  that  the  king 
 had  decided  to  offer  up  his  daughter  as  a  sacrifice  to 
 Artemis. 
 
 The  unhappy  mother  would  not  believe  the  tale.  "  Man," 
 she  cried,  "  thou  hast  lost  thy  senses.  Oh  !  'tis  too  fearful. 
 My  husband  must  be  mad  ere  he  would  consent  to  such  a 
 crime."  But  when  the  slave  assured  her  of  the  truth  of  his 
 statement,  she  threw  herself  down  before  Achilleus  in  the 
 agony  of  her  grief.  "  Oh  !  son  of  the  sea  goddess  Thetis, 
 have  pity  on  the  unhappy  maiden  who  has  been  called  thy 
 bride.  Have  pity  on  her  mother.  Grant  us  thine  aid,  oh  ! 
 child  of  Peleus.  Alone  and  friendless,  without  thy  help  we 
 are  lost.  Stretch  forth  thine  hand  in  our  behalf,  and  we  are 
 saved." 
 
 Pity  filled  the  heart  of  Achilleus  :  "  Truly  do  I  grieve  for 
 thee,"  he  answered,  "  and  whatsoever  this  poor  arm  can  do 
 be  sure  it  will.  Agamemnon  shall  not  kill  thy  child,  the 
 maiden  shall  not  suffer  this  great  misery.  Cost  what  it  may, 
 my  sword  shall  defend  her.     Let  this  suffice  thee,  and  be- 
 
The  Trojan  War.  349 
 
 lieve  in  my  sincerity  and  truth."  Then  they  agreed  that 
 Clytemnestra  should  make  another  attempt  to  change  her 
 husband's  decision  ;  if  this  failed,  Achilleus  promised  to 
 interfere. 
 
 Then  she  went  to  Agamemnon,  told  him  what  she  had 
 heard,  and  tried  to  move  his  heart ;  Iphigenia  also,  who  had 
 now  learned  her  fate,  added  her  entreaties  that  her  life  might 
 be  spared. 
 
 "  My  father,"  thus  she  spoke,  "  had  I  the  eloquence  of 
 Orpheus,  could  I  by  the  charm  of  my  voice  cause  rocks  to 
 follow  me,  and  by  my  words  soften  as  I  will  the  hearts  of 
 men,  then  would  I  have  called  it  to  mine  aid.  Now  tears 
 are  my  only  skill,  these  I  have,  these  do  I  offer  thee.  Behold 
 as  a  suppliant  bough  I  lay  me  at  thy  feet,  oh,  slay  me  not, 
 my  father.  Sweet  is  the  light  of  the  sun  to  my  eyes,  send 
 me  not  before  my  time  to  visit  the  land  of  shadows.  I  was 
 the  first  from  whom  thou  didst  receive  the  name  of  •'  father,' 
 the  first  to  stand  beside  thy  knee  to  give  and  in  return 
 receive  sweet  tokens  of  affection.  And  thou  wast  wont  to 
 say  :  '  My  daughter  how  gladly  shall  I  one  day  behold  thee 
 happy  and  blessed  in  the  home  of  a  husband  such  as  be- 
 seems thy  birth.'  And  I  did  answer  thee,  while  my  hand 
 caressed  thy  beard  as  it  does  now,  '  Then  will  I  receive  thee 
 in  my  house  as  an  old  man  with  great  honour,  and  repay 
 thee  for  the  careful  nurture  of  my  youth.'  Thus  spake  we. 
 Well  do  I  remember  these  thy  words,  but  thou,  my  father, 
 thou  hast  forgotten  them,  and  now  wouldst  slay  me.  What 
 has  the  marriage  of  Paris  and  Helen  to  do  with  thee  ? 
 Came  he  to  Greece  for  my  destruction  ?  Father,  look  upon 
 me.  Give  me  one  glance,  one  kiss,  that  I  may  have  at 
 least  one  token  of  thy  love  to  carry  with  me  when  I  die." 
 
 "  My  daughter,"  answered  Agamemnon,  "  hard  it  is  for  me 
 to  sacrifice  thee.     But  how  can  I  do  otherwise.     Behold  the 
 
35°  The  Trojan  War. 
 
 whole  Greek  fleet.  See  how  many  kings  are  ready  armed. 
 And  none  of  these  shall  ever  see  the  towers  of  Troy,  nor 
 will  the  walls  of  Priam's  castle  fall  unless  thou  die.  So  has 
 the  augur  said.  It  is  vain  for  me  to  go  against  the  will  of 
 the  gods.  We  should  all  fall  victims  to  the  army  of  the 
 Greeks,  who  burn  to  reach  the  plain  of  Troy.  For  Greece 
 I  needs  must  offer  thee,  thy  country  asks  thy  death.  Nor 
 matters  it  if  I  be  willing  or  unwilling.  The  anger  of  Artemis 
 must  be  appeased."  And  having  thus  said,  the  king  hurried 
 away,  leaving  the  mother  and  daughter  alone  wTith  their 
 grief. 
 
 Now  Achilleus  appeared,  accompanied  by  his  armed  fol- 
 lowers, to  say  that  all  rescue  was  impossible.  The  Greeks 
 had  risen,  and  imperiously  demanded  the  sacrifice  of  the 
 maiden,  and  when  he  had  tried  to  pacify  them  they  had 
 taken  up  stones  to  stone  him.  Nevertheless,  as  he  had 
 promised,  he  and  his  companions  had  come  to  defend  her 
 against  the  whole  host.  "  Hear  me,"  my  mother,  "  said 
 Iphigenia,  "hear  what  has  entered  into  my  mind.  I  have 
 determined  to  die,  but  honourably  of  my  own  free  will,  not 
 by  compulsion.  The  eyes  of  all  Greece  are  upon  me, 
 through  me  shall  the  fleet  be  freed,  and  destruction  come 
 upon  Troy ;  then  will  my  name  be  honoured  among  men 
 for  ever.  I  give  my  life  for  Greece,  and  none  shall  make 
 me  waver  or  change  my  purpose." 
 
 Achilleus  stood  lost  in  admiration'of  the  wonderful  courage 
 of  the  maiden,  and  he  promised  to  be  at  hand  to  protect 
 her,  in  case  at  the  last  she  should  change  her  determination. 
 
 In  vain  did  Clytemnestra  try  to  dissuade  her  daughter. 
 Iphigenia  tore  herself  from  her  arms,  and  was  lead  away  to 
 the  temple.  All  was  prepared,  the  altar  ready,  and  Calchas 
 took  the  knife,  and  raised  his  arm  to  give  the  death-blow, 
 when  suddenly  a  thick  cloud  enveloped  the  maiden,  and 
 
The  Trojan  War.  351 
 
 the  blow  fell  on  a  hind  which  the  pitying  goddess  had  sent 
 in  her  place.  Thus  was  Iphigenia  saved,  and  in  her  stead 
 the  animal  was  sacrificed,  while  the  wrath  of  Artemis  was 
 appeased. 
 
 Now  the  wind  veered  round  to  a  favourable  quarter,  and 
 filled  the  sails  of  the  waiting  vessels.  Among  the  assembled 
 Greek  heroes  was  Protesilaus,  a  Thessalian  prince,  who, 
 just  as  the  war  broke  out,  had  married  Laodamia,  a  grand- 
 daughter of  Pelias.  Great  was  the  love  which  they  bore  to 
 one  another,  and  Laodamia  entreated  him  not  to  join  the 
 host,  as  it  had  been  foretold  to  him  that  he  should  die 
 before  the  walls  of  Troy.  But  even  his  wife's  persuasions 
 were  in  vain.  Protesilaus  would  not  be  deterred  from 
 joining  the  expedition,  for  he  also  was  one  of  those  who  had 
 given  the  oath  to  Gyndareus. 
 
 The  fleet  set  sail,  and  ere  long  arrived  off  the  coast  of 
 Troy,  but  now  none  of  the  Greeks  would  land,  for  an  oracle 
 had  said,  whoever  first  stepped  on  the  shore  would  die. 
 How  long  they  would  have  remained  thus  cannot  be  said, 
 had  not  Protesilaus  nobly  offered  to  sacrifice  himself  for  his 
 country.  He  sprang  from  the  vessel  on  to  the  shore,  and 
 thus  hurried  on  his  fate,  for  he  soon  after  died  by  Hector's 
 hand. 
 
 When  Laodamia  received  the  tidings  of  his  death,  she 
 was  inconsolable.  "  Ah  !  could  I  but  have  said  farewell  to 
 him,"  she  cried.  "  Ye  gods,  grant  that  I  may  for  a  few  short 
 hours  behold  his  face  yet  once  again,  so  that  I  may  tell  him 
 how  great  is  my  love  for  him."  The  gracious  gods,  pleased 
 at  her  devotion,  granted  her  wish.  Once  more  she  was 
 allowed  to  clasp  him  in  her  arms,  and  then  he  descended 
 again  into  Hades,  whither  the  loving  wife  soon  followed 
 him. 
 
 The  Greeks  raised  a  tomb  in  honour  of  Protesilaus  near 
 
35 2  Strife  between  Achilleus  and  Agamemnon. 
 
 Troy,  and  planted  elm  trees  round  it ;  the  trees,  however, 
 only  grew  tall  enough  to  be  in  view  of  Troy,  as  soon  as  they 
 beheld  the  city  the  leaves  faded  and  died. 
 
 XV. — STRIFE  BETWEEN  ACHILLEUS  AND 
 AGAMEMNON. 
 
 After  the  Greeks  had  landed,  they  spread  over  the 
 country  before  they  commenced  attacking  Troy  itself, 
 destroying  the  neighbouring  towns  and  collecting  treasure 
 and  booty.  This  desultory  warfare  continued  for  nine 
 years,  and  all  the  prisoners  that  were  taken  became  the 
 slaves  of  the  victors. 
 
 Among  those  prisoners  were  two  maidens :  Chryseis,  the 
 daughter  of  Chryses,  priest  of  Apollo,  who  was  given  to 
 Agamemnon;  and  Briseis,  daughter  of  the  priest  Briseus, 
 who  fell  to  Achilleus. 
 
 When  Chryses  heard  of  the  capture  of  his  daughter  he 
 offered  a  large  ransom  for  her,  and  entreated  the  sons  of 
 Atreus  to  restore  her  to  him.  But  Agamemnon  treated 
 him  with  scorn,  and  sent  him  out  of  the  Greek  camp.  Then 
 Chryses  paced  sorrowfully  along  the  sea  shore,  and  prayed 
 to  Apollo  for  help.  The  god  heard  his  prayer  and  his 
 anger  being  roused  that  the  daughter  of  one  of  his  priests 
 should  have  been  stolen,  he  grasped  his  bow  and  quiver, 
 and  under  cover  of  the  dark  night  shot  his  arrows  into  the 
 Greek  camp,  striking  both  men  and  beasts  with  a  pestilence. 
 After  the  plague  had  lasted  nine  days,  Achilleus  called  the 
 chiefs  together,  and  proposed  that  Calchas  should  ask 
 Apollo  wherefore  they  had  incurred  his  anger.  This  was 
 done,  and  Calchas  thus  replied  : 
 
Strife  between  Achilleus  and  Agamemnon.    353 
 
 "  Not  for  neglect  of  sacrifice  or  prayer 
 The  god  is  wroth,  but  for  his  injured  priest, 
 Whom  Atreus'  son  dishonoured,  when  he  came 
 With  ransom  for  his  daughter  ;  hence  these  woes  : 
 Nor  will  far-darting  Phoebus  stay  the  plague, 
 Till  he  restore  the  maid  of  glancing  eye, 
 Unbought,  unransomed,  to  her  loving  sire, 
 With  offering  of  a  sacred  hecatomb 
 To  Chrysa  led.     Then  haply  may  the  god 
 Accept  propitiation  and  repent." 
 
 —  HOMER,  "  Iliad,"  Book  i.  (Wright). 
 
 Agamemnon  refused  to  do  this,  and  fierce  words  ensued 
 between  him  and  Achilleus,  as  the  former  said  he  would 
 only  give  up  the  maiden  if  the  other  princes  would  make 
 him  some  compensation.  The  strife  waxed  hotter,  and 
 Achilleus  had  just  laid  his  hand  on  his  mighty  sword  to 
 draw  it  forth,  when  Pallas,  sent  by  Hera,  and  unseen  by  the 
 other  Greeks,  caught  hold  of  him  by  his  auburn  locks. 
 Amazed,  he  turned  round,  and,  recognizing  the  goddess, 
 let  the  sword  fall  back  into  the  sheath.  But  angry  words 
 continued  to  fall  from  the  lips  of  both  princes,  till 
 Nestor  rose  up  and  tried  to  pacify  them.  Then  they 
 separated,  but  their  hearts  wrere  full  of  hatred. 
 
 Agamemnon  placed  Chryseis  on  board  a  ship  and  sent 
 her  back  to  her  father,  but  at  the  same  time  insisting 
 that  Achilleus  should  also  give  up  Briseis.  Achilleus  sur- 
 rendered the  maiden,  but  he  called  the  gods  and  men  to 
 witness  that  he  would  take  no  further  part  in  the  war,  for  he 
 was  both  hurt  at  her  loss  and  at  the  overbearing  arrogance 
 of  Agamemnon  : 
 
 "  From  his  friends  withdrawn, 
 Achilles  sat  beside  the  hoary  sea, 
 z 
 
354  Strife  between  Achilleus  and  Agamemnon. 
 
 Gazing  in  tears  upon  the  boundless  deep  ; 
 
 Then  to  his  mother  prayed  with  outstretched  hands  : 
 
 '  O,  mother,  since  so  brief  my  term  on  earth, 
 
 Surely  the  Olympian  should  at  least  have  crowned 
 
 Thy  son  with  glory  ;  glory  he  denies  ; 
 
 And  Agamemnon,  the  wide-ruling  king, 
 
 Insults  me,  robs  me,  and  my  prize  retains.' " 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  i.  (Wright). 
 
 Then  in  the  deep  caves  of  ocean  his  mother  Thetis  heard 
 her  son's  complaint,  and  rising  from  the  sea  she  sat  down 
 beside  him,  fondly  soothed  him  with  her  hand,  and  thus  she 
 spoke : 
 
 "  Why  weep,  my  son  ?     What  sorrow  wrings  thy  heart  ? 
 Speak  ;  hide  it  not ;  and  let  me  share  thy  grief." 
 
 Gloomily  Achilleus  told  her  his  trouble,  and  begged  her  to 
 go  to  Zeus  and  entreat  him  to  assist  the  Trojans  in  order 
 that  the  Greeks  might  be  defeated,  for  he  wished  them  to 
 feel  his  loss.  Thetis  promised  to  perform  this  as  soon  as 
 the  gods  returned  to  Olympos ;  at  present  they  had  all 
 gone  with  Zeus  to  the  land  of  Ethiopia,  to  hold  a  great 
 banquet.  When,  however,  twelve  days  had  elapsed  they 
 returned,  and  at  once  Thetis  hurried  to  Olympos,  and  pre- 
 sented her  petition.  "  Gladly  would  I  grant  thy  wish,"  was 
 the  reply  of  the  mighty  Jove,  "  were  it  not  for  the  anger  of 
 Hera.  Already  she  declares  that  I  assist  the  Trojans  ;  but 
 go  thy  way,  I  will  endeavour  to  accomplish  thy  desire." 
 
 So  Thetis  returned  to  her  caves  under  the  sea,  and 
 Zeus  sought  again  his  palace,  where  all  the  gods  received 
 him  standing.  As  soon  as  he  had  seated  himself  on  his 
 throne,  Hera  at  once  began  to  taunt  him,  trying  to  discover 
 the  nature  of  the  request  of  Thetis.     But  angrily 
 
 11  Replied  the  sire  of  gods  and  men  : 
 'Aspire  not,  Juno,  all  my  thoughts  to  learn, 
 
Strife  between  Achilleus  and  Agamemnon.   355 
 
 Hard  e'en  for  thee,  my  consort,  to  divine. 
 
 Suspicion  ever  in  thy  bosom  lurks  ; 
 Nor  e'er  do  I  thy  searching  ken  escape. 
 Yet  shalt  thou  not  prevail ;  and  thy  design 
 Will  but  estrange  from  thee  my  heart  the  more  : 
 
 I  still  accomplish  what  my  will  approves. 
 Be  thou  submissive,  lest  when  I  approach, 
 And  lift  against  thee  my  unconquered  hand, 
 Vain  be  the  aid  of  all  the  Olympian  host.'" 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  i. 
 
 Silenced  by  the  menace,  Hera  refrained  from  answering, 
 and  the  gods  seated  themselves  at  their  banquet  and  feasted 
 until  the  sun  set,  when  they  retired  to  their  palaces.  But 
 Zeus  could  not  rest,  and  sleep  did  not  visit  his  breast; 
 through  the  hours  of  the  night  he  lay  deeply  pondering  how, 
 to  please  Achilleus,  he  might  send  destruction  on  the  Greeks. 
 
 At  last  he  sent  a  dream  to  Agamemnon,  telling  him  that 
 now  was  the  time  to  attack  the  Trojans.  He  should  quickly 
 assemble  the  Greek  host,  and  Troy  would  fall  that  very  day. 
 When  Agamemnon  awoke,  he  called  together  the  princes, 
 related  his  dream,  and  advised  an  immediate  attack.  Even 
 wise  Nestor  approved  of  the  plan,  and  Agamemnon  as- 
 sembled the  host  that  he  might  discover  their  wishes. 
 
 In  order  to  prove  them,  he  counselled  them  to  give  up  the 
 siege,  and  to  return  home.  Then  the  whole  multitude 
 rushed  to  the  shore,  and  amid  loud  shouts  they  dragged  the 
 vessels  down  into  the  sea  and  prepared  to  depart.  The 
 embarkation  would  have  been  carried  out  had  not  Juno  in- 
 terfered. Hurriedly  she  sent  Athene  to  the  fleet,  and 
 the  goddess,  flying  down  with  arrow -like  swiftness,  found 
 Odysseus  standing  beside  his  bark,  which  however  he  had 
 not  moved,  for  his  heart  was  wrung  with  pain  and  sorrow. 
 Approaching  him,  she  said  ; 
 
356  Strife  between  Achilleus  and  Agamemnon. 
 
 "  Son  of  Laertes,  heaven-descended  prince, 
 Great  in  resource,  are  ye  indeed  thus  bent 
 On  flying  home  to  your  dear  native  land, 
 Flocking  tumultuous  to  your  well-oared  ships  ? 
 And  will  ye  leave  behind  a  glorious  boast 
 
 To  Priam  and  the  Trojans Argive  Helen, 
 
 For  whom  so  many  Greeks  have  given  their  lives, 
 In  Troy,  far  distant  from  their  native  land  ? 
 Haste  then  amid  the  ranks  ;  each  man  persuade  ; 
 Nor  let  them  drag  their  well-poised  ships  to  sea." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  ii.  (Wright). 
 
 Odysseus  obeyed.  He  threw  aside  his  cloak,  and  hurrying 
 back  met  Agamemnon,  from  whom  he  took  the  leader's 
 sceptre.  Then  he  retraced  his  steps  to  the  ships,  and  by 
 fair  and  flattering  words  persuaded  the  princes  to  remain. 
 
 "  Heard  he  some  vile  plebeian  brawling  loud, 
 He  struck  him  with  his  sceptre,  and  rebuked  : 
 '  Fellow  be  still :  regard  what  others  say, 
 And  listen  to  thy  betters.     Base  art  thou, — 
 Of  no  repute  in  council  or  in  war. 
 All  are  not  born  to  rule.     Ill  fares  the  state 
 Where  many  rule.     Let  one  alone  be  king, 
 To  whom  Jove  gives  the  sceptre  and  the  laws, 
 So  to  fulfil  his  delegated  trust.'  " 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  ii.  (Wright). 
 
 Thus  at  last  was  order  restored,  and  the  assembled  host 
 returned  to  the  camp,  all  except  Thersites,  who  was  ever 
 ready  to  find  fault  with  the  princes. 
 
 "  Ugliest  was  he  of  all  who  came  to  Troy ; 
 His  legs  were  bandy,  and  one  foot  was  lame  ; 
 His  shoulders  round,  and  gathered  tow'rds  his  breast; 
 His  head  high-tapering  to  a  peak, -besprent 
 With  thin  and  woolly  down." 
 
 —Homer.  "  Iliad,"  Book  ii.  (Wright). 
 
Strife  between  Achilleus  and  Agamemnon.    357 
 
 After  lie  had  loudly  abused  Agamemnon  he  tried  to  per- 
 suade the  people  to  insist  on  returning,  but  Odysseus  rose  up 
 and  sternly  rebuked  him  :  "  Hold  thy  foolish  tongue,  thou 
 babbler.  How  canst  thou  know  whether  it  be  best  to 
 return  or  to  stay  ?  If  e'er  again  I  find  thee  playing  thus  the 
 fool,  my  name  is  not  Odysseus,  and  I  do  not  pluck  thy  gar- 
 ments from  thee,  and  send  thee  back  with  shame  unto  the 
 ships ; "  and  with  his  sceptre  he  struck  him  across  the 
 shoulders  till  the  tears  started  from  his  eyes.  Then 
 Thersites  cowered  down  and  complained  of  the  ill-treatment 
 he  had  received  at  the  hands  of  Odysseus,  all  the  while 
 wiping  away  his  tears.  But  the  princes  only  laughed 
 heartily,  and  declared  that  Odysseus  had  done  no  greater 
 deed  than  stopping  this  babbler's  mouth. 
 
 Now  Odysseus  addressed  the  warriors,  Pallas  Athene 
 standing  beside  him  in  guise  of  a  herald  :  "  None  can  blame 
 you,  O  ye  Greeks,  for  wishing  to  return  and  see  your  wives, 
 your  children,  and  your  parents.  But  will  ye,  after  waiting 
 nine  fruitless  years,  now  give  up  all  hopes  of  success  ?  Have 
 ye  forgotten  the  sign  sent  to  us  by  the  gods  before  we  sailed 
 from  Aulis;  how,  from  beneath  the  sacred  altar,  a  snake 
 crept  forth  and  twined  itself  round  a  plane  tree,  on  the 
 topmost  branches  of  which  lay  a  nest  with  eight  young 
 sparrows,  and  how  the  serpent  first  devoured  the  eight 
 small  birds,  next  their  mother,  the  ninth,  and  then  was 
 turned  into  stone,  while  all  stood  amazed  to  see  it  ?  Have 
 ye  forgotten  how  Kalchas  interpreted  this  sign,  even  that 
 as  the  serpent  slew  the  nine  sparrows  so  should  we,  for  nine 
 long  years,  fight  in  vain,  but  that  the  tenth  should  witness 
 our  triumph  ? 
 
 "  '  Wait  then  in  patience,  wait,  till  we  achieve 
 Their  consummation  in  the  fall  of  Troy.' " 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  ii.  (Wright). 
 
358     Combat  between  Paris  and  Menelaos. 
 
 Loud  was  the  shout  of  approval  that  greeted  this 
 speech,  and  no  longer  was  any  word  spoken  of  returning. 
 Agamemnon  ordered  all  to  arm  and  prepare  the  horses 
 and  chariots,  as  he  intended  to  offer  battle  to  the  enemy. 
 
 XVI.— COMBAT   BETWEEN    PARIS   AND 
 MENELAOS. 
 
 With  loud  cries,  like  the  roar  of  distant  waves,  the  Greeks 
 sprung  up  and  hastened  to  their  ships.  From  all  parts  of  the 
 camp  rose  smoke  either  from  sacrifices  or  preparations  of 
 food,  and  Agamemnon  himself  offered  a  splendid  bull,  invit- 
 ing the  principal  chiefs,  Odysseus,  Diomedes,  the  two  Ajax, 
 Idomeneus,  and  Nestor  to  the  feast.  Then  he  commanded 
 the  heralds  to  summon  the  Greeks  to  arms  : 
 
 "  Amid  the  host 
 Stood  bright-eyed  Pallas,  bearing  on  her  arm 
 The  honoured  Aegis,  aye  exempt  from  age, 
 And  everlasting.     Round  about  it  waved 
 A  hundred  tassels,  exquisitely  wrought, 
 Of  golden  thread,  each  worth  a  hundred  beeves. 
 With  this  she  ranged  the  camp,  fierce  gazing  round  ; 
 And,  urging  all  to  speed,  in  every  breast 
 Infused  such  strength  to  combat  through  the  day, 
 That  sweeter  soon  because  the  battle  roar 
 Than  thoughts  that  whisper  of  a  distant  home." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  ii.  (Wright). 
 
 Soon  the  whole  plain  was  filled  with  armed  men,  each 
 leader  marshalling  his  own  band,  while  above  them  all 
 towered  the  tall  form  of  Agamemnon.  Zeus  now  sent 
 swift-footed  Iris  to  Troy  to  announce  to  King  Priam  that 
 the  Greeks  were  approaching.     And  under  the  form  of  the 
 
Combat  between  Paris  and  Menelaos.     359 
 
 king's  son  Polites,  who  had  been  sent  as  a  scout  to  watch 
 the  Greeks,  she  urged  the  Trojans  instantly  to  prepare  for 
 the  combat. 
 
 "  Battles  full  many  have  I  seen,  but  ne'er 
 Witnessed  so  gallant  and  so  great  a  host ; 
 For  countless  as  the  leaves,  or  as  the  sand, 
 They  sweep  the  plain,  impatient  to  assault 
 The  city." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  ii.  (Wright). 
 
 Quickly  they  flew  to  their  arms,  the  gates  of  the  town 
 were  flung  open,  and  out  rushed  a  mighty  throng  of  both 
 horse  and  foot  with  deafening  tumult,  led  by  Hektor,  the 
 brave  and  noble  son  of  Priam. 
 
 As  soon  as  the  two  armies  approached  each  other,  Paris 
 stepped  forth  from  the  Trojan  host.  A  bow  and  the  skin  of 
 a  panther  hung  over  his  shoulders  ;  in  his  hand  he  carried  a 
 sword,  and  while  swinging  aloft  two  brazen  pointed  spears, 
 he  challenged  the  bravest  of  the  Greeks  to  single  combat. 
 
 When  Menelaos  beheld  him  he  leapt  from  his  chariot, 
 burning  to  punish  the  abduction  of  Helen ;  but  no  sooner 
 did  Paris  see  who  the  champion  was  than  conscience  made 
 a  coward  of  him,  and  he  hurriedly  withdrew  behind  his 
 friends.  Then  bitterly  Hektor  reproached  him  for  his 
 cowardice  :  "  Would  thou  never  hadst  been  born,"  he  cried, 
 "  or  that  thou  hadst  died  ere  thy  hand  was  put  forth  to  carry 
 Helen  away.  Better  far  to  die  than  to  live  contemptible,  a 
 byword  for  the  Greeks." 
 
 "  Thou  art  right,"  answered  Paris,  "  my  valour  is  not  so 
 great  as  thine.  Yet  am  I  no  coward.  To  prove  it,  if  thou 
 wilt  bid  the  Greeks  and  Trojans  to  abstain  from  combat, 
 then  will  I,  in  face  of  both  the  hosts,  fight  alone  with  Mene- 
 laos for  Helen  and  his  stolen  treasure.  Let  the  victor  keep 
 what  he  wins,  that  the  two  nations  be  at  peace."     Rejoicing 
 
o 
 
 60     Combat  between  Paris  and  Menelaos. 
 
 at  the  words,  Hektor  at  once  went  forward  alone  to  meet  the 
 Greeks,  who,  with  bent  bows  and  uplifted  spears,  showered 
 stones  and  darts  upon  him.  But  Agamemnon  waved  them 
 back,  and  cried  : — 
 
 "  Hold,  Argives,  hold  ; 
 For  Hector  of  the  waving  plume  would  speak." 
 
 —HOMER,  "  Iliad,"  Book  iii.  (Wright). 
 
 Silence  reigned  while  Hektor's  voice  fell  on  their  ears. 
 "  Hark  ye,  Trojans  and  Greeks,"  he  cried,  "  Paris  will  fight 
 singly  with  Menelaos  for  Helen  and  her  treasure.  He  who 
 wins  shall  retain  them  both,  and  we  all  will  join  hands  in 
 sign  of  peace  and  amity."  He  ceased,  and  amid  still  deeper 
 silence  Menelaos  replied :  "  Hear  me  also,  ye  contending 
 hosts !  Fain  would  I  end  this  war,  therefore  whichever  of 
 us  is  fated,  let  him  die,  and  let  the  rest  be  reconciled.  Now 
 bring  ye  forth  two  lambs,  a  white  one  and  a  black,  the  for- 
 mer for  the  sun,  the  latter  for  the  earth,  and  to  Zeus  will 
 we  dedicate  a  third.  Then  let  King  Priam  attend  to  ratify 
 the  treaty." 
 
 Gladness  filled  the  hearts  of  both  the  hosts;  they  laid 
 aside  their  arms,  and  stood  in  peace  beside  each  other, 
 while  Hektor  sent  two  heralds  to  Troy  to  summon  the  king 
 and  prepare  the  lambs. 
 
 Iris,  meanwhile,  appeared  in  the 'guise  of  one  of  her 
 sisters-in-law  to  Helen,  who  was  working  a  beautiful  piece 
 of  tapestry,  and  thus  addressed  her :  "  Come,  dear  sister, 
 haste,  and  behold  the  wonderful  change  that  has  come  over 
 the  hosts.  They  are  both  at  rest,  and  the  war  is  ended  ! 
 for  Paris  and  Menelaos  are  to  decide  the  dispute  in  mortal 
 combat,  and  thou  art  to  be  the  prize  of  him  who  wins  the 
 day."  Hastily  wrapping  herself  in  her  silvery  veil,  Helen 
 hurried  forth  to   the  Scacan   Gate,  where   Priam  and  the 
 
Combat  between  Paris  and  Menelaos.     361 
 
 noblest  of  the  Trojans  were  assembled  to  witness  the  fight. 
 When  the  king  saw  Helen  he  called  to  her : 
 
 "  Come,  sit  by  me,  dear  daughter,  and  behold 
 Thy  former  spouse,  thy  kindred,  and  thy  friends. 
 I  blame  not  thee  ;  I  blame  the  gods,  to  whom 
 I  owe  this  mournful  war." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  iii.  (Wright.) 
 
 He  then  made  her  point  out  to  him  the  most  celebrated 
 of  the  Greeks,  and  she  showed  him  Agamemnon,  Odysseus, 
 Ajax,  Telamon,  and  Idomeneus  ;  but  in  vain  did  she  look 
 for  Castor  and  Pollux,  little  knowing  that  already  they  lay 
 beneath  the  cold  earth. 
 
 And  now  the  heralds  brought  the  lambs,  together  with 
 a  golden  beaker  and  goblets,  and  one  of  them  coming 
 up  to  Priam  delivered  the  message  of  the  princes.  Quickly 
 he  ordered  forth  his  horses,  and  stepping  into  the  chariot 
 took  hold  of  the  reins.  Beside  him  sat  the  hero  Antenor, 
 and  swiftly  the  coursers  passed  through  the  Scacan  Gate  on 
 to  the  plain  beyond.  When  they  reached  the  hosts  the 
 king  and  iVntenor  dismounted,  Agamemnon  and  Odysseus 
 came  to  meet  them,  and  the  sacrifice  commenced. 
 
 Agamemnon  himself  cut  off  the  forelocks  of  the  lambs, 
 which  the  heralds  divided  among  the  chiefs  of  both  armies, 
 after  which  he  prayed  to  Zeus  : 
 
 "  O  father  Jove,  enthroned 
 On  Ida,  great  and  glorious,  and  thou,  Sun, 
 Who  seest  all  things,  and  who  hearest  all  ; 
 Ye  Rivers,  and  thou  Earth,  and  ye  below, 
 Who  punish  perjured  souls,  be  witnesses 
 Of  this  our  league,  and  guard  our  plighted  faith. 
 Should  Paris  slay  his  rival,  let  him  take 
 Helen,  and  all  her  wealth  ;  and  let  the  Greeks 
 Sail  homeward  in  their  sea  careering  barks. 
 
362      Combat  between  Paris  and  Menelaos. 
 
 Should  Menelaus  of  the  golden  hair 
 Slay  Paris,  let  the  Trojans  straight  restore 
 Helen  with  all  her  wealth,  and  forfeit  pay, 
 Such  as  is  just,  and  shall  to  future  times 
 Record  the  deed.     If  Priam  and  his  sons 
 Refuse  to  ratify  the  covenant, 
 I  stay  and  combat  for  the  forfeit  here, 
 Till  all  I  sought  in  warfare  be  achieved." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  iii.  (Wright.) 
 
 Then  having  slain  the  lambs,  and  poured  the  wine  from 
 the  goblets  on  to  the  earth,  he  continued  : 
 
 "  Most  glorious  Jove,  and  ye  undying  gods, 
 Who  ever  first  shall  violate  the  oath, — 
 Trojan  or  Greek, — dashed  be  his  brains  to  earth, 
 His  and  his  children's,  even  as  this  wine 
 Is  sprinkled  on  the  ground  ;  and  let  their  wives 
 Be  given  to  strangers." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  iii.  (Wright). 
 "  Hear  me,  ye  Greeks  and  Trojans,"  then  cried  Priam, 
 "  I  must  return  to  Ilium,  for  mine  eyes  may  not  endure  the 
 sight  of  the  fierce  combat  between  my  son  and  Menelaos ; " 
 and  as  he  spoke  the  aged  king  mounted  his  chariot  with 
 Antenor,  and  sped  back  on  his  way  to  Troy. 
 
 Hektor  and  Odysseus  then  measured  out  the  ground,  and 
 threw  two  lots  into  an  helmet  to  decide  who  should  first 
 hurl  the  spear.  Hektor  shook  the  helmet,  and — instantly 
 the  lot  of  Paris  sprang  forth. 
 
 All  now  seated  themselves  while  Paris  and  Menelaos 
 went  to  arm  for  the  combat.  When  they  were  ready  they 
 hastened  forth  into  the  space  between  the  hosts  with  fierce 
 hatred  burning  in  their  hearts,  and  angrily  flashing  eyes. 
 Paris  threw  the  first  spear,  but  it  failed  to  pierce  the  shield 
 of  his  antagonist.  Then  Menelaos  raised  his  lance  and 
 prayed  aloud  to  Zeus  : 
 
Combat  between  Paris  and  Menelaos.     363 
 
 "  Grant,  Jove,  a  just  revenge  ; 
 And  let  the  aggressor  fall  beneath  my  hand, 
 That  men  to  the  remotest  day  may  dread 
 To  abuse  the  friendship  of  a  generous  host." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  iii.  (Wright). 
 
 With  these  words  he  hurled  his  lance ;  it  penetrated  both 
 the  shield  and  armour  of  Paris,  and  would  have  pierced  his 
 side  had  he  not  flinched  from  the  blow  and  thus  escaped 
 death.  Menelaos  now  drew  his  sword  and  struck  his  foe, 
 but  the  crested  helmet  was  too  strong,  and  the  blade  was 
 shivered  in  his  hand.  Then  turning  his  eyes  to  heaven  he 
 cried : 
 
 "  Oh  !  Father  Jove, 
 Of  all  the  gods  malignant  most  art  thou  ! 
 Vengeance,  I  deemed,  was  mine,  and  surely  thought 
 To  punish  the  aggressor  ;  but  my  sword 
 Broke  in  my  hands — my  spear  is  hurled  in  vain." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  iii.  (Wright). 
 
 Seizing  Paris  by  his  horse-hair  plume  he  dragged  him  to- 
 wards the  Greek  host,  and  nearly  choked  him  by  the 
 embroidered  strap  that  bound  his  helmet.  And  now  Paris 
 would  indeed  have  been  lost  had  not  Aphrodite  perceived 
 the  plight  of  her  favourite,  and  snapped  the  leather  thong, 
 so  that  the  empty  helmet  alone  remained  in  the  grasp  of 
 Menelaos.  Angrily  he  tossed  it  from  him,  and  turned  with 
 renewed  wrath  on  Paris,  but  Aphrodite  shrouded  him  in  a 
 thick  mist  and  led  him  in  safety  back  to  his  own  chamber  in 
 Troy.  Then  she  went  forth,  disguised  as  an  aged  crone  who 
 usually  prepared  Helen's  wools,  to  fetch  the  princess,  and 
 reminded  her  that  it  was  time  to  go  home,  for  that  Paris 
 awaited  her  there  arrayed  in  festal  garb. 
 
 But  Helen  soon  perceived  that  it  was  the  goddess  herself 
 who  spoke,  and  reproached  her  as  being  the  cause  of  all 
 
364     Combat  between  Paris  and  Menelaos. 
 
 her  misery :  "  O  heartless  one  !  dost  thou  wish  to  lure  me 
 on  again  ?  Have  I  not  suffered  enough  ?  Shall  I  have  to 
 wander  on  through  other  lands  and  there  awaken  fresh  love 
 just  as  it  pleaseth  thee  ?  Go,  leave  the  heights  of  Olympus 
 and  sit  beside  thy  Paris.  I  will  not  return  to  him.  Enough 
 for  me,  that  all  the  Trojans  deride  and  hold  me  up  to 
 scorn."     Indignantly  the  goddess  answered  her  : 
 
 "  Vex  me  not     .     .     . 
 Lady,  lest  I  desert  thee  in  my  wrath, 
 And  boundless  hate  succeed  to  boundless  love, 
 Lest  I  inspire  deep  hatred  in  the  breast 
 Of  Greek  and  Trojan,  and  an  evil  death 
 Be  thine." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  iii.  (Wright). 
 
 Dismayed  by  these  words,  quickly  she  hurried  back  to  the 
 palace,  and  going  up  to  Paris  thus  upbraided  him : 
 
 "  Hast  left  the  field  ? 
 Would  thou  hadst  perished,  slain  by  valiant  chief, 
 My  husband  once,  whom  thou  in  olden  time 
 Didst  vaunt  thou  couldst  surpass  in  warlike  feats 
 Of  sword  and  javelin  !     Go  ; — defy  again 
 The  gallant  Menelaus.     Yet  forbear  ; 
 Nor  with  the  hero  of  the  golden  locks 
 Provoke  rash  combat,  lest  thou  quickly  fall 
 Beneath  his  spear." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  iii.  (Wright). 
 
 Paris  replied,  "  Reproach  me  not  with  thy  taunts  Helen. 
 Menelaos  wins  to-day,  hereafter  I  may  be  the  conqueror, 
 for  that  depends  on  the  favour  of  the  gods  alone.  Let  us 
 then  dispute  no  longer,  but  lay  aside  all  warlike  thoughts." 
 
 Menelaos  meanwhile  rode  through  the  crowd  searching 
 in  vain  for  his  enemy,  no  one  had  seen  him;  even  the 
 
Combat  between  Paris  and  Menelaos.     365 
 
 Trojans   would   not   have  concealed   the    faithless  prince, 
 whom  all  alike  detested.     At  last  Agamemnon  said  : 
 
 "  Hear  me,  ye  Trojans,  Dagdans,  and  allies  :— 
 With  Menelaus  sides  the  victory  : 
 Therefore  let  Argive  Helen  be  restored, 
 With  all  her  treasures,  and  such  forfeit  paid, 
 As  shall  to  future  times  record  the  deed." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  iii.  (Wright). 
 
 Loud  shouts  proclaimed  the  assent  of  the  Greeks. 
 
 During  this  time  the  gods  were  assembled  in  council  on 
 Mount  Olympos,  and  Hebe  was  filling  their  goblets  with 
 nectar.  Then  spake  Zeus:  "Two  of  ye  who  grace  our 
 court,  Hera  and  Athene,  side  with  the  Greeks,  whereas 
 Aphrodite  is  ever  present  with  the  Trojans,  and  has  now  even 
 saved  Paris  from  impending  death.  It  remains  therefore 
 for  us  to  decide  whether  the  war  begin  again  or  whether 
 the  two  nations  should  form  a  league  of  peace."  With 
 dissentient  heart,  Athene  sat  in  silence,  but  Hera  with 
 rage  exclaimed,  "  What !  wouldest  thou  thus  frustrate  all 
 my  labour  and  toil  to  bring  destruction  on  Priam's  house?" 
 Wrathfully  Zeus  answered  her :  \  Implacable  !  what  harm 
 has  Priam  done  to  thee  ?  Far  better  slay  him  and  all  his 
 sons  at  once,  then  thy  hatred  will  be  satisfied.  Have  thy 
 will,  but  this  only  bear  in  mind  :  When  I  may  wish  to 
 destroy  some  city  favoured  by  thee,  thou  shalt  not  turn 
 my  wrath  away  from  it.  Reluctant  am  I  to  give  thee 
 Troy,  for  there  my  altar  never  lacked  sweet  smelling 
 sacrifices." 
 
 "  So  be  it,"  replied  the  goddess ;  "  there  are  three  cities 
 which  are  dear  to  me,  Argos,  Sparta,  and  Mykenae.  Over- 
 throw them  if  thou  wilt,  I  will  not  grudge  it ;  only  do  not 
 now  stay  my  labours.     Send  Athene  quickly  to  the  battle- 
 
366     Combat  between  Paris  and  Menelaos. 
 
 field  to  urge  the  Trojans  on,  that  they  may  be  the  first  to 
 break  their  oath  and  attack  the  Greeks." 
 
 Zeus  assented,  and  fired  with  fresh  zeal,  Pallas  Athene 
 flew  down  to  the  Trojan  host,  assumed  the  form  of  one  of 
 the  heroes,  and  persuaded  Pandaros  to  shoot  an  arrow  at 
 Menelaos.  Pandaros  allowed  himself  to  be  persuaded  ;  the 
 arrow  hit  the  hero,  but  not  in  a  vital  part,  for  thanks  to  her 
 guidance,  it  glanced  from  the  corslet  and  grazed  the  surface 
 of  the  skin,  only  piercing  him  where  the  girdle  and  the 
 corslet  met.  Agamemnon,  seeing  his  brother's  blood  flow, 
 fancied  he  was  dangerously  wounded,  and  cried  : 
 
 "  Ah,  dearest  brother ;  ill-starred  league  I  struck, 
 Exposing  thee  alone  to  fight  for  Greece 
 With  enemies  who  trample  upon  oaths  ! 
 .     .     .     the  Trojans  shall  have  paid 
 Heavy  atonement  for  their  perfidy, 
 E'en  with  their  own,  their  wives,  and  children's  blood. 
 For  in  my  heart  and  soul  I  surely  know, 
 A  day  draws  near  when  sacred  Troy  shall  fall 
 Priam,  and  battle-loving  Priam's  race  ; 
 When  Saturn's  son,  in  ether  high  enthroned, 
 Shall  shake  his  sable  Aegis  over  all, 
 Loathing  this  treachery ;  nor  shall  the  curse 
 Be  unaccomplished.     Yet  what  anguish  mine, 
 O  brother,  if  thou  die,  and  now  fulfil 
 Life's  destined  term." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  iv.  (Wright). 
 
 Menelaos  assured  him  that  the  wound  was  not  a  deadly 
 one,  but  Agamemnon,  still  unsatisfied,  sent  a  herald  to 
 Machaon,  a  son  of  Aesculapios,  entreating  him  to  come  at 
 once  and  set  his  mind  at  rest.  When  the  famed  physician 
 arrived  he  quickly  healed  Menelaos'  wound  with  the 
 soothing  balm  his  father  had  received  from  Chiron. 
 
Combat  between  Diomcd,  arc.  367 
 
 XVII. — COMBAT    BETWEEN    DIOMED   AND 
 PANDAROS   AND   AENEAS. 
 
 While  Agamemnon  was  with  his  brother,  the  Trojans, 
 amid  loud  shouts,  had  advanced  towards  the  Greeks,  who 
 hastened  to  arm  themselves  for  battle.  And  now  the  king 
 returned,  and  with  his  lordly  step  passed4through  the  ranks, 
 urging  the  dilatory,  encouraging  the  timid,  and  praising 
 those  who  were  already  prepared.  Thus  the  two  armies 
 approached  each  other,  the  gods  taking  part  in  the  fight. 
 Ares  encouraged  the  Trojans,  Pallas  Athene  the  Greeks, 
 and 
 
 "  Fear  and  flight,  and  ever-restless  strife, 
 Sister  and  friend  of  hero-slaughtering  Mars. 
 Small  at  the  first,  she  soon  uprears  her  crest, 
 Stalks  upon  earth,  and  lifts  her  head  to  heaven. 
 She  now  threw  down  contention  in  the  midst, 
 Baneful  to  both  ;  and  through  the  ranks  swift  passed, 
 Redoubling  all  the  miseries  of  war." 
 
 —  Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  iv.  (Wright). 
 
 The  battle  commenced,  swords,  spears,  and  shields 
 clashed  mightily  together,  and  many  mail-clad  warriors  fell 
 on  both  sides.  At  last  the  Trojans  began  to  give  way,  but 
 Apollo,  standing  on  the  walls  of  Troy,  wrathfully  shouted, 
 
 "  On,  Trojans,  tamers  of  the  steed  ; 
 Nor  yield  to  Greece  the  glory  of  the  day  ; 
 For  not  of  stone  or  iron  is  their  flesh, 
 That  it  should  turn  the  piercing  javelin's  force." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  iv.  (Wright). 
 
 On  the  other  side  Athene  inspired  the  Greeks  with  fresh 
 ardour,  and  where  she  saw  Ares  at  the  head  of  the  Trojans, 
 she  went  up  to  him,  and  taking  him  by  the  hand,  persuaded 
 
368  Combat  between  Diomed,  äfe. 
 
 him  with  crafty  words  to  leave  the  battle-field  with  her, 
 saying  that  then  Zeus  could  bestow  the  victory  on  which- 
 ever side  he  chose.  Thus  she  deprived  the  Trojans  of  the 
 mighty  god  of  war. 
 
 Among  all  the  Greeks  none  fought  more  bravely  than 
 Diomed.  He  rushed  across  the  plain,  now  here,  now  there, 
 so  that  it  was  difficult  to  know  to  which  side  he  belonged, 
 sweeping  down  every  time  whole  phalanxes  of  Trojans  with 
 his  single  arm."  When  Pandaros,  the  far-famed  archer, 
 saw  him  thus  dealing  destruction  on  all  around  him,  he  drew 
 his  bow,  and  sped  an  arrow,  which  pierced  his  corslet  and 
 wounded  him  on  the  right  shoulder,  so  that  the  blood 
 streamed  forth.  Loudly  Pandaros  rejoiced :  "  Courage, 
 brave  Trojan,"  he  cried,  "  my  arrows  have  pierced  the 
 bravest  of  the  Greeks,  he  cannot  long  survive."  But 
 Diomed  turned  to  his  charioteer  Sthenelos,  and  bade  him 
 withdraw  the  arrow  from  the  wound.  Then  as  the  purple 
 stream  gushed  forth,  he  raised  his  voice  to  heaven  :  * 
 
 "  O  daughter  of  the  Aejis-bearing  Jove, 
 Invincible  ; — if  ever  thou  didst  stand 
 My  father's  friend  or  mine  in  battle-shock, 
 Befriend  me  now,  Minerva,  with  thy  aid, 
 And  bring  within  my  javelin's  reach  the  man 
 Who  stealthily  hath  struck  me,  and  declares 
 That  never  shall  mine  eyes  again  behold 
 The  sun's  bright  beam." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  v.  (Wright) 
 
 Athene  heard  the  prayer  of  the  hero,  and  coming  up  to 
 him  thus  spoke :  "  Be  of  good  cheer,  brave  Diomed,  I  have 
 filled  thy  heart  with  fresh  courage,  and  given  renewed  strength 
 to  thine  arms.  I  will  also  give  thee  power  to  distinguish  the 
 gods  from  mortal  men.      Avoid  the  forms  divine  in  the 
 
 *  In  Wright's  "  Iliad  "  Latin  names  are  chiefly  used. 
 
Combat  between  Diomed,  &c.  369 
 
 fight,  but  if  Aphrodite  meet  thee  and  provoke  thee,  fear  not 
 to  wound  her,  if  thou  wilt." 
 
 With  redoubled  fury  Diomed  again  went  forth,  and  com- 
 mitted fearful  havoc  among  the  Trojans.  When  Aeneas 
 saw  him  thus  raging,  he  called  to  Pandaros  and  said : 
 "  Where,  O  Pandaros,  is  thy  bow  with  its  feathered  shafts? 
 Pierce  yonder  chief,  who  has  slain  so  many  of  our  noble 
 friends,  and  lay  him  low."  Pandaros  replied  :  "  It  must  be 
 Diomed,  unless  it  is  one  of  the  immortal  gods.  If  it  is 
 Diomed,  a  god  must  aid  him,  for  one  of  my  winged  arrows 
 pierced  deeply  into  his  shoulder  through  his  coat  of  mail, 
 and  yet  it  has  not  quelled  him.  Had  I  but  my  chariot 
 and  horses  here  !  but  alas  !  I  left  them  at  home.  And 
 now  I  see  that  even  with  my  arrows  I  can  do  nought 
 on  foot." 
 
 "  That  can  be  easily  remedied,"  replied  Aeneas,  "  mount 
 thou  my  chariot,  and  decide  which  of  us  two  shall  drive, 
 and  which  shall  wield  the  weapons." 
 
 "  Guide  thou  the  steeds,"  said  Pandaros,  "  for  if  Diomed 
 follows  us,  perchance  they  might  not  obey  my  voice,  and 
 should  they  turn  restless  or  swerve,  they  would  enable 
 him  to  slay  us  both.  Drive,  therefore,  thine  own  coursers, 
 and  leave  it  to  me  to  receive  him  with  the  point  of  my 
 spear." 
 
 Both  then  mounted  the  chariot,  and  hastened  to  meet 
 Diomed,  but  when  Sthenelos  saw  them  advancing  he  spake 
 words  of  warning  to  the  son  of  Tydeus :  "  Quick,  brave 
 Tydides,  let  us  flee,  and  risk  not  thy  precious  life." 
 
 "  Speak  not  to  me  of  flight,"  was  the  stern  answer  of  the 
 hero ;  "  it  is  not  my  father's  son  who  will  flee  from  the  com- 
 bat, or  crouch  in  the  hour  of  danger.  I  will  await  the 
 combat  here  on  foot,  and  if  I  succeed  in  slaying  them  both, 
 do  thou  fasten  the  reins  to  the  chariot  seat  and  seize  the 
 
 2  A 
 
37°  Combat  between  Diomed,  &c. 
 
 steeds  of  Aeneas,  they  are  above  all  price  and  the  fleetest 
 coursers  on  the  earth." 
 
 Meanwhile  the  Trojan  chariot  approached,  and  Pandaros, 
 throwing  his  long  spear,  pierced  both  the  shield  and  breast- 
 plate of  Diomed.  At  once  he  began  to  exult,  but  Diomed, 
 undismayed,  answered  him : 
 
 "  Thou  hast  missed  thy  aim  ; 
 Nor  will  ye  rest  till  one  at  least,  I  deem, 
 Sate  with  his  blood  the  sturdy  warrior  Mars." 
 
 — HOxMER,  Book  v.  (Wright). 
 
 Then  swiftly  grasping  his  spear  he  hurled  it  at  his  enemy's 
 face  with  such  force  that  it  came  out  at  the  back  of  his 
 head,  and  Pandaros  fell  lifeless  from  the  chariot.  Aeneas 
 jumped  out  to  guard  the  body  of  his  friend,  but  Diomed 
 grasped  a  huge  stone  that  no  two  other  men  could  have 
 lifted,  hurled  it  at  Aeneas  and  smashed  his  hip,  so  that  he 
 fell  senseless  to  the  ground.  He  too  would  now  have  died, 
 had  not  his  mother  Aphrodite  spread  her  silvery  mantle  over 
 him  to  preserve  him  from  the  darts  that  flew  around.  Then 
 wrapping  her  arms  round  him  she  secretly  carried  him 
 away  from  the  stormy  battle-field,  while  Sthenelos  secured 
 the  far-famed  steeds. 
 
 Diomed,  however,  had  recognized  the  goddess,  and 
 following  her  he  wounded  her  in  the  hand  with  his  javelin. 
 Crying  with  pain  she  let  Aeneas  fall,  but  Apollo  shrouded 
 him  in  a  dark  mist  lest  the  Greeks  should  kill  him,  and 
 so  saved  him.  Aphrodite  then  asked  Ares  for  the  loan  of 
 his  chariot,  and  was  driven  by  Iris  back  to  Olympos,  where 
 her  mother  Dione  tried  to  soothe  her. 
 
 Three  times  again  did  Diomed  essay  to  kill  Aeneas,  but 
 each  time  Apollo  placed  his  glittering  shield  before  him ; 
 when   out    he    rushed    a   fourth    time    at   him,    the    god 
 
The  wounding  of  Ares  by  Diomed.       3  7 1 
 
 warned  him  back  with  angry  threatening  words.  Slowly 
 and  unwillingly  the  son  of  Tydeus  withdrew  and  Aeneas 
 was  carried  by  Apollo  to  Troy,  where  he  was  nursed  and 
 cured  by  Leto  and  Artemis  till  he  had  regained  his  former 
 strength  and  vigour. 
 
 XVIII.— THE  WOUNDING  OF  ARES  BY 
 DIOMED. 
 
 The  battle  continued  to  rage  with  unabated  fury,  and  now 
 Apollo  encouraged  Ares  to  attack  Diomed  so  that  he  might 
 no  longer  harm  the  Trojans,  while  he  himself  looked  on 
 from  the  walls  of  Troy.  Ares  therefore  hurried  down 
 among  the  Trojans,  inspiring  them  to  return  to  the  on- 
 slaught with  zeal,  especially  Hektor,  Priam's  son.  Aeneas 
 was  well  enough,  thanks  to  the  care  of  Apollo,  to  take 
 part  in  the  fight  again.  The  Greeks,  however,  were  not 
 idle  either,  and  the  two  Ajax,  Odysseus,  and  Diomed 
 encouraged  them : 
 
 "  Courage,  my  friends  ;  acquit  yourselves  like  men, 
 Who,  fighting  in  each  other's  sight,  enhance 
 The  love  of  glory  by  the  dread  of  shame  : 
 So,  few  will  perish ;  many  will  survive  : 
 But  cowards  neither  fame  nor  safety  win." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  v.  (Wright). 
 
 Thus  encouraged  they  again  attacked  the  enemy  with  ardour, 
 and  the  slaughter  on  both  sides  was  terrible. 
 
 The  Trojans  were  led  by  Ares  and  fierce  Enyo,  and 
 Hektor,  now  here,  now  there,  seemed  in  every  part  of  the 
 field  at  once.  When  Diomed  saw  the  God  of  War  he 
 trembled,  and  turning  to  his  friends  he  cried : 
 
372       The  wounding  of  Ares  by  Diomed. 
 
 Valiant  in  fight,  and  skilful  with  the  spear ! 
 
 Some  deity  is  ever  at  his  side, 
 
 Who  wards  off  death  ;  and  near  him  now  stands  Mars 
 
 In  mortal  garb  arrayed.     Then  towards  the  foe 
 
 Your  faces  turn  ;  but  step  by  step  retreat ; 
 
 Nor  with  the  gods  unequal  combat  wage." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  v.  (Wright). 
 
 The  Trojans  still  came  on,  and  Hektor  slew  numbers  of 
 the  Argives,  who  gave  way  when  they  heard  Ares  was 
 fighting  for  Troy,  thus  described  in  Wright's  translation  : 
 
 "When  Juno  saw  the  slaughter  of  her  Greeks, 
 To  Pallas  she  addressed  these  winged  words  : 
 
 'Alas  !  unconquerable  child  of  Jove  ! 
 Vain  promise  we  to  Menelaus  made 
 Of  safe  return,  proud  Ilium's  walls  o'erthrown, 
 If  Mars  we  check  not  in  his  mad  career. 
 Haste ;  let  us  also  mingle  in  the  war." 
 
 She  spoke  ;  nor  did  Minerva  disobey. 
 Then  Juno,  daughter  of  the  mighty  Jove, 
 Dread,  venerable  goddess,  with  all  haste 
 Prepared  her  golden-fronted  steeds  for  fight, 
 While  Hebe  to  the  iron  axle  fixed 
 The  eight-spoked  wheels  of  brass,  whose  fellies  shone 
 With  undecaying  gold.     The  tires  were  brass, 
 A  wondrous  work  :  silver  the  naves  :  on  thongs 
 Of  silver  and  of  gold  the  chariot  hung  : 
 Two  circling  rims  in  front ;  silver  the  pole  : 
 To  this  she  bound  the  splendid  golden  yoke, 
 And  through  it  passed  the  straps  of  burnished  gold. 
 Juno  herself  the  swift-winged  coursers  led, 
 Impatient  for  the  battle  and  the  shout. 
 
 Minerva,  child  of  Aegis-bearing  Jove, 
 Showered  down  on  her  celestial  father's  floor 
 The  variegated  robe  her  hands  had  wrought, 
 And  buckling  on  the  corslet  of  her  sire, 
 
The  wounding  of  Ares  by  Diorned.       373 
 
 Made  preparation  for  the  mournful  war. 
 She  decked  her  shoulders  with  the  dreaded  Aegis 
 With  fringes  girt,  and  garlanded  with  Fear  : 
 In  it  were  pictured  Discord,  Force,  and  Rout ; 
 In  it  the  Gorgon  monster's  dreadful  head, 
 Portent  of  Aegis-bearing  Jove.     Her  brow 
 She  crowned  with  golden  helm,  mounted  with  studs, 
 And  four-fold  crest,— in  which  might  be  contained 
 The  marshalled  armies  of  a  hundred  towns. 
 Her  flaming  car  she  mounted,  seized  her  spear, 
 Huge,  ponderous,  strong,  with  which  she  overthrows 
 The  ranks  of  heroes,  doomed  to  feel  her  wrath- 
 Child  of  a  mighty  father.     With  the  lash 
 Juno  the  coursers  urged,  at  her  approach 
 Spontaneous  opened  wide  the  gates  of  heaven, 
 Kept  by  the  Hours,  to  whom  is  given  in  charge, 
 The  vast  Olympus,  or  to  block  the  approach, 
 With  heavy  cloud,  or  roll  it  darkling  back. 
 Passing  through  these,  they  found  imperial  Jove 
 High-seated,  from  the  other  gods  apart, 
 On  many-cragged  Olympus'  loftiest  peak. 
 There  white-armed  Juno  stayed  her  rapid  steeds, 
 And  thus  bespoke  the  ruler  of  the  skies  : 
 
 1  O  father  Jove,  shall  Mars  his  thousands  slay 
 And  thou  unmoved  behold  these  ruthless  deeds, 
 That  wring  my  heart,  while  quietly  look  on 
 Venus,  and  Phoebus  of  the  silver  bow 
 Delighted,  and  spur  on  the  insensate  god, 
 Unknowing  of  restraint  ?     O  father  Jove, 
 Wilt  thou  be  angry  if  with  grievous  stripes 
 I  scourge  fierce  Mars,  and  drive  him  from  the  field?' 
 
 To  her  replied  the  cloud-compelling  Jove  : 
 1  Against  the  cruel  god  do  thou  incite 
 Warlike  Minerva.     She  hath  learnt  the  art— 
 Practised  full  well— to  vex  him  with  sharp  pains.' 
 
 He  spoke  :  nor  did  Minerva  disobey. 
 Lashing  her  steeds,  they,  not  unwilling,  flew 
 
374       The  wounding  of  Ares  by  Diomeci. 
 
 Midway  'twixt  earth,  and  heaven's  star-spangled  vault. 
 
 As  far  as  one  high  seated  on  a  rock 
 
 And  looking  o'er  the  dark  expanse  of  ocean, 
 
 Can  compass  at  a  glance  ; — through  such  a  space 
 
 Sprang  the  loud-neighing  coursers  at  a  bound. 
 
 When  now  they  came  to  Troy,  and  to  the  spot 
 
 Where  Simois  and  Scamander's  streams  unite, 
 
 There  white-armed  Juno  stayed  her  rapid  steeds, 
 
 Loosed  from  the  car,  and  spread  thick  mist  around, 
 
 While  Simois  stream  gave  forth  ambrosial  food. 
 
 Like  timid  doves,  the  goddess  pair  advanced, 
 
 Eager  to  aid  the  Greeks.     Arriving  now 
 
 Where  round  the  might  of  valiant  Diomed 
 
 Warriors  the  bravest  and  most  numerous  stood, 
 
 Compact,  like  raw-fed  lions,  or  like  boars, 
 
 Of  sturdy  strength,  not  easily  subdued, 
 
 There  Juno  stayed  her  course,  shouting,  in  guise 
 
 Of  high-souled  Stentor  of  the  brazen  voice, 
 
 That  reached  as  far  as  shout  of  fifty  men  : 
 
 '  Shame,  Argives,  who  in  form  alone  excel  ! 
 
 Mock  heroes  !     While  divine  Achilles  fought, 
 
 The  Trojans  dare  not  pass  beyond  the  gates, 
 
 So  great  their  dread  of  his  resistless  spear  ; 
 
 Now,  to  our  very  ships,  far  from  the  town, 
 
 They  push  the  war.' 
 
 She  spoke  ;  and  roused  fresh  zeal 
 In  every  breast.     To  valiant  Diomed 
 Minerva  came.     Him  near  his  steeds  she  found, 
 Cooling  the  wound  that  Pandarus  had  dealt. 
 Chafed  was  his  arm  with  pressure  of  the  strap 
 That  held  his  buckler,  and  his  hand  fatigued. 
 Lifting  the  belt,  he  wiped  away  the  gore, 
 W7hen,  touching  with  her  palm  the  chariot's  yoke, 
 The  goddess  spoke  :  "  Oh,  how  unlike  his  sire 
 Is  Tydeus'  son  !     Tydeus,  though  slight  of  frame, 
 
 Was  great  in  fight 
 
 As  at  thy  father's  side  erewhile  I  stood, 
 
The  wounding  of  Ares  by  Diomed.       375 
 
 So  stand  I  now  by  thee,  and  bid  thy  soul 
 Rise  with  the  rising  war. — Depressing  toil 
 Deadens  thy  limbs,  or  spirit-crushing  fear 
 Unmans  thee.     Be  no  longer  deemed  the  son 
 Of  valiant  Tydeus,  sprung  from  Oeneus'  race.' 
 Then  answered  Diomed  :  '  I  know  thee  well, 
 Thou  daughter  of  the  Aejis-bearing  Jove  ; 
 Freely  I  therefore  speak  : — Nor  heartless  fear, 
 Nor  sloth  enthrals  me  ;  but  I  bear  in  mind 
 Thee,  and  thy  strict  injunctions — to  refrain 
 From  all  encounter  with  the  blessed  gods, 
 Unless  Jove's  daughter,  Venus,  should  descend 
 To  battle  :  her  I  wounded  with  my  spear. 
 Thus  at  thy  bidding,  I  myself  retreat, 
 And  gather  round  me  here  the  warrior  band, 
 Since  Mars,  I  see,  is  in  the  field  for  Troy.' 
 
 To  him  the  goddess  of  the  flashing  eye  : 
 '  Tydides  Diomed,  my  soul's  delight  ! 
 Quail  not  beneath  this  Mars,  or  other  god, — 
 Secure  in  my  protection.     Whirl  thy  steeds 
 Against  him  first,  and  strike  him  hand  to  hand  ; 
 Nor  have  respect  for  this  infuriate 
 Who  late  to  me  and  Juno  gave  his  plight 
 Of  succour  to  the  Greeks,  yet  now  forsooth 
 Forgets  his  word,  and  sides  with  perjured  Troy.' 
 
 Thus  saying,  with  strong  hand  she  seized  the  son 
 Of  Capaneus,  and  dragged  him  from  the  car, 
 Mounted  herself,  and  by  Tydides  sat, 
 While  groaned  the  axle  underneath  the  load — 
 Goddess  so  dread,  and  hero  so  renowned. 
 She  seized  the  reins  and  to  elude  the  sight 
 Of  Mars,  concealed  her  head  in  Pluto's  helm  ; 
 Then  lashed  her  steeds  against  the  god,     .     .     . 
 Seeing  illustrious  Diomed,  dread  Mars 
 Left  Periphas  extended  on  the  plain, 
 And  rushed  amain  against  fierce  Tydeus'  son. 
 When  now  the  combatants  approached,  Mars  first 
 
y6        The  wounding  of  Ares  by  Diomed. 
 
 Over  the  yoke  and  reins  stretched  forth  his  arm, 
 Grasping  a  brazen  spear,  on  slaughter  bent ; 
 But  bright-eyed  Pallas  seized  it  with  her  hand 
 And  from  the  chariot  turned  its  fruitless  aim. 
 Brave  Diomed  next  hurled  his  brazen  spear  : 
 This  Pallas  guided  on,  piercing  the  belt 
 That  girt  fell  Mars,  and  tore  his  tender  skin  : 
 Then,  as  she  drew  the  dart  from  out  the  wound, 
 Stung  with  sharp  pain,  loud  bellowed  brazen  Mars,- 
 Loud  as  the  shout  ten  thousand  warriors  raise, 
 Closing  in  dread  encounter.     Trembling  seized 
 Trojan  and  Greek  ; — so  roared  insatiate  Mars. 
 
 Like  the  dim  haze  that  in  the  sky  appears, 
 When  hot  and  sultry  blows  a  noxious  wind  ; 
 So  brazen  Mars  to  Diomed  appeared, 
 As,  mingled  with  the  clouds,  he  heavenward  rose. 
 Reaching  Olympus,  mansion  of  the  gods, 
 Grieving  he  sat  beside  Saturnian  Jove, 
 Showed  the  immortal  blood  that  from  the  wound 
 Profusely  gushed,  and  spoke  these  winged  words 
 With  lamentable  voice  :  '  O  father  Jove, 
 Canst  thou  unmoved  these  ruthless  deeds  behold  ? 
 Dire  are  the  ills  we  gods  oft-times  endure 
 One  from  the  other,  through  our  love  to  man. 
 Thee  we  all  blame,— sire  of  a  frenzied  child, 
 Destructive,  ever  bent  on  lawless  acts. 
 All  other  gods  are  subject  to  thy  sway, 
 And  yield  to  thee  obedience  : — she  alone 
 Enjoys  full  licence  to  indulge  her  will, 
 Checked  not  by  thee  in  action  or  in  speech, 
 Because  thy  daughter.     She  alone  hath  urged 
 Imperious  Diomed  to  vent  his  rage 
 Against  the  Immortals.     Venus  first  he  struck, 
 In  close  encounter,  on  her  delicate  wrist, 
 Then  like  a  demon,  furious  rushed  on  me  : 
 And  had  my  speedy  feet  not  borne  me  off, 
 There  had  I  long  been  doomed  to  suffer  woe, 
 
Death  of  Adrastos.  377 
 
 'Mid  heaps  of  slain  ;  and,  since  I  might  not  die, 
 
 Been  bruised  and  beat  by  storm  of  pitiless  blows.' 
 
 Him,  frowning,  answered  cloud-collecting  Jove  : 
 
 1  Bring  not  to  me,  vile  waverer,  thy  complaints. 
 
 Of  all  the  Olympian  deities  art  thou 
 
 The  most  detested— thou  whose  chief  delight 
 
 Is  blood  and  battle.     In  thy  bosom  dwells 
 
 Thy  mother  Juno's  fierce  unbending  spirit, — 
 
 Spirit  e'en  I  have  scarcely  power  to  check. 
 
