he country of the Hyperboreans;
but when they saw their mode of living, they deemed them to be
unworthy of their notice, and returned home. These warriors rarely
die of sickness; they delight in warfare, and generally lose their
lives in battle. There is also in this new world another numerous
people called Meropes; and in their country is a place called
'Anostus,' that is to say, 'not to be repassed,' because no one ever
comes back from thence. It is a dreadful abyss, having no other than
a reddish sort of light. There are two rivers in that place; one
called the River of Sorrow, and the other the River of Mirth. Trees
as large as planes grow about these rivers. Those who eat of the
fruit of the trees growing near the River of Sorrow, pass their
lives in affliction, weeping continually, even to their last breath;
but such as eat of the fruit of the other trees, forget the past,
and revert through the different stages of their life, and then
die."

AElian regards the passage as a mere fable, and the latter part is
clearly allegorical. The mention of the two cities, 'the Warlike'
and 'the Devout,' can hardly fail to remind us of Japan, with its
spiritual and temporal capitals.

Some writers say, that Silenus was the king of Caria, and was the
contemporary and friend of Midas, to whom his counsel proved of
considerable service, in governing his dominions. He was probably
called the foster-father or tutor, of Bacchus, because he introduced
his worship into Phrygia and the neighbouring countries.

FABLE III. [XI.146-193]

Pan is so elated with the praises of some Nymphs who hear the music
of his pipe, that he presumes to challenge Apollo to play with him.
The mountain God, Tmolus, who is chosen umpire of the contest,
decides in favour of Apollo, and the whole company approve of his
judgment except Midas, who, for his stupidity in preferring Pan,
receives a pair of asses' ears. He carefully conceals them till they
are discovered by his barber, who publishes his deformity in a very
singular manner.

He, abhorring riches, inhabited the woods and the fields, and {followed}
Pan, who always dwells in caves of the mountains; but his obtuse
understanding[11] still remained, and the impulse of his foolish mind
was fated again, as before, to be an injury to its owner. For the lofty
Tmolus, looking far and wide over the sea, stands erect, steep with its
lofty asc