Swift” and no wonder; for he had winged sandals, and could fly faster than the lightest bird. He had a winged cap besides, a

her human form, but now Jupiter had made her and her son far greater than human beings. She went to Neptune, god of the sea

nd flashing     From morn till night! Into the moonlight,     Whiter than snow, Waving so flower-like     When the winds bl

e pool seemed touched with a golden light that made it more beautiful than ever; and at night, when Diana drove her silver c

, though she was only a humble girl, she was far greater in her skill than the goddess Minerva. Minerva, you remember, was t

s it was called. Now there was no fault that displeased the gods more than conceit; so when Minerva heard of the girl’s bold

For no sooner had the sun god caught a glimpse of the beautiful nymph than he fell deeply in love with her; and just as quic

r nymphs. Actaeon was a youth who also was very fond of hunting. More than all else, he loved to follow the deer; and he had

razen hands, they could have crushed poor Perseus to atoms. But worse than that, worse even than the deadly bite of the snak

d have crushed poor Perseus to atoms. But worse than that, worse even than the deadly bite of the snakes, was the power of t

the task that the king had thought of giving Perseus was nothing less than cutting off Medusa’s head, snakes and all. Since

rave youth; but the bravest person in the world would rather be alive than to be turned to stone, and the thought of what wo

eathed with serpents, on which he leaned as he spoke. It was no other than the swift-footed god Mercury, but this Perseus di

sword and his winged shoes with which Perseus could fly more swiftly than the swiftest bird. All that Perseus now had to do

the moment, blind. But such an eye as that one was! — worth much more than any other six eyes put together. With it the sist

. The next morning he went to the palace. The king was more surprised than pleased to see Perseus, for he, too, had thought

also very vain of her beauty, and one day boasted that she was fairer than any of the sea nymphs. Now the sea nymphs were ve

d good that everybody loved her. Many thought her even more beautiful than her mother, for whose vanity she was to die. And

ad one child, a girl named Io, and there was nothing she liked better than to wander in the grove by the side of her father’

a hundred eyes, and no matter how tired he was, he never closed more than half of them at one time. If you or 1 had fifty s

by ceaseless talking and playing; but the watchman never closed more than half his eyes. So they had been sitting for a lon

I stand before you with all my wealth and power? Am I not far greater than Latona? I am a queen, and she is but a humble wom

ren, and I have seven times that number, each one of them more lovely than Apollo or Diana, whom you honor. “I am far greate

m more lovely than Apollo or Diana, whom you honor. “I am far greater than Latona; for if all my wealth and power were taken

hould fortune take one half of them from me, still would I be greater than Latona. Turn from the altar, women of Thebes, and

y your wreaths. Me, and me only, should you worship, for I am greater than Latona.” At these words the frightened women cast

herself with their mother, that she’ had called her children greater than the gods, and had boasted that fortune could not

and think you have broken my heart. Yet I am still greater and richer than you, for I have seven children left, and you have

children were no more? We should dread the desert behind us     Worse than the dark before. What the leaves are to the fore

ith your caresses,     And the gladness of your looks? Ye are better than all the ballads     That ever were sung or said;

he king of Argos. Nothing could have been harder for Hercules to bear than slavery; for he had a restless spirit, which made

y came to a river that crossed their path. Usually it was hardly more than a little stream, but it was now swollen with the

ain cave, to be his wife. So no sooner had his hoofs touched dry land than he galloped away, with the frightened girl clingi

ft horse’s feet to carry you beyond my reach, but my arrow is swifter than the fleetest horse.” Then, choosing an arrow, he

ged to jealousy and anger when the boy gave signs of becoming greater than his master. Young as he was, he had already inven

the clever lad, and it was said that he would some day be far greater than his uncle. Thus all the uncle’s love for his neph

forget all about the young prince of Crete. And this was nothing less than the coming of their own prince to his father’s ki

tall and noble in appearance, and no sooner had the princess seen him than she fell in love with him. She longed to see him

ything to win his love. No sooner had this thought come into her mind than it was followed by another. “Perhaps if I opened

t is better that seven youths and seven maidens should die each year, than that every one in Athens should perish.” So all t

, and I overcame many monsters and giants even when I was little more than a child. Fear not — I will kill the Minotaur, and

g and making ugly faces at them, but the grown people were even worse than the children. Far and wide the place was known fo

In olden times people thought even more of this virtue of hospitality than we do nowadays, and so the conduct of these wicke

more closely, and noticed that the honey was far sweeter and yellower than it had ever been before, and that the poor little

uscious clusters of purple black. Although husband and wife were more than astonished at all they saw, they kept silence abo

angers whom you have entertained so graciously and kindly are no less than gods. Look upon your village!” Philemon and Bauci

, and she felt that she would rather be with him, even in dark Hades, than live in the bright world without him. So she moun

he dragon’s teeth in the soil he had just turned up, and in less time than it takes to tell, a mass of helmets began to show

at lived in the forests. All these things he loved, but dearer to him than anything else was a stag that lived in the grove

his playfellow’s back, he would speed through the woods more swiftly than the wind. Apollo often joined this happy pair in

ooner shall seaweed grow on the mountain tops and trees in the ocean, than my love for Scylla change while she is alive.” Th

t are the sea and the heaven,     Yet greater is my heart; And fairer than pearls and stars     Flashes and beams my love.

of them. The women he created in marble seemed to him far more lovely than any of the living ones. So he passed his time sin

King Midas, said that to his taste Pan’s music was far more beautiful than the sun god’s. To punish him for this stupid use

ey were a very queer people indeed, and were much larger and stronger than any of the giants you have read about in your fai

r foreheads with such an angry glare that it frightened you much more than a hundred ordinary eyes could have done. Indeed,

green caves. And this is the song he sang: “O Galatea, you are fairer than the petals of the whitest blossom, more beautiful

you are fairer than the petals of the whitest blossom, more beautiful than the green fields or the young trees, and more ple

ful than the green fields or the young trees, and more pleasing to me than the winter’s sun or the summer’s shade. Why, then

he most beautiful creature in the world. They would say she is fairer than Venus herself. Though Venus was a goddess, she wa

never aught her to celebrate me, and they have declared she is hirer than I. To punish their presumption, you must do as I

w and arrows, and flew away unseen.” But now he thought more of earth than of heaven, and checking his flight, he again desc

mpus, he thought it were better to dwell below with so fair a mortal, than to abide above with fierce, tyrannical, cruel god

d the musicians were invisible. The invisible bridegroom was no other than Cupid, and a voice proclaimed that Psyche was the

he beautiful grounds that belonged to it. This abode was more elegant than any place they had ever seen, and they were so me

mother importuned him, he told her the whole story, and she was more than ever provoked with Psyche, and was determined to

hall revive the bloom of her cheek; that tint which is more beautiful than all the fruits and flowers in nature can match, a

n which he wore, and his magnificent appearance, it could be no other than the lord of the world below. She shrieked out in

to harm, but to bless thee — to make thee my queen. Thou art lovelier than all the daughters of earth, than the blue-haired

ake thee my queen. Thou art lovelier than all the daughters of earth, than the blue-haired sea-nymphs, or those that haunt t

ter, and the transformation of Cyane. No sooner had Ceres heard this, than she instantly harnessed two dragons to her car, f

the wicked are mingled with the virtuous?” Ceres loved herself better than she loved her daughter. So she preferred to recov

she loved her daughter. So she preferred to recover Proserpine rather than suffer her to be happy with Pluto, and with Jupit

he boy, though it does not appear that he was more greedy and selfish than she was, and she darted at him a look of displeas

an is weary, and almost famished. Surely she wants a good supper more than you.” Ceres was more offended at the poor child t

good supper more than you.” Ceres was more offended at the poor child than he deserved; for, to punish him, she threw in his

ce of any people, and that they are more easily procured and prepared than other farinaceous food. Ann. What is farinaceous

s. The next story you read, will be one of a prettier transformation, than that of Becubo’s son. Philomela. In the ea

re, because they did not know better. Ann. How do we know any better than to kill one another? Mother. The Bible has taugh

ey are revolting accounts of uncivilized men, but they were not worse than the Hebrews in many respects. There was good mixe

k it a long voyage. Mother. It is not a long distance, not much more than two hundred miles, in what is called an air-line;

the flock with her two brothers at the fountain; and he was stronger than they, and beat them both.” The two gods were repu

ead. All was given so readily and kindly, that the welcome was better than the feast. Baucis and Philemon ate with their vis

, “I thank you for your hospitality. We, for my companion is no other than the god Mercury, sought kindness from the people

years ago, but glass windows have not been in fashion in Europe more than three hundred years. Ann. I have read of very fi

this in Egypt, where he came from. Ann. Did the Egyptians know more than other people? Mother. At that time they did. An

the gift of prophecy, and likewise a term of life seven times longer than that of common men; and Minerva, still more to mi

children, whom they loved dearly. They were rich, had a better house than their neighbours, and were beloved by their subje

, “do not despair; you are not among barbarians. A king more merciful than Acrisius reigns in this island. The friendly Nere

woman. She boasted of her own beauty, and said that she was handsomer than Juno or the Nereides. Neptune, as god of the sea,

us were killed. He, perceiving that the assailants were more numerous than his party, led the terrified Andromeda to the alt

e into the world. Perseus was now king of Argos, but he chose, rather than reign there, to found a new kingdom. He became th

rsation: Mother and Ann. Ann. This is a short story; nothing more than that Apollo killed the Python. Mother. A great m

hurried from the soft, tender voice of Apollo, and the god, with more than mortal swiftness, pursued her. He overtook her ju

father!” she cried, “I detest Apollo, but still he pursues me. Rather than be his, I would be swallowed up by the cold earth

are’s fame, or reputation. Shakspeare was a great poet. He lived more than two hundred years ago; but every reader admires a

or immortal fame, as some persons say, because he is now more admired than ever. As, in ancient times, poets were crowned wi

ll enable you to understand pictures, and statues, and poetry, better than you could have done without reading them. But, at

they served to adorn that party-coloured bird. Juno now hated Io more than ever, and she drove her from place to place by a

to this complaint, “this young prince has no more glorious ancestors than your own; as I have often told you, they are the

Io has vaunted that he is the offspring of a god, while I am no other than a child of mortality. Condescend, divine Apollo,

one familiar with our subject, illustrations more vivid and striking than the pencil could furnish, but which are lost to t

on abounds in similar allusions. The short poem “Comus” contains more than thirty such, and the ode “On the Morning of the N

e found “musical as is Apollo’s lute.” Our citations, taken from more than twenty-five poets, from Spenser to Longfellow, wi

that most readers prefer to let an allusion pass unapprehended rather than submit to it. Moreover, such sources give us only

the Satyrs of the Greeks. Quirinus was a war god, said to be no other than Romulus, the founder of Rome, exalted after his d

of the sun, and brought down fire to man. With this gift man was more than a match for all other animals. It enabled him to

sings all escaped, hope only excepted. This story seems more probable than the former; for how could hope, so precious a jew

ks. Then succeeded the Silver Age, inferior to the golden, but better than that of brass. Jupiter shortened the spring, and

lton, who introduces it in Book IV. of Paradise Lost: — “More lovely than Pandora, whom the gods Endowed with all their gif

he imagined more beautiful still. He followed her; she fled, swifter than the wind, and delayed not a moment at his entreat

lyre. My arrows fly true to the mark; but, alas! an arrow more fatal than mine has pierced my heart! I am the god of medici

id he, “I have been the cause of thy death! Thou, more worthy of life than I, hast fallen the first victim. I will follow. I

is famous dog, whose name was Lelaps. No sooner was the dog let loose than he darted off, quicker than their eye could follo

s Lelaps. No sooner was the dog let loose than he darted off, quicker than their eye could follow him. If they had not seen

gus had a hundred eyes in his head, and never went to sleep with more than two at a time, so that he kept watch of Io consta

e on this stone. There is no better place for your flocks to graze in than hereabouts, and here is a pleasant shade such as

towards the goddess to hide her with their bodies. But she was taller than the rest and overtopped them all by a head. Such

aps, Theron, Nape, Tigris, and all the rest, rushed after him swifter than the wind. Over rocks and cliffs, through mountain

the Rustics. Some thought the goddess in this instance more severe than was just, while others praised her conduct as str

paternal presence, but stopped at a distance, for the light was more than he could bear. Phœbus, arrayed in a purple vestur

now I leave you to your chance, which I hope will plan better for you than you have done for yourself. Night is passing out

n goal. The steeds soon perceived that the load they drew was lighter than usual; and as a ship without ballast is tossed hi

ection to Scythia, Caucasus burned, and Ossa and Pindus, and, greater than both, Olympus; the Alps high in air, and the Apen

her apron on, with trembling hand set the table. One leg was shorter than the rest, but a piece of slate put under restored

us, the god of this stream.’ I ran, he pursued; he was not more swift than I, but he was stronger, and gained upon me, as my

streams; where my foot stood there was a pool. In short, in less time than it takes to tell it I became a fountain. But in t

a sea animal, but a god; and neither Proteus nor Triton ranks higher than I. Once I was a mortal, and followed the sea for

at the bottom of the ocean, and sea-weed on the top of the mountains, than I will cease to love Scylla, and her alone.” The

on the breast. Her dress became her, and she looked not less charming than when unattired. He laid her on a couch spread wit

where her sister had broken them off the stem. The plant was no other than the nymph Lotis, who, running from a base pursuer

with one of his arrows. She pushed him away, but the wound was deeper than she thought. Before it healed she beheld Adonis,

