Metamorphoses
Ovid
Ovid. Metamorphoses. More, Brookes, translator. Boston: Cornhill Publishing Co., 1922.
- Ere this transpired,
- observed the consort of the Thunder-God
- her altered mien; but she for ripening time
- withheld severe resentment. Now delay
- was needless for distracted Juno heard
- Calisto of the god of Heaven had borne
- a boy called Arcas. Full of jealous rage,
- her eyes and thoughts enkindled as she cried;
- “And only this was wanting to complete
- your wickedness, that you should bear a son
- and flaunt abroad the infamy of Jove!
- Unpunished you shall not escape, for I
- will spoil the beauty that has made you proud
- and dazzled Jupiter with wanton art.”
- So saying, by her forehead's tresses seized
- the goddess on her rival; and she dragged
- her roughly to the ground. Pleading she raised
- her suppliant arms and begged for mercy.—While
- she pled, black hair spread over her white limbs;
- her hands were lengthened into feet, and claws
- long-curving tipped them; snarling jaws deformed
- the mouth that Jove had kissed. And lest her prayers
- and piteous words might move some listening God,
- and give remembrance, speech was so denied,
- that only from her throat came angry growls,
- now uttered hoarse and threatening.
- Still remains
- her understanding, though her body, thus
- transformed, makes her appear a savage bear.—
- her sorrows are expressed in many a groan,
- repeated as she lifts her hands—if we
- may call them so—repeated as she lifts
- them towards the stars and skies, ungrateful Jove
- regarding; but her voice accuses not.
- Afraid to rest in unfrequented woods,
- she wandered in the fields that once were hers,
- around her well-known dwelling. Over crags,
- in terror, she was driven by the cries
- of hounds; and many a time she fled in fear,
- a huntress from the hunters, or she hid
- from savage animals; forgetting her
- transformed condition. Changed into a bear,
- she fled affrighted from the bears that haunt
- the rugged mountains; and she feared and fled
- the wolves,—although her father was a wolf.
- When thrice five birthdays rounded out the youth
- of Arcas, offspring of Lycaon's child,
- he hunted in the forest of his choice;
- where, hanging with his platted nets the trees
- of Erymanthian forest, he espied
- his transformed mother,—but he knew her not;
- no one had told him of his parentage.
- Knowing her child, she stood with levelled gaze,
- amazed and mute as he began approach;
- but Arcas, frightened at the sight drew back
- to pierce his mother's breast with wounding spear.—
- but not permitting it the god of Heaven
- averted, and removed them from that crime.
- He, in a mighty wind—through vacant space,
- upbore them to the dome of starry heaven,
- and fixed them, Constellations, bright amid
- the starry host.
- Juno on high beheld
- Calisto crowned with glory—great with rage
- her bosom heaved. She flew across the sea,
- to hoary Tethys and to old Oceanus,
- whom all the Gods revere, and thus to them
- in answer to their words she made address;
- “And is it wondered that the Queen of Gods
- comes hither from ethereal abodes?
- My rival sits upon the Throne of Heaven:
- yea, when the wing of Night has darkened
- let my fair word be deemed of no repute,
- if you behold not in the height of Heaven
- those new made stars, now honoured to my shame,
- conspicuous; fixed in the highest dome of space
- that circles the utmost axis of the world.
- “Who, then, should hesitate to put affront
- on Juno? matchless goddess! each offense
- redounds in benefit! Who dreads her rage?
- Oh boundless powers! Oh unimagined deeds!
- My enemy assumes a goddess' form
- when my decree deprives her human shape;—
- and thus the guilty rue their chastisement!
- “Now let high Jove to human shape transform
- this hideous beast, as once before he changed
- his Io from a heifer.—Let him now
- divorce his Juno and consort with her,
- and lead Calisto to his couch, and take
- that wolf, Lycaon, for a father-in-law!
- “Oh, if an injury to me, your child,
- may move your pity! drive the Seven Stars
- from waters crystalline and azure-tint,
- and your domain debar from those that shine
- in Heaven, rewarded for Jove's wickedness.—
- bathe not a concubine in waters pure.”—
- the Gods of Ocean granted her request.
- High in her graceful chariot through the air,
- translucent, wends the goddess, glorious child
- of Saturn, with her peacocks many-hued:
- her peacocks, by the death of Argus limned,
- so gay were made when black as midnight turned
- thy wings, O chattering raven! white of yore.
- For, long ago the ravens were not black—
- their plumage then was white as any dove—
- white-feathered, snow-white as the geese that guard
- with watchful cries the Capitol: as white
- as swans that haunt the streams. Disgrace reversed
- the raven's hue from white to black, because
- offense was given by his chattering tongue.
- O glorious Phoebus! dutiful to thee,
- Coronis of Larissa, fairest maid
- of all Aemonia, was a grateful charm,
- a joy to thee whilst faithful to thy love,—
- while none defamed her chastity. But when
- the Raven, bird of Phoebus, learned the Nymph
- had been unfaithful, mischief-bent that bird,
- spreading his white wings, hastened to impart
- the sad news to his master. After him
- the prattling Crow followed with flapping wings,
- eager to learn what caused the Raven's haste.
- Concealing nothing, with his busy tongue
- the Raven gave the scandal to that bird:
- and unto him the prattling Crow replied;
- “A fruitless errand has befooled thy wits!
