THE METAMORPHOSES OF PUBLIUS OVIDIUS NASO

TABULA VII.
CORONIS IN CORNICEM.
While the Raven is going to acquaint Apollo with the adultery of his mistress,
he is met by the Crow, who, learning the object of his journey, endeavors
to dissuade him; and relates the ungracious manner in which Minerva had
requited her services as an informer in the case of Erichtonius; as also her
former transformation from a royal virgin into a orow.
EXPLICATIO.
To restrain the Raven from tattling, the Crow relates her own history,
both prior to her transformation and subsequent to it. She was Coronis,
the daughter of Coroneus, king of Phocis, and when about to be violated
by Neptune, was changed into a crow. It is probable, that when walk
ing on the sea-shore, she was nearly carried away by the sudden rise of
the tide; or that some priest of Neptune attempted to offer her violence.
Corone, in Greek, signifies crow, and hence her name suggested the idea
of the transformation. In digging the foundation for a city in Messenia,
the body of a crow was found, whence the city was called Corona. The
city was placed under the protection of Minerva, and a bronze statue of
the goddess bore a crow upon the fist. Hence the crow was said to be
come the companion of Minerva. For an historical interpretation, see the
note on Pelagi Dcus, page 109.
The crow becomes hateful to the goddess, by relating to her the con
duct of the daughters of Cecrops intrusted with Erichthonius. This we
show in the notes to be a personification of the Athenian people in some
civil commotion. As Attica abounded in quarries of stone, the basket of
twigs in which Erichthonius is shut up by Minerva, the guardian god
dess of the city, is probably some strong party enclosed in the Acropolis.
Herse, the mountain party, including the city; and Pandrosos, the mari
time party, keep the basket shut on Erichthonius ; in other words, hem
the mingled faction of artisans and countrymen in the citadel, till Agrau-
los, the countrymen generally, opens the basket; in other words, raises the
siege. After relating the conduct of the daughters of Cecrops, the crow
is driven from her society. The crow is the symbol of garrulity, and
hence is displeasing to Wisdom, who is thoughtful and contemplative.
Again, according to Pliny and Lucretius, no crow comes near Athens,
which is called from Athena, a title of Minerva.
The Crow grieves that the Owl supersedes her in the affections of
Minerva. The Egyptians expressed deadly enmity by the crow and the
owl; for the crow destroys the eggs of the owl by day, and the owl the
eggs of the crow by night. The crow is the hieroglyphic of long life ;
and the owl of death. The owl is sacred to Minerva, either because of
her habit of watching and musing, for the powers of the mind are more
collected and vigorous in the night; or, because the coin of Athens was
stamped with an owl. Two good morals are contained rh this fable. It
shows the evil of talebearing; and the misfortune of not attending to the
admonitions of experience.
166
I man's annuerant : habili Saturnia curru
Engreditur liquidum pavonibus aera pictis :
Tarn nuper pictis CEESO pavonibus Argo ;
Gluam tu nuper eras, cum candidus ante fuisses,
Corve ioquax, subito nigrantes versus in alas.
Nam fuit hsec quondam niveis argentea pennis
Ales, ut cequaret totas sine labe columbas :
Nee servaturis vigili Capitolia voce
Cederet anseribus, nee amanti flumina Cycno.
Lingua fuit damno : lingua faciente loquaci,
Qui color albus erat, nunc est contrarius albo:
1. A nnuerant : had consented ; had agreed that the Triones should
mever descend into the sea.
2. Parombus pictis: faith her painted peacocks. They were lately
adorned with the eyes of Argus, who was slain by Mei cury. As the
air is the medium of sight, and is of various colors, hence peacocks,
particolored birds, are said to draw the chariot of Juno.
3. Tarn nnper. This repetition prepares when the cackling of the geese awoke
the mind for the relation ot the succeeding Manlius and his soldiers, who threw the
fable.
assailants down the precipice.
5. Coi vt> Ioquax : Oh babbling raven. 9. Ccdent: yielded; was inferior; viz.
The poet here makes an apostrophe to the in whiteness.
raven for the purpose of reprehending his 10. Lingua fuit, iamno: his tongue was
prattling.
his destruction. This unruly member has
6. Niveif pmnis: with snowy wings. been the cause of the ruin of many.
6 A rcrntea: silvery: of a silver color.
Hut the tongue can no man tame; it is on nil
8. Vieili rnce: with watchful voice. ruly evil, fall of deadly poison —ST. JAMES lii. 8.
Whilr besieging Rome, the Gauls, unno He lhal keepelli hia mouth, kecpetli liis life!
ticed by the sentinels, and without arous but he that npeneth wide his lips shall have de>
ing the dogs, had nearly scaled the citadel, struction.—I'BOVEBBB xiii. 3.
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