Metamorphoses (Books I-XIV)
Aesacus transform'd into a Cormorant
11:1068 These some old man sees wanton in the air,
11:1069 And praises the unhappy constant pair.
11:1070 Then to his friend the long-neck'd corm'rant shows,
11:1071 The former tale reviving others' woes:
11:1072 That sable bird, he cries, which cuts the flood
11:1073 With slender legs, was once of royal blood;
11:1074 His ancestors from mighty Tros proceed,
11:1075 The brave Laomedon, and Ganymede
11:1076 (Whose beauty tempted Jove to steal the boy),
11:1077 And Priam, hapless prince! who fell with Troy:
11:1078 Himself was Hector's brother, and (had Fate
11:1079 But giv'n this hopeful youth a longer date)
11:1080 Perhaps had rival'd warlike Hector's worth,
11:1081 Tho' on the mother's side of meaner birth;
11:1082 Fair Alyxothoe, a country maid,
11:1083 Bare Aesacus by stealth in Ida's shade.
11:1084 He fled the noisy town, and pompous court,
11:1085 Lov'd the lone hills, and simple rural sport.
11:1086 And seldom to the city would resort.
11:1087 Yet he no rustick clownishness profest,
11:1088 Nor was soft love a stranger to his breast:
11:1089 The youth had long the nymph Hesperie woo'd,
11:1090 Oft thro' the thicket, or the mead pursu'd:
11:1091 Her haply on her father's bank he spy'd,
11:1092 While fearless she her silver tresses dry'd;
11:1093 Away she fled: not stags with half such speed,
11:1094 Before the prowling wolf, scud o'er the mead;
11:1095 Not ducks, when they the safer flood forsake,
11:1096 Pursu'd by hawks, so swift regain the lake.
11:1097 As fast he follow'd in the hot career;
11:1098 Desire the lover wing'd, the virgin fear.
11:1099 A snake unseen now pierc'd her heedless foot;
11:1100 Quick thro' the veins the venom'd juices shoot:
11:1101 She fell, and 'scap'd by death his fierce pursuit;
11:1102 Her lifeless body, frighted, he embrac'd,
11:1103 And cry'd, Not this I dreaded, but thy haste:
11:1104 O had my love been less, or less thy fear!
11:1105 The victory, thus bought, is far too dear.
11:1106 Accursed snake! yet I more curs'd than he!
11:1107 He gave the wound; the cause was given by me.
11:1108 Yet none shall say, that unreveng'd you dy'd.
11:1109 He spoke; then climb'd a cliff's o'er-hanging side,
11:1110 And, resolute, leap'd on the foaming tide.
11:1111 Tethys receiv'd him gently on the wave;
11:1112 The death he sought deny'd, and feathers gave.
11:1113 Debarr'd the surest remedy of grief,
11:1114 And forc'd to live, he curst th' unask'd relief.
11:1115 Then on his airy pinions upward flies,
11:1116 And at a second fall successless tries;
11:1117 The downy plume a quick descent denies.
11:1118 Enrag'd, he often dives beneath the wave,
11:1119 And there in vain expects to find a grave.
11:1120 His ceaseless sorrow for th' unhappy maid,
11:1121 Meager'd his look, and on his spirits prey'd.
11:1122 Still near the sounding deep he lives; his name
11:1123 From frequent diving and emerging came.
BOOK THE TWELFTH
Metamorphoses (Books I-XIV)
Aesacus transform'd into a Cormorant
11:1068 These some old man sees wanton in the air,
11:1069 And praises the unhappy constant pair.
11:1070 Then to his friend the long-neck'd corm'rant shows,
11:1071 The former tale reviving others' woes:
11:1072 That sable bird, he cries, which cuts the flood
11:1073 With slender legs, was once of royal blood;
11:1074 His ancestors from mighty Tros proceed,
11:1075 The brave Laomedon, and Ganymede
11:1076 (Whose beauty tempted Jove to steal the boy),
11:1077 And Priam, hapless prince! who fell with Troy:
11:1078 Himself was Hector's brother, and (had Fate
11:1079 But giv'n this hopeful youth a longer date)
11:1080 Perhaps had rival'd warlike Hector's worth,
11:1081 Tho' on the mother's side of meaner birth;
11:1082 Fair Alyxothoe, a country maid,
11:1083 Bare Aesacus by stealth in Ida's shade.
11:1084 He fled the noisy town, and pompous court,
11:1085 Lov'd the lone hills, and simple rural sport.
11:1086 And seldom to the city would resort.
11:1087 Yet he no rustick clownishness profest,
11:1088 Nor was soft love a stranger to his breast:
11:1089 The youth had long the nymph Hesperie woo'd,
11:1090 Oft thro' the thicket, or the mead pursu'd:
11:1091 Her haply on her father's bank he spy'd,
11:1092 While fearless she her silver tresses dry'd;
11:1093 Away she fled: not stags with half such speed,
11:1094 Before the prowling wolf, scud o'er the mead;
11:1095 Not ducks, when they the safer flood forsake,
11:1096 Pursu'd by hawks, so swift regain the lake.
11:1097 As fast he follow'd in the hot career;
11:1098 Desire the lover wing'd, the virgin fear.
11:1099 A snake unseen now pierc'd her heedless foot;
11:1100 Quick thro' the veins the venom'd juices shoot:
11:1101 She fell, and 'scap'd by death his fierce pursuit;
11:1102 Her lifeless body, frighted, he embrac'd,
11:1103 And cry'd, Not this I dreaded, but thy haste:
11:1104 O had my love been less, or less thy fear!
11:1105 The victory, thus bought, is far too dear.
11:1106 Accursed snake! yet I more curs'd than he!
11:1107 He gave the wound; the cause was given by me.
11:1108 Yet none shall say, that unreveng'd you dy'd.
11:1109 He spoke; then climb'd a cliff's o'er-hanging side,
11:1110 And, resolute, leap'd on the foaming tide.
11:1111 Tethys receiv'd him gently on the wave;
11:1112 The death he sought deny'd, and feathers gave.
11:1113 Debarr'd the surest remedy of grief,
11:1114 And forc'd to live, he curst th' unask'd relief.
11:1115 Then on his airy pinions upward flies,
11:1116 And at a second fall successless tries;
11:1117 The downy plume a quick descent denies.
11:1118 Enrag'd, he often dives beneath the wave,
11:1119 And there in vain expects to find a grave.
11:1120 His ceaseless sorrow for th' unhappy maid,
11:1121 Meager'd his look, and on his spirits prey'd.
11:1122 Still near the sounding deep he lives; his name
11:1123 From frequent diving and emerging came.
BOOK THE TWELFTH