Or rocks, or waves, or trees, or substance aught
That animation lacks. These shew their forms
By night to mighty heroes and to kings;
The rest before th' ignobler crowd perform.
All these the ancient Somnus pass'd, and chose
Morpheus alone from all his brethren crowd,
The deed Thaumantian Iris bade, to do;
Then, weigh'd with slumber, dropp'd again his head,
And shrunk once more within the sable couch.

He flies through darkness on unrustling wings,
And short the space, ere in Trachinia's town
He lights; and from his shoulders lays aside
His pinions; when he Ceyx' form assumes.
In Ceyx' ghastly shape pallid he stood,
Despoil'd of garments, at the widow'd bed
Of the sad queen: soak'd was his beard, and streams
Seem'd from his heavy dripping locks to flow.
Then leaning o'er the couch, while gushing tears
O'erspread his cheeks, he thus his wife bespoke;--
"Know'st thou thy Ceyx, wretched, wretched wife?
"Or are my features chang'd by death? Again
"View me, and here behold thy husband's shade,
"Instead of husband: all thy pious prayers
"For me, Alcyoene, were vain. I'm lost!
"No more false hopes encourage, me to see.
"The showery southwind, on th' AEgean main,
"Seiz'd on our vessel, and with mighty blast
"Shiver'd it wide in fragments; and the waves
"Rush'd in my throat as loud thy name I call'd;
"But call'd in vain. No doubtful author brings
"To thee these tidings; no vague rumor this,
"In person I relate it. Shipwreck'd I,
"My fate to thee detail. Rise, and assist!
"Pour forth thy tears; in sable garments clothe;
"Nor send my ghost to wander undeplor'd,
"In shady Tartarus." Thus Morpheus spoke;
And in such accents, that the queen, deceiv'd,
Believ'd her husband spoke. Adown his cheeks
Seem'd real tears to flow; and even his hand
With Ceyx' motion mov'd. Deeply she groan'd,
Ev'n in her sleep, and rais'd her longing arms
To clasp his body; empty air she clasp'd:
Exclaiming;--"stay; O whither dost thou fly?
"Together let us hence!"--Rous'd with the noise,
And spectre of her spouse; sleep fled her eyes,
And round she cast her gaze for that to seek
Which she but now beheld. Wak'd by her voice,
Her slaves approach'd with lights; but when in vain
She search'd for what she lack'd, her face she struck;
Rent from her breasts her garments; beat her breasts
Themselves: nor stay'd her twisted hair to loose,
But tore th