The Metamorphoses of Publius Ovidus Naso in English blank verse Part 19

To her the G.o.ddess thus, as rais'd from sleep She seem'd, and manifest each object stood:-- "O vot'ry, Telethusa! fling aside "Thy weighty cares; thy husband's mandates cheat; "Nor waver, when Lucina helps thy pains: "Save it whate'er it be. A G.o.ddess I, "a.s.sisting, still give aid when rightly claim'd: "Nor will it e'er thee grieve to have ador'd "An ingrate G.o.ddess."--Thus as she advis'd, She vanish'd from the bed. The Cretan dame Rose from the couch o'erjoy'd; and raising high To heaven her guiltless hands, pray'd that her dream On truth was founded. Now her pains increas'd; And now her burthen forc'd itself to air: A daughter came, but to the sire unknown.

The mother bade them rear it as a boy, And all a boy believ'd it; none the truth, The nurse excepted, knew. Glad prayers the sire Offers, and from its grandsire is it nam'd: (Iphis, the grandsire's appellation.) Joy'd The mother hears the name, which either s.e.x May claim; and none, in that at least, deceiv'd; The lie lay hid beneath a pious fraud.

The robes were masculine, the face was such As beauteous boy, or beauteous girl might own.

And now three annual suns the tenth had pa.s.s'd, Thy father, Iphis, had to thee betroth'd Ianthe, yellow-hair'd; nymph most admir'd 'Mongst all the Phestians, for her beauteous charms: Telestes of Dictaea was her sire.

Equal in age, and equal in fair form; The self-same masters taught the early arts, Suiting their years. Their unsuspecting minds Were both by love thus touch'd, in both was fix'd An equal wound: but far unlike their hopes.

Ianthe, for a spouse impatient looks, With nuptial torches. Whom a man she thinks, That spouse she hopes will be. Iphis too loves, Despairing what she loves e'er to enjoy: This still the more her love augments, and burns A virgin for a virgin. Scarce from tears Refraining;--"What,"--she cries,--"for me remains?

"What will the issue be? What cure for this "New love, unknown to all, who prodigies "Possess in this desire? If the high G.o.ds "Me wish to spare, straight should they me destroy.

"Yet would they me destroy, they should have given "A curse more natural; a more usual fate.

"Love for an heifer ne'er an heifer moves; "Nor burns the mare for mares: rams follow ewes; "The stag pursues his female; birds thus join: "Nor animal creation female shews "With love of female seiz'd. Would none were I!

"But lest all monstrous loves Crete might not shew; "Sol's daughter chose a bull; even that was male "With female. Yet, if candidly I speak, "My pa.s.sion wilder far than hers appears.

"She hop'd-for love pursu'd; by fraud enjoy'd; "Beneath an heifer's form, th' adulterous spark "Deceiving. Be from every part of earth "a.s.sembled here the skill: let Daedalus "Hither, on waxen wings rebend his flight, "What could all aid? Could all their learned art "Change me from maid to youth? or alter thee "Ianthe? But why resolute, thy mind "Not fix? Why Iphis thus thyself forget, "These stupid wishes driving hence, and thoughts "So unavailing? Lo! what thou wast born, "(Save thou would'st also thine own breast deceive) "What is allow'd behold, and as a maid "May love, love only. Hope, first s.n.a.t.c.h'd by love, "Love feeds on still. From thee all hope is borne.

"No guardians thee debar the dear embrace; "Nor watchful husband's care; no sire severe; "Nor she herself denies thy pressing prayers, "Yet art thou still forbid, though all agree; "To reap the bliss, though G.o.ds and men unite.

"Behold, too, all my votive prayers succeed: "The favoring G.o.ds whate'er I pray'd have given.

