[[190]]Ἑβδομη ειν αγαθοις, και ἑβδομη εστι γενεθλη.
Ἑβδομη εν πρωτοισι, και ἑβδομη εστι τελειη.
Ἑβδοματῃ δη ὁι τετελεσμενα παντα τετυκται.
Ἑπτα δε παντα τετυκται εν ουρανῳ αστεροεντι.
The birds in the island of Diomedes, which were said to have been originally companions of that hero, were undoubtedly priests, and of the same race as those of whom I have been treating. They are represented as gentle to good men, and averse to those who are bad. Ovid describes their shape and appearance: [[191]]Ut non cygnorum, sic albis proxima cygnis; which, after what has been said, may, I think, be easily understood.
If then the harmony of swans, when spoken of, not only related to something quite foreign, but in reality did not of itself exist, it may appear wonderful that the antients should so universally give into the notion. For not only the poets, but [[192]]Plato, Plutarch, Cicero, Pliny, with many others of high rank, speak of it as a circumstance well known. But it is to be observed, that none of them speak from their own experience: nor are they by any means consistent in what they say. Some mention this singing as a general faculty; which was exerted at all times: others limit it to particular seasons, and to particular places. Aristotle seems to confine it to the seas of [[193]]Africa: [[194]]Aldrovandus says, that it may be heard upon the Thames near London. The account given by Aristotle is very remarkable. He says, that mariners, whose course lay through the Libyan sea, have often met with swans, and heard them singing in a melancholy strain: and upon a nearer approach, they could perceive that some of them were dying, from whom the harmony proceeded. Who would have expected to have found swans swimming in the salt sea, in the midst of the Mediterranean? There is nothing that a Grecian would not devise in support of a favourite error. The legend from beginning to end is groundless: and though most speak of the music of swans as exquisite; yet some absolutely deny [[195]]the whole of it; and others are more moderate in their commendations. The watermen in Lucian give the preference to a jackdaw: but Antipater in some degree dissents, and thinks that the swan has the advantage.
[[196]]Λωιτερος κυκνων μικρος θροος, ηε κολοιων
Κρωγμος.
And Lucretius confesses, that the screaming of a crane is not quite so pleasing:
[[197]]Parvus ut est, Cygni melior canor, ille gruum quam