 From  plots  of  her  invention  flow,  I  ween, 
 
 Thy  grievous  pangs.    Yet  mayst  thou  not  endure 
 
 Affliction  long  :— thou  art  my  son  : — to  me 
 
 Thy  mother  bore  thee  ;  else  hadst  thou  been  plunged 
 
 Long  since  below  the  sons  of  Uranus." 
 
 —  Homer,  "Iliad,"  Book  v.  (Wright). 
 
 And  then  Jove  summoned  Paeeon,  who  placed  on  the 
 wounds  of  Ares  healing  balms,  and  ere  long  completely 
 assuaged  his  pains.  Soon  after,  too,  Hera  and  Athene 
 turned  and  mounted  upwards  to  Olympos. 
 
 XIX.— DEATH   OF  ADRASTOS. 
 
 Although  the  gods  had  now  quitted  the  battle-field,  the 
 carnage  still  continued. 
 
 Adrastos,  a  beautiful  youth,  one  of  the  Trojan  allies,  was 
 carried  off  in  his  chariot  by  his  affrighted  steeds,  which 
 dashed  wildly  across  the  plain.  At  length  the  wheels  caught 
 in  a  shrub,  the  axle  broke,  and  Adrastos  was  thrown  to  the 
 ground.  Before  he  could  collect  his  scattered  senses, 
 Menelaos  was  beside  him  with  uplifted  spear  ready  to 
 strike,  but  Adrastos  clasped  his  knees,  and  craved  his 
 life: 
 
3J&  Diomed  and  Glaucos. 
 
 "  Take  me  alive,  Atrides,  and  receive 
 Gifts  from  my  father.     In  his  ample  halls 
 Are  many  precious  stores — brass,  steel,  and  gold  ; 
 And  when  he  hears  that  I  am  still  alive, 
 Thy  prisoner  at  the  ships,  he  will  provide 
 Rich  ransom." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  vi.  (Wright). 
 
 Thus  spake  Adrastos,  and  Menelaos,  touched  with  pity, 
 was  about  to  hand  him  over  to  his  companions  to  take 
 him  to  the  ships,  when  Agamemnon  came  up  and  said 
 tauntingly  ; 
 
 "  Loved  brother,  do  thy  foes 
 Deserve  such  pity?     Surely  they  have  wrought 
 Much  service  to  thy  house.     Let  none  escape, 
 
 Yea,  perish  all ;  let  the  whole  race  of  Troy 
 Be  swept  away,  unburied  and  unknown." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  vi.  (Wright). 
 
 His  words  changed  the  purpose  of  Menelaos,  he  thrust  the 
 youth  on  one  side,  and  Agamemnon  pierced  him  with  his 
 lance ;  but  Menelaos  turned  away,  he  could  not  witness  the 
 lad's  death  unmoved. 
 
 XX.— DIOMED   AND   GLAUCOS. 
 
 Already  the  Trojans  had  given  the  battle  up  as  lost,  and 
 were  returning  to  the  city  when  Helenos,  one  of  the  sons  of 
 Priam,  celebrated  for  his  skill  in  auguries,  came  to  Aeneas 
 and  Hektor  saying  :  "  Brave  princes,  do  not  let  the  Trojans 
 return  yet  to  the  city.  But  while  you,  Aeneas,  reform  the 
 phalanxes,  let  Hektor  return  back  to  Ilium  and  bid  our 
 mother  Hekabe  that  she  go  to  the  temple  of  Athene  and 
 
Diomed  and  Glaucos.  379 
 
 lay  on  the  knees  of  the  goddess  the  richest  and  most  prized 
 garment  that  she  hath,  and  vow  besides  twelve  spotless 
 heifers  if  she  will  have  compassion  on  the  Trojan  women 
 and  children,  and  save  the  city  from  the  hand  of  savage 
 Diomed.  Even  Achilleus  himself,  though  of  a  goddess  born, 
 was  ne'er  so  fierce  as  he." 
 
 Hektor,  obedient  to  his  brother's  words,  sprang  quickly 
 from  his  chariot,  and  rallied  the  Trojans  : 
 
 11  Ye  of  mighty  soul, 
 Trojans,  and  ye  allies  of  world-wide  fame, 
 Be  of  good  courage  ;  quit  yourself  like  men  ; 
 While  I,  ascending  lofty  Pergamus, 
 Exhort  our  wives,  and  aged  counsellors 
 To  appease  the  gods  with  sacrifice  and  prayer." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  vi.  (Wright). 
 
 So  saying,  he  turned  back  to  Troy.  Diomed  now  met 
 Glaucos  on  the  field,  and  struck  with  his  noble  figure,  thus 
 addressed  his  foeman  : 
 
 "  Whence,  and  what  art  thou  of  the  sons  of  men 
 Undaunted  chief  ?  for  never  have  mine  eyes 
 Beheld  thee  in  the  glorious  fight  before. 
 Thine  is  a  confidence  beyond  compare 
 Thus  to  await  my  lance.     Children  are  they 
 Of  luckless  parents  who  my  strength  confront. 
 But  if  from  heaven  thou  come,  and  boast  thyself 
 Of  birth  divine,  I  strive  not  with  a  god. 
 
 If  thou  feedest  on  terrestrial  food, 
 Draw  near,  and  speed  thee  to  the  goal  of  death." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  vi.  (Wright). 
 
 Glaucos  answered  him  : 
 
 "  Noble  chief, 
 Of  Tydeus  sprung,  why  ask  me  of  my  birth  ? 
 The  race  of  man  is  like  the  race  of  leaves  ; — 
 The  summer  leaves  are  scattered  by  the  wind  ; 
 
380  Diomed  and  Glaucos. 
 
 But  spring  returns,  and  the  reviving  wood 
 Buds  forth  again  :  so  generations  change  ; 
 One  springs  to  life,  another  dies  away." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  vi.  (Wright). 
 
 "  But  as  thou  hast  asked  me  who  I  am,  know  that  I  come 
 from  Argos.  My  grandfather  was  the  hero  Bellerophon, 
 who  vanquished  the  Chimaera,  after  which  he  wandered 
 through  Asia  Minor,  for  those  at  home  still  sought  his  life. 
 His  son  Hippolochos  is  my  father,  and  he  it  is  who  has 
 sent  me  hither  to  aid  King  Priam,  charging  me  to  lead  the 
 way  and  ever  be  first  among  my  brave  companions." 
 
 When  Diomed  heard  these  words,  his  heart  was  filled 
 with  joy,  and  laying  down  his  sword  he  said  :  "  As  our 
 fathers  were  friends  in  days  gone  by,  so  must  we  two  also 
 remain  friends.  For  many  days  did  my  grandfather  Oeneus 
 entertain  the  noble  Bellerophon,  and  at  parting  they  ex- 
 changed rich  gifts.  Let  us  therefore  exchange  arms,  that 
 all  may  know  our  friendship  is  to  stand  like  that  of  our 
 fathers'.  Our  lances  must  not  meet  as  those  of  enemies  in 
 battle.  We  will  avoid  a  combat.  Let  other  Trojans  fall 
 by  my  hand,  and  do  thou  prove  thy  valour  against  other 
 Greeks." 
 
 Glaucos,  indeed,  rather  lost  by  this  exchange,  for  his 
 golden  armour  was  worth  twelve  oxen,  while  the  iron  suit  of 
 Diomed  was  only  worth  nine ;  but  when  the  heart  is  swayed 
 by  impulse,  self-interest  is  forgotten. 
 
Hcktor  and  Andromache.  ^81 
 
 XXI. — HEKTOR    AND    ANDROMACHE. 
 
 Hektor  meanwhile  had  arrived  at  the  Scacan  gate,  and 
 was  at  once  surrounded  by  all  the  women  of  Troy,  asking 
 for  tidings  from  the  battle-field.  He  exhorted  them  to  pray 
 to  the  gods,  and  hurried  on  to  the  palace,  where  the  first  he 
 encountered  was  his  mother  Hekabe.*  Lovingly  taking  his 
 hand,  she  questioned  him  in  an  anxious  tone — 
 
 "  Why  leave  the  glowing  battle,  O  my  son  ? 
 My  fears  are  true.     The  walls  are  compassed  round  ; 
 And  thou,  sore  harassed  by  the  accursed  Greeks, 
 Art  prompted  by  the  impulse  of  thy  mind 
 To  lift  thy  hands  to  Jove  in  Pergamus. 
 But  stay,  till  I  before  thee  set  sweet  wine, 
 That  thou  mayest  drink,  when  thou  hast  first  poured  forth 
 Libation  to  the  gods.     Grateful  is  wine 
 To  weary  warrior,  who  like  thee,  my  son, 
 Has  laboured  long  to  guard  his  native  land." 
 
 Homer,  "Iliad,"  Book  vi.  (Wright). 
 
 But  the  brave  hero  answered  her  ;  "  Bring  forth  no  wine 
 for  me,  my  mother.  I  dare  not  offer  libations  or  prayer 
 to  Zeus  with  these  blood-stained  hands."  And  then  he 
 told  his  errand,  bid  her  lead  the  women  to  Athene's  fane, 
 and  continued,  "  I  go  myself  in  quest  of  Paris  ;  perchance 
 he  will  now  hearken  to  my  words,  and  again  go  forth  to  the 
 battle.  Would  that  the  earth  might  open  and  hide  him 
 from  our  eyes.  Surely  it  was  for  the  destruction  of  our  city 
 that  Zeus  created  him.  Could  I  but  see  him  sunk  into 
 Hades,  of  a  truth  I  should  forget  half  our  sorrows." 
 
 So  Hekabe  parted  from  her  son,  and  at  the  head  of  the 
 maidens  of  Troy  went  to  the  temple  of  Pallas  Athene,  and 
 *  In  Latin  Hecuba. 
 
382  Hektor  and  Andromache. 
 
 there  presented  to  her  the  splendid  robe  and  twelve  spotless 
 heifers — alas  !  all  in  vain — while  Hektor  sought  the  abode 
 of  his  brother,  and  found  him  in  his  chamber  quietly  bur- 
 nishing his  arms,  and  Helen  sitting  among  her  maidens, 
 assigning  to  each  her  task  of  embroidery. 
 
 In  grief  and  anger  Hektor  spoke  :  "  Art  thou  not  ashamed 
 to  rest  here  in  idleness,  while  before  the  walls  the  whole  of 
 Troy  is  fighting  for  thee  ?  Of  what  avail  is  sullenness  or 
 fear  ?  Thou  thyself  wouldst  blame  such  conduct  in  another. 
 Haste  !  to  arms  !  that  the  enemy  burn  not  our  city  with  fire 
 to  the  ground." 
 
 Thus  Paris  answered  him  :  "  Hektor,  thy  reproach  is  just; 
 but  neither  sullenness  nor  cowardice  detains  me  here  :  it  is 
 only  to  brood  over  my  grief  that  I  remain  at  home.  And 
 e'en  now  Helen  hath  urged  me  to  go  forth  again  to  the 
 fight.  Wait  but  till  I  have  armed,  or  go  thou  first,  and  I 
 will  follow  thee." 
 
 But  Hektor  stood  silent,  and  answered  not  a  word.  Then 
 Helen  gently  spoke  :  "  Brother,  baneful  is  the  influence 
 that  I  bear  with  me.  Would  that  a  tempest  had  seized  me 
 and  carried  me  away  when  I  was  born,  or  that  the  waves  of 
 the  ocean  had  engulphed  me,  ere  such  fatal  deeds  were 
 wrought.  But  since  I  was  doomed  by  the  gods  to  create  all 
 this  misery,  oh  !  that  a  braver  husband  had  been  my  fate, — 
 one  who  would  at  least  care  for  the  reproaches  of  others. 
 Paris  hath  neither  courage,  valour,  nor  constancy.  Dear 
 brother,  repose  here  awhile,  for  thou  thyself  hast  borne  all 
 the  toil  for  both  me  and  Paris." 
 
 "Lady,  I  dare  not,"  answered  Hektor,  "the  Trojans 
 await  me  in  the  battle-plain.  But  urge  thou  this  loiterer  on, 
 that  he  overtake  me  ere  I  reach  the  gate. 
 
 "  Meantime  I  hasten  home,  longing  to  see 
 My  wife,  my  household,  and  my  infant  child  : 
 
Hektor  and  Andromache. 
 
 ouo 
 
 For  whether  fate  ordains  me  to  return, 
 
 I  know  not,  or  if  unpropitious  gods 
 
 Doom  me  to  perish  here  by  Argive  hands." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  vi.  (Wright). 
 
 And  as  he  spoke  he  hurried  forth  to  his  own  palace, 
 where  he  learnt  that  his  wife  Andromache  and  their  little 
 son  Astyanax  had  gone  to  the  Scacan  gate,  thence  to  look 
 down  on  the  field  of  battle.  Thither  he  turned  his  steps, 
 and  Andromache,  seeing  him  from  afar,  hastened  to  meet 
 him. 
 
 "  Then  on  his  boy 
 Gazing  in  silence,  the  fond  father  smiled, 
 While  near  him  stood  Andromache  in  tears, — 
 Clung  to  his  hand,  and  to  her  husband  spoke  : 
 
 '  O  wondrous  chief !     Alas,  thine  own  great  heart 
 Will  be  thy  ruin  !     Pity  thou  hast  none, 
 Or  for  thy  child,  or  me  thy  hapless  wife, 
 Soon  to  be  left  thy  widow— all  thy  foes 
 Assailing  thee  at  once.     Better  to  die, 
 Forlorn  of  thee  ;  for  other  comforter 
 Will  none  remain  when  thou  shalt  meet  thy  doom, 
 Grief  my  portion.     Father  I  have  none, 
 Nor  honoured  mother  ;  for  divine  Achilles 
 My  father  slew.  .... 
 
 My  seven  brothers,  whom  I  left  at  home, 
 Descended  all  to  Hades  in  one  clay, 
 Slain  by  divine  Achilles,  as  they  watched 
 Their  snow-white  sheep  and  lazy-footed  kine. 
 My  mother,  once  the  queen  of  woody  Plaucus, 
 He  bore  away  to  Troy  with  other  spoil, 
 But  for  an  ample  ransom  freed  again. 
 Her  Artemis,  the  arrow-loving  maid, 
 Smote  in  her  father's  halls.    All,  all  are  gone  ! 
 But  father,  mother,  brother,  live  in  thee, 
 My  noble,  loving  husband.     Oh,  have  pity  ! 
 
,84  Hektor  and  Andromache. 
 
 Stay  with  me  here  ;  stay  with  me  on  the  tower ; 
 Nor  make  thy  son  an  orphan,  and  thy  wife 
 A  widow."  ..... 
 
 Answered  the  hero  of  the  waving  plume  : — 
 "  All  these  thy  anxious  cares  are  also  mine, 
 Partner  beloved  ;  but  how  can  I  endure 
 The  scorn  of  Trojans  and  their  long-robed  wives, 
 Should  they  behold  their  Hector  shrink  from  war, 
 And  act  a  coward's  part  ?     Nor  doth  my  soul 
 Prompt  the  base  thought.     Ever  have  I  been  trained 
 To  fight  amid  the  foremost,  and  to  guard 
 My  father's  deathless  glory,  and  my  own. 
 For  well  doth  my  presaging  mind  foresee 
 A  coming  day,  when  sacred  Troy  shall  fall, 
 Priam,  and  battle-loving  Priam's  race. 
 Yet  all  these  threatened  evils — all  that  Troy 
 Shall  suffer,  and  e'en  Hecuba  herself, 
 And  Priam,  and  my  kinsmen  many  and  brave, 
 Destined  to  fall  beneath  their  foeman's  steel, 
 Rack  not  my  heart  so  deeply  as  the  thought 
 Of  thee  a  captive — thee  amid  thy  tears 
 Carried  to  Argos  by  some  mail-clad  Greek, 
 And  there  in  labour  of  the  loom  employed, 
 Or  bearing  water  at  a  stranger's  beck. 
 
 And  some  one  who  beholds  thy  tears  shall  say  : 
 '  This  was  the  wife  of  Hector,  most  renowned 
 Of  all  the  Trojans,  tamers  of  the  steed, 
 What  time  the  battle  raged  round  Ilium's  walls.' 
 Thus  some  one  will  exclaim  ;  and  fresh  will  flow 
 Thy  grief  for  such  a  husband,  whose  strong  arm 
 Had  shielded  thee  from  slavery's  evil  day. 
 But  o'er  my  mouldering  corse  may  earth  be  piled, 
 Ere  thy  lament  and  captive  cry  I  hear." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  vi.  (Wright). 
 
 Thus  spake  the  noble  Hektor,  and  then  he  stretched  forth 
 
Hektor  and  Andromache.  385 
 
 his  arms  to  clasp  his  child,  who,  fearful  of  the  glittering  brass 
 and  waving  plume,  drew  back  with  a  frightened  cry.  Smil- 
 ing, the  father  removed  the  helmet  from  his  brow,  and  then, 
 holding  the  little  one  close  to  his  breast,  softly  rocked  it, 
 while  he  prayed  to  heaven  : 
 
 "  O  Jove,  and  all  ye  gods  !     Let  this  my  son 
 Shine,  as  his  father  shone,  pre-eminent 
 Among  the  Trojans,  and  with  vigorous  arm 
 Rule  over  Ilium  :  so  in  days  to  come, 
 Some  one  beholding  him  return  from  war, 
 Bearing  the  bloody  spoils — his  foeman  slain — 
 Shall  say,  '  How  doth  the  son  surpass  the  sire 
 And  in  her  heart  his  mother  shall  rejoice." 
 
 Then  he  placed  the  child  in  its  mother's  arms,  and  she  took 
 it,  smiling  through  her  tears,  and  fondly  caressed  it,  while 
 Hektor,  his  brave  heart  thrilled  by  her  sorrow,  tenderly 
 placed  his  arm  around  her,  and  gently  spoke  again : 
 
 "  Grieve  not  too  deeply,  my  beloved  ;— the  hand 
 Of  mortal  cannot  hurl  me  to  the  shades 
 Before  my  time.     When  destiny  draws  near, 
 Nor  brave  nor  coward  may  avert  his  fate. 
 Now  home  :  there  ply  thy  proper  arts— the  loom 
 And  distaff  :  task  thy  maidens  there.     Be  war 
 The  care  of  men,  my  care  above  the  rest." 
 
 Then  the  noble  hero  replaced  his  helmet  on  his  head, 
 and,  with  a  sorrow-laden  heart,  Andromache  hastened  home, 
 looking  back  many  times  through  her  tears  to  where  the 
 gallant  form  of  her  husband  was  still  standing.  At  length 
 she  reached  the  palace,  and  there  too  her  handmaidens 
 were  weeping,  their  hearts  filled  with  the  same  sad  forebod- 
 ings as  hers,  for  they  thought  never  again  to  hear  the  voice 
 of  Hektor,  or  to  behold  his  noble  form. 
 
 2  B 
 
J 
 
 86         Fight  between  Hektor  and  Ajax. 
 
 XXII.— FIGHT   BETWEEN    HEKTOR  AND 
 AJAX. 
 
 Paris  having  at  length  donned  his  armour,  overtook  his 
 brother  ere  he  reached  the  gate,  and  together  they  sallied 
 forth  to  the  battle-field,  where  the  Greeks  fell  in  numbers 
 beneath  their  powerful  blows. 
 
 No  sooner  did  Athene  perceive  this  than  she  flew  from 
 Olympos  to  the  plain  beneath.  There  Apollo  met  her. 
 "  Wherefore  comest  thou  hither  in  such  haste  ? "  he  said. 
 "  Surely  if  it  is  only  to  assist  the  Greeks,  let  us  decide  to  sus- 
 pend the  fight  for  this  day.  For  on  the  unfortunate  Trojans 
 thou  hast  no  pity." 
 
 "  So  be  it,"  replied  Athene,  "but  how  wilt  thou  separate 
 the  conflicting  hosts  ?  " 
 
 "  This  will  I  do,"  answered  the  god,  "  I  will  inspire 
 Hektor  with  a  strong  desire  to  call  forth  the  bravest  of  the 
 Greeks  to  single  combat." 
 
 The  wise  Helenos  overheard  these  secret  counsels  and 
 sought  Hektor,  encouraging  him  to  challenge  one  of  the 
 opposing  host  to  mortal  combat.  Joyfully  Hektor  agreed, 
 and,  with  his  lance,  waved  back  the  combatants  on  each 
 side,  while  in  a  loud  voice  (the  two  gods  disguised  as 
 vultures  watching  from  a  neighbouring  beech  tree)  he 
 cried  :  "  Hear  all  ye  Trojans,  and  ye  Greeks.  That  this 
 war  may  quickly  end  let  one  among  the  Greek  host  stand 
 forth  and  fight  with  me  in  mortal  combat.  Whoever 
 remains  the  victor  let  him  have  his  opponent's  arms,  but 
 let  the  body  be  returned  to  the  friends  of  the  slain  without 
 misusage ;  and  may  Zeus  be  witness  to  the  keeping  of 
 the  compact." 
 
Fig lit  between  Hektor  and  Ajax.         387 
 
 Astonished  at  this  bold  defiance,  the  Greeks  remained 
 silent :  none  wished  to  encounter  brave  Hektor  alone.  At 
 last  Menelaos  spoke,  calling  the  Greeks  "  women"  for  being 
 so  cowardly,  and  offered  himself  to  take  up  the  gage.  But 
 Agamemnon  would  not  suffer  this,  for  he  thought  that 
 Menelaos  was  not  strong  enough  to  fight  with  Hektor. 
 Then  Nestor  rose.  He  blamed  the  Greeks  for  their  want  of 
 courage,  and  said  that  he  himself  would  have  at  once 
 stepped  forward  to  accept  the  challenge,  had  it  not  been 
 for  his  great  age.  His  example  now  roused  several  others, 
 and  among  those  who  came  forward  were  Agamemnon, 
 Diomed,  both  Ajax,  Idomeneus,  and  Odysseus.  Lots  were 
 drawn,  and  the  decision  fell  upon  Ajax,  the  son  of  Telamon. 
 
 Quickly  he  armed  himself,  and  rushed  at  Hektor  with 
 such  fury  that  even  the  mighty  hero  was  somewhat  daunted. 
 
 "Thou  seest,  Hektor,"  he  cried,  "that  there  are  yet  left 
 among  the  Greeks  who  dare  to  face  thee.  Up  !  let  us 
 commence,  and  no  longer  delay  the  mortal  combat." 
 
 "Think  not,"  replied  Hektor,  "to  frighten  me  with 
 threatening  words  like  a  child,  for,  trained  to  fight,  war  has 
 for  me  no  terrors.  Only  let  us  meet  in  fair  and  open  field, 
 for  I  will  take  no  mean  advantage  of  a  noble  foe."  With 
 these  words  he  threw  his  lance,  which,  however,  did  not 
 penetrate  the  shield  of  his  enemy. 
 
 Then  Ajax  threw  his  spear,  which  not  only  pierced 
 Hektor's  shield,  but  also  his  corslet,  and  would  have  gone 
 through  to  the  flesh  if  he  had  not  swerved  to  one  side. 
 Now  both  recovered  their  lances,  and  again  rushed  upon 
 each  other.  Hektor's  lance  was  bent  on  the  shield  of  Ajax, 
 but  that  of  Ajax  pierced  the  buckler  of  his  foe,  and  wounded 
 him  in  the  neck.  Then  Hektor  stooped  to  the  ground,  and 
 lifted  a  huge  stone  which  he  threw  on  the  boss  of  the 
 shield,  making  the  brass  resound  with  a  terrific  noise.     But 
 
388         Fight  between  Hektor  and  Ajax. 
 
 Ajax,  in  his  turn,  seized  a  fragment  of  rock,  and  straining 
 every  nerve  sent  it  thundering  through  Hektor's  buckler, 
 wounding  him  in  the  knee,  so  that  he  sank  to  the  ground. 
 Apollo,  however,  was  at  hand,  and  quickly  he  raised  the 
 gallant  chief.  And  now  the  heroes  would  have  renewed 
 the  fight  with  their  swords,  but  the  heralds  separated  them, 
 for  night  was  approaching. 
 
 "  Let  us  rest  from  our  combat,"  then  said  the  noble 
 Hektor,  "  to  renew  it  again  at  some  future  day,  but  ere  we 
 separate, 
 
 "  Let  us 
 Exchange  some  gift  :  that  Greece  and  Troy  may  say, 
 '  Not  hate,  but  glory,  made  these  chiefs  contend  ; 
 And  each  brave  foe  was  in  his  soul  a  friend.'  " 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  vii.  (Pope). 
 
 With  that  the  Trojan  hero  gave  his  silver  studded  sword 
 and  baldric  to  Ajax,  who  in  return  presented  him  with  his 
 richly  embroidered  belt.  Thus  they  parted  with  mutual 
 esteem  in  their  hearts. 
 
 Agamemnon  now  slaughtered  a  bull,  and  having  sacrificed 
 the  entrails  and  fat  to  Zeus,  the  rest  was  prepared  for  a 
 banquet  for  the  heroes.  Then  Nestor  said :  "  Let  us  not 
 fight  to-morrow,  that  we  may  have  time  to  bury  our  dead. 
 Near  the  funeral  pile  we  will  erect  a  mound  in  memory  of 
 those  who  have  been  slain,  and  build  a  wall,  and  dig  a 
 trench  around,  this  will  then  serve  as  a  protection  both  to 
 us  and  to  our  ships."  To  this  proposal  the  Greeks  gave 
 unanimous  consent. 
 
Continuation  of  the  Trojan  War.        389 
 
 XXIII.— CONTINUATION   OF  THE  TROJAN 
 WAR. 
 
 In  Troy,  meanwhile,  Antenor  urged  that  Helen  and  the 
 stolen  treasure  should  be  given  back  to  Menelaos,  for  that 
 the  gods  would  give  them  no  success  until  this  was  done. 
 But  Paris,  though  willing  to  restore  the  treasure,  would  not 
 give  up  Helen.  Then  Priam  rose  to  quiet  the  rising 
 tumult.  "  Listen,  Trojans,"  he  cried,  "  to-morrow  let  our 
 herald  go  forth  and  ask  for  a  truce,  that  we  may  burn  our 
 dead."  Universal  assent  was  given  to  this  proposal,  and 
 the  Greeks  willingly  agreed  to  it.  The  dead  on  both  sides 
 were  burned,  and  the  Greeks  raised  their  huge  mound  and 
 wall,  while  both  hosts  feasted  till  late  in  the  night. 
 
 As  soon  as  the  first  streaks  of  dawn  appeared  in  the  sky 
 Zeus  convened  all  the  gods  on  the  heights  of  cloudy 
 Olympos,  and  sternly  forbade  them  to  take  any  further  part 
 in  the  war.  If  any  dared  to  disobey  him  he  threatened  to 
 throw  the  offender  into  the  lowest  depths  of  Tartaros. 
 Then  the  mighty  Jove  stepped  into  his  chariot,  drawn  by 
 the  ethereal  steeds,  whose  manes  were  of  gold  and  hoofs  of 
 brass,  and  wrapping  round  him  his  glistening  mantle,  he 
 took  in  his  hands  the  golden  whip  and  reins,  and  flew  with 
 the  speed  of  lightning  to  Mount  Ida.  There  on  its  summit 
 shrouded  in  clouds  he  took  his  seat  to  watch  the  two  nations 
 on  the  plain  beneath. 
 
 The  fight  had  again  commenced — 
 
 "Victors  and  vanquished  join  promiscuous  cries, 
 Triumphant  shouts  and  dying  groans  arise." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  viii.  (Pope). 
 
39°        Continuation  of  the  Trojan  War. 
 
 and  continued  until  noon,  when, 
 
 "  The  sire  of  gods  and  men  his  golden  scales  suspends. 
 With  equal  hands  :  in  these  explored  the  fate 
 Of  Greece  and  Troy,  and  poised  the  mighty  weight : 
 Pressed  with  its  load,  the  Grecian  balance  lies 
 Low  sunk  on  earth,  the  Trojan  strikes  the  skies. 
 Then  Jove  from  Ida's  top  his  horrors  spreads  ; 
 Thick  lightnings  flash  ;  the  muttering  thunder  rolls  ; 
 Their  strength  he  withers,  and  unmans  their  souls." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  viii.  (Pope). 
 
 The  Greeks  fled  to  their  ships,  Nestor  alone  remaining 
 behind.  A  dart  shot  by  Paris  had  killed  one  of  the  horses 
 of  the  aged  chief,  and  when  Hektor  saw  his  plight  he  rushed 
 towards  him  intending  to  slay  him.  But  Diomed  came  to 
 his  aid,  made  Nestor  come  into  his  chariot,  and  then 
 together  they  turned  against  Hektor.  Diomed  slew  the 
 Trojan's  charioteer  and  then  attacked  Hektor  himself. 
 The  mighty  hero's  fate  would  now  have  been  sealed,  had 
 not  Zeus  taken  compassion  upon  the  Trojans,  and 
 
 "  With  awful  sound 
 Roll'd  the  big  thunder  o'er  the  vast  profound  : 
 Full  in  Tydide's  face  the  lightning  flew  ; 
 The  ground  before  him  flamed  with  sulphur  blue  ; 
 The  quivering  steeds  fell  prostrate  at  the  sight ; 
 And  Nestor's  trembling  hand  confess'd  his  fright  : 
 He  dropp'd  the  reins  :  and  shook  with  sacred  dread." 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  viii.  (Pope). 
 
 Then  quickly  he  turned  the  chariot,  and  they  hastened 
 back  to  the  camp,  pursued  by  the  scornful  words  of  Hektor. 
 Enraged  at  the  insult  of  his  foe  three  times  did  Diomed 
 essay  to  turn  back,  but  each  time  Jove's  thunders  sounded 
 from  Mount  Ida,  and  Hektor,  transported  at  this  gracious 
 
Continuation  of  the  Trojan  War.        391 
 
 sign  from  Zeus,  called  on  the  Trojans  to  pursue  the 
 Greeks, 
 
 This  gave  dire  offence  to  Hera,  who  tried  to  persuade 
 Poseidon  to  aid  the  Greeks,  in  spite  of  Zeus'  command  to 
 the  contrary  ;  but  the  sea-god  would  not  consent,  greatly 
 fearing  the  wrath  of  his  mighty  brother.  The  harassed 
 Greeks  now  thronged  behind  their  wall,  and  Agamemnon 
 besought  the  great  father  of  heaven  to  save  them.  Filled 
 with  pity,  Jove  then  sent  down  his  eagle  as  a  sign  of 
 encouragement  to  them,  and  the  Greeks,  fired  with  renewed 
 bravery,  again  sallied  forth  and  attacked  the  Trojans,  killing 
 a  great  number. 
 
 Teukros,  the  skilful  archer,  son  of  Telamon,  distinguished 
 himself  above  all  others;  he  had  already  killed  eight 
 Trojans  ;  Hektor  alone  he  could  not  harm,  for  Apollo  was 
 protecting  him.  At  last  he  shot  Hektor's  charioteer.  En- 
 raged at  the  death  of  his  friend,  Priam's  great  son  raised  a 
 huge  stone  from  the  plain,  and  threw  it  at  the  breast  of 
 Teukros,  so  that  he  sank  down  senseless  in  the  chariot. 
 Two  Greeks  at  once  carried  him  back  into  the  camp. 
 
 Again  Zeus  encouraged  the  Trojans,  who,  led  by  the 
 noble  Hektor,  advanced  as  far  as  the  trench  outside  the 
 wall.  Hera,  seeing  this,  persuaded  Pallas  to  get  into  her 
 chariot  and  go  to  the  aid  of  the  Greeks  ;  and  as  the  gates  of 
 heaven  sprang  open  the  blazing  car  flew  lightly  down  to 
 earth.  But  Zeus  beheld  them  from  Mount  Ida,  and 
 greatly  incensed,  sent  Iris  to  stop  the  disobedient 
 goddesses. 
 
 Swift  as  the  wind  flew  the  various  coloured  maid  to  meet 
 the  chariot.  "  Whither  haste  ye,  O  goddesses,"  she  cried, 
 "  great  Jove  will  not  sanction  your  assisting  the  Greek 
 host.  If  ye  do,  he  has  sworn  that  his  lightning  shall  lame 
 your  steeds,  and  hurl  you  headlong  to  the  ground,  and  the 
 
392        Continuation  of  the  Trojan  War. 
 
 wounds  caused  by  his  thunderbolts  shall  not  heal  in  ten 
 years."  Abashed  at  the  awful  threat,  the  goddesses  turned 
 back  their  steeds,  and,  when  they  again  reached  the  abode 
 of  the  gods,  retired  sorrowfully  to  their  golden  seats. 
 
 And  now  Zeus  himself  left  Mount  Ida  to  return  to 
 Olympos,  and  entering  the  assembly  of  the  gods  took 
 his  seat  on  the  throne  of  gold.  The  ground  trembled 
 beneath  his  footsteps,  and  thus  he  addressed  the  offending 
 goddesses  :  "Why  sit  ye  thus  in  silence,  Pallas  and  Hera? 
 Well  was  it  that  ye  turned  back  when  my  messenger 
 reached  you.  Had  ye  not  done  so  I  would  have  launched 
 my  thunders  at  you,  and  never  more  could  ye  again  have  en- 
 tered Olympos."  Pallas  inwardly  murmured  at  the  reproof, 
 but  Hera,  unable  to  restrain  her  wrath,  thus  answered  him  : 
 "  Well  we  know  that  thou  art  mightier  than  we,  therefore 
 we  did  not  intend  to  aid  the  Greeks,  but  only  to  advise 
 them,  that  so  thine  anger  might  not  entirely  crush  them." 
 
 "  The  first  rays  of  to-morrow's  sun  shall  see  the  Greeks 
 still  further  harassed  by  the  Trojans,"  replied  all-powerful 
 Jove,  "  for  so  hath  fate  decreed  (and  nothing  thou  canst  do 
 will  turn  its  course) :  Hektor  shall  not  cease  the  strife  until 
 Achilleus  comes  again  to  join  the  Greeks." 
 
 The  near  approach  of  night  now  compelled  the  Trojans 
 to  retire  from  the  field,  and  Hektor  called  the  chiefs  together 
 in  council.  "  Had  the  shades  of  evening  not  descended 
 so  quickly,"  said  he,  "  this  day  would  have  seen  the  end  of 
 the  war.  Now,  however,  feed  your  horses  and  look  well 
 to  them,  and  then  let  us  refresh  ourselves  with  meat,  bread, 
 and  wine.  Also  gather  fuel  to  keep  alight  numerous  watch- 
 fires,  that  the  Greeks  may  not,  under  cover  of  the  night, 
 escape  with  their  ships.  Then  at  break  of  day  we  will 
 again  attack  them,  and  decide  whether  Diomed  or  I  shall 
 remain  the  victor." 
 
Attempt  to  conciliate  Achilleus.  393 
 
 In  silence  the  troops  obeyed ;  soon  numerous  brightly 
 gleaming  fires  illumined  the  surrounding  darkness,  and 
 while  they  feasted  and  rested,  the  Trojan  warriors  looked 
 eagerly  forward  to  the  coming  morn. 
 
 XXIV.— THE  VAIN  ATTEMPT  OF  AGAMEM- 
 NON TO  CONCILIATE  ACHILLEUS. 
 
 The  Greeks,  on  the  other  hand,  passed  a  restless  and 
 unhappy  night.  Agamemnon  had  called  them  together 
 secretly,  and  strongly  advised  their  return  home.  To  this, 
 however,  Diomed  would  not  for  a  moment  listen ;  if  Aga- 
 memnon liked  he  might  return,  but  the  others  would  all 
 remain  and  fight  till  Troy  was  taken.  Nestor,  likewise, 
 sided  with  Diomed,  and  advised  that  sentries  should  be 
 posted,  while  the  chiefs  assembled  for  supper  in  the  tent  of 
 Agamemnon,  and  settled  what  course  they  should  pursue. 
 
 The  advice  of  the  sage  old  warrior  was  taken,  and  after 
 the  banquet  Nestor  urged  Agamemnon  to  make  friends 
 with  Achilleus,  for  Troy,  he  said,  would  certainly  not  fall 
 without  the  aid  of  the  son  of  Peleus. 
 
 "  Thou  art  right,  Nestor,"  replied  Agamemnon,  "  I  ought 
 not  to  have  insisted  that  Achilleus  should  surrender  Briseis. 
 But,  now  listen,  thus  am  I  ready  to  compensate  him :  I 
 will  give  him  ten  talents  of  pure  gold,  seven  sacred  tripods, 
 twenty  richly-chased  goblets,  twelve  steeds  unmatched  for 
 fleetness,  seven  beautiful  slaves,  and,  in  addition,  I  will 
 restore  Briseis.  Also,  when  we  have  conquered  Troy  he 
 shall  have  his  share  of  the  booty,  seven  cities  in  my  own 
 land,  and  he  may  choose  of  my  three  daughters  the  fairest 
 to  wife." 
 
394         Attempt  to  conciliate  Achilleus. 
 
 Then  Odysseus  undertook  to  go  to  Achilleus,  and  to  induce 
 him  again  to  take  part  in  the  war.  First  he  solicited  the 
 aid  of  the  gods,  and  then  set  forth,  accompanied  by  several 
 of  the  princes,  to  seek  the  tent  of  the  mighty  son  of  Peleus. 
 They  found  him  playing  on  the  lyre,  and  relating  the  deeds 
 of  the  heroes  to  his  friend  Patroklos.  He  received  them 
 graciously,  and  made  them  partake  of  meat  and  wine,  after 
 which  Odysseus  disclosed  his  mission,  and  sought  to  per- 
 suade him  to  be  reconciled  to  Agamemnon. 
 
 "Bethink  thee,"  he  urged,  "how  thy  father  Peleus 
 warned  thee  to  avoid  contention,  in  these  words : 
 
 "  My  child  !  with  strength,  with  glory  and  success, 
 Thy  arms  may  Juno  and  Minerva  bless  ! 
 Trust  that  to  heaven  :  but  thou,  thy  cares  engage 
 To  calm  thy  passions,  and  subdue  thy  rage  : 
 From  gentler  manners  let  thy  glory  grow, 
 And  shun  contention,  the  sure  source  of  woe  ; 
 That  young  and  old  may  in  thy  praise  combine." 
 
 — Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  ix.  (Pope). 
 
 But  neither  the  wise  counsels  of  Odysseus  nor  the  peace- 
 offering  of  Agamemnon  made  any  impression  on  the 
 wrathful  spirit  of  Achilleus.  He  utterly  refused  to  be  recon- 
 ciled. Small  thanks  had  he  received  for  his  part  in  the 
 expedition,  and  now  he  had  made  up  his  mind  to  return 
 home  the  next  day.  Ajax  and  his  old  tutor  Phoenix, 
 whom  Peleus  had  sent  with  him,  both  tried  to  overcome 
 his  obstinate  resolve,  but  nothing  would  alter  it,  and  the 
 chiefs  left  him  debating  whether  to  start  at  once  or  to 
 remain  yet  a  little  longer. 
 
 When  the  princes  reached  the  camp  again,  and  entered 
 the  tent  of  Agamemnon,  all  the  others  were  awaiting  them, 
 and  rose  eagerly  to  ask  what  success  they  had  had.     But 
 
The  Steeds  of  Rhesos.  395 
 
 when  they  heard  the  answer  of  Achilleus  they  were  struck 
 dumb  with  sorrow  and  consternation ;  Diomed  alone  ven- 
 tured to  say  that  they  might  yet  conquer  without  Achilleus. 
 But  it  seemed  to  the  rest  of  the  Greeks  as  if  their  toil  and 
 labour  had  been  for  nought. 
 
 XXV. — THE    STEEDS   OF   RHESOS. 
 
 The  remainder  of  the  night  was  passed  by  the  Greeks  in 
 slumber,  with  the  exception  of  Menelaos  and  Agamemnon, 
 who,  oppressed  with  many  troubling  thoughts,  were  unable 
 to  close  their  eyes. 
 
 At  last  Agamemnon  rose  from  his  couch,  and  as  he  was 
 arming,  Menelaos  came  to  rouse  him.  They  agreed  to 
 waken  Nestor  and  go  round  to  visit  the  guards.  Nestor 
 was  ready  instantly  to  join  them,  but  he  advised  them  to 
 take  as  well  some  of  the  other  chiefs.  They  therefore 
 called  Diomed,  Ajax,  Odysseus,  and  others,  with  whom, 
 after  having  visited  the  outposts  and  seen  that  they  were 
 on  the  alert,  they  decided  to  hold  a  council  of  war. 
 
 Nestor  proposed  that  one  of  them  should  steal  into  the 
 Trojan  camp  and  try  to  overhear  the  consultations  of  the 
 enemy,  but  none  could  be  found  to  undertake  this  daring- 
 venture,  till  at  length  Diomed  himself  offered  to  go.  Many 
 instantly  volunteered  to  be  his  companions,  but  he  only 
 chose  Odysseus  out  of  them  all,  and  in  a  short  space  of  time 
 these  two  mighty  warriors  sallied  forth,  well  armed,  under 
 cover  of  the  darkness,  on  their  dangerous  mission.  As  they 
 left  the  tents  behind  an  eagle  suddenly  flew  past,  and  in 
 this  they  recognised  a  good  omen  sent  to  them  by  Athene, 
 and  they  prayed  the  goddess  to  grant  them  success  in  their 
 undertaking,  promising  her  rich  gifts  in  return. 
 
396  The  Steeds  of  Rhesos. 
 
 It  was  midnight  in  the  Trojan  camp,  and  the  noble 
 Hektor  held  a  solemn  council  of  war.  He  also  suggested 
 the  advisability  of  cautiously  approaching  the  Greek  camp 
 to  discover  their  plans,  and  promised  a  magnificent  chariot 
 and  horses  as  a  reward  to  whoever  should  volunteer  for  this 
 service  of  danger.  Eager  to  earn  the  prize,  Dolon  stepped 
 forward,  a  man  rich  in  this  world's  goods,  but  devoid  of  any 
 charms  of  nature,  although  very  swift  of  foot.  He  begged 
 Hektor  to  give  him  the  chariot  of  Achilleus  should  he 
 succeed  in  getting  it,  which  the  mighty  Trojan  readily 
 promised  to  do,  and  then  took  his  departure. 
 
 Swiftly  he  sped  across  the  field  which  separated  the  two 
 camps,  but  Odysseus  and  Diomed  heard  his  footsteps,  and 
 first  moving  aside  to  let  him  pass,  they  turned  and  overtook 
 him,  forcing  him  to  stand.  Then  they  compelled  him  to 
 tell  them  the  exact  position  and  strength  of  the  Trojan 
 host,  and  learnt  also  from  him  that  Rhesos,  King  of 
 Thrace,  had  just  arrived,  and  had  taken  up  his  position  at 
 the  end  of  the  camp,  where  he  had  two  splendid  white 
 steeds  with  magnificent  silver  harness.  These  the  heroes 
 determined  to  capture,  but  before  starting,  in  spite  of 
 his  wild  entreaties  to  be  spared,  Diomed  slew  the  traitor 
 who  had  tried  to  save  himself  at  the  expense  of  his 
 country. 
 
 Making  their  way  to  that  part  of  the  field  where  Rhesos 
 lay  encamped,  Diomed  laid  about  him  with  such  energy 
 that  soon  twelve  Thracians,  Rhesos  himself  amongst  them, 
 lay  lifeless  on  the  ground,  while  Odysseus  secured  the  white 
 coursers. 
 
 Now  Athene  appeared  to  Diomed,  and  bade  him  hasten 
 his  departure,  and  he  and  Odysseus  swung  themselves  on 
 to  the  steeds  and  hurried  back  to  their  own  camp.  But 
 they  did  not  pass  unobserved,  for  Apollo,  seeing  the  part 
 
Death  of  Hippo lochos,  &c.  397 
 
 which  Pallas  Athene  had  taken,  hastened  to  the  Trojan 
 camp  to  awaken  the  comrades  of  Rhesos  : 
 
 "  He  rose,  and  saw  the  field  deform'd  with  blood, 
 An  empty  space  where  late  the  coursers  stood, 
 The  yet  warm  Thracians  panting  on  the  coast ; 
 For  each  he  wept,  but  for  his  Rhesus  most : 
 Now  while  on  Rhesus'  name  he  calls  in  vain, 
 The  gathering  tumult  spreads  o'er  all  the  plain  ; 
 On  heaps  the  Trojans  rush,  with  wild  affright, 
 And  wondering  view  the  slaughters  of  the  night." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  x.  (Pope). 
 
 As  Diomed  and  his  companion  approached  the  Greek 
 host,  the  heroes,  hearing  the  tramp  of  horses'  feet,  feared  an 
 attack;  great  was  the  rejoicing,  therefore,  when  the  two 
 friends  sprang  from  their  horses,  and  related  all  that  they 
 had  done. 
 
 XXVI.— DEATH  OF  HIPPOLOCHOS, 
 PEISANDROS,    IPHIDAMAS,   AND   KOON. 
 
 No  sooner  had  fair  Eos  opened  the  gates  of  heaven 
 with  her  rosy  fingers,  than  Zeus  sent  down  baneful  Eris 
 to  the  Greek  ships,  where,  placing  herself  in  their  midst  with 
 her  torch  of  discord,  she  stirred  up  afresh  their  love  of  war 
 and  strife.  Agamemnon  called  on  the  people  to  arm,  and 
 as  he  himself  appeared  in  all  his  splendour,  Athene  and 
 Hera  sent  loud  peals  of  thunder  in  honour  of  the  mighty 
 king.  Amid  wild  shouts  and  tumult  the  Greeks  and 
 Trojans  again  met,  nation  to  nation,  man  to  man ;  and  on 
 both  sides  the  onslaught  was  terrible : 
 
39^  Death  of  Hippolochos,  &c. 
 
 "  Discord  with  joy  the  scene  of  death  descries, 
 And  drinks  large  slaughter  at  her  sanguine  eyes  : 
 Discord  alone,  of  all  the  immortal  train, 
 Swells  the  red  horrors  of  this  direful  plain  : 
 The  gods  in  peace  their  golden  mansions  fill, 
 Ranged  in  bright  order  on  the  Olympian  hill." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xi.  (Pope). 
 
 Jove  now  took  up  such  a  position  that  he  could  overlook 
 the  whole  battle-field,  and  determined  that  this  time  the 
 Trojans  should  be  victors. 
 
 The  carnage  continued  the  whole  morning,  but  about 
 mid-day  Agamemnon  came  to  the  front,  and  everything 
 gave  way  before  him.  Several  of  the  noblest  Trojans  lay 
 dead  at  his  feet,  amongst  them  two  of  the  sons  of  Priam, 
 and  Hippolochos  and  Peisandros,  sons  of  Antimachos.  The 
 latter  had  joined  the  party  which  so  strenuously  opposed 
 the  restoration  of  Helen  to  Menelaos,  and  thus  his  sons  fell 
 victims  to  the  victorious  arms  of  the  king  of  men. 
 
 Hippolochos  and  Peisandros  were  both  in  one  chariot,  and 
 the  reins  having  fallen  from  their  hands,  the  horses  dashed 
 wildly  over  the  field.  Seeing  this,  Agamemnon  rushed  at 
 them  like  a  lion  on  his  prey,  while  they  fell  on  their  knees 
 in  the  chariot  and  prayed  for  mercy : 
 
 "  '  O  spare  our  youth,  and  for  the  life  we  owe, 
 Antimachus  shall  copious  gifts  bestow  : 
 Soon  as  he  hears,  that,  not  in  battle  slain, 
 The  Grecian  ships  his  captive  sons  detain, 
 Large  heaps  of  brass  in  ransom  shall  be  told, 
 And  steel  well-tempered,  and  persuasive  gold/ 
 These  words,  attended  with  a  flood  of  tears, 
 The  youths  addressed  to  unrelenting  ears  : 
 The  vengeful  monarch  gave  this  stern  reply  : 
 '  If  from  Antimachus  ye  spring,  ye  die  ; 
 
Death  of  Hippolochos,  &e.  399 
 
 The  daring  wretch  who  once  in  council  stood 
 To  shed  Ulysses'  and  my  brother's  blood, 
 For  proffer' d  peace  !  and  sues  his  seed  for  grace  ? 
 No,  die,  and  pay  the  forfeit  of  your  race.'" 
 
 — Homer,  "  Iliad;'  Book  xi.  (Pope). 
 
 And  as  he  spoke  he  pierced  Peisandros  through  the  breast. 
 Hippolochos  then  leapt  down  from  the  chariot,  but  the  king, 
 in  his  wrath,  with  one  blow  severed  the  head  and  arms  of 
 the  unfortunate  youth  from  his  body. 
 
 The  horses  and  chariots  of  both  armies  had  now  come  to 
 close  quarters,  and 
 
 "  From  the  dry  fields  thick  clouds  of  dust  arise, 
 Shade  the  black  host,  and  intercept  the  skies. 
 The  brass-hoofed  steeds  tumultuous  plunge  and  bound, 
 And  the  thick  thunder  beats  the  labouring  ground." 
 
 — Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xi.  (Pope). 
 
 till  the  Trojans,  hardly  pressed  by  the  Greeks,  began  to 
 retire  towards  their  city.  Then  Zeus  lent  his  aid,  and 
 from  the  summit  of  Mount  Ida  sent  Iris  to  the  noble 
 Hektor  with  the  command  :  to  avoid  Agamemnon  so  long 
 as  he  raged  through  the  battle-field ;  but  as  soon  as  the 
 king  should  be  wounded,  Hektor  was  to  mount  in  his  chariot 
 and  pursue  the  Greeks  down  to  the  haven. 
 
 Obedient  to  the  divine  behest,  Hektor  left  his  car,  and 
 encouraged  the  Trojans  to  resist.  Agamemnon  now  en- 
 countered Iphidamas,  a  Thracian  hero,  who,  with  his  brother 
 Koön,  had  come  to  aid  the  Trojans  in  the  defence  of  their 
 city,  and  having  been  only  just  married  had  very  reluctantly 
 left  his  bride.  Agamemnon  first  hurled  his  javelin  at  him, 
 but  the  weapon  missed  its  mark,  and  Iphidamas  returned 
 the  blow  so  fiercely  with  his  spear  that  it  must  have  killed 
 his  foe  had  not  his  belt  of  silver  plates  turned  the  point. 
 Quickly  the  king  grasped  his  sword,  and  with  one  mighty 
 stroke  Iphidamas  fell  lifeless  on  the  ground. 
 
400   The  wounding  of  Diomed  and  Machaon. 
 
 When  Koön  saw  his  brother  fall  he  covered  his  eyes  to 
 shut  out  the  painful  sight ;  then  rushing  unperceived  by 
 him  at  Agamemnon,  he  pierced  his  arm  so  deeply  that  the 
 monarch  staggered.  But  he  quickly  recovered  himself, 
 turned  on  Koön,  and  as  the  latter  was  trying  to  remove  his 
 brother's  body,  with  one  blow  struck  off  his  head;  thus 
 both  brothers  descended  together  to  the  Underworld. 
 
 Agamemnon's  wound  becoming  painful,  he  stepped  into 
 his  chariot,  and  was  driven  back  to  the  camp.  As  soon  as 
 Hektor  perceived  this,  he  called  to  the  Trojans  to  attack 
 the  Greeks  with  renewed  vigour.  Numbers  fell  at  this  on- 
 slaught, and  the  remainder  fled  to  their  ships.  Odysseus, 
 seeing  the  frightful  carnage,  urged  Diomed  to  help  him  to 
 check  the  victorious  career  of  Hektor,  and,  rushing  into  the 
 midst  of  the  Trojans,  they  killed  numbers  of  them,  Zeus 
 keeping  the  fight  equally  balanced. 
 
 XXVII. — THE  WOUNDING   OF   DIOMED 
 AND   MACHAON. 
 
 When  Hektor  saw  that  the  Greeks  were  again  gaining 
 ground  he  hurried  to  the  front,  a  large  host  following  him  ; 
 then  seized  with  fear,  Diomed  cried  to  Odysseus : 
 
 "  Mark  how  this  way  yon  bending  squadrons  yield, 
 The  storm  rolls  on,  and  Hector  rules  the  field  : 
 Here  stand  his  utmost  force.'5 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xi.  (Pope). 
 
 And  levelling  his  lance,  he  threw  it  with  such  force  at 
 Hektor  that  the  noble  Trojan  sank  on  his  knee.  Ere 
 Diomed,  however,  could  deal  him  the  death-blow,  he  had 
 
The  wounding  of  Diomed  and  Machaon.  401 
 
 recovered  himself  and  was  driven  back  in  his  chariot  to  the 
 rear  of  the  host. 
 
 Several  more  Trojans  fell  beneath  the  powerful  arm  of 
 Diomed,  until  Paris,  hidden  by  a  tombstone,  sent  an  arrow 
 into  his  heel ;  then,  compelled  by  the  severe  pain,  he  re- 
 turned at  once  to  the  camp. 
 
 Odysseus  now  remained  alone,  attacked  on  all  sides 
 by  the  Trojans,  nevertheless  he  held  his  ground,  dealing 
 death  blows  to  all  who  came  within  his  reach.  Among 
 his  antagonists  were  two  brothers ;  one  he  killed,  and  the 
 other,  coming  to  revenge  the  death  of  his  brother.  Odysseus 
 wounded,  though  not  mortally.  The  warrior  turned  to  flee, 
 but  Odysseus,  throwing  a  javelin,  pierced  him  through  the 
 shoulders,  and  called  out — 
 
 "  Famed  son  of  Hippasus  !  there  press  the  plain  ; 
 There  ends  thy  narrow  span  assign'd  by  fate, 
 Heaven  owes  Ulysses  yet  a  longer  date. 
 Ah,  wretch  !     No  father  shall  thy  corpse  compose  ; 
 Thy  dying  eyes  no  tender  mother  close  ; 
 But  hungry  birds  shall  tear  those  balls  away, 
 And  hovering  vultures  scream  around  their  prey." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xi.  (Pope). 
 
 And  now  all  the  Trojans  turned  on  Odysseus,  who  in  vain 
 tried  to  recede  from  his  foes,  while  three  times  he  called 
 loudly  on  his  friends  to  come  to  his  aid.  At  length 
 Menelaos,  hearing  the  well-known  voice,  called  to  Ajax,  and 
 together  they  hewed  a  bloody  path  through  the  ranks  of  the 
 Trojans. 
 
 Hektor,  meanwhile,  was  fighting  on  one  side  of  the  plain 
 with  Idomeneus  and  Nestor;  and  Paris,  from  his  station 
 under  the  walls  of  the  city,  succeeded  in  wounding  Machaon, 
 the    wise    physician,   with   an   arrow.      Then    Idomeneus 
 
 2  c 
 
402    The  wounding  of  Diomcd  and  Machaon. 
 
 entreated  Nestor  to  take  the  wounded  man  in  his  chariot 
 and  return  with  him  to  the  camp,  for 
 
 "  A  wise  physician  skill'd  our  wounds  to  heal, 
 Is  more  than  armies  to  the  public  weal." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xi.  (Pope). 
 
 Now  for  the  first  time  Hektor  became  aware  of  the 
 fierce  conflict  going  on  round  Ajax  and  Menelaos,  and 
 hastened  thither.  The  chariot  rolled  over  mangled  corpses 
 and  broken  weapons,  but  although  he  cut  down  his  enemies 
 right  and  left,  he  avoided  Ajax.  The  latter,  seized  with 
 sudden  terror  when  he  saw  Hektor  approaching,  took  to 
 flight,  pursued  by  the  Trojans. 
 
 Nestor  had  brought  Machaon  into  the  Greek  camp,  and 
 now  Achilleus,  seeing  the  chario  tdrive  past,  sent  his  friend 
 Patroklos  to  the  tent  of  Nestor  that  he  might  ascertain  who 
 was  the  wounded  man.  Very  kindly  Nestor  received  him, 
 but  he  reproached  the  hero  that,  like  Achilleus,  he  had  with- 
 drawn himself  from  the  fight,  forgetting  how  his  father  at 
 parting  had  said  to  him  : 
 
 "  '  My  son  !  be  brave. 
 Though  great  Achilles  shine 
 In  strength  superior,  and  of  race  divine, 
 Yet  cooler  thoughts  thy  elder  years  attend  ; 
 Let  thy  just  counsels  aid,  and  rule  thy  friend.' 
 Thus  spoke  your  father  at  Thessalia's  court : 
 Words  now  forgot,  though  now  of  vast  import. 
 Ah  !  try  the  utmost  that  a  friend  can  say  : 
 Such  gentle  force  the  fiercest  minds  obey  ; 
 Some  favouring  god  Achilles'  heart  may  move  ; 
 Though  deaf  to  glory,  he  may  yield  to  love." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xi.  (Pope). 
 
 "  But  should  he  still  be  obdurate,  then  come  thou  forth  to 
 
Battle  at  the  Greek  Entrenchments.      403 
 
 fight,  and  bid  him  give  thee  his  armour,  that  the  Trojans 
 may  believe  it  is  the  son  of  Peleus  himself."  Thus  spake 
 the  wise  old  warrior,  and  Patroklos,  deeply  moved,  returned 
 again  to  the  tent  of  Achilleus. 
 
 XXVIII.— BATTLE   AT   THE   GREEK 
 ENTRENCHMENTS. 
 
 Meantime  Hektor  succeeded  in  driving  the  Greeks  as  far  as 
 their  entrenchments,  and  forced  them  back  inside  their  wall. 
 Then  he  tried  to  cross  the  trench  with  his  chariot,  but  the 
 horses  refused  the  leap,  frightened  by  the  sharpened  stakes 
 glistening  on  the  opposite  side,  upon  which  Polydamas 
 wisely  counselled  that  they  should  all  leave  their  chariots 
 and  attack  the  wall  on  foot.  Accordingly  the  warriors  dis- 
 mounted, and,  covering  themselves  with  their  shields,  began 
 the  attack  with  redoubled  vigour.  Asios  alone  would  not 
 quit  his  chariot ;  guiding  his  horses  to  the  left  round  by  the 
 ditch  he  tried  to  enter  by  the  open  gate  through  which  the 
 fugitive  Greeks  were  pressing.  But  here  stood  two  of  the 
 Lapithen  (one  of  them  a  son  of  the  mighty  hero  Peirithoos), 
 who  defended  the  entrance  most  gallantly  against  Asios 
 and  the  thronging  Trojans,  while,  from  the  top  of  the 
 rampart,  the  Greeks  poured  down  on  the  heads  of  their 
 assailants  a  shower  of  stones  and  arrows. 
 
 Hektor  and  Polydamas  were  still  vainly  attacking  the 
 right  wing  of  the  wall,  when  suddenly  an  omen  was  seen  in 
 the  skies.  An  eagle,  the  bird  sacred  to  Jove,  passed  over 
 their  heads  bearing  in  his  talons  a  bleeding  serpent ;  the 
 reptile,  still  alive,  turned  round  and  bit  the  breast  of  the 
 eagle,  whereupon  the  bird  let  it  fall  in  the  midst  of  the 
 
404      Battle  at  the  Greek  Entrenchments. 
 
 Trojan  host.  Polydamas  declared  this  to  be  an  unlucky 
 omen,  and  advised  Hektor  immediately  to  stop  the  fighting 
 and  to  return  to  Troy  ;  but  the  hero  scorned  the  counsel, 
 and  urged  on  his  people  to  a  fresh  attack.  A  storm  just 
 then  arose  on  Mount  Ida,  and,  passing  over  to  the  Greek 
 camp,  still  further  convinced  him  that  he  was  right. 
 
 Still  the  hero  pressed  forward,  the  Trojans  stormed  the 
 wall,  and  battering-rams  were  brought  to  bear  upon  the 
 towers  bravely  defended  by  the  Greeks,  under  the  leader- 
 ship of  the  two  Ajax,  who  were  at  all  parts  of  the  wall  in 
 turn,  encouraging  their  countrymen  to  resist  to  the  last. 
 Thick  as  a  hail-storm, 
 
 "  The  stones  descend  in  heavier  showers," 
 
 but  the  wall  would,  notwithstanding  all  efforts,  have  been 
 taken,  for  Sarpedon  (son  of  Zeus  and  Europa)  had  already 
 torn  down  the  breastwork,  had  not  Poseidon,  unseen  by 
 Zeus,  quietly  crept  into  the  Greek  camp,  and  inspired  the 
 wearied  warriors  with  fresh  vigour. 
 
 Hera  also  determined  to  aid  her  favourites,  and,  begging 
 the  loan  of  Aphrodite's  girdle,  went  to  Zeus  on  Mount  Ida, 
 and  so  fascinated  him  by  her  renewed  beauty,  that,  with  the 
 aid  of  the  God  of  Sleep,  she  wrapped  him  in  a  sound 
 slumber  so  that  he  neither  saw  nor  heard  what  was  going 
 on  beneath  him.  Poseidon  then  called  on  the  Greeks,  and 
 himself  joined  their  ranks,  while  all  the  wounded  heroes, 
 Diomed,  Agamemnon,  and  Odysseus,  now  quite  recovered, 
 took  their  places  in  the  foremost  ranks  : 
 
 "  Thus  breathing  death,  in  terrible  array, 
 The  close  compacted  legions  urged  their  way  : 
 Fierce  they  drove  on,  impatient  to  destroy  ; 
 Troy  charged  the  first,  and  Hector  first  of  Troy. 
 As  from  some  mountain's  craggy  forehead 
 
Battle  at  the  Greek  Entrenchments.      405 
 
 A  rock's  round  fragment  flies,  with  fury  borne, 
 
 (Which  from  the  stubborn  stone  a  torrent  rends), 
 
 Precipitate  the  ponderous  mass  descends  : 
 
 From  steep  to  steep  the  rolling  ruin  bounds  ; 
 
 At  every  shock  the  crackling  wood  resounds  ; 
 
 Still  gathering  force,  it  smokes  ;  and  urged  amain, 
 
 Whirls,  leaps,  and  thunders  down,  impetuous  to  the  plain  : 
 
 There  stops so  Hector." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xiii.  (Pope). 
 
 At  last  the  mighty  Ajax  hurled  a  huge  stone  with  main 
 force  against  the  breast  of  the  Trojan  prince,  and,  like  an 
 oak  of  the  forest  struck  by  lightning, 
 
 "  So  lies  great  Hector  prostrate  on  the  shore  ; 
 His  slackened  hand  deserts  the  lance  it  bore  ; 
 His  following  shield  the  fallen  chief  o'erspread  ; 
 Beneath  his  helmet,  dropp'd  his  fainting  head  ; 
 His  load  of  armour,  sinking  to  the  ground, 
 Clanks  on  the  field,  a  dead  and  hollow  sound." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xiv.  (Pope). 
 
 Loud  rang  the  triumphant  shouts  of  the  Greeks,  and  once 
 they  hastened  to  seize  him,  and  give  the  death-blow  to 
 their  great  opponent.  But  the  Trojans  rallied  round  their 
 fallen  leader,  and  covering  him  with  their  shields  bore  him 
 safely  back  to  the  town.  Still  the  Greeks  bore  on  with 
 irresistible  force,  and  their  enemies  began  to  give  way  in 
 all  directions.  But  now  Zeus  awoke  from  his  slumber, 
 and,  when  he  saw  the  frightful  tumult  below  and  heard 
 the  shouts  of  the  Greeks,  he  knew  that  the  Trojans  were 
 receiving  defeat. 
 
 Deeply  incensed,  he  turned  to  Hera  and  accused  her 
 of  subterfuge ;  then  with  threatening  words  he  bade  her 
 send  Iris  and  Apollo  to  him  at  once.  Obliged  to  obey  the 
 command,  but  with  secret  anger  burning  in  her  heart,  Hera 
 
4o6      Battle  at  the  Greek  Entrenchments. 
 
 flew  to  Olympos,  and  there,  before  the  assembled  gods, 
 complained  of  Zeus's  government  and  assumption  that 
 he  was  greater  than  all  other  gods.  Only  now,  she  added, 
 he  had  caused  great  grief  to  Ares  by  allowing  one  of  his 
 sons  to  be  killed  in  the  battle.  As  soon  as  Ares  heard 
 this  he  sprang  to  his  feet,  and  smiting  his  breast,  cried 
 fiercely : 
 
 "  Thus  then,  immortals  !  thus  shall  Mars  obey  ; 
 Forgive  me,  gods,  and  yield  my  vengeance  way  : 
 Descending  first  to  yon  forbidden  plain, 
 The  god  of  battles  dares  avenge  the  slain  ; 
 Dares,  though  the  thunder  bursting  o'er  my  head 
 Should  hurl  me  blazing  on  those  heaps  of  dead." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xv.  (Pope). 
 
 And  commanded  the  Graeae  and  pale  Fear  to  harness 
 his  chariot,  while  he  went  to  put  on  his  armour.  But 
 quickly  Athene  sprang  after  the  incensed  god,  and,  depriving 
 him  of  helmet,  shield,  and  lance,  thus  reproved  him  for  his 
 foolish  anger  : 
 
 "  By  what  wild  passion,  furious  !  art  thou  toss'd  ? 
 
 Striv'st  thou  with  Jove  ?  thou  art  already  lost. 
 
 Shall  not  the  Thunderer's  dread  command  restrain, 
 
 And  was  imperial  Juno  heard  in  vain  ? 
 
 Back  to  the  skies  would'st  thou  with  shame  be  driven, 
 
 And  in  thy  guilt  involve  the  host  of  heaven  ? 
 
 Ilion  and  Greece  no  more  should  Jove  engage, 
 
 The  skies  would  yield  an  ampler  scene  of  rage  ; 
 
 Guilty  and  guiltless  find  an  equal  fate 
 
 And  one  vast  ruin  whelm  the  Olympian  state. 
 
 Cease  then  thy  offspring's  death  unjust  to  call ; 
 
 Heroes  as  great  have  died  and  yet  shall  fall." 
 
 —  Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xv.  (Pope). 
 
 So  saying  she  led  him  back  to  his  seat,  and  sent  Iris 
 and  Apollo  to  Zeus  on  Mount  Ida. 
 
The  Death  of  Sarpedon.  407 
 
 Zeus  then  despatched  Iris  to  Poseidon,  commanding  him 
 at  once  to  withdraw  from  the  fight.  The  mighty  sea-god 
 received  his  brother's  command  with  great  anger,  and 
 refused  to  obey  his  orders.  But  Iris  spoke  gently  to  him, 
 and  at  last  succeeded  in  convincing  him  that  resistance 
 was  useless.  So  in  sullen  acquiescence  he  left  the  scene 
 of  battle,  and  returned  again  to  his  ocean  home. 
 
 XXIX.— THE  DEATH   OF   SARPEDON. 
 
 Apollo  was  now  sent  by  Zeus  with  orders  to  frighten 
 the  Greeks,  and  endow  Hektor  with  fresh  strength  and 
 courage.  He  found  the  hero  weak,  but  slowly  reviving,  and 
 when  he  approached,  the  brave  Trojan,  recognising  his 
 celestial  visitor,  rose  from  his  couch  and  at  once  encouraged 
 his  countrymen  to  renew  the  fight,  which  raged  fiercely  and 
 terribly  as  ever. 
 
