HKB
mortal pleasure approving. Thee could Thetis inarm, most beauteous Ocean-daughter? Tethys adopt thee, her own dear grandchild's wooer usurping? Ocean, who earth's vast globe with a watery girdle inorbeth? 30
When the delectable hour those days did fully determine, Straightway then in crowds all Thessaly flock'd to the palace, Thronging hosts uncounted, a company joyous approaching. Many a gift they carry, delight their faces illumines. Left is Scyros afar, and Phthia's bowery Tempe, 35 Vacant Crannon's homes, unvisited high Larisa, Towards Pharsalia's halls, Pharsalia's only they hie them.
Bides no tiller afield; necks soften of oxen in idlesse; Feel not a prong'd crook'd hoe lush vines all weedily trailing; Tears no steer deep clods with a downward coulter unearthed; 40 Prunes no hedger's bill broad-verging verdurous arbours; Steals a deforming rust on ploughs left rankly to moulder.
But that sovran abode, each sumptuous inly retiring Chamber, aflame with gold, with silver is all resplendent; Thrones gleam ivory-white; cup-crown'd blaze brightly the tables; 45 All the domain with treasure of empery gaudily flushes.
There, set deeply within the remotest centre, a bridal Bed doth a goddess inarm; smooth ivory glossy from Indies, Robed in roseate hues, rich seashells' purple adorning.
It was a broidery freak'd with tissue of images olden, 50 One whose curious art did blazon valour of heroes. Gazing forth from a beach of Dia the billow-resounding, Look'd on a vanish'd fleet, on Theseus quickly departing, Restless in unquell'd passion, a feverous heart, Ariadne. Scarcely her eyes yet seem their seeming clearly to vision. 55 You might guess that arous'd from slumber's drowsy betrayal, Sand-engirded, alone, then first she knew desolation. He the betrayer--his oars with fugitive hurry the waters Beat, each promise of old to the winds given idly to bear them.
Him from amid shore-weeds doth Minos' daughter, in anguish 60 Rigid, a Bacchant-form, dim-gazing stonily follow, Stonily still, wave-tost on a sea of troublous affliction. Holds not her yellow locks the tiara's feathery tissue; Veils not her hidden breast light brede of drapery woven; Binds not a cincture smooth her bosom's orbed emotion. 65 Widely from each fair limb that footward-fallen apparel Drifts its lady before, in billowy salt loose-playing.
Not for silky tiara nor amice gustily floating Recks she at all any more; thee, Theseus, ever her earnest Heart, all clinging thought, all chained fancy requireth. 70 Ah unfortunate! whom with miseries ever crazing, Thorns in her heart deep planted, affray'd Erycina to madness, From that earlier hour, when fierce for victory Theseus Started alert from a beach deep-inleted of Piræus, Gain'd Gortyna's abode, injurious halls of oppression. 75
Once, 'tis sung in stories, a dire distemper atoning Death of an ill-blest prince, Androgeos, angrily slaughter'd, Taxed of her youthful array, her maidenly bloom fresh-glowing, Feast to the monster bull, Cecropia, ransom-laden. Then, when a plague so deadly, the garrison undermining, 80 Spent that slender city, his Athens dearly to rescue, Sooner life Theseus and precious body did offer, Ere his country to Crete freight corpses, a life in seeming. So with a ship fast-fleeted, a gale blown gently behind him, Push'd he his onward journey to Minos' haughty dominion. 85
Him for very delight when a virgin fondly desiring Gazed on, a royal virgin, in odours silkily nestled, Pure from a maiden's couch, from a mother's pillowy bosom, Like some myrtle, anear Eurotas' water arising, Like earth's myriad hues, spring's progeny, rais'd to the breezes; 90 Droop'd not her eyes their gaze unquenchable, ever-burning Save when in each charm'd limb to the depths enfolded, a sudden Flame blazed hotly within her, in all her marrow abiding.