any analysis
yet found. The theme has touched the imagination of poets from the time
of Apollonius Rhodius, who wrote the 'Argonautica' and went to
Alexandria B.C. 194 to take care of the great library there, to William
Morris, who published his 'Life and Death of Jason' in 1867. Mr.
Morris's version of the contest of Orpheus with the Sirens is given to
illustrate the reality of the old legends to the Greeks themselves.
Jason's later life, his putting away of Medea, his marriage with Glauce,
and the revenge of the deserted princess, furnish the story of the
greatest of the plays of Euripides.

THE VICTORY OF ORPHEUS

From 'The Life and Death of Jason'

_The Sirens_:
Oh, happy seafarers are ye,
And surely all your ills are past,
And toil upon the land and sea,
Since ye are brought to us at last.

To you the fashion of the world,
Wide lands laid waste, fair cities burned,
And plagues, and kings from kingdoms hurled,
Are naught, since hither ye have turned.

For as upon this beach we stand,
And o'er our heads the sea-fowl flit,
Our eyes behold a glorious land,
And soon shall ye be kings of it.

_Orpheus_:
A little more, a little more,
O carriers of the Golden Fleece,
A little labor with the oar,
Before we reach the land of Greece.

E'en now perchance faint rumors reach
Men's ears of this our victory,
And draw them down unto the beach
To gaze across the empty sea.

But since the longed-for day is nigh,
And scarce a god could stay us now,
Why do ye hang your heads and sigh,
And still go slower and more slow?

_The Sirens_:
Ah, had ye chanced to reach the home
Your fond desires were set upon,
Into what troubles had ye come!
What barren victory had ye won!

But now, but now, when ye have lain
Asleep with us a little while
Beneath the washing of the main,
How calm shall be your waking smile!

For ye shall smile to think of life
That knows no troublous change or fear,
No unavailing bitter strife,
That ere its time brings trouble near.

_Orpheus_:
Is there some mur