The Metamorphoses of Publius Ovidus Naso in English blank verse Part 16

She takes the welcome gift, for much she joys From him to take it. Envy seiz'd the rest, And sullen murmurs through the comrades ran: Above the rest, were Thestius' sons,--their arms Out-stretching, clamor'd thus with a mighty noise;-- "Let not thy beauteous form thy mind deceive, "When from thy eyes the donor of the spoil, "Besotted with thy love, shall far be mov'd.

"Woman! restore the prize, nor hope to hold "Our intercepted claims."--Speaking they rob Her of the gift, him of the right to give.

Nor pa.s.sive stood the warlike youth, his teeth He gnash'd with swelling rage, as fierce he cry'd;-- "Learn, ye base robbers of another's rights, "What difference threats and valiant actions shew.--"

Then in Plexippus' unsuspecting breast He plung'd his impious sword: nor suffer'd long Toxeus to doubt, who hesitating stood, Now vengeance brooding for his brother's fate, Now dreading for himself a like swift blow; Again he warms the weapon, reeking still Hot from Plexippus' bosom, in his blood.

To every temple of the favoring G.o.ds Althaea bore donations for her son, Victorious: When the breathless bodies came Of both her brethren, loud the sounding blows Of grief were heard, and all the city rung With lamentable cries: her golden robes Were straight to sable chang'd. But when the hand Which struck the blow was known, her every tear Was dry'd, and vengeance only fill'd her soul.

A log there lay when Thestius' daughter groan'd In child-bed pangs; which on the greedy flames The triple sisters flung; and while their thumbs Twirl'd round the fatal thread, this was their song;-- "O newly born! to thee and to this bough "Like date of life we give."--Then ceas'd their words, And from her presence vanish'd: sudden s.n.a.t.c.h'd The mother from the fire the burning brand, And quench'd it instant in unsparing streams.

Long in most secret darkness had she hid This fatal wood; and, thus preserv'd, her son Had safely years mature attain'd; but now Forth she produc'd it from its close recess.

Fragments of torches on the hearth she heap'd, And blew the sparklings into deadly flames; And thrice she rais'd her hands the branch to heave On the fierce fire; and thrice her hands withdrew.

Sister and mother in one bosom fought, To adverse acts impelling. Oft her face, Dread of her meditated crime, bleach'd pale; Oft to her eyes her furious rage supply'd A fiery redness; now her countenance glow'd With threatenings cruel; now her softening looks To pity seemed to melt; and when fierce ire Had fill'd her soul, and parch'd up every tear, Fresh tears would gush. Thus rocks a vessel, driven By winds and adverse currents, both their force At once obeys, and can to neither yield.

Thus waver'd Thestius' daughter, dubious thus Affection sway'd her; now her rage is calm, Now her calm'd rage with fourfold fury burns.

At length the sister's o'er the parent's tie The prevalence obtains; impiously good, With blood her own, she soothes the brethren's shades.

Now, when the fires destructive fiercely glar'd, She cry'd:--"Here, funeral pile, my bowels burn!--"

And as the fatal wood her direful hand Held forth, the hapless mother, at the pyre Sepulchral, stood, exclaiming;--"Furies three!

"Avenging sisters! hither turn your eyes; "Behold the furious sacred rites I pay: "For retribution I commit this crime.

"By death their death must be aveng'd; his fault "By mine be punish'd; on their funeral biers "His must be laid; one sinning house must fall, "In woes acc.u.mulated. Blest shall still "neus enjoy his proud victorious son, "And Thestius childless mourn? Better that both "Should weep in concert. Dear fraternal ghosts, "Recent from upper air, my work behold!

"Take to th' infernal realms my offering bought "So dear! the hapless pledge my womb produc'd.

"Ah! whither am I swept? Brothers forgive "The parent. Lo! my faltering hands refuse "To second my intents. Well he deserves "To perish; yet by other hands than mine.

"Unpunish'd shall he 'scape then? Victor live, "Proud of his high success, and rule the realm "Of Calydon, while ye are prostrate thrown "A trivial heap of ashes, and cold shades?

"Patience no more will bear. Perish the wretch!

"Perish his father's hopes! perish the realm!

"And all the country peris.h.!.+ Where? O, where?

