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However, typos, omissions, and other errors may have occurred during preparation, and Heritage History does not guarantee a perfectly reliable reproduction. Original Copyright 1894 by R. E. Francillon 2 Distributed by Heritage History 2010 THE KINGDOM ................................................................ 46 TABLE OF CONTENTS ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE ............................................... 48 SATURN ............................................................................ 5 THE MAN WHO NEVER DIED .......................................... 50 THE GODS AND THE GIANTS ............................................. 6 THE ADVENTURES OF PERSEUS ....................................... 51 THE STORY OF PROMETHEUS AND PANDORA .................... 8 THE GOLDEN FLEECE ..................................................... 59 THE GREAT FLOOD; OR, THE STORY OF DEUCALION ...... 10 A LOST SECRET .............................................................. 67 THE STORIES OF LATONA AND NIOBE ............................. 12 THE CHAMPION OF ATHENS ............................................ 70 THE FLAYED PIPER; OR, THE STORY OF MARSYAS ......... 13 THE ORACLE ................................................................... 76 TOO MUCH GOLD; OR, THE FIRST STORY OF MIDAS ...... 15 HIS FIRST LABOR: THE LION .......................................... 78 THE CRITIC; OR, THE SECOND STORY OF MIDAS ............ 17 HIS SECOND LABOR: THE HYDRA................................... 79 THE LAUREL ................................................................... 18 HIS THIRD LABOR: THE STAG ......................................... 80 THE HYACINTH ............................................................... 20 HIS FOURTH LABOR: THE BOAR ..................................... 81 THE SUN-FLOWER .......................................................... 20 HIS FIFTH LABOR: THE AUGEAN STABLE ....................... 83 THE NARCISSUS .............................................................. 22 MORE LABORS: AND THE CATTLE OF GERYON............... 84 Presumption; or, The Story of Phaethon ....................... 23 HIS ELEVENTH LABOR: GARDEN OF THE HESPERIDES .... 87 DIANA; AND THE STORY OF ORION ................................ 25 HIS TWELFTH LABOR: THE DESCENT INTO HADES ......... 90 MINERVA; OR, WISDOM .................................................. 28 THE CHOICE OF HERCULES ............................................. 92 THE GOD OF FIRE ........................................................... 29 THE TUNIC OF NESSUS .................................................... 94 THE STORY OF CUPID AND PSYCHE ................................ 31 THE APPLE OF DISCORD .................................................. 98 MERCURY AND IRIS ........................................................ 40 NEPTUNE ........................................................................ 42 THE KING AND QUEEN OF THE DEAD .............................. 43 Original Copyright 1894 by R. E. Francillon 3 Distributed by Heritage History 2010 It is not in the remotest degree an obstacle to more PREFACE accurate knowledge, for which indeed it is an almost indispensable preparation. After these observations, there is These stories will, I trust, explain their own purpose; no occasion to explain why I have made a point of but a few words touching their form are due to critical employing Latin names and Latin spelling. readers. Another point to which I should call attention is the It will be seen that the Mythology adopted attempt to cover (within limits) the whole ground, so that throughout is strictly of the old-fashioned kind which goes the reader may not be left in ignorance of any considerable to Ovid as its leading authority, and ignores the difference tract of the realm of Jove. The stories are not detached; they between the gods of Greece and the gods of Rome. I have are brought, so far as I have been able to bring them, into a deliberately followed this plan because, while there is not single saga, free from inconsistencies and contradictions. the remotest fear—quite the contrary—that young people, Omissions owing to the necessarily prescribed limits will, I when or if they become scholars, will not be duly initiated think, always find a place to fall into. Altogether, the lines into the mysteries of scientific and comparative mythology, of the volume diverge so entirely from those of Kingsley, or there is considerable danger that the stories of the gods and Hawthorne, or any other story-teller known to me, that I heroes which have saturated literature, and have become may feel myself safe from the danger of fatal comparisons. essential portions of the thought and life of ages, may Of course this aim at a certain completeness has implied the become explained away only too thoroughly. It is easy for difficult task of selection among variants of the same story my readers to acquire the science of the subject hereafter; or incident. Sometimes I have preferred the most interesting, but where mythology is concerned, the poetry must come sometimes the version most consistent with the general plan. before the prose, and it will be a distinct loss for them if, But I have endeavored, as a rule, to adopt the most usual or under scientific teaching, they have never been familiar with familiar, as being most in accordance with my original the ancient stories as they were read by the makers of intention. literature in the prae-critical times. Without the mythology of the Latin poets, modern literature in all languages I need not, however, enumerate difficulties, which, if becomes almost a dead letter: hundreds of allusions become they are overcome, need no apology; and, if they are not, pointless, and thousands of substances fade into shadows. deserve none. The greatest and most obvious, the strict Of the three mythologies, the Greek, the Roman, and the observance of the "Maxima reverentia," will, and must Poetic or Conventional, I have selected the last, because— always remain, crucial. In this, at least, I trust I have among other reasons— succeeded, in whatever else I may have failed. These stories were begun for one who was very dear to me, and who was It is as useful, and as needful to be known, as the their first and best critic; and I shall be glad if what was others, on general grounds; begun, in hope, for him should be of use to others. It is more useful, and more needful, than the others, R. E. F. as a portion of literature and as an intellectual influence; NOTE.—Quantity is marked in proper names, when It is preferable as a means of exciting an interest in necessary, at their first occurrence. the subject; Original Copyright 1894 by R. E. Francillon 4 Distributed by Heritage History 2010 CHAPTER I Saturn had no children then, and he gave the promise. But sometime afterwards he married a goddess named Rhea, who was very good and very beautiful. They, too, had a great SATURN many children. But, alas! there was that terrible promise that Once upon a time, the Sky married the Earth. The poor Saturn had made to Titan. Saturn could not break his Sky's name was Coelus, and, the Earth's was Terra. They had a word, so he ate every child as soon as it was born. Of course great many children: one of these, the eldest, was called Titan, Rhea was very unhappy and miserable: it was worse, thought and another was called Saturn. she, than if he had only shut them underground. But there was the promise—and she did not know what to do. Terra, their mother Earth, was very good and kind; but their father, Coelus, was very unkind and cruel. He hated his But she thought and thought, and at last she hit on a own children, and shut them all up under ground, so that he plan. When her next child was born, she hid