|
It was midday, and the sun stood equally distant from either
goal, when young Actaeon, son of King Cadmus, thus addressed
the youths who with him were hunting the stag in the mountains:
"Friends, our nets and our weapons are wet with the blood
of our victims; we have had sport enough for one day, and to-morrow
we can renew our labours. Now, while Phoebus parches the earth,
let us put by our implements and indulge ourselves with rest."
There was a valley thick enclosed with cypresses and pines,
sacred to the huntress queen, Diana. In the extremity of the
valley was a cave, not adorned with art, but nature had counterfeited
art in its construction, for she had turned the arch of its roof
with stones, as delicately fitted as if by the hand of man. A
fountain burst out from one side, whose open basin was bounded
by a grassy rim. Here the goddess of the woods used to come when
weary with hunting and lave her virgin limbs in the sparkling
water.
One day, having repaired thither with her nymphs, she handed
her javelin, her quiver, and her bow to one, her robe to another,
while a third unbound the sandals from her feet. Then Crocale,
the most skillful of them, arranged her hair, and Nephele, Hyale,
and the rest drew water in capacious urns.
While the goddess was thus employed in the labours of the
toilet, behold Actaeon, having quitted his companions, and rambling
about without any especial object, came to the place, led thither
by his destiny.
 As he presented himself at the
entrance of the cave, the nymphs, seeing a man, screamed and
rushed towards the goddess to hide her with their bodies. But
she was taller than the rest and overtopped them all by a head.
Such a colour as tinges the clouds at sunset or at dawn came
over the countenance of Diana thus taken by surprise. Surrounded
as she was by her nymphs, she yet turned half away, and sought
with sudden impulse for her arrows. As they were not at hand,
she dashed the water into the face of the intruder, adding these
words: "Now go and tell, if you can, that you have seen
Diana unapparelled."
Immediately a pair of branching stag's horns grew out of his
head, his neck gained in length, his ears grew sharp-pointed,
his hands became feet, his arms long legs, his body was covered
with a hairy spotted hide.
Fear took the place of his former boldness, and the hero fled.
He could not but admire his own speed; but when he saw his horns
in the water, "Ah, wretched me!" he would have said,
but no sound followed the effort. He groaned, and tears flowed
down the face which had taken the place of his own. Yet his consciousness
remained. What shall he do? Go home to seek the palace, or lie
hid in the woods? The latter he was afraid, the former he was
ashamed, to do.
While he hesitated the dogs saw him. First Melampus, a Spartan
dog, gave the signal with his bark, the Pamphagus, Dorceus, Lelaps,
Theron, Nape, Tigris, and all the rest, rushed after him swifter
than the wind. Over rocks and cliffs, through mountain gorges
that seemed impracticable, he fled and they followed. Where he
had often chased the stag and cheered on his pack, his packs
now chased him, cheered on by his huntsmen. He longed to cry
out, "I am Actaeon; recognize your master!" but the
words came not at his will. The air resounded with the bark of
the dogs.
Presently one fastened on his back, another seized his shoulder.
While they held their master, the rest of the pack came up and
buried their teeth in his flesh. He groaned -- not in a human
voice, yet certainly not in a stag's -- an falling on his knees,
raised his eyes, and would have raised his arms in supplication,
if he had them. His friends and fellow-huntsmen cheered on the
dogs and looked everywhere for Actaeon, calling on him to join
the sport. At the sound of his name he turned his head, and heard
them regret that he should be away. He earnestly wished he was.
He would have been well pleased to see the exploits of his dogs,
but to feel them was too much. They were all around him, rending
and tearing; and it was not 'til they had torn his life out that
the anger of Diana was satisfied.
|