"Is then the mother's soul, the pious prayers "A parent should prefer? Where the strong pains "Which twice five moons I bore? O, that the flames "First kindled, had thy infant limbs consum'd!

"Would I had not then s.n.a.t.c.h'd thee from thy fate!

"Thy gift of life is mine; now that thou dy'st "Thy own demerits ask: take the reward "Thy deeds deserve: yield up thy twice-given life, "First in thy birth, then by the brand I sav'd; "Or lay me with my brethren in their tomb.

"I wish, yet what I would my hands refuse.

"What will my soul determine? Now mine eyes "The mangled corses of my brethren fill: "Now filial fondness, and a mother's name "Distract my soul. O, wretched, wretched me!

"Brothers you gain the conquest, yet you gain "Dearly for me; but on your shades I'll wait, "Blest in what gives you once to me again."

She said; with face averse and trembling hand, The fateful brand amid the fires was dropt.

The brand a groan deep utter'd, or a groan To utter seem'd: the flames half backward caught At length their prey, which gradually consum'd.

Witless of this sad deed, and absent far, Fierce Meleager, with the self-same fire Burn'd inward; all his vitals felt the flame Scorching conceal'd: th' excruciating pangs Magnanimous he bore. Yet deep he mourn'd By such a slothful bloodless fate to fall; And happy call'd Ancaeus in his wounds.

With deep-drawn groans he calls his aged sire, His brother, sisters, and the nymph belov'd, Who shar'd his nuptial couch; with final breath, His mother too perchance. Now glows the fire, And now the pains increase; now both are faint; Now both together die. The soul flies forth, And gently dissipates in empty air.

Low now lies lofty Calydon,--the youths, And aged seniors weep; the vulgar crowd And n.o.bles mourn alike; the matrons rend Their garments, beat their b.r.e.a.s.t.s, and tear their hair.

Stretch'd on the earth the wretched sire defiles His h.o.a.ry locks, and aged face with dust, Cursing his lengthen'd years: the conscious hand Which caus'd the direful end, the mother's fate Accomplish'd; through her vitals pierc'd the steel.

Had heaven on me an hundred tongues bestow'd, With sounding voice, and such capacious wit As all might fill; and all the Muses' power, Still should I fail the grieving sisters' woe Justly to paint. Heedless of beauteous forms They beat their bosoms livid; while the corse Remains, they clasp and cherish in their arms The senseless ma.s.s; the corse they kiss, and kiss The couch on which it rests: to ashes burn'd, Careful collected in the urn, they hug Those ashes to their b.r.e.a.s.t.s; and prostrate thrown His tomb they cover; on the graven stone Embrace his name; and on the letters pour Their tears in torrents. Dian' satiate now The house of neus levell'd with the dust, Rais'd them by wings in air, which sudden shot From each their bodies. Gorge sole, and she The spouse of valiant Hercules, unchang'd Were left. Long pinions for their arms were seen; Their mouths to h.o.r.n.y bills were turn'd; through air Thus alter'd, ample range the G.o.ddess gives.

Theseus meantime, the toil confederate done, Homeward to Pallas' towers his journey bent; But Achelous, swol'n by showery floods, Delay'd his progress. "Fam'd Cecropia's chief,"-- He cry'd,--"here shelter, enter 'neath my roof, "Nor through the furious torrents trust thy steps.

"Whole forests oft they root, and whirl along "Vast rocks with thundering sound. High stalls I've seen, "Near to the banks erected, swept away: "Nor aught avail'd the l.u.s.ty bull's strong limbs, "Nor aught the courser's speed: the torrents oft "Of melted snows, which from the mountains rush, "Whelm the strong youths beneath the whirling pool.

"To rest is safer, till their wonted banks "Again the streams confine; the lessen'd waves "Within their channels pent."--Theseus complies, And answers:--"Achelous, we approve "Thy prudent counsel, and thy cave will use,"

The grot they enter; hollow pumice, mixt With rugged tophus, form'd it; tender moss The moist floor cover'd; fretwork on the roof The purple murex and the scallop white Alternate form'd. Now Phbus' steeds had run Two thirds their race, when Theseus on his couch Reclin'd, the comrades of his toil close by; Pirithous here, Trzenian Lelex there, Whose temples now some silvery hairs display'd.

