spake false-hearted Myrtilus, and departed to the chariot stalls of Enomaus. And Pelops went to the palace, and they crowned the cups with wine. But as soon as rosy-fingered Aurora came out with the glorious day, up rose Enomaus, tamer of steeds, and the god-like strength of Pelops. And the ground for the race was staked out, and the horses champed on the bit; and the warriors were ready for the contest, and they grasped their golden scourges.

The morning dawned, and the crowd assembled: they gathered by hundreds and by thousands. There were the dwellers of Buprasium, and they that drank of the Alysian Fountain; there were the citizens of Olenia, and the vine-dressers of the Hyrmenian plain. Then forth came Enomaus, the prince of charioteers, and Pelops, the equal of the gods. The chariots stood ready for the race; they were embossed with silver and gold. Low was the seat, and massy the pole, and beautiful the two steeds of each. Then Pelops

made his prayer to the gods, but chiefly to Poseidon, ruler of horses, and to Pallas Athene, who gives wisdom to men.

Apart in her bower sat Hippodameia, and she prayed to smile-loving Aphrodite. "Blind are eyes of mortals," said the maiden, "and little

the

If the son of

can they know of the future. Tantalus loves me well, and is no feigner of false words, give him to escape the spear of my father,

and to win the doubtful race!" Forth then she came in her beauty, and stood by the side of Pelops.

Meanwhile, Enomaus grasped his spear, and thus he spake to Pelops: "Mount now, son of Tantalus, with speed,—and thou, Hippodameia, by his side. Thou seest that stone, that lies midway in the course, the memorial of a departed hero when thou art half way thither, I give the word to my steeds; then look that thy horses be fleet."

:

Fair-haired Hippodameia mounted the car, and the hero sat down by her side. And he seized the reins and gave the word, and the divine steeds obeyed. Up rose the whirl of dust before the wheels; and the brazen axletree groaned. And Hippodameia called on the gods to save her champion in the venture, for she saw that his courage was high, and she feared to see it quenched.

"Fear not, daughter of Enomaus," said the manly voice of Pelops. My steeds are of no mortal breed; they are the gift of Poseidon himself."

The dust rose in a thick dark cloud: the cha

riots jumped and leaped onward: the manes of the horses streamed out to the wind; and ever and anon the charioteers encouraged the flying steeds.

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Lampetius, and thou, Æthon," said Pelops, 66 now reward your master for his care: for the winnowed barley he hath so often given you, and the pride that he hath taken in your strength."

They then, fearing the rebuke of the king, leaped forward more swiftly to the goal. But the steeds of Enomaus came fleeter and fleeter: and already the spear was raised. Pelops saw the glittering javelin; and he deemed that his hours were numbered.

Thus they two flew forward in the course, the hero and the mortal maid. But when they had reached the stone where slept the departed hero, Enomaus stood up in his car, and brandished his brazen spear. Far on the wind floated the manes of his steeds; and his chariot quivered and jumped. Swift were the steeds of the flier, but swifter far of him that pursued. Nor contended they for a vulgar prize, an ox, or a caldron, or a tripod: but they contended for the life of a hero, of Pelops, tamer of horses. And now he had gained the goal round which the course bent, and grazing it with his chariot wheel, he restrained

the left-hand horse: but he urged to his utmost his fellow. Meanwhile thundered behind the godlike strength of Enomaus: thrice he had raised his hand to smite Pelops, and thrice Hippodameia bewailed. But when for the fourth time he raised the javelin, the craft of Myrtilus prevailed.

Forth flew the loosened linchpin, and the chariot was dashed on the ground. The axle snapped like a winter bough, and the frightened steeds flew off. And the mighty lay mightily overthrown, and forgetful of his skill in the chariot race. His body was bruised and shattered,-his soul went to the house of Hades.

And Pelops wedded Hippodameia, and the gods came down to the banquet. And Poseidon built for him on the strand of the sea a bridal chamber of the waves and they arched above the hero and the maiden, like a wall of the purest green.

AMONG the divinities that dwelt on Mount Olympus, none was more friendly to the husbandman than Demeter, goddess of corn. She it was who watched over the young seed when first dropped into the ground, who moistened the clods with rain, who pushed the tender shoot from the earth, who reared it to ripeness, who filled the milky ear, and browned the ripening stem. And therefore did the husbandman offer sacrifice in her honour; and the maidens led the dance at harvest-home in her praise. Therefore was she celebrated in the mysteries of Eleusis, and in the valleys of rocky Paros; therefore they hymned. her praise at Antron, and in gleby Arcadia.

Demeter had one daughter, the fair Persephone: a maiden unmatched for beauty among the dwellers