The Metamorphoses of Publius Ovidus Naso in English blank verse Part 17

"One daughter sole remaining; of a sire "Less impious, worthy: her the pauper sold.

"Her free-born soul, a master's sway disclaim'd.

"Her hands extending, to the neighbouring main, "O thou!--she cry'd--who gain'd my virgin spoil "s.n.a.t.c.h me from bondage.--Neptune had the maid "Previous enjoy'd: nor spurn'd her earnest prayer.

"She whom her master following close, had seen "In her own shape but now, in manly guise "Appears,--in garments such as fishers clothe.

"The master sees, and speaks:--O, thou! who rul'st "The trembling reed; whose bending wire thy baits "Conceal; so may thy wiles the water aid; "So may the fish deceiv'd, beneath the waves, "Thy hooks detect not, till too firmly fixt.

"Say thou but where she is, who stood but now "Upon this beach, in humble robes array'd, "With locks disorder'd; on this sh.o.r.e she stood; "I saw her,--but no further mark her feet.-- "The aid of Neptune well the maid perceiv'd, "And joys that of herself herself is sought, "Thus his enquiries answering;--Whom thou art "I know not; studious bent, the deep alone, "And care to drag my prey, my eyes employ.

"More to remove thy doubts, so may the G.o.d "Who rules the ocean, aid my toiling art, "As here I swear, no man upon this sh.o.r.e, "Nor female, I excepted, has appear'd.

"These words the owner credits, and the sand "Treads with returning steps; deluded goes, "And as he goes, her former shape returns.

"Soon as this changing power the sire perceiv'd, "The damsel oft he sold. Now she escapes "Beneath a mare's resemblance: now a bird, "An heifer now, and now a deer she seem'd.

"Her greedy parent's maw with food ill-gain'd "Supplying. When at last his forceful plague "Had every aid consum'd, and every aid "Fresh food afforded to his fierce disease, "Then he commenc'd with furious fangs to tear "For nurture his own limbs; life to support, "By what his body and his life destroy'd.

"But why on others' transformations dwell?

"Myself, O youths! enjoy a power, my form "To alter; not unlimited my range.

"Now in the shape at present I a.s.sume; "Anon I writhe beneath a serpent's form; "Or take the figure of a lordly bull, "And wear my strength in horns, while horns I had: "Disfigur'd now, my forehead's side laments "One weapon ravish'd, as you well may see."-- He spoke, and heavy sighs his words pursu'd.

*The Ninth Book.*

Combat of Achelous and Hercules for Dejanira. Death of Nessus.

Torments and death of Hercules. His deification. Story of the change of Galanthis to a weasel. Of Dryope to a Lotus-tree.

Iolaus restored to youth. Murmuring of the G.o.ds. The incestuous love of Byblis. Her transformation to a fountain. Story of Iphis and Ianthe.

THE *Ninth Book* OF THE METAMORPHOSES OF OVID.

The son of aegeus begs the cause to know Whence spring those groans, and whence that wounded front?

And thus the stream of Calydon replies;-- (His uncomb'd locks with marshy reeds entwin'd).

"A mournful task, O, warrior! you impose;-- "For who, when vanquish'd, joys to tell the fight "Where he was worsted? yet will I relate "In order all: vanquish'd, the shame was small; "The honor great, for such a prize to strive: "And such a conqueror more the mind relieves.

"Has e'er the beauteous Dejanira's name "Reach'd to your ears? her charms the envy'd hope "Of numerous wooers form'd; mine with the rest.

"As o'er the threshold of my wish'd-for sire "I stepp'd, I hail'd him.--O, Parthaon's son, "For thine accept me.--So Alcides spoke, "And all the rest to our pretensions bow'd.

"Of Jove, his sire, he boasts; and all the fame "His acts deserv'd; and stepdame's cruel laws "Final completed. I (who shameful thought "That G.o.ds should yield to mortals; then a G.o.d "Alcides was not) thus his claim oppos'd:-- "A king of floods behold me; floods which roll "With winding current through the land you sway; "A son in me accept, no stranger sent "From distant regions; of your country one, "Part of your rule. Let it not hurt my claim, "That Juno hates me not; that all the toil "Of slavish orders I have ne'er perform'd.

"Alcmena was his mother, let him boast!

