and low for
the poor boy, he saw nothing but the bird-like feathers afloat on the
water, and he knew that Icarus was drowned.

The nearest island he named Icaria, in memory of the child; but he, in
heavy grief, went to the temple of Apollo in Sicily, and there hung up his
wings as an offering. Never again did he attempt to fly.

PHAETHON

By Josephine Preston Peabody

Once upon a time, the reckless whim of a lad came near to destroying the
Earth and robbing the spheres of their wits.

There were two playmates, said to be of heavenly parentage. One was
Epaphus, who claimed Zeus as a father; and one was Phaethon, the earthly
child of Phoebus Apollo (or Helios, as some name the sun-god). One day
they were boasting together, each of his own father, and Epaphus, angry at
the other's fine story, dared him to go prove his kinship with the Sun.

Full of rage and humiliation, Phaethon went to his mother, Clymene, where
she sat with his young sisters, the Heliades.

"It is true, my child," she said, "I swear it in the light of yonder Sun.
If you have any doubt, go to the land whence he rises at morning and ask
of him any gift you will; he is your father, and he cannot refuse you."

As soon as might be, Phaethon set out for the country of sunrise. He
journeyed by day and by night far into the east, till he came to the
palace of the Sun. It towered high as the clouds, glorious with gold and
all manner of gems that looked like frozen fire, if that might be. The
mighty walls were wrought with images of earth and sea and sky. Vulcan,
the smith of the Gods, had made them in his workshop (for Mount AEtna is
one of his forges, and he has the central fires of the earth to help him
fashion gold and iron, as men do glass). On the doors blazed the twelve
signs of the Zodiac, in silver that shone like snow in the sunlight.
Phaethon was dazzled with the sight, but when he entered the palace hall
he could hardly bear the radiance.

In one glimpse through his half-shut eyes, he beheld a glorious being,
none other than Phoebus himself, seated upon a throne. He was clothed in
purple raiment, and round his head there shone a blinding light, that
enveloped even his courtiers upon the right and upon the left,--the
Seasons with their emblems, Day, Month, Year, and the beautiful young
Hours in a row. In one glance of those all-seeing eyes, the sun-god knew
his child; but in order to try him he asked the boy his errand.

"O my father