In a little town north of Delphi, and not very far from the sea, there
lived a young man named Admetus. He was the ruler of the town, and hence
was called its king; but his kingdom was so small that he could walk all
round it in half a day. He knew the name of every man and woman and
child in the town, and everybody loved him because he was so gentle and
kind and at the same time a king.
Late one day, when the rain was falling and the wind was blowing cold
from the mountains, a beggar came to his door. The man was ragged and
dirty and half starved, and Admetus knew that he must have come from
some strange land, for in his own country no one ever went hungry. So
the kind king took him into the house and fed him; and after the man had
bathed he gave him his own warm cloak, and bade the servants make a
place for him to sleep through the night.
In the morning Admetus asked the poor man his name, but he shook his
head and made no answer. Then Admetus asked him about his home and his
country; and all that the man would say was: "Make me your slave,
master! Make me your slave, and let me serve you for a year."
The young king did not need another servant. But he saw that the poorest
slave in the land was better off than this man, and so he took pity on
him. "I will do as you ask," he said. "I will give you a home and food
and clothing; and you shall serve me and be my slave for one year."
There was but little that the stranger knew how to do, and so he was
sent to the hills to take care of the king's sheep and goats. For a
whole year he tended the flocks, finding the greenest pastures and the
freshest water for them, and keeping the wolves away. Admetus was very
kind to him, as he was to all his servants, and the food and clothing
which he gave him were of the best in the land. But the stranger did not
tell his name nor say anything about his kindred or his home.
When a year and a day had passed, it so happened that Admetus was
walking out among the hills to see his sheep. All at once the sound of
music fell upon his ear. It was no such music as shepherds play, but
sweeter and richer than any he had ever heard before. He looked to see
where the sound came from. Ah! who was that sitting on the hilltop, with
the sheep around him listening to his music? Surely it was not his
shepherd?
It was a tall and handsome young man, clad in robes lighter and finer
than any king might wear. His face was as bright as sunbeams, and his
eyes gleamed like lightning. Upon his shoulder was a silver bow, from
his belt hung a quiver of sharp arrows, and in his hands was a golden
lyre. Admetus stood still and wondered. Then the stranger spoke:
"King Admetus," he said, "I am the poor beggar whom you fed--your slave
to whom you were so kind. I have served you, as I agreed, for a whole
year, and now I am going home. Is there anything I can do for you?"
"Yes," said Admetus; "tell me your name."
"My name is Apollo," was the answer. "Twelve months ago my father,
mighty Jupiter, drove me away from before his face and bade me go out
friendless and alone upon the earth; and he told me that I should not
turn again towards home until I had served a year as some man's slave. I
came to you, ragged and half starved, and you fed and clothed me; and I
became your slave, and you were as kind to me as though I were your son.
What shall I give you to reward you?"
"Lord of the Silver Bow," said the king, "I have all that any man can
want. I am happy in the thought that I have been of some help to you. I
can ask for nothing more."
"Very well," said Apollo; "but if the time should ever come when you
need my help, let me know."
Then the bright prince walked swiftly away, playing sweet music as he
went; and Admetus with glad heart returned to his home.