"Jove is a sire but feign'd, or if one true, "Is criminally so. He claims a sire "To prove his mother's infamy: then chuse-- "Say feign'd thy origin from Jove, or fruit "Of intercourse adulterous, own thou art.-- "Me, speaking thus, with furious eyes he view'd, "Nor rul'd his swelling rage, replying fierce;-- "More than my tongue I on my arm depend: "Whilst I in fighting gain the palm, be thou "Victor in talking.--Furious on he rush'd.

"So proudly boasting, to submit I scorn'd; "But stript my sea-green robe, my arms oppos'd, "And held my firm-clench'd hands before my breast; "For stout resistance every limb prepar'd, "To meet the fight. He in his hollow palms "The dust collecting, sprinkled me all o'er, "And then the yellow sand upon me threw.

"Now on my neck he seizes; now he grasps "My slippery thighs: but only thinks to hold, "In every part a.s.sailing. Still secure "In bulk I stand, and he a.s.sails in vain.

"Thus stands a rock, which waves with thundering roar "Surround; it stands unhurt in all its strength.

"A little we recede, then rush again "To join the war: stoutly our ground we hold, "Steady resolv'd to yield not. Foot to foot "Fixt firm: I p.r.o.ne press with my ample breast, "And hand with hand, with forehead forehead joins.

"So have I seen two mighty bulls contend, "When each the fairest heifer of the grove "Expects the arduous struggle to reward: "The herds behold and tremble, witless which "The powerful contest shall successful gain.

"Thrice while I clasp'd him close, Alcides strove "To throw me from his breast, in vain,--the fourth "He shook me from him, and my clasping arms "Unloosing, instant turn'd me with his hand; "(Truth must I speak,) and heavy on my back "He hung. If credence may my words demand, "Nor seek I fame through tales of false deceit, "A mighty mountain on me seem'd to weigh: "Scarce were my arms, with trickling sweat bedew'd, "Loos'd from his grasp; scarce was my body freed "From his hard gripe, when panting hard for breath, "Ere I could strength regain, my throat he seiz'd.

"Then on the earth my knee was press'd; my mouth "Then bit the sand. Inferior prov'd in strength, "To arts I next betook me. Slipp'd his hands "In form a long round serpent; while I roll'd "In winding spires my body; while I shook "My forked tongue with hisses dire, he laugh'd, "And mock'd my arts; exclaiming,--snakes to kill "I in my cradle knew; grant thou excel'st, "O, Achelous! others far in size, "What art thou mated with the Hydra's bulk?

"He fertile from his wounds, his hundred heads "Ne'er felt diminish'd, for straightway his neck, "With two successors, brav'd the stroke again: "Yet him I vanquish'd with his branching heads "From blood produc'd: from every loss more stout, "Him prostrate I o'erthrew. What hope hast thou, "In form fallacious, who with borrow'd arms "Now threaten'st? whom a form precarious hides?

"He said, and fast about my throat he squeez'd "His nervous fingers; choaking, hard I strove, "As pincer-like he press'd me, to unloose "From his tight grasp my neck. Conquer'd in this, "Still a third shape, the furious bull remain'd: "Chang'd to a bull, again I wag'd the war.

"Around my brawny neck his arms he threw "To left, and spite of every effort try'd "To 'scape, he dragg'd me down; the solid earth "Deep with my horn he pierc'd, and stretch'd me p.r.o.ne "On the wide sand. Unsated yet his rage, "His fierce hand seiz'd my stubborn horn, and broke "From my maim'd front the weapon. Naiad nymphs "This consecrated, fill'd with fruits, and flowers "Of odorous fragrance, and the horn is priz'd "By Plenty's G.o.ddess as her favorite care."

He spoke, a nymph close-girt like Dian's train, Her ample tresses o'er each shoulder spread, Enter'd, supporting all of Autumn's fruit In the rich horn, and mellowest apples came The second course to grace. Now day appear'd: The youths when light the loftiest summits touch'd Of the high hills, departed; waiting not Till the rough floods in peaceful channels flow'd; The troubled currents smooth'd. Profound his head Of rustic semblance, Achelous hides 'Reft of his horn, beneath his deepest waves.

His forehead's honor lost sore gall'd him: all Save that was perfect. Ev'n his forehead's loss With willow boughs and marshy reeds was hid.

