s I am going to tell you, believed that if they did anything wrong it would displease the gods, and that they would be punish

if they did anything wrong it would displease the gods, and that they would be punished by sickness or death or some other ev

or some other evil; but if they did what was right, the mighty people would be pleased and would love them and send them weal

ut if they did what was right, the mighty people would be pleased and would love them and send them wealth and happiness. So

ll, fine-looking boy. She longed to speak; but of course her growling would have frightened Arcas, so she merely kept her eye

springtime, with all its loveliness, changed into a human being, you would have looked but an instant at Proserpine and said

ir face can make even dark Hades light and beautiful.” But he knew it would be useless to ask the girl for her consent; so, w

luto did not dare to drive through its waters. To go back another way would mean great loss of time; so with his scepter he s

lived for a long, long time. She was very happy, and hoped that Juno would never find her in this hidden corner of the earth

wed their rude talk and threatened that, if she did not go away, they would do her some harm. Then Latona began to plead, wit

worst of it was, she told such interesting stories that her listeners would forget how the time was passing. Many a time even

isteners would forget how the time was passing. Many a time even Juno would come down to earth and listen by the hour to Echo

o a wise man who could foretell the future, and asked whether her boy would live to manhood. The prophet answered, “If he nev

d of the girl’s bold speech, she was much astonished, and thought she would visit Arachne to see what she meant by her boast.

uch treatment. She seized a rope which lay near her on the floor, and would have hung herself, to end her shame and sorrow. B

led at the beauty of his song. And he could so charm people that they would forget all their bad thoughts, and become for a w

. Orpheus, to whom the sight of such careless mirth was very painful, would have turned aside; but as soon as the women saw h

dear wife and put his arms about her, happy in the thought that they would never again be parted. ——— Orpheus with His Lute

Versailles (Louvre, Paris). When they were tired of the sport, they would seek a shady place where, perhaps, a cool brook s

ere, perhaps, a cool brook sped along over the stones; and there they would bathe their hot limbs, and drink the cooling wate

is own dogs, coming to join him. Ah! he must hide from them, for they would not know their master hidden in that body of a st

y now and then swept over the little boat. She thought that they both would die; but somehow the frail little bark did not up

hat he liked with the mother. At last he thought of an adventure that would please Perseus, and, at the same time, be so dang

and, at the same time, be so dangerous that the youth, he felt sure, would never come back to his home. On an island, in the

off Medusa’s head, snakes and all. Since merely looking at the Gorgon would turn Perseus to stone, and he could not very well

ad without looking, the king was pretty safe in thinking that Perseus would never return to the island. So he sent for the bo

, and replied, “Indeed, O King, I think there is no task from which I would shrink in fear.” The king was delighted and said,

fear.” The king was delighted and said, “If I thought that, my boy, I would let you undertake a task that I am saving for the

In the excitement of the moment, he had promised to do something that would surely cost him his life. When he had passed the

. Perseus was a very brave youth; but the bravest person in the world would rather be alive than to be turned to stone, and t

d rather be alive than to be turned to stone, and the thought of what would probably happen to him made him so sad that he co

isting that the other had taken the eye, and I do not know how it all would have ended, had not Perseus spoken. “My good wome

land on which Medusa lives.” This was a secret with which the sisters would not have parted if they could have helped themsel

he king had treated Danaë during her son’s absence; and vowed that he would take revenge. The next morning he went to the pal

ut doing what you promised to do. Your courage is not so great as you would have us believe.” “Nay, your majesty,” answered P

ble, or wanted to know something that was to happen in the future, he would go to one of these oracles, and offer up a sacrif

, and offer up a sacrifice to the god, in return for which the oracle would utter words of warning or of advice. When the men

mother, for whose vanity she was to die. And Cassiopeia herself? She would not believe the answer of the oracle. She rushed

nd fell on her knees, and offered to make any sacrifice if the oracle would take back that cruel message, that Andromeda must

on Io, and promised never again to speak to the maiden, if the queen would set her free. Juno herself was moved with pity, a

t her greatest happiness was in her children. How she loved them! She would play with them, and tell them stories, and dry aw

e sound of her children’s laughter or the touch of their little hands would drive away all care from her heart, and leave her

of hers. And even should fortune take one half of them from me, still would I be greater than Latona. Turn from the altar, wo

e is the wind of autumn     And the first fall of the snow. Ah! what would the world be to us     If the children were no mo

ns that bound him. The king at last took pity on him, and told him he would set him free if he would perform twelve very diff

ng at last took pity on him, and told him he would set him free if he would perform twelve very difficult tasks. Nothing coul

hose wonderful deeds known as the twelve great labors of Hercules. It would take too long to tell you much about them, for ea

and before many days, Hercules had asked her to be his wife. The girl would have said yes gladly, but she knew that her fathe

ge to us, but it pleased both the suitors. Hercules felt sure that he would win because he was so strong; and the river god f

because he was so strong; and the river god felt equally sure that he would be the victor, because he could disguise himself,

aby in the cradle.” And he sprang upon the serpent, and in an instant would have wrung its neck, when lo! it had vanished, an

rses in the lower parts; so of course he could cross a stream when it would have been impossible for a man to do so. Hercules

. Athens rang with praises of the clever lad, and it was said that he would some day be far greater than his uncle. Thus all

and pushed him over the edge of the cliff into the sea below. Perdix would surely have been drowned, had he not been rescued

sky do.” The child’s words gave the father a sudden happy thought. He would try to make wings for himself and his son, and fl

ld, free flight With the upper cloud winds oh, what delight! Oh, what would I give, like a bird, to go Right on through the a

ard the story of his death, he wept for many a day, and vowed that he would take vengeance on the cruel king of Athens. And o

uld fly out of the gates and tell him how much she cared for him, she would do anything to win his love. No sooner had this t

it was followed by another. “Perhaps if I opened the gates for him he would love me; but I will not, for that would mean bein

I opened the gates for him he would love me; but I will not, for that would mean being a traitor, not only to my city, but to

.” The girl loved her father dearly, for he was very kind to her, and would do anything to. give her pleasure. Still, day aft

h tower, the thought of this one deed by which she might win his love would not leave her mind. And at last, it no longer see

love.” But Minos stepped back from her in horror. “What!” he cried, “ would you risk the life of your father, and do harm to

father, and do harm to your city, all for love of a stranger? She who would do that would do anything wicked. I will have not

harm to your city, all for love of a stranger? She who would do that would do anything wicked. I will have nothing to do wit

enger was thereupon sent to the king of Crete to ask on what terms he would leave the city. You remember, I told you in anoth

ens must send to Crete seven youths and seven young maidens. These he would give as food to that terrible monster, the Minota

d, there was great sorrow in Athens. At first the people felt that it would be impossible to do what the king demanded, but t

, as this sacrifice was called, young Prince Theseus declared that he would go as one of the seven, either to free his city o

ing tried to make him change his mind, the brave prince vowed that he would either free Athens of this unbearable yoke, or el

saw the youths and maidens and thought how soon the horrible Minotaur would make a meal of them. Suddenly the king beheld The

nding up the thread as Ariadne had directed. It seemed to him that he would never come out of those dark, gloomy passages. Ha

he wanderers, and even pelted them with dirt and stones. The children would follow them through the streets, jeering and maki

st the latter arose from the table, saying they had eaten enough, and would now like a place in which to sleep; for they had

to the place and heard the beautiful story of Philemon and his wife, would hang garlands of flowers on the branches of the t

that he was bent on going, she begged him to take her with him. Ceyx would not think of leading Halcyone into such danger, a

ds of tenderness. Through her tears, Halcyone pretended to laugh, and would talk only of the time when the ship would return

one pretended to laugh, and would talk only of the time when the ship would return homeward. She stood on the shore, waving h

home of the god of sleep, and ask him to send Halcyone a dream which would reveal to her that Ceyx was dead. Iris, in her ra

bear to think of her lonely life without Ceyx, and she felt that she would rather be with him, even in dark Hades, than live

the hot summer days, when the sky was cloudless and staring, Nephele would grow thin and pale, and then she would leave her

cloudless and staring, Nephele would grow thin and pale, and then she would leave her home for a long time, and come back onl

, that the oracle had said that only when Phryxus and Helle were dead would plenty and comfort come back to the land. The kin

h fear at sight of Jason; for an oracle had foretold that his kingdom would be taken from him by a youth wearing only one san

Long years have I been waiting for a hero to bring it hither, for it would add greatly to our wealth and happiness.” And the

wanted, — to send Jason off on a journey so full of danger that there would be very little chance of his ever coming back. Bu

Greece.” Thus spake the king and then dismissed Jason. Although Jason would not let the king see it, he was just a little dis

at was anchored, and he thought of Juno’s promise and wished that she would help him now. When he came to the ship, he found

him and to offer him her aid. She promised to give Jason advice that would help him to do the things that seemed impossible,

uld help him to do the things that seemed impossible, if in return he would make her his wife and take her back with him to h

nly way she could do it was by making Medea love him so much that she would be willing to give up everything for his sake. An

for a long time, thinking about Medea, and the tasks that the morrow would bring. The next morning all the people of Colchis

ll that vast crowd, she was the only one who dared to hope that Jason would be successful. As soon as Jason entered the field

g and bellowing toward him. If you could have seen the creatures, you would have believed, as all the people did, that Jason’

of all the people who lived near that place, and was so tame that he would go around from door to door and offer his glossy

beautiful antlers reflected and could drink the clear water. The boy would weave garlands of flowers for the stag’s neck; or

r the stag’s neck; or, springing lightly on his playfellow’s back, he would speed through the woods more swiftly than the win

he had meant to kill himself. But the poor boy wept and mourned, and would not be comforted, and at last he died of grief. A

o she told him that Scylla was not worthy of his love, and that if he would stay in her palace, she would make him happy all

not worthy of his love, and that if he would stay in her palace, she would make him happy all the rest of his life. But Glau

, it is certain that Apollo did love Hyacinthus very, very dearly. He would leave his beautiful temples, and forget all about

dearly was really dead, and he called him by name again and again. He would gladly have died for him, and he did not care to

round by the side of his dead friend, and wept and moaned, so that it would have made you cry, too, if you had seen him. Then

m, and he took no interest in the outside world. Many women of Cyprus would have been glad to marry this maker of beautiful t

e, he began to pray. He prayed that Venus, the great goddess of love, would take pity on him; and since he could never care f

never care for any other woman, that she who could work such wonders would change his marble statue into a real, living maid

a sign that the god or goddess appealed to had heard the prayer, and would speedily grant it. Full of joy, yet at the same t

ily grant it. Full of joy, yet at the same time fearing that his hope would be disappointed, Pygmalion hastened home and ente

es’ ears, and told the barber to make him a wig of such shape that it would hide the ugly things. In a short time, the wig wa

s majesty’s head, and he sent away the barber with the threat that he would kill him if he told any one the secret. The barbe

anoes sending forth flames from the great holes in their summits. You would think that these fierce, wild-looking creatures,

locks all day long when they were not roaring or shooting out flames, would not be very likely to have feelings of love or te

s he sat there, he watched the sea nymphs sporting in the water. They would rise on the crests of the waves, looking almost l

e summer’s shade. Why, then, do you fly from me? “If you knew me, you would listen to my pleading. My cave is in the heart of

ness. They thought her the most beautiful creature in the world. They would say she is fairer than Venus herself. Though Venu

Psyche.” “But why, dear mother, said Cupid, interrupting his mother,” would you afflict poor Psyche. Has she despised you? Do

mes fondly rested has head upon her shoulder, or cropped the rose she would hold to his mouth.    Cupid, when he saw in Psych

his mouth.    Cupid, when he saw in Psyche’s sweet mild eyes that she would not harm any living thing, and that she loved wha

living thing, and that she loved whatever she looked upon, thought it would be very cruel to make her unhappy. He lay down up

god, lest she should imprudently inform some person who he was, that would betray him to his mother. Some persons call such

rry, she knew not whom, she was not so distressed as some timid girls would have been: she said, “The gods command me to leav

d conscience, she knew she had been good, and she hoped no misfortune would happen to her. Being conducted to the rock, and l

d Zephyrus to Somnus, “has charged me to come hither, and request you would have the goodness to go along with me to a high p

his face should resemble this delightful voice, how great a pleasure would it he, to see as well as to hear him. An Epithala

to live without it. All day long she only thought of the hour when he would return. One evening, as Psyche was conversing wit

se he knew that the princesses hated their sister, and he feared they would trouble her in some way or other. He hesitated a

t she sought him, and urged him to tell her the truth. At first Cupid would not open his lips, but when his mother importuned

“I grieve,” answered Ceres, “that I must deny thy petition. Willingly would I afford thee protection, unhappy fugitive, but t

daughter-in-law. I cannot make a quarrel with her on your account. It would greatly offend her should I screen from her displ

was now deprived. She was an outcast and a wanderer: none pitied nor would relieve her. She might be very happy if she could

It seemed to the trembling Psyche as if they aimed arrows at her, and would pierce her to the heart with the scorn and spite

poke, and commanded her to enter a cavern, not far distant, where she would descry a road that led directly to the place of h

nted of her faults, and been punished for them, it might be hoped she would be as pure and good as the spirits of light. Jupi

I gave it you because I thought you might see prints of it, which you would better understand if you knew the story. Sir Jame

outhful Proserpine. Pluto thought that Proserpine, so young and fair, would make an admirable queen for him, but he knew that

uld make an admirable queen for him, but he knew that her fond mother would never consent she should go to his gloomy kingdom

claimed, clasping the hand of Cyane, who clung to her robe, as if she would force her away while the damsels, their companion

in Elysium, where the virtuous and the pure alone forever dwell. Why would you bring her back to a world, where the violent

the little boy. Mother. She might have reproved him gently, and that would have taught him better manners. The next story yo

cks, and all the comforts of life, in the city and its neighbourhood, would go in bands, and carry off whatever they could se

would go in bands, and carry off whatever they could seize, and they would kill those who tried to hinder them. The people,

e her aged father, and her sister. Tereus replied to this request, “I would indulge you in this matter gladly, but you know i

reus did not exactly know how to get rid of Progne, but he thought he would shut up Philomela in a lonely house which belonge

in a lonely house which belonged to him, near the coast, and that be would tell Progne she was dead; and perhaps he might pe

conscience told him, that if his treachery should be known, every one would abhor him. To prevent Philomela from ever proclai

and thought if she could have something to employ herself about, she would feel a little reconciled to her unhappy state; so

r work, she made signs to the old woman to carry it to the queen, who would give her some money for it. The hope of a magnifi

tys. When the guilty father saw the dead body, he drew his sword, and would have murdered Progne and Philomela, but an invisi

nightingale. Conversation: Ann and her Mother Ann. This story would be agreeable enough if it were not for the unhapp

was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.” But Paul an

hich is very pretty, that belongs to Phrygia, in Asia Minor, where it would seem the people were apt to believe in the visits

escend into the garden, the god unexpectedly appeared before her, and would have entered the house, but Aglauria placed herse

mit him. He pleaded in vain; Aglauria still stood in the doorway, nor would she suffer him to pass. At length Mercury’s patie

rcury thought that if he stretched other strings across the shell, it would make more music. He tried the experiment, and it

named Narcissus. Like the parents of Psyche, she wished to know what would be the future fortune of her child; and she went

ece at that time. The people of Thebes, and some from distant places, would come to him for advice; and he would tell them wh

s, and some from distant places, would come to him for advice; and he would tell them what to do when they could not determin

When Lyriope consulted Tiresias, the prophet told her that Narcissus would live to be old, if he could be kept from seeing h

m seeing himself; and, then, that was not so difficult a matter as it would be at this time, in our houses hung with mirrors.

who admired Narcissus, was a young maiden, named Echo. But Narcissus would take no notice of her; and that neglect mortified

h the teeth of the dragon; and she informed him that from these teeth would spring warriors who would assist him in his enter

and she informed him that from these teeth would spring warriors who would assist him in his enterprise. Cadmus obeyed Miner

ters, and the laughing of young girls bathing in the fountain. Acteon would have escaped unobserved, but Diana saw him, and w

intruder. The Greeks were then a rude people; either males or females would kill or beat those who offended them. Perhaps, wh

caution, or care, in all that we do. If Acteon had been cautious, he would not have gone to sleep in a place which he did no

of Semele, Ino’s sister, and Ino was very proud of her relation, and would often boast that her nephew was one of the gods,

soothes: But suffers not that they with backward step Repass. Whoe’er would issue from the gates Of Pluto strong, and stem Pr

she saw giants who had revolted against Jupiter, and the Titans, who would have turned the gods out of Olympus. Among the co

ese strange articles were boiled in a pot, or cauldron, and the witch would march round and round, and mutter curses, and pra

them good; and that if the good were unhappy in this world, the gods would make them amends in another life. These Furies, w

t is a curse? Mother. It is a sort of wicked prayer, a wish that God would bring evil upon some hated person; and a blessing

ring evil upon some hated person; and a blessing is a prayer that God would bestow some good upon the person prayed for. T

n ancient times, when persons wished to commend a man very much, they would say, he is not the son of a man, but of a god, as

on of rich parents, and that if they should carry him off; his father would offer a large sum to have him restored. In order

, or Menades, were women who assisted in the worship of Bacchus. They would go in bands into the woods, carrying thyrses and

le together, commit foolish and cruel actions which no. single person would perpetrate. The Bacchantes used to call their fur

The Bacchantes used to call their fury, inspiration. We cannot, they would say, restrain this feeling which we have. We cann

e, I will call thee my dear son. I remember all your tenderness.’ You would say, gently stroking this long gray beard, ‘My de

hear of cause and effect? Ann. Yes. My wearing thin shoes in the wet would be the cause of my cold, and the cold would be th

ing thin shoes in the wet would be the cause of my cold, and the cold would be the effect. Mother. That is right. What do yo

went to the oracle. The oracle told Acrisius that his daughter Danas would have a son, who would kill him. Acrisius thought

he oracle told Acrisius that his daughter Danas would have a son, who would kill him. Acrisius thought if his daughter were n

But I will be too cunning for him. If I should kill him, my subjects would kill me, because they love him; so I should gain

at banquet. On this occasion, it was expected that each of the guests would bring a fine horse, and present it to the king. P

. Perseus proposed to cut off the head of Medusa for Polydectes. This would be a great achievement, and his courage would be

sa for Polydectes. This would be a great achievement, and his courage would be commended every where. Polydectes admired the

ended every where. Polydectes admired the project; he thought Perseus would lose his life by his foolhardiness, and he should

eus tried to comfort her, told her he must leave her a moment, but he would return soon, and remove her in safety. Then he we

and told him, in a few words, that he had seen his daughter; that he would preserve her and destroy the monster, if Cepheus

ghter; that he would preserve her and destroy the monster, if Cepheus would bestow her upon him as the reward of his achievem

ster, who dashed through the water with a terrific noise; but when he would have seized her, Perseus presented to his view th

seus; and the latter, from his place of retreat, seeing their danger, would not permit them to be slain in his cause. He rush

but they had both forgiven him. They knew that believed his grandson would live to be his murderer, and that he had only att

eople hurt the innocent, when they have an opportunity, as Polydectes would have hurt Perseus. Now, I suppose you know what a

t, it was a happy omen; a sign, it was thought, that the married pair would be very happy. If it shed a lurid glare, or dim,

d light, that was an evil portent. It indicated that the married pair would meet with misfortunes. Ann. And, now, who was Lu

they fancied they could not make good verses, unless one of the Muses would assist them. At this time, when Minerva went to s

they desired to reign in heaven, and that was glorious ambition; they would thrust out the gods, and seat themselves in high

answered Polyhymnia. “You know that multitudes of mortals, when they would compose songs and other verses, pray to us to ass

and the other with lead. The person struck by the golden-tipped arrow would love the lady he next saw; while the person who s

he next saw; while the person who should be wounded by the leaden one would dislike the first one he or she should look upon.

loquent, but neither his beauty nor his eloquence pleased Daphne; she would not listen to him, though he urged her with tende

of music and of healing; stay, and listen my lyre.” Daphne heard, but would not be detained. Fleet as the fearful fawn, she h

ied, “I detest Apollo, but still he pursues me. Rather than be his, I would be swallowed up by the cold earth: suffer me to b

conduct the flaming car of day is an enterprise which Jupiter himself would scarcely undertake; notwithstanding my own skill

chariot of day, and the gods assembling around him, entreated that he would not leave the earth in darkness. But Apollo only

e time when the queen of Thebes uttered her contempt for the gods, it would seem without dread of their vengeance, Manto call

l of our rendering we have invented a significance whose existence it would not be easy to warrant as classic, it is hoped th

arth was not dead. The earthquakes proved that she could move, if she would . Down under the earth, where the sun never shines

creation shook with a muttering of thunder; yet, great as he was, he would sometimes come down from the sky and walk on eart

ten quarreled outrageously among themselves. They had few cares. They would even leave Olympus for days together, to make a v

e Olympus for days together, to make a visit somewhere, and the world would move on without them, just as usual. Happy, beaut

end, looking after the fields of wheat and rye and barley, Proserpina would spend the day wandering in the valley of Enna, wa

; for he feared that the earth might have been so harmed that the sun would shine through into his kingdom. As he drove along

ls. But Proserpina was afraid of his dark face. She kept weeping, and would not be comforted. All this time they were rushing

and from that day, though she was always a little sad, and though she would eat nothing and often wept for her mother, Proser

dess and which was already faded. The world soon grew dark, but Ceres would not rest. She took two great pine trees, bound th

ing in vain. As often as she met a spirit of sleep, or of dreams, she would stop it and ask, “Have you seen my daughter, Pros

