In the previous presentation of the story of Meleager, Heywood has improved upon the brilliant and passionate rhetoric of Ovid by the introduction of an original and happy touch of dramatic effect: his althaea, after firing the brand with which her son's life is destined to burn out, relents and plucks it back for a minute from the flame, giving the victim a momentary respite from torture, a fugitive recrudescence of strength and spirit, before she rekindles it.
"The Age of Shakespeare"
Algernon Charles Swinburne
Nevertheless, her dreams haunted her, as they have haunted many a loving mother, ever since althaea plucked from the flame the burning brand that measured Meleager's life, and smothered the sparks upon it and hid it away among her treasures.
"Don Orsino"
F. Marion Crawford
As long as this was kept safe by althaea, his mother, Meleager bore a charmed life.
"The Pleasures of Life"
Sir John Lubbock