IXION IN HEAVEN

By Benjamin Disraeli

 _ADVERTISEMENT_

 _'IXION, King of Thessaly, famous for its horses, married Dia, daughter of Deioneus, who, in consequence of his son- in-law's non-fulfilment of his engagements, stole away some of the monarch's steeds. Ixion concealed his resentment under the mask of friendship. He invited his father-in-law to a feast at Larissa, the capital of his kingdom; and when Deioneus arrived according to his appointment, he threw him into a pit which he had previously filled with burning coals. This treachery so irritated the neighbouring princes, that all of them refused to perform the usual ceremony, by which a man was then purified of murder, and Ixion was shunned and despised by all mankind. Jupiter had compassion upon him, carried him to Heaven, and introduced him to the Father of the Gods. Such a favour, which ought to have awakened gratitude in Ixion, only served to inflame his bad passions; he became enamoured of Juno, and attempted to seduce her. Juno was willing to gratify the passion of Ixion, though, according to others, ' &c. --Classical Dictionary, art. 'Ixion. '_

IXION IN HEAVEN

PART I. 

 _An Errant King_

THE thunder groaned, the wind howled, the rain fell in hissing torrents, impenetrable darkness covered the earth. A blue and forky flash darted amomentary light over the landscape. A Doric temple rose in the centre ofa small and verdant plain, surrounded on all sides by green and hangingwoods. 

'Jove is my only friend, ' exclaimed a wanderer, as he muffled himself upin his mantle; 'and were it not for the porch of his temple, this night, methinks, would complete the work of my loving wife and my dutifulsubjects. '

The thunder died away, the wind sank into silence, the rain ceased, andthe parting clouds exhibited the glittering crescent of the young moon. A sonorous and majestic voice sounded from the skies:--

'Who art thou that hast no other friend than Jove?' 'One whom allmankind unite in calling a wretch. ' 'Art thou a philosopher?'

'If philosophy be endurance. But for the rest, I was sometime a king, and am now a scatterling. ' 'How do they call thee? 'Ixion of Thessaly. '

'Ixion of Thessaly! I thought he was a happy man. I heard that he wasjust married. '

'Father of Gods and men! for I deem thee such, Thessaly is not Olympus. Conjugal felicity is only the portion of the immortals!'

'Hem! What! was Dia jealous, which is common; or false, which iscommoner; or both, which is commonest?'

'It may be neither. We quarrelled about nothing. Where there is littlesympathy, or too much, the splitting of a straw is plot enough for adomestic tragedy. I was careless, her friends stigmatised me as callous;she cold, her friends styled her magnanimous. Public opinion was allon her side, merely because I did not choose that the world shouldinterfere between me and my wife. Dia took the world's advice upon everypoint, and the world decided that she always acted rightly. However, life is life, either in a palace or a cave. I am glad you ordered it toleave off thundering. '

'A cool dog this. And Dia left thee? 'No; I left her. ' 'What, craven?'

'Not exactly. The truth is-----'tis a long story. 

I was over head and ears in debt. '

'Ah! that accounts for everything. Nothing so harassing as a want ofmoney! But what lucky fellows you mortals are with your _post-obits!_We Immortals are deprived of this resource. I was obliged to get up arebellion against my father, because he kept me so short, and could notdie. '

'You could have married for money. I did. ' 'I had no opportunity, therewas so little female society in those days. When I came out, there wereno heiresses except the Parcae, confirmed old maids; and no very richdowager, except my grandmother, old Terra. '

'Just the thing; the older the better. However, I married Dia, thedaughter of Deioneus, with a prodigious portion; but after the ceremonythe old gentleman would not fulfil his part of the contract withoutmy giving up my stud. Can you conceive anything more unreasonable? Ismothered my resentment at the time; for the truth is, my tradesmen allrenewed my credit on the strength of the match, and so we went onvery well for a year; but at last they began to smell a rat, and grewimportunate. I entreated Dia to interfere; but she was a paragon ofdaughters, and always took the side of her father. If she had only beendutiful to her husband, she would have been a perfect woman. At lastI invited Deioneus to the Larissa races, with the intention ofconciliating him. The unprincipled old man bought the horse that Ihad backed, and by which I intended to have redeemed my fortunes, andwithdrew it. My book was ruined. I dissembled my rage. I dug a pit inour garden, and filled it with burning coals. As my father-in-law andmyself were taking a stroll after dinner, the worthy Deioneus fell in, merely by accident. Dia proclaimed me the murderer of her father, and, as a satisfaction to her wounded feelings, earnestly requested hersubjects to decapitate her husband. She certainly was the best ofdaughters. There was no withstanding public opinion, an infuriatedrabble, and a magnanimous wife at the same time. They surrounded mypalace: I cut my way through the greasy-capped multitude, sword in hand, and gained a neighbouring Court, where I solicited my brother princesto purify me from the supposed murder. If I had only murdered a subject, they would have supported me against the people; but Deioneus being acrowned head, like themselves, they declared they would not countenanceso immoral a being as his son-in-law. And so, at length, after muchwandering, and shunned by all my species, I am here, Jove, in muchhigher society than I ever expected to mingle. '

'Well, thou art a frank dog, and in a sufficiently severe scrape. TheGods must have pity on those for whom men have none. It is evident thatEarth is too hot for thee at present, so I think thou hadst better comeand stay a few weeks with us in Heaven. ' 'Take my thanks for hecatombs, great Jove. Thou art, indeed, a God!'

'I hardly know whether our life will suit you. We dine at sunset; forApollo is so much engaged that he cannot join us sooner, and no dinnergoes off well without him. In the morning you are your own master, andmust find amusement where you can. Diana will show you some tolerablesport. Do you shoot?'

'No arrow surer. Fear not for me, Ęgiochus: I am always at home. Buthow am I to get to you?' 'I will send Mercury; he is the best travellingcompanion in the world. What ho! my Eagle!'

