  Bellerophon, grandson of Sisyphus, received from the gods both beauty and manliness, but the heavenly gifts wrought his ruin. Hardly had Queen Antia looked upon him before she forgot her duty to the king and tried to win him for a husband. When Bellerophon learned her purpose, he turned from her with abhorrence. Thereupon she determined to destroy him, and said to her husband: “Kill that profligate who has tried to make me faithless to thee.” The king’s heart was filled with anger when he learned this, and yet he was reluctant to kill the youth himself. So he wrote a letter and sent Bellerophon with it to his father-in-law, the prince of the rich country of Lycia, who extended hospitalities to him and gave a feast in his honor, which lasted several days. Bellerophon then took the letter, whose contents he did not understand, and gave it to the prince. He was amazed when he read that Bellerophon must die, and disliked to deprive so handsome a youth of his life. Finally he ordered him to fight with the dreadful ChimÆra, a monster having the fore part that of a lion, the middle that of a goat, and the hind part that of a dragon, which continually emitted fire from its jaws. The gods, compassionating the innocent one, sent Pegasus, the winged horse, to him, so that he could raise himself in the air. But he could not catch the horse. Wearied with his exertions, he slept by the edge of a spring. Athene appeared to him there, gave him a golden bridle, and said: “Make an offering to Poseidon, the sea god, and he will aid thee.” When the youth awoke he was holding the bridle in his hand. He at once made the offering and erected an altar to Athene. Then he started to catch the horse, which came to him of its own accord. He placed the golden bridle on it and in his brazen armor vaulted upon the back of the divine steed. It extended its wings at once and took him to the lair of the ChimÆra. Now the battle began. His steed sinking towards the earth, Bellerophon hurled a lance at the animal which penetrated deep into its back. Roaring with rage and pain, the monster reared its dragon body and emitted flames. But its exertions were useless, for Pegasus flew still farther upwards with the youth. It writhed upon the ground and sought to pull out the bronze spear with its jaws. Then it crawled over the fields, streaking them with blood. Bellerophon followed it, when suddenly it coiled itself up as if dead. But it did not deceive him. From on high he shot down a deadly arrow which pierced through its mane into its neck. It sprang up again, but could not reach the youth. Hardly had it sunk down to the ground before another arrow was driven through its eyes. Fearful was its roar. Men and beasts fled far away in terror, but Bellerophon was not afraid. Unerringly he shot the third arrow, which struck the monster between the vertebrÆ and pierced the marrow. Spouting fire and blood, it died. When Bellerophon returned from his battle, still harder tasks awaited him. He had first to encounter the famous Solymi and then the bold Amazons. With the aid of the gods he was victorious, but on his homeward way new danger awaited him. The king sent out a troop of his most valiant men against him and they approached the unsuspecting Bellerophon from an ambush. But it was of no avail, for after a short battle he overcame them. When he appeared before the prince, the latter said: “Surely thou art innocent and a favorite of the gods, else thou couldst not have escaped all these dangers.” He loved him from that moment and gave him his daughter to wife. Rich in possessions and honors, Bellerophon lived in Lycia. But his good fortune did not last long. He attempted to fly to heaven with Pegasus to participate in the assemblies of the gods. His efforts were useless and he lost their favor. Pegasus was frightened and threw his rider to the earth, who fell into a field called Aleius because he wandered in it blind the rest of his life. Joyless were his days and at last he died, his heart broken by sorrow. But Pegasus was placed among the stars. |
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