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