Page:Ovid's Metamorphoses (Vol. 2) - tr Garth, Dryden, et. al. (1727).djvu/255

Book 14. Lest the licentious, and unthrifty Bough, The too indulgent Parent should undo. She shows, how Stocks invite to their Embrace A Graft, and naturalize a foreign Race To mend the Salvage Teint; and in its Stead Adopt new Nature, and a nobler Breed. Now hourly she observes her growing Care, And guards their Nonage from the bleaker Air: Then opes her streaming Sluices to supply With flowing Draughts her thirsty Family. Long had she labour'd to continue free From Chains of Love, and Nuptial Tyranny; And in her Orchard's small Extent immur'd, Her vow'd Virginity she still secur'd, Oft would lose Pan, and all the lustful Train Of Satyrs, tempt her Innocence in vain. Silenus, that old Dotard, own'd a Flame; And he, that frights the Thieves with Stratagem Of Sword, and something else too gross to name. Vertumnus too pursu'd the Maid no less; But, with his Rivals, shar'd a like Success. To gain Access a thousand Ways he tries; Oft, in the Hind, the Lover would disguise. The heedless Lout comes shambling on, and seems Just sweating from the Labour of his Teams. Then, from the Harvest, oft the mimick Swain Seems bending with a Load of bearded Grain. Sometimes a Dresser of the Vine he feigns, And lawless Tendrils to their Bounds restrains. Sometimes his Sword a Soldier shews; his Rod An Angler; still so various is the God. Now, in a Forhead-Cloth, some Crone he seems, A Staff supplying the Defect of Limbs; Admittance thus he gains; admires the Store Of fairest Fruit; the fair Possessor more; Then