the subject is in itself so interesting, and so intimately connected with all that is most fascinating to our remembrances,

with all that is most fascinating to our remembrances, and so blended with all that reminds us of departed greatness, that i

of society, from the patrician to the peasant, must have been imbued with feelings which, while they believed them to be re

lieving eyes. Every forest, to the mind’s eye of a Greek, was haunted with superior intelligences. Every stream had its pres

e may be worships much worse as well as better. “Imagine the feelings with which an ancient believer must have gone by the o

the Eumenides, or the fountain where Proserpine vanished under ground with Pluto; or the laurelled mountain Parnassus, on th

al believer, when he went to study theology and philosophy at Delphi: with what feelings must he not have passed along the w

th as from one world to another.” G. Moir Bussey has also observed, with much elegance and feeling: — “The Mythology of th

by its marvels in childhood; and in manhood we ponder over it, if not with the same rapturous delight as formerly, yet at le

it, if not with the same rapturous delight as formerly, yet at least with such a sense of pleasure as that inspired by the

from our reveries on this most charming of subjects: we will conclude with the words of Barry Cornwall — “Oh! ye delicious

ious fables, where the wave,     And wood, were peopled; and the air, with things So lovely — why, ah! why has science grave

the American people, must be ascribed to the same source. It has been with many an endeavour to trace, in the mythologies of

stories of our own faith; and they assert that, in many of the fables with which we are familiar, are to be traced the types

whose works are either founded on these actual adventures, or abound with allusions to them, and without the knowledge of w

m any more than to modern writers, since the works of the latter teem with images drawn from classical subjects. Nor indeed

is to be wondered at, when we consider the various subjects connected with fable; and in this view of our subject we are bor

ensorious temper, never cease to rail against the delightful fictions with which Homer and Hesiod, and their poetical imitat

a shepherd sound his reed on the summit of a mountain, it is Pan, who with his pastoral pipe returns the amorous lay.‌ “Whe

hen the sportsman’s horn rouses the attentive ear, it is Diana, armed with her bow and quiver, and more nimble than the stag

ight through the world; the stars are so many divinities, who measure with their golden beams the regular progress of time;

e young and beautiful Hebe. In the middle of the great circle shines, with distinguished lustre, the unrivalled beauty of Ve

h distinguished lustre, the unrivalled beauty of Venus, alone adorned with a splendid girdle in which the Graces for ever pl

cient poets, this appears apt and conspicuous to me; whether ravished with a veneration for antiquity, or because I find suc

ion for antiquity, or because I find such coherence in the similitude with the things signified, in the very texture of the

ntions of men of different ages, and who writ to different ends; some with a view to the nature of things and others to civi

late, they must be calculated for other uses. What has a great weight with me is, that many of these fables seem not to be i

disturbed the rest. For hot and cold were in one body fix’d; And soft with hard, and light with heavy mix’d.     But God, or

or hot and cold were in one body fix’d; And soft with hard, and light with heavy mix’d.     But God, or Nature, while they t

ortions might be found, He moulded earth into a spacious round: Then, with a breath, he gave the winds to blew; And bade the

eal regions bind, Five, correspondent, are to earth assigned: The sun with rays, directly darting down, Fires all beneath, a

all the dark and thick clouds, and then formed the zodiac, glittering with stars above his head. Insérer image anonyme_heath

s own and Rhea’s son like measure found ………………………………………………… —— Or who with Saturn old Fled over Adria to the Hesperian field

favour of Saturn, who delivered them all from their confinement; but with the condition that whatever children might be bor

by the Corybantes, or warrior priests, who, making a deafening noise with their drums and cymbals, prevented for a period t

and of looking into the future. From this cause, Janus is represented with a double face. The time which Saturn passed on ea

was first; when man yet new, No rule but uncorrupted reason knew, And with a native bent did good pursue! Unforced by punish

ss of the plough, And unprovoked did fruitful stores allow; ‌Content with food, which nature freely bred, On wildings and o

ook place in December. All work was stayed, friend interchanged gifts with friend, the preparations for war and the executio

existed in ancient days. Janus was represented supported by a staff, with a key in his hand, as he was believed to be the i

while in his hand he carries a harp. In later times he is represented with a scythe. “Unfathomable sea! whose waves are yea

s are years;     Ocean of Time, whose waters of deep woe Are brackish with the salt of human tears;     Thou shoreless flood

forth on thee,     Unfathomable sea?” Shelley. With his scythe and with his wings, our eyes are familiar, as, to the pres

ry day Brings its grey hair, or bears a leaf away From the full glory with which life is crowned, Ere youth becomes a shade,

destroys all, and he threw them from his stomach because time returns with the years and days; and this part of the fable is

o the ancient Vesta, to distinguish her from her daughter Vesta, who, with her mother, is also called Cybele. But the Deity

me enamoured of a shepherd, who repulsed her affection, being in love with a mortal nymph; and rather than submit to the tyr

, this Deity is found, though under various names. She is represented with keys in her hand, her head crowned with rising tu

ous names. She is represented with keys in her hand, her head crowned with rising turrets, and sometimes with the leaves ‌of

keys in her hand, her head crowned with rising turrets, and sometimes with the leaves ‌of an oak. She is also seen with many

g turrets, and sometimes with the leaves ‌of an oak. She is also seen with many breasts, to intimate that the earth gives al

were placed in a large hole under the earth, where a bed was placed, with a little bread, wine, ‌oil, and a lighted lamp: t

be great, Life is so beautiful I cannot die; And earth seems smiling with intenser light, And flowers give forth an odour e

he a thick and frightful atmosphere, Drawn from my sighs and dampened with my tears!     Priest. The Gods demand their victi

ome.     Vestal, (clasping him). I will not quit thee; Thou art a man with human sympathies; Madness will touch my brain; I

ymphs of mount Ida, to whom Cybele had confided her son, educated him with great care; but his cries being likely to call th

tention of Saturn and Titan, the priests invented a dance accompanied with noise, called the Dactyl, in which they interchan

lenty. As Jupiter emerged from infancy, we have seen he had to strive with the Titans, who disputed with him the right to re

infancy, we have seen he had to strive with the Titans, who disputed with him the right to reign in Heaven. The first of th

Vulcan, rose; And to the fight the young Apollo sped, Glittering afar with bows and arrows dread,     Who bathing in Castal

eck his native isle.” Horace. The Gods at first defended themselves with great courage, but at the appearance of the hundr

ame; And now the lightnings from Olympus flame. The earth wide blazes with the fires of Jove, Nor the flash spares the verdu

nt they sat upon, Couches of rugged stone and slaty ridge, Stubborned with iron. Cœus and Gyges and Briareus, With many more

e obliquely made, Good days contracted and enlarged the bad. Then air with sultry heat began to glow; The wings of winds wer

n air with sultry heat began to glow; The wings of winds were clogged with ice and snow; And shivering mortals into houses d

stance: Bacchus being in the midst of the sands of Arabia, was seized with a thirst so burning, that he was reduced to long

t care, To frame a creature exquisitely fair; To temper well the clay with water, then To add the vigour and the voice of me

e of men; To let her first in virgin lustre shine, In form a goddess, with a bloom divine; And next the sire demands Minerva

aid Bids her the secrets of the loom impart, To cast a curious thread with happy heart; And golden Venus was to teach the fa

the next be kind: With manners all deceitful, and her tongue Fraught with abuse, and with detraction hung; Jove gave the ma

d: With manners all deceitful, and her tongue Fraught with abuse, and with detraction hung; Jove gave the mandate, and the g

Jove’s decree they should in silence rove, For who is able to contend with Jove?” Hesiod. When the box was opened, there i

f man, and rendering his troubles less painful. “But thou, oh! Hope, with eyes so fair,     What was thy delighted measure?

hand, What health and sober appetite demand, From fading good derives with chemic art That lasting happiness, a thankful hea

erives with chemic art That lasting happiness, a thankful heart. Hope with uplifted foot set free from earth Pants for the p

e two cups, containing the principle of good and evil. His brow laden with ‌dark clouds; his eyes darting lightning from ben

eyes darting lightning from beneath their lids; and his chin covered with a majestic beard. In one hand the sceptre, in the

ojans rise; Till the proud king, and all the Achaian race, Shall heap with honours him they now disgrace.’” Homer. Jupiter

inhabitants his punishments or rewards. Ovid relates one in connexion with the luxury of Rome, and in which the hospitality

r image anonyme_heathen-mythology_1842_img026 The intrigue of Jupiter with Io, is also celebrated in the history of his amou

, Opening its eyes in death, and falling bled, And marked the passage with a crimson trail; Thus Argus lies in pieces, cold

l; Thus Argus lies in pieces, cold and pale, And all his hundred eyes with all their light Are closed at once in one perpetu

who seemed to be favoured by, or who favoured Jupiter, she persecuted with the utmost rigour: but when it is remembered what

tless spirit. When Jupiter had assumed the form of a bull, he mingled with the herds belonging to Agenor, father of Europa,

th the herds belonging to Agenor, father of Europa, while the latter, with her female attendants, was gathering flowers in t

ge to sit upon his back. Jupiter took advantage of her situation, and with precipitate steps retired towards the shore, cros

and with precipitate steps retired towards the shore, crossed the sea with Europa on him, and arrived safe in Crete. Here he

r of the skies, the thundering God, Who shakes the world’s foundation with a nod, Among a herd of lowing heifers ran, Friske

he fields, the milk white bull surveyed, And viewed his spotless body with delight, And at a distance kept him still in sigh

r hiding place; for, unable to restrain her jealousy, she rushed back with all speed, destroyed the statue, laughingly ackno

s superbly arrayed, in a chariot drawn by two peacocks, where she sat with a sceptre in her hand, having always a peacock be

the priests, to render the time fruitful, struck these grave matrons with a portion of the skin of a kid, which they assert

organizer of all, she is of a passive nature. These ideas are allied with those of Hymen, who is called Juno, the virtuous

The countenance expresses a stern unquestioned severity of ‌dominion, with a certain sadness. The lips are beautiful, suscep

th. She taught man the art of agriculture, and is represented crowned with wheat, holding a torch in one hand, and in the ot

Hell, seized near the beautiful vale of Enna, in Sicily, and carried with him to his dismal kingdom. Ceres, whose love for

t Ceres could obtain, was that she should pass six months of the year with her mother and six months with Pluto, when she be

she should pass six months of the year with her mother and six months with Pluto, when she became his wife. “Near Enna’s wa

fragrant breezes fan the verdant bowers, And the moist ground smiles with enamelled flowers, The cheerful birds their airy

maids, Diverts herself in these delicious shades; While like a child with busy speed and care, She gathers lilies here, and

virgin train; To them too cries, and cries to them in vain. And while with passion she repeats her call, The violets from he

oamy steeds; He rattles o’er their necks the rusty reins, And ruffles with the stroke their shaggy manes Throws to his dread

Down sinks his chariot, and his realms of night The God soon reaches with a rapid flight.” Ovid. The attempts of Ceres to

h. A young child, whose chief crime was having laughed to see her eat with avidity, was changed into a lizard: while a Thess

unchangeable law. In the antique bas-reliefs he is often to be seen, with a bandage over his eyes, and near him an open boo

ythology_1842_img032 Apollo. This Deity, whose name still lives with us, as the presiding divinity of the art of song,

e from the fury of Juno, when about to overwhelm her, for her frailty with her husband. The irritated Goddess, to punish Lat

n to her father Cœus, she arrived near his dominions, where, fatigued with her journey, she begged a drop of water from the

, and my request pursue!’ Yet they the goddess’s request refuse, And, with rude words, reproachfully abuse. Her thirst by in

all such as attempted to inter them. On the tenth, they were honoured with a funeral by the Gods. While Apollo resided at th

act of bringing ‌to life Hippolitus, son of Theseus, Jupiter enraged with his impiety, smote him with a thunderbolt. Indign

ppolitus, son of Theseus, Jupiter enraged with his impiety, smote him with a thunderbolt. Indignant at the punishment which

eet sounds of the lyre tuned, to soften Daphne whose affection rested with another, and was insensible to that of Apollo, th

another, and was insensible to that of Apollo, though he pursued her with fervour for a year. Insérer image anonyme_heathen

who place it beneath their pillow. ——— “Her feet she found Benumbed with cold, and fastened to the ground, A filmy rind ab

nt for Leucothoe, daughter of king Orchamus, and to introduce himself with greater facility, he assumed the shape and featur

r sister, who was enamoured of the God, and was jealous of his amours with Leucothoe, discovered the whole intrigue to her f

ling to all who were favoured by Apollo, for as they played at quoits with Zephyr, the latter fired by jealousy, blew the qu

me. Insérer image anonyme_heathen-mythology_1842_img038     “Flower! with a curious eye we scan     Thy leaf, and there dis

honour, which continued for three days; they did not adorn their hair with garlands during their festivals, nor eat bread, b

2_img040 “Mnemosyne, in the Pierian grove, The scene of her intrigue with mighty Jove, The empress of Eleuther, fertile ear

le sisters: they received him in their palace, and assembled together with him to converse on the arts and sciences. Among t

usa, fixed his residence on Mount Helicon, and, by striking the earth with his foot, caused the spring of Hippocrene to gush

courser was thus occupied, Apollo mounted his back, placed the Muses with him, and Pegasus, lifting his wings, carried them

e fame of Apollo at this court, Marsyas, the Phrygian, declared that, with his flute, he could surpass the melody of the God

ample, Pan, favourite of Midas, King of Lydia, wished also to compete with Apollo in the art of which the latter was master.

tter was master. Pan began the struggle, and Midas repeated his songs with enthusiasm, without paying the least attention to

mg042 “Midas the king, as in the book appears, By Phœbus was endowed with ass’s ears, Which under his long locks he well co

Both for her husband’s honour and her own. But ne’ertheless she pined with discontent, The counsel rumbled till it found a v

us) is as follows: Venus becoming enamoured of Phaeton, entrusted him with the care of one of her temples. This distinguishe

‌the dangers to which it would expose him; the oath must be complied with . When Phaeton received the reins from his father,

nted too late of his rashness, for heaven and earth seemed threatened with an universal conflagration, when Jupiter struck t

atened with an universal conflagration, when Jupiter struck the rider with a thunderbolt, and hurled him headlong into the r

consumed by fire, was found by the nymphs of the place, and honoured with a decent burial. The Heliades, his sisters wept f

ft was valueless, unless the power of remaining ever young was joined with it, she changed him into a grasshopper. From thei

nd holy echoes swell the adoring song.” Darwin. Apollo having slain with his arrows, Python, a monstrous serpent which des

for the prize of dancing, music and poetry. It is from his encounter with this serpent, that in the statues which remain of

rpent, that in the statues which remain of him, our eyes are familiar with the bow placed in his grasp. —————— “The lord of

in that vision, are exprest All that ideal beauty ever blest The mind with , in its most unearthly mood, When each conception

the dust, nor hath it caught A tinge of years, but breathes the flame with which ’twas wrought.” Byron. But the gods grew

. This God is represented in the figure of a young man without beard, with curling locks of hair, his brow wreathed with lau

oung man without beard, with curling locks of hair, his brow wreathed with laurels, and his head surrounded with beams of li

ocks of hair, his brow wreathed with laurels, and his head surrounded with beams of light. In his right hand ‌he holds a bow

ht. In his right hand ‌he holds a bow and arrows; in the left, a lyre with seven chords, emblem of the seven planets to whic

ian games, that of Soractes, where the priests worshipped by treading with their naked feet on burning coals, though without

. In this convulsive state, she spoke the oracles of the deity, often with loud howlings and cries, and her articulations we

t the nine daughters of Pierus, King of Macedon, who dared to dispute with them the palm of singing; being overcome, they we

vengeance fell so heavily on Actæon, who following the chase one day with all the ardour of his profession, unhappily came

nhappily came ‌suddenly on the retired spot, in which the pure Diana, with her nymphs, was enjoying, in the heat of the summ

tentional, of her privacy, she changed him into a stag, and inspiring with madness the dogs that accompanied him to the chas

transformation, Calista fled to the forests and brought forth a son, with whom she dwelt, until one day she was induced to

lt, until one day she was induced to enter a temple at Lycaen (where, with her son Arcas, she had been brought), and which i

his crime, the wife of Æneas threw into the flames a brand which bore with it the life of Meleager; a fire immediately sprea

f torments, the most cruel and excruciating, and his mother, stricken with despair at the sight of them, destroyed herself,

nto fowls. Diana is usually represented in the costume of a huntress, with a quiver on her shoulder, and a bow in her hand;

atmian hill, When all the woods, and all the winds were still, Kissed with the kiss of immortality” Barry Cornwall. has be

condemned to live for ever in the infernal regions. However, smitten with his charms, as Diana saw him sleeping on the moun

ds of vulgar birth!” Barry Cornwall. The fable of Endymion’s amours with Diana, or the Moon, arises from his knowledge of

o one: Still smile at even on the bedded child, And close his eyelids with thy silver wand.” Hood. Bacchus. Insérer

d perform her request, and by this oath he was forced to abide. Armed with thunder, as a proof of his divinity, and in all t

is generally represented as fat and jolly, riding on an ass, crowned with flowers, and always intoxicated, could scarcely b

he head of an army, composed of men as well as of women, all inspired with divine fury, armed with thyrsuses, and bearing cy

osed of men as well as of women, all inspired with divine fury, armed with thyrsuses, and bearing cymbals, and other musical

he band of Bacchanals. Bacchus, however, inspired the monarch himself with an ardent desire of witnessing the orgies. Accord

triumphantly in his ship, from the conquest we have recorded, crowned with vine leaves, and flushed with victory, in passing

the conquest we have recorded, crowned with vine leaves, and flushed with victory, in passing near a beautiful island, he h

days, Dismally doom’d! meanwhile the billows come, And coldly dabble with her quiet feet, Like any bleaching stones they wo

notaur had abandoned after having seduced her. The God was so smitten with the candour and beauty of his youthful petitioner

ay securely made, His faith forgotten, and his vows unpaid; Then sick with grief, and frantic with despair, Her dress she re

ith forgotten, and his vows unpaid; Then sick with grief, and frantic with despair, Her dress she rent, and tore her golden

way. …………………………………………………… To her relief the blooming Bacchus ran, And with him brought his ever jovial train: Satyrs and Fau

yielded to the God, His car he mounted and sublimely rode: And while with eager arms he grasped the fair, Lashed his fleet

st madness of her grief; while Mera, the faithful animal, overwhelmed with consternation at the loss of all he loved, died i

e Isle of Naxos, where he had been for some years, becoming oppressed with the heat of the sun, he threw himself on the sea-

and fell fast asleep; some pirates who called there for water, struck with his extreme beauty, seized the dreaming boy with

re for water, struck with his extreme beauty, seized the dreaming boy with the determination of selling him for a slave: and

mplored them to say how he came there, and what they were going to do with him. “You have nothing to fear,” was the reply, “

the reply, “only tell us what your wish is, and it shall be complied with .” “I live at Naxos,” said the boy, “and there I w

hter of his captors, while they continued to row merrily to the shore with their prize.‌ “The beauteous youth now found hi

nly vine trees seemed to spring from the planks of the ship, mingling with the cordage and the sails, and twining round the

a spear he held in his hand, in answer to which, tigers and panthers, with others of the most savage beasts of the desert, s

vage beasts of the desert, seemed to swim round the vessel and wanton with the waters. “The God we now behold with opened e

round the vessel and wanton with the waters. “The God we now behold with opened eyes, An herd of spotted panthers round hi

e, and he carried in his hand a dart called the thyrsis, twined round with leaves of ivy, and of vine. The Bacchantes, his o

heathen-mythology_1842_img060b The Bacchantes went into the mountains with torches in their hands, covered with the skins of

cchantes went into the mountains with torches in their hands, covered with the skins of tigers and panthers. Insérer image a

cchus and his kin. “Like to a moving vintage down they came, Crowned with green leaves, and faces all on flame; All madly d

  For Venus pearly bite; And near him rode Silenus on his ass, Pelted with flowers as he on did pass,     Tipsily quaffing.

d the leopard pants,     With Asian elephants: Onward these myriads —  with song and dance, With zebras striped, and sleek Ar

done, And always at the rising of the sun, About the wilds they hunt, with spear and horn,     On spleenful unicorn. “I saw

olent attachment to a maiden named Callirhoe, found his love returned with hatred, and the more he sought to impress her wit

his love returned with hatred, and the more he sought to impress her with his affection, the more hateful did he become. Un

aid of his God, who, to avenge his sufferings, struck the Calydonians with a continual drunkenness, many of them dying of it

autumn owes, While the fermenting juice the vat o’erflows, Come steep with me, my god; come drench all o’er Thy limbs in win

ir joy; With taunts and laughter loud their audience please, Deformed with vizards cut from bark of trees: In jolly hymns th

vintage, of wine and of drinkers, he is generally represented crowned with vine and ivy leaves, with a thyrsus in his hand.

inkers, he is generally represented crowned with vine and ivy leaves, with a thyrsus in his hand. His figure is that of an e

represented like an infant, holding a thyrsus and clusters of grapes, with a horn. His beauty is compared to that of Apollo,

beauty is compared to that of Apollo, and like him, he is represented with fine hair, flowing loosely down his shoulders; th

of their own tumultuous motion; their heads are thrown back, leaning with a kind of delirium upon their necks, and looking

ven in the energy of their tempestuous dance. “One represents a faun, with the head of Pentheus in one hand, and in the othe

heus in one hand, and in the other a great knife. Another has a spear with its pine cane, which was the thyrsus; another dan

has a spear with its pine cane, which was the thyrsus; another dances with mad voluptuousness; the fourth is beating a kind

able of combining ideal beauty, and poetical and abstract enthusiasm, with the wild errors from which it sprung. In Rome it

d earth Of Cyprus claims, exulting in thy birth Bright queen! adorned with every winning grace, The smile enchanting, and th

that on the ground lay spilled, A purple flower sprung up, checkered with white; Resembling well his pale cheeks and the bl

ored him to life, on condition of his spending six months of the year with her, and six with Venus, but this is a fable mean

on condition of his spending six months of the year with her, and six with Venus, but this is a fable meant to apply to the

a flower, Anemone,     The mourner’s path it cheers: Lo! Venus, bowed with agony, By the slain huntsman bends the knee: —   

ing car, Each circling wheel a wreath of flowers entwines, And gemmed with flowers, the silken harness shines; The golden bi

, And gemmed with flowers, the silken harness shines; The golden bits with flowery studs are decked, And knots of flowers th

: victims, however, were seldom offered to her, or her altars stained with blood. The rose, the myrtle, and the apple, were

ss maid, That all the youth of Athens, in amaze, At that cold beauty, with sad tears did gaze.” Thurlow. She is generally

beauty, with sad tears did gaze.” Thurlow. She is generally imaged with her son Cupid, in a chariot drawn by doves, or at

and received the name of Paphia, because at Paphos, she had a temple with an altar, on which it was asserted rain never fel

us. “Come hither, all sweet maidens, soberly, Down looking, aye, and with a chastened light, Hid in the fringes of your eye

, To Cyprus, watered by the waves around: And here she walks, endowed with every grace To charm, the goddess blooming in her

yomine Venus. “She has just issued from the bath, and yet is animated with the enjoyment of it. She seems all soft and mild

joyment, and the curved lines of her fine limbs, flow into each other with a never ending sinuosity of sweetness. Her face e

which the ends ‌of the mouth are drawn in, yet lifted or half opened, with the smile that for ever circles round them, and t

sive joy, express love, still love! “Her eyes seem heavy and swimming with pleasure, and her small forehead fades on both si

presses simple and tender feelings. “The neck is full and panting, as with the aspiration of delight, and flows with gentle

eck is full and panting, as with the aspiration of delight, and flows with gentle curves into her perfect form. “Her form is

r complete roundness and perfection, do not diminish the vital energy with which they seem to be animated. The position of t

lost; The Sinthians raised me on the Lemnian coast.” Homer. He fell with sufficient velocity to break his thigh, an accide

from morn To noon he fell, from noon to dewy eve, A summer’s day; and with the setting sun, Dropped from the zenith like a f

l life that flow; In search no more of casual seats to roam, But rear with skilful hand the lasting dome.” Horace. In his

custom of wearing small bucklers of steel which covered their faces, with a small aperture in the middle, corresponding exa

from heaven, he attributed his deformity. This was a throne of gold, with secret springs, on which the goddess no sooner sa

nd herself unable to move. In vain the Gods attempted to deliver her; with Vulcan, only rested the secret and the power to d

stablished at the celestial court. The beautiful Goddess rejected him with horror, and Juno overwhelmed her with supplicatio

beautiful Goddess rejected him with horror, and Juno overwhelmed her with supplications; but as these could not subdue the

liness of the suitor, she implored Jupiter to exercise his power; and with all the determination of a Goddess, poured so man

he determination of a Goddess, poured so many entreaties, accompanied with tears, that the king of heaven must have complied

uching and feminine attributes of Venus, the soft eyes of whom filled with tears, and whose downy cheek grew pale, at the id

m in working metals. “Then from the anvil the lame artist rose, Wide with distorted leg, oblique he goes; And stills the be

en axle did the work uphold, Gold was the beam, the wheels were orbed with gold: The spokes in rows of silver pleased the si

d with gold: The spokes in rows of silver pleased the sight, The seat with parti-coloured gems was bright.” Ovid. The wors

molations to the remainder of the Gods. He was represented as blowing with his nervous arm the fires of his forges. His vast

ires of his forges. His vast breast hairy, and his forehead blackened with smoke; while his enormous shoulders seemed borrow

me and deformed, holding a hammer in his hand, ready to strike; while with the other, he turns a thunderbolt on his anvil, f

s by his side to carry it to Jupiter. ‌ He appears on some monuments with a long beard, dishevelled hair, half naked, and a

and mimicking his lameness to gain the smiles of her lovers. “Vulcan with awkward grace, his office plies, And unextinguish

te kingdom; he therefore banished him from his court, and menaced him with his wrath, should he return. The Goddess conveyed

suckled by the wild beasts of the forest. No sooner had strength come with years, than Cupid, forming a bow of the ash tree,

nst the animals who had supported him. “His quiver, sparkling bright with gems and gold, From his fair plumed shoulder grac

rambles round the world     An idol and idolator: he flies Touching, with passing beauty, ringlets curled,     Ripe lips, a

restere felt his vengeance in a different manner. Cupid was wandering with his mother over a meadow, beautifully enamelled w

id was wandering with his mother over a meadow, beautifully enamelled with flowers “all fragrance and of various hues,” when

