Part 20

Thence Hymen, in his saffron vesture clad, Through the vast air departs; and seeks the land Ciconian; by the voice of Orpheus call'd Vainly. He came indeed, but with him brought No wonted gratulations, no glad face, Nor happy omen. And the torch he bore Crackled in hissing smoke; nor gather'd flame From whirling motion. Still more dire th' event Prov'd, than the presage. As the new-made bride, Attended by a train of Naïad nymphs, Rov'd through the grass, a serpent's fangs her heel Pierc'd, and she instant dy'd. Her, when long-mourn'd In upper air, the Rhodopeïan bard Ventur'd to seek in shades, and dar'd descend Through the Tænarian cave to Stygia's realms. 'Mid shadowy crowds, and bury'd ghosts he goes, To Proserpine, and him who rules the shades With sway ungrateful. There he strikes the strings Responsive to his words, and this his song.-- "Gods of this subterraneous world, where all "Of mortal origin must come, permit "That I the truth declare; no tedious tales "Of falshood will I tell. Here came I not "Your dusky Hell to view: nor to o'ercome "The triple-throated Medusæan beast "Snake-hair'd;--my wife alone my journey caus'd, "Whose heel a trampled serpent venom'd stung: "Snatch'd in her bloom of years. Much did I wish, "My loss to bear; nor ought forbore to strive; "But love o'ercame. Well do the upper gods "That deity confess. In doubt I stand "If here too he is known; but here I judge "His power is felt: the ancient rape, if true, "Proves love ev'n you first join'd. You I implore, "By all those regions fill'd with dread; by this "Chaos immense; your ample realm, all fill'd "With silence; once again the thread renew "Eurydicé too hasty lost. To you "We all belong; a little while we stay, "Then soon or late to one repose we haste: "All hither tend; this is our final home. "You hold o'er human kind a lengthen'd reign. "She too, when once her years mature are fill'd, "To you again, must by just right belong. "I then request her only as a loan: "But should the fates this favor me refuse, "Certain I'll ne'er return. Two deaths enjoy."-- The bloodless shadows wept as thus he sung, And struck the strings in concord with his words. Nor Tantalus at flying waters caught; Nor roll'd Ixion's wheel: the liver gnaw'd The birds not: rested on their empty urns The Belides: and Sisyphus, thou sat'st Upon thy stone. Nay fame declares, then first, Vanquish'd by song, the furies felt their cheeks Wetted with tears. Nor could the royal spouse, Nor he who rules deep darkness, him withstand Thus praying; and Eurydicé is call'd. Amid the recent dead she walk'd, and still Halted with tardy steps from her late wound. Her, when the bard of Thrace receiv'd, this law Receiv'd he also: that his eyes reverse He should not bend, till past Avernus' realms; Else he'd the granted favor useless find. In silence mute, through the steep path they climb Dark, difficult, and thick with pitchy mist; Nor far earth's surface wanted they to gain: The lover here, in dread lest she should stray, And anxious to behold, bent back his sight, And instant back she sunk. As forth his arms He stretch'd, to clasp expecting, and be clasp'd: Unhappy! nought but fleeting air he held. Twice dying, she can nought her spouse condemn; For how blame him because too much he lov'd? She gives her last farewel; which scarce his ears Receive, then sinks again to shades below.

Orpheus, thus doubly of his spouse despoil'd, All stunn'd appear'd: not less than he who saw In wild affright the triple-headed dog, Chain'd by the midmost: fear him never fled, Till fled his former nature: sudden stone On all his body seizing. Or than he, Olenus, when the crime upon himself He took, and guilty wish'd to seem; with thee Hapless Lethæa, confident in charms. Once breast to breast you join'd, now join as stones, Which watery Ida bears. Beseeching vain, And wishing once again the stream to pass, The ferryman denies. Then on the bank In squalid guise he sate, nor tasted food For seven long days; his cares, and grieving soul, And tears were all the sustenance he knew. Cruel he call'd the gods of Erebus, And to high Rhodopé himself betook, And lofty Hæmus by the north-wind beat.

