The Classic Myths in English Literature and in Art (2nd ed.) (1911). Bulfinch Thomas

      Its inclination for below;

      In vain, for a superior force,

      Applied at bottom, stops its course;

      Doomed ever in suspense to dwell,

      'Tis now no kettle, but a bell.

      A wooden jack, which had almost

      Lost by disuse the art to roast,

      A sudden alteration feels,

      Increased by new intestine wheels;

      And, what exalts the wonder more,

      The number made the motion slower;

      The flier, though 't had leaden feet,

      Turned round so quick you scarce could see 't;

      But slackened by some secret power,

      Now hardly moves an inch an hour.

      The jack and chimney, near allied,

      Had never left each other's side.

      The chimney to a steeple grown,

      The jack would not be left alone;

      But up against the steeple reared,

      Became a clock, and still adhered;

      And still its love to household cares

      By a shrill voice at noon declares,

      Warning the cook-maid not to burn

      That roast meat which it cannot turn.

      The groaning chair began to crawl,

      Like a huge snail, along the wall;

      There stuck aloft in public view,

      And with small change, a pulpit grew.

      A bedstead of the antique mode,

      Compact of timber many a load,

      Such as our ancestors did use,

      Was metamorphosed into pews,

      Which still their ancient nature keep

      By lodging folks disposed to sleep.

       64. Juno's Best Gift. What the queen of heaven deemed the greatest blessing reserved for mortals is narrated in the beautiful myth of Biton and Cleobis. One Cydippe, an ancient priestess of the white-armed goddess, had desired to behold the famous new statue of Hera at Argos. Her sons testified their affection for their mother by yoking themselves, since no oxen were at hand, to her chariot, and so dragging her through heat and dust many a weary league till they reached the temple, where stood the gold and ivory masterwork of Polyclitus. With admiration the devoted priestess and her pious sons were received by the populace crowding round the statue. The priest officiating in the solemn rites thought meet that so reverend a worshiper should herself approach the goddess, – ay, should ask of Hera some blessing on her faithful sons:

       65. Myths of Minerva. Minerva, as we have seen,79 presided over the useful and ornamental arts, both those of men – such as agriculture and navigation – and those of women – spinning, weaving, and needlework. She was also a warlike divinity, but favored only defensive warfare. With Mars' savage love of violence and bloodshed she, therefore, had no sympathy. Athens, her chosen seat, her own city, was awarded to her as the prize of a peaceful contest with Neptune, who also aspired to it. In the reign of Cecrops, the first king of Athens, the two deities had contended for the possession of the city. The gods decreed that it should be awarded to the one who produced the gift most useful to mortals. Neptune gave the horse; Minerva produced the olive. The gods awarded the city to the goddess, and after her Greek appellation, Athena, it was named.

       66. Arachne. In another contest, a mortal dared to come into competition with the gray-eyed daughter of Jove. This was Arachne, a maiden who had attained such skill in the arts of carding and spinning, of weaving and embroidery, that the Nymphs themselves would leave their groves and fountains to come and gaze upon her work. It was not only beautiful when it was done, but beautiful also in the doing. To watch her one would have said that Minerva herself had taught her. But this she denied, and could not bear to be thought a pupil even of a goddess. "Let Minerva try her skill with mine," said she. "If beaten, I will pay the penalty." Minerva heard this and was displeased. Assuming the form of an old woman, she appeared to Arachne and kindly advised her to challenge her fellow mortals if she would, but at once to ask forgiveness of the goddess. Arachne bade the old dame to keep her counsel for others. "I am not afraid of the goddess; let her try her skill, if she dare venture." "She comes," said Minerva, and dropping her disguise, stood confessed. The Nymphs bent low in homage and all the bystanders paid reverence. Arachne alone was unterrified. A sudden color dyed her cheek, and then she grew pale; but she stood to her resolve and rushed on her fate. They proceed to the contest. Each takes her station and attaches the web to the beam. Then the slender shuttle is passed in and out among the threads. The reed with its fine teeth strikes up the woof into its place and compacts the web. Wool of Tyrian dye is contrasted with that of other colors, shaded off into one another so adroitly that the joining deceives the eye. And the effect is like the bow whose long arch tinges the heavens, formed by sunbeams reflected from the shower,80 in which, where the colors meet they seem as one, but at a little distance from the point of contact are wholly different.

      Minerva wove the scene of her contest with Neptune (Poseidon). Twelve of the heavenly powers were represented, Jupiter, with august gravity, sitting in the midst. Neptune, the ruler of the sea, held his trident and appeared to have just smitten the earth, from which a horse had leaped forth. The bright-eyed goddess depicted herself with helmed head, her ægis covering her breast, as when she had created the olive tree with its berries and its dark green leaves.

      Fig. 52. Contest of Athena and Poseidon

      Amongst these leaves she made a Butterfly,

      With excellent device and wondrous slight,

      Fluttering among the olives wantonly,

      That seemed to live, so like it was in sight;

      The velvet nap which on his wings doth lie,

      The silken down with which his back is dight,

      His broad outstretchèd horns, his hairy thighs,

      His glorious colors, and his glistering eyes.

      Which

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