EUROPA,
The Daughter of Agenor King of Phoenicia, whom Jupiter ravished for the sake of her Beauty; for being one day come down with some other Virgins to di∣vert herself on the Sea-shore, Jupiter came and play'd about her in the shape of a Bull, that was so fair and handsom, that she had a mind to get upon his back, seeing he was so mild that he let her stroke him. But so soon as he had got this fair Lady upon his back, he run into the Sea, and swam towards Greece. The poor Lady asham'd, took hold with her hand on one of his Horns, to keep herself fast, and with the other hand she made fast her Veil that was tossed up by the wind, and turned her Head toward the shore, where she saw the other Virgins stretching out their arms to her. The Sea immediately grows calm, the Winds kept in their breath, a thousand Cupids came fluttering about her, without dipping their Wings in the water, but only their Toes. Some of them carried in their Hands the Wedding. Torch, the others sung the Hymen-Song, and were followed by the Sea-Gods, the Nereides half naked riding up∣on Dolphins, and waited on by the Tritons, who were playing about. Neptune and Amphi∣trites march'd before, representing the Father and the Mother of the Bride. Venus was car∣ried by two Tritons in a Sea-shell, and was spreading Flowers upon this fair Virgin.
This Spectacle lasted from the shore of Phaenicia, till Creta, where as soon as Jupiter was landed, he took again his former shape, and holding his Mistriss by the Hand, he led her into the Dictean Cave.
Some are of opinion that she gave her name to this part of the World that we call Europa; but others say, that this name came from Europus, who was one of the first Kings that reigned there.