DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9260#0065
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PHOSEON. Lib. I.
PHOSES. Book L 29
THE EXPLICATION OF THE TWELFTH FABLE.
TO explain this Fable , as well as all the other
Gallantries of the Gods, which the Poets fpeak
f6 frequently of, we mud lay it down as a Principle,
that belides that there are' many Jupiters , many
Apollos, many Mercurys &c. which I have proved in
my Explication of Fables, the Priefts of thofe respec-
tive Deities frequently fanctified their Debaucheries
with the Names of the Divinities they fervedj from
whence proceeded that prodigious number of Children
that claim'd thofe Gods for their Fathers.
This Principle being eftablifht we may thus explain
the Fable of Daphne. Some Prince , among the
number of thofe to whom the love of polite Learning
had given the Name of Apollo, falling in love with
Daphne Daughter of Peneus King of TheJJaly, and
one day purfuing her, the young Princefs perifh'd on
the Bank of a River in her Lover's fight. Some Lau*
rcls growing near the place gave rife to her Meta-
morphofiSj or rather the Etimology of the word Da-
phne, which in Greek iignifies a Laurel, was the oc-
cafion of publifhing this Fable. If we credit Lyhus
Giraldus, Daphne was fo called from Aa<pu\i&>, wd,
becaufe the Laurel makes a crackling noife in burning.
And as this Tree was confecrated to Apollo , from
thence we have according to this Author, the Fable
of his and Daphne's Amours. However Paufanias (i)
gives another turn to this Adventure. He fays Leu-
cippus , Son of Oenomaus King of Tifa , the very
fame who gave his Daughter Hippodamia in marriage
to Pelops, falling in love with Daphne disguifed him-
felf in Virgin's Apparel to accompany her in Hunting,
which fhe loved exceedingly, and confecrated her felf
(1) In Arc ad.
to Diana according to the Cuftom of thofe Times.
The Care and Affiduity with which he attended his
Miftrefs, very foon procured him her Friendfhip and
Confidence •> but Apollo his Rival having discover'd
the Intrigue, one day redoubles the Heat of the Sun:
Daphne and her Companions going to bathe them-
felves would oblige Leucippus to follow their example,
but he declining it under feveral pretexts they refolved
to undrefs him j and having then difcover'd what he
was they killed him with their Arrows. Paufanias in
relating this Event mixes , as you fee , fomething of
the Fabulous. But as it is certain on the other hand
that Oenomaus had a Son called Leucippus , who pe-
rifh'd in his Youth in very near the manner he relates >
to rectify this Narration , it is fufficient to fay that
one day when it was very hot , the Virgins having
forced the young Man to bathe himfelf, they found
out his disguife and punifh'd him for his Infolence.
Diodorus Siculus (2) afliires us that this Daphne is
the fame with the Fairy Mantho, Daughter of Tires-
ias who was banifh'd to Delphos , where file wrote
many Oracles ; of which Homer made a very happy
Ufe in his two Poems. Needed there any more to
prove her the Miftrefs of Apollo ? The Inhabitants of
Antioch pretended that this Adventure happen'd in
the Subburbs of their City ; which from thence bore
the name of Daphne. St. Chryfoftome, following Li-
banus defcribes a fine Statue of Apollo which flood in
thofe Subburbs: The God held his Harp in one hand,
and a Cup in the other, with which he feem'd to offer
Libations to the Earth that had fwallow'd up his
Miftrefs.
Fab. XIII.
(i) Lib. IV.
lo purfued by Jupiter.
THE ARGUMENT.
Jupiter in love with \o the Daughter of the River Inachus, purfues
D 3
ier
*
PHOSEON. Lib. I.
PHOSES. Book L 29
THE EXPLICATION OF THE TWELFTH FABLE.
TO explain this Fable , as well as all the other
Gallantries of the Gods, which the Poets fpeak
f6 frequently of, we mud lay it down as a Principle,
that belides that there are' many Jupiters , many
Apollos, many Mercurys &c. which I have proved in
my Explication of Fables, the Priefts of thofe respec-
tive Deities frequently fanctified their Debaucheries
with the Names of the Divinities they fervedj from
whence proceeded that prodigious number of Children
that claim'd thofe Gods for their Fathers.
This Principle being eftablifht we may thus explain
the Fable of Daphne. Some Prince , among the
number of thofe to whom the love of polite Learning
had given the Name of Apollo, falling in love with
Daphne Daughter of Peneus King of TheJJaly, and
one day purfuing her, the young Princefs perifh'd on
the Bank of a River in her Lover's fight. Some Lau*
rcls growing near the place gave rife to her Meta-
morphofiSj or rather the Etimology of the word Da-
phne, which in Greek iignifies a Laurel, was the oc-
cafion of publifhing this Fable. If we credit Lyhus
Giraldus, Daphne was fo called from Aa<pu\i&>, wd,
becaufe the Laurel makes a crackling noife in burning.
And as this Tree was confecrated to Apollo , from
thence we have according to this Author, the Fable
of his and Daphne's Amours. However Paufanias (i)
gives another turn to this Adventure. He fays Leu-
cippus , Son of Oenomaus King of Tifa , the very
fame who gave his Daughter Hippodamia in marriage
to Pelops, falling in love with Daphne disguifed him-
felf in Virgin's Apparel to accompany her in Hunting,
which fhe loved exceedingly, and confecrated her felf
(1) In Arc ad.
to Diana according to the Cuftom of thofe Times.
The Care and Affiduity with which he attended his
Miftrefs, very foon procured him her Friendfhip and
Confidence •> but Apollo his Rival having discover'd
the Intrigue, one day redoubles the Heat of the Sun:
Daphne and her Companions going to bathe them-
felves would oblige Leucippus to follow their example,
but he declining it under feveral pretexts they refolved
to undrefs him j and having then difcover'd what he
was they killed him with their Arrows. Paufanias in
relating this Event mixes , as you fee , fomething of
the Fabulous. But as it is certain on the other hand
that Oenomaus had a Son called Leucippus , who pe-
rifh'd in his Youth in very near the manner he relates >
to rectify this Narration , it is fufficient to fay that
one day when it was very hot , the Virgins having
forced the young Man to bathe himfelf, they found
out his disguife and punifh'd him for his Infolence.
Diodorus Siculus (2) afliires us that this Daphne is
the fame with the Fairy Mantho, Daughter of Tires-
ias who was banifh'd to Delphos , where file wrote
many Oracles ; of which Homer made a very happy
Ufe in his two Poems. Needed there any more to
prove her the Miftrefs of Apollo ? The Inhabitants of
Antioch pretended that this Adventure happen'd in
the Subburbs of their City ; which from thence bore
the name of Daphne. St. Chryfoftome, following Li-
banus defcribes a fine Statue of Apollo which flood in
thofe Subburbs: The God held his Harp in one hand,
and a Cup in the other, with which he feem'd to offer
Libations to the Earth that had fwallow'd up his
Miftrefs.
Fab. XIII.
(i) Lib. IV.
lo purfued by Jupiter.
THE ARGUMENT.
Jupiter in love with \o the Daughter of the River Inachus, purfues
D 3
ier
*