The poetical histories being a compleat collection of all the stories necessary for a perfect understanding of the Greek and Latine poets and other ancient authors / written originally in French, by the learned Jesuite, P. Galtruchius ; now Englisht and enricht with observations concerning the gods worshipped by our ancestors in this island, by the Phœnicians, and Syrians in Asia ... ; unto which are added two treatises, one of the curiosities of old Rome, and of the difficult names relating to the affairs of that city, the other containing the most remarkable hieroglyphicks of Ægypt, by Marius d'Assigny ...

CHAP. V.

Of Orpheus.

THe Poets do relate wonderful stories of several Musitians of the first Ages; as of Amphion, who built the walls of Thebs only with the pleasant harmony of his Musi∣cal Instruments, for the sweetness of the Tunes caused the stones to move, and place themselves in good order.

Arion was also admired for his skill in Mu∣sick, as we may take notice in this occasi∣on; when he was sailing from Italy into Greece, the Seamen resolved amongst them∣selves to cut his throat, that they might have his Purse: But he requested of them the fa∣vour to suffer him to play once more with his Harp before they did dispatch him. It hap∣pened that he made such excellent Musick, that the Dolphins ravisht to hear him, came in companies about the Ship; and when he beheld them, he cast himself into the Sea, ho∣ping to meet there with more humanity than amongst the cruel Marriners. He was not deceived of his expectation, for one of these Dolphins, taking him upon his back, carried him to Corinth, where King Periander re∣ceived him with kindness, and put these in∣humane Sailers to death, to punish them for their intended crime. This Dolphin was re∣warded by the Gods, with a place amongst

the Stars, for the good office that he had done to this poor Musitian.

I shall not mention the Satyr Marsias, who because he had more skill in Musick than the common sort of people, he was so transport∣ed with vanity and presumption, as to com∣pare himself with Apollo. This God was so displeased with him, that when he had o∣vercome him, according to the judgment of the Muses, he flead him alive, to punish his temerity; as we have already said in the sto∣ry of Apollo.

There happened also a like controversie between Apollo, and Pan the God of Moun∣tains and Shepherds, because he knew pretty well how to play upon the Pipe, and that these Country Clowns did cry him up for the most expert Musitian of the World: He was so audacious as to dispute this Honour with Apollo. Midas, King of Phrygia, a simple fel∣low, one of the Judges in this Controversie, gave a sentence in favour of Pan; therefore Apollo caused Asses ears to grow in his head, that he might appear what he was to the World. This same Prince entreated Silenus to grant unto him the favour, in reward of a considerable service that he had done unto him, that all that he should touch, should turn immediately into Gold. He soon re∣pented of his rash desire, when all his victu∣als and food became gold; and when in the midst of all his Gold he was ready to starve for hunger and want.

And that we may not make any longer discourse of those that have excelled in Mu∣sick, it is the common Opinion, that Orphe∣us, who was not only a Poet, but also a Phi∣losopher, hath carried away the Palm from all the rest. We need not wonder at it, see∣ing he was born of such Learned Parents, of Apollo, and the Muse Calliope: Of him it is reported, that he did cause his voice to a∣gree so admirably well with his Lute, that the Rivers did stop to listen to him, that the Storms and Tempests did cease, that the most Savage Animals did come to him in companies to recreate themselves with his excellent harmony; and that the Trees and Rocks were seen to move at the sound.

He performed something more than this; for when he lost by death his Wife Eurydice, who flying from the amorous imbraces of A∣risteus, King of Arcadia, died suddenly of a Wound received by a Serpent. He went af∣ter her to the Gates of Hell, where he play∣ed with that dexterity upon his Instruments of Musick, that Pluto, Proserpina, and all the Infernal Inhabitants, were ravisht in ad∣miration. He prevailed by that means so much upon them, that they granted unto him the favour to carry with him his Wife back again, to live longer upon Earth, upon condition, that in his return he would not look back upon her, until he was ascended into the light; which condition his impati∣ent love for her caused him to break, by cast∣ing

his eyes behind him; which when her Guard had perceived, they drag'd her back into Hell, and left him in such a trouble of mind, that he resolved for her sake to never entertain any affection for a Woman; and to disswade all his acquaintance from their love and union, which proceeding of his, did scandalize and displease so much the Dames of Thracia, that in their furious transports at the Feastival of Bacchus, they tore him in pieces. But afterwards he was metamorpho∣sed into a Swan, and his Harp was placed amongst the Stars.

This Swan is said to sing admirably well when unto death.

