The Metamorphoses of Publius Ovidus Naso in English blank verse Part 27

A nearer case, a more domestic woe, The loss of Memnon, wrung the G.o.ddess' breast: Whom on the Phrygian plains the mother saw Beneath the weapon of Achilles sink.

She saw--that color which the blushing morn Displays, grew pale, and heaven with clouds was hid.

Still could the parent not support the sight, Plac'd on the funeral pyre his limbs, but straight With locks dishevell'd, not disdain'd to sue Prostrate before the knees of mighty Jove.

These words her tears a.s.sisting.--"Meanest I, "Of those the golden heaven supports; to me "The fewest temples through earth's s.p.a.ce are rais'd: "Yet still a G.o.ddess sues. Not to demand "Temples, nor festal days, nor altars warm'd "With blazing fires; yet if you but behold "What I, a female, for you all atchieve, "Bounding night's confines with new-springing light, "Such boons you might consider but my due.

"But these are not my care. Aurora's mind "Not now e'en honors merited demands.

"I come, my Memnon lost, who bravely fought, "But vainly, in his uncle Priam's cause: "And in his prime of youth (so will'd your fates) "Fell by the stout Achilles. Lord supreme!

"Of all the deities, grant, I beseech "To him some honor, solace of his death; "Allay the smarting of a mother's wounds."

Jove nodded, round the lofty funeral pile Of Memnon, rose th' aspiring flames; black clouds Of smoke the day obscur'd. So streams exhale The rising mists which Phbus' rays conceal.

Mount the black ashes, and conglob'd in one They thicken in a body, and a shape That body takes, and heat and light receives From the bright flames. Its lightness gave it wings: Much like a bird at first, and soon indeed A bird, its pinions sounded. And a crowd Of sister birds, their pinions sounded too; Their origin the same. Thrice they surround The pile, and thrice with noisy clang the air Resounds; the fourth time all the troop divide: Then two and two, they furious wage the war On either side; fierce with their crooked claws And beaks, they pounce their adversary's breast, And tire his wings. Each kindred body falls An offering to the ashes of the dead, And prove their offspring from a valiant man.

These birds of sudden origin receive Their name, Memnonides, from him whose limbs Produc'd them. Oft as Sol through all his signs Has run, the battle they renew again, To perish at their parent-warrior's tomb.

Thus, while all others Dymas' daughter weep In howling shape, Aurora still on griefs Her own sad brooding, her maternal tears Sprinkles in dew o'er all th' extent of earth.

Yet fate doom'd not with Ilium's towers the fall Of Ilium's hopes. The Cytherean prince Bore off his G.o.ds; and on his shoulders bore A no less sacred, venerable load, His sire. Of all his riches these preferr'd.

The pious hero, with his youthful son Ascanius, from Antandros, o'er the main Borne in the flying fleet, leaves far the sh.o.r.e Of savage Thrace, still moisten'd with the blood Of Polydore, and enters Phbus' port; Aided by currents, and by gentle gales, With all his social crew. Anius receives The exile, in his temple,--in his dome; Where o'er the land he monarch rul'd; and where, As Phbus' priest, he tended due his rites: The city, and the votive temples shew'd, And shew'd two trees, once by Latona grasp'd In bearing throes. The incense in the flames Distributed, wine o'er the incense thrown, The entrails of the offer'd bulls consum'd As wont; the regal roof approach they all; And high on tapestry reclin'd, partake Of Ceres' gift, and Bacchus' flowing boon.

Then good Anchises, thus--"O chosen priest "Of Phbus! was I then deceiv'd? methought, "As far as memory aids me to recal, "When first mine eyes these lofty walls beheld, "That twice two daughters, and a son were thine."

Old Anius shook his head, begirt around With snowy fillets, as in grief, he said:-- "No, mighty hero! not deceiv'd art thou, "Me hast thou seen of five the parent; now "Thou well-nigh childless see'st me: (such to man "The varying change of sublunary things) "For, ah! what can an absent son bestow "To aid me, who, in Andros' isle now dwells, "Where for his sire the realm and state he holds?

"Delius on him prophetic art bestow'd; "And Bacchus, to my female offspring, gave "A boon beyond all credit, and their hopes.

"For all whate'er, which felt my daughters' touch "To corn, and wine, and olives, was transformed: "A mighty treasure in themselves they held.

"But Agamemnon, Troy's destroyer learn'd "This gift (think not but that your overthrow "In some respect we shar'd,) by ruthless force, "Tore them unwilling from their parent's arms; "And stern commanded that the heavenly gift "Should feed the Grecian fleet. Each as she can "Escapes. Euba two attain, and two "Fraternal Andros seek. The troops pursue "And threaten warfare, if withheld the maids.

