ild lay sleeping in his
mother's arms, and Althaia prayed that her son might grow up brave and
gentle, and be to her a comforter in the time of age and the hour of
death. Suddenly, as she yet spake, the Moirai stood before her. There
was no love or pity in their cold, grey eyes, and they looked down
with stern, unchanging faces on the mother and her child, and one of
them said, "The brand burns on the hearth, when it is burnt wholly,
thy child shall die." But love is swifter than thought, and the mother
snatched the burning brand from the fire, and quenched its flame in
water, and she placed it in a secret place where no hand but her own
might reach it.

So the child grew, brave of heart and sturdy of limb, and ever ready
to hunt the wild beasts or to go against the cities of men. Many great
deeds he did in the far-off Kolchian land, when the chieftains sailed
with Athamas and Ino to take away the golden fleece from King Aietes.
But there were greater things for him to do when he came again to
Kalydon, for his father, Oineus, had roused the wrath of the mighty
Artemis. There was rich banqueting in his great hall when his harvest
was ingathered, and Zeus and all the other gods feasted on the fat
burnt-offerings, but no gift was set apart for the virgin child of
Leto. Soon she requited the wrong to Oineus, and a savage boar was
seen in the land, which tore up the fruit-trees, and destroyed the
seed in the ground, and trampled on the green corn as it came up. None
dared to approach it, for its mighty tusks tore everything that
crossed its path. Long time the chieftains took counsel what they
should do, until Meleagros said, "I will go forth; who will follow
me?" Then from Kalydon and from the cities and lands round about came
mighty chieftains and brave youths, even as they had hastened to the
ship, Argo, when they sought to win the golden fleece from Kolchis.
With them came the Kouretes, who live in Pleuron, and among them were
seen Kastor and Polydeukes, the twin brethren, and Theseus, with his
comrade, Peirithoos, and Iason and Admetos. But more beautiful than
all was Atalante, the daughter of Schoineus, a stranger from the
Arcadian land. Much the chieftains sought to keep her from the chase,
for the maiden's arm was strong, and her feet swift, and her aim sure,
and they liked not that she should come from a far country to share
their glory or take away their name. But Meleagros loved the fair and
brave maiden, and sai