I
To the gods themselves is due the discovery, to Apollo and Artemis,
patrons of the chase and protectors of the hound.[1] As a guerdon they
bestowed it upon Cheiron,[2] by reason of his uprightness, and he took it
and was glad, and turned the gift to good account. At his feet sat many a
disciple, to whom he taught the mystery of hunting and of chivalry[3]--to
wit, Cephalus, Asclepius, Melanion, Nestor, Amphiaraus, Peleus, Telamon,
Meleager, Theseus and Hippolytus, Palamedes, Odysseus, Menestheus,
Diomed, Castor and Polydeuces, Machaon and Podaleirius, Antilochus,
Aeneas and Achilles: of whom each in his turn was honoured by the gods.
And let none marvel that of these the greater part, albeit well-pleasing to
the gods, nevertheless were subject to death--which is the way of nature,[4]
but their fame has grown--nor yet that their prime of manhood so far
differed. The lifetime of Cheiron sufficed for all his scholars; the fact
being that Zeus and Cheiron were brethren, sons of the same father but of
different mothers--Zeus of Rhea, and Cheiron of the nymph Nais;[5] and
so it is that, though older than all of them, he died not before he had taught
the youngest--to wit, the boy Achilles.[6]