to find a way
"To push to light, and leave the parent womb.
"Within the tree the gravid womb swell'd large,
"Stretch'd was the mother with the load, but mute
"Were all her woes; nor in travailing voice
"Lucina could she call. Yet hard to strain
"She seem'd; thick groans oft gave the bending bole,
"And tears flow'd copious. Mild Lucina came,
"And stood before the groaning boughs, and gave
"Assisting help, and spoke the spellful words.
"Cleft is the tree, and through the fissur'd bark
"A living burthen comes: the infant cries,
"Who on soft grass plac'd. The Naiad nymphs
"Him bathe in tears maternal: such a face
"Ev'n Envy could not blame. As painters form
"The naked Cupid's beauty, such had he;
"And that their dress no help to guess may give,
"This the light quiver take, or that resign.
"Quick passing time unheeded glides along
"Deceiving: nought than years more quickly flies.
"The child, of sister and of grandsire born,
"Late in the tree confin'd, late thence reliev'd;
"Just seen most beauteous of the infant tribe,
"Now youth, now man appears, more beauteous still:
"Now Venus charm'd, his mother's pangs aveng'd.

"As kisses sweet the quiver-bearing boy
"Press'd on his mother's lips, he witless raz'd
"Slightly her bosom, with a dart that stood
"Protruding. Venus, wounded, angry push'd
"Her son far from her; light the wound appear'd;
"At first even her deceiving. With the blaze
"Of manly beauty caught, she now contemns
"The Cythereian shores; nor Paphos seeks,
"Girt by profoundest seas; Cnidos, so fam'd
"For fish; nor Amathus with metals rich.
"Heaven too, she quits, to heaven she now prefers
"Adonis: him she follows, him attends;
"Whose sole employ was loitering in the shade,
"In anxious study to increase her charms.
"Bare to the knee, her robe, like Dian's train
"High-girt, o'er hills, through woods, and brambly rocks
"She roves: exhorts the dogs, and drives such game
"As threaten not with danger; fearful hares,
"High-antler'd stags, and rapid-flying deer.
"Fierce boars she shuns, and shuns the robber-wolf,
"Strong-talon'd bears, and lions slaughter-gorg'd.

"Thou too, Adonis, admonition heardst
"These to avoid, if admonition ought
"With thee could weigh:--Be brave,--the goddess said--
"To those who fly thee; courage 'gainst the bold
"To danger drags. Dear youth, thy heart is brave;
"Indulge not to m