inding, she beheld.
"The waves impede her flight. She earnest prays
"Her sister-nymphs her human form to change.
"Now thinks the sylvan god his clasping arms
"Inclose her, whilst he grasps but marshy reeds.--
"He mournful sighs; the light reeds catch his breath,
"And soft reverberate the plaintive sound.
"The dulcet movement charms th' enraptur'd god,
"Who,--thus forever shall we join,--exclaims!
"With wax combin'd th' unequal reeds he forms
"A pipe, which still the virgin's name retains."
While thus the god, he every eye beheld
Weigh'd heavy, sink in sleep, and stopp'd his tale.
His magic rod o'er every lid he draws,
His sleep confirming, and with crooked blade
Severs his nodding head, and down the mount
The bloody ruin hurls,--the craggy rock
With gore besmearing. Low, thou Argus liest!
Extinct thy hundred lights; one night obscure
Eclipsing all. But Juno seiz'd the rays,
And on the plumage of her favor'd bird,
In gaudy pride, the starry gems she plac'd.

With furious ire she flam'd, and instant sent
The dread Erinnys to the Argive maid.
Before her eyes, within her breast she dwelt
A secret torment, and in terror drove
Her exil'd through the world. 'Twas thou, O Nile!
Her tedious wandering ended. On thy banks
Weary'd she kneel'd, and on her back, supine
Her neck she lean'd:--her sad face to the skies,
What could she more?--she lifted. Unto Jove
By groans, and tears, and mournful lows she plain'd,
And begg'd her woes might end. The mighty god
Around his consort's neck embracing hung.
And pray'd her wrath might finish. "Fear no more
"A rival love, in her," he said, "to see;"
And bade the Stygian streams his words record.
Appeas'd the goddess, Ioe straight resumes
Her wonted shape, as lovely as before.
The rough hair flies; the crooked horns are shed;
Her visual orbits narrow; and her mouth
In size contracts; her arms and hands return;
Parted in five small nails her hoofs are lost:
Nought of the lovely heifer now remains,
Save the bright splendor. On her feet erect
With two now only furnish'd, stands the maid.
To speak she fears, lest bellowing sounds should break,
And timid tries her long-forgotten words.
Of mighty fame a goddess now, she hears
Of nations linen-clad the pious prayers.

Then bore she Epaphus, whose birth deriv'd
From mighty Jove, his temples through the land,
An equal worship with