‌ The nymph Psyche was one of those exquisite beings, so seldom met with in the present degenerate days; and even then, so

her swan-like breast — The silken folds of her azure vest     Kissed with its fragrant mouth.” Anon. To one so jealous a

an’s nature; for she commanded Cupid to make her fall deeply in love, with the ugliest being he could find. With the intenti

ncealed. “He half relenting on her beauties gazed, Just then awaking with a sudden start, Her opening eye in humid lustre b

rful, however, of his mother’s displeasure, he carried on the ‌affair with great secrecy, and by his divine power, conveyed

of the beautiful Psyche, was too delightful and too pure, not to meet with something which should realize the after thought

grove; To his wide arms enamoured Psyche springs And clasps her lover with Aurelian wings, A purple sash across his shoulder

Aurelian wings, A purple sash across his shoulder bends, And fringed with gold the quivered shafts suspends; The bending bo

tring, And, as he steps, the silver arrows ring. Thin folds of gauze, with dim transparence flow, O’er her fair forehead and

stowed on her. But all this was no pleasant intelligence to them, for with the malice of ill-nature, they determined to be r

ucceeded in persuading her, by their next meeting, to provide herself with the means of procuring a light, and a dagger to s

ured, and her sigh Breathed near and nearer to his silent mouth, Rich with the hoarded odours of the south!” Bulwer. But w

he dreaded, she beheld one whose every limb, and every feature, shone with a radiant and celestial beauty. “All imperceptib

e seems in manhood’s freshest years; Round his fair neck, as changing with delight, Each golden curl resplendently appears,

all vanished in that long, earnest, and delighted gaze. “Speechless with awe; in transport strangely lost, Long Psyche sto

“Speechless with awe; in transport strangely lost, Long Psyche stood, with fixed, adoring eye; Her limbs immoveable, her sen

rials by Venus; who, determined on destroying, sent her to Proserpine with a box to request some of her beauty. The mission

iating, and took delight in rendering her miserable, who, not content with being taken for the goddess of beauty, had conclu

shed roses through the sky, the Graces sprinkled the halls of heaven with fragrant odours, Apollo plays on his lyre, the Ar

cadian God on his reeds, the Muses sing in chorus, while Venus dances with grace and elegance, to celebrate the nuptials of

d elegance, to celebrate the nuptials of her son.” “So pure, so soft, with sweet attraction shone Fair Psyche, kneeling at t

et attraction shone Fair Psyche, kneeling at the ethereal throne; Won with coy smiles the admiring court of Jove, And warmed

golden chain; Joins the fond pair, indulgent to their vows, And hides with mystic veil their blushing brows. Round their fai

ng brows. Round their fair forms their mingling arms they fling, Meet with warm lip, and clasp with nestling wing. Hence pla

r forms their mingling arms they fling, Meet with warm lip, and clasp with nestling wing. Hence plastic nature, as oblivion

uched ear: Surely I dreamt to day, or did I see     The winged Psyche with awakened eyes? I wandered in a forest thoughtless

s? I wandered in a forest thoughtlessly, And, on the sudden, fainting with surprise, Saw two fair creatures, couched side by

irer than these, tho’ temple thou hast none,         Nor altar heaped with flowers; Nor virgin-choir to make delicious moan

. Of this deity, poets have written until the God, become identified with the passion, which is addressed by many as immort

ied,     Then hath in heaven its perfect rest:         It soweth here with toil and care,         But the harvest time of Lo

uthey. Cupid is usually represented as a winged infant, naked, armed with a bow and quiver full of arrows. On gems and all

d all other pieces of antiquity, he is represented as amusing himself with childish diversions. Sometimes, like a conqueror,

dish diversions. Sometimes, like a conqueror, he marches triumphantly with a helmet on his head, a spear on his shoulder, an

ls bow before him!” Anacreon. Among the ancients, he was worshipped with the same solemnity ‌as his mother Venus; and as h

haughty brow, His voice was as the trumpet’s tone,     Mine ear rings with it now. “They quailed before his flashing eye,  

Till Pallas lays her arms divine aside, While Jove his daughter views with conscious pride.” Horace. The strife of this Go

ter views with conscious pride.” Horace. The strife of this Goddess with Neptune is worthy attention: each of them claimed

habitants of the earth. Neptune, upon hearing this, struck the ground with his trident, and immediately a horse issued there

ivinity of the place. ————— “The sandals of celestial mould, Fledged with ambrosial plumes and rich with gold Surround her

he sandals of celestial mould, Fledged with ambrosial plumes and rich with gold Surround her feet: with these sublime she sa

, Fledged with ambrosial plumes and rich with gold Surround her feet: with these sublime she sails Th’ aerial space, and mou

hne, a woman of Colophon, having acquired great perfection in working with her needle, became impressed with a belief that h

cquired great perfection in working with her needle, became impressed with a belief that her powers were superior to those o

ach graceful touch: Whether the shapeless wool in balls she wound, Or with quick motion turned the spindle round, Or with he

in balls she wound, Or with quick motion turned the spindle round, Or with her pencil drew the neat design, Pallas, her mist

sign, Pallas, her mistress, shone in every line. This the proud maid, with scornful air denies, And e’en the goddess at her

e was, which recorded the intrigues of Jove, yet it could not compete with that of Minerva, who by her divine skill, surpass

g the Athenean bowers, Each god, by proper features was exprest; Jove with majestic mien, excelled the rest, His nine forked

y steed And Neptune claims the city for the deed. Herself she blazons with a glittering spear, And crested helm that veiled

hair, With shield, and scaly breast-plate, implements of war. Struck with her pointed lance, the teeming earth Seemed to pr

hen from the glebe, the pledge of conquest sprung, A tree, pale green with fairest olives hung.” Ovid. Although her work w

d, With envy saw, yet inwardly approved, The scene of heavenly guilt, with haste she tore, Nor longer the affront with patie

scene of heavenly guilt, with haste she tore, Nor longer the affront with patience bore; A boxen shuttle in her hand she to

f, and was changed into a spider by Minerva. ———— “She sprinkled her with juice, Which leaves of baleful aconite produce. T

kled her with juice, Which leaves of baleful aconite produce. Touched with the poisonous drug, her flowing hair Fell to the

in which she has appeared, has the goddess been represented. Usually with a helmet on her head, and a large plume nodding i

n the air. In one hand she holds a spear, and in the other, a shield, with the dying head of Medusa upon it. “With bright w

ield.” Darwin. Sometimes the Gorgon’s head was on her breast-plate, with living serpents writhing round it, as well as on

In golden ringlets waved, and graceful shone. ‌Her, Neptune saw: and with such beauties fired, Resolved to compass what his

hey curl and flow,     And their long tangles in each other lock: And with unending involutions show,     Their mailed radia

were to mock, The torture and the death within, and saw The solid air with many a ragged jaw,     “’Tis the tempestuous lov

    Of all the beauty, and the terror there — A woman’s countenance, with serpent locks, Gazing in death on heaven, from th

ks.” Shelley. Some of the statues of Minerva represented her helmet with a sphinx in the middle, supported on either side

he greatest honour. On the evening of the first day, there was a race with torches, in which men on foot, and afterwards on

ate these festivals, also, the maidens divided into troops, and armed with sticks and stones, attacked each other with fury.

ed into troops, and armed with sticks and stones, attacked each other with fury. Those who were overcome in this combat, wer

, while they who conquered, and had received no wounds, were honoured with triumphant rejoicings. These fêtes, established i

under the name of Palladium. Some authors maintain that this was made with the bones of Pelops — while Apollodorus asserts,

ty and integrity of nature. Her face, upraised to heaven, is animated with a profound, sweet, and impassioned melancholy, wi

aven, is animated with a profound, sweet, and impassioned melancholy, with an earnest, and fervid and disinterested pleading

in few.” Shelley. We have already seen that Minerva, not satisfied with being goddess of Wisdom, claimed also pre-eminenc

f war, Known by thy golden helm, and rushing car, Before whose lance, with sound terrific, fall The massy fortress and embat

side of the Trojans; but while he defended these favourites of Venus with great activity, he was wounded by Diomedes, and h

at Minerva had directed the unerring weapon of his antagonist. “Wild with his pain, he sought the bright abodes, There, sul

ullen, sate beneath the sire of gods, Shewed the celestial blood, and with a groan, Thus poured his plaints before the immor

e. From thee, O father! all these ills we bear, And thy fell daughter with the shield and spear. ‌Thou gavest that fury to

der plain, Heaped round, and heaving under loads of slain, Or pierced with Grecian darts, for ages lie Condemned to pain, th

ed to pain, though fated not to die.’” Homer. The Thunderer treated with disregard the complaint of Mars against his favou

ourn, Sprung since thou art from Jove, and heavenly born: Else singed with lightning, hadst thou hence been thrown, Where, c

Jupiter, the God of War soon recovered. “Thus he, who shakes Olympus with his nod, Then gave to Pæon’s care the bleeding go

ord of battles came; ’Twas from the ranks of war he rushed, His spear with many a life-drop blushed; He saw the mystic darts

he urchin’s art, He sighed in agony of heart; ‘It is not light, I die with pain! Take, take thine arrow back again.’ ‘No,’ s

hat little dart was made for thee.’” Moore. The result of his amour with Venus has been related in another part of this wo

ir bright hair dabbled in unrighteous blood, Their vestures tinctured with its gory red, The quivering limb, the eye that’s

n heart: Pride is a poor exchange for those adored: And even a nation with its giant strength, Cannot supply the vacant plac

o reigns, O’er spacious Ægæ’s wide extended plains; To whom the gods, with equal skill concede, To guide the bark and tame t

f heaven and earth, which Jupiter had claimed; he therefore conspired with the other gods to dethrone his brother. The consp

afterwards laid waste by the god of the sea, and his subjects visited with a pestilence sent by Apollo. Besides the dispute

with a pestilence sent by Apollo. Besides the dispute this deity had with Minerva, related in her history, he claimed the i

come of heaven, dost thou sit, To blend and inter-knit Sudued majesty with this glad time. O shell born king sublime! We lay

2_img100 This famous lyric poet and musician, having gone into Italy, with Periander, tyrant of Corinth, he obtained immense

treasures through his profession. On his return to his native country with his riches, the sailors of the vessel in which he

intention, he endeavoured to outwit them. ‌ “Allow me,” said Arion, with all the earnestness of an enthusiast. “Ere I leav

‌And see your branching woods and palace blue, Spar-built and domed with crystal: aye and view The bedded wonders of the l

posing; he wears the look of an old man, his long beard and hair, wet with the vapour of the water. In his hand he holds the

ns, horses were led through the streets, finely equipped, and crowned with garlands, as the God in whose honour the festival

————— “Cerberus, the cruel worm of death, Keeps watchful guard, and with his iron throat, Affrights the spirits in their p

s ever blooming shade, The playful Proserpine from Ceres strayed. Led with unwary step her virgin trains O’er Etna’s steeps,

r virgin trains O’er Etna’s steeps, and Enna’s golden plains; Plucked with fair hand the silver blossomed bower, And purpled

eir gauzy laps the gathered sweets, Clung round the struggling nymph, with piercing cries Pursued the chariot, and invoked t

voked the skies; — Pleased as he grasps her in his iron arms, Frights with soft sighs, with tender words alarms; The wheels

— Pleased as he grasps her in his iron arms, Frights with soft sighs, with tender words alarms; The wheels descending, rolle

lled in smoky rings, Infernal Cupids flapped their demon wings; Earth with deep yawn received the fair amazed, And far in ni

Eumenides, or Furies, who were seated on a couch of iron, and crowned with blood-stained serpents. A deep and dark cavern le

e he had ferried Hercules over without this passport. Cerberus, a dog with three heads, watched at the entrance to Tartarus.

e to Tartarus. “A horrid dog and grim, couched on the floor, Guards, with malicious art, the sounding door; On each, who in

wall of adamant. Pluto is generally represented as holding a trident with three prongs, and has a key in his hand, to intim

ever return. He is considered as a hard-hearted and inexorable deity, with a grim and dismal countenance, for which reason,

admired. Love led the sage through Death’s tremendous porch, Cheered with his smile, and lighted with his torch; Hell’s tri

through Death’s tremendous porch, Cheered with his smile, and lighted with his torch; Hell’s triple dog his playful jaws exp

golden flame Play round her breast, and melt her frozen frame; Charms with soft words, and sooths with amorous wiles, Her ir

breast, and melt her frozen frame; Charms with soft words, and sooths with amorous wiles, Her iron-hearted lord, and Pluto s

, and where he had, according to the received traditions, disappeared with the goddess. ———— “On the ground, She sinks with

the infernal regions, of death, and of funerals. That he might govern with order and regularity, the spirits who ‌were inhab

ore him, and the impartial judge shakes the fatal urn which is filled with the destinies of mankind. Rhadamanthus was employ

l which went constantly round, rendering his punishment also eternal; with Tantalus, condemned to a burning thirst, and surr

he cruel advice of their parent, had caused their husbands to perish; with Tityus, who having had the audacity to attempt th

amoured maids; And withered elders, pale and wrinkled shades; Ghastly with wounds the forms of warriors slain, Stalked with

kled shades; Ghastly with wounds the forms of warriors slain, Stalked with majestic port, a martial train; These and a thous

wift thro’ the gloom, a giant hunter flies; A ponderous mace of brass with direful sway Aloft he whirls to crush the savage

t.     There Tantalus along the Stygian bounds Pours out deep groans ( with groans all hell resounds); Ev’n in the circling f

resounds); Ev’n in the circling floods refreshment craves, And pines with thirst amidst a sea of waves; When to the water h

gh hill he heaves a huge round stone; The huge round stone, resulting with a bound, Thunders impetuous down and smokes along

ruments. Insérer image anonyme_heathen-mythology_1842_img110 “Hermes with gods and men, even from that day Mingled and wrou

un night.” Shelley. ‌As the messenger of Jupiter, he was entrusted with all his secrets and permitted to make himself inv

he gave to Apollo, and received in exchange the celebrated caduceus, with which the God of poetry used to drive the flocks

and wake The joyous pleasure out of many a fit Of tranced sound — and with fleet fingers make Thy liquid voiced comrade talk

ed sound — and with fleet fingers make Thy liquid voiced comrade talk with thee; It can talk measured music eloquently. Then

l mood All things which make the spirit most elate, Soothing the mind with sweet familiar play, Chasing the heavy shadows of

e rivers stay to hear thy song,     And listen still as death. Tityos with pleasure heard thy strain, And Ixion smiled amid

a festival in his honour. After the votaries had sprinkled themselves with water, they offered prayers to the divinity, and

e, Mercury rendering some kindness to Venus, the goddess fell in love with him, and bore to him Hermaphrodite, a child which

to him Hermaphrodite, a child which united the talents of his father with the graces of his mother; at the age of fifteen,

light, Nor kept a sand concealed from human sight. The fruitful banks with cheerful verdure crowned, And kept the spring ete

Or take the quiver, or the arrows seize And mix the toils of hunting with thy ease.’ Nor quivers she, nor arrows e’er would

uivers she, nor arrows e’er would seize, Nor mix the toils of hunting with her ease; But oft would bathe her in the crystal

nting with her ease; But oft would bathe her in the crystal tide, Oft with a comb her dewy locks divide; Now in the limped s

n the sea shore, they generally resided in grottos and caves, adorned with shells. Insérer image anonyme_heathen-mythology_1

fty of them, all children of Nereus, who is represented as an old man with a long flowing beard, and hair of an azure colour

he gods of the first order, were endowed by the writers of antiquity, with natures partly real, and partly imaginary. By the

uting to these gods their own passions and weaknesses, began to blend with them divinities of a secondary class, to preside

tes they were supposed to possess, than to the gods themselves. Thus, with such deities as Æolus and Mors, we shall introduc

m to Heaven, where Jupiter and the other Gods, entertained themselves with the oddity of his appearance; Bacchus was delight

d themselves with the oddity of his appearance; Bacchus was delighted with him, and gave him the name of Pan. ————— “Sprung

w, Descending from Lycæus, Pan admires The matchless nymph, and burns with new desires. A crown of pine upon his head he wor

Relief from water-nymphs her prayers implore, Now while the rural god with speedy pace, Just thought to strain her in his st

Just thought to strain her in his strict embrace, He filled his arms with reeds, new rising in the place: And while he sigh

he reeds, proportioned as they are, Unequal in their length and waxed with care, They still retain the name of his ungratefu

continually employed in deceiving the neighbouring nymphs, and often with success. Though deformed in shape and features, h

at. Insérer image anonyme_heathen-mythology_1842_img117 His adventure with Omphale is amusing; while the latter was travelli

is adventure with Omphale is amusing; while the latter was travelling with Hercules, a sacrifice which was to take place on

rgin throng, To Pan, the pastoral god, they raise the song. “To Pan, with tangled locks, whose footsteps tread Each snow-cr

or her loquacity in proclaiming his numerous amours, she fell in love with the beautiful Narcissus. “And at the sight of th

nions, whom he imagined had hid themselves in play. But Echo, charmed with his last exclamation, hastily appeared, and threw

erself on the bosom of the astonished youth, who, far from submitting with pleasure to the intrusion, “With all his strengt

to grasp what appeared to be the guardian spirit of the water. “Oft with his down-thrust arms he thought to fold, About th

s devoted passion; but bending over the lucid spring, he fed his eyes with the delusive shade which seemed to gaze on him fr

be insupportable. Echo, however resentful she had felt for the scorn with which he had treated her, hovered near his footst

d her, hovered near his footsteps and witnessed this last infatuation with redoubled sorrow. ‌ “Now hanging o’er the sprin

n Echo resounds, ‘Ah! boy beloved in vain!’ ‘Farewell,’ he cries, and with that word he died, ‘Farewell,’ the miserable nymp

untain spring? In some delicious ramble, he had found A little space, with boughs all woven round, And in the midst of all a

; And on the bank a lonely flower he spied, A meek and forlorn flower with nought of pride, Drooping its beauty o’er the wat

ece, when on the point of pillaging the Temple at Delphi, were seized with a sudden panic and took to flight. This terror wa

the dewy caves, And all that did there attendant follow, Were silent with love, as you now, Apollo,                      Wi

Let each field and mountain high, Own thy genial presence nigh. Since with each returning year, In thy presence, I appear, W

dy being human; the lamb and kid were offered to them by the peasants with great solemnity.‌ The Sylvans were the children

to gold. “‘Give me,’ says he, (nor thought he asked too much,) ‘That with my body whatsoe’er I touch, Changed from the natu

y; Down from a lowly branch a twig he drew, The twig strait glittered with a sparkling hue: He takes a stone, the stone was

s of ore. He plucked the corn, and straight his grasp appears, Filled with a bending tuft of golden ears. An apple next he t

o the recipient. “The ready slaves prepare a sumptuous board, Spread with rich dainties for their happy lord, Whose powerfu

t trickles from his jaws a fluid gold. The rich, poor fool confounded with surprize, Staring on all his various plenty lies:

sts the power For which he asked so earnestly before: Amidst his gold with pinching famine curst, And justly tortured with a

fore: Amidst his gold with pinching famine curst, And justly tortured with an equal thirst. At last his shining arms to heav

their appearance, great fright in the shepherds — although they bore with them a flute or tambourine, to make the nymphs da

senses by the burning nature of their harmony, and the rapid measure with which they trod to the music of these demi-gods.

t into the presence of the Roman ‌general, and Sylla was so disgusted with the sight, that he ordered it instantly to be rem

s on his return from his Indian expedition, was enamoured of him, and with the assistance of Juno, became the mother of Pria

and Gardens, than the patron of licentiousness. He was there crowned with the leaves of the vine, and sometimes with laurel

ness. He was there crowned with the leaves of the vine, and sometimes with laurel or rocket, the last of these plants, which

f heaven. His temple was on the Tarpeian rock, and he was represented with a human head, though without feet or arms, to int

r he might be placed. The people of the country assembled once a year with their families, and crowned with garlands and flo

of the country assembled once a year with their families, and crowned with garlands and flowers, the stones which divided th

Terminus refused to give place, though the other gods resigned theirs with cheerfulness, and the oracles declared from this,

the immortals at their banquet lay,             The bowl     Sparkled with starry dew, The weeping of those myriad urns of l

held ——— “The realized nymph of the stream, Rising up from the wave, with the bend and the gleam Of a fountain, and o’er he

rolled Down her limbs like a garment, in many a fold.” Hood. Struck with each other’s charms they loved, but unhappily the

d by the nymph, was in the act of being pronounced, ———————— “I felt with a start, The life blood rush back in one throb to

owned in the dash of the stream! How fain had I followed, and plunged with that scream Into death, but my being indignantly

orture to him. Though there were none of his former beings to consort with , yet still he loved to haunt the places of his hu

ort with, yet still he loved to haunt the places of his humanity, and with a beating heart and bursting frame, behold the va

“I once had a haunt near a cot. where a mother Daily sat in the shade with her child, and would smother Its eye-lids in kiss

ows I gazed o’er the brooks That murmured between us, and kissed them with looks; But the willows unbosomed their secret, an

rose and drew near Like a son of immortals, one born to no fear, But with strength of black locks, and with eyes azure brig

immortals, one born to no fear, But with strength of black locks, and with eyes azure bright, To grow to large manhood of me

es azure bright, To grow to large manhood of merciful might, He came, with his face of bold wonder, to feel The hair of my s

l The hair of my side and to lift up my heel, And questioned his face with wide eyes, but when under My lids he saw tears, —

at his cheeks in my love, and down bent And lifted him up in my arms with intent To kiss him — but he cruel — kindly alas!

The only mitigation of his sorrow, was that when in Thessaly “He met with the same as himself,” and obtained with them, if

at when in Thessaly “He met with the same as himself,” and obtained with them, if not sympathy, at least companionship. Ch

, and medicine, were equally familiar to him, and his name is blended with those of the principal sages of Greece, whom he i

in the use of plants and medicinal herbs. The battle of the Centaurs with the Lapithæ at the bridal of Perithous is famous

istory, and was the cause of their destruction. The Centaurs inflamed with wine, behaved with rudeness and even offered viol

cause of their destruction. The Centaurs inflamed with wine, behaved with rudeness and even offered violence to the bride,

t: In a cool cave’s recess the treat was made, Whose entrance, trees, with spreading boughs o’ershade, They sat; and summone

ghs o’ershade, They sat; and summoned by the bridegroom, came, To mix with those, the Lapythæan name: ——————— The roofs with

groom, came, To mix with those, the Lapythæan name: ——————— The roofs with joy resound, And Hymen, Iö Hymen, rung around. Ra

th joy resound, And Hymen, Iö Hymen, rung around. Raised altars shone with holy fires: the bride Lovely herself, (and lovely

ride Lovely herself, (and lovely by her side A bevy of bright nymphs, with sober grace,) Came glittering like a star, and to

d, Or whether wine or beauty fired his blood, Or both at once, beheld with lustful eyes The bride: at once resolved to make

his prize. Down went the board, and fastening on her hair, He seized with sudden force the frighted fair. ’Twas Eurytus beg

logy_1842_img131 Flora was unknown among the Greeks, having her birth with the Romans. She was the Goddess of Flowers, ————

ason, comes in turn to bloom and perish. But first of all the Violet, with an eye Blue as the midnight heavens, the frail sn

well; Or to the fruit more generous flavours lend, Or teach the trees with nobler loads to bend.” ‌Pleased with her office

vours lend, Or teach the trees with nobler loads to bend.” ‌Pleased with her office, and unwilling to take upon herself th

in the negative: tho’ Vertumnus, one of the most zealous, pursued her with unchanging ardour. “Long had she laboured to con

pt her innocence in vain. Vertumnus too pursued the maid no less, But with his rivals, shared a like success.” Ovid. Miser

s.” Ovid. Miserable, but not cast down, by the many refusals he met with , Vertumnus took a thousand shapes to influence th

f his teams. Then from the harvest, oft the mimic swain Seems bending with a load of bearded grain. Sometimes a dresser of t

the store Of fairest fruit; the fair possessor more; Then greets her with a kiss; th’ unpractised dame Admired, a grandame

eets her with a kiss; th’ unpractised dame Admired, a grandame kissed with such a flame. Now seated by her, he beholds a vin

f that fair elm,” he cried, “alone should stand, No grapes would glow with gold, and tempt the hand; Or if that vine without

nly form again; Such looks and lustre the bright youth adorn, As when with rays glad Phœbus paints the morn. The sight so wa

ade; Consent on eager wings succeeds desire, And both the lovers glow with mutual fire.” Ovid. Pomona had a temple at Rome

er. Vertumnus is represented under the figure of a young man, crowned with various plants, bearing in his left hand fruits,

his right a horn of abundance. The Goddess Pomona is often confounded with Autumn, Ceres with Summer, and Flora with Spring.

abundance. The Goddess Pomona is often confounded with Autumn, Ceres with Summer, and Flora with Spring. The four seasons h

Pomona is often confounded with Autumn, Ceres with Summer, and Flora with Spring. The four seasons have also been described

mer, and Flora with Spring. The four seasons have also been described with great distinctness, by poets, both ancient and mo

ibutes of praise in their honour; Spring is usually drawn as a nymph, with her head crowned by a wreath of flowers; and many

. “I come, I come! ye have called me long, I come o’er the mountains with light and song! Ye may trace my step o’er the wak

rest bowers, And the ancient graves, and the fallen fanes, Are veiled with wreaths on Italian plains: But it is not for me i

ey are bursting fresh from their sparry caves, And the earth resounds with the joy of waves! Come forth, O ye children of g

t here All whom I saw in the vanished year! There were graceful heads with their ringlets bright, Which tossed in the breeze

graceful heads with their ringlets bright, Which tossed in the breeze with a play of light, There were eyes, in whose gliste

at its fullness, to denote the harvest yielded by its light and heat; with a scythe in her hand, to intimate that it is the

rong, With a deep loveliness, o’er tree and flower, The earth is glad with beauty, the sky Smiles in calm grandeur over vale

s represented surrounded by the flowers which blossom latest, mingled with the delicious fruits which are the offspring of t

ancing stream —                      Come away! All the air is filled with sound, Soft, and sultry, and profound; Murmurs th

he woods the breath of song                      Night and day Floats with leafy scents along — Where the boughs with dewy g

      Night and day Floats with leafy scents along — Where the boughs with dewy gloom                      Come away! Darken

       Come away — away!” Hemans. Autumn appears clad in a robe red with the juice of the vintage, which he yields to glad

  Pearling his coronet of golden corn. Where are the songs of summer? with the sun, Opening the dusky eyelids of the south,

f the south, Till shade and silence waken up alone, And morning sings with a warm odorous mouth. Where are the merry birds?

