Then the might that he had from his divine father Zeus stood by
the hero. He seized Death in his giant arms and wrestled for victory.
Now Death is a visitor that comes and goes. He may not tarry in the
upper world; its air is not for him; and at length, feeling his power
give way, he loosed his grasp of the queen, and, weak with the
struggle, made escape to his native darkness of Hades.
In the chamber where the royal kindred were weeping, the body of
Alcestis lay, fair to see, and once more the breath stirred in her
heart, like a waking bird. Back to its home came her lovely spirit, and
for long years after she lived happily with her husband, King Admetus.
APOLLO'S SISTER.
I. DIANA AND ACTAEON.
Like the Sun-god, whom men dreaded as the divine archer and loved as
the divine singer, Diana, his sister, had two natures, as different as
day from night.
On earth she delighted in the wild life of the chase, keeping holiday
among the dryads, and hunting with all those nymphs that loved the
boyish pastime. She and her maidens shunned the fellowship of men and
would not hear of marriage, for they disdained all household arts; and
there are countless tales of their cruelty to suitors.
Syrinx and Atalanta were of their company, and Arethusa, who was
changed into a fountain and ever pursued by Alpheus the river-god, till
at last the two were united. There was Daphne, too, who disdained the
love of Apollo himself, and would never listen to a word of his suit,
but fled like Syrinx, and prayed like Syrinx for escape; but Daphne was
changed into a fair laurel-tree, held sacred by Apollo forever after.
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