Page:Lovers Legends - The Gay Greek Myths.pdf/29

 offer the gods. Without a word to Dione, he secretly led the boy away and slew him. He then hacked the body into pieces, set all to boil in a pure three-legged cauldron, and fixed a rich stew for his guests.

At the appointed hour the Olympians filed in and ranged themselves around the banquet table. Tantalus brought on the broken, boiled body of his son, served each god a share. The cut of honor—the left shoulder—he laid before Demeter, her, queen of mysteries. The indigo-robed goddess reached out, allayed her hunger. But before the other gods could tuck into their portions, Zeus' compassion moved him to command the flesh and bones be gathered up. He had them placed back in the cauldron, 15