to a constellation. Story of Coronis. Tale of the daw
to the raven. Change of the raven's color. Esculapius. Ocyrrhoe's
prophecies, and transformation to a mare. Apollo's herds stolen
by Mercury. Battus' double-dealing, and change to a touchstone.
Mercury's love for Herse. Envy. Aglauros changed to a statue.
Rape of Europa.

THE *Second Book* OF THE METAMORPHOSES OF OVID.

By towering columns bright with burnish'd gold,
And fiery gems, which blaz'd their light around,
Upborne, the palace stood. The lofty roof
With ivory smooth incas'd. The folding doors,
Of silver shone, but much by sculpture grac'd,
For Vulcan there with curious hand had carv'd
The ocean girding in the land; the land;
And heaven o'ershadowing: here cerulean gods
Sport in the waves, grim Triton with his shell;
Proteus shape-changing; and AEgeon huge,--
His mighty arms upon the large broad backs
Of whales hard pressing: Doris and her nymphs:
Some sportive swimming; on a rocky seat
Some their green tresses drying; others borne
By fish swift-gliding: nor the same all seem'd,
Yet sister-like a close resembling look
Each face pervaded. Earth her natives bore,
Mankind;--and woods, and cities, there were seen;
Wild beasts, and streams, and nymphs, and rural gods.
'Bove all the bright display of heaven was hung--
Six signs celestial o'er each portal grav'd.

The daring youth, the steep ascent attain'd,
O'erstepp'd the threshold of his dubious sire,
And hasty rush'd to meet paternal eyes;
But sudden stay'd: so fierce a blaze of light
No nearer he sustain'd. In purple clad,
The god a regal emerald throne upheld;
Encircled round by hours which space the day;
By days themselves; and ages, months, and years.
Crown'd with a flowery garland Spring appear'd:
Chaplets of grain the swarthy brows adorn'd
Of naked Summer: smear'd with trodden grapes
Stood Autumn: icy Winter fill'd the groupe;--
Snow-white his shaggy locks. Sol from the midst
His eyes all-seeing glanc'd upon the youth,
Startled and trembling at the wonderous sight;
And cried:--"What brings my Phaeton, my son,
"Whose sire shall ne'er disclaim him? tell me now,
"What here thou seekest?" Thus the youth replies:--
"O father, Phoebus, universal light!
"If justly, I thy honor'd name may use,
"Nor proudly boasting Clymene conceals
"A crime by falshood; grant paternal signs,
"The