he gave
The tablet, from her trembling hand it fell;
The omen deep disturb'd her. Yet she sent.

A chosen hour the servant sought, went forth
And gave the secret message. Sudden rage
me youth Maeandrian petrify'd; and down
The half-read lines upon the ground he flung.
His hand scarce holding from the trembling face
Of the pale messenger. "Quick, fly!" he cry'd,
"Thou wicked pander of forbidden lust!
"Fly while thou may'st; and know, had not thy fate
"Involv'd our modest name, death hadst thou found.--"
He terrify'd escapes, and backward bears,
To his young mistress all fierce Caunus spoke.

Pale, thou, O Byblis! heardst the rough repulse;
Thy breast with frigid chills beset. But soon
Her spirits rally, and her furious love
Returns: scarce to the trembling air her tongue
Can utterance give in these indignant words;--
"Deserv'dly mourn I, who so rashly gave
"Him of my wounds the conscious tale to learn.
"Why trust so soon to words, what still might hid
"Remain, on tablets hastily compos'd?
"Why were not first the wishes of my soul
"Try'd in ambiguous hints? First, sure I ought
"Whence the wind blew have mark'd; nor loos'd my sails,
"Him flying, to pursue, and the wide main
"In all directions plough: now bellies out
"My canvas; not a single course explor'd.
"Hence am I borne against the rocks; hence 'whelm'd
"In the wide depth of ocean; nor my sails
"Know I to tack returning. Did not heaven
"Check the indulgence of my love, by marks
"Obvious to all? when from my hand down dropp'd
"The tablet, which the boy was bade to bear.
"Mark'd that my falling hopes not? More deferr'd
"Thy wishes, or the day should sure have been;
"Surely the day. For heaven itself me warn'd,
"And certain signs me gave; but those my mind
"Stupid neglected. Personal my words
"Should I have urg'd, nor trusted to the wax.
"In person should my love have been display'd.
"Then had my tears been seen; then had he view'd
"My raptur'd countenance; then had I spoke
"Far more than power of letters can convey.
"My arms around his neck I then had thrown
"Howe'er unwilling; and, had he been coy,
"In dying posture I his feet had clasp'd;
"And stretch'd before him life demanding, all
"Had I achiev'd. Perchance though, by the boy,
"My messenger commission'd, I have fail'd:
"Aptly perhaps he enter'd not; perhaps,
"And much I fear, improper hours h