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diff --git a/79300-h/79300-h.htm b/79300-h/79300-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0402714 --- /dev/null +++ b/79300-h/79300-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,12350 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html> +<html lang="en"> + +<head> + +<meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> + +<link rel="icon" href="images/img-cover.jpg" type="image/x-cover"> + +<meta charset="utf-8"> + +<title> +The Project Gutenberg eBook of Myths of Hellas, by Professor C. Witt +</title> + +<style> +body { color: black; + background: white; + margin-right: 10%; + margin-left: 10%; + font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; + text-align: justify } + +p {text-indent: 1.5em } + +p.noindent {text-indent: 0% } + +p.t1 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 200%; + text-align: center } + +p.t2 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 150%; + text-align: center } + +p.t2b {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 150%; + font-weight: bold; + text-align: center } + +p.t3 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 100%; + text-align: center } + +p.t3b {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 100%; + font-weight: bold; + text-align: center } + +p.t4 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 80%; + text-align: center } + +p.t4b {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 80%; + font-weight: bold; + text-align: center } + +p.t5 {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 60%; + text-align: center } + +h1 { text-align: center } +h2 { text-align: center; font-size: 100% } +h3 { text-align: center; font-size: 100% } +h4 { text-align: center } +h5 { text-align: center } + +p.poem {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10%; } + +p.thought {text-indent: 0% ; + letter-spacing: 4em ; + text-align: center } + +p.letter {text-indent: 0%; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +p.footnote {text-indent: 0% ; + font-size: 85%; + margin-left: 5% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +.smcap { font-variant: small-caps } + +p.transnote {text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +p.index {text-indent: -5% ; + margin-left: 5% ; + margin-bottom: 1em ; + margin-right: 0% } + +p.intro {font-size: 90% ; + text-indent: -5% ; + margin-left: 5% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +p.report2 {text-indent: 4% ; + margin-left: 10% ; + margin-right: 10% } + +p.finis { font-size: larger ; + text-align: center ; + text-indent: 0% ; + margin-left: 0% ; + margin-right: 0% } + +p.capcenter { margin-left: 0; + margin-right: 0 ; + margin-bottom: .5% ; + margin-top: 0; + font-weight: normal; + float: none ; + clear: both ; + text-indent: 0%; + text-align: center } + +img.imgcenter { margin-left: auto; + margin-bottom: 0; + margin-top: 1%; + margin-right: auto; } + +.pagenum { position: absolute; + left: 1%; + font-size: 95%; + text-align: left; + text-indent: 0; + font-style: normal; + font-weight: normal; + font-variant: normal; } + +table {margin: auto; width: 80%} + +td {text-align: left; width: 50%} + +</style> + +</head> + + +<body> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 79300 ***</div> + + +<p><br><br> +</p> + +<p class="capcenter"> +<a id="img-front"></a> +<br> +<img class="imgcenter" src="images/img-front.jpg" alt="HERA from an Ancient Statue now in the Vatican Museum at Rome"> +<br> +HERA <br> +<i>from an Ancient Statue now in the Vatican Museum at Rome</i> +</p> + +<h1> +<br><br> + MYTHS OF HELLAS<br> +</h1> + +<p class="t3"> + OR<br> +</p> + +<p class="t3b"> + GREEK TALES<br> +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="t3"> + TOLD IN GERMAN BY<br> +<p> + +<p class="t2"> + PROFESSOR C. WITT<br> +</p> + +<p class="t4"> + HEAD MASTER OF THE ALTSTADT GYMNASIUM AT KÖNIGSBERG<br> +</p> + +<p><br><br></p> + +<p class="t3"> + TRANSLATED INTO ENGLISH<br> + (<i>with the Author's sanction</i>)<br> + BY<br> +<p> + +<p class="t2"> + FRANCES YOUNGHUSBAND<br> +</p> + +<p><br><br></p> + +<p class="t3"> + <i>WITH A PREFACE</i><br> +</p> + +<p class="t3"> + BY<br> +</p> + +<p class="t2"> + ARTHUR SIDGWICK, M.A.<br> +</p> + +<p class="t4"> + FELLOW AND TUTOR OF CORPUS CHRISTI COLLEGE, OXFORD<br> + LATE ASSISTANT-MASTER AT RUGBY SCHOOL<br> +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="t3"> + FIFTH EDITION<br> +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="t3"> + LONDON<br> + LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO.<br> + AND NEW YORK: 15 EAST 16th STREET<br> + 1891<br> +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="t4"> + <i>All rights reserved</i><br> +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p class="t4"> + PRINTED BY<br> + SPOTTISWOODE AND CO., NEW-STREET SQUARE<br> + LONDON<br> +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p class="t3" style="line-height: 1.5"> + TO ALL ENGLISH CHILDREN<br> + BUT ESPECIALLY TO C. I. W. AND TO E. R. Y. AND O. Y.<br> + WHOSE PLEASURE IN THESE STORIES<br> + HAS MADE ME WISH<br> + TO BRING THEM WITHIN THE REACH OF OTHER CHILDREN<br> + I DEDICATE THIS TRANSLATION<br> +</p> + +<p class="t3"> + F. M. Y.<br> +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p class="t3b"> +PREFACE. +</p> + +<p> +The following collection of legends about the +Greek gods and heroes, to which I have been asked to +write a few words of introduction, is a translation of a +little book by Professor C. Witt which has been received +in Germany with great favour by the public and the +press. This popularity has been due, not merely to +the intrinsic beauty of the stories, but to the skill +shown in the selection, and in the simplicity of the style. +The last quality it has been the aim of the translator to +retain in the English version; and the success of the +book in Germany suggests a hope that the translation +may become a favourite in this country. +</p> + +<p> +That there still exists a demand for some such +book, notwithstanding the deserved popularity of +Kingsley's 'Heroes,' Cox's Mythological Tales, and +Church's Stories from Greek and Latin Writers, seems +to be shown by the large number of encouraging +letters received by the translator from persons engaged +or interested in education. +</p> + +<p> +That Greek stories, simply told, will be acceptable +to children, common sense would tell us, even apart +from experience. Children impartially welcome all +tales of incident and wonder, if they can understand +the language in which they are written, and if their +pleasure is not dashed by the medicinal flavour of a +moral. And even a moral will not deter them if it be +not too explicit or obtrusive. +</p> + +<p> +Again, from the teacher's point of view as well as +the child's, there seems to be every reason in favour of +presenting to them at an early age the stories of Greek +mythology. There is first the obvious fact that such +reading trains and cultivates the imaginative faculties, +and that it is good to vary the 'Arabian Nights' and +the German and Norse fairy-tales with such totally +different material as the Greek stories. There are +also other reasons arising from the altered position of +Greek in education. +</p> + +<p> +Without entering on any controverted question, it +is clear that even in classical schools the teaching of +Greek will have in the future to occupy fewer hours, +and probably to begin at a later age, than hitherto. The +much greater number of subjects now taught, and +necessarily and rightly taught, makes this inevitable. +And if the same good, or anything like the same good, +is to be got out of the fewer hours, there must be +considerable modification of method. And one obvious +modification is, that much which before was taught +slowly and painfully by means of the Greek authors, +should be learnt quickly and pleasurably by means of +an English rendering. To take a very humble example: +The present writer would have a much less weary +memory of his early struggles with the 'Alcestis' of +Euripides at the age of twelve, if he had been familiar +from the age of six with such a version of the story as +is presented in this volume. In short, to bring to the +study of a language—always a difficult and tedious +business to a beginner—some knowledge of the matter +with which the literature deals, and some interest in +the people and their life, must tend to lighten and +shorten the process of learning. And to this end the +following little book is offered as a small contribution. +</p> + +<p> +The aim and hope of the translator may be thus +summed up in two or three words. All children will +get pleasure out of these stories, and that is much. +Many children will perhaps get the elements of +culture, and that is more. And some may get at once +pleasure, culture, and a little real preparation for +severer studies; and so receive a benefit, though +doubtless of a humbler kind, yet something like that +which Pope's 'Homer' has given to so many +generations of schoolboys. +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +A. S. +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +OXFORD: <i>November</i>, 1882. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p class="t3b"> +NOTES. +</p> + +<p class="t3"> +NOTE ON THE SOURCES OF THE STORIES. +</p> + +<p> +The stories have been taken by the Author from many +sources, but chiefly from a Greek writer, Apollodorus, who +lived in the second century B.C., and collected the old +mythological tales. A good deal has also been taken from the +poems of Hesiod and Homer, and from the tragedies of +Sophocles; but in these cases it has been necessary to exercise +some care in the selection of what would be suitable for a +book intended to be placed in the hands of children. Several +of the details have been supplied by the ancient works of art +which have come down to us. +</p> + +<p class="t3"> +NOTE ON THE NAMES OF THE GODS. +</p> + +<p> +As it is probable that many readers will be more familiar +with the Latin names of the gods, whilst the stories in this +book, being derived from Greek sources, give naturally the +Greek names, the following list will perhaps be useful, +which shows the corresponding names of each god in the +two languages:— +</p> + +<table> + +<tr> +<td> +<i>Greek.</i><br> +<br> +Aphrodītē<br> +Apollon.<br> +Artemis.<br> +Athēnē.<br> +Kronos.<br> +Dēmētēr.<br> +Dionusos or Bacchos.<br> +Hephaistos.<br> +Hēra.<br> +Hermes.<br> +Persephonē.<br> +Plouton.<br> +Poseidon.<br> +Zeūs.<br> +</td> + +<td> +<i>Latin.</i><br> +<br> +Venus.<br> +Apollo.<br> +Diana.<br> +Minerva.<br> +Saturnus.<br> +Ceres.<br> +Bacchus.<br> +Vulcanus.<br> +Iuno.<br> +Mercurius.<br> +Proserpina.<br> +Pluto.<br> +Neptunus.<br> +Iuppiter.<br> +</td> +</tr> +</table> + +<p class="footnote"> +Also the hero and demi-god Herakles is called Hercules by the +Romans. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p> +The young reader will naturally ask why, if the stories +are the same, the names are in most cases so different. And +the answer is briefly this: Each nation had originally its +own gods, with different names and quite different ideas +attaching to them. But the Greeks were a far more gifted +and imaginative people than the Romans, and, when +communication was established between the countries, became in +many ways their teachers. Many Romans learned Greek, +and the Greek stories became current. But as the Romans +naturally adhered to the old names of their own gods, there +arose in this way an identification. The old Latin ideas +about their gods gave way to, or were incorporated with, the +much richer and more poetical Greek fancies and traditions; +and thus the Greek mythology was almost bodily adopted by +the Roman writers. +</p> + +<p> +For example, the god Saturnus was originally a Latin +rustic god, presiding (as the name shows) over the important +work of <i>sowing</i> corn. But when the identification took +place, all the stories about Kronos were gradually attached +to him, and thus we find him in the Roman poets the father +of Iuppiter, and the old dispossessed king of the gods. +</p> + +<p> +In a few cases (as Apollo, Pluto, Bacchus), the name was +adopted as well as the story, the termination being Latinised. +Sometimes it was corrupted, as Proserpina from Persephone; +and sometimes a chance resemblance (as that between the +Latin Hercules, originally Herculus, and the Greek Herakles) +determined the identification. +</p> + +<p> +Accordingly when we say, as is often said, that the +Greek Artemis (for example) is 'called Diana in Latin,' we +are using language which, without the above explanation, is +liable to mislead the beginner. +</p> + +<p class="noindent"> +A. S. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p class="t3b"> + CONTENTS.<br> +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="noindent"> + CHAPTER<br> +</p> + +<p class="noindent smcap" style="line-height: 1.5"> + I. <a href="#chap01">The Beginning of all Things</a><br> + II. <a href="#chap02">The Golden Age</a><br> + III. <a href="#chap03">Prometheus and Epimetheus</a><br> + IV. <a href="#chap04">Deucalion and Pyrrha</a><br> + V. <a href="#chap05">The Rape of Persephone</a><br> + VI. <a href="#chap06">Marpessa</a><br> + VII. <a href="#chap07">Artemis</a><br> + VIII. <a href="#chap08">The Giants Otus and Ephialtes</a><br> + IX. <a href="#chap09">Endymion</a><br> + X. <a href="#chap10">Io</a><br> + XI. <a href="#chap11">Danaus and Aegyptus</a><br> + XII. <a href="#chap12">Phaëthon</a><br> + XIII. <a href="#chap13">Salmoneus and Sisyphus</a><br> + XIV. <a href="#chap14">Bellerophon</a><br> + XV. <a href="#chap15">Daedalus and Icarus</a><br> + XVI. <a href="#chap16">Europa and Cadmus</a><br> + XVII. <a href="#chap17">The Building of Thebes</a><br> + XVIII. <a href="#chap18">Semele</a><br> + XIX. <a href="#chap19">Dionysus</a><br> + XX. <a href="#chap20">Melampus and Bias</a><br> + XXI. <a href="#chap21">Tantalus. Pelops</a><br> + XXII. <a href="#chap22">Niobe</a><br> + XXIII. <a href="#chap23">Meleager and Atalanta</a><br> + XXIV. <a href="#chap24">Admetus and Alcestis</a><br> + XXV. <a href="#chap25">Perseus</a><br> + XXVI. <a href="#chap26">Heracles:—</a><br> + 1. <a href="#chap2601">The War with the Teleboae</a><br> + 2. <a href="#chap2602">The Birth and Youth of Heracles</a><br> + 3. <a href="#chap2603">The Madness of Heracles, and his First Six Labours</a><br> + 4. <a href="#chap2604">The Last Six Labours</a><br> + 5. <a href="#chap2605">The Murder of Iphitus and the Vengeances of Heracles</a><br> + 6. <a href="#chap2606">The Marriage of Heracles with Deianira, and his Death</a><br> + XXVII. <a href="#chap27">The Quest of the Argonauts:—</a><br> + 1. <a href="#chap2701">The Golden Fleece</a><br> + 2. <a href="#chap2702">The Journey to Colchis</a><br> + 3. <a href="#chap2703">The Fight for the Golden Fleece</a><br> + 4. <a href="#chap2704">The Journey Home</a><br> + 5. <a href="#chap2705">Medea's Revenge</a><br> + XXVIII. <a href="#chap28">Theseus</a><br> + XXIX. <a href="#chap29">Oedipus</a><br> + XXX. <a href="#chap30">The Seven against Thebes</a><br> + XXXI. <a href="#chap31">The Epigoni</a><br> + XXXII. <a href="#chap32">Eros and Psyche</a><br> +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap01"></a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P1"></a>1}</span></p> + +<p class="t2"> +MYTHS OF HELLAS. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<h2> +I. +<br><br> +THE BEGINNING OF ALL THINGS. +</h2> + +<p> +Long ago, in the beginning of time, there was nothing +but a huge dark mass called Chaos. In this Chaos were +hidden all things that now exist, the earth and the sky, +light and darkness, fire and water, and everything else, +but they were not yet severed one from the other, and +were so mingled and confused that nothing had a +separate form of its own. After the Chaos had lasted +for a long time it parted asunder, and the earth was +divided from the heaven. The sun and the moon and +the stars mounted up above into the sky, but the water +and the stones and the trees liked better to remain +below with the earth. +</p> + +<p> +There was a god in the sky called Uranus, and on +earth there was a goddess called Gaea. They became +husband and wife, and had several children, of whom +six were ugly and twelve were beautiful. The ugly +ones had, each of them, either a hundred arms, or else +only one eye. Those who had a hundred arms had also +fifty heads, and they were as big as mountains, and very +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P2"></a>2}</span> +frightful. The others had only one eye apiece, and it +was placed in the middle of their foreheads and was as +large as a cart wheel. But the beautiful brothers and +sisters were formed like men, only they were much +larger and grander. Six of them were gods, and were +called Titans; there were also six goddesses, who were +called Titanides. +</p> + +<p> +The gods lived on the summit of a very high mountain +called Mount Olympus, which almost reached the sky, +and Uranus was king over them all. He could not bear +the sight of his hundred-armed and one-eyed children +because they were so hideous, so he thrust them into a +dark pit below the earth, called Tartarus, and would +not let them come out of it again. But the mother +Gaea loved even her ugly children, and was angry with +Uranus for banishing them into darkness and misery. +And she said to her son Cronus, who was the youngest +of the beautiful gods, that if he would promise to fetch +up his hundred-armed and one-eyed brothers out of +Tartarus, she would help him to dethrone Uranus and +himself become king of the gods. Cronus promised +that he would do this, and Gaea created the bright +cutting steel, and made with it a sharp sickle which +she gave to her son, and told him to stab Uranus with +it when he was asleep. Cronus did as she desired him, +and thus Uranus lost his kingly power. +</p> + +<p> +Cronus now ruled over the world in his father's +stead, and the other gods had to obey him. He took +one of the Titanides called Rhea to be his wife, and +made her the queen. He also fetched up his ugly +brothers from Tartarus, but he soon became afraid of +them and drove them back into the dark pit. The +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P3"></a>3}</span> +mother Gaea now saw how little she had gained by her +treachery to her husband, and she told Cronus that +he should lose his kingly power through one of his +children just as Uranus had done. This frightened +him so much that whenever Rhea had a child, he took +it and swallowed it. He swallowed five of them in this +way, and poor Rhea was very sad because she had no +children left. Then Gaea told her, next time she +had a child, to take a stone and wrap it in swaddling +clothes and give it to Cronus to swallow as if it were +the baby, but keep the real child in some safe place till +it was grown up. Rhea did so, and Cronus swallowed +the stone she gave him, thinking it was the little +boy that had just been born, but Rhea hid the child in +a cave in the island of Crete where a beautiful goat +named Amalthea nourished him with her milk. And +there were armed men there, who, whenever the baby +cried, danced about and clashed their shields and spears +together as if they were treading a war-dance for their +own amusement, but it was really to prevent Cronus +from hearing the crying. The boy was named Zeus, +and in a year he was quite grown up, and was the most +beautiful and most powerful of all the gods. When +Cronus was asleep, Rhea used to go to the cave and +talk to him. +</p> + +<p> +At last the time came when Zeus was to wage war +against his father, and then Gaea gave her daughter +Rhea a bowl containing a sweet medicine for Cronus +to drink. Rhea went to her husband and said, 'The +mother Gaea is no longer angry with you, and she has +sent you this sweet drink.' Cronus took the bowl and +drank it up; it tasted very nice, but after he had +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P4"></a>4}</span> +swallowed it he began to feel very uncomfortable, and +presently he was sick. Then out came the stone and +the children that he had swallowed, the youngest first, +and the eldest last; there were two gods and three +goddesses, and they were all quite grown up. The +names of the gods were Poseidon and Pluto, and the +names of the goddesses were Hera, Demeter, and +Hestia. +</p> + +<p> +Then the young gods made war against the old ones, +and they sent for the hundred-armed and one-eyed +monsters out of Tartarus, that they might help them. +The One-eyed were very skilful at smith's work, and +they were so grateful to Zeus for setting them free that +they forged for him valuable weapons, thunder and +lightning. The old gods took their stand on Mount Othrys, +and the young ones on Mount Olympus, and between +them was a wide far-stretching valley where they fought. +When there was a battle the whole earth resounded +at the tread of the gods. The Hundred-armed always +threw a hundred pieces of rock at once, and Zeus hurled +thunderbolt after thunderbolt, till the woods were in +flames and the rivers boiled. The war lasted for ten years, +but at last the young gods triumphed. They thrust +their enemies into Tartarus, and set the Hundred-armed +and the One-eyed to keep guard over them. +</p> + +<p> +Zeus was now the king of the gods, and he married +his sister Hera and made her the queen. He also gave +an empire to each of his brothers: all the sea was made +subject to Poseidon, and Pluto became king of the +Lower World, where the dead are. These gods had +children, who were also gods, and had each their part +in the government of the universe. The good goat +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P5"></a>5}</span> +Amalthea was already dead, but Zeus honoured her by +making one of her horns a wonder, which became +famous all over the world. Whoever had it might wish +for anything he liked to eat or drink, and immediately +it was there; and for this reason it was called the Horn +of Plenty, because it produced in abundance everything +that could be desired in the way of food. +</p> + +<p> +The mother Gaea had planned the overthrow of +Cronus because he had driven back his hundred-armed +and one-eyed brothers into Tartarus. But she found +herself worse off than ever, for the only result of her +revenge was that now her beautiful children were +imprisoned instead of the ugly ones. This made her +very angry with the young gods, and she could not bear +to see them powerful and happy. So she brought into +the world some hideous monsters to make war against +the young gods. They were called Giants, and had +enormous strength and courage. They tore up masses +of rock and dashed them up into the air till the vault +of heaven rang again, but the gods only laughed at it, +for the stones were powerless to hurt them by the time +they had reached so great a height, and there was no +mountain high enough for the Giants to climb from it +to the top of Mount Olympus. +</p> + +<p> +The Giants went on in this way for a long time, but +they found that, do what they would, they could not +inflict any injury upon the gods, and only got laughed +at for their pains, so they resolved to try another +plan. They made up their minds to build a ladder by +which they might climb up to the abode of the gods, +and they set to work to uproot a mountain called Ossa, +and roll it on to the top of another mountain called +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P6"></a>6}</span> +Pelion. But whilst they were doing this, Zeus hurled +a mighty thunderbolt against Ossa and made it fall +down again, and the gods rushed down to the earth to +fight the Giants, shouting their war-cry. The fight +lasted for a whole day, for the Giants were very strong, +but at last the gods gained the victory, and they +crushed each of the Giants beneath a huge mountain, +which did not kill him, but prevented his ever getting +up again. One of them tried to escape over the +Mediterranean Sea, but the goddess Athene, who was the +daughter of Zeus, tore off a great three-cornered piece +of land and threw it after him. It hit him just as he +was in the middle of the sea, and he fell down and was +buried beneath it. After some time the land became +covered with forests and cities, and it is now called the +Island of Sicily. Every now and then the Giants turn +on one side beneath their mountains, and then people +say, 'It is an earthquake'; and sometimes they become +quite furious with impatience, and then their fiery +breath bursts through the mountains and puffs out +molten iron and stones. +</p> + +<p> +After the Giants were conquered, Gaea created a +truly terrific being, far worse than they had been. +She brought him out of a great crack that she made +in the earth, and she called her son Typhöeus and was +quite pleased to see how hideous he was, for she +thought that such a monstrous creature would surely +be able to conquer the young gods. He could see +over the tops of the highest mountains, and when he +stretched out his hands they reached right round the +world. He had a hundred heads, each of them with a +different kind of voice, so that he could speak like a +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P7"></a>7}</span> +man, bellow like a bull, roar like a lion, bark like a dog, +and hiss like a snake. All the other gods were afraid of +him and hid themselves, but Zeus armed himself with +thunderbolts and went out to fight him. Typhöeus +threw large masses of rock at him, and screamed with +all his hundred mouths at once, but Zeus scorched him +with lightning, till at last bright flames burst out all over +the giant's body. Then Typhöeus howled and dashed +himself to the ground, rolling over and over to try and +put out the flames, but he could not succeed in doing +so, for Zeus went on hurling thunderbolts at him, and +the trees all round became red hot. At last Gaea began +to fear that the whole earth would melt, and so she +seized Typhöeus and flung him down into Tartarus, +where he died. +</p> + +<p> +After this Gaea gave up fighting with the young +gods, for she knew that they were stronger than she +was, but it was a very long time before she really made +friends with them. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap02"></a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P8"></a>8}</span></p> + +<h2> +II. +<br><br> +THE GOLDEN AGE. +</h2> + +<p> +It was during the time when Cronus was reigning +over the gods that men were first created, and this was +called the Golden Age. In the Golden Age it was +always springtime, and beautiful flowers blossomed the +whole year round in the woods and meadows. It was +not necessary for men to labour at tilling the ground, +for the earth brought forth of itself everything they +could possibly require: apples and melons and grapes +and other fruits grew wild everywhere, and in the brooks +there flowed a delicious kind of water that tasted like +milk. Men, too, were good and happy, and they all lived +for a long time, for three hundred years and more, +and did not get old and grey, but always remained +young. They had no need of houses, but lived out of +doors with the beautiful earth for a carpet and the +sky for a roof. Neither were there any distinctions +such as we have now between rich and poor, or the +upper and lower classes, but all were equal and lived +together as friends. When they had lived for a long +time and had had enough of life, they fell into a deep +sleep and never woke again: that was their death. +</p> + +<p> +The Golden Age came to an end at last, but those +who had lived during that time became guardian +spirits who still wander unseen over the earth and +kind to us who are now alive. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap03"></a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P9"></a>9}</span></p> + +<h2> +III. +<br><br> +PROMETHEUS AND EPIMETHEUS. +</h2> + +<p> +After the Golden Age was over, the world went on just +as it does now; summer and winter followed each +other, and there were times of bad weather as well as +of bright sunshine; there were also many people who +had not everything they wanted, but were obliged to +struggle against hunger and cold and other evils. +But they were happy and contented, and had still a +spark of the god-like spirit left in them, so that under +the pressure of need they learnt all kinds of useful +arts. +</p> + +<p> +There were two brothers of the race of the gods, whose +father had been a Titan and had fought against Zeus. +These brothers were kind to men and lived among +them; one of them was called Prometheus, or the +Fore-thinker, because he was always looking forward and +planning for the future; and the other was called +Epimetheus, or the Afterthinker, because he never thought +seriously about things till they had already taken place. +Zeus had not gifted men with fire, but Prometheus +foresaw that by the help of fire they would be able to +make out of bronze and iron many useful tools and +weapons which would add to their comfort. So he +begged Zeus to give it to them, but Zeus said, 'They +will become too clever, and at last they will think +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P10"></a>10}</span> +themselves equal to the gods.' Prometheus thought it +would be a noble thing to scorn the anger of Zeus and +bring down fire to the earth in order to benefit +mankind, and though he knew that Zeus would punish +him severely for doing so, he was willing to bear that. +He took a reed in which there was a great deal of pith +of the same kind that still grows in warm countries and +is used for fuel, and he climbed up to the sun with +this reed in his hand, and held it in the blaze till it +caught fire and burned like tinder. Then he came +down to earth again, and made a fire which gave out +warmth and a clear blaze, so that all men wondered at +it. And when it was dark Zeus looked down upon the +earth. There appeared to be a great many stars there, +but the lights which he saw were not stars,—they were +the flickering fires that men had kindled, and Zeus +knew it, and was very, very angry. +</p> + +<p> +Now at that time there were no such things as +diseases and cares among men, so Zeus resolved to +send them these unwelcome guests, because they had +obtained fire against his will. The god Hephaestus +fashioned a marvellously beautiful woman out of clay, +and Zeus gave life to her, and the other gods endowed +her with many of those gifts that call forth the love of +men. They gave her goodly gifts indeed—good-nature, +pleasant speech, and skill in many arts, but no one +gave her an honourable, straightforward mind. The +gods called her Pandora, or the All-gifted, because +they had all brought her some gift. Hermes, the +messenger of the gods, took her to Epimetheus and +said, 'Zeus sends this beautiful woman to be your +wife.' Prometheus had warned his brother not to +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P11"></a>11}</span> +accept any gift from Zeus, because he knew that he +would act treacherously, but when Epimetheus saw the +lovely woman, he forgot that she had come from Zeus +and took her home to live with him. Pandora showed +him a golden casket which she said contained her +dowry, and as he was very anxious to see the precious +jewels he expected to find in it, he begged her to open +it. But when she had taken off the lid, instead of +any jewels, there were a number of winged figures +inside with corpse-like faces who struggled out and flew +about all over the world: these were the diseases and +cares that Zeus had said he would send. They fly into +the houses of men and nestle beside them without +anyone being able to see or hear them come in. Even +now it often happens that when a man is seated at +dinner with his guests, well and happy, one of the +diseases flies in without any one knowing it, and in +the night it seizes upon him and puts an end to all his +enjoyment. Zeus had meant to send into the world a +still worse fellow, called Foreboding, so that men might +know all their troubles beforehand, and thus lose all +pleasure in life. Foreboding was in the casket with +the others, but when Pandora took off the lid, he was +in such a hurry to get out that his wings caught in +the inner edge of the casket, and when Pandora shut +down the lid again she did not see that he was left +behind. If Foreboding had come into the world, +everyone would have known in childhood of the diseases and +troubles in store for him in his old age, and would +thus have lost all his spirits, even in his days of +health. +</p> + +<p> +Thus did Zeus punish men by sending disease and +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P12"></a>12}</span> +care among them; but for Prometheus, who had taken +the fire to them, he reserved a far severer punishment. +He commanded two gods to carry him to Mount Caucasus, +and the god Hephaestus, who was an excellent +smith, bound him to a rock with strong iron chains so +that he could neither move hand nor foot; but +Hephaestus did so very unwillingly, for it seemed to him +that Prometheus had done a great and god-like thing +in braving the wrath of Zeus. Every morning a huge +eagle came and pecked open the body of Prometheus +and ate his liver, and every night the liver grew again +and the body healed over it. Prometheus suffered +inexpressible agony, but he never would beg for mercy +from Zeus nor say that he was sorry for having brought +down the fire, for he was still of the same mind +about it. +</p> + +<p> +But after many years had passed, there came a +great hero named Heracles, who shot the eagle with +his bow and arrow and delivered Prometheus. Prometheus +was now free, but he was still obliged to wear +on his finger a ring of the chain with which he had +been bound to remind him of his punishment, and +from that time it has always been the custom for people +to wear rings as reminders. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap04"></a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P13"></a>13}</span></p> + +<h2> +IV. +<br><br> +DEUCALION AND PYRRHA. +</h2> + +<p> +After disease and care had come into the world, men +became unkind and unfriendly; instead of peace there +was now constant war, and murder and theft were more +common every day. The gods were much displeased +at these crimes, and Zeus said he would destroy the +whole race of men by a great flood. There were, +however, one man and one woman, Deucalion and Pyrrha, +who took no part in the crimes that were committed, +but who lived peacefully and uprightly, fearing the +gods. Deucalion was the son of Prometheus, who knew +everything that the gods had resolved upon though he +was chained to Mount Caucasus, and when the great +flood was about to take place, he advised Deucalion to +provide against it by building a chest that could float +on the water, so that when the flood began, he and his +wife might take shelter in it. +</p> + +<p> +Then a mighty rain poured down from heaven +which lasted for nine days and nine nights. The +valleys were soon filled with water, and the people fled +for safety to the tops of the highest mountains; but +the flood rose higher and higher till at last the waves +washed right over the mountains, so that the people +perished miserably in the water. The great chest +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P14"></a>14}</span> +floated about on the top of the waves, and Deucalion and +Pyrrha who were safely shut up inside it, could hear +the pouring rain and the cries of the drowning people. +When they were all drowned, the rain ceased and the +waters began to abate, and on the next day the bottom +of the chest grated against dry land. Then Deucalion +burst it open, and he and Pyrrha came out into the +sunshine, but all they could see was a wide stretch of +sea with only the tops of the highest mountains +standing out above it. The mountain where the chest +had stranded was called Parnassus, and was specially +dedicated to the gods. Before this time Zeus had +once wanted to know where the middle of the earth was, +and had let fly two doves at the same moment from the +two ends of the world to see where they would meet: +they met on Mount Parnassus, and thus it was proved +beyond a doubt, that this mountain must be the centre +of the earth. +</p> + +<p> +Deucalion and Pyrrha were now the only ones +remaining of the whole human race, and it was on +account of their piety that Zeus had allowed them to +save themselves instead of destroying them with the +others. The waters abated until they no longer covered +the earth, and then the grass and flowers and trees +bloomed forth again as they do in spring, and Zeus +sent Hermes, the messenger of the gods, to tell +Deucalion and Pyrrha that they might ask for anything they +pleased, and he would grant it. They determined to +ask that there might again be men on the earth, and +Hermes told them to go into the valley where there +were a great many stones lying, and to take up the +stones and throw them over their shoulders. They did +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P15"></a>15}</span> +so, and this was what happened: every stone that +Deucalion threw became a man, and every stone that Pyrrha +threw became a woman. Deucalion was their king, +and he taught them to cultivate the land, and many +other useful arts. And after some time had passed +the whole earth was filled with people as before, and +no one would have known that the great Flood had ever +taken place. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap05"></a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P16"></a>13}</span></p> + +<h2> +V. +<br><br> +THE RAPE OF PERSEPHONE. +</h2> + +<p> +The goddess Demeter had a daughter named Persephone, +who lived in the island of Sicily. Her mother +had given her several maidens to be her playfellows, +and she herself often came down from Mount Olympus +to see her daughter. The maidens played and danced +together, or wandered about over the hills and valleys +looking for beautiful flowers, and were as happy as the +days were long. One day whilst they were all scattered +about looking for flowers, it happened that Persephone +strayed away from the others and was quite alone. +Then suddenly the earth opened beside her, and out of +it there came a chariot drawn by fierce coal-black +horses, in which was a man with a pale face and a +black beard and a golden circlet round his hair. He +put out his hand and took hold of the beautiful +Persephone, and drew her into the chariot beside him. +She screamed out to her companions, but it was of no +use, for the man with the pale face and the black +beard held her fast, and the horses ran like lightning +till very soon they had disappeared under the earth +and she could no longer be seen or heard. Her +companions had heard her cries and they ran to look for +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P17"></a>17}</span> +her, but they could not tell what had become of her. +</p> + +<p> +Now when Demeter found that her daughter had +been carried off she was very much distressed, and she +lighted a torch and wandered all over the world trying +to find her. She lit up every cranny and cavern with +her torch, and climbed all the highest mountains, asking +gods and men if they had seen her child, but no trace +of her could she find. +</p> + +<p> +I must tell you that the pale dark man was the god +Pluto, the king of the Lower World. It was so dismal +down there that no woman would consent to be his +wife, so he made up his mind to carry off the beautiful +Persephone by force, and Zeus had given him leave to +do this, but he did not tell Demeter about it. Demeter +wandered about for a whole year, growing every day +sadder and sadder, till at last the sun-god, Helios, +took pity on her. Helios could see everything that +happened on the earth, and he had been looking on +when Pluto ran away with Persephone, so he told +Demeter that her daughter was in the Lower World, +and that the gods knew all about it and allowed it. +Then Demeter was angry with Zeus and the other +gods for having given her so much pain, and she +refused to live with them any longer, but remained on +earth among men. +</p> + +<p> +The gods were sorry for this, for they honoured and +loved Demeter, so after a little while Zeus proposed +that a council of all the gods should be held, and that +they should judge between Demeter and Pluto. A day +was appointed, and they all came together, Demeter +and Pluto among the rest; and it was decided that if +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P18"></a>18}</span> +Persephone had as yet eaten nothing since she left the +earth she should return to her mother, but that +otherwise she should remain in the Lower World. Now +Persephone had been so sad in the Lower World that +during all this time she had neither eaten nor drunk +anything but once. This was one day when, as she was +walking by the side of the river that flows through the +Lower World and came to some pomegranate trees +laden with beautiful red fruit, she plucked a pomegranate +and ate it; and Pluto told this in the assembly +of the gods, hoping that it would make good his claim +to keep her. But the gods decreed that as she had +eaten nothing but a pomegranate in the Lower World +she should not remain there altogether, but only for a +third of the year, and that during the remaining two +thirds she should be allowed to live on the earth. So +it was arranged in this way: as long as the ears of +corn were below the ground, Persephone had to remain +in the Lower World with her husband, but as soon as +the blades appeared above the soil, she too came up +into the sunlight to her mother. +</p> + +<p> +At this time corn was already growing upon the +earth, for Demeter had created it for the use of men, +and she often wore a wreath of wheat-ears round her +head. But when she was wandering over the earth +looking for her daughter, she found that no one +understood the best means of making it grow, and as she +knew that men would be more peaceful and friendly if +they cultivated the ground and surrounded themselves +with beautiful plants, she determined to teach them +how to do so. Demeter loved all men, but most of +all a man named Triptolemus, and she gave him a +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P19"></a>19}</span> +chariot drawn by two winged dragons, and put into his +hand a quantity of corn, which she told him to strew +over the earth. Triptolemus flew through the air in his +chariot, scattering the grains of corn as he went; and +then there fell a gentle rain which made them sink +into the ground, so that they became firmly rooted, +and soon shot forth little blades. The people were +much pleased when the corn grew up and ripened, and +Triptolemus taught them all that he had learnt from +Demeter about the best way of cultivating it and turning +it to good account. Soon there were fields of waving +corn all over the earth, and instead of always going out +hunting, men tilled the ground and waited for the +harvest. When it was ripe, they raised altars of earth +and green grass, and laid the fresh ears upon them us +a thank-offering to the gods for having sent rain and +sunshine to make the corn grow. Demeter especially +was held in great honour, and they prayed to her when +they sowed their crops. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap06"></a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P20"></a>20}</span></p> + +<h2> +VI. +<br><br> +MARPESSA. +</h2> + +<p> +There was once a king of Greece named Evenus, who +had a beautiful daughter called Marpessa. There was +also a brave and noble hero called Idas, and he came +one day to the king and asked him to let him have +Marpessa for his wife. Marpessa would have been +quite willing to agree to this, but the old king was +very selfish, and he said that he would not let his +daughter leave him to marry anyone. So Idas had to +go away with a heavy heart, but the sea-god Poseidon +was his friend, and he gave him a wonderful chariot +in which to carry off the beautiful Marpessa by stealth. +The chariot was drawn by very swift horses, and it had +wings on both sides which flapped as the horses ran, +so that nothing on earth could go faster than this +chariot. +</p> + +<p> +One day when Marpessa went to the well to draw +water, she found Idas waiting there for her in the +winged chariot, and she got up beside him and drove +away. The old king saw them go, and he was very angry +and said that he would fetch back Marpessa and kill +Idas. He had the swiftest team of horses in the whole +country, and he drove them furiously along the track +of the other chariot, but even at their utmost speed +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P21"></a>21}</span> +they could not go fast enough to please him. At last +he came to a river, and then he knew that it was +hopeless to pursue his daughter and Idas any further, and +he stabbed the horses and broke the chariot to pieces, +and then he threw himself into the river and was +drowned. +</p> + +<p> +Idas was far on in front, and he thought there was +no fear now of anyone attempting to interfere between +him and the beautiful Marpessa. But there was a +mighty god named Apollo, who loved Marpessa, and +was not willing that Idas should have her for his wife, +for he wanted to marry her himself. He was very +beautiful in face and in form, and had the appearance of +a youth just reaching the age of manhood. He was +the brother of Artemis the goddess of the woods, and +carried a bow of pure silver, while round his neck there +hung a golden quiver full of arrows, and he could +always hit whatever he aimed at, even if it were many +miles off. He came and seized the horses' bridle, and +said to Idas that he must either give up the maiden or +else fight with him. Idas was very brave and was +always quite ready to fight, and he at once jumped +down from the chariot and prepared to begin the +struggle. But at that moment there fell a thunderbolt +on the ground between them, and they heard the voice +of Zeus calling to them, and saying, 'The maiden shall +decide.' +</p> + +<p> +So Marpessa had to choose between a god and a +hero, and she looked down and thought for a +moment. Then she raised her eyes and held out her +hand to Idas, and said, 'When I am old, you will be old +also, and will honour me and take care of me, but +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P22"></a>22}</span> +Apollo always remains young, and in my old age he +would thrust me away and would take another wife.' So +Marpessa made her choice and preferred to marry +the hero Idas, and Apollo bad to go away without +her. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap07"></a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P23"></a>23}</span></p> + +<h2> +VII. +<br><br> +ARTEMIS +</h2> + +<p> +Artemis was the goddess of the woods. She was the +daughter of Zeus and of the goddess Leto, who had +gone through many troubles before Artemis was born. +For Zeus had married the beautiful Leto secretly, and +when Hera heard of it she was very angry, and drove +her away from Mount Olympus. Leto took shelter on +the earth, but Hera commanded the earth to deny her +rest, and whenever she lay down it began to tremble +under her and quaked horribly. She fled like a +hunted deer from one end of the world to the other, +till after long wanderings she came to the floating +island of Delos over which the earth had no power, +and here at last she could rest. The island was not +fixed to the bottom of the sea, and the waves played +roughly with it and tossed it about, so the sea-god +Poseidon, who was sorry for Leto, caused four granite +pillars to spring up and hold it fast, and ever since +that time it has stood perfectly still. Leto had two +children, a boy and a girl, and Zeus named them Apollo +and Artemis. After the children were born, Hera +became kinder, and allowed Leto to come back to Mount +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P24"></a>24}</span> +Olympus, and desired the earth to give her rest +wherever she wished. The island of Delos was ever +afterwards held in great esteem by the Greeks, and they +came from long distances in beautifully decked ships +to honour the island by offering sacrifices upon it. +</p> + +<p> +Artemis was a glorious goddess, and she chose the +woods for her dominion, and the chase for her occupation. +She delighted in wandering through the forests +with the nymphs who attended her, killing wolves and +wild-boars. But she was kind to the tame animals +that she met, and stroked and petted them. Her +favourite creatures were some beautiful hinds, and she +punished anyone who killed them. Artemis towered a +head above all her nymphs, and she was also easily to +be recognised by her godlike beauty, and by her +golden bow and quiver of golden arrows. In the evening +she often laid aside her weapons and danced in the +moonlight with her maidens; their light footsteps did +not even bend the grass, only the next morning, traces +of them could be seen in the dew. Often too, when +the chase led them past a clear forest lake overshadowed +by sweet-smelling trees, they undressed and bathed in +the pleasant pool, and the nymphs splashed about in +the water and had all kinds of games. Artemis did not +marry, for she said she would neither be the wife of +a god nor of a man, but would always have her home +in the forest among her nymphs. +</p> + +<p> +There was once a hunter named Actaeon, who loved +hunting better than anything else, and who honoured +Artemis, the goddess of the chase, above all other gods +and goddesses. He had fifty splendid hounds who +were very fond of their master, and in the morning +when he came out of his house they used to crowd +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P25"></a>25}</span> +round him barking for joy and licking his hands; he +had given each of them a special name, and he patted +them and talked to them as if they could understand +him. They always went out hunting with him, and +chased the wild animals which he shot with his arrows. +One day Actaeon was out hunting, and it was so hot +that about noon he gave his dogs a rest and let them +go to sleep, whilst he himself strolled about among the +cool bushes looking for a spring where he might quench +his thirst. Presently he heard a splashing of water +and the laughter of maidens' voices, and going a little +nearer, he pushed aside the branch of a tree and beheld +the glorious goddess and her nymphs in the bath. He +could not turn away his eyes, and for a little while +Artemis did not notice him, but when she looked up +and saw the hunter who had so forgotten himself, her +eyes filled with anger at his having dared to watch her. +She raised her beautiful hand, and in a moment Actaeon +was changed into a stag with long light feet and +branching horns, but still able to think like a man. He +shuddered and rushed away to the place where he had +left his dogs; they awoke, but they did not know him, +and gave chase to him. He tried to make them +understand by looking back and calling to them, but no +words would come out of his mouth, only a sound like +the cry of a stag, and at last they overtook him and +tore him to pieces. Thus he was miserably killed by +his own dogs, as a punishment for not having turned +away his eyes when he came upon the severe goddess +at her bath. The dogs wandered for a long time +through the forest looking for their master, pining +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P26"></a>26}</span> +because they could not find him, and refusing to eat. +But there was a skilled artist who took pity on them, +and he made an image of clay so exactly like Actaeon, +that the dogs thought it was their master himself, and +were comforted. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap08"></a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P27"></a>27}</span></p> + +<h2> +VIII. +<br><br> +THE GIANTS OTUS AND EPHIALTES. +</h2> + +<p> +There was once a woman who had so great a love for +the sea that she was never tired of looking at it. One +day, as she was sitting on the shore, the god Poseidon +came driving over the waves in his chariot, for the sea +was subject to him. When he saw the beautiful woman +who was gazing at it so tenderly, a great love for her +sprang up in his heart, and he took her to be his wife. +Sometime afterwards she had two children, called Otus +and Ephialtes, and by the time they were a year old +they were two yards in height and a yard in width. +Every year the children grew two yards in height and a +yard in width, so that when they were nine years old +they were so big and strong that they could tear up the +largest oak trees and break them in two across their +knees. But they were ignorant and foolish, and instead +of honouring the gods, they made a silly plan to get up +to Mount Olympus, where the gods lived, and overturn +everything that they had arranged. They settled that +Hera, the queen of the gods, should be the wife of Otus, +and that Artemis, the goddess of the woods, should be +the wife of Ephialtes, and that the other gods should be +loaded with chains and imprisoned in dark caves; and +they said they would change everything on the earth, +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P28"></a>28}</span> +and throw all the mountains into the sea till it was +choked up, and then make rivers flow where there had +been land before. +</p> + +<p> +The gods could hear this foolish talk, for the giants' +voices were as loud as the most tremendous gale, and +Ares, the god of war, armed himself and went out to +fight them. But the giants were stronger than he, and +they fastened him to the ground with two iron rings +round his body, attached to chains which they held in +their hands and pulled whenever he tried to get up, so +that he could not move without great pain. They gave +him nothing to eat or drink, and at mid-day the sun +beat down upon his face and scorched him with its heat. +None of the gods dared to try and free Ares by force, so +Zeus commanded Hermes, the Messenger, to get him +away by stealth. Hermes was the most cunning of all +the gods, and at night, when the giants were asleep, he +went and drew Ares out of the iron rings so cautiously +that they made no noise, and the giants did not awake. +The two gods then ran away, and the next morning +the giants saw that their rings were empty, which +made them very angry. +</p> + +<p> +They went on for some time in their old way, boasting +of all the wonderful things they were going to do, +till one day the goddess Artemis changed herself into +a little white doe. The giants were lying in the forest +side by side, with their great hunting spears in their +hands, when the little doe came running out of the +wood and passed right between them. They both +raised their spears at the same moment and threw them +at her, but she was so swift that they did not hit +her,—instead of that each giant was stabbed by his brother's +spear, and they both bled to death. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap09"></a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P29"></a>29}</span></p> + +<h2> +IX. +<br><br> +ENDYMION. +</h2> + +<p> +As long as Zeus was with the gods on Mount Olympus, +Hera, the queen of the gods, was his wife, but from +time to time he came to live on the earth for a little +while, and then he married a noble and beautiful +woman who was his wife whilst he remained among +men. +</p> + +<p> +Once Zeus married a very beautiful princess whom +he loved dearly, and they had a little boy named +Endymion. When Endymion had grown up to be a +young man, his father told him that he might wish for +whatever he liked and he would grant it. Endymion +might have chosen to become a mighty king, but he +had no desire for anything of the sort. Instead of that, +his wish was that he might go to sleep and never wake +again, but always have pleasant dreams. And Zeus +granted him what he asked. There was a lonely valley +which no one ever came near. Soft green grass grew there, +and sweet-smelling flowers, and there were shady trees, +with birds singing and making their nests among the +branches, and a brook flowing through it that chattered +pleasantly night and day. Endymion lay down under +a tree beside the brook and went to sleep, and he never +grew any older, but slept on for ever, dreaming happily, +immortal like the gods. +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P30"></a>30}</span> +</p> + +<p> +Now there was a mild, gentle goddess, the goddess +of the moon, whose name was Selene. As she passed +along the heaven with the little stars by her side, she +used to look down upon Endymion lying asleep, and +she gazed at the beautiful son of Zeus until she felt a +deep love for him spring up in her heart, so that he was +continually in her thoughts. She shed her softest and +mildest rays upon him, and then Endymion dreamt +more happily than ever. It was like no other love, for +she could neither speak to him nor caress him, she +could only look at him from a distance; but she has +always remained true to him, and has never loved +another as she loved the sleeping Endymion. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap10"></a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P31"></a>31}</span></p> + +<h2> +X. +<br><br> +IO +</h2> + +<p> +There was once a princess named Io, whose father was +king of the town of Argos, in Greece. Zeus loved Io +because she was fair and gentle, and he often came down +to earth in order to be with her. But Hera was angry +with Zeus for going away from her, and one day when +he went to see the beautiful Io, she followed him. +Then Zeus changed Io into a white cow, and pretended +that he had only come to look at the cow. But Hera +knew it was Io, and she begged him so earnestly to +make her a present of the cow that he could not refuse. +Hera gave the white cow into the charge of the +watchman Argus, who had a hundred eyes that slept by +turns so that half of them were always on the watch. +He took her to a sacred grove and tied her to an olive +tree, and then he climbed a little hill that was close +by, and sat there day and night watching her. Io ate +grass and flowers when she was hungry, but she was +very sad and lowed mournfully, for she longed to see +her father and her playfellows again. +</p> + +<p> +After some time Zeus commanded the crafty god +Hermes to steal away the cow, and Hermes went into +the wood and began to play upon the shepherd's flute. +Argus called him to his side for the playing pleased +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P32"></a>32}</span> +him well, so Hermes came and played all his most +beautiful tunes, whilst Argus stretched himself out on +the grass and enjoyed himself more than he had ever +done in his life before. Then all the hundred eyes fell +asleep at once, and Hermes took a sharp sickle and cut +off his head. After that he loosed the cow, and was +preparing to take her home to her father, but Hera, +who had seen what he had done, was very angry, +and she came down and commanded him to let go the +cow. As Hera was mightier than he, Hermes was +obliged to obey, and then Hera made a great insect as +large as a bat, which buzzed horribly and tormented Io. +She ran away in order to try and escape from it, but it +pursued her all over the country, and even though she +swam across a wide sea and went on through the +country on the further side, still the insect kept flying +round and round her and gave her no peace. For a +whole year she fled from it, till at last when she had +reached the land of Egypt in Africa she was so tired +that she could go no further. Hera was just then +asleep, and Zeus was able to come quickly down and +kill the cruel gad-fly; then he stroked the back of +the cow with his hand and she received back her +human form, but she was pale and wasted, and not so +beautiful as before. After this she remained in Egypt +where the people of the country were good to her, but +Hera was even more unkind than before, and when +after a time Io had a little son, she caused the child to +be stolen from her. Then Io was again in great +distress, and she set out to seek for her child. She +journeyed from morning to night without stopping, +and she had gone through the whole country without +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P33"></a>33}</span> +being able to find it and was beginning to be terribly +afraid that it must have perished, when someone +told her that Hera had given it to a queen in the +land of Syria to take care of. It was a long way off, +and the journey was full of danger on account of robbers +and wild beasts, but Io set off at once for the land +of Syria, and when she got there, the queen gave back +the child to her. +</p> + +<p> +After this, Hera left off persecuting Io, and the +King of Egypt asked her to be his wife and made her +the queen. But she could never forget her past +troubles, and as often as she saw a white cow, she +thought of how she too had once been a cow, and had +eaten grass and flowers. