ave
him once as a gift of hospitality in Maenalus as she met him gladly; for
she eagerly desired to follow on that quest; but he himself of his own
accord prevented the maid, for he feared bitter strife on account of her
love.

(ll. 774-792) And he went on his way to the city like to a bright star,
which maidens, pent up in new-built chambers, behold as it rises above
their homes, and through the dark air it charms their eyes with its fair
red gleam and the maid rejoices, love-sick for the youth who is far away
amid strangers, for whom her parents are keeping her to be his bride;
like to that star the hero trod the way to the city. And when they had
passed within the gates and the city, the women of the people surged
behind them, delighting in the stranger, but he with his eyes fixed on
the ground fared straight on, till he reached the glorious palace of
Hypsipyle; and when he appeared the maids opened the folding doors,
fitted with well-fashioned panels. Here Iphinoe leading him quickly
through a fair porch set him upon a shining seat opposite her mistress,
but Hypsipyle turned her eyes aside and a blush covered her maiden
cheeks, yet for all her modesty she addressed him with crafty words:

(ll. 793-833) "Stranger, why stay ye so long outside our towers? for the
city is not inhabited by the men, but they, as sojourners, plough the
wheat-bearing fields of the Thracian mainland. And I will tell out truly
all our evil plight, that ye yourselves too may know it well. When my
father Thoas reigned over the citizens, then our folk starting from
their homes used to plunder from their ships the dwellings of the
Thracians who live opposite, and they brought back hither measureless
booty and maidens too. But the counsel of the baneful goddess Cypris was
working out its accomplishment, who brought upon them soul destroying
infatuation. For they hated their lawful wives, and, yielding to their
own mad folly, drove them from their homes; and they took to their beds
the captives of their spear, cruel ones. Long in truth we endured it, if
haply again, though late, they might change their purpose, but ever the
bitter woe grew, twofold. And the lawful children were being dishonoured
in their halls, and a bastard race was rising. And thus unmarried
maidens and widowed mothers too wandered uncared for through the city;
no father heeded his daughter ever so little even though he should see
her done to death before his eyes at the hands o