Thrice had the sun the year completed, each By watery Pisces ended. Orpheus still Fled every female's love: or his deep woe Made him so cold; or faithful promise giv'n. Yet crowds there were, who wish'd the bard's embrace: And crowds with sorrow saw their love repuls'd. A hill there rose, and on its summit spread A wide extended plain, with herbage green: Shade to the place was wanting; hither came The heaven-born poet; seated him, and touch'd His sounding strings, and straight a shade approach'd. Nor wanted there Chaönian trees; nor groves Of poplars; nor the acorn's spacious leaves: The linden soft, the beech, the virgin bay, The brittle hazle, and spear-forming ash; The knotless fir; ilex with fruit low-bow'd; The genial plane; the maple various stain'd; Stream-loving willow; and the watery lote; Box of perpetual green; slight tamarisk; Two-teinted myrtle; and the laurustine With purple berries. Thou too, ivy, cam'st Hither with flexile feet: together flock'd Grape-bearing vines; and elms with vines entwin'd: Wild ash, and pitch tree; and arbutus, bent With loads of ruddy fruit; the pliant palm, Meed of the conqueror; the pine close bound About its boughs, but at its summit shagg'd: Dear to the mother of celestial powers, Since Atys Cybeleïan was transform'd, And in the trunk a rigid tree became.

In form pyramidal, amid the crowd, The cypress came; now tree, but once a boy; Dear to the god who rules the lyre's fine chords, And rules the bowstring. Once was known a stag Sacred to nymphs that own Carthæa's fields, Who bore upon his head a lofty shade From his wide-spreading horns; his horns bright shone With gold; his collar, with bright gems bedeck'd, Fell o'er his shoulders from his round neck hung; A silver boss, by slender reins control'd Mov'd o'er his brow; a brazen pair the same, Shone o'er his temples hanging from his ears: Devoid of fear, his nature's timid dread Relinquish'd, oft the houses would he seek; And oft would gently fondling stoop his neck, Heedless who strok'd him. Cyparissus, thou Beyond all others priz'd the sacred beast: Thou, fairest far amongst the Cæan youths. Thou to fresh pastures led'st the stag; to streams Of cooling fountains: oft his horns entwin'd With variegated garlands. Horseman-like Now on his back thou pressest; and now here, Now there, thou rul'st his soft jaws with the reins Of purple tinge. 'Twas once in mid-day heat, When burnt the bent claws of the sea-shore crab, In Sol's fierce vapor; on the grassy earth The weary stag repos'd his limbs, and drew Cool breezes from the trees umbrageous shades. Here the boy Cyparissus careless flung His painted dart, and fix'd it in his side. Who, when he from the cruel wound beheld Him dying, instant bent his mind to die. What consolation did not Phoebus speak? Urging the loss far slighter grief deserv'd: Yet mourn'd he still, and from the gods supreme Begg'd this last gift, to latest times to mourn. His blood in constant tears exhausted, now His limbs a green hue take; his locks which late Hung o'er his snowy forehead, rough become In frightful bushiness; and hardening quick, Shoot up to heaven in form a slender spire. The mourning god, in grief exclaim'd--"By me "Bemoan'd, thou shalt with others always grieve; "And henceforth mourners shalt thou still attend."-- Thus did the bard a wood collect around; And in the midst he sate of thronging beasts, And crowding birds. The chords he amply try'd With his impulsive thumb, and vary'd much In sound, he found their notes concordant still; Then to this song rais'd his melodious voice.--

"O parent muse! from Jove derive my song: "All yield to Jove's dominion. Oft my verse "Before the mightiness of Jove has sung. "I sung the giants, in a strain sublime, "And vengeful thunders, o'er Phlegræa's plain "Scatter'd; a tender theme now claims my lyre: "I sing of youths by deities belov'd; "And nymphs who with forbidden wishes burn'd, "And met the doom their sensual lusts deserv'd. "The king of gods made Phrygian Ganymede "His favorite, but some other form possess'd. "Jove must in shape be something else than Jove. "He deems no form becomes him, save the bird "That bears his thunder. Instant all is done; "The Phrygian borne away: the air he beats "With his feign'd wing. And now this youth the cup "Of nectar hands, in Juno's spite, to Jove.

