As I often quote from Palæphatus, it may be proper to say something concerning him. He wrote early: and seems to have been a serious and sensible person; one, who saw the absurdity of the fables, upon which the theology of his country was founded. In the purport of his name is signified an antiquarian; a person, who dealt in remote researches: and there is no impossibility, but that there might have casually arisen this correspondence between his name and writings. But, I think, it is hardly probable. As he wrote against the mythology of his country, I should imagine that Παλαιφατος, Palæphatus, was an assumed name, which he took for a blind, in order to screen himself from persecution: for the nature of his writings made him liable to much ill will. One little treatise of [262]Palæphatus about Orion is quoted verbatim by the Scholiast upon [263]Homer, who speaks of it as a quotation from Euphorion. I should therefore think, that Euphorion was the name of this writer: but as there were many learned men so called, it may be difficult to determine which was the author of this treatise. Homer, who has constructed the noblest poem that was ever framed, from the strangest materials, abounds with allegory and mysterious description. He often introduces ideal personages, his notions of which he borrowed from the edifices, hills, and fountains; and from whatever savoured of wonder and antiquity. He seems sometimes to blend together two different characters of the same thing, a borrowed one, and a real; so as to make the true history, if there should be any truth at bottom, the more extraordinary and entertaining. I cannot help thinking, that Otus and Ephiâltes, those gigantic youths, so celebrated by the Poets, were two lofty towers. They were building to Alohim, called [264]Aloëus; but were probably overthrown by an earthquake. They are spoken of by Pindar as the sons of Iphimedeia; and are supposed to have been slain by Apollo in the island Naxos. [265]Εν δε Ναξῳ Φαντι θανειν λιπαρᾳ Ιφιμεδειας παιδας Ωτον, και σε, τολμαεις Εφιαλτα αναξ. They are also mentioned by Homer, who styles them γηγενεις, or earthborn: and his description is equally fine. [266]Και ῥ' ετεκεν δυο παιδε, μινυνθαδιω δε γενεσθην, Ωτον τ' αντιθεον, τηλεκλειτον τ' Εφιαλτην· Ὁυς δη μηκιστους θρεψε ζειδωρος αρουρα, Και πολυ καλλιστους μετα γε κλυτον Ωριωνα. Εννεωροι γαρ τοι γε, και εννεαπηχεες ησαν Ευρος, αταρ μηκος γε γενεσθην εννεοργυιοι.