When morning came, she still went on without rest. At each river she would stop and call. Very soon the river-god would rais

rest. At each river she would stop and call. Very soon the river-god would raise his great, dripping head above the water an

d above the water and look at her with gentle, majestic eyes, and she would ask, “Have you seen my daughter, Proserpina?” But

as the home of Epimetheus. There stood the wonderful box, and Pandora would sit by the hour with her ear against it, listenin

ured through the sparkling sides and top. “What a marvelous box!” she would say to herself. “What joy it has brought the worl

waiting for some one who will be brave enough to raise the lid,” she would think. “What evil can there be in so blessed a bo

a box? It has made the whole world happy. It must be good.” Then she would think that even though she should raise the lid j

n — there could be no great harm done. She wanted only a glimpse. She would close it again so quickly that nothing could esca

ies into places of utter misery. “What has caused all this woe?” they would ask Epimetheus; and Pandora would answer, “I have

What has caused all this woe?” they would ask Epimetheus; and Pandora would answer, “I have done it, for I let out the spirit

for I let out the spirits from the box.” “Can nothing be done?” they would ask. “It would be better not to live, than to liv

the spirits from the box.” “Can nothing be done?” they would ask. “It would be better not to live, than to live in this miser

o his quiver, taking care not to prick himself, for the golden arrows would make even a god fall in love and the leaden ones

ave all that the world can give. Do but stop and hear me.” But Daphne would not listen. She fled only the more swiftly, and A

wers, which seemed even then to draw back from his touch. “Though you would not be my bride, Daphne,” he said, “you shall be

n divine harp, which the Greeks called a lyre. Upon this lyre Orpheus would play as he sang. Never since Apollo tended the fl

locks of King Admetus had such music been heard upon earth. The birds would cease singing, for they preferred his songs to th

, for they preferred his songs to their own; the spirits in the trees would hush the murmur of their leaves to hear him; and

the gentle gods of the rivers, and Neptune himself, god of old ocean, would quiet their waters to listen. Even the beasts of

beasts of the wood — the lions and bears and slender, spotted deer — would come from their hiding places and lie down peacef

he torches were lit at the wedding of Orpheus and Eurydice, the smoke would not rise, but sank to the ground; then the flames

strength, but to beg for the spirit of Eurydice, whom the underworld would never miss from its hosts of inhabitants. “I pray

t of day began to show faintly in the cave. A few steps more and they would be out. Again Orpheus walked softly and asked him

re him in the faint light of the cavern. Orpheus stood dazed; then he would have rushed after her, but the god stood in his w

aw Hercules, came running toward him, as if she were afraid the other would reach him first. “Hercules,” she said, “I see tha

ght out one mighty task after another, hoping each time that Hercules would not return alive. First he sent him to slay the N

, too, was a hundred-headed serpent, a guard that never slept. Little would Hercules care about a hundred-headed serpent. Lit

pt. Little would Hercules care about a hundred-headed serpent. Little would he care about magic maidens. But where were the g

riggle loose. Then he became a torrent of rushing water, but Hercules would not let it flow away. Then he changed to a snake,

in his journey home. He thanked Atlas very heartily, and thought that would be the end of it. But Atlas took a different view

d granted his request. So the stranger became the king’s shepherd. He would lead out the sheep, not with crook or staff, but

Sometimes the king and his courtiers heard him stop playing; then he would begin once more. After a while they heard him com

followed a lion and a wild boar, as tame as kittens. Now and then he would pause to stroke them with his hand. When he came

for I will hear you always. I am Apollo.” When Admetus heard this, he would have knelt before him, but already the gentle god

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

t Alcestis began to waste away. Dreadful visions came to her. Now she would think she saw Charon, the aged ferryman of the de

the aged ferryman of the dead, coming toward her in his boat. Now she would think she saw dark Death approaching, and brave a

s way at once, but Admetus knew how hard was the lot of Hercules, and would not hear of that. Hercules yielded and stayed,

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

and the reign of peace and gladness returned. Stout-hearted Hercules would not stay to take part in the festival of thanksgi

The god sat on a throne and was so dazzlingly bright that human eyes would have been blinded to look at him, and Phaëton dar

the sides of the chariot. The horses were now free to go whither they would . The people of earth had been gazing up with h

lived for several years not unhappily. King Polydectes loved her and would have married her, but all her thoughts were of Ar

nally he decided to compel her to give her consent. This, he thought, would he easy if she were without her son Perseus, so t

reacherous king. “Bring me, then, the head of the Gorgon Medusa. That would be a great gift, for whoever looks on the Gorgon

to the marriage, threatening that after ten days, if she refused, he would come with his soldiers to get her. All day long P

Will he never come?” Medusa was saying. She knew that some day a hero would come to put an end to her woe. “Shall I never die

ey followed. If they had but touched him, no mortal sword or strength would have been of any avail. Sometimes he rose high in

ore and more enraged. When at last he made a move toward the hero and would have crushed him, Perseus drew from his mantle th

d stood there — stone. Thus Danaë was saved. The people of the island would have made Perseus king in the place of Polydectes

Theseus was ready to set out. His grandfather and those of the court would have had him go by sea, for the way to Athens by

, and he made them all fit it. If they were too long to lie in it, he would chop off part of their heads or feet; if they wer

got it by raising the great stone.” The old king wept for joy. But he would have slain Medea. The enchantress, however, by he

s heard what his son had chosen to do, he was stricken with grief. He would have commanded him to remain and not risk a life

ded him to remain and not risk a life so precious, but he saw that it would be in vain. The heart of the young hero was set u

nders, lost in the maze; and though you should meet and slay him, you would starve in the confusing paths. But you shall not,

enus, the goddess of love, all claimed the prize, and no one could or would decide to whom it rightly belonged. Thus the joy

iven up. Helen longed to return to her home, and Priam and his people would gladly have let her go, but Paris would not agree

ome, and Priam and his people would gladly have let her go, but Paris would not agree to it, and his will prevailed. The chie

ttle was fought and many a town was taken and burned, but the Trojans would not give up Helen, and the war still went on. Now

with violent words, rebuked him, Agamemnon, in his rage, said that he would send and take Briseis, Achilles’ share of the plu

hare of the plunder and his favorite slave. For this threat, Achilles would have slain Agamemnon, even in the midst of the Gr

tent with his friend Patroclus, and neither they nor their followers would fight any more against the Trojans. And Achilles

art of Achilles was full of grief and rage because of Briseis, and he would not. Next morning the battle was renewed, and aga

et our strife and once more fight side by side against the Trojans. I would that death had carried off Briseis, my beloved sl

f the city and crowded within the walls. Hector came last of all, and would not go in, but stood and waited for Achilles. His

I brought calamity.” And then continuing with a downward brow:    “I would the white, cold, heavy-plunging foam, Whirled by

have been an occasion to end the struggle, but even then the Trojans would not give up Helen. They had no mind to let her go

Trojans asked one another. Some thought it ought to be burned; others would have pushed it into the sea; still others advised

e it into the city, for if you should drag it within your walls, Troy would never fall. This horse would be a new Palladium f

u should drag it within your walls, Troy would never fall. This horse would be a new Palladium for you.” Just then a wondrous

rms sounded from within it; but the people’s ears were deaf, and they would not hear. Only Cassandra, the prophetess, daughte

horse heard the sweet voice with its Grecian tones, they started and would have answered, but the wise warrior Ulysses saw t

I what is this? She sees it now:    “Troy, Troy shall fall!” The god would soothe her heart’s alarms.    “Be safe with me ac

oy must fall But sweet Cassandra, ever true,    Spake day by day and would not cease, Beseeching, praying (well she knew    

smoke    The city’s glorious light was spent, Cassandra’s shade they would invoke.    Ah, then they felt the high intent: Re

From that land he started on his journey home Before a fair breeze he would soon have ended his voyage, but as his ships were

the ships sailed before this wind, and Ulysses grew so eager that he would let no one else touch the helm, but held it himse

his companions stayed a year on the island of Circe. The enchantress would have had them stay always, but when she saw that

alypso reigned. Now, when the goddess saw Ulysses, she loved him, and would not let him leave her land. Year after year she k

m leave her land. Year after year she kept him by her, hoping that he would forget his home. She even promised to make him im

would forget his home. She even promised to make him immortal, if he would but be content with her. But every day he went do

still too young to enforce the respect due her. For a time the queen would not hear of their offers of marriage. “Ulysses wi

ould not hear of their offers of marriage. “Ulysses will return,” she would answer. But the suitors grew impatient, and at la

ill hoped, for Ulysses might return before the work was done, and all would be well. But though she worked slowly, and with m

ool and flung it at him. It struck him on the shoulder, but though it would almost have felled an ox, Ulysses was not moved b

appeal even to the colder sensibilities of this more prosaic age. It would be difficult, indeed, to exaggerate the importanc

these translations we first require a knowledge of mythology which it would take a lifetime to acquire piece by piece from ge

a code of laws to regulate their conduct. All the questions they fain would ask were fully answered, and no room remained for

s first act was to dethrone and supplant Chaos; and then, thinking he would be happier with a helpmeet, he married his own mo

he magnitude of such an undertaking, and feeling that some assistance would be desirable, they summoned Eros (Amor, or Love),

ed at their father’s hands, Gæa remonstrated, but all in vain. Uranus would not grant her request to set the giants free, and

aged at this insult, Uranus cursed his son, and prophesied that a day would come when he, too, would be supplanted by his chi

us cursed his son, and prophesied that a day would come when he, too, would be supplanted by his children, and would suffer j

day would come when he, too, would be supplanted by his children, and would suffer just punishment for his rebellion. Cronus

besought the life of one little one: the selfish, hardhearted father would not relent. As her prayers seemed unavailing, Rhe

might king it there, and some in haste With opposite oaths that they would have no Zeus To rule the gods for ever.” E. B. B

uite aware of their might, concluded that reinforcements to his party would not be superfluous. In haste, therefore, he relea

ong years. Jupiter, having disposed of all the Titans, now fancied he would enjoy the power so unlawfully obtained; but Gæa,

ht refuge in Egypt. In mortal fear lest this terror-inspiring monster would pursue them, the gods there assumed the forms of

d could at last reign over the world undisturbed; but he knew that it would be no small undertaking to rule well heaven, eart

except from the Titans, who at length, seeing that further opposition would be useless, grew reconciled to their fate. In the

eopling it with living creatures of all kinds, Eros perceived that it would be necessary to endow them with instincts which w

rceived that it would be necessary to endow them with instincts which would enable them to preserve and enjoy the life they h

him some great power, unshared by any other creature of earth, which would raise him far above all other living beings, and

cial possession and prerogative of the gods, and Prometheus knew they would never willingly share it with man, and that, shou

hare it with man, and that, should any one obtain it by stealth, they would never forgive the thief. Long he pondered the mat

behold; and the gods all quailed when they heard him solemnly vow he would punish the unhappy Prometheus without mercy. To s

s a gift from heaven; but he, knowing only too well that nothing good would come to him from the gods, refused to accept her,

d very much discouraged, Epimetheus sauntered out alone, thinking she would soon join him, and perhaps by some caress atone f

deft fingers, felt sure she could unfasten it, and, reasoning that it would not be indiscreet to untie it if she did not rais

tside made her start guiltily. Epimetheus was coming, and she knew he would urge her again to come out, and would prevent the

eus was coming, and she knew he would urge her again to come out, and would prevent the gratification of her curiosity. Preci

she had already done so much harm by her ill-fated curiosity, that it would be difficult to add materially to its evil conseq

this evil conduct aroused his wrath to such a point, that he vowed he would annihilate the human race. But the modes of destr

modes of destruction were manifold, and, as he could not decide which would eventually prove most efficacious, he summoned th

en visited the earth, taking great care to assume some disguise which would enable him to ascertain all he wished without any

ht through the air was so rapid, that she was seldom seen; and no one would have known she had passed, had it not been for th

y from a sudden headache, and, in hopes that some mode of alleviation would be devised, he summoned all the gods to Olympus.

rrel without evincing any partiality, Jupiter announced that the city would be entrusted to the protection of the deity who w

d that the city would be entrusted to the protection of the deity who would create the most useful object for the use of man.

imes a maiden by the name of Arachne. Pretty, young, and winsome, she would have been loved by all had it not been for her in

e work done by her deft fingers, so she boasted far and wide that she would not hesitate to match her skill with Minerva’s. S

warning, saucily tossed her head, and declared she wished the goddess would hear her, and propose a contest, in which she wou

ished the goddess would hear her, and propose a contest, in which she would surely be able to prove the truth of her assertio

ortal or immortal, showed her any pity or gave her any assistance, he would incur her lasting resentment. After long, painful

ing; for Coronis, reasoning that if one lover were so delightful, two would be doubly so, secretly encouraged another suitor.

cealed from Jupiter’s all-seeing eye; and he, fearing lest the people would forget him and worship their physician, seized on

stis Maddened with grief at the unexpected loss of his son, Apollo would fain have wreaked his vengeance upon the Cyclopes

he truth dawned upon him, he declared that from henceforth the laurel would be considered his favourite tree, and that prizes

orn to secrecy, was admitted, and bidden to fashion a huge wig, which would hide the deformity from the eyes of the king’s su

he fierce three-headed dog, named Cerberus, who guarded the gate, and would allow no living being to enter, nor any spirit to

solitudes, and there played his mournful laments, — “Such strains as would have won the ear Of Pluto, to have quite set free

, when the sun’s bright orb first appeared above the horizon, Clymene would point it out to her boy, and tell him that his fa

ely gave him all necessary information, and bade him make haste if he would reach his father’s palace in the Far East before

taunts. As soon as he had finished his tale, Apollo exclaimed that he would grant him any proof he wished, and confirmed thes

se of perjury he was obliged to drink the waters of this river, which would lull him into senseless stupidity for one whole y

on to drive the sun chariot that very day, stating that all the world would be sure to notice his exalted position, and that

the world would be sure to notice his exalted position, and that none would ever dare doubt his veracity after such a signal

e many another conceited youth, fancied he knew better than his sire, would not give heed to the kindly warning, and persiste

? Jupiter could scarcely credit what he saw. In his anger he vowed he would make the rash mortal expiate his presumption by i

s goats on the slopes of Mount Helicon, and when the nights were warm would stay out all night with them. On one occasion he

hest, intending that he should die of starvation. The Muses, however, would not suffer their servant to die thus miserably, a

to her. “Immortal age beside immortal youth.” Tennyson. Knowing he would never die, and wishing to rid herself of his burd

of being a faithful wife, soon deserted him, and openly declared she would please herself. The Story of Alectryon Her

shing favours upon a mere mortal, extorted from him a promise that he would never reveal their secret marriage. Unfortunately

iew his suit kindly, and, above all, to grant him an interview, or he would surely die.                 “God Eros, setting n

to his pleading with mingled joy and terror, for she knew her parents would never consent to their union Then, afraid lest on

urning brightly, and pictured to himself the shy, sweet blushes which would dye Hero’s cheek as he clasped her to his passion

he to return to Abydus, and she to prepare for the daily duties which would soon claim her attention But separation by day wa

he beach.” Edwin Arnold. All day long Hero had hoped that her lover would renounce his nightly journey; but still, when eve

des below, With signs and sounds, forbade to go, He could not see, he would not hear, Or sound or sign foreboding fear; His e

ss, To woo its own sad image into nearness: Deaf to light Zephyrus it would not move; But still would seem to droop, to pine,

ge into nearness: Deaf to light Zephyrus it would not move; But still would seem to droop, to pine, to love.” Keats. Pyg

had always been an obdurate bachelor, and had frequently declared he would never marry, Venus was delighted to see him at la

t; then, noiselessly as he had entered, he stole out again, vowing he would never harm such innocence and beauty. Morning daw

, and tenderly begged for some return. Now, although the fading light would not permit her to discern the form or features of

or to catch a glimpse of his face, warning her that if she did so he would be forced to leave her, never to return. “‘Dear,

loathe him, and further added that, if she were not very careful, he would probably end by devouring her. They thereupon adv

sed in sleep. If the light of the lamp revealed, as they felt sure it would , the hideous countenance and distorted form of a

perform every task with cheerful alacrity, knowing that such a course would ultimately bring about a meeting and reconciliati

ting mistress, who appointed such difficult tasks, that the poor girl would never have been able to accomplish them had she n

had nearly finished her last task, when she suddenly fancied that it would be wise to appropriate a little of the magic prep

aking good care to envelop their feet in leafy branches, so that they would leave no traces. Then, his hiding-place being rea

ll from heaven, and a voice was distinctly heard to declare that Rome would endure as long as this token of the god’s goodwil

isle.” Milton. Of course, to any one but a god such a terrible fall would have proved fatal; and even Vulcan did not escape

decided to send Bacchus, god of wine, hoping his powers of persuasion would prove more effective Armed with a flask of his ch

his father and crave forgiveness. Although restored to favour, Vulcan would not remain permanently in Olympus, but preferred

advised the sacrifice of a beautiful virgin, and promised the monster would disappear as soon as he had devoured the appointe

s a last resort he sent heralds to publish far and wide that the king would give a great reward to any man who would dare att

h far and wide that the king would give a great reward to any man who would dare attack and succeed in slaying the monster. H

em, and, checking their steeds, declared he loved the maiden too, and would not tamely yield her up to a rival. This was quit

heir respective attractions. Remembering that Apollo, being immortal, would retain all his youthful bloom when her more ephem

uthful bloom when her more ephemeral beauty had vanished, and that he would probably cease to love her, she held out her hand

as, declaring she preferred to link her fate to that of a mortal, who would grow old when she did, and love her as long as th

exercise very reluctantly; and when mortals wished to consult him, he would change his form with bewildering rapidity, and, u

able skiff — a leaky, worm-eaten craft — from shore to shore. Neither would he allow any soul to enter his bark, unless he wa

oughly, and brandished his oars, while he leisurely selected those he would next ferry across the stream             “The sh

s of justice, who bore a trenchant sword to indicate that her decrees would be mercilessly enforced. If the good outweighed t

rais’d sublime are hung The massy gates, impenetrably strong. In vain would men, in vain would gods essay, To hew the beams o

hung The massy gates, impenetrably strong. In vain would men, in vain would gods essay, To hew the beams of adamant away. Her

essly cut short the thread of life, — an intimation that another soul would ere long find its way down into the dark kingdom

ophecy which had quite escaped his memory, and which foretold that he would perish by the hand of his son-in-law. It was now

nd just as he reached the summit, and fancied his task done, the rock would slip from his grasp and roll to the foot of the h

, who had been given the hand of Dia in marriage on condition that he would give her father a stipulated sum of money in exch

Semele, like many another fair lady, enjoyed having her own way, and would not be denied. Jupiter, therefore, returned to Ol

real, that Bacchus bade him go and wash in the Pactolus River, if he would be rid of the power which had so soon turned into

o quickly perceived that to attempt to cross the river in his chariot would be madness, while by retracing his footsteps he r

n, with a fond thought of her anxious mother, who, when evening came, would vainly seek her child in all her favourite haunts

he queen for her untimely interference, Ceres explained what she fain would have done, and vanished, to continue her wanderin

stinguish words, and heard the fountain entreat her to listen, if she would hear what had befallen her child. The fountain th

er grief was not at all diminished, for she felt convinced that Pluto would never willingly relinquish her. She therefore wit

’ portals closed behind her, she became pale and melancholy; and none would have dreamed the playful, flower-crowned Goddess

reached the court of Lyncus, King of Scythia, where the false monarch would have treacherously slain him had not Ceres by tim

ed to serve ten years in fitting themselves to fulfil the duties they would be called upon to perform during the next decade

on her couch, anxiously expecting the morrow, which she ever fancied would prove auspicious. The gods, seeing her anxiety, a

ng them prepare for the blast, and hasten to shelter in port, if they would not encounter the mournful fate of poor Ceyx. Mor

Æolia. Thanks to this gift, Ulysses reached the shores of Ithaca, and would have landed in safety, had not his men, in view o

nd love; while Arete, a modest maiden, warned him that in her wake he would be obliged to wage incessant war against evil, to

mmitted. In his grief he withdrew to the mountain solitudes, where he would probably have lingered all the remainder of his l

untless previous attempts to slay the monster, and prophesied that he would never return alive. The hero would not be dissuad

he monster, and prophesied that he would never return alive. The hero would not be dissuaded, but entered the forest, tracked

lood, knowing well that any wound they might inflict, however slight, would be sure to prove fatal. Hercules and the Hydra

matter, and meanwhile bade him feast and rest in her palace. Hercules would have succeeded in this undertaking. Without any t

rplexed Hercules, for he did not know in what portion of the world he would find these apples, which had been given to Juno a

he golden apples, was told to consult old Nereus, god of the sea, who would probably be able to give him some information on

tion, he finally very reluctantly bade him seek Prometheus, who alone would be able to direct him aright. In obedience to thi

in, Prometheus directed Hercules to his brother Atlas, telling him he would be sure to know where the apples could be found.

where the apples could be found, and promised to get them if the hero would only relieve him of his burden for a little while

ed to keep it, and, coolly stepping up to Hercules, announced that he would carry the golden apples to Eurystheus, and leave

les made known his love, she immediately promised to marry him. if he would only free her from the lover her father would fai

sed to marry him. if he would only free her from the lover her father would fain force upon her. Delighted to be able to win

s, who triumphantly departed with his hard-won bride, for his destiny would not permit him to tarry long in any place. Instea

ry the fair young bride to the other shore in complete safety, if she would but consent to mount upon his broad back. “The h

that, could she but induce him to put it on, all his early affection would revive, as pure and fervent as during their court

romised to treasure it up carefully, although she sincerely hoped she would never be called upon to make use of it. Years pas

m ever since the unfortunate day when an oracle had predicted that he would be killed by his grandson. Until then the king ha

anae, and until then, too, had thought with pride of the time when he would bestow her hand in marriage upon the noblest of a

the maiden was very fair, and Acrisius knew that the wily God of Love would endeavour to find some way to outwit him and brin

d his desire to marry her; be Danae did not return his affection, and would no consent. Angry at her persistent refusal of hi

the goddess, and declared that nothing but a conviction that mortals would no longer consider her beautiful if they but once

g serpents, and decreed that one glance into her still beautiful face would suffice to change the beholder into stone. “Fata

in his possession, he spoke to them, promising to restore it if they would only give him accurate directions for finding Med

nd he thought that, if he could but once gaze upon her stony face, he would be free from pain and weariness for ever. As soon

along the coast. An oracle, when consulted, declared that the monster would not depart until Andromeda was sacrificed to his

urked along his pathway, and that ere he reached his father’s city he would have to encounter both giants and monsters, who w

ather’s city he would have to encounter both giants and monsters, who would strive to bar his way. He was not at all mistaken

n, as soon as the innocent stranger had complied with his request, he would suddenly let go the pine, which, freed from his g

s thus engaged, and knelt in the narrow pathway to do his bidding, he would suddenly raise his foot, kick him over the side,

ee passage. This offer, however, did not satisfy Theseus, who said he would sheathe his sword only on condition that Sciron p

