On Mount Helicon, the home of the Muses and Pegasus, was the fountain Hippocrene, which was opened by a kick from the hoof of Pegasus. Poems:-- Pegasus in Pound HENRY W. LONGFELLOW Bellerophon in Argos and in Lycia WILLIAM MORRIS Pegasus in Harness SCHILLER LXI The most famous soothsayer was Melampus, who was also the first mortal endowed with prophetic powers. The story is told that before his house stood an oak tree containing a nest of serpents. The old serpents were killed by some servants, but Melampus took care of the young ones, and fed them carefully. One day when he was sleeping under the oak tree, the serpents licked his ears with their tongues; and when he awoke he was surprised to find that he now understood the languages of birds and creeping things. In this way he was able to foretell future events, and he became a celebrated soothsayer. Once Melampus was taken captive and put into prison; but he overheard the woodworms saying that the timbers of the prison were so nearly eaten through that the roof would soon fall in. He told this to his captors, who immediately took advantage of the warning and left the building; but not before they rewarded Melampus by setting him free. LXII The best description of Hercules's lament for Hylas is in Lang's translation of the thirteenth Idyl of Theocritus. Poem:-- Hylas BAYARD TAYLOR The naming of Jason's ship may have been after its builder, or from the city of Argos, or from the word "Argo," meaning swift or white. The story of the Symplegades may be a reference to the rolling and clashing of icebergs. The dove incident occurs in many ancient stories, from that of Noah down. Poems:-- Talking Oak ALFRED TENNYSON Life and Death of Jason WILLIAM MORRIS Æson and King Athamas FREDERICK TENNYSON LXIII Medea's preparations for her magic potion are like the incantations of the witches in Macbeth, Act IV, Sc. I. "Round about the caldron go; In the poison'd entrails throw. * * * * * Fillet of a fenny snake, In the caldron boil and bake; Eye of newt and toe of frog, Wool of bat and tongue of dog, Adder's fork and blind-worm's sting, Lizard's leg and howlet's wing: * * * * * Witches' mummy; maw and gulf Of the ravin'd salt-sea shark, Root of hemlock digg'd i' the dark," etc. LXIV Medea's sorceries were assisted by the prayers that she addressed to Hecate, a mysterious divinity who embodied the terrors of the darkness. She haunted cross roads and graveyards; and, being goddess of sorcery and witchcraft, wandered only by night and was seen only by dogs, whose barking told of her approach. Translations of the Medea of Euripides are by Augusta Webster, William C. Lawton, and Wodhull. LXV Poems on Atalanta:--