Metamorphoses (Books I-XIV)
A Wolf turn'd into Marble
11:495 While they astonish'd heard the king relate
11:496 These wonders of his hapless brother's fate;
11:497 The prince's herdsman at the court arrives,
11:498 And fresh surprize to all the audience gives.
11:499 O Peleus, Peleus! dreadful news I bear,
11:500 He said; and trembled as he spoke for fear.
11:501 The worst, affrighted Peleus bid him tell,
11:502 Whilst Ceyx too grew pale with friendly zeal.
11:503 Thus he began: When Sol mid-heav'n had gain'd,
11:504 And half his way was past, and half remain'd,
11:505 I to the level shore my cattle drove,
11:506 And let them freely in the meadows rove.
11:507 Some stretch'd at length admire the watry plain,
11:508 Some crop'd the herb, some wanton swam the main.
11:509 A temple stands of antique make hard by,
11:510 Where no gilt domes, nor marble lure the eye;
11:511 Unpolish'd rafters bear its lowly height,
11:512 Hid by a grove, as ancient, from the sight.
11:513 Here Nereus, and the Nereids they adore;
11:514 I learnt it from the man who thither bore
11:515 His net, to dry it on the sunny shore.
11:516 Adjoyns a lake, inclos'd with willows round,
11:517 Where swelling waves have overflow'd the mound,
11:518 And, muddy, stagnate on the lower ground.
11:519 From thence a russling noise increasing flies,
11:520 Strikes the still shore; and frights us with surprize,
11:521 Strait a huge wolf rush'd from the marshy wood,
11:522 His jaws besmear'd with mingled foam, and blood,
11:523 Tho' equally by hunger urg'd, and rage,
11:524 His appetite he minds not to asswage;
11:525 Nought that he meets, his rabid fury spares,
11:526 But the whole herd with mad disorder tears.
11:527 Some of our men who strove to drive him thence,
11:528 Torn by his teeth, have dy'd in their defence.
11:529 The echoing lakes, the sea, and fields, and shore,
11:530 Impurpled blush with streams of reeking gore.
11:531 Delay is loss, nor have we time for thought;
11:532 While yet some few remain alive, we ought
11:533 To seize our arms, and with confederate force
11:534 Try if we so can stop his bloody course.
11:535 But Peleus car'd not for his ruin'd herd;
11:536 His crime he call'd to mind, and thence inferr'd,
11:537 That Psamathe's revenge this havock made,
11:538 In sacrifice to murder'd Phocus' shade.
11:539 The king commands his servants to their arms;
11:540 Resolv'd to go; but the loud noise alarms
11:541 His lovely queen, who from her chamber flew,
11:542 And her half-plaited hair behind her threw:
11:543 About his neck she hung with loving fears,
11:544 And now with words, and now with pleading tears,
11:545 Intreated that he'd send his men alone,
11:546 And stay himself, to save two lives in one.
11:547 Then Peleus: Your just fears, o queen, forget;
11:548 Too much the offer leaves me in your debt.
11:549 No arms against the monster I shall bear,
11:550 But the sea nymphs appease with humble pray'r.
11:551 The citadel's high turrets pierce the sky,
11:552 Which home-bound vessels, glad, from far descry;
11:553 This they ascend, and thence with sorrow ken
11:554 The mangled heifers lye, and bleeding men;
11:555 Th' inexorable ravager they view,
11:556 With blood discolour'd, still the rest pursue:
11:557 There Peleus pray'd submissive tow'rds the sea,
11:558 And deprecates the ire of injur'd Psamathe.
11:559 But deaf to all his pray'rs the nymph remain'd,
11:560 'Till Thetis for her spouse the boon obtain'd.
11:561 Pleas'd with the luxury, the furious beast,
11:562 Unstop'd, continues still his bloody feast:
11:563 While yet upon a sturdy bull he flew,
11:564 Chang'd by the nymph, a marble block he grew.
11:565 No longer dreadful now the wolf appears,
11:566 Bury'd in stone, and vanish'd like their fears.
11:567 Yet still the Fates unhappy Peleus vex'd;
11:568 To the Magnesian shore he wanders next.
11:569 Acastus there, who rul'd the peaceful clime,
11:570 Grants his request, and expiates his crime.