"Fraternal love was vanquish'd in his breast "By fear, (that thou this terror mayst excuse, "Reflect, aeneas was not there, nor there "Was Hector, Andros to defend, whose arms "To the tenth year made Ilium stand.) And now "Chains were prepar'd their captive arms to bind.

"While yet unchain'd, those arms to heaven they rais'd, "O father Bacchus!--crying--grant thy aid.-- "And aid the author of the gift bestow'd: "If them to lose by an unheard-of mode "Be aid bestowing. Then could I not know, "Nor now relate the order of the change "Which lost their shapes; the summit of my grief "I know; with plumage were they cloth'd; transform'd "To snowy doves, thy spouse's favor'd bird."

With these, and tales like these, the feast was clos'd: The board remov'd, all sought repose. With day Arising, all Apollo's shrine attend; Who bids that they their ancient mother seek, And kindred sh.o.r.es. The king attends them, gives His presents as they go. Anchises holds A sceptre, while a quiver and a robe Ascanius boasts; aeneas holds a cup, Erst from Botia's sh.o.r.es to Anius sent, By Theban Therses. Therses sent the gift; Sicilian Alcon form'd it, and engrav'd A copious tale around. A town was there, And seven wide gates appear'd: for name were these, What town it was displaying. All without Its walls were funeral trains, and tombs beheld; And fires; and piles; and matrons, whose bare b.r.e.a.s.t.s, And locks dishevell'd, shew'd their mournful woe.

Weeping the nymphs appear'd, and seem'd to wail Their arid streams; the leafless trees were hard; The goats were browsing on the naked rocks: And, lo! amid the Theban town was seen Orion's daughters: this her naked throat Offering, with more than female courage; that On the sharp weapon's point forth leaning, dy'd, To save the people: round the town are borne Their pompous funerals, they in splendor burn.

Then, lest the race should perish, spring two youths From out their virgin ashes; which by fame Are call'd Coronae, and the pomp attend, When their maternal ashes are interr'd.

Thus far the images on ancient bra.s.s Were grav'n; the bordering summit of the cup In gold acanthus rough appear'd. Nor gave The Trojans gifts less worthy than they took.

To hold his incense, they a vase present The royal priest; a goblet, and a crown, Shining with gold, and bright with sparkling gems.

Thence, mindful that the Trojan race first sprung From Teucer's blood, tow'rd Crete their course they bend: But long Jove's native clime they could not bear.

The hundred-city'd isle now left behind, Ausonia's port they hope to gain. Rough swell The wintry storms, and toss them on the main; And in the port of faithless Strophades Receiv'd, the wing'd Aello scares them far.

Now had they sail'd beyond Dulichium's bay; Samos; and Ithaca, Neritus' soil; The realms Ulysses, so perfidious, sway'd: And saw Ambracia, for the strife of G.o.ds Renown'd, and stone to which the judge was chang'd; Now as Apollo's Actium far more fam'd: And saw Dodona's land with vocal groves; And deep Chaonia's bay, where vain-urg'd flames Molossus' sons, on new-sprung pinions 'scap'd.

Phaeacia's neighbouring country, planted thick With grateful apples, now they reach; from thence Epirus and Buthrotus, by the seer Of Ilium govern'd, image true of Troy.

Thence of the future certain, full of faith, In all that Helenus of fate them told, Sicilia's isle they enter, which extends Midst of the waves its promontories three.

Pachymos, tow'rd the showery south is plac'd; And Zephyr soft on Lilybaeum blows: But 'gainst the Arctic bear that shuns the sea, And Boreas' rugged storms, Pelorus looks.

By this the Trojans steer; urg'd by their oars, And favoring tide, by night on Zancle's beach The fleet is moor'd. Here Scylla on the right; Charybdis, restless, on the left alarms.

This sucks the destin'd ships beneath the waves, And whirls them up again: fierce dogs surround The other's sable belly, while she bears A virgin's face; and, if what poets tell Be feign'd not all, she had a virgin been.

Her many wooers sought; these all repuls'd, She join'd the ocean nymphs; by ocean's nymphs Much favor'd was the maid; and told the loves Of all the baffled youths. Her, while she gave Her locks to comb, thus Galatea fair, Bespoke, but first suppress'd a rising sigh.

"'Tis true, O maid! a gentle race thee seeks, "Whom safely, as thou dost, thou may'st deny: "But I, whose sire is Nereus; who was born "Of blue-hair'd Doris; who am potent too "In crowds of sisters, refuge only found "From the fierce Cyclops' love, in my own waves."