. She absented herself even from heaven, for Adonis was dearer to her than heaven. Him she followed and bore him company. Sh

ed the herbage ceased to be blood; but a flower of hue more beautiful than the Tyrian sprang up, resembling the lily, if it

hed heavily on the mind of King Ceyx, and it was no less his own wish than hers to take her with him, but he could not bear

hen he arrives. To all the gods she offers frequent incense, but more than all to Juno. For her husband, who was no more, sh

t he might not, in his absence, see any one that he would love better than her. But of all these prayers, the last was the o

bear to live and struggle to endure, I should be more cruel to myself than the sea has been to me. But I will not struggle,

his head. But Vertumnus loved her best of all; yet he sped no better than the rest. O how often, in the disguise of a reape

lliance, and will let an old woman advise you, — who loves you better than you have any idea of, — dismiss all the rest and

nd uttered his complaints to the cruel bolts and bars. She was deafer than the surges which rise in the November gale; harde

he was deafer than the surges which rise in the November gale; harder than steel from the German forges, or a rock that stil

and queen had three daughters. The charms of the two elder were more than common, but the beauty of the youngest was so won

maid took her place in the procession, which more resembled a funeral than a nuptial pomp, and with her parents, amid the la

sk of you is to love me. I would rather you would love me as an equal than adore me as a god.” This reasoning somewhat quiet

neck and crimson cheek, with two dewy wings on his shoulders, whiter than snow, and with shining feathers like the tender b

eem to think preferable to mine. I inflict no other punishment on you than to leave you forever. Love cannot dwell with susp

its there,” and directed her steps thither. She had no sooner entered than she saw heaps of corn, some in loose ears and som

e second century of our era. It is therefore of much more recent date than most of the legends of the Age of Fable. It is th

and loveliest vision far     Of all Olympus’ faded hierarchy! Fairer than Phœbe’s sapphire-regioned star     Or Vesper, amo

ire-regioned star     Or Vesper, amorous glow-worm of the sky; Fairer than these, though temple thou hast none,         Nor

heir pitchers in the fountain, and the ingushing waters made a sound, than the glittering serpent raised his head out of the

in his hand a lance, and in his breast a bold heart, a surer reliance than either. When he entered the wood, and saw the lif

I would I were myself a serpent.” No sooner had he uttered the words than he began to change his form. Harmonia beheld it a

tever stood in the way of her love. And can any other woman dare more than I? I would encounter fire and sword to gain my ob

of fire and sword. I only need my father’s purple lock. More precious than gold to me, that will give me all I wish.” While

his neck. He started back, exclaiming, “Hands off! I would rather die than you should have me!” “Have me,” said she; but it

e of the fables of antiquity has been oftener alluded to by the poets than that of Narcissus. Here are two epigrams which tr

by Lightning.” “Sure ’twas by Providence designed,     Rather in pity than in hate, That he should be like Cupid blind,     

sons. Yet where is your triumph? Bereaved as I am, I am still richer than you, my conqueror.” Scarce had she spoken, when t

up, and, wonderful to relate! no sooner had they reached the surface than they began to brandish their weapons and rush upo

tal thread, foretold that the life of the child should last no longer than a brand then burning upon the hearth. Althea seiz

ghts, the virgin darted forward. As she ran she looked more beautiful than ever. The breezes seemed to give wings to her fee

taken prisoner a fair maiden, named Iole, of whom he seemed more fond than Dejanira approved. When Hercules was about to off

d to tie all travellers who fell into his hands. If they were shorter than the bed, he stretched their limbs to make them fi

ed, he stretched their limbs to make them fit it; if they were longer than the bed, he lopped off a portion. Theseus served

alk, his face. There was something in them which I felt sure was more than mortal. I said to my men, ‘What god there is conc

be profaned by such impiety,’ said I. ‘I have a greater share in her than any of you.’ But Lycabas, a turbulent fellow, sei

metheus the Titan that Thetis should bear a son who should be greater than his father, Jupiter desisted from his suit and de

turies they lived; their only fate Was ripe old age, and rather sleep than death.” The Camenæ. By this name the Latin

and with difficulty restrained his rage. ‘My hand will answer better than my tongue,’ said he. ‘I yield to you the victory

ic heroines whose beauties were rather those of character and conduct than of person. She was the daughter of Icarius, a Spa

re they parted. Ulysses and Penelope had not enjoyed their union more than a year when it was interrupted by the events whic

ra, where the nightingale is said to sing over his grave more sweetly than in any other part of Greece. His lyre was placed

and their influence on poets who succeeded them is yet more important than their poetical remains. The adventures recorded o

who had sent for him, Simonides was satisfied that they were no other than Castor and Pollux themselves. Sappho . S

story suggests aspiring and poetic love, a life spent more in dreams than in reality, and an early and welcome death. —  S.

che, and as a husband and father his character was not less admirable than as a warrior. The principal leaders on the side o

he morrow, she would procure for him a suit of armor from Vulcan more than equal to that he had lost. He consented, and Thet

so late the flower of Ilium, all have fallen. Yet one I had, one more than all the rest the strength of my age, whom, fighti

he temple to be made victims. But the priestess of Diana was no other than Iphigenia, the sister of Orestes, who, our reader

scaped his missile, but waited till they had reached a safer distance than before. The giant answered them with curses, but

ng taunted by one of the youths, seized a quoit of weight far heavier than any of the Phæacians had thrown, and sent it fart

far heavier than any of the Phæacians had thrown, and sent it farther than the utmost throw of theirs. All were astonished,

im where he was, and told him the state of things at his palace. More than a hundred nobles of Ithaca and of the neighboring

us viewed him with astonishment, and at first thought he must be more than mortal. But Ulysses announced himself as his fath

any display of unusual interest in him, that he knew him to be other than he seemed, and even if he saw him insulted, or be

nd even if he saw him insulted, or beaten, not to interpose otherwise than he might do for any stranger. At the palace they

his own hall, but remembering his father’s injunctions, said no more than what became him as master of the house, though yo

ed for a feast. But no sooner had they seated themselves at the table than a horrible clamor was heard in the air, and a flo

ived. Latinus immediately concluded that the Trojan hero was no other than the promised son-in-law announced by the oracle.

and whatever may happen to me, I wish you to be safe. You are younger than I and have more of life in prospect. Nor can I be

to your mother, who has chosen to be here in the camp with you rather than stay and live in peace with the other matrons in

hment         In the white lily’s breezy tent (His conquered Sybaris) than I when first From the dark green thy yellow circl

d get into it. The rest tried in vain, but no sooner was Osiris in it than Typhon and his companions closed the lid and flun

s own breath was silent, chanced to hear A distant strain far sweeter than the sounds Which his poor skill could make, his f

the mythology of a nation has sprung from all these sources combined than from any one in particular. We may add also that

he first century of our era. It is a standing figure, in marble, more than seven feet high, naked except for the cloak which

at so early an age as that usually assigned to these, an age earlier than the date of any remaining inscriptions or coins,

these poems (the Tristia and Letters from Pontus) have no other topic than the poet’s sorrows, his exquisite taste and fruit

be presumptuous to deny the existence of a one-horned quadruped other than the rhinoceros, it may be safely stated that the

dly burned.   Dr. Young, in the Night Thoughts, with more quaintness than good taste, compares the sceptic who can remain u

(another name for Siva) is rather the representative of regeneration than of destruction. The worshippers of Vishnu and Siv

and consequent abstinence from animal food, and a worship less cruel than that of the followers of Siva. Juggernaut.

s in March and July, pilgrims flock in crowds to the temple. Not less than seventy or eighty thousand people are said to vis

oor Brahmans in menial occupations. There is another class lower even than the Sudras, for it is not one of the original pur

mon beauty of his person. No sooner had he grown to years of maturity than he began to reflect deeply on the depravity and m

eir way over the bridge Bifrost (the rainbow.) He requires less sleep than a bird, and sees by night as well as by day a hun

hey saw clearly that the horse did one-half more of the toilsome work than his master. Their bargain, however, had been conc

owner desired it. Frey parted with this sword, but was less fortunate than Thor and never recovered it. It happened in this

ns; but if you come to Utgard you will see there many men much taller than I. Wherefore, I advise you, when you come there,

Then addressing himself to Thor, he said, “Perhaps thou mayst be more than thou appearest to be. What are the feats that tho

all other men?” “The feat that I know,” said Loki, “is to eat quicker than any one else, and in this I am ready to give a pr

e horn from his mouth, it seemed to him that he had drunk rather less than before, although the horn could now be carried wi

as thou art at home if thou showest no greater prowess in other feats than methinks will be shown in this.” Thor, full of wr

r if he will. She has thrown to the ground many a man not less strong than this Thor is.” A toothless old woman then entered

journey had turned out, and whether he had met with any men stronger than himself. Thor told him that he could not deny but

red all that was set before him, but Logi was in reality nothing else than Fire, and therefore consumed not only the meat, b

was there witnessed, either among gods or men, a more atrocious deed than this. When Baldur fell, the gods were struck spee

keep her own.” It was strongly suspected that this hag was no other than Loki himself, who never ceased to work evil among

ite spirits, or Elves of Light, were exceedingly fair, more brilliant than the sun, and clad in garments of a delicate and t

later times they were frequently used for inscriptions, of which more than a thousand have been found. The language is a dia

could paint the gay colors of a butterfly with more minute exactness than the following lines: ‘The velvet nap,’ etc.?”

