For, while this quality the man forsakes, Now loathing wealth, the occasion of his woes, 220 225 In caves and grottos, where the nymphs resort, And keep with mountain Pan their sylvan court. For where high Tmolus rears his shady brow, 230 And from his cliffs surveys the seas below In his descent, by Sardis bounded here, Pan to the nymphs his frolic ditties play'd, Tuning his reeds beneath the chequer'd shade. 235 The nymphs are pleased, the boasting sylvan plays, And speaks with slight of great Apollo's lays. 240 On his own hill, that seem'd to touch the sky. 245 In me, your judge,' says he,' there's no delay;' OVID. VOL. II. C 250 And, as he turns, with him the listening wood The god his own Parnassian laurel crown'd, 255 The lute, emboss'd with glittering jewels, blazed; 260 In his right hand he nicely held the quill, His easy posture spoke a master's skill; The strings he touch'd with more than human art, Which pleased the judge's ear, and soothed his heart; Who soon judiciously the palm decreed, And to the lute postponed the squeaking reed. All, with applause, the rightful sentence heard, To him unjustly given the judgment seems, A purple turban folds about his head, Veils the reproach from public view, and fears 265 270 275 280 285 In a low whisper he reveal'd the case, And cover'd in the earth, and silent left the place. 290 In time, of trembling reeds a plenteous crop From the confided furrow sprouted up, Which, high advancing with the ripening year, For then the rustling blades and whispering wind 295 BUILDING OF TROY. 300 APOLLO and Neptune engage with Laomedon to build the walls of Troy for a stipulated sum, which he refuses to pay; for which breach of faith his territories are laid waste by the encroachments of the sea-He is delivered from the rage of a sea-monster by the valor of Hercules, whom he in like manner defrauds: the hero is therefore obliged to besiege Troy, and take it by force of arms. PHOEBUS, with full revenge, from Tmolus flies, Darts through the air, and cleaves the liquid skies; Near Hellespont he lights, and treads the plains Where great Laomedon sole monarch reigns; Where, built between the two projecting strands, To Panomphæan Jove an altar stands ; Here first aspiring thoughts the king employ To found the lofty towers of future Troy. The work, from schemes magnificent begun, At vast expense, was slowly carried on; Which Phoebus seeing, with the trident god, Who rules the swelling surges with his nod, Assuming each a mortal shape, combine, At a set price, to finish his design. 305 310 The work was built, the king their price denies, This Neptune could not brook, but drove the main, A mighty deluge, o'er the Phrygian plain; 'Twas all a sea, the waters of the deep From every vale the copious harvest sweep; Ravage the fields, and mock the ploughman's toil. 315 320 325 330 The princess, rescued late, with all her charms, For Peleus, with a goddess bride, was more Grandsons to Jove there might be more than one, 335 STORY OF THETIS AND PELEUS. THETIS, after assuming various shapes to avoid the importunities of Peleus, is at length compelled to yield her consent to the nuptials. FOR Proteus thus to virgin Thetis said, 340 'Fair goddess of the waves, consent to wed, He knew the Fates, nor cared to raise up one 346 350 Whose boughs, though thick, a beauteous grot disclose; The well-wrought fabric, to discerning eyes, A bridled dolphin oft fair Thetis bore To this her loved retreat, her favorite shore; 355 365 Here Peleus seized her, slumbering while she lay, 360 370 While the fat entrails crackle in the fire, And sheets of smoke, in sweet perfume, aspire; Till Proteus, rising from his oozy bed, 375 'No more in anxious thoughts your mind employ, For yet you shall possess the dear expected joy. |