Page:Rape of Prosperine - Claudian (1854).djvu/25


 * But now her dragon yoke hath reached the gate

Of that rock-temple, where in awful state Sits Ida's Goddess: o'er the gloomy shrine Depend the branches of a shadowing pine, Mid which—tho' storms are hush'd—the trembling cones Give forth the music of mysterious moans. Within, fanatic dances, and the sound Of wildest concert, pierce the halls around; O'er Ida's heights the maddening influence swells, And Gargar's forests shudder at the yells.
 * As Ceres comes, the cymbal's roar is stay'd,

No arm impels the Corybantine blade; No restless hands the pipe or timbrel vex; The lions gently bow their brindled necks; And glad Cybelle from her seat springs down, And stoops—a kiss to meet—her towery crown.
 * This Jove had witness'd from his lofty throne,

And thus to Venus made his counsels known. "Cythera's Goddess, I reveal to thee The secret of my cares, the firm decree, That Proserpine shall wed th' infernal King: So Fate ordain'd it—so was wont to sing Primeval Themis; time conspires, and now, (Her mother absent from her charge) do thou