, Dædalus bade Icarus don his plumage and fly to a country where they would be free, promising to follow him thither very sho

future, they both resolved to secure goddesses, who, being immortal, would share their thrones for ever. Aided by Pirithous,

oman his assistance, proposing to carry her across on his back if she would but lend him her staff to lean upon. The old woma

ias artfully concealed his displeasure, and told his nephew that they would discuss the matter and come to an amicable unders

desired effect; for Jason suddenly sprang from his seat, and vowed he would go in quest of the golden fleece. Pelias, quite c

quest of the golden fleece. Pelias, quite certain that the rash youth would lose his life in the attempt, and thus cause no m

ed by a long night’s rest, perceived how foolish had been his vow, he would fain have recalled it; but, mindful of Chiron’s t

e-head for the swift-sailing vessel which Minerva, at Juno’s request, would build for his use from pine-trees grown on Mount

is figure-head, found that it too had the gift of speech, and that it would occasionally vouchsafe sage counsel in the direct

ith some dragon’s teeth, as Cadmus had done, conquer the giants which would spring up, and, last of all, slay the guardian dr

spring up, and, last of all, slay the guardian dragon, or the fleece would never be his. The Princess Medea One of the

leece would never be his. The Princess Medea One of these tasks would have sufficed to dismay most youths, however brav

bearing, and who was quite ready to bring her magic to his aid if he would but promise to marry her. Jason, susceptible to h

close ranks of giants in full armour, he was filled with dismay, and would have fled had it been possible. However, aware th

ave fled had it been possible. However, aware that such a performance would ensure his ruin, he stood his ground, and, when t

k; and Medea saw that, unless she found means to delay her father, he would overtake her and compel her to return. With her o

e, Pelias had reigned contentedly over Thessaly, confident that Jason would never return. Imagine his dismay, therefore, when

laring that, if the directions were carefully carried out, the result would be satisfactory; but, when the too credulous maid

d, leaving a message for Jason, in which she warned him that the Argo would yet cause his death. Jason, a victim of remorse a

dealing him a mortal wound. But even in his dying struggles the boar would have killed her, had not Meleager come toiler res

their suit when they heard what conditions were imposed upon all who would obtain her hand; for Atalanta, disapproving of ma

the same way caused a second delay. Notwithstanding this, the maiden would have reached the goal first, as usual, had not a

, that he permitted Castor to return to life on condition that Pollux would spend half his time in Hades. Later on, satisfied

iests of Apollo, and bade them foretell the glorious deeds their heir would perform; but all their joy was turned to grief wh

made him resolve to consult the oracle of Delphi, whose words he knew would reveal the exact truth. He therefore went to this

, and bring destruction upon the people of Corinth, whom he loved, he would wander away over the face of the earth, and never

d taken up its station without the city gates beside the highway, and would allow none to pass in or out without propounding

ss along the street, proclaiming that the throne and the queen’s hand would be the reward of any man who dared encounter the

ent messengers to consult the Delphic oracle, who declared the plague would cease only when the former king’s murderers had b

e, And buried in his eyes the sharpen’d point, Crying, he ne’er again would look on her, Never would see his crimes or mis’ri

the sharpen’d point, Crying, he ne’er again would look on her, Never would see his crimes or mis’ries more, Or those whom gu

was issued, that, if any dared bury the body of the fallen prince, he would incur the penalty of being buried alive. Heedless

al was to cost him dear, however, for, when Anteia saw that the youth would never yield to her wishes, she became very angry

ly in love with the king’s fair daughter, Philonoe, and was afraid he would never see her again. While thus inwardly bewailin

moning his faithful Pegasus once more, he rose higher and higher, and would probably have reached Olympus’ heights, had not J

fell headlong from the fields of air.” Wordsworth. This fall, which would doubtless have killed any one but a mythological

ined of poor Dryope except her sweet, tear-stained face; but this too would soon vanish under the all-involving bark. She the

pon he asked for her love, which she consented to bestow, provided he would remain constant and undivided in his affection. S

O Rhœcus! Nevermore Shalt thou behold me or by day or night, Me, who would fain have blessed thee with a love More ripe and

ured of her charms, did his best to make her change her mind, but she would not even listen to his pleadings. At last the lov

t to consult the Fates, who alone could inform him whether this union would be for his happiness or not. It was very fortunat

sters told him that Thetis was destined to be the mother of a son who would far outshine his father. Jupiter carefully ponder

umpires, for the apple could be given to but one, and the two others would be sure to vent their anger and disappointment up

osed on a mountain to perish, because an oracle had predicted that he would cause the death of his family and the downfall of

eeting, for the Fates had decreed that Paris’ love for the fair Œnone would soon die.                                       

ore his dazzled eyes, and proffered the bribe of supreme wisdom if he would but give her the preference. Juno, queen of heave

Troy, make himself known to his parents, — who, the goddess promised, would welcome him warmly, — and obtain from them a flee

and then, breaking out into a prophetic strain, she foretold that he would bring destruction upon his native city. Priam and

faith that him, who should obtain The virgin for his bride, they all would aid; If any dar’d to seize and bear her off, And

ze and bear her off, And drive by force her husband from her bed, All would unite in arms, and lay his town, Greek or Barbari

on of Peleus and Thetis, Achilles, of whom the Fates had predicted he would surpass his father in greatness. The Hero Achi

ering all the parts they touched invulnerable. Premising that her son would be a great warrior, and thus exposed to great dan

then returned home. Some time after an oracle foretold that Achilles would die beneath the walls of Troy from a wound in his

r imminent between Greece and Troy came to her ears. She knew her son would soon be summoned, and to prevent his going, sent

gods; and the purport of the reply given was that no favourable wind would blow until Iphigenia, daughter of Agamemnon, were

r an oracle had foretold that the first warrior who attempted to land would meet with instant death.                        

was so rapidly reducing their forces. They were told that the plague would never cease until Agamemnon surrendered his capti

ame time he swore that, if Agamemnon really took his captive away, he would not strike another blow. Chryseis was immediately

herself at Jupiter’s feet, and with many tears tremulously prayed he would avenge Achilles and make the Greeks fail in all t

ed him out upon the field of battle, where he must hold his own if he would not see the city taken, the Trojans slain, and th

frighted at the sight of his brilliant helmet and nodding plumes, and would not go to him until he had set the gleaming headd

; for Achilles’ soul thirsted for revenge, and he repeatedly swore he would go forth and slay his friend’s murderer.        

withdraw from the battlefield and thus escape his vengeance, Achilles would have rushed from his tent unarmed; but his mother

e his betrothal with Polyxena, with the stipulation that the marriage would take place as soon as the war was over. The betro

peared to him in a dream, and bade him go without delay, for there he would find Machaon, Æsculapius’ son, who was to heal hi

d at Delphi, Orestes consulted the oracle, and learned that his crime would be forgiven if he brought a statue of Diana in Ta

They had moored their vessel under an overhanging cliff, where no one would be likely to find it, and had therefore no fear l

mselves at eve, Leaving him wasting by the dark seashore, And sunrise would behold him wasting still.” Theocritus ( Hunt’s t

, that he and his companions were shipwrecked mariners, and that they would fain receive his hospitality. In answer to this s

he nor his men could move the rock at the cave’s mouth, and that they would never be able to escape. He therefore resolved to

r C Circe, and told him of his companions’ transformation. As Ulysses would not be dissuaded from his purpose, Mercury gave h

loth to let him go, but, seeing that her efforts to detain him longer would be of no avail, she bade him seek the Cimmerian s

ad been safely passed, Ulysses was troubled in spirit, for he knew he would soon be obliged to steer his course between two d

Menelaus, and finally in a dream bade him return to Ithaca, where he would find the parent he sought. The young prince immed

affle her suitors; for, when urged to marry, she had replied that she would do so as soon as she had finished the tapestry up

choice of a husband. She brought Ulysses’ bow, and announced that she would marry the man who could bend it and send an arrow

dra, whom the gods had endowed with prophetic powers, but whom no one would heed. Æneas, seeing ere long that there was no ho

er bid him seek the banks of the Tiber, where a beautiful young bride would comfort him for her loss. This speech ended, Creu

membered a long-forgotten prophecy of Cassandra, purporting that they would settle there, and also that Dardanus, their first

she entreated the inhabitants to sell her as much land as an ox-hide would enclose. This seemingly modest request was immedi

The queen, Amata, specially favoured this youth’s suit; and the king would gladly have received him for a son-in-law, had he

ended themselves with their usual courage; but, seeing that the enemy would soon overpower them, they despatched Nisus and Eu

to keep his word. In the meantime, Juno, suspecting what his purpose would be, and afraid to allow Turnus to encounter such

t Turnus should hasten to the succour of his despairing people, if he would not see them all slain and the town in the hands

attempt to find out their primitive meaning, or an explanation which would satisfy his purer taste. With the latter object i

atin), in French ( pont), in Spanish (puente), and in Italian (ponte) would justify the conclusion that these terms had their

e baleful influence of their stepmother Ino (the broad daylight), who would fain encompass their destruction. Helle, an emble

f the poetry of Milton which has appeared to them “harsh and crabbed” would be found “musical as is Apollo’s lute.” Our citat

, and put in possession of information indispensable to every one who would read with intelligence the elegant literature of

that it was because he was solitary, and that if he had a brother he would grow apace. Anteros was soon afterwards born, and

lings, and leafy coverts of the woods, and huts woven of twigs. Crops would no longer grow without planting. The farmer was o

ole of its inhabitants, and provide a new race, unlike the first, who would be more worthy of life, and much better worshippe

irst by the ties of kindred and marriage, and now by a common danger, would that we possessed the power of our ancestor Prome

sed a secret which involved the stability of Jove’s throne, and if he would have revealed it, he might have been at once take

loose over her shoulders, and said, “If so charming in disorder, what would it be if arranged?” He saw her eyes bright as sta

t the young people together, and acquaintance ripened into love. They would gladly have married, but their parents forbade. O

p. As they stood, Pyramus on this side, Thisbe on that, their breaths would mingle. “Cruel wall,” they said, “why do you keep

eir hard fate, they agreed, that next night, when all was still, they would slip away from watchful eyes, leave their dwellin

ocris. Cephalus was a beautiful youth and fond of manly sports. He would rise before the dawn to pursue the chase. Aurora

d given her a dog which could outrun every rival, and a javelin which would never fail of its mark; and Procris gave these pr

ould follow him. If they had not seen his footprints in the sand they would have thought he flew. Cephalus and others stood o

ey were turned into stone. So lifelike and natural did they look, you would have thought, as you looked at them, that one was

he had lost his dog, still continued to take delight in the chase. He would go out at early morning, ranging the woods and hi

weapon in all cases. Fatigued with hunting, when the sun got high he would seek a shady nook where a cool stream flowed, and

flowed, and, stretched on the grass, with his garments thrown aside, would enjoy the breeze. Sometimes he would say aloud, “

with his garments thrown aside, would enjoy the breeze. Sometimes he would say aloud, “Come, sweet breeze, come and fan my b

d that her husband had raised a cloud to hide some of his doings that would not bear the light. She brushed away the cloud, a

he day, and at night tied her up with a vile rope round her neck. She would have stretched out her arms to implore freedom of

d the outstretched hand. She longed to make herself known to him, and would have uttered her wish; but, alas! words were want

her, and, embracing her white neck, exclaimed, “Alas! my daughter, it would have been a less grief to have lost you altogethe

, who was much beloved by the satyrs and spirits of the wood; but she would have none of them, but was a faithful worshipper

, but was a faithful worshipper of Diana, and followed the chase. You would have thought it was Diana herself, had you seen h

s beauty, became a horrid pair of jaws; her voice, which if unchanged would have moved the heart to pity, became a growl, mor

speed; but when he saw his horns in the water, “Ah, wretched me!” he would have said, but no sound followed the effort. He g

nly not in a stag’s, — and falling on his knees, raised his eyes, and would have raised his arms in supplication, if he had h

rd them regret that he should be away. He earnestly wished he was. He would have been well pleased to see the exploits of his

willows and osiers. The goddess approached, and kneeling on the bank would have slaked her thirst in the cool stream, but th

hirst. My mouth is so dry that I can hardly speak. A draught of water would be nectar to me; it would revive me, and I would

that I can hardly speak. A draught of water would be nectar to me; it would revive me, and I would own myself indebted to you

. A draught of water would be nectar to me; it would revive me, and I would own myself indebted to you for life itself. Let t

nd the children, as it happened, were stretching out their arms. “Who would not have been moved with these gentle words of th

ead in warning. “I have spoken rashly,” said he; “this only request I would fain deny. I beg you to withdraw it. It is not a

hould hurry me also away. Suppose I should lend you the chariot, what would you do? Could you keep your course while the sphe

my blood? I give you a proof in my fears for you. Look at my face — I would that you could look into my breast, you would the

ou. Look at my face — I would that you could look into my breast, you would there see all a father’s anxiety. Finally,” he co

he first time, the Great and Little Bear were scorched with heat, and would fain, if it were possible, have plunged into the

e touched a sod; it did the same. He took an apple from the tree; you would have thought he had robbed the garden of the Hesp

dgment. He dissented, and questioned the justice of the award. Apollo would not suffer such a depraved pair of ears any longe

t found all closed, for it was late, and the inhospitable inhabitants would not rouse themselves to open for their reception.

ever left each other’s side: The chimney to a steeple grown, The jack would not be left alone; But up against the steeple rea

ook the earth, so that Pluto was alarmed, and feared that his kingdom would be laid open to the light of day. Under this appr

he said, “Mother, you have been cruel in your fondness to your son. I would have made him immortal, but you have frustrated m

imself a passage with his prize to his own dominions. The river nymph would have told the goddess all she had witnessed, but

s, who was present at the festival, heard him and knew the thought he would have uttered; and as an omen of her favor, caused

too late. Dryope, horror-struck when she perceived what she had done, would gladly have hastened from the spot, but found her

could render no assistance. She embraced the growing trunk, as if she would hold back the advancing wood, and would gladly ha

the growing trunk, as if she would hold back the advancing wood, and would gladly have been enveloped in the same bark. At t

d sobs she said farewell, and then fell senseless to the ground. Ceyx would still have lingered, but now the young men graspe

ght come home; that he might not, in his absence, see any one that he would love better than her. But of all these prayers, t

how I wish, since thou wouldst go, thou hadst taken me with thee! It would have been far better. Then I should have had no r

er orchard locked, and allowed not men to enter. The Fauns and Satyrs would have given all they possessed to win her, and so

uns and Satyrs would have given all they possessed to win her, and so would old Sylvanus, who looks young for his years, and

ooked the very image of a reaper! With a hay band tied round him, one would think he had just come from turning over the gras

ould think he had just come from turning over the grass. Sometimes he would have an ox-goad in his hand, and you would have s

er the grass. Sometimes he would have an ox-goad in his hand, and you would have said he had just unyoked his weary oxen. Now

aid she, “if the tree stood alone, and had no vine clinging to it, it would have nothing to attract or offer us but its usele

ss leaves. And equally the vine, if it were not twined round the elm, would lie prostrate on the ground. Why will you not tak

and the vine, and consent to unite yourself with some one? I wish you would . Helen herself had not more numerous suitors, nor

y youth. It appeared to her like the sun bursting through a cloud. He would have renewed his entreaties, but there was no nee

n in her. She often begged him to stay and let her behold him, but he would not consent. On the contrary he charged her to ma

of my love? have you any wish ungratified? If you saw me, perhaps you would fear me, perhaps adore me, but all I ask of you i

ould fear me, perhaps adore me, but all I ask of you is to love me. I would rather you would love me as an equal than adore m

haps adore me, but all I ask of you is to love me. I would rather you would love me as an equal than adore me as a god.” This

That butterfly, mysterious trinket, Which means the soul, (though few would think it,) And sparkling thus on brow so white Te

ge stone and threw it with all his force at the serpent. Such a block would have shaken the wall of a fortress, but it made n

day Cadmus exclaimed, “If a serpent’s life is so dear to the gods, I would I were myself a serpent.” No sooner had he uttere

alled by that name, down to this day. But the origin of the Myrmidons would not give one the idea of a fierce and bloody race

them, I tell you what is hardly credible, but neither dogs nor birds would touch them, nor starving wolves. Their decay spre

away from the water, but died in the midst of the stream, and others would drink of it notwithstanding. Such was their weari

otwithstanding. Such was their weariness of their sick beds that some would creep forth, and if not strong enough to stand, w

beds that some would creep forth, and if not strong enough to stand, would die on the ground. They seemed to hate their frie

hem. I trembled in every limb, yet I kissed the earth and the tree. I would not confess to myself that I hoped, yet I did hop

y; but I rejoice at any cause that brings him to my sight. Perhaps he would be willing to grant us peace, and receive me as a

he would be willing to grant us peace, and receive me as a hostage. I would fly down, if I could, and alight in his camp, and

eld ourselves to his mercy. But then, to betray my father! No! rather would I never see Minos again. And yet no doubt it is s

f we can. And O, if any one should wound or kill Minos! No one surely would have the heart to do it; yet ignorantly, not know

m away! But why ask the gods to do it? Another woman, loving as I do, would remove with her own hands whatever stood in the w

d in the way of her love. And can any other woman dare more than I? I would encounter fire and sword to gain my object; but h

struck her with his beak and claws. In terror she let go the ship and would have fallen into the water, but some pitying deit

ne failing; she was fond of talking, and whether in chat or argument, would have the last word. One day Juno was seeking her

w her arms about his neck. He started back, exclaiming, “Hands off! I would rather die than you should have me!” “Have me,” s

their breasts Echo smote hers also. They prepared a funeral pile and would have burned the body, but it was nowhere to be fo

that hideous hook,     Thy nose, thou chance to see; Narcissus’ fate would then be thine, And self-detested thou would’st pi

ides below, With signs and sounds forbade to go, He could not see, he would not hear Or sound or sight foreboding fear. His e

kill in the arts of weaving and embroidery that the Nymphs themselves would leave their groves and fountains to come and gaze

wove the web, or, after it was woven, adorned it with her needle, one would have said that Minerva herself had taught her. Bu

ereupon Jupiter advanced into the sea and swam with her to Crete. You would have thought it was a real bull, so naturally was

at elated her. It was her children; and truly the happiest of mothers would Niobe have been if only she had not claimed to be

l, in his ignorance that all needed not his intercessions; and Apollo would have spared him, but the arrow had already left t

us, alarmed by an oracle which had told him that his daughter’s child would be the instrument of his death, caused the mother

ched the western limit of the earth, where the sun goes down. Here he would gladly have rested till morning. It was the realm

been for her flowing tears and her hair that moved in the breeze, he would have taken her for a marble statue. He was so sta

thus bound.” At first she was silent from modesty, and, if she could, would have hid her face with her hands; but when he rep

dooming her to such a fate dissolved all engagements, as death itself would have done.” Phineus made no reply, but hurled his

javelin at Perseus, but it missed its mark and fell harmless. Perseus would have thrown his in turn, but the cowardly assaila

lden fleece, on which she set the two children, trusting that the ram would convey them to a place of safety. The ram vaulted

hian king, Æetes, who consented to give up the golden fleece if Jason would yoke to the plough two fire-breathing bulls with

had slain, and from which it was well known that a crop of armed men would spring up, who would turn their weapons against t

which it was well known that a crop of armed men would spring up, who would turn their weapons against their producer. Jason

left alive. The Greeks embraced their hero, and Medea, if she dared, would have embraced him, too. It remained to lull to sl

nfirmities from taking part in them. Jason said to Medea, “My spouse, would that your arts, whose power I have seen so mighty

s of milk and wine. She implored Pluto and his stolen bride that they would not hasten to take the old man’s life. Then she d

rawn chariot before they discovered her treachery, or their vengeance would have been terrible. She escaped, however, but had

enalty of all who try and fail.” In spite of this hard condition some would try. Hippomenes was to be judge of the race. “Can

looked at him with a pitying countenance, and hardly knew whether she would rather conquer him or not. “What god can tempt on

ot for his beauty (yet he is beautiful,) but for his youth. I wish he would give up the race, or if he will be so mad, I hope

arts from the goal and skims over the sand. So light their tread, you would almost have thought they might run over the river

the opposite direction. Hercules was deceived by this stratagem, and would have failed to find his oxen, if it had not happe

ible to the gods themselves. Then she made known her request. The god would have stopped her as she spake, but she was too qu

bs, and when they looked for him he was nowhere to be found. Pentheus would take no warning, but instead of sending others, d

utworn, So might I, standing on this pleasant lea, Have glimpses that would make me less forlorn; Have sight of Proteus risin

he laden fields bowed also. She planned a punishment so dire that one would pity him, if such a culprit as he could be pitied

ng. When he awoke, his hunger was raging. Without a moment’s delay he would have food set before him, of whatever kind earth

ea, or air produces; and complained of hunger even while he ate. What would have sufficed for a city or a nation, was not eno

tude to him for having saved her life and bade him ask what reward he would . Rhœcus boldly asked her love and the nymph yield

told him that a bee should be her messenger and let him know when she would admit his society. One time the bee came to Rhœcu

Apollo prevailed on the Fates to spare him on condition that some one would consent to die in his stead. Admetus, in his joy

he had often heard from his courtiers and dependents fancied that it would be easy to find a substitute. But it was not so.

