"With all that Scythian Dian's woody realm
"Traverse; and all who haunt the sedgy lakes.
"But he, all these despis'd, lov'd one fair nymph,
"Whom erst Venilia, fame reports, brought forth
"To Janus on Palatiura's mount. When reach'd
"The nuptial age, preferr'd before the rest,
"Laurentian Picus gain'd the lovely maid.
"Wond'rous was she for beauty, wond'rous more
"Her art in song, and hence was Canens nam'd.
"Wont was her voice forests and rocks to move;
"Soothe savage beasts; arrest the course of streams;
"And stay the flying birds. While warbling thus
"With voice mature her song, Picus went forth
"To pierce amid Laurentium's fields the boars,
"Their native dwelling; on a fiery steed
"He rode; two quivering spears his left hand bore;
"His purple vestment golden clasps confin'd.
"In the same woods Apollo's daughter came,
"And from the fertile hills as herbs she cull'd,
"She left the fields, from her Circaean nam'd.
"When, veil'd by twigs herself, the youth she saw,
"Amaz'd she stood. Down from her bosom dropp'd
"The gather'd plants, and quickly through her frame
"The fire was felt to shoot. Soon as her mind
"Collected strength to curb the furious flame,
"She would have told him instant what she wish'd,
"But his impetuous steed, and circling crowd
"Of followers, kept her far.--Yet shalt thou not,
"If I but know my power, me fly; not should
"The winds thee bear away; else is the force
"Of plants all vanished, and my spells deceive.
"She said; and form'd an incorporeal shape
"Like to a boar; and bade it glance across
"The monarch's sight; and seem itself to hide
"In the dense thicket, where the trees grew thick:
"A spot impervious to the courser's foot.
"'Tis done; unwitting Picus eager seeks
"His shadowy prey; leaps from his smoking steed;
"And, vain-hop'd spoil pursuing, wanders deep
"In the thick woods. She baneful words repeats,
"And cursing charms collects. With new-fram'd verse
"Invokes strange deities: verse which erst while
"Has dull'd the splendid circle of the moon;
"And hid with rain-charg'd clouds her father's face.
"This verse repeated, instant heaven grew dark,
"And mists from earth arose: his comrades roam
"Through the dark paths; the king without a guard
"Is left. This spot, and time so suiting gain'd,
"Thus Circe cry'd--O fairest thou of forms!
"By those bright eyes which me enslav'd, by all
"Th