The World's Greatest Books [Volumes 1-15, 17-20]

The stones—who shall believe, save that grey-eld

Bears witness ?—laid aside solidity,

And as they softened drew a new shape on:

Then bigger grown, with milder nature graced,

They seemed to shadow forth the form of man^

Nor clearly yet, but as a statue might

Of marble incomplete, or image rude.

Howbeit, what in them was filled with juice,

What earthy, was transformed to use of flesh;

What solid and unbendable, to bone.

Stones from the man's hands took the shape of males,

And what the woman cast renewed her kind .

Thence springs our race, hardened, inured to toil,

Bearing the proofs of stony origin.

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DAPHNE TURNED INTO A BAY-TREE

Peneus'* daughter, Daphne, was the first

Apollo loved, not with a passion blind,

Chance-killed, but by Cupid's anger wrought.

The Delian god, proud of his archery,

Saw Cupid bend his well-strung bow, and said:

" Thou wanton boy, what mean those gallant arms—

Such harness as my shoulders well might wear,

For I can wound a quarry or a foe.

Content thee with thy torch to fare in quest

Of amours : lay no claim to my renown ! "

Then Venus' son: " O, Phoebus, let thy bow Shoot all things, but 'tis mine to shoot at thee!" He spake, and from his quiver drew a pair Of diverse shafts: one makes, one frightens love. The dart of love is golden, burnished sharp; The other, blunt with lead beneath the reed. With one the Love-god shot the nymph; with one Transfixed Apollo's inmost heart: and straight He is in love; she loathes a lover's name. Full many suitors wooed her; whom she scorned, And coy to man the pathless woodland ranged, Unheeding what love is, what wedlock means. Her sire said oft: " O daughter, thou must wed." But hating, like a crime, the marriage-torch, With fair face mantled in red modesty, She threw fond arms around her father's neck, And pleaded: " Father dear, grant me for aye To live a maid: Such boon Diana won."

He doth comply; but her sweet comeliness Forbids her hopes: it harms her to be fair. For Phoebus loves, and he would Daphne wed; And what he would, he hopes: his oracles For once do cheat the god of prophecy. He sees her locks float careless o'er her neck, And sighs: " What would they be with care adorned ? "

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Sees eyes flash star-like, sees her pretty lips— Which he is ill-contented but to see.

Swifter than wind, she flees from his appeaclass="underline" " O stay, Penean nymph: I am no foe. Stay, nymph ! So might a lamb flee from a wolf; But love it is that prompteth my pursuit. Ah, me! lest stumbling thou shouldst prick on thorns Feet that deserve no pain—and I the cause! I am no shepherd boor; I have no flocks To tend. Thou knowest not, rash maid, Whom thou dost shun: and so thou shunnest me Whom Delphi, Claros, Tenedos do own For lord: and one whose sire is Jupiter."

More had he spoken, but in panic she Fled from him with his pleading incomplete. How lovely in her flight! The breezes tossed Her flying raiment as they met her limbs. But her pursuer, on love's wings sustained, Gains on her, granting never a respite, Till on her floating tresses he doth breathe. OutAvorn she blenched and prayed the River-god, " O father, aid me by thy stream divine! O change my beauty that hath been too great! "

Scarce had she prayed when numbness seized her limbs: A filmy bark her bosom soft enfolds; Her hair to leaves, her arms to branches turn, And feet so swift of late cling fast to roots. Still Phoebus loves the tree, and, hand on stem, Still feels a heart throb 'neath the new-grown bark—• Prints kisses on the wood, which seems to shrink. " Since thou canst never be my bride," he cries, " Thou shalt, O laurel, be my tree: my locks Shall wear thee, and my harp and quiver, too. There shall attend the Roman generals When gleeful shouts shall triumph celebrate, And long processions through the Capitol.

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E'en as my head is young with locks unshorn. So keep, my bay, thy leafage ever green! "

THE CHARIOTING OF PHAETHON

Young Phaethon was one day taunted with his birth, by one who asserted that his mother Clymene lied when sue declared his father to be the Sun-god Apollo. The lad, being of too high spirit tamely to brook insult, determined to learn the truth. Into the glorious palace of the Sun he made his way, and entered Apollo's presence.

In purple raiment clad, the Sun-god sat On throne alit with brilliant emeralds. To right and left were Day and Month and Year, The Ages, and, at equal spaces, Hours. Fresh Spring stood wreathed in diadem of blooms, And light-clad Summer chaplet-decked with grain; There Autumn stood, with trodden grapes besmeared, And icy Winter white and rough of hair. Midmost himself, the Sun did turn those eyes Wherewith he seeth all, upon the youth Affrighted at the marvels of the scene, And asks, " What brings thee here, my Phaethon, My son, whom never thy sire shall disavow ? " The youth replied: " O, universal light Of this wide world, O, Phcebus, father mine, Such pledges grant me as shall prove that I Am thine own son, and clear my mind of doubt" Then did his sire take flashing from his head His sun-beam halo, called the youth to him, And so, embracing, " Thou dost ill deserve," He cried, " that any should deny thee mine. My Clymene hath truly told thy birth, That thou mayest doubt no more, ask what thou wilt For boon. As witness of my words I name That unseen lake by which a god doth swear! " The oath scarce sworn, he begged his father's car— For one day's full control and governance Of those wing-footed chargers of the Sunl