Page:Ovid's Metamorphoses (Vol. 2) - tr Garth, Dryden, et. al. (1727).djvu/117

Book 10. Alas! I wish thou would'st the Course decline, Or that my Swiftness was excell'd by thine. See! what a Virgin's Bloom adorns the Boy! Why wilt thou run, and why thy self destroy? Hippomenes! O that I ne'er had been By those bright Eyes unfortunately seen! Ah! tempt not thus a swift, untimely Fate; Thy Life is worthy of the longest Date. Were I less wretched, did the galling Chain Of rigid Gods not my free Choice restrain, By thee alone I could with Joy be led To taste the Raptures of a Nuptial Bed. Thus she disclos'd the Woman's secret Heart, Young, innocent, and new to Cupid's Dart. Her Thoughts, her Words, her Actions wildly rove, With Love she burns, yet knows not that 'tis Love. Her Royal Sire now with the murm'ring Crowd Demands the Race impatiently aloud. Hippomenes then with true Fervour pray'd, My bold Attempt let Venus kindly aid. By her sweet Pow'r I felt this am'rous Fire, Still may she succour, whom she did inspire. A soft, unenvious Wind, with speedy Care, Wafted to Heav'n the Lover's tender Pray'r. Pity, I own, soon gain'd the wish'd Consent, And all th' Assistance he implor'd I lent. The Cyprian Lands, tho' rich, in Richness yield, To that, surnam'd the Tamasenian Field. That Field of old was added to my Shrine, And its choice Products consecrated mine. A Tree there stands, full glorious to behold, Gold are the Leafs, the crackling Branches Gold. It chanc'd, three Apples in my Hand I bore, Which newly from the Tree I sportive tore; Seen by the Youth alone, to him I brought, The Fruit, and when, and how to use it, taught. The