Sirens

SIRENS, Sea-monsters, famous in the Writings of the Poets. They tells us, the Sirens were the Daughters of the River Achelous, and of one of the nine Muses. Some say Melpomene; others Calliope or Terpsichore, or Sterope; in a word, they are not agreed, either in their Mother’s Name, or in their own. They were three in Number. Some call’d them Aglaepe, Pisinoe, Thelxiopia; others Thelxiope, Molpe, Aglaophonos; others again, Leucosie, Ligea, Parthenope. Their Dwelling was upon the Coast of the Sicilian Sea, and they sung so harmoniously, that the Mariners that pass’d that Way were in Danger of being shipwreck’d, by approaching too near the Shore, in stopping to hear them.

Apollon. Argonaut. l. 4.They were partly like fine Women, and partly like Birds. They had the Wings and Feet of Birds, and as to the rest, they were Women. When the Argonautes pass’d that Way, the Sirens did what they could to charm them; but Orpheus taking his Harp, made their Songs and other Attempts useless. So that the Sirens, in Despair at being overcome, threw themselves into the Sea, and became Rocks. Others say, they precipitated themselves into the Sea, and were changed into Sea-monsters, having half the Body of a Woman, and the other half of a Fish; and that this happen’d to ‘em after Ulysses had disappointed their Expectation, by stopping his Companions Ears with Wax, and making himself to be lash’d fast with Ropes to the Mast of his Ship; forbidding that any one should untie him, whatever Instances he should make.

But we shall not enter upon an Examination of these Fables. What gives us Occasion to speak of Sirens here, is because we find their Name in Isaiah xiii. 22. Respondebunt ululæ in ædibus ejus, & Sirenes in ædibus voluptatis. The Prophet speaks of the Destruction of Babylon; he says, that this famous City shall be reduced to a dismal Wilderness, that the Waters shall cover its Ruins, that Sea-monsters shall be seen there, Birds of ill Omen, Owls, Bitterns, &c. The Latin Text to these adds Sirens; the Septuagint calls them Hedgehogs or Urchins; the Hebrew Text reads Thannim. But if we compare together all the Passages Thannim. LXX. ‘Εχῖνοι.in which the Word Thannim occurs, we may observe that it signifies a great Fish, a Sea-monster, a Fish that puts forth loud Cries, that feeds its Young by the Nipple, whose Abode is in the Sea, and in watry Places: Qualities which agree with a Whale, or a Sea-calf, which probably IsaiahVide Job xxx. 29. Mic. i. 8. Lament. iv. 3. Psal. lviii. 7. Isaiah xxvii. 2. Ez. xxxii. 2. intended to represent here.

Perhaps St. Jerome, in translating it by Sirens, intended to express certain Sea-monsters which, they say, have a near Resemblance to a Man. ‘Tis said in 1672 they caught a Siren at Malta. Cornelius à Lapide speaks of a Siren taken in Frizeland, which, they say, lived long enough to learn to spin. Between the Island Ceilon and the Point of Indus, they took nine Sirens and seven Tritons. Upon the Coasts of Martinico, near a Promontory call’d the Diamond, was seen a Sea-monster, who upwards from his Middle had the Shape of a Man, and the rest was like a Fish. In the Philippine Islands they catch a certain sort of Fishes like Sirens. There are many of them also to be seen in the Province of Angola. They are found to be Male and Female, being eight Foot long, and four in breadth: Their Arms are very short, but their Fingers are long; their Head and Eyes are oval, their Fore-head high, Nose flat, with a large Mouth; but they have hardly any Chin or Ears. When they are kill’d, they cry out as a Man¹ would do, that was going to be murder’d. It is not impossible but that Isaiah and St. Jerome might have a Knowledge of these Sea-monsters, and may intend to describe them in this Place. The Word Siren may be derived from the Hebrew Shir, or Sir, which signifies a Song.

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