The temple doors, as with a blast of wind, Were heard to clap; the lunar horns, that bind The brows of Isis, cast a blaze around; The trembling timbrel made a murmuring sound. Some hopes these happy omens did impart; Forth went the mother with a beating heart, Not much in fear, nor fully satisfied; But Iphis followed with a larger stride: The whiteness of her skin forsook her face; Her looks emboldened with an awful grace; Her features and her strength together grew, And her long hair to curling locks withdrew. Her sparkling eyes with manly vigour shone; Big was her voice, audacious was her tone. The latent parts, at length revealed, began To shoot, and spread, and burnish into man. The maid becomes a youth;--no more delay Your vows, but look, and confidently pay.-- Their gifts the parents to the temple bear; The votive tables this inscription wear;-- Iphis, the man, has to the goddess paid The vows, that Iphis offered when a maid. Now when the star of day had shown his face, Venus and Juno with their presence grace The nuptial rites, and Hymen from above Descended to complete their happy love; The gods of marriage lend their mutual aid, And the warm youth enjoys the lovely maid. FOOTNOTES: [27] Pasiphae. PYGMALION AND THE STATUE. FROM THE TENTH BOOK OF OVID'S METAMORPHOSES. _The Propætides, for their impudent behaviour, being turned into stone by Venus, Pygmalion, Prince of Cyprus, detested all women for their sake, and resolved never to marry. He falls in love with a statue of his own making, which is changed into a maid, whom he marries. One of his descendants is Cinyras, the father of Myrrha; the daughter incestuously loves her own father, for which she is changed into a tree, which bears her name. These two stories immediately follow each other, and are admirably well connected._