THE ORIGIN OF THE HAWK 



THE powerful Thracian, King Tereus, that his influ- 

 ence might be extended, wedded the daughter of 

 Pandion, King of Athens. The gods, displeased 

 with this union, refused to attend the nuptials ; neither Juno, 

 the guardian of marriage rites, nor Hymenseus, nor the 

 Graces were present, but the Furies, brandishing torches 

 snatched from a funeral pile, attended and accompanied the 

 pair to the abode of Tereus. As the party journeyed thither, 

 croaking ravens flew to the left of them, and on their arrival 

 the ill-boding owl hovered over the bridal chamber. With 

 these omens were Tereus and the daughter of Pandion 

 wedded. 



After Titan had drawn the seasons of the repeated year 

 through five successive autumns, the queen, with the home- 

 longing still in her heart, and with love for her own made 

 stronger by long absence, entreated her spouse to either allow 

 her to return to her father's home for a season or to go thither 

 himself and bring back her only sister for a visit. In answer 

 to her beseechings, ships were launched and Tereus set out 

 on his journey to urge the request of his queen. 



At first Pandion hesitated about parting with his re- 

 maining daughter, the comfort of his age, for even so short 

 a time as asked; but finally, yielding to the eloquence of 

 Tereus, he tearfully commended her to his care on the prom- 

 ise of her speedy return. 



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