PHÆTON, in fabulous history, was the son of Apollo and of the nymph Clymene. He had a dispute with Epaphus, the son of Jupiter and Io; when the latter, upbraiding him, said, that he was not the son of Phœbus, but that his mother artfully made use of that pretence to cover her infamy. Phæton, fired at this reproach, flew to his mother, and by her advice carried his complaint to Apollo, who received him with great tenderness, and swore by Styx to grant whatever he requested, as a proof of his acknowledging him for his son. The youth boldly asked the direction of the chariot of the sun for one day. His father, grieved and surprised at this demand, used all his arguments to dissuade him from the rash attempt; but all was in vain, and, being by his oath reduced to submit to his obstinacy, entrusted him with the reins, after he had directed him how to use them. The young adventurer was however soon sensible of his madness. He was unable to guide the fiery steeds; and losing the reins, Jupiter, to prevent his consuming the heavens and earth, struck him with a thunder-bolt, and hurled him from his seat into the river Eridanus or Po. His sisters Phœthusa, Lambetia, and Phœbe, lamenting his loss upon its banks, were changed by the gods into black poplar trees; and Cyrenus, king of Liguria, also grieving at his fate, was transformed into a swan.