PSYCHE
:
or
the
GREAT
METAMORPHOSIS
.
A
POEM
,
written
in
Imitation
of
SPENSER
,
I.
WHERE
early
Phoebus
sheds
his
milder
beams
,
The
happy
gardens
of
Adonis
lay
:
There
Time
,
well
pleas'd
to
wonne
,
a
youth
beseems
.
Ne
yet
his
wings
were
fledg'd
,
ne
locks
were
grey
;
Round
him
in
sweet
accord
the
Seasons
play
With
fruits
and
blossoms
meint
,
in
goodly
gree
;
And
dancing
hand
in
hand
rejoice
the
lea
.
Sick
gardens
now
no
mortal
wight
can
see
,
Ne
mote
they
in
my
simple
verse
descriven
be
.
II
.
The
temper'd
clime
full
many
a
tree
affords
;
Those
many
trees
blush
forth
with
ripen'd
fruite
;
The
blushing
fruite
to
feast
invites
the
birds
;
The
birds
with
plenteous
feasts
their
strength
recruite
;
And
warble
songs
more
sweet
than
shepherd's
flute
.
The
gentle
stream
that
roll'd
the
stones
among
,
Charm'd
with
the
place
,
almost
forgot
its
suite
;
But
list'ning
and
responding
to
the
song
,
Loit'ring
,
and
winding
often
,
murmured
elong
.
III
.
Here
Panacea
,
here
Nepenthe
grew
,
Here
Polygon
,
and
each
ambrosial
weed
;
Whose
vertues
could
decayed
health
renew
,
And
,
answering
exhausted
nature's
need
,
Mote
eath
a
mortal
to
immortal
feed
.
Here
lives
Adonis
in
unfading
youth
;
Celestial
Venus
grants
him
that
rich
meed
,
And
him
successive
evermore
renew'th
,
In
recompence
for
all
his
faithful
love
and
truth
,
IV
.
Not
she
,
I
ween
,
the
wanton
queen
of
love
,
All
buxom
as
the
waves
from
whence
she
rose
,
With
her
twin
sons
,
who
idly
round
her
rove
,
One
Eros
hight
,
the
other
Anteros
;
Albeit
brothers
,
different
as
foes
:
This
sated
,
sullen
,
apt
for
bickerment
;
That
hungry
,
eager
,
fit
for
derring-does
.
That
flies
before
,
with
scorching
flames
ybrent
;
This
foll'wing
douts
those
flames
with
peevish
discontent
.
V.
Celestial
Venus
does
such
ribaulds
shun
,
Ne
dare
they
in
her
purlues
to
be
seen
;
But
Cupid's
torch
,
fair
mother's
fairest
son
,
Shines
with
a
steady
unconsuming
sheen
;
Not
fierce
,
yet
bright
,
coldness
and
rage
between
.
The
backs
of
lyons
fellonest
he
strod
;
And
lyons
tamely
did
themselves
amene
;
On
nature's
wild
full
sov'reignly
he
rod
;
Wild
natures
,
chang'd
,
confess'd
the
mild
puissant
god
.
VI
.
A
beauteous
Fay
,
or
heav'n-descended
spright
,
Sprung
from
her
sire
,
withouten
female's
aid
,
(
As
erst
Minerva
did
)
and
Psyche
hight
,
In
that
inclosure
happy
sojourn
made
.
No
art
some
heel'd
uncomelyness
betray'd
,
But
nature
wrought
her
many-colour'd
stole
;
Ne
tarnish'd
like
an
Aethiopian
maid
,
Scorch'd
with
the
suns
that
ore
her
beauties
roll
;
Ne
faded
like
the
dames
who
bleach
beneath
the
pole
.
VII
.
Nor
shame
,
nor
pride
of
borrow'd
substance
wrought
Her
gay
embroidery
and
ornament
:
But
she
who
gave
the
gilded
insect's
coat
Spun
the
soft
silk
,
and
spread
the
various
teint
:
The
gilded
insect's
colours
yet
were
feint
To
those
which
nature
for
this
fairy
wove
.
