The father-bird put on his wings, and, while the light urged them to be gone, he waited to see that all was well with Icarus, for the two could not fly hand in hand. The day came, and the fair wind that was to set them free. Who could remember to be careful when he was to fly for the first time? Are birds careful? Not they! And not an idea remained in the boy’s head but the one joy of escape. “Remember,” said the father, “never to fly very low or very high, for the fogs about the earth would weigh you down, but the blaze of the sun will surely melt your feathers apart if you go too near.”įor Icarus, these cautions went in at one ear and out by the other. Without delay, he fell to work on a pair of wings for the boy Icarus and taught him carefully how to use them, bidding him beware of rash adventures among the stars. He held himself aloft, wavered this way and that with the wind, and at last, like a great fledgling, he learned to fly. When they were done, Daedalus fitted them to his own shoulders, and after one or two efforts, he found that by waving his arms he could winnow the air and cleave it, as a swimmer does the sea. ![]() He fastened these together with thread, molded them in with wax, and so fashioned two great wings like those of a bird. Little by little, he gathered a store of feathers great and small. Daedalus managed to escape from his cell but it seemed impossible to leave the island, since every ship that came or went was well guarded by order of the King.Īt length, watching the sea gulls in the air the only creatures that were sure of liberty-he thought of a plan for himself and his young son Icarus, who was captive with him. But the King’s favor veered with the wind, and one day he had his master architect imprisoned in a tower. He once built, for King Minos of Crete, a wonderful Labyrinth of winding ways so cunningly tangled up and twisted around that, once inside, you could never find your way out again without a magic clue. Poor Icarus plunged into the water and drowned.The Lament for Icarus by Herbert Draper, 1898.Īmong all those mortals who grew so wise that they learned the secrets of the gods, none was more cunning than Daedalus. He flew so high that before he knew what was happening, the sun had begun to melt the wax on his wings. The breeze was brisk, more than enough to keep them in the air. Water sparkled beneath them as far as they could see. They left the island of Crete far behind them. They flapped their wings and took to the sky. ![]() When two pairs of wings were ready, he warned his young son not to fly too close to the sun or the wax would melt.ĭaedalus fastened the wings to their arms. Daedalus began to gather all the bird feathers he could find. One day, Daedalus noticed birds flying overhead. (Actually, the children did have help, and not from Daedalus, but that's another myth.) King Minos punished the innocent Daedalus by keeping Daedalus and his young son Icarus prisoners on the island of Crete.ĭaedalus tried to think of ways to escape. He did not believe anyone could have entered the maze and escape alive without help from someone, most probably help from the man who had designed the maze in the first place. King Minos was beside himself with grief. The next day, they sailed safely away, taking with them the king's lovely daughter, and leaving behind them one dead Minotaur. One day, a group of Greek children sailed to the island. It was peaceful and pleasant on the island. Both Daedalus and Icarus were happy they had come. He was sure the child would enjoy swimming and playing with the other children on the island. ![]() He really was a fine architect.ĭaedalus brought his young son Icarus with him. ![]() Daedalus had no doubt he could design such a maze. That way, the king would be happy, the monster would be contained, and the people would be safe. Daedalus planned to make the maze a challenge, so complicated that anyone who entered it would be lost until rescued. The king loved that awful monster and wanted him to have a lovely home.ĭaedalus was a bit amazed at the king's choice of pet, but a job was a job. The Minotaur was a horrible monster, with the head of a bull on a human body. The king wanted Daedalus to build a maze, a Labyrinth, as a home for the king's beloved pet, the Minotaur. King Minos invited Daedalus to the lovely island of Crete. He was probably the finest architect of his time. He used his art to make buildings and temples. Once upon a time, a long time ago, there lived a talented artist.
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