The Flight Of Icarus

 When Theseus escaped from the labyrinth (Ariadne helped him), King Minos flew into a rage with its builder, Daedalus, and ordered him shut up in a high tower that faced the lonely sea. In time, with the help of his young son, Icarus, Daedalus managed to escape from the tower, only to find himself a prisoner on the island. Several times he tried to sail from Crete with the passing by ships, but King Minos kept strict watch over them, and no ships were allowed to sail without being carefully searched.Daedalus was an ingenious artist and was not discouraged by his failures. "Minos may control the land and sea," he said, "but he does not control the air. I will try that way."He called his son, Icarus, to him and told the boy to gather up all the feathers he could find on the rocky shore. Daedalus then melted some wax and made a skeleton in the shape of a bird's wing. The smallest feathers he pressed into the soft wax and the large ones he tied on with thread.When the wings were finished, Daedalus fastened them to his shoulders and found himself lifted upwards. Filled with excitement, he made another pair for his son. They were smaller than his own, but strong and beautiful.Finally, one clear, wind-swept morning, the wings were finished, and Daedalus fastened them to Icarus's shoulders and taught him how to fly. Soon Icarus was sure that he, too, could fly and Daedalus watched him proudly and one day said, "Icarus, my son, we are about to make our flight. No human being has eve traveled through the air before, and I want you to listen carefully to my instructions. Keep at moderate height, for if you fly too low, the water will spoil your wings, and if you fly too high, the heat will melt the wax that hold them together. Keep near me and you will be safe."He kissed Icarus and fastened the wins more securely to his son's shoulders. Icarus, standing in the bright sun, his golden hair wet with spray, and his eyes bright and dark with excitement, looked like a  bird. Daedalus's eyes filled with tears, and turning away, he soared into the sky, calling Icarus to follow. From time to time, he look back to see that the boy was safe and to note how he managed his wings in his flight.He flew higher and higher up into the blue sky until he reached the clouds. His father saw him and called out in alarm. He tried to follow him, but he was heavier and his wings would not carry him. Up and up Icarus soared, through the soft, moist clouds and out again toward the glorious sun. He was bewitched by a sense of freedom. The blazing sun beat down on the wings and softened the wax. Small feathers fell from the wings and floated softly down, warning Icarus to stay his flight. But the enchanted boy did not notice them until the sun became so hot that the largest feathers dropped off and he began to sink. He cried out to his father .Daedalus hurried to save him, but it was too late. Weeping bitterly, he buried his small son and called the sea and land Icarus in his memory.Then, with a flutter of wings, he once more took to the air, but the joy of his flight was gone and his victory over the air was bitter to him. He arrived safely in Sicily, where he built a temple to Apollo and hung up his wings as a gift to the god.