Metamorphoses (Books I-XIV)
The Story of Leucothoe and the Sun
4:259 The Sun, the source of light, by beauty's
pow'r
4:260 Once am'rous grew; then hear
the Sun's amour.
4:261 Venus, and Mars, with his far-piercing
eyes
4:262 This God first spy'd; this God
first all things spies.
4:263 Stung at the sight, and swift
on mischief bent,
4:264 To haughty Juno's shapeless son
he went:
4:265 The Goddess, and her God gallant
betray'd,
4:266 And told the cuckold, where their
pranks were play'd.
4:267 Poor Vulcan soon desir'd to hear
no more,
4:268 He drop'd his hammer, and he
shook all o'er:
4:269 Then courage takes, and full
of vengeful ire
4:270 He heaves the bellows, and blows
fierce the fire:
4:271 From liquid brass, tho' sure,
yet subtile snares
4:272 He forms, and next a wond'rous
net prepares,
4:273 Drawn with such curious art,
so nicely sly,
4:274 Unseen the mashes cheat the searching
eye.
4:275 Not half so thin their webs the
spiders weave,
4:276 Which the most wary, buzzing
prey deceive.
4:277 These chains, obedient to the
touch, he spread
4:278 In secret foldings o'er the conscious
bed:
4:279 The conscious bed again was quickly
prest
4:280 By the fond pair, in lawless
raptures blest.
4:281 Mars wonder'd at his Cytherea's
charms,
4:282 More fast than ever lock'd within
her arms.
4:283 While Vulcan th' iv'ry doors
unbarr'd with care,
4:284 Then call'd the Gods to view
the sportive pair:
4:285 The Gods throng'd in, and saw
in open day,
4:286 Where Mars, and beauty's queen,
all naked, lay.
4:287 O! shameful sight, if shameful
that we name,
4:288 Which Gods with envy view'd,
and could not blame;
4:289 But, for the pleasure, wish'd
to bear the shame.
4:290 Each Deity, with laughter tir'd,
departs,
4:291 Yet all still laugh'd at Vulcan
in their hearts.
4:292 Thro' Heav'n the news of this surprizal run,
4:293 But Venus did not thus forget
the Sun.
4:294 He, who stol'n transports idly
had betray'd,
4:295 By a betrayer was in kind repay'd.
4:296 What now avails, great God, thy
piercing blaze,
4:297 That youth, and beauty, and those
golden rays?
4:298 Thou, who can'st warm this universe
alone,
4:299 Feel'st now a warmth more pow'rful
than thy own:
4:300 And those bright eyes, which
all things should survey,
4:301 Know not from fair Leucothoe
to stray.
4:302 The lamp of light, for human
good design'd,
4:303 Is to one virgin niggardly confin'd.
4:304 Sometimes too early rise thy
eastern beams,
4:305 Sometimes too late they set in
western streams:
4:306 'Tis then her beauty thy swift
course delays,
4:307 And gives to winter skies long
summer days.
4:308 Now in thy face thy love-sick
mind appears,
4:309 And spreads thro' impious nations
empty fears:
4:310 For when thy beamless head is
wrapt in night,
4:311 Poor mortals tremble in despair
of light.
4:312 'Tis not the moon, that o'er
thee casts a veil
4:313 'Tis love alone, which makes
thy looks so pale.
4:314 Leucothoe is grown thy only care,
4:315 Not Phaeton's fair mother now
is fair.
4:316 The youthful Rhodos moves no
tender thought,
4:317 And beauteous Porsa is at last
forgot.
4:318 Fond Clytie, scorn'd, yet lov'd,
and sought thy bed,
4:319 Ev'n then thy heart for other
virgins bled.
4:320 Leucothoe has all thy soul possest,
4:321 And chas'd each rival passion
from thy breast.
4:322 To this bright nymph Eurynome
gave birth
4:323 In the blest confines of the
spicy Earth.
