orm fever, when few could think of the calm pursuit of literature, it may be said to have had more success than could have

more than compensated by its merits. Of the present Edition I think I may venture to speak with more confidence. It is the

ssities take me away, But if I had money at home I would stay ; so I may say of myself, it was necessity, not any idle vis

a number of private ones, immediately on their appearance, proved, I may say, their merit ; for to nothing else can it be

recommended to, though not enjoined on, the higher classes. I think I may speak with some confidence of the correctness of

can hardly be said of any other part of classic literature, but many may be better cultivated than they have been hitherto

been hitherto. Thus the private life of the ancient Greeks and Romans may be more fully elucidated. That of the latter peop

But this principle does not apply in any way to literature. What, we may ask, is to be derived from Waverley and such book

s given of the name Artemis appears to be satisfactory. The following may seem perhaps to come nearer to the truth. Artemis

y regarded as the mother of dews (p. 61). Another name of the goddess may have been ἡ ἀλθέоυσυ, ἀλδέоυσα or ἀρδέоυσα, and θ

υσα or ἀρδέоυσα, and θ and ϕ being commutable (as θὴρ, ϕὴρ), the name may have become ἀλϕείоνσα, etc., to which Αλϕειὸѕ (ἀλ

Possibly too Εἰλείθνια (p. 194), which has the form of a perf. part., may have come from ἠλθηνîα, or some word of similar f

t Geryoneus (from γηρύω) is only another form of Hades. They both, we may observe, had herds of oxen, and the two-headed do

is the Herdsman, and is the same as Hermes. The name of his wife, we may observe (see p. 381), is Chthonia. He was probabl

anner. Page 511. — The following inscriptions to the Junones of women may be seen in the Capitoline and Vatican collections

rth ? From the employment of the plural (ναών, ναοὺѕ) by Dionysius we may further infer that the temple at the Aventine con

sages and instructors. The legends which compose a nation’s mythology may be divided into two classes. The first will conta

as its own adventures, and those of its princes and heroes, and which may therefore be called domestic ; or those of ancien

s, handed down by tradition or brought home by voyagers, and these we may entitle foreign. The second class will consist of

of their having been at one time matters of actual belief. Mythology may therefore be regarded as the depository of the ea

of the combined powers of all ; or, which is more probable, rather we may say is the truth, both hypotheses are true : man

of total or partial ignorance of the Deity, their belief in many gods may have thus commenced. They saw around them various

w discuss. The sources, or the occasions of the production, of mythes may , we think, be arranged under the following heads,

ble portion of the various bodies of mythology. 2. As a second source may perhaps be added the pride of family and the flat

gh which the waters flowed off and left the plain dry13. To this head may be referred the practice of the Greeks to assign

evidently signifies a place abounding in potter's earth (argilla)21, may be divided into two words (Argi letum), signifyin

spot where the line he made of them should terminate. These instances may suffice to show the generality of this principle.

his principle. 8. Finally, metaphorical language understood literally may have given occasion to many legends. Thus cause a

the sister of the vine. A person born on the bank of a lake or river may have been called its son29 ; one coming by sea ha

the metaphor came to be understood literally, persons thus spoken of may have been looked upon as children of the riveror

enumerate those which have been most prevalent in modern times. These may , we think, be divided into three classes : the Hi

y are those of ancient Greece, of India, and of Scandinavia. To these may be added that of ancient Egypt. Italy has left no

caution however should be used in the application of this rule, or it may lead us into error and absurdity if carried beyon

d be, — this mythe most probably has a meaning, but it is possible it may not have one. ChapterII. GRECIAN MYTHOLOGY

tainly not improbable that these ancient priests, if such there were, may have had their religion arranged systematically,

hing which might shock the opinions of their auditors. Accordingly we may be certain that the mythes contained in Homer and

s time, also, the system of theocrasy (θεοκραία), or mixing up, as we may call it, of the gods together, began to be employ

robable that this took its rise from the Egyptian priests, who, as we may see in Herodotus, represented their gods as havin

to have laboured to give a rational form to the old legends68; and we may observe in the explanation given by Herodotus, af

was carried to a much greater extent by Ephorus : but the work which may be regarded as having contributed by far the most

ut it exerted a great influence over the subsequent historians, as we may perceive in the case of Diodorus of Sicily. It wa

ome of which are of no small magnitude, but that notwithstanding they may be regarded as faithful pictures of the manners a

th and knowledge. Not to speak of the philosophers and historians, we may discern in the poets of each succeeding age the p

nd the Homeric ideas of the universe, just as in some modern poets we may meet the Ptolemaïc astronomy and judicial astrolo

95. The Sea divided the terrestrial disk into two portions, which we may suppose were regarded as equal. These divisions d

n which the wicked suffered the punishment due to their crimes134. It may not be uninteresting ere we quit the subject of t

contents. It is thus that the most imaginative of modern poets, as we may perhaps venture to style him, created a universe

of the Giants given by Homer, and which became the prevalent one, we may without difficulty find that they simply signify

lty find that they simply signify Producers 149. By the Melian nymphs may perhaps be signified the producers of fruits or c

ers of fruits or cattle150. The Erinnyes offer most difficulty ; they may be, as some think, telluric powers151, and have u

aracter — that of punishers of the violators of the order of nature —  may have been their original one, and their origin ha

le’ of the Sun-god, doubtless meaning the West. In Stesichorus, as we may observe, the abode of Helios would seem to be in

e, when his steeds’ manes have been adorned by Lucifer and Aurora, we may presume that it was in the East. It is also in th

ns, Ages, and Hours212. From a consideration of all these passages it may seem to follow, that the ideas of the poets on th

s one of the large family of words of which ἕλα or ἕλη (Helle, Germ.) may be regarded as the root. Ήώς. Aurora. Dawn.

ave been an original moon-goddess, her epithet of Far-shooter (ἑκάτη) may have separated from her, and have become another

er moon-goddess, for such is the real character of Hecate ; or Hecate may have been the primitive name of the moon-goddess

gy of this practice with the legend of Kronos devouring his children, may have sufficed for the Greeks to infer an identity

from Olympos to Hesperia, and his there establishing the golden age, may have been indebted for its origin to the legend o

e Ilias, the place of their abode shares in their exaltation ; and it may almost be doubted if the poet who drew the follow

lve to be fixed on as that of the Titans and the Olympians371 ; or it may have been because twelve was the political number

, and they were therefore associated in the popular mind436. This, we may observe, is all merely gratuitous hypothesis. The

hould have first received these animals from the coast of Africa ? We may therefore, we think, safely dismiss this hypothes

he horse as in some mysterious manner connected with the water441, we may hesitate to give our full assent to this theory.

Dark-haired ; 4. Wide-ruling ; 5. Loud-sounding ; etc. In Poseidôn we may discern the original god of water in general, of

tians ; and thus they appropriated all the mythic ideas of Greece. It may give some idea of their hardihood, to observe tha

clusion of the day and the setting of the sun with the close of life, may have led the Greeks485, or it may be the Phœnicia

of the sun with the close of life, may have led the Greeks485, or it may be the Phœnicians, to place the dwelling of the d

ther mention is, we believe, to be found in Grecian literature. If we may trust to the Latin poets495, the duty of performi

he marriage of Hera, and its being the cause of the spring of plants, may , we think, be discerned. The tradition of Stympha

e it, and it was brought back to the temple524. In this ceremony also may be discerned a reference to the marriage of Hera.

he is bound to it probably to prevent her flight from Zeus. The cakes may have had some analogy with the confarreatio of th

d The origin of the name Hera is somewhat difficult to determine. We may venture to reject the derivations from ἀὴρ, air,

r and Mistress 544. It is possible, however, that the two derivations may in a certain sense be correct. The goddess may ha

at the two derivations may in a certain sense be correct. The goddess may have been originally merely Earth, and then, as s

the object over which she presided and became the Olympian queen, she may have been regarded as the great Mistress545.

lmost lead us to assign its origin to a comparatively late period. It may be, as is generally supposed, an ancient physical

s a different spouse) he seems to have known nothing. In the Ilias we may observe that Ares and Aphrodite are spoken of as

h this hypothesis ; for light, which is made to spring from darkness, may , in a reversed order, be regarded as its origin.

d says, was named Delphine620, for the formation of which name, as we may perceive, Delphi probably gave its aid, as it did

one of the competitors in the chariotrace. These notices however, we may observe, occur in the parts of the Hias of which

r in the parts of the Hias of which the antiquity is most dubious. It may also be doubted if the temple-legend of Delphi co

rded as their origin. Thus the god is called by Homer λυκγϵυὴς, which may be rendered with the utmost propriety Light-born,

h are usually rendered Lycian, or Wolf-destroying, or rather Wolfish, may signify Lighted, or Lighting. There are two other

evolved on him. He carries in the bull, or boar, or whatever else she may have brought, exhorting the goddess to let the ha

urbid with the blood of the victims slain at the Olympic games692. We may here observe, that in the Peloponnese the relatio

the deity) and Leto, whose name, by a perfectly unstrained etymology, may be rendered Night ; and the origin of the sun and

apon of Freyr, the sun-god of Scandinavian mythology ; and the arrows may well express the penetrating beams of the sun, or

this character to the employment of the lyre in his worship. Artemis may in like manner have been regarded as the goddess

ent nations, who esteemed their gods to be so little superior to men, may not have believed them to have been really and no

Eileithyia, the president of child-birth, is not equally apparent. It may be perhaps that in the hymn ascribed to Olên this

complishes her mission in safety. As she is returning, she thinks she may venture to open the box and take a portion for he

may venture to open the box and take a portion for herself, that she may be the more pleasing to her husband. She opens th

satisfactory to many readers. The following one of a modern writer781 may seem to come nearer the truth. “This fable, it is

n the body. Hence trials and purifications are set before it, that it may become capable of a higher view of things, and of

discern nothing but amusing narrative. The story of Cupid and Psyche may after all have been, as some think, nothing more

, AND HERMES. We place these deities together, dissimilar as they may appear in office and character, as they form two

st that she had long been regarded as the tutelar deity of Athens. We may therefore safely reject the legends of her being

iven to Selene816. To these proofs respecting the Athenian goddess we may add that at Tegea Athena was called Alea, that is

gos and other places, who had been identified with the Athenian Maid, may have originally been the same with Hera and Demet

at the same time courtier-like telling her that, if she pleases, she may boast of having vanquished him by main strength83

h were the Hermeracles, Hermathenæ and others. One of these compounds may have given origin to the tale of Hermaphroditos.

implest derivation of his name is from ἔρα, the earth ; and he is, we may observe, the son of Zeus and Maia, probably Mothe

cks and herds857. From this last view some of his Hellenic attributes may be simply deduced. Thus the god of shepherds was

en of cheating859. As herdsmen are the best guides in the country, it may be thence that Hermes was thought to protect wayf

nce to be a protector in general861. For this cause, among others, it may have been that godsends or treasure-trove were as

ned to Hermes, that of conducting the departed to Erebos. Possibly it may have been on this account that Solôn directed the

n a subject of inquiry. Supposing however such not to be the case, it may be asked how the rural deity, the field-god, came

eaking of dogs, and thence the name of a dog) ; 3. Idle ; to which we may venture to add, 4. Land, as identical with ἄγρος.

