Long had Jove seen this, watching from his lofty seat, and to Venus he thus enfolded the secrets of his heart: “Goddess of Cythera, I will impart to thee my hidden troubles; long ago I decided that fair Proserpine should be given in marriage to the lord of Hell; such is Atropos’ bidding, such old Themis’ prophecy. Now that her mother has left her is the time for action. Do thou visit the confines of Sicily, and armed with thy wiles, lead Ceres’ daughter to sport in the level meads what time to-morrow’s light has unfolded the rosy dawn; employ those arts with which thou art wont to inflame all things, often even myself. Why should the nether kingdoms know not love? Let no land be free and no breast even amid the shades unfired by Venus. At last let the gloomy Fury [121] Cybele and Cybebe are alternative forms in Latin. The normal English form is Cybele. * * * * * Page 310 sentiat ardores; Acheron Ditisque severi ferrea lascivis mollescant corda sagittis.” Accelerat praecepta Venus; iussuque parentis Pallas et inflexo quae terret Maenala cornu 230 addunt se comites. divino semita gressu claruit, augurium qualis laturus iniquum praepes sanguineo dilabitur igne cometes prodigiale rubens: non illum navita tuto, non impune vident populi, sed crine minaci 235 nuntiat aut ratibus ventos aut urbibus hostes. devenere locum, Cereris quo tecta nitebant Cyclopum firmata manu: stant ardua ferro moenia, ferrati postes, inmensaque nectit claustra chalybs. nullum tanto sudore Pyragmon 240 nec Steropes construxit opus: non talibus umquam spiravere Notis animae nec flumine tanto incoctum maduit lassa cervice metallum. atria cingit ebur; trabibus solidatur aënis culmen et in celsas surgunt electra columnas. 245 Ipsa domum tenero mulcens Proserpina cantu inrita texebat rediturae munera matri. hic elementorum seriem sedesque paternas insignibat acu, veterem qua lege tumultum discrevit Natura parens et semina iustis 250 discessere locis: quidquid leve, fertur in altum; in medium graviora cadunt; incanduit aër; legit flamma polum; fluxit mare; terra pependit. nec color unus erat: stellas accendit in auro, * * * * * Page 311 feel the sting of passion and Acheron and the steely heart of stern Dis grow tender with love’s arrows.”