The Metamorphoses of Publius Ovidus Naso in English blank verse Part 21

"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 pa.s.sion 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 h.o.a.ry 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 Schneus' daughter; hard "Which joy'd the most to judge. How oft her pace "She slacken'd, when with ease she might have pa.s.s'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'erpa.s.s'd.

"Now near the goal they come,--O, G.o.ddess! now "Who gave the boon a.s.sist; 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 surpa.s.s 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 pa.s.s'd they near a temple, long since rais'd "By fam'd Echion, in a shady wood, "To the great mother of the heavenly G.o.ds, "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 l.u.s.t the place defil'd.

"The wooden images their eyes avert: "The tower-crown'd G.o.ddess 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 Cybelean reins.

"Do thou, O dearest boy! their rage avoid; "Not theirs alone, but all the savage tribe, "That stubborn meet with b.r.e.a.s.t.s 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 Cinyrean 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 s.p.a.ce 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. Ma.s.sacre 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 a.s.ses ears. Troy built by Apollo and Neptune. Laomedon's perfidy. Hesione freed by Hercules, and married to Telamon. Peleus and Thetis. Birth of Achilles. Chione ravished by Mercury, and by Apollo. Slain by Diana. Her sire Daedalion changed into an hawk. A wolf changed by Thetis to marble. Voyage of Cex to Delphos. Lost in a storm.

Grief of Alcyone. Morpheus acquaints her with her husband's death. Change of both to kingfishers. aesacus into a cormorant.

THE *Eleventh Book* OF THE METAMORPHOSES OF OVID.

While thus the Thracian bard the forests drew, And rocks, and furious beasts with strains divine;-- Behold the Thracian dames! their madden'd b.r.e.a.s.t.s Clad with the s.h.a.ggy spoil of furious beasts, Espy'd him from an hillock's rising swell, As to his sounding strings he shap'd the song.

When one, her tresses in the ruffling air Wild streaming, cry'd--"Lo! him who spurns our ties!"-- And full her dart 'gainst the harmonious mouth Of Phbus' son she flung: entwisted round With leaves, a bruise without a wound appear'd.

A stone another for a weapon seiz'd; The flying stone was even in air subdu'd By harmony and song; and at his feet Low fell, as suppliant for its daring fault.

But now the tumult swells more furious,--bounds It knows not! mad Erinnys reigns around.

Yet all their weapons had his music's power Soften'd; but clamor, Berecynthian horns, Drums, clappings, baccha.n.a.lian shouts, and howls, Drown'd the soft lyre. Then were the stones distain'd With silenc'd Orpheus' blood. The Bacchae first Drove wide the crowding birds, the snakes, the beasts, In throngs collected by his tuneful voice; Glory of Orpheus' stage. From thence they turn'd Their gory hands on Orpheus, and around Cl.u.s.ter'd like fowls that in the day espy The bird of darkness. Then as in the morn The high-rais'd amphitheatre beholds The stag a prey to hounds; so they the bard Attack'd, and flung their Thyrsi twin'd with leaves; For different use first form'd. Those hurl huge clods: These branches torn from trees; and others stones.

Lest to their fury arms were wanting, lo!

A yoke of oxen with the ploughshare broke The ground, not distant far; with sinews there Of nervous strength, the husbandmen upturn'd The stubborn soil; with sweat producing fruit.

These, when the troop they saw, affrighted fled, Quitting their instruments of toil. Their rakes, Their ponderous harrows, and their huge long spades, Were scatter'd left on the deserted field.

These when their furious hands had seiz'd, and tore From the strong oxen's heads the threatening horns, Back they return'd to end the poet's fate; And sacrilegious, as he stretch'd his hands, They slaughter'd him! Then first in vain his words Were utter'd; nought could then his speech avail.

Then, heavenly powers! his spirit was expell'd And breath'd in air, even through that mouth whose sound Hard rocks had heard, and wildest beasts had own'd.

For thee, O Orpheus! mourn'd the feather'd tribe, And crowds of savage monsters; flinty rocks Bewail'd thee; forests, which thy tempting song So oft had caus'd to follow, wept; the trees, Shorn of their pride, bewail'd with falling leaves.

Each stream, 'tis said, with flowing tears increas'd Its current. Naad nymphs and Dryads wore Garments of sable tinge, with streaming hair.

Wide scatter'd lie his limbs. His head and lyre Thou, Hebrus, dost receive; and while they glide, Wond'rous occurrence! down the floating stream, The lyre a mournful moan sends forth; the lips, Now lifeless, murmur plaintive; and the bank Echoes the lamentations. Borne along To ocean, now his native stream they leave, And reach Methymna on the Lesbian sh.o.r.e.

