The Metamorphoses of Publius Ovidus Naso in English blank verse Part 5

Aghast he stood,--the warm blood fled his cheeks; His courage chang'd to terror; freezing fear Rais'd his stiff locks erect. Lo! Pallas comes, Pallas, the known protectress of the brave.

Smooth sliding from the higher clouds she comes; Bids him remove the soil, and place beneath, The serpent's fangs, a future offspring's pledge.

The prince obeys; and as with crooked share, The ground he opens, in the furrows throws The teeth directed. Thence, (beyond belief!) The clods of earth at once began to move; Then in the furrows glitter'd, first, the points Of spears: anon fair painted crests arose, Above bright helmets nodding: shoulders next; And b.r.e.a.s.t.s; and arms, with javelins loaded came: Thickening the harvest grew of shielded men.

Thus shews the glad theatric curtain; rais'd The painted figures' faces first appear, Gradual display'd; and more by slow degrees; At length the whole stand forth, their feet all fix'd Firm on the lower margin. Wondering, he His new-made foe beheld; and grasp'd his arms.

But one whom earth had just produc'd, exclaim'd;-- "Arm not, nor meddle in our civil broils."

He said,--an earth-born brother, hand to hand With sword keen-edg'd attacking; but from far, A javelin hurl'd, dispatch'd him. Short the boast Of him who sent it;--his death wound infix'd,-- He breathes the air out he so late receiv'd.

So rage the rest, and in the furious war The new-made brethren fall by mutual wounds: And on their blood-stain'd mother, dash, the youths To short existence born, their damp cold b.r.e.a.s.t.s.

Five only stand unhurt,--Echion one,-- Who threw, by Pallas prompted, down his arms And peace propos'd: his brethren took his pledge.

These join the Tyrian prince, and social aid His efforts, when th' appointed walls he builds; Obedient to the Delphic G.o.d's commands.

The Theban walls now rais'd, thou, Cadmus seem'd Blest in thy exile. Mars and Venus gave Their daughter to thy wife. This spouse so fam'd, Thee daughters brought, and sons,--a numerous tribe; And grandsons, pledges dear of nuptial joys, Already risen to manhood. But too true That man should still his final day expect; Nor blest be deem'd till flames his funeral pyre.

Thy grandson's fate, O, Cadmus! first with grief Thy bosom wrung, amid thy prosperous state: The alien horns which nodded o'er his brow; And ye, voracious hounds, with blood full-gorg'd, Your master's life-stream. Yet by close research, We find unlucky chance, not vice, his crime.

What sin in error lies?

The hills were drench'd With blood of numerous slaughter'd savage beasts; And objects shorten'd shadows gave: the sun Exalted view'd each equi-distant goal; When the young Theban hunter thus address'd, His fellow sportsmen with a friendly call; As wide they rov'd the savage lairs among.

"Our weapons, comrades, and our nets are moist "With blood of spoil; sufficient sport this day "Has given. But when Aurora next appears, "High on her saffron car, and light restores, "Then be our pleasing exercise resum'd.

"Now Phbus, distant far from west and east, "Cracks the parch'd ground with heat;--desist from toil, "And fold your knotted snares." His words obey, His men, and from their sportive labor cease.

Near stood a vale, where pointed cypress form'd With gloomy pines a grateful shade, and nam'd Gargaphie;--sacred to the girded maid: Its deep recess a shrubby cavern held, By nature modell'd,--but by nature, art Seem'd equall'd, or excell'd. A native arch Of pumice light, and tophus dry, was form'd; And from the right a stream transparent flow'd, Of trivial size, which spread a pool below; With gra.s.sy margin circled. Dian' here, The woodland G.o.ddess, weary'd with the chace, Had oft rejoic'd to bathe her virgin limbs.

As wont she comes;--her quiver, and her dart, And unstrung bow, her armour-bearing nymph In charge receives. Disrob'd, another's arms Sustain her vest. Two from her feet unloose Her sandals. Crocale, Ismenian nymph, Than others more expert, her tresses binds, Loose o'er her shoulders floating, in a knot; Her own wild flowing still. Five more the streams In huge urns lifting; Hyale, and Niphe, Phiale, Rhanis, Psecas, lave her limbs.

