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DRY OPE

Ο Ρ Ε

IN

A R B O R E M.

IXIT: et, admonitu veteris commota miDIX

nistrae, Ingemuit; quam fic nurus est adfata dolentem: Te tamen, o genitrix, alienae sanguine vestro Rapta movet facies. quid fi tibi mira fororis Fata meae referam? quamquam lacrymaeque dolor

que Impediunt, prohibentque loqui. fuit unica matri (Me pater ex alia genuit) notiffima forma IO Oechalidum Dryope : quam virginitate carentem, Vimque Dei passam, Delphos Delonque tenentis, Excipit Andraemon ; et habetur conjuge felix.

NOTE 3. DRYOPE.] Upon occasion of the death of Hercules, his Mother Alcmena recounts her misfortunes to Iole, who answers with a relation of those of her own family, in par

THE

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D RY O P E.

Ο Ρ Ε

From the NINTH Book of

OVID's METAMORPHOSES.

When the fair Consort of her son replies. Since you a servant’s ravish'd form bemoany And kindly figh for sorrows not your own; Let me (if tears and grief permit) relate

5 A nearer woe, a sister's stranger fate. No Nymph of all Echalia could compare For beauteous form with Dryope the fair, Her tender mother's only hope and pride, (Myself the offspring of a second bride.)

10 This Nymph compress’d by him who rules the day, Whom Delphi and the Delian isle obey, Andræmon lov'd; and, bless'd in all those charms That pleas'd a God, succeeded to her arms.

NOTES. ticular the Transformation of her sister Dryope, which is the subject of the ensuing Fable. P. VOL. II.

N

Et lacus, acclivi devexo margine formam 15
Littoris efficiens: summum myrteta coronant.
Venerat huc Dryope fatorum nescia ; quoque
Indignere magis, Nymphis latura coronas.
Inque finu puerum, qui nondum impleverat annum,
Dulce ferebat onus : tepidique ope lactis alebat. 20
Haud procul a ftagno, Tyrios imitata colores,
In spem baccarum florebat aquatica lotos.
Carpserat hinc Dryope, quos oblectamina nato 25
Porrigeret flores: et idem factura videbar;
Namque aderam. vidi guttas e flore cruentas
Decidere ; et tremulo ramos horrore moveri.
Scilicet, ut referunt tardi nunc denique agrestes,
Lotis in hanc Nymphe, fugiens obscoena Priapi,
Contulerat versos, servato nomine, vultus.

Nescierat soror hoc; quae cum perterrita retro 35
Ire et adoratis vellet discedere Nymphis ;
Haeserunt radice pedes. convellere pugnat: 40

30

A lake there was, with shelving banks around, 15 Whofe verdant summit fragrant myrtles crown'd. Thele shades, unknowing of the fates, she fought, And to the Naiads flow'ry garlands brought; Her smiling babe (a pleasing charge) the prest Within her arms, and nourish'd at her breast. 20 Not distant far, a watry Lotos grows,

, The spring was new, and all the verdant boughs Adorn'd with blossoms promis'd fruits that vie In glowing colours with the Tyrian die : Of these she crop'd to please her infant fon, 25 And I myself the same rash act had done : But lo! I saw (as near her fide I stood) The violated blossoms drop with blood; Upon the tree I cast a frightful look ; The trembling tree with sudden horror fhook.

30 Lotis the nymph (if rural tales be true) As from Priapus' lawless luft she flew, Forsook her form; and fixing here became A flow'ry plant, which fill preserves her name.

This change unknown, astonish'd at the fight 35 My trembling sister strove to urge her flight, And first the pardon of the nymphs implor’d, And those offended fylvan pow'rs ador’d: But when she backward would have fled, she found Her stiff'ning feet were rooted in the ground : 40

а

Nec quidquam, nis summa, movet. fuccrefcit ab imo,
Totaque paulatim lentus premit inguina cortex.
Ut vidit ; conata manu laniare capillos,
Fronde manum implevit: frondes caput omne tene-
bant.

45
At puer Amphiffos (namque hoc avus Eurytus illi
Addiderat nomen) materna rigescere sentit
Ubera: nec sequitur ducentem lacteus humor. SO
Spectatrix aderam fati crudelis ; opemque
Non poteram tibi ferre, foror : quantumque valebam,
Crescentem truncum ramofque amplexa, morabar:
Et (fateor) volui fub eodem cortice condi.
Ecce vir Andraemon, genitorque miserrimus, adsunt:
Et quaerunt Dryopen: Dryopen quaerentibus illis
Ostendi loton. tepido dant ofcula ligno: 60
Adfufique suae radicibus arboris haerent.
Nil nifi jam faciem, quod non foret arbor, habebas,
Cara foror. lacrymae verso de corpore factis
Irrorant foliis : ac, dum licet, oraque praestant 65
Vocis iter, tales effundit in aëra queftus :

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