the maiden who rescued the tribute children from

the savage Minotauros.'

Then Ariadne went with him joyfully, for her own love made her think that Theseus loved her not less dearly. So she wept not as she saw the towers of Gnossos growing fainter and fainter while the ship sped over the dancing waters; and she thought only of the happy days which she should spend in the bright Athens where Theseus should one day be king. Gaily the ship sped upon her way, and there was laughter and mirth among the youths and maidens who were going back to their home. And Theseus sat by the side of Ariadne, speaking the words of a deeper love than in truth he felt, and fancying that he loved the maiden even as the maiden loved him. But while yet he gazed on the beautiful Ariadne, the image of Aiglê came back to his mind, and the old love was wakened again in his heart. Onward sailed the ship, cleaving its way through the foaming waters, by the islands of Thêra and Amorgos, till the high cliffs of Naxos broke upon their sight.

The sun was sinking down into the sea when they came to its winding shores, and the seamen moored the ship to the land, and came forth to rest until the morning. There they feasted gaily on the beach, and Theseus talked with Ariadne

until the moon was high up in the sky. So they slept through the still hours of night; but when the sun was risen, Ariadne was alone upon the sea-shore. In doubt and fear, she roamed along the beach, but she saw no one; and there was no ship sailing on the blue sea. In many a bay and nook she sought him, and she cried in bitter sorrow, Ah, Theseus, Theseus, hast thou forsaken me?' Her feet were wounded by the sharp flints, her limbs were faint from very weariness, and her eyes were dim with tears. Above her rose the high cliffs like a wall, before her was spread the bright and laughing sea; and her heart sank within her, for she felt that she must die. Ah, Theseus,' she cried, 'have I done thee wrong? I pitied thee in the time of thy sorrow and saved thee from thy doom; and then I listened to thy fair words, and trusted them as a maiden trusts when love is first awakened within her. Yet hast thou dealt me a hard requital. Thou art gone to happy Athens, and it may be thou thinkest already of some bright maiden who there has crossed thy path; and thou hast left me here to die for weariness and hunger. So would not I requite thee for a deed of love and pity.'

36

Wearied and sad of heart, she sank down on the rock; and her long hair streamed over her fair

I

shoulders. Her hands were clasped around her knees, and the hot tears ran down her cheek; and she knew not that there stood before her one fairer and brighter than the sons of men, until she heard a voice which said, 'Listen to me, daughter of Minos. I am Dionysos, the lord of the feast and revel. I wander with light heart and the sweet sounds of laughter and song over land and sea; I saw thee aid Theseus when he went into the labyrinth to slay the Minotauros. heard his fair words when he prayed thee to leave thy home and go with him to Athens. I saw him this morning, while yet the stars twinkled in the sky, arouse his men and sail away in his ship to the land of Egeus; but I sought not to stay him, for, Ariadne, thou must dwell with me. Thy love and beauty is a gift too great for Theseus; but thou shalt be the bride of Dionysos. Thy days shall be passed amidst feasts and banquets; and when thy life is ended here, thou shalt go with me to the homes of the undying gods, and men shall see the crown of Ariadne in the heavens when the stars look forth at night from the dark sky. Nay, weep not, Ariadne; thy love for Theseus hath been but the love of a day, and I have loved thee long before the black-sailed ship brought him from poor and rugged Athens.'

Then Ariadne wept no more, and in the arms of Dionysos she forgot the false and cruel Theseus; so that among the matrons who thronged round the joyous wine god, the fairest and the most joyous was Ariadne the daughter of Minos.

NARCISSUS.

N the banks of Kephisos, Echo saw and loved

ON

the

the beautiful Narcissus; but the youth cared not for the maiden of the hills, and his heart was cold to the words of her love, for he mourned for his sister 37 whom Hermes had taken away beyond the Stygian river. Day by day he sat alone by the stream side, sorrowing for the bright maiden whose life was bound up with his own, because they had seen the light of the sun in the selfsame day; and thither came Echo and sat down by his side, and sought in vain to win his love. Look on me and see,' she said; I am fairer than the sister for whom thou dost mourn.' But Narcissus answered her not, for he knew that the maiden would ever have something to say against his words. So he sat silent and looked down into the stream, for there he saw his own face in the clear water, and it was to him as the face of his sister for whom he pined away in sorrow; and his grief became less bitter as he seemed to see again her soft blue eye, and almost to hear the words which