rcely flam'd her love,
"His naked beauty seen. Her gloating eyes
"Sparkled no less than seem bright Phoebus' rays,
"When shining splendid, midst a cloudless sky,
"A mirror's face reflecting gives them back.
"Delay ill brooking, hardly she contains
"Her swelling joy; frantic for his embrace,
"She pants, and hard from rushing forth refrains.
"His sides he claps, and agile in the steam
"Quick plunges, moving with alternate arms.
"Bright through the waves he shines; thus white appears
"The sculptur'd ivory, or the lily fair,
"Seen through a crystal veil. The Naiaed cries;--
"Lo! here I come;--he's mine,--the youth's my own!
"And instant far was every garment flung.
"Midst of the waves she leaps;--the struggling youth
"Clasps close; and on his cold reluctant lips,
"Forces her kisses; down she girds his arms;
"And close to hers hugs his unwilling breast:
"Final, around the youth who arduous strives
"In opposition, and escape essays,
"Her limbs she twines: so twines a serpent huge,
"Seiz'd by the bird of Jove, and borne on high,
"Twisting his head, the feet close-bracing holds;
"The wide-spread wings entangled with his tail:
"So twines the ivy round the lengthen'd bough:
"So numerous Polypus his foe confines,
"Seiz'd in the deep, with claws on every side
"Firm graspt. But Hermes' son persisting still,
"The Naiaed's wish denies; she presses close,
"And as she cleaves, their every limb close join'd
"Exclaims;--ungallant boy! but strive thy most,
"Thou shalt not fly me. Grant me, O ye gods!
"No time may ever sunder him from me,
"Or me from him.--Her prayer was granted straight;--
"For now, commingling, both their bodies join'd;
"And both their faces melted into one.
"So, when in growth we boughs ingrafted see,
"The bark inclosing both at once, they sprout.
"Thus were their limbs, in strong embrace comprest,
"Wrapp'd close; no longer two in form, yet two
"In feature; nor a nymph-like face remain'd,
"Nor yet a boy's: it both and neither seem'd.

"When Hermes' son beheld the liquid stream,
"Where masculine he plung'd, the power possess
"To enervate his body, and his limbs
"Effeminately soften; high he rais'd
"His arms, and pray'd (but not with manly voice)
"O, sire! O, mother dear! indulge your son,
"Your double appellation bearing, this
"Sole-urg'd petition. Whoso in these waves
"In strong virility, like me, shall