4:324 Excelling others, she herself
beheld
4:325 By her own blooming daughter
far excell'd.
4:326 The sire was Orchamus, whose
vast command,
4:327 The sev'nth from Belus, rul'd
the Persian Land.
4:328 Deep in cool vales, beneath th' Hesperian
sky,
4:329 For the Sun's fiery steeds the
pastures lye.
4:330 Ambrosia there they eat, and
thence they gain
4:331 New vigour, and their daily toils
sustain.
4:332 While thus on heav'nly food the
coursers fed,
4:333 And night, around, her gloomy
empire spread,
4:334 The God assum'd the mother's
shape and air,
4:335 And pass'd, unheeded, to his
darling fair.
4:336 Close by a lamp, with maids encompass'd
round,
4:337 The royal spinster, full employ'd,
he found:
4:338 Then cry'd, A-while from work,
my daughter, rest;
4:339 And, like a mother, scarce her
lips he prest.
4:340 Servants retire!-nor secrets
dare to hear,
4:341 Intrusted only to a daughter's
ear.
4:342 They swift obey'd: not one, suspicious,
thought
4:343 The secret, which their mistress
would be taught.
4:344 Then he: since now no witnesses
are near,
4:345 Behold! the God, who guides the
various year!
4:346 The world's vast eye, of light
the source serene,
4:347 Who all things sees, by whom
are all things seen.
4:348 Believe me, nymph! (for I the
truth have show'd)
4:349 Thy charms have pow'r to charm
so great a God.
4:350 Confus'd, she heard him his soft
passion tell,
4:351 And on the floor, untwirl'd,
the spindle fell:
4:352 Still from the sweet confusion
some new grace
4:353 Blush'd out by stealth, and languish'd
in her face.
4:354 The lover, now inflam'd, himself
put on,
4:355 And out at once the God, all-radiant,
shone.
4:356 The virgin startled at his alter'd
form,
4:357 Too weak to bear a God's impetuous
storm:
4:358 No more against the dazling youth
she strove,
4:359 But silent yielded, and indulg'd
his love.
4:360 This Clytie knew, and knew she was undone,
4:361 Whose soul was fix'd, and doated
on the Sun.
4:362 She rag'd to think on her neglected
charms,
4:363 And Phoebus, panting in another's
arms.
4:364 With envious madness fir'd, she
flies in haste,
4:365 And tells the king, his daughter
was unchaste.
4:366 The king, incens'd to hear his
honour stain'd,
4:367 No more the father nor the man
retain'd.
4:368 In vain she stretch'd her arms,
and turn'd her eyes
4:369 To her lov'd God, th' enlightner
of the skies.
4:370 In vain she own'd it was a crime,
yet still
4:371 It was a crime not acted by her
will.
4:372 The brutal sire stood deaf to
ev'ry pray'r,
4:373 And deep in Earth entomb'd alive
the fair.
4:374 What Phoebus could do, was by
Phoebus done:
4:375 Full on her grave with pointed
beams he shone:
4:376 To pointed beams the gaping Earth
gave way;
4:377 Had the nymph eyes, her eyes
had seen the day,
4:378 But lifeless now, yet lovely
still, she lay.
4:379 Not more the God wept, when the
world was fir'd,
4:380 And in the wreck his blooming
boy expir'd.
4:381 The vital flame he strives to
light again,
4:382 And warm the frozen blood in
ev'ry vein:
4:383 But since resistless Fates deny'd
that pow'r,
4:384 On the cold nymph he rain'd a
nectar show'r.
4:385 Ah! undeserving thus (he said)
to die,
4:386 Yet still in odours thou shalt
reach the sky.
4:387 The body soon dissolv'd, and
all around
4:388 Perfum'd with heav'nly fragrancies
the ground,
4:389 A sacrifice for Gods up-rose
from thence,
4:390 A sweet, delightful tree of frankincense.