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap11"></a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P34"></a>34}</span></p> + +<h2> +XI. +<br><br> +DANAUS AND AEGYPTUS. +</h2> + +<p> +There were once two kings, called Danaus and Aegyptus, +who were brothers, and whose dominions lay side by +side. They lived in Africa, and were descended from +Io, who had now been dead a long time. Aegyptus +had fifty sons, and Danaus had fifty daughters. But +the sons of Aegyptus were wicked men, and they tried +to kill their uncle; so Danaus built a great ship with +fifty oars, and when it was ready, he and his fifty +daughters got into it and sailed away; each daughter +took an oar, and Danaus steered. They sailed far +away over the sea till they came to the country of +Argos in Greece, where the father of Io had been king. +The Argives (as the people of Argos were called) +wondered when they saw the ship with the old man +and the fifty maidens in it, but they received them +kindly and gave them a large piece of land to live upon, +and also a herd of fine cattle. Danaus tilled the ground, +and his daughters took care of the cattle. Danaus was +very wise, and he gave the Argives much good counsel, +till at last they wished he could be their king. But +they had a king already, who though he was not nearly +so wise as Danaus, had a great many soldiers to fight +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P35"></a>35}</span> +for him, and he was by no means willing to give up +the kingdom. This led to many disputes among the +people, and a civil war had nearly broken out, when it +happened that the king, and Danaus, and many of the +Argives, were assembled one day in a field where there +were a number of sheep and cattle feeding, and all at +once a great wolf rushed out of the forest, who, passing +by the sheep and cows, ran straight at the great bull +that belonged to the flock and tore him to pieces. +The Argives felt sure that this must be a sign from +heaven, for never before had a wolf been able to kill a +strong bull. And there was a soothsayer among them +who declared that as the bull had been overcome by the +wolf, so would the king be overcome by Danaus and +deprived of his kingdom. When the king heard that, +he was afraid that he might lose his life as well as his +dominions, and he fled hastily out of the country. +</p> + +<p> +So Danaus became king, and lived in the beautiful +palace with his daughters. His brother's sons heard +that he was king of Argos, and that his daughters were +beautiful maidens, and they thought they would like to +be reconciled to their uncle and to have their cousins for +their wives. So they built a ship like the one that +Danaus had sailed away in, and came to Argos, and +when they arrived there, they said to their uncle that +they desired to be at peace with him, and begged him to +give them his daughters in marriage. Danaus agreed to +do so, and he called his daughters together and allotted +one of them to each brother. A few days afterwards +the wedding was celebrated with the greatest +magnificence, and many sacrifices were offered to the gods. +But Danaus took his daughters aside and gave to each +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P36"></a>36}</span> +one a shining dagger, telling her to hide it in her dress +and kill her husband with it when he was asleep. +That night the fifty princes slept in fifty chambers and +their wives with them, and about midnight each wife +took out her dagger and stabbed her husband with it. +The only one who did not do so was Hypermnestra, the +most beautiful of all, who was married to one of the +brothers named Lynceus. He was not wicked like the +rest, but noble and brave, and Hypermnestra awoke him +and said, 'Thy brothers have been killed by their wives, +prepare to flee for thy life.' She gave him an unlighted +torch, and told him, when he reached the mountain near +the city, to light it and hold it up in the air, so that she +might know that he had not been seized by the king's +soldiers, but had been able to make his escape. She +led him out of the palace and pointed out to him the +direction in which he was to go; then she ascended to +the roof, which, like all the roofs of the Greek houses, +was not sloping like ours, but flat, so that people could +walk upon it. Hypermnestra remained there for a +long time with her eyes fixed on the mountain before +any light appeared, but at last she saw a little flame +which came from the torch, and then she knew that +Lynceus was safe. Then she went down again with a +brave heart, though she had good reason to fear that +her father would be very angry. +</p> + +<p> +The next morning, Hypermnestra's sisters came to +Danaus, each holding in her hand the bloody head of +her husband which she had seized by the hair, and +Danaus praised them for what they had done; but +when he asked Hypermnestra why she had not also +brought him a bloody head, she said, 'I have helped +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P37"></a>37}</span> +Lynceus to escape.' Now Hypermnestra was the king's +favourite daughter, but he was so angry with her for +having disobeyed him, that he struck her and pushed +her away from him, and said that she should be tried +publicly, and shut up meanwhile in a dark underground +dungeon, as if she had been guilty of some +crime. He called together all the old wise men in +the land to be her judges, and they came and sat in +the market-place to pass sentence. Danaus declared +that whatever they decided on should be certainly +carried out, and when the judges asked him if he +would indeed abide by what they said, he swore that +even if they condemned Hypermnestra to death, the +sentence should be executed. The beautiful +Hypermnestra was led into the market-place by the king's +spearmen, and the judges questioned her. Then they +consulted together and found that they were all agreed, +and they said, 'What Hypermnestra deserves is that +she be the king's best-beloved daughter, and that +Lynceus come back and be the king's son-in-law.' That +did not please Danaus, for he wished to have +Hypermnestra punished, but because of his oath, he +was obliged to let her go free and live in the palace as +before. He also made a sacred treaty with Lynceus, +and he came back to be the husband of Hypermnestra. +As long as Danaus lived, he was next to him in power +and wealth, and after the death of his father-in-law, he +succeeded him as king of Argos. +</p> + +<p> +The other daughters of Danaus, who had killed their +husbands, were held in greater esteem by their father, +but the gods caused them to die early, and when they +came into the Lower World, they inflicted on them a +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P38"></a>38}</span> +never-ending punishment. There was a stream of +rushing water, close to which a great vessel had been +placed, and each of the Danaïdes, or daughters of +Danaus, was given a bucket and commanded to fill the +vessel with water from the stream, and was told that +she was never to stop pouring in the water till the +vessel was quite full. The Danaïdes did as they were +required, but the vessel was full of holes, so that as fast +as they tried to fill it, the water ran back again into the +stream, and though they did their utmost by pouring +it in as fast as possible, it was of no use,—they were +never able to accomplish their task, and were obliged to +go toiling on at it in vain for ever. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap12"></a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P39"></a>39}</span></p> + +<h2> +XII. +<br><br> +PHAËTHON. +</h2> + +<p> +Helios was the sun-god, and he used to drive along +the sky in his shining chariot drawn by four milk-white +horses, who bathed themselves every evening in the +great stream Oceanus that flows right round the world. +As he looked down from the sky, he saw a beautiful +woman whom he loved and longed to have for his wife, +so he came down to the earth and was married to her, +and they had a son named Phaëthon. When Phaëthon +was a little boy, his mother used to point up to the sky +where his father was, and teach him to throw up kisses +to him. As he grew up to be a young man he was +distinguished from all others by his brave spirit and +remarkable beauty, but though it was evident that he +was the son of a god, there were many people who, +because they were jealous of him, tried to vex him by +saying that this was not really the case. This made +him very anxious to show that Helios was in truth his +father, and he resolved to find some means of proving +it beyond a doubt. So he set out for the stream +Oceanus, and when Helios brought his horses there in +the evening he was rejoiced to find his son waiting for +him, and he kissed him many times. Then he asked +him if he had any special reason for taking such a long +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P40"></a>40}</span> +journey in order to see him, and Phaëthon said it was +because he had something to ask him, which he longed +for more than anything else in the world. Helios +promised to grant his wish, never suspecting what it +was, and to please Phaëthon, he even sealed the +promise by his oath as a god that he would give him +whatever he should ask. The gods swore by the river +Styx which flowed through the Lower World, and anyone +who ventured to break that oath had to suffer a +severe punishment,—for nine years he had to lie on the +ground as if he were dead, and for nine years afterwards +he was shut out from the company of the other +gods. So when Helios had confirmed his promise by +this solemn oath, Phaëthon was full of joy, and he said +that his wish was that on the following day he might +be allowed to take his father's place in driving the +chariot of the sun. Helios was terrified at his audacity, +and he told him that this was what no mortal could do +and that he must give up all thought of such a thing. +But Phaëthon was light-hearted, and he delighted in +danger and thought he could accomplish anything he +pleased, however hard it might be. He thought too, that +if he had once driven the chariot of the sun and could +tell people of all he had seen whilst he was doing this, +everyone would be ready to acknowledge that he was +indeed the son of Helios. So he would not give up his +wish, and as Helios had sworn by the Styx, he was +obliged to grant it, though he felt sure that it would be +the death of the boy. The next morning the fiery +horses were harnessed as usual, and Phaëthon clambered +up into the shining chariot, more proud and happy than +he had ever been in his life. The horses flew along +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P41"></a>41}</span> +the usual path, and Phaëthon, looking down, could see +the trees and houses and rivers on the earth. As long +as he was near the earth he was very happy, but when +they had got higher than eagles can fly, his head began +to swim, and the horses soon found out that it was not +Helios who was guiding them with his godlike wisdom, +and they refused to obey the rein and keep in the right +path, but flew up and down just as they pleased. First +they went too near the heaven, and then they flew +down lower and came too near the earth; and the flowers +withered and the streams dried up, and it became so +hot that the mountains began to melt. As they passed +over Africa they came so near to the earth that all the +people of the land were burnt black by the heat of the +sun, and the black colour continued in their children +and grandchildren, so that they were given the name +of Moors, or black people. The goddess Gaea, who was +queen of the earth, saw the trees and flowers and +springs perishing miserably from the fierce blaze of the +sun, and she begged Zeus not to let the earth be +destroyed. Then Zeus took a thunderbolt and hurled +it at Phaëthon, who fell dead from the chariot. Helios +saw it with deep sorrow. He rushed forward and seized +the reins and guided the chariot back into the right +path, but for many days after this the heaven was +covered with black clouds, and the sun-god would not +let his face be seen. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap13"></a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P42"></a>42}</span></p> + +<h2> +XIII. +<br><br> +SALMONEUS AND SISYPHUS. +</h2> + +<p> +There was a country of Greece called Elis, and there +was once a king of Elis named Salmoneus, whom the +gods favoured in all manner of ways. If he went +to war with another king he was sure to gain the +victory. His fields brought forth abundant harvests, +and his flocks prospered and increased. Never was +there a hailstorm or any other disaster in his country. +But Salmoneus was presumptuous and thought he +could get everything he wished by his own cleverness, +and at last he came to despise the gods and to consider +himself on equal terms with them. He commanded +the people to call him Zeus and to offer sacrifices to +him, and he had a chariot drawn by fiery horses, with +dried cows' hides and copper kettles hanging from it, +which clashed and rumbled together and made a +tremendous noise as he drove along, and then the +people had to shout, 'Zeus is thundering!' He had +also burning torches in the chariot which he threw +right and left among the people, and then they had to +shout, 'Zeus is lightning!' And whoever was hit by +the torches was immediately killed by the king's +spearmen, that it might seem as if he had been struck dead +by his lightning. The gods let Salmoneus go on for +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P43"></a>43}</span> +some time in this foolish way, but at last when he was +one day driving through the streets with his thunder +and lightning, a real thunderbolt came down from +heaven which struck the king and killed him in a +moment. Then the people fell to the earth in fear, +and one of them said in a half-whisper, 'Zeus has +indeed thundered!' +</p> + +<p> +Salmoneus had a brother named Sisyphus, who was +king of the city of Corinth, and surpassed all other +men in deceit and craftiness. There was a cunning +robber, not far from Corinth, who was very clever in +stealing cattle, and when he had carried off a herd he +took care to make it impossible for it to be recognised +again. He painted over any white spots on the bodies +or foreheads of the animals, and had various ways of +obliterating all other marks by which they could be +identified. Sisyphus had a beautiful herd on which +the robber had for some time cast envious eyes, and +one dark night he stole them away and painted over +all the marks that distinguished them from any other +animals. The next day Sisyphus went to the robber's +dwelling and told him to give up his cattle, but the +robber said he had not got them, and that Sisyphus +might see for himself whether they were there or not. +Then the king said that he had marked each of his +cattle with a little notch on the fore foot, and that all +the animals he could find marked in that way would be +his. The robber had never thought of looking out for +such a mark as this, and he was thus outwitted by the +king and obliged to give back the beautiful herd. +</p> + +<p> +No one could cheat Sisyphus, but he cheated and +robbed many people, and was wicked and treacherous. +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P44"></a>44}</span> +He lay in wait for those who happened to be passing +through his country and spoiled them of their goods, +and then he killed them by crushing them beneath a +huge stone. He even tried to cheat the gods, for when he +died and came into the Lower World, he begged Pluto +to give him leave to go back to the Upper World again +for one day in order to divide his kingdom between his +sons, and as he swore by the most sacred oaths that he +would return at the end of that time, Pluto granted his +request; but Sisyphus did not return until a messenger +was sent to fetch him from the earth for the second time. +And because he had been so wicked and deceitful both +in life and in death, the gods laid upon him a heavy +punishment, to which there was no end. He was told +to roll a fearfully heavy stone up the side of a mountain, +until he had brought it to the top and let it fall down +the further side. But it was an enchanted stone, and +every time that, with the greatest effort, Sisyphus +had at last got it almost to the top of the mountain, it +suddenly rolled back with a crash into the depths from +which he had brought it, so that he had to begin his +work all over again; and thus he never could succeed +in accomplishing his task, and his toil was never at an +end. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap14"></a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P45"></a>45}</span></p> + +<h2> +XIV. +<br><br> +BELLEROPHON. +</h2> + +<p> +In the city of Corinth there were two young brothers, +the sons of Glaucus, the son of Sisyphus, one of +whom was called Bellerophon, and was gifted by the +gods with great strength and beauty. But one day, +when he was out hunting with his brother, he threw +his spear at a hind, and the spear missed its aim and +accidentally hit his brother, who died of the wound. +Bellerophon was very much grieved, and wished he +could have been killed himself rather than have done +this; but nevertheless he had to leave his father's house +and the city of Corinth, for everyone who killed +another by accident was banished. He set out, not +knowing who would receive him, but he determined +first of all to seek for someone who would purge him +from the stain of blood; for the Greeks held that +whoever had killed another, even though unintentionally, +was defiled, and needed to be purified by means of +sacrifices and baths. It was not everyone who +understood how to do this, but Bellerophon heard that King +Proetus was learned in these matters, and he went to +him and begged him to purify him. Proetus did what +was necessary, and as the young hero pleased him, he +begged him to stay with him and be his guest, and +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P46"></a>46}</span> +treated him as his own son. But the queen was so +much struck with the beauty of Bellerophon that she +longed to have him for her husband, and she had a +secret conversation with him, and proposed that they +should both flee out of the country and be married. +But Bellerophon could not have acted so ungratefully +towards his kind host if the queen had been the most +beautiful woman in the world, and he told her plainly that +he would not do as she wished. Then all her fondness +was turned into hatred and a fierce desire to kill him, +and she went to her husband and said that Bellerophon +had begged her to go away with him and be his wife, +and that when she had refused, he had got angry and +had said he should put the king to death. The king +believed his wife and was exceedingly angry, but as +Bellerophon was his guest, he would not himself lay hands +on him. He thought of another way of taking his life, +and concealing his resentment, asked Bellerophon if +he would take a message from him to his father-in-law +Iobates, who was king of Lycia. It was a long distance +by sea as well as by land to the country of Lycia, +but Bellerophon was glad to do anything to please +Proetus, and he at once promised to go. Proetus took +a wooden tablet, and made signs upon it to signify that +his father-in-law was to put the messenger to death, +and then he covered the tablet with another, and tied a +string round it. This was the way in which all letters +were sent at that time, for paper and ink were not yet +invented. +</p> + +<p> +Bellerophon took the letter and set out, suspecting +nothing. He travelled for some time till he came to +the sea, where he found a ship about to sail to the +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P47"></a>47}</span> +opposite coast, so he got into it, and after a few days' +journey, arrived at the country of King Iobates +who received him in a very friendly manner. It was +not then the custom to ask a guest his name and his +business as soon as he arrived, and for nine days +Iobates entertained Bellerophon without knowing who +he was, and every day he sacrificed a bull, and feasted +with his guest. The Greeks used to cut off the thigh-bones +of the animals they sacrificed, for the gods; they +covered these bones with skin and placed them in the +fire to make a pleasant odour for them, and then they +consumed the rest of the animal themselves. On the +tenth day, King Iobates asked his guest what his name +was and whether he had brought any message, and +Bellerophon told his name and delivered the letter +which Proetus had sent. But when the king had made +out the meaning of the signs, he was greatly troubled, +for he had become very fond of the young hero, and +the idea of killing him had been far from his thoughts. +Still, as his son-in-law urged him to do this, he supposed +that Bellerophon must have committed some great +crime, and he determined to carry out the wishes of +Proetus. He might have murdered Bellerophon in his +sleep, but he would not do that,—he willed rather that +he should die like a hero, fighting for his life. There +was at that time in the land of Lycia a horrible monster +called the Chimaera, whose forepart was like a lion, her +back like a dragon, and in the middle she was a goat. +At night the Chimaera remained on her mountain, +but in the daytime she came down and laid waste the +cornfields and devoured men and cattle, causing great +distress all over the country. The king asked Bellerophon +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P48"></a>48}</span> +whether he had courage enough to encounter +the monster, and Bellerophon said yes, for he longed to +be a real hero whose exploits men relate in song, and +he was ready to venture upon any errand however +dangerous it might be. So he armed himself with +spear and sword, and set out in search of the Chimaera. +The gods were pleased with him for his courage, +but they knew that he must perish in the fight if they +did not help him. He had not gone far when there +came down from heaven a beautiful horse with wings +like a bird, which flew round and round him. This +horse was called Pegasus, and belonged to the gods. +Bellerophon was delighted with the beautiful animal, +and tried to attract him by whistling and coaxing. At +last he persuaded him to come near enough to be +stroked, and after that the hero soon succeeded in +placing himself on his back, and they flew away together +through the air. Bellerophon was the first man who +had ever ridden upon such a horse. He would have +found Pegasus a perfect steed if he had understood +what was said to him, but instead of doing as he wished, +he always went the wrong way. So he dismounted and +continued his journey on foot, and Pegasus flew round +him in beautiful curves, and was his travelling +companion. By-and-by he met an old man who was a +soothsayer, and he asked the hero how he came to +possess such a beautiful animal. Bellerophon told him +all about it, and added that he wished he knew how to +make the horse obedient to his will, and then the +soothsayer said that he would soon come to a place +dedicated to the goddess Athene, and that if anyone +who was in need of counsel chose to sleep in the temple, +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P49"></a>49}</span> +the goddess would often help him by a dream. +Bellerophon resolved to try this, and as the stars were +beginning to shine, he reached the temple of Athene; +and he went in and stretched himself on the floor with +his head resting on the step of the altar for a pillow, +while the horse slept outside the door. When it was +nearly morning, the goddess Athene appeared to him in +a dream and told him that she loved all brave heroes, +and was glad to help him. She showed him a golden +ribbon, and said that if he put it into the mouth of +the horse and held the two ends in his hand, it would +be a means of communication between them. She +placed the golden ribbon in his hand, and he awoke, +still holding it. It was the first bridle, and had been +invented by the goddess Athene. He went out at +once, put the ribbon into the mouth of the horse, and +swung himself on to his back. Then they flew away, +and the steed obeyed the rein, and went just where +the hero wished. Bellerophon was very much pleased +at this, and he offered up prayers and thanks to +Athene for the help she had given him. +</p> + +<p> +After this Bellerophon continued his journey through +the air, and when it was evening he came to a mountain +by the sea from which he saw a flame of fire +ascending, and this showed him where the Chimaera was. +He flew towards the place on the back of Pegasus, +and perceived the horrible form of the monster. +Pegasus hovered over her, and Bellerophon shot an arrow +which wounded her in the neck and gave her great +pain; this made her furious, and she stood up on her +hind feet and puffed out her fiery breath into the air, +hoping to scorch Bellerophon to death. But he was so +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P50"></a>50}</span> +high up that he was not hurt by it, and he shot her in +the back with another arrow, so that she rolled about +in pain, howling horribly, and then he sent a third +arrow into her side. She had now only strength +enough to moan, and in a little while she was dead. +Then Bellerophon could come down to the mountain +which was no longer unsafe for people to set foot upon; +he slept there that night, and in the morning he cut +off the head of the Chimaera, and set out upon his way +home again. +</p> + +<p> +When Bellerophon stood before Iobates with the +head of the Chimaera in his hand, the king was very +much astonished, for he had thought there was not a +chance that he would escape being killed by her. But +he was still desirous of carrying out the wishes of +Proetus, and he therefore sent the hero to fight against +a barbarous people on the outskirts of his kingdom, +who lived by plunder and robbery. No one who had +hitherto been sent against them had ever returned +alive, but the gods helped Bellerophon, and he slew a +great many of the robbers and drove away the rest. +</p> + +<p> +A third time the king sent him away, and now it +was to fight against a still stronger people. But after +a few days had passed, there came messengers to tell +him that the hero had put the enemy to flight and +was about to return. Then the king chose out the +strongest Lycian youths, and set them in ambush on +the road leading to the city. In the evening, however, +Bellerophon entered the palace unhurt. The king +thought he must have come by another road, and he +asked him if he had met nothing on the way. +Bellerophon answered, 'Near the city there were some +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P51"></a>51}</span> +cowardly knaves lying in ambush, whom I slew.' Then +the king knew that Bellerophon must be under the +protection of the gods, and he laid aside all thoughts +of doing him any injury, and told him that on account +of the request of Proetus he had sent him on these +expeditions in order that he might meet his death, but +that from henceforth he would be his friend. He gave +him the most beautiful of all his daughters for his +wife, and begged him to stay with him and take part +in the government of the country. The wedding soon +took place, and from that time Bellerophon had a kingly +staff like Iobates, and sat beside him on the throne to +give judgment in all cases of difficulty. The Lycians +gave him some of their land for his own, of which one +part consisted of corn-fields, another part was a wine +country, and the third was planted with beautiful fruit +trees. The winged horse Pegasus was well taken care of, +and Bellerophon ever treasured him as one of his dearest +friends. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap15"></a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P52"></a>52}</span></p> + +<h2> +XV. +<br><br> +DAEDALUS AND ICARUS. +</h2> + +<p> +There was once a king of Crete called Minos, who had +a great many ships and soldiers; and there was also a +clever artist named Daedalus, who had built a wonderful +house for Minos with such an immense number of +rooms in it that no one who entered it could ever find +his way out again. There lived a monster in the house, +and every year prisoners were taken to it, who wandered +about trying in vain to find their way out again, until +at last the monster came and devoured them. This +wonderful house was called the Labyrinth.[<a id="chap15fn1text"></a><a href="#chap15fn1">1</a>] The king +wanted Daedalus to spend his time and skill in inventing +other wonderful things for him, and when he wished +to leave the island he refused to let him go, and placed +soldiers all along the shore to prevent him from getting +to any ship. Then Daedalus said to himself, 'My art +has hitherto served the king,—it shall now serve me.' So +he went into his workshop, and made a pair of large +wings for himself and a pair of small ones for his +little son Icarus, and every night when it was dark they +fastened their wings on to their shoulders with wax, and +practised flying like the birds; and they soon became +quite accustomed to using them. When they had +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P53"></a>53}</span> +learnt to fly properly, they fastened on their wings early +one morning and set off to fly to the island of Sicily, +although that is a good hundred miles from the island +of Crete. On the shore stood the soldiers whom the +king had placed there to prevent them from leaving, +but they could not catch them, and the two flew away +together over the wide sea. At first Icarus was timid, +but when a good stretch of the way lay behind them +he became bolder, and began to think that flying was +very pleasant work. At mid-day, however, the sun +came out very hot, and Daedalus, who was flying on in +front to show the way, called out to his child to tell +him to beware of the sun and not go too near it. But +Icarus thought, 'The sun looks so kind, I am sure he +will do me no harm.' And he flew higher and higher, +for Daedalus was on in front and did not see him, until +the wax with which his wings were fastened began to +melt. He felt the strokes becoming more feeble, and +called to his father for help, but though Daedalus +turned quickly round it was too late,—the boy could +no longer support himself in the air, and he fell into +the sea before his father's eyes. All the great skill of +Daedalus was of no avail now, for Icarus was killed by +the great fall, and he could do nothing to save him, +but was obliged to fly on to the end of his journey all +alone. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a id="chap15fn1"></a> +[<a href="#chap15fn1text">1</a>] For more about the Labyrinth, see <a href="#P186">p. 186</a>. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap16"></a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P54"></a>54}</span></p> + +<h2> +XVI. +<br><br> +EUROPA AND CADMUS. +</h2> + +<p> +In the land of Phenicia which lies in Asia, there was +once a king who had a son named Cadmus and a +daughter named Europa, and he was both fond and +proud of his children, for Cadmus was brave, and Europa +was beautiful. One day Europa was by the sea in +a meadow full of lovely flowers, when there came a +stately bull, who walked round and round her. It was +Zeus, who had changed himself into a bull in order to +carry off the beautiful maiden to be his wife. At first +Europa was afraid of the bull, but he had such nice +soft eyes that she could not help being kind to him. +She stroked him and made friends with him, and then +she gathered some flowers and twined them into a +wreath, and when the bull stretched himself on the +ground, she climbed on to his back and placed the beautiful +wreath round his horns. But he instantly sprang up, +and ran away with her so fast that she did not venture +to jump off, but could only hold on to his horns and +scream with all her might. The people in the field +heard her cries, and soon they saw the bull run into +the sea with her and swim away. They went and told +the old king, and he at once sent off a ship in pursuit, +but though it sailed about in all directions, it came +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P55"></a>55}</span> +back in the evening without having been able to find +any trace of Europa. The old king was very much +troubled and would neither eat nor drink, and on the +third day he called his son Cadmus and commanded +him to set out in search of his sister and not to turn +back until he had found her. +</p> + +<p> +Cadmus chose companions for his journey, and they +launched a ship and sailed away. They passed through +many lands inquiring for the beautiful Europa and the +bull, but nobody had seen them. At last they came +into the land of Greece, and when Cadmus again +inquired for his sister, the people told him that he had +better go to Delphi and ask the priestess of Apollo +about her. The city of Delphi was on Mount Parnassus, +the centre of the earth, and there was a temple of +Apollo there which was an Oracle or prophetic temple. +If anyone wished to know something past or future +which he could not find out in any other way, he went +to the temple of Apollo and asked the priestess, who +was called the Pythia, about it. There was a narrow +opening in the floor of the temple which had not been +made by man, and which went deep down into the +earth. A wonderful odour ascended from the crevice, +and a golden three-legged stool, called a Tripod, was +placed over the opening. When anyone came to ask a +question, the Pythia seated herself upon the Tripod and +became inspired by the odour, and the god Apollo +directed what she should say in answer, so that her +predictions were divine utterances. These predictions +were called Oracles. +</p> + +<p> +Cadmus accordingly went to Delphi, and took with +him a beautiful golden cup as a present for the god, that +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P56"></a>56}</span> +he might answer him graciously. There were many +costly vessels of gold and silver and other similar +things in the temple, which had been given in this way +as presents. Cadmus asked the Pythia where Europa +had gone, and she answered that it was Zeus who in +the form of the bull had carried her away and had +hidden her from all men, and that Cadmus was no longer +to seek for her, but to follow the white cow and to +found a city in the place where she should lie down. +She also told him that his father was dead and that a +stranger had taken possession of his kingdom. +</p> + +<p> +Cadmus did not understand which was the cow he +was to follow, but he left the temple, and when he came +outside he saw a spotless white cow who looked at him +as if she had been waiting for him. She started off +along the road, and he followed her. They walked on +all day and all night, and in the morning they found +themselves on a beautiful hill with a fertile country all +round, and there the cow lay down. Cadmus desired +to sacrifice the cow to the gods, and he sent one of his +companions to some bushy ground near at hand where +he heard a spring bubbling, to draw some water for the +sacrifice. But the companion did not come back, so +Cadmus sent another, but he did not come back either. +Then he went himself, and found a hideous dragon +keeping watch by the spring, who had devoured his two +companions. The dragon started up with the intention +of devouring him also, but Cadmus drew a sharp sword, +and thrust it into the neck of the monster with such +force that a great stream of blood gushed out and he +died. Cadmus was still standing looking at the dragon +when the goddess Athene appeared to him and told +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P57"></a>57}</span> +him that he must take out the dragon's teeth and sow +them in the ground, and that from this strange seed +there would spring warriors who would help him to +build a city and would be his subjects. Then the +goddess disappeared, and Cadmus took out the teeth, of +which there were a great many, and put them into his +helmet; and as he turned away from the spring, he saw +a plough standing in the field with two bulls yoked to +it. Cadmus drove the plough up and down, and dropped +the teeth one by one into the furrows which it had +made. For a short time they remained just where he +had placed them, but presently they began to disturb +the soil by their movements and to rise above it by +degrees. First there appeared a row of brazen helmets, +and then a row of bearded faces underneath the helmets, +and then followed glittering coats of mail, and when +the warriors got their arms free, they were able to help +themselves completely out, and brushed off the dust +that was clinging to them. They were clothed in brass +from head to foot, and each held in his right hand a +spear, and in his left a shield. Cadmus was afraid of +the armed band, and thought of a plan for making them +quarrel with one another. He took up a number of +little stones and threw them at the newly-born warriors +from behind a bush, and as they could not see where +the stones came from, each of them thought that his +neighbour had struck him, and hit him back again, so +that there was soon a fierce battle raging among them, +and man after man was killed. When there were only +five left, Cadmus stepped forward and proclaimed peace, +and said, 'The gods have given you to me as my +subjects; let us build a city.' They agreed to do as +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P58"></a>58}</span> +he said, and built a city on the hill which they called +the Cadmea, after Cadmus their king, and by degrees +many people came to settle in it. The five warriors +who had sprung from the dragon's teeth were called +Sparti or Sown Men, and they were the next in power +to the king. The gods loved Cadmus, and they gave him +a beautiful wife called Harmonia, who was the daughter +of Ares, the god of war, and of Aphrodite, the goddess +of beauty. All the gods gave costly wedding gifts, and +when the marriage was celebrated in the Cadmea, the +guests, both gods and men, feasted together. +</p> + +<p> +Zeus had carried Europa across the Mediterranean +Sea to the land which lies opposite to Asia, and all the +country on this side of the Mediterranean Sea has ever +since that time been called Europe. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap17"></a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P59"></a>59}</span></p> + +<h2> +XVII. +<br><br> +THE BUILDING OF THEBES. +</h2> + +<p> +After the death of Cadmus many more people came +to live in the Cadmea, and when there was no more +room on the hill, they established themselves in the +plain round it and built more and more houses, till +there came to be a great city to which they gave the +name of Thebes. The Cadmea then became the castle +or citadel of Thebes; the king's palace was inside it, +and it was fortified with very strong walls, so that it +the city were besieged by enemies, the inhabitants +could take shelter in the citadel and hurl darts and +javelins at their enemies from its walls. +</p> + +<p> +There was once a king of Thebes named Amphion, +who could sing most beautifully, and also play upon +the lyre. When he sang, it was impossible for anyone +to resist stopping to listen, however great a hurry he +might be in, and even the very stones would detach +themselves from their places in order to come nearer +to him. Amphion knew this, and one day he said to +himself, 'Since I have such power over the stones, I +will make them serve me.' So he sat down in the +middle of the city, and began to sing in a loud voice +which was echoed by the distant hills. Then there +was a sound of rumbling and scuffling, for every stone +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P60"></a>60}</span> +that heard the song, no matter how far off it was, came +rushing towards Amphion, and they heaped themselves +one upon the other till at last a great stone wall was +built up all round the city; and the Thebans took +hatchets and crowbars and broke open seven spaces in +it, where they erected seven great gates. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap18"></a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P61"></a>61}</span></p> + +<h2> +XVIII. +<br><br> +SEMELE. +</h2> + +<p> +Cadmus and Harmonia had two daughters, one of +whom was a very beautiful maiden named Semele. +Zeus loved Semele and made her his wife secretly, and +she was so happy that she wished for nothing else than +that the king of the gods should always continue to +love her as he did then. But Hera was very angry +about it, and she took the form of an old nurse to +whom Semele told all her secrets, and came one day into +the palace when the nurse had gone to the river to wash +clothes. She was the only person who knew that Zeus +was the husband of Semele, and Hera, who had taken +her form, pretended that she had come back in order +to give her some advice about it. She told her that +she ought to make trial of Zeus, and beg him to come +to her, if it were only for once, in all the glory and +splendour with which he surrounded 'himself when he +was with Hera, and that if he refused to do so, it +would prove that he was not really Zeus, but some +mortal who had deceived her. She said this in order +to make Semele suspicious and distrustful, and because +she wanted to bring about her destruction; and when +she had finished talking she went quickly back to +Mount Olympus, and no one knew that she had been +in the Cadmea. +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P62"></a>62}</span> +</p> + +<p> +Semele did not for a moment believe that her +husband was any other than Zeus, but she was dazzled +with the thought that she might persuade her lover +to come to her surrounded with the glory of the gods, +and so she took Hera's advice, and next time that Zeus +came to see her, she begged him to swear by the Styx +that he would grant her the request she was about to +make. Hera had advised her to make him swear by +the Styx, because that was the oath which the gods +could never break if they bound themselves by it. +Zeus swore without any misgiving, for he expected her +to wish that suddenly beautiful flowers should spring +up all round the Cadmea, or that he should fly with +her through the air, or perform some other such miracle; +but when Semele begged that he would come to her +that evening exactly as if he were coming to Hera, he +regretted that he had sworn so rashly, and told her +that the fulfilment of such a wish as that, would cost +her her life. But Semele thought that he despised +her, and did not care to show himself to her in all his +godlike splendour, and she persisted in her request; +and as he had sworn by the Styx, Zeus was obliged to +submit to her foolish will. When the evening came, +a terrible rumbling sound was heard in the air, and it +thundered and lightened, and Zeus came down from +Mount Olympus in the chariot of the gods. He +entered the Cadmea, and Semele beheld his countenance +glowing with unspeakable beauty and majesty, but the +splendour and glory that surrounded him was a sight +which no mortal could bear, and she was struck dead +by that one look. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap19"></a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P63"></a>63}</span></p> + +<h2> +XIX. +<br><br> +DIONYSUS. +</h2> + +<p> +Dionysus was the son of Zeus and of Semele, and +Hera hated him as she had hated his mother, and +would have killed him if she could; so as soon as he +was born, Zeus commanded Hermes to take him away +secretly to a king called Athamas, that Hera might not +know where he was. Athamas promised to take care +of him, and the queen, whose name was Ino, told +everyone that he was her own child, and brought him up +with her two little boys. But Hera found out where +the little Dionysus was, and she was so angry with +King Athamas for having consented to hide him from +her, that she punished him by making him quite mad. +She falsified his sight so that everything seemed to +him quite different from what it really was, and one +day when he was coming home from hunting and saw +Ino sitting on the grass in front of the house with her +two little boys by her side, he thought she was a doe +with two little fawns, and he took an arrow and shot +one of the children right through the heart, so that he +was killed instantly. Ino saw that her husband was +mad, and she immediately snatched up the other child +and fled away with it, but Athamas pursued her with +another arrow on his bow-string till they came to the +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P64"></a>64}</span> +sea, and then, as Ino could flee no farther, she rushed +into the sea with her little boy, and they were both +drowned. They were scarcely dead when Athamas +regained his right senses and knew what he had done, +and he was so grieved and shocked that he left his +country altogether, and wandered for a long time in +strange lands, till at last he settled down again, as you +will hear in another story.[<a id="chap19fn1text"></a><a href="#chap19fn1">1</a>] +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile Hera was looking everywhere for the +little Dionysus, but she could not find him, for she did +not know that a young heifer who was grazing in front of +the house was the form into which Zeus had changed +the child to hide him from her. In the night Hermes +came and took the heifer up into his arms, and it became +a child again. Then he took the boy a long, long +journey, almost to the end of the world, till at last he +reached a lonely region where seven nymphs lived by +a beautiful river far from the dwellings of men, and +he gave him into the charge of the nymphs, who +promised to bring him up and take great care of him. +Hera was seated on Mount Olympus, the throne of the +gods, and she cast her eyes all round the world to see +what had become of Dionysus, but as she expected to +find him again in the charge of some king, she did +not think of looking for him in the country of the +nymphs. +</p> + +<p> +When Dionysus grew up to be a young man, he +was very beautiful, and Zeus loved him so much that +he gifted him with the might of a god. Immediately +his face gained a new expression, and his eyes glowed +with a fire that is never seen in the eyes of men. +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P65"></a>65}</span> +Dionysus thought he would like to give proof of his +new power by bestowing some precious gift upon men, +and he resolved that he would create out of water and +sunshine a sweet drink that should give them courage +and cheerfulness, and that a beautiful plant should be +the means of producing this drink. So he created the +Vine with its purple grapes, in which, ever since that +time, the sun has every year brewed the drink bestowed +upon men by the god Dionysus. +</p> + +<p> +Dionysus did not wish to live in concealment any +longer, for Hera had no power to injure him now that +he had become a god, and he desired to be known and +honoured like the other gods. He determined therefore +to travel through the whole world, and Zeus gave +him a train of men and women to follow and serve him +who were called Bacchantes, or followers of Bacchus, +which is another name for Dionysus. He set out on +his pleasure-journey, driving in a golden chariot drawn +by two tame spotted panthers which he guided with a +golden rein, and round him danced the Bacchantes, +holding in their hands wands twined round with ivy, +and with ivy wreaths on their heads. Cups of the +most delicious wine were passed from mouth to mouth, +and the whole air was filled with the sounds of singing +and flute-playing. There was an old man named +Silenus, who had formerly lived with the nymphs, and +had been accustomed to play with Dionysus when he +was a child, and dance him on his knees. He now +joined in the procession, and he was so fond of the +wine that he was always intoxicated. His body became +bloated with drinking so much wine, so that he could +not walk steadily, but was obliged to ride on an ass, and +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P66"></a>66}</span> +often in his drunken condition, he sate facing the +wrong way and holding the tail of the ass in his hands +as a bridle. +</p> + +<p> +Wherever Dionysus went he caused the vine to +grow, and he was good to those who honoured him, +but he punished all who disobeyed him. One day, +while he was on his journey through the world, he +halted at mid-day in a cool wood near the sea, and +when the Bacchantes had given the thirsty panthers +some sweet wine to drink, the whole train of followers +lay down under the trees and went to sleep. Dionysus, +however, was filled with a desire to visit the island of +Naxos, which he loved above all other lands, and he +went down to the shore where there was just then a +ship sailing by, and asked the ship-men if they would +carry him to Naxos; and they said 'Yes,' and sailed up +to the land and took him in. They did not know who +he was, but supposed him to be a mortal youth, and +seeing that he was so beautiful, they made up their +minds to sell him for a slave, for they were not good +men, but thieves. Dionysus lay down in the ship and +went to sleep. When he awoke, they had already sailed +past the island, so he begged them to turn back and +set him on shore at Naxos, but they laughed and told +him they were going to sell him for a slave. Dionysus +had only wanted to make trial of them, and now the +ship suddenly stood still, and though they tried with +all their might to row on farther, it was as immovable +as if it had been fastened to the bottom of the sea +with a hundred chains. And vines and ivy-bushes +sprang up and covered the sides of the ship with green +foliage, and a spray of ivy twined itself round the mast +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P67"></a>67}</span> +right up to the top, so that the ship looked like a +beautiful garden in the middle of the sea. But the sight +of it gave no pleasure to the ship-men; their flesh +began to creep, and they were seized with an irresistible +desire to jump into the sea. And as they jumped they +were changed into dolphins, and for the rest of their +lives they swam about in the sea, thieving fishes as +they had been thieving men. Then Dionysus clapped +his hands, and the panther-drawn chariot came over +the sea to him followed by the Bacchantes, the sea +making a pathway for them so that they scarcely +wetted their feet. Dionysus got into his chariot and +guided it to Naxos, and the Bacchantes followed it, +skipping along on the crests of the waves. +</p> + +<p> +After Dionysus had travelled over the whole world, +it was fitting that he should take up his abode on +Mount Olympus with the other gods, and Hera did +not make any difficulty about it. But before he did +so, he brought his mother Semele from out of the Lower +World, and Zeus made her immortal, so that she also +had a place among the gods, and Hera no longer bore +her any ill-will. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a id="chap19fn1"></a> +[<a href="#chap19fn1text">1</a>] See <a href="#P150">page 150</a>. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap20"></a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P68"></a>68}</span></p> + +<h2> +XX. +<br><br> +MELAMPUS AND BIAS. +</h2> + +<p> +In the city of Pylos there lived a man named Melampus, +who was very rich, and had a great deal of land +and many servants. One day, as the servants were +coming home from their work in the fields, they found +a nest of snakes in a hollow oak, and they drove out +the snakes and began to beat them to death with their +sticks and cudgels. Just then Melampus came by, and +when he saw what the servants were doing, he let them +kill the old snakes, but finding among them two young +ones less than a foot long, he took them up and carried +them home. The little snakes were now very well off, +for Melampus made them a bed of leaves and gave +them plenty of food to eat. They were not poisonous +snakes, but nice harmless little creatures, and when +they grew older they had a great wish to do Melampus +some service, as a return to him for having saved their +lives and taken such care of them. So one day, when +he was asleep, the snakes crept up to him, one on each +side, and licked his ears with their fine sharp little +tongues, and when he awoke he found he could understand +what the birds and insects said, and he was ever +afterwards able to discover things that were hidden from +other men, because the birds told him about them. +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P69"></a>69}</span> +</p> + +<p> +At this time there reigned over the city of Pylos a +king named Neleus, who had an only daughter called +Pero. She was so beautiful that no one who had once +seen her ever cared to look at any other woman, and +many princes came to Pylos to ask for her hand in +marriage, but King Neleus said that whoever wished +to have her for his wife must first bring him the cattle +of Iphiclus, and that he would not part with her on +any other condition. These cattle were renowned for +their strength and beauty, and they were always spoken +of as the cattle of Iphiclus, although Iphiclus himself +had been dead a long time, and his son Phylacus now +owned them. They were guarded by a great fierce +dog with a terrific voice, and if anyone came to try +and steal them, he barked so loudly that all the +servants of Phylacus came rushing out to seize the thief +and carry him off to prison. Nor could Phylacus be +induced to part with the cattle for any sum of money; +so when the suitors heard that the king insisted upon +having the cattle of Iphiclus, they thought it was a +hopeless case and went away home again. +</p> + +<p> +Now amongst those who came to sue for the hand +of the beautiful Pero, there was a man named Bias, the +brother of Melampus, who loved her so dearly and +wished so much to have her for his wife, that he lost +all his spirits and fell into deep despondency because +he could not think of any means of obtaining the +cattle. Melampus had a great affection for his +brother and longed to help him in this difficulty, so he +asked the birds if there was any way by which he +could succeed in procuring the cattle for Bias. The +birds answered that if he would be willing to be seized +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P70"></a>70}</span> +by the servants and put into prison for a year, he would +be able to obtain the cattle at the end of that time. +Melarnpus was quite ready to do this for his brother, +and he set out at once, promising Bias that at the end +of the year he would return with the beautiful herd. +When he came to the field where the cattle of Iphiclus +were grazing, it happened to him just as the birds had +foretold, and he was taken prisoner by the servants +and thrust into a dark dungeon. He could never see +the sun there, but he was able to count the days, for +he could hear the birds singing, and when they began +to chirp in the morning, he knew that a new day must +have dawned upon the earth. At last, when there was +only one day wanting to make up the full year, he +heard some wood-worms talking together in one of the +rafters of the house, and he listened to what they were +saying. One asked, 'Have you nearly finished the work?' +and the others answered, 'Before the sun goes down, the +beam will be eaten through and the house must fall.' Then +Melampus understood that the house was not safe, +and he called the gaoler and told him that they ought +both to leave it without delay, for that before the setting +of the sun it would fall. The gaoler was not inclined +to believe him, for the house appeared to be in perfect +condition, but Melampus would not leave off warning +and entreating him, and at last he took him to another +prison. They had scarcely left the house when they +heard a great noise, and as they looked back it fell in +ruins. The gaoler was very much astonished that +Melampus should have known of this beforehand, and he +told King Phylacus about it. +</p> + +<p> +The old king was at this time in great sorrow on +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P71"></a>71}</span> +account of his son, who was named Iphiclus after his +grandfather. He had been married for many years, +but the gods gave him no children, and the old king +feared that after his death the kingdom would fall into +the hands of a stranger instead of being still governed +by one of his own race. He did not know why the +gods were angry with his son, and no one was able to +tell him. When therefore he heard from the gaoler +how Melampus had foretold the downfall of the prison, +he thought that he must be a wise man, and he asked +him whether he could find any means of freeing him +from his anxiety. Melarnpus answered that he would +try to do so if the king would promise him the beautiful +cattle as his reward, and Phylacus did not think this +too great a price, but swore to give them to him. +Melampus then begged that the king's servants might +kill a cow and cut it in pieces, and that they would +take him to an open field, and leave him alone with +the flesh beside him. They did as he wished, and +when the servants had gone away, a number of birds of +all sizes came flocking towards the pieces of flesh. +Melampus, however, would not let them come too near, +but kept them off with a stick, and said, 'Whichever +of you can tell me why the gods are angry with Iphiclus +the Younger, shall have the best piece of meat as +a reward.' Then an old raven, nearly a hundred years +old, began to croak and said, 'When Iphiclus was a +little boy, his father placed a sacrifice under a sacred +oak, but found himself obliged to return to the house +for something he had forgotten. Meanwhile the little +Iphiclus was left alone, and he took the sacrificial +knife and thrust it into the oak because he was +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P72"></a>72}</span> +frightened at the way it glittered. I was sitting on the tree +looking on when he did this. In the course of time, +however, the bark has quite grown over the knife, so +that it cannot now be seen.' Melampus gave the +raven a great piece of flesh, and he took it in his claws +and flew away with it, and Melampus said, 'Whichever +of you can tell me how this maybe expiated, shall have +the next best piece.' Then a vulture came forward +who was skilled in medicine, and a physician among +the birds, and who knew how to give counsel, and he +said, 'You must dig the knife out of the tree, and +when you have found it, scrape off the rust and pour it +into a bowl of wine. Let the king's son drink that, +and then the gods will send him an heir.' The vulture +received the second best piece, and Melampus +went away, leaving the birds to feast upon the +remainder of the flesh. He went back to the palace +and asked for an axe, with which he struck the oak, +and at the first stroke he discovered the knife. It was +quite red with rust, and he drew it out and scraped off +the rust into a bowl of wine and told the king that his +son must drink some of this every morning for ten +days, and then the gods would be gracious to him. +Some time after this the wife of Iphiclus had a little +son, which was a great joy to the old king. +</p> + +<p> +He did not fail to give Melampus the reward he had +promised, and Bias took the cattle to the palace of +Neleus and again asked to be allowed to marry the +beautiful Pero. The king made no further objection, +and the wedding was celebrated that very same day. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p> +The god Apollo loved Melampus because he was a +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P73"></a>73}</span> +good man, and he gifted him with the art of knowing +the future by means of various signs, and of understanding +how to propitiate the wrath of the gods. Many +people came to ask advice of him when they were in +trouble or difficulty, and among others, Proetus the king +of Argos, sent to beg for his help, for he was in great +distress. This king had three daughters who were beautiful +and virtuous, but they refused to offer sacrifices to the +god Dionysus, and therefore Dionysus punished them +by taking away their reason, so that they became mad. +They ran about the city, dancing and screaming and +tearing their clothes, and if anyone tried to restrain them +they became wilder still, and foamed at the mouth, so that +no one could see them without feeling deeply grieved. +It was on account of this that Proetus sent to Melampus +to beg him to make his daughters well again. Melampus +agreed to do so if the king would promise him a third +of his dominions as a reward; but when Proetus heard +of the condition, avarice prevailed over his love for his +daughters, and he refused to part with any of his land. +But the evil became worse and worse, for all the women +in the country were seized with the same disease as the +princesses, and ran about the streets and fields, raging +as if they were intoxicated. Many had taken their +little children with them, thinking that they were +young deer which they must sacrifice to Dionysus, +and it was a ghastly sight to see them murder their +own children, not knowing what they were doing. +The whole land was in such great trouble that the +king sent a messenger to tell Melampus that he +would give him the third part of his dominions if +he would put an end to the misery, but Melampus +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P74"></a>74}</span> +now said that he must also give his brother Bias a +third, or he would do nothing for him. The king +was very loth to give away so much fertile territory, +but he feared that he might at last be obliged to win +over Melampus at any price, and perhaps lose his whole +kingdom, so he promised to give him what he asked. +Then Melarnpus went to Argos and placed himself at +the head of all the young men in the city, whom he +had told beforehand what they were to do. They +marched out of the city in an orderly band, till they +met the raving women who had formed themselves +into a sort of wild army with the princesses at their +head. As soon as they saw the army of youths they +took flight, and the men pursued them, shouting as if +they were at war, till they reached the sea and could go +no farther. Then Melampus offered many sacrifices, +until the gods were propitiated and the women had +their reason restored. After this, they all returned to +the city. The eldest princess, who was the most +afflicted of all, had fallen down dead during the chase, +but the other two came back to the palace and lived +with their father as before, and from this time they +honoured Dionysus and offered sacrifices to him. +</p> + +<p> +Melampus and Bias now became princes, and they +ruled over the land which King Proetus gave them +according to his promise. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap21"></a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P75"></a>75}</span></p> + +<h2> +XXI. +<br><br> +TANTALUS. PELOPS. +</h2> + +<p> +In the land of Phrygia, which lies in Asia Minor, there +was once a king named Tantalus, whom the gods +loaded with all manner of favours. They gave him +great wealth, so that he was richer than any other king, +and they treated him as a friend and came to his house +as guests, and sometimes they allowed him to ascend +to Mount Olympus in one of their chariots and to +drink nectar and eat ambrosia at their table. But +Tantalus was presumptuous, and turned the friendship +with which the gods honoured him to bad uses, for he +stole nectar and ambrosia and gave them to other men +to taste, and he also repeated things that he had heard +the gods speak of among themselves, about which he +ought to have kept silence. He even once invited the +gods to a banquet in order to try and deceive them, +and for this purpose he killed his beautiful young son +Pelops, and cut him in pieces and roasted the flesh; and +when the gods sat down to the banquet he brought in +the flesh and laid it before them, thinking that they +would eat it without knowing what it was. The goddess +Demeter was at this time in great trouble because her +daughter Persephone had been stolen away from her, +and as she sat buried in sad thoughts, she eat a +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P76"></a>76}</span> +shoulder-piece without paying attention to what she was doing. +But the other gods did not eat any of the flesh, for +they knew directly what it was, and they were very +angry with Tantalus. Zeus commanded that Pelops +should come to life again, and he was even more +beautiful than before, but his right shoulder was +missing, for Demeter had eaten it. The goddess could +not replace it, but she took a piece of ivory and cut +out a shoulder, which she fitted into the right place, so +that it looked like the other limbs, only it was more +white and shining. +</p> + +<p> +After this the gods would have nothing more to do +with Tantalus, and as they no longer blessed his fields +or flocks, his prosperity was now at an end, for the +fields produced miserable crops, and the flocks were +diminished by plagues and diseases, and also by the +ravages of wolves and lions. Tantalus became worse +and worse, and committed many other crimes, and +after his death the gods laid upon him a never-ending +punishment. He found himself standing in beautiful +clear water which reached up to his chin, and close +above his head there hung branches of magnificent +fruit trees quite weighed down with the quantity of +fruit they bore, but whenever he tried to sip the water +it sank before him till there was nothing to be seen but +the black earth, and whenever he tried to gather some +fruit the branches raised themselves into the air, so +that though he was parched with thirst and was +perpetually straining to quench it, if but for a moment, +he was never able to reach either the water or the +fruit.