Stories from Greek Mythology

Book may have numerous typos, missing text, images, or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1867. Excerpt: ... III. Salt of % §cauttful f &vz . |SYCHE was a maiden of royal degree and matchless beauty. Her sisters, of whom she had two, though themselves beautiful, had no beauty at all to be compared to hers. She was the wonder of wonders, and the wonder of all. Great people and noble people and wise people came from all lands, far as well as near, to behold and admire her; and all, as they departed, returned only to celebrate their own wonder, not-- for that was impossible--to describe her glory. Venus, they even said, they knew only as a'tradition and an image, she was a reality; Venus might have appeared to others, not to them; and no picture of Venus equalled the beauty they had seen alive in her. Yet far and wide as her fame spread itself, and deep and genuine as was the admiration she created, no one who visited her ever sought to woo her, or make .offers to her father for her hand. Her sisters were married long ago to distant princes, while she remained at home unmatched and single, and was like to do so all her days. The thought of this, though it did not trouble her, oppressed her father sorely, and threatened soon to bring down his gray hairs with sorrow to the grave. That his lovely Psyche should be left alone behind him, ununited and undefended, and she and the kingdom which went along with her exposed a prey to the thousand and one enemies who, for the sake of it, would be ready to spoil her, was his continual heavy care and burden by night and day--an incessant tormenting anxiety, from which he could by no device escape. The very uncertainty of her fate was so intolerable, that he resolved, rather than endure it longer, to leave his kingdom and essay at once a pilgrimage to a far-off diviner, who was understood to know all secrets, and might be expected therefore to know he...