（ll。397—404）Thenthetwoall—gloriouschildrenofZeushastenedbothtosandyPylos,andreachedthefordofAlpheus,andcametothefieldsandthehigh—roofedbyrewherethebeastswerecherishedatnight—time。NowwhileHermeswenttothecaveintherockandbegantodriveoutthestrongcattle,thesonofLeto,lookingaside,sawthecowhidesonthesheerrock。AndheaskedgloriousHermesatonce:
（ll。405—408）`Howwereyouable,youcraftyrogue,toflaytwocows,new—bornandbabyishasyouare？Formypart,Idreadthestrengththatwillbeyours:thereisnoneedyoushouldkeepgrowinglong,Cyllenian,sonofMaia！\'
（ll。409—414）Sosaying,ApollotwistedstrongwitheswithhishandsmeaningtobindHermeswithfirmbands;butthebandswouldnotholdhim,andthewithesofosierfellfarfromhimandbegantogrowatoncefromthegroundbeneaththeirfeetinthatveryplace。Andintertwiningwithoneanother,theyquicklygrewandcoveredallthewild—rovingcattlebythewillofthievishHermes,sothatApollowasastonishedashegazed。
（ll。414—435）ThenthestrongslayerofArguslookedfurtivelyuponthegroundwitheyesflashingfire……desiringtohide……
（（LACUNA））……Veryeasilyhesoftenedthesonofall—gloriousLetoashewould,sternthoughtheFar—shooterwas。Hetookthelyreuponhisleftarmandtriedeachstringinturnwiththekey,sothatitsoundedawesomelyathistouch。AndPhoebusApollolaughedforjoy;forthesweetthrobofthemarvellousmusicwenttohisheart,andasoftlongingtookholdonhissoulashelistened。
ThenthesonofMaia,harpingsweetlyuponhislyre,tookcourageandstoodatthelefthandofPhoebusApollo;andsoon,whileheplayedshrillyonhislyre,helifteduphisvoiceandsang,andlovelywasthesoundofhisvoicethatfollowed。Hesangthestoryofthedeathlessgodsandofthedarkearth,howatthefirsttheycametobe,andhoweachonereceivedhisportion。
FirstamongthegodshehonouredMnemosyne,motheroftheMuses,inhissong;forthesonofMaiawasofherfollowing。AndnextthegoodlysonofZeushymnedtherestoftheimmortalsaccordingtotheirorderinage,andtoldhoweachwasborn,mentioningallinorderashestruckthelyreuponhisarm。ButApollowasseizedwithalongingnottobeallayed,andheopenedhismouthandspokewingedwordstoHermes:
（ll。436—462）`Slayerofoxen,trickster,busyone,comradeofthefeast,thissongofyoursisworthfiftycows,andIbelievethatpresentlyweshallsettleourquarrelpeacefully。Butcomenow,tellmethis,resourcefulsonofMaia:hasthismarvellousthingbeenwithyoufromyourbirth,ordidsomegodormortalmangiveityou——anoblegift——andteachyouheavenlysong？
Forwonderfulisthisnew—utteredsoundIhear,thelikeofwhichIvowthatnomannorgoddwellingonOlympuseveryethasknownbutyou,OthievishsonofMaia。Whatskillisthis？Whatsongfordesperatecares？Whatwayofsong？Forverilyherearethreethingstohandallatoncefromwhichtochoose,——mirth,andlove,andsweetsleep。AndthoughIamafolloweroftheOlympianMuseswholovedancesandthebrightpathofsong——thefull—tonedchantandravishingthrillofflutes——yetInevercaredforanyofthosefeatsofskillatyoungmen\'srevels,asI
