 | Poems on Several Occasions |  |
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THE STORY OF ARETHUSA.
Connexion to the former.
The Poet describes Ceres wandering over the World in great affliction, to search after her daughter Proserpina, who was then lost. At last Arethusa (a river of Sicily) informs the goddess that her daughter was stolen away by
Pluto, and carried down into hell. Now it was ordained by fate, that Proserpine should return again, if she tasted not of any fruit in the other world. But temptations were strong, and the woman could not resist eating six or seven kernels of a pomgranate. However, to mitigate the sentence, Jupiter decreed that she should reside but half the year with Pluto, and pass the rest with her mother: Upon these terms Ceres is very well pacifyed, and in complaisance desires Arethusa to relate her life, and for what reasons she was changed into a river.
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Hush'd in suspence the gath'ring waters stood,
When thus began the Parent of the flood:
What time emerging from the wave, she prest
Her verdant tresses dropping on her breast.
When thus began the Parent of the flood:
What time emerging from the wave, she prest
Her verdant tresses dropping on her breast.
Of all the nymphs Achaia boasts, (she said)
Was Arethusa once the fairest maid.
None lov'd so well, to spread in early dawn
The trembling meshes o'er the dewy lawn:
Tho' dress and beauty scarce deserv'd my care,
Yet ev'ry tongue confess'd me to be fair.
The charms which others strive for, I resign,
And think it ev'n a crime to find them mine!
Was Arethusa once the fairest maid.
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The trembling meshes o'er the dewy lawn:
Tho' dress and beauty scarce deserv'd my care,
Yet ev'ry tongue confess'd me to be fair.
The charms which others strive for, I resign,
And think it ev'n a crime to find them mine!
It chanc'd one morn, returning from the wood,
Weary I wander'd by a silver flood:
The gentle waters scarce were seen to glide,
And a calm silence still'd the sleeping tyde;
High o'er the banks a grove of watry trees
Spread its dark shade, that trembled to the breeze.
(My vest suspended on the boughs) I lave
My chilly feet, then plunge beneath the wave;
A ruddy light my blushing limbs dispread,
And the clear stream half glows with rosy-red.
When from beneath in awful murmurs broke
A hollow voice, and thus portentous spoke:
Weary I wander'd by a silver flood:
The gentle waters scarce were seen to glide,
And a calm silence still'd the sleeping tyde;
High o'er the banks a grove of watry trees
Spread its dark shade, that trembled to the breeze.
(My vest suspended on the boughs) I lave
My chilly feet, then plunge beneath the wave;
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And the clear stream half glows with rosy-red.
When from beneath in awful murmurs broke
A hollow voice, and thus portentous spoke:
“My lovely nymph, my Arethusa stay,
“Alpheüs calls; it said, or seem'd to say—
“Alpheüs calls; it said, or seem'd to say—
Naked and swift I flew, (my cloaths behind)
Fear strung my nerves, and shame enrag'd my mind.
So wing'd with hunger the fierce eagle flies,
To drive the trembling turtles thro' the skies:
So wing'd with fear the trembling turtles spring,
When the fierce eagle shoots upon the wing.
Fear strung my nerves, and shame enrag'd my mind.
So wing'd with hunger the fierce eagle flies,
To drive the trembling turtles thro' the skies:
So wing'd with fear the trembling turtles spring,
When the fierce eagle shoots upon the wing.
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Swift-bounding from the God, I now survey
Where breezy Psophis and Cyllenè lay:
Elis' fair structures open'd on my eyes;
And waving Erymanthus cools the skies.
At length unequal for the rapid chase
Tremble my limbs, the God maintains the race:
O'er hills and vales with furious haste I flew;
O'er hills and vales the God behind me drew.
Now hov'ring o'er, his length'ning shadow bends,
(His length'ning shadow the low sun extends)
And sudden now, his sounding steps drew near;
At least I seem'd his sounding steps to hear.
Now sinking, in short sobs I gasp'd for breath,
Just in the jaws of violence and death.
Ah, Cynthia help! ('twas thus in thought I pray'd,
Ah, help a ravish'd, miserable maid!
The virgin-pow'r consenting to my pray'r,
Diffus'd around a veil of clouded air:
Lost in the gloom he wanders o'er the plain,
And Arethusa calls, but calls in vain;
In misty steams th' impervious vapours rise,
Perplex his guesses, and deceive his eyes.
Where breezy Psophis and Cyllenè lay:
Elis' fair structures open'd on my eyes;
And waving Erymanthus cools the skies.
At length unequal for the rapid chase
Tremble my limbs, the God maintains the race:
O'er hills and vales with furious haste I flew;
O'er hills and vales the God behind me drew.
Now hov'ring o'er, his length'ning shadow bends,
(His length'ning shadow the low sun extends)
And sudden now, his sounding steps drew near;
At least I seem'd his sounding steps to hear.
Now sinking, in short sobs I gasp'd for breath,
Just in the jaws of violence and death.
Ah, Cynthia help! ('twas thus in thought I pray'd,
Ah, help a ravish'd, miserable maid!
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Diffus'd around a veil of clouded air:
Lost in the gloom he wanders o'er the plain,
And Arethusa calls, but calls in vain;
In misty steams th' impervious vapours rise,
Perplex his guesses, and deceive his eyes.
What fears I felt as thus inclos'd I stood,
What chilling horrours trembled thro' my blood?
So pants the fawn in silence and despair,
When the grim wolf runs howling thro' the lair:
So sits the lev'ret, when the hound pursues
His trembling prey, and winds the tainted dews.
What chilling horrours trembled thro' my blood?
So pants the fawn in silence and despair,
When the grim wolf runs howling thro' the lair:
So sits the lev'ret, when the hound pursues
His trembling prey, and winds the tainted dews.
Sudden my cheek with flashing colour burns,
Pale swoons, and sickly fears succeed by turns:
Cold creeps my blood, its pulses beat no more:
Big drops of sweat ascend from ev'ry pore;
Adown my locks the pearly dews distill,
And each full eye pours forth a gushing rill;
Now all at once my melting limbs decay,
In one clear stream dissolving fast away.
Pale swoons, and sickly fears succeed by turns:
Cold creeps my blood, its pulses beat no more:
Big drops of sweat ascend from ev'ry pore;
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And each full eye pours forth a gushing rill;
Now all at once my melting limbs decay,
In one clear stream dissolving fast away.
The God soon saw me floating o'er the plain,
And strait resum'd his watry form again—
Instant, Diana smote the trembling ground;
Down rush my waters with a murm'ring sound;
Thence darkling thro' th' infernal regions stray,
And in the Delian plains review the day.
And strait resum'd his watry form again—
Instant, Diana smote the trembling ground;
Down rush my waters with a murm'ring sound;
Thence darkling thro' th' infernal regions stray,
And in the Delian plains review the day.
| Poems on Several Occasions | |