THE METAMORPHOSES OF PUBLIUS OVIDIUS NASO

TABULA XII.
DAPHNE IN LAURUM MUTATA.
Cupid, in revenge for an insult, wounds Apollo with one of his golden arrows,
and inflames him with the love of Daphne, the daughter of the river Peneus.
Ho wounds Daphne,, on the contrary, with a leaden arrow, which causes hei
to feel an aversion to the G-od. He addresses the virgin, but, failin0 in his
suit, attempts to seize her; when, flyu\j from him, and imploring the divine
aid of her father, she is changed into a laurel.
EXPLICATIO.
IN speaking of the early beechen crowns of the Pythian games, the
poet finds occasion for a graceful transition to the story of Daphne, who
was transformed into a laurel, from which the crowns were subsequently
made. The fable is susceptible of a physical interpretation. The word
Daphne is a Greek name for laurel, and we readily perceive, therefore,
whence arose the transformation of this fabulous personage. She is re
presented to be the daughter of the river Peneus, because the banks of
that beautiful stream were thickly set with laurels ; since various singular
coincidences exist between the sun and that tree, as explained in the
notes, Apollo was fabled to be enamored of her. By thus investing this
mythic personage with corporeity, fine opportunity was afforded for the
introduction of fanciful and beautiful imagery, which the poet has em
ployed in the embellishment of his subject. In the foot-race of Atalanta
and her suitors, we feel that the contest is one of gladiatorial violence, on
account of the miserable fate which awaits them, and have little sympathy
for the cruel virgin herself; but our admiration and interest arc all en
gaged for the gentle Daphne, so pure, so chaste, so full of filial affection
our feelings are excited as the contest becomes doubtful, and are affected
with pain at its melancholy close. Nor do we pity alone the fair martyr
to the love of virginity, but the youthful god also, who is overwhelmed
with her loss, and whose affection, true and constant, survives life itself.
Against Cupid, the author of this calamity, who like the " madman, scat
ters darts and firebrands, and says it is in sport," we are not without feel
ing. All will find a ready interpretation of his torch and arrows, but the
reason why some are pointed with gold, and some with lead, is not so
apparent. The seven planets have metallic synonyms in the seven
metals, and that which typifies the Sun is gold; hence arrows tipped with
gold fill our hearts with the heat, vigor, and alacrity which the Sun im
parts to the other planets. Lead t3'pifics the planet Saturn, which is
remote, cold, and damp; and arrows pointed with it extinguish, therefore,
love and desire. Pliny says, that a plate of lead applied to the breast
will suppress unchaste desire. We know that the acetate of lead is a
powerful refrigerant in case of inflammation. Lastly, gold is a symbol
of plenty, which nourishes love ; lead, of poverty, which repels it. This
fable contains a greater amount of mythical allusion than any other ; the
character and parentage "of Daphne; the love of Apollo, and the reasons
for it; the character of Apollo, as the invqntor of prophecy, music, and
medicine ; and the offices of Cupid, with his allegorical torch, bow, and
diverse darts.
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RIMUS amor Phcebi Daphne Pene'ia, quern non,
j- Fors ignara dedit, sed sreva Cupidinis ira.
Delius hunc nuper, victa serpente superbus,
Viderat adducto flectentem cornua nervo :
;- Quidque tibi, lascive puer, cum fortibus armis ?
1. Primus amor: the first love. The abstract amor is here usedtoi
the concrete amator. In like manner, we often say in English, " my
love:" " my flame."
These prelty pleasures might me move,
To live with thee, and be thy lore. — SIIAKSPEAHE.
Open the temple gates unto my love. — SPENSER.
1. Peneia: the daughter of Peneus, a river of Thessaly.
2. Fors ignara: blind chance.
2. Ira Cvpiditiii: t he cruel anger of Cupid, who was iiritated by
the reproaches of Apollo. Cupid, the god of love, is represented as
a youth bearing a torch, and armed with a bow and quiver full of
arrows. Two Cupids are described, one the son of Jupiter and Venus,
who presides over lawful love ; the other the son of Erebus and Nox,
who delights in impurity. In settled majesty of calm disdain
With revengeful fury stung,
Straight Ins Low lie bent; he strung;
Snatched on arrow, winged for flight,
And provoked me to the fight. ANACREO?!.
3. Delius: theDelian; Apollo; so called
brcaii=p he was born in Delos, an island ot
th 3. Victa serpente: the serpent being
slain ; viz. Python.
3. Superlus: proud; haughty.
Heard 5 e the arrow hurtle in the sky ?
Heard \ e the dragon monster's deathful cry ?
Proud of his might, yet scornful of the slain,
The heavenly Archer stands no human birth,
No perishable denizen of earth. MILMAN.
4. Flectentrm cornua: bending his bow,
the extremities of which were called
cornua, as being the remote parts, or
on account of their resemblance to
horns.
4. flervo adducto: the string being drawn.
When he was shooting, or idly twanging
ihe string.
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