Metamorphoses (Books I-XIV)
The Transformation of Scylla
14:1 Now Glaucus, with a lover's haste, bounds o'er
14:2 The swelling waves, and seeks the Latian shore.
14:3 Messena, Rhegium, and the barren coast
14:4 Of flaming Aetna, to his sight are lost:
14:5 At length he gains the Tyrrhene seas, and views
14:6 The hills where baneful philters Circe brews;
14:7 Monsters, in various forms, around her press;
14:8 As thus the God salutes the sorceress.
14:9 O Circe, be indulgent to my grief,
14:10 And give a love-sick deity relief.
14:11 Too well the mighty pow'r of plants I know,
14:12 To those my figure, and new Fate I owe.
14:13 Against Messena, on th' Ausonian coast,
14:14 I Scylla view'd, and from that hour was lost.
14:15 In tend'rest sounds I su'd; but still the fair
14:16 Was deaf to vows, and pityless to pray'r.
14:17 If numbers can avail, exert their pow'r;
14:18 Or energy of plants, if plants have more.
14:19 I ask no cure; let but the virgin pine
14:20 With dying pangs, or agonies, like mine.
14:21 No longer Circe could her flame disguise,
14:22 But to the suppliant God marine, replies:
14:23 When maids are coy, have manlier aims in view;
14:24 Leave those that fly, but those that like, pursue.
14:25 If love can be by kind compliance won;
14:26 See, at your feet, the daughter of the Sun.
14:27 Sooner, said Glaucus, shall the ash remove
14:28 From mountains, and the swelling surges love;
14:29 Or humble sea-weed to the hills repair;
14:30 E'er I think any but my Scylla fair.
14:31 Strait Circe reddens with a guilty shame,
14:32 And vows revenge for her rejected flame.
14:33 Fierce liking oft a spight as fierce creates;
14:34 For love refus'd, without aversion, hates.
14:35 To hurt her hapless rival she proceeds;
14:36 And, by the fall of Scylla, Glaucus bleeds.
14:37 Some fascinating bev'rage now she brews;
14:38 Compos'd of deadly drugs, and baneful juice.
14:39 At Rhegium she arrives; the ocean braves,
14:40 And treads with unwet feet the boiling waves.
14:41 Upon the beach a winding bay there lies,
14:42 Shelter'd from seas, and shaded from the skies:
14:43 This station Scylla chose: a soft retreat
14:44 From chilling winds, and raging Cancer's heat.
14:45 The vengeful sorc'ress visits this recess;
14:46 Her charm infuses, and infects the place.
14:47 Soon as the nymph wades in, her nether parts
14:48 Turn into dogs; then at her self she starts.
14:49 A ghastly horror in her eyes appears;
14:50 But yet she knows not, who it is she fears;
14:51 In vain she offers from her self to run,
14:52 And drags about her what she strives to shun.
Metamorphoses (Books I-XIV)
The Transformation of Scylla
14:1 Now Glaucus, with a lover's haste, bounds o'er
14:2 The swelling waves, and seeks the Latian shore.
14:3 Messena, Rhegium, and the barren coast
14:4 Of flaming Aetna, to his sight are lost:
14:5 At length he gains the Tyrrhene seas, and views
14:6 The hills where baneful philters Circe brews;
14:7 Monsters, in various forms, around her press;
14:8 As thus the God salutes the sorceress.
14:9 O Circe, be indulgent to my grief,
14:10 And give a love-sick deity relief.
14:11 Too well the mighty pow'r of plants I know,
14:12 To those my figure, and new Fate I owe.
14:13 Against Messena, on th' Ausonian coast,
14:14 I Scylla view'd, and from that hour was lost.
14:15 In tend'rest sounds I su'd; but still the fair
14:16 Was deaf to vows, and pityless to pray'r.
14:17 If numbers can avail, exert their pow'r;
14:18 Or energy of plants, if plants have more.
14:19 I ask no cure; let but the virgin pine
14:20 With dying pangs, or agonies, like mine.
14:21 No longer Circe could her flame disguise,
14:22 But to the suppliant God marine, replies:
14:23 When maids are coy, have manlier aims in view;
14:24 Leave those that fly, but those that like, pursue.
14:25 If love can be by kind compliance won;
14:26 See, at your feet, the daughter of the Sun.
14:27 Sooner, said Glaucus, shall the ash remove
14:28 From mountains, and the swelling surges love;
14:29 Or humble sea-weed to the hills repair;
14:30 E'er I think any but my Scylla fair.
14:31 Strait Circe reddens with a guilty shame,
14:32 And vows revenge for her rejected flame.
14:33 Fierce liking oft a spight as fierce creates;
14:34 For love refus'd, without aversion, hates.
14:35 To hurt her hapless rival she proceeds;
14:36 And, by the fall of Scylla, Glaucus bleeds.
14:37 Some fascinating bev'rage now she brews;
14:38 Compos'd of deadly drugs, and baneful juice.
14:39 At Rhegium she arrives; the ocean braves,
14:40 And treads with unwet feet the boiling waves.
14:41 Upon the beach a winding bay there lies,
14:42 Shelter'd from seas, and shaded from the skies:
14:43 This station Scylla chose: a soft retreat
14:44 From chilling winds, and raging Cancer's heat.
14:45 The vengeful sorc'ress visits this recess;
14:46 Her charm infuses, and infects the place.
14:47 Soon as the nymph wades in, her nether parts
14:48 Turn into dogs; then at her self she starts.
14:49 A ghastly horror in her eyes appears;
14:50 But yet she knows not, who it is she fears;
14:51 In vain she offers from her self to run,
14:52 And drags about her what she strives to shun.