Part 8 (2/2)
Homer (Bryant's tr.).
[Sidenote: The golden throne.]
Vulcan also devised a golden throne with countless hidden springs, which, when unoccupied, did not present an extraordinary appearance; but as soon as any one ventured to make use of it, the springs moved, and, the chair closing around the person seated upon it, frustrated all attempts to rise and escape from its treacherous embrace.
Vulcan dispatched this throne, when completed, to his mother, who, delighted with its beauty and delicate workmans.h.i.+p, proudly seated herself upon it, and found herself a prisoner. In vain she strove to escape, in vain the G.o.ds all gallantly rushed to her a.s.sistance. Their united strength and skill proved useless against the cunning springs.
[Ill.u.s.tration: FORGE OF VULCAN.--Velasquez. (Museum, Madrid.)]
Finally Mercury was sent to Vulcan, primed with a most diplomatic request to honor high Olympus with his presence; but all Mercury's eloquence and persuasions failed to induce the G.o.d of the forge to leave his sooty abode, and the messenger G.o.d was forced to return alone and report the failure of his attempt. Then the G.o.ds deliberated anew, and decided to send Bacchus, G.o.d of wine, hoping his powers of persuasion would prove more effective.
Armed with a flask of his choicest vintage, Bacchus presented himself before Vulcan, and offered him a refres.h.i.+ng draught. Vulcan, predisposed to thirst, and incited to drink by the very nature of his labor, accepted the offered cup, and allowed himself to be beguiled into renewing his potations, until he was quite intoxicated. In this condition, Bacchus led him pa.s.sive to Olympus, made him release the Queen of Heaven, and urged him to embrace his father and crave forgiveness.
Although restored to favor, Vulcan would not remain permanently in Olympus, but preferred to return to his forge and continue his labors. He undertook, however, the construction of magnificent golden palaces for each of the G.o.ds upon the Olympian heights, fas.h.i.+oned their sumptuous furniture from precious metals, and further embellished his work by a rich ornamentation of precious stones.
”Then to their starry domes the G.o.ds depart, The s.h.i.+ning monuments of Vulcan's art: Jove on his couch reclin'd his awful head, And Juno slumber'd on the golden bed.”
Homer (Pope's tr.).
Aided by the Cyclopes, Vulcan manufactured Jupiter's weapons, the dread thunderbolts, whose frightful power none could withstand, and Cupid's love-inspiring darts.
[Sidenote: Vulcan's loves.]
Vulcan, in spite of his deformity, extreme ugliness, and well-known aversion to any home but his sooty forge, was none the less p.r.o.ne to fall in love with the various G.o.ddesses. He first wooed Minerva, who, having sworn never to marry, contemptuously dismissed his suit. To console Vulcan for this rebuff, and at the same time punish the G.o.ddess of Beauty, who, according to some mythologists, had refused even his addresses, Jupiter bestowed upon him the fair hand of Venus, and sent her and her mischievous train of Loves and Graces to reside in the dark caves of Mount AEtna.
Amused by all the strange sights and sounds, the G.o.ddess at first seemed quite contented; but after a time Vulcan's gloomy abode lost all its attractions: so she forsook her ill-favored husband, and went in search of another, more congenial mate.
Some time after, Vulcan married one of the Graces, who, however, seems to have also soon wearied of his society, for she deserted him.
Vulcan's children were mostly monsters, such as Cacus, Periphetes, Cercyon, etc., all of whom play an important part in heroic mythology. He is also the reputed father of Servius Tullius, sixth king of Rome, by a slave Ocrisia, whom he was wont to visit in the guise of a bright flame, which played harmlessly about her.
Vulcan was wors.h.i.+ped by all blacksmiths and artisans, who recognized him as their special patron, and venerated him accordingly.
”Those who labor The sweaty forge, who edge the crooked scythe, Bend stubborn steel, and harden gleaming armor, Acknowledge Vulcan's aid.”
Prior.
Great festivals, the Vulca.n.a.lia and the Hephaestia, were celebrated in honor of this G.o.d, who is generally represented as a short, muscular man, with one leg shorter than the other, a workman's cap on his curly locks, a short upper garment, and a smith's tools in his hand.
CHAPTER XI.
NEPTUNE.
When Jupiter a.s.signed to each of his brothers a separate portion of the universe, he decreed that Neptune, or Poseidon, should govern all the waters upon the face of the earth, and be sole monarch of the ocean.
”Neptune, the mighty marine G.o.d, I sing; Earth's mover, and the fruitless ocean's king. That Helicon and th' AEgean deeps dost hold. O thou earth-shaker; thy command, twofold The G.o.ds have sorted; making thee of horses The awful tamer, and of naval forces The sure preserver. Hail, O Saturn's birth! Whose graceful green hair circles all the earth. Bear a benign mind; and thy helpful hand Lend all, submitted to thy dread command.”