be easy to find a substitute. But it was not so. Brave warriors, who would willingly have perilled their lives for their pri

proffered herself as the substitute. Admetus, fond as he was of life, would not have submitted to receive it at such a cost;

sayer, and knew by his art that no one of the leaders except Adrastus would live to return. But Amphiaraus, on his marriage t

ground, and he, his chariot, and his charioteer were swallowed up. It would not be in place here to detail all the acts of he

us, the husband of Evadne, in the ardor of the fight declared that he would force his way into the city in spite of Jove hims

e city. Her lover, Hæmon, the son of Creon, unable to avert her fate, would not survive her, and fell by his own hand.   Anti

it was doubtful whether he still lived, and highly improbable that he would ever return, Penelope was importuned by numerous

y that chance offered. Thus occasionally the carcass of a dead animal would be occupied by the bees for that purpose. It was

ood, then a horrible wild beast, in rapid succession. But finding all would not do, he at last resumed his own form and addre

hat they said that the timbers were nearly eaten through and the roof would soon fall in. He told his captors and demanded to

ts the free heart of a poet. The talent which a god bestowed on me, I would fain make a source of pleasure to others. And if

ounded him loud and mutinous, and said, “ Arion, you must die! If you would have a grave on shore, yield yourself to die on t

y buy my life at that price.” “No, no; we cannot spare you. Your life would be too dangerous to us. Where could we go to esca

eriander, if he should know that you had been robbed by us? Your gold would be of little use to us, if on returning home, we

e, and yield uncomplaining to my fate.” This prayer, like the others, would have been unheeded, — they thought only of their

row, the multitude fill the seats till it seems as if the very fabric would give way. The murmur of voices sounds like the ro

le the circles widening in their ascent rise tier on tier, as if they would reach the sky. And now the vast assemblage listen

man who uttered that cry and the other to whom he spoke!” The culprit would gladly have recalled his words, but it was too la

, under a superstition that those who should take that “Lover’s-leap” would , if not destroyed, be cured of their love.   Byr

e of the Sea-Nymphs. She had many suitors, but repelled them all, and would go to the grotto of Galatea, and tell her how she

ile his flocks spread themselves around. Laying down his staff, which would have served for a mast to hold a vessel’s sail, a

he suggestion of Ulysses, one of their number, took an oath that they would defend her from all injury and avenge her cause i

rtain ominous forebodings connected with him from his infancy that he would be the ruin of the state. These forebodings seeme

in on her altar, and that none other but the daughter of the offender would be acceptable. Agamemnon, however reluctant, yiel

sion of the spoil. Achilles submitted, but forthwith declared that he would take no further part in the war. He withdrew his

affairs of state, he thought only of her and let the battle go as it would . But this absorption did not continue long, and w

’s tent, saw Machaon wounded, and having told the cause of his coming would have hastened away, but Nestor detained him, to t

ppose himself in fight to Patroclus. Jupiter looked down upon him and would have snatched him from the fate which awaited him

from the fate which awaited him, but Juno hinted that if he did so it would induce all others of the inhabitants of heaven to

se. The Greeks succeeded and stripped Sarpedon of his armor; but Jove would not allow the remains of his son to be dishonored

the death of his friend, and of the imminent danger that his remains would fall into the hands of the enemy, could see no su

friend with such distress that Antilochus feared for a while that he would destroy himself. His groans reached the ears of h

a victim to it. But his only consolation was the hope of revenge. He would fly instantly in search of Hector. But his mother

r reminded him that he was now without armor, and promised him, if he would but wait till the morrow, she would procure for h

ut armor, and promised him, if he would but wait till the morrow, she would procure for him a suit of armor from Vulcan more

ho looked out upon the contest, moved with pity for Æneas, who he saw would surely fall a victim if not speedily rescued, spr

should enter likewise. But Achilles was so close in pursuit that that would have been impossible if Apollo had not, in the fo

her treasures and ample of our own beside? Ah, no! it is too late. He would not even hear me through, but slay me while I spo

eep out in a wider circle. But Apollo sustained Hector’s strength and would not let him sink in weariness. Then Pallas, assum

he dogs. Though twenty ransoms and thy weight in gold were offered, I would refuse it all.” So saying he stripped the body of

e went forth to the wall. When she saw the sight there presented, she would have thrown herself headlong from the wall, but f

of Patroclus, leaving him at length stretched in the dust. But Apollo would not permit the body to be torn or disfigured with

prophet had told them that if the Trojans took possession of it they would assuredly triumph over the Greeks. This language

ty and plunge his sword into him as he slept, but recollected that it would only expose them all to certain destruction, as t

had closed up the door was far beyond their power to remove, and they would therefore be in hopeless imprisonment. Next morni

on her knees and begged for mercy. He dictated a solemn oath that she would release his companions and practise no further ha

f another danger. After passing Scylla and Charybdis the next land he would make was Thrinakia, an island whereon were pastur

e transgressed destruction was sure to fall on the offenders. Ulysses would willingly have passed the island of the Sun witho

his companions so urgently pleaded for the rest and refreshment that would be derived from anchoring and passing the night o

that Ulysses yielded. He bound them, however, with an oath that they would not touch one of the animals of the sacred flocks

iades, Culling their potent herbs and baneful drugs, Who as they sung would take the prisoned soul And lap it in Elysium. Scy

east, and if he should be compelled to trust himself to the waves, it would buoy him up and enable him by swimming to reach t

, reminding her that her wedding-day was not far distant, and that it would be but a prudent preparation for that event to ha

tion, and scrupled not to say to her damsels that she wished the gods would send her such a husband. To Ulysses she recommend

he fields; but when they should approach the city she desired that he would no longer be seen in her company, for she feared

panions to reach the city, he was then to pursue his way thither, and would be easily guided by any he might meet to the roya

e king then dismissed his guests, notifying them that the next day he would call them to council to consider what had best be

d another; they rubbed the bow with tallow, but all to no purpose; it would not bend. Then spoke Ulysses, humbly suggesting t

off and borne as a gift to Proserpine, and if fate was propitious it would yield to the hand and quit its parent trunk, but

unk, but otherwise no force could rend it away. If torn away, another would succeed. 27 Æneas followed the directions of the

æras breathing fire. Æneas shuddered at the sight, drew his sword and would have struck, but the Sibyl restrained him. They t

nd armed, approached that shore. To which the Sibyl replied that they would commit no violence, that Æneas’s only object was

ir own hand, hating life and seeking refuge in death. O how willingly would they now endure poverty, labor, and any other inf

bedience to the commands of Jove; nor could I believe that my absence would cost you so dear. Stop, I beseech you, and refuse

their backs and fled, as they used to do on the plains of Troy. Æneas would have lingered long with his Trojan friends, but t

ht have been immortal. He promised me the fulfilment of my wish, if I would consent to be his. I took a handful of sand, and

my hand.’ Unluckily I forgot to ask for enduring youth. This also he would have granted, could I have accepted his love, but

ruelty, who invented unheard-of torments to gratify his vengeance. He would fasten the dead to the living, hand to hand and f

truscans demand that he shall be given up to deserved punishment, and would ere now have attempted to enforce their demand; b

d mother is with me in the camp. For me she left the Trojan soil, and would not stay behind with the other matrons at the cit

with noisy questions. What should he do? how extricate the youth, or would it be better to die with him. Raising his eyes to

hand upon Euryalus. “You shall pay the penalty of both,” he said, and would have plunged the sword into his bosom, when Nisus

hen Turnus’s fortitude forsook him and he begged for mercy; and Æneas would have given him his life, but at the instant his e

o Napoleon Bonaparte, alludes to the story of Milo: — “He who of old would rend the oak     Deemed not of the rebound; Chain

had been made to fit exactly the size of Osiris, and declared that he would give that chest of precious wood to whosoever cou

t. Trophonius unable to extricate him, and fearing that when found he would be compelled by torture to discover his accomplic

, couldst thou speak, As in Dodona once thy kindred trees Oracular, I would not curious ask The future, best unknown, but at

e theories which have been mentioned are true to a certain extent. It would therefore be more correct to say that the mytholo

ith still greater delight. The poet ventured to predict that his poem would survive him, and be read wherever the Roman name

the creation, man, for if he were to be got at, some wealthy glutton would surely devour him, though there were no more in t

sons, such as Galen, Avicenna, Scaliger, and others. Occasionally one would demur to some part of the tale while he admitted

e admitted the rest. Jonston, a learned physician, sagely remarks, “I would scarcely believe that it kills with its look, for

s strength lay in its horn, and that when hard pressed in pursuit, it would throw itself from the pinnacle of the highest roc

a third horn, standing in front of the two others. In fine, though it would be presumptuous to deny the existence of a one-ho

which when he is irritated is produced in considerable quantity, and would doubtless, for a few moments, defend the body fro

ugh to put forth all its faculties for its defence. Its viscous juice would do good service, and all who profess to have seen

also very precious, is his iron gloves, which he puts on whenever he would use his mallet efficiently. From Thor’s name is d

he Elves, (fairies.) She is very fond of love ditties, and all lovers would do well to invoke her. Bragi is the god of poetry

were not ignorant that these monsters were growing up, and that they would one day bring much evil upon gods and men. So Odi

the wolf found that he could not break his fetters, and that the gods would not release him, he bit off Tyr’s hand, and he ha

her with the sun and moon. The gods yielded to his terms, provided he would finish the whole work himself without any one’s a

and confirmed by solemn oaths, for without these precautions a giant would not have thought himself safe among the gods, esp

i, who in his fright promised upon oath that, let it cost him what it would , he would so manage matters that the man should l

his fright promised upon oath that, let it cost him what it would, he would so manage matters that the man should lose his re

l so far as to get the giant’s promise to restore the weapon if Freya would consent to be his bride. Loki returned and report

his followers. Frey also possessed a wonderful weapon, a sword which would of itself spread a field with carnage whenever th

et from him, and undertook to get him the maiden for his bride, if he would give him his sword as a reward. Frey consented an

journey and obtained the maiden’s promise that within nine nights she would come to a certain place and there wed Frey. Skirn

o pass the night in under a large oak tree. Skrymir then told them he would lie down to sleep. “But take ye the wallet,” he a

oung man who accompanied Thor could perform. Thialfi answered that he would run a race with any one who might be matched agai

ved that skill in running was something to boast of, but if the youth would win the match he must display great agility. He t

with no better success. Utgard-Loki then asked Thor in what feats he would choose to give proofs of that prowess for which h

ofs of that prowess for which he was so famous. Thor answered that he would try a drinking-match with any one. Utgard-Loki ba

“This trial has turned out,” said Utgard-Loki, “just as I imagined it would . The cat is large, but Thor is little in comparis

e,” said Utgard-Loki, looking at the men sitting on the benches, “who would not think it beneath him to wrestle with thee; le

gth in thee, and wouldst have brought me so near to a great mishap, I would not have suffered thee to enter this time. Know t

u gavest me three blows with thy mallet; the first, though the least, would have ended my days had it fallen on me, but I sli

e.” On hearing these words Thor in a rage laid hold of his mallet and would have launched it at him, but Utgard-Loki had disa

ve launched it at him, but Utgard-Loki had disappeared, and when Thor would have returned to the city to destroy it, he found

eases, beasts, birds, poisons, and creeping things, that none of them would do any harm to Baldur. Odin, not satisfied with a

hers hewed at him with their swords and battle-axes; for do what they would , none of them could harm him. And this became a f

the Gods. It was a firm belief of the northern nations that a time would come when all the visible creation, the gods of V

of Jotunheim, Alfheim, and Midgard, together with their habitations, would be destroyed. The fearful day of destruction will

had deep thoughts in them and uttered musically their thoughts. Much would be lost had Iceland not been burst up from the se

h they proceed to slay the victims, at the same time praying that God would render his gift prosperous to those to whom he ha

t Johnson exclaims, “That man is little to be envied whose patriotism would not gain force upon the plains of Marathon, or wh

tism would not gain force upon the plains of Marathon, or whose piety would not grow warmer amid the ruins of Iona.”   In th

ona with the cave of Staffa, opposite: — “Nature herself, it seemed, would raise A minister to her Maker’s praise! Not for a

parties. It was a favorite idea of the old poets that these goddesses would one day return, and bring back the Golden Age. Ev

To the wars my necessities take me away, But if I had money at home I would stay ; so I may say of myself, it was necessity,

ing for instance Kimôn and Kephalos instead of Cimon and Cephalus, it would be all the better. The subjects of the plates are

t) that the study of mythology should ever become general, the public would have no right to my book except on my own terms.

ept on my own terms. The legitimate course, if these were exorbitant, would be to get some one to write a cheaper and better

ometimes received by the authors of even the most successful works. I would say then, as the publishers say they would not gi

e most successful works. I would say then, as the publishers say they would not give more for a long than for a short term of

have become ἀλϕείоνσα, etc., to which Αλϕειὸѕ (ἀλθειὸѕ the nourisher) would correspond as a masculine power, and therefore an

my father and the Earth is my mother, and I repose on her bosom.» It would therefore seem that the view of nature on which w

to have been united with the two goddesses, as Liber was at Rome. We would propose the following hypothesis on the subject.

. G. M. 44. Passeri, Lucern. i. 28. Plate II. 1. Helios, as it would seem (Millin says Saturnus), in a four-horse char

e of unseen deities5. In this manner all the parts of external nature would have become animated ; and the thoughts of courag

hich at times flows from his lips, being referable to no known cause, would be attributed to the unseen working of superior b

e, we shall in future speak of gods of the sea, the sun, the moon, we would not be understood to mean personifications of the

irm belief in the avenging power of Apollo, whose priest Chryses was, would pronounce, with as full conviction as if it had b

perhaps be added the pride of family and the flattery of poets, which would seek to cast lustre on the origin of some noble h

The festival of the Hyacinthia at Sparta, for example, originally it would seem celebrated in honour of Demeter18, was proba

ve been but the creation of capricious fancy52. On these occasions it would be well to bear in mind the following words of Jo

red them to be the same under different names ; but where the legends would not accord, the deities themselves were regarded

earth67. Hecatæus of Miletus, one of the earliest Grecian historians, would seem to have laboured to give a rational form to

s respect, as likewise is the Violet-bed86 of the empress Eudocia. It would be tedious to particularise all the other sources

netrated. According to the ideas of the Homeric and Hesiodic ages, it would seem that the World was a hollow globe, divided i

th of the diameter of the hollow sphere is given thus by Hesiod94. It would take, he says, nine days for an anvil to fall fro

or an anvil to fall from Heaven to Earth ; and an equal space of time would be occupied by its fall from Earth to the bottom

red to assign their exact positions. Along its southern coast lay, it would appear, the countries of the Lotus-eaters, the Cy

tremities of heaven, earth, sea (πόυτος), and Tartaros as meeting, it would seem to follow that the Ocean lay outside of the

ld, and encompassed the middle of it like a rim. The armillary sphere would thus give us an idea of the Homeric world. The po

it must have rested on the earth, and yet one passage of the Ilias121 would seem plainly to speak of it as distinct from the

ollow analogy, and argue from the cosmology of other races of men, we would say that the upper surface of the superior hemisp

ded the concave heaven as being solid (hence Moses says, that Jehovah would make their heaven brass and their earth iron)122,

the immediate origin of organised bodies. In Grecian cosmogony Homer would appear to have followed the former, for he terms

phs. Productiveness is the consequence of that act, for which analogy would incline us to look ; and when we divest our mind

Zeus is mentioned, in which Briareôs again comes to his aid163. There would also appear to have been some other ancient syste

ormer name is manifestly derived from the symbol for the earth164, it would seem to have been one of the systems in which ear

re he had cast Zeus into a slumber, the god on waking sought him, and would have flung him from the sky down into the sea, bu

timation of any kindred between Night and Sleep. The dwelling of both would seem to be on Olympos. Alcman174 and Sophocles175

according to Æschylus, in a grotto-palace ; beneath his stream, as it would appear187. In the ‘Prometheus Bound’ of this poet

ning the West. In Stesichorus, as we may observe, the abode of Helios would seem to be in the realm of Night, beyond Ocean. A

the palace of his sire, from whom he extracted an unwary oath that he would grant him whatever he asked. The ambitious youth

t of the course ; the world is set on fire, and a total conflagration would have ensued, had not Zeus, at the prayer of Earth

g Zeus of this, the god was about to make a new allotment, but Helios would not suffer him, saying that he had seen a fertile

had seen a fertile land lying beneath the ‘hoary sea’, with which he would be content. The gods then swore that it should be

, and their reason for so doing is not easy to be discerned. Æschylus would seem to term her the child of Night264, — a very

s. The origin of the name Krios is not apparent289. Pallas (Shaker ?) would seem from the names of his offspring to be of a m

persons used to send suppers to be placed before her, which the poor would then come and eat, saying Hecate had eaten them30

dy narrated. According to the Theogony310 all the Titans (Oceanos, it would appear, excepted) were on this occasion shut up i

lus316 the chorus consisted of the twelve Titans, and they came as it would appear from the eastern part of the Ocean-stream.

ring of the god who ruled over the golden race of men ; and if, as it would appear, he taught his heroic pupils music as well

ed with it till we should open the volumes of Homer, what a new world would burst on our sight, — how splendid would Olympos

s of Homer, what a new world would burst on our sight, — how splendid would Olympos and its dwellers then arise to view ! To

vering seven plethra of ground, and the helmet of the goddess herself would , we are told336, cover the footmen of a hundred t

e. But Heaven and Earth having told him that her first child, a maid, would equal himself in strength and counsel, and her se

, would equal himself in strength and counsel, and her second, a son, would be king of gods and men, he cajoled her when she

n of Greece from abroad is so notorious, that few, we should suppose, would lay any stress on his testimony in these matters.

god of the sea been worshiped in Egypt, beyond question the historian would have derived Poseidôn from that country. Again, w

acutely. Achilles, the son of a goddess, declares to Odysseus that he would rather be a day-labourer to the poorest cultivato

a luxuriant description of the blissful scenes which the under-world would present, to console and reconcile its future mist

νος)490, and Persephone under that of Subterrane (χθονία). The former would seem to have been placatory, like Eumenides that

at her feet between heaven and earth505 ; and when her son Hephæstos would aid her, he flung him down from Olympos506. In th

came in quest of her charge and wanted to search the cavern, Cithærôn would not permit her, saying that Zeus was abiding ther

union. As the goddess of the earth in the religion of Argos, her name would seem to come very simply from ἔρα, earth ; yet th

. Brazen ; 7. People-rouser ; 8. Impetuous, etc. The name Ares (Ἄρης) would seem to be connected with ἀνὴρ, ἄῤῥην and ἀρϵτὴ (

, ornaments, and arms of the Olympians were the work of his hands. It would be an almost endless task to enumerate all the ar

consented to become the birth-place of the future god, provided Leto would pledge herself that he would not contemn her humb

h-place of the future god, provided Leto would pledge herself that he would not contemn her humble isle, and would erect ther

o would pledge herself that he would not contemn her humble isle, and would erect there the temple vowed by his mother. Leto

called to the goddesses to give him a lyre and a bow, adding that he would thenceforth declare to men the will of Zeus. He t

hat differently. According to him, Hera, knowing that the son of Leto would be dearer to Zeus than her own son Ares, was reso

elf to danger on her account. She now turned to the islands, but none would receive her ; and the god called out to her that

oracle of Apollo, dissuaded him, by representing how much his oracle would be disturbed by the noise of the horses and mules

Mount Parnassos as a quiet sequestered spot, where no unseemly sounds would disturb the holy silence demanded by an oracle. A

e vessel rapidly along : in vain they sought to land at Tænaron ; she would not obey the helm. When they came to the bay of C

den to choose for herself ; and fearing that when she grew old Apollo would desert her, she wisely chose to match with her eq

ion of which we have above related, and where, as the mythe of Pythôn would seem to intimate, a conflict took place between t

n, either from his healing power (from παύω or ΠΑΩ), in which case he would be identical with Pæeôn ; or from his protecting

ired not more than one, satisfied with the mountains, which she never would leave but to aid women in the pains of child-birt

ldren. The making Love the offspring of the West-wind and the Rainbow would seem to be only a poetic mode of expressing the w

hat the cause was his being solitary, and that if he had a brother he would grow apace. Anterôs was soon afterwards born, and

oracle of Apollo, and was ordered to expose her on a rock, whence she would be carried away by a monster, the terror of heave

e correct, the best explanation of the perplexing epithet Tritogeneia would seem to be that which derives it from the three p

819. But accounts like this are very suspicious, and the later Greeks would have made little scruple about coining a term if

eing whose operations extended into the interior of the earth, Hermes would seem to have been in some points of view identifi

Demeter and her daughter Persephone are so closely connected, that it would be extremely difficult, or rather impossible, to

ve princes, who with her father governed Eleusis, each of whose wives would , she was sure, be most happy to receive into her

cradle, of whom if the stranger could obtain the nursing her fortune would be made. The goddess bowed her thanks, and the pr

gh. But she declined the cup of wine which Metaneira offered her, and would only drink the kykeôn, or mixture of flour and wa

d lost by the inconsiderateness of his mother, but announcing that he would be great and honoured, since he had ‘sat in her l

as the seed of barley cast into the ground ; ‘well-garlanded Demeter’ would suffer no increase. The whole race of man ran ris

er daughter had tasted anything while below ; for if she had not, she would be free to spend her whole time with her father a

, or person who bore the highest office in the mysteries ; whose name would rather seem to be derived from his exhibiting the

shown on these solemn occasions. The delivering of a public discourse would in fact have been quite repugnant to the usages o

d motionless, and Helicôn swelled up with delight, so that his summit would have reached the sky had not Poseidôn directed Pe

t generally regarded as connected in some way with the water the poet would hardly have thus represented them, as the humour

water the poet would hardly have thus represented them, as the humour would not have been fully appreciated by the audience.

feeling of a connexion between that element and music. The Latins, it would also appear, connected their Camenæ with the foun

ned ideas of this nature1029. The epithet given to them by Empedocles would seem to confirm a view of them already noticed103

no less than two deities, asks the latter if he is a god, adding, “ I would not fight with the celestial gods ; for the stout

sharply, desired him to mind his own business, and declared that they would take their captive to Egypt or elsewhere and sell

stic orgies of the Great Mother, and of the god Sabazios ; who, as it would appear, was similar to Dionysos1095, and an objec

f her lover, induced her when next he came to exact a promise that he would visit her as he was wont to visit Hera. An unwary

by the Greeks. From their confounding her with their own Artemis, it would seem that they regarded her as the Moon-goddess ;

