The Metamorphoses of Publius Ovidus Naso in English blank verse Part 7

"High spouts the sanguine flood! thus forth a pipe, "(The lead decay'd, or damag'd) sends a stream "Contracted from the breach; upspringing high, "And loudly hissing, as the air it breaks "With jets repeated. Sprinkled with the blood, "The tree's white fruit a purple tinge receiv'd; "Deep soak'd with blood the roots convey the stain "Inly, and tinge each bough with Tyrian dye.

"Now Thisbe comes, with terror trembling still, "Fearful, she Pyramus expecting waits: "Him seek her beating bosom, and her eyes; "Anxious the peril she escap'd to tell.

"Well mark'd her eyes the place,--and well the tree; "The berries chang'd in color, long she doubts "The same or no. While hesitating thus, "The panting members quivering she beholds, "Upon the sanguin'd turf; and back recoils!

"Paler than box her features grow; her limbs "More tremble than when ocean fretful sounds, "Its surface briskly by the breezes swept.

"Nor long the pause, her lover soon is known; "And now her harmless breast with furious blows "She punishes; her tresses wild she rends; "Clasps the lov'd body; and the gaping wound "Fills with her tears,--their droppings with the blood "Immingling. On his clay-cold face she press'd "Her kisses, crying;--Pyramus! what chance "Has torn thee from me thus? My Pyramus!

"Answer me,--'tis thy dearest Thisbe speaks!

"She calls thee,--hear me,--raise that dying face!

"At Thisbe's name, his lids, with death hard weigh'd, "He rais'd--beheld her,--and forever clos'd.

"Him dying thus,--her lacerated veil; "The ivory scabbard empty'd of its sword; "She saw,--at once the truth upon her mind "Flash'd quick. Alas! thy hand, by love impell'd, "Has wrought thy ruin: but to me the hand, "In this, at least, shall equal force display, "For equal was my love; and love will grant "Sufficient strength the deadly wound to give.

"In death I'll follow thee; with justice call'd "Thy ruin's wretched cause,--but comrade too.

"Thou whom, but death seem'd capable to part "From me, shalt find ev'n death too weak will prove.

"Ye wretched mourning parents, his and mine!

"The dying prayers respect of him,--of me: "Grant that, entomb'd together, both may rest; "A pair by faithful love conjoined,--by death "United close. And thou fair tree which shad'st "Of one the miserable corse; and two "Soon with thy boughs wilt cover,--bear the mark "Of the sad deed eternal;--ting'd thy fruit "With mournful coloring: monumental type "Of double slaughter. Speaking thus, she plac'd "The steely point, while yet with blood it smok'd, "Beneath her swelling breast; and forward fell.

"Her final prayer reach'd heaven; her parents reach'd: "Purple the berries blush, when ripen'd full; "And in one urn the lovers' ashes rest."

She ceas'd: a silent interval, but short, Ensu'd; and next Leuconoe thus address'd Her listening sisters:--"Ev'n the sun himself, "Whose heavenly light so universal s.h.i.+nes, "To love is subject: his amours I tell.

"This deity's keen sight the first espy'd-- "(For all things penetrating first he sees) "The crime of Mars and Venus; sore chagrin'd, "To Vulcan he th' adulterous theft display'd, "And told him where they lay. Appall'd he heard,-- "And dropp'd the tools his dexterous hand contain'd; "But soon recover'd. Slender chains of bra.s.s, "And nets, and traps he form'd; so wonderous fine, "They mock'd the power of sight: for far less fine, "The smallest thread the distaff forms; or line, "Spun by the spider, pendent from the roof.

"Curious he form'd it; at the lightest touch "It yielded; each momentum, slight howe'er, "Caus'd its recession: this he artful hung, "The couch enfolding. When the faithless wife, "And paramour upon the bed embrac'd, "Both in the lewd conjunction were ensnar'd; "Caught by the husband's skill, whose art the chains "In novel form had fram'd. The Lemnian G.o.d "Instant wide threw the ivory doors, and gave "Admittance free to every curious eye: "In shameful guise together bound they laid.

"But some light G.o.ds, not blaming much the sight, "Would wish thus sham'd to lie: loud laugh'd the whole, "And long in heaven the tale jocose was told.

"The well-remember'd deed, the Cyprian queen "Retorting, made the G.o.d remember too: "And him who her conceal'd amours disclos'd, "In turn betray'd. What now, Hyperion's son, "Avails thy beauty!--or thy radiant flames?

