Ceyx (seeks) was the king of Thessaly. His wife was called Halcyone (hal sy' oh nee). The two were devoted to each other. They were rarely apart.

One day Ceyx decided he must take a long sea journey. Many things had been troubling him, and he wanted to visit an oracle. Halcyone was terrified when she heard of his plans. She feared the wild, tossing waves and the strong winds of the sea. She was afraid he would never return.

"Dear husband, I beg you, please do not go!" Halcyone pleaded. "But if you must, then take me with you. I cannot bear to be left behind." Ceyx refused. He knew that the voyage would be dangerous. He would not risk his beloved wife's life.

Halcyone watched miserably as Ceyx's ship sailed out of the harbor. "Bring him back to me, good Hera," she prayed. But the first night at sea, the ship was caught in a violent storm. The winds tossed the craft about as if it were nothing but a twig. The whole crew was screaming in terror. One by one each man fell from the deck and drowned. Ceyx was also frightened. He called out Halcyone's name. It was the last word he ever spoke. A wave covered his head, and he was carried down to the deepest part of the sea.

Back at home, Halcyone was unaware that her husband was dead. She spent her days weaving him a new robe. At night she prayed to Hera for his safe return. Hera heard her prayers. It saddened her to hear Halcyone pray for one already dead. She pitied the poor woman and wanted her to know the truth. She ordered Somnus (som ' nus), the god of sleep, to go to her.

"Go to Halcyone in a dream," she told Somnus. "Tell her that her husband will never return. It will be better for her to know the truth than to live in vain hope."

Somnus gave this taskto his son, Morpheus (mor' fee us), who was able to take the form of any human being. Morpheus quickly flew to Halcyone's house. He changed his appearance so that he looked like her dead husband. Naked and wet with sea water, he visited Halcyone in a dream.

"My dearest wife, hear my words," he whispered. "Do you not know who I am? Does death make me look so different? I have come to tell you that I am no longer alive. My home is now with Hades in the underworld. Weep for me. Mourn for me. But be certain that I can never return to you."

Halcyone called to her husband in her sleep. Then she awoke with a start. "Ceyx!" she cried. But no one was there. Her room was empty. Halcyone knew then that the dream was the truth. Her husband was dead. "I cannot live without you!" she wept. "I will not live without you!"

Halcyone ran down to the shore. The sun was just beginning to rise. She looked out at the sea where she had last seen her husband alive. After standing for a while, she noticed something floating toward her. At first she thought it was just an old piece of wood. But as it came closer, she realized it was a body being carried by the waves. Halcyone watched in horror as the corpse came nearer and nearer. She was about to turn away when she caught a glimpse of its face.

Ceyx! My husband!" Filled with grief, Halcyone threw herself into the sea to join him. But she never even touched the water. Instead, she found herself flying over the waves. Her body had formed wings. She was covered with feathers. The gods had changed Halcyone into a bird, a kingfisher. She flew down toward the body of her husband. At that moment he too became a bird. Together, the two lovers flew off over the sea.

Since that time, many people have believed that the kingfisher has a calming effect on the sea. Each year the female kingfisher lays her eggs in a floating nest. For seven days she guards the eggs until they hatch. It is said that for these seven days the sea is always calm and quiet. These days are called halcyon (hal' see on) days.

Write what these sentences from the story mean.

1. The two were devoted to each other.



2. "It will be better for her to know the truth than to live in vain hope."



3. "Weep for me. Mourn for me. But be certain that I can never return to you."



4. Many Greek myths try to explain things that happen in nature. What does this story try to explain?



5. Ceyx went on a voyage to visit an oracle. What kind of help did he expect to get there?



6. Why did Hera order Somnus to tell Halcyone the truth about Ceyx's death? Do you think that this was a kind or an unkind act? Why or why not?



7. Why do you think the gods turned Ceyx and Halcyone into kingfishers? Was this a reward or a punishment?