Here while the G.o.ddess in the limpid wave Washes as 'custom'd,--lo! Actaeon comes;-- His sportive toil till morning dawn deferr'd: And roving through the vale with random steps, By hapless fate conducted, he arrives Close to the sacred grove. Within the grot Stream-pouring, when he stept, the naked nymphs,-- Then first by man beheld,--their bosoms beat; Fill'd the deep grove with outcries loud; and round Diana crowded, screening as they could Her limbs with theirs. Yet high above them tower'd The G.o.ddess, and her neck their heads o'erlook'd.

As blush the clouds by Phbus' adverse rays Deep ting'd;--or as Aurora in the morn; So blush'd the virgin-G.o.ddess, seen unrob'd.

Sideway she stood, though closely hemm'd around By cl.u.s.tering nymphs, and backward bent her face: Then anxious praying she could reach her darts, In vain,--she seiz'd the waters which she could, And dash'd them o'er his features:--as his locks, The vengeful drops besprinkled, thus in rage, She cry'd,--"Now tell thou hast Diana seen "Disrob'd;--go tell it, if thou canst,"--no more, With threatenings storm'd, but on his sprinkled head, The antlers of the long-liv'd stag are plac'd.

His neck is lengthen'd; with a sharpen'd point, His upright ears are form'd; to feet his hands,-- To long and slender legs his arms are chang'd; And round his body clings a dappled coat.

Fear in his bosom she instils: the youth, The bold Actaeon flies, and wondering feels His bounding feet so rapid in the race.

But soon the waters shew'd his branching horns; And,--"ah unhappy me!" he strove to cry: His voice he found not; sighs and sobs were all; And tears fast streaming down his alter'd face.

Still human sense remains. Where shall he turn?

His royal palace seek,--or in the woods Secluded hide?--To tarry fear forbids, And shame prevents returning. While he doubts His hounds espy him. Quick-nos'd Tracer first, And Blackfoot give the signal by their yell: Tracer of Crete, and Blackfoot Spartan bred.

Swifter than air the noisy pack rush on; Arcadian Quicksight; Glutton; Ranger, stout; Strong Killbuck; Whirlwind, furious; Hunter, fierce; Flyer, swift-footed; and quick-scented Snap: Ringwood, late wounded by a furious bear; And Forester, by savage wolf begot: Flock-tending Shepherdess; with Ravener fierce, And her two whelps; and Sicyonian Catch: The thin flank'd greyhound, Racer; Yelper; Patch; Tiger; Robust; Milkwhite, with snowy coat; And coalblack Soot. First in the race, fleet Storm; Courageous Spartan Swift; and rapid Wolf; Join'd with his Cyprian brother, s.n.a.t.c.h, well mark'd With sable forehead on a coat of white: Blackcoat: and thickhair'd s.h.a.g: Worrier; and Wild,-- Twins from a dam Laconian sprung, their sire Dictaean: Babbler with his noisy throat:-- But all to name were endless. Urg'd by hope Of prey they crowd; down precipices rush; O'er rocks, and crags; through rugged paths, and ways Unpa.s.s'd before. His hounds he flies, where oft His hounds he had pursu'd. Poor wretch! he flies His own domestics, striving hard to call, "Actaeon am I!--villains, know your lord."

Words aid him not: loud rings the air with yells, Howlings, and barkings:--Blackhair first, his teeth Fix'd in his back; staunch Tamer fasten'd next; And Rover seiz'd his shoulder: tardy these, The rest far left behind, but o'er the hills Athwart, the chase they shorten'd. Now the pack, Join'd them their lord retaining; join'd their teeth Their victim seizing:--now his body bleeds, A wound continuous: deep he utters groans, Not human, yet unlike a dying deer; And fills the well-known mountains with his plaint.

p.r.o.ne on his knees in suppliant form he bends; And low beseeching waves his silent head, As he would wave his hands. His witless friends, The savage pack with joyous outcries urge; Actaeon anxious seeking: echoing loud Eager his name as absent. At the name, His head he turns. His absence irks them sore, As lazy loitering, not the n.o.ble prey Obtain'd, beholding. Joyful could he be, At distance now,--but hapless is too near: Glad would he see the furious dogs their fangs, On other prey than his torn limbs infix.