Our
grannums
thus
with
diff'rent
dies
besprent
,
Adorn'd
in
naked
majesty
the
grove
,
Charm'd
our
great
sires
,
and
warm'd
our
frozen
clime
to
love
,
VIII
.
On
either
side
,
and
all
adown
her
back
,
With
many
a
ring
at
equal
distance
plac'd
,
Contrary
to
the
rest
,
was
heben
black
,
With
shades
of
green
,
quick
changing
as
she
pass'd
,
All
were
on
ground-work
of
bright
gold
orecast
.
The
black
gave
livelood
to
the
greenish
hue
,
The
green
still
deep'd
the
heben
ore
it
lac'd
;
The
gold
,
that
peep'd
atween
and
then
withdrew
,
Gave
lustre
to
them
both
,
and
charm'd
the
wond'ring
view
.
IX
.
It
seem'd
like
arras
,
wrought
with
cunning
skill
,
Where
kindly
meddle
colours
,
light
,
and
shade
;
Here
flows
the
flood
;
there
rising
wood
or
hill
Breaks
off
its
course
;
gay
verdure
dies
the
mead
.
The
stream
,
depeinten
by
the
glitt'rand
braid
,
Emong
the
hills
now
winding
seems
to
hide
;
Now
shines
unlook'd
for
thro'
the
op'ning
glade
,
Now
in
full
torrent
pours
its
golden
tyde
;
Hills
,
woods
,
and
meads
refresh'd
,
rejoicing
by
its
side
.
X.
Her
Cupid
lov'd
,
whom
Psyche
lov'd
again
.
He
,
like
her
parent
and
her
belamour
,
Sought
how
she
mote
in
sickerness
remain
,
From
all
malengine
safe
,
and
evil
stour
.
"
Go
tender
cosset
,
said
he
,
forray
ore
"
These
walks
and
lawnds
;
thine
all
these
buskets
are
;
"
Thine
ev'ry
shrub
,
thine
ev'ry
fruite
and
flower
:
"
But
oh
!
I
charge
thee
,
love
,
the
rose
forbear
;
'
For
prickles
sharp
do
arm
the
dang'rous
rosiere
.
XI
.
"
Prickles
will
pain
,
and
pain
will
banish
love
:
"
I
charge
thee
,
Psyche
,
then
the
rose
forbear
.
"
When
faint
and
sick
,
thy
languors
to
remove
,
"
To
yon
ambrosial
shrubs
and
plants
repair
;
"
Thou
weetest
not
what
med'cines
in
them
are
:
"
What
wonders
follow
their
repeated
use
"
N'ote
thy
weak
sense
conceive
,
should
I
declare
;
"
Their
labour'd
balm
,
and
well-concocted
juice
,
"
New
life
,
new
forms
,
new
thews
,
new
joys
,
new
worlds
produce
.
XII
.
"
Thy
term
of
tryal
past
with
constancy
,
"
That
wimpling
slough
shall
fall
like
filth
away
;
"
On
pinions
broad
,
uplifted
to
the
sky
,
"
Thou
shalt
,
astert
,
thy
stranger
self
survey
.
"
Together
,
Psyche
,
will
we
climb
and
play
;
"
Together
wander
through
the
fields
of
air
,
"
Beyond
where
suns
and
moons
mete
night
and
day
,
"
I
charge
thee
,
O
my
love
,
the
rose
forbear
,
"
If
thou
wouldst
scathe
avoid
.
Psyche
,
forewarn'd
,
beware
!
"
XIII
.
"
How
sweet
thy
words
to
my
enchanted
ear
!
(
With
grateful
,
modest
confidence
she
said
)
"
If
Cupid
speak
,
I
could
for
ever
hear
:
"
Trust
me
,
my
love
,
thou
shalt
be
well
obey'd
.
"
What
rich
purveyance
for
me
hast
thou
made
,
"
The
prickly
rose
alone
denied
!
the
rest
"
In
full
indulgence
giv'n
!
