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| Atalanta |
Atalanta, in Greek legend, a maiden of Arcadia. She had been warned by an oracle not to marry. She therefore avoided the society of men and gave herself to the pleasures of the chase. Atalanta was very beautiful, however, and had many suitors, upon whom she imposed the following conditions : "I will be the prize of him who shall conquer me in the race; but death shall be the penalty of all who try and fail." Many youths attempted the race, but Atalanta outran them all until Hippomenes appeared. He was a favorite of Venus, whose aid he invoked in order to win the race. The goddess gave him three golden apples, instructing him to throw them, one at a time, before Atalanta as she ran. She was attracted by the apples, paused, turned aside, and was thus overtaken by Hippomenes. The two were wedded and were very happy; but Venus, vexed because Hippomenes seemed ungrateful, caused the pair to be transformed into lions, destined henceforth to draw the chariot of Cybele. Moore, in describing alpine scenery, makes an allusion to this story:
Even here, in this region of wonders, I find
That light-footed Fancy leaves Truth far behind,
Or at least, like Hippomenes, turns her astray
By the golden illusions he flings in her way.
Atalanta is the subject of a poem by the Roman Ovid. William Morris has also made use of the subject in his poem
Atalanta's Race in the Earthly Paradise.
