AT Pisa, in pleasant Elis, dwelt Hippodameia, the daughter of king Enomaus. Far and wide through Hellas had spread the fame of her beauty; and from every province noble youths sought to make her their wife. But they could not prevail with Enomaus; for his daughter was the light of his house and he cast in his mind how he could refuse her in marriage, and devised a ready plan.

The horses of Enomaus were swift as the wind, and came not of mortal breed. Everywhere were they victorious in the race, and they had won great honour for their master. Thus, then, spoke Enomaus, chief of rocky Elis :

"Whoever would win my daughter, and would call Hippodameia his bride, must first vanquish me in the race, and forthwith I will give him her hand. But great is the value of the reward, and

great must be the risk of him that seeks it. If he succeeds, his prize is a bride whom Hellas cannot match for beauty; if he fails, his sentence shall be death, and the house of gloomy Hades. And this shall be the manner of the race :-he shall mount his chariot first, and my daughter shall be at his side; I will follow some space behind, and will grasp my javelin in my hand. If the gods give me success, and grant me to reach the flyers, I will smite the youth with my javelin, and send him to the house of Hades; if not, let him take my daughter, and with her wealth enough-gold, and silver, and bronze, and steel, well wrought in the furnace."

Hard was the speech of the chief; but the beauty of Hippodameia prevailed. Thirteen had sought her for their bride, and had fallen in the dreadful race. At last came Pelops to Elis, son of the ill-fated Tantalus. He saw Hippodameia, and he loved her; and he deemed that the maiden might be won. 'My horses," he said, "are also swift in the race; and the gods have favoured me ever."

66

So he went to the palace of Enomaus, and demanded his daughter in marriage. And the king felt compassion for the youth; for he was tall, and brave, and comely.

"Think yet again," he said, “O Pelops, son of crafty Tantalus: thou art rushing upon certain fate; for my horses are invincible in the race. Nor deem that I will spare thee, though I may grieve for thy death, for I have sworn an inviolable oath. He that contends with me and is vanquished, shall cross the gloomy Styx."

"I am well resolved, O king; and thou shalt know that thy power is at an end. The gods have seen thy cruelty, and will nerve me with strength for the race."

'To-morrow be it then," said the king, in his wrath; "to-morrow thou shalt sup with Hades. Banquet in my palace to-night, and take thy fill of pleasure. Behold Hippodameia for the last time, ere thou findest thy bridal chamber in the grave."

Silent and sad by the ocean shore roamed Pelops, son of Tantalus. He knew of the victories of Enomaus, and his heart waxed heavy within him.

"Hear me," he said, "O ruler of the sea, that art honoured in seagirt Corinth; thou to whom a thousand victims bleed at Trozen and on the shores of steep Tænarus,-thou that didst bring forth the horse from the ground with thy trident, when thou strovest with Athene for Attica; hear me,

and come to my aid, for I need the counsel of the gods."

Far off at Æge was earth-containing Poseidon, in the depth of the wine-dark sea. Forth went he from his palace, and yoked his brazen-footed steeds to his car. He seized the golden reins, and they flew across the deep. The waves dimpled for joy; the whales sported round their king: the brazen axletree was not bedewed by the surge, so light was the speed of the chariot. And the god directed his course to Pisa, and descended on the ocean shore.

"What ails thee, son of Tantalus," said the earth-shaking monarch: "wherefore hast thou called for my aid? That which I can I am ready to accomplish for thee: speak boldly, and tell me thy mind."

Then Pelops took courage, and told his griefs to the god. And Poseidon listened in silence, and took counsel with himself ere he spake.

"Hard is thy petition, son of Tantalus; for the horses of Enomaus are divine.

Not even

mine could contend with them in the race, though swift as the winds of Eolus. Take them, nevertheless; I bestow them on thee freely but thou wilt need further assistance. Hardly would they bear thee from the spear of Enomaus: and thou wouldst give thy life for thy love."

L

"So be it then, son of Cronus," said Pelops, the beloved of the gods. "I shall go down to the grave with glory with glory I shall be received in Hades. And in ages to come men will say, as they bound over the wine-dark sea, 'yonder is the tomb of Pelops, who died for fair-haired Hippodameia.'

"Stay yet," answered earth-containing Poseidon : "counsel may be better than strength. Thou knowest the might of gold: bribe the charioteer of Enomaus. The steeds are invincible, but the chariot may be destroyed: be swift and secret, and prosperous."

So saying, he left his car and his horses, and plunged, like a dolphin, into the sea. Back he hastened to Ægæ, and mingled among the ocean nymphs.

But Pelops, mounted in the chariot, returned to the palace of Enomaus. And he called Myrtilus, the charioteer of the king, and spake a word in his ear. He promised him sheep and oxen, and gold and bronze enough, if he would so order the chariot of his lord, that it might fail in the perilous race.

66

Sleep then secure, son of Tantalus, and leave the event to me. I will follow the wishes of thy heart, but the counsel must be my own."

So