Part 22

"'Twas now deep night when sleep sooth'd all the cares "Of mortal breasts. But Myrrha wakeful laid "Consum'd with raging fires; and rolling deep "Her frantic wishes in her wandering mind. "Despairing now, and now resolv'd to try; "Now shame o'ercomes her, and anon desire: "And undetermin'd how to act she rests. "A mighty tree thus, wounded by the axe, "Ere yet it feels the final blow, in doubt "Seems where to fall; they fear on every side: "Thus did her stagger'd mind from vary'd force "Waver now here, now there; press'd hard by each, "No ease for love, no rest but death appears. "Death pleas'd. She rose, and round her throat prepar'd "The cord to fasten; from the topmost beam "She ty'd her girdle, and--farewel!--exclaim'd-- "Dear Cinyras! guess whence my fatal end.-- "Then drew the noose around her pallid neck. "'Tis said, th' imperfect murmuring of her words, "Reach'd to the faithful nurse's ears, who laid "Before the threshold of her foster-child. "The matron rose, threw wide the door, and saw "Prepar'd the instrument of death. At once "She scream'd aloud, her bosom tore, deep blows "Gave her own limbs, and from the rescu'd neck "Tore the tight noose. Then had she time to weep, "Then to embrace, then to inquire the cause "Of the dread cord. But dumb the virgin sate "And motionless, her eyes to earth were fix'd; "Griev'd that so check'd her efforts were for death. "More the nurse presses, bares her silver'd hairs "And wither'd bosom; by the cradle begs, "And the first food she tasted, to confess "To her the cause of sorrow. Myrrha sighs, "But turns her eyes aside as thus she begs. "Determin'd still to know, the nurse persists "And not content her secrecy alone "To promise, says--yet tell me, and my aid "Allow me to afford thee. Not yet slow, "Though aged. Is it love? with charms and plants "I know thy love to cure. Have envious eyes "Thee harm'd? with magic rites their charm I'll spoil. "Are the gods angry? with appeasing rites "Their anger we will soothe. What ill beside "Can be conjectur'd? Lo! thy house secure, "And safe thy fortune; both in prosperous train. "Yet lives thy mother, and thy father lives.-- "Her father's name when Myrrha heard she drew "Deep from her breast a mournful sigh; nor yet "The nurse suspected guilt was in her soul: "But saw that love disturb'd her. In her aim "Inflexible; again she urg'd to know "The grief whate'er it prov'd; and lull'd her head "Upon her aged lap, and clasp'd her form "In her own feeble arms, as thus she spoke;-- "I see thou lovest; banish far thy fear, "My diligence in this shall aid thee; nay "Not e'en thy father shall the secret know.-- "Madly she bounded from the lap, and cry'd, "While press'd the couch her face,--I beg thee go! "And spare my grievous shame.--More pressing still-- "Or go--she said--or ask not why I mourn: "What thou so seek'st to know is shameful guilt.-- "With horror struck, the ancient dame holds forth "Her hands, which equal shook with fear and age; "Then suppliant at her foster-daughter's feet "Fell. Now she coaxes; now she threatens loud; "If not made privy, threatens to declare "The cord's adventure, and half-finish'd death: "And offers aid once more her love to gain. "She rais'd her head, and fill'd her nurse's breast "With sudden gushing tears. And oft she strove "All to confess; as oft her tongue was mute; "And in her garments hid her blushing face.-- "Then,--happy mother in thy spouse!--she said; "No more, but groan'd. Through her cold limbs and bones, "The ancient nurse a shivering tremor felt, "And her white hairs all o'er her head, erect "Like bristles stood; for all the truth she saw. "Much did she urge the direful flame to drive "Far from her soul, if that could be. The maid "Knows all is just she argues, yet is fix'd "For death, unless her lover is obtain'd. "Then she;--O live, enjoy thy--silent there, "Enjoy thy parent--she not dar'd to say: "Yet by a sacred oath her promise bound.