The clouds joined, and darkness again fell over the earth. 

'So! tread softly. Don't be nervous. Are you sick?'

'A little nausea; 'tis nothing. '

'The novelty of the motion. The best thing is a beefsteak. We will stopat Taurus and take one. '

'You have been a great traveller, Mercury?'

'I have seen the world. '

'Ah! a wondrous spectacle. I long to travel. '

'The same thing over and over again. Little novelty and much change. Iam wearied with exertion, and if I could get a pension would retire. '

'And yet travel brings wisdom. '

'It cures us of care. Seeing much we feel little, and learn how verypetty are all those great affairs which cost us such anxiety. '

'I feel that already myself. Floating in this blue aether, what thedevil is my wife to me, and her dirty Earth! My persecuting enemies seemso many pismires; and as for my debts, which have occasioned me so manybrooding moments, honour and infamy, credit and beggary, seem to mealike ridiculous. '

'Your mind is opening, Ixion. You will soon be a man of the world. Tothe left, and keep clear of that star. '

'Who lives there?'

'The Fates know, not I. Some low people who are trying to shine intonotice. 'Tis a parvenu planet, and only sprung into space within thiscentury. We do not visit them. '

'Poor devils! I feel hungry. '

'All right. We shall get into Heaven by the first dinner bolt. Youcannot arrive at a strange house at a better moment. We shall just havetime to dress. I would not spoil my appetite by luncheon. Jupiter keepsa capital cook. '

'I have heard of Nectar and Ambrosia. ' 'Poh! nobody touches them. They are regular old-fashioned celestial food, and merely put upon theside-table. Nothing goes down in Heaven now but infernal cookery. Wetook our chef from Proserpine. '

'Were you ever in Hell?'

'Several times. 'Tis the fashion now among the Olympians to pass thewinter there. ' 'Is this the season in Heaven?' 'Yes; you are lucky. Olympus is quite full. ' 'It was kind of Jupiter to invite me. ' 'Ay! hehas his good points. And, no doubt, he has taken a liking to you, whichis all very well. But be upon your guard. He has no heart, and is ascapricious as he is tyrannical. '

'Gods cannot be more unkind to me than men have been. '

'All those who have suffered think they have seen the worst. A greatmistake. However, you are now in the high road to preferment, so we willnot be dull. There are some good fellows enough amongst us. You willlike old Neptune. ' 'Is he there now?'

'Yes, he generally passes his summer with us. There is little stirringin the ocean at that season. ' 'I am anxious to see Mars. '

'Oh! a brute, more a bully than a hero. Not at all in the best set. These mustachioed gentry are by no means the rage at present in Olympus. The women are all literary now, and Minerva has quite eclipsed Venus. Apollo is our hero. You must read his last work. '

'I hate reading. '

'So do I. I have no time, and seldom do anything in that way but glanceat a newspaper. Study and action will not combine. '

'I suppose I shall find the Goddesses very proud?'

'You will find them as you find women below, of different dispositionswith the same object. Venus is a flirt; Minerva a prude, who fancies shehas a correct taste and a strong mind; and Juno a politician. As for therest, faint heart never won fair lady; take a friendly hint, and do notbe alarmed. '

'I fear nothing. My mind mounts with my fortunes. We are above theclouds. They form beneath us a vast and snowy region, dim and irregular, as I have sometimes seen them clustering upon the horizon's ridge atsunset, like a raging sea stilled by some sudden supernatural frostand frozen into form! How bright the air above us, and how delicateits fragrant breath! I scarcely breathe, and yet my pulses beat likemy first youth. I hardly feel my being. A splendour falls upon yourpresence. You seem, indeed, a God! Am I so glorious? This, this isHeaven!'

The travellers landed on a vast flight of sparkling steps oflapis-lazuli. Ascending, they entered beautiful gardens; windingwalks that yielded to the feet, and accelerated your passage by theirrebounding pressure; fragrant shrubs covered with dazzling flowers, thefleeting tints of which changed every moment; groups of tall trees, withstrange birds of brilliant and variegated plumage, singing and reposingin their sheeny foliage, and fountains of perfumes. 

Before them rose an illimitable and golden palace, with high spreadingdomes of pearl, and long windows of crystal. Around the huge portal ofruby was ranged a company of winged genii, who smiled on Mercury as hepassed them with his charge. 

'The Father of Gods and men is dressing, ' said the son of Maia. 'I shallattend his toilet and inform him of your arrival. These are your rooms. Dinner will be ready in half an hour. I will call for you as I go down. You can be formally presented in the evening. At that time, inspired byliqueurs and his matchless band of wind instruments, you will agree withthe world that Ęgiochus is the most finished God in existence. '

'Now, Ixion, are you ready?' 'Even so. What says Jove?' 'He smiled, butsaid nothing. He was trying on a new robe. By this time he is seated. Hark! the thunder. Come on!'

They entered a cupolaed hall. Seats of ivory and gold were ranged rounda circular table of cedar, inlaid with the campaigns against the Titans, in silver exquisitely worked, a nuptial present of Vulcan. The serviceof gold plate threw all the ideas of the King of Thessaly as to royalmagnificence into the darkest shade. The enormous plateau representedthe constellations. Ixion viewed the Father of Gods and men with greatinterest, who, however, did not notice him. He acknowledged the majestyof that countenance whose nod shook Olympus. Majestically robust andluxuriantly lusty, his tapering waist was evidently immortal, for itdefied Time, and his splendid auburn curls, parted on his foreheadwith celestial precision, descended over cheeks glowing with the purpleradiancy of perpetual manhood. 

The haughty Juno was seated on his left hand and Ceres on his right. Forthe rest of the company there was Neptune, Latona, Minerva, and Apollo, and when Mercury and Ixion had taken their places, one seat was stillvacant. 

