Odious to gods, and born to bitter fate? Whom scarce my sheep, and scarce my painful plough, } The needful aids of human life allow: } So wretched is thy son, so hard a mother thou! } Proceed, inhuman parent, in thy scorn; } Root up my trees; with blights destroy my corn; } My vineyards ruin, and my sheepfolds burn. } Let loose thy rage; let all thy spite be shown, Since thus thy hate pursues the praises of thy son." But, from her mossy bower below the ground, } His careful mother heard the plaintive sound-- } Encompassed with her sea-green sisters round.[22] } One common work they plied; their distaffs full With carded locks of blue Milesian wool. Spio, with Drymo brown, and Xantho fair, And sweet Phyllodoce with long dishevelled hair; Cydippe with Lycorias, one a maid, And one that once had called Lucina's aid; Clio and Beroë, from one father both; Both girt with gold, and clad in party-coloured cloth; Opis the meek, and Deiopeia proud; Nisæa lofty, with Ligea loud; Thalia joyous, Ephyre the sad, } And Arethusa, once Diana's maid, } But now (her quiver left) to love betrayed. } To these Clymene the sweet theft declares Of Mars; and Vulcan's unavailing cares; And all the rapes of gods, and every love, From ancient Chaos down to youthful Jove. Thus while she sings, the sisters turn the wheel, Empty the woolly rock, and fill the reel. A mournful sound again the mother hears; Again the mournful sound invades the sisters' ears. Starting at once from their green seats, they rise-- Fear in their heart, amazement in their eyes. But Arethusa, leaping from her bed, } First lifts above the waves her beauteous head, } And, crying from afar, thus to Cyrene said:-- } "O sister, not with causeless fear possest! No stranger voice disturbs thy tender breast. 'Tis Aristæus, 'tis thy darling son, Who to his careless mother makes his moan. Near his paternal stream he sadly stands, With downcast eyes, wet cheeks, and folded hands, Upbraiding heaven from whence his lineage came, And cruel calls the gods, and cruel thee, by name." Cyrene, moved with love, and seized with fear, Cries out,--"Conduct my son, conduct him here: 'Tis lawful for the youth, derived from gods, To view the secrets of our deep abodes." At once she waved her hand on either side; At once the ranks of swelling streams divide. Two rising heaps of liquid crystal stand, And leave a space betwixt of empty sand. Thus safe received, the downward track he treads, Which to his mother's watery palace leads. With wondering eyes he views the secret store Of lakes, that pent in hollow caverns, roar; He hears the crackling sounds of coral woods,