Page:Lovers Legends - The Gay Greek Myths.pdf/40

Rh T he god of the thundering seas smiled, nodded. Then, in answer to Pelops' prayer, two winged horses rose from the deep, harnessed to a golden chariot that rolled over the waves without wetting its axles.

Back in Pisa, Pelops sealed his pact with Oinomaus with a libation at the altar of Zeus and readied for the contest, but every time his eyes fell on the bloody trophies spiked to that high wall, fresh doubt clawed his breast. He pulled aside the king's charioteer and spelled things out for him: "Listen, Myrtilus. I see from your glances the girl is dear to you, too. Help me win, and the first night with her is yours to enjoy, I swear it upon all that is sacred!" Myrtilus did 26