I HAVE SEEN THE WORLD, AND MORE THAN THE WORLD:
I HAVE STUDIED THE HEART OF MAN,
AND NOW I CONSORT WITH IMMORTALS.
THE FRUIT OF MY TREE OF KNOWLEDGE IS PLUCKED,
AND IT IS THIS,
‘Adventures are to the Adventurous.’
Written in the Album of Minerva, by
Ixion in Heaven.
‘’Tis brief,’ said the Goddess, with a musing air, ‘but full of meaning. You have a daring soul and pregnant mind.’
‘I have dared much: what I may produce we have yet to see.’
‘I must to Jove,’ said Minerva, ‘to council. We shall meet again. Farewell, Ixion.’
‘Farewell, Glaucopis.’
The King of Thessaly stood away from the remaining guests, and leant with folded arms and pensive brow against a wreathed column. Mars listened to Venus with an air of deep devotion. Euterpe played an inspiring accompaniment to their conversation. The Queen of Heaven seemed engrossed in the creation of her paper peacocks.
Ixion advanced and seated himself on a couch near Juno. His manner was divested of that reckless bearing and careless coolness by which it was in general distinguished. He was, perhaps, even a little embarrassed. His ready tongue deserted him. At length he spoke.
‘Has your Majesty ever heard of the peacock of the Queen of Mesopotamia?’
‘No,’ replied Juno, with stately reserve; and then she added with an air of indifferent curiosity, ‘Is it in any way remarkable?’
‘Its breast is of silver, its wings of gold, its eyes of carbuncle, its claws of amethyst.’