probable than the one we ourselves formerly suggested, that the term may signify Field-slayer 874, and be applied to Herme

she is ; and wishing them young husbands and as many children as they may desire, begs that they will endeavour to procure

ns of living after all his property was gone891. This last legend, we may observe, admits of a very simple explication. Ery

ure state, and worshiped a deity presiding over that unseen world. It may be doubted whether they gave him a consort (for i

ave derived their appellations, or which were sacred to them, are, we may observe, in Macedonia, Thessaly, or Bœotia (Aonia

the humour would not have been fully appreciated by the audience. We may further observe that the musical Sirens were plac

r Zeus, and complains of the iniquity of man’s mind, ‘that the people may suffer for the transgressions of their kings.’ By

unishers of perjury1026 : even beggars have their Erinnyes, that they may not be insulted with impunity1027 ; and when a ho

r of repeating the act1028. The Erinnyes, these personified feelings, may therefore be regarded as the maintainers of order

goddess, and in the concluding choruses of the Eumenides of Æschylus, may be discerned ideas of this nature1029. The epithe

he service of Hera ; and by these last she is invariably, and even we may say clumsily, confounded with the rainbow. Accord

of Zeus in love, and lay him asleep on Mount Gargaros, that Poseidôn may meanwhile give victory to the Achæans, she takes

one of the most humane people in Greece. The more stern Spartans, we may observe, erected temples to Fear, to Death, and t

nsuitable surely could not be put into the mouth of Diomedes ; and we may observe that there is a kind of instinct of propr

d we may observe that there is a kind of instinct of propriety, as we may term it, which always guides those poets who sing

situation and character. This consideration alone, when well weighed, may suffice to render the above passage extremely sus

that they were endowed with immortality. But all the halfcaste, as we may call them, Heracles, Achilleus, Sarpedôn, Æneias,

hæans’ were so familiar, could have been without a presiding god,) he may have been regarded as a son of Zeus by a goddess

in after-times, in pursuance of a practice hereafter to be explained, may have been degraded to the rank of a heroine, and

aking and festivity ; and the festival of the deity presiding over it may have been a very joyous one, and celebrated with

one, and celebrated with abundance of noise and mirth. Such, we say, may have been (for we venture not to assert it) the o

ered with tolerable fidelity to his authorities, and the ‘Dionysiacs’ may be regarded as a vast repertory of Bacchic fable,

was gradually restricted and made a god of cattle alone, so Dionysos may have been limited to the care of plants, particul

is word. It is not impossible that the real root of his mother’s name may be ϭέλɑς. 1129. In favour of this god’s presiding

ficult to explain in Grecian mythology. After Voss’s able exposure we may venture to reject the notion of its being the sam

those times, which, being illumined by hardly any literary monuments, may be said to resemble a region covered with dark cl

of the Aœdi to attend to distinctions of this kind ; for Odysseus, we may observe, in all his wanderings never found any wa

ans, and the river Ægyptos are spoken of ; and from these passages we may perhaps collect, that the Greeks, particularly th

rpreters, whom Herodotus found there two centuries afterwards1162. We may thus see at once how in a space of two hundred ye

of the worship of the Grecian deities, the artful priesthood of Egypt may have contrived to frame the system above noticed,

re experienced from his worshipers : And if thou do so, Pan beloved, may ne’er The Arcadian boys thy shoulders and thy sid

heir squills when little meat is had ; But if thou otherwise incline, may pain Seize thee when all thy skin is torn with na

n Seize thee when all thy skin is torn with nails, And in hot nettles may thou lie to rest : which the scholiast tells us

chorus, and danced at them in their goat-skin dresses1194. Their name may be merely the reduplication of ϴήρ 1195. Σϵιλη

222, that he had a long-eared father, — Pan or a Satyr perhaps, or it may be his own sacred beast the ass1223 ; others gave

thing remained but her voice and bones. The former still remains, and may be heard among the hills ; the latter were turned

es. Leucothea is supposed to be derived from the white waves, and Ino may be merely Ilo, and be connected with ἕλος, ἰλύς 1

Isthmian games1278. Melicertes is said to be a name of Poseidôn ; it may however be the Phœnician Melcart, introduced into

ot improbable that the theory of some mythologists of the present day may be the true one ; namely, that the two Gorgons an

beings are, we think, placed by the Theogony in Oceanic isles ; they may however have dwelt on the opposite coast, though

rected by separate deities, but are all under the charge of Æolos. We may , as a matter of course, observe that the Wind-god

st terrible child of Earth. In Greece, as over the rest of Europe, we may observe the east-wind is pernicious. Boreas (Βορέ

Nothing therefore can be collected with certainty from Temesa. But it may be said that the Sikelans, who dwelt in Italy and

elves therefore justified in supposing that the Singer of the Odyssey may have chosen to regard all westwards of Greece as

rge of the land of fable. The Lotus, under the name of Jujuba, is, we may observe, a part of the food of the people of the

nding of the latter, it seems to be assumed as a thing well known. We may hence perhaps infer that Homer followed the usual

ch Sicily is from Libya : and further, though the fertility of Sicily may accord with that of the Cyclopes’ land, yet it do

oet’s saying that they were destroyed by the gods (though the reverse may be the truth) that gave occasion to the fiction o

be noticed, of the abode of the Sun and Dawn being in the West, which may have engendered a belief that at the western extr

till they came to the isle of Ææa1361, the abode of Circe. This isle may be regarded as the most westerly of those scatter

ch his hero had just returned, lay within the realms of day1372. This may very possibly be the truth ; but we cannot help f

and Ææa to the West, from their proper place in the East1373 ; and he may have retained the description of Ææa, which accor

will find their parallel in the adventures of Sindbad. Are these, it may be asked, mere coincidences, or did the tales of

is the earliest account we have of these monsters, in which indeed it may be doubted if Charybdis is to be regarded as an a

resembling Charybdis, the most that can be said is, that that strait may have given occasion to the fable. Homer, however,

lain on the shore of Ocean1426. It was on the west side of Ithaca, we may observe, that the Phæacians landed Odysseus ; and

apply to Corcyra, for we know not what the Ionian Singer’s idea of it may have been. All we will say is, that his language

w that she knew anything of either Thrinakia or Scheria, and Odysseus may have taken the liberty of assigning a false posit

ions it as the interpolation of a rhapsodist. The narrative of Eumæos may serve to throw some light on the trade of the Phœ

ople were known to make commercial voyages in that direction ; and we may also collect from it that it was chiefly ornament

dispose of her cargo and lay in one in return, — a circumstance which may tend to illustrate the three years’ voyages of th

whole Flood of the sea, and all the winding track Of continents. But may the blissful gods Themselves the meed due to my s

ers of Genesis, and introduced into Grecian literature by Hesiod, who may be regarded as the Plato of his age. It contained

er Iapetos the Afflicted or the Oppressed. 1449. The name of his wife may refer to that faded splendour which still adheres

ng to the opinion of one of our ablest mythologists, that in Atlas we may view a personification of “navigation, the conque

f the choicest parts of the flesh as elsewhere1465 ; the latter mythe may be perhaps thus explained. The first men lived in

These first men lived in intimate relation with the gods, who, as we may have already seen, were by no means beings of pur

a closed jar, which they had been forbidden to open. Forethought, as may be supposed, had rigidly obeyed this direction, a

ined, as he let down the lid before she had escaped1486. Such is what may be regarded as the best explanation that has been

th, and the others having left the earth and gone to Olympos, — which may be founded on this mythe, we find no allusion to

e had as little charms for the Latin poets ; even Ovid (strange as it may appear) passing it over in perfect silence. Hygin

circumstance came the Greek name for people 1494. This narrative, it may easily be seen, is of a very narrow and even unpo

bes which previously occupied the more southern parts. This flood, we may observe, did not extend to the Peloponnese, and t

that the martial character of the race who fought at Thebes and Troy may have been developed by peculiar circumstances fro

nal ones were assigned them. The original meaning also of many mythes may have gone out of use ; what had been symbolical a

s may have gone out of use ; what had been symbolical and allegorical may have been understood literally and regarded as a

uced into mythic history, it has however a chronology of its own, and may be divided into distinct periods. In the mythic h

courses present themselves to the narrator of this mythic history. He may either take the genealogical one, and relate the

e, and relate the history of each mythic family consecutively ; or he may pursue the subject geographically, and distribute

be noticed in the sequel, signifies the healing, atoning god or hero, may be doubted. Medeia seems plainly to be only anoth

the Wild-men, whom they routed with great slaughter. From all this we may collect the tradition of a protracted conflict be

been in its origin simply κέντωρ 1600 as much more probable. Lapiths may , he thinks, have signified Stone-persuaders 1601

loös) the father of Agrios, Melas, and Œneus1609. From this genealogy may be collected the tradition of Elis having in anci

ians as they were named, having migrated to Ætolia. This last however may be only a late fiction, to give a colour of right

the Ætolian conquest of Elis at the time of the Dorian Migration. We may observe that the genuine mythic legends of Calydô

he protecting deity of the Curetes1622. Two distinct classes of names may be recognised in these Ætolian legends, the one r

e name Cadmos and the Semitic term for the East, Kedem,1633, and this may in reality be the sole foundation for the notion

come noted in after-ages for their dislike of trade of every kind. We may therefore, we think, now venture to dismiss this

would be victorious in war. The name of this people (Ἐγχέλεις, eels) may have had its effect on the legend of the change o

ly meant the Eupatrids, or ancient nobility of Thebes, of which there may have been only five Houses (γένεα). As such were

represent military prowess, the legend of the serpent slain by Cadmos may be interpreted in a political sense, of the conqu

eïdes, and Polydora is the name of an Ocean-nymph1640. Semele herself may refer to the brightness (σέλας) of water, and her

f Pelion, and having by her a son named Aristæos. The mythe of Actæôn may be thus explained. On the summit of Pelion stood

kins ; the cave of Cheirôn was on Mount Pelion. The tale of the image may perhaps be connected with the following legend. T

ned by his fate. Agaue (Illustrious) is an epithet of Persephone, who may have been made a heroine, as Thebes was a princip

ht. Antiope the daughter of the latter is the Beholder (ἀντὶ ὄψ), and may remind us of the moon, which at the full sits so

aps the Searcher. The Twins, the offspring of the Deity and the Moon, may then be the Sun who goes each day his round, and

