On an island in the sea, there lived a beautiful woman who had two
children, twins. The girl's name was Diana, the boy's Apollo.
It was a floating island. Neptune, the king of the sea, had placed four
marble pillars under it, and had fastened it with heavy chains.
The two children grew rapidly. Diana became tall and graceful. Jupiter,
king of heaven and earth, saw that she was very fair.
One day as Diana was walking through the forest, Jupiter met her and
spoke to her, saying, "Fair Diana, hereafter you shall be called Queen
of the Woods."
Diana, followed by her maids the wood nymphs, often wandered through the
forest. She took care of the deer and all helpless creatures, but she
hunted fierce animals.
Apollo, also, grew to be fair and strong.
Jupiter bestowed many gifts upon the youth. He gave Apollo a pair of
swans and a golden chariot, so that the boy could go anywhere, on land
or sea.
The most wonderful present that Jupiter gave to Apollo was a silver bow,
with sharp arrows which never missed the mark. Apollo prized the bow so
highly and used it so very skillfully, that he came to be called "Master
of the Silver Bow."