With these were such as Achelous, joy'd At such a n.o.ble guest, the honor deem'd Worthy to share. The barefoot Naiad nymphs Heap'd on the board the banquet: food remov'd, They brought the wine, in cups with jewels deck'd.

The mighty hero then, the distant main Surveying, asks:--"What land is that I see?--"

And shews the spot,--"tell me what name denotes "That isle? and yet methinks not one it seems."

The river-G.o.d replies:--"What we behold "A single isle is not, but five; the eye "Is mock'd by distance. That Diana's wrath "May less your wonder move, these once were nymphs.

"Ten bullocks had they sacrific'd, and call'd "Each rural G.o.d to taste the sacred feast, "And join the festal chorus, me alone, "Forgetful, they invited not. Sore vext, "I swell'd with rage, and as my anger rose, "My flood increas'd; till at my greatest height, "Woods I divorc'd from woods; from meadows tore "The neighbouring meadows; and the Naiads roll'd, "Now well-remembering what my G.o.dhead claim'd, "Down with their habitations to the main.

"My waves then, with the ocean's waters join'd, "The land divided, and those isles you view, "Echinades, amid the sea were form'd.

"More distant may your vision reach;--behold "An isle beyond them to my soul most dear; "By sailors nam'd Perimele. I s.n.a.t.c.h'd "Her virgin-treasure from the much-lov'd maid.

"Hippodamas her sire in fury rav'd; "And, from a precipice, the pregnant nymph "Plung'd in the deep. My waves receiv'd the load; "And whilst I bore her floating, thus I said;-- "O, trident-bearer, thou whom lot decreed "Lord, next to heaven, o'er all the wandering waves, "Where all the sacred rivers end their course; "To which all rivers tend, O, Neptune, aid!

"Propitious, hear my prayer! Much have I wrong'd "The nymph I now support: if lenient he, "And equitable, sure Hippodamas, "Her sire, had pity granted, and myself "Had pardon'd. Gracious Neptune, grant thy help "To her a parent's fury from the earth "Wide banishes. O, I beseech thee! grant "A place to her, paternal rage would drown: "Or to a place transform her, where my waves "May clasp her still. The ocean-G.o.d consents, "And all his waters shake as nods his head.

"Still floats th' affrighted nymph; and as she swims, "I feel her heart with trepid motion beat: "While pressing fond her bosom, all her form "Rigidly firm becomes, and round her chest "Rough earth heaps high; and, whilst I wondring speak, "A new-form'd land her floating limbs enclasps: "Her shape transform'd, a solid isle becomes."

Thus far the watery deity, and ceas'd.

The wondrous tale all mov'd, save one, the son Of bold Ixion; fierce of soul, he laugh'd To scorn their minds so credulous, the G.o.ds Impious contemning, as he thus exclaim'd;-- "What tales, O, Achelous, you relate!

"Too much of potence to the G.o.ds you grant, "To give and change our figures."--All struck dumb, Discourage this bold speech, and Lelex first, Mature in age, and in experience old Beyond the rest, thus spoke:--"Celestial power, "In range is infinite, in sway immense; "What the G.o.ds will, completion instant finds.

"To clear your doubts, upon the Phrygian hills "An ancient oak, and neighbouring linden stand, "Girt by a low inclosure; I the spot "Survey'd, when into Phrygia's realms dispatch'd "By Pittheus, when those realms his father rul'd.

"Not far a lake extends, a s.p.a.ce once fill'd "With human 'habitants, whose waves now swarm "With fenny coots, and cormorants alone.

"Here Jove in human shape, and with his sire, "The son of Maia, came; the last his rod "Shorn of its wings, still bore. A thousand doors, "Seeking repose, they knock'd at; every door "Firm barr'd repuls'd them: one at length flew wide; "A lowly cot, whose humble roof long reeds, "And straw firm-matted, cover'd. Baucis there, "A pious dame, and old Philemon match'd "In age, had dwelt, since join'd in springtide youth; "And there grew old together: Full content, "Their poverty they hid not, and more light "Their poverty on souls unmurmuring weigh'd.

