Ambrosia, that first made it clear, and after laid on it An od’rous, rich, and sacred oil, that was so wond’rous sweet That ever, when it was but touch’d, it sweeten’d heav’n and earth. Her body being cleans’d with this, her tresses she let forth, And comb’d, her comb dipp’d in the oil, then wrapp’d them up in curls; And, thus her deathless head adorn’d, a heav’nly veil she hurls On her white shoulders, wrought by Her that rules in housewif’ries, Who wove it full of antique works, of most divine device; And this with goodly clasps of gold she fasten’d to her breast. Then with a girdle, whose rich sphere a hundred studs impress’d, She girt her small waist. In her ears, tenderly pierc’d, she wore Pearls, great and orient. On her head, a wreath not worn before Cast beams out like the sun. At last, she to her feet did tie Fair shoes. And thus entire attir’d, she shin’d in open sky, Call’d the fair Paphian Queen apart from th’ other Gods, and said: “Lov’d daughter! Should I ask a grace, should I, or be obey’d? Or wouldst thou cross me, being incens’d, since I cross thee and take The Greeks’ part, thy hand helping Troy?” She answer’d, “That shall make No diff’rence in a diff’rent cause. Ask, ancient Deity, What most contents thee. My mind stands inclin’d as liberally To grant it as thine own to ask; provided that it be A favour fit and in my pow’r.” She, giv’n deceitfully, Thus said: “Then give me those two pow’rs, with which both men and Gods Thou vanquishest, Love and Desire; for now the periods Of all the many-feeding earth, and the original Of all the Gods, Oceanus, and Thetis whom we call Our Mother, I am going to greet. They nurst me in their court, And brought me up, receiving me in most respectful sort From Phæa, when Jove under earth and the unfruitful seas Cast Saturn. These I go to see, intending to appease Jars grown betwixt them, having long abstain’d from speech and bed; Which jars, could I so reconcile, that in their anger’s stead I could place love, and so renew their first society, I should their best lov’d be esteem’d, and honour’d endlessly.” She answer’d: “’Tis not fit, nor just, thy will should be denied, Whom Jove in his embraces holds.” This spoken, she untied, And from her od’rous bosom took, her Ceston, in whose sphere Were all enticements to delight, all loves, all longings were, Kind conference, fair speech, whose pow’r the wisest doth inflame. This she resigning to her hands, thus urg’d her by her name: “Receive this bridle, thus fair-wrought, and put it ’twixt thy breasts, Where all things to be done are done; and whatsoever rests In thy desire return with it.” The great-ey’d Juno smil’d, And put it ’twixt her breasts. Love’s Queen, thus cunningly beguil’d, To Jove’s court flew. Saturnia, straight stooping from heav’n’s height, Pieria and Emathia, those countries of delight, Soon reach’d, and to the snowy mounts, where Thracian soldiers dwell, Approaching, pass’d their tops untouch’d. From Athos then she fell,