Metamorphoses (Books I-XIV)
The Story of Leucothoe and the Sun
4:259 The Sun, the source of light, by beauty's
pow'r
4:260 Once am'rous grew; then hear
the Sun's amour.
4:261 Venus, and Mars, with his far-piercing
eyes
4:262 This God first spy'd; this God
first all things spies.
4:263 Stung at the sight, and swift
on mischief bent,
4:264 To haughty Juno's shapeless son
he went:
4:265 The Goddess, and her God gallant
betray'd,
4:266 And told the cuckold, where their
pranks were play'd.
4:267 Poor Vulcan soon desir'd to hear
no more,
4:268 He drop'd his hammer, and he
shook all o'er:
4:269 Then courage takes, and full
of vengeful ire
4:270 He heaves the bellows, and blows
fierce the fire:
4:271 From liquid brass, tho' sure,
yet subtile snares
4:272 He forms, and next a wond'rous
net prepares,
4:273 Drawn with such curious art,
so nicely sly,
4:274 Unseen the mashes cheat the searching
eye.
4:275 Not half so thin their webs the
spiders weave,
4:276 Which the most wary, buzzing
prey deceive.
4:277 These chains, obedient to the
touch, he spread
4:278 In secret foldings o'er the conscious
bed:
4:279 The conscious bed again was quickly
prest
4:280 By the fond pair, in lawless
raptures blest.
4:281 Mars wonder'd at his Cytherea's
charms,
4:282 More fast than ever lock'd within
her arms.
4:283 While Vulcan th' iv'ry doors
unbarr'd with care,
4:284 Then call'd the Gods to view
the sportive pair:
4:285 The Gods throng'd in, and saw
in open day,
4:286 Where Mars, and beauty's queen,
all naked, lay.
4:287 O! shameful sight, if shameful
that we name,
4:288 Which Gods with envy view'd,
and could not blame;
4:289 But, for the pleasure, wish'd
to bear the shame.
4:290 Each Deity, with laughter tir'd,
departs,
4:291 Yet all still laugh'd at Vulcan
in their hearts.
4:292 Thro' Heav'n the news of this surprizal run,
4:293 But Venus did not thus forget
the Sun.
4:294 He, who stol'n transports idly
had betray'd,
4:295 By a betrayer was in kind repay'd.
4:296 What now avails, great God, thy
piercing blaze,
4:297 That youth, and beauty, and those
golden rays?
4:298 Thou, who can'st warm this universe
alone,
4:299 Feel'st now a warmth more pow'rful
than thy own:
4:300 And those bright eyes, which
all things should survey,
4:301 Know not from fair Leucothoe
to stray.
4:302 The lamp of light, for human
good design'd,
4:303 Is to one virgin niggardly confin'd.
4:304 Sometimes too early rise thy
eastern beams,
4:305 Sometimes too late they set in
western streams:
4:306 'Tis then her beauty thy swift
course delays,
4:307 And gives to winter skies long
summer days.
4:308 Now in thy face thy love-sick
mind appears,
4:309 And spreads thro' impious nations
empty fears:
4:310 For when thy beamless head is
wrapt in night,
4:311 Poor mortals tremble in despair
of light.
4:312 'Tis not the moon, that o'er
thee casts a veil
4:313 'Tis love alone, which makes
thy looks so pale.
4:314 Leucothoe is grown thy only care,
4:315 Not Phaeton's fair mother now
is fair.
4:316 The youthful Rhodos moves no
tender thought,
4:317 And beauteous Porsa is at last
forgot.
4:318 Fond Clytie, scorn'd, yet lov'd,
and sought thy bed,
4:319 Ev'n then thy heart for other
virgins bled.
4:320 Leucothoe has all thy soul possest,
4:321 And chas'd each rival passion
from thy breast.
4:322 To this bright nymph Eurynome
gave birth
4:323 In the blest confines of the
spicy Earth.
