The young boy Phaeton (fay' ut en) stood before the sun god Apollo. So dazzling was the god that Phaeton could not y bear to look upon him. His head was bowed as he spoke. "Great Apollo, each day I watch as you drive the chariot of the sun across the sky. My mother, Clymene (klim' u nee), has told me that you are my father. But others do not believe it. They call me a liar. That is why I have journeyed so far to your palace. If it is true, give me proof so everyone may know that Phaeton is the son of a great god!"

Apollo took off his radiant crown so Phaeton could look at him. He held out his arms to the boy. "Phaeton,your mother is telling you the truth. I will gladly call you my son. Ask anything of me and I swear it will be yours."

Phaeton looked boldly at Apollo. "Father, my wish is to drive the chariot of the sun across the sky."

Apollo was horrified. "That is impossible," he answered. "I alone of all the gods am able to control the headstrong horses that pull the chariot. The path from dawn to dusk is steep and filled with dangers. What chance do you think a young boy would have?"

But Phaeton insisted. Apollo had no choice but to honor his promise. As dawn approached, Apollo sadly readied the horses.

A great feeling of power came over Phaeton as he climbed into the golden chariot. He laughed into the sky and shouted, "No other god but Apollo can make this journey! I am the son of Apollo. I will show the world my greatness!"

With a triumphant smile, Phaeton drove the chariot out of the stables. But the horses knew immediatelythat no strong, firm hands controlled the reins. They ignored the boy's feeble directions and chose their own course. In terror, Phaeton dropped the reins altogether. Wild with freedom, the horses pulled the chariot of the sun on a dizzying path. Lower and lower toward earth it sped. Its hot rays touched the mountain peaks and set them on fire. Great cities burned and soon the whole world was in flames. In desperation, the earth cried to the gods for help. On Mt. Olympus, Zeus heard the plea. If the earth were to be saved, he must act quickly. He reached for a lightning bolt and aimed it at the frightened Phaeton, who was still clinging to the runaway chariot. The bolt flew through the sky until it struck the boy. Phaeton fell dead to the earth.

The fires on earth soon stopped burning. Grief-stricken, Apollo went after the horses and returned them to the stables. Phaeton's mother, Clymene, found the boy's body and buried it on the bank of a river. She and his sisters wept bitterly over the grave. In pity, the gods changed Clymene and her daughters into Poplar trees, which to this day weep their golden leaves into rivers all over the world.

Write what these sentences from the story mean.

1. So dazzling was the god that Phaeton could not bear to look upon him.



2. "The path from dawn to dusk is steep and filled with dangers.



3. A great feeling of power came over Phaeton as he climbed into the golden chariot.



4. But the horses knew immediately that no strong, firm hands controlled the reins.



5. Wild with freedom, the horses pulled the chariot of the sun on a dizzying path.



6. Why do you think Phaeton wanted to drive the chariot of the sun across the sky?



7. Why did Apollo let Phaeton take on such a dangerous task?



8. What was Apollo's daily job? Was this a very important job? Why?



9. Have you ever wanted to do something your parents did not want you to do? What was it? What happened?



10. What else might Zeus have done to save the earth?