And then with prayers implored the powers divine;-- Almighty Gods, if all we mortals want, If all we can require, be yours to grant, Make this fair statue mine,--he would have said, } But changed his words for shame, and only prayed, } Give me the likeness of my ivory maid!-- } The golden Goddess, present at the prayer, Well knew he meant the inanimated fair, And gave the sign of granting his desire; For thrice in cheerful flames ascends the fire. The youth, returning to his mistress, hies, } And impudent in hope, with ardent eyes, } And beating breast, by the dear statue lies. } He kisses her white lips, renews the bliss, And looks and thinks they redden at the kiss; He thought them warm before: nor longer stays, But next his hand on her hard bosom lays; Hard as it was, beginning to relent, It seemed the breast beneath his fingers bent; He felt again, his fingers made a print, 'Twas flesh, but flesh so firm, it rose against the dint. The pleasing task he fails not to renew; Soft, and more soft at every touch it grew; Like pliant wax, when chafing hands reduce The former mass to form, and frame to use. He would believe, but yet is still in pain, } And tries his argument of sense again, } Presses the pulse, and feels the leaping vein. } Convinced, o'erjoyed, his studied thanks and praise, To her who made the miracle, he pays; Then lips to lips he joined; now freed from fear, He found the savour of the kiss sincere. At this the wakened image oped her eyes, And viewed at once the light and lover with surprise. The goddess, present at the match she made, So blessed the bed, such fruitfulness conveyed, That ere ten moons had sharpened either horn, To crown their bliss, a lovely boy was born; Paphos his name, who, grown to manhood, walled The city Paphos, from the founder called. FOOTNOTES: [28] The parrots are of Dryden's introduction. CINYRAS AND MYRRHA. OUT OF THE TENTH BOOK OF OVID'S METAMORPHOSES. _There needs no connection of this story with the former; for the beginning of this immediately follows the end of the last: The reader is only to take notice, that Orpheus, who relates both, was by birth a Thracian; and his country far distant from Cyprus, where Myrrha was born, and from Arabia, whither she fled. You will see the reason of this note, soon after the first lines of this fable._