The Metamorphoses of Publius Ovidus Naso in English blank verse Part 10

"The vast Sicilian isle, with pressure huge "Thrown o'er them, deep the limbs gigantic weighs "Of huge Typhus, who the heavenly throne "Had dar'd to hope for: struggling oft he tries, "His efforts, daily bent to lift his load: "But hard Pelorus on his right hand lies, "Ausonia facing; while Pachyne rests "Heavy to left: wide o'er his giant thighs "Spreads Lilyb.u.m: Etna presses down "His head; beneath whose crater, laid supine, "From his hot mouth he ashes sends, and flames.

"Thus with his body labouring to remove "The ponderous load of earth;--whole towns o'erwhelm; "And lofty hills o'erturn; trembles the ground; "And h.e.l.l's dread monarch fears a chasm should gape: "And through the opening wide his realm display: "The trembling ghosts with light un'custom'd scar'd.

"The shock to meet expecting, starts the king "Quick from his cloudy throne; and in his car "Borne by his sable steeds, with care surveys "Sicilia's deep foundations; wide around "Exploring all; then with his toils content, "No ruin'd part detected, flings aside "Each apprehension. Strolling now at ease, "Him Venus from the Erycinian hill "Espy'd; and to her feather'd son, who lay "Clasp'd in her arms, exclaim'd;--O, Cupid! son!

"My sole a.s.sistant! sole defence and aid!

"Seize now that weapon which o'er all has sway, "That piercing dart,--and deep within the breast "Of the dark G.o.d whose lot was given to rule "The nether regions of the triple realm, "Bury it. All the G.o.ds thy might confess; "Ev'n Jove himself. The ocean powers allow "Thy rule, and he whom Ocean's powers obey.

"Why then should Tartarus alone evade "Thy thrall? Why not my empire and thine own "With that complete? Of all the world's extent "A third is stak'd. Nay more, our utmost power, "Heaven our own seat contemns;--thy potent sway, "And mine alike impair'd. Behold'st thou not "Minerva, with the quiver-bearing maid "Deserting me? Thus will the blooming child "Of Ceres, if we grant it, still remain "Inviolate a virgin;--thither tend "Her anxious hopes. But thou, if dear thou hold'st "Our mutual realm, the virgin G.o.ddess link "In union with her uncle.--Venus spoke: "His quiver he unlooses; from the heap "Of darts, by her directed, one selects, "Than which none bore a keener point; than which, "None flew more certain,--trusty to the string.

"Bends to his knee the yielding horn, then sends "Through Pluto's heart the bearded arrow sure.

"Not far from Enna's walls, a lake expands "Profound in watery stores, Pergusa nam'd: "Not ev'n Casters' murmuring stream e'er heard "The songster-swans more frequent. Woods o'ertop "The waters, rising round on every side; "And veil from Phbus' rays the surface cool.

"A shade the branches form; the moist earth round, "Produces purple flowers: perpetual spring "Here reigns. While straying sportive in this grove "Here Proserpine the violet cropp'd, and here "The lily fair; with childish ardor warm'd "Her bosom filling, and her basket high: "Proud to surpa.s.s her comrades all around "In skilful culling, she herself was seen; "Was chosen, and by Dis was s.n.a.t.c.h'd away.

"Love urg'd him to the deed. Th' affrighted maid, "Loud on her mother, and her comrades call'd; "But chief her mother, with lamenting shrieks.

"Then as her robe she rent, the well-cull'd flowers "Slipp'd through the loosen'd folds: e'en this (so great "Her girlish innocence) her tears increas'd.

"Swiftly the robber speeds his car along "Urging his steeds' exertions each by name; "'Bove their high manes and necks the rusty reins "Rattling, as o'er the wide Palician lake, "Where the cleft earth with sulphur boils, he whirls: "And where the Bacchiads, from the double sea "Of Corinth wandering, rais'd their lofty walls; "'Twixt two unequal havens. Midst, the stream, "Pisaean Arethusa, and the lake "Of Cyane are seen, close round embrac'd "By narrowing horns. This Cyane was once, "Of all Sicilia's nymphs, the fairest deem'd; "Who gave the lake her name. She to the waist "Uprais'd, amidst the waters stood, and knew "The G.o.d, and,--here thy speed must stay,--exclaim'd; "Nor e'er of Ceres hope the son-in-law "'Gainst her consent to be: beseechings bland, "Not rugged rape, thy purpos'd hope might gain.