'twere
to
upbraid
"
To
doubt
compliance
with
this
one
request
:
"
How
small
,
and
yet
how
kind
,
Cupid
,
is
thy
beheast
!
XIV
.
"
And
is
that
kindness
made
an
argument
"
To
raise
me
still
to
higher
scenes
of
bliss
?
"
Is
the
acceptance
of
thy
goodness
meant
"
Merit
in
me
for
farther
happiness
?
"
No
merit
and
no
argument
,
I
wiss
,
"
Is
there
besides
in
me
unworthy
maid
:
"
Thy
gift
the
very
love
I
bear
thee
is
.
"
Trust
me
,
my
love
,
thou
shalt
be
well
obey'd
;
"
To
doubt
compliance
here
,
Cupid
,
were
to
upbraid
.
"
XV.
Withouten
counterfesance
thus
she
spoke
;
Unweeting
of
her
frailty
.
Light
uprose
Cupid
on
easy
wings
:
yet
tender
look
,
And
oft
reverted
eye
on
her
bestows
;
Fearful
,
but
not
distrustful
of
her
vows
.
And
mild
regards
she
back
reflects
on
him
:
With
aching
eye
pursues
him
as
he
goes
;
With
aching
heart
marks
each
diminish'd
limb
;
Till
indistinct
,
diffus'd
,
and
lost
in
air
he
seem
.
XVI
.
He
went
to
set
the
watches
of
the
east
,
That
none
mote
rush
in
with
the
tyde
of
wind
:
He
went
to
Venus
to
make
fond
request
From
fleshly
ferm
to
loosen
Psyche's
mind
,
And
her
eftsoons
transmew
.
She
forelore
pin'd
;
And
mov'd
for
solace
to
the
glassy
lake
,
To
view
the
charms
that
had
his
heart
entwin'd
.
She
saw
,
and
blush'd
and
smil'd
;
then
inly
spake
:
'
These
charms
I
cannot
chuse
but
love
,
for
Cupid's
sake
.
"
XVII
.
But
sea-born
Venus
'gan
with
envy
stir
At
bruite
of
their
great
happiness
;
and
sought
How
she
might
wreak
her
spight
:
then
call'd
to
her
Her
sons
,
and
op'd
what
rankled
in
her
thought
;
Asking
who'd
venture
ore
the
mounds
to
vau't
To
breed
them
scathe
unwares
;
to
damp
the
joy
Of
blissful
Venus
,
or
to
bring
to
nought
The
liefest
purpose
of
her
darling
boy
,
Or
urge
them
both
their
minion
Psyche
to
destroy
.
XVIII
.
Eros
recul'd
,
and
noul'd
the
work
atchieve
.
"
Behold
is
th'
attempt
,
said
he
,
averse
from
love
:
"
If
love
inspires
I
could
derreign
to
reave
"
His
spear
from
Mars
,
his
levin-brond
from
Jove
.
"
Him
Anteros
,
sneb'd
surly
.
"
Galless
dove
!
"
Than
love's
,
spight's
mightier
prowess
understond
:
"
If
spight
inspires
I
dare
all
dangers
prove
:
"
And
if
successful
,
stand
the
levin-brond
,
"
When
hurlen
angry
forth
from
Jove's
avenging
hond
.
"
XIX
.
He
said
,
and
deffly
t'wards
the
gardens
flew
;
Horribly
smiling
at
his
foul
emprise
.
When
,
nearer
still
and
nearer
as
he
drew
,
Unsufferable
brightness
wounds
his
eyes
Forth
beaming
from
the
crystal
walls
;
he
tries
Arrear
to
move
,
averted
from
the
blaze
.
But
now
no
longer
the
pure
aether
buoys
.
His
grosser
body's
disproportion'd
peaze
;
Down
drops
,
plumb
from
his
tow'ring
path
,
the
treachor
base
.
XX
.
So
ore
Avernus
,
or
the
Lucrine
lake
,
The
wistless
bird
pursues
his
purpos'd
flight
:
Whether
by
vapours
noy'd
that
thenceforth
break
,
Or
else
deserted
by
an
air
too
light
,
Down
tumbles
the
fowl
headlong
from
his
height
.