"For thou, whose fires warm all the wide-spread world, "Burn'st with a new-felt heat! Thou, whose wide view, "Should every object grasp, with partial ken "Leucothoe only see'st! that nymph alone, "Attracts those eyes, whose l.u.s.tre all the world "Expect to view. Oft in the eastern skies, "More early rising, art thou seen; and oft "More tardy 'neath the waves thou sinkest: long "The wintry days thou stretchest, with delay "Thy object lov'd to see. Meantime pale gloom "O'ercasts thy orb; the dullness of thy mind "Obstructs thy brightness; and thy rays obscure, "Terror in mortal b.r.e.a.s.t.s inspire. Not pale "Thou fadest, as, when nearer whirl'd to earth, "Faint Luna's shadow o'er thy surface glooms: "But love, and only love the paleness gives.

"Her only, now thy amorous soul pursues; "Rhodos, nor Clymene, nor Perse fair, "Of Colchian Circe mother, tempt thee now; "Nor Clytie, whom thy cold neglect still spurns; "Yet still she burns to clasp thee: deep she mourns, "Stung more acutely by this fresh amour.

"Now in Leucothoe, every former love "Is lost. Leucothoe, whom the beauteous nymph, "Eurynome, in odoriferous climes "Of Araby brought forth. Full-grown, matur'd, "Leucothoe's beauteous form no less surpa.s.s'd "Her mother's, than her mother's all beside.

"Her sire, the royal Orchamus (who claim'd "A seventh descent from ancient Belus) rul'd "The Achaemenian towns. The rapid steeds "Of Phbus pasture 'neath the western sky; "Not gra.s.s, ambrosia, eating; heavenly food, "Which nerves their limbs, faint with diurnal toil, "Restoring all their ardor. Whilst the steeds, "This their celestial nourishment enjoy; "And night, as 'custom'd, governs in her turn; "The G.o.d the close apartments of his nymph "Beloved, enters;--form'd to outward view, "Eurynome her mother. Her he saw "The slender threads from spindle twirling fine, "Illumin'd by the lamp; and circled round "By twice six female helpers. Warm he gave "As a lov'd daughter, his maternal kiss, "And said;--our converse secrecy demands.-- "Th' attendant maids depart,--nor hinderance give, "Loitering, a mother's secret words to hear.

"When he, the chamber free from spy or guard, "Exclaims,--no female I! behold the G.o.d, "The lengthen'd year who s.p.a.ces! who beholds "Each object earth contains! the world's great eye "By which it all surveys. My tender words "Believe, I dearly love thee. Pale she look'd, "While thus he spoke;--started, and trembling dropp'd "Her distaff, and her spindle from her hand "Nerveless. But ev'n her terror seem'd to add "Fresh beauty to her features. Longer he "Delay'd not, but his wonted form a.s.sum'd; "In heavenly splendor s.h.i.+ning. Mild the maid, "Won by his beauteous brightness, (though at first, "His sudden shape surpriz'd her) sunk beneath "The force he urg'd, with unresisting power.

"The jealous Clytie (who with amorous flame "Burn'd for Apollo) urg'd by harlot's rage, "Straight to the sire, Leucothoe's crime betray'd; "Painting the nymph's misdeed with heighten'd glow.

"Fierce rag'd the father,--merciless inhum'd "Her living body deep in earth! Outstretcht "High to the sun her arms, and praying warm "For mercy;--he by force, she cry'd, prevail'd!

"O'er her untimely grave a lofty mound "Of sand, her sire uprear'd. Hyperion's son "Through this an opening with his beams quick form'd, "Full wide for her, her head intomb'd to lift, "Once to the light again. Thy bury'd corse "No more thou now couldst raise; the ponderous load "Of earth prevents thee; and a bloodless ma.s.s, "Exanimate, thou ly'st! Not deeper grief "'Tis said, the ruler of the swift-wing'd steeds, "Display'd, when o'er the earth the hapless flames "By Phaeton were thrown. Arduous he strives, "Her gelid limbs, with all his powerful rays "To vivid heat recal: stern fate withstands "His utmost urg'd endeavours: bathing then "Her pallid corse, and all the earth around "With odorous nectar, sorrowing sad he cries;-- "Yet, shalt thou reach the heavens! And soon began "Her limbs, soft melting in celestial dew, "With moistening drops of strong perfume to flow: "Slowly a frankincense's rooted twigs "Spread in the earth,--its top the hillock burst.