Tears chok'd her utterance here; which when the maid Had wip'd with marble fingers, and had sooth'd The G.o.ddess.--"Dearest Galatea! speak; "Nor from thy friend this cause of grief conceal: "Faithful am I to thee." The G.o.ddess yields, And to Crataeis' daughter, thus replies.

"From Faunus and the nymph Symethis sprung "Acis, his sire's delight, his mother's pride; "But far to me more dear. For me the youth, "And me alone, lov'd warmly; twice eight years "Had o'er him pa.s.s'd; when on his tender cheek "A doubtful down appear'd. Him I desir'd, "As ceaseless as the Cyclops sought for me.

"Nor should you ask, if in my bosom dwelt "For him most hate, or most for Acis love, "Could I inform you: equal both in force.

"O, gentle Venus! with what mighty power "Thou sway'st; lo! he, the merciless, the dread "Of his own woods; whom hapless guest ne'er saw "With safety; spurner of the power of Jove, "And all the host of heaven, what love is, feels!

"Seiz'd with desire of me he flames, forgets "His flocks, and caverns. All thy anxious care "Thy beauty, Polyphemus! to improve, "And all thy anxious care is now to please.

"And now with rakes thou comb'st thy rugged hair; "Now with a scythe thou mow'st thy bushy beard: "Thy features to behold in the clear brook, "And calm their fire employs thee. All his love "Of slaughter; all his fierceness; all his thirst "Cruel of blood, him leaves; and on the coast, "Ships safely moor, and safe again depart.

"Meantime at Etna Telemus arriv'd, "Of Eurymus the son, whom never bird "Deceiv'd; he to dread Polyphemus came, "And spoke:--Thee, of the single light thou bear'st "Mid front, Ulysses will deprive.--Loud laugh'd "The monster, saying;--Stupidest of seers, "How much thou err'st!--already is it gone.-- "So spurns the truth the prophet told in vain.

"Then moving on along the sh.o.r.e, he sinks "The sand with heavy steps, or tir'd returns "To his dark caves. Far stretching in the main "A wedge-like promontory rears its ridge "Aloft; on either side the surging waves "Foam on it. To its loftiest height ascends "The Cyclops fierce; his station in the midst "a.s.sumes; his woolly flocks his steps pursue "Unshepherded. He when the pine immense, "Which serv'd him for a staff, though fit to serve "For sailyard, low beneath his feet had thrown; "And grasp'd the pipe, an hundred 'pacted reeds "Compos'd; the pastoral whistling all around "The hills confess'd, and all the waters nigh.

"I, hid beneath a rock, my head reclin'd "On my dear Acis' bosom, heard these words--, "And still the words are noted in my breast.--

"O, Galatea! brighter than the leaves "Of snow-white lilies; fresher than the meads; "More lofty far than towering alder trees; "Than chrystal clearer; than the wanton kid "More gay; than sh.e.l.ls, by ocean's constant waves "Smooth polish'd, smoother; dearer than the shade "In summer's heat; than winter's sun more dear; "More than the apple bright; and fairer far "Than lofty planetrees; clearer than the frost; "More beauteous than the ripen'd grape; more soft "Than the swan's plumage; or the new-prest milk: "And, but thou fly'st, more than the garden fine "With water'd streamlets. Yet the same art thou, "Wild Galatea, than the untam'd steer "More fierce; more stubborn than the ancient oak; "Than water more deceitful; slippery more "Than bending willows, or the greenest vines; "More stubborn than these rocks; than seas more rough; "Than the prais'd peac.o.c.k prouder; sharper far "Than fire; and piercing more than thistles keen.

"More savage than a nursing bear; more deaf "Than raging billows; than the trodden snake "More pitiless; and, what I more than all "Would wish thou wast not, fleeter than the deer, "Chas'd by shrill hunters; fleeter than wing'd air, "Or winds. If well thou knew'st me, much thou'dst grieve "That e'er thou fled'st; thou'dst blame thy dull delay, "And sue and labor to retain my love.

"Caverns I have, scoop'd in the living rock "Beneath the mountain's side, where never sun "In mid-day heat, nor winter's cold can come.

"My apples bend the branches; grapes are mine "On the long vine-trees cl.u.s.tering; some like gold; "Some of a purple teint; and these and those "Will I preserve for thee. Thy own fair hands "Shall gather strawberries soft, beneath the shade; "Autumnal cornels; and the purple plumb, "Dark with its juice, and that still n.o.bler kind "Like new-made wax in hue. Nor shalt thou lack "The chesnut; nor the red arbutus' fruit: "Be but my spouse. All trees shall thee supply.