So
Anteros
astonied
fell
to
ground
,
Provok'd
,
but
not
accoid
at
his
straunge
plight
.
He
rose
,
and
wending
coasts
it
round
and
round
To
find
unguarded
pass
,
hopeless
to
leap
the
mound
.
XXI
.
As
on
the
margin
of
a
stream
he
stood
,
Slow
rolling
from
that
paradise
within
,
A
snake's
out-case
untenanted
he
view'd
:
Seizing
the
spoil
,
albeit
it
worthless
been
,
He
darts
himself
into
the
vacant
skin
.
In
borrow'd
gear
,
th'
exulting
losel
glides
,
Whose
faded
hues
with
joy
flush
bright
again
;
Triumphant
ore
the
buoyant
flood
he
rides
;
And
shoots
th'
important
gulph
,
borne
on
the
gentle
tydes
.
XXII
.
So
shone
the
brazen
gates
of
Babylon
;
Armies
in
vain
her
muniments
assail
:
So
strong
,
no
engines
could
them
batter
down
:
So
high
,
no
ladders
could
the
ramparts
scale
;
So
flank'd
with
tow'rs
,
besiegers
n'ote
avail
;
So
wide
,
sufficient
harvests
they
enclose
:
But
where
might
yields
,
there
stratagems
prevail
.
Faithless
Euphrates
thro'
the
city
flows
,
And
thro'
his
channel
pours
the
unexpected
foes
.
XXIII
.
He
sails
along
in
many
a
wanton
spire
;
Now
floats
at
length
,
now
proudly
rears
his
crest
:
His
sparkling
eyes
and
scales
,
instinct
with
fire
,
With
splendor
as
he
moves
,
the
waves
ore
kest
:
And
the
waves
gleam
beneath
his
flaming
breast
.
As
through
the
battle
,
set
in
full
array
,
When
the
sun
walks
in
radiant
brightness
dress'd
;
His
beams
that
on
the
burnish'd
helmets
play
,
The
burnish'd
helms
reflect
,
and
spread
unusual
day
.
XXIV
.
So
on
he
fares
,
and
stately
wreaths
about
,
In
semblaunce
like
a
seraph
glowing
bright
;
But
without
terror
flash'd
his
lightning
out
,
More
to
be
wonder'd
at
,
than
to
affright
.
The
backward
stream
soon
led
the
masker
right
To
the
broad
lake
,
where
hanging
ore
the
flood
(
Narcissus
like
,
enamour'd
with
the
sight
Of
his
own
beauties
)
the
fond
Psyche
stood
,
To
mitigate
the
pains
of
lonely
widowhood
.
XXV
.
Unkenn'd
of
her
,
he
raught
th'
embroider'd
bank
;
And
through
the
tangled
flourets
west
aside
To
where
a
rosiere
by
the
river
dank
,
Luxuriant
grew
in
all
its
blowing
pride
,
Not
far
from
Psyche
;
arm'd
with
scaly
hide
He
clamb
the
thorns
,
which
no
impression
make
;
His
glitt'ring
length
,
with
all
its
folds
untied
,
Plays
floating
ore
the
bush
:
then
silence
brake
,
And
thus
the
nymph
,
astonish'd
at
his
speech
,
bespake
.
XXVI
.
"
O
fairest
,
and
most
excellent
compleat
"
In
all
perfections
,
sov'reign
queen
of
nature
!
"
The
whole
creation
bowing
at
thy
feet
"
Submissive
pays
thee
homage
!
wond'rous
creature
,
"
If
aught
created
thou
!
for
every
feature
"
Speaks
thee
a
goddess
issued
from
the
skie
;
"
Oh
!
let
not
me
offend
,
unbidden
waiter
,
"
At
aweful
distance
gazing
thus
!
But
why
"
Should
gazing
thus
offend
?
or
how
unbidden
I
?