"Now Ceres' annual feast, the pious dames "All solemniz'd: in snowy robes enwrapt, "They offer'd wheaten wreaths, and primal fruits. "The rites of Venus, and the touch of man, "For thrice three nights forbidden things they held. "The monarch's spouse Cenchreïs, 'mid the crowd "Forth went to celebrate the secret feast: "And while the couch its legal partner lack'd, "The ill-officious nurse the king espy'd "Oppress'd with wine, and told the tale of love, "Beneath a fictious name, and prais'd her charms. "The virgin's years he asks.--Equal her age "To Myrrha's--she replies.--Desir'd to bring "The damsel, she returns:--Rejoice!--she cries, "Rejoice! our point is gain'd.--The hapless nymph "Felt not a general joy; presaging pangs "Shot through her bosom; still she joy'd: her mind "Such discord tore. Now was the silent hour; "Boötes 'mid the Triönes had bent "His wain with sloping pole; when Myrrha came "To her flagitious crime. Bright Luna fled "The skies; black clouds the lurking stars o'erspread; "The night saw not its fires. Thou, Icarus, "Thy face first hidst; and thou, Erigoné "Hallow'd for thy parental love so pure. "Thrice was she warn'd by stumbling feet, and thrice "The owl funereal utter'd her death-note. "Yet on she went; darkness and sable night "Her shame diminish'd. Fast her left hand grasps "Her nurse, the other waves t'explore the way. "The threshold of the nuptial chamber now "She touches; now she gently opes the door; "Now enters. Then her trembling knees loose shook "Beneath her bending hams; her color fled: "Her blood flow'd back; and all her wishes sunk. "The nearer was her crime approach'd, the more "With horror she beheld it, and sore mourn'd "Her daring; anxious to return unknown. "The hoary dame, her, lingering thus, dragg'd on, "And when presented at the lofty couch, "Said--Cinyras receive her, she's thine own!-- "And the devoted bodies gave to join. "The sire his proper bowels, on the bed "Obscene, receiv'd; her virgin terrors calm'd, "And sooth'd her trembling. Haply too, he said-- "My daughter,--from her age; and haply she-- "My sire,--lest names were wanting to their crime. "Fill'd with her father from the bed she rose, "Bearing in her dire womb the impious fruit; "Carrying her crime conceiv'd. Th' ensuing night "Her incest she repeats, nor ends she here. "But Cinyras eager at length to know, "After such frequent converse, who him lov'd; "At once his daughter and his sin beheld, "By lamps brought sudden. Grief repress'd all words; "But from the sheath he snatch'd his glittering sword. "Quick Myrrha fled; darkness and favoring night "Sav'd her from death. O'er wide-spread fields she roam'd; "Through Araby palm-bearing, and the lands "Panchæa holds. Nine times returning light "Had fill'd the horns of Luna, still she stray'd: "Then weary rested in Sabæa's fields; "While scarce she bore the burden of her womb. "Then what to ask uncertain, 'twixt the fear "Of death and weariness of hated life; "In words like these she utter'd forth her prayers,-- "Ye powers, if those who guilt confess are heard, "A punishment exemplar I deserve; "I shrink not from it. Yet the living race "Lest I contaminate, if left to live; "Or lest I mix prophane with shades below, "Drive me from either realm; from life and death "Debar me, into some new shape transform'd.-- "The penitent some god propitious heard; "Her final prayer at least success obtain'd: "For as she spoke rose round her legs the earth; "The lofty tree's foundation, crooked roots "Shot from her spreading toes; hard wood her bones "Became; the marrow in the midst remain'd "As pith; as sappy juice still flow'd her blood: "Her arms large boughs were spread; her fingers chang'd "To slender twigs; rough bark her skin became. "The growing tree press'd hard the gravid womb; "Invested next her breast, and o'er her neck "Threaten'd to spread. Impatient of delay "She shrunk below to meet th' approaching wood, "And hid beneath the rising bark her face. "Human sensation with her change of shape "She lost, yet still she weeps; and from the tree "Warm drops yet fall, and much the tears are priz'd. "The myrrh which oozes from the bark still holds "Its mistress' name, well known in every age.

"Meantime the misbegotten infant grew "Within the trunk, and press'd to find a way "To push to light, and leave the parent womb. "Within the tree the gravid womb swell'd large, "Stretch'd was the mother with the load, but mute "Were all her woes; nor in travailing voice "Lucina could she call. Yet hard to strain "She seem'd; thick groans oft gave the bending bole, "And tears flow'd copious. Mild Lucina came, "And stood before the groaning boughs, and gave "Assisting help, and spoke the spellful words. "Cleft is the tree, and through the fissur'd bark "A living burthen comes: the infant cries, "Who on soft grass plac'd. The Naïad nymphs "Him bathe in tears maternal: such a face "Ev'n Envy could not blame. As painters form "The naked Cupid's beauty, such had he; "And that their dress no help to guess may give, "This the light quiver take, or that resign. "Quick passing time unheeded glides along "Deceiving: nought than years more quickly flies. "The child, of sister and of grandsire born, "Late in the tree confin'd, late thence reliev'd; "Just seen most beauteous of the infant tribe, "Now youth, now man appears, more beauteous still: "Now Venus charm'd, his mother's pangs aveng'd.

