had shown and spoken this, straightway the potent slayer of Argus went back to the tribes of the gods. But I have come to thee, and there was a strong necessity for me [to do so]. But I beseech thee by Jove and by thy excellent parents, (for no mean pair could have produced such a one [as thee],) leading me, untouched, and unskilled in love, show me to thy father, and to thy mother who is skilled in prudence, and to thy sisters, who are of the same race to them. I will not be an unworthy daughter-in-law to them, but such as is meet. Whether I shall in aught be an unworthy woman, or not so.[1] And send a messenger quickly to the swift-horsed Phrygians, to tell my sire and my mother, anxious as she must be. But they will send enough both of gold and of woven vesture; but do thou receive the many and glorious gifts. But doing this, celebrate the pleasant feast of nuptials honourable to men and to the immortal gods."
Thus having spoken, the goddess instilled sweet desire into his mind, and love seized Anchises, and he spoke, and addressed her: "If indeed thou art mortal, and a mortal mother bore thee, and thy illustrious father is hight Atreus, as thou sayest, and thou hast come hither at the behest of the immortal messenger Mercury, and thou shalt be called my wife all my days, then no one neither of gods nor of mortal men shall here restrain me, before I forthwith be mingled in thine embrace; no, not if far-darting Apollo himself let fly the grievous shafts from his silver bow. I would then be willing, O woman like unto the goddesses, having ascended thy couch, to enter within the dwelling of Hades."[2]
Thus saying, he took her hand, and smile-loving Venus turning round, went, casting down her beauteous eyes, to the well-spread couch, which before was spread for the king with soft garments, but above there lay the skins of bears, and loud-voiced lions, which he himself had slain on the
- ↑ This is hopeless nonsense, as the text now stands. Ruhnken seems right in considering this verse as an awkward compound of two others, but I can find no satisfactory emendation.
- ↑ "Nor should Apollo with his silver bow
Shoot me to instant death, would I forbear
To do a deed so full of cause so dear.
For with a heaven sweet woman I will lie;
Though straight I stoop the house of Dis, and die."Chapman.
