rge sole, and she
The spouse of valiant Hercules, unchang'd
Were left. Long pinions for their arms were seen;
Their mouths to horny bills were turn'd; through air
Thus alter'd, ample range the goddess gives.

Theseus meantime, the toil confederate done,
Homeward to Pallas' towers his journey bent;
But Acheloues, swol'n by showery floods,
Delay'd his progress. "Fam'd Cecropia's chief,"--
He cry'd,--"here shelter, enter 'neath my roof,
"Nor through the furious torrents trust thy steps.
"Whole forests oft they root, and whirl along
"Vast rocks with thundering sound. High stalls I've seen,
"Near to the banks erected, swept away:
"Nor aught avail'd the lusty bull's strong limbs,
"Nor aught the courser's speed: the torrents oft
"Of melted snows, which from the mountains rush,
"Whelm the strong youths beneath the whirling pool.
"To rest is safer, till their wonted banks
"Again the streams confine; the lessen'd waves
"Within their channels pent."--Theseus complies,
And answers:--"Acheloues, we approve
"Thy prudent counsel, and thy cave will use,"
The grot they enter; hollow pumice, mixt
With rugged tophus, form'd it; tender moss
The moist floor cover'd; fretwork on the roof
The purple murex and the scallop white
Alternate form'd. Now Phoebus' steeds had run
Two thirds their race, when Theseus on his couch
Reclin'd, the comrades of his toil close by;
Pirithous here, Troezenian Lelex there,
Whose temples now some silvery hairs display'd.
With these were such as Acheloues, joy'd
At such a noble guest, the honor deem'd
Worthy to share. The barefoot Naiaed nymphs
Heap'd on the board the banquet: food remov'd,
They brought the wine, in cups with jewels deck'd.

The mighty hero then, the distant main
Surveying, asks:--"What land is that I see?--"
And shews the spot,--"tell me what name denotes
"That isle? and yet methinks not one it seems."
The river-god replies:--"What we behold
"A single isle is not, but five; the eye
"Is mock'd by distance. That Diana's wrath
"May less your wonder move, these once were nymphs.
"Ten bullocks had they sacrific'd, and call'd
"Each rural god to taste the sacred feast,
"And join the festal chorus, me alone,
"Forgetful, they invited not. Sore vext,
"I swell'd with rage, and as my anger rose,
"My flood increas'd; till at my greatest height,
"Woods I divorc'd from woods; from meadows to