[<a id="chap21fn1text"></a><a href="#chap21fn1">1</a>] +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P77"></a>77}</span> +</p> + +<p> +After the death of Tantalus, his son Pelops was king +of Phrygia. But there came another king, with an +army of soldiers, who fought against him and drove him +away, so that he was obliged to leave his country and +travel into strange lands. After some time he came to +the city of Elis, in Greece, where at that time, there +was a king called Oenomaus who had a lovely daughter +named Hippodamia. A great many heroes desired to +marry her, and the king had sent to ask the Oracle +which of them he should choose for her husband, but +the answer that he received was that when his daughter +married, he himself would die. He at once determined +that his daughter should never marry; and as he had +two horses that could run like the wind and there +were none in the whole country that could compare +with them in speed, he said that anyone who wished to +marry his daughter must compete with him in a chariot +race, and if he won the race he should have the maiden +for his wife, but if he failed to do so he must die. +Hippodamia was so beautiful that many heroes were +willing to risk their lives for the chance of winning her, +and agreed to the conditions. At some distance from +the city there stood an altar to Poseidon, which was the +goal, and on each occasion the princess drove with the +suitor for her hand. Oenomaus used to let them start +on in front whilst he remained behind to sacrifice a ram +to the gods, and when the sacrifice was offered, he +mounted the chariot with his lance in his hand, and +urged on the horses to their utmost speed. The race +never lasted long, for he very soon overtook the suitor +and pierced him through the back with his lance, so +that he fell down dead from the chariot. +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P78"></a>78}</span> +</p> + +<p> +Thirteen heroes had already lost their lives, and +Oenomaus thought that he had found a very good way +of preventing his daughter from ever being married. But +Pelops heard of the beautiful Hippodamia, and though +he heard, too, of the cruel king who put all her suitors +to death, he resolved to set out for Elis and try his +chance of winning the maiden, for he was a true hero, +brave and fearless. It was a prize well worth trying +for, for whoever won it would not only have the +beautiful princess for his wife, but would also inherit +the kingdom, for Oenomaus had no other child. Pelops +came to Elis, and Oenomaus told him, as he had told +the others, that he must be prepared to race with him, +and fixed the race for the following day. The king had +outrun many swifter horses than those of Pelops, and +if the hero had not set to work cunningly he must +have lost his life, but he had thought of a plan by +which he might get the better of the king, if he could +secure the help of the man to whom was entrusted the +care of the horses and chariot of Oenomaus. He +watched until this man took the horses to bathe in the +river, and he followed him there to have an opportunity +of speaking to him privately and promised him a great +reward if, on the next day, he would leave out some +necessary part of the king's equipment, so that he +might be delayed in the race. Oenomaus was such a +cruel man that his servants had no affection for him, +and the man promised Pelops that he would help him +to win the race. +</p> + +<p> +The next day, many people came to the open space +outside the city where the race was to be run. They +felt sorry for the hero, for his horses were far less +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P79"></a>79}</span> +strong and spirited than those of the king, which +pawed the ground with impatience, and snuffed the air +in their eagerness to set out. Oenomaus told his +daughter to get into the chariot with Pelops, and +when he had the beautiful maiden sitting by his side, +Pelops felt how happy he would be if he could obtain +her for his wife, and he urged on his horses with all his +might. Meanwhile Oenomaus took a sacrificial knife +and killed a ram, and then he laid a part of the flesh +in the flame of the fire that burnt on the altar, and +prayed to the gods to enable him to get the better of +Pelops and kill him. When the sacrifice was ended, he +mounted his chariot, with the reins in his left hand +and a sharp-pointed lance in his right hand, and the +moment he shook the reins, the horses started off at +their utmost speed, and the chariot could not be seen +for the dust that it raised. He came close to Pelops, +and raised his lance to smite him. But the unfaithful +servant had taken out the nails which prevent the +wheel from slipping off the axle, and just as Oenomaus +was overtaking the other chariot, the wheel rolled on +one side, and the chariot turned over. The king was +thrown out, and he fell upon a stone and was killed +instantly. +</p> + +<p> +So Pelops was the victor, and the sentence of the +Oracle was fulfilled. As soon as the beautiful Hippodamia +had ended her mourning for her father, she was +married to Pelops, who became king of Elis and ruled +the country well and wisely. Long after his death the +Greeks still remembered him, and named the great +peninsula in which Elis lies, Peloponnesus, or the +Island of Pelops. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a id="chap21fn1"></a> +[<a href="#chap21fn1text">1</a>] From this story comes the English word 'to tantalize.' +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap22"></a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P80"></a>80}</span></p> + +<h2> +XXII. +<br><br> +NIOBE. +</h2> + +<p> +Niobe was the daughter of Tantalus, and the wife of +King Amphion, who by means of his singing and +playing had built a wall round Thebes.[<a id="chap22fn1text"></a><a href="#chap22fn1">1</a>] She and her +husband were rich and prosperous, but beyond all their +other treasures they prized their twelve noble and +beautiful children. There were six sons and six +daughters, and they were the pride of Niobe's heart. +She looked down upon all other women because they +were none of them so fortunate as herself, and once +she even dared to say that she was superior to the +goddess Leto, for that Leto had only two children, and +she had six times as many. When Leto heard this +she was stung to the quick, and she went weeping to +her children and told them of it. These children were +the god Apollo and the goddess Artemis, and they +were very angry with Niobe for vexing their mother, +and resolved to punish her for her pride. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p> +One day the sons of Niobe were in the courtyard +wrestling with each other, for they were skilled in +wrestling as becomes young heroes, and the mother and +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P81"></a>81}</span> +sisters were standing by, watching them. All at once +one of the youths groaned, sank down, and died. He +had been hit by one of the arrows of Apollo, which +were invisible and deadly, killing instantly whoever +was hit by them. The mother, brothers and sisters +gathered round the youth, unable to believe that he +was dead, when suddenly a maiden sank upon her +knees, heaved a sigh, and died also. She had been hit +by one of the arrows of Artemis, which were invisible +like those of Apollo. Son after son, and daughter after +daughter was killed by the unseen arrows, and Niobe +knew that this was a punishment for her pride. The +youth who was first struck down was not yet cold when +the only one of all her children left to Niobe was the +youngest daughter, whom she loved best of all. The +little girl had always found protection in her mother's +lap, and now, when the fear that she must die like her +brothers and sisters came over her, she ran to her mother +and clung to her knees for shelter. Niobe took her up +in her arms, and wrapping her veil round her as if it +could shield her from the unseen enemy, she looked up +to heaven and cried from her inmost soul, 'Spare +me but this one!' But at that moment she felt her +daughter convulsed in her arms, and the last of her +children was dead. +</p> + +<p> +There was great distress throughout the city. King +Amphion tore his hair and threw himself on the earth +with frantic cries of grief, and the citizens wept and +lamented. But Niobe shed no tears, no word of sorrow +came out of her mouth, and she kept her eyes fixed on +the ground, still clasping her youngest daughter to her +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P82"></a>82}</span> +breast, while the other corpses lay around her. The +night came on and the others went into the house, but +Niobe remained standing in the starlight amongst her +dead children, and when the people came back in the +morning, she had turned to stone. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a id="chap22fn1"></a> +[<a href="#chap22fn1text">1</a>] See <a href="#P50">p. 50</a>. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap23"></a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P83"></a>83}</span></p> + +<h2> +XXIII. +<br><br> +MELEAGER AND ATALANTA. +</h2> + +<p> +King Oeneus lived in the city of Calydon with his wife +Althaea, and they had already several children when +another little son was born to them. When the child +was about seven days old, his mother awoke one night +and saw a fire burning on the hearth, and by the fire +three women standing, who were taller and statelier +than any women she had ever seen before: they were +the three Fates, who are the goddesses that decide +whether the lives of men shall be brightened by +happiness or made heavy with misfortune. One of them +said, 'I gift this child with bravery.' The second said, +'I bestow upon him a generous heart.' The third said, +'I grant him life until the day when this firebrand +shall be burnt to ashes.' Then they all disappeared, +and Althaea, to once got up and took the piece of stick +from the fire, and when she had put it out by pouring +water upon it, she stowed it away in the chest where +she kept her most precious treasures. The parents +named their child Meleager, and he grew up to be a +strong and noble youth, fond of the chase and of war. +</p> + +<p> +After Meleager had become a man, it happened one +year that King Oeneus raised a number of altars of +green turf in the fields at harvest-time, and placed on +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P84"></a>84}</span> +each altar some of the corn that was first cut, in order +to show his gratitude to the gods for having caused the +fruits of the earth to grow and ripen; every god and every +goddess had an altar except Artemis the goddess of the +chase, who was forgotten. She was very angry with the +king on account of this, and sent a fierce wild boar to +destroy his land. This boar was much larger than any +other that had ever been seen, and he had two long +pointed tusks which made him very frightful to look +at. He roamed about the country, and wherever he +found a newly-sown field he tore up the ground and +laid it waste, and he ripped open the young trees with +his tusks, and broke in among the flocks, killing men +and cattle. He was so fierce and powerful that no +hunter had courage to attack him, and at last the evil +became so serious that the king sent messengers to a +number of heroes to ask them to come to Calydon, and +all set out together to hunt the boar. All who were +summoned promised to come, and at the appointed +time they assembled at Calydon. There came also a +maiden who was armed with a hunting-spear, and who +would not play with the king's daughters, but said she +wished to go to the hunt with the heroes. +</p> + +<p> +The maiden's name was Atalanta, and she had a +strange history. She was the child of a king and queen +who had wished very much to have a little son, and had +begged the gods to send them one. Instead of this, +however, a girl was born to them, and the father was +so angry that he commanded his servants to take the +child to a mountain that was clothed with forests, and +leave it there to be devoured by wild beasts. For a +night and a day the child lay in the forest, and it was +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P85"></a>85}</span> +nearly dead of starvation when a she-bear came by, who +drooped her head sadly because her little cubs had +been taken from her by some hunters. The child was +frightened at the great black beast and began to cry, +but the bear looked kindly at it, and when she saw +what bright eyes the baby had, she growled gently and +licked it with her warm tongue. Soon the child forgot +its fear, and when the bear put her full udder to +its mouth, it began to suck, for it was hungry and +thirsty; and from that time the bear came again every +day and gave it food and played with it. After +some time had passed, it happened that some hunters +came up the mountain in pursuit of a deer, and one +of them in bending back a bush caught sight of the +beautiful little girl, who was lying on the grass playing +with flowers. He took her up and called to the other +hunters to come and look at her, and they were so +delighted at finding her that they let the deer escape. +One of them carried her home in his arms, and they +were as well satisfied as if they had had a most +successful hunt. The house where the hunters lived +was in the midst of the green-wood, and they made a +soft bed for the child, and fed her with sweet milk. +At first she cried continually, for she missed her bear +sadly, but the hunters played with her and were so +kind to her that she soon became happy again. The +hunters named her Atalanta, and when she grew +bigger, they took her with them when they went out +hunting. Atalanta enjoyed roaming through the woods +and running after the wild animals more than anything +else, and she let the hunters have no peace till they +gave her a spear of her own. Her feet became swift and +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P86"></a>86}</span> +her arms strong, and she killed many animals and was +a very skilful huntress, but whenever a she-bear came +across her path she took great care to do her no harm. +She was taller and stronger than other maidens, and at +the same time very beautiful. When she heard of the +hunt that King Oeneus had proclaimed, she at once set +out for Calydon, expecting greatly to enjoy the dangerous +chase. +</p> + +<p> +King Oeneus entertained the heroes for nine days, +and they amused themselves with feasts and all kinds +of games. The tenth day was fixed for the hunt, and +it was agreed that whoever should kill the boar was to +receive the skin and the head as the prize of honour. +There were present, however, some brothers of Queen +Althaea who were ill-mannered and discourteous, and +who said that Atalanta should not go with them, for +that it would be a disgrace to them all their lives if +they went out hunting with a woman; but Meleager +had conceived a great love for Atalanta, and would not +allow her to be excluded. So she set out with the +others for the forest where the boar had his lair. They +were attended by their servants, who roused the wild +beast by making a great clapping with their hands, +and drove him out into an open space in the middle of +the forest, while the heroes stood round among the +trees. At first he remained in the middle of the open +space tearing up the earth with his tusks, his eyes +burning like fire and his bristles standing up straight +from his back, and grunting so frightfully that the +heart of many a brave hero beat, and that not altogether +for joy. But when the heroes hurled their spears at +him, the boar rushed to where the first spear came +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P87"></a>87}</span> +from and ripped open the body of the hero with his +tusks, so that he was soon lying dead in a pool of his +own blood. After this he spied another hero, and with +him it fared no better than with the first. Then another +hero aimed at him, but he shot too high, and the spear +hit one of his friends and pierced him through; so three +lives were already sacrificed, and yet the boar had not +lost a drop of blood. It was now the turn of Atalanta +to throw her spear, and she hit the wild boar in the +back causing the blood to gush out; then someone else +hit him in the eye, and at last the spear of Meleager +pierced his side at a vital spot and inflicted a mortal +wound. He could no longer stand up, and was obliged +to vent his fury on the innocent earth, and after rolling +about in great pain for a little while, he died. +</p> + +<p> +The heroes cut off his head, and severed his skin +from his body and gave it to Meleager as the prize of +honour, because it was he who had given the wild boar +his death-wound. But Meleager said, 'Atalanta was +the first to hit the beast,' and he presented her with +the prize as a token of love and regard. The skin made +in truth a splendid mantle, reaching from the maiden's +shoulder right down to her feet, and as she stood in the +forest, radiant with beauty, with the skin thrown over +her left shoulder, and with the bleeding head in one +hand while in the other she held her hunting-spear, +she looked like the goddess Artemis returning from the +chase. But the brothers of Queen Althaea who had +wished to prevent Atalanta from going out hunting +with them, were greatly annoyed, and they spoke +rudely to her and snatched away the prize from her. +This made Meleager very angry, and a violent quarrel +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P88"></a>88}</span> +took place, in which Meleager drew his sword and slew +his uncles: he was quickly roused to anger, and they +had provoked him beyond his power of endurance, but, +as soon as they were dead he felt very sorry for his +mother's sake, for he knew that she was very fond of +her brothers, unmannerly fellows though they were. +The servants made biers out of green branches and +laid the dead men upon them, and they all, both heroes +and servants, went back together into the city. +</p> + +<p> +But a man who had taken the part of the two +brothers went on in front to the palace and told +the queen that her brothers had been murdered by +Meleager. Then the queen's sorrow passed all bounds, +and she wept and tore her hair. It was the custom at +that time, that if a man was murdered his relations +should avenge his death upon the murderer, as this +was considered a way of doing honour to his memory, +and in the first burst of her resentment she fetched +the piece of stick on which the life of Meleager +depended, and threw it into a fire that happened to be +burning on the hearth. The flames gradually consumed +it, and as the last spark went out, Meleager, who was +on his way home with the other heroes, fell down dead. +By the time the queen heard that her son was dead +however, her anger had already passed away, and she +was filled with unspeakable remorse for having cut +short his life. She did not weep as she had done +before, but she felt that she could not bear to live any +longer, and she went into her bed-chamber and hanged +herself. When this was known, everyone was deeply +grieved; the old king would not leave his room, and +for a long time refused to eat or drink, and the heroes +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P89"></a>89}</span> +dispersed to their homes without caring to stay for the +hunting feast. +</p> + +<p> +Atalanta went back to her forest leaving the skin +of the boar behind her, for she would have had no +pleasure in keeping what would always have reminded +her of the death of Meleager. She roamed about the +forest as before from morning till night, and was never so +happy as when she was among the green trees. Now the +fame of her beauty had spread far and wide, and many +suitors came to ask her to marry them. But she did +not wish to marry, and as her suitors would not leave +off pressing her, she said that anyone who liked might +race with her, and if he beat her he should be her +husband, but if she overtook him he must die. Many of +her lovers lost their lives in this manner, for though +Atalanta always gave a good start, she very soon +overtook her competitor and stabbed him in the back with +her hunting-spear. +</p> + +<p> +After a time, however, a man named Milanion +resolved to try his chance, who was beloved by the +goddess Aphrodite on account of his great beauty, and as +she was unwilling that he should lose his life like the +others, she gave him three golden apples and told +him how to make use of them. He hid them in the +folds of his dress, and as soon as he heard Atalanta +coming up behind him, he took out one of the apples +and threw it down on the ground where it glittered so +beautifully in the sunshine that Atalanta could not +resist stooping to pick it up. Milanion thus gained a +minute, and the next time he found that she was close +behind him he threw down the second apple, and again +Atalanta allowed him to escape while she stopped for +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P90"></a>90}</span> +it. A third time the same thing happened when they +were at a very short distance from the goal, and thus +Milanion reached it first and won the race, and Atalanta +became his wife and went home with him. And he was +such a noble hero that she never repented of having +allowed herself to be conquered by the golden apples. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap24"></a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P91"></a>91}</span></p> + +<h2> +XXIV. +<br><br> +ADMETUS AND ALCESTIS. +</h2> + +<p> +Apollo once displeased Zeus by acting against his +wishes, and the king of the gods said that for a +punishment he must serve a mortal for the space of a year, +and that the mortal must not know that he was a god, +but treat him just like any other slave. So Apollo +entered the service of the young king Admetus, who +made him the keeper of his flocks. Admetus was a +good master, and Apollo found himself well-treated, +and he repaid the kindness he received by making the +flocks prosper and increase till there were none like +them in the whole country. Admetus had never had +such a good herdsman, and he treated him even better +than his other servants. When the year had passed, +Apollo told him who he was, and said that if ever +Admetus was in need and prayed to him, lie would +come and help him. Then Apollo went back to +Olympus, and Admetus had another herdsman, but Apollo +still blessed the flocks, so that they continued to +prosper. +</p> + +<p> +Time passed by and Admetus wished to marry, and +he travelled through the country seeking for the fairest +and noblest woman in the land to be his wife. He +heard that no one could compare with Alcestis, the +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P92"></a>92}</span> +daughter of King Pelias, and he went to her father +and asked to be allowed to marry her. But the king +said that his daughter was not to be won so easily, and +that whoever wanted her for his wife must come and +sue for her in a chariot drawn by a lion and a wild +boar. Admetus was a brave hero and a skilled huntsman, +but his heart sank when he heard this, for he +feared he should never be able to procure such a team +as this, and tame them for his service. Then he +remembered how Apollo had promised to help him in +the time of need, and he prayed to him, and Apollo +came and asked what he wanted. When he had been +told what it was, he went into the forest with Admetus, +and gave chase to a lion whom he caught and held fast +by the mane, although the lion roared horribly and +tried to snap at him with his great jaws. Presently +he spied a boar and pursued him also, making the +lion run by his side; and when he had caught the boar, +he grasped him by the ear and dragged him along too, +so that he had the lion on one side of him and the +boar on the other. The wild animals looked at each +other angrily and tried to bite one another, but Apollo +would not let them do so. He brought them out of +the forest and harnessed them to a magnificent chariot, +and he had a goad with which he pricked them whenever +they tried to hurt one another, until at last they +were tame and obedient to the rein. Admetus +however would not have been able to keep them under +control, so Apollo drove them himself, and thus +Admetus arrived at the palace of King Pelias with the +god for his charioteer, and with the team that the king +had required, and a second time asked for his daughter's +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P93"></a>93}</span> +hand in marriage. The king could no longer refuse, +and when he had promised that Admetus should have +the beautiful Alcestis for his wife, Apollo drove back +into the forest and released the two wild animals. +Soon afterwards the wedding was celebrated in the +palace with great magnificence, and Apollo was one of +the guests. As a wedding-present, he brought a +promise from the goddesses of Fate, that if ever Admetus +were sick and in danger of death and one of his +nearest relations would consent to die instead of him, +the life thus offered would be accepted instead of the +life of Admetus, and he would become well again. +</p> + +<p> +Admetus and Alcestis loved each other dearly, and +lived happily together for many years. But after some +time had passed, Admetus was smitten with a sore +sickness, and everyone said that he must die unless his +life could be saved according to the promise of Apollo. +The people thought that as his father and mother were +now very old and could not hope to live much longer +in any case, they would be willing to die instead of +Admetus; but they loved life more than they loved +their son, and would not part with it until they were +obliged. Then the beautiful Alcestis went into her +chamber and prayed to the gods that they would +allow her to give up her life to save her husband, +and when she had ended her prayer, she lay down +on the bed and died. At the same moment Admetus +became suddenly well, and was able to stand up and +walk about. He did not know how it was that he +had been so quickly cured until he went into the +chamber of Alcestis, and saw her lying dead upon the +couch; then he understood how it was, but he felt that +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P94"></a>94}</span> +he would much rather have died himself. All through +the palace there was loud lamentation, for all the +household loved Alcestis dearly because she was so good and +kind to them. Admetus would not leave her couch, +but sat beside it holding her cold hand, which was +ever wet with his tears. Night came on, and morning +dawned again, but he gave no heed to it, and the corpse +had already become quite cold—when suddenly it began +to grow warm again, and presently Alcestis heaved a +deep sigh, opened her eyes, and was once more alive. +</p> + +<p> +Never before had such a wonder taken place, and +this was how it came to pass. When Alcestis died, +her shade passed into the Lower World, and the +Shadow-Leader, who conducted the dead thither, told the queen +of the Lower World the reason of her death. So many +shadows came into their dominions who had had a sad +end, that the gods of the Lower World had at last +exhausted all their pity, and ceased to weep for them. +But when the queen heard how Alcestis had died in +the full bloom of her youth and beauty in order that +Admetus might live, she was deeply moved, and +commanded the Shadow-Leader to take her back to the +Upper World and restore her to life. +</p> + +<p> +So Alcestis awoke to life again, and she lived with +her husband in happiness and prosperity for many +years after this; gods and men united to do them +honour, and when they had reached a good old age, +they both died at the same time. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap25"></a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P95"></a>95}</span></p> + +<h2> +XXV. +<br><br> +PERSEUS. +</h2> + +<p> +There was once a king of Argos called Acrisius, who +had an only daughter. Her name was Danaë and she +was very beautiful, but the Oracle said that she would +have a son through whom Acrisius would lose his life. +This frightened Acrisius very much, and he had a large +brazen room made for Danaë to live in under the earth, +where she had everything she wished for, but she was +never allowed to see the light of day, nor any man. +Her father thought he would thus be able to prevent +her from marrying secretly and having a son, and +for a time everything went on according to his wishes. +But Zeus, the king of the gods, loved Danaë, and he +one day changed himself into a beautiful golden shower +of rain, whose shining drops fell down through the +brazen roof. Thus Zeus was married to Danaë, and +not long afterwards she had a son. Acrisius was very +angry, and he had the mother and son shut up in a +wooden chest and cast into the sea. +</p> + +<p> +The chest was tossed about on the waves, and floated +far away. On the third day it reached an island where +there happened to be a man on the shore fishing, who +was the brother of the king of the island. He drew +the chest to land and forced open the lid, and when he +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P96"></a>96}</span> +saw the lovely woman and her child inside it, he took +them, just as they were, into the house to show them to +the king his brother, who promised to protect them +and treat them kindly. Acrisius thought they had +perished in the sea, but they were safe on the island, +and Danaë was quite happy in taking care of her son, +whom she named Perseus. In the course of time, +Perseus grew up to be a young man, and he was +beautiful and brave and strong. +</p> + +<p> +The king of the island wanted to have Danaë for +his wife, but she did not wish to marry him. Then +the king thought that if it were not for Perseus he +might compel her to do so, and he sought to find some +excuse for sending Perseus away on a far journey. +So one day he called his friends together, and Perseus +among the rest. He told them that he was going to +sue for a bride, and that he wished each of them to +bring him some present to offer to her father; for it +was the custom in those days that anyone who wanted +to win a bride should give costly presents to the father +of the lady he wished to marry. They all agreed to do +as the king desired, and he asked most of his friends to +give him splendid horses, but from Perseus he demanded +a gift that would involve a difficult and dangerous +journey to a distant land. At the far end of the world +there lived three sisters called Gorgons, who instantly +turned to stone everyone that looked at them; the +only one of the three who was mortal was called +Medusa, and the king commanded Perseus to bring him +her head, hoping that he would perish in the attempt. +</p> + +<p> +Perseus had no fear, and at once set out in quest +of the Gorgon's head. There were three nymphs who +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P97"></a>97}</span> +had three precious things without which it would have +been useless for him to try and obtain it, but no one +knew where these nymphs lived except the three Grey +Sisters, who lived far away from any inhabited land, +and would never reveal the secret of where the nymphs +were to be found unless they were compelled to do so. +They were the sisters of the Gorgons, and had been +quite grey ever since their birth, and they had only +one tooth and one eye between them, which they used +in turns. Perseus went to the cavern where the Grey +Sisters lived, and watched till one of them took out the +eye and the tooth to pass them to her sister, when he +sprang forward and snatched them out of her hand, +and said that he would not give them back till they +told him where the nymphs lived. So they were +obliged to tell him, and then he gave them back their +eye and tooth, and went on to the nymphs who were +kind to him and gave him the three precious things. +These were,—first, a pouch in which to place the head +of Medusa after he had cut it off; secondly, a pair of +sandals which enabled anyone who put them on to fly +through the air; and, thirdly the helmet of Pluto, +which made whoever wore it invisible. The gods loved +Perseus because he was so brave, and Hermes came +down to earth and gave him a sickle of very sharp steel +with which to cut off the head of the Gorgon. Perseus +put on the sandals, and taking the other things with +him, he flew to the great stream Oceanus which flows +round the world. There was a rocky island in the +middle of the stream covered with rank weeds and full +of serpents, and here the Gorgons lived in a cave. +When Perseus reached them it was about noonday, and +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P98"></a>98}</span> +they were asleep. They were larger than mortal +women, and had great teeth like tusks and brazen +hands and golden wings, and they had live snakes +twined among their hair, and everyone who looked at +them was turned to stone. Perseus heard them snoring, +and he went into the cave on tip-toe so as not to +wake them. He was obliged to go backwards, for if he +had looked at them he would have been turned to stone; +but he had a polished shield which he held up before +him as a mirror, and he could see them in the mirror +without being harmed. They had stretched themselves +out in a row, and lay asleep leaning one against +the other; Medusa was smaller than the others, and by +this he was able to recognise her. Her head was +resting on a stone, and Perseus held up the shield before +her and cut through her neck with the sickle till +the head fell off, and then he took it up, put it into +the pouch without looking at it, and flew away. But +the bleeding trunk still palpitated, and the other two +Gorgons awoke and saw it, and they darted out of the +cavern after Perseus, that they might seize him and +tear him to pieces with their iron claws. They flew +through the air looking for him, and they had sharp +eyes with which they could see to a great distance, but +they could not find Perseus because he had on the +helmet of Pluto which made him invisible, and were +obliged to return without him. Perseus was +meanwhile on his way home with the dead head in his +pouch. +</p> + +<p> +After some days he came to a country in Africa, +where there was a king whose name was Cepheus. The +queen was called Cassiopea, and she was very beautiful +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P99"></a>99}</span> +and very proud of her beauty, and every day she went +down to the sea that she might have the pleasure of +looking at her picture in the water. One day she said +that she was more beautiful than the sea-nymphs, and +the nymphs heard it and were so angry with her that +they begged Poseidon, the sea-god, to punish her for +her pride. Then Poseidon created a huge monster +which came up every day out of the sea and wasted +the land, devouring men and cattle, so that there was +great distress among the people. They asked the Oracle +what they should do, and the Oracle said that they must +give the king's daughter to the monster to devour, and +then he would not come again any more. The king's +daughter was called Andromeda, and she was beautiful +like her mother, but she was not vain of her beauty, +and the king and queen loved her very dearly. She +was their only child, and they cherished her as their +most precious treasure, and refused to give her up to +be food for the horrible monster. But at last they +were obliged to consent to this, and the day came when +Andromeda was to be taken to a rock in the sea and +bound fast with iron chains, so that she could not run +away when the monster came to devour her. The king +and queen wept bitterly, and many people followed +them to the shore, weeping also. +</p> + +<p> +They had just reached the rock when Perseus also +approached it, and he took the helmet off his head so +that he could be seen, and asked why the beautiful +princess was to be chained to it. They told him all +about it, and he said that if they would promise to let +him have Andromeda for his wife, he would undertake +to kill the monster and deliver her. The king had +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P100"></a>100}</span> +already promised Andromeda in marriage to a brother +of his named Phineus, but though she was in such +great peril, Phineus did not trouble himself much about +it, and had no intention of risking his life for her. +Perseus, however, felt very differently; he longed to +have her for his wife, and the parents promised him +that if he slew the monster he should be their son-in-law. +Soon afterwards the monster appeared, rising up +from the bottom of the sea, and making great waves as +he swam along. Perseus waited till he came near the +shore, and then flew down and struck him a mighty +blow on the neck with his sword. The monster +snapped at him with his great jaws, but Perseus had +already flown up high above him, and before the +monster could look round he had received another wound, +and he lashed his tail in fury till the water was quite +red with his blood, but he could not reach Perseus who +flew round him and struck him again and again, till at +last he bled to death. +</p> + +<p> +Then there was great joy among the people: the +chains were taken off from Andromeda, and the king +and queen kissed her, feeling as if she had been raised +from the dead. They went back into the city, and +Perseus walked by the side of Andromeda who liked +well the appearance of the brave and noble hero. On +the seventh day the marriage took place, and they +offered sacrifices, and danced and sang and feasted. +Phineus however was not there, but in the middle of +the marriage feast he came into the hall of the palace +at the head of a large band of armed servants, and said +that he would kill Perseus and all who sided with him, +for that Andromeda had been promised to him, and +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P101"></a>101}</span> +ought to be his wife. Then a struggle took place in +the hall, and Perseus slew several of the servants, but +they were twenty to one, and it was no fair fight. At +last Perseus cried out with a loud voice, 'Let all who +are on my side turn away their faces,' and then he +thrust his hand into the pouch, drew forth the head +of Medusa, and held it out towards Phineus and his +servants, and in a moment they were all turned to +stone. +</p> + +<p> +The king gave Perseus a beautiful ship, in which +he sailed with Andromeda to the island where his +mother was. He found her in sore distress, for the +king of the island had tried to compel her to marry +him, and she had fled for refuge to the altar. Those +who took refuge at an altar were under the protection +of the gods as long as they remained there, and no one +dared to touch them; but the king commanded that no +one should bring Danaë anything to eat, and he placed +watchmen all round to see that his orders were obeyed, +for he thought that when she was absolutely starving +the would be compelled to leave the altar, and then he +would be able to seize her and make her his wife. But +at this moment Perseus arrived at the island in his +ship, and when he heard where his mother was, he +went to her, and she told him everything, which made +him very angry. The treacherous king heard that +Perseus had come back, and he was afraid, and summoned +his servants to go with him to the altar to kill +Perseus. Then Perseus again drew forth the head of +Medusa and turned them all to stone, and he gave the +kingdom to the king's brother, who had always been +kind to Danaë. +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P102"></a>102}</span> +</p> + +<p> +Danaë had a great love for her father, although he +had thrust her away from him, and as Perseus also +wished very much to see his grandfather, they +determined to pay him a visit, and they sailed with +Andromeda to Argos in the ship that Cepheus had given +them. But when the old Acrisius heard that his +daughter and her son were coming, he was afraid, +for he remembered what the Oracle had said, and he +left the country, telling no one where he was going; so +that when the ship reached Argos, Acrisius was not +there. And as it happened that a rich king had +lately died, and that games were to be celebrated in his +honour, Perseus thought he would go and take part in +these games, for anyone could go that liked, and those +who did best would receive prizes by which their +names would become known and honoured throughout +Greece. Acrisius also went to the games, for he wanted +to see what was going on, and he thought that there +he would surely be safe from his grandson. No one +knew who Perseus was, but he excelled all others and +won the best prizes. One of the things they did was to +try who could throw farthest a plate of stone called a +discus. Perseus was just going to take his turn at +throwing the discus, when it slipped out of his hand, and +flying sideways, hit the old Acrisius on the head and killed +him. Thus it happened that Acrisius was running to +meet his fate at the very moment when he thought he +was escaping from it. Perseus was very sorrowful when +he heard that it was his grandfather, the king of Argos, +whom he had killed accidentally, and he had the corpse +brought to Argos and buried with great magnificence. +The kingdom of Argos was now his, but he could never +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P103"></a>103}</span> +forget that he had killed his grandfather, and this made +the country so distasteful to him that he was glad to +exchange with another king who ruled over the cities +of Mycenae and Tiryns. +</p> + +<p> +Perseus gave the three precious things by means of +which he had obtained the head of Medusa, to Hermes, +to be returned to the nymphs, and the Gorgon's head +he presented to the goddess Athene, who fastened it to +her shield. He lived honoured and esteemed to the +end of his days, and his wife Andromeda bore him +many beautiful children. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap26"></a><a id="chap2601"></a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P104"></a>104}</span></p> + +<h2> +XXVI. +<br><br> +HERACLES. +</h2> + +<h3> +1. <i>The War with the Teleboae.</i> +</h3> + +<p> +Perseus had been dead a long time, and his son +Electryon who succeeded him as king was already an +old man, when a dispute arose between him and a +nephew of his named Pterelaus. Pterelaus was king +of the Teleboae, who lived on several islands, and he +maintained that he had a better right to the cities of +Mycenae and Tiryns than Electryon, because he was +descended from the eldest son of Perseus; and one day +he sent his sons, and many of the Teleboae with them, +in ships to Mycenae, and told them to say to Electryon +that he must be prepared to give up the kingdom to +him. Electryon was very angry, and sent the Teleboae +away without paying any attention to their message. +They left the city, but on their way back to their +ships they came upon the king's droves of cattle which +were tended by his sons and servants, and they began +to fight with them, and the fight did not stop till all +the sons of Electryon were killed but one, and also +all the sons of Pterelaus except one, who had remained +behind with the ships and had taken no part in the +fight. The Teleboae had however got rather the best +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P105"></a>105}</span> +of it, and those of them who were left drove the cattle +to their ships and sailed away. Some time afterwards +it happened that Electryon got back his cattle, for the +Teleboae had given them as a present to a king who +paid them to him for ransom; but the cattle could not +make up for the loss of his sons for whom he grieved +bitterly, and he determined to be revenged on Pterelaus +and told his servants to prepare to start with him +for the islands of the Teleboae. +</p> + +<p> +There was at that time at Mycenae a young hero +named Amphitryon, who had come to ask for the hand +of Electryon's daughter Alcmene in marriage, and it +was arranged that he should have charge of the +kingdom during the absence of Electryon. But one day, +just before the king was to start on his expedition, it +happened that he was overlooking his flocks with +Amphitryon, when the young hero threw his stick at +a cow that was leaving the herd, and the stick bounded +back by accident from the cow's horns and hit the aged +Electryon on the head, so that he was killed instantly. +Amphitryon was obliged to leave the kingdom on account +of this unintentional murder, and he went to +Thebes, where King Creon purged him from the stain +of blood by means of numerous sacrifices. During his +absence, however, a brother of Electryon, named +Sthenelus, contrived to gain possession of the kingdom +for himself, and to banish the two children of Electryon,—his +daughter Alcmene, and the one son who had not been +killed by the Teleboae. They were obliged to give way +to Sthenelus, who was stronger than they, and came to +live in Thebes where Amphitryon was, but Alcmene +said that though she loved him she would never marry +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P106"></a>106}</span> +him till he had avenged the murder of her brothers. +Amphitryon accordingly prepared to march against the +Teleboae, and sought to find brave heroes who would +consent to go with him. +</p> + +<p> +He first of all asked King Creon for his help, but Creon +was just then in great trouble at home, for a fox had +for some time taken up his abode in the fortress +Cadmea, and had devoured numbers of people; he was +under the protection of the gods, and it had been +decreed by the Fates that he should never be caught. +So the Thebans, finding that they could not get rid of +him, had made a truce with him by which they agreed +to give him a boy every month to devour, and on this +condition he spared the rest of the people. Creon +therefore promised to go with Amphitryon if he would +first help him to deliver the country from the terrible +fox. Now Amphitryon had heard that there was a +wonderful dog in Athens which was also under the +protection of the gods, and that it had been decreed +that nothing that he pursued would ever escape him; so +he went to the hero who owned the dog, and promised +him a share of the spoil which he hoped to bring back +from the islands of the Teleboae if he would lend him the +dog for a time, and the hero agreed to do so. Amphitryon +took the dog back to Thebes and set out with +him in pursuit of the fox, and the dog ran after him as +fast as lightning. The Thebans thought that now one +or other of the prophecies must prove false; either the +fox who was never to be caught would be overtaken, or +the dog who was never to pursue in vain would be +battled. But when the dog had got so close to the fox +that he was on the point of snapping at him, they both +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P107"></a>107}</span> +remained motionless, and the Thebans saw that they +had been turned to stone. +</p> + +<p> +Then Creon said that he was quite willing to +accompany Amphitryon, and the hero of Athens agreed to +go also, and many other heroes, and they all embarked +for the islands of the Teleboae, but they could not +conquer King Pterelaus, for he had many soldiers and knew +well the art of war. The daughter of Pterelaus, however, +had seen Amphitryon from the city walls and had +conceived a great love for him which made her secretly +sorry when the Teleboae conquered, and glad when one +day they were the losers; and she resolved to betray +her father and her fellow-citizens into the hands of +Amphitryon, because she thought that if she helped +him to gain the victory, he would feel grateful to her +and would make her his wife. Now Pterelaus was +immortal through the good-will of Poseidon, who had +given him a golden hair which he kept carefully hidden +away under his grey locks, for it had the power of +keeping him alive. But one day while he was asleep, +his daughter came in on tiptoe, sought for the golden +hair and pulled it out,—and immediately his breath +stopped short, and Pterelaus was dead. +</p> + +<p> +The Teleboae could no longer resist their enemies +now that they were deprived of the advice of their wise +king, and in a short time Amphitryon had gained possession +of the chief town and of all the islands, and had +avenged upon the Teleboae the slaughter of the sons of +Electryon. The daughter of Pterelaus thought that +she would now be the wife of Amphitryon, but things +turned out very differently from her expectations, for +as soon as Amphitryon saw her, he drew his sword and +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P108"></a>108}</span> +stabbed her; he knew that she had killed her father, +but he did not know why she had done so. Then the +heroes carried the booty to their ships and sailed away +home. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap2602"></a></p> + +<h3> +2. <i>The Birth and Youth of Heracles.</i> +</h3> + +<p> +Alcmene was so very beautiful that Zeus, the king +of the gods, loved her, and when Amphitryon was far +away with the other heroes, Zeus took his form and +went to Alcmene. He acted and spoke just like +Amphitryon, and told her all about the battles and +how they had won the victory, and he even showed her +the helmets and shields of the Teleboae, for he had +made Hermes, the messenger of the gods, steal them +from the booty of Amphitryon. Alcmene had no +suspicion that it was any other than her lover who had +come back after fulfilling her wishes with regard to the +Teleboae, and she promised to marry him that very +day; and Zeus kissed her and became her husband. +Some time after this, Amphitryon returned to Thebes +and was very much astonished when Alcmene told him +that she had already been married to him. They could +not understand it, and asked the seer Tiresias what it +meant. He told them that it was Zeus in the form of +Amphitryon who had been with Alcmene, and the +Theban women thought it was a great honour for her +to have been married for a time to the king of the +gods. The wedding was now celebrated over again, +and all the heroes who had been to the war with the +Teleboae feasted with Amphitryon and Alcmene till far +into the night. Some time afterwards, Alcmene had +two children whom she named Heracles and Iphicles; +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P109"></a>109}</span> +one was the son of Zeus, and the other the son of +Amphitryon. There was no difficulty in knowing which +was the child of the god, for Heracles was far bigger +than such young children usually are. Gods and men +took pleasure in the fine strong child, all but the +goddess Hera, who hated him, and even before his birth +began to do all she could to injure him. Zeus had +decreed that the next child born of the race of Perseus +should rule over the cities of Mycenae and Tiryns, +thinking that this would be Heracles, for Alcmene was +the granddaughter of Perseus; but Hera persuaded the +goddesses who arranged about the birth of children to +let a son of Sthenelus, Alcmene's uncle, be born first. +His father named him Eurystheus, and as he had been +born before Heracles, he became king of the two cities of +Mycenae and Tiryns after the death of Sthenelus. +</p> + +<p> +Heracles was about eight months old, when one +morning, just as it was beginning to grow light, Hera +sent two great snakes into the room where he was +sleeping, near the bed of Alcmene, in one of the shields +which Amphitryon had brought back from the country +of the Teleboae as part of the spoil. The snakes crept +into the shield and began to twine themselves round +the child. Just then Alcmene woke, and she jumped +up and ran to call the people of the house to kill the +snakes, though she was afraid it was even then too late, +and that the child must have already been crushed to +death by them. But when she came back with the +others, she saw Heracles sitting up in the shield and +holding one of the snakes in each hand; he had seized +them each by the neck, and was squeezing them so +tight that their tongues were hanging out, and very +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P110"></a>110}</span> +soon they were dead. Then he threw them away and +went to sleep again; and the Thebans knew that a +mighty hero had been born in their city. +</p> + +<p> +When Heracles grew older, he learned all the +things that heroes need to know,—how to guide the +war-chariot, how to use the spear and bow, and how to +fight with the fist and the sword. He was taught all +this by the noblest heroes, and also by a Centaur named +Chiron, who, like all the Centaurs, had a curious +form—half of their body was that of a man, and the other +half that of a horse. Chiron had been specially gifted +with immortality, and he was very wise, and taught +Heracles many things, especially how to know the stars, +and how to heal wounds, and he told him stories of +the gods and of the old heroes. +</p> + +<p> +Heracles could easily be distinguished from all other +men, for when he was eighteen years old he measured +eight feet in height, and he had marvellous strength, +and his eyes glittered like coals of fire. He had +moreover a generous nature, and was always ready to help +all true and good men. Amphitryon made him keeper +of his flocks which pastured on Mount Cithaeron, and +never before had such a lordly herdsman been seen. +It happened once that a lion took up his abode on the +mountain, and broke in among the flocks, and Heracles +thought to himself, 'If I were to kill the lion, my flocks +would not only be able to feed in safety, but I should +also get a handsome skin to dress myself in.' So he +set out for the mountain-passes where the lion had his +lair, armed with nothing but a strong stick and a +knife. When he came to the lion's cave, the huge +beast sprang out upon him, but Heracles gave him a +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P111"></a>111}</span> +good blow on the nose which made him stagger back, +and when he had nearly beaten him to death with +his stick, he finally gave him a mortal blow with +the knife. Then he sat down quietly, and cut open the +body of the lion and took off the skin, which he put on +as a cloak as soon as it was dry. The jaws covered his +head like a helmet, while the rest of the skin fell from +his shoulders to his knees, and he twisted the fore-feet +into a knot over his chest in order to prevent the wind +from blowing it off. In this fashion he came down +from the mountain, and anyone who had seen him +from behind would have thought that a lion had grown +out of his shoulders. It never occurred to him, +however, that he had done anything out of the way in +killing the lion. +</p> + +<p> +Some time afterwards, there came along the road +some men who had been sent by Erginus, the king of +the powerful Minyae, to demand tribute from the +Thebans. Ten years before this a Theban had thrown +a stone at the father of Erginus and hit him on the +head, so that he was carried home dying. Before he +expired he charged his son to avenge his blood, and +Erginus made war upon the Thebans and killed a +number of them. He had also made them give him a +hundred cows every year for the last nine years, and the +messengers were now on their way to fetch the tribute +for the tenth time. Heracles asked them who they were +and where they were going, and when he heard that +they were the messengers of the Minyae, his blood +boiled so that he grew quite red in the face, for it +angered him to think that the city of Thebes, to which +he himself belonged, should pay tribute to a foreign +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P112"></a>112}</span> +king. He told the messengers to return and never +come again, and when they refused to obey, he threw +them on the ground, notwithstanding their numbers, +and tied their hands behind their backs; then he cut +off their ears and noses, and told them to take these to +the king for tribute. Thus outraged, the messengers +returned and entreated the king to avenge them, and +Erginus swore that he would not leave a man alive in +Thebes, nor one stone upon another. But Heracles +went to Thebes and called the citizens to arms, saying +that he would be their leader. The gods equipped him +right gloriously for the fight: Hermes gave him a sword, +Apollo a bow and arrows, Hephaestus trappings of pure +gold, and Athene a coat of mail. But a sword was too +light and delicate a weapon for the powerful hand of +Heracles, so he went out into the forest and tore up a +stout young oaktree, which he trimmed and used as +a club. When the battle began, Heracles looked, in +comparison with the Minyae, like a lion among a flock +of sheep. He killed King Erginus and put his army +to flight, and obliged the Minyae to give the Thebans +two hundred cows every year tor the future. King +Creon had a beautiful daughter named Megara, and he +gave her to Heracles for a wife out of gratitude to +him for having conquered the Minyae. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap2603"></a></p> + +<h3> +3. <i>The Madness of Heracles, and his First Six Labours.</i> +</h3> + +<p> +Heracles loved his wife very dearly, and the gods sent +them three beautiful children, all of whom were sons. +They lived a peaceful and happy life together, Heracles +went out hunting and killed wild beasts, and when he +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P113"></a>113}</span> +came home he played with his children. But Hera still +hated him, and she one day afflicted him with such +terrible madness that in his delusion he seized his +children and threw them into the fire, so that they +perished miserably. When the madness left him he +could hardly endure life, so distressed was he at what he +had done, and he could not bear to remain in the place +where such a misfortune had happened to him. He +left Thebes and went, first of all, to a man who knew +how to purge him from the stain of blood; then he +betook himself to Delphi and asked the Pythia where he +must live in the future. The Pythia answered, 'Go to +Mycenae and serve King Eurystheus for twelve years; +allow him to impose upon you twelve hard Labours, and +accomplish these to the best of your power.' Heracles +was well pleased with this sentence, and was quite willing +to perform the most difficult tasks, even such as would +be set him by a deadly enemy like Eurystheus who +hated and feared Heracles, thinking that he would some +day take away the kingdom from him because it had +belonged to his own grandfather Electryon. Heracles +went to Mycenae and said to Eurystheus that he would +serve him for the space of twelve years, and that during +that time he would accomplish any twelve tasks that +Eurystheus might choose to set him. The king was +very glad to hear this, and he at once commanded +Heracles to bring him the skin of the Nemean lion, +hoping that he would perish in trying to secure it. +</p> + +<p> +The Nemean lion had his lair near the town of +Nemea, and his fame had spread far and wide. He had +never bled from a wound, for his skin was so thick that +no steel could pierce it. Heracles set out in pursuit of +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P114"></a>114}</span> +the lion, and when he had found him, he shot at him +with his bow and arrows, but they bounded off as if +from the hardest stone. Finding that the arrows were +of no use, Heracles then attacked him with his club, +but the lion did not care to fight with him and ran +away into the thickest part of the forest. Heracles +ran after him, and chased him from morning till night. +At last he came to a great cave and ran in there. +Heracles noticed that the cave had another mouth, and +he thought to himself, 'If I were to go in after him, +he would still be able to escape.' So he first of all +brought stones and blocked up one of the entrances, +while the lion, who had never run so far before in +one day, lay quietly in the dark inside, tired and +frightened, and then he went into the cave and +wrestled with him. The roaring of the lion echoed +horribly from the walls of the cave, but Heracles was +not frightened, and he wound his arm round the neck +of the beast and pressed him with all his might against +his own body until he died. Heracles could not take +off his skin for he had brought no knife with him, +so he hoisted the whole lion on to his shoulders, and +went back to Mycenae. When he threw the huge +beast on to the ground before Eurystheus, the king +turned pale for his bad conscience made him afraid, +and he thought, 'If he can strangle a lion like this, +he would certainly not find it difficult to make an end +of me.' So he at once sent him off to perform his +second Labour, which was to destroy the Lernean +Hydra, and during his absence he had an iron room +built under the earth that looked like a cage for wild +beasts, for it had a grating of iron bars. This was for +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P115"></a>115}</span> +Eurystheus to get into when Heracles came back, in +order that he might speak to him through the grating, +so terribly afraid was he of the strong man. +</p> + +<p> +Heracles set out in a war chariot, taking with him +his young cousin Iolaus as his charioteer, and they +soon came to the marshy district near the town of +Lerne, where the Hydra lived. The Hydra was a huge +snake with one body and nine heads, the centre one of +which was immortal. She devoured any men or beasts +that came near her, and destroyed the fields of corn. +She had her den in a cavern close by a clear running +stream, and when Heracles and Iolaus arrived at the +place, she was lying stretched out on the ground, for +she had just swallowed a few cows. She looked at the +heroes with all her staring eyes, but did not move, +because she was not hungry. However Heracles did +not care to wait, so he threw burning javelins at her, +which scorched her skin and made her furious with +pain. She crept out of the cavern and glided up a tall +oak tree, and all her nine heads shot down venom at +Heracles from above him. But Heracles was on the +alert; he held his club in his right hand, and twined his +left arm round the Hydra just at the place where the +ninefold neck grew out of her body, and when she lashed +her tail about, he pressed her still more tightly against +himself, so that she would have been only too glad to +run away if she could. Now the Hydra had formed a +friendship with a great lobster, and he, seeing that +his friend was in danger, crept up to Heracles and +scratched his foot with his claws. But he got decidedly +the worst of it, for Heracles smote his shell with his +club and broke it into a thousand pieces, so that the +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P116"></a>116}</span> +poor lobster died. Then Heracles heaved a mighty +blow on one of the Hydra's nine heads and struck it +off, but two new heads immediately sprang from the +bleeding neck, and every time he smote off a head, two +more sprang up to replace it. Heracles now saw that +he must set to work in a different manner, so he told +Iolaus to set the forest on fire, and to pass a piece of +burning wood over each neck as soon as he had cut off +the head. In this way all the roots from which the +heads grew were burnt away, and Heracles was thus able +to kill all the heads that were mortal. The last was +immortal, but he hewed it off also, and buried it, and +rolled a huge stone on to the top of it. After this, there +came a rain which extinguished the burning forest. +The gall of the Hydra was the worst poison in the +world, so Heracles cut open the Hydra's body and +dipped his arrows into the gall, which made them +absolutely deadly: if a man were only scratched even, +by an arrow poisoned in this way, he must die. +</p> + +<p> +Eurystheus was in his cage when Heracles came +back from his conflict with the Hydra, and he +commanded him to catch the Ceryneian hind, and bring +her alive to Mycenae. This hind was under the +protection of Artemis the goddess of the chase, and was +very beautiful: her coat was milk-white, and her horns +were of the purest gold. She could run so fast that +the wind was quite out of breath when he tried to race +with her, and, after having run the whole day long, she +would skip about quite merrily without being in the +least tired. At the command of Eurystheus, Heracles +gave chase to her, and they took neither rest nor food, +nor did they need rain or sunshine, but ran on day and +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P117"></a>117}</span> +night without stopping for a whole year. At last they +came to a river, and while the hind was hesitating +whether she should jump into it, Heracles quickly took +an unpoisoned arrow and shot at her. The purple-red +blood flowed out over her little white coat, and she +groaned with pain. She forgot to run away, and +Heracles was able to seize her. He had only wounded +her slightly with the arrow because he did not want to +do her any harm, and now he laid cooling herbs upon +the wound, and placing the hind on his shoulder, he +carried her to Mycenae, and as soon as Eurystheus had +seen her, he set her free again and let her run back +into the forest. +</p> + +<p> +That was the third Labour of Heracles. For the +fourth, Eurystheus commanded him to catch the +Erymanthian boar alive. This boar lived on Mount +Erymanthus, and no huntsman who had tried to kill +him had ever come back alive, for the boar had always +ripped open his body with his tusks. +</p> + +<p> +On his way to Mount Erymanthus, Heracles came +to the country of the Centaurs. They were a savage, +unfriendly race, who had no regard for the duties of +hospitality; but one of them, named Pholus, was better +than the others, and he gave Heracles shelter in his +cave. He made a fire and roasted a calf for his guest, +but he himself ate raw meat as he was accustomed to +do. Heracles enjoyed his meal very much for the long +journey had made him hungry, and as he was also +thirsty, he asked the Centaur for a draught of wine. +Pholus said, 'It is true that I have a great cask of wine +in my cave, but it belongs to all the Centaurs in common, +and if they knew that you had drunk any of it, they +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P118"></a>118}</span> +might kill you.' But Heracles said he was not afraid, +so Pholus rolled out the cask and drew some wine from +it. But the wine had such a strong odour that the +Centaurs smelt it, and they all came to the cavern with +clubs and spears to kill Heracles. At first he defended +himself with firebrands only, as he did not wish to do +more than drive them away, but finding that they would +not leave him alone, he seized his bow and shot at them +with the poisoned arrows, and everyone who was hit +fell down dead. When the others saw that, they took +to flight, but Heracles had by this time grown furious, +and vowing that he would not leave one of them alive, +he pursued them, and they could not escape from his +arrows. In their distress they ran to the wise Centaur +Chiron who had been the teacher of Heracles, and +embraced his knees, entreating him to ask Heracles to +have mercy on them. But Heracles would not stop +shooting, and only took care not to hit Chiron, and his +eye was so true that he could be sure of hitting nothing +that he did not aim at. But an arrow went right +through the arm of one of the Centaurs who had +embraced Chiron's knees, and its point grazed his skin. +Heracles was very much distressed, he threw his bow +down on the ground, and ran to get herbs that heal +poisonous wounds. But no herb had any power to heal +the Hydra's poison, and Chiron suffered horrible +torture, so that his immortality was a burden to him. +Then he prayed to Zeus to take away his immortality, +and Zeus heard him and allowed him to die. But +Heracles did not stay with him till his death, for he was +now more angry with the Centaurs than ever, and he +ran after them and overtook them. They would all +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P119"></a>119}</span> +have perished if Poseidon had not had pity on them +and caused a wall of granite to spring up suddenly +out of the earth round the Centaurs to protect them +from him. Then Heracles was obliged to leave them, +and he turned back and went on his way with a heavy +heart, full of sad thoughts about Chiron. As soon as +he was out of sight, the wall sank back into the earth, +and the Centaurs were able to go home in peace. +</p> + +<p> +When Heracles reached the foot of Mount Erymanthus +he prepared a noose in which to catch the +wild boar, and soon afterwards he saw him sharpening +his tusks against an oak tree. Heracles raised a cry +which made the whole forest echo, and the strong boar +took to flight. It was winter, and the upper part of +the mountain was covered with deep snow. Heracles +chased the boar up the mountain till he had driven +him into a snow-field, through which the wild beast +plodded panting, till he was quite tired out and could +go no further, and then Heracles slipped the noose over +his neck and secured him. Then he tied his feet +together and threw him, feet uppermost, over his left +shoulder, putting his arm round his neck to prevent him +from using his tusks, and in this manner he journeyed +back to Mycenae. Most men would not have thought +it very cheerful work to travel with such a companion, +but Heracles was not at all concerned; on the contrary, +it was the boar who was trembling. Heracles showed +the boar to Eurystheus through the grating, and then +killed him. +</p> + +<p> +Heracles now set out to perform his fifth Labour, +and this time his task was to cleanse the stables of +Augeas in a single day. Augeas was a rich king of +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P120"></a>120}</span> +Elis, who had three thousand cattle. At night the +cattle always stood in a great court surrounded with +walls, close to the king's palace, and as it was quite ten +years since the servants had cleaned it out, there was +enough refuse in the court to build up a high mountain. +Heracles went to Augeas and asked if he would give +him the tenth part of his flocks if he thoroughly cleansed +his stables in a single day. The king looked upon this +as such an absolutely impossible feat that he would not +have minded promising his kingdom as a reward for it, +so he laughed and said, 'Set to work, we shall not +quarrel about the wages,' and he further promised +distinctly to give Heracles what he asked, and this he did +in the presence of Phyleus, his eldest son, who happened +to be there. The next morning Heracles set to work, +but even his strong arms would have failed to accomplish +the task if they had not been aided by his mother-wit. +He compelled a mighty torrent to work for him, +but you would hardly guess how he did it. First he +opened great gates on two opposite sides of the court, +and then he went to the stream, and when he had +blocked up its regular course with great stones, he +conducted it to the court that required to be cleansed, +so that the water streamed in at one end and streamed +out at the other, carrying away all the dirt with it. +Before evening the stream had done its work and was +restored to its usual course. +</p> + +<p> +But when Heracles demanded his reward, Augeas +denied that he had promised it. However he said that +he would summon a court of justice and would abide by +its decision, for he thought to himself, 'The only one +who heard me make the promise is my son, and he +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P121"></a>121}</span> +will not witness against me.' A number of wise old +men were accordingly summoned to the palace to be +judges, and Phyleus was called upon to witness. But +Phyleus cared more for justice than for his father's +advantage, and he said that Augeas had promised the +tenth part of his flocks to Heracles as a reward for +cleansing the stables. Then Augeas grew furious, and +would not allow the judges to pronounce the sentence, +but banished both Heracles and Phyleus from the +country, threatening that if ever they were caught in +his kingdom they would forfeit their lives. Heracles +went away without his reward, but he promised himself +that when the twelve Labours were accomplished, he +would come back and punish the king for his +faithlessness. +</p> + +<p> +Again Heracles set out at the command of Eurystheus, +and this time he had to drive away the Stymphalian +birds,—this was his sixth Labour. Near the +city of Stymphalus, in the land of Arcadia, there was a +great lake, whose shores were covered with very dense +forests where countless birds had built their nests. +These birds were as large as cranes, and very thievish, +and there was such a number of them that if they had +all flown out at once and assembled above the water, it +would have been pitch-dark all over the great lake. +Heracles went to the edge of the lake and listened to +the noise that the birds made, but he could not get at +them, for they kept themselves hidden among the thick +boughs where no arrow could reach them. Heracles +could not think of any means of chasing them from +among the trees, and was almost in despair, when the +goddess Athene, who loved all good and brave men, +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P122"></a>122}</span> +came to his assistance. She gave him a great iron +rattle that Hephaestus had made, and when Heracles +shook it, it made such a fearful noise that all the birds +flew out screaming. Then Heracles shot arrow after +arrow among them; a great many of them fell dead +into the lake, and the rest were so much frightened +that they flew far away and never came back again. