Page:Ovid's Metamorphoses (Vol. 2) - tr Garth, Dryden, et. al. (1727).djvu/131

Book 11. And while he washes, as the Servants pour, His Touch converts the Stream to Danae's Show'r. To see these Miracles so finely wrought, Fires with transporting Joy his giddy Thought. The ready Slaves prepare a sumptuous Board, Spread with rich Dainties for their happy Lord; Whose pow'rful Hands the Bread no sooner hold, But its whole Substance is transform'd to Gold: Up to his Mouth he lifts the sav'ry Meat, Which turns to Gold as he attempts to eat: His Patron's noble Juice of purple Hue, Touch'd by his Lips, a gilded Cordial grew; Unfit for Drink, and wondrous to behold, It trickles from his Jaws a fluid Gold. The rich poor Fool, confounded with Surprize, Starving in all his various Plenty lies: Sick of his Wish, he now detests the Pow'r, For which he ask'd so earnestly before; Amidst his Gold with pinching Famine curst; And justly tortur'd with an equal Thirst. At last his shining Arms to Heav'n he rears, And in Distress, for Refuge, flies to Pray'rs. O Father Bacchus, I have sinn'd he cry'd, And foolishly thy gracious Gift apply'd; Thy Pity now, repenting, I implore; Oh! may I feel the golden Plague no more. The hungry Wretch, his Folly thus confest, Touch'd the kind Deity's good-natur'd Breast; The gentle God annull'd his first Decree, And from the cruel Compact set him free. But then, to cleanse him quite from further Harm, And to dilute the Relicks of the Charm, He bids him seek the Stream that cuts the Land Nigh where the Tow'rs of Lydian Sardis stand; Then trace the River to the Fountain Head, And meet it rising from it's rocky Bed; Rh