Pemeter and Perceponce

It was a bright sunny day in Mount Olympus. The sun was like a fire. The wind was as calm as a baby sleeping. The gods were busy doing their jobs. Poseidon was the god of the sea, earthquakes, and also a giver of horses to mortals. This was a rule by Zeus, king of the gods.

One day in a village near Mount Olympus, two brothers, Pemeter and Perceponce were busy working in the fields. Pemeter was planting crops and Perceponce was plowing. They worked so hard that they started to get hot. They didn't think they could stand the sun beating down on their faces any longer. So Perceponce decided to take a swim in the sea.

Pemeter begged, "Don't go in that sea or you'll be punished!"

"I'm tired from a days work and I've got to cool off," shouted Perceponce. The brothers lived together by the Aegean Sea. It was believed that this sea was sacred to the gods, and it was believed to have no bottom to it. That was why there was a rule that no humans could swim or even put their feet in this sea.

Perceponce didn't like rules. In fact, he never obeyed them, and he always tried to not get caught. He asked Pemeter if he wanted to go swim in the sea. Pemeter said, "Of course not." Perceponce dove into the the sea. He was known for holding his breath for a very long time. Perceponce. was like a fish. He knew the gods would never see him under the water. Poseidon was so intelligent that he could see anything. Poseidon was so angry that Perceponce had broken the rule he shook his fists in great anger.

The Earth split and shook very hard for a long time. This was known as the first earthquake and always happened when Poseidon gets angry with those who break rules.

Since Pemeter obeyed the rules, he was awarded with a horse to provide him transportation. Perceponce had to walk everywhere he went.