On every side they crowd; their dying lord, A well-seem'd deer, they rend; their ravenous teeth Deep tear his members. With a thousand wounds, (Dian's insatiate anger less despis'd) The hapless hunter yielded forth his breath.

Report flies dubious; some the G.o.ddess blame For disproportion'd vengeance; others warm Applaud the deed as worthy one so pure; And reasons weighty either party urge: Jove's consort only silent: she nor blames The action, nor approves; but inward joys, Agenor's house should such misfortune feel.

The hatred nourish'd for the Tyrian maid, Her brother's offspring visits. Now fresh cause Of wrath succeeds; enrag'd the G.o.ddess learns That Semele, embrac'd by mighty Jove, Is pregnant. Straight broke loose her angry tongue, And loud she storm'd:--"Advantage much I gain "By endless railing at unfaithful Jove!

"This harlot will I find,--and, if with truth "They potent Juno stile me, she shall die.

"Destruction shall o'erwhelm her, if beseems "My hand the sparkling sceptre of the sky: "If queen I am to Jove;--if sister;--wife:-- "His sister doubtless am I, if no more.

"Content perchance is Semele to joy "In pleasures briefly tasted; and my wrongs "Though deep, not lasting. No!--she must conceive "Foul aggravation of her shameless deed!

"Her swelling womb unblushing proves her crime: "By Jove she longs to be a mother hail'd; "Which scarcely I can boast. Such faith her pride, "In conscious beauty places. Trust me not, "Or she mistaken proves. As I am child "Of h.o.a.ry Saturn, she shall sink o'erwhelm'd "By her own Jove; and dip in Stygian waves."

She said, and starting from her regal throne, Wrapt in a dusky cloud descended; o'er The threshold stepp'd of Semele, nor chas'd Her darkening veil, till like an ancient dame She stood display'd. White hairs her temples strew'd; Deep furrows plough'd her skin; her bending limbs Quiver'd beneath her weight; her tremulous voice Exhausted age betray'd: she stood to view Old Beroe, from Epidaurus come, The nurse of Semele. With tedious tales She garrulous amus'd:--when in her turn Listening, the name of Jupiter she heard She sigh'd, and said,--"May he be truly Jove!

"But age is still suspicious. Chastest beds "Have been by these pretended G.o.ds defil'd: "For if the deity supreme he be, "Why comes he thus disguis'd? If true his love, "Why prove it not? Urge thou an anxious wish "To clasp him in his might, in such a sort, "As lofty Juno he embraces;--round "Begirt with all the ensigns of his power."

Thus Juno artful, Semele's desires Apt moulded to her mind. From Jove she prays A nameless boon: the ready G.o.d consents;-- "Chuse what thou wilt, nor least denial dread: "To prove my faith, I call the Stygian streams "To witness, terror of the G.o.d of G.o.ds."

Joy'd at her fatal prayer's too large success; And by her lover's prompt compliance, doom'd To sure destruction;--"This," said she, "I wish;-- "When with me next you love's delights enjoy, "Appear as when Saturnia fills your arms."

Fain would the G.o.d have stopp'd her mouth:--too soon The hasty words found entrance to his ears.

Deep mourn'd he. Equal now the fates forbid, The wish retracted, or the oath absolv'd.

Sorrowing he seeks the lofty heaven: his nod Dark rolling clouds collects: here form black showers; And hurricanes; and flashing lightenings mixt; Thunders; and his inevitable bolt: Anxious he strives with all his power to damp, The fierceness of his flames: nor arm'd him now, With those dread fires that to the earth dash'd down The hundred-handed foe:--too powerful they.

