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EUROPE. Europa was the daughter of Agenor, king of Tyre. Falling in love with her, Jupiter wooed her in the form of a white bull. When she playfully jumped on his back, he carried her off. The bull became the constellation Taurus (Met II.834-875, III.1-5; OM II.4937-5084).

Troilus appeals to Jove, who loved Europe in the form of a bull, Tr III.722-724. On the first of May the sun is in the breast of the beast that led "Agenore's daughter" away; that is, the sun is in Taurus, LGW F 114.

Europe, the ME variant with final syllabic -e, occurs in final rhyming position, Tr III.722.


Ovid, Met, ed. and trans. F.J. Miller, I: 118-125, OM, ed. C. de Boer, I, deel 15: 276-279.
From CHAUCER NAME DICTIONARY
Copyright © 1988, 1996 Jacqueline de Weever
Published by Garland Publishing, Inc., New York and London.

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