"Mine are these flocks, and thousands more besides "Which roam the vallies; thousands like the woods; "And thousands shelter in the shady caves: "Nor could I, should'st thou ask, their numbers tell.

"Poor he who counts his store. Believe not me "When these I praise; before thine eyes behold "How scarce their legs the swelling udder bear.

"Mine are the tender lambs, in the warm fold "Secure; and mine are kids of equal age "In folds apart. The whitest milk have I; "But still for drink shall serve, and thicken'd, part "Shall harden into cheese. Nor wilt thou find "But cheap delights, and common vulgar gifts: "For deer, and hares, and goats, thou shalt possess; "Pigeons in pairs, and nests from mountains gain'd.

"Upon the hills, a s.h.a.ggy bear's twin cubs "I found; so like, no difference could be seen, "With thee to play I found them: these, I said, "These will I force my mistress to obey.

"O Galatea! raise thy lovely head "Above the azure deep; come! only come; "Nor scorn my gifts. Right well myself I know: "I view'd me lately in the liquid stream; "And much my image satisfy'd my view.

"Behold, how vast my bulk! Jove, in his heaven, "(For of some Jove ye oft are wont to tell "Who rules there) towers not in a mightier size.

"Thick bushy locks o'er my stern forehead hang, "And like a forest down my shoulders spread.

"Nor deem my body, with hard bristles rough, "Unseemly; most unsightly is the tree, "Without a leaf; unsightly is the steed, "Save on his neck the flowing mane is spread: "Plumes clothe the feather'd race; and their own wool "Becomes the sheep; so beards become mankind, "And bushy bristles, o'er their limbs bespread.

"True in my forehead but one light is plac'd; "But huge that light, and like a mighty shield "In size. Yet does not Sol from heaven's high round "All view? and Sol possesses lights no more.

"Remember too, my father o'er your realm "Rules sovereign; I in him a sire-in-law "Would give thee. Only pity me, I pray, "And hear my suppliant vows. To thee alone "I bend: and while I scorn your mighty Jove, "His heaven, and piercing thunder, thee, O nymph!

"I fear: than fiercest lightnings dreading more "Thy anger. Far more patient should I rest "With this contempt, all didst thou thus contemn.

"But how, the Cyclops first repuls'd, dar'st thou "This Acis love? this Acis dare prefer "To my embraces? Yet may he himself "Delight; nay let him Galatea please, "If so it must be, though what most I'd spurn: "Let but the scope be given, soon should he prove "My strength is equal to my mighty bulk.

"Living his entrails would I tear, and spread "His mangled members o'er the fields, and o'er "Thy waters: let him mingle with thee so.

"For oh! I burn; more fierce my injur'd love "Now rages: in ray breast I seem to bear "All Etna and its fires. But all my pains "Can nought, O Galatea! thee affect.--

"Thus with vain 'plainings (for the whole I saw) "He rises, raging like a furious bull "Robb'd of his heifer; paces restless round, "And bounds along the forests and the coasts.

"When me and Acis, heedless of such fate, "And unsuspecting, he beheld, and roar'd:-- "I see ye! but the period of your love "Will I accomplish.--Loud his threats were heard, "As all the Cyclops' power of voice could raise.

"All Etna trembled at the sound. In fright "I plung'd for safety in the neighbouring waves; "While fair Symethis' son for flight prepar'd; "And--help me, Galatea!--he exclaim'd-- "Help me, O help! and ye, my parents, aid; "And, perishing, receive me in your realm.-- "Close at his heels the Cyclops comes, and hurls "A mighty fragment from a mountain rent; "A corner only of the mighty rock "Him reach'd: that corner Acis all o'erwhelm'd.

"But I, what fate alone would grant, perform'd, "That Acis still his ancestorial race "Should join: his purple gore flow'd from the rock; "And soon the redness pal'd; it seem'd a stream "Disturb'd by drenching showers; and soon this stream "Was clear'd to limpid purity. The rock "Gap'd wide, and living reeds sprung up erect, "On either brink. Loud roars the pressing flood "In the rock's hollow womb, and (wond'rous sight!) "A youth, his new-form'd horns with reeds begirt, "Sudden appear'd, 'mid waist above the waves; "Who but in stature larger, and his skin "Of azure teint, might Acis well be deem'd.

"Acis indeed it was, Acis transform'd "To a clear stream which still his name retains."

Here Galatea ceas'd, the listening choir Dividing, all depart. The Nered train Swim o'er the placid waves. Scylla returns; Fearful to venture 'mid the boundless main, And vestless roams along the soaking sand; Or weary'd; finding some sequester'd pool, Cools in the shelter'd waters her fair limbs.

