Heathen mythology Part 34

OVID.

The wish to deliver his native land from this danger, induced him voluntarily to undertake the expedition; and before his departure, he promised his father, if he should be successful, to hoist a white sail on his return.

Ariadne, the daughter of Minos, became enamoured of him and by {199} a.s.sisting him in the enterprise, he was successful and killed the Minotaur.

On his return from his victory there, he was driven by contrary winds on the Isle of Naxos, where he had the meanness to desert Ariadne, whose conduct had been the means of his glorious triumph, and to whom he was even indebted for his life.

When he came in sight of Athens, he forgot, in the height of his success, to hoist the white sail he had promised his father, who, seeing a black sail upon his son's s.h.i.+p, despairingly threw himself into the sea.

"On a high rock that beetles o'er the flood, With daily care the pensive father stood; And when he saw impatient from afar?

The fatal signal floating in the air, Thinking his Theseus was untimely slain, He rashly plunged himself beneath the main!"

His ascension to his father's throne was received with much pleasure, the country was governed with mildness, new reputation acquired and new laws enacted.

The renown he gained by his victory and policy, made his alliance courted in general; but Pirithous king of the Lapithae, sought the more singular mode of gaining it by meeting him in fight.

He invaded the territories of Theseus, and when the latter a.s.sembled his forces to meet him, the two foes as they gazed on each other, were seized with a sudden and mutual friends.h.i.+p, and rushed into each others arms: from that time, their affection became proverbial.

Theseus was present at the nuptials of his friend, and when the brutal Centaurs attempted to insult the bride, was one of the most forward to defend: and when Pirithous, after this, had lost Hippodamia, he agreed with Theseus to carry away one of the daughters of the G.o.ds.

They first attempted their scheme upon Helen, the beautiful daughter of Leda, and when they had obtained their victim, cast lots for her: Theseus was successful, and she became his prize. Shortly after, he a.s.sisted his friend in his attempt to descend into the infernal regions and carry away Proserpine, but Cerberus was too watchful, and Pluto apprised of their intentions, stopped them: Pirithous was placed on Ixion's wheel, and Theseus secured to a large stone on which he had seated himself to rest.

{200}

By the a.s.sistance of Hercules, however, in his descent into h.e.l.l, the two heroes were released from their captivity, and when Theseus returned to Athens, he found that Mnestheus had usurped the crown which should have fallen upon his children. In vain did Theseus attempt to eject the usurper, the Athenians remained faithful to their new choice, and Theseus retired in disgust to the court of Lycomedes, King of Scyros.

Here he met with apparent sympathy, but Lycomedes soon showed his true character, for enticing his guest to the top of a high mountain, he took an opportunity of throwing Theseus over a deep precipice.

The children of this hero at the death of the usurper, regained the throne of Athens: and that the memory of their father might not be without honour, sent for his remains from Scyros, and gave them a magnificent burial.

They also raised to him statues and a temple; festivals and games were also inst.i.tuted in his honour, to commemorate the actions of a hero who had rendered such signal services to the Athenian people.

_Leonarde._ "'Tis one of those bright fictions that have made The name of Greece only another word, For love and poetry: with a green earth, Groves of the graceful myrtle, summer skies, Whose stars are mirrored in ten thousand streams, With winds that move in perfume and in music, And more than all, the gift of woman's beauty.

What marvel that the earth, the sky, the sea, Were filled with all those fine imaginings That love creates, and that the lyre preserves!

_Alvine._ But for the history of that pale girl Who stands so desolate on the sea-sh.o.r.e?

_Leonarde._ She was the daughter of a Cretan king-- A Tyrant. Hidden in the dark recess Of a wide labyrinth, a monster dwelt, And every year was human tribute paid By the Athenians. They had bowed in war; And every spring the flowers of all the city, Young maids in their first beauty, stately youths, Were sacrificed to the fierce king! They died In the unfathomable den of want, Or served the Minotaur for food. At length There came a royal youth, who vowed to slay The monster or to peris.h.!.+ Look, Alvine, That statue is young Theseus!

