Page:Ovid's Metamorphoses (Vol. 2) - tr Garth, Dryden, et. al. (1727).djvu/83

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Book 9.
Ovid's Metamorphoses.
73

The Whiteness of her Skin forsook her Face;
Her Looks embolden'd with an awful Grace;
Her Features, and her Strength together grew,
And her long Hair to curling Locks withdrew.
Her sparkling Eyes with manly Vigour shone,
Big was her Voice, audacious was her Tone.
The latent Parts, at length reveal'd, began
To shoot, and spread, and burnish into Man.
The Maid becomes a Youth; no more delay
Your Vows, but look, and confidently pay.
Their Gifts the Parents to the Temple bear:
The Votive Tables this Inscription wear;
Iphis the Man, has to the Goddess paid
The Vows, that Iphis offer'd when a Maid.
Now when the Star of Day had shewn his Face,
Venus, and Juno with their Presence grace
The Nuptial Rites, and Hymen from above
Descending to compleat their happy Love:
The Gods of Marriage lend their mutual Aid;
And the warm Youth enjoys the lovely Maid.

The End of the Ninth Book.

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