Thou too, rash Nessus, through thy furious love, Of the same virgin, thy destruction met; Pierc'd through thy body with the feather'd dart!

Jove's son returning to his natal soil, Companion'd by his new-made bride, approach'd Evenus' rapid flood. Swol'n was the stream With wintry showers as wont, and raging whirls Unfordable proclaim'd it; him, himself Fearless, yet anxious for his spouse's care, Nessus approach'd, in strength of limbs secure, And knowledge of the fords, and thus he spoke; "Her, O Alcides! will I safely bear "To yonder bank; thou all thy efforts use "In swimming." Straight the Theban hero gives The pallid Calydonian to his care, Shivering with dread; no less the centaur frights Than the rough flood. The mighty warrior, prest With his large quiver, and the lion's hide, For on the bank opposing had he flung His club and curved bow, exclaim'd--"the stream "My arms will vanquish, soon as I essay."-- Nor dubious waits, but in the torrent leaps, Not heeding where most tranquil flows the stream, But stemming furious all its utmost rage.

Now had he reach'd the bank, now held again The bow flung o'er, when loud his spouse's shrieks a.s.sail'd his ear. To Nessus, whom he saw His trust about betraying, loud he cry'd;-- "What vain reliance on thy rapid speed "Tempts thee to violence? O, double-shap'd!

"I speak, regard me,--to respect my rights, "Should deference to me not move thee, think "How whirls thy sire, and that thy rage may check "For wishes unallow'd. Yet hope thou not "With courser's speed to 'scape me: with my dart, "Not feet, will I pursue thee."--His last words With deeds he guarantees, and through and through The flying culprit felt the javelin driv'n; Out through his breast the forked weapon stood: Withdrawn, from either wound gush'd forth the gore, Mixt with the venom of Lernaea's pest.

This be preserv'd.--"Nor will I unreveng'd "Expire,"--he murmur'd faintly to himself; And gave his raiment, in the warm blood dipt, A present to the nymph whose spoil he sought; To wake again her husband's dormant love.

Long was the intermediate time, the deeds, Of great Alcides, and his step-dame's hate, Fill'd all the world meanwhile. Victor return'd From out chalia, when the promis'd rites, To Jove Caenean, he prepar'd to pay, Tattling report, who joys in falshood mixt With circ.u.mstantial truth, and still the least Swells with her lies, had in thine ears instill'd, O Dejanira! that Alcmena's son, With Iole was smitten. Ardent love Sway'd her belief, and terror-struck to hear Of this new flame, she melted into tears; With them her weeping grief first flow'd away: But soon she bursted forth.--"Why weep I so?

"The harlot will but gladden in my tears!

"But ere she here arrives, it me behoves "Each effort to employ, while time now serves, "To hinder what he seeks; whilst yet my couch "Another presses not. Shall I complain, "Or rest in silence? Shall I Calydon "Re-seek, or here remain? Shall I abscond "His habitation, or, if nought else serves, "Strenuous oppose him? Or if truly bent, "O, Meleager! with a sister's pride, "Thy wicked deeds t' outvie, a witness leave, "The harlot's throat divided, what the rage "Of woman may accomplish, when so wrong'd."-- In whirls her agitated mind is toss'd; Determining last to send to him the robe, In Nessus' blood imbu'd, and so restore His waning love. Witless of what she sends, Herself to Lychas' unsuspecting hands The cause of future grief delivers. Wretch Most pitiable! she, with warm-coaxing words, Instructs the boy to bear her spouse the gift.

Th' unwitting warrior takes it, and straight clothes His shoulders with Echidna's poisonous gore.

Incense he sprinkles in the primal flames He kindles,--with the flames his prayers ascend.

As from the goblet he the vintage pours On marble altars; hapless by the heat The poison more was quicken'd; by the flame Melted, it grew more potent; wide diffus'd, Through all the limbs of Hercules it spread.

Still while he could, his fort.i.tude, as wont His groans suppress'd; at last his patience spent, Fierce from the altar flinging, te's mount So woody, with his plaintive shrieks he fills, And instant from his limbs the deadly robe Essays to tear: that, where he strips, the skin, Stript also, follows; dreadful to describe!

Or to his limbs, his utmost struggling vain, It clings: or bare his lacerated joints And huge bones stand. With hissing noise his blood Burns, as when glowing iron in a pool Is dipp'd, so boils it with the venom fierce.