donowforthis:Iamfilledwithwonder,OsonofZeus,atyoursweetplaying。Butnow,sinceyou,thoughlittle,havesuchgloriousskill,sitdown,dearboy,andrespectthewordsofyourelders。Fornowyoushallhaverenownamongthedeathlessgods,youandyourmotheralso。ThisIwilldeclaretoyouexactly:bythisshaftofcornelwoodIwillsurelymakeyoualeaderrenownedamongthedeathlessgods,andfortunate,andwillgiveyougloriousgiftsandwillnotdeceiveyoufromfirsttolast。\'
（ll。463—495）ThenHermesansweredhimwithartfulwords:`Youquestionmecarefully,OFar—worker;yetIamnotjealousthatyoushouldenteruponmyart:thisdayyoushallknowit。ForI
seektobefriendlywithyoubothinthoughtandword。Nowyouwellknowallthingsinyourheart,sinceyousitforemostamongthedeathlessgods,OsonofZeus,andaregoodlyandstrong。
AndwiseZeuslovesyouasallrightis,andhasgivenyousplendidgifts。AndtheysaythatfromtheutteranceofZeusyouhavelearnedboththehonoursduetothegods,OFar—worker,andoraclesfromZeus,evenallhisordinances。OfalltheseI
myselfhavealreadylearnedthatyouhavegreatwealth。Now,youarefreetolearnwhateveryouplease;butsince,asitseems,yourheartissostronglysetonplayingthelyre,chant,andplayuponit,andgiveyourselftomerriment,takingthisasagiftfromme,anddoyou,myfriend,bestowgloryonme。Singwellwiththisclear—voicedcompanioninyourhands;foryouareskilledingood,well—orderedutterance。Fromnowonbringitconfidentlytotherichfeastandlovelydanceandgloriousrevel,ajoybynightandbyday。Whosowithwitandwisdomenquiresofitcunningly,himitteachesthroughitssoundallmannerofthingsthatdelightthemind,beingeasilyplayedwithgentlefamiliarities,foritabhorstoilsomedrudgery;butwhosoinignoranceenquiresofitviolently,tohimitchattersmerevanityandfoolishness。Butyouareabletolearnwhateveryouplease。Sothen,Iwillgiveyouthislyre,glorioussonofZeus,whileIformypartwillgrazedownwithwild—rovingcattlethepasturesonhillandhorse—feedingplain:soshallthecowscoveredbythebullscalveabundantlybothmalesandfemales。
Andnowthereisnoneedforyou,bargainerthoughyouare,tobefuriouslyangry。\'
（ll。496—502）WhenHermeshadsaidthis,heheldoutthelyre:
andPhoebusApollotookit,andreadilyputhisshiningwhipinHermes\'hand,andordainedhimkeeperofherds。ThesonofMaiareceiveditjoyfully,whiletheglorioussonofLeto,thelordfar—workingApollo,tookthelyreuponhisleftarmandtriedeachstringwiththekey。Awesomelyitsoundedatthetouchofthegod,whilehesangsweetlytoitsnote。
（ll。503—512）Afterwardstheytwo,theall—glorioussonsofZeusturnedthecowsbacktowardsthesacredmeadow,butthemselveshastenedbacktosnowyOlympus,delightinginthelyre。ThenwiseZeuswasgladandmadethembothfriends。AndHermeslovedthesonofLetocontinually,evenashedoesnow,whenhehadgiventhelyreastokentotheFar—shooter,whoplayeditskilfully,holdingituponhisarm。ButforhimselfHermesfoundoutanothercunningartandmadehimselfthepipeswhosesoundisheardafar。
（ll。513—520）ThenthesonofLetosaidtoHermes:`SonofMaia,guideandcunningone,Ifearyoumaystealformmethelyreandmycurvedbowtogether;foryouhaveanofficefromZeus,toestablishdeedsofbarteramongstmenthroughoutthefruitfulearth。Nowifyouwouldonlyswearmethegreatoathofthegods,eitherbynoddingyourhead,orbythepotentwaterofStyx,youwoulddoallthatcanpleaseandeasemyheart。\'
