Metamorphoses (Books I-XIV)
The Transformation of the Theban Matrons
4:797 The Theban matrons their lov'd queen pursu'd,
4:798 And tracing to the rock, her
footsteps view'd.
4:799 Too certain of her fate, they
rend the skies
4:800 With piteous shrieks, and lamentable
cries.
4:801 All beat their breasts, and Juno
all upbraid,
4:802 Who still remember'd a deluded
maid:
4:803 Who, still revengeful for one
stol'n embrace,
4:804 Thus wreak'd her hate on the
Cadmean race.
4:805 This Juno heard: And shall such
elfs, she cry'd,
4:806 Dispute my justice, or my pow'r
deride?
4:807 You too shall feel my wrath not
idly spent;
4:808 A Goddess never for insults was
meant.
4:809 She, who lov'd most, and who most lov'd had
been,
4:810 Said, Not the waves shall part
me from my queen.
4:811 She strove to plunge into the
roaring flood;
4:812 Fix'd to the stone, a stone her
self she stood.
4:813 This, on her breast would fain
her blows repeat,
4:814 Her stiffen'd hands refus'd her
breast to beat.
4:815 That, stretch'd her arms unto
the seas; in vain
4:816 Her arms she labour'd to unstretch
again.
4:817 To tear her comely locks another
try'd,
4:818 Both comely locks, and fingers
petryfi'd.
4:819 Part thus; but Juno with a softer
mind
4:820 Part doom'd to mix among the
feather'd kind.
4:821 Transform'd, the name of Theban
birds they keep,
4:822 And skim the surface of that
fatal deep.
Metamorphoses (Books I-XIV)
The Transformation of the Theban Matrons
4:797 The Theban matrons their lov'd queen pursu'd,
4:798 And tracing to the rock, her
footsteps view'd.
4:799 Too certain of her fate, they
rend the skies
4:800 With piteous shrieks, and lamentable
cries.
4:801 All beat their breasts, and Juno
all upbraid,
4:802 Who still remember'd a deluded
maid:
4:803 Who, still revengeful for one
stol'n embrace,
4:804 Thus wreak'd her hate on the
Cadmean race.
4:805 This Juno heard: And shall such
elfs, she cry'd,
4:806 Dispute my justice, or my pow'r
deride?
4:807 You too shall feel my wrath not
idly spent;
4:808 A Goddess never for insults was
meant.
4:809 She, who lov'd most, and who most lov'd had
been,
4:810 Said, Not the waves shall part
me from my queen.
4:811 She strove to plunge into the
roaring flood;
4:812 Fix'd to the stone, a stone her
self she stood.
4:813 This, on her breast would fain
her blows repeat,
4:814 Her stiffen'd hands refus'd her
breast to beat.
4:815 That, stretch'd her arms unto
the seas; in vain
4:816 Her arms she labour'd to unstretch
again.
4:817 To tear her comely locks another
try'd,
4:818 Both comely locks, and fingers
petryfi'd.
4:819 Part thus; but Juno with a softer
mind
4:820 Part doom'd to mix among the
feather'd kind.
4:821 Transform'd, the name of Theban
birds they keep,
4:822 And skim the surface of that
fatal deep.