'Where is Diana?' inquired Jupiter, with a frown. 

'My sister is hunting, ' said Apollo. 

'She is always too late for dinner, ' said Jupiter. 'No habit is lessGoddess-like. '

'Godlike pursuits cannot be expected to induce Goddess-like manners, 'said Juno, with a sneer. 

'I have no doubt Diana will be here directly, ' said Latona, mildly. 

Jupiter seemed pacified, and at that instant the absent guest returned. 

'Good sport, Di?' inquired Neptune. 

'Very fair, uncle. Mamma, ' continued the sister of Apollo, addressingherself to Juno, whom she ever thus styled when she wished to conciliateher, 'I have brought you a new peacock. '

Juno was fond of pets, and was conciliated by the present. 

'Bacchus made a great noise about this wine, Mercury, ' said Jupiter, 'but I think with little cause. What think you?'

'It pleases me, but I am fatigued, and then all wine is agreeable. '

'You have had a long journey, ' replied the Thunderer. 'Ixion, I am gladto see you in Heaven. '

'Your Majesty arrived to-day?' inquired Minerva, to whom the King ofThessaly sat next. 

'Within this hour. '

'You must leave off talking of Time now, ' said Minerva, with a severesmile. 'Pray is there anything new in Greece?'

'I have not been at all in society lately. '

'No new edition of Homer? I admire him exceedingly. '

'All about Greece interests me, ' said Apollo, who, although handsome, was a somewhat melancholy lack-a-daisical looking personage, with hisshirt collar thrown open, and his long curls theatrically arranged. 'All about Greece interests me. I always consider Greece my peculiarproperty. My best poems were written at Delphi. I travelled in Greecewhen I was young. I envy mankind. '

'Indeed!' said Ixion. 

'Yes: they at least can look forward to a termination of the ennui ofexistence, but for us Celestials there is no prospect. Say what theylike, immortality is a bore. '

'You eat nothing, Apollo, ' said Ceres. 

'Nor drink, ' said Neptune. 

'To eat, to drink, what is it but to live; and what is life but death, if death be that which all men deem it, a thing insufferable, and tobe shunned. I refresh myself now only with soda-water and biscuits. Ganymede, bring some. '

Now, although the _cuisine_ of Olympus was considered perfect, theforlorn poet had unfortunately fixed upon the only two articles whichwere not comprised in its cellar or larder. In Heaven, there was neithersoda-water nor biscuits. A great confusion consequently ensued; but atlength the bard, whose love of fame was only equalled by his horror ofgetting fat, consoled himself with a swan stuffed with truffles, and abottle of strong Tenedos wine. 

'What do you think of Homer?' inquired Minerva of Apollo. 'Is he notdelightful?'

'If you think so. '

'Nay, I am desirous of your opinion. '

'Then you should not have given me yours, for your taste is too fine forme to dare to differ with it. '

'I have suspected, for some time, that you are rather a heretic'

'Why, the truth is, ' replied Apollo, playing with his rings, 'I do notthink much of Homer. Homer was not esteemed in his own age, and ourcontemporaries are generally our best judges. The fact is, there arevery few people who are qualified to decide upon matters of taste. Acertain set, for certain reasons, resolve to cry up a certain writer, and the great mass soon join in. All is cant. And the present admirationof Homer is not less so. They say I have borrowed a great deal from him. The truth is, I never read Homer since I was a child, and I thought ofhim then what I think of him now, a writer of some wild irregular power, totally deficient in taste. Depend upon it, our contemporaries are ourbest judges, and his contemporaries decided that Homer was nothing. A great poet cannot be kept down. Look at my case. Marsyas said of myfirst volume that it was pretty good poetry for a God, and in answer Iwrote a satire, and flayed Marsyas alive. But what is poetry, and whatis criticism, and what is life? Air. And what is air? Do you know? Idon't. All is mystery, and all is gloom, and ever and anon from out theclouds a star breaks forth, and glitters, and that star is Poetry. '

'Splendid!' exclaimed Minerva. 

'I do not exactly understand you, ' said Neptune. 

'Have you heard from Proserpine, lately?' inquired Jupiter of Ceres. 

'Yesterday, ' said the domestic mother. 'They talk of soon joining us. But Pluto is at present so busy, owing to the amazing quantity ofwars going on now, that I am almost afraid he will scarcely be able toaccompany her. '

Juno exchanged a telegraphic nod with Ceres. The Goddesses rose, andretired. 

'Come, old boy, ' said Jupiter to Ixion, instantly throwing off all hischivalric majesty, 'I drink your welcome in a magnum of Maraschino. Damn your poetry, Apollo, and, Mercury, give us one of your goodstories. '

'Well! what do you think of him?' asked Juno. 

'He appears to have a fine mind, ' said Minerva. 

'Poh! he has very fine eyes, ' said Juno. 

'He seems a very nice, quiet young gentleman, ' said Ceres. 

'I have no doubt he is very amiable, ' said Latona. 

'He must have felt very strange, ' said Diana. 

Hercules arrived with his bride Hebe; soon after the Graces dropped in, the most delightful personages in the world for a _soiree_, so usefuland ready for anything. Afterwards came a few of the Muses, Thalia, Melpomene, and Terpsichore, famous for a charade or a proverb. Jupiterliked to be amused in the evening. Bacchus also came, but finding thatthe Gods had not yet left their wine, retired to pay them a visit. 

Ganymede announced coffee in the saloon of Juno. Jupiter was in superbgood humour. He was amused by his mortal guest. He had condescendedto tell one of his best stories in his best style, about Leda, not tooscandalous, but gay. 

'Those were bright days, ' said Neptune. 

'We can remember, ' said the Thunderer, with a twinkling eye. 'Theseyouths have fallen upon duller times. There are no fine women now. Ixion, I drink to the health of your wife. '

'With all my heart, and may we never be nearer than we are at present. '

'Good! i'faith; Apollo, your arm. Now for the ladies. La, la, la, la!la, la, la, la!'

