204 THE CHIMERA.

fountain, or imprint a hoof-tramp in the sand of its mar-
gin, he alighted, and, stooping his wild head, began to
drink. He drew in the water, with long and pleasant
sighs, and tranquil pauses of enjoyment; and then an-
other draught, and another, and another. For, nowhere
in the world, or up among the clouds, did Pegasus love
any water as he loved this of Pirene. And when his
thirst was slaked, he cropt a few of the honey-blossoms
of the clover, delicately tastmg them, but not caring to
make a hearty meal, because the herbage, just beneath
the clouds, on the lofty sides of Mount Helicon, suited
his palate better than this ordinary grass.

Alter thus drmking to his heart’s content, and, in his
dainty fashion, condescending to take a little food, the
winged horse began to caper to and fro, and dance, as it
- were, out of mere idleness and sport. There never was
a more playful creature made than this very Pegasus.
So there he frisked, in a way that it delights me to
think about, fluttering his great wings as lightly as ever
did a linnet, and running little races, half on earth and
half in air, and which I know not whether to call a flight
or a gallop. When a creature is perfectly able to fly, he
sometimes chooses to run, just for the pastime of the
thing; and so did Pegasus, although it cost him some
little trouble to keep his hoofs so near the ground.
Bellerophon, meanwhile, holding the child’s hand, peeped
forth from the shrubbery, and thought that never was
any sight so beautiful as this, nor ever a horse’s eyes so
wild and spirited as those of Pegasus. It seemed a sin
to think of bridling him and riding on his back.