XXVII
,
"
The
sun
that
wakes
those
flourets
from
their
beds
,
"
Or
opes
these
buds
by
his
soft
influence
,
"
Is
not
offended
that
they
peep
their
heads
,
"
And
shew
they
feel
his
pow'r
by
their
quick
sense
,
"
Off'ring
at
his
command
,
their
sweet
incense
;
"
Thus
I
,
drawn
here
,
by
thy
enliv'ning
rays
,
"
(
Call
not
intrusion
my
obedience
!
)
"
Perforce
,
yet
willing
thrall
,
am
come
to
gaze
,
"
To
pay
my
homage
meet
,
and
bask
in
beauty's
blaze
.
"
XXVIII
.
Amaz'd
she
stood
,
nor
could
recover
soon
:
From
contemplation
suddenly
abraid
:
Starting
at
speech
unusual
:
yet
the
tune
Struck
sootly
on
her
ear
,
and
concert
made
With
her
own
thoughts
.
Nor
with
less
pleasure
stray'd
Her
eyes
delighted
o'er
his
glossy
skin
;
Yet
frighted
at
the
thorn
on
which
he
play'd
:
Pleasure
with
horror
mixt
!
she
hung
between
Suspended
;
yields
,
recoils
,
uncertain
where
to
lin
.
XXIX
.
At
length
she
spoke
:
"
Reptile
,
no
charms
I
know
"
Such
as
you
mention
:
yet
whate'er
they
are
,
"
(
And
nill
I
lessen
what
the
gods
bestow
)
"
Their
is
the
gift
,
and
be
the
tribute
their
!
"
For
them
these
beauties
I
improve
with
care
,
"
Intent
to
them
alone
from
eve
to
morn
.
"
But
reed
me
,
reptile
,
whence
this
wonder
rare
,
"
That
thou
hast
speech
,
as
if
to
reason
born
?
"
And
how
,
unhurt
you
sport
on
that
forbidden
thorn
?
"
XXX
.
"
Say
,
why
forbidden
thorn
?
the
foe
replied
:
"
To
every
reptile
,
every
insect
free
,
"
Has
malice
harsh
to
thee
alone
denied
"
The
fragrance
of
the
rose
enjoy'd
by
me
?
"
"
—
'Twas
love
,
not
malice
,
form'd
the
kind
decree
,
Half-wroth
,
she
cried
:
)
"
Thine
all
these
buskets
are
,
"
Thine
fruit
and
flow'r
,
were
Cupid's
words
to
me
:
"
But
oh
?
I
charge
thee
,
love
,
the
rose
forbear
;
"
For
prickles
sharp
do
arm
the
dang'rous
rosiere
.
XXXI
.
"
Prickles
will
pain
,
and
pain
will
banish
love
:
"
I
charge
thee
,
Psyche
,
then
the
rose
forbear
.
"
When
faint
and
sick
,
thy
languors
to
remove
,
"
To
yon
ambrosial
shrubs
,
and
plants
repair
;
"
Thou
weetest
not
what
med'cines
in
them
are
.
"
What
wonders
follow
their
repeated
use
"
N'ote
thy
weak
sense
conceive
,
should
I
declare
:
"
Their
labour'd
balm
,
and
well-concocted
juice
,
"
New
life
,
new
forms
,
new
thews
,
new
joys
,
new
worlds
"
produce
.
XXXII
.
"
Thy
term
of
tryal
past
with
constancy
,
"
Thy
wimpling
slough
shall
fall
like
filth
away
;
"
On
pinions
broad
up-lifted
to
the
skie
,
"
Thou
shalt
,
astert
,
thy
stranger
self
survey
.
"
Together
,
Psyche
,
will
we
climb
and
play
;
"
Together
wander
through
the
fields
of
air
,
"
Beyond
where
suns
and
moons
mete
night
and
day
.
"
I
charge
thee
,
O
my
love
,
the
rose
forbear
,
"
If
thou
wouldst
scathe
avoid
,
Psyche
,
forewarn'd
,
beware
!
"
XXXIII
.
Out
burst
the
frannion
into
open
laugh
:
She
blush'd
,
and
frown'd
at
his
uncivil
mirth
.
