Page:Ovid's Metamorphoses (Vol. 1) - tr Garth, Dryden, et. al. (1727).djvu/98

26 Th' Almighty Leacher, careful to prevent The Consequence, foreseeing her Descent, Transforms his Mistress in a trice; and now In Io's place appears a lovely Cow. So sleek her Skin, so faultless was her Make, Ev'n Juno did unwilling Pleasure take To see so fair a Rival of her Love; And what she was, and whence, enquir'd of Jove; Of what fair Herd, and from what Pedigree? The God, half caught, was forc'd upon a Lye: And said she sprung from Earth. She took the Word, And begg'd the beauteous Heyfer of her Lord. What should he do? 'twas equal shame to Jove, Or to relinquish, or betray his Love: Yet to refuse so slight a Gift, wou'd be But more t' increase his Consort's Jealousie: Thus Fear and Love, by turns, his Heart assail'd: And stronger Love had sure, at length, prevail'd: But some faint Hope remain'd, his jealous Queen Had not the Mistress through the Heyfer seen. The cautious Goddess, of her Gift possest, Yet harbour'd anxious Thoughts within her Breast; As she who knew the falshood of her Jove; And justly fear'd some new relapse of Love. Which to prevent, and to secure her Care, To trusty Argus she commits the fair. The Head of Argus (as with Stars the Skies) Was compass'd round, and wore an hundred Eyes. But two by turns their Lips in Slumber steep, The rest on Duty still their Station keep, Nor cou'd the total Constellation Sleep. Thus, ever present, to his Eyes, and Mind, His Charge was still before him, tho' behind. In Fields he suffer'd her to feed by Day, But when the setting Sun to Night gave way, The