"Son of Amycla, thee had Phoebus plac'd "Also the skies amidst, had fate allow'd "For such position place; yet still thou hold'st "Eternal, what fate grants: oft as the spring "Winter repulses, and the ram succeeds "The watery fishes, thou spring'st forth in flower "'Mid the green sward. Beyond all else my sire "Thee lov'd, and Delphos, plac'd in midmost earth, "Wanted its ruling power, whilst now the god "Eurotas lov'd, and Sparta un-intrench'd. "Nor lyre, nor darts attention claim'd as wont; "Of dignity unmindful, he not spurns "To bear the nets; to curb the hounds; to climb "With the full train the steepest mountain's ridge: "And every toil augments his pleasure more. "Now had the sun the midmost point near gain'd "'Twixt flying night, and night approaching, each "Distant in equal space; when from their limbs "They flung their robes; with the fat olive's juice "Their bodies shone; they enter'd in the lists "Of the broad disk, which Phoebus first well pois'd, "Then flung through lofty air; opposing clouds "Flying it cleft; at length on solid earth "It pitch'd, displaying skill with strength combin'd. "Instant the rash Tænarian boy, impell'd "By love of sport, sprung on to snatch the orb, "But the hard ground repulsive in thy face, "O, Hyacinth! it flung. Pale as the boy "The god appear'd: he rais'd his fainting limbs, "And in his arms now cherishes, now wipes "The fatal wound, now stays his fleeting breath, "With herbs apply'd; but all his arts are vain; "Incurable the hurt. Just so, when broke, "The violet, poppy, or the lily hang, "Whose dark stems in a water'd garden spring; "Flaccid they instant droop; the weighty head "No longer upright rais'd, but bent to earth. "So bent his dying face; his neck, bereft "Of vigor, heavy on his shoulder laid. "Phoebus exclaim'd;--Fall'st thou, OEbalian youth, "Depriv'd of life in prime? and must I see "Thy death my fault? thou art my grief, my crime; "My hand the charge of thy destruction bears: "I am the cause of thy untimely fate! "But what my crime? unless with him to sport; "Unless a fault it were too much to love. "Would I could life for thee, or with thee quit; "But fatal laws restrain me: yet shalt thou "Be with me still; dwell ever on my lips; "My hand shall sound thee on the lyre I touch; "My songs of thee shall tell: a new-found flower "Shall bear the letters which my griefs resound: "And time shall come, when a most valiant chief "Shall join him to thy flower; in the same leaf "His name too shall be read.--As words like these "The truth-predicting lips of Phoebus spoke, "Behold! the blood which flow'd along the ground, "And all the herbage ting'd, is blood no more; "But springs a flower than Tyrian red more bright, "A form assuming such as lilies wear: "Like it, save purple this, that silvery white. "Nor yet content was Phoebus; for from him "The honor was deriv'd. Upon its leaves "He trac'd his groans: _ai, ai_, on every flower "In mournful characters is fair inscrib'd. "Nor blush the Spartans, Hyacinth to own: "His honors still the present age attend; "And annual are the Hyacinthian feasts, "In pomp surpassing aught of ancient days.

"Should you by chance of Amathus enquire, "If williang the Propoetides it bore, "Denying nods would equally disclaim "Them, and the race whose foreheads once were rough "With double horns; Cerastæ, hence their name. "Jove's hospitable altar at their gates "Of mournful wickedness was rear'd: who saw "This stain'd with gore, if stranger, might conceive "That sucking calves, or two-year's sheep there bled. "There bled the guest! Mild Venus griev'd "At these most impious rites, at first prepar'd "To quit her cities, and her Cyprian fields:-- "But how,--she said,--can my beloved clime? "How can my towns have given offence? what fault "Abides in them? Rather the impious race, "Shall vengeance feel in exile, or in death; "Save death and exile medium may allow: "How may that be, unless their shape is chang'd?-- "Then while she doubts what shape they shall assume, "Their horns attract her eyes; struck by the hint, "Their mighty horns she leaves them, and transforms "To savage oxen all their lusty limbs.

