Amber or The Swans

Lucian, Vol. 1. Harmon, Austin Morris, editor. London: William Heinemann, Ltd.; Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1913.

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This satirical essay humorously explores the gap between poetic myth and reality, serving as an introduction to caution the audience against high expectations for the speaker's own oratory. The narrator visits the Eridanus River, believing the famous legends that the tears of Phaethon's sisters turned into amber and that the local swans sing beautifully. However, local boatmen bluntly disabuse him of these illusions, revealing that no such wonders exist and leaving him to regret his gullibility in believing the poets' lies. Utilizing this comical anecdote, the narrator warns his audience not to expect the sweetness of amber or the swan's song from his own upcoming discourse. By rejecting mythical exaggeration, he presents himself as a modest speaker, establishing a humble rapport with his listeners.