The Thunderer entered the saloon of Juno with that bow which no Godcould rival; all rose, and the King of Heaven seated himself betweenCeres and Latona. The melancholy Apollo stood apart, and was sooncarried off by Minerva to an assembly at the house of Mnemosyne. Mercury chatted with the Graces, and Bacchus with Diana. The three Musesfavoured the company with singing, and the Queen of Heaven approachedIxion. 

'Does your Majesty dance?' she haughtily inquired. 

'On earth; I have few accomplishments even there, and none in Heaven. '

'You have led a strange life! I have heard of your adventures. '

'A king who has lost his crown may generally gain at least experience. '

'Your courage is firm. '

'I have felt too much to care for much. Yesterday I was a vagabondexposed to every pitiless storm, and now I am the guest of Jove. Whilethere is life there is hope, and he who laughs at Destiny will gainFortune. I would go through the past again to enjoy the present, andfeel that, after all, I am my wife's debtor, since, through her conduct, I can gaze upon you. '

'No great spectacle. If that be all. I wish you better fortune. '

'I desire no greater. '

'You are moderate. '

'I am perhaps more unreasonable than you imagine. '

'Indeed!'

Their eyes met; the dark orbs of the Thessalian did not quail before theflashing vision of the Goddess. Juno grew pale. Juno turned away. 

PART II. 

 _'Others say it was only a cloud. '_

 _A Mortal Among the Gods. _

MERCURY and Ganymede were each lolling on an opposite couch in theantechamber of Olympus. 

'It is wonderful, ' said the son of Maia, yawning. 'It is incredible, 'rejoined the cupbearer of Jove, stretching his legs. 

'A miserable mortal!' exclaimed the God, elevating his eyebrows. 

'A vile Thessalian!' said the beautiful Phrygian, shrugging hisshoulders. 

'Not three days back an outcast among his own wretched species!'

'And now commanding everybody in Heaven. ' 'He shall not command me, though, ' said Mercury. 

'Will he not?' replied Ganymede. 'Why, what do you think? only lastnight; hark! here he comes. '

The companions jumped up from their couches; a light laugh was heard. The cedar portal was flung open, and Ixion lounged in, habited in aloose morning robe, and kicking before him one of his slippers. 'Ah!'exclaimed the King of Thessaly, 'the very fellows I wanted to see!Ganymede, bring me some nectar; and, Mercury, run and tell Jove that Ishall not dine at home to-day. '

The messenger and the page exchanged looks of indignant consternation. 

'Well! what are you waiting for?' continued Ixion, looking round fromthe mirror in which he was arranging his locks. The messenger and thepage disappeared. 

'So! this is Heaven, ' exclaimed the husband of Dia, flinging himselfupon one of the couches; 'and a very pleasant place too. These worthyImmortals required their minds to be opened, and I trust I haveeffectually performed the necessary operation. They wanted to keep medown with their dull old-fashioned celestial airs, but I fancy I havegiven them change for their talent. To make your way in Heaven youmust command. These exclusives sink under the audacious invention ofan aspiring mind. Jove himself is really a fine old fellow, with somenotions too. I am a prime favourite, and no one is greater authoritywith Ęgiochus on all subjects, from the character of the fair sex orthe pedigree of a courser, down to the cut of a robe or the flavour of adish. Thanks, Ganymede, ' continued the Thessalian, as he took the gobletfrom his returning attendant. 

'I drink to your _bonnes fortunes_. Splendid! This nectar makes me feelquite immortal. By-the-bye, I hear sweet sounds. Who is in the Hall ofMusic?'

'The Goddesses, royal sir, practise a new air of Euterpe, the words byApollo. 'Tis pretty, and will doubtless be very popular, for it is allabout moonlight and the misery of existence. '

'I warrant it. '

'You have a taste for poetry yourself?' inquired Ganymede. 

'Not the least, ' replied Ixion. 

'Apollo, ' continued the heavenly page, 'is a great genius, thoughMarsyas said that he never would be a poet because he was a God, and hadno heart. But do you think, sir, that a poet does indeed need a heart?'

'I really cannot say. I know my wife always said I had a bad heartand worse head; but what she meant, upon my honour I never couldunderstand. '

'Minerva will ask you to write in her album. '

'Will she indeed! I am sorry to hear it, for I can scarcely scrawl mysignature. I should think that Jove himself cared little for all thisnonsense. '

'Jove loves an epigram. He does not esteem Apollo's works at all. Joveis of the classical school, and admires satire, provided there be noallusions to Gods and kings. '

'Of course; I quite agree with him. I remember we had a confounded poetat Larissa who proved my family lived before the deluge, and asked mefor a pension. I refused him, and then he wrote an epigram assertingthat I sprang from the veritable stones thrown by Deucalion and Pyrrhaat the re-peopling of the earth, and retained all the properties of myancestors. '

'Ha, ha! Hark! there's a thunderbolt! I must run to Jove. '

'And I will look in on the musicians. This way, I think?'

'Up the ruby staircase, turn to your right, down the amethyst gallery. Farewell!'

'Good-bye; a lively lad that!'

The King of Thessaly entered the Hall of Music with its golden wallsand crystal dome. The Queen of Heaven was reclining in an easy chair, cutting out peacocks in small sheets of note paper. Minerva was makinga pencil observation on a manuscript copy of the song: Apollo listenedwith deference to her laudatory criticisms. Another divine dame, standing by the side of Euterpe, who was seated by the harp, lookedup as Ixion entered. The wild liquid glance of her soft but radiantcountenance denoted the famed Goddess of Beauty. 

Juno just acknowledged the entrance of Ixion by a slight and haughtyinclination of the head, and then resumed her employment. Minerva askedhim his opinion of her amendment, of which he greatly approved. Apollogreeted him with a melancholy smile, and congratulated him on beingmortal. Venus complimented him on his visit to Olympus, and expressedthe pleasure that she experienced in making his acquaintance. 

