The Metamorphoses of Publius Ovidus Naso in English blank verse Part 2

"Now thinks the sylvan G.o.d his clasping arms "Inclose her, whilst he grasps but marshy reeds.-- "He mournful sighs; the light reeds catch his breath, "And soft reverberate the plaintive sound.

"The dulcet movement charms th' enraptur'd G.o.d, "Who,--thus forever shall we join,--exclaims!

"With wax combin'd th' unequal reeds he forms "A pipe, which still the virgin's name retains."

While thus the G.o.d, he every eye beheld Weigh'd heavy, sink in sleep, and stopp'd his tale.

His magic rod o'er every lid he draws, His sleep confirming, and with crooked blade Severs his nodding head, and down the mount The b.l.o.o.d.y ruin hurls,--the craggy rock With gore besmearing. Low, thou Argus liest!

Extinct thy hundred lights; one night obscure Eclipsing all. But Juno seiz'd the rays, And on the plumage of her favor'd bird, In gaudy pride, the starry gems she plac'd.

With furious ire she flam'd, and instant sent The dread Erinnys to the Argive maid.

Before her eyes, within her breast she dwelt A secret torment, and in terror drove Her exil'd through the world. 'Twas thou, O Nile!

Her tedious wandering ended. On thy banks Weary'd she kneel'd, and on her back, supine Her neck she lean'd:--her sad face to the skies, What could she more?--she lifted. Unto Jove By groans, and tears, and mournful lows she plain'd, And begg'd her woes might end. The mighty G.o.d Around his consort's neck embracing hung.

And pray'd her wrath might finish. "Fear no more "A rival love, in her," he said, "to see;"

And bade the Stygian streams his words record.

Appeas'd the G.o.ddess, Io straight resumes Her wonted shape, as lovely as before.

The rough hair flies; the crooked horns are shed; Her visual orbits narrow; and her mouth In size contracts; her arms and hands return; Parted in five small nails her hoofs are lost: Nought of the lovely heifer now remains, Save the bright splendor. On her feet erect With two now only furnish'd, stands the maid.

To speak she fears, lest bellowing sounds should break, And timid tries her long-forgotten words.

Of mighty fame a G.o.ddess now, she hears Of nations linen-clad the pious prayers.

Then bore she Epaphus, whose birth deriv'd From mighty Jove, his temples through the land, An equal wors.h.i.+p with his mother's claim.

Him Phaeton, bright Phbus' youthful son, In years and spirit equall'd,--whose proud boasts, To all his sire preferring, Io's son Thus check'd: "O simple! thee thy mother's arts "To ought persuade. A feigned sire thou boast'st."

Deep blush'd the youth, but shame his rage repress'd, And each reproach to Clymene he bore.

"This too," he says, "O mother, irks me more, "That I so bold, so fierce, urg'd no defence: "Which shame is greater? that they dare accuse, "Or that accus'd, we cannot prove them false?

"Do thou my mother,--if from heaven indeed "Descent I claim,--prove from what stock I spring.

"My race divine a.s.sert." He said,--and flung Around her neck his arms; and by his life, The life of Merops, and his sisters' hopes Of nuptial bliss, adjures her to obtain Proofs of his birth celestial. Prayers like these The mother doubtless mov'd;--and rage no less To hear the defamation. Up to heaven Her arms she raises, gazing on the sun, And cries,--"My child! by yon bright rays I swear "In brilliance glittering, which now hear and view, "Our every word and action--thou art sprung "From him, the sun thou see'st;--the sun who rules "With tempering sway the seasons:--If untrue "My words, let me his light no more behold!

"Nor long the toil to seek thy father's dome, "His palace whence he rises borders close "On our land's confines.--If thou dar'st the task, "Go forth, and from himself thy birth enquire."

Elate to hear her words, the youth departs Instant, and all the sky in mind he grasps.

Through aethiopia's regions swiftly went, With India plac'd beneath the burning zone: And quickly reach'd his own paternal east.

