me,
"To yonder grove upon Quirinus' hill
"Which flourishes, and overshades the fane
"Of Rome's great monarch, haste."--Iris obeys;
Upon her painted bow to earth slides down,
And hails Hersilia in the bidden words.
Her eyes scarce lifting, she with blushing face
Replies--"O goddess! whom thou art, to me
"Unknown; that thou a goddess art is plain.
"Lead me, O lead! shew me my spouse's face:
"Which if fate grant I may once more behold,
"Heaven I'll allow I've seen." Nor waits she more,
But with Thaumantian Iris, to the hill
Of Romulus proceeds. There, shot from heaven,
A star tow'rd earth descended; from its rays
Bright flam'd Hersilia's hair, and with the star
Mounted aloft. Rome's founder's well-known arms
Receive her. Now her former name is chang'd,
As chang'd her body: known as Ora, now,
A goddess, with her great Quirinus join'd.

*The Fifteenth Book.*

Numa's journey to Crotona. The Pythagorean philosophy of
transmigration of the soul, and relation of various
transformations. Death of Numa, and grief of Egeria. Story of
Hippolytus. Change of Egeria to a fountain. Cippus. Visit of
Esculapius to Rome, in the form of a snake. Assassination and
apotheoesis of Julius Caesar. Praise of Augustus. Prophetic
conclusion.

THE *Fifteenth Book* OF THE METAMORPHOSES OF OVID.

Meantime they seek who may the mighty load
Sustain; who may succeed so great a king.
Fame, harbinger of truth, the realm decreed
To noble Numa. Not content to know
The laws and customs of the Sabine race,
His mind capacious grasp'd a larger field.
He sought for nature's laws. Fir'd by this wish,
His country left, he journey'd to the town
Of him, who erst was great Alcides' host:
And as he sought to learn what founder first
These Grecian walls rear'd on Italia's shore,
Thus an old 'habitant, well vers'd in tales
Of yore, reply'd.--"Jove's son, rich in the herds
"Iberia bred, his prosperous journey bent
"By ocean unto fair Lacinia's shores:
"Enter'd himself the hospitable roof
"Of mighty Croto, while his cattle' stray'd
"Amid the tender grass; and his long toil
"Reliev'd by rest. Departing, thus he spoke--
"Here in thy grandson's age a town shall rise.--
"And true the promis'd words; for Myscelos,
"Argive Alemon's son, dear to the gods,
"Beyond all mortals of that time, now liv'd.
"The club-arm'd god, as press'd