Page:Metamorphoses.djvu/221

METAMORPHOSESBOOK IV only of the naiads follows not in swiftDiana's train. Often, 'tis said, her sisters would chide her: 'Sal- macis, take now either hunting-spear or painted quiver, and vary your ease with the hardships of the hunt.' But she takes no hunting-spear, no painted quiver, nor does she vary her ease with the hardships of the hunt; but at times she bathes her shapely limbs in her own pool; often combs her hair with a boxwood comb, oftenlooks in the mirror-like waters to see what best becomes her. Now, wrapped in a trans- parent robe, she lies down to rest on the soft grass or the soft herbage. Often she gathers flowers; and on this occasion, too, she chanced to be gatherin flowers when she saw the boy and longed to possess what she saw " Not yet, however, did she approach him, thouglh she was eager to do so, until she had calmed herself, until she had arranged her robes and composed her countenance, and taken all pains to appear beautiful. Then did she speak : ' O youth, most worthy to be believed a god, if thou art indeed a god, thou must be Cupid; or if thou art mortal, happy are they who gave thee birth, blest is thy brother, fortunate indeed any sister of thine and thy nurse who gave thee suck. But far, oh, far happier than they all is she, if any be thy promised bride, if thou shalt deem any worthy to be thy wife. If there be any such, let mine be stolen joy; if not, may I be thine, thy bride, and may we be joined in wediock.' The maiden said no more. But the boy blushed rosy red; for he knew not what love is But still the blush became him well. Such colour have apples hanging in sunny orchards, or painted ivory; such has the moon, eclipsed, red under white, wher brazen vesseis clash vainly for her relief. When the nymph begged and prayed for at least a sister's kiss, 201