(Tantalos), and the mother of the Green-one (Chloris). In her then we may view the young, verdant, fruitful earth, ‘the bri

rn was preserved in underground treasuries or granaries, the brothers may in one sense have been the builders, in another t

e more ancient form of the mythe, and the original conception of them may have been similar to that of the Molionids. It wa

f the mythe as the constant guardian of the hero. The number of tasks may not have been originally twelve, though most acco

democratic anarchy, with its numerous heads, against which though one may not be able to effect anything, yet the union of

ugh one may not be able to effect anything, yet the union of even two may suffice to overcome it. The toils of the hero con

e of the Dorian invasion, which they were intended to justify ; there may , he allows, have been an Argive hero of perhaps t

itadel. Returning to the Peloponnese ; the adventures there, he says, may be divided into two classes, the combats with men

able to a hero of the Dorians anterior to the Migration. This however may be obviated by supposing the name of the Dorian h

e earth), cleared it of the noxious animals that infested it, and, it may be, went on toilsome journeys to distant regions

t is placed, on the authority of the Parian Chronicle, b. c. 1582. It may therefore seem strange that Cecrops should appare

husband, and its resemblance to Teres, a name of the kings of Thrace, may have caused him to be regarded as a Thracian. If

ia was not the daughter of a king of Attica ; yet the real Erechtheus may have been her mythic sire. Κρέουσα, Ξοȗθος κα

sisters Dew and Field-dwelling. The other circumstances of the legend may be referred to the imagination of those who took

rse chariot, is a confirmation of his identity with Poseidôn ; and it may be observed, that his Trojan namesake was renowne

observed, that his Trojan namesake was renowned for his stud1852. It may be that Pandiôn is indebted for his Attic royalty

not unlikely that the god and the prince were the same person. Pallas may in like manner have been connected with the patro

racter of the Ionian race. In proof of Theseus being of this race, we may observe that he seems to be rather in opposition

o of the place, prevented Athena's being viewed as hostile to him, we may perceive that he is almost the only hero whom she

picture of the Odyssey, where every word is significant, and where we may observe Sisyphos is spoken of in indefinite terms

e1875 (in conformity with a very usual practice in antiquity) ; or it may be that the crafty trader is the son of the Windm

l of the navigation of the ancient Ephyra. The adventures of the hero may have signified the real or imaginary perils to be

ough the country. Such was perhaps the original simple legend, and it may have had its source in the notions of the loves,

institutions with Egypt. Moreover the origin of Danaos and his family may be easily traced to the physical character of the

the dry nature of the soil. We see therefore that the physical legend may have existed long before there was any intercours

ly arrive at glimpses of the signification. The following conjectures may perhaps approach to probability. The cutting off

ther, Polydectes is an epithet of Hades1956, of which Dictys (Netter) may be a kindred term. At Athens there was an altar o

come the guide of heroes at the time when the mythe was extended, she may have been substituted for the original goddess196

revolutionary movements of the rest of the peninsula. Its population may therefore be regarded as unmixed Pelasgian ; and

n his name and that of Nyctimos strongly confirms this hypothesis. It may indeed be said that Zeus derived his appellation

at had been substituted1991. The resemblance between Arcas and ἄρκτος may also have had some effect on the formation of thi

er to light, or its opposite. Thus Leda differs little from Leto, and may therefore be regarded as darkness ; she is marrie

nected by birth with Polydeukes rather than with Castôr. The brothers may also be regarded as sun and moon, to which their

s power of changing his form, remind us also of the sea-deities. Pero may be connected with the fount Peirene2027 ; Tyro ma

sea-deities. Pero may be connected with the fount Peirene2027 ; Tyro may be Tryo (Penetrator), like Tritôn and Amphitrite2

dition appears to have been that they came from Arcadia. Poseidôn, we may observe, is placed at the head of the genealogies

long anterior to the institution of the Olympic games, the daughters may have been the weeks of the year (the round number

ϵξάμϵνος). Perhaps this last theory, though carried somewhat too far, may be the truth. Tάνταλος. Tantalus. Odysse

e mountain was thrown on him2055. This last trifling legend is, as we may easily see, one of the many attempts at localisin

57 perhaps represents the cares and fears attendant on riches ; or it may be, as has been ingeniously conjectured, an image

lops and the connexion between him and Poseidôn ; and possibly Pelops may be only another name of the water-god whom we fin

en earth. The legend of his being cut up and eaten raw by Demeter2076 may denote the breaking up of the ground in order to

me being related of the same object, Pelops, i. e. the Pelopians2077, may also have been regarded as a physical being, and

have been regarded as a physical being, and the mythes above related may owe their origin to this view of his character.

ver the sea on a bull is an ancient expression of this idea. The same may have been the origin of the tale of Pasiphae's lo

for the bull, and of her offspring by him, the Moon-bull, as Minotaur may best perhaps be rendered. The circumstances of th

Cretan cycle only personifications of the moon, Minôs and his family may have been real persons named after their favourit

he poets and by the vanity of those whose patron-heroes they were. It may also have been that the commercial voyages of the

gold-mines of Thasos or Pangæos were wrought so early, their produce may have given its golden hue to the fleece. This how

el to that of Orestes, perhaps framed in imitation of it ; and, as we may see, it is connected with the topography of weste

ng was fifty2204. The preceding Trojan history has been formed, as we may see, by Apollodorus and others from various hints

o struck with her beauty gives her body back to the Trojans that they may perform her obsequies. Thersites railing at the h

the Peloponnese to have conquered a tract about the Hellespont, they may easily have conceived that the great hero of Argo

gos had led a host thither and taken and plundered a large city. This may have been at first a simple tradition ; it may ha

red a large city. This may have been at first a simple tradition ; it may have been then expanded in ballads ; the number o

regarded as those of Trojan and Achæan chiefs2242 ; and thus the war may have finally acquired the magnitude and importanc

. A cause for this war was to be assigned, and the manners of the age may have suggested that of the abduction of a Grecian

n war. Again, when we find the Greeks at war with any real people, we may observe that the names of the adverse leaders hav

han these, but we will abstain, as it is probable that our scepticism may only serve to alienate some of our readers. Our c

appear. The Sabellian Religion. Under the name of Sabellians may be comprised all the tribes of the Apennines east

igion was intimately connected with these arts ; and consequently, we may suppose, bore much resemblance to that of the Lat

and because like a father he gives life, health and food.” To this we may add the testimony of Servius, who says2266 that “

rro2297, Minerva was the protecting goddess of olive-grounds ; but it may be doubted whether this was not a transference to

s celebrated when the sowing of the seed was over2312. The name Ceres may come from creo. Servius2313 says that in the Sabi

s2313 says that in the Sabine language Ceres signified bread ; but it may have done so only figuratively. Venus. Ve

ruti2320, which last seems to be merely a corruption of Aphrodite. It may however be connected with fructus, and refer to h

s day at the temple of Venus Erycina near the Colline gate, whence we may collect that such was their practice ; and we hav

his day, and gardens are placed under her protection2324.” Perhaps it may form a presumption in favour of the original rura

Venus almus, and Venus alma. 2325. The name Venus, or rather Veneris, may , as was supposed, come from venio, but its origin

ely that there is no mythe without a meaning. Myth. der Jap. 50. This may be true, but the meaning is often a very trifling

uttmann, Mythol. i. 45. Müller, Proleg. 171. In Lucian (De Luctu, 2.) may be seen a convincing proof of how firmly the vulg

Ὄμϕαλοѕ τῆѕ γῆѕ, Pind. Pyth. iv. 131. ; vi. 3. Paus. x. 16. 3. There may be some connexion between Delphi and δϵλϕύѕ, womb

silva), as also the semivowels l, n, r (Panormus, Palermo, etc.), we may perhaps say that Helios, Sol (Latin and Scandinav

κέρα ἀνέτϵλλϵ καρήνον Ἄντνγοѕ ἡμιτόμον κϵραῆѕ űτϵ κύκλα σϵλήνηѕ. It may be that a similar view was also the origin of the

here to Aurora is, we believe, only to be found in this poet, but we may be certain that he had Greek authority for it. In

phalos (κνέραλοϛ, darkness), are easy of explication. That of Cleitos may signify the union of the dawn with light. The tal

the account of Lot and the angels in the book of Genesis, which last may have been carried to Greece, or have been learned

ich was to be passed is mentioned in the Ilias (xxiii. 73.), but that may have been the ocean-stream. 474. The earliest me

Hymn to the Delian Apollo. See Theognis, 5-10. Eur. Hec. 457. seq. We may observe that the tale of Delos having been an inv

Callim. Hymn to Apollo, 20. seq. Plut. De Ei. 20. 622. Il. ix. 557, may seem to form an exception, but see the Appendix.

eq. 627. Apollod. i. l. 7. Sch. Il. ix. 557. This is alluded to, we may perceive, in the Ilias, and it is the only love-t

usa. Welcker (Schwenk. 263.) regards this name as being ἂρι-θοῶσα. It may be only a corruption of Alpheiusa. 691. Paus. v.

able signification (see above, p. 60.). By some (among whom Euripides may perhaps be classed) it is held to relate to the w

ontes and Perseus. 827. Wherever the form Ἐρμῆς occurs, the passage may be regarded as an interpolation. 828. Il. xxiv.

Іομπαȋος ἴσθε τόνδε ποιμαίνων ἐμὸν Іκέτην. — Æsch. Eum. 91. where we may observe the allusion to the rural character of th

1296. Il. viii. 348. 1297. Il. v. 741. 1298. Od. xi. 633. 1299. It may be doubted if Homer was acquainted with the story

267. seq. 1311. Il. xvi. 149. From this and from Od. xx. 65. 77. it may be perhaps inferred that the shore of Ocean was t

id, Met. xv. 52. 707. 1328. Ἀλλοθρόους άνθρώπους. Od. ut supra. This may only denote a different pronunciation. See Nitzsc

on diamond rocks, Sleeking her soft alluring locks. — Comus, 877. We may observe how he confounds them with the Teutonic m

hœnician origin. Thus, besides the one in the text, the Elysian Plain may be fairly derived from alatz (צלע) to rejoice ; E

mplaint of Helios to Zeus was rejected by the ancient grammarians. We may observe that the cosmology in it is at variance w

is passage does not appear in the English translation of bis work, we may perhaps infer that his opinion is changed. 1434.

indar, Ol. ix. 64. seq. 1495. See Aristot. Meteor. i. 14. 1496. It may however have owed its origin to the resemblance b

pollod. ut sup. Paus. ii. 25, 2. 1617. Il. ix. 527. We know not what may be the feeling of others, but for our part we rem

ame of Æetes’ mother was Antiope (above, p. 312.). The root of Zethos may be ζάω or ζέω. We have elsewhere (above, p. 61.)

Plut. 21. The practice of sending a ship annually to Delos — whatever may have given occasion to it — long continued. While

ellerophontes, Hippolytos and Muenos (Plut. de Fluv. 8.), occur as we may perceive in Grecian mythology, and those of Sir L

it is said, Τῳ μὲν ἐπώνυμον ἦν ὅτ᾿ ἄῤ Ὠкϵανοȗ πϵρὶ πηγὰς Γϵνθ᾿. It may also be derived from ΠΗΓΩ, πηγνȗμι, to construct

τῷ τόπῳ, προσθϵίη τὴν αὐτῶν ϕήμην кαινῆ γϵνομένῃ τῆ πόλϵι. It is, we may see, not supposed that it would be named from the

e also Völcker, Myth. der Jap. 200. seq. 1959. The chamber of Danae may have been called brazen to denote the hardness of

τι τηλοȗ ἔβη. 1964. See above, p. 382. 1965. See above, p. 385. We may here observe that the Grecian mythes frequently b

. 11, 2. Tzetz. Lyc. 511. Ovid, Fasti, v. 699. seq. 2010. Tyndareos may be merely a reduplication of Dareos (from δααίω),

v being inserted, as was often done. See Schwenk, 193. Possibly there may have been a Pelasgian word akin to the German zün

. xii. 556. seq. 2026. As μήστωρ comes from MAΩ, so Νήστωρ, Νέστωρ, may come from νάω, to flow. 2027. From πϵράω, πϵίρω

yans (see p. 347.), the Achæans (p. 301. note f), to which perhaps we may add the Cadmeians (p. 328.), and even the Hellene

h's suspicion of iv. 514-520 being an interpolation be correct, Homer may not have made Ægisthos the son of Thyestes. 2088

idently invented to account for the name of the spring. As the reader may perceive, it is the foundation of Guarini's pasto

Apoll. Rh. i. 1290.). It was an ancient custom of the Bithynians, we may observe, to lament in the burning days of midsumm

t is perhaps the original signification of the name Adrastos ; but it may also be rendered Do-nought (a and δράω) adapted t

of Iphigeneia was then invented to account for the similarity. There may however have been an ancient Grecian legend of Ip