（ll。521—549）ThenMaia\'ssonnoddedhisheadandpromisedthathewouldneverstealanythingofalltheFar—shooterpossessed,andwouldnevergonearhisstronghouse;butApollo,sonofLeto,sworetobefellowandfriendtoHermes,vowingthathewouldlovenootheramongtheimmortals,neithergodnormansprungfromZeus,betterthanHermes:andtheFathersentforthaneagleinconfirmation。AndApolloswarealso:`VerilyIwillmakeyouonlytobeanomenfortheimmortalsandallalike,trustedandhonouredbymyheart。Moreover,Iwillgiveyouasplendidstaffofrichesandwealth:itisofgold,withthreebranches,andwillkeepyouscatheless,accomplishingeverytask,whetherofwordsordeedsthataregood,whichIclaimtoknowthroughtheutteranceofZeus。Butasforsooth—saying,noble,heaven—bornchild,ofwhichyouask,itisnotlawfulforyoutolearnit,norforanyotherofthedeathlessgods:onlythemindofZeusknowsthat。IampledgedandhavevowedandswornastrongoaththatnootheroftheeternalgodssaveIshouldknowthewise—heartedcounselofZeus。Anddonotyou,mybrother,bearerofthegoldenwand,bidmetellthosedecreeswhichall—
seeingZeusintends。Asformen,Iwillharmoneandprofitanother,sorelyperplexingthetribesofunenviablemen。
Whosoevershallcomeguidedbythecallandflightofbirdsofsureomen,thatmanshallhaveadvantagethroughmyvoice,andI
willnotdeceivehim。Butwhososhalltrusttoidly—chatteringbirdsandshallseektoinvokemypropheticartcontrarytomywill,andtounderstandmorethantheeternalgods,Ideclarethatheshallcomeonanidlejourney;yethisgiftsIwouldtake。
（ll。550—568）`ButIwilltellyouanotherthing,Sonofall—
gloriousMaiaandZeuswhoholdstheaegis,luck—bringinggeniusofthegods。Therearecertainholyones,sistersborn——threevirgins（23）giftedwithwings:theirheadsarebesprinkledwithwhitemeal,andtheydwellunderaridgeofParnassus。Theseareteachersofdivinationapartfromme,theartwhichIpractisedwhileyetaboyfollowingherds,thoughmyfatherpaidnoheedtoit。Fromtheirhometheyflynowhere,nowthere,feedingonhoney—combandbringingallthingstopass。Andwhentheyareinspiredthrougheatingyellowhoney,theyarewillingtospeaktruth;butiftheybedeprivedofthegods\'sweetfood,thentheyspeakfalsely,astheyswarminandouttogether。These,then,I
giveyou;enquireofthemstrictlyanddelightyourheart:andifyoushouldteachanymortalsotodo,oftenwillhehearyourresponse——ifhehavegoodfortune。Takethese,SonofMaia,andtendthewildroving,hornedoxenandhorsesandpatientmules。\'
（ll。568a—573）Sohespake。AndfromheavenfatherZeushimselfgaveconfirmationtohiswords,andcommandedthatgloriousHermesshouldbelordoverallbirdsofomenandgrim—eyedlions,andboarswithgleamingtusks,andoverdogsandallflocksthatthewideearthnourishes,andoverallsheep;alsothatheonlyshouldbetheappointedmessengertoHades,who,thoughhetakesnogift,shallgivehimnomeanprize。
（ll。574—578）ThusthelordApolloshowedhiskindnessfortheSonofMaiabyallmanneroffriendship:andtheSonofCronosgavehimgracebesides。Heconsortswithallmortalsandimmortals:alittleheprofits,butcontinuallythroughoutthedarknighthecozensthetribesofmortalmen。
（ll。579—580）Andso,farewell,SonofZeusandMaia;butIwillrememberyouandanothersongalso。
V。TOAPHRODITE（293lines）
