He was continually employed in deceiving the neighbouring nymphs, and often
with success. Though deformed in shape and features, he had the good
fortune to captivate Diana in the appearance of a beautiful white goat.
[Illustration]
His adventure with Omphale is amusing; while the latter was travelling with
Hercules, a sacrifice which was to take place on the following day, caused
Omphale and the hero to seek separate apartments. In the night, Pan
introduced himself, and went to the bed {118} of the queen; but there
seeing the lion's skin of Hercules, he fancied he had made a mistake, and
repaired to that of the hero; where the female dress which the latter had
adopted, deceived the rural God, and he laid himself down by his side. The
hero awoke, and kicked the intruder into the middle of the room. The noise
aroused Omphale, and Pan was discovered lying on the ground, greatly
discomfited and ashamed.
[Illustration]
The worship of Pan was well established, particularly in Arcadia, and his
statue was usually placed under the shadow of a pine-tree. Upon his altars
were laid both honey and milk, fit offerings for a rural divinity.
"With cloven feet and horned front who roves
With choirs of nymphs, amid the echoing groves;
He joins in active dance the virgin throng,
To Pan, the pastoral god, they raise the song.
"To Pan, with tangled locks, whose footsteps tread
Each snow-crowned hill, and mountain's lofty head;
Or wander careless through the lowly brake,
Or by the borders of the lucid lake."