*The Second Book.*

Palace of the Sun. Phaeton's reception by his father. His request to drive the chariot. The Sun's useless arguments to dissuade him from the attempt. Description of the car. Cautions how to perform the journey. Terror of Phaeton, and his inability to rule the horses. Conflagration of the world. Pet.i.tion of Earth to Jupiter, and death of Phaeton by thunder. Grief of Clymene, and of his sisters. Change of the latter to poplars, and their tears to amber. Transformation of Cycnus to a swan. Mourning of Phbus.

Jupiter's descent to earth; and amour with Calistho. Birth of Arcas, and transformation of Calistho to a bear; and afterwards with Arcas to a constellation. Story of Coronis. Tale of the daw to the raven. Change of the raven's color. Esculapius. Ocyrrhoe's prophecies, and transformation to a mare. Apollo's herds stolen by Mercury. Battus' double-dealing, and change to a touchstone.

Mercury's love for Herse. Envy. Aglauros changed to a statue.

Rape of Europa.

THE *Second Book* OF THE METAMORPHOSES OF OVID.

By towering columns bright with burnish'd gold, And fiery gems, which blaz'd their light around, Upborne, the palace stood. The lofty roof With ivory smooth incas'd. The folding doors, Of silver shone, but much by sculpture grac'd, For Vulcan there with curious hand had carv'd The ocean girding in the land; the land; And heaven o'ershadowing: here cerulean G.o.ds Sport in the waves, grim Triton with his sh.e.l.l; Proteus shape-changing; and aegeon huge,-- His mighty arms upon the large broad backs Of whales hard pressing: Doris and her nymphs: Some sportive swimming; on a rocky seat Some their green tresses drying; others borne By fish swift-gliding: nor the same all seem'd, Yet sister-like a close resembling look Each face pervaded. Earth her natives bore, Mankind;--and woods, and cities, there were seen; Wild beasts, and streams, and nymphs, and rural G.o.ds.

'Bove all the bright display of heaven was hung-- Six signs celestial o'er each portal grav'd.

The daring youth, the steep ascent attain'd, O'erstepp'd the threshold of his dubious sire, And hasty rush'd to meet paternal eyes; But sudden stay'd: so fierce a blaze of light No nearer he sustain'd. In purple clad, The G.o.d a regal emerald throne upheld; Encircled round by hours which s.p.a.ce the day; By days themselves; and ages, months, and years.

Crown'd with a flowery garland Spring appear'd: Chaplets of grain the swarthy brows adorn'd Of naked Summer: smear'd with trodden grapes Stood Autumn: icy Winter fill'd the groupe;-- Snow-white his s.h.a.ggy locks. Sol from the midst His eyes all-seeing glanc'd upon the youth, Startled and trembling at the wonderous sight; And cried:--"What brings my Phaeton, my son, "Whose sire shall ne'er disclaim him? tell me now, "What here thou seekest?" Thus the youth replies:-- "O father, Phbus, universal light!

"If justly, I thy honor'd name may use, "Nor proudly boasting Clymene conceals "A crime by falshood; grant paternal signs, "The world convincing that from thee I spring; "Reproachful doubts erasing from my mind."

He said;--the sire the glittering rays removes That blaz'd around his head,--invites him nigh, And thus embracing:--"Proud I own thee, son, "For all is true by Clymene disclos'd.

"If still thou doubtest, name the gift thou lik'st,-- "That shalt thou have; for that will I bestow.

"Ye streams unseen, which hear celestial oaths "My vows attest!" But scarce had Phbus spoke, When Phaeton, the fiery car demands,-- Demands his sway the winged-footed steeds One day should suffer. Soon the solemn oath Phbus lamented: three times mournful shook His glorious tresses and in sorrow cry'd-- "Would I could yet deny thee!--O my son!

"All else with gladness will I hear thee ask;-- "List to persuasion,--perseverance sure "Will risk thy ruin. Phaeton, my child!

"The task thou seek'st is arduous; far unfit "For those weak arms, and age so immature.

"Mortal,--thou would'st a seat immortal press.

"Ignorant of grasping more than all the G.o.ds "Attempt to manage. Every power we grant "Diverse excels; but I of all the G.o.ds, "Have force in that igniferous car to stand.

