Metamorphoses (Books I-XIV)
Atlas transform'd to a Mountain
4:903 Thence Perseus, like a cloud, by storms was
driv'n,
4:904 Thro' all th' expanse beneath
the cope of Heaven.
4:905 The jarring winds unable to controul,
4:906 He saw the southern, and the
northern pole:
4:907 And eastward thrice, and westward
thrice was whirl'd,
4:908 And from the skies survey'd the
nether world.
4:909 But when grey ev'ning show'd
the verge of night,
4:910 He fear'd in darkness to pursue
his flight.
4:911 He pois'd his pinions, and forgot
to soar,
4:912 And sinking, clos'd them on th'
Hesperian shore:
4:913 Then beg'd to rest, 'till Lucifer
begun
4:914 To wake the morn, the morn to
wake the sun.
4:915 Here Atlas reign'd, of more than human size,
4:916 And in his kingdom the world's
limit lies.
4:917 Here Titan bids his weary'd coursers
sleep,
4:918 And cools the burning axle in
the deep.
4:919 The mighty monarch, uncontrol'd,
alone,
4:920 His sceptre sways: no neighb'ring
states are known.
4:921 A thousand flocks on shady mountains
fed,
4:922 A thousand herds o'er grassy
plains were spread.
4:923 Here wond'rous trees their shining
stores unfold,
4:924 Their shining stores too wond'rous
to be told,
4:925 Their leafs, their branches,
and their apples, gold.
4:926 Then Perseus the gigantick prince
addrest,
4:927 Humbly implor'd a hospitable
rest.
4:928 If bold exploits thy admiration
fire,
4:929 He said, I fancy, mine thou wilt
admire.
4:930 Or if the glory of a race can
move,
4:931 Not mean my glory, for I spring
from Jove.
4:932 At this confession Atlas ghastly
star'd,
4:933 Mindful of what an oracle declar'd,
4:934 That the dark womb of Time conceal'd
a day,
4:935 Which should, disclos'd, the
bloomy gold betray:
4:936 All should at once be ravish'd
from his eyes,
4:937 And Jove's own progeny enjoy
the prize.
4:938 For this, the fruit he loftily
immur'd,
4:939 And a fierce dragon the strait
pass secur'd.
4:940 For this, all strangers he forbad
to land,
4:941 And drove them from th' inhospitable
strand.
4:942 To Perseus then: Fly quickly,
fly this coast,
4:943 Nor falsly dare thy acts and
race to boast.
4:944 In vain the heroe for one night
entreats,
4:945 Threat'ning he storms, and next
adds force to threats.
4:946 By strength not Perseus could
himself defend,
4:947 For who in strength with Atlas
could contend?
4:948 But since short rest to me thou
wilt not give,
4:949 A gift of endless rest from me
receive,
4:950 He said, and backward turn'd,
no more conceal'd
4:951 The present, and Medusa's head
reveal'd.
4:952 Soon the high Atlas a high mountain
stood,
4:953 His locks, and beard became a
leafy wood.
4:954 His hands, and shoulders, into
ridges went,
4:955 The summit-head still crown'd
the steep ascent.
4:956 His bones a solid, rocky hardness
gain'd:
4:957 He, thus immensely grown (as
fate ordain'd),
4:958 The stars, the Heav'ns, and all
the Gods sustain'd.
Metamorphoses (Books I-XIV)
Atlas transform'd to a Mountain
4:903 Thence Perseus, like a cloud, by storms was
driv'n,
4:904 Thro' all th' expanse beneath
the cope of Heaven.
4:905 The jarring winds unable to controul,
4:906 He saw the southern, and the
northern pole:
4:907 And eastward thrice, and westward
thrice was whirl'd,
4:908 And from the skies survey'd the
nether world.
4:909 But when grey ev'ning show'd
the verge of night,
4:910 He fear'd in darkness to pursue
his flight.
4:911 He pois'd his pinions, and forgot
to soar,
4:912 And sinking, clos'd them on th'
Hesperian shore:
4:913 Then beg'd to rest, 'till Lucifer
begun
4:914 To wake the morn, the morn to
wake the sun.
4:915 Here Atlas reign'd, of more than human size,
4:916 And in his kingdom the world's
limit lies.
4:917 Here Titan bids his weary'd coursers
sleep,
4:918 And cools the burning axle in
the deep.
4:919 The mighty monarch, uncontrol'd,
alone,
4:920 His sceptre sways: no neighb'ring
states are known.
4:921 A thousand flocks on shady mountains
fed,
4:922 A thousand herds o'er grassy
plains were spread.
4:923 Here wond'rous trees their shining
stores unfold,
4:924 Their shining stores too wond'rous
to be told,
4:925 Their leafs, their branches,
and their apples, gold.
4:926 Then Perseus the gigantick prince
addrest,
4:927 Humbly implor'd a hospitable
rest.
4:928 If bold exploits thy admiration
fire,
4:929 He said, I fancy, mine thou wilt
admire.
4:930 Or if the glory of a race can
move,
4:931 Not mean my glory, for I spring
from Jove.
4:932 At this confession Atlas ghastly
star'd,
4:933 Mindful of what an oracle declar'd,
4:934 That the dark womb of Time conceal'd
a day,
4:935 Which should, disclos'd, the
bloomy gold betray:
4:936 All should at once be ravish'd
from his eyes,
4:937 And Jove's own progeny enjoy
the prize.
4:938 For this, the fruit he loftily
immur'd,
4:939 And a fierce dragon the strait
pass secur'd.
4:940 For this, all strangers he forbad
to land,
4:941 And drove them from th' inhospitable
strand.
4:942 To Perseus then: Fly quickly,
fly this coast,
4:943 Nor falsly dare thy acts and
race to boast.
4:944 In vain the heroe for one night
entreats,
4:945 Threat'ning he storms, and next
adds force to threats.
4:946 By strength not Perseus could
himself defend,
4:947 For who in strength with Atlas
could contend?
4:948 But since short rest to me thou
wilt not give,
4:949 A gift of endless rest from me
receive,
4:950 He said, and backward turn'd,
no more conceal'd
4:951 The present, and Medusa's head
reveal'd.
4:952 Soon the high Atlas a high mountain
stood,
4:953 His locks, and beard became a
leafy wood.
4:954 His hands, and shoulders, into
ridges went,
4:955 The summit-head still crown'd
the steep ascent.
4:956 His bones a solid, rocky hardness
gain'd:
4:957 He, thus immensely grown (as
fate ordain'd),
4:958 The stars, the Heav'ns, and all
the Gods sustain'd.