in fabulous history, the daughter of Pandion king of Athens, was the sister of Progne the wife of Tereus king of Thrace. That prince having ravished Philomela, cut out her tongue; and to conceal the knowledge of his incest, shut her up in a close prison: but the princess finding means to embroider her story, sent it to her sister Progne; who thus becoming acquainted with her sister's misfortunes, delivered her from prison, and took her to the palace; then killing Itys, her son by Tereus, she served up his flesh to his father; and after he had done, exposed the child's head to his view. Tereus, in a transport of fury, pursued the sisters; but was changed into a lapwing, Progne into a swallow, Itys into pheasant, and Philomela into a nightingale.