4:324 Excelling others, she herself
beheld
4:325 By her own blooming daughter
far excell'd.
4:326 The sire was Orchamus, whose
vast command,
4:327 The sev'nth from Belus, rul'd
the Persian Land.
4:328 Deep in cool vales, beneath th' Hesperian
sky,
4:329 For the Sun's fiery steeds the
pastures lye.
4:330 Ambrosia there they eat, and
thence they gain
4:331 New vigour, and their daily toils
sustain.
4:332 While thus on heav'nly food the
coursers fed,
4:333 And night, around, her gloomy
empire spread,
4:334 The God assum'd the mother's
shape and air,
4:335 And pass'd, unheeded, to his
darling fair.
4:336 Close by a lamp, with maids encompass'd
round,
4:337 The royal spinster, full employ'd,
he found:
4:338 Then cry'd, A-while from work,
my daughter, rest;
4:339 And, like a mother, scarce her
lips he prest.
4:340 Servants retire!-nor secrets
dare to hear,
4:341 Intrusted only to a daughter's
ear.
4:342 They swift obey'd: not one, suspicious,
thought
4:343 The secret, which their mistress
would be taught.
4:344 Then he: since now no witnesses
are near,
4:345 Behold! the God, who guides the
various year!
4:346 The world's vast eye, of light
the source serene,
4:347 Who all things sees, by whom
are all things seen.
4:348 Believe me, nymph! (for I the
truth have show'd)
4:349 Thy charms have pow'r to charm
so great a God.
4:350 Confus'd, she heard him his soft
passion tell,
4:351 And on the floor, untwirl'd,
the spindle fell:
4:352 Still from the sweet confusion
some new grace
4:353 Blush'd out by stealth, and languish'd
in her face.
4:354 The lover, now inflam'd, himself
put on,
4:355 And out at once the God, all-radiant,
shone.
4:356 The virgin startled at his alter'd
form,
4:357 Too weak to bear a God's impetuous
storm:
4:358 No more against the dazling youth
she strove,
4:359 But silent yielded, and indulg'd
his love.
4:360 This Clytie knew, and knew she was undone,
4:361 Whose soul was fix'd, and doated
on the Sun.
4:362 She rag'd to think on her neglected
charms,
4:363 And Phoebus, panting in another's
arms.
4:364 With envious madness fir'd, she
flies in haste,
4:365 And tells the king, his daughter
was unchaste.
4:366 The king, incens'd to hear his
honour stain'd,
4:367 No more the father nor the man
retain'd.
4:368 In vain she stretch'd her arms,
and turn'd her eyes
4:369 To her lov'd God, th' enlightner
of the skies.
4:370 In vain she own'd it was a crime,
yet still
4:371 It was a crime not acted by her
will.
4:372 The brutal sire stood deaf to
ev'ry pray'r,
4:373 And deep in Earth entomb'd alive
the fair.
4:374 What Phoebus could do, was by
Phoebus done:
4:375 Full on her grave with pointed
beams he shone:
4:376 To pointed beams the gaping Earth
gave way;
4:377 Had the nymph eyes, her eyes
had seen the day,
4:378 But lifeless now, yet lovely
still, she lay.
4:379 Not more the God wept, when the
world was fir'd,
4:380 And in the wreck his blooming
boy expir'd.
4:381 The vital flame he strives to
light again,
4:382 And warm the frozen blood in
ev'ry vein:
4:383 But since resistless Fates deny'd
that pow'r,
4:384 On the cold nymph he rain'd a
nectar show'r.
4:385 Ah! undeserving thus (he said)
to die,
4:386 Yet still in odours thou shalt
reach the sky.
4:387 The body soon dissolv'd, and
all around
4:388 Perfum'd with heav'nly fragrancies
the ground,
4:389 A sacrifice for Gods up-rose
from thence,
4:390 A sweet, delightful tree of frankincense.