'What do you think of Heaven?' inquired Venus, in a soft still voice, and with a smile like summer lightning. 

'I never found it so enchanting as at this moment, ' replied Ixion. 

'A little dull? For myself, I pass my time chiefly at Cnidos: you mustcome and visit me there. 'Tis the most charming place in the world. 'Tissaid, you know, that our onions are like other people's roses. We willtake care of you, if your wife come. '

'No fear of that. She always remains at home and piques herself onher domestic virtues, which means pickling, and quarrelling with herhusband. '

'Ah! I see you are a droll. Very good indeed. Well, for my part, I likea watering-place existence. Cnidos, Paphos, Cythera; you will usuallyfind me at one of these places. I like the easy distraction of a careerwithout any visible result. At these fascinating spots your gloomy race, to whom, by-the-bye, I am exceedingly partial, appear emancipated fromthe wearing fetters of their regular, dull, orderly, methodical, moral, political, toiling existence. I pride myself upon being the Goddess ofwatering-places. You really must pay me a visit at Cnidos. '

'Such an invitation requires no repetition. And Cnidos is your favouritespot?'

'Why, it was so; but of late it has become so inundated with invalidAsiatics and valetudinarian Persians, that the simultaneous influx ofthe handsome heroes who swarm in from the islands to look after theirdaughters, scarcely compensates for the annoying presence of theiryellow faces and shaking limbs. No, I think, on the whole, Paphos is myfavourite. '

'I have heard of its magnificent luxury. '

'Oh! 'tis lovely! Quite my idea of country life. Not a single tree! WhenCyprus is very hot, you run to Paphos for a sea-breeze, and are sure tomeet every one whose presence is in the least desirable. All the boresremain behind, as if by instinct. '

'I remember when we married, we talked of passing the honeymoon atCythera, but Dia would have her waiting-maid and a bandbox stuffedbetween us in the chariot, so I got sulky after the first stage, andreturned by myself. '

'You were quite right. I hate bandboxes: they are always in the way. You would have liked Cy-thera if you had been in the least in love. High rocks and green knolls, bowery woods, winding walks, and delicioussunsets. I have not been there much of late, ' continued the Goddess, looking somewhat sad and serious, 'since--but I will not talksentiment to Ixion. '

'Do you think, then, I am insensible?'

'Yes. '

'Perhaps you are right. We mortals grow callous. '

'So I have heard. How very odd!' So saying, the Goddess glided away andsaluted Mars, who at that moment entered the hall. Ixion was presentedto the military hero, who looked fierce and bowed stiffly. The King ofThessaly turned upon his heel. Minerva opened her album, and invited himto inscribe a stanza. 

'Goddess of Wisdom, ' replied the King, 'unless you inspire me, thevirgin page must remain pure as thyself. I can scarcely sign a decree. '

'Is it Ixion of Thessaly who says this; one who has seen so much, and, if I am not mistaken, has felt and thought so much? I can easilyconceive why such a mind may desire to veil its movements from thecommon herd, but pray concede to Minerva the gratifying complimentof assuring her that she is the exception for whom this rule has beenestablished. '

'I seem to listen to the inspired music of an oracle. Give me a pen!

'Here is one, plucked from a sacred owl. ' 'So! I write. There! Will itdo?' Minerva read the inscription:--

 _I HAVE SEEN THE WORLD, AND MORE THAN THE WORLD: I HAVE STUDIED THE HEART OF MAN, AND NOW I CONSORT WITH IMMORTALS. THE FRUIT OF MY TREE OF KNOWLEDGE IS PLUCKED, AND IT IS THIS, 'Adventures are to the Adventurous. ' Written in the Album of Minerva, by Ixion in Heaven. _

''Tis brief, ' said the Goddess, with a musing air, 'but full of meaning. You have a daring soul and pregnant mind. '

'I have dared much: what I may produce we have yet to see. '

'I must to Jove, ' said Minerva, 'to council. We shall meet again. Farewell, Ixion. '

'Farewell, Glaucopis. '

The King of Thessaly stood away from the remaining guests, and leantwith folded arms and pensive brow against a wreathed column. Marslistened to Venus with an air of deep devotion. Euterpe played aninspiring accompaniment to their conversation. The Queen of Heavenseemed engrossed in the creation of her paper peacocks. 

Ixion advanced and seated himself on a couch near Juno. His manner wasdivested of that reckless bearing and careless coolness by which it wasin general distinguished. He was, perhaps, even a little embarrassed. His ready tongue deserted him. At length he spoke. 

'Has your Majesty ever heard of the peacock of the Queen ofMesopotamia?'

'No, ' replied Juno, with stately reserve; and then she added with an airof indifferent curiosity, 'Is it in any way remarkable?'

'Its breast is of silver, its wings of gold, its eyes of carbuncle, itsclaws of amethyst. '

'And its tail?' eagerly inquired Juno. 

'That is a secret, ' replied Ixion. 'The tail is the most wonderful partof all. '

'Oh! tell me, pray tell me!'

'I forget. '

'No, no, no; it is impossible!' exclaimed the animated Juno. 'Provoking mortal!' continued the Goddess. 'Let me entreat you; tell meimmediately. '

'There is a reason which prevents me. '

'What can it be? How very odd! What reason can it possibly be? Now tellme; as a particular, a personal favour, I request you, do tell me. '

'What! The tail or the reason? The tail is wonderful, but the reason ismuch more so. I can only tell one. Now choose. '

'What provoking things these human beings are! The tail is wonderful, but the reason is much more so. Well then, the reason; no, the tail. Stop, now, as a particular favour, pray tell me both. What can thetail be made of and what can the reason be? I am literally dying ofcuriosity. '

'Your Majesty has cut out that peacock wrong, ' remarked Ixion. 'It ismore like one of Minerva's owls. '

'Who cares about paper peacocks, when the Queen of Mesopotamia has gotsuch a miracle!' exclaimed Juno; and she tore the labours of the morningto pieces, and threw away the fragments with vexation. 'Now tell meinstantly; if you have the slightest regard for me, tell me instantly. What was the tail made of?'