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap2604"></a></p> + +<h3> +4. <i>The Last Six Labours.</i> +</h3> + +<p> +The seventh Labour that Eurystheus imposed upon +Heracles was to bring the Cretan bull to Mycenae. In +the island of Crete lived King Minos, who was very +wise, and who was allowed to hold intercourse with the +gods. One day, when the Cretans were on the seashore +offering sacrifices to Poseidon, the king prayed +that Poseidon would send him a bull out of the sea for +sacrifice, for he wanted to show the Cretans what great +regard the gods had for him. Immediately there came, +borne to the shore upon the swelling waves, a most +beautiful bull, and Minos was so fascinated by its +beauty that he did not keep his word, but sacrificed +another bull and put the one that came out of the sea +among his flocks. Poseidon punished him by making +the bull mad; he killed the herdsmen and escaped into +the forest, and did so much damage that the king +repented of having broken his word. When Heracles +came to him and said that he wanted to catch the bull, +Minos gladly supplied him with ropes and spears, for +he would not have minded paying a heavy price in order +to get the plague removed from the country. Heracles +went into the forest and soon found his way to the bull, +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P123"></a>123}</span> +for he was guided to him by the bellowing he made. +When he came near, he threw a spear at him in order +to irritate him. The bull ran at him furiously, +lowering his horns to toss him into the air, but Heracles +waited quietly till he came up, and then he seized his +horns and held them fast, so that the bull could not raise +his head again. They went on for some time pulling at +each other, and the bull dragged Heracles about from +place to place, bellowing horribly all the time. He was +a huge powerful animal, but he could not get his horns +free, and only tired himself to no purpose. At last he +was quite exhausted, and Heracles made a halter out +of the rope he had brought with him and wound it +round his neck, and the bull followed him quite quietly. +The Cretans ran together to look at the strong man +leading the fierce bull, and were astonished to see the +bull walking so quietly by his side. Heracles got into his +ship and sailed back to Mycenae with the bull, and when +he had led him through the city, he let him go free. +You will hear more of him again by-and-by.[<a id="chap2604fn1text"></a><a href="#chap2604fn1">1</a>] +</p> + +<p> +The eighth Labour of Heracles was that of procuring +the horses of Diomedes. Diomedes was a king of Thrace, +a savage and cruel man, who cared for nothing in the +world but his fierce horses which he fed upon human +flesh; and every stranger that came into his country +was thrown to the horses. Heracles knew that he would +not be able to obtain the horses unless he first +conquered the king and his people, and he therefore took +with him a number of brave heroes who were glad to +accompany him on this expedition. As soon as the ship +landed in Thrace, the heroes went to the stables, killed +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P124"></a>124}</span> +the keeper, and brought away the horses; one of them +was going to bite, but Heracles gave him such a sound +blow that he had something else to think of. They had +almost reached the shore, when they looked back and +saw King Diomedes coming after them followed by a +number of soldiers, so they tied up the horses and +turned round again. Then a fierce battle took place, +for the Thracians were a warlike people, but at last +they were all killed, and their king made prisoner. +Heracles said that he should die by the same death that +he had inflicted on others, and he loosed the horses of +Diomedes and gave him to them to devour. The king +cried out in an agony to his horses, 'Have I not been kind +to you and taken care of you?' But they had become +so fierce through eating human flesh that they did not +spare even their own master. One tore off his arm, +another bit him in the chest, and a third in the thigh, +and they soon tore him to pieces, so that he perished +miserably. Heracles then caught the horses again and +took them home, and when he had shown them to +Eurystheus, he drove them to the foot of Mount +Olympus where they were devoured by wild beasts. +</p> + +<p> +King Eurystheus had a daughter, who was continually +begging him to procure for her the girdle of +the Queen of the Amazons. This beautiful girdle was +world-famed; it had been given to the queen by Ares, +the god of war, and she wore it as a mark of royalty. +Eurystheus knew that to secure the queen's girdle +would be a task of great danger and difficulty, and +therefore he told Heracles that this was to be his ninth +Labour. So Heracles again set sail with his companions, +and they journeyed for many days till they came to the +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P125"></a>125}</span> +country of the Amazons, who lived in Asia, near the +river Thermodon. There were no men amongst them, +but they were all women, and very remarkable women, +too. They liked war better than anything else, and +were so well skilled in riding and in shooting with the +bow that no army was feared so much as the army of +the Amazons. When Heracles reached their country, +they happened to be in a meadow near the sea practising +with their weapons of war,—all but the queen, who was +sitting on the shore looking out over the sea, with her +girdle glittering in the sunshine. When she saw the +ship coming, she wondered who could be the strangers +that ventured into her country, and most of all she +marvelled at the sight of Heracles who was standing +in the fore-part of the ship, dressed in his lion's skin +and grasping his club. She asked him who he was and +what he wanted, and he answered, 'I am Heracles, the son +of Zeus, and I am performing hard labours in the service +of Eurystheus; he has sent me here to fetch your girdle +and take it back to Mycenae.' When the queen heard +that it was Heracles, whose deeds were spoken of all over +the world, she said that she would make him a present +of the girdle, and came towards the ship to greet him, +holding out her hand. But Hera would not allow +Heracles to carry off the girdle without a struggle, +and taking the form of an Amazon, she went to the +meadow where the others were, and called out to them, +'A stranger is going to rob our queen.' They all rushed +down to the shore and began to shoot at the strangers, +killing many a brave man; but when Heracles saw +that they treated him and his followers as enemies, he +thought that the queen had meant to act treacherously, +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P126"></a>126}</span> +and he slew her, and shot at the Amazons with his +arrows, and killed so many of them that they were soon +obliged to fly. He took the girdle from off the dead +queen and laid her corpse on the shore, and after the +ship had sailed away, the Amazons came and buried +her. +</p> + +<p> +Some days after this, the heroes landed at the city +of Troy, where they found all the people very sorrowful +because an innocent maiden was to suffer death on +account of the crime of her father Laomedon, the king +of Troy. The gods Poseidon and Apollo, in order to +try Laomedon, had entered into an engagement with +him, by which they undertook to build a wall round the +city that could never be destroyed. The wall was soon +finished, but Laomedon, who was very miserly and who +did not know that he had to deal with gods instead of +men, refused to give the reward that had been agreed +upon. Both the gods punished him for this. Apollo +sent a pestilence into the land which destroyed both +men and cattle, and Poseidon created a monster who +came up every day out of the sea, and laid waste the +fields devouring every living thing that he met with. +Even after the pestilence had ceased, the monster still +came every day, and took his fill of blood. The Trojans +asked the Oracle how they could get rid of him, and the +Oracle answered that the king's young daughter Hesione +must be given him to eat. The Trojans were very +fond of the beautiful maiden, but as they were all in +danger of perishing, they demanded of Laomedon that +he should give up his daughter as a victim. The king +shed many tears, but at last he consented, and when the +heroes landed, Hesione had just been brought to the +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P127"></a>127}</span> +shore, and chained to a rock at the spot where the +monster was accustomed to leave the sea. Heracles +heard from the Trojans how it had all happened, and +he went to the king and said that if he would give him +the two horses he had received from Zeus, he would +slay the monster. These horses had been given to +Laomedon by Zeus to make up for the loss of his son +Ganymede, a most beautiful boy, whom Zeus had caused +his sacred eagle to steal away and carry off to Mount +Olympus, where Ganymede lived from that time with +the gods, gifted with immortality and eternal youth. +When Heracles demanded these horses as his reward +for rescuing Hesione, Laomedon did not hesitate to +promise them, though they were the most beautiful +horses in all the world, for he felt willing to part with +anything he possessed in order to save his daughter. +Then Heracles placed himself by the side of Hesione +with a naked sword in his hand, and when the horrible +monster came out of the sea, opening his huge jaws to +devour the maiden, Heracles jumped down his throat and +wriggled himself down into his body, and then he cut +away all his entrails, so that the monster rolled about +on the ground in pain, howling horribly. When Heracles +thought he was dead, he crept up again out of the body +and washed himself clean in the sea. The king was +very glad that his daughter was saved, but avarice +again took possession of him and prevented him from +keeping his promise to Heracles. He tried to deceive +him with fair speeches, but Heracles understood perfectly +well that he was a faithless man, and he told him +that he would return and punish him. +</p> + +<p> +Heracles sailed back to Mycenae, and gave the girdle +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P128"></a>128}</span> +of the Queen of the Amazons to Eurystheus. The +king gave it to his daughter who was very much +pleased with it, and at the same time he told Heracles +that for his tenth Labour he was to fetch the cattle +of Geryon. Wonderful stories had been brought by +sailors of an island in the stream Oceanus, near the +setting sun, where there lived a king named Geryon +who possessed the strength of three men, for he had +three bodies, six arms, and six legs. The sailors also +told of the king's wonderful reddish-brown cattle which +formed the chief part of his riches, and how no one +dared to rob his flocks, because they were guarded day +and night by a dog with two heads, who barked until +he had roused a strong herdsman by whom the robber +was killed without much loss of time. +</p> + +<p> +Heracles set out to look for the island, and went on +and on towards the West till he came to countries where +the people were quite savage and barbarous. By-and-by +he reached the extreme end of Europe where +Africa is only separated from it by a narrow channel, +and as he wished to leave some token to show how far +he had journeyed, he broke off two huge rocks and set +them up in the sea, and ever since that time, the sailors +who pass through these two mountains of rock look up at +them and say, 'Those are the Pillars of Heracles.' At last +he came to the end of the land, and as he stood on the +shore wondering how he should manage to reach the +island of Geryon, the sun, which is much hotter in those +parts than it is here, smote upon his head. This +annoyed him very much, and as he was in the habit of +paying back anyone who did him an injury, he now +took his bow and arrows and shot at the sun-god. But +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P129"></a>129}</span> +instead of being angry with him, Helios the sun-god +admired him for his boldness in being so ready to +fight even with gods, and he came down and gave him +the golden shell in which he travels from West to East +in the evening after sunset. It was an exceedingly +large shell, and Heracles sailed over the sea in it till +he came to the island of Geryon. The beautiful herd +was in a meadow where the grass stood so high that +it reached far above their knees. When Heracles came +to the herd, the great dog started up, barking out of +his two heads, but Heracles quickly put an end to that, +for he gave him such a blow with his club that his +backbone was broken through. The herdsman had +however already awoke, and he came running down, +intending to kill the robber as he had killed many +a one before, but this time he himself met with his +death by a blow from the fist of Heracles, who then +drove off the cattle towards the sea. But someone +told King Geryon that his cattle were being stolen, +and he ran after the robber in a great rage, throwing +big stones at him and screaming with all his might. +Heracles waited till he came up, and then they wrestled +together. Geryon wound his six arms round him +hoping to throw him, but they both fell at the same +time, and Geryon was the undermost. Heracles set +one knee on his body, but as he leaned over to reach a +stone to kill him with, Geryon managed to spring up +and tried to run away. Heracles, however, shot three +arrows through his three hearts, and he fell down dead. +</p> + +<p> +Then Heracles went off with the herd, and when he +had brought them safely to the mainland he returned +the shell to the sun-god, thanking him heartily for his +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P130"></a>130}</span> +help. He had to take the cattle through many lands +before they finally arrived in Greece, and on his way +he came to the part of Italy where Rome was afterwards +built. It happened to be the hot noontide, and +Heracles lay down under the shade of a tree and let the +herd graze. Now it chanced that in a cave under the +Mount Aventinus there lived the giant Cacus, who was +very hideous to look at, and who could cook his food in +his own mouth, for fire and flames spouted out of it +whenever he liked. Cacus was a great robber, and +when he saw the beautiful cattle he set his mind on +having some of them, but Heracles looked so strong +that he did not dare to take them by force, so he waited +till he was asleep, and then he came out of his cave +and pulled several of the cows backwards into it by +their tails, so that the footprints in the sand looked +like those of cows that had been driven out of the cave +to pasture. When it became cooler, Heracles awoke +and counted his cattle; there were too few of them, but +he could not find any traces of the direction in which +they had gone, and was obliged to pass on without +them. But just as they were going over Mount +Aventinus one of the bulls chanced to bellow, and those +in the cave of Cacus answered, because they wanted to +go on with the others. Heracles immediately knew +what had become of his cattle, and hastened down to +the cave. The giant had shoved a huge fragment of +rock in front of the entrance, but Heracles in his +anger was even stronger than usual, and he threw +down the rock with a noise that made the whole mountain +tremble. Cacus was afraid of him, and sat cowering +in a corner of the cave, spouting out smoke and +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P131"></a>131}</span> +flames to prevent him from coming near. But Heracles +did not mind the flames, and he seized Cacus by the +neck and strangled him; then he dragged him out to +the light, and wondered to see how ugly he was. The +stolen cattle came out of the cave of their own accord +and joined the others, and Heracles drove them on +further. +</p> + +<p> +Some time after this, when he had nearly reached +Mycenae and was travelling along the sea-shore, Hera +sent a great gnat that flew about among the cattle +humming and buzzing and stinging first one and then +another, till they became quite unmanageable and ran +away in different directions. Several jumped into the +sea, and Heracles jumped in after them and brought +back all that he could reach, pulling in some by their +horns and driving others in front of him, but the greater +number of them swam out into the open sea and +perished. Then he set to work to collect those that +had escaped into the forest, and tired himself till +nightfall with running after them, which gave Hera great +pleasure. All that he could recover he brought to +Mycenae, and Eurystheus sacrificed them to Hera. +</p> + +<p> +Heracles had now only two more Labours to accomplish, +and Eurystheus pondered night and day as to +what would be the most difficult and dangerous task +he could set him. At last he told him that for his +eleventh Labour he was to fetch three apples from the +Garden of the Hesperides, although no mortal knew +where the Garden was. When Zeus and Hera were +married, the Earth had caused an apple tree to spring +up, which she gave them as her present, and which was +covered with apples of pure gold. Hera planted the tree +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P132"></a>132}</span> +on an island in Oceanus which had never been trodden +by the foot of any mortal, and in course of time a +whole garden grew from it, in which all the trees bore +golden apples. The garden was tended by three nymphs +called the Singing Hesperides, and it was guarded by a +dragon. Heracles never allowed himself to be discouraged, +however hard his task might be, but always set +about it in good spirits, confident of success, and he +now went about asking everyone where the Hesperides +lived. One day he came to a river, and some nymphs +who were sitting on the bank asked him where he was +going. He said, 'King Eurystheus has sent me to +fetch him three apples from the Garden of the +Hesperides, but I do not know where the Garden is.' One +of the nymphs said, 'We do not know either, but +Nereus, the old sea-god, can tell you, for he knows +everything, both in earth and heaven.' Then they told +Heracles where to find Nereus, and what to do in order +to oblige him to answer his questions. Nereus lived in +the sea, but about mid-day he came up on to the land +and lay down in a grotto to sleep. When he was +asleep, Heracles came and seized him by the arms, and +Nereus, waking up, found himself a prisoner. He +changed himself first into a wolf, and then into a lion, +and lastly into a dragon, hoping that Heracles would +be frightened and let go, but the nymphs had prepared +him for these tricks, and instead of loosening his hold +on the sea-god, he on the contrary held him tighter +and tighter, till at last Nereus had to give in, and ask +him what he wanted. When he heard what it was, he +gave Heracles an exact description of where the +Hesperides lived, and how to get there; it was a very long +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P133"></a>133}</span> +way off, even further than to the island of King Geryon, +but Heracles would not be disheartened, and at once +began his journey. +</p> + +<p> +On the way he came to Libya, where there reigned +a king named Antaeus who would not allow any +stranger to pass through his land without wrestling +with him; and hitherto he had overcome and killed them +all, for he was a son of the Earth, and his mother gave +him new strength every time he touched her. Heracles +wrestled with Antaeus and threw him on to the ground +three times, but each time the king sprang up again +stronger than before. Then Heracles perceived that the +Earth gave him strength, and he raised him up in the +air so that he did not touch the earth at all, and +squeezed him against his own body till he died. +</p> + +<p> +After this he continued his journey till he came to +Egypt, where King Busiris lived, who every year +sacrificed a stranger to the gods. Some time before this, +the land had been unfruitful for nine years, so that +many people died of hunger, and a soothsayer in a distant +island who heard of this and hoped to earn a good +reward without much trouble, went to Egypt and told +the king that he knew by his art that the only way in +which he could be reconciled to the gods was by +sacrificing a stranger to them every year. But instead +of giving him the reward he looked for, the king +offered him up as the first sacrifice, and after this he +seized a stranger every year for the same purpose. +When Heracles entered the country, the king's servants +happened to be on the look-out for a stranger, for the +time of the yearly sacrifice had come round, and finding +Heracles asleep by the wayside, they bound him with +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P134"></a>134}</span> +many strong cords and brought him before the king. +Heracles acted as if he had no choice but to submit to this +treatment, but when the priest came with the sacrificial +knife in his hand to give him the death-blow, he burst +asunder the cords, and snatching the knife from the +priest, stabbed the king whom nobody interfered to +save, for he was a cruel man and greatly dreaded by his +subjects. After this, the Egyptians offered no more +human sacrifices, and yet their land remained fruitful, +for the soothsayer who had commanded the sacrifice +was a false prophet. +</p> + +<p> +Heracles passed on through other lands till he came +to the extreme end of the world where the giant Atlas +lived, who had had an irksome task imposed upon +him by the gods. He had to support the vault of +heaven with his head and hands, and if he had +neglected his duty even for a moment, the heaven +would have fallen and crushed the earth to atoms. +Heracles told Atlas of the errand on which he had been +sent, and Atlas, who was only too glad to have an +opportunity of resting his shoulders and stretching his +legs, said that he would go and fetch the apples, if +Heracles would meanwhile take his place in supporting +the heaven. So Atlas went to the Garden, and the +nymphs gave him the apples because he was their +uncle, so that it was not long before he returned with +them. But he found freedom so much more agreeable +than the fulfilment of his task, that when he came back +he said to Heracles, 'I have supported the heaven +quite long enough, and now you must take your turn. +Heracles thought to himself, 'If my wits fail me now, +there will be no help for me,' so he pretended to agree. +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P135"></a>135}</span> +and said, 'Very well, but just let me first put my lion's +skin over my head to keep the heaven from pressing so +heavily upon it.' Then Atlas laid down the apples +upon the ground and took up his burden again, thinking +it was just for a minute, but Heracles took up the +golden apples and went away and left him, and Atlas has +ever since been obliged to support the heaven because he +let himself be duped in this way. Heracles returned +to Mycenae and showed Eurystheus the golden apples, +which glittered so brightly that when the sun shone +one could hardly bear to look at them; then he gave +them to the goddess Athene, who took them back to +the Garden of the Hesperides, for Hera would have been +angry if she had kept them. +</p> + +<p> +Eurystheus decreed that the twelfth and last Labour +of Heracles should be to fetch the hideous dog Cerberus +from the Lower World. There was a chain of bare, +rugged mountains, in the centre of which was a +yawning chasm stretching down far below the earth, and +anyone who had the courage to go down it, came at +last to the Lower World, where the shades of the dead +go when they leave the earth. The gate of the Land of +Shades was guarded by the great dog Cerberus, who +stood there as watchman, and let everyone go in, but no +one pass out again. His appearance was truly frightful, +for he had three heads glistening all over with +serpents which grew there instead of hair, and his tail +was also an angry serpent with sharp teeth. As +Heracles went down the chasm, he made up his mind +that he would not try and steal the dog, but would tell +Pluto that Eurystheus had commanded him to fetch him, +and beg that he might be allowed to take him away. At +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P136"></a>136}</span> +last he reached the Land of Shades, where there is +neither day nor night, but always grey twilight, and he +saw many thousand shades flitting about like moths in +the dusk. They slipped away as soon as he came near +them, but their flight could not be heard but only seen, +for their forms were without substance. They were +also without any power of thinking, but Heracles knew +that they could gain both speech and consciousness by +drinking blood, and as the flock of Pluto was grazing +near, he seized a cow with the intention of killing it; +but before he could do so, the herdsman ran after him +in a rage and struck him. Heracles let go the cow, and +turning to the herdsman, he rained blows upon him with +his fists until he screamed with all his might for help. +Queen Persephone heard his cries, and coming out of +her palace, she begged Heracles to leave off beating the +herdsman, which he did for her sake. Then she asked +him why he had come into the Lower World, and when +he told her, she took him to her husband, King Pluto, +who said he would allow him to take the dog to the +Upper World on condition that he captured him without +the help of any weapons. Heracles put on a shield +that Pluto gave him and went back to the gate, where +Cerberus greeted him with a growl, showing all his +great teeth. However Heracles did not mind that, +but grasping the part of his neck which belonged to +the middle head, he pinched it tightly with his powerful +fingers. The serpents bit him in the arm and the +leg, causing him great pain, but instead of letting go +the head he only pinched it the harder, so that at last +the dog was forced to give in, and he led him up the +path without any further difficulty. When they came +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P137"></a>137}</span> +to the daylight however, Cerberus moaned, and would +not have gone any farther if Heracles had not +compelled him, being the stronger of the two, for the light +of the sun struck him just between the eyes, and hurt +him so much that foam dropped from his mouth; and +wherever a drop of it fell on the ground, there sprang +up a plant called Nightshade, which still grows, and is a +deadly poison. When Heracles had taken the dog to +Mycenae and shown him to Eurystheus, he brought +him to the mouth of the chasm, and released him. +Then Cerberus rushed back with great bounds into his +beloved darkness, and Heracles heard him barking +joyfully, long after he was out of sight. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a id="chap2604fn1"></a> +[<a href="#chap2604fn1text">1</a>] For the rest of the story of the Cretan bull, see <a href="#P184">p. 184</a>. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap2605"></a></p> + +<h3> +5. <i>The Murder of Iphitus, and the Vengeances of<br> +Heracles.</i> +</h3> + +<p> +Heracles had now served Eurystheus for twelve +years, and had performed twelve great Labours for him, +the hardest that have ever been accomplished by any +man. During this time Megara had died, and Heracles +now washed to take another wife. He heard that +in Oechalia there was a beautiful maiden named Iole, +the daughter of Eurytus, the king of the island of +Eubcea, but that Eurytus had proclaimed that no one +should marry her who could not shoot with the bow +better than himself and his sons. They were the best +archers in the whole country, and although many +suitors came to Oechalia, yet when they saw how well +Eurytus could shoot, they all thought it was useless +even to string their bows, and went away home again +in despair. Heracles resolved that he also would go +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P138"></a>138}</span> +and sue for Iole, and he went out into the open field +with Eurytus and his sons, in order to contend with +them for the prize. All showed marvellous skill in +shooting, but the arrow of Heracles pierced the breast +of a wild dove so far off that the others could scarcely +see it till it was brought down, and they were obliged +to confess that he had beaten them. But Eurytus +taunted him and said, 'Would you have me give you +my daughter for your wife? When the gods send you +children you throw them into the fire.' Heracles was +enraged with Eurytus for mocking at his misfortune, +and he went away vowing that he would one day be +revenged upon him. +</p> + +<p> +Some time after this, a robber stole twelve of the +finest cattle that Eurytus possessed, and he sent his +son Iphitus to look for them. Iphitus went to several +places in search of them, and finally came to Tiryns +where Heracles was. When Heracles saw Iphitus he +was reminded of the way in which his father had +insulted him, and it made him so angry that he struck +the boy dead, though afterwards when he became +calmer he would gladly have recalled the deed. He +went to Neleus, the king of Pylos, and begged him to +purge him from the stain of blood, but Neleus, who +was a friend of Eurytus, refused to do so, but on +the contrary banished him from the country, blaming +him for what he had done. Heracles found +another wise man who consented to purify him, but +the gods were, notwithstanding this, still angry with +him on account of the murder of Iphitus, and as a +punishment, they visited him with a sore sickness, of +which he could neither get well nor die, and which +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P139"></a>139}</span> +caused him terrible suffering. Heracles went to the +Oracle at Delphi and asked the Pythia what he could +do to have the sickness taken away from him, but +Apollo, who inspired the Pythia as to what she should +say, would not give any answer. Then Heracles got +into a great rage, and he tore up from the ground the +sacred Tripod on which the priestess sat, and carried it +away on his back. Apollo saw the theft, and he came +down from heaven and demanded the Tripod back +again. No other would have dared to meet his +angry look, but Heracles was not in the least afraid, +and he refused to give it up. They were just going +to fight about it, and had already taken their places +for the struggle, when a thunderbolt fell upon the +ground between them. They knew that this was a +warning from their father Zeus, and they agreed to lay +aside their ill-feeling and make peace; Heracles gave +back the Tripod, and Apollo pronounced the Oracle. +It was that Heracles must serve as a slave for the space +of three years and give the money for which he was sold +to Eurytus, and that then his illness would be at an end. +</p> + +<p> +So Heracles allowed himself to be sold as a slave by +Hermes, the messenger of the gods, and he was bought +by the beautiful Omphale, queen of Lydia. Eurytus +refused to take the money, but the gods decided that +it was the same as if he had done so, and Heracles was +freed from his sickness. Omphale made use of her +strong slave for all kinds of service, both in freeing the +land from wild beasts, and in punishing wicked robbers, +so that the Lydians lived in peace and safety; and +Heracles loved the beautiful Omphale with all his heart, +ani was ready to do anything in the world in order to +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P140"></a>140}</span> +please her. She was very proud of being able to +command the mighty hero as if he were a little child, +and in order to show the people how obedient he was +to her, she made him sit among her maidens in women's +clothes spinning at the distaff, whilst she dressed +herself up in the lion's skin, as if she were the man and he +the woman, and Heracles allowed her to do just as she +would with him because of the great love he bore her. +</p> + +<p> +When the three years were ended, Heracles left +the palace of Omphale, and went through the cities of +Greece asking if any heroes would set out with him for +Troy, for he meant to carry out his threat of punishing +King Laomedon for his faithlessness. So many heroes +came that they filled six large ships, and they sailed to +Troy and besieged the city. They set up ladders with +which to climb over the walls, and pressed on +notwithstanding the stones and javelins that the Trojans +threw down upon them, but they would never have +succeeded in entering the city without the help of +Heracles. When the city was taken, Heracles passed +a sentence of death upon the king and his sons, and +shot them all together, only sparing the youngest +whose name was Podarces, because he was too young to +have had any part in the treachery of his father. +Heracles gave the beautiful Hesione to the hero +Telamon who had been the first to scale the wall, +and as she wept very much at leaving Troy, he told +her that she might take one of the prisoners with her. +She did not take long to consider who it should be, but +immediately held out her hand to her little brother +Podarces. Then Heracles said that she must buy him, +so she took off her veil, which was the only one she had, +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P141"></a>141}</span> +and threw it down fur the purchase-money; and from +that time her brother was called Priam, which means +Bought. He came to Greece with his sister Hesione, +but when he grew up to be a man he returned to Troy +and became king of the country. +</p> + +<p> +When Augeas and the others who had wronged +Heracles heard of the punishment that had overtaken +Laomedon, they were afraid, and assembled all their +warriors to protect them, for Heracles had announced +his intention of marching against them as soon as he +returned to Greece. But Hera, who still hated him, +tried to destroy him on his way home. She commanded +the god of Slumber to send Zeus into a deep sleep, +and while he lay unconscious, she raised a tremendous +storm on the sea through which Heracles was sailing. +All his companions were very much frightened, but +Heracles was not in the least disturbed, and before the +waves could make a wreck of the ship, Zeus awoke, +and seeing his son in danger, calmed the sea so that it +became quite smooth and the fishes came up again +from the bottom to play. Zeus knew that it was Hera +who had raised the storm, and he punished her for it. +He tied her hands together with a golden chain, and +attached a heavy weight to each of her feet, and then +he suspended her in the clouds, where she was obliged +to hang all day long in great pain, with the winds and +storms for her only companions. +</p> + +<p> +Heracles was none the worse for the storm, and as +soon as he had landed in Greece with the other heroes, +he led them against Elis, the city of King Augeas, and +conquered it. Augeas would now have gladly parted +with his whole herd if that would have saved his life, +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P142"></a>142}</span> +but Heracles killed him and all his sons except Phyleus, +the one who had refused to bear false witness against +him and had been banished by his father in +consequence. He gave the country into the hands of +Phyleus, and then he led his followers from Elis to +Pylos, where he punished King Neleus for having +refused to purge him from the stain of blood. Of the +whole race of the king, the only one who remained +alive after the visit of Heracles was a little boy named +Nestor, whom his father Neleus had sent to be brought +up in a neighbouring country, and who grew up to be a +brave and wise hero. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap2606"></a></p> + +<h3> +6. <i>The Marriage of Heracles with Deianira, and<br> +his Death.</i> +</h3> + +<p> +There was still one man left whom Heracles desired +to punish, and this was Eurytus. But he deferred his +revenge for a time, in order to undertake a pleasanter +expedition to the court of King Oeneus, of Calydon, +whose beautiful daughter Deianira he wished to marry. +Deianira was a maiden who delighted in driving horses +that had never been broken in, and who knew how to use +the lance and the bow. She had another distinguished +lover, the river-god Acheloüs, and as neither he nor +Heracles would give way to the other, they determined +to fight it out, and agreed that whichever conquered +should have the bride. Acheloüs came out of his stream +in the form of a bull, and Heracles had a hard struggle +with him, for his opponent had the strength of a bull, +and at the same time the wisdom of a god. Acheloüs +ran at him intending to gore him with his horns, and +if Heracles had not been on his guard, he would have +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P143"></a>143}</span> +been pierced through. For a long time the struggle +lasted, each trying to overpower the other by strength +or by craft, and when the river-god laid his fore-feet +upon the shoulders of Heracles who was clothed in his +lion's skin, and pressed his strong chest against him in +the hope of throwing him, it looked as if a lion and a +bull had embraced each other. But at last Heracles +laid hold of one of the horns of Acheloüs and tore at it +with all his might till he succeeded in breaking it off, +and then the bull bellowed horribly, and ran back, +bleeding, into the river. +</p> + +<p> +So Heracles remained the victor, and Oeneus gave +him Deianira to be his wife, and she was glad to have +such a noble hero for her husband. Heracles wanted +to keep the horn as a trophy, but Acheloüs gave him +instead of it the wonderful horn of the goat Amalthea +who had been the nurse of Zeus.[<a id="chap2606fn1text"></a><a href="#chap2606fn1">1</a>] This horn had been +blessed by Zeus, and anyone who held it in his hand +might wish for anything he liked to eat or drink, and +immediately it was there. For this reason it was called +the Horn of Plenty, because it produced all kinds of +food in abundance. +</p> + +<p> +Heracles lived many years in Calydon with Deianira, +not spending his time slothfully, but fighting against +all the robbers and wicked men in the neighbourhood. +But one day it happened that the boy who held the +washing-basin and poured water over his hands before meals, +was careless and showered the water all over him. +Heracles gave him what he intended to be a little +box on the ears, but a blow from him came with such +violence that the boy immediately fell down dead. +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P144"></a>144}</span> +Heracles was very much grieved, and he determined +to leave the city of Calydon, and set out with Deianira +for Trachis where an old friend of his lived. On the +way they came to a broad river over which there was no +bridge, but the Centaur Nessus used to carry travellers +across on his horse's back for a trifling payment. +Heracles entrusted Deianira to him, and said that he +himself would follow without help. The Centaur, however, +was so greatly charmed with the beauty of Deianira, +that as he swam with her across the stream he made +up his mind that he would carry her off. So when he +had reached the other side, instead of letting her jump +off his back, he held her fast and ran away with her. +Deianira stretched out her arms to Heracles who was +still on the farther bank, and screamed for help. Then +Heracles took his bow and shot a poisoned arrow into +the shoulder of the Centaur, and he fell down and was +obliged to let go his hold of Deianira. Nessus felt +that the poison would soon kill him, and he longed to +revenge himself on Heracles by doing him some injury. +So he said to Deianira, 'Take a cloth and dip it in my +blood, and do not let Heracles see it; but if ever you +are afraid that he loves another woman better than you, +sprinkle the blood over his clothing, and he will be +unable to leave you. You must take care, however, not +to touch it yourself.' The blood had been poisoned by +the arrow of Heracles, and anyone whose skin was even +touched by it must die, but Deianira did not know +this; she thought the Centaur was speaking in good +faith and determined to follow his advice, for she loved +Heracles with all her heart, and desired above all things +that he should always love her as much in return. +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P145"></a>145}</span> +</p> + +<p> +Nessus died soon after he had spoken to Deianira, +and Heracles continued his journey with her. When +they came to Trachis which is not far from Euboea, +he remembered the vengeance that he had purposed +to execute upon Eurytus, and assembling all his +companions, he set sail for his island. Eurytus armed his +sons and all his men of war, and met him outside the +walls of Oechalia. Then a battle was fought in which +many wounds were given and received, and Heracles +slew Eurytus and his sons, which, when the others saw, +they gave up all hope and betook themselves to flight. +Heracles entered the city with his companions and +gave them leave to take any plunder they chose, for all +the people surrendered themselves and their possessions +to him, only asking that their lives might be spared. +</p> + +<p> +Heracles now desired to offer a solemn sacrifice to +Zeus as a token of his gratitude for the victory, and he +sent the herald Lichas to procure from Deianira a +festal robe suitable for the occasion. Deianira was +greatly afraid that Heracles might forsake her for the +beautiful Iole whom he had formerly wished to marry, +and remembering what the Centaur had told her to do +if ever she had any special reason for desiring that +Heracles should be true to her, she took the cloth +which had been soaked in his blood, and smeared all +the inner side of the robe with it. Lichas took the +robe to Heracles, and he put it on. But when the +blood had become warmed by the heat of his body, it +burst out into flames and burnt Heracles so terribly +that in his agony he seized Lichas by the feet and +flung him three times against the rocks, till his face +was so battered that none of the features could be +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P146"></a>146}</span> +distinguished. Then he tried to tear off the dress, but it +clung so closely to his skin that pieces of his flesh came +off with it. He suffered unspeakable tortures, which +made him cry out with the pain and roll on the ground +in agony, and then he moaned so piteously that the +very stones might have felt for him, but no one dared +to go near him. For a short time the pain made him +quite mad; then he controlled himself with a mighty +effort and resolved what he would do. He got into a +ship that was going to Greece, and when he arrived +there he ascended Mount Oeta, accompanied by some +of his friends; the poison still caused him terrible +suffering, but he was able to bear it in silence now. On +the top of Mount Oeta he built a huge funeral pile and +mounted to the top of it; then he asked his friends to +set fire to it, but none of them would do so,—they only +stood round weeping. Presently however a herdsman +came along the road, and Heracles called out to him, +and said that he would give him his bow and arrows if +he would set fire to the funeral pile. The herdsman +consented to do so for the sake of the beautiful bow, +and he brought a burning torch with which he set the +wood alight. The wind fanned the flames and they +mounted higher and higher, but before they reached +Heracles himself, a sound of thunder and lightning was +heard, and a cloud came down which covered the +funeral pile and in which he was carried up to the top +of Mount Olympus. The gods gifted him with +immortality as a recompense for his noble deeds, and +they said that he should henceforth be as one of +themselves. Even Hera did not grudge him this reward, +for her hatred had at last been conquered by his grand +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P147"></a>147}</span> +and godlike Labours, and when Heracles appeared +among the Immortals in the form of a god, she led +her daughter, the goddess Hebe, towards him, and said +that he should have her for his wife. Poor Deianira +was already in the Lower World, for when she heard of +the evil that had been wrought by the robe, she went +into her bed-chamber and hanged herself. +</p> + +<p> +Heracles was honoured on the earth as a god, and +men built temples to him, and kept his great deeds in +constant remembrance. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a id="chap2606fn1"></a> +[<a href="#chap2606fn1text">1</a>] See <a href="#P3">page 3</a>. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap27"></a><a id="chap2701"></a></p> + +<p><span class="pagenum">{<a id="P148"></a>148}</span></p> + +<h2> +XXVII. +<br><br> +THE QUEST OF THE ARGONAUTS. +</h2> + +<h3> +1. <i>The Golden Fleece.</i> +</h3> + +<p> +There was once a king in the land of Greece called +Athamas, and he had a wife and two children, whose +names were Phrixus and Helle. But the king loved +another woman better than his wife, and he thrust +away his wife and made the other woman queen. The +children had now a step-mother, who at first was very +kind to them, but afterwards when she had children of +her own it was a different thing, and Phrixus and Helle +had a bad time of it. Their own mother remained in +the city living on a dole that she received from the king, +but she was not allowed to enter the palace; sometimes, +however, she used to come secretly after dark, and then +she kissed the children and gave them little presents, +which made them very happy. The step-mother was +always trying to find some means of getting rid of the +children, and at last she thought of a plan which she +hoped would be successful. When the time for sowing +the corn came round, she ordered all the women in the +country to roast the seed secretly, so that though the +corn was sown as usual it did not spring up, for the +seeds were dead because they had been cooked. Then +there was great distress all over the country, and the +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P149"></a>149}</span> +king sent messengers to Delphi to ask the Oracle how +the land could be made fruitful again. But the wicked +queen took the messengers aside and bribed them by +the promise of a great reward to deceive the king. +They did not go to Delphi at all, but hid themselves +outside the city until there would have been time to go +and come back again, and then they sprinkled their +clothes with dust as if they had taken a long journey, +and went to the king and took him the message that +the queen had put into their mouths,—which was that +he must sacrifice his son Phrixus to the gods, or else +the fields would never be fruitful again. The king was +very unwilling to do this, but the people pressed him +until he consented to the sacrifice, for they were afraid +they would all die of hunger. +</p> + +<p> +The true mother was very sad, and she wept all day +and all night because her son was going to be killed. +And the gods had pity on her, and sent Hermes, the +messenger, to take her a ram covered all over with +golden wool that shone like the beautiful sun, and tell +her that the ram should carry away her children to a +place of safety. Then the mother was comforted, and +after dark she fetched the children from the palace by +stealth and placed them both on the ram's back. +Phrixus sat in front and held on fast by the horns, and +Helle was behind with her arms round her brother. +When they had taken leave of their mother, the Golden +Ram set out on his journey; first he flew up as high as +the clouds, and then he trotted along the path of the +birds, mid-way between heaven and earth, and it +seemed to the children, as they looked down, as if the +houses and trees were all running away from them. +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P150"></a>150}</span> +They journeyed on all night in the bright star-light, and +when the sun rose they were already far from home, +and found themselves above the sea which lies between +Europe and Asia. Helle wanted to take a last look at +the beautiful land of Greece and turned round that she +might see it better, but in her eagerness she let go of her +brother and fell far down into the sea, and even before +she touched the water she was dead from the effect of +the great fall. Phrixus was very, very sorry, and he +shed so many tears that the fishermen below thought it +was beginning to rain. Ever since that time the +Greeks have called that sea the Hellespont, which +means the sea of Helle. +</p> + +<p> +The Golden Ram flew on and on till he had passed +over the Black Sea and reached the city of Colchis, +which was a very long way from the kingdom of Athamas. +Phrixus sacrificed the ram to the gods, and he +presented its golden fleece to Aeëtes the king of the +country, who hung it on a tree in a forest near the city +and placed beside it a powerful dragon that never went +to sleep. Phrixus was kindly treated by the king; he +lived in his palace and sat at his table, and when he +grew up, Aeëtes gave him his daughter for a wife. +</p> + +<p> +After this, a great misfortune befell King Athamas +and the wicked step-mother. He had incurred the +anger of Hera,[<a id="chap2701fn1text"></a><a href="#chap2701fn1">1</a>] and she afflicted him with madness. +One day as he was returning from hunting, he saw his +two young children playing in front of the palace, but +they seemed to him to be two young deer, and he took +his bow and shot the eldest boy right through the +heart. He was just going to shoot the other child, but +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P151"></a>151}</span> +the mother, who was close by, saw that the king was +mad, and she took it up in her arms and ran away as +fast as she could. Athamas pursued her with his arrow +on the string, until the queen finding that she could +not escape, threw herself into the sea with her child, +and they were both drowned. Athamas was overcome +with grief when his reason returned to him, and he left +the kingdom and went to the Oracle to ask what he +should do. The answer he received was that he was +to settle in a land where he would be the guest of wild +beasts. Athamas did not know how this could be, but +after wandering about for a long time he came to an +almost uninhabited country, where he one day saw two +or three wolves devouring a sheep which they had +killed. When Athamas came near them they ran +away, and as he had eaten nothing for several days +and was almost starving, he cut off a piece of the raw +sheep and eat it hastily, and then it occurred to him +that he had eaten the wolves' dinner, and was therefore +their guest. So he wandered no longer, but settled +down in that place, and when others came to live in +the same neighbourhood, Athamas became their king, +and ruled over them until his death some years later. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p> +<a id="chap2701fn1"></a> +[<a href="#chap2701fn1text">1</a>] See <a href="#P63">page 63</a>. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap2702"></a></p> + +<h3> +2. <i>The Journey to Colchis.</i> +</h3> + +<p> +Some time had passed away and Phrixus was +already dead, when it happened that the king of Iolcus, +in Greece, whose name was Pelias, sent one day to the +Oracle at Delphi to ask what would befall him in the +future, and the Oracle in reply told him to beware of +the One-sandalled man: the Greeks did not wear shoes +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P152"></a>152}</span> +like ours, but sandals, which were soles of leather, tied +on to the feet with straps. Many years passed by, +and the king never saw a man with only one sandal +on, and had almost forgotten the warning of the +Oracle. But one day when he was going to offer a +great sacrifice to Poseidon, he invited all his friends to +the banquet, and amongst others, Jason his brother's +son, who lived at some little distance from the city. +On his way to Iolcus, Jason had to pass through a +brook which had become swollen by heavy rain, and +one of his sandals got loose in the water and remained +sticking in the marshy soil. He could not get it again +because the water was too deep, and was obliged to +walk half bare-foot into the city. As soon as Pelias +saw him, he was put in mind of the Oracle, and he said +to him, 'What should you do to get rid of a man if you +had been told that he was likely to kill you.' Jason +laughed and answered, 'I should send him to fetch +the Golden Fleece.' For it was a dangerous journey +to Colchis, and the powerful King Aeëtes would have +parted with one of his eyes rather than with the Golden +Fleece, so there was every chance that anyone who +ventured on such an undertaking as that, would perish. +Then Pelias said, 'The Oracle has warned me to beware +of you; choose your companions and set out in search +of it.' +</p> + +<p> +Jason was a brave and fearless hero, and was quite +ready for the expedition. He sent messengers to +summon all the noblest heroes to come with him, and +fifty were found willing to undertake the journey, besides +the strong Heracles, who also said that he would go +with them. There was a man in Iolcus, named Argus, +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P153"></a>153}</span> +who was skilled in shipbuilding, and he fashioned for +them a great vessel with places for fifty rowers. The +goddess Athene sent a beam for it, made of sacred oak, +which could speak, and it was inserted in the front part +of the ship. She was a noble vessel, and all who saw +her were filled with wonder and delight. They called +her the Argo, after the name of the builder, and the +heroes who sailed in her were called Argonauts. When +she was ready they pushed her out to sea, and each man +took his oar in his hand. Besides the rowers there was +a hero who sat at the helm, and Jason the leader, who +had no special place assigned to him in the ship. +Many people came down to the shore to watch them +sail away, and wish them a prosperous journey. The +ship went as fast as a bird can fly, the helmsman steered, +the rowers rowed, and the Sacred Beam warned the +heroes of the rocks below the water, so that they might +steer the ship clear of them. +</p> + +<p> +After sailing for some days, they came to the +beautiful island of Lemnos, and as they were tired of +rowing and wanted to rest, they went on shore. There +was not a single man in the island, only women. Some +time before this, the men had purposed to thrust away +their wives and take others, and so the women had +killed them all, not even excepting the old men and +boys, and they determined to be a nation of women +only, like the Amazons. The only man left alive in the +whole island was the father of the Queen, Hypsipele, +whom she loved very dearly and resolved to save at any +cost. There was a secret room in the palace in which +she hid him, and every day she took him food by +stealth, for if the other women had discovered what +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P154"></a>154}</span> +she had done they would perhaps have killed her.