nd tradition. Of such common places few are more frequently recurrent than the situations and agencies of myth. In view of t

nd pupil, and to the taste of readers somewhat more advanced in years than those addressed by the original work or by the ed

in names of mythological characters are much more frequently employed than Greek, the Latin designations, or Latinized forms

ies of somewhat consecutive stories is more serviceable to the reader than a congeries of data acquired by spasmodic consult

tist, at any rate for a literary and social atmosphere less asthmatic than that to which so many of us are unconsciously hab

loons. It is better that a few of the facts in their heads be wrong, than that no facts be there at all. With all our study

kinship with the spirit of nature humanized can be found more cogent than the contemplation of the poetic traditions that a

hings never fully revealed; surely this new republic of ours, no less than her prototypes by Tyrrhenian and Ægean seas, utte

s what the hero does with circumstances. The hero is more independent than in the historic myth, his liberty, his choice, —

ot impel the poet to capricious use of his material. But lesser bards than Homer have permitted their heroes to run riot in

lcan, or the eagle of Jove, Nor is hyperbole any less in use among us than it was among the ancients; we glorify our politic

ior to nature. They are not conscious of souls whose flight is higher than that of nature. On the contrary, since sun, sea,

eve, of beings worthy of worship and fear and gratitude, all and more than all that is accredited to man? Why not confer upo

trength through every nerve, — the shedding over us of a better peace than the peace of night, in the power of the dawn, — a

hipped and revered, deeds and attributes more silly and more shameful than man can conceive of his fellow-man? When, therefo

n and growth of some myths. But it accounts rather for the reasonable than the senseless element of mythical adventure, whil

vented the senseless stories were in an intellectual state not higher than that of our contemporary Australians, Bushmen, Re

shmen, Red Indians, the lower races of South America, and other worse than barbaric people of the nineteenth century.” But w

onally the questionable element of the myth originated in germs other than savage curiosity and credulity: for instance, in

s own breath was silent, chanced to hear A distant strain far sweeter than the sounds Which his poor skill could make, his f

fferent nations are purely accidental. This theory leaves us no wiser than we were. (2) That the stories have been borrowed

rimæval man. While Hesiod may have written at a somewhat later period than Homer, it is noteworthy that his stories of the g

his stories of the gods have more of the savage or senseless element than Homer’s. The artist of the Iliad and the Odyssey

f Snorri’s Edda, by Magnus Olafsson (1574-1636), is much better known than the original work. In 1642, Bishop Bryniolf Svein

he thirteenth century. Its contents were probably collected not later than 1150. The composition of the poems cannot well be

than 1150. The composition of the poems cannot well be placed earlier than the ninth or tenth centuries after Christ; and a

f Rishis, or psalmists, as far back, perhaps, as 3000 b.c., not later than 1400 b.c. They give us the religious conceptions

conqueror. Another son was born to her — Typhon, a monster more awful than his predecessors — whose destiny it was to disput

olt against the Olympian gods. They were creatures nearer akin to men than were the Titans, or the Cyclopes, or Typhon. They

elly covering to a third. But Prometheus himself made a nobler animal than these. Taking some earth and kneading it with wat

ed with Minerva and Neptune to bind the cloud-compeller himself. More than once she provoked him to blows; and once to worse

himself. More than once she provoked him to blows; and once to worse than blows, — for her lord and master swung her aloft

ccessful. In the battles before Troy, Minerva and Juno bring him more than once to grief; and when he complains to Jupiter,

dmaidens of silver and gold, fashioned by Vulcan himself. Poets later than Homer assign to Vulcan workshops under various vo

ented the sun in its daily and yearly course, in its’ physical rather than spiritual manifestation. The bow of Apollo was bo

grief that I depart they weep and frown: What look is more delightful than the smile With which I soothe them from the weste

“inner beauty of the world,” whose tranquil smile he finds more fair than “The Medicean’s sly and servile grace”: — “From

oughs he made A place for sleep in russet shade. “His lips, more red than any rose, Were like a flower that overflows With

er 964; Roscher 18: 50.] (3) Quirinus, a war-god, said to be no other than Romulus, the founder of Rome, exalted after his d

gus had a hundred eyes in his head, and never went to sleep with more than two at a time, so that he kept watch of Io consta

me on this stone. There is no better place for your flock to graze in than hereabouts, and here is a pleasant shade such as

of the night sets in, and near is the dawning; when sleep more sweet than honey rests on the eyelids, limb-loosening sleep,

The old woman with trembling hand set the table. One leg was shorter than the rest, but a piece of slate put under restored

the forehead of Arachne, she made her realize her guilt. It was more than mortal could bear; and forthwith Arachne hanged h

any other god unto this violence, long ere this hadst thou been lower than the sons of Heaven.” So spake he and bade Pæan he

words exultingly: “Fool, not even yet hast thou learnt how far better than thou I claim to be, that thus thou matchest thy m

pitchers in the fountain, and the ingushing waters had made a sound, than the monster, twisting his scaly body in a huge co

I would I were myself a serpent.” No sooner had he uttered the words than he began to change his form. Harmonia, beholding

d the herbage, ceased to be blood; and a flower of hue more beautiful than the Tyrian sprang up, resembling the lily, save t

father’s presence, but stopped at a distance, for the light was more than he could bear. Phœbus Apollo, arrayed in purple,

nt. But the steeds soon perceived that the load they drew was lighter than usual; and as a ship without ballast is tossed hi

ection to Scythia; Caucasus burned, and Ossa and Pindus, and, greater than both, Olympus, — the Alps high in air, and the Ap

n sons. Yet where is thy triumph? Bereaved as I am, I am still richer than thou, my conqueror.” Scarce had she spoken, when

said? One prayer remains For me to offer yet. Thy quiver holds More than nine arrows: bend thy bow; aim here! I see, I see

stroke, Being a noble heart and honoring me! Who of Thessalians, more than this man, loves The stranger? Who that now inhabi

Forthwith the god was seized with love for the maiden, but she, more than ever, abhorred the thought of loving. Her delight

seeing them. He longed for Daphne. He followed her; she fled, swifter than the wind, nor delayed a moment at his entreaties.

e lyre. My arrows fly true to the mark; but alas! an arrow more fatal than mine has pierced my heart! I am the god of medici

rever, each making its bough! If her tongue had a tang sometimes more than was right, Her new bark is worse than ten times h

ongue had a tang sometimes more than was right, Her new bark is worse than ten times her old bite.”163 § 86. Clytie. 164 —

ht the trembling maiden. But a cold sweat came over her. In less time than it takes to tell, she had become a fountain. Alph

towards the goddess to hide her with their bodies. But she was taller than the rest, and overtopped them all by a head. Such

She absented herself even from Olympus, for Adonis was dearer to her than heaven. Him she followed, and bore him company. S

ee! Persephone, take thou my lover, my lord, for thyself art stronger than I, and all lovely things drift down to thee. But

and queen had three daughters. The charms of the two elder were more than common, but the beauty of the youngest was such t

l maid took her place in a procession, which more resembled a funeral than a nuptial pomp, and with her parents, amid the la

ask of thee is love. I would rather thou shouldst love me as an equal than adore me as a god.” This reasoning somewhat quiet

cry At what she saw; for there before her lay The very Love brighter than dawn of day; And as he lay there smiling, her own

, reproached her with distrust of him. “No other punishment inflict I than to leave thee forever. Love cannot dwell with sus

e second century of our era. It is therefore of much more recent date than most of the classic myths. To this fact Keats all

born and loveliest vision far Of all Olympus’ faded hierarchy! Fairer than Phœbe’s sapphire-regioned star, Or Vesper, amorou

apphire-regioned star, Or Vesper, amorous glowworm of the sky; Fairer than these, though temple thou hast none, Nor altar he

win. The virgin darted forward. As she ran she looked more beautiful than ever. The breezes gave wings to her feet; her hai

d to stoop: He dropt a third; and now she stoopt indeed: Yet, swifter than a wren picks up a grain Of millet, rais’d her hea

of Lesbos went wild for love of him. None, however, admired him more than the poetess Sappho, who addressed to him some of

punish him, this innocent replied, in effect, “I know a trick better than that!” And when the puzzled Apollo, having traced

, Whose ivory arms hold up the golden lyre? What form is this of more than mortal height? What matchless beauty, what inspir

have visited Hades and returned, none has a sweeter or sadder history than Orpheus, son of Apollo and the Muse Calliope. Pre

ra, where the nightingale is said to sing over his grave more sweetly than in any other part of Greece. His lyre was placed

to content him, but in vain. He cared for his young wife Procris more than for the goddess. Finally Aurora dismissed him in

omised return. To all the gods she offered frequent incense, but more than all to Juno. The goddess, at last, could not bear

madest him thy chosen, that he seem’d To his great heart none other than a God! I ask’d thee, ‘Give me immortality. Th

, Mouth, forehead, eyelids, growing dewy-warm With kisses balmier than half-opening buds Of April, and could hear the

e, by the revolt against the divine prerogative of nature, it is more than possible that the heart lost in due proportion. I

his neck. He started back, exclaiming, “Hands off! I would rather die than thou shouldst have me!” “Have me,” said she; but

the stem of the plant was bleeding. Indeed, the plant was none other than a nymph, Lotis, who, escaping from a base pursuer

to spring beneath him as he walked, The clear, broad sky looked bluer than its wont, And he could scarce believe he had not

who would fain have blessed thee with a love, More ripe and bounteous than ever yet Filled up with nectar any mortal heart:

Of the sea-divinities, daughters of Nereus and Doris, none was fairer than Galatea, sister of Amphitrite and Thetis. She lov

s I count beauty, — and the sea reflects the gleam of my teeth whiter than the Parian stone.” 240 … He loved, not with app

“Oh, milk-white Galatea, why cast off him that loves thee? More white than is pressed milk to look upon, more delicate than

ves thee? More white than is pressed milk to look upon, more delicate than the lamb art thou, than the young calf wantoner,

n is pressed milk to look upon, more delicate than the lamb art thou, than the young calf wantoner, more sleek than the unri

cate than the lamb art thou, than the young calf wantoner, more sleek than the unripened grape! Here dost thou resort, even

es has made more graceful poetic use of the divinities of the streams than has Milton. The following song, chanted by a Spir

eath, The agonies of anguish and of death. Yet it is less the horror than the grace Which turns the gazer’s spirit into sto

ld. Of that Gorgon-shield no more poetic interpretation can be framed than the following: — “What was that snaky-headed Gor

the “Choice of Hercules.” Soon afterward he contended with none other than Apollo for the tripod of Delphi; but reconciliati

tal thread, foretold that the life of the child should last no longer than a certain brand then burning upon the hearth. Alt

ste head, O holiest Atalanta! no man dares Praise thee, though fairer than whom all men praise, And godlike for thy grace of

Crete or Egypt into Attica, founded Athens, and chose Minerva rather than Neptune as its guardian. His successor was Ericht

d to tie all travellers who fell into his hands. If they were shorter than the bed, he stretched them till they fitted it; i

n the bed, he stretched them till they fitted it; if they were longer than the bed, he lopped off their limbs. In the course

nge for white in the event of his returning victorious. So, — Rather than cargo on cargo of corpses undead should be wafted

hat ponderous fears oppressed her languishing bosom, How, more pallid than gold her countenance flashed into whiteness, What

r desperate daughter, — How Ariadne made less of the love of them all than of Theseus? Why should I sing how sailing they ca

n of these toils, For love in larger store ye could not have From any than from him who standeth here, Of who bereaved ye no

er not.340 Creon, unyielding and unable to conceive of a law higher than that he knew, gave orders that she should be buri

theus, the Titan, that Thetis should bear a son who should be greater than his father, the Olympian desisted from his suit,

the injured and innocent, restored to happiness, won no less a reward than Bacchus himself. Gorgeously woven with such antiq

nslaught, victor in devious reach of the race-course, Fleeter of foot than feet of the stag that lighten and vanish, — Haste

es: Roscher 12: 1938.] … At length I saw a lady within call, Stiller than chisell’d marble, standing there; A daughter of t

. “I had great beauty: ask thou not my name: No one can be more wise than destiny. Many drew swords and died. Where’er I ca

mache, and as husband and father his character was not less admirable than as warrior. The principal leaders on the side of

till the morrow, to procure for him a suit of armor from Vulcan more than equal to that he had lost. He consented, and Thet

so late the flower of Ilium, all have fallen. Yet one I had, one more than all the rest the strength of my age, whom fightin

to be made victims. But the priestess of Diana in Tauris was no other than Iphigenia, the sister of Orestes, who had been sn

scaped his missile, but waited till they had reached a safer distance than before. The giant answered them with curses, whil

own acres of the shoreless deep; — Better, — yea better far all these than bow Foul faces to foul earth, and yearn — as we d

ng taunted by one of the youths, seized a quoit of weight far heavier than any the Phæacians had thrown, and sent it farther

ht far heavier than any the Phæacians had thrown, and sent it farther than the utmost throw of theirs. All were astonished,

im where he was, and told him the state of things at his palace. More than a hundred nobles of Ithaca, and of the neighborin

re they parted. Ulysses and Penelope had not enjoyed their union more than a year when it was interrupted by the events whic

us viewed him with astonishment, and at first thought he must be more than mortal. But Ulysses announced himself as his fath

any display of unusual interest in him, that he knew him to be other than he seemed, and even if he saw him insulted, or be

nd even if he saw him insulted, or beaten, not to interpose otherwise than he might do for any stranger. At the palace, they

his own hall; but, remembering his father’s injunctions, said no more than what became him as master of the house, though yo

d for a feast. But no sooner had they seated themselves at the table, than a horrible clamor was heard in the air, and a flo

ived. Latinus immediately concluded that the Trojan hero was no other than the promised son-in-law announced by the oracle.

