Tales of Ancient Greece by Enid Blyton

Author:Enid Blyton
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: fiction, fables, juvenile
Publisher: Rare Treasure Editions
Published: 1930-11-15T05:00:00+00:00

Clytie, the Sunflower Maiden

There was once a beautiful water-nymph called Clytie. She had wonderful golden hair, and every day she used to come forth from her pool, and comb it. It fell around her face in great waves, and shone in the sun like gold.

Clytie loved the warmth of the sun. She used to watch for Apollo’s chariot to come through the gates of heaven every morning. Then the world was flooded with the sunrise, and hills and valleys rejoiced.

One day Clytie saw Apollo driving the sun-chariot. He wore his dazzling crown, and his face shone fair and bright. He was strong and handsome, and held the reins of his four fiery horses firmly in his powerful hand.

Through the sky he went all day long, driving the horses along the middle way. Clytie watched him, and admired his strength and his beauty. She was sorry when the sun-chariot entered the western seas, and was lost to her. Darkness came over the earth, and Clytie shivered. She returned to the water, and dreamed of the bright young sun-god all night long.

The next morning she arose before dawn, and stood by the side of the pool, watching for the return of Apollo. Soon a golden light tinged the eastern sky, and then the sun-god came forth once more. Clytie watched him eagerly. All day long she followed his course, sighing when he returned to the west.

The little nymph fell deeply in love with the handsome god. She thought of him and of nothing else. No longer did she return to her pool at night, but stood waiting in the darkness for the first golden gleam to appear in the east.

She longed for Apollo to see her, and to return her love. She felt certain that if he saw her waiting for him, he would come to her with loving words. So all day long she watched and waited for him to see her.

She combed out her pretty hair so that it hung round her face like a sheet of gold. It gleamed in the sun, and shone so brightly that her sister nymphs came up to her and stroked her head. But Clytie paid no heed to them. Always she watched for the moment when Apollo would see her and smile.

But the sun-god did not turn his head. He looked straight before him, keeping his fiery horses on their difficult way. He did not see Clytie of the golden hair watching him with loving eyes.

Day after day the nymph saw Apollo drive out from the eastern sky, mount the heavens, and return to the western seas at night. Her face turned to him wherever he went, and followed his course all day long.

For nine days Clytie watched the sun-god, and never once did she take her eyes from him. She had no food and no drink, save only her own bitter tears. Then, on the ninth day, when she would have moved, she could not.

Her feet had become rooted to the ground. Her arms and fingers were green leaves.

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