DIANA AND ENDYMION
Endymion was a beautiful youth who fed his flock on Mount Latmos. One calm, clear night Diana, the moon, looked down and saw him sleeping. The cold heart of the virgin2 goddess was warmed by his surpassing beauty, and she came down to him, kissed him, and watched over him while he slept.
Another story was that Jupiter bestowed3 on him the gift of perpetual youth united with perpetual sleep. Of one so gifted we can have but few adventures to record. Diana, it was said, took care that his fortunes should not suffer by his inactive life, for she made his flock increase, and guarded his sheep and lambs from the wild beasts.
The story of Endymion has a peculiar4 charm from the human meaning which it so thinly veils. We see in Endymion the young poet, his fancy and his heart seeking in vain for that which can satisfy them, finding his favorite hour in the quiet moonlight, and nursing there beneath the beams of the bright and silent witness the melancholy5 and the ardor6 which consumes him. The story suggests aspiring7 and poetic8 love, a life spent more in dreams than in reality, and an early and welcome death.—S. G. B.
The “Endymion” of Keats is a wild and fanciful poem, containing some exquisite9 poetry, as this, to the moon:
“. . . The sleeping kine
Couched in thy brightness dream of fields divine.
Innumerable mountains rise, and rise,
Ambitious for the hallowing of thine eyes,
And yet thy benediction10 passeth not
One obscure hiding-place, one little spot
Where pleasure may be sent; the nested wren11
Has thy fair face within its tranquil12 ken;” etc., etc.
Dr. Young, in the “Night Thoughts,” alludes13 to Endymion thus:
“. . . These thoughts, O night, are thine;
From thee they came like lovers’ secret sighs,
While others slept. So Cynthia, poets feign14,
In shadows veiled, soft, sliding from her sphere,
Her shepherd cheered, of her enamoured less
Than I of thee.”
Fletcher, in the “Faithful Shepherdess,” tells:
“How the pale Ph?be, hunting in a grove15,
First saw the boy Endymion, from whose eyes
She took eternal fire that never dies;
How she conveyed him softly in a sleep,
His temples bound with poppy, to the steep
Head of old Latmos, where she stoops each night,
Gilding16 the mountain with her brother’s light,
To kiss her sweetest.”
ORION
Orion was the son of Neptune17. He was a handsome giant and a mighty18 hunter. His father gave him the power of wading19 through the depths of the sea, or, as others say, of walking on its surface.
Orion loved Merope, the daughter of ?nopion, king of Chios, and sought her in marriage. He cleared the island of wild beasts, and brought the spoils of the chase as presents to his beloved; but as ?nopion constantly deferred20 his consent, Orion attempted to gain possession of the maiden21 by violence. Her father, incensed22 at this conduct, having made Orion drunk, deprived him of his sight and cast him out on the seashore. The blinded hero followed the sound of a Cyclops’ hammer till he reached Lemnos, and came to the forge of Vulcan, who, taking pity on him, gave him Kedalion, one of his men, to be his guide to the abode23 of the sun. Placing Kedalion on his shoulders, Orion proceeded to the east, and there meeting the sun-god, was restored to sight by his beam.
After this he dwelt as a hunter with Diana, with whom he was a favorite, and it is even said she was about to marry him. Her brother was highly displeased24 and often chid25 her, but to no purpose. One day, observing Orion wading through the sea with his head just above the water, Apollo pointed26 it out to his sister and maintained that she could not hit that black thing on the sea. The archer-goddess discharged a shaft27 with fatal aim. The waves rolled the dead body of Orion to the land, and bewailing her fatal error with many tears, Diana placed him among the stars, where he appears as a giant, with a girdle, sword, lion’s skin, and club. Sirius, his dog, follows him, and the Pleiads fly before him.
The Pleiads were daughters of Atlas28, and nymphs of Diana’s train. One day Orion saw them and became enamoured and pursued them. In their distress29 they prayed to the gods to change their form, and Jupiter in pity turned them into pigeons, and then made them a constellation30 in the sky. Though their number was seven, only six stars are visible, for Electra, one of them, it is said left her place that she might not behold31 the ruin of Troy, for that city was founded by her son Dardanus. The sight had such an effect on her sisters that they have looked pale ever since.
Mr. Longfellow has a poem on the “Occultation of Orion.” The following lines are those in which he alludes to the mythic story. We must premise32 that on the celestial33 globe Orion is represented as robed in a lion’s skin and wielding34 a club. At the moment the stars of the constellation, one by one, were quenched35 in the light of the moon, the poet tells us
“Down fell the red skin of the lion
Into the river at his feet.
His mighty club no longer beat
The forehead of the bull; but he
Reeled as of yore beside the sea,
When blinded by ?nopion
He sought the blacksmith at his forge,
And climbing up the narrow gorge36,
Fixed37 his blank eyes upon the sun.”