"As kisses sweet the quiver-bearing boy "Press'd on his mother's lips, he witless raz'd "Slightly her bosom, with a dart that stood "Protruding. Venus, wounded, angry push'd "Her son far from her; light the wound appear'd; "At first even her deceiving. With the blaze "Of manly beauty caught, she now contemns "The Cythereïan shores; nor Paphos seeks, "Girt by profoundest seas; Cnidos, so fam'd "For fish; nor Amathus with metals rich. "Heaven too, she quits, to heaven she now prefers "Adonis: him she follows, him attends; "Whose sole employ was loitering in the shade, "In anxious study to increase her charms. "Bare to the knee, her robe, like Dian's train "High-girt, o'er hills, through woods, and brambly rocks "She roves: exhorts the dogs, and drives such game "As threaten not with danger; fearful hares, "High-antler'd stags, and rapid-flying deer. "Fierce boars she shuns, and shuns the robber-wolf, "Strong-talon'd bears, and lions slaughter-gorg'd.

"Thou too, Adonis, admonition heardst "These to avoid, if admonition ought "With thee could weigh:--Be brave,--the goddess said-- "To those who fly thee; courage 'gainst the bold "To danger drags. Dear youth, thy heart is brave; "Indulge not to my hazard, nor provoke "Fierce beasts by nature arm'd, nor seek for fame. "Nor youth nor beauty, such as Venus move, "Will move the lion, or the bristly boar: "Their eyes and breasts untouch'd by brightest charms. "Thunder and lightning in his bended tusks "The fierce boar carries; rapid is the force "The tawny lion, (hated race!) exerts: "My cause of hatred when to thee disclos'd, "Will raise thy wonder at the monstrous crime, "In days of yore committed. Now hard toil "Unwonted tires me. Lo! the poplar's shade "So opportune invites; and the green turf "A couch presents. Upon the ground with thee "I'll rest:--she spoke, and as she stretch'd along, "She press'd the grass, and press'd the lovely youth: "Smiling, her head upon his breast reclin'd, "'Midst intermingling kisses, thus she spoke.--

