Metamorphoses (Books I-XIV)
The Story of Medusa's Head
4:1113 The heroe with his just request complies,
4:1114 Shows, how a vale beneath cold
Atlas lies,
4:1115 Where, with aspiring mountains
fenc'd around,
4:1116 He the two daughters of old
Phorcus found.
4:1117 Fate had one common eye to
both assign'd,
4:1118 Each saw by turns, and each
by turns was blind.
4:1119 But while one strove to lend
her sister sight,
4:1120 He stretch'd his hand, and
stole their mutual light,
4:1121 And left both eyeless, both
involv'd in night.
4:1122 Thro' devious wilds, and trackless
woods he past,
4:1123 And at the Gorgon-seats arriv'd
at last:
4:1124 But as he journey'd, pensive
he survey'd,
4:1125 What wasteful havock dire Medusa
made.
4:1126 Here, stood still breathing
statues, men before;
4:1127 There, rampant lions seem'd
in stone to roar.
4:1128 Nor did he, yet affrighted,
quit the field,
4:1129 But in the mirror of his polish'd
shield
4:1130 Reflected saw Medusa slumbers
take,
4:1131 And not one serpent by good
chance awake.
4:1132 Then backward an unerring blow
he sped,
4:1133 And from her body lop'd at
once her head.
4:1134 The gore prolifick prov'd;
with sudden force
4:1135 Sprung Pegasus, and wing'd
his airy course.
4:1136 The Heav'n-born warrior faithfully went
on,
4:1137 And told the num'rous dangers
which he run.
4:1138 What subject seas, what lands
he had in view,
4:1139 And nigh what stars th' advent'rous
heroe flew.
4:1140 At last he silent sate; the
list'ning throng
4:1141 Sigh'd at the pause of his
delightful tongue.
4:1142 Some beg'd to know, why this
alone should wear,
4:1143 Of all the sisters, such destructive
hair.
4:1144 Great Perseus then: With me you shall prevail,
4:1145 Worth the relation, to relate
a tale.
4:1146 Medusa once had charms; to
gain her love
4:1147 A rival crowd of envious lovers
strove.
4:1148 They, who have seen her, own,
they ne'er did trace
4:1149 More moving features in a sweeter
face.
4:1150 Yet above all, her length of
hair, they own,
4:1151 In golden ringlets wav'd, and
graceful shone.
4:1152 Her Neptune saw, and with such
beauties fir'd,
4:1153 Resolv'd to compass, what his
soul desir'd.
4:1154 In chaste Minerva's fane, he,
lustful, stay'd,
4:1155 And seiz'd, and rifled the
young, blushing maid.
4:1156 The bashful Goddess turn'd
her eyes away,
4:1157 Nor durst such bold impurity
survey;
4:1158 But on the ravish'd virgin
vengeance takes,
4:1159 Her shining hair is chang'd
to hissing snakes.
4:1160 These in her Aegis Pallas joys
to bear,
4:1161 The hissing snakes her foes
more sure ensnare,
4:1162 Than they did lovers once,
when shining hair.
BOOK THE FIFTH
Metamorphoses (Books I-XIV)
The Story of Medusa's Head
4:1113 The heroe with his just request complies,
4:1114 Shows, how a vale beneath cold
Atlas lies,
4:1115 Where, with aspiring mountains
fenc'd around,
4:1116 He the two daughters of old
Phorcus found.
4:1117 Fate had one common eye to
both assign'd,
4:1118 Each saw by turns, and each
by turns was blind.
4:1119 But while one strove to lend
her sister sight,
4:1120 He stretch'd his hand, and
stole their mutual light,
4:1121 And left both eyeless, both
involv'd in night.
4:1122 Thro' devious wilds, and trackless
woods he past,
4:1123 And at the Gorgon-seats arriv'd
at last:
4:1124 But as he journey'd, pensive
he survey'd,
4:1125 What wasteful havock dire Medusa
made.
4:1126 Here, stood still breathing
statues, men before;
4:1127 There, rampant lions seem'd
in stone to roar.
4:1128 Nor did he, yet affrighted,
quit the field,
4:1129 But in the mirror of his polish'd
shield
4:1130 Reflected saw Medusa slumbers
take,
4:1131 And not one serpent by good
chance awake.
4:1132 Then backward an unerring blow
he sped,
4:1133 And from her body lop'd at
once her head.
4:1134 The gore prolifick prov'd;
with sudden force
4:1135 Sprung Pegasus, and wing'd
his airy course.
4:1136 The Heav'n-born warrior faithfully went
on,
4:1137 And told the num'rous dangers
which he run.
4:1138 What subject seas, what lands
he had in view,
4:1139 And nigh what stars th' advent'rous
heroe flew.
4:1140 At last he silent sate; the
list'ning throng
4:1141 Sigh'd at the pause of his
delightful tongue.
4:1142 Some beg'd to know, why this
alone should wear,
4:1143 Of all the sisters, such destructive
hair.
4:1144 Great Perseus then: With me you shall prevail,
4:1145 Worth the relation, to relate
a tale.
4:1146 Medusa once had charms; to
gain her love
4:1147 A rival crowd of envious lovers
strove.
4:1148 They, who have seen her, own,
they ne'er did trace
4:1149 More moving features in a sweeter
face.
4:1150 Yet above all, her length of
hair, they own,
4:1151 In golden ringlets wav'd, and
graceful shone.
4:1152 Her Neptune saw, and with such
beauties fir'd,
4:1153 Resolv'd to compass, what his
soul desir'd.
4:1154 In chaste Minerva's fane, he,
lustful, stay'd,
4:1155 And seiz'd, and rifled the
young, blushing maid.
4:1156 The bashful Goddess turn'd
her eyes away,
4:1157 Nor durst such bold impurity
survey;
4:1158 But on the ravish'd virgin
vengeance takes,
4:1159 Her shining hair is chang'd
to hissing snakes.
4:1160 These in her Aegis Pallas joys
to bear,
4:1161 The hissing snakes her foes
more sure ensnare,
4:1162 Than they did lovers once,
when shining hair.
BOOK THE FIFTH