法厄同
PhaetonwasthesonofApollobyClymene．Themotherhadfilledtheladsheadwithsomanystoriesofhisfathersglorythattheyouthwasquiteproud．Whereverhewenthetoldthosestoriesagainandagainuntileverybodywastiredofhim．Ononeoccasion，whenoneofhisplaymatesplaymaten.玩伴，游伴askedhimtoshowhisskillofcomingdownfromsky，hefeltquitehardtodoit．Hecamebacktohismotherandtoldtheunhappyeventintears．Unabletodoanythingforhim，shesenthersoneastwardstopraytoApolloforhelp．法厄同是阿波罗与克里敏尼生的儿子。母亲给法厄同灌输了许多父亲可歌可泣的故事，以至于法厄同变得十分得意忘形。无论走到何处，他总是反复给人们讲述那些故事，最后大家都厌烦了。有一次一位伙伴要他显露一下从天而降的本领，他颇感棘手，就痛哭流涕地将这一不快之事回家告诉了母亲，母亲无能为力只好将他派到东方向父亲阿波罗求援。Thesungodgraciouslygraciouslyadv.和蔼地，优雅地receivedhissonandheardthestorywithinterest．ThenhetookanoathbytheStyx，readytogivehelpaccordingtotheboysrequest．Buthewassurprisedtohearthattheboyshopewastodrivehisfieryfieryadj.火的，火焰的，炽热的，热烈的，暴躁的carriage．Hetoldhissonofthedangersontheway，butfailedtostophimfromthetry．AsthegodhadswornbytheStyxtherewasnogoingbackonhisword．Inhisdesperateefforttoavoiddisaster，Apollowarnedhissontokeeptothemiddlecourseandstopthehorsesintime．阿波罗宽厚地接待了儿子，饶有兴趣地听了事情的原委，然后阿波罗站在斯蒂克斯河边发誓：按儿子的请求予以帮助。然而令他惊讶的是：儿子原来是想驾驶他那带有火焰的战车。他警告儿子，路上会有危险。但无济于事。因太阳神已在河边发过誓，一言既出，驷马难追。为避免灾难，阿波罗绝望地做最后的努力，他警告儿子要在道路中间行驶，遇事要及时勒马。Phaetonjoyfullyjumpedonthecarriageandsetoff.Verysoonhelosthisway.Hegrewpaleatthegreatheightandthevastskyinfrontofhimandbehind.Thehorseranwild.Unabletoholdthem，Phaetondroppedtheminfear.Straightdowntotheearththecarriagedashed.Riversweredriedup.Cropshungdownandwithered.Menscriesofsufferingroseupfromtheburntearth.TheenragedZeussoonfoundthecauseofthetrouble，andwithouthesitationgaveoneofhismostpowerfulthunderboltsattheproudandcarelessboy.Phaetondroppedstraightdownintoariver.Bothparentsweresadoverthelossoftheirson.Andhissister，whoweresounhappywithhisuntimelydeath，werechangedintopoplarsandtheirtearsambers.法厄同怀着喜悦的心情跳上战车出发了。很快他就迷失了方向。看到前后令人头晕目眩的高度和浩瀚的天空，他变得脸色苍白。战马狂奔了，简直无法驾驶。恐惧之下，他把缰绳松了。战车向地面猛栽下去。河流干涸了，作物枯萎凋谢了。从烧焦的土地上传来了人类受难的恸哭。暴跳如雷的宙斯很快找到了这场乱子的原因。他毫不犹豫地朝高傲自大、粗心大意的法厄同施放了雷电中最猛烈的一击。法厄同径直地掉入江中。父母为失去儿子而哀痛。法厄同的姐妹们也为他的夭折而悲伤。她们都变成了白杨树，而她们的泪水则变成了琥珀。