'And you do not wish to hear the reason?'

'That afterwards. Now! I am all ears. ' At this moment Ganymede entered, and whispered the Goddess, who rose in evident vexation, and retired tothe presence of Jove. 

The King of Thessaly quitted the Hall of Music. Moody, yet notuninfluenced by a degree of wild excitement, he wandered forth into thegardens of Olympus. He came to a beautiful green retreat surrounded byenormous cedars, so vast that it seemed they must have been coeval withthe creation; so fresh and brilliant, you would have deemed them wetwith the dew of their first spring. The turf, softer than down, andexhaling, as you pressed it, an exquisite perfume, invited him torecline himself upon this natural couch. He threw himself upon thearomatic herbage, and leaning on his arm, fell into a deep reverie. 

Hours flew away; the sunshiny glades that opened in the distance hadsoftened into shade. 

'Ixion, how do you do?' inquired a voice, wild, sweet, and thrilling asa bird. The King of Thessaly started and looked up with the distractedair of a man roused from a dream, or from complacent meditation oversome strange, sweet secret. His cheek was flushed, his dark eyes flashedfire; his brow trembled, his dishevelled hair played in the fitfulbreeze. The King of Thessaly looked up, and beheld a most beautifulyouth. 

Apparently, he had attained about the age of puberty. His stature, however, was rather tall for his age, but exquisitely moulded andproportioned. Very fair, his somewhat round cheeks were tinted witha rich but delicate glow, like the rose of twilight, and lighted bydimples that twinkled like stars. His large and deep-blue eyes sparkledwith exultation, and an air of ill-suppressed mockery quivered roundhis pouting lips. His light auburn hair, braided off his white forehead, clustered in massy curls on each side of his face, and fell in sunnytorrents down his neck. And from the back of the beautiful youth therefluttered forth two wings, the tremulous plumage of which seemed to havebeen bathed in a sunset: so various, so radiant, and so novel were itsshifting and wondrous tints; purple, and crimson, and gold; streaks ofazure, dashes of orange and glossy black; now a single feather, whiter than light, and sparkling like the frost, stars of emerald andcarbuncle, and then the prismatic blaze of an enormous brilliant! Aquiver hung at the side of the beautiful youth, and he leant upon a bow. 

'Oh! God, for God thou must be!' at length exclaimed Ixion. 'Do I beholdthe bright divinity of Love?'

'I am indeed Cupid, ' replied the youth; 'and am curious to know whatIxion is thinking about. ' 'Thought is often bolder than speech. ''Oracular, though a mortal! You need not be afraid to trust me. My aidI am sure you must need. Who ever was found in a reverie on thegreen turf, under the shade of spreading trees, without requiring theassistance of Cupid? Come! be frank, who is the heroine? Some love-sicknymph deserted on the far earth; or worse, some treacherous mistress, whose frailty is more easily forgotten than her charms? 'Tis a miserablesituation, no doubt. It cannot be your wife?'

'Assuredly not, ' replied Ixion, with energy. 

'Another man's?'

'No. '

'What! an obdurate maiden?'

Ixion shook his head. 

'It must be a widow, then, ' continued Cupid. 'Who ever heard before ofsuch a piece of work about a widow!'

'Have pity upon me, dread Cupid!' exclaimed the King of Thessaly, risingsuddenly from the ground, and falling on his knee before the God. 'Thou art the universal friend of man, and all nations alike throw theirincense on thy altars. Thy divine discrimination has not deceived thee. I _am_ in love; desperately, madly, fatally enamoured. The object of mypassion is neither my own wife nor another man's. In spite of all theyhave said and sworn, I am a moral member of society. She is neither amaid nor a widow. She is------'

'What? what?' exclaimed the impatient deity. 

'A Goddess!' replied the King. 

'Wheugh!' whistled Cupid. 'What! has my mischievous mother beenindulging you with an innocent flirtation?'

'Yes; but it produced no effect upon me. '

'You have a stout heart, then. Perhaps you have been reading poetry withMinerva, and are caught in one of her Platonic man-traps. '

'She set one, but I broke away. '

'You have a stout leg, then. But where are you, where are you? Is itHebe? It can hardly be Diana, she is so cold. Is it a Muse, or is it oneof the Graces?'

Ixion again shook his head. 

'Come, my dear fellow, ' said Cupid, quite in a confidential tone, 'youhave told enough to make further reserve mere affectation. Ease yourheart at once, and if I can assist you, depend upon my exertions. '

'Beneficent God!' exclaimed Ixion, 'if I ever return to Larissa, thebrightest temple in Greece shall hail thee for its inspiring deity. Iaddress thee with all the confiding frankness of a devoted votary. Know, then, the heroine of my reverie was no less a personage than the Queenof Heaven herself!'

'Juno! by all that is sacred!' shouted Cupid. 'I am here, ' respondeda voice of majestic melody. The stately form of the Queen of Heavenadvanced from a neighbouring bower. Ixion stood with his eyes fixedupon the ground, with a throbbing heart and burning cheeks. Juno stoodmotionless, pale, and astounded. The God of Love burst into excessivelaughter. 

[Illustration: page28]

'A pretty pair!' he exclaimed, fluttering between both, and laughingin their faces. 'Truly a pretty pair! Well! I see I am in your way. Good-bye!' And so saying, the God pulled a couple of arrows from hisquiver, and with the rapidity of lightning shot one in the respectivebreasts of the Queen of Heaven and the King of Thessaly. 

