Columbia Library columns (v.7(1957Nov-1958May))

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  v.7,no.1(1957:Nov): Page 14  



14                                    John Erskine

The Fable of the Five Gifts of Flame

Long ago, before the gods gave up their personal interest in this
earth, they fell into the habit of using willing mortals, here and
there, to accomplish their divine errands. While the world was
new, and the gods were not yet tired of it, they came themselves
from their bright thrones, to see that the blossoms were well started
in the Spring, that the harvest was gathered into the storehouse,
from vineyard and field, and that the summer rain fell where it was
needed most.
 

Just before their visits ended, they would sometimes send dep¬
uties, and most often they would send a certain messenger, a lesser
god, who had something of a name for the speed of his errand-going.
The truth is, he had a foster-brother, of human blood but touched
with immortal love, like the child Demeter would have inade divine;
this mortal youth, for worship of the gods, relieved the winged
messenger of his arduous duties, counting the privilege of that
service reward enough; and the far-off gods heard nothing of it,
and cared not to hear.

One day they who have in their keeping the celestial fires, sent
the winged messenger to earth with five gifts of vital flame, for it
was the Spring of the year, when all things come into being. The
five gifts were these—the sacred fire for the altar of them that
worship the gods; the simpler, kindly flaine for the human hearth;
the flame of the beauty of the rose; and the twin fires of love for
the heart of a boy and a girl. Now even before he started, the winged
messenger was weary of his errand, for after so many seasons it
was an old story. So when he found his foster-brother eager to
serve him, he put the five immortal gifts into his human hands,
saying,"Take this to the altar, and this to the hearth; give this to
the rose, and these to the boy and the girl," and he turned his wings
comfortably to the free heaven.

The foster-brother heard the words, but had not time to distin¬
guish the five gifts; all alike seemed divine.While he was pondering.
  v.7,no.1(1957:Nov): Page 14