 Once  more  the  Greeks  retired,  once  more  the  Trojans 
 began  to  approach  the  ships,  with  Apollo  at  their  head.  On 
 they  came,  broke  through  the  wall,  levelled  the  ditch,  and 
 with  cries  of  victory  entered  the  camp  of  the  enemy.  Now 
 a  furious  slaughter  ensued.  Aged  Nestor  went  unceasingly 
 from  rank  to  rank,  encouraging  the  Greeks  to  hold  out,  and 
 then  he  prayed  aloud  : 
 
 "  O,  Jove!  if  ever,  on  his  native  shore, 
 
 One  Greek  enrich'd  thy  shrine  with  offer'd  gore  ; 
 
 If  e'er,  in  hope  our  country  to  behold, 
 
 We  paid  the  fattest  firstlings  of  the  fold  ; 
 
 If  e'er  thou  sign'st  our  wishes  with  thy  nod  ; 
 
 Perform  the  promise  of  a  gracious  god  ! 
 
 This  day  preserve  our  navies  from  the  flame, 
 
 And  save  the  relics  of  the  Grecian  name." 
 
 —HOMER,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xv.  (Pope). 
 
4o8  The  Death  of  Sarpedon. 
 
 Encouraged  by  this  prayer  the  Greeks  rushed  to  defend 
 their  vessels  from  the  enemy.  The  fiercest  of  the  fight 
 raged  round  the  ship  of  Protesilaos  ;  but  when  Patroklos 
 beheld  it  he  hastened  to  the  tent  of  Achilleus,  and  entreated 
 him  to  lay  aside  his  anger  and  take  pity  on  the  harassed 
 Greeks.  Achilleus  persisted  in  his  refusal  to  take  any  per- 
 sonal part  in  the  fight,  but  he  allowed  his  friend  to  wear  his 
 armour,  and  to  lead  his  followers  to  the  assistance  of  their 
 countrymen. 
 
 Meanwhile  Hektor  had  broken  in  two  the  spear  of  Ajax, 
 and  when  the  Greek  hero  fled,  Hektor  flung  a  firebrand  into 
 his  ship,  from  which  there  immediately  burst  forth  flames, 
 while  dense  clouds  of  smoke  rolled  to  the  skies.  Achilleus 
 saw  the  conflagration,  aud  smote  his  breast  as  he  ex- 
 claimed— 
 
 "  Arm,  arm,  Patroclus  !     Lo,  the  blaze  aspires  ! 
 The  glowing  ocean  reddens  with  the  fires. 
 Arm,  ere  our  vessels  catch  the  spreading  flame, 
 Arm,  ere  the  Grecians  be  no  more  a  name  ; 
 I  haste  to  bring  the  troops." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xvi.  (Pope). 
 
 With  a  heart  filled  with  joy  Patroklos  obeyed,  and  soon 
 he  was  fully  equipped  in  the  armour  of  Achilleus,  with  the 
 exception  of  the  spear,  which  none  but  the  mighty  warrior 
 himself  could  wield.  Then  the  immortal  steeds  were  har- 
 nessed to  the  chariot,  and  Achilleus  gathered  his  warriors 
 together.  Having  harangued  the  men,  he  poured  out  wine 
 as  a  libation  to  Zeus,  and  the  troop  went  forth. 
 
 When  the  Trojans  saw  Patroklos  their  hearts  trembled — 
 they  believed  it  was,  in  truth,  Achilleus,  and  as  the  Greeks 
 rushed  forward  they  retreated.  Then  Sarpedon,  prince  of 
 Lycia,  son  of  Zeus  and  Europa,  saw  that  the  hearts  of  the 
 
The  Death  of  Sarpedon.  409 
 
 men  of  Troy  were  filled  with  fear,  so  that  they  began  to 
 waver,  and  quickly  he  went  forward  to  meet  Patroklos. 
 
 But  when  great  Jove  beheld  the  encounter,  he  trembled 
 for  the  fate  of  his  son,  and,  turning  to  the  queen  of  heaven, 
 thus  he  spoke  :  "  Alas,  must  Sarpedon  die,  my  beloved  son  ; 
 or  shall  I  rescue  him  and  bear  him  safely  away  from  the 
 battle-field  to  his  Lycian  home  ?  " 
 
 "  How  canst  thou  question  thus,"  was  Hera's  artful 
 answer ;  "  if  now  thou  stretchiest  forth  thine  hand  to  save 
 him,  what  will  the  other  gods  say,  whose  sons  have  fallen  ? 
 The  doom  of  Sarpedon  is  already  sealed  by  the  fates  ;  only 
 if  thou  lovest  him, 
 
 "  Give  the  bold  chief  a  glorious  fate  in  fight ; 
 And  when  the  ascending  soul  has  winged  her  flight  ; 
 Let  Sleep  and  Death  convey,  by  thy  command, 
 The  breathless  body  to  his  native  land. 
 His  friends  and  people;  to  his  future  praise, 
 A  marble  tomb  and  pyramid  shall  raise, 
 And  lasting  honours  to  his  ashes  give  ; 
 His  fame  ('tis  all  the  dead  can  have)  shall  live." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xvi.  (Pope). 
 
 And  Jove  hearkened  to  her  words,  and  left  his  son 
 unaided  to  finish  his  fight  with  Patroklos.  Fierce  was  the 
 combat  between  the  two  heroes,  and  at  length  Patroklos 
 thrust  his  spear  into  Sarpedon's  side,  so  that  the  life-blood 
 flowed  from  the  wound,  and  the  darkness  of  death  closed  his 
 eyes.  Hektor  saw  the  chieftain  fall,  and  hurried  to  his  aid, 
 but  too  late  to  save  him,  and  both  Ajax  coming  up  at  the 
 same  moment,  great  strife  ensued  over  the  body  of  the 
 dying  prince. 
 
 Zeus  had  watched  the  combat  from  afar,  and  was 
 determined  that  Patroklos  also  should  die,  but  not  before 
 the  Trojans  had  returned  to  Troy.     Therefore   he  struck 
 
4-io  Death  of  Patroklos. 
 
 terror  into  the  heart  of  Hektor,  and  the  mighty  Trojans 
 believing  they  were  overpowered,  fled  with  his  comrades, 
 leaving  the  body  of  Sarpedon  in  the  hands  of  the  Greeks. 
 
 So  died  Sarpedon,  son  of  Zeus.  And  the  king  of 
 heaven  sent  Apollo  to  bathe  the  loved  body  in  the 
 waters  of  the  stream,  and  when  he  had  washed  away  the 
 blood,  Sleep  and  Death  came  floating  on  their  noiseless 
 wings,  and  gently  and  softly  they  bore  him  homewards  in 
 their  arms  through  the  still  night.  And  in  the  far  Lycian 
 land  there  were  sorrow  and  mourning  for  the  noble  chieftain 
 who  had  fallen  before  the  walls  of  Troy. 
 
 XXX.— DEATH   OF    PATROKLOS. 
 
 Patroklos  now  pursued  the  flying  Trojans  with  his  foaming 
 coursers  close  up  to  the  walls  of  the  city,  which  he  thrice 
 essayed  to  scale.  But  Apollo  kept  guard,  and  each  time 
 drove  him  back.  A  fourth  time  the  gallant  prince  ventured, 
 but  the  god  warned  him  back  :  "  Patroklos,  cease,"  he 
 cried,  "it  is  not  decreed  that  thou  shalt  conquer  Troy." 
 Then  Patroklos  recognised  the  god,  and  fell  back,  while 
 Apollo  encouraged  Hektor,  whose  courage  had  quite  given 
 way,  to  return  to  the  fight : 
 
 "In  Patroclus'  blood  efface  thy  shame 
 Perhaps  Apollo  shall  thy  arms  succeed, 
 And  heaven  ordains  him  by  thy  lance  to  bleed." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xvi.  (Pope). 
 
 So  once  more  Hektor  drove  out  to  meet  Patroklos,  who, 
 when  he  saw  him,  sprang  from  his  chariot,  and  hurled  a 
 stone  at  the  forehead  of  Hektor's  charioteer.  Lifeless  the 
 charioteer  fell  to  the  ground,  and  Patroklos  ran  forward  to 
 
Death  of  Patroklos.  4 1 l 
 
 secure  his  arms,  but  the  soul  of  Hektor  was  filled  with 
 anger  at  the  deed,  and  fiercely  he  fought  with  the  great 
 Greek  chieftain  over  the  dead  body,  as  a  lion  fights  for  his 
 prey.  And  now  the  combatants  were  joined  by  other 
 Greeks  and  Trojans,  and  when  Patroklos  attacked  Hektor  a 
 fourth  time,  Apollo,  shrouded  in  mist,  dealt  him  a  blow 
 from  behind,  with  such  force  that  he  fell  forward  senseless, 
 while  his  helmet  rolled  on  the  ground.  One  of  the  Trojans 
 pierced  him  with  a  lance,  and  when  the  wounded  man 
 sought  shelter  among  the  Greeks,  Hektor  followed  and 
 struck  him  so  fiercely  with  his  lance,  that  again  he  lay 
 prostrate,  while  the  life  blood  flowed  from  his  wound. 
 
 "  As  dying  now  at  Hector's  feet  he  lies, 
 He  sternly  views  him,  and  triumphant  cries  : 
 
 '  Lie  there  Patroclus  !  and  with  thee,  the  joy 
 Thy  pride  once  promised,  of  subverting  Troy  ; 
 The  fancied  scenes  of  I  lion  wrapt  in  flames, 
 And  thy  soft  pleasures  served  with  captive  dames. 
 Unthinking  man  !  I  fought  those  towers  to  free, 
 And  guard  that  beauteous  race  from  lords  like  thee  : 
 But  thou  a  prey  to  vultures  shall  be  made  ; 
 Thy  own  Achilles  cannot  lend  thee  aid  ; 
 Though  much  at  parting  that  great  chief  might  say, 
 And  much  enjoin  thee,  this  important  day.5     .     .     . 
 Supine  and  wildly  gazing  on  the  skies, 
 With  faint,  expiring  breath,  the  chief  replies  : " 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xvi. 
 
 "  Boast  not  of  thy  victory  ?  Had  not  Apollo  torn  my 
 armour  from  me  thou  wouldst  not  have  conquered.  Let 
 me  tell  thee,  thy  turn  shall  come ;  Death  stands  already 
 by  thy  side,  and  by  Achilleus  shalt  thou  fall." 
 
 "  He  faints ;  the  soul  unwilling  wings  her  way 
 
412  Death  of  Patroklos. 
 
 (The  beauteous  body  left  a  load  of  clay), 
 Flits  to  the  lone,  uncomfortable  coast." 
 
 — Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xvi. 
 
 Menelaos  saw  Patroklos  fall,  and  tried  to  rescue  his  body 
 from  the  Trojans  \  he  killed  one  enemy  who  opposed  him, 
 but  when  Hektor,  encouraged  by  Apollo,  came  up  to  take 
 possession  of  the  bright  armour  of  Achilleus,  his  courage 
 gave  way,  and  he  fell  back,  calling  upon  Ajax  to  come  to 
 his  assistance. 
 
 Thus  Hektor  secured  the  armour,  and  sent  it  back  to 
 Troy.  Then  he  turned  to  sever  the  head  of  his  foe  from 
 the  body,  but  Ajax  appeared,  and  the  Trojan  retreated  to 
 his  own  camp,  where  Glaukos  reproached  him  for  his 
 cowardice  in  evading  the  combat  : 
 
 " .         .         .         Let  Ajax  once  appear, 
 And  Hector  trembles  and  recedes  with  fear  ; 
 Thou  darest  not  meet  the  terrors  of  his  eye  ; 
 And  lo  !  already  thou  prepar'st  to  fly." 
 
 —Homer,  "Iliad,"  Book  xvii.  (Pope). 
 
 Hektor  answered  him  :  "  Speak  not  so  foolishly.  Never 
 yet  have  I  feared  to  meet  the  foe.  But  thou  knowest  that 
 great  Jove  at  times  inspires  even  the  bravest  with  dread. 
 Thus  was  it  with  me  even  now.  Come  let  us  hew  our  way 
 through  yonder  squadrons,  then  shalt  thou  witness  that  I 
 neither  fear  nor  shun  the  foe."  Then  he  exhorted  the 
 Trojans  to  fight  bravely,  until  he  should  return  from  the 
 town,  whither  he  was  going  to  put  on  Achilleus'  armour. 
 
 When  Zeus  beheld  him  in  the  brilliant  accoutrements, 
 his  heart  was  filled  with  pity  for  the  great  hero  : 
 
 "  Ah,  wretched  man !  unmindful  of  thy  end  ! 
 A  moment's  glory  ;  and  what  fates  attend  ! 
 In  heavenly  panoply  divinely  bright 
 
Death  of  Patroklos.  4 1 3 
 
 Thou  stand'st,  and  armies  tremble  at  thy  sight, 
 As  at  Achilles'  self !  beneath  thy  dart 
 Lies  slain  the  great  Achilles'  dearer  part. 
 Thou  from  the  mighty  dead  those  arms  hast  torn, 
 Which  once  the  greatest  of  mankind  had  worn. 
 Yet  live  !  I  give  thee  one  illustrious  day, 
 A  blaze  of  glory  ere  thou  fad'st  away. 
 For  ah  !  no  more  Andromache  shall  come 
 With  joyful  tears  to  welcome  Hector  home." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xvii.  (Pope). 
 
 Thus  spake  the  god,  while  Hektor  descended  into  the  plain 
 and  led  his  comrades  to  the  fight,  promising  half  the  spoil 
 to  whoever  should  succeed  in  taking  the  body  of  Patroklos 
 from  Ajax. 
 
 While  the  Trojans  were  advancing,  Menelaos  with  a  loud 
 voice  called  upon  the  other  Greek  heroes  to  come  to  the 
 rescue.  Ajax,  Idomeneus,  and  several  more  responded  to 
 the  summons,  and  a  furious  onslaught  took  place.  At  last 
 the  Trojans  gained  the  victory,  but  the  Greeks  still  held 
 possession  of  the  body  of  the  noble  hero,  who  had  fought 
 so  bravely  for  them,  and  Menelaos  now  sent  Antilochos, 
 the  son  of  Nestor,  to  the  tent  of  Achilleus,  to  bear  the  sad 
 tidings  of  the  death  of  his  friend  and  the  loss  of  his  arms 
 and  armour.  And  Antilochos  was  also  to  entreat  the 
 mighty  son  of  Peleus  to  come  and  aid  his  countrymen  in 
 defending  the  body  of  the  dead,  as  it  was  being  borne  back 
 to  the  ships  amid  the  victorious  Trojans. 
 
414     Lament  of  AcJiillcus  over  Patroklos. 
 
 XXXI.— LAMENT   OF  ACHILLEUS   OVER 
 PATROKLOS, 
 
 Seated  beside  his  tent,  watching  from  afar  the  fight, 
 Achilleus  thought  with  anxiety  of  Patroklos,  and  his  soul 
 was  troubled  with  fear  of  the  ills  that  might  befall  him. 
 At  last  he  beheld  Antilochos  coming  towards  him,  with 
 hasty  step,  and  tears  streaming  from  his  eyes,  and  thus  he 
 spoke : 
 
 "  '  Sad  tidings,  son  of  Peleus  !  thou  must  hear  ; 
 And  wretched  I,  the  unwilling  messenger  ! 
 Dead  is  Patroclus  !     For  his  corse  they  fight ; 
 His  naked  corse  :  his  arms  are  Hector's  right.' " 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xviii.  (Pope). 
 
 Grief  and  woe  filled  the  soul  of  Achilleus  at  the  dreadful 
 tidings ;  and  even  the  captives  in  his  own  and  Patroklos' 
 ships  rushed  forth  and  beat  their  breasts,  with  cries  and 
 tears,  while  Antilochos  kept  the  hands  of  the  prince  in 
 his  firm  grasp,  to  prevent  his  putting  an  end  to  his  life  : 
 
 "  Far  in  the  deep  abysses  of  the  main, 
 With  hoary  Nereus,  and  the  watery  train, 
 The  mother-goddess  from  her  crystal  throne 
 Heard  his  loud  cries,  and  answer'd  groan  for  groan. 
 The  circling  Nereids  with  their  mistress  weep, 
 And  all  the  sea-green  sisters  of  the  deep." 
 
 — Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xviii.  (Pope). 
 
 Bitterly  Thetis  lamented  that  her  son,  who  was  only  to 
 live  so  short  a  time,  should  have  so  much  sorrow  and 
 trouble  to  bear  : 
 
 "  '  Hear  how  his  sorrows  echo  through  the  shore  ! 
 
Lament  of  Achilleus  over  Patroklos.     4 1 5 
 
 I  cannot  ease  them,  but  I  must  deplore  ; 
 
 I  go  at  least  to  bear  a  tender  part, 
 
 And  mourn  my  loved-one  with  a  mother's  heart.' " 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xviii.  (Pope). 
 
 As  she  spoke  the  Nereids  left  the  grotto  and  returned  to 
 the  depths  of  the  ocean,  while  Thetis  rose  from  the  waters 
 by  the  Greek  camp  to  comfort  her  son  : 
 
 "  The  immortal  mother,  standing  close  beside 
 Her  mournful  offspring,  to  his  sighs  replied  ; 
 Along  the  coast  their  mingled  clamours  ran, 
 And  thus  the  silver-footed  dame  began  :    .     .     . 
 '  Why  mourns  my  son  ?  thy  anguish  let  me  share, 
 Reveal  the  cause,  and  trust  a  parent's  care.' " 
 
 — Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xviii.  (Pope). 
 
 Then  with  deep  sighs  Achilleus  answered  her  :  "  Of  what 
 avail  is  all  my  fame  and  honour  now,  when  Patroklos,  who 
 was  dearer  to  me  than  life,  is  dead?  By  the  hand  of 
 Hektor  has  he  fallen,  and  I  was  not  even  there  to  aid  him 
 against  his  foe.  Oh,  that  thou  hadst  never  wedded  Peleus ! 
 now  wouldst  thou  not  have  to  witness  thy  son's  death. 
 Never  again  will  I  return  to  my  native  land,  for  there  is  no 
 rest  or  peace  for  me  till  I  have  pierced  proud  Hektor  with 
 my  lance,  and  so  revenged  the  death  of  my  beloved  friend." 
 
 Tearfully  Thetis  replied  :  "  My  son,  I  know  that  soon 
 thy  span  of  life  will  have  run  its  course,  so  have  the  Fates 
 decreed.  For  when  thou  slayest  Hektor,  thou  hast  not 
 many  more  days  to  live  upon  the  earth." 
 
 "  Would  that  I  might  die  at  once,"  exclaimed  Achilleus, 
 "  since  I  was  unable  to  save  the  life  of  my  friend.  O  that 
 I  had  never  striven  with  Agamemnon,  then  I  should  have 
 been  beside  Patroklos  at  the  fateful  moment !  Now, 
 however,  will  I  go  forth  to  avenge  his  murder.     My  fate 
 
4-i6     Lament  of '  Achillea s  over  Patroklos. 
 
 may  meet  as  it  pleaseth  Zeus.  Herakles,  himself,  could 
 not  escape  his  destiny,  let  me  also  die.  Only  before 
 Achilleus  falls  shall  many  a  Trojan  lie  cold  and  dead  be- 
 neath his  hand." 
 
 "  Thou  art  right,  my  son,"  mournfully  answered  the  sea- 
 goddess  ;  "  to  succour  the  Greeks  and  avenge  the  death  of 
 thy  friend  is  a  task  worthy  of  thee.  But  thy  weapons  and 
 armour  are  in  the  hands  of  Hektor.  Wait  only  till  I  bring 
 thee  fresh  ones,  formed  by  Hephaistos'  hands."  In  haste 
 she  turned  away  and  sought  out  the  God  of  Fire,  bidding 
 him  forge  at  once  a  costly  equipment. 
 
 Hektor,  meanwhile,  had  followed  the  Greeks  as  they  were 
 retreating  with  the  body  of  Patroklos.  Three  times  did  he 
 seize  it,  but  each  time  the  two  Ajax  drove  him  back  from 
 the  dead.  Still  he  persisted,  and  success  would  have  at 
 last  attended  his  efforts,  had  not  Hera  quickly  sent  Iris  to 
 Achilleus,  saying  :  "  Rise,  son  of  Peleus,  rise,  and  rescue  the 
 body  of  Patroklos  from  the  hand  of  Hektor.  It  is  by  com- 
 mand of  Hera  that  I  come  hither,  without  the  knowledge  of 
 Zeus  or  the  other  gods." 
 
 "  How  can  I  go  forth  unarmed  ? "  fiercely  answered 
 Achilleus.  "  There  is  not  another  Greek  in  all  the  host 
 whose  armour  I  could  wear  save  only  that  of  Ajax 
 Telamon,  and  he  himself  has  already  joined  the  fight." 
 
 "We  know  well  that  thou  hast  no  arms,"  replied  Iris; 
 "go  only  as  far  as  the  trench,  the  Trojans  will  fear  the  sight 
 of  thee  even  unarmed." 
 
 Then  Achilleus  arose,  Pallas  hung  her  mighty  Aegis  on 
 his  shoulders  and  crowned  his  head  with  glorious  rays,  and 
 as  he  reached  the  trench  he  raised  a  fierce  shout,  which 
 Athene  strengthened  so  mightily  that  tumult  and  confusion 
 seized  upon  the  Trojans.  Every  heart  ceased  beating  from 
 terror,   and  even    the   horses  were  so  dismayed  that  they 
 
Lament  of  A  cht  Ileus  over  Patroklos.     41  7 
 
 turned  and  fled  wildly  towards  the  city.  Thrice  did 
 Achilleus  repeat  the  dreadful  shout,  and  thrice  the  Trojans 
 turned  back  in  confusion  and  dismay.  Then  the  Greeks 
 took  the  rescued  body  of  Patroklos  and  placed  it  on  a  lofty 
 bier,  while  all  his  friends,  their  hearts  filled  with  woe, 
 gathered  round  the  fallen  hero,  and  hot  tears  coursed  down 
 the  cheeks  of  Achilleus  at  the  sight  of  his  noble  friend  lying 
 dead  before  his  eyes,  slain  by  the  Trojan  arms. 
 
 As  night  approached  the  baffled  Trojans  assembled  in 
 council,  and  Polydamas  advised  their  return  to  the  city ; 
 for  now  that  Achilleus  had  once  again  taken  part  in  the 
 fight  no  hope  remained  of  taking  the  ships,  and  they  had 
 better  restrict  themselves  to  defending  the  walls  of  their 
 town.  But  Hektor  would  not  listen  to  this  advice,  and 
 insisted  that  the  Trojans  should  attack  the  ships  on  the 
 following  morning.     He  did  not  fear  Achilleus, 
 
 "  If  great  Achilles  rise  in  all  his  might, 
 His  be  the  danger  :  I  shall  stand  the  fight." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xviii.  (Pope). 
 
 Loud  was  the  applause  with  which  the  chiefs  received 
 this  resolution,  and  then  they  sat  down  to  their  evening 
 meal. 
 
 The  Greeks,  meantime,  were  lamenting  the  death  of 
 Patroklos,  and  Achilleus,  clasping  the  cold  body  in  his  arms, 
 cried  :  "  O  ye  gods  !  when  I  left  my  native  shores  I  pro- 
 mised wise  Menoitios  that  I  would  bring  again  his  noble 
 son  in  safety,  laden  with  rich  spoils  !  How  doth  almighty 
 Jove  cut  short  the  plans  of  man.  Now  are  we  both  destined 
 to  stain  the  sands  of  Troy  with  our  blood,  and  never 
 more  will  Peleus  or  my  mother  Thetis  welcome  their  son 
 back  to  his  father's  halls.  But  ere  I  follow  thee  to  the 
 grave,  Patroklos,  I  will  avenge  thy  death  and  recover  mine 
 
 2  D 
 
4 1 8  Agamemnon  and  Achilleus. 
 
 arms  from  Hektor.  His  head  shall  be  offered  to  thy  shade, 
 and  twelve  Trojan  youths  shall  bleed  upon  the  battle-field  in 
 honour  of  thee." 
 
 Then  the  noble  warrior  begged  his  friends  gently  and 
 tenderly  to  wash  the  blood  and  dust  from  the  body,  and 
 through  the  long  hours  of  the  still,  dark  night  rose  the 
 sound  of  plaints  and  wailings  for  the  dead. 
 
 XXXII.— RECONCILIATION   OF 
 AGAMEMNON    AND     ACHILLEUS. 
 
 Thetis  having  obtained  the  arms  from  Hephaestos  now  has- 
 tened to  bring  them  to  her  son,  whom  she  found  still  weep- 
 ing beside  the  body  of  his  friend.  Gently  she  placed  the 
 arms  beside  him,  and  so  gloriously  did  they  shine  that  they 
 blinded  all  but  Achilleus.  Delighted  at  the  gift,  the  warrior 
 obtained  a  still  greater  boon  from  the  goddess,  that  the  body 
 of  his  friend  should  remain  unperishable. 
 
 He  himself  went  to  call  the  Greeks  together,  and  when  all 
 were  assembled,  he  offered  reconciliation  to  his  enemy 
 Agamemnon.  All  the  host  rejoiced  greatly,  and  Agamem- 
 non thus  addressed  them  ;  "  Ye  sons  of  Greece,  oft  have  ye 
 blamed  me  for  my  quarrel  with  divine  Achilleus,  but  the 
 fault  lay  not  in  me  : 
 
 1  Angry  Jove,  and  all-compelling  Fate, 
 With  fell  Errinys,  urged  my  wrath  that  day 
 When  from  Achilles'  arms  I  forced  the  prey. 
 What  then  could  I  against  the  will  of  heaven  ? 
 Not  by  myself,  but  vengeful  Ate  driven  : 
 She,  Jove's  dread  daughter,  fated  to  infest 
 The  race  of  mortals,  enter'd  in  my  breast. 
 
Agamemnon  and  Achilleus.  4 1 9 
 
 Not  on  the  ground  that  haughty  fury  treads, 
 
 But  prints  her  lofty  footsteps  on  the  heads 
 
 Of  mighty  men  ;  inflicting  as  she  goes 
 
 Long  festering  wounds,  inextricable  woes  ! ' 
 
 — Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xix.  (Pope). 
 "  Ate  brought  on  me  the  guilt  that  I  robbed  Achilleus  of 
 Briseis ;  but  now  I  see  my  fault,  and  am  willing  to  make  an 
 endless  atonement." 
 
 Odysseus  then  advised  that  all  should  strengthen 
 themselves  with  food  and  wine  for  the  coming  battle, 
 and  that  Agamemnon  should  bring  peace  offerings.  This 
 he  did  amply.  For  he  gave  to  Achilleus  seven  tripods, 
 twelve  splendid  steeds,  twenty  golden  goblets,  ten  talents 
 of  gold,  seven  fair  slaves,  and  lastly  the  beautiful  Briseis ; 
 but  when  she  reached  the  tent  of  Achilleus,  and  saw  the 
 dead  body  of  Patroklos  lying  there,  she  threw  herself 
 beside  it  on  the  ground  in  an  agony  of  grief,  and  cried 
 aloud  ; — 
 
 "  Ah,  youth  for  ever  dear,  for  ever  kind, 
 
 Once  tender  friend  of  my  distracted  mind  ! 
 
 I  left  thee  fresh  in  life,  in  beauty  gay  ; 
 
 Now  find  thee  cold,  inanimated  clay  ! 
 
 What  woes  my  wretched  race  of  life  attend  ! 
 
 Sorrows  on  sorrows,  never  doom'd  to  end  ! 
 
 My  three  brave  brothers  in  one  mournful  day 
 
 All  trode  the  dark,  irremeable  way  : 
 
 Thy  friendly  hand  upreared  me  from  the  plain, 
 
 And  dried  my  sorrows  for  a  husband  slain  ; 
 
 Achilles'  care  you  promised  I  should  prove 
 
 The  first,  the  dearest  partner  of  his  love  ; 
 
 That  rites  divine  should  ratify  the  band, 
 
 And  make  me  empress  in  his  native  land. 
 
 Accept  these  grateful  tears  ?  for  thee  they  flow, 
 
 For  thee,  that  ever  felt  another's  woe  !  " 
 
 — Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xix.  (Pope). 
 
42 o  Agamemnon  and  Achilleus. 
 
 The  Greeks  now  sat  down  to  partake  of  the  banquet, 
 Achilleus  alone  refused  to  join  them.  There  was  no  rest  nor 
 peace  for  him  until  he  should  have  revenged  himself  in  the 
 field  upon  Hektor.  His  thoughts  were  ever  of  his  friend, 
 and  sad  and  touching  was  his  plaint  for  the  dead  : 
 
 "  Thou  too,  Patroclus  !  (thus  his  heart  he  vents) 
 Once  spread  the  inviting  banquet  in  our  tents  : 
 Thy  sweet  society,  thy  winning  care, 
 Once  stay'd  Achilles,  rushing  to  the  war. 
 But  now,  alas  !  to  death's  cold  arms  resign'd, 
 What  banquet  but  revenge  can  glad  my  mind  ? 
 What  greater  sorrow  could  afflict  my  breast, 
 Wrhat  more,  if  hoary  Peleus  were  deceased  ? 
 Who,  now,  perhaps,  in  Phthia  dreads  to  hear 
 His  son's  sad  fate,  and  drops  a  tender  tear. 
 What  more,  should  Neoptolemus  the  brave, 
 My  only  offspring,  sink  into  the  grave  ? " 
 
 Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xix.  (Pope). 
 
 In  pity  Zeus  looked  down  upon  the  sorrowing  one,  and 
 calling  Athene  to  his  side  said,  "  Is  Achilleus  then  no  longer 
 thy  care,  and  dost  thou  desert  him  who  is  so  great  in  war  ? 
 See,  while  others  satisfy  their  wants,  he  alone  refuses  rest 
 and  nourishment."  At  the  word  of  her  mighty  father  Pallas 
 quickly  descended  from  Olympos  and  strengthened  the  hero 
 with  nector  and  ambrosia,  that  thus  his  strength  might  not 
 fail  for  want  of  food.  Then  Achilleus  mounted  his  chariot, 
 and  went  forth  to  fight  for  the  Grecians. 
 
The  Heroic  Deeds  of  Achilleus.         42 1 
 
 XXXIII.— THE  HEROIC  DEEDS  OF 
 ACHILLEUS,. 
 
 While  the  Trojans  and  Greeks  were  assembling  in  battle 
 array,  Zeus  sent  Themis  to  call  the  gods  together,  and 
 gave  them  permission  to  help  both  sides,  for  as  Achilleus 
 was  now  going  to  take  part  in  the  war,  the  Trojans  would 
 be  lost  if  no  god  came  to  their  assistance.  Eagerly  the 
 divine  powers  descended  to  the  battle-field  :  Athene,  Hera, 
 Poseidon,  and  Hephaestos  were  in  the  Greek  ranks,  while 
 Ares,  Apollo,  Artemis,  Leto,  the  river  god  Xanthus,  and 
 Aphrodite,  took  part  with  the  Trojans,  who,  before  their 
 arrival,  trembled  with  fear  at  the  re-appearance  of  Achilleus. 
 
 When  the  Immortals  joined  the  fight  fierce  rage  and  anger 
 distorted  every  face,  and  Discord  sounded  loud  alarms,  as 
 the  two  nations  rushed  to  meet  each  other  in  the  field.  The 
 shores  trembled  at  Athene's  call,  and  as  Ares  hovered  over 
 Troy,  he  fired  each  Trojan  heart  with  fresh  courage.  Then 
 stern  Poseidon  shook  the  ground,  and  the  mountains 
 trembled  and  the  towers  of  Troy  tottered  at  his  frown. 
 
 While  the  gods  were  thus  exercising  their  powers, 
 Achilleus  sought  Hektor.  But  Apollo,  in  guise  of  a  Trojan, 
 encouraged  Aeneas  to  intercept  him.  Hera  saw  this,  and 
 called  to  Poseidon  and  Athene,  saying :  "  Here  comes 
 Aeneas,  we  must  drive  him  back,  or  defend  the  son  of 
 Peleus." 
 
 "  Not  so,"  answered  Poseidon,  "  let  them  fight  alone,  but 
 if  Ares  or  Apollo  help  Aeneas,  then  will  I  also  aid  Achilleus." 
 
 The  gods  therefore  seated  themselves  on  a  mount  to  look 
 on,  while  Achilleus  and  Aeneas  rushed  impetuously  at  each 
 other,   and   hurled   their   lances.     Neither   was   hit;   then 
 
422  The  Heroic  Deeds  of  Achilleus. 
 
 Achilleus  drew  his  sword,  and  Aeneas  raised  a  huge  stone 
 which  no  two  other  men  could  have  lifted.  Poseidon  saw 
 that  Aeneas  was  in  danger  from  Achilleus'  sword,  and  said. 
 "  I  have  compassion  on  him,  for  it  was  Apollo  who  beguiled 
 him  into  this  strait.  Now  I  will  therefore  save  him,"  and 
 placing  himself  behind  Aeneas,  he  spread  thick  dark- 
 ness before  the  eyes  of  Achilleus,  and  with  divine  power 
 carried  Aeneas  under  cover  of  it  to  the  rear  of  the  Trojan 
 camp.  "  What  unseen  force,"  he  said,  "  urged  thee  to  meet 
 Achilleus  on  the  plain  ?  If  thou  wouldst  live,  henceforth 
 avoid  him  with  all  thy  care." 
 
 Then  the  god  removed  the  mist  from  before  the  eyes  of 
 Achilleus,  and  the  latter,  to  his  amazement,  found  that 
 Aeneas  had  escaped  him.  Now,  Hektor,  filled  with  martial 
 ardour,  hurried  forth  to  meet  Achilleus,  but  Apollo  warned 
 him  back,  and  concealed  him  in  the  midst  of  the  Trojan 
 host.  With  a  wild  shout  the  son  of  Peleus  rushed  into 
 their  midst,  wounding  and  slaying  wherever  he  went. 
 Among  the  victims  to  his  arms  was  Polydore,  Priam's 
 youngest  and  most  beloved  son.  The  Greek  pierced  him 
 through  with  his  lance,  so  that  he  fell  to  the  ground  with  a 
 terrible  cry.  When  Hektor  saw  this,  he  was  unable  to 
 contain  himself  any  longer.  Fiercely  he  rushed  at  his 
 brother's  murderer,  who  rejoiced  greatly  when  at  length  he 
 beheld  before  him  his  hated  foe. 
 
 "Come  and  receive  thy  fate,"  he  cried  scornfully. 
 
 But  Hektor  answered:  "Why  waste  vain  words?  I 
 know  thou  art  braver  and  stronger  than  I,  but  perchance 
 the  gods  may  guide  my  hand  to  take  thy  life,"  and  launched 
 his  javelin  at  him.  Pallas,  however,  blew  the  shaft  aside,  so 
 that  it  fell  harmlessly  at  his  feet ;  and  then,  when  Achilleus 
 with  a  furious  cry  rushed  to  close  on  the  Trojan  prince, 
 Apollo  withdrew  him  from  his  reach,  and  enveloped  him 
 
The  Heroic  Deeds  of  Achilleus.  423 
 
 in  a  thick  mist.  Four  times  Achilleus  plunged  his  dart  in 
 vain  into  the  cloud,  and  at  last  he  cried  out  angrily :  "  This 
 time  thou  mayest  escape  me,  but  we  shall  meet  again,  and 
 then  thou  shalt  not  evade  thy  doom.  Meantime,  many 
 Trojans  shall  pay  for  thine  escape." 
 
 He  turned  again  to  the  field  of  battle,  and  chief  after 
 chief  fell  beneath  his  sword,  until  many  of  the  Trojans  fled 
 in  terror  before  him,  and  threw  themselves  into  the  waters 
 of  Xanthos.  Achilleus  still  pursued  them,  and  leaping  from 
 his  chariot  continued  his  slaughter  until  the  waters  were 
 red  with  the  blood  of  his  enemies.  At  length  his  arm 
 began  to  weary,  and  he  dragged  twelve  Trojan  youths  alive 
 to  land,  bound  them  and  sent  them  to  the  ships  as  destined 
 victims  to  the  shade  of  Patroklos.  Lycaon,  son  of  Priam, 
 unarmed,  now  raised  himself  out  of  the  water,  and  on  per- 
 ceiving Achilleus  went  towards  him  and  fell  at  his  knees, 
 crying  entreatingly  :  "  Spare  my  life,  great  son  of  Peleus  ! 
 My  brother  Polydore  thou  hast  slain,  but  oh,  have  pity  upon 
 me  !     I  am  no  real  brother  to  Hektor  who  slew  thy  friend." 
 
 But  mercilessly  Achilleus  answered  :  "  Speak  not  to  me  of 
 sparing  life.  Before  Patroklos  fell  I  too  was  well  inclined 
 to  spare  the  Trojans,  but  now  all  sue  in  vain  to  me,  yet  less 
 when  it  is  one  of  Priam's  house.  Thou  must  therefore  die. 
 but  why  deplore  thy  fate  ?  Is  not  Patroklos  also  dead  ? 
 And  look  on  me,  strong,  mighty  as  I  am,  my  doom  is  near, 
 a  speedy  death  awaits  me." 
 
 Once  again  Lycaon  lifted  his  arms  in  entreaty,  but 
 Achilleus  raised  his  sword  and  plunged  it  into  his  neck,  and  as 
 he  sank  down  lifeless  at  his  feet  he  flung  the  body  scornfully 
 back  into  the  water.  "  Lie  there,"  he  said,  "  as  food  for  the 
 fishes.  May  no  mother  mourn  thee,  but  let  the  swift  waters 
 of  the  stream  carry  thee  out  into  the  open  sea."  Several 
 others  fell  beneath  his  hand,  when  at  length  the  river-god 
 
424  The  Heroic  Deeds  of  Achilleus. 
 
 Xanthos  raised  his  mighty  voice  and  rebuked  him  for  having 
 thus  polluted  his  waters  with  blood:  they  were  so  choked 
 with  the  bodies  of  the  dead  that  they  could  scarcely  go 
 down  to  join  the  sea.  And  when  Achilleus  would  not  stay 
 his  hand,  the  waters  began  to  rise  and  boil  wildly  round  the 
 hero.  He  tried  to  reach  the  shore  again,  but  the  angry 
 waves  threw  him  back  with  great  force  and  threatened 
 completely  to  overwhelm  him. 
 
 Achilleus  feeling  his  strength  ebbing  away  prayed  anxiously 
 to  heaven  :  "O  mighty  Jove  !  is  there  no  god  who  will  save 
 me  from  such  a  death  !  Had  I  fallen  by  the  hand  of  Hektor 
 I  should  at  least  have  died  like  a  hero,  by  a  hero's  hand ; 
 but  it  were  a  shameful  death  to  be  thus  drowned, 
 1  Like  some  vile  swain,  whom  on  a  rainy  day, 
 Crossing  a  ford,  the  torrent  sweeps  away.' " 
 
 — Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xxi. 
 
 As  he  spoke  Poseidon  and  Athene  appeared  beside  him 
 in  human  form,  and  taking  his  hand  the  God  of  Ocean 
 said :  "  Fear  not,  Achilleus !  we  have  come  by  Jove's 
 command  to  succour  thee.  Thou  art  not  destined  thus  to 
 die.  Thou  hast  still  to  fight  bravely  until  Hektor  has  fallen 
 beneath  thine  arm,  and  the  Trojans  are  driven  back  into 
 their  town.     After  that  thou  canst  retire  to  the  ships." 
 
 So  saying  they  left  him,  and  he,  filled  with  fresh  strength, 
 battled  bravely  with  the  ever-increasing  fury  of  the  waters, 
 for  Xanthos  followed  him  with  angry  roars,  spreading  his 
 billows  wide  over  the  banks  on  each  side.  Then  Hera  per- 
 ceived Achilleus'  need,  and  hastily  rising  said  to  Hephaes- 
 tos  :  "  Surely  thy  power,  O  God  of  Fire,  is  greater  than 
 that  of  Xanthos  !  Hasten  then,  and  whilst  I  call  the  south 
 and  west  winds  to  my  aid,  send  thou  thy  flaming  red  torrent 
 along  the  banks  of  Xanthos  that  the  waters  may  he  dried, 
 and  the  Trojans,  both  men  and  arms,  be  burned." 
 
The  Heroic  Deeds  of  Achillcus.  425 
 
 Hephaestos,  obeying  the  queen  of  Heaven,  poured  forth  a 
 fiery  stream,  which  first  did  its  work  on  the  plain,  burning 
 the  dead,  and  then  attacked  the  banks  of  the  stream  itself, 
 where  trees,  plants,  grass,  and  even  the  waters  fell  a  prey  to  its 
 all-devouring  fury.  The  fishes  began  to  pant  for  breath,  the 
 eels  lay  withering  in  the  mud,  until  at  length  the  river-god 
 reared  his  languid  head  and  anxiously  besought  him  to 
 withdraw  the  angry  flames,  for  the  waters  were  now  at 
 boiling  point.  Still,  however,  the  conflagration  continued, 
 and  the  waters  hissed  and  bubbled  in  the  fierce  embrace  of 
 the  circling  fires. 
 
 Then  Xanthos  appealed  to  Hera  :  "  Why  does  thy  son 
 thus  torture  me,  oh,  mighty  goddess?  I  have  done  no 
 more  than  the  other  gods  in  siding  with  the  Trojans,  but  if 
 thou  layest  thy  commands  on  me,  I  will  return  quietly  to  my 
 bed.  Only  let  Hephaestos  leave  me  in  peace."  Then  Hera 
 had  compassion  on  him,  and  commanded  her  son  no  longer 
 to  torment  the  river-god,  but  to  withdraw  his  fire,  and  soon 
 the  stream  regained  its  wonted  aspect. 
 
 Now  strife  broke  out  afresh  among  the  gods.  Zeus  heard 
 the  tumult  from  where  he  sat  on  distant  Olympus,  and 
 his  heart  laughed  within  him  as  he  beheld  them  arming 
 for  the  fray.  Ares  and  Aphrodite  strove  with  Athene; 
 Poseidon  challenged  Apollo,  but  the  latter  refused  to  fight 
 with  him  on  behalf  of  mortals.  When  Artemis  heard  this, 
 she  upbraided  her  brother  and  tried  to  incite  him  to  take 
 up  the  contest.  Then  Hera  came  and  ill-treated  Artemis, 
 while  Achilleus  raged  over  the  battle-field  and  laid  many  a 
 Trojan  low. 
 
426  The  Death  of  Hektor. 
 
 XXXIV. — THE  DEATH  OF  HEKTOR. 
 
 Seated  on  the  battlements  of  Troy,  Priam  watched  the 
 fray  from  afar.  Seeing  that  the  tide  of  battle  was  turning 
 against  his  people,  he  commanded  the  warders  to  open  wide 
 the  gates,  so  that  the  flying  Trojans  might  save  themselves. 
 But  as  soon  as  they  were  safely  in,  the  gates  were  to  be 
 again  locked. 
 
 Achilleus  pressed  hotly  on  the  retreating  fugitives,  and 
 none  dared  oppose  him  save  only  Agenor,  who  awaited 
 him  with  firm  tread,  and  as  he  came  up  flung  his  javelin  at 
 him.  But  although  it  rang  against  his  armour  it  did  not 
 pierce  through,  and  Achilleus  rushed  fiercely  to  attack  his 
 daring  foe,  when  Apollo  hid  the  Trojan  hero  in  a  thick 
 mist,  and  himself  assuming  the  guise  of  Agenor,  fled  before 
 the  Greek.  Achilleus  followed  in  pursuit,  and  thus  the  god 
 led  him  further  and  further  from  the  walls  of  Troy,  enabling 
 the  Trojans  to  enter  their  city  in  safety. 
 
 When  Apollo  had  led  the  hero  far  enough,  he  turned 
 round  and  cried  to  him :  "  Why  followest  thou  me  thus, 
 Achilleus  ?  dost  thou  not  know  that  I  am  a  god  ?  See,  thou 
 hast  allowed  the  Trojans  to  return  to  Troy." 
 
 Incensed,  Achilleus  answered  him  :  "  Merciless  god  !  why 
 hast  thou  thus  deceived  me  ?  how  gladly  would  I  fight  thee  if 
 I  dared,"  and  as  he  spoke  he  turned  his  steps  again  towards 
 the  city. 
 
 King  Priam  was  the  first  to  see  him,  and  lifting  his  feeble 
 aged  arms,  sadly  he  cried  to  Hektor  who  was  awaiting  the 
 Grecian  hero  at  the  Scaean  gate  : 
 
 "  *  Ah,  stay  not,  stay  not  !  guardless  and  alone  ; 
 Hector  !  my  loved,  my  dearest,  bravest  son  ! 
 
The  Death  of  Hektor.  427 
 
 Methinks  already  I  behold  thee  slain, 
 
 And  stretch'd  beneath  that  fury  of  the  plain. 
 
 .     .     .     Shun  Achilles  !  enter  yet  the  wall  ; 
 And  spare  thyself,  thy  father,  spare  us  all  ! 
 Save  thy  dear  life  ;  or,  if  a  soul  so  brave 
 Neglect  that  thought,  thy  dearer  glory  save. 
 Pity,  while  yet  I  live,  these  silver  hairs  ; 
 While  yet  thy  father  feels  the  woes  he  bears, 
 Yet  cursed  with  sense  !  a  wretch,  whom  in  his  rage 
 (All  trembling  on  the  verge  of  helpless  age) 
 Great  Jove  has  placed,  sad  spectacle  of  pain  ! 
 The  bitter  dregs  of  fortune's  cup  to  drain  : 
 To  fill  with  scenes  of  death  his  closing  eyes, 
 And  number  all  his  days  by  miseries. ' " 
 
 — Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xxii.  (Pope). 
 
 And  the  old  man  tore  his  grey  hairs  with  anguish.  Hekabe, 
 too,  added  her  entreaties,  and  begged  her  noble  son  in 
 touching  words  not  to  go  forth  again.  But  Hektor  was 
 resolved  to  meet  Achilleus,  and  heeded  not  the  words  of  his 
 parents  :  "How  could  I  now  re-enter  the  town?  Would  not 
 every  Trojan  and  his  wife  point  at  me  the  finger  of  scorn  ? 
 No,  with  courage  will  I  go  forth  to  meet  Achilleus,  either  to 
 conquer  or  to  die." 
 
 Nearer  and  nearer  approached  the  mighty  Greek,  on  his 
 shoulder  rested  the  deadly  Pelean  javelin,  and  his  glorious 
 armour  shone  like  the  rising  sun.  Sudden  fear  took  posses- 
 sion of  Hektor's  heart  at  the  sight,  and  struck  by  some 
 unseen  god,  he  turned  and  fled  : 
 
 "  Achilles  follows  like  the  winged  wind. 
 Thus  at  the  panting  dove  a  falcon  flies 
 (The  swiftest  racer  of  the  liquid  skies), 
 Just  when  he  holds,  or  thinks  he  holds  his  prey, 
 Obliquely  wheeling  through  the  aerial  way, 
 
428  The  Death  of  Hektor. 
 
 With  open  beak  and  shrilling  cries  he  springs, 
 And  aims  his  claws,  and  shoots  upon  his  wings  : 
 No  less  fore-sight  the  rapid  chase  they  held, 
 One  urged  by  fury,  one  by  fear  impelled  : 
 Now  circling  round  the  walls  their  course  maintain 
 Where  the  high  watch-tower  overlooks  the  plain. 
 .     .     .     they  pass'd,  one  chasing,  one  in  flight  : 
 (The  mighty  fled,  pursued  by  stronger  might  :) 
 Swift  was  the  course  ;  no  vulgar  prize  they  play, 
 No  vulgar  victim  must  reward  the  day  : 
 (Such  as  in  races  crown  the  speedy  strife  :) 
 The  prize  contended  was  great  Hector's  life.  .  .  . 
 Thus  three  times  round  the  Trojan  wall  they  fly, 
 The  gazing  gods  lean  forward  from  the  sky." 
 
 — Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xxii.  (Pope). 
 
 And  thus  exclaimed  great  Jove :  "  Alas  !  I  behold  great 
 Hektor,  beloved  of  heaven,  driven  ingloriously  round  the 
 city  walls  !  my  heart  bleeds  for  him,  thus  chased  by  fierce 
 Achilleus.  Sacrifices  without  number  has  he  ever  brought  to 
 us.  What  say  ye,  gods,  shall  we  save  his  life,  or  must  he 
 perish  by  the  hand  of  the  son  of  Peleus  1 " 
 
 Sternly  Athene  answered  :  "  How  canst  thou  question 
 thus?  wouldst  thou  put  forth  thy  hand  to  save  a  man 
 already  claimed  by  death  ?  Then,  indeed,  may  the  other 
 gods  call  thee  partial  with  good  cause." 
 
 "  Rest  contented,  my  daughter,"  answered  her  mighty  sire, 
 "  I  meant  it  not  in  earnest.  Carry  out  thy  will ;  the  Fates 
 must  have  their  way."  And  not  waiting  any  further  com- 
 mands, Athene  hurried  down  to  earth  from  Mount 
 Olympos. 
 
 Meanwhile  Achilleus  still  held  closely  after  his  foe,  and  as 
 often  as  Hektor  tried  to  approach  the  walls  of  Troy,  the 
 towering  form  of  the  Greek  stood  between  him  and  them. 
 He  must  have  sunk  at  last  with  fatigue,  had  not  Phoebos 
 
The  Death  of  Hektor.  429 
 
 Apollo  strengthened  his  failing  knees.  A  fourth  time  they 
 passed  round  the  city ;  and  now  on  the  heights  above  the 
 plain, 
 
 "Jove  lifts  the  golden  balances,  that  show 
 The  fates  of  mortal  men  and  things  below  : 
 Here  each  contending  hero's  lot  he  tries, 
 And  weighs  with  equal  hand  their  destinies. 
 Low  sinks  the  scale  surcharged  with  Hector's  fate, 
 Heavy  with  death  it  sinks,  and  hell  receives  the  weight. 
 Then  Phoebus  left  him." 
 
 — Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xxii.  (Pope). 
 
 And  the  shadow  of  death  began  to  steal  over  the  great 
 champion  of  Troy. 
 
 Now  Athene  appeared  to  Achilleus  :  "  No  longer  can 
 Hektor  escape  thee,  brave  Pelides,"  she  cried,  "  stay  there- 
 fore and  rest  thyself,  while  I  go  to  urge  him  on  to  fight  with 
 thee  and  meet  his  fate." 
 
 Achilleus  obeyed,  and  rested  on  his  lance,  while  Pallas  in 
 the  form  of  one  of  Hektor's  brothers  came  to  him  and 
 said :  "  Alas !  my  brother,  I  have  watched  Achilleus  press 
 thee,  till  I  could  no  longer  bear  the  sight.  But  now 
 together  let  us  take  our  stand  and  fight  him."  Hektor 
 answered  him  :  "  O  Prince  !  ever  hast  thou  been  dearer  to 
 me  than  all  my  brothers,  now  will  I  honour  thee  above  all 
 the  rest,  for  thou  alone  hast  come  forth  and  endangered 
 thy  life  to  save  mine." 
 
 Then  Pallas  led  the  noble  Trojan  on,  until  she  brought 
 him  face  to  face  with  Achilleus,  and  when  they  met,  Hektor 
 thus  addressed  his  foe  :  "  No  longer  do  I  fly  thee,  Achilleus  ! 
 some  god  has  given  me  fresh  courage  to  try  thy  fate  and 
 mine.  I  must  either  kill  thee  or  die.  But  let  us  first  make 
 a  vow  unto  the  gods  that  whoever  shall  remain  victor  will 
 return  the  body  of  his  foe  in  honour  to  his  friends." 
 
430  The  Death  of  Hektor. 
 
 "  Talk  not  of  oaths  (the  dreadful  chief  replies, 
 While  anger  flash'd  from  his  disdainful  eyes), 
 Detested  as  thou  art  and  ought  to  be, 
 Nor  oath  nor  pact  Achilles  plights  with  thee, 
 Such  pacts  as  lambs  and  rabid  wolves  combine, 
 Such  leagues  as  men  and  furious  lions  join, 
 To  such  I  call  the  gods  !  one  constant  state 
 Of  lasting  rancour  and  eternal  hate  : 
 No  thought  but  rage  and  never-ceasing  strife, 
 Till  death  extinguish  rage,  and  thought  and  life. 
 Rouse  then  thy  forces  this  important  hour, 
 Collect  thy  soul,  and  call  forth  all  thy  power. 
 No  further  subterfuge,  no  further  chance  ; 
 'Tis  Pallas,  Pallas  gives  thee  to  my  lance. 
 Each  Grecian  ghost,  by  thee  deprived  of  breath, 
 Now  hovers  round,  and  calls  thee  to  thy  death.' " 
 
 — Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xxii.  (Pope). 
 
 He  spoke,  and  raising  his  javelin,  hurled  it  at  his  foe,  but 
 Hektor  dropped  quickly  on  his  knees,  so  that  the  weapon 
 flew  harmlessly  beyond  him.  Athene  returned  it  quickly, 
 unseen  by  Hektor,  who  cried  : 
 
 "  '  The  life  you  boasted  to  that  javelin  given; 
 
 Prince  !  you  have  missed.     My  fate  depends  on  heaven. 
 
 So  then,  presumptuous  as  thou  art,  unknown 
 
 Of  what  must  prove  my  fortune,  or  thy  own 
 
 Boasting  is  but  an  art,  our  fears  to  blind, 
 
 And  with  false  terrors  sink  another's  mind. 
 
 But  know,  whatever  fate  I  am  to  try, 
 
 By  no  dishonest  wound  shall  Hector  die. 
 
 I  shall  not  fall  a  fugitive  at  least, 
 
 My  soul  shall  bravely  issue  from  my  breast. 
 
 But  first,  try  thou  my  arm  ;  and  may  this  dart 
 
 End  all  my  country's  woes,  deep  buried  in  thy  heart.'  " 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xxii.  (Pope). 
 
 Straight  flew  the  weapon   into  Achilleus'  shield,  but  it 
 
The  Death  of  Hcktor.  431 
 
 bounded  off  and  struck  the  ground.  Vexed  that  his  lance 
 had  missed,  the  Trojan  prince  turned  to  ask  his  brother  for 
 another,  but  he  beheld  no  one ;  and  now  feeling  that  he  had 
 been  deceived,  he  sadly  exclaimed  : 
 
 "  "Tis  so. Heaven  wills  it,  and  my  hour  is  nigh, 
 
 I  deemed  Deiphobus  had  heard  my  call, 
 
 But  he  secure  lies  guarded  in  the  wall. 
 
 A  god  deceived  me  ;  Pallas,  'twas  thy  deed, 
 
 Death  and  black  fate  approach  !  'tis  I  must  bleed. 
 
 No  refuge  now,  no  succour  from  above, 
 
 Great  Jove  deserts  me,  and  the  son  of  Jove, 
 
 Propitious  once,  and  kind  !  then  welcome  fate  ! 
 
 'Tis  true  I  perish,  yet  I  perish  great : 
 
 Yet  in  a  mighty  deed  I  shall  expire, 
 
 Let  future  ages  hear  it,  and  admire  ! ' " 
 
 — Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xxii.  (Pope). 
 
 Then  drawing  his  weighty  sword  he  rushed  on  Achilleus. 
 But  the  son  of  Peleus  raised  his  shield,  and  swinging  his 
 lance  through  the  air,  pierced  Hektor  in  the  throat  between 
 the  joints  of  his  armour,  and  the  fatal  weapon,  well-directed, 
 went  right  through  him.  Mortally  wounded  he  fell  to  the 
 ground,  while  Achilleus  cried  in  triumph  ; 
 
 " '  At  last  is  Hector  stretch'd  upon  the  plain, 
 Who  fear'd  no  vengeance  for  Patroclus  slain  : 
 Then,  prince  !  you  should  have  feared,  what  now  you  feel ; 
 Achilles  absent  was  Achilles  still : 
 Yet  a  short  space  the  great  avenger  stayed, 
 Then  low  in  dust  thy  strength  and  glory  laid. 
 Peaceful  he  sleeps,  with  all  our  rites  adorn'd, 
 For  ever  honour'd  and  for  ever  mourn'd  : 
 While  cast  to  all  the  rage  of  hostile  power, 
 The  birds  shall  mangle,  and  the  gods  devour.' " 
 
 — Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xxii.  (Pope). 
 
43  2  The  Death  of  He k tor. 
 
 Fast  failed  the  strength  of  Hektor,  and  faintly  he  replied  : 
 " '  By  thy  own  soul  !  by  those  who  gave  thee  breath  ! 
 
 By  all  the  sacred  prevalence  of  prayer  ; 
 
 Ah,  leave  me  not  for  Grecian  dogs  to  tear  ! 
 
 The  common  rites  of  sepulture  bestow, 
 
 To  soothe  a  father's  and  a  mother's  woe  ; 
 
 Let  their  large  gifts  procure  an  urn  at  least, 
 
 And  Hector's  ashes  in  his  country  rest/" 
 
 — Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xxii.  (Pope). 
 
 But  deadly  hatred  still  filled  the  heart  of  Achilleus,  and  he 
 answered  relentlessly,  his  eyes  flashing  : 
 
 "  '  No,  wretch  accursed  !     .     .     . 
 Not  those  who  gave  me  breath  should  bid  me  spare, 
 Nor  all  the  sacred  prevalence  of  prayer. 
 Could  I  myself  the  bloody  banquet  join  ! 
 No — to  the  dogs  that  carcase  I  resign. 
 Should  Troy,  to  bribe  me,  bring  forth  ail  her  store, 
 And  giving  thousands,  offer  thousands  more  ; 
 Should  Dardan  Priam,  and  his  weeping  dame, 
 Drain  their  whole  realm  to  buy  one  funeral  flame  ; 
 Their  Hector  on  the  pile  they  should  not  see, 
 Nor  rob  the  vultures  of  one  limb  of  thee.'  " 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xxii.  (Pope). 
 Once  more  Hektor  spoke,  while  his  life-blood  reddened 
 the  ground  : 
 
 "  '  Thy  rage,  implacable  !  too  well  I  knew  ; 
 The  furies  that  relentless  breast  have  steel'd, 
 And  cursed  thee  with  a  heart  that  cannot  yield. 
 Yet  think,  a  day  will  come,  when  fate's  decree 
 And  angry  gods  shall  wreak  this  wrong  on  thee ; 
 Phoebus  and  Paris  shall  avenge  my  fate, 
 And  stretch  thee  here  before  the  Scaean  gate.' " 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xvii.  (Pope). 
 Then  he  sank  back  lifeless,  and  his  spirit  winged  its  way 
 to  the  dark  realms  of  death. 
 
Lament  for  Hektor.  43 
 
 00 
 
 XXXV. — LAMENT  FOR  HEKTOR. 
 
 Not  yet  was  the  vengeance  of  Achilleus  accomplished. 
 He  drew  the  bloody  lance  from  the  wound,  and  stripped  the 
 armour  from  the  body,  while  all  the  Greeks  came  thronging 
 round,  and  gazed  with  wonder  and  astonishment  at  the 
 powerful  frame  and  manly  beauty  of  the  dead  hero.  Then 
 Achilleus  pierced  his  heels,  and  having  passed  through  them 
 a  leathern  thong,  fastened  the  body  thus  to  his  chariot,  into 
 which  he  at  once  leapt  and  drove  quickly  off. 
 
 Fast  flew  the  immortal  steeds  over  the  ground,  the  dust 
 rising  in  a  cloud,  and  covering  with  earth  and  blood  all  that 
 remained  of  the  noble  Trojan.  Fearful  was  the  spectacle 
 for  the  agonized  parents,  who  had  witnessed  the  whole  scene 
 from  the  city  walls.  Hekabe  tore  her  hair,  and  throwing 
 aside  her  veil,  called  piteously  for  her  son  ;  even  Priam  him- 
 self could  not  restrain  his  tears,  and  the  cries  and  lamenta- 
 tions of  the  whole  city  rose  up  to  heaven.  It  was  with 
 difficulty  that  the  old  king  was  withheld  from  rushing  out  at 
 the  gate  and  demanding  the  body  of  his  son  from  Achilleus. 
 Hekabe  surrounded  by  her  maidens  wailed  aloud  : 
 
 "  '  Ah,  why  has  heaven  prolong'd  this  hated  breath, 
 Patient  of  horrors,  to  behold  thy  death  ? 
 O  Hector  !  late  thy  parent's  pride  and  joy, 
 The  boast  of  nations  !  the  defence  of  Troy  ! 
 To  whom  her  safety  and  her  fame  she  owed  ; 
 Her  chief,  her  hero,  and  almost  her  god  ! 
 O  fatal  change  !  become  in  one  sad  day 
 A  senseless  corse  !  inanimated  clay  ! '  " 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xxii 
 
 As  yet  Andromache  knew  not  of  her  beloved  husband's 
 2  E 
 
434  Lament  J "or  Hektor. 
 
 death.  She  sat  working  a  beautiful  garment  for  him,  and  had 
 commanded  her  handmaidens  quickly  to  heat  water,  and 
 prepare  a  bath  for  Hektor  on  his  return  from  the  battle-field. 
 Suddenly  the  cries  and  lamentations  of  the  people  reached 
 her  ears  from  without.  The  shuttle  fell  from  her  hands,  and 
 she  cried  to  her  attendants  :  "  Oh  !  quickly  follow  me.  I 
 must  away  to  hear  what  has  chanced ;  surely  it  is  my  mother's 
 voice  I  hear  amid  the  cries.  Painfully  my  heart  beats,  my 
 trembling  knees  refuse  to  carry  me.  Alas  !  alas  !  I  fear  me 
 that  some  strange  disaster  has  overtaken  Priam's  son." 
 
 Fear  and  terror  lent  her  wings,  and  with  a  face  of  anguish 
 the  noble  matron  fled  wildly  through  the  streets,  followed 
 by  her  attendants.  When  at  length  she  gained  the  tower, 
 gazed  down  upon  the  battle-field,  and  there  beheld  the  body 
 of  her  husband  dragged  across  the  plain  by  the  fleet  steeds 
 of  Achilleus, 
 
 "  A  sudden  darkness  overspread  her  eyes  ; 
 
 Backward  she  fell,  and  gasped  her  soul  away." 
 
 Long  she  lay  in  this  deathlike  swoon,  and  when  she  re- 
 covered consciousness,  only  moaned  in  a  broken  voice  : 
 
 "  '  Ö  wretched  husband  of  a  wretched  wife  ! 
 Born  with  one  fate,  to  one  unhappy  life  !     .     .     . 
 Thou  to  the  dismal  realms  for  ever  gone  ! 
 And  I  abandoned,  desolate,  alone  ! 
 An  only  child,  once  comfort  of  my  pains, 
 Sad  product  now  of  hapless  love,  remains  ! 
 No  more  to  smile  upon  his  sire  ;  no  friend 
 To  help  him  now  !  no  father  to  defend  ! 
 For  should  he  'scape  the  sword,  the  common  doom, 
 What  wrongs  attend  him,  and  what  griefs  to  come  ! 
 Even  from  his  own  paternal  roof  expell'd, 
 Some  stranger  ploughs  his  patrimonial  field. 
 He,  who,  with  tender  delicacy  bred, 
 
mai 
 
 Burial  of  Pair  ok  los.  435 
 
 With  princes  sported,  and  on  dainties  fed, 
 And  when  still  evening  gave  him  up  to  rest, 
 Sunk  soft  in  down  upon  the  nurse's  breast, 
 Must — ah  what  must  he  not  ?     Whom  thou  calls 
 Astyanax,  from  her  well-guarded  walls, 
 Is  now  that  name  no  more,  unhappy  boy  ! 
 Since  now  no  more  thy  father  guards  his  Troy. 
 But  thou  my  Hector,  liest  exposed  in  air, 
 Far  from  thy  parents'  and  thy  consort's  care  ; 
 Whose  hand  in  vain,  directed  by  her  love, 
 The  martial  scarf  and  robe  of  triumph  wove. 
 Now  to  devouring  flames  be  these  a  prey, 
 Useless  to  thee,  from  this  accursed  day  ! 
 Yet  let  the  sacrifice  at  least  be  paid, 
 An  honour  to  the  living,  not  the  dead  ! ;  " 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xxii.  (Pope). 
 
 Thu     tearfully   spoke  noble   Andromache,  and   all   her 
 idens  joined  in  her  grief. 
 
 XXXVI.— BURIAL   OF   PATROKLOS. 
 
 Achilleus  had  now  reached  the  camp  with  the  body  of 
 Hektor,  and  at  once  proceeded  to  do  honour  to  the  memory 
 of  Patroklos.  Three  times  he  and  his  companions  drove 
 lamenting  round  the  dead  body,  then  laying  his  hands  on 
 the  cold  breast  of  his  friend,  the  great  Grecian  hero  thus 
 spoke  :  "  Rejoice,  O  Patroklos,  even  in  the  depths  of  Pluto's 
 kingdom.  I  have  redeemed  my  promise,  and  Hektor's 
 bleeding  corpse  now  lies  at  thy  feet.  It  shall  be  given  a 
 prey  to  the  dogs,  while  twelve  noble  Trojans  are  to  be 
 sacrificed  to  thy  honour." 
 
 Innumerable  oxen,  sheep,  and  goats  were  slaughtered, 
 after  which  they  all  sat  down  and  partook  of  a  rich  banquet. 
 
436  Burial  of  Patroklos. 
 
 When  Achilleus  left  his  companions  he  lay  down  on  the 
 shore  to  rest,  soothed  by  the  murmurs  of  the  rolling  deep; 
 his  heart  was  still  filled  with  grief,  and  in  his  dreams  the 
 spirit  of  Patroklos  came  to  him  and  thus  addressed  him : 
 "  Hast  thou  no  longer  any  thoughts  for  me,  Achilleus  ? 
 Thou  who  wast  more  than  brother  to  me  in  life  ?  O  hasten 
 to  lay  me  beneath  the  ground,  that  I  may  enter  the  abode 
 of  Hades,  for  now  the  other  spectres  chase  me  back,  and 
 will  not  grant  me  access  to  the  stream.  Thus  I  wander 
 hopelessly  outside  the  gates  of  Pluto's  kingdom. 
 
 "  '  Now  give  thy  hand  ;  for  to  the  farther  shore 
 When  once  we  pass,  the  soul  returns  no  more  : 
 When  once  the  last  funereal  flames  ascend, 
 No  more  shall  meet  Achilles  and  his  friend  ; 
 No  more  our  thoughts  to  those  we  loved  make  known, 
 Or  quit  the  dearest,  to  converse  alone. 
 Me  fate  has  sever'd  from  the  sons  of  earth, 
 The  fate  fore-doomed  that  waited  from  my  birth  : 
 Thee  too  it  waits  ;  before  the  Trojan  wall 
 Even  great  and  godlike  thou  art  doom'd  to  fall.' " 
 
 — Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xxiii.  (Pope). 
 
 One  boon  yet  I  crave  of  thee ;  that  thou  wilt  bury  my 
 bones  beside  thine  own,  for  ever  since  thy  father  brought 
 me  as  a  child  to  his  castle,  have  we  been  true  companions 
 in  arms,  now  therefore  in  death  let  us  share  one  grave." 
 
 Faithfully  Achilleus  promised  to  do  all  that  he  asked, 
 and  lovingly  he  stretched  forth  his  arms  to  embrace  his 
 friend,  but 
 
 "  Like  thin  smoke,  he  sees  the  spirit  fly, 
 And  hears  a  feeble,  lamentable  cry." 
 
 — Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xxiii. 
 