d whatever may happen to me, I wish thee to be safe. Thou art younger than I and hast more of life in prospect. Nor can I be

to thy mother, who has chosen to be here in the camp with thee rather than stay and live in peace with the other matrons in

rom forcing their way over the bridge Bifrost. He requires less sleep than a bird, and sees by night as well as by day a hun

hey saw clearly that the horse did one half more of the toilsome work than his master. Their bargain, however, had been conc

ns; but if you come to Utgard you will see there many men much taller than I. Wherefore I advise you, when you come there, n

Then addressing himself to Thor, he said, “Perhaps thou mayst be more than thou appearest to be. What are the feats that tho

l other men?” “The feat that I know,” said Loki, “is to eat quicker than any one else, and in this I am ready to give a pr

e horn from his mouth, it seemed to him that he had drank rather less than before, although the horn could now be carried wi

as thou art at home if thou showest no greater prowess in other feats than methinks will be shown in this.” Thor, full of w

r if h6 will. She has thrown to the ground many a man not less strong than this Thor is.” A toothless old woman then entere

journey had turned out, and whether he had met with any men stronger than himself. Thor told him that he could not deny but

red all that was set before him, but Logi was in reality nothing else than Fire, and therefore consumed not only the meat, b

wner desired it. Freyr parted with this sword, but was less fortunate than Thor and never recovered it. It happened in this

ite spirits, or Elves of Light, were exceedingly fair, more brilliant than the sun, and clad in garments of a delicate and t

e From the bright ocean at our feet an earth More fresh, more verdant than the last, with fruits Self-springing, and a seed

foreseeing the future, knew even this. Sigurd was to wed with another than Brynhild. And it befell in this wise. In the land

the union, and exchanged rings with her, — she giving him none other than the ancient Ring of Andvari back again. But even

and I may not undo, I have given and I take not again; Art thou other than I, Allfather, wilt thou gather my glory in vain?”

“How brave soe’er he be, How stout soe’er or stately, one greater is than he. Gunther, thy noble brother, a higher place ma

oponnesus, near Corinth. Illustrative. — Milton, P. L., “More lovely than Pandora whom the gods endowed with all their gift

ion, as a whole, was more careful of nations, states, public affairs, than of individuals and individual character; and in t

of Light. (See Preller and Roscher.) This derivation is more probable than that from Lycia in Asia Minor, where the god was

period, probably in bronze). It is a standing figure, in marble, more than seven feet high, naked except for the cloak which

ge. She warned Zeus that if she bore him a child, it would be greater than he. Whereupon Zeus swallowed her; and, in time, f

h Thucydides gives of the plague of Athens. That account, much fuller than is here given, was drawn from life, and has been

o, sung to deprecate misfortune in battle, or to avert disease. Lower than the sons of Heaven: lower than the Titans, sons o

in battle, or to avert disease. Lower than the sons of Heaven: lower than the Titans, sons of Uranus (Heaven), who were plu

tless cloud (the Bull). The Sun, of course, must journey further west than Crete. The heifer that he is to follow is, theref

— Hercules, Perseus, etc. No stories are more beautiful or more lofty than those which express the hope, innate in the human

s (§ 161), “For one soul working in the strength of love Is mightier than ten thousand to atone,” — the truth that was exem

ism of Shelley’s sparkling verses, would, however, be pedantic rather than just. Probably Shelley uses the word Acroceraunia

rformed by Lord Byron. The distance in the narrowest part is not more than a mile, but there is a constant dangerous current

rofessor Müller and the Rev. Sir G. W. Cox are more satisfactory here than usual, Roscher’s the swift wind is scientifically

e beautiful fictions of Greek Mythology, there are few more exquisite than the story of Proserpine, and none deeper in symbo

onception of manliness has in modern times found expression in poetry than that of the Hercules in Browning’s transcript of

skilled in magic. Her aunt Circe was even more powerful in necromancy than she. The Robe of Medea is the Fleece in another f

(in the flaming sunset?). Jason is no more faithful to his sweetheart than other solar heroes— Hercules, Perseus, Apollo — a

morrow. (See Roscher, Lex. 530-537.) The physical explanation is more than commonly plausible. But the numerous adventures o

3) Sigibert, king of the Austrasian Franks whose history recalls more than one event of the Sigurd and Siegfried stories; fo

two syllables, it falls on the penult: Cir′-ce. (b) In words of more than two syllables, it falls on the penult when that s

falls on the first syllable of the word: Hip 2-po-crē′ne. (b) If more than two syllables precede the principal accent, the l

ictorious principle of light, life, and right, but rules over, rather than sympathizes with, mankind. He is of human form, s

state of savages, 13; senseless element, a survival, 14; other germs than savage curiosity and credulity, 15; phases of myt

ent, 15-17; physical, religious, and moral import, 16, 17; myth, more than “sham history,” 18; general conclusion concerning

mbolical Language of Ancient Art, “Not trustworthy, being little more than a mass of conjectural memoranda; but the heap is

serted, that the mind is scarcely able to do justice to them any more than to modern writers, since the works of the latter

tive ear, it is Diana, armed with her bow and quiver, and more nimble than the stag that she pursues, who takes the diversio

worthy, that we are willing rather to present their mature opinions, than to obtrude our own) we shall find that Lord Bacon

repulsed her affection, being in love with a mortal nymph; and rather than submit to the tyrannical passion of Cybele, he is

d flowers give forth an odour ever new, The stars look brighter still than when of old I watched them fading from the mounta

ing around my brow, To scent its foul and noisome atmosphere, Is more than frail mortality can bear. Anon. Insérer image

called the age of silver, being an era of virtue, less pure, however, than that of the age of gold. “But when good Saturn b

now The darkness and the clangour of your wings. But why more hideous than your loathed selves Gather ye up in legions from

. “While we to Jove select the holy victim, Whom after shall we sing than Jove himself? The God for ever great, for ever ki

risked in a bull, and gallopped o’er the plain; ‌His skin was whiter than the snow that lies Unsullied by the breath of sou

ed; Pergûsa is its name: and never more Were heard, or sweeter sounds than on Cayster’s shore. Woods crown the lake, and Phœ

ourably received: the King of the Scythians, who loved the sword more than the ploughshare, and the spear more than the reap

ns, who loved the sword more than the ploughshare, and the spear more than the reaping hook, having attempted to smother the

tona, observing, that she had a better claim to altars and sacrifices than the mother of Apollo. This insolence provoked Lat

h of his promise by the river Styx. Scarcely had he uttered the oath, than the gods, who could not absolve him from it, rall

they repeated, “King Midas has the ears of an ass.” Enraged, no less than terrified, at this extraordinary occurrence, Mida

day that Alexander the Great was born. This madman had no other end, than to render his name for ever notorious, and he suc

the form of a bunch of grapes; scarcely was it pressed upon her lips, than she felt thrilling through her frame, the effects

d for a while, burst forth anew, and in an agony of transport, rather than strike one so loved, he ‌determined to be her sub

piration of the ‌God. Nothing can be conceived more wild and terrible than their gestures, touching, as they do, the verge o

races, and the patroness of pleasure. Some mythologists speak of more than one. Of these, however, the Venus sprung from the

Venus, though possessed of every charm, no sooner put on her cestus, than Vulcan, unable to resist the influence of love, f

made him lame, did not at all tend to render his appearance less ugly than it is usually described. —————— “His hand was kn

ne of gold, with secret springs, on which the goddess no sooner sate, than she ‌found herself unable to move. In vain the Go

ted an ecstacy among the scandal-mongers of Olympus. This was no less than an improper liason between Mars, God of War, and

nts. He seems, however, to have been retained there more for ridicule than any other purpose; and was indeed the great butt

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

he light would reveal a monster whose presence would astonish no less than it would frighten: and succeeded in persuading he

and loveliest vision far     Of all Olympus’ faded hierarchy! Fairer than Phœbus sapphire-regioned star     Or Vesper, amor

ire-regioned star     Or Vesper, amorous glow-worm of the sky; Fairer than these, tho’ temple thou hast none,         Nor al

semblance lay, Of him the temple’s lord, it shone     More beautiful than day. “It was a sleeping child, as fair     As th

. L. We cannot better conclude our account of this important Deity, than by the following epigram, written under one of hi

nt with patience bore; A boxen shuttle in her hand she took, And more than once, Arachne’s forehead struck.” The high spiri

The agonies of anguish and of death.     “Yet it is less the horror than the grace,     Which turns the gazer’s spirit int

with the bones of Pelops — while Apollodorus asserts, it was no more than a piece of clock-work which moved of itself. To i

ory to Apollo. Neptune, as god of the sea, was entitled to more power than any of the other deities, except Jupiter. Not onl

ses whose hand he sought in marriage, and who looked for a gayer life than he could offer them, they all refused to become t

_img109 Mercury. Though according to Cicero, there were no less than five gods of this name; yet to the son of Jupiter

which relates rather to the attributes they were supposed to possess, than to the gods themselves. Thus, with such deities a

introduced into Rome, he became more the God of Orchards and Gardens, than the patron of licentiousness. He was there crowne

rt, ye demons of the midnight air,     At shrieks and thunders louder than your own. Alas! e’en your unhallowed breath,     

er; but when the gods were informed that her son would become greater than his father, they ceased their addresses, and Pele

t disclose The well wrought fabric, to discerning eyes, Rather by art than nature seem to rise. A bridled dolphin, oft fair

render her propitious, sought the aid of Circe, who no sooner saw him than she became enamoured, and, instead of assisting h

he fountain where Scylla bathed, and no sooner had the nymph entered, than her body, below the ‌waist, was changed into frig

alled by some of the poets, the mother of all things, of gods no less than of men, and was worshipped with great solemnity b

pated youth of the city, and occupies in poetry, a rank more elevated than that of Comus. He was greatly honoured during the

; and with wings, to intimate that he flew away with greater velocity than he approached mankind. Fortuna was the goddess of

epared to follow, but no sooner had the Centaur landed with Dejanira, than he attempted to offer violence to his beautiful b

nic given her by the Centaur, Nessus, but no sooner had he put it on, than the poison with which it was saturated, penetrate

erish by the hands of his daughter’s son, Perseus was no sooner born, than Acresius caused him to be thrown into the sea, wi

g the only one subject to mortality, she must be the victim. For more than one reason this was very agreeable to Polydectes,

ke the morn, the morn to wake the sun.     Here Atlas reigned of more than human size, And in his kingdom the world’s limit

the country, because Cassiope, her mother, had boasted herself fairer than Juno and the Nereides. “In me the son of thunder

usand streams, With winds that move in perfume and in music, And more than all, the gift of woman’s beauty. What marvel that

_img214 No sooner had the marriage of Laius taken place with Jocasta, than it was foretold by the oracle, that he would fall

. Me he assailed. I combated his onset, Grasp’d him, and in less time than I relate it; Flung him upon the earth: in vain he

at end? Why gave she thee her child? Phor. To murder it. Œd. O more than savage! murder her own bowels Without a cause. P

he waters. The oracle was consulted, which declared that nothing less than the sacrifice of Iphigenia, the daughter of Agame

rough Elysium, writhe beneath it. Iphig. Come, I have better diadems than those Of Argos and Mycenai — come away, And I wil

r the space of nine years, and might have lasted much longer, as more than valour was necessary to take the city; for destin

g realms announced her fated fall; Whirled his fierce spear with more than mortal force, And pierced the thick ribs of the e

he fortunes of Ulysses — scarcely had he quitted the Phrygian shores, than he and his companions became the sport of Neptune

their previous shapes. The fascinations of Circe proved more powerful than the sword of Ulysses, and he staid with her on th

e day, so that when Ulysses arrived, she was no nearer its completion than at first. Meanwhile Ulysses scarcely knew how to

Yet even this death with pleasure I receive, On any terms ’tis better than to live; These flames from far, may the false Tro

as it was sudden, consented to become his bride. ———————— “How more than sweet, That moment, as he knelt at Hero’s feet, B

burthen; song, now that the one had gone whose praise she valued more than all beside, became neglected; and in a fit of ins

narch, whom they could not help respecting no less for his abilities, than for his moderation in the application of them. He

fond despair; Or it might be, a beauty of the earth, Who found a more than common votary there Too much adoring; whatso’er t

he carried on his shoulders a young bullock, four years old, for more than forty yards, that he then killed it with a blow o

r any religion to possess a more metaphysical and abstract character, than the creeds of the various sects which distinguish

