RECONCILIATION, 237 
than the ferocious beasts whose frightful howl- 
ing he imitated. 
According to ancient mythology the gods had 
pity on the human race. Apollo and Mercury 
exchanged presents, and came down upon the 
earth. The god of harmony received from the 
son of Maia a tortoise-shell, of which he had 
made a lyre, and gave in return a branch of 
hazel, which had the power of making virtue 
beloved, and of re-uniting hearts divided by 
hatred and envy. Thus armed, the two sons of 
Jupiter presented themselves to men. Apollo 
first sang that eternal wisdom which had created 
the universe; he told how the elements were 
produced, and how every part of nature was 
united by the sweet bonds of love; and, finally, 
he taught men that they should appease the 
anger of the gods by adoration and praise. At 
his voice pale and trembling mothers were seen 
advancing with their little children in their 
arms; hunger was suspended, and the thirst for 
vengeance fled from every heart. Then Mer- 
cury touched mankind with the wand Apollo 
had given to him. He loosened their tongues, 
and taught them to express their thoughts by 
words: he afterwards told them that union 
made strength, and that nothing could be 
derived from the earth without mutual labours. 
Filial piety and patriotic love were brought into 
action, by his eloquence, to unite the human 
race; and commerce he made the bond of the 





















