y to the West. According to Antoninus
Liberalis, Daunus, Iapyx, and Peucetius, the sons of Lycaon, were
the first to colonize these parts.]

[Footnote 45: _Messapian._--Ver. 513. Messapia was a name given to
a part of Calabria, from its king Messapus, who aided Turnus
against AEneas.]

EXPLANATION.

Latinus having been told by an oracle that a foreign prince should
come into his country and marry his daughter Lavinia, received AEneas
hospitably, and formed an alliance with him, promising him his
daughter in marriage; on which Turnus, who was the nephew of Amata,
his wife, and to whom Lavinia was betrothed, declared war against
AEneas.

The ancient historians tell us, that, on returning from the siege of
Troy, Diomedes found that his throne had been usurped by Cyllabarus,
who had married his wife AEgiale. Not having sufficient forces to
dispossess the intruder, he sought a retreat in Italy, where he
built the city of Argyripa, or Argos Hippium. Diomedes having
married the daughter of Daunus, quarrelled with his father-in-law,
and was killed in fight; on which his companions fled to an adjacent
island, which, from his name, was called Diomedea. It was afterwards
reported, that on their flight they were changed into birds, and
that Venus inflicted this punishment, in consequence of Diomedes
having wounded her at the siege of Troy. Of this story a confused
version is here presented by Ovid, who makes the transformation to
take place in the lifetime of Diomedes. It is supposed that the fact
of the island being the favourite resort of swans and herons,
facilitated this story of their transformation. Pliny and Solinus
add to this marvellous account by stating, that these birds fawned
upon all Greeks who entered the island, and fled from the people of
all other nations. Ovid says that the birds resembled swans, while
other writers thought them to be herons, storks, or falcons.

The ancient authors are utterly silent as to the rude shepherd who
was changed into a wild olive, but the story was probably derived by
Ovid from some local tradition.

FABLES IX. AND X. [XIV.527-608]

Turnus sets fire to the fleet of AEneas: but Cybele transforms the
ships into sea Nymphs. After the death of Turnus, his capital,
Ardea, is burnt, and a bird arises out of the flames. Venus obtains
of Jupiter that her son, after so many heroic deeds, shall be