Nor hope of help remain'd, the greedy fires, His utmost vitals waste; and purple sweat Bedews his every limb; his scorch'd nerves crack; And whilst his marrow, with the latent pest, Runs fluid, high tow'rd heaven his arms he holds, Exclaiming;--"now Saturnia, feast thy soul "With my destruction; joy, O savage!--view "From lofty heaven my tortures; satiate now "Thy rancorous soul:--but if a foe may move "Commiseration, (for thy foe I am) "Take hence this life, grievous, through direful pains: "Hateful to thee, and destin'd first for toils.

"Death now would be a boon; and such a boon "A step-dame might confer. Have I for this, "Busiris slain, who drench'd the temples deep "With travellers' blood? For this Antaeus robb'd "Of nutriment parental? Did thy bulk, "Of triple-form, swain of Iberia, fright?

"Or thou, three-headed Cerberus, me move?

"Wrought I for this in Elis? at the lake "Of Stymphalis? and in Parthenian woods?

"Did not my valor seize the golden belt "Of Thermodon's brave queen? the apples gain, "Ill-guarded by th' unsleeping dragon's care?

"Could the fierce Centaur me resist? or could "The mighty boar that laid Arcadia waste?

"And what avail'd the Hydra, that he grew "From every loss, in double strength reviv'd?

"How? Saw I not the Thracian coursers gorg'd "With human gore! whose stalls with mangled limbs "Crowded, I overthrew, and slew their lord "On his slain coursers? Strangled by these hands "Nemaea's monster lies. Heaven I upbore "Upon these shoulders. The fierce wife of Jove "Weary'd at length with bidding, I untir'd "Still was of acting. But at length behold "A new-found plague, which not the bravest soul, "Nor arms, nor darts can aught resist. Fierce fire, "Darts through my deepest inwards; all my limbs "Greedy devouring. Yet Eurystheus lives!

"Still are there who the deities believe?"-- He said, and o'er high te tortur'd rov'd Like a mad tiger, when the hunter's dart Stands in his body, and the wounder flies.

Oft would you see him groaning; storming oft; Oft straining from his limbs again to fling The vest; trees rooting up; against the hills Fierce railing; next up to his father's skies His arms extending. Lo! he Lychas spies, Where trembling in a hollow rock he hides!

Then, all his fury in its utmost strength, Raging, he cry'd;--"Thou, Lychas, thou supply'd "This deadly gift. Thou art the author then "Of my destruction."--Shuddering he, and pale, In timid accents strove excuse to plead: Speaking, and round his knees prepar'd to cling, Alcides seiz'd him, with an engine's force Whirl'd round and round, and hurl'd him in the waves, Which by Eubaea roll. He, as he shot Through air, was harden'd. As the falling showers Concrete by freezing winds, whence snow is form'd: As snows by rolling, their soft bodies join, Conglomerating into solid hail: So ancient times believ'd, the boy thus flung, Through empty air, by strong Alcides' arm, Bloodless through fear, and all his moisture drain'd, Chang'd to a flinty rock. A rock e'en now High in Eubaea's gulph exalts its head, Which still of human form the marks retains.

Which, as though still of consciousness possess'd, The sailors fear to tread, and Lychas call.

Thou, Jove's renowned offspring, fell'd the trees Which lofty te bore, and built a pile: Then bade the son of Paean bear thy bow, Thy mighty quiver, and thy darts, to view Once more the realm of Troy; and through his aid The flames were plac'd below, whose greedy spires Seiz'd on the structure. On the woody top Thou laid'st the hide Nemaean, and thy head, Supported with thy club, with brow serene As though with garlands circled, at a feast Thou laid'st, 'mid goblets fill'd with sparkling wine.

Now the strong fires spread wide o'er every part, Crackling, and seizing his regardless limbs, Who them despis'd. The G.o.ds beheld with fear The earth's avenger. Jove, who saw their care With joyous countenance, thus the powers address'd: "This fear, O deities! makes glad my heart; "And lively pleasure swells in all my breast, "That sire and sovereign o'er such grateful minds "I hold my sway; since to my offspring too "Your favoring care extends. No less, 'tis true, "His deeds stupendous claim. Still I'm oblig'd.

