Momus and Agathe (Short Story)

Original Story by: May Anne Joy D. Romanes

majromanes57@gmail.com

Once upon a time, there lived a very beautiful woman named Agathe. Agathe was not only beautiful but also she had a special talent. Agathe can make everyone sleep with her voice. Her mother have discovered this talent that she had soon after she learned how to hum a tune; hence, she forbade her to make any melody nor sing, in order to keep her away from people who might abused her skill.

Momus, the Greek god of mockery and satires, have been so bored in Mount Olympus. He was punished by his mother Nyx, the goddess of night, because of the jokes he played with the other gods. He was not particularly affected with the punishment because he can get away easily from his mother through his clever tricks.

As he flew away from the home of the gods and goddesses, he pulled some jokes on the men and women he found on the streets of Athens. He made himself into a cow and ate all the apples on the cart of an old grumpy vendor. When the old man found out that he lost all the apples, Momus, in his cow form, turned himself into a beautiful young maiden and went on his way. The beggars in the street were soon accused of eating all the apples. As he walk along, Momus decided to change himself again into a cow, as he devoured the laundry of a lady peasant he saw on the street. He found it very funny, and continued to pull all the kinds of jokes he could think of. Because of these, he grew tired and he flew into the woods to rest.


Momus found a comfortable place on a high tree branch. He saw the most beautiful woman he had ever saw—Agathe was under the tree, fixing the fruits that her mother asked her to bring to her aunt in Athens. After she fixed everything in her dainty basket, Agathe looked back and forth. She wanted to make sure there is no one in the place so she can practice her talent without divulging the secret she and her mother have kept well. She sat under that very same tree where Momus is resting, and began singing. Momus heard a beautiful voice that he soon fell from the tree branch he was on. Agathe was shocked when a handsome man fell on her side. She tried to call for help, but she could not find any. She waited until he wakes up.

When Momus woke up, he was mesmerized with the pretty face of Agathe. Agathe fell in love with him, however, although he found her attractive, Momus, did not fall in love in return. He kissed Agathe and turned himself into a cockroach. Agathe screamed and run, leaving her basket behind. Satisfied, Momus happily went back to Mount Olympus.

The End