Lives of Alcyone

them exceedingly strong. His interest in occult powers and
phenomena , and also in the progress of his people, was
undoubtedly genuine and strong, yet at the same time there was a
streak of sensuality in him which led him sometimes into reckless
disregard of the rights of others and of the duties of his position.
Alcyone’ s advice and influence steadied him greatly, and much
modified the occasional outbursts which occurred, so that on the
whole the King was kept within reasonable bounds. The character of
Ulysses changed greatly for the better under Alcyone’ s direction,
and he formed and carried out many schemes for the good of his
people, Alcyone and Mercury being always the force behind the
throne in these matters, so that eventually this little kingdom became
one of the most flourishing in the whole of the south of India.
Many years passed in this way, and in the fullness of time
Mercury died, to the lasting sorrow of Alcyone and Ulysses. The
Maharaja survived Mercury by a few years only, and then Ulysses
was compelled to his turn repeated the offer which his father had
made, begging Alcyone to go with him to the capital, and saying that
as all that he had been able to do in Dorasamudra had been with the
advice of and largely under the direction of Alcyone, he could not
possibly take upon his shoulders the responsibility of this far larger
work without the same help and guidance. Alcyone resisted this
persuasion for a long time, but as his eldest son Siwa had now
grown up and was not only well able to take charge of his temple,
but also quite willing to undertake that responsibility. Alcyone at last
yielded to the urgent solicitations of Ulysses, and they journeyed
together to take up the new work. Alcyone was at last appointed as
chief priest of the principal temple in the capital, a post which he