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grim leanness mars Their visage； then from out the cells they bear Forms
reft of light； and lead the mournful pomp； Or foot to foot about the porch
they hang； Or within closed doors loiter； listless all From famine； and
benumbed with shrivelling cold。 Then is a deep note heard； a long…drawn
hum； As when the chill South through the forests sighs； As when the
troubled ocean hoarsely booms With back…swung billow； as ravening tide
of fire Surges； shut fast within the furnace…walls。 Then do I bid burn
scented galbanum； And； honey…streams through reeden troughs instilled；
Challenge and cheer their flagging appetite To taste the well…known food；
and it shall boot To mix therewith the savour bruised from gall； And rose…
leaves dried； or must to thickness boiled By a fierce fire； or juice of raisin…
grapes From Psithian vine； and with its bitter smell Centaury； and the
famed Cecropian thyme。 There is a meadow…flower by country folk Hight
star…wort； 'tis a plant not far to seek； For from one sod an ample growth it
rears； Itself all golden； but girt with plenteous leaves； Where glory of
purple shines through violet gloom。 With chaplets woven hereof full oft
are decked Heaven's altars： harsh its taste upon the tongue； Shepherds in
vales smooth…shorn of nibbling flocks By Mella's winding waters gather it。
The roots of this； well seethed in fragrant wine； Set in brimmed baskets at
their doors for food。 But if one's whole stock fail him at a stroke； Nor
hath he whence to breed the race anew； 'Tis time the wondrous secret to
disclose Taught by the swain of Arcady； even how The blood of
slaughtered bullocks oft has borne Bees from corruption。 I will trace me
back To its prime source the story's tangled thread； And thence unravel。
For where thy happy folk； Canopus； city of Pellaean fame； Dwell by the
Nile's lagoon…like overflow； And high o'er furrows they have called their
own Skim in their painted wherries； where； hard by； The quivered Persian
presses； and that flood Which from the swart…skinned Aethiop bears him
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down； Swift…parted into sevenfold branching mouths With black mud
fattens and makes Aegypt green； That whole domain its welfare's hope
secure Rests on this art alone。 And first is chosen A strait recess； cramped
closer to this end； Which next with narrow roof of tiles atop 'Twixt
prisoning walls they pinch； and add hereto From the four winds four
slanting window…slits。 Then seek they from the herd a steer； whose horns
With two years' growth are curling； and stop fast； Plunge madly as he may；
the panting mouth And nostrils twain； and done with blows to death；
Batter his flesh to pulp i' the hide yet whole； And shut the doors； and leave
him there to lie。 But 'neath his ribs they scatter broken boughs； With thyme
and fresh…pulled cassias： this is done When first the west winds bid the
waters flow； Ere flush the meadows with new tints； and ere The twittering
swallow buildeth from the beams。 Meanwhile the juice within his softened
bones Heats and ferments； and things of wondrous birth； Footless at first；
anon with feet and wings； Swarm there and buzz； a marvel to behold； And
more and more the fleeting breeze they take； Till； like a shower that pours
from summer…clouds； Forth burst they； or like shafts from quivering string
When Parthia's flying hosts provoke the fray。 Say what was he； what
God； that fashioned forth This art for us； O Muses？ of man's skill Whence
came the new adventure？ From thy vale； Peneian Tempe； turning； bee…
bereft； So runs the tale； by famine and disease； Mournful the shepherd
Aristaeus stood Fast by the haunted river…head； and thus With many a
plaint to her that bare him cried： 〃Mother； Cyrene； mother； who hast thy
home Beneath this whirling flood； if he thou sayest； Apollo； lord of
Thymbra； be my sire； Sprung from the Gods' high line； why barest thou
me With fortune's ban for birthright？ Where is now Thy love to me…ward
banished from thy breast？ O！ wherefore didst thou bid me hope for heaven？
Lo！ even the crown of this poor mortal life； Which all my skilful care by
field and fold； No art neglected； scarce had fashioned forth； Even this falls
from me； yet thou call'st me son。 Nay； then； arise！ With thine own hands
pluck up My fruit…plantations： on the homestead fling Pitiless fire； make
havoc of my crops； Burn the young plants； and wield the stubborn axe
Against my vines； if there hath taken the Such loathing of my greatness。〃
But that cry； Even from her chamber in the river…deeps； His mother heard：
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around her spun the nymphs Milesian wool stained through with hyaline
dye； Drymo； Xantho； Ligea； Phyllodoce； Their glossy locks o'er snowy
shoulders shed； Cydippe and Lycorias yellow…haired； A maiden one； one
newly learned even then To bear Lucina's birth…pang。 Clio； too； And Beroe；
sisters； ocean…children both； Both zoned with gold and girt with dappled
fell； Ephyre and Opis； and from Asian meads Deiopea； and； bow at length
laid by； Fleet…footed Arethusa。 But in their midst Fair Clymene was telling
o'er the tale Of Vulcan's idle vigilance and the stealth Of Mars' sweet
rapine； and from Chaos old Counted the jostling love…joys of the Gods。
Charmed by whose lay； the while their woolly tasks With spindles down
they drew； yet once again Smote on his mother's ears the mournful plaint
Of Aristaeus； on their glassy thrones Amazement held them all； but
Arethuse Before the rest put forth her auburn head； Peering above the
wave…top； and from far Exclaimed； 〃Cyrene； sister； not for naught Scared
by a groan so deep； behold！ 'tis he； Even Aristaeus； thy heart's fondest care；
Here by the brink of the Peneian sire Stands woebegone and weeping； and
by name Cries out upon thee for thy cruelty。〃 To whom； strange terror
knocking at her heart； 〃Bring； bring him to our sight；〃 the mother cried；
〃His feet may tread the threshold even of Gods。〃 So saying； she bids the
flood yawn wide and yield A pathway for his footsteps； but the wave
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；