Then came that voice, like music, As fresh as the morning air, "How is it with you, King Midas,

Rich in your answered prayer?"

And there, in the sunshine smiling,
Majestic as before,

Ruddy and young and glorious,

The Stranger stood once more.

"Take back your gift so terrible!
No blessing, but a curse!
One loving heart more precious is
Than the gold of the universe."

The Stranger listened—a sweeter smile Kindled his grave, bright eyes.

"Glad am I, O King Midas,

That you have grown so wise!

"Again your wish is granted;

More swiftly than before,

All you have harmed with the fatal touch You shall again restore."

He clasped his little daughter

Oh, joy!-within his arms,

She trembled back to her human self,

With all her human charms.

Across her face he saw the life

Beneath his kiss begin,

And steal to the charming dimple deep Upon her lovely chin.

Again her eyes grew blue and clear,
Again her cheek flushed red,

She locked her arms about his neck.
"My father dear!" she said.

Oh, happy was King Midas
Against his heart to hold

His treasure of love, more precious
Than a thousand worlds of gold!

THE STORY OF PEGASUS

BY M. C.

W

HEN Perseus struck off the head of the ter

rible Gorgon Medusa, it is said there sprang from her body a winged horse. This was the strange and beautiful animal now known in mythology as Pegasus, and the ancient poets and fable-writers told many stories concerning him.

Hardly was the fiery creature born, when he flew up into the heavens, and there became the horse of Jupiter, for whom he carried thunder and lightning. In course of time, however, Pegasus had a less powerful rider.

A young man named Hipponous happened to slay Bellerus, a Corinthian, and on this account was named Bellerophon; to save his life, he took refuge at the court of a king named Prætus. But here, also, Bellerophon got into trouble, and Prætus sent him to Iobates, king of Lycia, with private orders to have the young man slain at the first opportunity. To accomplish this, Iobates

sent Bellerophon to kill the dreadful, fire-breathing monster, Chimæra, firmly believing he would never return alive. There was a chance, too, that both might die, and thus Iobates would gain the love of his people, as well as the friendship of Prætus; for Chimæra had killed great numbers of the Lycians.

The fore part of Chimera's body was like a lion, the hind part like a dragon, and the rest like a goat. But, although his foe was so horrid and terrible, Bellerophon seems to have taken the matter very comfortably, for we hear of his falling asleep in the temple of the goddess Minerva, where he had gone to talk the fight over with one of the priests. This nap proved a piece of good luck; for the goddess was kind enough to appear to him in a dream, and tell him that, in order to kill Chimæra, he must manage to tame and ride Pegasus, and that he would find the horse at the Pirene spring, for there Pegasus loved to drink.

This famous spring of pure water supplied a great part of the town of Corinth. It was not the same as the spring Hippocrene, which we shall come to presently, and which is sometimes called the "Pierian" spring, from Pieria, the country in which it is situated.

To aid Bellerophon in conquering the horse, Minerva gave him a golden bridle. When he awoke, Bellerophon found this bridle by his side; and, as it proved his dream to be true so far, he started for the Pirene spring, and lay in wait there.

After a long time, the young man heard a loud fluttering of wings, and, looking up, he saw the wonderful horse hovering in the air. As Bellerophon had hidden himself very carefully, Pegasus, not seeing him, flew gracefully down to the fountain, drank of it, quietly stretched himself out and fell asleep. Then Bellerophon crept up softly, and suddenly leaped upon the creature's back. The shock awoke the winged horse, who never till then had felt the human touch. He sprang up in wild alarm, and rose, with quick wings, high into the air, doing his utmost to shake off his rider. But Bellerophon kept his seat, swung the golden bridle skilfully over his steed's head, and slipped the bit into his mouth. After that Pegasus submitted, and the young man could make him fly just as he wished.

Riding on his winged horse, Bellerophon boldly attacked and killed Chimæra, to the great joy of the Lycians, although Iobates and Prætus