- Take timely warning of my fateful cries:
- consider what I was and what I am:
- was justice done? 'Twas my fidelity
- that caused my downfall. For, it came to pass,
- within a basket, fashioned of small twigs,
- Minerva had enclosed that spawn; begot
- without a mother, Ericthonius;
- which to the wardship of three virgins, born
- of double-natured Cecrops, she consigned
- with this injunction, ‘Look ye not therein,
- nor learn the secret.’—
- “But I saw their deeds
- while hidden in the leaves of a great tree
- two of the sisters, Herse and Pandrosos,
- observed the charge, but scoffing at their fears,
- the third, Aglauros, with her nimble hands
- untied the knotted cords, and there disclosed
- a serpent and an infant. This I told
- Minerva; but in turn, she took away
- her long protection, and degraded me
- beneath the boding Owl.—My punishment
- should warn the birds how many dangers they
- incur from chattering tongues.
- “Not my desire
- impelled me to report to her, nor did
- I crave protection; which, if thou wilt ask
- Minerva, though enraged she must confirm.
- And when is told to thee what lately fame
- established, thou wilt not despise the Crow.
- “Begot by Coronaeus, who was lord
- of all the land of Phocis, I was once
- a royal virgin, sought by suitors rich
- and powerful. But beauty proved the cause
- of my misfortune; for it came to pass,
- as I was slowly walking on the sands
- that skirt the merge of ocean, where was oft
- my wont to roam, the god of Ocean gazed
- impassioned, and with honied words implored
- my love—but finding that I paid no heed,
- and all his words despised, he fumed with rage
- and followed me.
- “I fled from that sea-shore,
- to fields of shifting sands that all my steps
- delayed: and in despair upon the Gods
- and all mankind I called for aid, but I
- was quite alone and helpless. Presently
- the chaste Minerva, me, a virgin, heard
- and me assistance gave: for as my arms
- implored the Heavens, downy feathers grew
- from out the flesh; and as I tried to cast
- my mantle from my shoulders, wings appeared
- upon my tender sides; and as I strove
- to beat my naked bosom with my hands,
- nor hands remained nor naked breast to beat.
- “I ran, and as I sped the sands no more
- delayed me; I was soaring from the ground;
- and as I winged the air, Minerva chose
- me for a life-companion; but alas,
- although my life was blameless, fate or chance
- deprived me of Minerva's loving aid;
- for soon Nictimene succeeded me
- to her protection and deserved esteem.—
- it happened in this way,—Nictimene
- committed the most wicked crimes, for which
- Minerva changed her to the bird of night—
- and ever since has claimed her as her own
- instead of me; and this despite the deed
- for which she shuns the glorious light of day,
- and conscious of her crime conceals her shame
- in the dark night—Minerva's Owl now called.
- All the glad birds of day, indignant shun,
- and chase her from the skies.”
- But now replied
- the Raven to the Crow, that talked so much,
- “A mischief fall upon your prating head
- for this detention of my flight. Your words
- and warnings I despise.” With which retort
- he winged upon his journey, swiftly thence
- in haste, despite the warning to inform
- his patron, Phoebus, how he saw the fair
- Coronis with a lad of Thessaly.
- And when Apollo, Phoebus, heard the tale
- the busy Raven made such haste to tell,
- he dropped his plectrum and his laurel wreath,
- and his bright countenance went white with rage.
- He seized his trusted arms, and having bent
- his certain bow, pierced with a deadly shaft
- that bosom which so often he had pressed
- against his own.
- Coronis moaned in pain,—
- and as she drew the keen shaft from the wound,
- her snow-white limbs were bathed in purple blood:
- and thus she wailed, “Ah, Phoebus! punishment
- is justly mine! but wherefore didst thou not
- await the hour of birth? for by my death
- an innocent is slain.” This said, her soul
- expired with her life-blood, and death congealed
- her drooping form.
- Sadly the love-lore God
- repents his jealous deed; regrets too late
- his ready credence to the Raven's tale.
- Mourning his thoughtless deed, blaming himself,
- he vents his rage upon the talking bird;
- he hates his bow, the string, his own right hand,
- the fateful arrow. As a last resource,
- and thus to overcome her destiny,
- he strove to cherish her beloved form;
- for vain were all his medicinal arts.
- But when he saw upraised the funeral pyre,
- where wreathed in flames her body should be burnt,
- the sorrow of his heart welled forth in sighs;
- but tearless orbed, for no celestial face
- may tide of woe bedew. So grieves the poor dam,
- when, swinging from his right the flashing ax,
- the butcher with a sounding blow divides
- the hollow temples of her sucking calf.
- Yet, after Phoebus poured the fragrant myrrh,
- sweet perfumes on her breast, that now once more
- against his own he pressed, and after all
- the prematurely hastened rites were done,
- he would not suffer the offspring of his loins
- to mingle with her ashes, but he plucked
- from out the flames, forth from the mother's thighs
- his child, unborn, and carried to the cave
- of double-natured Chiron.
- Then to him
- he called the silly raven, high in hopes
- of large requital due for all his words;
- but, angry with his meddling ways, the God
- turned the white feathers of that bird to black
- and then forbade forever more to perch
- among the favoured birds whose plumes are white.
- Chiron, the Centaur, taught his pupil; proud
- that he was honoured by that God-like charge.
- Behold, his lovely daughter, who was born
- beside the margin of a rapid stream,
- came forward, with her yellow hair as gold
- adown her shoulders.—She was known by name
- Ocyroe. The hidden things that Fate
- conceals, she had the power to tell; for not
- content was she to learn her father's arts,
- but rather pondered on mysterious things.
- So, when the god of Frenzy warmed her breast,
- gazing on Aesculapius,—the child
- of Phoebus and Coronis, while her soul
- was gifted, with prophetic voice she said;
- “O thou who wilt bestow on all the world
- the blessed boon of health, increase in strength!
- To thee shall mortals often owe their lives:
- to thee is given the power to raise the dead.
