Egypt. Lycophron, who was of Egypt, and skilled in antient terms, styles Calchas, who was the priest of Apollo, a swan. 39 Μολοσσε κυπέως κοιτε κυκνόν. These epithets, the Scholiast tells us, belong to Apollo; and Calchas is called a swan, dia το γηραιον, και μαντικον : because he was an old prophet and priest. Hence, at the first institution of the rites of Apollo, which is termed the birth of the Deity, at Delos, it is said that many swans came from the coast of Asia, and went round the island for the space of seven days. 4ο Κύκνοι δε θες μελιπόντες αοιδοι Μηοκιον Πακτωλον εκυκλωσαντο λιποντες The whole of this relates to a choir of priests, who came over to settle at Delos, and to serve in the newly erected temple. They circled the island seven times; because seven, of old, was looked upon as a mysterious and sacred number. 41 Έβδομη ειν αγαθοις, και έβδομη εσι γενεθλη. 39 Lycophron. v. 426. Scholia Ibidem. 40 Callimachus. Hymn to Delos. v. 249. "Fragmenta Lini. Ex Aristobulo. See Poesis Philosoph. H. Steph. p. 112. Έβδομη εν πρώτοισι, και έβδομη εςι τελεία. The birds in the island of Diomedes, which were said to have been originally companions of that hero, were undoubtedly priests, and of the same race as those of whom I have been treating. They are represented as gentle to good men, and averse to those who are bad. Ovid describes their shape and appearance: Ut non cygnorum, sic albis proxima cygnis; which, after what has been said, may, I think, be easily understood. If then the harmony of swans, when spoken of, not only related to something quite foreign, but in reality did not of itself exist, it may appear wonderful that the antients should so universally give into the notion. For not only the poets, but * Plato, Plutarch, Cicero, Pliny, with many others of high rank, speak of it as a circumstance well known. But it is to be observed, that none of them speak from their own experience: nor are 4 Ovid. Metamorph. 1. 14. v. 509. 43 Plato in Phædone. vol. 1. p. 84. Plutarch. in E. v. 2. p. 387. Cicero Tusc. Quæst. 1. 1. Pliny. 1. x. c. 23. they by any means consistent in what they say. Some mention this singing as a general faculty; which was exerted at all times: others limit it to particular seasons, and to particular places. Asistotle seems to confine it to the seas of *Africa: " Aldrovandus says, that it may be heard upon the Thames near London. The account given by Aristotle is very remarkable. He says, that mariners, whose course lay through the Libyan sea, have often met with swans, and heard them singing in a melancholy strain: and upon a nearer approach, they could perceive that some of them were dying, from whom the harmony proceeded. Who would have expected to have found swans swimming in the salt sea, in the midst of the Mediterranean? There is nothing that a Grecian would not devise in support of a favourite error. The legend from beginning to end is groundless: and though most speak of the music of swans as exquisite; yet some absolutely deny the whole of it; and others are more moderate in their commendations. The 4 De Animalibus. 1. 9. Και τινες ηδη πλέοντες παρα την Λιβύην περιέτυχον εν τη θαλαττῃ πολλοις αδουσι φωνῇ γοώδει και τουτων ἱωρων αποθνήσκοντας ενιες. vol. 2. p. 423. 45 See Brown's Vulgar Errors. 1. 3. c. 27. 45 Ο δε Μύνδιος φησιν Αλέξανδρος πολλοις τελευτωσι παρακολυθήσας un axuσai adort. Athenæus. 1. 9. c. 11. watermen in Lucian give the preference to a jackdaw: but Antipater in some degree dissents, and thinks that the swan has the advantage. 47 Λωιτερος κυκνων μικρος θροος, ηε κολοιων And Lucretius confesses, that the screaming of a crane is not quite so pleasing: 48 Parvus ut est, Cygni melior canor, ille gruum quam Clamor: Which however is paying them no great compliment. To these respectable personages I must add the evidence of a modern; one too of no small repute, even the great Scaliger. He says, that he made a strict scrutiny about this affair, when in Italy; and the result of his observations was this: Ferrariæ multos (cygnos) vidimus, sed cantores sane malos, neque melius ansere canere. 47 Epigram. in Erinnam. I. 3. p. 280. H. Steph. 48 Lucretius. 1. 4. v. 182. 49 See Vossius de Idol. vol. 2. 1. 3. c. 88. p. 1212. and Pierius de Cygnis. p. 254. |