"But from your anxious b.r.e.a.s.t.s banish vain fear; "Despise those flames of te; he who all "O'ercame, shall conquer even the flames you see: "Nor shall the power of Vulcan ought consume, "Save his maternal part: what he deriv'd "From me, is ever-during; safe from death; "And never vanquish'd by the force of fire.

"That we'll receive, his earthly race compleat, "Amidst the heavenly host; and all I trust "My actions gladly will approve. Should one "Haply, with grief see Hercules a G.o.d, "And grudge the high reward; ev'n he shall grant "His great deserts demand it; and allow "Unwilling approbation." All a.s.sent; Not even his royal spouse's forehead wore, A frown at ought he said; his final words Irk'd her at length, to be so plainly mark'd.

Vulcan meantime each corruptible part Bore off in flames, nor could Alcides' form Remaining, now be known; nought he retain'd Of what his mother gave; Jove's share alone.

A serpent revels thus in glittering scales, His age and former skin thrown off at once.

So when Tirynthius from his mortal limbs Departed, in his better part he shone, Increas'd in stature; and majestic grace Augustly deck'd his venerable brow.

Veil'd in a hollow cloud, and borne along By four swift steeds, in a high car, the sire Him plac'd in glory 'mid the radiant stars.

Atlas perceiv'd his load increas'd. Nor yet Eurystheus 'bated in his rancorous hate, But cruel exercis'd his savage rage, Against the offspring of the sire abhorr'd.

But now Alcmena, worn with constant cares, In Argolis, to Iole confides Her aged plaints, to her the labors tells Her son atchiev'd, o'er all the wide world known; And her own griefs beside. Alcides' words Caus'd Hyllus to his couch to take, and take Iole, cordial to his inmost heart: And now with generous fruit, the nymph was large.

Alcmena, thus to her commenc'd her tale.--

"May thee, at least, the favoring G.o.ds indulge; "And all delay diminish, when matur'd, "Thou to Ilithyia shalt have need to call, "Who o'er travailing mothers bears the rule; "Whom Juno's influence made so hard to me.

"Of Hercules toil-bearing, now the birth, "Approach'd, and in the tenth sign rul'd the sun.

"A mighty bulk swell'd out my womb, so huge, "Well might you know that Jove the load had caus'd: "Nor could I longer bear my throes (my limbs "Cold rigors seize, while now I speak; my pains "Part ev'n in memory now I seem to feel) "Through seven long nights, and seven long days with pangs "Incessant was I rack'd: my arms to heaven "Stretching, I call'd Lucina, and the powers, "With outcries mighty. True Lucina came, "But came by Juno prepossest, and bent "My life to sacrifice to Juno's rage.

"Soon as my groans she hearken'd, down she sate "Upon the altar, plac'd without the gates: "'Neath her right ham, her left knee pressing; join'd "Fingers with fingers cross'd upon her breast "My labor stay'd; and spellful words she spoke "In whispering tone; the spellful words delay'd "Th' approaching birth. I strain, and madly rave "With vain upbraidings to ungrateful Jove, "And crave for death; in such expressions 'plain "As hardest flints might move. The Theban dames "Around me throng; a.s.sist me with their prayers; "And me my trying pains exhort to bear.

"Galanthis, one who tended me, of race "Plebean; yellow-hair'd; and sedulous "What order'd to perform; and much esteem'd "For courteous deeds;--she first suspected, (what, "I know not) somewhat, form'd by Juno's pique: "And while she constant pa.s.s'd; now to, now fro, "She saw the G.o.ddess on the altar sit, "Girding her arms, with close-knit fingers o'er "Her knees, and said;--O dame, whoe'er thou art, "Our mistress gratulate. Alcmena now "Argolican, is lighten'd. Now the prayers "Of the child-bearer meet her hopes.--The dame "Who rules the womb, straight from her station leap'd, "And all astounded, her clench'd fingers loos'd: "I in that moment felt my bonds undone.

"Galanthis, they report, the G.o.ddess mock'd "Thus cheated, by her laughter. Savage, she "Dragg'd her so laughing, by the tresses seiz'd, "And forc'd her down to earth, as up she strove "Erect to rise; and to forefeet her arms "Transform'd. The same agility remains; "Her back its colour keeps; her form alone "Is diverse. She, 'cause then her lying mouth "My birth a.s.sisted, by her mouth still bears: "And round my house she harbors as before."--