On this coverlet of purple were embroidered various scenes illustrating the lessons of heroism and justice that the poet would inculcate: to the good falleth good; to the evil, evil speedily. Therefore, the story of Theseus and Ariadne, which has already been recounted, was here displayed in cunning handiwork. For Theseus, the false lover, bold of hand but bad of heart, gained by retributive justice undying ruth and misery; whereas Ariadne, the injured and innocent, restored to happiness, won no less a reward than Bacchus himself. Gorgeously woven with such antique and heroic figures was the famous quilt upon the couch of Thetis. For a season the wedding guests feasted their eyes upon it. Then when Thessaly's youth, long gazing, had of the wonder Their content, they gan give place to the lords of Olympus. As when Zephyr awakes the recumbent billows of ocean, Roughens the placid deep with eager breath of the morning, Urges the waves, and impels, to the threshold of journeying Ph[oe]bus,-- They, at first, blown outward unroughly when Dawn is a-rising, Limp slow-footed, and loiter with laughter lightsomely plashing, But, with the freshening gale, creep quicker and thicker together, Till on horizon they float refulgent of luminous purple,-- So from the portal withdrawing the pomp Thessalian departed Faring on world-wide ways to the far-off homes of their fathers. Now when they were aloof, drew nigh from Pelion's summit Chiron bearing gifts from copses and glades of the woodland-- Gifts that the meadows yield: what flowers on Thessaly's mountains, Or, by waves of the stream, the prolific breath of the West Wind, Warming, woos to the day, all such in bunches assorted Bore he. Flattered with odors the whole house brake into laughter. Came there next Peneüs, abandoning verdurous Tempe-- Tempe embowered deep mid superimpendent forests. And after the river-god, who bore with him nodding plane trees and lofty beeches, straight slim laurels, the lithe poplar, and the airy cypress to plant about the palace that thick foliage might give it shade, followed Prometheus, the bold and cunning of heart, wearing still the marks of his ancient punishment on the rocks of Caucasus. Finally the father of the gods himself came, with his holy spouse and his offspring,--all, save Ph[oe]bus and his one sister, who naturally looked askance upon a union to be productive of untold misfortune to their favored town of Troy. [Illustration: FIG. 148. THE GODS BRING WEDDING GIFTS]