        Lest owls should prey         Undazzled at noon-day, And tear with horny beak their lustrous eyes. Where are the bl

gloats on his accomplished hoard, The Ants have trimm’d their garners with ripe grain,         And honey bees have stored Th

steal the last Into that distance, grey upon the grey. O go and sit with her, and be o’ershaded Under the languid downfall

, If only for the rose that died — whose doom Is beauty’s, — she that with the living bloom Of conscious cheeks, most beauti

prison for the soul.” Hood. Winter, as the oldest season, is drawn with shrivelled limbs, and white and hoary locks, to r

w; — First, in the green apparel dancing,     The young Spring smiled with angel grace; Rosy Summer next advancing,     Rush

orms, whose savage ear The Lapland drum delights to hear, When frenzy with her bloodshot eye Implores thy dreadful deity, Ar

s from the remainder of the deities. He is represented as an old man, with a long, flowing beard, and sitting upon the waves

ents were very reverential in their homage to Oceanus, and worshipped with great solemnity a deity, to whose care they entru

sea deities, was daughter of Nereus and Doris and is often confounded with Tethys, her grandmother. She was loved by Neptune

ainst her inclination. Their nuptials were celebrated on Mount Peleon with great pomp, at which all the deities attended. “

in fame and power, his sire shall yield.’ Jove, who adored the nymph with boundless love, Did, from his breast, the dangero

Here Peleus seized her slumbering where she lay, And urged his suit, with all that love could say: The nymph o’erpowered, t

ew, About its bark, his nimble arms he threw: A tiger next she glares with flaming eyes, The frightened lover quits his hold

eyes, The frightened lover quits his hold and flies. The sea-gods he with sacred rites adores, Then a libation on the ocean

urprize, As in her cooly grot she slumbering lies: Then bind her fast with unrelenting hands, And strain her tender limbs wi

hen bind her fast with unrelenting hands, And strain her tender limbs with knotted bands; Still hold her under every distant

er body throws; She went to move her arms, then found them tied, Then with a sigh ‘Some god assists,’ she cried, And in her

him in the court of Lycomedes. This, however, was useless, as he went with the rest of the Greeks. The mother, still anxious

god. When Achilles was killed by Paris, Thetis issued out of the sea with the Nereids to mourn his death, and after she had

raise or to calm storms at his pleasure. He is generally represented with a shell in his hand. “Old Triton blowing his sea

, is that of a man, but below, a dolphin’s, while by some he is shown with the fore feet of a horse. He usually precedes the

es, His azure car and finny coursers guides. With sure foresight, and with unerring doom He sees what is, and was, and is to

the future shows;‌ So Neptune pleased who Proteus thus inspired, And with such wages to his service hired, Gave him the rul

o make in his appearance, caused the name of Proteus to be synonymous with change. Thus “The Proteus lover woos his playful

over stalks, Plays round her steps, and guards her favoured walks; As with white teeth he prints her hand, caressed, And lay

proudly glides before the fanning gales; Pleased on the flowery brink with graceful hand She waves her floating lover to the

waves her floating lover to the land; Bright shines his sinuous neck with crimson beak, He prints fond kisses on her glowin

n this fit of madness, he dashed one of them against a wall; Ino fled with Melicerta in her arms, and threw herself into the

the ground, he attributed it to the grass, and tasting it, was seized with a sudden desire to live in the sea. Upon this, he

he anthem’s billowy swell,     The stately dirge’s tone; For a chief, with sword and shield, and helm,     To his place of s

ra and Cheone. He once changed himself into a horse, to unite himself with the mare of Dardanus, by which he had a female pr

rope. Auster, God of the south wind, appeared generally as an old man with grey hair, a gloomy countenance, a head covered w

ly as an old man with grey hair, a gloomy countenance, a head covered with clouds, a sable vesture and dusky wings. He is th

howers. Eurus, God of the east, is represented as a young man, flying with great impetuosity, and often appearing in a playf

pring clouds that fly from our kisses away, When we grapple and fight with the bellowing foam, Or slumber and sleep in our s

boughs. Enhancing their pleasures     I fluttered around. And joined with glad measures     Their soft sighs’ sound. They

ir, We list to no sorrow, we own no care; We hold our carousals aloft with the stars, Where they glitter along in their gold

s, Where they glitter along in their golden cars, We frolic and bound with the playful wave, Which the prison-like confines

Ceyx borne a corse to land?                           O, I could weep with thee, And sit whole tides upon the pebbly shore,

ried off; they prayed for wings from the Gods, to unite their efforts with those of Ceres.‌ In despair at the uselessness o

ssumed an equally hideous appearance, being supported by twelve feet, with six different heads, each bearing three rows of t

elf to run, And drag’s about her what she strives to shun. “Oppressed with grief the pitying god appears, And swells the ris

ssed with grief the pitying god appears, And swells the rising surges with his tears; From the detested sorceress he flies,

o those barks that beat the seas.” Garth. The Harpies were monsters with the faces of old women, the wings and body of a v

ions in the time; and Atropos, the eldest, cut the thread of humanity with her scissors. —— “The fates, in vengeance pitil

radiant seats amidst the celestial spheres, clothed in robes spangled with stars, and wearing crowns on their heads. Their d

from heaven to earth. The garment which Lacheses wore was variegated with a great number of stars, and near her a variety o

pindles. Atropos was clothed in black; she held scissors in her hand, with clues of threads of various sizes, according to t

deities among the heathens, was the daughter of Chaos. From her union with her brother Erebus, she gave birth to day and lig

mother of all things, of gods no less than of men, and was worshipped with great solemnity by the ancients, who erected to h

the coming of the day. She is drawn mounted on a chariot, and covered with a veil bespangled with stars, and the constellati

She is drawn mounted on a chariot, and covered with a veil bespangled with stars, and the constellations preceded her as her

y some of the modern writers, as a woman clothed in mourning, crowned with poppies, and drawn in a chariot by owls and bats.

              The glory of its birth.                         I come with every star; Making thy streams, that on their noo

             Mirrors of world’s afar.                         I come with peace; I shed Sleep through the wood walks, o’er

                    On my own heart I lay The weary babe; and sealing with a breath Its eyes of love, send fairy dreams, ben

          The shadowing lids to play.                         I come with mightier things! Who calls me silent? I have many

hings! Who calls me silent? I have many tones — The dark skies thrill with low mysterious moans,                         Bor

     Like trumpets through the gloom.                         I come with all my train; Who calls me lonely? Hosts around m

           Looks from departed eyes — These are my lightnings! fill’d with anguish vain, Or tenderness too precious to susta

enderness too precious to sustain,                         They smite with agonies.                         I that with sof

             They smite with agonies.                         I that with soft control, Shut the dim violet, hush the woodl

ven to Death a heart of iron, bowels of steel, black wings, and a net with which she envelopes her victims. Statuaries carve

ctims. Statuaries carve her under the form of a large skeleton, armed with a scythe, and bearing wings. Sparta and Elis hono

inks to decay beneath thy chilling breath; Gay Youth, thou witherest, with thy touch of doom,     Stern Manhood shrinks bene

relief?     Do I not ease the wretched of his woe? Then taunt me not with wanton cruelty, Man knows ’tis written ‘thou must

en sinks the heart beneath its weight of woe,     Or throb the pulses with supreme delight, Vain mortal! cease God’s soverei

and a doubtful sky; No crowing cock does there his wings display Nor with his horny bill provoke the day; Nor watchful dogs

voke the day; Nor watchful dogs, nor the more wakeful geese, Disturb, with nightly noise, the sacred peace: ‌Nor beast of n

sacred peace: ‌Nor beast of nature nor the laws, are nigh, Nor trees with tempests rocked, nor human cry, But safe repose,

breath, Dwells here, and a dumb quiet next to death, An arm of Lethe with a gentle flow, Arising upward from the rock below

om the rock below, The palace moats, and o’er the pebbles creeps, And with soft murmurs calls the coming sleeps. Around its

to break his sleep. But in the gloomy court was raised a bed, Stuffed with black plumes, and in an ebon stead; Black was the

e sound     Her spirit haply weaves; A harmony profound,     Of woods with all their leaves. A murmur of the sea,     A lau

grave, burial places, and monuments of the dead. They were worshipped with great great solemnity, particularly by the Romans

the virtuous. The people of Smyrna were the first who made her statue with wings, to show with what celerity she is prepared

ople of Smyrna were the first who made her statue with wings, to show with what celerity she is prepared to punish the crime

observed at Rome in the month of May, when their statues were crowned with garlands of flowers, and fruit offerings presente

they were admitted by their votaries to share immortality and power, with the remainder or the Gods. The statues of the Pen

shipper. When offerings were made to them, their shrines were crowned with garlands, and besides one day in every month set

u, Household Gods! O ye whom youth has ‘wildered on your way, Or vice with fair mask’d foulness, or the lure Of Fame that ca

sehold Gods Return, for by their altars, Virtue dwells, And Happiness with her; hearken your hymn of praise, Penates! to you

ons. At the moment of death, they delivered up to judgment the person with whose care they had been entrusted; and according

nce; the maiden, candour and modesty; and the warrior, bravery united with moderation. The worship of the Graces appeals to

were instituted in the various cities, offerings to them were mingled with those to Bacchus, Mercury, the Muses, and Apollo.

iling faces, small mouths, hair negligently tied over their head, and with their hands placed in a graceful attitude. They s

d with their hands placed in a graceful attitude. They sometimes bear with them a branch of myrtle and of roses, the flowers

ed each others dresses. He is represented as a young and drunken man, with a garland of flowers upon his head, his face lit

d of flowers upon his head, his face lit up by the deity of wine, and with a flambeau in his hand which appears falling. So

Midnight shout and revelry, Tipsy dance and jollity. Braid your locks with rosy twine, Dropping odours, dropping wine, Rigou

Dropping odours, dropping wine, Rigour now is gone to bed, And Advice with scrupulous head: Strict age and sour severity, Wi

t round the months and years. …………………………………………… What hath night to do with sleep? Night hath better sweets to prove; Venus n

uffoon and satirist of Olympus. He wears as head dress, a cap adorned with small bells, a mask in one hand, and on the other

the beauty of Venus was too perfect to allow of any truth to be mixed with his bitterness, he declared that the noise made b

outh, holding a torch in his hand, and in the other a purple garment, with his head ornamented by a crown of roses. “Till H

renade, which the starved lover sings To his proud fair, best quitted with disdain.” Milton ‌It was supposed that he alw

y hour. We’ll paint the well-trimmed fire, the frugal meal, Prepared with good solicitude to please,                 The ru

buy my love-knots,         Who’ll buy my love-knots!’ Even this tie, with Love’s name round it, All a sham, he never bound

nd him that meets him on his way, whose hands He grasps, him gifts he with abundant gold, And large felicity.” Hesiod. Plu

holds in his hands; as lame, because he came slow and gradually; and with wings, to intimate that he flew away with greater

ame slow and gradually; and with wings, to intimate that he flew away with greater velocity than he approached mankind. Fort

s the god of Silence. He is represented, in his statues as young, but with a countenance calm and severe, and on his brow a

each new successive race,     That visit their dim haunts below, Look with the same unwithering face,     They wore three th

, scales, and the mirror of truth. Her temple is always open. Astræa, with Law and Peace, are her children, the former of wh

the Zodiac, under the name of Virgo. She is represented as a maiden, with a stern but majestic countenance, holding a pair

s. The demi-gods are those, who, sprung from the union of a mortal with a divinity, have taken their place among the Immo

rcely had Pollux emerged from childhood, when, being on an expedition with the Argonauts, they stopped in the domains of Amy

brated in honour of them, a fête called Dioscuria, which was observed with jovial festivity: and in which free use was made

: and in which free use was made of the gifts of Bacchus, accompanied with sports, in which wrestling matches always formed

oracle. He was ordered to ‌go to Iolchos, his native country, covered with the spoils of a leopard, and dressed in the garme

nd drew a crowd round him in the market place. Pelias came to see him with the others, and, as he had been warned by the ora

warned by the oracle, to beware of a man who should appear at Iolchos with one foot bare, and the other shod, the appearance

his own crown and kingdom to him, immediately on his return. Burning with the desire of ‌military fame, Jason readily under

as follows: Jason was to tame bulls whose breath were fierce flames, with feet and horns of brass, and to plough with them,

reath were fierce flames, with feet and horns of brass, and to plough with them, when subdued, a field sacred to Mars. He wa

hem from their difficulties. Medea, the king’s daughter, fell in love with Jason, and in an interview with her lover in the

ea, the king’s daughter, fell in love with Jason, and in an interview with her lover in the temple of Hecate, in which they

rkling eyes, So flamed the virgin’s breast. For chance, that day, had with uncommon grace; Adorned the lovely youth, and thr

a deity, ‌But when he spoke and pressed her trembling hand, And did with tender words her heart demand, With vows and oath

eaches him their use, Their mystic names, and virtues he admires. And with his booty joyfully retires.” Ovid. He made his

charge, The blasted herbage by their breath expires, As forges rumble with excessive fires, And furnaces with fiercer fury g

r breath expires, As forges rumble with excessive fires, And furnaces with fiercer fury glow, When water in the panting mass

e: With brazen hoofs they beat the ground, and choke The ambient air, with clouds of dust and smoke. Each gazing Grecian for

The passive savages like statues stand, While he their dewlap strokes with soothing hand; ‌To unknown yokes their brawny ne

lchians state, the Grecians shout, and raise Their champion’s courage with inspiring praise.     Emboldened now, in fresh at

With serpent’s teeth the fertile furrows sows; The glebe, fermenting with enchanted juice, Makes the snakes’ teeth a human

ut a whole troop of lusty youths rush forth, And what’s more strange, with martial fury warmed, And for encounter all comple

size; Such was the guardian of the golden prize. Yet him besprinkled with Lethean dew The fair enchantress into slumber thr

med in the presence of the monarch and his subjects, they were struck with surprise at the boldness and success of the young

ss and success of the young hero, who immediately embarked for Europe with Medea, the great instrument of his preservation.

due homage to the remains of his son, and prevent him from following with success. On the return of the expedition to Thess

cess. On the return of the expedition to Thessaly, they were received with unusual festivity; but Æson, Jason’s father was u

, were anxious to avenge it, and Medea found herself compelled to fly with Jason to Corinth, in which place they resided for

ppily their matrimonial happiness was disturbed by Jason’s infidelity with Glaucus, the daughter of the King of the Country,

applied. And gentle Proserpine, his ravished bride, That for old Æson with the laws of fate; They would dispense, and length

laws of fate; They would dispense, and lengthen his short date. Thus with repeated prayers she oft assails, The infernal ty

prevails; Then calls to have decrepid Æson brought, And stupifies him with a sleeping draught; This done, th’ enchantress, w

nd stupifies him with a sleeping draught; This done, th’ enchantress, with her locks unbound About her altar trips a frantic

Then hurls them on the piles; the sleeping sire She lustrates thrice, with sulphur, water, fire. ……………………………………………………… His f

ugh all his limbs a youthful vigour flies, His emptied arteries swell with fresh supplies. Gazing spectators scarce believe

Medea, who was anxious to avenge her husband’s wrongs, destroyed him with their own hands. Their credulity met with a sever

and’s wrongs, destroyed him with their own hands. Their credulity met with a severe punishment, for Medea refused to restore

nishment, for Medea refused to restore him to life. Meanwhile Pelias with his guards lay bound In magic sleep, scarce that

Unsheath your swords, dismiss his lifeless blood, And I’ll recruit it with a vital flood: Your father’s life and health are

h, nor Hell can hold A heart abandoned to the thirst of gold! Stamped with wild foot and shook her torrent brow, And called

King Ægeus, to whom she bore a son called Medus. Before his intimacy with Medea, Ægeus had a son named Theseus, who had bee

ith Medea, Ægeus had a son named Theseus, who had been sent to Athens with his father’s sword, by the sight of which he was

in which the mother was represented as destroying her own offspring, with all the attributes of a fury, and was regarded as

good, Say, shall it hail thee from thy frantic way,     Unholy woman! with thy hands embrued. In thine own children’s gore?

The blade, undrenched in blood’s eternal dye. Chorus. Hallowed Earth! with indignation     Mark, oh mark, the murderous deed

indred slaughter     Children of the golden line! Shall mortal hand, with murder gory,     Cause immortal blood to flow! Su

fiend of Madness,     Wrest the dagger from Revenge! Say, hast thou, with kind protection,     Reared thy smiling race in v

ourageous deeds he had performed, placed among the gods, and rewarded with divine honours. It has been asserted that there w

o was brought up at Tirynthus; Juno, however, could not look upon him with pleasure, and before he was nine months old, sent

ds became so famous, for Castor taught him to fight, Eurytus to shoot with the bow and arrows, and Autolycus to drive a char

is courage by giving him his daughter in marriage, and entrusting him with the government of his people. As Hercules was by

f his successes, the hero refused, and Juno to punish him, struck him with a sudden madness, in which he killed his own offs

that I am!) the murder of my sons Have I achieved, to crown my house with ills. I am reduced to this unhappiness, At my lov

lignant eyes Would scowl on me when known, and bitter tongues Goad me with these reproaches: — Is not this The son of Jove,

this The son of Jove, who slew his sons and wife? Then bid me thence with curses on my head. ‌And to the man, whose former

ted the oracle of Apollo, and was told that he must act in compliance with the will of Jupiter, and be subservient to the co

ould be admitted amongst the gods. This answer determined him to bear with fortitude whatever gods or men might command, and

orse from Apollo, and from Vulcan a golden cuirass and brazen buskin, with a celebrated club of brass, according to the opin

hich ravaged the country near Mycenæ. The hero, unable to destroy him with his arrow, boldly attacked him with his club, pur

. The hero, unable to destroy him with his arrow, boldly attacked him with his club, pursued him to his den, and after a clo

dead beast on his shoulders to Mycenæ, and ever after clothed himself with the skin. Eurystheus was so astonished at the sig

an hydra, which had seven heads. This celebrated ‌monster he attacked with his arrows, and soon after he came to a close eng

had he not commanded his friend Iolas, who accompanied him, to burn, with a hot iron, the root of the head which he had cru

And shrieks of fair attendants trembling round, Their gasping throats with clenching hands he holds; Till death entwists the

ld heads Fell Hydra’s blood in Lerna’s lake he sheds; Grasps Achelous with resistless force, And drags the roaring river to

th resistless force, And drags the roaring river to his course: Binds with loud bellowing and with hideous yell The monster

drags the roaring river to his course: Binds with loud bellowing and with hideous yell The monster bull, and three-fold dog

ed by the throat the howling fiend disarms, And tears his gaping jaws with sinewy arms; Lifts proud Antæus from his mother-p

jaws with sinewy arms; Lifts proud Antæus from his mother-plains, And with strong grasp, the struggling giant strains; Back

lips, he fled, And shakes the rock-roofed cavern o’er his head! Last, with wide arms the solid earth he tears, Piles rock on

ountain, mountain rears; Heaves up huge Abyla in Afric’s sand, Crowns with huge Calpe Europe’s salient strand, Crests with o

Afric’s sand, Crowns with huge Calpe Europe’s salient strand, Crests with opposing towers the splendid scene, And pours fro

e not satisfied, but persecuted him still further, for he was smitten with an indisposition which compelled him once more to

lled him once more to consult the oracle of Delphi. Not being pleased with the manner in which his application was received,

conflict ensued, to put an end to which, however, Jupiter interfered with his Thunderbolts. Indignant at the insult offered

remaining in the most abject servitude for three years. In compliance with the decree, Mercury, by the order of Jupiter, sol

was, however, nothing new to Hercules, and he had but little trouble with his enemy as an ox, until at last Achelous retire

Achelous retired in disgrace to his bed of waters. After his marriage with Dejanira, he was compelled to leave his father-in

river. As the hero’s only anxiety was for her, he accepted the offer with thanks, and when he saw them through the worst pa

r in safety, prepared to follow, but no sooner had the Centaur landed with Dejanira, than he attempted to offer violence to

engeance on his slayer, he gave Dejanira his tunic, which was covered with his blood. Insérer image anonyme_heathen-mytholog

your husband prove unfaithful, it will recall him to your arms;” and with this he expired. Insérer image anonyme_heathen-my

s lust deny, Think not perfidious wretch, from me to fly; Tho’ winged with horse’s speed, wounds shall pursue,’ Swift as his

flesh he tore From both the wounds gushed forth the spumy gore, Mixed with the Lernæan venom, this he took, Nor dire revenge

ve’s passion, he presents the bride.” Ovid. Ceyx received them both with great favour, but Hercules could not forget that

of Dejanira, and therefore made war against her father, killing him, with three of his sons, while his former lover, Iole,

the Centaur, Nessus, but no sooner had he put it on, than the poison with which it was saturated, penetrated through his bo

at into it like fire. “She now resolves to send the fatal vest, Dyed with Lernæan gore, whose power might move His soul ane

haste, And o’er his shoulders Lerna’s poison cast, At first the fire with frankincense he strews, And utters to the gods hi

rt, At length his patience was subdued by pain Œtes wide forests echo with his cries; Now to rip off the deathful robe he tr

mangled muscles and huge bones he bares. (A ghastly sight!) or raging with his pain, To rend the sick’ning plague, he tugs i

on hisses in the flood, So boils the venom in his curdling blood. Now with the greedy flame his entrails glow, And livid swe

dreadful power, he seized the messenger, and hurled him into the sea with fearful violence. Insérer image anonyme_heathen-m

ology_1842_img186 In vain did he attempt to pull it off, he only tore with it masses of flesh. In the midst of his miserable

the midst of his miserable tortures, his groans of anguish were mixed with imprecations on the credulity of Dejanira, and th

aloft, he cries, ‘Glut thy revenge, dread empress of the skies; Sate with my death the rancour of thy heart, Look down with

of the skies; Sate with my death the rancour of thy heart, Look down with pleasure and enjoy my smart; Or, if e’er pity mov

nted as gigantically proportioned, sometimes naked, sometimes covered with the skin of the Nemean lion; a thick and knotted

oyed for the benefit of mankind, and for this was deservedly rewarded with immortality. “O worthy end of his laborious life

ous life, The nectared cup, and Hebe for a wife! Her golden youth did with new transports play, And crowned his toils in emp

ravery to invade the Peloponnesus.‌ “‘Take hence this hateful life, with tortures torn, Inured to trouble, and to labours

. Was it for this Busiris was subdued, Whose barbarous temples reeked with stranger’s blood? Pressed in these arms his fate

from his wounds to double fury grew. What if the Thracian horses, fat with gore, Who human bodies in their manger tore, I sa

ses, fat with gore, Who human bodies in their manger tore, I saw, and with their barbarous lord, o’erthrew? What if these ha

al pile on Mount Œta, and spreading upon it his lion’s skin, lay down with dignity and composure, his head placed upon his c

ved to meet his fate, when, suddenly, the burning pile was surrounded with dark smoke, the fire burned like a furnace, and w

s no sooner born, than Acresius caused him to be thrown into the sea, with his mother, Danae. The hopes of the father were f

m to Polydectes, the monarch of the place, by whom they were received with much kindness, and the priests of Minerva’s templ

e fell under the displeasure of Polydectes, who feared, lest the love with which he soon became inspired towards Danae, and

Danae, and the intentions which he harboured towards her, should meet with the resentment of her son. The monarch, however,

e a sumptuous banquet, decreeing that all who came should present him with a beautiful horse. To this feast Perseus was invi

s given him by ‌that goddess. Mercury gave him wings and the Calaria, with a short dagger formed of diamonds. With this assi

the Gorgons, who possessed but one eye and one tooth among the three; with the assistance of Pluto’s helmet, which rendered

s fixed upon them, he approached, Minerva supporting his courage, and with one blow of his sword, cut off Medusa’s head. The

d. The noise of the blow awoke the two remaining sisters, who frantic with rage, looked around for the murderer of their sis

the blood which dropped from the head of the slain Gorgon he carried with him, arose the innumerable serpents which have fo

Ovid. Chrysaor, who married Callirhoe, one of the Oceanides, sprung with his golden sword from those drops of blood, as we

r, and stopping on the Mount bearing the same name, became a favorite with the Muses. In the meantime young Perseus pursued

of Lybia. The approach of night compelled him to seek a brief shelter with Atlas, monarch of Mauritania. ‌ “The victor Per

f shelter with Atlas, monarch of Mauritania. ‌ “The victor Perseus, with the Gorgon head, O’er Lybian sands his airy journ

I spring from Jove.” Ovid. He went to his palace, expecting to meet with an hospitable reception from Atlas, by announcing

person, and attempted to slay him. Finding himself unable to contend with so powerful a foe, Perseus was obliged to have re

ts. By strength not Perseus could himself defend, For who in strength with Atlas could contend? — ‘But since short rest to m

the monster was going to destroy her, Perseus saw, and was captivated with her beauty. Insérer image anonyme_heathen-mytholo

er in his right shoulder, destroyed it. This happy event was attended with great rejoicings, and the nuptials of Andromeda w

ent was attended with great rejoicings, and the nuptials of Andromeda with Perseus, soon followed. The universal joy, was, h

sal joy, was, however, quickly interrupted: for Phineus, dissatisfied with thus losing his promised bride, entered the palac

dissatisfied with thus losing his promised bride, entered the palace with a number of armed men, and attempted to carry her

zen pointed lance, ‘Behold,’ he said, ‘an injured man advance,’ Stung with resentment for his ravished wife, Nor shall thy w

ove’s high degree, And that devouring monster of the sea, That, ready with his jaws wide gaping stood, To eat my child, the

promised faith possessed; To him I owe it, that my age is blest Still with a child: nor think that I prefer Perseus to thee,

by one, Then doubts their life, and feels the friendly stone. Struck with remorse, and conscious of his pride, Convict of s

his eyes aside; With suppliant mien to Perseus thus he prays, ‘Hence with the head, as far as winds and seas Can bear thee:

as Can bear thee: Hence; oh! quit the Cephan shore And never curse it with Medusa more; That horrid head which stiffens into

into stone, Those impious men who daring death, look on: I warred not with thee out of hate or strife, My honest cause was t

opped tears which hung upon the stone like ice; In suppliant posture, with uplifted hands And fearful look, the guilty statu

had employed Medusa’s head to turn the wicked Polydectes ‌into stone, with those of his court who were accomplices in his gu

d, Perseus felt a desire to return to his native country, and arrived with his mother and Andromeda on the Peloponnesian coa

he was attended by an evil fate, and had the misfortune to kill a man with a quoit which he had thrown in the air: this prov

