With kisses balmier than half-opening buds Yet hold me not forever in thine East: An antistrophe of one of Euripides' dramas, "The Troades," contains this beautiful allusion to Aurora : "And Eos' self, the fair, white-steeded Morning, - Has changed to a gloomy pall! She looked across the land with eyes of amber, - She who, in pure embraces, Had held there, in the hymeneal chamber, Whom the four steeds with starry brows and paces APOLLO, OR PHOEBUS APOLLO, Lat.; HELIOS, Gr. THE office of Apollo was to give light to men and gods during the day. He is described as rising every morning in the east, preceded by his sister Aurora, who, with her rosy fingers, paints the tips of the mountains, and draws aside the misty veil through which her brother is about to appear. When he has burst forth in all the glorious light of day, Aurora disappears, and Apollo drives his flamedarting chariot along the accustomed track. This chariot, which is of burnished gold, is drawn by four fire-breathing steeds, behind which the young god stands erect with flashing eyes, his head surrounded with rays, holding in one hand the reins of those fiery coursers which in all hands save his are unmanageable. When towards evening he descends the curve in order to cool his burning forehead in the waters of the sea, he is followed closely by his sister Sēlē'ne (the moon), who is now prepared to take charge of the world and light up the dusky night. When Apollo had finished his daily course, a winged boat or cup which had been made for him by Hēphæs'tus (Vulcan) conveyed him, with his chariot and horses, to the east, where he began again his bright journey. This is what Milton alludes to in "Comus": "Now the gilded car of day His golden axle doth allay And the slope-Sun his upward beam Pacing toward the other goal Of his chamber in the east." With the first beams of the light of the sun all nature awakens to renewed life, and the woods re-echo with the songs of the birds. Hence, Apollo is the god of music. He is himself the musician among the Olympic gods. He attained his greatest importance among the Greeks as a god of prophecy. His oracle at Delphi was in high repute all over the world. That which raised the whole moral tone of the Greek nation was the belief that he was the god who accepted repentance as an atonement for sin, who pardoned the contrite sinner, and who acted as the protector of those who had committed a crime which required long years of expiation. The most splendid temple of Apollo was at Delphi, which was considered the centre of the earth. The serpent, Python, was a monster that inhabited the valley near Delphi and destroyed both men and cattle. Apollo slew the Python, and in honor of this event the Pythian games were celebrated in the third year of every Olympiad. Soon after his victory over the Python, Apollo saw Eros (Cupid) bending his bow, and mocked at his efforts. Eros, to punish him, shot him in the heart with his golden arrow of love, and at the same time discharged his leaden arrow of aversion into the heart of Daphne, the daughter of the river-god Peneus. Daphne fled from Apollo, and calling to her father for aid, was transformed into a laurel bush. Apollo sorrowfully crowned himself with the leaves, and declared that, in memory of his love, it should henceforth remain ever green, and be held sacred to him.1 Apollo afterwards married Corō'nis. One day his favorite bird, the raven, flew to him with the intelligence that his wife had transferred her affections to another. Apollo instantly destroyed her with one of his death-dealing darts. He repented when too late. He punished the raven for its garrulity by changing its color from white to black. Coronis left an infant son named Asclē'pius (Æsculapius), who was educated by the Centaur, Chi'ron. He became a celebrated physician, and was so skilful that he could restore the dead to life. Pluto complained to Jupiter, who killed Asclepius with one of his thunder-bolts. Apollo was so exasperated that he killed the Cyclops who had forged it. For this offence he was banished from Olympus. Coming to earth, he for nine years served Admē'tus as a shepherd, and was treated by him with the utmost kindness. By the aid of Apollo, Admetus gained the hand of Alces'tis, daughter of Pelias. The exiled god obtained from the Fates the gift of immortality for Admetus, on condition that when his last hour approached, some member of his family should 1 In "A Fable for Critics," James Russell Lowell turns this story to account, with much wit as well as wisdom. be willing to die in his place. When the fatal time. came, Alcestis took his place. But Her'acles (Hercules), happening to arrive at the house of Admetus, engaged and overcame death, and restored Alcestis to her family. All of these stories have furnished themes for poets. Euripides wrote his tragedy of "Alcestis" about 450 B.C., and Lowell, in his poem called "The Shepherd of King Admetus," gives us his impressions of Apollo's powers as a musician. The following poem presents another admirable trait in the character of Apollo. A SONG OF APOLLO: A LEGEND OF ANCIENT GREECE. BY LILLIE E. BARR. (From Harper's Young People. Copyright, 1881, by Harper & Brothers.) After the burning of Troy, to Argos there came A soldier aged and weary : Naught had he gained in the contest, treasure nor fame, Stood in the streets or the market, and strove to play. No one gave him a lepton,1 no one waited to hear Hungry and hopeless, he ceased; then a youth drew near "O Greek," said old Akera'tos, "I have lost the power, With handling of swords and lances." 1 Lepton: a small thing. |