India, essentially metaphysical and philosophical, are less agreeable than those of the people of the West, who indulge thei

cient people of the North, is a complete receptacle of poetry no less than of history: and forms of itself a work of great i

e best of their race. He was distinguished no less for his ‌eloquence than for his kindness and wisdom. It was his doom to m

iseases were sworn to respect his life. No sooner had this been done, than his brothers determined to see, if indeed, he had

d his wife was burned with him. No sooner was the funeral terminated, than a fellow-god, leading a fleet steed, went to dema

yes of the Saxons, holier and dearer in its melancholy reminiscences, than if it had still possessed the statue of the god,

rritories and of new Spain. Some of these pyramids are of larger base than the Egyptian, and composed of equally durable mat

it is thought that the stories will require little more mental labor than that of the mere reading. In the telling, an atte

oung daughter, Proserpina, who loved them. Never was a mother happier than Ceres as she watched Proserpina wandering through

nsters, all howling; but soon she saw Cerberus himself. He was larger than any horse, and he had three heads, all of which w

Pluto thought her look and the light she brought with her worth more than all the treasures of his underworld; and from tha

a winged cap upon his head, and he sails through the air more swiftly than any bird. Besides, he has a magic wand with two s

ime when Proserpina was carried off, the world began to be less happy than it had been. In the winter men shivered and froze

es of fire and they shivered sadly on cold days. Prometheus was wiser than they. He had seen the eternal fire burning in the

nst one another. Men were more comfortable, but they were not happier than before, for after that day when Prometheus brough

fering Titan. “For all your pains and mine, men are little better off than they were.” “I know it well,” said Prometheus in

he gift; then he opened the door. There stood Pandora, more beautiful than any woman of earth and in her arm rested the box,

to close it, but it was of no use. The little creatures were stronger than she. At last she sprang upon the cover, with her

an nothing be done?” they would ask. “It would be better not to live, than to live in this misery.” But as they talked and c

ther — such is my woe, and greater, for I had rather be here with her than there alone, and if Eurydice may not go, I, too,

re events. “Alcmena,” said the seer, “your son has power that is more than human. He will be a great sufferer and a great he

e ridding the world of plagues and monsters. Yes, and he will be more than a hero, for I foresee that when he comes to die,

strewn with roses.” Then the other goddess drew near. She was taller than Happiness, and even fairer to look upon, for the

t you shall learn to master them all, and you shall find a joy deeper than earthly pleasure. The gifts that Happiness offers

you. I know just where the gardens are, and besides, I am much taller than you and can get over the ground much more quickly

d delivered up the golden fruit. Eurystheus feared and hated him more than ever after this, but Hercules continued to be pat

though his clothes were worn and tattered, he was fairer to look upon than any mortal man. He asked for shelter, and begged

hought not even the longed-for Islands of the Blessed could be better than their own native land. But happiness such as this

d him he must die. Then Admetus knew that the stranger was none other than the god Death, and he felt that his day of doom w

crifices, but unpitying, fulfils his word. No sooner had the god left than Admetus fell sick and began to waste away. Hope l

she offered her own life for his. She vowed that she would rather die than be spared, if he were taken from her. She thought

elf, “The time is almost come. The boy is already taller and stronger than any man in Trœzen.” One day she led Theseus out i

ased the king, and Theseus was bidden. Never was Medea more beautiful than upon that evening. When the golden goblet of wine

rength to endure trials with a brave heart. These things are mightier than power and more precious than wealth; and they sha

a brave heart. These things are mightier than power and more precious than wealth; and they shall be yours, if you give me t

did me; but what is it all worth to me? Patroclus, whom I loved more than my own life, is dead, and I sit here useless to m

were no such thing in the world as wrath, for at first it is sweeter than honey, but in the end it is a burning and torturi

I would that death had carried off Briseis, my beloved slave, rather than that we had ever seen these days of grief and los

ay slay him, though he is so great? And for me, it were better to die than to live in shame behind the Trojan walls after th

hers, Deiphobus,” he said, “but from this time I shall honor you more than ever before.” With that, the two advanced toward

r Women.” (Helen.) At length I saw a lady within call,    Stiller than chisel’d marble, standing there, A daughter of th

“I had great beauty: ask thou not my name:    No one can be more wise than destiny. Many drew swords and died. Where’er I ca

ought of seeing their wives and children. Ulysses was perhaps happier than any of the others. Ten years before, he had left

his, Ulysses,” said Polyphemus, and he cast another rock, larger even than the first, but this time the great mass fell behi

and became once more Ulysses’ men, but younger and fairer and taller than before. Ulysses and his companions stayed a year

se of schools. It may appear to have less of the character of utility than its predecessors; but the object of them all, hum

, and fifteen centuries before the birth of Christ, Moses, more fully than any of his predecessors, was instructed in the na

gain related by the person who first heard it to others still younger than himself. When a father tells his son, My father t

period, less instructed in the useful arts and the comforts of life, than the inhabitants of Crete, over which the usurper

past. This double gift of looking before and after, was nothing more than the experience and foresight of a wise man; never

vely burden to Crete. Crete is a European island, or nearer to Europe than to Asia or Africa. Europa afterwards married the

, seem to have been brought to much higher utility and beauty by them than by any other people. The Hermes of Egypt was prob

our eyes! [Translator : Pope] The Romans were a more warlike people than the Greeks; they held Mars in higher reverence th

re warlike people than the Greeks; they held Mars in higher reverence than the former people. The priests of Mars at Rome we

ble. Because Prometheus employed fire more curiously and successfully than other men, he is said to have stolen it from heav

his enemies is a more rational cause for the sufferings of Prometheus than the vengeful and jealous treatment of a god. Wha

was Iris represented as a divine messenger? Had Iris any other office than those of favour to mankind? Hebe and Ganymede

d the latter their food. These imaginary aliments were more delicious than any known to mankind. Hebe presented nectar to Ju

es, and terrified at their own guilt, by a power who is of purer eyes than to behold iniquity with complacency. The Palladiu

isdom, is usually drawn with an owl by her side. This owl is no other than Ascalaphus. When Proserpine heard him inform Plut

s supposed to make Venus a thousand times more graceful and beautiful than she was without it. The temples of Venus were num

from the sea, and therefore held. Neptune in more grateful estimation than the other states. Who was Neptune, and how was h

retelling the approach of storms, seemed to them to be something more than mortal. By attentively observing the direction in

achment and watchful care, and he is more the friend and guard of man than any brute animal; therefore he was a proper compa

te of dotage, that is of infirm old age, that he wished rather to die than live. Tithonus, according to fabulous history, wa

y remained ignorant of their transformation. Men are indeed no better than brutes, if to eat, drink, and be merry, is all th

us beheld the reflection of his own face and form; it was more lovely than any object he had ever seen; he desired above all

gs are filled with ferocious animals, which subsists on others weaker than themselves. When the predaceous animals learn by

peril, some man of a more powerful body, and a more courageous spirit than others of these small communities, encourages his

n her husband to put on this robe; but no sooner was he arrayed in it than the poison penetrated his body, and threw him int

for his son, and will leave him the kingdom. We then shall be no more than the subjects of this upstart: let us kill him.” T

se in those days people pretended to think a prince was of more value than a hundred ordinary persons. We know better at the

he exaction of the tribute. It is probable the truth is nothing more, than that the two princes peaceably agreed that this b

thing elegant: but Theseus caused new houses and temples, much better than the old ones, to be erected: and he showed much r

d with Peritheus, and they traversed Greece together, doing more harm than good. Among other violent acts, Theseus seized th

Œdipus. Among the fables of antiquity there is not one more sad than the story of Œdipus. Œdipus, King of Thebes, in B

t once domestic and heroic. Ismene was, in fact, scarcely less heroic than Antigone, the former through timidity, refused to

had encouraged Paris in his perfidy. Menelaus, with more forbearance than was common to that age, when princes in their qua

mon to that age, when princes in their quarrels sought revenge rather than right, sent ambassadors to Troy to demand the res

s hardly to deserve the name, and are better known in Homer’s verses, than in the topography of Troy. The poetical account o

ner did Ulysses appear in Ithaca, and discover himself to his family, than the suitors were properly punished for their auda

eloponnesus, went to the siege of Troy. His character is more amiable than that of the heroes generally. Nestor was very old

erranean, in hopes to establish himself in some country more favoured than Troy. In his voyage, Eneas stopped at Delos, the

mentioned — like them he was a moral philosopher, though little more than his name now remains. He is said to have died sud

d 560 B. C, aged seventy. Periander of Corinth was an able, rather than a wise man. Goodness and benevolence are essentia

of Seringham, with their families, composing a multitude of not less than 40,000 persons, were maintained by the liberality

iety; that is, prevents one race of men from growing wiser and better than their fathers were — prevents any particular indi

w. There he defended he passage against the giants; taking less sleep than the birds; seeing a hundred leagues around him, b

e she lies in massive tomb, Shrouded by night’s eternal gloom. Fairer than gods, and wiser, she Held the strange keys of des

dile, a cat, or a serpent — a fitter inhabitant for a cavern or a bog than for a temple. The religion of ancient Egypt is wr

Persia, according to the most authentic historians, was more rational than that of most other nations of the world. It consi

Who reformed the religion in Persia? Did the Persians believe in more than one governing power in the universe? Was Mithras

ormed concerning them. The Roman gods were less pure in their actions than those of the Mexicans, but the Mexican worship wa

nt tribes of Mexico; the chief of these, Mex-it-li, was more honoured than any of the gods of Mexico. The Mexicans offered t

ore readily admitted the apotheosis of heroes, and were more tolerant than the Greeks. In the latter ages of Rome, after the

nt of antiquity. Pantheon. The Pantheon is of a later origin than the Capitol. It was built by Marcus Agrippa, son-

der of these orders. They were only few in number, sometimes not more than fifteen persons in an order. The Flamines, Sodale

ays Dr. Clark, “the form of the temple has sustained a greater injury than it had already experienced from the Venetian arti

places of idolatrous worship were all calculated to obstruct, rather than to admit light. Even in its present state, the Pa

in the knowledge of their antiquities , “was in nothing more manifest than in their continued prayers and supplications to t

cities pretended to have its particular Jupiter. Varron mentions more than three hundred Jupiters. It was so with the other

e prince were called Harpies. Obs. 4. — The Titans were nothing more than a family of princes, who acknowledged Saturn for

to be kind, To render with thy precepts less The sum of human misery than wretchedness, And strengthen man with his own min

came so much worn out with infirm old age that he chose rather to die than live. She metamorphosed him into a grasshopper, w

ce, he has often been considered as the sun. No god was more honoured than Apollo. His oracles were in universal repute. His

dy’d, Was now no blood; from which a flower full blown, Far brighter than the Tyrian scarlet shone, Which seem’d the same,

syas durst not pretend that the sounds of his flute would please more than those of Apollo’s lyre. Judges were chosen. The g

aid writers in any particular branch of science. Some reckon no more than three of them, viz. Mnemo, Aæde, and Melete, i. e

ith a more exquisite form, a more majestic mien, and a taller stature than her followers. She appears as a huntress, lightly

t to allow us to disbelieve that the fable of Bacchus is nothing more than an ill formed tradition of the history of Moses,

name to it. No sooner had Neptune struck the earth with his trident, than a beautiful fiery courser, the emblem of war, spr

n need of ornament. She shines no more under the splendour of purple, than under the simplest dress; her noble traits are eq

r in a flowery field, Cupid boasted that he could gather more flowers than his mother. Venus accepted the challenge. Cupid f

intimate that they borrow nothing from art, and have no other charms than those of nature; they are young, because charms f

having read in the book of Destiny that she would have a son greater than his father, he gave her for a wife to Peleus, who

s dirt, or earth, as Uranus does heaven. Chaos alone was more ancient than heaven and earth. He was arbitrarily called Ops,

said to be on fire; but no sooner had her image been removed thence, than the grove became green again. It was customary to

igin, the former, of human. Some considered the Lares as nothing else than the manes which they imagined to be continually h

between crime and virtue was so strongly felt by some who were wiser than others, that they endeavoured carefully to preser

ere both killed in single combat. Their enmity was of longer duration than their lives. The bodies were laid on the same pil

ury, and lived two centuries before the deluge, which period was more than one thousand years before the Greek Æsculapius fl

us return to Athens? Chapter III. Hercules. There are not less than forty heroes of this name mentioned by ancient au

little box, and sent it to Creusa. No sooner had the box been opened, than the fire burst forth, and burnt her to death, tog

story records no event more celebrated and more replete with fictions than the conquest of the Golden Fleece. Many authors d

shut up armed soldiers. No sooner had they entered the island Teneos, than the Trojans, seeing this immense colossus, delibe

the city, they immediately came in. Agamemnon was no sooner arrived, than he was assassinated; Menelaus returned to Sparta

