Her varied Members to a Fluid melt,
A pliant Softness in her Bones is felt,
Her wavy Locks first drop away in Dew,
And liquid next her slender Fingers grew.
The Body's Change soon seizes its Extreme,
Her Legs dissolve, and Feet flow off in Stream,
Her Arms, her Back, her Shoulders, and her Side,
Her swelling Breasts in little Currents glide.
A Silver Liquor only now remains
Within the Channel of her purple Veins;
Nothing to fill Love's Grasp; her Husband chaste
Bathes in that Bosom he before embrac'd.
A Boy transform'd to an Eft.
Thus, while thro' all the Earth, and all the Main,
Her Daughter mournful Ceres sought in vain;
Aurora, when with dewy Locks she rose,
Nor burnish'd Vesper found her in Repose.
At Ætna's flaming Mouth two pitchy Pines
To light her in her Search at length she tines.
Restless with these, thro' frosty Night she goes,
Nor fears the cutting Winds, nor heeds the Snows;
And, when the Morning-Star the Day renews,
From East to West her absent Child pursues.
Thirsty at last by long Fatigue she grows,
But meets no Spring, no Riv'let near her flows.
Then looking round, a lowly Cottage spies,
Smoaking among the Trees, and thither hies.
The Goddess knocking at the little Door,
'Twas open'd by a Woman old and poor,
Who, when she begg'd for Water, gave her Ale
Brew'd long, but well preserv'd from being stale,
The Goddess drank; a chuffy Lad was by,
Who saw the Liquor with a grutching Eye,
And grinning cries, She's greedy more than dry.