He chose a milder thunder;--less of rage, Of fire, and fury, had the Cyclops given The ma.s.s when forg'd; a second-rated bolt.

Clad in mild glory thus, the dome he seeks Of Semele;--her mortal frame too weak, To bear th' ethereal shock, fierce scorcht she sunk, Beneath the nuptial grant. Th' imperfect babe, s.n.a.t.c.ht from his mother's smoking womb, was sew'd (If faith the tale deserves) within his thigh; There to complete the period of his growth.

Ino, his aunt maternal, then receiv'd The boy; in private rear'd him, till the nymphs Of Nysa's mountains, in their secret caves Shelter'd, and fed with milk, th' entrusted charge.

While the rash promise caus'd on earth those deeds, And twice-born Bacchus' cradle safe was hid; 'Tis said that Jove with heavenly nectar flush'd, All serious cares dismiss'd. With sportive jests, At ease conversing, he and Juno sate: When he:--"The thrilling ecstasies of love, "Are surely strongest on the female side."

She differs,--and the question both agree Tiresias, who each s.e.x had prov'd, shall judge.

Two mighty snakes he spy'd upon the gra.s.s, Twisted in Venus' wreaths; and with his staff Hard smote them;--instant alter'd was his s.e.x.

Wonderous! he woman of a man became, Seven winters so he liv'd:--the eight, again He spy'd the same; and cry'd,--"If such your power, "That whoso strikes you must their gender change, "Once more I'll try the spell." Straight as the blow The snakes receiv'd, his pristine form return'd: Hence was he chosen, in the strife jocose, As umpire; and the words of Jove confirm'd.

Much, say they, Juno rag'd; more than beseem'd The trivial cause, or sentence justly given; And veil'd the judge's eyes in endless night.

But Jove omnipotent, him gave to know, (For fate forbids to cancel others' deeds) What future times conceal; a light divine; An honor'd gift to mitigate his pain.

Fam'd far and wide through all Botia's towns, Unerring answers still the prophet gave, To all who sought him. Blue Liriope, First prov'd his faith, and ne'er-deceiving words.

Her once Cephisus, in his winding stream Entwin'd, and forceful in his waves enjoy'd.

The beauteous nymph's full womb, in time produc'd A babe, whose features ev'n from birth inspir'd Th' attendant nymphs with love; Narcissus nam'd.

For him enquiring, whether doom'd to see, The peaceful period of maturest age, The fate-foretelling prophet thus reply'd:-- "Yes,--if himself he never knows." The words Were long absurd esteem'd: but well th' event Their justice prov'd; his strange unheard of death; And love of object never lov'd before.

Now sixteen summers had Narcissus seen, A boy in beauty, but in growth a man; And crowds of youths his friendship sought, and crowds Of damsels sought his love: but fiercely pride Swell'd in his snowy bosom; and he spurn'd His friends' advances, and the love-sick maids.

A chattering nymph, resounding Echo, saw The youth, when in his toils the trembling deer He drove;--a nymph who ne'er her words retain'd, Nor dialogue commenc'd. But then she bore A body palpable; and not, as now, Merely a voice:--yet garrulous, she then That voice, nor other us'd; 'twas all she could, The closing words of speakers to repeat.

Juno had this ordain'd: for oft the dame The frailer nymphs upon the hills had caught, In trespa.s.s with her Jove; but Echo sly With lengthen'd speech the G.o.ddess kept amus'd, Till all by flight were sav'd. Soon Juno saw The trick:--"The power of that delusive tongue,"-- She cry'd, "I'll lessen, and make brief thy words;"

Nor stay'd, but straight her threaten'd vengeance took.

Now she redoubles (all she can) the words Which end another's speech; reporting back, But only what she hears.