（ll。1—6）Muse,tellmethedeedsofgoldenAphroditetheCyprian,whostirsupsweetpassioninthegodsandsubduesthetribesofmortalmenandbirdsthatflyinairandallthemanycreaturesthatthedrylandrears,andallthesea:alltheselovethedeedsofrich—crownedCytherea。
（ll。7—32）Yettherearethreeheartsthatshecannotbendnoryetensnare。FirstisthedaughterofZeuswhoholdstheaegis,bright—eyedAthene;forshehasnopleasureinthedeedsofgoldenAphrodite,butdelightsinwarsandintheworkofAres,instrifesandbattlesandinpreparingfamouscrafts。Shefirsttaughtearthlycraftsmentomakechariotsofwarandcarsvariouslywroughtwithbronze,andshe,too,teachestendermaidensinthehouseandputsknowledgeofgoodlyartsineachone\'smind。Nordoeslaughter—lovingAphroditeevertameinloveArtemis,thehuntresswithshaftsofgold;forshelovesarcheryandtheslayingofwildbeastsinthemountains,thelyrealsoanddancingandthrillingcriesandshadywoodsandthecitiesofuprightmen。NoryetdoesthepuremaidenHestialoveAphrodite\'sworks。Shewasthefirst—bornchildofwilyCronosandyoungesttoo（24）,bywillofZeuswhoholdstheaegis,——aqueenlymaidwhombothPoseidonandApollosoughttowed。Butshewaswhollyunwilling,nay,stubbornlyrefused;andtouchingtheheadoffatherZeuswhoholdstheaegis,she,thatfairgoddess,swareagreatoathwhichhasintruthbeenfulfilled,thatshewouldbeamaidenallherdays。SoZeustheFathergaveheranhighhonourinsteadofmarriage,andshehasherplaceinthemidstofthehouseandhastherichestportion。Inallthetemplesofthegodsshehasashareofhonour,andamongallmortalmensheischiefofthegoddesses。
（ll。33—44）OfthesethreeAphroditecannotbendorensnarethehearts。ButofallothersthereisnothingamongtheblessedgodsoramongmortalmenthathasescapedAphrodite。EventheheartofZeus,whodelightsinthunder,isledastraybyher;
thoughheisgreatestofallandhasthelotofhighestmajesty,shebeguilesevenhiswiseheartwhensoevershepleases,andmateshimwithmortalwomen,unknowntoHera,hissisterandhiswife,thegrandestfarinbeautyamongthedeathlessgoddesses——
mostgloriousisshewhomwilyCronoswithhermotherRheadidbeget:andZeus,whosewisdomiseverlasting,madeherhischasteandcarefulwife。
（ll。45—52）ButuponAphroditeherselfZeuscastsweetdesiretobejoinedinlovewithamortalman,totheendthat,verysoon,notevensheshouldbeinnocentofamortal\'slove;lestlaughter—lovingAphroditeshouldonedaysoftlysmileandsaymockinglyamongallthegodsthatshehadjoinedthegodsinlovewithmortalwomenwhobaresonsofdeathtothedeathlessgods,andhadmatedthegoddesseswithmortalmen。
（ll。53—74）AndsoheputinherheartsweetdesireforAnchiseswhowastendingcattleatthattimeamongthesteephillsofmany—fountainedIda,andinshapewasliketheimmortalgods。
Therefore,whenlaughter—lovingAphroditesawhim,shelovedhim,andterriblydesireseizedherinherheart。ShewenttoCyprus,toPaphos,whereherprecinctisandfragrantaltar,andpassedintohersweet—smellingtemple。Thereshewentinandputtotheglitteringdoors,andtheretheGracesbathedherwithheavenlyoilsuchasbloomsuponthebodiesoftheeternalgods——oildivinelysweet,whichshehadbyher,filledwithfragrance。Andlaughter—lovingAphroditeputonallherrichclothes,andwhenshehaddeckedherselfwithgold,sheleftsweet—smellingCyprusandwentinhastetowardsTroy,swiftlytravellinghighupamongtheclouds。Soshecametomany—fountainedIda,themotherofwildcreaturesandwentstraighttothehomesteadacrossthemountains。Afterhercamegreywolves,fawningonher,andgrim—
