THE METAMORPHOSES OF PUBLIUS OVIDIUS NASO

FABULA 11.
TERR.EJ INCENDIUM; PHAKTHONTIS CASUS.
HavL-g mounted the chariot of the Sun, Phaethon is unable to curb the horses,
or keep the path which his father had designated. They bear the chariot
at times aloft to the stars, and again depreGs it towards the earth, which is at
length set on fire. To prevent a conflagration, Jupiter strikes Phaethon with
a thunderbolt into the river Po.
EXPL1CATIO.
THIS Fable may be interpreted historically or physically. Many an
cient writers speak of a partial conflagration of the world. Aristotle
states, that in the days of Phaethon flames fell from heaven which con
sumed several countries. Eusebius supposes the event to have happened
about the time of Deucalion's Flood. St. Chrysostom thinks in the cha
riot of the Sun, guided by Phaethon, he recognises the fiery chariot ol
Elias, and is disposed to lay considerable stress on the resemblance of his
name to "HX«OJ, the sun. If any part of Biblical history forms the sub
ject of this Fable, it is more probably the destruction of the Cities of the
Plain the stoppage of the sun in the days of Joshua, or the retrograda-
lion of the sun in his course, in the days of Hezekiah.
Plutarch considers Phaethon a real character, and tells us that he was
a king of the Molossians, who devoted much time to the study of Astro
nomy, and was at length drowned in the river Po, whence the origin of
the fable. Lucian, who diverts himself with the fabulous story, and
especially with the changing of the sisters of Phaethon into trees that
distilled amber, nevertheless tells us, in his treatise on Astronomy, that
Phaethon was a prince much addicted to that study, who endeavored to
find out the course of the sun, whence he was said to be the son of
Phoebus, and that dying before he had completed his investigations, he
was fabled to have been §lain while driving the chariot of the sun.
Intense heat prevailing during his life may have caused the fiction of
setting the world on fire.
Physically considered, Phaethon, which signifies a burning inflctmma-
tioii, may mean the electric fluid. He is said to be the son of Phccbu"
and Clymene, (water,) because the heat of the sun, acting upon water
causes a rapid evaporation to take place, which carries up the elec
tricity into the clouds. Thunder and lightning succeed, whence Phae
thon may be said to have been struck with lightning. He is said to
fall like a shooting-star; and as these are but meteors, depending on
electricity, the very simile may adumbrate the true character of
Phaethon.
136
NTEREA volucres Pyroeis, et Eous, et ^Ethon,
Solis equi.quartusque Phlegon.hinnitibus auras =S=i,- -
Flammiferis implent, pedibusque repagulapulsant.
Q.ua3postquamTethys,fatorumignaranepotis,
Reppulit; et facta est immensi copia mundi;
Corripuere viam, pedibusque per aera metis
NOTjE.
1. Volucres: swift; winged.
2. Solis equi. The names of the four horses
of the sun are of Greek derivation: Pyroeis
is frorn.rop, fire; Eous,from t£y. the morn
ing; jEthon, from aiSu, to inflame; and
Phlegon, from tptiya, to burn.
2. Ilinnitibns flammiferis: with fiery
neighings. The horses of the sun were said
to breathe flame from their mouths and nos
trils.
3. Sepagula: the barriers. These were
bars placed before the goal to prevent the
horses in the chariot-race starting before the
proper time.
4. -- Nepotv -.-j,.,-..,. Phaethon was the son of Clymene. and the
grandson of Tethys.
5. Copia: expanse; full scope.
C. Corripucre: seized upon; entered upon with alacrity.
1 hus Virgil:
Corripuere viam interea qua semita monstrat. JEifEiD tv.
He starts; the coursers, whom the lashing whip .
Excites, outstrip tlie winds, and whirl the car
High through the airy void, liehiiul the s re,
Borne on his planetary steed, pursues
"With eye intent, and warns him witli his voice,
Drive there! nowhere! here! turn the chariot here
EtlRIPIDES'S PlIAkTHOX.
M 2 s