"Still dar'd th' obscene Propoetides deny "Venus a goddess' power; for which, fame says "They first, so forc'd the deity's revenge, "Their bodies prostituted, and their charms. "As shame them left, the blood which ting'd their cheeks "Harden'd, and soon they rigid stone became.

"These saw Pygmalion, and the age beheld "With crimes o'er-run; the shameful vice abhorr'd "Which lavish nature gave their female souls. "Single, and spouseless liv'd he; long a mate "Press'd not his couch. Meantime the ivory white "With happy skill, and wond'rous art he carv'd; "And form'd a beauteous figure; never maid "So perfect yet was born, and his own work "With love inspir'd him. Of a nymph her face "Was such, you must believe the form to live, "And move, if not by bashfulness restrain'd. "Thus art his art conceal'd. Pygmalion stares "In admiration; and his breast draws flames "From the feign'd body: oft his hands his work "Approach, if ivory or if flesh to judge; "Nor ivory then will he confess the form. "Kisses he gives, and thinks each kiss return'd: "He speaks, he grasps her; where he grasps, he thinks "His hands impression leave; and fears to see "On the prest limbs some marks of livid blue. "Now blandish'd words he uses; now he bears "Those gifts so grateful to a girlish mind; "Pearls, and smooth-polish'd gems, and smallest birds, "With variegated flowers, and lilies fair, "And painted figures, and the Heliads' tears, "Dropt from the weeping tree: with garments gay "Her limbs too he adorns, and jewels gives "To deck her fingers; while a necklace large "Hangs round her neck: her ears light pearls suspend; "And a bright zone is circled round her waist. "All well became her, yet most beauteous far "She unattir'd appear'd. Her on a couch, "Ting'd with the shell Sidonian, then he laid, "And call'd her partner of his bed; and plac'd "Her head reclin'd, as if with sense endu'd, "On the soft pillow. Now the feast approach'd "Of Venus, through all Cyprus' isle so fam'd, "And snowy-chested heifers, whose bent horns "With gold were gay, receiv'd the deadly blow; "And incense burnt in clouds. Pygmalion stood "Before the altar, with his offer'd gifts: "Timid he spoke,--O ye all-potent gods! "Give me a spouse just like my ivory nymph,-- "Give me my ivory nymph--he blush'd to say. "Bright Venus then, as present at her feast, "Perceiv'd the inmost wishes of his soul; "And gave the omen of a friendly power. "Thrice blaz'd the fire, and thrice the flame leap'd high.

"Returning, he the darling statue seeks "Of his fair nymph; extends him on the couch; "Kisses, and thinks he feels her lips grow warm: "Applies his lips again, and with his hand "Presses her bosom: prest the ivory yields, "Softening beneath his fingers; nor remains "Its rigid harshness. So Hymettus' wax "Yields to the heat, when tempering thumbs it mould "In various forms; and fit for future use. "Astonish'd now he joys with trembling soul, "But fears deception; then he loves again, "And with his hands again his wishes proves: "'Twas flesh, the prest pulse leap'd beneath his thumb. "Then did the Cyprian youth, in words most full "Of gratitude and love, to Venus pray. "Then to her living lips his lips he join'd, "And then the damsel felt his warm salute: "Blushing she felt it, and her timid eyes "Op'd to the light, and with the light beheld "Her lover. Venus bless'd the match she made; "And when nine times the moon's full orb was seen "Sharpen'd to horns, the damsel Paphos bore; "Whose appellation oft the isle receives.

