\b0 The handsome \b \cf4 \ATXht10821 Hyacinth\b0 \cf7 \ATXht0 had drawn the eyes and the interest of \b \cf4 \ATXht12600 Zephyr\b0 \cf7 \ATXht0 , the west wind, and\cf0 \b \cf4 \ATXht9 Apollo\b0 \cf7 \ATXht0 , who both fell in love with him. But Hyacinth preferred Apollo, who deserted\cf0 \b \cf4 \ATXht10404 Delphi\b0 \cf0 \ATXht0 \cf7 and the oracle for him, ar
ousing the jealousy of the wind god. One day, in the sultry heat of noon, Hyacinth and Apollo stripped on the banks of the river Eurota and, their bodies glowing with oil, began to compete in the throwing of iron quoits. The lethal missiles whistled acro
ss the grass and embedded themselves in a distant pole. Zephyr, who was watching from a hidden vantage point, could no longer bear the friendship between the two athletes and caused one of the quoits thrown by Apollo to strike the head of Hyacinth. The
young man turned white and fell lifeless to the ground. Apollo sought desperately to bring him back to life but could do nothing against\cf0 \b \cf4 \ATXht10600 Fate\b0 \cf7 \ATXht0 , to which even the gods are subject. And so, as a constant reminder of
the fair Hyacinth, he caused a purple flower with a lament engraved on its petals to spring from his blood.
