sion, she was changed into a laurel, which remams always flourishing, and always pure. 5. He courted also a long time the nymph Bolina, but never could gain her; for she chose rather to throw herself into the river and be drowned, than yield to his wishes. 6. Leucothoe, the daughter of Orchamus, king of Babylon, was not so tenacious. Her father could not bear the disgrace brought on his family, and buried her alive. Apollo was greatly grieved at this, and though he could not bring her again to life, he poured nectar upon the dead body, and thereby turned it into a tree that drops frankincense. "Nectare adorato spargit corpusque locumque, The attachment of Leucothoe and Apollo had been discovered to her father by her sister Clytie, whom Apollo formerly loved, but now deserted: which she seeing, pined away, with her eyes continually looking up to the sun, and at last was changed into a flower called a sun-flower, or heliotrope. Ovid Met. 4. 7. Apollo was challenged in music by Marsyas, a proud musician; and when he had overcome him, Apollo slayed him for his temerity, and converted him into the river of that name in Phrygia. 8. Midas, king of Phrygia, having foolishly de termined the victory to Pan, when Apollo and he sang together, Apollo stretched his ears to the length and shape of asses' ears. Midas endeavoured to hide his disgrace by his hair: but since it was impossible to conceal it from his barber, he prevailed with him by great promises, not to divulge what he saw. But the barber went and dug a hole, and putting his mouth to it, whispered these words, "King Midas has asses' ears :" and the reeds that grew out of that hole, if they were moved by the least blast of wind, uttered the same words, viz. "King Midas has the ears of an ass.' "Secedit, humumque Effodit, et domini quales conspexerit aures, He dug a hole, and in it whispering said, QUESTIONS FOR EXAMINATION. How was Apollo advanced to honour? Repeat the description of himself, as given by Ovid. How did he kill Hyacinthus, and what was the effect of it? What is the story of Cyparissus ? Repeat the lines from Ovid. What is related of Daphne ? What is related of Bolina? What happened to Leucothoe? What became of Marsyas? What is the story respecting Midas? SEC. 3.-NAMES OF APOLLO. As the Latins call him Sol, because there is but one sun; so some think the Greeks gave him the name of Apollo for the same reason. Though others think that he is called Apollo, either because he drives away diseases, or because he darts vigorously his rays. He was called Cynthius, from the mountain Cynthus, in the island of Delos; whence Diana also was called Cynthia. And Delius, from the same island, because he was born there or, as some say, because Apollo (who is the sun,) by his light, makes all things manifest; for which reason he is called Phanæus. He was named Delphinius, because he killed the serpent Python, called Delphis: or else, because when Castilius, a Cretan, carried men to the plantations, Apollo guided him in the shape of a dolphin. His title Delphicus comes from the city Delphi, in Bocotia. Here Apollo had the most famous temple in the world, in which he uttered the oracles to those who consulted him; which he first received from Jupiter. They say that this famous oracle became dumb at the birth of our Saviour, and when Augustus, who was a great votary of Apollo, desired to know the reason of its silence, the oracle answered him, that in Judea a child was born, who was the son and image of the supreme God, and had commanded him to depart, and return no more an swers. Me puer Hebræus, divos Deus ipse gubernans, Apollo was likewise called Didymæus, which word in Greek, signifies twins, by which are meant the two great luminaries of heaven, the sun and the moon, which alternately enlighten the world by day and by night. He was also called Nomius, which signifies either a shepherd, because he fed the cattle of Admetus; or because the sun, as it were, feeds all things that the earth generates, by his heat and influence. Or perhaps this title may signify lawgiver; and was given him, because he made very severe laws, when he was king of Arcadia. He was styled Paan, either from allaying sorrows, or from his exact skill in striking; wherefore he is armed with arrows. And we know that the sun strikes us, and often hurts us with his rays, as with So many darts. He is accordingly referred to in this character by Homer: Bent was his bow, the Grecian hearts to wound, And last the vengeful arrows fix'd on man.-Iliad. By this name Pæan, his mother Latona, and the spectators of the combat, encouraged Apollo, when he fought with the serpent Python, crying frequently, "Strike him, Pæan, with thy darts." By the same name the diseased invoke his aid, crying, "Heal us, Pæan.” And hence the custom came, that not only all hymns in the praise of Apollo were called Paanes, but also, in all songs of triumph in the celebration of all victories, m: cried out, "lo Pæan." After this manner the ai his triumph too : and wanton lover in Ovid acts "Dicite Io Pæan, et Io, bis discite, Pæan! Decidit in casses præda petita meos." Art. Am. 2. Sing Io Pæan twice, twice Io say; My toils are pitch'd, and I have caught my prey. He was called Phoebus, from the great swiftness of his motion. He was named Pythius, not only from the serpent Python, which he killed, but likewise from asking and consulting; for none among the gods was more consulted, or delivered more responses, or spake more oracles than he; especially in the temple which he had at Delphi, to which all sorts of nations resorted, so that it was called "the oracle of all the earth.” The oracles were first given out by a young virgin; afterwards it was determined that an old woman should give the answers, in the dress of a young maid, who was therefore called Pythia, from Pythius, one of Apollo's names, and sometimes Phoebas, from Phoebus, another of them. But as to the manner by which the woman understood the god's mind, men differ. There are also different opinions respecting the tripos on which the oracle sat. Some say that it was a table with three feet; on which she placed herself when she designed to give forth oracles. But others say, that it was a vessel, in which she was plunged before she prophesied; or rather, that it was a golden vessel, furnished with ears, and supported by three feet, whence it was called tripos; and on this the lady sat down. It happened that this tripos was lost in the sea, and afterwards taken up in the nets of fishermen, who contended among themselves which should have it: the Pythian priestess being asked, gave answer that it ought to be sent to the wisest man of all Greece. Whereupon it was carried to Thales of Miletus; who sent it to Bias, as to a wiser person; Bias referred it to another, and that other referred it to a fourth, till, after it had been sent backward and forward to all the wise men, it retured again to Thales, who dedicated it to Apollo, at Delphi. The seven wise men of Greece were, "Thales of Miletus," "Solon of Athens," "Chilon of Lacedamon," "Pittacus of Mytilene," "Bias of Priene," "Cleobulus of Lindi," and "Periander of Corinth." I will add some remarkable things concerning them: Thales was reckoned among the wise men, because he was believed to be the first that brought geometry into Greece. He first observed the courses of the times, the motion of the winds, the nature of thunder, and the motions of the sun and the stars. Being asked what he thought the most difficult thing |