Part 14

"The son of Laïus had the words explain'd, "Before his time to every mind obscure; "And the dark prophetess, down headlong flung, "Laid lifeless, all her riddling tales forgot. "Her, fostering Themis saw, and unreveng'd "To lie not suffer'd. Straight another plague "On Thebes was loos'd; and all the country swains "Fear'd by the savage beast their flocks to lose, "And fear'd their own destruction. With the youths "Adjacent, I assembled; round the fields "Our toils we fix; the toils the rapid beast "O'erleaps high-bounding; 'bove the loftiest ropes, "Stretch'd o'er the nets, with active spring he flies. "The hounds uncoupled, in the chace he mocks, "And like an agile bird before them plays; "With outcries loud, for Lælaps' aid they call. "(My Procris' gift, so nam'd.) Long had he tugg'd, "To extricate him from the chain; to free "His captive neck: scarce was he loos'd, so swift "He shot, in vain our eyes his progress mark'd: "In the light dust his feet were printed, he, "Rapt from the view, was vanish'd. Swifter flies "The darted spear not: nor the leaden ball "Hurl'd from the whirling sling;—nor reedy dart "Shot from the Cretan bow. A central hill "High-towering, all the subject plains o'erlooks; "Thither I climb, and there behold the chase; "A novel scene. Now seems the beast safe caught; "Now from the grasp light-springing. Flight right on "Crafty he shuns, and doubles round the field, "Cheating his chaser's mouth; and circling turns "His foe's quick speed eluding. Swift he flies,— "With equal swiftness follow'd. Now to grasp "His prey seems Lælaps,—in his grasp deceiv'd, "His empty jaws seize air. Now to my aid "I call my javelin,—poize it for the blow, "And bend mine eyes the thongs to fix secure: "Again I lift them to behold the chase, "And see astonish'd in the spacious plain "Two marble statues! this to fly appears,— "That barking seems to follow. So decreed "Doubtless the gods, that in the arduous course "Unconquer'd, each his glory might retain."

Thus far he spoke, then silent sate.—"What crime," Said Phocus—"has the javelin then perform'd?"— And thus the javelin's fault the hero tells, "Since joys supreme my sorrows first forewent, "Let me, O, Phocus! first those joys recount. "O, youth! how it delights me to retrace "Those happy moments, when supremely blest "In her, the primal years were joyous spent. "She, equal happy in her darling spouse; "Each mind of mutual care a portion bore; "And love's connubial joys each equal shar'd. "Jove's proffer'd couch, with my embrace compar'd, "Procris had spurn'd; nor could the loveliest nymph "Me tempt, though Venus' self had deign'd to sue: "In either breast an equal ardor flam'd. "In youthful guise I wont the woods to scour, "For sport betimes, ere yet the sun had ting'd "With early beams the lofty mountains' tops: "Nor took I servants, nor the courser fleet, "Nor hounds sharp-scented, nor the knotted snares; "This dart my sole dependence: when my arm "With slaughtered spoil was satiate, tir'd I sought "The cooling shade, and sought where Aura breath'd "In frigid vales her breezes. 'Midst the heat "Refreshing air I sought, and Aura call'd, "My labour's recreation; thus I sung, "I well the words remember;—Aura, come! "Come, my delight,—within my bosom creep, "Most grateful friend; come, and as wont remove "My inward flames.—By chance more tender words "(So sway'd my destiny) to these I join'd: "And thus I spoke—O, thou! my greatest joy "Refreshing, cherishing my strength and power! "For thee, these woods and lonely spots I love: "Here does my wishing mouth thy breath inhale.— "These words ambiguous, busy ears receiv'd, "And Aura! Aura! oft invok'd, they deem "A favor'd nymph,—a nymph by me belov'd. "The rash informer with the imag'd wrong, "My Procris seeks his whispering tongue relates, "The words o'erheard. Love credulous believes. "O'erpress'd with grief, she sudden sunk, when heard "The tale,—and long she unrecover'd laid. "Then—hapless wife!—O, wayward fate! she cries:— "My broken faith bewails, and with my crime "Imagin'd, troubled, fears what not exists,— "A name without a being: much she grieves, "As real were her rival: yet full oft "Stagger'd, she doubts, and hopes herself deceiv'd: "Trusts not th' informer; and her husband's fault, "Unless beheld, refuses to believe. "When next Aurora bade the darkness fly "I sally'd forth, and sought th' accustomed wood: "Then tir'd with conquest, on the grass I stretch'd, "And,—come, dear Aura, ease my pain,—I cry'd "Sudden a mournful sigh betwixt my words "I heard, but still proceeded,—dearest, come!— "Again the falling leaves a rustling sound "Causing, a savage beast I thought lay hid, "And hurl'd my faithful dart. Procris was there! "And as her tender breast the blow receiv'd "Alas! she cry'd.—My faithful spouse's voice "I knew, and with distracted speed I ran; "Half-dead I found her, all her robes distain'd "With flowing blood,—and dragging from the wound, "Ah, me!—her fatal gift. My guilty arms, "Her body, dearer far than mine, support; "My vest I rend, the cruel gash to bind, "And check the gushing blood; I fearful pray, "She will not leave me guilty of her fate. "She now, her strength fast wasting, dying fast, "These words to utter try'd:—Suppliant I beg, "By all the oaths that form'd our nuptial ties; "By all the gods and goddesses above; "By all my actions which have given you joy; "By that strong love which thus my fate has caus'd, "Which now in death my bosom still retains, "Let not this Aura to my bed succeed.— "She said,—too late I learn'd, too late I told "The error of the name; for what avail'd! "She sinks, her small remaining strength is fled, "Her last blood flows. While ought she seems to view, "On me she bends her eyes; her hapless soul "My lips inhale, yet pleas'd her brow appears "In death, more calm from what I just explain'd." Thus grieving, Cephalus concludes, and all His audience with him weep. When, lo! appear King Æäcus, his sons, and troops new-rais'd; Whom Cephalus, in warlike strength, receives.