"Angry the G.o.d (though violent love the pain "Of jealousy might well excuse,--the pain "Of jealousy the tale) from Clytie now "Abstains; no more in amorous mood they meet.

"Rash now the deed her burning love had caus'd, "Too late she found;--she flies her sister-nymphs; "And pining, on the cold bare turf she sits; "By day,--by night,--sole shelter'd by the sky; "Her dripping tresses matted round her brows: "Food,--drink, abhorring. Nine long days she bore "Sharp famine, bath'd with dew, bath'd with her tears; "Still on the ground p.r.o.ne lying. Yet the G.o.d "In circling motion still she ardent view'd; "Turning her face to his. Tradition tells, "Her limbs to earth grew fasten'd: ghastly pale "Her color; chang'd to bloodless leaves she stood, "Streak'd ruddy here and there;--a violet flower "Her face o'erspreading. Still that face she turns, "To meet the sun;--though binding roots retain "Her feet, her love unalter'd still remains."

She ended; all their listening ears, well pleas'd, The wonderous story heard. Some hard of faith Its truth, its probability deny.

To true divinities such power some grant; And power to compa.s.s more;--to Bacchus none Such potence own. The sisters, silent now, Alcithoe beg to speak: she shooting swift Her shuttle through th' extended threads, exclaims;-- "Of Daphnis' love, so known, on Ida's hill, "His flocks who tended, whom his angry nymph, "To stone transform'd (such fury fires the breast "Of those who desperate love!) I shall not tell: "Nor yet of Scython, of ambiguous form, "Now male, now female; nature's wonted laws "Inconstant proving: thee, O Celmis! too "I pa.s.s; once faithful nurse to infant Jove, "Now chang'd to adamant: Curetes! sprung "From showery floods: Crocus, and Smilax, both "To blooming flowers transform'd: unnotic'd these, "My tale from novelty itself shall please: "How Salmacis so infamous became, "Then list; whose potent waves, the luckless limbs "Enerve, of those they bathe. Conceal'd the cause; "Yet far and wide the fountain's power is known.

"Deep in the sheltering caves of Ida's hill, "The Naiad nymphs a beauteous infant nurs'd; "Whom Cyprus' G.o.ddess unto Hermes bore.

"His father's beauty, and his mother's, shone "In every feature; in his name conjoin'd "He bore their appellations. When matur'd "By fifteen summers, from paternal hills "Straying, he wander'd from his nursing Ide: "In lands unknown he joy'd, and joy'd to see "Strange rivers,--pleasure lessening every toil.

"Through Lycia's towns he stray'd; and further still, "To bordering Caria, where a pool he spy'd, "Whose lowest depth a gleam transparent shew'd: "No marshy canes,--no filthy barren weeds, "Nor pointed bulrush near the margin grew: "Full on the eye the water shone, yet round "Its brink a border smil'd of verdant turf, "And plants forever green. Here dwelt a nymph, "But one who never join'd the active chace; "The bow who never bent; who never strove "To conquer in the race: of all the nymphs, "Alone no comrade of Diana fleet.

"Oft, as 'tis said, her sister-nymphs exclaim'd;-- "Come, Salmacis, thy painted quiver take; "Or take thy javelin;--with soft pleasures mix "Laborious sporting: but nor javelin she, "Nor painted quiver took;--with sportive toil, "Soft pleasures mingling: sole intent to bathe, "Her beauteous limbs amidst her own clear waves; "And through her flowing tresses oft to draw "The boxen comb, while o'er the fountain bent, "She studies all her graces: now, her form "Clad in a robe transparent, stretcht she lies, "Or on the yielding leaves, or bending gra.s.s; "Now flowers she culls;--and so it chanc'd to fall, "Flowers she was gathering, when she first beheld "The charming youth; no sooner seen than lov'd.

"Not forth she rush'd at first, though strongly urg'd, "Forward to spring, but all adjusted fair: "Closely survey'd her robe; her features form'd; "And every part in beauteous shape compos'd.

"Then thus address'd him;--O, most G.o.dlike youth!

"And if a G.o.d, the lovely Cupid sure!

"But if of mortal mould, blest is thy sire!

"Blest is thy brother! and thy sister blest!-- "If sister hast thou;--and the fostering breast "Which fed thy infant growth: but far 'bove all "In rapturous bliss, is she who calls thee spouse; "Should nymph exist thou deem'st that bliss deserves!