"Perhaps thou'st heard of that renowned maid, "Whose fleetness in the race the swiftest man's "Surpass'd. Not fabulous the tale you heard: "She vanquish'd all. And hard it was to say, "If praise for swiftness, or for beauteous form, "She most deserv'd. To her, who once enquir'd "Of marriage, fate-predicting Phoebus said-- "A spouse would, Atalanta, be thy bane; "Avoid an husband's couch. Yet wilt thou not "An husband's couch avoid; but lose thyself, "Thyself yet living.--Terror-struck to hear "The sentence of the god, maiden she lives "Amid the thickest woods; driving severe "The throngs of pressing suitors from her far, "By hard conditions.--Ne'er can I be gain'd-- "She said--till vanquish'd in the race. With me "Your swiftness try: the conqueror in the strife, "Shall gain me spouse, and gain a genial couch; "But death must him who lags behind reward. "Such be the laws of trial.--Pitiless "The law appear'd; but (such is beauty's power) "Crowds of rash lovers to the law agreed. "There sat Hippomenes to view the race "Unequal; and exclaim'd,--are there so mad, "As seek a wife through peril so immense?-- "And the blind love of all the youths condemn'd. "But when her face he saw, and saw her limbs "Bar'd for the contest, (limbs like mine, or thine, "Were thine of female mould,) amaz'd he look'd "With uprais'd hands, and cry'd;--forgive my fault, "Ye whom but now I blam'd; the great reward "For which you labor, then to me unknown!-- "Thus praising, fire he feels, and hopes no youth "More swift will run, and envious fears their speed-- "But why the fortune of this contest leave, "Untry'd--he said,--myself? Heaven helps the bold.-- "While musing thus Hippomenes remarks "The virgin's flying pace. Though not less swift "Th' Aönian youth beheld her, than the dart "Shot from the Scythian bow; her beauty more "Ravish'd his eyes, and speed her charms increas'd. "Th' opposing breeze, which met her rapid feet, "Blew back the ribbons which her sandals bound; "Her tresses floated down her ivory back; "And loosely flow'd her garment o'er her knees, "With painted border gay: a purple bloom "With virgin whiteness mixt, her body shew'd; "As when the snow-white hall a deepen'd tinge "From purple curtains shews. While this the guest "Intently notes, the utmost goal is pass'd: "Victorious Atalanta with the wreath "Is crown'd: the vanquish'd sigh, and meet the doom "Agreed. He, by the youths' untimely fate "Deterr'd not, forward stood, and on the nymph "Fix'd full his eyes, and said;--Why seek you thus "An easy conquest, vanquishing the weak? "With me contend. So potent am I born "You need not blush to such high rank to yield. "Megareus was my sire, Onchestius his, "Grandson to Neptune; thus the fourth I boast "From Ocean's sovereign. Nor beneath my race "Stoops aught my valor; should success me crown, "A lofty and an everlasting fame, "Hippomenes your conqueror, would you gain.-- "As thus he spoke, with softening eyes the maid "Beheld him, doubtful which 'twere best to wish, "To vanquish or be vanquish'd. While she thus "Utter'd her thoughts--What god, an envious foe "To beauty would destroy him: urg'd to seek "My bed, by risking thus his own dear life? "I cannot sure so great a prize be thought! "His beauty melts me not; though yet I own "Such beauty well might melt. But such a youth "He seems, he moves me not but from his years. "What courage in him reigns! his soul unaw'd "By death. He springs the fourth from Ocean's king! "Then how he loves! and prizes so my hand, "That should hard fortune keep me from his arms, "He'd perish. Stranger, while thou may'st, depart; "Avoid the bloody nuptials. Marriage, I "Too cruel make. No maid would thee refuse; "And soon may'st thou a wiser nymph select. "But why for him this care? from me who see "So many die, whom he too has beheld? "Then let him perish; since the numerous train "Of slaughter'd lovers warns him not: he spurns "An hated life. How! should he then be slain "Because with me to live he wishes? Death "Inglorious must he gain, reward of love? "Hatred would such a conquest still attend. "Still is not mine the fault. Do thou desist; "Or if thy madness holds, O, that thy feet "More swift may be! See in his youthful face "What virgin beauties! Ah! Hippomenes, "Would Atalanta thou had'st never seen. "Well worthy thou of life. Were I more blest; "Had rugged fate not me a spouse forbade, "Thou, sole art he, by whom to Hymen's couch "With joy I would be led.--Thus spoke the nymph, "In fond simplicity, first touch'd by love, "Unknowing what she felt: ardent she lov'd, "Yet knew the passion not which rul'd her soul.

"Now loud the people, and the king demand, "The wonted race. To me with anxious words "Hippomenes, great Neptune's offspring pray'd-- "O Cytherea! I adjure thee, aid "My bold attempt; from thee those flames I felt, "Grant them thy succour.--Gales auspicious waft "To me the tender prayers, my soul is mov'd: "Nor long the aid so needful I delay. "A tract there lies in Cyprus' richest lands, "Nam'd Tamasene by those who dwell around, "This ancient times made sacred unto me: "And with this gift my temples were endow'd. "'Midst of the field appears a shining tree; "Yellow its leaves, its crackling branches gold. "By chance there straying, from the boughs I pluck'd "Three golden apples, bore them in my hand, "And seen by none, except the favor'd youth, "Approach'd Hippomenes, and taught their use. "The trumpets gave the sign, each ready sprung-- "Shot from the barrier, and with rapid feet "Skimm'd lightly o'er the sand. O'er the wide main "With feet unwetted, they might seem to fly; "Or sweep th' unbending ears of hoary grain. "Loud shouts encouraging, and cheering words, "On every side a stimulus afford, "To urge the youth's exertions.--Now,--they cry,-- "Now, now, Hippomenes, the time to press! "On, on! exert thy vigor--flag not now,-- "The race is thine.--The grateful sounds both heard, "Megareus' son, and Schoeneus' daughter; hard "Which joy'd the most to judge. How oft her pace "She slacken'd, when with ease she might have pass'd, "And ceas'd unwilling on his face to gaze. "Tir'd now, parch'd breathings from the mouth ascends "Of Neptune's son, and far remote the goal. "Then, as his last resource, he distant flung "One of the tree's bright produce. In amaze "The virgin saw it roll; and from the course "Swerv'd, tempted to obtain the glittering fruit. "Hippomenes o'ershoots her; all around "Applauses ring. She soon corrects delay, "And wasted moments, with more rapid speed, "And leaves again the youth behind. Again, "Delay'd to catch the second flying fruit, "The youth is follow'd, and again o'erpass'd. "Now near the goal they come,--O, goddess! now "Who gave the boon assist; he said, and flung "With youthful force obliquely o'er the plain, "More to detain, the last bright glittering gold. "In doubt the virgin saw it fly: I urg'd "That she should follow; and fresh weight I gave "The apple when obtain'd; thus by the load "Her course impeding, and obtain'd delay. "But lest my tale, in length surpass the race, "The vanquish'd virgin was the victor's prize.