END OF THE FIRST VOLUME.

Macdonald & Bailey, Printers, Harris's Place, Oxford-Street.

THE METAMORPHOSES OF PUBLIUS OVIDIUS NASO IN English Blank Verse

Translated by J. J. HOWARD

VOL. II.

The Eighth Book.

Nisus betrayed to Minos by his daughter Scylla; changed to a falcon, and Scylla to a lark. Return of Minos to Crete. The Minotaur and labyrinth. Flight of Dædalus and Icarus. Change of Perdix to a partridge. Chase and death of the Calydonian boar, by Meleager and Atalanta. Murder of Meleager's uncles. Vengeance of his mother. Death of Meleager, and transformation of his sisters to birds. Acheloüs. Nymphs transformed into the isles Echinades. Perimelè into an island. Story of Baucis and Philemon. Changes of Proteus. Story of Erisichthon, and transformations of his daughter.

Printed by G. HAYDEN, Brydges Street, Covent Garden.

THE Eighth Book OF THE METAMORPHOSES OF OVID.

Now leading Phosphor' shining day disclos'd, The darkness flying; and the eastern gales Lull'd into calm, the vapoury clouds arose: The placid south befriending, rapid borne, The hero Cephalus, and aiding troops, Ride unexpected in their wish'd-for port.

