A Book of Myths, by Jean Lang - Umnet

had reached the river Lycormas did the angry father own that his
pursuit had been in vain. Over the swift-flowing stream flew the chariot
driven by Idas, but Evenos knew that his horses, flecked with white
foam, pumping each breath from hearts that were strained to
breaking-point, no longer could go on with the chase. The passage of
that deep stream would destroy them. The fierce water would sweep the
wearied beasts down in its impelling current, and he with them. A
shamed man would he be forever. Not for a moment did he hesitate, but
drew his sharp sword from his belt and plunged it into the breast of one
steed and then of the other who had been so willing and who yet had
failed him in the end. And then, as they, still in their traces, neighed
shrilly aloud, and then fell over and died where they lay, Evenos, with a
great cry, leaped into the river. Over his head closed the eddies of the
peat-brown water. Once only did he throw up his arms to ask the gods
for mercy; then did his body drift down with the stream, and his soul
hastened downwards to the Shades. And from that day the river
Lycormas no more was known by that name, but was called the river
Evenos forever.
Onwards, triumphantly, drove Idas, but soon he knew that a greater
than Evenos had entered in the chase, and that the jealous sun-god's
chariot was in pursuit of the winged car of Neptune. Quickly it gained
on him--soon it would have swept down on him--a hawk indeed, this
time, striking surely its helpless prey--but even as Apollo saw the white
face of Marpessa and knew that he was the victor, a mighty thunderbolt
that made the mountains shake, and rolled its echoes through the lonely
fastnesses of a thousand hills, was sent to earth by Jupiter. While the
echoes still re-echoed, there came from Olympus the voice of Zeus
himself.
"Let her decide!" he said.
Apollo, like a white flame blown backward by the wind, withheld his
hands that would have seized from Idas the woman who was his heart's
desire.
And then he spoke, and while his burning gaze was fixed upon her, and
his face, in beautiful fury, was more perfect than any exquisite picture