o
welcomed him with rich banquets, and feasted him for nine days, and on
the tenth day he sought to know wherefore Bellerophon had come to the
Lykian land. Then Bellerophon took the tablet of Proetos and gave it
to the King, who saw on it grievous signs of toil and woe, of battles
and death. Presently the King spake, and said, "There are great
things which remain for thee to do, Bellerophon, but when thy toil is
over, high honor awaits thee here and in the homes of the bright
heroes." So the King sent him forth to slay the terrible Chimaera,
which had the face of a lion with a goat's body and a dragon's tail.
Then Bellerophon journeyed yet further towards the rising of the sun,
till he came to the pastures where the winged horse, Pegasos, the
child of Gorgo, with the snaky hair, was feeding, and he knew that if
he could tame the steed he should then be able to conquer the fierce
Chimaera.

Long time he sought to seize on Pegasos, but the horse snorted wildly
and tore up the ground in his fury, till Bellerophon sank wearied on
the earth and a deep sleep weighed down his eyelids. Then, as he
slept, Pallas Athene came and stood by his side, and cheered him with
her brave words, and gave him a philtre which should tame the wild
Pegasos. When Bellerophon awoke, the philtre was in his hand, and he
knew now that he should accomplish the task which the Lykian King had
given him to do. So, by the help of Athene, he mounted the winged
Pegasos and smote the Chimaera, and struck off his head, and with it he
went back, and told the King of all that had befallen him. But the
King was filled with rage, for he thought not to see the face of
Bellerophon again, and he charged him to go forth and do battle with
the mighty Solymi and the fair Amazons. Then Bellerophon went forth
again, for he dreamed not of guile and falsehood, and he dreaded
neither man nor beast that might meet him in open battle. Long time he
fought with the Solymi and the Amazons, until all his enemies shrank
from the stroke of his mighty arm, and sought for mercy. Glad of
heart, Bellerophon departed to carry his spoils to the home of the
Lykian King, but as he drew nigh to it and was passing through a
narrow dell where the thick brushwood covered the ground, fifty of the
mightiest Lykians rushed upon him with fierce shoutings, and sought to
slay him. At the first, Bellerophon withheld his hands, and said,
"Lykian friends, I have feasted in the halls of your King, and