[<a id="chap2702fn1text"></a><a href="#chap2702fn1">1</a>] The +Argonauts were very much astonished at seeing women +do all the things that are usually undertaken by men, +such as ploughing fields, felling trees in the wood, and +practising with weapons of war. The heroes asked where +the men were, and they told them why they had killed +them. They did not however refuse to receive the +strange heroes, but entertained them hospitably, and +the Argonauts enjoyed themselves very much on the +island. Many of them found it much more agreeable +than sitting at their oars in the ship, but after some +time had passed, Jason called them together, and they +went back to the Argo and continued their journey. +They did not stop again till they had reached the +country of the Doliones, and then they knew that they +had left Europe behind them. +</p> + +<p> +The Doliones always kept watchmen near the sea to +give notice of any ships that were coming, for there +were a great many pirates cruising about that sea who +fell upon honest folk and robbed them, and the Doliones +had lately suffered much at their hands. When the +Argo came near their land, a number of the Doliones +assembled on the shore and asked the heroes what they +wanted. Jason said, 'We are going to Colchis to fetch +the Golden Fleece, and we should like to rest here.' On +hearing this the Doliones received them kindly, and +their king came down to the shore and sent for several +cattle and great skins of wine to be brought. Fires +were lighted, the cattle were killed and roasted, and the +Doliones feasted till the evening with the heroes, who +then sailed away. But a great storm came on, and it +was so dark that they could not even see the mast of +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P155"></a>155}</span> +the ship. They were unable to make head against the +high waves, so they pulled in the oars and let the ship +dance to the whistling of the wind, but in this way +they lost their reckoning, and no longer knew either +the direction from which they had come, or that in +which they desired to go. At last the storm subsided, +and they made for some land which they could just +distinguish not far from where they were, but when +they tried to land, the inhabitants came with weapons +to drive them away, for they thought they were pirates. +The Argonauts killed many enemies, but when the day +dawned they discovered that they were the Doliones,—neither +party had recognised the other in the darkness. +Then there was great weeping for the dead, especially +for the king who had entertained the heroes so royally +the day before, and had been slain by them in the +night. The Argonauts remained three days longer in +that country and celebrated magnificent games in +honour of the king,—running races, wrestling with one +another, and measuring their skill in shooting with the +bow and in throwing the lance,—and whoever did the +best obtained the prize. +</p> + +<p> +Then for the second time they sailed away from +the land of the Doliones. They were now not far from +the Black Sea, and were coasting along by the country +of Mysia, when it happened that some of the oars +broke, and they had to stop and go into a forest to get +some new ones. Heracles went far into the forest to +look for the best trees, taking with him a boy named +Hylas who served him and whom he loved as his own +son. Heracles was thirsty after his work, and he told +the boy to go to the nearest stream and draw him some +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P156"></a>156}</span> +water in a pitcher. Hylas found a clear transparent +pool fringed with lovely flowers, and stooped down to +draw the water, but the nymphs to whom it belonged +saw him and were so struck by his great beauty, for he +was the most beautiful boy in all Greece, that they +came up from the bottom to draw him down into the +pool; and they seized him, one by the hand and another +by the foot, and said, 'Come down to our house, +beautiful boy, and we will play with you.' Hylas did +not want to go, and he screamed and struggled with all +his might, but the nymphs were stronger than he, and +dragged him down. When Heracles heard his cry, he +thought the boy must have been carried off by robbers, +so he took his oar and ran down to the brook, and not +finding him there, he rushed frantically through the +forest in search of him, saying that he would not go +back to the ship without Hylas. Meanwhile evening +had come on, the other heroes had all returned to the +ship, and they sailed away, unmindful of Heracles. +The next morning they saw indeed that he was not +there, but they could not sail all the way back again, +and they trusted that they would be able to bring +home the Golden Fleece without him. So Heracles +returned to Greece, where he accomplished his twelve +great Labours. +</p> + +<p> +Some days afterwards the heroes landed again, and +this time it was in a country where the king compelled +every stranger who came into his dominions to measure +his strength with him in boxing, and he was so +practised a boxer that he had overcome and killed all +who had contended with him. When he heard that a +ship with many heroes in it had come to his land, he said +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P157"></a>157}</span> +that if there was any brave man among them, he was +prepared to fight with him. Now there were two +heroes on board the Argo named Castor and Pollux, +who were twin brothers. Castor was skilled in managing +untamed horses, and Pollux excelled in boxing. Pollux +resolved to punish the haughty king, so he accepted his +offer of boxing with him and very soon dealt him a +fatal blow. A great many of his followers had come to +watch the fight, expecting to see their king fell the +stranger to the ground, and when they saw that he was +dead, they tried to kill Pollux in order to avenge him; +but the Argonauts seized their weapons, and soon a +number of their enemies were dead and the rest had +taken to flight. +</p> + +<p> +Farther on, the Argonauts came to a country where +there lived a seer named Phineus, who would gladly +however have parted with his power of reading the +future if that would have delivered him from his +misery. He had once revealed the future contrary to +the will of the gods, and as a punishment they made +him blind, and prevented him from having anything to +eat. Whenever a meal was spread before him, there +came from heaven two monstrous beings with faces and +bodies like maidens, but whose feet and wings were +those of ravens. They were called Harpies, and their +names were Storm-foot and Swift-wing. They snatched +away the best part of the food and gobbled it up, and +what they left smelt so badly that Phineus could not +eat it for loathing. The old man was wasted away with +hunger, and there was nothing left of him but skin and +bones. The Argonauts begged him to give them good +advice about their journey, and he promised to do so if +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P158"></a>158}</span> +they would rid him of the Harpies. It happened that +among them were two sons of Boreas, the god of the +north wind; they had wings on their shoulders and could +fly like birds, but it had been decreed by fate that if ever +they failed to catch what they set out in pursuit of, they +must die immediately. They were quite willing to +attack the Harpies, and next time they came to snatch +away the food from Phineus, the heroes drew their +swords, spread their wings, and set out in chase of them. +The Harpies flew backwards and forwards in all directions +over both sea and land, but at last Storm-foot was +obliged to give in, and her pursuer was just going to +seize her when her wings failed altogether, and she +fell down into a river below, where she was drowned. +Swift-wing was still able to flutter a little, but presently +she also gave in, and fell among some soft grass. Her +pursuer came after her and pierced her through with +his sword, and then the heroes returned, the sword of +one of them being still wet with the blood of Swift-wing. +From that time Phineus could eat his meals in peace +which was a great comfort to him. He told the Argonauts +that they would soon come to two wonderful rocks, +and instructed them what to do when they reached +them, and he said that if they passed these in safety +they would arrive at Colchis without further danger. +</p> + +<p> +After rowing for half a day, the heroes came to the +rocks of which Phineus had told them, and never in +their lives had they seen anything so wonderful. They +were two huge rocks, not fastened to the bottom of the +sea, but sailing about separately, and every now and +then they clashed together and great waves broke over +them, and there was a noise as if the rocks were going +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P159"></a>159}</span> +to break in pieces, but as they were made of the hardest +stone, they remained quite sound. They darted about +so quickly, and clashed against each other so constantly, +that no ship had ever been able to pass them; every +vessel that had attempted it had been crushed to atoms, +with every soul on board. But the Argo was very swift, +being rowed by fifty heroes, and Phineus had told them +to send out a dove in front of them, and that if the +dove passed through the rocks safely, they also might +venture; but if it were crushed, they would have to +turn back, for the speed of the Argo was just equal to +that of a dove. So when the rocks separated from one +another, they sent out the dove, and it arrived happily +at the other side, with only a few of its tail-feathers +torn out. Next time the rocks opened a pathway, they +also steered through them, rowing with all their might. +The ship shot through like an arrow, and just the same +thing happened to the Argo as to the dove, for the +decoration of the hinder-part of the vessel was torn off, +just as the bird's feathers had been. And when the +heroes looked back, they saw the rocks standing still: +they had played their game for the last time, for it had +been decreed by fate that if ever they allowed a ship to +pass them, they would become rooted to the ground. +So that ever since that time, ships have been able to +sail past these rocks, as fast or as slowly as they please. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a id="chap2702fn1"></a> +[<a href="#chap2702fn1text">1</a>] For what afterwards happened to Hypsipele, see <a href="#P215">pages 215-17</a>. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap2703"></a></p> + +<h3> +3. <i>The Fight for the Golden Fleece.</i> +</h3> + +<p> +Some days after this, the heroes reached Colchis. +Many people came together to look at them, for never +before had a ship reached their country from Greece, +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P160"></a>160}</span> +and besides this, the Argo was a noble vessel, unlike +anything the Colchians had ever seen, and she had a +number of brave heroes on board. The Argonauts had +fastened ropes to the ship with great stones at the end, +and these they threw into the sea to serve as anchors. +Then Jason said that some one must take him to the +king, and a number of people accompanied him as far as +the palace. Jason was a noble-looking man, and for a +mantle he wore the skin of a spotted panther that he +had killed himself. When he saw king Aeëtes, he said +that he had come from the home of Phrixus, and that +King Pelias had sent him to fetch the Golden Fleece. +Now Aeëtes prized the Golden Fleece more than all his +other treasures, and had no intention of parting with it; +but as he was a crafty man, he said that he would give +it to Jason if he would be willing to give a proof of his +real desire for it, by ploughing a piece of land with two +wild bulls and sowing it with dragon's teeth. The +king thought that if Jason ventured to undertake this +he would certainly perish, for the bulls had brazen feet, +and out of their mouths issued a stream of fire which +burnt up everything that came near them; besides this, +he knew that when the dragon's teeth were sown, armed +men would rise up from them and kill Jason, so that +even if he succeeded in managing the wild bulls, it +would not be of much avail. But Aeëtes did not tell +Jason all this; and though Jason felt sure that the task +which the king assigned to him would be no easy one, +he accepted it without hesitation and agreed to meet +him the next day in a field near the city in order to +accomplish it. When Jason went back to the ship, the +heroes asked him what the king had said, and he told +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P161"></a>161}</span> +them. Then as night was coming on, they lay down +on the shore, wrapped themselves up in their cloaks, and +went to sleep. +</p> + +<p> +King Aeëtes had a daughter called Medea who was +a powerful enchantress, and knew the properties of all +kinds of herbs and how to make use of them for good +or evil. She used to go to the mountains at night +when the moon was shining to pluck herbs, and +prepared all manner of magic drinks from them; she also +understood other kinds of witchcraft. When she saw +Jason standing in her father's palace, she thought he +looked like a true hero, and she felt a great love for +him and longed to help him. So in the night she left +the palace and came to the shore where the heroes were +asleep. She at once recognised Jason and awoke him, +and he rubbed his eyes in astonishment at seeing the +maiden standing beside him in the moonlight, tall and +beautiful, with her long white veil thrown back. She +said to him, 'My father, the king, intends to kill you, but +if you will swear to be my friend, I will help you.' She +told him all about the bulls and the dragon's teeth, and +said that it would not be possible for him to overcome them +without her help. The beautiful princess pleased Jason +well, and he promised that if he obtained the Golden +Fleece through her assistance, he would take her home +with him to be his wife. Then Medea gave him a box +containing ointment which protected any one who used +it from being burnt by fire or wounded by steel for the +space of one whole day. She told him to anoint his +shield, his spear and his body with it the next morning, +and then the bulls and the armed men would not be +able to do him any harm; she also taught him a trick +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P162"></a>162}</span> +which she said he would find useful as a means of +defence against the armed men. When they had +talked for some time longer, Medea wrapped her veil +round her and went home; the people in the palace +were not surprised, for they thought she had been +wandering about on the mountain as usual, collecting +herbs. +</p> + +<p> +At day-break the king betook himself to the field +with all his courtiers and many other people, and +Medea went also, attended by her women. Near the +field was a sacred forest in which the two bulls were +feeding; and in this same forest hung the Golden Fleece, +from which bright rays of light might be seen streaming +as the trees were swayed backwards and forwards +by the wind. The plough was standing ready in the +field, and one of the king's servants held in his hand a +helmet which contained the dragon's teeth. Soon +afterwards Jason arrived with the Argonauts looking +in such good spirits that the king and his followers +were astonished, for they did not know about the +ointment that had made him proof against fire and +steel,—the Argonauts knew about it, however, for Jason had +told them. The king commanded Jason to fetch the +bulls, and he went into the forest and soon found them. +They came towards him bellowing loudly, with the +bright fire streaming from their mouths and nostrils, +meaning to kick him to death with their hoofs. But +their fiery breath had no effect on Jason, and their +brazen hoofs could not do him any harm. He seized +them by the horns and dragged them along, and he +was so strong that although they struggled with all +their might and tried to pull first to the right and +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P163"></a>163}</span> +then to the left, they were obliged to follow him. It +was a strange sight to see him coming out of the forest +with the fire streaming over his face and body, and the +bulls kicking him with their brazen hoofs, yet +notwithstanding this, whole and unscathed. He dragged the +bulls to the plough and laid the yoke upon their necks, +then he drove them through the field making furrows +as he went along, and when they were stubborn and +refused to go on, he pricked them with a goad that he +had in his hand. He went up and down three times, +until the king said it was enough, and then he +unharnessed the bulls and let them go back into the +forest. The king was very much astonished at his +having performed the first part of his task so +successfully, but when he gave him the helmet with the +dragon's teeth in it, he felt sure that the armed men +would at all events make an end of him. Jason walked +up and down the furrows, and every here and there he +threw in a tooth and stamped down a clod over it with +his foot. When he had finished he looked round,—the +armed men were already rising out of the ground, and +in a little while the whole fifty had sprung up; they +were completely covered with brazen armour, and had +very angry faces. Then Jason remembered the trick +that Medea had taught him, and he took up stones +from the ground and threw them among the band of +warriors without letting the king see what he was doing. +Every time one of the armed men felt a stone strike +him, he began to fight with his neighbour because he +thought it was he who had thrown it. So in a short +time there was a fierce battle raging amongst the +armed men, and Jason found his task an easy one: he +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P164"></a>164}</span> +took his shield and spear, and killed the warriors in the +confusion, till at last they all lay dead on the ground, +and the earth was quite red with their blood. +</p> + +<p> +All the people were full of admiration of the brave +hero, and when Jason took off his helmet and wiped his +forehead, they thronged round him, praising his great +achievement. But the king was angry, and went away +with his courtiers without speaking a word to Jason. +He was still determined not to part with the Golden +Fleece, and made up his mind to kill the hero who had +come to ask for it. When he reached the palace, he +chose out the strongest of his soldiers and told them +that he would himself lead them to the shore early the +next morning while the Argonauts were still asleep, +and that they would kill the heroes and burn the ship. +Aeëtes expected to take the Argonauts by surprise, but +Medea went again that evening to Jason and told him +what her father intended. She also said that she +would get the Golden Fleece for him, and that they must +flee away that night. So they went together into the +forest in which the Fleece hung;—high up among the +branches shone the golden light, and at the foot of the +tree was the dragon that never slept. Jason waited at +a little distance while Medea went alone to the dragon, +for she was accustomed to take him his food every day, +and he knew her and allowed her to stroke him. +Medea spoke kindly to the dragon, and gave him some +bread that she had brought with her. But the bread +had been soaked in a sweet juice which throws every +one who tastes it into the deepest sleep, so when the +dragon had swallowed it, his eyes closed for the first +time in his life and he fell asleep and snored so loudly +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P165"></a>165}</span> +that all the birds in the wood awoke and flew away. +Then Jason came forward and climbed up the tall oak +and fetched down the Fleece, and when he had done +this, they went back to the shore. Jason had thrown +the Fleece over his arm, and the Argonauts, who were +on the look-out for him, could see him coming towards +them with his shining prize while he was still a long +way off, and they pulled up the great stones which had +been used as anchors, and made everything ready for +their departure. But Medea went back once more to +her father's palace, and creeping quietly upstairs, she +took her little brother Absyrtus gently out of his bed, +and then set out on her flight. She took him with +her, not because she loved her brother, but because she +thought he might be found useful in case her father +should pursue them. You will soon hear what +happened to him. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap2704"></a></p> + +<h3> +4. <i>The Journey Home.</i> +</h3> + +<p> +When they were all in the ship, the heroes pushed +off and sailed away. As it was midnight the helmsman +had to steer by the stars, but he knew how to guide +the ship towards the setting sun which was the +direction in which Greece lay, and by daybreak they were +already far from the land. King Aeëtes came down to +the shore with his followers, who took with them +weapons to fight with, and also torches for burning the +ship. But when they reached it, they stood rubbing +their eyes, for they could see neither the ship nor the +heroes, and when they looked towards the forest, there +was the dragon in a deep sleep, and the Golden Fleece +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P166"></a>166}</span> +was gone. Soon the king heard that Medea had fled +and had taken with her the little Absyrtus, and then +he knew who it was that had helped the Argonauts, and +he was more angry than he had ever been in his life. +He made his men get ready the swiftest ship they had, +and promised to reward them nobly if they succeeded +in overtaking the Argo. +</p> + +<p> +They rowed with all their might, and towards evening +they came in sight of the Argo. Medea knew that +all on board would be killed if they fell into the hands +of her father, and when his ship had almost overtaken +the Argo, she took a long knife and stabbed her brother +Absyrtus to death, and cut him in pieces before the +eyes of Aeëtes and flung the pieces into the sea. The +king who had been so angry, now tore his hair for +grief; he no longer cared about the Golden Fleece, and +his only desire was to obtain the corpse of his son in +order to bury it, for at that time it was believed that +those whose bodies were not buried had no rest in the +Lower World, and the king would not for the world have +let his child's body be eaten by the fishes. He +commanded his men to stop and look for the pieces, and +by the time they had collected them all, the Argo was +far out of sight, and they were obliged to turn back. +The king grieved bitterly for his dead son, and when he +came home he buried him with great magnificence. +When that was done, the wish nearest his heart was to +catch the Argo, and he manned three ships with sailors, +and told them to go in search of her and never to +return till they had found her. They sailed about in +all directions, but could not find a trace of the ship +anywhere, so as they were afraid to go back to the king +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P167"></a>167}</span> +without her, they moored on a strange island, where +they settled down and built houses and remained for +the rest of their lives. Aeëtes was meanwhile spending +all his days in watching for their return. +</p> + +<p> +A violent storm now overtook the Argo. The sea +was stirred up and refused to carry peacefully on her +bosom the ship in which the sister had murdered her +brother, and the waves rose as high as mountains, so +that those who were on board the ship had to hold on +to the sides and mast in order to avoid falling into the +sea. At last the Sacred Beam which was planted in +the fore part of the vessel, spoke, and said that the +storm would not cease, nor would they have any +prosperity in their voyage, until Medea and Jason had been +purged from the stain of blood, and that they had better +go to the enchantress Circe and beg her to do this for +them. So they sailed to the island where Circe lived, +and Medea and Jason left the others in the ship and +went ashore to the palace of the enchantress and +placed themselves on the hearth, which was the place +sacred to those who came to sue for help. Circe asked +what their request was, and Medea told her all that had +happened and begged her to atone for their crimes. +At first she refused to do this, for King Aeëtes was her +brother, and it was her nephew that they had murdered; +but at last she was persuaded, and purified them with +sacrifices and baths. When this had been done, they +went back to the ship and continued their voyage, and +they had now such lovely weather that the fishes came +up from the bottom of the sea and played merrily in +the sunshine. +</p> + +<p> +After some time the Argonauts came to the wicked +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P168"></a>168}</span> +Sirens, who were treacherous nymphs that lived in the +sea. Their faces were marvellously beautiful, and they +sang so enchantingly that every one who heard them +was bewitched and could not help going to them. +But under the water they had great ugly claws instead +of hands, and their bodies ended in a hideous fish-tail. +They clutched those who came to them with their +claws and ate them up, and all the reef where they +lived was strewn with the bones of the men they had +eaten. But even those who knew how cruel and +treacherous they were, could no longer believe it when +they heard them sing, and could never resist jumping +into the sea and swimming towards them. When the +Sirens saw the ship approaching, full of noble heroes, +they thought they were going to have a grand feast +and began to sing their sweetest songs. They would +have enticed even the Argonauts, and all the witchcraft +of Medea would have been powerless to save them, if +there had not been a hero on board, named Orpheus, +who was famous all over Greece for his singing and +playing, and who had such marvellous power over the +hearts of men that no one who heard him could refrain +from weeping, however cruel and hard he might be. So +the moment the Sirens began, Orpheus took his lyre and +sang in opposition to them, and he sang so gloriously +that the heroes listened to him rather than to the Sirens, +and the dolphins, who are very fond of music, came and +followed the ship till the song was ended. +</p> + +<p> +The Argonauts next came to the Wandering Rocks, +which swam about in the sea and were shrouded in +thick smoke, through which flames of fire could be seen +coming out of crevices in their sides. It seemed as if +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P169"></a>169}</span> +it were a sort of amusement to them to give chase to +ships and destroy them, and when they had dashed +them to pieces, there was the fire ready at hand to +burn them up. No ship had ever yet reached home in +safety after passing them. But the goddess Hera was +unwilling to see the brave heroes on board the Argo +perish miserably, so she commanded the nymphs who +lived at the bottom of the sea to protect the vessel; +these were not wicked nymphs like the Sirens, but +kind and friendly to brave heroes. A great splashing +was heard in the water, and ever so many nymphs +came up from the bottom of the sea, each one more +beautiful than the last. They swam round the ship, +and when one of the rocks came towards her from the +right, meaning to crush her, they pushed her away to +the left, and when a rock came from the left, they +pushed the ship to the right, and they did it so fast +that the rocks could not overtake her. This amused +them very much, and they laughed out merrily +whenever the rocks shot past them. Soon the Argonauts +were again out in the open sea, and they thanked +the nymphs many times for their help. Then the +nymphs went back to their homes at the bottom of the +sea. +</p> + +<p> +After rowing for a long time, the heroes came to +the island of Crete. They would have liked to go on +shore, but there was an iron watchman who refused to +allow any one to land without the king's express +permission. His name was Talos, and he had been made +out of iron by the blacksmith-god Hephaestus, who +gave him to Minos the king of Crete. Minos used +him as a watchman, and made him run round the +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P170"></a>170}</span> +whole island three times every day and drive away any +strangers who might approach it. He was all iron, +excepting a single vein that ran from his head right +down to his feet, and was fastened underneath with +iron nails which held in the life blood that ran through +the vein and kept him alive. When Talos saw the +ship full of heroes coming, he stood still and threw great +stones at her. It would have been of no use for the +Argonauts to shoot spears and arrows at him in return, +for he could not be wounded; so Medea called out to +him over the water, 'Talos, if you will be kind to us +and let us land, I will show you how you may become +immortal.' Talos was pleased at this, and he began to +make friendly grimaces, and shouted back his answer +in a voice that came out of his iron body like the +sound of a great trumpet. He said, 'First tell me how +I may become immortal, and then I will let you land.' But +Medea answered him deceitfully, and she called +back, 'Draw out the nail that is in your foot, and all +that is mortal in you will flow out.' Talos believed +her, and he sat down on the shore and drew out the +nail with some difficulty, for it had been well +hammered in. Then the red blood flowed out, and Talos +was glad, for he thought it was his mortality which was +leaving him; but he became weaker and weaker, and +when the last drop of blood had flowed out of his body, +he was dead, and there was nothing left but a cold +lump of iron. The Argonauts could now sail to the +land without hindrance, and they clambered down out +of the ship and hunted some wild animals, which they +cooked and made a feast of, on the shore. +</p> + +<p> +The Argonauts sailed from Crete to Greece without +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P171"></a>171}</span> +stopping, for the gods gave them favourable winds, and +when at last they came in sight of the Grecian coast, +they all rejoiced greatly at seeing their beloved country +again. They landed at that part of it which is called +the Isthmus, and is the road between the peninsula +of Peloponnesus and the rest of Greece, and there they +drew the Argo up on to the shore. The brave ship had +been beaten against many a rock, and had been so long +in deep water that she was covered with green slime. +The Argonauts said that she should never be used for +any other journey, and they dedicated her to the +sea-god Poseidon as a thank-offering to him for having +brought them home in safety. She remained for a +very long time standing on the Isthmus, and every one +who went by, looked at her and thought of the many +dangers and difficulties that the Argonauts had passed +through. At last however, the Sacred Beam died, and +soon afterwards the Argo herself fell to pieces, for the +boards of which she was made had become quite rotten. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap2705"></a></p> + +<h3> +5. <i>Medea's Revenge.</i> +</h3> + +<p> +When the heroes arrived in Greece, they separated +and returned to their own homes, and Jason and Medea +went to Iolcus where king Pelias lived. Pelias had +thought that it would be quite impossible for Jason ever +to return, because of all the dangers he would meet with +in going to fetch the Golden Fleece, and he had killed his +brother, Jason's father, for fear he should in some way +avenge the death of his son,—so that when the young +hero walked into the palace with the Golden Fleece +hanging over his arm, the king turned red and pale by +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P172"></a>172}</span> +turns. Jason did not know as yet of the injury that +Pelias had done him; but when he went to his father's +house he found it empty, and the people told him that +his father had been killed by order of the king. Jason +was very sad at hearing this, and could no longer take +any pleasure in the thought of all the great deeds he +had done; but Medea told him not to grieve, for she +would avenge the wrong he had suffered. She thought, +too, that if Pelias were dead, Jason would be the king +of Iolcus and she the queen, and she advised Jason to +dissemble, and behave as if he had forgiven the king, +whilst she herself went every day to the palace and +made friends with his daughters. One day she told +them that if they had spirit enough to venture on it, +they could make their old father young again, though +his hair was already white and his face was covered +with wrinkles. The princesses would not believe Medea, +but she said she would prove it, and she took an old +ram and slew him, and cut him up into several pieces, +and laid the pieces in a great caldron of boiling water, +and when she had poured a magic juice over them, a +young lamb jumped out of the caldron, and no trace of +the ram could be seen. Then the girls believed Medea, +and begged her to give them the magic juice with +which to make their old father young again; but Medea +gave them instead, a liquid, which looked just like it, +but which had no power whatever. The king's daughters +did not delay a single day, but the next time their +father was asleep, they went to him and killed him, and +one struck off his head, while the others cut the rest of +his body into pieces. They had a huge caldron standing +ready on the fire, into which they threw the pieces, +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P173"></a>173}</span> +and then they poured over them the liquid that Medea +had given them, expecting to see their father come out +a young man. But Pelias was dead, and dead he +remained. The princesses watched the caldron for a +long time, but at last they were obliged to give up all +hope, and then they broke out into bitter wailing and +rushed about the streets with dishevelled hair, crying +out that Medea had deceived them and made them +kill their father without knowing what they were +doing. The people had not cared for Pelias because +he had been a cruel and severe man, but they would +not sanction the treachery by which he had come to his +end, and instead of choosing Jason for their new king, +they chose the son of Pelias, so that things turned out +very differently from Medea's expectations, and she and +Jason had to leave the country. +</p> + +<p> +They went to the city of Corinth, where King Creon +ruled. He received them with open arms, for he had +heard of Jason's brave deeds and was glad that he had +come to live in his country, and he gave him a beautiful +house with meadows and vineyards and orchards all +round it. Jason and Medea lived there in peace for +ten years, and the gods sent them two children whom +Medea loved dearly; they were the first human beings +she had ever really cared for. But the king had a +daughter named Glauce, who was only a child when +Jason first went to Corinth but had now grown up to +be a very beautiful maiden, and Creon was anxious that +she should marry a noble hero, for she was his only +child, and her husband would be king of Corinth after +his death and would inherit all his riches. And as +Jason pleased him well, he said to him that if he would +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P174"></a>174}</span> +get rid of Medea, he would give him his daughter +Glauce for his wife. Jason no longer cared for Medea +as he had once done, because she was of a gloomy, +discontented nature, and he thought that if he were rich, +he could make up to her for the wrong he would do her +by taking another wife. So he told the king that he +would agree to his proposal, and he said to Medea that +he would give her a great deal of gold and silver, and +the most beautiful dresses that could be made, and that +she should never want for anything, but live just as if +she were the richest queen in the world. He also told +her that he was making this new marriage for the sake +of his children, in order that they might have a king +for their father. Medea was very angry about it in +her heart, but she pretended to agree, and when the +day came on which the marriage was to be celebrated, +she gave Jason a magnificent robe and begged him to +take it to Glauce as a present from herself. Jason took +it without any suspicion, and Glauce was very much +pleased with it and went into her bedchamber to put +it on for the wedding. But the robe had been dipped in +a poisonous juice, and as soon as it became warm it +burst out into flames. Glauce could not tear it off, and +she screamed for help; her father and Jason came +running to try and put out the fire, but nothing they +could do was of any use, and Glauce perished miserably. +Creon threw himself upon the dead body of his daughter +and tore his hair and wept bitterly, but Jason drew +his sword and rushed home to kill Medea. But as he +came near the house, he looked up at the sky and saw +a chariot drawn by two winged dragons, in which Medea +was driving away. Medea had purposed to kill her two +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P175"></a>175}</span> +children before she went, because of the pain which she +knew this would cause Jason; but when she had taken +up the dagger, the children, who did not know what was +in her mind, stood looking at her with their pretty blue +eyes, and she had not the heart to carry out her +intention, but caught them up in her arms and covered them +with kisses, and then fled away in the enchanted +chariot. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap28"></a></p> + +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P176"></a>176}</span> + +<h2> +XXVIII. +<br><br> +THESEUS +</h2> + +<p> +There was a great and famous city in Greece called +Athens, about which, when it was first built, there arose +a strife between the sea-god Poseidon and the wise +goddess Athene, as to which of them should be its +protector, for the Greek cities were each under the special +care and guardianship of some god or goddess. As +they could not agree about it, the other gods said that +they must each bring a present to the city, and that it +should belong to whichever of them gave it the best +present. The gods assembled one day in the fortress, +which had been built on a hill in the middle of the +city.[<a id="chap28fn1text"></a><a href="#chap28fn1">1</a>] Poseidon struck the ground with his trident +and out sprang a noble animal which was the first +horse that had ever been seen, and the gods admired +the beautiful creature very much. Then it was the +turn of Athene, and she brought forth the olive tree, +which bears the olives from which oil is made, and +explained how the fruit could be made use of. After this +the gods gave their judgment, and they said:—'This +is such a stony land that the citizens would find the +noble horse of little service, for the horse cannot go well +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P177"></a>177}</span> +over uneven ground, but the olive-tree would flourish, +and would be useful to the citizens in many ways.' So +the city was placed under the guardianship of Athene +and was named after her, and the citizens planted olive-trees +all over the country and found in these their chief +wealth. They took great care of the tree in the fortress +from which all the others had sprung, and it outlived +its children and its grandchildren. But after many +years had passed, the country was invaded by some +enemies who laid waste all the beautiful houses and +temples and even burnt the sacred olive-tree itself +down to the roots. On the next day, however, when +all round it there was nothing to be seen but smoking +ruins, behold! a new olive-tree had sprung from the +ashes of the old one, which grew, and became in time a +large tree. +</p> + +<p> +The city of Athens was at one time ruled over by a +king named Aegeus, who had a wife but no children. +This was a great sorrow to him, but his brother Pallas +was very glad of it, for he had fifty sons, and he thought +that if Aegeus died without children his sons would +inherit the kingdom. After a time however the wife +of Aegeus died, and soon afterwards he went to stay +with a king who lived in the city of Troezen, which +was several days' journey from Athens; there he +was secretly married to the king's beautiful daughter +Aethra, and his great wish was fulfilled, for Aethra +had a young son. Aegeus would not however take +him back to Athens with him, for he feared that his +brother's sons, the wild Pallantidae, would try to kill +him. So he resolved to leave the child to be brought up +by his mother in Troezen, and before he set out on +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P178"></a>178}</span> +his journey home he buried his sword and his sandals +underneath a huge stone, and told Aethra that when +the child was strong enough to heave up the stone +and take the sword and sandals from under it, he must +leave her and come to him at Athens. After this he +went back to his kingdom without telling any one +that the gods had given him a son. Aethra loved +her son very dearly; she named him Theseus, and +brought him up with great care, and he grew handsome +and strong, and delighted above everything in +listening to his mother whilst she told him stories +about all the old heroes, and especially about the +strong Heracles, who had killed so many monsters and +driven away all the robbers out of the land. Theseus +did not know who his father was, but when he had +become a young man and the down was beginning +to grow upon his chin, Aethra thought he would be +strong enough to lift the stone, and she took him +to the place where it lay, and told him that +underneath it were the sword and sandals of his father +who was Aegeus, the king of Athens. Without much +difficulty Theseus heaved up the huge stone, though +it had become deeply embedded in the earth; and then +Aethra told him that his father was still alive, and +that he was to take the sword and sandals and go to +him at Athens; and Theseus rejoiced at hearing this, +and prepared to set off at once. It was a very dangerous +journey from Troezen to Athens for there were +many robbers on the way, and the old king wanted to +give Theseus a ship, so that he might go by sea with +much less risk. His mother also was anxious that he +should take the easier journey, but Theseus was a brave +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P179"></a>179}</span> +hero, and instead of being afraid of the robbers, he was +only eager to meet with them. So they were obliged +to let him have his own way, and comforted themselves +by praying to the gods to protect him. +</p> + +<p> +Theseus accordingly set out on his journey, and he +had not long left Troezen when he came to a savage +robber who lurked by the roadside, and who was called +the Club-carrier. He had a very ugly face, and was +lame, but very strong; and he used to lie on the grass +among the trees, and whenever a traveller passed by, he +sprang out and struck him down with a heavy iron club +which he wielded quite easily, and then he robbed him +of his goods. When Theseus came along the road, the +robber sprang out to kill him; but Theseus avoided the +blow, so that the heavy club struck the earth beside +him, and then he wrestled with the robber. He at +last succeeded in wrenching the club out of his hand, +and then he battered his head with it, so that the +Club-carrier died by the same weapon with which he had +killed others. This was the first heroic deed that +Theseus had performed, and he took the iron club away +with him to serve both for a weapon and a trophy. +</p> + +<p> +Soon afterwards he came to a fir-wood, where there +lived a robber called the Fir-bender. He was tall and +strong, with long bristly hair, and he looked very fierce +and wild. It was his delight to seize travellers and +torture them cruelly: he used to bend two flexible +fir-trees down to the ground, and tie each of the traveller's +feet to one of these trees, and then he let them spring +apart, and broke out into a hideous laugh when he saw +the body torn in two and one half hanging to each of +the trees. Theseus knew that the robber lived in the +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P180"></a>180}</span> +forest, and he went straight to his house. The +Fir-bender came out to seize him, but Theseus wrestled +with him and threw him. He resolved to punish him +with the torture that he had himself devised, and he +bent down two young fir-trees and tore the robber's body +in two, though he screamed horribly and entreated +Theseus to spare him. The Fir-bender had a daughter +called Perigune who lived with him in the forest. She +was not at all like her father, but was, on the contrary, +gentle and good, and she used to tend the plants and +flowers that grew near their house. When she saw that +Theseus had killed her father, she was afraid and thought +he would kill her too, so she hid herself among some +large-leaved plants, and said to them, just as if they +could understand her, that if they would shelter her +she would never pluck any of them again. Theseus +looked everywhere for her, but he could not see her on +account of the thick leaves. He guessed that she must +have hidden herself, and so he called out to her not to +be afraid, for he would not do her any harm. His voice +sounded so kind that she was encouraged to come out, +and they sat and talked together, and Perigune gave +him some food, after which Theseus took leave of +her and went away. The girl never plucked any flowers +from the plants among which she had hidden herself, +nor from any others of the same kind, and when she +became the wife of a hero she taught her children that +they must never do so either, and they in turn brought +up their children in the same way, so that no one who +was of the race of the robber ever injured any plants of +that kind. +</p> + +<p> +Theseus had heard that there was a fierce she-boar +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P181"></a>181}</span> +in the neighbourhood that did a great deal of damage, +and he resolved that he would rid the people of her. +He came upon her footprints in the grass, and followed +them till he had tracked her to her den. She started +up to kill him with her tusks, and a fierce struggle +followed, in which Theseus handled his club valiantly, +and at last hit the boar a mighty blow on the head +which cracked her skull and made an end of her. Then +Theseus wiped the dew from his forehead and continued +his journey. His road now lay along a rocky path above +the sea, and he presently came to a rock which was the +abode of the robber Sciron. He was a strong, powerful +man, who amused himself in a very horrible manner. +He used to sit on a rock above the sea, blocking up the +road so that no one could pass, and he compelled every +traveller who came that way to wash his feet, and while +they were doing this he kicked them over the cliff, so +that they fell down into the sea where there lurked a +great tortoise ready to eat them up. Theseus treated +the robber just as he had treated others; he was the +stronger of the two, and he compelled Sciron to do as +he told him, and wash his feet, and then he kicked him +over the cliff, and the tortoise seized him by the neck +and gobbled him up. +</p> + +<p> +That same evening Theseus reached the house of +the wicked Stretcher, whose custom it was to sit before +his door and invite travellers to lodge with him for the +night. He always fed them sumptuously, but at bed-time +he brought out two bedsteads, a big one and a little one, +and he took the short people to the big bedstead and +killed them by stretching out their limbs till they were as +long as the couch, (for which reason he was called the +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P182"></a>182}</span> +Stretcher) and the tall people he laid upon the little +bedstead and lopped off as much of their limbs as +extended beyond it, and then he left them to bleed to +death. Theseus behaved as if he did not know about +the robber's wicked practices: he ate and drank and +carried on a cheerful conversation, but when the robber +led him into the sleeping-chamber, Theseus seized him +round the body, threw him on to the short bedstead, +and then drew his sword and hewed off his legs above +the knees; then two great streams of blood gushed +forth, and the robber died. Theseus dragged the body +out into the open air where it was devoured by wolves, +vultures, and ravens, but he himself lay down to rest in +the house and slept till the morning, and when the day +dawned, he went on his way. The Stretcher was the +last robber he met with, and ever after this journey +of his, travellers could go from Troezen to Greece +without fear of being robbed and killed, and as they +journeyed they thought of the young hero Theseus to +whom they owed their safety. +</p> + +<p> +Theseus soon afterwards arrived in Athens. He +first of all bathed himself in a stream near the city, for +he was covered with dust and blood, and when he was +cleansed, he entered the town and was conducted to his +father's palace. He went in saying that he was a +stranger, and begged the king to show him hospitality. +Aegeus was now old, and he was very sorrowful, for he +thought that his son must be dead and that the wicked +Pallantidae would succeed to the kingdom. The witch +Medea was with him, for he had received her when she +fled from Corinth in her chariot drawn by dragons.[<a id="chap28fn2text"></a><a href="#chap28fn2">2</a>] +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P183"></a>183}</span> +She was wise and crafty in speech, and she had succeeded +in gaining so great an influence over the king that he +asked her advice in all things, and followed it. No one +knew who Theseus was except Medea, but she knew, +for she could find out any secret by means of her magic +arts. She was not at all pleased that Theseus had come +to Athens, for she feared that the king would set greater +store by his son than by her, and that her power would +now be at an end. So she told Aegeus that the stranger +was a kinsman of the Pallantidae, and that he had come +for the purpose of killing him. The poor old king +believed what she told him and was seized with fear, and +he asked her what he had better do to save his life. +Medea answered that she would mix some poison with +the wine that Theseus was to drink, and Aegeus gave +her leave to do so. But while they were at dinner, it +happened that Theseus wanted to cut off a piece of +roasted meat, and he drew his sword to cut it, for +the Greeks had not at that time learnt the use of +knives and forks. Then Aegeus recognised the sword, +and he sprang up and dashed the goblet from the table; +the poisoned wine flowed all over the floor, but Aegeus +paid no attention to it, for he had flung his arms round +Theseus, and was embracing him and crying out, 'My +son, my son.' Both the father and son rejoiced greatly +at thus finding each other, and they had many things +to ask and to tell, and when Theseus related how he +had destroyed the robbers, the joy of the old king was +doubled at finding that his son was so brave a hero. +Meanwhile he gave no thought to the wicked Medea +who had intended to poison Theseus, and she went out +and called her dragon-car. It came rushing through +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P184"></a>184}</span> +the air towards her, and she got into it and flew away, +and has never been seen again. +</p> + +<p> +The old king was quite happy now, and he sent a +herald to proclaim all through the city that Theseus +was his son and the heir to his kingdom. No one +grudged him his happiness except the wicked Pallas +and his sons, who till now had been the chief men in +the city. They were rich and had a great many servants, +and they assembled them all in a little wood near +the city, intending to leave some of them there in +ambush, and to lead the others towards the city and +shout to Theseus to come out and fight them. They +thought that he would come out against them with a +few men only, and that after the battle had begun, they +would be joined by the servants left in the wood which +would make the odds very unequal; and they hoped that +they would thus be able to kill Theseus, and then go +on into the city and murder the old king. But after +they had made all their preparations, one of the +servants went to Aegeus and revealed the treachery they +were planning. Then Theseus went out towards the +wood, followed by a number of the citizens, and slew +the men who were in ambush there, and when the rest +heard that, they were afraid, and fled from the country. +</p> + +<p> +Theseus was anxious to perform some heroic deed +which would benefit the Athenians and make them +love and honour him. There was at that time a fierce +bull in the country who killed men and cattle, and who +was called the Bull of Marathon, because he lived near +Marathon, which is close to Athens. It was the same +beast that had formerly been called the Cretan Bull, and +had been brought by Heracles from Crete, at the +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P185"></a>185}</span> +command of Eurystheus, as his seventh Labour.[<a id="chap28fn3text"></a><a href="#chap28fn3">3</a>] Ever since +that time the savage bull had been at large in Greece, +doing much damage. Theseus went out against him +without either sword or club, for he wished to overcome +the bull by his own hero-strength alone, and bring him +alive to Athens; some of the citizens went with him, +but only to look on at a distance. When Theseus came +in sight of the bull, he stood still, and the bull rushed +at him, bellowing and lowering his head to run his +horns into him and toss him up high into the air, as he +had tossed many a one before. But Theseus seized +him by the horns and dragged him aside, and then a +mighty wrestling took place,—the eyes of the young hero +glowed like fire, and the veins of his arms were swollen +high with the effort he had to make. When they had +wrestled for some time, the bull grew tired and tried to +get free, but Theseus held him fast and dragged him +into the city, and all the Athenians came out to meet +him, and they praised him and said that he was like +Heracles. Theseus then took the bull to the temple of +Apollo to sacrifice him to the god. He cut off the +hairs from the animal's forehead, as the custom was, +and laid them in the flame of the fire that was burning +on the altar and prayed to Apollo, and then he took +up the sacrificial axe, and felled the great bull to the +ground with a single blow. The sacrifice was then +performed in the usual manner, and it was the most +splendid animal that had ever been offered to any god. +The Athenians were proud of their strong young prince, +and they loved and honoured him. +</p> + +<p> +Not long after this, the time came round when the +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P186"></a>186}</span> +Athenians were obliged to send their tribute to the +king of Crete; it was, indeed, a shameful tribute,—seven +youths and seven maidens, who were sent to +perish there miserably. Minos, the king of Crete, +had had a son named Androgeus, who had once +happened to come to Athens just when there was a feast +going on, and sports in which all the young men vied +with one another in feats of skill and strength; and he +had taken part in the sports, and had excelled all others +and won the prize of honour. But the Athenians were +very angry at his having beaten them, and they lay in +wait for him as he was on his way home, and fell upon +him and killed him. When his father, King Minos, +heard of this, he swore that the Athenians should suffer +for it, and he prepared his ships and sailed with a +mighty army to fight against Athens. The gods took +the part of Minos and sent a pestilence among the +Athenians; they also dried up their rivers and spoiled +their harvests, so that there was great distress +throughout the country. At last the Athenians were obliged +to sue for peace, and Minos granted it on condition +that every nine years they should give him a tribute of +seven youths and seven maidens. There was a wonderful +house in Crete where the youths and maidens who were +sent as tribute met with a miserable death. The house +was called the Labyrinth, and it was as large as a town, +and had countless courts and galleries. Those who +entered it without being familiar with its passages could +never find their way out again, and they hurried from +one to another of the numberless rooms looking for the +entrance door, but all in vain,—they only became more +and more hopelessly lost in the bewildering house, and +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P187"></a>187}</span> +at last a monster who lived there, came and ate them +up. He was called the Minotaur, and he had the form +of a man, excepting his head, which was that of a bull, +and he had a bull's voice. +</p> + +<p> +When the time for paying the tribute came round, +all the youths and maidens of Athens had to assemble +in the market-place. Then two brazen vessels were +brought out, and they put a number of balls into each +of them; into one vessel they put as many balls as +there were youths in the city, and into the other as +many balls as there were maidens; seven of the balls +in each vessel were black, and all the rest were white. +All the youths and maidens in turn had to put their +hand into one of the vessels and draw out a ball without +looking, and those who drew the black balls had to +go on board the ship that was waiting to take them to +Crete. For this sorrowful journey the ship always had +black sails instead of white ones. +</p> + +<p> +For the third time the Athenians were now +obliged to pay the tribute of seven youths and seven +maidens to the king of Crete. When Theseus heard +about it, he begged his father to let him sail with +them, for he hoped that he would be able to kill the +monster and deliver the Athenians. The king was +afraid that Theseus would never come back, notwithstanding +the great deeds he had already performed, and +he refused at first to give his consent; but Theseus said +that it would be a disgrace to him if he did not go, and he +persisted in his request till his father granted it. When +the others had been chosen by lot, they all went on +board the ship which was ready to sail, and Aegeus and +many others went down to the shore to take leave of +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P188"></a>188}</span> +them. All were heart-broken at the parting excepting +Theseus, but he was in very good spirits, for he +hoped this would be the last time that such a journey +would have to be made. The old king gave him a +white sail which he begged him to hoist if he came +back in safety, saying, 'If you are alive when the ship +returns, let me know it by this signal; but if on the +contrary you have perished, the black sail will tell me +the sad news as soon as the ship comes in sight.' Theseus +promised to do as his father wished, and then +he went on board the vessel and gave the signal to the +sailors, who plied their oars and pushed off from +the land. And Aegeus returned home and prayed to +the gods to bring his son back to him in safety. +</p> + +<p> +After some time the voyage came to an end, and +the ship with the black sails arrived in Crete. Minos +sent his soldiers to conduct the youths and maidens to +a dungeon where they were to remain till the next day, +and as they passed through the streets many people +crowded to look at them, lamenting that the young +lives should be sacrificed. The procession went past +the palace gate where King Minos was standing with +his daughter Ariadne, who was a very beautiful girl. +When Ariadne saw Theseus she could not help gazing +at him, for she thought he looked more like a true hero +than any one she had ever seen, though many heroes +came to her father's court. She could not bear to think +that he must perish, and all night long, when every one +else was asleep, she lay awake on her couch thinking +how she could save him. In the morning she watched +for an opportunity and went to the prison, where she +bad no difficulty in getting in because she was the +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P189"></a>189}</span> +king's daughter. She called Theseus apart, and told him +that she loved him and longed to save him, and she +gave him a ball of thread and said that he must secretly +fasten one end of it to the entrance of the Labyrinth +and unravel it as he went along, so that he might be +able to find his way out again. She also gave him a +sharp sword which she had taken from her father's +armoury, that he might be armed for his struggle +with the Minotaur. Theseus thanked the beautiful +Ariadne, and told her that he was the son of the king +of Athens, and that if he escaped in safety from the +Labyrinth he would take her home with him to be his +wife. She willingly consented to this, and then left +the prison, and soon afterwards the guards came to +take the prisoners to the Labyrinth; they did not see +the sword and the ball of thread which Ariadne had +given to Theseus, for he had hidden them in his robe. +When they reached the Labyrinth they led the prisoners +a long way into it and then left them, thinking that +they would never find their way out again, for they +did not notice that Theseus had unfastened his ball +at the entrance and let the thread pass through his +fingers as he went along. When the guards had turned +back, the youths and maidens thought they would have +to wander about hopelessly until the Minotaur came +and devoured them, but Theseus spoke to them +encouragingly, and said that by the help of the gods he +would slay the monster and bring them out of their +trouble. About mid-day they heard the monster +bellowing in the distance; he was still some way from +them, but he scented human blood, and as he came +nearer his bellowing grew louder and louder. The +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P190"></a>190}</span> +others crowded together in a corner, each wanting to +be the last to meet him, but Theseus stood forward in +the middle of the room with his naked sword raised, +waiting for his approach. He was as tall again as a +man, and he had powerful fists and a huge mouth, and +on his head were two great horns. He stretched out +his arm to seize Theseus and opened his mouth to bite +off his head, but Theseus sprang behind him and hewed +off one of his legs at the knee joint, and then the huge +giant fell down and bellowed until the walls shook with +the noise he made. Theseus measured with his eye to +see where his heart must be, and taking careful aim, +he stabbed him through the back at that place. A +great stream of blood gushed out, and the monster lay +on the ground groaning and moaning and beating about +wildly with his arms; he did not hit any one, however, +and before long he was dead. The youths and maidens +all came round Theseus, and they fell down and kissed +his feet and hands. They waited till it was dark, and +then set out to leave the Labyrinth, Theseus going in +front and winding up the ball of thread as he went. +They passed through room after room and court after +court, till at last they reached the door, where they +found Ariadne waiting for them; she had stolen away +from the palace, and was full of joy when she saw them +arrive. Then they all went together to the ship, which at +once put out to sea, and by daybreak they were already +far away. King Minos thought his daughter must have +been carried off by robbers, for it never occurred to him +that she could have sailed away with the prisoners whom +he believed to have been devoured by the Minotaur, +and he searched for her all over the island. When he +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P191"></a>191}</span> +heard, some time afterwards, what had really happened, +he was so amazed at the bravery of Theseus that he +never again ventured to demand the tribute from the +Athenians. +</p> + +<p> +When Theseus and his companions had sailed for +some days, they came to the island of Naxos, and as it +was evening, they went ashore to sleep. Naxos was the +favourite country of Dionysus, the wine-god; he often +used to stay in the island, and he caused the finest +vines to grow there. Theseus and his companions slept +on the shore, and towards morning, Dionysus appeared +to Theseus in a dream and said to him, 'Rise up and +return home at once with your friends, but leave Ariadne +behind you, for I myself have chosen her to be my +wife.' Theseus awoke very sorrowful at having to leave +the beautiful Ariadne, but he knew that he must do as +the god commanded, and he roused his companions and +told them his dream, and then they went softly down +to the ship and sailed away, leaving Ariadne asleep on +the island. When it was bright daylight, Ariadne +awoke and found herself alone. She sprang up and ran +down to the shore, and seeing the ship some way out +at sea, she thought they had forgotten her, and waved +her veil as a signal for them to come back. The ship's +crew saw her, but they sailed on all the same, and then +Ariadne sat down on the shore and wept bitterly, for +she thought that Theseus had abandoned her because +he did not love her, and that she was left to perish in +misery and distress. As she sat thus weeping, with her +beautiful head resting on her hand, and with her mind +full of sad thoughts, she heard a sound of flute-playing +on the island, which came nearer and nearer, and a +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P192"></a>192}</span> +crowd of men and women appeared before her in a +strange procession. The foremost was a marvellously +beautiful youth, who had a crown of vine-leaves on his +head, and drove in a golden chariot drawn by two +spotted panthers. The youth was Dionysus, and he +went up to Ariadne and said, 'Do not be afraid; I am +the god who created the vine, and I love you, and am +going to make you my wife.' The marriage was +celebrated that very day, and all the woods and valleys in +the island resounded with sweet music; the Bacchantes +danced and sang, and the old Silenus who had taken care +of Dionysus in his childhood[<a