"Ev'n Jove, the ruler of Olympus vast, "Whose right hand terrible fierce lightenings hurls, "This chariot never rul'd: and who than Jove, "More mighty deem we? Steep the first ascent, "The fresh steeds clamber up the height with pain: "High in mid heaven arriv'd, to view beneath "Ocean and earth, oft strikes even me with fear, "And with dread palpitation shakes my breast.

"Prerupt the end, and asks a firm restraint; "Tethys herself who nightly me receives, "Beneath the waves, fears oft my headlong fall.

"Nor all;--the skies a constant whirling bears "In rapid motion, and the heavenly orbs "Sweep with them swift; I strive the adverse my; "Nor can th' impetuous force which whirls the rest "Bear with them me; I stem the rapid world "With force superior. Grant, the car I yield,-- "Could'st thou the swift rotation of the poles "Stem nervous, nor be borne with them along?

"Perchance imagination fills thy mind, "With groves, and dwellings of celestial G.o.ds, "And temples richly deck'd with offer'd gold, "Where thou shall pa.s.s. Far else;--thy journey lies, "Through ambushes, and savage monsters' forms.

"Ev'n shouldst thou lucky not erratic stray, "Yet must thou pa.s.s the Bull's opposing horns; "The bow Haemonian, by the Centaur bent; "The Lion's countenance grim; the Scorpion's claws "Bent cruel in a circuit large; the Crab "In lesser compa.s.s curving. Hard the task "To rule the steeds with those fierce fires inflam'd, "Within their b.r.e.a.s.t.s, which through their nostrils glow.

"Scarce bear they my control, when mad with heat "Their high necks spurn the rein. But, oh! my son, "Beware lest I a fatal gift bestow.

"Retract, while yet thou may'st, thy rash demand.

"Sure tokens thou requir'st to prove thee sprung "From me,--the genuine offspring of my blood: "My anxious trembling is a token true; "Paternal terrors plainly prove the sire.

"Lo! on my features fix thine eyes; as well, "I would thou could'st them place within my breast, "And view the anguish of a father's cares.

"Last throw thy looks around; the riches view, "Whatever earth contains, and some demand; "Some of so many and such mighty gifts: "In heaven, or earth, or sea, 'tis undeny'd.

"This only would I grant not, as its grant "Is punishment, not favor. Phaeton "Asks evil for a gift. Why, foolish boy, "Hang on my neck thus coaxing with thine arms?

"Whate'er thou would'st, thou shalt. The Stygian streams "Have heard me swear. But make a wiser wish."

His admonition ceas'd, but all advice Was bootless: still his resolution holds; To guide the chariot still his bosom burns.

The sire, his every effort vain, at length Forth to the lofty car, Vulcanian gift, Brings the rash youth. Of gold the axle shone; The pole of gold; by gold the rolling wheels Were circled; every spoke with silver bright; Upon the seat bright chrysolites display'd, With various jewels shed a dazzling light, From Sol reflected. All the high-soul'd youth Admir'd, and while he curious view'd each part, Behold Aurora from the purple east Wide throws the ruddy portals, and displays The halls with roses strewn: the starry host Fly, driven by Lucifer,--himself the last To quit his heavenly station. Sol beheld The earth and sky grow red, and Luna's horns Blunt, and prepar'd to vanish. Straight he bade The flying hours to yoke the steeds: his words The nimble G.o.ddesses obey, and lead The steeds fire-breathing from their lofty stalls, Ambrosia fed, and fix the sounding reins.

Then with a sacred ointment Phbus smear'd The face of Phaeton,--unscorch'd to bear The fervid blaze; and on his head a crown Of rays he fix'd. His smother'd sighs within His anxious breast, sad presages of woe Suppressing, thus he spoke:--"If now my words "Though late, thou heedest, spare, O boy! the lash, "But tightly grasp the reins: unbid they run, "They fly; to check their flight thy labor asks.

