"In the same bark I glad had been enclos'd.
"Lo! come her spouse Andraemon, and her sire
"So wretched; and for Dryope they seek:
"A Lotus, as for Dryope they ask,
"I shew them; to the yet warm wood salutes
"Ardent they give; and prostrate spread, the roots
"They clasp of their own tree. Now, sister dear!
"Nought save thy face but what a tree becomes.
"Thy tears, the leaves thy body form'd, bedew.
"And now, whilst able, while her mouth yet gives
"To words a passage, such like plaints as these
"She breathes;--If faith th' unhappy e'er can claim,
"I swear by all the deities, this deed
"I never merited: without a crime
"My punishment I suffer. Innocent
"My life has been. If I deceive, may drought
"Parch those new leaves; and, by the hatchet fell'd,
"May fire consume me. Yet this infant bear
"From those maternal branches; to a nurse
"Transfer him; but contrive that oft he comes
"And 'neath my boughs let him his milk imbibe;
"And 'neath my boughs sport playful. When with words
"Able to hail me, let him me salute,
"And sorrowing say;--Within that trunk lies hid
"My mother--But the lakes, O! let him dread,
"Nor dare from any tree to snatch a flower;
"But think each shrub he sees a god contains.
"Adieu! dear husband; sister dear, adieu!
"Father, farewel! if pious cares you feel,
"From the sharp axe defend my boughs, and from
"The browsing flocks. And now, as fate denies
"To lean my arms to yours,--your arms advance;
"Approach my lips, whilst you my lips may touch:
"And to them lift my infant boy. More words
"I may not;--now the tender bark my neck,
"So white, invades; my utmost summit hid.
"Move from my lids your fingers, for the bark,
"So rapid growing, will my dying eyes
"Without assistance close.--Her lips to speak
"Cease, and existence ceases: the fresh boughs
"Long in the alter'd body warm were felt."

While Ioele the mournful fact relates;
And while Alcmena, from Eurytus' maid,
With ready fingers dry'd the tears; herself
Still weeping, lo! a novel deed assuag'd
Their grief--for Ioelaues, scarcely youth,
His cheeks with tender down just cover'd, stands
Within the porch; to early years restor'd.

Junonian Hebe, by her husband's prayers
O'ercome, to Ioelaues gave the boon.
Who, when to vow she went, that future times
Should none such gift enjoying, e'er perceive,
Was check'd by Themis. "Now all Theb