Page:Ovid's Metamorphoses (Vol. 2) - tr Garth, Dryden, et. al. (1727).djvu/80

70 Ev'n her Despair adds Fuel to her Fire; A Maid with Madness does a Maid desire. And, scarce refraining Tears, Alas, said she, What Issue of my Love remains for me! How wild a Passion works within my Breast, With what prodigious Flames am I possest! Could I the Care of Providence deserve, Heav'n must destroy me, if it would preserve. And that's my Fate, or sure it would have fent Some usual Evil for my Punishment: Not this unkindly Curse; to rage and burn, Where Nature shews no Prospect of Return. Nor Cows for Cows consume with fruitless Fire, Nor Mares, when hot, their Fellow-Mares desire: The Father of the Fold supplies his Ewes; The Stag through secret Woods his Hind pursues; And Birds for Mates the Males of their own Species chuse. Her Females Nature guards from Female Flame, And joins two Sexes to preserve the Game: Wou'd I were nothing, or not what I am! Crete, fam'd for Monsters, wanted of her Store, Till my new Love produc'd one Monster more. The Daughter of the Sun a Bull desir'd, And yet ev'n then a Male a Female fir'd: Her Passion was extravagantly new, But mine is much the madder of the two. To things impossible she was not bent, But found the Means to compass her Intent. To cheat his Eyes she took a different Shape; Yet still she gain'd a Lover, and a Leap. Shou'd all the Wit of all the World conspire, Shou'd Dædalus assist my wild Desire, What Art can make me able to enjoy, Or what can change Ianthe to a Boy? Ex-