eyedlions,andbears,andfleetleopards,ravenousfordeer:andshewasgladinhearttoseethem,andputdesireintheirbreasts,sothattheyallmated,twotogether,abouttheshadowycoombes。
（ll。75—88）（25）Butsheherselfcametotheneat—builtshelters,andhimshefoundleftquitealoneinthehomestead——theheroAnchiseswhowascomelyasthegods。Alltheotherswerefollowingtheherdsoverthegrassypastures,andhe,leftquitealoneinthehomestead,wasroaminghitherandthitherandplayingthrillinglyuponthelyre。AndAphrodite,thedaughterofZeusstoodbeforehim,beinglikeapuremaideninheightandmien,thatheshouldnotbefrightenedwhenhetookheedofherwithhiseyes。NowwhenAnchisessawher,hemarkedherwellandwonderedathermienandheightandshininggarments。Forshewascladinarobeout—shiningthebrightnessoffire,asplendidrobeofgold,enrichedwithallmannerofneedlework,whichshimmeredlikethemoonoverhertenderbreasts,amarveltosee。
Alsosheworetwistedbroochesandshiningearringsintheformofflowers;androundhersoftthroatwerelovelynecklaces。
（ll。91—105）AndAnchiseswasseizedwithlove,andsaidtoher:
`Hail,lady,whoeveroftheblessedonesyouarethatarecometothishouse,whetherArtemis,orLeto,orgoldenAphrodite,orhigh—bornThemis,orbright—eyedAthene。Or,maybe,youareoneoftheGracescomehither,whobearthegodscompanyandarecalledimmortal,orelseoneofthosewhoinhabitthislovelymountainandthespringsofriversandgrassymeads。Iwillmakeyouanaltaruponahighpeakinafarseenplace,andwillsacrificerichofferingstoyouatallseasons。AnddoyoufeelkindlytowardsmeandgrantthatImaybecomeamanveryeminentamongtheTrojans,andgivemestrongoffspringforthetimetocome。Asformyownself,letmelivelongandhappily,seeingthelightofthesun,andcometothethresholdofoldage,amanprosperousamongthepeople。\'
（ll。106—142）ThereuponAphroditethedaughterofZeusansweredhim:`Anchises,mostgloriousofallmenbornonearth,knowthatIamnogoddess:whydoyoulikenmetothedeathlessones？Nay,Iambutamortal,andawomanwasthemotherthatbareme。
Otreusoffamousnameismyfather,ifsobeyouhaveheardofhim,andhereignsoverallPhrygiarichinfortresses。ButI
knowyourspeechwellbesidemyown,foraTrojannursebroughtmeupathome:shetookmefrommydearmotherandrearedmethenceforthwhenIwasalittlechild。Socomesit,then,thatI
wellknowyoutonguealso。AndnowtheSlayerofArguswiththegoldenwandhascaughtmeupfromthedanceofhuntressArtemis,herwiththegoldenarrows。Forthereweremanyofus,nymphsandmarriageable（26）maidens,playingtogether;andaninnumerablecompanyencircledus:fromthesetheSlayerofArguswiththegoldenwandraptmeaway。Hecarriedmeovermanyfieldsofmortalmenandovermuchlanduntilledandunpossessed,wheresavagewild—beastsroamthroughshadycoombes,untilI
thoughtneveragaintotouchthelife—givingearthwithmyfeet。