Through pathless woods As roves Narcissus, Echo sees, and burns; Steals in his footsteps, following close, but flames More fierce, more near approaching. Sudden thus, The sulphurous daubing o'er the torches spread, s.n.a.t.c.hes th' approaching flame. How oft she wish'd With bland and soothing words to hail the youth; But nature harsh forbids, nor grants to make The first commencement; what she grants she takes, And anxious waits to catch the wish'd-for sounds; And speak responsive. Chance the youth had led Far from his social troop, and loud he cry'd,-- "Who's he that hither comes?" Attentive she,-- Reply'd, "O hither come!" Amaz'd he stood, Round searching whence the voice; and louder still, "Here come!" exclaim'd,--and Echo answer'd,--"Come!"

To every part his eyes in vain are bent; And, "why," laments he, "dost thou me avoid?"

Again he hears her,--"dost thou me avoid?"

Still he persists; th' alternate voice deceives,-- And,--"come, approach, together let us join,"

Impatient now he utters: ardent she Exclaims, in joyful accents,--"let us join!"

Her wish in person urging, from the grove She springs, and wide extends her arms to clasp His neck:--Narcissus flies, and flying calls,-- "Desist!--hold off thy hands;--may sooner death "Me seize, than thou enjoy me." Nought the maid Re-echoes, but,--"enjoy me." Close conceal'd, By him disdain'd, amid the groves she hides Her blushing forehead, where the leaves bud thick; And dwells in lonely caverns. Still her flame Clings close around her heart; and sharper pangs Repulse occasions: cares unceasing waste Her wretched form: gaunt famine shrivels up Her skin; and all the moistening juice which fed Her body, flies in air: her voice and bones Alone are left: her voice, unchang'd;--her bones To craggy stones are harden'd. Still in groves She hides secluded; nor on hills appears: Heard frequent; only heard, and nought but sound.

Thus slighted he the nymph; nor her alone, But numbers else who o'er the mountains rov'd; Or sported in the waves. Nor less his pride, When more mature: keen smarting from his scorn, To heaven one rais'd her hands, and ardent pray'd;-- "Ordain that he may love, but love like me "One ne'er to be enjoy'd!" Rhamnusia grants To prayers so just, th' a.s.senting nod. There stood, A mudless pool, whose waters silvery bright, The shepherds touch'd not,--nor the mountain goats, Nor lowing herds: which birds, and fierce wild beasts, Dabbling disturb'd not:--nor a wither'd branch, Dropt from a tree o'erhanging. Round the brink, Fed by the moisture, virid gra.s.s arose; And trees impervious to the solar beam, Screen'd the cool surface. Weary'd with the chase, And faint with heat, here laid Narcissus down; Charm'd with the place, and tempted by the pool.

Here as he seeks to quench his burning thirst, He burns with other fires: and while he drinks, Caught by the image of his beauteous face, He loves th' unbody'd form: a substance thinks The shadow:--loves enraptur'd,--loves himself!

Fixes with eager gaze upon the sight As on a face in Parian marble wrought.

Stretcht on the ground, his own bright eyes he views, Twin stars;--his fingers, such as Bacchus grace; His tresses like Apollo's;--downy cheeks, Unbearded yet; his neck as ivory white; The roseate blooming fading into snow: Each trait admiring which the hapless nymphs, In him admir'd. Unwitting youth, himself He wants;--at once beloving, and belov'd: Himself desiring, by himself desir'd: Burning with love, while by himself he burns.

Oft, stooping, were his fruitless kisses given: Oft were his arms outstretch'd to clasp the neck So plainly seen beneath the waters. No!-- Himself he could not clasp. Whom he beholds, He knows not; but for whom he sees he burns.

The error that his eye deceives, provokes His rage. O, foolish youth! why vainly grasp A fleeting shadow? What thou seek'st is not:-- And what thou lov'st thou now destroy'st:--thou see'st A semblance only;--a reflected shade-- Nought of itself: with thee it came;--with thee It stays;--and with thee, if thou could'st, would go.

