Chapter XII: Phaëthon

Helios was the sun-god, and he used to drive along the sky in his shining chariot drawn by four milk-white horses, who bathed themselves every evening in the great stream Oceanus that flows right round the world. As he looked down from the sky, he saw a beautiful woman whom he loved and longed to have for his wife, so he came down to the earth and was married to her, and they had a son named Phaëthon. When Phaëthon was a little boy, his mother used to point up to the sky where his father was, and teach him to throw up kisses to him. As he grew up to be a young man he was distinguished from all others by his brave spirit and remarkable beauty, but though it was evident that he was the son of a god, there were many people who, because they were jealous of him, tried to vex him by saying that this was not really the case. This made him very anxious to show that Helios was in truth his father, and he resolved to find some means of proving it beyond a doubt. So he set out for the stream Oceanus, and when Helios brought his horses there in the evening he was rejoiced to find his son waiting for him, and he kissed him many times. Then he asked him if he had any special reason for taking such a long {40} journey in order to see him, and Phaëthon said it was because he had something to ask him, which he longed for more than anything else in the world. Helios promised to grant his wish, never suspecting what it was, and to please Phaëthon, he even sealed the promise by his oath as a god that he would give him whatever he should ask. The gods swore by the river Styx which flowed through the Lower World, and anyone who ventured to break that oath had to suffer a severe punishment,--for nine years he had to lie on the ground as if he were dead, and for nine years afterwards he was shut out from the company of the other gods. So when Helios had confirmed his promise by this solemn oath, Phaëthon was full of joy, and he said that his wish was that on the following day he might be allowed to take his father's place in driving the chariot of the sun. Helios was terrified at his audacity, and he told him that this was what no mortal could do and that he must give up all thought of such a thing. But Phaëthon was light-hearted, and he delighted in danger and thought he could accomplish anything he pleased, however hard it might be. He thought too, that if he had once driven the chariot of the sun and could tell people of all he had seen whilst he was doing this, everyone would be ready to acknowledge that he was indeed the son of Helios. So he would not give up his wish, and as Helios had sworn by the Styx, he was obliged to grant it, though he felt sure that it would be the death of the boy. The next morning the fiery horses were harnessed as usual, and Phaëthon clambered up into the shining chariot, more proud and happy than he had ever been in his life. The horses flew along {41} the usual path, and Phaëthon, looking down, could see the trees and houses and rivers on the earth. As long as he was near the earth he was very happy, but when they had got higher than eagles can fly, his head began to swim, and the horses soon found out that it was not Helios who was guiding them with his godlike wisdom, and they refused to obey the rein and keep in the right path, but flew up and down just as they pleased. First they went too near the heaven, and then they flew down lower and came too near the earth; and the flowers withered and the streams dried up, and it became so hot that the mountains began to melt. As they passed over Africa they came so near to the earth that all the people of the land were burnt black by the heat of the sun, and the black colour continued in their children and grandchildren, so that they were given the name of Moors, or black people. The goddess Gaea, who was queen of the earth, saw the trees and flowers and springs perishing miserably from the fierce blaze of the sun, and she begged Zeus not to let the earth be destroyed. Then Zeus took a thunderbolt and hurled it at Phaëthon, who fell dead from the chariot. Helios saw it with deep sorrow. He rushed forward and seized the reins and guided the chariot back into the right path, but for many days after this the heaven was covered with black clouds, and the sun-god would not let his face be seen.

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