"My sire and hers, and even herself comply, "But nature far more strong denies, alone "Me irking with refusal. Lo! arrives "The wish'd-for hour; the matrimonial light "Approaches; when Ianthe will be mine; "And yet far from me. In the midst of waves "For thirst I perish. Nuptial Juno, why "Com'st thou, or Hymen to these rites; where none "Leads to the altar, but where both are led?"--

Here staid her speech; nor less the other nymph Burn'd; and O, Hymen, pray'd thy quick approach.

But what she wishes Telethusa dreads, And searches for delays; feign'd sickness oft Prolongs the time; oft omens dire, and dreams.

Now all her artful fictions are consum'd; And now the long protracted period came, For nuptial rites; and, but one day remain'd.

She from her own and daughter's head unbinds The fillets; and with locks dishevell'd, clasps The altar, crying;--"Isis, thou who dwell'st "In Paraetonium; Mareotis' fields; "In Pharos; and the sev'nfold mouths of Nile.

"Help me I pray! relieve my trembling dread.

"Thee, G.o.ddess, once I saw; and with thee all "Those images beheld; them all I know: "Thy train, thy torches, and thy timbrels loud.

"And with a mindful soul thy words I mark'd.

"That she enjoys the light, that I myself, "Not sinful suffer, to thy counsels, we, "And admonitions owe. Pity us both; "Grant us thy helping aid."--Tears follow'd words.

Straight seem'd the G.o.ddess' altars all to shake; (And shake they did) trembled the temple's doors; The lunar horns blaz'd bright; the timbrels rung.

Forth goes the mother, of the omen glad, Yet not in faith secure. Iphis pursues His mother with a step more large than wont: The snow-like whiteness quits his face; his strength Increases; fiercer frowns his forehead wears: Shorten'd his uncomb'd locks: more vigor now Than as a nymph he felt. For thou, a boy Now art--so late a female! Bear thy gifts Straight to the temple; and in faith rejoice.

Straight to the temple they their offerings bore, And on them this short poem was inscrib'd.-- "Iphis a boy, the offerings pays, which maid, "Iphis had vow'd."--The following sun illum'd The wide world with his rays; when Venus came, Juno, and Hymen, to the genial fires; And the boy Iphis his Ianthe clasp'd.

*The Tenth Book.*

Marriage of Orpheus and Eurydice. Her death. Descent of Orpheus to h.e.l.l, to recover her. Her second loss. His mournful music on mount Haemus draws the trees, birds, and beasts around him. Change of Cyparissus to a cypress-tree. Song of Orpheus. Ganymede.

Hyacinth changed to a flower. The Amanthians to oxen. The Propaetides to flints. Pygmalion's statue to a woman. Myrrha's incestuous love, and transformation to a tree. Venus' love for Adonis. Story of Atalanta and Hippomenes. Adonis changed to an anemone.

THE *Tenth Book* OF THE METAMORPHOSES OF OVID.

Thence Hymen, in his saffron vesture clad, Through the vast air departs; and seeks the land Ciconian; by the voice of Orpheus call'd Vainly. He came indeed, but with him brought No wonted gratulations, no glad face, Nor happy omen. And the torch he bore Crackled in hissing smoke; nor gather'd flame From whirling motion. Still more dire th' event Prov'd, than the presage. As the new-made bride, Attended by a train of Naad nymphs, Rov'd through the gra.s.s, a serpent's fangs her heel Pierc'd, and she instant dy'd. Her, when long-mourn'd In upper air, the Rhodopean bard Ventur'd to seek in shades, and dar'd descend Through the Taenarian cave to Stygia's realms.

'Mid shadowy crowds, and bury'd ghosts he goes, To Proserpine, and him who rules the shades With sway ungrateful. There he strikes the strings Responsive to his words, and this his song.-- "G.o.ds of this subterraneous world, where all "Of mortal origin must come, permit "That I the truth declare; no tedious tales "Of falshood will I tell. Here came I not "Your dusky h.e.l.l to view: nor to o'ercome "The triple-throated Medusaean beast "Snake-hair'd;--my wife alone my journey caus'd, "Whose heel a trampled serpent venom'd stung: "s.n.a.t.c.h'd in her bloom of years. Much did I wish, "My loss to bear; nor ought forbore to strive; "But love o'ercame. Well do the upper G.o.ds "That deity confess. In doubt I stand "If here too he is known; but here I judge "His power is felt: the ancient rape, if true, "Proves love ev'n you first join'd. You I implore, "By all those regions fill'd with dread; by this "Chaos immense; your ample realm, all fill'd "With silence; once again the thread renew "Eurydice too hasty lost. To you "We all belong; a little while we stay, "Then soon or late to one repose we haste: "All hither tend; this is our final home.