The Ancients do relate incredible things of Dolphins, besides this famous one that carried Arion safe to Land out of the hands of the in∣humane Marriners. They tell us of others that have performed kind offices to mankind: He∣siod, the first famous Writer, when he had been massacred in Neptunes Temple in Nemea, and cast into the Sea, was by the Dolphins brought carefully to shoar again. A young man, and his Mistress, falling by chance into the Sea, were sa∣ved near the Island of Lesbos by Dolphins, and carried out of the waves to Land. And Tele∣machus, the Son of Ulysses, was also preser∣ved in the Sea by Dolphins; therefore his Fa∣ther did bear a Dolphin in his Buckler, in re∣membrance of that kindness shewed to his blood

by that Fish. All the Heathens bad a particu∣lar respect for this creature; some of them would not suffer any injury to be offered unto them, because they are so favourable to man∣kind. In the remote Countries of the North, Munsterus tells us, that there is a Fish called Raia, longer than a Dolphin, and no less kind to mankind: When they meet with any whose misfortune it is to be cast away, these great fishes do receive and lodge them in their jaws, and do thus carry them safe to shoar. He insinuates there that it is the Opinion of some who imagine, that this was that kind of Fish, or Whale, that waited for Jonas when he was cast into the Sea, and that carried him safe to Land.

Marsyas, a Phrygian, was the Inventer of the Pipe, a Musical Instrument: Some say that Minerva was the first that plaid with it in a banquet of the Gods; and that because of her grey eyes when her cheeks were swell'd, she did appear ridiculous to the company, especially to Juno and Venus, who laught at her for her pains, which gave her the curiosity of seeing what reason they had to mock her: For that purpose she came down upon Mount Ida, and began to play with her Pipe upon the banks of a clear River, that she might behold her self at that time; but as soon as she perceived how deformed in did represent her, she cast the Pipe a∣way with a curse, desiring that he that should take it up, might end his daies by cruelty. Mar∣syas the Satyr, the Son of Hyagnis, a great fa∣vourite of Cybele, found it, and first made

use of it in the publick sacrifices of this God∣dess; for that reason it did always continue afterwards in her solemnities. But this Marsy∣as became so proud and self-conceited for this invention, that he challeng'd Apollo, upon this condition, that he that could make the most pleasant Musick, should have power over his Antagonist; Apollo was the Victor, therefore ••e hang'd Marsyas upon a Tree, and pull'd his skin over his ears: Some drops of his blood hap∣ned to fall into the River that did run hard by, and therefore from him it was named Marsyas: It did run through the City Caelenae, taken by Alexander the Great.

Qua celer rect is descendens Marsya ripis Errantem Maeandron adit, mixtus{que} refertur.

For Orpheus, he was a Thracian, born as some say, of Apollo and Calliope; as others, of Eagrus, aud the Muse Polymnia. He was an excellent Philosopher, and the first that re∣commended a solitary life, and abstinence from flesh. Mercurius gave him his Harp, with which he performed wonders. He was the first that introdueed the Bacchanalia in Greece, called by some for that cause Sacra Orphica. Horace in arte Poet, tells us that

Sylvestres homines sacer interpresq▪ Deorum Caedibus & victu faedo deterruit Orpheus, Dictus ab hoc lenire Tigres, rabidos{que} leones Dictus &, &c.

He was the first that in Thracia caused men to live under Laws and Government, and call∣ed them from their rude and beastly life, to a more gentile and handsome.

Notes

• Ʋnde Ovid de Arione fast lib. 2. at ••ibi nave tua tuti∣us aequor erat.
• Some say to ••he Promon∣tor of Tena∣rus in Greece.
• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. A Greek Prov. a simple fel∣low.
• See Ovid Me∣tamorph. 10 and 11 Books.
• Some say that he was kill'd with a Thun∣derbolt.
• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. it draws nigh
• Addit. Not. Arion erat Patriâ Me∣thymneus ob∣scuris parenti∣bus natus, Poe∣ta insignis pr••e∣cipue Dithy∣rambicus.
• Therefore named 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• Ovid fast. lib. 6. Prima te∣rebrato per ra∣ra for amina buxo ut daret effeci tibia longa sonos.
• Media illa tempestate in∣ter flueb at Marsyas amnis fabulosis Grae∣corum carmini∣bus inclyrus.

  Quint. Curt. lib. 3.
• Lucan. Phar∣sal. lib. 3.
• Called there∣fore by Plato 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, a solitary life, or a harmless life, entertain∣ed by herbs and roots.

  It is said that he prophecied of the Worlds c ntinuance.

  Aetate in sex∣ta cessabit ma∣china mundi.