Tennyson has a different theory of the Pleiads:
“Many a night I saw the Pleiads, rising through the mellow38 shade,
Glitter like a swarm39 of fire-flies tangled40 in a silver braid.”
—Locksley Hall.
Byron alludes to the lost Pleiad:
“Like the lost Pleiad seen no more below.”
See also Mrs. Hemans’s verses on the same subject.
AURORA AND TITHONUS
The goddess of the Dawn, like her sister the Moon, was at times inspired with the love of mortals. Her greatest favorite was Tithonus, son of Laomedon, king of Troy. She stole him away, and prevailed on Jupiter to grant him immortality41; but, forgetting to have youth joined in the gift, after some time she began to discern, to her great mortification42, that he was growing old. When his hair was quite white she left his society; but he still had the range of her palace, lived on ambrosial43 food, and was clad in celestial raiment. At length he lost the power of using his limbs, and then she shut him up in his chamber44, whence his feeble voice might at times be heard. Finally she turned him into a grasshopper45.
Memnon was the son of Aurora and Tithonus. He was king of the ?thiopians, and dwelt in the extreme east, on the shore of Ocean. He came with his warriors46 to assist the kindred of his father in the war of Troy. King Priam received him with great honors, and listened with admiration47 to his narrative48 of the wonders of the ocean shore.
The very day after his arrival, Memnon, impatient of repose49, led his troops to the field. Antilochus, the brave son of Nestor, fell by his hand, and the Greeks were put to flight, when Achilles appeared and restored the battle. A long and doubtful contest ensued between him and the son of Aurora; at length victory declared for Achilles, Memnon fell, and the Trojans fled in dismay.
Aurora, who from her station in the sky had viewed with apprehension50 the danger of her son, when she saw him fall, directed his brothers, the Winds, to convey his body to the banks of the river Esepus in Paphlagonia. In the evening Aurora came, accompanied by the Hours and the Pleiads, and wept and lamented51 over her son. Night, in sympathy with her grief, spread the heaven with clouds; all nature mourned for the offspring of the Dawn. The ?thiopians raised his tomb on the banks of the stream in the grove of the Nymphs, and Jupiter caused the sparks and cinders52 of his funeral pile to be turned into birds, which, dividing into two flocks, fought over the pile till they fell into the flame. Every year at the anniversary of his death they return and celebrate his obsequies in like manner. Aurora remains53 inconsolable for the loss of her son. Her tears still flow, and may be seen at early morning in the form of dew-drops on the grass.
Unlike most of the marvels54 of ancient mythology55, there still exist some memorials of this. On the banks of the river Nile, in Egypt, are two colossal56 statues, one of which is said to be the statue of Memnon. Ancient writers record that when the first rays of the rising sun fall upon this statue a sound is heard to issue from it, which they compare to the snapping of a harp-string. There is some doubt about the identification of the existing statue with the one described by the ancients, and the mysterious sounds are still more doubtful. Yet there are not wanting some modern testimonies57 to their being still audible. It has been suggested that sounds produced by confined air making its escape from crevices58 or caverns59 in the rocks may have given some ground for the story. Sir Gardner Wilkinson, a late traveller, of the highest authority, examined the statue itself, and discovered that it was hollow, and that “in the lap of the statue is a stone, which on being struck emits a metallic60 sound, that might still be made use of to deceive a visitor who was predisposed to believe its powers.”
The vocal61 statue of Memnon is a favorite subject of allusion62 with the poets. Darwin, in his “Botanic Garden,” says:
“So to the sacred Sun in Memnon’s fane
Spontaneous concords63 choired the matin strain;
Touched by his orient beam responsive rings
The living lyre and vibrates all its strings64;
Accordant aisles65 the tender tones prolong,
And holy echoes swell66 the adoring song.”
Book I., 1. 182.
