or he remembered the trysting-hour-now gone by! Without a
word he turned and rushed forth madly through the city and the gate,
over the fields into the wood.

Spent of breath he reached the tree, and, listening fearfully, he heard
once more the low voice murmur:--

"Rhoecus!"

But as he looked he could see nothing but the deepening glooms beneath
the oak.

Then the voice sighed: "O Rhoecus, nevermore shalt thou behold me by day
or night! Why didst thou fail to come ere sunset? Why didst thou scorn
my humble messenger, and send it back to me with bruised wings? We
spirits only show ourselves to gentle eyes! And he who scorns the
smallest thing alive is forever shut away from all that is beautiful in
woods and fields. Farewell! for thou canst see me no more!"

Then Rhoecus beat his breast and groaned aloud. "Be pitiful," he cried.
"Forgive me yet this once!"

"Alas," the voice replied, "I am not unmerciful! I can forgive! But I
have no skill to heal thy spirit's eyes, nor can I change the temper of
thy heart." And then again she murmured, "Nevermore!"

And after that Rhoecus heard no other sound, save the rustling of the
oak's crisp leaves, like surf upon a distant shore.

DAPHNE

BY OVID (ADAPTED)

In ancient times, when Apollo, the god of the shining sun, roamed the
earth, he met Cupid, who with bended bow and drawn string was seeking
human beings to wound with the arrows of love.

"Silly boy," said Apollo, "what dost thou with the warlike bow? Such
burden best befits my shoulders, for did I not slay the fierce serpent,
the Python, whose baleful breath destroyed all that came nigh him?
Warlike arms are for the mighty, not for boys like thee! Do thou carry a
torch with which to kindle love in human hearts, but no longer lay claim
to my weapon, the bow!"

But Cupid replied in anger: "Let thy bow shoot what it will, Apollo, but
my bow shall shoot THEE!" And the god of love rose up, and beating the
air with his wings, he drew two magic arrows from his quiver. One was
of shining gold and with its barbed point could Cupid inflict wounds of
love; the other arrow was of dull silver and its wound had the power to
engender hate.

The silver arrow Cupid fixed in the breast of Daphne, the daughter of
the river-god Peneus; and forthwith she fled away from the homes of men,
and hunted beasts in the forest.

With the golden arrow Cupid grievously wounded Apollo, who fleeing to
the woods saw there the Nymph Dap