When the swan team of silver-bowed Apollo had carried him over the Snowy Mountains, they alighted in the Hyperborean land.  And the people welcomed Apollo with shouts of joy and songs of triumph, as one for whom they had long been waiting.  He took up his abode there, and dwelt with them one whole year, delighting them with his presence, and ruling over them as their king.  But when twelve moons had passed, he bethought him that the toiling, suffering men of Greece needed most his aid and care.  Therefore he bade the Hyperboreans farewell, and again went up into his sun-bright car; and his winged team carried him back to the land of his birth.

Long time Apollo sought a place where he might build a temple to which men might come to learn of him and to seek his help in time of need.  At length he came to a broad plain, by the shore of a beautiful lake; and there he began to build a house, for the land was a pleasant one, well-watered, and rich in grain and fruit.  But the nymph that lived in the lake liked not to have Apollo so near her, lest men seeing and loving him should forget to honor her; and one day, garmented with mosses and crowned with lilies, she came and stood before him in the sunlight.

“Apollo of the silver bow,” said she, “have you not made a mistake in choosing this place for a dwelling?  These rich plains around us will not always be as peaceful as now; for their very richness will tempt the spoiler, and the song of the cicada will then give place to the din of battle.  Even in times of peace you would hardly have a quiet hour here:  for great herds of cattle come crowding down every day to my lake for water; the noisy ploughman, driving his team afield, disturbs the morning hour with his boorish shouts; and boys and dogs keep up a constant din, and make life in this place a burden.”

“Fair nymph,” said Apollo, “I had hoped to dwell here in thy happy vale, a neighbor and friend to thee.  Yet, since this place is not what it seems to be, whither shall I go, and where shall I build my house?”

“Go to the cleft in Mount Parnassus,” answered the nymph.  “There thou canst dwell in peace, and men will come from all parts of the world to do thee honor.”

And so Apollo went down to Parnassus, and there in the cleft of the mountain he laid the foundations of his shrine.  Then he called the master architects of the world, Trophonius and Agamedes, and gave to them the building of the high walls and the massive roof.  When they had finished their work, he said, “Say now what reward you most desire for your labor, and I will give it you.”

“Give us,” said the brothers, “that which is the best for men.”

“It is well,” answered Apollo.  “When the full moon is seen above the mountain-tops, you shall have your wish.”

But when the moon rose full and clear above the heights, the two brothers were dead.