and all of them heroic maids too. He did those labors of his, too, and
slew many a furious monster. But the goal of his career was always a
noble leisure, and for that reason he has gained entrance to Olympus.
Not so, however, with this Prometheus, the inventor of education and
enlightenment. To him you owe it that you can never be quiet and are
always on the move. Hence it is also, when you have absolutely nothing
to do, that you foolishly aspire to develop character and observe and
study one another. It is a vile business. But Prometheus, for having
misled man to toil, now has to toil himself, whether he wants to or
not. He will soon get very tired of it, and never again will he be
freed from his chains."

When the spectators heard this, they broke out into tears and jumped
upon the stage to assure their father of their heartfelt sympathy. And
thus the allegorical comedy vanished.

CONSTANCY AND PLAY

"Of course you are alone, Lucinda?"

"I do not know--perhaps--I think--"

"Please! please! dear Lucinda. You know very well that when little
Wilhelmina says 'please! please!' and you do not do at once what she
wants, she cries louder and louder until she gets her way."

"So it was to tell me that that you rushed into my room so out of
breath and frightened me so?"

"Do not be angry with me, sweet lady, I beg of you! Oh, my child!
Lovely creature! Be a good girl and do not reproach me!"

"Well, I suppose you will soon be asking me to close the door?"

"So? I will answer that directly. But first a nice long kiss, and then
another, and then some more, and after that more still."

"Oh! You must not kiss me that way--if you want me to keep my senses!
It makes one think bad thoughts."

"You deserve to. Are you really capable of laughing, my peevish lady?
Who would have thought so? But I know very well you laugh only because
you can laugh at me. You do not do it from pleasure. For who ever
looked so solemn as you did just now--like a Roman senator? And you
might have looked ravishing, dear child, with those holy dark eyes,
and your long black hair shining in the evening sunlight--if you had
not sat there like a judge on the bench. Heavens! I actually started
back when I saw how you were looking at me. A little more and I should
have forgotten the most important thing, and I am all confused. But
why do you not talk? Am I disagreeable to you?"

"Well, that _is_ funny, you surly Julius. As if you ever let any one
s