- But when against the power of Deities
- thou shalt presume to dare thy mortal skill,
- the bolts of Jove will shatter thy great might,
- and health no more be thine from thence to grant.
- And from a god thou shalt return to dust,
- and once again from dust become a God;
- and thou shalt thus renew thy destiny.—
- “And thou, dear father Chiron, brought to birth
- with pledge of an immortal life, informed
- with ever-during strength, when biting flames
- of torment from the baneful serpent's blood
- are coursing in thy veins, thou shalt implore
- a welcome death; and thy immortal life
- the Gods shall suffer to the power of death.—
- and the three Destinies shall cut thy thread.”
- She would continue these prophetic words
- but tears unbidden trickled down her face;
- and, as it seemed her sighs would break her heart,
- she thus bewailed; “The Fates constrain my speech
- and I can say no more; my power has gone.
- Alas, my art, although of little force
- and doubtful worth, has brought upon my head
- the wrath of Heaven.
- “Oh wherefore did I know
- to cast the future? Now my human form
- puts on another shape, and the long grass
- affords me needed nourishment. I want
- to range the boundless plains and have become,
- in image of my father's kind, a mare:
- but gaining this, why lose my human shape?
- My father's form is one of twain combined.”
- And as she wailed the words became confused
- and scarcely understood; and soon her speech
- was only as the whinny of a mare.
- Down to the meadow's green her arms were stretched;
- her fingers joined together, and smooth hoofs
- made of five nails a single piece of horn.
- Her face and neck were lengthened, and her hair
- swept downward as a tail; the scattered locks
- that clung around her neck were made a mane,
- tossed over to the right. Her voice and shape
- were altogether changed, and since that day
- the change has given her a different name.
- In vain her hero father, Chiron, prayed
- the glorious God, Apollo, her to aid.
- He could not thwart the will of mighty Jove;
- and if the power were his, far from the spot,
- from thence afar his footsteps trod the fields
- of Elis and Messenia, far from thence.
- Now while Apollo wandered on those plains,—
- his shoulders covered with a shepherd's skin,
- his left hand holding his long shepherd's staff,
- his right hand busied with the seven reeds
- of seven sizes, brooding over the death
- of Hymenaeus, lost from his delight;
- while mournful ditties on the reeds were tuned,—
- his kine, forgotten, strayed away to graze
- over the plains of Pylos. Mercury
- observed them, unattended, and from thence
- drove them away and hid them in the forest.
- So deftly did he steal them, no one knew
- or noticed save an ancient forester,
- well known to all the neighbor-folk, by them
- called Battus. He was keeper of that wood,
- and that green pasture where the blooded mares
- of rich Neleus grazed.
- As Mercury
- distrusted him, he led him to one side
- and said; “Good stranger, whosoever thou art,
- if any one should haply question thee,
- if thou hast seen these kine, deny it all;
- and for thy good will, ere the deed is done,
- I give as thy reward this handsome cow.”
- Now when the gift was his, old Battus said,
- “Go hence in safety, if it be thy will;
- and should my tongue betray thee, let that stone
- make mention of the theft.” And as he spoke,
- he pointed to a stone.
- The son of Jove
- pretended to depart, but quickly changed
- his voice and features, and retraced his steps,
- and thus again addressed that ancient man;
- “Kind sir, if thou wouldst earn a fair reward,
- a heifer and a bull, if thou hast seen
- some cattle pass, I pray thee give thy help,
- and tell me of the theft.” So the reward
- was doubled; and the old man answered him,
- “Beyond those hills they be,” and so they were
- ‘Beyond those hills.’
- And, laughing, Mercury said,
- “Thou treacherous man to me dost thou betray
- myself? Dost thou bewray me to myself?”
- The god indignant turned his perjured breast
- into a stone which even now is called
- “The Spy of Pylos,” a disgraceful name,
- derived from days of old, but undeserved.
- High in the dome of Heaven, behold the bright
- Caduceus-Bearer soared on balanced wings;
- and far below him through a fruitful grove,
- devoted to Minerva's hallowed reign,
- some virgins bearing on their lovely heads,
- in wicker baskets wreathed and decked with flowers,
- their sacred offerings to the citadel
- of that chaste goddess. And the winged God,
- while circling in the clear unbounded skies,
- beheld that train of virgins, beautiful,
- as they were thence returning on their way.
- Not forward on a level line he flew,
- but wheeled in circles round. Lo, the swift kite
- swoops round the smoking entrails, while the priests
- enclose in guarded ranks their sacrifice:
- wary with fear, that swiftest of all birds,
- dares not to venture from his vantage height,
- but greedily hovers on his waving wings
- around his keen desire. So, the bright God
- circled those towers, Actaean, round and round,
- in mazey circles, greedy as the bird.
- As much as Lucifer outshines the stars
- that emulate the glory of his rays,
- as greatly as bright Phoebe pales thy light,
- O lustrous Lucifer! so far surpassed
- in beauty the fair maiden Herse, all
- those lovely virgins of that sacred train,
- departing joyous from Minerva's grove.
- The Son of Jove, astonished, while he wheeled
- on balanced pinions through the yielding air,
- burned hot; as oft from Balearic sling
- the leaden missile, hurled with sudden force,
- burns in a glowing heat beneath the clouds.
- Then sloped the god his course from airy height,
- and turned a different way; another way
- he went without disguise, in confidence
- of his celestial grace. But though he knew
- his face was beautiful, he combed his hair,
- and fixed his flowing raiment, that the fringe
- of radiant gold appeared. And in his hand
- he waved his long smooth wand, with which he gives
- the wakeful sleep or waketh ridded eyes.
- He proudly glanced upon his twinkling feet
- that sparkled with their scintillating wings.
