Bulfinch's Mythology: The Age of Fable
ho and Narcissus. Cl
, the daughter of Nisus was hardly mistress of herself; she was almost frantic with admiration. She envied the weapon that he grasped, the reins that he held. She felt as if she could, if it were possible, go to him through the hostile ranks; she felt an impulse to cast herself down from the tower into the midst of his camp, or to open the gates to him, or do anything else, so only it might gratify Minos. As she sat in the tower, she talked thus with herself: "I know not whether to rejoice or grieve at this sad war. I grieve that Minos is our enemy; 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 hostage. I would fly down, if I could, and alight in his camp, and tell him that we yield ourselves to his mercy. But, then, to betray my father! No! Rather would I never see Minos again. And yet no doubt it is sometimes the best thing for a city to be conquered when the conqueror is clement and genero
you my country and my father's house. I ask no reward but yourself; for love of you I have done it. See here the purple lock! With this I give you my father and his kingdom." She held out her hand with the fatal spoil. Minos shrunk back and refused to touch it. "The gods destroy thee, infamous woman," he exclaimed; "
ing the rudder of the one which carried Minos, she was borne along an unwelcome companion of their course. A sea-eagle soaring aloft, it was her father who had been changed into that form, seeing her, pounced down upon her, and struck her with his beak and claws. In terror she let go the
ND NAR
ment would have the last word. One day Juno was seeking her husband, who, she had reason to fear, was amusing himself among the nymphs. Echo by her talk contrived to detain the goddess till the nymphs made their escape. When Juno discovered
looked around, but seeing no one, called out, "Come." Echo answered, "Come." As no one came, Narcissus called again, "Why do you shun me?" Echo asked the same question. "Let us join one another," said the youth. The maid answered with all her heart in the same words, and hastened to the spot, ready to throw her arms about his neck. He started back, exclaiming, "Hands off! I would rather die than you should have me." "Have me," said
ne day a maiden, who had in vain endeavored to attract him, uttered a prayer that he might some time or other
ips near to take a kiss; he plunged his arms in to embrace the beloved object. It fled at the touch, but returned again after a moment and renewed the fascination. He could not tear himself away; he lost all thought of food or rest, while he hovered over the brink of the fountain gazing upon his own image. He talked with the supposed spirit: "Why, beautiful being, do you shun me? Surely my face is not one to repel you. The nymphs love me, and you yourself look not indifferent upon me. When I stretch forth my arms you do the same; and you smile upon me and answer my beckonings with the like." His tears fell into the water and disturbed the image. As he saw it depart, he exclaimed, "Stay, I entreat you! Let me at least gaze upon you, if I may not touch you." With
the Lady's song in Comus. She is seeking her brothers
eetest nymph, t
thy aer
ander's ma
violet-embr
love-lorn
e her sad song
t tell me of
s thy Nar
f tho
n some flo
e but
parly, daughter
be translated
ng grace to all h
the account which he makes Eve give of the fir
ft remember w
d, and found
n flowers, much
whence thither
from thence a
ued from a ca
plain, then
anse of heaven;
nced thought,
bank, to look
at to me seeme
wn to look,
n the watery
ook on me. I
; but pleased I
ned as soon with
nd love. Ther
now, and pined
thus warned me:
eest, fair creatu
e Lost,
the poets. Here are two epigrams which treat i
YOUTH STRUCK BLI
by Provide
pity tha
uld be like
from Narci
er is b
UGLY
friend, of c
lest that h
thou cha
ate would th
ested thou w
-enamor
YT
food nor drink, her own tears and the chilly dew her only food. She gazed on the sun when he rose, and as he passed through his daily course to his setting; she saw no other object, her face turned constantly on him. At last,
laster. It represents the head of a young girl looking down, the neck and shoulders being supported in the cup of a large flower, which by a litt
owers thus all
t have the
is turned
is a cou
efore I w
p is a cou
olet i
woo the d
n of eve
orite emblem of consta
has truly love
y loves on
r turns on her
that she turne
o the ancients, was called in Greek, helianthos, from HELIOS, the sun; and ANTHOS a flower, and in Latin, helianthus. It derives its name from its
eliotrope of modern gardens, which is a South American plant. The true classical heliotrope is probably to be found in the heliotrope of so
AND L
ed her, and used to swim the strait nightly to enjoy the company of his mistress, guided by a torch which she reared upon the tower, for the purpose. But one night a tempest arose and the sea was rough;
ng sonnet i
CTURE OF
all sweet ma
e, and with a c
inges of your
t your fair h
tle that ye
ictim of your
to his young
der'd 'mid th
ander toiling
he doth purse
k, and smiles a
eam! See how
ms and shoulde
ubbles all his
ulous, and the feat considered impossible, till Lord Byron proved its
hat buoyant wa
elago. Since Byron's time the feat has been achieved by others; but it yet remains a test of strength and skill in the art of swimming s
ond canto of the same poem,
re high on H
ight of stor
who sent, f
he beautiful
ope of Sesto
alone alo
torch was b
g gale and b
sea-birds wa
aloft and t
nd sounds fo
t see, he w
sight fore
saw that l
tar it hai
rang with
divide not
is old, bu
ng hearts to
een a favorite on
tragic fate of the two lovers. The following verses
spont's bro
black, and ra
oud's full
in the sky
orms below
rag-pile
sms gapin
the mount
wning as
'en to Plu
arisen, Hero sees th
e; great Jov
o my sad
hat can H
gods in p
ow the fal
ith the tem
rds that s
light are
e of saf
rm-tossed v
w he laugh
the freque
an almigh
re it when
which binds
o the la
as this mo
the wave-
ir unfatho
own the an
lse! Thy s
ing traito
rror flas
pples gent
riumphed i
thy lyi
mid-curre
l his cours
alse, on h
ose thy te
the tempe
untains ris
ll, and br
over clif
navies, sti
t bear t
her torch
the hoped-
ods above
oods abov
e Venus
ane's incr
th the bil
le on gal
each as
teer with
e goddess
gods in heav
at oil of pe
the storm-
cothea, b
ean halls
prayer o
ean deser
seamen, suc
ee their h
in thy ch
un and se
rom the d
to its cre
pests wild
the horiz
ning streak
as it l
sea reflect
aves and wav
les, lightl
the rock-bo
ickle, ligh
rpse upon
e! Although
cred troth h
glance tell
r her eye
mur leave
ooks in co
nd the de
gazes roun
then of
r pallid v
ow, ye mig
rawn the
s and c
l my cour
rse with s
re of joy
en, within
nown me vow
thy willi
ring at th
n, while all
bes would sti
e into Pon
him and h
in his dee
f, becomes
rizes then
ids his wa
unexhaust
streams an