AndhesaidthatIshouldbecalledtheweddedwifeofAnchises,andshouldbearyougoodlychildren。Butwhenhehadtoldandadvisedme,he,thestrongSlayerofArgos,wentbacktothefamiliesofthedeathlessgods,whileIamnowcometoyou:forunbendingnecessityisuponme。ButIbeseechyoubyZeusandbyyournobleparents——fornobasefolkcouldgetsuchasonasyou——takemenow,stainlessandunprovedinlove,andshowmetoyourfatherandcarefulmotherandtoyourbrotherssprungfromthesamestock。Ishallbenoill—likingdaughterforthem,butalikely。Moreover,sendamessengerquicklytotheswift—
horsedPhrygians,totellmyfatherandmysorrowingmother;andtheywillsendyougoldinplentyandwovenstuffs,manysplendidgifts;taketheseasbride—piece。Sodo,andthenpreparethesweetmarriagethatishonourableintheeyesofmenanddeathlessgods。\'
（ll。143—144）Whenshehadsospoken,thegoddessputsweetdesireinhisheart。AndAnchiseswasseizedwithlove,sothatheopenedhismouthandsaid:
（ll。145—154）`Ifyouareamortalandawomanwasthemotherwhobareyou,andOtreusoffamousnameisyourfatherasyousay,andifyouarecomeherebythewillofHermestheimmortalGuide,andaretobecalledmywifealways,thenneithergodnormortalmanshallhererestrainmetillIhavelainwithyouinloverightnow;no,noteveniffar—shootingApollohimselfshouldlaunchgrievousshaftsfromhissilverbow。WillinglywouldIgodownintothehouseofHades,Olady,beautifulasthegoddesses,onceIhadgoneuptoyourbed。\'
（ll。155—167）Sospeaking,hecaughtherbythehand。Andlaughter—lovingAphrodite,withfaceturnedawayandlovelyeyesdowncast,crepttothewell—spreadcouchwhichwasalreadylaidwithsoftcoveringsforthehero;anduponitlayskinsofbearsanddeep—roaringlionswhichhehimselfhadslaininthehighmountains。Andwhentheyhadgoneupuponthewell—fittedbed,firstAnchisestookoffherbrightjewelryofpinsandtwistedbroochesandearringsandnecklaces,andloosedhergirdleandstrippedoffherbrightgarmentsandlaidthemdownuponasilver—studdedseat。Thenbythewillofthegodsanddestinyhelaywithher,amortalmanwithanimmortalgoddess,notclearlyknowingwhathedid。
（ll。168—176）Butatthetimewhentheherdsmendrivertheiroxenandhardysheepbacktothefoldfromtheflowerypastures,eventhenAphroditepouredsoftsleepuponAnchises,butherselfputonherrichraiment。Andwhenthebrightgoddesshadfullyclothedherself,shestoodbythecouch,andherheadreachedtothewell—hewnroof—tree;fromhercheeksshoneunearthlybeautysuchasbelongstorich—crownedCytherea。Thenshearousedhimfromsleepandopenedhermouthandsaid:
（ll。177—179）`Up,sonofDardanus！——whysleepyousoheavily？
——andconsiderwhetherIlookasIdidwhenfirstyousawmewithyoureyes。\'
（ll。180—184）Soshespake。Andheawokeinamomentandobeyedher。ButwhenhesawtheneckandlovelyeyesofAphrodite,hewasafraidandturnedhiseyesasideanotherway,hidinghiscomelyfacewithhiscloak。Thenheutteredwingedwordsandentreatedher:
（ll。185—190）`SosoonaseverIsawyouwithmyeyes,goddess,I
knewthatyouweredivine;butyoudidnottellmetruly。YetbyZeuswhoholdstheaegisIbeseechyou,leavemenottoleadapalsiedlifeamongmen,buthavepityonme;forhewholieswithadeathlessgoddessisnohalemanafterwards。\'
（ll。191—201）ThenAphroditethedaughterofZeusansweredhim:
`Anchises,mostgloriousofmortalmen,takecourageandbenottoofearfulinyourheart。Youneedfearnoharmfrommenorfromtheotherblessedones,foryouaredeartothegods:andyoushallhaveadearsonwhoshallreignamongtheTrojans,andchildren\'schildrenafterhim,springingupcontinually。HisnameshallbeAeneas（27）,becauseIfeltawfulgriefinthatI
laidmeinthebedofmortalman:yetarethoseofyourracealwaysthemostliketogodsofallmortalmeninbeautyandinstature（28）。
（ll。202—217）`VerilywiseZeuscarriedoffgolden—hairedGanymedesbecauseofhisbeauty,tobeamongsttheDeathlessOnesandpourdrinkforthegodsinthehouseofZeus——awondertosee——honouredbyalltheimmortalsashedrawstherednectarfromthegoldenbowl。ButgriefthatcouldnotbesoothedfilledtheheartofTros;forheknewnotwhithertheheaven—sentwhirlwindhadcaughtuphisdearson,sothathemournedhimalways,unceasingly,untilZeuspitiedhimandgavehimhigh—
steppinghorsessuchascarrytheimmortalsasrecompenseforhisson。Thesehegavehimasagift。AndatthecommandofZeus,theGuide,theslayerofArgus,toldhimall,andhowhissonwouldbedeathlessandunageing,evenasthegods。SowhenTrosheardthesetidingsfromZeus,henolongerkeptmourningbutrejoicedinhisheartandrodejoyfullywithhisstorm—footedhorses。
（ll。218—238）`Soalsogolden—thronedEosraptawayTithonuswhowasofyourraceandlikethedeathlessgods。Andshewenttoaskthedark—cloudedSonofCronosthatheshouldbedeathlessandliveeternally;andZeusbowedhisheadtoherprayerandfulfilledherdesire。ToosimplywasqueenlyEos:shethoughtnotinherhearttoaskyouthforhimandtostriphimofthesloughofdeadlyage。Sowhileheenjoyedthesweetfloweroflifehelivedrapturouslywithgolden—thronedEos,theearly—
born,bythestreamsofOcean,attheendsoftheearth;butwhenthefirstgreyhairsbegantoripplefromhiscomelyheadandnoblechin,queenlyEoskeptawayfromhisbed,thoughshecherishedhiminherhouseandnourishedhimwithfoodandambrosiaandgavehimrichclothing。Butwhenloathsomeoldagepressedfulluponhim,andhecouldnotmovenorlifthislimbs,thisseemedtoherinherheartthebestcounsel:shelaidhiminaroomandputtotheshiningdoors。Therehebabblesendlessly,andnomorehasstrengthatall,suchasoncehehadinhissupplelimbs。
（ll。239—246）`Iwouldnothaveyoubedeathlessamongthedeathlessgodsandlivecontinuallyaftersuchsort。Yetifyoucouldliveonsuchasnowyouareinlookandinform,andbecalledmyhusband,sorrowwouldnotthenenfoldmycarefulheart。
But,asitis,harsh（29）oldagewillsoonenshroudyou——
ruthlessagewhichstandssomedayatthesideofeveryman,deadly,wearying,dreadedevenbythegods。
（ll。247—290）`AndnowbecauseofyouIshallhavegreatshameamongthedeathlessgodshenceforth,continually。Foruntilnowtheyfearedmyjibesandthewilesbywhich,orsoonorlate,I
