Page:Ovid's Metamorphoses (Vol. 2) - tr Garth, Dryden, et. al. (1727).djvu/99

Book 10. Fir'd with this Thought, at once he strain'd the Breast, And on the Lips a burning Kiss impress'd. 'Tis true, the hardned Breast resists the Gripe, And the cold Lips return a Kiss unripe: But when, retiring back, he look'd again, To think it Iv'ry, was a Thought too mean: So, wou'd believe she kiss'd and courting more, Again embrac'd her naked Body o'er; And straining hard the Statue, was afraid His Hands had made a Dint, and hurt his Maid: Explor'd her Limb by Limb, and fear'd to find So rude a Gripe had left a livid Mark behind: With Flatt'ry now he seeks her Mind to move, And now with Gifts, (the pow'rful Bribes of Love:) He furnishes her Closet first and fills The crowded Shelves with rarities of Shells; Adds Orient Pearls, which from the Conchs he drew, And all the sparkling Stones of various Hue: And Parrots, imitating Human Tongue, And Singing-birds in Silver Cages hung; And ev'ry fragrant Flow'r, and od'rous Green Were sorted well, with Lumps of Amber laid between: Rich fashionable Robes her Person deck, Pendants her Ears, and Pearls adorn her Neck: Her taper'd Fingers too with Rings are grac'd, And an embroider'd Zone surrounds her slender Waste. Thus like a Queen array'd, so richly dress'd, Beauteous she show'd, but naked shew'd the best. Then, from the Floor, he rais'd a Royal Bed, With Cov'rings of Sydonian Purple spread: The solemn Rites perform'd, he calls his Bride, With Blandishments invites her to his Side; And as she were with vital Sense possess'd, Her Head did on a plumy Pillow rest. The Feast of Venus came, a solemn Day, To which the Cypriots due Devotion pay; II.