MODESTY.

Icarius not having been able to persuade his son-in-law Ulysses to stay in Lacedæmon, endeavoured to prevail upon his daughter Penelope; but his intreaties could not move her to make so great a sacrifice to him, as to prefer her father’s house to her husband, and she therefore set out with Ulysses, to go to Ithaca. Her father perceiving that they had made their escape, got into his chariot and overtook them, and renewed his intreaties to his daughter. Ulysses being weary of that persecution, declared to Penelope that if she would follow him willingly, he should be very glad of it; but that if she had rather return to Lacedæmon, he would not oppose it. Though Penelope returned no answer but let down her veil, Icarius discovered her thoughts, and easily apprehended that she had a mind to follow her husband. He consented to it, and erected in that very place, a statue of Modesty. Here are some well-marked strokes of the character of a refined and honourable woman.— Art. Penelope.