University of Virginia Library

The Queen of Love, on amorous Wiles intent,
A pleasing Dream to fair Europa sent.
What time still Night had roll'd the Hours away,
And the fresh Dawn began to promise Day,
When balmy Slumbers, and composing Rest,
Close every Eye, and sooth the pensive Breast,
When Dreams and Visions fill the busy Brain,
Prophetic Dreams, that never rise in vain:
'Twas then Europa, as she sleeping lay,
Chaste as Diana, Sister of the Day,
Saw in her Cause the adverse Shore engag'd
In War with Asia; terribly they rag'd:
Each seem'd a Woman; that in foreign Guise,
A Native this, and claim'd the lovely Prize
With louder Zeal: ‘The beauteous Nymph, she said,
‘Her Daughter was, and in her Bosom bred.’
But she, who as a Stranger was array'd,
Forc'd to her Arms the unresisting Maid;
Call'd her her right, by all the Powers above,
Giv'n her by Fate, and Ægis-bearing Jove.

The fair Europa, struck with sudden Dread,
All pale and trembling started from her Bed;
Silent she sat, and thought the Vision true,
Still seem'd their Forms to strive before her View:
At length she utter'd thus the Voice of Fear;
“Ye Gods, what Spectres to my Sight appear?
“What Dreams are these, in Fancy's Livery drest,
“That haunt my Sleep, and break my golden Rest?
“And who that Form that seem'd so wond'rous kind?
“The dear Idea still delights my Mind.
“She, like a Mother, press'd me in her Arms:
“But, O ye Gods! that send such strange Alarms,
“Preserve these visionary Scenes from Harms.

She said, and lightly from her Couch she sprung,
Then sought her Comrades, beautiful and Young,
Her social Mates; with them she lov'd to lave
Her Limbs unblemish'd in the chrystal Wave:
With them on Lawns the sprightly Dance to lead,
Or pluck sweet Lillies in the flowery Mead.
The Nymphs assembled soon, a beauteous Band!
With each a curious Basket in her Hand;
Then reach'd those Fields where oft they play'd before,
The fragrant Fields along the Sea-beat Shore,
To gather Flowers, and hear the Billows roar.

Europa's Basket, radiant to behold,
The Work of Vulcan, was compos'd of Gold;
He gave it Libya, mighty Neptune's Bride,
She Telephassa, next in Blood ally'd;
From her bequeath'd to fair Europa came
This splendid Basket of celestial Frame.
Fair in the Work the Milk-white Iö stood
In roughen'd Gold, and lowing paw'd the Flood,
(For Vulcan there had pour'd the azure Main)
A Heifer still, nor yet transform'd again.
Two Men stood figur'd on the Ocean's Brim,
Who watch'd the Cow, that seem'd inclin'd to swim.
Jove too appear'd enamour'd on the Strand,
And strok'd the lovely Heifer with his Hand:
Till, on the Banks of Nile again array'd,
In native Beauty shone the blooming Maid:
The sev'n-mouth'd Nile in silver Currents roll'd,
And Jove was sculptur'd in refulgent Gold.
Near piping Hermes sleepless Argus lies,
Watching the Heifer with his hundred Eyes:
From Argus slain a painted Peacock grew,
Fluttering his Feathers stain'd with various Hue,
And, as a Ship expands her swelling Sail,
He round the Basket spread his starry Tail.
Such were the Scenes the Lemnian God display'd,
And such the Basket of the Tyrian Maid.

The lovely Damsels gather'd Flow'rets bright,
Sweet to the Smell, and beauteous to the Sight;
The fragrant Hyacinth of purple Hue,
Narcissus, wild Thyme, and the Violet blue;
Some the gilt Crocus or pale Lilly chose,
But fair Europa cropp'd the blooming Rose;
And all her Mates excell'd in radiant Mein,
As midst the Graces shines the Cyprian Queen.
Not long, alas! in these fair Fields she shone,
Nor long unloos'd preserv'd her virgin Zone;
Saturnian Jove beheld the matchless Maid,
And sudden Transports the rapt God invade;
He glows with all the fervid Flame of Love;
For Cupid's Arrows pierce the Breast of Jove.
But, best his amorous Intent to screen,
And shun the jealous Anger of his Queen,
He laid his Immortality aside,
And a Bull's Form th'intriguing God bely'd;
But not of earthly Shape, or mortal Breed,
Such as at large in flowery Pastures feed;
Whose stubborn Necks beneath the Yoke we bow,
Break to the Wain, or harness to the Plough.
His golden Hue distinguish'd him afar;
Full in his Forehead beam'd a silver Star:
His large blue Eyes, that shone serenely bright,
Languish'd with Love, and sparkled with Delight:
On his broad Temples rose two equal Horns,
Like that fair Crescent which the Skies adorns.
Gently he moves with peaceful Look and bland,
And spreads no Terror in the Virgin Band:
Nearer they draw, with eager Longing led
To stroke his Sides, and pat his comely Head:
His Breath divine ambrosial Odours yields,
Sweeter than Fragrance of the flowery Fields.
At fair Europa's Feet with Joy he stands,
And prints sweet Kisses on her lilly Hands.
His foamy Lips she wipes, unaw'd by Dread,
And strokes his Sides, and pats his comely Head.
Gently he low'd, as musical and clear
As Notes soft warbled on the raptur'd Ear:
And, as on Earth his plyant Knees he bent,
Show'd his broad Back, that hinted what he meant;
Then turn'd his suppliant Eyes, and view'd the Maid;
Who thus, astonish'd, to her Comrades said:

“Say, dearest Mates, what can this Beast intend?
“Let us (for lo! he stoops) his Back ascend,
“And ride in sportive Gambols round the Mead;
“This lovely Bull is, sure, of gentlest Breed;
“So meek his Manner, so benign his Mind,
“He wants but Voice to equal Human-kind.”

So spoke the Fair, and up she rose to ride,
And call'd her lingering Partners to her Side:
Soon as the Bull his pleasing Burden bore,
Vigorous he sprung, and hasten'd to the Shore.
The Nymph dismay'd invok'd the Virgin Band
For Help, and wav'd her unavailing Hand.
On the soft Bosom of the azure Flood
With his fair Prize the Bull triumphant rode:
Up rose the Nereids to attend his Train,
And all the mighty Monsters of the Main.
Cærulean Neptune was the Thunderer's Guide,
And for the passing Pomp he smooth'd the Tide:
The Tritons hail'd him as he steer'd along,
And sounded on their Conchs the nuptial Song.
On Jove's broad Back the lovely Damsel borne
Grasp'd with her fair right Hand his polish'd Horn,
Her left essay'd her purple Robe to save,
That lightly brush'd the Surface of the Wave:
Around her Head soft breath'd the gentle Gale,
And fill'd her Garment like a swelling Sail.
Europa's Heart throbb'd quick with chilling Fear,
Far from her much-lov'd Home, and Comrades dear;
No sea-beat Shore she saw, nor Mountain'sB row,
Nor aught but Sky above, and Waves below.
Then with a mournful Look the Damsel said:

“Ah! whither wilt thou bear a wretched Maid?
“Who, and whence art thou, wond'rous Creature, say?
“How canst thou fearless tread the watry Way?
“On the broad Ocean safely sails the Ship,
“But Bulls avoid, and dread the stormy Deep.
“Say, can a Bull on sea-born Viands feed?
“Or, if descended from celestial Breed,
“Thy Acts are inconsistent with a God:
“Bulls rove the Meads, and Dolphins swim the Flood;
“But Earth and Ocean are alike to thee,
“Thy Hoofs are Oars that row thee through the Sea.
“Perhaps, like airy Birds, thou soon wilt fly,
“And soar amidst the Regions of the Sky.
“Ah! wretched Maid, to leave my native Home,
“And simply dare with Bulls in Meads to roam!
“And now on Seas I ride—ah! wretched Maid!
“But, O! I trust, great Neptune, in thy Aid;
“Soon let my Eyes my great Conductor hail,
“For not without a Deity I sail.”

Thus spoke the Nymph, and thus the Bull reply'd:
“Courage, fair Maid, nor fear the foaming Tide;
“Though now a Bull I seem to mortal Eyes,
“Thou soon shalt see me Ruler of the Skies.
“What Shape I please, at Will I take and keep,
“And now a Bull I cross the boundless Deep;
“For thy bright Charms inspire my Breast with Love:
“But soon shall Crete's fair Isle, the Nurse of Jove,
“Receive Europa on its friendly Strand,
“To join with me in Hymen's blissful Band:
“From thee shall Kings arise in long Array,
“To rule the World with delegated Sway.”

Thus spoke the God; and what he spoke prov'd true:
For soon Crete's lofty Shore appear'd in View:
Jove strait assum'd another Form and Air,
And loos'd her Zone; the Hours the Couch prepare,
The Nymph Europa thus, through powerful Love,
Became the Bride of cloud-compelling Jove:
From her sprung mighty Kings in long Array,
Who rul'd the World with delegated Sway.