Greeks, the presents which they give to Menelaos are such as a Greek would have given. Egyptian antiquity knows nothing of t

Delta, he was told by the oracle of Buto that brazen men from the sea would be his avengers. Shortly afterwards some Carians

e Athenians why they paid no regard to him, who was always, and still would be, friendly and assisting to them. After the bat

e, and passed by Mount Lycæon, Pan beheld her and loved ; but when he would address her, she fled. The god pursued : she reac

alled a Silen1200. Like the seagods, Silenos was noted for wisdom. It would therefore appear that a Silen was simply a riverg

ster-son, who, in his gratitude, desired the king to ask what gift he would . Midas craved that all he touched might turn to g

aved her life, and at the same time desired him to ask what reward he would . Rhœcos then requested her to permit him to be he

vain : he was obliged to instruct him how to proceed before the hero would release him1249. He also foretold to Paris, when

lso foretold to Paris, when he was carrying away Helena, the evils he would bring on his country and family1250. Nereus was m

Theogony. Apollodorus makes him a son of Poseidôn1261, and Euripides would seem to make Nereus his sire1262. Those who embra

ling of Zephyros, to inform them of the prayer of Achilleus that they would inflame the pyre of Patroclos. In the Odyssey1315

eece to the west are the isles over which Odysseus ruled. The Odyssey would seem to intimate a knowledge of Italy and Sicily 

speak a language different from Greek1328, and this circumstance also would accord well with Italy. But on the other hand the

the Cyclopes, which could not have been very far distant, or the poet would in that case, as he always does, have specified t

come to the land of the Cyclopes ;’ and if it had been an island, he would , as usual, have noticed the circumstance : he wou

een an island, he would, as usual, have noticed the circumstance : he would also have told us with what wind they sailed to i

aters than himself1343. Γίγαντϵς. Gigantes. Giants. The Giants would seem to have dwelt westwards of the Cyclopes, the

called wild tribes (ἄγρια ϕῦλα), but akin to the gods1345, by whom it would appear they were destroyed for their impiety1346.

et Teiresias. Accordingly they left Ææa rather late in the day, as it would appear, and impelled by a favouring north wind th

a), and the current and the breeze of its surface bring them back. It would also appear that, as soon as the ship left the Oc

en which the goddess had informed him his course lay. She said1392 he would come to two lofty cliffs opposite each other, bet

hat that strait may have given occasion to the fable. Homer, however, would seem to place the cliffs of Scylla and Charybdis

der the care of his daughters Phaëthusa and Lampetia, and to which he would come immediately after escaping Scylla and Charyb

s taken under her care, since there are no people near us ?” All this would seem to indicate some very remote position ; and

fu, which lies at a very short distance from the coast of Epeiros. It would not perhaps be allowable to urge, that the circum

and when they attained to youth they lived but a short time, for they would not abstain from mutual injury, nor pay the servi

the parents of the silver, and these of the brazen race of men. Ovid would appear to view the subject in the same light. To

hecy delivered by Themis had announced to him that his precious trees would be plundered by a son of Zeus. When therefore Per

rapping the bones up in the inside fat, desired Zeus to take which he would . The god, though aware of the deceit, selected th

s Flight-giving (Φύξιoς), who sent Hermes desiring him to ask what he would . His request was to have the earth replenished wi

ly independent and irreconcilable mythes. The circumstance of the ark would seem to have been learned at Alexandria1496, for

act, adopted a common name by which to distinguish themselves1518. It would therefore seem to be the most probable hypothesis

le, but which were gradually communicated to others1521. In short, it would appear, that the religion, manners, genius, and n

ife of Admetos to terminate should come, he might defer it if any one would die in his place. When the fatal day arrived Adme

os was Hades, Alcestis the Strong-one (ἀλκὴ) was Persephone. Her name would then answer to Strong (ἴφθιμος), one of his epith

shment of the oracle, and sending for him next day, asked him what he would do, if he had the power, had it been predicted to

hat he should be slain by one of his citizens. Iasôn replied, that he would order him to go and fetch the Golden Fleece. Peli

eter and the Lemnian nymphs ; and that Zeus made love to her, but she would not hearken to his suit, fearing the anger of Her

; but he committed the charge of it to Bunos, and went to Colchis. It would thus appear that the whole mythe of Æetes and Med

the cowdung, went away, leaving him there, in hopes that the Centaurs would find him and kill him1560. When Peleus awoke he s

he sought for his sword, but in vain ; and the Centaurs coming on him would have put him to death, but for Cheirôn, who saved

f and his brother Poseidôn, but Themis having declared that her child would be greater than his sire, the gods withdrew1564.

ourted by Zeus alone, till he was informed by Prometheus that her son would dethrone him1565. Others again maintain that Thet

e him1565. Others again maintain that Thetis, who was reared by Hera, would not assent to the wishes of Zeus, and that the go

m as a pledge. Ixiôn then sent to say that the gifts were ready if he would come to fetch them. Deïoneus accordingly came, bu

nd became deranged, and its atrocity being such, neither gods nor men would absolve him, till at length Zeus himself took pit

recompense. Such is the more ancient form of the legend, in which it would appear that the Ætolians of Calydôn and the Curet

he billet which was burning on the hearth should be consumed the babe would die. Althæa on hearing this snatched the billet,

by a cord or a sword. Cleopatra died of grief ; and his sisters, who would not be comforted in their affliction, were by the

nos (Renowned), Deïaneira (Man’s-foe), and several others. The former would seem to belong to the peaceful rural Pelasgian ti

nia for their leaders, that is, to adopt regular discipline, and they would be victorious in war. The name of this people (Ἐγ

n his golden car over the sea to the rich garden of Zeus, where Libya would joyfully receive her in a golden abode ; that the

e Libya would joyfully receive her in a golden abode ; that there she would bear a son, whom Hermes would take to the ‘well-s

her in a golden abode ; that there she would bear a son, whom Hermes would take to the ‘well-seated Seasons and Earth,’ who

n, whom Hermes would take to the ‘well-seated Seasons and Earth,’ who would feed him with nectar and ambrosia, and render him

d his transformation and death to the jealousy of Zeus, who feared he would marry Semele1649. Aristæos, it is quite evident f

mage be made, and bound with iron to the rock, and that then the evil would cease1658. Ἰνὼ καὶ Ἀθάμας . Ino et Athamas.

s the priest-king, against the warlike Phlegyans. In fine this writer would seem to view in ancient Thebes a political state

oracle however warned him against having children, declaring that he would meet his death by means of his offspring. He long

ed, and at last three-footed ?” The oracle told the Thebans that they would not be delivered from her until they had solved h

ing at the seven-gated Thebes on account of the sheep of Œdipodes. It would also seem that, according to the above passage of

. Trophonios, unable to extricate him, and fearing that when found he would be compelled by torture to discover his accomplic

ulture, and the confining of the war-god and the worship of the Muses would seem to give them a rural character ; while their

sed by him. She added that when these tasks were all accomplished, he would be made immortal. The hero obeyed, went to Tiryns

to the gods that a man of his race was that day to see the light, who would rule over all his neighbours. Hera, pretending in

be found in the plain. The oracle being consulted declared that there would be no end of the evil till Laomedôn had given his

Heracles, having seen the maiden, offered to deliver her if Laomedôn would give him the mares which Zeus had presented to Tr

ound him, he required Eryx to give him up ; but he refused, unless he would wrestle with him. Heracles accepted the challenge

an named Phrasios, a great soothsayer, came thither, and said that it would cease if they sacrificed a stranger every year to

t went and obtained three apples from the Hesperides ; but he said he would take them himself to Eurystheus, and that Heracle

ght. He took Theseus by the hand, and raised him up1767 ; but when he would do the same for Peirithoös, the earth quaked, and

id hold on him, broke his ribs, and but for the prayers of Persephone would have killed him on the spot. He then asked Pluto

, and hearing that Eurytos, king of Œchalia1768, had declared that he would give his daughter Iola to him who should overcome

d to their contest. Heracles now received a response, that his malady would be removed if he let himself be sold for three ye

he walls, and entered. Heracles followed with his drawn sword, for he would have no one thought his superior. When Telamôn sa

epheus, and told her, that if when a hostile army should approach she would show it three times from the walls without lookin

how it three times from the walls without looking at it herself, they would take to flight. Cepheus and his sons now joined H

thought on revenge : he called Deïaneira to him, and told her if she would possess a philtre, or means of securing the love

in the combat ; and when Ares, who had witnessed the fate of his son, would avenge him, he received a wound in the thigh from

nded it, and directed his followers to set it on fire1783. But no one would venture to obey ; till Pœas, happening to arrive

t of persecution to the Argive goddess ; on the contrary, all analogy would lead us to suppose him, from his name, to have be

us to suppose him, from his name, to have been her favourite1789. We would therefore hint as a possibility, that the origina

ulted the god about the event ; and received for answer, that victory would fall to him who should sacrifice one of his daugh

had entered into a resolution that when one lost her life the others would end theirs, all voluntarily put an end to themsel

intended to deduce the Eumolpids from Thrace, while the name Tegyrios would seem to point to Bœotia, where there was a town n

to take hold of a pine with him and bend it, and when it was bent he would let it go, and the tree flying up the unhappy str

n the pass ; and while the guest was engaged in the operation, Scirôn would give him a kick, which tumbled him down into the

ey aided each other in every project. Each was ambitious in love, and would possess a daughter of the king of the gods. These

e underworld his queen Persephone. Theseus, though aware of the risk, would not abandon his friend. They descended together t

establish a connexion between the Erechtheids and Theseus ; and Pylos would probably never have been king of Megara, if the N

quest. Whence they came is uncertain ; but the name of the Ionian sea would seem to place their original abode on the north c

arried to a daughter of the symbol of navigation, Atlas, and her name would seem to indicate that he is engaged with men in t

empt on her honour. The credulous king gave ear to her falsehood, but would not incur the reproach of putting him to death, a

, and the hero apparently sets out on his adventures from Corinth. It would not surprise us if the ancient form of the legend

her original form and bore a son named Epaphos1900. The legend of Io would not appear to have attracted so much of the atten

This hypothesis appears to us to be more ingenious than true. Analogy would lead us to view in Io a form of the Argive goddes

art of medicine, promised to restore them to their senses, if Prœtos would agree to give him a third of his kingdom. The dem

me : he offered to comply with the terms of Melampûs ; but the Mantis would not employ his art without another third of the r

realm being given to his brother Bias. Prœtos now, fearing that delay would only make him advance further in his demands, con

to the vengeance of Dionysos for their contempt of his rites, and he would appear to have struck them with leprosy and with

a part of the original mythe. In such case the legend of the Prœtides would have some analogy with that of Io. Ἀкρίσιος,

He inquired of the oracle about a son ; and the god replied, that he would himself have no male issue, but that his daughter

lied, that he would himself have no male issue, but that his daughter would bear a son whose hand would deprive him of life.

have no male issue, but that his daughter would bear a son whose hand would deprive him of life. Fearing the accomplishment o

e banquet, Polydectes replied horses, and Perseus made answer that he would bring him even the head of the Gorgon. The king s

y of the isle, where Hermes came to him, promising that he and Athena would be his guides. Hermes brought him first to the fa

him first to the faircheeked Grææ, whose eye and tooth he stole, and would not restore until they had furnished him with dir

hwith promised Cepheus to deliver his daughter from the monster if he would give her to him in marriage when saved. Cepheus j

s of wolves, of which there were many in Arcadia. In this case Lycaôn would be only another name for Zeus, to whom he raised

ught by most of the neighbouring princes, her father declared that he would give her only to him who should bring him from Th

n, and Iphiclos, scraping off the rust, drank it for ten mornings, he would have a child. All was done as the prophet desired

ld which Euadne had borne ; for Phœbos, he said, had told him that he would be a renowned prophet, and that his race would ne

, had told him that he would be a renowned prophet, and that his race would never fail. All declared that they had seen or he

s which formed the Olympic cycle of four years. In such case Endymiôn would probably be the sun, who with the moon is the aut

t, And luscious figs and olives green and ripe ; But when the old man would grasp them in his hands, The winds straight tosse

son of Ares, king of Pisa. An oracle having told this prince that he would lose his life through his son-in-law, or, as othe

ount of her surpassing beauty to part with her, he proclaimed that he would give his daughter only to him who should conquer

Atreus, in order to prove that the kingdom by right was his, said he would produce a goldfleeced lamb : Thyestes, however, h

ime after however Atreus returned and said that to prove his right he would let them see the Sun and the Pleiades moving from

aid, had thrown this coffer in the way of the Greeks, knowing that it would prove injurious to whoever should find it. Eurypy

they learned that their calamity was the infliction of Dionysos, and would not cease till Coresos had sacrificed Callirrhoe,

aps that she became the daughter of Minôs. The passage in the Odyssey would be decisive on this point, were it not that the A

articularly of the Moon, of which last the names of the Minoïc family would appear to have been appellations. Thus Europa (Br

ation having been made to the oracle, the response given was, that it would only be removed on the prayer of Æacos. The right

he boasted to Leto and Artemis that he was able to kill anything that would come from the earth. Indignant at his boast they

hunter therefore at particular seasons of the year the nocturnal sky would have presented the following appearance. The broa

rance. The broad brilliant constellation Oriôn with Sirius behind him would be a hunter and his dog, before whom the Pigeons

le the Bear, the object of his pursuit, kept watching him. Thus there would be a chase in the sky similar to those on earth,

re would be a chase in the sky similar to those on earth, and legends would naturally arise which would be localised and expa

ky similar to those on earth, and legends would naturally arise which would be localised and expanded in the usual manner. Fo

ho had conceived a sudden affection for him, proffered her aid, if he would swear to marry her, and take her with him to Gree

a salve to rub his body, shield, and spear. The virtue of this salve would last an entire day, and protect alike against fir

urther told him, that when he had sown the teeth, a crop of armed men would spring up and prepare to attack him. Among these

rously for defence. He consulted Teiresias, who declared that victory would fall to Thebes, if Menœceus the son of Creôn gave

ed to him with a medicine which she had obtained from Zeus, and which would make him immortal2180 ; but Amphiaraos, who hated

romised them victory if led by Alcmæôn the son of Amphiaraos. Alemæôn would however first punish his mother ; but Eryphile, w

isorder however still continued, and the Pythia said that the Erinnys would never quit him except in a place which the sea ha

em. Alcmæôn returned to Psophis, and telling Phegeus that his madness would never end till he had deposited the collar and ro

o interpret dreams by his grandfather. Æsacos declared that the child would be the destruction of his country, and recommende

ned him into stone, whence Calchos the soothsayer announced that they would war against Troy for nine years, and take it on t

uire into the cause of it, Calchos declared the truth, adding that it would not cease till the maiden was restored to her fat

learning the truth, kept Helena and dismissed Paris ; that the Greeks would not believe the Trojans, that she was not in thei

ite them. The length of the war too is incredible ; no volunteer army would ever have remained so long absent from their home

source of Grecian legend was wanting in Italy ; and the poet, when he would raise a hymn to accompany the sacrifice to a god,

ogising for what necessity had obliged him to do, entreated that they would inform him how Jupiter was to be appeased. They y

either embraced Popery or shown a strong tendency toward it. 45. We would advise those who have studied the writings of Cre

onnese and the islands, and apparently denotes continental Greece. It would seem therefore to come from ϵὐρύѕ, and to signify

i. 3-7. Heyne doubts of the genuineness of this passage. Payne Knight would be content with rejecting vv. 6 and 7. It is to b

γῆ : and supposing the root to be αΐα, ταȋα (by reduplication τιταία) would come as easily from it as γαῖα and δαῖα. Völcker

Hera, Poseidôn, and Athena set about binding Zeus ; that is, mankind would wish to keep summer always for their agriculture

395. 343. Il. v. 335. 855. 344. A passage in the Odyssey (xii. 63.) would seem to say that the ambrosia was brought each da

r (Dor. i. 339.) says, are the words of Alcestis in a drama named, it would seem, Admetos. 637. See Part II. chap. ii. Adme

he former existence of ΛϒΚΗ. See Müller, ut sup. 325.seq. 665. Some would derive it from λύγη, darkness. 666. Sch. Aristo

For πικρὰν, which gives little or no sense, Lobeck (Aglaoph. p. 613.) would read μυîαν ; we however prefer μικρἁν, which Gött

Od. vii. 197. Buttmann, following the Scholia, Eustath and Hesychius, would read κατὰ κλῶθϵς, instead of κατακλῶθϵς. Nitzsch

Od. iv. 231.) as well as Homer made Pæôn distinct from Apollo. Solôn would appear to have done the same, ver. 57. compared w

Rome, and had the Bacchic orgies obtained a footing in that city, he would probably have figured as a Pentheus in the mythic

Welcker, Nach. zur Tril. 187, 188. 1127. See above, p. 214. Icarios would seem to be connected with ἰκμὰς, ἰχὼρ, and theref

eq. 343 ; xxiii. 160. seq. Diodor. iii. 72. The blood-drops of Uranos would then be the rains. 1202. In Latin silanus is a t

t intimate any connexion between him and the Hesperides. Peisander it would seem (Sch. Apoll. Rh. iv. 1396.) first named him

. 800. seq. 1293. Eratosth. Hygin. Völcker, ut sup. Æschylus, as it would appear, said that he flung the eye into Lake Trit

ed by the Hesiodic narrative of the stealing of the fire, and that it would seem from it that Zeus had deprived mankind of it

ed the Cadmeians from Thebes. This event is a mere conjecture, and it would rather seem to have been the Epigoni who destroye

Pherecydes and Hellanicus. 1633. According to this theory Cadmeians would signify Eastmen or Ostmen, the name the Scandinav

enumerates Teiresias among those “equall’d with him in fate,” whom he would fain be “equall’d with in renown.” And Tiresias

it be laid on the penultimate. If he did not read by accent, the line would probably have been, as Pearce proposed to read,

p. Sch. Ap. Rh. iv. 1396. Heyne and Müller, for Πέργη read περαία. It would almost seem as if the rock of Prometheus was on t

ity of Eurytos ; while the ‘Taking of Œchalia’ and the Ægimios, as it would seem, are in favour of that in Eubœa. They are fo

on. Lib. 41. 1820. Apollod. ii. 4. 7. From Photius (Lex. p. 428.) it would appear that this event was celebrated in the Theb

founded on the lines of Homer, Il. xviii. 590. seq. 1847. Those who would assign a historical foundation to the wild and fa

ήμην кαινῆ γϵνομένῃ τῆ πόλϵι. It is, we may see, not supposed that it would be named from the кατοιкιστὴς or founder. 1920.

oulder was a poetic adjunct. 2077. The Pelopians, i. e. Illustrious, would be then like the Phlegyans (see p. 347.), the Ach

sti, v. 495. seq. Hygin. 195. P. A. ii. 34. Eudocia, 441. Pindar also would seem to have related it (Strab. ix. 1.). The unse

to remain for the nine years, assuring them that his three daughters would support them. These maidens were named Œno (Wine-

e mind, it is the absence of fear, and a virtue. A picture of courage would be a figure of a bold man; this picture would mak

e. A picture of courage would be a figure of a bold man; this picture would make a person of a virtue; it would be a personif

igure of a bold man; this picture would make a person of a virtue; it would be a personification. The Greeks and Romans worsh

his life should be spared, provided he could find another person who would die in his place. A mortal disease afterwards sei

of Epaphus. Apollo consoled him, and to comfort him, promised that he would bestow upon him any gift he should ask. Phaeton p

gement of the celestial coursers, suffered them to run wild, and they would have set the world on fire, had not Jupiter struc

oracle declared that the shield had fallen from heaven, and that Mars would favour the people who should preserve it, and tha

theus, and who was his deliverer? Is it natural to suppose that a god would persecute a good man? How does Æschylus represent

an Oracle had declared, that, as long as it remained there, the city would be invincible against all the attacks of its enem

gushed out. This fountain was called Cyane, and thither the Sicilians would afterwards resort, and celebrate the descent of P

longer could take pleasure in the reflection of their own faces, who would send the mirror they had been accustomed to use,

mone, or wind-flower. Proserpine offered to restore him to life if he would spend half the year with her in the infernal regi

l, set fire to this magnificent temple, imagining that such an action would necessarily transmit his name to posterity. Diana

ably for the embellishment of houses,) being in fear that the goddess would fall into contempt, thus admonished the Ephesians

ades Culling their potent herbs and baleful drugs; Who, as they sung, would take the prisoned soul And lap it in Elysium; Scy

so near to each other in the strait of Messina, that a ship, when it would steer clear of Charybdis, struck upon Scylla, and

hen it would steer clear of Charybdis, struck upon Scylla, and, if it would avoid Scylla, it was swallowed by Charybdis. Henc

his return from Troy, he wished to consult Proteus; Proteus, however, would not attend to him, so Menelaus and his companions

amily. When a man perished at sea, or in an unknown spot, his friends would erect some monument in honour of him to satisfy h

aised sublime, are hung The massy gates, impenetrably strong. In vain would men, in vain would gods essay. To hew the beams o

hung The massy gates, impenetrably strong. In vain would men, in vain would gods essay. To hew the beams of adamant away.    