"Not through the five bright zones thy journey lies: "Obliquely winds the path, with s.p.a.cious curve, "Three girdles only touching; leaving far "The pole Antarctic, and the northern Bear: "Be this thy track; there plain thou may'st discern "The marks my wheels have made. Since heaven and earth "An equal portion of my influence claim; "Press not the car too low, nor mount aloft "Near topmost heaven: there would'st thou fire the roof "Celestial;--here the earth thou would'st consume.

"For safety keep the midst. Let thy right wheel "Approach the tortuous Snake not: nor thy left "Press near the Altar:--hold the midmost course.

"Fortune the rest must rule; may she a.s.sist "Thy undertaking; for thy safety act "Better than thou. But more delay deny'd, "Lo! whilst I speak the dewy night has touch'd "The boundaries plac'd upon th' Hesperian sh.o.r.e.

"I'm call'd,--for, darkness fled, Aurora s.h.i.+nes.

"Seize then, the reins, or if thy mind relents, "My counsel rather than my chariot take.

"Now whilst thou can'st; whilst on a solid base "Thou standest, ere thou yet unskilful mount'st "The chariot ev'lly wish'd: give me to dart "Those rays on earth which thou may'st safely view:"

Agile the youth bounds from his sire, and stands Proud in the chariot; joyously he holds Th' entrusted reigns, and from the seat glad thanks Th' unwilling parent gives. Meantime neigh'd loud In curling flames, the winged steeds of Sol, Pyroeis, aethon, Phlegon, Eous swift; And with impatient hoofs the barrier beat; Which Tethys, ignorant of her grandson's fate, Drove back, and open laid the range of heaven.

Swiftly they hasten,--swiftly fly their heels, Through the thin air, and through opposing clouds.

Pois'd by their wings the eastern gales they pa.s.s, Which started with them: but their burthen light, Small felt the pressure on the chariot seat: Not what the steeds of Sol had felt before.

As s.h.i.+ps unpois'd reel tottering through the waves, Light and unsteady, rambling o'er the main; So bounds the car, void of its 'custom'd weight, High-toss'd as though unfill'd. This quick perceiv'd, Fierce rush the four-yok'd steeds, and quit the path Beaten before, and tread a road unknown.

Trembling the youth nor knows to pull the reins Which side, nor knowing would the steeds obey.

Then first the frozen Triones from Sol Felt warm, and try'd, but try'd in vain, to dip Beneath the sea. The frozen polar snake, Sluggish with cold, and indolently mild, Warm'd, and dire fierceness gather'd from the flames.

Thou too, Bootes, fled'st away disturb'd, Though slow thy flight, r.e.t.a.r.ded by thy teams.

And now the luckless Phaeton his eyes Cast on the earth remote,--far distant spread Beneath the lofty sky; pale grew his face With sudden terror; trembled his weak knees; O'ercome with light his eyes in darkness sunk: Glad were he now, his father's steeds untouch'd: Griev'd that his race he knows; griev'd his request Was undeny'd: glad were he now if call'd The son of Merops. Ev'n as Boreas sweeps Furious the vessel, when the pilot leaves The helm to heaven, and puts his trust in prayers So was he hurry'd. What remains to do?

Vast s.p.a.ce of heaven behind him lies;--much more He forward views. Each distance in his mind Compar'd he measures. Now he forward bends To view the west, forbidden him to reach; Now to the east he backward turns his eyes.

With terror stunn'd his trembling hands refuse To hold the reins with vigor; yet he holds.

The coursers' names, affrighted he forgets: Trembling he views the various monsters spread Through every part above; and figures huge Of beasts ferocious. Heaven a spot contains, Where Scorpio bends in two wide bows his arms, His tail, and doubly-stretching claws;--the s.p.a.ce Encompa.s.sing of two celestial signs.

Soon as the youth the monstrous beast beheld, Black poison sweating, and with crooked sting Threatening fierce wounds, he nerveless dropp'd the reins: Pale dread o'ercame him. Quick the steeds perceiv'd The loose thongs playing on their backs, and rush'd Wide from the path, uncheck'd;--through regions strange, Now here, now there, impetuous;--unrestrain'd, Amidst the loftiest stars they dash, and drag The car through pathless places: upward now They labor;--headlong now they down descend, Nearing the earth. With wonder Luna sees Her brother's coursers run beneath her own; And sees the burnt clouds smoking. Lofty points Of earth, feel first the flames, and fissures wide, Departing moisture prove. The forage green, Whitens; trees crackle with their burning leaves; And ripe corn adds its fuel to the blaze.

