201. The Story of Phaethon

The Story of Phaethon

Phaethon asked his father the Sun God for his chariot for one day.

As Phaethon, full of confidence in himself, was examining and admiring the chariot, far in the crimsoning east wakeful Dawn threw wide the shining doors of her rosefilled chambers. The stars flew away, the Morning Star leaving his post in heaven last of all. When the Sun God saw this star setting, the sky reddening, and the horns of the vanishing moon fading from sight --- his horses were led out --- breathing fire.

Phaethon leaped into the chariot. But the Sun's horses felt their burden too light --- and so the chariot was thrown about as if empty. The horses raced away no longer following their usual course. Now soaring up to the heights of the sky, now hurtling down its steep incline close to the earth.

The earth caught fire. Starting with the highest parts. With all its moisture dried up, it split and cracked in gaping fissures. Meadows turned ashy grey, trees, leaves all consumed. Withered crops provided fuel for their own destruction. But these are trifles compared with the rest. Great cities perished, whole nations reduced to ashes --- Phaethon saw every part of the world on fire ---

202. Narcissus and Echo

Narcissus and Echo (condensed version)

Narcissus now had reached his sixteenth year
And seemed both man and boy, and many a youth
And many a girl desired him, ---
Now when she (Echo) saw Narcissus wandering
In the green byways, Echo's heart was fired;
--
There was a pool --
The boy lay down, charmed by the quiet pool
Spellbound he saw himself,
His face so fine, his ivory neck, his cheeks
Himself he longed for
How often in vain he kissed the cheating pool
On the green grass
He drooped his weary head, and those bright eyes
That loved their master's beauty closed in death
And in its stead the Dryads and Naiads (woodland nymphs) found a flower - behold
White petals clustered round a cup of gold
Poor Echo shamed and rejected, in the woods and hills around she hides,
For all to hear, alive, but just a sound.