Homer (Chapman's tr.).
Before this new ruler made his appearance, the t.i.tan Ocea.n.u.s had wielded the scepter of the sea; and regretfully he now resigned it to his youthful supplanter, whom he nevertheless admired sincerely, and described in glowing colors to his brothers.
”Have ye beheld the young G.o.d of the Seas, My dispossessor? Have ye seen his face? Have ye beheld his chariot, foam'd along By n.o.ble winged creatures he hath made? I saw him on the calmed waters scud, With such a glow of beauty in his eyes, That it enforc'd me to bid sad farewell To all my empire.”
Keats.
[Ill.u.s.tration: FOUNTAIN OF NEPTUNE.--Bologna. (Bologna.)]
[Sidenote: Neptune's exile.]
Neptune, the personification as well as the G.o.d of the sea, was of an exceedingly encroaching disposition. Dissatisfied with the portion allotted him, he once conspired to dethrone Jupiter; but, unfortunately for the success of his undertaking, his plot was discovered before he could put it into execution, and Jupiter, in punishment for his temerity, exiled him to earth. There he was condemned to build the walls of Troy for Laomedon, king of that city, who, in return, promised a handsome compensation.
Apollo, also banished from heaven at that time, volunteered to aid Neptune by playing on his lyre, and moving the stones by the power of sweet sounds (p. 65). The task satisfactorily ended, Laomedon, an avaricious and dishonest king, refused the promised guerdon, whereupon Neptune created a terrible monster, which came upon the sh.o.r.e, devoured the inhabitants, devastated everything within his reach, and inspired all with great terror.
”A great serpent from the deep, Lifting his horrible head above their homes, Devoured the children.”
Lewis Morris.
To save themselves from the awful death which threatened them all, the Trojans consulted an oracle, who advised the sacrifice of a beautiful virgin, and promised the monster would disappear as soon as he had devoured the appointed victim.
[Sidenote: Story of Hesione.]
A young girl was therefore chosen by lot, led down to the seash.o.r.e, and chained by the priest's own hands to a slimy rock. As soon as her mourning friends had forsaken her, the hideous serpent came out of his lair in the waves, and devoured her; then he vanished, and nothing more was heard of him for a whole year, at the end of which time he reappeared, and resumed his former depredations, which were only checked by the sacrifice of a second virgin.
Year after year, however, he returned, and year after year a fair girl was doomed to perish, until finally the lot fell upon Hesione, the king's only daughter. He could not bear the thought of the terrible fate awaiting her, and tried every means in his power to save her. As a last resort he sent heralds to publish far and wide that the king would give a great reward to any man who would dare attack and succeed in slaying the monster.
Hercules, on his return from the scene of one of his stupendous labors, heard the proclamation, and, with no other weapon than the oaken club he generally carried, slew the monster just as he was about to drag poor Hesione down into his slimy cave. Laomedon was, of course, overjoyed at the monster's death, but, true to his nature, again refused the promised reward, and by his dishonesty incurred the hatred and contempt of this hero also. Some time after, having finished his time of servitude with Eurystheus, Hercules, aided by a chosen band of adventurers, came to Troy to punish him for his perfidy. The city was stormed and taken, the king slain, and his wife and children carried to Greece as captives. There Hesione became the bride of Telamon; while her brother Podarces, later known as Priam, was redeemed by his people and made King of Troy.
Laomedon's failure to pay his just debts was the primary cause of the enmity which Apollo and Neptune displayed towards the Trojans during their famous war with the Greeks (p. 305).
[Sidenote: Neptune's contests.]
Their term of exile ended, the G.o.ds were reinstated in their exalted positions, and hastened to resume their former occupations; but, in spite of the severe lesson just received, Neptune was not yet cured of his grasping tendencies. Not long after his return from Troy, he quarreled with Minerva for the possession of the then recently founded city of Athens, then nameless, and entered into the memorable contest in which he was signally defeated (p. 57). He also disputed the sovereignty of Troezene with Minerva, and that of Corinth with Apollo. In the latter instance, the disputants having chosen Briareus as umpire, the prize was awarded to him as the most powerful of all the G.o.ds except Jupiter.
[Sidenote: Neptune's power.]
As G.o.d of the sea, Neptune did not generally remain in Olympus, but dwelt way down in the coral caves of his kingdom, over which he ruled with resistless sway. By one word he could stir up or calm the wildest storm, and cause the billows to roar with fury or subside into peaceful ripples.
”He spake, and round about him called the clouds And roused the ocean,--wielding in his hand The trident,--summoned all the hurricanes Of all the winds, and covered earth and sky At once with mists, while from above the night Fell suddenly.”
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