ild. In this case they were supposed to be appeased by Minerva, as it would be the part of wisdom to say, The guilty who are

associate together in another world, so they conceived that the gods would appoint them separate abodes — one a happy and gl

a bunch of poppies, which he shakes over the eyelids of those whom he would put to sleep. Dreams were the children of Somnus

esione, daughter of Laomedon. King of Troy, from a sea monster, which would have devoured her. It is related that the Achelou

e to love her, if she could contrive to put that garment upon him, it would revive his attachment to her. After that time, He

his inheritance of Pelias, the latter promised it to him, provided he would bring him the golden fleece; which was, perhaps,

ed he would bring him the golden fleece; which was, perhaps, if Jason would pay him a certain sum, which he might gain in a v

thens.” The aged Pittheus joined Æthra in her entreaties that Theseus would not expose himself to the lawless men who infeste

from his haunts, seize the unwary passer-by, and having stripped him, would tie his limbs to the branches of trees, which, ha

imbs to the branches of trees, which, having been bent down, suddenly would spring up, and tear the unhappy sufferer in piece

h he forced his victims; and, if they were too tall for its length he would cut off their limbs to fit the bed; or, if they w

lantidæ, a powerful family at Athens, expected that one of themselves would succeed to the throne. Theseus did not immediatel

r there alone, and in the utmost grief. Poets and painters, when they would describe a beautiful and unhappy lady, represent

t Athens he promised his father, should he return successful, that he would displace the black sail and put up a white one. A

people he was sorry to see them always quarrelling, and that if they would cultivate the earth, take care of their flocks, m

garments, worship the gods, and leave off injuring one another, they would be happy and grow rich. Then they were poor and i

vaged each other’s territory. He told them he was King of Athens, and would be general of an army, and command the soldiers:

ers: and when the army of any other state should come into Attica, he would be ready to punish such an enemy. Theseus also sa

tica, he would be ready to punish such an enemy. Theseus also said he would take advice of wise men in Athens, and they would

heseus also said he would take advice of wise men in Athens, and they would make laws to govern all the people. He would some

men in Athens, and they would make laws to govern all the people. He would sometimes call together assemblies of the people

ored his heels and hung him upon a tree of Mount Citheron. The infant would soon have died, but one of the shepherds of Polyb

e oracle answered Œdipus, that he must not go home, for if he did, he would murder his father, and marry his mother. Œdipus d

nx had proposed a riddle, and it was said, whoever should expound it, would be able to kill him. The riddle was, “What animal

about Thebes, Creon, the queen’s brother, proclaimed that the man who would destroy that monster, should marry the queen, and

o put a stop to the fatal plague. The oracle answered that the plague would cease when the murderer of Laius should be discov

pheus, consented that Eurydice should return to earth, if her husband would refrain from looking at her till she should be co

reece, made a vow, if she should ever again be forced away, that they would unite to punish the person who should commit the

his bow and arrows to Philoctetes, and made the latter swear that he would never reveal the place where Hercules commanded h

t was in vain that Cassandra foretold to Agamemnon, that Clytemnestra would put him to death. Agamemnon despised her warning,

usurper, Egisthus, feared that Orestes, when he should become a man, would punish his perfidious conduct. To save her brothe

r other of them should be permitted to return to their country, if he would take letters from her to her friends. Iphigenia d

o had miraculously escaped from Aulis, and she instantly resolved she would return with her brother and his friend to Greece,

would return with her brother and his friend to Greece, and that they would take along with them the statue of Diana. Thoas s

flight of the priestess, and of the intended victims of Diana, and he would have followed, and brought them back to Scythia,

before the plough, and Ulysses, instantly turning it from the furrow, would not hurt the child. This proved that he was in a

without the assistance of Achilles. Thetis, who foresaw that her son would perish in this enterprise, concealed him in femal

all this misery, Iliad , Book XI V. Hector feared that Andromache would be cruelly treated by whomsoever among the Greeks

tection. Priam, in this last conflict, clothed himself in armour, and would have defended himself, but Hecuba detained him in

ophades, Crete, and Sicily. In Sicily, he buried his father; hence he would have continued his course to Italy, but he was dr

his place amongst the other deities at the immortal banquet, where he would receive those who died with arms in their hands.

one of the pastophori, an attendant of the temple, with a solemn air would draw aside a veil which concealed the image of th

ral world. It was believed that the good gods, Orosmades and Mithras, would finally defeat Arimanius, that wars and vices wou

ades and Mithras, would finally defeat Arimanius, that wars and vices would cease, and that all mankind would become good and

feat Arimanius, that wars and vices would cease, and that all mankind would become good and happy. This doctrine, and the Per

n suddenly declared, that he who should throw himself into the flames would be transformed to light itself. Two men, upon thi

nd offered him immortality, (for Quet-zal-cot was then mortal,) if he would drink of a certain beverage which Shining Mirror

is, when he made a solemn promise or declared an important truth, he would say, “Does not Mexitli (or any other god) behold

with it. His declaration was believed. Who, thought those around him, would dare profane the name of God? Temples to the gods

ul to us; whether we ask it, or whether we ask it not! Refuse us what would be hurtful to us, even if we should ask it.” Pri

of the Phœnicians into Greece; and if that be true, the same religion would naturally be cherished in both countries. Eneas,

a, to prosper this holy undertaking; entreating that the divine mercy would accomplish what human piety had begun. This praye

y altars were held in reverence by the nations of antiquity. A pillar would be erected where some extraordinary mercy or deli

d with horns. A man being accused of a crime or having committed one, would seek some altar, and lay his hands upon the horns

d one, would seek some altar, and lay his hands upon the horns; or he would enter a temple, and when his pursuers overtook hi

or he would enter a temple, and when his pursuers overtook him, they would not tear him from those places. Sometimes the cri

im, they would not tear him from those places. Sometimes the criminal would not be suffered to escape from his asylum, and wa

forced to entreat compassion from strangers. Such an unfortunate man would enter a strange house, and without uttering a wor

rtunate man would enter a strange house, and without uttering a word, would sit down among the ashes upon the hearth, and by

gods. The sacred hearth is a common expression. The master of a house would not drag from his hearth the unhappy exile who en

They usually concluded with a petition that the god who was addressed would continue his favour to the supplicants. Various o

was endued with the smallest prudence, said the philosopher Plato , would undertake any thing without having first asked th

e morning and in the evening.” The Spartans only prayed that the gods would grant what was honourable and good for them: and

es called malediction. A curse is a supplication to some god, that he would inflict shame and misery upon the accursed person

heard the malediction believed that all the evils which it threatened would actually overtake the accursed person, and someti

nediction, was the reverse of cursing. It was a supplication that God would make those blessed, prosperous and happy. A memor

name of God, as by the elements, the sun, moon, or stars; or, a king would swear by his sceptre, a soldier by his spear, a f

crifices was fire from heaven. The Laver was a vessel of brass, which would contain a large quantity of water. It was designe

has been selected for this volume. For, neither my publishers, nor I, would desire to have the scholarship or the taste of Mr

ēus; and Μήδεια, Medēa. On the same principle, such a name Φειδίας as would be anglicized not Pheidias, nor even Phīdias, but

f art that, otherwise, might have escaped my notice. In conclusion, I would acknowledge gratefully my obligation to my esteem

be found largely in the literature of mythology. Of course, the evil would be neither so widespread nor so dangerous if more

any of us are unconsciously habituated. Of course, all this advantage would far better result from the first-hand nutriment a

aintings and sculptures that have best represented mythical subjects, would , if used in the school and at home in connection

study of literature, and if more were entrusted to the memory, there would be something to assimilate, and time to assimilat

re would be something to assimilate, and time to assimilate it; there would be less dyspepsia and more muscle. Teachers and p

d again at daybreak. Sometimes Phaëthon, his rash, inexperienced son, would take the reins and drive the solar chariot too ne

o, the great all-seeing divinity, in his wrath at the impiety of men, would shoot down his scorching arrows, causing pestilen

nd it.” § 5. Reasonable Myths. — If myths were always reasonable, it would not be difficult to reach an agreement concerning

close to the heart of nature, such personification of natural powers would be more easy for us to appreciate. “If for us al

myths, and his acceptance of them. § 6. Unreasonable Myths. — But he would maintain this attitude of acceptance only in the

y by virtue of rejecting the senseless myth. A man’s religious belief would assist him to entertain only the reasonable myths

mical facts; or of moral, religious, philosophical truth. The stories would at first exist as allegories, but in process of t

he stories would at first exist as allegories, but in process of time would come to be understood literally. Thus Cronus, who

corruption. So in Greek mythology the attributes of the various gods would be imperfect irradiations of the attributes of th

terature of these nations after the nations have been civilized, they would appear senseless and silly and cruel to the desce

e religion of their ancestors.” 11 The senseless element in the myths would , by this theory, be, for the most part, a “surviv

urged that stories having only the undeveloped germ or idea in common would not, with any probability, after they had been de

hat the supports of the house were- nearly eaten through and the roof would soon fall in. He told his captors. They took his

, under a superstition that those who should take that “Lover’s-leap” would , if not destroyed, be cured of their love. Of Ari

been maintained that since, during the twelfth century, when no poet would adopt any other poet’s stanzaic form, the Austria

on a thread of his own invention. In fine, the materials of the poem would persuade us not only of its origin in very ancien

ed and wrote between 1120 and 1200 a.d. The metrical structure, also, would indicate derivation from the German folk-song and

They were named, like men, the earth-born; and their characteristics would suggest some prehistoric brutish race, hot-headed

ot of the sun, and brought down fire. With fire in his possession man would be able, when necessary, to win her secrets and t

ngs, — and leafy coverts of the woods, and huts woven of twigs. Crops would no longer grow without planting. The farmer was c

with no slight degree of happiness, the experience of the Golden Age would seem to prove. However, the bewitching evil was f

us. In the Iliad he informs the other gods that their united strength would not budge him: that, on the contrary, he could dr

cruel and destructive heat of noonday. Soon after his birth, Jupiter would have sent him to Delphi to inculcate righteousnes

guard, — friendly to the spirits entering, but inimical to those who would depart. The palace itself is dark and gloomy, set

utworn; So might I, standing on this pleasant lea, Have glimpses that would make me less forlorn; Have sight of Proteus risin

o graze through the day, and at night tied a rope round her neck. She would have stretched out her arms to implore freedom of

was Syrinx, — much beloved by the satyrs and spirits of the wood. She would have none of them, but was a faithful worshipper

always wont to sport, when she was arrayed for the dance, or when she would bathe her bright body at the mouths of the rivers

when she would bathe her bright body at the mouths of the rivers, or would gather fragrant lilies on the leas… Now the girls

meadows, took great delight in various sorts of flowers, whereof one would pluck sweet-breathed narcissus, another the hyaci

foam from his lips, and kissed the bull. Then he lowed so gently, ye would think ye heard the Mygdonian flute uttering a dul

ible to the gods themselves. Then she made known her request. The god would have stopped her as she spake, but she was too qu

t found all closed; for it was late, and the inhospitable inhabitants would not rouse themselves to open for their reception.

ever left each other’s side. The chimney to a steeple grown, The jack would not be left alone; But up against the steeple rea

g and spinning, of weaving and embroidery, that the Nymphs themselves would leave their groves and fountains to come and gaze

l when it was done, but beautiful also in the doing. To watch her one would have said that Minerva herself had taught her. Bu

rachne, and kindly advised her to challenge her fellow-mortals if she would , but at once to ask forgiveness of the goddess. A

e of mortals, from his man-slaying.130 § 69. Mars and Minerva. — It would seem that the insatiate son of Juno should have l

now what country he should settle in. The oracle informed him that he would find a cow in the field, should follow her wherev

mus one day exclaimed, “If a serpent’s life is so dear to the gods, I would I were myself a serpent.” No sooner had he uttere

athering willows and osiers. She approached, and kneeling on the bank would have slaked her thirst in the cool stream, but th

y though they be, but only of quenching my thirst. A draught of water would be nectar to me, and I would own myself indebted

quenching my thirst. A draught of water would be nectar to me, and I would own myself indebted to you for life itself. Let t

e first time, the Great and Little Bears were scorched with heat, and would fain, if it were possible, have plunged into the

em, in his ignorance that all needed not his supplication; and Apollo would have spared him, but the arrow had already left t

he had often heard from his courtiers and dependents, fancied that it would be easy to find a substitute. But it was not so.

be easy to find a substitute. But it was not so. Brave warriors, who would willingly have perilled their lives for their pri

proffered herself as the substitute. Admetus, fond as he was of life, would not have submitted to receive it at such a cost;

keep this woman, my captive, till I come thy way again.” But Admetus would admit no woman into the hall that Alcestis had le

eaks in our bosom and then we bleed: All wept, as I think both ye now would , If envy or age had not frozen your blood, At the

iana. He consented, but, at the same time, warned her that her beauty would defeat her purpose. It was the face of this huntr

maiden that Apollo saw. He saw the charming disorder of her hair, and would have arranged it; he saw her eyes bright as stars

t conceive such a change taking place in one’s mistress! What romance would be left? — who can flatter or kiss trees? And, fo

ing that will live and will die a log, — Not to say that the thought would forever intrude That you’ve less chance to win he

been reproached by Diana with her undue fondness of beautiful youths, would welcome news of a corresponding weakness on the p

too, to beware of dangerous animals. “Be brave toward the timid,” she would say, “courage against the courageous is not safe.

in her. Often, she begged him to stay and let her behold him, but he would not consent. “Having looked upon me,” he said, “m

thou wouldst fear, mayhap adore, me; but all I ask of thee is love. I would rather thou shouldst love me as an equal than ado

erfect consternation at the enormous task, sat stupid and silent, nor would the work have been accomplished had not Cupid sti

heart ‘gan creep Ill dreams; so that for fear and great distress She would have cried, but in her helplessness Could open no

ter of Schœneus of Bœotia, had been warned by an oracle that marriage would be fatal to her happiness. Consequently she fled

enalty of all who try and fail.” In spite of this hard condition some would try. Of one such race Hippomenes was to be judge.

anta looked at him with pity in her face, and hardly knew whether she would rather conquer so goodly a youth or not. While sh

and Aphrodite; and this on? To her who ratifies the nuptial vow.” She would have wept to see her father weep; But some God pi

there took his rest. In Abydos dwelt the manly Leander, who, as luck would have it, bethought himself one day of the festiva

te Hero to herself thus softly said, ‘Were I the saint he worships, I would hear him’; And, as she spake those words, came so

per was she strook: Yet, evilly feigning anger, strove she still, And would be thought to grant against her will. So having p

t the young people together, and acquaintance ripened into love. They would gladly have married, but their parents forbade. O

pt, innocent as a new-born child! To his mother’s warning that Apollo would catch and punish him, this innocent replied, in e

enus was probably an indulgent preceptor. He was generally tipsy, and would have broken his neck early in his career, had not

ched a sod, with the same result. He took an apple from the tree; you would have thought he had robbed the garden of the Hesp

hment, she said, “Mother, thou hast been cruel in thy fondness; for I would have made thy son immortal. Nevertheless, he shal

t set out, and stood by the banks of the river Cyane. The river nymph would have told the goddess all she had witnessed, but

ords with the lyre, he sang his petition for his wife. Without her he would not return. In such tender strains he sang that t

he claspt the void And sought to speak; in vain; the ferry-guard Now would not row him o’er the lake again, His wife twice l

tch himself in a certain shady nook to enjoy the breeze. Sometimes he would say aloud, “Come, gentle Aura, sweet goddess of t

cal atmosphere of our western world, the exquisite poem here appended would indicate: — Fig. 68. Dancing Satyr. [ Pitt’s V

w her arms about his neck. He started back, exclaiming, “Hands off! I would rather die than thou shouldst have me!” “Have me,

heir breasts, Echo smote hers also. They prepared a funeral pile, and would have burned the body, but it was nowhere to be fo

who, escaping from a base pursuer, had been thus transformed. Dryope would have hastened from the spot, but the displeasure

tree, expressed her gratitude to him, and bade him ask what reward he would . Rhœcus boldly asked her love, and the nymph yiel

“O Rhœcus! nevermore Shalt thou behold me or by day or night, Me, who would fain have blessed thee with a love, More ripe and

e he held but trifles by the way. Many a time from the green pastures would his ewes stray back, self-shepherded, to the fold

n the crest of the tall cliff, and looking to the deep, ’twas thus he would sing: — “Oh, milk-white Galatea, why cast off him

e faggots of oak-wood, and beneath the ashes is fire unwearied, and I would endure to let thee burn my very soul, and this my

ng that is mine. “Ah me, that my mother bore me not a finny thing, so would I have gone down to thee, and kissed thy hand, if

would I have gone down to thee, and kissed thy hand, if thy lips thou would not suffer me to kiss! And I would have brought t

kissed thy hand, if thy lips thou would not suffer me to kiss! And I would have brought thee either white lilies, or the sof

e mortality among the bees, and how to remedy it. But that the wizard would have to be chained and compelled to answer; and t

to be chained and compelled to answer; and that even when chained, he would try to escape by assuming a series of dreadful fo

n consequence of an oracle which had prophesied that the son of Danaë would be the means of his grandfather’s death, the hapl

writhing snakes from side to side, That in their writhing oftentimes would glide On to her breast, or shuddering shoulders w

, or shuddering shoulders white; Or, falling down, the hideous things would light Upon her feet, and crawling thence would tw

wn, the hideous things would light Upon her feet, and crawling thence would twine Their slimy folds about’ her ankles fine.27

sea. As night came on, he reached the western limit of the earth, and would gladly have rested till morning. Here was the rea

d upon Andromeda, and that if Phineus had actually loved the girl, he would have tried to rescue her. Phineus and his adheren

dherents, persisting in their intent, attacked the wedding party, and would have broken it up with most admired disorder, but

owed him, and found him presiding over certain funeral games. As luck would have it, the hero took part in the quoit-throwing

sane by the implacable Juno. In his madness he slew his children, and would have slain Amphitryon, also, had not Minerva knoc

their tails to his cave. Hercules was deceived by the stratagem, and would have failed to find his oxen, had it not happened

ing this period he contrived to engage in about as many adventures as would fill the life of an ordinary hero. He threw the b

had slain. Jason, although it was well known that a crop of armed men would spring up from the teeth, destined to turn their

ime, with sword and shield, kept his assailants at bay; but he surely would have been overwhelmed by the numbers had he not r

apons. Starting from his sleep, the old man cried out, “My daughters, would you kill your father?” Whereat their hearts faile

the artificer, followed him to Sicily with a great fleet; and Dædalus would surely have perished had not one of the daughters

heek.336 § 161. Œdipus at Colonus. — After these sad events, Œdipus would have left Thebes, but the oracle forbade the peop

being a soothsayer, he knew that none of the leaders except Adrastus would live to return from Thebes; but on his marriage t

husband, Capaneus, having in the ardor of the fight declared that he would force his way into the city in spite of Jove hims

e city. Her lover, Hæmon, the son of Creon, unable to avert her fate, would not survive her, and fell by his own hand. It is

scenes illustrating the lessons of heroism and justice that the poet would inculcate: to the good falleth good; to the evil,

Ulysses, son of Laërtes, king of Ithaca, had taken an oath that they would sustain her choice and avenge her cause if necess

had been reared in obscurity, because there were forebodings that he would be the ruin of the state. These forebodings appea

ice of a virgin, and that none other but the daughter of the offender would be acceptable. Agamemnon, however reluctant, subm

n the division of the spoil. Achilles submitted, but declared that he would take no further part in the war, — withdrew his f

fairs of state, he gave himself up to her and let the battle go as it would . But this oblivion did not continue long. When, u

behest, saw Machaon wounded, and having told the cause of his coming would have hastened away, but Nestor detained him, to t

oppose the Greek warrior. The Olympian looked down upon his son, and would have snatched him from the fate impending, but Ju

se. The Greeks succeeded in stripping Sarpedon of his armor; but Jove would not suffer the body to be dishonored. By his comm

m to his resentment. His only consolation was the hope of revenge. He would fly instantly in search of Hector. But his mother

other reminded him that he was now without armor, and promised, if he would but wait till the morrow, to procure for him a su

should enter likewise. But Achilles was so close in pursuit that that would have been impossible if Apollo had not, in the fo

easures and ample of our own beside? Ah no! even that is too late. He would not hear me through, but slay me while I spoke.”

eep out in a wider circle. But Apollo sustained Hector’s strength and would not let him sink in weariness. Then Pallas assumi

went forth to the wall. When she saw the horror there presented, she would have thrown herself headlong from the wall, but f

of Patroclus, leaving him at length stretched in the dust. But Apollo would not permit the body to be torn or disfigured with

prophet had told them that if the Trojans took possession of it, they would assuredly triumph over the Greeks. Fig. 100. E

n disguise to Argos, pretending to be a messenger from Strophius, who would announce the death of Orestes. He brought with hi

ty and plunge his sword into him as he slept, but recollected that it would only expose them all to certain destruction, as t

had closed up the door was far beyond their power to remove, and they would therefore be in hopeless imprisonment. Next morni

on her knees and begged for mercy. He dictated a solemn oath that she would release his companions and practise no further ha

f another danger. After passing Scylla and Charybdis the next land he would make was Thrinacia, an island whereon were pastur

transgressed, destruction was sure to fall on the offenders. Ulysses would willingly have passed the island of the Sun witho

his companions so urgently pleaded for the rest and refreshment that would be derived from anchoring and passing the night o

inding her that her wedding day might not be far distant, and that it would be but a prudent preparation for that event to ha

tion, and scrupled not to say to her damsels that she wished the gods would send her such a husband. To Ulysses she recommend

e king then dismissed his guests, notifying them that the next day he would call them to council to consider what had best be

it was doubtful whether he still lived, and highly improbable that he would ever return, Penelope was importuned by numerous

him by a boar, long ago. Grief and joy overwhelmed the crone, and she would have revealed him to Penelope, had not Ulysses en

d another; they rubbed the bow with tallow, but all to no purpose; it would not bend. Then spoke Ulysses, humbly suggesting t

off and borne as a gift to Proserpine, and if fate was propitious it would yield to the hand and quit its parent trunk, but

runk, but otherwise no force could rend it away. If torn away another would succeed. Æneas followed the directions of the Sib