, The sea god Neptune, hath in anger stopped The current of life, and with his trident touch Hath struck him into marble.”

his reception was not so cordial as he hoped, for Medea, who resided with Ægeus, felt that her influence with this monarch

he hoped, for Medea, who resided with Ægeus, felt that her influence with this monarch would be destroyed, if once Theseus

beneath the main!” His ascension to his father’s throne was received with much pleasure, the country was governed with mild

er’s throne was received with much pleasure, the country was governed with mildness, new reputation acquired and new laws en

es to meet him, the two foes as they gazed on each other, were seized with a sudden and mutual friendship, and rushed into e

efend: and when Pirithous, after this, had lost Hippodamia, he agreed with Theseus to carry away one of the daughters of the

red in disgust to the court of Lycomedes, King of Scyros. Here he met with apparent sympathy, but Lycomedes soon showed his

have made The name of Greece only another word, For love and poetry: with a green earth, Groves of the graceful myrtle, sum

n’s beauty. What marvel that the earth, the sky, the sea, Were filled with all those fine imaginings That love creates, and

secret clue that led him safe Throughout the labyrinth, and she fled with him.     Alvine. Ah! now I know your tale: he pro

ng a dislike to Minos, the father of Phædra, sent Cupid to pierce her with his shafts. ‌ For a long time she struggled with

Cupid to pierce her with his shafts. ‌ For a long time she struggled with the pangs which raged within her, but they grew t

t: And thou above thy compeers raised afar, In that thy name is mated with my father’s, Shouldst pray the gods to scourge th

! thy wife, my mother, Hath offered me the love due but to thee, Hath with a shameless love, and wanton’s insolence, Deemed

ffrontery, But ’tis in vain, thy mother hath told all, Hath told how, with an impious love, thy heart Hath turned to her’s;

h told how, with an impious love, thy heart Hath turned to her’s; how with an impure lip, Thy words have pierced her to the

Monster too long escaped Jove’s fearful thunder, After a love filled with an awful horror And transports of affection fierc

itor! brave no longer here, my hate! Within a court that I shall hold with dread, ‌For ever will the curse cling to my name

    Hip. Thy words are most unjust!     The. And there thou standest with a brow as calm As innocence itself.     Hip. In t

speak — Thou hast accused me of an awful crime, Thou hast accursed me with a father’s curse, And I must vindicate myself or

cause the god, owing to the genius he showed for music, presented him with a lyre, to the improvement of which Orpheus added

rovement of which Orpheus added two cords, — and upon which he played with so masterly a hand, that the river in its rapid c

taur saw; his clapping hands he beat, And stamped in ecstacy the rock with hoofed and horny feet.” But though this beautifu

eir chief desire. It was not long before the winged deity pierced him with his arrows, and Orpheus loved the nymph Eurydice,

h Eurydice, the only one whose charms touched the melodious musician; with her his happiness was made perfect by an union, a

very long, for Aristæus became enamoured of the musician’s bride, and with all the violence of an illicit passion, sought to

dice resisted and fled; but as she fled from him, a serpent stung her with so deadly a bite, that she died on the field. ‌

es relented. “Already had he passed the courts of Death, And charmed with sacred verse the powers beneath; While Hell with

f Death, And charmed with sacred verse the powers beneath; While Hell with silent admiration hung, On the soft music of his

frenzy, Orpheus, seized upon thy breast? Once more my eyes are seized with endless sleep, And now farewell, I sink into the

d now farewell, I sink into the deep.’ Oblivious cells surrounded all with night. No longer thine: in vain to stop my flight

d, where the only solace which he could find, was to soothe his grief with the tones of his musical instrument, to the sound

his society sought by the Thracian women; he rejected their overtures with coldness, until enraged at his behaviour, they at

lay, And from a rising ground beheld him play: When one, the wildest, with dishevelled hair That loosely streamed, and ruffl

ead into the Hebrus, which, as it rolled down the current, ejaculated with touching tenderness, ‘Eurydice! Eurydice!’ until

e of war, he became a prisoner, and was condemned to death; Alcestis, with a beautiful display of conjugal affection, laid d

oft pure air Came floating through that hall — the Grecian air, Laden with music — flute notes from the vales, Echoes of son

is won.     Let not a voice of weeping rise — ,     My heart is girt with power     Let the green earth and festal skies La

mythology_1842_img214 No sooner had the marriage of Laius taken place with Jocasta, than it was foretold by the oracle, that

y this cruel command, but gave him in charge to one of her domestics, with directions to leave him on the mountains. Instead

Phocis, he met, in a narrow passage, Laius, his father, in a chariot with his arm bearer. Laius insolently ordered the yout

tated at his tone and language, refused. A conflict ensued, and Laius with his companion was slain. ———————— “‘His demeanou

as incensed At his deportment, free myself by birth, Hence I advanced with an undaunted step: He, with a terrible accent, cr

t, free myself by birth, Hence I advanced with an undaunted step: He, with a terrible accent, cried, “Make way.” I, on the o

a terrible accent, cried, “Make way.” I, on the other hand, exclaimed with rage, Returned his menace, and bade him retire. A

grazed my flesh The wound is slight, but boundless was my rage. Blind with revenge I snatched the dagger from him, And welte

upon his hands and feet; in manhood he walks upright, and in old age with the assistance of a staff.” Enraged at this solut

shalt be hours, days, years undying, Here, bind his hands, he dallies with my fury, But I shall find a way — Phor.         

did you force me back to curse the day, To curse my friends, to blast with this dark breath The yet untainted earth and circ

him the resolution which he had made. Theseus came, and found Œdipus with his face covered by a black veil, a knife in one

_img220 Eteocles and Polynice. From the unhappy union of Œdipus with Jocasta sprung Eteocles and Polynice; when they c

s Tydius, the ambassador of Adrastus, who however escaped this danger with increased renown; and on his return to his king w

azen bosses of his shield; he stands Close to the river’s margin, and with shouts Demands the war, like an impatient steed,

ollo. Meanwhile the war beneath the the walls of Thebes was conducted with fierce and vigorous bravery, by the chiefs who ha

—— “From the flying troops Eteocles leaps forth in furious guise, And with a terrible accent he exclaims, ‘To Polynice.’ Wit

, His steps he traces, and at last he finds him. ‘Thebans,’ he cried, with a tremendous voice, ‘Thebans and Argives, cease y

thy sword, All, all, on me let fall, on me alone!’ To speak and leap with fury to the charge Were actions of one instant.  

s of one instant.                                               Drunk with blood, And fury, of his own life quite regardless

ided his antagonist he slew, Eteocles upon his wretched brother Falls with his sword, and all his strength collects. For a l

Eteocles the king was the first who fell, and Polynice regarding him with ill-disguised pleasure; and although the blood wa

claimed: —————— “‘Thou diest, and I am king, Within these hands, red with a brother’s blood, Shall dwell the sceptre thou d

l bear the crown thou did’st usurp from me. And that thy soul may fly with more regret Know traitor that thy last blow comes

cine. ‌He approached the fallen monarch, and striking him once more with his sword, Eteocles expired beneath the blow, whi

, Eteocles expired beneath the blow, while Polynice himself exhausted with his efforts to subdue his pain, and the death str

us was discovered, and the Gods refused to touch the horrible repast, with the exception of Ceres, who, thinking only on her

who, thinking only on her lost Proserpine, eat one of his shoulders, with her accustomed appetite. Jupiter enraged at this

r enraged at this atrocious conduct of Tantalus, destroyed his palace with a thunderbolt, and ordered Mercury to precipitate

ipitate him to the bottom of hell. Here he is represented as punished with an insatiable thirst, and placed up to the chin i

t never touches his lips; while, above his head, hangs a bough, laden with delicious fruit, which, when his hand would grasp

last of wind. ‌ Pelops was restored to life by Jupiter, and supplied with an ivory shoulder, in place of that which had bee

refused to obey, which so exasperated her, that she stabbed the child with her own hands. Insérer image anonyme_heathen-myth

e he treated his brother Thyestes, who had followed him to the court, with great kindness, but he was recompensed with ingra

ollowed him to the court, with great kindness, but he was recompensed with ingratitude, for his brother succeeded in winning

ast, at which was served up the children born to him by the connexion with his brother’s wife, all of whom had been sacrific

owed to him the heads of the ‌children, a sight which struck Thyestes with horror. The deed was so cruel and impious, that t

have started back in amazement; and the unhappy Thyestes slew himself with his sword. There was now one son left, named Egis

in yourself, your Itys you may find.’ ‌Still at this puzzling answer with surprise, Around the room he winds his curious ey

he still enquired, and called aloud; Fierce Philomela, all besmeared with blood, Her hand with murder stained, her spreadin

nd called aloud; Fierce Philomela, all besmeared with blood, Her hand with murder stained, her spreading hair Hanging dishev

Her hand with murder stained, her spreading hair Hanging dishevelled, with a ghastly air, Stepped forth, and flung full in t

Itys, gory as it was: Nor ever longed so much to use her tongue, And, with a just reproach, to vindicate her wrong.     The

icate her wrong.     The Thracian monarch from the table flings While with his cries the vaulted parlour rings; His imprecat

is lamentable doom, He styles himself his son’s sepulchral tomb, Now, with drawn sabre, and impetuous speed, In close pursui

In close pursuit he drives Pandion’s breed; Whose nimble feet spring with so swift a force Across the fields, they seem to

me_heathen-mythology_1842_img228 Agamemnon and Menelaus were educated with Atreus, until banished the kingdom by Thyestes, t

he kingdom by Thyestes, they went to Calydonia, and they were treated with great kindness, and from thence to Sparta, where,

birth to a terrible war; Agamemnon embraced the cause of his brother with fervour, awoke all Greece ‌to the wrongs of Menel

th of Diana, by killing a favourite stag. The father heard the decree with the greatest horror and indignation, and, as chie

ifice a daughter so tenderly beloved but as she was a great favourite with Clytemnestra, her mother, the Greeks sent for Iph

t his wife Clytemnestra would put him to death. He, however, returned with Cassandra to Argos, where the sad prediction was

c, the sleeves of which were sewn together, and as he was embarrassed with the folds, she brought him to the ground with the

d as he was embarrassed with the folds, she brought him to the ground with the stroke of a hatchet, while Egisthus, with who

ought him to the ground with the stroke of a hatchet, while Egisthus, with whom she had dishonoured herself during Agamemnon

thou slain the tyrant? Now At length thou art worthy of me. Cly. See with blood The dagger drops: — my hands — my face — my

led back — and by what hand! I freeze, I faint, I shudder, I dissolve with horror! My strength, my utterance fail me. Where

, and twice He groaned, then died. A third time as he lay I gored him with a wound; a grateful present To the stern god that

t, He lay, and spouting from his wounds a stream Of blood, bedewed me with these crimson drops.” Æschylus. The tradition o

crimson drops.” Æschylus. The tradition of the meeting of Iphigenia with her father in the lower regions, after his death,

ibed: — “Iphigenia. Father! I now may lean upon your breast, And you with unreverted eyes will grasp Iphigenia’s hand.     

d; but yours burns not, as then it burned. This alone shews me we are with the blest, Nor subject to the sufferings we have

heretofore, And nature may have changed in her last depths, Together with the Gods and all their laws. Iphig. Father! we m

ct We have no wicked here; no king to judge. Poseidon, we have heard, with bitter rage Lashes his foaming steeds against the

itter rage Lashes his foaming steeds against the skies, And, laughing with loud yell at winged fire, Innoxious to his fields

Earth! I suffered less upon thy shores! (Aside) The bath that bubbled with my blood, the blows That spilt it (O worse tortur

r his slow advance. Iphigenia! Iphig. Why thus turn away? Calling me with such fondness! I am here, Father! and where you a

y last Denunciation, as thy bridal vow; And yet even that found faith with me! the dirk Which severed flesh from flesh, wher

ll orbed gladness! Shades we are indeed, But mingled, let us feel it, with the blest. I knew it, but forgot it suddenly, Alt

it suddenly, Altho’ I felt it all at your approach. Look on me; smile with me at my illusion — You are so like what you have

s its shores. Priam and his brave sons though they received the enemy with vigour, could not prevent them from landing, and

ther in the isle of Cyros. Clothed in female garments, he there lived with the beautiful Deidomia, and enslaved by Love, for

ecessary that he should be discovered; and that he should be animated with higher thoughts and more exalted sentiments. Ulys

palace of the future hero, and as he paraded himself before the women with jewels and arms, one of them disdained the gems,

the eloquence of Ulysses was exerted, and the youthful hero listened with astonishment to the King of Ithaca, as he told hi

who, at the command of the manes of Hercules, sought the Grecian camp with his terrible weapons to assist them against their

anic protector of their city, the Palladium. Ulysses was also charged with this mission, and the intrepid Diomedes assisted

ly fate. All the oracles being now fulfilled, the siege was commenced with vigour, when an unforeseen quarrel stopped the op

aks through the ranks, and his retreat pursues: The lance arrests him with a mortal wound; He falls, earth shudders, and his

, And in his parents sight now dragged along. The mother first beheld with sad survey, She rent her tresses venerably gray:

shriek his bitter fate she moans, While the sad father answers groans with groans; Tears after tears his mournful cheeks o’e

Troy’s proud turrets glittered in the flood, Raised high his arm and with prophetic call To shrinking realms announced her

o shrinking realms announced her fated fall; Whirled his fierce spear with more than mortal force, And pierced the thick rib

orse; Two serpent forms incumbent on the main Lashing the white waves with their redundant train, Arched their blue necks, a

necks, and shook their towering crests, And ploughed their foamy way with speckled breasts; Then, darting fierce amid the a

led fold, Close and more close their writhing limbs surround, And fix with foamy teeth the envenomed wound. With brow upturn

In silent agony sustains their rage; While each fond youth, in vain, with piercing cries Bends on the tortured Sire his dyi

into the city; they then celebrated the deliverance of their country with feasts and festivals. Aided by the darkness of ni

ed by the darkness of night the Greek ships left Tenedos and set sail with all haste towards Troy. Their soldiers disembarke

he country. Several of them, famed for beauty, inspired their masters with passions which manifested themselves in quarrels,

lia, where reigned Æolus, king of the winds. This monarch treated him with much kindness, and to assure him a prosperous voy

ly tasted not of the enchanted drink, and escaped to acquaint Ulysses with the strange metamorphose. Ulysses was astonished

as astonished and resolved to seek the witch in person: and, provided with a certain herb, to preserve himself from witchcra

h a certain herb, to preserve himself from witchcraft, he went to her with his drawn sword, to compel her to restore his com

of Circe proved more powerful than the sword of Ulysses, and he staid with her on the island, in the enjoyment of her societ

a year. After concluding his eventful history, he remained some time with Alcinous, who gave him a ship, which carried him

a second choice, yet she retained such faithful love for her husband, with such a full and prophetic assurance that she shou

han at first. Meanwhile Ulysses scarcely knew how to discover himself with safety to his own person, fearing that he might b

disguise he introduced himself to Penelope, by whom ‌he was received with joy; and with the assistance of his friends, who

ntroduced himself to Penelope, by whom ‌he was received with joy; and with the assistance of his friends, who flocked around

t Ulysses stepped out, and Telegonus not knowing him, ran him through with his lance, thus fulfilling the prophecy of the so

wreck of Troy, and to accomplish the decrees of fate, Æneas embarked with a small band in twenty vessels, which Juno howeve

arked with a small band in twenty vessels, which Juno however pursued with her wrath. Æolus obedient to the goddess, dispers

. Æolus obedient to the goddess, dispersed the fleet and menaced them with complete destruction. Neptune appeared, and the w

from the greater part of his companions, seven only of whom remained with him. He landed on an unknown shore and Venus info

glowing language and animating gestures of the young prince, together with the high deeds which he announced, won the heart

by the beautiful listener, and yielding himself to her charms, staid with her for a considerable time in the enjoyment of a

all that renders life desirable. Jupiter, however, grew dissatisfied with Æneas, despatched Mercury to him to command him t

him, she saw in Æneas a man resolved to leave her, and she loaded him with the curses and reproaches of an infuriated and fo

she prepared a funeral pile, determined to immolate herself; mounting with a calm resolution she gave way to her despair. ‌

o her despair. ‌ “What shall I do? what succour can I find? Shall I with this ungrateful Trojan go, Forsake an empire to a

ll lives in all his race! Then shall I seek alone the flying crew, Or with my fleet their flying souls pursue? Rather with s

e the flying crew, Or with my fleet their flying souls pursue? Rather with steel thy guilty breast invade, And take the fort

en swiftly to the fatal place she passed, And mounts the funeral pile with furious haste; Unsheathes the sword the Trojan le

ly spread, Which once he wore, and saw the conscious bed, She saw and with a sigh the robes embraced, Then on the couch her

he said, ‘And unrevenged, ’tis doubly to be dead; Yet even this death with pleasure I receive, On any terms ’tis better than

!’ She said and struck; deep entered in her side, The piercing steel, with reeking purple dyed, Clogged in the wound, the cr

streaming on her hands; Her sad attendants saw the deadly stroke And with loud cries, the sounding palace shook. Thrice Did

s an emblem of purity; sometimes holding a sceptre, at others crowned with ‌laurel; while she is in many instances drawn wit

at others crowned with ‌laurel; while she is in many instances drawn with wings, and placed upon a block of marble, to inti

ng its quiet on one occasion, she was scared at the reception she met with , and returned to her hiding place, which is inten

hich is intended to intimate, according to Democritus, the difficulty with which she is discovered. Honour. The emblem

horn of plenty; though he is sometimes represented, instead of arms, with the olive branch of peace, as the reward of brave

t Rome he had two temples; one founded by Marcellus, at the same time with the one to Virtue. An augur having warned Marcell

salem, consisting of a splendid library, busts, statues and pictures; with an enormous quantity of natural curiosities. This

regarded by them as inviolable. She is represented clothed in white, with clasped hands. Her priests were dressed in a whit

e heart, holding in the left hand an elm, around which a vine, filled with grapes, is clinging. At Rome, she was a young mai

ine, filled with grapes, is clinging. At Rome, she was a young maiden with a white robe, her bosom half bare, her head adorn

young maiden with a white robe, her bosom half bare, her head adorned with myrtle and pomegranate flowers intermixed. On the

these words, “Far and near.” ‌ Liberty wears sometimes a cap, with a rod in her hand, both signs of independence, as

tly represented holding the book of the laws, and in her hand a sword with which to defend them. Insérer image anonyme_heath

250 A temple was raised to her by Gracchus on Mount Aventine, adorned with elegant statues and brazen columns, with a galler

s on Mount Aventine, adorned with elegant statues and brazen columns, with a gallery in which were deposited the public acts

Victory, by the commands of her mother, aided Jupiter in his battle with the Titans; and the monarch of Olympus to reward

Voluptuousness is a female figure, nearly naked, her hair wreathed with roses, and her face and form, full, but exquisite

enge herself, threw on the table among the festal company, the apple, with the inscription, “To the most beautiful.” This ap

of innumerable misfortunes to the Greeks. The goddess is represented with a pale and ghastly look, her garments torn, her e

d with a pale and ghastly look, her garments torn, her eyes sparkling with fire, holding a dagger concealed in her bosom. He

ing a dagger concealed in her bosom. Her head is generally enwreathed with serpents, and she is imagined to be the cause of

ng together, enjoying the sweets of mutual affection, two travellers, with a melancholy and impoverished appearance, after h

roof. Unaccustomed to visitors, they were, however, received by them with kindness, and invited to partake of a modest repa

o their guests the deep homage of their hearts. The Gods were pleased with their entertainment; but could not forget the inh

ased with their entertainment; but could not forget the inhospitality with which they had been received by their countrymen,

ers all the plains, Their cot alone, as on an isle, remains Wond’ring with weeping eyes, while they deplore Their neighbours

in columns rise, The pavement polished marble they behold, The gates with sculpture graced, the spires and roof of gold!”

chose; There they might rest secure beneath the shade, Which boughs, with snowy fruit encumbered, made. A wide spread mulbe

fled away, dropping her veil in her flight. This the lioness smeared with blood, and then disappeared, leaving it under the

her lover. In the agony which overcame her, she fell upon the weapon with which Pyramus had destroyed himself, and joined h

at her breast, She raised the body, and embraced it round, And bathed with tears unfeigned, the gaping wound, Then her warm

eans, to his nymph as possible. ‌ Galatea treated all his attentions with disrespect, and bestowed her affections upon Acis

awhile, One delicate hand was pressed against her cheek, That flushed with pleasure, and her dark hair streamed Shadowing th

alaces, and coral caves, Her home, and all immortal company, To dwell with him, a simple shepherd boy.” Barry Cornwall. Po

Barry Cornwall. Polyphemus, however, discovered their retreat, and with it, the cause of all the scorn and indifference,

ir retreat, and with it, the cause of all the scorn and indifference, with which he had been treated. ————— “At once he saw

the sweet bloom of youth and beauty dress’d, Such softness, tempered with majestic mien, The earthly priestess matched the

very temple of the goddess, whose priestess she was, and while warmed with the rites at which she had been assisting, Leande

cheeks she hid, in rosy blushes drest, And veiled her lily shoulders with her vest.” Musæus. The earnest wooing of Leande

w that light of love, The only star it hailed above; His ear but rang with Hero’s song, ‘Ye waves divide not lovers long!’”

cheek reposes, Violets as fresh as violets could be; Stars over head, with each a history Of love told by its light; and wav

too beautiful ‌for earth; Leander, however, thought not of this, but with the enthusiastic ardour of youth, looked forward

t alas! the change came too soon. ———————— “One night the sky, As if with passion, darkened angrily, And gusts of wind swep

ertain dread, as she wandered down to the sea shore. “Her heart sick with its terror, and her eye, Roving in tearful, dim u

exquisite skill of his statues. He became disgusted to such a degree with the debauchery of the females of Amathus, that he

most like life — and one, the figure of a female, was regarded by him with such affection that he grew deeply enamoured of i

h such affection that he grew deeply enamoured of it, ‌worshipping it with all the devotion which mortals usually pay to wom

queen, Or some such fine, kind hearted deity, Touched the pale stone with life, and it became At last Pygmalion’s bride.”

nts, all of which she bestowed in love on Phaon. “A youth so shaped, with such a mien, A form like that of Jove serene, Wit

he Lesbian Sappho.” Barry Cornwall. The Lesbians were so enraptured with her strains, that they raised her to divine honou

ne honours, and erected a temple to her, and even stamped their money with her image.                 “Thou! whose impassio

hought                 Thy loveliness hath brought, Warming the heart with its imagined glory!                 Yet, was it H

n for his presence, as for one expected?                 Did’st thou, with fond wild eyes                 Fix’d on the starr

hters,                 From the Lucadian steep,                 Dash, with a desperate leap, And hide thyself within the whe

spire,                 Though many a happy band,                 Rung with less skilful hand, The borrowed love notes of thy

Romulus, he was chosen by the senators to be their sovereign, it was with great difficulty that he could be persuaded to un

est which he found in the people, and to inculcate the love of peace, with a reverence for the deity, whose worship by image

their usual custom, but ordered them to bury it near Mount Jerusalem, with some of the books which he had written, which bei

! And did’st thou not, thy breast to his replying, Blend a celestial with a human heart; And love, which dies as it was bor

a human heart; And love, which dies as it was born, in sighing, Share with immortal transports? could thine art Make them in

rmed men who are stated to have arisen from the field, were men armed with brass, a crop very likely to arise from the attem

trespass upon the laws of hospitality by punishing him, but sent him with a letter to Jobates the father of his queen, entr

ck, four years old, for more than forty yards, that he then killed it with a blow of his fist, and to crown the feat, afterw

ia. They present, however, too much interest to enable us to dispense with a few of the leading ones among them, this work n

hen produced seven starry spheres, the Earth, and its two luminaries, with seven inferior regions, lit by the sparkling ligh

he invisible head of the Brahmins, and as such, is worshipped by them with devoted respect. The Hindoos invoke him regularly

by the offer of a flower. The Hindoo painters always represent Brahma with four heads and four faces, analagous to the four

lue, his eyes are like the flowers of the lotos, and his visage burns with an eternal youth. He is strong and vigorous in ap

re, and who could destroy and produce at the same time. Siva is drawn with five heads, four hands, and three eyes in his pri

mber of followers take their stand, under the title of Bouddhism, and with whom ‌christianity alone has the power of claimin

he world to peace, life eternal, and to the identification of spirits with the supreme essence. The grand lama is the Suprem

ted over Europe. Below this sovereign pontiff, are patriarchs charged with the spiritual government of the provinces; a coun

_1842_img272 In ordinary cases he is naked and of a black colour, and with the bosom of a female. Near him are groups of dom

ave sought to give them a character of obscurity, that they may agree with the general mysticism of the East. The fables of

call; its power confess: With growing gifts thy suppliants bless, Who with full sails in many a light-oared boat, On thy jas

, his tusks are sometimes four in number, and all his body is covered with carpet, sparkling in the light of diamonds and pr

by one of them through a stratagem very like that employed by Jupiter with Europa. They pay homage also to peculiar diviniti

_img276b He is represented as a beautiful youth, sometimes conversing with his mother and consort, in the midst of his garde

e midst of his gardens and temples. His bow of sugar-cane or flowers, with a string of bees, and his five ‌arrows, each poin

or flowers, with a string of bees, and his five ‌arrows, each pointed with an Indian blossom of a heating quality, are alleg

a, yes, I know         Thy bloomy shafts and cany bow,         Cheeks with youthful glory beaming,         Locks in braids e

magnificent. ‌ His adventures, which are numberless, are interwoven with the whole of the Scandinavian history. Frigga or

most powerful of the goddesses, and by many supposed to be identical with Ceres, or the Earth; the future was as familiar t

th Ceres, or the Earth; the future was as familiar to her as to Odin, with whom she is seated upon his throne, and whose gov

strife of nature, is caused by the struggle which Thor constantly has with a famous serpent, whose vast folds embrace the wh

‌eloquence than for his kindness and wisdom. It was his doom to meet with a premature death. Aware, from her knowledge of t

g280 His body was placed upon a funeral pile, and his wife was burned with him. No sooner was the funeral terminated, than a

javelins were prepared by one deity; while another gilded the heavens with stars; a third protected and guided the steps of

priests, who exercised absolute authority over all that was connected with their religion, as well as presided over their sa

and under that of an oak, when they endeavoured to inspire themselves with his advice; and his fêtes were kept at the hour o

es. The field where his holy ceremonies had been celebrated, was sown with stones, and from thenceforth doomed to know no mo

