By Thetis and Aurora thou wert won To forge impenetrable shields, and grace With fated arms a less illustrious race. Behold, what haughty nations are combin’d Against the relics of the Phrygian kind, With fire and sword my people to destroy, And conquer Venus twice, in conqu’ring Troy.” She said; and straight her arms, of snowy hue, About her unresolving husband threw. Her soft embraces soon infuse desire; His bones and marrow sudden warmth inspire; And all the godhead feels the wonted fire. Not half so swift the rattling thunder flies, Or forky lightnings flash along the skies. The goddess, proud of her successful wiles, And conscious of her form, in secret smiles. Then thus the pow’r, obnoxious to her charms, Panting, and half dissolving in her arms: “Why seek you reasons for a cause so just, Or your own beauties or my love distrust? Long since, had you requir’d my helpful hand, Th’ artificer and art you might command, To labour arms for Troy: nor Jove, nor fate, Confin’d their empire to so short a date. And, if you now desire new wars to wage, My skill I promise, and my pains engage. Whatever melting metals can conspire, Or breathing bellows, or the forming fire, Is freely yours: your anxious fears remove, And think no task is difficult to love.” Trembling he spoke; and, eager of her charms, He snatch’d the willing goddess to his arms; Till in her lap infus’d, he lay possess’d Of full desire, and sunk to pleasing rest. Now when the night her middle race had rode, And his first slumber had refresh’d the god— The time when early housewives leave the bed; When living embers on the hearth they spread, Supply the lamp, and call the maids to rise;— With yawning mouths, and with half-open’d eyes, They ply the distaff by the winking light, And to their daily labour add the night: Thus frugally they earn their children’s bread, And uncorrupted keep the nuptial bed— Not less concern’d, nor at a later hour, Rose from his downy couch the forging pow’r.