Fall of Phaëthon

Taken from The Greek Gods, Von Evslin, Evslin, & Hoopes.


This happy fellow had the misfortune to be an excellent musician - a realm Apollo considered his own - and where he would brook no rivalry. Hearing the satyr praised too often, Apollo invited him to a contest. The winner was to choose a penalty to which the loser would have to submit, and the Muses were to judge. So Marsyas played his flute and Apollo played his lyre. They played exquisitely; the Muses could not choose between them. Then Apollo shouted, "Now Du must turn your instrument upside down, and play and sing at the same time....