"If wedded, grant a stol'n embrace to me; "If not, let me thy nuptial couch ascend.

"The Naiad ceas'd: a bashful glow suffus'd "His face, for nought of love to him was known: "Yet blus.h.i.+ng seem'd he lovely: thus warm glows "The apple, to the ripening sun expos'd; "Or teinted ivory; or the redden'd moon, "Whom brazen cymbals clash to help in vain.

"To her, warm praying for at least a kiss, "A chaste, a sister's kiss,--her arms firm claspt "Around his ivory neck;--desist! he cries, "Desist! or sole to thee the place I'll leave.

"His flight she dreaded, and reply'd,--I go, "Dear youth, and freely yield the spot to thee.

"And seems indeed, her steps from him to turn; "But still in sight she kept him; lurking close "Shelter'd by shadowy shrubs, on bended knees.

"Of spy unconscious, he in boyish play "Frisks sportive here and there; dips first his feet, "Then ancles deeper in the wantoning waves; "Pleas'd with the temper of the lucid pool: "Till hasty stript from off his tender limbs "His garments soft he flings. More deeply struck "Stood Salmacis; more fiercely flam'd her love, "His naked beauty seen. Her gloating eyes "Sparkled no less than seem bright Phbus' rays, "When s.h.i.+ning splendid, midst a cloudless sky, "A mirror's face reflecting gives them back.

"Delay ill brooking, hardly she contains "Her swelling joy; frantic for his embrace, "She pants, and hard from rus.h.i.+ng forth refrains.

"His sides he claps, and agile in the steam "Quick plunges, moving with alternate arms.

"Bright through the waves he s.h.i.+nes; thus white appears "The sculptur'd ivory, or the lily fair, "Seen through a crystal veil. The Naiad cries;-- "Lo! here I come;--he's mine,--the youth's my own!

"And instant far was every garment flung.

"Midst of the waves she leaps;--the struggling youth "Clasps close; and on his cold reluctant lips, "Forces her kisses; down she girds his arms; "And close to hers hugs his unwilling breast: "Final, around the youth who arduous strives "In opposition, and escape essays, "Her limbs she twines: so twines a serpent huge, "Seiz'd by the bird of Jove, and borne on high, "Twisting his head, the feet close-bracing holds; "The wide-spread wings entangled with his tail: "So twines the ivy round the lengthen'd bough: "So numerous Polypus his foe confines, "Seiz'd in the deep, with claws on every side "Firm graspt. But Hermes' son persisting still, "The Naiad's wish denies; she presses close, "And as she cleaves, their every limb close join'd "Exclaims;--ungallant boy! but strive thy most, "Thou shalt not fly me. Grant me, O ye G.o.ds!

"No time may ever sunder him from me, "Or me from him.--Her prayer was granted straight;-- "For now, commingling, both their bodies join'd; "And both their faces melted into one.

"So, when in growth we boughs ingrafted see, "The bark inclosing both at once, they sprout.

"Thus were their limbs, in strong embrace comprest, "Wrapp'd close; no longer two in form, yet two "In feature; nor a nymph-like face remain'd, "Nor yet a boy's: it both and neither seem'd.

"When Hermes' son beheld the liquid stream, "Where masculine he plung'd, the power possess "To enervate his body, and his limbs "Effeminately soften; high he rais'd "His arms, and pray'd (but not with manly voice) "O, sire! O, mother dear! indulge your son, "Your double appellation bearing, this "Sole-urg'd pet.i.tion. Whoso in these waves "In strong virility, like me, shall plunge, "Hence let him go, like me enervate made; "Spoilt by the stream his strength. Each parent G.o.d "Nodding, confirm'd their alter'd son's request; "And ting'd the fountain with the changing power."

She ceas'd: the nymphs Minyeian still persist Their toil to urge, despising still the G.o.d; His festival prophaning. Sudden heard, The rattling sounds of unseen timbrels burst Full on their ears! the pipe; the crooked horn; And brazen cymbals loudly clash; perfumes Of myrrh and saffron blended smell:--but more, And what belief surpa.s.ses, straight their looms Virid to sprout begin; the pendent threads Branch into shoots like ivy: part becomes The vine: what now were threads, curl'd tendrils seem: Shot from the folded web, the branches climb; And the bright red in purpling grapes appears.