"If lofty things with low I durst compare, "Anapis lov'd me; but the nuptial couch, "I press'd, entreated,--not as thus in dread.

"She said;--her arms extended wide, and stopp'd "His course. The angry son of Saturn flames "Swelling with rage; exhorts his furious steeds; "Throws with a forceful arm, and buries deep "His regal sceptre in the lowest gulph: "Wide gapes the stricken earth; an opening gives "To h.e.l.l, and headlong down, the car descends.

Now equal Cyane the G.o.ddess mourns, "So forc'd; and her own sacred stream despis'd; "A cureless wound her silent breast contains; "And all in tears she wastes: lost in those waves, "Where lately sovereign G.o.ddess she had rul'd.

"Soft grow her limbs, and flexile seem her bones; "Her nails their hardness lose. The tenderest parts.

"Melt into water long before the rest: "Her tresses green; her fingers, legs, and feet.

"Quickly this change the smaller limbs perceive, "To cooling rills transform'd. Next after these, "Her back, her shoulders, b.r.e.a.s.t.s, and sides dissolve, "And vanish all in streams. A limpid flood "Now fills the veins that once in purple flow'd; "Nought of the nymph to fill the grasp remains.

"Meantime the trembling mother through the earth, "And o'er the main, the G.o.ddess vainly sought.

"Aurora rising, with her locks of gold; "Nor Hesper sinking, saw her labors cease.

"With either hand at Etna's flaming mouth, "A torch she lighted, restless these she bore "In dewy darkness. Then renew'd again "Her labor, till fair day made blunt the stars; "From Sol's first rising till his evening fall.

"Weary'd at length, and parch'd with thirst,--no stream "Her lips to moisten nigh, by chance she spy'd "A straw-thatch'd cot, and knock'd the humble door.

"An ancient dame thence stepp'd,--the G.o.ddess saw, "And brought her, (who for water simply crav'd) "A pleasing draught where roasted grain had boil'd.

"Swallowing the gift presented, rudely came "A brazen-fronted boy, and facing stood: "Then laughing mock'd to see her greedy drink.

"Angry grew Ceres, all the offer'd draught, "Yet unconsum'd, she drench'd him as he jeer'd, "With barley mixt with liquid: straight his face "The spots imbib'd; and what but now as arms "He bore, as legs he carries; to his limbs "Thus chang'd, a tail is added; shrunk in size, "Small is his power to harm; shorter he seems "Than the small lizard. Swift away he fled "(As, wondering, weeping, try'd the dame to clasp "His changing form) and gain'd a sheltering hole.

"Well suits his star-like skin the name he bears.

"Long were the tale to tell, what tracts of land "What tracts of sea, the wandering G.o.ddess pa.s.s'd.

"Earth now no spot unsearch'd affording, back "To Sicily she turns; with close research "Each part exploring, till at length she comes "To Cyane; who all the tale had told "If still unchang'd: much as she wish'd to speak "Nor lips, nor tongue can aid her; nought remains "Speech to afford. Yet plain a sign she gives, "The zone of Proserpine upon her waves "Light floating; in the sacred stream it fell;-- "Dropt as she pa.s.s'd the place. Well Ceres knew "The sight, and then--as then her loss first known, "Tore her dishevell'd tresses, beat her breast "With blows on blows redoubled. Still unknown "The spot that holds her, every part of earth "Blaming, ungrateful, worthless of her fruits.

"But chief Trinacria, in whose isle was found "The vestige of her loss. For this she breaks "With furious hand the glebe up-turning plough: "And angry, to an equal death she dooms, "The tiller and his ox: forbids the fields "Back to return th' entrusted grain; the seeds "All rotting. Now that fertile land, renown'd "Through the wide earth, lies useless; all the grain "Dies in the earliest shoots: now scorching rays; "Now floods of rain destroy it: noxious stars "Now harm; now blighting winds: and hungry birds "The scatter'd seed devour: the darnel springs, "The thistle, and the knot-gra.s.s thick, which choke "The sprouting wheat, and make the harvest void.