19.) bestows on this account on the religion of the Romans, which we may observe had no deity answering to the Erôs of the

ittle can be spared for set treatises on a science of mere fancy. But may not the requisite knowledge of the subject be acq

without this knowledge. Shall we be told that answers to such queries may be found in notes, or by a reference to the Class

ncient authorities, so that when the reader finds them referred to he may not be at a loss to recognize the reference. Thus

h are alluded to by modern poets, essayists, and orators. Our readers may thus at the same time be entertained by the most

l, and took the road to the palace of heaven. The road, which any one may see in a clear night, stretches across the face o

lion spoke: “Either my sagacity deceives me, or the command is one we may obey without impiety. The earth is the great pare

earth is the great parent of all; the stones are her bones; these we may cast behind us; and I think this is what the orac

y weapons.” Venus’s boy heard these words, and rejoined, “Your arrows may strike all things else, Apollo, but mine shall st

father’s neck, and said, “Dearest father, grant me this favor, that I may always remain unmarried, like Diana.” He consente

r strange, but that medicine should also be assigned to his province, may . The poet Armstrong, himself a physician, thus ac

d as to enjoy a laugh at the expense of poor Pyramus and Thisbe, they may find an opportunity by turning to Shakspere’s pla

t my lamp at midnight hour Be seen in some high lonely tower, Where I may oft outwatch the Bear,” etc. And Prometheus, in

me to use that name, — give me some proof, I beseech you, by which I may be known as yours.” He ceased; and his father, la

ur ignorance you aspire to do that which not even the gods themselves may do. None but myself may drive the flaming car of

to do that which not even the gods themselves may do. None but myself may drive the flaming car of day. Not even Jupiter, w

est I be the donor of a fatal gift; recall your request while yet you may . Do you ask me for a proof that you are sprung fr

, and they will serve to guide you. And, that the skies and the earth may each receive their due share of heat, go not too

sed our lives in love and concord, we wish that one and the same hour may take us both from life, that I may not live to se

we wish that one and the same hour may take us both from life, that I may not live to see her grave, nor be laid in my own

ed into a church, of which Philemon is made the parson. The following may serve as a specimen: — “They scarce had spoke, w

her. Then said he, “Come with us, and despise not our humble roof; so may your daughter be restored to you in safety.” “Lea

s. While he stands astonished and glad, though doubting, and fears he may be mistaken, again and again with a lover’s ardor

. I deserve not this fate. I have injured no one. If I speak falsely, may my foliage perish with drought and my trunk be cu

and beware how he plucks flowers, remembering that every bush he sees may be a goddess in disguise. Farewell, dear husband,

kiss me; and while my lips continue to feel, lift up my child that I may kiss him. I can speak no more, for already the ba

ring, mine the crime. Would that I could die for thee! But since that may not be, thou shalt live with me in memory and in

name of Halcyone. To her his thoughts cling. He prays that the waves may bear his body to her sight, and that it may recei

. He prays that the waves may bear his body to her sight, and that it may receive burial at her hands. At length the waters

This time, at least, I will keep thee company. In death, if one tomb may not include us, one epitaph shall; if I may not l

ny. In death, if one tomb may not include us, one epitaph shall; if I may not lay my ashes with thine, my name, at least, s

n; and by degrees all her limbs became stony like her heart. That you may not doubt the fact, the statue still remains, and

ear, and lay aside your scorn and your delays, and accept a lover. So may neither the vernal frosts blight your young fruit

aughty girl a passion for some low, mean, unworthy being, so that she may reap a mortification as great as her present exul

onstrous serpent, who nourishes you for a while with dainties that he may by and by devour you. Take our advice. Provide yo

h a lamp and a sharp knife; put them in concealment that your husband may not discover them, and when he is sound asleep, s

hade, and the serene spirit of the flood has lulled them to rest, you may then cross in safety, and you will find the wooll

tending to tell you, and will now do so, without more delay, that you may see how from the saddest beginning a happy result

e words a clap of thunder was heard. ‘I accept the omen,’ I cried; ‘O may it be a sign of a favorable disposition towards m

ous race, eager to gain, and tenacious of their gains. Among them you may recruit your forces. They will follow you to the

the old animosity; and whenever he espies her in his lofty flight you may see him dart down upon her, with beak and claws,

exclaimed, “Stay, I entreat you! Let me at least gaze upon you, if I may not touch you.” With this, and much more of the s

nt to give a wide and lasting celebrity to any one of our readers who may dare to make the attempt and succeed in accomplis

er suspended by a rope. “Live,” she said, “guilty woman! and that you may preserve the memory of this lesson, continue to h

e is my security. I feel myself too strong for Fortune to subdue. She may take from me much; I shall still have much left.

recognize a wide distinction among them. The human giants, if so they may be called, such as the Cyclopes, Antæus, Orion, a

I wish he would give up the race, or if he will be so mad, I hope he may outrun me.” While she hesitates, revolving these

and the imaginative in some beautiful stanzas, of which the last two may be thus translated: — “Deep degraded to a coward

ædal cups like fire.” The beautiful legend of the Choice of Hercules may be found in the Tatler, No. 97. Chapter XX. T

, and permitted none to sail without being carefully searched. “Minos may control the land and sea,” said Dædalus, “but not

ce, said, “Fellow! you shall speedily be put to death, that your fate may be a warning to others; but though I grudge the d

s, and sped the vessel fast over the sea. All at once — strange as it may seem, it is true, — the vessel stopped, in the mi

whose characteristics are so nearly the same as those of Pan that we may safely consider them as the same personage under

and in humble garb, standing about where you stand? Tell me truly; so may your luck be good and not a fish nibble at your h

en so intent upon my line that I have seen nothing else; but I wish I may never catch another fish if I believe any woman o

mal; and Virgil, in the following story, shows how this supposed fact may be turned to account for renewing the swarm when

you, my son, the cause of the mortality among your bees, and how you may remedy it. But he will not do it voluntarily, how

how you may remedy it. But he will not do it voluntarily, however you may entreat him. You must compel him by force. If you

his cave, where he comes at noon to take his midday repose. Then you may easily secure him. But when he finds himself capt

y grove. To Orpheus and Eurydice you shall pay such funeral honors as may allay their resentment. Returning after nine days

Pray stay with me,” he said, “and be contented. He who strives to win may lose.” Arion answered, “A wandering life best sui

he, “a last request, since nought will avail to save my life, that I may die, as I have lived, as becomes a bard. When I s

ion of my voice, come with me to the realm of shades. Though Cerberus may growl, we know the power of song can tame his rag

e; but thou canst not wend with me, nor I with thee. Companionship we may not have. May Galatea, queen of the deep, accord

triumph?” said he. “Then in vain is power lodged in my hands. That we may discover the criminals, you must remain here in c

od. Ye slaves of avarice, begone! Seek some barbarous land, and never may aught beautiful delight your souls!”   Spenser r

ong streams of light o’er dancing waves expand;     Now lads on shore may sigh and maids believe;     Such be our fate when

passeth not One obscure hiding-place, one little spot Where pleasure may be sent; the nested wren Has thy fair face within

mains inconsolable for the loss of her son. Her tears still flow, and may be seen at early morning in the form of dew-drops

confined air making its escape from crevices or caverns in the rocks may have given some ground for the story. Sir Gardner

thou, Patroclus, clad in his armor, and perhaps the very sight of it may drive back the Trojans.” Patroclus was strongly m

d the sunset, and the baths Of all the western stars, until I die. It may be that the gulfs will wash us down; It may be we

rn stars, until I die. It may be that the gulfs will wash us down; It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles, And see the gr

oy the life even of the most insignificant animal, not knowing but it may be one of their relations in an altered form. Anc

sprang the legend of the happy island Atlantis. This blissful region may have been wholly imaginary, but possibly may have

is. This blissful region may have been wholly imaginary, but possibly may have sprung from the reports of some storm-driven

ed of them. Ovid’s story of her life protracted to one thousand years may be intended to represent the various Sibyls as be

but you know the uncertain event of such an undertaking, and whatever may happen to me, I wish you to be safe. You are youn

ess. Promise me that and I shall go more boldly into whatever dangers may present themselves.” Iulus and the other chiefs w

your bosoms, forbear, I entreat you, to violate the life of those who may haply be your own relatives.”   Shakspere, in t

ldren, is the same power whom the Greeks called Cronos, (Time,) which may truly be said to destroy whatever it has brought

g from all these sources combined than from any one in particular. We may add also that there are many myths which have ari

na à la Biche. The Diana of the Hind, in the palace of the Louvre, may be considered the counterpart to the Apollo Belve

s these poems: — “The rich mythology of Greece furnished Ovid, as it may still furnish the poet, the painter, and the scul

ehead.” He adds that “it cannot be taken alive;” and some such excuse may have been necessary in those days for not produci

captured the simple beast. Modern zoologists, disgusted as they well may be with such fables as these, disbelieve generall

ng on their heads a bony protuberance more or less like a horn, which may have given rise to the story. The rhinoceros horn

the existence of a one-horned quadruped other than the rhinoceros, it may be safely stated that the insertion of a long and

not give you that blow for any fault you have committed, but that you may recollect that the little creature you see in the

nd remains in a torpid state till the spring again calls it forth. It may therefore sometimes be carried with the fuel to t

ods were churning the sea for the beverage of immortality, Amrita. We may omit the other Avatars, which were of the same ge

say little of the two intermediate classes, whose rank and privileges may be readily inferred from their occupations. The S

e attendance on the higher classes, especially the Brahmans, but they may follow mechanical occupations and practical arts,

er bed, and Burning-anguish forms the hangings of her apartments. She may easily be recognized, for her body is half flesh

else, and in this I am ready to give a proof against any one here who may choose to compete with me.” “That will indeed be

f the Gothic, called Norse, still in use in Iceland. The inscriptions may therefore be read with certainty, but hitherto ve

cimen is preserved in the Triads of the Welsh Bards, and from this we may gather that their views of moral rectitude were o

riting. Their teaching was oral, and their literature (if such a word may be used in such a case) was preserved solely by t

ssian we have, if not the actual productions of Druidical times, what may be considered faithful representations of the son

which, as it brings an end to all things which have had a beginning, may be said to devour its own offspring. 2. From th

which is thought to imitate in its sound the galloping of horses. It may be thus translated —  “Then struck the hoofs of t

ng head his curls Ambrosial shook, and the huge mountain reeled.” It may interest our readers to see how this passage appe

a revision and rearrangement of the materials of the Age of Fable as may adapt it to the purposes of teacher and pupil, an

are relative terms. The Classical and the Romantic of one generation may merit equally to be the Classics of the next. The

a few masterpieces of ancient and modern sculpture and painting that may serve to introduce the student or the general rea

imaginative products of antiquity, the difficulty of the translation may be moderated if those products be reproduced, so

ory of religious ideals and of moral conduct. For though ethnologists may insist that to search for truth in mythology is v

rimal pulse of every myth; and to the life of every myth each impulse may be, at some period, contributory. Let us, by way

ernian, they do well to scent the bouquet. In time, a sense of flavor may , perchance, be stimulated, and, ultimately, a des

herit. In respect of the plastic arts, a similar indirect instruction may well be conveyed. A modest collection of photogra

teachers of the Classic Myths in their relation to English Literature may , perhaps, be acceptable. From the outset care sho

minutes every day, in order that interest in the narrative as a whole may be maintained while careful and continual review

nformation to the inventors and narrators of these stories. The myths may well be reproduced as exercises in narration, com

produced as exercises in narration, comparison, description; and they may be regarded as stimulus for imaginative invention

ive invention concerning local wonders and beauties of nature. Pupils may also be encouraged to consider, and to comment up

he moral qualities of the heroes and heroines of mythology. Thus they may be led to recognize the difference between ancien

mory has grown too soft for saddling. In our apprehension lest pupils may turn out parrots, we have too often turned them o

al judgment, simplicity and directness of oral and written expression may all be furnished or developed by other educative

ourth chapter (Greek Myths of the Creation). The first three chapters may be deferred until the class is better able to und

may be deferred until the class is better able to understand them, or may be summarized in informal talks supplementary to

uenced by supernatural agencies. Fables are made by individuals; they may be told in any stage of a nation’s history — by a

century Europe. Fables are vessels made to order into which a lesson may be poured. Myths are born, not made. They are bor

