A Book of Myths, by Jean Lang - Umnet

weary mortals rest and sweet forgetfulness.
Only rousing himself sufficiently to give his orders, Somnus entrusted
to Morpheus the task imposed upon him by Juno, and then, with a
yawn, turned over on his downy pillow, and gave himself up to
exquisite slumber.
When he had winged his way to Trachine, Morpheus took upon himself
the form of Ceyx and sought the room where Halcyone slept. She had
watched the far horizon many hours that day. For many an hour had she
vainly burned incense to the gods. Tired in heart and soul, in body and
in mind, she laid herself down on her couch at last, hoping for the gift
of sleep. Not long had she slept, in the dead-still sleep that weariness
and a stricken heart bring with them, when Morpheus came and stood
by her side. He was only a dream, yet his face was the face of Ceyx.
Not the radiant, beautiful son of the Day Star was the Ceyx who stood
by her now and gazed on her with piteous, pitying dead eyes. His
clothing dripped sea-water; in his hair was tangled the weed of the sea,
uprooted by the storm. Pale, pale was his face, and his white hands
gripped the stones and sand that had failed him in his dying agony.
Halcyone whimpered in her sleep as she looked on him, and Morpheus
stooped over her and spoke the words that he had been told to say.
"I am thy husband, Ceyx, Halcyone. No more do prayers and the
blue-curling smoke of incense avail me. Dead am I, slain by the storm
and the waves. On my dead, white face the skies look down and the
restless sea tosses my chill body that still seeks thee, seeking a haven in
thy dear arms, seeking rest on thy warm, loving heart."
With a cry Halcyone started up, but Morpheus had fled, and there were
no wet footprints nor drops of sea-water on the floor, marking, as she
had hoped, the way that her lord had taken. Not again did Sleep visit
her that night.
A grey, cold morning dawned and found her on the seashore. As ever,
her eyes sought the far horizon, but no white sail, a messenger of hope,
was there to greet her. Yet surely she saw something--a black speck,