"Here nor for lord, nor servant, was there need "To seek; beneath the roof these only dwelt; "Each order'd, each obey'd. The heaven-born guests "The humble threshold crossing, lowly stoop'd, "And entrance gain'd: the ancient host bade sit "And rest their weary'd limbs: the bench was plac'd, "Which Baucis anxious for their comfort, spread "With home-made coverings: then with careful hand "The scarce warm embers on the hearth upturn'd; "And rous'd the sleeping fires of yestern's eve, "With food of leaves and bark dry-parch'd, and fann'd "To flame the fuel with her aged breath: "Then threw the small-slit f.a.ggots, and the boughs "Long-wither'd, on the top, divided small: "And plac'd her brazen vase of scanty size, "O'er all. Last stripp'd the coleworts' outer leaves, "Cull'd by her husband from the water'd ground, "Which serv'd as garden. He meantime reach'd down, "With two-fork'd p.r.o.ng, where high on blacken'd beam "It hung, a paltry portion of an hog, "Long harden'd there; and from the back he slic'd "A morsel thin, which soon he soften'd down "In boiling steam. The intermediate hours "With pleasing chat they cheat; the short delay "To feel avoiding. On a nail high hung "A beechen pail for bathing, by its hand "Deep-curv'd: with tepid water this he fill'd, "And plac'd before his guests their feet to lave.

"A couch there stood, whose feet and frame were form'd "Of willow; tender reeds the centre fill'd, "With coverings this they spread, coverings which saw "The light not, but when festal days them claim'd: "Yet coa.r.s.e and old were these, and such as well "With willow couch agreed. The G.o.ds laid down.

"The dame close-girt, with tremulous hand prepar'd "The board; two feet were perfect, 'neath the third "She thrust a broken sherd, and all stood firm.

"This sloping mended, all the surface clean "With fragrant mint she rubb'd: and plac'd in heaps "The double-teinted fruit of Pallas, maid "Of unsoil'd purity; autumnal fruits, "Cornels, in liquid lees of wine preserv'd; "Endive, and radish, and the milky curd; "With eggs turn'd lightly o'er a gentle heat: "All serv'd in earthen dishes. After these "A clay-carv'd jug was set, and beechen cups, "Varnish'd all bright with yellow wax within.

"Short the delay, when from the ready fire "The steaming dish is brought; and wine not long "Press'd from the grape, again went round, again "Gave place to see the third remove produc'd.

"Now comes the nut, the fig, the wrinkled date, "The plumb, the fragrant apple, and the grape "Pluck'd from the purple vine; all plac'd around "In spreading baskets: snow-white honey fill'd "The central s.p.a.ce. The prime of all the feast, "Was looks that hearty welcome gave, and prov'd "No indigence nor poverty of soul.

"Meantime the empty'd bowls full oft they see "Spontaneously replenish'd; still the wine "Springs to the brim. Astonish'd, struck with dread, "To view the novel scene, the timid pair "Their hands upraise devoutly, and with prayers "Excuses utter for their homely treat, "At unawares requir'd. A lonely goose "They own'd, the watchman of their puny farm; "Him would the hosts, to their celestial guests "A sacred offering make, but swift of wing, "Their toiling chace with age r.e.t.a.r.ded, long "He mock'd; at length the G.o.ds themselves he seeks "For sheltering care. The G.o.ds his death forbid, "And speak:--Celestials are we both; a fate "Well-earn'd, your impious neighbouring roofs shall feel.

"To you, and unto you alone is given "Exemption from their lot. Your cottage leave "And tread our footsteps, while of yonder mount "We seek the loftiest summit. Each obeys; "The G.o.ds precede them, while their tottering limbs "A trusty staff supports; tardy from years, "Slowly they labor up the long ascent.

"Now from the summit wanted they not more "Than what an arrow, shot with strenuous arm, "At once could gain; when back their view they bent: "Their house alone they saw,--that singly stood: "All else were buried in a wide-spread lake.

"Wondring at this, and weeping at the doom "Their hapless neighbours suffer'd; lo! they see "Their mouldering cot, e'en for the pair too small, "Change to a temple; pillars rear on high, "In place of crotchets; yellow turns the straw, "The roof seems gilded; sculptur'd s.h.i.+ne the gates; "And marble pavement covers all the floor.

"Then Saturn's son, in these benignant words "The pair address'd;--O, ancient man, most just!

