frame. Him then when smile-loving Venus had beheld, she loved, and violently did love seize her in mind, and coming into Cyprus, she entered her incense-fraught temple at Paphos, where she has a temple and an incense-fraught altar. Here she entering, put to the shining doors, and here the Graces[1] washed her, and anointed her with ambrosial oil, such as blossoms on the gods who are for ever, ambrosial, precious, which was offered in honour of her. And smile-loving Venus, when she had put on all her beauteous garments around her form, being adorned with gold, set out to Troy, quitting sweet-scented Cyprus, swiftly making her way through the clouds on high. And she reached many-rilled Ida, the mother of wild beasts, and went straight through the mountain to the stall, and after her fawning went the hoary wolves and savage lions, the bears and swift pards, insatiate after the hinds. But she was delighted in mind, as she perceived [them], and into their breasts inspired love.[2] And they all in pairs retired to rest in the shadowy recesses. But she herself came into the well-built huts, and found the hero Anchises left in the stalls, apart from the rest, possessing beauty from the gods. But they all were following the herds through the grassy pastures, but he, left alone from the rest in the stalls, was pacing to and fro, clearly striking the lyre. And near before him stood Venus, the daughter of Jove, like in height and figure[3] to an unwedded virgin, lest he should be terrified on perceiving her. But Anchises, when he beheld, reflected and marvelled at her form, and height, and splendid garments. For she had put on a robe more shining than the flame of fire, and she had bended circlets and shining pendant drops,[4] and there were most beautiful necklaces around her neck, beautiful, golden, all-variegated, and around her smooth breast she shone like the moon, a marvel to behold. But love seized Anchises, and he addressed her in words:
"Hail, O queen, whoever thou art of the blest that comest
- ↑ Cf. Odyss. θ. 362, sqq., where these lines also occur.
- ↑ Cf. Lucret. above quoted.
"For every glance she gives, soft fire imparts,
Enkindling sweet desire in savage hearts.
Inflamed with love all single out their mates,
And to their shady dens each pair retreats."Congreve. - ↑ "Virginis os habitumque gerens." Virg. Æn. i. 319.
- ↑ I am in some doubt about the meaning of κάλυκας.