id="chap28fn4text"></a><a href="#chap28fn4">4</a>] was intoxicated the whole +day long by way of doing honour to his master. Ariadne +was now the wife of the god Dionysus, and she became +immortal, and was gifted with perpetual youth. +</p> + +<p> +The ship that carried away Theseus soon reached +Athens, but Theseus was so absorbed in thoughts +of Ariadne that he forgot to hoist the white sails +which were to announce his safe return. The aged +Aegeus had passed many long hours since his son had +left him in sitting on a high rock from which he could +see far over the sea. At last he spied a sail coming +towards him, but when it approached a little nearer, he +saw that it was a black one. Then he thought that the +ship was returning without Theseus, and he threw +himself over into the sea because he could not bear to live +any longer. Some of the people who were on the shore +saw what he had done, and they at once got into a boat +and sailed to the place where he had disappeared, +hoping to save him; but they were too late, for when +they found him he was already dead. They laid the +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P193"></a>193}</span> +corpse on a bier, and were standing sadly round it +when the ship came sailing in. The youths on board +raised a shout of joy at reaching their home again, but +the others beckoned to them to be silent, and pointed +to the corpse. When Theseus knew that his father +had killed himself at the sight of the black sail, he was +very much distressed, and he threw himself upon the +corpse shedding bitter tears. In the evening the +Athenians carried the bier to the palace, and the next +day they raised a funeral pyre, and when they had burnt +the body, they placed the ashes in a costly urn. Theseus +sorrowed long for his father, and bitterly regretted that +he had not remembered the white sail at the right time. +Theseus was now king, and he ruled over the city of +Athens for a great number of years, and performed +many brave deeds. The Athenians had never before +had such a noble hero for their king, and they lived in +peace and safety, for their enemies feared Theseus and +did not dare to attack them. It happened once, that in +sailing along the coast of Asia, Theseus arrived at the +country of the Amazons,—a nation of warlike women,[<a id="chap28fn5text"></a><a href="#chap28fn5">5</a>]—one +of whom was standing on the shore when Theseus +landed. She was so beautiful that he determined to +carry her off to be his wife, but the Amazons never +welcomed strangers, and when Theseus went up to her +she raised her lance, intending to pierce him with it. +Theseus however was not afraid, and putting his arms +round the maiden, he carried her off to the ship and +his comrades rowed away as fast as they could. The +other Amazons came running down to the shore when +they heard the cries of their sister, but they could not +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P194"></a>194}</span> +overtake the ship. The Amazon that Theseus had +carried off was named Hippolyta. At first she was very +angry with him, but soon she came to love him with all +her heart and had no wish to go home again. When +they reached Athens, Hippolyta became the wife of +Theseus, and the gods sent them a little son whom +they named Hippolytus. Hippolyta was now queen +of Athens; but the Amazons had made up their +minds to deliver their sister and punish the stranger +who had run away with her, and they took ship +and sailed to Greece. It was a strange sight to see +women with helmets on their heads and shields at their +sides, managing the vessels; and when they came to +Greece every one was afraid of them. They did not +know who it was that had carried off their sister, so +they made inquiries; and when they found it was +Theseus, they set out for Athens, and as soon as they +entered his dominions they began to lay waste the +cornfields and kill both men and women. Some of the +people escaped, however, and hastened to the city to +warn the king that the Amazons were marching towards +it, and he armed his people and led them out to the +fight. Then a fierce battle took place, and many of the +Athenians were killed. Queen Hippolyta stood on the +wall of the city watching the battle, full of anxiety lest +Theseus should be killed by the Amazons, and she longed +so much to help him that at last she armed herself with a +spear and shield, and went out to take part in the fray. +The Amazons thought at first that she had come to +join them, but when they found out what was the real +state of the case they became furious. They were now +more angry with her than with Theseus, and they +hurled their lances at her till one of them hit her in +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P195"></a>195}</span> +the breast, and she sank down and died. Theseus was +standing by her, and when he saw that she was dead, +he was seized with uncontrollable fury, and he struck +down one after another of the Amazons until they +were all killed. It was a great victory, and the first +that any one had ever gained over the Amazons, but +Theseus could take no pleasure in it because of the loss +of Hippolyta. +</p> + +<p> +There was a nation in Greece called the Lapithae, +whose king, Pirithoüs, was a brave and noble hero. He +had heard so much about Theseus that he resolved to +try whether he was as much of a hero as every one said. +So he entered his country and stole some cattle and +carried them away. When Theseus heard of it, he set +out in pursuit of Pirithoüs, who took no pains to escape +from him, but rather the contrary, for he had stolen the +cattle, not for the sake of having them, but because +he wanted to see what Theseus would be like when he +was angry. When Theseus overtook him, Pirithoüs +marvelled at his strength and beauty and at the fire of +his eyes which were glowing with impatience for the +fight, and Theseus on his part was so delighted with +the brave and manly appearance of Pirithoüs that he +quite forgot that he had been angry with him. +Pirithoüs went up to him holding out his hand, and +said, 'I will atone for the theft I have committed; you +may impose upon me whatever punishment you will.' Theseus +gave him his hand in return, and said that he +would impose no punishment, but would rather make +a sacred friendship with him. They promised each +other that they would be as brothers, and would always +be ready to stand by one another, and called upon Zeus +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P196"></a>196}</span> +to witness their oaths and bless their friendship, and +then they returned, each to his own country. +</p> + +<p> +Some time after this, Pirithoüs invited a number of +guests to celebrate his marriage with a beautiful +princess, and the most honoured of all the guests was +Theseus. All the great men among the Lapithae were +at the wedding, and also the savage Centaurs, who had +the lower part of their bodies formed like the bodies of +horses. But when the fierce Centaurs became intoxicated, +they tried to run away with the bride of Pirithoüs +and the other women, and the marriage feast ended in +a bloody fight. The vessels that had been used at the +feast served for arms, and they threw goblets, dishes, +and drinking cups at one another. The Centaurs were +stronger than the Lapithae, and would certainly have +gained the victory if the Lapithae had not had the help +of Theseus, who had brought his iron club with him +and struck down the Centaurs with it, till the dead +bodies of those whom he had killed lay upon the +ground in heaps and the few that remained took to +flight. Then peace was restored, though not before a +great number of the Lapithae had perished, and Theseus +returned home, glad that he had been able to give this +proof of his friendship for Pirithoüs. +</p> + +<p> +Theseus was always ready to help those who were +in the right, and as his fame spread far and wide, every +one who was oppressed came to Athens and stood before +the Altar of Pity which had been raised in the centre +of the market-place. Then Theseus inquired into his +case, and if he found that he had been wronged, he +took care to see that justice was done. This gained for +him the hatred of the wicked oppressors, but all those +who cared for justice honoured and loved him. +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P197"></a>197}</span> +</p> + +<p> +Theseus had reigned for a long time, and his son +Hippolytus had grown up to be a man, when he resolved +to marry again, and asked Minos the king of Crete to +let him have his daughter Phaedra, the sister of Ariadne, +for his wife. Minos had long before this forgiven +Theseus for having killed the Minotaur and carried off +Ariadne, and he willingly consented to give him his +younger daughter in marriage. Phaedra was many +years younger than Theseus and had been quite a child +when he was in Crete, but she now became queen of +Athens, and Theseus loved her dearly and did all he +could to please her. His son, who had been named +Hippolytus after his mother, did not live at Athens, +but in Troezen with his grandmother who had brought +him up since the death of Hippolyta. He was noble +and virtuous, and he loved the chase and all manly +pursuits, and honoured, above all other gods and +goddesses, the huntress-goddess Artemis. Hippolytus +came one day to Athens on a visit, and when Phaedra +saw him, she was so dazzled by his youth and beauty +that she began to love him passionately, and after his +return she used to spend many hours every day sitting +on the city walls and looking towards Troezen. She +used to take her old nurse there with her, and talk to +her about Hippolytus, and tell her how willingly she +would give up honour and riches for his sake. The next +time Hippolytus came to Athens she had a secret +conversation with him, and begged him to flee away and +take her with him to be his wife. But Hippolytus was +angry with her for plotting such treachery against his +father, and he was so shocked at what she had said that +he mounted his chariot and drove his spirited horses +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P198"></a>198}</span> +back towards Troezen. Phaedra now hated him for +having spurned her, and she thought of a plan by which +she might revenge herself upon him. She went to +Theseus and told him with many tears that Hippolytus +had proposed to her to run away with him and become +his wife, and Theseus believed what she told him, and +he was very, very angry, and said that Hippolytus +should atone for it with his life. +</p> + +<p> +Theseus was loved by the gods, and especially by +Poseidon the sea-god, who had once promised him that +if ever he prayed to him in any time of trouble, he +would certainly grant his request, whatever it might +be. Many years had passed away since then, and +Theseus had never had so great a desire for anything as +to think of asking the sea-god for it; but now that +Phaedra accused his son of this great crime, he +entreated Poseidon to fulfil his dearest wish and cause +Hippolytus to die immediately. At that moment, +Hippolytus who was driving along the sea-shore, saw +the waves suddenly part asunder and a hideous monster +come out of them, who roared horribly. The frightful +appearance of the monster and the noise he made, +rendered the horses quite unmanageable, and Hippolytus +could not hold them in. They ran away with the +chariot, dragging it over stones and rocks, till at last it +was upset, and Hippolytus was thrown out and trampled +to death. The people found his body and brought it +to Athens, and Theseus knew that Poseidon had granted +his prayer. But when Phaedra saw the corpse, she was so +grieved and sick at heart that she went into her sleeping +chamber and hanged herself, and then the old nurse +told the king the whole truth. When Theseus knew +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P199"></a>199}</span> +that his innocent son had perished because of his +virtue, he was quite overcome with grief, and threw +himself upon the corpse, kissing it and weeping +passionately, and for many days he shut himself up +alone in his palace and refused either to eat or drink. +</p> + +<p> +Theseus thought that the best way of regaining his +spirits would be to undertake some new exploit which +would give a fresh turn to his thoughts. The wife of +Pirithoüs was also dead, and the two heroes determined +to set out together to seek for two beautiful women +whom they might carry off to become their wives. +They had heard that Tyndareus, the king of Sparta, had +a lovely daughter named Helena, and they set out for +Sparta, and reached it just at the time of the festival +of Artemis. The maidens of the city kept the festival +by dancing round the altar of the goddess, and Helena +was among them, and was distinguished from all the +others by her marvellous beauty. The two heroes +rushed in among the maidens and seized Helena, and +when they had carried her off to a place of safety, they +cast lots for her, to see whose wife she should be. The +lot fell to Theseus, and he took her to his mother +Aethra and begged her to take care of the maiden +until he should return for her, for he wanted to go and +help his friend also to carry off a wife by force. They +were so bold as to resolve that they would descend into +the Land of Shades and steal away the queen of the +Lower World, although this was in undertaking so daring +that nothing like it had ever before been attempted by +any hero. They passed through the chasm which was +the entrance to the Lower World, and went down far +below the earth till at last they reached the Land of +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P200"></a>200}</span> +Shades. They were now very tired, and as they +expected to have a hard struggle before they could get +possession of the queen, they thought they would rest +a little first, and sat down on a stone which they saw +near them. But when they wanted to get up again, +they found that they had stuck fast to the stone and +could not move. The king of the Lower World, who +knew for what purpose they had dared to come into his +dominions, had prevented their getting up again, and he +punished them by obliging them to sit there for ever. +</p> + +<p> +So the two heroes were kept prisoners in the Lower +World; and meanwhile, the brothers of Helena, whose +names were Castor and Pollux, set out to free their +sister. Their mother was the beautiful Leda, wife of +King Tyndareus, who was sitting one day by the +river bank when a snow-white swan came sailing by. +Leda was charmed with his beauty and called him to +come to her, and the swan came on shore and embraced +her. It was not a real swan however, but Zeus, who +loved the beautiful Leda, and had come to her in this +form. Some time after this, Leda had four children; +there were two large eggs, and out of each egg there +came a little boy and a little girl. Two of them were +the children of Zeus, and their names were Pollux +and Helena; the other two were called Castor and +Clytaemnestra. When they grew up, the two brothers, +Castor and Pollux, became glorious heroes. No one +understood so well how to tame wild horses as Castor, +and no one was so skilled in wrestling as Pollux.[<a id="chap28fn6text"></a><a href="#chap28fn6">6</a>] They +were also kind and gentle, and loved one another so +dearly that they shared everything, and they performed +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P201"></a>201}</span> +many heroic deeds together, and won great fame. But +in the course of time, Castor died and passed into the +Lower World, where he became an unthinking shade. +Pollux did not die, for it was decreed that as he was a +son of Zeus he should become immortal and live among +the gods. But his immortality was a burden to him, +for he could not bear to live without his brother, and +he begged his father Zeus to grant them both the same +fate, so that they might either be both in Olympus or +both in the Lower World. Zeus was pleased at their love +for one another, and he said that they should both be +in Olympus one day and both be in the Lower World +on the alternate day, and thus they should always +remain together. The two brothers were named the +Dioscuri, or the children of Zeus, and two bright stars +which stand close to one another in the sky are named +after them. +</p> + +<p> +At the time however when Theseus carried off +Helena, the brothers were still alive and in the first +bloom of their youth. They set out with their +companions for Athens, thinking that Theseus must have +taken their sister to his capital; but when they +reached it they were told that he had gone away on +an adventurous enterprise, and the Athenians took a +solemn oath that the maiden was not within their walls. +The brothers asked where she was hidden, and one of +the citizens who knew, told them; then they went +away without doing any harm to any one, and marched +to Troezen, where they compelled Aethra to let them +take their beautiful sister home with them. +</p> + +<p> +Theseus and Pirithoüs sat upon the stone for many +years, until the time came when Heracles was +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P202"></a>202}</span> +commanded by Eurystheus to descend into the Lower World +and fetch up the three-headed dog Cerberus.[<a id="chap28fn7text"></a><a href="#chap28fn7">7</a>] When +the captive heroes saw him, they called to him and told +him of their trouble, and begged him to help them. +Then Heracles seized the hand of Theseus with such +a mighty grasp that the stone was compelled to leave +go and allow him to get up. He next seized hold of +Pirithoüs, but at that moment the earth quaked, and +fearful sounds were heard, which signified that the gods +would not grant freedom to Pirithoüs, but doomed him +to sit upon the stone for ever, because he had presumed +to desire the queen of the Lower World for his wife. +</p> + +<p> +So Theseus was obliged to leave his friend in the +Land of Shades, and he took leave of him and returned +to the Upper World; but in the meanwhile his hair had +turned grey, and his appearance had become very much +altered. Now while he was a prisoner in the Lower +World, a mischief-making person had been telling the +people that their king spent all his time in going about +on daring expeditions, and was of no use to his subjects; +so when Theseus came back to Athens, he found that +the people had no longer any affection or esteem for +him. He would not live amongst those who did not +make him welcome, and he left his country and got +into a ship and sailed to the island of Scyros. Part of +the island belonged to a king named Lycomedes, but +the rest of it belonged to Theseus, and he had resolved +to spend the remaining days of his life there, so he +went to the king and told him so. The king was by +no means pleased, for he was a cowardly man and he +thought that Theseus would not leave him in peaceful +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P203"></a>203}</span> +possession of his share, but would make himself king of +the whole island. He pretended, however, to welcome +Theseus, and said that he would take him to a mountain +where he would have a view of the whole country. +They both climbed up the mountain, which had a steep +precipice on one side of it, and when Theseus was +preoccupied in looking at the country, Lycomedes got +behind him and pushed him over the cliff. Theseus died +from the great fall, and thus the strong hero lost his life +at the hands of one cowardly man. They found his body +lying at the foot of the precipice with the bones broken, +and they buried him in the island. +</p> + +<p> +Many years passed away, and the age of the heroes +and the sons of the gods had quite gone by, when the +Athenians sent one day to the Oracle at Delphi to +inquire of the Pythia about the future. The Pythia +told them that they had better fetch the bones of +Theseus from Scyros and keep them in their city, +because these bones would prove a great blessing to +them. They did not fail to attend to this direction, +and sent ships manned with a large number of +Athenians to the island of Scyros, to seek for the +bones of Theseus and bring them home. But no one +could tell them where the grave of the hero was, for +during that long time it had been forgotten. They +went all over the island seeking for it, and at last it +was revealed to them by a sign from heaven: a mighty +eagle swooped down on to a hill and pecked the ground +many times with his beak, then he soared up again and +disappeared among the clouds. The Athenians dug +into the hill and found a coffin containing bones much +larger than the bones of the men of that time, and +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P204"></a>204}</span> +there was also a sword and spear in the same coffin. +They knew by the sign that had been given them from +heaven that these were the bones of Theseus, and they +carried the coffin to their finest ship and sailed home +with it. The ship was beautifully adorned with garlands +and streamers, and when it reached Athens the citizens +put on their best clothes and came out to meet it, singing +and playing on the flute, just as if it were Theseus +himself who was returning to his country. They buried +his bones in the middle of the city, and consecrated the +spot as a Refuge or place of safety: if, for example, a +slave were pursued by his master and he could succeed +in reaching the tomb of Theseus, the master had no +longer any right to touch him. In this manner the +Athenians honoured the memory of Theseus, who during +his lifetime had always been so ready to take the part +of the weak against the strong. They also came in +time to look upon him as a god, and offered sacrifices +to him. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a id="chap28fn1"></a> +[<a href="#chap28fn1text">1</a>] This fortress was afterwards called the Acropolis of Athens. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a id="chap28fn2"></a> +[<a href="#chap28fn2text">2</a>] See <a href="#P175">page 175</a>. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a id="chap28fn3"></a> +[<a href="#chap28fn3text">3</a>] See <a href="#P122">page 122</a>. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a id="chap28fn4"></a> +[<a href="#chap28fn4text">4</a>]See page <a href="#P66">66</a>. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a id="chap28fn5"></a> +[<a href="#chap28fn5text">5</a>] See <a href="#P125">page 125</a>. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a id="chap28fn6"></a> +[<a href="#chap28fn6text">6</a>] See <a href="#P157">page 157</a>. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a id="chap28fn7"></a> +[<a href="#chap28fn7text">7</a>] See <a href="#P135">page 135</a>. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap29"></a></p> + +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P205"></a>205}</span> + +<h2> +XXIX. +<br><br> +OEDIPUS. +</h2> + +<p> +There was once a king of Thebes called Laïus, and he +had a wife whose name was Jocasta. There was also a +soothsayer in Thebes, who said that if the queen had +a son it would be a great misfortune, for that when he +grew up, he would kill his father and marry his mother. +Some time afterwards the queen had a little son, a +strong child with bright merry eyes; but Laïus +determined to kill it in order to prevent the prediction +of the soothsayer from coming true, and he told one of +his servants to take the little child to a mountain called +Cithaeron, which was covered with forests, and leave it +there to be devoured by wild beasts; but before he sent +it away, the king tied a string tightly round its ankles, +which made the little feet swell. The servant did as +he was told, and left the child lying in the forest. But +it happened that the cattle of Polybus, the king of +Corinth, were at that time pasturing on the mountain, +and one of the herdsmen who was in charge of them, +chanced, in searching for a cow that had gone astray, +to go through the forest and to pass by the spot where +the child of King Laïus had been left to perish. He +was sorry for the poor little thing, and he took it up +and untied the string round its feet, and laid cooling +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P206"></a>206}</span> +herbs upon the sore places. King Polybus and his wife +had no child, though they wished very much for one, +and the herdsman, who knew this, thought that they +might like to have the little stranger to bring up as +their own son. He took the beautiful little boy to +Corinth and showed him to the king and queen, who +were very much pleased, and they said they would keep +him for their own, and told the herdsman not to let +any one know that he had found him in the forest. So +Laïus thought that his child had been devoured by +wild beasts, while the Corinthians thought that the gods +had granted the wish of their queen and had sent her +a child, and nobody, not even the king and queen +themselves, knew that he was the son of Laïus and +Jocasta. The child's feet were still swollen when he +was brought to Corinth, so they called him Oedipus, +which means Swollen-Foot. +</p> + +<p> +Oedipus grew up to be brave and strong, and the king +and queen, who were very fond of him, treated him just +as if they were his real parents and never told him +that he had not been born in Corinth. When he was +a young man, he went one day to Delphi to ask the +Oracle what would happen to him, and the priestess +answered, 'You will kill your father and marry your +mother.' Oedipus shuddered, and resolved to leave +Corinth at once that he might never fulfil such a +horrible prediction. He ordered his chariot, and let his +horses take whichever road they pleased, for he did not +care where he went, so long as it was away from Corinth. +By-and-by he came to a strange country, and found +himself in a narrow lane where there was not even +room for two chariots to pass one another, and whilst +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P207"></a>207}</span> +he was still in this narrow lane, he met a king who was +coming in his chariot from the opposite direction. The +king commanded Oedipus to stand aside and let him +pass in such a haughty manner that Oedipus refused to +obey him, and after they had exchanged some angry +words, they seized their arms, and Oedipus before long +struck the king a deadly blow. The king was Laïus, +the father of Oedipus, and thus a part of the Oracle was +already fulfilled; but Oedipus did not know this, and he +did not feel at all sorry for having killed the stranger, +as it was he who had begun the quarrel. He went on +through Greece and accomplished many brave deeds, +and after some time he came to the neighbourhood of +Thebes, where he heard a strange story indeed. +</p> + +<p> +On the mountain near Thebes, there was a monster +called the Sphinx, who could speak. She devoured +both men and cattle, and no one had been able to +overcome her. She asked every one who came near her a +riddle which she had learnt from the Muses, who are +the goddesses of song, and she devoured every one who +could not answer it; but it had been decreed by fate +that if any one should ever succeed in guessing it, she +would be obliged to throw herself down from the mountain +and die. Many people had already tried to do so, +but they had all failed and had been devoured by the +Sphinx in consequence, so that no one else would +attempt it, and there was no end to the misery in the +land. The Thebans met together to consider what +could be done, and they agreed that if any one would +answer the riddle and deliver the city from the monster, +he should, as a reward, be made king of Thebes, and +have Jocasta for his wife. King Laïus had been found +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P208"></a>208}</span> +dead in the narrow lane some time before, but it was +not known who had killed him. +</p> + +<p> +When Oedipus heard that the Thebans had agreed +to give the kingdom to any one who would deliver them +from the Sphinx, he said to himself, 'I dare not return +to my father's country, and I will therefore seek to win +a kingdom for myself,' for he still thought that his father +was the king of Corinth. So he set out for the mountain +where the Sphinx lived. She was like a gigantic +lioness, with a woman's head, and powerful wings growing +out of her shoulders, and all round her lay the bones +of the men whom she had devoured. It was a horrible +sight, but Oedipus was not afraid, and he desired her +to tell him the riddle. Then she began to sing, 'There +is a creature of wondrous kind; at first it goes on four +legs, then on two, and at last it uses three. There is +none like it among all those that walk on the earth, or +swim in the water, or fly in the air.' Oedipus put his +hand to his forehead and thought for a while. Then it +came into his mind that as a little child, man crawls +about on four legs, and that in his old age he uses a +stick, which is just like a third leg, and he said, 'The +wonderful creature is man.' As soon as the words had +passed his lips, the Sphinx threw herself from the +mountain, and fell down dead into the valley below. +The Thebans, who were watching from the city, saw +what happened, and they came out to meet Oedipus +with shouts of joy. They hailed him as their king and +led him into the palace, and on the same day he was +married to Queen Jocasta. Thus he became the husband +of his mother, and the whole of the prophecy was +fulfilled. But he did not know this, and was very happy. +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P209"></a>209}</span> +He lived in great riches, and to all seeming, in great +honour, so that there was no one who did not look upon +him as a very fortunate man. +</p> + +<p> +Many years had passed away, when there came a +messenger to Thebes to tell Oedipus that King Polybus +was dead, and to beg him to return to Corinth and be +king of the city. But Oedipus would not return there +on account of the Oracle, for though King Polybus, +whom he believed to be his father, was dead, the queen +was still alive, and he feared that some madness might +come over him and make him desire to marry his +mother. He told this to the messenger, who, as it +happened, was the old herdsman who had found Oedipus +in the forest when he was a child; and he, thinking to +do the king a great service, told him in return that he +was not the son of Polybus, but a strange child who +had been found on Mount Cithaeron with his feet tied +together by a string. As soon as Jocasta heard this, +she knew that Oedipus must be her son, and when he +began to inquire about his father, he found that he +must have been the king whom he had killed in the +narrow lane. All his prosperity and all his happiness +had now left him at a single blow, and there was not +a man in Thebes who did not consider himself better +off than the king. He was so wretched that he put +out his own eyes because he could not bear to face the +contemptuous looks of the Thebans; and as for Jocasta, +she went into her bedchamber and hanged herself. +</p> + +<p> +The Greeks believed that the presence of any one +who had committed a great crime, even though he had +done so unintentionally, made them unholy and brought +misfortune upon them, and on account of this, the +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P210"></a>210}</span> +Thebans resolved to banish Oedipus from their city. He +had two sons who were strong youths and might have +protected their father if they had chosen, but they +would not interfere, because they wanted to rule over +the city themselves. The blind king was led out +of the city, but when he came to the gate he turned +round and prayed to the gods to punish his sons. He +would have been left quite alone to stumble over every +stone that lay in his path, if it had not been for one of +his daughters, who resolved to share his misery, and who +left the beautiful palace in order to take care of her +unhappy father in his distress. She was his eldest +daughter, and her name was Antigone. She and +Oedipus wandered from place to place, living on the +food that kind people threw to them, and their couch at +night was often beneath the blue sky with a hard stone +for their pillow, for the people were afraid to allow the +blind king to come into their houses, because of the +crimes that he had committed. Antigone suffered from +hunger and cold, and her feet were torn and bleeding +from the thorns, but she did not think much about +that, it was the misery of her father that pierced her +heart. +</p> + +<p> +After they had wandered for many years, they came +at last to Athens where Theseus, who was always willing +to help those who were in trouble was then king. In +the middle of the city was the Altar of Pity which he +had erected,[<a id="chap29fn1text"></a><a href="#chap29fn1">1</a>] and Oedipus seated himself on one of the +steps of the altar as a sign that he sought for help. +Then Theseus came and asked who he was, and when +he heard his name, instead of turning away from him +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P211"></a>211}</span> +with a shudder as every one else did, he took him by +the hand and led him into the palace, where he lived +with Antigone during the rest of his life. Before long, +however, Oedipus died, and his body was solemnly +burnt by the Athenians, for the Oracle said that they +must take great care of his ashes, which would prove a +blessing to the city. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a id="chap29fn1"></a> +[<a href="#chap29fn1text">1</a>] See <a href="#P196">page 196</a>. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap30"></a></p> + +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P212"></a>212}</span> + +<h2> +XXX. +<br><br> +THE SEVEN AGAINST THEBES. +</h2> + +<p> +The sons of Oedipus were twins, and their names +were Eteocles and Polynices. When their father was +banished from Thebes they succeeded to the kingdom, +and agreed that they would each reign in turn for one +year. Eteocles had his turn first; but he found it so +pleasant to be king that when the year came to an end +he refused to give up the sovereignty and drove his +brother from the city. Polynices was now an exile; but +he determined that he would take no rest till he had +found some friends who would promise to help him to +revenge himself upon his brother. He set out for Argos, +where King Adrastus lived, and arrived there after dark +one evening. In the darkness he happened to jostle +against another hero who was also going into the palace, +and from angry words they soon came to blows, and +drew their swords to fight one another. King Adrastus +heard the clash of arms from within the palace, and he +took a torch and went out to see what was the matter. +He commanded the heroes to stop fighting, and asked +them what they wanted. Then Polynices explained +how he had been driven away from his country by his +brother, and how he hoped that the king would help +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P213"></a>213}</span> +him to claim his rights. The other hero, whose name +was Tydeus, had been driven from his country on +account of a murder that he had committed unintentionally, +and he had come to request the king to help +him to return home again. Whilst the heroes were +speaking, the king saw by the light of the torch the +shining brazen figures upon their shields. The Greek +heroes used to wear various kinds of devices on their +shields by which they could be recognised, such as +serpents, griffins, eagles, and so forth. Now, on the shield +of Polynices there was a lion, and on that of Tydeus a +boar's head, and when Adrastus saw these, he remembered +that once when he had asked the Oracle to whom +he should give his two daughters in marriage, the Oracle +had replied, 'To a lion and a wild boar.' Adrastus had +not understood the answer at the time, but he now +perceived that it must have referred to the two heroes, and +he therefore received them kindly, and said that he +would give them his daughters in marriage, and restore +them to their homes. The wedding soon took place, +and Tydeus was married to the elder daughter, and +Polynices to the younger. +</p> + +<p> +The king said that he would first help Polynices, +and he assembled his soldiers, and summoned several +brave heroes to march with them. Three heroes, +Capaneus, Hippomedon, and Parthenopaeus, promised +to do so, which made six with the king and his two +sons-in-law. There was another hero in Argos, named +Amphiaraus, who was very wise and could foretell the +future, and the king did not like going to war unless he +went too, for he was not only brave and fearless, but he +always gave good counsel. But when Adrastus summoned +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P214"></a>214}</span> +him to march against Thebes, he said he would not go, +for he knew that they would not conquer the city, but +would all perish excepting Adrastus, who would return +alone. Amphiaraus knew this because he could see into +the future, but the others did not believe what he said +and thought he was afraid of going to the war, and +Capaneus, who was a very headstrong man, said, 'If the +gods themselves should declare against the expedition, +I am resolved to conquer the city in spite of them.' Even +Adrastus did not believe that the war would end +unhappily, and he said so to Amphiaraus, and pressed +him to accompany them. At last it was agreed that +Eriphyle, the wife of Amphiaraus, who was also the +sister of Adrastus, should decide the matter. There +had once been a bitter quarrel between Amphiaraus and +Adrastus which had led to their taking arms against +each other, and when peace was restored, they had +agreed that if ever any dispute should again arise +between them, Eriphyle should decide about it, and +that whatever she determined should be done. So +now Eriphyle had to decide about the going to war. +Amphiaraus foresaw that Polynices would try to bribe +her and he warned her to take no present from him, +and she promised to obey. But Polynices came to her +secretly with a beautiful necklace and veil, and said +that he would give them to her if she would decide +that Amphiaraus should go to the war. These were no +ordinary ornaments, but had been given by the god +Hephaestus to Cadmus and Harmonia when they +celebrated their marriage in the Cadmea,[<a id="chap30fn1text"></a><a href="#chap30fn1">1</a>] and had been +handed down from father to son in the royal family of +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P215"></a>215}</span> +Thebes, till they had been worn, last of all, by Queen +Jocasta. When Eriphyle saw the glittering necklace +and the snow-white veil, she could not overcome her +desire to possess them, and although she knew quite +well that if she counselled war it would cost her husband +his life, she promised to do so; and when the heroes +came together to hear her decision, she said, 'Amphiaraus +shall go to the war.' Amphiaraus knew that she must have +been bribed by Polynices, but he did not dare to make +any further difficulty, and accordingly prepared to set +out; but before he left the city he called aside his two +sons, who were still young boys, and told them that +when they were grown up they were to kill their +mother because she had decided upon his death. +</p> + +<p> +There were thus seven princes who set out to march +against Thebes, and they were accompanied by a goodly +band of soldiers, and all except Amphiaraus were merry +and in good spirits, for they did not know that they +were marching to their death. It was a long journey +to Thebes, and they had to travel for several days before +they came in sight of it. One day, as they were +approaching the city of Nemea, they had to pass +through a forest where they met a woman carrying a +young child in her arms. The woman was a servant of +King Lycurgus, who ruled over the city of Nemea, and +it was his child that she was taking care of. Her name +was Hypsipele, and her home was in the island of +Lemnos, where she had once been a queen herself.[<a id="chap30fn2text"></a><a href="#chap30fn2">2</a>] The +women of Lemnos had killed all the men in the +island and formed a kingdom composed entirely of +women, and they had made a law that any woman who +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P216"></a>216}</span> +should spare even her husband or son and not kill him, +should be severely punished. But Hypsipele loved her +old father too dearly not to be willing to brave the +punishment, and she kept him alive secretly, and used +to take him food and talk to him when the others were +asleep. This went on for a great many years, but at last +the other women found it out, and then they killed the +old father, and sold the queen as a slave to some pirates +who happened to be sailing past the island at the time. +The pirates sold her again in Nemea, and this was how +she came to be the slave of King Lycurgus, and the +nurse of his child. The heroes were very thirsty, for +it was just then mid-day, and they asked Hypsipele +if she knew of a spring where they could quench their +thirst. She told them that farther down in the valley +there was a spring of beautiful clear water, and said +that she would show them the way to it. The child +was frightened at their shining armour and clanging +weapons, so she left it playing on the grass, and went +alone with the men. They soon reached the spring and +quenched their thirst, and then they returned to the +place where they had left the child. But the child was +gone, and on a tree close by, there sat a great ugly +serpent who had eaten him up. The serpent was soon +punished for his wickedness, for one of the heroes +pierced him through and through with his lance and +killed him, but Hypsipele wept and sobbed, for she felt +sure that King Lycurgus would kill her. The heroes +were very sorry for her, and they went with her to +Nemea in the hope that they might be able to save her +from being punished. King Lycurgus thought at first +that they were enemies who were coming to attack the +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P217"></a>217}</span> +city, but Adrastus explained why they had come, and +begged him not to be angry with Hypsipele, as it was +really they who were the cause of the child's death. +Lycurgus was very sorrowful at hearing about it, so the +heroes tried to comfort him, and said that they would +honour his child as no child had ever been honoured +before, by celebrating magnificent funeral games over +its tomb. They took the child out of the snake's body +and burnt it on a pyre, and then they put the ashes into +a beautiful urn and buried them and heaped up a mound +over them. After this they held games near the mound, +and vied with each other in all kinds of sports such as +heroes take pleasure in. Such games as these were at +that time only celebrated in memory of rich and famous +kings, and Lycurgus thanked the heroes for honouring +his child in this manner. From that time games were +celebrated every third year at Nemea, which were called +the Nemean Games, and were famed far and wide. +Numbers of people came to them from all countries, +and whoever did best in any trial of skill received a +crown as a prize. +</p> + +<p> +When the funeral festivities were at an end, the +heroes took leave of Lycurgus, who promised that for +their sake he would not do any harm to Hypsipele. +Amphiaraus warned them once again that they had +better return home, and said that the death of the child +was a bad omen. But when the gods meant to let +misfortune overtake people, they blinded their eyes and +prevented them from listening to any warning or good +counsel, and thus the heroes rejected the advice of +Amphiaraus, and continued their march. After some +days they came to a mountain from which they could +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P218"></a>218}</span> +see Thebes in the distance, and there they halted and +held a council, at which it was resolved that before they +began the war, Tydeus should go to Thebes and tell +Eteocles that he had better give up the kingdom to his +brother peaceably, for if he did not, the Argives would +take possession of the city by force. Tydeus set out for +Thebes, and finding the Theban heroes at a banquet, he +delivered his message to them there. Eteocles answered +that he hated his brother and would rather die than +share the kingdom with him, and that he was not +afraid of the Argives, but was quite ready to fight them. +On hearing this, Tydeus prepared to return to the camp, +but as Eteocles asked him to stay and feast with him, +he accepted the invitation, and they talked together in +a friendly manner as host and guest, although they +were just going to meet one another in deadly conflict. +In those days when heroes met they always took the +opportunity of vying with one another in feats of +strength, and so when the banquet was over, Tydeus +challenged the Thebans to wrestle with him. First +one presented himself, and then another, but Tydeus +was stronger than any of them, and overcame them all. +The Thebans were ashamed of themselves and furious +with Tydeus, and they placed an ambush of fifty +youths in a copse not far from the city, who rushed out +and fell upon him as he was returning home. It was +an unequal struggle, but Tydeus killed them all except +one, who fled back into the city and told the Thebans +what had become of the others, and then they wondered +still more at the extraordinary strength of Tydeus. +</p> + +<p> +When the princes understood that Eteocles would +not give up the kingdom peaceably, they led their army +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P219"></a>219}</span> +against the city in order to get possession of it by force. +The gates were fastened with strong bars, and on the +walls stood the Thebans in arms, prepared to beat off +the enemy. There were seven gates in the walls of +the city, and Adrastus allotted one gate to each of the +princes to attack with his band of followers. The +Thebans, on their side, had also placed the seven gates +under the special charge of their seven most valiant +heroes, each of whom had a band of men to fight under +him. Then a fierce battle took place,—the Argives +tried to scale the walls by means of ladders, and hurled +javelins and arrows at their enemies, while the Thebans +rolled great stones to the top of the walls, and just +when there were a number of Argives upon one of the +ladders and they were hoping that in another moment +they would have gained possession of the wall, the +Thebans let fall a huge stone, which broke the ladder +and crushed to death all those who were upon it. +Capaneus was the most impetuous of all the Argives, +and wherever he fought the Thebans gave way before +him. He set up a ladder against the wall and had +climbed almost to the top of it, when, thinking that +the city was already in his hands, he looked up at the +sky and cried out in a mocking tone, 'The strength of +heroes is mightier than the will of the gods.' But as +the presumptuous hero raised his foot to place it upon +the wall, there came a flash of lightning which destroyed +him in a moment, and the Thebans, who were inspired +by this with fresh courage, drove back the band of +soldiers that he had been leading. All day long the +Argives fought against the city, but at last the sun went +down, and they were obliged to give over for the time. +</p> + +<p> +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P220"></a>220}</span> +</p> + +<p> +The next day Eteocles ascended a tower, and took +with him a herald whom he caused to make a proclamation +to the Argives in the following words: 'Ye heroes +of Argos, Eteocles offers to fight alone with Polynices, +on the understanding that whichever of them gets the +better of the other shall be king of Thebes.' Polynices +on his part was also eager to fight with his brother, and +readily accepted the challenge to single combat. Then +the Thebans came and encamped outside the city to +watch the fight; and the Argives in the plain beyond +planted their spears in the ground by their side, thinking +they would have no more use for them. Between the two +armies was a field, where the brothers were to engage +in the deadly struggle. As each of them took his shield +and sword from his friends, he eyed the other angrily, +longing to begin the fight, and as soon as they were +armed they both rushed at one another, each of them +so intent on killing his brother that he forgot to cover +himself with his shield. And thus, at the same moment, +each of the brothers ran his spear through the body of +his opponent, and they both sank down dead. But this +did not end the quarrel, for the two armies rose up, +each desirous of avenging the death of its champion +upon the enemy, and a fierce battle took place. Zeus +gave the victory to the Thebans, and all the Argives,—heroes +and followers alike,—were slain: and thus the +prophecy of Amphiaraus was fulfilled. As for the seer +himself, he was standing in his war-chariot, urging on his +horses that he might not be overtaken by the enemy, +when a Theban hero pursued him hotly and gained +steadily upon him till he had almost come up with +him. But Zeus, who loved Amphiaraus, hurled a +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P221"></a>221}</span> +thunder-bolt which clove the ground asunder in front +of him, and he sank far down into the earth. It closed +over him before the eyes of his pursuer who was thus +unable to reach him, and Zeus granted him immortality +and took him to live among the gods on Mount +Olympus. All the rest of the Argives had by this time +perished, excepting only Adrastus. He had a horse, +named Arion, who was of divine origin and was swifter +than any other horse in the world, so when the king +took to flight, the Thebans could not overtake him, +and he returned alone to Argos, as Amphiaraus had +foretold. +</p> + +<p> +A brother of Jocasta's, whose name was Creon, now +became king of Thebes, and he commanded that the +fallen Thebans should be buried with great honour, +but that Polynices and the Argives should be left +unburied on the field of battle, to be food for dogs and +vultures. The Greeks believed that those whose bodies +were not buried found no rest in the Lower World, and +they never offered such an insult as this to the memory +of any but their most deadly enemies. A herald went +through the city, proclaiming to the Thebans that +if any one dared to give burial to Polynices or any of +the Argives, he would have to answer for it with his +life. Every one was afraid to disobey excepting one, +and that one was a woman,—Antigone, the sister of +Polynices. She had been very angry with her brothers +for casting off their father Oedipus in his time of need, +but now that they were dead, she wept for them and +could not bear that either of them should be +dishonoured. So in the night she went to the field where +the corpses lay, and sought for that of her brother. It +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P222"></a>222}</span> +was disfigured with dust and blood, but she recognised +it, and she covered it over with loose sand and poured +out the libations for the dead which consisted of wine, +milk, and honey, over the mound. When a corpse had +been covered over in this manner and had received the +due libations for the dead, the gods accepted it as if it +had been properly buried,—so that everything that was +necessary had now been done for the corpse of Polynices. +But Creon had set watchmen round the field to +catch any one who should come to disobey his orders, +and just as Antigone had finished her work, the +watch-men seized her and took her as a prisoner to Creon, +although they were loth to do this, for every one loved +the noble maiden. The king was very angry when he +heard what she had done, but nevertheless, if she would +have consented to admit that she had done wrong in +disobeying his orders and to beg for mercy, he would +have been willing to spare her life. But she scorned +to save her life by such means, and instead of begging +for forgiveness, she spoke out boldly, and said: 'Higher +than thy commands do I esteem those laws which set +before us that which is noble and right.' Then the +king was still more angry with her for not being +afraid of him, and he condemned her to a cruel death. +There was a cave outside the city, and the king +commanded that she should be shut up there and left to +die of hunger. Her friends accompanied her as far as +the cave, weeping bitterly, but Antigone herself shed +no tears. A pitcher of water and a little bread had +been placed in the cave, and when Antigone had taken +leave of her friends, she went inside, and the workmen +piled up stones against the mouth of the cave and +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P223"></a>223}</span> +walled her in. Thus the noble Antigone died; but she +did not wait for the lingering death of starvation,—instead +of that she made her veil into a noose and +hanged herself. +</p> + +<p> +King Adrastus heard with grief and anger that +Creon had refused to allow the Argives to be buried, +but as all the heroes of Argos had died in the war and +there were none but young boys left in the city, he +was unable to raise an army in order to compel him to +do so. So he went to Athens with a twig in his hand +(which it was the custom for those who wanted help to +carry) and seated himself on the steps of the Altar of +Pity.[<a id="chap30fn3text"></a><a href="#chap30fn3">3</a>] Theseus came and asked what he wanted, and +Adrastus told him of his misfortune and begged him +to procure an honourable burial for the Argives. When +Theseus heard about it all, he was very sorry for him, +and he marched to Thebes at the head of a band of +heroes, and said that unless Creon at once countermanded +his wicked orders, he would destroy the city. +Creon was afraid of Theseus, so he granted all that he +required, and the heroes were buried with due honours. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a id="chap30fn1"></a> +[<a href="#chap30fn1text">1</a>] See <a href="#P58">page 58</a>. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a id="chap30fn2"></a> +[<a href="#chap30fn2text">2</a>] See <a href="#P153">page 153</a>. +</p> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a id="chap30fn3"></a> +[<a href="#chap30fn3text">3</a>] See <a href="#P196">page 196</a>. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap31"></a></p> + +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P224"></a>224}</span> + +<h2> +XXXI. +<br><br> +THE EPIGONI. +</h2> + +<p> +King Adrastus never ceased to grieve over his heroes +who had been slain by the Thebans, and when ten years +had gone by, and the boys who were then quite young +had grown up to be men, he assembled them and +proposed to them to march against Thebes in order to +avenge their fathers. They were quite ready to do +this, for they were true heroes, with strong arms and +brave hearts. Each of the seven heroes who had +accompanied Adrastus on the former expedition had +left a son, and these young men were called the +Epigoni, or 'Those who come after.' They chose a strong +band of followers from among the youths of Argos, and +when they were all armed in readiness for the war, they +sent to the Oracle at Delphi to ask whom they should +take for their leader, for Adrastus was now too old and +grey to head them himself. The Oracle said that they +had better choose the son of Amphiaraus, who was +named Alcmaeon, and who was wise and brave. Adrastus +was full of joy at seeing the army of young men +set out on its march, and trusted that the gods would +give them the victory. The Epigoni took the same +road by which their fathers had gone ten years before, +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P225"></a>225}</span> +but instead of meeting with bad omens on the way, +everything was now most prosperous. +</p> + +<p> +Creon was by this time dead, and the son of Eteocles, +whose name was Laodamas, was king of Thebes. When +he heard that the Epigoni were coming to avenge their +fathers, he armed the citizens and marched out to meet +them, and a battle took place in front of the city gates, +in the very same field where the heroes who accompanied +Adrastus had fallen. The Epigoni thought of +their fathers and fought the more bravely, and though +the Thebans held their ground steadily at first, their +courage gave way after their king, Laodamas, had been +slain by Alcmaeon, and they fled back into the city. +The Epigoni encamped before Thebes, saying that they +would not raise the siege until they had conquered it, +and the Thebans meanwhile held counsel as to how +they might best save themselves from their vengeance. +Among them was the blind seer, Tiresias, who had long +ago foretold to Laïus that if a child were born to him, +he would sin against both his father and mother. He +was now very old, with hair as white as snow, and he +had lived through all the prosperity and all the calamities +of the Thebans, and was greatly honoured by them, +so they went to him to ask his advice as to what they +had better do. He said that they could only hope to +save their lives by artifice, and told them how to set to +work. According to his directions they sent a herald +the next day to the Epigoni, to announce that the +Thebans were willing to make some atonement for the +slaughter of their fathers. The Epigoni did not suspect +any trick, and began to negotiate with the herald as to +what form the atonement should take, without +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P226"></a>226}</span> +perceiving what was going on in the city. But meanwhile +the Thebans were pouring out of it on the further side +and taking with them whatever they regarded as the +most precious of their possessions, and they +succeeded in carrying off, not only their children, but +also a good deal of treasure. When the Epigoni had +announced what they would demand as an atonement, +the herald returned to the city; but he only entered it +by one gate in order to pass out on the further side by +the gate through which the Thebans had fled, and he +was not long in overtaking them. Tiresias had +accompanied the Thebans, led by a boy; on the way he asked +for something to drink, and the boy took him to a cool +spring, but as soon as he had tasted the water he +sank down and died. The Thebans buried him by the +roadside, and then they marched on till they came to +a strange land, where they built another city. +</p> + +<p> +Meanwhile a day went by, and then another, and +still the Epigoni waited for the herald to return. But +when two days had passed without any further sign of +him, and no one appeared upon the city walls, neither +was there any smoke to be seen rising from the houses, +they began to suspect that the Thebans had fled. +They climbed over the walls without any resistance +and entered the city, but they found no one there. +There was, however, a great deal of treasure in the +houses, for the Thebans had not been able to carry +everything away with them, and the heroes took an +enormous booty. They chose out the best things and +sent them to Delphi as a present to Apollo, and the +remainder they divided among themselves. They made +Thersander, the son of Polynices, king of Thebes, and +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P227"></a>227}</span> +proclaimed that those among the Argives who chose +to remain in Thebes instead of returning home with +Alcmaeon might settle there and have portions of the +land assigned to them for their own. Many people +from the neighbourhood came also into the city with +their wives and children, so that before long all the +houses were once more inhabited. Alcmaeon led back +the remainder of the Argives to their own homes, for +the Epigoni had now avenged their fathers, and had +won for themselves glory and renown. +</p> + +<p> +Alcmaeon now remembered the oath that he had +once sworn to his father, before he set out with the +other princes to march against Thebes. Amphiaraus +had then made both his sons swear that they would +avenge him upon Eriphyle for having allowed herself +to be bribed by the veil and necklace to give her voice +in favour of what she knew would cost him his life.[<a id="chap31fn1text"></a><a href="#chap31fn1">1</a>] But +it was a hard task for Alcmaeon, for Eriphyle was +his mother. He did not know what to do, so he went +to Delphi and asked the Oracle whether he should keep +his promise to his father or not. The Oracle said yes, +that he must do this; and so he returned home and +killed his mother. When Eriphyle was dying, she +cursed every country that should shelter her murderer, +and the curse of the dying mother had such power that +everything must needs carry it into effect. Alcmaeon +became mad, and wandered about from one country to +another till he came to a king named Phegeus, who +knew how to purify murderers, and who had compassion +on him and purged him from the stain of blood. Then +the madness left him, and he was able to rest once +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P228"></a>228}</span> +more. Phegeus gave him his daughter in marriage, +and said that he should live in his country and have +an honourable position there. Alcmaeon was very glad +of this, and he presented the veil and necklace to +his wife who was very much pleased with them. In +the spring however, the seed did not come up, which +caused a dearth throughout the land,—and this was +owing to the curse of Eriphyle. The king consulted a +seer about it, and he said that the land would not bear +fruit so long as Alcmaeon remained in the kingdom. +</p> + +<p> +So Alcmaeon had to take leave of his wife and quit +the country, and he set out not knowing whither to go. +He went to Delphi and asked the Pythia if there was +any land that could receive him without suffering for it; +and she answered that he must go to the river-god Acheloüs +and ask him to help him, for that no one else could +do so. Alcmaeon therefore went to the river and called +to Acheloüs, who came up out of the water and asked +what he wanted. Alcmaeon told him of his distress and +begged for his help, and the river-god took pity on him +and made his stream bring down sand and silt from the +heights above, until a new and fruitful country was +formed by the side of the river; and as it had not been +in existence when Eriphyle cursed the land that should +give her son rest, Alcmaeon was able to remain there, +and he ploughed and sowed seed, and the earth brought +forth fruit. Acheloüs had a very beautiful daughter, +and Alcmaeon became so much attached to her, that +he was unfaithful to his wife, and married the daughter +of the river-god. Several years passed by in peace and +prosperity; the gods sent them two sons, and Alcmaeon +had no thought of ever leaving his place of shelter. +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P229"></a>229}</span> +But the daughter of Acheloüs had heard of the beautiful +veil and necklace, and she never ceased to beg her +husband to go and fetch them for her, till at last he was +obliged to yield, and set out for the country of King +Phegeus. He did not tell Phegeus the truth however, +but said that he was still obliged to wander about, +and could only obtain rest by taking the veil and +necklace to Delphi and dedicating them to Apollo. The +daughter of Phegeus did not doubt his sincerity, and +readily parted with the precious ornaments for the sake +of her husband whom she loved dearly. But before +Alcmaeon had reached home again, King Phegeus +heard that he had been unfaithful and had married +the daughter of Acheloüs, and he was very angry, and +commanded his sons to go after him and kill him. They +were wild headstrong youths who delighted in deeds of +blood, and they overtook Alcmaeon and killed him and +took away both the treasures. Then they returned home, +thinking that their sister would rejoice at the vengeance +that had overtaken her husband; but though he had +married another woman, she was very sorry for his death +and was angry with her brothers for having killed him. +</p> + +<p> +The daughter of Acheloüs waited long for Alcmaeon +to return home; but a good while afterwards, a stranger +who happened to be passing that way told her that he +had been put to death by the sons of Phegeus. Then +it was her greatest wish to avenge his death, and she +begged Zeus that her two sons might at once become +grown-up men. In that same night the children grew +up to be men, and their mother provided them with +weapons, and told them that their father had been +murdered by the sons of Phegeus, and that they were +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P230"></a>230}</span> +to avenge him. They set off for the country of Phegeus, +but on their way they stopped to rest at the house of a +prince where it happened that the sons of Phegeus +were also staying, for they too were on a journey, and +they had with them the veil and the necklace. The +young men did not know each other, but as they were +talking together at the feast, the sons of Phegeus +brought out the precious ornaments and showed them +to the others who thus recognised the murderers of +their father, and they drew their swords and killed +them. Then they returned home to their mother with +the precious treasures. But the wise river-god said +that they were no real treasures, for they brought +misfortune to whoever possessed them; and he made his +grandsons carry them to Delphi, and present them as +an offering to the god Apollo. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="footnote"> +<a id="chap31fn1"></a> +[<a href="#chap31fn1text">1</a>] See <a href="#P215">p. 215</a>. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap32"></a></p> + +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P231"></a>231}</span> + +<h2> +XXXII. +<br><br> +EROS AND PSYCHE. +</h2> + +<p> +There lived once a king and queen who had three +daughters. The youngest of them was named Psyche, +and she was so wonderfully beautiful that when she +went through the streets, the people threw flowers before +her and kissed their hands to her, as they used to do +to the statues of the gods. The only one who did not +delight in her was the goddess Aphrodite. She was +accustomed to drive through the city in a chariot +drawn by doves, and every time she did so it vexed her +afresh to see that the townspeople neglected her worship +in order to pay homage to the lovely Psyche, as if it +were she and not Aphrodite who was the goddess of +beauty. And she called her son Eros, who was the god +of love, and commanded him to cause the princess whom +she hated to set her love upon the most unworthy of all +mortals. +</p> + +<p> +Not long afterwards the old king asked the Oracle +to whom he should give his daughter Psyche in marriage, +and the answer he received was that she must be dressed +as a bride and led to the top of a rocky cliff that stood +up high above the city, and that then all her friends +must say good-bye to her for ever, and leave her there +alone to be taken to the house of the husband +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P232"></a>232}</span> +appointed for her. And that if he refused to obey the +Oracle, grievous misfortune would befall him and all his +household. The king and queen were greatly distressed +at this sentence, and the whole land mourned +with them, for why should the Oracle speak so mysteriously +if it did not mean that the appointed husband +was some horrible monster? But they were obliged +to obey, lest some worse misfortune should overtake +them. Psyche was dressed as a bride and led to the +rock, in a procession of the citizens. The flutes and +other musical instruments gave forth joyous sounds; but +louder still was heard the sound of mourning and +lamentation. The grey-haired father and mother wept +bitterly as they kissed their child for the last time, and +then the wedding torches were put out, and the +procession wound sadly and silently back to the city. +</p> + +<p> +Psyche meanwhile was left alone upon the desolate +rock; but very soon a Wind-god came, who seized her in +his arms and flew through the air with her, till at last +he put her down in a valley on the further side of the +hill. Psyche hid her face in her hands at first that she +might not see the horrible things she expected to find +all round her; but when she did venture timidly to open +her eyes, she could scarcely believe what she saw. She +found herself seated in a meadow full of flowers, with +a clear stream running through it, and a wood near by, +in front of which there stood a most beautiful palace; +its roof was supported by pillars of pure gold, and +its walls were covered with sculptures wrought in +silver. Full of astonishment, Psyche rose and went +towards the palace. As she approached it, she noticed +that the air was filled with a delicious scent, and when +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P233"></a>233}</span> +she entered the palace, she met with some new splendour +at every step. The rooms were furnished with great +magnificence, and were filled with beautiful ornaments +of gold and silver. Then there fell upon her ear the +sweet voice of a nymph, which said, 'We are at your +service, and prepared to carry out your wishes, whatever +they may be.' Psyche thought she would like to +refresh herself with some cool water, and in a moment a +beautiful bath was drawn forward by unseen hands and +placed before her. After she had bathed and anointed +herself, she went into the next room where she found +a table spread with a tempting meal, and all the while +she was eating, sounds of sweet music were heard and +songs were sung by unseen nymphs. When Psyche +had finished, she felt in need of rest, and she lay +down on a couch and went to sleep. Meanwhile it +became quite dark, and by-and-by she was awakened +by a gentle movement, and a sweet voice said to her, +'I am thy husband, and this house is thine and mine,—all +its splendours are for thy pleasure,—but never seek +to see my face, for then I should be obliged to leave +thee for ever.' The husband remained with her until +the day was about to dawn, and then he vanished. +</p> + +<p> +The next day, and each following day, everything +happened as before: the unseen nymphs waited on +Psyche and shortened the hours by singing and playing +to her, and with the darkness came the husband who +remained in the palace until morning. +</p> + +<p> +The heart of Psyche was divided between joy and +sorrow. Her kind husband and the wonders and delights +of the palace filled her with joy, but tears often came +to her eyes in thinking of her parents and her +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P234"></a>234}</span> +play-fellows. Once when she was looking towards the +high rock from which she had been brought by the +Wind-god, she saw her two sisters there, and she was +filled with so great a longing to see them again that +when next her husband came to her, she begged him +to send for them. For a moment he hesitated, but +then he promised to do as she wished, and told her +also that she might give them anything she liked +out of the treasures of the palace to take away with +them as presents; 'but,' he added, 'take care not to +let them delude you into making any attempt to see +my face.' Psyche promised without any misgiving, for +she felt herself perfectly free from curiosity. +</p> + +<p> +On the following day when the two sisters again +appeared on the rock, the Wind-god took them up on +his shoulders and carried them into the beautiful +valley. Psyche received them with many embraces, +and asked them endless questions about her parents +and play-fellows. Then she led them into the palace +and desired the music to sound, whilst she showed +them all the beautiful things. They were dumb with +amazement, and stood looking at one another; and +then Psyche asked them to choose whatever they +liked best to take away with them, for they were +quite welcome to it. But the two sisters had wicked, +envious dispositions, and were not pleased that Psyche +should be so much better off than they were. They +asked who was her husband, and when she told them +that he was kind and good, but that she had never +seen him and that she was forbidden ever to seek to do +so, they made a sign one to the other, and one of them +pretended to cry, and said, 'Ah, dear sister, it must +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P235"></a>235}</span> +then be true what the people say. They say that every +evening a hideous monster is seen to creep into this +valley,—a horrible serpent with bloody jaws.' And the +other sister pretended to weep also, and she said, 'When +he gets to the palace he takes the form of a man; but +no doubt his countenance bears the traces of his cruel +nature, and that is the reason why he will not let you +look at him. Alas! only too soon shall we have to +deplore your miserable death.' +</p> + +<p> +Psyche was herself so entirely free from falseness +that she had no suspicion of the treachery of her sisters. +She was horror-struck at what they said, and though at +first she refused to believe that the gentle voice she had +so often heard could come from the jaws of a monster, +yet they so persisted in tormenting her with their crafty +speeches, that at last she ended by believing them, and +was only anxious to escape from the dreadful creature. +When the eldest sister saw this, she said to her, 'There +is just one means of saving your life. You must summon +up your courage, and to-night, when the monster is +asleep, take your lamp in your hand and a sharp knife, +and go to his couch and pierce him through the heart +with the knife.' She said this because she thought that +if Psyche disobeyed her husband by looking at him +when he was asleep, all her happiness would be at an +end. The two sisters gave Psyche no peace till she had +made up her mind to do as they said. Then they took +as many of the treasures of the palace as they could +carry, and Psyche called to the Wind-god to come and +take them away again. +</p> + +<p> +When it was dark, her husband came as usual; but +she was afraid of him, and could hardly find a word to +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P236"></a>236}</span> +say in answer to his friendly greeting. And at midnight, +when he was fast asleep, she lit a lamp, and taking +a knife in her hand, went to his couch with the +intention of killing him. The light fell upon the couch, +and there she saw,—no monster, but Eros himself, the +winged god of love, radiant with beauty. The knife +fell from her hand, and she felt that she could never be +weary of gazing at his glorious form. But as she bent +over him she forgot to take care that the lamp in her +hand was held straight, and a drop of hot oil was spilt, +which fell upon his shoulder and awoke him. He +opened his eyes and saw Psyche bending over him +with the lamp in her hand. He looked at her very +sorrowfully, and said, 'Thou hast mistrusted me and +transgressed my command; my dwelling is no longer +here. I am Eros, as thou hast discovered. My mother +Aphrodite is angry with thee, and she commanded me +to cause thee to love the most unworthy of men. But +when I saw thee, I was myself filled with love for thee, +and determined to hide thee from my mother that thou +mightest be my wife. Only in the deepest secrecy have +I dared to act against her will. And now thou hast +disobeyed my command, and I must leave thee for +ever.' When he had said this, he took up his bow and quiver +which stood by the side of the couch, and flew away. +</p> + +<p> +Psyche was filled with the bitterest remorse, and +desired to live no longer. When the day dawned, she +went to the river and threw herself into it. But the +river-god was unwilling to kill anything so beautiful, +and he carried her on the top of his waters to the +farther shore, and set her down there. The birds were +chirping in the trees, and the morning sun looked down +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P237"></a>237}</span> +so pleasantly on the river and the meadows that a ray +of hope sprang up in her heart, and she thought, 'How +if I could succeed in winning him back? They say +that he is the kindest of all the gods. I will go all over +the world seeking him.' So she set out, and took no +heed of the roughness of the way or of the thorns +that pierced her feet, and wandered into all corners of +the world, hoping to find some trace of him. +</p> + +<p> +After she had wandered for a long time, she came +to the palace of Aphrodite, and she said to herself, +'The goddess is indeed angry with me, but is her +anger mightier than my grief? I will enter her +service, and it may be that I shall succeed in gaining +her good will.' So she went into the palace, and +offered herself as servant to the goddess. Now +Aphrodite knew that instead of doing Psyche any injury, +Eros had secretly married her, for a sea-gull that had +made its nest for a time in the valley had told her +about it. She felt therefore a grim joy when the +unhappy girl put herself into her power, and in a +haughty tone she said to her, 'If your mind is set on +being beloved by a god, you will have to accomplish +hard tasks, and it will be the worse for you if you fail +to perform them.' Then she set her the first task. She +piled up in front of the palace a great heap of +seeds,—wheat, beans, poppies, and peas,—all mixed together, +and saying, 'Before night comes all the seeds must be +sorted,' she went away. Psyche could not have done it +in ten days. She sat down by the heap, buried her face +in her hands, and wept bitterly. But there lived close +by a great nation of ants, and one of them saw the +beautiful girl crying, and was sorry for her, and called +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P238"></a>238}</span> +the others to come and help her. Then there came an +endless array of ants, who set to work and soon sorted +the seeds, though some of them were so large that it +took four, eight, or even ten ants to roll a single seed +to its place, and when Psyche looked up, the work was +done and the ants were marching away again. She +kissed her hands to them, and thanked them prettily +for their kindness. When Aphrodite came home in the +evening and saw the seeds laid out in order, she could +find no fault with her industrious servant, but she gave +her a look that was far from friendly, for she would +much rather have had some excuse for blaming her. +</p> + +<p> +The next morning she said to Psyche, 'There is a +copse near by, where there graze some sheep with golden +fleeces. Go and fetch me three tufts of their wool.' Psyche +set out, and went slowly along the river-side towards the +wood. On the bank stood some reeds which rustled in +the morning breeze, and the rustling turned into words +like these, 'Take care what you do, for the golden-fleeced +sheep are fierce animals, and their bite is +poisonous. Wait till mid-day, and then go into the +copse and look at the bushes.' So said the reeds, and +then they rustled again as before. Psyche thanked them, +and sat down by the side of the river until the +shadows were at their shortest. Then she knew it was +mid-day, and she went into the copse and found the +sheep all lying asleep. She trod gently so as not to wake +them, and looked at the bushes which were covered +with tufts of golden wool, for the sheep had rubbed +themselves against the bushes and left part of their +fleeces sticking to the thorns. Psyche took the three +best tufts and left the copse. When she came back +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P239"></a>239}</span> +and gave them to her mistress, Aphrodite was +surprised, for she had expected that Psyche would be +bitten to death by the fierce sheep. She said to her +with an angry look, 'You have not yet finished your +day's work. Take your pitcher and ascend that hill. +At the top of it there is some black water. Fetch me +some.' +</p> + +<p> +Psyche started off obediently with her pitcher. +When she reached the hill, she saw before her a steep +path leading up to the spring, but near it were two +dreadful dragons who looked as if they would not let +any one pass them alive. The water fell into a dark +ravine by the side of the path, and flowed deep down +into the Lower World. It bubbled angrily in the +hollow, and called out to Psyche, 'What do you want +here? Go away, and be quick about it, or your +life is not worth much.' Psyche put down her pitcher +and stood still, weeping bitterly. But she had not been +there long when there appeared a great eagle, which +circled round her several times and then seized the +handle of her pitcher in his beak and flew off with it +to the spring. The dragons howled, and raised themselves +as high as they could in the air that they might +be the better able to shoot out flames at him from their +mouths, but their fiery breath was powerless to scorch +him. He came back with the filled pitcher which he +set down beside Psyche, and then he spread his wings +again and had soon disappeared among the clouds. +Psyche cast a grateful glance after him, took up her +pitcher, and set out joyfully on her way home. When +Aphrodite saw her returning, she felt sure that she had +come with an empty pitcher, for she knew that if she +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P240"></a>240}</span> +had attempted to pass the dragons they would have +killed her, and she thought that she would now be able +to imprison her in a damp dungeon and keep her without +sufficient food or sunshine. But when she looked +into the vessel, she saw that it was full of the black +water which Psyche had been desired to fetch. She +was very angry, and poured it out upon the ground, for +it was of no use to her, and began to ponder what task +she could impose upon Psyche which would bring about +her death without fail. +</p> + +<p> +The next morning Psyche was summoned to the +presence of her harsh mistress, who said to her, 'Take +this golden casket to the Queen of the Lower World, +and ask her to send me some of the Salve of Beauty.' Psyche +left the palace, but she made up her mind that +she would kill herself at once rather than attempt to +take the message, for she shuddered at the horrors of +the Lower World, and moreover she could not hope +that if she once entered its gates she would ever be +allowed to come out again. She ascended a high tower +which was grey with old age, meaning to throw herself +down from it; but as she stood on the top, the stones +began to utter sounds, and the aged tower said, 'Do +not despair, I will give you good counsel. Go to Mount +Taenarus, and there you will find a dark chasm that +leads down to the Lower World. The ferry-man who +will row you across the river Acheron demands passage +money; put two copper coins between your teeth, and +hold out your mouth to him, so that he may take his +fare for himself. At the gate of the Land of Shades +there stands the hideous dog Cerberus. For him take +a honey-cake in each of your hands, and throw him one +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P241"></a>241}</span> +when you go in at the gate, and the other when you +come out again. And beware of letting either of the +cakes out of your hand, for then you would find yourself +imprisoned for ever in the Lower World. Persephone +will fill the casket for you. Do not let anything +induce you to open it.' Then the tower ceased speaking, +and Psyche resolved to summon her courage and +undertake the dreadful journey. She put two copper +coins between her teeth, and taking a honey-cake in +each hand, she went along the dark road until she +reached the gloomy twilight of the Lower World. +Presently she met a lame man, who was driving a lame, +heavily-laden ass. He was holding up the burden +which was falling from off the ass, and he called out to +Psyche in a piteous voice, begging her to pick up a +piece of rope from the ground for him that he might +tie the burden on with it. The tender-hearted Psyche +found it difficult to refuse, but she could not have done +what he wanted without neglecting the warning of the +tower on no account to let go of her honey-cakes; so +she passed on without answering, and immediately the +man and the ass vanished. Psyche next came to the +river Acheron, and the surly ferryman Charon rowed +her over it in his boat after he had taken one of the +copper coins from her mouth. Close to the boat there +swam an old man whose appearance was most pitiful,—his +strength was evidently failing him, and he seemed +about to sink. He stretched out one of his thin arms +towards Psyche, and begged her with beseeching +gestures to hold out her hand to him. But Psyche +remembered the warning, and immediately the old +man disappeared. When they reached the further +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P242"></a>242}</span> +shore, there sat three old women by the road-side, +spinning, who called out to her in a pleasant voice and +asked her to cut their thread for them. They were nice, +kind-looking old women, but Psyche remembered the +warning, and immediately they disappeared as the +others had done. +</p> + +<p> +After this, Psyche soon arrived at the gate of the +Land of Shades, in front of which stood the three-headed +dog Cerberus. She threw him a cake, and he +let her go by. Then she saw flitting about her on all +sides, pale, silent shades, and she was seized with horror, +but she overcame it, and went on bravely to the palace +of Queen Persephone and delivered her message. +Persephone filled the box and gave it back to her. The +fierce dog let her pass out when she gave him the +second honey-cake, Charon took the second coin out +of her mouth and rowed her back across the river, and +at last she found herself in the sunshine once more. +She was very tired and sat down on a stone to rest a +little, and she thought to herself, 'I have gone through +the horrors of the Lower World, and have fulfilled the +command of the cruel goddess. But will she give me +any thanks for it?' For some time she sat buried in +sad thoughts; then she said, 'How if I were to open +the casket and test the power of the wonderful salve? +Perhaps it would give me such beauty that Eros would +come back to me.' Quickly she lifted the cover, but +there came out of the casket a cloud of stupefying +vapour which threw her into a deep sleep. Before +Psyche entered the Lower World, Aphrodite had sent a +messenger to the Queen to beg her, instead of filling +the casket with the Salve of Beauty, to put into it a +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P243"></a>243}</span> +narcotic vapour, for she thought that even if Psyche +surmounted all the other difficulties in her path, she +might at last be conquered by the temptation of curiosity +and open the casket. +</p> + +<p> +But Eros was not far off. He had seen how Psyche +had gone through so many dangers and horrors for love +of him, and now he came and wiped away the magic +vapour which had settled on her face, and shut it up +again in the casket. Then he soared up to Olympus, +the abode of the gods, and entreated Zeus to gift +Psyche with immortality, and allow him to be married to +her. Zeus granted his request, and sent down Hermes, +the messenger, to raise Psyche from the earth and +bring her into the assembly of the gods. Before them +all, Zeus held out to her a shell filled with nectar, +the drink of the gods, and said to her, 'Drink +immortality.' Even Aphrodite kissed her and blessed the +marriage, for her anger had been overcome by Psyche's +faithful love. The marriage was celebrated with great +joyfulness,—Apollo and the Muses sang, the Graces +danced, and the whole vault of heaven resounded with +the mirth of the wedding guests. +</p> + +<p> +The envious sisters were already dead. After they +had plunged Psyche into misery, they each hoped to +become the bride of the unknown husband, and each in +turn went to the rock and threw herself from it, expecting +the Wind-god to carry her into the valley as he had +done before, but instead of that, they both fell down +among sharp stones and perished miserably. Thus did +they come to a bad end; but Psyche was enthroned as +a goddess beside her Love, in the unending joy of the +blessed Immortals. +</p> + +<p><br><br><br></p> + +<p><a id="chap33"></a></p> + +<span class="pagenum">{<a id="P245"></a>245}</span> + +<h2> +INDEX +</h2> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>ABSYRTUS</i>. Son of Aeëtes +king of Colchis. Is taken +on board the Argo by his sister +Medea, <a href="#P165">165</a>. Is killed by Medea +in order to delay Aeëtes in his +pursuit of the Argonauts, <a href="#P166">166</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +Achelōus. A river-god. Fights +with Heracles for Deianira, and +is conquered by him, <a href="#P142">142</a> and +<a href="#P143">143</a>. Helps Alcmaeon in his +distress and gives him his +daughter in marriage, <a href="#P228">228</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Acheron</i>. One of the rivers of the +Lower World. Psyche is rowed +across it by Charon, <a href="#P241">241</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Acrisius</i>. King of Argos. Builds +a brazen room for his daughter +Danaë, and afterwards shuts her +up with her child in a chest and +turns them adrift, <a href="#P95">95</a>. Is +accidentally killed by his grandson +Perseus, <a href="#P102">102</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Actaeon</i>. Is turned into a stag as +a punishment fur looking at the +goddess Artemis when bathing, +<a href="#P24">24</a> and <a href="#P25">25</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +Admētus. Is helped by Apollo to +win the hand of Alcestis, <a href="#P91">91</a> to +<a href="#P93">93</a>. Is restored to life through +the sacrifice of Alcestis, <a href="#P93">93</a> and <a href="#P94">94</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Adrastus</i>. King of Argos. +Receives Polynices when banished +by Eteocles, <a href="#P212">212</a> and <a href="#P213">213</a>. +Marches with him against +Thebes, <a href="#P213">213</a> to <a href="#P221">221</a>. Escapes +through the speed of his horse +Arion, <a href="#P221">221</a>. Begs Theseus to +procure an honourable burial +for the Argives, <a href="#P223">223</a>. Sends the +Epigoni to avenge their fathers, +<a href="#P224">224</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Axētēs</i>. King of Colchis. +Receives Phrixus when brought to +his country by the Golden Ram, +<a href="#P150">150</a>. Promises to let Jason +have the Golden Fleece on certain +conditions, <a href="#P160">160</a>. Plots to +kill him, <a href="#P164">164</a> and <a href="#P165">165</a>. Pursues +Jason and Medea, but turns back +to bury his son Absyrtus, <a href="#P166">166</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Aegeūs</i>. King of Athens. +Marries Aethra and becomes the +father of Theseus, <a href="#P177">177</a>. Receives +Theseus at Athens, <a href="#P182">182</a> +and <a href="#P183">183</a>. Parts unwillingly +with Theseus that he may go to +Crete to slay the Minotaur, <a href="#P187">187</a> +and <a href="#P188">188</a>. Kills himself at sight +of the black sail which he +believes to be the announcement +of his son's death, <a href="#P192">192</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Aegyptus</i>. Brother of Danaus +and king of a part of Africa, <a href="#P34">34</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Aethra</i>. Marries Aegeus and +becomes the mother of Theseus, +<a href="#P177">177</a>. Keeps her son at Troezen +till he is grown up, and then +sends him to his father at Athens, +<a href="#P177">177</a> to <a href="#P179">179</a>. Takes charge of +Helena for a time, till she is +rescued by her brothers, <a href="#P199">199</a> and <a href="#P201">201</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Africa</i>. Io is kindly received in +Africa by the king of Egypt, <a href="#P32">32</a> +and <a href="#P33">33</a>. Danaus, her descendant, +leaves the country for Argos, <a href="#P34">34</a>. +The inhabitants are burnt black +by Phaëthon, <a href="#P41">41</a>. Cassiopea, +wife of Cepheus, king of a part +of Africa, is punished by +Poseidon for her pride, <a href="#P98">98</a> and <a href="#P99">99</a>. +Perseus arrives and delivers +Andromeda from the monster, +<a href="#P99">99</a> and <a href="#P100">100</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Alcestis</i>. Daughter of King Pelias, +<a href="#P91">91</a>. Is sued for by Admetus, <a href="#P92">92</a> +and <a href="#P93">93</a>. Dies in order that her +husband may live, <a href="#P93">93</a>. Is +restored to life by Persephone, <a href="#P94">94</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Alcmaeon</i>. Son of Amphiaraus. +Leads the Epigoni against +Thebes, <a href="#P224">224</a> to <a href="#P226">226</a>. Returns +home and kills his mother in +obedience to the command of +his father, <a href="#P227">227</a>. Goes to King +Phegeus to be purified, and +marries his daughter, <a href="#P227">227</a>; but is +obliged to leave the country, +<a href="#P228">228</a>. Asks the help of Acheloüs, +who has pity on him and forms +an island on which he can live, +<a href="#P228">228</a>. Marries the daughter of +Acheloüs, <a href="#P228">228</a>. Is killed by the +brothers of his former wife, <a href="#P229">229</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Alcmēnē</i>. Daughter of Electryon. +Is driven away from Mycenae +after her father's death by her +uncle Sthenelus, and takes refuge +in Thebes, <a href="#P105">105</a>. Induces +Amphitryon to make war upon the +Teleboae, <a href="#P105">105</a> and <a href="#P106">106</a>. Is +married to Zeus during his +absence, but afterwards marries +Amphitryon. <a href="#P108">108</a>. Becomes the +mother of Heracles and Iphicles, +<a href="#P108">108</a>. Finds Heracles attacked +by serpents, <a href="#P109">109</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Altar of Pity</i>. Erected by +Theseus in the market-place of +Athens, <a href="#P196">196</a>. Oedipus goes +there to sue for help, <a href="#P210">210</a>. Also +Adrastus, <a href="#P223">223</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Althaea</i>. Wife of Oeneus king of +Calydon, and mother of Meleager, +whose death she hastens +by burning the brand on which +his life depends, <a href="#P83">83</a> and <a href="#P88">88</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Amalthea</i>. The goat that nourished +Zeus, <a href="#P3">3</a>. Her horn is converted +into the Horn of Plenty, <a href="#P5">5</a>; +and becomes the property of +Heracles, <a href="#P143">143</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Amazons</i>. A nation of +women-soldiers. Heracles is sent by +Eurystheus to fetch the girdle +of the Queen of the Amazons, +<a href="#P124">124</a> to <a href="#P126">126</a>. The women of +Lemnos try to imitate them, <a href="#P153">153</a>. +Theseus carries off Hippolyta to +be his wife, <a href="#P193">193</a>; and is in +consequence attacked by the +Amazons, <a href="#P194">194</a>. He wins the +first victory ever gained over +them, <a href="#P195">195</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Amphiarāus</i>. A seer, +brother-in-law of Adrastus king of Argos, +<a href="#P213">213</a>. Advises against the +expedition to Thebes, <a href="#P214">214</a> and +<a href="#P217">217</a>; but is over-ruled by his +wife Eriphyle, <a href="#P214">214</a> and <a href="#P215">215</a>. +Zeus interposes to prevent his +being killed in the battle, and +takes him to dwell among the +gods, <a href="#P220">220</a> and <a href="#P221">221</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Amphīon</i>. King of Thebes, and +husband of Niobe, <a href="#P59">59</a> and <a href="#P80">80</a>. +Builds a wall round the city by +singing to the stones, <a href="#P59">59</a> and +<a href="#P60">60</a>. Grieves for his children +slain by Apollo and Artemis, <a href="#P81">81</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Amphitryon</i>. Comes to Mycenae +to sue for the hand of Alcmene. +and accidentally kills her father, +Electryon, <a href="#P105">105</a>. Takes refuge +with Creon, king of Thebes, +<a href="#P105">105</a>; and delivers the city from +a destroying Fox, <a href="#P106">106</a>. Makes +war upon the Teleboae at the +desire of Alcmene, <a href="#P105">105</a> to <a href="#P108">108</a>. +Marries Alcmene, <a href="#P108">108</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Androgeus</i>. Son of Minos king of +Crete. Goes to Athens to take +part in some games, and is killed +by the Athenians on his way +home, <a href="#P186">186</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Andromeda</i>. Daughter of Cepheus +and Cassiopea, <a href="#P98">98</a>. Is delivered +by Perseus from the monster +who was to have devoured her, +<a href="#P99">99</a>. Is married to him, <a href="#P100">100</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Antaeus</i>. King of Libya. +Compels Heracles to wrestle with +him, <a href="#P133">133</a>. His mother the +Earth gives him new strength +each time he touches her, but +Heracles raises him in his arms, +and strangles him to death, <a href="#P133">133</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Antigonē</i>. Daughter of Oedipus, +<a href="#P210">210</a>. Chooses to share her +father's fate when he is banished +from Thebes, and accompanies +him through all his wanderings, +<a href="#P210">210</a> and <a href="#P211">211</a>. Buries her brother +Polynices notwithstanding the +prohibition of Creon, and is +immured for having dared to +disobey him, <a href="#P221">221</a> to <a href="#P223">223</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Aphroditē</i>. Goddess of beauty, <a href="#P231">231</a>. +Gives her daughter Harmonia +to be the wife of Cadmus, <a href="#P68">68</a>. +Gives Milanion three golden +apples that he may conquer +Atalanta in the race, <a href="#P89">89</a>. Is +angry with Psyche, <a href="#P231">231</a>; and +treats her cruelly, <a href="#P237">237</a> to <a href="#P243">243</a>; +but is afterwards reconciled to +her marriage with Eros, <a href="#P243">243</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Apollo</i>. Son of Zeus and Leto, +and brother of Artemis, <a href="#P23">23</a>. +Disputes with Idas for +Marpessa, <a href="#P21">21</a>. Gifts Melampus +with the power of knowing the +future, <a href="#P72">72</a>. Punishes the pride +of Niobe, <a href="#P80">80</a> and <a href="#P81">81</a>. Becomes for +a time the slave of Admetus, <a href="#P91">91</a>. +Helps Admetus to win Alcestis, +<a href="#P92">92</a> and <a href="#P93">93</a>. Helps to arm +Heracles for his fight with the +Minyae, <a href="#P112">112</a>. Refuses to +pronounce the oracle demanded by +Heracles, <a href="#P139">139</a>. Blesses the +marriage of Eros and Psyche, <a href="#P243">243</a>. +Theseus sacrifices the Cretan +Bull to Apollo, 185. the +Temple of Apollo at Delphi see +page <a href="#P55">55,--also</a> <i>Delphi</i>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Arcadia</i>. Heracles drives the +Stymphalian birds out of the +country, <a href="#P121">121</a> and <a href="#P122">122</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Arēs</i>. The god of war. Is made +prisoner by Otus and Ephialtes, +<a href="#P28">28</a>. Gives his daughter +Harmonia to be the wife of Cadmus, +<a href="#P58">58</a>. Gives a beautiful girdle to +the Queen of the Amazons, <a href="#P124">124</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Argo</i>. The vessel in which Jason +and his friends sail to fetch the +Golden Fleece, <a href="#P153">153</a>. She is +dedicated to Poseidon, <a href="#P171">171</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Argonauts</i>. The heroes who sailed +in the Argo. For their adventures, +see pages <a href="#P153">153</a> to <a href="#P171">171</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Argos</i>. The home of Io, <a href="#P31">31</a>. Her +descendant Danaus finds a +refuge in Argos when obliged to +flee from Egypt, and becomes +king, <a href="#P34">34</a> and <a href="#P35">35</a>. Lynceus +succeeds him, <a href="#P37">37</a>. Melampus is +sent for to Argos to deliver the +daughters of King Proetus from +their mania, <a href="#P73">73</a> and <a href="#P74">74</a>. Danaë +is driven away from Argos by +her father, King Acrisius, <a href="#P95">95</a>. +Perseus becomes king of Argos, +but exchanges it for the cities +of Mycenae and Tiryns, <a href="#P103">103</a>. +Polynices comes to Argos to ask +for help, <a href="#P212">212</a>. King Adrastus +leads the Argives against Thebes, +<a href="#P213">213</a> to <a href="#P223">223</a>. Their defeat is +afterwards avenged by the Epigoni, +<a href="#P224">224</a> to <a href="#P227">227</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Argus</i>. (1) The hundred-eyed +watchman placed by Hera in +charge of Io; <a href="#P31">31</a>. (2) The +builder of the Argo, <a href="#P152">152</a> and <a href="#P153">153</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Ariadnē</i>. Daughter of Minos, +king of Crete. Helps Theseus +to overcome the Minotaur, and +flees away with him, <a href="#P188">188</a> to +<a href="#P190">190</a>. At Naxos, Theseus is +commanded to abandon her, <a href="#P191">191</a>; +and she becomes the wife of the +god Dionysus, <a href="#P192">192</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Arīon</i>. A horse of divine origin. +Carries Adrastus back to Argos +after his defeat before Thebes, +<a href="#P221">221</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Artemis</i>. Goddess of the chase, +<a href="#P24">24</a>. Daughter of Zeus and Leto, +and sister of Apollo, <a href="#P23">23</a>. Punishes +Actaeon for looking at her +when bathing, <a href="#P25">25</a>. Causes the +death of Otus and Ephialtes, +<a href="#P28">28</a>. Punishes Niobe for her +pride, <a href="#P80">80</a> and <a href="#P81">81</a>. Sends a +wild-boar to lay waste the country +round Calydon, <a href="#P84">84.--Festival</a> of +Artemis celebrated at Sparta, +<a href="#P199">199</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Asia</i>. The home of Europa and +Cadmus, <a href="#P54">54</a>. The country of +the Amazons lies in Asia, <a href="#P125">125</a> +and <a href="#P193">193</a>. Phrixus is brought to +the city of Colchis in Asia by +the Golden Ram, <a href="#P150">150</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Atalanta</i>. Is exposed in a forest +and brought up by hunters, <a href="#P84">84</a> +to <a href="#P86">86</a>. Takes part in the +Calydonian boar-hunt, <a href="#P86">86</a> to <a href="#P89">89</a>. +Allows herself to be conquered +by the golden apples in the race +with Milanion, <a href="#P89">89</a> and <a href="#P90">90</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Athamas, King</i>. Father of Phrixus +and Helle, <a href="#P148">148</a>. Dionysus is +placed under his charge by +Zeus, <a href="#P63">63</a>. Hera is angry at +this and punishes Athamas by +making him mad, <a href="#P63">63</a> and <a href="#P150">150</a>. +He kills his wife and children +in his madness, and is +condemned to wander about till +he becomes the guest of wild +beasts, <a href="#P150">150</a> and <a href="#P151">151</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Athēnē</i>. Daughter of Zeus, and +goddess of wisdom. Buries one +of the Giants beneath the island +of Sicily, <a href="#P6">6</a>. Teaches Bellerophon +how to control the winged horse +Pegasus, <a href="#P49">49</a>. Directs Cadmus +to sow the dragon's teeth and +build a city with the help of the +warriors who should spring from +them, <a href="#P56">56</a> and <a href="#P57">57</a>. Received from +Perseus the Gorgon's head and +fastens it to her shield, <a href="#P103">103</a>. +Helps to arm Heracles for his +fight with the Minyae, <a href="#P112">112</a>. +Helps Heracles to drive away +the Stymphalian birds, <a href="#P121">121</a> and +<a href="#P122">122</a>. Returns the apples procured +by Heracles from the Garden of +the Hesperides, <a href="#P135">135</a>. Sends a +Sacred Beam for the Argo, <a href="#P153">153</a>. +Claims the guardianship of the +city of Athens, <a href="#P176">176</a> and <a href="#P177">177</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Athens</i>. Is named after Athene, +<a href="#P176">176</a> and <a href="#P177">177</a>. Amphitryon goes +there to fetch the dog who could +not be baffled of his prey, <a href="#P106">106</a>. +The city is ruled over by Aegeus, +<a href="#P177">177</a>. Theseus arrives at Athens, +<a href="#P182">182</a>; delivers the land from the +Bull of Marathon, <a href="#P184">184</a> and <a href="#P185">185</a>; +and from the tribute imposed +by Minos, <a href="#P185">185</a> to <a href="#P191">191</a>; succeeds +his father as king of Athens, +<a href="#P193">193</a>; defeats the Amazons, <a href="#P195">195</a>; +sets up an Altar of Pity in the +market-place, <a href="#P196">196</a>. Hippolytus +comes to stay at Athens, <a href="#P197">197</a> and +<a href="#P198">198</a>. Oedipus finds a refuge +there, <a href="#P210">210</a>. Adrastus comes to +sue for help, <a href="#P223">223</a>. The bones of +Theseus are brought to Athens, +<a href="#P203">203</a> and <a href="#P204">204</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Atlas</i>. Is compelled to support the +vault of heaven, <a href="#P134">134</a>. Fetches +the golden apples from the +Garden of the Hesperides fur +Heracles, <a href="#P134">134</a> and <a href="#P135">135</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Augeas</i>. King of Elis. Has his +stables cleansed by Heracles in +a single day, <a href="#P119">119</a> and <a href="#P120">120</a>. +Refuses to give the reward agreed +upon, <a href="#P120">120</a> and <a href="#P121">121</a>. Is punished +by Heracles for his treachery, +<a href="#P141">141</a> and <a href="#P142">142</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Aventīnus, Mt</i>. A mountain in +Italy over which Heracles is +driving the cattle of Geryon +when they are stolen by the +Giant Cacus, <a href="#P130">130</a>. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>BACCHANTES</i>. Followers of +Dionysus or Bacchus, <a href="#P65">65</a> to +<a href="#P67">67</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Beam, The Sacred</i>. A beam with +the power of speech,--sent by +Athene to be inserted in the +Argo, <a href="#P153">153</a>. It reproves Jason +and Medea for their crime, <a href="#P167">167</a>. +Dies of old age, <a href="#P171">171</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Bellerophon</i>. Son of Glaucus, and +grandson of Sisyphus, kings of +Corinth. <a href="#P45">45</a>. Kills his brother +unintentionally, and goes to +King Proetus to be purged from +the stain of blood, <a href="#P45">45</a>. Is sent +by Proetus to Iobates king of +Lycia, <a href="#P46">46</a>. Slays the Chimaera +by the help of the winged horse +Pegasus, <a href="#P47">47</a> to <a href="#P50">50</a>. Marries the +king's daughter and settles in +the country, <a href="#P51">51</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Bias</i>. Brother of Melampus. +Obtains the hand of Pero, daughter +of king Neleus, through the +kindness of his brother, <a href="#P69">69</a> to +<a href="#P72">72</a>. Obtains also a third part +of the dominions of Proetus, king +of Argos, <a href="#P73">73</a> and <a href="#P74">74</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Black Sea</i>. Crossed by Phrixus +when carried by the Golden +Ram to Colchis, <a href="#P150">150</a>. Passed +through by the Argonauts on +their way to Colchis, <a href="#P155">155</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Boreas</i>. The god of the North +Wind, <a href="#P158">158</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Bull of Crete or of Marathon</i>. +Sent by Poseidon to Minos for +sacrifice, <a href="#P122">122</a>. Taken to +Mycenae by Heracles, <a href="#P123">123</a>. Captured +by Theseus and sacrificed to +Apollo, <a href="#P184">184</a> and <a href="#P185">185</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Busīris</i>. A king of Egypt who +sacrificed a stranger every year +to the gods. Is killed by Heracles, +<a href="#P133">133</a> and <a href="#P134">134</a>. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>CACUS</i>. A giant living on +Mt. Aventinus. Steals the +cattle of Heracles and is killed +by him, <a href="#P130">130</a> and <a href="#P131">131</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Cadmēa</i>. The fortress of Thebes. +Named after Cadmus, <a href="#P58">58</a>. Hera +enters and gives bad advice to +Semele, <a href="#P61">61</a>. It is visited by a +devastating Fox, whom +Amphitryon overcomes with the +help of the Athenian Dog, <a href="#P106">106</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Cadmus</i>. Sets off in search of his +sister Europa, <a href="#P50">50</a>. Is directed +to found a city, <a href="#P56">56</a>. Sows +dragon's teeth, from which +spring warriors who help him +to build the Cadmea, <a href="#P57">57</a> and +<a href="#P58">58</a>. Marries Harmonia, <a href="#P58">58</a>. Is +the father of Semele, <a href="#P61">61</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Calydon</i>. The country of Oeneus +and the scene of the great +boar-hunt in which Meleager +and Atalanta take part, <a href="#P83">83-89</a>. +Heracles goes there to sue for +Deianira, <a href="#P142">142</a>, and spends some +years there, <a href="#P143">143</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Capaneūs</i>. One of the Seven +Heroes who march against Thebes, +<a href="#P213">213</a> and <a href="#P214">214</a>. Is killed by +lightning, <a href="#P219">219</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Cassiopēa</i>. Wife of Cepheus and +mother of Andromeda. Punished +by Poseidon for her pride, <a href="#P98">98</a> and +<a href="#P99">99</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Castor.</i> Son of Tyndareus and +Leda, and twin-brother of +Pollux, <a href="#P200">200</a>. Takes part in the +expedition of the Argonauts, +<a href="#P157">157</a>. Rescues his sister Helena, +<a href="#P201">201</a>. Shares the fate of his +brother Pollux after death as +well as through life, <a href="#P201">201</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Caucasus, Mt</i>. Prometheus is +chained there, <a href="#P12">12</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Centaurs</i>. Monstrous creatures, +half men, half horses. Quarrel +with Heracles, <a href="#P117">117</a> to <a href="#P119">119</a>. +Fight with the Lapithae, who +overcome them with the help +of Theseus, <a href="#P196">196</a>. (See also +<i>Chiron, Nessus, and Pholus</i>.) +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Cepheus</i>. King of a part of +Africa. Husband of Cassiopea +and father of Andromeda, <a href="#P99">99</a> and +<a href="#P100">100</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Cerberus</i>. A three-headed dog +who stood as watchman at the +gate of the land of Shades. +Heracles is sent to fetch him to +the Upper World, <a href="#P135">135</a>. He +allows Psyche to pass him, <a href="#P242">242</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Ceryneian Hind</i>. A hind under +the protection of Artemis, +captured by Heracles as his third +Labour, <a href="#P116">116</a> and <a href="#P117">117</a> +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Chaos</i>. The state of the universe +before the creation of the heaven +and the earth, <a href="#P1">1</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Charon</i>. The ferryman who +conducted mortals to the Lower +World. Rows Psyche across the +river Acheron, <a href="#P241">241</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Chimaera</i>. A monster half-lion, +half-goat, with a serpent's tail, +<a href="#P47">47</a>. Killed by Bellerophon, +<a href="#P48">48</a> to <a href="#P50">50</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Chīron</i>. The wisest and best of +the Centaurs. Instructs Heracles, <a href="#P100">100</a>. +Is killed by him +unintentionally, <a href="#P118">118</a> and <a href="#P119">119</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Circē</i>. An enchantress, sister of +King Aeëtes. Purges Jason and +Medea from the blood of Absyrtus, <a href="#P167">167</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Cithaeron, Mt</i>. Heracles +pastures the flocks of Amphitryon +on this mountain, and slays the +lion whose skin he afterwards +wears, <a href="#P110">110</a> and <a href="#P111">111</a>. Oedipus +is left there to perish by his +parents, <a href="#P205">205</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Club-carrier</i>. One of the robbers +killed by Theseus on his journey +to Athens, <a href="#P179">179</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Clytaemnestra</i>. Daughter of +Tyndareus and Leda, <a href="#P200">200</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Colchis</i>. The city of King Aeëtes. +Phrixus is brought there by the +Golden Ram, <a href="#P150">150</a>. The +Argonauts reach Colchis, <a href="#P159">159</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Corinth</i>. The country of Sisyphus, +<a href="#P43">43</a>. Bellerophon is obliged +to leave Corinth on account +of the murder of his +brother, <a href="#P45">45</a>. Jason and Medea +settle there, <a href="#P173">173</a>. Oedipus is +brought there and adopted by +King Polybus, <a href="#P205">205</a> and <a href="#P206">206</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Creon</i> (1). King of Corinth. +Receives Jason and Medea, and +offers his daughter Glauce to +Jason for a wife, <a href="#P173">173</a> and <a href="#P174">174</a>. +(2). King of Thebes. Purges +Amphitryon from the blood of +Electryon, <a href="#P105">105</a>. Accompanies +him on his expedition against +the Teleboae, <a href="#P106">106</a> & <a href="#P107">107</a>. Gives +his daughter Megara to Heracles +for a wife, <a href="#P112">112</a>. (3). Brother +Jocasta. Becomes King of +Thebes, <a href="#P221">221</a>. Refuses burial to +the Argives and condemns +Antigone to death for disobeying +his orders, <a href="#P221">221</a> to <a href="#P223">223</a>. Is +compelled by Theseus to rescind +them, <a href="#P223">223</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Crete</i>. Zeus is hidden in this +island from his father when a +child, <a href="#P3">3</a>. Daedalus makes the +Labyrinth for King Minos, <a href="#P52">52</a>. +Daedalus escapes from Crete +with his son Icarus, <a href="#P52">52</a> and <a href="#P53">53</a>. +Heracles is sent by Eurystheus +to fetch the Cretan bull to +Mycenae, <a href="#P122">122</a> and <a href="#P123">123</a>. The +Argonauts land after having caused +Talos to kill himself, <a href="#P169">169</a> and +<a href="#P170">170</a>. Theseus goes to Crete as +part of the tribute given by +the Athenians, kills the +Minotaur and escapes with Ariadne, +<a href="#P187">187</a> to <a href="#P190">190</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Cronus</i>. Son of Uranus and +Gala. Dethrones his father +and succeeds him as king of +the gods, <a href="#P2">2</a>. Marries Rhea, <a href="#P2">2</a>. +Is dispossessed by his son Zeus, +<a href="#P3">3</a> and <a href="#P4">4</a>. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>DAEDALUS</i>. An artist +employed by Minos king of +Crete. Builds the Labyrinth, +<a href="#P52">52</a>. Escapes with his son Icarus, +<a href="#P52">52</a> and <a href="#P53">53</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Danaē</i>. Daughter of Acrisius, +king of Argos. Is married to +Zeus, and becomes the mother +of Perseus, <a href="#P95">95</a> and <a href="#P96">96</a>. Is shut +up in a chest by her father and +cast adrift, <a href="#P95">95</a>. Is allowed to +take refuge on an island, <a href="#P96">96</a>. Is +delivered by Perseus from the +king, <a href="#P101">101</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Danaïdes</i>. The daughters of +Danaus. They sail to Argos with +their father, <a href="#P34">34</a>. Kill their +husbands at his command, <a href="#P35">35</a> +and <a href="#P36">36</a>. Are condemned to +unending punishment in the +Lower World, <a href="#P37">37</a> and <a href="#P38">38</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +Danaus. A descendant of Io. +Flees from his home in Africa +with his daughters, and settles +in Argos, <a href="#P34">34</a>. Becomes king of +Argos, <a href="#P35">35</a>. Commands his daughters +to kill their husbands, and +wishes to punish Hypermnestra +for failing to obey him, <a href="#P36">36</a> and <a href="#P37">37</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Deianīra</i>. Daughter of Oeneus +king of Calydon. Is wooed by +both Heracles and the +river-god Acheloüs, who agree to +fight for her, <a href="#P142">142</a>. Marries +Heracles, <a href="#P143">143</a>. Receives from +the Centaur Nessus a cloth +dipped in his blood, <a href="#P144">144</a>. Smears +with this cloth the robe of +Heracles, and thus causes his death, +<a href="#P145">145</a> and <a href="#P146">146</a>. Hangs herself in +despair, <a href="#P147">147</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +Dēos. A floating island. Leto +takes refuge on it, and Poseidon +causes four pillars to spring up +and hold it fast, <a href="#P23">23</a>. Apollo +and Artemis are born there, <a href="#P23">23</a>. +The island is honoured by the +Greeks, <a href="#P24">24</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Delphi</i>. A city of Greece in which +there was an oracle of Apollo, <a href="#P55">55</a>. +(See <i>Oracle</i>.) Heracles carries +off the sacred Tripod, <a href="#P139">139</a>. The +Epigoni present to Apollo the +best of the spoil taken from +Thebes, <a href="#P226">226</a>. Acheloüs advises +his grand-children to offer the +veil and necklace of Harmonia +to Apollo at Delphi, <a href="#P230">230</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Dēmētēr</i>. Daughter of Cronus, <a href="#P4">4</a>. +Seeks for her daughter Persephone, +<a href="#P16">16</a> to <a href="#P18">18</a>. Creates corn +and teaches Triptolemus how to +cultivate it, <a href="#P18">18</a> and <a href="#P19">19</a>. Eats by +mistake the shoulder of Pelops, +<a href="#P75">75</a> and <a href="#P76">76</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Deucalion</i>. Son of Prometheus. +Saves himself and his wife +Pyrrha in a wooden chest at the +time of the great Flood, <a href="#P13">13</a> and +<a href="#P14">14</a>. They re-people the earth +by throwing stones behind them +which become men and women, <a href="#P15">15</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Diomēdēs</i>. A king of Thrace who +fed his horses on human flesh. +Heracles is sent by Eurystheus +to fetch the horses to Mycenae; +he conquers the king and throws +him to be eaten by his own +horses, <a href="#P123">123</a> and <a href="#P124">124</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Dionȳsus</i>. Son of Zeus and +Semele. Is placed under the +charge of Athamas, <a href="#P63">63</a>; then +under that of some nymphs, <a href="#P64">64</a>. +Is gifted by Zeus with divine +power, <a href="#P64">64</a> and <a href="#P65">65</a>. Creates the +Vine, <a href="#P65">65</a>. Sets out upon a +triumphal journey round the world, +<a href="#P65">65</a>. Punishes the sailors who +refuse to take him to Naxos, <a href="#P66">66</a> +and <a href="#P67">67</a>. Punishes the daughters +of Proetus who refuse to +honour him, <a href="#P73">73</a>. Is received +into the abode of the gods, <a href="#P67">67</a>. +Marries Ariadne, <a href="#P192">192</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Dioscūri</i>. The brothers Castor +and Pollux, <a href="#P201">201</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Doliōnes</i>. A people in whose +country the Argonauts land on +their way to Colchis, <a href="#P154">154</a> and <a href="#P155">155</a>. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>EARTH, The</i>. Gives a golden +apple-tree to Hera on her +marriage with Zeus, <a href="#P131">131</a>. Gives +her son Antaeus new strength +every time he touches her, <a href="#P133">133</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Egypt</i>. Io is kindly received by +the king, and becomes his wife, +<a href="#P32">32</a> and <a href="#P33">33</a>. Danaus leaves Egypt +for Argos, <a href="#P34">34</a>. Heracles kills +King Busiris, <a href="#P133">133</a> and <a href="#P134">134</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Electryon</i>. Son and successor of +Perseus. His right is disputed +by Pterelaus king of the +Teleboae, <a href="#P104">104</a>. He prepares to make +an expedition against the Teleboae, +but is killed accidentally +by Amphitryon, <a href="#P105">105</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Elis</i>. A country of Greece. Ruled +over by Salmoneus, <a href="#P42">42</a>. Pelops +goes to Elis to sue for Hippodamia, +conquers her father in +the chariot-race, and becomes +king, <a href="#P77">77</a> to <a href="#P79">79</a>. Heracles cleanses +the stables of Augeas, king of +Elis, <a href="#P119">119</a> and <a href="#P120">120</a>. He marches +against Elis to punish Augeas +for his faithlessness, and +transfers the kingdom to Phyleus, +<a href="#P141">141</a> and <a href="#P142">142</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Endymion</i>. A son of Zeus. Asks +that he may sleep for ever, <a href="#P29">29</a>. +Is beloved by the goddess Selene, +<a href="#P30">30</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +Ephialtēs. Brother of Otus, and +son of Poseidon, <a href="#P27">27</a>. The +brothers fight against the gods, and +make Ares prisoner, <a href="#P28">28</a>. They +are killed through a device of +the goddess Artemis, <a href="#P28">28</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Epigoni</i>. The sons of the Seven +Heroes defeated before Thebes. +They march against Thebes to +avenge the death of their fathers, +and take possession of the city, +<a href="#P224">224</a> to <a href="#P227">227</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Epimēthēus</i>. Brother of Prometheus, +<a href="#P9">9</a>. Zeus sends Pandora +to be his wife, <a href="#P10">10</a> and <a href="#P11">11</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +Ergīnus. King of the Minyae. +Demands tribute from the +Thebans, <a href="#P111">111</a>. Is attacked and +conquered by Heracles, <a href="#P112">112</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Eriphȳlē</i>. Wife of Amphiaraus +and sister of Adrastus, <a href="#P214">214</a>. +Decides that Amphiaraus shall +march against Thebes, <a href="#P215">215</a>. Is +killed by her son Alcmaeon, <a href="#P227">227</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Erōs</i>. The god of Love--son of +Aphrodite, <a href="#P231">231</a>. Is commanded +by his mother to do Psyche an +injury, but instead of that, +marries her secretly, <a href="#P231">231</a> to <a href="#P236">236</a>. +Is obliged to leave her, <a href="#P236">236</a>. +Obtains the gift of immortality +for Psyche, and the sanction of +the gods to his marriage with +her, <a href="#P243">243</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Erymanthus, Mt</i>. The home of +the boar captured by Heracles +as his Fourth Labour, <a href="#P117">117</a> to <a href="#P119">119</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Etēoclēs</i>. Son of Oedipus and +Jocasta. Banishes his brother +Polynices from Thebes, <a href="#P212">212</a>. +Defies the summons of the Argives +to surrender the kingdom, <a href="#P218">218</a>. +Challenges Polynices to a single +combat, in which each brother +kills the other, <a href="#P220">220</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Euboea</i>. The country of Eurytus. +Heracles goes there to sue for +Iole, <a href="#P137">137</a>. Heracles conquers +the city and kills Eurytus and +his sons, <a href="#P145">145</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Eurōpa</i>. Sister of Cadmus. Is +carried off by Zeus in the form +of a bull, <a href="#P54">54</a> and <a href="#P58">58</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Europe</i>. The country to which +Europa was carried by the bull, +and which was called after her, +<a href="#P58">58</a>. Heracles reaches the +extreme limit of Europe, <a href="#P128">128</a>. +Phrixus and Helle are carried +away from it into Asia by the +Golden Ram, <a href="#P150">150</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Eurȳstheūs</i>. Son of Sthenalus. +Becomes king of Mycenae and +Tiryns, <a href="#P109">109</a>. Is served for +twelve years by Heracles who +performs twelve Labours at his +command, <a href="#P113">113</a> to <a href="#P137">137</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Eurytus</i>. King of Euboea. +Refuses to give his daughter Iole +in marriage to Heracles and +taunts him with his former +madness, <a href="#P137">137</a>. He and his sons are +killed by Heracles, <a href="#P145">145</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Evēnus</i>. Father of Marpessa. +Refuses to let his daughter marry +Idas, <a href="#P20">20</a>. Pursues Idas and +Marpessa, and being unable to +overtake them, drowns himself, <a href="#P21">21</a>. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>FATES</i>. Three goddesses who +determine the course of +men's lives. They are present +at the birth of Meleager, <a href="#P83">83</a>. +They promise that Admetus +shall recover if one of his +relatives will die for him, <a href="#P93">93</a>. +They decree that the Theban +Fox shall never be caught, and +that the Athenian Dog shall +never pursue in vain, <a href="#P106">106</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Fir-bender</i>. One of the robbers +killed by Theseus on his +journey to Athens, <a href="#P170">170</a> and <a href="#P180">180</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Flood</i>. Zeus destroys the whole +race of men by a great Flood, +excepting Deucalion and Pyrrha, +<a href="#P13">13</a> to <a href="#P15">15</a>. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>GAEA</i>. Wife of Uranus and +goddess of the earth, <a href="#P1">1</a>. +Helps her son Cronus to dethrone +his father, <a href="#P2">2</a>. Plans the +overthrow of Cronus, <a href="#P3">3</a>. Creates +Giants to fight against the +gods, <a href="#P5">5</a>; also a monster named +Typhöeus, <a href="#P6">6</a>. Interferes to +prevent Phaëthon from burning up +the earth, <a href="#P41">41</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Ganymede</i>. Son of Laomedon +king of Troy. Is carried off to +Olympus by the sacred eagle of +Zeus, <a href="#P127">127</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Garden of the Hesperides</i>. A +garden in Oceanus where Hera +planted the golden apple-tree, +given her by the Earth at her +marriage with Zeus. Heracles +is sent by Eurystheus to fetch +three golden apples from it, <a href="#P131">131</a> +to <a href="#P135">135</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Geryon</i>, A three-headed king in +the far West, possessor of a +beautiful herd of red-brown +cattle. He loses his life in +defending them against Heracles, +<a href="#P128">128</a> and <a href="#P129">129</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Giants</i>. Huge monsters created +by Gaea to fight against the +gods. They are defeated in a +great battle, and buried beneath +volcanic mountains, <a href="#P6">6</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Glaucē</i>. Daughter of Creon king +of Corinth. Is offered to Jason +as a bride, <a href="#P173">173</a> and <a href="#P174">174</a>. Her +death is caused by Medea, <a href="#P174">174</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Glaucus</i>. Son of Sisyphus, and +father of Bellerophon, <a href="#P45">45</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Golden Age</i>. The time when men +were first created, and lived +long and happy lives, <a href="#P8">8</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Golden Fleece</i>. The fleece of the +ram who carried Phrixus to +Colchis. It is hung up on a +tree in a forest near Colchis, +<a href="#P150">150</a>. Jason is sent to fetch it, +<a href="#P152">152</a>. He carries it off from +the forest, <a href="#P165">165</a>; and brings it +safely to Iolcus, <a href="#P171">171</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Gorgons</i>. Three sisters with iron +claws and golden wings and +live serpents instead of hair, +who turned to stone everyone +that looked at them, <a href="#P96">96</a> and <a href="#P98">98</a>. +Perseus cuts off the head of +Medusa, the youngest Gorgon, <a href="#P98">98</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Graces</i>. Three beautiful +daughters of Zeus. They dance +at the wedding of Eros and +Psyche, <a href="#P243">243</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Grey Sisters</i>. Sisters of the +Gorgons who had only one eye and +one tooth between them. Perseus +goes to their cave and +obliges them to tell him where +to find the nymphs who can +help him obtain the head of +Medusa, <a href="#P97">97</a>. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>HARMONIA</i>. Daughter of +Ares and Aphrodite. Is +married to Cadmus, <a href="#P58">58</a>. Is +presented by Hephaestus with a +beautiful veil and necklace, <a href="#P214">214</a> +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Harpies</i>. Creatures with the +bodies of maidens and the feet and +wings of ravens. They torment +Phineus until they are killed by +the Argonauts, <a href="#P157">157</a> and <a href="#P158">158</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Hēbē</i>. A goddess,--daughter of +Hera. Is given by her in +marriage to Heracles, <a href="#P147">147</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Helena</i>. Daughter of Zeus and +Leda, <a href="#P200">200</a>. Is carried off by +Theseus and Pirithoüs, <a href="#P199">199</a>. +Is rescued by her brothers, +Castor and Pollux, <a href="#P201">201</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Hēlios</i>. The sun-god. Tells +Demeter that Pluto has carried +off her daughter, <a href="#P17">17</a>. Unwillingly +grants the request of his +son Phaëthon to be allowed to +drive the chariot of the sun, <a href="#P39">39</a> +to <a href="#P41">41</a>. Lends Heracles his golden +shell that he may sail in it to +the island of Geryon, <a href="#P129">129</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Hellē</i>. Daughter of King +Athamas and sister of Phrixus. +Is carried away, with her +brother, by the Golden Ram, +but falls off his back into the +sea and is drowned, <a href="#P148">148</a> to <a href="#P150">150</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Hellespont</i>. The sea which lies +between Europe and Asia. Called +after Helle, <a href="#P150">150</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Hephaestus</i>. Fashions Pandora out +of clay, <a href="#P10">10</a>. Binds Prometheus +to a rock on Mt. Caucasus, <a href="#P12">12</a>. +Helps to arm Heracles for his +fight with the Minyae, <a href="#P112">112</a>. +Makes the rattle which +Heracles uses to drive away the +Stymphalian birds, <a href="#P122">122</a>. Makes +an iron watchman for Minos +king of Crete, <a href="#P169">169</a>. Presents a +beautiful veil and necklace to +Cadmus and Harmonia, <a href="#P214">214</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Hēra</i>. Daughter of Cronus, <a href="#P4">4</a>. +Becomes the wife of Zeus and +queen of the gods, <a href="#P4">4</a>. Is +presented by the Earth at her +marriage with a golden apple-tree, +<a href="#P131">131</a>. Persecutes Leto, <a href="#P23">23</a>; +and Io, <a href="#P31">31</a> to <a href="#P33">33</a>. Gives +treacherous advice to Semele, <a href="#P61">61</a>. +Punishes Athamas for receiving +Dionysus, <a href="#P63">63</a> and <a href="#P150">150</a>. Is +reconciled to Dionysus and Semele, +<a href="#P67">67</a>. Causes Eurystheus to be +born before Heracles and thus +become heir to the cities of +Mycenae and Tiryns, <a href="#P109">109</a>. +Sends serpents to kill Heracles +when a child, <a href="#P109">109</a>. Afflicts him +with madness, <a href="#P113">113</a>. Takes the +form of an Amazon and leads +an attack upon Heracles, <a href="#P125">125</a>. +Sends a great gnat to torment +his cattle, <a href="#P131">131</a>. Raises a storm +to destroy him, <a href="#P141">141</a>; and is +punished for this by Zeus, <a href="#P141">141</a>. +Is reconciled to Heracles and +welcomes him among the gods, +<a href="#P147">147</a>. Protects the Argonauts +in their passage through the +Wandering Rocks, <a href="#P169">169</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Hēraclēs.</i> Son of Zeus and +Alcmene, <a href="#P108">108</a> and <a href="#P109">109</a>. Strangles +two serpents sent by Hera to kill +him in his sleep, <a href="#P109">109</a>. Is taught +by the Centaur Chiron, <a href="#P110">110</a>. +Kills a lion on Mt. Cithaeron +and dresses himself in the skin, +<a href="#P110">110</a> and <a href="#P111">111</a>. Conquers the +Minyae and kills their king, +Erginus, <a href="#P111">111</a> and <a href="#P112">112</a>. Marries +Megara, <a href="#P112">112</a>. Becomes mad, +and throws his children into the +fire, <a href="#P113">113</a>. Leaves Thebes in +consequence, and enters the +service of Eurystheus for whom +he performs twelve Labours:-- +</p> + +<p class="index"> +1st Labour. Killing the +Nemean Lion, <a href="#P113">113</a> and <a href="#P114">114</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +2nd Labour. Killing the +Lernean Hydra, <a href="#P114">114</a> to <a href="#P116">116</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +3rd Labour. Capturing the +Ceryneian Hind, <a href="#P116">116</a> and <a href="#P117">117</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +4th Labour. Bringing the +Erymanthian Boar to +Mycenae, <a href="#P117">117</a> and <a href="#P119">119</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +5th Labour. Cleansing the +stables of Augeas in a +single day, <a href="#P119">119</a> to <a href="#P121">121</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +6th Labour. Driving away +the Stymphalian Birds, +<a href="#P121">121</a> and <a href="#P122">122</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +7th Labour. Bringing the +Cretan Bull to Mycenae, +<a href="#P122">122</a> and <a href="#P123">123</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +8th Labour. Bringing to +Mycenae the fierce horses of +Diomedes, <a href="#P123">123</a> and <a href="#P124">124</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +9th Labour. Obtaining the +girdle of the Queen of +the Amazons, <a href="#P124">124</a> to <a href="#P126">126</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +10th Labour. Fetching the +cattle of Geryon, <a href="#P128">128</a> to <a href="#P131">131</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +11th Labour. Procuring three +golden apples from the +Garden of the Hesperides, <a href="#P131">131</a> to <a href="#P135">135</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +12th Labour. Fetching the +three-headed dog Cerberus +from the Lower +World, <a href="#P135">135</a> to <a href="#P137">137</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +Heracles delivers Prometheus +from the eagle, <a href="#P12">12</a>. Fights +with the Centaurs and causes +the death of Chiron unintentionally, +<a href="#P117">117</a> to <a href="#P119">119</a>. Delivers +Hesione from the monster, <a href="#P126">126</a> +and <a href="#P127">127</a>. Punishes Laomedon +her father for breaking his word +to him, <a href="#P140">140</a>. Kills the giant +Cacus for stealing his cattle, +<a href="#P130">130</a> and <a href="#P131">131</a>. Wrestles with +Nereus the sea-god, <a href="#P132">132</a>. +Wrestles with Antaeus, son of +the Earth, and squeezes him to +death, <a href="#P133">133</a>. Kills Busiris who +had been accustomed to sacrifice +a stranger every year to the +gods, <a href="#P133">133</a> and <a href="#P134">134</a>. Visits +Atlas, and takes his place for a +time in supporting the heaven, +<a href="#P134">134</a> and <a href="#P135">135</a>. Goes to Oechalia +to sue for Iole daughter of King +Eurytus, and is taunted by her +father with his former madness, +<a href="#P137">137</a> and <a href="#P138">138</a>. Punishes Eurytus +for this, <a href="#P145">145</a>. Kills Iphitus, +son of Eurytus, <a href="#P138">138</a>. Is smitten +with sickness, and when he +asks the Oracle what he shall +do, is refused an answer, <a href="#P139">139</a>. +Quarrels with Apollo about this +and carries off the sacred +Tripod, <a href="#P139">139</a>. Enters the service +of Omphale queen of Lydia, +with whom he remains for three +years, <a href="#P139">139</a> and <a href="#P140">140</a>. Punishes +Augeas for his faithlessness, <a href="#P141">141</a> +and <a href="#P142">142</a>. Goes to Calydon to +sue for Deianira, and wins her +in a contest with the river-god +Acheloüs, <a href="#P142">142</a> and <a href="#P143">143</a>. +Marries Deianira and lives with +her for some time in Calydon, +<a href="#P143">143</a>. Accidentally kills his +servant-boy and has to leave, and +go to Trachin to be purified, <a href="#P143">143</a> +and <a href="#P144">144</a>. Is about to celebrate +his victory over Eurytus when +he receives from Deianira a +robe poisoned with the blood of +the Centaur Nessus, which +causes him such terrible suffering +that he resolves to die, <a href="#P145">145</a> +and <a href="#P146">146</a>. Ascends Mt. Oeta +and builds a funeral pile which +he causes to be set alight, <a href="#P146">146</a>. +But before the flames reach him, +he is carried up to Mt. Olympus +and enthroned among the gods, +<a href="#P146">146</a> and <a href="#P147">147</a>. The goddess Hebe +is given to him for a wife, <a href="#P147">147</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Hermēs</i>. The Messenger of the +gods. Takes Pandora to +Epimetheus, <a href="#P10">10</a>. Is sent to tell +Deucalion and Pyrrha that +they may make any request they +like, <a href="#P14">14</a>. Helps Ares to escape +from captivity, <a href="#P28">28</a>. Kills the +watchman Argus, and rescues +Io, <a href="#P31">31</a> and <a href="#P32">32</a>. Takes Dionysus +to King Athamus, <a href="#P63">63</a>; and +afterwards to be brought up by +some nymphs, <a href="#P64">64</a>. Gives Perseus +a sickle with which to cut off +the head of Medusa, <a href="#P97">97</a>. +Returns to the nymphs the three +Precious Things they had lent +to Perseus, <a href="#P103">103</a>. Steals part of +the booty of Amphitryon for +Zeus, <a href="#P108">108</a>. Helps to arm +Heracles for his fight with the +Minyae, <a href="#P112">112</a>. Brings the +Golden Ram to carry away +Phrixus and Helle, <a href="#P149">149</a>. Brings +Psyche into the assembly of the +gods, <a href="#P243">243</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Hersīonē</i>. Daughter of Laomedon +king of Troy. Is rescued by +Heracles from the monster, <a href="#P126">126</a>. +Is given to the hero Telamon +after the conquest of Troy, and +allowed to take her little brother +Podarces or Priam with her, +<a href="#P140">140</a> and <a href="#P141">141</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Hesperides</i>. Three nymphs who +tended the garden of golden +apple-trees, <a href="#P132">132</a>. (See <i>Garden +of Hesperides</i>.) +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Hestia</i>. Daughter of Cronus, <a href="#P4">4</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Hippodamīa</i>. Daughter of +Oenamaus king of Elis. Her father +compels nil her suitors to +compete with him in a chariot-race, +<a href="#P77">77</a>. Pelops wins, and marries +Hippodamia, <a href="#P78">78</a> and <a href="#P79">79</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Hippolyta</i>. An Amazon carried +off by Theseus to be his wife, +<a href="#P193">193</a> and <a href="#P194">194</a>. She is killed, +fighting for him against her +country-women, <a href="#P195">195</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Hippolytus</i>. Son of Theseus and +Hippolyta, <a href="#P194">194</a>. Is beloved by +Phaedra, wife of Theseus, <a href="#P197">197</a>. +She causes his death, <a href="#P198">198</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Hippomedon</i>. One of the Seven +Heroes who march against +Thebes, <a href="#P213">213</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Horn of Plenty</i>. The horn of the +goat Amalthea, converted by +Zeus into a miraculous horn, <a href="#P5">5</a>. +Is given to Heracles in exchange +for the horn of Acheloüs, <a href="#P143">143</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Hundred-armed</i>. Monsters, children +of Uranus and Gaea, <a href="#P1">1</a>. Are +thrust into Tartarus, <a href="#P2">2</a> and <a href="#P3">3</a>. +Are released by Zeus and help +him to fight against the old +gods, <a href="#P4">4</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Hydra</i>. A monster killed by +Heracles, <a href="#P114">114</a> to <a href="#P116">116</a>. Heracles +poisons his arrows with the +Hydra's gall, <a href="#P116">116</a>; and uses +them in shooting at the Centaurs, +<a href="#P118">118</a>; and <a href="#P144">144</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Hylas</i>. The most beautiful boy in +Greece. Is dragged down into +a forest pool by the nymphs who +live there, and never seen again, +<a href="#P155">155</a> and <a href="#P156">156</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Hypsipele</i>. Queen of Lemnos. +Saves the life of her father +when all the other men in the +island are killed, <a href="#P153">153</a> and <a href="#P154">154</a>. +Is banished in consequence, and +becomes nurse to the child of +Lycurgus king of Nemea, <a href="#P215">215</a> to +<a href="#P217">217</a>. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>[I-macro]CARUS</i>. Son of Daedalus. +Flies away from Crete with +his father, but falls into the sea +and is drowned, <a href="#P52">52</a> and <a href="#P53">53</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Idas</i>. Carries off Marpessa in a +winged chariot, <a href="#P20">20</a>. Is preferred +by her to the god Apollo, <a href="#P21">21</a> +and <a href="#P22">22</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Ino</i>. Wife of Athamas, and +stepmother of Phrixus and Helle, +<a href="#P63">63</a> and <a href="#P148">148</a>. Tries to get +Phrixus put to death, <a href="#P148">148</a> and +<a href="#P149">149</a>. Is killed in trying to +escape from her husband, in his +madness, <a href="#P63">63</a> and <a href="#P150">150</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Io</i>. Daughter of a king of Argos. +Is beloved by Zeus, and changed +by him into a white cow to save +her from Hera, <a href="#P31">31</a>. Hera gets +possession of the cow and puts +her under the charge of the +watchman Argus, <a href="#P31">31</a>. She is +rescued by Hermes, <a href="#P31">31</a> and <a href="#P32">32</a>. +Hera however continues to torment +her till she is protected by +the king of Egypt who marries +her, <a href="#P32">32</a> and <a href="#P33">33</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Iobatēs</i>. King of Lycia. Receives +Bellerophon kindly, <a href="#P47">47</a>; but at +the request of Proetus, sends +him on dangerous missions in +the hope of his being killed, <a href="#P47">47</a> +to <a href="#P50">50</a>; until, finding that he is +under the protection of the gods, +he begs him to settle in the +country and gives him his +daughter in marriage, <a href="#P51">51</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Iolāus</i>. A cousin of Heracles. +Accompanies him on his expedition +to destroy the Lernean +Hydra, <a href="#P115">115</a> and <a href="#P116">116</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Iolcus</i>. The city of King Pelias, +<a href="#P151">151</a>. Jason sets out from Iolcus +in quest of the Golden Fleece, +<a href="#P152">152</a> and <a href="#P153">153</a>. Returns with the +Fleece, <a href="#P171">171</a>. Is obliged to leave +the city, <a href="#P173">173</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Iolē</i>. Daughter of Eurytus king of +Oechalia. Is sought in marriage +by Heracles, but refused to him +by her father, <a href="#P137">137</a> and <a href="#P138">138</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Iphiclēs</i>. Son of Amphitryon and +Alcmene, and half-brother of +Heracles, <a href="#P108">108</a> and <a href="#P109">109</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Iphiclus</i>. (1) The owner of a +famous herd of cattle demanded +by Neleus king of Pylos in +return for the hand of his daughter +Pero, <a href="#P69">69</a>. (2) Grandson of the +above. Melampus instructs him +how to propitiate the gods and +obtain an heir, <a href="#P71">71</a> and <a href="#P72">72</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Iphitus</i>. Son of Eurytus, king of +Oechalia. Is killed by Heracles +in a fit of anger, <a href="#P138">138</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Isthmus</i>. The neck of land which +connects the peninsula of +Peloponnesus with the rest of Greece. +The Argonauts land there on +their return from Colchis, <a href="#P171">171</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Italy</i>. Heracles passes through +the country when driving home +the cattle of Geryon to Mycenae, +<a href="#P130">130</a>. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>JASON</i>. Nephew of Pelias, +king of Iolcus, by whom he +is sent to fetch the Golden +Fleece, <a href="#P152">152</a>. Reaches Colchis, +<a href="#P159">159</a>; and accomplishes the tasks +demanded by Aeëtes, <a href="#P160">160</a> to <a href="#P164">164</a>. +Obtains possession of the Fleece +by the help of Medea, and escapes +with her, <a href="#P165">165</a>. Is purified +by Circe from the blood of +Absyrtus, <a href="#P167">167</a>. Arrives at Iolcus +and shows Pelias the Golden +Fleece, <a href="#P171">171</a>. Goes to Corinth, +where King Creon offers him +Glauce for his wife, <a href="#P173">173</a>. +Presents her with a marriage-robe +which, unknown to him, has +been poisoned by Medea, <a href="#P174">174</a>. +Sees Medea drive away in her +dragon-car, <a href="#P175">175</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Jocasta</i>. Wife of Laïus king of +Thebes, and mother of Oedipus, +<a href="#P205">205</a>. Marries Oedipus, not +knowing who he is, <a href="#P207">207</a> and +<a href="#P208">208</a>. When it is discovered, she +hangs herself in her despair and +grief, <a href="#P209">209</a>. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>LABYRINTH</i>. A wonderful +house made for Minos king +of Crete by the artist Daedalus, +<a href="#P52">52</a> and <a href="#P186">186</a>. Theseus enters it +and kills the Minotaur, <a href="#P189">189</a> and +<a href="#P190">190</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Lāïus</i>. King of Thebes and +husband of Jocasta. Exposes his son +Oedipus on Mt. Cithaeron, +<a href="#P205">205</a>. Is killed by his son +unknowingly, <a href="#P206">206</a> and <a href="#P207">207</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Land of Shades</i>. See <i>Lower World</i>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Laodamas</i>. Son of Eteocles. +Succeeds his father as king of +Thebes, and is killed in fighting +against the Epigoni, <a href="#P225">225</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Laomedon</i>. King of Troy, and +father of Ganymede, Hesione +and Priam. Tries to cheat the +gods Apollo and Poseidon, and +is punished by them, <a href="#P126">126</a>. +Receives from Zeus two horses of +the gods to console him for the +loss of Ganymede, <a href="#P127">127</a>. Promises +the horses to Heracles if +he will deliver Hesione from the +monster, but fails to keep his +word, <a href="#P126">126</a> and <a href="#P127">127</a>. Is punished +by Heracles for his faithlessness, +<a href="#P140">140</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Lapithae</i>. The subjects of +Pirithoüs the friend of Theseus, <a href="#P195">195</a>. +They conquer the Centaurs with +the help of Theseus, <a href="#P196">196</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Lēda</i>. Wife of Tyndareus king of +Sparta. Marries Zeus in the +form of a swan, and becomes +the mother of Pollux and Helena, +as well as of Castor and +Clytaemnestra, <a href="#P200">200</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Lemnos</i>. An island inhabited by +women only. The Argonauts +rest there on their way to +Colchis, <a href="#P153">153</a> and <a href="#P154">154</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Lernē</i>. The city near which was +the abode of the Lernean +Hydra destroyed by Heracles, <a href="#P115">115</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Lēto</i>. Marries Zeus, and becomes +the mother of Apollo and Artemis, +<a href="#P23">23</a> and <a href="#P24">24</a>. Begs her children +to punish Niobe, <a href="#P80">80</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Libya</i>. The country of Antaeus. +Heracles wrestles with him, <a href="#P133">133</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Lichas</i>. A herald. Brings to +Heracles the robe poisoned by +Deianira which causes him such +agony that he beats Lichas to +death against the rocks, <a href="#P145">145</a> +and <a href="#P146">146</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Lower World</i>. Pluto is made +king of the Lower World, <a href="#P5">5</a>. +Persephone is carried off to it +by Pluto, <a href="#P16">16</a> to <a href="#P18">18</a>. The +Danaïdes are condemned to +never-ending punishment, <a href="#P37">37</a> and <a href="#P38">38</a>. +Tantalus is condemned to a +similar punishment, <a href="#P76">76</a>. +Alcestis is allowed to return from +the Lower World, <a href="#P94">94</a>. Heracles +goes there to fetch Cerberus, +<a href="#P135">135</a> to <a href="#P137">137</a>. Theseus and +Pirithoüs descend with the +intention of carrying off +Persephone, <a href="#P199">199</a> to <a href="#P202">202</a>. Castor +and Pollux spend alternate days +in Olympus and in the Lower +World, <a href="#P201">201</a>. The helmet of +Pluto is lent to Perseus, <a href="#P97">97</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Lycia</i>. The country of King +Iobates. Bellerophon slays the +Chimaera, and afterwards settles +in the country, <a href="#P47">47</a> to <a href="#P51">51</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Lycomēdēs</i>. King of part of the +island of Scyros, <a href="#P202">202</a>. Kills +Theseus by treachery, <a href="#P203">203</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Lycurgus</i>. King of Nemea. The +Nemean games are instituted in +memory of his child by the +heroes marching through his +country on their way to Thebes, +<a href="#P215">215</a> to <a href="#P217">217</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Lydia</i>. The country of Queen +Omphale, whom Heracles serves +as a slave for three years, <a href="#P139">139</a> +and <a href="#P140">140</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Lynceūs</i>. Son of Aegyptus. Is +saved from death by his wife +Hypermnestra, <a href="#P36">36</a>. Succeeds +Danaus as king of Argos, <a href="#P37">37</a>. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>MARPESSA</i>. Daughter of +Evenus. Runs away with +Idas, <a href="#P20">20</a>. Prefers him to the +god Apollo, <a href="#P21">21</a> and <a href="#P22">22</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Medēa</i>. Daughter of Aeëtes king +of Colchis. Helps Jason to win +the Golden Fleece, and escapes +with him, <a href="#P161">161</a> to <a href="#P165">165</a>. Kills +her brother Absyrtus, <a href="#P166">166</a>. Is +purged by Circe from the stain +of blood, <a href="#P167">167</a>. Deceives Talos +and makes him destroy himself, +<a href="#P169">169</a> and <a href="#P170">170</a>. Deludes the +daughters of Pelias into killing +their father, <a href="#P172">172</a> and <a href="#P173">173</a>. +Sends a poisoned robe to Glauce, +<a href="#P174">174</a>. Flees away from Corinth +in her dragon-car, <a href="#P175">175</a>. Is at +the court of Aegeus at Athens +when Theseus arrives, <a href="#P183">183</a>. Her +plan for poisoning him fails, and +she flees away in her winged car, +<a href="#P183">183</a> and <a href="#P184">184</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Mediterranean</i>. The sea which one +of the Giants is in the act of +crossing when buried by Athene +under the island of Sicily, <a href="#P6">6</a>. +Europa is carried across it by +Zeus, <a href="#P58">58</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +Medūsa. One of the three +Gorgons. Is killed by Perseus, <a href="#P96">96</a> +to <a href="#P98">98</a>. Her head turns his +enemies to stone, <a href="#P101">101</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Megara</i>. Daughter of Creon, king +of Thebes. Becomes the wife +of Heracles, <a href="#P112">112</a>. Dies, <a href="#P137">137</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Melampus</i>. Learns the language +of birds and insects, <a href="#P68">68</a>; and the +art of knowing the future, <a href="#P72">72</a>. +Obtains the cattle of Iphiclus +for his brother Bias, <a href="#P69">69</a> to <a href="#P72">72</a>. +Restores the reason of the +daughters of Proetus, <a href="#P73">73</a> and <a href="#P74">74</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Meleager</i>. Son of Oeneus and +Althaea, king and queen of +Calydon. Takes part in the +great boar-hunt which Atalanta +also attends, and dies in +consequence of a quarrel with his +uncles, <a href="#P83">83</a> to <a href="#P88">88</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Mīlanion</i>. Wins the race with +Atalanta by the help of three +golden apples which he drops +at intervals, <a href="#P89">89</a> and <a href="#P90">90</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Minos</i>. King of Crete. Father of +Ariadne and Phaedra. Refuses +to let Daedalus leave his country, +<a href="#P52">52</a>. Is sent a bull for sacrifice +by Poseidon, but fails to kill it, +<a href="#P122">122</a>. Receives Heracles who +delivers him from the mad bull, <a href="#P122">122</a> +and <a href="#P123">123</a>. Is furnished by +Hephaestus with an iron watchman, +<a href="#P169">169</a>. Demands from the Athenians +a tribute of seven youths +and seven maidens, <a href="#P186">186</a>. Hears +that Theseus has slain the +Minotaur and carried off his +daughter Ariadne, <a href="#P190">190</a> and <a href="#P191">191</a>. Gives +his daughter Phaedra in marriage +to Theseus, <a href="#P197">197</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Minotaur</i>. A monster, half man, +half bull, who lived in the +Labyrinth of Crete, <a href="#P187">187</a>. Is +killed by Theseus, <a href="#P189">189</a> and <a href="#P190">190</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Minyae</i>. The subjects of King +Erginus. They are conquered +by Heracles and obliged to pay +tribute to the Thebans, <a href="#P112">112</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Moors</i>. Name given to the people +of Africa, burnt black by +Phaëthon, <a href="#P41">41</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Muses</i>. Nine beautiful goddesses +of poetry, art and science. They +teach a riddle to the Sphinx, <a href="#P207">207</a>. +They sing at the marriage of +Eros and Psyche, <a href="#P243">243</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Mycēnae</i>. A city of Greece. +Perseus exchanges his kingdom +of Argos for the cities of +Mycenae and Tiryns, <a href="#P103">103</a>. The +right of his son Electryon to +succeed is disputed by Pterelaus, +<a href="#P104">104</a>. Amphitryon comes to +Mycenae to sue for Alcmene, +but is obliged to leave on +account of the unintentional +murder of Electryon, <a href="#P105">105</a>. +Sthenelus drives away Alcmene +and seizes the kingdom, +<a href="#P105">105</a>. His son Eurystheus +succeeds him as king, <a href="#P109">109</a>. +Heracles goes to Mycenae and +serves Eurystheus for twelve +years, <a href="#P113">113</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Mysia</i>. A country of Asia Minor. +The Argonauts land on their +way to Colchis, and leave +Heracles and Hylas behind when +they sail away, <a href="#P155">155</a> and <a href="#P156">156</a>. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>NAXOS</i>. An island, the favourite +land of the god Dionysus, +<a href="#P66">66</a> and <a href="#P67">67</a>. He finds Ariadne on +the island and marries her, <a href="#P191">191</a> +and <a href="#P192">192</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Nēleūs</i>. King of Pylos. Demands +the cattle of Iphiclus in +return for the hand of his +daughter Pero, <a href="#P69">69</a>. Gives her +in marriage to Bias, <a href="#P72">72</a>. +Refuses to purge Heracles from +the murder of Iphitus, <a href="#P138">138</a>. +Heracles marches against him +and kills him and all his family, +<a href="#P142">142</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Nemea</i>. A city of Greece. +Heracles goes there to kill the +Nemean lion, <a href="#P113">113</a>. The Nemean +Games are instituted in memory +of the child of King Lycurgus, +<a href="#P215">215</a> to <a href="#P217">217</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Nēreūs</i>. A sea-god. Is +compelled by Heracles to tell him +how to obtain the golden apples +from the Garden of the Hesperides, <a href="#P132">132</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Nessus</i>. A Centaur. Carries +Deianira across the river and +tries to run away with her, but +is shot by Heracles with a +poisoned arrow, <a href="#P144">144</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Nestor</i>. Son of Neleus king of +Pylos. The only member of the +family of Neleus left alive after +the revenge of Heracles, <a href="#P142">142</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Niobē</i>. Daughter of Tantalus, +and wife of Amphion king of +Thebes. Boasts of her superiority +to the goddess Leto, and +is punished by having all her +children taken from her at once, +<a href="#P80">80</a> to <a href="#P83">83</a>. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>OCEANUS</i>. The great stream +that flows right round the +world. The horses of Helios +bathe in it every evening, <a href="#P39">39</a>. +The Gorgons live on an island +in Oceanus, <a href="#P97">97</a>. On an island in +Oceanus lives the three-headed +king Geryon, whose cattle +Heracles is sent to fetch, <a href="#P128">128</a>. The +golden apple-tree from which +the Garden of the Hesperides +grows, is planted by Hera in +Oceanus, <a href="#P131">131</a> and <a href="#P132">132</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Oechalia</i>. The capital of Eurytus +king of Euboea. The city is +destroyed by Heracles, <a href="#P145">145</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Oedipus</i>. Son of Laïus and +Jocasta, king and queen of +Thebes. Is exposed by his +parents on Mt. Cithaeron because +of the prediction that he shall +kill his father and marry his +mother, <a href="#P205">205</a>. Is found by a +herdsman and taken to Polybus +king of Corinth who adopts +him, <a href="#P206">206</a>. Kills his father not +knowing who he is, <a href="#P207">207</a>. Goes to +Thebes where he delivers the +country from the Sphinx, and is +rewarded with the kingdom and +the hand of Jocasta, <a href="#P207">207</a> and +<a href="#P208">208</a>. Puts out his eyes in +despair, on discovering his +parentage, <a href="#P209">209</a>. Is banished from +Thebes, and finds a refuge at +Athens, where he dies, <a href="#P210">210</a> and +<a href="#P211">211</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Oeneūs</i>. King of Calydon, and +father of Meleager and +Deianira. Inaugurates the great +Calydonian boar-hunt, <a href="#P83">83</a> to <a href="#P88">88</a>. +Receives Heracles, who comes +to sue for Deianira, <a href="#P142">142</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Oenomāus</i>. King of Elis. Makes +all the suitors of his daughter +Hippodamia, vie with him in a +chariot-race, and is killed in +racing with Pelops, <a href="#P77">77</a> to <a href="#P79">79</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Oeta, Mt</i>. Heracles ascends the +mountain and builds his funeral +pile upon it, <a href="#P146">146</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Olympus, Mt</i>. The abode of the +gods, <a href="#P2">2</a>. The Giants try to +climb up into it, <a href="#P5">5</a> and <a href="#P6">6</a>. +Demeter comes down from it to +the earth, <a href="#P16">16</a> and <a href="#P17">17</a>. Hera +drives Leto from it, <a href="#P23">23</a>; but +afterwards receives her back +again, <a href="#P24">24</a>. Hera descends from +it to give bad advice to Semele, +<a href="#P61">61</a>. Zeus descends and shows +himself to Semele in god-like +splendour, <a href="#P62">62</a>. Dionysus and +Semele are received among the +gods, <a href="#P67">67</a>. Tantalus is allowed +sometimes to ascend to +Mt. Olympus, <a href="#P75">75</a>. Ganymede is +brought to Mt. Olympus by the +sacred eagle of Zeus, <a href="#P127">127</a>. +Heracles is enthroned as a god, +<a href="#P147">147</a>. Psyche is received among +the Immortals, <a href="#P243">243</a>. Heracles +drives the horses of Diomedes +to the foot of Mt. Olympus, <a href="#P124">124</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Omphalē</i>. Queen of Lydia. +Heracles sells himself to her as a +slave for three years, <a href="#P139">139</a> and +<a href="#P140">140</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>One-eyed, The</i>. Monstrous children +of Uranus and Gaea, <a href="#P1">1</a>. Are +thrust into Tartarus, <a href="#P2">2</a> and <a href="#P3">3</a>. +Are released by Zeus, and forge +weapons for him, <a href="#P4">4</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Oracle</i>. A temple of Apollo at +Delphi, where the god vouchsafed +prophetic answers (also +called Oracles) to those who +came to enquire concerning the +future. Answers are given to +Cadmus, <a href="#P56">56</a>; Oenomaus, <a href="#P77">77</a>; +Acrisius, <a href="#P95">95</a>; the parents of +Andromeda, <a href="#P99">99</a>; Heracles, <a href="#P113">113</a> +and <a href="#P139">139</a>; the Trojans, <a href="#P126">126</a>; +Pelias, <a href="#P151">151</a>; the Athenians, <a href="#P203">203</a>; +Oedipus, <a href="#P206">206</a>; Adrastus, <a href="#P213">213</a>; +Alcmaeon, <a href="#P227">227</a>; the parents of +Psyche, <a href="#P231">231</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Orpheūs</i>. Delivers the Argonauts +from the Sirens by overpowering +their song, <a href="#P168">168</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Ossa, Mt</i>. The Giants propose +to set up this mountain on the +top of Mt. Pelion, and so +climb up to Olympus, <a href="#P6">6</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Othrys, Mt</i>. The mountain +from which the old gods fight +with the younger ones, <a href="#P4">4</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Otus</i>. Son of Poseidon and brother +of Ephialtes, <a href="#P27">27</a>. He and his +brother fight against the gods +and make Ares prisoner, <a href="#P28">28</a>. +They are killed through a device +of Artemis, <a href="#P28">28</a>. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>PALLANTIDAE</i>. Sons of +Pallas, the brother of Aegeus, +<a href="#P177">177</a>. They lay a plot to kill +their Uncle and Theseus, <a href="#P184">184</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Pallas</i>. Brother of Aegeus king +of Athens, <a href="#P177">177</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Pandōra</i>. Is fashioned by +Hephaestus out of clay, and endowed +with gifts by all the gods, <a href="#P10">10</a>. +Is sent to be the wife of +Epimetheus, anil takes with her, +as her dowry, a casket full of +Diseases and Cares, <a href="#P10">10</a> and <a href="#P11">11</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Parnassus</i>. A mountain sacred to +the gods. Zeus proves it to be +the centre of the earth, <a href="#P14">14</a>. The +chest in which Deucalion and +Pyrrha have been preserved +during the Flood, strands there, +<a href="#P14">14</a>. The sacred Oracle of Apollo +is located in Delphi, a city on +Mt. Parnassus, <a href="#P55">55</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Parthenopaeus</i>. One of the Seven +Heroes who marched against +Thebes, <a href="#P213">213</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Pegasus</i>. A beautiful winged +horse. Bellerophon becomes +his master, is taught by the +goddess Athene how to control +him, and by his help overcomes +the Chimaera, <a href="#P48">48</a> to <a href="#P50">50</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Pelias</i>. King of Iolcus, <a href="#P151">151</a>; and +father of Alcestis, <a href="#P92">92</a>. Gives +his daughter in marriage to +Admetus, <a href="#P92">92</a> and <a href="#P93">93</a>. Sends +Jason to fetch the Golden Fleece, +<a href="#P152">152</a>. Kills the father of Jason +during his absence, <a href="#P171">171</a>. Is put +to death by his own daughters, +through the treachery of Medea, +<a href="#P172">172</a> and <a href="#P173">173</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Pēlion, Mt</i>. The Giants propose +to climb up from this mountain +to Olympus, <a href="#P6">6</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Peloponnesus</i>. A peninsula of +Greece, named after Pelops, <a href="#P79">79</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Pelops</i>. Is killed by his father, +and served up to the gods at a +banquet, <a href="#P75">75</a>; but is brought to life +again by Zeus, <a href="#P76">76</a>. Is dispossessed +of his kingdom of Phrygia, +<a href="#P77">77</a>. Travels to Elis, and through +craft conquers Oenomaus in the +chariot-race, <a href="#P77">77</a> to <a href="#P79">79</a>. Marries +Hippodamia, and becomes king +of Elis, <a href="#P79">79</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Perigunē</i>. Daughter of the +Fir-bender, one of the robbers slain +by Theseus on his way to +Athens, <a href="#P180">180</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +Pēro. Daughter of Neleus, king +of Pylos, <a href="#P69">69</a>. Becomes the wife +of Bias, <a href="#P72">72</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Persephonē</i>. Daughter of +Demeter. Is carried off by Pluto to +be queen of the Lower World, +<a href="#P16">16</a> to <a href="#P18">18</a>. Sends back Alcestis +to live again for a time in the +Upper World, <a href="#P94">94</a>. Receives +Heracles when he visits the +Lower World, <a href="#P136">136</a>. Gives +Psyche the casket for which she +has been sent by Aphrodite, +<a href="#P212">212</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Perseūs</i>. Son of Zeus and Danaë, +<a href="#P95">95</a> and <a href="#P96">96</a>. Is sent by the king +of the island where his mother +has taken refuge, to fetch the +head of Medusa, <a href="#P96">96</a> to <a href="#P98">98</a>. +Rescues Andromeda from the +monster, and is married to her, <a href="#P99">99</a> to +<a href="#P101">101</a>. Returns with the head of +Medusa, and rescues his mother +from the king, who wants to +marry her, <a href="#P101">101</a>. Kills his +grandfather unintentionally, and +succeeds to the kingdom of +Argos, <a href="#P102">102</a>; but exchanges it +for the cities of Mycenae and +Tiryns, <a href="#P103">103</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Phaedra</i>. Daughter of Minos king +of Crete. Is married to Theseus, +<a href="#P197">197</a>. Loves Hippolytus and +asks him to marry her, <a href="#P197">197</a>. +Causes his death when he +refuses, and then hangs herself in +despair, <a href="#P198">198</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Phaëthon</i>. Son of Helios, <a href="#P39">39</a>. +Obtains leave from his father to +drive the chariot of the sun for +a single day, <a href="#P40">40</a>. Falls from it, +and is killed by a thunderbolt, +<a href="#P41">41</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Phēgeūs</i>. Purges Alcmaeon from +the stain of blood, and gives him +his daughter in marriage, <a href="#P227">227</a>. +Sends his sons to kill Alcmaeon +on account of his faithlessness, +<a href="#P229">229</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Phenicia</i>. The home of Europa +and Cadmus, <a href="#P54">54</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Phineūs</i>. (1) Brother of Cepheus. +Disputes the right of Perseus to +marry Andromeda, and is turned +to stone, <a href="#P100">100</a> and <a href="#P101">101</a>. (2) A +seer whom the Argonauts deliver +from the Harpies, <a href="#P157">157</a> and +<a href="#P158">158</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Pholus</i>. One of the Centaurs. +Entertains Heracles in his cave, +<a href="#P117">117</a> and <a href="#P118">118</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Phrixus</i>. Son of King Athamas, +and brother of Helle. His +stepmother lays a plot to kill him, +hut he is rescued by a Golden +Ram and carried away to Colchis, +where he marries the daughter +of King Aeëtes, <a href="#P148">148</a> to <a href="#P150">150</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Phrygia</i>. The country of Tantalus, +<a href="#P75">75</a>. His son Pelops is driven +away from his kingdom, <a href="#P77">77</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Phylacus</i>. Inherits the cattle of +his father Iphiclus, <a href="#P69">69</a>. Agrees +to give them to Melampus if he +will teach him how his son may +propitiate the gods and obtain +an heir, <a href="#P70">70</a> to <a href="#P72">72</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Phyleūs</i>. Son of Augeas king of +Elis. Refuses to bear false +witness against Heracles, and is +banished by his father, <a href="#P120">120</a> and +<a href="#P121">121</a>. Heracles restores him, +and makes him king, <a href="#P142">142</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Pillars of Heracles</i>. Two +mountains of rock set up by Heracles +in the sea between Europe and +Africa, <a href="#P128">128</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Pīrithoüs</i>. King of the Lapithae. +Forms a friendship with +Theseus, <a href="#P195">195</a>; who helps him +to defeat the Centaurs, <a href="#P196">196</a>. +Pirithoüs is compelled to sit for +ever on an iron seat in the +Lower World, <a href="#P200">200</a> and <a href="#P202">202</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Pluto</i>. Son of Cronus, <a href="#P4">4</a>. Is made +king of the Lower World, <a href="#P5">5</a>. +Carries off Persephone, <a href="#P16">16</a> to +<a href="#P18">18</a>. Allows Sisyphus to return +to the earth for a single day, <a href="#P44">44</a>. +Allows Heracles to take +Cerberus to the Upper World on +condition that he captures him +without weapons, <a href="#P136">136</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Podarces</i>. Son of Laomedon king +of Troy. Is rescued by his +sister Hesione when the town +is sacked by Heracles, <a href="#P140">140</a>. +Receives the name of Priam, +<a href="#P141">141</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Pollux</i>. Son of Zeus and Leda, +and brother of Castor, <a href="#P200">200</a> and +<a href="#P201">201</a>. Rescues his sister Helena, +<a href="#P201">201</a>. Takes part in the +expedition of the Argonauts, <a href="#P157">157</a>. +Petitions Zeus that he and his +brother Castor may be allowed +to share the same fate, <a href="#P201">201</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Polybus</i>. King of Corinth, <a href="#P205">205</a>. +Adopts Oedipus, <a href="#P206">206</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Polynīces</i>. Son of Oedipus and +Jocasta. Is banished from +Thebes by his brother Eteocles, +and takes refuge with Adrastus +king of Argos, <a href="#P212">212</a> and <a href="#P213">213</a>. +Induces Adrastus to march an +army against Thebes, <a href="#P213">213</a>. +Accepts his brother's challenge +to single combat, in which he +gives and receives a mortal +blow, <a href="#P220">220</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Poseidon</i>. Son of Cronus, <a href="#P4">4</a>. The +sea is made subject to him, <a href="#P4">4</a> +and <a href="#P5">5</a>. Gives Idas a winged +chariot in which to carry off +Marpessa, <a href="#P20">20</a>. Becomes the +father of Otus and Ephialtes, +<a href="#P27">27</a>. Punishes Cassiopea for +being vain of her beauty, <a href="#P99">99</a>. +Gives Pterelaus a golden hair +which preserves him from +death, <a href="#P107">107</a>. Sends Minos a bull +for sacrifice, and punishes him +for keeping it back, <a href="#P122">122</a>. +Punishes Laomedon for his +faithlessness, <a href="#P126">126</a>. The Argo is +dedicated to Poseidon, <a href="#P171">171</a>. +Poseidon disputes with Athene +the guardianship of Athens, +<a href="#P176">176</a>. At the request of Theseus, +he creates the monster that +destroys Hippolytus, <a href="#P198">198</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Priam</i>. See <i>Podarces</i>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Proetus</i>. King of Argos. Cleanses +Bellerophon from the murder of +his brother, <a href="#P45">45</a>; but thinking +he has done him an injury, sends +him to Iobates, whom he desires +to kill him, <a href="#P46">46</a>. Sends to beg +Melampus to restore his daughters +to their right minds, <a href="#P73">73</a> and +<a href="#P74">74</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Promēthēus</i>. Brings down fire to +the earth against the will of +Zeus, <a href="#P9">9</a> and <a href="#P10">10</a>. Is chained, as +a punishment, to Mt. Caucasus +where an eagle preys upon +his liver, <a href="#P12">12</a>. Is delivered by +Heracles, <a href="#P12">12</a>. Warns his son +Deucalion of the great flood +about to take place, <a href="#P13">13</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +Psȳchē. Is hated by Aphrodite +on account of her beauty, <a href="#P231">231</a>. +Is carried away by the Wind-god, +and secretly married to +Eros, <a href="#P232">232</a> and <a href="#P233">233</a>. She +disobeys his command that she +shall never seek to see him, and +he is obliged to leave her, <a href="#P236">236</a>. +Psyche enters the service of +Aphrodite, who requires her to +accomplish hard tasks, <a href="#P237">237</a> to +<a href="#P242">242</a>. Zeus gifts Psyche with +immortality, and sanctions her +marriage with Eros, <a href="#P243">243</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Pterelāus</i>. Grandson of Perseus +and king of the Teleboae. +Disputes the right of Electryon to +the cities of Mycenae and +Tiryns, <a href="#P104">104</a>. Amphitryon leads +an expedition against him, and +conquers him through the treachery +of his daughter, <a href="#P106">106</a> and <a href="#P107">107</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Pylos</i>. The home of Melampus, +<a href="#P68">68</a>; also of King Neleus and +his daughter Pero, <a href="#P69">69</a>. Heracles +conquers the city, <a href="#P142">142</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Pyrrha</i>. Wife of Deucalion, who +is saved with him in a wooden +chest at the time of the great +Flood, <a href="#P13">13</a> to <a href="#P15">15</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Pythia</i>. The Priestess of Apollo, +through whom the prophetic +answers vouchsafed by the god +were transmitted, <a href="#P55">55</a>. Answers +are given by her to Cadmus, +<a href="#P56">56</a>; to Heracles, <a href="#P113">113</a>; to the +Athenians, <a href="#P203">203</a>; to Oedipus, +<a href="#P206">206</a>. An answer is refused to +Heracles, <a href="#P139">139</a>. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>RHEA</i>. Wife of Cronus, <a href="#P2">2</a>. +Saves her son Zeus from +being devoured by his father, <a href="#P3">3</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Rome</i>. Heracles passes the spot +where Rome was afterwards +built, in bringing the cattle of +Geryon to Mycenae, <a href="#P130">130</a>. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>SALMONEUS</i>. King of Elis. +Tries to imitate Zeus, and is +destroyed by a thunderbolt, <a href="#P42">42</a> +and <a href="#P43">43</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Sciron</i>. One of the robbers killed +by Theseus on his journey to +Athens, <a href="#P181">181</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +Scyros. The island where Theseus +proposed to spend the last days +of his life, <a href="#P202">202</a>. He is +treacherously killed there by +Lycomedes, <a href="#P203">203</a>. The Athenians +fetch his bones from the island, +<a href="#P203">203</a> and <a href="#P204">204</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Selēnē</i>. Goddess of the moon. +Loves Endymion, <a href="#P30">30</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Semelē</i>. Daughter of Cadmus and +Harmonia. Is secretly married +to Zeus, <a href="#P61">61</a>. Prevails on him +to come to her clothed in the +glory of the gods, and dies at +the sight, <a href="#P61">61</a> and <a href="#P62">62</a>. Is gifted +by Zeus with immortality, <a href="#P67">67</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Shadow-leader</i>. The conductor of +dead souls to the Lower World. +He takes Alcestis thither, <a href="#P94">94</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Sicily</i>. The goddess Athene +buries one of the Giants beneath +the island, <a href="#P6">6</a>. Persephone is +carried off from it by the god +Pluto, <a href="#P16">16</a>. Daedalus flies to it +from the island of Crete, <a href="#P53">53</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Silēnus</i>. Plays with Dionysus +when a child, <a href="#P64">64</a>. Follows him +in his journey through the +world, <a href="#P65">65</a> and <a href="#P66">66</a>; and helps to +celebrate his marriage with +Ariadne, <a href="#P192">192</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Sirens</i>. Treacherous sea-nymphs, +who attract sailors by their +magic singing and then tear +them to pieces. The Argonauts +escape them through listening +to the song of Orpheus, <a href="#P168">168</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Sīsyphus</i>. King of Corinth. Tries +to cheat gods as well as men, +and is tormented in the Lower +World with an unending +punishment, <a href="#P43">43</a> and <a href="#P44">44</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Sparta</i>. The country of King +Tyndareus, husband of Leda. +Theseus and Pirithoüs go there +and carry off Helena, <a href="#P199">199</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Sparti</i>. The warriors who sprang +from the dragon's teeth sown +by Cadmus, <a href="#P58">58</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Sphinx</i>. A monster with the head +of a woman and the body of a +lioness. She propounds a riddle +and devours everyone who fails +to answer it, <a href="#P207">207</a> and <a href="#P208">208</a>. +Oedipus guesses the riddle, and the +Sphinx dies, <a href="#P208">208</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Sthenelus</i>. Brother of Electryon. +Drives his niece Alcmene and +her brother from Mycenae, and +seizes the kingdom, <a href="#P105">105</a>. +Becomes the father of Eurystheus, +<a href="#P109">109</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Storm-foot</i>. One of the Harpies +from whom the Argonauts +deliver Phineus, <a href="#P167">167</a> and <a href="#P158">158</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Stretcher, The</i>. One of the robbers +killed by Theseus on his way to +Athens, <a href="#P181">181</a> and <a href="#P182">182</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Stymphālus</i>. A city in Arcadia. +Heracles drives away the birds +that infest the Stymphalian +lake, <a href="#P121">121</a> and <a href="#P122">122</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Styx</i>. A river of the Lower World, +by which the gods swore an +inviolable oath, <a href="#P40">40</a>; <a href="#P62">62</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Swift-wing</i>. One of the Harpies +from whom Phineus is delivered +by the Argonauts, <a href="#P157">157</a> and <a href="#P158">158</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Syria</i>. Io travels to Syria to find +her child, <a href="#P33">33</a>. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>TAENARUS, MT</i>. Psyche is +directed to go there to find an +entrance to the Lower World, +<a href="#P240">240</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Talōs</i>. An iron watchman, made +by Hephaestus for Minos king of +Crete. Medea deludes him into +killing himself, <a href="#P169">169</a> and <a href="#P170">170</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Tantalus</i>. King of Phrygia, <a href="#P65">65</a>; +and father of Niobe, <a href="#P80">80</a>. Kills his +son Pelops and offers the flesh +to the gods at a banquet, <a href="#P75">75</a>. Is +condemned in the Lower World +to an unending punishment, <a href="#P76">76</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Tartarus</i>. A dark pit below the +earth into which the hundred-armed +and one-eyed monsters +are banished by Uranus, <a href="#P2">2</a>. +They are released by Zeus, and +the old gods whom he has +defeated, take their place, <a href="#P4">4</a>. +Typhöeus is thrust into Tartarus, <a href="#P7">7</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Telamōn</i>. Receives the beautiful +Hesione as a reward for having +been the first to scale the walls +of Troy, <a href="#P140">140</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Tēleboae</i>. The subjects of King +Pterelaus. They are sent on an +embassy to Electryon, and a +quarrel takes place, <a href="#P104">104</a>. +Amphitryon marches against them +at the desire of Alcmene, and +conquers their land, <a href="#P105">105</a> to <a href="#P107">107</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Thebes</i>. Built by the descendants +of Cadmus, <a href="#P59">59</a>. A wall is built +round it by means of the song +of Amphion, <a href="#P59">59</a> and <a href="#P60">60</a>. Alcmene +takes shelter there when driven +by Sthenelus from Mycenae, <a href="#P105">105</a>. +Amphitryon delivers the city +from the destroying Fox, <a href="#P106">106</a>. +Heracles is born in Thebes, <a href="#P108">108</a> +and <a href="#P110">110</a>. He delivers the land +from the tribute imposed by the +Minyae, <a href="#P111">111</a> and <a href="#P112">112</a>; but leaves +the city after his madness, <a href="#P113">113</a>. +Laïus and Jocasta are king and +queen of Thebes, and Oedipus is +born there, <a href="#P205">205</a>. Oedipus +delivers the land from the Sphinx, +and becomes king, <a href="#P207">207</a> and <a href="#P208">208</a>; +but on the discovery of his +parentage, he is banished, <a href="#P209">209</a> and +<a href="#P210">210</a>. His sons Eteocles and +Polynices succeed him, but Polynices +is banished by his brother, <a href="#P212">212</a>. +Polynices goes to Argos, <a href="#P212">212</a>; +and persuades Adrastus to lead +an army against Thebes, <a href="#P213">213</a>. +The Argives are defeated before +Thebes, <a href="#P218">218</a> to <a href="#P220">220</a>. Creon king +of Thebes refuses burial to the +Argives, and immures Antigone +for disobeying his orders, <a href="#P221">221</a> to +<a href="#P223">223</a>. The Epigoni march against +Thebes, <a href="#P224">224</a> and <a href="#P225">225</a>. The Thebans +decide to abandon the city, +<a href="#P225">225</a> and <a href="#P226">226</a>. The Epigoni and +others re-people it, <a href="#P226">226</a> and <a href="#P227">227</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Thermōdon</i>. A river in Asia, near +which was the country of the +Amazons, <a href="#P125">125</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Thersander</i>. Son of Polynices. +Made king of Thebes by the +Epigoni, on their taking +possession of the city, <a href="#P226">226</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Thēseūs</i>. Son of Aegeus king of +Athens. Is brought up at +Troezen by his mother Aethra, +<a href="#P177">177</a> and <a href="#P178">178</a>. Is sent by her to +the court of his father at Athens, +<a href="#P179">179</a>. Or: his way there, he kills +many robbers,--the Club-carrier, +<a href="#P179">179</a>; the Fir-bender, <a href="#P179">179</a> and +<a href="#P130">130</a>; Sciron, <a href="#P181">181</a>; the Stretcher, +<a href="#P181">181</a> and <a href="#P182">182</a>. Reaches Athens, +<a href="#P182">182</a>; and is recognised by +Aegeus, <a href="#P183">183</a>. Medea's attempt to +poison him fails, <a href="#P183">183</a>. The +Pallantidae are foiled in their +plan to murder him, <a href="#P184">184</a>. +Theseus captures the Bull of +Marathon, <a href="#P184">184</a> and <a href="#P185">185</a>. Goes +to Crete as part of the tribute +of seven youths and seven +maidens, kills the Minotaur, +and escapes with Ariadne, <a href="#P187">187</a> +to <a href="#P190">190</a>. Is compelled to leave +Ariadne at Naxos, <a href="#P191">191</a>. Forgets +to hoist the white sail, and thus +causes the death of his father, +<a href="#P192">192</a> and <a href="#P193">193</a>. Carries off +Hippolyta to be his wife, <a href="#P193">193</a>. +Conquers the Amazons, <a href="#P194">194</a> and +<a href="#P195">195</a>. Makes a friendship with +Pirithoüs, and helps him to +defeat the Centaurs, <a href="#P195">195</a> and <a href="#P196">196</a>. +Erects an Altar of Pity in the +market-place of Athens, <a href="#P196">196</a>. +Marries Phaedra, <a href="#P197">197</a>. Prays +for the death of Hippolytus, <a href="#P198">198</a>. +Joins Pirithoüs in carrying off +the beautiful Helena, <a href="#P199">199</a>; and +descends with him to the Lower +World to try and get possession +of Persephone, <a href="#P199">199</a>. Finds +himself unable to leave a stone on +which he had sat down for a +moment, <a href="#P200">200</a>; but after many +years is released by Heracles, +<a href="#P201">201</a> and <a href="#P202">202</a>. On his return to +Athens, finds himself forgotten, +and retires to Scyros, <a href="#P202">202</a>. Is +there killed treacherously by +Lycomedes, <a href="#P203">203</a>. His bones are +transferred to Athens, <a href="#P203">203</a> and <a href="#P204">204</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Thrace</i>. The country of Diomedes, +whose fierce horses Heracles +goes to fetch, at the command +of Eurystheus, <a href="#P123">123</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Tiresias</i>. A blind seer of Thebes. +Explains the visit of Zeus to +Alcmene, <a href="#P108">108</a>. Foretells the +fate of Oedipus, <a href="#P205">205</a>; and <a href="#P225">225</a>. +Advises the Thebans to abandon +the city, <a href="#P225">225</a>. Goes with them, +and dies during the flight, <a href="#P226">226</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Tiryns</i>. Perseus exchanges his +kingdom of Argos for the cities +of Mycenae and Tiryns, <a href="#P103">103</a>. +The right of his son Electryon +to succeed is disputed by +Pterelaus, <a href="#P104">104</a>. Sthenelus takes +possession of the kingdom, <a href="#P105">105</a>. He +is succeeded by Eurystheus, +<a href="#P109">109</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Titans, Titanides</i>. Children of +Uranus and Gaea, <a href="#P2">2</a>. The father +of Prometheus was a Titan, <a href="#P9">9</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Trāchis</i>. A city of Greece. +Heracles leaves Calydon for +Trachis, <a href="#P144">144</a>; and goes from Trachis +to Euboea, <a href="#P145">145</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Tripod</i>. A three-legged stool on +which the Priestess of Apollo +sat when uttering her divine +predictions, <a href="#P55">55</a>. Heracles +carries off the sacred Tripod from +Delphi, <a href="#P139">139</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Triptolemus</i>. Is taught by +Demeter how to sow corn and +cultivate the land, <a href="#P19">19</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Troezēn</i>. The home of Aethra, wife +of King Aegeus, <a href="#P177">177</a>. Theseus +is brought up by her at Troezen, +<a href="#P177">177</a> and <a href="#P178">178</a>. Helena is placed +there under her care for a time, +but is rescued by her brothers, +<a href="#P199">199</a> and <a href="#P201">201</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Troy</i>. The country of King +Laomedon, father of Ganymede. +Apollo and Poseidon build a +wall round Troy, and punish +Laomedon for withholding the +reward he has promised, <a href="#P126">126</a>. +Heracles lands at Troy, and +rescues Hesione from the monster, +<a href="#P126">126</a> and <a href="#P127">127</a>. Returns to punish +Laomedon for his faithlessness, +and conquers the city, <a href="#P140">140</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Tȳdeūs</i>. Is driven from his +country on account of an +unintentional murder, and goes for +refuge to Adrastus king of Argos, +<a href="#P212">212</a> and <a href="#P213">213</a>. Takes part in the +expedition against Thebes, <a href="#P213">213</a>. +Bears a message to Eteocles, +and distinguishes himself by +feats of strength, <a href="#P218">218</a>. Is +killed before Thebes, with all +the other heroes, <a href="#P220">220</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Tyndareūs</i>. King of Sparta, <a href="#P199">199</a>; +and husband of Leda, <a href="#P200">200</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Typhōeūs</i>. A monster created by +Gaea to fight against the gods, +<a href="#P6">6</a>. Is conquered by Zeus, and +flung into Tartarus, <a href="#P7">7</a>. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>URANUS</i>. God of the sky, <a href="#P1">1</a>. +Is killed by his son Cronus, <a href="#P2">2</a>. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>WANDERING ROCKS</i>. The +Argonauts pass through +them in safety by the help of +Hera, <a href="#P168">168</a> and <a href="#P169">169</a>. +</p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>Wind-god</i>. Carries Psyche into +the beautiful valley, <a href="#P232">232</a>. +Brings her two sisters to see +her, <a href="#P234">234</a>; and takes them home +again, <a href="#P235">235</a>. +</p> + +<p><br></p> + +<p class="index"> +<i>ZEŪS</i>. Son of Cronus and Rhea. +Is hidden in the island of +Crete and nourished by the goat +Amalthea, <a href="#P3">3</a>. Makes war against +his father and thrusts him into +Tartarus, <a href="#P4">4</a>. Marries Hera, <a href="#P4">4</a>. +Conquers the Giants, <a href="#P6">6</a>; and +Typhöeus, <a href="#P7">7</a>. Sends Pandora to +bring Disease and Care into the +world, <a href="#P10">10</a> and <a href="#P11">11</a>. Punishes +Prometheus for bringing down +fire to the earth, <a href="#P12">12</a>. Destroys +the world by a Flood, <a href="#P13">13</a> and +<a href="#P14">14</a>; and allows Deucalion and +Pyrrha to re-people it, <a href="#P14">14</a> and +<a href="#P15">15</a>. Stops the fight about to +take place between Apollo and +Idas, <a href="#P21">21</a>. Marries Leto and +becomes the father of Apollo +and Artemis, <a href="#P23">23</a>. Becomes the +father of Endymion whom he +gifts with perpetual sleep, <a href="#P29">29</a>. +Hurls a thunderbolt at Phaëthon +to prevent him from destroying +the earth, <a href="#P41">41</a>. Carries off Europa +in the form of a bull, <a href="#P54">54</a> and <a href="#P58">58</a>. +Marries Semele, and at her wish +goes to her surrounded with the +glory of the gods, <a href="#P62">62</a>. Raises +her from the Lower World to +Olympus, <a href="#P67">67</a>. Conceals his son +Dionysus from Hera, <a href="#P63">63</a>; and +gifts him with divine power, +<a href="#P64">64</a> and <a href="#P65">65</a>. Imposes a punishment +upon Apollo, <a href="#P81">81</a>. Marries +Danaë in the form of a golden +shower, and becomes the father +of Perseus, <a href="#P95">95</a> and <a href="#P96">96</a>. Marries +Alcmene, and becomes the father +of Heracles, <a href="#P108">108</a> and <a href="#P100">100</a>. +Decrees that the next child born +of the race of Perseus shall rule +over the cities of Mycenae anil +Tiryns, <a href="#P109">109</a>. Sends his sacred +eagle to steal away Ganymede, +<a href="#P127">127</a>. Interposes between +Heracles and Apollo, <a href="#P139">139</a>. Punishes +Hera for trying to destroy +Heracles, <a href="#P141">141</a>. Marries Leda in the +form of a swan, and becomes the +father of Pollux and Helena, +<a href="#P200">200</a>. Grants the wish of Pollux +to share the fate of his +brother Castor, <a href="#P201">201</a>. Causes +the two sons of Alcmaeon to +grow up to manhood in a single +night, <a href="#P229">229</a>. +</p> + +<p><br><br></p> + +<p class="t4"> + PRINTED BY<br> + SPOTTISWOODE AND CO., NEW-STREET SQUARE<br> + LONDON<br> +</p> + +<p><br><br><br><br></p> +<div style='text-align:center'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 79300 ***</div> +</body> +</html> + |