"Think'st thou Adonis, did I not deserve "Most grateful thanks in smoking incense paid? "Mindless, nor thanks, nor incense yielded he; "And sudden anger in my bosom rag'd. "Irk'd at the slight, I instantly provide "That future times with less contempt behave: "And 'gainst them both my raging bosom burns. "Now pass'd they near a temple, long since rais'd "By fam'd Echion, in a shady wood, "To the great mother of the heavenly gods, "When the long journey tempted to repose; "And there, inspir'd by me, ill-tim'd desire "Hippomenes excited. Near the fane "A cave-like close recess dim-lighted stood, "With native pumice roof'd, hallow'd of old; "Where priests the numerous images had plac'd, "Of ancient deities. They enter'd here, "And with forbidden lust the place defil'd. "The wooden images their eyes avert: "The tower-crown'd goddess dubious stands to plunge, "The guilty couple in the Stygian wave. "Too light that sentence seems: straight yellow manes "Cover their soft smooth necks; their fingers curve "To mighty claws; their arms to fore-legs turn; "And new-form'd tails sweep lightly o'er the sand: "Angry their countenance glares; for speech they roar; "They haunt the forests for their nuptial dome. "Transform'd to lions, and by others fear'd, "Their tam'd mouths champ the Cybeleïan reins. "Do thou, O dearest boy! their rage avoid; "Not theirs alone, but all the savage tribe, "That stubborn meet with breasts the furious war; "Not turn their backs for flight: lest bold too much, "Thou and myself, have cause too much too mourn.--

"Thus she admonish'd; and by coupled swans "Upborne, she cleft the air; but his brave soul "Her cautious admonitions rash contemn'd.

"By chance his dogs the well-mark'd footprints trac'd, "And from his lurking covert rous'd a boar; "Whom with a stroke oblique, as from the brake "To spring he went, the gallant youth transpierc'd. "Instant, with crooked tusks, the gore-stain'd spear "Wrench'd the fierce boar away, and at him rush'd, "Trembling, and safety seeking: every fang "Deep in his groin he plung'd, and on the sand "Stretch'd him expiring. Cytherea, borne "Through midmost ether in her chariot light, "Had not at Cyprus with her swans arriv'd, "When, known from far, she heard his dying groans; "And thither turn'd her snowy birds. From high "When lifeless she beheld him, in his blood "Convulsive struggling, quick she darted down, "She tore her garments, and she tore her hair; "And with unpitying hands her breast she smote. "Then, fate upbraiding first, she said;--Not all "Shall bend to your decision; still shalt thou "Remain, Adonis, monument of woe, "Suffer'd by me! The image of thy death, "Annual repeated, annual shall renew "Remembrance of my mourning. But thy blood "A flower shall form. Shalt thou, O Proserpine, "A female body to a scented herb "Transform; and I the Cinyreïan youth "Forbidden be to change?--She said, and flung "Nectar most odorous on the ebbing gore; "Which instant swelling rose. So bubbles rise "On the smooth stream when showery floods descend. "Nor long the term, an hour's short space elaps'd, "When the same teinted flower the blood produc'd: "Such flowers the deep pomegranate bears, which hides "Its purple grains beneath a flexile rind. "But short its boast, for the same winds afford "Its name, and shake them where they light adhere: "Ripe for their fall in fragile beauty gay."

*The Eleventh Book.*

Rage of the Thracian women. Massacre of Orpheus. The women transformed to trees by Bacchus. Midas' foolish wish to change all things he touched into gold. Contest of skill between Pan and Apollo. The ears of Midas transformed to asses ears. Troy built by Apollo and Neptune. Laömedon's perfidy. Hesioné freed by Hercules, and married to Telamon. Peleus and Thetis. Birth of Achilles. Chioné ravished by Mercury, and by Apollo. Slain by Diana. Her sire Dædalion changed into an hawk. A wolf changed by Thetis to marble. Voyage of Ceÿx to Delphos. Lost in a storm. Grief of Alcyoné. Morpheus acquaints her with her husband's death. Change of both to kingfishers. Æsacus into a cormorant.

THE *Eleventh Book* OF THE METAMORPHOSES OF OVID.