After this, Apollo lost the young Cyparissus, who had replaced Hyacinth in
his favour, and guarded his flocks; this young shepherd having slain by
accident a stag of which Apollo was fond, expired of grief, and was changed
into the tree which bears his name.
Apollo now attached himself to the sybil of Cumes, and granted to her the
boon of prolonging her life as many years as there were grains in a handful
of sand which she held. But she lived to repent of this frightful gift.
Alone in the world, her friends departed, and none to remind {40} her of
the days of the past, she implored the Gods to release her from the misery
which overwhelmed her. Cassandra, daughter of Priam, consented to her
prayer, if Apollo would grant to her the power of divination. Apollo
agreed, and swore to the truth of his promise by the river Styx. Scarcely
had he uttered the oath, than the gods, who could not absolve him from it,
rallied him on his folly. Irritated at the ridicule they poured upon him,
he added to this gift, the restriction, that she should never believe her
own prophecies. After this he again yielded to the power of love, and
sought to please Clymene, who was the mother of Phaeton. To this nymph
succeeded the chaste Castalia, whom he pursued to the very foot of
Parnassus, where the Gods metamorphosed her into a fountain. As Apollo was
lamenting his loss on the bank of that river, he heard an exquisite melody
escaping from the depth of the wood. He approached the place from whence
the sound seemed to issue, and recognized the nine muses, children of
Jupiter and Mnemosyne.
[Illustration]
"Mnemosyne, in the Pierian grove,
The scene of her intrigue with mighty Jove,
The empress of Eleuther, fertile earth,
Brought to Olympian Jove the Muses forth;
Blessed offsprings, happy maids, whose powerful art
Can banish cares, and ease the painful heart.
* * * * * *
Clio begins the lovely tuneful race,
Which Melpomene and Euterpe grace;
Terpischore, all joyful in the choir,
And Erato, to love whose lays inspire;
To these Thalia and Polymnia join,
Urania and Calliope divine."