Lives of Alcyone

slopes that hardly two of its halls were on the same level, and when
one looked down upon the huge building from the neighbouring
summit, it had a curious effect of a forest of gleaming white marble
domes, growing precariously up and down half-a-mile of steep
hillside.
The stupendous temple had an absolute fascination for the
two Queens; the were constantly having themselves carried up there
in their palanquins, and when their dearly loved husbands were
away from home, fighting in some of the petty wars of the period,
they spent much more time up there than in their palace below, even
though instead of their wide marble halls they had only a tiny guest-
chamber hollowed out of the rock—with , however a prospect from
its little window of fifty miles of fertile plain. It was up there that
Queen Orion insisted on retiring (much to the dismay of her court
physicians) when her first child was to be born, and up there in that
tiny rock chamber Alcyone nursed her through the affair. Alcyone
greatly loved this temple, and built from her own private purse a new
shrine for it, and a lovely marble hall with many pillars. Saturn was
the Head of the great Temple, and under him as officiants were
Mercury, Brihat, Vajra and Herakles. Helios, Naga and Achilles were
eager young postulants in the same temple, but Helios died early.
Mercury was the special advisor of the two Queens, and also of
Sirius. The pious example of these two great ladies was widely
followed all through the kingdom, and the cause of religion was
greatly promoted thereby.
Sirius had a good deal of trouble with his eldest son Gamma,
who was wayward and of bad disposition. Alcyone had no patience
with him and thought he ought to be sternly repressed, but his father
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