Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 33.djvu/110

100 naturally disposed to substitute a relation of identity for a simple relation of analogy. On this subject M. de Gubernatis relates, in his "Zoologie mythologique," a personal recollection of the most significant character. When he was four years old, his brother having called his attention to a curious-looking group of clouds by saying, "See that wolf chasing the sheep!" he was so fully convinced that the cloud was really a hungry wolf running over the mountains, that he ran into the house, for fear that the wolf, not finding sheep, would take him.

Dawn and twilight are only rarely made divinities among untutored peoples. But they are personified in a curious Esthonian myth among the Finns. It is related in this story that the sun is a torch lit up every morning by Koi, the dawn, and put out every evening by Œmmerik, the twilight. Their father, Ukko, the sky, desiring to unite them, they consented to come together for a few days every year at the time of the summer solstice, at which time there is in Finland no night between the twilight and the dawn. On these days, the legend continues, Œmmerik passed the torch directly to his affianced, and she blew it alive with her breath before it had time to go out.

While both the twilight and the dawn were deified among the Aryans, the more special importance was given to Aurora, the dawn. She it was among the Greeks who daily with her rosy fingers opened the eastern gates, and brought back the light, which was equivalent to a new creation and the dispersion of the demons of night. In the Greek mythology, Aurora precedes the chariot of the sun; and on an Apuleian cup the decorator has depicted an ingenious allegory, showing Selene (the moon) mounted upon a chariot, and driving away, with her face veiled; Aurora preceding the solar team as it courses through the air; while around the chariot infants, representing the stars, are disappearing in the depths of the sky. This representation is very like a description that may be found in the Vedas, where it is sung: "The stars fly like thieves, in company with the night, before the radiance of the dawn, which, like a herald, precedes the course of the sun." "Hail, ruddy Ushas," says another hymn, "golden goddess, borne on thy bright chariot! Thou advancest like a solitary virgin, discovering to our admiring eyes all thy hidden graces, or like a spouse unveiling to her lord beauties which appear to him every morning more fresh and brilliant! Although thou countest years upon years, thou art always young. Thou art the breath and the life of all that lives and breathes, wakening every day myriads of prostrate sleepers, causing birds to fly out of their nests, and guiding the busy steps of mortals in the occupations which they pursue in the search for riches, pleasure, or fame." The Vedic Ushas, like the Eos