CUPID


In the mythology of ancient Greece there is no more popular figure
than the little god of love, Eros, more commonly known by the Latin
name Cupid. He was supposed to be the son of Venus, the goddess of
love and beauty, whom he attended. He was never without his bow and
quiver of arrows. Whoever was hit by one of his magic darts
straightway fell in love. The wound was at once a pain and a delight.
Some traditions say that he shot blindfolded,--his aim seemed often so
at random. Sometimes the one whom he wounded was apparently least
susceptible to love. Indeed, Cupid had the reputation of being rather
a mischievous fellow, fond of pranks.

One of these was at the expense of Apollo, the great sun god. Apollo
was himself a mighty archer, and had slain with his arrows the python
of Delphi. Proud of his victory, he mocked at the little god of love,
advising him to leave his arrows for the warlike, and content himself
with the torch of love. Cupid, vexed at the taunt, replied
threateningly, "Thine arrows may strike all things else, Apollo, but
mine shall strike thee." So saying he drew from his quiver two arrows,
one of gold, to excite love, and one of lead, to repel it. With the
golden one he shot Apollo through the heart, with the leaden he shot
the nymph Daphne. So Apollo became nearly mad with love for Daphne,
but the maid fled from him with horror. He pursued her, and when he
was close upon her, she turned into a laurel-tree.

Cupid continued to work havoc with his arrows. Even his mother Venus
could not escape their power. One day, when frolicking with her boy,
she was wounded by one of the darts, and before the wound healed she