ON ANOTHER PART OF THE COVERLET
But from the further side came flitting bright-faced IacchusGirded by Satyr-crew and Nysa-reared SileniBurning with love unto thee (Ariadne!) and greeting thy presence. Who flocking eager to fray did rave with infuriate spirit,"Evoe" frenzying loud, with heads at "Evoe" rolling.Brandisht some of the maids their thyrsi sheathed of spear-point,Some snatcht limbs and joints of sturlings rended to pieces,These girt necks and waists with writhing bodies of vipers,Those with the gear enwombed in crates dark orgies ordained—Orgies that ears profane must vainly lust for o'er hearing—Others with palms on high smote hurried strokes on the cymbal,Or from the polisht brass woke thin-toned tinkling music,While from the many there boomed and blared hoarse blast of the horn-trump,And with its horrid skirl loud shrilled the barbarous bag-pipeShowing such varied forms, that richly-decorated couch-clothFolded in strait embrace the bedding drapery-veiled.This when the Thessalan youths had eyed with eager inspectionFulfilled, place they began to provide for venerate Godheads,Even as Zephyrus' breath, seas couching placid at dawn-tide,Roughens, then stings and spurs the wavelets slantingly fretted—Rising Aurora the while 'neath Sol the wanderer's threshold—Tardy at first they flow by the clement breathing of breezesUrged, and echo the shores with soft-toned ripples of laughter,But as the winds wax high so waves wax higher and higher,Flashing and floating afar to outswim morn's purpurine splendours,—So did the crowd fare forth, the royal vestibule leaving,And to their house each wight with vaguing paces departed.After their wending, the first, foremost from Pelion's summit,Chiron came to the front with woodland presents surcharged:Whatso of blooms and flowers bring forth Thessalian uplandsMighty with mountain crests, whate'er of riverine lea flowersReareth Favonius' air, bud-breeding, tepidly breathing,All in his hands brought he, unseparate in woven garlands,Whereat laughed the house as soothed by pleasure of perfume.Presently Péneus appears, deserting verdurous Tempe—Tempe girt by her belts of greenwood ever impending,Left for the Mamonides with frequent dances to worship—Nor is he empty of hand, for bears he tallest of beechesDeracinate, and bays with straight boles lofty and stately,Not without nodding plane-tree nor less the flexible sisterFire-slain Phaëton left, and not without cypresses airy.These in a line wide-broke set he, the Mansion surrounding,So by the soft leaves screened, the porch might flourish in verdure.Follows hard on his track with active spirit Prometheus,Bearing extenuate sign of penalties suffer'd in by-gones.Paid erewhiles what time fast-bound as to every member,Hung he in carkanet slung from the Scythian rocktor.Last did the Father of Gods with his sacred spouse and his offspring,Proud from the Heavens proceed, thee leaving (Phoebus) in loneness,Lone wi' thy sister twin who haunteth mountains of Idrus:For that the Virgin spurned as thou the person of Peleus,Nor Thetis' nuptial torch would greet by act of her presence.When they had leaned their limbs upon snowy benches reposing,Tables largely arranged with various viands were garnisht.But, ere opened the feast, with infirm gesture their semblanceShaking, the Parcae fell to chaunting veridique verses.Robed were their tremulous frames all o'er in muffle of garmentsBright-white, purple of hem enfolding heels in its edges;Snowy the fillets that bound heads aged by many a year-tide,And, as their wont aye was, their hands plied labour unceasing.Each in her left upheld with soft fleece clothed a distaff,Then did the right that drew forth thread with upturn of fingersGently fashion the yarn which deftly twisted by thumb-ballSpeeded the spindle poised by thread-whorl perfect of polish;