. . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . .
So to the dead increase honour in year upon year. 50
Nor to the spider, aloft her silk-slight flimsiness hanging,
Allius aye unswept moulder, a memory dim. (50)

Well you wot, how sore the deceit Amathusia wrought me,
Well what a thing in love's treachery made me to fall;
Ready to burst in flame, as burn Trinacrian embers, 55
Burn near Thermopylae's Oeta the fiery springs.
Sad, these piteous eyes did waste all wearily weeping, (55)
Sad, these cheeks did rain ceaseless a showery woe.
Wakeful, as hill-born brook, which, afar off silvery gleaming,
O'er his moss-grown crags leaps with a tumble adown; 60
Brook which awhile headlong o'er steep and valley descending,
Crosses anon wide ways populous, hastes to the street; (60)
Cheerer in heats o' the sun to the wanderer heavily fuming,
Under a drought, when fields swelter agape to the sky.

Then as tossing shipmen amid black surges of Ocean, 65
See some prosperous air gently to calm them arise,
Safe thro' Pollux' aid or Castor, alike entreated; (65)
Mallius e'en such help brought me, a warder of harm.
He in a closed field gave scope of liberal entry;
Gave me an house of love, gave me the lady within, 70
Busily there to renew love's even duty together;
Thither afoot mine own mistress, a deity bright, (70)
Came, and planted firm her sole most sunny; beneath her
Lightly the polish'd floor creak'd to the sandal again.

So with passion aflame came wistful Laodamia 75
Into her husband's home, Protesilaus, of yore;
Home o'er-lightly begun, ere slaughter'd victim atoning (75)
Waited of heaven's high-thron'd company grace to agree.
Nought be to me so dear, O Maid Ramnusian, ever,
I should against that law match me with opposite, I. 80
Bloodless of high sacrifice, how thirsts each desolate altar!
This, when her husband fell, Laodamia did heed, (80)
Rapt from a bridegroom new, from his arms forced early to part her.
Early; for hardly the firs