The amethystine twilight of Olympus died away. The stars blazed withtints of every hue. Ixion and Juno returned to the palace. She leantupon his arm; her eyes were fixed upon the ground; they were in sight ofthe gorgeous pile, and yet she had not spoken. Ixion, too, was silent, and gazed with abstraction upon the glowing sky. 

Suddenly, when within a hundred yards of the portal, Juno stopped, andlooking up into the face of Ixion with an irresistible smile, shesaid, 'I am sure you cannot now refuse to tell me what the Queen ofMesopotamia's peacock's tail was made of!'

'It is impossible now, ' said Ixion. 'Know, then, beautiful Goddess, thatthe tail of the Queen of Mesopotamia's peacock was made of some plumageshe had stolen from the wings of Cupid. '

'And what was the reason that prevented you from telling me before?'

'Because, beautiful Juno, I am the most discreet of men, and respect thesecret of a lady, however trifling. '

'I am glad to hear that, ' replied Juno, and they re-entered the palace. 

Mercury met Juno and Ixion in the gallery leading to the grandbanqueting hall. 

'I was looking for you, ' said the God, shaking his head. 'Jove is in asublime rage. Dinner has been ready this hour. '

The King of Thessaly and the Queen of Heaven exchanged a glance andentered the saloon. Jove looked up with a brow of thunder, but did notcondescend to send forth a single flash of anger. Jove looked up andJove looked down. All Olympus trembled as the Father of Gods and menresumed his soup. The rest of the guests seemed nervous and reserved, except Cupid, who said immediately to Juno, 'Your Majesty has beendetained?'

'I fell asleep in a bower reading Apollo's last poem, ' replied Juno. 'Iam lucky, however, in finding a companion in my negligence. Ixion, wherehave you been?'

'Take a glass of nectar, Juno, ' said Cupid, with eyes twinkling withmischief; 'and perhaps Ixion will join us. '

This was the most solemn banquet ever celebrated in Olympus. Everyoneseemed out of humour or out of spirits. Jupiter spoke only inmonosyllables of suppressed rage, that sounded like distant thunder. Apollo whispered to Minerva. Mercury never opened his lips, butoccasionally exchanged significant glances with Ganymede. Marscompensated, by his attentions to Venus, for his want of conversation. Cupid employed himself in asking disagreeable questions. At lengththe Goddesses retired. Mercury exerted himself to amuse Jove, but theThunderer scarcely deigned to smile at his best stories. Mars pickedhis teeth, Apollo played with his rings, Ixion was buried in a profoundreverie. 

It was a great relief to all when Ganymede summoned them to the presenceof their late companions. 

'I have written a comment upon your inscription, ' said Minerva to Ixion, 'and am anxious for your opinion of it. '

'I am a wretched critic, ' said the King, breaking away from her. Junosmiled upon him in the distance. 

'Ixion, ' said Venus, as he passed by, 'come and talk to me. '

The bold Thessalian blushed, he stammered out an unmeaning excuse, hequitted the astonished but good-natured Goddess, and seated himself byJuno, and as he seated himself his moody brow seemed suddenly illuminedwith brilliant light. 

'Is it so?' said Venus. 

'Hem!' said Minerva. 

'Ha, ha!' said Cupid. 

Jupiter played piquette with Mercury. 

'Everything goes wrong to-day, ' said the King of Heaven; 'cardswretched, and kept waiting for dinner, and by-----a mortal!'

'Your Majesty must not be surprised, ' said the good-natured Mercury, with whom Ixion was no favourite. 'Your Majesty must not be very muchsurprised at the conduct of this creature. Considering what he is, andwhere he is, I am only astonished that his head is not more turned thanit appears to be. A man, a thing made of mud, and in Heaven! Only think, sire! Is it not enough to inflame the brain of any child of clay? To besure, keeping your Majesty from dinner is little short of celestial hightreason. I hardly expected that, indeed. To order me about, to treatGanymede as his own lacquey, and, in short, to command the wholehousehold; all this might be expected from such a person in such asituation, but I confess I did think he had some little respect left foryour Majesty. '

'And he does order you about, eh?' inquired Jove. 'I have the spades. '

'Oh! 'tis quite ludicrous, ' responded the son of Maia. 'Your Majestywould not expect from me the offices that this upstart daily requires. '

'Eternal destiny! is't possible? That is my trick. And Ganymede, too?'

'Oh! quite shocking, I assure you, sire, ' said the beautiful cupbearer, leaning over the chair of Jove with all the easy insolence of aprivileged favourite. 'Really, sire, if Ixion is to go on in the way hedoes, either he or I must quit. '

'Is it possible?' exclaimed Jupiter. 'But I can believe anything of aman who keeps me waiting for dinner. Two and three make five. '

'It is Juno that encourages him so, ' said Ganymede. 

'Does she encourage him?' inquired Jove. 

'Everybody notices it, ' protested Ganymede. 

'It is indeed a little noticed, ' observed Mercury. 

'What business has such a fellow to speak to Juno?' exclaimed Jove. 'Amere mortal, a mere miserable mortal! You have the point. How I havebeen deceived in this fellow! Who ever could have supposed that, after all my generosity to him, he would ever have kept me waiting fordinner?'

'He was walking with Juno, ' said Ganymede. 'It was all a sham abouttheir having met by accident. Cupid saw them. '

'Ha!' said Jupiter, turning pale; 'you don't say so! Repiqued, as I am aGod. That is mine. Where is the Queen?'

'Talking to Ixion, sire, ' said Mercury. 'Oh, I beg your pardon, sire; Idid not know you meant the queen of diamonds. '

'Never mind. I am repiqued, and I have been kept waiting for dinner. Accursed be this day! Is Ixion really talking to Juno? We will notendure this. '

'Where is Juno?' demanded Jupiter. 

'I am sure I cannot say, ' said Venust with a smile. 