Minos, meanwhile, the Lelegeian coast Lays waste, and on Alcathoë's town his power Essays. Here Nisus rul'd, whose reverend locks Of silvery brightness, in the midst contain'd One with rich purple splendid, sacred pledge Of fortune to his kingdom. Six times seen Were Luna's horns arising fresh renew'd; Still hover'd conquest doubtful o'er the war, On wavering pinions, 'twixt opposing hosts. A regal tower its vocal walls high-rear'd, Where once Latona's son his golden lyre Rested; the music still the stones retain'd. Oft here the beauteous daughter of the king Ascended, and the latent music drew Forth to the ear, by smallest pebbles struck. Thus she in peaceful times, and here she oft When war was raging, ventur'd: hence she saw The rough encounters of the furious field. So long the tedious warfare, well she knew The leaders' names, their arms, their prancing steeds: And knew their garments, and their Cretan bows. Far beyond all Europa's son she knew, More than became her state: this Minos well Could prove; whose head in crested helmet hid, Most beauteous helm'd appear'd: whose arm, adorn'd With brazen shield refulgent, well became The brazen shield: whose hand the tough lance whirl'd, And back withdrawn, the virgin wondering prais'd Such strength and skill combin'd: to fit the dart When to the spreading bow his strength he bent, She vow'd that Phoebus in such posture stood His arrows fitting: when, his brazen casque Relinquish'd, all his features shone display'd, As purple-rob'd his snow-white steed he press'd, In painted housings gay, and curb'd his jaws White foaming,—then the lost Nisean maid, Scarcely herself, in frantic rapture spoke:— Blest call'd the javelin, that his hands it touch'd; Blest call'd the reins he curb'd. Arduous she burns, (Could she) through hostile ranks her virgin steps To bend: arduous she burns, from loftiest towers To fling her body in the Cretan camp. The brazen portals of the city's walls Wide to the foe she'd ope: what could she not? That Minos will'd? As resting here she view'd, The white pavilion of the Gnossian king Dubious, she cry'd;—"Or should I grieve or joy, "This mournful war to witness? Grieve I must "That Minos so belov'd should be my foe. "But had the war not been, his lovely face "Had ne'er to me been known. Now war may cease "Should I become the hostage:—I retain'd, "As Minos' comrade, and the pledge of peace. "Fairest of forms! if she who brought thee forth "Resembled thee, well might an amorous god "Burn for her beauty. O! thrice blest were I, "If borne through air on lightly-waving wings, "The Cretan monarch's camp I might explore, "And there, my rank and love disclos'd, demand "What dowry he would ask to be my spouse. "My country's towers alone, he should not seek. "Perish the joys of his expected bed, "Ere I through treason gain them! Yet full oft "A moderate victor's clemency affords "Great blessings to the vanquish'd. Doubtless, he "Just warfare wages for his murder'd son. "Strong in his cause, and in his armies strong, "Which aid that cause, he must the conquest gain. "Why, if this fate my country waits, should war, "And not my love unbar to him the gates? "So may he conquer; slaughter, toil, and blood,— "His own dear blood, avoided. How I dread, "Lest some rash hand might that lov'd bosom wound! "None but the ignorant sure, the savage spear "At him would hurl. The scheme delights my soul: "Fixt my resolve; my country as my dower "Will I deliver, finish so the war! "But what are resolutions? Watchful guards "The passes keep; of every gate, the keys "My father careful holds. Hapless! I dread "My father only; he alone withstands "My wishes; would that so the gods had doom'd, "I had no parent! But to each himself "A god may surely be; and fortune spurns "Lazy beseechers. With such love inflam'd, "Another maid had long ere now destroy'd "All barriers to her bliss; and why than I, "Should any dare more boldly? Fearless, I "Thro' swords and flames would pass, but swords and flames "Oppose me not in this: my sole desire "Compris'd in one small lock of Nisus' hair: "Than gold that prize more dear. That purple lock "Most blest would make me, and my sole desires "Encompass."—Speaking thus, the gloomy night, Imperial nurse of cares, approach'd; more bold Her daring project with the darkness grew.

Now primal slumbers rul'd o'er weary breasts, Tir'd with their toil diurnal. Silent, she Her father's chamber enters, and (O, dire!) The daughter from her parent's head divides The fateful lock! Her wicked prize possess'd, Forth from the gate she issues; and the spoil, So cursed, with her bears; as through the hosts, (Such boldness gave the deed,) she seeks the king, Whom thus, astonish'd and aghast, she hails:— "To wicked deeds love sways; behold me here, "Scylla, from royal Nisus sprung; to thee "My household gods and country I betray: "Thee, sole reward I seek. Pledge of my faith, "This purple lock receive, and with this lock "Receive my parent's head."—Then in her hand The impious gift presented. Minos spurn'd The parricidal present; deeply shock'd A deed so base to witness, and exclaim'd;— "May all the gods, from every part of earth "Thee banish, scandal of our age! may land "And sea alike reject thee; such a soul "So monstrous! ne'er with me shall touch the shores "Of Crete, my land, and cradle of high Jove." He said, and on his captive foes impos'd Most just his equal laws; his men bade loose Their cables from the beach, and with their oars His vessels bright with brass, urge on the deep.