ACIS AND GALATEA
Scylla was a fair virgin of Sicily, a favorite of the Sea-Nymphs. She had many suitors, but repelled67 them all, and would go to the grotto69 of Galatea, and tell her how she was persecuted70. One day the goddess, while Scylla dressed her hair, listened to the story, and then replied, “Yet, maiden, your persecutors are of the not ungentle race of men, whom, if you will, you can repel68; but I, the daughter of Nereus, and protected by such a band of sisters, found no escape from the passion of the Cyclops but in the depths of the sea;” and tears stopped her utterance71, which when the pitying maiden had wiped away with her delicate finger, and soothed72 the goddess, “Tell me, dearest,” said she, “the cause of your grief.” Galatea then said, “Acis was the son of Faunus and a Naiad. His father and mother loved him dearly, but their love was not equal to mine. For the beautiful youth attached himself to me alone, and he was just sixteen years old, the down just beginning to darken his cheeks. As much as I sought his society, so much did the Cyclops seek mine; and if you ask me whether my love for Acis or my hatred73 of Polyphemus was the stronger, I cannot tell you; they were in equal measure. O Venus, how great is thy power! this fierce giant, the terror of the woods, whom no hapless stranger escaped unharmed, who defied even Jove himself, learned to feel what love was, and, touched with a passion for me, forgot his flocks and his well-stored caverns. Then for the first time he began to take some care of his appearance, and to try to make himself agreeable; he harrowed those coarse locks of his with a comb, and mowed74 his beard with a sickle75, looked at his harsh features in the water, and composed his countenance76. His love of slaughter77, his fierceness and thirst of blood prevailed no more, and ships that touched at his island went away in safety. He paced up and down the seashore, imprinting78 huge tracks with his heavy tread, and, when weary, lay tranquilly79 in his cave.
“There is a cliff which projects into the sea, which washes it on either side. Thither80 one day the huge Cyclops ascended81, and sat down while his flocks spread themselves around. Laying down his staff, which would have served for a mast to hold a vessel’s sail, and taking his instrument compacted of numerous pipes, he made the hills and the waters echo the music of his song. I lay hid under a rock by the side of my beloved Acis, and listened to the distant strain. It was full of extravagant82 praises of my beauty, mingled83 with passionate84 reproaches of my coldness and cruelty.
“When he had finished he rose up, and, like a raging bull that cannot stand still, wandered off into the woods. Acis and I thought no more of him, till on a sudden he came to a spot which gave him a view of us as we sat. ‘I see you,’ he exclaimed, ‘and I will make this the last of your love-meetings.’ His voice was a roar such as an angry Cyclops alone could utter. ?tna trembled at the sound. I, overcome with terror, plunged85 into the water. Acis turned and fled, crying, ‘Save me, Galatea, save me, my parents!’ The Cyclops pursued him, and tearing a rock from the side of the mountain hurled86 it at him. Though only a corner of it touched him, it overwhelmed him.
“All that fate left in my power I did for Acis. I endowed him with the honors of his grandfather, the river-god. The purple blood flowed out from under the rock, but by degrees grew paler and looked like the stream of a river rendered turbid87 by rains, and in time it became clear. The rock cleaved88 open, and the water, as it gushed89 from the chasm90, uttered a pleasing murmur91.”
Thus Acis was changed into a river, and the river retains the name of Acis.
Dryden, in his “Cymon and Iphigenia,” has told the story of a clown converted into a gentleman by the power of love, in a way that shows traces of kindred to the old story of Galatea and the Cyclops.
“What not his father’s care nor tutor’s art
Could plant with pains in his unpolished heart,
The best instructor92, Love, at once inspired,
As barren grounds to fruitfulness are fired.
Love taught him shame, and shame with love at strife93
Soon taught the sweet civilities of life.”
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1
aurora
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| n.极光 | |
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virgin
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| n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的 | |
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bestowed
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| 赠给，授予( bestow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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melancholy
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| n.忧郁，愁思；adj.令人感伤（沮丧）的，忧郁的 | |
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ardor
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| n.热情，狂热 | |
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aspiring
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| adj.有志气的；有抱负的；高耸的v.渴望；追求 | |
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poetic
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| adj.富有诗意的，有诗人气质的，善于抒情的 | |
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exquisite
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| adj.精美的；敏锐的；剧烈的，感觉强烈的 | |
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10
benediction
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| n.祝福；恩赐 | |
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wren
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| n.鹪鹩；英国皇家海军女子服务队成员 | |
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tranquil
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| adj. 安静的, 宁静的, 稳定的, 不变的 | |
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13
alludes
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| 提及，暗指( allude的第三人称单数 ) | |
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14
feign
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| vt.假装，佯作 | |
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15
grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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gilding
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| n.贴金箔，镀金 | |
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17
Neptune
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| n.海王星 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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wading
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| （从水、泥等）蹚，走过，跋( wade的现在分词 ) | |
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20
deferred
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| adj.延期的，缓召的v.拖延，延缓，推迟( defer的过去式和过去分词 )；服从某人的意愿，遵从 | |
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maiden
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| n.少女，处女；adj.未婚的，纯洁的，无经验的 | |
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22
incensed
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| 盛怒的 | |
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23
abode
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| n.住处，住所 | |
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displeased
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| a.不快的 | |
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25
chid
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| v.责骂，责备( chide的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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26
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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27
shaft
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| n.(工具的)柄，杆状物 | |
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28
atlas
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| n.地图册，图表集 | |
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29
distress
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| n.苦恼，痛苦，不舒适；不幸；vt.使悲痛 | |
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constellation
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| n.星座n.灿烂的一群 | |
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31
behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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32
premise
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| n.前提；v.提论，预述 | |
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33
celestial
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| adj.天体的；天上的 | |