"Now Arethusa from th' Eleian waves "Exalts her head; her dropping tresses flung "Back from her forehead, parting shade her ears: "And thus;--O G.o.ddess! mother of the maid, "So sought through earth, mother of all earth's fruits!

"Cease now thy toilsome labor; cease thine ire, "Against the land that prov'd to thee so true: "Thine ire unmerited; unwilling she, "Op'd for the spoil a pa.s.sage. Hither I "No suppliant for my native isle approach; "An alien here sojourning. Pisa's land "My country; there near Elis first I sprung: "A stranger now in Sicily I dwell.

"This soil, more grateful far than is my own; "This soil, where I my houshold G.o.ds have plac'd; "I, Arethusa, and have fix'd my seat, "Preserve, mild G.o.ddess! Why I chang'd my land, "Why to Ortygia, through the wide waves borne, "I came, a more appropriate hour will ask; "When you, from care reliev'd, can grant your ear "With brow unclouded. Through the opening earth "I flow; and borne through subterraneous depths, "Here lift again my head, again behold "The long-lost stars. Hence was my lot to see, "As pa.s.s'd my stream close by the Stygian gulph, "Your Proserpine;--sad still her face appear'd, "Nor fear had wholly left it. Yet she reigns "A queen; the mightiest in the realm of shade, "The powerful consort of th' infernal king.

"Like marble at the words the mother stands, "Stupid with grief; and long astounded seems: "Sorrow by heavier sorrow now surpa.s.s'd.

"Then in her chariot mounts th' ethereal sky, "And stands indignant at th' imperial throne; "Her locks wild flowing, and her face in clouds.

"Lo! here a suppliant, Jove,--she cry'd,--I come, "To beg for her, my daughter and thine own; "For if no favor may the mother find, "The daughter's claim may move. Let not thy child "Deserve thy care the less, as born of me.

"Lo! my lost maid, so long, so vainly sought "At length is found; if finding we may call "A surer loss; if finding we may call "The knowledge where she is. Her ravish'd charms "I'll pardon; let him but my child restore.

"What though a robber might my daughter wed, "Thine sure is worthy of a different mate!

"Then Jove;--our daughter, our dear mutual pledge, "As yours, so mine, demands our mutual care.

"But rightly still affairs if we design, "What you lament will no injustice prove; "Love only. Sure, a son-in-law like him, "Can ne'er degrade, will you consent but yield.

"Grant nought beyond,--'tis no such trivial boast, "Jove's brother to be call'd! How then, if more "I claim pre-eminence from chance alone!

"Still, if so obstinate your wish remains "For separation, go,--let Proserpine "To heaven return, on this condition strict, "Her lips no food have touch'd. So will the fates.

"He ceas'd.--Glad Ceres, certain to regain "Her daughter, knew not what the fates forbade.

"Her fast was broken; thoughtless as she stray'd "Around the garden, from a bending tree "She pluck'd a fair pomegranate, and seven seeds "From the pale rind she pick'd, and ate. None saw "Save one, Ascalaphus, the luckless deed; "Whom Orphne, fam'd Avernus' nymphs among, "To Acheron, long since, 'tis said, produc'd "Beneath a dusky cave. He, cruel, told; "And his discovery stay'd the hop'd return.

"Much wept the queen of Pluto, but she chang'd "The vile informer to an hideous shape: "Sprinkled with streams of Phlegethon, his head "Feather'd appears, with beak, and monstrous eyes; "Spoil'd of his shape, with yellow feathers cloth'd: "Large grows his head; bent are his lengthen'd nails; "Scarcely he moves the pinions which are shot "Light from his lazy arms. A filthy bird "Becoming;--constant presager of woe; "An owl inactive; omen dire to man.

"Well he by his informing tongue deserv'd, "His doom, but Achelodes, from whence "Your wings, and bird-like feet, whilst still you bear "Your virgin features? Was it that you mix'd, "When Proserpine the vernal flowers would cull, "Amidst her numerous train? The nymph you sought "Through earth's extent in vain; that ocean too "Your anxious search might scape not, straight you pray'd "For waving wings to winnow o'er the deep; "And favouring G.o.ds you found. Of golden hue "Quick-shooting wings your arms you saw bespread; "But lest your inbred song, which every ear "Had charm'd; and lest your highly-gifted voice, "Your tongue should fail to use;--a virgin face, "And speech yet human are indulg'd you still.