Launch'd on the main, when Scylla sees the fleet, Nor from its leader gain'd the hop'd reward, Her wicked deed had sought, tir'd of her prayers, In desperate rage she storms; wild throws her hair; Stretches her hands, exclaiming;—"Where! O, where! "Fly'st thou, the author of thy fortune left? "O, priz'd above my country! 'bove my sire! "O cruel, whither fly'st thou, whose success "At once my merit, and my fault displays? "Will not the gifted conquest move thy soul? "Will not my love thee move? Will not the thought "That all my hopes centre in thee alone? "By thee deserted, whither shall I fly? "Back to my natal town? Ruin'd it lies; "Or if still standing, fast the gates are barr'd "Against my treason. To my father's arms, "Whom I betray'd? Each citizen me hates "Deserv'dly; neighbours my example dread. "Banish'd, an exile from each spot of earth,— "Crete only open lies. Thence dost thou drive "Me also? Ingrate! dost thou fly me so? "Europa never bore thee, but some Syrt' "Inhospitable; or some tigress fell "Bred in Armenia; or Charybdis vext "With tempests: Jove was ne'er thy sire, nor feign'd "A bull's resemblance to delude her, false "That fable of thy origin. A bull, "Real and savage thee begot, whose love "No heifer mov'd. O father Nisus! now "Exact thy vengeance. Joy, O town! betray'd "By my transgression; for the woes I feel "Most merited I grant; guilty I die: "Yet should the deadly blow be given by one "My impious fault has injur'd; not by thee, "Victor through crimes thou with avenging hate "Now persecutest. This flagitious deed "Against my country, and against my sire, "Was all for thee. Th' adultress who beguil'd "In wooden cavity the furious bull; "Whose womb an ill-assorted birth produc'd; "Well for a spouse befits thee. Do my words "Reach to thine ears, or no? Do the brisk winds, "Thou ingrate! waft my bootless plainings on, "And waft thy vessels? Wondrous now no more, "Pasiphaë, to thy embrace a bull "Preferr'd; for more unpitying is thy soul. "Joyful, ah! hapless me,—away thou fly'st; "Thy cleaving oars dash on the sounding waves: "Me, and my country far from thee recede. "O wretch! forgetful of my favoring aid, "Thou striv'st in vain to fly me. 'Gainst thy wish "Thee will I follow; on thy crooked ship "Hanging, embracing, dragg'd through drenching seas.' Scarce ending, in the waves she furious leaped, Vigorous by love, and gain'd the flying fleet; And clasp'd, unwelcome guest, the Gnossian poop. Here soon her father spy'd her (in the air He wing'd his way, now cloth'd with yellow plumes A falcon) and down darted; with his beak So curv'd, to wound her as she clung. In dread Her grasp she loos'd, and as she seem'd to fall, The light air bore her from the waves below: Plum'd she became, and form'd a feather'd bird, Ciris they call'd her from the ravish'd lock.

To Jove now Minos all his vows performs, An hecatomb of bulls; as from the fleet He lands on Gnossus' shores: his royal hall With all his spoils, on high uphung, adorn'd.

Meantime th' opprobrium of his bed increas'd: The two-formed monster in a novel birth, At length the mother's beastly crime proclaim'd. Minos, the shameful witness from his couch, Far to remove determines; in a dome Intricate winding, he resolves to lodge, From every eye conceal'd, the birth. Intrusts The work to Dædalus, in cunning arts Most fam'd, to build. He all the various marks, Confuses, puzzles; bent on either side, The various paths confound the searching eye. So in the fields the soft Mæander plays, Here refluent, flowing there with dubious course; Meeting himself, his wandering stream he sees: And urges now to whence he first arose; Now to the open outlet of the main. Thus Dædalus the numerous paths perplex'd With puzzlings intricate, so much entwin'd, Himself could scarce the outer threshold gain. Here was the double monster, man and bull Inclos'd; till by the third allotted tribe, The ninth year, vanquish'd; with Athenian blood Twice gorg'd before. Then was the secret gate, So often sought in vain, found by the aid A virgin lent to trace the winding clue. Instant for Dias, Theseus loos'd his sails, With Minos' ravish'd daughter: on that shore Cruel! he left her. The deserted nymph Wildly lamenting, Bacchus soon embrac'd, And gave her needful aid; her fame to fix Immortal in the skies, her sparkling crown, Mov'd from her forehead, 'mid the stars he plac'd: Through the thin air it flies, and as it mounts To blazing stars, the glittering jewels change. Still as a crown it shines, its station 'midst Where stout Alcides Ophiuchus grasps.

