908 THE CHIMERA.

ness of his aspect, and by his beauty, and by the thought
of the free life which Pegasus had heretofore lived, that
he could not bear to keep him a prisoner, if he ‘really
desired his liberty.

Obeying this generous impulse, he slipped the en-
chanted bridle off the head of Pegasus, and took the bit
from his mouth.

“Teave me, Pegasus!” said he. ‘Hither leave me,
or love me.”

In an instant, the winged horse shot almost out of
sight, soaring straight upward from the summit of Mount
Helicon. Being long after sunset, it was now twilight on
the mountain-top, and dusky evening over all the country
round about. But Pegasus flew so high that he over-
took the departed day, and was bathed in the upper radi-
ance of the sun. Ascending higher and higher, he looked
like a bright speck, and, at last, could no longer be seen
in the hollow waste of the sky. And Bellerophon was
afraid that he should never behold him more. But,
while he was lamenting his own folly, the bright speck
reappeared, and drew nearer and nearer, until it de-
scended lower than the sunshine; and behold, Pegasus
had come back! After this trial there was no more fear of
the winged horse’s making his escape. He and Beller-
ophon were friends, and put loving faith in one another.

That night they lay down and slept together, with Bel-
lerophon’s arm about the neck of Pegasus, not as a caution,
but for kindness. And they awoke at peep of day, and
bade one another good morning, each in his own language.
- In this manner, Bellerophon and the wondrous steed