'I am sure I do not know, ' said Minerva, with a sneer. 

'Where is Ixion?' said Cupid, laughing outright. 

'Mercury, Ganymede, find the Queen of Heaven instantly, ' thundered theFather of Gods and men. 

The celestial messenger and the heavenly page flew away out of differentdoors. There was a terrible, an immortal silence. Sublime rage loweredon the brow of Jove like a storm upon the mountain-top. Minerva seatedherself at the card-table and played at Patience. Venus and Cupidtittered in the background. Shortly returned the envoys, Mercury lookingsolemn, Ganymede malignant. 

'Well?' inquired Jove; and all Olympus trembled at the monosyllable. 

Mercury shook his head. 

'Her Majesty has been walking on the terrace with the King of Thessaly, 'replied Ganymede. 

'Where is she now, sir?' demanded Jupiter. 

Mercury shrugged his shoulders. 

'Her Majesty is resting herself in the pavilion of Cupid, with the Kingof Thessaly, ' replied Ganymede. 

'Confusion!' exclaimed the Father of Gods and men; and he rose andseized a candle from the table, scattering the cards in all directions. Every one present, Minerva and Venus, and Mars and Apollo, and Mercuryand Ganymede, and the Muses, and the Graces, and all the wingedgenii--each seized a candle; rifling the chandeliers, each followed Jove. 

'This way, ' said Mercury. 

'This way, ' said Ganymede. 

'This way, this way!' echoed the celestial crowd. 

'Mischief!' cried Cupid; 'I must save my victims. '

They were all upon the terrace. The Father of Gods and men, though bothin a passion and a hurry, moved with dignity. It was, as customary inHeaven, a clear and starry night; but this eve Diana was indisposed, orotherwise engaged, and there was no moonlight. They were in sight of thepavilion. 

'What are you?' inquired Cupid of one of the genii, who accidentallyextinguished his candle. 

'I am a cloud, ' answered the winged genius. 

'A cloud! Just the thing. Now do me a shrewd turn, and Cupid is everyour debtor. Fly, fly, pretty cloud, and encompass yon pavilion withyour form. Away! ask no questions; swift as my word. '

'I declare there is a fog, ' said Venus. 

'An evening mist in Heaven!' said Minerva. 

'Where is Nox?' said Jove. 'Everything goes wrong. Who ever heard of amist in Heaven?'

'My candle is out, ' said Apollo. 

'And mine, too, ' said Mars. 

'And mine, and mine, and mine, ' said Mercury and Ganymede, and the Musesand the Graces. 

'All the candles are out!' said Cupid; 'a regular fog. I cannot even seethe pavilion: it must be hereabouts, though, ' said the God to himself. 'So, so; I should be at home in my own pavilion, and am tolerablyaccustomed to stealing about in the dark. There is a step; and here, surely, is the lock. The door opens, but the cloud enters before me. Juno, Juno, ' whispered the God of Love, 'we are all here. Be contentedto escape, like many other innocent dames, with your reputation onlyunder a cloud: it will soon disperse; and lo! the heaven is clearing. '

'It must have been the heat of our flambeaux, ' said Venus; 'for see, themist is vanished; here is the pavilion. '

Ganymede ran forward, and dashed open the door. Ixion was alone. 

'Seize him!' said Jove. 

'Juno is not here, ' said Mercury, with an air of blended congratulationand disappointment. 

'Never mind, ' said Jove; 'seize him! He kept me waiting for dinner. '

'Is this your hospitality, Ęgiochus?' exclaimed Ixion, in a tone ofbullying innocence. 'I shall defend myself. '

'Seize him, seize him!' exclaimed Jupiter. 'What! do you all falter? Areyou afraid of a mortal?'

'And a Thessalian?' added Ganymede. 

No one advanced. 

'Send for Hercules, ' said Jove. 

'I will fetch him in an instant, ' said Ganymede. 

'I protest, ' said the King of Thessaly, 'against this violation of themost sacred rights. '

'The marriage tie?' said Mercury. 

'The dinner-hour?' said Jove. 

'It is no use talking sentiment to Ixion, ' said Venus; 'all mortals arecallous. '

'Adventures are to the adventurous, ' said Minerva. 

'Here is Hercules! here is Hercules!'

'Seize him!' said Jove; 'seize that man. '

In vain the mortal struggled with the irresistible demigod. 

'Shall I fetch your thunderbolt, Jove?' inquired Ganymede. 

'Anything short of eternal punishment is unworthy of a God, ' answeredJupiter, with great dignity. 'Apollo, bring me a wheel of yourchariot. '

'What shall I do to-morrow morning?' inquired the God of Light. 

'Order an eclipse, ' replied Jove. 'Bind the insolent wretch to thewheel; hurl him to Hades; its motion shall be perpetual. '

'What am I to bind him with?' inquired Hercules. 

'The girdle of Venus, ' replied the Thunderer. 

'What is all this?' inquired Juno, advancing, pale and agitated. 

'Come along; you shall see, ' answered Jupiter. 'Follow me, follow me. '

They all followed the leader, all the Gods, all the genii; in the midst, the brawny husband of Hebe bearing Ixion aloft, bound to the fatalwheel. They reached the terrace; they descended the sparkling steps oflapis-lazuli. Hercules held his burthen on high, ready, at a nod, toplunge the hapless but presumptuous mortal through space into Hades. Theheavenly group surrounded him, and peeped over the starry abyss. It wasa fine moral, and demonstrated the usual infelicity that attends unequalconnection. 

'Celestial despot!' said Ixion. 

In a moment all sounds were hushed, as they listened to the last wordsof the unrivalled victim. Juno, in despair, leant upon the respectivearms of Venus and Minerva. 

'Celestial despot!' said Ixion, 'I defy the immortal ingenuity of thycruelty. My memory must be as eternal as thy torture: that will supportme. '