alfo into birds. This bear, therefore, might Jiave been a knight hunting in the foreft of Bifcay, when he, perchance, angered. some god or goddefs, who changed him in|o a bear, to do penance, as Acteon was transformed into a flag.' c Acteon P cried the fquire ; c my good fir do relate it, for I {hall be very h^ppy to liften to you.' 6 Recording to ancient authors, we read that Acteon w^s a handfome and accom-plilhed knight, who loved dogs and the chace above all things. He was once hunting 9 ftag of a prodigious fize : the chace lasted the whole day, when he lost his men ai*d his hounds -, but, eager in purfuing the stag? he came to a large meadow, furrounded by high trees, in which was a fountain, where the goddefs of Chastity and her nymphs were bathing themfelves. The Jinight came upon them fo fuddenjy that they were not aware of him, and he had advanced fo far he could pot retreat. The nymphs, in their fright, ran tq cover their mistrefs, whofe mo-desty was wounded at being thus feen naked. She viewed the knight over the heads of her at-tendant^ and faid, c Acteon, whoever has lent thee hither has no great love for thee : I will not, that when thou (halt go hence, thou brag of having feen me naked, as well as my nymphs and for the outrage thou hast committed, thou £halt perform a penance. I change thee, there-fore, into the form of tfte stag thou hast this day hunted/ He was instantly transformed into a stag, who naturally loves waters. f Thus |t may have happened with regard to JP §/ " • tl\e il*