AMYNTAS.
103
The fond Amyntas, on the dreadful notice,
Sprung, like an arrow, to the maid's assistance
And I, with all my swiftness, followed him.
A sight we saw, shocking to generous natures:
We saw fair Sylvia fastened to a tree,
Naked, and bound with her luxuriant hair;
Her hair with many a knot the nymph confined.
Her zone, the guardian of her virgin bosom,
Was now an implement of violence;
And roughly manacled her lily-hands.
The tree's young shoots fettered her tender limbs.
This was not all; we saw before her standing
An ugly Satyr; who had just completed
His preparation of the beauteous victim.
Much the fair captive struggled; but in vain;
What could such weakness do against such strength!
Amyntas had a dart with which he flew,
Fierce as a hungry lion, to the Satyr:
I snatched up stones to fight the sylvan ruffian;
Who, seeing our enraged resistance, flew,
Sprung, like an arrow, to the maid's assistance
And I, with all my swiftness, followed him.
A sight we saw, shocking to generous natures:
We saw fair Sylvia fastened to a tree,
Naked, and bound with her luxuriant hair;
Her hair with many a knot the nymph confined.
Her zone, the guardian of her virgin bosom,
Was now an implement of violence;
And roughly manacled her lily-hands.
The tree's young shoots fettered her tender limbs.
This was not all; we saw before her standing
An ugly Satyr; who had just completed
His preparation of the beauteous victim.
Much the fair captive struggled; but in vain;
What could such weakness do against such strength!
Amyntas had a dart with which he flew,
Fierce as a hungry lion, to the Satyr:
I snatched up stones to fight the sylvan ruffian;
Who, seeing our enraged resistance, flew,
And
