Philomela

(Philome′la) was a daughter of Pandion, king of Athens, who was transformed into a nightingale. She was sister to Procne, who married Tereus, King of Thrace. The latter having offered violence to Philomela, her sister, Procne, came to her rescue, and to punish her husband slew her son Itylus, and at a feast Philomela threw Itylus’s head on the banquet table. “Forth like a fury Philomela flew, And at his face the head of Itys threw.” Pope. “And thou, melodious Philomel, Again thy plaintive story tell.” Sir Thomas Lyttleton.