, and partly by lot. The wretches upon whom it fell were then treated with such honours by all the assembly; they were so ov

eated with such honours by all the assembly; they were so overwhelmed with caresses for the present, and promises for the li

ds in similar examples. “These abominable sacrifices were accompanied with various ceremonies. When the victim was chosen, t

mple was however destroyed by Charlemagne, who broke ‌the statue, and with poetical justice, slaughtered the priests on the

ts on the threshold of the very place which they had so often deluged with human blood. One column however remained standing

n’s grove, every leaf of which was regarded as sacred, and was filled with the bodies of those who had been sacrificed. Occa

hem, three-in-one and one-in-three. They possessed also a Venus, who, with her three sisters, presided over love. It is not

the priests ran wildly in the streets, striking children and females with small bundles of hay. When any solemn feast was i

to enable them to go through which, their priests anointed themselves with a particular ointment, and used various fantastic

stal-virgins, and the priests were wont frantically to cut themselves with knives. Quetsalocatl was the deity to whom the hi

d, human sacrifices were considered most acceptable: a belief, which, with a superstitious and warlike people, necessarily p

nd, an idea, which the vestiges of monuments of gigantic proportions, with forms and hieroglyphics, strongly tend to aid. “

ll as skill in the execution, which will not shrink from a comparison with the works, at least, of the earlier ages of Egypt

tyle, have been found; and vases, agreeing both in shape and ornament with the earliest specimens of Egyptian and Etruscan p

branches of hieroglyphical language, both having striking affinities with the Egyptians, and yet distinguished from it by c

the Tultecan people. Our opinion is, that he is strongly identifiable with the Osiris of Egypt, and the Adonis of Syria; or

e plumes of divers colours. His face, severe and frightful, is marked with two blue lines. He has two vast wings formed like

eir power. The negroes of Senegal adore a river, trees, and serpents, with a crowd of shapeless idols, the legends of whom n

ile on others, they pay deep reverence to monkeys, who are brought up with care, and covered with honours. Among the nations

deep reverence to monkeys, who are brought up with care, and covered with honours. Among the nations of Congo, and in the C

ssinia and at the Cape, are some faint gleams of Christianity mingled with impure legends, which have doubtless been derived

. They gave birth to a class of supernatural beings, which correspond with the inferior divinities of other Mythologies, fro

iefs. One of their divinities, they say, took his wife, and threw her with so strong an arm into the Sea, that she fell to t

kness; and the whole appearance is one which may vie in frightfulness with any deity or demon of this idolatrous people.

osed; the religions of those who have gone before us, have been given with as much accuracy as the lapse of ‌ages has permit

ose who have accompanied us in our wanderings; to those who have been with us among the elegant reminiscences of the Greek m

tal, — but there still — For the heart clings to old idolatry, If not with true belief with tenderness — Lingers a spirit in

still — For the heart clings to old idolatry, If not with true belief with tenderness — Lingers a spirit in the woods and fl

ch have a Grecian memory, — Some tale Of olden love, or grief, linked with their bloom, Seem beautiful beyond all other ones

er dreamt that his life, although made to be immortal, was threat med with an imminent danger. The gods agreed to exercise a

mpact, the deities, in one of their grand meetings, amused themselves with throwing at Balder, arrows, stones, lighted torch

mselves with throwing at Balder, arrows, stones, lighted torches, and with striking him tremendous blows with the sword, his

rows, stones, lighted torches, and with striking him tremendous blows with the sword, his invulnerability protecting him fro

delicious fables! where we wave And woods were peopled, and the air, with things So lovely! why, ah! Why has science grave

Sea-Cybele fresh from ocean,” he calls up to the mind of one familiar with our subject, illustrations more vivid and strikin

take up a number of the Edinburgh or Quarterly Review without meeting with instances. In Macaulay's article on Milton there

ted to the altered form. The Northern mythological stories are copied with some abridgment from Mallet’s Northern Antiquitie

h some abridgment from Mallet’s Northern Antiquities. These chapters, with those on Oriental and Egyptian mythology, seemed

ieved these topics have not usually been presented in the same volume with the classical fables. The poetical citations so f

ct pronunciation of the proper names, and they will enrich the memory with many gems of poetry, some of them such as are mos

to in reading and conversation. Having chosen mythology as connected with literature for our province, we have endeavored t

old names; Spirits or gods that used to share this earth With man as with their friend; and at this day ’Tis Jupiter who br

ace, and will continue to hold it, for they are too closely connected with the finest productions of poetry and art, both an

n possession of information indispensable to every one who would read with intelligence the elegant literature of his own da

understand these stories, it will be necessary to acquaint ourselves with the ideas of the structure of the universe which

led the Mediterranean, and its continuation the Euxine, the only seas with which they were acquainted. Around the earth flow

n. Their imagination meantime peopled the western portion of this sea with giants, monsters, and enchantresses; while they p

t width, nations enjoying the peculiar favor of the gods, and blessed with happiness and longevity. The Dawn, the Sun, and t

s they quaffed their nectar, Apollo, the god of music, delighted them with the tones of his lyre, to which the Muses sang in

ns drench, or snow invades, but calm The expanse and cloudless shines with purest day. There the inhabitants divine rejoice

lt of brass the houses of the gods; he made for them the golden shoes with which they trod the air or the water, and moved f

h which they trod the air or the water, and moved from place to place with the speed of the wind, or even of thought. He als

to place with the speed of the wind, or even of thought. He also shod with brass the celestial steeds, which whirled the cha

move of themselves in and out of the celestial hall. He even endowed with intelligence the golden handmaidens whom he made

Moon, and Dawn. He is therefore the original sun-god, and is painted with the splendor and beauty which were afterwards bes

d fall of man, “And fabled how the serpent, whom they called Ophion, with Eurynome, (the wide- Encroaching Eve perhaps,) ha

draught to Saturn which caused him to disgorge his children. Jupiter, with his brothers and sisters, now rebelled against th

the heavens on his shoulders. On the dethronement of Saturn, Jupiter with his brothers Neptune (Poseidon) and Pluto (Dis) d

eaven. Other accounts say that Jupiter kicked him out for taking part with his mother in a quarrel which occurred between th

From morn To noon he fell, from noon to dewy eve, A summer’s day; and with the setting sun Dropped from the zenith, like a f

e Seasons, and then led to the assembly of the gods. All were charmed with her beauty, and each one demanded her for his wif

love, was the son of Venus. He was her constant companion; and, armed with bow and arrows, he shot the darts of desire into

ore a winged cap and winged shoes. He bore in his hand a rod entwined with two serpents, called the caduceus.2 Mercury is s

r office was to spin the thread of human destiny, and they were armed with shears, with which they cut it off when they plea

to spin the thread of human destiny, and they were armed with shears, with which they cut it off when they pleased. They wer

caped or defied public justice. The heads of the Furies were wreathed with serpents, and their whole appearance was terrific

re deities of the woods and fields. They were conceived to be covered with bristly hair, their heads decorated with short, s

were conceived to be covered with bristly hair, their heads decorated with short, sprouting horns, and their feet like goats

Saturn was an ancient Italian deity. It was attempted to identify him with the Grecian god Cronos, and fabled that after his

ed, friends made presents to one another and the slaves were indulged with great liberties. A feast was given them at which

med in her temple. As the safety of the city was held to be connected with its conservation, the neglect of the virgins, if

guardian deity of gates, on which account he is commonly represented with two heads, because every door looks two ways. His

Liber loves the vine, And Pales loves the straw-built shed       Warm with the breath of kine; And Venus loves the whisper  

eavenly seeds. Prometheus took some of this earth, and kneading it up with water, made man in the image of the gods. He gave

ted the office of making man, and providing him and all other animals with the faculties necessary for their preservation. E

on him. In his perplexity he resorted to his brother Prometheus, who, with the aid of Minerva, went up to heaven, and lighte

imals. It enabled him to make weapons wherewith to subdue them; tools with which to cultivate the earth; to warm his dwellin

ing man for his new abode, he had had no occasion. Pandora was seized with an eager curiosity to know what this jar containe

sent in good faith, by Jupiter, to bless man; that she was furnished with a box, containing her marriage presents, into whi

of evils, as in the former statement? The world being thus furnished with inhabitants, the first age was an age of innocenc

ual spring reigned, flowers sprang up without seed, the rivers flowed with milk and wine, and yellow honey distilled from th

mon, began to be divided off into possessions. Men were not satisfied with what the surface produced, but must dig into its

come to the inheritance; family love lay prostrate. The earth was wet with slaughter, and the gods abandoned it, one by one,

also took her departure. Jupiter, seeing this state of things, burned with anger. He summoned the gods to council. They obey

d up; the south was sent out, and soon covered all the face of heaven with a cloak of pitchy darkness. The clouds, driven to

with a cloak of pitchy darkness. The clouds, driven together, resound with a crash; torrents of rain fall; the crops are lai

s labor of the husbandman perishes in an hour. Jupiter, not satisfied with his own waters, calls on his brother Neptune to a

atisfied with his own waters, calls on his brother Neptune to aid him with his. He lets loose the rivers, and pours them ove

s, and pours them over the land. At the same time, he heaves the land with an earthquake, and brings in the reflux of the oc

e shores. Flocks, herds, men, and houses are swept away, and temples, with their sacred enclosures, profaned. If any edifice

wild boar serves him not, nor his swiftness the stag. The birds fall with weary wing into the water, having found no land f

at remains for us to do.” They entered the temple, deformed as it was with slime, and approached the altar, where no fire bu

their miserable affairs. The oracle answered, “Depart from the temple with head veiled and garments unbound, and cast behind

, and cast behind you the bones of your mother.” They heard the words with astonishment. Pyrrha first broke silence: “We can

of Paradise Lost: — “More lovely than Pandora, whom the gods Endowed with all their gifts; and O, too like In sad event, wh

to the unwiser son Of Japhet brought by Hermes, she insnared Mankind with her fair looks, to be avenged On him who had stol

hich Milton changes to Japhet. Prometheus has been a favorite subject with the poets. He is represented as the friend of man

ating sense of woe. “Thy godlike crime was to be kind;     To render with thy precepts less     The sum of human wretchedne

y precepts less     The sum of human wretchedness, And strengthen man with his own mind.     And, baffled as thou wert from

ief of fire from heaven,     Wilt thou withstand the shock? And share with him — the unforgiven —     His vulture and his ro

Daphne — Pyramus and Thisbe — Cephalus and Procris. The slime with which the earth was covered by the waters of the

e people, and lurked in the caves of Mount Parnassus. Apollo slew him with his arrows — weapons which he had not before used

ts of strength, swiftness of foot, or in the chariot race was crowned with a wreath of beech leaves; for the laurel was not

t by accident, but by the malice of Cupid. Apollo saw the boy playing with his bow and arrows; and being himself elated with

saw the boy playing with his bow and arrows; and being himself elated with his recent victory over Python, he said to him, “

his recent victory over Python, he said to him, “What have you to do with warlike weapons, saucy boy? Leave them for hands

who stretched his poisonous body over acres of the plain! Be content with your torch, child, and kindle up your flames, as

r flames, as you call them, where you will, but presume not to meddle with my weapons.” Venus’s boy heard these words, and r

The former was of gold and sharp pointed, the latter blunt and tipped with lead. With the leaden shaft he struck the nymph D

he struck the nymph Daphne, the daughter of the river god Peneus, and with the golden one Apollo, through the heart. Forthwi

he golden one Apollo, through the heart. Forthwith the god was seized with love for the maiden, and she abhorred the thought

we me grandchildren.” She, hating the thought of marriage as a crime, with her beautiful face tinged all over with blushes,

ought of marriage as a crime, with her beautiful face tinged all over with blushes, threw arms around her father’s neck, and

saw her eyes bright as stars; he saw her lips, and was not satisfied with only seeing them. He admired her hands and arms,

id, gained upon her in the race. It was like a hound pursuing a hare, with open jaws ready to seize, while the feebler anima

l assuredly be my tree. I will wear you for my crown; I will decorate with you my harp and my quiver; and when the great Rom

hus, acquiring unsought praise, He caught at love and filled his arms with bays.” The following stanza from Shelley’s Adona

lowing stanza from Shelley’s Adonais alludes to Byron’s early quarrel with the reviewers: —     “The herded wolves, bold on

de. One thing, however, they could not forbid — that love should glow with equal ardor in the bosoms of both. They conversed

iously Thisbe stole forth, unobserved by the family, her head covered with a veil, made her way to the monument and sat down

the dim light of the evening she descried a lioness, her jaws reeking with recent slaughter, approaching the fountain to sla

t to the woods, and seeing the veil on the ground, tossed and rent it with her bloody mouth. Pyramus, having been delayed, n

thee. Come forth, ye lions, from the rocks, and tear this guilty body with your teeth.” He took up the veil, carried it with

ar this guilty body with your teeth.” He took up the veil, carried it with him to the appointed tree, and covered it with ki

p the veil, carried it with him to the appointed tree, and covered it with kisses and with tears. “My blood also shall stain

ied it with him to the appointed tree, and covered it with kisses and with tears. “My blood also shall stain your texture,”

through the trunk to the fruit. By this time Thisbe, still trembling with fear, yet wishing not to disappoint her lover, st

mus opened his eyes, then closed them again. She saw her veil stained with blood and the scabbard empty of its sword. “Thy o

e hand of care. The cherry here in shining crimson glows, And stained with lovers’ blood, in pendent rows, The mulberries o’

e the chase. Aurora saw him when she first looked forth, fell in love with him, and stole him away. But Cephalus was just ma

; he ran in a circle and turned on his track, the dog close upon him, with open jaws, snapping at his heels, but biting only

ing no help, for his javelin was a sure weapon in all cases. Fatigued with hunting, when the sun got high he would seek a sh

a shady nook where a cool stream flowed, and, stretched on the grass, with his garments thrown aside, would enjoy the breeze

ll not believe it unless I myself am a witness to it.” So she waited, with anxious heart, till the next morning, when Cephal

re the informer directed her. Cephalus came as he was wont when tired with sport, and stretched himself on the green bank, s

ely met its mark. He rushed to the place, and found her bleeding, and with sinking strength endeavoring to draw forth from t

led her to revive and not to leave him miserable, to reproach himself with her death. She opened her feeble eyes, and forced

bright eye, And oft he wooed the wandering wind     To cool his brow with its sigh While mute lay even the wild bee’s hum,

d away the cloud, and saw her husband on the banks of a glassy river, with a beautiful heifer standing near him. Juno suspec

the daughter of the river god Inachus, whom Jupiter had been flirting with , and, when he became aware of the approach of his

ed. Now Argus had a hundred eyes in his head, and never went to sleep with more than two at a time, so that he kept watch of

ly. He suffered her to feed through the day, and at night tied her up with a vile rope round her neck. She would have stretc

ht herself of writing, and inscribed her name —  it was a short one — with her hoof on the sand. Inachus recognized it, and

to the earth. There he laid aside his wings, and kept only his wand, with which he presented himself as a shepherd driving

hese were what are called the Syrinx or Pandean pipes. Argus listened with delight, for he had never seen the instrument bef

through the reeds, and produced a plaintive melody. The god, charmed with the novelty and with the sweetness of the music,

nd produced a plaintive melody. The god, charmed with the novelty and with the sweetness of the music, said, ‘Thus, then, at

’s eyes all asleep. As his head nodded forward on his breast, Mercury with one stroke cut his neck through, and tumbled his

      * * * * Telling us how fair trembling Syrinx fled Arcadian Pan, with such a fearful dread. Poor nymph — poor Pan — how

s changed her into a bear. “I will take away,” said she, “that beauty with which you have captivated my husband.” Down fell

her arms in supplication — they were already beginning to be covered with black hair. Her hands grew rounded, became armed

g to be covered with black hair. Her hands grew rounded, became armed with crooked claws, and served for feet; her mouth, wh

more fit to inspire terror. Yet her former disposition remained, and with continual groaning, she bemoaned her fate, and st

put me away! But you, my foster-parents, if you feel for me, and see with displeasure this unworthy treatment of me, show i

when young Actæon, son of King Cadmus, thus addressed the youths who with him were hunting the stag in the mountains: — “Fr

e stag in the mountains: — “Friends, our nets and our weapons are wet with the blood of our victims; we have had sport enoug

parches the earth, let us put by our implements and indulge ourselves with rest.” There was a valley thick enclosed with cyp

s and indulge ourselves with rest.” There was a valley thick enclosed with cypresses and pines, sacred to the huntress queen

queen, Diana. In the extremity of the valley was a cave, not adorned with art, but nature had counterfeited art in its cons

ited art in its construction, for she had turned the arch of its roof with stones as delicately fitted as if by the hand of

y a grassy rim. Here the goddess of the woods used to come when weary with hunting and lave her virgin limbs in the sparklin

virgin limbs in the sparkling water. One day, having repaired thither with her nymphs, she handed her javelin, her quiver, a

hs, seeing a man, screamed and rushed towards the goddess to hide her with their bodies. But she was taller than the rest an

ounded as she was by her nymphs, she yet turned half away, and sought with a sudden impulse for her arrows. As they were not

nted, his hands became feet, his arms long legs, his body was covered with a hairy spotted hide. Fear took the place of his

ated the dogs saw him. First Melampus, a Spartan dog, gave the signal with his bark, then Pamphagus, Dorceus, Lelaps, Theron

e your master!” but the words came not at his will. The air resounded with the bark of the dogs. Presently one fastened on h

han was just, while others praised her conduct as strictly consistent with her virgin dignity. As, usual, the recent event b

: “Some countrymen of Lycia once insulted the goddess Latona, but not with impunity. When I was young, my father, who had gr

arsh where the wonder happened. Near by stood an ancient altar, black with the smoke of sacrifice and almost buried among th

aring in her arms the infant deities, Latona reached this land, weary with her burden and parched with thirst. By chance she

deities, Latona reached this land, weary with her burden and parched with thirst. By chance she espied on the bottom of the

pened, were stretching out their arms. “Who would not have been moved with these gentle words of the goddess? But these clow

ce. Nor was this all. They waded into the pond and stirred up the mud with their feet, so as to make the water unfit to drin

a floating island; but when Latona arrived there, Jupiter fastened it with adamantine chains to the bottom of the sea, that

Go and demand of him whether he will own you as a son.” Phaëton heard with delight. He travelled to India, which lies direct

urse. The palace of the Sun stood reared aloft on columns, glittering with gold and precious stones, while polished ivory fo

l; 4 for upon the walls Vulcan had represented earth, sea, and skies, with their inhabitants. In the sea were the nymphs, so

bus, arrayed in a purple vesture, sat on a throne, which glittered as with diamonds. On his right hand and his left stood th

nth, and the Year, and, at regular intervals, the Hours. Spring stood with her head crowned with flowers, and Summer, with g

, at regular intervals, the Hours. Spring stood with her head crowned with flowers, and Summer, with garment cast aside, and

e Hours. Spring stood with her head crowned with flowers, and Summer, with garment cast aside, and a garland formed of spear

t aside, and a garland formed of spears of ripened grain, and Autumn, with his feet stained with grape-juice, and icy Winter

formed of spears of ripened grain, and Autumn, with his feet stained with grape-juice, and icy Winter, with his hair stiffe

, and Autumn, with his feet stained with grape-juice, and icy Winter, with his hair stiffened with hoar frost. Surrounded by

eet stained with grape-juice, and icy Winter, with his hair stiffened with hoar frost. Surrounded by these attendants, the S

r stiffened with hoar frost. Surrounded by these attendants, the Sun, with the eye that sees every thing, beheld the youth d

the Sun, with the eye that sees every thing, beheld the youth dazzled with the novelty and splendor of the scene, and inquir

this, the heaven is all the time turning round and carrying the stars with it. I have to be perpetually on my guard lest tha

the Crab in another. Nor will you find it easy to guide those horses, with their breasts full of fire that they breathe fort

hrew open the purple doors of the east, and showed the pathway strewn with roses. The stars withdrew, marshalled by the Days

They obeyed, and led forth from the lofty stalls the steeds full fed with ambrosia, and attached the reins. Then the father

a, and attached the reins. Then the father bathed the face of his son with a powerful unguent, and made him capable of endur

during the brightness of the flame. He set the rays on his head, and, with a foreboding sigh, said, “If, my son, you will in

ile youth sprang into the chariot, stood erect, and grasped the reins with delight, pouring out thanks to his reluctant pare

out thanks to his reluctant parent. Meanwhile the horses fill the air with their snortings and fiery breath, and stamp the g

er. Then, for the first time, the Great and Little Bear were scorched with heat, and would fain, if it were possible, have p

s coiled up round the north pole, torpid and harmless, grew warm, and with warmth felt its rage revive. Boötes, they say, fl

felt its rage revive. Boötes, they say, fled away, though encumbered with his plough, and all unused to rapid motion. When

preading in vast extent beneath him, he grew pale and his knees shook with terror. In spite of the glare all around him, the

eins or throw them loose; he forgets the names of the horses. He sees with terror the monstrous forms scattered over the sur

the surface of heaven. Here the Scorpion extended his two great arms, with his tail and crooked claws stretching over two si

tching over two signs of the zodiac. When the boy beheld him, reeking with poison and menacing with his fangs, his courage f

the zodiac. When the boy beheld him, reeking with poison and menacing with his fangs, his courage failed, and the reins fell

es, now up in high heaven, now down almost to the earth. The moon saw with astonishment her brother’s chariot running beneat

gin to smoke, and the mountain tops take fire; the fields are parched with heat, the plants wither, the trees with their lea

fire; the fields are parched with heat, the plants wither, the trees with their leafy branches burn, the harvest is ablaze!

harvest is ablaze! But these are small things. Great cities perished, with their walls and towers; whole nations with their

gs. Great cities perished, with their walls and towers; whole nations with their people were consumed to ashes! The forest-c

tains, but now all dry; the Muses’ mountain Helicon, and Hæmus; Ætna, with fires within and without, and Parnassus, with his

licon, and Hæmus; Ætna, with fires within and without, and Parnassus, with his two peaks, and Rhodope, forced at last to par

nd Parnassus, with his two peaks, and Rhodope, forced at last to part with his snowy crown. Her cold climate was no protecti

r than both, Olympus; the Alps high in air, and the Apennines crowned with clouds. Then Phaëton beheld the world on fire, an

ndition in which it remains to this day. The Nymphs of the fountains, with dishevelled hair, mourned their waters, nor were

Caicus, Xanthus, and Meander; Babylonian Euphrates and Ganges, Tagus with golden sands, and Cayster where the swans resort.

ed as usual to sport on the surface. Even Nereus, and his wife Doris, with the Nereids, their daughters, sought the deepest

driven back by the heat. Earth, surrounded as she was by waters, yet with head and shoulders bare, screening her face with

e was by waters, yet with head and shoulders bare, screening her face with her hand, looked up to heaven, and with a husky v

ders bare, screening her face with her hand, looked up to heaven, and with a husky voice called on Jupiter. “O, ruler of the

if I have deserved this treatment, and it is your will that I perish with fire, why withhold your thunderbolts? Let me at l

our deliverance in this awful moment!” Thus spoke Earth, and overcome with heat and thirst, could say no more. Then Jupiter

uck him at the same moment from his seat and from existence! Phaëton, with his hair on fire, fell headlong, like a shooting

on fire, fell headlong, like a shooting star which marks the heavens with its brightness as it falls, and Eridanus, the gre

and treated him hospitably, entertaining him for ten days and nights with an unceasing round of jollity. On the eleventh da

vain; starvation seemed to await him. He raised his arms, all shining with gold, in prayer to Bacchus, begging to be deliver

elds. On a certain occasion Pan had the temerity to compare his music with that of Apollo, and to challenge the god of the l

from his ears to listen. At a given signal Pan blew on his pipes, and with his rustic melody gave great satisfaction to hims

n Tmolus turned his head toward the Sun-god, and all his trees turned with him. Apollo rose, his brow wreathed with Parnassi

od, and all his trees turned with him. Apollo rose, his brow wreathed with Parnassian laurel, while his robe of Tyrian purpl

yrian purple swept the ground. In his left hand he held the lyre, and with his right hand struck the strings. Ravished with

e held the lyre, and with his right hand struck the strings. Ravished with the harmony, Tmolus at once awarded the victory t

rtified enough was King Midas at this mishap; but he consoled himself with the thought that it was possible to hide his misf

rse knew the secret. He was charged not to mention it, and threatened with dire punishment if he presumed to disobey. But he

ses over the place.   The story of King Midas has been told by others with some variations. Dryden, in the Wife of Bath’s Ta

g should come in a wagon. While the people were deliberating, Gordius with his wife and son came driving his wagon into the

ted his wagon to the deity of the oracle, and tied it up in its place with a fast knot. This was the celebrated Gordian knot

Great, in his career of conquest, came to Phrygia. He tried his skill with as ill success as others, till growing impatient

ting all Asia to his sway, people began to think that he had complied with the terms of the oracle according to its true mea

m the spot is a marsh, formerly good habitable land, but now indented with pools, the resort of fen-birds and cormorants. On

s. Once on a time Jupiter, in, human shape, visited this country, and with him his son Mercury (he of the caduceus,) without

she raked out the coals from the ashes, and kindled up a fire, fed it with leaves and dry bark, and with her scanty breath b

he ashes, and kindled up a fire, fed it with leaves and dry bark, and with her scanty breath blew it into a flame. She broug

them from the stalks, and prepared them for the pot. He reached down with a forked stick a flitch of bacon hanging in the c

ging in the chimney, cut a small piece, and put it in the pot to boil with the herbs, setting away the rest for another time

bs, setting away the rest for another time. A beechen bowl was filled with warm water, that their guests might wash. While a

their guests might wash. While all was doing, they beguiled the time with conversation. On the bench designed for the guest

tion. On the bench designed for the guests was laid a cushion stuffed with sea-weed; and a cloth, only produced on great occ

s, but ancient and coarse enough, was spread over that. The old lady, with her apron on, with trembling hand set the table.