"Now Jove as umpire 'twixt the angry pair "His mourning sister, and his brother, bids "The year revolving either side oblige: "Now will the G.o.ddess, mutual in each realm, "Six months with Ceres dwell in heaven; and six "Reign with her spouse in h.e.l.l. Straight were perceiv'd "The G.o.ddess' countenance, and demeanour chang'd.

"For now her forehead, which had still retain'd, "(To Pluto even) a sad and sorrowing gloom, "Gladden'd: so Phbus long in cloudy shade "Envelop'd, shines, their umbrous veil dispers'd.

"Now Ceres calm, her daughter safe regain'd, "Enquires:--O Arethusa! say the cause, "Which hither brought thee; why a sacred fount?

"Hush'd were the waves; and from the lowest depths "The G.o.ddess rais'd her head; and as she told, "The old amours the flood of Elis knew, "Press'd out the water from her tresses green.

"Once with the nymphs, that on Achaa's hills "Rove, was I seen; none closer beat than I "The thickets; none than I more skilful spread "Th' ensnaring net. Yet though no fame I sought "For beauty; though robust, I bore the name "Of beauteous. Whilst the constant theme of praise, "My features fair, to me no pleasure gave; "What other nymphs inspire with joyful pride, "Corporeal charms, did but my blushes raise.

"To please I thought a crime. Once tir'd with sport, "The Stymphalidian forest I had left: "Warm was the day; I with redoubled heat, "Glow'd from my toil. A gliding stream I found "By ripplings undisturb'd; silent and smooth "It flow'd; so clear, that every stone was seen "On the deep bottom; gently crept the waves; "To creep scarce seeming; o'er the shelving banks "The stream-fed poplar, and the willow h.o.a.r, "A grateful shadow cast. The brink I reach'd "Dipp'd first my feet, then waded to my knee; "Not yet content, I loos'd my zone, and hung "Upon a bending osier my soft robe: "Then naked plung'd amid the stream; the waves "Beating, and sporting in a thousand shapes; "My arms around in every posture flung; "A strange unusual murmur seem'd to sound, "Deep from the bottom; terror-struck I gain'd "The nearest brink;--when,--whither dost thou fly?

"O, Arethusa? whither dost thou fly?

"Alphaeus, from his waters, hoa.r.s.e exclaim'd!

"Vestless I fled, for on th' opposing bank "My garment hung. Fiercer the G.o.d pursu'd; "Fiercer he burn'd, all naked as I ran: "Prepar'd more ready for his force I seem'd.

"Such was my flight, and such was his pursuit; "As when on trembling wings, before the hawk "Fly the mild doves: as when the hawk fierce drives "The trembling doves before him. Long the chase "I bore; Orchomenus, and Psophis soon "I pa.s.s'd, and pa.s.s'd Cyllene, and the caves "Of Maenalus, and Erymanthus' frosts, "To Elis, ere his speed could cope with mine.

"In strength unequal, I sustain'd no more "The toilsome race; he stouter flagg'd less soon.

"But still o'er plains I ran; o'er mountains thick "With forests clad; o'er stones, and rugged rocks; "And pathless spots. Behind me Phbus shone.

"I saw, if fear deceiv'd me not, far spread "His shade before me. What could less deceive, "I heard his footsteps; and his breath full strong "Blew on my banded tresses. Weary'd, faint "With the long flight, I cry'd;--Dictynna, chaste!

"Lost am I,--help a quiver-bearing nymph, "One who thy bow has oft entrusted borne; "And oft thy quiver, loaded full with darts.

"Mov'd was the G.o.ddess; from the darkest clouds "She one selected, and around me threw.

