Page:Metamorphoses.djvu/465

METAMORPHOSES BOOK VIIn over, kiss him and kiss the bier as it stands before them. And, when he is ashes, they gather the ashes and press them to their hearts, throw them- selves on his tomb in abandonment of grief and clasping the stone on which his name has been carved, they drench the name with their tears. At length Diana, satisfied with the destruction of Par- thaon's house, made feathers spring on their bodies all save Gorge and great Alemena's daughter-in-law1 stretched out long wings over their arms, gave them a horny beak, and sent them transfigured into the air. 2 Meanwhile Theseus, having done his part in the confederate task, was on his way back to Tritonia's city where Erechtheus ruled. But Acheloüs, swollen with rain, blocked his way and delayed his jour- ney. "Enter my house, illustrious hero of Athens," said the river-god, "and do not entrust yourself to my greedy waters. The current is wont to swee down solid trunks of trees and huge boulders in zig?- zag course with crash and roar. I have seen great stables that stood near by the bank swept away, cattle and all, and in that current neither strength availed the ox nor speed the horse. Many a strong man also has been overwhelmed in its whirling pools when swollen by melting snows from the mountain sides. It is safer for you to rest until the waters shall run within their accustomed bounds, until its own bed shall hold the slender stream." The son of Aegeus replied:"I will use both your house, Acheloüs, and your advice entered the river-god's dark dwelling, built of porous pumice and rough tufa; the floor was damp with soft . And he did use them both. He 1 Deianira, the wife of Hercules. 8 These birds were called Meleagrides, guinea-hene. 445