King Alfred and the Cakes
Many years ago, there lived in England a wise and good king whose name was Alfred. No other man ever did so much for his country as he; and people now, all over the world, speak of him as Alfred the Great.
European Folklore
Robert the Bruce and the Spider
A battle-weary Robert the Bruce takes heart by watching a patient and persistent spider.
The Legend of William Tell and the Apple
Legendary Swiss hero William Tell is forced by a tyrant to shoot an apple off the top of his son’s head.
King Maximilian and the Geese
When King Maximilian drops his book, he asks a boy tending a flock of geese to find it. But who will keep the geese in order until he returns?
Robin Hood Meets Allan-A-Dale
When Robin Hood learns that Allan-A-Dale’s bride has been promised to an old man, he steps in to stop the wedding.
Halcyone and Ceyx
Over the kingdom of Thessaly, in the days of long ago, there reigned a king whose name was Ceyx, son of Hesperus, the Day Star, and almost as radiant in grace and beauty as was his father. His wife was the fair Halcyone, daughter of Æolus, ruler of the winds, and most perfectly did this… Read More »Halcyone and Ceyx
Ulysses and the Cyclops
Ulysses was well-nigh the last to sail for home after the great city of Troy was taken, for he had tarried many days to do pleasure to Agamemnon, lord of all the Greeks. Twelve ships he had with him—twelve he had brought to Troy—and in each there were some fifty men, being scarce half of… Read More »Ulysses and the Cyclops
Orpheus and his Lute
In the country of Thrace, surrounded by all the best gifts of the gods, Orpheus was born. His father was Apollo, the god of music and of song, his mother the muse Calliope. Apollo gave his little son a lyre, and himself taught him how to play it.
King Midas Judges a Music Contest
After finally ridding himself of the Golden Touch, King Midas had now no wish for golden riches, nor even for power. He wished to lead the simple life and to listen to the piping of Pan along with the goatherds on the mountains or the wild creatures in the woods. Thus, it befell that he was… Read More »King Midas Judges a Music Contest
Pygmalion and the Statue
In days when the world was young and when the gods walked on the earth, there reigned over the island of Cyprus a sculptor-king, and king of sculptors, named Pygmalion. In the language of our own day, we should call him “wedded to his art.” In woman he only saw the bane of man.