 Morning  came,  and  large  quantities  of  wood  were  cut 
 down  by  command  of  Agamemnon  in  the  forest,  and  a 
 
Burial  of  P  at  r  ok  los.  437 
 
 funeral  pile  erected.  Then  the  burial  rites  commenced.  In 
 long  procession  came,  first  the  chariots,  then  the  legions  on 
 foot,  and  lastly  the  friends  of  the  dead  warrior  carrying  the 
 body,  while  Achilleus  himself  held  the  head. 
 
 When  they  arrived  at  the  burial  place,  the  son  of  Peleus 
 cut  off  his  long  locks  of  hair,  and  having  dedicated  them  to 
 the  dead,  placed  them  between  the  hands  of  his  friend,  and 
 then  the  body  was  placed  on  the  top  of  a  funeral  pile,  1 00 
 feet  in  circumference,  and  covered  with  the  fat  of  the  various 
 animals  that  were  laid  round.  Beakers  filled  with  oil  and 
 honey  were  placed  at  the  side,  and  Achilleus  laid  on  the  top 
 twelve  horses,  two  of  his  favourite  dogs,  and  lastly  the 
 bodies  of  the  twelve  Trojan  youths  whom  he  had  slain. 
 Then  setting  fire  to  the  whole,  he  cried  : 
 
 "  '  All  hail,  Patroclus  !  let  thy  vengeful  ghost 
 Hear,  and  exult,  on  Pluto's  dreary  coast. 
 Behold  Achilles'  promise  fully  paid, 
 Twelve  Trojan  heroes  offer'd  to  thy  shade ; 
 But  heavier  fates  on  Hector's  corse  attend, 
 Saved  from  the  flames,  for  hungry  dogs  to  rend.' " 
 
 — Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xxiii.  (Pope). 
 
 But  this  wish  was  not  fulfilled,  for  Aphrodite  drove  away 
 the  dogs  from  Hektor's  body,  and  anointed  it  with  fragrant 
 unguents  to  preserve  it,  while  Apollo  drew  a  thick  cloud 
 over  it,  to  protect  it  from  the  scorching  rays  of  the  sun. 
 
 Achilleus  next  offered  sacrifices  to  Zephyr  and  Boreas, 
 begging  them  to  increase  the  force  of  the  flames.  Iris, 
 hearing  his  prayer,  hurried  off  to  the  dwelling  of  the  winds, 
 
 "  Where,  in  old  Zephyr's  open  courts  on  high, 
 Sat  all  the  blustering  brethren  of  the  sky. 
 She  shone  amidst  them,  on  her  painted  bow  ; 
 The  rocky  pavement  glitter'd  with  the  show. 
 All  from  the  banquet  rise,  and  each  invites 
 
438  Bu7'ial  of  Pa  troklos. 
 
 The  various  goddess  to  partake  the  rites. 
 
 '  Not  so  (the  dame  replied),  I  haste  to  go 
 To  sacred  ocean,  and  the  floods  below.  .   .  . 
 But  Peleus'  son  entreats,  with  sacrifice, 
 The  western  spirit,  and  the  north,  to  rise  ! 
 Let  on  Patroclus'  pile  your  blast  be  driven, 
 And  bear  the  blazing  honours  high  to  heaven.' 
 
 Swift  as  the  word  she  vanish'd  from  their  view  ; 
 Swift  as  the  word  the  winds  tumultuous  flew  ; 
 Forth  burst  the  stormy  band  with  thundering  roar, 
 And  heaps  on  heaps  the  clouds  are  toss'd  before. 
 To  the  wide  main  then  stooping  from  the  skies, 
 The  heaving  deeps  in  watery  mountains  rise  : 
 Troy  feels  the  blast  along  her  shaking  walls, 
 Till  on  the  pile  the  gather'd  tempest  falls. 
 The  structure  crackles  in  the  roaring  fires, 
 And  all  the  night  the  plenteous  flame  aspires. 
 
 'Twas  when,  emerging  through  the  shades  of  night, 
 The  morning  planet  told  the  approach  of  light ; 
 And,  fast  behind,  Aurora's  warmer  ray 
 O'er  the  broad  ocean  pour'd  the  golden  day  : 
 Then  sank  the  blaze,  the  pile  no  longer  burned, 
 And  to  their  caves  the  whistling  winds  return'd." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xxiii.  (Pope). 
 
 Then  Achilleus  commanded  that  the  last  lingering  glow  of 
 the  ashes  should  be  extinguished  with  red  wine,  and  having 
 carefully  gathered  them  together  in  a  golden  urn,  he  placed 
 them  in  a  tent,  that  when  death  should  claim  him  also,  their 
 ashes  might  rest  in  a  common  grave. 
 
 Lastly,  various  games  were  performed  near  the  resting- 
 place  of  the  much-lamented  hero,  the  victors  receiving 
 prizes. 
 
 After  the  funeral  feast  all  the  Greeks  retired  to  rest. 
 Achilleus  alone  was  unable  to  sleep,  for  he  thought  of  the 
 
Funeral  of  Hektor.  439 
 
 days  when  his  friend  was  beside  him,  and  shared  in  all  his 
 joys  and  sorrows.  At  last  he  rose,  and  wandered  along  by  the 
 sea-shore  ;  and  when  Aurora  coloured  the  east  with  her  rosy 
 fingers,  the  great  warrior  harnessed  the  horses  to  his  chariot, 
 fastened  the  body  of  Hektor  to  the  axle,  and  dragged  it 
 three  times  round  the  mound  which  had  been  erected  in 
 honour  of  Patroklos.  But  Apollo  guarded  the  body  from 
 mutilation,  by  spreading  over  it  the  Aegis. 
 
 XXXVII. — FUNERAL   OF   HEKTOR. 
 ACHILLEUS    LAST   COMBAT  AND    DEATH. 
 
 The  immortal  gods  looked  down  with  pity  on  the  ill-used 
 body  of  Hektor,  and  Zeus  commanded  Hermes  to  carry  him 
 secretly  out  of  the  Greek  camp,  but  Hera,  Athene,  and 
 Poseidon  would  not  give  their  consent.  After  ten  days  had 
 passed,  however,  Apollo  appealed  to  the  assembled  gods  : 
 "  Pitiless  powers  !  hath  not  Hektor  ever  offered  ye  rich 
 sacrifices,  and  yet  ye  have  allowed  his  aged  father,  his 
 mother,  wife,  and  child  to  witness  his  degradation,  while 
 the  cruel  son  of  Peleus,  who  does  not  show  pity  even  to  his 
 dead  enemy,  has  received  your  aid.  See  how  with  savage 
 joy  he  ill-treats  the  senseless  clay." 
 
 Angrily  Hera  replied  :  "  Vain  are  thy  arguments,  Apollo ! 
 Knowest  thou  not  that  Hektor  is  only  mortal,  as  are  other 
 men,  but  Achilleus,  son  of  a  goddess,  is  with  right  a  favourite 
 of  the  gods." 
 
 "  Not  so,"  cried  mighty  Jove;  "  'tis  true  they  may  not  have 
 equal  honour,  but  Hektor  deserves  the  favour  of  the  gods, 
 above  all  the  Trojan  race.  Most  still  of  me,  for  never  has 
 he  forgotten  to  bring  to  our  temples  offerings  or  sacrifices. 
 
440  Funeral  of  Hektor. 
 
 Nevertheless  we  cannot  secretly  convey  his  body  away,  for 
 Thetis  guards  it  night  and  day ;  but  send  the  goddess  hither, 
 I  will  command  her  to  persuade  her  son  that  he  accept 
 from  Priam  the  proffered  ransom,  and  deliver  up  the  body 
 of  Hektor." 
 
 Swift  as  a  whirlwind,  Iris  plunged  into  the  depths  of  the 
 sea,  where  she  found  Thetis  surrounded  by  her  nymphs, 
 weeping  at  the  approaching  doom  of  her  god-like  son ;  and 
 thus  delivered  her  command  :  Arise,  O  Thetis !  from  thy 
 seat  below,  'tis  Jove  that  calls  thee." 
 
 Sadly  obeying,  Thetis  shrouded  herself  in  a  sable  veil, 
 passed  through  the  sea,  and  flew  upwards  to  heaven.  As 
 she  entered  the  assembly  of  the  gods,  Athene  made  place 
 for  her  beside  Zeus,  and  Hera  presented  her  with  a  golden 
 bowl  of  nectar,  from  which  she  drank  and  returned  it. 
 Then  spoke  Zeus:  "Hearken,  fair  Thetis!  and  learn 
 wherefore  it  is  that  I  have  called  thee  thither.  For  nine 
 long  days  the  gods  have  disputed  whether  Hektor's  body 
 should  be  taken  from  Achilleus,  but  out  of  love  for  thee  I 
 have  forbidden  it.  Now,  however,  go  quickly  to  thy  son, 
 tell  him  the  wrath  of  Jove  and  all  the  gods  is  great,  that  he 
 has  thus  dishonoured  Hektor's  remains.  Let  him  now 
 return  them  to  the  mourning  father,  and  I  will  send  Iris  to 
 Priam,  to  tell  him  to  ransom  the  body  with  rich  gifts  and 
 presents." 
 
 At  once  Thetis  obeyed  the  mandate  of  Zeus,  and  came 
 to  the  tent  of  her  son,  whom  she  found  absorbed  in  grief, 
 seating  herself  beside  him,  she  gently  stroked  his  hand  and 
 imparted  the  message  of  the  gods.  "Be  it  so,"  he  an- 
 swered ;  "  whoever  brings  me  the  ransom  shall  in  return 
 receive  the  body,  since  such  is  Heaven's  will."  While  the 
 mother  and  son  were  still  communing  thus,  Zeus  sent  Iris 
 to  Priam  to  command  him  to  drive  to  the  Greek  camp,  only 
 
Funeral  of  Hektor.  44 1 
 
 accompanied  by  a  herald  to  ransom  Hektor's  body,  adding 
 that  he  need  fear  nothing  for  Hermes  would  guide  him 
 in  safety : 
 
 "  Then  down  her  bow  the  winged  Iris  drives, 
 And  swift  at  Priam's  mournful  court  arrives  : 
 Where  the  sad  sons  beside  their  father's  throne 
 Sat  bathed  in  tears,  and  answer'd  groan  with  groan. 
 And  all  amidst  them  lay  the  hoary  sire, 
 (Sad  scene  of  woe  !)  his  face  his  wrapp'd  attire 
 Conceal'd  from  sight ;  with  frantic  hands  he  spread 
 A  shower  of  ashes  o'er  his  neck  and  head. 
 From  room  to  room  his  pensive  daughters  roam  ; 
 Whose  shrieks  and  clamours  fill  the  vaulted  dome  ; 
 Mindful  of  those,  who  late  their  pride  and  joy, 
 Lie  pale  and  breathless  round  the  fields  of  Troy." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xxiv.  (Pope). 
 
 Iris  having  delivered  her  message,  Priam  determined  at 
 once  to  repair  to  the  Greek  camp.  But  first  he  lifted  his 
 voice  to  heaven  in  supplication : 
 
 "  '  O  first  and  greatest  !  heaven's  imperial  lord  ! 
 On  lofty  Ida's  holy  hill  adored  ! 
 To  stern  Achilles  now  direct  my  ways, 
 And  teach  him  mercy  when  a  father  prays. 
 If  such  thy  will,  despatch  from  yonder  sky 
 Thy  sacred  bird,  celestial  augury  ! 
 Let  the  strong  sovereign  of  the  plumy  race 
 Tower  on  the  right  of  yon  ethereal  space  ; 
 So  shall  thy  suppliant,  strengthened  from  above, 
 Fearless,  pursue  the  journey  mark'd  by  Jove.'  " 
 
 —  Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xxiv. 
 
 Jove  heard  the  prayer  and  sent  the  looked-for  sign,  and 
 when  the  king  was  about  to  start,  the  Olympian  monarch 
 turned  to  Hermes  : 
 
 " '  Thou  whose  constant  cares 
 Still  succour  mortals,  and  attend  their  prayers, 
 
44  2  Funeral  of  Hektor. 
 
 Behold  an  object  to  thy  charge  consign'd  : 
 If  ever  pity  touch'd  thee  for  mankind, 
 Go,  guard  the  sire  ;  the  observing  foe  prevent, 
 And  safe  conduct  him  to  Achilles'  tent.' 
 
 The  god  obeys,  his  golden  pinions  binds, 
 And  mounts  incumbent  on  the  wings  of  winds, 
 That  high,  through  fields  of  air,  his  flight  sustain, 
 O'er  the  wide  earth,  and  o'er  the  boundless  main  ; 
 Then  grasps  the  wand  that  causes  sleep  to  fly, 
 Or  in  soft  slumbers  seals  the  wakeful  eye  : 
 Thus  arm'd,  swift  Hermes  steers  his  airy  way, 
 And  stoops  on  Hellespont's  resounding  sea. 
 A  beauteous  youth,  majestic  and  divine, 
 He  seem'd  ;  fair  offspring  of  some  princely  line." 
 
 — Homer,  "  Iliad,'*  Book  xxiv.  (Pope). 
 
 Night  was  approaching,  and  dusky  twilight  had  already 
 spread  her  wings  over  the  plain  of  Troy,  as  Priam  and  his 
 charioteer  stopped  at  the  spring  near  the  tomb  of  Ilos, 
 to  let  the  horses  drink.  Suddenly  they  beheld  a  form 
 approaching,  and  fear  seized  the  hearts  of  the  aged  king 
 and  his  attendant  that  it  was  one  of  their  enemies  : 
 
 "  The  afflicted  monarch  shiver'd  with  despair  ; 
 Pale  grew  his  face,  and  upright  stood  his  hair  ; 
 Sunk  was  his  heart ;  his  colour  went  and  came  ; 
 A  sudden  trembling  shook  his  aged  frame  : 
 When  Hermes,  greeting,  touch'd  his  royal  hand, 
 And,  gentle,  thus  accosts  with  kind  demand  : 
 
 '  Say  whither,  father  !  when  each  mortal  sight 
 Is  sealed  in  sleep,  thou  wanderest  through  the  night  ? 
 Why  roam  thy  mules  and  steeds  the  plains  along, 
 Through  Grecian  foes,  so  numerous  and  so  strong  ? 
 What  couldst  thou  hope,  should  these  thy  treasures  view  ; 
 These,  who  with  endless  hate  thy  race  pursue  ? 
 For  what  defence,  alas !  could'st  thou  provide  ; 
 Thyself  not  young,  a  weak  old  man  thy  guide  ? 
 
Funeral  of  Hektar.  443 
 
 Yet  suffer  not  thy  soul  to  sink  with  dread  ; 
 From  me  no  harm  shall  touch  thy  reverend  head, 
 From  Greece  I'll  guard  thee  too  ;  for  in  those  lines 
 The  living  image  of  my  father  shines.' " 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xxiv.  (Pope). 
 
 Priam  expressed  his  joy  at  having  found  so  fortunate  a 
 companion,  and  asked  who  he  was.  Hermes  replied  that 
 he  was  a  friend  of  Achilleus,  and  had  often  admired  brave 
 Hektor  from  a  distance.  Then  the  old  man  asked  still 
 further  whether  Hektor's  body  was  yet  in  the  camp,  or 
 whether  Achilleus  had  cut  it  in  pieces  and  given  it  as  a  prey- 
 to  the  dogs.  Again  Hermes  reassured  him,  answering  him 
 that  this  had  not  been  done,  for  that  although  Achilleus  daily 
 dragged  the  body  round  the  mound,  it  had  been  protected 
 in  a  marvellous  manner  by  the  care  of  the'  gods,  and  now- 
 lay  in  the  tent  of  the  son  of  Peleus : 
 
 11  Thus  spoke  to  Priam  the  celestial  guide, 
 And  joyful  thus  the  royal  sire  replied  : 
 '  Blest  is  the  man  who  pays  the  gods  above 
 The  constant  tribute  of  respect  and  love  ! 
 Those  who  inhabit  the  Olympian  bower 
 My  son  forgot  not,  in  exalted  power ; 
 And  heaven,  that  every  virtue  bears  in  mind, 
 Even  to  the  ashes  of  the  just  is  kind. 
 But  thou,  O  generous  youth  !  this  goblet  take, 
 A  pledge  of  gratitude  for  Hector's  sake  ; 
 And  while  the  favouring  gods  our  steps  survey, 
 Safe  to  Pelides'  tent  conduct  my  way.' " 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,:'  Book  xxiv.  (Pope). 
 
 Hermes  promised  to  guide  and  protect  him,  but  he 
 refused  to  accept  the  gift,  then 
 
 "  Took  the  chariot  at  a  bound, 
 And  snatch'd  the  reins,  and  whirl'd  the  lash  around  : 
 
444  Funeral  of  Hektor. 
 
 Before  the  inspiring  god  that  urged  them  on, 
 The  coursers  fly  with  spirit  not  their  own. 
 And  now  they  reached  the  naval  walls  and  found 
 The  guards  repasting,  while  the  bowls  go  round  ; 
 On  these  the  virtue  of  his  wand  he  tries, 
 And  pours  deep  slumber  on  their  watchful  eyes  : 
 Then  heaved  the  massy  gates,  removed  the  bars, 
 And  o'er  the  trenches  led  the  rolling  cars." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xxiv.  (Pope). 
 
 Thus  the  messenger  of  the  gods  brought  the  old  man  in 
 safety  to  the  tent  of  Pelides,  made  of  the  reeds  collected 
 from  the  shore.  Easily  he  set  wide  the  enormous  bar  by 
 which  the  gate  was  closed,  and  which,  although  it  took 
 three  ordinary  men  to  move,  Achilleus  himself  could  singly 
 close.  Then  alighting  from  the  chariot,  the  celestial  guide 
 thus  spake  : 
 
 "  '  Hear,  prince  !  and  understand 
 Thou  ow'st  thy  guidance  to  no  mortal  hand  : 
 Hermes  I  am,  descended  from  above, 
 The  king  of  arts,  the  messenger  of  Jove. 
 Farewell  :  to  shun  Achilles'  sight  I  fly, 
 Uncommon  are  such  favours  of  the  sky, 
 Nor  stand  confess'd  to  frail  mortality. 
 Now  fearless  enter,  and  prefer  thy  prayers  ; 
 Adjure  him  by  his  father's  silver  hairs, 
 His  son,  his  mother  !  urge  him  to  bestow 
 Whatever  pity  that  stern  heart  can  know.' " 
 
 Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xxiv.  (Pope). 
 
 Following  the  advice  of  Hermes,  Priam  at  once  entered 
 the  tent  of  Achilleus,  who  was  still  awake,  and  lay  thinking. 
 as  ever,  of  his  lost  friend.  Passing  unseen  through  the 
 attendants,  the  aged  king  stood  before  the  man  who  had 
 slain  his  son,  and  fell  down   at  his  feet  in  supplication, 
 
Funeral  of  Hektor.  445 
 
 kissing  his  hands.      Mute  with  surprise,  Achilleus  gazed  at 
 him,  when  the  kingly  suppliant  spoke  : 
 
 "  Ah  think,  thou  favoured  of  the  powers  divine  ! 
 Think  of  thy  father's  age,  and  pity  mine  ! 
 In  me  that  father's  reverend  image  trace, 
 Those  silver  hairs,  that  venerable  face  ; 
 His  trembling  limbs,  his  helpless  person,  see  ! 
 In  all  my  equal,  but  in  misery  ! 
 Yet  now,  perhaps,  some  turn  of  human  fate 
 Expels  him  helpless  from  his  peaceful  state  : 
 Think,  from  some  powerful  foe  thou  seest  him  fly, 
 And  beg  protection  with  a  feeble  cry. 
 Yet  still  one  comfort  in  his  soul  may  rise  ; 
 He  hears  his  son  still  lives  to  glad  his  eyes, 
 And,  hearing,  still  may  hope  a  better  day 
 May  send  him  thee,  to  chase  that  foe  away. 
 No  comfort  to  my  griefs,  no  hopes  remain, 
 The  best,  the  bravest,  of  my  sons  are  slain  ! 
 Yet  what  a  race  !  ere  Greece  to  I  lion  came, 
 The  pledge  of  many  a  loved  and  loving  dame  : 
 Nineteen  one  mother  bore — Dead,  all  are  dead  ! 
 How  oft,  alas  !  has  wretched  Priam  bled  ! 
 Still  one  was  left  their  loss  to  recompense  ; 
 His  father's  hope,  his  country's  last  defence. 
 Him  too  thy  rage  has  slain  !  beneath  thy  steel, 
 Unhappy  in  his  country's  cause  he  fell  ! 
 
 For  him  through  hostile  camps  I  bent  my  way, 
 For  him  thus  prostrate  at  thy  feet  I  lay  ; 
 Large  gifts  proportioned  to  thy  wrath  I  bear  ; 
 O  hear  the  wretched,  and  the  gods  revere  ! 
 Think  of  thy  father,  and  his  face  behold  ! 
 See  him  in  me,  as  helpless  and  as  old  ! 
 Though  not  so  wretched  :  there  he  yields  to  me, 
 The  first  of  men  in  sovereign  misery  ! 
 Thus  forced  to  kneel,  thus  grovelling  to  embrace 
 The  scourge  and  ruin  of  my  realm  and  race  : 
 
446  Funeral  of  Hektor. 
 
 Suppliant  my  children's  murderer  to  implore, 
 And  kiss  those  hands  yet  reeking  with  their  gore." 
 
 — Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xxiv.  (Pope). 
 
 Touched  to  the  heart,  Achilleus  granted  the  request  of  the 
 white-haired  monarch,  and  as  the  remembrance  of  his 
 father  was  thus  brought  back  to  him,  the  tears  flowed  also 
 from  his  eyes,  and  gently  he  raised  Priam  from  the  ground, 
 and  commanded  the  handmaids  to  wash  and  anoint  the 
 body  and  place  it  in  the  chariot.  Then  he  examined  the 
 rich  gifts  the  king  had  brought  to  him,  refreshed  him  with 
 meat  and  wine,  and  made  him  lie  down  to  rest : 
 
 "  Now  gods  and  men  the  gifts  of  sleep  partake  ; 
 Industrious  Hermes  only  was  awake, 
 The  king's  return  revolving  in  his  mind, 
 To  pass  the  ramparts,  and  the  watch  to  blind. 
 The  power  descending  hover'd  o'er  his  head  : 
 
 '  And  sleep'st  thou,  father  !  (thus  the  vision  said  :) 
 Now  dost  thou  sleep,  when  Hector  is  restored  ? 
 For  fear  the  Grecian  foes,  or  Grecian  lord  ? 
 Thy  presence  here  should  stern  Atrides  see, 
 Thy  still  surviving  sons  may  sue  for  thee  ; 
 May  offer  all  thy  treasures  yet  contain, 
 To  spare  thy  age  ;  and  offer  all  in  vain.' 
 
 Waked  with  the  word  the  trembling  sire  arose, 
 And  raised  his  friend  :  the  god  before  him  goes  : 
 He  joins  the  mules,  directs  them  with  his  hand, 
 And  moves  in  silence  through  the  hostile  land." 
 
 —  Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xxiv.  (Pope). 
 
 Thus  was  the  body  of  Hektor  brought  back  to  Ilium.  As 
 King  Priam  entered  the  city  he  was  met  by  his  daughter 
 Cassandra,  and  with  loud  lamentations  and  cries  of  woe 
 she  called  the  Trojans  together :  "  Haste,  turn  hither  your 
 footsteps,  sons  and  daughters  of  Ilium,  now  meet  your  hero 
 
Achilleus  last  Combat  and  Death.        447 
 
 dead,  as  ye  often  met  him  when  in  life  he  returned  victorious 
 from  the  field.  Now  let  your  sorrows  flow  for  this  our 
 common  grief." 
 
 Obeying  her  summons,  men  and  women  thronged  mourn- 
 fully to  meet  their  king  : 
 
 "  The  wife  and  mother,  frantic  with  despair, 
 Kiss  his  pale  cheek,  and  rend  their  scatter'd  hair." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Iliad,"  Book  xxiv. 
 
 When  the  body  reached  the  palace  it  was  placed  on  a 
 bed  of  state,  and  dirges  were  chanted  round  it  for  nine 
 days.  On  the  tenth  the  body  was  burned  on  a  gigantic 
 funeral  pile,  and  the  ashes  were  collected  in  a  golden  urn 
 and  buried  in  the  ground.  Such  were  the  honours  paid  to 
 the  dead,  and  Hektor's  spirit  was  at  peace  in  the  dark 
 regions  of  Hades. 
 
 Here  ends  the  story  of  the  Iliad.  Later  myths  relate 
 that  Achilleus  continued  to  distinguish  himself  by  many 
 successful  combats  before  Troy.  Penthesilea,  queen  of  the 
 Amazons,  who  came  to  aid  the  Trojans  with  her  warrior 
 maids,  received  her  death-blow  at  the  hand  of  the  son  of 
 Peleus.  But  sadly  grieved,  the  hero  stood  before  the 
 mortally  wounded  queen  fascinated  by  the  great  beauty  of 
 her  whom  his  sword  had  thus  deprived  of  life.  While  thus 
 lost  in  melancholy  contemplation,  Thersites  came  up,  and 
 mockingly  jeered  at  him.  Furious  with  rage  Achilleus 
 turned,  and  with  one  blow  of  his  fist  laid  the  mocker  dead 
 upon  the  ground. 
 
 For  this  deed  Achilleus  was  banished  to  Lesbos,  and  had 
 to  offer  innumerable  sacrifices  and  perform  many  sacred  rites 
 before  he  was  pronounced  free  from  blood-guiltiness.  He 
 returned  to  camp  just  as  a  new  ally  for  Priam  had  arrived, 
 Memnon,  King  of  the  Ethiopians,  and  son  of  Tithonos  and 
 
448       Achilleus  last  Combat  and  Death. 
 
 Eos.  He  also  was  conquered  and  slain  by  Achilleus,  and  the 
 same  fate  also  came  upon  Kyknos,  son  of  Poseidon,  who, 
 although  impervious  to  wounds,  was  killed  by  the  Greek 
 hero,  who  first  stunned  him  with  a  blow  from  his  sword  and 
 then  strangled  him.  Poseidon  rescued  the  body  from  the 
 victor,  and  changed  it  into  a  swan. 
 
 But  the  time  drew  ever  nigh  that  the  fate,  which  he  him- 
 self foresaw,  and  which  had  been  prophesied  by  his  mother 
 and  by  the  dying  words  of  Hektor,  should  come  upon 
 Achilleus.  The  mighty  Greek  hero  was  to  be  cut  down  in 
 the  very  pride  of  his  youth  and  strength. 
 
 Having  seen  Polyxena,  one  of  Priam's  daughters,  his  heart 
 was  filled  with  love  for  her,  and  declaring  that  he  could  not 
 live  without  her,  he  went  to  Priam  and  offered  not  only  to 
 quit  the  Greek  camp  but  to  defend  Troy  against  them. 
 While,  however,  he  was  discussing  the  conditions  with 
 Priam,  Paris  treacherously  and  vindictively  shot  an  arrow, 
 wounding  him  mortally  in  his  heel,  the  only  vulnerable 
 part  of  the  son  of  Thetis.  His  body  after  a  fierce  and 
 bloody  fight  was  safely  carried  back  to  the  Grecian  camp, 
 and  burnt  on  a  large  funeral  pile.  Then,  obeying  his  behest, 
 the  ashes  were  collected  in  an  urn,  and  placed  beside  those 
 of  Patroklos  in  one  grave ;  and  after  a  contest  with  Ajax, 
 Odysseus  received  the  beautiful  arms  of  the  son  of  Peleus. 
 In  the  time  of  Alexander  the  Great  the  joint  tomb  was  still 
 shewn. 
 
 Towards  the  end  of  the  siege,  Diomed  and  Odysseus 
 managed  to  scale  the  walls  of  Troy,  kill  the  guard,  and  carry 
 off  the  Palladium.  Thus  the  town  lost  its  greatest  pro- 
 tection, for  only  so  long  as  it  retained  this  wooden  treasure 
 was  it  invincible. 
 
Destruction  of  Troy.  449 
 
 XXXVIII.— DESTRUCTION   OF   TROY, 
 1184. 
 
 Homer  in  his  "  Iliad  "  goes  no  further  than  the  death  and 
 burial  of  Hektor,  but  Virgil  gives  a  very  graphic  description 
 of  the  fall  of  Troy  in  the  "Aeneid." 
 
 Having  attempted  in  vain  for  ten  long  years  to  take  the 
 city  the  Greeks  saw  that  they  must  now  use  stratagem,  for 
 force  was  of  no  avail.  Therefore,  with  the  help  and  advice  of 
 Athene,  they  constructed  an  enormous  wooden  horse,  in  the 
 hollow  of  which  Odysseus,  Menelaos,  Machaon,  and  several 
 others  hid  themselves.  The  rest  got  into  their  vessels,  and 
 sailing  away  behind  the  island  of  Tenedos,  made  the 
 Trojans  imagine  that  they  had  left  and  returned  to  Greece. 
 
 At  once  the  gates  of  Troy  were  opened  wide,  and,  glad  of 
 the  unwonted  freedom,  the  inhabitants  spread  themselves 
 over  the  plain  where  the  remains  of  the  Greek  camp  were 
 still  to  be  seen.  Above  all  they  admired  the  great  wooden 
 horse,  and  some  were  anxious  to  take  it  into  the  town  and 
 place  it  in  the  castle.  But  the  rest  feared  some  wile  or 
 stratagem,  and  counselled  that  it  should  be  destroyed. 
 While  they  were  thus  disputing,  Laocoon,  a  Trojan  priest, 
 came  up  and  cried  to  them  : 
 
 " '  O  wretched  men,  how  hath  such  madness  grown  ? 
 Deem  ye  the  foe  hath  fared  away  ?     Deem  ye  that  Danaan  gifts 
 May  ever  lack  due  share  of  guile  ?    Are  these  Ulysses'  shifts  ? 
 For  either  the  Achaeans  lurk  within  this  fashioned  tree, 
 Or  'tis  an  engine  wrought  with  craft  bane  of  our  walls  to  be. 
 To  look  into  our  very  homes,  and  scale  the  town  perforce  : 
 Some   guile  at  least  therein  abides  :  Tcucrians,  trust  not  the 
 
 horse  ! 
 Whatso  it  is,  the  Danaan  folk,  yea  gift-bearing  I  fear.' " 
 
 —Virgil,  "  JEne'id,"  Book  ii.  (Morris). 
 2  F 
 
45°  Destruction  of  Troy. 
 
 And  as  he  spoke  he  sent  a  lance  into  the  side  of  the 
 animal,  which  gave  forth  a  deep  and  hollow  sound. 
 
 At  this  moment  a  shepherd  brought  in  a  Greek  youth 
 called  Sinon  as  prisoner.  He  had  allowed  himself  to  be  thus 
 captured,  the  more  completely  to  mislead  the  Trojans,  and 
 now  as  they  all  gathered  round  he  pretended  to  be  greatly 
 terrified,  crying  out,  "  Alas  !  alas  !  whither  shall  I  go  ?  the 
 Greeks  have  cast  me  out,  and  now  the  Trojans  will  put  me 
 to  death." 
 
 Then  his  captors  relented,  and  bade  him  give  an  account 
 of  himself,  and  somewhat  reassured  he  thus  continued : 
 "  Happen  what  may,  I  will  speak  the  truth.  My  name  is 
 Sinon  :  having  offended  Odysseus,  I  had  to  flee  from  his 
 vengeance.  Now  I  will  tell  you  the  real  history  of  the 
 wooden  horse :  for  long  the  Greeks  have  wished  to  return 
 home,  but  storms  have  always  prevented  their  so  doing.  At 
 last  they  sent  to  ask  Apollo,  and  the  reply  came  back : 
 
 "  With  blood  and  with  a  virgin's  death  did  ye  the  winds  appease 
 When  first  ye  came,  O  Danaan  folk,  unto  the  Ilian  shore  ; 
 With  blood  and  with  an  Argive  soul  the  gods  shall  ye  adore 
 For  your  return. 
 
 —Virgil,  "  ^Eneid,"  Book  ii.  (Morris). 
 
 "  When  they  heard  this,  the  question  arose,  who  should 
 be  sacrificed?  Odysseus  then  demanded  of  Kalchas  what 
 were  the  wishes  of  the  gods,  and  after  ten  days'  silence  he 
 
 named me  !     Already  was  the  day  of  my  death  settled, 
 
 and  everything  arranged  for  the  sacrifice,  when,  favoured  by 
 fortune,  I  succeeded  in  making  my  escape.  Have  pity  on 
 me  therefore,  men  of  Ilium,  and  condemn  me  not  to  that 
 death  from  which  I  have  only  now  escaped." 
 
 The  Trojans  believed  his  tale,  and  Priam  commanded 
 his  fetters  to  be  taken  off,  and  then  told  him  to  continue 
 his  relation  with  regard  to  the  horse.     "  Know,"  said  Sinon, 
 
Destruction  of  Troy.  45  1 
 
 ':that  the  Greeks  have  ever  placed  the  greatest  reliance  on 
 the  aid  and  protection  of  Pallas.  But  ever  since  Odysseus 
 and  Diomed  sacrilegiously  carried  off  the  Palladium,  the 
 goddess  has  turned  from  them  in  anger.  When  the  figure 
 was  brought  into  the  camp  the  eyes  flashed  forth  wrathful 
 glances,  great  drops  of  sweat  fell  from  her  brow,  and  more 
 wonderful  than  all,  she  thrice  leapt  into  the  air,  still  holding 
 in  her  hand  her  shield  and  lance.  Kalchas  counselled  an 
 immediate  departure  to  Argos,  there  to  obtain  fresh  informa- 
 tion from  the  Oracle,  and  then  to  return  again  here.  But 
 by  his  advice  they  first  built  the  wooden  horse  for  the 
 Palladium,  to  reconcile  the  goddess,  and  made  it  so  large 
 that  ye  might  not  be  able  to  take  it  in  through  your  gates ;  for 
 were  it  to  go  back  to  the  city,  it  would  once  again  render  it 
 invincible.  Whereas,  if  now  ye  were  to  attempt  to  destroy 
 it  with  profane  hands,  endless  woe  and  ruin  would  be 
 your  lot." 
 
 These  lying  words  completely  deceived  the  men  of  Troy. 
 And  now  a  strange  and  startling  incident  took  place. 
 Straight  from  the  island  of  Tenedos  two  enormous  serpents 
 came  swimming  through  the  sea,  breathing  forth  flames  of 
 fire;  they  reared  their  blood-red  heads  above  the  waves,  and 
 as  they  rushed  on  shore  out  of  the  water,  all  the  assembled 
 people  fled  in  terror.  Then  they  writhed  their  deadly  coils 
 round  the  priest  Laocoon,  who,  with  his  two  sons,  was  in 
 the  act  of  offering  a  sacrifice  to  Poseidon.  In  vain  the 
 unhappy  man  drew  his  sword  to  defend  himself  and  his 
 children,  in  vain 
 
 "  He  striveth  with  his  hands  to  rend  their  folds  atwain, 
 And  starward  sendeth  forth  a  cry  most  horrible." 
 
 —Virgil,  "yfcneid,"  Book  ii.  (Morris). 
 
 The  monsters  crushed  to  death  the  father  and  his  two 
 
452  Destruction  of  Troy. 
 
 sons,  and  then  crawled  away  to  the  city,  and  hid  themselves 
 beneath  the  shrine  of  Pallas. 
 
 The  frightened  people  now  no  longer  doubted  that 
 Laocoon  had  thus  been  made  to  atone  for  his  profanity  in 
 regard  to  the  horse  sacred  to  the  goddess  Athene,  and 
 with  wild  cries  wheels  were  placed  under  the  horse's  feet, 
 ropes  fastened  round  his  neck,  and  young  and  old  dragged 
 the  gigantic  structure  with  joy  into  the  city,  the  very  walls 
 being  torn  down  to  permit  of  its  entering,  since  the  gates 
 were  too  small  to  allow  it  to  pass  through.  Four  times  it 
 stopped  on  the  threshold  ;  four  times  the  sound  of  arms 
 rang  forth  from  its  body  as  it  was  dragged  through  the 
 breach.  But,  maddened  and  blinded,  the  people  heeded  it 
 not,  and  the  rest  of  the  day  was  spent  in  decorating  all 
 the  temples  with  green  boughs  amid  shouts  of  joy  at  the 
 supposed  recovery  of  the  Palladium. 
 
 At  length  night  fell,  darkness  shrouded  the  earth,  and  the 
 Trojans  having  feasted  and  rejoiced,  lay  down  to  rest. 
 Then  by  the  light  of  the  friendly  moon,  which  now  rose,  the 
 Greek  ships  returned  from  Tenedos,  and  landed  on  the 
 Trojan  shore.  At  the  same  time  artful  Sinon  stealthily 
 opened  the  door  in  the  body  of  the  horse,  and  one  by  one 
 the  armed  heroes  stepped  quietly  forth.  Quickly  the) 
 overpowered  the  guards,  and  murdered  the  Trojans,  who 
 were  still  sleeping  off  the  effects  of  the  banquet.  Then 
 they  opened  the  gates  to  their  companions  who  had  now 
 come  up  from  the  ships. 
 
 Numbers  of  Trojans  had  been  already  slain,  when 
 Hektor's  spirit  appeared  to  Aeneas  in  a  dream.  He  was 
 covered  with  dust  and  blood,  his  feet  swollen  with  the 
 leathern  thong,  and  on  his  body  were  the  wounds  he  had. 
 borne  for  Troy.     Sorrowfully  he  spoke  : 
 
Destruction  of  Troy.  453 
 
 " '  O  goddess  born,  flee  forth,'  he  said, '  and  snatch  thee  from  the 
 
 fire! 
 The  foeman  hath  the  walls,  and  Troy  is  down  from  topmost 
 
 spire. 
 For  Priam  and  for  country  now  enough.     If  any  hand 
 Might  have   kept  Pergamos,  held  up  by  mine,  it  yet  should 
 
 stand, 
 Her  holy  things  and  household  gods  Troy  gives  in  charge  to 
 
 thee  ; 
 Take  these  as  fellows  of  thy  fate  :  go  forth  the  walls  to  see, 
 The   great  walls  thou  shalt  build,  when  thou  the  sea  hast 
 
 wandered  o'er.' " 
 
 —Virgil,  ".'Eneid,"  Book  ii.  (Morris). 
 
 The  spirit  disappeared,  and  Aeneas,  starting  up  from  his 
 
 sleep,  heard  the  roaring  of  flames  and  clashing  of  arms. 
 
 Half- stunned  he  seized  his  weapons,  dashed  out  into  the 
 
 street,  and  calling  together  the  scattered  Trojans,  hurried  to 
 
 assist  in  the  defence  of  the  king's  palace  : 
 
 "  O  ruin  and  death  of  that  ill  night,  what  tongue  may  set  it 
 forth, 
 Or  who  may  pay  the  debt  of  tears  that  agony  was  worth  ! 
 The  ancient  city  overthrown,  lord  for  so  many  a  year, 
 The  many  bodies  of  the  slain  that,  moveless,  everywhere 
 Lie  in  the  street,  in  houses  lie,  lie  round  the  holy  doors  of 
 gods.» 
 
 — Virgil,  "yEneid,"  Book  ii.  (Morris). 
 
 Aeneas  first  met  a  troop  of  Greeks,  who,  mistaking  him 
 for  one  of  their  own  party,  abused  him  for  his  tardiness. 
 But  he  and  his  followers  allowing  them  no  time  to  find  out 
 their  mistake,  fell  upon  them,  slew  them  all,  and,  to  still 
 deceive  the  rest  of  the  Greeks,  took  possession  of  their  arms 
 and  weapons.  Thus  disguised,  they  were  enabled  to  create 
 great  havoc  among  the  Greeks.  Many  fled  back  to  their 
 ships,  while  others  hid  themselves  under  the  body  of  the 
 horse. 
 
454  Destruction  of  Troy. 
 
 Now  a  number  of  Greeks  dragged  forth  Kassandra,  the 
 beautiful  daughter  of  Priam.  With  wildly  dishevelled  hair 
 and  fettered  hands  she  raised  her  burning  eyes  to  heaven, 
 praying  in  vain  for  help.  Maddened  at  this  sight,  Aeneas 
 and  his  companions  furiously  attacked  the  Greeks,  hoping 
 to  release  the  maiden.  Suddenly  they  found  themselves 
 assailed  by  a  shower  of  arrows  from  Athene's  temple,  where 
 a  number  of  Trojans  were  stationed.  These,  deluded  by 
 the  armour  Aeneas  and  his  followers  wore,  mistook  them 
 for  Greeks ;  thus  were  they  assailed  both  by  friends  and  foes. 
 Most  of  them  were  slain,  only  Aeneas  and  two  of  his  com- 
 panions succeeded  at  length  in  reaching  the  palace  of 
 Priam, 
 "  Where  such  a  mighty  battle  was  as  though  none  other  where 
 
 Yet   burned  :   as  though    none   others  fell    in  all   the    town 
 beside." 
 
 Now  the  Greeks  fiercely  attacked  the  palace,  raising  their 
 shields  above  their  heads  to  keep  off  the  stones  and  arrows 
 of  their  enemies.  Others  placed  ladders  against  the  walls, 
 and  the  bravest  among  them,  with  their  shields  in  their  left 
 hands,  scaled  the  walls. 
 
 The  Trojans  on  their  side  tore  stones  from  the  roof  and 
 walls,  which  they  flung  down  on  their  assailants,  while  others 
 defended  the  various  entrances  to  the  palace  at  the  point  of 
 the  sword. 
 
 Aeneas,  passing  through  a  secret  gate  which  in  happier 
 days  had  been  used  by  Andromache  when  she  carried  young 
 Astyanax  to  see  his  grand-parents,  went  through  the  castle 
 up  to  the  top  of  a  high  tower  overlooking  the  whole  of  Troy. 
 Here  he  managed  to  loosen  the  upper  part  of  the  structure 
 by  means  of  a  strong  iron  rod,  and  hurling  down  the 
 gigantic  mass  with  mighty  strength  he  killed  thousands  of 
 the  Greeks  below.      But  more  and  more  came  on,  among 
 
Destruction  of  Troy.  455 
 
 them  Pyrrhos  (Neoptolemos),  the  brave  son  of  Achilleus, 
 who,  with  his  powerful  axe,  dealt  such  fierce  blows  on  the 
 door  of  the  palace  that  at  length  it  gave  way,  thus  opening 
 wide  to  the  Greeks  the  halls  of  Priam. 
 
 Within  all  was  terror  and  confusion,  women  pale  with  fear 
 wandered  aimlessly  through  the  vast  chambers,  their  cries 
 rending  the  air,  as  Pyrrhos,  having  overcome  the  guards, 
 rushed  furiously  in  with  his  bloodthirsty  band,  everything 
 giving  way  before  him.  When  aged  Priam  beheld  the  door 
 thus  stormed,  he  girt  on  his  long  unused  armour,  and  grasp- 
 ing his  sword  with  his  feeble  hands  hastened  to  meet  the 
 enemy. 
 
 Meanwhile  Hekate,  with  her  daughter,  had  sought  pro- 
 tection round  an  altar  that  had  been  erected  in  an  open 
 court  overshadowed  with  laurels.  Now  when  she  saw  the 
 king,  she  cried  ;  "  O  unhappy  spouse  !  what  evil  thought 
 makes  thee  go  forth  with  arms  which  thou  canst  no  longer 
 wield?  Come  hither  and  join  us  at  the  foot  of  this  altar, 
 and  pray  to  the  guardian  Penates.  It  may  be  that  they  will 
 protect  us  ;  if  not,  we  may  at  least  die  together."  The  old 
 man,  heart-broken,  gave  way  at  her  entreaties,  and  sat  down 
 sadly  beside  the  shrine.  Just  then  Polites,  one  of  his  sons, 
 ran  through  the  empty  hall,  closely  followed  by  Pyrrhos, 
 with  his  deadly  spear  raised  aloft.  Already  he  bled  from 
 many  wounds,  and  as  he  reached  his  parents'  side  he  fell 
 down,  drawing  his  last  breath.  At  this  sight  Priam  could 
 no  longer  refrain  himself — 
 
 "  'Ah,  for  such  wickedness,'  he  cried,  'for  daring  such  a  deed, 
 If  aught  abide  in  heaven  as  yet  such  things  as  this  to  heed, 
 May  the  gods  give  thee  worthy  thanks,  and  pay  thee  well- 
 earned  prize, 
 That  thou  hast  set  the  death  of  sons  before  my  father's  eyes, 
 That  thou  thy  murder's  fouling  thus  in  father's  face  hast  flung. 
 
456  Destruction  of  Troy. 
 
 Not  he,  Achilles,  whence  indeed  thou  liar  hast  never  sprung 
 Was  such  a  foe  to  Priam  erst  ;  for  shamefast  meed  he  gave 
 To  law  and  troth  of  suppliant   men,  and  rendered  to  the 
 
 grave 
 The  bloodless  Hector  dead,  and  me  sent  to  mine  own  again."' 
 —Virgil,  "yEneid,"  Book  ii.  (Morris). 
 
 With  these  words  the  infuriated  father  threw  his  spear 
 with  nerveless  arm  at  the  enemy,  but  the  weapon  only 
 faintly  grazed  the  shield  of  Pyrrhos,  who  cried  : 
 
 "  '  Yea  tell  him  this,  go  take  the  tidings  down 
 To  Peleus'  son  my  father  then,  of  Pyrrhus  worser  grown 
 And  all  these  evil  deeds  of  mine  !  take  heed  to  tell  the  tale  ! 
 Now  die  ! ' " 
 
 —Virgil,  "  ^neid,"  Book  ii.  (Morris). 
 
 And  dragging  him  back  to  the  altar  by  his  grey  hair  with 
 one  hand,  he  raised  his  sword  in  the  other  and  drove  the 
 blade  up  to  its  hilt  in  Priam's  side. 
 
 The  death  of  the  king  made  Aeneas  fear  for  the  safety  of 
 his  old  father  Anchises,  his  wife  Kreusa,  and  his  little  son 
 Ascanius  or  lulus,  and  he  hurried  away  to  seek  them,  and 
 met  Helen  on  her  way  to  obtain  protection  in  the  temple  of 
 Vesta.  The  sight  of  her  filled  his  heart  with  wrath  as  he 
 thought  of  all  the  misery  she  had  caused,  and  he  was  about 
 to  slay  her,  when  Aphrodite,  gloriously  apparelled,  appeared 
 before  him  and  stayed  the  blow :  "  Wherefore  art  thou  so 
 angry,  my  son,"  she  said,  "  wilt  thou  not  rather  look  after 
 thine  own  ?  Surrounded  by  the  horrors  of  war  they  would 
 long  ere  this  have  perished  had  not  I  protected  them. 
 Neither  Helen  nor  Paris  has  caused  the  overthrow  of  Troy, 
 it  is  the  act  of  hostile  gods  ;  the  gods  who  know  no  pity. 
 Behold  where  Poseidon  with  his  mighty  trident  is  throwing 
 down  the  walls.  See  at  the  gate,  Hera  calls  up  fresh 
 Grecian  hosts  from  the  ships,  and  on  the  palace  yonder 
 
Destruction  of  Troy.  457 
 
 stands  Pallas,  striking  terror  into  every  Trojan  heart  with 
 her  fearful  Aegis.  Even  Zeus  himself  encourages  the 
 Greeks  in  every  way.  Hasten,  therefore,  and  fly,  my  son, 
 while  yet  there  is  time.  To  strive  longer  were  useless.  I 
 will  guard  thee  safely  to  thy  father's  house." 
 
 She  spoke,  and  disappeared.  Then  Aeneas  hastened  on 
 'twixt  fire  and  foe,  until  at  last  he  reached  his  father's  house. 
 Anchises  however  refused  to  leave  his  native  city :  "  Ye, 
 who  are  young  may  fly,  but  leave  me  here  to  die  in  peace, 
 for  lame  and  useless  am  1,  since  the  day  that  Zeus  struck 
 me  with  his  thunderbolt."  Prayers  and  entreaties  were  of 
 no  avail,  the  old  man  refused  to  fly. 
 
 Then  Aeneas  cried  :  "  If  thou  wilt  not  go,  neither  will  I 
 leave  the  city ;  I  will  return  into  the  midst  of  the  fight,  till 
 death  meets  me,  while  ye  my  beloved  ones  are  murdered 
 here."  And  hastily  putting  on  his  armour,  he  was  about 
 to  hasten  forth,  when  his  wife  Kreusa  threw  herself  at  his 
 feet  and  holding  up  the  child  Ascanios  besought  him : 
 
 "  '  If  thou  art  on  thy  way  to  die,  then  bear  us  through  it  all  ; 
 But  if  to  thee  the  wise  in  arms  some  hope  of  arms  befall, 
 Then  keep  this  house  first  !     Unto  whom  giv'st  thou  Julus 
 
 life, 
 Thy  father's,  yea  and  mine  withal,  that  once  was  called  thy 
 wife.'" 
 
 — Virgil,  "/Eneid,"  Book  ii.  (Morris). 
 
 As  she  thus  wailed,  a  marvellous  portent  was  suddenly 
 seen  :  a  bright  flame  appeared  on  the  head  of  the  child, 
 but  without  doing  him  any  harm,  or  even  burning  a  single 
 hair. 
 
 Filled  with  terror,  they  tried  to  extinguish  it  with  water, 
 but  Anchises  exclaimed:  "Almighty  Jove!  if  our  prayers 
 can  move  thee,  look  down  in  pity  and  confirm  this  sign." 
 
45$  Destruction  of  Troy. 
 
 Scarcely  had  he  ended  when  a  loud  peal  of  thunder  crashed 
 through  the  air,  and  a  brilliant  star  with  a  shining  tail 
 darted  along  the  sky,  and  disappeared  behind  the  wooded 
 heights  of  Mount  Ida. 
 
 Anchises  no  longer  withstood  these  signs,  but  prepared 
 for  an  immediate  departure.  No  time  was  to  be  lost, 
 louder  and  louder  roared  the  flames,  nearer  and  nearer  came 
 the  stifling,  glowing  heat  of  the  conflagration,  which  was 
 devouring  the  doomed  city. 
 
 Pious  Aeneas  took  his  aged  father  upon  his  shoulders, 
 and  holding  Ascanios  by  the  hand,  bade  his  wife  follow 
 him.  The  rest  of  the  household  were  to  make  the  best  of 
 their  way  to  the  temple  of  Demeter,  which  stood  on  a  mound 
 outside  the  city,  shrouded  by  ancient  cypress-trees.  Here 
 they  were  all  to  meet,  and  having  committed  the  Penates 
 into  Anchises'  hands  for  safety,  they  started  forth  on  their 
 perilous  journey. 
 
 They  had  almost  reached  the  gates  when  the  sound  of 
 pursuing  footsteps  fell  upon  their  ears.  "  Obey  son,  my 
 son,"  cried  Anchises,  "get  thee  swiftly  away,  for  the  enemy 
 is  upon  us."  Terrified  Aeneas  stepped  aside,  and  waited 
 till  he  thought  it  was  safe  before  going  on  again.  At  last 
 he  reached  the  temple  of  Demeter,  but  to  his  dismay  his  wife 
 was  not  there  !  She  must  have  missed  her  way  in  the 
 darkness  of  the  night,  or  dropped  down  from  weariness  or 
 terror  !  Frantic  with  grief,  he  left  his  father  and  the  child 
 in  the  care  of  his  friends,  and  regardless  of  the  danger  to 
 himself  returned  again  to  the  burning  town.  In  vain  he 
 searched  all  the  streets  through  which  they  had  passed  ! 
 everything  was  silent  and  deserted.  He  reached  his  house, 
 but  there  found  Greeks  in  possession,  while  the  flames  rose 
 up  to  heaven.  At  last,  as  he  still  traversed  the  streets, 
 daring  even   in  the  dead  silence  of  night  to  call  aloud  : 
 
Destrttction  of  Troy.  459 
 
 "  Kreusa  !  Kreusa,"  the  spirit  of  his  wife  appeared  before 
 him. 
 
 Startled  at  the  sight,  his  hair  stood  on  end,  and  his  voice 
 froze  upon  his  lips,  so  that  he  could  not  utter  a  word. 
 "  Husband  beloved  !  why  dost  thou  thus  give  way  to  grief? 
 The  gods  have  willed  that  thy  wife  should  not  accompany 
 thee  from  Troy,  therefore,  farewell !  mourn  for  me  no 
 longer,  but  have  a  care  of  our  beloved  son."  So  saying 
 she  left  him.  Thrice  he  sought  to  clasp  her  in  his  arms, 
 but  each  time  she  escaped  from  him  like  a  fleeting  breath, 
 leaving  him  to  bear  his  sorrow  alone. 
 
 Aeneas  returned  to  the  temple  of  Demeter,  and,  aided  by 
 all  the  Trojans  who  had  escaped,  built  a  fleet  on  the  other 
 side  of  Mount  Ida,  in  which  they  set  sail  caring  not  whither 
 the  gods  might  lead  them.  Many  adventures  befel  them  as 
 they  went,  and  at  last  they  reached  the  Ionian  Sea,  and 
 landed  on  the  islands  of  the  Strophades,  where  dwelt  the 
 Harpies  after  they  had  been  driven  away  by  Phineus. 
 
 "  No  monster  woefuller  than  they,  and  crueller  is  none 
 Of  all  God's  plagues  and  curses  dread  from  Stygian  waters 
 
 sent. 
 A  winged  thing  with  maiden  face,         .... 
 
 and  hooked  hands,  and  face  for  ever  pale 
 With  hunger  that  no  feeding  stints." 
 
 — Virgil  "  /Eneid,"  Book  iii.  (Morris). 
 
 The  wanderers  did  not  at  first  notice  these  monsters,  but 
 seeing  only  beautiful  herds  grazing  near  the  shore  they  at 
 once  killed  some  of  them,  and  prepared  both  sacrifices  and 
 a  banquet.  They  were  about  to  set  down  and  partake  of 
 the  latter, 
 
 "  When,  lo,  with    sudden  dreadful    rush    from  out  the  moun- 
 tains hap 
 The  Harpy  folk,  and  all  about  their  clanging  wings  they  flap, 
 
460  Destruction  of  Troy. 
 
 And   foul  all  things  with  filthy  touch  as  at  the  food  they 
 wrench." 
 
 —  Virgil  "^Eneid,"  Book  iii.  (Morris). 
 
 The  Trojans  fled  to  a  narrow  valley,  and,  taking  refuge 
 in  a  thick  wood,  prepared  a  fresh  repast,  and  again  sat 
 down  : 
 
 "  Again  from  diverse  parts  of  heaven,  from  dusky  lurking  place, 
 The  shrieking  rout  with  hooked  feet  about  the  prey  doth  fly  ; 
 
 therewith  I  bid  my  company 
 To  arms,  that  with  an  evil  folk  the  war  may  come  to  pass. 
 They  do  no  less  than  my  commands,  and  lay  along  the  grass 
 Their  hidden  swords,  and  therewithal  their  bucklers  cover 
 
 o'er. 
 Wherefore,  when  swooping  down  again,  they  fill  the  curved 
 
 shore 
 With  noise,  Misenus  blows  the  call  from  off  a  watch-stead 
 
 high 
 With  hollow  brass  ;  our  folk  fall  on  and  wondrous  battle  try. 
 But  nought  will  bite  upon  their  backs,  and  from  their  feathers 
 
 still 
 Glanceth  the  sword,  and  swift  they  flee  up  'neath  the  stars  of 
 
 air, 
 Half-eaten  meat  and  token  foul  leaving  behind  them  there." 
 — Virgil  "  ^Eneid,"  Book  iii.  (Morris). 
 
 One  of  the  monsters,  Kelaino,  seating  herself  on  a  lofty 
 peak,  croaked  forth  this  prediction :  "  Descendants  of 
 Laomedon  !  In  that  ye  have  killed  their  herds  and  driven 
 the  sackless  Harpies  away  from  the  banquet,  ye  yourselves 
 ere  ye  reach  the  shores  of  Italy  shall  suffer  from  the  pangs 
 of  hunger  and  famine."  Then  she  flew  away,  and,  filled  with 
 terror,  the  Trojans  sailed  from  the  shores  of  the  Strophades, 
 and  turned  towards  Sicily.  On  the  way  Anchises  died,  and 
 at  length  Aeneas  and  his  companions  landed  on  the  coast 
 of  Italy,  where  the  prediction  of  the  Harpies  was  fulfilled. 
 
Return  of  Odysseus  from  Troy.         461 
 
 He  was  obliged  to  help  the  inhabitants  in  a  long  and 
 tedious  war,  during  which  he  was  often  in  the  greatest 
 straits  for  want  of  food.  In  the  end  he  conquered  and 
 found  rest  and  peace,  for  he  built  a  city  (Alba  Longa),  from 
 whence  later  on  Rome,  the  mistress  of  the  world,  was 
 to  rise. 
 
 XXXIX. — RETURN  OF  ODYSSEUS  FROM 
 TROY. 
 
 The  Greeks  had  now  at  last  conquered  Ilium,  but  many 
 and  various  were  the  mishaps  which  were  still  to  befall  them 
 on  their  way  home.  And  none  among  them  fared  worse 
 than  Ulysses,  or  Odysseus,  the  Grecian  form  of  his  name, 
 whose  adventures  have  been  related  by  Homer  in  his 
 <;  Odyssey."  It  is  to  the  account  of  the  great  poet,  therefore, 
 that  we  will  keep,  only  giving  first  the  following  short 
 sketch  of  the  early  history  of  Odysseus. 
 
 Ithaka,  one  of  the  Ionian  Islands,  was  the  native  land  of 
 Odysseus.  When  he  went  to  join  the  Trojan  war  he  left  at 
 home  his  aged  father  Laertes,  his  wife  the  beautiful  and 
 virtuous  Penelope,  and  his  young  son  Telemachos,  On  the 
 news  of  the  fall  of  Troy  reaching  Greece,  Penelope  daily 
 expected  the  return  of  her  beloved  husband.  But  year  after 
 year  passed  by  and  he  came  not,  until  everyone  said  that 
 he  must  have  perished  and  would  never  return  to  Ithaka. 
 Penelope  alone  refused  to  give  up  hope,  for  in  her  heart  she 
 felt  that  she  should  see  him  again. 
 
 In  the  meantime  a  number  of  youths,  some  writers  say 
 one  hundred  and  sixty,  mostly  princes  of  the  neighbouring 
 towns,  became  suitors  for  her  hand,  and,  while  awaiting  her 
 
462  Return  of  Odysseus  from  Troy. 
 
 decision,  lived  in  Odysseus'  palace  at  his  cost.  They  drank 
 his  best  wines,  devoured  the  finest  of  his  flocks,  and  gave 
 Penelope  no  rest  till  she  should  select  one  of  them.  In 
 order  therefore  to  gain  time  she  said,  "  Have  patience  yet  a 
 little  longer,  and  when  the  web  I  am  now  weaving  is  ready 
 I  will  make  my  choice."  But  she  only  spoke  thus  to 
 deceive  them,  for  the  work  she  had  spun  during  the  day 
 she  unravelled  again  at  night,  so  that  it  might  never  come 
 to  an  end. 
 
 Homer  begins  the  "Odyssey"  by  placing  Odysseus  on  the 
 island  of  the  nymph  Kalypso  (Malta),  who,  filled  with  love 
 for  the  great  hero,  would  not  let  him  go.  She  promised 
 him  perpetual  youth  and  strength  if  he  would  only  stay  with 
 her,  and  for  seven  years  he  remained  in  the  island,  but  an 
 irresistible  longing  for  his  native  land  and  loved  ones  filled 
 his  breast.  Daily  he  sat  on  the  shore  gazing  into  the 
 depths  of  the  sea,  weeping  and  yearning  for  a  sight  of  his 
 distant  home.  At  last  Athene  had  compassion  upon  him, 
 and  going  to  Zeus  said,  "  Deeply  does  it  grieve  me  to  see 
 Odysseus  thus  kept  in  the  island  of  Kalypso  by  her  evil 
 spells.  In  vain  she  flatters  him  and  tries  her  arts  upon 
 him ;  she  cannot  make  him  forget  his  home  in  Ithaka, 
 whither  he  would  gladly  return,  even  if  only  to  die.  Why 
 art  thou  still  wrathful  with  him,  O  mighty  Jove  ?" 
 
 "  Thou  art  mistaken,  my  daughter,"  answered  the  god  of 
 Heaven,  "  Odysseus  is  a  favourite  of  mine,  for  he  has  ever 
 been  ready  to  offer  up  sacrifices  and  burnt-offerings  in  my 
 honour.  It  is  Poseidon  who  persecutes  him  for  having  put 
 out  the  eye  of  his  son  Polyphemos,  one  of  the  Cyclops. 
 But  if  we  all  unite  in  helping  him  Poseidon  cannot  harm 
 him." 
 
 "If  that  is  indeed  thy  serious  earnest,"  replied  Athene, 
 "  then  send  Hermes  at  once  down  to  Kalypso's  isle,  and 
 
Journey  of  Tclemachos.  463 
 
 command  her  to  free  Odysseus.  I  myself  will  hasten  to 
 Ithaka  and  urge  Telemachos  to  go  to  Sparta  and  Pylos, 
 there  to  enquire  of  Menelaos  and  Nestor  as  to  his  father's 
 return." 
 
 Athene  fastened  on  her  golden  sandals,  with  which  she 
 could  cross  both  land  and  sea,  and  hurried  down  to  Ithaka. 
 There  she  assumed  the  form  of  Mentor,  king  of  one  of  the 
 neighbouring  islands.  When  she  arrived  at  the  palace  she 
 found  all  the  suitors  playing  at  quoits,  while  the  servants 
 cut  up  the  meat  and  brought  in  the  wine  for  the  banquet. 
 Young  Telemachos,  grown  a  tall  and  manly  youth,  was 
 seated  in  the  midst,  his  bosom  torn  with  hope  and  fear,  for 
 his  thoughts  were  with  his  lost  father,  wishing  he  would 
 return  to  drive  away  this  host  of  idle  suitors.  As  soon  as  he 
 noticed  the  goddess  at  the  door  he  instantly  rose  to 
 welcome  the  stranger  guest.  Leading  her  into  a  separate 
 chamber  he  bade  a  servant  bring  a  golden  ewer  and  silver 
 basin  to  wash  her  hands  ere  sitting  down  to  the  feast. 
 
 Soon  the  crowd  of  suitors  came  in,  took  their  seats  in  due 
 order,  partook  of  the  luxurious  banquet,  and  then  demanded 
 dances  and  songs  for  their  amusement,  upon  which  a  herald 
 presented  the  singer  Phemios  with  a  harp.  And  the 
 minstrel  passed  his  hand  over  the  strings  and  began  a 
 glorious  lay. 
 
 XL.— JOURNEY   OF   TELEMACHOS   TO 
 PYLOS   AND    SPARTA. 
 
 While  the  song  was  going  on,  Telemachos  took  his  seat 
 beside  the  goddess  and  conversed  with  her  apart.  He  told 
 her  how  he  longed  for  his  father's  return  to  free  his  mother 
 from  all  these  suitors,  but  that  he  greatly  feared  he  must 
 
464  Journey  of  Telemachos. 
 
 have  been  drowned  at  sea,  and  then  he  asked  who  she  was 
 and  whence  she  came.  Athene  replied  that  she  was 
 Mentor,  Odysseus'  old  companion  in  arms,  and  that  Tele- 
 machos need  not  despair  of  his  father's  return.  She  herself 
 did  not  understand  much  about  auguries,  but  the  gods  had 
 assured  her  that  he  had  been  detained  on  his  way,  and 
 would  now  soon  arrive. 
 
 Then  Mentor  urged  the  youth  to  tell  the  suitors  they 
 must  leave  the  palace  the  next  day;  and  he  himself  should 
 fit  out  a  vessel,  go  to  Nestor  in  Pylos,  and  afterwards  to 
 Menelaos  in  Sparta,  and  find  out  from  them  if  they  knew 
 where  Odysseus  was.  "  If  thou  hearest  that  he  is  dead,  then 
 erect  a  monument  to  his  memory,  and  let  your  mother 
 marry  again ;  but  try  and  rid  thee  of  the  suitors,  if  not  by 
 force,  then  by  stratagem." 
 
 The  next  morning  Telemachos  assembled  all  the  people, 
 as  well  as  the  suitors,  called  upon  the  former  to  stand  by 
 him  against  these  interlopers,  who  were  eating  him  out  of 
 house  and  home.  Antinoos,  the  most  overbearing  among 
 the  suitors,  rudely  replied  :  "  Why  complainest  thou  of  us  ? 
 it  is  thy  mother,  not  we,  who  is  in  fault.  For  four  long 
 years  she  has  kept  us  here  without  the  hope  that  she  would 
 choose  one  of  our  number,  as  soon  as  she  should  have 
 finished  the  web  she  was  weaving.  Now  we  learn  through 
 one  of  her  maidens  that  the  work  she  has  done  by  day  is 
 again  unravelled  at  night.  Hearken,  therefore,  to  our 
 determination  !  so  long  as  she  thus  trifles  with  us  we  will  not 
 take  our  departure,  but  will  remain  to  eat  of  thy  flocks  and 
 drink  of  thy  wines," 
 
 "  And  canst  thou  demand  of  me,"  replied  Telemachos, 
 "that  I  should  send  away  my  mother  for  being  faithful  to 
 my  father's  memory  ?  Would  she  not  at  once  summon  the 
 cruel  Erinnyes,  and  thus  bring  endless  evil  upon  me?     No, 
 
Journey  of  Telemachos.  465 
 
 never  shall  such  a  deed  disgrace  my  name  !  But  if  ye  are 
 lost  to  all  honour  and  shame,  and  will  not  return  to  your 
 own  lands,  then  will  I  ask  the  gods  for  help  to  drive  you 
 forth." 
 
 While  he  thus  spoke  Zeus  sent  two  eagles  down  from 
 the  mountains,  who,  after  hovering  threateningly  over  the 
 assembly,  fought  fiercely  for  some  moments,  and  then  flew 
 away  across  the  town.  All  were  amazed  at  the  divine  sign, 
 and  one  among  the  crowd  specially  gifted  in  auguries 
 cried :  "  Hearken  all  ye  suitors !  Some  great  danger 
 threatens  you.  Odysseus  must  be  near,  and  your  destruc- 
 tion is  at  hand,  for  I  remember  that,  when  he  started  for 
 Troy,  it  was  foretold  that  he  would  return  only  after  twenty 
 years,  and  after  having  passed  through  many  dangers." 
 
 Eurymachos  answered  angrily  :  "  Hush,  dotard  !  prophesy 
 at  home,  and  do  not  enrage  Telemachos  the  more  or  it  will 
 be  the  worse  for  thee.  Advise  him  rather  to  bid  the  queen 
 make  her  choice  among  us  :" 
 
 "  '  For  well  I  know  the  Achaians  till  that  day 
 Never  will  cease  from  their  rough  suit,  nor  spare 
 His  substance,  since  all-dreadless  we  for  no  man  care. 
 Not  even  Telemachus,  so  loud  of  speech — 
 No  ! — nor  the  oracle  which  thou,  old  man, 
 Dost  vainly,  to  thine  own  confusion,  preach.'*' 
 
 —Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  ii.  (VVorsley). 
 
