16 Beautiful Shells. 
«‘The lute was first devised 
In imitation of a tortoise’ back, 
Whose sinews parched by Apollo’s beams, 
Echoed about the concave of the shell ; [sound 
And seeing the shortest and smallest gave shrillest 
They found out frets, whose sweet diversity 
Well touched by the skilful learned fingers, 
Roused so strange a multitude of chords. 
And the opinion many do confirm, 
Because testudo signifies a lute.” 
And now we are among the myths and fables 
of antiquity, we may just mention another applica- 
tion of the shell to musical purposes. Neptune, 
who, according to the Grecian mythology, was the 
god of the sea, is frequently represented as going 
forth in his car in great state and pomp, with a 
body-guard of Tritons; some of whom go before 
with twisted conch shells as trumpets, with which 
we are to suppose they make delightful harmony. 
Venus, too, the goddess of beauty, rode on the 
ocean foam in a testaceous car. Thus Dryden says, 
that Albion—our native land, so called on account 
of its chalky cliffs, from the Latin alba—white, 
“ Was to Neptune recommended ; 
Peace and plenty spread the sails; 
Venus in her shell before him, 
From the sands in safety bore him.” 