The head, expos'd thus on the foreign sand, And locks still dropping with the watery wave, A snake approach'd. But Phbus gave his aid, And check'd the greedy bite; with open jaws The serpent rears in stone congeal'd, as then Widely he gap'd. The ghost from earth descends, And views the regions he had view'd before.

Exploring through th' Elysian fields he meets His dear Eurydice; with longing arms He clasps her. Here they walk, now side by side, With equal pace; now follows he, and now A little s.p.a.ce precedes her: Orpheus there Back on Eurydice in safety looks.

But Bacchus suffer'd not the heinous deed Unpunish'd to remain; griev'd that the bard Who sung his praises, thus was s.n.a.t.c.h'd away, He bound the Thracian matrons, who the crime Had perpetrated, fast by twisted roots To earth as trees. He stretch'd their feet and toes, Which follow'd him so swift, and struck their points Deep in the solid earth: A bird ensnar'd Thus finds his leg imprison'd by the wires Hid by the crafty fowler, and his wings Beats, while his fluttering draws more tight the noose.

So each, as firmly fixt to earth she stood, Affrighted strove to fly, but strove in vain: The flexile roots detain'd them; and fast ty'd, Spite of their struggling bounds, while they explore For toes and nails, and while they seek for feet, They see the wood their taper legs conceal; Their grieving hands to beat their thighs are rais'd; Their hands strike solid wood: their shoulders, b.r.e.a.s.t.s, Are also wood become. Their outstretch'd arms Extended boughs appear'd, and boughs they were.

Nor sated yet was Bacchus; all their fields He quits; attended by a worthier troop.

To Tmolus' vineyards and Pactolus' stream He hies: the stream not yet for gold was fam'd; Not yet so precious were its envy'd sands.

Satyrs and Bacchant' nymphs, his 'custom'd choir Attend him, but Silenus was not found.

Him drunken had the rustic Phrygians seiz'd, Reeling with wine, and tottering 'neath his years; With ivy crown'd; and fetter'd to their king, The royal Midas, brought him. Midas once The Thracian Orpheus Bacchus' orgies taught, With sage Eumolpus; and at once he knew His old a.s.sociate in the sacred rites; And joyful feasted with voluptuous fare, For twice five days, and twice five nights his guest.

Th' eleventh time Phosphor' now the lofty host Of stars had chas'd from heaven; the jovial king Went forth to Lydia's fields, and there restor'd Silenus to the youth his foster-child.

He, joy'd again his nursing sire to see, On him bestow'd his anxious sought desire, Though useless was the gift. Greedy he crav'd What only harm'd him,--saying--"Grant, O, power!

"Whate'er I touch may straight to gold be chang'd"-- Bacchus consents to what he wishes;--gives The hurtful gift; but grieves to see his mind No better wish demand. Joyful departs The Berecynthian monarch, with ill-fate Delighted; and, each object touching, tries The promis'd faith. Scarcely himself believ'd, When from a growing ilex down he tore A sprouting bough, straight gold the bough became: A stone from earth he lifted, pale the stone In gold appear'd: he touch'd a turfy clod, The clod quick harden'd with the potent touch: He pluck'd the ripen'd h.o.a.ry ears of wheat, And golden shone the grain: he from the tree An apple s.n.a.t.c.h'd, the fam'd Hesperian fruit He seem'd to hold: where'er his fingers touch'd The lofty pillars, all the pillars shone: Nay, where his hands he in the waters lav'd, The waters flowing from his hands seem'd such As Danae might deceive. Scarce can his breast His towering projects hold; all fancy'd gold.

Th' attendant slaves before their master, joy'd At this great fortune, heap'd the table high With dainties; nor was bread deficient there: But when his hands the Cerealian boon Had touch'd, the Cerealian boon grew hard: And when the dainty food with greedy tooth He strove to eat, the dainty food grew bright, In glittering plates, where'er his teeth had touch'd.

He mixt pure water with his patron's wine, And fluid gold adown his cheeks straight flow'd.

With panic seiz'd, the new-found plague to view, Rich, yet most wretched; from his wealthy h.o.a.rd Fain would he fly; and from his soul detests What late he anxious pray'd. The plenteous gold Abates his hunger nought, and parching thirst Burns in his throat. He well deserves the curse Caus'd by now-hated gold. Lifting his hands And splendid arms to heaven, he cries,--"O sire "Lenaean! pardon my offence: my fault "Is evident; but pity me, I pray, "And from me move this fair deceitful curse."

Bacchus, the gentlest of celestial powers, Reliev'd him, as he thus his error own'd: The compact first agreed dissolv'd, and void The grant became:--"Lest still thou shouldst remain "With gold"--he said,--"so madly wish'd, imbu'd, "Haste to the stream by mighty Sardis' town "Which flows; thy path along the mountain's ridge "Explore, opposing still the gliding waves, "Till thou the spring espy'st. Then deeply plunge "Beneath the foaming gush thy head, where full "It spouts its waters; and thy error cleanse, "As clean thy limbs thou washest."--To the stream The king as bidden hastes. The golden charm Tinges the river; from the monarch's limbs It pa.s.ses to the stream. And now the banks Harden in veins of gold to sight disclos'd; And the pale sands in glittering splendor shine.