- In a secluded part of that great fane,
- devoted to Minerva's hallowed rites,
- three chambers were adorned with tortoise shell
- and ivory and precious woods inlaid;
- and there, devoted to Minerva's praise,
- three well known sisters dwelt. Upon the right
- dwelt Pandrosos and over on the left
- Aglauros dwelt, and Herse occupied
- the room between those two.
- When Mercury
- drew near to them, Aglauros first espied
- the God, and ventured to enquire his name,
- and wherefore he was come. Then gracious spoke
- to her in answer the bright son of Jove;
- “Behold the god who carries through the air
- the mandates of almighty Jupiter!
- But I come hither not to waste my time
- in idle words, but rather to beseech
- thy kindness and good aid, that I may win
- the love of thy devoted sister Herse.”
- Aglauros, on the son of Jupiter,
- gazed with those eyes that only lately viewed
- the guarded secret of the yellow-haired
- Minerva, and demanded as her price
- gold of great weight; before he paid denied
- admittance of the house.
- Minerva turned,
- with orbs of stern displeasure, towards the maid
- Aglauros; and her bosom heaved with sighs
- so deeply laboured that her Aegis-shield
- was shaken on her valiant breast. For she
- remembered when Aglauros gave to view
- her charge, with impious hand, that monster form
- without a mother, maugre Nature's law,
- what time the god who dwells on Lemnos loved.—
- now to requite the god and sister; her
- to punish whose demand of gold was great;
- Minerva to the Cave of Envy sped.
- Dark, hideous with black gore, her dread abode
- is hidden in the deepest hollowed cave,
- in utmost limits where the genial sun
- may never shine, and where the breathing winds
- may never venture; dismal, bitter cold,
- untempered by the warmth of welcome fires,
- involved forever in abounding gloom.
- When the fair champion came to this abode
- she stood before its entrance, for she deemed
- it not a lawful thing to enter there:
- and she whose arm is mortal to her foes,
- struck the black door-posts with her pointed spear,
- and shook them to the center. Straight the doors
- flew open, and, behold, within was Envy
- ravening the flesh of vipers, self-begot,
- the nutriment of her depraved desires.—
- when the great goddess met her evil gaze
- she turned her eyes away. But Envy slow,
- in sluggish languor from the ground uprose,
- and left the scattered serpents half-devoured;
- then moving with a sullen pace approached.—
- and when she saw the gracious goddess, girt
- with beauty and resplendent in her arms,
- she groaned aloud and fetched up heavy sighs.
- Her face is pale, her body long and lean,
- her shifting eyes glance to the left and right,
- her snaggle teeth are covered with black rust,
- her hanging paps overflow with bitter gall,
- her slavered tongue drips venom to the ground;
- busy in schemes and watchful in dark snares
- sweet sleep is banished from her blood-shot eyes;
- her smiles are only seen when others weep;
- with sorrow she observes the fortunate,
- and pines away as she beholds their joy;
- her own existence is her punishment,
- and while tormenting she torments herself.
- Although Minerva held her in deep scorn
- she thus commanded her with winged words;
- “Instil thy poison in Aglauros, child
- of Cecrops; I command thee; do my will.”
- She spake; and spurning with her spear the ground
- departed; and the sad and furtive-eyed
- envy observed her in her glorious flight:
- she murmured at the goddess, great in arms:
- but waiting not she took in hand her staff,
- which bands of thorns encircled as a wreath,
- and veiled in midnight clouds departed thence.
- She blasted on her way the ripening fields;
- scorched the green meadows, starred with flowers,
- and breathed a pestilence throughout the land
- and the great cities. When her eyes beheld
- the glorious citadel of Athens, great
- in art and wealth, abode of joyful peace,
- she hardly could refrain from shedding tears,
- that nothing might be witnessed worthy tears.
- She sought the chamber where Aglauros slept,
- and hastened to obey the God's behest.
- She touched the maiden's bosom with her hands,
- foul with corrupting stains, and pierced her heart
- with jagged thorns, and breathed upon her face
- a noxious venom; and distilled through all
- the marrow of her bones, and in her lungs,
- a poison blacker than the ooze of pitch.
- And lest the canker of her poisoned soul
- might spread unchecked throughout increasing space,
- she caused a vision of her sister's form
- to rise before her, happy with the God
- who shone in his celestial beauty. All
- appeared more beautiful than real life.—
- when the most wretched daughter of Cecrops
- had seen the vision secret torment seized
- on all her vitals; and she groaned aloud,
- tormented by her frenzy day and night.
- A slow consumption wasted her away,
- as ice is melted by the slant sunbeam,
- when the cool clouds are flitting in the sky.
- If she but thought of Herse's happiness
- she burned, as thorny bushes are consumed
- with smoldering embers under steaming stems.
- She could not bear to see her sister's joy,
- and longed for death, an end of misery;
- or schemed to end the torture of her mind
- by telling all she knew in shameful words,
- whispered to her austere and upright sire.
- But after many agonizing hours,
- she sat before the threshold of their home
- to intercept the God, who as he neared
- spoke softly in smooth blandishment.
- “Enough,” she said, “I will not move from here
- until thou hast departed from my sight.”
- “Let us adhere to that which was agreed.”
- Rejoined the graceful-formed Cyllenian God,
- who as he spoke thrust open with a touch
- of his compelling wand the carved door.
- But when she made an effort to arise,
- her thighs felt heavy, rigid and benumbed;
- and as she struggled to arise her knees
- were stiffened? and her nails turned pale and cold;
- her veins grew pallid as the blood congealed.
- And even as the dreaded cancer spreads
- through all the body, adding to its taint
- the flesh uninjured; so, a deadly chill
- entered by slow degrees her breast, and stopped
- her breathing, and the passages of life.