"She Cinyras too bore; if childless he "A place amongst the happiest might he claim. "A direful song I sing! be distant far "Ye daughters; distant far, O, parents be! "Or if of pleasure to your minds my verse "Aught gives, in this at least my truth suspect. "Believe the deed not: if you must believe, "Mark well the punishment the crime deserv'd. "Since nature could such heinous deeds permit; "The Thracian realms, my land, I 'gratulate; "And joy this clime at such a distance lies, "From that which could such monstrous acts produce. "Let Araby be in amomum rich; "And cinnamon, and zedoary produce; "Incense which through the wood exudes; and flowers "Of vary'd teints,--while Myrrha too it bears: "Too great the price which this new tree procur'd. "Cupid denies, O Myrrha! that his darts "Thee wounded; vindicating from that crime "His weapons. Thee, with Stygian torch most fierce, "And viperous venom furies did enflame. "Wicked to hate thy parent sure had been, "But thus to love is worse than bitterest hate. "The choicest nobles come from every part "To gain thee; youths from all the East arrive, "To struggle for thy hand. Chuse, Myrrha, chuse "One from the crowd: one only in the world "Whom chuse thou may'st not. She herself perceiv'd, "And curb'd the baneful passion in her mind; "Communing thus:--Ah! whither rove my thoughts? "What meditate I? O, ye gods! I pray, "O piety, O parents' sacred laws, "Forbid this wicked act; oppose a deed "So full of horrid guilt,--if guilt it be! "But pious nature ne'er such love condemns. "All animals in undistinguish'd form "Cohabit: shame the heifer never feels "Join'd with her sire; the steed his daughter takes "As partner; with the female flock, who ow'd "To him their being, couples oft the goat; "And birds bring forth to birds who them produc'd. "Blest those who thus enjoy; but human race "Perversest laws invents: vexatious rules "Forbid what nature grants. Yet am I told, "Nations exist, where mother joins with son, "And daughter with her sire; their pious love "Increas'd more strongly by the double bond. "Ah, me! unhappy, in such glorious climes "Begotten not; I suffer but from place. "But why on these ideas dwell? hence far "Forbidden hopes. Well he deserves thy love, "But as a father love him. Wert thou not "Of mighty Cinyras the daughter, then "Thou might'st the couch of Cinyras ascend. "Now mine he is so much, he is not mine; "Our very nearness is my greatest curse: "More close, a perfect stranger had I been. "Far hence I would depart; my country leave, "This mischief flying; but curs'd love restrains. "For, present, Cinyras I may behold; "Touch, speak, my kisses to his face apply, "If nought he'll grant beyond. How! impious maid, "Dar'st thou hope ought beyond? perceiv'st thou not "What laws, what names thou would'st confound? would'st thou "The mother's rival be?--thy father's whore? "Thy offspring's sister would'st thou then be call'd? "Thy brother's parent? Fear'st thou not the three, "Whose locks with sable serpents horrid curl? "Who conscious bosoms pierce with searching eyes, "And hurl their furious torches in the face? "While yet thy body can resist, no more "Cherish the heinous guilt thus in thy mind; "Nor violate great Nature's sacred law "With lust forbidden. Grant I should consent, "The king would me deny: too pious he, "Too dear to him the law. O, that in him "Such furious passion rag'd as burns in me!--

"She ended; Cinyras, the worthy crowd "Of suitors held in doubt; herself he ask'd, "As name by name he counted, which as spouse "She most would wish. Silent at first she stood, "Then burning gaz'd on his paternal face, "As the warm tears gush'd in her shining eyes. "These, Cinyras effects of virgin fear "Believing, chid her and forbade to weep. "Drying her cheeks, he on them press'd a kiss; "With too much pleasure she the kiss receiv'd: "And when consulted what the spouse must be "She would prefer, she answer'd,--one like you.-- "He witless of her meaning, prais'd her words, "And said,--be such thy pious duty still-- "The sound of piety the virgin's eyes, "With sense of guilt, cast conscious to the ground.