The Eternal Verdure of Daphne
The sun god Apollo was known for many things: his music, his prophecy, and his formidable skill with a bow. However, his greatest weakness was often his own arrogance. After slaying the monstrous Python that had long terrorized the slopes of Mount Parnassus, Apollo’s ego swelled to a point of reckless vanity. When he crossed paths with the small, winged god of love, Cupid, who was busy stringing a diminutive bow, Apollo could not resist a biting remark. He mocked Cupid, suggesting that such a child had no business wielding a warrior’s weapon. Offended by the sun god’s condescension, Cupid decided to prove that his arrows, though small, carried a power far more disruptive than any dragon-slaying shaft.
From his quiver, Cupid drew two very different arrows. The first was tipped with gleaming gold, designed to kindle an insatiable, burning love in the heart of its victim. The second was blunt and tipped with heavy lead, intended to instill a cold, visceral revulsion toward all things romantic. With a mischievous glint in his eye, Cupid took aim. He struck Apollo’s heart with the golden arrow and pierced the bosom of the beautiful wood-nymph Daphne with the leaden one. In an instant, the fates of the two were intertwined in a tragic, lopsided chase that would echo through the ages.
- Condescension:
- An attitude of patronizing superiority; acting as if others are beneath you.
- Insatiable:
- Impossible to satisfy, especially referring to a desire or appetite.
- Revulsion:
- A sense of disgust and loathing at something.
- Resplendent:
- Attractive and impressive through being richly colorful or shining.
- Lineage:
- Direct descent from an ancestor; ancestry or family pedigree.
- formidable:
- Inspiring fear, wonder, or respect by being impressively powerful or capable.
- diminutive:
- Extremely small or tiny in size.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1Why did Apollo initially mock the god Cupid?
- 2How did the two arrows shot by Cupid differ in their effects?
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About this short story passage for Middle School
“The Eternal Verdure of Daphne” is a short story reading passage about Greek Mythology, written for Middle School. It takes about 4 minutes to read (674 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.