rduous course
"Unconquer'd, each his glory might retain."

Thus far he spoke, then silent sate.--"What crime,"
Said Phocus--"has the javelin then perform'd?"--
And thus the javelin's fault the hero tells,
"Since joys supreme my sorrows first forewent,
"Let me, O, Phocus! first those joys recount.
"O, youth! how it delights me to retrace
"Those happy moments, when supremely blest
"In her, the primal years were joyous spent.
"She, equal happy in her darling spouse;
"Each mind of mutual care a portion bore;
"And love's connubial joys each equal shar'd.
"Jove's proffer'd couch, with my embrace compar'd,
"Procris had spurn'd; nor could the loveliest nymph
"Me tempt, though Venus' self had deign'd to sue:
"In either breast an equal ardor flam'd.
"In youthful guise I wont the woods to scour,
"For sport betimes, ere yet the sun had ting'd
"With early beams the lofty mountains' tops:
"Nor took I servants, nor the courser fleet,
"Nor hounds sharp-scented, nor the knotted snares;
"This dart my sole dependence: when my arm
"With slaughtered spoil was satiate, tir'd I sought
"The cooling shade, and sought where Aura breath'd
"In frigid vales her breezes. 'Midst the heat
"Refreshing air I sought, and Aura call'd,
"My labour's recreation; thus I sung,
"I well the words remember;--Aura, come!
"Come, my delight,--within my bosom creep,
"Most grateful friend; come, and as wont remove
"My inward flames.--By chance more tender words
"(So sway'd my destiny) to these I join'd:
"And thus I spoke--O, thou! my greatest joy
"Refreshing, cherishing my strength and power!
"For thee, these woods and lonely spots I love:
"Here does my wishing mouth thy breath inhale.--
"These words ambiguous, busy ears receiv'd,
"And Aura! Aura! oft invok'd, they deem
"A favor'd nymph,--a nymph by me belov'd.
"The rash informer with the imag'd wrong,
"My Procris seeks his whispering tongue relates,
"The words o'erheard. Love credulous believes.
"O'erpress'd with grief, she sudden sunk, when heard
"The tale,--and long she unrecover'd laid.
"Then--hapless wife!--O, wayward fate! she cries:--
"My broken faith bewails, and with my crime
"Imagin'd, troubled, fears what not exists,--
"A name without a being: much she grieves,
"As real were her rival: yet full oft
"Stagger'd, she doubts, and hopes herself deceiv'd:
"Trusts not th' informer; and her husband