coarse enough, was spread over that. The old lady, with her apron on, with trembling hand set the table. One leg was shorter

e put under restored the level. When fixed, she rubbed the table down with some sweet-smelling herbs. Upon it she set some o

e cornel berries preserved in vinegar, and added radishes and cheese, with eggs lightly cooked in the ashes. All were served

ashes. All were served in earthen dishes, and an earthenware pitcher, with wooden cups, stood beside them. When all was read

poured out, renewed itself in the pitcher, of its own accord. Struck with terror, Baucis and Philemon recognized their heav

d Philemon recognized their heavenly guests, fell on their knees, and with clasped hands implored forgiveness for their poor

this a sacrifice in honor of their guests. But the goose, too nimble, with the aid of feet and wings, for the old folks, elu

alone shall go free from the chastisement. Quit your house, and come with us to the top of yonder hill.” They hastened to o

sunk in a lake, only their own house left standing. While they gazed with wonder at the sight, and lamented the fate of the

ared a gilded roof, the floors became marble, the doors were enriched with carving and ornaments of gold. Then spoke Jupiter

your wishes; what favor have you to ask of us?” Philemon took counsel with Baucis a few moments; then declared to the gods t

d slowly after. The chimney widened and grew higher, Became a steeple with a spire. The kettle to the top was hoist. And the

kettle to the top was hoist. And there stood fastened to a joist, But with the upside down, to show Its inclination for belo

e a huge snail, along the wall; There stuck aloft in public view, And with small change, a pulpit grew. A bedstead of the an

hey still sometimes struggle to get loose, and shake the whole island with earthquakes. Their breath comes up through the mo

ile he was thus engaged, Venus, who was sitting on Mount Eryx playing with her boy Cupid, espied him, and said, “My son, tak

ng with her boy Cupid, espied him, and said, “My son, take your darts with which you conquer all, even Jove himself, and sen

knee, he attached the string, and, having made ready, shot the arrow with its barbed point right into the heart of Pluto. I

it from the fervid rays of the sun, while the moist ground is covered with flowers, and Spring reigns perpetual. Here Proser

ith flowers, and Spring reigns perpetual. Here Proserpine was playing with her companions, gathering lilies and violets, and

s, gathering lilies and violets, and filling her basket and her apron with them, when Pluto saw her, loved her, and carried

the River Cyane, and it opposed his passage, he struck the river-bank with his trident, and the earth opened and gave him a

r cheeks upon her bosom. The compassionate old man and his child wept with her. Then said he, “Come with us, and despise not

ompassionate old man and his child wept with her. Then said he, “Come with us, and despise not our humble roof; so may your

e, “I cannot resist that appeal!” So she rose from the stone and went with them. As they walked he told her that his only so

was still, she arose, and taking the sleeping boy, moulded his limbs with her hands, and uttered over him three times a sol

other, who had been watching what her guest was doing, sprang forward with a cry and snatched the child from the fire. Then

orm, and a divine splendor shone all around. While they were overcome with astonishment, she said, “Mother, you have been cr

d by the banks of the River Cyane, where Pluto made himself a passage with his prize to his own dominions. The river nymph w

the innocent land. “Ungrateful soil,” said she, “which I have endowed with fertility and clothed with herbage and nourishing

ful soil,” said she, “which I have endowed with fertility and clothed with herbage and nourishing grain, no more shall you e

of my hunting exploits. One day I was returning from the wood, heated with exercise, when I came to a stream silently flowin

nk sloped down to the water’s edge. I approached, I touched the water with my foot. I stepped in knee-deep, and not content

uched the water with my foot. I stepped in knee-deep, and not content with that, I laid my garments on the willows and went

. But in this form Alpheus knew me and attempted to mingle his stream with mine. Diana cleft the ground, and I, endeavoring

se; but a compromise was made, by which she was to pass half the time with her mother, and the rest with her husband Pluto.

by which she was to pass half the time with her mother, and the rest with her husband Pluto. Ceres allowed herself to be pa

the rest with her husband Pluto. Ceres allowed herself to be pacified with this arrangement, and restored the earth to her f

hat pain To seek her through the world, ——              * * * * might with this Paradise Of Eden strive.” Hood, in his Ode

es below, Wafting in triumph all the flowery braids And festal rings, with which Olympic maids Have decked his current, as a

among the clouds, their eldest brother,     But just flown up, tells with a smile of bliss, This prank of Pluto to his char

nk of Pluto to his charmed mother,     Who turns to greet the tidings with a kiss.” Glaucus and Scylla. Glaucus was a

juices of the plant reached his palate when he found himself agitated with a longing desire for the water. He could no longe

sheltered nook, laving her limbs in the clear water. He fell in love with her, and showing himself on the surface, spoke to

urned round to see whether it was a god or a sea animal, and observed with wonder his shape and color. Glaucus partly emergi

Scylla. She took plants of poisonous powers and mixed them together, with incantations and charms. Then she passed through

un from them, and to drive them away; but as she ran she carried them with her, and when she tried to touch her limbs, she f

rce’s blandishments, till he by chance is witness to her transactions with her beasts. Disgusted with her treachery and crue

e by chance is witness to her transactions with her beasts. Disgusted with her treachery and cruelty, he tries to escape fro

lty, he tries to escape from her, but is taken and brought back, when with reproaches she banishes him, sentencing him to pa

a-change:” — “I plunged for life or death. To interknit One’s senses with so dense a breathing stuff Might seem a work of p

s in sheer astonishment; Forgetful utterly of self-intent, Moving but with the mighty ebb and flow. Then like a new-fledged

sex, and resolved to live unmarried. He was a sculptor, and had made with wonderful skill a statue of ivory, so beautiful t

p of nature. Pygmalion admired his own work, and at last fell in love with the counterfeit creation. Oftentimes he laid his

not less charming than when unattired. He laid her on a couch spread with cloths of Tyrian dye, and called her his wife, an

r softness. The festival of Venus was at hand — a festival celebrated with great pomp at Cyprus. Victims were offered, the a

glad, though doubting, and fears he may be mistaken, again and again with a lover’s ardor he touches the object of his hope

eart. The following translation is furnished by a friend: — “As once with prayers in passion flowing,     Pygmalion embrace

rble glowing,     The light of feeling o’er him shone, So did I clasp with young devotion     Bright nature to a poet’s hear

ick sound. Then lived for me the bright creation,     The silver rill with song was rife; The trees, the roses shared sensat

ed gradually down to the water’s edge, while the upland was overgrown with myrtles. They were intending to gather flowers fo

In anguish she attempted to tear her hair, but found her hands filled with leaves. The infant felt his mother’s bosom begin

ped in the same bark. At this moment Andræmon, the husband of Dryope, with her father, approached; and when they asked for D

ate. I have injured no one. If I speak falsely, may my foliage perish with drought and my trunk be cut down and burned. Take

s old enough to talk, let him be taught to call me mother, and to say with sadness, ‘My mother lies hid under this bark.’ Bu

g of her child;” etc. Venus and Adonis. Venus, playing one day with her boy Cupid, wounded her bosom with one of his

onis. Venus, playing one day with her boy Cupid, wounded her bosom with one of his arrows. She pushed him away, but the w

n she thought. Before it healed she beheld Adonis, and was captivated with him. She no longer took any interest in her favor

d and bore him company. She who used to love to recline in the shade, with no care but to cultivate her charms, now rambles

it is safe to hunt, but keeps clear of the wolves and bears, reeking with the slaughter of the herd. She charged Adonis, to

put my happiness to risk. Attack not the beasts that Nature has armed with weapons. I do not value your glory so high as to

r from his lair, and the youth threw his spear and wounded the animal with a sidelong stroke. The beast drew out the weapon

nded the animal with a sidelong stroke. The beast drew out the weapon with his jaws, and rushed after Adonis, who turned and

ayed a game of quoits together, and Apollo, heaving aloft the discus, with strength mingled with skill, sent it high and far

together, and Apollo, heaving aloft the discus, with strength mingled with skill, sent it high and far. Hyacinthus watched i

, sent it high and far. Hyacinthus watched it as it flew, and excited with the sport ran forward to seize it, eager to make

that I could die for thee! But since that may not be, thou shalt live with me in memory and in song. My lyre shall celebrate

my song shall tell thy fate, and thou shalt become a flower inscribed with my regrets.” While Apollo spoke, behold the blood

h for Phœbus; but to confer still greater honor, he marked the petals with his sorrow, and inscribed “Ah! ah!” upon them, as

, as we see to this day. The flower bears the name of Hyacinthus, and with every returning spring revives the memory of his

nized in Milton’s Lycidas: — “Like to that sanguine flower inscribed with woe.” Chapter IX. Ceyx and Halcyone: Or, The

uch as he could do to restrain them. “They rush together,” said she, “ with such fury that fire flashes from the conflict. Bu

he conflict. But if you must go,” she added, “dear husband, let me go with you, otherwise I shall suffer not only the real e

d of King Ceyx, and it was no less his own wish than hers to take her with him, but he could not bear to expose her to the d

answered, therefore, consoling her as well as he could, and finished with these words: “I promise, by the rays of my father

put aboard. When Halcyone saw these preparations she shuddered, as if with a presentiment of evil. With tears and sobs she s

young men grasped their oars and pulled vigorously through the waves, with long and measured strokes. Halcyone raised her st

of their course was passed, as night drew on, the sea began to whiten with swelling waves, and the east wind to blow a gale.

en, the rattling of the shrouds, and the dashing of the waves, mingle with the roar of the thunder. The swelling sea seems l

rs. Rain falls in torrents, as if the skies were coming down to unite with the sea. When the lightning ceases for a moment,

en comes the flash, rending the darkness asunder, and lighting up all with a glare. Skill fails, courage sinks, and death se

e sinks, and death seems to come on every wave. The men are stupefied with terror. The thought of parents, and kindred, and

sink, and rise no more; others cling to fragments of the wreck. Ceyx, with the hand that used to grasp the sceptre, holds fa

hat night. Since it could not leave the heavens, it shrouded its face with clouds. In the meanwhile Halcyone, ignorant of al

nted. The goddess, at length, could not bear any longer to be pleaded with for one already dead, and to have hands raised to

the event.” Iris puts on her robe of many colors, and tinging the sky with her bow, seeks the palace of the King of Sleep. N

from the ground, and the light glimmers faintly. The bird of dawning, with crested head, never there calls aloud to Aurora,

ose disturbs the silence. No wild beast, nor cattle, nor branch moved with the wind, nor sound of human conversation, breaks

s, nor any watchman; but in the midst a couch of black ebony, adorned with black plumes and black curtains. There the god re

plumes and black curtains. There the god reclines, his limbs relaxed with sleep. Around him lie dreams, resembling all vari

nd yielded himself to grateful repose. Morpheus flew, making no noise with his wings, and soon came to the Hæmonian city, wh

stood before the couch of the wretched wife. His beard seemed soaked with water, and water trickled from his drowned locks.

rs, Halcyone, availed me nothing. I am dead. No more deceive yourself with vain hopes of my return. The stormy winds sunk my

cause of her grief. “Halcyone is no more,” she answers, “she perished with her Ceyx. Utter not words of comfort, he is shipw

him. His shade vanished, but it was the true shade of my husband. Not with the accustomed features, not with the beauty that

s the true shade of my husband. Not with the accustomed features, not with the beauty that was his, but pale, naked, and wit

omed features, not with the beauty that was his, but pale, naked, and with his hair wet with sea-water, he appeared to wretc

with the beauty that was his, but pale, naked, and with his hair wet with sea-water, he appeared to wretched me. Here, in t

the waves. Oh, how I wish, since thou wouldst go, thou hadst taken me with thee! It would have been far better. Then I shoul

tomb may not include us, one epitaph shall; if I may not lay my ashes with thine, my name, at least, shall not be separated.

ot be separated.” Her grief forbade more words, and these were broken with tears and sobs. It was now morning. She went to t

and (it was wonderful she could do so) she flew, and striking the air with wings produced on the instant, skimmed along the

e touched the mute and bloodless body, she enfolded its beloved limbs with her new-formed wings, and tried to give kisses wi

its beloved limbs with her new-formed wings, and tried to give kisses with her horny beak. Whether Ceyx felt it, or whether

floating corpse. “As shaken on his restless pillow, His head heaves with the heaving billow; That hand, whose motion is no

ms to menace strife, Flung by the tossing tide on high, Then levelled with the wave ——” Milton in his Hymn to the Nativity

rince of light     His reign of peace upon the earth began; The winds with wonder whist Smoothly the waters kist     Whisper

ht hand bore for its weapon not a javelin, but a pruning-knife. Armed with this, she busied herself at one time to repress t

Now he bore a pruning-hook, and personated a vine-dresser; and again, with a ladder on his shoulder, he seemed as if he was

s way he gained admission to her again and again, and fed his passion with the sight of her. One day he came in the guise of

ne day he came in the guise of an old woman, her gray hair surmounted with a cap, and a staff in her hand. She entered the g

“It does you credit, my dear,” she said, and kissed her, not exactly with an old woman’s kiss. She sat down on a bank, and

n’s kiss. She sat down on a bank, and looked up at the branches laden with fruit which hung over her. Opposite was an elm en

es laden with fruit which hung over her. Opposite was an elm entwined with a vine loaded with swelling grapes. She praised t

which hung over her. Opposite was an elm entwined with a vine loaded with swelling grapes. She praised the tree and its ass

ke a lesson from the tree and the vine, and consent to unite yourself with some one? I wish you would. Helen herself had not

me things that you do, delights in gardening, and handles your apples with admiration. But now he cares nothing for fruits n

else, but only yourself. Take pity on him, and fancy him speaking now with my mouth. Remember that the gods punish cruelty,

rete, a noble lady of the ancient family of Teucer. He struggled long with his passion, but when he found he could not subdu

n tablets, and often hung at her door garlands which he had moistened with his tears. He stretched himself on her threshold,

nities. Enjoy your triumph! Sing songs of joy, and bind your forehead with laurel, — you have conquered! I die; stony heart,

to praise me; and thus shall I prove that the love of you left me but with life. Nor will I leave it to rumor to tell you of

and at least will please you, cruel girl!’ and falling hung suspended with his neck broken. As he fell he struck against the

ound of a groan. The servants opened the door and found him dead, and with exclamations of pity raised him and carried him h

boring countries came in crowds to enjoy the sight, and looked on her with amazement, paying her that homage which is due on

As she passed along, the people sang her praises, and strewed her way with chaplets and flowers. This perversion of homage d

tal gave great offence to the real Venus. Shaking her ambrosial locks with indignation, she exclaimed, “Am I then to be ecli

ough the sight of her almost moved him to pity; then touched her side with the point of his arrow. At the touch she awoke, a

sible) which so startled him that in his confusion he wounded himself with his own arrow. Heedless of his wound, his whole t

can resist.” This dreadful decree of the oracle filled all the people with dismay, and her parents abandoned themselves to g

have grieved when the people showered upon me undeserved honors, and with one voice called me a Venus. I now perceive that

e procession, which more resembled a funeral than a nuptial pomp, and with her parents, amid the lamentations of the people,

scended the mountain, on the summit of which they left her alone, and with sorrowful hearts returned home. While Psyche stoo

turned home. While Psyche stood on the ridge of the mountain, panting with fear and with eyes full of tears, the gentle Zeph

hile Psyche stood on the ridge of the mountain, panting with fear and with eyes full of tears, the gentle Zephyr raised her

ll of tears, the gentle Zephyr raised her from the earth and bore her with an easy motion into a flowery dale. By degrees he

id herself down on the grassy bank to sleep. When she awoke refreshed with sleep, she looked round and beheld near by a plea

d the building and ventured to enter. Every object she met filled her with pleasure and amazement. Golden pillars supported

olden pillars supported the vaulted roof, and the walls were enriched with carvings and paintings representing beasts of the

rceived that besides the apartments of state there were others filled with all manner of treasures, and beautiful and precio

se voices you hear are your servants and shall obey all your commands with our utmost care and diligence. Retire, therefore,

itself, without any visible aid from waiters or servants, and covered with the greatest delicacies of food and the most nect

cies of food and the most nectareous wines. Her ears too were feasted with music from invisible performers; of whom one sang

in ignorance of her fate, and of her sisters, precluded from sharing with her the delights of her situation, preyed on her

should be brought to see her. So, calling Zephyr, she acquainted him with her husband’s commands, and he, promptly obedient

aced her and she returned their caresses. “Come,” said Psyche, “enter with me my house and refresh yourselves with whatever

. “Come,” said Psyche, “enter with me my house and refresh yourselves with whatever your sister has to offer.” Then taking t

the daytime in hunting upon the mountains. The sisters, not satisfied with this reply, soon made her confess that she had ne

ss that she had never seen him. Then they proceeded to fill her bosom with dark suspicions. “Call to mind,” they said, “the

nd is a terrible and monstrous serpent, who nourishes you for a while with dainties that he may by and by devour you. Take o

s that he may by and by devour you. Take our advice. Provide yourself with a lamp and a sharp knife; put them in concealment

t a hideous monster, but the most beautiful and charming of the gods, with his golden ringlets wandering over his snowy neck

his golden ringlets wandering over his snowy neck and crimson cheek, with two dewy wings on his shoulders, whiter than snow

on cheek, with two dewy wings on his shoulders, whiter than snow, and with shining feathers like the tender blossoms of spri

face a drop of burning oil fell on the shoulder of the god, startled with which he opened his eyes and fixed them full upon

other punishment on you than to leave you forever. Love cannot dwell with suspicion.” So saying, he fled away, leaving poor

away, leaving poor Psyche prostrate on the ground, filling the place with mournful lamentations. When she had recovered som

d than she saw heaps of corn, some in loose ears and some in sheaves, with mingled ears of barley. Scattered about, lay sick

that the issue was doubtful and perhaps fatal. Venus received her with angry countenance. “Most undutiful and faithless

d by whole hosts of his six-legged subjects, approached the heap, and with the utmost diligence, taking grain by grain, they

ht returned from the banquet of the gods, breathing odors and crowned with roses. Seeing the task done, she exclaimed, “This

n of the water. There you will find sheep feeding without a shepherd, with golden-shining fleeces on their backs. Go, fetch

her best to execute the command. But the river god inspired the reeds with harmonious murmurs, which seemed to say, “O maide

as long as they are under the influence of the rising sun, they burn with a cruel rage to destroy mortals with their sharp

nce of the rising sun, they burn with a cruel rage to destroy mortals with their sharp horns or rude teeth. But when the noo

her task, and by observing his directions she soon returned to Venus with her arms full of the golden fleece; but she recei

of her own.’ Be not too long on your errand, for I must paint myself with it to appear at the circle of the gods and goddes

s now satisfied that her destruction was at hand, being obliged to go with her own feet directly down to Erebus. Wherefore,

n. But the voice added, “When Proserpine has given you the box filled with her beauty, of all things this is chiefly to be o

elicate seat or delicious banquet that was offered her, but contented with coarse bread for her food, she delivered her mess

ge from Venus. Presently the box was returned to her, shut and filled with the precious commodity. Then she returned the way

the sleep from her body closed it again in the box, and waked Psyche with a light touch of one of his arrows. “Again,” said

g penetrating the heights of heaven, presented himself before Jupiter with his supplication. Jupiter lent a favoring ear, an

lent a favoring ear, and pleaded the cause of the lovers so earnestly with Venus that he won her consent. On this he sent Me

and pure happiness. In works of art Psyche is represented as a maiden with the wings of a butterfly, along with Cupid, in th

syche is represented as a maiden with the wings of a butterfly, along with Cupid, in the different situations described in t

er than these, though temple thou hast none,         Nor altar heaped with flowers; Nor virgin choir to make delicious moan

tood still, and raising her broad forehead to the sky, filled the air with her lowings. Cadmus gave thanks, and stooping dow

profaned by the axe, in the midst of which was a cave, thick covered with the growth of bushes, its roof forming a low arch

forth a fountain of purest water. In the cave lurked a horrid serpent with a crested head and scales glittering like gold. H

glittering like gold. His eyes shone like fire, his body was swollen with venom, he vibrated a triple tongue, and showed a

while the Tyrians from terror could neither fight nor fly, slew some with his fangs, others in his folds, and others with h

ht nor fly, slew some with his fangs, others in his folds, and others with his poisonous breath. Cadmus, having waited for t

red the wood, and saw the lifeless bodies of his men, and the monster with his bloody jaws, he exclaimed, “O faithful friend

, or share your death.” So saying he lifted a huge stone and threw it with all his force at the serpent. Such a block would

o impression on the monster. Cadmus next threw his javelin, which met with better success, for it penetrated the serpent’s s

ted the serpent’s scales, and pierced through to his entrails. Fierce with pain, the monster turned back his head to view th

back his head to view the wound, and attempted to draw out the weapon with his mouth, but broke it off, leaving the iron poi

t off, leaving the iron point rankling in his flesh. His neck swelled with rage, bloody foam covered his jaws, and the breat

e, and the points of spears to appear above the surface. Next helmets with their nodding plumes came up, and next the should

g plumes came up, and next the shoulders and breasts and limbs of men with weapons, and in time a harvest of armed warriors.

ed to encounter a new enemy, but one of them said to him, “Meddle not with our civil war.” With that he who had spoken smote

ar.” With that he who had spoken smote one of his earth-born brothers with a sword, and he himself fell pierced with an arro

of his earth-born brothers with a sword, and he himself fell pierced with an arrow from another. The latter fell victim to

ter fell victim to a fourth, and in like manner the whole crowd dealt with each other till all fell, slain with mutual wound

ike manner the whole crowd dealt with each other till all fell, slain with mutual wounds, except five survivors. One of thes

weapons and said, “Brothers, let us live in peace!” These five joined with Cadmus in building his city, to which they gave t

a, the daughter of Venus. The gods left Olympus to honor the occasion with their presence, and Vulcan presented the bride wi

onor the occasion with their presence, and Vulcan presented the bride with a necklace of surpassing brilliancy, his own work

em, and emigrated to the country of the Enchelians, who received them with honor and made Cadmus their king. But the misfort

eek assistance of his old friend and ally Æacus, the king, in his war with Minos, king of Crete. Cephalus was most kindly re

for now in vain. What has become of them?” Æacus groaned, and replied with a voice of sadness, “I have been intending to tel

ers in the city. At first the cheek was flushed, and the breath drawn with difficulty. The tongue grew rough and swelled, an

ulty. The tongue grew rough and swelled, and the dry mouth stood open with its veins enlarged and gasped for the air. Men co

this, or what ought I to have had, except to hate life and wish to be with my dead subjects? On all sides lay my people stre

e thrown out unburied, wood was wanting for funeral piles, men fought with one another for the possession of them. Finally t

n towards me!’ By chance there grew by the place where I stood an oak with wide-spreading branches, sacred to Jupiter. I obs

preading branches, sacred to Jupiter. I observed a troop of ants busy with their labor, carrying minute grains in their mout

e another in a line up the trunk of the tree. Observing their numbers with admiration, I said, ‘Give me, O father, citizens

nd replenish my empty city.’ The tree shook and gave a rustling sound with its branches, though no wind agitated them. I tre

d hope. Night came on and sleep took possession of my frame oppressed with cares. The tree stood before me in my dreams, wit

my frame oppressed with cares. The tree stood before me in my dreams, with its numerous branches all covered with living, mo

stood before me in my dreams, with its numerous branches all covered with living, moving creatures. It seemed to shake its

and they were passing in procession in the same manner. While I gazed with wonder and delight they approached and kneeling h

is graceful deportment; if he threw his javelin skill seemed combined with force in the discharge; if he drew his bow Apollo

id aside his helmet, and in his purple robes bestrode his white horse with its gay caparisons, and reined in its foaming mou

ghter of Nisus was hardly mistress of herself; she was almost frantic with admiration. She envied the weapon that he grasped

only it might gratify Minos. As she sat in the tower, she talked thus with herself: “I know not whether to rejoice or grieve

, not knowing him, one might. I will, I will surrender myself to him, with my country as a dowry, and so put an end to the w

hy ask the gods to do it? Another woman, loving as I do, would remove with her own hands whatever stood in the way of her lo

ith this I give you my father and his kingdom.” She held out her hand with the fatal spoil. Minos shrunk back and refused to

rely, my Crete, where Jove himself was cradled, shall not be polluted with such a monster!” Thus he said, and gave orders th

d into that form, — seeing her, pounced down upon her, and struck her with his beak and claws. In terror she let go the ship

he espies her in his lofty flight you may see him dart down upon her, with beak and claws, to take vengeance for the ancient

e upon Echo in these words: “You shall forfeit the use of that tongue with which you have cheated me, except for that one pu

nts, and win him to converse! but it was not in her power. She waited with impatience for him to speak first, and had her an

uestion. “Let us join one another,” said the youth. The maid answered with all her heart in the same words, and hastened to

me forth she lived in caves and among mountain cliffs. Her form faded with grief, till at last all her flesh shrank away. He

ing goddess heard and granted the prayer. There was a clear fountain, with water like silver, to which the shepherds never d

resorted, nor any of the beasts of the forest; neither was it defaced with fallen leaves or branches; but the grass grew fre

ks sheltered it from the sun. Hither came one day the youth, fatigued with hunting, heated and thirsty. He stooped down to d

s some beautiful water-spirit living in the fountain. He stood gazing with admiration at those bright eyes, those locks curl

d lips, and the glow of health and exercise over all. He fell in love with himself. He brought his lips near to take a kiss;

d over the brink of the fountain gazing upon his own image. He talked with the supposed spirit: “Why, beautiful being, do yo

arms you do the same; and you smile upon me and answer my beckonings with the like.” His tears fell into the water and dist

r him, however, and when he exclaimed, “Alas! alas!” she answered him with the same words. He pined away and died; and when

to be found; but in its place a flower, purple within, and surrounded with white leaves, which bears the name and preserves

tarted back; but pleased I soon returned, Pleased it returned as soon with answering looks Of sympathy and love. There had I

Of sympathy and love. There had I fixed Mine eyes till now, and pined with vain desire, Had not a voice thus warned me: ‘Wha

lf-enamoured he.” Clytie. Clytie was a water-nymph and in love with Apollo, who made her no return. So she pined away

return. So she pined away, sitting all day long upon the cold ground, with her unbound tresses streaming over her shoulders.

w that light of love, The only star it hailed above; His ear but rang with Hero’s song, ’Ye waves, divide not lovers long.’