German forefathers in the dark ages. Myths, more or less like these, may be found in the literatures of nearly all nations

the mind from the humdrum of actuality. They furnish information that may not be practical but is delightful; they elicit e

be difficult to reach an agreement concerning some way by which they may have come into existence. Imagination. — If we a

y. Belief. — But this resemblance in habits of imagination, while it may help us to appreciate the mental condition of pri

s in reality, not in imagination, to us also, a spiritual power, — we may then soon over-pass the narrow limit of conceptio

of heaven.” Regarding thus the religious condition of the savage, we may comprehend the existence of myths, and his accept

How accounted for. — There are many answers to these questions. They may , however, be classified according to the theory o

, no longer about natural events, but about persons. Ancient language may , for instance, have said sunrise follows the dawn

history. He insists that mythologists should bear in mind that there may be in every mythological riddle elements which re

dentified with the power that the Greeks called Chronos (Time), which may truly be said to destroy whatever it has brought

avages, we are constrained to examine whether anywhere nowadays there may exist “any stage of the human intellect in which

edulity that impels them to invent or to accept childish stories that may satisfy their untutored experience. We find, more

sthoods, or in ancient poems, or in popular religious ceremonials… We may believe that ancient and early tribes framed gods

ience of mind — psychology, and the science of man — anthropology. It may be called the Anthropological Method. The theory

of significance and beauty through which the physical or natural myth may develop are expressed with poetic grace by Ruskin

on of that, becoming a trusted and companionable deity, with whom you may walk hand in hand, as a child with its brother or

on, of infantine gropings after truth. Whatever reservations scholars may make on other points, most of them will concur in

herited from some mother country. But, although some historical myths may have descended from a mother race, it has already

der which the plant might reach maturity.” 18 Against this theory, it may be urged that stories having only the undeveloped

om the common facts of human thought, experience, and sentiment. This may be called the psychological theory. It was entert

kind,” says Mr. Andrew Lang , “it is impossible to deny that stories may conceivably have spread from a single centre, and

have been expected of human conditions and intelligence. “Many myths may be called ‘human’ in this sense. They are the rou

ods, their wars, and their attitude toward primæval man. While Hesiod may have written at a somewhat later period than Home

characterized: — “The rich mythology of Greece furnished Ovid, as it may still furnish the poet, the painter, and the scul

st Deucalion spoke: “Either my wit fails me, or the command is one we may obey without impiety. The earth is the great pare

earth is the great parent of all; the stones are her bones; these we may cast behind us; this, I think, the oracle means.

tured with my power as with a robe; Whatever lamps on Earth or Heaven may shine, Are portions of one power, which is mine.

of Flora (Chloris). Fig. 20. Boreas. [Relief: Millin.] Here, too, may be mentioned Æolus, the king of the winds, althou

ope and fear set free, We thank with brief thanksgiving Whatever gods may be That no life lives forever; That dead men rise

he Blessed, the Fortunate Isles. From this dream of a western Elysium may have sprung the legend of the island Atlantis. Th

ay have sprung the legend of the island Atlantis. The blissful region may have been wholly imaginary. It is, however, not i

h and pleasure made Within the plain Elysian, The fairest meadow that may be, With all green fragrant trees for shade, And

ests and guardians of this thy temple, and that one and the same hour may take us both from life.” Their prayer was granted

3. Myths of Mars. § 68. The relations of Mars to other deities may be best illustrated by passages from the Iliad, w

d of thy youth by me. Would that I could die for thee! But since that may not be, my lyre shall celebrate thee, my song sha

ost yield me that name—give me some proof, I beseech thee, by which I may be known as thine!” He ceased. His father, laying

lling him the perils of the undertaking. “None but myself,” he said, “ may drive the flaming car of day. Not even Jupiter, w

torch of love. Whereupon the son of Venus had rejoined, “Thine arrows may strike all things else, Apollo, but mine shall st

ward the waters of his father Neptune. In the beginning of summer, he may be seen with daybreak in the eastern sky, where,

lding huntress-queen. And such satisfaction Venus once enjoyed, if we may trust the later classical, and the modern, poets

teful king and cruel, while wretched I yet live, being a goddess, and may not follow thee! Persephone, take thou my lover,

we pray thee, to thy chamber, repose on thy bed of down, and when it may please thee repair to the bath. Food awaits in th

with flame, And swift she gat her to a leafy place, Thinking, “I yet may chance unseen to see his face.” Leaping he went,

is safe to seafarers. Æolus confines the winds that his grandchildren may have peace. § 114. Aurora and Tithonus. 220 — Aur

Elizabeth Barrett Browning, contained in “The Dead Pan.” Her argument may be gathered from the following stanzas: — “By yo

here, as on the vine-clad hill, Or by the Arethusan water! New forms may fold the speech, new lands Arise within these oce

, all male; the Oreads and the Dryads or Hamadryads, female. To these may be added the Naiads, for, although they dwelt in

ld woman, “lay aside thy scorn and thy delays, and accept a lover. So may neither the vernal frosts blight thy young fruits

Chapter XVI. Myths of Lesser Divinities of the Waters. These gods may be roughly classed as dwellers in the sea, and dw

if perchance some stranger come hither, sailing with his ship, that I may see why it is so dear to thee to have thy dwellin

grove. To Orpheus and Eurydice thou shalt pay such funeral honors as may allay their resentment. Returning after nine days

er, Peleus, Pelops, Castor and Pollux. These and their contemporaries may be called the Older Heroes. They are renowned eit

262 and the Adventures of Æneas.263 The exploits of the Older Heroes may be arranged in respect of their probable sequence

eless heart yon Theseus sailed and forgot me, So with folly of heart, may he slay himself and his household! ” … Then with

t thy vision, white canvas to herald thy joy and mine, that mine eyes may see the propitious sign and know the glad day tha

ous, passed in procession— Symbols profound that in vain the profane may seek to decipher; Certain struck with the palms —

Menelaüs, at whose solicitation the war was undertaken. Of Atreus it may be said that with cannibal atrocity like that of

come thou, Patroclus, clad in his armor. Perhaps the very sight of it may drive back the Trojans.” Patroclus in the Armor

Death closes all: but something ere the end, Some work of noble note may yet be done, Not unbecoming men that strove with

d the sunset, and the baths Of all the western stars, until I die. It may be that the gulfs will wash us down: It may be we

rn stars, until I die. It may be that the gulfs will wash us down: It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles, And see the gr

thou knowest the uncertain event of such an undertaking, and whatever may happen to me, I wish thee to be safe. Thou art yo

ess. Promise me that and I shall go more boldly into whatever dangers may present themselves.” Iulus and the other chiefs w

spears. Odin is desirous of gathering many heroes in Valhalla that he may gloriously meet the giants in the day of the fina

er bed, and Burning-anguish forms the hangings of her apartments. She may easily be recognized, for her body is half flesh

else, and in this I am ready to give a proof against any one here who may choose to compete with me.” “That will indeed b

: — “Brother, what seats are these, what happier day? Tell me, that I may ponder it when gone.” And the ray-crownèd Balder

se for man-folks weal. Now let the man among you whose heart and hand may shift To pluck it from the oak-wood e’en take it

ngeth her spirit to move, And awaken her heart to the world, that she may behold him and love. And he toucheth her breast a

ollow hand of Odin till the day of the world go by. I have done and I may not undo, I have given and I take not again; Art

y, one greater is than he. Gunther, thy noble brother, a higher place may claim, Of knights and kings the foremost in merit

geance. Her brothers affect to patch up the breach in order that they may obtain the hoard of the Nibelungs. But this treas

Need.”‌ 397 Commentary.398 [It is hoped that this Commentary may be useful to general readers, and to teachers in

s. In Art. — Beside the representations of Jupiter noted in the text may be mentioned that on the eastern frieze of the Pa

ngtide sun. The dragon is called Delphyne, or Python. The latter name may be derived simply from that part of Phocis (Pytho

the Hind (à la Biche), in the palace of the Louvre (see text, § 39), may be considered the counterpart of the Apollo Belve

nd Adonis and occasional stanzas in Swinburne’s volume, Laus Veneris, may be adapted to illustrative purposes. Chaucer, The

relationships, elsewhere explained or tabulated to a general scheme, may furnish the reader with a clearer conception of t

, some blinking, some always agleam. The wand of Hermes and his music may be the morning breeze, at the coming of which the

fore, that Artemis inherited a more ancient worship of the bear, that may have been the totem, or sacred animal, from which

arktos, a bear. So the myth of the son Areas (the star and the bear) may have arisen ( Max Müller). The last star in the t

t my lamp at midnight hour Be seen in some high lonely tower, Where I may oft outwatch the Bear” (Il Penseroso); and his “W

illes, grandson of this king Æacus. Interpretative. — The name Ægina may imply either the shore on which the waves break (

a and Attica. Interpretative. — Antiope, philologically interpreted, may indicate the moon with face turned full upon us.

Perhaps the method employed by Zethus and Amphion in building Thebes may merely symbolize the advantage of combining mecha

lly graceful and severe design in clay by Teignmouth, of which prints may be obtained, was made to illustrate Gosse’s poem.

Castor and Pollux) have something in common. The wanderings of Latona may be the weary journey of the night over the mounta

to slay monsters as for a young lady to be presented at court; and we may hesitate to explain all these legends of an usefu

re, by Jupiter and the other gods. This petrifaction of the onlookers may indicate the operation of the frost. Cox says tha

erected to his honor. Interpretative. — The healing powers of nature may be here symbolized. But it is more likely that th

ied very soon with the spirituous effects of the vine. His sufferings may typify the “ruin of the summer year at the hands

by the way, was reverenced in Phrygia; the acquisition of ass’s ears may . therefore, have been originally a glory, not a d

the season; while the hope with which the Goddess was finally cheered may perhaps remind us of that unexpected return of fi

tween Thessaly and Macedonia. Interpretative. — The loss of Eurydice may signify (like the death of Adonis and the rape of

s.; Pope, Ode on St. Cecilia’s Day. § 114. Interpretative. — Tithonus may be the day in its ever-recurring circuit of morni

confined air making its escape from crevices or caverns in the rocks may have given some ground for the story. Sir Gardner

tian civilization upon the Greeks. The name Danaüs means drought, and may refer to the frequently dry condition of the soil

owing and exhausted. The unsuccessful toil of the Danaïds in Tartarus may have been suggested by the sandy nature of the Ar

e soil, and the leaky nature of the springs, now high, now low. Or it may typify, simply, any incessant fruitless labor. Th

the Gorgon, whose aspect is night and death. The Grææ and the Gorgons may , with greater probability, be taken as personific

rning breeze, or even as the chariot of the sun. The invisible helmet may be the clouds under which the sun disappears. Com

inthus. The quoit suggests the rays of the sun, and the name Acrisius may be construed to mean the “confused or gloomy heav

ohemia, about 1518. Hesperides: the western sky at sunset. The apples may have been suggested by stories of the oranges of

word means gate (see Iliad 5: 397), and in the case of Hercules there may be some reference to his journey to the gate or P

the heroes and heroic deeds of mythology. As a matter of interest, it may be noted that the serpents that attacked Hercules

his career, enforces, of course, a lesson of conduct. His lion’s skin may denote the tawny cloud which the sun trails behin

gh the vapors that he overcomes ( Cox). The slaughter of the Centaurs may be the dissipation of these vapors. His insanity