Not hunger's power has force to drag him thence; Nor cares of sleep oppress him. Thrown along The shaded gra.s.s, he bends insatiate eyes Tow'rds the fallacious beauty;--by those eyes He perishes. Now half-uprais'd, his arms Outspread, to all the groves around he cry'd:-- "Ye woods, whose darken'd shades so oft have given "Convenient privacies to lovers, say, "Saw you e'er one so cruelly who lov'd?

"In ages heap'd on ages you have stood, "Remember ye a youth who pin'd as I?

"Pleas'd with the object, I its form behold; "But what I see, and what so pleases flies.

"I find it not: in such bewilder'd maze "The lover stands. And what my grief augments, "No mighty seas divide us; lengthen'd roads; "Nor lofty hills; nor high embattled walls, "With portals clos'd: asunder are we held "By trivial drops of water. It no less "Than I, would give th' embrace; for when I bend "My lips to kiss it in the limpid stream; "With rising lips to meet, it anxious strives: "Then might you think we touch, so faint a line "Sunders us lovers. Come! whate'er thou art, "Come hither! why thus mock me, dearest form?

"Why fly my wooing thus? My beauty sure, "Nor youth are such as should provoke thy flight: "For numerous nymphs for me have burn'd. Some hope "Thy kindly sympathizing face affords; "And when my anxious arms I stretch,--thy arms "Advance to clasp me:--when I smile, thou smil'st: "And often have I noted, when the tears "Stream'd down my cheeks, a rivulet on thine: "I nod,--thou, answering, noddest: and those lips, "Those beauteous lips, whose movements plain I see, "Words utter sure to mine,--though I forbid, "The sounds to hear. In thee am I!--no more "My shadow me deceives: I see the whole; "Love for myself consumes me:--flames self-rais'd, "Myself torment. What hope? be woo'd,--or woo?

"Wooing, or being woo'd, where is my gain?

"Myself I wish, and plenty makes me poor.

"Would that my body from itself could part!

"Strange wish for lovers, what most dear they love, "Absent to pray. Grief undermines my strength; "Nor long my life can linger;--immature, "In youth I perish: but in me no fears, "Can death infuse, of all my woes the end; "Might I but leave this lovely object, still "Existing: now two images, alas!

"Sink with one soul in death." Narcissus wails; And raving turns to view the face again.

His tears the waters trouble; and the face So beauteous, scarce is seen. Griev'd, he exclaims, When disappearing,--"Whither fly'st thou? stay-- "Stay, I beseech thee; cruel, fly me not,-- "Thy lover: grant me still to view the form, "To touch forbidden:--food, at least, afford "To this unhappy flame." Lamenting thus, He from his shoulders tore his robe, and beat With snow-white hands his bosom; at the blow His bosom redden'd: so the cherry seems, Here ruddy blushing, there as fair as snow: Or grapes unripe, part purpling to the sun, In vary'd cl.u.s.ters. This he soon espy'd, Reflected in the placid pool; no more He bore it, but as gentle fire dissolves The yellow wax: as Phbus' morning beams Melt the light h.o.a.r;--so wasted he,--by love Gradual consum'd, as by a secret fire.

No more the ruddy teints appear, with white Soft blended. All his active strength decays; And all that pleas'd so lately. Ev'n his form So much by Echo lov'd, no more remains.

All Echo saw; and though of former slights Still mindful, griev'd; and when the hapless youth "Alas!" exclaim'd; responsive sigh'd, "Alas!"

When on his breast the blows resounded; blows Loud answering his were heard. His final words, Gazing still earnest on the wonted wave, Were,--"dearest form, belov'd in vain!"--the words Resounded from the grove: "farewel," he cry'd, And Echo cry'd, "farewel." Weary'd he threw, On the green turf his head. Night clos'd his eyes; Their owner fond admiring. Now retir'd To regions far beneath, the Stygian lake Reflects his form. The Naiad sisters wail, Shorn of their tresses, which to him they throw: The Dryads also mourn; their bosoms beat; And Echo answers every tearful groan.

A pile they build; the high-tost torches bring; And funeral bier; but, lo! the corpse is gone: A saffron-teinted flower alone is found, Rising encircled with its snowy leaves.