Fabulae Syrae XXXII Summary

Summary:
Daphne: Daphne was the daughter of the river god Peneus. Apollo chased down the maiden, desperate for her love, but she wanted nothing to do with him, and she ran from him endlessly. Soon, she grew weary in her running and that Apollo would ultimately catch her. Fearful, she called out to her father for help. As all gods of water posses the ability of transformation, Peneus transformed his daughter into a laurel tree. Suddenly her legs took root, and her arms grew into long and slender branches. Apollo reached the laurel tree, and, still enamored with Daphne, held the tree in a special place in his heart. He claimed the tree the as his special tree, and adorned himself with some of it's leaves. And that is why the laurel was, and still is, a symbol of the god Apollo.

Arachne: Arachne was a talented maiden who became cocky and said that she herself was a better weaver than Minerva. They engage in a competition, and Arachne won. However, Minerva lost her temper and turned Arachne into a spider. 

Io: Jupiter fell in love with Io, but Juno caught her husband seducing Io and Jupiter turned Io into a cow. However, Juno sent the cow away to be guarded by Argus Panoptes. Jupiter sent Hermes to chop off Argus' head and rescue Io. 

Baucis et Philemon: Jupiter and Mercury decide to test the hospitality of humans. They disguise themselves as poor travelers and knock on the doors of many houses, but no one will take them in. Finally they approach a small hut owned by Baucis and Philemon. The couple warmly invite the travelers inside and offer all their food and wine. Though it is not much, Baucis and Philemon explain that they are content with what they have because they love each other. Eventually, the gods reveal themselves. They destroy the rest of the town in a flood but spare Baucis and Philemon. Jupiter and Mercury also replace the hut with a large marble house. Baucis and Philemon ask the gods that when they die, they would like to die together. Many years later, in their old age, they are in the middle of a conversation when they notice leaves springing forth from their bodies. They turn into a conjoined tree—a linden and an oak both growing from one trunk.

Callisto et Arcas: Jupiter fell in love with Callisto, and together, they ahd a child, Arcas. Juno found out and changed Callisto into a bear. One day, Arcas went hunting, and Callisto, the bear, saw her son. Forgetting that she was a bear, she charged at Arcas. In fear of his life, Arcas lifted his bow and shot at the charging bear. At the last moment, just before the arrow struck, Jupiter tossed Callisto and her son Arcas into the heavens as the constellations Ursa Major, the Great Bear and Bootes, the Bear Warden. Arcas is always found standing next to his mother.

Grammar:
I found no new grammar topics in these stories. 

Vocabulary:
I found no new vocabulary in these stories.