I'd spurn:
"Let but the scope be given, soon should he prove
"My strength is equal to my mighty bulk.
"Living his entrails would I tear, and spread
"His mangled members o'er the fields, and o'er
"Thy waters: let him mingle with thee so.
"For oh! I burn; more fierce my injur'd love
"Now rages: in ray breast I seem to bear
"All Etna and its fires. But all my pains
"Can nought, O Galatea! thee affect.--

"Thus with vain 'plainings (for the whole I saw)
"He rises, raging like a furious bull
"Robb'd of his heifer; paces restless round,
"And bounds along the forests and the coasts.
"When me and Acis, heedless of such fate,
"And unsuspecting, he beheld, and roar'd:--
"I see ye! but the period of your love
"Will I accomplish.--Loud his threats were heard,
"As all the Cyclops' power of voice could raise.
"All Etna trembled at the sound. In fright
"I plung'd for safety in the neighbouring waves;
"While fair Symethis' son for flight prepar'd;
"And--help me, Galatea!--he exclaim'd--
"Help me, O help! and ye, my parents, aid;
"And, perishing, receive me in your realm.--
"Close at his heels the Cyclops comes, and hurls
"A mighty fragment from a mountain rent;
"A corner only of the mighty rock
"Him reach'd: that corner Acis all o'erwhelm'd.
"But I, what fate alone would grant, perform'd,
"That Acis still his ancestorial race
"Should join: his purple gore flow'd from the rock;
"And soon the redness pal'd; it seem'd a stream
"Disturb'd by drenching showers; and soon this stream
"Was clear'd to limpid purity. The rock
"Gap'd wide, and living reeds sprung up erect,
"On either brink. Loud roars the pressing flood
"In the rock's hollow womb, and (wond'rous sight!)
"A youth, his new-form'd horns with reeds begirt,
"Sudden appear'd, 'mid waist above the waves;
"Who but in stature larger, and his skin
"Of azure teint, might Acis well be deem'd.
"Acis indeed it was, Acis transform'd
"To a clear stream which still his name retains."

Here Galatea ceas'd, the listening choir
Dividing, all depart. The Nereid train
Swim o'er the placid waves. Scylla returns;
Fearful to venture 'mid the boundless main,
And vestless roams along the soaking sand;
Or weary'd; finding some sequester'd pool,
Cools in the shelter'd waters her fair limbs.
Lo! Glaucus, lately of the mighty deep
An 'habitant receiv'd, his shape transform'd
Upon Boe