_Alvine._ Glorious!

How like a G.o.d he stands, one haughty hand Raised in defiance! I have often looked {201} Upon the marble, wondering it could give Such truth to life and majesty.

_Leonarde._ You will not marvel Ariadne loved.

She gave the secret clue that led him safe Throughout the labyrinth, and she fled with him.

_Alvine._ Ah! now I know your tale: he proved untrue-- This ever has been woman's fate, to love, To know one summer day of happiness, And then to be most wretched!

_Leonarde._ She was left By her so heartless lover while she slept.

She woke from pleasant dreams--she dreamt of him-- Love's power is left in slumber--woke and found Herself deserted on the lonely sh.o.r.e.

The bark of the false Theseus was a speck Scarce seen upon the waters, less and less, Like hope diminis.h.i.+ng, till wholly past.

I will not say, for you can fancy well, Her desolate feelings as she roamed the beach, Hurled from the highest heaven of happy love!

But evening crimsoned the blue sea, a sound Of music and of mirth, came on the wind, And radiant shapes and laughing nymphs danced by, And he the Theban G.o.d, looked on the maid, And looked and loved, and was beloved again.

He has just flung her starry crown on high, And bade it there, a long memorial s.h.i.+ne, How a G.o.d loved a mortal--He is springing From out his golden car, another bound, Bacchus is by his Ariadne's side."

L. E. L.

[Ill.u.s.tration]

Theseus married Phaedra, daughter of Minos, sister of the unfortunate Ariadne whom he had left to perish. Phaedra, however, unhappily, felt a guilty love for Hippolytus, son of Theseus by a previous union. Venus, having a dislike to Minos, the father of Phaedra, sent Cupid to pierce her with his shafts. {202}

For a long time she struggled with the pangs which raged within her, but they grew too fierce to be endured, and she revealed to him her love.

_Phae._ "'My lord, 'tis said you soon will part from us.

_Hip._ Madam!

_Phae._ I pray you do not leave us!

_Hip._ My duty, lady!--

_Phae._ Would that that duty, were in pleasing me;

_Hip._ To please you, lady, were my highest wish, To gain your love, my highest privilege.

_Phae._ To gain my love?

_Hip._ Aye, madam!

_Phae._ Hippolytus! the fearful truth will out, _My love is gained_!

_Hip._ I hope, indeed so,--as a mother.

_Phae. aside_--(How coldly doth _he_ speak, while thro' _my_ veins The hot blood bounds in fierce convulsive starts.) Not as a mother do I love thee, But--as a woman--now my breast is free Of the stern secret which so long hath burned And given a fever to my very looks.

_Hip._ Madam! I do not understand you;

_Phae._ You must! fierce, burning love is mine, For you, Hippolytus, the son of Theseus!

_Hip._ And you his wife?

_Phae._ Aye, boy, 'tis even so; Nay, look not so:--I say Hippolytus, That from the very hour I saw, I loved thee; That from the very moment that thy voice Rang in my ears, it entered in my heart, That from the hour I was Theseus' wife, Even at the altar, where my plight was vowed, My thoughts were all of thee. Speak, speak, and say Thou dost not hate me.

_Hip._ Some sudden frenzy hath upset thy brain-- Thou knowest not what thou speakest.

_Phae._ I am not mad! would to the G.o.ds I were-- Think not that I have yielded willingly, Unto the pa.s.sion which I now avow, Daily, and hourly, have I striven against it: And night by night, when visions and when dreams Pressed on my brain in many a confused shape, All bearing one image, and that image thine, I have striven, wrestled, fought against this love, But all in vain.

_Hip._ I scarcely dare believe mine ears, a dream Seems on me, like a man in sleep, A ma.s.s of dim confusion gathers round me; Am I indeed Hippolytus, and art thou Phaedra?

_Phae._ I am thy Phaedra! Theseus has my hand, But thou, Hippolytus, thou hast my heart.

_Hip._ Theseus--my father--