fabulous history, the son of Glauceus king of Epirus, happening accidentally to kill his brother, fled to Precutus king of Argos, who gave him a hospitable reception; but Sthenobea, his queen, falling in love with the beautiful stranger, and finding that nothing could induce him to injure his benefactor, she accused him to her husband of an attempt to violate her honour. Precutus, however, not being willing to act contrary to the laws of hospitality, sent him to Iobates king of Lybia, and the father of Sthenobea, with letters deiring him to put him to death: whence the proverb Bellerophontis literas affert, equivalent to Litere Urbe. That prince, at the receipt of these letters, was celebrating a festival of nine days, which prevented Bellerophon's destruction. Iobates, however, sent him in the mean time to subdue the Solymi, the Amazons, and Lylians, and thought to get rid of him by exposing him to the greatest dangers; but by his prudence and courage he came off victorious. Iobates next employed him to destroy the Chimera; when Minerva, or, according to others, Neptune, in consideration of his innocence, furnished him with the horse Pegasus, by whose affiance he killed the Chimera. Iobates, on his return, being convinced of his truth and integrity, and charmed with his heroic virtues, gave him his daughter Philonoe in marriage, and declared him his successor; which when Sthenobea heard, she killed herself. Bellerophon at length growing vain with his prosperity, resolved, by the affiance of Pegasus, to ascend the skies; when Jupiter checked his presumption, by striking him blind in his flight; on which he fell down to the earth, and wandered till his death in contempt and misery: but Pegasus mounting into heaven, Jupiter placed him among the constellations.