"And thou, O woman! worthy of thy spouse, "Declare your wishes.--Baucis spoke awhile "With old Philemon; then their joint desire "The latter to the deities declar'd.-- "To be your ministers, your sacred fane "To keep we ask: and as our equal years "In concord we have pa.s.s'd, let the same hour "Remove us hence: may I her tomb not see, "Nor be by her interr'd.--The G.o.ds comply; "These guard the temple through succeeding life.

"Fill'd now with years, as on the temple's steps "They stood, conversing on the wondrous change, "Baucis beheld Philemon shoot in leaves, "And leaves Philemon saw from Baucis sprout; "And from their heads o'er either's face they grew.

"Still while they could with mutual words they spoke; "At once exclaim'd,--O, dearest spouse, farewell!-- "At once the bark, their lips thus speaking, clos'd.

"Ev'n yet a Tyanaean shews two trees "Of neighbouring growth, form'd from the alter'd pair.

"Nor dotard credulous, nor lying tongue "The fact to me related. On the boughs "Myself have seen the votive garlands hung; "And whilst I offered fresher, have I said-- "Heaven guards the good with care; and those who give "The G.o.ds due honors, honors claim themselves."

He ceas'd: the deed and author all admire, But Theseus most; whom anxious still to hear More wondrous actions of the mighty G.o.ds, The stream of Calydon, as on his arm Reclin'd, he rested, in these words address'd:-- "There are, O, valiant youth! of those once chang'd, "Still in the new-form'd figures who remain: "Others there are whose power more wide extends "To many shapes to alter.--Proteus, thou "Art one; thou 'habitant of those wide waves "Which earth begird: now thou a youth appear'st; "And now a lion; then a furious boar; "A serpent next we tremble to approach; "And then with threatening horns thou seem'st a bull.

"Oft as a stone thou ly'st; oft stand'st a tree: "Sometimes thy countenance veil'd in fluid streams, "Thou flow'st a river; sometimes mount'st in flames.

"Nor less of power had Erisichthon's maid, "Spouse of Autolycus. Her impious sire "All the divinities of heaven despis'd, "Nor on their slighted altars offerings burn'd.

"He too, 'tis said, the Cerealean grove "With axe prophan'd: his violating steel "The ancient trees attacking. 'Mid the rest, "A huge-grown oak, in yearly strength robust, "Itself a wood, uprose: garlands hung round, "And wreaths, and grateful tablets, proofs of vows "For prospering favors paid. The Dryad nymphs "Oft in its shade their festal dances held; "Oft would they, clasping hand in hand, surround "The mighty trunk: its girth around to mete, "Full thrice five cubits ask'd. To every tree "Lofty it seem'd; as every tree appear'd "Lofty, when measur'd with the plants below.

"Yet not for that, did Erisichthon hold "The biting steel; but bade his servants fell "The sacred oak; lingering he saw them stand, "His orders un.o.bey'd; impious he s.n.a.t.c.h'd "From one his weapon, and in rage, exclaim'd;-- "What though it be the G.o.ddess' favorite care!

"Were it the G.o.ddess' self, down should it fall, "And bow its leafy summit to the ground.

"He said;--and pois'd his axe, and aim'd oblique.

"Deep shudderings shook the Cerealian tree, "And groans were utter'd; all the leaves grew pale, "And pale the acorns; while the wide-spread boughs "Cold sweats bedew'd. When in the solid trunk "His blow unG.o.dly pierc'd, blood flow'd in streams "From out the shatter'd bark: not flows more full, "From the deep wound in the divided throat, "The gore, when at the sacred altar's foot "A mighty bull, an offer'd victim drops.

"Dread seizes all; and one most bold attempts "To check his horrid wickedness, and check "The murderous weapon: him the villain saw, "And,--take,--he cries,--the boon thy pious soul "Merits so well.--And from the trunk the steel "Turns on the man, and strikes his head away: "Then with redoubled blows the tree a.s.sails.