"The river-G.o.d, about the misty veil "Pry'd anxious; and unwitting deeply grop'd "Within the hollow cloud! Unconscious, twice "The spot he compa.s.s'd, where Diana thought "My safety surest; twice he then aloud "Ho! Arethusa,--Arethusa! call'd:-- "What terror seiz'd my soul! not less the dread "Of lambs, when round the sheltering fold they hear "The wolves loud howling: or the trembling hare "Close in a bramble hid, who sees approach "The wide-mouth'd, hostile hounds, and fears to move.

"Further he pa.s.s'd not, for beyond the place "No footsteps he discern'd, but guarding watch'd "Around the mist. So closely thus besieg'd, "My limbs a cold sweat seiz'd; cerulean drops "Fell from my body; when my feet I mov'd, "A pool remain'd; fast dropp'd my hair in dew; "And speedier than the wonderous tale I tell, "Chang'd to a stream I flow'd. But soon the G.o.d, "Knew his lov'd waters; laid the man aside, "And straight a.s.sum'd his proper watery form; "With mine to mingle. Dian' cleft the ground; "Sinking, through caverns dark I held my way; "And reach'd Ortygia, from the G.o.ddess nam'd; "There first ascending view'd the upper skies.

"Here Arethusa ceas'd. Then Ceres yokes "The coupled dragons to her car, their mouths "Curb'd by the reins; and through the air is borne, "Midway 'twixt heaven and earth. At Pallas' town "Arriv'd, Triptolemus the car ascends, "By her commission'd;--bade to spread the seed "Entrusted: part on ground untill'd before; "And part on land which long had fallow laid.

"O'er Europe now, and Asia's lands, the youth "Sublimely sails, and reaches Scythia's clime, "Where Lyncus rul'd. Beneath the monarch's roof, "Here enter'd; and to him, who curious sought "How there he journey'd; what his journey's cause; "His name, and country; thus the youth reply'd.-- "Athens the fam'd, my country; and my name "Triptolemus: but neither o'er the main, "Borne in a ship, nor travelling slow by land, "I hither came; my path was through the air.

"I bring the gift of Ceres; scatter'd wide "Through all your s.p.a.cious fields, quickly restor'd "In fruitful crops the wholesome food will spring.

"The barbarous monarch, envious he should bear "So great a blessing, takes him for his guest, "And when with sleep weigh'd down attacks him. Rais'd "To pierce his bosom, was the sword;--just then "The wretch, by Ceres, to a lynx was turn'd.

"Then mounts again the youth, and through the air "Bids him once more the sacred dragons steer.

"Our chosen champion ended here her lays, "And all the nymphs unanimous, exclaim'd;-- "The Heliconian G.o.ddesses have gain'd.

"Vanquish'd, the others rail'd. When she resum'd:-- "Is not your punishment enough deserv'd?

"Foil'd in the contest, must you swell your crime, "With base revilings? Patient now no more, "To punish we begin; what anger bids, "We now perform.--Loud laugh'd the scornful maids, "Our threatening words despis'd, and strove to speak, "And clapp'd with outcries menacing, their hands.

"When from their fingers shooting plumes they spy; "And feathers shade their arms; her sister's face, "Each sees to harden in an h.o.r.n.y beak; "To beat their bosoms trying with rais'd arms, "In air suspended, on those arms they move; "The new-shap'd birds the sylvan tribes increase: "Magpies, the scandal of the grove. Thus chang'd, "Their former eloquence they still maintain, "In hoa.r.s.e garrulity, and empty noise."

*The Sixth Book.*

Trial of skill betwixt Pallas and Arachne. Transformation of Arachne to a spider. Pride of Niobe. Her children slain by Apollo and Diana. Her change to marble. The Lycian peasants changed to frogs. Fate of Marsyas. Pelops. Story of Tereus, Procne, and Philomela. Their change to birds. Boreas and Orithya. Birth of Zethes and Calas.

THE *Sixth Book* OF THE METAMORPHOSES OF OVID.

Minerva pleas'd attention to the muse, While thus she spoke afforded; prais'd the song, And prais'd the just resentment of the maids.

Then to herself;--"the vengeance others take, "Merely to praise were mean. I too should claim "Like praise, for like revenge; nor longer bear "My power contemn'd, by who unpunish'd live."

And on Arachne, fair Maeonian maid, She turns her vengeful mind; whose skill she heard Rivall'd her own in labors of the loom.