- She did not try to speak, but had she made
- an effort to complain there was not left
- a passage for her voice. Her neck was changed
- to rigid stone, her countenance felt hard;
- she sat a bloodless statue, but of stone
- not marble-white—her mind had stained it black.
- So from the land of Pallas went the God,
- his great revenge accomplished on the head
- of impious Aglauros; and he soared
- on waving wings into the opened skies:
- and there his father called him to his side,
- and said,—with words to hide his passion;—Son,—
- thou faithful minister of my commands.—
- let naught delay thee—swiftly take the way,
- accustomed, to the land of Sidon (which
- adores thy mother's star upon the left)
- when there, drive over to the sounding shore
- that royal herd, which far away is fed
- on mountain grass.—
- he spoke, and instantly
- the herd was driven from the mountain side;
- then headed for the shore, as Jove desired,—
- to where the great king's daughter often went
- in play, attended by the maids of Tyre.—
- can love abide the majesty of kings?
- Love cannot always dwell upon a throne.—
- Jove laid aside his glorious dignity,
- for he assumed the semblance of a bull
- and mingled with the bullocks in the groves,
- his colour white as virgin snow, untrod,
- unmelted by the watery Southern Wind.
- His neck was thick with muscles, dewlaps hung
- between his shoulders; and his polished horns,
- so small and beautifully set, appeared
- the artifice of man; fashioned as fair
- and more transparent than a lucent gem.
- His forehead was not lowered for attack,
- nor was there fury in his open eyes;
- the love of peace was in his countenance.
- When she beheld his beauty and mild eyes,
- the daughter of Agenor was amazed;
- but, daring not to touch him, stood apart
- until her virgin fears were quieted;
- then, near him, fragrant flowers in her hand
- she offered,—tempting, to his gentle mouth:
- and then the loving god in his great joy
- kissed her sweet hands, and could not wait her will.
- Jove then began to frisk upon the grass,
- or laid his snow-white side on the smooth sand,
- yellow and golden. As her courage grew
- he gave his breast one moment for caress,
- or bent his head for garlands newly made,
- wreathed for his polished horns.
- The royal maid,
- unwitting what she did, at length sat down
- upon the bull's broad back. Then by degrees
- the god moved from the land and from the shore,
- and placed his feet, that seemed but shining hoofs,
- in shallow water by the sandy merge;
- and not a moment resting bore her thence,
- across the surface of the Middle Sea,
- while she affrighted gazed upon the shore—
- so fast receding. And she held his horn
- with her right hand, and, steadied by the left,
- held on his ample back—and in the breeze
- her waving garments fluttered as they went.
- Now Jupiter had not revealed himself,
- nor laid aside the semblance of a bull,
- until they stood upon the plains of Crete.
- But not aware of this, her father bade
- her brother Cadmus search through all the world,
- until he found his sister, and proclaimed
- him doomed to exile if he found her not;—
- thus was he good and wicked in one deed.
- When he had vainly wandered over the earth
- (for who can fathom the deceits of Jove?)
- Cadmus, the son of King Agenor, shunned
- his country and his father's mighty wrath.
- But he consulted the famed oracles
- of Phoebus, and enquired of them what land
- might offer him a refuge and a home.
- And Phoebus answered him; “When on the plains
- a heifer, that has never known the yoke,
- shall cross thy path go thou thy way with her,
- and follow where she leads; and when she lies,
- to rest herself upon the meadow green,
- there shalt thou stop, as it will be a sign
- for thee to build upon that plain the walls
- of a great city: and its name shall be
- the City of Boeotia.”
- Cadmus turned;
- but hardly had descended from the cave,
- Castalian, ere he saw a heifer go
- unguarded, gentle-paced, without the scars
- of labour on her neck. He followed close
- upon her steps (and silently adored
- celestial Phoebus, author of his way)
- till over the channel that Cephissus wears
- he forded to the fields of Panope
- and even over to Boeotia.—
- there stood the slow-paced heifer, and she raised
- her forehead, broad with shapely horns, towards Heaven;
- and as she filled the air with lowing, stretched
- her side upon the tender grass, and turned
- her gaze on him who followed in her path.
- Cadmus gave thanks and kissed the foreign soil,
- and offered salutation to the fields
- and unexplored hills. Then he prepared
- to make large sacrifice to Jupiter,
- and ordered slaves to seek the living springs
- whose waters in libation might be poured.
- There was an ancient grove, whose branching trees
- had never known the desecrating ax,
- where hidden in the undergrowth a cave,
- with oziers bending round its low-formed arch,
- was hollowed in the jutting rocks—deep-found
- in the dark center of that hallowed grove—
- beneath its arched roof a beauteous stream
- of water welled serene. Its gloom concealed
- a dragon, sacred to the war-like Mars;
- crested and gorgeous with radescent scales,
- and eyes that sparkled as the glow of coals.
- A deadly venom had puffed up his bulk,
- and from his jaws he darted forth three tongues,
- and in a triple row his sharp teeth stood.
- Now those who ventured of the Tyrian race,
- misfortuned followers of Cadmus, took
- the path that led them to this grove; and when
- they cast down-splashing in the springs an urn,
- the hidden dragon stretched his azure head
- out from the cavern's gloom, and vented forth
- terrific hissings. Horrified they dropped
- their urns. A sudden trembling shook their knees;
- and their life-blood was ice within their veins.
- The dragon wreathed his scales in rolling knots,
- and with a spring, entwisted in great folds,
- reared up his bulk beyond the middle rings,
- high in the air from whence was given his gaze
- the extreme confines of the grove below.
- A size prodigious, his enormous bulk,
- if seen extended where was naught to hide,
- would rival in its length the Serpent's folds,
- involved betwixt the planes of the Twin Bears.