Why mourn we trifles? Mighty cities fall; Their walls protect them not; their dwellers sink To ashes with them. Woods on mountains flame;-- Athos, Cilician Taurus, Tmolus, burn; Oete, and Ide, her pleasant fountains dry; With virgin Helicon, and Haemus high, agrius since. Now with redoubled flames Fierce Etna blazes;--Eryx, Othrys too; Cynthus, and fam'd Parna.s.sus' double top, And Rhodope, at length of snow depriv'd: Dindyma, Mimas, and the sacred hill Cythaeron nam'd, and lofty Mycale: Nor aid their snows the Scythians: Ossa burns, Pindus, and Caucasus, and, loftier still, The huge Olympus; with the towering Alps; And cloud-capt Apennines. Now the youth, Beholds earth flaming fierce from every part;-- The heat o'erpowers him; fiery air he breathes As from a furnace; and the car he rides Glows with the flame beneath him: sore annoy'd On every side by cinders, and by smoke Hot curling round him. Whither now he drives, Or where he is, he knows not; in a cloud Of pitchy night involv'd; swept as the steeds Swift-flying will. The aethiopians then, 'Tis said, their sable tincture first receiv'd; Their purple blood the glowing heat call'd forth To tinge their skins. Then dry'd the scorching fire From arid Lybia all her fertile streams.

Now with dishevell'd locks the nymphs bewail'd Their fountains and their lakes. Botia mourns The loss of Dirce: Argos Amymone: Corinth laments Pirene. Nor yet safe Were rivers bounded by far distant sh.o.r.es, Tanais' midmost waves fume to the sky; And ancient Peneus smokes: Ismenos swift; Cacus, Teuthrantean; and the flood Of Phocis, Erymanthus: Xanthus too, Doom'd to be fir'd again: Lycormas brown; Maeander's sportive oft recircling waves; Mygdonian Melas; and the Spartan flood, Eurotas; with Euphrates burn: and burn, Orontes; and the rapid Thermodoon; Ganges; and Phasis; and the Ister swift.

Alpheus boils; the banks of Spercheus burn; And Tagus' golden sands the flames dissolve.

Stream-loving swans, whose song melodious rung Throughout Maeonian regions, feel the heat, Caster's streams amid. In terror Nile Fled to the farthest earth, and sunk his head, Yet undiscover'd!--void the seven-fold stream, His mouth seven dry and dusty vales disclos'd.

Now Hebrus dries, and Strymon, Thracian floods: And streams Hesperian, Rhine; and Rhone; and Po; And Tiber, destin'd all the world to rule.

Asunder split the globe, and through the c.h.i.n.ks Darted the light to h.e.l.l: the novel blaze, Pluto and Proserpine with terror view'd.

The ocean shrinks;--a dry and scorching plain Where late was sea appears. Hills lift their heads Late by the deep waves hid, and countless seem The scatter'd Cyclades. Deep crouch the fish;-- The crooked dolphins dare not leap aloft, As, custom'd in the air; with b.r.e.a.s.t.s upturn'd The gasping sea-calves float upon the waves: Nereus, with Doris and her daughter-nymphs Deep plung'd to seek their low, but tepid caves.

Thrice Neptune ventur'd to upraise his arms Grim frowning,--thrice the flames too fierce he found, And shrunk beneath the waters. Earth at length, (By streams and founts encircled,--for her womb Trembling they sought for refuge) rais'd on high Her face omniferous, dry and parch'd with heat; Her burning forehead shaded with her hand; Shook all with tremor huge; then shrank for shade Beneath, and gasping, thus to heaven she plain'd:

"Almighty lord! if such thy sovereign will, "And I deserve it, why thy lightenings hold "Thus idle? If by fire to perish doom'd,-- "Be it by thine,--an honorable fate!