t was defensive war only that she patronized, and she had no sympathy with Mars’s savage love of violence and bloodshed. Ath

r chosen seat, her own city, awarded to her as the prize of a contest with Neptune, who also aspired to it. The tale ran tha

e was another contest, in which a mortal dared to come in competition with Minerva. That mortal was Arachne, a maiden who ha

the wool in its rude state and formed it into rolls, or separated it with her fingers and carded it till it looked as light

t till it looked as light and soft as a cloud, or twirled the spindle with skilful touch, or wove the web, or, after it was

th skilful touch, or wove the web, or, after it was woven, adorned it with her needle, one would have said that Minerva hers

r to be thought a pupil even of a goddess. “Let Minerva try her skill with mine,” said she; “if beaten I will pay the penalt

ounsel. Challenge your fellow-mortals as you will, but do not compete with a goddess. On the contrary, I advise you to ask h

pardon you.” Arachne stopped her spinning and looked at the old dame with anger in her countenance. “Keep your counsel,” sa

her cheek, and then she grew pale. But she stood to her resolve, and with a foolish conceit of her own skill rushed on her

the slender shuttle is passed in and out among the threads. The reed with its fine teeth strikes up the woof into its place

th strikes up the woof into its place and compacts the web. Both work with speed; their skilful hands move rapidly, and the

f the contest makes the labor light. Wool of Tyrian dye is contrasted with that of other colors, shaded off into one another

wholly different. Minerva wrought on her web the scene of her contest with Neptune. Twelve of the heavenly powers are repres

with Neptune. Twelve of the heavenly powers are represented, Jupiter, with august gravity, sitting in the midst. Neptune, th

earth, from which a horse has leaped forth. Minerva depicted herself with helmed head, her Ægis covering her breast. Such w

sure of the gods at such presumptuous mortals as had dared to contend with them. These were meant as warnings to her rival t

to give up the contest before it was too late. Arachne filled her web with subjects designedly chosen to exhibit the failing

d to mount his back, whereupon Jupiter advanced into the sea and swam with her to Crete. You would have thought it was a rea

rought, and so natural the water in which it swam. She seemed to look with longing eyes back upon the shore she was leaving,

ving, and to call to her companions for help. She appeared to shudder with terror at the sight of the heaving waves, and to

, and to draw back her feet from the water. Arachne filled her canvas with similar subjects, wonderfully well done, but stro

rbear to admire, yet felt indignant at the insult. She struck the web with her shuttle and rent it in pieces, she then touch

oth you and your descendants, to all future times.” She sprinkled her with the juices of aconite, and immediately her hair c

in sight; The velvet nap which on his wings doth lie, The silken down with which his back is dight, His broad outstretched h

listening eyes.”9 “Which when Arachne saw, as overlaid And mastered with workmanship so rare, She stood astonied long, ne

workmanship so rare, She stood astonied long, ne aught gainsaid; And with fast-fixed eyes on her did stare And by her silen

wit.” Tennyson, in his “Palace of Art,” describing the works of art with which the palace was adorned, thus alludes to Eur

ed as a warning to all presumptuous mortals not to compare themselves with the divinities. But one, and she a matron too, fa

iana, — when the people of Thebes were assembled, their brows crowned with laurel, bearing frankincense to the altars and pa

vows, — that Niobe appeared among the crowd. Her attire was splendid with gold and gems, and her aspect beautiful as the fa

the face of an angry woman can be. She stood and surveyed the people with haughty looks. “What folly,” said she, “is this!

saw to those who stand before your eyes! Why should Latona be honored with worship, and none be paid to me? My father was Ta

e for pride? Will you prefer to me this Latona, the Titan’s daughter, with her two children? I have seven times as many. For

o lose some of my children, I should hardly be left as poor as Latona with her two only. Away with you from these solemnitie

en, I should hardly be left as poor as Latona with her two only. Away with you from these solemnities, — put off the laurel

these solemnities, — put off the laurel from your brows, — have done with this worship!” The people obeyed, and left the sa

f the city pursued their warlike sports. The sons of Niobe were there with the rest, — some mounted on spirited horses richl

ots. Ismenos, the first-born, as he guided his foaming steeds, struck with an arrow from above, cried out, “Ah me!” dropped

of the people and grief of the attendants soon made Niobe acquainted with what had taken place. She could hardly think it p

d that they had been able to do it. Her husband, Amphion, overwhelmed with the blow, destroyed himself. Alas! how different

pallid arms to heaven, “Cruel Latona,” said she, “feed full your rage with my anguish! Satiate your hard heart, while I foll

ned, whom the mother held clasped in her arms, and covered as it were with her whole body. “Spare me one, and that the young

she sat, among sons, daughters, husband, all dead, and seemed torpid with grief. The breeze moved not her hair, no color wa

e of her never-ending grief.   The story of Niobe has furnished Byron with a fine illustration of the fallen condition of mo

ers; dost thou flow,     Old Tiber! through a marble wilderness? Rise with thy yellow waves, and mantle her distress.” Chil

ed child, is one of the most admired of the ancient statues. It ranks with the Laocoon and the Apollo among the masterpieces

om their birth, whence their name. The Gorgons were monstrous females with huge teeth like those of swine, brazen claws, and

infant to Polydectes, king of the country, by whom they were treated with kindness. When Perseus was grown up Polydectes se

den whose hair was her chief glory, but as she dared to vie in beauty with Minerva, the goddess deprived her of her charms a

ls which had chanced to catch a glimpse of her and had been petrified with the sight. Perseus, favored by Minerva and Mercur

ered reeds. * * * The surges baited by the fierce North-east, Tossing with fretful spleen their angry heads, E’en in the foa

Perseus and Atlas. After the slaughter of Medusa, Perseus, bearing with him the head of the Gorgon, flew far and wide, ov

dens, whose fruit was of gold, hanging from golden branches, half hid with golden leaves. Perseus said to him, “I come as a

ent;” and turning his face away, he held up the Gorgon’s head. Atlas, with all his bulk, was changed into stone. His beard a

he became a mountain, and (such was the pleasure of the gods) heaven with all its stars rests upon his shoulders. The Se

e was silent from modesty, and, if she could, would have hid her face with her hands; but when he repeated his questions, fo

, a sound was heard off upon the water, and the sea-monster appeared, with his head raised above the surface, cleaving the w

appeared, with his head raised above the surface, cleaving the waves with his broad breast. The virgin shrieked, the father

parents consent (how could they hesitate?) and promise a royal dowry with her. And now the monster was within the range of

ter was within the range of a stone thrown by a skilful slinger, when with a sudden bound the youth soared into the air. As

opes towards the tail. The brute spouts from his nostrils water mixed with blood. The wings of the hero are wet with it, and

om his nostrils water mixed with blood. The wings of the hero are wet with it, and he dares no longer trust to them. Alighti

houted so that the hills reëchoed the sound. The parents, transported with joy, embraced their future son-in-law, calling hi

the sense of human sight, And, therefore, to our weaker view O’erlaid with black, staid Wisdom’s hue. Black, but such as in

the heaven near the pole, where every night she is half the time held with her head downward, to give her a lesson of humili

ell in a future chapter. The Wedding Feast. The joyful parents, with Perseus and Andromeda, repaired to the palace, wh

as heard of warlike clamor, and Phineus, the betrothed of the virgin, with a party of his adherents, burst in, demanding the

dden thought struck Perseus, — “I will make my enemy defend me.” Then with a loud voice he exclaimed, “If I have any friend

his eyes!” and held aloft the Gorgon’s head. “Seek not to frighten us with your jugglery,” said Thescelus, and raised his ja

sight of the Gorgon and stiffened like the rest. Astyages struck him with his sword, but instead of wounding, it recoiled w

yages struck him with his sword, but instead of wounding, it recoiled with a ringing noise. Phineus beheld this dreadful res

de where Phineus was looking, and in the very form in which he knelt, with his hands outstretched and face averted, he becam

ht face on his shield Looked into stone the raging fray; so rose, But with no magic arms, wearing alone Th’ appalling and co

logy, were beings of unnatural proportions or parts, usually regarded with terror, as possessing immense strength and feroci

e all the terrible qualities of wild beasts were attributed, together with human sagacity and faculties. Others, as the gian

disproportioned to human beings, for they mingled in love and strife with them. But the superhuman giants, who warred with

d in love and strife with them. But the superhuman giants, who warred with the gods, were of vastly larger dimensions. Tityu

a ram, whence he was afterwards worshipped in Egypt as the god Ammon, with curved horns. Apollo became a crow, Bacchus a goa

o grow up. He therefore committed the child to the care of a herdsman with orders to destroy him; but the herdsman, moved wi

are of a herdsman with orders to destroy him; but the herdsman, moved with pity, yet not daring entirely to disobey, tied up

mand the attendant killed one of his horses, and the stranger, filled with rage, slew both Laius and his attendant. The youn

own father. Shortly after this event the city of Thebes was afflicted with a monster which infested the high-road. It was ca

arrested all travellers who came that way proposing to them a riddle, with the condition that those who could solve it shoul

ood creeps on hands and knees, in manhood walks erect, and in old age with the aid of a staff.” The Sphinx was so mortified

se horrors remained undiscovered, till at length Thebes was afflicted with famine and pestilence, and the oracle being consu

came to light. Jocasta put an end to her own life, and Œdipus, seized with madness, tore out his eyes and wandered away from

that Prœtus was jealous of him, suspecting that his wife Antea looked with too much admiration on the young warrior. From th

n-law. A lucky thought occurred to him, to send Bellerophon to combat with the Chimæra. Bellerophon accepted the proposal, b

ingly and suffered himself to be taken. Bellerophon mounted him, rose with him into the air, soon found the Chimæra, and gai

e presumed, An earthly guest, and drawn empyreal air (Thy tempering;) with like safety guided down Return me to my native el

Henry IV. where Vernon describes Prince Henry: — “I saw young Harry, with his beaver on, His cuishes on his thighs, gallant

antly armed, Rise from the ground like feathered Mercury, And vaulted with such ease into his seat, As if an angel dropped d

rom the clouds, To turn and wind a fiery Pegasus, And witch the world with noble horsemanship.” The Centaurs. Thes

ancients were too fond of a horse to consider the union of his nature with man’s as forming a very degraded compound, and ac

dmitted to the companionship of man, and at the marriage of Pirithous with Hippodamia they were among the guests. At the fea

sts. At the feast Eurytion, one of the Centaurs, becoming intoxicated with the wine, attempted to offer violence to the brid

the celebrated battle of the Lapithæ and Centaurs, a favorite subject with the sculptors and poets of antiquity. But not all

resented this, and Jupiter, at his request, struck the bold physician with lightning, and killed him, but after his death re

e earth Wheels her pale course; they on their mirth and dance Intent, with jocund music charm his ear. At once with joy and

heir mirth and dance Intent, with jocund music charm his ear. At once with joy and fear his heart rebounds.” The Griffin

t rebounds.” The Griffin, or Gryphon. The Griffin is a monster with the body of a lion, the head and wings of an eagl

the body of a lion, the head and wings of an eagle, and back covered with feathers. Like birds it builds its nest, and inst

send them out of her reach. Mercury assisted her, and gave her a ram with a golden fleece, on which she set the two childre

would convey them to a place of safety. The ram vaulted into the air with the children on his back, taking his course to th

s pretended, the rightful property of their family. Jason was pleased with the thought, and forthwith made preparations for

hey are called the Argonauts, from the name of their vessel. The Argo with her crew of heroes left the shores of Thessaly an

his men seized the favorable moment of the rebound, plied their oars with vigor, and passed safe through, though the island

den fleece if Jason would yoke to the plough two fire-breathing bulls with brazen feet, and sow the teeth of the dragon whic

ded, and by her aid, for she was a potent sorceress, he was furnished with a charm, by which he could encounter safely the b

o behold him. Regardless of the burning breath, he soothed their rage with his voice, patted their necks with fearless hand,

ning breath, he soothed their rage with his voice, patted their necks with fearless hand, and adroitly slipped over them the

way of safety and taught him how to use it, Medea herself, grew pale with fear. Jason for a time kept his assailants at bay

elf, grew pale with fear. Jason for a time kept his assailants at bay with his sword and shield, till, finding their numbers

and turned over on his side, fast asleep. Jason seized the fleece and with his friends and Medea accompanying, hastened to t

makes a beautiful allusion to this incident: — “When Hylas was sent with his urn to the fount,     Through fields full of

sent with his urn to the fount,     Through fields full of light and with heart full of play, Light rambled the boy over me

tasted     The fountain that runs by Philosophy’s shrine, Their time with the flowers on the margin have wasted,     And le

e doors of her palace nor under any roof, and shunned all intercourse with mortals. She next erected two altars, the one to

the place, that no profane eyes might look upon her mysteries. Then, with streaming hair, she thrice moved round the altars

gs in the blood, and laid them thereon to burn. Meanwhile the caldron with its contents was got ready. In it she put magic h

e caldron with its contents was got ready. In it she put magic herbs, with seeds and flowers of acrid juice, stones from the

head and beak of a crow, that outlives nine generations of men. These with many other things “without a name” she boiled tog

t a name” she boiled together for her purposed work, stirring them up with a dry olive branch; and behold! the branch when t

ch when taken out instantly became green, and before long was covered with leaves and a plentiful growth of young olives; an

ometimes ran over, the grass wherever the sprinklings fell shot forth with a verdure like that of spring. Seeing that all wa

king away into the meadow. The daughters of Pelias saw the experiment with delight, and appointed a time for their father to

t way. She put in only water and a few simple herbs. In the night she with the sisters entered the bed chamber of the old ki

f a spell cast upon them by Medea. The daughters stood by the bedside with their weapons drawn, but hesitated to strike, til

hen turning away their faces, and giving random blows, they smote him with their weapons. He, starting from his sleep, cried

. In her flight from Colchis she had taken her young brother Absyrtus with her. Finding the pursuing vessels of Æetes gainin

r of enormous size to lay waste the fields of Calydon. Its eyes shone with blood and fire, its bristles stood like threateni

he father of Ajax, Nestor, then a youth, but who in his age bore arms with Achilles and Ajax in the Trojan war, — these and

ulder, and her left hand bore the bow. Her face blent feminine beauty with the best graces of martial youth. Meleager saw an

em. One and another is thrown down and slain. Jason throws his spear, with a prayer to Diana for success; and the favoring g

o had sent it; but as he rushes on, the infuriated beast lays him low with a mortal wound. Theseus throws his lance, but it

his spear into the monster’s side, then rushes on and despatches him with repeated blows. Then rose a shout from those arou

tched from the maiden the trophy she had received. Meleager, kindling with rage at the wrong done to himself, and still more

she rescued from the flames, the brand which the Destinies had linked with Meleager’s life, she brings forth, and commands a

ow she is pale at the thought of the purposed deed, now flushed again with anger at the act of her son. As a vessel, driven

n his mother, the unknown cause of his fate. The flames increase, and with them the pain of the hero. Now both subside; now

ent hands upon herself. The sisters of Meleager mourned their brother with uncontrollable grief; till Diana, pitying the sor

or.” As he surveyed them he wished them all to be beaten, and swelled with envy of any one that seemed at all likely to win.

ose laggards? I offer myself for the contest.” Atalanta looked at him with a pitying countenance, and hardly knew whether sh

. In the garden of her temple, in her own island of Cyprus, is a tree with yellow leaves and yellow branches and golden frui

t!” It was doubtful whether the youth or the maiden heard these cries with the greater pleasure. But his breath began to fai

ok him. Again he threw an apple. She stopped again, but again came up with him. The goal was near; one chance only remained.

give offence to Cybele. That powerful goddess was not to be insulted with impunity. She took from them their human form and

ishes Juno and Ceres. Sometimes she is veiled, and seated on a throne with lions at her side, at other times riding in a cha

tion from Cybele: — “She looks a sea-Cybele fresh from ocean, Rising with her tiara of proud towers At airy distance, with

h from ocean, Rising with her tiara of proud towers At airy distance, with majestic motion, A ruler of the waters and their

him as he lay in his cradle, but the precocious infant strangled them with his own hands. He was, however, by the arts of Ju

h are called the “Twelve Labors of Hercules.” The first was the fight with the Nemean lion. The valley of Nemea was infested

n his club and arrows against the lion, Hercules strangled the animal with his hands. He returned carrying the dead lion on

was that Neptune, who loved her, had permitted her to touch the rock with his trident, and a spring of three outlets burst

, of which the middle one was immortal. Hercules struck off its heads with his club, but in the place of the head knocked of

of the head knocked off, two new ones grew forth each time. At length with the assistance of his faithful servant Iolaus, he

enjoined him was to bring to Eurystheus the oxen of Geryon, a monster with three bodies, who dwelt in the island Erytheia, (

on his own shoulders, and sent Atlas to seek the apples. He returned with them, and though somewhat reluctantly, took his b

ly, took his burden upon his shoulders again, and let Hercules return with the apples to Eurystheus. Milton in his Comus ma

tler, whose strength was invincible so long as he remained in contact with his mother Earth. He compelled all strangers who

Earth. He compelled all strangers who came to his country to wrestle with him, on condition that if conquered (as they all

and finding that it was of no avail to throw him, for he always rose with renewed strength from every fall, he lifted him u

ffeminately, wearing at times the dress of a woman, and spinning wool with the hand-maidens of Omphale, while the queen wore

n. When this service was ended he married Dejanira and lived in peace with her three years. On one occasion as he was travel

d in peace with her three years. On one occasion as he was travelling with his wife, they came to a river, across which the

Dejanira to Nessus to be carried across. Nessus attempted to run away with her, but Hercules heard her cries and shot an arr

the sea. He wrenched off the garment, but it stuck to his flesh, and with it he tore away whole pieces of his body. In this

t seeing the champion of the earth so brought to his end. But Jupiter with cheerful countenance thus addressed them: “I am p

t.” The gods all gave their assent; Juno only heard the closing words with some displeasure that she should be so particular

diviner part, instead of being injured thereby, seemed to start forth with new vigor, to assume a more lofty port and a more

ing To the hall where reigns his sire adored; Youth’s bright goddess, with a blush at meeting, Gives the nectar to her lord.

was dismissed from her office in consequence of a fall which she met with one day when in attendance on the gods. Her succe

time had come, his mother led Theseus to the stone, and he removed it with ease and took the sword and shoes. As the roads w

it with ease and took the sword and shoes. As the roads were infested with robbers, his grandfather pressed him earnestly to

and the soul of a hero, and eager to signalize himself like Hercules, with whose fame all Greece then rang, by destroying th

Periphetes, a son of Vulcan. This ferocious savage always went armed with a club of iron, and all travellers stood in terro

terwards as a memorial of his first victory. Several similar contests with the petty tyrants and marauders of the country fo

Knowing by her arts who he was, and fearing the loss of her influence with her husband if Theseus should be acknowledged as

eseus should be acknowledged as his son, she filled the mind of Ægeus with suspicions of the young stranger, and induced him

s, who were sent every year to be devoured by the Minotaur, a monster with a bull’s body and a human head. It was exceedingl

s, find his way out unassisted. Here the Minotaur roamed, and was fed with human victims. Theseus resolved to deliver his co

of Theseus, by whom her love was readily returned. She furnished him with a sword, with which to encounter the Minotaur, an

y whom her love was readily returned. She furnished him with a sword, with which to encounter the Minotaur, and with a clew

furnished him with a sword, with which to encounter the Minotaur, and with a clew of thread by which he might find his way o

d from the labyrinth, and taking Ariadne as the companion of his way, with his rescued companions sailed for Athens. On thei

repel the plunderers. The moment Pirithous beheld him, he was seized with admiration; he stretched out his hand as a token

a child, afterwards so celebrated as the cause of the Trojan war, and with the aid of his friend he carried her off. Piritho

Crete. Phaedra saw in Hippolytus, the son of Theseus, a youth endowed with all the graces and virtues of his father, and of

nd suspended before the statue of the goddess. The Peplus was covered with embroidery, worked by select virgins of the noble

lympiads. The first Olympiad is generally considered as corresponding with the year 776 B. C. The Pythian games were celebra

dne was built by Dædalus, a most skilful artificer. It was an edifice with numberless winding passages and turnings opening

elf and his young son Icarus. He wrought feathers together, beginning with the smallest and adding larger, so as to form an

rger, so as to form an increasing surface. The larger ones he secured with thread and the smaller with wax, and gave the who

asing surface. The larger ones he secured with thread and the smaller with wax, and gave the whole a gentle curvature like t

he wind had blown away, and then handling the wax and working it over with his fingers, by his play impeding his father in h

and fitted the wings to his shoulders, the face of the father was wet with tears, and his hands trembled. He kissed the boy,

wax which held the feathers together, and they came off. He fluttered with his arms, but no feathers remained to hold the ai

e saw. He put two pieces of iron together, connecting them at one end with a rivet, and sharpening the other ends, and made

The death of Icarus is told in the following lines by Darwin: — “—— with melting wax and loosened strings Sunk hapless Ica

grave; O’er his pale corse their pearly sea-flowers shed, And strewed with crimson moss his marble bed; Struck in their cora

carried off Helen from Sparta, the youthful heroes Castor and Pollux, with their followers, hasted to her rescue. Theseus wa

the Argonautic expedition, we find Castor and Pollux engaged in a war with Idas and Lynceus. Castor was slain, and Pollux, i

re believed to have appeared occasionally in later times, taking part with one side or the other, in hard-fought fields, and

r, without naming what it is. Jove gives his promise, and confirms it with the irrevocable oath, attesting the river Styx, t

ne and the mode of extracting its precious juice; but Juno struck him with madness, and drove him forth a wanderer through v

d its introduction on account of the disorders and madness it brought with it. As he approached his native city Thebes, Pent

w in his Drinking Song thus describes the march of Bacchus: — “Fauns with youthful Bacchus follow;     Ivy crowns that brow

e Bacchanals, but had succeeded in taking one of them prisoner, whom, with his hands tied behind him, they brought before th

ied behind him, they brought before the king. Pentheus, beholding him with wrathful countenance, said, “Fellow! you shall sp

f mounted the hill to observe the wind; when my men returned bringing with them a prize, as they thought, a boy of delicate

d he) as if shaking off his drowsiness exclaimed, ‘What are you doing with me? What is this fighting about? Who brought me h

ned round the oars and hindered their motion, and clung to the sails, with heavy clusters of berries. A vine, laden with gra

and clung to the sails, with heavy clusters of berries. A vine, laden with grapes, ran up the mast, and along the sides of t

f had a chaplet of vine leaves, and bore in his hand a spear wreathed with ivy. Tigers crouched at his feet, and forms of ly

of lynxes and spotted panthers played around him. The men were seized with terror or madness; some leaped overboard; others

from their broad nostrils. Of twenty men I alone was left. Trembling with fear, the god cheered me. ‘Fear not,’ said he; ‘s

to the scene of the solemnities. The mountain Citheron was all alive with worshippers, and the cries of the Bacchanals reso

ndoned herself to grief. But Venus took pity on her, and consoled her with the promise that she should have an immortal love

his wife. As a marriage present he gave her a golden crown, enriched with gems, and when she died, he took her crown and th

grottos, wandered on the mountains and in valleys, and amused himself with the chase or in leading the dances of the nymphs.

the wood-nymphs, called Dryads or Hamadryads, were believed to perish with the trees which had been their abode and with whi

were believed to perish with the trees which had been their abode and with which they had come into existence. It was theref

ture: —                                         “Universal Pan, Knit with the Graces and the Hours in dance, Led on the ete

he imagination of the Greeks peopled all the regions of earth and sea with divinities, to whose agency it attributed those p

of weeping heard and loud lament; From haunted spring and dale, Edged with poplar pale,     The parting Genius is with sighi

ed spring and dale, Edged with poplar pale,     The parting Genius is with sighing sent; With flower-enwoven tresses torn, T

on and a despiser of the gods. On one occasion he presumed to violate with the axe a grove sacred to Ceres. There stood in t

hem ventured to remonstrate and hold back the fatal axe. Erisichthon, with a scornful look, said to him, “Receive the reward

him the weapon which he had held aside from the tree, gashed his body with many wounds, and cut off his head. Then from the

at last the tree, sundered by repeated blows and drawn by ropes, fell with a crash and prostrated a great part of the grove

she stopped the dragons and found Famine in a stony field, pulling up with teeth and claws the scanty herbage. Her hair was

gh, her eyes sunk, her face pale, her lips blanched, her jaws covered with dust, and her skin drawn tight, so as to show all

bedchamber of the guilty man, and found him asleep. She enfolded him with her wings and breathed herself into him, infusing

d said, “Good fisherman, whither went the maiden whom I saw just now, with hair dishevelled and in humble garb, standing abo

e resumed her own form. Her father was well pleased to find her still with him, and the money too that he got by the sale of

ants to prop it up. The nymph, who had been on the point of perishing with the tree, came and expressed her gratitude to him

the water deities. The symbol of his power was the trident, or spear with three points, with which he used to shatter rocks

The symbol of his power was the trident, or spear with three points, with which he used to shatter rocks, to call forth or

ughter of Cadmus and wife of Athamas, flying from her frantic husband with her little son Melicertes in her arms, sprang fro

alth Command,) to praise your crystal element. O comfortable streams! with eager lips And trembling hands the languid thirst

feverish mirth And sick dejection; still serene and pleased, Blessed with divine immunity from ills, Long centuries they li

as said that Numa, the second king of Rome, was favored by this nymph with secret interviews, in which she taught him those

loved the nymph Orithyia, and tried to play the lover’s part, but met with poor success. It was hard for him to breathe gent

anied the Argonautic expedition, and did good service in an encounter with those monstrous birds the Harpies. Zephyrus was t

                                 “He on his side Leaning half raised, with looks of cordial love, Hung over her enamored, an

uty which, whether waking or asleep, Shot forth peculiar graces; then with voice, Mild as when Zephyrus on Flora breathes, H

on of this power? Sometimes I become a serpent, and sometimes a bull, with horns on my head. Or I should say I once could do

is defeats? Yet I will not hesitate to relate mine, comforting myself with the thought of the greatness of my conqueror, for

not stand in my way that royal Juno owes me no enmity nor punishes me with heavy tasks. As for this man, who boasts himself

by his mother’s shame.’ As I said this Hercules scowled upon me, and with difficulty restrained his rage. ‘My hand will ans

yield, foot to foot, I bending over him, clinching his hand in mine, with my forehead almost touching his. Thrice Hercules

len on me. I struggled to get my arms at liberty, panting and reeking with perspiration. He gave me no chance to recover, bu

n the form of a serpent. I curled my body in a coil and hissed at him with my forked tongue. He smiled scornfully at this, a

labor of my infancy to conquer snakes.’ So saying he clasped my neck with his hands. I was almost choked, and struggled to

one remained to me and assumed the form of a bull. He grasped my neck with his arm, and dragging my head down to the ground,

horn from my head. The Naiades took it, consecrated it, and filled it with fragrant flowers. Plenty adopted my horn and made

ning in their mythological tales. They explain this fight of Acheloüs with Hercules by saying Acheloüs was a river that in s