, he escaped unhurt. No sooner had the Grecians set the city on fire, than Æneas took his aged father Anchises on his should

was admitted and preserved by the priests, who were more enlightened than the multitude: and, as they highly appreciated an

rsian Mythology. The Persian religion was purer and more rational than that of some other nations. It inculcated a belie

ang up from his left arm, drew near the creator, raising a cry louder than the shout of a thousand armies, in order to suppl

p which was two stadia wide and five long. It was no sooner finished, than the earth was overflown. Some time after, seeing

lyphical paintings. The Mexican religion was, in many respects, purer than the Roman, but the worship of the Mexican deities

ight. No sooner had two men thrown themselves headlong into the fire, than they appeared in the heavens as the sun and moon.

east, and holding in his left hand a golden fan, more highly polished than a mirror, and set round with gay feathers. From t

ngdon, called Tla-pal-la. No sooner had Quet-zal-cot taken the drink, than he disappeared from Mexico; but he never arrived

are, according to Mr.  Savary, in his letters on Egypt, vastly larger than Herodotus describes them to be. The ideas we now

the weight of which, according to Diodorus Siculus, amounted to more than five thousand talents. The temple of which he spo

fumes were burnt every year, and the weight of which amounted to more than one hundred thousand talents. He mentions, also,

om Mount Pantelica. Antiquity had nothing more magnificent or perfect than the throne and the statue of Jupiter Olympius. Bo

Pantheon of Rome. Rome and the rest of Italy had no fewer temples than Greece. Many of them were remarkable for their ma

les had this form. The portico, more surprisingly grand and beautiful than the temple itself, is composed of sixteen columns

tise, in which he strives to prove, that oracles have no other origin than in the deception of priests. M.  De Fontenelle, w

her Baltus, a Jesuit, has given us a second treatise, no less learned than that of Van Dale, in which he attempts to prove,

name Scioldungians. Odin more pleased with giving crowns to his sons than with reigning himself, next repaired to Sweden, w

nce. Such was the end of this man, no less extraordinary in his death than in his life. Some learned men have supposed that

ed all treasures hidden under ground. These chronicles, more poetical than faithful, say, that he sung such melodious and te

elf to the people of the North as an awful divinity, had no other end than to secure dominion. Chapter III. Of the religi

orshipped by the greater portion of the Scythians, as the god of war: than which rank, according to them, no honour could be

as lightly as birds; and day and night, he perceived objects at more than a hundred leagues distant. He heard the grass and

ges sweet songs, and listens to the prayers of mortals. More faithful than Venus, she incessantly weeps over her absent husb

did not follow this creed, acknowledging no other subaltern divinity than their own courage. Having thus enumerated the nam

he order which we now admire it. No heathen religion has granted more than that of the Celts to divine providence. This tene

ll be an elevated palace in it, covered with gold, and more brilliant than the sun, and there the just will dwell and rejoic

re abodes seemed to be intended rather to reward courage and violence than virtue. Those only who died in battle, had a righ

e she lies in massive tomb, Shrouded by night’s eternal gloom. Fairer than gods, and wiser, she Held the strange keys of des

must have been transported a great distance — monuments more lasting than any of modern art or industry. At all times, men

navia, erected temples to Envy; but none, it is said, was more famous than that at Upsal in Sweden. Gold there glittered on

testify that the ancient Danes were no less attached to that worship than the other nations of the North. The large temple

and night. Among the vessels of iron and copper employed one greater than the rest, served to receive the blood of victims.

magistracy, resembling the Roman dictatorship, was not to last longer than during the time necessary to terminate wars, and

noble inspirations of their predecessors, sought no other employment than that of amusing and flattering self-love: and eve

n; but that those islanders, being more reflecting, and less warlike, than the Gauls, preserved it in its purity. Such, adds

and time. The religion of the Gauls appears to have always been purer than that of other heathen nations.’ Their ideas on di

nations.’ Their ideas on divinity were much more, just and spiritual than those of the Greeks and Romans. Tacitus, Maximus

him.” Nothing is more celebrated in the history of the ancient Gauls than the forests of the country of Chartres. The fores

ften the means of immortalizing them. The Bards, though less powerful than the Druids, enjoyed so high consideration, that i

of religion, and the subaltern ministers exercised no other functions than those granted by the Druids. The origin of those

men. Their divination had, at one time, rendered them more celebrated than the Druids themselves. When Hannibal passed into

y. They maintained that people are always more fond of the marvellous than of truth. They had some knowledge of botany; but

of an inhuman jealousy, or to those of an indifference more insulting than jealousy. The Celts considered their women as equ

their women, caused them to imagine, that they possessed more highly than themselves, the gift of persuading and making the

consult them; and their decisions inspired infinitely more confidence than the oracles of Greece and Italy. The emperors, af

he author conceives that he cannot close his work more appropriately, than by quoting the words of an eminent Grecian schola

es. The peculiarity of it also is this, that it is no less scientific than sublime; and that, by a geometrical series of rea

between the First Cause and us: for we, in reality, are nothing more than the dregs of the universe. These mighty powers, f

measure in France, containing six feet; but the French foot is longer than the English, 76 being equal to 81 English feet.”

e calm pursuit of literature, it may be said to have had more success than could have been reasonably anticipated. The prais

l aware of its defects, it is plain that they thought them to be more than compensated by its merits. Of the present Edition

e will have the candour to impute the omission to inadvertence rather than to design. The soldier in Cervantes’ comic romanc

d inutiliter vixit. It appeared to me that histories of a better kind than the compilations of Goldsmith were wanting in our

ls, and I felt that I could supply the deficiency. The event has more than justified my anticipation ; and the adoption of m

Its size and necessary price (the present containing more by a fifth than the former edition) are perhaps insuperable imped

y other part of classic literature, but many may be better cultivated than they have been hitherto. Thus the private life of

s sentiments on it. The following are mine. No fallacy can be greater than that of supposing that the public have any rights

likely to be as popular, they said they could not afford to give more than 150l. ! I mention these facts not out of ill-will

d say then, as the publishers say they would not give more for a long than for a short term of copyright, let the public be

fty feet, runs a line, below which the colour of the rocks is lighter than it is above. The natural, though probably incorre

mythology of any people. Some of them, too, apply more to one system than another : the Scandinavian mythology, for example

Scandinavian mythology, for example, is of a more physical character than the Grecian : the Indian is more metaphysical tha

physical character than the Grecian : the Indian is more metaphysical than either the Grecian or the Scandinavian. The mytho

s existed long before the system, and were the product of other minds than those which afterwards set them in connexion, not

an art, and made a trade of it, that she might not appear more wanton than other women72. Cadmos was cook to a king of Sidôn

sing principle was applied to the former with still greater assiduity than heretofore. The New Platonists endeavoured by its

at later, for he displays a much more extended knowledge of the earth than Homer appears to have possessed. As navigation an

terior of Asia, led to the supposition that the earth was oval rather than round, its greater diameter running east and west

he strange and wonderful adventures of beings older and more powerful than mankind137. The lively and creative genius of the

d it is itself but the echo of those of bards of far higher antiquity than the Ascræan to whom it is ascribed, and who often

of Heaven and Earth might seem to imply a deeper knowledge of physics than can be justly assigned to these early ages. The c

and as the view of it given by Völcker seems to us to be more correct than any preceding one, we will lay it before our read

sessing sacred cattle, but they were dedicated to him more frequently than to other deities for obvious reasons, such as his

egarded as the cause of dew259 and nothing therefore was more obvious than to say that the dew was the progeny of the moon a

nd of the stars of heaven273. The lovely goddess of the dawn was more than once smitten with the love of mortal man. She car

her accomplishments, a more suitable mother could not be assigned him than the nymph Lyreloving324. It is highly probable th

where the deities are of a character far more dignified and elevated than in the Ilias, the place of their abode shares in

he following picture of Olympos could have conceived it to be no more than the summit of a terrestrial mountain. Olympos, w

mer are therefore all of the human form, but of far larger dimensions than men333; great size being an object of admiration

visible at their pleasure340. Their bodies are also of a finer nature than those of men. It is not blood, but a blood-like f

physical or moral grounds, or on both. Nothing could be more natural than to assign the oak402, the monarch of trees, to th

ve derived Poseidôn from that country. Again, what can be more absurd than to suppose that Greece, a portion of the continen

he would rather be a day-labourer to the poorest cultivator on earth than a king in those regions. They have no strength or

m the rest of the dead471. Nothing can be more gloomy and comfortless than the whole aspect of the realm of Hades as picture

nd more averse from war and everything that might abridge its period, than the ancient Greeks were472. In process of time, w

the Olympian deities more decidedly Grecian in feeling and character than this goddess. The chief seats of the worship of H

Through the clear air. Few passages in the Ilias are more celebrated than the following picture of the love-union of Zeus a

e only instances we meet of Hephæstos’ working in any other substance than metal are in Hesiod, where at the command of Zeus

ng to him, Hera, knowing that the son of Leto would be dearer to Zeus than her own son Ares, was resolved if possible to pre

f Niobe. The river-god Peneios alone valued justice and humanity more than the wrath of Hera : he checked his stream to give

e assigned to the poet, whose strains could move the woods and rocks, than the god of poetry and the muse Fair-voice. Cypar

c tale of Apollo serving Admetos, Müller sees matter of deeper import than might at first sight be supposed. According to th

al gods of the Grecian race ; and he was worshiped by one people more than another, on the same principle as in India Vishno

e same principle as in India Vishnoo is in some places more worshiped than Seeva ; Thor was most honoured by the ancient Nor

ich they had attained in sculpture. Few deities had more appellations than the son of Leto. He was called Delian, Delphian,

in Crete as her attendants. Of towns and cities she required not more than one, satisfied with the mountains, which she neve

witnessed the first exploit of the huntress-goddess. Five deer larger than bulls, with horns of gold, fed on the banks of th

who had presumed to prefer herself to Leto677 ; and in a fable later than Homer she is said to have detained the Grecian fl

epithets. Of these practices Artemis furnishes more examples perhaps than any other deity. The Cretans worshiped a goddess

at borne by Upis and Arge at Delos. Leucophryne was therefore no more than an epithet of Artemis, who had also a temple at L

s the birth-place of Artemis by Homer, in whose time, as we have more than once observed, that practice had not yet commence

re only restored to their original nature and character. We have more than once hinted our inclination to regard this last a

ties from the sun and moon. This however might have been nothing more than the arbitrary procedure of priests and philosophe

our of her attire. He could not avoid regarding her as something more than human ; he accosts her as one of the Immortals, v

the coherence of the material world depends. Nothing was more natural than to term Aphrodite the mother of Love, but the rea

before the mind ; and she is the fairest, because the soul is higher than free-will, more noble than the body. Venus, i. e.

is the fairest, because the soul is higher than free-will, more noble than the body. Venus, i. e. lust, envies her, and send

Cupid and Psyche may after all have been, as some think, nothing more than a Milesian tale like that of the Matron of Ephesu

ens and Alalcomenæ815. It could hardly have been from any other cause than that of her being regarded as the moon, that the

ngs at its extremity. The ancient statues of Hermes were nothing more than wooden posts with a rude head and a pointed beard

n from the story of Io not be approved of, none appears more probable than the one we ourselves formerly suggested, that the

rsephone certainly accord far better with an original queen of Erebos than with the gentle innocent daughter of Demeter. We

ication with each other, and a stranger was regarded as little better than an enemy. Each state had its own favourite deitie

