rdant grass a pleasing food appears.
"Now am I urg'd along the plain to bound;
"Chang'd to a mare: unto my sire ally'd
"In form,--but why sole chang'd? my father bears
"A two-form'd body;"--Wailing thus, her words
Confus'd and indistinct at length are heard.
Next sounds are utter'd partly human, more
A mare's resembling:--then she neighs aloud;
Treading with alter'd arms the ground: fast join'd
Her fingers now become: a slender hoof
Her toes connecting with continuous horn.
Her head enlarges; and her neck expands;
Her spreading garment floats a beauteous tail:
Her scatter'd tresses o'er her shoulders flung,
Form a thick mane to clothe her spacious neck:
Her voice is alter'd with her alter'd shape:
And change of name the wonderous deed attends.

Deep Chiron mourn'd, O Phoebus, and thy aid
In vain invok'd; for bootless was thy power
Jove's mandate to resist; nor if thou could'st
Then wast thou nigh to help. In Elis far,
And fields Messenian then was thy abode.
Then was the time when shepherd-like a robe
Of skins enwrapp'd thee;--when thy left hand bore
A sylvan staff;--thy right a pipe retain'd,
Of seven unequal reeds. While love engag'd
Thy thoughts, and dulcet music sooth'd thy cares,
'Tis said, thy herds without their herdsman stray'd,
Far to the Pylian meadows. These the son
Of Atlantean Maiae espy'd;
And, slily driven away, within the woods
The cattle artful hid. None saw the deed,
Save one old hoary swain, well known around,
And Battus nam'd; whose post it was to guard
The groves, the grassy meads, and high-bred mares
Of wealthy Neleus. Him the robber fear'd;
Drew him aside, and coaxing thus address'd;--
"Whoe'er thou art, good friend, if here perchance,
"Someone should seek an herd,--say that thou here
"No herd hast seen;--thou shall not lack reward:
"Take this bright heifer:"--and the cow he gave.
The bribe receiv'd, the shepherd thus replies;
"Friend, thou art safe,--that stone shall sooner speak
"And tell thy deed than I:"--and shew'd the stone.
The son of Jove departs, or seems to go;
But soon with alter'd form and voice returns.
"Here, countryman," he cries, "hast thou an herd
"This way observ'd to pass?--no secret keep,
"To aid the theft; an heifer with a bull
"Await thy information." Doubly brib'd,
The hoary rogue betray'd his former trust.
"Beneath those hills," he said, "the herd you'll fi