ew-felt joys, the rites
"So recent, and the plighted faith just given,
"To her deserted: when the goddess flam'd,
"Exclaiming;--Ingrate! cease thy doleful plaints,
"Enjoy thy Procris,--if I right foresee
"Thou'lt rue that wish'd enjoyment:--Angry thus
"She fled me. Slow returning, much I mus'd,
"The goddess' words recalling: fear me thrill'd,
"Lest Procris had her nuptial oaths profaned.
"Her age, her beauty, much suspicion mov'd;
"Her virtue bade me chase my fears as vain.
"Yet was I absent, and from whence I came,
"Prov'd how adulterous females might indulge,
"Suspicious love fears all. Studious I seek,
"What found would rack with torture; and I burn
"To bribe with gifts, and try her modest faith.
"Aurora aids my fears, my shape transforms:
"(Conscious I felt it.) To Minerva's town,
"To all unknown, I hastened, and my house
"Enter'd: the house in faultless guise I found;
"Chaste all appear'd, and anxious all were seen
"For their lost master. By a thousand arts
"Erechtheus' daughter I at length beheld,
"And seen was stagger'd: near my purpos'd proof
"Relinquish'd of fidelity; most hard
"The cheat to tell not; to refrain most hard
"From conjugal salutes. Sad she appear'd.
"But nought more lovely could in sadness seem:
"Burning in wishes for her absent spouse.
"Image, O, Phocus! what her beauteous face
"Could boast; a face that woe itself became.
"Why should I tell how oft her virtuous soul,
"Repuls'd my tempting offers? Why repeat
"How oft she cry'd;--For one myself I keep,
"For one, where'er he stays, my joys preserve.
"Whose mad suspicion would not this allay?
"This proof of faith? But I, not so content,
"Strive for my own confusion. Lavish gifts
"I proffer for the joys of one short night:
"More and more rich I heap them, till her breast
"Wavers, then loud exclaim,--Lo! here behold,
"Adulteress! one unluckily disguis'd,
"Unluckily betroth'd, thy lawful spouse!
"Perfidious! by those eyes convinc'd I stand.
"Nought she:--with silent shame o'ercome, she fled
"The house deceitful, and her hated spouse.
"With me offended, all the race of men
"Detesting, on the mountain tops she rov'd;
"Diana's sports close following. Fiercer love
"Flam'd in my bosom, thus deserted left.
"I su'd for pardon, and my fault I own'd;
"Swore that myself so tempted, so had err'd,
"By such high offers brib'd. Confessing thus,
"H