of the Centaurs may be the dissipation of these vapors. His insanity may denote the raging heat of the sun at noonday. The

ity may denote the raging heat of the sun at noonday. The Nemean lion may be a monster of cloud or darkness; the Hydra, a c

the heavens with numerous necks and heads of vapor. The Cerynean Stag may be a golden-tinted cloud that the sun chases; and

mena. So far as the tradition of primitive seafaring is concerned, it may refer to some half-piratical expedition, the rich

the Golden Fleece. So far as the physical tradition is concerned, it may refer to the course of the year (the Ram of the G

ocal Hera-Demeter, degraded to the rank of a heroine. The Symplegades may be a reminiscence of rolling and clashing iceberg

the Minotaur as night, devouring all things. The tribute from Athens may suggest some early suzerainty in politics and rel

ow in the British Museum among those known as the “Elgin marbles.” We may mention here the other celebrated national games

abors, and pre-eminent as the mythical statesman of Athens. His story may , with the usual perilous facility, be explained a

the usual perilous facility, be explained as a solar myth. Periphetes may be a storm-cloud with its thunderbolts; the Marat

rm-cloud with its thunderbolts; the Marathonian Bull and the Minotaur may be forms of the power of darkness hidden in the s

of heaven. Like Hercules, Theseus fights with the Amazons (clouds, we may suppose, in some form or other), and, like him he

form or other), and, like him he descends to the underworld. Ariadne may be another twilight-sweetheart of the sun, and, l

ed of them. Ovid’s story of her life protracted to one thousand years may be intended to represent the various Sibyls as be

ral spirit, — of such kind as the Manes of the Romans. The derivation may be from the root AN, to breathe, whence animus (

thical import: the Nibelungs are not a human race; none but Siegfried may have intercourse with them. The land of the Nibel

′-ǎ-tra; Pa-trō′-clus, or Pat′-rŏ-clus. II. Accent. — (1) The accent may be principal, or subordinate: Hel2-les-pon′-tus.

t is marked. The reader should, however, bear in mind that a syllable may be long even though it contain a short vowel, as

ut: wife of Seb, mother of the Osirian gods; the vault of heaven; she may be likened to the Greek Rhea. Osi′ris or Hesiri:

. He is the son of Seb (or, according to some, of Neph, Chnuphis). He may be likened to the Greek Apollo, as a representati

, with the aid of Thoth (reason) temporarily overcomes Seth. The myth may refer to the daily struggle of the sun with darkn

the god of silence. As the latter, he holds a finger to his lips. He may be compared with the Greek Apollo. Harpoc′ra-tes

hology. Cited by Lang. 12. Excursion, Bk. IV. 13. Concerning which may be accepted the verdict that Mr. Ruskin passes up

ctionary. 52. Supplementary information concerning many of the myths may be found in the corresponding sections of the Com

o see the most frightful monster in the world; but that which is ugly may be good. I will endeavour to make him love me. My

ar Psyche, receive your sisters; but beware of taking any advice they may give you. I have no confidence in their good will

as the oracle said be was unreasonable and capricious, very likely he may , some night, take it into his head to kill you. Y

od, tired and despairing, and fixed her eyes upon the river — “Here I may find peace,” she cried: “Receive my body, gentle

forgot her duty to one who loved her; but being sorry for her folly, may entreat mercy from the good gods.” Then she bent

in the task I gave you, but I shall assign you another, in which you may find it more difficult to procure help.” Venus th

her car, flew to Olympus, and demanded her daughter of Jupiter. “You may have your daughter,” answered Jupiter to her supp

s to express our desires, that in the few days which remain to us, we may be allowed to serve at thine altar, to minister t

es; and when this service shall be finished, that in the same hour we may cease to breathe.” “We beg one hour of death, th

the.” “We beg one hour of death, that neither she With widow’s tears may live to bury me, Nor weeping I, with withered arm

widow’s tears may live to bury me, Nor weeping I, with withered arms, may bear My breathless Baucis to the sepulchre.”7 J

and I will fetch a morsel of bread, and comfort ye your hearts.” This may be found in the 18th chapter of Genesis. Mother.

all ages. She is a native of the southern countries of Europe, and it may be of Western Asia. She is called in poetry, Phil

ick, round which serpents were twined. As a stick inflicts blows, and may defend a man, may prevent others from injuring hi

erpents were twined. As a stick inflicts blows, and may defend a man, may prevent others from injuring him, or punish them

as cut away, and left only a frame to stretch the strings across. You may see a lyre in the hands of one of the muses. Poet

u what the prophet told Lyriope, I will give you his history, for you may read of him again. Tiresias was considered the wi

e we are safe, but we can almost always think before we act, and thus may prevent bad consequences of our own conduct. Ann

d the heavy stone from the ground, and said, “The misery you see here may content you; suffer those who breathe the upper a

. It is thinking beforehand what is best to be done; thinking of what may happen in consequence of what we do. Mother. Wha

ife. Silly people go to fortune-tellers, in these days, to learn what may happen to them; just as the Greeks, a long time a

young Perseus; they will kill me, I fear; or perhaps he will, that he may be king himself. But I will be too cunning for hi

ddressing himself to Perseus; “You have taken another man’s bride. It may be that you do not know the perfidy of her father

but have bestowed her upon you. Restore her to me; else thou and they may dread my vengeance.” Perseus cut short the matter

ch persons feel. It cannot be seen, like a woman or child, though you may think of it. But poets, and writers of fables, im

and Aganippe; and, on the contrary, if you are found to excel us, you may demand the delightful country of Emathia, as for

The Greeks personified rivers. Upon ancient medals, and in prints, may be seen figures of venerable men, sometimes pouri

called the god of that river. Upon a map of Greece, the river Peneus may be seen in Thessaly, passing through the Vale of

ptures by the foremost artists of all ages, and it is hoped that they may awaken the true artistic sense. The poems by Long

shine there forever, — the Great Bear and the Little Bear. There you may see them on any starry night and think of their s

ve called me long; I come o’er the mountains, with light and song. Ye may trace my step o’er the waking earth By the winds

I chatter, chatter, as I flow     To join the brimming river, For men may come, and men may go,     But I go on forever. I

, as I flow     To join the brimming river, For men may come, and men may go,     But I go on forever. I wind about, and i

draw them all along, and flow     To join the brimming river, For men may come, and men may go,     But I go on forever. I

g, and flow     To join the brimming river, For men may come, and men may go,     But I go on forever. I steal by lawns an

nd out again I curve and flow     To join the brimming river, For men may come, and men may go,     But I go on forever. A

ve and flow     To join the brimming river, For men may come, and men may go,     But I go on forever. Alfred Tennyson.

w it, after a fierce battle. The people were then very happy; and you may be sure that they made a great ado over Apollo, s

ck-tempered little god, and he cried in a passion, “Though your arrow may pierce all other things, my arrow can wound you.”

mouths and hissing tongues. Not very pleasant creatures to meet, you may well say. With one blow of their tails or of thei

think me worthy of this honor?” cried Perseus, in great delight. “You may try it, if you like,” answered the king. “It is t

, “My boy, you have undertaken a dangerous task, yet with my help you may succeed. But first of all, you must promise to do

should marry the king’s daughter. Such a way of settling the dispute may seem very strange to us, but it pleased both the

ll the time, and follow where I lead; for if you go too low the water may clog your wings, and if you fly too high the heat

ant yield. Your future has deeds of glory,     Of honor (God grant it may !), But your arm will never be stronger,     Or th

our will strike at last When, from dreams of a coming battle,     You may wake to find it past. Adelaide Anne Procter .

ight, and let me enter the labyrinth alone. In the morning the others may follow.” “The prince wishes to die alone,” answer

iful temple as long as we live, and let us die together, that neither may live to mourn the other.” “Your wish shall be gra

h as glass and only the gentlest breezes blow. Then the halcyon birds may be seen floating on the quiet waters. And because

her gently, morn!           Kiss her softly, winds! Softly, that she may not miss Any sweet, accustomed bliss; On her lips

t or by day. When you have succeeded in doing these three things, you may take the Golden Fleece back with you to Greece.”

ake her his wife and take her back with him to his home in Greece. It may seem strange that Medea was willing to leave her

pples, and vines with clusters of golden and purple grapes; there you may gather the wild red strawberries in the woodland

nd ivy buds With coral clasps and amber studs; And if these pleasures may thee move, Come, live with me and be my love. Th

and sing For thy delight each May morning: If these delights thy mind may move, Then, live with me and be my love. Christ

there was nothing but the worship of a more graceful humanity, there may be worships much worse as well as better. “Imagin

fountain clear     The Naiad dries her tresses in the sun, Nor longer may we in the branches hear     The Dryad talk, nor s

ents of this profane faith, and through their means, its transmission may be traced to the Greeks, who, after adopting, pur

abound with allusions to them, and without the knowledge of which, it may be asserted, that the mind is scarcely able to do

that they seem to claim a parable at a distance. Such as are probable may be feigned for amusement, and in imitation of his

under various forms: from the different disguises they then assumed, may be traced the worship rendered by the Egyptians t

ser Of every good; thy praise what man yet born Has sung? or who that may be born shall sing? Again, and often, hail! indul

d at once in one perpetual night; These Juno takes, that they no more may fail, And spreads them in her peacock’s gaudy tai

yne, into a shower of gold for Danae, and into a bull for Europa, she may easily be pardoned her restless spirit. When Jupi

the vestments of the Goddess. In the spirit of a high mythology, Juno may be considered as representing the sublunary atmos

on was suppressed; Bent on revenge, the Goddess stood confessed! ‘And may you live,’ she passionately cried, ‘Doomed in tha

d it. Marsyas was the unfortunate being, and in the history of Apollo may be found the fate he experienced through the vera

he gentle beauty of the feet, and the grace of the attitude, are what may be seen in many other statues belonging to that a

distinguished care: So boundless she, and thou so partial grown, Well may we deem, the wondrous birth thine own; Now franti

had by him, Triton, one of the sea deities. To the story of Neptune, may be attached the beautiful fable of Arion, the ill

Mark him as he moves along, Drawn by horses black and strong. Such as may belong to night, Ere she takes her morning flight

rs lie Raven locks, and in his eye A cruel beauty, such as none Of us may wisely look upon.” Barry Cornwall. In vain she

ane gone? Is this fountain left alone For a sad remembrance, where We may in after times repair, With heavy heart and weepi

rjuries, or falsehoods they had used in the pursuit of gain; and this may be considered to have been particularly necessary

ssus known, though perhaps the exquisite story of Echo’s love for him may be less familiar to the mind. After Echo had been

ut in none of them have their authors been very successful, unless we may gather a warning of the fatal effects of self-lov

ly thy gracious gift applied, Thy pity now, repenting, I implore; Oh! may I feel the golden plague no more!’” Ovid. He wa

mmended himself and his virtues to Pomona. “On my assurance well you may repose, Vertumnus scarce Vertumnus better knows,

ave called me long, I come o’er the mountains with light and song! Ye may trace my step o’er the wakening earth, By the win

! Come forth, O ye children of gladness, come! Where the violets lie may be now your home. Ye of the rose-lip and dew-brig

re, and the wreath, and the joyous lay, Come forth to the sunshine, I may not stay. Away from the dwellings of care-worn m

t you in silence down! The Summer is coming, on soft winds borne, Ye may press the grape, ye may bind the corn! For me I d

The Summer is coming, on soft winds borne, Ye may press the grape, ye may bind the corn! For me I depart to a brighter shor

is written ‘thou must surely die!’ But at what hour, no mortal power may know,     Whether at morn, at dewy eve, or night,

ir leaves. A murmur of the sea,     A laughing tone of streams; Long may her sojourn be     In the music land of dreams. E

ing Some loose flowers of Love’s own making; ‘Here are good ones, you may trust ‘em,’ (These, of course, found ready custom

