white before. For this bird
was formerly of a silver hue, with snow-white feathers, so that he
equalled the doves entirely without spot; nor would he give place to the
geese that were to save the Capitol by their watchful voice, nor to the
swan haunting the streams. His tongue was the cause of his disgrace; his
chattering tongue being the cause, that the color which was white is now
the reverse of white.

There was no one more beauteous in all Haemonia than Larissaean[69]
Coronis. At least, she pleased thee, Delphian {God}, as long as she
continued chaste, or was not the object of remark. But the bird of
Phoebus found out her infidelity;[70] and the inexorable informer winged
his way to his master, that he might disclose the hidden offence. Him
the prattling crow follows, with flapping wings, to make all inquiries
of him. And having heard the occasion of his journey, she says, "Thou
art going on a fruitless errand; do not despise the presages of my
voice."

[Footnote 64: _Thou, mischievous one._--Ver. 475. Clarke, rather
too familiarly, renders 'importuna,' 'plaguy baggage.']

[Footnote 65: _In front by the hair._--Ver. 476. 'Adversa prensis
a fronte capillis,' is rendered by Clarke, 'seizing her fore-top.'
Had he been describing the combats of two fish-wives, such a
version would have been, perhaps, more appropriate than in the
present instance.]

[Footnote 66: _With black hair._--Ver. 478. To the explanation
given at the end of the story, we may here add the curious one
offered by Palaephatus. He says that Calisto was a huntress who
entered the den of a bear, by which she was devoured; and that the
bear coming out, and Calisto being no more seen, it was reported
that she had been transformed into a bear.]

[Footnote 67: _Erymanthian forests._--Ver. 499. Erymanthus was a
mountain of Arcadia, which was afterwards famous for the slaughter
there, by Hercules, of the wild boar, which made it his haunt.]

[Footnote 68: _Graceful chariot._--Ver. 531. Clarke translates
'habili curru,' 'her neat chariot.']

[Footnote 69: _Larissaean._--Ver. 542. Larissa was the chief city
of Thessaly, and was situate on the river Peneus.]

[Footnote 70: _Her infidelity._--Ver. 545. 'Sed ales sensit
adulterium Phoebeius,' is translated by Clarke, 'but the Phoeban
bird found out her pranks.']

EXPLANATION.

Cicero (On the Nature of the G