- The terrified Phoenicians, whether armed
- for conflict, or in flight precipitate,
- or whether held incapable from fear,
- he seized with sudden rage; stung them to death,
- or crushed them in the grasp of crushing folds,
- or blasted with the poison of his breath.
- High in the Heavens the sun small shadow made
- when Cadmus, wondering what detained his men,
- prepared to follow them. Clothed in a skin
- torn from a lion, he was armed, complete,
- with lance of glittering steel; and with a dart:
- but passing these he had a dauntless soul.
- When he explored the grove and there beheld
- the lifeless bodies, and above them stretched
- the vast victorious dragon licking up
- the blood that issued from their ghastly wounds;
- his red tongues dripping gore; then Cadmus filled
- with rage and grief; “Behold, my faithful ones!
- I will avenge your deaths or I will share it!”
- He spoke; and lifted up a mill-stone huge,
- in his right hand, and having poised it, hurled
- with a tremendous effort dealing such
- a blow would crush the strongest builded walls;
- yet neither did the dragon flinch the shock
- nor was he wounded, for his armour-scales,
- fixed in his hard and swarthy hide, repelled
- the dreadful impact. Not the javelin thus,
- so surely by his armoured skin was foiled,
- for through the middle segment of his spine
- the steel point pierced, and sank beneath the flesh,
- deep in his entrails. Writhing in great pain
- he turned his head upon his bleeding back,
- twisting the shaft, with force prodigious shook
- it back and forth, and wrenched it from the wound;
- with difficulty wrenched it. But the steel
- remained securely fastened in his bones.
- Such agony but made increase of rage:
- his throat was swollen with great knotted veins;
- a white froth gathered on his poisonous jaws;
- the earth resounded with his rasping scales;
- he breathed upon the grass a pestilence,
- steaming mephitic from his Stygian mouth.
- His body writhes up in tremendous gyres;
- his folds, now straighter than a beam, untwist;
- he rushes forward on his vengeful foe,
- his great breast crushing the deep-rooted trees.
- Small space gave Cadmus to the dragon's rage,
- for by the lion's spoil he stood the shock,
- and thrusting in his adversary's jaws
- the trusted lance gave check his mad career.
- Wild in his rage the dragon bit the steel
- and fixed his teeth on the keen-biting point:
- out from his poisoned palate streams of gore
- spouted and stained the green with sanguine spray.
- Yet slight the wound for he recoiled in time,
- and drew his wounded body from the spear;
- by shrinking from the sharp steel saved his throat
- a mortal wound. But Cadmus as he pressed
- the spear-point deeper in the serpent's throat,
- pursued him till an oak-tree barred the way;
- to this he fixed the dragon through the neck:
- the stout trunk bending with the monster's weight,
- groaned at the lashing of his serpent tail.
- While the brave victor gazed upon the bulk
- enormous of his vanquished foe, a voice
- was heard—from whence was difficult to know,
- but surely heard—“Son of Agenor, why
- art thou here standing by this carcase-worm,
- for others shall behold thy body changed
- into a serpent?” Terrified, amazed,
- he lost his colour and his self-control;
- his hair stood upright from the dreadful fright.
- But lo, the hero's watchful Deity,
- Minerva, from the upper realms of air
- appeared before him. She commanded him
- to sow the dragon's teeth in mellowed soil,
- from which might spring another race of men.
- And he obeyed: and as he plowed the land,
- took care to scatter in the furrowed soil
- the dragon's teeth; a seed to raise up man.
- 'Tis marvelous but true, when this was done
- the clods began to move. A spear-point first
- appeared above the furrows, followed next
- by helmet-covered heads, nodding their cones;
- their shoulders, breasts and arms weighted with spears;
- and largely grew the shielded crop of men.—
- so is it in the joyful theaters
- when the gay curtains, rolling from the floor,
- are upward drawn until the scene is shown,—
- it seems as if the figures rise to view:
- first we behold their faces, then we see
- their bodies, and their forms by slow degrees
- appear before us on the painted cloth.
- Cadmus, affrighted by this host, prepared
- to arm for his defence; but one of those
- from earth created cried; “Arm not! Away
- from civil wars!” And with his trenchant sword
- he smote an earth-born brother, hand to hand;
- even as the vanquished so the victor fell,
- pierced by a dart some distant brother hurled;
- and likewise he who cast that dart was slain:
- both breathing forth their lives upon the air
- so briefly theirs, expired together. All
- as if demented leaped in sudden rage,
- each on the other, dealing mutual wounds.
- So, having lived the space allotted them,
- the youthful warriors perished as they smote
- the earth (their blood-stained mother) with their breasts:
- and only five of all the troop remained;
- of whom Echion, by Minerva warned,
- called on his brothers to give up the fight,
- and cast his arms away in pledge of faith.—
- when Cadmus, exiled from Sidonia's gates,
- builded the city by Apollo named,
- these five were trusted comrades in his toil.
- Now Thebes is founded, who can deem thy days
- unhappy in shine exile, Cadmus? Thou,
- the son-in-law of Mars and Venus; thou,
- whose glorious wife has borne to shine embrace
- daughters and sons? And thy grandchildren join
- around thee, almost grown to man's estate.—
- nor should we say, “He leads a happy life,”
- Till after death the funeral rites are paid.
- Thy grandson, Cadmus, was the first to cast
- thy dear felicity in sorrow's gloom.
- Oh, it was pitiful to witness him,
- his horns outbranching from his forehead, chased
- by dogs that panted for their master's blood!
- If thou shouldst well inquire it will be shown
- his sorrow was the crime of Fortune—not
- his guilt—for who maintains mistakes are crimes?