Death is the gift most welcome to my woe, And such a gift a stepdame may bestow. Was it for this Busiris was subdued, Whos

y, was too cheaply bought? For her, my arms, I willingly employ, If I may beauties, which I save, enjoy.” Ovid. Cepheus c

ows no ties save those he makes himself, Speak to me — Say that I yet may hope to lay my head On that dear bosom, say thou

farewell!     The laurel and the glorious rose     Thy glad beam yet may see, But where no purple summer glows O’er the da

h of life restored, Mine, mine the rapture, mine the victory.     Now may the boundless love, that lay     Unfathomed still

op, Shall bear the crown thou did’st usurp from me. And that thy soul may fly with more regret Know traitor that thy last b

s out, in transports of a cruel mind, ‘Within yourself, your Itys you may find.’ ‌Still at this puzzling answer with surpr

’s death, is thus beautifully described: — “Iphigenia. Father! I now may lean upon your breast, And you with unreverted ey

hild! the Earth Has gendered crimes unheard of heretofore, And nature may have changed in her last depths, Together with th

Gods of Hell! Iphig. She hath not past the river.                 We may walk With our hands linked, nor feel our house’s

st in thy scoffs, Iphigenia’s love from Agamemnon: The wife’s a spark may light, a straw consume, The daughter’s not her he

eceive, On any terms ’tis better than to live; These flames from far, may the false Trojan view, These boding omens, his fa

s faiths have sought to give them a character of obscurity, that they may agree with the general mysticism of the East. The

and all thy charms. ‘O thou for ages born, yet ever young, For ages may thy Brahmins’ lay be sung! And when thy glory spr

plinth, resting on the claws, and four limbs of the American lion: we may at once emphatically say that there is no real di

As a proof of the bloody nature of the religion of the Mexicans, we may mention, that on solemnizing the building of thei

eck is of an immense thickness; and the whole appearance is one which may vie in frightfulness with any deity or demon of t

nd that a perusal of the fables we have been able to lay before them, may induce them to take a greater interest, and place

f visible poetry have long been past! — No fear that the young hunter may profane The haunt of some immortal, — but there s

ly striving to excel in the cultivation of the imaginative faculties, may associate in their minds a name so justly entitle

ch, though not suited to vulgar apprehension, the refined and liberal may explain. In cases where evident morals are inculc

g, and the like. Human victims were occasionally sacrificed. The gods may be divided into Celestial, Marine, Terrestrial, a

the Greeks? In what manner was the worship of the gods conducted? How may the gods be divided? Part I. Of the Celestial

r of a goddess by a mortal. Before we give the history of Jupiter, it may be proper to speak of Saturn and Cybele, his pare

s. 2. — Jupiter’s throwing his father down into the infernal regions, may be thus accounted for: — Among the Greeks, countr

. Obs. 2. — The division of the year alluded to by the second fable, may be explained in two different ways. Proserpine wa

usual abode of her mother Ceres. Obs. 3. — Allegorically, Proserpine may stand for the seed, and Ceres, for the fertility

hese explanations of the fables. A few examples of the kind, however, may be useful to call forth the sagacity and critical

rning drops, And chirp thy song with such a glee, That happiest kings may envy thee. Whatever decks the velvet field, Whate

he god beat the satyr, and flayed him alive. The origin of this fable may be accounted for thus: before the invention of th

rest from the toils of agriculture. However learned this explanation may be, it is novel, and not generally adopted. Quest

brated in honour of Bacchus by the Athenians, showing how greatly men may be deceived by wine. The Ambrosia were feasts ins

eir Bacchus. They find so striking resemblances between both, that it may be useful to notice some of them, but without pre

tion of the art of cultivating the vine. In conclusion, therefore, it may be remarked, that, although the great Hebrew lawg

uilty flee. Obs. 3. — The fable of Minerva’s disputing with Neptune, may be thus explained: Cecrops, having introduced an

g the ugly Satyrs, undoubtedly to teach us that the defects of figure may be compensated by the charms of mind and that we

ve frightened away the giants in their wars with the gods. This fable may be considered as a corrupted tradition of the fal

Mark him as he moves along, Drawn by horses black and strong; Such as may belong to night Ere she takes her morning flight.

rs lie Raven locks, and in his eye A cruel beauty, such as none Of us may wisely look upon.” Barry Cornwall. “Pluto, the

nded plains of pleasures lay. The verdant fields with those of heav’n may vie, With ether vested, and a purple sky: The bli

eros, Pholus, &c. Obs. — The idea of this fable of the Centaurs, may be referred to the men of Thessaly, who were the

onscience; for which Virtue discharges her arduous functions. Omphale may represent the love of Pleasure, which sometimes c

t his duties, and give himself up to amusement. In short, our readers may exert their ingenuity in explaining the fables of

those princes and princesses, Castor and Pollux and their sisters, it may be observed, that the rooms of palaces, at that t

ce of its primitive state in the fable of their Typhon. Obs. 2. — We may consider the story of Horus as an allegory repres

hich that legislator of the Hebrews made in the wilderness, and which may be looked upon as a portable temple, was the firs

ples of the ancients were divided into various compartments, which it may be useful to notice in order to understand their

ies of Elephantine, a city remote from Sais, twenty days’ journey. We may cite, for example, the famous chapel which Amasis

toises. This elevation is better accommodated to the measure which we may conceive. According to this proportion, this towe

ves forty feet to this statue; the Scriptures, ninety; but the latter may be understood as including the statue and the ped

ich he had added the golden statue forty feet in height. From this we may form some idea of the immense riches of this huge

ich he employed was chiefly observed; and, however improved mechanism may now be, it could not probably succeed in raising

These presents were appropriated to the ornamenting of the temple. We may imagine the number of these offerings by calling

hose who admired it: “I shall raise upon four pillars a temple, which may well astonish you.” It was at that time he concei

f these two opinions, or attempting to decide which is preferable, it may be admitted that many reflections Occur in the la

t of mere deception? This is a grave question, however sceptical some may be on this point. Imposture always belies itself.

estions are deemed sufficient to convince the reader, that a wise man may believe in the truth of some oracles, without bei

bles of the Greeks are recorded in history. This division of time, it may be remarked, comes to us from the Greeks and Roma

ry of the Romans, adopted their gods, and submitted to their yoke. We may , therefore, conclude, that it was at the time of

s. They were employed in driving the chariots of the sun and moon. We may easily recognize in the foregoing narration, the

hat the fables of fairy-ism and the marvellous of our Gothic romances may be attributed, although the mythology of the Gree

embellishment of their fictions, their poems, and their romances. We may easily conceive how much a belief in predestinati

ch each one drank whilst making his prayer or vow. Whatever horror we may now have for human sacrifices, it nevertheless ap

d towards the north, and gradually peopled the whole island. Whatever may have been the origin of the inhabitants of Great

ancers, the heroes of the early romances of chivalry, first arose. It may also be observed, that al the historians, after h

them. In order to reconcile the two authors, says the Abbé Banier, it may be supposed that the Gauls in passing into Englan

that of the highest God. Hence, as Proclus beautifully observes, they may be compared to trees rooted in the earth; for as

each other and their incorruptible nature. The first of these powers may be called intellectual; the second vivific; the t

and Mars preside over it with a guardian power. But the truth of this may be seen in statues, as well as in enigmas. For Ap

Bacchus in Jupiter, Æsculapius in Apollo, and the Graces in Venus. We may also behold the spheres with which they are conne

y ever to enter upon any regular classical course. For the former, it may prove a useful introduction to these studies, whi

modern authors to whom the writer has been particularly indebted, we may mention Calmet, Anthon, Tooke, Bulfinch, Huc and

. The work now completed is offered to the public in the hope that it may render the subject of mythology more generally po

created things Arise from him; and He is all in all. No mortal sight may see Him, yet Himself Sees all that live; ……………………

the emblem of peace, and war should only be made that a secure peace may follow; also because she bestowed the olive on me

. Yes, a great number; but only a few were well known. Among those we may mention Pomona, the goddess of orchards, and Flor

that in the midst of all human miseries, hope yet remains. The fable may have been derived from some ancient tradition of

to visit her by transforming himself into a shower of gold, which we may take for a poetical manner of saying that he brib

by observing the cries and the flight of birds. In the third class we may place the appetite of the sacred chickens; when t

ons of the royal poet appear. What we have said of the Olympic Games, may be applied with some little variation to those so

ucture of the kind of which a complete description has reached us. It may serve to give a general idea of these edifices. T

mbarrassed the actors, and made them appear stiff and unnatural. This may have been true to a certain extent, but we must r

would have been quite lost, while the large and finely colored masks may have had a very good effect. Nothing would have s

red, living trees from the forest were planted on the stage. Whatever may have been the faults of the Greek drama, there is

Some of the sculptures and bas-reliefs which once adorned this temple may now be seen in the British Museum. They are calle

gned to this god, whose food was always served in vessels of gold. It may be doubted whether the poor animal was capable of

makes many of the Hindoos afraid to kill animals for food, lest they may possess human souls, and be perhaps their own fri

a lower caste ever pass to a higher. Only, if he lead a good life, he may console himself with the hope of being born in a

Ans. The three higher castes are forbidden it altogether. The Sudras may eat every kind but beef, but the Pariahs are unde

medicinal properties of plants in order to benefit his fellow men. We may see, therefore, that Buddha had more reasonable a

he Chinese philosopher travelled as far west as Athens. Be this as it may , it is certain Lao-tze spent some time in Persia

itted to marry; to keep up their numbers they buy young children, who may be had in China for a few sapecks, and these are

in is desirous of collecting a great many heroes in Valhalla, that he may be able to meet the giants in the final contest a

e hand. Runic Letters. Ques. What are Runic letters? Ans. One may occasionally meet in Norway, Denmark, or Sweden w

f the Gothic, called Norse, still in use in Iceland. The inscriptions may , therefore, be read with certainty; but they thro

ir sacred character, to be a highly esteemed and privileged class. We may judge of their influence in keeping alive the pat

, but the result was favorable to the missionaries, and from that day may be dated the rapid though peaceful decline of Dru

with this, Procopius relates an Armorican legend of which some traces may yet be found in Brittany. At the foot of the prom

origin, and seem to be relics of this festival. Ques. At what period may we fix the decline of Druidism? Ans. It was supp

rank, while the inferior class numbered over two hundred. Ques. Who may be considered the chief of these subordinate divi

were placed in the house of the deceased. In this mode of burial, we may notice a certain resemblance to the funeral rites

servation, or relates events of which the memory was still recent, he may be relied upon as an accurate and truthful histor

ormation of which we would otherwise be deprived. The Natural History may be considered, from its wide range of subjects, a

rely different from that observed on any other American monuments. We may form some idea of the size of the blocks used, fr

ITTLE FRIENDS, JANE SEDGWICK AND FRANCES BRYANT. In the hope that it may be useful, this book of Mythology is affectionate

s one of a series of simple and easy works for the use of schools. It may appear to have less of the character of utility t

ountain of Thrace, Athos of Upper Greece, and the Acroceraunian ridge may be seen in modern Turkey, north of Macedonia. Jus

Apollo which adorns the Vatican palace at Rome. Casts of this statue may be seen in almost every considerable town in the

the sun; he probably obtained it by concentrating the sun’s rays, as may be done by a burning-glass; and this, ignorant pe

Force and Strength, instead of Vulcan and Mercury. Force and Strength may signify the power and cruelty of bad men who were