Then
,
soften'd
to
a
smile
,
as
hiding
half
What
mote
offend
if
boldly
utter'd
forth
,
He
seem'd
t'
assay
to
give
his
answer
birth
:
But
stop'd
;
and
chang'd
his
smiles
to
looks
of
ruth
,
"
Is
this
(
quoth
he
)
fit
guerdon
for
thy
worth
?
"
Does
Cupid
thus
impose
upon
thy
youth
?
"
Dwells
then
in
heav'n
such
envy
,
void
of
love
and
truth
?
XXXIV
.
"
Is
this
the
instance
of
his
tenderness
,
"
To
envy
Psyche
what
to
worms
is
given
?
"
To
cut
her
off
from
present
happiness
"
With
feign'd
reversion
of
a
promis'd
heav'n
?
"
By
threat'nings
false
from
true
enjoyments
driven
!
"
How
innocent
the
thorn
to
touch
,
he
knows
:
"
Where
are
my
wounds
?
or
where
th'
avenging
levin
?
"
How
softly
blush
these
colours
of
the
rose
?
"
How
sweet
(
and
div'd
into
the
flow'r
)
its
fragrance
flows
?
XXXV.
"
Disadvantageous
are
thy
terms
of
tryal
;
"
No
longer
Psyche
then
the
rose
forbear
.
"
What
is
to
recompence
the
harsh
denyal
,
"
But
dreams
of
wand'ring
thro'
the
fields
of
air
.
"
And
joys
,
I
know
not
what
,
I
know
not
where
!
"
As
eath
,
on
leafy
pinions
borne
the
tree
"
Mote
rush
into
the
skies
,
and
flutter
there
,
"
As
thou
soar
yon
,
and
quit
thy
due
degree
:
"
Thou
for
this
world
wert
made
:
this
world
was
made
for
thee
.
XXXVI.
"
In
vain
you'd
fly
to
yonder
shrubs
and
plants
;
"
Bitter
their
taste
,
and
worthless
their
effect
:
"
Here
is
the
polychrest
for
all
thy
wants
;
"
No
panacea
,
like
the
rose
,
expect
.
"
Mute
as
my
fellow-brutes
,
as
them
abject
"
And
reasonless
was
I
,
till
haply
woke
"
By
tasting
of
the
rose
,
(
O
weak
neglect
"
In
thee
the
while
!
)
the
dawn
of
sapience
broke
"
On
my
admiring
soul
,
I
reason'd
,
and
I
spoke
.
XXXVII
.
"
Nor
this
the
only
change
;
for
soon
I
found
"
The
brisker
spirits
flow
in
fuller
tyde
;
"
And
more
than
usual
lustre
spread
around
;
"
Such
virtue
has
the
rose
,
in
me
well
tried
.
"
But
wise
,
I
ween
,
thy
lover
has
denied
"
Its
use
to
thee
;
I
join
him
too
:
beware
"
The
dang'rous
rose
.
—
For
such
thy
beauty's
pride
"
'Twere
death
to
gaze
on
,
if
improv'd
!
—
Forbear
"
To
sharp
that
wit
,
too
keen
!
—
Touch
not
the
rosiere
.
"
XXXVIII
.
Uncheckt
,
indulg'd
,
her
growing
passions
rise
:
Wonder
,
to
see
him
safe
,
and
hear
his
telling
;
Ambition
vain
,
to
be
more
fair
and
wise
;
And
rage
,
at
Cupid's
misconceiv'd
false
dealing
:
Various
the
gusts
,
but
,
all
one
way
impelling
,
She
plung'd
into
the
bosom
of
the
tree
,
And
snatch'd
the
rose
,
no
dreaded
pain
or
quelling
.
Off
drops
the
snake
,
nor
farther
staid
to
see
;
But
rush'd
into
the
flood
,
and
vanish'd
presently
.
XXXIX
.
Full
many
a
thorn
her
tender
body
rent
;
Full
many
a
thorn
within
the
wounds
remain
,
And
throbbing
cause
continual
dreriment
:
While
gory
drops
her
dainty
form
distain
.