"You hold o'er human kind a lengthen'd reign.

"She too, when once her years mature are fill'd, "To you again, must by just right belong.

"I then request her only as a loan: "But should the fates this favor me refuse, "Certain I'll ne'er return. Two deaths enjoy."-- The bloodless shadows wept as thus he sung, And struck the strings in concord with his words.

Nor Tantalus at flying waters caught; Nor roll'd Ixion's wheel: the liver gnaw'd The birds not: rested on their empty urns The Belides: and Sisyphus, thou sat'st Upon thy stone. Nay fame declares, then first, Vanquish'd by song, the furies felt their cheeks Wetted with tears. Nor could the royal spouse, Nor he who rules deep darkness, him withstand Thus praying; and Eurydice is call'd.

Amid the recent dead she walk'd, and still Halted with tardy steps from her late wound.

Her, when the bard of Thrace receiv'd, this law Receiv'd he also: that his eyes reverse He should not bend, till past Avernus' realms; Else he'd the granted favor useless find.

In silence mute, through the steep path they climb Dark, difficult, and thick with pitchy mist; Nor far earth's surface wanted they to gain: The lover here, in dread lest she should stray, And anxious to behold, bent back his sight, And instant back she sunk. As forth his arms He stretch'd, to clasp expecting, and be clasp'd: Unhappy! nought but fleeting air he held.

Twice dying, she can nought her spouse condemn; For how blame him because too much he lov'd?

She gives her last farewel; which scarce his ears Receive, then sinks again to shades below.

Orpheus, thus doubly of his spouse despoil'd, All stunn'd appear'd: not less than he who saw In wild affright the triple-headed dog, Chain'd by the midmost: fear him never fled, Till fled his former nature: sudden stone On all his body seizing. Or than he, Olenus, when the crime upon himself He took, and guilty wish'd to seem; with thee Hapless Lethaea, confident in charms.

Once breast to breast you join'd, now join as stones, Which watery Ida bears. Beseeching vain, And wis.h.i.+ng once again the stream to pa.s.s, The ferryman denies. Then on the bank In squalid guise he sate, nor tasted food For seven long days; his cares, and grieving soul, And tears were all the sustenance he knew.

Cruel he call'd the G.o.ds of Erebus, And to high Rhodope himself betook, And lofty Haemus by the north-wind beat.

Thrice had the sun the year completed, each By watery Pisces ended. Orpheus still Fled every female's love: or his deep woe Made him so cold; or faithful promise giv'n.

Yet crowds there were, who wish'd the bard's embrace: And crowds with sorrow saw their love repuls'd.

A hill there rose, and on its summit spread A wide extended plain, with herbage green: Shade to the place was wanting; hither came The heaven-born poet; seated him, and touch'd His sounding strings, and straight a shade approach'd.

Nor wanted there Chaonian trees; nor groves Of poplars; nor the acorn's s.p.a.cious leaves: The linden soft, the beech, the virgin bay, The brittle hazle, and spear-forming ash; The knotless fir; ilex with fruit low-bow'd; The genial plane; the maple various stain'd; Stream-loving willow; and the watery lote; Box of perpetual green; slight tamarisk; Two-teinted myrtle; and the laurustine With purple berries. Thou too, ivy, cam'st Hither with flexile feet: together flock'd Grape-bearing vines; and elms with vines entwin'd: Wild ash, and pitch tree; and arbutus, bent With loads of ruddy fruit; the pliant palm, Meed of the conqueror; the pine close bound About its boughs, but at its summit s.h.a.gg'd: Dear to the mother of celestial powers, Since Atys Cybelean was transform'd, And in the trunk a rigid tree became.

