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CHIRON,
a Centaur, the Son of Saturn and Phillyra. Cato tells us, that Saturn being very much in Love with that Nymph, was afraid left Rhea his Wife should surprize him in the Pursuit of his Amours, and therefore changed himself into an Horse that he might enjoy her, which was the Cause that Chiron who was begotten of her, was born half a Man and half an Horse. Others makes him the Son of Ixion and the Cloud he embraced instead of Juno. He became an excellent Physician, and very skillful in the Knowledge of Simples, Musick and Military Discipline. Achilles was educated by him, and was made a skillful Wariour, for he fed him only with the Mar∣row of Lions and Bears, that he might put into him the Strength and Courage of those Crea∣tures, and taught him to ride an Horse and hunt, as Preparatives for War. He learned Physick of Aesculapius and Astrology of Hercu∣les. Clemens Alexandrinus tells us, that Chiron taught Men to worship the Gods, and sacrifice to them, the Method of administring Justice one to another, and the Form of Oaths.
He was wounded by Hercules with an Arrow dipped in the Blood of Hydra, which fell by Chance upon his Foot, and put him to so great Pain by that Poison, that he could not en∣dure to live, although he was Immortal, where∣upon the Gods in Compassion made him one of the Twelve Signs of the Zodiac, called Sa∣gittarius.
Lucian in his Dialogues of the Dead, where∣in he brings in Chiron and Menippus speaking, places him in Hell.
Menip.I have heard, O Chiron, that tho' you were Immortal you wished for Death, how could you desire a Thing so little to be loved?
Chir.'Twas because I was weary of Life.
Menip.But were you not satisfied and pleased to see the Light?
Chir.No, because I did every Day the same thing, eat and drink and Sleep, and the Pleasure of Life con∣sists in Change.
Menip.But how did you bear Death after you had left Life for it?
Chir.Without any Trouble, because there is such an Equality among the Dead as I like well, as in a popular State where one is not greater than his Neighbour; and 'tis not material to me whether it be Day or Night, and besides, there is this Advantage here below, that we are not troubled with Hunger or Thirst, or other Inconveniences of Hu∣mane Life.