Now was the sun declining, and approach'd The twilight season, when nor day it seems, Nor night confirm'd; but a gray mixture forms; Of each an indetermin'd compound. Deep The roof appear'd to shade; the oily lamps, Ardent to glow; the torches bright to burn, With reddening flames; while round them seem'd to howl, Figures of beast ferocious. Fill'd with smoke The room,--th' affrighted maidens seek to hide; And each in different corners tries to shun The fires and flaming light. But while they seek A lurking shelter, o'er their shorten'd limbs A webby membrane spreading, binds their arms In waving wings. The gloom conceal'd the mode, Of transformation from their former shape.

Light plumage bears them not aloft,--yet rais'd On wings transparent, through the air they skim, To speak they strive, but utter forth a sound Feeble and weak; then, screeching shrill, they plain: Men's dwellings they frequent,--nor try the woods; And, cheerful day avoiding, skim by night; Their name from that untimely hour deriv'd.

Now were the deeds of heaven-born Bacchus fam'd Through every part of Thebes; and all around, His aunt proud boasts the new-made G.o.d's great power: She, of the sisters all, from sorrow spar'd, Save what to view her sisters' sorrowing gave.

Juno beheld her lofty thus, her breast Elate to view her sons; her nuptial fruits With Athamas; and her great foster child, The mighty Bacchus. More the furious queen Bore not, but thus exclaim'd;--"Has the wh.o.r.e's son "Power to transform the Tyrrhene crew, and plunge "Them headlong in the deep? Can he impel "The mother's hands to seize her bleeding son "And tear his entrails? Dares he then to clothe "The Minyeid sisters with un'custom'd wings?

"And is Saturnia's utmost power confin'd "Wrongs unreveng'd to weep? Suffices such "For me? Is this a G.o.ddess' utmost might?

"But he instructs me;--wisdom may be taught "Ev'n by a foe. The wretched Pentheus' fate, "Shews all-sufficient, what may madness do.

"Why should not Ino, stung with frantic rage, "The well-known track her sisters trode pursue?"

A path declivitous, with baleful yew Dark shaded, leads, a dreary silent road, Down to th' infernal regions: sluggish Styx Dank mists exhales: here travel new-made ghosts, With rites funereal blest: pale winter's gloom Wide rules the squalid place: the stranger shades Wander, unknowing which the path to tread, Straight to the infernal city, where is held Black Pluto's savage court. A thousand gates, Wide ope, surround the town on every side.

As boundless ocean every stream receives, From earth pour'd numerous,--so each wandering soul Flocks to this city; whose capacious bounds Full s.p.a.ce for all affords; nor ever feels Th' increasing crowd: of flesh depriv'd, and bones, The bloodless shadows wander. Some frequent The forum; some th' infernal monarch's court; Some various arts employ, resembling much Their former daily actions; numbers groan In punishments severe. Here Juno came, Braving the region's horrors, from her throne Celestial,--so did ire and hatred goad Her bosom with their stings! Sacred she press'd The groaning threshold,--instant as she stepp'd, Fierce Cerberus his triple head uprais'd, And howl'd with triple throat. The G.o.ddess calls The night-born sisters, fierce, implacable: Before the close-barr'd adamantine gates They sit; their tresses twisting round with snakes.

The queen through clouds of midnight gloom they see, And instant rise. Here dwell the suffering d.a.m.n'd.

Here t.i.tyus, stretcht o'er nine wide acres, yields His entrails to be torn. Thou, Tantalus, Art seen, the stream forbid to taste;--the fruit Thy lips o'erhanging, flies! Thou, Sisyphus, Thy stone pursuing downwards; or its weight Straining aloft, with oft exerted power!

Ixion whirling, too; with swift pursuit, Thou follow'st, and art follow'd! Belides!

Your husband-cousins who in death dar'd steep, And ceaseless draw the unavailing streams!

All Juno view'd with unrelenting brow; But, view'd Ixion sterner far than all: And when on Sisyphus again she cast Her eyes, behind Ixion, angry cry'd;-- "What justice this?--of all the brethren he "Sharp torture suffers! Shall proud Athamas "A regal dwelling boast,--whose scornful taunts, "And scornful spouse have still my power contemn'd?"

Then straight her hatred's cause disclos'd. They see Her journey's object, and revenge's aim.

This her desire, that Cadmus' regal house Perish'd should sink; and Athamas, fierce urg'd By madness should some dreadful vengeance claim.

