So they went to the next village, and called the people together to judge between the flute and the lyre.
Marsyas played first. He played a little simple tune on his flute so beautifully that everybody was charmed. But Apollo then played the same tune on his lyre, even more beautifully still.
Then Marsyas took his flute again and played all sorts of difficult things—flourishes, runs, shakes, everything you can think of—in the most amazing manner, till the people thought they had never heard anything so wonderful. And indeed never had such flute-playing been heard.
But Apollo, instead of following him in the same fashion, only played another simple tune—but this time he sang while he played.
You can imagine how gloriously the god of Music sang! You can fancy how much chance Marsyas had of winning when Apollo’s voice was carrying the hearts of the people away.... “There,” said Apollo, when he had finished, “beat that if you can—and give me your skin!”
“It is not fair,” said Marsyas. “This is not a singing match: the question is, Which is the best instrument—the flute or the lyre?”
“It is fair,” said Apollo. “If you can sing while you are playing the flute, then I have nothing to say. But you can’t sing, you see, because you have to use your lips and your breath in blowing into those holes. Is not that instrument best which makes you sing best—Yes or No? And if I mustn’t use my breath, you mustn’t use yours.”
You must judge for yourself which was right. But the people decided for Apollo. And so Apollo, having won the wager, took Marsyas and skinned him, and hung his body on a tree.
PART III.—TOO MUCH GOLD; OR, THE FIRST STORY OF MIDAS.
THERE were other beings besides men upon the earth in those days. You ought to know something about them now, because Apollo, while he was banished from the sky, had a great deal to do with them. These beings were called Nymphs, Fauns, and Satyrs.