Page:Ovid's Metamorphoses (Vol. 2) - tr Garth, Dryden, et. al. (1727).djvu/109

Book 10. Secure of Shame, because secure of Sight; Ev'n bashful Sins are impudent by Night. Link'd Hand in Hand, th' Accomplice, and the Dame, Their Way exploring, to the Chamber came: The Door was ope; they blindly grope their Way, Where dark in Bed th' expecting Monarch lay. Thus far her Courage held, but here forsakes; Her faint Knees knock at ev'ry Step she makes. The nearer to her Crime, the more within She feels Remorse, and Horror of her Sin; Repents too late her criminal Desire, And wishes, that unknown she could retire. Her lingring thus, the Nurse (who fear'd Delay The fatal Secret might at length betray) Pull'd forward, to compleat the Work begun, And said to Cinyras, Receive thy own. Thus saying, she deliver'd Kind to Kind, Accurs'd, and their devoted Bodies join'd. The Sire, unknowing of the Crime, admits His Bowels, and profanes the hallow'd Sheets; He found she trembled, but believ'd she strove With Maiden Modesty against her Love, And sought with flatt'ring Words vain Fancies to remove. Perhaps he said, My Daughter, cease thy Fears, (Because the Title suited with her Years;) And Father, she might whisper him again, That Names might not be wanting to the Sin. Full of her Sire, she left th' incestuous Bed, And carry'd in her Womb the Crime she bred. Another, and another Night she came; For frequent Sin had left no Sense of Shame: Till Cinyras desir'd to see her Face, Whose Body he had held in close Embrace, And brought a Taper; the Revealer, Light, Expos'd both Crime, and Criminal to Sight. Grief,