She
wishes
her
lost
innocence
again
,
And
her
lost
peace
,
lost
charms
,
lost
love
to
find
;
But
shame
upbraids
her
with
a
wish
so
vain
:
Despair
succeeded
,
and
aversion
blind
;
Pain
fills
her
tortur'd
sense
,
and
horror
clouds
her
mind
.
XL.
Her
bleeding
,
faint
,
disorder'd
,
woe-begon
,
Stretcht
on
the
bank
beside
the
fatal
thorn
,
Venus
who
came
to
seek
her
with
her
son
,
Beheld
.
She
stop'd
:
And
albe
heav'nly
born
,
Ruthful
of
others
woe
,
began
to
mourn
.
The
loss
of
Venus'
smiles
sick
nature
found
:
As
frost-nipt
drops
the
bloom
,
the
birds
forelorn
Sit
hush'd
,
the
faded
sun
spreads
dimness
round
;
The
clatt'ring
thunders
crash
,
and
earthquakes
rock
the
ground
.
XLI.
Then
arming
with
a
killing
frown
her
brow
;
"
Die
,
poor
unhappy
"
—
Cupid
suppliant
broke
Th'
unfinish'd
sentence
;
and
with
dueful
bow
Beg'd
her
to
doff
the
keenness
of
her
look
,
Which
nature
feeling
to
her
center
shook
.
"
Then
how
should
Psyche
bear
it
?
Spare
the
maid
;
"
'Tis
plain
that
Anteros
his
spight
has
wroke
;
"
Shall
vengeance
due
to
him
,
on
her
be
laid
?
"
Oh
!
let
me
run
,
and
reach
th'
ambrosial
balms
,
"
he
said
.
XLII.
"
Ah
what
would
Cupid
ask
?
"
the
queen
replies
;
"
Can
all
those
balms
restore
her
peace
again
?
"
Wouldst
thou
a
wretched
life
immortalize
;
"
Wouldst
thou
protract
by
potent
herbs
,
her
pain
?
"
Love
bids
her
die
:
thy
cruel
wish
restrain
—
"
Why
then
(
quoth
he
)
in
looms
of
fate
were
wove
"
The
lives
of
those
,
in
long
successive
train
,
"
From
her
to
spring
,
thro'
yon
bright
tracts
to
rove
?
"
Due
to
the
skyes
,
and
meant
to
shine
in
fields
above
?
XLIII
.
"
Say
,
would
thy
goodness
envy
them
the
light
"
Appointed
for
them
,
or
the
good
prevent
"
Foreseen
from
them
to
flow
?
eracing
quite
"
The
whole
creation
thro'
avengement
?
"
One
only
species
from
its
order
rent
,
"
The
whole
creation
shrivels
to
a
shade
.
—
"
—
Better
all
vanish'd
,
said
she
,
than
be
meint
"
In
wild
confusion
;
through
free
will
misled
,
"
And
tempted
to
go
wrong
from
punishment
delay'd
.
"
XLIV.
"
Let
me
that
exemplary
vengeance
bear
,
(
Benign
return'd
her
amiable
son
:
)
"
Justice
on
her
would
lose
its
aim
;
severe
"
In
vain
,
productive
of
no
good
;
for
none
"
Could
by
that
desolating
blow
be
won
.
"
So
falls
each
generous
purpose
of
the
will
"
Correct
,
extinguish'd
by
abortion
:
"
Whence
justice
would
its
own
intendments
spill
;
"
And
cut
off
virtue
,
by
the
stroke
meant
vice
to
kill
.
XLV.
"
Yet
lest
impunity
should
forehead
give
"
To
vice
,
in
me
let
guilt
adopted
find
"
A
victim
;
here
awhile
vouchsafe
me
live
"
Thy
proof
of
justice
,
mixt
with
mercy
kind
!
"
"
—
Oh
!
strange
request
(
quoth
she
)
of
pity
blind
!
"
How
shouldst
thou
suffer
,
who
didst
ne'er
offend
?