- Upon a mountain stained with slaughtered game,
- the young Hyantian stood. Already day,
- increasing to meridian, made decrease
- the flitting shadows, and the hot sun shone
- betwixt extremes in equal distance. Such
- the hour, when speaking to his fellow friends,
- the while they wandered by those lonely haunts,
- actaeon of Hyantis kindly thus;
- “Our nets and steel are stained with slaughtered game,
- the day has filled its complement of sport;
- now, when Aurora in her saffron car
- brings back the light of day, we may again
- repair to haunts of sport. Now Phoebus hangs
- in middle sky, cleaving the fields with heat.—
- enough of toil; take down the knotted nets.”—
- all did as he commanded; and they sought
- their needed rest.
- There is a valley called
- Gargaphia; sacred to Diana, dense
- with pine trees and the pointed cypress, where,
- deep in the woods that fringed the valley's edge,
- was hollowed in frail sandstone and the soft
- white pumice of the hills an arch, so true
- it seemed the art of man; for Nature's touch
- ingenious had so fairly wrought the stone,
- making the entrance of a grotto cool.
- Upon the right a limpid fountain ran,
- and babbled, as its lucid channel spread
- into a clear pool edged with tender grass.
- Here, when a-wearied with exciting sport,
- the Sylvan goddess loved to come and bathe
- her virgin beauty in the crystal pool.
- After Diana entered with her nymphs,
- she gave her javelin, quiver and her bow
- to one accustomed to the care of arms;
- she gave her mantle to another nymph
- who stood near by her as she took it off;
- two others loosed the sandals from her feet;
- but Crocale, the daughter of Ismenus,
- more skillful than her sisters, gathered up
- the goddess' scattered tresses in a knot;—
- her own were loosely wantoned on the breeze.
- Then in their ample urns dipt up the wave
- and poured it forth, the cloud-nymph Nephele,
- the nymph of crystal pools called Hyale,
- the rain-drop Rhanis, Psecas of the dews,
- and Phyale the guardian of their urns.
- And while they bathed Diana in their streams,
- Actaeon, wandering through the unknown woods,
- entered the precincts of that sacred grove;
- with steps uncertain wandered he as fate
- directed, for his sport must wait till morn.—
- soon as he entered where the clear springs welled
- or trickled from the grotto's walls, the nymphs,
- now ready for the bath, beheld the man,
- smote on their breasts, and made the woods resound,
- suddenly shrieking. Quickly gathered they
- to shield Diana with their naked forms, but she
- stood head and shoulders taller than her guards.—
- as clouds bright-tinted by the slanting sun,
- or purple-dyed Aurora, so appeared
- Diana's countenance when she was seen.
- Oh, how she wished her arrows were at hand!
- But only having water, this she took
- and dashed it on his manly countenance,
- and sprinkled with the avenging stream his hair,
- and said these words, presage of future woe;
- “Go tell it, if your tongue can tell the tale,
- your bold eyes saw me stripped of all my robes.”
- No more she threatened, but she fixed the horns
- of a great stag firm on his sprinkled brows;
- she lengthened out his neck; she made his ears
- sharp at the top; she changed his hands and feet;
- made long legs of his arms, and covered him
- with dappled hair—his courage turned to fear.
- The brave son of Autonoe took to flight,
- and marveled that he sped so swiftly on.—
- he saw his horns reflected in a stream
- and would have said, “Ah, wretched me!” but now
- he had no voice, and he could only groan:
- large tears ran trickling down his face, transformed
- in every feature.—Yet, as clear remained
- his understanding, and he wondered what
- he should attempt to do: should he return
- to his ancestral palace, or plunge deep
- in vast vacuities of forest wilds?
- Fear made him hesitate to trust the woods,
- and shame deterred him from his homeward way.
- While doubting thus his dogs espied him there:
- first Blackfoot and the sharp nosed Tracer raised
- the signal: Tracer of the Gnossian breed,
- and Blackfoot of the Spartan: swift as wind
- the others followed. Glutton, Quicksight, Surefoot,
- three dogs of Arcady; then valiant Killbuck,
- Tempest, fierce Hunter, and the rapid Wingfoot;
- sharp-scented Chaser, and Woodranger wounded
- so lately by a wild boar; savage Wildwood,
- the wolf-begot with Shepherdess the cow-dog;
- and ravenous Harpy followed by her twin whelps;
- and thin-girt Ladon chosen from Sicyonia;
- racer and Barker, brindled Spot and Tiger;
- sturdy old Stout and white haired Blanche and black Smut
- lusty big Lacon, trusty Storm and Quickfoot;
- active young Wolfet and her Cyprian brother
- black headed Snap, blazed with a patch of white hair
- from forehead to his muzzle; swarthy Blackcoat
- and shaggy Bristle, Towser and Wildtooth,
- his sire of Dicte and his dam of Lacon;
- and yelping Babbler: these and others, more
- than patience leads us to recount or name.
- All eager for their prey the pack surmount
- rocks, cliffs and crags, precipitous—where paths
- are steep, where roads are none. He flies by routes
- so oft pursued but now, alas, his flight
- is from his own!—He would have cried, “Behold
- your master!—It is I—Actaeon!” Words
- refused his will. The yelping pack pressed on.
- First Blackmane seized and tore his master's back,
- Savage the next, then Rover's teeth were clinched
- deep in his shoulder.—These, though tardy out,
- cut through a by-path and arriving first
- clung to their master till the pack came up.
- The whole pack fastened on their master's flesh
- till place was none for others. Groaning he
- made frightful sounds that not the human voice
- could utter nor the stag; and filled the hills
- with dismal moans; and as a suppliant fell
- down to the ground upon his trembling knees;
- and turned his stricken eyes on his own dogs,
- entreating them to spare him from their fangs.
