=38.= Of the =Lesser Divinities of Heaven= the most worthy of mention are: 1. _Cupid (Eros)_, small but mighty god of love, the son of Venus and her constant companion. He was often represented with eyes covered because of the blindness of his actions. With his bow and arrows, he shot the darts of desire into the bosoms of gods and men. Another deity named _Anteros_, reputed the brother of Eros, was sometimes represented as the avenger of slighted love, and sometimes as the symbol of reciprocal affection. Venus was also attended at times by another brother of Eros, _Himeros_, or Longing, and by _Hymen_, a beautiful youth of divine descent, the personification of the wedding feast and leader of the nuptial chorus. Of Eros the poet Gosse writes: [Illustration: FIG. 21. EROS] Within a forest, as I strayed Far down a somber autumn glade, I found the god of love; His bow and arrows cast aside, His lovely arms extended wide, A depth of leaves above, Beneath o'erarching boughs he made A place for sleep in russet shade. His lips, more red than any rose, Were like a flower that overflows With honey pure and sweet; And clustering round that holy mouth, The golden bees in eager drouth Plied busy wings and feet; They knew, what every lover knows, There's no such honey-bloom that blows.[38] 2. _Hebe_, daughter of Jupiter and Juno, goddess of youth and cupbearer to the gods. According to one story, she resigned that office on becoming the wife of Hercules. According to another, Hebe was dismissed from her position in consequence of a fall which she met with one day when in attendance on the gods. Her successor was _Ganymede_, a Trojan boy whom Jupiter, in the disguise of an eagle, seized and carried off from the midst of his playfellows on Mount Ida, bore up to Heaven, and installed in the vacant place. 3. _The Graces_, daughters of Jove by Eurynome, daughter of Oceanus. They were goddesses presiding over the banquet, the dance, all social pleasures, and polite accomplishments. They were three in number,--Euphrosyne, Aglaia, and Thalia. Spenser describes the office of the Graces thus: These three on men all gracious gifts bestow Which deck the body or adorn the mind, To make them lovely or well-favored show; As comely carriage, entertainment kind, Sweet semblance, friendly offices that bind, And all the complements of courtesy; They teach us how to each degree and kind We should ourselves demean, to low, to high, To friends, to foes; which skill men call civility. [Illustration: FIG. 22. RAPE OF GANYMEDE]