When the fable says that Acheloüs loved Dejanira, and sought a union with her, the meaning is that the river in its winding

the daughters of Melisseus, a Cretan king. They fed the infant deity with the milk of the goat Amalthea. Jupiter broke off

ne of the horns of the goat and gave it to his nurses, and endowed it with the wonderful power of becoming filled with whate

is nurses, and endowed it with the wonderful power of becoming filled with whatever the possessor might wish. The name of Am

, Book IV.: —                             “— That Nyseian isle, Girt with the river Triton, where old Cham, Whom Gentiles A

estis. Æsculapius, the son of Apollo, was endowed by his father with such skill in the healing art that he even restor

im on the verdant banks of the river Amphrysos. Admetus was a suitor, with others, for the hand of Alcestis, the daughter of

re at the thought of losing him, shrunk from the call. Then Alcestis, with a generous self-devotion, proffered herself as th

f connubial devotion. She was the daughter of Œdipus and Jocasta, who with all their descendants were the victims of an unre

nce. Antigone, his daughter, alone shared his wanderings and remained with him till he died, and then returned to Thebes. He

, king of Argos, who gave him his daughter in marriage, and aided him with an army to enforce his claim to the kingdom. This

lace was a present which Vulcan had given to Harmonia on her marriage with Cadmus, and Polynices had taken it with him on hi

n to Harmonia on her marriage with Cadmus, and Polynices had taken it with him on his flight from Thebes. Eriphyle could not

he mounted, but Jupiter, offended at his impious language, struck him with a thunderbolt. When his obsequies were celebrated

threw away his life in the first encounter. The siege continued long, with various success. At length both hosts agreed that

of the fallen princes, now become king, caused Eteocles to be buried with distinguished honor, but suffered the body of Pol

of death to give it burial. Antigone, the sister of Polynices, heard with indignation the revolting edict which consigned h

assistance, she determined to brave the hazard, and to bury the body with her own hands. She was detected in the act, and C

 Jameson, in her Characteristics of Women, has compared her character with that of Cordelia, in Shakspere’s King Lear. The p

ther; wherefore should I ask For longer life? O, I was fond of misery with him; E’en what was most unlovely grew beloved Whe

misery with him; E’en what was most unlovely grew beloved When he was with me. O my dearest father, Beneath the earth now in

father, Beneath the earth now in deep darkness hid, Worn as thou wert with age, to me thou still Wast dear, and shalt be eve

e her father’s house, Icarius, unable to bear the thoughts of parting with his daughter, tried to persuade her to remain wit

houghts of parting with his daughter, tried to persuade her to remain with him, and not accompany her husband to Ithaca. Uly

er husband to Ithaca. Ulysses gave Penelope her choice, to stay or go with him. Penelope made no reply, but dropped her veil

e son of Apollo and the Muse Calliope. He was presented by his father with a Lyre and taught to play upon it, which he did t

and gathering round him laid by their fierceness, and stood entranced with his lay. Nay, the very trees and rocks were sensi

their hardness, softened by his notes. Hymen had been called to bless with his presence the nuptials of Orpheus with Eurydic

en had been called to bless with his presence the nuptials of Orpheus with Eurydice; but though he attended, he brought no h

heus with Eurydice; but though he attended, he brought no happy omens with him. His very torch smoked and brought tears into

s very torch smoked and brought tears into their eyes. In coincidence with such prognostics, Eurydice, shortly after her mar

ch prognostics, Eurydice, shortly after her marriage, while wandering with the nymphs, her companions, was seen by the sheph

hs, her companions, was seen by the shepherd Aristæus, who was struck with her beauty and made advances to her. She fled, an

elf before the throne of Pluto and Proserpine. Accompanying the words with the lyre, he sung, “O deities of the under world,

rets of Tartarus, nor to try my strength against the three-headed dog with snaky hair who guards the entrance. I come to see

ht to an untimely end. Love has led me here, Love, a god all powerful with us who dwell on the earth, and, if old traditions

hen for the first time, it is said, the cheeks of the Furies were wet with tears. Proserpine could not resist, and Pluto him

ydice was called. She came from among the new-arrived ghosts, limping with her wounded foot. Orpheus was permitted to take h

limping with her wounded foot. Orpheus was permitted to take her away with him on one condition, that he should not turn aro

heir best to captivate him, but he repulsed their advances. They bore with him as long as they could; but finding him insens

of the music, and then the missiles reached him and soon were stained with his blood. The maniacs tore him limb from limb, a

d time to Tartarus, where he sought out his Eurydice and embraced her with eager arms. They roam the happy fields together n

y for a thoughtless glance.   The story of Orpheus has furnished Pope with an illustration of the power of music, for his Od

ls her ghost,                 Forever, ever, ever lost!           Now with furies surrounded,           Despairing, confound

See, wild as the winds o’er the desert he flies; Hark! Hæmus resounds with the Bacchanals’ cries;                 Ah, see, h

these complaints as she sat in her palace at the bottom of the river, with her attendant nymphs around her. They were engage

ie; he saw the enormous receptacles of waters and was almost deafened with the roar, while he surveyed them hurrying off in

hospitably received by Cyrene and her nymphs, who spread their table with the richest dainties. They first poured out libat

. They first poured out libations to Neptune, then regaled themselves with the feast, and after that Cyrene thus addressed h

He will become a wild boar or a fierce tiger, a scaly dragon or lion with yellow mane. Or he will make a noise like the cra

s own figure and obey your commands.” So saying she sprinkled her son with fragrant nectar, the beverage of the gods, and im

o remedy it.” At these words the prophet, fixing on him his gray eyes with a piercing look, thus spoke: “You receive the mer

s been describing the fantastic forms which ice assumes in connection with waterfalls, etc.: — “Less worthy of applause tho

ing the flocks. Meanwhile Antiope, their mother, who had been treated with great cruelty by Lycus, the usurping king of Theb

was dead.15 Amphion, having become king of Thebes, fortified the city with a wall. It is said that when he played on his lyr

pupil rather harshly, he roused the anger of Hercules, who struck him with his lyre and killed him. Thamyris. An ancie

the contest, was deprived by them of his sight. Milton alludes to him with other blind bards, when speaking of his own blind

ying him alive. Melampus. Melampus was the first mortal endowed with prophetic powers. Before his house there stood an

One day when he was asleep under the oak the serpents licked his ears with their tongues. On awaking he was astonished to fi

aid to have written sacred poems and oracles. Milton couples his name with that of Orpheus in his Il Penseroso: — “But O, s

amous musician, and dwelt in the court of Periander, king of Corinth, with whom he was a great favorite. There was to be a m

r, who besought him like a brother to give up the thought. “Pray stay with me,” he said, “and be contented. He who strives t

ousness of my wide-spread fame!” He went, won the prize, and embarked with his wealth in a Corinthian ship for home. On the

e ocean — but he had to man. He overheard the seamen exchanging hints with one another, and found they were plotting to poss

him in graceful folds, jewels adorned his arms, his brow was crowned with a golden wreath, and over his neck and shoulders

lden wreath, and over his neck and shoulders flowed his hair perfumed with odors. His left hand held the lyre, his right the

med with odors. His left hand held the lyre, his right the ivory wand with which he struck its chords. Like one inspired, he

rink the morning air and glitter in the morning ray. The seamen gazed with admiration. He strode forward to the vessel’s sid

blue sea. Addressing his lyre, he sang, “Companion of my voice, come with me to the realm of shades. Though Cerberus may gr

riendly fish! Would that I could reward thee; but thou canst not wend with me, nor I with thee. Companionship we may not hav

ould that I could reward thee; but thou canst not wend with me, nor I with thee. Companionship we may not have. May Galatea,

riander all the wonderful events that had befallen him, who heard him with amazement. “Shall such wickedness triumph?” said

him in graceful folds, jewels adorned his arms, his brow was crowned with a golden wreath, and over his neck and shoulders

lden wreath, and over his neck and shoulders flowed his hair perfumed with odors; his left hand held the lyre, his right the

med with odors; his left hand held the lyre, his right the ivory wand with which he struck its chords. They fell prostrate a

next ensue,     And, on the floating waters as enthroned,      Arion with his harp unto him drew     The ears and hearts of

he gift of song, the honeyed lips of the poet, and he pursued his way with lightsome step, full of the god. Already the towe

s of Corinth crowning the height appeared in view, and he had entered with pious awe the sacred grove of Neptune. No living

th. The body, despoiled and mangled, was found, and though disfigured with wounds, was recognized by the friend in Corinth w

u restored to me?” he exclaimed. “I who hoped to entwine your temples with the wreath of triumph in the strife of song!” The

rife of song!” The guests assembled at the festival heard the tidings with dismay. All Greece felt the wound, every heart ow

he magistrates, and demanded vengeance on the murderers and expiation with their blood. But what trace or mark shall point o

of the chorus personating the Furies, which in solemn guise advances with measured step, and moves around the circuit of th

risters, clad in black, bore in their fleshless hands torches blazing with a pitchy flame. Their cheeks were bloodless, and

heart fluttered between illusion and reality, and every breast panted with undefined terror, quailing before the awful power

ament, whom some murderer’s hand laid low! What have the cranes to do with him?” and louder grew the swell of voices, while

lled his words, but it was too late. The faces of the murderers, pale with terror, betrayed their guilt. The people took the

celled. His genius was inclined to the pathetic, and none could touch with truer effect the chords of human sympathy. The La

the exploits of Castor and Pollux. Such digressions were not unusual with the poets on similar occasions, and one might sup

rcely, however, had he left the banqueting hall when the roof fell in with a loud crash, burying Scopas and all his guests b

ry of Sappho commonly alluded to is that she was passionately in love with a beautiful youth named Phaon, and failing to obt

grave. Dark Sappho! could not verse immortal save That breast imbued with such immortal fire? “’Twas on a Grecian autumn’s

y was that Jupiter bestowed on him the gift of perpetual youth united with perpetual sleep. Of one so gifted we can have but

never dies; How she conveyed him softly in a sleep, His temples bound with poppy, to the steep Head of old Latmos, where she

Head of old Latmos, where she stoops each night, Gilding the mountain with her brother’s light, To kiss her sweetest.” O

d, was restored to sight by his beam. After this he dwelt as a hunter with Diana, with whom he was a favorite, and it is eve

red to sight by his beam. After this he dwelt as a hunter with Diana, with whom he was a favorite, and it is even said she w

r, but to no purpose. One day, observing Orion wading through the sea with his head just above the water, Apollo pointed it

it that black thing on the sea. The archer-goddess discharged a shaft with fatal aim. The waves rolled the dead body of Orio

led the dead body of Orion to the land, and bewailing her fatal error with many tears, Diana placed him among the stars, whe

tears, Diana placed him among the stars, where he appears as a giant, with a girdle, sword, lion’s skin, and club. Sirius, h

goddess of the Dawn, like her sister the Moon, was at times inspired with the love of mortals. Her greatest favorite was Ti

opians, and dwelt in the extreme east, on the shore of Ocean. He came with his warriors to assist the kindred of his father

the kindred of his father in the war of Troy. King Priam received him with great honors, and listened with admiration to his

war of Troy. King Priam received him with great honors, and listened with admiration to his narrative of the wonders of the

ns fled in dismay. Aurora, who from her station in the sky had viewed with apprehension the danger of her son, when she saw

d the Pleiads, and wept and lamented over her son. Night, in sympathy with her grief, spread the heaven with clouds; all nat

ed over her son. Night, in sympathy with her grief, spread the heaven with clouds; all nature mourned for the offspring of t

. There is some doubt about the identification of the existing statue with the one described by the ancients, and the myster

owers.” The vocal statue of Memnon is a favorite subject of allusion with the poets. Darwin, in his Botanic Garden, says: —

s stopped her utterance, which when the pitying maiden had wiped away with her delicate finger, and soothed the goddess, “Te

defied even Jove himself, learned to feel what love was, and, touched with a passion for me, forgot his flocks and his well-

try to make himself agreeable; he harrowed those coarse locks of his with a comb, and mowed his beard with a sickle, looked

e harrowed those coarse locks of his with a comb, and mowed his beard with a sickle, looked at his harsh features in the wat

in safety. He paced up and down the sea-shore, imprinting huge tracks with his heavy tread, and, when weary, lay tranquilly

tant strain. It was full of extravagant praises of my beauty, mingled with passionate reproaches of my coldness and cruelty.

ry Cyclops alone could utter. Ætna trembled at the sound. I, overcome with terror, plunged into the water. Acis turned and f

ed him. “All that fate left in my power I did for Acis. I endowed him with the honors of his grandfather, the river-god. The

the Cyclops. “What not his father’s care nor tutor’s art Could plant with pains in his unpolished heart, The best instructo

n grounds to fruitfulness are fired. Love taught him shame, and shame with love at strife Soon taught the sweet civilities o

e occasion she did a very foolish thing; she entered into competition with Juno and Venus for the prize of beauty. It happen

thus: At the nuptials of Peleus and Thetis all the gods were invited with the exception of Eris, or Discord. Enraged at her

at her exclusion, the goddess threw a golden apple among the guests, with the inscription, “For the fairest.” Thereupon Jun

and avenge her cause if necessary. She chose Menelaus, and was living with him happily when Paris became their guest. Paris,

ris became their guest. Paris, aided by Venus, persuaded her to elope with him, and carried her to Troy, whence arose the fa

ch he had placed some arms. While the king’s daughters were engrossed with the other contents of the merchant’s pack, Achill

n obscurity, because there were certain ominous forebodings connected with him from his infancy that he would be the ruin of

engthened his state by good government at home and numerous alliances with his neighbors. But the principal stay and support

e wrong which brought this danger upon her. He was united in marriage with Andromache, and as a husband and father his chara

which was sacred to Diana, and the goddess in return visited the army with pestilence, and produced a calm which prevented t

  I, blinded by my tears, “Still strove to speak; my voice was thick with sighs,     As in a dream. Dimly I could descry Th

   As in a dream. Dimly I could descry The stern black-bearded kings, with wolfish eyes,               Waiting to see me die

his death reached her she implored the gods to be allowed to converse with him only three hours. The request was granted. Me

back to the upper world, and when he died a second time Laodamia died with him. There was a story that the nymphs planted el

excite by turns the hopes and fears of the powers above who took part with either side. Juno and Minerva, in consequence of

ld; that Agamemnon should yield the maiden, the cause of the dispute, with ample gifts to atone for the wrong he had done. A

appeared in the form of Calchas the prophet, encouraged the warriors with his shouts, and appealed to each individually til

anding her to send Iris and Apollo to him. When Iris came he sent her with a stern message to Neptune, ordering him instantl

Hector’s bruises and to inspirit his heart. These orders were obeyed with such speed that, while the battle still raged, He

oy, Achilles and himself had been charged by their respective fathers with different advice: Achilles to aspire to the highe

sight of it may drive back the Trojans.” Patroclus was strongly moved with this address, and hastened back to Achilles, revo

fore he went, Achilles strictly charged him that he should be content with repelling the foe “Seek not,” said he, “to press

he acclaim. The Trojans, at the sight of the well-known armor, struck with terror, looked everywhere for refuge. First those

rpedon threw his spear, but missed Patroclus, but Patroclus threw his with better success. It pierced Sarpedon’s breast and

an wounded him in the back, and Hector, pressing forward, pierced him with his spear. He fell mortally wounded. Then arose a

or and his bravest warriors struggled to capture it. The battle raged with equal fortunes, when Jove enveloped the whole fac

ged with equal fortunes, when Jove enveloped the whole face of heaven with a dark cloud. The lightning flashed, the thunder

e skies; Give day; and, since thy sovereign will is such, Destruction with it; but, O, give us day.” —  Cowper. Or, as rend

rayer and dispersed the clouds. Then Ajax sent Antilochus to Achilles with the intelligence of Patroclus’s death, and of the

as and the rest of the Trojans. Achilles heard the fate of his friend with such distress that Antilochus feared for a while

d she hastened to him to inquire the cause. She found him overwhelmed with self-reproach that he had indulged his resentment

Thetis, Vulcan immediately laid aside his work and hastened to comply with her wishes. He fabricated a splendid suit of armo

ricated a splendid suit of armor for Achilles, first a shield adorned with elaborate devices, then a helmet crested with gol

first a shield adorned with elaborate devices, then a helmet crested with gold, then a corselet and greaves of impenetrable

ip. It was all done in one night, and Thetis, receiving it, descended with it to earth, and laid it down at Achilles’ feet a

place between the heroes. Then Achilles went forth to battle inspired with a rage and thirst for vengeance that made him irr

felt himself unequal, did not decline the combat. He hurled his spear with all his force against the shield the work of Vulc

ced two thicknesses, but was stopped in the third. Achilles threw his with better success. It pierced through the shield of

ern times could hardly lift, and was about to throw it, and Achilles, with sword drawn, was about to rush upon him, when Nep

o rush upon him, when Neptune, who looked out upon the contest, moved with pity for Æneas, who he saw would surely fall a vi

ctor’s bravest brother, appeared suddenly at his side. Hector saw him with delight, and thus strengthened stopped his flight

of Hector. When he came within reach of his spear, Achilles choosing with his eye a vulnerable part where the armor leaves

uneral rites to their friend. A pile was erected, and the body burned with due solemnity; and then ensued games of strength

e dust. But Apollo would not permit the body to be torn or disfigured with all this abuse, but preserved it free from all ta

obey. He opened his treasuries and took out rich garments and cloths, with ten talents in gold and two splendid tripods and

s designed for a ransom to Achilles. When all was ready, the old king with a single companion as aged as himself, the herald

himself, the herald Idæus, drove forth from the gates, parting there with Hecuba, his queen, and all his friends, who lamen

s, who lamented him as going to certain death. But Jupiter, beholding with compassion the venerable king, sent Mercury to be

ou hast slain. I come to redeem his body, bringing inestimable ransom with me. Achilles! reverence the gods! recollect thy f

pt; remembering by turns his absent father and his lost friend. Moved with pity of Priam’s silver locks and beard, he raised

reto by the evident will of Jove.” So saying he arose, and went forth with his two friends, and unloaded of its charge the l

it should be borne back to Troy. Then Achilles dismissed the old king with his attendants, having first pledged himself to a

of the lifeless body renewed their lamentations. The people all wept with them, and to the going down of the sun there was

ed the pile. When it had completely burned, they quenched the cinders with wine, collected the bones and placed them in a go

s and Electra. The Fall of Troy. The story of the Iliad ends with the death of Hector, and it is from the Odyssey a

already told. Another was Penthesilea, queen of the Amazons, who came with a band of female warriors. All the authorities at

h was allowed the Trojans for the burial of Hector. He was captivated with her charms, and to win her in marriage agreed to

th her charms, and to win her in marriage agreed to use his influence with the Greeks to grant peace to Troy. While in the t

of the name of Ajax, Ai, the Greek for “woe.” Thus Ajax is a claimant with the boy Hyacinthus for the honor of giving birth

ules. They were in possession of Philoctetes, the friend who had been with Hercules at the last and lighted his funeral pyre

recian expedition against Troy, but had accidentally wounded his foot with one of the poisoned arrows, and the smell from hi

back to Troy and died. Œnone quickly repented, and hastened after him with remedies, but came too late, and in her grief hun

ntended as a propitiatory offering to Minerva, but in fact was filled with armed men. The remaining Greeks then betook thems

ed, dragging forward one who seemed a prisoner and a Greek. Stupefied with terror, he was brought before the chiefs, who rea

best secure the monstrous horse and the favorable auguries connected with it, when suddenly a prodigy occurred which left n

tions. The serpents advanced directly to the spot where Laocoon stood with his two sons. They first attacked the children, w

ger hesitated to regard as a sacred object, and prepared to introduce with due solemnity into the city. This was done with s

prepared to introduce with due solemnity into the city. This was done with songs and triumphal acclamations, and the day clo

is was done with songs and triumphal acclamations, and the day closed with festivity. In the night the armed men who were en

er cover of the night. The city was set on fire; the people, overcome with feasting and sleep, put to the sword, and Troy co

While spouts run clattering o’er the roof by fits, And ever and anon with frightful din The leather sounds; he trembles fro

les from within. So when Troy chairmen bore the wooden steed Pregnant with Greeks impatient to be freed, (Those bully Greeks

ead of paying chairmen, run them through;) Laocoon struck the outside with a spear, And each imprisoned champion quaked with

struck the outside with a spear, And each imprisoned champion quaked with fear.” King Priam lived to see the downfall of h

he Greeks took the city. He had armed himself and was about to mingle with the combatants, but was prevailed on by Hecuba, h

tants, but was prevailed on by Hecuba, his aged queen, to take refuge with herself and his daughters as a suppliant at the a

ded, and expired at the feet of his father; whereupon Priam, overcome with indignation, hurled his spear with feeble hand ag

father; whereupon Priam, overcome with indignation, hurled his spear with feeble hand against Pyrrhus,19 and was forthwith

Apollo, and he gave her the gift of prophecy; but afterwards offended with her, he rendered the gift unavailing by ordaining

Phœnicia, and Egypt. In Egypt they were kindly treated and presented with rich gifts, of which Helen’s share was a golden s

emnestra had been false to him, and when his return was expected, she with her paramour, Ægisthus, laid a plan for his destr

Strophius, King of Phocis. In the palace of Strophius Orestes grew up with the king’s son Pylades, and formed with him that

of Strophius Orestes grew up with the king’s son Pylades, and formed with him that ardent friendship which has become prove

Iphigenia disclosed herself to them, and the three made their escape with the statue of the goddess, and returned to Mycena

relieved from the vengeance of the Erinyes. At length he took refuge with Minerva at Athens. The goddess afforded him prote

aving to the main; And night’s descending shadows hide     That field with blood bedewed in vain, The desert of old Priam’s

rst made land at Ismarus, city of the Ciconians, where, in a skirmish with the inhabitants, Ulysses lost six men from each s

ere shepherds. Ulysses left the main body of his ships at anchor, and with one vessel went to the Cyclopes’ island to explor

essel went to the Cyclopes’ island to explore for supplies. He landed with his companions, carrying with them a jar of wine

land to explore for supplies. He landed with his companions, carrying with them a jar of wine for a present, and coming to a

and finding no one within examined its contents. They found it stored with the richest of the flock, quantities of cheese, p

of the cave, and dashed out their brains. He proceeded to devour them with great relish, and having made a hearty meal, stre

hat it would only expose them all to certain destruction, as the rock with which the giant had closed up the door was far be

might take vengeance for his murdered friends, and effect his escape with his surviving companions. He made his men prepare

he straw on the cavern floor. Then four of the boldest were selected, with whom Ulysses joined himself as a fifth. The Cyclo

meal of men’s flesh.” He took and drank it, and was hugely delighted with it, and called for more. Ulysses supplied him onc

the giant lay down to repose, and was soon sound asleep. Then Ulysses with his four select friends thrust the end of the sta

twirling it round as a carpenter does his auger. The howling monster with his outcry filled the cavern, and Ulysses with hi

r. The howling monster with his outcry filled the cavern, and Ulysses with his aids nimbly got out of his way and concealed

l of all as they went out, that Ulysses and his men should not escape with them. But Ulysses had made his men harness the ra

Ulysses had made his men harness the rams of the flock three abreast, with osiers which they found on the floor of the cave.

rt of the flock down to the shore to their boat. They put them aboard with all haste, then pushed off from the shore, and wh

, so that it barely escaped being swamped by the waves. When they had with the utmost difficulty pulled off shore, Ulysses w

hey had reached a safer distance than before. The giant answered them with curses, but Ulysses and his friends plied their o

hospitably, and at his departure gave him, tied up in a leathern bag, with a silver string, such winds as might be hurtful a

eans of their oars. The Læstrygonians. Their next adventure was with the barbarous tribe of Læstrygonians. The vessels

tacked them, heaving huge stones which broke and overturned them, and with their spears despatched the seamen as they strugg

despatched the seamen as they struggled in the water. All the vessels with their crews were destroyed, except Ulysses’ own s

rously, and they escaped. With grief for their slain companions mixed with joy at their own escape, they pursued their way t

ot at the centre of the island, where he perceived a palace embowered with trees. He sent forward one-half of his crew, unde

nger. The goddess conducted her guests to a seat, and had them served with wine and other delicacies. When they had feasted

licacies. When they had feasted heartily, she touched them one by one with her wand, and they became immediately changed int

diately changed into swine, in “head, body, voice, and bristles,” yet with their intellects as before. She shut them in her

ir intellects as before. She shut them in her sties and supplied them with acorns and such other things as swine love. Eu

met a youth who addressed him familiarly, appearing to be acquainted with his adventures. He announced himself as Mercury,

lysses was not to be dissuaded from his attempt, Mercury provided him with a sprig of the plant Moly, of wonderful power to

ad done his companions, and after he had eaten and drank, touched him with her wand, saying, “Hence, seek the sty and wallow

k, touched him with her wand, saying, “Hence, seek the sty and wallow with thy friends.” But he, instead of obeying, drew hi

ends.” But he, instead of obeying, drew his sword and rushed upon her with fury in his countenance. She fell on her knees an

ir destruction. Circe directed Ulysses to fill the ears of his seamen with wax, so that they should not hear the strain; and

nd. Ulysses obeyed these directions. He filled the ears of his people with wax, and suffered them to bind him with cords fir

filled the ears of his people with wax, and suffered them to bind him with cords firmly to the mast. As they approached the

r course, and the music grew fainter till it ceased to be heard, when with joy Ulysses gave his companions the signal to uns

y Circe of the two monsters Scylla and Charybdis. We have already met with Scylla in the story of Glaucus, and remember that

hin reach. The other terror, Charybdis, was a gulf, nearly on a level with the water. Thrice each day the water rushed into

Scylla could nowhere be discerned. While Ulysses and his men watched with anxious eyes the dreadful whirlpool, they were no

ing the night on shore, that Ulysses yielded. He bound them, however, with an oath that they would not touch one of the anim

of the animals of the sacred flocks and herds, but content themselves with what provision they yet had left of the supply wh

, purpled o’er With violets; it was a scene to fill A god from heaven with wonder and delight.” Calypso with much reluctanc

a scene to fill A god from heaven with wonder and delight.” Calypso with much reluctance proceeded to obey the commands of

tance proceeded to obey the commands of Jupiter. She supplied Ulysses with the means of constructing a raft, provisioned it

, and, as in the former case, the goddess tried every art to keep him with her, and offered to share her immortality with hi

every art to keep him with her, and offered to share her immortality with him. But Minerva, who in the shape of Mentor acco