But the latter (who, as you may judge, was as good a horseman as ever galloped) had been watching his opportunity, and at last clapped the golden bit of the enchanted bridle between the winged steed’s jaws.  No sooner was this done than Pegasus became as manageable as if he had taken food all his life out of Bellerophon’s hand.  To speak what I really feel, it was almost a sadness to see so wild a creature grow suddenly so tame.  And Pegasus seemed to feel it so likewise.  He looked round to Bellerophon with tears in his beautiful eyes, instead of the fire that so recently flashed from them.  But when Bellerophon patted his head and spoke a few authoritative, yet kind and soothing words, another look came into the eyes of Pegasus; for he was glad at heart, after so many lonely centuries, to have found a companion and a master.  Thus it always is with winged horses and with all such wild and solitary creatures.  If you can catch and overcome them, it is the surest way to win their love.

While Pegasus had been doing his utmost to shake Bellerophon off his back, he had flown a very long distance, and they had come within sight of a lofty mountain by the time the bit was in his mouth.  Bellerophon had seen this mountain before, and knew it to be Helicon, on the summit of which was the winged horse’s abode.  Thither (after looking gently into his rider’s face, as if to ask leave) Pegasus now flew, and, alighting, waited patiently until Bellerophon should please to dismount.  The young man accordingly leaped from his steed’s back, but still held him fast by the bridle.  Meeting his eyes, however, he was so affected by the gentleness of his aspect and by his beauty, and by the thought of the free life which Pegasus had heretofore lived, that he could not bear to keep him a prisoner if he really desired his liberty.

Obeying this generous impulse, he slipped the enchanted bridle off the head of Pegasus and took the bit from his mouth.

“Leave me, Pegasus!” said he.  “Either leave me or love me.”

In an instant the winged horse shot almost out of sight, soaring straight upward from the summit of Mount Helicon.  Being long after sunset, it was now twilight on the mountain top and dusky evening over all the country round about.  But Pegasus flew so high that he overtook the departed day, and was bathed in the upper radiance of the sun.  Ascending higher and higher, he looked like a bright speck, and at last could no longer be seen in the hollow waste of the sky.  And Bellerophon was afraid that he should never behold him more.  But while he was lamenting his own folly the bright speck reappeared, and drew nearer and nearer until it descended lower than the sunshine; and behold, Pegasus had come back!  After this trial there was no more fear of the winged horse’s making his escape.  He and Bellerophon were friends, and put loving faith in one another.

That night they lay down and slept together, with Bellerophon’s arm about the neck of Pegasus, not as a caution, but for kindness.  And they awoke at peep of day and bade one another good morning, each in his own language.