Page:Ovid's Metamorphoses (Vol. 1) - tr Garth, Dryden, et. al. (1727).djvu/137

Then sought out Envy in her dark Abode,
Defil'd with ropy Gore and Clots of Blood:
Shut from the Winds and from the wholesome Skies,
In a deep Vale the gloomy Dungeon lies,
Dismal and Cold, where not a Beam of Light
Invades the Winter, or disturbs the Night.
⁠Directly to the Cave her Course she steer'd;⁠$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$
Against the Gates her martial Lance she rear'd;
The Gates flew open, and the Fiend appear'd.
A pois'nous Morsel in her Teeth she chew'd,
And gorg'd the Flesh of Vipers for her Food.
Minerva loathing turn'd away her Eye;
The hideous Monster, rising heavily,
Came stalking forward with a sullen Pace,
And left her mangled Offals on the Place.
Soon as she saw the Goddess gay and bright,
She fetch'd a Groan at such a chearful Sight.
Livid and meagre were her Looks, her Eye
In foul distorted Glances turn'd awry;
A Hoard of Gall her inward Parts possess'd,
And spread a Greenness o'er her canker'd Breast;
Her Teeth were brown with Rust, and from her Tongue
In Dangling Drops, the stringy Poison hung.
She never smiles but when the Wretched weep,
Nor lulls her Malice with a Moment's Sleep,
Restless in Spite: while watchful to destroy,
She pines and sickens at another's Joy;
Foe to herself, distressing and distrest,
She bears her own Tormenter in her Breast.
The Goddess gave (for she abhorr'd her Sight)
A short Command: "To Athens speed thy Flight;
"On curst Aglauros try thy utmost Art,
"And fix thy rankest Venoms in her Heart.
This said, her Spear she push'd against the Ground,
And mounting from it with an active Bound,

Flew