"Deep from the oak, these words were heard to sound:-- "A nymph am I, within this trunk enclos'd, "Most dear to Ceres; in my dying hours, "Prophetic I foresee the keen revenge "Which will thy deed pursue; and this solace "Grants comfort ev'n in death.--He, undismay'd, "His fierce design still follows: now the tree, "Tottering with numerous blows, by straining cords, "He drags to earth; and half the wood below, "Crush'd by its weight, lies prostrate. All astound, "Of her depriv'd, and at their own sad loss, "The sister Dryads, clad in sable robes, "To Ceres hasten; and for vengeance call, "On Erisichthon. To their urgent prayers "The beauteous G.o.ddess gave a.s.sent, and shook "Her locks; the motion shook the yellow ears, "Which fill'd the loaded fields; and straight conceiv'd "A torture piteous, if for pity he "For acts like these might look:--to tear his form "By Famine's power pestiferous. There, herself "Approach forbidden (fate long since had doom'd "Ceres and Famine far remov'd should dwell) "A mountain-nymph she calls, and thus directs;-- "A region stretches on th' extremest bounds "Of icy Scythia; dreary seems the place; "Sterile the soil; nor trees, nor fruits are seen; "But sluggish cold, and pale affright, and fear: "Still-craving Famine, there her dwelling holds.

"Bid her within the inmost vitals hide "Of this most daring, and most impious wretch.

"The proudest plenty shall not make her yield: "For in the contest, all the power I boast "To her shall stoop: nor let the lengthen'd way "Appal thy mind; my car receive; receive "My dragons; through the air their course direct "By these long reins.--Speaking, the reins she gave.

"She, borne through ether in the granted car, "To Scythia's realm is carried: on the ridge "A rugged mountain offer'd, first she eas'd "The dragons' necks; as Caucasus 'twas known.

"There she the sought-for Famine soon espy'd, "Eagerly searching on the stony fields, "At once with teeth and fangs, for thin-sown herbs.

"Rough matted were her locks; deep sunk her eyes; "Pale bleach'd her face; her lips with whiten'd slime "O'erspread; with furry crust her mouth was rough: "Hard was her skin; and through it might be seen "Her inwards: 'bove her hollow loins, upstood "The arid bones: a belly's place supply'd "A belly's form: her b.r.e.a.s.t.s to hang appear'd "Held only by the chine: her fleshless shape "Each joint in bulk increas'd: rigidly large "The knees were swol'n, and each protruding part "Immod'rately was big. Then as the nymph "From far beheld her,--for a nigh approach "She dreaded, what the G.o.ddess bade she told.

"Though brief her stay; though distant far she stood; "Though instant there arriv'd; she felt the power "Of Famine at the sight, and turning quick "Her reins, she urg'd her dragons to their speed "In retrogade direction; still on high, "Till Thessaly they gain'd. Famine performs "The wish of Ceres (though her anxious aim "Is still to thwart her power) and borne on winds "Swift through the air, the fated house she finds "And instant enters, where the inmost walls "The sacrilegious wretch inclose; in sleep "Deep bury'd, for night reign'd; and with her wings "Him clasping close, in all the man she breath'd "Her inspiration: in his throat, his mouth, "His chest, and in his unreplenish'd veins, "Her hunger she infus'd. The bidden deed "Complete, she vanish'd from those verdant fields, "And turn'd her to the needy roofs again, "And well-accustom'd caverns. Gentle sleep "Fann'd Erisichthon still with soothing wings.

"Ev'n in his sleep imagin'd food he craves, "And vainly moves his mouth; tires jaw on jaw "With grinding; his deluded throat with stores "Impalpable he crams; the empty air "Greedy devouring, for more solid food.

"But soon his slumbers vanish'd, then fierce rag'd "Insatiate hunger; ruling through his throat, "And ever-craving stomach. Instant he "Demands what produce, ocean, earth, and air "Can furnish: still of hunger he complains, "Before the full-spread tables: still he seeks "Victuals to heap on victuals. What might serve "A city's population, seems for him "Too scant; whose stomach when it loads had gorg'd, "For loads still crav'd. The ocean thus receives "From all earth's regions every stream; all streams "United, still requiring; greedy fire "On every offer'd aliment thus feeds, "Countless supplies of wood consuming;--more "Nutrition craving, still the more it gains; "More greedy growing from its large increase.

"So Erisichthon's jaws prophane, rich feasts "At once devour, at once still more demand.

"All food but stimulates his gust for food "In added heaps; and eating only seems "To leave his maw more empty. Lessen'd now, "In the deep abyss of his stomach huge, "Were all the riches which his sire's bequest "Had given: the direful torment still remain'd "In undiminish'd strength; his belly's fire "Implacable still rag'd. Exhausted now "On the curst craving all his wealth was spent.