Embarrass'd now he stands,--the nymph to leave
Abandon'd, were too cruel;--to deny
His wife, suspicious: shame compliance urg'd;
Love strong dissuaded: love had vanquish'd shame,
Save that a paltry cow to her refus'd,
Associate of his race and bed, he fear'd
More than a cow the goddess would suspect.
Her rival now she holds; but anxious, still
She Jove distrusts, and fears her prize to lose;
Nor safe she deem'd her, till to Argus' care
Committed. Round the jailor's watchful head
An hundred eyes were set. Two clos'd in turn;
The rest with watchful care, kept cautious guard.
Howe'er he stands, on Ioe still he looks;
His face averse, yet still his eyes behold.
By day she pastures, but beneath the earth
When Phoebus sinks, he drags her to the stall,
And binds with cords her undeserving neck.
Arbutus' leaves, and bitter herbs her food:
Her wretched bed is oft the cold damp earth;
A strawy couch deny'd:--the muddy stream
Her constant drink: when suppliant she would raise
Her arms to Argus, arms to raise were none.
To moan she tries; loud bellowings echo wide,--
She starts and trembles at her voice's roar.
Now to the banks she comes where oft she'd play'd,--
The banks of Inachus, and in his streams
Her new-form'd horns beheld;--in wild affright
From them she strove, and from herself to fly.
Her sister Naiads know her not, nor he
Griev'd Inachus, his long-lost daughter knows.
But she her sisters and her sire pursues;
Invites their touch, as wondering they caress.
Old Inachus the gather'd herbs presents;
She licks his hands, and presses with her lips
His dear paternal fingers. Tears flow quick,
And could words follow she would ask his aid;
And speak her name, and lamentable state.
Marks for her words she form'd, which in the dust
Trac'd by her hoof, disclos'd her mournful change.
"Ah wretch!" her sire exclaim'd, "unhappy wretch!"
And o'er the weeping heifer's snowy neck,
His arms he threw, and round her horns he hung
With sobs redoubled:--"Art thou then, my child,
"Through earth's extent so sought? Ah! less my grief,
"To find thee not, than thus transform'd to find!
"But dumb thou art, nor with responsive words,
"Me cheerest. From thy deep chest sighs alone
"Thou utterest, and loud lowings to my words:
"Thou canst no more. Unwitting I prepar'd
"Thy marriage torches, anxious to behold
"A son, and next a son of thin