Meantime long exile, and the land of Crete Detesting; burning with a patriot's wish His native soil to visit, Dædalus, By sea escape prevented, thus exclaim'd;— "Let earth and ocean both my flight obstruct, "Still open lies the air; through air we'll go. "Minos controlling all, controls not air."— He speaks, and bends to unknown arts his skill, Improving Nature's gift. Quills fixt in rows He places; small at first in length and size, Gradual enlarg'd, as if a hill's steep side Growing, produc'd them: So time past the pipe, Of rustic origin, by small degrees Increasing reeds compos'd. Firm fixt with thread Their middle part he binds, and close with wax Cements their bottom. All complete he bends The composition in a gentle curve, Resembling real wings. Young Icarus Alone was present; ignorant that the work Would his destruction cause; with playful tricks He fingers now the feathers, now his hands Soften the yellow wax. His sportive wiles His father's wond'rous essay oft delay.

Now was the last completing stroke impos'd Upon his undertaking: First the sire On artificial wings his body pois'd, And in the beaten air suspended hung: Then his young offspring, Icarus, he taught.— "This I my son advise, a middle course, "To keep be cautious; low if thou should'st skim, "Heavy with ocean's spray thy wings would droop: "If high, the sun would scorch them. Steer thy course "'Twixt each extreme. Nor would I wish thine eyes "To view Boötes, or the northern bear; "Nor yet Orion's naked sword. My track "Cautious pursue."—With anxious care he gives Rules thus for flight; and to his shoulders fits The new-form'd pinions. Tears his ancient cheeks Bedew'd, as thus his admonitions flow'd: And his paternal hands as thus employ'd, Beneath the office trembled. Warm salutes He gave the boy, nor knew he gave the last; Then on his feathers borne, explores the way, Timid for him who follows. So the bird, Tempts from her lofty nest her new-fledg'd brood, In the thin air. He bids him close pursue, Tries in each shape to teach the fatal skill; Shakes his own pinions, bending back to view His son's. The angler as with quivering reed, He drew his prey to land; the shepherd-swain, As o'er his staff he lean'd; the ploughman-clown, Their flight astonish'd saw, and deem'd them gods, That so at will could cleave the liquid sky.

Now Samos, Juno's favor'd isle they pass'd, Delos, and Paros, all to left;—to right Labyrithos lay, and rich in honey'd sweets Calymné: when the heedless boy o'erjoy'd In his bold flight, the precepts of his guide Contemning, soar'd to heaven a loftier range. The neighbouring sun's fierce heat the fragrant wax Which bound, his pinions, soften'd. Soon the wax Dissolves; and now his naked arms he waves; But destitute of power his course to steer, No air his arms can gather; loud he calls His father's name, as in the azure deep He drops,—the deep which still his name retains.

The hapless parent, not a parent now, Loud calls on Icarus;—"Where art thou, son? "Where shall I seek thee, Icarus?"—He said, And spy'd his feathers floating on the waves: Then curs'd his hapless art, as in the earth, He deep intomb'd him; all the land around Bears from the youth intomb'd its present name.

The whirring partridge, from a branchy holm Beheld him, as beneath the turf he plac'd His son's lamented body, and with joy Flutter'd his feathers; while his chirping song Proclaim'd his gladness: then the only bird Known of his kind, in elder days unseen; But lately cloth'd with feathers, through the crime Flagitious, Dædalus, of thee! To thee, Thy sister, witless how his fate was doom'd, Her son committed for instructing art, When twice six annual suns the youth had seen; His docile mind best fitted then to learn. He well th' indented bones remark'd, which form The fish's spiny back, and in like mode, Sharp steel indenting, first the saw produc'd For public service. Two steel arms he join'd Fixt to one orb above; each widely stretch'd, One steady rests, the other circling turns. Him Dædalus with envy viewing, forc'd Headlong, from sacred Pallas' lofty tower, His death feign'd accidental: but the maid Divine, to all ingenious minds a friend, Receiv'd him in his fall; chang'd to a bird, On pinions bore him through the middle air. His vigorous powers in force remain the same, But change their seat; rapid he flies, and quick He races on the ground; his name remains Unalter'd: still the cautious bird declines To trust his weight aloft, nor forms his nest On lofty boughs, or summits of high trees: Nigh to the earth he skims; beneath the hedge His shelly brood deposits; of his fall Still mindful, towering heights he always shuns.