heaven. Straightway the walls of Megara fell, and the men of Crete
burst into the house of Nisos. So the city was taken, and Minos made
ready to go against the men of Athens, for on them also he sought to
take vengeance for the death of his son, Androgeos. But even as he
hastened to his ship, Skylla stood before him on the sea-shore. "Thy
victory is from me," she said, "where is the requital of my gift?"
Then Minos answered, "She who cares not for the father that has
cherished her has her own reward, and the gift which thou didst bring
me is beyond human recompense." The light southern breeze swelled the
outspread sail, and the ship of Minos danced gaily over the rippling
waters. For a moment the daughter of Nisos stood musing on the shore.
Then she stretched forth her arms, as with a low cry of bitter anguish
she said, "O Love, thy sting is cruel, and my life dies poisoned by
the smile of Aphrodite!" So the waters closed over the daughter of
Nisos, as she plunged in the blue depths; but the strife which vexes
the sons of men follows her still, when the eagle swoops down from the
clouds for his prey in the salt sea.

PHRIXOS AND HELLE.

Many, many years ago, there was a man called Athamas, and he had a
wife whose name was Nephele. They had two children--a boy and a girl.
The name of the boy was Phrixos, and his sister was called Helle. They
were good and happy children, and played about merrily in the fields,
and their mother, Nephele, loved them dearly. But by and by their
mother was taken away from them, and their father, Athamas, forgot all
about her, for he had not loved her as he ought to do. And very soon
he married another wife whose name was Ino, but she was harsh and
unkind to Phrixos and Helle, and they began to be very unhappy. Their
cheeks were no more rosy, and their faces no longer looked bright and
cheerful, as they used to do when they could go home to their mother,
Nephele, and so they played less and less, until none would have
thought that they were the same children who were so happy before
Nephele was taken away. But Ino hated these poor children, for she was
a cruel woman, and she longed to get rid of Phrixos and Helle, and she
thought how she might do so. So she said that Phrixos spoiled all the
corn, and prevented it from growing, and that they would not be able
to make any bread till he was killed. At last she persuaded Athamas
that he ought to kill Phrixos. But although Athamas cared nothing