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wielding
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| 手持着使用（武器、工具等）( wield的现在分词 )； 具有； 运用（权力）； 施加（影响） | |
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35
quenched
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| 解（渴）( quench的过去式和过去分词 )； 终止（某事物）； （用水）扑灭（火焰等）； 将（热物体）放入水中急速冷却 | |
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gorge
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| n.咽喉，胃，暴食，山峡；v.塞饱，狼吞虎咽地吃 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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mellow
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| adj.柔和的；熟透的；v.变柔和；(使)成熟 | |
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swarm
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| n.(昆虫)等一大群；vi.成群飞舞；蜂拥而入 | |
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40
tangled
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| adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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immortality
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| n.不死，不朽 | |
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mortification
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| n.耻辱，屈辱 | |
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ambrosial
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| adj.美味的 | |
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chamber
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| n.房间，寝室；会议厅；议院；会所 | |
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grasshopper
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| n.蚱蜢，蝗虫，蚂蚱 | |
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warriors
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| 武士，勇士，战士( warrior的名词复数 ) | |
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admiration
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| n.钦佩，赞美，羡慕 | |
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narrative
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| n.叙述，故事；adj.叙事的，故事体的 | |
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repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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lamented
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| adj.被哀悼的，令人遗憾的v.（为…）哀悼，痛哭，悲伤( lament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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cinders
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| n.煤渣( cinder的名词复数 )；炭渣；煤渣路；煤渣跑道 | |
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remains
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| n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹 | |
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marvels
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| n.奇迹( marvel的名词复数 )；令人惊奇的事物（或事例）；不平凡的成果；成就v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的第三人称单数 ) | |
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mythology
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| n.神话，神话学，神话集 | |
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colossal
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| adj.异常的，庞大的 | |
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testimonies
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| （法庭上证人的）证词( testimony的名词复数 )； 证明，证据 | |
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crevices
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| n.（尤指岩石的）裂缝，缺口( crevice的名词复数 ) | |
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caverns
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| 大山洞，大洞穴( cavern的名词复数 ) | |
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metallic
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| adj.金属的；金属制的；含金属的；产金属的；像金属的 | |
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vocal
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| adj.直言不讳的；嗓音的；n.[pl.]声乐节目 | |
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allusion
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| n.暗示，间接提示 | |
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concords
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| n.和谐，一致，和睦( concord的名词复数 ) | |
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strings
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| n.弦 | |
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aisles
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| n. (席位间的)通道, 侧廊 | |
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swell
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| vi.膨胀，肿胀；增长，增强 | |
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repelled
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| v.击退( repel的过去式和过去分词 )；使厌恶；排斥；推开 | |
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repel
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| v.击退，抵制，拒绝，排斥 | |
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grotto
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| n.洞穴 | |
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persecuted
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| （尤指宗教或政治信仰的）迫害(~sb. for sth.)( persecute的过去式和过去分词 )； 烦扰，困扰或骚扰某人 | |
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utterance
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| n.用言语表达，话语，言语 | |
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soothed
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| v.安慰( soothe的过去式和过去分词 )；抚慰；使舒服；减轻痛苦 | |
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hatred
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| n.憎恶，憎恨，仇恨 | |
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74
mowed
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| v.刈，割( mow的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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75
sickle
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| n.镰刀 | |
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76
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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77
slaughter
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| n.屠杀，屠宰；vt.屠杀，宰杀 | |
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78
imprinting
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| n.胚教，铭记（动物生命早期即起作用的一种学习机能）；印记 | |
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79
tranquilly
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| adv. 宁静地 | |
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80
thither
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| adv.向那里；adj.在那边的，对岸的 | |
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81
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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82
extravagant
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| adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的 | |
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83
mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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84
passionate
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，激昂的，易动情的，易怒的，性情暴躁的 | |
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85
plunged
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| v.颠簸( plunge的过去式和过去分词 )；暴跌；骤降；突降 | |
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86
hurled
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| v.猛投，用力掷( hurl的过去式和过去分词 )；大声叫骂 | |
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87
turbid
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| adj.混浊的，泥水的，浓的 | |
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88
cleaved
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| v.劈开，剁开，割开( cleave的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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gushed
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| v.喷，涌( gush的过去式和过去分词 )；滔滔不绝地说话 | |
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90
chasm
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| n.深坑，断层，裂口，大分岐，利害冲突 | |
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91
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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instructor
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| n.指导者，教员，教练 | |
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strife
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| n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争 | |
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