.
"Oft, as 'tis said, her sister-nymphs exclaim'd;--
"Come, Salmacis, thy painted quiver take;
"Or take thy javelin;--with soft pleasures mix
"Laborious sporting: but nor javelin she,
"Nor painted quiver took;--with sportive toil,
"Soft pleasures mingling: sole intent to bathe,
"Her beauteous limbs amidst her own clear waves;
"And through her flowing tresses oft to draw
"The boxen comb, while o'er the fountain bent,
"She studies all her graces: now, her form
"Clad in a robe transparent, stretcht she lies,
"Or on the yielding leaves, or bending grass;
"Now flowers she culls;--and so it chanc'd to fall,
"Flowers she was gathering, when she first beheld
"The charming youth; no sooner seen than lov'd.
"Not forth she rush'd at first, though strongly urg'd,
"Forward to spring, but all adjusted fair:
"Closely survey'd her robe; her features form'd;
"And every part in beauteous shape compos'd.
"Then thus address'd him;--O, most godlike youth!
"And if a god, the lovely Cupid sure!
"But if of mortal mould, blest is thy sire!
"Blest is thy brother! and thy sister blest!--
"If sister hast thou;--and the fostering breast
"Which fed thy infant growth: but far 'bove all
"In rapturous bliss, is she who calls thee spouse;
"Should nymph exist thou deem'st that bliss deserves!
"If wedded, grant a stol'n embrace to me;
"If not, let me thy nuptial couch ascend.
"The Naiaed ceas'd: a bashful glow suffus'd
"His face, for nought of love to him was known:
"Yet blushing seem'd he lovely: thus warm glows
"The apple, to the ripening sun expos'd;
"Or teinted ivory; or the redden'd moon,
"Whom brazen cymbals clash to help in vain.
"To her, warm praying for at least a kiss,
"A chaste, a sister's kiss,--her arms firm claspt
"Around his ivory neck;--desist! he cries,
"Desist! or sole to thee the place I'll leave.
"His flight she dreaded, and reply'd,--I go,
"Dear youth, and freely yield the spot to thee.
"And seems indeed, her steps from him to turn;
"But still in sight she kept him; lurking close
"Shelter'd by shadowy shrubs, on bended knees.
"Of spy unconscious, he in boyish play
"Frisks sportive here and there; dips first his feet,
"Then ancles deeper in the wantoning waves;
"Pleas'd with the temper of the lucid pool:
"Till hasty stript from off his tender limbs
"His garments soft he flings. More deeply struck
"Stood Salmacis; more fie