Acontius

Acontius in Greek mythology, was a beautiful but poor youth on the island of Ceos, renowned for the stratagem by which he won his loved one, Cydippe of Athens, a maiden of high parentage and great wealth. He wrote the following words on a large Cydonian apple: "I vow by Diana that I will take Acontius as my husband." The apple rolled to the feet of Cydippe's accompanying slave, who, not being able to read the inscription, handed it to her mistress, who read it aloud, and thus uttered the mysterious vow. Her father, being ignorant of the circumstance, promised her to another; but Cydippe became very sick, and did not recover until she was willing to fulfil her vow.