ing cords,
"He drags to earth; and half the wood below,
"Crush'd by its weight, lies prostrate. All astound,
"Of her depriv'd, and at their own sad loss,
"The sister Dryads, clad in sable robes,
"To Ceres hasten; and for vengeance call,
"On Erisichthon. To their urgent prayers
"The beauteous goddess gave assent, and shook
"Her locks; the motion shook the yellow ears,
"Which fill'd the loaded fields; and straight conceiv'd
"A torture piteous, if for pity he
"For acts like these might look:--to tear his form
"By Famine's power pestiferous. There, herself
"Approach forbidden (fate long since had doom'd
"Ceres and Famine far remov'd should dwell)
"A mountain-nymph she calls, and thus directs;--
"A region stretches on th' extremest bounds
"Of icy Scythia; dreary seems the place;
"Sterile the soil; nor trees, nor fruits are seen;
"But sluggish cold, and pale affright, and fear:
"Still-craving Famine, there her dwelling holds.
"Bid her within the inmost vitals hide
"Of this most daring, and most impious wretch.
"The proudest plenty shall not make her yield:
"For in the contest, all the power I boast
"To her shall stoop: nor let the lengthen'd way
"Appal thy mind; my car receive; receive
"My dragons; through the air their course direct
"By these long reins.--Speaking, the reins she gave.
"She, borne through ether in the granted car,
"To Scythia's realm is carried: on the ridge
"A rugged mountain offer'd, first she eas'd
"The dragons' necks; as Caucasus 'twas known.
"There she the sought-for Famine soon espy'd,
"Eagerly searching on the stony fields,
"At once with teeth and fangs, for thin-sown herbs.
"Rough matted were her locks; deep sunk her eyes;
"Pale bleach'd her face; her lips with whiten'd slime
"O'erspread; with furry crust her mouth was rough:
"Hard was her skin; and through it might be seen
"Her inwards: 'bove her hollow loins, upstood
"The arid bones: a belly's place supply'd
"A belly's form: her breasts to hang appear'd
"Held only by the chine: her fleshless shape
"Each joint in bulk increas'd: rigidly large
"The knees were swol'n, and each protruding part
"Immod'rately was big. Then as the nymph
"From far beheld her,--for a nigh approach
"She dreaded, what the goddess bade she told.
"Though brief her stay; though distant far she stood;
"Though instant there arriv'd; she felt the power
"Of Famine at th