"
How
canst
thou
bear
to
be
from
me
disloin'd
?
"
To
wander
here
,
where
nature
'gins
to
wend
"
To
waste
and
wilderness
,
and
pleasures
have
an
end
?
"
XLVI.
"
You
,
Venus
,
suffer
,
(
said
she
)
when
you
strike
"
Not
for
your
own
,
but
others
foul
offence
:
"
Why
not
permitted
I
to
do
the
like
,
"
When
greater
good
,
I
see
,
will
coul
from
thence
?
"
That
greater
good
orepays
all
punishments
;
"
And
makes
my
suff'rings
,
pleasure
:
if
they
prove
"
A
means
to
conquer
Anteros
,
dispense
"
Healings
to
Psyche's
wounds
,
regain
her
love
,
"
And
lead
her
,
with
her
happy
sons
,
to
realms
above
.
"
XLVII.
"
To
thy
intreaties
Psyche's
life
I
give
,
(
Replied
th'
indulgent
mother
to
her
son
;
)
"
But
yet
deform'd
,
and
minish'd
let
her
live
;
"
'Till
thou
shalt
grant
a
better
change
foredone
;
"
Nor
shall
that
change
,
but
thro'
death
gates
be
won
.
"
This
meed
be
thine
,
ore
her
and
hers
to
reign
!
"
Already
Nature
puts
her
horrors
on
:
"
Away
!
—
I
to
my
bow'r
of
bliss
again
!
"
Thou
to
thy
task
of
love
,
and
voluntary
pain
.
"
XLVIII
.
She
went
;
and
like
a
shifted
stage
,
the
scene
Vanish'd
at
once
;
th'
ambrosial
plants
were
lost
;
The
jarring
seasons
brought
on
various
teen
;
Each
sought
,
each
seeking
,
each
by
other
crost
.
Young
spring
to
summer
flies
from
winter's
frost
;
While
sweltry
summer
thirsts
for
autumn's
bowl
,
Which
autumn
holds
to
winter
;
winter
tost
With
scorn
away
,
young
spring
inflames
his
soul
:
Still
craving
,
never
pleas'd
,
thus
round
and
round
they
roll
.
XLIX.
Th'
inclement
airs
bind
up
the
sluggish
soil
;
The
sluggish
soil
the
toilsome
hand
requires
;
Yet
thankless
pays
with
sour
harsh
fruits
the
toil
;
Ne
willing
yields
,
but
ragged
thorns
and
briers
.
Birds
,
birds
pursue
;
as
hunger's
rage
inspires
:
Their
sweetest
songs
are
now
but
songs
of
woe
.
Here
from
th'
encroaching
shore
the
wave
retires
:
There
hoarse
floods
roar
;
impetuous
torrents
flow
;
Invade
the
land
,
and
the
scarce
harvests
overthrow
.
L.
Stretcht
on
the
bank
eftsoons
th'
inviting
form
Of
Psyche
faded
;
brac'd
up
lank
and
slim
,
Her
dwindled
body
shrunk
into
a
worm
:
Her
make
new
moulded
,
chang'd
in
ev'ry
limb
;
Her
colours
only
left
,
all
pale
and
dim
:
Doom'd
in
her
caterpillar's
shape
to
lout
.
Her
passions
ill
such
worthless
thing
beseem
;
Pride
,
rage
,
and
vanity
to
banish
out
,
She
creeping
crawls
,
and
drags
a
loathsome
length
about
.
LI
.
How
Cupid
wash'd
her
noisome
filth
away
;
What
arts
he
tried
to
win
her
love
again
;
By
what
wiles
guileful
Ant'ros
did
assay
,
By
leasing
,
still
her
recreant
to
maintain
,
And
render
Cupid's
kindly
labours
vain
:
Their
combat
,
Cupid's
conquest
,
Psyche's
crown
,
(
My
day's
set
task
here
ended
)
must
remain
Unsung
;
far
nobler
verse
mote
they
renown
:
Unyoke
the
toiled
steers
,
the
weary
sun
goes
down
.