No deity of Grecian mythology has given occasion to greater mysticism than Dionysos, the god of wine. Creuzer1080, for examp

e field of battle. Here the former hero, who had just wounded no less than two deities, asks the latter if he is a god, addi

est that can well be conceived, more resembling the Ramayuna of India than anything to be found in ancient or modern occiden

vast repertory of Bacchic fable, perhaps deserving of more attention than has hitherto been bestowed on it1116. The worship

more immoral or indecent are celebrated in India at the present day, than polished Athens performed in the Phrygio-Grecian

ban Dionysos appears with the delicate lineaments of a maiden, rather than those of a young man ; his whole air and gait are

of Greece, commenced. We know not how we can better open the subject, than by quoting the following just and philosophical o

eturn of the Heracleids, which is said to have occurred somewhat less than a century after that event, caused portions of th

ed to be induced by the influence of the moon. Nothing can be clearer than that this goddess was originally distinct from th

unsuccessful in hunting1175. The Homerid already quoted, who is older than Pindar1176, describes in a very pleasing manner t

elling ; 6. Sea-roaming. The name Pan (Πὰν) is probably nothing more than the contraction of πάων, feeder or owner 1187, an

ep and goats, or stocks of bees ; but the Lampsacenes regard him more than any of the gods, calling him the son of Dionysos

of her tongue ; and immediately she lost all power of doing any more than repeat the sounds which she heard. Echo happening

ast of Cyrene lies opposite the Peloponnese, and is much nearer to it than Egypt is to Crete, we must suppose the country of

the Cyclopes regarded not the gods, for they were much more powerful than they : he then seized two of the Greeks, and dash

d beneath a rock for being more acceptable to the nymph of the waters than himself1343. Γίγαντϵς. Gigantes. Giants. T

he dark water. It is much more dangerous, she adds, to pass Charybdis than Scylla. As Odysseus sailed by, Scylla took six of

keepers. He must also have conceived it to lie much more to the west than Sicily, for it could not have been more than the

ie much more to the west than Sicily, for it could not have been more than the third day after leaving Ææa that Odysseus arr

ge respecting it accords much better with some imaginary western isle than with Corcyra ; and that if the Cyclopes were on t

e narrative. As the working of iron was regarded as a later invention than that of brass or copper, and as it is a harder me

notice, that in the Theogony (where there is more of order and method than is usually supposed) the account of Iapetos and h

he1452. Atlas (The Endurer) occupies a much larger space in mythology than Menœtios. Homer1453 calls him the wise or deepthi

hich Egypt, India, and ‘the Celtic’ present, are works of show rather than of real utility, being almost all altars, temples

idental circumstances1519, and which should cause no greater surprise than the diversity of dialects of the one language whi

Poseidôn, but Themis having declared that her child would be greater than his sire, the gods withdrew1564. Others say that

fly examine it. In the Ilias, though the Cadmeians are spoken of more than once1628, the slightest allusion is not made to C

s and protection1654. In no place were there more of these traditions than in Cyrene, and hence arose the mythe of Apollo's

ancient mythes. There is none which has suffered more at their hands than the present one, for it was a favourite subject w

s assigned by the tragedians are certainly of a more dignified nature than these, which seem trifling and insignificant. Thi

æ. No names are more completely buried in the depths of mythology than those of the Minyans and Phlegyans. Even to Homer

A few only escaped to Phocis. Minyas reigned next, and was wealthier than any of his predecessors. He built the first treas

eir tombs were shown at Anthedôn1724. We know no mythe more difficult than this of the Aloeids. The names of their father an

and consulting Teiresias, he learned that it was no less a personage than Zeus himself who had assumed his form1728. Alcmen

ch he did to all the surrounding country, was called by no other name than that of Sinis1835, i. e. Evil-doer. His strength

Erechtheus and Erichthonios are the same person, and are nothing more than the name by which Poseidôn was worshiped on the A

3. As Iôn is the son of Apollo (for Xuthos is apparently nothing more than an epithet of that god1854), they are to be regar

e flourished most, he is presented to us under a more historic aspect than the other heroes. Though his adventures are manif

m. If we except the descent to Erebos, they are hardly more wonderful than those of Aristomenes. The poem which recorded the

between Poseidôn and Pallas-Athene and the horse more fully revealed than elsewhere. They are the parents of Pegasos (for A

t to determine. Bellerophontes is a name, if possible, more enigmatic than Argeiphontes and Persephone. It is probably deriv

om the former, the people from the latter. Nothing can be more simple than this genealogy. The principal river of the place

ion in Coptic1905. This hypothesis appears to us to be more ingenious than true. Analogy would lead us to view in Io a form

nly to be found in the Latin poet Virgil. Nothing can be more certain than that he did not invent it, and it has every appea

ss. It is probable that this of Perseus at first consisted of no more than the account of his birth and the killing of the G

day, whose light adorns all nature ; and nothing can be more apparent than the suitableness of Dewful to the night. It is ra

hat in the legend Helena is connected by birth with Polydeukes rather than with Castôr. The brothers may also be regarded as

as a deity whom they worshiped. The sire assigned him is nothing more than a personification of the Olympic games (ἄϵθλα) ;

curity ; for in those times lands were not called after gods any more than after men. Pelops, the water-land, is made the so

of Agamemnôn’s being the successor of Thyestes, for he calls him more than once the son of Atreus2086, and in the Odyssey he

rently related. As all the legends respecting him are evidently later than the time of Homer, none ventures to assign any ot

than the time of Homer, none ventures to assign any other cause to it than the goddess Artemis, whose wrath (though Homer ra

s the stars rise out of the sea, as it were, nothing was more obvious than to make Oriôn the son of Poseidôn and Euryale (Wi

all those of the Trojans and their allies are if possible more Greek than those of some of the Achæan chiefs. Such are Deïp

oets to the mythic ages of Hellas. We could make many more objections than these, but we will abstain, as it is probable tha

Our conviction however is, that the siege of Troy is little more real than that of Albracca, of which ‘romances tell2245.’ T

ythes in their present form ; and nothing can be more dry and insipid than the manner in which the pragmatisers seek to conv

ndoubted articles of actual belief ; and Hesiod probably gave no more than the popular creed when he said of the heroes, An

imes anterior to history seems to be more satisfactorily ascertained, than that of Italy having been long before the foundat

e of Rome became Grecian ; and the extant Roman poetry is little more than a transcript of that of Greece. Italian mythes, a

Herod. iv. 37-41. 99. Asia seems to have been at first nothing more than the rich land on the banks of the Caÿster. (Il. i

vidence to give the Israelites more correct ideas on natural subjects than other nations, relieves Scripture from many diffi

r das Wesen, &c. 85.) gives the following, more ingenious perhaps than solid, explanation of this celebrated mythe. Hera

in the historic days the gods were in the popular idea of larger size than men. See Herod. i. 60. 334. Il. v. 837. See Hom.

, or perhaps even four (viii. 185.), those of the gods had never more than two. Il. v. 768 ; viii. 41-45 ; xiii. 23. Od. xxi

his identification of Delos and Ortygia was, however, certainly later than the time of Pindar, who (Nem. i. 4.) calls them s

evalent one in later times, when Hades came to signify a place rather than a person. It was very rarely used by the Latin wr

was, however, much more closely connected with the Peneios and Tempe than with the Ladôn and Arcadia. 624. Ovid, Met. ii.

both here (coast of Africa) and in the West Indies, is more powerful than the sun ; meat hung in the rays of the former bec

the sun ; meat hung in the rays of the former becomes tainted sooner than if exposed to the latter.” Chamier, Life of a Sai

Il. v. 247. 313. 744. By asserting that her hair was more beautiful than that of the goddess. Sch. Theocr. i. 109. 745. H

gel to our sire Brought her in naked beauty more adorned, More lovely than Pandora, whom the gods Endowed with all their gif

 326.), where she is called Фῖξ. Though this legend is probably older than the time of the first intercourse with Egypt, the

e Ben Jonson, read Greek by accent ? Nothing can be more inharmonious than it is if Teiresias be pronounced in the Latin man

f one familiar with our subject illustrations more vivid and striking than the pencil could furnish, but which are lost to t

in a simple form pleasurable to the reader who has no desire further than to obtain a general knowledge of the myths, or to

njoy the possession of the sceptre; for Uranus and Gæa, more powerful than their progenitors, soon forced them to depart, an

crimes that afflict poor humanity; and the box was no sooner opened, than all these ills flew out, in the guise of horrid l

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

m rise, overflow, and deluge the land. No sooner had the gods spoken, than the elements obeyed: the winds blew; the rain fel

ng he wished, never questioning whether it were true or false. “Fame than who never plague that runs         Its way more s

ately prepared to obey it. The dragon’s teeth were no sooner planted, than a crop of giants sprang from the soil, full grown

ough they searched diligently, the heifers could not be found. Rather than disappoint their aged mother, who had set her hea

ty the dutiful god obeyed; and no sooner was the operation performed, than Minerva (Pallas, Athene) sprang out of her father

as the sign of peace and prosperity, and therefore far more desirable than the horse, the emblem of war and wretchedness, th

shot Coronis through the heart. The deed was no sooner accomplished, than all his love returned with tenfold power; and, ha

oudly for his protection. No sooner had she reached the water’s edge, than her feet seemed rooted to the ground. A rough bar

ips was the work of an instant; and no sooner had he breathed into it than the magic strain was renewed. No recollection of

ed around His feet who such a sudden summer made, His eyes, more kind than men’s, enthralled and bound Them there.” H. H.

tened off to Thebes, where they found the state of affairs even worse than represented; for poor Antiope was now imprisoned,

aeton, who, like many another conceited youth, fancied he knew better than his sire, would not give heed to the kindly warni

       “One prayer remains For me to offer yet. Thy quiver holds More than nine arrows: bend thy bow; aim here! I see, I see

gazed upon his beauty, and before long felt her heart beat with more than admiration. Gliding gently from her chariot, she

y called upon their patroness’s aid. Their prayer was no sooner heard than answered, and Orion, panting and weary, came up j

nds, all grew pale with grief, and one, more timid and impressionable than the rest, withdrew from sight to hide her anguish

obed. The glittering drops had no sooner touched the young man’s face than he turned to obey her command, and found himself

shore, and watched for the promised signal, which no sooner appeared than he exultantly plunged into the dark waves, and pa

unting in the forest. This frivolous girl no sooner beheld the youth, than she fell deeply in love with him, and was proport

and loveliest vision far     Of all Olympus’ faded hierarchy! Fairer than Phœbe’s sapphire-region’d star,     Or Vesper, am

re-region’d star,     Or Vesper, amorous glow-worm of the sky; Fairer than these, though temple thou hast none,         Nor

only the sward He with his wand light touch’d, and heavenward Swifter than sight was gone.” Keats. Mercury was not only th

o’s recriminations, Jupiter had carried on this affair with even more than his usual secrecy visiting his beloved only when

too ardent rays. From some cause Juno’s slumbers were less protracted than usual, and she soon arose from her couch to look

generally represented as a short, muscular man, with one leg shorter than the other, a workman’s cap on his curly locks, a

stupendous labours, heard the proclamation, and, with no other weapon than the oaken club he generally carried, slew the mon

Pluto without delay. Charon’s leaky boat no sooner touched the shore than a host of eager spirits pressed forward to claim

ed by the love of Jupiter, king of the gods, none was more attractive than Semele, daughter of Cadmus and Harmonia. “For Se

torm of light.” Ovid ( Addison’s tr.). But, although so much milder than usual, this apparition was more than poor Semele’

). But, although so much milder than usual, this apparition was more than poor Semele’s human nerves could bear, and she dr

no sooner beheld the red nose and bloated appearance of the wanderer, than he recognised him as Bacchus’ tutor, and voluntee

ligerent people, that the temple gates were closed but thrice in more than seven centuries, and then only for a very short p

