THE CHIMERA. 919

“Yes, dear child!” replied Bellerophon, alighting
from the winged horse. “But if thy faith had not
helped me, I should never have waited for Pegasus, and
never have gone up above the clouds, and never have
conquered the terrible Chimera. Thou, my beloved lit-
tle friend, hast done it all. And now let us give Pega-
sus his liberty.”

So he slipt off the enchanted bridle from the head of
the marvellous steed. |

“Be free, forevermore, my Pegasus!” cried he, with
a shade of sadness in his tone. ‘“ Be as free as thou art
fleet |”

But Pegasus rested his head on Bellerophon’s shoul-
der, and would not be persuaded to take flight.

“Well then,” said Bellerophon, caressing the airy
horse, “thou shalt be with me, as long as thou wilt;
and we will go together, forthwith, and tell King Iobates
that the Chimera is destroyed.”

Then Bellerophon embraced the gentle child, and
promised to come to him again, and departed. But, in
after years, that child took higher flights upon the aerial
steed that ever did Bellerophon, and achieved more hon-
orable deeds than his friend’s victory over the Chimera.
For, gentle and tender as he was, he grew to be a mighty.
poet!