"To quit her cities, and her Cyprian fields:--
"But how,--she said,--can my beloved clime?
"How can my towns have given offence? what fault
"Abides in them? Rather the impious race,
"Shall vengeance feel in exile, or in death;
"Save death and exile medium may allow:
"How may that be, unless their shape is chang'd?--
"Then while she doubts what shape they shall assume,
"Their horns attract her eyes; struck by the hint,
"Their mighty horns she leaves them, and transforms
"To savage oxen all their lusty limbs.

"Still dar'd th' obscene Propoetides deny
"Venus a goddess' power; for which, fame says
"They first, so forc'd the deity's revenge,
"Their bodies prostituted, and their charms.
"As shame them left, the blood which ting'd their cheeks
"Harden'd, and soon they rigid stone became.

"These saw Pygmalion, and the age beheld
"With crimes o'er-run; the shameful vice abhorr'd
"Which lavish nature gave their female souls.
"Single, and spouseless liv'd he; long a mate
"Press'd not his couch. Meantime the ivory white
"With happy skill, and wond'rous art he carv'd;
"And form'd a beauteous figure; never maid
"So perfect yet was born, and his own work
"With love inspir'd him. Of a nymph her face
"Was such, you must believe the form to live,
"And move, if not by bashfulness restrain'd.
"Thus art his art conceal'd. Pygmalion stares
"In admiration; and his breast draws flames
"From the feign'd body: oft his hands his work
"Approach, if ivory or if flesh to judge;
"Nor ivory then will he confess the form.
"Kisses he gives, and thinks each kiss return'd:
"He speaks, he grasps her; where he grasps, he thinks
"His hands impression leave; and fears to see
"On the prest limbs some marks of livid blue.
"Now blandish'd words he uses; now he bears
"Those gifts so grateful to a girlish mind;
"Pearls, and smooth-polish'd gems, and smallest birds,
"With variegated flowers, and lilies fair,
"And painted figures, and the Heliads' tears,
"Dropt from the weeping tree: with garments gay
"Her limbs too he adorns, and jewels gives
"To deck her fingers; while a necklace large
"Hangs round her neck: her ears light pearls suspend;
"And a bright zone is circled round her waist.
"All well became her, yet most beauteous far
"She unattir'd appear'd. Her on a couch,
"Ting'd with the shell Sidonian, then he laid,
"And call'd her partner of h