Pan was the god of shepherds, and of all inhabitants of the country; he was
the son of Mercury by Driope, and is usually described as possessing two
small horns on his head, his complexion ruddy, his nose flat, and his legs,
thighs, tail and feet hairy, like those of a goat. When he was brought into
the world, the nurse, terrified at sight of him, ran away in horror, and
his father wrapping him up in the skins of beasts, carried him to Heaven,
where Jupiter and the other Gods, entertained themselves with the oddity of
his appearance; Bacchus was delighted with him, and gave him the name of
Pan.
--------------"Sprung the rude God to light;
Of dreadful form, and horrible to sight;
Goat-footed, horned, yet full of sport and joy,
The nurse, astonished, fled the wondrous boy:
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His shaggy limbs, the trembling matron feared,
His face distorted, and his rugged beard:
But Hermes from her hands received the child,
And on the infant god auspicious smiled.
In the thick fur wrapped of a mountain hare,
His arms the boy to steep Olympus bear;
Proudly he shows him to imperial Jove,
High seated 'mid the immortal powers above.
With friendly joy and love, the race divine,
But chiefly Bacchus, god of mirth and wine,
Received the dauntless god, whom Pan they call,
Pan, for his song delights the breast of all."