- But his companions, witless of his plight,
- urged on the swift pack with their hunting cries.
- They sought Actaeon and they vainly called,
- “Actaeon! Hi! Actaeon!” just as though
- he was away from them. Each time they called
- he turned his head. And when they chided him,
- whose indolence denied the joys of sport,
- how much he wished an indolent desire
- had haply held him from his ravenous pack.
- Oh, how much;better 'tis to see the hunt,
- and the fierce dogs, than feel their savage deeds!
- They gathered round him, and they fixed their snouts
- deep in his flesh: tore him to pieces, he
- whose features only as a stag appeared.—
- 'Tis said Diana's fury raged with none
- abatement till the torn flesh ceased to live.
- Hapless Actaeon's end in various ways
- was now regarded; some deplored his doom,
- but others praised Diana's chastity;
- and all gave many reasons. But the spouse
- of Jove, alone remaining silent, gave
- nor praise nor blame. Whenever calamity
- befell the race of Cadmus she rejoiced,
- in secret, for she visited her rage
- on all Europa's kindred.
- Now a fresh
- occasion has been added to her grief,
- and wild with jealousy of Semele,
- her tongue as ever ready to her rage,
- lets loose a torrent of abuse;
- “Away!
- Away with words! Why should I speak of it?
- Let me attack her! Let me spoil that jade!
- Am I not Juno the supreme of Heaven?
- Queen of the flashing scepter? Am I not
- sister and wife of Jove omnipotent?
- She even wishes to be known by him
- a mother of a Deity, a joy
- almost denied to me! Great confidence
- has she in her great beauty—nevertheless,
- I shall so weave the web the bolt of Jove
- would fail to save her.—Let the Gods deny
- that I am Saturn's daughter, if her shade
- descend not stricken to the Stygian wave.”
- She rose up quickly from her shining throne,
- and hidden in a cloud of fiery hue
- descended to the home of Semele;
- and while encompassed by the cloud, transformed
- her whole appearance as to counterfeit
- old Beroe, an Epidaurian nurse,
- who tended Semele.
- Her tresses changed
- to grey, her smooth skin wrinkled and her step
- grown feeble as she moved with trembling limbs;—
- her voice was quavering as an ancient dame's,
- as Juno, thus disguised, began to talk
- to Semele. When presently the name
- of Jove was mentioned—artful Juno thus;
- (doubtful that Jupiter could be her love)—
- “When Jove appears to pledge his love to you,
- implore him to assume his majesty
- and all his glory, even as he does
- in presence of his stately Juno—Yea,
- implore him to caress you as a God.”
- With artful words as these the goddess worked
- upon the trusting mind of Semele,
- daughter of Cadmus, till she begged of Jove
- a boon, that only hastened her sad death;
- for Jove not knowing her design replied,
- “Whatever thy wish, it shall not be denied,
- and that thy heart shall suffer no distrust,
- I pledge me by that Deity, the Waves
- of the deep Stygian Lake,—oath of the Gods.”
- All overjoyed at her misfortune, proud
- that she prevailed, and pleased that she secured
- of him a promise, that could only cause
- her own disaster, Semele addressed
- almighty Jove; “Come unto me in all
- the splendour of thy glory, as thy might
- is shown to Juno, goddess of the skies.”
- Fain would he stifle her disastrous tongue;
- before he knew her quest the words were said;
- and, knowing that his greatest oath was pledged,
- he sadly mounted to the lofty skies,
- and by his potent nod assembled there
- the deep clouds: and the rain began to pour,
- and thunder-bolts resounded.
- But he strove
- to mitigate his power, and armed him not
- with flames overwhelming as had put to flight
- his hundred-handed foe Typhoeus—flames
- too dreadful. Other thunder-bolts he took,
- forged by the Cyclops of a milder heat,
- with which insignia of his majesty,
- sad and reluctant, he appeared to her.—
- her mortal form could not endure the shock
- and she was burned to ashes in his sight.
- An unformed babe was rescued from her side,
- and, nurtured in the thigh of Jupiter,
- completed Nature's time until his birth.
- Ino, his aunt, in secret nursed the boy
- and cradled him. And him Nyseian nymphs
- concealed in caves and fed with needful milk.
- While these events according to the laws
- of destiny occurred, and while the child,
- the twice-born Bacchus, in his cradle lay,
- 'Tis told that Jupiter, a careless hour,
- indulged too freely in the nectar cup;
- and having laid aside all weighty cares,
- jested with Juno as she idled by.
- Freely the god began; “Who doubts the truth?
- The female's pleasure is a great delight,
- much greater than the pleasure of a male.”
- Juno denied it; wherefore 'twas agreed
- to ask Tiresias to declare the truth,
- than whom none knew both male and female joys:
- for wandering in a green wood he had seen
- two serpents coupling; and he took his staff
- and sharply struck them, till they broke and fled.
- 'Tis marvelous, that instant he became
- a woman from a man, and so remained
- while seven autumns passed. When eight were told,
- again he saw them in their former plight,
- and thus he spoke; “Since such a power was wrought,
- by one stroke of a staff my sex was changed—
- again I strike!” And even as he struck
- the same two snakes, his former sex returned;
- his manhood was restored.—
- as both agreed
- to choose him umpire of the sportive strife,
- he gave decision in support of Jove;
- from this the disappointment Juno felt
- surpassed all reason, and enraged, decreed
- eternal night should seal Tiresias' eyes.—
- immortal Deities may never turn
- decrees and deeds of other Gods to naught,
- but Jove, to recompense his loss of sight,
- endowed him with the gift of prophecy.