in heavenly realms of hellas dwelt two very different sons…
““in heavenly realms of hellas dwelt two very different sons of zeus: one, handsome strong and born to dare --a fighter to his eyelashes-- the other,cunning ugly lame; but as you'll shortly comprehend a marvellous artificer now Ugly was the husband of (as happens every now and then upon a merely human plane) someone completely beautiful; and Beautiful,who(truth to sing) could never quite tell right from wrong, took brother Fearless by the eyes and did the deed of joy with him then Cunning forged a web so subtle air is comparatively crude; an indestructible occult supersnare of resistless metal: and(stealing toward the blissful pair) skilfully wafted over them- selves this implacable unthing next,our illustrious scientist petitions the celestial host to scrutinize his handiwork: they(summoned by that savage yell from shining realms of regions dark) laugh long at Beautiful and Brave --wildly who rage,vainly who strive; and being finally released flee one another like the pest thus did immortal jealousy quell divine generosity, thus reason vanquished instinct and matter became the slave of mind; thus virtue triumphed over vice and beauty bowed to ugliness and logic thwarted life:and thus-- but look around you,friends and foes my tragic tale concludes herewith: soldier,beware of mrs smith””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
A mythic tale of contrasting brothers—one beautiful, one ugly—illustrates how love, fear, and intellect intertwine, leading to jealousy, virtue, and the triumph of reason over instinct.
In simple terms: Contrasting brothers show love, fear, intellect, and reason overcoming instinct.
Recognize the balance of beauty, intellect, and emotion.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- creative writing
- artistic inspiration
- personal reflection
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What does the story suggest about the role of reason?
- How do beauty and ugliness affect our choices?
The narrative is dense and confusing, making its moral hard to grasp.