ation from the running springs. An ancient grove was
standing {there, as yet} profaned by no axe. There was a cavern in the
middle {of it}, thick covered with twigs and osiers, forming a low arch
by the junction of the rocks; abounding with plenty of water. Hid in
this cavern, there was a dragon sacred to Mars,[4] adorned with crests
and a golden {color}. His eyes sparkle with fire, {and} all his body is
puffed out with poison; three tongues, {too}, are brandished, and his
teeth stand in a triple row.

[Footnote 1: _Over the whole world._--Ver. 6. Apollodorus tells us
that Cadmus lived in Thrace until the death of his mother,
Telephassa, who accompanied him; and that, after her decease, he
proceeded to Delphi to make inquiries of the oracle.]

[Footnote 2: _Boeotian._--Ver. 13. He implies here that Boeotia
received its name from the Greek word +bous+, 'an ox' or 'cow.'
Other writers say that it was so called from Boeotus, the son of
Neptune and Arne. Some authors also say that Thebes received its
name from the Syrian word 'Thebe,' which signified 'an ox.']

[Footnote 3: _Castalian cave._--Ver. 14. Castalius was a fountain
at the foot of Mount Parnassus, and in the vicinity of Delphi. It
was sacred to the Muses.]

[Footnote 4: _Sacred to Mars._--Ver. 32. Euripides says, that the
dragon had been set there by Mars to watch the spot and the
neighboring stream. Other writers say that it was a son of Mars,
Dercyllus by name, and that a Fury, named Tilphosa, was its
mother. Ancient history abounds with stories of enormous serpents.
The army of Regulus is said by Pliny the Elder, to have killed a
serpent of enormous size, which obstructed the passage of the
river Bagrada, in Africa. It was 120 feet in length.]

EXPLANATION.

Reverting to the history of Europa, it may be here remarked, that
Apollodorus has preserved her genealogy. Libya, according to that
author, had two sons by Neptune, Belus and Agenor. The latter married
Telephassa, by whom he had Cadmus, Phoenix, and Cilix, and a daughter
named Europa. Some ancient writers, however, say, that Europa was the
daughter of Phoenix, and the grandchild of Agenor.

Some authors, and Ovid among the rest, have supposed that Europe
received its name from Europa. Bochart has, with considerable
probability, suggested that it was originally so called from the fair
complexion of t