æras breathing fire. Æneas shuddered at the sight, drew his sword and would have struck, but the Sibyl restrained him. They t

nd armed, approached that shore. To which the Sibyl replied that they would commit no violence, that Æneas’ only object was t

r own hand, hating life and seeking refuge in death. O, how willingly would they now endure poverty, labor, and any other inf

bedience to the commands of Jove; nor could I believe that my absence would have cost thee so dear. Stop, I beseech thee, and

their backs and fled, as they used to do on the plains of Troy. Æneas would have lingered long with his Trojan friends, but t

ht have been immortal. He promised me the fulfilment of my wish, if I would consent to be his. I took a handful of sand, and

my hand.’ Unluckily I forgot to ask for enduring youth. This also he would have granted, could I have accepted his love, but

ruelty, who invented unheard-of torments to gratify his vengeance. He would fasten the dead to the living, hand to hand and f

truscans demand that he shall be given up to deserved punishment, and would ere now have attempted to enforce their demand; b

d mother is with me in the camp. For me she left the Trojan soil, and would not stay behind with the other matrons at the cit

with noisy questions. What should he do! how extricate the youth! or would it be better to die with him? Raising his eyes to

and upon Euryalus. “Thou shalt pay the penalty of both,” he said, and would have plunged the sword into his bosom, when Nisus

urnus’ fortitude forsook him, and he begged for mercy; Æneas, indeed, would have spared his opponent’s life, but at the insta

s doubled. The third is his iron gloves, which he puts on whenever he would use his mallet efficiently. From Thor’s name is d

ds were not ignorant that these monsters were maturing, and that they would one day bring much evil upon gods and men. So Odi

the wolf found that he could not break his fetters, and that the gods would not release him, he bit off Tyr’s hand. Tyr, cons

and moon. The gods yielded to the terms, provided that the artificer would finish the whole work without any one’s assistanc

and confirmed by solemn oaths, for without these precautions a giant would not have thought himself safe among the gods, — s

his fright promised upon oath that, let it cost him what it might, he would so manage matters that the man should lose his re

l so far as to get the giant’s promise to restore the weapon if Freya would consent to be his bride. Loki returned and report

o pass the night in under a large oak tree. Skrymir then told them he would lie down to sleep. “But take ye the wallet,” he a

oung man who accompanied Thor could perform. Thialfi answered that he would run a race with any one who might be matched agai

ved that skill in running was something to boast of, but if the youth would win the match he must display great agility. He t

with no better success. Utgard-Loki then asked Thor in what feats he would choose to give proofs of that prowess for which h

ofs of that prowess for which he was so famous. Thor answered that he would try a drinking-match with any one. Utgard-Loki ba

“This trial has turned out,” said Utgard-Loki, “just as I imagined it would . The cat is large, but Thor is little in comparis

e,” said Utgard-Loki, looking at the men sitting on the benches, “who would not think it beneath him to wrestle with thee; le

ngth in thee, and wouldst have brought me so near to a great mishap I would not have suffered thee to enter this time. Know t

u gavest me three blows with thy mallet; the first, though the least, would have ended my days had it fallen on me, but I sli

.” On hearing these words Thor in a rage laid hold of his mallet and would have launched it at him, but Utgard-Loki had disa

ve launched it at him, but Utgard-Loki had disappeared, and when Thor would have returned to the city to destroy it, he found

rd of Freyr. — Freyr also possessed a wonderful weapon, a sword which would of itself spread a field with carnage whenever th

et from him, and undertook to get him the maiden for his bride, if he would give him his sword as a reward. Freyr consented a

journey and obtained the maiden’s promise that within nine nights she would come to a certain place and there wed Freyr. Skir

eases, beasts, birds, poisons, and creeping things, that none of them would do any harm to Balder. Odin, not satisfied with a

hers hewed at him with their swords and battle-axes; for do what they would none of them could harm him. And this became a fa

sted meats, And in the horns and gold-rimmed skulls the wine. And now would night have fall’n and found them yet Wailing; but

ppeared Balder to Nanna his wife, comforting her; — “Yes, and I fain would altogether ward Death from thy head, and with the

the Gods. — It was a firm belief of the Northern nations that a time would come when all the visible creation, the gods of V

of Jötunheim, Elfheim, and Midgard, together with their habitations, would be destroyed. The fearful day of destruction will

end And slowly down the hall-floor, and outward did he wend; And none would cast him a question or follow on his ways, For th

hards of Sigmund’s sword, Gram (the wrath). Then Sigurd swore that he would slay the dragon. But first, riding on his horse,

oughty warrior, to sue for the hand of Brynhild herself. But Brynhild would have no one that could not ride through the flame

ld not overcome his love for her. But the insult from Gudrun Brynhild would not brook. By her machinations, Guttorm, the brot

Norse story. For the Brunhild of the Ysselland had declared that she would marry no man save him who should surpass her in a

er and his dynasty should be overthrown. Prometheus knew also that he would be released from chains by one of his descendants

uman contrivance or to the agency of evil spirits. The latter opinion would of course obtain during ages of superstition, whe

(Hera), if Hera be the splendor of heaven. But the early myth-makers would hardly have reasoned so abstrusely. It is not at

Latin Venus. (See Roscher, 390, etc.) The native Greek deity of love would appear to have been, however, Dione, goddess of t

ce or Foreknowledge. She warned Zeus that if she bore him a child, it would be greater than he. Whereupon Zeus swallowed her;

he eyes of heaven close ( Cox 2: 138; Preller 2: 40). The explanation would , however, be just as probable if Mercury (Hermes)

he Dawn borne across the heaven by the lord of the pure ether. Europa would then be the broad-spreading flush of dawn, seen f

le region of morning (Phœnicia). Her brother Cadmus, who pursues her, would be the sun searching for his lost sister or bride

might be easy to guess, but hard to demonstrate. The thigh of Jupiter would have to be the cool moist clouds brooding over th

us. That Antiope is a personification of some such natural phenomena would also appear from the significance of the names as

in and Greek, the stem is Niv, hence Nib, Niobe. The myth, therefore, would signify the melting of snow and the destruction o

s the Peruvian Inca who said that if the sun were free, like fire, he would visit new parts of the heavens. “He is,” said the

ter of whom was her niece. To explain the myth as a physical allegory would be easy, but is it not more likely that the idea

myth-making age, finding certain plants and flowers sacred to Apollo, would invent stories to explain why he preferred the la

of the Peloponnesus. Such a criticism of Shelley’s sparkling verses, would , however, be pedantic rather than just. Probably

the upward rising moon delights to gaze. His fifty children by Selene would then be the fifty months of the Olympiad, or Gree

ng in Hades, because, by accepting the hospitality of Proserpina, she would become an inmate of her household. The scene with

uth. (See Lang, Myth, Ritual, etc., 2: 221-241.) That Rhea taught him would account for the Oriental nature of his rites; for

is an Eastern deity by origin. The opposition of Pentheus and others would indicate the reluctance with which the Greeks ado

the subject, the Search of her Mother, sad and unavailing as it was, would seem no unfit emblem of Autumn and the restless m

§ 77. In Hades he stood up to his neck in water which receded when he would drink; grapes hanging above his head withdrew whe

d when he would drink; grapes hanging above his head withdrew when he would pluck them; while a great rock was forever just a

ora, the dawn. The concealment of Procris in the forest and her death would , then, signify the paling of the moon before the

Tithonus in his ocean-bed, and his transformation into a grasshopper, would then typify the presumable weariness and weakness

the water-divinities turn largely on the idea of metamorphosis, which would readily be suggested to the imaginative mind by c

y that chance offered. Thus occasionally the carcass of a dead animal would be occupied by the bees for that purpose. It was

tly dry condition of the soil of Argos. The fifty daughters of Danaüs would then be the nymphs of the many springs which in s

efresh the land of Argolis. Their suitors, the fifty sons of Egyptus, would be the streams of Argolis that in the rainy month

rgolis) are cut off. The reference to Egyptus and the sons of Egyptus would indicate a reminiscence of the Nile and its tribu

of heaven, the youthful Sun is born.405 Advocates of the last theory would understand the voyage of Danaë and Perseus as the

g of the sunbeams on the waters of the eastern horizon. The young Sun would next overcome the Gray-women, forms of the gloami

dromeda is variously deciphered: the tender dawn, which a storm-cloud would obscure and devour; the moon, which darkness, as

it of the sun toward the flushing western horizon; and, of course, he would here behold the giant Atlas, who, stationed where

ed body of the sun.” In this way Cox, and other interpreters of myth, would explain the series. But while the explanations ar

en as now pervaded the lover’s bosom, he might fear that Jove himself would prove a rival, and, swan-like, or in some other a

s protecting gods which had blessed the inmate’s ancestors; and which would bless him ‌also, if he cultivated the social affe

s now set its seal upon all that delighted the days of our youth, and would even arouse us from our reveries on this most cha

tions did not contain many useful instructions, and important truths, would there be any reason to attack and destroy a syste

objects of pity and indignation those fierce and savage spirits, who would destroy a world that has so long been the treasur

lies and license of a few lessen the esteem due to parables; for that would be profane and bold, since religion delights in s

tory; but where no such designs appear, but they seem to be what none would imagine or relate, they must be calculated for ot

ised pleasure, And bade the lovely scenes at distance hail!     Still would her touch the strain prolong, And from the rocks,

d him in his disguise, and refused to submit to his wishes, unless he would consent to marry her. At their nuptials, invitati

aw her from the infernal regions, which he agreed to do, but found it would be beyond his power, as, by a decree of Destiny,

t found it would be beyond his power, as, by a decree of Destiny, she would not be able to quit her place of concealment, sho

! so little right, So much of suffering, and so little peace, That we would fain turn o’er the leaves which speak Of future t

ne draught, as dear as life I should esteem, And water, now I thirst, would nectar seem: Oh! let my little babes your pity mo

ily spread. “I staid to watch a little space Her parted lips, if she would sing; The waters closed above her face, With many

her. Cassandra, daughter of Priam, consented to her prayer, if Apollo would grant to her the power of divination. Apollo agre

palace of the sun, to beg that Phœbus, if he really were his father, would give him proofs of his paternal tenderness, and c

onvince the world of his legitimacy. Phœbus swore by the Styx that he would grant him whatever he required; and Phaeton deman

resented the impropriety of his request, and ‌the dangers to which it would expose him; the oath must be complied with. When

enraged at the desecration, attacked her, and in all probability, she would have perished by the hands of her son, had not Ju

Atalanta, daughter of the king of Arcadia, wounded him first, but she would have fallen beneath the fury of its revenge, had

revailed, and, in a moment of weakness, the God swore by the Styx, he would perform her request, and by this oath he was forc

hall be complied with.” “I live at Naxos,” said the boy, “and there I would fain find myself.” Perceiving that they continued

eir misery they sought the oracle, which declared that their calamity would not cease, until Callirhoe was sacrificed, unless

nyme_heathen-mythology_1842_img063 The oracle must be obeyed: but who would be the substitute? Parents wept, and kindred mour

would be the substitute? Parents wept, and kindred mourned, but none would offer in her stead: and the hour arrived when the

s; when Venus had given birth to him, Jupiter foresaw the mischief he would create in the world, as well as in his more immed

o see which could gather the greatest number in the least time. Cupid would have been triumphant, had not Perestere, who acco

le of earth looked on her almost as a divinity, and in some instances would have worshipped her in the belief that she was Ve

of true love never did run smooth.” The restless nature of the nymph would not allow her to remain quietly in possession or

e that her husband had wicked designs in his concealment, and that he would desert his Psyche if he became visible to her — o

their sister, it was by the power of enchantment, and that the light would reveal a monster whose presence would astonish no

enchantment, and that the light would reveal a monster whose presence would astonish no less than it would frighten: and succ

would reveal a monster whose presence would astonish no less than it would frighten: and succeeded in persuading her, by the

Pactolus’ golden stream, Drawn by her art the curious Naiads came Nor would the work, when finished, please so much As, while

rms an important epoch in his history. The fiery blood of Mars, which would submit to no insult, was immediately in arms at s

articular, venerated him above all other Gods. ——— “Great Neptune! I would be Advanced to the freedom of the main, And stand

The only stranger to Diana’s train; Her sisters often, as ’tis said, would cry ‘Fye, Salmaeis, what always idle! fye; Or tak

the toils of hunting with thy ease.’ Nor quivers she, nor arrows e’er would seize, Nor mix the toils of hunting with her ease

e’er would seize, Nor mix the toils of hunting with her ease; But oft would bathe her in the crystal tide, Oft with a comb he

ioned, he wounded himself in his agony, deeming that life without her would be insupportable. Echo, however resentful she had

To woo its own sweet image unto nearness; Deaf to light Zephyrus, it would not move, But still would seem to droop, to pine,

e unto nearness; Deaf to light Zephyrus, it would not move, But still would seem to droop, to pine, to love; So while the poe

eaks in our bosom and then we bleed: All wept, as I think both ye now would , If envy or age had not frozen your blood,       

near a cot. where a mother Daily sat in the shade with her child, and would smother Its eye-lids in kisses, and then in its s

rd’s small extent immured, Her vow’d virginity she still secured. Oft would loose Pan, and all the lustful train Of satyrs, t

“To gain access, a thousand ways he tries Oft in the hind, the lover would disguise, The heedless lout comes shambling on, a

s twine, “If that fair elm,” he cried, “alone should stand, No grapes would glow with gold, and tempt the hand; Or if that vi

and shadowless like silence, listening To silence, for no lonely bird would sing Into his hollow ear from woods forlorn, Nor

by Neptune and Jupiter; but when the gods were informed that her son would become greater than his father, they ceased their

yed by fire in attempting to see whether they were immortal. Achilles would have shared the same fate, if Peleus had not snat

image anonyme_heathen-mythology_1842_img147     “Who, as they sung, would take the prisoned soul, And lap it in Elysium: Sc

ngs of the spring? Had I allowed those sweet buds to expand,     What would the skies of gloomy autumn bring? Darkness, disma

acle that one of the descendants of Æolus, (from whom Jason had come) would dethrone him. After he had distinguished himself

man; observing, that, the deed merited punishment, and was one which would produce a crown of glory to him who should inflic

ho should inflict it; adding, that if Jason, were to undertake it, he would resign his own crown and kingdom to him, immediat

hen to sow in the ground the teeth of a serpent, from which armed men would spring up, whose rage would be directed against h

teeth of a serpent, from which armed men would spring up, whose rage would be directed against him who should be daring enou

swear once more — and to your oath be true.’ He swears by Hecate, he would all fulfil, And by her grandfather’s prophetic sk

upon the path of his father, trusting that Æetes’ paternal affection, would make him anxious to render due homage to the rema

ne, his ravished bride, That for old Æson with the laws of fate; They would dispense, and lengthen his short date. Thus with

fter he had been successful in the labours to be imposed upon him, he would be admitted amongst the gods. This answer determi

es by the club, immediately two sprang up, and the labour of Hercules would have remained unfinished, had he not commanded hi

he Po for information, and was told that Nereus, if properly managed, would direct him in his pursuits. The hero seized Nereu

se. To this feast Perseus was invited, Polydectes being aware that he would not be able to procure the present which the weal

he told Polydectes, that though he was unable to give him a horse, he would bring him the head of one of the Gorgons, and Med

ason this was very agreeable to Polydectes, in the first place, as it would remove Perseus from the island, and the next that

unately found asleep. Knowing that if he fixed his eyes upon them, he would be changed to stone, he used his shield, which wa

pheus, her father, his aid in delivering her from danger, provided he would give the maiden to him in marriage, as a reward f

h you pay, Whose timely valour saved Andromeda? Nor was it he, if you would reason right, That forced her from you, but the j

entitled to the throne of Argos, he refused to accept it, fearing it would constantly remind him of the parricide he had com

ea, who resided with Ægeus, felt that her influence with this monarch would be destroyed, if once Theseus gained his proper f

y brain — Thou knowest not what thou speakest.     Phæ. I am not mad! would to the gods I were — Think not that I have yielde

f love, And I will fall upon my knees adoring thee!     Hip. Madam, I would not, could not wrong my father; And thou, how can

to her bed — Woman, I tell thee — ‌    Phæ. And I tell thee, that he would not believe thee. Yet — say it not, Hippolytus! f

Racine. Fearful lest Hippolytus should betray her, when she found he would not return her sinful passion, Phædra accused his

with an awful horror And transports of affection fiercely urged, That would pollute thy father’s marriage bed, Thou darest pr

omise from the Fates, that Admetus should never die if another person would lay down his life for him. Being one of the Argon

taken place with Jocasta, than it was foretold by the oracle, that he would fall by the hands ‌of his son. Alarmed at so fear

d his territories, and the oracle was consulted, which stated that it would only cease when the murderer of King Laius was ba

will not rack an innocent man. ‌ Œd. Speak, then. Phor. Alas! what would you have me say? Œd. Did this old man take from

to Theseus, king of the place, to inform him, that on his arrival he would make known to him the resolution which he had mad

ts have represented him in hell, as the place, which crimes like his, would seem to deserve. Insérer image anonyme_heathen-my

head, hangs a bough, laden with delicious fruit, which, when his hand would grasp it, is borne away by a sudden blast of wind

ng, that monarch having declared that she should only wed the man who would run on foot as fast as he could proceed in his ch

the middle of the course, and killed Œnomaus; and when the charioteer would have claimed the reward of his infamy, he threw h

o the share of Agamemnon, and she foretold that his wife Clytemnestra would put him to death. He, however, returned with Cass

imed at: those who love me live, Save one, who loves me most, and now would chide me. Aga. We want not O Iphigenia, we Want

which this hero in dying had bequeathed to Philoctetes, who, however, would not give up the terrible arms that no mortal dare

he intrepid Diomedes assisted him to triumph over the obstacles which would have resisted his single efforts, and they went f

t if they drank of those waters or fed in the Trojan plain, that Troy would never be taken. In this too they succeeded; for D

his bravery and the justice of his cause, accepted his challenge, and would have sacrificed the coward Trojan to his vengeanc

of an enemy. Vainly he cried, “fear the Greeks and their gifts!” They would not listen to him. At this moment a Greek named S

m, the widow of Hector promised her hand to him, on condition that he would save the life of her son, which was menaced by th

ok to make a piece of cloth, promising that when it was finished, she would choose one of her numerous suitors: but the bette

to Virtue. An augur having warned Marcellus that these two divinities would not dwell in the circumference of the same temple

Grecian fables say, the shepherd boy Into a stream, and on its banks would lie, And utter her laments in such a tone, As mig

r her laments in such a tone, As might have moved the rocks, and then would call Upon the murdered Acis. He the while Ran to

like, The songs you hear in Sicily — shepherd swains For many an age would lie by that lone stream, And from its watery melo

es below, With sighs, and sounds, forbade to go; He could not see, he would not hear, Or sound or sign foreboding fear; His e

mans, without asserting that we have given all of them, some of which would be out of keeping in a work meant to be placed in

s the father of his queen, entreating him to put to death the man who would have insulted the honour of his daughter. Jobates

r to attack a monster called Chimæra, in the full expectation that he would be destroyed. By the assistance of Minerva, howev

a bull, and holds in his hands a trident and a dwarf stag. When they would paint him menacing and terrible, his sharp teeth

iver lies,     Outspread beneath its native skies,     As if it there would love to dwell,     Alone and unapproachable.” So

fate, not indeed for their sake, but for the sake of the country they would have adorned and the land for which they fought.

ess Hel, who replied that he should be returned if all created beings would shed a tear for him. One only refused, and Balder

themselves dishonoured if they did not revenge the slightest offence, would tremblingly submit to blows, and even death itsel

ous fantastic ceremonies to deprive themselves of timidity. They then would rush forth to celebrate their rites, during which

fishes, from all the animals, and from all the vegetables, that they would do no harm to Balder. On the conclusion of this s

loak. Dionysius justified the act on the plea that the latter garment would be more comfortable for the god at all seasons, a

to this god actions in the last degree base and criminal. Ques. How would you explain this seeming contradiction? Ans. Man

ho had taken her away. As this report was flattering to his pride, he would of course be pleased to hear it everywhere repeat

uld do. He was directed by the god to follow a young heifer, which he would meet in the fields, and to mark the place where s

d placed before him, it was suddenly converted into gold, and when he would have quenched his thirst, the water was changed i

. He intended also to steal Jove’s thunderbolts, but was fearful they would burn him. Mercury was, therefore, the patron of t

al was exalted. The god of Ocean was moved, and promised Juno that he would never receive either Callisto or her offspring in

le, which was still unroofed. The oracle of Apollo declared that Troy would be safe so long as this statue, called Palladium,

The goddess wrought into her work the most beautiful designs, but it would seem that Arachne’s performance surpassed hers: f

and her swiftness in running. As an oracle had declared that marriage would be fatal to her, she freed herself from the impor

d should contend with her in running, with the understanding that she would marry him who should excel her in the race, but t

attached to their foreheads, to give them light. This, at a distance, would appear like a large, flaming eye, and might give

household virtues. When Jupiter asked her to choose whatever gift she would , Vesta desired that she might remain always a vir

oks, sent an embassy to Attalus, king of Pergamus, requesting that he would permit the so-called image to be removed to Rome.