Detesting riches, now in woods he lives, And rural dales; with Pan, who still resorts To mountain caverns. Still his soul remains Stupidly dull; the folly of his breast Was doom'd to harm its owner as before.

High Tmolus rears with steep ascent his head, O'erlooking distant ocean; wide he spreads His bounds abrupt; confin'd by Sardis here, By small Hypaepe there. Upon his top, While Pan in boastful strain the tender nymphs Pleas'd with his notes, and on his wax-join'd reeds A paltry ditty play'd; boldly he dar'd To place his own above Apollo's song.

The G.o.d to try th' unequal strife descends; Tmolus the umpire. On his mountain plac'd, The ancient judge from his attentive ears The branches clear'd; save that his azure head With oak was crown'd, and acorns dangling down His hollow temples grac'd. The shepherd's G.o.d Beholding,--"no delay, your judge,"--he said-- "Shall cause,"--and straight Pan sounds the rural reeds.

His barbarous music much the judgment pleas'd Of Midas, who amidst the crowd approach'd.

Now venerable Tmolus on the face Of Phbus turn'd his eyes; and with him turn'd Th' attentive woods. Parna.s.sian laurel bound His golden locks; deep dipt in Tyrian dye, His garment swept the ground; his left hand held The instrument with gems and ivory rich; The other grasp'd the bow: his posture shew'd The skilful master's art: lightly he touch'd The chords with thumb experienc'd. Justly charm'd With melody so sweet, Tmolus decreed The pipe of Pan to Phbus' lute should yield.

Much did the judgment of the sacred hill, And much his sentence all delight, save one: For Midas blames him, and unjust declares The arbitration. Human shape no more The G.o.d permits his foolish ears to wear; But long extends them, and with h.o.a.ry hairs Fills them within; and grants them power to move, From their foundation flexile. All beside Was man, one part felt his revenge alone; A slowly pacing a.s.ses ears he bears.

His head, weigh'd heavy with his load of shame, He strove in purple turban to enfold; Thus his disgrace to hide. But when as wont His slave his hairs, unseemly lengthen'd, cropp'd, He saw the change; the tale he fear'd to tell, Of what he witness'd, though he anxious wish'd In public to proclaim it: yet to hold Sacred the trust surpa.s.s'd his power. He went Forth, and digg'd up the earth; with whispering voice There he imparted of his master's ears What he had seen; and murmur'd to the sod: But bury'd close the confidential words Beneath the turf again: then, all fill'd up, Silently he departed. From the spot Began a thick-grown tuft of trembling reeds To spring, which ripening with the year's full round, Betray'd their planter. By the light south wind When agitated, they the bury'd words Disclos'd, betraying what the monarch's ears.

Latona's son, aveng'd, high Tmolus leaves, And cleaving liquid air, lights in the realm Laomedon commands: on the strait sea, Nephelian h.e.l.le names, an altar stands Sacred to Panomphaean Jove, where seen Lofty Rhaetaeum rises to the left, Sigaeum to the right. From thence he saw Laomedon, as first he toil'd to build The walls of infant Troy; with toil immense The undertaking in progression grew, And mighty sums he saw the work would ask.

A mortal shape he takes; a mortal shape Clothes too the trident-bearing sire, who rules The swelling deep. The Phrygian monarch's walls They raise, a certain treasure for their toil Agreed on first. The work is finished. Base, The king disowns the compact, and his lies Perfidious, backs with perjury.--"Boast not "This treatment calmly borne," the ocean's G.o.d Exclaim'd; and o'er the sordid Trojan's sh.o.r.es Pour'd all his flood of billows; and transform'd The land to sheets of water; swept away The tiller's treasure; bury'd all the meads.

Nor sated with this ruin, he demands The monarch's daughter should be given a prey To an huge monster of the main; whom, chain'd To the hard rock, Alcides' arm set free, And claim'd the boon his due; the promis'd steeds.

Refus'd the prize his valorous deed deserv'd, He sack'd the walls of doubly-perjur'd Troy, Nor thence did Telamon, whose powerful arm The hero aided, unrewarded go; Hesione was by Alcides given.

Peleus was famous for his G.o.ddess-spouse: Proud not more justly of his grandsire's fame, Than of his consort's father; numbers more Might boast them grandsons of imperial Jove; To him alone a G.o.ddess-bride belong'd.

For aged Proteus had to Thetis said,-- "O, G.o.ddess of the waves, a child conceive!