Metamorphoses (Books I-XIV)
A Wolf turn'd into Marble
11:495 While they astonish'd heard the king relate
11:496 These wonders of his hapless brother's fate;
11:497 The prince's herdsman at the court arrives,
11:498 And fresh surprize to all the audience gives.
11:499 O Peleus, Peleus! dreadful news I bear,
11:500 He said; and trembled as he spoke for fear.
11:501 The worst, affrighted Peleus bid him tell,
11:502 Whilst Ceyx too grew pale with friendly zeal.
11:503 Thus he began: When Sol mid-heav'n had gain'd,
11:504 And half his way was past, and half remain'd,
11:505 I to the level shore my cattle drove,
11:506 And let them freely in the meadows rove.
11:507 Some stretch'd at length admire the watry plain,
11:508 Some crop'd the herb, some wanton swam the main.
11:509 A temple stands of antique make hard by,
11:510 Where no gilt domes, nor marble lure the eye;
11:511 Unpolish'd rafters bear its lowly height,
11:512 Hid by a grove, as ancient, from the sight.
11:513 Here Nereus, and the Nereids they adore;
11:514 I learnt it from the man who thither bore
11:515 His net, to dry it on the sunny shore.
11:516 Adjoyns a lake, inclos'd with willows round,
11:517 Where swelling waves have overflow'd the mound,
11:518 And, muddy, stagnate on the lower ground.
11:519 From thence a russling noise increasing flies,
11:520 Strikes the still shore; and frights us with surprize,
11:521 Strait a huge wolf rush'd from the marshy wood,
11:522 His jaws besmear'd with mingled foam, and blood,
11:523 Tho' equally by hunger urg'd, and rage,
11:524 His appetite he minds not to asswage;
11:525 Nought that he meets, his rabid fury spares,
11:526 But the whole herd with mad disorder tears.
11:527 Some of our men who strove to drive him thence,
11:528 Torn by his teeth, have dy'd in their defence.
11:529 The echoing lakes, the sea, and fields, and shore,
11:530 Impurpled blush with streams of reeking gore.
11:531 Delay is loss, nor have we time for thought;
11:532 While yet some few remain alive, we ought
11:533 To seize our arms, and with confederate force
11:534 Try if we so can stop his bloody course.
11:535 But Peleus car'd not for his ruin'd herd;
11:536 His crime he call'd to mind, and thence inferr'd,
11:537 That Psamathe's revenge this havock made,
11:538 In sacrifice to murder'd Phocus' shade.
11:539 The king commands his servants to their arms;
11:540 Resolv'd to go; but the loud noise alarms
11:541 His lovely queen, who from her chamber flew,
11:542 And her half-plaited hair behind her threw:
11:543 About his neck she hung with loving fears,
11:544 And now with words, and now with pleading tears,
11:545 Intreated that he'd send his men alone,
11:546 And stay himself, to save two lives in one.
11:547 Then Peleus: Your just fears, o queen, forget;
11:548 Too much the offer leaves me in your debt.
11:549 No arms against the monster I shall bear,
11:550 But the sea nymphs appease with humble pray'r.
11:551 The citadel's high turrets pierce the sky,
11:552 Which home-bound vessels, glad, from far descry;
11:553 This they ascend, and thence with sorrow ken
11:554 The mangled heifers lye, and bleeding men;
11:555 Th' inexorable ravager they view,
11:556 With blood discolour'd, still the rest pursue:
11:557 There Peleus pray'd submissive tow'rds the sea,
11:558 And deprecates the ire of injur'd Psamathe.
11:559 But deaf to all his pray'rs the nymph remain'd,
11:560 'Till Thetis for her spouse the boon obtain'd.
11:561 Pleas'd with the luxury, the furious beast,
11:562 Unstop'd, continues still his bloody feast:
11:563 While yet upon a sturdy bull he flew,
11:564 Chang'd by the nymph, a marble block he grew.
11:565 No longer dreadful now the wolf appears,
11:566 Bury'd in stone, and vanish'd like their fears.
11:567 Yet still the Fates unhappy Peleus vex'd;
11:568 To the Magnesian shore he wanders next.
11:569 Acastus there, who rul'd the peaceful clime,
11:570 Grants his request, and expiates his crime.