 "  Enough,"  replied  Telemachos  ;  "  I  will  now  go  on  board 
 ship  with  twenty  of  my  companions  and  hasten  to  Pylos 
 and  Sparta,  there  to  find  what  has  chanced  to  my  father.  If 
 I  hear  that  he  still  lives  I  will  return  and  patiently  endure 
 for  yet  another  year,  but  if  on  the  contrary  he  is  dead,  I  will 
 erect  a  tomb  to  his  memory,  and  then  my  mother  may  select 
 another  spouse." 
 
 Thereupon  the  assembly  dispersed  noisily,  while  Tele- 
 2  G 
 
466  Journey  of  Telemachos. 
 
 machos  went  to  the  shore,  where  Athene,  still  disguised  as 
 Mentor,  accompanied  him,  gave  him  good  advice,  and  pro- 
 mised to  procure  a  ship  for  him.  He  then  returned  to  the 
 palace  in  order  to  arrange  about  the  necessary  provisions, 
 and  there  found  the  suitors  all  preparing  for  renewed  feast- 
 ing and  riot.  They  derided  him  with  taunting  words,  but 
 he  allowed  them  to  speak  without  noticing  their  scoffs,  and 
 ordered  wise  Eurykleia,  who  had  nursed  him  as  a  child,  to 
 bring  forth  some  measures  of  wheat  and  jars  of  wine  for  his 
 journey.  But  the  old  woman  cried  out  with  anguish  when 
 she  heard  his  purpose,  and  as  the  tears  ran  down  her  face 
 she  sobbed  : 
 
 "  'Ah  !  why,  dear  child,  this  voyage  hast  thou  vowed? 
 Whither  art  roaming  from  thy  native  nest, 
 The  sole  one  of  the  mother,  o'er  earth's  wide  breast  ? 
 Zeus-born  Odysseus  far  from  hence  hath  died 
 'Mid  stranger  peoples,  and  this  brood  unblest 
 When  thou  art  gone  will  evil  counsels  hide 
 To  cut  thee  off  unwares,  and  all  thy  wealth  divide. 
 Ah  !  bide  with  thine  own  people  here  at  ease. 
 There  is  no  call  to  suffer  useless  pain 
 Wandering  always  on  the  barren  seas.'  " 
 
 —Homer,  "Odyssey,"  Book  ii.  (Worsley). 
 
 Telemachos,  however,  consoled  the  faithful  old  servant, 
 telling  her  it  was  by  the  will  of  the  gods  that  he  undertook 
 the  journey,  only  he  commanded  her  to  say  nothing 
 about  it  to  his  anxious  mother,  until  after  the  twelfth  day  of 
 his  departure  : 
 
 " '  Lest  her  salt  tears  despoil  much  loveliness  with  woe.  " 
 
 Athene,  meanwhile,  disguised  as  Telemachos,  had  gone 
 through  the  city,  calling  the  men  together,  who  were  to  go 
 with   him,  and  had  also  succeeded  in  getting  a  ship  from 
 
Journey  of  Telemachos.  467 
 
 the  chieftain  Noemon.  Then,  as  evening  closed  in,  the 
 goddess  again  assumed  the  form  of  Mentor,  hurried  back 
 to  the  palace,  where  she  wrapt  the  suitors  in  a  deep  sleep, 
 and  urged  Telemachos  to  hasten  his  departure. 
 
 When  at  length  all  were  seated  in  the  vessel  Athene 
 herself  accompanied  her  young  favourite,  the  rowers  bent 
 to  their  oars,  and 
 
 "  Loud  and  clear 
 Sang  the  bluff  Zephyr  o'er  the  wine-dark  mere 
 Behind  them.     By  Athene's  hest  he  blew     .     .     . 
 Loudly  the  keel  rushed  through  the  seething  tide     .     .     . 
 All  night  the  ship  clave  onward  till  the  Dawn  upsoared." 
 — Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  ii.  (Worsley). 
 
 And  the  young  chief  offered  up  libations  to  the  gods,  in 
 especial  to  blue-eyed  Pallas,  their  protectress. 
 
 The  vessel  reached  Pylos  the  next  morning,  and  received 
 a  cordial  welcome  from  noble  Nestor.  He  could  not,  how- 
 ever, give  Telemachos  any  information  regarding  Odysseus, 
 for  after  Troy  had  fallen,  a  violent  dispute  had  arisen 
 between  Agamemnon  and  Menelaos,  the  former  wishing  to 
 remain  and  offer  sacrifices  to  Athene,  whom  he  had  offended, 
 whereas  Menelaos  wanted  to  return  home.  The  Greek 
 host  was  therefore  split  into  two  parties  :  Nestor  sided  with 
 Menelaos,  and  he,  Odysseus,  and  several  others  shipped  for 
 Tenedos,  where  they  stayed  to  offer  their  sacrifices.  Here, 
 however,  a  fresh  dispute  arose.  Odysseus  and  some  of  the 
 others  changed  their  minds  and  returned  to  Agamemnon, 
 so  that  only  Diomed  and  Menelaos  came  back  to  Greece 
 with  Nestor.  Since  that,  news  had  reached  him  that  Pyrrhos, 
 Philoctetes,  Idomeneus,  and  Agamemnon  had  returned 
 home,  but  of  Odysseus  he  knew  nothing.  He  therefore 
 advised  Telemachos  to  go  to  Sparta  and  see  Menelaos,  for 
 
468  Journey  of  Telemachos. 
 
 he  had  only  lately  returned  from  a  long  sea  voyage  after 
 visiting  various  distant  countries,  where  possibly  he  might 
 have  heard  something  of  Odysseus.  He  also  give  him  his 
 chariot  and  horses,  and  sent  his  son  Pisistratos  as  charioteer, 
 thus  enabling  Telemachos  to  make  the  journey  by  land. 
 
 When  they  reached  Sparta  they  were  kindly  received 
 also  by  Menelaos,  although  he  did  not  know  who  they 
 were.  While  seated  at  the  board,  the  talk  ran  on  Troy  and 
 its  fall,  and  Menelaos  was  unable  to  restrain  his  grief  at 
 the  death  of  his  brother  Agamemnon,  and  the  other  friends 
 who  had  once  fought  for  him.     And  concluded : 
 
 "'All,  all  I  weep; 
 And  yet  not  all  lament  so  much  as  one — 
 Whom  to  remember  robs  my  eyes  of  sleep, 
 My  lips  of  food  ;  since  of  the  Achaians  none 
 Hath  ever  toiled  as  he,  Odysseus,  toiled  and  won. 
 His  was  the  fate  to  suffer  grievous  woe, 
 And  mine  to  mourn  without  forgetfulness, 
 While  onward  and  still  on  the  seasons  flow, 
 And  he  yet  absent,  and  I  comfortless. 
 Whether  he  live  or  die  we  cannot  guess.'  " 
 
 —Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  iv.  (Worsley). 
 
 "  Perchance  his  loved  ones  mourn  him  now  as  dead." 
 
 These  words  cut  Telemachos  to  the  heart.  The  tears 
 started  from  his  eyes,  but  unwilling  to  let  others  witness 
 his  grief,  he  shaded  his  face  with  his  purple  mantle. 
 
 Menelaos,  however,  had  observed  him  closely,  and  struck 
 by  his  great  likeness  to  Odysseus,  which  Helen  had  also  re- 
 marked, concluded  that  his  stranger  guest  must  be  Tele- 
 machos. This  supposition  to  his  great  joy  was  confirmed  by 
 Nestor's  son.  "  O  gods  !  "  cried  Menelaos,  "  do  mine  eyes 
 indeed  behold  the  son  of  my  loved  friend  !  I  ever  planned 
 that  when  we  both  returned  from  Troy  I  would  then  give 
 
Journey  of  Telemachos.  469 
 
 Odysseus  a  city  in  my  land,  where,  with  Penelope  and 
 Telemachos,  he  might  dwell  in  peace,  and  we  should  live 
 together  as  brothers  till  death  came  to  dissolve  the  bond. 
 But  such  happiness  would  have  been  too  great  for  us,  and 
 the  gods  have  prevented  his  returning  home." 
 
 The  thought  of  Odysseus'  fate  brought  tears  to  the  eyes  of 
 all,  till  Nestor's  son  entreated  them  to  speak  of  other  things  : 
 
 " '  Let  not  your  roof  with  echoing  grief  resound, 
 Now  for  the  feast  the  friendly  bowl  is  crown'd  : 
 But  when,  from  dewy  shade  emerging  bright, 
 Aurora  streaks  the  sky  with  orient  light, 
 Let  each  deplore  his  dead.'  " 
 
 —Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  iv.  (Pope). 
 
 Menelaos  saw  the  wisdom  of  this  speech,  and  Helen,  to 
 help  assuage  their  grief,  mixed  a  philter  in  their  wine  the 
 virtues  of  which  she  had  learnt  in  Egypt,  for  it  drove  away 
 every  hidden  care  and  pain,  and  banished  all  thoughts  of 
 past  griefs. 
 
 Next  morning  Menelaos  enquired  what  happy  fate  had 
 brought  Telemachos  to  Sparta,  and  learnt  the  object  of  his 
 journey,  and  his  anxiety  for  his  father's  return  if  he  still 
 lived.  The  king  exclaimed  against  the  rapacity  of  the 
 suitors,  and  then  gave  an  account  of  his  own  wanderings. 
 
 "  On  my  way  from  Troy  the  gods,  angry  at  my  having 
 omitted  the  usual  sacrifices  in  their  honour,  long  detained 
 my  fleet  on  the  Egyptian  coast.  At  length  we  reached  the 
 isle  of  Pharos,  which  is  only  a  day's  sail  from  Egypt,  and 
 here  we  were  detained  by  contrary  winds  for  twenty  days 
 till  we  nearly  lost  all  hope  of  ever  seeing  our  native  land 
 again.  When  behold  !  fair  Eidothea,  daughter  of  the  sea-god 
 Proteus,  had  pity  on  us,  and  as  I  sat  fishing  on  the  shore  she 
 came  to  me  and  asked  why  we  thus  loitered  on  the  isle. 
 
 "  'Truly  not  from  choice,  O  immortal  one  !'  I  replied. 
 
470  Jozirney  of  Telemachos. 
 
 1 A  stronger  will  than  mine  keeps  us  here,  and  some 
 offended  god  doth  surely  hold  back  the  favouring  winds.' 
 
 "  *  Hearken,  O  king,'  thus  she  answered  me.  '  Here  on 
 this  coast  my  father  Proteus,  one  of  Poseidon's  subjects, 
 often  comes  on  shore,  and  having  the  gift  of  prophecy  he 
 can  tell  thee  how  best  to  get  away  from  here,  and  also  what 
 events  have  happened  in  thy  native  land  since  thy  departure. 
 But  to  accomplish  this  thou  must  use  both  care  and 
 stratagem.' 
 
 "  '  O  goddess/  then  I  cried,  '  tell  me  what  arts  to  use  that 
 I  may  thus  beguile  the  god.'     To  which  she  answered  : 
 
 "  '  What  time  the  sun  in  middle  heaven  is  stayed, 
 Veiled  in  dark  ripple,  Zephyr's  air  beneath, 
 Comes  up  the  god  to  sleep  in  cavern-shade. 
 Around  him  the  whole  sea-brood  slumbereth, 
 All  by  the  deep  respire  their  bitter  briny  breath. 
 There  will  I  take  you  when  the  Dawn  appears 
 And  set  you  couched  in  order.     Choose  thou  well 
 Three  comrades,  bravest  of  thy  mariners. 
 I  all  the  old  man's  sleights  to  thee  will  tell, 
 He  first  the  number  of  the  seals  will  spell, 
 And  then  lie  down,  like  shepherd  with  his  sheep. 
 Soon  as  ye  see  him  couched,  remember  well 
 Your  virtue,  and  in  iron  grasp  him  keep 
 Reluctant,  though  to  all  things  that  on  earth's  breast  creep 
 He  change,  and  water,  and  pretentious  fire. 
 You  all  the  while  clasp  harder,  strain  the  more. 
 When  your  purpose  shall  with  words  inquire, 
 In  the  same  figure  that  he  whilome  wore, 
 Loose  him,  and  ask  what  god  with  anguish  sore 
 Loads  thee,  and  how  the  wide  fish -teeming  sea 
 Thou  mayst  pass  over  to  thy  native  shore.' 
 
 —Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  iv.  (Worsley). 
 
 "  Then  the  beneficent  goddess  disappeared  into  the  depths 
 of  the  sea,  and  I  returned  on  board  the  ship. 
 
Journey  of  Telemachos.  471 
 
 "  Next  morning  when  the  daughter  of  the  Dawn  advanced 
 with  rosy  steps  across  the  sky,  I  and  my  companions  went 
 on  shore  and  prayed  to  the  gods  for  help  and  guidance. 
 Ere  long  Eidothea  rose  from  the  waves,  bearing  in  her  hand 
 four  seals'  skins,  which  she  had  just  taken  from  the  animals. 
 Then  having  scooped  a  hole  for  each  of  us  in  the  silvery 
 sand,  she  made  us  lie  down,  and  covered  us  with  the  skins  : 
 
 " '  Dire  was  the  ambush,  and  the  stench  severe. 
 
 Who  could  a  rank  sea-beast  at  such  close  quarters  bear  ? ' 
 —Homer,  "Odyssey,"  Book  iv.  (Worsley). 
 
 "  But  the  goddess, 
 
 "  '  Placed  ambrosia  near  the  lips  of  each, 
 
 Which  in  our  nostrils  breathed  an  odour  bland, 
 And  the  sea-monster's  stench  did  overreach.' 
 
 —Homer,  "  Odyssey/'  Book  iv.  (Worsley). 
 
 "  Thus  we  lay  the  whole  morning  perfectly  still.  At  last 
 when  the  sun  was  already  high  in  the  heavens,  the  seals 
 came  up  out  of  the  water  and  stretched  themselves  on  the 
 warm  sands  all  round  us. 
 
 "At  noon  Proteus  appeared,  counted  his  seals,  found 
 the  number  correct,  and  suspecting  no  treachery,  lay  down 
 to  rest.  When  we  saw  that  slumber  had  closed  his  eyes,  we 
 rushed  forth  with  a  loud  shout  and  seized  the  god.  He, 
 however,  at  once  made  use  of  his  art  and  changed  himself 
 into  various  forms  : 
 
 "'  Lion,  long-maned,  snake,  panther,  he  became  ; 
 Then  water,  and  a  tree  with  leafy  crest. 
 But  we  with  clench  of  iron  held  our  game, 
 Till  the  old  sea-god  tired  and  took  his  former  frame.' 
 
 — HOMER,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  iv.  (Worsley). 
 
 Then  spoke  tome:  ■  Say,  son  of  Atreus,  what  god  inspired 
 
47 2  yourney  of  Telemachos. 
 
 thee  with  this  daring  fraud,  and  what  is  the  boon  thou  dost 
 require  of  me  ? ' 
 
 "  And  I  replied,  '  O  seer,  canst  thou  tell  me  which  of  the 
 gods  it  is  that  keeps  me  here,  and  what  I  must  do  in  order 
 to  return  to  my  native  land  ?  ' 
 
 "  '  That  is  soon  answered,'  said  he  ;  '  thou  hast  forgotten 
 to  do  honour  to  Jove  and  all  the  gods,  therefore  thou  must 
 now  return  to  Egypt  and  sacrifice  great  hecatombs  to 
 expiate  thy  fault.  Not  till  this  has  been  performed  canst 
 thou  expect  a  favouring  gale.' 
 
 "  I  was  deeply  grieved  to  think  I  must  again  retrace  my 
 steps,  and  continued  still  to  question  him :  '  Tell  me, 
 great  Proteus,  have  all  the  Greeks  who  remained  in  Troy 
 when  Nestor  and  I  left  returned  in  safety  home."  And  he 
 vouchsafed  reply : 
 
 "  '  O  Menelaus,  son  of  Atreus,  why 
 Seek  a  sad  knowledge  ?     'Tis  not  meet  at  all 
 Thine  heart  should  learn  what  in  my  breast  doth  lie. 
 Too  soon,  alas  !  a  bitter  shower  would  fall, 
 Streamed  from  thy  smileless  eyes,  when  thou  hadst  heark- 
 ened all. 
 For  many  were  destroyed  and  many  left, 
 Yet  of  the  Achaian  leaders  died  but  twain, 
 Returning ;  {you  know  whom  the  battle  left)  ; 
 One  in  the  wide-realmed  ocean  doth  remain 
 Pent,  yet  alive  ;  and  Ajax  hath  been  slain 
 Among  his  ships.     For  by  Poseidon  led 
 He  unto  Gyrae's  cliffs  did  safe  attain, 
 And,  though  by  Pallas  hated,  might  have  fled 
 Destruction,  had  he  not  drawn  doom  on  his  own  head. 
 Flown  with  coarse  pride,  and  breathing  deep  disdain, 
 He  boasted  maugre  all  the  powers  on  high 
 That  he  had  safely  vanquished  the  great  main. 
 And  lo  !  Poseidon  heard  the  vauntful  cry, 
 
Journey  of  Telemachos.  473 
 
 And  with  his  trident  smote  imperiously 
 
 On  the  Gyraean  rock  a  thunderous  blow, 
 
 And  clave  it  ;  part  remained  and  part  did  fly 
 
 Seaward,  whereon  sat  Ajax  to  his  woe 
 
 Mouthing  vain  scorn.     So  sank  he  in  the  wild  sea  flow.'' 
 
 — Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  iv.  (Worsley). 
 
 "  He  also  told  me  of  my  brother  Agamemnon's  fate  on  his 
 return  home.  Thus  he  continued  the  tale  until  my  heart 
 was  well  nigh  breaking,  and  life  seemed  no  longer  to  have 
 any  brightness  left  in  it.  Sorely  I  wept  and  grieved  over 
 the  death  of  my  noble  brother,  until  at  length  the  sea-god 
 spoke  again  :  "  Wherefore  dost  thou  mourn  thus  hopelessly, 
 Menelaos?  Tears  cure  no  ills.  Rouse  thee  like  a  man 
 and  hasten  home,  attend  the  funeral  feast,  and  avenge  thy 
 brother."  Once  more  my  soul  received  back  hope,  the 
 thought  of  action  consoled  me,  and  I  further  enquired 
 which  of  the  Greeks  were  still  alive  and  had  not  reached 
 their  homes  : 
 
 " '  So  did  I  speak,  and  he  replied  once  more  : 
 '•  It  is  the  Ithacan,  Laertes'  child  ; 
 Yea,  mine  own  eyes  have  seen  him  weeping  sore 
 Pent  in  the  palace,  in  mid-ocean  isled 
 Of  that  celestial  nymph,  Calypso  styled. 
 She  her  reluctant  few  doth  aye  constrain  ; 
 Nor  can  he,  sailing  o'er  the  sea-deep  wild, 
 Gaze  on  the  rough  dear  fatherland  again, 
 Reft  of  both  oars  and  bark,  and  all  his  valiant  train. 
 But  thou,  Zeus-nurtured  one,  by  will  supreme, 
 Never  in  knight-famed  Argos  shalt  see  death. 
 Thee  to  Elysian  fields,  at  earth's  extreme, 
 The  gods  shall  convoy,  so  the  high-fate  saith, 
 Where  Rhadamanthus  aye  inhabiteth, 
 And  life  runs  smoothest  ;  whither  storm,  rain,  snow, 
 Come,  never ;  but  the  ocean-zephyr's  breath, 
 
474  Journey  of  Telemachos. 
 
 Winged  with  cool  ease,  o'er  happy  men  doth  blow  ; 
 Because  thou  Helen  hast,  and  child  of  Zeus  art  so.'" 
 
 — Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  iv.  (Worsley). 
 
 "  With  which  words  Proteus  dived  underneath  the  whirling 
 waves,  while  I  returned  on  board  and  sailed  back  to  Egypt. 
 There,  having  offered  the  required  sacrifices,  and  raised  a 
 cenotaph  to  Agamemnon's  name,  set  sail,  and  arrived  in 
 safety  at  home. 
 
 "  And  now,  young  prince,  tarry  with  me  for  ten  or  twelve 
 days,  when  I  will  speed  thee  hence,  laden  with  rich  gifts." 
 
 But  Telemachos  refused  this  gracious  offer,  for  he  said  his 
 companions  awaited  his  return  at  Pylos.  Menelaos  then  let 
 him  depart,  giving  him  as  a  farewell  gift  a  capacious  silver 
 goblet  chased  with  gold,  the  work  of  Hephaestos. 
 
 In  Ithaka,  meanwhile,  the  suitors,  learning  that  Telemachos 
 had  really  departed,  recognised  in  this  act  his  manly  and 
 independent  spirit,  and  by  advice  of  Antinoos  they  settled 
 to  kill  him  on  his  return.  Antinoos  therefore  manned  a 
 vessel,  and  lay  in  wait  for  him  at  the  spot  where  they  thought 
 he  would  most  probably  land.  The  herald  Medon,  how- 
 ever, overheard  their  consultations,  and  hastened  to  tell 
 Penelope.  Already  in  great  anxiety  about  her  son,  she  was 
 still  more  alarmed  when  she  heard  the  fresh  danger  which 
 threatened  him.  By  Eurykleia's  advice  she  bathed,  robed 
 herself  in  new  garments,  and  then,  attended  by  her  maidens, 
 ascended  to  the  roof  of  the  palace,  and  there  invoked 
 Athene's  aid  : 
 
 "  Hearken,  O  tireless  Virgin,  Zeus-born  maid  ! 
 If  here,  Odysseus,  in  the  seasons  gone, 
 Of  ox  or  sheep  choice  offerings  ever  made, 
 Remember  these  things  now,  and  save  my  son  ! 
 Make  those  hard-hearted  fall,  defeated,  and  undone." 
 —Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  iv.  (Worsley). 
 
Journey  of  Telemachos.  475 
 
 The  goddess  heard  her  prayers,  and,  when  Penelope  had 
 retired  to  rest,  sent  a  dream  in  the  guise  of  her  sister  who 
 stood  beside  her,  and  thus  spoke : 
 
 "  Liest  thou  here,  mine  own  Penelope, 
 With  thy  dear  spirit  drowned  in  pain  and  sleep  ? 
 The  easy-living  gods  have  pitied  thee  ; 
 Not  with  their  will,  dost  thou  lament  and  weep  ; 
 For  yet  thy  son  returneth  o'er  the  deep  ; 
 He,  no  offender  to  the  gods  doth  seem." 
 
 Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  iv.  (Worsley). 
 
 Still  wrapt  in  slumber  Penelope  told  her  sister  of  her 
 fear  that  Telemachos  would  be  slain,  but  the  shadowy  form 
 replied  : 
 
 "  '  Calm  now  thy  fears,  thy  fainting  heart  command. 
 For  such  a  safeguard  on  thy  son  doth  rest, 
 As  many  a  man  desires  his  own  life  to  invest. 
 For  she  is  able  and  hath  strength  to  save, 
 Pallas  Athene.     She  hath  heard  thy  cry, 
 And  to  my  care  but  now  this  message  gave 
 To  help  thee  fallen  in  perplexity.' " 
 
 —Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  iv.  (Worsley). 
 
 "If  thou  art  indeed  a  goddess,"  cried  Penelope,  "canst 
 thou  not  tell  me  if  Odysseus  is  yet  alive,  or  whether  he  has 
 already  descended  to  Hades." 
 
 But  the  phantom  cried  : 
 
 "  Whether  he  live  or  die  I  may  not  tell ; 
 But  words  like  these  are  idle  as  the  wind." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  iv.  (Worsley). 
 
 And  with  these  words  swiftly  vanished.  Penelope  awoke 
 and  hope  once  again  filled  her  heart,  as  she  determined  to 
 await  the  arrival  of  her  son. 
 
476  Shipwreck  of  Odysseus. 
 
 XLI„— SHIPWRECK   OF   ODYSSEUS. 
 
 With  the  first  blush  of  rosy  morn,  the  gods  again 
 assembled  in  consultation.  Athene  reminded  Zeus  that 
 he  had  not  yet  freed  Odysseus  from  the  wiles  of  Kalypso. 
 Immediately,  therefore,  Hermes  was  dispatched  to  the 
 island,  where  he  found  the  beautiful  nymph  seated  in  her 
 cool  grotto,  singing  melodiously  as  she  wove  a  web  with  her 
 golden  shuttle.  Hermes  delivered  Zeus's  message,  and 
 she  promised,  much  against  her  will,  to  obey  his  commands. 
 When  the  messenger  had  departed,  she  went  down  to  the 
 shore  where  Odysseus  sat  weeping  and  bemoaning  his  lot. 
 
 Approaching  him  softly,  the  nymph  thus  spoke  ;  "  Un- 
 happy prince  !  no  longer  waste  thy  time  in  idle  tears,  for 
 free  as  the  winds  I  give  thee  leave  to  depart.  Up  !  fell 
 trees  and  build  thee  a  raft,  on  which  thou  canst  cross  the 
 sea.  I  will  provide  thee  with  food  and  wine,  and  waft  thee 
 on  thy  way  with  prosperous  gales." 
 
 But  Odysseus  would  not  trust  her  words.  "  Surely,"  he 
 said,  "  thou  hast  some  other  motive  than  is  seen,  O  god- 
 dess !  and  art  only  preparing  fresh  misery  for  me  !  No,  I 
 will  not  trust  myself  on  so  slight  a  protection  as  a  raft,  unless 
 thou  wilt  swear  to  me  by  the  solemn  oath  of  the  gods  that 
 thou  hast  no  hidden  design  against  me." 
 
 Smilingly  Kalypso  answered  ; 
 
 " '  O  versed  in  wiles,  with  temper  filed  too  fine, 
 Still  thy  wit  plays,  nor  is  thy  cunning  dead. 
 Yet  may  the  heaven  that  bendeth  over  head, 
 Earth,  and  that  dark  stream,  rolling  evermore, 
 The  great  oath  Styx,  which  even  immortals  dread, 
 Know  that  I  mean  no  guile  in  my  heart's  core, 
 But  for  thy  use  I  plan  whate'er  I  should  explore."  . 
 
 —Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  v.  (Worsley). 
 
Shipwreck  of  Odysseus.  477 
 
 Once  again  she  offered  him  the  gift  of  immortality  if  he 
 would  remain  with  her,  but  he  refused  as  before.  "  Although 
 I  own,"  he  said,  "  that  thy  beauty  is  far  superior  to  that  of 
 Penelope,  yet  I  cannot  forget  her.  Daily  my  heart  longs  to 
 return  to  my  home  and  country.  Chide  me  not.  I  am 
 willing  to  bear  whatsoever  the  gods  may  have  in  store  for 
 me,  if  only  my  wish  is  granted." 
 
 Next  morning  Odysseus  began  to  cut  down  trees,  and  on 
 the  fourth  day  the  raft  was  ready.  On  the  fifth  he  took 
 leave  of  Kalypso,  and,  with  a  joyful  heart,  spread  his  sail  to 
 catch  the  prosperous  winds.  Thus  he  journeyed  on  for 
 seventeen  days,  and  on  the  eighteenth  he  beheld  before  him, 
 in  the  distance,  a  beautiful  island.  This  was  Scheria,*  where 
 dwelt  the  happy  race  of  the  Phaeaces. 
 
 Before  he  could  reach  the  shore,  however,  Poseidon,  who 
 had  just  returned  from  Ethiopia,  saw  him,  and  shaking  his 
 azure  locks,  cried  angrily  :  "  Great  heavens  !  the  gods  must 
 surely  have  reversed  his  sentence  !  Not  thus,  however,  shall 
 he  escape  my  wrath,  if  my  sceptre  still  rules  the  watery 
 main  :" 
 
 '"Therewith  the  clouds  he  marshalled,  and  the  wave 
 Smote  with  his  trident,  stirring  the  wild  deep, 
 And  loosed  the  blasts  of  all  the  winds  that  rave. 
 O'er  earth  and  main  he  bade  the  dark  clouds  sweep, 
 And  night  came  rushing  from  heaven's  stormy  steep. 
 Fiercely  the  sky-born  north,  south,  east  and  west, 
 Blow  their  wild  chorus,  and  the  rough  waves  leap 
 In  thunder." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  v.  (Worsley). 
 
 Kalypso   was    terrified    at  sight    of    the    fearful    storm. 
 
 "  Alas  !  "  he  cried,  "  how  can  I  survive  this  ?     Surely  mighty 
 
 Jove  himself  must  have  swelled  this  tempest.     What  raging 
 
 winds  !  what  roaring  waters  !     O  thrice  happy  those  who  fell 
 
 *  Now  Corfu. 
 
478  Shipwreck  of  Odysseus. 
 
 on  the  field  of  Troy.  Would  that  I  also  had  died,  that  day 
 the  Trojan  lances  fell  around  me."  While  he  thus  spoke  a 
 mighty  wave  reared  its  crested  head  and  rushed  over  him, 
 covering  the  raft,  and  drawing  him  down  into  the  surging 
 waters.  With  great  difficulty  he  at  last  succeeded  in  regain- 
 ing the  raft,  and  was  driven  now  north,  now  south,  now 
 east,  now  west,  till  the  goddess  Leukothea,  seeing  his  need, 
 took  pity  on  him,  and  rising  from  the  depths  of  the  swelling 
 surges,  placed  herself  beside  him  on  the  raft. 
 
 This  infused  fresh  courage  in  the  fainting  heart  of  the 
 hero,  and  Leukothea  gave  him  her  veil,  telling  him  to  gird 
 himself  with  it  and  to  jump  into  the  water.  Having  reached 
 the  shores  of  Phaeacia  he  was  to  throw  it  back  into  the 
 waves.  Then  she  disappeared  under  the  rushing  waters. 
 Odysseus,  however,  fearing  that  this  was  but  some  fresh 
 design  of  Poseidon's  by  which  to  get  him  off  the  raft,  deter- 
 mined to  remain  as  long  as  it  would  hold  together.  But 
 while  he  was  still  debating  what  to  do,  the  angry  ocean  god 
 sent  a  mighty  wave  which,  bursting  over  him  with  fearful 
 force,  tore  the  planks  asunder. 
 
 One  of  these  planks  Odysseus  grasped,  and  getting  upon 
 it  cast  aside  his  cumbrous  garments,  and  girded  himself  with 
 Leukothea's  veil.  Then  he  let  go  the  plank,  and  boldly 
 breasted  the  heaving  billows. 
 
 Poseidon  watched  him  sternly,  and  then  said  contempt- 
 uously :  "  Go  forth  then  on  thy  watery  way  till  thou  reach 
 the  island  of  Phaeacia;  whate'er  thy  fate  thou  wilt  not 
 easily  forget  my  wrath,"  and  turning  round  his  sea-horses  he 
 dived  down  to  his  glistening  palace  beneath  the  ocean. 
 Athene  then  ordered  the  winds,  which  had  raged  fiercely 
 for  three  days,  back  to  their  caves,  keeping  Boreas  alone  to 
 waft  Odysseus  gently  to  the  neighbouring  coast.  Great  was 
 his  delight  when  he  saw  it  so  close,  but  the  nearer  he  came 
 
Odysseus  in  Phaeacia.  479 
 
 the  louder  grew  the  dull  roar  of  the   breakers  which  lay 
 between  him  and  the  coveted  shore : 
 
 "  Full  on  the  coast  the  great  waves'  thunder-shocks 
 Roll,  and  afar  the  wet  foam-vapours  fall. 
 No  roadstead,  no  haven  seemed  at  all." 
 
 —Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  v.  (Worsley). 
 
 Uncertain  whether  to  land  here,  he  was  about  to  swim 
 further  on  when  a  monstrous  wave  carried  him  straight  to 
 the  rocky  shore.  Wildly  he  clung  to  a  jutting  cliff  to  pre- 
 vent the  waters  drawing  him  in  again.  But  a  second  wave, 
 mightier  than  the  first,  tore  him  from  his  hold  and  threw 
 him  back  into  the  seathing  billows. 
 
 Now  he  would  indeed  have  been  lost  had  not  Leukothea's 
 veil  again  saved  him.  By  its  aid  he  battled  stoutly  with 
 the  angry  sea  till  at  length  he  reached  a  sandy  beach,  and 
 weary  and  exhausted  with  pain  and  hunger,  lay  down  almost 
 lifeless  on  the  Phaeacian  shore.  When  he  recovered  con- 
 sciousness, he  took  the  veil  as  the  goddess  had  commanded, 
 and  threw  it  back  into  the  sea,  after  which  he  went  to  seek 
 a  resting-place.  Entering  a  wood  close  by,  thick  with  an 
 undergrowth  of  brushwood,  he  made  a  soft  bed  of  leaves, 
 and  covering  himself  completely  so  that  no  one  could  see 
 him,  was  soon  wrapped  in  peaceful  slumbers. 
 
 XLII.— ODYSSEUS    IN    PHAEACIA. 
 
 The  King  of  Scheria,  Alkinoos,  famed  for  his  wisdom  and 
 kindness,  had  a  fair  daughter  named  Nausikaa,  whose  beauty 
 was  equalled  by  her  bravery  and  courage.  To  her,  Athene, 
 leaving  the  heights  of  Olympos,  appeared  in  a  dream,  taking 
 the  form  of  her  favourite  friend,  and  thus  addressed  her: 
 "  O  indolent  one  !  thus  wasting  thine  hours  lying  idly  there 
 
480  Odysseus  in  Phaeacia. 
 
 when  the  bridal  morn  is  so  near,  and  thou  wilt  have  need 
 of  all  thy  finest  garments.  Arise  !  and  neglect  thy  duties 
 no  longer  : 
 
 "  '  These  are  the  things  whence  good  repute  is  born, 
 And  praises  that  make  glad  a  parent's  breast.5 
 
 —Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  vi.  (Worsely). 
 
 Therefore,  with  the  first  streaks  of  dawn,  hasten  to  the 
 stream  and  I  will  join  thee  in  thy  labours  there.  Ask  a 
 chariot  from  thy  father, 
 
 "  '  Which  to  the  place  of  washing  shall  convey 
 Girdles  and  robes  and  rugs  of  splendid  hue. 
 This  for  thyself  were  better  than  essay 
 Thither  to  walk—  the  place  is  distant  a  long  way.' " 
 
 -  Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  vi.  (Worsley). 
 
 As  soon  as  Nausikaa  awoke  she  hurried  to  her  parents, 
 and  meeting  her  father  at  the  door  :  "  Dear  father,"  she 
 asked,  "wilt  thou  grant  my  prayer,  and  let  me  have  the 
 royal  car,  that  I  may  take  all  my  garments  down  to  wash 
 them  at  the  stream  ?  " 
 
 Alkinoos  willingly  consented,  and  the  mules  having  been 
 harnessed,  and  the  clothes,  food,  and  wine  put  in,  Nausikaa 
 herself  sprang  into  the  car,  and  taking  the  reins  drove  off. 
 Arrived  at  the  shore  she  and  her  attendants,  a  bevy  of 
 bright  damsels,  soon  finished  their  labours,  and  having 
 spread  the  garments  to  dry  on  the  golden  sands,  they  sat 
 down  to  rest  and  refresh  themselves  with  food.  Then  laying 
 aside  their  veils,  they  began  with  merry  laughter  to  play  ball, 
 while  Nausikaa  with  her  sweet  voice  sang  to  them.  Their 
 game  finished,  they  prepared  to  return  home,  when  Nausikaa, 
 stooping  down,  picked  up  the  ball  and  threw  it  at  one  of 
 her  companions.  It  missed,  and,  directed  by  Athene,  fell 
 into   the   water,  whereat   they  all  screamed   aloud.      The 
 
Odysseus  in  Phaeacia.  4cS  i 
 
 noise   awoke  Odysseus,   who,   rising   from  his   leafy   bed, 
 exclaimed  : 
 
 "  '  Ay  me  !  what  mortal  souls  inhabit  here  ? 
 Despiteful,  wild,  unjust  ? — or  love  they  well 
 The  stranger,  and  the  immortal  gods  revere  ? 
 Surely  but  now  the  female  cry  did  swell 
 Of  virgin  nymphs  who  in  the  mountains  dwell, 
 Or  haunt  the  cradles  whence  the  rivers  flow, 
 Or  green  slopes  of  the  fountain-trickling  dell — 
 Am  I  with  men  that  human  language  know  ? 
 Come,  I  will  soon  explore  what  cheer  these  coasts  bestow.'  " 
 — Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  vi.  (Worsley). 
 He  then  proceeded  to  make  himself  a  girdle  of  twisted 
 branches,  and   stepped   forth   from   the  leafy  covert.      At 
 sight  of  him,  half-naked,  dirty,  and  with  matted  and  tangled 
 hair,  Nausikaa's  companions  all  fled  in  terror,  taking  him 
 for  some  wild  mountain  spirit.    She  alone,  brave  and  gentle, 
 waited  to  see  if  she  could  help  the  stranger.     Odysseus,  still 
 keeping  at  a  distance,  entreatingly  petitioned  her :  "  Fair 
 maid,  or  goddess !  lend  a  pitying  ear  to  my  sad  tale  !     If 
 thou  art  a  goddess  then  thou  must  be  Artemis,  for  none 
 other  hath  so  stately  a  presence.      But  if  thou  art  a  mortal, 
 happy  the  father  and  mother  who  possesses  so  beautiful  a 
 daughter,  and  happier  still  the  man  who  shall  one  day  lead 
 thee  home  as  his  bride.      Lady,  I  bend  a  suppliant  before 
 thee.      Great  are  the  misfortunes  which  have  befallen  me. 
 For  twenty  days  and  nights  have  I  been  tossed  about  help- 
 lessly on  the  stormy  ocean,  till,  cold  and  faint,  the  waves  at 
 last  threw  me  on  to  the  rocks  of  this  island,  where  I  lay 
 bruised  and  stunned  until  your  voices  woke  me.     O  have 
 compassion  upon  me,  for  I  know  not  the  people  of  this 
 land.      Shew  me  the  city,  tell  me  where  I  may  supply  my 
 wants,  and  I  beseech  thee  give  me  some  garments  in  which 
 to  wrap  myself: 
 
 2  H 
 
482  Odysseus  in  Phaeacia. 
 
 "  '  And  unto  thee  the  heavenly  gods  make  flow 
 Whate'er  of  happiness  thy  mind  forecast, 
 Husband  and  home  and  spirit-union  fast  ! 
 Since  nought  is  lovelier  on  the  earth  than  this, 
 When  in  the  house  one-minded  to  the  last 
 Dwell  man  and  wife — a  pain  to  foes,  I  wis, 
 And  joy  to  friends — but   most  themselves   know  their  own 
 bliss.'" 
 
 — Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  vi.  (Worsley). 
 
 Then  Nausikaa  spoke  gently  to  him  :  "  Do  not  fear,  O 
 stranger,  whosoe'er  thou  art  ;  since  fate  has  thrown  thee  on 
 our  shores,  thou  shalt  want  for  neither  food  nor  clothing. 
 Know  that  the  Phaeacians  inhabit  this  island,  and  I  myself 
 am  daughter  to  Alkinoos,  their  great  king,"  and  turning  to 
 her  companions  she  cried :  "  Come  back,  ye  coward 
 maidens  !  wherefore  do  ye  fly  ?  This  is  no  foe,  but  an 
 unfortunate  stranger  who  craves  our  care  and  pity.  Hasten, 
 therefore,  bring  hither  food  and  wine,  and  garments  where- 
 with he  may  clothe  himself." 
 
 Obedient  to  her  call,  the  attendants,  gathering  courage 
 from  their  mistress,  hastened  to  place  a  royal  robe  and 
 sweet-scented  ointments  in  a  sheltered  nook  beside  the 
 river.  Athene  then  endowed  her  favourite  with  fresh 
 beauty,  that  he  might  therewith  impress  the  Phaeacians 
 when  he  came  forth  from  his  refreshing  bathe.  Robed  in 
 splendid  apparel,  Nausikaa  was  amazed  at  the  marvellous 
 change. 
 
 The  attendant  maidens  supplied  Odysseus  with  food  and 
 wine,  and  of  these  he  eagerly  partook,  glad  to  appease  his 
 hunger.  Nausikaa,  having  replaced  the  rest  of  the  garments 
 in  the  car,  took  her  seat,  and  said:  "Fair  stranger  arise, 
 and  come  with  us  to  the  town,  where  I  will  take  thee  to  my 
 father's  palace.  Thou  canst  walk  with  my  maidens  beside 
 the  carriage  till  we  come  to  the  gates,  but  once  we  enter 
 
Odysseus  in  Phaeacia.  483 
 
 the  city  I  will  go  on  alone,  for  the  people  are  a  proud  and 
 haughty  race,  and  might  bring  a  slur  on  my  spotless  name, 
 saying,  'What  stranger  is  this  who  follows  Nausikaa,  and 
 where  could  she  have  found  him  ?  Perchance  he  is  from 
 some  distant  shore,  and,  disdaining  all  in  this  realm,  she  has 
 chosen  him  as  her  future  lord.'  And  thus  we  should  both  be 
 blamed;  and  justly,  for  we  should  ever  shun  offence. 
 Remain,  therefore,  outside  the  city  walls,  and  when  thou 
 thinkest  I  have  reached  my  home,  go  into  the  town,  and 
 seek  my  father's  dwelling,  any  child  will  guide  thee.  Once 
 entered  there  go  on  through  all  the  rooms,  until  thou 
 comest  to  the  queen,  surrounded  by  a  circle  of  bright 
 damsels,  weaving  a  web  of  wondrous  beauty.  My  father 
 sits  beside  her  on  his  royal  throne,  but  pass  him  by,  and  to 
 the  queen  disclose  thy  mournful  tale.  May  thine  eloquence 
 so  prevail  that  she  may  give  her  willing  aid  to  speed  thee 
 back  unto  thy  native  land." 
 
 So  saying  the  princess  drove  on,  and  Odysseus  followed 
 the  car  until  they  reached  a  grove  of  trees  outside  the  town, 
 where  he  stopped  and  prayed  to  Athene  for  help.  She 
 heard  his  prayer,  and  wrapped  him  in  a  thick  cloud,  so  that 
 he  might  reach  the  king's  palace  in  safety.  When  he 
 entered  the  city,  the  goddess  approached  him  in  the  guise 
 of  a  young  girl  carrying  a  pitcher,  and,  not  knowing  who  she 
 was,  he  asked  her  the  way  to  the  dwelling  of  Alkinoos. 
 
 "Willingly  will  I  be  thy  guide,"  she  replied,  "  for  my 
 good  father  lives  close  by."  And  she  led  the  way,  past  the 
 ships,  the  great  high  walls,  and  along  the  streets  of  magni- 
 ficent buildings.  Arrived  at  the  palace,  she  encouraged 
 him  to  enter  boldly,  and  at  once  to  address  himself  to  the 
 Queen  Arete,  the  wife  of  Alkinoos, 
 
 "  And  loved  and  honoured  as  no  wives  elsewhere, 
 Such  as  in  these  days  on  the  earth  are  seen, 
 
484  Odysseus  in  Phaeacia. 
 
 Find  honour  ;  yea,  like  reverence  she  doth  bear 
 
 From  children,  house,  and  people  as  her  rightful  share. 
 
 Oft  as  she  walks  along  the  stately  street, 
 
 Her  all  the  people  like  a  goddess  hail 
 
 Beholding,  and  with  salutations  greet, 
 
 Since  of  a  noble  mind  she  doth  not  fail. 
 
 Yea,  where  she  list  good  kindness  to  entail 
 
 Even  of  men  the  quarrels  to  unbind 
 
 Not  seldom  her  well-tempered  words  avail.'  " 
 
 —Homer,  "  Odyssey,  Book  vii.  (Worsley). 
 
 As  he  paused  outside  the  palace  debating  what  he  should 
 say,  Odysseus  was  struck  with  the  splendour  of  the  buildings. 
 The  pillars  were  of  silver,  the  doors  of  gold,  the  walls  of 
 brass,  and  on  each  side  was  a  row  of  gold  and  silver  dogs 
 wrought  by  the  cunning  hand  of  Hephaistos.  Inside,  along 
 the  walls,  were  seats  for  all  the  princes  who  attended  the 
 banquets,  covered  with  rich  tapestry,  while  rich  carpets  lay 
 spread  around  on  the  floors.  Instead  of  sconces,  figures 
 of  golden  youths  held  the  torches  at  the  nightly  feasts,  and 
 fifty  women  were  kept  continually  at  work  weaving  or 
 grinding  corn. 
 
 Still  invisible  to  outward  eyes,  Odysseus  went  through  the 
 halls  and  flung  himself  at  the  feet  of  Arete.  Immediately 
 the  vale  of  night  fell  from  him,  and  all  gazed  with  amaze- 
 ment at  the  strange  man  who  prayed  so  eloquently  and 
 earnestly  for  a  gracious  reception.  Then  bowing  his  head 
 in  great  humility  he  sat  down  on  the  hearth  amid  the  ashes. 
 When  he  had  finished  speaking  a  general  silence  ensued, 
 until  at  length  the  eldest  of  the  princes  spoke :  "It  becomes 
 thee  not,  O  great  Alkinoos,  to  let  a  stranger  sit  in  the  dust. 
 Stretch  forth  thine  hand,  and  give  the  guest  his  due." 
 
 Then  the  king  raised  up  Odysseus,  led  him  to  a  seat,  had 
 water  brought  for  him  to  wash  his  hands,  and  placed  before 
 
Odysseus  in  Phaeacia.  485 
 
 him  a  table  amply  provided  with  food  and  wine.  Then  all 
 having  pledged  him  with  their  goblets,  the  king  said : 
 "  Hearken  ye  chiefs  !  it  is  late,  we  must  retire  to  rest ;  but 
 to-morrow  morning  we  will  assemble  here  in  council,  and 
 settle  by  what  means  we  may  transport  the  stranger  to  his 
 native  shore.  Who  knows,  perchance  our  guest  may  be  a 
 god  himself." 
 
 "Not  so,"  returned  Odysseus  modestly,  "neither  in  growth 
 nor  stature  do  I  resemble  the  immortals.  I  am  but  an 
 unfortunate  man  who  could  relate  many  a  wonderful 
 tale  of  all  the  sorrows  he  has  endured.  But  first  let  me 
 appease  the  pangs  of  hunger,  for 
 
 " '  Nothing  more  shameless  is  than  Appetite, 
 Who  still,  whatever  anguish  load  our  breast, 
 Makes  us  remember  in  our  own  despite 
 Both  food  and  drink.' 
 
 —Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  vii.  (Worsley). 
 
 Thus  even  I.  notwithstanding  my  sore  trouble,  cannot  do 
 without  the  necessary  food ;  but  ye,  O  chiefs,  hasten  to 
 accomplish  what  ye  have  proposed,  that,  with  the  early 
 dawn,  I  may  return  unto  my  native  land." 
 
 The  princes  promised  to  do  all  that  lay  in  their  power, 
 and  then  retired  to  rest.  When  they  had  all  gone,  and 
 Odysseus  was  left  alone  with  Alkinoos  and  Arete,  the  latter 
 noticing  that  the  garments  the  stranger  wore  were  some 
 which  had  been  woven  by  her  own  hand,  asked  him 
 whence  he  had  received  the  robes,  and  where  he  came 
 from. 
 
 Then  he  told  her  about  Kalypso,  how  she  had  kept 
 him  at  Ogygia  for  seven  long  years,  how  when  at  last  she 
 let  him  go  he  had  been  nearly  drowned  at  sea,  and  how  he 
 had  now  been  cast  upon  their  shores  by  the  waves.     Then 
 
486  Odysseus  in  Phacacia. 
 
 he  finished  his  tale  by  launching  forth  in  praise  of  Nausikaa 
 and  her  kindness  to  him. 
 
 "  Only  one  thing  do  I  blame  her  for,"  said  the  king ; 
 "  she  should  at  once  have  brought  thee  to  my  house." 
 
 "  Blame  her  not  for  that,"  answered  Odysseus,  "  she  bade 
 me  follow  her  attendants,  but  I  refused,  thinking  that  thou 
 mightest  deem  it  presumptuous  hadst  thou  seen  it. 
 
 "  *  For  we  the  sons  of  men  were  ever  a  jealous  breed.' " 
 
 And  now  Arete  having  ordered  a  soft  couch  to  be  prepared 
 for  the  wanderer,  he  rested  more  soundly  than  on  the  leaves 
 in  the  wood  the  night  before. 
 
 As  soon  as  Eos  had  tinted  the  sky  with  rosy  red,  and 
 opened  the  golden  gates  for  Helios,  Alkinoos  and  Odysseus 
 rose  from  their  couches  and  repaired  to  the  market  place 
 to  sit  in  council  with  the  princes.  Athene,  in  guise  of  a 
 herald,  went  through  the  city  calling  the  chiefs  together, 
 and  when  they  were  all  assembled  Alkinoos  addressed  them. 
 In  mute  astonishment  they  gazed  at  the  stranger,  who  by 
 the  goddess's  aid  had  been  endued  with  every  grace,  and 
 now  appeared  among  them  like  a  god. 
 
 The  king  told  them  how  Odysseus  had  been  thrown  by 
 the  stormy  sea  upon  their  island,  and  had  come  to  ask  him 
 if  he  would  further  him  upon  his  way  home.  "  Up  then  ! 
 my  people,"  he  continued,  "  launch  him  a  swift  vessel  with 
 all  speed.  Let  fifty-two  of  our  bravest  sailors  prepare  to 
 accompany  him  ;  and  when  all  is  ready,  come  ye  every  one 
 to  my  palace  and  feast  ere  you  depart.  Meanwhile,  ye 
 princes,  let  us  conduct  the  stranger  back  to  the  palace,  and 
 prepare  a  banquet  worthy  of  him ;  also  summon  the  blind 
 singer  Demodokos,  whose  songs  are  sweeter  than  all  others, 
 that  he  may  rejoice  us,  both  with  harp  and  song." 
 
 The  king's  commands  were  speedily  carried  out,  the  ship 
 was  soon  in  readiness,  and  before  long   the   palace   was 
 
Odysseus  in  Phaeacia.  487 
 
 thronged  with  people  going  in  and  out.  When  they  were 
 seated  at  the  banquet,  the  bard  took  his  harp,  and  sang  to 
 them  of  the  deeds  of  the  heroes,  whose  fame  reached  to 
 the  skies,  and  specially  of  the  combat  between  Odysseus  and 
 Achilleus.  Now  none  of  the  Phaeacians  had  any  idea  that 
 Odysseus,  the  much  praised  hero  of  the  song,  was  sitting 
 there  among  them.  He,  himself,  was  moved  to  tears  by 
 the  pathos  of  the  singer,  and,  to  hide  his  emotion,  he  buried 
 his  face  in  his  purple  robe  and  did  not  uncover  it  till  the 
 song  was  ended.  When,  however,  Demodokos  commenced 
 again,  Odysseus  was  fain  once  more  to  hide  his  face  in  his 
 mantle.  Alkinoos,  seeing  this,  brought  the  song  to  a  close, 
 and  proposed  withdrawing  to  the  outer  court,  there  to  have 
 games  for  the  amusement  of  their  guest. 
 
 The  most  skilled  among  the  youths  then  started  various 
 contests  in  racing,  leaping,  wrestling,  quoits,  and  boxing. 
 When  they  had  finished,  they  came  up  and  entreated 
 Odysseus  :  "  Fair  stranger,  wilt  thou  not  essay  thy  strength 
 in  a  contest?  Thy  frame  bespeaks  thee  strong  and  mighty, 
 no  doubt  thy  skill  is  equal  to  thy  strength." 
 But  Odysseus  answered : 
 
 "  '  O  Laodamas,  my  friend, 
 Why  of  my  woes  do  ye  this  mockery  make, 
 And  lightly  bid  me  on  your  games  attend  ? 
 Less  toward  such  pastime  than  to  grief  I  bend 
 My  spirit.     Ere  this  many  toils  I  bore, 
 .Much  suffering  drained.     Now,  dreaming  of  the  end. 
 Here  I  sit  with  you  on  this  crowded  shore, 
 And  king  and  people  urge  with  supplication  sore.' " 
 
 — Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  viii.  (Worsley). 
 
 Then  one  of  the  youths  answered  slightingly:  "Perchance 
 the  stranger  cares  not  to  show  his  want  of  skill ;  mayhap 
 he  is  a  merchant  or  a  sailor  in  pursuit  of  gain,  and  not  a 
 warrior  able  to  compete  in  games  like  these." 
 
488  Odysseus  in  Phacacia. 
 
 Incensed  at  the  taunt,  Odysseus  answered  with  a  frown  : 
 "  Thy  speech,  O  youth  !  is  both  forward  and  unwise.  The 
 gods  bestow  their  gifts  with  partial  hand,  and  seldom  is 
 one  man  endowed  at  once  with  strength  and  beauty, 
 eloquence  and  wisdom.  Thou,  for  example,  art  brave  in 
 combat,  but  thou  wantest  both  wisdom  and  understanding. 
 I  am  no  such  novice  to  these  games  of  skill  as  thou  dost 
 imagine,  but  until  lately,  with  the  best  held  rank  at  will, 
 now,  however,  I  am  bowed  down  with  grief  and  sorrow. 
 But  I  will  accept  the  contest  to  which  thou  hast  challenged 
 me,  for  thy  words  have  stung  me  deep  this  day." 
 
 Then  stooping  jquickly  to  the  ground,  he  lifted  a  quoit, 
 thicker  and  heavier  than  those  used  by  the  Phaeacians, 
 and  fiercely  flinging  it  from  his  hand,  it  rushed  whizzing 
 through  the  air  with  such  force  and  power,  that  the 
 bystanders  involuntarily  stooped  to  avoid  it.  As  it  went 
 far  beyond  the  mark,  Odysseus  greatly  elated,  cried  : 
 
 "  '  Come  on  now  !  soon  will  I  a  second  throw 
 As  far  or  farther.     Whoso  list  to  try, 
 Let  him  come  forward  and  his  manhood  show  ; 
 For  ye  have  fired  my  soul  exceedingly. 
 Box,  wrestle,  or  run  races — what  care  I  ? '" 
 
 — Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  viii.  (Worsley). 
 
 All  had  gazed  in  amazement  at  the  feat,  but  Alkinoos 
 said :  "  Thou  hast  indeed  surpassed  us  in  these  games  of 
 skill  and  strength,  and  we  know  thy  worth,  and  that  thou 
 art  loved  by  Jove.  But  in  order  that  thou  mayest  give  us 
 some  praise  on  thy  return  to  thy  native  land,  know  that  in 
 the  dance,  the  race,  and  on  the  ocean,  we  are  masters." 
 So  saying,  he  ordered  Demodokos  to  play  on  his  harp, 
 while  the  youth  danced,  and  sang  songs  of  the  olden 
 time. 
 
Odysseus  in  Phacacia.  489 
 
 When  the  song  and  dance  were  ended  loud  applause 
 rent  the  air,  and  Odysseus  exclaimed :  "It  is  with  justice, 
 O  king,  that  thou  boastest  thy  dancers  to  be  the  best  in  the 
 world  !  I  am  lost  in  surprise  and  admiration  at  the  sight, 
 they  far  exceed  all  that  I  have  ever  seen."  This  praise  so 
 delighted  the  king  that  he  proposed  that  all  the  princes 
 should  bring  gifts  for  the  stranger.  Then  each  of  them 
 gave  him  an  embroidered  vest  and  robe,  and  a  talent  of  the 
 purest  gold.  Even  the  youth  Eurualos,  who  had  at  first 
 spoken  so  slightingly  to  him,  gladly  came  forward  to  make 
 amends,  and  gave  him  a  splendid  sword  in  an  ivory  sheath, 
 with  these  words : 
 
 "  '  Hail,  guest  and  father  !     If  were  said  or  clone 
 Aught  unbecoming,  now  from  where  we  stand 
 Let  the  winds  whirl  it  in  oblivion  ! 
 And  thee,  long  grieved  and  friendless,  from  our  strand 
 Heaven  render  back  to  wife  and  fatherland.'" 
 
 —Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  viii.  (Worsley). 
 
 To  which  Odysseus  answered  : 
 
 " '  Friend,  thou  too  thrice  hail  ! 
 Heaven  give  thee  blessings  with  an  open  hand, 
 And  for  this  dear  sword  no  regrets  entail, 
 Offered  with  welcome  words  mine  ire  to  countervail.'" 
 — Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  viii.  (Worsley). 
 
 Alkinoos  then  placed  the  gifts  in  a  polished  chest,  round 
 which  Odysseus  fastened  a  band  with  many  cunning  knots  to 
 prevent  any  of  his  treasures  being  stolen  during  his  home- 
 ward journey.  Then  having  bathed  and  been  anointed,  for 
 all  befriended  him,  although  as  yet  they  did  not  know  who 
 the  stranger  was,  he  returned  magnificently  robed  to  the 
 hall,  where  the  chiefs  were  already  seated  at  the  banquet. 
 
 Nausikaa  timidly  gazed  at  him  with  wondering  eyes,  ami 
 said :  "  Thou   art  about   to  leave  us  now,  O  stranger,  but 
 
490  Odysseus  in  Phacacia. 
 
 when  thou  readiest  thine  own  shores  wilt  thou  remember  to 
 whom  thou  owest  thy  rescue  ?  " 
 
 "  Royal  maiden,"  replied  the  hero,  "  may  the  gods  grant 
 to  me  a  safe  and  prosperous  voyage  home,  and  as  long  as 
 the  spirit  is  in  this  body,  I  will  daily  remember  thee,  and 
 ever  think  of  the  noble  Nausikaa  as  the  preserver  of  my  life." 
 Then  having  taken  his  seat  beside  the  king  the  feast  began. 
 A  herald  led  the  blind  bard  to  his  place  beneath  a 
 sculptured  arch,  and  Odysseus  cut  him  the  best  piece  from 
 the  chine  of  boar,  for 
 
 "  All  mortals  reverence  pay 
 That  tribe  whose  voice  the  loving  muse  made  sweet, 
 And  taught  their  fingers  on  the  harp  to  play." 
 
 — Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  viii.  (Worsley). 
 
 Then  he  asked  the  bard  to  sing  the  tale  of  the  Greeks 
 before  Troy,  and  how  Odysseus  and  the  other  heroes  hid 
 themselves  in  the  wooden  horse  until  the  final  destruction 
 of  the  city  ;  but  as  the  song  proceeded  grief  again  filled  his 
 heart,  the  tears  sprang  to  his  eyes,  and  he  was  again  forced 
 to  hide  his  face  in  his  mantle.  Alkinoos  noticed  it,  and 
 hearing  his  deep  sighs  the  king  cried  :  "  Cease  thy  song, 
 Demodokos,  for  ever  since  thou  hast  begun  thy  lay  our 
 guest  here  sighs  with  grief;  some  terrible  sorrow  must 
 surely  oppress  him,  and  weighs  down  his  heart,  and  as  our 
 banquet  is  in  his  honour  we  must  strive  to  chase  all  sadness 
 away  from  him.  But  now,  O  stranger,  tell  us  thy  name,  who 
 thy  parents  are,  and  to  what  land  thou  belongest,  that  our 
 vessels  may  carry  thee  back  thither  ;  for  the  ships  of  the 
 Phaeacians  are  not  as  other  ships,  they  know  whither  they 
 have  to  sail  without  heed  of  guidance.  Tell  us  therefore 
 how  and  from  whence  thou  earnest  to  us,  what  strange 
 lands  thou  hast  seen,  and  why  the  wars  of  the  Greeks 
 before  Troy  affect  thee  so  mightily." 
 
The  Kikones,  Lotophages,  and  Kuklopes.     49  r 
 
 XLIII. — THE     KIKONES,      LOTOPHAGES, 
 AND    KUKLOPES. 
 
 Odysseus  thereupon  began  :  "  Since  it  is  thy  wish,  O  great 
 Alkinoos,  to  hear  my  tale,  I  will  gladly  tell  thee  the  story  of 
 all  my  mishaps;  but  first  of  all  I  will  disclose  my  name. 
 
 "  I  am  Odysseus,  son  of  Laertes,  king  of  Ithaka,  of  whose 
 deeds  thou  hast  no  doubt  already  heard.  After  I  and  ray 
 companions  sailed  away  from  Troy,  the  wind  carried  us  to 
 the  land  of  the  Kikones.  I  burnt  their  town,  carried  off  the 
 men,  and  divided  the  women  and  treasure  among  my  people. 
 They,  however,  against  my  wishes  stopped  to  revel  and 
 feast  on  the  shore  ;  the  Kikones,  meantime,  who  had  es- 
 caped called  their  island  neighbours  to  aid  them,  and 
 coming  down  to  the  shore,  overwhelmed  us  with  great  force. 
 The  whole  day  we  fought,  but  towards  evening  we  had  to 
 give  in,  six  of  our  number  lay  dead,  and  the  rest  only  es- 
 caped with  great  difficulty  to  the  ships.  On  our  departure, 
 mighty  Jove  sent  a  frightful  storm  upon  us,  heaven  and 
 earth  were  wrapped  in  total  darkness,  and  o'er  the  watery 
 waste  Boreas  raged  with  fearful  fury,  the  sails  were  rent  in 
 shreds,  and  the  vessels  tossed  helplessly  about  on  the  waves. 
 
 "  At  last,  when  the  wind  somewhat  abated,  we  passed  the 
 foreland  of  Malea,*  and  hoped  soon  to  reach  our  native 
 shores,  when,  lo  !  another  hurricane  arose,  and  drove  us 
 away  to  the  south,  far  away  to  the  flowery  land  of  Lotos. 
 Here  we  landed,  and  I  sent  three  of  my  companions  and  a 
 herald  to  the  inhabitants,  whose  only  food  is  the  lotus  plant, 
 which  yields  a  juice  as  sweet  as  honey.  The  Lotophages 
 received  the  messengers  gladly,  and  gave  them  some  lotus 
 
 *  The  most  southern  point  of  the  Peloponnesus. 
 
49 2     The  Kikones,  Lotophages,  and  Knklopes. 
 
 fruit  to  eat ;  but  this  juice  has  the  peculiarity  that  whoever 
 once  tastes  it  thinks  no  more  of  his  home,  and  thus  it  fared 
 with  my  companions.  They  thought  no  more  of  their  native 
 land,  and  wept  tears  of  regret  and  sorrow  when  I  took  them 
 away  by  force,  and  made  them  again  handle  their  oars. 
 
 "  Next  we  came  to  the  land  of  the  Kuklopes  (Sicily),  where 
 the  inhabitants  need  not  to  cultivate  the  soil,  for  wheat, 
 barley,  and  wines  of  all  sorts  grow  without  care  or  trouble. 
 The  Kuklopes  live  in  caves  hollowed  out  in  the  mountains, 
 and  have  no  laws,  each  one  rules  his  own  family.  Not  far 
 from  their  country  lies  a  small  and  fruitful  island,  quite  un- 
 inhabited save  by  wild  goats.  Here,  under  cover  of  the 
 night,  we  were  driven  by  the  winds  into  a  sheltered  harbour. 
 We  landed,  and,  shooting  a  number  of  the  goats,  satisfied 
 our  hunger,  and  refreshed  ourselves  with  some  of  the  red 
 wine  that  we  had  brought  away  from  the  Kikones. 
 
 "  In  the  distance  we  saw  the  home  of  the  Kuklopes,  with  its 
 column  of  smoke  rising  towards  the  sky,  and  even  heard  the 
 voices  of  the  inhabitants  and  the  bleating  of  the  flocks  and 
 herds.  Next  day  I  said  to  my  companions :  '  Remain  ye 
 here,  while  I  take  one  of  the  ships  and  go  across  to  find  out 
 what  the  inhabitants  are  like.' 
 
 "  So  I  sailed  across,  leaving  the  eleven  other  ships  behind. 
 Having  landed  we  saw,  close  to  the  shore,  a  gigantic  cave 
 almost  hidden  by  laurel  bushes,  and  in  front  of  it  a  large 
 enclosure  surrounded  by  rocks  and  fir  and  oak  trees.  Here 
 sheep  and  goats  rested  at  night,  when  they  returned  home 
 from  their  distant  pasture.  Within  the  cave  lived  a  creature 
 of  enormous  stature,  not  like  a  human  being  either  in  face 
 or  figure,  but  a  perfect  monster. 
 
 "  I  chose  out  the  twelve  most  valiant  of  my  shipmates,  and 
 commanded  the  others  to  guard  the  ship  while  we  went  to 
 the  cave.      Then  providing  myself  with  a  leather  bottle, 
 
The  Kikones,  Lotophagcs,  and  Kn /dopes.    493 
 
 filled  with  rich  red  wine,  and  a  basket  of  provisions,  we 
 entered  the  giant's  abode.  It  was  empty,  for  he  had  gone 
 off  with  his  flocks ;  but  the  sides  were  lined  with  cheeses,  a 
 number  of  kids  and  lambs  were  in  the  stable  at  the  back, 
 and  all  the  buckets,  pails,  and  basins  standing  about  were 
 filled  with  milk. 
 
 "  My  companions  besought  me  to  take  possession  of  the 
 food  and  hurry  away,  but  I  wished  to  remain  and  see  the 
 giant  himself.  So  we  first  offered  up  a  sacrifice  to  the  gods, 
 and  then  sat  down  to  refresh  ourselves  with  milk  and 
 cheese. 
 
 "  Presently  we  heard  a  distant  bleating,  nearer  and  nearer 
 it  came,  and  then  we  felt  the  earth  tremble  beneath  the 
 footsteps  of  the  giant  as  he  strode  along.  At  last  he  entered 
 the  cave,  bearing  on  his  back  a  mighty  pine  log,  which  he 
 threw  down  with  a  tremendous  crash ;  while  we,  not  wishing 
 to  be  seen,  crouched  down  at  the  back  of  the  cave. 
 
 "  Then  the  Kuklopes  drove  in  the  sheep  and  goats,  and 
 having  milked  them  took  up  a  great  piece  of  rock  and 
 blocked  up  the  entrance.  Next  he  proceeded  to  drink  half 
 the  quantity  of  milk  he  had  obtained,  and  putting  away  the 
 rest  for  his  supper  went  to  light  the  fire,  when  the  flames, 
 lighting  up  the  inside  of  the  cave,  suddenly  disclosed  us  to 
 his  eyes.  '  Who  are  ye  that  dare  thus  to  enter  the  cave  of 
 Poluphemos  ? '  he  roared  in  a  voice  of  thunder.  '  Have 
 come  to  rob  me  ?  ' 
 
 "  At  these  rough  words  our  hearts  began  to  fail  us,  but 
 recovering  quickly  I  replied :  '  We  are  Greeks  returning 
 from  Troy,  and  the  gods  have  driven  us  hither  on  our  way. 
 Be  not  wrathful  with  us  therefore,  but  deal  hospitably  with 
 us,  for  surely  thou  dost  reverence  the  decrees  of  the  gods ; 
 more  especially  that  Zeus  himself  ever  shows  kindness  to 
 strangers.' 
 
494     The  Kikones,  Lotophages,  and  Kit k lopes. 
 
 "  '  Thou  art  a  fool  thus  to  speak  to  me  of  the  gods,'  cried 
 the  Kuklopes  angrily ;  '  we  care  not  for  Zeus  or  any  of  the 
 gods,  for  we  are  superior  to  them  all ;  if  therefore  I  spare 
 thee  it  will  not  be  on  their  account,  but  because  I  please. 
 Tell  me  now  where  lies  the  ship  that  brought  thee  hither  ? ' 
 
 "  Knowing,  however,  that  he  only  asked  this  in  order  to 
 obtain  possession  of  the  vessel,  I  answered  :  '  Alas  !  alas  ! 
 ■Poseidon  destroyed  it  when  he  drove  us  on  this  shore.' 
 
