enuity, and had been thrown by him from the temple of
Minerva, having been transformed into that bird. Theseus, having now
become celebrated, is invited to the chase of the Calydonian boar, which
Atalanta is the first to wound. Meleager slays the monster; and his
death is accelerated by his mother Althaea, who places in the fire the
fatal billet. Returning from the expedition, Theseus comes to Acheloues,
and sees the islands called the Echinades, into which the Naiads have
been transformed. Pirithoues denies the possibility of this; but Lelex
quotes, as an example, the case of Baucis and Philemon, who were changed
into trees, while their house became a temple, and the neighbouring
country a pool of water. Acheloues then tells the story of the
transformations of Proteus and of Metra, and how Metra supported her
father Erisicthon, while afflicted with violent hunger.

BOOK IX.

Acheloues then relates his own transformations, when he was contending
with Hercules for the hand of Deianira. Hercules wins her, and Nessus
attempts to carry her off: on which Hercules pierces him with one of his
arrows that has been dipped in the blood of the Hydra. In revenge,
Nessus, as he is dying, gives to Deianira his garment stained with his
blood. She, distrusting her husband's affection, sends him the garment;
he puts it on, and his vitals are consumed by the venom. As he is dying,
he hurls his attendant Lychas into the sea, where he becomes a rock.
Hercules is conveyed to heaven, and is enrolled in the number of the
Deities. Alcmena, his mother, goes to her daughter-in-law Iole, and
tells her how Galanthis was changed into a weasel; while she, in her
turn, tells the story of the transformation of her sister Dryope into
the lotus. In the meantime Iolaues comes, whose youth has been restored
by Hebe. Jupiter shows, by the example of his sons AEacus and Minos, that
all are not so blessed. Miletus, flying from Minos, arrives in Asia, and
becomes the father of Byblis and Caunus. Byblis falls in love with her
brother, and is transformed into a fountain. This would have appeared
more surprising to all, if Iphis had not a short time before, on the day
of her nuptials, been changed into a man.

BOOK X.

Hymenaeus attends these nuptials, and then goes to those of Orpheus; but
with a bad omen, as Eurydice dies soon after, and cannot be brought to
life. In his sorrow, Orpheus repairs to the solitudes of the mountains,
where the trees flock a