And almost, in the tumult of her mind, Left her forgotten bow and shafts behind. But now Diana, with a sprightly train Of quivered virgins, bounding over the plain, Called to the nymph; the nymph began to fear A second fraud, a Jove disguised in her; But, when she saw the sister nymphs, suppress'd Her rising fears, and mingled with the rest. How in the look does conscious guilt appear! _70 Slowly she moved, and loitered in the rear; Nor slightly tripped, nor by the goddess ran, As once she used, the foremost of the train. Her looks were flushed, and sullen was her mien, That sure the virgin goddess (had she been Aught but a virgin) must the guilt have seen. 'Tis said the nymphs saw all, and guessed aright: And now the moon had nine times lost her light, When Dian, fainting in the mid-day beams, Found a cool covert, and refreshing streams _80 That in soft murmurs through the forest flow'd, And a smooth bed of shining gravel show'd. A covert so obscure, and streams so clear, The goddess praised: 'And now no spies are near, Let's strip, my gentle maids, and wash,' she cries. Pleased with the motion, every maid complies; Only the blushing huntress stood confused, And formed delays, and her delays excused; In vain excused; her fellows round her press'd, And the reluctant nymph by force undress'd. _90 The naked huntress all her shame reveal'd, In vain her hands the pregnant womb conceal'd; 'Begone!' the goddess cries with stern disdain, 'Begone! nor dare the hallowed stream to stain:' She fled, for ever banished from the train. This Juno heard, who long had watched her time To punish the detested rival's crime: The time was come; for, to enrage her more, A lovely boy the teeming rival bore. The goddess cast a furious look, and cried, _100 'It is enough! I'm fully satisfied! This boy shall stand a living mark, to prove My husband's baseness, and the strumpet's love: But vengeance shall awake: those guilty charms, That drew the Thunderer from Juno's arms, No longer shall their wonted force retain, Nor please the god, nor make the mortal vain.' This said, her hand within her hair she wound, Swung her to earth, and dragged her on the ground. The prostrate wretch lifts up her arms in prayer; _110 Her arms grow shaggy, and deformed with hair, Her nails are sharpened into pointed claws, Her hands bear half her weight, and turn to paws; Her lips, that once could tempt a god, begin To grow distorted in an ugly grin. And, lest the supplicating brute might reach The ears of Jove, she was deprived of speech: Her surly voice through a hoarse passage came In savage sounds: her mind was still the same. The furry monster fixed her eyes above, _120 And heaved her new unwieldy paws to Jove, And begged his aid with inward groans; and though She could not call him false, she thought him so.