 "  No  reply  did  the  Kuklopes  make,  but  frowning  savagely 
 he  turned  and  seized  two  of  my  comrades,  dashed  them 
 against  a  stone,  and  devoured  them  for  his  supper.  At  this 
 terrible  sight  we  cried  out,  and  raising  our  hands  entreat- 
 ingly  towards  great  Jove,  implored  his  help  and  succour. 
 His  hunger  satiated,  the  monster  now  lay  down  to  sleep, 
 and  as  I  heard  his  loud  snores  I  thought  how  easy  it  would 
 be  to  pierce  him  with  my  sword,  and  thus  put  an  end  to 
 his  existence.  But  just  in  time  I  remembered  that  if  Polu- 
 phemos  were  killed,  no  one  would  be  able  to  remove  the 
 huge  stone  he  had  placed  at  the  entrance  of  the  cave,  and 
 thus  we  should  still  all  perish  miserably. 
 
 "  Now  night  had  come  on,  and  wearily  the  hours  passed, 
 until  at  length  when  the  first  dim  rays  of  early  dawn  pene- 
 trated through  the  tiny  chinks  between  the  top  of  the  stone 
 and  the  cave,  the  giant  rose,  relighted  his  fire,  milked  his 
 flocks,  and  then  devoured  two  more  of  my  unfortunate 
 companions.  Next  he  shoved  aside  the  stone,  let  out  his 
 sheep  and  goats,  and  replaced  it  as  before,  so  that  none  of 
 us  could  get  away.  I  now  began  to  think  seriously  over 
 every  possible  scheme  by  which  we  might  escape,  for  if  we 
 remained  the  giant  would  surely  devour  us  all.  At  last  my 
 eye  caught  the  monster's  huge  club  of  olive  wood,  big  as 
 the  mast  of  a  ship,  lying  on  the  ground  far  back  in  the 
 cave.     From  this  I  cut  off  a  piece  as  large  as  a  man  could 
 
The  Kikones,  Lotopkages,  and  Kuklopes,    495 
 
 lift,  and  told  my  companions  to  smooth  it,  while  I  sharpened 
 the  end,  which  having  been  done  we  laid  it  carefully  away. 
 Then  we  all  drew  lots  as  to  who  should  drive  the  stake  into 
 the  one  eye  of  the  Kuklopes  while  he  was  asleep,  and  the 
 lot  fell  on  four,  and  I  was  the  fifth,  and  chosen  to  be  their 
 captain. 
 
 "  In  the  evening  Poluphemos  returned,  and  having  milked 
 his  herd  as  before,  again  seized  two  of  my  companions  for 
 his  evening  repast.  Then  I  went  up  to  him  holding  the 
 big  skin  of  wine  in  my  hands,  poured  out  a  bowl  full,  and 
 said  : 
 
 "  '  Cyclops,  take  wine,  and  drink  after  thy  meal 
 
 Consumed  of  human  flesh,  that  thou  mayest  know 
 The  kind  of  liquor  wherein  we  sailors  deal. 
 This  a  drink-offering  have  I  brought,  that  so 
 Thou  mightest  pity  me,  and  let  me  go 
 Safe  homeward.     Thou,  alas  !  with  fury  extreme 
 Art  raving,  and  thy  fierceness  doth  outgrow 
 All  bounds  of  reason.     How  then  dost  thou  dream 
 Others  will  seek  thy  place,  who  dost  so  ruthless  seem  ?'" 
 —Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  ix.  (Worsley). 
 
 "  Greedily  he  drank  it  off  at  one  draught  and  begged  me 
 to  refill  the  bowl :  '  Give  me  more  of  this  honey  sweet 
 wine,  this  celestial  nectar,'  he  cried,  '  and  tell  me  thy  name, 
 O  stranger,  that  I  may  do  thee  a  kindness  in  return  for  this 
 delicious  draught."  I  refilled  the  beaker  thrice,  by  which 
 time  he  had  grown  heavy  and  stupid,  then  I  said,  "  My 
 name  is  Noman,  by  this  title  I  am  always  known,  now  1 
 trust  that  thou  wilt  not  forget  thy  promise  to  do  me  a 
 kindness.' 
 
 "  '  Receive  the  promised  boon,  my  friend,'  he  said  : 
 '  Noman  will  I  devour  last  of  all.  That  is  the  kindness 
 that  I   mean  to  show  thee.'      And  as  he   finished  he  fell 
 
496     The  Kikones,  Lotophagcs,  and  Kuklopes. 
 
 down  on  his  couch,  and  his  heavy  snores  soon  resounded 
 through  the  cave. 
 
 "  Quick  as  thought  I  plunged  the  stake  into  the  still  glow- 
 ing embers,  and  when  it  began  to  burn,  I  cried  out  to  my 
 companions  not  to  fear,  for  now  our  time  was  come.  With 
 beating  hearts  they  approached  the  monster,  and  swiftly 
 I  drove  the  burning  stake  into  the  great  eye  in  the  centre 
 of  his  forehead,  while  my  companions  helped  to  push  it 
 still  further  in.  As  it  pierced  him,  he  sent  forth  a  dreadful 
 groan,  which  resounded  through  the  inmost  recesses  of  the 
 cave.     Then 
 
 "  '  He  the  stake  wrenched  forth  amain     .     .     . 
 And,  bursting  forth  into  a  mighty  yell, 
 Called  the  Cyclopes,  who  in  cave  and  lair 
 'Mid  the  deep  glens  and  windy  hill-tops  dwell. 
 They,  trooping  to  the  shriek  from  far  and  near, 
 Ask  from  without  what  ails  him.' 
 
 -—Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  ix.  (Worsley). 
 
 "  '  What  fearest  thou,  Poluphemos  ? '  they  cried,  '  why  dost 
 thou  thus  disturb  our  slumbers  with  thy  cries?  Is  any  one 
 stealing  thy  flocks?  or  trying  to  slay  thee  by  craft  or 
 violence?' 
 
 "  '  O  friends/  cried  the  frenzied  Poluphemos,  '  Noman  is 
 killing  me  by  craft  and  violence.' 
 
 "  When  they  heard  this  the  Kuklopes  were  angry,  and  they 
 answered  him :  *  If  no  man  is  killing  thee,  why  dost  thou 
 thus  cry  out  ?  Pain  and  sickness  are  sent  to  thee  by  the 
 gods  ;  if  therefore  sickness  has  o'ertaken  thee,  we  cannot 
 help  thee.  Pray  to  thy  father  Poseidon  for  aid.'  And  they 
 strode  away  from  the  cave,  while  I  rejoiced  at  the  success 
 of  my  artifice. 
 
 "  The  blind  giant  now  arose ;  groaning  loudly,  he  groped 
 
The  Kikones,  Lotophages,  and  Kit h lopes.    497 
 
 about  with  his  hands  until  he  came  to  the  entrance  of  the 
 cave,  where,  removing  the  huge  stone,  he  seated  himself  on 
 the  ground  with  his  arms  extended.  '  No  one  can  go  out 
 from  hence,'  he  said,  '  for  if  they  attempt  to  pass  by  me, 
 I  shall  be  certain  to  seize  them.'  Meanwhile  I  had  thought 
 over  various  schemes,  and  at  last  succeeded  in  outwitting 
 him. 
 
 u  Among  the  herd  were  some  splendid  rams,  and  these  I 
 fastened  together  in  threes  with  willow  bands.  Then  under 
 each  centre  ram  I  tied  one  of  my  companions,  and  reserv- 
 ing the  largest  animal  for  myself,  I  clung  to  the  thick  wool 
 under  his  body  with  both  hands,  and  waited  anxiously  for 
 the  coming  morn. 
 
 "  No  sooner  did  the  first  streaks  of  daylight  appear  than 
 all  the  animals  sprang  up  ready  to  go  out  to  the  meadow. 
 The  giant  only  felt  their  backs  as  they  passed  him,  and 
 their  fleeces  being  very  thick,  he  did  not  discover  the 
 willow  bands  which  fastened  on  my  companions.  Last  of 
 all  came  the  great  ram  that  bore  me,  walking  slowly  along. 
 Poluphemos  stopped  him,  and  mournfully  spoke  : 
 
 "  '  Ah  !  mine  own  fondling,  why  dost  linger  now 
 So  late  ? — far  other  wast  thou  known  of  old. 
 With  lordly  steps  the  flowery  pastures  turn 
 First  ever  seekest,  and  the  waters  cold, 
 First  two  at  eve  returnest  to  the  fold. — 
 Now  last  of  all— dost  thou  thy  master's  eye 
 Bewail,  whose  dear  orb,  when  I  sank  controlled 
 With  wine,  this  Noman  vile  with  infamy, 
 Backed  by  his  rascal  crew,  hath  darkened  treacherously. 
 O  hadst  thou  mind  like  mine,  and  couldst  address 
 Thy  master,  and  the  secret  lair  confess 
 Wherein  my  wrath  he  shuns,  then  should  his  brain 
 Dashed  on  the  earth  with  hideous  stamp  impress 
 2  1 
 
49  8    The  Kikones,  Lotophages,  and  Kuklopes. 
 
 Pavement  and  wall,  appeasing  the  fell  pain 
 Which  from  this  Noman-traitor  nothing-worth  I  drain.' 
 —Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  ix.  (Worsley). 
 Then  he  allowed  the  ram  to  follow  the  rest. 
 
 "  As  soon  as  it  had  gone  a  short  distance  from  the  cave,  I 
 freed  myself,  and  then  untied  my  companions.  We  drove 
 the  animals  before  us,  and  soon  reached  the  ship,  where 
 our  comrades  rejoiced  greatly  at  our  return.  When,  how- 
 ever, they  began  to  lament  over  the  fate  of  their  murdered 
 friends,  I  warned  them  to  keep  silence  and  to  depart  with 
 all  speed.  Pushing  off  to  sea,  we  soon  cleared  the  shallows, 
 but  were  still  near  enough  to  make  our  voices  heard  on 
 shore.  Therefore  I  called  out  to  the  Kuklopes  :  '  Cruel 
 Poluphemos  !  those  whom  thou  hast  devoured  have  not 
 remained  unavenged  !  thy  breach  of  hospitality  has  brought 
 on  thee  a  well  merited  punishment.' 
 
 "  These  words  of  defiance  made  the  giant  furious,  and  rising 
 he  broke  off  great  pieces  of  rock  and  hurled  them  after  us. 
 One  huge  fragment  came  whizzing  through  the  air,  and  fell 
 so  close  to  our  ship  that  the  water  dashed  up  round  us  in 
 tremendous  waves,  driving  us  back  to  land,  but  I  quickly 
 shoved  off  the  vessel,  and  my  comrades  rowed  with  all  their 
 might ;  thus  we  soon  were  out  of  reach  of  danger.  When  we 
 had  got  away  twice  the  distance,  I  could  not  resist  once 
 again  shouting  to  the  giant :  '  Hearken,  Kuklopes.  If  ever 
 any  man  asks  who  blinded  thee,  tell  him  it  was  Odysseus.' 
 
 "  When  Poluphemos  heard  this  he  cried  out :  '  Alas,  then 
 the  prophecy  has  come  true  !  an  augur  once  foretold  that  a 
 man  named  Odysseus  should  deprive  me  of  my  sight,  but  I 
 thought  it  would  have  been  some  great  hero,  a  man  almost 
 as  strong  as  myself.  Now  a  weak  pigmy,  a  miserable 
 creature  has  blinded  me,  and  that  not  by  strength,  but  by 
 means  of  wine  and  cunning.    But  stay,  Odysseus,  come  back 
 
The  Kikones,  Lotophagcs,  and  Kuklopcs.    499 
 
 to  the  shore  again  that  I  may  treat  thee  as  an  honoured 
 guest,  and  I  will  ask  my  father  Poseidon,  who  no  doubt  will 
 also  heal  my  eye,  to  befriend  thee  on  thy  way.' 
 
 "  To  which  I  answered  :  '  Would  that  I  were  as  certain  of 
 sending  that  huge  carcase  of  thine  to  the  Underworld  as  I 
 am  that  Poseidon  cannot  restore  thy  sight'  Then  seeing  he 
 could  not  induce  me  to  return,  Poluphemos  stretched  his 
 hands  towards  heaven  and  cried  : 
 
 "  '  Hear  now,  great  monarch  of  the  raven  hair  ; 
 Holder  of  earth,  Poseidon,  hear  my  cry, 
 If  thou  my  father  art  indeed,  and  I 
 Thy  child  !     Or  ever  he  the  way  fulfil, 
 Make  thou  Laertes-born  Odysseus  die, 
 Waster  of  walls  !  or  should  the  high  Fates  will 
 That  friends  and  home  he  see,  then  lone  and  late  and  ill 
 Let  him  return  on  board  a  foreign  ship, 
 And  in  his  house  find  evil.'" 
 
 —Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  ix.  (Worsley). 
 
 "  Poseidon  heard  his  prayer,  and  as  the  giant  hurled  a  still 
 larger  piece  of  rock  than  before  after  our  vessel,  the  sea  god 
 caused  great  waves  to  rise  when  the  rock  struck  the  water  so 
 that  we  were  almost  drowned.  Fortunately  we  escaped, 
 however,  and  succeeded  in  reaching  the  island  where  the 
 rest  of  the  vessels  lay.  There  was  great  rejoicing  among 
 all  our  shipmates  when  they  saw  us,  and  we  divided  the  sheep 
 and  goats  among  them.  I  still  retained  the  large  ram,  and 
 now  sacrificed  it  to  Zeus,  but  the  great  father  disdained 
 my  offering,  for  anger  was  burning  against  us  in  his  heart. 
 
 "  The  following  morning  we  got  on  board,  and  sailed  away 
 from  the  island,  glad  thus  to  have  escaped  from  the  jaws  of 
 death,  even  should  fresh  dangers  still  be  in  store  for  us." 
 
500     Account  of  the  Aeolian  Islands,  &c. 
 
 XLIV.  —  ODYSSEUS'  ACCOUNT  OF  THE 
 AEOLIAN  ISLANDS  (LIPARl),  THE 
 LAISTRYGONEN,    AND    KIRKE. 
 
 Odysseus  continued  thus : 
 
 "  '  So  to  Aeolia  came  we  on,  where  dwelt 
 Aeolus,  god-loved  child  of  Hippotas. 
 All  round  the  island  stretched  a  lucid  belt, 
 Based  on  the  sheer  rock,  a  long  mount  of  brass. 
 There  his  twelve  children  the  sweet  seasons  pass, 
 Six  sons,  six  daughters  (each  hath  wedded  one), 
 And  evermore  lies  piled  a  fragrant  mass 
 Of  dainties  on  the  board  from  sun  to  sun, 
 While  with  their  mother  dear  and  sire  they  still  feast  on 
 Round  the  fair  court  the  steamy  halls  all  day 
 Murmur.     At  night  .... 
 
 Each  on  elaborate  couch  of  fine  array 
 Sleeps.     We  came  down  unto  their  beauteous  place  ; 
 And  a  whole  month  with  feast  and  courtly  grace 
 He,  the  king,  loved  me,  and  did  ask  me  there 
 Of  I  lion  and  the  ships  and  Argive  race, 
 How  they  sailed  homeward.     These  things  I  declared 
 In  full,  and  convoy  ask  that  I  may  home  repair. 
 He,  not  at  all  refusing,  stripped  the  hide 
 Of  a  nine-seasoned  steer,  and  gave  it  me. 
 Therein  the  courses  of  the  winds  he  tied, 
 He  their  one  keeper  by  the  Sire's  decree, 
 At  will  to  quench  and  raise  by  land  or  sea. 
 So  with  a  silver  cord  he  bound  them  fast, 
 Escapeless  ;  only  Zephyr  he  left  free, 
 To  waft  us  home.     Far  otherwise  at  last 
 Chanced  !     Through  our  own  vain  will  to  bitter  doom  we 
 passed.' 
 
 —Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  x.  (Worsley). 
 
Account  of  the  Aeolian  Islands,  &c.     501 
 
 "  In  nine  days,  with  the  help  of  the  friendly  west  wind,  we 
 came  near  to  our  native  isle,  and  having  had  a  long  and 
 weary  watch  I  fell  asleep,  thinking  now  our  troubles  were  at 
 an  end.  But  my  comrades,  fancying  that  the  leather  bag 
 contained  gold  and  silver,  thought  they  would  like  to  see 
 the  contents. 
 
 "  '  Come  (for  he  slumbers  in  oblivious  dream), 
 This  gold  and  silver,  his  peculiar  prey- 
 Tied  up,  the  god's  love-gift,  now  haste  we  to  essay.' 
 Thus,  their  ill  thought  prevailing,  they  untied 
 The  skin — whom  straight  the  battling  tempests  bore 
 Far  from  their  country  o'er  the  ocean  wide, 
 Weeping.     Half-stunned  with  the  tumultuous  roar 
 I,  scared  from  slumber,  sat  debating  sore 
 Whether  to  die  beneath  the  rolling  heap 
 Of  waters,  or  bear  life  a  little  more. 
 
 —Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  x.  (Worsley). 
 
 "  The  storm  drove  us  back  to  the  Aeolian  Isles,  where 
 we  landed,  and  I  again  went  to  the  king's  palace. 
 
 " '  Him  with  his  wife  and  children  crouched  at  meat 
 We  found  within  his  halls  magnificent. 
 There  entering,  on  the  ground  we  take  our  seat 
 Hard  by  the  doors,  as  from  some  dire  event. 
 Then  all  with  one  accord  spake,  wondering  what  it  meant. 
 u  Whence  comest  thou,  Odysseus  ?  what  bad  fate 
 Lays  hold  upon  thee  ?     Surely  with  due  care, 
 Armed  with  each  means,  we  sent  thee  hence  of  late, 
 To  fatherland  and  home,  and  wheresoe'er 
 Thy  mind  incline  thee  through  the  seas  to  fare." 
 I  grieving  :  "  Faithless  friends  my  doom  have  wrought 
 And  sleep  pernicious.     O  the  loss  repair 
 For  ye  are  able."     Wrapt  in  silent  thought 
 Paused  they  awhile,  till  he,  the  sire,  this  answer  brought : 
 "  Out  and  avaunt,  thou  worst  of  souls  alive  ! 
 
502     Account  of  the  Aeolian  Islands,  &c. 
 
 How  can  I  cherish,  or  dismiss  with  love, 
 
 One  whom  the  blessed  gods  will  not  let  thrive  ? 
 
 Hence  !     Thou  art  hated  by  the  powers  above."' 
 
 —Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  x.  (Worsley). 
 
 "  Driven  away  by  Aeolus,  we  again  put  to  sea,  and  for  six 
 days  and  nights  were  tossed  about  on  the  ocean,  until  at 
 last  on  the  seventh  we  sighted  the  country  of  the  Laistry- 
 gones,  and  ran  into  a  splendid  harbour.  Here  I  sent  two 
 men  and  a  herald  on  shore,  to  ascertain  what  sort  of  people 
 the  inhabitants  were.  When  they  entered  the  town,  they 
 were  met  by  a  damsel  carrying  a  pitcher  of  water,  who  in 
 reply  to  their  questions  as  to  what  the  people  were  like,  and 
 who  their  king  was,  pointed  out  the  palace  as  her  father's 
 house.  The  enormous  size  of  the  gate  struck  them,  and 
 when  the  mother  of  the  maiden  appeared,  she  filled  their 
 hearts  with  fear,  for  she  was  like  a  huge  mountain. 
 
 "  Quickly  calling  her  husband,  he  came  and  seized  hold  of 
 one  of  my  poor  comrades,  and  devoured  him,  the  other  two 
 running  away  for  their  lives.  Baulked  of  his  prey,  the 
 monster  shouted  loudly  to  his  people,  and  soon  a  band  of 
 hideous  giants  rushed  down  to  the  shore,  smashed  the 
 vessels  with  huge  stones,  and  carried  off  the  men  to  eat 
 them.  Eleven  of  our  ships  and  crews  were  thus  destroyed, 
 and  it  was  with  difficulty  that  I  succeeded  in  cutting  away 
 my  own  vessel.  We  got  safely  away  from  the  shore,  and 
 continued  our  voyage,  but  our  hearts  were  heavy,  and 
 we  were  overwhelmed  with  grief  for  the  loss  of  our 
 companions. 
 
 "  Next  we  came  to  the  island  of  Aeaea,  where  dwelt  the 
 fair  enchantress  Kirke,  daughter  of  the  sun-god  Helios. 
 For  two  days  and  nights  we  remained  on  board,  not  ventur- 
 ing to  land,  for  we  feared  the  people  might  harm  us.  But 
 on  the  third  day  I  went  on  shore,  and  climbed  up  a  high 
 
Account  of  the  Aeolian  Islands,  &c.     503 
 
 cliff.  From  thence  I  looked  down  into  a  valley,  and 
 saw  a  column  of  curling  smoke  ascending  through  the 
 trees  from  Kirke's  palace. 
 
 "  Upon  this  I  hastened  back  to  the  ship,  thinking  it  wiser 
 first  to  send  out  spies.  On  my  return  I  was  lucky  enough 
 to  kill  a  magnificent  stag,  which  I  carried  in  triumph  to  the 
 ship,  and  we  all  sat  down  and  feasted  for  the  rest  of  the 
 day.  Next  morning,  however,  when  I  told  my  companions 
 that  we  were  again  on  an  island,  they  broke  forth  into  loud 
 lamentations,  remembering  the  fate  of  our  late  companions. 
 So  I  divided  them  into  two  parties,  and  then  made  them 
 draw  lots  as  to  which  was  to  go  and  spy  out  the  land. 
 Fate  decided  for  the  hero  Eurylochos  and  twenty-two  men, 
 and  with  heavy  hearts  and  eyes  dim  with  tears  we  beheld 
 them  start  for  the  interior  of  the  island. 
 
 "  On  the  way  they  saw  a  number  of  lions  and  wolves,  but 
 instead  of  being  wild  and  savage,  they  came  up  and  fawned 
 upon  the  strangers,  greatly  to  their  amazement,  not  knowing 
 that  the  animals  were  in  reality  all  people  who  had  been 
 thus  transformed  by  the  sorceress.  At  last  they  reached 
 the  palace,  which  Odysseus  had  seen  through  the  trees,  and 
 when  they  entered  the  hall,  they  found  a  fair  lady  seated 
 before  a  loom,  weaving  a  splendid  robe,  while  she  sang 
 aloud  in  a  sweet  soft  voice. 
 
 "  One  of  the  men  then  accosted  her,  and  she  at  once  rose 
 from  her  seat,  and  begged  them  to  come  in  and  sit  down. 
 This  they  did,  all  except  Eurylochos,  who,  suspecting  some 
 fraud,  remained  outside  the  palace.  Then  they  all  sat  down 
 at  the  long  tables  in  the  hall,  which  were  liberally  spread 
 with  everything  that  the  heart  of  man  could  desire.  But, 
 alas  !  they  did  not  know  that  Kirke  had  mixed  strange  herbs 
 in  the  food  and  wine,  which  had  the  power  of  turning  them 
 into  any  form  she  pleased. 
 
504     Account  of  the  Aeolian  Islands,  &c. 
 
 "  As  soon  as  they  were  satisfied,  and  wished  to  rise  and 
 depart,  Kirke  touched  them  gently  with  her  wand,  and 
 immediately  they  were  changed  into  pigs,  and  were  driven 
 out  into  the  sty,  where  straw  and  acorns  were  thrown  down 
 for  them.  For  some  time  Eurylochos  waited  on  in  hopes 
 of  seeing  his  companions  return,  but  when  they  did  not 
 come  he  retraced  his  steps  to  the  ship.  Sorrow  and  grief 
 weighed  heavily  on  his  soul,  and  at  first  he  could  not  speak, 
 but  at  last  he  managed  to  tell  us  that  he  did  not  know  where 
 his  comrades  were,  or  what  had  become  of  them. 
 
 "  I  thereupon  grasped  my  sword,  and  slinging  my  bow 
 across  my  shoulders  hurried  forth  in  spite  of  all  re- 
 monstrances, and  took  my  way  to  the  palace  of  the 
 sorceress.  As  I  went  I  met  Hermes  with  his  golden 
 wand,  and  taking  my  hand  he  said  kindly  : 
 
 " .         .         '  Whither  wouldst  thou  thy  steps  incline, 
 Ah  !  hapless,  all  unweeting  of  thy  way  ? 
 Thy  friends  lie  huddling  in  their  styes  like  swine  ; 
 And  these  wouldst  thou  deliver  ?     I  tell  thee  nay — 
 Except  I  help  thee,  thou  with  them  shalt  stay. 
 Come,  take  this  talisman  to  Circe's  hall, 
 For  I  will  save  thee  from  thine  ills  to-day 
 Nor  leave  like  ruin  on  thy  life  to  fall, 
 Since  her  pernicious  wiles  I  now  will  tell  thee  all. 
 Drink  will  she  mix,  and  in  thy  food  will  charm 
 Drugs,  but  in  vain,  because  I  give  thee  now 
 This  antidote  beyond  her  power  of  harm. 
 When  she  shall  smite  thee  with  her  wand,  do  thou 
 Draw  thy  sharp  sword,  and  fierce  design  avow 
 To  slay  her.' 
 
 —Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  x.  (Worsley). 
 
 1  She  will  fear  thy  lifted  arm,  and  bind  her  then  by  the 
 great  oath  of  the  immortals,  that  she  do  not  change  thee 
 also,  as  thy  comrades  have  been  changed.'     Then  the  god 
 
Account  of  the  Aeolian  Islands,  &c.     505 
 
 pulled  up  from  the  ground  a  black  root  which  was  growing 
 there,  and  having  given  me  this  healing  herb,  flew  back  to 
 Olympus,  while  I  went  on  to  the  palace  of  the  golden- 
 haired  sorceress. 
 
 "As  soon  as  she  saw  me  she  invited  me  in,  and  having 
 presented  me  with  her  poisonous  draught,  touched  me  with 
 her  wand,  saying  :  "Now  join  thy  companions  in  the  sty." 
 I,  however,  remained  unchanged  by  means  of  the  magic 
 herb  of  which  I  had  partaken,  and  as  Hermes  bade  me,  I 
 drew  my  sword,  and  rushed  murderously  at  her.  Terrified, 
 she  fell  at  my  knees,  crying  :  "  Who  art  thou  ?  from  whence 
 dost  thou  come  ?  how  is  it  that  my  potent  draught  has  not 
 transformed  thee  like  the  rest  ?  Perhaps,  indeed,  thou  art 
 Odysseus,  whose  coming  Hermes  once  foretold  to  me.  If 
 so,  it  would  be  vain  for  me  to  struggle  with  thee  ;  now 
 therefore  put  up  thy  sword.  Come,  sit  beside  me,  and  let 
 us  join  our  hands  in  peace." 
 
 "  Then  having  made  her  swear  by  the  sacred  oath  of  the 
 gods  that  she  would  do  me  no  harm,  I  seated  myself  before 
 the  well-spread  table.  Seeing,  however,  that  I  would  not 
 touch  anything,  she  asked  me  why  I  was  so  sad,  and  I  told 
 her  that  I  could  not  eat  while  I  was  grieving  for  my  lost 
 companions.  Kirke  instantly  left  the  apartment,  and 
 brought  back  my  comrades  from  their  styes  ;  then  placing 
 them  before  her,  she  touched  them  with  her  wand,  and  at 
 once  they  again  became  men,  only  far  younger  and  more 
 beautiful  than  they  had  been  before. 
 
 "  Then  the  lady  Kirke  entreated  me  to  remain  with  her, 
 and  begged  me  to  pull  the  vessel  upon  the  shore,  and  fetch 
 the  rest  of  my  companions  to  her  palace.  Therefore  I 
 hurried  back  to  the  ship.  Here  I  found  them  all  sadly 
 walking  on  the  shore,  grieving  for  me,  but  when  they  found 
 that  I  had  mastered  the  sorceress,  and  that  they  were  to 
 
5o6  Descent  into  the  Underworld. 
 
 return  to  her  palace  with  me  they  obeyed  my  behest  with 
 great  joy.  Eurylochos  alone  would  not  be  convinced,  and 
 tried  to  keep  them  back  with  his  foolish  fears,  and  even  he, 
 when  he  saw  the  others  preparing  to  come  with  me,  felt 
 ashamed  of  his  doubts,  and  followed  with  the  rest. 
 
 "  On  entering  the  hall  they  were  gladdened  by  the  sight  of 
 their  lost  companions,  and  having  heard  the  history  of  their 
 transformation  we  all  sat  down  to  a  liberal  banquet." 
 
 XLV.— ODYSSEUS'   DESCENT   INTO   THE 
 UNDERWORLD. 
 
 "  Thus  we  remained  for  a  year  in  the  island.  But  the 
 wish  to  return  to  our  homes  was  still  strong  within  us,  and 
 at  last  I  entreated  Kirke  with  tears  to  let  us  depart.  She 
 consented,  but  told  me  I  should  first  have  to  visit  the 
 abode  of  Hades,  and  gave  me  directions  as  to  my  journey 
 thither. 
 
 "  '  When  the  ocean  thou  hast  passed 
 
 And  reached  the  soil  of  dark  Persephone, 
 
 Sown  with  the  fruitless  willow,  withering  fast, 
 
 And  poplar,  hale  thy  bark  from  the  deep  sea, 
 
 And  move  towards  Hades'  house,  gloom-bound  eternally. 
 
 There  into  Acheron  Cocytus  glides, 
 
 Streaming  from  Styx  and  Pyriphlegethon  ; 
 
 Under  a  great  rock  meet  the  sounding  tides. 
 
 There,  hero,  land,  and  scoop  a  trench  anon 
 
 One  cubit  square,  and  give  the  dead  their  own 
 
 Drink-offerings,  mead,  then  wine,  and  water  last ; 
 
 And  sprinkle  the  white  meal,  and  call  upon 
 
 The  shades,  and  vow,  when  all  thy  toils  are  passed, 
 
 A  heifer  choice  and  pyre  where  all  good  things  are  cast. 
 
 And,  after,  promise  to  the  Theban  seer 
 
Descent  into  the  Underworld.  507 
 
 One  sheep  all  black,  thy  best  of  sheep,  to  kill  ; 
 
 So  when  thou  shalt  have  ended  all  thy  prayer, 
 
 And  in  the  dead  tribes  a  propitious  will 
 
 Wrought  by  just  vows,  thy  purpose  to  fulfil, 
 
 Then  sacrifice  a  ram  and  sable  ewe 
 
 Toward  Erebus  :  but  thou  thyself  bend  still 
 
 Thine  eyes  upon  the  rivers,  and  all  the  crew 
 
 Of  strengthless  shades  shall  flock  thy  sacrifice  to  view. 
 
 Then  bid  thy  comrades  haste  those  sheep  to  flay, 
 
 Slain  with  the  knife,  and  burn  them  down  with  fire, 
 
 And  to  Persephone  and  Hades  pray. 
 
 But  thou  with  drawn  sword  seated  near  the  pyre 
 
 Warm  from  the  blood  those  shades,  till  thou  enquire 
 
 First  of  Tiresias,  the  blind  old  seer. 
 
 He  from  the  crowd  advancing,  noble  sire, 
 
 All  thy  long  voyage  shall  foretell  thee  clear- 
 
 How  through  the  deep  fish-teeming  thou  mayst  safely  steer  ! ' 
 —Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  x.  (Worsley). 
 
 "Having  been  thus  kindly  dismissed  by  the  fair  enchantress, 
 I  got  my  men  on  board  as  quickly  as  I  could,  and  prepared 
 once  again  to  start  forth.  But  when  they  heard  that  before 
 we  turned  towards  home  I  had  first  to  descend  to  Pluto's 
 kingdom  and  question  Teiresias,  they  tore  their  hair  in 
 despair,  and  broke  out  into  bitter  lamentations. 
 
 "  'Yet  came  no  rescue  for  their  sorrow's  sake.' 
 
 —Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  x.  (Worsley). 
 
 "  And  in  sadness  we  made  our  way  down  to  the  sea-beaten 
 shore,  and  launching  our  bark,  sailed  on  the  watery  main 
 until  midnight,  when  we  found  ourselves  on  the  utmost 
 border  of  Okeanos'  dominions. 
 
 "'Where  dwell, 
 Shrouded  in  mist  and  gloom  continually, 
 That  people,  from  sweet  light  secluded  well, 
 The  dark  Cimmerian  tribes,  who  skirt  the  realms  of  hell. 
 
5o8  Descent  into  the  Underworld. 
 
 Never  the  sun  that  giveth  light  to  men 
 Looks  down  upon  them  with  his  golden  eye, 
 Or  when  he  climbs  the  starry  arch,  or  when 
 Slope  toward  the  earth  he  wheels  adown  the  sky  ; 
 But  sad  night  weighs  upon  them  wearily.' 
 
 — Homer,  "Odyssey,"  Book  xi.  (Worsley). 
 
 "  Then  we  landed,  and,  according  to  the  instructions  I  had 
 received  from  Kirke,  offered  up  the  required  sacrifices  and 
 performed  the  necessary  rites. 
 
 Immediately  the  souls  of  the  departed  rose  up  from  the 
 depths  of  Erebos  —  bridegrooms,  youths,  old  men,  and 
 children,  many  of  the  warriors  still  wearing  their  armour 
 covered  with  blood  from  the  wounds  received  in  battle. 
 Fearful  were  the  cries  they  uttered,  and  possessed  by  pale 
 dread  I  allowed  the  sacrifices  to  burn,  while  I  tried  to  wave 
 back  the  crowding  shadows.  Foremost  was  the  spirit  of  one 
 of  my  comrades,  who  had  fallen  from  the  roof  of  Kirkes' 
 palace  whilst  he  was  sleeping.  He  entreated  me  to  have  his 
 body  buried  as  soon  as  I  returned  to  the  island,  that  so  he 
 might  rest  in  peace.  This  I  willingly  promised  to  do,  and, 
 as  he  left  me,  the  soul  of  my  beloved  mother  appeared, 
 whom  also  I  had  to  warn  away  from  touching  the  blood. 
 
 "  At  last  the  spirit  of  the  mighty  seer  Teiresias  arose,  and, 
 as  he  slowly  and  majestically  approached,  asked  ;  '  What 
 dost  thou  here,  O  mortal,  among  the  spirits  of  the  dead, 
 leaving  the  realms  of  day  for  these  dark  regions  ?  But 
 sheath  thy  sword,  and  after  I  have  drunk  of  the  blood  of  the 
 sacrifices,  I  will  foretell  the  fate  to  which  the  gods  have  des- 
 tined thee/  Obeying  his  commands,  I  sheathed  my  sword, 
 whereupon  he  began  :  '  Know,  O  Odysseus  !  that  Poseidon 
 will  retard  thy  homeward  journey  by  many  dangers,  in 
 revenge  that  you  deprived  his  son  Poluphemos  of  his  sight. 
 But  the  gods  are  propitious  to  thee,  and  will  end  thy  woes 
 
Descent  into  the  Underworld.  509 
 
 at  length,  if  thou  wilt  obey  and  please  them.  On  thy 
 arrival  in  Sicily  beware  of  injuring  the  herds  of  Apollo,  for 
 if  thou  dost  in  any  way  hurt  them  thou  wilt  lose  all  thy 
 companions,  and  wilt  reach  thy  native  shores  alone,  and 
 only  after  great  and  dire  misfortunes.' 
 
 " '  I  thank  thee,  great  Teiresias,'  I  replied,  'and  will  bear 
 courageously  whatever  the  gods  have  ordained;  but  now, 
 tell  me  why  does  my  mother  sit  there  so  silently  without 
 even  once  looking  at  her  son  ? ' 
 
 "  '  She  knows  thee  not/  he  answered ;  '  only  those  who 
 drink  of  the  sacrificial  blood  remember  the  past  and  recall 
 the  scenes  of  earth.'  With  these  words  Tiresias  returned  to 
 the  palace  of  eternal  night,  and  now  I  let  my  mother  ap- 
 proach and  partake  of  the  blood,  when  she  at  once  recognised 
 me,  asked  me  how  I  had  come  there,  and  whether  I  had  yet 
 returned  to  Ithaka.  I  answered  all  her  questions,  and  in 
 return  learnt  from  her  that  Penelope,  faithful  to  me  as  ever, 
 was  still  alive,  and  anxiously  awaited  my  return,  that 
 Telemachos  managed  the  affairs  of  the  kingdom,  and  that 
 my  old  father  Laertes  was  living  in  the  country,  and  pining 
 away  with  grief  at  my  long  absence. 
 
 "  '  My  death  was  caused,'  she  added, '  by  anxiety  and 
 sorrow  for  thee,  my  much  loved  son.'  Thrice  I  tried  to 
 embrace  the  spirit  of  my  dead  mother,  but  each  time  she 
 faded  away  from  my  grasp  like  a  dream.  Then  she  bade 
 me  return  quickly  to  the  Upperworld,  but  even  while  she 
 spoke  I  saw  numbers  of  wives  and  daughters  of  heroes  or 
 kings  approaching :  Alkmene,  the  mother  of  Herakles ; 
 Epikaste,  wife  of  Laios  of  Thebes;  Leda,  mother  of  the 
 Dioscuri;  Phaedra,  Ariadne,  and  many  others.  They  all 
 vanished  at  the  summons  of  Persephone,  and  then  came 
 forward  the  heroes  who  had  been  killed  by  Aigisthos,  the 
 noble  form  of  Agamemnon  towering  far  above  the  rest.     As 
 
5 1  o  Descent  into  the  Underworld, 
 
 soon  as  he  had  drunk  of  the  blood  he  recognised  me,  and 
 crying  aloud,  shed  many  bitter  tears.  I  asked  him  what 
 relentless  doom  had  sent  him  here,  and  he  told  me  how  he 
 had  been  murdered  by  Aigisthos  and  his  own  wife  Klutaim- 
 nestra,*  and  called  me  happy  in  having  so  true  a  wife  as 
 Penelope,  but  added  warningly, 
 
 "  '  Never  for  this,  hereafter  in  thy  life, 
 .     .     .     the  whole  matter,  even  to  thy  wife 
 Show  forth,  but  part  reveal  and  part  suppress. 
 
 No  more  are  women  to  be  trusted  now.' 
 
 — HOMER,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  xi.  (Worsley). 
 
 "  Now  appeared  the  spirit  of  Achilleus,  together  with  that 
 of  his  friend  Patroclos,  as  well  as  Ajax.  Telamon  and  the 
 former  asked  me  to  tell  him  whether  his  father  Peleus,  and 
 his  son  Neoptolemos  were  still  alive.  Of  the  former  I  knew 
 nothing,  but  when  I  told  him  of  his  son's  great  deeds,  he 
 glowed  with  transport,  and  passed  on  with  the  others.  I 
 also  saw  the  shade  of  Minos,  who  with  his  sceptre  of 
 burnished  gold  here  judges  the  spirits  of  the  dead  ;  shadowy 
 Orion,  club  in  hand,  chasing  the  dark  forms  of  the  animals 
 he  had  slain  when  on  earth  ;  also  the  giant  Tituos,  that 
 mighty  son  of  Gaea,  whose  body  covers  nine  acres,  lay 
 here  writhing  in  torture,  while  vultures  gnawed  his  liver. 
 Farther  on  groaned  Tantalos,  pining  with  thirst  whilst 
 standing  in  the  midst  of  circling  waters  which  reached  to 
 his  chin, 
 
 "  'But  when  he  rushed,  in  fierce  desire  to  break 
 His  torment,  not  one  drop  could  he  partake. 
 For  as  the  old  man  stooping  seems  to  meet 
 That  water  with  his  fiery  lips,  and  slake 
 The  frenzy  of  wild  thirst,  around  his  feet, 
 
 *  Or  in  Latin  Clytemnestra. 
 
Descent  into  the  Underworld.  5 1 1 
 
 Leaving  the  dark  earth  dry,  the  shuddering  waves  retreat. 
 
 Also  the  thick-leaved  arches  overhead 
 
 Fruit  of  all  savour  in  profusion  flung, 
 
 And  in  his  clasp  rich  clusters  seemed  to  shed. 
 
 There  citrons  waved,  with  shining  fruitage  hung, 
 
 Pears  and  pomegranates,  olive  ever  young, 
 
 And  the  sweet-mellowing  fig  :  but  whensoe'er 
 
 The  old  man,  fain  to  cool  his  burning  tongue, 
 
 Clutched  with  his  fingers  at  the  branches  fair, 
 
 Came  a  strong  wind  and  whirled  them  skyward  through  the 
 
 air. 
 And  I  saw  Sisyphus  in  travail  strong 
 Shove  with  both  hands  a  mighty  sphere  of  stone. 
 With  feet  and  sinewy  wrists  he  labouring  long 
 Just  pushed  the  vast  globe  up,  with  many  a  groan, 
 But  when  he  thought  the  huge  mass  to  have  thrown 
 Clean  o'er  the  summit,  the  enormous  weight, 
 Back  to  the  nether  plain  rolled  tumbling  down. 
 He,  straining,  the  great  toil  resumed,  while  sweat 
 Bathed  each   laborious   limb,  and  the  brows   smoked  with 
 heat.' 
 
 —Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  xi.  (Worsley). 
 
 "  Next  appeared  the  giant  frame  of  Herakles,  but  this  was 
 only  his  wraith,  for  he  himself  has  a  place  among  the  ever- 
 living  gods,  as  the  spouse  of  beautiful  Hebe.  There  he 
 stood  dark  as  night,  with  bent  brow,  glancing  fiercely  round 
 him,  and  ready  to  send  the  feathered  shaft  on  its  unerring 
 way.  Across  his  breast  he  wore  a  wondrous  golden  belt, 
 on  which  were  depicted  with  inimitable  art,  lions,  bears, 
 wolves,  woodland  vistas,  and  various  scenes  of  battle.  J 
 lingered  on  in  hopes  that  I  might  see  Theseus  and  Pirithoos, 
 or  some  of  the  other  kings  of  ancient  days,  but  a  dense 
 mass  of  spectres  now  came  thronging  past  with  fearful 
 groans  and  yells,  and  terrified  lest  Persephone  should  send 
 dread  Kerberos  after  me,  I  hurriedly  left  the  direful  shore 
 
512  Account  of  the  Seirenes,  &c. 
 
 and  hastening  back  to  the  ship,  ordered  my  companions  to 
 set  sail,  and  take  up  their  oars  without  delay.  Swiftly  the 
 vessel  sped  over  the  waves  and  bore  us  away  again  from  the 
 mighty  stream  of  Okeanos. 
 
 XLVI. —  ODYSSEUS'  ACCOUNT  OF  THE 
 SEIRENES,  SCYLLA  AND  CHARYBDIS, 
 AND   THE   HERDS   OF   HELIOS. 
 
 "  After  sailing  all  night  the  early  dawn  found  us  within 
 sight  of  the  Isle  of  Aeaea,  and  we  landed  once  more  there 
 and  buried  the  body  of  our  unfortunate  friend. 
 
 "  As  soon  as  Kirke  perceived  us  she  at  once  came  down  to 
 the  shore,  her  attendants  bearing  bread,  meat,  and  wine  for 
 our  refreshment :  '  O  ye  brave  men  ! '  she  cried,  '  who 
 have  dared  whilst  still  alive  to  penetrate  into  Pluto's  abode  ! 
 Rest  now  awhile  and  refresh  yourselves,  and  when  the  morn 
 unveils  her  glowing  face  speed  on  your  way.  Meanwhile  I 
 will  tell  you  of  the  dangers  which  are  yet  in  store  for  you 
 both  by  land  and  sea.'  I  complied  with  her  request,  and 
 we  spent  the  remainder  of  the  day  in  feasting.  Our 
 banquet  ended,  the  lady  Kirke  seated  herself  beside  me  and 
 asked  to  hear  our  adventures  after  we  had  left  her.  In 
 silence  she  listened  to  what  I  had  to  relate,  and  then  com- 
 menced:    'Many    and   great   are   the   dangers   thou    hast 
 
 already    passed    through,    O    prince, now,    hearken, 
 
 and  learn  those  which  are  still  before  thee.  First,  thou 
 wilt  reach  the  Seirenes,  those  cruel  maidens  who  bewitch  all 
 who  approach  them,  and  whose  song  is  death!  Heed 
 them  not  howsoever  beautiful  their  lay!  but  stop  their 
 companions'  ears,  and  order  them  to  lash  thee  to  the 
 mast,  for 
 
Accoitnt  of  the  Sirens,  &c.  5 1 3 
 
 "  '  He  who  hath  quaffed  it,  with  his  ears  shall  find 
 No  voice,  no  welcome,  on  his  native  shore, 
 Shall  on  his  dear  wife  gaze  and  lisping  babes  no  more.' " 
 —Homer,  "Odyssey,"  Book  xii.  (Worsley). 
 
 They  devour  all  who  come  within  their  reach,  and  the 
 ground  is  strewn  with  the  bones  of  their  numerous 
 victims. 
 
 "  '  Once  past  their  island  two  ways  are  open  to  thee  :  the 
 first  leads  towards  the  Cyanean  rocks,  which  constantly 
 separate  and  rush  together  again,  so  that  not  even  a  bird 
 can  fly  unhurt  between  them.  Only  one  ship,  the  Argo, 
 has  ever  passed  through  them  in  safety,  and  that  only 
 because  she  was  protected  by  mighty  Hera.  The  second 
 road  leads  to  two  other  rocks,  one  of  which  rears  its  proud 
 summit  shrouded  in  clouds  almost  to  the  skies.  No  one 
 can  reach  its  head,  for  the  steep  and  slippery  sides  are 
 impregnable  to  the  foot  of  man.  Half  way  up  this  rock, 
 so  high  that  not  the  swiftest  arrow  can  reach  it,  is  a 
 yawning  cavern  : 
 
 '"Within         .... 
 Scylla  in  secret  lurks,  dread-howling  through  the  gloom 
 Her  voice  is  like  the  voice  of  whelps  new-born, 
 Yet  she  such  monster  as  no  eyes  can  meet 
 Rejoicing,  or  with  glance  of  careless  scorn, 
 Not  though  a  god  should  pass  her  dire  retreat. 
 Twelve  feet  she  has,  twelve  huge  misshapen  feet 
 And  six  long  necks,  wherefrom  she  quivereth 
 Six  heads  of  terror,  and  her  prey  doth  eat 
 With  grim  jaws,  armed  with  triple  rows  of  teeth, 
 Frequent  and  thickly  sown  and  teeming  with  black  death. 
 Her  waist  is  hidden  in  the  hollow  cave, 
 But  all  her  heads  from  the  infernal  lair 
 She  thrusts,  to  fish  with,  in  the  whirling  wave, 
 And,  feeling  round  the  rock  with  eager  care, 
 2  K 
 
514  Account  of  the  Sirens,  &c. 
 
 For  dolphins  dips,  and  sea-dogs,  or  if  there 
 Perchance  some  larger  weightier  bulk  she  catch, 
 Such  as  the  deep  in  myriads  feeds.' 
 
 —Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  xii.  (Worsley). 
 
 "  '  No  vessel  ever  yet  passed  fell  Scylla  without  losing 
 several  men. 
 
 "  '  On  the  opposite  shore,  but  rather  lower,  and  only  a  bow- 
 shot distant,  is  another  rock  with  a  gigantic  fig-tree  growing 
 on  its  summit : 
 
 " '  Charybdis  fell 
 Sucks  the  black  water  in  her  throat's  deep  hell 
 Beneath  it ;  thrice  disgorges  in  the  day, 
 And  thrice  again  sucks  up  the  eddying  swell. 
 Heaven  from  that  suction  keep  thee  far  away  ! 
 Not  the  Earthshaker's  self  could  then  thy  doom  delay.' 
 —Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  xii.  (Worsley). 
 
 "  '  When  therefore  thou  approachest  Charybdis  urge  thy 
 men  to  bend  to  their  oars  with  all  their  might,  for  if  ye  come 
 within  her  reach  ye  must  all  perish  !  O  shun  the  horrid 
 gulf,  and  cleave  to  Scylla ;  rather  risk  some  than  that  all 
 should  die. 
 
 "  <  Next  thou  wilt  come  to  the  island  of  Trinacria 
 (Sicily),  where,  guarded  by  two  lovely  nymphs,  graze  the 
 herds  of  the  God  of  Day.  Beware  of  harming  them,  for  if 
 thou  dost,  thy  ship  and  all  thy  comrades  will  surely  be  lost, 
 even  if  thou  thyself  escapest.' 
 
 "  The  next  morning  we  left  the  island,  and  everything  took 
 place  as  the  lady  Kirke  had  foretold.  We  only  escaped 
 from  the  Sirens  because  I  stopped  up  my  companions'  ears 
 with  wax,  and  then,  having  lashed  me  to  the  mast,  they 
 rowed  with  all  their  might,  and,  safe  from  their  alluring 
 strains  themselves,  they  heeded  not  my  entreaties  to  be  set 
 free  till  all  danger  for  us  was  over.     We   had,  however, 
 
Account  of  the  Sirens,  &c.  5 1 5 
 
 hardly  escaped  this  peril  when  we  heard  the  roaring  of 
 heavy  breakers  ahead,  and  saw  the  white  spray  dashing 
 wildly  on  the  rocks.  Filled  with  terror,  my  comrades 
 dropped  their  oars,  but  I  encouraged  them  to  row  on 
 bravely,  and  telling  the  steersman  to  avoid  the  whirlpool 
 and  keep  close  to  the  opposite  rocks,  we  strained  every 
 nerve  and  as  the  vessel  flew  past  we  escaped  the  breakers, 
 and  now  steered  towards  Scylla.  On  one  side  was  she, 
 on  the  other  Charybdis, 
 
 " '  With  huge  throat 
 Gorging  salt  waves,  which  when  she  cast  away 
 
 the  steamy  froth  upshot 
 Wide  o'er  both  rocks.     But  when  she  gorged  again, 
 Drunk  with  abysmal  gurglings,  one  might  note 
 The  dark  sands  of  the  immeasurable  main 
 Gleam  iron-blue.' 
 
 — Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  xii.  (Worsley). 
 
 "  While  we  gazed  in  horror  at  the  flood  of  tumbling  waters, 
 fierce  Scylla  stooped  from  her  cave  and  snatched  away  six 
 of  my  companions.  In  vain  they  cried  to  me  for  help  ! 
 Fiercely  she  dashed  them  against  the  rocks,  and,  unable  to 
 aid  them,  we  saw  them  disappear  into  her  yawning  jaws. 
 Never  can  I  forget  that  awful  sight. 
 
 ?'  The  rest  of  us  escaped  with  the  ship,  and,  after  we  had 
 left  the  terrible  rocks  some  way  behind,  we  came  to  the 
 beautiful  shores  of  the  island  Trinacria.  Calm  and  peaceful 
 lay  the  island  in  the  rays  of  the  sun,  and  in  the  distance 
 could  be  heard  the  bleating  and  lowing  of  Helios'  herds. 
 Then  I  remembered  the  warnings  of  Tiresias  and  the  lady 
 Kirke,  and  I  wished  to  avoid  the  island,  but  Eurylochos 
 insisted  that  we  should  land  and  rest,  and  all  the  others 
 agreed  with  him.  When  I  saw  that  it  was  vain  to  try  and 
 persuade  them  to  go  on  I  made  them  promise  not  to  lay 
 
5 1 6  Account  of  the  Sirens,  &c. 
 
 hands  upon  the  sacred  herds,  or  go  near  them,  and  we 
 landed.  They  gave  the  promise  I  required,  and  we  only 
 used  the  meat  that  we  had  brought  with  us  in  the  ship. 
 
 "  Unfortunately,  however,  we  were  compelled  to  remain  on 
 the  island  a  whole  month,  for  Zeus,  angry  that  we  had 
 landed,  sent  down  a  fearful  gale,  so  that  it  was  impossible 
 for  us  to  put  to  sea.  In  vain  we  looked  day  after  day  for 
 the  waters  to  become  quiet ;  the  food  and  wine  which  Kirke 
 had  given  us  were  consumed,  and  we  were  in  great  straits. 
 True,  we  could  catch  fish  and  birds,  but  these  were  not 
 enough  for  our  needs.  All  this  time  the  sacred  herds  of 
 Helios  had  remained  untouched,  and  now,  wearied  and  faint 
 of  heart,  I  wandered  inland  and  prayed  to  the  gods  to  send 
 us  a  favourable  wind,  then,  being  exhausted  by  the  distance 
 I  had  come,  I  lay  down  to  rest,  and  a  sweet  sleep  fell 
 o'er  me. 
 
 "  Meanwhile,  Eurylochos,  taking  advantage  of  my  absence, 
 had  persuaded  the  others  to  kill  some  of  Apollo's  herds,  and, 
 after  offering  up  a  sacrifice  to  the  gods,  they  prepared  a 
 feast.  '  For  if  I  have  to  die,'  he  cried,  '  I  would  rather 
 find  my  grave  in  the  sea  than  perish  by  the  pangs  of 
 hunger.  When  I  awoke  from  my  slumber  and  returned  to 
 my  comrades,  the  scent  of  the  sacrifice  was  wafted  towards 
 me.  Chill  dread  fell  on  my  spirit,  and,  beating  my  breast 
 with  my  hands,  I  cried  aloud ;  '  O  mighty  Zeus !  why 
 was  I  thus  beguiled  to  sleep.  Now  my  comrades  have 
 done  this  wicked  deed  while  I  was  far  away.' 
 
 "  But  my  appeal  was  useless.  Phoebos  Apollo,  full  of 
 wrath,  called  all  the  gods  together,  and  threatened  to  go 
 down  to  the  land  of  Hades  and  never  more  to  shine  on 
 earth  if  I  and  my  companions  were  not  punished  for  our  act 
 of  sacrilege.  Then  spake  mighty  Jove  :  '  Rest  in  peace, 
 O  Helios,  and  withdraw  not  thy  kindly  light  from  the  face  of 
 
Accoitnt  of  the  Sirens,  &c.  5  1 7 
 
 the  earth,  for  I  will  at  once  hurl  a  thunderbolt  on  Odysseus' 
 ship,  so  that  he  and  his  companions  may  be  destroyed.' 
 
 "  Bitterly  I  blamed  my  comrades  for  their  wicked  act,  but 
 the  deed  could  not  be  undone,  and  soon  the  gods  them- 
 selves showed  signs  of  their  displeasure.  The  hides  of  the 
 slaughtered  animals  crept  and  quivered  as  though  still  alive, 
 and  all  flesh,  both  raw  and  roasted,  moaned  and  groaned 
 as  the  flames  curled  round  it.  Six  days  more  we  remained, 
 then  the  storm  had  abated,  and  once  again  we  sailed  away 
 from  the  shore.  But  no  sooner  were  we  out  of  sight  of 
 land,  and  surrounded  only  by  sky  and  water,  than  Zeus 
 brought  thick  clouds  across  the  heavens,  and  bade  the  winds 
 come  up  in  a  hurricane. 
 
 "  Higher  and  higher  rose  the  angry  waves,  vivid  lightnings 
 flashed  from  the  lurid  clouds,  and  the  thunders  crashed  and 
 rolled,  while  the  wind  increased  in  fury,  till  at  length  the 
 ropes  and  sails  snapped,  and  the  mast  fell  with  a  mighty 
 sound  and  killed  the  steersman.  At  the  same  moment 
 angry  Jove  cast  down  a  thunderbolt  which  completely 
 destroyed  our  vessel,  and  we  were  thrown  into  the  foaming 
 waters. 
 
 "All  my  comrades  were  drowned,  I  alone  escaping  by 
 clinging  to  the  mast,  and  now  I  was  drifted  helplessly  about 
 at  the  mercy  of  the  waves,  which  bore  me  back  to  the 
 whirlpool  of  Charybdis  and  the  terrible  rocks.  I  thought 
 all  was  lost,  for  already  the  monster  had  caught  the  mast 
 and  was  drawing  it  down.  Quickly  I  grasped  one  of  the 
 branches  of  the  gigantic  fig  tree  which  hung  from  the 
 summit  of  the  rock,  and  by  it  swung  in  mid-air,  until  a 
 returning  wave  brought  back  the  mast,  released  from 
 Charybdis'  jaws.  Again  I  caught  hold  of  it,  and  swam 
 away  with  all  my  might,  and  most  happily  Scylla  was  still 
 in  her  cave,  so  that  I  escaped  from  that  danger  also. 
 
5 1 8  Return  of  Odysseus  to  Ithaka. 
 
 "  For  nine  days  and  nights  I  tossed  about  on  the  stormy 
 waters,  and  on  the  tenth  reached  the  island  of  Kalypso. 
 All  that  has  chanced  since  then,  mighty  prince,  is  already 
 known  to  thee ;  it  needs  not  to  repeat  the  tale." 
 
 XLVII.— RETURN  OF  ODYSSEUS  TO 
 ITHAKA. 
 
 Great  was  the  interest  with  which  the  king  and  queen  had 
 listened  to  the  foregoing  tale.  "  Take  courage,  Odysseus," 
 said  Alkinoos,  "  surely  now  all  thy  troubles  will  have  come 
 to  an  end.  Phaeacians,  rise,  and  bring  fresh  gifts  for  this 
 our  godlike  guest."  Willingly  was  this  command  obeyed, 
 and  next  morning  all  the  rich  gifts  were  put  on  board  the 
 vessel.  Again  the  day  was  spent  in  feasting,  and  once 
 more  in  the  evening  Odysseus  begged  Alkinoos  to  send  him 
 back  to  Ithaka.  The  king  agreed  to  his  request,  and 
 ordering  mighty  cans  of  wine  to  be  brought,  offered  a 
 libation  to  the  gods,  and  all  joined  in  the  parting  cup. 
 Odysseus  thanked  the  monarch  for  all  his  kindness  and 
 generosity,  and  then  turned  to  the  queen  with  these  words  : 
 
 "  '  O  be  thou  happy  till  old  age  or  death, 
 Which  in  all  lands  all  mortals  visiteth, 
 Find  thee,  O  queen,  in  some  far  distant  day  ! 
 I  now  sail  homeward.     Here  may  thy  life's  breath, 
 With  husband,  children,  citizens,  I  pray, 
 Glide  in  pure  gladness  deep,  when  I  am  far  away.' " 
 
 — Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  xiii.  (Worsley). 
 
 Then  he  went  down  to  the  ship,  followed  by  attendants 
 carrying  garments,  bread,  and  wine.  Night  had  now  set 
 in,  therefore  they  spread  a  soft  couch  for  him  on  the  deck, 
 and  while  he  lay  down  to   sleep,  the  Phaeacians  bent  to 
 
Return  of  Odysseus  to  It  hak  a.  5 1 9 
 
 their  oars,  and  the  vessel  sped  on  her  way.  Swiftly  she 
 flew  over  the  waves  while  Odysseus  lay  wrapped  in  sweet 
 slumber  forgetting  all  his  cares,  and  when  the  first  blush  of 
 morning  reddened  the  eastern  sky  the  Phaeacians  entered 
 the  harbour  of  Ithaka. 
 
 Gently  the  sailors  raised  the  sleeping  man  in  their  arms, 
 carried  him  on  shore,  and  laid  him  in  a  cool  grotto,  placing 
 all  the  gifts  beside  him.  Then  they  went  their  way  home 
 again.  Poseidon,  however,  was  angry  that  the  hero  had 
 been  thus  saved,  and  just  as  the  returning  vessel  approached 
 Scheria,  the  god  transformed  her  into  a  rock  as  a  warning 
 to  the  Phaeacians  not  to  convoy  mortals  who  were  obnoxious 
 to  him  across  the  sea. 
 
 With  surprise  the  Phaeacians  beheld  this  island  suddenly 
 rise  up  amid  the  water.  But  Alkinoos  cried  :  "  Alas  !  this 
 is  without  doubt  the  fulfilment  of  the  ancient  prophecy, 
 which  my  father  often  told  me  :  how  that  Poseidon,  angry 
 that  we  always  send  strangers  safely  back  to  their  homes, 
 would  one  day  punish  us  by  changing  one  of  our  returning 
 vessels  into  a  mountain  right  across  the  harbour.  There- 
 fore let  us  have  nothing  more  to  do  with  these  strange 
 travellers,  but  we  will  now  offer  twelve  beautiful  oxen  to 
 the  god  that  he  may  pardon  us  this  time,  and  take  us 
 back  again  into  his  favour." 
 
 Meanwhile  Odysseus  awoke  from  his  long  sleep  ;  he  knew 
 not  where  he  was,  for  Pallas  Athene  had  spread  a  mist  all 
 round  him,  so  that  he  might  not  be  recognized  until  he 
 had  punished  the  suitors.  Then  the  wanderer  spake  sadly 
 to  the  gods  in  his  sorrow :  "  O  ye  gods,  where  am  I  ? 
 among  what  savage  people,  and  on  what  wild  land  have  I 
 now  been  cast?  Would  that  I  had  remained  among  the 
 Phaeacians  !  How  they  have  deceived  me,  after  promising 
 to  bring  me  home.    But  let  me  count  the  treasure  ;  perchance 
 
520  Return  of  Odysseus  to  Ithaka. 
 
 they  have  been  faithless,  and  have  robbed  me  of  it."  All 
 the  gifts  lay  beside  him,  the  full  number,  none  wanting, 
 therefore  he  bethought  him  where  to  hide  them  when 
 Athene,  in  the  guise  of  a  shepherd  lad,  came  up  to  him. 
 
 Odysseus  enquired  of  the  seeming  youth  what  shore  this 
 was  upon  which  he  was  landed,  and  she  cried  :  "  What ! 
 knowest  thou  not  Ithaka?"  Then  great  gladness  filled  his 
 heart  when  he  knew  that  at  last  he  had  reached  his  native 
 land;  but  he  remembered  that  he  wished  to  remain  unknown, 
 and  said :  "  Often  have  I  heard  speak  of  Ithaka,  but  I 
 knew  not  that  this  was  it.  I  have  slain  the  son  of  Ido- 
 meneus  of  Crete,  because  he  would  rob  me  of  the  treasure 
 I  had  got  from  Troy ;  therefore  I  fled  on  board  a  Venetian 
 vessel  to  go  to  Elis  or  Pylos.  But  a  hurricane  came  on 
 and  drove  us  hither,  and  while  I  slept,  the  sailors  put  me 
 and  my  treasure  on  shore." 
 
 Then  Pallas  smiled,  and  taking  the  figure  of  a  young  maiden, 
 thus  addressed  Odysseus  :  "  Of  a  truth  thou  art  ever  ready 
 in  artful  speech  or  action,  and  even  now  that  thou  hast  re- 
 turned to  thy  native  land  thou  still  dissemblest  as  thou 
 didst  when  a  boy.  But  now  lay  that  aside.  Know  that 
 I  am  Pallas  Athene,  who,  through  all  thy  wanderings, 
 watched  over  thee.  And  now  I  come  to  tell  thee  what  thou 
 must  do,  and  to  encourage  thee  to  be  patient  in  all  that  may 
 yet  befall  thee.  Above  all  I  warn  thee  not  to  disclose  to 
 anyone  who  thou  art,  but  bear  thy  griefs  yet  awhile  in 
 silence." 
 
 So  saying  the  goddess  scattered  the  mist  with  which  she 
 had  surrounded  him,  and  Odysseus  now  beheld  and  recog- 
 nized his  native  land.  With  rapture  he  bent  down  and 
 pressed  his  lips  to  the  beloved  ground,  the  sight  of  which 
 had  been  so  long  denied  to  his  eyes,  and  then,  aided  by 
 Pallas,  he  hid  the  treasures  in  the  dark  recesses  of  the  cave, 
 
Odysseus  and  the  Swineherd  Eumaios.    5  2 1 
 
 and  consulted  with  her  how  he  should  rid  himself  of  the 
 train  of  suitors. 
 
 11  First  of  all,"  said  Athene,  "  I  will  change  thee,  so  that 
 none  shall  know  thee,"  and  touching  him  with  her  wand, 
 all  the  beauty  of  his  form  disappeared  :  his  face  became 
 seamed  with  wrinkles,  his  eyes  grew  dim,  his  hair  matted, 
 and  his  shining  raiment  turned  to  rags.  Then  she 
 placed  a  beggar's  wallet  over  his  shoulders,  put  a  staff  into 
 his  hand,  and  bade  him  go  to  the  house  of  Eumaeus,  the 
 swineherd,  who  had  remained  faithful  to  Penelope  and 
 Telemachos,  while  she  herself  hurried  back  to  Sparta  to  fetch 
 the  youth  himself. 
 
 XLVIII. — ODYSSEUS     AND     THE     SWINE- 
 HERD  EUMAIOS. 
 
 So  Odysseus  went  his  way  to  the  house  of  the  swineherd, 
 and  found  him  sitting  in  the  large  court-yard  surrounded  by 
 hedges,  and  containing  styes  for  six  hundred  swine,  of  which 
 the  suitors  had  already  consumed  half. 
 
 As  soon  as  the  dogs  saw  Odysseus  in  his  ragged  attire  they 
 barked  and  rushed  at  him,  and,  had  not  Eumaios  driven 
 them  off,  would  have  torn  him  in  pieces.  Then  the  swine- 
 herd took  the  stranger  into  his  house  and  gave  him  a  seat  on 
 a  shaggy  goat's  skin,  begging  him  to  rest.  Odysseus  thanked 
 him  for  his  kind  reception  of  a  poor  man,  but  he  answered  : 
 "  Friend,  it  would  be  wrong  to  despise  any  stranger  however 
 poor  he  might  be.  Ah  !  would  that  I  could  do  more  for 
 thee.  But  he,  Odysseus,  who  would  assuredly  reward  me  for 
 my  long  and  faithful  service,  is  far  away,  and  never  more  1 
 fear  will  he  return.     Would  that  the  gods  had  uprooted 
 
522    Odyssetts  and  the  Swineherd  Eumaios. 
 
 Helen  and  all  her  kindred  ere  she  had  brought  so  many 
 brave  men  low." 
 
 Then  Eumaios  went  to  the  herd,  killed  two  young  porkers 
 for  the  refreshment  of  his  guest,  and  placing  food  and  wine 
 before  him,  said  :  "  It  is  but  poor  food  I  have  to  offer  thee, 
 for  the  strangers  who  come  to  sue  for  the  hand  of  Penelope 
 eat  up  the  fat  of  the  land."  Odysseus  partook  of  the  repast, 
 and,  having  satisfied  his  hunger,  began  to  consider  ways  and 
 means  of  revenging  himself  upon  the  suitors.  At  last  he 
 spoke  :  "  Who  then  is  this  lord  of  whom  thou  sayest  he 
 hath  never  returned  from  Troy  ?  Perchance  I  could  give 
 thee  news  of  him,  for  I  too  have  wandered  far  in  distant 
 lands." 
 
 But  the  swineherd  answered  :  "  Old  man,  there  is  small 
 hope  that  thou  canst  give  us  news  of  him,  and  even  if  thou 
 didst,  neither  Penelope  nor  I  would  give  credence  to  thy 
 tale.  Too  oft  already  have  wanderers  come  to  my  dear 
 queen  with  marvellous  tales,  and  thou  no  doubt  wouldst  say 
 like  them,  to  obtain  a  new  cloak.  No,  I  fear  Odysseus  has 
 died  long  ere  this,  and  never  more  again  shall  I  find  so  good 
 a  master.  Even  should  I  return  to  my  own  home  my  father 
 and  mother  could  not  treat  me  with  more  kindness  than 
 Odysseus  has  ever  done.  O  stranger,  my  whole  heart  yearns 
 to  see  him,  but  that  wish  may  never  come  to  pass." 
 
