8 Olivia Pound 
Most fair and fearful, feminine, a god 
Faultless.?2 
Meleager typifies the headstrong warrior, brave, glorious in 
his youth, and impetuously rushing to his fate. Althaea’s 
brothers, Toxeus and Plexippus, are arrogant, overbearing, and 
jealous. By their own rashness they bring the anger of Meleager 
upon them. 
Althea is the strongest of the characters in these two dramas. 
Though she has many human traits, she seems to personify the 
fate that demands revenge for the slaying of kin. From her first 
words it is seen that she forebodes the outcome of the hunt that 
has been arranged to free Calydon of the wild boar sent by 
Artemis. She meets the chorus of maidens who are on their 
way to make an offering to the goddess of the hunt. They have 
just completed their hymn to Artemis, when Althaea throws 
gloom over their rising hopes.** 
Night, a black hound, follows the white faun day, 
Swifter than dreams the white flown feet of sleep; 
Will ye pray back night with any prayers? 
And though the spring put back a little while 
Winter, and snows that plague all men for sin, 
And the iron time of cursing, yet I know 
Spring shall be ruined. with the rain, and storm 
Eat up like fire the ashen autumn days.*4 
In a long monologue she tells the chorus of the coming of the 
fates when her son Meleager was born, how they had told her 
that he should live no longer when the brand then in the fire 
should be burned. So she drew forth the brand and kept it. 
There are many human touches in this narrative. When she 
describes the strange dreams the gods have sent her she says: 
seeing I see not, hear 
And hearing am not holpen, but mine eyes 
Stain many tender broideries in the bed 
32 Atalanta in Calydon, p. 260. 
33 Atalanta in Calydon, p. 251. 
34 Tbid., p. 255. 
348 
: 
