DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.9260#0116
PHOSEON Lib. III.
PHOSES. Book III. 81
Admirers of Fables, obferving fome Plane-Trees on the Banks
of that River, which were always green and flourishing, re-
ported that Jupiter confummated his Marriage with Europa
under One of thofe Treesj and, in procefs of Time, the In-
habitants of Goftys took occafion , from thence , to ftrike a
Medal, now in the King's Clofet, reprefenting Europa fit-
ting in a melancholy Pofturc under a Tree half Plane and half
Palm-Tree; with an Eagle at the Foot of it upon which f he
turns her Back. And, to put it out of dispute that this
Event is the Subject of the Medal, the famePrincefs is feen on
the other Side fitting on a Bull, within a Border of Laurel
Leaves, and the Legend roPTiNinN.
Apollodorus has preferved the Genealogy of Europa (i).
Libya, according to that Author, had Two Sons by Nep-
tune, Belus and Agenor. The Latter married Thelepaha,
by whom he had Cadmus, Phenix, and Cilix > and a Daugh-
ter named Europa. Neverthelefs, there are, according to
(i) Lib. III.
the fame Author, Hiftorians who aflure us that Europa was
the Daughter of Phenix, and Grandchild of Agenor.
We mull not forget to take notice in this place, that fe-
veral Authors believed that Europe took its Name from that
Princefsi but the learned Bochart, with much morereafon,
is of Opinion that this Part of the World was called fo from
the Whitenefs of thofe who inhabited it. In the mean time
we may fuppofe that Europa having received her Name from
the exceeding Fairnefs of her Complexion , fome Authors
would therefore give it to this Quarter of the Globe, whofe
Inhabitants are fo white. As to the reft, that Princefs muft
certainly have been extremely fair , tho' born in a very hot
Climate; fince the Poets, as the Scholiaft of Theocritus tells
us, invented, merely upon that account , the Fable which
fays that the young Angelo , the Daughter of Jupiter and
Juno, ftolc her Mother's Paint to give to Europa, who ufed
it with fo much fuccefs that it made her extremely fair and
beautifull.
Fab. II. Cadmus kills the Dragon facred to Mars.
THE A R G U M E N T.
The Companions of Cadmus drawing Water at the Fountain of Mars
are all devoured by the Dragon that guards it. The Prince? impatient at
their ftay and going to fee what is become of them, kills the Monfter;
and then, by the Advice of Minerva, fows its Teeth, which immediatly
produce a Crop of armed Men. Thefe new-made Men quarrel amongft
themfelves, and all kill one another except Five, who become Friends
to Cadmus, and aflift him in building the City of Thebes.
QUem fojiquam Tyrih lucum de gente
Infaujto tetigere gradu, demijfaque in undas
Urna deditj'onitum> longum caput extulitantro
Caemleus ferpens > horrendaque fibila mifit.
Ejfluxere urnae manibus; fanguisque relinquit
Corpus 3 £tf attomtos fubitus tremor occupat
artus. 40
Tom. I. Ilk
THe Tynans in the Den for Water fought,
And with their Urns explor'd the hollow Vault:
From Side to Side their empty Urns rebound 3
And rowfe the fleeping Serpent with the Sound.
Strait he beftirs him, and is feen to rife; ^
And now with dreadful Hillings fills the Skies} {
And darts his forky Tongues, and rowles his C
glareing Eyes. )
The Tyrians drop their VefiTels in the Fright,
All pale and trembling at the hideous Sight.
L Spire
PHOSES. Book III. 81
Admirers of Fables, obferving fome Plane-Trees on the Banks
of that River, which were always green and flourishing, re-
ported that Jupiter confummated his Marriage with Europa
under One of thofe Treesj and, in procefs of Time, the In-
habitants of Goftys took occafion , from thence , to ftrike a
Medal, now in the King's Clofet, reprefenting Europa fit-
ting in a melancholy Pofturc under a Tree half Plane and half
Palm-Tree; with an Eagle at the Foot of it upon which f he
turns her Back. And, to put it out of dispute that this
Event is the Subject of the Medal, the famePrincefs is feen on
the other Side fitting on a Bull, within a Border of Laurel
Leaves, and the Legend roPTiNinN.
Apollodorus has preferved the Genealogy of Europa (i).
Libya, according to that Author, had Two Sons by Nep-
tune, Belus and Agenor. The Latter married Thelepaha,
by whom he had Cadmus, Phenix, and Cilix > and a Daugh-
ter named Europa. Neverthelefs, there are, according to
(i) Lib. III.
the fame Author, Hiftorians who aflure us that Europa was
the Daughter of Phenix, and Grandchild of Agenor.
We mull not forget to take notice in this place, that fe-
veral Authors believed that Europe took its Name from that
Princefsi but the learned Bochart, with much morereafon,
is of Opinion that this Part of the World was called fo from
the Whitenefs of thofe who inhabited it. In the mean time
we may fuppofe that Europa having received her Name from
the exceeding Fairnefs of her Complexion , fome Authors
would therefore give it to this Quarter of the Globe, whofe
Inhabitants are fo white. As to the reft, that Princefs muft
certainly have been extremely fair , tho' born in a very hot
Climate; fince the Poets, as the Scholiaft of Theocritus tells
us, invented, merely upon that account , the Fable which
fays that the young Angelo , the Daughter of Jupiter and
Juno, ftolc her Mother's Paint to give to Europa, who ufed
it with fo much fuccefs that it made her extremely fair and
beautifull.
Fab. II. Cadmus kills the Dragon facred to Mars.
THE A R G U M E N T.
The Companions of Cadmus drawing Water at the Fountain of Mars
are all devoured by the Dragon that guards it. The Prince? impatient at
their ftay and going to fee what is become of them, kills the Monfter;
and then, by the Advice of Minerva, fows its Teeth, which immediatly
produce a Crop of armed Men. Thefe new-made Men quarrel amongft
themfelves, and all kill one another except Five, who become Friends
to Cadmus, and aflift him in building the City of Thebes.
QUem fojiquam Tyrih lucum de gente
Infaujto tetigere gradu, demijfaque in undas
Urna deditj'onitum> longum caput extulitantro
Caemleus ferpens > horrendaque fibila mifit.
Ejfluxere urnae manibus; fanguisque relinquit
Corpus 3 £tf attomtos fubitus tremor occupat
artus. 40
Tom. I. Ilk
THe Tynans in the Den for Water fought,
And with their Urns explor'd the hollow Vault:
From Side to Side their empty Urns rebound 3
And rowfe the fleeping Serpent with the Sound.
Strait he beftirs him, and is feen to rife; ^
And now with dreadful Hillings fills the Skies} {
And darts his forky Tongues, and rowles his C
glareing Eyes. )
The Tyrians drop their VefiTels in the Fright,
All pale and trembling at the hideous Sight.
L Spire