, which is also
called Alcathoe, from Alcathoues, its restorer.]

[Footnote 4: _Of Latona._--Ver. 15. The story was, that when
Alcathoues was rebuilding the walls of Megara, Apollo assisted him,
and laying down his lyre among the stones, its tones were
communicated to them.]

[Footnote 5: _Cydonean._--Ver 22. From Cydon, a city of Crete.]

[Footnote 6: _His slain son._--Ver. 58. Namely, his son Androgeus,
who had been put to death, as already mentioned.]

[Footnote 7: _He thus spoke._--Ver. 101. The poet omits the
continuation of the siege by Minos, and how he took Megara by
storm, as not pertaining to the developement of his story.]

[Footnote 8: _Inhospitable Syrtis._--Ver. 120. There were two
famous quicksands, or 'Syrtes,' in the Mediterranean Sea, near the
coast of Africa; the former near Cyrene, and the latter near
Byzacium, which were known by the name of 'Syrtis Major' and
'Syrtis Minor.' The inhabitants of the neighbouring coasts were
savage and inhospitable, and subsisted by plundering the
shipwrecked vessels.]

[Footnote 9: _Armenian._--Ver. 121. Armenia was a country of Asia,
lying between Mount Taurus and the Caucasian chain, and extending
from Cappadocia to the Caspian Sea. It was divided into the
greater and the less Armenia, the one to the East, the other to
the West. Its tigers were noted for their extreme fierceness.]

[Footnote 10: _She is truly worthy._--Ver. 131. Pasiphae, who was
the mother of the Minotaur.]

[Footnote 11: _She is called Ciris._--Ver. 151. From the Greek
word +keiro+, 'to clip,' or 'cut.' According to Virgil, who,
in his Ciris, describes this transformation, this bird was of
variegated colours, with a purple breast, and legs of a reddish
hue, and lived a solitary life in retired spots. It is uncertain
what kind of bird it was; some think it was a hawk, some a lark,
and others a partridge. It has been suggested that Ovid did not
enter into the details of this transformation, because it had been
so recently depicted in beautiful language by Virgil. Hyginus says
that the 'Ciris' was a fish.]

EXPLANATION.

Minos, having raised an army and received auxiliary troops from his
allies, made war upon the Athenians, to revenge the death of his
son, Androgeus. Having conquered Nisea, he laid siege to Megara,
which was betrayed by th