ALCIONE, ALCYONE. Alcyone, daughter of Aeolus, was the wife of Ceyx, king of Trachis. When her husband did not return from his trip to Delphi, Alcyone prayed continually to Juno, goddess of married women, to help her in her distress. Juno pitied her and sent Morpheus in the guise of Ceyx to tell Alcyone that Ceyx had drowned at sea (Met XI.419-748; OM, XI.2996-3787).

The Man of Law says that in his youth Chaucer told the story of Ceys and Alcione, MLI 57. The full story, told in BD 62-220, was a favorite with medieval writers. Machaut tells it in La Fonteinne Amoureuse 539-1034, and Gower in Confessio Amantis VIII.2647-2656. [Ceys: Juno: Morpheus]

Alcione, a spelling variant, occurs twice in medial positions, BD 220, 1326; and four times in final rhyming position, MLI 57; BD 145, 196, 264. Alcyone occurs once, in final rhyming position BD 65.