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Arched mountain…wise closed round him； and within Its mighty bosom
welcomed； and let speed To the deep river…bed。 And now； with eyes Of
wonder gazing on his mother's hall And watery kingdom and cave…
prisoned pools And echoing groves； he went； and； stunned by that
Stupendous whirl of waters； separate saw All streams beneath the mighty
earth that glide； Phasis and Lycus； and that fountain…head Whence first the
deep Enipeus leaps to light； Whence father Tiber； and whence Anio's flood；
And Hypanis that roars amid his rocks； And Mysian Caicus； and； bull…
browed 'Twixt either gilded horn； Eridanus； Than whom none other
through the laughing plains More furious pours into the purple sea。 Soon
as the chamber's hanging roof of stone Was gained； and now Cyrene from
her son Had heard his idle weeping； in due course Clear water for his
hands the sisters bring； With napkins of shorn pile； while others heap The
board with dainties； and set on afresh The brimming goblets； with
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Panchaian fires Upleap the altars； then the mother spake； 〃Take beakers of
Maconian wine；〃 she said； 〃Pour we to Ocean。〃 Ocean； sire of all； She
worships； and the sister…nymphs who guard The hundred forests and the
hundred streams； Thrice Vesta's fire with nectar clear she dashed； Thrice to
the roof…top shot the flame and shone： Armed with which omen she
essayed to speak： 〃In Neptune's gulf Carpathian dwells a seer； Caerulean
Proteus； he who metes the main With fish…drawn chariot of two…footed
steeds； Now visits he his native home once more； Pallene and the
Emathian ports； to him We nymphs do reverence； ay； and Nereus old； For
all things knows the seer； both those which are And have been； or which
time hath yet to bring； So willed it Neptune； whose portentous flocks； And
loathly sea…calves 'neath the surge he feeds。 Him first； my son； behoves
thee seize and bind That he may all the cause of sickness show； And grant
a prosperous end。 For save by force No rede will he vouchsafe； nor shalt
thou bend His soul by praying； whom once made captive； ply With
rigorous force and fetters； against these His wiles will break and spend
themselves in vain。 I； when the sun has lit his noontide fires； When the
blades thirst； and cattle love the shade； Myself will guide thee to the old
man's haunt； Whither he hies him weary from the waves； That thou mayst
safelier steal upon his sleep。 But when thou hast gripped him fast with
hand and gyve； Then divers forms and bestial semblances Shall mock thy
grasp； for sudden he will change To bristly boar； fell tigress； dragon scaled；
And tawny…tufted lioness； or send forth A crackling sound of fire； and so
shake of The fetters； or in showery drops anon Dissolve and vanish。 But
the more he shifts His endless transformations； thou； my son； More
straitlier clench the clinging bands； until His body's shape return to that
thou sawest； When with closed eyelids first he sank to sleep。〃 So
saying； an odour of ambrosial dew She sheds around； and all his frame
therewith Steeps throughly； forth from his trim…combed locks Breathed
effluence sweet； and a lithe vigour leapt Into his limbs。 There is a cavern
vast Scooped in the mountain…side； where wave on wave By the wind's
stress is driven； and breaks far up Its inmost creeks… safe anchorage from
of old For tempest…taken mariners： therewithin； Behind a rock's huge
barrier； Proteus hides。 Here in close covert out of the sun's eye The youth
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29BC THE GEORGICS
she places； and herself the while Swathed in a shadowy mist stands far
aloof。 And now the ravening dog…star that burns up The thirsty Indians
blazed in heaven； his course The fiery sun had half devoured： the blades
Were parched； and the void streams with droughty jaws Baked to their
mud…beds by the scorching ray； When Proteus seeking his accustomed
cave Strode from the billows： round him frolicking The watery folk that
people the waste sea Sprinkled the bitter brine…dew far and wide。 Along
the shore in scattered groups to feed The sea…calves stretch them： while the
seer himself； Like herdsman on the hills when evening bids The steers
from pasture to their stall repair； And the lambs' bleating whets the
listening wolves； Sits midmost on the rock and tells his tale。 But Aristaeus；
the foe within his clutch； Scarce suffering him compose his aged limbs；
With a great cry leapt on him； and ere he rose Forestalled him with the
fetters； he nathless； All unforgetful of his ancient craft； Transforms himself
to every wondrous thing； Fire and a fearful beast； and flowing stream。 But
when no trickery found a path for flight； Baffled at length； to his own
shape returned； With human lips he spake； 〃Who bade thee； then； So
reckless in youth's hardihood； affront Our portals？ or what wouldst thou
hence？〃… But he； 〃Proteus； thou knowest； of thine own heart thou knowest；
For thee there is no cheating； but cease thou To practise upon me： at
heaven's behest I for my fainting fortunes hither come An oracle to ask
thee。〃 There he ceased。 Whereat the seer； by stubborn force constrained；
Shot forth the grey light of his gleaming eyes Upon him； and with fiercely
gnashing teeth Unlocks his lips to spell the fates of heaven： 〃Doubt not
'tis wrath divine that plagues thee thus； Nor light the debt thou payest； 'tis
Orpheus' self； Orpheus unhappy by no fault of his； So fates prevent not；
fans thy penal fires； Yet madly raging for his ravished bride。 She in her
haste to shun thy hot pursuit Along the stream； saw not the coming death；
Where at her feet kept ward upon the bank In the tall grass a monstrous
water…snake。 But with their cries the Dryad…band her peers Filled up the
mountains to their proudest peaks： Wailed for her fate the heights of
Rhodope； And tall Pangaea； and； beloved of Mars； The land that bowed to
Rhesu