he spacious plain
"Of wide-spread waters; part with loitering pace
"Stray'd here, and thither; others swam and rear'd
"Their lofty necks above the waves. There stood
"Close to the sea a temple, where nor gold,
"Nor polish'd marble shone; but rear'd with trees
"Thick-pil'd, it gloom'd within an ancient grove.
"This, Nereus and the Nereid nymphs possess.
"A fisherman, as on the shore he dry'd
"His nets, inform'd us these the temple own'd.
"A marsh joins near the fane, with willows thick
"Beset, which waves o'erflowing first has form'd.
"A wolf from thence, a beast of monstrous bulk,
"Thundering with mighty clash, with terror struck
"The neighbouring spots: then from the marshy woods
"Sprung out; his jaws terrific, smear'd with foam
"And clotted gore; his eyes with red flames glar'd.
"Mad though he rag'd with ire and famine both,
"Famine less strong appear'd; for his dire maw
"And craving hunger, he not car'd to fill
"With the slain oxen; wounding all the herd:
"All hostile overthrowing. Some of us,
"Ranch'd by his deadly tooth, to death were sent
"Defence attempting. The shore and marsh
"With bellowings echoing, and the ocean's edge
"Redden with blood. But ruinous, delay!
"For hesitation leisure is not now.
"While ought remains, let all together join;
"Arm! arm! and on him hurl united spears."
The herdsman ceas'd, Peleus the loss not mov'd;
But conscious of his fault, infers the plague
Sent by the childless Nereid to avenge
Her slaughter'd Phocus' loss. Yet Ceyx bids
His warriors arm, and take their forceful darts;
With them prepar'd to issue: but his spouse
Alcyoene, rous'd by the tumult, sprung
Forth from her chamber; unadorn'd her locks,
Which scatter'd hung around her. Ceyx' neck
Clasping, she begg'd with moving words and tears,
Aid he would send, but go not; thus preserve
Two lives in one. Then Peleus to the queen;
"Banish your laudable and duteous fears.
"For what the king intended, thanks are due.
"Arms 'gainst this novel plague I will not take:
"Prayers must the goddess of the deep appease."

A lofty tower there stood, whose summit bore
A beacon; grateful object to the sight
Of weary mariners. Thither they mount,
And see with sighs the herd strew'd o'er the beach;
The monster ravaging with gory jaw,
And his long shaggy hairs in blood bedy'd.
Thence Peleus, stretching to the wide sea shore
His a