Editing Daphne (section)

=== Parthenius ===
A version of the attempt on Daphne's sworn virginity that has been less familiar since the [[Renaissance]] was narrated by the [[Hellenistic civilization|Hellenistic]] poet [[Parthenius of Nicaea|Parthenius]], in his ''Erotica Pathemata'', "The Sorrows of Love", which he attributes to Hellenistic historian [[Phylarchus]].<ref>J. L. Lightfoot, tr. ''Parthenius of Nicaea: the poetical fragments and the Erōtika pathēmata'' 1999, notes to XV, Περὶ Δάφνης, pp. 471ff.</ref> In this, which is the earliest written account, Daphne is a mortal girl, daughter of [[Amyclas of Sparta|Amyclas]],<ref>King Amyclas is also the father of another of Apollo's lover, [[Hyacinth (mythology)|Hyacinthus]].</ref> fond of hunting and determined to remain a virgin; she is pursued by the boy [[Leucippus (mythology)|Leucippus]] ("white stallion"), who disguises himself in a girl's outfit in order to join her band of huntresses. He is also successful in gaining her innocent affection. This makes Apollo angry and he puts it into the girl's mind to stop to bathe in the river Ladon; there, as all strip naked, the ruse is revealed, as in the myth of [[Callisto (mythology)|Callisto]], and the affronted huntresses plunge their spears into Leucippus. At this moment Apollo's attention becomes engaged, and he begins his own pursuit. Daphne, fleeing to escape Apollo's advances, prays to Zeus to help. Zeus turns her into laurel tree. Parthenius' modern editor remarks on the rather awkward transition, linking two narratives.<ref>Lightfoot (1999), p. 471.</ref>