Stheneboea, as by Apollodor. ii. 3,1; Serv. on AEn. v. 118.
Fulgentius, iii. praef., agrees with Homer, giving a ridiculously
philosophical explanation of the whole story.]

[Footnote 243: Although Apollodorus, l. c. says, [Greek: deoken
epistolas auto pros Iochaten komisein], and Hygin. Fab. lvii.
"Scripsit tabellas, et mittit eum ad Iobaten regem," there is no
reason to believe that letters, properly so called, were yet
invented. See Knight, Prolegg. p. lxxiv. lxxxii.; Wood, on the
original genius of Homer, p. 249, sqq.; Mueller, Lit. of Greece,
iv. 5 (Bulwer, Athens, i. 8, boldly advocates the contrary
opinion); and Anthon's note. Compare the similar story of Phaedra
and Hippolytus.]

[Footnote 244: For the different descriptions of the Chimaera, the
mythological student may compare Muncker on Hygin. Fab. lvii. p.
104.]

[Footnote 245: Philonoe, the sister of Antea.]

[Footnote 246: This "melancholy madness" of Bellerophon has been
well illustrated by Duport, p. 31. Burton, Anatomy, p. 259,
observes, "They delight in floods and waters, desert places, to
walk alone in orchards, gardens, private walks, back lanes,
averse from company, as Diogenes in his tub, or Timon
Misanthropus; they abhor all companions at last, even their
nearest acquaintances and most familiar friends; confining
themselves therefore to their private houses or chambers, they
will diet themselves, feed and live alone." Hence melancholy was
called the "morbus Bellerophonteus." See Bourdelot on Heliodor.
p. 25.]

[Footnote 247: Properly, "the Plain of Wandering." It lay between
the rivers Pyramus and Pinarus, in Cilicia. Cf. Dionys. Perieg.
872. [Greek: Keithi de kai pedion to, ou kata nota Anthropon
apaneythen alomenos indiaaske].]

Thus he said: and Diomede, valiant in the din of war, rejoiced. His
spear indeed he fixed in the all-nurturing earth, and next addressed the
shepherd of the people in courteous words:

"Certainly thou art my father's ancient guest; for in his halls noble
oeneus once entertained blameless Bellerophon, having detained him for
twenty days; and they bestowed valuable gifts of hospitality on each
other. oeneus on his part gave a belt shining with purple; and
Bellerophon in turn a golden double cup; and this I left in my halls
when I was coming hither. But Tydeus I remember not, for he left me
whilst I was yet young, when the