Ovid's metamorphoses in fifteen books Translated by the most Eminent Hands. Adorn'd with Sculptures |
 |
|
 | I. |
| II. |
| III. |
| IV. |
| V. |
| VI. |
| VII. |
| VIII. |
| IX. |
| X. |
| XI. |
| XII. |
| XIII. |
| XIV. |
| XV. |
 | Ovid's metamorphoses in fifteen books |  |
The Transformation of Scylla.
Now
Glaucus, with a Lover's Haste, bounds o'er
The swelling Waves, and seeks the Latian Shore.
Messena, Rhegium, and the barren Coast
Of flaming Ætna, to his Sight are lost:
At length he gains the Tyrrhene Seas, and views
The Hills where baneful Philters Circe brews;
Monsters, in various Forms, around her press;
As thus the God salutes the Sorceress.
The swelling Waves, and seeks the Latian Shore.
Messena, Rhegium, and the barren Coast
Of flaming Ætna, to his Sight are lost:
At length he gains the Tyrrhene Seas, and views
The Hills where baneful Philters Circe brews;
Monsters, in various Forms, around her press;
As thus the God salutes the Sorceress.
O Circe, be indulgent to my Grief,
And give a Love-sick Deity Relief.
Too well the mighty Power of Plants I know;
To those my Figure, and new Fate I owe.
Against Messena, on th'Ausonian Coast,
I Scylla view'd, and from that Hour was lost.
In tend'rest Sounds I su'd; but still the Fair
Was deaf to Vows, and pityless to Pray'r.
If Numbers can avail: exert their Pow'r;
Or Energy of Plants, if Plants have more.
I ask no Cure; let but the Virgin pine
With dying Pangs, or Agonies like mine.
And give a Love-sick Deity Relief.
Too well the mighty Power of Plants I know;
To those my Figure, and new Fate I owe.
Against Messena, on th'Ausonian Coast,
I Scylla view'd, and from that Hour was lost.
In tend'rest Sounds I su'd; but still the Fair
Was deaf to Vows, and pityless to Pray'r.
482
Or Energy of Plants, if Plants have more.
I ask no Cure; let but the Virgin pine
With dying Pangs, or Agonies like mine.
No longer Circe could her Flame disguise,
But, to the suppliant God Marine, replies:
But, to the suppliant God Marine, replies:
When Maids are coy, have manlier Aims in view;
Leave those that Fly, but those that Like, pursue.
If Love can be by kind Compliance won;
See, at your Feet, the Daughter of the Sun.
Leave those that Fly, but those that Like, pursue.
If Love can be by kind Compliance won;
See, at your Feet, the Daughter of the Sun.
Sooner, said Glaucus, shall the Ash remove
From Mountains, and the swelling Surges love;
Or humble Sea-weed to the Hills repair;
E'er I think any but my Scylla fair.
From Mountains, and the swelling Surges love;
Or humble Sea-weed to the Hills repair;
E'er I think any but my Scylla fair.
Strait Circe reddens with a guilty Shame,
And vows Revenge for her rejected Flame.
“Fierce Liking oft a Spight as fierce creates;
“For Love refus'd, without Aversion, hates.
To hurt her hapless Rival she proceeds;
And, by the Fall of Scylla, Glaucus bleeds.
And vows Revenge for her rejected Flame.
“Fierce Liking oft a Spight as fierce creates;
“For Love refus'd, without Aversion, hates.
To hurt her hapless Rival she proceeds;
And, by the Fall of Scylla, Glaucus bleeds.
Some fascinating Bev'rage now she brews;
Compos'd of deadly Drugs, and baneful Juice.
At Rhegium she arrives; the Ocean braves,
And treads with unwet Feet the boiling Waves.
Upon the Beach a winding Bay there lies,
Shelter'd from Seas, and shaded from the Skies:
This Station Scylla chose; a soft Retreat
From chilling Winds, and raging Cancer's Heat.
The vengeful Sorc'ress visits this Recess;
Her Charm infuses, and infects the Place.
Soon as the Nymph wades in; Her nether Parts
Turn into Dogs; then at her self she starts.
A ghastly Horror in her Eyes appears;
But yet she knows not who it is she fears;
In vain she offers from her self to run;
And drags about her what she strives to shun.
Compos'd of deadly Drugs, and baneful Juice.
At Rhegium she arrives; the Ocean braves,
And treads with unwet Feet the boiling Waves.
Upon the Beach a winding Bay there lies,
Shelter'd from Seas, and shaded from the Skies:
This Station Scylla chose; a soft Retreat
From chilling Winds, and raging Cancer's Heat.
The vengeful Sorc'ress visits this Recess;
Her Charm infuses, and infects the Place.
Soon as the Nymph wades in; Her nether Parts
Turn into Dogs; then at her self she starts.
483
But yet she knows not who it is she fears;
In vain she offers from her self to run;
And drags about her what she strives to shun.
Oppress'd with Grief the pitying God appears;
And swells the rising Surges with his Tears;
From the detested Sorceress he flies,
Her Art reviles, and her Address denies;
Whilst hapless Scylla, chang'd to Rocks, decrees
Destruction to those Barques that beat the Seas.
And swells the rising Surges with his Tears;
From the detested Sorceress he flies,
Her Art reviles, and her Address denies;
Whilst hapless Scylla, chang'd to Rocks, decrees
Destruction to those Barques that beat the Seas.
| Ovid's metamorphoses in fifteen books | |