Mark him as he moves along, Drawn by horses black and strong, Such as may belong to night Ere she takes her morning flight.

rs lie Raven locks, and in his eye A cruel beauty, such as none Of us may wisely look upon. Barry Cornwall. It appears, h

olonies into Asia Minor, and afterwards passed over into Italy. Æolia may be seen in Asia Minor. Who was Flora? Who was Po

rning drops, And chirp thy song with such a glee, That happiest kings may envy thee!     Whatever decks the velvet field, W

to induce them to be virtuous hereafter. Besides the Furies, Nemesis may be reckoned among the avenging deities. She presi

ommanded him to severe toils in the service of society — and Omphale, may be the love of pleasure, which sometimes made him

it existed at the end of the war of Troy, 1184 B. C. This anachronism may be pardoned in a poet, for poets are not required

h the contest, agreed upon a single combat. Turnus was killed, and it may be that Eneas reigned peaceably in Latium. Fabulo

usting are the Fakirs, who sometimes hang themselves upon spikes, and may be seen in this state till they expire, being a l

taining an assemblage of all the deified heroes and princes of India, may be called the Hindu Pantheon: is about half way u

sented with a cock’s crest upon his head. To the gods just described, may be added several children of Odin: Hoder the blin

hall wade the chilling flood. These are a few of the parallels which may be traced between the Bible and Scandinavian myth

la? Syrian Mythology. Canaanites, Phœnicians, and Philistines may be comprehended with the inhabitants of their adj

ghter Iphigenia to Diana. These are only a few of the analogies which may be found between true and false religions. The

elty of the Mexicans in their worship is detestable, and sorry as one may feel for the misfortunes which they have experien

Who assisted them in the discharge of their functions? What analogies may be perceived between the Greek and Hebrew priesth

e particularly excelled in his statues of horses. Perhaps some notion may be conceived of the magic of his art, when it is

r to the Greeks in the time of Pericles. Among the articles of dress, may be seen the leathern boot called the cothornus, a

Persia, were worshipped, in all those countries, the ruins of temples may be found, and all serve to show that the sentimen

ication? What is expressed by the washing of hands, and what exemples may be given of that meaning? Did the worshippers amo

f the most remarkable differences between Judaism, and Polytheism, it may be well to learn a few particulars of the worship

els, and to attend in public services of religion. What resemblances may be found between Paganism and Judaism? Who were t

s eighteen inches. 11. As this book is written for young persons, it may not be amiss to inform them that the term chef d’

ling, an attempt has been made to approach the original tales as they may have existed in the mouths of the people. Embelli

en anything in the underworld, she cannot return; but if not, Jupiter may right the wrong.” Then Ceres said, “Nothing shall

r of destiny,    Still silvery sweet — Persephone. The greater world may near the less,    And draw it through her welteri

but at last he spoke. “It is an unwise wish, O Epimetheus! And yet it may be done. Go back to earth. Tomorrow the gift shal

, for I had rather be here with her than there alone, and if Eurydice may not go, I, too, will return no more to light and

g out the chariot before the palace gate,” said the stranger, “for it may yet be done.” Then the shepherd went out into the

some one will be found among my friends to die for me — some old man, may be, who has not long to live in any case.” Yet, s

p it. Let us make merry, then, and put garlands on our brows while we may . So I would advise you to do, and rid yourself of

young man held his head up proudly and said: — “O King, whatever you may command me I will do. Perhaps I may yet bring som

and said: — “O King, whatever you may command me I will do. Perhaps I may yet bring some worthy gift — some spoil won from

the eye cried out: — “Sisters, a man comes! Give me the tooth, that I may bite him.” But the one who had the tooth cried ou

had the tooth cried out: — “Sister, give me the eye, quickly, that I may see where the wretch is.” Then they all began to

ot be safe at Athens. Let him bring the sword and the sandals, that I may know him.” Then Ægeus left, but Æthra brought up

e stone. “When you can raise this stone and get what is under it, you may go,” she said. Theseus took hold of it and lifted

, “for I will sail in the black ship with the men and the maidens. It may be that with the help of the gods I shall slay th

g Priam, besought him in vain, for Hector said, “Who knows but that I may slay him, though he is so great? And for me, it w

ell the destruction of the ship and all its crew, though you yourself may escape.” Ulysses and his men set sail, and Circe

will,” said Minerva. “Now you must punish them. But in order that you may make your plans in safety, I will disguise you.”

little later, in the disguise of a beggar; but watch me well, that we may act together.” Next morning Telemachus set out fo

some few alterations, and by considerable additions, the New Pantheon may be found to possess a juster claim to that favour

ssess a juster claim to that favour which it has already experienced, may continue to enjoy that support which it has hithe

, may continue to enjoy that support which it has hitherto found, and may meet with still more extensive patronage. Cork,

which the poets adorned with all the charms of imagery and verse. How may the Deities of Grecian and Roman Mythology be cla

— The Celestial; the Marine; the Terrestrial; the Infernal. To these may be added the class of Inferior Divinities, of who

Bacchus? The various festivals of the God of wine were celebrated, as may well be supposed, with riot and excess. His pries

the continent of Asia. The fable represents Bacchus with horns, which may be supposed to allude to the light that is said t

nfessedly derived? The history of Oriental Mythology and superstition may be arranged in four divisions, succeeding each ot

the names they assigned him, and in their rites and forms of worship, may be distinctly traced to very high antiquity. The

of worship, may be distinctly traced to very high antiquity. The one may be called the Osiric, or Brahminical superstition

ny other people in the central and eastern regions of Asia. The other may be styled the Thothic, or Buddhic superstition, t

taining an assemblage of all the deified heroes and princes of India, may be called the Hindû Pantheon, is about half way u

d. Tyr, the dispenser of victory. Braga, the God of poetry. To these, may be added, several children of Odin: Hoder the bli

iligently endeavour, that this unsullied beam of celestial splendour, may enlighten our understandings, may purify our hear

ullied beam of celestial splendour, may enlighten our understandings, may purify our hearts, may elevate our affections, ma

l splendour, may enlighten our understandings, may purify our hearts, may elevate our affections, may guide our steps throu

ur understandings, may purify our hearts, may elevate our affections, may guide our steps through all the changing scenes o

ur steps through all the changing scenes of this imperfect state, and may cheer our fainting spirits, in the awful hour of

our fainting spirits, in the awful hour of dissolution; that thus we may not have received the grace of God in vain. Qu

r? Name the Pagan Mythologies in which traditions from Sacred History may be traced. Who was Hebe? In what countries are th

ealing to us the absurd ceremonies and impious maxims of Paganism, it may inspire us with new respect for the majesty of th

lized in the minds of its worshipers as a living spirit with whom men may speak face to face as a man speaks with his frien

f Poseidon was the horse, which he was supposed to have created. This may , perhaps, be due to the fact that the imagination

to die again in the autumn. In a somewhat narrower sense, Persephone may be regarded as a type of the grain which long rem

ve, severe queen of the world of shadows. In the latter character she may generally be recognized by her sceptre and diadem

her character, Hestia was always represented as fully clothed, which may account for the fact that the ancients had so few

of her love for the beautiful Adonis* is of Asiatic origin. The germ may be easily distinguished. It represents the decay

destruction to men and animals by means of his unerring arrows. This may easily be explained. The rays of the sun do indee

sacred to her. The purity and chastity generally ascribed to Artemis may have their origin in the pure light of the moon i

which he personified. He was simply air in motion, which in one hour may breathe as softly as a child in its cradle, and i

hour may breathe as softly as a child in its cradle, and in the next may tear up forests in its rage. The music which he p

bones and voice — the former the gods turned into stones; the latter may still be heard among the hills. Aphrodite avenged

ns numerous remains of these buildings of antiquity. On the Acropolis may still be seen the temple of Athene Polias, and th

ent. At length it occurred to Deucalion that it must be stones, which may be called the bones of the earth, the great paren

and alone to his setting. The contest of Bellerophon with the Chimæra may be a representation of the drying up, by means of

ure as man. Every feature of the many legends connected with his name may be traced back to phrases which spoke of the sun

mains inconsolable for the loss of her son. Her tears still flow, and may be seen at early morning, in the form of dew-drop

fair and beautiful bride from whom he was parted yester-eve. Dangers may await him, but he cannot arrest his steps. Do wha

as late as the reign of Hadrian*. A mummy of one of the Sacred Bulls may be seen in the Egyptian collection of the Histori

f the atmosphere of the great originals, and, in whatever tongue they may be told, the stories themselves cannot easily be

. The writings of many of the great English classical translators, it may be added, are instinct with the spirit of the anc

command. “The Earth,” said he, “is the mother of all, and the stones may be considered her bones.” Husband and wife speedi

tly I’ll pursue; Pathless, alas! and rugged is the ground, Some stone may hurt thee, or some thorn may wound. “You fly, al

as! and rugged is the ground, Some stone may hurt thee, or some thorn may wound. “You fly, alas! not knowing whom you fly;

A strain of unpremeditated wit, Joyous and wild and wanton — such you may     Hear among revellers on a holiday.” Shelley.

Mark him as he moves along, Drawn by horses black and strong, Such as may belong to Night Ere she takes her morning flight.

rs lie Raven locks, and in his eye A cruel beauty, such as none Of us may wisely look upon.” Barry Cornwall. Frightened b

his awkward hands.” Darwin. However unworthy these effeminate tasks may seem for such a hero, they proved very agreeable

beating heart for the success of her venture. “I only wish the charm may be of power To win Alcides from this virgin’s lov

hee fly Along the middle track: nor low, nor high; If low, thy plumes may flag with ocean’s spray; If high, the sun may dar

igh; If low, thy plumes may flag with ocean’s spray; If high, the sun may dart his fiery ray.’” Ovid ( Elton’s tr.). Deli

ast into the war, And let me lead thy Myrmidons, that thus The Greeks may have some gleam of hope. And give The armour from

ail, and then the Trojans, at the sight, May think I am Achilles, and may pause From fighting, and the warlike sons of Gree

use From fighting, and the warlike sons of Greece, Tired as they are, may breathe once more, and gain A respite from the co

Hence with thee! Leave our island instantly, Vilest of living men! It may not be That I receive or aid as he departs One wh

g to you The mighty bow that great Ulysses bore. Whoe’er among you he may be whose hand Shall bend this bow, and send throu

d the sunset, and the baths Of all the western stars, until I die. It may be that the gulfs will wash us down! It may be we

rn stars, until I die. It may be that the gulfs will wash us down! It may be we shall touch the Happy Isles, And see the gr

must first obtain a golden twig, which grew in a dark forest. “None may reach the shades without The passport of that gol

housand years, which they allot to the human race on earth, the myths may have spread from a single centre, and either by m

by slave or wife stealing, or by other natural or accidental methods, may have “wandered all around the globe but they prin

il after she has given birth to her first child, and in others a wife may not speak her husband’s name); the latter school

hus the heat of the sun, for example, so beneficial at certain times, may prove baleful and injurious at others. The philol

m, and his severed head floated down the stream murmuring “Eurydice,” may also, perchance, have been intended to represent

of myths that have descended to us. Their varying analyses, however, may be separated into two distinct classes or divisio

f the myth interpretations, as made by the philologists. Anthropology may be defined as the study of man, considered in his

ng student will gain an idea of the meaning of the word “myth,” which may be termed a story whose origin can never be known

rtal part of Hercules was consumed. “Let Hercules himself do what he may , The cat will mew, and dog will have his day.” S

e. See Minerva. “Apollo, Pallas, Jove, or Mercury, Inspire me that I may this treason find.” Shakespeare. Pan. The Arca