ht her in marriage; but Prometheus, the Titan, prophesied that Thetis would give birth to a son who should be greater than hi

oyed by the monster, and the king made a public proclamation, that he would give the throne, with the hand of his sister Joca

he noble ladies of Rome were so indignant at this alliance, that they would not permit her to enter the temple of Pudicitia,

fleece, which the king, Æetes, promised to Jason on condition that he would tame the wild bulls that guarded it, kill the dra

diers who should spring from them. Jason accepted the conditions, but would inevitably have perished, had not Medea, the king

sed. During the voyage the mariners agreed among themselves that they would murder Arion, and seize his treasures. The unhapp

cian offered in vain to abandon everything to their cupidity, if they would but spare his life. The only favor he could obtai

a grave. If he desired to be laid on shore under the green turf, they would carry his lifeless body to land, and give it sepu

ustaining the heavens on his shoulders. Atlas had been warned that he would suffer much from a son of Jupiter. When Perseus w

of Argos. This prince had been warned by an oracle that his daughter would have a son, who was destined to deprive him of li

person of Minos, and the valor which he displayed. Believing that he would reward her treachery by making her his queen, she

eserved. If the Metamorphoses had been destroyed by this rash act, we would have lost many interesting fables which have been

e queen of Agamemnon, believing, and perhaps hoping, that her husband would not return, had given a promise of marriage to Æg

contrary winds; and Ulysses bound his companions by an oath that they would not touch the sacred herds. They were, however, s

dness, and even offered to share her immortality with the hero, if he would consent to forget Ithaca and dwell forever in her

almost within sight of land, when a violent storm arose, in which he would have perished had he not been aided by a compassi

a husband from among their number. She promised, at length, that she would do so when she had completed a certain web of emb

at Penelope could no longer resist. She promised, therefore, that she would marry that man who should send an arrow from the

his skill. The request was received with shouts of derision, and some would have driven the insolent beggar from the hall. Te

oracle of Apollo was consulted, and the Pythia declared that Orestes would not be delivered until he had visited the Tauric

re Greeks, she offered to spare the life of one, on condition that he would be the bearer of a letter to Greece. This proposa

f Astyanax [Asty′anax], the son of Hector, were permitted to live, he would one day avenge his father’s death, and raise Troy

to shun his native country, declaring that if he returned thither, he would become the murderer of his father, and be guilty

ould become the murderer of his father, and be guilty of crimes which would draw upon him the vengeance of the gods. Œdipus u

blessing. Who that lives Like me encompassed by unnumbered ills, But would account it blessedness to die? If then I meet the

fleet of the enemy, was warned by the Augurs that the sacred chickens would not eat. He replied, with very natural contempt,

s would not eat. He replied, with very natural contempt, that if they would not eat, they might drink, and had them thrown in

was partially destroyed by the Ætolians during the Social War, and it would seem that it never recovered from this disaster.

st the Medes. The Pythia told him that by crossing the river Halys he would ruin a great empire, but as she did not say what

asked the god to reward them for their labor. Apollo promised that he would recompense them on the seventh day, and bade them

at was particularly remarkable in the oracles of Æsculapius? Ans. It would seem that the priests, who had probably some skil

ntroduced awnings to screen the audience from the sun, but the Greeks would have regarded such a precaution as a mark of effe

mprisoned gods and heroes in a gloomy apartment artificially lighted, would have appeared to the ancients in the highest degr

of their audience, the changes of expression, and the play of feature would have been quite lost, while the large and finely

rge and finely colored masks may have had a very good effect. Nothing would have seemed more out of place to the Greeks, than

he voice, they gave it depth and volume, almost as a speaking trumpet would have done. Ques. What was the Chorus? Ans. It w

of Phidias with statues and other ornaments. This magnificent temple would have been sufficient in itself to confer immortal

of the idol. Ques. Was Moloch worshipped by the Jews? Ans. Yes; it would seem that they were addicted to this idolatry bef

ety and other social and domestic virtues are strongly inculcated. It would be well for the Chinese of the present day, if th

eturn to Iceland. He was induced to compile the Edda, principally, it would seem, from a patriotic desire of preserving the a

ew how vain it was to expect that the bright goddess of love and song would consent to dwell in the dismal regions of Jotunhe

un from the purest gold, and which was so wonderfully wrought that it would attach itself to the head of the wearer, and incr

. The gods were not ignorant that these monsters were growing up, and would one day bring much evil upon gods and men. Odin,

nimate upon the earth — stones, plants, rocks and animals — that they would do no harm to Baldur. The gods were so well satis

the wildest lamentations. Then Frigga came, and asked, who among them would show his love for her, and for Baldur, by procuri

that heaven and earth resounded with lamentations for the hero. Hela would take no ransom, but wished to try if Baldur were

he Gods. It was a firm belief of the northern nations, that a time would come when all the visible creation, the gods of V

he gods of Valhalla, the inhabitants of earth, men, giants and elves, would be destroyed, together with their habitations. Th

ound Celtic word “derouyd,” from “De,” God, and “rouyd,” speaking. It would , therefore, seem to signify those who speak of or

his Supreme God, all things had a beginning, but that nothing created would ever have an end. Notwithstanding these enlighten

amhain,) and was observed both in Gaul and in the British islands. It would seem that the spirits of the departed were also p

of his followers, promising that, when many years had rolled away, he would revisit their descendants. He then embarked in a

n and women, feasted on the bodies of the victims; and no Aztec noble would venture to entertain his friends on a festival da

he Inca noble what Mecca is to the devout follower of Mahomet, and he would consider that he had neglected a sacred duty, if

ture. As the Peruvians imagined that the wants and occupations of men would be the same beyond the grave as in this life, cos

d he was killed by the blow, thus verifying a prophecy that his death would come from on high. Of the dramas written by Æschy

ok so prominent a part in public affairs, that an account of his life would be also a history of his times. Cicero wrote on t

, and this great man, with the resources of the world at his command, would probably have sacrificed both wealth and power fo

on is so vague as to leave us in doubt as to the particular animal he would designate. He also mingles facts, really observed

On all these points, he imparts much valuable information of which we would otherwise be deprived. The Natural History may be

who wrote verses for money. In this connection, we have a story which would show that the poet was not believed to have forfe

g, that was for his part; for what related to Castor and Pollux, they would no doubt bestow a generous recompense. The discon

in the same place, there was no fear that the words which they spoke would be misunderstood; but as time went on they scatte

ung Aphrodite* (Venus). Uranus cursed Chronos, and prophesied that he would suffer a similar fate at the hands of his own son

the palace of his sire, from whom he extracted an unwary oath that he would grant him whatever he asked. The ambitious youth

of their course, the world was set on fire, and a total conflagration would have ensued, had not Zeus, at the prayer of Earth

wealthy sent suppers to be placed before her statues, which the poor would then come and eat. This was called the “Supper of

Oceanus. Zeus devoured her, fearing that she should beget a son, who would deprive him of the empire it had cost him so much

emon* and Baucis*, who entertained them as well as their humble means would allow. The gods revealed their rank, and desired

to the young shepherd. Hera promised Paris extensive dominions if he would award the prize to her; Athené promised fame in w

eching the angry goddess to return to Olympus. Demeter swore that she would neither return nor allow the fruits of the earth

king of Troy, was beloved by Apollo. She promised to marry him if he would confer upon her the gift of prophecy; but having

representing the wind in its less destructive character. A Greek poet would tell his children of the wonders of the forest, a

de of worship gradually suggested the idea of erecting edifices which would afford means of shelter from the inclemency of th

ople, whom they also instructed as to what vows, gifts, and offerings would be most acceptable to the gods. Every deity had a

ion. The reply he received was, that if he crossed a certain river he would destroy a great empire. Interpreting the response

by the oracle that he was doomed to die by the hands of his son, who would then marry his mother. Accordingly, when their in

to consult the oracle, and was told to shun his native country, or he would slay his father and marry his mother. Œdipus reso

Œdipus consulted an oracle, and the response was that the pestilence would continue to rage until the land was purified of t

s offered her the collar which had been presented to Harmonia, if she would induce her husband to join in the expedition. She

e extorted a promise from his son Alcmæon* that, should he perish, he would avenge his death on Eriphyle. The leaders in this

ack of insanity, and that the oracle had informed him that his malady would be cured only when he placed the robe and collar

of Acrisius*, king of Argos. An oracle having declared that Acrisius would lose his life by the hand of a son of Danae, her

quisite gift, but he told the king, as he could not bring a horse, he would bring him the head of Medusa*, if he desired it.

is hard fate, Hermes appeared to him, and told him that he and Athene would be his guides and advisers. Athene loaned him her

anding them from one to another, but promised to restore them if they would give him the desired information. They were oblig

een predicted that his orchard, in which the trees bore golden fruit, would be robbed by a son of Zeus. Perseus was exasperat

companied by his warriors, and furiously assailed the bridegroom, who would have been overpowered but for the head of Medusa.

eath, so he decided to send him on dangerous enterprises, in which he would in all probability lose his life. He first sent h

which he was to be born, Zeus announced to the gods that on that day would be born one of his race who should rule over all

erforming twelve tasks which should be imposed by him, after which he would be made immortal. The Twelve Labors of Heracles

ithin his reach. The oracle being consulted, declared that the plague would never cease till Laomedon had given his daughter,

when Heracles arrived. He offered to destroy the monster if Laomedon would give him the horses which Tros had received from

e river Po for advice, and was told that Xereus, if properly managed, would direct him. Heracles seized Nereus while he was s

advice of Prometheus, offered to support the heavens for Atlas if he would bring the apples. Atlas did as requested, but ann

when he was confronted by the angry deity Apollo. A violent struggle would have ensued had not Zeus interfered by separating

e some of the blood which flowed from his wound, assuring her that it would act as a charm by which she could always retain t

lower world and carrying off Persephone, the queen of Aides. Theseus would not forsake his friend, and together they entered

lthea soon after the birth of Meleager, and informed her that her son would live only until a certain brand, that was then bu

nta. Atalanta had been told by the oracle to avoid marriage, as it would prove fatal to her. To all suitors she proposed a

ed were to be put to death. Notwithstanding this hard condition, some would try, and numerous youths had paid the penalty of

kingdom. Pelias declared his willingness to resign the crown if Jason would bring back the Golden Fleece from Colchis*. Jason

eir further course. He promised to give them ample directions if they would deliver him from the Harpies. Zetes and Calais, t

t, and that monarch promised to relinquish the Golden Fleece if Jason would perform the tasks which he should set for him. Th

powerful help in accomplishing his glorious undertaking, provided he would swear fidelity to her. Jason took the required oa

ld, and gave him a stone which he was to cast among the warriors that would spring up from the dragon’s teeth, and also a pot

ause of the Trojan war. When Paris was born, it was predicted that he would prove the ruin of his country; and the soothsayer

l, and gained advantage over Hector himself. A strife followed, which would have ended in bloodshed but for the appearance of

(Ulysses*) offered to relieve him from his embarrassment if Tyndareus would obtain for him the hand of Penelope*. Tyndareus g

ny violence or injury being offered to the successful candidate, they would all aid in procuring satisfaction. The hand of He

rward the mother. Calchas predicted from this incident that the siege would last ten years. Iphigenia*. The fleet lay a

nnounced that the sacrifice of Iphigenia*, the daughter of Agamemnon, would alone appease the incensed goddess. For a long ti

on the enemy’s soil, it having been predicted that the one who did so would fall a sacrifice. Protesilaus*, however, disregar

aocoon*, priest of Apollo, seek to divert them from their folly. None would listen to his warnings; and when, soon afterwards

e cave was closed was far beyond their power to remove, and that they would therefore be in hopeless imprisonment. Next morni

on her knees and begged for mercy. He dictated a solemn oath that she would release his companions and practise no further so

ass safely by the coast of the Sirens. She warned him that his future would be beset by many dangers, and commanded him to co

rom the yawning gulf, eager to quaff the blood of the sacrifice which would restore to them for a time their mental vigor. Re

the sacrifice, proceeded to warn the hero of the numerous perils that would assail him, not only during his homeward voyage,

they insisted upon landing for the night, and took an oath that they would not touch the sacred cattle. During the night the

fictitious account of himself, but told her he had seen Odysseus, who would certainly arrive before the year was out. The que

eived in his youth, and instantly recognizing her beloved master, she would have cried aloud in her joy, but the hero implore

of Odysseus, which he had used in former times, and declared that she would marry the suitor who could bend this bow and send

he deep blue heavens where the bright clouds float lazily, as if they would linger there forever.” “In the legend of Polyphem

of the Harpies, perching on a lofty rock, foretold that, though they would reach Hesperia (Italy), they would not be able to

y rock, foretold that, though they would reach Hesperia (Italy), they would not be able to found a city till famine should ha

had deep thoughts in them and uttered musically their thoughts. Much would be lost had Iceland not been burst up from the se

pposed to have been derived from “De,” God, and “rouyd,” speaking. It would , therefore, seem to signify those who speak of or

es away his wife by brute force, or buys her from her relatives as he would buy a cow, could never have originated legends in

igation of the various subjects which are laid before him, the author would recommend him for farther information to the read

ased his father, he had usurped the kingdom; and, fearing that Saturn would employ all means to re-ascend his throne, he drov

s with two faces stamped, to announce that the totality of his states would be governed by the counsels of Saturn and himself

plore? Because I hold the door, by which access Is had to any god you would address.” Ovid. “Two gates of steel (the name

r a war of ten years continuance, Terra predicted to Jupiter, that he would gain a complete victory over his enemies, if he w

upiter, that he would gain a complete victory over his enemies, if he would set at liberty those Titans whom his father had s

on mourning garments, and kept herself in such privacy, that a famine would have afflicted the whole world, had not Pan disco

Tithonus, and Phaeton by Cephalus. Tithonus begged of Aurora that she would favour him with the gift of immortality, which sh

le placed before their houses laurel branches, in hopes that the gods would spare those who rendered that honour to the nymph

5. — The Satyr Marsyas durst not pretend that the sounds of his flute would please more than those of Apollo’s lyre. Judges w

schools. For this he was generally despised, and when he died, no one would honour his memory. After having unavailingly atte

s of an old woman, and prevailed on Semele to beg of Jupiter, that he would come and see her in all his glory and majesty, an

e grapes being unknown, they trod them, and begged of Bacchus that he would render them sweet and good. The Apaturia were fea

whom were his mother and sister. Lycurgus, not the Spartan lawgiver, would destroy the vineyards of Thrace. He armed himself

rehead with a shuttle. The proud Arachne, being overcome, in despair, would have hung herself, but was suspended by Minerva,

o get rid of their importunities, she at length declared that whoever would surpass her in running, should be her husband; bu

would surpass her in running, should be her husband; but that whoever would be beaten by her, should be put to death. Accordi

rtues of this wand were such that every thing it touched, when awake, would sink into sleep, and when asleep, would awaken. W

thing it touched, when awake, would sink into sleep, and when asleep, would awaken. When it was applied to the dying, their s

s. Jupiter loved her; but having read in the book of Destiny that she would have a son greater than his father, he gave her f

up with every thing that is good and desirable, when, in truth, they would but plunge us into scenes of voluptuousness, diss

or. O that I from my much loved self could go! A strange request, yet would to God’t were so.” Obs. — The word nymph is der

ld before them in their way: Earth, air and seas, through empty space would roll, And heav’n would fly before the driving sou

way: Earth, air and seas, through empty space would roll, And heav’n would fly before the driving soul. In fear of this the

nd divine accuracy, in calculating when and from what points the wind would blow. This knowledge he acquired by closely obser

y to secure the repose and existence of society. Without it, weakness would be stripped by strength, and lands would remain u

ociety. Without it, weakness would be stripped by strength, and lands would remain uncultivated; for it enables man to prosec

y received the lash, because they believed that each one who felt it, would prove a happy mother. There were some other rural

aised sublime, are hung The massy gates, impenetrably strong. In vain would men, in vain would gods essay, To hew the beams o

hung The massy gates, impenetrably strong. In vain would men, in vain would gods essay, To hew the beams of adamant away. Her

extreme elegance on the shore, with which he was so charmed, that he would not immolate him, but kept him as the ornament of

cts being swept away by a pestilence, he begged of his father that he would re-people his kingdom. In answer to his prayer, J

rpetually kept him in such alarms, that, every moment, he imagined it would fall down upon him; a situation which induced him

punish his wife for this apparent neglect, under the promise, that he would return instantly; but he broke his word, and was

p In water, yet he cannot get a sip: At which you smile; now all of’t would be true, Were the name chang’d, and the tale told

aus, wished his fifty sons to marry the Danaides, fearing his brother would prove too powerful for him by the alliances which

ut the Thebans were informed by the oracle of Apollo, that the Sphinx would kill herself if one of the enigmas she propounded

d three in the evening?” Creon, then king of Thebes, declared that he would give a crown and his sister Jocasta in marriage t

his parents. In consulting the oracle of Delphi, he was told that he would meet his father in Phocis. On his way thither, he

s mother: upon which he became so frantic as to put out his eyes, and would have laid violent hands upon himself, had not Ant

inx? Give the history of Œdipus. Part V. Peculiar Deities. It would be impossible to name and designate all the parti

demonia, or Macaria. An oracle having said to the Athenians that they would be victorious, if one of Hercules’ children volun

r always outruns them. — See Fig. 63. Fig. 63. Discord. Obs. — It would be tedious, as well as useless, to name all the a

services. The number of heroes and heroines being almost infinite, it would be impossible to give the history or even the nam

s Pleasure, who advised him to lead an easy and indolent life; but he would rather act the part of a benefactor to mankind. E

the Golden Fleece of king Ætes, who granted his request, provided he would tame the bulls and kill the dragon that guarded i

thus, at whose instigation she killed Agamemnon when he returned. She would have put her son Orestes to death; but his sister

riend Pylades. So close and sacred was their friendship, that the one would have died for the other. In the worship of the go

dice to enter again upon the stage of life, on condition that Orpheus would not look at her, until they had both ascended to

n the Trojans, seeing this immense colossus, deliberated whether they would admit it into their city. Laocoon was violently o

o laid his infant son Telemachus before the plough, to see whether he would wound him or not. As he turned the plough not to

l were anxious to receive him, as the children, who smelt his breath, would obtain the gift of prophecy. He was ceremoniously

white pyramidal figures, to show the infinite blessings with which he would load mankind; but Typhon, having opened the egg,

ns,) warned him that, on the fifteenth of the month Doessius, mankind would be destroyed by a deluge; and ordered him to comm

den declared that whoever should precipitate himself into the flames, would produce light. No sooner had two men thrown thems

They were jealous to keep inviolable an oath. If one took an oath, he would say, “Does not Mexitli (or some other god) behold

small broom and a censer were placed in her hands, to express that it would in future be her duty to sweep the sacred floors

et-zal-cot who was a mortal, and offered him immortality, provided he would take a certain drink which Tez-cat-li-po-ca prese

us, pretend that each of these stories was a stadium in height, which would have carried the elevation of the whole to one th

rch. They could not be viewed without astonishment and admiration. It would be impossible to describe all the riches and beau

s which led to the construction of the temple of Jupiter Olympius. It would seem that that edifice was intended to give some

the interior of the structure. The form of the Pantheon is round. It would appear that the architect designed to give it the

announcing, that, should their strength ever be diminished, the work would be likely to fall into ruins. Knight Bernin, who

l now proceed to notice a few others of minor importance, although it would be impossible to name them all. In Bœotia, a very

be burnt alive, saying, that, if she had wished to deceive them, they would punish her; and that, if she had spoken the truth

m, they would punish her; and that, if she had spoken the truth, they would thereby assure themselves of victory. The people

saying that all the verses of the Sibyls were written in Greek; which would not have been the case, if the Sibyls had been of

ollo, nevertheless, offered her this advantage, on condition that she would crown his love; but Deiphobe preferred the glory

time, there was nothing remaining of her but her voice, which destiny would forever preserve. This fable was founded on the l

ieces of gold for the three which remained. Tarquin, fearing that she would burn the last three, gave her the sum she demande

tions, Odin retired into Sweden, where, feeling his end draw near, he would not await, through the series of a disease, that

to take his place with the other gods at an eternal banquet, where he would receive, with great honours, those who, after hav

e dreaded. The Edda devoutly recommends to adore him for fear that he would do evil. Wherefore temples were raised to his hon

he murderer of Balder. The gods never forgot his violent actions, and would not hear his name pronounced. Wale was the formid

, repealed the decree, and prolonged the days of him whom that victim would save. The precepts of the Celtic religion were ch

erus, guarded the entrance of Nislheim. From the foregoing account it would seem, that the Scandinavians and the people of th

he arts and sciences irradiated spread over the rest of the world. It would be difficult, perhaps even impossible, to ascerta

disappeared. The warriors, nevertheless, preserved their valour, and would not altogether renounce the brilliant honour of h

th the Gauls: “If a Carthaginian should do wrong to a Gaul, the cause would be brought to the tribunal of Gallic women.” In a

the profession of arms. The Druids taught that one day water and fire would destroy all things. They believed in the doctrine

ued; and when it was over, they addressed prayers to divinity that it would infuse into that plant a happiness which might be

o their close. Suppose that one could fix upon the terminal point, we would still fancy something beyond that, and then some

l fancy something beyond that, and then some period still more remote would present itself, and so on ad infinitum. The same

the Blackfeet Indians, or the Patagonians, or the South Africans, it would be a long step toward making clear this particula

aron, an aged boatman, who plied the only boat that was available. He would allow no soul to enter this leaky craft until he

greatest care, as it was prophesied that the fate of the Roman people would depend upon its preservation. An order of priesth

[Atalanta] was daughter of Cæneus. The oracle told her that marriage would be fatal to her, but, being very beautiful, she h

he-bear by Jupiter. In that form she was hunted by her son Arcas, who would have killed her had not Jupiter turned him into a

ately did in the following admirable couplet: “When Dido found Æneas would not come, She mourned in silence, and was Dido du

ield of Mars; to sow in the ground the teeth of a serpent, from which would spring armed men who would fight against him who

ground the teeth of a serpent, from which would spring armed men who would fight against him who plowed the field of Mars; t

l from the skies. It was supposed that the preservation of the statue would be the preservation of Troy; and during the Troja

king of Troy, and of his mother Hecuba. It had been predicted that he would be the cause of the destruction of Troy, and his

was assisted in this enterprise by Pluto, who lent him a helmet which would make him invisible. Pallas lent him her shield, a

attern of constancy; for, though Ulysses was reported to be dead, she would not marry any one else, and had the satisfaction

aknesses of mortality. In his real history, as an earthly monarch, he would have been a truly illustrious Prince, had he not

any of our wishes, and to shew that were they all to be granted, they would frequently be productive of misery instead of hap

l, set fire to this magnificent temple; imagining that such an action would necessarily transmit his name to posterity. It wa

an Oracle had declared, that, as long as it remained there, the city would be invincible against all the attacks of its enem

at whosoever could celebrate this sacrifical rite, one hundred times, would thereby obtain power equal to that of Indra, and

is place amongst the other deities, at the immortal banquet, where he would receive those who died with arms in their hands.

ais’d sublime, are hung The massy gates, impenetrably strong. In vain would men, in vain would Gods essay, To hew the beams o

hung The massy gates, impenetrably strong. In vain would men, in vain would Gods essay, To hew the beams of adamant away. Her