150 CONCHOLOGIST’S COMPANION. 
Astrate; in Greece, the elegant Chambered Nautilus 
was peculiarly the care of the famous Egyptian 
priestess Arsinoe, who was worshipped as a goddess 
under the names of Zephyrites, Venus, and Chloris. 
A fact which Callimachus has recorded in the follow- 
ing beautiful lines, wherein he commemorates the 
dedication of a Nautilus to this supposititious deity 
by Silenzea, the daughter of a nobleman of Smyrna. 
‘«¢ A sacred shell, Zephyrites, divine, 
Fair Silenza, offers at thy shrine ; 
And thus, thy Nautilus is doubly blest, 
Since given by her, and still by thee possest. 
Of late, small tackling from my body grew, 
Thin sails I spread, when winds propitious blew ; 
But when the seas were calm, to gain the shores, 
I stretch’d my little feet, like lab’ring oars, 
And from my busy limbs, and painted side, 
Was call’d a Polyp, as I stemm’d the tide, 
Till driven by winds, on Coan’s rocks I shone, 
And now recline before Arsinoe’s throne. 
Depriv’d of life, no more on seas I rest, 
Or draw young Halcyons from the watery nest. 
But be this boon to Clineas’ daughter given, 
A virtuous maid, and fav’rite of high heaven; 
The precious boon may Silenza gain, 
When she from Smyrna, ploughs the watery main.”* 
It appears from this exquisite little poem, that the 
* From the Translations of Callimachus, PY mK. Vs phe 
M.D. _ Fifth epigram. 