 "  Friend,  thou  art  unbelieving  and  hopeless  of  heart,  but 
 I  swear  to  thee  by  the  gods  that  Odysseus  will  return.  And 
 on  that  day  that  he  arrives  thou  shalt  give  me  as  a  reward 
 new  raiment.  Till  then  I  will  not  have  it,  for  from  my  heart 
 I  despise  those  who  invent  falsehood  for  the  sake  of  gain, 
 and  I  know  that  Odysseus  will  return  this  year,  nay  this  very 
 month,  to  free  his  home  from  the  unwelcome  guests." 
 
 "  Friend,"  replied  Eumaios,  shaking  his  head  in  denial, 
 "  I  shall  never  have  to  give  thee  the  raiment ;  well  know  I 
 
Odysseus  and  the  Swineherd  Eumaios.    523 
 
 that  Odysseus  will  never  return  to  Ithaka.  Therefore  drink 
 thy  wine  in  peace,  but  grieve  me  not  by  speaking  again  of 
 my  noble  master.  Would  that  Telemachos  were  only  safe 
 at  home  once  more,  for  the  suitors  are  lying  in  wait  for 
 him.  May  mighty  Jove  protect  him.  And  now  tell  me 
 about  thyself,  whence  thou  comest,  and  what  ship  brought 
 thee  hither?" 
 
 But  Odysseus  was  afraid  to  trust  him  with  the  truth,  and 
 he  answered  :  "  That  I  will  tell  thee  shortly,  for  to  relate 
 all  my  wanderings  would  take  more  than  a  year.  I  come 
 from  Crete.  My  father,  who  has  several  other  sons,  was 
 wealthy,  and,  when  he  died,  divided  the  inheritance  among 
 my  brothers,  only  giving  me  but  a  small  portion,  since  I 
 was  only  their  half-brother.  I,  however,  took  a  thrifty  wife, 
 and  soon  distinguished  myself  in  various  combats,  and  was 
 nearly  always  foremost  when  an  enemy  was  to  be  en- 
 countered. Of  agriculture  I  was  no  friend,  neither  did  I 
 trouble  much  as  to  my  house  or  children,  but  had  always  a 
 ship  and  arms  ready  at  hand,  and,  when  the  Greeks  made 
 war  with  Troy,  I  had  to  go  with  King  Idomeneus,  and  was 
 present  at  the  taking  of  the  town. 
 
 "  On  our  return  I  was  induced  to  land  in  Egypt,  and  going 
 up  the  Nile  I  went  on  shore  to  see  what  the  country  was 
 like..  Meanwhile  my  companions  attacked  some  of  the 
 herds  of  the  inhabitants,  who  at  once  rushed  to  arms  and 
 slew  most  of  my  people,  and  even  I  should  hardly  have 
 escaped  had  I  not  laid  down  my  arms,  and  entreated  the 
 king  for  mercy.  He  had  compassion  upon  me,  and  took 
 me  back  to  his  palace,  where  I  remained  for  seven  years. 
 In  the  seventh  year  a  Phoenician  persuaded  me  to  leave 
 the  country.  He  took  me  on  board  his  ship,  meaning  to 
 carry  me  to  Libya,  and  there  sell  me.  But  Zeus  pre- 
 vented this  by  sending  a  frightful  storm  when  we  were  near 
 
524    Odysseus  and  the  Swineherd  Eumaios. 
 
 Crete.  The  lightning  struck  the  vessel,  and  all  were 
 drowned  except  myself,  who  clung  to  the  mast  and  was 
 tossed  about  for  nine  days  till  at  last  I  was  cast  on  shore. 
 There  the  king  of  Crete  welcomed  me  kindly,  and  from 
 him  I  heard  of  Odysseus,  who  had  also  landed  on  the  island, 
 and  had  only  just  left  to  go  to  Dodona,  there  to  enquire  of 
 the  oracle  as  to  his  return.  His  ships  lay  ready  to  bring 
 him  hither  as  soon  as  he  returned  from  the  oracle. 
 
 "  The  king  kindly  sent  me  off  in  a  vessel,  but  on  the  way 
 the  sailors  robbed  me  of  all  my  clothes,  gave  me  the  rags 
 which  you  now  see,  and  landed  me  after  dark  on  the  shores 
 of  Ithaka." 
 
 "Poor  stranger,  from  my  heart  I  pity  thee,"  answered 
 Eumaios,  "  but  one  thing  yet  I  do  not  understand,  the 
 tidings  that  thou  feignest  of  Odysseus.  Why  wilt  thou  still 
 try  and  deceive  me,  old  man  ?  Too  well  I  know  that  he 
 will  not  return  again,  for  in  their  hearts  the  gods  bear 
 hatred  to  him.  Try  not  then  to  gain  my  favour  by  such 
 lies.  If  I  bid  thee  welcome  it  is  because  Zeus  commands 
 it,  and  I  have  pity  on  thy  woes." 
 
 "Still  is  thy  heart  hard  of  faith?"  cried  Odysseus,  "Never- 
 theless as  thou  wilt  not  credit  my  oath,  listen.  If  thy 
 master  returns  not  command  the  servants  that  they  throw 
 me  down  from  this  steep  rock." 
 
 But  even  this  failed  to  persuade  the  doubting  swineherd. 
 And  now  the  servants  came  in  from  the  fields  with  the 
 herds,  and  drove  them  into  the  styes.  Eumaios  had  one 
 of  the  largest  swine  killed  in  honour  of  his  guest,  and  when 
 all  had  eaten  they  lay  down  to  rest.  The  swineherd  alone 
 could  not  rest,  and  rising,  he  took  his  sword,  wrapped  him- 
 self in  his  mantle,  and  went  out  spear  in  hand  to  guard  the 
 herds  entrusted  to  his  care,  while  Odysseus  inwardly  rejoiced 
 at  the  faithfulness  he  displayed. 
 
Odysseus  and  the  Swineherd  Eumaios.    525 
 
 Meanwhile,  Athene  had  hurried  to  Sparta  to  hasten  the 
 return  of  Telemachos.  She  found  him  with  Peisistratos,  the 
 son  of  Nestor,  resting  in  front  of  Menelaos'  palace,  and  bend- 
 ing over  him,  for  he  had  just  fallen  asleep  she  urged  him  to 
 return  at  once  to  Ithaka  from  fear  that  the  suitors  might 
 induce  Penelope  with  rich  gifts  to  marry  one  of  them. 
 "  Nothing,"  she  said,  "  is  so  fickle  as  the  heart  of  woman, 
 therefore  watch.  Beware  also  that  on  thy  return  thou  fall 
 not  into  the  hands  of  thy  unbidden  guests,  who  have  laid 
 an  ambush  for  thee.  Travel  by  night,  and  when  thou 
 readiest  Ithaka  go  not  straight  to  the  palace,  but  spend  the 
 night  in  the  house  of  Eumaios  the  swineherd,  and  beg  him 
 to  send  Penelope  word  that  thou  hast  returned." 
 
 Then  Telemachos  awoke,  and  begged  Menelaos  to  let 
 him  go  home,  which  request  the  king  granted  after  having 
 first  feasted  him  sumptuously  and  presented  him  with  rich 
 gifts.  Just  as  they  were  departing  an  eagle  swooped  down, 
 and  seizing  a  goose  from  the  court-yard,  carried  it  off,  not- 
 withstanding all  the  screams  and  cries  of  the  bystanders. 
 This  was  looked  upon  as  a  favourable  sign  from  the  gods, 
 and  Helen  exclaimed  : 
 
 "  '  Hearken  and  I  will  utter  what  this  day 
 The  gods  suggest  and  also  may  fulfil  ! 
 Just  as  this  eagle  came  from  far  away, 
 Reared  in  the  bleak  rock,  nursling  of  the  hill, 
 And  in  the  stormy  ravin  of  his  wild  will 
 Seized  on  the  white  goose,  delicately  bred, 
 So  brave  Odysseus,  after  countless  ill, 
 Comes  from  afar  off,  dealing  vengeance  dread, 
 Or  waits  at  home  e'en  now,  to  strike  the  suitors  dead.'  " 
 —Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  xv.  (Worsley). 
 
 Then  the  two  young  princes  bade  farewell  to  Menelaos, 
 and   departed.      As  they  neared  Pylos,  Telemachos,    not 
 
526    Odysseus  and  the  Swineherd  Eumaios. 
 
 wishing  to  be  detained,  did  not  go  to  the  palace  of  Nestor, 
 but  bade  farewell  to  Peisistratos  and  hurried  off  to  his  ship. 
 
 Just  as  he  was  about  to  set  sail  a  stranger  came  up  to 
 him  and  entreated  to  be  allowed  to  go  with  him,  as  he  was 
 being  pursued  for  having  committed  a  murder  in  his  native 
 country  Argos.  He  was  an  augur  named  Theoklymenos, 
 and  Telemachos  having  made  him  welcome,  they  departed. 
 
 Meanwhile  Odysseus  remained  with  Eumaios,  and  wishing 
 to  find  out  whether  the  latter  still  wished  him  to  remain 
 with  him  or  not,  he  said  :  "At  daybreak  I  will  go  forth  into 
 the  town  that  I  may  no  longer  be  a  burden  to  thee.  Let 
 some  one  show  me  the  way  to  the  gates,  from  whence  I 
 can  make  my  way  to  the  house  of  Odysseus.  Perchance 
 Penelope  herself  will  show  me  kindness,  if  I  bring  her  news 
 of  her  long-lost  husband,  or  mayhap  the  suitors  will  give 
 me  food  if  I  offer  them  any  services,  for  none  can  cut 
 wood,  light  a  fire,  roast  meat,  or  hand  the  wine  cup  more 
 deftly  than  I." 
 
 But  Eumaios  answered :  "  How  now !  what  other 
 venture  wouldst  thou  try?  It  is  but  badly  thou  wouldst 
 fare  among  the  suitors  with  such  a  petition.  A  servant 
 such  as  thou  art  would  ill  suit  their  mind.  It  is  by  bright 
 youths  gaily  dressed  in  rich  garments  that  they  are  served. 
 Remain  where  thou  art.  Neither  I  nor  my  comrades  are 
 weary  of  thee,  and  when  Telemachos  returns  he  will  surely 
 give  thee  a  robe  and  vest,  and  send  thee  wheresoever  thou 
 desirest."  This  answer  pleased  Odysseus  greatly,  and  he 
 begged  his  host  to  tell  him  whether  the  parents  of  Odysseus 
 were  yet  alive.  Eumaios  replied  :  "  Laertes  is  still  living, 
 but  he  is  old  and  weak  and  longs  for  death,  for  since  his 
 son  left  and  his  wife  died,  he  has  no  more  enjoyment  in 
 life  ;  Penelope  also  is  greatly  to  be  pitied,  that  her  house 
 has  been  invaded  by  the  suitor  crew." 
 
Odysseus  and  the  Swineherd  Eumaios.    527 
 
 Then  Odysseus  asked  the  swineherd  of  his  birth  and 
 parentage,  and  wherefore  he  had  left  his  country.  And 
 he  answered  that  he  had  been  carried  away  by  Phoenicians 
 when  a  boy  and  sold  as  a  slave  to  Laertes. 
 
 And  now  the  ship  which  bore  Telemachos  had  at  last 
 arrived  at  Ithaka,  and  so  soon  as  he  landed  the  young 
 prince  bade  one  of  his  companions  take  the  seer  Theokly- 
 menos,  and  conceal  him  in  his  own  house.  He  himself 
 would  go  to  the  swineherd  while  the  vessel  with  the  rest  of 
 the  men  went  on  to  the  town. 
 
 It  was  early  morning,  and  Eumaios  and  Odysseus  were 
 just  preparing  their  repast  when  Telemachos  approached 
 the  house,  and  the  dogs  at  once  ran  forward  to  greet  him 
 and  lick  his  hands.  "Surely,"  cried  Odysseus,  "it  is  a  friend 
 who  comes  hither,  for  the  dogs  receive  him  joyfully." 
 Eumaios  recognized  the  son  of  his  beloved  master,  and 
 jumped  up  so  hastily  from  his  seat  that  he  dropped  the 
 bowl  he  was  holding.  With  tears  of  joy  in  his  eyes  he 
 kissed  the  hands  of  the  prince : 
 
 "  Look,  when  a  loving  father  of  true  heart 
 Kisses  his  own  one  child,  exceeding  dear, 
 Now  beyond  hope  from  some  far  distant  part 
 Of  the  wide  earth  at  last  in  the  tenth  year 
 Returning,  and  for  whom  full  many  a  tear 
 Nightly  and  daily  in  his  grief  he  shed — 
 So  the  good  swineherd  to  the  prince  came  near, 
 Fell  on  his  neck  and  kissed  his  eyes  and  head, 
 As  one  from  sheer  death  rescued,  and  thus  weeping  said: 
 '  Thou,  O  Telemachus,  my  life,  my  light, 
 Returnest  :  yet  my  soul  did  often  say 
 That  never,  never  more  should  I  have  sight 
 Of  thy  sweet  face,  since  thou  didst  sail  away. 
 Enter,  dear  child,  and  let  my  heart  allay 
 Her  yearnings  :  newly  art  thou  come  from  far.'  " 
 
 —Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  xvi.  (Worsley). 
 
528    Odysseus  and  the  SwineJierd  Eumaios. 
 
 "  Gladly  will  I  do  so,"  answered  Telemachos,  "  for  it  is 
 purposely  that  I  am  come  hither  to  speak  to  thee,  that 
 I  may  find  out  whether  my  mother  is  still  in  her  home, 
 or  whether  she  has  been  persuaded  to  wed  one  of  the 
 suitors." 
 
 Eumaios  having  satisfied  him  on  these  points,  they 
 entered  the  house  together,  when  Odysseus  at  once  rose  and 
 offered  his  seat  to  the  noble  youth.  "  Not  so,"  exclaimed 
 Telemachos,  "  keep  thy  seat  fair  stranger.  Youth  ever  gives 
 way  to  age,  and  Eumaios  will  find  me  a  humbler  place." 
 So  Odysseus  sat  down  again,  and  while  the  swineherd  placed 
 food  and  wine  before  the  prince,  with  proud  delight  and 
 admiration  Odysseus  gazed  at  the  son  whom  years  ago  he  had 
 left  a  babe  in  his  mother's  arms.  Then  having  refreshed 
 himself,  Telemachos  asked  :  "  Tell  me,  good  father,  whence 
 comes  this  stranger,  and  what  vessel  brought  him  to  Ithaka." 
 Whereupon  Eumaios  related  the  fable  told  him  by  Odysseus, 
 and  added  that  he  now  gave  him  over  into  the  prince's  care. 
 
 But  Telemachos  answered:  "What  can  I  do  with  him, 
 Eumaios.  Well  thou  knowest  that  I  dare  not  take  him 
 home,  for  how  could  I  protect  him  if  the  suitors  should 
 flout  and  jeer  at  him.  Besides  I  know  not  yet  whether  my 
 mother  still  awaits  my  father's  return,  or  whether  she  has 
 been  persuaded  to  wed  another.  I  can,  however,  give  the 
 stranger  a  coat  and  a  good  stout  sword,  and  send  him  forth 
 wheresoever  he  will.  Until  then  keep  him  safely  by  thee, 
 and  I  will  send  down  food  and  clothing  that  he  may  not  be 
 a  burthen  to  thee.  I  will  not  take  him  to  my  own  house 
 there  to  expose  him  to  insult  and  abuse." 
 
 Then  secret  anger  filled  the  breast  of  Odysseus,  and  he  cried 
 hastily  :  "  Truly  these  suitors  seem  a  mighty  host,  and  much 
 it  grieves  me  to  see  thee  thus  sore  troubled.  Would  that  I 
 were  young,  or  in  thy  place.     Or  would  that  Odysseus  were 
 
Odysseus  and  the  Swineherd  Eumaios.    529 
 
 himself  come  back,  for  then,  even  should  it  cost  me  my 
 head,  I  would  essay  to  turn  out  the  wanton  crew.  Truly 
 E  would  rather  lose  my  life  than  bear  dishonour,  which  is 
 worse  than  death." 
 
 "  Nay,  friend,  it  is  easy  for  thee  to  talk,"  replied  Tele- 
 machos,  "  but  how  can  I,  a  mere  stripling  and  alone,  rid 
 myself  of  so  many  foes  ?  Unless  the  gods  themselves  come 
 to  my  assistance  I  must  stand  patiently  by  while  they  devour 
 my  substance.  But  now,  go  thou  to  the  town  Eumaios, 
 and  tell  my  mother  of  my  safe  return ;  I  will  wait  here  until 
 thou  come  to  me  again." 
 
 Eumaios  obeyed.  No  sooner  had  he  departed  than 
 Athene  approached  the  house  in  the  guise  of  a  beautiful 
 maiden,  but  she  was  only  visible  to  the  sight  of  Odysseus  and 
 to  that  of  the  dogs,  who,  instead  of  barking,  crept  whining 
 to  the  farthest  extremity  of  the  court-yard.  The  goddess 
 beckoned  Odysseus  to  her,  and  bade  him  make  himself 
 known  to  his  son,  at  the  same  time  promising  to  aid  him  in 
 his  coming  encounter  with  the  suitors.  Then  she  touched 
 him  with  her  golden  wand,  and  immediately  he  became  once 
 more  a  noble  hero,  in  the  full  vigour  of  youth,  and  clad  in  a 
 magnificent  mantle. 
 
 The  goddess  left  him,  and  Odysseus  re-entered  the  hut. 
 In  wonder  his  son  gazed  at  him,  and  at  last  averted  his  eyes, 
 believing  that  he  saw  before  him  one  of  the  immortals. 
 "  Who  art  thou,  stranger  !"  he  cried,  "Art  thou  indeed  one 
 of  the  bright  and  beautiful  gods  ?  If  so,  be  propitious,  and 
 gladly  will  we  offer  sacrifices  to  thee." 
 
 But  Odysseus  answered  :  "  Nay,  nay,  my  son.  No  god 
 am  I.  I  am  thy  long  lost  father,  for  whom  thou  hast  often 
 sighed  and  sorrowed,"  and  with  tears  of  joy  he  embraced 
 his  son.  But  Telemachos  could  not  yet  believe  his 
 cars  : 
 
 2  L 
 
530    Odysseus  and  the  Swineherd  Ewnaios. 
 
 "  *  No,  thou  art  not  my  father  nor  by  name 
 Odysseus,  but,  of  power  divine,  dost  long 
 With  flattering  words  to  mock  me  to  my  shame, 
 That  I  whose  grief  already  is  far  too  strong, 
 May  learn  new  weepings  and  a  mightier  wrong. 
 Not  of  himself  could  man  this  scheme  unfold, 
 But  God  can  lightly  make  one  old  or  young, 
 And  thou  of  late  wast  wrapt  in  rags  and  old, 
 Who  now  resemblest  gods  that  heaven's  dominion  hold.' " 
 —Homer  "  Odyssey,"  Book  xvi.  (Worsley). 
 
 "  Wherefore  does  my  return  so  astonish  thee  ? "  replied 
 Odysseus.     "  My  absence  has  indeed  been  long,  but  by  the 
 help  of  beneficent  Athene,  I  have  at  length  regained  my 
 country  after  twenty  years  of  sorrow  and  danger.      It  was 
 the   same  gracious   goddess  who    transformed    me   into  a 
 beggar  and    now  has  restored  me  to   my   original  form." 
 Then  Telemachos,  no  longer  doubting,  sprang  forward, 
 "And  clung  weeping  round  his  father's  breast. 
 There  the  pent  grief  rained  o'er  them,  yearning  thus. 
 Louder  they  wailed  than  on  the  rock's  lone  crest 
 Eagle  or  hook-nailed  vulture,  from  whose  nest 
 Rude  churls  the  unfeathered  young  have  stolen  away. 
 Thus  piteously  they  wailed  in  sore  unrest." 
 
 —  Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  xvi.  (Worsley). 
 
 At  length  Odysseus  found  his  voice,  and  related  to  his  son 
 how  he  had  been  brought  to  Ithaka  by  the  Phaeacians,  and 
 declared  his  determination  to  attack  the  suitors.  But  Tele- 
 machos, startled  at  this,  replied  :  "  O,  my  father,  oft  indeed 
 have  I  heard  that  thou  art  a  hero  mighty  and  strong,  but  it 
 is  not  possible  that  two  men  unaided  like  ourselves  should 
 prevail  against  so  many.  The  suitors  are  more  than  one 
 hundred  in  number,  besides  six  servants,  the  herald,  the 
 bard,  and  two  cooks ;  but  it  may  be  that  thou  knowest  of 
 some  allies  willing  to  help  us  in  the  encounter." 
 
Odysseus  and  I  he  Swine  herd  Eumaios.     53 1 
 
 "What  need  have  we  of  other  aid  if  Zeus  and  Pallas 
 are  on  our  side  ?  "  answered  Odysseus  j  "  they  both  have 
 promised  their  assistance  in  the  struggle.  At  earliest  dawn, 
 my  son,  go  thou  unto  the  palace ;  Eumaios  will  conduct  me 
 to  the  town  disguised  as  a  beggar.  Should  the  suitors  scoff 
 and  jeer  at  me,  heed  them  not.  No,  not  even  if  they  should 
 ill-treat  me ;  but  as  soon  as  I  make  thee  a  given  sign,  take  all 
 the  arms  in  the  hall  to  an  upper  chamber,  leaving  cnly  two 
 swords,  two  shields,  and  two  spears  for  thee  and  me.  But 
 tell  none — not  even  Laertes,  Penelope,  or  Eumaios — that  I 
 have  returned  to  Ithaka." 
 
 While  they  were  thus  speaking  the  vessel  that  bore 
 Telemachos  to  his  home  entered  the  harbour,  and  a  herald 
 announced  its  arrival  to  Penelope,  and  also  to  Eumaios, 
 who  had  just  come  into  the  palace.  The  thought  that  Tele- 
 machos had  escaped  them  filled  the  suitors  with  rage,  and 
 they  were  about  to  dispatch  a  ship  to  recall  those  who  were 
 lying  in  wait  for  him,  when  they  themselves  appeared,  their 
 leader  Antinoos  exclaiming  :  "  It  is  incredible  that  Tele- 
 machos has  eluded  our  vigilance,  for  we  kept  watch  close  to 
 the  shore  all  day,  and  during  the  night  cruised  about 
 incessantly.  The  youth  must  surely  have  been  under  the 
 protection  of  the  gods  !  Now,  however,  let  us  consult  how 
 best  to  compass  his  destruction  on  land.  This  time  he  shall 
 not  escape  us,  for  our  object  is  unattainable  whilst  he  lives. 
 There  must  be  no  delay,  for  he  may  assemble  the  people, 
 and  by  telling  them  that  we  have  lain  in  wait  for  him,  incite 
 them  to  rise  against  us.  Let  us  therefore  slay  him,  and 
 divide  the  land  amongst  us,  and  he  whom  Penelope  shall 
 choose  shall  have  the  palace." 
 
 Then  said  Amphinomos  (worthiest  and  most  true-hearted 
 of  all  the  suitors) :  "  Let  us  not  harm  Telemachos.  No 
 good  is  ever  gained  by  shedding  royal  blood ;  at  least  let  us 
 
532     Odysseus  and  the  Sivineherd  Eumaios. 
 
 first  consult  the  will  of  the  gods."  This  counsel  satisfied 
 them  all,  and  repairing  to  the  palace  they  took  their  seats  at 
 the  banqueting  board.  Penelope,  meanwhile,  having  learnt 
 that  the  suitors  had  resolved  to  waylay  and  kill  her  son, 
 came  veiled  to  the  entrance  of  the  hall,  and  cried  with 
 indignation;  "Antinoos,  wouldst  thou  slay  Telemachos? 
 Canst  thou  thus  disregard  the  cry  of  the  sorrowful  and 
 bereaved,  who  are  ever  under  the  protection  of  mighty  Jove  ? 
 Ungrateful  one  !  rememberest  thou  not  how  Odysseus  saved 
 thy  father  from  the  fury  of  the  people,  who  would  have 
 murdered  him  for  having  robbed  our  allies  ?  and  now,  not 
 only  dost  thou  devour  the  substance  of  thy  benefactor  and 
 afflict  his  wife,  but  thou  wouldst  also  raise  thine  hand 
 against  his  only  child." 
 
 "  Cast  aside  these  fears,"  answered  Eurymachos,  another 
 of  the  suitors ;  "  not  a  hair  of  thy  son's  head  shall  be 
 touched.  He  who  harms  Telemachos  will  meet  with  his 
 punishment  at  my  hands;  for  often  in  my  childhood  Odysseus 
 would  take  me  on  his  knee  and  give  me  meat  and  wine." 
 Thus  spake  he,  feigning  friendship,  whereas  he  himself  was 
 among  the  foremost  in  conspiring  against  the  prince.  Some- 
 what reassured  Penelope  returned  to  her  chamber  and  wept 
 over  her  sorrows,  wailing  for  her  lost  husband,  till  pitiful 
 Athene  closed  her  eyes  in  slumber. 
 
 At  dusk  Eumaios  returned  to  his  house,  where  he  found 
 Odysseus,  who  had  been  once  more  changed  into  a  beggar. 
 To  him  he  recounted  the  return  of  the  suitors  from  their 
 fruitless  voyage,  and  rejoicing  greatly  over  the  preservation 
 of  Telemachos,  they  all  lay  down  to  rest  so  to  gain  strength 
 for  what  lay  before  them  on  the  morrow. 
 
Odysseus  returns  to  his  home.  533 
 
 XLIX„— ODYSSEUS    RETURNS   TO    HIS 
 HOME. 
 
 Scarce  had  day  dawned  when  Telemachos  entered  the 
 town  to  seek  the  presence  of  his  mother,  having  bidden  the 
 swineherd  follow  him  with  the  stranger  without  delay.  On 
 entering  the  palace  the  prince  first  encountered  Eurykleia. 
 who  ran  to  greet  him  with  tears  of  joy.  All  now  crowded 
 round  him,  and  at  last  Penelope  came  forth  from  her 
 chamber  more  beautiful  than  ever.  Fondly  she  clasped  her 
 son  in  her  arms,  weeping  for  joy  over  him.  "  O  Tele- 
 machos, my  life,  my  light,  the  only  joy  remaining  to  me. 
 Hast  thou  indeed  returned  in  safety  ?  What  anxiety  have  I 
 not  suffered  on  thy  account  !  But  now,  tell  me,  what  hast 
 thou  been  able  to  accomplish  ?  " 
 
 "Ah,  beloved  mother,"  answered  the  youth,  "  harrow  not 
 my  soul  afresh  with  thy  questions.  Rather  ascend,  robed  in 
 white,  to  the  tower,  and  there  present  a  thank-offering  to  the 
 gods  for  my  safe  return,  while  I  seek  and  bring  hither  the 
 guest  whom  I  brought  from  Pylos."  While  Penelope  com- 
 plied with  the  desire  of  her  son,  Telemachos  traversed  the 
 palace,  spear  in  hand,  and  followed  by  his  faithful  hounds : 
 
 "  Athene  did  with  grace  endear 
 His  form,  that  all  the  people  gazed  intent, 
 And  wondered  while  he  passed  without  a  peer. 
 Then  the  proud  suitors  thronged  him  as  he  went, 
 With  fair  words  on  the  lip,  with  dark  wrongs  deeply  meant." 
 —Homer,  "Odyssey,"  Book  xvii.  (Worsley). 
 
 But  he  would  not  stop  among  them.  Joining  his  father's 
 friends,  he  awaited  the  arrival  of  the  man  into  whose  care 
 he  had  entrusted  the  seer  Theoklymenos,  and  accompanied 
 
534  Odysseus  returns  to  his  home, 
 
 him  to  the  market  place.  From  thence  he  brought  back 
 his  guest  to  the  palace,  and  with  Penelope  and  a  few 
 faithful  friends  (the  suitors  being  absent),  sat  down  to 
 their  morning  repast,  while  Telemachos  thus  related  his 
 adventures. 
 
 "  When  I  arrived  at  Pylos,  Nestor  received  me  as  though 
 I  had  been  his  own  son,  but  not  a  word  could  he  tell  me  of 
 the  fate  of  my  father.  Therefore  I  hastened  onward  to 
 Sparta,  where  I  found  Menelaos,  and  from  him  received 
 some  information,  Proteus,  the  sea-god,  having  told  him 
 that  Odysseus,  with  neither  ships  nor  men,  was  unable 
 to  return  to  his  kingdom,  and  was  being  detained  by 
 Kalypso  in  her  island."  On  this  the  seer  Theoklymenos 
 exclaimed : 
 
 "  '  Wife  of  Laertiades  Odysseus,  hear  ! 
 He  only  knows  in  part ;  my  prophecy  is  clear. 
 First  of  the  gods  bear  witness  Zeus  the  while, 
 Thy  table  kind,  the  hearth  which  I  have  found, 
 Hearth  of  the  brave  Odysseus  void  of  guile, — 
 E'en  now  thy  husband  on  his  native  ground, 
 Sitting  or  walking,  hears  an  evil  sound 
 Of  suitors  in  his  hall,  and  vengeance  dark 
 Broods,  which  with  dire  fulfilment  shall  be  crowned  : 
 Such  omen,  whi  e  I  sat  beside  the  bark, 
 I  knew,  and  called  aloud,  and  bade  thy  son  to  mark.'" 
 
 —Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  xvii.  (Worsley). 
 
 "  Heaven  grant  that  it  may  be  so,"  cried  Penelope  ; 
 "  then  by  richly  rewarding  thee,  will  I  prove  that  I  am  not 
 ungrateful."  While  they  thus  communed  in  the  hall,  the 
 suitors  in  the  court-yard  of  the  palace  engaged  in  various 
 sports,  such  as  throwing  the  dart  and  hurling  the  disc, 
 till  the  hour  of  noon  approached.  Then  they  assisted  in 
 slaying  and  preparing  the  flesh  of  the  requisite  animals  for 
 the  mid-day  meal. 
 
Odysseus  returns  to  his  home.  535 
 
 Now,  Odysseus,  clothed  in  tattered  garments,  with  a 
 patched  wallet  on  his  back,  and  holding  a  stout  staff  on 
 which  to  stay  his  tottering  steps,  made  his  way  into  the 
 town,  accompanied  by  Eumaios.  As  they  approached  the 
 gates,  they  met  Melanthius,  the  goat-herd,  who  sided  with 
 the  suitors,  and  was  now  bringing  in  some  kids  for  their 
 banquet.     When  he  beheld  Odysseus,  he  cried  mockingly : 
 
 "  See  how  God  ever  like  with  like  doth  pair, 
 And  still  the  worthless  doth  the  worthless  lead  ! 
 Unenviable  swineherd  !  tell  me  where 
 This  wretch  wouldst  thou  bestow  ?    Not  such  we  need, 
 Banes  of  the  banquet,  very  wolves  to  feed. 
 He  by  the  door-posts  loitering  in  the  way 
 Will  rub  his  shoulders,  and  to  sate  his  greed 
 Prowl  mid  the  suitors  for  vile  scraps  of  prey, 
 Nor  sword  nor  caldron  earn  by  any  manly  play. 
 If  thou  wouldst  lend  him  for  a  while  to  me, 
 The  stalls  to  sweep,  and  for  the  kids  supply 
 Young  leaves  for  pasture,  very  soon  would  he 
 Swill  the  rich  whey  and  nourish  a  stout  thigh. 
 But  the  ill  caitiff  of  all  toil  is  shy, 
 And  with  a  hell-deep  moan  doth  cringe  about 
 For  victuals.     Mark  me,  for  I  will  not  lie  ! 
 Once  let  him  set  foot  mid  the  suitors'  rout, 
 Soon  will  his  ribs  and  head  the  flying  stools  wear  out." 
 — Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  xvii.  (Worsley). 
 
 Not  content  with  this,  Melanthius  still  pursued  them,  and 
 spurned  Odysseus  with  his  foot.  But  the  disguised  hero, 
 although  sorely  tempted  to  strike  the  miscreant  dead  with 
 his  staff,  restrained  himself.  Eumaios,  however,  raising  his 
 hands  towards  heaven,  cried  : 
 
 "  Virgins  of  Zeus,  ye  fountain-nymphs  divine, 
 If  that  Odysseus  thighs  did  ever  burn 
 Of  lambs  or  kids,  fat-folded,  at  your  shrine, 
 
536  Odysseus  returns  to  his  home. 
 
 Fulfil  the  hope  wherewith  in  soul  I  yearn  ! 
 May  God  yet  bring  him,  may  that  man  return  ! 
 Then  will  he  fling  thy  finery  to  the  wind, 
 Wherein  rejoicing  thou  the  poor  dost  spurn, 
 Roaming  the  city,  while  with  evil  mind 
 Bad  herdsmen  waste  the  flocks  which  thou  hast  left  beind" 
 — Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  xvii.  (Worsley). 
 
 "What  art  thou  muttering,  fool?"  cried  Melanthius; 
 "  only  wait  till  the  suitors  have  slain  Telemachos,  and  then 
 will  I  carry  thee  off  and  sell  thee  for  a  slave."  And  hurrying 
 into  the  palace,  he  seated  himself  among  the  guests  and 
 joined  in  the  revel. 
 
 Not  long  after  Eumaios  and  Odysseus  also  arrived.  As 
 they  drew  near  Odysseus  stayed  his  steps,  and,  grasping  the 
 swineherd's  hand,  said :  "  What  a  magnificent  building  is 
 this !  The  lordly  chambers  rise  tier  above  tier,  and  what 
 splendid  towers  and  battlements  surround  the  court-yard  !  I 
 see  also  that  many  guests  are  assembled  at  the  banquet,  and 
 the  savoury  odour  of  the  viands,  and  the  sweet  tones  of  the 
 harp  issue  forth  most  temptingly." 
 
 "  Thou  art  indeed  right,"  replied  Eumaios,  "  but  now  let 
 us  decide  whether  thou  art  to  go  in  first  and  take  thy  place 
 among  the  suitors,  or  whether  thou  wilt  wait  here  while  I 
 enter." 
 
 "  I  will  wait  here,  my  friend,"  said  Odysseus,  "  go  thou  in 
 first.  Of  hard  blows,  and  even  worse  than  these,  have  I 
 borne  many,  but  the  pangs  of  hunger  are  unconquerable." 
 As  they  spoke,  an  old  dog  that  lay  near  raised  himself  and 
 pricked  up  his  ears.  It  was  Argos,  whom  Odysseus  himself 
 had  trained  in  years  gone  by,  and  than  whom  none  had 
 been  swifter  in  the  chase  ;  now,  since  the  departure  of  his 
 master,  Argos  had  lain  neglected  upon  the  heaps  of  rubbish 
 outside  the  gates.      Recognizing  the  voice  of  Odysseus  the 
 
Odysseus  returns  to  his  home. 
 
 )S/ 
 
 aged  hound  strove  in  vain  to  approach  him,  the  once  strong 
 limbs  were  now  too  feeble  to  bear  him,  but  eyes,  ears,  and 
 tail  expressed  the  glad  welcome  that  he  could  not  utter. 
 Tears  filled  the  eyes  of  Odysseus  at  the  sight  of  his  noble 
 hound  in  such  evil  plight,  and  he  bent  down  and  gently 
 stroked  his  head.  Then  with  one  long  gasp,  the  faithful 
 four-footed  friend  fell  back  and  died,  satisfied  when,  after  so 
 many  long  years,  his  eyes  had  once  again  beheld  the  face  of 
 his  beloved  master. 
 
 Eumaios  now  entered  the  hall,  where  Telemachos  pro- 
 vided him  with  a  seat  near  to  himself.  Next  came  in  also 
 Odysseus,  and  stood  leaning  against  a  pillar.  Telemachos 
 immediately  gave  some  meat  and  bread  to  Eumaios,  saying: 
 "  Take  this  to  yon  mendicant,  and  say  that  I  bid  him  go 
 boldly  among  the  suitors,  and  beg  something  from  each." 
 Odysseus  gratefully  accepted  the  proffered  food,  and  seated 
 himself  to  partake  of  it. 
 
 As  soon  as  the  sweet  sounds  of  the  harp  had  ceased, 
 Athene,  unseen  by  all  beside,  approached  Odysseus  and 
 urged  him  to  mingle  with  the  guests  and  ask  for  alms.  The 
 hero  obeyed  her  behest  without  delay.  Struck  by  his  tall 
 stature  and  manly  proportions  the  suitors  asked  one  another 
 who  this  beggar  could  be,  and  whence  he  came. 
 
 "  I  have  seen  him  before,"  said  Melanthius,  the  goatherd, 
 "  when  the  swineherd  Eumaios  was  bringing  him  into  the 
 town,  but  where  he  comes  from  I  know  not." 
 
 "Wherefore  didst  thou  bring  this  fellow  here,  Eumaios?'' 
 cried  Antinoos  insolently,  "  as  if  we  had  not  already  enough 
 of  such  vile  rabble." 
 
 "  Thou  speakest  foolishly,"  returned  the  swineherd ; 
 "  strangers,  truly,  are  ever  welcome,  but  they  must  be  great 
 men,  either  architects,  physicians,  or  singers,  or  in  some 
 other  way  renowned :  mendicants  come  unbidden,  none 
 would  invite  or  bring  them." 
 
538  Odysseus  returns  to  his  home. 
 
 "  Hold  thy  peace,  Eumaios,"  now  broke  in  Telemachos, 
 "thou  knowest  well  that  Antinoos  is  ever  ready  to  wound  with 
 bitter  unkind  words.     Why  therefore  dost  thou  answer  him  ?" 
 
 Odysseus  during  this  had  continued  going  from  one  to 
 another  of  the  suitors,  receiving  food  from  them,  until  at  last 
 he  stood  before  Antinoos:  "Thou  also  must  bestow  some- 
 what upon  me,"  he  said,  "for  thou  hast  the  countenance 
 and  bearing  of  a  king,  and  I  will  declare  thy  generosity  far 
 and  wide.  I,  too,  was  once  rich  and  powerful,  and  until  it 
 pleased  the  gods  to  deprive  me  of  my  wealth,  I  was  ever 
 ready  to  succour  and  help  the  needy." 
 
 But  these  words  greatly  displeased  Antinoos,  and 
 he  answered:  "What  god  sent  this  man  to  annoy  us? 
 Hence,  fellow  !  or  thou  wilt  receive  more  than  thou  hast 
 demanded  ! " 
 
 "  O  ye  gods  ! "  exclaimed  Odysseus,  "  how  different  is  the 
 inward  mind  from  the  outward  man  !  Nothing  can  I  look 
 for  from  thee  since  thou  wilt  not  bestow  so  much  as  a  crumb 
 from  the  board  where  thou  thyself  hast  been  fed,  but  which 
 is  not  thine  own."  Still  more  enraged,  Antinoos  raised  his 
 wooden  stool  and  threw  it  at  Odysseus,  hitting  him  on  the 
 shoulder.  The  hero,  however,  merely  bent  his  head  in 
 silence,  and  returned  to  his  place  at  the  entrance  of  the  hall, 
 saying  to  the  suitors  : 
 
 " '  Hear  me,  ye  suitors  of  the  queen  divine  ! 
 Men  grieve  not  for  the  wounds  they  take  in  fight 
 Defending  their  own  wealth,  white  sheep  or  kine  ; 
 But  me  (bear  witness  !)  doth  Antinous  smite 
 Only  because  I  suffer  hunger's  bite, 
 Fount  to  mankind  of  evils  evermore. 
 Now  may  Antinous,  ere  his  nuptial  night, 
 If  there  be  gods  and  furies  of  the  poor, 
 Die  unavenged,  unwept,  upon  the  palace-floor  ! '  " 
 
 —Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  xvii.  (Worsley). 
 
Odysseus  returns  to  his  home.  539 
 
 "  Peace,  wretch  ! "  cried  Antinoos,  "eat  thy  food  with- 
 out further  parley  or  we  will  fall  upon  thee,  and  cast  thy 
 body  out  to  the  dogs."  The  rest  of  the  suitors  joined  in 
 mocking  and  threatening  the  beggar.  Telemachos  and 
 Penelope  alone  were  sorely  grieved  at  this  violation  of  the 
 laws» of  hospitality,  and  the  latter,  seated  among  her  maidens, 
 thinking  that  perhaps  the  stranger  might  be  able  to  give  her 
 news  of  Odysseus,  sent  and  bade  Eumaios  conduct  him  to 
 her  own  apartments.  But  Odysseus  sent  her  back  word  that 
 for  fear  of  the  suitors  he  would  wait  till  evening  before 
 seeking  her  presence,  and  that  then  he  would  recount  to 
 her  all  he  knew  regarding  her  husband. 
 
 Eumaios  then  took  leave  of  Telemachos  and  departed, 
 promising  to  return  early  on  the  morrow.  Another  beggar 
 named  Iros  now  approached.  He  was  a  surly  vagrant, 
 well  known  to  be  both  a  coward  and  a  bully,  and  he 
 immediately  sought  a  quarrel  with  Odysseus. 
 
 "  Hence,  dotard  !  "  cried  he,  "  dost  thou  not  see  that  the 
 suitors  are  making  signs  to  me  to  drive  thee  away  ?  Hasten 
 thy  steps,  lest  thou  feel  the  weight  of  my  arm." 
 
 But  Odysseus  answered  :  "  Nay,  friend,  there  is  here  room 
 both  for  you  and  me,  and  I  will  not  grudge  thee  ought  that 
 they  may  give  thee.  Only  molest  me  not,  lest  I  smite  thee 
 in  mine  anger,  and  do  thee  some  harm,  old  man  though  J 
 be  ! "  These  words  increased  tenfold  the  scorn  and  in- 
 solence of  Iros,  and  he  swore  and  raved  like  a  madman, 
 greatly  to  the  delight  of  the  suitors,  who  watched  the  dis 
 putants  with  great  interest. 
 
 Antinoos  urged  them  both  on,  crying  :  "  See  !  here  is 
 a  savoury  dish  of  roasted  kid  :  whichever  of  you  masters 
 the  other  shall  partake  of  as  much  of  it  as  he  will,  and  sit 
 with  us  at  the  board." 
 
 "  How  can   an   old  man  like  me,"  answered  Odysseus 
 
54°  Odysseus  returns  to  his  home. 
 
 craftily,  "  hope  to  overcome  one  in  the  prime  of  manhood  ? 
 Nevertheless,  driven  thereto  by  hunger,  I  will  make  the 
 attempt,  if  ye  will  pledge  yourselves  not  to  lend  Iros  your 
 aid." 
 
 To  this  they  all  agreed,  and  the  hero  prepared  himself 
 for  the  combat  •  but  if  the  suitors  had  been  amazed  at  his 
 great  height,  Iros,  when  he  beheld  the  marvellous  strength 
 of  muscle  displayed  by  Odysseus,  was  fairly  cowed,  and 
 shrinking  back  would  fain  have  escaped.  The  suitors, 
 however,  dragged  him  forward,  and  compelled  him  to  fight. 
 Then  Odysseus,  without  exerting  his  full  strength,  returned 
 the  first  blow  feebly  dealt  at  him  by  dashing  Iros  to  the 
 ground,  and  then  picking  him  up,  placed  him  against  the 
 wall  of  the  court-yard,  amidst  the  gibes  and  laughter  of  the 
 spectators,  exclaiming  : 
 
 " '  Sit,  pitiful  that  thou  art,  and  learn  to  keep 
 Dogs  from  the  doors,  and  swine,  nor  henceforth  dare 
 O'er  men  to  lord  it,  and  foul  insults  heap 
 On  strangers  and  the  poor,  lest  a  worse  thing  thou  reap.' " 
 —Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  xviii.  (Worsley). 
 
 And  he  quietly  resumed  his  seat  in  the  palace  door-way,  all 
 the  suitors  applauding  him  and  saying : 
 
 "  '  Zeus  and  the  gods  whatever  in  thy  mind 
 Thou  list,  O  stranger,  at  thy  choice  dispose  ! 
 Since  yonder  cormorant  his  last  hath  dined 
 At  public  charge.' " 
 
 —Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  xviii.  (Worsley). 
 
 Antinoos  placed  before  him  the  roasted  kids,  while 
 others  plentifully  supplied  him  with  wine  and  bread. 
 
 Athene  now  inspired  Penelope  to  descend  into  the 
 banqueting  hall,  in  order  to  afford  Odysseus  the  opportunity 
 of  admiring  the  fidelity  and  skill  of  his  wife.     "  Eurynome," 
 
O  dys  setts  returns  to  his  home.  541 
 
 said  the  queen  to  her  old  nurse,  "  well  thou  knovvest  my 
 hatred  of  the  suitors,  yet  methinks  I  will  nevertheless  join 
 them  now  in  the  hall,  for  I  would  fain  warn  Telemachos  of 
 their  evil  practices,  and  also  rebuke  him  for  allowing  them 
 to  insult  the  stranger." 
 
 "  Do  even  as  thou  hast  said,  my  child,"  replied  the  aged 
 dame,  "  but  first  restrain  thy  ever-flowing  tears,  and  deck 
 thyself  right  royally  that  thy  glorious  beauty  may  command 
 the  admiration  of  all." 
 
 "  Ah,  talk  not  to  me  of  adornment,"  sighed  Penelope ; 
 "  all  pleasure  in  it  has  left  me  since  the  departure  of  my 
 beloved  Odysseus — nevertheless  bid  my  maidens  Autonoe 
 and  Hippodameia  attend  me."  As  soon  as  F.urynome  had 
 departed  to  carry  out  the  commands  of  her  mistress, 
 Athene  caused  Penelope  to  fall  into  a  deep  slumber,  and 
 while  she  slept  endowed  her  with  dazzling  beauty,  bathing 
 her  face  and  hair  with  ambrosia,  so  that  when  she  descended 
 to  the  hall,  attended  by  the  two  maidens,  the  suitors  sprang 
 to  their  feet,  enchanted  with  her  loveliness. 
 
 With  her  veil  thrown  round  her  the  queen  stood  by  the 
 lofty  pillars  which  supported  the  arched  roof,  and  turning  to 
 her  son  thus  addressed  him :  "  Though  thou  hast  almost 
 attained  to  man's  estate,  my  son,  yet  this  day  thou  hast 
 acted  foolishly.  Thou  shouldst  not  have  suffered  a  stranger 
 who  had  sought  our  hospitality  to  be  insulted  in  our 
 presence." 
 
 "  Rightly  dost  thou  speak,  my  mother,"  replied  the  prince, 
 "but  the  riot  here  puts  to  flight  all  just  and  sober  thoughts. 
 The  combat,  however,  between  Iros  and  the  stranger  ter- 
 minated not  as  the  suitors  hoped  and  believed.  O  that 
 Zeus  would  cause  them  to  be  laid  low,  even  as  was  Iros  !" 
 
 Thus  he  answered  her,  and  then  Eurymachos  exclaimed  : 
 "  How   beautiful  thou  art,  Penelope  !   fairest  of  the  fair  ! 
 
542  Odysseus  returns  to  his  home. 
 
 Could  but  the  princes  of  my  native  land  behold  thee,  the 
 number  of  thy  suitors  would  be  doubled." 
 
 "  Eurymachos,"  answered  the  queen,  "  grief  for  my  be- 
 loved Odysseus  has  robbed  me  of  my  beauty.  Were  he  but 
 to  return,  then,  indeed,  life  and  joy  would  again  be  mine. 
 Now  the  gods  fill  my  life  with  evil : 
 
 "  '  Well  I  remember,  when  he  went  away, 
 
 He  clasped  my  right  hand  by  the  wrist,  and  said  : 
 "  Not  all  the  Argives  that  wear  arms  to-day, 
 Dear  wife,  believe  me  shall  from  Troy  be  led 
 Safe  homeward  ;  but  the  many  shall  lie  dead. 
 They  say  the  Trojans  are  all  warriors  tried, 
 Hurlers  of  javelins,  and  bowmen  dread, 
 And  riders  of  swift  steeds,  that  far  and  wide 
 Swerves  of  the  rolling  battle  very  soon  decide. 
 Therefore  I  know  not  whether  God  will  spare 
 My  life,  or  whether  I  in  Troy  shall  fall. 
 But  thou  of  all  things  in  my  stead  take  care, 
 And  even  as  now,  whatever  fate  befal, 
 My  father  and  my  mother  in  our  hall 
 
 Remember and  yet  more  when  I  am  gone. 
 
 And  when  thy  son  thou  seest  bearded,  tall, 
 
 Wed  whom  thou  wilt,  and  leave  him  here  alone." ' 
 
 —Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  xviii.  (Worsley). 
 
 Thus  spake  he,  and  now  with  dread  I  see  the  day  ap- 
 proaching when  I  must  become  the  wife  of  another.  Of 
 suitors  I  have  truly  enough,  but  such  as  waste  my  substance. 
 Instead  of  bestowing  on  me  an  abundance  of  precious  gifts, 
 as  is  the  custom  of  our  land,  ye  prey  on  me  for  food  and 
 shelter." 
 
 At  these  words  the  most  presumptuous  of  the  suitors 
 sent  forth  the  herald  to  bring  in  rich  presents,  which  forth- 
 with they  presented  to  the  noble  Penelope.  After  she  had 
 retired  to  her  apartments  the  revellers  in  the  hall  continued 
 
Odysseus  returns  to  his  home.  543 
 
 to  dance  and  feast  the  whole  night  through,  Odysseus  the 
 while  carefully  tending  the  torches  and  fires.  Then 
 Eurymachos  cried  tauntingly:  "Hearken,  my  friends. 
 Surely  some  god  has  sent  hither  this  beggar  to  help  in  the 
 illumination  of  the  hall  with  the  bright  shining  baldness  of 
 his  head !  What  sayest  thou,  fellow  ?  wouldst  take  service 
 with  me,  either  to  work  in  the  fields  or  to  fell  trees,  or  carry 
 home  wood  from  the  forest?  But,  perchance,  thou  art  but 
 a  useless  vagabond  who  would  rather  lead  the  idle  life  of  a 
 mendicant." 
 
 "  Not  so,"  replied  Odysseus ;  "  I  would  we  could  now  work 
 for  a  wager,  then  shouldst  thou  see  that  I  can  mow  grass, 
 or  drive  the  plough  even  from  morn  till  far  on  into  the 
 night.  Or  if  thou  didst  employ  me  in  battle,  thou  wouldst 
 ever  find  me  foremost  in  the  fight.  But  a  proud  insolent 
 man  art  thou  that  thinkest  thyself  far  greater  than  thou  art. 
 Would  that  Odysseus  were  returned,  for  then  would  these 
 doors,  wide  though  they  seem,  be  too  narrow  to  afford  thee 
 means  of  flight." 
 
 "  What,"  exclaimed  the  enraged  Eurymachos,  "  darest 
 thou  to  insult  me  thus  in  presence  of  all  these?  Surely 
 thou  art  heated  and  overcome  with  wine,  or  else  thy  triumph 
 over  Iros  has  turned  thy  head."  So  saying  he  hurled  a 
 wooden  stool  at  Odysseus  with  such  force  that,  had  he  not 
 managed  to  avoid  it,  he  must  have  been  felled  to  the 
 ground. 
 
 "  Are  ye  all  mad  ?  "  exclaimed  Telemachos.  "  Has  the 
 wine  turned  your  heads  that  ye  thus  brawl  and  riot  at  this 
 unseemly  hour?  Surely  it  is  fully  time  to  seek  repose." 
 The  suitors  abashed  by  this  rebuke  retired,  but  only  to 
 recommence  on  the  morrow  the  practices  of  the  preceding 
 night. 
 
 Odysseus  remained  in  the  hall  meditating  revenge.    "  Tele- 
 
544  Odysseus  returns  to  his  home. 
 
 machos,"  he  said  at  length,  "  let  us  quickly  carry  all  these 
 weapons  and  all  the  armour  into  an  upper  chamber." 
 This  they  did  without  delay,  Pallas,  the  while  invisible  to 
 the  eyes  of  Telemachos,  lighting  their  way  with  her  golden 
 lamp. 
 
 Much  astonished  at  the  brilliant  light  that  surrounded 
 them  the  prince  cried  :  "  What  miracle  is  this,  my  father  ? 
 the  walls,  the  roof,  the  pillars,  all  seem  ablaze.  Surely  some 
 divinity  is  present  here."  "  Speak  not  of  aught  that  thou 
 seest,"  returned  Odysseus,  "but  ponder  all  in  thy  heart. 
 Such  is  the  will  of  the  immortals.  Now  rest  awhile  while  I 
 seek  the  presence  of  the  queen,  and  recount  to  her  my 
 sorrows." 
 
 Odysseus  had  not  long  to  wait  ere  Penelope  appeared 
 attended  by  her  maidens,  and  took  her  place  on  her  gold 
 and  silver  seat,  while  the  damsels  cleared  the  banqueting 
 tables.  One  of  them  going  up  to  Odysseus,  said:  "How  is 
 this,  stranger?  hast  thou  not  already  received  enough  in 
 this  house,  but  thou  must  needs  remain  here  all  night  also  ? 
 Haste  thee  !  begone  ! " 
 
 "  Dost  thou  scorn  me,"  replied  the  disguised  king,  "  be- 
 cause I  am  clothed  in  rags,  and  my  face  is  furrowed  with 
 grief  and  care?  Time  was  when  I  too  was  young,  well 
 clad,  and  happy ;  bethink  therefore  that  a  like  change  may 
 one  day  fall  on  thee  also." 
 
 "  Curb  thy  forward  tongue,  maiden,"  cried  Penelope 
 sternly ;  "  it  is  at  my  desire  that  the  stranger  remains  here 
 to  give  me  tidings  of  Odysseus."  Then  she  made  Odysseus 
 seat  himself,  and  asked  of  him  his  name,  and  whence  he 
 came.  But  he  answered :  "  Lady,  ask  me  not,  for  the 
 narrative  of  my  sorrows  would  force  me  to  wail  and  lament 
 with  tears  before  thee." 
 
 But  when  Penelope  again  urged  him  to  relate  to  her  his 
 
Odysseus  returns  to  his  home.  545 
 
 history,  he  told  her  that  he  was  a  brother  of  King 
 Idomeneus,  to  whose  court  Odysseus  had  come  on  his  way 
 to  Troy,  and  that,  Idomeneus  being  absent,  he  had  enter- 
 tained the  hero  for  twelve  days.  As  he  spoke  of  her 
 husband,  Penelope  could  not  refrain  from  weeping,  for  she 
 thought  with  sorrow  of  her  beloved  lord,  but  Odysseus 
 betrayed  no  emotion.  "And  is  it  indeed  as  thou  hast 
 said?"  she  asked  at  length;  "hast  thou  in  truth  seen 
 Odysseus  ?  Tell  me,  what  manner  of  man  was  he  ?  what 
 raiment  did  he  wear,  and  who  were  his  companions  ?  " 
 
 Then  Odysseus  described  so  minutely  the  clothes  he  had 
 worn  that  the  queen  doubted  no  longer,  and  exclaimed 
 with  bitter  tears :  "  Alas  !  that  robe  mine  own  hands 
 broidered  for  him  :  " 
 
 "'Ah  !  never  more  to  my  fond  arms  reclaimed 
 Him  shall  I  welcome  !     Far  across  the  sea 
 Odysseus,  by  a  hard  fate  doubly  blamed, 
 Went  to  that  evil  Ilion  never  to  be  named.' " 
 
 —Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  xix.  (Worsley). 
 
 "  Weep  not  thus,"  answered  Odysseus,  "  this  consuming 
 grief  will  wear  away  thy  beauty.  Nevertheless  I  blame 
 not  thy  love  for  a  lord  who,  if  report  speaks  truly,  was 
 endowed  with  more  than  mortal  graces.  And  now  take 
 comfort.  Odysseus  is  on  his  homeward  journey,  and  even 
 now  not  far  from  here ;  he  returns  laden  with  treasure,  but 
 alone,  for  all  his  companions  are  lost.  Me  he  sent  on 
 before  to  prepare  thee  for  his  arrival." 
 
 "  Dear  stranger,"  cried  Penelope,  "  if  but  thy  words 
 might  indeed  prove  true  thou  shalt  be  richly  rewarded. 
 But,  ah  !  I  cannot  yet  believe  in  the  near  approach  of  my 
 beloved.  Maidens  !  bring  hither  water  quickly  to  wash  the 
 feet  of  the  stranger,  prepare  a  soft  couch  on  which  he  may 
 
 2  m 
 
546  Odysseus  returns  to  his  home. 
 
 repose,  and  let  none  henceforth  dare  to  molest  or  scoff 
 at  him." 
 
 "  Lady,  no  soft  bed  do  I  require,"  answered  Odysseus, 
 "neither  trouble  thy  maidens  to  attend  on  me;  perhaps 
 thou  hast  some  old  dame  who  could  supply  all  that  I  need." 
 Then  Penelope  bade  Eurykleia,  the  aged  nurse  of  Odysseus, 
 bring  water  and  wash  the  feet  of  the  stranger.  Gazing  at 
 him  fixedly,  her  eyes  full  of  tears  the  while  at  the  thought 
 of  her  master,  so  dear  to  her  heart,  the  old  woman  said : 
 "  Of  all  the  many  strangers  who  have  entered  these  halls 
 none  have  I  seen  whose  features,  voice,  and  stature  bore 
 such  likeness  to  my  lord  as  thine." 
 
 "  Truly,  dame,"  replied  Odysseus,  "  many  who  have  seen 
 us  together  have  spoken  of  the  same  likeness."  Then 
 Eurykleia  knelt  to  bathe  his  feet.  Now  Odysseus  bore  on 
 his  foot  the  scar  of  an  old  wound  inflicted  long  ago  by  the 
 sharp  tusk  of  a  boar,  and  this  mark  the  old  nurse  at  once 
 recognized.  Startled,  she  let  the  foot  drop  from  her  hands, 
 spilling  the  water  from  the  bowl  beside  her : 
 
 "  Sorrow  at  once  and  joy  her  soul  bedim, 
 While  in  her  throat  the  liquid  accents  die, 
 And  both  her  eyelids  with  the  warm  tears  swim. 
 She  to  his  beard  upraised  her  hand,  and  spake  to  him  : 
 4  Surely  thou  art  Odysseus — yes,  thou  art — 
 My  darling  child,  and  1  not  knew  my  king  ! '  " 
 
 —Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  xix.  (Worsley). 
 
 Almost  beside  herself  with  joy  she  wished  at  once  to  tell 
 Penelope  of  her  discovery,  but,  through  the  care  of  Athene, 
 the  queen  had  observed  nothing  of  what  had  passed,  and 
 now  Odysseus  laid  his  hand  upon  her,  holding  her  back. 
 "Silence,"  he  said,  "my  return  must  be  kept  secret. 
 Breathe  but  a  word  of  what  thou  knowest,  and  thou  wilt 
 indeed  feel  the  weight  of  my  wrath." 
 
Odysseus  returns  to  his  home.  547 
 
 "  Nay,  speak  not  so  sternly,  my  son,"  replied  Eurykleia  ; 
 "  well  I  know  how  to  keep  silence  :  from  me  shall  none 
 learn  aught  of  thee." 
 
 As  soon  as  Odysseus  had  bathed  and  been  anointed  Pene- 
 lope recalled  him  to  the  hearth,  and  said :  "  One  thing  yet 
 I  must  enquire  of  thee,  O  stranger,  ere  comes  the  hour  of 
 rest  for  those  who  sleep  in  sorrow ; — to  me  a  Daemon  sends 
 the  restlessness  of  misery  :  " 
 
 "  Even  as  when,  in  the  new  vernal  hours, 
 Couched  in  the  covert  of  some  leafy  dale 
 Green  all  around  her  with  ambrosial  showers, 
 Pandarus'  child,  the  sylvan  nightingale, 
 With  lovely  variations  her  sweet  tale 
 Trills  beautifully  well,  and  the  woods  ring 
 With  sorrow,  while  her  boy  she  still  doth  wail, 
 Itys,  dear  Itys,  child  of  Zethus  king, 
 Whom  blindly  she  cut  off  and  now  doth  sadly  sing 
 Thus  ever  the  wild  passion  to  and  fro 
 Veers  in  my  breast,  and  rends  the  heart  in  twain. 
 Whether  to  stay  here  with  my  child,  or  go, 
 Wife  of  the  bravest  of  the  Achaian  train, 
 I  wist  not." 
 
 — Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  xix.  (Worsley). 
 
 "  While  my  son  was  yet  a  child  I  rejected  every  suitor 
 with  scorn,  but  now  that  he  has  almost  reached  manhood 
 he  himself  is  desirous  that,  by  quitting  the  palace,  I  should 
 rid  him  of  these  unwelcome  guests.  I  have,  however,  had 
 a  strange  dream,  and  I  pray  thee,  if  thou  canst,  declare  to 
 me  its  meaning.  I  have  a  flock  of  twenty  geese  that  bathe 
 their  white  plumage  in  the  waters  of  the  limpid  lake  hard  by, 
 and  ever  come  at  my  call  to  take  golden  grain  from  my 
 hand.  In  my  dream  I  beheld  an  eagle  swoop  down  from 
 the  mountains,  kill  them  all,  and  then  fly  away.     There  lay 
 
548  O  dys  setts  returns  to  Ins  home. 
 
 his  victims  dead  upon  the  ground,  but  as  I  wept  and 
 lamented  over  my  loss,  the  eagle  suddenly  reappeared,  and, 
 alighting  upon  the  battlements,  thus  spake  with  a  human 
 voice :  '  Why  weepest  thou,  O  queen  ?  no  vain  dream  is 
 this,  but  a  prophetic  vision.  The  greedy  geese  denote  thy 
 rapacious  suitors,  while  I,  hitherto  in  the  form  of  an  eagle, 
 now  come  as  thy  husband  to  free  thee  from  them  by  my 
 sword.'  Then  I  awoke  and  found  my  geese  alive,  unhurt, 
 and  quietly  feeding." 
 
 "Thy  dream  contains  its  own  explanation,"  replied 
 Odysseus,  "and  itself  tells  thee  the  manner  of  its  fulfilment. 
 All  thy  suitors  shall  be  slain  with  the  sword,  and  not  one  of 
 them  shall  escape." 
 
 "  But  there  are  deceptive  visions,  O  stranger,"  said  Pene- 
 lope. "  The  land  of  dreams  hath  two  portals,  one  of  ivory 
 and  one  of  horn.  Out  of  the  former  proceed  those  visions 
 that  only  mock  the  brain,  and  are  mere  delusions,  whereas 
 those  that  come  forth  from  the  opposite  gate  bear  with  them 
 truth  and  reality.  Oh  !  that  this  dream  of  mine  may  belong 
 to  these  last,  for  to-morrow  must  my  fate  be  decided.  To- 
 morrow the  suitors  contend  in  a  trial  of  strength,  and  my 
 hand  is  to  be  the  prize  of  the  victor." 
 
 Their  interview  at  an  end,  Penelope  retired  to  her 
 apartments,  but  it  was  long  ere  sleep  visited  the  eyes  of 
 Odysseus ;  at  length  Athene  appeared,  and  thus  addressed 
 him:  "Why  art  thou  thus  restless  and  wakeful,  Odysseus? 
 Art  thou  not  once  more  beneath  thine  own  roof,  and  close 
 to  thy  wife  and  child." 
 
 "  True,  O  divine  protectress,"  answered  the  hero,  "  but 
 nevertheless,  the  thought  of  how  I,  a  lone  man,  shall  over- 
 come all  these  suitors  robs  me  of  my  rest." 
 
 "  Faithless  and  doubting,"  cried  the  goddess,  "  how  often 
 hast  thou  trusted  in  vain  to  human  aid.     Wouldst  thou 
 
The  Vengeance  of  O  dys  sens.  549 
 
 indeed  doubt  my  power  to  help  thee  now?  Repose  in 
 peace,  and  let  thy  grief  slumber  for  a  time."  So  saying 
 she  sealed  his  eyelids  with  sleep,  and  hurried  back  to 
 Olympos. 
 
 L.—  THE  VENGEANCE    OF   ODYSSEUS. 
 
 On  the  morrow  when  Penelope  awoke  she  raised  herself 
 on  her  couch  and  prayed  with  tears  to  Artemis.  "  O  holy 
 daughter  of  Jove,  wilt  thou  not  now  take  from  me  my  life,  or 
 at  least  let  the  wind  bear  me  away  to  the  farthest  shores  of 
 Ocean  that  I  may  never  be  forced  to  wed  another  than 
 Odysseus.  All  ills  are  bearable  if,  after  the  sorrowful  day, 
 sweet  sleep  brings  rest,  peace,  and  oblivion  of  all  things,  but 
 alas  !  for  me,  even  my  rest  at  night  is  broken  and  disturbed 
 by  fearful  visions." 
 
 Odysseus  also  arose  betimes,  and  prayed  to  Jove  to  send 
 him  a  token  that  he  might  know  whether  his  designs  met 
 with  the  divine  favour.  Even  as  he  prayed  a  loud  clap  of 
 thunder  resounded  through  the  bright  cloudless  sky,  and, 
 thus  assured  of  the  god's  approval,  the  hero  boldly  prepared 
 his  mind  for  the  task  before  him. 
 
 The  serving  maidens  now  entered  and  kindled  the  fire  on 
 the  hearth,  the  ever-busy  Eurykleia  superintending  them  as 
 they  prepared  the  hall  for  the  suitors.  While  some  swept, 
 others  decked  the  seats  with  rich  coverings,  washed  the 
 dishes  and  cups,  and  fetched  fresh  water  from  the  neighbour- 
 ing spring.  Eumaios  also  appeared  bringing  three  porkers 
 for  the  morning  meal,  and  the  goat-herd  Melanthios  con- 
 tributed also  the  finest  of  the  flock.  On  seeing  Odysseus  he 
 exclaimed  insolently  :  "  What,  vagrant !  art  thou  still  here  ? 
 Wert  thou  not  satisfied  with  the   bounty  bestowed  on  thee 
 
550  The  Vengeance  of  Odysseus. 
 
 yesterday  ?  Take  thy  departure,  and  that  quickly,  or  thou 
 shalt  feel  the  weight  of  my  arm." 
 
 To  this  Odysseus  deigned  no  reply,  but  only  shook  his  head 
 threateningly.  Next  came  in  Philoitios,  a  wise  and  kindly 
 man,  who  brought  with  him  a  young  bullock  for  the  banquet. 
 "Who  is  this  stranger?"  asked  he  of  Eumaios,  "he  bears  a 
 strange  resemblance  to  Odysseus  ; "  and  going  up  to  him,  he 
 grasped  his  hand,  exclaiming  :  "  May  fate  have  better  things 
 in  store  for  thee,  father,  than  have  befallen  our  master 
 Odysseus,  of  whom  I  was  reminded  when  I  first  beheld  thee, 
 and  who,  perchance,  is  now  wandering  the  earth  like  thee  in 
 sore  need  and  misery.  Oh  !  that  he  would  return  !  Before 
 he  departed  he  left  under  my  care  all  his  herds,  but  what 
 avails  it  that  they  have  thriven  so  well  since  I  must  needs 
 bring  the  best  to  the  suitors  ?  All  this  grieves  me  to  the 
 heart ;  still,  however,  I  cling  to  the  hope  that  Odysseus  will 
 one  day  return,  and  disperse  this  swarm  of  locusts  who 
 devour  his  substance." 
 