In form pyramidal, amid the crowd, The cypress came; now tree, but once a boy; Dear to the G.o.d who rules the lyre's fine chords, And rules the bowstring. Once was known a stag Sacred to nymphs that own Carthaea's fields, Who bore upon his head a lofty shade From his wide-spreading horns; his horns bright shone With gold; his collar, with bright gems bedeck'd, Fell o'er his shoulders from his round neck hung; A silver boss, by slender reins control'd Mov'd o'er his brow; a brazen pair the same, Shone o'er his temples hanging from his ears: Devoid of fear, his nature's timid dread Relinquish'd, oft the houses would he seek; And oft would gently fondling stoop his neck, Heedless who strok'd him. Cyparissus, thou Beyond all others priz'd the sacred beast: Thou, fairest far amongst the Caean youths.

Thou to fresh pastures led'st the stag; to streams Of cooling fountains: oft his horns entwin'd With variegated garlands. Horseman-like Now on his back thou pressest; and now here, Now there, thou rul'st his soft jaws with the reins Of purple tinge. 'Twas once in mid-day heat, When burnt the bent claws of the sea-sh.o.r.e crab, In Sol's fierce vapor; on the gra.s.sy earth The weary stag repos'd his limbs, and drew Cool breezes from the trees umbrageous shades.

Here the boy Cyparissus careless flung His painted dart, and fix'd it in his side.

Who, when he from the cruel wound beheld Him dying, instant bent his mind to die.

What consolation did not Phbus speak?

Urging the loss far slighter grief deserv'd: Yet mourn'd he still, and from the G.o.ds supreme Begg'd this last gift, to latest times to mourn.

His blood in constant tears exhausted, now His limbs a green hue take; his locks which late Hung o'er his snowy forehead, rough become In frightful bus.h.i.+ness; and hardening quick, Shoot up to heaven in form a slender spire.

The mourning G.o.d, in grief exclaim'd--"By me "Bemoan'd, thou shalt with others always grieve; "And henceforth mourners shalt thou still attend."-- Thus did the bard a wood collect around; And in the midst he sate of thronging beasts, And crowding birds. The chords he amply try'd With his impulsive thumb, and vary'd much In sound, he found their notes concordant still; Then to this song rais'd his melodious voice.--

"O parent muse! from Jove derive my song: "All yield to Jove's dominion. Oft my verse "Before the mightiness of Jove has sung.

"I sung the giants, in a strain sublime, "And vengeful thunders, o'er Phlegraea's plain "Scatter'd; a tender theme now claims my lyre: "I sing of youths by deities belov'd; "And nymphs who with forbidden wishes burn'd, "And met the doom their sensual l.u.s.ts deserv'd.

"The king of G.o.ds made Phrygian Ganymede "His favorite, but some other form possess'd.

"Jove must in shape be something else than Jove.

"He deems no form becomes him, save the bird "That bears his thunder. Instant all is done; "The Phrygian borne away: the air he beats "With his feign'd wing. And now this youth the cup "Of nectar hands, in Juno's spite, to Jove.

"Son of Amycla, thee had Phbus plac'd "Also the skies amidst, had fate allow'd "For such position place; yet still thou hold'st "Eternal, what fate grants: oft as the spring "Winter repulses, and the ram succeeds "The watery fishes, thou spring'st forth in flower "'Mid the green sward. Beyond all else my sire "Thee lov'd, and Delphos, plac'd in midmost earth, "Wanted its ruling power, whilst now the G.o.d "Eurotas lov'd, and Sparta un-intrench'd.

"Nor lyre, nor darts attention claim'd as wont; "Of dignity unmindful, he not spurns "To bear the nets; to curb the hounds; to climb "With the full train the steepest mountain's ridge: "And every toil augments his pleasure more.