Lo! Glaucus, lately of the mighty deep An 'habitant receiv'd, his shape transform'd Upon Botia's sh.o.r.es, cleaves through the waves; And feels desire as he the nymph beholds.

All he can urge to stay her flight he tries; Yet still she flies him, swifter from her fear.

She gains a mountain's summit, which the sh.o.r.e O'erhung. High to the main the lofty ridge An undivided sbrubless top presents, Down shelving to the sea. In safety here She stood; and, dubious monster he, or G.o.d, Admir'd his color, and the locks which spread Adown his shoulders, and his back below: And that a wreathing fish's form should end His figure from his groin. He saw her gaze; And on a neighbouring rock his elbow lean'd, As thus he spoke.--"No monstrous thing am I, "Fair virgin! nor a savage of the sea; "A watery G.o.d I am; nor on the main "Has Proteus; Triton; or Palaemon, son "Of Athamas, more power. Yet time has been "When I was mortal, yet even then attach'd "To the deep water, on the ocean I, "Still joy'd to labor. Now the following shoal "Of fishes in my net I dragg'd; and now, "Plac'd on a rock, I with my flexile rod "Guided the line. Bordering a verdant mead "A bank there lies, the waves its circuit bound "In part; in part the virid gra.s.s surrounds; "A mead which ne'er the horned herd had cropp'd: "Where ne'er the placid flock, nor hairy goats "Had brows'd; nor bees industrious cull'd the flowers "For sweets: no genial chaplets there were pluck'd "To grace the head; nor had the mower's arm "E'er spoil'd the crop. The first of mortals, I "On the turf rested. As my nets I dry'd; "And as my captur'd scaly prey to count, "Upon the gra.s.s I spread,--whatever the net "Escape prevented, and the hook had snar'd "Through their own folly. (Like a fiction sounds "The fact, but what avails to me to feign?) "Soon as the gra.s.s they touch, my captiv'd prey "Begin to move, and on their sides to turn; "And ply their fins on earth as in the main.

"Then, while with wonder struck I pause, all fly "The sh.o.r.e in heaps, and their new master quit, "Their native waves regaining. I, surpriz'd, "Long doubtful stand to guess the wond'rous cause.

"Whether some G.o.d, or but the gra.s.ses' juice "Accomplish'd this. What herb--at last, I said-- "Can power like this possess?--and with my hand "Pluck'd up, and with my teeth the herbage chew'd.

"Scarce had my throat th' untasted juice first try'd, "When all my entrails sudden tremblings shook, "And with a love of something yet unknown "My breast was mov'd; nor could I longer keep "My place.--O earth! where I shall ne'er return-- "Farewel! I cry'd,--and plung'd below the waves.

"Worthy the ocean deities me deem'd "To join their social troop, and anxious pray'd "To Tethys, and old Ocean, Tethys' spouse, "To purge whate'er of mortal I retain'd.

"By them l.u.s.trated, and the potent song "Nine times repeated, earthly taints to cleanse, "They bade me 'neath an hundred gushing streams "To place my bosom. No delay I seek; "The floods from numerous fountains pour'd, the main "O'erwhelm'd my head. Thus far what deeds were done "My memory helps me to relate; thus far "Alone can I remember; all the rest "Dark to my memory seems. My sense restor'd, "I found my body chang'd in every part; "Nor was my mind the same. Then first I saw "This beard of dingy green, and these long locks "Which through the seas I sweep; these shoulders huge; "Those azure arms and thighs in fish-like form "Furnish'd with fins. But what avails this shape?

"What that by all the deities marine "I dear am held? a deity myself?

"If all these honors cannot touch thy breast."

These words he spoke, and more to speak prepar'd, When Scylla left the G.o.d. Repuls'd, he griev'd And sought t.i.tanian Circe's monstrous court.

*The Fourteenth Book.*

Scylla transformed to a monster by Circe through jealousy; and ultimately to a rock. Continuation of aeneas' voyage. Dido.

Cercopians changed to apes. Descent of aeneas to h.e.l.l. The c.u.maean Sybil. Adventures of Achaemenides with Polyphemus: and of Macareus amongst the Lestrigonians. Enchantments of Circe. Story of the transformation of Picus to a woodp.e.c.k.e.r; and of the nymph Canens to air. The Latian wars. Misfortunes of Diomede. Agmon and others changed to herons. Appulus to a wild olive. The Trojan ships changed to sea-nymphs. The city Ardea to a bird. Deification of aeneas. Latin kings. Vertumnus and Pomona. Story of Iphis and Anaxarete. Wars with the Sabines. Apotheosis of Romulus; and of his wife Hersilia.