Page:Ovid's Metamorphoses (Vol. 1) - tr Garth, Dryden, et. al. (1727).djvu/252

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170
Ovid's Metamorphoses.
Book 6.

Next she design'd Asteria's fabled Rape,
When Jove assum'd a soaring Eagle's Shape:
And shew'd how Leda lay supinely press'd,
Whilst the soft snowy Swan sate hov'ring o'er her Breast.
How in a Satyr's Form the God beguil'd,
When fair Antiope with Twins he fill'd.
Then, like Amphytrion, but a real Jove
In fair Alcmena's Arms he cool'd his Love.
In fluid Gold to Danae's Heart he came,
Ægina felt him in a lambent Flame.
He took Mnemosynè in Shepherd's Make,
And for Dëois was a speckled Snake.
She made thee, Neptune, like a wanton Steer,
Pacing the Meads for Love of Arnè dear;
Next like a Stream, thy burning Flame to slake,
And like a Ram, for fair Bisaltis' sake.
Then Ceres in a Steed your Vigour try'd,
Nor cou'd the Mare the yellow Goddess hide.
Next to a Fowl transform'd, you won by Force
The Snake-hair'd Mother of the winged Horse;
And, in a Dolphin's fishy Form, subdu'd
Melantho sweet beneath the oozy Flood.
All these the Maid with lively Features drew,
And open'd proper Landskips to the View.
There Phœbus, roving like a Country Swain,
Attunes his jolly Pipe along the Plain;
For lovely Isse's sake in Shepherd's Weeds,
O'er Pastures green his bleating Flock he feeds.
There Bacchus, imag'd like the clust'ring Grape.
Melting bedrops Erigonè's fair Lap;
And there old Saturn, stung with youthful Heat,
Form'd like a Stallion, rushes to the Fate.
Fresh Flow'rs, which Twists of Ivy intertwine,
Mingling a running Foliage, close the neat Design.
This the bright Goddess, passionately mov'd,
With Envy saw, yet inwardly approv'd.

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