"Now had the sun the midmost point near gain'd "'Twixt flying night, and night approaching, each "Distant in equal s.p.a.ce; when from their limbs "They flung their robes; with the fat olive's juice "Their bodies shone; they enter'd in the lists "Of the broad disk, which Phbus first well pois'd, "Then flung through lofty air; opposing clouds "Flying it cleft; at length on solid earth "It pitch'd, displaying skill with strength combin'd.

"Instant the rash Taenarian boy, impell'd "By love of sport, sprung on to s.n.a.t.c.h the orb, "But the hard ground repulsive in thy face, "O, Hyacinth! it flung. Pale as the boy "The G.o.d appear'd: he rais'd his fainting limbs, "And in his arms now cherishes, now wipes "The fatal wound, now stays his fleeting breath, "With herbs apply'd; but all his arts are vain; "Incurable the hurt. Just so, when broke, "The violet, poppy, or the lily hang, "Whose dark stems in a water'd garden spring; "Flaccid they instant droop; the weighty head "No longer upright rais'd, but bent to earth.

"So bent his dying face; his neck, bereft "Of vigor, heavy on his shoulder laid.

"Phbus exclaim'd;--Fall'st thou, balian youth, "Depriv'd of life in prime? and must I see "Thy death my fault? thou art my grief, my crime; "My hand the charge of thy destruction bears: "I am the cause of thy untimely fate!

"But what my crime? unless with him to sport; "Unless a fault it were too much to love.

"Would I could life for thee, or with thee quit; "But fatal laws restrain me: yet shalt thou "Be with me still; dwell ever on my lips; "My hand shall sound thee on the lyre I touch; "My songs of thee shall tell: a new-found flower "Shall bear the letters which my griefs resound: "And time shall come, when a most valiant chief "Shall join him to thy flower; in the same leaf "His name too shall be read.--As words like these "The truth-predicting lips of Phbus spoke, "Behold! the blood which flow'd along the ground, "And all the herbage ting'd, is blood no more; "But springs a flower than Tyrian red more bright, "A form a.s.suming such as lilies wear: "Like it, save purple this, that silvery white.

"Nor yet content was Phbus; for from him "The honor was deriv'd. Upon its leaves "He trac'd his groans: _ai, ai_, on every flower "In mournful characters is fair inscrib'd.

"Nor blush the Spartans, Hyacinth to own: "His honors still the present age attend; "And annual are the Hyacinthian feasts, "In pomp surpa.s.sing aught of ancient days.

"Should you by chance of Amathus enquire, "If williang the Proptides it bore, "Denying nods would equally disclaim "Them, and the race whose foreheads once were rough "With double horns; Cerastae, hence their name.

"Jove's hospitable altar at their gates "Of mournful wickedness was rear'd: who saw "This stain'd with gore, if stranger, might conceive "That sucking calves, or two-year's sheep there bled.

"There bled the guest! Mild Venus griev'd "At these most impious rites, at first prepar'd "To quit her cities, and her Cyprian fields:-- "But how,--she said,--can my beloved clime?

"How can my towns have given offence? what fault "Abides in them? Rather the impious race, "Shall vengeance feel in exile, or in death; "Save death and exile medium may allow: "How may that be, unless their shape is chang'd?-- "Then while she doubts what shape they shall a.s.sume, "Their horns attract her eyes; struck by the hint, "Their mighty horns she leaves them, and transforms "To savage oxen all their l.u.s.ty limbs.

"Still dar'd th' obscene Proptides deny "Venus a G.o.ddess' power; for which, fame says "They first, so forc'd the deity's revenge, "Their bodies prost.i.tuted, and their charms.

"As shame them left, the blood which ting'd their cheeks "Harden'd, and soon they rigid stone became.

"These saw Pygmalion, and the age beheld "With crimes o'er-run; the shameful vice abhorr'd "Which lavish nature gave their female souls.