matedalltheimmortalswithmortalwomen,makingthemallsubjecttomywill。Butnowmymouthshallnomorehavethispoweramongthegods;forverygreathasbeenmymadness,mymiserableanddreadfulmadness,andIwentastrayoutofmymindwhohavegottenachildbeneathmygirdle,matingwithamortalman。Asforthechild,assoonasheseesthelightofthesun,thedeep—breastedmountainNymphswhoinhabitthisgreatandholymountainshallbringhimup。Theyrankneitherwithmortalsnorwithimmortals:longindeeddotheylive,eatingheavenlyfoodandtreadingthelovelydanceamongtheimmortals,andwiththemtheSileniandthesharp—eyedSlayerofArgusmateinthedepthsofpleasantcaves;butattheirbirthpinesorhigh—toppedoaksspringupwiththemuponthefruitfulearth,beautiful,flourishingtrees,toweringhighupontheloftymountains（andmencallthemholyplacesoftheimmortals,andnevermortallopsthemwiththeaxe）;butwhenthefateofdeathisnearathand,firstthoselovelytreeswitherwheretheystand,andthebarkshrivelsawayaboutthem,andthetwigsfalldown,andatlastthelifeoftheNymphandofthetreeleavethelightofthesuntogether。TheseNymphsshallkeepmysonwiththemandrearhim,andassoonasheiscometolovelyboyhood,thegoddesseswillbringhimheretoyouandshowyouyourchild。But,thatImaytellyouallthatIhaveinmind,Iwillcomehereagaintowardsthefifthyearandbringyoumyson。Sosoonaseveryouhaveseenhim——asciontodelighttheeyes——youwillrejoiceinbeholdinghim;forheshallbemostgodlike:thenbringhimatoncetowindyIlion。Andifanymortalmanaskyouwhogotyourdearsonbeneathhergirdle,remembertotellhimasIbidyou:
sayheistheoffspringofoneoftheflower—likeNymphswhoinhabitthisforest—cladhill。Butifyoutellallandfoolishlyboastthatyoulaywithrich—crownedAphrodite,Zeuswillsmiteyouinhisangerwithasmokingthunderbolt。NowIhavetoldyouall。Takeheed:refrainandnamemenot,buthaveregardtotheangerofthegods。\'
（l。291）Whenthegoddesshadsospoken,shesoareduptowindyheaven。
（ll。292—293）Hail,goddess,queenofwell—buildedCyprus！WithyouhaveIbegun;nowIwillturnmetoanotherhymn。
VI。TOAPHRODITE（21lines）
（ll。1—18）IwillsingofstatelyAphrodite,gold—crownedandbeautiful,whosedominionisthewalledcitiesofallsea—setCyprus。Therethemoistbreathofthewesternwindwaftedheroverthewavesoftheloud—moaningseainsoftfoam,andtherethegold—filletedHourswelcomedherjoyously。Theyclothedherwithheavenlygarments:onherheadtheyputafine,well—wroughtcrownofgold,andinherpiercedearstheyhungornamentsoforichalcandpreciousgold,andadornedherwithgoldennecklacesoverhersoftneckandsnow—whitebreasts,jewelswhichthegold—
filletedHourswearthemselveswhenevertheygototheirfather\'shousetojointhelovelydancesofthegods。Andwhentheyhadfullydeckedher,theybroughthertothegods,whowelcomedherwhentheysawher,givinghertheirhands。Eachoneofthemprayedthathemightleadherhometobehisweddedwife,sogreatlyweretheyamazedatthebeautyofviolet—crownedCytherea。
（ll。19—21）Hail,sweetly—winning,coy—eyedgoddess！GrantthatImaygainthevictoryinthiscontest,andorderyoumysong。
AndnowIwillrememberyouandanothersongalso。
VII。TODIONYSUS（59lines）
（ll。1—16）IwilltellofDionysus,thesonofgloriousSemele,howheappearedonajuttingheadlandbytheshoreofthefruitlesssea,seeminglikeastriplinginthefirstflushofmanhood:hisrich,darkhairwaswavingabouthim,andonhisstrongshouldersheworeapurplerobe。PresentlytherecameswiftlyoverthesparklingseaTyrsenian（30）piratesonawell—
deckedship——amiserabledoomledthemon。Whentheysawhimtheymadesignstooneanotherandsprangoutquickly,andseizinghimstraightway,puthimonboardtheirshipexultingly;