Commands, solicitations, prayers,--at once The G.o.ddesses besiege: and as she speaks, Angrily mov'd, Tisiphone replies,-- (Shaking her h.o.a.ry locks,--the twining snakes Back from her mouth repelling) hasty thus;-- "A tedious tale we need not; what thou wilt "Believe accomplish'd. Fly this hateful gloom;-- "Up to the wholesome breeze of heaven repair."

Glad, Juno left the spot;--when near approach'd Heaven's entrance, there Thaumantian Iris met, And with her sprinklings purify'd the queen.

Quick now Tisiphone, the savage fiend, Seizes her torch, with gory droppings wet; Flings round her limbs a garment, deeply dy'd With streaming blood; a twisting snake supplies A girdle:--thus array'd she sallies forth, Follow'd by loud lament, by terror, fear, And quivering-featur'd madness. When she press'd The threshold, fame declares the pillars shook; The maple doors, with terror mov'd, grew pale: Back shrunk the sun! Ino, with trembling dread Beheld these wonders;--Athamas beheld; And both prepar'd the haunted place to fly.

Escape the fury hinders: fierce she stands, Blocking the entrance: wide her arms she spreads, With viperous twistings bound; and threatening shakes Her tresses: loud the serpents noise, disturb'd; Sprawl o'er her shoulders some; some, lower fall'n, Twine hissing round her b.r.e.a.s.t.s, with brandish'd tongue, Black poison vomiting. With furious gripe, Two from her locks she tore;--her deadly hand Hurl'd them straight on; the b.r.e.a.s.t.s of Athamas, And Ino, hungry, with their fangs they seiz'd; Fierce pains infixing, but external wounds Their limbs betray'd not: mental was the blow, So direly struck. Venoms most mortal, too, From Tartarus she bore:--the foam high-churn'd From jaws of Cerberus; the poisonous juice Of Hydra; urgent wish for roaming wide; Oblivion mental-blinded; wicked deeds; Weeping; and furious fierceness, slaughter fond.

On these commingled, fresh-drawn gore she pour'd, And warm'd them bubbling in a brazen vase; Stirr'd by a sprouting hemlock. Trembling, they Shudder, while in their b.r.e.a.s.t.s the poison fierce She pours: both bosoms feel it deep instill'd;-- Their inmost vitals feel it. Then her torch, Whirl'd flaming round and round, in triumph glares, Fires from the circling gathering. Powerful thus; Victorious in her aims, and deeds desir'd, To mighty Pluto's shadowy realm she speeds; And from her loins untwists the girding snakes.

Mad bounded Athamas amid the hall, "Ho! friends," exclaiming;--"here spread wide your toils, "Here, in this thicket, where ev'n now I saw "With young twin cubs, a lioness!"--and mad, Pursu'd his consort for a savage beast; s.n.a.t.c.hing Learchus, who with playful smile, Outstretch'd his infant hands to meet him. Torne Rough from his mother's bosom, round in air And round, sling-like he whirl'd; then savage dash'd Upon a rugged rock the tender bones.

Loud howls the frantic mother; frantic made By grief, or by the scatter'd poison's power: And, raving, with dishevell'd tresses spread Wide o'er her shoulders, flies. Her naked arms Young Melicertes bear; madly she shrieks;-- "Evoe, Bacchus!"--Loud at Bacchus' name Revengeful Juno laugh'd, and said;--"Such boon "Thy foster-son upon his nurse confers!"

A lofty rock the foaming waves o'erhangs, Whose das.h.i.+ng force deep in its base have scoop'd A cavern, safely sheltering from the showers: The adamantine summit high extends, And o'er the wide main stretches. Swift this height, Active and strong with madness, Ino gain'd And fearless, with the infant in her arms, Sprung from the cliff, and sunk beneath the waves.

White foam'd the surge around her!

Venus, griev'd, Such sufferings, undeserv'd, her race should bear, Thus with bland coaxings Ocean's G.o.d address'd: "Lord of the azure deep, whose high command "Sways next to heaven's,--a vast demand I ask;-- "But pity my poor offspring, whom thou see'st "Plung'd in th' Ionian billows;--with their forms "Thy deities increase. Some influence sure, "In ocean I should hold, from thence produc'd; "Sprung from the froth that on the deep main swims: "Whence Grecian poets name me." Neptune nods, a.s.senting to her prayer; and from their limbs Abstracts the mortal portion; on their forms Breathes majesty; and with their alter'd mien, Their names he changes too; Palaemon he, Now stil'd, his mother as Leucothoe known.