Page:Ovid's Metamorphoses (Vol. 2) - tr Garth, Dryden, et. al. (1727).djvu/99

Fir'd with this Thought, at once he strain'd the Breast,
And on the Lips a burning Kiss impress'd.
'Tis true, the hardned Breast resists the Gripe,
And the cold Lips return a Kiss unripe:
But when, retiring back, he look'd again,
To think it Iv'ry, was a Thought too mean:
So, wou'd believe she kiss'd and courting more,
Again embrac'd her naked Body o'er;
And straining hard the Statue, was afraid
His Hands had made a Dint, and hurt his Maid:
Explor'd her Limb by Limb, and fear'd to find
So rude a Gripe had left a livid Mark behind:
With Flatt'ry now he seeks her Mind to move,
And now with Gifts, (the pow'rful Bribes of Love:)
He furnishes her Closet first and fills
The crowded Shelves with rarities of Shells;
Adds Orient Pearls, which from the Conchs he drew,
And all the sparkling Stones of various Hue:
And Parrots, imitating Human Tongue,
And Singing-birds in Silver Cages hung;
And ev'ry fragrant Flow'r, and od'rous Green
Were sorted well, with Lumps of Amber laid between:
Rich fashionable Robes her Person deck,
Pendants her Ears, and Pearls adorn her Neck:
Her taper'd Fingers too with Rings are grac'd,
And an embroider'd Zone surrounds her slender Waste.
Thus like a Queen array'd, so richly dress'd,
Beauteous she show'd, but naked shew'd the best.
Then, from the Floor, he rais'd a Royal Bed,
With Cov'rings of Sydonian Purple spread:
The solemn Rites perform'd, he calls his Bride,
With Blandishments invites her to his Side;
And as she were with vital Sense possess'd,
Her Head did on a plumy Pillow rest.
The Feast of Venus came, a solemn Day,
To which the Cypriots due Devotion pay;