Metamorphoses (Books I-XIV)
The Story of Thetis and Peleus
11:337 For Proteus thus to virgin Thetis said,
11:338 Fair Goddess of the waves, consent to wed,
11:339 And take some spritely lover to your bed.
11:340 A son you'll have, the terror of the field,
11:341 To whom in fame, and pow'r his sire shall yield.
11:342 Jove, who ador'd the nymph with boundless love,
11:343 Did from his breast the dangerous flame remove.
11:344 He knew the Fates, nor car'd to raise up one,
11:345 Whose fame and greatness should eclipse his own,
11:346 On happy Peleus he bestow'd her charms,
11:347 And bless'd his grandson in the Goddess' arms:
11:348 A silent creek Thessalia's coast can show;
11:349 Two arms project, and shape it like a bow;
11:350 'Twould make a bay, but the transparent tide
11:351 Does scarce the yellow-gravell'd bottom hide;
11:352 For the quick eye may thro' the liquid wave
11:353 A firm unweedy level beach perceive.
11:354 A grove of fragrant myrtle near it grows,
11:355 Whose boughs, tho' thick, a beauteous grot disclose;
11:356 The well-wrought fabrick, to discerning eyes,
11:357 Rather by art than Nature seems to rise.
11:358 A bridled dolphin oft fair Thetis bore
11:359 To this her lov'd retreat, her fav'rite shore.
11:360 Here Peleus seiz'd her, slumbring while she lay,
11:361 And urg'd his suit with all that love could say:
11:362 But when he found her obstinately coy,
11:363 Resolv'd to force her, and command the joy;
11:364 The nymph, o'erpowr'd, to art for succour flies
11:365 And various shapes the eager youth surprize:
11:366 A bird she seems, but plies her wings in vain,
11:367 His hands the fleeting substance still detain:
11:368 A branchy tree high in the air she grew;
11:369 About its bark his nimble arms he threw:
11:370 A tyger next she glares with flaming eyes;
11:371 The frighten'd lover quits his hold, and flies:
11:372 The sea-Gods he with sacred rites adores,
11:373 Then a libation on the ocean pours;
11:374 While the fat entrails crackle in the fire,
11:375 And sheets of smoak in sweet perfume aspire;
11:376 'Till Proteus rising from his oozy bed,
11:377 Thus to the poor desponding lover said:
11:378 No more in anxious thoughts your mind employ,
11:379 For yet you shall possess the dear expected joy.
11:380 You must once more th' unwary nymph surprize,
11:381 As in her cooly grot she slumbring lies;
11:382 Then bind her fast with unrelenting hands,
11:383 And strain her tender limbs with knotted bands.
11:384 Still hold her under ev'ry different shape,
11:385 'Till tir'd she tries no longer to escape.
11:386 Thus he: then sunk beneath the glassy flood,
11:387 And broken accents flutter'd, where he stood.
11:388 Bright Sol had almost now his journey done,
11:389 And down the steepy western convex run;
11:390 When the fair Nereid left the briny wave,
11:391 And, as she us'd, retreated to her cave.
11:392 He scarce had bound her fast, when she arose,
11:393 And into various shapes her body throws:
11:394 She went to move her arms, and found 'em ty'd;
11:395 Then with a sigh, Some God assists ye, cry'd,
11:396 And in her proper shape stood blushing by his side.
11:397 About her waiste his longing arms he flung,
11:398 From which embrace the great Achilles sprung.
Metamorphoses (Books I-XIV)
The Story of Thetis and Peleus
11:337 For Proteus thus to virgin Thetis said,
11:338 Fair Goddess of the waves, consent to wed,
11:339 And take some spritely lover to your bed.
11:340 A son you'll have, the terror of the field,
11:341 To whom in fame, and pow'r his sire shall yield.
11:342 Jove, who ador'd the nymph with boundless love,
11:343 Did from his breast the dangerous flame remove.
11:344 He knew the Fates, nor car'd to raise up one,
11:345 Whose fame and greatness should eclipse his own,
11:346 On happy Peleus he bestow'd her charms,
11:347 And bless'd his grandson in the Goddess' arms:
11:348 A silent creek Thessalia's coast can show;
11:349 Two arms project, and shape it like a bow;
11:350 'Twould make a bay, but the transparent tide
11:351 Does scarce the yellow-gravell'd bottom hide;
11:352 For the quick eye may thro' the liquid wave
11:353 A firm unweedy level beach perceive.
11:354 A grove of fragrant myrtle near it grows,
11:355 Whose boughs, tho' thick, a beauteous grot disclose;
11:356 The well-wrought fabrick, to discerning eyes,
11:357 Rather by art than Nature seems to rise.
11:358 A bridled dolphin oft fair Thetis bore
11:359 To this her lov'd retreat, her fav'rite shore.
11:360 Here Peleus seiz'd her, slumbring while she lay,
11:361 And urg'd his suit with all that love could say:
11:362 But when he found her obstinately coy,
11:363 Resolv'd to force her, and command the joy;
11:364 The nymph, o'erpowr'd, to art for succour flies
11:365 And various shapes the eager youth surprize:
11:366 A bird she seems, but plies her wings in vain,
11:367 His hands the fleeting substance still detain:
11:368 A branchy tree high in the air she grew;
11:369 About its bark his nimble arms he threw:
11:370 A tyger next she glares with flaming eyes;
11:371 The frighten'd lover quits his hold, and flies:
11:372 The sea-Gods he with sacred rites adores,
11:373 Then a libation on the ocean pours;
11:374 While the fat entrails crackle in the fire,
11:375 And sheets of smoak in sweet perfume aspire;
11:376 'Till Proteus rising from his oozy bed,
11:377 Thus to the poor desponding lover said:
11:378 No more in anxious thoughts your mind employ,
11:379 For yet you shall possess the dear expected joy.
11:380 You must once more th' unwary nymph surprize,
11:381 As in her cooly grot she slumbring lies;
11:382 Then bind her fast with unrelenting hands,
11:383 And strain her tender limbs with knotted bands.
11:384 Still hold her under ev'ry different shape,
11:385 'Till tir'd she tries no longer to escape.
11:386 Thus he: then sunk beneath the glassy flood,
11:387 And broken accents flutter'd, where he stood.
11:388 Bright Sol had almost now his journey done,
11:389 And down the steepy western convex run;
11:390 When the fair Nereid left the briny wave,
11:391 And, as she us'd, retreated to her cave.
11:392 He scarce had bound her fast, when she arose,
11:393 And into various shapes her body throws:
11:394 She went to move her arms, and found 'em ty'd;
11:395 Then with a sigh, Some God assists ye, cry'd,
11:396 And in her proper shape stood blushing by his side.
11:397 About her waiste his longing arms he flung,
11:398 From which embrace the great Achilles sprung.