_ i d a s & m a r p e s s a

 T h e c l a (Ancient Greek: Θέκλα, Thékla, God's fame) was a saint of the early Christian Church, and a reported follower of Paul the Apostle. The earliest record of her life comes from the ancient apocryphal Acts of Paul and Thecla.  

 M a r p e s s a /mɑrˈpɛsə/ (Ancient Greek: Μάρπησσα, Márpēssa, the robbed one) was an Aetolian princess, and a granddaughter of Ares. According to another myth, she was the daughter of Evenus and Alcippe. She loved Idas and was loved by him in return. She was also loved by Apollo.

When Idas asked to marry Marpessa, Evenus refused his request. Idas went to Poseidon and begged for the use of a winged chariot. Poseidon consented to his use, and Idas stole Marpessa away and fled. Her father, after chasing the couple for a long time and realizing he could not catch up to them, killed his horses and then drowned himself in a nearby river, which took his name.

Apollo also pursued them in his own chariot, wanting Marpessa for himself. Eventually Zeus intervened and commanded Marpessa to choose between her mortal lover and the god. Marpessa chose Idas, reasoning to Apollo that had she chosen the god, she would have eventually grown old and lost his affections:

"And thou beautiful god, in that far time,

 When in thy setting sweet thou gazest down

 On this grey head, wilt thou remember then

 That once I pleased thee, that I once was young?"