. The cave was divided into chambers, each one darker and more silent than the one which preceded it. In one of the inner ro

at the dream had been false; but she had no sooner reached the beach, than the waves washed her husband’s corpse to her feet

regarded as the emblem of death, and they were therefore little more than local divinities. The Lacedæmonians paid the most

in cutting off one of the seven heads; but he had no sooner done so, than , to his dismay, he saw seven other heads suddenly

rincess, who delighted in dress and jewels, and who was never happier than when she obtained some new ornament or article of

ed in constant dread of their neighbours, so much larger and stronger than they, and of the cranes, which passed over their

ng fallen in love with his new mistress seemed to wish nothing better than to remain her slave for ever, and end his days in

ately donned the richly embroidered robe. He had no sooner put it on, than the Centaur’s poisoned blood began its deadly wor

and the poison ate its way into his flesh, until the pain was greater than he could bear. In his rage at the trick which had

was called Perseus. The king no sooner learned this astonishing news, than he flew into a great rage, vowed that mother and

on the Gorgon’s face, for the agony of my labour is well-nigh greater than I can bear.’ So Perseus hearkened unto the word o

for the vanity of her mother, Cassiopeia, who claimed she was fairer than any of the sea nymphs, she had been exposed there

arus, after many days’ attempt, found they could not leave it. Rather than remain imprisoned for ever, Dædalus then manufact

the Minotaur. Like all heroes, he preferred to meet any danger rather than remain inactive: so, mindful of Ariadne’s instruc

ry far before he encountered the Minotaur, —  a creature more hideous than fancy can paint, —  and he was obliged to use all

eous Helle found a watery grave.” Meleager. Phryxus, more fortunate than his sister, reached Colchis in safety, and in gra

prepared and sent the maiden a magic robe, which she no sooner donned than she was seized with terrible convulsions, in whic

er, and marry the queen, whom he revered as his mother! Never! Rather than perpetrate these awful crimes, and bring destruct

nt its being carried out, and found her lifeless. This sight was more than the poor monarch could bear, and in his despair h

after a seven-years’ siege they found themselves no nearer their goal than at the beginning of the war. Weary of the monoton

n the inimical brothers, who no sooner found themselves face to face, than they rushed upon each other with such animosity t

n. He had no sooner apprised her of the difficult task appointed him, than she promised him her aid, and before she vanished

nted it out to her little son. He no sooner saw the brilliant flower, than he stretched out his little hands. To please him,

who would fain have blessed thee with a love More ripe and bounteous than ever yet Filled up with nectar any mortal heart;

arth.” Lowell. This modern rendering of the story is more spiritual than the ancient versions, in which Rhœcus was deprive

ly pondered this reply, and concluded to renounce the marriage rather than run any risk of being forced to surrender his pow

an run any risk of being forced to surrender his power to one greater than he. Thetis’ hand he then decreed should be given

, and archly requested to be informed who might assert greater claims than the goddess of beauty. The dispute grew more and

is suit, had married her cousin, Penelope, and had now no dearer wish than to linger by her side and admire his infant son,

n upon the Greeks all manner of evil. This prayer was no sooner heard than answered, by the sun god’s sending a terrible pla

the sad event, and arouse an interest for some pursuit less dangerous than war. All her efforts were vain, however; for Achi

rtake of the lotus blossoms; but no sooner had the three men done so, than all recollection of their waiting companions or d

ined that Æolus had given him much gold. The bag was no sooner opened than the contrary winds, weary and cramped with their

f the father whom he could not believe to be dead. Mentor, none other than Minerva in disguise, guided the young man to the

heir strength by a hearty meal; but no sooner was their table spread, than the meats were devoured and destroyed by the loat

o the almost exhausted Trojans; and now the fight raged more fiercely than ever, and prodigies of valour were accomplished o

rsued by him. No sooner did she see the Rutulian chief safe on board, than she loosed the vessel from its moorings, and allo

. But his efforts were of no avail. The war was renewed more fiercely than ever; and in the next encounter, Camilla, the bra

of their origin, it is impossible, in a work of this kind, to do more than give a very superficial idea of the scientific th

impossible to separate those of the dawn, are probably more numerous than any others, and have some main features of resemb

ed to represent the sun, which is no “sooner pushed up to the zenith, than it rolls down to the horizon.” The name of Ixion

rms, sends him the bloody Nessus robe, which he has no sooner donned, than he tears it from his bleeding limbs, ascends the

the crime, the more so, as he perceived that there was something more than mortal about the captive youth. In the meantime B

rophesied that Thetis would give birth to a son who should be greater than his father. Jupiter thereupon desisted from his s

s the Phœnix? Ans. A fabulous bird of which there never existed more than one at the same time. It excelled all other birds

of Ethiopia. Her mother, Cassiopeia, had boasted that she was fairer than Juno and the Nereides. The offended nymphs compla

Who was Hesiod? Ans. This poet flourished about half a century later than Homer. He was a Bœotian, and in his youth tended

with a sort of indolent contentment, so that they had no other desire than to remain always in that country. Ulysses was obl

ived of Ulysses, it was generally believed that he had perished. More than a hundred nobles of Ithaca and the surrounding is

ried as victims to the temple. The officiating priestess was no other than Iphigenia, the sister of Orestes, whom Diana had

rom this filial duty. She no sooner learned the cruel order of Creon, than she resolved, at whatever hazard, to perform the

for health and youthful bloom, this long life proved rather a burden than a benefit. She had rejected the suit of Apollo, a

la also plundered Delphi, and Nero took from it, at one time, no less than five hundred statues of bronze. The temple was fi

lthough the water of the fountain felt to him much warmer at midnight than at noon-day. The truth seems to be that little or

ssed, and none were more likely to fall under this demoniac influence than the priests and other ministrants in these shrine

year 776, B. C., although the games had been revived by Iphitus more than a century earlier. The Olympic festival lasted fi

an intellectual competition, which was perhaps more lively and ardent than any other, as the victory in such a contest was m

r seats. They chose to suffer these occasional inconveniences, rather than shut themselves up in a close and crowded house,

hen gods or heroic personages were represented, the masks were larger than life, and the disproportion of the size of the he

od effect. Nothing would have seemed more out of place to the Greeks, than to see the part of Apollo or Hercules performed b

he administration of Pericles. It existed in its full beauty for more than a century after his death. It was first despoiled

e doctrines of Zoroaster? Ans. This philosopher was more enlightened than his contemporaries, and was probably acquainted w

n the second thousand years before our era, a little later, probably, than the Books of Moses. Ques. Had the Hindoos then c

born in a higher caste the next time. Ques. Is there any caste lower than the Sudras? Ans. No regular caste, but there exi

may see, therefore, that Buddha had more reasonable and humane ideas than those who composed the Vedas, and that he was pro

Thibet and Tartary. The people of these countries are more thoughtful than the Chinese, and more earnest with regard to reli

r the shining arch, and invade Valhalla. Heimdall required less sleep than a bird, and his sight was so keen that he could d

keep her own.” It was strongly suspected that this hag was no other than Loki himself, who never ceased to work evil among

. In later times, the runes were used for inscriptions, of which more than a thousand have been found. The language is a dia

ny an Irish peasant has made his scanty harvest still smaller, rather than violate with the plough, the grass-grown “rath,”

k or stone. They were disposed in three or four stories, each smaller than that below. At the top was a broad area, in which

tec conquerors, whose wars were often undertaken for no other purpose than to procure victims for their altars. Ques. Were

ence. It seems probable that they were intended rather for posterity, than for the persons to whom they were ostensibly addr

he Peruvians, and were farther advanced in the arts of civilized life than any nation existing on the continent at the time

of mythology was given us by Professor Max Müller, who has done more than all other writers to bring out the exquisite and

th, and dignity. They also regarded them as being of much larger size than men, for in those times great size was esteemed a

source. As the primitive Celts, however, were a less civilized people than the Greeks, their mythology was of a more barbaro

g nearly destroyed by fire in the time of Sulla, was restored to more than its pristine splendor. The original earthen image

oscuri flitting about on their golden wings are probably nothing more than what is commonly called St. Elmo’s fire — an elec

having under his control the forces that affect its movements rather than as himself inhabiting its waters. Nereus* was bel

Mysteries was to disseminate better and purer ideas of a future life than the popular faith of the Greeks afforded. It was

e, a palpable indication that prudent courage often accomplishes more than impetuous violence. In Thebes, Ares was regarded

wl and olive branch. It could scarcely have been from any other cause than that of her being regarded as the moon that the o

ed. The hearth possessed among the ancients a far higher significance than it does in modern life. It served not only for th

, and is now in the Vatican. It is a standing figure, in marble, more than seven feet high, nude, except for the cloak which

the chase she is represented as a youthful and slender maiden, taller than her attendant nymphs. She wears a short robe, and

btaining a large ransom. No sooner, however, had they left the shore, than the cords with which the smiling boy was fastened

ed, and he tasted a few blades of the grass. No sooner was this done, than he precipitated himself into the sea. Oceanus and

building peculiar to himself, which was deemed more acceptable to him than any other. Thus the Doric style of architecture w

ngs all escaped, Hope only excepted. This story seems more consistent than the former. “The idea that with the introduction

sometimes called Glaucus. None could appreciate this genealogy better than the Corinthians, who daily saw the sun rise out o

e any further part in the war, while the Trojans, who feared him more than all the other Greeks, became bolder, and no longe

should not escape with them. But the subtlety of the hero proved more than a match for the giant’s strength. The sheep were

f her maids had betrayed her, and the suitors were now more clamorous than ever. At the suggestion of Athene, who accompanie

us viewed him with astonishment, and at first thought he must be more than mortal; but Odysseus announced himself as his fat

d for a feast. But no sooner had they seated themselves at the table, than the Harpies came rushing upon them, and seized an

tian myths seem to have a more direct reference to facts of astronomy than do the myths in Greek mythology; but there is no

val the crocodiles became harmless. Apis was not allowed to live more than twenty-five years. If he lived to that age, the p

peans. It is probable that they emigrated from Iran* (Persia) earlier than 1500 b. c. By mixing with the dark races which in

and consequent abstinence from animal food, and a worship less cruel than that of the followers of Siva. The Hindus believe

s in March and July, pilgrims flock in crowds to the temple. Not less than seventy or eighty thousand people are said to vis

er the shining arch and invade Valhalla. Heimdall required less sleep than a bird; his sight was so keen that he could disti

pointment of the company on the raft, for what better divers had they than the beaver and the otter? “In the midst of their

. Her proposal was received with derision; but as poor help is better than none in an emergency, the hare gave her permissio

n their hands. Nothing could be more absurd, impious, and licentious, than these horrid festivals, which were named Bacchana

mon. From them it appears that the Bacchus of the Greeks was no other than the famous Osiris, conqueror of India. This Bacch

retelling the approach of storms, seemed to them to be something more than mortal. By attentively observing the direction in

e is of higher antiquity, (excepting the divine Mosaic Dispensation,) than the doctrine of the emanation and wandering of so

to have ascended to the hall of glory, named Mookze, a region higher than the twenty-sixth heaven, where he remains in happ

of Seringham, with their families, composing a multitude of not less than 40,000 persons, were maintained by the liberality

hers regard him as Moses. Some assert that he was a king more ancient than either of them; while others say that he was Misr

led Goschoraun, who, approaching the Creator God, raised a cry louder than the shout of a thousand armies, complaining of th

rchism, or the primitive doctrine, which began at a period, not later than the building of the tower of Babel, and which was

. There he defended the passage against the giants; taking less sleep than a bird; seeing a hundred leagues round him, by ni

e she lies in massive tomb, Shrowded by night s eternal gloom. Fairer than Gods, and wiser, she Held the strange keys of des

al their better knowledge from all, excepting a few select disciples, than to shake the common faith, and disturb the public

THE END. 1. Some writers have supposed that Saturn was no other than Nimrod, that mighty hunter before the Lord, who f

now no change. To the Greeks and Romans, there was a time more remote than history gives us any account of, when there was n

ulcan, who married Lathæa, a woman who thought herself more beautiful than the goddesses, and as a punishment she and her hu

alends of January. Opiate-rod, see Caduceus. “Eyes ... more wakeful than to drowse, Charmed with Arcadian pipe — the pasto

iests to seek Their wandering gods, disguised in brutish forms Rather than human.” Milton. Os′sa [Ossa]. One of the mount

ne remained in the box. Pandora means “the all-gifted.” “More lovely than Pandora, whom the gods Endowed with all their gif

                                      “His wine Was better, Pylades, than thine.                                  … If you

God, An. With reference to this God, nothing can be more appropriate than St. Paul’s address to the Athenians, as recorded