 "Methinks  thou  lackest  not  sense,  cowherd,"  answered 
 Odysseus.  "Hearken  therefore  to  me  ;  I  swear  to  thee,  by 
 mighty  Jove,  that  thy  master  will  return  ere  thou  quit  the 
 palace,  and  that  thou  wilt  with  thine  own  eyes  see  him 
 revenge  himself  upon  the  suitors." 
 
 "  May  the  gods  grant  thy  words  to  be  fulfilled,"  returned 
 Philoitios,  "  and  then  thou  wilt  not  see  my  hands  remain 
 helpless  and  idle." 
 
 The  suitors  now  crowded  into  the  hall,  consulting  as  to  the 
 best  means  of  slaying  Telemachos  ;  but,  on  the  sudden 
 appearance  on  their  left  hand  of  an  eagle  holding  in  its 
 talons  a  living  dove,  they  recognised  therein  a  divine  token, 
 and  postponed  their  evil  intentions.  Then  they  proceeded 
 to  slay  the  requisite  animals,  and  sat  down  to  the  banquet, 
 while   the  attendants   handed   round   wine.       Telemachos 
 
The  Vengeance  of  Odysseus.  5  5 1 
 
 placed  food  on  a  side  table  for  his  father,  saying;  "Here, 
 eat  in  peace,  and  fear  neither  scoff  nor  gibe,  for  he  that 
 insults  thee  must  answer  for  it  to  me." 
 
 On  hearing  this  the  suitors  bit  their  lips  with  anger,  but 
 remained  silent,  until  at  last  one  of  them  named  Ktesippos 
 cried  out  contemptuously  :  "  See,  my  friends,  the  beggar  has 
 now  had  his  fair  portion  of  meat  and  wine.  It  is  therefore 
 but  right  that  I  should  bestow  on  him  some  gift,  that  he  in 
 his  turn  may  reward  the  servant  who  has  waited  upon  him." 
 With  these  words  he  took  from  a  basket  standing  near  him 
 a  cow's  hoof,  and  flung  it  at  Odysseus. 
 
 The  hero  adroitly  evaded  the  blow,  the  missile  passed 
 him,  and  struck  the  wall  behind  ;  but  a  terrible  smile  passed 
 over  his  face,  and  Telemachos  cried  angrily  :  "  Count  thy- 
 self happy,  Ktesippos,  to  have  missed  thine  aim,  for  truly 
 had  it  been  otherwise  my  javelin  would  have  pierced  thy 
 body.  I  am  now  no  longer  a  child,  and  will  not  henceforth 
 suffer  thy  brawlings  here." 
 
 "  Rightly  spoken,"  replied  Agelaos;  "  provoke  the  stranger 
 no  more.  But  listen,  young  prince,  to  the  counsel  I  give  to 
 both  thee  and  thy  mother.  As  long  as  ye  still  hoped  and 
 believed  that  Odysseus  would  return  ye  were  not  to  blame  for 
 this  delay,  but  now  that  his  death  is  undoubted,  go  thou  to 
 Penelope  and  entreat  her  to  at  last  choose  from  amongst  us." 
 "That  will  I  readily  do,"  answered  Telemachos,  "  and  I 
 must  trust  that  she  may  this  day  decide." 
 
 Athene  now  caused  paroxysms  of  ghastly  laughter  to 
 seize  the  suitors,  confusing  their  ideas  and  distorting  their 
 faces,  and  as  the  tears  ran  over  their  cheeks  so  dreadful  was 
 their  aspect  that  the  seer  Theoclumenos  rose  and  exclaimed  ; 
 
 "Ah  wretched  !  what  is  this  ?  what  horrible  woe 
 Comes  on  ye  now.     Night  folds  in  dark  embrace 
 Your  heads,  your  features,  and  your  knees  below  ; 
 
5  5  2  The  Vengeance  of  Odysseus. 
 
 Wild  cries  are  kindled,  tears  are  on  the  face ; 
 With  ghosts  the  vestibule,  the  court,  doth  swarm, 
 Who  toward  the  far  realms  of  the  west  apace 
 Strive  with  their  eyes  on  Erebus  ;  the  sun's  form 
 Dies  from  heaven,  and  falleth  a  black  shadow  of  storm."       * 
 —Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  xx.  (Worsley). 
 
 Then  the  suitors  again  laughed  aloud,  and  Eurymachos 
 cried ;  "The  old  man  surely  is  mad,  for  he  imagines  that  it 
 is  night !  Conduct  him  quickly  out  of  the  palace  that  he 
 may  behold  the  light  of  day." 
 
 "  I  require  no  guidance,"  answered  Theoclumenos ;  "  I 
 depart  willingly,  for  already  I  foresee  the  disastrous  fate  that 
 will  ere  long  come  upon  all  who  remain  in  the  halls  of 
 Odysseus." 
 
 Telemachos  looked  anxiously  from  time  to  time  at  his 
 father  to  see  whether  the  hour  of  retribution  had  not  arrived, 
 but  as  yet  no  sign  was  made  to  him.  Penelope,  veiled  from 
 head  to  foot,  now  appeared  at  the  entrance  of  the  hall,  and 
 thus  addressed  the  carousing  suitors  :  "I  bring  hither  to  you 
 the  bow  of  Odysseus,  with  arrows,  quiver,  and  twelve  iron 
 staves,  each  surmounted  by  a  ring.  Thrust  these  last  firmlv 
 into  the  ground  in  a  straight  and  even  line.  He  among  you 
 who  can  span  this  bow  and  send  an  arrow  through  the 
 twelve  rings  will  I  accept  as  my  future  husband." 
 
 All  were  delighted  at  this  proposal,  especially  Antinoos, 
 who  already,  in  imagination,  saw  himself  victorious. 
 Telemachos  now  divested  himself  of  his  sword  and  cloak, 
 fixed  the  iron  staves  in  a  row,  and  endeavoured  to  bend  the 
 bow  to  its  full  extent :  "  For,"  said  he,  "  if  I  succeed,  my 
 mother  may  remain  with  me,  and  she  will  then  know  also 
 that  I  am  able  and  willing  to  fight  my  father's  battles." 
 Three  times  he  tried,  but  without  success  ;  as  he  was  about 
 to  make  a  fourth  attempt,  Odysseus  signed  to  him  to  desist. 
 
The  Vengeance  of  Odysseus.  553 
 
 He  therefore  relinquished  the  bow  to  the  suitors,  who 
 placed  themselves  in  a  row,  that  they  might  try  their  skill 
 in  turn. 
 
 The  first  soon  gave  up  in  despair.  Then  Antinoos 
 angrily  commanded  that  the  bow  should  be  soaked  in 
 melted  fat  to  make  it  more  pliable,  but  even  this  was  of  no 
 avail.  They  all  essayed,  and  failed,  till  at  last  no  competi- 
 tors remained  save  Antinoos  and  Eurymachos.  Just  then 
 Eumaios  and  Philoitios  quitted  the  court-yard  together ; 
 Odysseus  followed  them  and  said :  "  My  friends,  were 
 Odysseus  now  suddenly  to  return,  tell  me  truly,  would  you 
 side  with  him  or  with  these  suitors  ?  " 
 
 "If  immortal  Jove  grant  him  a  safe  return/'  said  the 
 cowherd,  "  soon  will  I  show  Odysseus  how  manfully  I  will 
 fight  for  him ;  "  and  Eumaios  also  gave  the  same  assurance. 
 Then  Odysseus  exclaimed  : 
 
 "  '  See  now  and  mark,  for  I  myself  am  here, 
 Who  from  long  sorrows,  roaming  earth  and  sea, 
 Come  to  mine  own  land  in  the  twentieth  year. 
 And  of  the  servants  I  well  know  that  ye 
 Alone  desire  me  ;  none  I  heard  save  ye 
 Pray  for  my  coming  ;  and  to  you  this  day 
 The  truth  will  I  reveal,  as  it  shall  be  : 
 If  God  subdue  them,  this  shall  be  your  pay- 
 Wives,  wealth,  and  builded  houses  near  my  own  for  aye. 
 And  to  Telemachus,  mine  own  dear  son, 
 Shall  ye  be  friends  and  brethren  evermore.5 
 
 — HOMER,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  xxi.  (Worsley). 
 
 And  to  drive  away  all  doubt  from  your  minds,  sec  here  the 
 scar,  caused  years  ago  by  a  wild  boar."  At  once  recognising 
 the  mark,  the  two  faithful  retainers,  beside  themselves  with 
 joy,  threw  their  arms  round  their  beloved  master,  and 
 embraced  him  weeping.     Odysseus  heartily  responded  to 
 
554  The  Vengeance  of  Odysseus. 
 
 their  warm  greeting,  but  he  said:  "  Dry  thy  tears,  my 
 friends,  lest  they  be  observed  by  those  within.  Let  us  now 
 return  separately  to  the  palace,  then  thou,  Eumaois,  must 
 bring  me  the  bow,  and  bid  the  women  close  the  doors  and 
 remain  quietly  at  their  work,  however  great  a  tumult  they 
 may  hear.  Do  thou,  Philoitios,  lock  and  bar  the  outer 
 gate." 
 
 Re-entering  the  hall,  Odysseus  saw  Eurymachos  vainly 
 endeavouring  to  span  the  bow.  Finding  all  his  efforts 
 unavailing,  he  exclaimed  passionately :  "  It  is  not  so  much 
 the  thought  that  I  have  now  no  hope  of  marrying  Penelope 
 that  troubles  me,  but  with  what  contempt  will  all  our 
 descendants  regard  us  when  they  learn  that  we  were 
 powerless  to  bend  the  bow  of  the  son  of  Laertes." 
 
 "Distress  not  thyself,"  returned  Antinoos,  "we  will  spend 
 the  rest  of  this  day  in  feasting  •  to-morrow  Melanthios  shall 
 bring  us  the  best  goats  from  the  flock,  that  we  may  sacrifice 
 to  Apollo,  who  then,  perchance,  will  give  us  strength  to 
 span  the  bow." 
 
 Pleased  with  this  suggestion,  all  the  suitors  refilled  their 
 wine  cups,  and  were  about  to  begin  a  fresh  revel,  when 
 Odysseus  rose  and  said  : 
 
 "  Hear  now,  ye  suitors  !  most  Eurymachus 
 And  godlike  brave  Antinous  I  entreat.     .     .     . 
 Yea,  leave  it  to  the  gods  :  some  god,  I  weet, 
 Strength  on  the  morrow  as  he  list  will  mete  : 
 Yet  lend  me  also  first  the  burnished  bow, 
 To  prove  me,  if  in  hands  and  arms  and  feet 
 Dwell  the  old  vigour  that  I  used  to  know, 
 Or  wanderings  and  vile  fare  have  marred  me  long  ago." 
 —Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  xxi. 
 
 The  words  roused  the  ire  of  the  suitors,  and  Antinoos 
 exclaimed : 
 
The  Vengeance  of  Odysseus.  555 
 
 " '  Wretch,  senseless  utterly,  and  inapt  to  mend, 
 Art  thou  not  satisfied  that  like  a  friend 
 Thou  sitt'st  among  thy  betters,  and  dost  hear 
 Our  talk  and  converse,  eating  without  end, 
 And  all  the  while  no  hungry  guest  comes  near 
 Save  thee,  our  words  to  listen  and  partake  our  cheer. 
 Ha  !  thou  art  wounded  by  the  sweet  red  wine, 
 Bane  of  all  those  who  with  a  throat  like  hell 
 Drink,  and  know  not  reason  when  they  dine.' 
 
 —Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  xxi.  (Worsley). 
 
 Therefore  suppress  this  mad  desire  of  competing  with 
 younger  and  stronger  men,  lest  evil  befall  thee." 
 
 "Nay,  Antinoos,"  then  broke  in  Penelope,  "it  is  not 
 seemly  to  threaten  a  stranger  within  our  gates.  Thinkest 
 thou  that,  even  if  he  should  succeed  in  bending  the  bow, 
 I  would  give  myself  to  be  his  bride?  Nay,  truly,  but 
 nevertheless  I  would  send  him  armed  and  rewarded  whither- 
 soever he  should  desire." 
 
 "  Beloved  mother,"  now  quoth  Telemachos,  "  none  save 
 myself  has  any  right  to  the  bow.  I  can  give  it  to,  or  with- 
 hold it  from,  whom  I  will ;  therefore  leave  this  matter  in  my 
 hands,  and  return  thou  to  thy  household  duties."  Penelope, 
 pleased  with  the  wise  and  manly  words  of  her  son,  retired 
 to  her  chamber  followed  by  her  maidens. 
 
 The  swineherd  now  carried  the  bow  to  Odysseus,  but  the 
 suitors  made  such  an  uproar  that  he  placed  it  back  again. 
 Then  Telemachos  cried  out  threateningly  :  "  Eumaios,  take 
 the  bow  at  once  to  the  stranger  j  thou  hast  here  no  one  to 
 obey  but  me."  At  this  the  suitors  laughed  derisively,  but 
 opposed  no  further  resistance.  Eumaios  saw  that  the  doors 
 were  securely  fastened,  and  Philoitios  went  to  keep  watch 
 at  the  outer  gate. 
 
 Then  Odysseus  took  up  his  bow,  and  carefully  examined 
 it  all  over  to  assure  himself  that  it  was  sound  and  unim- 
 
556  The  Vengeance  of  Odysseus. 
 
 paired.  "  See,"  cried  one  of  the  spectators  to  another, 
 "  how  narrowly  he  scans  it  all  over  to  discover  a  blemish. 
 It  is  plain  that  he  knows  how  to  handle  a  weapon,  clad  in 
 rags  though  he  be."  Having  proved  it,  Odysseus  suddenly 
 spanned  the  bow  to  its  utmost  stretch  with  perfect  ease,  as 
 though  it  were  mere  child's  play,  and,  trying  the  tightly 
 strained  string  with  his  fingers,  made  it  resound  through  the 
 hall,  while,  lost  in  wonder,  the  suitors  silently  watched  his 
 movements. 
 
 Strange  portents,  too,  were  not  wanting;  loud  peals  of 
 thunder  crashed  overhead,  and  vivid  lightning  flashes  illu- 
 minated the  hall.  Quickly  drawing  an  arrow  from  his 
 quiver,  Odysseus  placed  it  qji  the  string,  and  in  another 
 instant  it  had  passed  through  the  whole  line  of  rings. 
 
 Turning  to  Telemachos,  the  hero  cried,  "Thou  seest 
 that  thou  hast  no  cause  to  blush  for  me.  The  suitors, 
 indeed,  disdained  my  skill,  but  I  am  proud  that  as  yet  my 
 strength  has  not  deserted  me.  Now,  however,  let  us  to  the 
 banquet,  after  which  we  will  prolong  the  night  with  music 
 and  song."  As  he  thus  spoke  he  signed  to  Telemachos, 
 who  immediately  perceiving  that  the  time  for  action  had 
 arrived,  quickly  girded  on  his  sword,  and  holding  his 
 glittering  spear,  took  his  stand  beside  his  father.  Then 
 Odysseus  stepped  on  to  the  threshold,  bow  in  hand,  and,  as 
 he  threw  the  arrows  out  of  the  quiver  upon  the  ground  in 
 front  of  him,  he  cried  loudly  enough  to  be  heard  in  every 
 corner  of  the  hall : 
 
 "  '  See,  at  the  last  our  matchless  bout  is  o'er  ! 
 Now  for  another  mark,  that  I  may  know 
 If  I  can  hit  what  none  hath  hit  before, 
 And  if  Apollo  hear  me  in  the  prayers  I  pour.' " 
 
 —Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  xxii.  (Worsley). 
 
 The   day   of    doom   for   the   suitors    had   come.      One 
 
The  Vengeance  of  Odysseus.  557 
 
 moment's  pause,  and  then  an  arrow  sped  from  the  bow  of 
 Odysseus  and  pierced  the  throat  of  Antinoos,  just  as  he  was 
 about  to  lift  a  goblet  of  wine  to  his  lips,  and  he  fell  forward, 
 overturning  the  loaded  banqueting  board.  Then  the  suitors 
 rose  in  a  body,  crying  tumultuously :  "  Unhappy  wretch  ! 
 this  day  shalt  thou  forfeit  thy  life  for  having  slain  the 
 greatest  chief  of  Ithaka,"  and  they  looked  round  the  hall  for 
 their  weapons,  but  they  were  not  there,  for  by  the  order  of 
 Odysseus  these  had  been  removed ;  then 
 
 "  The  king  sternly  eyed,  and  to  the  godless  crew  : 
 *  Dogs,  ye  denied  that  I  should  e'er  come  back 
 From  Troia's  people  to  my  native  land. 
 Long  in  your  pride  my  house  ye  rend  and  rack, 
 And  my  wife  claim  while  I  on  earth  yet  stand, 
 Nor  fear  the  gods  who  rule  in  the  wide  sky, 
 Nor  lest  a  mortal  on  the  earth  demand 
 Your  price  of  guilt — and  ye  are  like  to  die  ! 
 Round  you  Death's  fatal  coils  inextricably  lie.'" 
 
 — HOMER,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  x.xii.  (Worsley). 
 
 Pale  with  fear  grew  the  faces  of  the  suitors  as  the  words 
 of  the  king  fell  on  their  ears,  and  vainly  they  sought  to 
 discover  some  means  of  escape.  Eurymachos  alone  en- 
 deavoured to  make  terms  with  his  mighty  opponent,  saying  : 
 "  Justly  dost  thou  act,  O  Odysseus,  in  punishing  us  for  the 
 evil  we  have  wrought  against  thee,  but  the  author  and 
 leader  of  all  already  lies  dead  at  thy  feet.  Not  only  did  he 
 aspire  to  the  hand  of  Penelope,  but  he  would  fain  also  have 
 slain  Telemachos,  and  so  made  himself  lord  of  Ithaka. 
 But  he  has  received  his  due  reward,  and  now  spare  us  who 
 remain,  and  willingly  will  we  restore  to  thee  all  that  we 
 have  wasted  here." 
 
 But  Odysseus  sternly  answered  :  "  Nay,  Eurymachos,  not 
 if  ye  brought  to  me  all  your  treasures  would  I  spare  ye 
 
58  The  Vengeance  0/  Odysseus. 
 
 now.     Think  not  by  flight  to  escape  my  hands ;  nought  is 
 left  for  ye,  but  to  fight  with  me  for  your  lives." 
 
 Fear  seized  their  hearts  anew  at  this  speech,  but  Eury- 
 machos  shouted :  "  Up  friends  !  now  must  we  defend  our- 
 selves as  best  we  can,  for  Odysseus  will  not  rest  till  he  has 
 slain  us  all.  Draw  your  swords,  let  us  all  attack  him  at 
 once,  and  strive  to  force  him  from  the  door." 
 
 So  saying  he  rushed  upon  Odysseus  with  a  lion-like  roar, 
 but  ere  he  reached  him  an  arrow  from  the  terrible  bow 
 pierced  him  to  the  heart,  his  weapon  slipped  from  his  grasp, 
 and  he  fell  lifeless  to  the  ground.  Another  suitor  also  fell 
 by  the  sharp  spear  of  Telemachos,  and  the  remainder  did 
 not  venture  to  advance,  but  slunk  into  corners  to  conceal 
 themselves.  Telemachos  now  went  to  the  upper  chamber, 
 where  the  arms  lay,  and  fetched  thence  weapons  and 
 armour  for  his  father,  the  two  trusty  herdsmen  and  himself, 
 Odysseus,  meanwhile,  discharging  arrows  at  all  the  suitors 
 who  came  within  reach.  He  donned  without  delay  the 
 armour  brought  by  Telemachos,  and  grasped  his  shield  and 
 spear,  the  high  crest  of  his  helmet  towering  proudly  above 
 his  head. 
 
 Then  Melanthios  whispered  to  the  suitors  :  "  Wait  ye 
 here  while  I  also  go  and  seek  arms."  Finding  the  door 
 open  as  Telemachos  had  left  it,  he  secured  and  brought 
 into  the  hall  twelve  suits  of  armour. 
 
 The  sight  of  these  startled  Odysseus.  "  Who  has  done 
 this,"  he  asked  ;  "  it  must  be  either  some  faithless  maid,  or 
 else  the  goat-herd  Melanthios." 
 
 "It  is  he,"  answered  Eumaios,  "for  even  now  I  see 
 him  slipping  out  again,  bent  on  the  same  errand.  But 
 Philoitios  and  I  will  follow  him.  Shall  we  bring  him 
 hither  to  thee  when  we  have  captured  him?  "  But  Odysseus 
 commanded   them   to   drag   the  traitor  into  the  chamber 
 
The  Vengeance  of  Odysseus.  559 
 
 whence  he  had  taken  the  arms,  and  there  to  bind  him  hand 
 and  foot,  and  hang  him  by  a  rope  to  one  of  the  pillars  till 
 the  fight  should  be  over.  Accordingly  the  two  herdsmen 
 hurried  out,  and  found  Melanthios  in  the  act  of  descending 
 with  a  second  supply  of  arms.  They  immediately  seized 
 him,  and  did  as  Odysseus  had  directed,  after  which  they 
 returned  to  the  hall,  and  took  their  stand  once  more 
 beside  their  master. 
 
 A  fifth  figure  now  joined  them,  Athene  in  the  guise  of 
 Mentor.  Odysseus  at  once  recognised  her ;  not  so  the 
 suitors,  who  all  exclaimed  :  "  Let  not  Odysseus  prevail  upon 
 thee,  O  Mentor,  to  fight  against  us ;  else  it  will  fare  ill  with 
 thee  when  we  shall  have  overcome  him." 
 
 But  the  anger  of  Athene  was  kindled.  After  encouraging 
 the  hero  to  strive  on  bravely  that  not  one  of  the  suitors 
 might  escape,  she  flew  up  to  the  rafters  in  the  form  of  a 
 swallow,  and  thence  watched  the  combat  below.  Once 
 more  an  attack  was  made  upon  Odysseus  by  the  suitors,  but 
 Athene  protected  him  with  her  mighty  Aegis,  so  that  every 
 arrow  shot  at  him  passed  harmlessly  above  his  head.  Not 
 once,  however,  did  Odysseus  and  his  few  faithful  companions 
 miss  their  aim,  the  number  of  their  opponents  gradually 
 became  smaller  and  smaller :  he  who  had  thrown  the  cow's 
 hoof  at  Odysseus  himself  received  his  death-blow  at  the 
 hands  of  Philoitios,  the  cowherd. 
 
 None  at  length  remained  but  the  singer  Phemios,  who, 
 laying  aside  his  harp,  threw  himself  at  the  feet  of  Odysseus, 
 and  embracing  his  knees  cried  : 
 
 "  '  Spare  me,  Odysseus,  lest  a  time  come  when 
 Fall  on  thine  own  heart  sorrow,  if  thou  kill 
 Me,  the  self-taught,  who  sing  to  gods  and  men. 
 Not  man,  but  God,  did  my  sweet  voice  instil. 
 Thee  too  with  songs  can  I  divinely  thrill. 
 
560         Odysseus  makes  himself  known. 
 
 0  let  me  live  !     Telemachus  can  say 
 How  not  desiring,  and  with  no  good  will, 
 
 1  came  to  sing  amid  their  feasts  :  but  they, 
 
 Far  mightier  and  far  more,  compelled  me  to  obey.' " 
 
 — Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  xxii.  (Worsley). 
 
 The  pleading  tones  caught  the  ear  of  Telemachos,  and 
 he  cried  :  "  Stay  thine  hand,  my  father,  and  harm  him  not. 
 Spare  also,  I  pray  thee,  the  herald  Medon,  who  has  tended 
 and  guarded  me  with  fidelity  from  my  childhood.  But  I 
 see  him  not  !  I  fear  that  either  Philoitios  or  Eumaios  hath 
 already  slain  him." 
 
 Medon,  however,  had  crept  beneath  a  seat,  where  the 
 ox-hide  hanging  over  it  completely  concealed  him.  As 
 soon  as  he  heard  the  words  of  Telemachos  he  sprang 
 forth,  fell  on  his  knees  before  him,  and  prayed :  "  Behold 
 me,  O  my  prince !  Entreat  now  thy  father  to  spare 
 my  life." 
 
 "  Fear  not,"  replied  Odysseus  with  a  smile,  "  none  shall 
 harm  thee  ;  but  go  thou  forth  to  the  courtyard,  thou  and 
 Phemios  the  bard,  while  we  complete  our  work  in  this  scene 
 of  carnage  and  bloodshed." 
 
 LI. — ODYSSEUS  MAKES  HIMSELF  KNOWN 
 TO   HIS   HOUSEHOLD. 
 
 The  king  now  looked  around  him,  to  see  whether  any  of 
 his  foes  yet  remained  alive,  but  no  !  all  lay  still  and  dead, 
 and  the  floor  of  the  hall  was  deluged  with  blood.  Then  he 
 commanded  Telemachos  to  fetch  Eurykleia,  who,  on  behold- 
 ing the  heaps  of  slain,  began  loudly  to  rejoice,  but  sternly 
 Odysseus  reproved  her,  saying : 
 
Odysseus  makes  himself  known*  561 
 
 "  '  Nurse,  with  a  mute  heart  this  my  vengeance  hail ! 
 Not  holy  is  it  o'er  the  slain  to  boast. 
 
 These  Heaven  and  their  own  crimes  have  brought  to  bale  ; 
 Since  of  all  strangers,  from  earth's  every  coast, 
 No  man  was  honoured  of  this  godless  host, 
 Nor  good  nor  evil,  whomsoe'er  they  knew — 
 And  with  their  souls  they  pay  the  fatal  cost.' " 
 
 —Homer,  "Odyssey,"  Book  xxii.  (Worsley). 
 
 Then  he  demanded  of  her  how  many  of  the  fifty  hand- 
 maids in  the  palace  had  proved  unfaithful  to  their  queen, 
 and,  when  he  learned  that  twelve  of  the  number  had  refused 
 to  obey  Penelope  and  had  taken  the  part  of  the  suitors,  he 
 bade  her  send  the  culprits  to  him.  They  came,  and  he 
 ordered  Telemachos  and  the  two  herdsmen,  assisted  by  the 
 twelve  trembling  women,  to  carry  out  the  bodies  of  the 
 slain,  and  then,  when  they  had  cleansed  the  table,  chairs, 
 and  floor,  the  shrieking  maidens  were  put  to  death  by  the 
 prince,  who  hung  them  side  by  side  from  the  roof  of  the 
 spacious  kitchen. 
 
 The  traitor  Melanthios,  who  had,  meanwhile,  been  hang- 
 ing bound  from  the  ceiling  of  the  upper  chamber  where 
 Philoitios  and  Eumaios  had  left  him,  was  now  dragged 
 down,  and  put  to  death  in  the  court-yard. 
 
 Thus  was  the  vengeance  of  Odysseus  accomplished,  and 
 in  the  hall,  where  so  lately  all  had  been  riot  and  revelry, 
 a  stillness  more  fearful  than  the  din  of  battle  reigned. 
 
 Now  the  king  commanded  Eurykleia  to  bring  fire  and 
 sulphur  wherewith  to  purge  and  fumigate  the  hall.  As 
 soon  as  the  news  of  their  master's  return  reached  the  ears  of 
 those  waiting-maids  who  had  remained  faithful  they  rushed 
 to  welcome  him,  kissing  his  hands,  with  cries  of  delight, 
 while  Odysseus  himself  shed  tears  of  joy,  for  at  once  he 
 recognised  them  all. 
 
 2  x 
 
562  Odysseus  makes  himself  known. 
 
 Eurykleia,  meanwhile,  ran  eagerly  to  the  queen  to  apprise 
 her  of  the  home-coming  of  her  husband,  and  thus  she  cried  : 
 
 " '  Wake  up,  Penelope,  and  sweet  sight  win 
 Of  that  which  thou  hast  longed  for  all  thy  life  ; 
 For  now,  though  late,  Odysseus  hath  come  in 
 And  slain  the  suitors,  who  with  plague  so  rife 
 Daily  devoured  his  wealth,  and  vexed  his  child  and  wife.'  " 
 —Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  xxiii.  (Worsley). 
 
 But  mournfully  Penelope  replied  : 
 
 " '  Dear  Nurse,  the  gods  have  sent  thee  raving  mad, 
 Who  oft  to  folly  turn  the  prudent  breast, 
 And  the  mind  heal  which  no  direction  had. 
 These  warp  thy  judgment,  which  was  once  not  bad. 
 Why  thus  arouse  me,  whelmed  in  grief  too  sore, 
 Vain  things  to  prate,  and  make  me  yet  more  sad  ? 
 Ah  me  !  such  sleep  I  never  knew  before 
 As  now  some  pitying  god  did  on  mine  eyelids  pour. 
 Not  to  mine  eyelids  a  like  sleep  there  came 
 From  the  dark  hour  Odysseus  went  away 
 To  that  bad  Ilion,  which  let  no  one  name  ! 
 But  go  back,  leave  me,  and  without  delay  ; 
 For  if  another  woman  had  come  this  day 
 Vain  things  to  prate,  and  spoil  me  of  my  sleep, 
 Roughly  would  I  her  thankless  zeal  repay, 
 Driving  her  down  again  with  cause  to  weep — 
 But  for  thyself  herein  let  old  age  pardon  reap.' 
 Her,  Eurycleia  the  dear  nurse,  addressed  : 
 '  Child,  I  not  mock  thee.     In  mere  sober  deed 
 Odysseus  hath  returned,  and  now  doth  rest 
 Safe  on  his  own  hearth,  as  the  gods  decreed. 
 He  is  that  stranger,  full  of  years  and  need, 
 Whom  the  young  men  dishonoured  in  the  hall  ; 
 And  thy  son  knew  it,  but  gave  prudent  heed 
 None  of  his  counsels  to  reveal  at  all, 
 Till  the  whole  godless  rout  his  father  should  make  fall.' " 
 —  Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  xxiii.  (Worsley. 
 
Odysseus  makes  himself  known.  563 
 
 Eagerly  then  sprang  Penelope  from  her  couch  and  em- 
 braced the  aged  nurse,  weeping  and  exclaiming  : 
 
 "  '  Yet  tell  the  truth,  kind  nurse,  and  show  me  clear — 
 If,  as  thou  sayest,  he  indeed  be  here, 
 How  did  he  lay  hands  on  that  shameless  crowd? 
 Methinks  that  one  man  were  not  much  to  fear, 
 Matched  against  these,  so  many  and  so  proud.'" 
 
 —  Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  xxiii. 
 
 "  Mine  eyes  saw  not  the  conflict,"  replied  Eurykleia  ;  "  I 
 but  heard  the  groans  that  proceeded  from  the  hall;  we 
 were  all  secure  in  our  chambers,  and  not  till  Telemachos 
 called  me  did  I  issue  forth.  Then  I  beheld  Odysseus  stand- 
 ing, surrounded  on  all  sides  by  the  dead  bodies  of  the 
 suitors  :  truly  the  sight  would  have  rejoiced  thy  heart. 
 Now  the  victims  of  my  lord's  vengeance  lie  without  in  the 
 court,  and  he  has  caused  the  hall  to  be  purged  with  sulphur, 
 and  there  anxiously  awaits  thee.  Hasten,  therefore.  The 
 long-cherished  desire  of  thy  heart  is  at  last  granted."  But 
 Penelope  answered : 
 
 "  '  Boast  not  thyself    .     .     .     dear  nurse,  to-day  ! 
 All  would  that  dear  news  gladden,  but  far  most 
 My  child  and  me.     Things  are  not  as  ye  say. 
 But  now  a  god  wreaks  on  this  sinful  host 
 Their  deeds  of  evil.     Very  well  thou  know'st, 
 No  man  they  honoured,  whomsoe'er  they  knew, 
 Nor  good  nor  evil — let  them  bear  the  cost  ! 
 But  my  dear  husband  never  more  can  view 
 Land  of  his  own  Achaia  ;  for  the  Fates  him  slew.' " 
 
 — Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  xxiii.  (Worsley). 
 
 "  What?  "  cried  Eurykleia,  "  dost  thou  yet  doubt  ?  How 
 canst  thou  declare  that  Odysseus  will  never  return,  when  he 
 is  even  now  here  in  his  own  palace  ?  When  I  washed  his 
 feet  I   saw  the  well-known   scar   of  the  boar's  tooth,  and 
 
564         Odysseus  makes  himself  known. 
 
 would  have  told  thee  of  it  without  delay  had  not  Odysseus 
 himself  forbidden  me.  But  now  come,  see  him  thyself,  and 
 believe  the  testimony  of  thine  own  eyes." 
 
 Still  the  queen  looked  in  doubt.  "  I  cannot  yet  give 
 credence  to  thy  words,"  she  said,  "  even  the  wisest  are 
 liable  to  be  deceived.  But  I  will  descend  to  the  hall,  and 
 view  the  bodies  of  the  suitors,  and  the  man  that  hath  slain 
 them." 
 
 Penelope  entered  the  banqueting  chamber  in  fear  and 
 hesitation,  knowing  not  whether  at  once  to  embrace  the 
 stranger  as  her  husband,  or  first  to  endeavour  to  prove  his 
 identity,  but  at  last  she  decided  upon  the  latter  course. 
 Passing  the  threshold  she  seated  herself  opposite  to  Odysseus, 
 who  stood  leaning  against  a  pillar,  his  eyes  fixed  upon  the 
 ground.  Long  did  silence  reign  between  them  ;  one 
 moment  Penelope  fancied  she  recognized  the  features  of 
 her  royal  lord;  then  in  the  next  she  doubted  once  more, 
 for  it  seemed  to  her  impossible  that  the  care-worn, 
 miserably-clad  man  who  stood  before  her  could  be  noble 
 Odysseus.     At  last  Telemachos  spoke: 
 
 "  '  Mother,  bad  mother,  and  with  hardened  heart, 
 Why  shun  my  father,         .... 
 And  not  sit  near  him,  and  in  talk  have  part 
 Lives  not  another  wife  so  blunt  of  heart, 
 Herself  to  sunder  from  a  husband  dear, 
 Who  from  long  toil,  and  pierced  with  sorrows'  smart 
 Comes  to  his  own  land  in  the  twentieth  year. 
 But,  as  it  seems,  thy  breast  than  stone  is  more  severe.' " 
 —Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  xxiii.  (Worsley). 
 
 Then  Penelope  answered  him  : 
 
 "  '  Stunned  is  my  spirit,  and  my  brain  seems  wild, 
 Nought  can  I  speak  to  him,  no  question  make, 
 Nor  even  look  him  in  the  eyes,  dear  child. 
 
Odysseus  makes  himself  known.  565 
 
 But  if  indeed  ye  are  not  all  beguiled, 
 
 If  my  Odysseus  hath  at  last  returned, 
 
 Then  lightly  can  we  twain  stand  reconciled.' " 
 
 — HOMER,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  xxiii.  (Worsley). 
 
 "  Patience,  my  son,"  then  cried  Odysseus,  "  doubtless  in 
 time  thy  mother  will  recognise  me.  No  marvel  is  it  that 
 she  knows  me  not,  disguised  as  I  am  in  these  wretched 
 rags  !  But  now  let  us  consider  what  is  the  wisest  course  to 
 pursue :  he  who  has  slain  but  one  man,  is  forced  to  flee  for 
 safety  from  his  country,  and  we  have  killed  not  one,  but 
 numbers,  of  princes  and  chiefs.  Let  us  now,  therefore, 
 bathe  and  adorn  ourselves,  and  let  the  harp  of  Phemios 
 resound  through  the  palace  while  the  maidens  gaily  appar- 
 elled dance  to  the  sound  of  its  sweet  strains.  So  shall 
 those  without,  ignorant  of  the  fate  of  the  suitors,  believe 
 that  the  bridal  feast  of  Penelope  is  taking  place." 
 
 His  orders  were  carried  out  with  alacrity,  and  as  the 
 festive  sounds  echoed  through  the  hall  the  people  outside 
 said  one  to  another :  "  Surely  the  queen  has  this  day  made 
 her  choice  among  the  suitors  !  Could  she  not  have  patiently 
 waited  a  little  longer  for  the  return  of  her  husband?" 
 
 Odysseus  having  bathed  and  anointed  himself,  arrayed  his 
 manly  form  in  a  magnificent  robe,  and  such  surpassing 
 grace  and  beauty  were  bestowed  on  him  by  Athene  that 
 he  appeared  taller,  and  more  majestic  than  ever  before. 
 When  at  last  he  issued  forth  with  his  hyacinthine  locks 
 flowing  over  his  shoulders,  and  radiant  with  renewed  youth, 
 he  seemed,  indeed,  more  to  resemble  a  god  than  a  mortal. 
 
 Then  Penelope  recognised  her  lord,  and,  as  he  came 
 once  more  and  stood  before  her  leaning  against  the  pillar, 
 all  her  doubts  and  fears  vanished.  Rising  from  her  seat  she 
 threw  her  arms  around  him,  and  as  her  head  rested  on  his 
 breast  with  tears  cried  tremblingly  : 
 
566  Odysseus  makes  himself  known. 
 
 "  '  Frown  not,  Odysseus  ;  thou  art  wise  and  true  ! 
 But  God  gave  sorrow,  and  hath  grudged  to  make 
 Our  path  to  old  age  sweet,  nor  willed  us  to  partake 
 Youth's  joys  together.     Yet  forgive  me  this, 
 Nor  hate  me  that  when  first  I  saw  thy  brow 
 I  fell  not  on  the  neck,  and  gave  no  kiss, 
 Nor  wept  in  thy  dear  arms  as  I  weep  now. 
 For  in  my  breast  a  bitter  fear  did  bow 
 
 My  soul, 
 
 Lest  a  strange  man  come  hither,  and  avow 
 
 False  things, 
 
 .    .    .    Such  guile  men  scheme,  to  lead  the  pure  astray, 
 But  now  I  believe  against  mine  own  belief.' " 
 
 —Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  xxiii.  (Worsley). 
 
 Long  they  wept  in  each  other's  arms,  and  so  much  had 
 they  to  hear  and  to  relate  that  no  sleep  visited  their  eyes 
 that  night,  though  Eos  ascended  in  the  eastern  sky  next 
 morning  much  later  than  was  her  wont. 
 
 When  Penelope  lamented  bitterly  the  ravages  of  the 
 suitors,  Odysseus  comforted  her,  saying :  "  Do  thou,  sweet 
 wife,  see  to  the  restoration  of  peace  and  order  within  the 
 palace,  and  I  will  augment  our  flocks  and  herds  till  they 
 equal  their  former  numbers.  Now  will  I  seek  my  aged 
 sire  Laertes,  who  has  hopelessly  sorrowed  for  me  so  long." 
 Arousing  Telemachos,  who  accompanied  him,  together 
 with  Philoitius  and  Eumaios,  he  sallied  forth  to  rejoice 
 the  heart  of  his  aged  father. 
 
 It  has  been  already  stated  that  it  was  Hermes  who 
 conducted  the  spirits  of  the  dead  to  the  Underworld.  Now, 
 therefore,  he  conveyed  thither  the  souls  of  the  slain  suitors, 
 and 
 
 "  In  his  hands  he  held 
 Wand  of  pure  gold,  right  beautiful  to  view, 
 Even  that  wand  which  can  man's  eyes  subdue, 
 
Odysseus  makes  himself  known.  567 
 
 Whomso  he  listeth  in  long  sleep  can  cast, 
 Or  sleeping  wake  to  breathe  and  feel  anew. 
 Therewith  he  led  them  :  the  ghosts  gibbering  fast, 
 
 And  as  when  bats,  amid  the  far  recess 
 
 Of  some  great  cave,  flit  gibbering  and  squeak  low, 
 
 e'en  so 
 Clustered  the  dim  ghosts  gibbering  in  their  fear, 
 Whom  Hermes,  giver  of  all  good  below, 
 On  through  the  wide  waste  places,  cold  and  drear, 
 Down  to  the  sunless  land  was  leading  void  of  cheer. 
 So  were  they  led  beyond  the  ocean-streams, 
 The  white  Rock  and  the  portals  of  the  Sun, 
 And  past  the  dim  land  of  the  people  of  Dreams, 
 Thence  quick  the  fields  of  Asphodel  they  won, 
 Where  souls  of  men,  whose  toils  on  earth  are  done, 
 Dwell  shadowy  and  phantasmal." 
 
 —Homer,  "Odyssey,"  Book  xxiv.  (Worsley). 
 
 Here  they  encountered  the  shades  of  Achilleus,  Agamem- 
 non, and  Patroklos.  Wondering  at  this  sudden  influx  into 
 the  "  sinless  land  "  of  princes  and  nobles,  the  three  heroes 
 approached  the  newcomers.  Agamemnon  recognized  a 
 friend  in  their  ranks,  who  recounted  to  him  how  Odysseus 
 had  killed  them  all,  having  found  them  on  his  return  to 
 Ithaca  wasting  his  substance,  and  aspiring  to  the  hand  of 
 his  wife.  He  also  related  how  Penelope  had  for  three  years 
 eluded  them  by  means  of  her  web.  Then  Agamemnon, 
 contrasting  her  fidelity  with  the  perfidy  of  his  own  wife, 
 Clytemnestra,  exclaimed : 
 
 11 '  Now,  wary-wise  Odysseus,  hail  to  thee, 
 Who  with  much  virtue  hast  regained  thy  bride. 
 O  the  kind  heart  of  pure  Penelope  ! 
 O  to  her  first  one  love  how  true  was  she  ! 
 Nought  shall  make  dim  the  flower  of  her  sweet  fame 
 
568  Odysseus  visits  Laertes. 
 
 For  ever,  but  the  gods  unceasingly 
 
 Shall  to  the  earth's  inhabitants  her  name, 
 
 Wide  on  the  wings  of  song,  with  endless  praise  proclaim. 
 
 For  she  was  not  like  Clytemnestra  found, 
 
 False  wife,  the  husband  of  her  youth  that  slew, 
 
 Making  her  name  inherit  an  ill  sound 
 
 In  earthly  song  for  ever,  for  she  drew 
 
 On  the  whole  sex  of  women,  even  the  true, 
 
 Bad  fame,  and  caused  them  to  partake  her  curse.' " 
 
 —Homer,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  xxiv.  (Worsley). 
 
 LII, — ODYSSEUS   VISITS    LAERTES. 
 
 Odysseus  and  his  companions  had  now  approached  the 
 dwelling  of  Laertes.  The  hero  bid  Telemachos  and  the  two 
 herdsmen  go  forward,  and  kill  the  finest  lamb  of  his  father's 
 flock,  and  prepare  its  flesh  for  a  meal,  while  he  should  seek 
 the  aged  man  alone.  As  he  traversed  the  orchards  of 
 Laertes  beneath  the  shade  of  avenues  of  fruit-trees,  he 
 hoped  to  meet  some  servant  whom  he  could  question  as  to 
 his  father's  well-being,  but  all  the  household  had  gone  to  the 
 neighbouring  wood  to  cut  thorn  bushes  with  which  to 
 strengthen  the  fence  of  the  orchard. 
 
 Laertes  himself  was  in  the  garden  busily  engaged  in 
 weeding.  It  was  with  some  difficulty  that  Odysseus  recog- 
 nized him,  for  he  wore  a  coarse  garment,  old  and  patched, 
 a  well-worn  ox-hide  hung  round  him,  to  protect  him  from 
 the  thorns,  coarse  gloves  of  the  same  material  covered  his 
 hands,  and  his  grey  hairs  were  surmounted  by  a  goat  skin 
 cap. 
 
 Bitter  tears  filled  the  eyes  of  Odysseus  when  he  beheld  his 
 sire  thus  wretchedly  clad,  and,  stepping  up  to  him,  he  said : 
 
Odysseus  visits  Laertes.  569 
 
 "  Of  a  truth  thy  skill  in  gardening  is  great  j  thy  careful 
 handiwork  is  seen  in  all  around,  but  tell  me,  O  father,  I 
 pray  thee,  how  comes  it  that  thou  thyself  hast  no  one  to 
 tend  and  care  for  thee  in  thy  old  age  ?  Surely  it  cannot  be 
 that  thou  servest  a  master  who  values  thee  not,  for  thy  bear- 
 ing is  more  that  of  a  king  than  of  a  servant.  A  man  such 
 as  thou  art  should  have  fair  garments  and  rest  softly.  But 
 tell  me,  whose  is  this  garden,  and  is  this  indeed  the  island 
 of  Ithaca?  I  was  so  informed  by  a  man  whom  I  have  just 
 met,  but  he  was  a  surly  fellow,  who  would  tell  me  nothing 
 further,  although  I  would  fain  have  learnt  something  of  a 
 friend  whom  I  hope  to  find  here.  Some  time  since  a 
 stranger,  the  friend  of  whom  I  speak,  sought  my  hospitality;  a 
 man  of  noble  and  stately  mien  was  he,  and  he  told  me  that 
 he  came  from  Ithaca,  and  was  the  son  of  King  Laertes. 
 When  he  quitted  my  roof  I  bestowed  on  him  many  rich  and 
 valuable  gifts." 
 
 Then  Laertes,  his  eyes  full  of  tears,  replied :  "  I  am 
 Laertes,  and  this  is  indeed  the  isle  of  Ithaca,  but  wicked 
 and  lawless  men  bear  rule  here  now.  In  vain  seekest  thou 
 thy  friend,  who  was,  alas !  Odysseus,  mine  own  unhappy  son. 
 Long  ere  this  doubtless  he  has  perished  in  the  deep,  or 
 fallen  a  prey  to  savage  beasts.  His  mother  and  I  have  been 
 denied  even  the  melancholy  satisfaction  of  paying  him  due 
 funeral  honours.  Nor  have  the  Fates  permitted  his  sorrow- 
 ing wife  to  close  his  eyes,  or  weep  over  his  beloved  remains. 
 Had  he  been  here  thou  wouldst  have  received  a  right  royal 
 welcome,  and  departed  laden  with  precious  gifts.  But  now 
 tell  me,  who  and  whence  thou  art  ?  in  what  port  lies  thy 
 ship,  and  how  long  a  time  is  it  since  my  son  sojourned 
 with  thee  ?  " 
 
 Then  Odysseus  told  him  how  five  years  ago  his  son  had 
 dwelt  a  short  time  in  his  house,  and  that  at  his  departure 
 
57°  Odysseus  visits  Laertes. 
 
 birds  had  flown  up  on  his  right  hand,  thereby  portending  a 
 prosperous  voyage.  These  tidings  only  increased  tenfold 
 the  grief  of  Laertes,  and,  casting  dust  upon  his  head,  he 
 wailed  and  lamented  with  a  loud  voice.  Then  Odysseus 
 could  restrain  himself  no  longer,  and  tenderly  embracing  his 
 father,  he  cried  : 
 
 "  I  only  am  that  man,  my  father  dear, 
 I  only  whom  thou  seekest :   I  at  last 
 Come  to  mine  own  land  in  the  twentieth  year. 
 But  cease  thy  groaning,  and  let  tears  be  cast 
 Far  from  thine  eyes,  for  the  old  grief  hath  passed. 
 For  I  will  speak  (and  there  is  need  of  haste)  : 
 Now  I  have  slain  those  suitors  in  the  hall ; 
 God  made  their  own  fierce  deeds  recoil  upon  them  all." 
 —Homer,  "Odyssey,"  Book  xxiv.  (Worsley). 
 
 Overwhelmed  with  amazement  Laertes  gazed  upon  him 
 doubtfully,  saying  :  "  If  thou  art  indeed  Odysseus,  give  me 
 some  token  whereby  I  may  know  thee." 
 
 "  See  here,"  replied  his  son,  "  the  scar  of  the  wound 
 given  me  long  ago  by  the  wild  boar.  I  will  show  thee 
 besides,  in  this  very  garden,  the  fruit-trees  that  thou  gavest 
 me,  when,  as  a  child,  I  ever  loved  to  follow  thy  footsteps. 
 Thirteen  pear-trees,  fifty  vines  of  various  kinds,  ten  apple 
 trees,  and  forty  fig-trees,  didst  thou  bestow  on  me."  Con- 
 vinced by  these  proofs,  Laertes,  overcome  with  joy  and 
 emotion,  sank  fainting  into  the  arms  of  Odysseus. 
 
 Gradually,  however,  he  recovered  himself,  and  then 
 exclaimed :  "  Thanks  and  praise  to  thee,  O  mighty  Jove, 
 for  restoring  to  me  my  son  in  safety,  and  for  punishing  the 
 profligate  and  haughty  suitors !  But  I  fear,  Odysseus, 
 that  when  the  news  of  their  death  by  thy  hand  reaches  their 
 people,  they  will  take  up  arms,  and  come  hither  to  avenge 
 them." 
 
Odysseus  visits  Laei'tcs.  571 
 
 Odysseus,  however,  prayed  him  to  leave  to  the  gods  the 
 issue  of  the  deed,  and  to  set  his  mind  at  rest ;  then 
 returning  to  the  house  where  Telemachos,  Eumaios,  and 
 Philoitios  awaited  them,  they  feasted  joyfully  together. 
 
 Intelligence  of  the  death  of  the  suitors  having  spread 
 abroad  in  the  city  great  consternation  prevailed,  for  many 
 of  them  were  Ithacan  chieftains.  Eupeithes,  the  father  of 
 Antinoos,  assembled  his  followers,  and  called  on  the  people 
 to  avenge  the  death  of  his  son.  Medon,  the  herald, 
 endeavoured  to  appease  their  resentment  by  declaring  that 
 Odysseus  had  not  acted  of  his  own  free  will,  but  had  been 
 impelled  by  the  gods.  "I  myself,"  said  he,  " beheld  how 
 one  of  the  gods,  disguised  as  Mentor,  not  only  endued 
 Odysseus  with  superhuman  strength,  but  also  sent  confusion 
 amongst  the  suitors,  so  that  they  attacked  one  another." 
 
 On  hearing  this,  dread  filled  the  hearts  of  the  people, 
 and  a  third  speaker,  a  sage  and  reverend  citizen,  thus 
 addressed  them  :  "  Hearken  unto  me,  ye  fathers,  and  all  ye 
 men  of  Ithaka !  ye  have  brought  upon  yourselves  this 
 misfortune.  Wherefore  did  ye  allow  your  sons  to  pursue 
 such  evil  courses,  and  to  presumptuously  woo  the  Queen 
 herself?  Molest  not  Odysseus ;  rush  not  madly  upon  your 
 ruin!" 
 
 The  wiser  portion  of  the  assembly  accepted  his  warning 
 rebuke  and  remained  tranquil,  but  the  rest  sprang  up  with 
 wild  shouts,  and,  seizing  their  weapons,  followed  Eupithes, 
 who,  thirsting  for  revenge,  led  them  to  the  house  of  Laertes. 
 Ill  would  Odysseus  have  fared  against  such  overwhelming 
 numbers  had  not  Athene  again  come  to  his  rescue.  She 
 entreated  Zeus  to  declare  whether  it  was  his  will  that 
 Ithaka  should  be  doomed  to  internal  distraction  and  discord, 
 or  whether  the  contending  parties  should  be  reconciled  to 
 each  other.  "  Do  even  as  thou  wilt,"  replied  the  ruler  of 
 Olympos;  "  thou  knowest  that  I  have  delivered  over  Odysseus 
 
572  Odyssezis  visits  Laertes. 
 
 to  thy  protecting  care :  nevertheless,  I  counsel  thee  to  let 
 oblivion  spread  her  wings  over  the  past,  and  let  peace  reign 
 in  the  land." 
 
 Swiftly  then  did  Pallas  descend  to  earth  to  commence  her 
 task.  The  meal  in  the  dwelling  of  Laertes  being  now 
 concluded,  Odysseus  sent  forth  a  servant  to  see  if  any  foe  was 
 in  sight.  When  this  emissary  returned  bearing  tidings  of 
 the  approach  of  a  host  of  armed  men,  Odysseus,  Laertes, 
 Telemachos,  and  all  the  retainers,  equipped  themselves 
 with  weapons  and  armour,  and  rushed  forth  to  meet  the 
 enemy.  Athene  accompanied  them  under  the  form  of 
 Mentor,  and  Laertes  rejoiced  that  the  day  had  arrived 
 which  saw  him  go  forth  to  fight  side  by  side  with  his  son 
 and  his  grandson. 
 
 As  the  two  parties  neared  one  another  the  aged  father  of 
 Odysseus  hurled  his  lance  towards  the  foe,  and,  striking 
 Eupeithes,  it  pierced  his  helmet,  and  he  fell  lifeless  to  the 
 ground.  Athene  now  stepped  between  the  combatants  and 
 cried  ;  "  Cease  this  strife,  warriors  !  Enough  blood  has  been 
 shed.  Return,  therefore,  peacefully  to  your  homes."  Struck 
 by  sudden  terror  the  people  dropped  their  javelins  and  fled 
 back  into  the  town.  Odysseus,  heated  with  warlike  excite- 
 ment, hotly  pursued  the  fugitives  and  would  have  slain 
 many  had  not  Zeus,  weary  of  the  incessant  conflicts, 
 hurled  a  thunderbolt  close  at  his  feet.  Then  Athene  cried 
 to  him  in  fear — 
 
 "  '  Zeus-born  Odysseus,  wise  Laertiades, 
 
 Hold  now  thy  hand,  and  stop  the  doubtful  sway 
 Of  battle,  lest  Kronion  thou  displease.' " 
 
 Forthwith  Odysseus  obeyed  the  heavenly  mandate,  and 
 Athene  herself  then  effected  a  lasting  peace  between  the 
 noble  king  of  Ithaka  and  his  subjects. 
 
 With  this  last  scene  Homer  brings  his  "  Odyssey  "  to  a 
 close. 
 
Death  of  Agamemnon.  573 
 
 LIII.— DEATH    OF   AGAMEMNON. 
 
 It  has  been  already  stated  that  Thuestes  had  a  son  named 
 Aigisthos,  who  slew  his  uncle  Atreus  in  order  to  avenge  the 
 wrong  done  to  his  father.  Aigisthos  did  not  join  the  ex- 
 pedition to  Troy,  but  taking  advantage  of  the  absence  there 
 of  his  cousin  Agamemnon,  had  so  completely  won  the 
 affections  of  Clytemnestra,*  wife  of  the  son  of  Atreus,  that 
 she  finally  consented  to  marry  him  ;  for  he  represented  to 
 her  that  as  Troy  had  fallen,  and  Agamemnon  had  not  re- 
 turned, he  must  doubtless  have  been  killed  there. 
 
 Also,  Clytemnestra  herself  could  not  forget  how,  before 
 going  to  Troy,  her  husband  had  deceived  her  by  taking  her 
 daughter  Iphigenia  to  Aulis  on  the  pretext  of  marrying  her 
 to  Achilles,  but  with  the  real  intention  of  sacrificing  her  to 
 Artemis.  Still  she  brooded  over  this  wrong,  and  Aigisthos 
 thus  found  in  her  a  ready  listener  to  his  insidious  representa- 
 tions, and  accordingly  she  became  his  wife.  But  as  he 
 himself  did  not  believe  that  Agamemnon  was  dead,  but 
 greatly  feared  his  return,  he  stationed  a  servant  on  the  sum- 
 mit of  a  high  rock,  bidding  him  keep  a  vigilant  look-out,  and 
 so  be  able  to  give  the  earliest  intimation  of  the  dreaded 
 arrival. 
 
 Years  passed  by  and  still  this  watchman  waited  in  vain, 
 for  a  storm  had  driven  Agamemnon  far  from  his  country. 
 At  length  the  noble  warrior  regained  his  native  shore,  and, 
 on  landing,  he  stooped  and  fervently  kissed  the  ground,  while 
 tears  of  gratitude  to  heaven  streamed  from  his  eyes. 
 
 The  watchful  sentinel  of  Aigisthos  had  already  detected 
 his  approach,  and  now  hastened  to  communicate  the  intelli- 
 gence to  his  master.  Aigisthos  quickly  prepared  to  receive 
 *  Strictly  Klutaimnestra. 
 
574  Death  of  Agamemnon. 
 
 his  outraged  kinsman  by  placing  in  ambush  twenty  des- 
 perate men,  whom  he  commanded  to  slay  the  king's  com- 
 panions. For  Agamemnon  himself  he  made  ready  a 
 sumptuous  banquet,  and  hurried  forth  to  greet  him  with 
 hypocritical  expressions  of  friendship,  entreating  him  at  once 
 to  enter  the  palace  and  rest  from  the  fatigues  of  his  long 
 voyage.  No  sooner,  however,  had  the  king  seated  himself 
 at  the  feast  than  Aigisthos  basely  slew  him. 
 
 Homer  makes  Agamemnon  himself  relate  the  story  to 
 Odysseus  in  the  Underworld  in  the  following  words  : 
 
 "  '  Dark  Aegisthus  working  doom  and  death, 
 Leagured  with  my  cursed  wife,  hurled  me  to  the  grave, 
 While  feasting  in  his  house,  without  one  breath 
 Of  warning,  as  some  churl  a  stalled  ox  murdereth. 
 So  by  the  worst  of  dooms  I  died,  and  all 
 My  friends  like  white-toothed  swine  around  me  bled. 
 
 Thou  of  a  truth  hast  witnessed  thousands  dead  ; 
 
 Yet  were  this  compassioned 
 
 More  than  all  else,  couldst  thou  have  seen  where  stood 
 
 Full  tables,  foaming  bowls,  while  the  floor  smoked  with  blood. 
 
 There  did  I  hear  Cassandra's  *  piercing  shriek, 
 
 Daughter  of  Priam,  as  she  fell  down  slain 
 
 By  crafty  Clytemnestra.  ...  I,  falling  in  wild  pain, 
 
 Clutched  the  wet  steel  with  dying  hands  in  vain. 
 
 That  shameless  cursed  woman  where  I  lay 
 
 Tore  out  my  life,  and  scorned  with  fell  disdain 
 
 Eyelids  of  one  then  passing  on  his  way 
 
 Towards  Hades  to  seal  down,  and  press  the  lips'  cold  clay. 
 
 Since  nought  exists  more  horrible  and  bold 
 
 Than  evil  in  the  breast  of  womankind,     .     .     . 
 
 *  The  prophetess  Cassandra,  daughter  of  Priam,  became  the  slave  of 
 Agamemnon  after  the  fall  of  Troy.  He,  however,  held  her  in  great 
 estimation,  and  brought  her  back  to  Greece  with  him,  when  she  shared 
 his  sad  fate  as  above  related. 
 
Orestes  and  Iphigcnia  in  Tauris.        575 
 
 Even  as  this  fell  monster  in  her  mind 
 Against  the  husband  of  her  youth  designed 
 Black  murder.     I,  the  while,  poor  dreamer,  thought 
 Good  words  from  children  and  from  slaves  to  find  ; 
 But  she,  by  the  foul  sin  she  planned  and  wrought, 
 On  the  mere  name  of  woman  eternal  shame  hath  brought.' " 
 HOMER,  "  Odyssey,"  Book  xi.  (Worsley). 
 
 Another  legend  narrates  that  Agamemnon,  unsuspecting 
 any  faithlessness  on  the  part  of  Clytemnestra,  was  received 
 by  her  on  his  landing  with  the  greatest  appearance  of  joy 
 and  affection,  Aigisthos  concealing  himself  the  while. 
 
 Then  when  Agamemnon,  having  bathed,  asked  for  his 
 garment,  his  wife  threw  it  over  his  head  so  as  to  prevent  his 
 seeing,  whereupon  Aigisthos  sprang  from  his  hiding  place 
 and  killed  him  with  a  blow  from  his  axe  before  the  king 
 could  free  himself.  A  third  story  affirms  that  Clytemnestra 
 herself  murdered  Agamemnon  while  he  was  asleep  in  the  hall 
 of  the  palace. 
 
 LIV.— ORESTES  AND    IPHIGENEIA  IN 
 TAURIS, 
 
 Besides  Iphigeneia,  Agamemnon  had  another  daughter 
 named  Elektra,  and  a  son,  Orestes.  This  last,  although  but 
 eleven  years  old  at  the  time  of  the  murder  of  his  father, 
 burned  to  revenge  him  by  putting  Aigisthos  to  death. 
 
 Elektra,  on  the  death  of  Agamemnon,  had  taken  the 
 boy  without  delay  from  the  palace,  and  placed  him  in 
 safety  with  a  kinsman,  Strophios,  King  of  Phokis,  where  he 
 was  educated  and  shielded  from  the  enmity  of  Aigisthos. 
 At  the  court  of  Strophios  Orestes  grew  up  together  with 
 Pylades,  the  king's  own  son,  and  a  life-long  friendship  was 
 
576        Orestes  and  I phigenia  in  Tatiris. 
 
 formed  between  them.  When  Orestes  had  attained  to 
 manhood  the  oracle  bade  him  not  forget  his  native  land, 
 but  remember  that  his  father's  death  was  still  unavenged, 
 and  accordingly,  accompanied  by  his  friend  Pylades,  he 
 landed  at  Mykenae. 
 
 As  he  crossed  the  threshold  of  his  step-father's  dwelling, 
 a  shudder  involuntarily  ran  through  him :  he  made  himself 
 known  to  his  sister  Elektra,  who  encouraged  him  to  delay 
 his  vengeance  no  longer,  and  leading  him  into  the  hall, 
 showed  him  the  very  spot  where  his  father  had  been 
 murdered. 
 
 The  two  friends  professed  themselves  to  be  strangers,  and, 
 whilst  conversing  as  such  with  Aigisthos,  mentioned  that 
 Orestes  was  dead.  Aigisthos,  unable  to  control  himself, 
 openly  manifested  his  joy  at  this  intelligence,  and  Pylades 
 and  Orestes  then  fell  upon  him  and  slew  him.  Dragging  to 
 the  spot  his  unnatural  mother,  Orestes  cried  furiously, 
 pointing  to  the  still  warm  body :  "  Behold,  I  am  the  son  of 
 him  whom  thou  didst  murder  so  treacherously.  He  who 
 aided  thee  has  now  received  at  my  hands  his  just  retribution 
 for  the  foul  deed." 
 
 Clytemnestra  wept  aloud  for  Aigisthos,  and  turned  from 
 her  son  with  loathing,  when,  overcome  with  horror  at  her 
 utter  degeneracy,  Orestes  thrust  his  sword  through  her  body. 
 No  sooner  had  this  terrible  crime  been  committed  than  the 
 Erinnyes  took  possession  of  the  murderer,  relentlessly 
 driving  him  with  their  torches  and  scourges  far  away  from 
 the  scene  of  the  dark  deed ;  and,  unceasingly  pursued  by 
 the  avenging  deities,  he  wandered  through  the  earth,  the 
 bleeding  ghost  of  his  mother  appearing  each  night  before 
 him. 
 
 At  length  he  sought  the  oracle  at  Delphi,  to  ask  the 
 counsel  of  Apollo  as  to  what  he  should  do  to  regain  peace 
 
Orestes  and  Iphigcneia  in  Tauris.       577 
 
 of  mind  and  free  himself  from  the  tortures  of  remorse.  The 
 Furies,  who  were  not  permitted  to  enter  the  holy  place, 
 waited  for  him  on  the  threshold  to  seize  him  once  more 
 when  he  came  forth.  "  Go  to  Tauris,"  was  the  answer  of 
 the  oracle  to  his  anxious  enquiries,  "  and  bring  thence  thy 
 sister  to  her  native  land.  Then,  and  then  only,  will  ease 
 and  tranquillity  return  to  thy  troubled  breast." 
 
 Tauris  was  a  country  on  the  Black  Sea  (now  known  as 
 Tauria  or  the  Crimea),  whose  king,  Thoas,  was  also  king  of 
 Lemnos  and  father  of  Hypsipyle.  His  daughter  had  saved 
 his  life  when  all  the  women  of  Lemnos  killed  their 
 husbands,  and  a  storm  had  drifted  him  to  Tauris.  Here 
 he  instituted  the  cruel  law  that  every  stranger  who  landed 
 on  his  shores  should  at  once  be  sacrificed  to  Artemis,  but  of 
 this  Orestes  knew  nothing. 
 
 At  Tauris  was  a  temple  of  Artemis,  and  together  with  his 
 faithful  companion,  Pylades,  and  several  others,  he  sailed  for 
 that  land,  intending  to  steal  the  statue  of  Artemis  from  its 
 temple,  for  thus  had  he  interpreted  the  bidding  of  the  oracle. 
 Arrived  at  their  destination,  he  and  Pylades  landed  secretly, 
 leaving  the  ship  and  their  companions  concealed  in  a  small 
 creek.  But  soon  they  were  discovered  and  brought  before 
 the  king,  who  at  once  commanded  that  they  should,  as  was 
 the  custom,  be  taken  to  the  temple  of  Artemis,  and  there 
 sacrificed. 
 
 They  were  therefore  delivered  over  to  the  priestess,  who 
 was  none  other  than  Iphigeneia  sister  of  Orestes.  The 
 goddess  Artemis,  after  substituting  a  doe  when  Calchas  was 
 about  to  sacrifice  Iphigeneia  at  Aulis,  had  chosen  the  maiden 
 to  be  one  of  her  priestesses,  and  conveyed  her  to  Tauris. 
 Greatly  did  she  rejoice  to  hear  once  again  the  beloved 
 accents  of  her  native  tongue,  and  she  shuddered  at  the 
 thought  of  being  forced  to  sacrifice  these  two  Greeks,  her 
 
 2  o 
 
57$        Orestes  and  Iphigeneia  in  Tauris. 
 
 fellow  countrymen.  Orestes  now  told  her  his  name,  and 
 described  to  her  the  tortures  inflicted  on  him  by  the  pitiless 
 Furies,  for  only  whilst  in  the  sacred  precincts  of  the  temple 
 was  he  at  peace.  Iphigeneia  then  revealed  to  her  brother 
 her  name  and  parentage,  and  promised  him  to  obtain 
 possession  of  the  statue  of  the  goddess,  and  quit  in  his 
 vessel  this  inhospitable  land. 
 
 After  reflecting  upon  the  deceit  and  ingratitude  of 
 quitting  thus  secretly  the  country  that  had  afforded  her  a 
 shelter,  she,  trusting  in  the  aid  of  Artemis,  told  her  whole 
 history  to  King  Thoas,  who  not  only  granted  a  pardon  to 
 the  strangers,  but  permitted  them  to  return,  accompanied  by 
 Iphigeneia,  and  carrying  with  them  the  statue  to  their  native 
 shores. 
 
 On  the  way  thither  the  Furies  departed  from  Orestes,  the 
 gods  having  forgiven  him,  and  peace  of  conscience  was 
 restored.  Soon  afterwards  he  married  Hermione,  daughter 
 of  Menelaos  and  Helen,  and  on  the  death  of  his  father-in-law, 
 became  King  of  Sparta,  over  which  country  he  ruled  until 
 he  died  in  the  ninetieth  year  of  his  age,  beloved  and  mourned 
 by  his  subjects. 
 
 The  End. 
 
 LONDON : 
 KERBY  &  ENDEAN,  440  OXFORD  STREET. 
 
 £S 
 
BL721.N77 
 
 Mythology,  Greek  and  Roman. 
 
 Princeton  Theological  Seminary-Speer  Library 
 
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